[00:04:33] TEXAS, THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. FROM INSIDE THE ALICIA CHACON COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM OF THE ENRIQUE MORENO COUNTY COURTHOUSE. YOU ARE WATCHING THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING. GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. TODAY IS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2025. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS MEETING IN REGULAR OPEN SESSION. TODAY [00:05:01] WE ARE JOINED BY ASL INTERPRETERS SELENA SALEM AND TAMARA MARQUEZ. COMMISSIONER, [1. OPEN MEETING] WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE STUDENTS FOR TODAY? YES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE STUDENTS WITH US TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE THIS MORNING. I WANT TO WELCOME FROM THE HARMONY SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE MR. GARCIA'S FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS. IF YOU ALL WANT TO GO AHEAD AND START MAKING YOUR WAY UP TO THE PODIUM. AND THEN I DO WANT TO THANK MR. CHAVITA, WHO IS THE DISTRICT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND OF COURSE, MISS RAMIREZ, WHO IS THE PRINCIPAL OF HSC FOR MAKING THIS EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE FOR THE STUDENTS. WE LOVE HAVING THEM HERE, SO THANK YOU. I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK AND COORDINATION TO GET THEM DOWNTOWN TO THE COURTHOUSE, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE. 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. NOW FOR THE TEXAS PLEDGE. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU. GREAT JOB, MR. CHAVITA. THANK YOU ALSO FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND YOUR SCHOOL AND ALL THE INVOLVEMENT. VERY APPRECIATE THE RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. THANK YOU. Y'ALL DID GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH, VERY CONFIDENT, LOUD ENOUGH AND RIGHT ON POINT, I ASKED HIM YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT IN SPANISH, RIGHT. AND THEIR EYES GREW LIKE. AND NOW WE WILL RECEIVE AN INVOCATION BY PASTOR ANTHONY BEDOYA OF CALVARY CHAPEL SUN CITY. THANK YOU. WELCOME, PASTOR. THANK YOU. [2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING. MORNING, EL PASO. I PRAY ALL OF [3. INVOCATION] YOU HAD A RESTFUL WEEKEND AND THAT YOU'RE DOING GREAT AND FEELING GREAT THIS BEAUTIFUL MONDAY MORNING. LET'S PRAY. FATHER GOD, WE HUMBLY COME BEFORE YOUR THRONE TO GIVE YOU THANKS AND PRAISE. THANK YOU FOR WAKING US UP THIS MORNING AND BLESSING US WITH ANOTHER DAY. THANK YOU FOR OUR HEALTH. THANK YOU FOR THE SHOES THAT COVER OUR FEET AND THE CLOTHES THAT COVER OUR BODIES. THANK YOU FOR THE FOOD YOU PROVIDE AND THE DRINK. ALSO, THANK YOU FOR OUR JOBS. MOST OF ALL, FATHER GOD IN JESUS OUR SAVIOR. THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE YOU BOTH MADE FOR ALL OF US ON THAT CROSS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE, MERCY AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THAT YOU GIVE US. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS. EVEN WHEN WE'RE NOT FAITHFUL. YOU ALWAYS REMAIN FAITHFUL AND YOU NEVER ABANDON US. THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD SAVIOR TO US. LORD, I ASK THAT YOUR HOLY SPIRIT JOIN US HERE IN THIS COURTHOUSE. I PRAY YOU WOULD FILL THIS ROOM WITH YOUR PRESENCE. YOU ARE WELCOME HERE. AND LORD, I PRAY FOR JUDGE SAMANIEGO, COMMISSIONER. BUTLER, COMMISSIONER STOUT, COMMISSIONER CORONADO, AND COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. GRANT THEM WISDOM TO MAKE THE DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT YOU WANT, DECISIONS THAT WOULD BRING GREAT HONOR AND GLORY ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. REMIND THEM AND REMIND US ALL, LORD, THAT ONE DAY WE WILL STAND BEFORE YOU AND GIVE AN ACCOUNT FOR WHAT WE DO HERE ON THIS EARTH. LORD, I ALSO WANT TO PRAY FOR OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND COURTHOUSE SECURITY. PLEASE KEEP US ALL SAFE. HELP US ALL GET ALONG, AND I PRAY THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD REMAIN HUMBLE. THEY ARE THERE BECAUSE YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE CONSTITUENTS OF EL PASO, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. REMIND THEM THAT WHAT YOU GIVE YOU CAN ALSO TAKE AWAY. FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, I PRAY THAT THEY WOULD TREAT THEIR STAFF AGAIN WITH GREAT RESPECT AND TREAT THEM FAIRLY. WITHOUT THEM, THEIR OFFICES WOULD NOT FUNCTION AND REMIND OUR EMPLOYEES, LORD, TO BE APPRECIATIVE OF THE JOBS AND NOT COMPLAIN. WE ARE ALL BLESSED TO HAVE OUR JOBS AND LORD, I PRAY FOR OUR NATION THAT OUR NATION AND ALL OF US WOULD FOCUS ON YOU AND YOUR WAYS. ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, WE'RE LIVING IN TOUGH, TERRIBLE TIMES WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE CELEBRATING MURDER AND CELEBRATING SIN, THERE WILL BE NO HEALING TAKING PLACE. AS LONG AS YOU ARE REJECTED AND YOU ARE THE ONLY ANSWER TO THE ISSUES FACING OUR NATION. I PRAY ALL WOULD PUT THEIR PRIDE AND EGOS ASIDE AND SURRENDER TO YOU. I PRAY ALL WOULD PUT THEIR FAITH IN THE LAMB AND NOT IN THE DONKEY OR THE ELEPHANT, BUT AGAIN IN THE LAMB. FIRST JOHN [00:10:09] 215 THROUGH 17 SAYS, DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. IF ANYONE LOVES THE WORLD, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM. FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE IS NOT OF THE FATHER, BUT IS OF THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD IS PASSING AWAY AND THE LUST OF IT. BUT HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER. LORD, HELP US ALL TURN BACK TO YOU AND KEEP YOUR WAYS, NOT THE WAYS OF THE WORLD. WE ALL SEE HOW THAT IS WORKING OUT FOR US AND IT ISN'T GOOD. THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE A GOD OF SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH CHANCES. THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A LOVING GOD. HELP THIS NATION ONCE AGAIN TURN BACK TO YOU AND REMIND US, LORD, TO READ YOUR WORDS IN THE BIBLE AND NOT ONLY READ THEM, BUT APPLY THEM TO OUR HEARTS. GOD BLESS EL PASO, GOD BLESS TEXAS, GOD BLESS AMERICA, AND GOD BLESS OUR PRESIDENT. WE LOVE YOU, LORD. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU. IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. THANK YOU PASTOR. AMAZING WORDS FOR US TO THANK YOU AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE. DO YOU HAVE ANY OPENING COMMENTS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE BEFORE WE BEGIN? THANK YOU. WELL, ON BEHALF OF EXCUSE ME, OF MYSELF AND OUR COMMISSIONERS, WE WELCOME YOU TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. ALWAYS VERY EXCITED ABOUT HAVING COMMISSIONERS COURT. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TODAY. ONE OF THEM, I HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST THAT I WANT YOU TO MEET. I'LL BE DOING THAT DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE VERY MOVED BY HER STORY AND HER FRIEND AND WANT TO THANK. I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT THE PICNIC. A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE EXCITED. THE EMPLOYEES, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO APPRECIATE OUR COUNTY FAMILY, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE GOT TO THAT POINT BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN SO MANY INDIVIDUALS SAYING HOW AMAZING THE PICNIC WAS AND HOW MUCH EFFORT WAS MADE INTO IT. SO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AND EVERYBODY, PUBLIC WORKS, EVERYBODY THAT CAME TOGETHER TO DO THAT, IT WAS A VERY SPECIAL I CONSIDER IT ONE OF THE, THE, THE BEST THAT I'VE SEEN THAT WE'VE HAD. IT'S GOING TO SET A BENCHMARK FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY AMAZING. AND AND I DON'T KNOW, BETSY, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE TWO GUESTS, BUT MAYBE YOU WANT TO JUST INTRODUCE THEM. AS WE GO INTO WE HAVE AN ACTUAL AGENDA ITEM JUDGE TO GO INTRODUCE THE GUEST. AND THE I JUST THOUGHT MAYBE JUST TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN OUR AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW. SO YES, WE DO HAVE TWO IKMA YOUNG SOUTHEAST ASIAN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FELLOWS THAT WILL BE WITH THE COUNTY OVER THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS. WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND INTRODUCE THEM IN ONE OF OUR UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS. WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THEM. OKAY. THANK YOU AND WELCOME. THANK YOU. WELL, ONCE AGAIN HAVE A VERY BLESSED MONDAY, A TREMENDOUS WEEK. AND REMEMBER, EL PASO IS AN INCREDIBLE PLACE, AN INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE TO KEEP NURTURING IT AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW HOW WE DO THINGS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE, YOU KNOW, THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, IF NOT THE REST OF THE WORLD. WE'RE JUST IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS THE CONSENT AGENDA, COMPOSED OF ITEMS FOUR A THROUGH FOUR AN. WE DO HAVE TWO CORRECTIONS TO READ IN THE FIRST ONE ITEM. FOUR B APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE FAMILY DISTRICT COURT, 65TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT DRUG COURT, SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING [4. CONSENT AGENDA] SERVICE CONTRACT WITH PINNACLE SOCIAL SERVICES, LLC. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE EL PASO COUNTY 65TH FAMILY DRUG COURT. FY 2026 GRANT CONTRACT NUMBER 2025 0757, AND ITEM FOUR J. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE ORDER. QUOTE NUMBER 1000123521. OCLC CLOUD LIBRARY SERVICES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREEMENT AND ADDENDUM TO THE CLOUD LIBRARY SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR DIGITAL LIBRARY SERVICES CLOUD LIBRARY FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2030, IN THE AMOUNT OF $425,000 NOT TO EXCEED 85,000 PER YEAR. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN GENERAL FUND DIGITAL LIBRARY BOOKS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS. CONTRACT NUMBER 2025 0785. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO PULL? ANYBODY? YES, JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR X PLEASE FOR X. ANY OTHERS? WHICH ONE WAS IT X? SHE SAID X OKAY. ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE [00:15:06] SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THE VOTING IS OPEN. VOTE A MINDSET COMING UP, I VOTE AYE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM FIVE RESOLUTIONS FIVE A APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. COMMISSIONER STOUT, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS RESOLUTION. IT REALLY ADDRESSES A CRITICAL BUT DISCOMFORTING ISSUE, WHICH IS SUICIDE. WE TEND TO THINK OF IT AS A PERSONAL ISSUE FOR THOSE WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND FOR THOSE WHO WHO LOVE THEM. BUT IT'S ALSO A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, AND I URGE YOU ALL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO EXPRESS WHEN YOU'RE FEELING SO DOWN THAT THESE THOUGHTS APPEAR, HOW TO TALK TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. THE RESOLUTION ALSO CONTAINS LOCAL AND NATIONAL RESOURCES, BUT I'M GOING TO QUICKLY GIVE SOME STATISTICS THAT ILLUSTRATE THE DEPTH OF THE ISSUE AND WHY IT IS A PUBLIC AS WELL AS PERSONAL CONCERN. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH, ANNUAL SUICIDE DEATHS PER 100,000 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES INCREASED GRADUALLY, FROM 10 IN 1950 TO [A. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing the month of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in El Paso County, Texas. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-273-3559] 13 IN 1970, AND THEN EXPERIENCED A LONG DECLINE, REACHING A TROUGH AT ABOUT 10 IN 2000. BUT BETWEEN 2000 AND 2020, HOWEVER, U.S. SUICIDE RATES EXHIBITED AN UPWARD TREND. TWO ASPECTS OF THIS INCREASE ARE ESPECIALLY NOTABLE. THE FIRST IS ITS SPEED. BETWEEN 2000 AND 2020, THE SUICIDE RATE ROSE FROM TEN TO, I'M SORRY, TEN PER 100,000 TO JUST OVER 14, WHICH IS A 40% INCREASE IN ONLY 20 YEARS. AND AND ENOUGH TO TEMPORARILY CATAPULT SUICIDE INTO THE TOP TEN CAUSES OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SECOND WAS THE ABSENCE OF OTHER COUNTRIES EXPERIENCING SIMILAR TRENDS. OUT OF A COMPARISON GROUP OF 16 COUNTRIES, 12 EXPERIENCED DECREASES IN SUICIDE RATES BETWEEN 2000 AND 2020, AND OF THE REMAINING FOUR COUNTRIES, THE U.S. EXPERIENCED BY FAR THE LARGEST INCREASE IN 2023, 49,316 AMERICANS DIED BY SUICIDE. MORE THAN 50% USED A GUN. IN 2023. THERE WERE AN ESTIMATED 1.5 MILLION SUICIDE ATTEMPTS, SO JUST KNOW THAT THAT HELP IS OUT THERE, AND I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION. AND THEN WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS FROM FROM NAMI EL PASO AND ALSO FROM THE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY, EMERGENCY HEALTH NETWORK. THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US. THE RESOLUTION STATES WHEREAS SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR PEOPLE AGES 10 TO 34 IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WHEREAS SUICIDE WAS THE 11TH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH OVERALL IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2022. AND WHEREAS MORE WOMEN THAN MEN ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, BUT MEN ARE ABOUT FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE BY SUICIDE. AND WHEREAS THE HIGHEST SUICIDE RATES IN THE U.S. OCCUR AMONG AMERICAN INDIAN ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLE, FOLLOWED BY NON-HISPANIC WHITE PEOPLE, AND WHEREAS LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL YOUTH ARE NEARLY FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE THAN THEIR NON-LGBTQ PEERS AND TRANSGENDER ADULTS EXPERIENCE FAR HIGHER SUICIDE ATTEMPT PREVALENCE THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION. AND WHEREAS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REPORTS THAT IN 2022, AN AVERAGE OF 17.6 VETERANS DIED BY SUICIDE EACH DAY, AND WHEREAS 46% OF PEOPLE WHO DIE BY SUICIDE HAD A KNOWN MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS, AND RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT UP TO 90% MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION. AND WHEREAS THE FRIENDS AND FAMILIES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED BY SUICIDE ARE LEFT TO NAVIGATE TRAGEDY, TRAGEDY TOO OFTEN EXPERIENCING FEELINGS OF SHAME AND STIGMA. AND WHEREAS TOGETHER SPREADING PUBLIC AWARENESS, EDUCATING FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, ADVOCATING FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE EXPANSION AND IMPROVING OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM WILL HELP INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND WHEREAS, AS A COMMUNITY, IT IS VITAL TO LEARN THE WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS TO STEP IN, CONNECT PEOPLE TO HELP AND DISMANTLE STIGMA AND MISINFORMATION. AND WHEREAS, EL PASOANS CONTEXT HOME HOME TO 741741 TO REACH THE CRISIS TEXT LINE. AND WHEREAS EL PASOANS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CAN CALL OR TEXT 988, THE NATIONAL SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE, OR CONTACT THE LOCAL CRISIS LINE AT (915) 779-1800. BOTH LINES ARE FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, AVAILABLE 24 OVER SEVEN AND ANSWERED BY EMERGENCY HEALTH NETWORK MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT, THAT THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2025 SHALL BE KNOWN AS SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH. SIGNED THIS [00:20:04] 29TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2025, THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. RENEE. CHIEF OF STAFF FOR EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORK STEPPING IN FOR OUR CEO CHRISTY DOHERTY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT AND JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND COMMISSIONERS FOR RECOGNIZING THIS MONTH AS SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH. AS MENTIONED, EMERGENCE OPERATES A LOCAL CRISIS HOTLINE AND IS ONE OF FIVE CALL CENTERS IN TEXAS THAT ANSWERS 988. THE NATIONAL SUICIDE CRISIS LIFELINE, ONE OF THE UNIQUE AND REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT 988 HERE IN EL PASO IS THAT IT IS CO-LOCATED AT THE 911 CENTER. SO 911 AND NINE EIGHT CALL TAKERS ARE LITERALLY AT AN ARM'S LENGTH AND CAN TALK TO EACH OTHER AND BEST SERVE THE PERSON WHO IS CALLING. OUR CENTER COVERS MORE THAN 52 COUNTIES AND OPERATES 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. TOGETHER, THE CRISIS HOTLINE IN 988 RECEIVED 34,000 CALLS IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. EACH OF THESE CALLS REPRESENTS A NEIGHBOR, A FRIEND, A FAMILY MEMBER REACHING OUT FOR HELP, AND IT HIGHLIGHTS WHY IT IS SO CRITICAL THAT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE NAMI AND EVEN WORK TOGETHER TO RAISE AWARENESS AND ENSURE PEOPLE KNOW WHERE TO TURN TO IN A MOMENT OF CRISIS ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, WHICH IS 988898988 DAY, WE LAUNCHED A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE HERE. LOCALLY, WE HAD SOME OF OUR CHILDREN FROM OUR OUR OUR CHILD AND ADOLESCENT CLINIC PAINT ROCKS WITH 988 ON THEM AND ASKED THEM TO TAKE THEM TO THEIR SCHOOLS AND PARKS. SO THERE WILL BE A PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITIES KNOWING THAT 908 IS AVAILABLE. OUR EMPLOYEES ALSO JOINED IN AND WE ORDERED. THIS IS KIND OF COOL. WE ORDERED PET BANDANAS FOR ALL OF OUR PETS. SO ANYBODY, ANY AGENT EMPLOYEE TOOK THEIR PET BANDANAS HOME AND WE POSTED THEM ON ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND HAD A GREAT RESPONSE. AND AGAIN, IT'S ALL ABOUT RAISING AWARENESS AND PEOPLE KNOWING THAT THAT 988 NATIONAL NUMBER EXISTS. OUR GOAL THIS MONTH IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THIS SERVICE IS AVAILABLE NOT ONLY FOR THOSE IN CRISIS, BUT ALSO FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE SEEKING HELP WHEN SOMEONE THEY KNOW IS IN NEED. SUICIDE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE. IT COULD BE ANY ONE OF US. IT COULD BE ANYONE THAT WE LOVE. THAT IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP RAISING AWARENESS, KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT OPENLY AND HONESTLY, AND KEEP WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT HELP IS WITHIN REACH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU RENEE. APPRECIATE THAT. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR WORK IN MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION. THIS YEAR'S THEME WAS START A CONVERSATION AND BE THE DIFFERENCE. AND COMING HERE TODAY IS PUTTING THAT ACTION, PUTTING THAT INTO ACTION. HERE IN EL PASO, SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 10 TO 24, WITH SOMEONE IN THE US DYING EVERY 11 MINUTES TO SUICIDE. AS RENEE MENTIONED, THESE ARE FAMILIES, NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, COWORKERS WHOSE DEATHS CAUSED RIPPLES ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES. EARLIER THIS MONTH, WE STARTED A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN WITH A LOCAL COUNTRY ARTIST, JULIAN KALIL, TO HELP BRING AWARENESS, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES SUCH AMONG AMONG OUR MEN WHEN IT COMES TO CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SUICIDE. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WE PARTNERED UP WITH SUN CITY TATTOO TO HOST AN EP SEMICOLON TATTOO EVENT. A SEMICOLON HAS COME TO REPRESENT SUICIDE PREVENTION AND HONOR THOSE WHO DIED BY SUICIDE. BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE WRITING, AN AUTHOR USES A SEMICOLON TO CONTINUE A SENTENCE INSTEAD OF ENDING IT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS REALLY POWERFUL EVENT. WE HEARD VETERANS COMING TO GET TATTOOS FOR THEIR MILITARY BUDDIES IN HONOR THEIR MILITARY BUDDIES, INDIVIDUALS COMING FOR THEIR FAMILIES WHO THEY'VE LOST DECADES AGO AND FINALLY FOUND THE COURAGE TO START TALKING ABOUT IT. INDIVIDUALS LIKE MYSELF WHO WERE GETTING THE SEMICOLON FOR OUR OWN STRUGGLES AND OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO BE HERE. A COUPLE DAYS AGO, WE HAD A VIGIL IN MEMORIAL PARK RESERVE, WHERE WE ALSO CAME TOGETHER TO SHARE THESE STORIES AND HAVE THESE POWERFUL CONVERSATIONS AND SUPPORTING THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING, BUT ALSO REMEMBERING THOSE WHO DIED AND USING THEIR MEMORY TO HELP BRING AWARENESS AND EDUCATION TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS CONTINUE TO DO IN PROVIDING FREE EDUCATIONAL COURSES, PRESENTATIONS AND SUPPORT GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTY. WE CONTINUE TO PRESENT TO OVER 4000 MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS A YEAR, PROVIDING THEM THE TOOL TO END THE SILENCE AND HAVE THESE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH. AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO DO THIS WORK ALONGSIDE ALL OF YOU AND OUR PARTNERS AT EMERGENT HEALTH NETWORK AND SO MANY OTHER WONDERFUL PARTNERS, BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE. AND SO THE WORK DOESN'T STOP THIS MONTH. WE CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD AND AGAIN, LOOK FORWARD TO DOING IT TOGETHER. WE ARE A LITTLE OVER TWO WEEKS FROM THE LARGEST MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS EVENT IN EL PASO THAT'LL BE HAPPENING AT THE PARK. NAMI WALKS EL PASO. [00:25:01] AND SO WE INVITE YOU ALL TO JOIN US. AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GRATEFUL THIS YEAR. THERE ARE SO MANY COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, BETSY AND HER WONDERFUL TEAM, SO MANY WONDERFUL COUNTY COUNTY JUDGE. YOU ALREADY HAVE A TEAM FOR NAMI WALK, SO WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT IN NAMI WALKS AND WE LOOK TO SEE ALL OF YOU THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY ON MENTAL HEALTH. AND YOU KNOW, WE DON'T QUITE KNOW IF SUICIDE IS THE PRODUCT OF OF SOCIETY. BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT PREVENTION IS A RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE AWARENESS, THE COMMUNICATION OF BOTH OF YOU. I MEAN, EMERGENCE OF NAMI. I MEAN, JUST INCREDIBLE AS TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING. BUT I THINK THIS IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS HOW IT'S INCREASING AT SUCH A RAPID, YOU KNOW, PACE. AND THAT DOESN'T YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO SORT OF UNDERSTAND THAT AND BE AWARE AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN PREVENT IT AND WE PREVENT IT BY KNOWLEDGE, BY INFORMATION, BY IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY. BY TEACHERS, I MEAN JUST THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO COME TOGETHER. I'VE ALWAYS SAID EVERY SINGLE OPPORTUNITY I HAVE IS THAT WHEN OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, THEY COME TOGETHER AND AND I KNOW THIS WILL BE THE SAME. I THINK WE FEEL WHEN ANYTHING GOES WRONG TO ONE PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE SHOULD ALL FEEL THAT THAT IMPACT AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THE FAMILY. AND AS COMMISSIONER SAID, YOU KNOW THIS, THE IMPACT IS IS EVERLASTING. I MEAN, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ANY FAMILY. AND WHEN ONE OF THE MEMBERS HAS GOES THROUGH THAT SITUATION, THE FAMILY IS DEVASTATED. AND SO ANYTIME WE COULD PREVENT ONE SUICIDE JUST BY THE KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION, I THINK WE SHOULD ALL FEEL VERY, YOU KNOW, VERY GOOD ABOUT THAT. SO I THANK YOU BOTH FOR WHAT YOU DO, COMMISSIONER, BACK TO YOU. BUT THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THAT ADVOCACY OF SOMETHING THAT I JUST FEEL THAT THE COMMUNITY STILL DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW QUICKLY IT'S GROWING AND THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING ON IN ON THE FAMILIES HERE IN EL PASO. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU JUDGE. AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ISIDRO AND TO RENEE AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU REPRESENT. EIN DOES A GREAT JOB, ESPECIALLY ON THE CLINICAL SIDE, AND ALSO ADVOCATING AT THE STATE LEVEL WITH THE TEXAS CONFERENCE FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS, COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND THEN OF COURSE, NAMI HERE LOCALLY, ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR FOR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, IT REALLY DOES. IT REALLY DOES HELP AND IT REALLY DOES CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO. THANK. YOU. AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER SIX IS PUBLIC COMMENT. WE DO HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. FIRST UP WE HAVE JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THANK YOU. I WANTED TO BE DOWN HERE BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY, VERY SPECIAL PERSON THAT I GOT TO MEET. HALEY. [00:30:08] YOU'LL GET TO MEET HER AND HER STORY. BUT IF YOU WANT TO COME UP, HALEY AND BRING YOUR FRIEND [6. PUBLIC COMMENT] UP WITH YOU. COME ON, COME ON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO HALEY IS A SURVIVOR OF CANCER. SHE HAD LEUKEMIA. SHE'S GONE THROUGH VERY DIFFERENT TRIALS. AND, OF COURSE, THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WAS JUST AMAZING IN HELPING OUT. AND. BUT I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT. I WANTED TO DO A RESOLUTION. BUT AS YOU KNOW, WE GOT A LITTLE TIGHT. AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BEING ABLE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY ABOUT HALEY. I GOT TO MEET HALEY IN 2022, AND WE HAD THIS BEAUTIFUL TALK. WE WERE JUST TALKING. SOMETHING ATTRACTED ME TO HER, AND WE JUST FELT SO GOOD ABOUT THAT CONVERSATION. AND IN THAT CONVERSATION, SHE TELLS ME, YOU KNOW, JUDGE, NOTHING IS COINCIDENTAL. NOTHING'S BY ACCIDENT. AND SO I WONDERED WHY SHE HAD SAID THAT. SO DURING THE CEREMONY, THERE WAS HUNDREDS OF PICTURES THAT WERE ON THE TABLE, AND THEY ASKED US TO PICK ONE OF THE PICTURES AND WITHOUT KNOWING, I HAD NO CLUE. I PICKED THIS PICTURE HERE AND I LOOKED DOWN AND IT'S HALEY'S. AND SHE LOOKS AT ME AND SHE TELLS ME, LIKE, I TOLD YOU, NOTHING. NOTHING IS BY ACCIDENT. SO I WANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO LET HER KNOW HER COURAGE AND HOW MUCH SHE HAS HELPED OTHERS. BECAUSE AS WE GO THROUGH THESE TRIALS, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF A BEACON. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT SHE'S A BEACON. SHE'S GONE THROUGH SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME. THANK YOU TO THE PARENTS AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE DONE. BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, JUST TO GIVE THAT SENSE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SURVIVE, YOU CAN BE THERE, RING THAT BELL AND BE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. SO I'M VERY PROUD, I TELL HER THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LIFELONG FRIENDS. THERE'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED THERE THAT I JUST FELT SO GOOD ABOUT, AND I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED HALEY AND I'LL. I'VE GOT A LITTLE CERTIFICATE FOR HER AND IT SAYS CERTIFICATE OF STRENGTH AND SURVIVORSHIP. THIS CERTIFICATE IS PROUDLY PRESENTED TO HALEY OSATA, WHOSE VICTORY OVER LEUKEMIA IS A TESTAMENT OF HOW TRUE STRENGTH IS NOT MEASURED BY BATTLES WE FACE, BUT BY THE COURAGE THAT WE OVERCOME THEM. DURING CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, WE CELEBRATE YOUR JOURNEY AND THE LASTING HOPE YOU INSPIRE IN OTHERS. FROM MY BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD. THANK YOU. I'LL LET YOU SHARE A FEW WORDS AND I WANT YOU TO INTRODUCE YOUR FRIEND AND LET THEM KNOW WHO SHE IS. OF COURSE. HI, MY NAME IS HALEY OZAITA AND I'M A CANCER SURVIVOR OF TWO TIMES. THE SECOND TIME WAS PRETTY ROUGH, SO I HAD TO GET A BONE MARROW. IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIMELINE. AND THIS IS MY SISTER. SHE'S NOT ONLY MY BEST FRIEND, BUT SHE IS MY LITTLE SISTER. AND SHE GAVE ME HER BONE MARROW. AND NOW I'M HERE TODAY, SO YAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HALEY, YOUR BEST FRIEND? SOMETIMES WE DO FIGHT, BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE OUR LITTLE BOND. BUT I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE AND HAPPY THAT YOU'RE HERE WITH US TODAY. LOVE YOU, THANK YOU, LOVE YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE SIGNED UP IS COMMISSIONER SERGIO CORONADO. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I JUST WANT TO. TELL THE COURT I HAD A BUSY THIS LAST WEEK. I ATTENDED A INTERNATIONAL ASSESSORS CONFERENCE, WHICH TO ME, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW EXISTED UNTIL EARLIER THIS SUMMER. BUT APART FROM THAT, AND I ALSO ATTENDED A CONFERENCE IN WACO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE IN THE COUNTY AND OUR OUR COURT IS VERY, VERY, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTIVE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE IMPROVE OUR TREE CANOPY FROM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE VOTED ON LAST YEAR. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE CONFERENCE, THERE WAS ONE PARTICULAR SESSION I WAS TELLING COMMISSIONER OLGUIN THAT WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN ASSESS A DATA CENTER, WHICH IS A BIG PROJECT THAT'S COMING INTO OUR COUNTY. AND SO JUST THAT ALONE AT THAT CONFERENCE WAS WAS WELL WORTH [00:35:04] MY ATTENDANCE. ADDITIONALLY, THE TREE CONFERENCE, IT JUST KIND OF OPENED MY EYES THAT ESPECIALLY FOR EL PASO THAT WE ARE SO TREE AND VEGETATION CHALLENGED THAT WE SHOULD ALWAYS LOOK WHEN WE DO PROJECTS, THAT WE SHOULD ALWAYS LOOK AT TREES AND VEGETATION AND NATIVE PLANTS NOT AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT, BUT RATHER THAT IS PART OF THE ACTUAL PROJECT ITSELF AND SOMETHING THAT'S, YOU KNOW, INNATE FROM THE PROJECT ITSELF AS WELL. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY, VERY GOOD TO ATTEND THIS CONFERENCE FROM BEING AMONGST PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOTHING BUT THE BEST WISHES TO IMPROVE THE CANOPY, NOT JUST IN IN TEXAS, BUT IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES. SO I MET PEOPLE FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES AND HOW THEY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY DO, AND THEY WORK TO IMPROVE OUR TREE CANOPY THROUGHOUT. AND AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUST WAS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF STARTLED ME THAT. THAT THEY'VE DONE, THEY'VE DID A STUDY, ONE OF THE. ONE OF THE PROFESSORS ABOUT TRYING TO RELATE. IF THERE'S A CORRELATION BETWEEN TREE CANOPY AND TREE EQUITY WITHIN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES AND MENTAL HEALTH AND DEPRESSION, ACTUALLY. AND SURE CAME OUT THAT WAY. THERE'S SOME OTHER FACTORS. OBVIOUSLY, THE STUDY IS STILL NEEDS SOME MORE DEVELOPMENT, BUT I WAS VERY, YOU KNOW, SURPRISED THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, TREE HAVING TREES DOES HAVE AN IMPACT IN OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND OUR OUTLOOK ON THE WAY WE LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'M GLAD THAT THAT THE COURT HAS TAKEN THE INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE OUR TREE CANOPY IN THIS COUNTY. SO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. AND I THINK THERE IS A VIDEO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE IT. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. IT'S THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH. I'M AT THE WACO CONVENTION CENTER AT THE TEXAS TREE CONFERENCE ONE, AND I'M JUST GOING TO SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE VENDORS THAT ARE HERE. EVERYTHING ABOUT TREES, HOW TO GO ABOUT MAINTAINING THEM. THIS IS THE THIS IS THE EXHIBITOR HALL THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW. THEY'VE GOT EVERYTHING FROM EQUIPMENT, CHEMICALS, HOW TO TAKE CARE OF AND MAINTAIN TREES. EVERY IT'S SOMETHING PRETTY NEW. THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT. I'M GOING TO SAY 6 TO 7, 800 PEOPLE THAT ARE ATTENDING FROM ALL OVER TEXAS, ACTUALLY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT ARE HERE FOR THIS CONFERENCE. WANT TO SAY HI TO EVERYBODY BACK HOME IN EL PASO AND STAY TUNED. I'LL BE LEARNING A LOT MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TREES AND HOW WE CAN INCREASE OUR TREE CANOPY IN EL PASO. IF YOU'RE EVER LOOKING FOR FREE SEED OR IF YOU NEED HELP GROWING SEEDLINGS, ANY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, REACH OUT TO ME AND I CAN HELP YOU OUT. ALL RIGHT. JAMES, WHAT'S YOUR WHERE ARE YOU FROM? SO I'M OUT OF COLLEGE STATION AT THE FOREST SCIENCE LAB, AND I OVERSEE THE NURSERY THERE. WE DO RESEARCH TRIALS, AND WE DO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING OUT THERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. JAMES. I KNOW IT'S THE LIGHTS ARE ON, AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE HOME, I WASN'T SURE. I JUST ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE I THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH AMERICAN FORESTS. I GOT A CONTACT WITH. HE'S OUT OF PHOENIX AND HE WORKS WITH COMMUNITIES IN, IN DOING PROJECTS TO IMPROVE CANOPIES AND COMMUNITIES. AND I THINK WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO HIM. I'M GOING TO BE VISITING WITH HIM HOPEFULLY IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. AND ADDITIONALLY, I LEARNED THAT AT KLYDE WARREN PARK IN DALLAS WITH THE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT, ALONG WITH THE CITY AND TXDOT TO DO SOMETHING, IS THAT THE TREES THAT THEY PLANTED THERE ARE CLONES. SOME OF THOSE ARE ALL CLONES. AND THEY DID THAT [00:40:06] BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS TREES THAT THAT GREW A CERTAIN WAY AND A CERTAIN HEIGHT AND A CERTAIN CANOPY THAT THEY HAD TO BE ABLE TO. YOU KNOW, I WAS SURPRISED BY THE FACT THAT THAT'S THE WAY THEY DID THE TREE CANOPY THERE AT KLYDE WARREN PARK. AND SO THE TEXAS A&M EXTENSION SERVICE, THIS GENTLEMAN HERE, JAMES, ALSO, THEY DO THAT THEY HAVE PROJECTS AND THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEM. IF WE CAN DEDICATE A COUPLE ACRES IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEY'LL LET US GROW SOME TREES. THEY'LL COME BACK AND CHECK ON THEM TO MAKE SURE. AND THEN FROM FROM THE TREES THAT GROW BETTER IN OUR AREA, THEY ACTUALLY WILL TAKE AND, YOU KNOW, TAKE SEED OR CLONE THOSE TREES SO THAT WE CAN GROW THESE SAME TYPES OF TREES IN OUR COMMUNITY OR IN, YOU KNOW, DRY CLIMATES LIKE OURS. THEY HAVEN'T DONE THEY'VE DONE SOME IN THE REST OF TEXAS, BUT THEY HAVEN'T DONE IN IN OUR DRY CLIMATE. EL PASO AND I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT IT. AND HE SAYS THEY'RE OPEN TO TO WORKING WITH US. SO GREAT JOB COMMISSIONER. GREAT. GREAT VIDEO OKAY. GREAT MUSIC. THANKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, WE HAVE MISS BETSY KELLER, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THAT WAS NOT ONLY AMAZING INFORMATION, BUT I AGREE WITH THE JUDGE. THOSE AV SKILLS MIGUEL AND ALEXIS BETTER WATCH OUT, I WAS IMPRESSIVE. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE ONE OF OUR COUNTY ADMIN EMPLOYEES WHO WE ALL KNOW, BUT WHO HAS A NEW IDENTIFIER. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE WINNER OF UTEP'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS JOURNALISM AWARD. HE HATES THIS KIND OF ATTENTION, BUT I'M GIVING IT TO HIM ANYWAYS. THE HIX AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM TO RAMON BRACAMONTES. WELL. RAMON RAMON HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO JOURNALISM, AND WHILE HE IS NOW A COUNTY FAMILY MEMBER, HE STILL IS MY LINK TO CRITICAL NEWS AND INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM. I ALSO AM VERY PROUD OF HIM FOR RECEIVING THIS AWARD THAT WAS GIVEN TO HIM THIS WEEKEND AT THE UTEP HOMECOMING OVER THIS MAJOR WEEKEND FOR THEM, AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THE NEWS WITH THE COURT. AND TO THOSE WATCHING. AND HE HE REALLY DOES NOT LIKE THIS KIND OF ATTENTION, BUT HE REALLY DESERVES IT. SO I WANT TO JUST TO GIVE HIM A SHOUT OUT, I'M SORRY SOMEONE, BUT YOU YOU DESERVE THIS ATTENTION. JUST A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU BETSY. THANKS EVERYBODY. AND YES, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE AN OUTSTANDING ALUMNI FROM THE LIBERAL COLLEGE AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT. SO, I MEAN, EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT WHAT I DID AS A REPORTER GOING AROUND THE WORLD HAVING BREAKFAST WITH FIDEL CASTRO, DINNER WITH PRESIDENT REAGAN AND OTHER THINGS. BUT I NEVER TALKED ABOUT. I'LL TELL YOU ALL IN PRIVATE. I CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT. BUT IT WAS A TOUGH TIME. TIMES I HAD GONE THROUGH TO MAKE IT BY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. EXCELLENT. WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER WE HAVE SIGNED UP IS MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD. GOOD MORNING. ELIZABETH. I JUST HAVE A GOOD DAY. HI, GUYS. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I'VE BEEN BACK IN NEW JERSEY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND I'LL JUST QUICKLY SAY I JUST JUST NOW HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO AN EVENT AND DON ALEXANDER, THE KID, THE YOUNG ISRAELI HOSTAGE WHO GOT RELEASED AND MY FRIENDS AND I FOR FOR TWO YEARS, WE WERE PRAYING, PRAYING, PRAYING. AND IT WAS JUST A PLEASURE TO SEE HIM IN PERSON HERE IN TENAFLY, NEW JERSEY. GOT TO GIVE HIM A HUG. JUST JUST THRILLED. I WANT TO I WANT TO SPEAK THIS MORNING ABOUT NATIONAL BABY SAFETY MONTH AND ABORTION. I HEARD AN EXCELLENT STATEMENT MADE ON MANY OCCASIONS THAT THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE IF YOU LIVE IN AMERICA IS IN THE WOMB. THE STATISTICS ARE JARRING. THERE ARE REPORTS THAT NEARLY ONE THIRD OF GEN Z IS NOT ALIVE TODAY DUE TO ABORTION, AND IN REALITY, IT'S NO DOUBT FAR MORE THAN ONE THIRD, AS A MORNING AFTER PILL CAN CAUSE A VERY EARLY ABORTION. SEPTEMBER IS DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL BABY SAFETY MONTH. IT'S HYPOCRITICAL TO HONOR THIS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY EMBRACING ABORTION ON DEMAND AS A WOMAN'S RIGHT. THERE'S A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE LORD'S HEART FOR CHILDREN. WE ARE TOLD BY THE LORD JESUS, TRULY I SAY TO YOU, EXCEPT YE BE CONVERTED AND BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, YOU SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS IN SANTA TERESA. [00:45:06] ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, OUTSIDE THE ABORTION CENTER, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET A MAN NAMED NORBERT. NORBERT IS EUROPEAN BACKGROUND AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, HE DOES NOT ENGAGE IN PRO-LIFE FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS. BUT HE SAID HE SIMPLY SICKENED BY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ABORTION. I'VE HEARD NORBERT CRITICIZED, EVEN BY MANY PRO-LIFERS, BECAUSE HE PUTS UP THE VERY, VERY GRAPHIC PICTURES. ACTUALLY, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. AS ANOTHER PRO-LIFER ONCE SAID, IF IT'S SO HORRIBLE THAT WE CAN'T STAND TO LOOK AT IT, THEN WHY AMERICA ARE WE DOING IT? NORBERT IS INCENSED BY THE FACT THAT ABORTION IS BRUTALLY TAKING OUT THE MOST DEFENSELESS, THE MOST VULNERABLE. I RECENTLY READ MORE ABOUT THE PATRICK CRUSIUS MANIFESTO, AND BEFORE THE SHOOTING OF THE MASS OF PEOPLE IN WALMART, HE MADE THIS DERANGED COMMENT. REMEMBER, IT IS NOT COWARDLY TO PICK LOW HANGING FRUIT. THE IDEA THAT IT'S NOT COWARDLY TO KILL THOSE WHO ARE DEFENSELESS, THE MOST DEFENSELESS IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY ARE THOSE IN THE WOMB. IN THE FIRST MURDER IN OUR WORLD, THE SONS OF ADAM AND EVE, CAIN KILLED ABEL. WE READ THESE WORDS AFTER THIS ASSASSINATION. GOD SAID, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? THE VOICE OF YOUR BROTHER'S BLOOD CRIES OUT UNTO ME FROM THE GROUND. AMERICA, THE THE BLOOD OF YOUR UNBORN CRIES OUT TO A HOLY GOD. AMERICA, REPENT! THANK YOU AND HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU. LIKEWISE, ELIZABETH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT COMPLETES ALL OUR SPEAKERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. ITEM SEVEN PRESENTATION SEVEN A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE EL PASO COUNTY SHINING STARS AWARD, NAMING THE FOUR SHINING STARS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF FY 26. [A. Receive a presentation regarding the El Paso County Shining Stars award, naming the four Shining Stars for the first quarter of FY26. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600] GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I THINK WE'RE PULLING UP. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US EVERY QUARTER TO BRING THIS ITEM FORWARD AND SPEND SOME TIME RECOGNIZING OUR COUNTY STARS. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS YOUR STRATEGIC GOAL TO VALUE THE COUNTY FAMILY, AND WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE COURT'S COMMITMENT TO THIS GOAL. IT'S AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO PRESENT OUR EPIC SHINING STARS FOR THIS QUARTER. EPIC, AS YOU KNOW, MEANS BEYOND EXTRAORDINARY, BEYOND ORDINARY OR USUAL, AND IS ALSO, IN THIS CASE, THE ACRONYM THAT WE USE TO ILLUSTRATE THE COUNTY'S VALUES, EXCELLENCE, PROFESSIONALISM, INTEGRITY AND CREATIVITY. THIS AWARD IS DESIGNED TO HONOR THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO EXHIBIT THE COUNTY'S EPIC VALUES IN AN EXEMPLARY WAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS, FELLOW COUNTY EMPLOYEES, AND ULTIMATELY, THE COMMUNITY AND THE COUNTY OF EL PASO. IN ADDITION TO TODAY'S PRESENTATION, THE HONOREES WILL RECEIVE A FRAMED COMMEMORATIVE CERTIFICATE, A PROFESSIONAL GRADE DIGITAL SELF PORTRAIT, A FLAG THAT WAS FLOWN OVER THE EL PASO COUNTY COURTHOUSE, AND SOME GIFTS WITH COUNTY BRANDING. THEY'LL HAVE THEIR PICTURE DISPLAYED HERE ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE COURTHOUSE LOBBY AS PART OF OUR EXHIBIT THAT DISPLAYS OUR MISSION, WHICH THESE INDIVIDUALS ILLUMINATE IN THE WORK THEY DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR ORGANIZATION. HERE YOU SEE THE HONOREES FROM LAST QUARTER, WHICH INCLUDE EMMANUEL. FRANCISCO STATE, LYDIA ARIAS, AND ADRIAN LUJAN. THIS QUARTER, WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE FOUR EMPLOYEES THAT REPRESENT A WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES THE COUNTY PROVIDES TO OUR COMMUNITY. GIL MUNIZ JOINED THE COUNTY IN 2011 AND IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE CHILD SUPPORT COMPLIANCE OFFICER WITH THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE. HIS ABILITY TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX HAS PROVEN INVALUABLE IN RESOLVING COMPLEX ISSUES FOR THE FAMILIES HE SERVES. HE ALWAYS GOES THE EXTRA MILE TO ENSURE EVERY CUSTOMER FEELS HEARD AND SUPPORTED. GIL'S CREATIVE APPROACH UNDERSCORES HIS LEADERSHIP AND CONFIDENCE IN THE WORKPLACE. HE TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS WORK. HE SEEKS CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND DEMONSTRATES AN ADMIRABLE DEDICATION TO PERSONAL GROWTH. WITH HIS ANALYTICAL MINDSET AND RESULTS ORIENTED APPROACH, GIL CONSISTENTLY DELIVERS HIGH PRODUCTIVITY OUTSIDE OF WORK. GIL CONTINUES TO EMBODY EPIC VALUES THROUGH HIS CREATIVITY. HE ENJOYS WOODWORKING, BUILDING SHELVES AND SMALL CABINETS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND EVEN DESIGNED A REMODELING PROJECT FOR HIS HOME. HE'S ALSO AN AMATEUR FINANCIAL INVESTMENT PLANNER AND LOVES RESEARCHING HUMANITY'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I DO UNDERSTAND WHY BRIAN STATED GIL'S PROFESSIONAL AND DISTINCT [00:50:03] CREATIVE APPROACH UNDERSCORE HIS EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND CONFIDENCE IN THE WORKPLACE. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU, GIL. NEXT, WE HAVE LUIS ROJAS, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT WITH THE COUNTY. FOR THE PAST DECADE, SHE'S BEEN AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT FOR THE PAST DECADE, WITH EXPERIENCE IN BOTH CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT. SHE TAKES PRIDE IN HELPING OTHERS NAVIGATE THEIR OWN COUNTY JOURNEY. HER PROFESSIONALISM ALWAYS SHINES THROUGH, BRINGING A PERSONAL TOUCH TO HER SERVICE. LUIS HAS BUILT STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH FELLOW EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS TO STRENGTHEN COUNTY OPERATIONS. BEYOND HER ALREADY DEMANDING WORKLOAD, SHE HAS STEPPED UP TO TAKE ON ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES FROM VACANT POSITIONS IN THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT, ENSURING UNINTERRUPTED SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY. ONE AREA THAT I CAN THINK OF IS WHEN WE WERE SHORT, WHEN WE HAD A VACANCY IN OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, YOU WOULD SEE OFTEN SEE LUIS COORDINATING WITH THE VOLUNTEERS, TRAINING THE VOLUNTEERS, AND JUST TAKING ON THAT ROLE TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T MISS A BEAT. AND OUTSIDE OF WORK, LUCY IS IS EQUALLY GIVING. SHE ENJOYS WITH LIFE, WITH HER FATHER, HER TWO DOGS AND HER SON, AND SHE HAS AN IMPRESSIVE SEAHORSE COLLECTION AND A PASSION FOR TRAVELING THE WORLD. FOR THESE REASONS, MELISSA CREEL SHARED, I AM GRATEFUL TO WORK ALONGSIDE A GIVING, SERVING AND HUMBLE HUMAN BEING. SHE MAKES MY LIFE BETTER EVERY DAY, AND I COULDN'T FOCUS ON WHAT I DO WITHOUT HER BY MY SIDE. ERIC CELEBRATES ERIC HERNANDEZ WITH FACILITIES, CELEBRATES EIGHT YEARS AS THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING MANAGER IN OUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING MAINTENANCE SERVICES ACROSS MORE THAN 60 COUNTY FACILITIES. AND DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, ERIC AND HIS TEAM EXEMPLIFY EXCELLENCE, ENSURING FACILITIES REMAIN FULLY OPERATIONAL SO DEPARTMENTS CAN ACCOMPLISH THEIR DAILY MISSIONS. HE ENCOURAGES HIS STAFF TO THINK CREATIVELY, AND HE CONSISTENTLY LOOKS FOR INNOVATIVE, COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO COMPLEX PROJECTS. ERIC HAS PROVEN TO BE A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO FACILITIES MAINTENANCE AND TO THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE. IN HIS DOWNTIME, ERIC DEMONSTRATES THE SAME COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. A PROUD NAVY VETERAN, HE ENJOYS FISHING, HUNTING AND SKEET SHOOTING. AS FACILITIES DIRECTOR ROBIN SULLY PUT IT, ERIC IS A HARD WORKER WHO NEVER BACKS DOWN FROM A CHALLENGE AND IS THE TYPE OF MANAGER THAT LEADS BY EXAMPLE. THIS PAST AUGUST, MOLINA CELEBRATED 13 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE COUNTY AND WE HAVE AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT. SHE WAS RECENTLY SELECTED BY NORMA FAVELA. I'M SORRY, NORMA RIVERA PALACIOS AS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. SHE IS CONSISTENTLY EMBODIES THE PRINCIPLES OF EXCELLENCE, PROFESSIONALISM, INTEGRITY AND CREATIVITY. HER QUICK, DECISIVE ACTION IN UNPREDICTABLE SITUATIONS HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE SUCCESS OF NUMEROUS PROJECTS. AS PROJECT MANAGER AND SUPERVISOR OF PARK PROJECTS, SHE'S LED HER TEAM TO ACHIEVE SHARED GOALS WHILE FOSTERING STRONG COLLABORATION WITH BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS. OUTSIDE OF WORK, MOLINA HAS LONG BEEN ACTIVE IN THE BAND AND COLOR GUARD COMMUNITY. SHE HAS TOURED NATIONALLY AS A PERFORMER, COACH LOCAL PROGRAMS THAT HAVE COMPETED ON THE NATIONAL STAGE, JUDGED WINTERGUARD AND MARCHING MARCHING BAND CONTEST, AND EVEN SERVED ON A REGIONAL CIRCUIT BOARD. HER CONTRIBUTIONS WERE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE APPLE TV DOCUMENTARY ON ON GUARD A STORY OF AMERICAN YOUTH. HER INTEGRITY HAS EARNED HER THE EPIC COUNTY STAR AWARD FOR A SECOND TIME AS DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NORMA RIVERA PALACIOS SHARED, SHE IS TRULY AN INVALUABLE ASSET TO THE COUNTY AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. JUST THIS LAST WEEK, WE BROKE GROUND ON A PROJECT THAT MOLINA IS LEADING AT THE SPORTS PARK TO UPGRADE OUR LIGHTING THERE, AND ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HER INNOVATION AND HER INTEGRITY THERE WAS SHE'S WORKING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN REPURPOSE THE LIGHTS THAT WERE THERE FOR ANOTHER AREA THAT COULD USE PARK LIGHTING. I WANT TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR NOMINATING THESE EMPLOYEES FOR THIS RECOGNITION. THEY KNOW THAT THE WORK DONE AS PUBLIC SERVANTS IS IMPORTANT AND IMPACTFUL. WE APPRECIATE THE SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP COMMISSIONERS YOU HAVE SHOWN THROUGH YOUR GOAL OF VALUING THE COUNTY FAMILY AND ENCOURAGING US TO RECOGNIZE AND TAKE CARE OF EMPLOYEES. IT HELPS MAKE US AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THIS QUARTER'S EPIC SHINING STARS. BETSY, THIS IS. I'M A LITTLE BIASED, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROGRAMS FOR A LOT OF REASONS. I MEAN, [00:55:04] RECOGNIZING. AND THIS GROUP IS AMAZING, BUT RECOGNIZING INDIVIDUALS THAT DO OUTSTANDING WORK, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S ALWAYS TRYING TO GET BETTER. AND I THINK THIS REALLY HELPS, LIKE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE STARTING WITH THE COUNTY TO SORT OF KNOW THESE ARE THIS IS YOUR YOUR BENCHMARK. THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT THAT WE HONOR. AND I HOPE THAT THEY TOO, YOU KNOW, GET TO TALK TO OTHERS ABOUT THEIR SUCCESS AND THE MENTORING. AND BUT I REALLY BELIEVE THIS IS A EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAM THAT SORT OF LIKE SATURDAY. RIGHT? WE HAVE A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR OUR COUNTY FAMILY, BUT THEN YOU GET INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE COUNTY. AND SO THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THIS PROGRAM GOING. IT'S OUR PLEASURE. THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE SOME HERE THAT WE COULD TAKE A PICTURE WITH? THERE'S I THINK AT LEAST TWO OF THEM IN THE AUDIENCE. IF YOU ARE AN EPIC STAR THIS QUARTER, IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD. MOLINA AND LUZ AND I DO LOVE AND I THINK WE'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE. I MEAN, WE HAVE SUCH A VARIETY OF PEOPLE BEING RECOGNIZED, YOU KNOW, A LOT AND A LOT OF THEM ARE BEHIND THE SCENES. WE DON'T SEE THEM EVERY DAY. SO. BUT LIKE MOLINA AND LUCE, I JUST WE'RE SO INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS LIKE THIS AMONGST OUR TEAM. THANK YOU. WELL DESERVED. YES. ITEM SEVEN BE RECEIVE A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE INTERNATIONAL CITY COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, CITY COUNTY MANAGEMENT, YOUNG SOUTHEAST ASIAN LEADERS INITIATIVE, PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS PROGRAM. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND [B. Receive a presentation regarding the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) City/County Management Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program (YSEALI PFP). Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600] COMMISSIONERS LORENA RODRIGUEZ FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. SINCE 2012, ICMA HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTING US STATE DEPARTMENT PROFESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS. INITIALLY THESE THESE EXCHANGES WERE FOCUSED ON LEGISLATIVE AND GOVERNANCE TECHNICAL AREAS BROADLY. HOWEVER, SINCE 2018, SINCE 2018, ICMA HAS IMPLEMENTED PROFESSIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS SPECIFICALLY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE YOUNG SOUTHEAST ASIAN LEADERS INSTITUTE, ALSO KNOWN AS WISELY PROGRAM, WHERE MANY ICMA MEMBERS HOST THESE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE US. THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS. SELECTED PARTICIPANTS WILL TRAVEL TO THE US FOR SIX WEEKS DURING THEIR FELLOWSHIP PERIOD. SELECTED FELLOWS WILL BE HOSTED BY AN ORGANIZATION FOR FOUR WEEKS. ICMA WILL MATCH SELECTED FELLOWS WITH A HOST ORGANIZATION BASED ON THEIR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND, TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, AND COMMUNITY. CHALLENGE FELLOWS WILL IDENTIFY WITH A COMMUNITY CHALLENGE AND FIND A WAY TO ADDRESS IT. AFTER THE PROGRAM, FELLOWS WILL WORK WITH THEIR AMERICAN HOSTS DURING THE PROGRAM TO FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO SOLVE THAT CHALLENGE. I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THAT EL PASO COUNTY WILL BE HOSTING THEIR FIRST TWO WHITE FELLOWS WHOSE AREAS OF INTEREST ARE AGRICULTURE, AGRICULTURAL WASTE MANAGEMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU, CARMELA JOAN TRIANA'S FROM THE PHILIPPINES. SHE'S A SEASONED PROFESSIONAL WITH EXTENSIVE, EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPMENT AND DISASTER RESPONSE. HAVING WORKED ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT, THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE RED CROSS, SHE HAS OVER A DECADE OF EXPERTISE IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT, MONITORING AND EVALUATION, AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION, WITH A FOCUS ON SUPPORTING MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. KAMALA HAS LED LARGE SCALE OPERATIONS, INCLUDING THE SKILLS FOR PROSPERITY PROJECT, WHERE SHE INFLUENCED NATIONAL LABOR POLICIES AND HELPED DEVELOP COMPETENCY STANDARDS FOR TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL COURSES IN AGRICULTURE. SHE HAS WORKED IN DISASTER AND [01:00:01] EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND IS COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING SMALLHOLDER FARMERS THROUGH DIGITAL AGRICULTURE. DIGITAL AGRICULTURE INITIATIVES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. ON HER FELLOWSHIP, SHE'S INTERESTED IN DIGITAL AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND EMPOWER FARMERS, ESPECIALLY IN DISASTER PRONE AREAS. SHE WANTS TO DEEPEN HER KNOWLEDGE OF DISASTER RESILIENCE STRATEGIES, PARTICULARLY HOW AGRICULTURE COMMUNITIES CAN ADAPT TO AND RECOVER FROM CLIMATE RELATED CHALLENGES. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE CYRILLIC CORN FROM CAMBODIA. SHE'S A COMMITTED GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING UNDER CAMBODIA'S MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES. WITH OVER A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE IN AGRICULTURE, DEVELOPMENT AND RURAL CAPACITY BUILDING, SHE SPECIALIZES IN SUSTAINABLE FARMING, CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. SHE HOLDS A MASTER'S DEGREE, MASTER'S DEGREES IN CLIMATE CHANGE AND IN AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT. IN HER ROLE, SHE LEADS RESEARCH ON WATER SAVING TECHNIQUES, CLIMATE RESILIENT FARMING METHODS, AND POST-HARVEST INNOVATIONS. SHE ORGANIZES TECHNICAL TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS TO EMPOWER FARMERS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES, ENHANCING THEIR LIVELIHOODS THROUGH SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES. BEYOND HER PROFESSIONAL WORK, SIRILAK VOLUNTEERS IN INITIATIVES PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE. SHE WOULD LIKE TO DEEPEN HER KNOWLEDGE OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE, AND WOULD LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT INNOVATIVE CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. ADDITIONALLY, SHE'S INTERESTED IN COMMUNITY BASED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. THEIR FELLOWSHIP WILL RUN FROM SEPTEMBER 20TH 9TH TO OCTOBER 24TH, DURING WHICH THEY WILL WORK WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND THE TEXAS A&M AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH THEM AND LEARNING FROM THEM AT THE SAME TIME. SO I WOULD LIKE TO LET THE TWO FELLOWS GIVE A LITTLE BRIEF INTRODUCTION ABOUT THEMSELVES AND HOW THEY'RE EXCITED TO BE COLLABORATING WITH EL PASO COUNTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. EVERYONE AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE OF EL PASO FOR THE SUPER WARM WELCOME. I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK LAURA AND THE OPERATIONS TEAM FOR THEIR TIME AND THOUGHTFUL INTRODUCTION, AND EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN COORDINATING AND WORKING WITH US FOR THE PAST MONTHS. EVEN WITH THE DIFFERENCE IN TIME ZONE, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW POLICIES DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED AT THE COUNTY, AND HOW THESE LESSONS CAN GUIDE ME IN IMPROVING HOW WE APPROACH THESE PROCESSES BACK HOME IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND HOW I COULD ALSO INFLUENCE DOING IT IN THE COUNTRIES THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH. I'M CURRENTLY WORKING WITH COUNTRIES LIKE CAMBODIA AND VIETNAM ON DIGITAL AGRICULTURE AND. OVER THE WEEKEND, I ACTUALLY HAD THE TIME TO VISIT THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY, AND I WAS REALLY GLAD TO SEE HOW DEEPLY FILIPINOS ARE ROOTED AND INCLUDED IN YOUR STORY. AND IT MAKES SO MUCH DIFFERENCE, AND EVEN, OF COURSE, MORE MEANINGFUL. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR TODAY'S AHEAD AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, SHARE AND CONNECT WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAD AND EVERYONE FOR WARM WELCOME. ACTUALLY, MAYBE I'M A BIT NERVOUS BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST TIME FOR ME TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE. SO AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INTRODUCING ME. AND ACTUALLY, BESIDES HER INTRODUCTION, I HOPE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM LIKE EL PASO COUNTY WORKFORCE. AND ALSO, I HOPE TO GAIN NEW KNOWLEDGE RELATED TO SUSTAINABILITY, AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE AND ALSO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND I HOPE TO LEARN ABOUT THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN COMMUNITY LEVEL. AND ALSO, I HOPE TO GAIN MORE OPPORTUNITY AND LESSON LEARN TO COMMUNITY LIKE EL PASO COUNTY AND IN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LESSON, LEARN TO CONTRIBUTE CAMBODIA CONTEXT AS WELL. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. WHAT AN AMAZING. I HOPE EVERYBODY IS AS IMPRESSED AS I AM ABOUT THEIR THEIR TALENT AND THEIR ABILITIES TO. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN COMMISSIONER STOUT'S OFFICE AND, YOU KNOW, [01:05:05] AGRICULTURE FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AND EVERY OTHER, THE COMMISSIONERS MYSELF, I HOPE THAT YOU DO SPEND TIME WITH US BECAUSE CLIMATE AND AGRICULTURE IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF US MOVING FORWARD. BUT, BETSY, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO GET LEARN MORE FROM THEM OR THEM FROM US. I'M LIKE, YOU'RE A BENCHMARK NOW THAT THAT WE'RE GOING TO REALLY LEARN A LOT FROM YOU. AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS DO THAT. BUT THIS IS VERY IMPRESSIVE WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU COULD SHARE WITH US AND HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING WE COULD SHARE WITH YOU AND CREATE THAT BOND. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST IT'S FASCINATING TO HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS OF THIS CALIBER BE PART OF OUR TEAM. SO WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU. THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THAT YOU JUST I WANT TO THANK LORENA FOR LEADING THE APPLICATION FOR THIS AND FOR REALLY I MEAN, LIKE FROM THE AIRPORT TO GETTING THEM SETTLED IN TO WHICH WAS NOT NOT AS SMOOTH AS WE WISH IT WOULD HAVE BEEN, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE SMOOTH NOW, BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE HER LEADERSHIP ON IT, AND WE'RE SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO HOST THIS PROGRAM. WE'VE TRIED TO HOST IT BEFORE, AND THERE WERE SOME HICCUPS IN THE PROGRAM ITSELF, BUT AS YOU SEE, THEY BRING KNOWLEDGE. WELL, WE'RE GOING TO SHARE HOW SOME THINGS WORK HERE. THEY BRING KNOWLEDGE IN THEIR OWN FIELDS. I DO I MEAN, I WAS THINKING, I THINK WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE APPLICATIONS, WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE RED FLOUR BEETLE ISSUE AND I WAS LIKE, I WISH WE HAD THEM NOW. I WISH WE HAD THEM HERE RIGHT NOW. SO. AND THEN, LIKE WHEN YOU'RE LIKE COMMISSIONER CORONADO TALKING ABOUT THE TREE CANOPIES AND THE IMPACTS OF THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO ALSO WORK WITH OUR AG CO-OP DEPARTMENT, THERE'S JUST AND THE CLIMATE WORK, THERE'S JUST SO MUCH VALUE THAT THEY'LL ADD TO US WHILE WE'RE SHARING WITH THEM. AND SO PLEASED TO HAVE THEM. AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO USE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS TO MAKE OUR WORLD SMALLER AND MORE UNITED. YEAH, IT'S SO MUCH LIKE THINGS THAT WE DO, LIKE PARTNERING AND, YOU KNOW, HELPING EACH OTHER. AND I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT EXAMPLE. AND I THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE. WE WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST IN GOING FORWARD. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER I'M SORRY. YOU KNOW THAT'S REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE WORKING ON THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN OBVIOUSLY, AND, AND THAT ALL COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN. SO. WELL, AGAIN, WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU. THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT WHAT YOU DO. AND I KNOW THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER. AND, YOU KNOW, WITH RESPECT TO I'M ALL ABOUT TREES. YES. YES, SIR. TAKE A PICTURE WITH US. YEAH. THANK YOU. I'LL TAKE THE PICTURE. I'LL TAKE THE PICTURE. FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT YOU HAVE TO. WELCOME. YOUR PHONE. THANK YOU. WE'D LIKE TO GO TO ITEM NINE, BOARD APPOINTMENTS NINE A DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO SELECT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AT LARGE. APPOINTEE TO THE EL PASO [01:10:02] COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT BOARD OF MANAGERS FOR A THREE YEAR TERM ENDING MARCH 31ST, 2028. [A. Discuss and take appropriate action to select the Commissioners Court at-large appointee to the El Paso County Hospital District Board of Managers for a three-year term ending March 31, 2028. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600] GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS. MICHELLE COCHRAN WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. AS YOU RECALL, WE WENT OUT FOR APPLICATIONS IN THE SPRING FOR THIS POSITION DUE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE POSITION, YOU ALL ARE VERY DILIGENT. WE'VE CONDUCTED TWO ROUNDS OF INTERVIEWS. OUT OF ALL THE APPLICATIONS YOU RECEIVE, YOU INTERVIEWED EIGHT OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN JUNE. AND THEN LAST MONDAY YOU HAD YOUR SECOND ROUND OF INTERVIEWS. SO TODAY WE RECALL ALL OF THOSE INTERVIEWS THAT YOU HAD, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A SELECTION THAT YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO MAKE FOR APPOINTMENT TO THIS POSITION. CAN I MAKE THAT MOTION TO APPROVE THAT? YOU'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE CANDIDATE. OKAY. THEN WE WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF DOCTOR CHRISTINA PAZ FOR THE AT LARGE APPOINTEE FOR THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. THANK YOU. HOSPITAL DISTRICT BOARD. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. AND THEN. A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE MIGHT BE LISTENING, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK HER FOR, YOU KNOW, BEING A, YOU KNOW, BEING PART OF THE NOMINATION PROCESS. AND SHE'S ALSO ON HER COMMISSION OR WOMEN'S COMMISSION AND VERY PROUD. AND I KNOW SHE'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL. AND AND I ALSO WANT TO WISH MISTER HENRY GALLARDO JUST THE BEST OF. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR UMC, BEING ON THE BOARD. IT'S JUST BEEN GREAT HAVING HIM THERE, TAKING US TO THIS POINT. SO THANK YOU, HENRY, AND THANK YOU, DOCTOR BUS. THANK YOU. AND JUST JUST REAL QUICK, JUDGE, I DO WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT APPLIED, ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT THREW THEIR HAT IN TO BE PART OF THIS, THIS ORGANIZATION, PART OF UMC. WE HAD SOME REALLY AMAZING PEOPLE THAT THAT CAME THAT CAME OUT. AND IT WAS NOT AN EASY DECISION AT ALL. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN KEEP SOME OF THESE PEOPLE IN MIND FOR OTHER APPOINTMENTS IN THE FUTURE. BUT I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO WHO PARTICIPATED. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE THE CANDIDATES WERE EXTREMELY COMPETENT, AND I KNOW THAT THEY'LL DO SOME GREAT THINGS. AND LIKE YOU SAID, COMMISSIONER LETZ, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP AN EYE ON ALL OF YOU BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE FURTHER APPOINTMENTS AND EVERY ONE OF THEM WOULD BE JUST EXCELLENT FOR THE COUNTY. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, MICHELLE, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TO KEEP THINGS GOING AND KEEP THINGS MOVING AND COMMUNICATING. SO WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. THANK YOU MICHELLE. IT'S MY PLEASURE JUDGE. I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT. AND I'D BE HAPPY TO RELAY THAT MESSAGE TO THE CANDIDATES. I'M GOING TO SNEAK AWAY AND GO MAKE THOSE CALLS NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. ITEM TEN FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT TEN A WE DO HAVE A CORRECTION TO READ IN FOR THIS ITEM. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE TO ALLOCATE UP TO $6,100 IN HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS TO BE USED FOR TRANSPORTATION, FOOD AND PROMOTION OF THE EL PASO COUNTY MISSION TRAIL AND [A. Approve and authorize the County Judge’s Office to allocate up to $6,100.00 in Hotel Occupancy Tax funds to be used for transportation, food, and promotion of the El Paso County Mission Trail and the region during the 2025 Vietnam Veterans Conference on October 3, 2025. Funding is available in SR-TOURPROM-COUNTY TOURS. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591] THE REGION. DURING THE 2025 VIETNAM VETERANS CONFERENCE ON OCTOBER 3RD, 2025. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN SR TOURIST PROMOTION COUNTY TOURS, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF THE CORRESPONDING AGREEMENTS. OPINION NUMBER 9786. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE'VE HAD WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT. AND YES, WE JUST HAVE AN UPDATE. WE WE WERE WE'RE ABLE TO TO DO THIS. JUDGE, IF YOU HAVE ANY INTRODUCTORY REMARKS WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THROUGH THIS, AND WE HAVE A REVISED MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE COURT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND JUST IN GENERAL TERMS OF HONORING THE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COMING IN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONFERENCE AND BEING ABLE TO SHOW OFF, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE HERE HAS BEEN PRETTY NICE. AND I WANT TO THANK HENRY CASTILLO FOR ALL THE COORDINATION AND CYNTHIA AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S TRYING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I THINK WE HAD 140 PLUS THAT WILL BE STAYING AT HOTELS DURING THE CONFERENCE. SO VERY EXCITED THAT WE'RE ALSO BEING ABLE TO SHOW SHOW OFF OUR COMMUNITY. SO SO ERICA, YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD. AND YES, SIR. WE ALSO SHARED WITH THIS WITH THE AGENDA TEAM, BUT THE MOTION FOR THE COURT'S CONSIDERATION WOULD BE TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY TO ALLOCATE UP TO $6,100 IN HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS TO BE USED FOR TRANSPORTATION, FOOD AND PROMOTION OF THE EL PASO COUNTY MISSION TRAIL AND THE REGION DURING THE 2025 VIETNAM VETERANS CONFERENCE ON OCTOBER 3RD, 2025, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF THE CORRESPONDING AGREEMENTS. THANK YOU. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, [01:15:07] SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. ITEM TEN B DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY TO PARTNER WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS BORDERPLEX IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUPER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, AND TO DIRECT COUNTY STAFF TO DEVELOP A POTENTIAL LETTER OF INTEREST WITH SUPER CITY I FOR BROADER COLLABORATION ON INFORMATION SHARING AND INNOVATION INITIATIVES UTILIZING THE SUPER CITY PLATFORM, PENDING LEGAL REVIEW. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS BORDERPLEX LAST WEEK AND. HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE OF SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT THEY'RE UNDERTAKING RIGHT NOW AND INTRODUCE ME TO. WELL, I KNEW MR. GAMINO FROM FORMER LIVES IN PUBLIC SERVICE, BUT REINTRODUCED OURSELVES AND GET ACQUAINTED WITH SOME OF HIS LATEST PROJECTS. AND THE REASON I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BECAUSE THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF URGENCY RELATED TO SOME OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP THIS MONTH THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COURT WAS FULLY BRIEFED. AND AND IF THE COURT DECIDES TO MOVE FORWARD IN PARTNERSHIP ON EITHER OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES, I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET THAT THAT PROCESS STARTED NOW. SO JUST REALLY QUICKLY AND I ACTUALLY HEARD ABOUT THE SUPER CITY AI PROJECT DURING A RIO GRANDE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS MEETING A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND I DIDN'T CONNECT THE DOTS UNTIL I MET WITH LAYLA MELENDEZ OR OUR CEO OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS BORDERPLEX, LAST WEEK. JUST TRYING TO FIND DATA ON WORKFORCE ISSUES IN MY OWN PRECINCT. AND AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT SOME DOTS THEN. AND I KNOW THAT THE THE RIO GRANDE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS HAS ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH SUPER CITY I. AND I'LL LET MR. GAMINO DO A PRESENTATION AND FILL US IN ON WHAT THAT THAT ENTAILS. BUT THE WAY I SEE IT, THERE'S A THERE'S AN INTERSECTION WITH OUR COUNTY OPERATIONS, WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, WITH IT. A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PLATFORM THAT MR. AND HIS TEAM ARE BUILDING, TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS, WHAT IT DOES, AND HOW WE CAN SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS BETTER. SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. MR. GAMINO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TURNING THIS PRESENTATION AROUND FOR US REALLY QUICKLY AND INFORMING BOTH THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING. APPRECIATE IT. OH, AND I SHOULD I SHOULD MENTION SOME SPECIAL GUESTS. HERE ARE LAYLA MELENDEZ FROM WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, BORDERPLEX AND LAURA BUTLER FROM PIONEERS, 21, WHO ARE BOTH PARTNERS IN THESE INITIATIVES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU TO THE COURT, COMMISSIONER BUTLER, FOR HAVING US COME HERE AND SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON. I KNOW THERE'S A PRESENTATION. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ABLE TO BE QUEUED UP. OKAY. SO A LITTLE BIT OF INTRODUCTION ON ME. MIGUEL GAMINO, I'M THE CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF SUPERCITY. I AND AS MENTIONED, PARTNERED WITH WORKFORCE AND PIONEERS 21 LOCALLY TO DEVELOP A WORKFORCE PROGRAM THAT LEVERAGES OUR OUR EXPERTISE IN AI TO NOT JUST DELIVER SERVICE TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BUT ALSO HELP DEVELOP THE WORKFORCE TALENT AROUND THAT TECHNOLOGY HERE IN EL PASO. SO I'M ORIGINALLY FROM EL PASO, GRADUATED FROM UTEP. I LEFT AND CAME BACK. AND SO HERE WE ARE. WE'VE INTENTIONALLY CHOSEN TO LAUNCH OUR GLOBAL COMPANY WITH EL PASO FIRST, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF MY HOMETOWN PRIDE, BUT EL PASO OBJECTIVELY SERVES VERY WELL FOR A LAUNCH PAD FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE, ITS DIVERSITY, ITS ITS PLACEMENT IN THE US, ALL SORTS OF OBJECTIVE FACTORS. AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT I HAVE A LOT OF HOMETOWN PRIDE HERE. SO WE I ALSO SERVED IN GOVERNMENT. SO I WAS ON YOUR SIDE OF THE TABLE FOR SOME TIME. I WAS THE CIO. I STARTED MY PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNEY AS THE CIO FOR THE CITY OF EL PASO. WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY AT THAT TIME. I WENT ON TO SAN FRANCISCO AS THE CIO THERE, AND THEN I WAS THE CTO OF NEW YORK CITY BEFORE GOING TO MASTERCARD AND BUILDING THEIR GLOBAL GOVERNMENT BUSINESS, DURING WHICH WE I BROUGHT THEM BACK TO EL PASO ALSO, AND WE HAD SEVERAL PARTNERSHIPS HERE LOCALLY DURING THAT ERA. SO ALL OF THAT CAME TOGETHER AND WE LAUNCHED SUPERCITY TO HELP ADDRESS WHAT [01:20:05] WE BELIEVE IS AN ISSUE THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED THROUGH PARTNERSHIP. SO I DON'T KNOW IF I HOW DO I. YEAH. IF YOU COULD JUST MOVE TO THE NEXT. THANK YOU. SO FROM MY TIME IN GOVERNMENT, I UNDERSTOOD HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO DEPLOY TECHNOLOGY AT SPEED AND SCALE. IT'S NOT A CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNMENT. IT'S I'M POINTING AT MYSELF HAVING SERVED IN THOSE ROLES. IT'S JUST VERY, VERY CHALLENGING TO DO IT ON OUR OWN. IT WAS A COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES, PRIORITY, DEALING WITH THE DAY TO DAY ISSUES THAT GOVERNMENT IS UNIQUELY RESPONSIBLE FOR. AND SO PARTICULARLY THROUGH THAT JOURNEY IN PUBLIC SERVICE. AND THEN AT MY TIME AT MASTERCARD, I LEARNED HOW IMPORTANT THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WAS TO ACCOMPLISHING THIS. SO THERE CERTAINLY ARE GAPS IN LEGACY TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS THAT THAT SOMETIMES EVEN WORK WELL FOR THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS FROM THE INSIDE, BUT FROM THE OUTSIDE, WHAT PEOPLE ARE OFTEN EXPERIENCING IS A DELTA IN THE WAY THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING AND ENGAGING WITH GOVERNMENT, COMPARED TO HOW THEY'RE ENGAGING WITH OTHER PARTS OF THEIR LIVES. AND SO WE'VE CRAFTED A NOT ONLY A TECHNOLOGY STACK, BUT A BUSINESS MODEL. THE WAY WE ENGAGE WITH GOVERNMENTS, THE BUSINESS APPROACH ITSELF TO FACILITATE AN EASIER PATH TO THAT INNOVATION AND ACCELERATING THE LEVERAGING OF THAT TECHNOLOGY. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND, AGAIN, THAT WORKFORCE IS KEY. SO I HAVE A LOT OF MY DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF THIS REGION, OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY, EVEN. AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S HIGH TIME THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN DEVELOPING THAT TALENT HERE SO THAT WE CAN AGAIN CONTINUE AT SPEED, BUT ALSO BENEFIT FROM ALL KIND OF ANGLES OF THE OPPORTUNITY. I IN PARTICULAR, I'M NOT HERE TO GIVE AN AI LESSON, BUT AT A HIGH LEVEL, AI IS WHAT THE INTERNET WAS FOR INDUSTRIES, FOR ECONOMIES, 15, 20 YEARS AGO. THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT THAT THAT THAT INNOVATION AND THAT IMPACT ON SOCIETY IS GOING TO HAPPEN TEN TIMES FASTER. SO IF YOU THINK BACK IN TIME TO YOUR LIFE TEN YEARS AGO, COULD YOU HAVE EVEN OR 20 YEARS AGO, COULD YOU HAVE EVEN IMAGINED NETFLIX? OR THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE A CONNECTED DEVICE IN THEIR POCKET? I COULDN'T, AND I'M IN THE INDUSTRY, SO THAT IS THE THE KIND OF THE PERSPECTIVE TO TAKE WITH AI IS WE DON'T EVEN KNOW YET HOW IT'S GOING TO TRANSFORM. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ENGAGE AND LEAN IN, PARTICULARLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STEER IT IN A DIRECTION THAT IS INTENTIONAL. SO THAT'S KIND OF THE HIGH LEVEL. SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DEVELOP THE AWARENESS, THE INSTITUTIONAL ENGAGEMENT AND THE AND THE TALENT DEVELOPED HERE LOCALLY SO THAT WE HAVE OUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA. CONTINUE, PLEASE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS THING WILL WORK. BUT WE DIDN'T TAKE OUR OWN WORD FOR IT. EVEN EVEN THOUGH WE WORKED IN GOVERNMENT. MY CO-FOUNDERS AND I HAVE ALL WORKED IN GOVERNMENT. WE WENT OUT AND ASKED 120 CITIES AND WE THIS. I TELL PEOPLE THIS IS A BIT OF AN EYE CHART BECAUSE YOU COULD PICK YOUR METRIC AND THE THE MEASURE IS ABOUT THE SAME, WELL NORTH OF 50% THAT PEOPLE WANT IT, PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING IT. AND GOVERNMENTS ARE HAVING TROUBLE FIGURING OUT EXACTLY HOW TO DELIVER IT. AND THIS IS ALSO TO TO REPRESENT THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN EL PASO IS ABSOLUTELY NOT UNIQUE TO EL PASO. AND WHY I, I, I IMPOSED MY BACKGROUND ON YOU WHEN I WENT TO SAN FRANCISCO IN NEW YORK CITY. THE ISSUES WERE EXACTLY THE SAME. YOU JUST ADD A 0 OR 2 TO THE POPULATION, YOU'RE SERVING TO THE BUDGET, YOU'RE MANAGING TO THE TO THE IMPACT THAT YOU HAVE TO MANAGE. SO THIS IS VERY MUCH AN ISSUE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND FRANKLY, AROUND THE WORLD. CONTINUE, PLEASE. SO WHAT WE BUILT IN RESPONSE TO THAT IS THE SUPER CITY APP. IT'S AN IT'S AN APP PLATFORM USES AI TOOLS THAT WE ENGAGE WITH CITIES AND COUNTIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF ALL SIZES, FRANKLY, TO DELIVER THAT TECHNOLOGY AT ITS BASE LEVEL, AT NO CHARGE TO THE GOVERNMENT. SO WE HAVE SEVERAL FEATURES HERE. IF I CAN ASK THE IT GROUP TO CLICK ON AI CHAT AT THE TOP, ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES THAT WE HAVE DELIVERED IS A CONVERSATIONAL CHAT EXPERIENCE FOR THE PUBLIC, WHILE GIVING CONTROL TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR ITS KNOWLEDGE BASE. THE ISSUE WITH COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CHATGPT LIKE SERVICES IS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHERE IT GETS ITS ANSWERS. SO IF I WERE THE CIO OR THE CTO OF ANY MUNICIPALITY, I COULD NEVER ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE TO USE THAT [01:25:04] AUTHORITATIVELY BECAUSE I HAVE NO CONTROL, NO INFLUENCE OVER WHAT THE RESPONSES ARE THAT IT'S GOING TO GIVE TO PEOPLE. IF THEY'RE ASKING VERY CRITICAL GOVERNMENTAL RELATED QUESTIONS AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HOLD OPEN AI OR THE THE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY ACCOUNTABLE, THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK HERE TO COMMISSIONERS COURT OR TO CITY HALL AND SAY, YOU TOLD ME I COULD RELY ON THAT. AND IT GAVE ME A WRONG ANSWER. YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE. SO THAT'S PRINCIPALLY WHAT WE'VE SOLVED. WE GIVE THE USER THE AI CHAT EXPERIENCE THEY'RE ACCUSTOMED TO WITH CHATGPT, BUT WE GIVE THE GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER THE KNOWLEDGE BASE. SO YOU MANAGE THE INFORMATION IT USES AS ITS SOURCE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS, BUT IT DOES IT INTERPRETIVELY JUST LIKE THAT USUAL EXPERIENCE PEOPLE ARE GETTING IN CHATGPT LIKE EXPERIENCES. SO IT'S THE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. THE NEWSFEED CONSOLIDATES ALL OF THE VARIOUS NEWS SOURCES AND CHANNELS THAT THE GOVERNMENT USES. SO YOU YOU USE MULTIPLE WEB PAGES WITH NEWS AND PRESS RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, AND PEOPLE HAVE TO FIND AND FOLLOW ALL OF THOSE THINGS. AND YOU'RE HOPING THEY DO THAT AT THE RIGHT TIME WHEN THE WHEN THE NEWS IS RELEVANT AND THAT IT'S NOT COMPETING WITH SOMEBODY POSTING ABOUT ROCKETS OR COOKIE RECIPES ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SO THIS CONSOLIDATES ALL OF THOSE OFFICIAL SOURCES. THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT HAS TO DO NOTHING DIFFERENT, BUT WE PUT IT ALL IN ONE NEWSFEED FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THE THE AUTHORITATIVE FEED FROM THE GOVERNMENT, AND THEY CAN FILTER BY TOPIC. WE DO HANDLE PAYMENTS. ALSO THE MOST BRILLIANT, SECURE, EASY, CONVENIENT WAY TO DO IT. IF THEY DO THIS IN THE APP, THEY TAKE A PHOTO OF THE BILL. WE USE AI TOOLS TO ANALYZE, VALIDATE, AUTHENTICATE THAT BILL, PROMPT THE USER TO CHOOSE THEIR METHOD OF PAYMENT, ACH, CREDIT, DEBIT, AND EVEN CASH. IF PEOPLE CHOOSE CASH, WE GIVE THEM A BARCODE. THEY TAKE IT TO CVS, WALGREENS, FAMILY DOLLAR, DOLLAR GENERAL, GO TO A CASHIER WHO SCANS THE BARCODE, THEY REDEEM THE CASH, AND THAT BILL IS PAID. WHETHER IT'S A MUNICIPAL BILL, PARKING TICKET, OR WHATEVER GOVERNMENTAL BILL, A TAX BILL. IT COULD ALSO BE A UTILITY BILL. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, IT COULD BE ANY DOCUMENT THAT IS TRIGGERING A PAYMENT. SO THAT MAKES CASH, THAT GIVES A DIGITAL EXPERIENCE THE SAME CONVENIENCE THAT WE DELIVER. AND TO PEOPLE WHO ARE BANKED AND CAN PAY DIGITALLY TO CASH PAYERS. ALSO, WE ALSO INTEGRATE WITH 311, IN THIS CASE WITH EL PASO. WE INTEGRATED WITH THEIR BRAND NEW WEB BASED 311 APP. SO YOU CAN GO TO THE APP AND YOU CAN REPORT ISSUES RIGHT HERE THROUGH THE THE TECHNOLOGY THEY DEPLOYED. SO THIS IS TO PROVE THAT WE CAN DO 311 FUNCTIONALITY, BUT WE CAN ALSO INTEGRATE WITH ANY COUNTY DELIVERED APP THAT IS OF PRIORITY. CONTINUE PLEASE. SO WE'VE LAUNCHED THIS IN EL PASO. WE SOFT LAUNCHED IT IF YOU WILL, IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR. WE DO HAVE LETTERS OF INTENT OR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS SIGNED WITH THE CITY OF EL PASO, THE RIO GRANDE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, AS WAS MENTIONED, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, BORDERPLEX AND HOT OFF THE PRESS. WHILE STANDING IN THIS ROOM, OUR PRESS RELEASE WITH THE CITY OF EL PASO WAS JUST ISSUED THIS MORNING AT 10 A.M. SO JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO, AND WE'RE PURSUING THE SAME AGREEMENT WITH VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES OF EVERY SIZE NEW YORK, LA AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. AND SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO EXPLORE WITH THE COUNTY. WE HAVE A TOP TIER ADVISORY NETWORK WE DON'T TRUST, JUST OUR OWN OPINIONS OR EVEN THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE A TOP TIER SET OF ADVISORS, INCLUDING FORMER MAYOR ADLER OF AUSTIN, FORMER MAYOR OF NUREMBERG FROM SAN ANTONIO, AND SEVERAL OTHERS FROM OTHER PRIVATE INDUSTRY SECTORS. AND WE HAVE THE WHO'S WHO OF TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS. ALL THIS TO SAY, WE MEAN BUSINESS. WE'RE DOING THIS INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH. CONTINUE, PLEASE. NOW TO THE ALSO THE EXCITING PART. SO WE HAVE IN IN COOPERATION WITH LAYLA AND HER TEAM AT WORKFORCE, WE'VE ALSO CREATED THIS FOCUS ON THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PIECE THAT I THINK IS CRITICAL NOT ONLY TO OUR BUSINESS BUT TO THE COMMUNITY. SO WE'VE PUT TOGETHER, IF YOU CLICK ON PROGRAM PHASES, WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A 14 WEEK APPROACH THAT COVERS EVERYTHING FROM THE BASICS OF CODING PRINCIPLES INTO THE HOW TO USE AI ASSISTED CODE TOOLS, AND THEN ONTO REAL WORLD PROJECT ASSIGNMENTS AND ULTIMATELY PUTTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORKFORCE. SO THIS OUTCOME COULD BE, WELL, I'LL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND. CLICK ON REAL PROJECTS, PLEASE. SO WE WE WILL ASSIGN REAL PROJECTS. WE HAVE REAL WORK TO DO IN, IN OUR OWN STEAD WITH GOVERNMENTS. BUT WE WILL BE SOLICITING PROJECTS ALSO FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, NONPROFITS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS SO THAT WE CAN [01:30:04] GIVE THESE PEOPLE REAL WORK TO DO. I DON'T WANT THEM JUST WORKING ON LABS OR THEORETICAL. I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO HAVE THE PRIDE I HAVE, WHICH IS TO DELIVER SOMETHING TO THE MARKET AND BE ABLE TO GO HOME AND HAVE DINNER WITH THEIR FAMILY AND POINT AT SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THAT IS HELPING SERVE THE COMMUNITY BETTER. I THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO NOT JUST PLANT THE SEED, BUT BURY THE ROOTS VERY DEEP. SO WE HAVE MEASURED OUTCOMES. LALO IS IS VERY KEEN TO KEEP US TO ACCOUNT, SO WE WILL BE SURE TO MEASURE THOSE OUTCOMES PRINCIPALLY IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES, BUT ALSO THEIR ABILITY TO ENGAGE AND MEET WITH OUR GLOBAL NETWORK OF EXPERTS, ADVISORS, MENTORS, TECHNOLOGISTS THAT WE WILL BRING, SOMETIMES IN PERSON WILL FLY THEM TO EL PASO, SOMETIMES ON ZOOM. BUT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE PEOPLE A REAL WORLD EXPOSURE TO PEOPLE DELIVERING PROJECTS FOR THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, AND WE INTEND TO SCALE THIS. SO I'M ABOUT TO HAND IT OVER TO LEILA TO SPEAK ON IT, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE BUILDING IN EL PASO. WE'RE LAUNCHING IN EL PASO. I'VE ALREADY HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH VCS AND OTHER STARTUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO'VE ALREADY CALLED THIS APPROACH BRILLIANT AND ARE WAITING TO SEE THE OUTCOMES, SO WE MAY VERY WELL GET A LOT OF ATTENTION, NOT JUST FROM A RECRUITMENT STANDPOINT, BUT EVEN FROM A REPLICATION STANDPOINT IN OTHER MAJOR MARKETS. SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY PIONEER SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL HERE IN EL PASO. SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO I WANT TO GIVE LEILA A MOMENT TO SPEAK ON THAT. THANK YOU. WELCOME, LEILA. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS LEILA MELENDEZ, CEO OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS BORDERPLEX. SO SPEAKING OF SOLUTIONS, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE OUR LITERALLY MIDDLE NAME, SEVERAL OF YOU ATTENDED THE EL PASO CHAMBER'S STATE OF THE WORKFORCE IN AUGUST, WHERE WE LAUNCHED THE NEW FORCE. AND THAT WEEK IN PARTICULAR, MIGUEL AND I WERE CATCHING UP ON WHERE WE ORIGINALLY STARTED ON OUR PARTNERSHIP AND UTILIZING THE APP AS AN ORGANIZATION, MENTIONING TO HIM THIS APPRENTICESHIP MODEL. AND WE JUST DECIDED LIKE THIS WAS THIS IS A SUPER CITY, IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION AND COMPANY TO FOR US TO HOST SEVERAL LOCAL STUDENTS WITH THE ACUMEN, THE, YOU KNOW, BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE THAT ARE MAYBE IN THAT FIELD, STUDENTS THAT ARE RIGHT NOW LEARNING THAT FIELD OR MAYBE NOT STUDENTS, BUT THEY HAVE SOME OF THAT EXPERIENCE AND PUT THEM INTO SOME APPRENTICESHIPS. SO THE WAY THAT OUR APPRENTICESHIP MODEL WORKS IS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IS THE EMPLOYER OF RECORD. WE PAY A LIVING WAGE STIPEND AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT FOR 14 WEEKS. WE'RE GOING TO LAUNCH THIS COHORT OF 5 TO 10 LOCALS THAT THAT MEET SOME QUALIFICATIONS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A WORKFORCE FUNDS. AND THEN WE WILL PAY THEM THAT WAGE FOR 14 WEEKS. AND SO FOR THOSE 14 WEEKS, THEY WILL WORK FOR SUPER CITY AS THAT HOST, THAT APPRENTICESHIP HOST AND GET ACCESS TO THESE PROJECTS. SO, YOU KNOW, WE DO THIS WITH A LOT OF OTHER COMPANIES AS WELL. BUT WHAT IS MAKING THIS PARTNERSHIP SPECIAL IS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE THE NEXT GENERATION OF WORKFORCE, THE YOUNG TALENT THAT IS HERE IN THE MARKET. WE WANT TO GIVE THEM SOME GREAT REAL WORLD WORK EXPERIENCE. AND WE'RE FINDING THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE SEEKING A LOT OF PURPOSE. IT'S NOT JUST THEIR WAGE AND THE WORK EXPERIENCE, BUT THEY WANT TO CONTRIBUTE INTO THIS COMMUNITY. SO LOCAL PROJECTS, WORKING WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WHETHER THAT'S CITY, COUNTY, LOCAL NONPROFITS, AS MIGUEL MENTIONED, REALLY GIVES THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, REAL EXPERIENCE, BUT IN A WAY TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY. AND SO THAT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, FURTHER DEVELOP THEM. THIS 5 TO 10 COHORT IS THE FIRST WE ARE PILOTING THAT WE WILL MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS, AS WE TYPICALLY DO. BUT WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING, WE WANT TO PROMOTE THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, SHOW OTHER COMPANIES THAT ARE LOOKING INTO EL PASO AND ALWAYS ASK US, DO YOU HAVE THE READY WORKFORCE? WE CAN SAY, YES, THEY ARE ACTUALLY IN PRODUCTION RIGHT NOW. THEY ARE IN DEVELOPMENT. THE COMMUNITY IS DEVELOPING THEM OURSELVES. AND LET'S SCALE THIS. LET'S ADD ANOTHER COHORT. LET'S CREATE MORE. WE JUST HEARD ABOUT AN ANNOUNCEMENT JUST ACROSS THE STATE FOR A LARGE DATA CENTER THAT IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED. THEY ARE GOING TO PULL TALENT. THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TALENT FROM THE ENTIRE REGION. AND WE ARE AT THE FRONT END OF DEVELOPING THAT. SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE THIS. WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THIS FIRST COHORT. BUT THE WHOLE POINT IS TO REPLICATE IT AND SCALE IT AND ACTUALLY CREATE A PIPELINE. OUR LOCAL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ALREADY HAVE AI CURRICULUM, COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UTEP, ETC. THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE BEHIND THIS AS WELL. THIS IS A GREAT MODEL TO ENGAGE AND CONTINUE TO NOW [01:35:03] CREATE THIS PIPELINE OF AI. YOU KNOW, RELATED AND WORK EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATED PROFESSIONALS. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO LAUNCH THIS AND TO GET THIS OFF THE GROUND, AND MIGUEL WILL CONTINUE TO GO INTO A LITTLE BIT OF HOW WE SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN MIND AND WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER WITH THE COUNTY. YOU ALL, AS THE COUNTY, HAVE BEEN GREAT SUPPORTERS OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. YOU UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT TAKES TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL TALENT AND TO KEEP THEM. THIS IS GOING TO HELP OUR STUDENTS IDENTIFY THAT THERE ARE REAL GREAT OPPORTUNITIES HERE. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO NOT JUST LEARN THE WORK, BUT LEARN HOW TO NOW SELL THEMSELVES, HOW THEY CAN BECOME ENTREPRENEURS. THEY NO LONGER NEED TO LEAVE THE COMMUNITY TO DO THIS TYPE OF WORK HERE. SO THIS HAS MULTIPLE TENTACLES THAT WE ARE REALLY EXCITED AND DEVELOPING. SO AS WE PROMOTE IT AND TALK ABOUT IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ORGANIZATIONS ARE ARE TAKING NOTE AND SAYING, THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING AND UNIQUE. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO ROLL THIS OUT IN THE LIKE, LITERALLY NOW WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING APPLICATIONS RIGHT NOW, GETTING THAT FIRST GROUP READY. AND IT'S MOVING PRETTY QUICKLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ONE THING I WANT TO ADDRESS ALSO IS ON THE OUTCOME SIDE. SO LAYLA AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH LAURA, AND I'M GOING TO ASK HER TO COME SPEAK ON IT FOR A LITTLE BIT IN A MOMENT. BUT PART OF THE OUTCOME OPPORTUNITY IS SURELY TO PLACE THEM IN JOBS WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS BY HAVING THEM WORK ON THOSE PROJECTS AT THE COUNTY, AT THE CITY, IN NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS, THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY THEY'RE GOING TO ALSO RECEIVE. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE CONTACT WITH, WITH THOSE POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS AND MAY VERY WELL GET GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. THAT WAY. WE MAY HIRE SOME OF THEM. SOME OF OUR STARTUP FRIENDS MIGHT HIRE THEM. THERE MIGHT BE NEW BUSINESSES THAT COME TO TOWN LOOKING FOR THAT TALENT RELATED TO THE PROJECT IN DONA ANA COUNTY OR NOT. ALSO, THOUGH, IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE PEOPLE TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES. AND SO THAT'S WHY PIONEERS 21 IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THIS, BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF WORK, I CAN SPEAK TO IT PERSONALLY. THIS TYPE OF WORK IS ALSO THE TYPE OF WORK THAT THEY COULD DO FROM HOME OR FROM A WORK CO-WORK SPACE RIGHT HERE IN EL PASO, SERVING MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AROUND THE WORLD, PRIVATE INDUSTRY COMPANIES AROUND THE COUNTRY OR AROUND THE WORLD. AND THEY COULD BE BRINGING NEW YORK LEVEL WAGES AND LIVING AND STILL LIVING IN EL PASO. SO I THINK THAT STARTUP POTENTIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP ANGLE IS A REALLY IMPORTANT POTENTIAL OUTCOME CHANNEL IN THIS PARTICULAR FIELD, BECAUSE IT LENDS ITSELF VERY WELL TO THAT, TO THAT OUTCOME. SO WITH THAT, I WANT IF I CAN ASK LAURA TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS ON THAT, THAT ELEMENT. THANK YOU. WELCOME. HI. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS LAURA BUTLER AND I'M THE CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PIONEERS 21, FORMERLY THE HUB OF HUMAN INNOVATION. AND I LOVE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AI. BEYOND THE PROMPT. YOU KNOW, IT TAKES TEN YEARS FOR AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS. AND I THINK OUR 10TH YEAR IS HERE ABOUT TALKING ABOUT AI AND WHAT I CAN DO FOR US. I THINK I DON'T JUST THINK ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BUT I ALSO THINK ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP. AND I THINK IT'S TIME FOR OUR COMPANIES AND OUR NONPROFITS TO START THINKING ABOUT HAVING AI LEADERS WITHIN. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S SUPER CITY CAN DO FOR US. SO SUPER CITY I AND SUPER FORCE IS A PLATFORM THAT HELPS OUR COUNTY DELIVER SERVICES SMARTER, FASTER AND MORE EFFICIENTLY. IT USES AI TO STREAMLINE OPERATIONS AND REDUCE COSTS, WHILE ALSO BUILDING UP OUR WORKFORCE BY CONNECTING RESIDENTS TO TRAINING AND JOBS. THE RESULT IS BETTER SERVICES FOR TAXPAYERS, STRONGER ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN HOW WE GOVERN. TODAY, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER HOW THIS TOOL CAN HELP US MODERNIZE COUNTY OPERATIONS AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERY RESIDENT. NOW, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND AS A LEADER OF AN INCUBATOR THAT MENTORS AND SUPPORTS VENTAS VENTURES ACROSS OUR REGION, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW RIGHT IDEAS CAN STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY AND EVEN OUR COMMUNITY. SUPER AI IS ONE OF THOSE VENTURES THEIR WORK REPRESENTS NOT JUST INNOVATION FOR INNOVATION'S SAKE, BUT REALLY A PRACTICAL TOOL TO HELP OUR COUNTY PLAN SMARTER, OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY, AND BUILD THIS RESILIENCE FOR OUR FUTURE. BY SUPPORTING PROJECTS LIKE THIS, YOU'RE HELPING CREATE THESE LOCAL JOBS, DEVELOP WORKFORCE IN SKILLS THAT ARE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, AND POSITION OUR COUNTY AS A LEADER IN FORWARD THINKING SOLUTIONS. WE'RE PROUD AS PIONEERS 21 TO STAND BEHIND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS AND SUPER CITY I. DUE TO THE POSITIVE [01:40:05] IMPACT AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT CAN BE DELIVERED FOR OUR REGION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU LAURA. IF YOU DON'T MIND, JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT YOU'VE GOT A GREAT PARTNER IN LAYLA AND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. AND I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED. I MEAN, I'VE GOTTEN INVOLVED. THIS FRIDAY WE HAD A IN IN IN JUAREZ. FOR ALL THE PERIODISMO JOURNALISTS THAT ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, HOW CAN THEY HELP THE GOVERNMENT BE ABLE TO PRODUCE AND DIVISION AND WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE NEED? AND THERE WAS A POINT THAT I FELT THAT I WAS HAVING A LIFE OF ITS OWN, AND THAT WE NEEDED TO SORT OF HARNESS IT A LITTLE BIT AND BE ABLE TO UTILIZE IT PROPERLY. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY IN TAIWAN AND SAW THEIR, YOU KNOW, THEIR SMART CITY AND WHAT THEY WERE ACCOMPLISHING. AND I THINK THE TIMING IS EXCELLENT. I'VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH COMPANIES, AND I'VE TOLD THIS TO LAYLA. THERE'S A POINT WHERE IT GETS A LITTLE SCARY THAT THAT PEOPLE ARE NOW MORE AND MORE ATTRACTED TO EL PASO. I THINK WE THEY FOUND OUT THAT WE'RE PART OF TEXAS AND THAT WE HAVE THE SAME BENEFITS AS TEXAS, AND THAT WE'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THE TEXAS ECONOMY AND COMPANIES THAT MIGHT NOT EVEN STAY IN TEXAS IF WE DON'T GET THEM ARE LEAVING TO OTHER STATES. SO IT'S WE'RE SORT OF AT THAT POINT IN WHERE WE'RE VERY VALUABLE. BUT THERE WAS TIMES IN THE CONVERSATIONS AS TO WHAT THEY WANTED FROM OUR WORKFORCE AND WHERE WE ARE NOW, AND I FELT LIKE WE COULD SATISFY THAT. BUT I COULD SEE THAT ALONG. YOU KNOW, IF WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING LIKE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, THAT WE'RE GOING TO FALL BEHIND VERY QUICKLY. SO WE'D GO FROM BEING VERY ATTRACTIVE TO FINDING OUT THAT WE COULDN'T SERVICE AND PROVIDE THEM THE WORKFORCE THAT THEY NEED. AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE SUSTAINABLE. I DON'T THINK WE CAN OFFER IT, BUT I'D BE ABLE I'D FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE TO KNOW THAT TEN, 15 YEARS FROM NOW, OUR WORKFORCE IS DEVELOPING AND GROWING AT THE RATE OF THE NEED THAT THEY HAVE FOR EL PASO. AND WHEN YOU'RE IN TAIWAN, IT'S LIKE AMAZING THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT AND THEIR PROJECTION OF WHAT THEY WANT IN THE FUTURE. AND LIKE I SAID, IT WAS A LITTLE SCARY TO SAY, ARE WE CAPABLE OF BEING ABLE RIGHT NOW? WE CAN, BUT ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, SUSTAIN IT? SO I THINK THE TIMING IS AMAZING AS TO AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BUTLER. I THINK IT'S AMAZING THE THINGS THAT WE'RE FEELING IS THAT WE'RE RIGHT THERE. I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN WHEN THE MAQUILADORA WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF AT THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE 80S AND 90S, IT SLIPPED AWAY FROM US BECAUSE WE WEREN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPLIERS, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO HAVE THE WORKFORCE. AND AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, EL PASO DIDN'T GAIN AS MUCH FROM, FROM THE MAQUILADORA INDUSTRY. I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. I THINK WE'RE AEROSPACE AND BUT EVERYTHING IS ATTACHED TO I AND IT'S ATTACHED TO OUR CAPACITY TO MANAGE INFORMATION, AND IT'S GETTING MORE AND MORE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE TO MANAGE. AND IT'S GETTING TO THAT POINT. SO I KNOW BETSY HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL AT TO GET PREPARE FOR, FOR LA. AND I WAS LIKE OVERWHELMED AS TO WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS WERE. BUT BUT I COULD SEE THAT ALL THE INDUSTRIES ARE TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THE AI AND THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT CANNOT STAY BEHIND. WE CANNOT STAY BEHIND. WE HAVE TO STAY AT THAT LEVEL OF HOW THE INDUSTRIES ARE GROWING. OTHERWISE THEY'LL CHOOSE ANOTHER CITY THAT'S MORE CAPABLE. SO I THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR FOR BEING HERE TODAY. AND I'LL SEND IT BACK TO COMMISSIONER BUTLER TO SEE WHAT ELSE WE NEED TO TO HEAR FROM YOU. I KNOW THERE'S STILL A COUPLE OF SLIDES LEFT IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND THANK YOU. JUDGE. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE AN AMAZING IT IT DEPARTMENT AND LEADERSHIP HERE AT THE COUNTY. AND THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AI. AND I KNOW THAT OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN LOOKING INTO HOW GOVERNMENT COUNTY GOVERNMENTS CAN UTILIZE AI. AND THERE'S THERE'S A LOT OF, I THINK, VALID CONCERNS AROUND, YOU KNOW, INFORMATION AND SECURITY. AND I KNOW THAT WE ALL USE AI IN OUR OWN PERSONAL DAILY LIVES. NOW IT'S BECOME A REGULAR FOR FOR US TO USE AI. BUT BUT I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS AN ORGANIZATION TO REALLY BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW WE USE AI TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, AND WHILE DOING THAT, BOOST OUR WORKFORCE AND AND CHAMPION AI AS AN INDUSTRY HERE IN EL PASO. YOU KNOW, WE'RE I WAS TALKING TO TO MIGUEL AND LEYLA LAST WEEK, AND I MYSELF HAVE ASKED IT TO HELP US BRING SOLUTIONS FOR HOW WE DEAL WITH CONSTITUENT ISSUES AND COMPLAINTS. AND I THINK THERE'S AN AI COMPONENT TO THAT SOLUTION. AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S [01:45:07] CONVERSATIONS THAT CAN BE HAD WITH SUPER CITY AI AND HOW WE INTERFACE WITH THAT INTERNALLY. BUT BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THE ISSUE WITH DEALING WE'RE DEALING WITH WITH THE WITH THE WEB DEALER AND TAX ASSESSOR, RIGHT? I THINK THERE ARE POTENTIAL AI SOLUTIONS TO THOSE KINDS OF, YOU KNOW, DATA. DENTS AND, AND COMPLEX ISSUES THAT MAYBE I MIGHT BE A SOLUTION FOR US AND, YOU KNOW, COULD SAVE US SOME SOME HEADACHES AND FUNDING AS, AS WE LOOK TO, TO THOSE KINDS OF SOLUTIONS. SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AND I KNOW THERE'S, THERE'S MORE TO, TO THE PRESENTATION, BUT IT'S A THIS IS A A WIN WIN WIN SOLUTION. RIGHT. WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT A LOCAL COMPANY THAT IS WORKING IN THE SPACE, SUPPORT OUR OUR TALENT PIPELINE IN, IN AI AND DIGITAL SKILLS AND POTENTIALLY SOLVE BIG PROBLEMS HERE AT THE COUNTY THAT YOU KNOW ARE COMPLEX AND REQUIRE MULTI TIERED SOLUTIONS. SO THAT'S THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. YEAH I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE SLIDES LEFT. THIS IS STUFF I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO THE ADVISORS. AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE IS THE PARTNERS. BUT I DO WANT TO ADDRESS THE COMMENTS MADE I THINK THAT I AGREE WITH THE ASSESSMENT. AND I'M FROM EL PASO. SO I'LL, I'LL SAY THIS IN A HOPEFULLY IN A FACTUAL WAY, NOT IN A CRITICAL WAY, BUT LOTS OF THINGS HAVE PASSED US BY ON I-10. WHAT YOU DESCRIBED WITH THE MAQUILA INDUSTRY. YES, BUT BUT THERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES, RIGHT. AND I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS AT THE CITY AND WITH OTHER LEADERS IN PRIVATE SECTOR AND ADJACENT GOVERNMENT SECTORS IN EL PASO. AND I SAID, THIS IS OUR CHANCE, RIGHT? THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO CAPTURE IT AND GET IT, GET IT TO EXIT I-10 METAPHORICALLY. AND THAT'S BECAUSE THIS IS MOVING SO FAST. NOBODY HAS AN ANCHOR. NOBODY HAS THE CLAIM, NOT EVEN SILICON VALLEY. THEY HAVE THEY HAVE A WHOLE MOVEMENT IN AI IN ONE DIRECTION. OURS IS AT THE MOMENT MINE. ANYWAY. IS AI FOR GOOD, RIGHT? IN THIS PUBLIC SECTOR SPACE? I SAY THAT BECAUSE AI IS LIKE THE INTERNET, IT'S IT IS AN INDUSTRY TO TO A LARGE EXTENT, BUT IT'S ALSO PART OF EVERY OTHER INDUSTRY. SO PICK THE INDUSTRY YOU'RE ALREADY FOCUSED ON. THERE'S AN AI ELEMENT. AND THEN I HOPE THE OUTCOME OF ALL OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON HERE AND PARTNERING HERE IS THAT AI BECOMES PART OF THOSE THINGS THAT EL PASO IS, IS BECOMING KNOWN FOR, MIGHT BE AEROSPACE BECAUSE OF ALL THE THINGS HAPPENING AROUND IN PROXIMITY, BUT NO DIFFERENT THAN THE SPACE, THE, THE, THE SPACE CENTER OR SPACEPORT AND BEZOS PROJECT ARE MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE NOT TECHNICALLY IN THE CITY LIMITS OR IN THE COUNTY LIMITS. EVEN IT'S STILL IS A AN AREA TO FOCUS ON FROM A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET TO THOSE WITHOUT COMING THROUGH EL PASO. RIGHT. WELL, THE PROJECT IN DONA ANA COUNTY THAT'S AI RELATED IS A IS A PHYSICAL EXAMPLE OF THAT. WE CAN GET AHEAD OF IT BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE THEM YEARS TO MANIFEST, THAT WE CAN GET AHEAD OF IT WITH ONE OF THE GOALS OF BEING FEEDING THAT. BUT EVEN IF THAT NEVER HAPPENED, THERE'S STILL ALL THE OTHER INDUSTRIES THAT ARE SCALING HERE OR INTERESTED IN EL PASO THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE AI COMPONENTS, SO THEY MAY NOT MOVE THEIR HEADQUARTERS OR THEIR MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS OR ELEMENTS OF THEIR BUSINESS HERE. BUT IF WE HAVE AI TALENT THAT'S READY, WILLING AND ABLE, THEN I THINK THAT PART OF THEIR BUSINESS MIGHT BE CENTERED HERE. SO I THINK IT'S IT'S A COMPLEX, MULTI-LAYERED THING. BUT ALL IN IT'S IT'S ABSOLUTELY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EL PASO TO, TO TAKE THE CROWN OR AT LEAST TAKE PART OF IT, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION. SO TO THAT POINT, IF YOU GO TO THE LAST SLIDE OR THE THIS ONE, WHAT WE'RE BASICALLY HERE TO DO IS TO TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION WE'VE ALREADY HAD AND FRANKLY, SEEK THE COUNTY'S FORMAL SUPPORT, RIGHT, BOTH FOR SUPER FORCE AND THE WORKFORCE PROGRAM. AND THIS THESE ARE THESE ARE IDEAS. THIS IS NOT A HARD ASK. THESE ARE CONCEPTS. WE BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE COUNTY TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR LAUNCH EVENTS, WHATEVER THOSE MIGHT BE. IT MIGHT BE AS FORMAL AS A PRESS CONFERENCE. IT MIGHT BE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, IT MIGHT BE MEDIA PUBLISHING, IT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, OTHER SORTS OF THINGS. [01:50:01] BUT IT WOULD BE, I THINK, VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTY TO HAVE A FORMAL ROLE AND PRESENCE IN, IN THAT AND THAT AND ALSO JUST THE OUTREACH TO CANDIDATES. I'D LOVE FOR EVEN STAFF AT THE COUNTY AND THE IT DEPARTMENT OR OTHERWISE TO PARTICIPATE AS GUEST SPEAKERS. TALK TO OUR COHORT ABOUT WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE AT THE COUNTY THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED. IT'S NOT A HARD REQUIREMENT, BUT I THINK THAT COULD BE A TOUCH POINT OF ENGAGEMENT THAT WE COULD CREATE PRETTY EASILY WITH LOW KIND OF LOW RISK, LOW RESOURCE REQUIREMENT. AND THEN IDEALLY IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT THE COHORT COULD WORK ON IN REAL TIME SOLVING. GIVE US YOUR HARDEST ISSUE. GIVE US THE GIVE US THE HARDEST PROBLEM. AND LET US TRY TO PUT THE TOOLS TO WORK TO FIX IT. AND THEN THIS IS A SOFT CONSIDERATION FOR AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PILOT AND DEMONSTRATE SUCCESS, THAT THE COUNTY POTENTIALLY CONSIDER HELPING US SCALE THIS, YOU KNOW, TEN, TEN STUDENTS AT A TIME ISN'T GOING TO DEVELOP THE WORKFORCE NECESSARY TO TO TAKE THE CROWN, RIGHT? BUT IT WILL DEMONSTRATE THE METHODOLOGY AND THE APPROACH. AND THEN TOGETHER WITH THE CITY, THE COUNTY AND OTHER PRIVATE AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS LOCALLY, WE CAN SCALE IT TO TO A LEVEL THAT WILL DEVELOP THE PIPELINE NECESSARY TO REALLY ESTABLISH THAT WORKFORCE HERE. AND THEN ON THE SUPER CITY, I FRONT ON THE APP FRONT, WE HAVE A STANDARD LETTER OF INTENT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE RIO GRANDE COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF EL PASO. WE'D LOVE TO EXPLORE THAT OR ANY OTHER METHOD OF FORMALIZING AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COUNTY. AGAIN, WE DON'T CHARGE THE COUNTY A FEE FOR USING THE THE APP PLATFORM. SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE WE HAVE FLEXIBILITY AND KIND OF WE CAN BE APPROPRIATELY FLEXIBLE IN HOW WE ACCOMPLISH FORMALIZING THAT RELATIONSHIP, JUST THE SAME WAY WE DID WITH THE CITY OF EL PASO, FOR EXAMPLE. AND THEN THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO PARTICIPATE ALSO IN THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND THE OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY AND MARKETING TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE THAT THIS EXISTS, THAT THEY CAN ASK THE CHAT COUNTY RELATED QUESTIONS AND GET AUTHORITATIVE KIND OF CONFIRMED ANSWERS AND POTENTIALLY DELIVER ON OTHER SERVICE IMPROVEMENT EXPERIENCES. AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH DEPARTMENTAL STAFF, WHOEVER YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE, TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THOSE USE CASES WHERE WE CAN BE HELPFUL AND DEPLOY THE PLATFORM TO, TO BENEFIT THE PUBLIC. SO WITH THAT, THAT'S THAT'S MY SPIEL. I APPRECIATE THE TIME, THE CONVERSATION SO FAR. I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS FOR AS MUCH TIME AS YOU YOU WANT TO TAKE. SO OKAY, I HAVE I HAVE SOME SOME QUESTIONS. THANKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MISTER FOR THE FOR THE PRESENTATION. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BUTLER, FOR FOR BRINGING THE ITEM. IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION. YEAH. I'M KIND OF LIKE WHOA. BUT I'M, I'M 45 YEARS OLD AND PROBABLY WAY PAST THE AGE TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY ALL THESE THINGS THAT WERE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SPEND SOME MORE TIME WITH YOU ALL. YOU KNOW, I SAID THAT KIND OF TONGUE IN CHEEK, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SPEND SOME MORE TIME WITH YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OF THIS. I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS PRESENTATION BEFORE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT I DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO GET INTO RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER THINGS ON THE AGENDA, BUT I'D LOVE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. I CAN DEFINITELY SEE MANY BENEFITS THAT THAT WORKING, WORKING WITH Y'ALL AND PARTNERING WITH Y'ALL CAN CAN PROVIDE TO THE COUNTY. I MEAN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR MANY YEARS, MAKING COUNTY AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO IT. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, OUR PUBLIC FACING SERVICES THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, PAYING HOT TAX OR, OR PAYING PROPERTY TAX OR, YOU KNOW, HOW DIFFICULT WE MAKE IT SOMETIMES FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY SEE THE BENEFIT THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, THE WORKFORCE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ASPECT I THINK IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK HAS A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE. AND I WOULD LOVE TO TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW WE CAN WORK WITH THAT. BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE THE TIME THAT YOU ALL HAVE SPENT WITH US, WITH US TODAY. AND I THINK, I THINK THERE'S THERE'S LOTS OF POSITIVE THINGS THAT COULD COME OUT OF THIS PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. AND JUST JUST TO CLARIFY, I THINK THE THE THE URGENCY IN BRINGING THIS TODAY, WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION AHEAD OF TIME, IS MORE ON THE SUPER FORCE LAUNCH, WHICH I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE PUTTING TOGETHER NOW. WE'RE WE'RE READY TO LAUNCH, OKAY. WEDNESDAY. BUT WE WOULD LOVE WE WOULD PREFER TO LAUNCH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY SO WE CAN [01:55:01] HOLD THAT FOR SOME TIME TO MAKE IT SO THE SUPER FORCE, WHAT ASPECT OF THE WORKFORCE PIECE. IT'S THE WORKFORCE PIECE OKAY OKAY. RIGHT. AND THE THE LOI FOR THE SUPER CITY I OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD WANT TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE OUR TIME AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR, OUR RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS AND, AND LEGAL CAN CAN REVIEW THOSE. AND VET THOSE WITH MORE TIME. BUT I THINK THE, THE URGENCY IS WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO PARTICIPATE AS A COUNTY WITH THE SUPER FORCE AND THE CITY AND WITH THE WITH THAT PARTICIPATION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO, I GUESS, MONETARY REQUESTS OR ASK. RIGHT. BUT BUT IN THE FUTURE, IF, IF THINGS GO WELL, THERE MAY BE SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. RIGHT. THAT'S. YEAH. PLAIN-SPOKEN THE PILOTS ORGANIZED BETWEEN WORKFORCE AND US. SO THERE'S NO SPECIFIC FINANCIAL ASK TODAY. I HOPE THAT THIS IS GOING TO I'M GOING TO WORK MY BUTT OFF SO THAT IT GOES SO WELL. YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO INVEST IN IT TO DOUBLE DOWN OR TRIPLE DOWN ON IT. THAT'S THAT'S THE THAT'S THE STRATEGY. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU AGAIN VERY MUCH FOR FOR JOINING US TODAY. THANK YOU LAYLA. THANK YOU LAURA FOR FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THESE INITIATIVES AND ALWAYS FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY. I HOPE THAT THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER MOVING FORWARD. AND AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, MR. GAMINO CHAMPION LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND REALLY JUST INCREASE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR EVERYBODY WHO LIVES HERE. SO APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. AND WE WILL KEEP EACH OF YOUR OFFICES UPDATED ON THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING. AND, COMMISSIONER STOUT, WE WILL REACH OUT TO YOUR OFFICE SO WE CAN HAVE A ONE ON ONE AND JUST FOLLOW UP AND GET INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT HOW IT'S GOING, BUT WE'LL KEEP YOU ALL POSTED ON HOW IT GOES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD. VOTE ON? IS THE IS THE LANGUAGE OKAY TO TO VOTE ON TODAY? JUDGE COMMISSIONERS ERIC RUSSELL ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY SO I THINK LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS CORRECT. COMMISSIONER BUTLER I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING FOR THE ITEM IS REALLY WE'RE JUST ASKING STAFF TO DEVELOP THAT POTENTIAL. RIGHT. LETTER OF INTEREST WITH SUPER CITY I AND THEN WE WOULD WORK WITH YOUR STAFF OR TO LOOK AT THAT LETTER, WORK WITH THE RIGHT DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE IT MAKES SENSE. THAT'S WHAT I'M SEEING ON THE AGENDA. SO IF THAT'S IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, I DO THINK THE COURT COULD MAKE THAT MOTION. IT'S ACTUALLY IT'S THE TWO PART. RIGHT. SO IT'S THE IT'S ONE AUTHORIZING US TO PARTNER WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ON THE LAUNCH OF SUPER FORCE, WHICH AGAIN, NO MONETARY OR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AT THIS TIME. IT'S MORE OF A CAN WE CAN WE SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE PUBLICLY? WOULD IT JUST BE LIKE THE PRESS CONFERENCE? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO OR. YEAH, YEAH, AT OUR LOGO TO TO WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS PROMOTION OF THE PROGRAM AND I GUESS LIKE SOFT SUPPORT OF THIS. SO I THINK THE THE QUESTION IS JUST THAT WE JUST HAVE TO DO THE ANALYSIS ON. AND WE COULD TRY TO GET THIS FOR YOU MAYBE BEFORE THE. WE'RE JUST DOING THE ANALYSIS BETWEEN PUBLIC AND SUPPORTING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS VERSUS A, YOU KNOW, SUPER SUPER CITY. I BECAUSE I THINK CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, COMMISSIONER, BUT I THINK THE GENERAL THE MORE BROADER COLLABORATION, THAT LETTER OF INTEREST IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE NOT ASKING FOR NECESSARILY TODAY. AND THAT WOULD GIVE COMMISSIONER STOUT TIME TO MEET AND TO BEGIN DEVELOPING THAT. IT'S REALLY JUST THE PARTNERSHIP WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, BORDERPLEX AND SUPPORTING THIS ONE SPECIFIC INITIATIVE THAT WE WOULD LIKE ACTION TODAY, BECAUSE WEDNESDAY POTENTIALLY MIGHT BE THE LAUNCH. RIGHT, RIGHT. AND I THINK THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN, IT'S TO PARTNER WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. BORDERPLEX. RIGHT, OKAY. AND WE COULD WORK ON THE RIGHT. AND THEN THE SECOND PART IS WE COULD WORK ON WITH YOUR STAFF ON THE LETTER, BUT AT A LATER DATE, YES, WE WOULD BRING THAT BACK TO THE COURT. YES, MA'AM. SO TODAY IT WOULD BE FOR OUR AGENDA TEAM. THE MOTION WOULD BE AUTHORIZE, APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY TO PARTNER WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUPER FORCE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. SECOND, WILL YOU MAKE THAT MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER? COMMISSIONER? YES. LET ME GO AHEAD AND CHANGE THAT. SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ITEM TEN C DISCUSS [02:00:06] AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE WAIVER OF PARKING FEES AT ASCOT PARK ON OCTOBER 18TH, 2025 FOR THE ANNUAL NAMI WALKS EL PASO EVENT. MR. STOUT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE ASK THE COURT'S APPROVAL TO WAIVE THE [C. Discuss and take appropriate action to authorize the waiver of parking fees at Ascarate Park on October 18, 2025, for the annual NAMI Walks El Paso event. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-273-3559] PARKING FEES AT ASCOT AT THE FOR THE NAMI WALKS EVENT THAT'S GOING TO BE TAKING PLACE THERE. WE DID IT LAST YEAR, I BELIEVE AS WELL. RIGHT. AND IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. IT CONTINUES TO GROW AS AS YOU SAID, LOTS OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO BE THERE AS WELL. BUT BUT YOU KNOW, AS PER OUR POLICY REGULARLY, WE DO WE DO USUALLY CHARGE THE THE PARKING FEES AT ASCARATE WHEN WE HAVE LARGER EVENTS. SO I'D LIKE TO ASK TO BE ABLE TO WAIVE THOSE TO SUPPORT THIS NONPROFIT AND MAKE THE EVENT AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE. ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS IT'S OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THE VOTING IS OPEN. AND COMMISSIONER CORONADO IS ABSENT. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU. ITEM NUMBER 11 FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATION 11 A DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION PER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 81.005 TERMS OF COURT MEETINGS A AT THE LAST REGULAR TERM OF EACH FISCAL YEAR OF THE COUNTY, THE [A. Discuss and take appropriate action per Local Government Code 81.005, Terms of Court, Meetings (a). "At the last regular term of each fiscal year of the County, the Commissioners Court, by order, shall designate a day of the week on which the court shall convene in a regular term each month during the next fiscal year." Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-546-2215] COMMISSIONERS COURT, BY ORDER, SHALL DESIGNATE A DAY OF THE WEEK ON WHICH THE COURT SHALL CONVENE IN A REGULAR TERM EACH MONTH DURING THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. BITSY, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS AND THE COURT HAS TO MEET AT LEAST ONCE PER MONTH, AND YOU HAVE TO SELECT THE DAY THAT YOU WILL MEET FOR WHATEVER, WHETHER YOU MEET WEEKLY, BI WEEKLY, HOWEVER. AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MICHELLE. I THINK SHE HAD SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THANK YOU BETSY. AND THIS IS JUST TO SET THE MEETING DAY OF THE WEEK, AS BETSY SAID, AND THE FREQUENCY. SO CURRENTLY YOU ALL HAVE MET ON MONDAYS WITH SPECIAL SESSIONS ON THE THIRD THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH, AND WE WILL BRING BACK A HOLIDAY SCHEDULE FOR YOU ALL TO DISCUSS IN A FEW WEEKS FOR THE 2025 HOLIDAYS THAT WERE APPROVED, BUT TODAY'S ITEM IS JUST FOR THE MEETING DAY OF THE WEEK. WOULD YOU ALL LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH THE CURRENT MEETING SCHEDULE OF EVERY MONDAY AND THIRD THURSDAY? YES. OKAY. OKAY. CAN WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. THIS IS JUST FOR THEIR MONDAY REGULAR MEETING. YES. CORRECT. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. ITEM 12 FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 12 A PURSUANT TO SECTION 147F2B OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ISSUANCE OF INDUSTRIAL REVENUE [A. Pursuant to Section 147(f)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, hold a public hearing regarding the proposed Resolution Approving the Issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds with Respect to the Vinton Steel Project. Sergio Coronado, Commissioner, Precinct 4, 915-273-3596] BONDS WITH RESPECT TO THE VINTON STEEL PROJECT. FOR THIS, CAN WE PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONER BUTLER IS ABSENT. COMMISSIONER STOUT, YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. WE ARE NOW PUBLIC HEARING NOW. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, ROBERTO RANSOM. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS A KEY STEP IN SUPPORTING THE PROCESS FOR ISSUING AN INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BOND, OR IRB. AN IRB ALLOWS A GOVERNMENT ENTITY TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF TAX EXEMPT BONDS ON BEHALF OF A PRIVATE COMPANY TO FINANCE ELIGIBLE PROJECTS, SUCH AS FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS. AT BENTON STEEL'S REQUEST, THE MICHIGAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION POSSESSES PROPOSES TO ISSUE UP TO 200 MILLION IN TAX EXEMPT SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL REVENUE [02:05:03] BONDS WITHIN A 20 YEAR FINANCING TERM. THE BOND PROCEEDS WILL BE LOANED TO BENSON STEEL TO FINANCE THE COST OF MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO ITS STEEL MAKING FACILITY, LOCATED IN EL PASO COUNTY. THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS PART OF THE REQUIRED APPROVAL PROCESS TO ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS REGARDING THE PROJECT, THE PLAN OF FINANCE, AND THE PROPOSED BOND ISSUANCE. THE HEARING NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED AND POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 14TH OF THIS YEAR, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE EITHER IN PERSON, BY PHONE OR ONLINE THROUGH THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. JACOB REYNOLDS, WHO WILL PROVIDE A MORE IN-DEPTH EXPLANATION OF THE TAX CODE THAT ENABLES THE INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BOND. THANK YOU. WELCOME, JACOB. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS PROVIDE A SOURCE OF TAX EXEMPT OR TAXABLE BOND FINANCE FOR PROJECTS INVOLVING SIGNIFICANT PRIVATE ACTIVITY AND ARE ESTABLISHED BY THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ACT OF 1979. IRBS ARE ISSUED BY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS, WHICH, FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE CODE, ARE NOT CONSIDERED POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS AND ARE THEREFORE NOT A DEBT OBLIGATION OF THE COUNTY, RATHER, THE BOND SERVICE DEBT OR THE BOND DEBT SERVICE EXCUSE ME, IS GENERALLY PAID BY THE PRIVATE COMPANY UNDER THE TERMS OF A LOAN AGREEMENT. THE IRS REGULATES THESE KINDS OF BONDS AND IMPOSES A VOLUME CEILING ON THE AMOUNT OF IRBS THAT IT MAY BE ISSUED WITHIN EACH STATE. AMONG THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE THAT THE BONDS BE APPROVED BY A GOVERNMENTAL UNIT, WHICH HAS JURISDICTION OVER THE AREA IN WHICH THE BENEFITING THE BENEFITING FACILITY IS LOCATED. FOR YOUR REFERENCE, THAT WILL BE SECTION 147 F OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. SUCH APPROVAL MAY BE GIVEN ONLY AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING WITH ADEQUATE NOTICE, WHICH, AS MR. RANSOM EXPLAINED, WAS THE REQUIREMENT MET HERE. I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO MR. RANSOM FOR FURTHER COMMENT. THANK YOU SIR, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THREE MEMBERS OF BENTON STEEL THAT ARE HERE TODAY AND ASK THEM IF IT'S OKAY WITH COMMISSIONERS COURT TO SAY A FEW WORDS IN RESPECT TO THE THE THE IRB. WE HAVE MR. LEE. MCCORMICK, MR. KITADA AND MR. VICTOR CAMACHO. I'LL PASS IT ON TO YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. JUDGES AND COMMISSIONERS. LEE MCCORMICK WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES. I ACTUALLY SERVE AS THE MUNICIPAL ADVISOR TO THE MICHIGAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WHICH IS THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY THAT IS ISSUING THE TAX EXEMPT BONDS FOR BENTON STEEL, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER FEDERAL TAX, TAX CODE AND STATE STATUTES IN ORDER TO QUALIFY THESE BONDS AS TAX EXEMPT, VINTON STEEL IS PURSUING TAX EXEMPT BONDS FOR THE EXPANSION OF THEIR FACILITY HERE IN EL PASO COUNTY, WHICH WILL INCREASE THEIR PRODUCTION. THE REASON THEY'RE ABLE TO QUALIFY THEIR BONDS IS TAX EXEMPT IS BECAUSE OF THE RECYCLING COMPONENT OF IT. SO COMPANIES THAT ARE DOING RECYCLING, SMALL MANUFACTURING AND POLLUTION CONTROL CAN ACTUALLY QUALIFY THEIR BONDS AS TAX EXEMPT, MEANING THE INTEREST ON THOSE BONDS IS TAX EXEMPT TO THE INVESTORS, SIMILAR TO CITY OR COUNTY DEBT, IT HAS NO NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE COUNTY WITH REGARDS TO PROPERTY TAX OR ANY OTHER TAXES. IN FACT, THE FACT THEY'RE BUILDING A NEW FACILITY WILL INCREASE THE TAX BASE HERE IN THE COUNTY. BUT WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THERE IS NO RISK, NO COST, AND NO LIABILITY TO EL PASO COUNTY WITH REGARDS TO THE BOND FINANCING. THANK YOU. I'M SURE OUR PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATES WHAT YOU'VE JUST SAID AND WE THANK YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ACTUALLY. JUST IF YOU COULD GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THE MISSION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WHEN IT WAS ESTABLISHED, WHO THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE, JUST ANY BACKGROUND INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY HAVE? SURE. THE MEDICI HAS BEEN AROUND, I THINK SINCE THE EARLY 80S, LATE 70S, EARLY 80S. THEY ESTABLISHED THEIR TAX EXEMPT BOND PROGRAM, ACTUALLY STARTED WORKING WITH THEM BACK AROUND 2004. I ACTUALLY WENT TO THE MEDICI TO DO A TAX EXEMPT BOND FINANCING FOR ONE OF THEIR MANUFACTURING FACILITIES. AND WHAT WE LEARNED IS WHEN WE WOULD TRY TO DO A TAX EXEMPT BOND FINANCING AROUND THE STATE, EVERY TIME WE HAD TO BASICALLY REEDUCATE THE CITY OR COUNTY ABOUT HOW TAX EXEMPT BONDS WORK, BECAUSE THERE TECHNICALLY WE DO 3 OR 4 OF THEM A YEAR HERE IN TEXAS. SO THEY'RE NOT NOT DONE VERY OFTEN. IT WAS HARD TO FIND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS WHO WERE WILLING TO STAFF UP TO DO A BOND DEAL, AND THEY MAY ONLY DO ONE IN THEIR LIFETIME OR TWO IN THEIR LIFETIME. SO WE STARTED WORKING WITH MEDICI TO DO TRANSACTIONS AROUND THE STATE, AND THEY ACTUALLY HAD A BRACKET AMENDMENT PUT IN LEGISLATION TO ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT STILL HAD CONTROL, I.E. THE REASON WE COME TO EL PASO COUNTY TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE [02:10:04] PASSING A RESOLUTION SAYING, YES, WE'RE OKAY WITH THIS PROJECT HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTY USING TAX EXEMPT BONDS. SO ULTIMATELY, YOU STILL HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT THE WHETHER THEY USE TAX EXEMPT BONDS OR NOT. IF THE COUNTY WERE TO SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE TAX EXEMPT BONDS, THEY'D STILL FINANCE THE PROJECT. IT WOULD JUST BE AT A HIGHER COST TO THEM, WHICH ULTIMATELY MAKES HIGHER COST TO THEIR MATERIALS. SO WE TYPICALLY HAVE DONE ROUGHLY TWO, PROBABLY ABOUT 1.8 BILLION OF BOND FINANCING SINCE OH FOUR. AND OVER 40 CITIES AND COUNTIES HERE IN TEXAS HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH ANY OF THE BONDS, NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH ANY OF THE THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE ACTUALLY APPROVED THE BONDS. TECLO GARCIA IS THE CEO OF THE MEDICI AND RICHARD HERNANDEZ IS THE PRESIDENT. AND THEY'RE LOCATED IN AUSTIN. THEY'RE LOCATED IN MISSION, TEXAS. SO THE MISSION ECONOMIC IS IN MISSION, TEXAS. OKAY. MISSION TEXAS. THANK YOU. WELCOME. WELCOME. YEAH. GOOD MORNING. AND MY NAME IS MASAHIRO KITADA AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE VINTON, ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF OUR. PARENT COMPANY. AND ALMOST ONE MONTH AGO, WE INVITED IN A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY. AND, YOU KNOW, THE WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO STARTING A PROJECT IN VINTON FOR ANOTHER DECADE. HOWEVER, WITHOUT MONEY, WE CANNOT START THE PROJECT. THAT'S WHY TODAY, ON BEHALF OF VINTON STUDIOS, ALL THE EMPLOYEES AND I THANK YOU FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE VINTON PROJECT. YOU HAD OUR BOND. THIS IS A VERY, VERY COMPETITIVE. AND THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TAX EXEMPT BOND, AND UNDER THIS GOOD SOURCE OF MONIES, WE PROMISE AND WE HAVE COMMITMENT TO DO THE ALMOST THREE, NEARLY $300 MILLION INVESTMENT AND STARTING A NEW. STARTING AT 2027 AND REPLACEMENT, BECAUSE OF THE 1962, SAME AS MY AGE, ALMOST RETIRED EQUIPMENT. WE HAVE THE REPLACEMENT. BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN BRAGGING ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP THE WAY IT HAPPENED. THE ROBERTO, YOUR TEAM WORKING WITH VINTON AND JUST MAKING A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN. SO JUST IT'S BEEN A GREAT, A GREAT JOURNEY. SO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM. THANK YOU. JUDGE. MR. NAVA, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT. NO. WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? YES. IF WE HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT WE GO INTO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO, TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 12 B PURSUANT TO SECTION 147F2 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED. TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 501 ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ISSUANCE OF INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS WITH RESPECT TO THE VINTON STEEL PROJECT. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. PEOPLE THAT ARE [B. Pursuant to Section 147(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Texas Local Government Code Chapter 501, adopt a Resolution Approving the Issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds with Respect to the Vinton Steel Project. Sergio Coronado, Commissioner, Precinct 4, 915-273-3596] HERE FROM BENTON STEEL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. JUDGE. IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COURT. YOU KNOW, APART FROM, YOU KNOW, BEING BE GOOD PARTNERS. BENTON STEEL IN THIS PROPOSED PROJECT IS NOT ONLY GOING TO MODERNIZE THEIR PLANT, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO IMPROVE THE POLLUTION CONTROL. AND BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE SAFETY FOR ITS EMPLOYEES, AND IT'S GOING TO INCREASE THE VISIBILITY AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE FOR OTHER SAFETY FACTORS IN THAT FACILITY. YOU KNOW, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO STAY HERE IN VINTON. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT NOT JUST TO THE VILLAGE OF VINTON, BUT TO THE CANUTILLO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OF COURSE, TO US TO THE COUNTY FOR THE INVESTMENT THAT THEY ARE MAKING. AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE PARTNERS WITH THEM IN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL THAT WE INSTITUTED, WE SIGNED PREVIOUSLY. AND SO WITH THAT, I THINK IT'S REALLY A HAPPY OCCASION THAT WE, YOU KNOW, THIS KIND OF PROJECT IS GOING FORWARD. AND I THINK THAT THE COURT SHOULD BE VERY COMFORTABLE IN MAKING SURE THAT THE THE COST OF THAT INVESTMENT FOR THE FINANCING IS REDUCED TO OUR PARTNERS AND STEEL. SO AND [02:15:05] WE THANK THEM AGAIN FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP. AND AT THIS TIME I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION. WHEREAS VINTON STEEL LLC AND OR ONE OR MORE AFFILIATES, COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO HEREIN AS THE COMPANY OWNS AND OPERATES A STEEL MAKING FACILITY LOCATED IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. THE COUNTY AT 8001 BORDER STEEL ROAD, VINTON, TEXAS, 79821. THE FACILITIES AND WHEREAS THE COMPANY HAS REQUESTED THAT MISSION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE ISSUER ISSUE REVENUE BONDS AND NAMELY SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL REVENUE BONDS, HEREINAFTER BONDS OR SIMILARLY CAPTIONED BONDS IN ONE OR MORE SERIES TO FINANCE THE COST OF CONSTRUCTING, RECONSTRUCTING, IMPROVING, EXPANDING OR EQUIPPING THE FACILITIES HERE AND AFTER THE PROJECT. AND WHEREAS THE AGGREGATE MAXIMUM STATED PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE BONDS TO BE USED TO FINANCE THE PROJECT IS $200 MILLION, AND WHEREAS IN ORDER FOR THE PROJECT TO BE FINANCED WITH THE PROCEEDS OF THE BONDS, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF THE COUNTY MUST REQUEST THAT THE ISSUER EXERCISE ITS POWERS WITHIN THE COUNTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ISSUING SUCH BONDS TO FINANCE THE PROJECT. PURSUANT TO SECTION 501.159 OF THE TEXAS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ACT, THE ACT, CHAPTER 501, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, AND WHEREAS, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DESIRES TO MAKE EACH REQUEST SUCH REQUEST OF THE ISSUER AND TO ENABLE THE ISSUER TO ISSUE THE BONDS, THE PROCEEDS THEREOF TO BE USED BY THE COMPANY TO FINANCE THE PROJECT. AND WHEREAS, ON AUGUST 29TH, 2025, A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD BY THE ISSUER IN WHICH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE PERMITTED TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS WITH RESPECT TO THE PROJECT. THE PLAN OF FINANCE FOR DEFINED AS DEFINED HEREIN, AND THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 147 F OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED. THE CODE. AND WHEREAS, ON SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2025, THE COUNTY ALSO HELD A PUBLIC HEARING IN WHICH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE PERMITTED TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS WITH RESPECT TO THE PROJECT. THE PLAN OF FINANCE AS DEFINED HEREIN, AND THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 147 F OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. AND WHEREAS, THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OR THE COUNTY JUDGE AS THE APPLICABLE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE IS ALSO REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS AS TAX EXEMPT BONDS. IN ORDER TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION ONE, 47 F OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DESIRES HEREBY TO GIVE SUCH APPROVAL. AND WHEREAS THE COUNTY SHALL NOT HAVE ANY LIABILITY, FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OR RESPONSIBILITY OF ANY KIND WITH RESPECT TO THE PAYMENT OF BONDS ISSUED FOR THE PROJECT OR FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE OR OPERATION OF ANY ASPECT OF THE PROJECT, BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT THE FINDINGS OF THE COUNTY AND ITS ACTIONS APPROVING THE RESOLUTION TAKEN AT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING ARE HEREBY APPROVED AND ADOPTED TO BE SIGNED THIS 29TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FELICIDADES. WE WOULD LIKE TO REALLY COMMEND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OF COURSE, THE CITY, THE COUNTY, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE ENTIRE TRANSACTION JUST FOR THESE BONDS. BUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT BEFORE US, WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY. AND OF COURSE, AGAIN, VINTON STEEL AND OF COURSE, THANK THE COURT FOR ITS APPROVAL OF THIS FINANCE MECHANISM. SO AND IF IF THE MEMBERS OF IN STEEL AND OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CAN COME UP, WE'D LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE. AND GET YOUR PICTURE TO. GET RECOGNIZED. SONYA I'LL TAKE THE PICTURE. [02:20:20] IT'S A GREAT THING. SO. THE GROUNDBREAKING GO BIT AND STEEL. STEEL. THANK YOU. ITEM 13 HUMAN RESOURCES 13 A. RECEIVE AN UPDATE, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING HB 71 EIGHT 88TH SESSION AND THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. WELCOME SOME. SOURCES. DEPARTMENT. DURING THE [A. Receive an update, discuss, and take appropriate action regarding HB718 (88th Session) and the County Tax Assessor- Collector's Office. Sam Trujillo, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, Human Resources Department, 915-273-3520] COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, THE LOCAL CAR DEALERS AND THE COUNTY'S TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR RUBEN GONZALEZ, PROVIDED THE COURT WITH OPERATIONAL CONCERNS REGARDING HOUSE BILL 718, WHICH WAS ENACTED BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IN 2023 WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF JULY 1ST, 2025. JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY, HOUSE BILL 718 REQUIRES LICENSED MOTOR VEHICLE DEALERS TO ISSUE METAL LICENSE PLATES TO BUYERS AT THE TIME OF SALE, AND TO PROCESS THE TITLE AND REGISTRATION TRANSACTIONS ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES WEB DEALER SYSTEM. DURING THE MEETING, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DIRECTED THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A WEEKLY UPDATE ON THE TAX ASSESSOR PROGRESS REGARDING HOUSE BILL 17 718 OPERATIONS. JUST A LITTLE QUICK BACKGROUND. OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE COUNTY HAS WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE TAX ASSESSOR AND HIS TEAM ON TWO COMPREHENSIVE TIME AND MOTION STUDIES, ONE BEFORE AND ONE AFTER HOUSE BILL 718. DRAWING ON THE FINDINGS FROM THESE STUDIES, SEVERAL OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES WERE IDENTIFIED AND VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS WERE PROVIDED TO THE TAX OFFICE. I HAVE TWO MEMBERS OF MY COMP AND CLASSIFICATION TEAM, VAL FERNANDEZ AND CYNTHIA DE LA FUENTE, TO PROVIDE THE COURT WITH HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2022 STUDY AND THE 20 2025 STUDY, AND THE LATEST UPDATES THAT WE HAVE FROM FROM LAST WEEK. SO WITH THAT, VAL. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS VALERIA FERNANDEZ WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, AS SAM MENTIONED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE ON TWO TIME AND MOTION STUDIES. THE FIRST WAS IN 2022. PRIOR TO HB 718, AND THE 2025 STUDY IS CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS, BUT IT'S FOCUSED ON THE IMPACTS FROM HB 718, THE 2002 2022 ANALYSIS WAS CONDUCTED OVER THE COURSE OF SIX MONTHS, BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND JULY 2022. THE METHODS INCLUDED SITE VISITS, STAFF INTERVIEWS, DATA ANALYSIS, AND A REVIEW OF EXIT INTERVIEWS. THERE WERE 17 RECOMMENDATIONS MADE ACROSS FOUR MAIN AREAS, INCLUDING VACANCIES AND RETENTION, TRAINING, MORALE AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT. NOTABLE ACTIONS IMPLEMENTED INCLUDED [02:25:05] THE CREATION OF A TEMPORARY POOL OF SIX OFFICE SPECIALIST POSITIONS FOR PROPERTY TAX SEASON, WHICH HAS BEEN RENEWED EACH YEAR, AND THE APPROVAL OF THREE NEW POSITIONS IN FY 23, INCLUDING A TAX TITLE EXAMINER AND INSPECTOR, A CUSTOMER RELATIONS SPECIALIST, INTERMEDIATE AND A CUSTOMER RELATIONS SPECIALIST SENIOR. MOVING FORWARD A LITTLE BIT, IN 2024, THE COUNTY RESTRICTED ALL NEW POSITION REQUESTS FOR FY 25 DUE TO BUDGET CONSTRAINTS. HOWEVER, THE TAX OFFICE SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR NINE NEW POSITIONS IN JULY 2024, HR STAFF MET WITH THE TAX OFFICE MANAGEMENT IN OCTOBER 2024 AND RECOMMENDED THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. DEPARTMENTAL RESTRUCTURING TO MEET OPERATIONAL NEEDS. DATA TRACKING FOR FUTURE STAFFING, JUSTIFICATION AND STREAMLINING PROCESSES. CROSS TRAINING AND USING TEMPORARY STAFF WHERE FEASIBLE. I WILL NOW ASK CYNTHIA DE LA FUENTE TO SPEAK ON THE 2025 STUDY. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE COMMISSIONER CYNTHIA DE LA FUENTE WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE. ALLERGIES HAVE GOT ME TODAY. SO IF I HAVE TO TURN, TURN OVER AND CLEAR UP MY VOICE. THE 2025 TIME AND MOTION STUDY WAS INITIATED IN APRIL 2025 AS PART OF THE FY 26 BUDGET PROCESS. IT INCLUDED SITE VISITS, TRANSACTION TRANSACTION TREND REVIEWS, STAFFING ASSESSMENTS AND BENCHMARKING AGAINST OTHER COUNTIES. WHILE THE STUDY IS STILL IN PROGRESS, HR HAS ALREADY SHARED INTERIM RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE TAX OFFICE. IN SEPTEMBER 2025, HR APPROVED THE RECLASSIFICATION OF THREE VACANT POSITIONS, WHICH ARE NOW DEDICATED FULL TIME TO THE WEB DEALER SECTION. THE TAX OFFICE CURRENTLY HAS 77 FULL TIME POSITIONS, PLUS SIX SEASONAL POOL SLOTS. AS VAL HAD MENTIONED EARLIER, AS OF SEPTEMBER 29TH, THE TAX OFFICE HAS EIGHT FULL TIME VACANCIES AND THREE VACANCIES WITHIN THE POOL SLOTS. OF THE FULL TIME VACANCIES, THERE ARE FOUR ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO THE 16 WEEK HIRING WAITING PERIOD. ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, 26 EMPLOYEES WORKED EXTRA SHIFTS, CLEARING 1700 OF THE 5000 BACKLOG CASES AND COMP TIME WAS AWARDED TO NONEXEMPT STAFF. ALTHOUGH THE TAX OFFICE HAS EXPRESSED EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT TRAINING TIME, HR HAS ADVISED THAT TEMPORARY STAFF COULD BE COULD SERVE UP TO ONE YEAR, BE TRAINED AND LATER TRANSITION TO PERMANENT ROLES. FURTHER, HR DID SUGGEST ADJUSTING THE WAY THE TEMPORARY POSITIONS ARE POSTED TO ATTRACT MORE CUSTOMER RELATIONS ORIENTED CANDIDATES. CROSS TRAINING REMAINS A KEY TOOL FOR EFFICIENCY EFFICIENCIES. THE SEPTEMBER 13TH BACKLOG PROJECT DEMONSTRATED FLEXIBILITY, STAFF FLEXIBILITY AND IMPACT. HOLIDAY FLEXIBILITY IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO EXTENDED TO ALLOW FOR EXTENDED OPERATIONS DURING HIGH DEMAND PERIODS. SINCE LAST WEEK, WE DO HAVE A FEW UPDATES THAT WE'LL GO OVER NOW. THE HIRING WAITING PERIOD EXEMPTION REQUESTS WERE RECEIVED BY HR ON SEPTEMBER 22ND FOR ENTRY LEVEL VACANCIES, AND ARE SCHEDULED FOR REVIEW BY THE HIRING WAITING PERIOD COMMITTEE ON OCTOBER 6TH. ADDITIONALLY, A REQUEST WAS RECEIVED ON SEPTEMBER 26TH FOR OVERTIME RELATED TO THE HB 718 BACKLOG. THIS REQUEST WILL BE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY HR AND THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR. AS OF THIS MORNING, THE CURRENT BACKLOG IN WEB DEALER IS 5663 TRANSACTIONS DATING BACK TO SEPTEMBER 12TH OF THIS YEAR OF 2025. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY DROP OFF OR MAIL IN WORK. THE TAX OFFICE IS SCHEDULING EMPLOYEES TO WORK THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4TH TO WORK ON THE BACKLOG. ADDITIONALLY, THE TAX OFFICE HAS SCHEDULED TWO TRAINING SESSIONS FOR DEALERS, ONE IN SPANISH AND ONE IN ENGLISH, AND IT WILL BE CONDUCTED AT EPCC ON OCTOBER 10TH, 2025. HR WILL CONTINUE MONITORING STAFF TRAINING AND PROCESS ADJUSTMENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TAX OFFICE AND REPORT EVERY WEEK TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ONGOING 2025 TIME AND MOTION STUDY WILL ALSO BE SHARED AS SOON AS THEY ARE FINALIZED. I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THE DATE OF THE TRAININGS? OCTOBER 10TH 10TH? [02:30:02] OKAY. AND IT WILL BE CONDUCTED AT EPCC WITH ONE ENGLISH AND ONE SPANISH TRAINING SESSION FOR THE DEALERS. I'LL NOW PASS IT OVER TO SAM. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU CYNTHIA. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. SO WE WILL BE WE GAVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND TODAY, BUT EACH WEEK WE'LL BE BRINGING YOU THE THE UPDATES AS WE WORK WITH THE TAX OFFICE. ANY QUESTIONS YOU CAN JUST A DEALERS ARE REALLY HURTING AT THIS TIME. SO ANYTHING THAT WE COULD DO TO TO GET THEM BACK ON TRACK. AND I WAS SURPRISED THAT NUMBER HASN'T DROPPED AS MUCH WITH SOME OF THE EXTRA THINGS THAT WE'RE STILL AT ABOUT 5000. IT WAS 5000. AND THEY DID THE THE WEEKEND EVENT DROPPED THAT 1700. BUT IT'S BUILT BACK UP, BUILT BACK UP. AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE HAVING ADDITIONAL SESSIONS SO THEY CAN GET THAT. HOPEFULLY I'M STILL CONVINCED IT'S A MATTER OF VOLUME AND THEN THAT WE COULD TAPER IT OFF. AND THEN THINGS WILL GET A LOT BETTER FOR EVERYONE CONCERNED. SIR. THANK YOU SIR, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SORRY, JUDGE. I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION RELATED TO THE HIRING OF THE NEW STAFF FOR THE THE WITH THE HIRING FREEZE WAIVER. YOU SAID THAT THE THE HIRING FREEZE COMMITTEE WILL MEET ON THE SIXTH. IS THAT GOING TO PROLONG THE THE THE HIRING OF THESE INDIVIDUALS? SO WE STILL WORK. WE STILL WORK ON THE RECRUITMENT. WE STILL WORK ON THE ON ON THE HIRING PROCESS. IT'S JUST ALLOWING THEM TO START UNTIL AFTER THE 16 WEEK WAITING PERIOD, UNLESS THEY GET THE EXEMPTION ON OCTOBER 6TH. SO EVEN IF THE EXEMPTION WAS PASSED IMMEDIATELY, THEY'RE STILL TAKE SOME TIME TO GET THE POSTING, GET THE RECRUITMENTS, GET THE INTERVIEWS, ALL THOSE THINGS ACCOMPLISHED. YEAH, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT THE ONES PROLONGING THE PROCESS IN ANY WAY AND THAT WE'RE EXPEDITING THE, THE, THE RECRUITMENT AND HIRING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SO NO, MA'AM, I'M SORRY, WE'VE ALREADY STARTED ON THE ON THE ON THE PROCESS. IT'S JUST AT THE POINT WHERE THEY NEED TO GET THE WAIVER NOW. BUT THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE ONLY HAVE ONE MORE ITEM LEFT ON THE AGENDA. SO I WAS GOING TO ASK IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT THE THE EXEMPTION COMMITTEE COULD ACTUALLY MEET THIS AFTERNOON TO DISCUSS THESE SPECIFIC POSITIONS, BUT IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT NEED TO BE HAPPENING, THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY SUGGESTION. I DON'T KNOW, COMMISSIONER STOUT. HOW HOW YOU FEEL, COMMISSIONER, THIS IS THIS IS PART OF MY TEAM THAT PUTS THE THE PACKETS TOGETHER EACH WEEK. WE CAN FOR THAT PARTICULAR ITEM, WE CAN PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER IF WE CAN GET THE COMMITTEE TOGETHER THIS AFTERNOON, I'M AVAILABLE FOR SURE. OKAY, OKAY. AND I'LL GET THAT DONE. I'M SORRY. ONE MORE QUESTION. SO IT SEEMS LIKE THEY SUBMITTED THE OVERTIME REQUEST. OF COURSE, THE EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR THE HIRING COMMITTEE. AND THEN I'M GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THE TRAININGS. AND THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE A SATURDAY. SO IT SEEMS LIKE MAYBE THE ONLY SUGGESTION THAT WE HAVEN'T, WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT WAS THE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES. MR. GONZALEZ HASN'T INDICATED THAT HE WANTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. RIGHT. RIGHT NOW. DID YOU GET SOME MORE INFORMATION THIS MORNING? OKAY. SORRY. THE HR OFFICE HAS RECEIVED A REQUEST TO CONDUCT A BACKGROUND ON A REHIRE FOR THE TEMPORARY POOL. SO THERE IS AT LEAST ONE PERSON IN THE QUEUE, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT AND BRING BACK ANY UPDATES THAT WE MAY RECEIVE. OKAY. GREAT. GREAT. THANK YOU. THERE WERE SIX SIX POSITIONS IN THAT POOL. CORRECT. SO COMMISSIONER CORONADO THANK YOU JUDGE. I'M HAVING WONDERING WHY THIS PAST WEEKEND THERE WASN'T ALSO ANOTHER EFFORT TO LOWER DOWN THE BACKLOG OF THESE APPLICATIONS. COMMISSIONER, I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT. WERE THERE RESOURCES MADE AVAILABLE TO THE TAX ASSESSOR TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT? WE HAVE OFFERED, AND THEY ALREADY HAVE COMP TIME THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THEIR PERSONNEL. BUT WE DID OFFER OVERTIME AS WELL. HE'S GOT ROOM IN HIS BUDGET. EXCUSE ME, PAY FOR IT. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TOLD LAST WEEK. RIGHT, IS IF HE WANTED TO DO THAT AGAIN, THERE'S SALARY SAVINGS THAT COULD BE USED BY THE TAX ASSESSOR TO HAVE DONE THAT RIGHT. AND A PART THERE, HE HAD 7 OR 8 VACANCIES BEFORE THIS. RIGHT. THAT'S CORRECT. HE HAS EIGHT VACANCIES RIGHT NOW. AND JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, THIS. LAW ACTUALLY WAS PASSED BACK A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. AND GIVING COUNTIES TWO YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STARTED TO ADJUST AND TRY TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW REQUIREMENTS. THE LAW WAS PASSED IN 2023 WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF JULY 2025, AND OTHER COUNTIES TOOK ADVANTAGE OF STARTING THIS PROCESS EARLIER. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. AND WHEN DID OUR COUNTY START THE PROCESS FROM? WELL, ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION [02:35:02] THAT WE GOT IN OUR STUDIES THAT THE THE COUNTY WAS AWARE OF THIS PROCESS BACK IN 2023, AND IT LED TO THE TAX ASSESSOR REQUESTING A NEW POSITIONS, WHICH IS WHAT LED TO THE BACKGROUND THAT WE PROVIDED WITH ALTERNATIVES, BECAUSE THE COUNTY WASN'T HIRING NEW NEW POSITIONS AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME OR NOW, EVEN DURING THIS TIME PROCESS. BUT THE TAX OFFICE WAS AWARE OF THE LAW CHANGE BACK IN 2023. ALL RIGHT. AND DID THE TAX OFFICE CHOOSE TO IMPLEMENT IT EARLIER THAN THE JULY 1ST, OR GET RID OF ALL THE KINKS, OR SO TO SPEAK, OR THE REQUIREMENTS? THERE WAS THERE WAS SOME TRAINING THAT WAS DONE. AND IF IF MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY, THERE WAS ABOUT 30% OF THE CAR DEALERS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE IN THE TRAINING. SO THERE HAS BEEN SOME WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE ALONG WITH SOME RECLASSIFICATIONS THAT OCCURRED THIS LAST MONTH FOR POSITIONS TO MOVE OVER INTO THE PROCESSING SECTION. OKAY. AND AND SINCE THERE WAS NOT A. I WANT TO SAY, A A GREAT TURNOUT TO THOSE TRAININGS BY THE CAR DEALERS THAT THE TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE SCHEDULE OTHER TRAININGS AFTER THAT. THERE HAS BEEN ONE SCHEDULED THAT WE'RE AWARE OF, WHICH IS THE OCTOBER 10TH, THE OCTOBER 10TH TRAINING. NONE PRIOR TO JULY OF THIS YEAR. COMMISSIONERS, YES, WE ARE AWARE THAT THE COUNTY TAX OFFICE HAD SCHEDULED TRAININGS WITH THE DEALERS ON A REGULAR BASIS. PERSONALLY, I KNOW WHEN I WENT TO GO REGISTER OR DO MY TITLE RENEWAL IN MARCH, THEY WERE ALREADY CONDUCTING TRAININGS WITH THE DEALERS AT THAT TIME. OKAY, BUT WHAT I HEARD WAS THERE WAS A LOW TURNOUT FROM THE DEALERS. WAS THERE FOLLOW UP TRAINING AFTER THAT? THERE WAS THERE WAS LOW TURNOUT. THAT INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED AND THERE WAS FOLLOW UP JUST RECENTLY WITH THE WITH THE DEALERS FOR THIS SESSION. THAT'S ON OCTOBER 10TH. OKAY. COMMISSIONER, WHAT WOULD I THINK? I WANT TO HOPE I'M ACCURATE IN THIS IS THAT THAT IT WAS THE SAME THING OTHER COUNTIES DID, BUT THERE WERE MORE ASSERTIVE WHEN THEY DIDN'T RESPOND THAT THEY REACHED OUT. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, KEPT TRYING TO GET THEM BECAUSE THEY KNEW WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS WAS GOING TO BE. SO I THINK THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE WAS THE THE FOLLOW UP ON THOSE THAT DIDN'T AT THAT TIME AND THEN WAITING UNTIL NOW. I THINK THAT THAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR COUNTY AND OTHER COUNTIES THAT. CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. WE'RE WE'RE BEHIND WHERE OTHER COUNTIES HAD STARTED SOONER. AND WHO COULD HAVE STARTED THAT PROCESS SOONER. THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TAX ASSESSOR ELECTED OFFICIAL. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER OKAY. THANK YOU. PUBLICLY, MR. GONZALEZ HAS SAID HE PLANS TO CLOSE HIS OFFICE TWO FRIDAYS A MONTH AND DO THE WORK ON OVERTIME ON SOME SATURDAYS IN OCTOBER TO ADDRESS THE BACKLOG. THANK YOU. BITSY. WE WILL TAKE NO ACTION FOR ITEM 13. WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTINUE ON, JUDGE OR. YES. YES OKAY. IS THAT OKAY WITH JUST GO THROUGH THE OKAY. ITEM 14 GRANT APPLICATIONS 14 A GRANT AWARD. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE COUNTY JUDGE TO ACCEPT THE FY 26 TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE OFFICE OF THE CONSTABLE PRECINCT FOUR FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO SEPTEMBER [A. GRANT AWARD - Approve and authorize the County Judge to accept the FY26 Texas Department of Transportation Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) for the Office of the Constable, Pct. 4 from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, in the amount of $39,879.  County match in the amount of $10,023.13 is required.  Funding is available in GF-CONSTBL4SALARY-FT-REGULAR. Further, approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the accompanying authorized signature form and to approve the updated STEP Policies and Procedures Manual. (Contract No. 2025-0749) Luis Aguilar, Constable, Constable Precinct 4, 915-273-3503] 30TH, 2026, IN THE AMOUNT OF $39,879 COUNTY, MATCHING THE AMOUNT OF 10,000, $23.13 IS REQUIRED. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN GENERAL FUND CONSTABLE FOR SALARY. FULL TIME, REGULAR. FURTHER APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE ACCOMPANYING AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE FORM AND TO APPROVE THE UPDATED STEP POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. MANUAL CONTRACT NUMBER 2025 0749. GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS I'M ELLA HOOPER WITH BUDGET AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT. THE GRANT SECTION CONSTABLES PRECINCT FOUR OFFICE HAS BEEN AWARDED THE FY 26 TXDOT STATE GRANT. THIS GRANT PROVIDES FUNDING FOR OVERTIME, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, OPERATIONS. ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES INCLUDE DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED, SPEED ENFORCEMENT, OCCUPANT PROTECTION, INTERSECTION TRAFFIC CONTROL, AND DISTRACTED DRIVING. THE GRANT DOES REQUIRE A 20% MATCH, BUT IT WILL BE COVERED THROUGH REGULAR SALARY HOURS, AND WE DO HAVE SERGEANT JUAREZ ON THE LINE IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT CREATING ANY NEW POSITIONS OR ADDING TO THE STAFFING TABLE WITH THIS [02:40:05] MONEY. RIGHT? NOT AT ALL. IT'S WHAT THEY'RE ALREADY GETTING PAID. WE'LL USE THOSE KIND OF LIKE AN IN-KIND, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY CASH MATCH. BUT IT'S OURS. THANK YOU. HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE ITEM THAT WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM FOUR, APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, TEXAS, AND PHILLIPS MEACHAM PARTNERS LLP FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. IN THE AMENDED RATE OF $14,000 PER MONTH FOR FY 26, FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN GENERAL FUND ADMIN, [X. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the 1st amendment to the Consulting Services Agreement between the County of El Paso, Texas and Philips Uresti Meachum Partners, LLP from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, in the amended rate of $14,000 per month for FY26. Funding is available in GF-GADM-CONTR SVC-LOBBYIST. (Contract No. 2025-0811) Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-273-3582] CONTRACT SERVICES LOBBYIST CONTRACT NUMBER 2025 0811. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY STAFF I PULLED THIS AGENDA ITEM JUST TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I KNOW THAT THIS AND THIS AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT, OUR LOBBYISTS ARE ACTUALLY WE'RE ACTUALLY REDUCING THEIR MONTHLY PAYMENT FROM 14,500 TO 14,000. AND AND SO MY QUESTION IS MORE ABOUT WHAT TIMING FOR WHEN THEY'RE CONTRACT IS UP FOR RENEWAL. AND IF THIS AMENDMENT CHANGES THAT AT ALL. SO GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS MELISSA CARRILLO WITH COUNTY OPERATIONS. SO THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT THAT YOU SEE ON TODAY'S AGENDA IS THE FIRST AMENDMENT REDUCING THE MONTHLY AMOUNT. IT IS SET IN PLACE FOR THE TIMELINE OF FISCAL YEAR 26 ALONE. GIVEN THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, WE REACHED OUT TO SOME OF OUR CONTRACT PROVIDERS AND THEY'VE AGREED TO REDUCE IT. THIS IS IN PLACE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH OF NEXT YEAR. THIS PARTICULAR REDUCTION THEREAFTER, IT WOULD INCREASE BACK TO THE PREVIOUSLY NEGOTIATED AMOUNT OF 14,500 A MONTH BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 20 2626. YES. BUT MELISSA, HOW LONG THE CONTRACT ITSELF? NO, THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT THAT WAS SIGNED. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE. YEAH. AT WHAT POINT DOES THEIR CONTRACT COME UP FOR RENEWAL WITH THE COMMISSIONERS COURT? GIVE US ONE SECOND THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT. I THINK IT'S ANOTHER YEAR AFTER THIS, BUT LET ME. YES, MA'AM. IT'S A 33 YEAR WITH TWO ONE YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS, I BELIEVE. SO THIS IS GOING INTO THEIR SECOND YEAR OF THE CONTRACT. GIVE US ONE SECOND. YES, MA'AM. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. COUNTY JUDGE, IF I CAN CHIME IN, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE THE CONTRACT PULLED UP. AND I ALSO REVIEWED THE FIRST AMENDMENT. SO I DO SEE THAT THE CONTRACT ITSELF IS THE END TERM IS MAY 20TH OF 2026. AND THEN WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS TO RENEW FOR TWO YEAR PERIODS THEREAFTER. THANK YOU EVAN. SO SO THEN WOULD IT MAKE MORE SENSE FOR THIS AMENDMENT TO BE THROUGH MAY 20TH OF 2026? I THINK CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I THINK THE AMENDMENT OF THE AMOUNT DOES NOT LOCK US INTO A LONGER TERM. SO IF IF IT DOES GO TO SEPTEMBER, WE WOULD PAY THE LOWER RATE. IF IT ONLY GOES TO MAY AND WE DIDN'T RENEW WITH THEM, THEN OBVIOUSLY I IT DOESN'T LOCK US INTO A LONGER THAN TERM. I'M PULLING IT UP TO SO I CAN READ THOSE TERMS. IT DOESN'T LOCK US IN. OKAY. AS LONG AS WE COULD CONFIRM THAT ERIC IS CONFIRMING. BUT YOU WANT TO SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD, I'M SORRY, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. YES. I'M SORRY. I'M NOT SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING THE QUESTION. SO WE'RE WE'RE ASKING IF THE AMENDMENT. THE AMENDMENT FOR THE LOWER RATE IS THROUGH SEPTEMBER. BUT IF THE CONTRACT ENDS IN MAY, WHAT WOULD THIS AMENDMENT LOCK US INTO THIS CONTRACT FOR LONGER THAN THROUGH MAY? NO. MY INTERPRETATION OF THE CONTRACT WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED TO RENEW THE AGREEMENT COME MAY OF 2026. THEREAFTER, BECAUSE OF THE AMENDMENT, WE WOULD STILL HAVE THAT $14,000 MONTHLY FEE STILL APPLICABLE THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. SO MY INTERPRETATION [02:45:02] WOULD BE THAT IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECEIVING THAT CONTINGENT FEE, OR THAT LOWER RATE MONTHLY RATE FEE IS CONTINGENT UPON US RENEWING THE CONTRACT IN MAY. BUT IT'S NOT. THE AMENDMENT ITSELF IS NOT LOCKING IN THAT WE'RE EXTENDING THE CONTRACT UNTIL THE END OF THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR OR THE CURRENT ONE. I SHOULD SAY WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE HAVING THAT LOWER RATE GO THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER OF NEXT YEAR. AGAIN, IF WE RENEW COME MAY. AND THE REASON, JUST FOR THE COURT'S KNOWLEDGE THAT IT HAS THE FISCAL YEAR IS IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH POMP, THE REQUEST WAS TO REDUCE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. BUT AGAIN, AS THE ATTORNEYS HAVE ADVISED, IF THE COURT DID NOT RENEW PAST MAY, THEN THE THE DISCUSSION OR THE AMOUNT WOULD BE MOOT. BUT IF THE COURT DID RENEW IN MAY, THEN THE AMOUNT THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR WOULD STILL BE AT THAT REDUCED RATE TO HOLD TRUE FOR THE 12 MONTH PERIOD. UNDERSTOOD. IT'S JUST I JUST WISH IT WAS A LITTLE BIT CLEARER IN THE AMENDMENT ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT. I APOLOGIZE IF THE COURT WOULD LIKE COMMISSIONER BUTLER, WE WE CAN MAKE THE EDIT IF THE COURT APPROVES IT, A MOTION TO AMEND IT TO REFLECT THAT CLARIFICATION TO. SO WE COULD ADD SOMETHING SIMPLE JUST TO SAY, YOU KNOW, CONTINGENT UPON. RIGHT. THE THE RENEWAL PENDING THE COURT. SO WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT. IF THE COURT IS IN AGREEMENT, WE COULD APPROVE, CONTINGENT UPON ADDING THAT LANGUAGE TO THE AMENDMENT. WE CAN DO THAT. YES, MA'AM. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF WE COULD ADD THAT TO THE LANGUAGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS CORRECTED MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. AND I APPRECIATE THE FIRM. IN LIGHT OF OUR BUDGET ISSUES, THAT THEY'VE REDUCED THEIR CONTRACT AMOUNT. SO THANK THEM FOR THAT. CARRIES. OKAY. THE LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM EIGHT. ITEM EIGHT A RECEIVE AND DISCUSS A PRESENTATION FROM THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL ADVISOR REGARDING CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS AND THE COUNTY'S LONG TERM DEBT PORTFOLIO. WELCOME, BRAD AND NANCY. THANK YOU FOR WAITING [A. Receive and discuss a presentation from the County’s financial advisor regarding current market conditions and the County’s long term debt portfolio. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600] FOR US. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. GOOD TO BE HERE. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. WE'RE THRILLED TO BE HERE WITH YOU AND REALLY EXCITED TO START THIS NEXT ENGAGEMENT WITH YOU ALL. WE APPRECIATE BEING RENEWED THROUGH YOUR COMPETITIVE PROCESS AND PLEDGE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU WITH THE MOST UTMOST INTEGRITY, PROVIDING ALL OUR RESOURCES THAT PEOPLE CAN OFFER. MYSELF, MY CO NANCY AND JUST REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PROVIDE YOU OPTIONS TO HELP GO AFTER YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN OVER THE COMING YEARS. SO WELL DESERVED. WE'VE ENJOYED THE PARTNERSHIP AND AS YOU KNOW, OUR WORK NEVER STOPS. WE'RE CONSTANTLY MONITORING ANY ANY FINANCE OPPORTUNITIES AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE, THE KIND OF METRICS THAT WE FOLLOW AS THE MARKET TENDS TO HAVE EBBS AND FLOWS. THANK YOU. YEAH, A BIT OF A BRIEF OVERVIEW AND UPDATE FOR YOU TODAY. WE'LL FOCUS A LITTLE MORE ON THE MARKET. WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY WORKING ON ANY TRANSACTIONS WITH THE COUNTY, BUT WE ARE PREPARING FOR A FEW HERE IN THE SPRING WITH YOUR GEO ISSUANCE. THERE'S A WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD LOAN THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS WELL. THE MARKET AS YOU AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, THE FED DID FINALLY LOWER THE FED FUNDS RATE A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK THAT WAS COMING OFF OF SOME NEWS THAT PERHAPS SOME OF THE LABOR MARKETS WERE SLOWING DOWN, SOME OF THE INFLATION MAYBE HAD GOTTEN TO A BETTER SPOT. SO THEY DID DECIDE TO TO LOWER THEIR TARGET BY 25 BASIS POINTS, WHICH THE MARKET APPLAUDED. AND WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A PRETTY GOOD RALLY IN THE MUNICIPAL MARKET HERE OVER THE LAST MONTH OR TWO, COMPARED TO WHEN WE PRICED YOUR LAST TRANSACTION. WE CLOSED ON THAT IN EARLY JULY AND PRICED THAT IN JUNE. WE'VE COME DOWN ABOUT 50 BASIS POINTS FROM THOSE LEVELS. SO SOME GOOD MOMENTUM HERE THIS PAST WEEK THOUGH. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKUP. SOME OF THE GDP FIGURES CAME OUT STRONGER THAN WERE EXPECTED. AND SO IT'S IT'S SHOWING SIGNS THAT THE ECONOMY IS STILL DOING WELL HERE IN THE US. SO IT'S BECOME THIS THIS [02:50:01] BALANCING ACT NOW BETWEEN SOME OF THE INFLATIONARY NUMBERS AND SOME OF THE LABOR PRESSURE THAT'S THAT'S COMING, COMING THROUGH THE MARKET. AND SO THERE WAS PREVIOUSLY PRETTY GOOD CONSENSUS FROM THE MARKET THAT THERE WOULD BE ADDITIONAL DECREASES IN THE FED FUNDS RATE HERE THIS YEAR. NOW THAT THOSE PERCENTAGES AND LIKELIHOOD ARE STARTING TO DROP A LITTLE BIT, WE'RE THINKING THERE MAY BE MORE OF A STANDSTILL OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO AS WE HEAD INTO THE END OF THE YEAR. STILL LIKELY THAN NOT, BUT LESS CERTAIN THAN THAN MAYBE A FEW WEEKS AGO, WHERE ECONOMISTS WERE ALMOST 100% SURE THERE WOULD BE A SECOND CUT. YOU'LL SEE ON THIS SLIDE THE THE OCTOBER PERCENTAGES OF A LIKELY 25 BASIS POINT CUT THAT 89% THAT'S SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE JUST A WEEK AGO THAT WAS AT 100%. SO THERE YOU GO. 100% IS IS NEVER NECESSARILY A CERTAINTY BECAUSE ANALYSTS ACROSS THE MARKET ARE NOW SAYING IT'S LESS LIKELY. THAT SAID, WE CONTINUE TO GET SOME GOOD INFLOWS INTO THE MUNICIPAL MARKET. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS INVESTORS ARE ADDING MONEY TO THE TO THE MUNICIPAL MARKET INTO MUTUAL FUNDS THAT FOCUS ON PURCHASING MUNI BONDS. AND SO WE STILL HAVE REALLY GOOD DEMAND FOR FOR BONDS. AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT TO CONTINUE. IT WAS AT A CONFERENCE JUST LAST WEEK WHERE WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH VANGUARD, A BIG INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR, AND THEY'RE HUNGRY FOR ADDITIONAL PAPER, INCLUDING EL PASO COUNTY PAPER IF IT COMES TO MARKET. SO WE WE DO ANTICIPATE TO STILL HAVE SOME POSITIVE MOMENTUM IN THE MARKET AS WE MOVE INTO THE HOLIDAY MONTHS AND EVEN INTO THE NEW YEAR. JUST LOOKING AT THE NEXT SLIDE, NOW, YOU'LL SEE WHERE SOME OF THE RATES HAVE GONE HERE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. JUST TO ORIENT YOU WITH THIS SLIDE. EACH EACH GRAPH REPRESENTS A DIFFERENT YEAR. SO TOP LEFT TWO YEARS, TEN YEARS IN THE TOP RIGHT AND THEN THE 30 YEAR INTEREST RATES THERE ON THE BOTTOM LEFT. AND THIS IS JUST SHOWING TAXABLE RATES VERSUS TAX EXEMPT RATES. SO THE BOTTOM LINE THE GREEN LINE REPRESENTS THE TAX EXEMPT BORROWING RATES. YOU CAN SEE OVER THE MOST RECENT HISTORY AND DATA POINTS ON THERE, THERE'S BEEN A DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY PARTICULARLY IN THE SHORT TERM INTEREST RATES. THAT'S THE KIND OF MOMENTUM AND LOWERING OF INTEREST RATES THAT WE WERE JUST DESCRIBING. MOVING TO THE NEXT SLIDE. AGAIN I LIKE THE THE BOTTOM LEFT TABLE AND BAR CHART THERE. I THINK THIS IS A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE OF BORROWING COSTS AND WHERE THINGS STAND UP OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS. SO EACH ONE OF THOSE BARS WITHIN THAT BAR CHART ON THE BOTTOM LEFT REPRESENT 20 YEARS WORTH OF DATA POINTS. AND TODAY'S CURRENT MARKET RATES ARE. BENCHMARK RATES ARE REPRESENTED BY THE DARK BLACK LINE. SO YOU'LL SEE WE'RE STILL QUITE A BIT OR JUST RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE RATES. WE ARE IN A GOOD INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT. IF YOU HAVE PROJECTS TO FINANCE AND PURSUE, WE CERTAINLY WOULD RECOMMEND LOCKING IN THESE RATES. IF THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TO US FOR THAT FINANCING AT THIS TIME. SPOKE TO SOME OF THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND METRICS. AGAIN, WE HAVE GOOD INFLOWS. LOOKING AT THAT BOTTOM RIGHT CHART, A GREEN BAR REPRESENTS INFLOWS. THE RED REPRESENTS OUTFLOWS. SO WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF STRAIGHT MONTHS HERE OF POSITIVE INFLOWS. I BELIEVE THE TOTAL IS ALMOST EXCEEDING 900 MILLION HERE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. SO GOOD SUPPORT AND INTEREST IN INVESTING IN MUNICIPAL BONDS. SPEAK TO ANYTHING ELSE ON THE RATE FORECAST. I WAS JUST GOING TO GO BACK TO THE INFLOWS. SLIDE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INFLOW INFLOWS, IT'S REALLY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AVAILABLE FOR REINVESTMENT. A LOT OF IT SOME WHEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT ISSUER DEBT PROFILES, SOME OF THESE BONDS COME TO MATURITY. AND SO INVESTORS HAVE TO PUT THAT MONEY BACK INTO THE MARKET. AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INFLOWS, IT'S JUST THE AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT CAPITAL COMING BACK IN THAT IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR NEW BONDS COMING TO MARKET. THE THINGS THAT COULD DISRUPT THAT [02:55:03] ARE OBVIOUSLY NATURAL DISASTERS OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT CAUSE, FOR INSTANCE, AN INSURANCE FUND TO PAY OUT BECAUSE OF INSURANCE CLAIMS. SO THAT THAT WOULD BE THOSE ARE THE KIND OF EVENTS THAT MIGHT DISRUPT, YOU KNOW, THESE, THESE KINDS OF INFLOWS. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WE'RE SEEING POSITIVE INFLOWS ALTOGETHER. SO JUST WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DETAIL ON WHAT THAT MEANS. THANK YOU NANCY. AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE FED FUNDS AND THE INTEREST RATE FORECAST. JUST LOOKING AT THE TOP RIGHT TABLE, YOU CAN SEE THAT TOP LINE FED FUNDS PERHAPS GOING TO HOLD STEADY HERE FOR FOR Q3 WITH SOME WITH SOME DOWNSIDE ON THE INTEREST RATES, WHICH IS UPSIDE FOR THE COUNTY. BUT WE DO PREDICT AND ESTIMATE THAT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF QUARTERS TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL REDUCTION IN THOSE RATES BY MAYBE AS MUCH AS 75 BASIS POINTS. YOU CAN SEE, THOUGH, BELOW THAT, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE TREASURIES, THE TWO YEAR, TEN YEAR, 30 YEAR, LARGELY INVESTORS IN THE MARKET IS PRICED IN. THESE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FED FUND MOVEMENT. SO YOU DON'T SEE NEAR AS MUCH MOVEMENT IN THOSE UNDERLYING TAXABLE TYPE BONDS THAT THAT COME ALONG OVER THE NEXT YEAR YEARS WORTH. HERE. WANTED TO REPORT TO YOU AGAIN JUST WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS WITH SOME OF YOUR PEERS. IT WAS A PRETTY HEAVY ISSUANCE THIS THIS PAST SUMMER, THERE WAS QUITE A FEW COUNTIES GOING TO MARKET FOR A COUPLE DIFFERENT REASONS. RATES HAD COME DOWN SOME. THERE WAS DEFINITELY CAPITAL PROJECTS, IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO GO AFTER, BUT ALSO SOME LEGISLATIVE CHANGES. YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO, AGAIN, SOME OF THESE EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT THAT AFFECT WHAT GOES ON IN THE MUNICIPAL MARKET MAY NOT HAVE TO DO WITH RATES AT ALL. IN THIS CASE, TEXAS PAPER SAW A SURGE OF ISSUANCE BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE. LAWS THAT WERE EITHER BEING CONSIDERED OR FORMALLY PASSED. AND SO IN JULY, SPECIFICALLY, WE SAW ALMOST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF DEBT BEING ISSUED BY MUNICIPALITIES, PARTICULARLY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BECAUSE, AGAIN, LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVE MOVES. SO ON A ON AN AVERAGE, WE'RE ABOUT 9 TO 11 BILLION IN DEBT ISSUANCE. IN JULY, WE WERE UP TO 17 BILLION IN, YOU KNOW, ANY GIVEN WEEK GIVEN AGAIN, THOSE LEGISLATIVE MOVES. SO THAT THAT'S ALSO A FACTOR THAT COMES UP EVERY EVERY TIME THE STATE LEGISLATURE MAKES, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF MOVE IN, IN POLICIES. IF YOU RECALL, THAT'S PART OF WHY WE POSITIONED YOU ALL TO GET OUT AND ISSUE YOUR 2025 CAPITAL FINANCING PROJECT TRANSACTIONS. IN EARLY JUNE. THERE WAS SOME MEASUREMENTS AND METRICS THAT THE LEGISLATURE CHANGED. IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE YOUR DEBT ISSUED BY BY NINE ONE, IT COULD HAVE COUNTED AGAINST YOUR CAPACITY FOR THE FUTURE. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THOSE TYPE OF ITEMS AND POSITION YOU ALL IN TO TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BEST OPPORTUNITY. HAD TAKEN A LOOK AT THE COUNTY'S TAX BASE AND GETTING INTO YOUR DEBT PORTFOLIO. AS YOU'RE AWARE, YOU JUST FINISHED UP YOUR BUDGET CYCLE TAX RATE SETTING CYCLE. SO UP IN THE TOP LEFT, WE'VE GOT THOSE CERTIFIED PRELIMINARY ASSESSED VALUATION. WITH THE NEWLY ADOPTED TAX RATES. AS A REMINDER ON THE INS, YOU'LL SEE IT'S UP AT 6.4 CENTS FROM $0.05 WHERE IT HAD BEEN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. THAT'S DUE TO YOUR VOTERS APPROVING SEVERAL PROJECTS AT THE BALLOT LAST NOVEMBER, APPROVING THAT ADDITIONAL ONE AND A HALF PENNIES TO GO TOWARDS PAYING FOR THOSE PARTICULAR PROJECTS. WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT FIVE CENT ESSENTIAL PURPOSE PROJECT FUND FOR YOU, LET YOU KNOW OF OF CAPACITY AS YOU MOVE FORWARD TO TAKE ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS UNDERNEATH THOSE LEVELS THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED TO STAFF AND US TO TO WORK WITH THEM. LOOKING AT A [03:00:02] LIST OF THE DEBT PORTFOLIO FOR THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING THE INTEREST RATES LOW, BUT WE ALWAYS CONTINUE TO MONITOR SOME OF YOUR BONDS FOR REFUNDING OPPORTUNITIES OR REFINANCING INTO A LOWER INTEREST RATE. THERE'S A COUPLE THAT WE'RE MONITORING UP TOP. YOU'LL SEE A TAX NOTE THAT WAS DONE IN 2023. THIS WAS PRIVATELY PLACED. THIS THIS ONE IS CURRENTLY CALLABLE AT ANY TIME AND HAS A 4.62% INTEREST RATE, WHICH IS NOT BAD. BUT GIVEN THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT JUST FIVE YEARS, FOUR YEARS REMAINING ON THAT. WE DO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT FOR SOME POTENTIAL SAVINGS HERE IN THE FUTURE. AND WE'LL SHOW YOU THE ANALYSIS HERE IN A MOMENT. AND THEN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, YOUR 2016 DE BOND, SOME CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. THOSE TWO HAVE A CALL DATE. THAT'S MAKES THEM CURRENTLY CALLABLE, AND A 3.28% INTEREST RATE A LITTLE BIT LOWER. IT'S KIND OF TOUGH TO BEAT THAT, BUT TWO THAT WE'RE MONITORING. AND WE DID ANALYZE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. AND I'LL SHOW YOU HERE IN JUST A MOMENT LOOKING AT THE AGGREGATE TOTAL DEBT SERVICE. AGAIN, WHAT YOU'LL SEE ON THE FRONT END IS, IS THE HIGHEST PAYMENT THAT YOU HAVE. THAT'S USING THAT 6.4 CENTS. WE DO THIS INTENTIONALLY HAVING IT DECLINING SO THAT YOU CAN LAYER ON NEXT YEAR'S PROJECTS. IN THIS CASE THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SMALL GEO ISSUANCE COMING UP IN THE SPRING. WE'VE LEFT SPACE FOR A WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD. SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE US STEPPING DOWN EVERY YEAR SO THAT YOU HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO TO LAYER ON THE NEW FINANCINGS WITHOUT A TAX RATE IMPACT, WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. AND TO THE REFUNDINGS OR REFINANCINGS THAT WE JUST MENTIONED OVER ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE PAGE AND IN THE LEFT HAND COLUMN, YOU'LL SEE THE TWO SERIES OF BONDS THAT WE'RE EVALUATING. SO THE 2016 D COS IN THE 2023 C TAX NOTES ARE WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE BEING EVALUATED. AND OVER TO THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN YOU'LL SEE A BLUE VERSUS RED. WE'RE LOOKING AT EACH MATURITY THAT'S REMAINING IN THOSE BOND SERIES TO SEE WHICH ONES PROVIDE POSITIVE SAVINGS. WHICH ONES ARE NEGATIVE. YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S SOME DECENT SAVINGS, ABOUT 2% ON THE 2016 DS, AND THEN ON THE 23 TAX NOTES, STARTING TO GET INTO THE AREA WHERE WE LIKE TO SEE THE 3%, 5%, 7% SAVINGS. SO THOSE ARE SOME GOOD OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR DIRECTING YOU TO THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THIS PAGE. AND THE LIGHT BLUE, WHEN WE DO A REFUNDING TRANSACTION ANALYSIS, THE TOTAL SAVINGS ON THESE COMES TO 3.3%. SO THAT'S JUST OVER THE THRESHOLD. WE LIKE TO SEE A 3% MINIMUM SAVINGS IS KIND OF WHERE WE WOULD START LOOKING INTO THESE. WE'RE ABOUT 263,000 OF SAVINGS AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THE SIZE AND THE SAVINGS THAT ARE JUST HITTING THE THRESHOLD. IT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION TO WAIT FOR THESE AND PERHAPS PAIR IT WITH YOUR NEW MONEY BOND ISSUANCE IN THE SPRING. WHEN YOU PAIR IT TOGETHER, YOU CAN SAVE ON THE TRANSACTIONAL COST, WHICH WILL BOOST YOUR SAVINGS QUITE A BIT. SO ECONOMIES OF SCALE? YEAH THE SAME. SO WE'LL PRESENT THAT TO YOU AGAIN THIS WINTER WHEN WE DO OUR Q4 MARKET UPDATE. BUT AT THIS TIME, I THINK IT'S WE'LL SIT ON THAT AND LEAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY HERE UNTIL WE PAIR IT WITH THE OTHERS. WE MENTIONED EARLIER, THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD ITEMS, THERE'S QUITE A FEW APPLICATIONS THE COUNTY HAS TURNED IN WORKING WITH STAFF. WE DID GET A RECENT UPDATE FROM YOUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN INVITED TO PURSUE AND MOVE FORWARD WITH ONE OF THESE. I BELIEVE IT'S 131. THAT ONE THAT'S RANKED 131. THE SECOND LINE ITEM. WE ARE EXPECTING SOME FEEDBACK ON THE OTHER APPLICATIONS HERE LATER THIS FALL. AGAIN, WE'VE LEFT YOU CAPACITY WITHIN YOUR DEBT PORTFOLIO TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ON SOME OF THESE WATER DEVELOPMENT [03:05:03] BOARD LOANS THIS COMING SPRING WITHOUT A TAX RATE IMPACT. AND THESE ARE GOOD LOANS, RIGHT? THESE ARE SUBSIDIZED INTEREST RATES IN MANY WAYS. SOMETIMES THERE'S FORGIVABLE LOAN AMOUNTS OR GRANT MATCHING THAT COMES WITH IT. SO REALLY GOOD FINANCING PATH TO GO. IF YOU HAVE PROJECTS THAT GET APPROVED. I. BELIEVE THAT'S IT FOR FOR TODAY'S PRESENTATION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE TIMING OF THIS IS BEYOND OUR BEYOND OUR SCOPE. IT'S REALLY A WAITING GAME ON THIS FRONT. BUT AS AS BRAD SAID, THE THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR DEBT PORTFOLIO IS VERY INTENTIONAL TO ALLOW YOU TO THEN PIVOT AND EITHER MOVE FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL FINANCINGS OR MAYBE, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER. MOVE FORWARD WITH FINANCING LIKE THIS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PROGRESS OR, OR OR SUGGEST OR CONSIDER NEW FINANCINGS ACCORDING TO THE PRIORITY OF ORDER OF THE PROJECTS THAT ALREADY HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED AS IT PERTAINS TO US. ANY, ANYTHING OR BARBARA, ANYTHING THAT WAS SAID THAT WOULD CHANGE, I THINK. I THINK THE POINT ABOUT LOOKING AT THESE SAVINGS AT THE SAME TIME WE DO ANOTHER ISSUANCE, BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO LOOK AT THE COST OF THE ISSUANCE. SO IF THE COST OF ISSUING AND REFINANCING IS GOING TO LIKE LEVEL OUT OR EAT UP THE MAJORITY OF SAVINGS, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE SENSE. SO I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA AND THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE DO IT AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE ISSUE OUR NEXT TRANCHE FROM THE 2024 GEO PULL DOWNS IS A GREAT WAY THAT WE CAN CAPITALIZE ON SOME OF THOSE LOWER INTEREST RATES. AND THEN ALSO THE TIMING MAY BE AFTER I KNOW IT'S NOT 100% GUARANTEED NOW, BUT IF THERE IS ANOTHER LOWERING OF RATES, THAT MIGHT BE ANOTHER THING THAT WOULD COME INTO PLAY. YEAH, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BETWEEN NOW AND THE POTENTIAL MARKET TIMING OF THESE TRANSACTIONS. SO THE FED COULD VERY WELL SEE DIFFERENT TYPES OF METRICS. YOU KNOW, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, MAYBE A COOLING OF THE ECONOMY. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BACK AT ANOTHER DISCUSSION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE FED IS GOING TO MAKE MORE CUTS. SO BETWEEN ALL THAT AND ACTUALLY THE TIMING OF THE NEW MONEY FINANCING, THERE IS SOME TIME THAT, YOU KNOW, AND OBVIOUSLY WE'LL MONITOR THAT AND GIVE YOU UPDATES AS TO HOW THESE SAVINGS ARE PROGRESSING OR OR MAYBE DILUTING. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER BUTLER, I HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD GRANTS. AND THEN I ALSO I DON'T KNOW IF I'M REMEMBERING THIS CORRECTLY, BUT DIDN'T WE ALSO WEREN'T WE ALSO SAVING SPACE FOR THE BOB HOPE EXTENSION GRANT IN OUR DEBT PORTFOLIO OR NO. WAS THAT DIFFERENT? THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK LOAN. WE HAVE A LITTLE SPACE FOR THAT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE UNDERLYING PROJECT I THINK ABOUT. I THINK IT'S ABOUT 6 TO 7 MILLION. I THINK THAT MY, MY, MY MY BROADER QUESTION IS DO WE HAVE ANY UPDATES ON THAT PROJECT? AND IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET UPDATES ON ALL OF OUR WATER DEVELOPMENT GRANT APPLICATIONS AND WHAT THOSE ARE AND WHERE THEY ARE IN THE IN THE PROCESS? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT FOR US. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU CLOSELY. EXCITED ABOUT THE SUMMER AND FINDING OUT WHERE, HOW YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD ON YOUR PROJECTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU. AND THAT COMPLETES ALL THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, JUDGE. SURE. THANK YOU. WELL, WISHING EVERY ONE OF YOU A GREAT WEEK AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. OUR PRODUCTION TEAM, TRANSLATORS, EVERYONE ELSE. THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S MEETING AT 12:39 P.M. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.