[00:10:21]
          THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. FROM INSIDE THE ALICIA CHACON COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM OF THE 
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ENRIQUE MORENO COUNTY COURTHOUSE. YOU ARE WATCHING THE EL PASO COUNTY 
          [OPEN MEETING]
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COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING. GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. TODAY IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 6TH, 2025. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS MEETING IN REGULAR OPEN SESSION THIS MORNING. WE ARE JOINED BY ASL INTERPRETERS TAMARA MARQUEZ, SELENA SALLOUM AND STEPHANIE MICHELLE. COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE THIS MORNING'S PLEDGE GROUP? YES. 
          THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WELCOME. THIS MORNING WE ARE GOING TO BE LED IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY A NEW INTERN IN THE PRECINCT THREE OFFICE, PAULINA GANDARA, WHO IS A CURRENT STUDENT AT UTEP AND ALSO A 2017 GRADUATE FROM FABENS HIGH SCHOOL. PAULINA, IF 
          [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
YOU COULD JOIN US UP FRONT, PLEASE. THANK YOU. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG TO UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE. TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. THE BEST OF LUCK FOR. THANK YOU. PAULINA. NEXT, WE RECEIVE AN INVOCATION FROM MR. ERIC MCNABB REPRESENTING JOIN US FOR JUSTICE, THE EL PASO CHAPTER OF AMERICANS UNITED FOR 
          [INVOCATION]
THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER THIS OPENING MESSAGE. OUR UNDERSTANDINGS OF REALITY DETERMINE WHAT WE PERCEIVE TO BE JUST AND GOOD, HOW WE TREAT OUR NEIGHBORS, AND HOW WE DETERMINE WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          WE CURRENTLY EXIST IN A TIME WHERE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE CARRYING LESS AND LESS ABOUT WHAT IS TRUE OR NOT TRUE, NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM. WE ARE IN SCARY AND UNCERTAIN TIMES. IT BECOMES EASY TO FALL BACK ON THE PREJUDICES, BIASES AND TRIBALISM THAT EXIST IN US ALL AS HUMANS. THE MORE WE SURRENDER TO THIS IRRATIONALITY, THE MORE LIKELY WE ARE NOT TO SEE OUR SHARED HUMANITY IN OUR NEIGHBORS, AND THE MORE LIKELY WE ARE TO NOT AGREE ON WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. WITH THIS BEING SAID, IF WE WERE TO OVERCOME OR LESSEN THESE ARBITRARY BOUNDARIES PRODUCED BY IRRATIONALITY. THAT CAUSE US TO DEHUMANIZE OUR NEIGHBORS AND EVEN OURSELVES, THAT MAKE MAKE IT HARDER TO FIND COMMON GROUND ON WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITIES. WE MUST TAKE ACTION. WE MUST PROACTIVELY RESIST IRRATIONALITY ONLY WHEN WE CHAMPION INTELLECTUAL HONESTY, LOGIC, AND BEING GOOD FAITH IN OUR MINDS, OUR HEARTS, AND THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES. CAN WE PRODUCE A WORLD WHERE IT IS MORE LIKELY WE CAN RESPECT OUR SHARED HUMANITY AS HUMANS, AND MOVE MORE EFFECTIVELY TOWARDS ADVANCING OUR SHARED INTERESTS? WE MUST PROMOTE A SELF-AWARENESS THAT ALL OF US, ALL THE TIME, CAN FALL PREY TO THE IRRATIONALITY PRODUCED BY BIAS, PREJUDICE, AND TRIBALISM. GIVEN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES, CONDITIONS, AND TIME, BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF OUR GREAT FLAWS. AS HUMANS, WE HAVE CHOSEN YOU ALL TO BE THE CHAMPIONS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE WE TRUST YOU ALL TO BE MORE RATIONAL THAN IRRATIONAL, LESS BIASED THAN BIASED, AND ULTIMATELY LESS HUMAN THAN HUMAN. THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING ON THIS BURDEN, AND WE TRUST YOU ALL TO CONTINUE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF REASON IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. JUDGE, DO YOU HAVE ANY OPENING REMARKS FOR US THIS MORNING? YES. THANK YOU. JUST ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OUR COMMISSIONERS, WE WELCOME YOU TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. AS YOU CAN SEE, GREAT PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE. JUST A GREAT RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE COMING UP. 
          SO I HOPE ALL OF YOU STAY TO TO HEAR THE RESOLUTION. SO VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE PART OF OF 
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OUR GOVERNMENT. AND WE WISH ALL OF YOU JUST A GREAT MONDAY AND JUST AN AMAZING WEEK. SO GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JUDGE. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS THE CONSENT AGENDA COMPOSED OF ITEMS FOUR A THROUGH FOUR Z. WE DO HAVE A FEW CORRECTIONS TO READ IN. WE HAVE A CORRECTION FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR. ITEM FOUR H CORRECTION BY THE COUNTY AUDITOR SHOULD READ, APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF EL PASO AND THE EL PASO ALLIANCE, INCORPORATED FOR THE DELIVERY OF PEER SUPPORT SERVICES TO EL PASO COUNTY RESIDENTS IN NEED OF IN NEED OF RECOVERY SERVICES AS IT RELATES TO OPIOID STIMULANT AND SUBSTANCE USE. FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027, FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $405,440 IS AVAILABLE IN 
          [CONSENT AGENDA]
SPECIAL GRANT G T SPR 25 OPERATING EXPENSE CONTRACT NUMBER 2025 0671. WE HAVE A CORRECTION ALSO TO ITEM FOUR R FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR R SHOULD READ, APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT MONETARY DONATIONS AND OR DONATION OF ITEMS NEEDED TO ASSIST WITH SPECIAL EVENTS THAT BENEFIT VETERANS AND VETERAN EMPLOYEES. FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 81.032, OUR FINAL CORRECTION IS TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR W, CORRECTION FROM THE BUDGET AND FINANCE OFFICE FOR W SHOULD READ, APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF PAVEMENT ASSESSMENT FOR EL PASO COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT USING HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA AHGASSI CONTRACT. HP ZERO 825 AWARDED TO APPLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED OF ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $180,120. PURCHASING. APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2025. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN SPECIAL REVENUE, ROAD AND BRIDGE CONTRACT SERVICES. GENERAL. DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONERS, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. GOOD. JUDGE. JUDGE, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. 
          COMMISSIONER STOUT, I'D LIKE TO. I'D LIKE TO. YES, MRS. COMMISSIONER, VIRTUALLY. I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEMS G AND YOU PLEASE, G AND AND YOU. YOU. YES. THANK YOU. OKAY. ITEMS G AND YOU FOR COMMISSIONER STOUT, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MY VOTE IS I. I'LL VOTE. VOTE AS WELL. THANK YOU. JUDGE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NUMBER FIVE A RESOLUTIONS APPROVING. ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2025 AS GOLD STAR MOTHERS AND FAMILIES DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY, 
          [A. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing September 28, 2025, as Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, in El Paso County, Texas.
Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]
TEXAS. OKAY, WE HAVE A GUEST. YOU WANT TO COME UP, PLEASE? YES. YEAH. JUST HAVE. TONY AS WELL. OR A VETERAN OF THE YEAR. DABO, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP AS WELL. THANK. ONE. OKAY. WELL, IT IS REALLY MY MY PLEASURE AND MY HONOR TO READ THE RESOLUTION. AND YOU'LL SEE THERE'S A STRONG CONNECTION AND PASSION BEHIND THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION WAS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RECOGNIZES THE PROFOUND LOSS AND SACRIFICE BORNE BY THE FAMILIES OF OUR MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN THE DEFENSE OF OUR NATION. AND WHEREAS GOLD STAR MOTHERS FAMILIES DAY OBSERVED ON THE LAST SUNDAY OF SEPTEMBER, WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED BY CONGRESS IN 1936 AS GOLD STAR MOTHERS DAY AND LATER EXPANDED 
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TO HONOR ALL IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. 
          WHEREAS THE TERM GOLD STAR ORIGINATED DURING WORLD WAR ONE, WHEN FAMILIES DISPLAYED SERVICE FLAGS BEARING BLUE STARS TO REPRESENT ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS AND GOLD STARS FOR THOSE WHO DIED IN SERVICE, SYMBOLIZING HONOR, PRIDE, AND MOURNING. WHEREAS GOLD STAR FAMILIES CONTINUE TO ENDURE THEIR LOSS WITH COURAGE AND DIGNITY AND SERVE AS ENDURING REMINDERS OF THE COST OF FREEDOM AND THE RESILIENCE OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT. AND WHEREAS THE EL PASO COUNTY IS HOME TO A PROUD AND PATRIOTIC COMMUNITY WITH A LONG HISTORY OF MILITARY SERVICE AND SACRIFICE, INCLUDING THE LOVED ONES OF FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS WHOSE LEGACY LIVES ON THE HEARTS OF GOLD STAR FAMILIES. WHEREAS IT IS FITTING AND PROPER THAT EL PASO COUNTY ACKNOWLEDGE THE GRIEF AND RESILIENCE OF GOLD STAR MOTHERS AND FAMILIES AND RECOGNIZE THEIR CONTINUING CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR MILITARY AND VETERAN COMMUNITIES. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2025, BE RECOGNIZED AS GOLD STAR MOTHERS AND FAMILY DAY IN THE EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, AND THAT ALL RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO HONOR THE FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN BY REFLECTING ON THEIR SACRIFICE, SUPPORTING THEIR CONTINUED HEALING, AND COMMITTING TO NEVER FORGET THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE TO OUR NATION. SIGNED THE SIXTH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. ALL RIGHT. I THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. 
          WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS DOLORES VALENZUELA. I AM HONORED TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE EL PASO GOLD STAR FAMILIES MEMORIAL. I AM ALSO THE GOLD STAR DAUGHTER OF UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS SERGEANT ROBERTO DUARTE, WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE ON DECEMBER THE 11TH, 1965, AND ON BEHALF OF THE EL PASO GOLD STAR FAMILIES MEMORIAL, WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO THE EL PASO COUNTY COURTS COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THIS MEANINGFUL RESOLUTION. RECOGNITION. THIS PROCLAMATION HONORS NOT ONLY THE SACRIFICE OF OUR FALLEN HEROES, BUT ALSO THE ENDURING STRENGTH AND LOVE OF THE FAMILIES WHO CARRY THEIR LEGACY FORWARD. WE ARE DEEPLY THANKFUL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND REMEMBRANCE OF OUR GOLD STAR COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE BOARD AND LIFETIME MEMBERS AT THIS TIME. 
          IF THEY WOULD COME AND SAY A FEW WORDS FOR THEIR LOVED ONES. THANK YOU DOLORES. LIZ. OH, WE HAVE YVETTE DUCHESNE. SHE'S THE VICE PRESIDENT. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT, BUT I AM A MOM. MY SON WAS SENIOR AIRMAN DANNY RAY SANCHEZ, WHO WAS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN 16TH SEPTEMBER 2010. AND I STARTED A FOUNDATION IN IN HIS HONOR. AND I GIVE AWAY SCHOLARSHIPS AND AS A LEGACY TO HIM. BUT WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL AND WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR OUR FREEDOMS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT. HI, I'M ELIZABETH RAMIREZ VALDEZ, MY BROTHER, SERGEANT DIEGO RAMIREZ, WAS KILLED IN VIETNAM IN 1967. I SERVE AS THE TREASURER FOR THIS GROUP, AND WE'RE DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US. AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. HI. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS IDA TOVAR. I'M A GOLD STAR, DAUGHTER OF SERGEANT ROBERTO DUARTE, KILLED IN VIETNAM 1965. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TO SUPPORT US AND OUR GROUP. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. I CAN'T SAY I'M A GOLD STAR MOTHER, BUT. THERE IS A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE THAT I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH WHO WAS KIA IN VIETNAM. HIS NAME IS ARNOLD RIVERA. WE USED TO BE CLASSMATES, AND EVERY TIME WE HAD THESE EVENTS, IT REMINDS ME OF THEM. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONER. MY NAME IS SANTIAGO GONZALEZ. I AM A GOLD STAR FAMILY MEMBER. MY COUSIN, SERGEANT ROBERTO TORTA, WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN 1965. I WAS 12 YEARS OLD WHEN THIS HAPPENED, AND MY FAMILY DID NOT ALLOW ME TO GO TO THE FUNERALS. I STAYED BACK TO TAKE CARE OF MY GRANDMA, AND OF COURSE, MY GRANDMA NEVER FOUND OUT ABOUT HIS LOVED ONES. BUT I'M HONORED TO BE PART OF THIS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION AND 
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HOPEFULLY THAT YOU ALL CAN CONTINUE SUPPORTING US. AND JUST A FACT THAT THERE WAS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPEN FAR EAST. IT'S CALLED SERGEANT ROBERTO DUARTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THANK YOU. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? TONY. I JUST WANT TO SAY GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. SO IF YOU DON'T KNOW MYSELF, DEBO AND JAMES GREEN HERE JUST JOINED THE GOLD STAR MOTHERS AND FAMILIES GROUP AS LIFETIME MEMBERS. BUT AND THIS IS SOMETHING I DISCUSSED WITH DOLORES IS AS A VETERAN COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND THESE GOLD STAR FAMILIES. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD EXPECT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME. I WOULD EXPECT THIS COMMUNITY TO WRAP THEIR ARMS AROUND MY FAMILY AND TAKE CARE OF THEM, AND THEY DESERVE NOTHING LESS THAN THAT. SO I'M VERY HONORED TO BE PART OF THIS GROUP. THEY ARE HARD WORKING AND VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO. THANK YOU. WELL, I KNOW THE FIRST TIME THAT WE MET BECAUSE OF WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE MEMORIAL TOGETHER AND I SAW SO MUCH INCREDIBLE EMOTION. AND WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT MY BROTHER WAS KILLED IN 1965, IN A HELICOPTER. PILOT WITH THREE CHILDREN, GRADUATED FROM AUBURN UNIVERSITY. I MEAN, HAD ALL THIS INCREDIBLE. AND I RECEIVED THE NOTICE BY MYSELF AT THE AGE OF 15. AND SO WE REALIZED THAT THE FAMILIES A LOT OF FOCUS WAS ON THE MOM, ON THE MOM, AND AND EVEN THE WIFE A LITTLE BIT, BUT MOSTLY ON THE MOM. SO AS SIBLINGS, WE NEVER LIKE WE WEREN'T. IT WAS CALLED THIS DISENFRANCHIZED GRIEF WHERE MAYBE, YOU KNOW, I SHOULDN'T BE ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, MOURNING. IT SHOULD BE MY MOM, IT SHOULDN'T BE US. AND SO I THINK NOW THAT WE REALIZE THE IMPACT IT HAD ON THE ENTIRE FAMILY FOR A LIFETIME, YOU COULD THINK IN 1965. AND I DON'T THINK A DAY GOES BY. AND PART OF THE PASSION OF BECOMING THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA WAS, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY BROTHER HAD COME BACK AND HOW WOULD I WOULD LOVE FOR HIM TO BE RECEIVED? AND HOW WOULD I LIKE THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER? SO IT'S VERY IT'S VERY I'M JUST VERY APPRECIATIVE OF, OF BEING ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THE FAMILIES AND INCLUDING THEM AS PART OF THE PROCESS. SO I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT MEMORIAL AT THE FLAGS ACROSS AMERICA. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S ALREADY DONE. IT'S WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THAT HEALING PROCESS AND THERE'S OTHERS GOING THROUGH IT AS WELL. 
          IT JUST MAKES SO MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE. YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY HEALS EVERY TIME WE HONOR MY BROTHER. MY FAMILY HEALS A LITTLE BIT MORE. SO I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THESE FAMILIES AND WISH YOU THE BEST AND GOING FORWARD. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          I APPRECIATE THAT. YEAH. WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE. 
          GO TO MEETING VIEWER THE DAY THE MEETING. CLICK ON. 
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ITEM NUMBER FIVE. BE APPROVE AND ADOPT THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING LINDA MAYS FOR HER GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS AS A DEDICATED VETERAN CAREGIVER AND FORMER FEDERAL AGENT IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. JUDGE, YOU'D LIKE TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS, CORRECT? YEAH, FOR TWO WEEKS, PLEASE. OKAY. YOU HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A 
          [B. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing Linda Mais for her greatest achievements as a dedicated veteran caregiver and former federal agent in El Paso County, Texas.
Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]
SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. A THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. MOTION CARRIES. 
          ITEM NUMBER FIVE. C APPROVE AN ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR ITS DEDICATION TO SUPPORTING CRIME VICTIMS WITH ITS 2025 WALK STEPS TOWARDS 
          [C. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing the District Attorney’s Office for its dedication to supporting crime victims with its 2025 walk, Steps Towards Healing, in El Paso County, Texas.
Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]
HEALING IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. DO WE HAVE MEMBERS? YES, WE HAVE OUR D.A. HERE. THANK YOU, MR. MONTOYA. APPRECIATE THAT. COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. LET ME READ IT. THANK YOU. OKAY. 
          MY HONOR AS WELL. I'VE PARTICIPATED, I THINK, ALMOST EVERY YEAR. AND IT'S JUST VERY, YOU KNOW, IT MOVES YOU TREMENDOUSLY. SO I HOPE YOU DO GET TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY WITH THE EL PASO DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL WALK IN HONOR OF CRIME VICTIMS ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER THE 26TH, 2025. AND WHEREAS THE NAME OF THIS YEAR'S WALK IS STEPS TOWARDS HEALING, TO SHOWCASE THE PRIMARY GOAL OF PROVIDING VISUAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR GRIEVING FAMILIES IN EL PASO COUNTY. WHEREAS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1984 VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT AND THE 1993 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT ADDED FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BEHIND THE LEGAL MANDATE FOR LOCAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICES TO HELP VICTIMS OF CRIME NAVIGATE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND AS THEY WALK TO HONOR CRIME VICTIMS, HAS BEEN HELD SINCE 2006, WITH FAMILIES AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS JOINING DISTRICT ATTORNEY STAFF AT DIFFERENT STOPS, AND WAS THE COUNTY. EMPLOYEES AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE HUNDREDS OF FAMILY MEMBERS, CRIME VICTIMS AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EMPLOYEES IN A 7.2 MILE WALK BEGINNING AT THE COUNTY COLISEUM AND ENDING AT THE CRIME VICTIMS MEMORIAL, LOCATED AT RALPH T CLOUD PARK AT 610 NORTH YARBOROUGH DRIVE. NOW, THEREFORE BE RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR ITS DEDICATION TO SUPPORTING CRIME VICTIMS WITH 2025 WALK STEPS TOWARDS HEALING SIGN THE SIXTH DAY OF OCTOBER 2025, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. MR. D.A. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. JUDGE. VERY GRATEFUL TO TO THE COURT FOR THE RECOGNITION FOR OUR WALK THIS YEAR. VERY PROUD TO CONTINUE HOSTING AND ORGANIZING THE WALK. VERY HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO BE JOINED BY THE VICTIM ADVOCATES HERE AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR INVESTIGATORS, YOU KNOW, TO TO WHEN A LOVED ONE IS IS SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY TAKEN FROM SOMEONE'S LIFE. AND THE HOLE THAT THEY LEAVE IS, IS TRULY IRREPARABLE. IT DOES NOT GET ANY EASIER. AND WHICH IS WHY WE DECIDED THIS YEAR TO TO CALL IT STEPS TOWARDS HEALING, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER FULLY HEALED. YOU KNOW, AS AS THE JUDGE WAS MENTIONING, AS THE GOLD STAR FAMILIES WERE MENTIONING, ALL WE CAN DO IS CONTINUE TO TO LIVE IN THEIR HONOR AND LIVE IN THEIR MEMORY AND CONTINUE TO REMEMBER. AND, YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED IN MY EMAIL TO, TO THE, TO THE COUNTY LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THE WALK IS LETTING VICTIMS OF CRIME AND LETTING SURVIVORS OF CRIME KNOW THAT, THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE, BECAUSE THAT THAT IS AN EMOTION THAT IS EXPRESSED TO US, TO OUR ADVOCATES, TO LAW ENFORCEMENT CONSTANTLY. YOU KNOW, VICTIMS FELT THAT THEY WERE ALONE. THAT'S WHY THEY COULDN'T COME FORWARD. YOU KNOW, THAT THIS PROCESS, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS, IS NOT A FRIENDLY PROCESS. IT'S NOT A PROCESS DESIGNED FOR VICTIMS. RIGHT. THE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED AND FROM FROM THE GOVERNMENT. AND SO WHEN WE HAVE EVENTS LIKE THIS, IT'S IT'S TO 
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LET LET THESE FAMILIES AND LET THESE SURVIVORS KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE AND THAT THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE COURT'S RECOGNITION OF OUR WALK THIS YEAR. AND THANK YOU FOR THE CONTINUING SUPPORT. THANK YOU. YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES, PLEASE. ELIZABETH RIOS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE VICTIMS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
          THANK YOU. SANDRA ESMERALDA FRAUSTO, I AM THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE VICTIMS ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU. JUANA VASQUEZ, A VICTIM ADVOCATE. THANK YOU. LORENA GARCIA IS VICTIM ADVOCATE. THANK YOU. RAQUEL PAJON, VICTIM ADVOCATE. THANK YOU. JOSEPH RODRIGUEZ, VICTIM ADVOCATE. THANK YOU, SANDRA DEL CAMPO, COUNSELOR WITH VICTIM ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, DEANDRA ACOSTA, VICTIM ADVOCATE. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. CLAUDIA ESCAJEDA, COUNSELOR WITH VICTIM ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU. PAULA ZUNIGA, VICTIM ADVOCATE. THANK YOU, IMELDA RODRIGUEZ, VICTIM ADVOCATE. THANK YOU. STEPHANIE, THE SPECIAL PROJECTS ADMINISTRATOR AND HELPING ORGANIZE THE WALK FOR THE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JODI PUGA EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW I'VE HAD FIRSTHAND, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH THE WALMART TRAGEDY AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE AS ADVOCATES YOUR DAY, VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THESE THINGS, AND I DO HOPE THAT THAT YOU DO GO. IT'S NOT AN EASY WALK. IT'S 7.2 MILES FROM A VERY FROM A COLISEUM, WHICH IS VERY ICONIC. AND THEN BUT I COULD TELL. AND WHAT THE D.A. SAID IS JUST RIGHT NOW IS THAT HAVING PEOPLE AROUND THEM, YOU COULD TELL BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO SHOW THEIR THEIR FEELINGS, THEIR HEALING. AND WHEN THEY SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND THEM AND YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THEM, IT JUST MAKES SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE. AND SO I DO HOPE, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY IS PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THAT. BUT I DO HOPE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP. I CAN TELL YOU, BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS RESOLUTION, THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE AROUND YOU, THERE'S JUST SOMETHING YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING, JUST THE FACT THAT YOUR PRESENCE AND THAT YOU MADE THAT EFFORT TO BE OUT THERE MAKES SUCH A DIFFERENCE FOR THE VICTIMS FAMILIES. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED EACH, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND OUR D.A. THANK YOU FOR FOR THAT PASSION BEHIND THIS. SO THANK YOU. 
          MILE 13 MILE FOR ENCOURAGEMENT AT THAT POINT. THANK YOU. D.A. ESPARZA STARTED. 
          YEAH. OH MY GOD, YEAH, 23 MILES A MERE 7.27.2, YOU KNOW MY POINT. FOR THE WITNESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I JUST. 
          ITEM NUMBER FIVE D APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING CYBER AWARENESS MONTH AND RECOGNIZING RESPONSE CON 25 ON OCTOBER 9TH THROUGH THE 10TH, 2025 FOR ITS 
          [D. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing Cybersecurity Awareness Month and recognizing ResponseCon25 on October 9–10, 2025, for its contributions to the safety, security, and resilience of residents in El Paso County, Texas.
Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]
          [00:40:06]
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SAFETY, SECURITY AND RESILIENCE OF RESIDENTS IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. THANK YOU. WELCOME. BE A GREAT FRIEND AND ADVOCATE. ALSO, A VERY SPECIAL RESOLUTION, AS YOU'LL SEE FROM ONCE I READ THAT, IT'S PRETTY AMAZING TO. THANK YOU FOR INFRAGARD IS A NATIONWIDE VOLUNTEER PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, FBI, AND STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE 16 DHS DESIGNATED CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS, INCLUDING, AMONG OTHERS, ENERGY, WATER AND WASTEWATER, HEALTH CARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH, FINANCIAL SERVICES, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS, TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, GOVERNMENT FACILITIES, FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, AND EMERGENCY SERVICES. WHEREAS THE INFRAGARD MEMBERS ALLIANCE WAS FOUNDED TO ADVANCE THE PROTECTION OF THE UNITED STATES THROUGH TRUSTED INFORMATION SHARING, EDUCATION AND COLLABORATION. INFRAGARD MEMBERS ALLIANCE EL PASO, EL PASO FULFILLS THIS MISSION LOCALLY BY CONNECTING SECTOR PARTNERS ACROSS THE CITY OF EL PASO, EL PASO COUNTY, AND REGIONAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS. STRENGTHENING PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, AND RECOVERY FOR CYBER AND PHYSICAL THREATS. WHEREAS OCTOBER IS RECOGNIZED AS CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH, ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, AND PUBLIC AGENCIES TO IMPROVE CYBER HYGIENE, PRACTICE PREPAREDNESS, AND PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING THAT REDUCES RISK. WHEREAS ON OCTOBER 9TH THROUGH THE 10TH, 2025, EL PASO WILL HOST RESPONSE CON 25, PRESENTED BY EL PASO ELECTRIC AT THE EL PASO WATER TECH TWO ZERO WATER RESOURCES LEARNING CENTER, CONVENING LEADERS FROM CYBERSECURITY, AI, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND ADVANCE WHOLE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. WITH RESPONSE CON 25 THEMED RISE OF THE DEFENDERS, HOLD THE LINE. SECURE THE FUTURE DELIVERS A MISSION DRIVEN EDUCATION FORWARD PROGRAM WITH KEYNOTE PANELS, CASE STUDIES AND SKILL WORKSHOPS INCLUDING CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES TO EQUIP PRACTITIONERS FOR PREVENTION, DETECTION, RESPONSE AND RECOVERY WITH RESPONSE. CON 25 IS ORGANIZED IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE FBI, EL PASO AND THE REGIONAL PARTNERS, EXPANDING EL PASO COUNTY'S FOOTPRINT IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUTREACH TO SCHOOLS, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND BUSINESSES, AND EMPOWERING FRONTLINE DEFENDERS WITH PRACTICAL TOOLS BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER INCIDENTS WAS THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT RECOGNIZED THIS INFRAGARD EL PASO, THE FBI, EL PASO, EL PASO ELECTRIC AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR ADVANCING COLLABORATION, INNOVATION AND ACCESS OF TRAINING THAT PROTECTS EL PASO COUNTY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY KICKS OFF CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH IN EL PASO COUNTY AND RECOGNIZES RESPONSE CON 25TH OCTOBER NINTH THROUGH THE 10TH, 2025 FOR ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SAFETY, SECURITY AND RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS, EMPLOYERS, SCHOOLS AND AGENCIES TO PARTICIPATE IN CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH ACTIVITIES. ATTEND RESPONSE CON 25 AND ADOPT PRACTICES THAT HOLD THE LINE AND SECURE THE FUTURE FOR ALL WHO CALL EL PASO HOME. SIGN THE SIXTH DAY OF OCTOBER 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. MOTION CARRIES. 
          THANK YOU. BE GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE JUDGE SAMANIEGO. COMMISSIONERS JACQUELINE BUTLER, DAVID STOUT, ILIANA OLGUIN AND SERGIO CORONADO, AND ALL THE DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THIS COURT. THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION HONORING CYBERSECURITY MONTH AND FOR RECOGNIZING THE UPCOMING RESPONSE CON 25 EVENT. IT IS A PROFOUND HONOR FOR ME TO STAND BEFORE YOU AND INTRODUCE PART OF OUR BOARD. WE HAVE OUR PAST PRESIDENT, CHRIS CLAREMONT. WE HAVE OUR TREASURER, ANTHONY BOVINO. WE HAVE OUR SECRETARY AND HISTORIAN, JACK VAUGHN, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR SECTOR CHIEF, ERNESTO ARRIOLA. OUR THEME THIS YEAR IS RISE OF THE DEFENDERS. 
          HOLD THE LINE AND SECURE THE FUTURE. IT CAPTURES NOT JUST THE TAGLINE, BUT THE SPIRIT BEHIND OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO BRING MORE AWARENESS TO CYBERSECURITY AND TO PROTECT 
          [00:45:02]
ALL INDIVIDUALS, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND CYBERSECURITY. WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES THAT REPRESENT EL PASO AND THE EL PASO, EL PASO COUNTY, IT PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE INFORMATION SHARING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE, ESPECIALLY WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY. DURING CYBERSECURITY MONTH, WE EMPHASIZE AWARENESS, READINESS AND COLLABORATION. BUT FOR US IN EL PASO, IT'S MORE THAN A SYMBOLISM. IT'S A CALL TO ACTION, THOUGH. RESPONSE CON 25. WE BRING TOGETHER OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES, LEADERS K THROUGH 12 AND HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS, BEST PRACTICES AND HANDS ON LABS. WE AIM TO MAKE CONNECTIONS THAT CLOSE GAPS BEFORE ATTACKS EXPLOIT THEM. AS BACKGROUND, INFRAGARD IS A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FBI FOCUSED ON BRIDGING GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR KNOWLEDGE AND NATIONAL SECURITY, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION, AND CYBER DEFENSE. OUR CHAPTER IS THE SMALLEST CHAPTER IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT YET WE CONSISTENTLY PUNCHED ABOVE OUR WEIGHT, AND THIS YEAR, WE ARE HONORED TO COME BACK WITH THREE NATIONAL AWARDS, BRINGING OUR TOTAL TO FIVE NATIONAL AWARDS RECOGNIZED BY INFRAGARD, NATIONAL INFRAGARD NATIONAL SECTOR CHIEF OF THE YEAR WAS AWARDED THIS YEAR TO ERNESTO ARRIOLA. LAST YEAR WAS AWARDED TO ANTHONY BERNARDINO FROM THE EL PASO WATER, AND THIS YEAR WE HAVE EL PASO ELECTRIC AS OUR NATIONAL PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT. AND THEN OUR CHAPTER OVERALL RECEIVED THE CHAPTER COMMUNITY OUTREACH AWARD TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONAL AND THE NATIONAL LEVEL IN SO MANY CATEGORIES IS A TESTAMENT TO THE DEDICATION OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, OUR LOCAL PARTNERS, AND THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION IN EL PASO. IN ADDITION, I WAS ELECTED TO SERVE AS PART OF THE INFRAGARD NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS REPRESENTING EL PASO. THAT ELECTION IS NOT JUST MINE, IT BELONGS TO THIS COMMUNITY. 
          IT MEANS OUR VOICE, PERSPECTIVE AND CHALLENGES WILL BE PRESENT AT THE HIGHEST TABLES IN NATIONAL AND FOR GUARD ORGANIZATION. AS PRESIDENT, THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST HONORS OF MY CAREER. BUT TODAY I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ONE OF OUR OWN. IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE ERNESTO ARRIOLA, WHO WAS NAMED INFRAGARD NATIONAL SECTOR CHIEF, AND HE CAN SHARE THE TRUE WORK THAT GOES BEHIND ALL OUR BOARD AND EVERYONE THAT PROTECTS ALL THE BUSINESSES IN OUR EL PASO COUNTY. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE START, I JUST WANT TO SAY BE. WHENEVER YOU'RE INVOLVED IN ANYTHING, SOME GREAT THINGS HAPPEN AND IT'S ALWAYS APPRECIATE HOW YOU MANAGE TO JUST THE SYNERGISMS JUST GET BIGGER AND GREATER. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. MR. ARRIOLA. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS ERNESTO ARRIOLA I'M THE LOCAL INFRAGARD BOARD MEMBER AND SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. I HIGHLY AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK BE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING A LOT OF THIS HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING AWARENESS TO CYBERSECURITY. YOU KNOW, IN OUR COMMUNITY RESPONSE IS BASICALLY THAT IT'S A COMMUNITY EVENT THAT WE CAN SHARE, EDUCATE AND BUILD THOSE COLLABORATIONS AND NETWORKS WITH, WITH OUR PARTNERS. THE REGION HAS A LOT OF A LOT OF TARGETS. I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE THE EDUCATION SECTOR, WE HAVE WATER SECTOR, ELECTRIC SECTOR, COUNTY AND MUNICIPALITY. WE HAVE A LOT OF SMALLER, SMALLER PARTNERS. 
          WE HAVE FORT BLISS AND WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. WE HAVE TO COMMUNICATE. WE HAVE TO SHARE WHAT WE KNOW TO MAKE THIS REGION STRONGER AND MORE ROBUST. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE THAT. ANYONE ELSE THAT. NO. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR RECOGNITION, YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP TO ALL THE COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO BRINGING CYBERSECURITY LIGHT TO LIGHTEN THE IMPORTANCE OF IT. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR RECOGNITION. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS LOVE ABOUT RESOLUTIONS LIKE THIS ONE, LIKE PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE, I FEEL LIKE YOUR GUARDIAN ANGELS AND WE'RE NOT AWARE YOU'RE BLOCKING THESE THINGS AWAY FROM US THAT KEEP US SAFE. AND AND ESPECIALLY THIS REGION. HAVING THE MILITARY HERE IS AMAZING, BUT IT ALSO BRINGS CERTAIN VULNERABILITIES. AND JUST TO KNOW THAT THAT SOMEONE'S AWARE AND LOOKING AT ALL THE DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS TO PROTECT 
          [00:50:04]
US FROM, FROM ANYTHING GOING WRONG. AND WE THANK YOU. AND LIKE I SAID, THE COMMUNITY SOMETIMES IS NOT AWARE OF THESE KINDS OF HEROES THAT ARE THERE TRYING TO PROTECT OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR REGION. SO I THANK YOU TREMENDOUSLY FOR THAT. BE I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE NETWORK WITH FBI, CISA, HOMELAND SECURITY, DEA THERE WEREN'T ABLE TO COME WITH US TODAY, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT IT IS BECAUSE OF THEIR HARD WORK AND THE COLLABORATION WITH INFRAGARD THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAFEGUARD OUR OUR COMMUNITY. ONE MORE SIGN OF COLLABORATION. I MEAN, WE GET A LOT OF CREDIT FROM PEOPLE VISITING FROM THE OUTSIDE SAYING, WOW, I MEAN, YOU GUYS TRULY COLLABORATE. AND I'M VERY WE'RE VERY BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF COLLABORATION. AND AND SO WE THANK YOU TREMENDOUSLY FOR THAT AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO WE EACH OF US WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A CHALLENGE COIN. MR. STOUT. WE HAVE ONE FOR YOU TOO. BUT WE'LL LEAVE IT BEHIND. THANK YOU. 
          AGAIN. 
          THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER FIVE APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE MILITARY VETERAN PEER NETWORKS, VETS GIVING INITIATIVE, COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I HAVE THE IMMENSE PRIVILEGE OF 
          [E. Approve and adopt a resolution in support of the Military Veteran Peer Network’s “VetsGiving” Initiative.
Jackie Butler, Commissioner, Precinct 1, 915-273-3594]
INTRODUCING THIS RESOLUTION TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY. I HAVE OUR GUESTS AND OUR SPEAKERS UP AT THE PODIUM. OKAY, I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION. WHEREAS EL PASO COUNTY PROUDLY RECOGNIZES OUR COMMUNITY AS THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE US, HOME TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND WHEREAS, THE MILITARY VETERAN PEER NETWORK, A PEER TO PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS AND FAMILIES, TOGETHER WITH THE VETERANS ONE STOP CENTER AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, ORGANIZES THE ANNUAL VETS GIVING FOOD DRIVE TO ASSEMBLE HOLIDAY FOOD BASKETS AND GIFT CARDS FOR VETERANS AND FAMILIES AND MILITARY FAMILIES IN NEED. AND WHEREAS THE VETS GIVING FOOD DRIVE RELIES ON COMMUNITY DONATIONS OF NONPERISHABLE FOODS AND GROCERY GIFT CARDS AND LEVERAGES VOLUNTEER SUPPORT, THEREBY DELIVERING ASSISTANCE AT NO COST TO COUNTY TAXPAYERS. 
          BEYOND ROUTINE OUTREACH AND COORDINATION. AND WHEREAS ENSURING THAT VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO SEASONAL MEALS AND ESSENTIALS STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY WELL-BEING AND ADVANCES EL PASO COUNTY'S LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO HONOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF THOSE WHO WORE OUR NATION'S UNIFORM. AND WHEREAS THE 2025 COLLECTION PERIOD IS SET FOR OCTOBER 6TH, 2025 THROUGH NOVEMBER 10TH, 2025, WITH DISTRIBUTION TO ELIGIBLE VETERANS AND FAMILIES ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 15TH, 2025 AT VETERANS ONE STOP CENTER. 
          AND WHEREAS COUNTY LEADERSHIP ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION BY RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COLLECTION PERIOD, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY THAT EL PASO COUNTY SUPPORTS THE MILITARY VETERAN PEER NETWORK VETERANS, ONE STOP CENTER, VETS GIVING FOOD DRIVE SERVING LOCAL VETERANS AND 
          [00:55:01]
THEIR FAMILIES. THIS COURT ENCOURAGES DONATIONS OF NONPERISHABLE FOODS AND GROCERY GIFT CARDS. FROM OCTOBER 6TH, 2025 THROUGH NOVEMBER 10TH, 2025. SIGNED THE SIXTH DAY OF OCTOBER 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER, SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. 
          THE VOTING IS OPEN. WELCOME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. MOTION CARRIES ALL. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. SHALYA SHALYA ANTHONY, I AM WITH FORGIVE ME. THIS IS A LONG TITLE. I'M WITH MILITARY VETERAN PEER NETWORK WITH THE EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORKS VETERANS ONE STOP CENTER. ALL RIGHT. SO GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS ON BEHALF OF THE MILITARY VETERAN PEER NETWORK AND THE VETERANS ONE STOP CENTER AND EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORK, I THANK YOU FOR THIS INCREDIBLE RESOLUTION AND FOR RECOGNIZING OUR THANKSGIVING I'M SORRY, VETS GIVING FOOD EVENT. THIS HONOR REFLECTS THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER TO SERVE THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED US. WHAT BEGAN AS A SIMPLE EFFORT TO PROVIDE FREE MEALS HAS GROWN INTO A TRADITION OF HOPE, UNITY, AND GRATITUDE. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO AIN EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORK FOR GIVING US THE FREEDOM AND SUPPORT TO HOST THESE EVENTS, NOT JUST ON HOLIDAYS, BUT EVERY DAY. YOUR TRUST ALLOWS US TO REACH MORE VETERANS AND FAMILIES IN NEED. WE'RE ALSO ALSO DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS, AGENCIES, PARTNERS, AND I'M GOING TO LIST A FEW CHASE BANK, RTX, RAYTHEON, SECOND CHANCE FOR KIDS, DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY, WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY, STRONG BONDS, COMMUNITY CARE, TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION, WOMEN'S VETERAN PROGRAM, TEXAS VETERANS NETWORK, GREENS NOTARY SERVICE, GOLDEN PLAN CHOICE, AND, OF COURSE, EL PASO COUNTY VETERANS OFFICE, ALL WHO HAVE HELPED MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS. EVERY YEAR THERE WILL BE BOXES FROM NOW UNTIL 10TH NOVEMBER AT THE COUNTY ADMIN OFFICE AND ONE IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, OR AS YOU WERE, COMMISSIONERS OFFICE, ALSO AT THE VETERANS ONE STOP CENTER, EVERY DONATION, EVERY HOUR AND EVERY SMILE MAKES A DIFFERENCE. COMMISSIONERS, YOUR SUPPORT REMINDS US THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS MISSION. TOGETHER, WE ARE BUILDING A STRONGER, MORE CARING COMMUNITY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BELIEVING IN US AND FOR HELPING US TO KEEP THE SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING ALIVE ALL YEAR LONG. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS JOE LOYA, THE OTHER MILITARY VETERAN PEER COORDINATOR THERE AT THE ONE STOP AND JUST HONORED AND GRATEFUL THAT YOU GUYS WOULD PARTNER UP WITH US AND HELP US IN THIS MISSION. SO THANK YOU. YEAH, THIS IS SORT OF, YOU KNOW, THE VETERANS CAPITAL. AND LIKE THESE THINGS EL PASO COMES TOGETHER, VETERANS COME TOGETHER AND JUST SEE THE DEEP APPRECIATION ABOUT VETERANS HOW THEY TREAT BACK. YOU KNOW THEY ALREADY DO SERVICE. THEY COME BACK. THEY DO GREAT THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN THEY CONTINUE TO DO THAT. SO COMMISSIONER BUTLER, THANK YOU. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THIS IS A REALLY GREAT REMINDER THAT THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. AND EL PASO IS A LOT OF THINGS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S VERY GENEROUS AND GIVING, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOLIDAYS. SO WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITIES KNOW ABOUT IT SO WE CAN SUPPORT IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO, AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VETERAN ADVOCATES WHO ARE IN THE ROOM AS WELL, FOR YOUR SUPPORT WILL ALWAYS COUNT ON OUR COUNTY FAMILY. I KNOW YOU'LL BE GIVING WITH ALL YOUR HEART. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          [01:00:27]
ITEM NUMBER FIVE F APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING OCTOBER 2025 AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. 
          [F. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in El Paso County, Texas.
David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-273-3559]
COMMISSIONER STOUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. I AM PROUD TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS RESOLUTION. TO THE RECORD, I KNOW THAT WE'RE JOINED TODAY BY SENATOR NEVADA'S GARCIA, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER AGAINST SEXUAL AND FAMILY VIOLENCE. SO WE'LL HEAR FROM HER IN A MINUTE. BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK JUST SO MUCH IMPORTANT WORK TAKES PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH NONPROFITS LIKE THE CENTER AGAINST FAMILY, SEXUAL AND FAMILY VIOLENCE. WE'LL HEAR GENERALLY WHAT THE CSW DOES IN THIS RESOLUTION. BUT I DO WANT TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE, MORE DETAIL. SO THEY SHELTER MORE THAN 800 CLIENTS OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR. THEY ANSWER MORE THAN 6300 HOTLINE CALLS. THEY DO CASE MANAGEMENT FOR THOUSANDS OF NON RESIDENT CLIENTS, THERAPY FOR MORE THAN 1000 INDIVIDUALS, EDUCATION FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND THIS EXTENDS TO EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY. 
          WE DON'T DEFINE OUR COMMUNITY BY LEGAL STATUS OR JUDGE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN NEED. WE WELCOME PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TO WORK, LIVE AND RAISE FAMILIES. AND THE CSF SUPPORTS ALSO WOMEN WITH VARIOUS IMMIGRATION SERVICES INCLUDING U. VISAS, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT, VAWA PETITIONS, AND THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN 2025 IS WITH SURVIVORS ALWAYS SOBREVIVIENTES SIEMPRE, AND THIS THEME EXPLORES WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SURVIVORS TOWARDS SAFETY, SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY. AND IT'S BOTH A LOVE LETTER AND A CALL TO ACTION FOR THOSE COMMITTED TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS NEEDS AND RIGHTS. AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND PULL UP THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM OUR GUESTS. SO THE RESOLUTION STATES, WHEREAS PATTERN OF ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR THAT INCLUDES PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, SEXUAL AND FINANCIAL ABUSE AND IT AFFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, RACES, GENDERS, SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, RELIGIONS AND SOCIO SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS. AND WHEREAS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, MORE THAN 1 IN 3 WOMEN AND NEARLY 1 IN 4 MEN REPORT EXPERIENCING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIMES, AND COUNTLESS CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO THIS VIOLENCE, BEARING LIFELONG IMPACTS ON THEIR HEALTH, THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. AND WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT A PRIVATE MATTER, BUT A PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY CRISIS CONTRIBUTING TO CYCLES OF TRAUMA, HOMELESSNESS, POVERTY AND INTERGENERATIONAL HARM THAT AFFECT ENTIRE COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS IN EL PASO AND THE SURROUNDING REGION, THE CENTER AGAINST SEXUAL AND FAMILY VIOLENCE HAS SERVED AS A BEACON OF HOPE FOR MORE THAN 45 YEARS, PROVIDING LIFE SAVING SERVICES INCLUDING EMERGENCY SHELTER, CRISIS HOTLINES, COUNSELING, LEGAL ADVOCACY, TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAMS, PREVENTION EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. AND WHEREAS, OCTOBER IS OBSERVED NATIONALLY AS THE VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH AND IS A TIME TO REMEMBER THOSE WHOSE LIVES WERE TAKEN BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HONOR THE COURAGE OF SURVIVORS, CELEBRATE THEIR RESILIENCE, AND RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO ENDING ABUSE IN ALL ITS FORMS. AND WHEREAS CASFS THEME YOU'RE A SURVIVOR RECOGNIZES THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAS ENDURED UNIMAGINABLE CHALLENGES, YET POSSESSES EXTRAORDINARY STRENGTH. AND WHEREAS THE THEME UNDERSCORES THAT SURVIVAL IS NOT JUST ABOUT LIVING THROUGH ABUSE, BUT ABOUT RECLAIMING POWER, DIGNITY AND HOPE, AND REMINDS THE COMMUNITY THAT HEALING IS POSSIBLE WHEN SURVIVORS ARE MET WITH COMPASSION, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT. AND WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, CHALLENGE HARMFUL STEREOTYPES, AND DISMANTLE THE STIGMA AND SILENCE THAT TOO OFTEN SURROUNDS ABUSE, ENSURING THAT SURVIVORS VOICES ARE HEARD, BELIEVED AND VALUED. AND WHEREAS PREVENTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REQUIRES COMMITMENT OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY FROM SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO FAITH ORGANIZATIONS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE SAFE HOMES AND SAFE FUTURES. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZED THE MONTH OF OCTOBER TO BE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, SIGNED THIS 26, I'M SORRY, THE SIXTH DAY OF OCTOBER 2025, THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE HAVE A 
          [01:05:05]
MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT AND A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. 
          CAN YOU TURN ON YOUR CAMERA, COMMISSIONER STOUT? YES, I'LL DO THAT. ONE SECOND. I'M TRYING TO COME BACK HERE. ALL RIGHT. YES, MY VOTE IS I. THANK YOU, SIR. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. 
          WELCOME. COMMISSIONERS. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH THIS MORNING. MY NAME IS SANDRA NEVAREZ GARCIA, AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER AGAINST SEXUAL AND FAMILY VIOLENCE. AND SO, ON BEHALF OF THE CENTER, WE ARE REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE, TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE OCTOBER AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH AND TO CONTINUE TO SHOW SUPPORT TO OUR SURVIVORS AND OUR COMMUNITY. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AS YOU, AS WE MENTIONED, IS NOT A PRIVATE MATTER. IT'S SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND IS A COMMUNITY ISSUE. AND SO THAT IMPACTS INDIVIDUALS IN DIFFERENT WAYS. IT'S FAMILIES, IT'S BUSINESSES, IT'S OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S OUR FRIENDS, LOVED ONES. IT'S REALLY EVERYONE WE INTERACT WITH. AND SO THE OVERALL HEALTH OF EL PASO IS OUR MAIN CONCERN. AND THE SAFETY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AS THEY AS THEY WORK THROUGH THESE ISSUES THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH AT HOME PRIVATELY, GENERALLY IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S THAT, THAT THAT'S THE MAIN STRUGGLE, RIGHT? THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT'S THAT'S PUBLIC. LAST YEAR, THE CENTER, AS COMMISSIONER STOUT MENTIONED, SERVED THOUSANDS OF CLIENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEY SHARED THEIR STORIES OF PAIN, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEIR STORIES OF RESILIENCY AND COURAGE. AND SO OUR THEME THIS YEAR, YOU'RE A SURVIVOR IS A REMINDER TO SURVIVORS THAT THEY'RE NOT DEFINED BY THE ABUSE THAT THEY ENDURED, BUT MORE SO THE STRENGTH THAT IT TAKES TO HEAL, REBUILD AND RECLAIM THEIR LIVES BY SAYING YOU'RE A SURVIVOR REMINDS THOSE INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE THAT THIS STORY DOES NOT END WITH ABUSE, BUT CONTINUES WITH COURAGE, HOPE, AND SUPPORT FROM A CARING COMMUNITY LIKE EL PASO. THE RESOLUTION SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT IT IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE OF THE CENTER AGAINST SEXUAL AND FAMILY VIOLENCE AS ITS SOLE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM, BUT REALLY AS A AS EL PASO SUPPORTING US IN MANY WAYS. AS YOU MENTIONED, JUDGE EL PASO, WE ARE TRULY BLESSED TO LIVE IN SUCH A GIVING COMMUNITY. AND I CAN SHOW YOU THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN THIS YEAR. WE DO HAVE A CALENDAR THAT WE POST ON OUR WEBSITE. WITHIN THAT CALENDAR, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT SOME EVENTS IS WE HAVE EL PASO GIVING DAY THAT'S COMING UP ON THE 16TH. SO PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS ASK, HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT? YOU CAN SUPPORT IN A MULTITUDE OF WAYS. EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS. AND SO EL PASO GIVING DAY WE YOU CAN DONATE AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME TO THE CENTER. BUT YOU CAN ALSO HELP US TRY TO MOVE FORWARD. OUR POWER HOUR, WHICH WILL BE 6 TO 7 P.M. I MEAN 7 A.M. SO IT'S A CAFFEINATED HOUR, SO 6 TO 7 A.M. AND THEN WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE SOME CONVERSATIONS, OBVIOUSLY WITH DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS THAT WE'RE DOING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, BUT PRIMARILY PRIMARILY ON OCTOBER 21ST, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MOVIE DAY. WE WILL BE SCREENING A MOVIE THAT'S PROMOTING THAT MESSAGE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CONVERSATION. AND AGAIN, THE IDEA IS TO GET INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES JUST TALKING ABOUT IT. OFTENTIMES YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED. AND MANY OF YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS HAVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT DON'T SEEM RIGHT, RIGHT. 
          SOMETHING'S A LITTLE OFF. AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T BROACH THE SUBJECT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SURE IF WE SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T. AND WE OFTEN SEEM TO THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T PERTAIN TO ME AND I SHOULDN'T GET INVOLVED. BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT A LOT OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE PROBABLY JUST A LENDING EAR SOME SUPPORT AND KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY REFER YOU TO SOMEONE THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT AND HELP YOU. AND SO AGAIN, WE'RE HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU THIS MORNING. I DO HAVE SOME VERY DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS WITH ME THIS MORNING. SO WE DO HAVE OUR OUR PRIMARY PREVENTION COORDINATOR, MISS JESSICA. WE ALSO HAVE OUR BOARD CHAIR, MR. AARON SETLIFF, AND OUR CHAIR ELECT, MISS STEPHANIE VARGAS WITH THIS MORNING. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JESSICA PURCHASE. I AM THE PRIMARY PREVENTION COORDINATOR AT THE CENTER AGAINST SEXUAL AND FAMILY VIOLENCE. I ALSO OVERSEE SOMETHING CALLED THE EMPOWERMENT PROJECT, WHICH IS A SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM AND ALSO JUST AN OVERALL OUTREACH PURPOSE TO REACH OUT TO OUR YOUTH SPECIFICALLY, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG ONES, TO PUT OUT WHAT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS ARE, WHAT CONSENT IS. I THINK THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT DOES START FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE TO START LEARNING THESE BEHAVIORS AND ULTIMATELY ERADICATE THOSE PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIORS THAT OCCUR WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK YOU ALL AND APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IN ALL OF THIS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. STEPHANIE. HI. GOOD MORNING. 
          I'M BACK. I'M THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CENTER AGAINST SEXUAL AND FAMILY VIOLENCE ON THEIR BOARD. AND I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE OFFICE IS REALLY WORKING VERY HARD TO REBUILD ITS APPROACH TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THESE TYPES OF CASES CAN END UP GOING 
          [01:10:02]
THROUGH OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHETHER IT BE A SEVERE ASSAULT OR IT'S EVEN SOMETHING LIKE MURDER. SO THESE ARE SOMETHING THESE ARE CASES THAT OUR OFFICE TAKES VERY SERIOUSLY. WE HAVE GRANTS IN OUR OFFICE THAT ARE WORKING TO REBUILD THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT. WE CURRENTLY HAVE TEAMS IN OUR OFFICE THAT MAKE HOME VISITS WITHIN 24 HOURS. TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE FILED A POLICE REPORT, THEY'RE TRYING TO COLLECT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE. THAT WILL HELP US PURSUE THE CASE, BECAUSE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WE DO NOT NEED THE VICTIM TO PARTICIPATE. IF THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE. SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THE CASE EVEN IF THEY DON'T WANT TO MOVE FORWARD. BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST LIKE SANDRA SAID, THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE BETWEEN PEOPLE. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS OUR COMMUNITY, AND THESE ARE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO KEEP THEM SAFE. SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU. STEPHANIE. AARON GOOD MORNING JUDGE. SO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A IS A DIFFICULT TOPIC FOR US TO TALK ABOUT. WE COME BEFORE YOU EVERY OCTOBER AND WE APPRECIATE THE PROCLAMATION. AND SO WE WORK HARD IN THIS AREA ALL YEAR LONG. AND I AM EXCITED TO GIVE YOU THREE HIGHLIGHTS, THREE GOOD POINTS OF PROGRESS THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST YEAR AND THAT WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING TOWARDS IN THE NEXT YEAR. SO THIS PART IS NOT A POSITIVE PART THING I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU. BUT THERE IS A RELATED EL PASO CONNECTION. SO ON FRIDAY, THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE IS THE STATEWIDE COALITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS. THEY RELEASED THEIR ANNUAL HONORING TEXAS VICTIMS REPORT. THEY REPORTED THAT 161 PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY THEIR INTIMATE PARTNER IN 2024. SO WE MOURN FOR THOSE DEATHS. THIS IS A PREVENTABLE PROBLEM, OBVIOUSLY. ONE THING, THOUGH, THAT I WILL HIGHLIGHT AS A HIGH POINT FOR EL PASO IS THAT WE HAD ZERO FATALITIES IN 2024. THAT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT'S HAPPENED SINCE 2019. SO A LEVEL OF CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE WAY THAT WE DO COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE IN EL PASO, I THINK IS IN ORDER. BUT I THINK ALSO SOMETIMES WE JUST GET LUCKY ONE YEAR. AND SO WE HAVE WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO IN HELPING TO GET VICTIMS SAFE AND HELP HOLD OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE. SO WE'RE REDOUBLING OUR EFFORTS IN THAT WAY. BUT I REALLY WAS ENCOURAGED BY THAT. THAT NUMBER, NO FATALITIES BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER IN EL PASO IN 2024. THE SECOND HIGH POINT THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK YOU GUYS CAN TAKE CREDIT FOR, TO SOME EXTENT, IS SENATE BILL 1120 WAS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WENT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE. AND LONG STORY SHORT, IS WE JUMPED TO RIDE ONE OF THE COUNTY'S PRIORITY MEASURES WAS RELATED TO WAS WAS RELATED TO A PIECE THAT WE REALLY CHAMPIONED AT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ALLOWING FAMILY VIOLENCE VICTIMS TO GET LONGER PROTECTIVE ORDERS. IF THERE'S ONGOING LITIGATION HAPPENING, LIKE A DIVORCE OR A CRIMINAL PROSECUTION OR A SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT CHILD RELATIONSHIP. 
          AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR BILL ONTO 1120, AND IT WENT INTO EFFECT ONLY WITH Y'ALL'S SUPPORT, THE SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND OUR PARTNERS, LIKE SPEAKER PRO TEM JOE MOODY. WERE WE ABLE TO TO ACCOMPLISH THAT? THAT'S A REAL THING THAT A SURVIVOR WILL EXPERIENCE AND BE ABLE TO BE PROTECTED LONGER AS LITIGATION CONTINUES TO OCCUR. THE THIRD THING I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU ALL IS THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE SEXUAL AND FAMILY VIOLENCE, AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WITH MORE PARTNERS TO COME, HAVE STARTED WHAT'S CALLED A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGH RISK TEAM. SO WE KNOW THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS WRONG AND WE ALL FIGHT AGAINST IT. WE HAVE WE HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR TAKING IT SERIOUSLY, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE THOSE KINDS OF INDICATORS THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO GAUGE LETHALITY OR DANGER. AND SO WE'VE STARTED A PROCESS BY WHICH WE ARE ASSESSING EACH CASE IN ORDER TO PRIORITIZE THE ONES THAT WE FIND THE HIGHEST LETHALITY OR THE HIGHEST DANGER. AND BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN KIND OF TRIAGE THE WORST CASES TO HELP KEEP EL PASO FROM HAVING A FATALITY IN A GIVEN YEAR. SO THOSE ARE THREE AREAS THAT I REALLY WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL CREDIT FOR. THE HIGH RISK TEAM IS A GRANT FROM THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE. YOU OKAYED US TO GET THE GRANTS, AND SO WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. 
          IT ALLOWED US TO HAVE A STAFF PERSON THAT HELPS WORK ON THE THE HIGH RISK TEAM, BUT I REALLY DO. IT'S A THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP THAT REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR EFFECTIVENESS IN THIS AREA. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE MORNING HAS BEEN ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY SORT OF NEEDING TO COME TOGETHER. AND I THINK THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CONFIDENCE THAT WE ALL HAVE THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT, WE MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THINGS BEGIN TO HAPPEN. GOING BACK TO MY CLINICAL THERAPY PROFESSION, THE THE QUICKER THE INTERVENTION, THE MORE LIKELY THAT THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THAT SITUATION. THE 
          [01:15:03]
QUICKER THE SITUATION IS EXPOSED, THE MORE THE LESS LIKELY THAT IT WILL CONTINUE. 
          AND SO THIS IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION IS SO IMPORTANT. AND THE AWARENESS OF THAT. SO I THANK EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING. ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE ALL LOOKING AFTER OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AFTER THOSE THE MOST VULNERABLE THAT WE HAVE. AND THAT'S WHAT EL PASO IS ALL ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR UNIQUENESS, IT'S THIS IDEA OF PROTECTING WHO WE ARE FROM THE PANDEMIC AND HOW WE ALL CAME TOGETHER OVER THE WALMART, HOW WE ALL COME TOGETHER. SO I THINK THE MORE WE MAKE INDIVIDUALS AWARE, THE MORE LIKELY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, JUST ESPECIALLY FOR SUCH VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. I WAS GOING TO LOOK THIS WAY. BUT BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. OVER HERE, OVER HERE. THANK THANKS. THANKS, JUDGE. YOU KNOW, I ECHO THOSE SENTIMENTS. THANKS TO THE CENTER AGAINST SEXUAL AND FAMILY VIOLENCE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE TWO, TWO MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY COUNTY, OUR COUNTY FAMILY ON THE ON THE BOARD. THANK YOU, STEPHANIE AND AARON, FOR FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU THAT YOU ALSO PROVIDE. LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE WITH THE RESOLUTION IF WE CAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          GREAT. ACT LIKE I LIKE. EVEN THINGS OUT HERE. THERE WE GO. PUT MY ARMS TO. KNOW. 
          ITEM NUMBER FIVE G ADOPT AND APPROVE A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING DANIEL ELLER FOR BEING THE FIRST PARTICIPANT TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE PROMISE PROGRAM. COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU ALL 
          [G. Adopt and approve a resolution recognizing and commending Daniel Eller for being the first participant to successfully complete the Promise Program.
Sergio Coronado, Commissioner, Precinct 4, 915-273-3596]
VERY MUCH FOR THIS IS A REALLY A GREAT OCCASION. JUDGE. YOU KNOW THAT OUR PROMISE PROGRAM HAS REALLY GOTTEN OFF TO A GREAT START. AND I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE TO THE COURT AND TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE OUR FIRST GRADUATE FROM THE PROMISE PROGRAM. YOU KNOW, JUST FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW OUR PROMISE PROGRAM, TOGETHER WITH OUR REENTRY PROGRAM, IS REALLY FOCUSES ON MAKING SURE THAT WE GET PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM BACK INTO BEING PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS TO GET TRAINING, GET EDUCATION AND GET A GOOD JOB. WE WANT THAT FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IF THAT HAPPENS, THEY'RE VERY, VERY UNLIKELY TO COME BACK AND FACE, YOU KNOW, CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. SO, SO AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR, YOU KNOW, COORDINATION DEPARTMENT AND PRETRIAL SERVICES JUST ARE, YOU KNOW, DOING EXCELLENT JOB. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO DOMINIC. DOMINIC, YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH OUR PROGRAM SINCE YOU'VE COME ON BOARD. LIZ, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND OF COURSE, LADY IN THE BACK. CATHERINE. THANK YOU FOR FOR EVERYTHING THAT THAT Y'ALL HAVE 
          [01:20:07]
DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUR PROGRAM GOING. AND AGAIN, MR. ELLER, THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, CHOOSING US TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. AND AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO READ THE RESOLUTION FOR OUR FIRST PROMISE PROGRAM GRADUATE. AND JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S KNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW, OUR PROMISE PROGRAM IS THE ONLY GOVERNMENT SPONSORED PROMISE PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO WE SHOULD BE PROUD. OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD BE PROUD OF THAT. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY. WHEREAS EL PASO COUNTY HAS LONG BEEN COMMITTED TO LEADING JUSTICE REFORM BY ENCOURAGING A JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT OPERATES FAIRLY AND EQUITABLY, ENSURING THE DIGNITY AND HUMANITY OF THOSE INTERACTING WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. AND WHEREAS, IN PURSUIT OF THIS VISION, THE EL PASO COUNTY PROMISE PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE THAT QUALIFYING PARTICIPANTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT NECESSARY TO PURSUE AN EDUCATION WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF TUITION, MANDATORY FEES, AND OTHER BARRIERS. AND WHEREAS, THROUGH EXPANDING BOTH VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, FOSTERING PARTICIPANT SUCCESS THROUGH INITIATIVES THAT REDUCE FINANCIAL BARRIERS AND REINFORCE PATHWAYS TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, THIS CAN MINIMIZE THE LIKELIHOOD OF RE-OFFENSE AND INCREASE UPWARD MOBILITY. OPPORTUNITIES FOR JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS, AND WHEREAS DANIEL ELLER HAS EXEMPLIFIED DEDICATION, PERSEVERANCE, AND RESILIENCE IN HIS JOURNEY, BECOMING THE VERY FIRST PARTICIPANT TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM AND GRADUATE UNDER ITS SUPPORT. AND WHEREAS THIS HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT NOT ONLY HIGHLIGHTS DANIEL ELLER'S INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT ALSO SERVES AS A MILESTONE FOR EL PASO COUNTY, DEMONSTRATING THE TRANSFORMATIVE POTENTIAL OF THE PROMISE PROGRAM IN SHAPING BRIGHTER FUTURES FOR PARTICIPANTS AND FAMILIES. SO WHEREAS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZES THAT THIS GRADUATION REPRESENTS THE BEGINNING OF A LEGACY OF OPPORTUNITY, EQUITY AND ACHIEVEMENT THAT WILL BENEFIT GENERATIONS TO COME IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS DANIEL ELLER'S SUCCESS STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF COLLABORATION AMONG LOCAL GOVERNMENT, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND STUDENTS THEMSELVES IN BUILDING A STRONGER, MORE PROSPEROUS EL PASO COUNTY. BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT THE FINDINGS OF THE COUNTY AND ITS ACTIONS APPROVING THIS RESOLUTION, TAKEN AT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING, ARE HEREBY APPROVED AND ADOPTED, SIGNED THIS SIXTH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025, AND SIGNED BY THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE HONORABLE COUNTY JUDGE. HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO, A SECOND FROM COUNTY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. MOTION CARRIES. MR. ELLER. WELCOME, WELCOME. COME ON UP AND ADDRESS US. WELL, I JUST FEEL REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND BRING GOOD OUT OF BAD. AND I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T DO THAT, BRING GOOD OUT OF BAD. I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT STEP. AND I FEEL LIKE THAT REALLY IS IMPORTANT. UTILIZING THE OPPORTUNITIES AROUND YOU. AND. MAXIMIZING THEM. AND, I MEAN, YOU'RE AT AN AGE WHERE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE AND WHAT PATHS YOU TAKE. AND I MEAN, THIS IS A STEP TOWARDS A PATH, A BETTER PATH. AND. A STEP TOWARDS GREATNESS, I WOULD SAY. 
          THANK YOU, DANIEL. DANIEL, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU. AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE A GREAT ROLE MODEL WHEN SOMEONE ACHIEVES WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND GO THROUGH WHAT YOU'VE DONE, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT YOU. A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S POSSIBLE. AND BY YOUR ROLE MODELING AND REMEMBER THAT IT'S NOT JUST NOW, BUT YOU'VE GOT THESE PEOPLE, EVERYONE SUPPORTING YOU. SO ALWAYS FEEL THAT SUPPORT OR ANYTIME YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED THAT SUPPORT, THAT'S HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD. SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A GREAT ROLE MODEL. THANK YOU. ANY JUST GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT MR. ELLER. HIS 
          [01:25:04]
ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE ARE NOTABLE. AND WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF HIM AS OUR FIRST PARTICIPANT TO GRADUATE. AND THERE WILL BE MANY MORE. SOME THINGS THAT I HEARD FROM HIS PROFESSORS. HE COMPLETED THE SPARK PROGRAM AT EL PASOANS FIGHTING HUNGER, AND THEY NOTED THAT HE WAS DEDICATED, AND HE OFTEN WOULD FINISH HIS TASKS BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE AND HAVE TIME TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE WORKING AND GROWING. THEY SAID HE WAS HIGHLY DEDICATED AND THEY SAW SIGNIFICANT GROWTH THROUGHOUT HIS TIME IN THE PROGRAM. HE NOW WORKS FULL TIME AND WILL BE ATTENDING COLLEGE AS SOON AS HE COMPLETES HIS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. THANK YOU. SO HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE PROMISE PROGRAM AS WE MOVE HIM TO HIS NEXT STEPS. BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS ALL POSSIBLE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE THAT CATHERINE FAMILY, INTRODUCE YOUR FAMILY. GOOD MORNING. COUNTY JUDGE. 
          HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS CATHERINE JONES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIRECTOR WITH YOUR NATIONALLY ACCREDITED CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATION DEPARTMENT. I WANT TO SAY THE ONE THING ABOUT BEING HUMAN IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES, RIGHT? WE WE ALL DO. THE KEY TO SUCCESS IS NOT ALLOWING THOSE MISTAKES TO DEFINE WHO YOU ARE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. THIS YOUNG MAN IS TRULY AN INSPIRATION. HE WORKING ON HIS GED WHILE GOING THROUGH THE SPARKS PROGRAM. HE WILL BE COMPLETING HIS GED VERY SOON, WORKING FULL TIME AND HE WANTS TO GO TO COLLEGE. WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH HIM TO GET HIM INTO COLLEGE. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT. I, I HOPE WHAT HE'S REALIZED IS THAT HE IS SMART ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING HE WANTS TO DO. THIS IS HIS OPPORTUNITY. AND 20 TO 25 YEARS. 
          DANIEL, YOU COULD BE SITTING UP THERE. OKAY. COULD YOU WAIT FOUR YEARS, PLEASE? NO. HE'S AN INSPIRATION. WHEN WHEN DOMINIQUE FIRST STARTED TELLING ME ABOUT HIM, I JUST BECAME INSPIRED. GET TO THE OFFICE A LITTLE EARLIER EVERY DAY. DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP THIS PROGRAM TO SUCCEED. HE IS A TRUE INSPIRATION, AND I THINK HIS FAMILY SHOULD BE INCREDIBLY PROUD. AND I JUST GOT TO HAND IT TO HIM. THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT RIGHT HERE. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. I WANT TO JUST BE ABLE TO THANK OUR COMMISSIONER CORONADO. IT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT HE VISUALIZED. AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS LIKE THE PRODUCT OF THAT VISION OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THE PROMISE PROGRAM TOUCHES FROM MENTAL HEALTH TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO UPWARD MOBILITY TO SO MANY AREAS. IT'S JUST AMAZING WHAT THE PROGRAM CAN DO. AND AND WE'RE VERY THANKFUL WE HAVE SOMEONE LIKE COMMISSIONER IS GOING TO PUSH IT. AND THEN ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BECOMING THAT THAT FIRST STAR AND THAT SORT OF, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE CREDIBILITY TO TO WHAT HE'S TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AND HIS STAFF. SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT. SO ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO. OKAY. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY JUDGE ELIZABETH ARELLANO I'M THE REENTRY MANAGER. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT MISS JONES SAID. WHAT DOMINIQUE SAID. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, DANIEL. CONGRATULATIONS. THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. I THINK WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, WITHOUT THE VISION THAT YOU CAME TO, THIS CAME TO BE RIGHT. WITHOUT THIS, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE. AND YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MANY MORE PARTICIPANTS. DIVERSION. 
          WE'RE REALLY EXCITED AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE BEEN BEEN ABLE TO CREATE THE PROGRAM. DOMINIQUE HAS DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB. SHE'S BRILLIANT AND CONTINUES TO LOOK FOR RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS. SO WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE GREAT NEWS. THANK YOU. AND OF COURSE, TO THE TO THE FAMILY THAT NONE OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR LOVE AND CARING. SO FOR THAT AS WELL. SO BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER. YEAH, I THINK COMMISSIONER WANTED TO SAY COMMISSIONER BUTLER, I JUST WANTED TO ECHO YOUR COMMENTS. JUDGE. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. ELLIS, AND TO YOUR WHOLE FAMILY FOR YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CORONADO, FOR CHAMPIONING THIS PROGRAM. I HOPE YOU SEE THAT EVEN IMPACTING ONE LIFE MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. YOU KNOW, BUT THIS ISN'T MY PROGRAM. THIS IS THE THE COUNTY'S PROGRAM. THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY'S PROGRAM. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON EDUCATION ISSUES AND TRAINING ISSUES SINCE 2002. WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL 
          [01:30:04]
DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES. AND I WANTED TO BRING THIS KIND OF PROGRAM TO OUR COMMUNITY WHEN I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT IT. BUT ACTUALLY, I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND IT WASN'T PROMISED PROGRAMS BACK THEN, IN 2006. BUT LO AND BEHOLD, YOU KNOW, LATER ON IT THESE THESE EFFORTS TOOK A NAME BY PROMISE PROGRAMS, AND WE'RE THE FOURTH IN THE STATE TO DO THIS, THE ONLY ONE THAT'S GOVERNMENT SPONSORED. AND THAT FOCUSES NOT JUST ON, YOU KNOW, ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE AND UP. WE FOCUS ON CERTIFICATIONS LIKE MR. ELLA'S CASE, AND WE FOCUS ON CONTINUING THEM UP INTO DOING EITHER AN ASSOCIATE'S OR BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND DOCTORATE DEGREES ON. SO WE'RE THE ONLY PROMISE PROGRAM RIGHT NOW THAT IS FOCUSING ON THE ENTIRE GAMUT OF WORKFORCE TRAINING AND EDUCATION, INCLUDING CERTIFICATIONS. SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, AND I'M PROUD OF OUR COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO SUPPORT THIS. AND OF COURSE, OUR CJC DEPARTMENT, WHICH APTLY NOTED BY CATHERINE, THEY HAVE BEEN NOW ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PRETRIAL SERVICES AGENCIES. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL TOO AS WELL. SO. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE MANY OTHER. MR. ELLER, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND I WANT YOU TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP THAT GOAL AHEAD OF YOU, CONTINUE YOUR TRAINING AND YOUR EDUCATION. I KNOW YOU UNDERSTAND NOW THAT THIS PATH IS THE RIGHT PATH, NOT JUST FOR YOU, FOR YOUR FAMILY, AND FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, THAT YOU WILL BECOME A GREAT PARTICIPANT IN OUR ECONOMY AND AS A GOOD MEMBER AND A GOOD CITIZEN. WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. I WANT TO THANK OUR DEPARTMENTS AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO. WE HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE, A LOT MORE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE JOINING OUR PROGRAM AS WE SPEAK. OUR ONGOING THIS IS REALLY, TRULY GOING TO BE A COMPLETE COUNTY WIDE EFFORT BY A LOT OF NOT JUST GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES, BUT PRIVATE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT ARE WILLING TO PARTNER WITH US IN THIS EFFORT. I THINK THIS IS JUST GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGING PROGRAM FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU, JUDGE. CAN WE TAKE A PICTURE? DOING A GREAT JOB. 
          RESOLUTION. 
          SO SORRY. 
          [01:35:28]
ITEM NUMBER SIX IS PUBLIC COMMENT. WE DO HAVE THREE SPEAKERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING. WE'D LIKE TO START OUT WITH MRS. ELIZABETH CRAWFORD. I'D JUST LIKE TO REMIND ALL SPEAKERS AND PUBLIC COMMENT THAT PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES AND 
          [PUBLIC COMMENT]
EVERYBODY IS BEING TIMED. THANK YOU. WELCOME, ELIZABETH. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          GOOD MORNING. I'VE TRAVELED QUITE A BIT LAST MONTH AND THIS MONTH, AND IMMEDIATELY UPON LEAVING EL PASO, I GO THROUGH CULTURE SHOCK. SITTING IN THE DENVER AIRPORT LAST MONTH, IT HIT ME LIKE A BRICK WALL. PEOPLE ARE COLD. I MISSED EL PASO AS SOON AS I LEFT. WE'RE TOLD IN GOD'S WORD AND SECOND TIMOTHY THIS KNOW ALSO THAT IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME, FOR MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES, COVETOUS, BOASTERS, PROUD, BLASPHEMERS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNTHANKFUL, UNHOLY, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, LOVERS OF PLEASURES MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD. THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE THAT I PASSED THROUGH EL PASO WAS IN 2019, AND WHAT STUCK IN MY MIND VIVIDLY WAS WATCHING HOW THE AUTHORITIES IN EL PASO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE, NO MATTER IF THE PEOPLE WERE HOMELESS OR EVEN CRIMINALS, THERE WAS A REFRESHING SENSE OF RESPECT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THAT PERSON, ANNOYING OR ROGUE AS HE OR SHE MAY BE, IS STILL A PERSON. THE ATROCITY OF ABORTION GOES ON. WHEN PEOPLE STRIP OUT OF THEIR MINDS, THE OBVIOUS FACT THAT THAT LITTLE ONE IS NOT A BLOB OF CELLS OR A PRODUCT OF CONCEPTION, THAT IS A LITTLE PERSON CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. THE VALUE OF PEOPLE IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO THOSE WHO KNOW AND FOLLOW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT NOT ONLY ARE PEOPLE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, WHICH IS HUGE, BUT EVEN BEYOND THAT, WE UNDERSTAND THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS. THE IMMEASURABLE, INFINITE LOVE OF GOD POURED OUT ON PEOPLE WHO HAD DONE EVERYTHING TO NOT DESERVE IT. THERE ARE, SADLY, MANY IN OUR DAY WHO SPEAK ABOUT A CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. EL PASO TOOK A VERY TRAGIC TURN IN 2022 AND 2023. IN THE DECISIONS TO DECRIMINALIZE ABORTION IN THE SENSE OF DEPRIORITIZING ABORTION REPORTS TO THE POLICE, THUS NOT ENABLING THE MAXIMUM PROTECTION FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US. SOMETIMES I THINK I'VE HEARD IT ALL, AND THEN I REALIZE THERE'S MORE. 
          THERE'S EVEN A ROUGHER SITUATION. THIS PAST SATURDAY, I WAS OUTSIDE OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN NEW JERSEY. THERE'S A BARBERSHOP NEXT DOOR AND A YOUNG MAN RIDING HOME FROM THE BARBERSHOP ON HIS BIKE MUTTERED TO ME IN PASSING, I HATE THIS PLACE. WHEN HE REALIZED I WANTED TO TALK, HE SAID HE WANTED TO TELL ME HIS STORY. IF I UNDERSTOOD THE DETAILS CORRECTLY. HE IS A PRODUCT OF INCEST AND RAPE. HIS UNCLE FIRST RAISED HIS GRANDMOTHER, THEN SUBSEQUENTLY HIS UNCLE RAPED HIS MOTHER. BY GOD'S GRACE, HIS MOM CHOSE LIFE. 
          ANTONIO WAS BORN. SUBSEQUENTLY HE WAS ADOPTED. HE WAS A FINE YOUNG MAN AND WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION. WHAT ENCOURAGING CONVERSATION? A MAN WHO, BY MOST PEOPLE'S STANDARDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BEFORE BIRTH. HE KNOWS THE LORD AND WAS EXPLAINING TO ME FROM THE BIBLE WHY HE BELIEVES THAT BABIES HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND ENCOURAGING CONVERSATION. PSALM 139. THE PSALMIST DAVID WROTE, YOU HAVE COVERED ME IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB. I WILL PRAISE YOU, OH GOD, FOR I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE. MARVELOUS ARE YOUR WORKS, AND THAT MY SOUL KNOWS RIGHT WELL, HOW PRECIOUS ALSO ARE YOUR THOUGHTS TO ME. OH, GOD, HOW GREAT IS THE SUM OF THEM! LIFE IN THE WOMB IS THE CREATION OF GOD. 
          IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ANY RIGHT TO DESTROY. THANK YOU. HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD DAY. 
          THANK YOU, THANK YOU ELIZABETH. HAVE A GOOD DAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. SAMMY CARREJO. 
          WELCOME, MR. CARREJO. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS COURT. ALL YOU GUYS KNOW ME, BUT I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO EVERYBODY WATCHING TODAY ON YOUTUBE. MY NAME IS SAMMY CARREJO AND I DO RUN THE SAMMY C SHOW ON ALL DIFFERENT SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. I'M AN ADVOCATE. I'M AN ACTIVIST FOR MY COMMUNITY AND KEEPING UP WITH OUR THEME 
          [01:40:04]
OF UNITING AND INFORMING THE COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. OKAY? IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN CAUSED BECAUSE OF A SYSTEMIC FAILURE. JUST YESTERDAY, ANOTHER PERSON COMMITTED SUICIDE AT THE EL PASO COUNTY JAILS. 11 YEAR TO DATE. THAT IS UP DRAMATICALLY FROM ONE FROM LAST YEAR. AND YES, I UNDERSTAND THE EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS AUTONOMOUS. THEY DO ANSWER. 
          THEY DO GET THE BUDGET FROM YOU GUYS. BUT YET THE SHERIFF IS ALLOWED TO DO RUN HIS DEPARTMENT LIKE HE WANTS TO. BUT UNFORTUNATELY SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. OKAY, WE WE ARE HERE AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VETERANS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SECOND CHANCES. THIS YOUNG MAN JUST GRADUATED FROM THE PROMISE PROGRAM. GUESS WHAT? I CAN ONLY ASSUME HE WAS WHERE THE EL PASO COUNTY JAIL. MOST PEOPLE ONLINE SAY, OH, EVERYBODY IN THE EL PASO COUNTY JAIL, THEY'RE CRIMINALS. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS, THEN DON'T COMMIT A CRIME. ARE ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE EL PASO COUNTY JAIL BAD PEOPLE? YOU HAD A VETERAN HERE WHO NOW WORKS AT THE VETERANS ONE STOP SHOP. HE ACTUALLY DID PRISON TIME, YET HE WAS SITTING HERE. 
          IS HE A BAD PERSON, MR. CORONADO? ARMANDO RODRIGUEZ, THE PRESIDENT OF THE CANUTILLO ISD. HE GOT ARRESTED TWICE FOR DUI. IS HE A BAD PERSON? ARE YOU GUYS KNOW? I'VE BEEN ARRESTED QUITE A BIT AT TIMES, YET I'M HERE ADVOCATING FOR PEOPLE. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING. 
          AND THE REASON WHY I'M HERE. I'VE BEEN VERY VOCAL ONLINE, YET NOTHING IS DONE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I AM IN CONTACT WITH THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED. WE DON'T EVEN HEAR THEIR NAMES. WE JUST HEAR NUMBERS. THEY DON'T. THE NEWS. NO OFFENSE. WELL, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT. YOU HAVEN'T DONE NOTHING. THE MEDIA HAS NOT REPORTED ANYTHING. WHY? WHY HAVEN'T THEY? ANYTIME THERE'S SOMETHING DONE WITH THE IMMIGRATION CAMPS, THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY'RE FIGHTING. IMMIGRANTS HAVE RIGHTS. ANYTIME ANYTHING HAPPENS TO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TALK ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THEY HAVE RIGHTS. WELL, GUESS WHAT I'M HERE TO SAY. CONTROVERSIAL OR NOT, ALL LIVES MATTER. THESE PRISONERS IN THERE, THEY HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS AND THEY'RE BEING VIOLATED. BUT YET WE'RE DOING NOTHING. AND I UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T RUN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. SHERIFF OSCAR UGARTE DOES. BUT I WILL TELL YOU WHAT. YOU GUYS LOOK GREAT TAKING PICTURES WITH HIM AT ALL. YOU GUYS LOOK GREAT TAKING PICTURES AT ALL. THE SENIOR CENTER, SENIOR CITIZEN CENTERS. DO YOU GUYS TELL HIM ON THE SIDE. HEY, OSCAR, THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON HERE. HEY, OSCAR, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. 
          NO, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT. I CAN'T STAND FORMER SHERIFF RICHARD WILES. I WENT AT HIM FOR YEARS, BUT THAT GUY. WELL, I WAS GOING TO USE ANOTHER DESCRIPTION, BUT I CAN'T, BECAUSE THERE'S FAMILY WATCHING. AT LEAST HIS DEPARTMENT WOULD GO ON THE NEWS AND SAY, HEY, THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON. LET'S SEE WHAT WE NEED TO DO. I DIDN'T AGREE WITH WHAT HE DID, BUT AT LEAST HE STOOD UP. THERE WAS ONE DEATH AND HE WAS IN FRONT OF THE NEWS. THERE'S BEEN 11 YET. NOTHING. SO, COMMISSIONER BUTLER, EVERY TIME YOU TAKE A PICTURE WITH HIM, I'M GOING TO MENTION IT. DID YOU ASK HIM ANYTHING, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN? SAME THING WITH YOU. YOU'RE GREAT. YOU'RE WITH HIM ALL OVER THE LOWER VALLEY. ARE YOU HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM? SERGIO, I DON'T EVEN TALK TO YOU. I AM HERE FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THAT YOUTUBE ON YOUTUBE. I'M HERE FOR THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME AND SAID, SAMMY, WHAT CAN WE DO? I SAID, WE CAN STAND UP AND WE CAN HOLD ALL OF YOU ACCOUNTABLE. WE ARE DONE SEEING WE HAVE 11 DEATHS. THAT'S MORE THAN ONE A MONTH. DO YOU NOT THINK THAT'S A CRISIS? THOSE PEOPLE WATCHING IN THE ON YOUTUBE, THEY THINK IT IS 30S. 
          YEAH. THEY'RE TOO SCARED TO COME UP AND SPEAK. I'M NOT I'M SAMMY FROM THE SAMMY C SHOW, AND I DEMAND THAT SHERIFF UGARTE IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND SOMETHING IS DONE FOR THESE FAMILIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I YIELD MY TIME. THANK YOU. SAMMY. THANK YOU. JUST FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. I MEAN, WE'RE ALL VERY CONCERNED. AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. AND I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP OR ANYONE. I MEAN, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. FORTUNATELY, THE YESTERDAY THE INDIVIDUAL, HE IS STILL ALIVE. HE HAS NOT DIED. SO IT'S NOT WE'RE STILL WAITING TO SEE THE OUTCOME ON THAT INDIVIDUAL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SAMMY. BACK TO YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT. COMMISSIONER STOUT. THANK THANKS JUDGE. THANKS. I JUST 
          [01:45:07]
WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT TODAY IS THE FINAL DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER 4TH ELECTION. BALLOTS FOR THE ELECTION INCLUDE. HORIZON REGIONAL MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT, SOCORRO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, TORNILLO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, VILLAGE OF BENTON, CITY OF SOCORRO, TOWN OF CLINT, AND AND A NUMBER OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO I JUST WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT VOTING ISN'T JUST A RIGHT. IT'S A TOOL FOR CHANGE. IN THE 2024 PRIMARY ELECTION, ONLY 11% OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN EL PASO ACTUALLY TURNED OUT TO VOTE. AND IF WE WANT OUR VOICES TO BE HEARD, IF WE WANT DECISIONS THAT REFLECT OUR COMMUNITIES, WE REALLY NEED TO SHOW UP. SO PLEASE CHECK WHETHER YOUR REGISTRATION IS CURRENT OR REGISTER YOURSELF TO VOTE TODAY IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, SO THAT YOU CAN BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. ELIGIBLE VOTERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME OR UPDATE THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION CAN DO SO IN PERSON HERE AT THE COUNTY. THEY'RE AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT ON THE THIRD FLOOR. AND ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 6TH, THE OFFICE WILL REMAIN TODAY. WILL THE OFFICE WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 5:00 PM. SO REMEMBER THAT YOUR VOICE MATTERS AS JUST JUST AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE'S. AND AND PLEASE REGISTER TO VOTE SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE, TAKE, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR RIGHT TO DO SO ON NOVEMBER 4TH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. 
          VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION. THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER THIS MORNING IS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BETSY KELLER. GOOD MORNING BETSY. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS BETSY KELLER, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO SHARE WITH YOU AND THE PUBLIC THIS MORNING OUR NEWLY HIRED BUDGET AND FINANCE DIRECTOR, CARMEN CANDELARIA. 
          AND I SAY SHARE RATHER THAN, SAY, INTRODUCE, BECAUSE MOST OF US ALREADY KNOW CARMEN AND THE EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP SHE BRINGS. SHE'S BUILT A LIFETIME OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, HAVING SERVED WITH THE CITY OF EL PASO, GADSDEN AND EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND MOST RECENTLY WITH THE FORT WORTH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. CARMEN ALSO PREVIOUSLY WORKED WITH THE COUNTY FOR A YEAR ALONGSIDE THEN JUDGE VERONICA ESCOBAR, WHEN SHE WAS ON A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT FROM THE CITY, AND PROVIDED INVALUABLE LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT DURING THAT TIME. AND I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT THE PERSON MOST EXCITED ABOUT CARMEN'S RETURN IS MELISSA CARRILLO. ALONG WITH OUR ENTIRE BUDGET AND FINANCE TEAM, WHO HAVE CARRIED THIS DEPARTMENT THROUGH A COUPLE OF VERY CHALLENGING YEARS. WE'RE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM, BUT IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE CARMEN BACK HOME WHERE I KNOW SHE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND OUR COMMUNITY. AND PLEASE JOIN ME IN GIVING HER A WARM WELCOME. AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE CARMEN TO SHARE A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          WELCOME, CARMEN, TO OUR COUNTY FAMILY. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, MISS KELLER AND AND THE PUBLIC. I JUST I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY AND EXCITED TO BE IN THIS CAPACITY FOR THE COUNTY. I KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS A LOT OF CHALLENGES, BUT HAS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, AND I WAS SO PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO HEAR SOME OF THE PEOPLE HERE THAT CAME TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU TODAY. THIS IS REALLY A EL PASO IS A VERY UNIQUE PLACE, YOU KNOW, AND I STEPPED OUT FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS OUT IN FORT WORTH AND, WELL, VERY GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO WORK THERE. I'M JUST MORE GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK TO MY COMMUNITY AND CONTRIBUTE HERE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE ROLE. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU, ALL OF THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND CERTAINLY MISS KELLER AND ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE COUNTY'S BUDGET AND FINANCES. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. AND AS I SAID, I'VE GOT SO MANY PHONE CALLS FROM INDIVIDUALS SORT OF THANKING US FOR, YOU KNOW, GIVING YOU A PLACE HERE WITH THE COUNTY AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE YOU BACK HOME. AND IT'S JUST A PRETTY ASTONISHING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HAPPY THAT YOU'RE BACK. AND THANK YOU. SO I'LL INCLUDE MYSELF WITH THAT. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU BETSY. GREAT JOB. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN A PRESENTATION. DISCUSS AND TAKE 
          [01:50:04]
APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE THE SUBMISSION OF THE ATTACHED LETTER ON BEHALF OF EL PASO COUNTY TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, EL PASO DISTRICT REGARDING THE DOWNTOWN TEN PROJECT BEFORE THE OCTOBER 14TH, 2025 DEADLINE. WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM AS WELL. JUDGE. THANK YOU. CESAR. JUDGE WOULD YOU ALL LIKE TO HEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS FIRST? YES, YES WE WOULD. THAT WILL PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE AFTER WE. OKAY. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO START WITH MISS VICKY HAMILTON. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. WELCOME, JUDGE. 
          COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE READ YOUR LETTER AND WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO WE WE AGREE WITH YOUR LETTER BUT WOULD LIKE YOU TO EXPAND IT USING YOUR CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE. WE FEEL I'M. I'M A PART OF THE EAST SIDE CENTRAL COALITION, WHICH HAS BEEN WORKING TO REBIRTH THE BLACK BUSINESS DISTRICT AND BRING BACK THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS THERE AND REALLY MAKE EL PASO AWARE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAD OUR OWN BLACK WALL STREET HERE AND IT GOT DESTROYED ESSENTIALLY BY THE FREEWAYS. FIRST CONSTRUCTION. WE'VE BEEN MAKING COMMENTS THROUGHOUT ASKING FOR WAYS TO RECONNECT. AND SO FAR THE RECONNECTION HAS BEEN AND HAS BEEN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WHICH WAS THE MOST CONNECTED, WHICH WAS LEFT THE MOST CONNECTED WITH ITS SEVEN BRIDGES. BUT THE AREAS THAT WE'RE WORKING IN BETWEEN PIEDRAS AND COPIA AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OVER THERE ARE NOT. IT'S MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT AND DIVIDING THEM MORE. SO. IT'S MAKING THE SCAR WIDER AND ACTUALLY MAKING A NEW GASH THERE. WE WE FEEL THAT TXDOT REALLY DIDN'T WANT EL PASO COMMENTS, BECAUSE THEY ISSUED THIS JUST BEFORE LABOR DAY, THE WEEK THAT EVERYBODY TAKES OFF SO THEY CAN EXPAND THE HOLIDAY INTO A AN END OF THE SUMMER WITH THE KIDS TIME THERE. PUBLIC MEETINGS WERE ON A HOLIDAY THAT WE WHERE OUR FAMILIES GET TOGETHER WITH FAMILIES ACROSS THE BORDER. SO PEOPLE WERE NOT THEY HAD LESS PEOPLE THERE. ALL OF OUR REQUESTS FOR EXTENSIONS OF TIME HAVE BEEN TURNED DOWN. SO THE FIRST THING WE'D LIKE IS FOR YOU GUYS TO ASK FOR AN EXTENSION. WE THINK THAT WHAT THEY'RE AIMING TOWARD IS THAT SWEET SPOT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS, WHERE YOU ISSUE THEM BETWEEN THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS AND NOBODY NOTICES AND NOBODY SAYS ANYTHING. WE THINK THAT THEY'RE THEY IGNORED YOUR COMMENTS THE FIRST TIME IN WHICH YOU PICKED AN ALTERNATIVE THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED AND WOULD HAVE HELPED RECONNECT. WE WE FEEL THAT THE CITY'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE SIDE ROADS BEING HIGHWAY SHOULD BE CITY ROADS INSTEAD OF HIGHWAYS. 
          PEOPLE IN OUR IN OUR AREAS ARE GOING TO BE LEFT WITH FAST MOVING ROADS AND ELEVATED HIGHWAYS IN THEIR FRONT DOORS. WE'VE ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT THE CONSTRUCTION TIME AND WHAT HOW THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED DURING CONSTRUCTION WILL WILL AFFECT THE COMMUNITY AND CHANGE THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY DO. WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN ON THE WEST SIDE, THE PLACES THAT PEOPLE FOUND TO GET AROUND THE CONSTRUCTION, THEY'RE STILL THERE. AND EVEN THOUGH THE CONSTRUCTION IS DONE, THEY'RE LEAVING IT TO THE TRUCKS. AND AND SO THEY'RE IT CREATES NEW TRAFFIC PATTERNS. IF ANYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANALYZE THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS DURING CONSTRUCTION, SHOULD IT BE TXDOT. AND THEY HAVEN'T TOLD US THAT WHEN WE ASK ABOUT IT IN THE MEETING ABOUT HISTORIC SPACES, THEY CUT US OFF AND SAID THERE WAS A THERE WAS A CHAPTER ON CONSTRUCTION IN THE THE BIG DOCUMENT. AND WE'RE LIKE, WE READ IT. WE DON'T REMEMBER THAT. BUT YEAH, THERE WAS A VERY SHORT ONE THAT DISMISSED THE AIR AND NOISE QUALITIES AND SAID THEY'D BE TEMPORARY. SO THEY DIDN'T MATTER, AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN ADDRESS THE CHANGES THAT WILL MAKE TO THE COMMUNITY. COULD YOU IMAGINE IF YOU WERE A CHURCH OR A NEW SMALL BUSINESS, WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO GET STARTED IN THAT AREA? IF IF YOU HAD A YEAR THAT NOBODY COULD GET TO YOUR OR THAT THE WAYS THAT THEY EASILY GOT TO YOUR FACILITY. YOU'D BE BANKRUPT AND YOUR CONGREGATION WOULD DWINDLE. AND SO THOSE STRONG ENTITIES 
          [01:55:11]
THAT HAVE WEATHERED AND ARE STILL THERE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS ARE, ARE BEING THREATENED BY THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD AND THE WIDENING. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN PLACES THAT YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS. SO WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU CHANGE AND EXPAND THE DOCUMENT, GO BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT YOU ASKED FOR BEFORE AND ASK FOR IT AGAIN. IT WAS, YOU KNOW, YOU MADE A GOOD CHOICE. 30S. AND THEY DIDN'T. AND THEY DISMISSED IT OUT OF HAND. IT WASN'T ANALYZED. IT WAS SIMPLY DISMISSED AS SOMETHING THAT THEY COULDN'T AFFORD AND DIDN'T WANT TO DO. AND SO WE THINK THAT WE ALSO THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY SHOULD WORK TO BE MORE OF A PART OF THE DESIGN PERIOD, SO THAT WE CAN INFLUENCE, AS IT GOES THROUGH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND VERY THOUGHTFUL OBSERVATIONS. THANK YOU. I LEFT MY BIG BOOK AT HOME SO YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN INUNDATED WITH MORE IDEAS. AND WE HAVE SENT LETTERS TO YOU GUYS ASKING FOR THINGS AND OTHER OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS HAVE BEEN ASKING HAVE MUCH MORE ARTICULATELY THAN I HAVE BEEN TOLD YOU ABOUT THE NEEDS AND THE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE AND IT CAN BE DONE. IT'S JUST THAT THEY DIDN'T DO IT AND THEY WENT FIRST FOR BIGGER, WIDER, FASTER. THANK YOU. OH I'M SORRY. ONE MORE THING. SURE, THEY NEED TO BUILD THAT BYPASS THAT'S GOING TO HELP THE DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY WITH THE THE BIG TRUCKS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY START WEAVING BACK AND 
          [A. Discuss and take appropriate action to approve the submission of the attached letter, on behalf of El Paso County to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) El Paso District, regarding the Downtown 10 Project before the October 14, 2025 deadline.
Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-273-3582]
FORTH THE INCIDENTS. WE JUST HAD ONE THE OTHER DAY WHERE A TRUCK CRASHED AND BACK TRAFFIC UP FOREVER. THOSE COULD BE MOVED. MOST OF THEM THEY'RE NOT. IT'S LIKE 70% OF THE TRAFFIC IS THROUGH TRAFFIC. SO WE DON'T WANT TO STOP THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING AND DOING BUSINESS IN EL PASO. HEAVENS KNOWS. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE. BUT THE GUYS THAT JUST WANT TO GET TO ALBUQUERQUE, LET THEM GO THROUGH THE PASS AND WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. 
          WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS A SUBMITTED COMMENT THAT I'LL BE READING FOR THE COURT FROM DOCTOR KATHLEEN KATHY STOUT. HER COMMENT BEGINS, DEAR COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE, I WRITE THIS EMAIL ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY FIRST COALITION, WHICH REPRESENTS 25 ORGANIZATIONS UNDER THE BANNER IMAGINE AN EL PASO WHERE COMMUNITY COMES FIRST. WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE TEX-DOT PREFERRED PLANS TO WIDEN DOWNTOWN TEN FROM EXECUTIVE CENTER TO COPIA. WE HAVE STATED OUR REASONS PUBLICLY IN SEVERAL PRESS CONFERENCES AS FOLLOWS. THE DATA ON CONGESTION DOES NOT WARRANT WIDENING DOWNTOWN TEN. 
          IT WIDENED. I-10 WILL ATTRACT EVEN MORE TRAFFIC, THEREBY INCREASING POLLUTION AND ASSOCIATED RESPIRATORY HEALTH PROBLEMS. FIVE YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION DOWNTOWN WILL UNDERMINE BUSINESS AND TRAVEL TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN THE AREA AND CREATE EVEN MORE POLLUTION. 
          WIDENING DOWNTOWN I-10 WILL DEMOLISH SMALL BUSINESS BUILDINGS, THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM AND 70 AFFORDABLE HOUSING RENTAL UNITS. THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT POSTED ON THE TEX-DOT WEBSITE IS FLAWED. IT OVERESTIMATES POPULATION GROWTH IN EL PASO. 
          ITS ATTENTION TO COMMUNITY IMPACTS IS SUBJECTIVE. THE NARRATIVE AND CHARTS IN THE LENGTHY DOCUMENT CONTAIN NO NUMERIC OR ECONOMIC INDICATORS OF THE COST OF DEMOLISHED HOMES, BUILDINGS AND DISPLACEMENT. THE CFC SUPPORTS REPAIR OF THE HIGHWAY, NOT DOWNTOWN. CHAOS AND DEMOLITION. WE SUPPORT BETTER AND CHEAPER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. WE ARE NOT THE ONLY COALITION TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THE TXDOT STEAMROLLER, OTHER COALITION PARTNERS, OTHER COALITION PARTICIPANTS IN MULTIPLE PRESS CONFERENCES INCLUDE THE EASTSIDE CENTRAL COALITION, THE EL PASO STREETS COALITION, THE SEMBRANDO ESPERANZA COALITION OF MANY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, AND THE FIVE POINTS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION. GIVEN THE ANALYSIS ABOVE, WE WERE SURPRISED TO SEE THE DRAFT LETTER FROM THE COUNTY ENGINEER, WHICH IS SO FAR FROM WHICH IS SO FAR FROM CONCERNS EXPRESSED OVER AND OVER IN MULTIPLE SETTINGS AND WELL COVERED BY LOCAL MEDIA AS PEOPLE-CENTERED COALITIONS. WE WOULD BE SHOCKED IF THE COUNTY'S ONLY CONCERNS TO TEX-DOT WERE CONTAINED IN THE NARROW, WEAK DRAFT. I'LL BET A 
          [02:00:03]
LETTER THAT RAISES VALID ENGINEERING CONCERNS ABOUT TURNAROUNDS. PLEASE SPEAK FOR THE PEOPLE OF EL PASO WHO SEEK REPRESENTATION AROUND COMMUNITY CONCERNS, AS REFLECTED IN A BROAD BASED, WIDER AND STRONG LETTER TO TXDOT FROM THE COUNTY. THANK YOU, KATHLEEN STOUT, PRECINCT FOUR, FOR THE COMMUNITY FIRST COALITION WITH ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS IN ALL PRECINCTS HTTPS COLON. FORWARD SLASH, FORWARD SLASH. COMMUNITY FIRST COALITION EP INFO FORWARD SLASH END OF PUBLIC COMMENT. DO WE HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKERS ONLINE? WE DO NOT. YES. ONE SECOND. YES. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES WE CAN. OKAY. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE, THIS IS MIKE DAVIS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE EAST SIDE CENTRAL COALITION. GOOD MORNING. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. AND MANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS THERE. I SEE THAT DAVID STOUT IS ALSO ON TRAVEL, SO HOPEFULLY EVERYONE CAN HEAR ME. IT IS KIND OF HARD TO FOLLOW TWO DYNAMIC QUEENS OF THE OF THE CITY, LIKE VICKI AND DOCTOR KATHY, BUT THAT FOLLOWING THEM IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY STATED PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING I SAID. SO I'LL BE EMBARRASSED. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TWO THINGS THAT THE OTHER QUEEN YOU MET JUDGE DOWN AT THE EAST SIDE BARBERSHOP AND THE BLACK BUSINESS LIVING MUSEUM. MISS MISS DAVIS, MISS ESTEEM, SHE. IF SHE WASN'T IN THE HOSPITAL, SHE WOULD PROBABLY BE THERE TODAY BECAUSE SHE WOULD SAY, LET'S GO BACK IN HISTORY AND REMEMBER WHAT THE INTERSTATE DID WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT IN BEFORE. AS MISS HAMILTON MENTIONED BEFORE, THE INTRODUCTION OF INTERSTATE TEN CAME IN IN 1957 TO 60S. THE COMMUNITY, THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY WAS GROWING AND CONTINUED TO GROW. THE MIGRATION WAS MOVING FORWARD. BUSINESSES. OVER 100 BLACK BUSINESSES, FOR EXAMPLE, WERE IN PLACE. AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THIS HISTORY, I'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT, BUT ALSO WHEN INTERSTATE TEN CAME IN, THE CITY MADE THE DECISION TO CHANGE THE BUS ROUTE AND TRANSPORTATION ROUTES FOR BUSSES FROM FORT BLISS, LOGAN HEIGHTS, AND MADE A TURN DOWN PEACHTREE STREET TO THAT BLACK COMMUNITY, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY ALL THE WAY DOWNTOWN. SO FROM 1960 THROUGH 1970, COMMUNITIES, BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS WERE WERE WHAT WE WOULD SAY. MR. DAVIS, YOU ACCIDENTALLY MICHAEL YOU MIGHT BE MUTED. OH I'M SORRY. OH, THERE YOU GO. NOW IT'S 2025. AND AS THE LADIES AND EVERYONE TO CONCLUDE COMMISSIONER WILL STATE WE'RE BACK HERE AGAIN REVISITING HISTORY. HISTORY HAS ALREADY TOLD US WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE DON'T LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITIES. AND THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO. WE HAVE SIT DOWN. I'VE TALKED TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM ABOUT THE OLD ALAMEDA PLAN, AND USING THAT AS ALMOST A BIBLE FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO PROGRESS FORWARD. AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT PATH. BUT THE EXPANSION OF INTERSTATE TEN AND THE DISS THAT TECH STOCK PREPARED AND SENT IT TO US DID NOT ADDRESS THOSE IMPACTS. SAD THING IS, I TALKED TO MANY OF OUR PASTORS, FOR EXAMPLE, VISITORS CHAPEL, MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH, WHEN WE TALK TO THEM AND THEY SAY THAT THERE'S MINIMUM IMPACT ON THE INTERSTATE, WHEN I TELL THEM THAT, THE REALITY IS TO THEM IS THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE, BECAUSE THE MEMBERSHIP WILL FIND ANOTHER PATH, ANOTHER CHURCH TO GO TO DURING THIS CONSTRUCTION PERIOD. IF IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO HAVE MEMBERS COME IN AND ATTEND SERVICE, SMALL BUSINESSES, MANY OF THEM DO NOT HAVE MORE THAN FIVE MONTHS LINE OF CREDIT. AND SO CONSTRUCTION IN THAT AREA, THE DEVIATION OF THAT, THE TRANSPORTATION INTO THE RESPECTIVE AREAS LIKE ALAMEDA, PIEDRAS, ESPECIALLY PIEDRAS, COMING DOWN FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, WILL BE IMPACTED GREATLY. MANY OF THEM MAY NOT SURVIVE, AS MISS HAMILTON MENTIONED. MICHAEL, IT WENT MUTE AGAIN. YOU MUTED YOURSELF AGAIN. THANKS. DOC NEEDS TO SIT DOWN WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE COUNTY, THE CITY LEADERSHIP, 
          [02:05:05]
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND LET'S PUT TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO AVOID THE PAST AND MAKE US STRONGER FOR THE FUTURE. AND WE CAN DO THAT WHEN WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP. IN COLLABORATION, WE CAN DO THAT GIVING US A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS. AND FROM THE ON, THE DIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO US. AND THAT MEANS WHEN WE ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS, WE'RE COORDINATING WITH THE COUNTY LEADERSHIP, THE CITY LEADERSHIP, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S HEARD AND BE PART OF THE DESIGN PHASE AND THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE DECISION PROCESSES. WE CAN MITIGATE THESE ISSUES THAT WE DID NOT GET TO MITIGATE. IN 1957 60, MANY OF THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY DID NOT SIT ON THOSE BOARDS AT THAT TIME. BUT WE SHOULD TODAY. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO GIVE THEM A COMPREHENSIVE, GOOD SOLUTION THAT'S GOING TO AIM AT PASTOR GOING TO THE FUTURE, NOT GO BACKWARDS TO THE PAST. I IN THAT. THANK YOU MICHAEL. ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR OBSERVATIONS. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT HAVEN'T SIGNED UP? DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE ONLINE? NO OTHER PERSONS ONLINE. YOU CAN GO. YOU'RE WELCOME TO SIGN UP RIGHT NOW. SIGN UP. JUDGE I ALSO SOMEBODY SOMEBODY SENT ME KNOW MY CONSTITUENTS SEND ME COMMENTS AS WELL THAT I'D LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD. ONCE EVERYBODY ELSE IS DONE. YOU CAN GO AHEAD NOW WHILE THEY'RE SIGNING UP, COMMISSIONER. OKAY, OKAY. LET ME LET ME PULL IT UP HERE REAL QUICK. OKAY. SO THE THE COMMENT THAT WAS SENT TO ME SAYS HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. MY NAME IS MARIA OROZCO AND I LIVE AT 1223 WEST WEST MAIN. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. I GOTTA FIGURE OUT HOW TO. I HAVE LIVED THERE FOR 43 YEARS, AND IN THAT TIME THE TRAFFIC AND NOISE ON I-10 HAS GOTTEN WORSE. IT HAS ESPECIALLY GOTTEN WORSE SINCE THE COMPLETION OF THE BORDER WEST. THE SEGMENT OF LOOP 375 THAT IS ELEVATED ABOVE THE RIO GRANDE. 
          THIS IS THIS IS A HIGHWAY NEXT TO I-10. WHY DOES I-10 NEED TO BE EXPANDED? I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS. I ALSO DO NOT AGREE WITH THE PLAN TO PUT A MINI HIGHWAY, A HIGH SPEED FRONTAGE ROAD NEXT TO MAIN. THIS WILL BE ONLY 20 OR 30FT FROM MY HOME AND WILL ADD MUCH MORE POLLUTION AND NOISE. I ALREADY HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY BACK WINDOWS REPLACED BECAUSE OF BORDER WEST. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO, AND I HOPE THAT TXDOT DOES NOT DO THIS BECAUSE IT WILL CAUSE HARDSHIP FOR ME. MY HOME IS 100 YEARS OLD AND I KEEP IT IN GOOD SHAPE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO REPLACE MY WINDOWS AGAIN. AND SAN JAVIER DURING CONSTRUCTION, HOMES WERE DAMAGED, FOUNDATIONS WERE CRACKED. HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BUILD AN ELEVATED FRONTAGE ROAD ONLY FEET FROM MY HOME WITHOUT DAMAGING MY HOME? MANY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE WALKED RUNS AND BIKE RIDES THAT PASS MY HOME ON MAIN. I THINK IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS FOR THEM HAVING A FRONTAGE HIGHWAY SO CLOSE. FINALLY, WE'VE BEEN HAVING WORSE WINDS. THOSE WINDS PICK UP THE DUST FROM THE FREEWAY AND PUT IT RIGHT IN IN FRONT OF MY HOME. WHEN I CLEAN MY HOME, THE WATER FROM THE MOPPING IS BLACK. I'VE BEEN NERVOUS ALL THIS TIME THAT THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WIDENING THE FREEWAY AND SEARCHING FOR WHAT I CAN DO. I WOULD LIKE YOU, THE COUNTY, TO OPPOSE THIS PROJECT. AT VERY LEAST, LIKE THE CITY, YOU SHOULD OPPOSE THE HIGH SPEED FRONTAGE ROADS, THE MINI HIGHWAY NEXT TO NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE MR. HECTOR HERNANDEZ. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK TODAY, BUT IT'S ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. LIKE I DON'T HAVE A JOB. PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING MADE SURE THAT I DON'T HAVE A JOB. HEY, Y'ALL HAVE A JOB. Y'ALL ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS. MOST OF Y'ALL OR SOME OF Y'ALL ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS. IF YOU'RE NOT, 
          [02:10:05]
YOU'RE ON PAYROLL ALL THIS MORNING. EVERYONE'S ON THEIR TELEPHONES, EVERYONE'S ON THEIR COMPUTERS. HAD A GOLD STAR FAMILY HERE. WHATEVER'S ON THAT THING IS MORE IMPORTANT. THE WORD YOU SAID IS KIND WORDS. GOOD WORDS. BUT YOUR ACTIONS, THEY'RE EMBARRASSING TO OUR COMMUNITY. REASON? I DON'T HAVE A JOB BECAUSE THE COUNTY OF EL PASO IS ALLOWING SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT NOT TO DO THEIR JOBS. THE COURT SYSTEMS NOT TO DO THEIR JOBS. I DON'T HAVE A JOB, SO I'M GONNA BE HERE OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN ORDER FOR ME TO EARN A LIVING. WHEN I HAD A JOB, I HAD TO PRODUCE. I'M JUST ASKING Y'ALL, ANYBODY HERE WHO'S NOT ELECTED OR JUST GOT A JOB, DO THE JOB. HOW CAN YOU GO HOME AND SAY YOU TIRED WHEN YOU ONTO FACEBOOK OR WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING ON THESE COMPUTERS? THIS IS PART OF YOUR JOB. PEOPLE ARE ASKING YOU TO LISTEN TO THEM. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT THIS IS NOT GOOD. IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO US. DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH YOUR LIFE. AND IF THIS ISN'T WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, OR YOU RAN FOR IT AND YOU DIDN'T LIKE IT, WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY HERE. AIN'T NOBODY FORCED TO BE HERE. I'M SORRY. AN ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. WE'RE RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENT CURRENTLY ON THE I-10 ITEM. WOULD YOU ALL LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE NORMAL PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM? JESSICA, COULD YOU PLEASE READ IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM, THE NORMAL PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM, PLEASE? THAT'S FINE. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO EXPRESS YOURSELF. THANK YOU. 
          WE HAVE ONE LAST ONE LAST COMMENT TO READ IN. COMMENT BEGINS, DEAR COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE LETTER THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING WITH REGARD TO THE DOWNTOWN I-10 PROJECT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE REIMAGINE I-10. I STRONGLY SUPPORT YOUR REQUEST THAT THE PROJECT NOT INCLUDE THE TEXAS TURNS IN THE IN THE DOWNTOWN PROJECT AREA BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS IT WILL POSE FOR BOTH TRAFFIC FLOW AND PEDESTRIANS IN VERY BUSY CORRIDOR THAT IS SUPPOSED TO ENHANCE CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN AREAS NORTH AND SOUTH OF I-10, AS WELL AS IMPROVE THROUGH TRAFFIC ON I-10. I WOULD ASK THAT IN ADDITION TO THE ISSUE OF TEXAS TURNS, YOU CONSIDER REQUESTING THE DAIS BE REVISED TO MORE ACCURATELY DEPICT THE POPULATION CHANGES IN EL PASO. ON PAGES ONE AND TWO OF THE DAIS, THE NEED FOR EXPANSION OF I-10 IN DOWNTOWN IS BASED ON POPULATION CHANGES IN THE PROJECTED NEXT 30 TO 40 YEARS OF ABOUT 10%, AGAIN, 10% IN 30 TO 40 YEARS. HOWEVER, THEY ARE BASED ON DATA PREVIOUSLY PREPARED BY THE TEXAS DEMOGRAPHIC CENTER THAT WAS REVISED LAST WEEK, WHICH PROJECTS SLOWER GROWTH THAN PREVIOUSLY PROJECTED. I WOULD NOTE THAT HISTORICALLY, EL PASO COUNTY GREW BY 23.3% IN THE 1980S, 14.9% IN THE 1990S, 17.8% IN THE DECADE BEGINNING IN 2000. IN 30 YEARS BETWEEN 1970 TO 2000, EL PASO COUNTY'S POPULATION MUSHROOMED BY 71.9%, AND IN THE LAST DECADE ALONE, THE POPULATION GROWTH WAS 8.1%. BETWEEN 2010 AND 2020. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE REVISED POPULATION GROWTH THAT IS PROJECTED FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS, ACCORDING TO THE NEWLY REVISED OFFICIAL STATE DATA. DC DATA DATA USING RAW NUMBERS, EL PASO COUNTY GREW FROM 359,000 IN 19 70 TO 670 9000 IN 2000. BY 2010, THE COUNTY'S POPULATION GREW TO 800, 860, 647. TEX DOT'S NUMBERS ON PAGE TWO OF THE DAIS PROJECTS THAT THE POPULATION IN 2030 WILL BE 999,348, BUT THE NEWLY REVISED PROJECTIONS FROM TDC PROJECT THAT THE POPULATION IN 2060 WILL BE 958,800. THAT IS LOWER THAN THE TXDOT PROJECTIONS IN THE DAIS FOR 2030. THEIR TRAFFIC PROJECTIONS AND NUMBER OF PROJECTED TRIPS THROUGH DOWNTOWN ARE SIMILARLY FLAWED BECAUSE THEY ARE BASED ON FLAWED DATA. THE DAIS IS THEREFORE BASED ON VERY FLAWED POPULATION PROJECTIONS AND MUST BE TOTALLY RECONSIDERED, GIVEN THE NEW OFFICIAL POPULATION 
          [02:15:05]
PROJECTIONS BY THE TEXAS DEMOGRAPHIC CENTER. I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT TXDOT BUILT THE BORDER FREEWAY FREEWAY WEST IN 2017 TO ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC DOWNTOWN, AND HAD PROPOSED THE BORDERLAND EXPRESSWAY TO CIRCUMVENT DOWNTOWN, ESPECIALLY FOR THROUGH TRUCK TRAFFIC. AS IT STANDS NOW, THE BORDERLAND EXPRESSWAY PROJECT IN NORTHEAST EL PASO WON'T BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS, BECAUSE TXDOT PERSUADED THE MPO TO DIVERT FUNDS FROM THAT PROJECT IN ORDER TO BUILD THIS DOWNTOWN EXPANSION PROJECT. REALISTICALLY, AT THIS TIME, NO FUTURE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING IS EXPECTED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SO IT COULD EASILY BE TEN YEARS BEFORE THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED AND COMPLETED. FINALLY, I WOULD NOTE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE COUNTY REQUESTED THAT ALTERNATE ALTERNATIVE F BE ANALYZED, TXDOT FAILED TO ANALYZE ANY ALTERNATIVE THAT DID NOT INCLUDE THE WIDENING EXPANSION OF I-10. IT COULD ALSO HAVE ANALYZED ALTERNATIVES LIKE COMBINING ALTERNATIVE C AND D TOGETHER WITHOUT EXPANDING THE FREEWAY. BUT IT DIDN'T. AND SO THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE LEFT FOR EL PASOANS WHO OPPOSE THE PROJECT IS NO BUILD. WE WANT IMPROVEMENTS, BUT TXDOT DID NOT ANALYZE ANY ADEQUATE NO EXPANSION ALTERNATIVES. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THE COUNTY IS DOING AND YOUR ADVOCACY FOR A BETTER PROJECT AND IMPROVEMENTS ON I-10. SINCERELY, BERTHA ONTIVEROS WITH HER EMAIL. END OF COMMENT. AND I BELIEVE THIS COMPLETES ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS. 
          JUDGE. THANK YOU CESAR. BUENOS DIAS. GOOD MORNING. OH, SORRY. GO AHEAD. ALISA. OR ACTUALLY, BEFORE YOU GO, LET ME LET ME JUST INTRODUCE JUDGE COMMISSIONERS. WE WERE REQUESTED TO BRING THIS ITEM TO THE COURT, SPECIFICALLY AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE DECK, PARK PLAZA AND THE AREA THAT WAS BROUGHT AS A CONCERN SPECIFICALLY TO ASK US TO COMMENT ON AT THAT TIME WAS THE THE QUICK TURNAROUNDS OR THE TEXAS TURNAROUNDS IN THE DESIGN AND THE CONTINUOUS TURN LANES, AND THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT WE INITIALLY HAVE ADDRESSED IN THIS DRAFT LETTER, AS YOU SAW IN THE BACKUP, FERNIE HERNANDEZ, OUR COUNTY ENGINEER, DRAFTED A LETTER UNDER HIS NAME FOR PROPOSED SUBMITTAL TO TXDOT. WE DO KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A TOPIC THAT THE COURT HAS DISCUSSED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DOWNTOWN I-10 WIDENING AND THE COURT HAS WEIGHED IN ON DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES. WE'VE ACTUALLY AND WE'VE ALSO HAD A STUDY DONE ON THE WIDENING OF I-10 AS WELL. BUT TODAY, BECAUSE THE DEADLINE TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT IS NEXT MONDAY AND INCLUDES ALL OF THESE FACTORS IN IT, IT ALSO THERE'S OTHER AREAS WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT. SOME OF THE BUILDING IS GOING TO IMPACT WHAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE DESIGN. HOW WILL THE DESIGN IMPACT THIS AREA FROM EXECUTIVE TO COPIA. BUT WE WANTED TO SEE IF THE COURT WANTED TO SUBMIT A LETTER OF ITS OWN BASED ON THE SAMPLE LETTER THAT FERNIE HAS PROVIDED, OR WHETHER THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS THE COURT WANTED TO COMMENT ON BEFORE THE COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES. AND ELISA, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD. 
          GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS MANAGER ALICIA EXPLAINED IT REALLY WELL. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES WE CAN, THANK YOU. LISA, WELCOME. THANK YOU. THE ONLY THING IS THE DEADLINE IS TUESDAY, I THINK OCTOBER 14TH, NOT MONDAY, BUT. BUT. SO WE WOULD HAVE ONE WEEK, RIGHT, BETSY, TO MAKE ANY EDITS TO THE LETTER BEFORE WE SUBMIT. THANK YOU. WE CAN. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION TODAY OR IF WE BRING BACK THE ITEM NEXT MONDAY, NEXT MONDAY, IF THERE'S ANY. NEXT MONDAY. OH THAT'S RIGHT. YOU COULD AUTHORIZE THE ENGINEER TO SUBMIT HIS LETTER AS, AS PROVIDED. OR WE COULD WORK ON A LETTER FOR THE COURT WITH ANY COMMENTS. THE COURT WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT TXDOT CONSIDER. WE HAVE LISTENED TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT. THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE COULD ASK IF THE COURT WOULD LIKE. WE COULD ASK THEM TO EXPAND THE TIME TO ALLOW FOR COMMENT. WE COULD ASK FOR THEM TO RECONSIDER ALTERNATES. BUT I DO BELIEVE SOME OF THOSE REQUESTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. BUT WE CAN ALWAYS ASK JUDGE. YES, COMMISSIONER STOUT, GO AHEAD. THANKS. I DO HAVE A I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS MYSELF AND I AND I DO THINK 
          [02:20:01]
THERE'S MAYBE SOME AMENDMENTS WE CAN MAKE TO, TO THIS DRAFT, BUT I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. I THINK THAT THE THE DECK PROJECT, WHICH I HAVE HAVE SUPPORTED UP TO THIS POINT, IS, IS UNDERMINED BY BY PUTTING A RACE TRACK AROUND IT. THIS GOES FOR ANYWHERE THAT HAS FRONTAGE. IN FACT, I THINK THE CITY OF EL PASO DID PASS A RESOLUTION IN MARCH ON THE 15TH OF MARCH, 15TH OF 2022 THAT OPENED WITH UNDERSTANDING THE DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY THE FREEWAY, AND IT REQUESTED THAT TXDOT, QUOTE, PROMOTE APPROPRIATE URBAN DESIGN TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE OUR VIBRANT DOWNTOWN AND NEIGHBORHOODS BY, QUOTE, ELIMINATING ELIMINATION OF FRONTAGE ROADS AS CURRENTLY CONCEIVED THROUGH DOWNTOWN AND NEIGHBORHOODS. THE RESOLUTION REQUESTED THAT FRONTAGE, QUOTE BE REPLACED WITH URBAN CONTEXT STREETS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY'S STREET DESIGN MANUAL. SO THE RESOLUTION THAT RESOLUTION ALSO ASKS FOR THE REMOVAL OF ANY U-TURNS THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN SEGMENT AS THIS ITEM DOES, AS WELL AS JUST AS THIS LETTER DOES. I THINK THAT OUR LETTER SHOULD SHOULD INCLUDE THAT REQUEST REGARDING FRONTAGE ROADS AS WELL. I THINK THAT OUR LETTER SHOULD INCLUDE THE EXTENSION OF TIME FOR COMMENTS. MY STAFF CAN CAN HELP GET LANGUAGE TO TO WHOMEVER NEEDS IT TO TO DO THAT WHICH WHICH WOULD TRACK WHAT I'VE JUST STATED. BUT I ALSO WANT TO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE PREVIOUSLY HAVE HAVE REQUESTED THAT TXDOT CARRY FORWARD ALTERNATIVE F, WHICH IS A CONCEPT THAT WOULD HAVE TRENCHED I-10 FROM COPIA WEST, SIMILAR TO HOW I-10 PASSES THROUGH DOWNTOWN. IF YOU REMEMBER, WE ASKED TXDOT TO COME AND EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT TO US INSTEAD. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY CAME AND PRESENTED THEIR RATIONALE FOR THE PROJECT THAT THAT THEY PREFERRED, WHICH BASICALLY WAS WHAT WE IS, WHAT WE HAVE NOW, RIGHT? WHICH IS THE WIDENING WITH THE FRONTAGE ROADS. AND AS YOU KNOW, WHILE AGAIN, I HAVE SUPPORTED THE DECK IN CONCEPT, I ALSO STRONGLY OPPOSE WIDENING AND FRONTAGE THROUGH THE HEART OF THE CITY, WHICH ALREADY HAS BEEN SO DAMAGED. DOES DOES ANYONE LOOK AT THE STRETCH OF EL PASO FROM THE SPAGHETTI BOWL TO DOWNTOWN, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS A RIBBON OF BILLBOARDS AND CONCRETE? AND THINK OF OUR CITY AS BEAUTIFUL. YOU KNOW, WE WE SEE IT UNDER THE CONCRETE AND THE HEAT AND THE NOISE AND THE POLLUTION. WE SEE THE CITY AS AS IT WAS, AND WE SEE THE BEAUTY OF THE MOUNTAIN. WE KNOW THAT THE RIVER VALLEY IS STILL THERE IN PLACES LIKE ASCARATE AND MISSION VALLEY. BUT VISITORS TO OUR CITY, I MEAN, WHAT DO THEY SEE? SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE ESTHETIC AND AND QUALITY OF LIFE CONSIDERATIONS. 
          BUT PRACTICALLY AS IT RELATES TO THIS PROJECT, IT'S JUST NOT NEEDED. AND AT LEAST TXDOT, AT LEAST NOT AS TXDOT IS PROPOSING. AND WE LEARN FROM OUR OWN TRAFFIC CONSULTANT THAT WE HIRED THE TECH SITE. FUTURE TRAFFIC PROJECTIONS ARE UNREALISTIC. WE JUST SAW A HEADLINE IN EL PASO MATTERS RECENTLY THAT EL PASO'S BARELY EXPECTED TO GROW IN POPULATION, AND NOTHING CLOSE TO WHAT TEX DOT'S PROJECTIONS ARE BASED UPON. BUT IF TRUCK TRAFFIC IS TO GROW, IT SHOULD GO AROUND INSTEAD OF THROUGH THE CITY'S CORE WHENEVER POSSIBLE. AND THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE NORTHEAST BYPASS, WHICH SHOULD BE BUILT FIRST. AGAIN, THE BYPASS NEEDS TO BE SHOULD BE BUILT FIRST. AND THEN LET'S SEE WHAT THAT DOES TO TRAFFIC ON I-10, ALONG WITH THE BORDER HIGHWAY PORTION OF LOOP 375, LITERALLY A HIGHWAY NEXT TO A HIGHWAY FROM DOWNTOWN TO SUNLAND PARK. SO DO WE REALLY NEED TO WIDEN THE HIGHWAY TO GET THE DECK OVER THE TRENCH DOWNTOWN? WHY ARE WE GOING ALONG WITH THIS? I YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T. WHY CAN'T WE GET A DECK AND A BETTER HIGHWAY, A HEALTHIER HIGHWAY, NOT A BIGGER AND MORE DESTRUCTIVE AND MORE POLLUTING HIGHWAY. SO, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE THE COURT TO OPPOSE THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE AND TELL TXDOT TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. YOU KNOW, AND IF I DON'T HAVE THE VOTES FOR THAT, THEN AT THE VERY LEAST, WE NEED TO REITERATE, YOU KNOW, THE THE DEMAND FOR MORE URBAN APPROPRIATE FRONTAGE. AND I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN WHAT THEY PLAN FOR THE FRONTAGE AND RAMPS AROUND COTTON, WHICH IS ANOTHER HUGE PIECE OF THE ELEVATED CONCRETE ABOVE WHAT IS NOW MISSOURI. AND THAT'S GOING TO LOOM OVER HOMES AND BUSINESSES OF MY CONSTITUENTS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANT TO YOU KNOW, I ASK KIND OF, YOU KNOW, RHETORICALLY HERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, DOES ANYBODY CARE? I MEAN, HOW, HOW HOW CAN WE NOT OPPOSE SOMETHING LIKE THAT? YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT US TO OPPOSE NEW ELEVATIONS THAT ARE CLOSER TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES AS WELL. SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SEND THIS LETTER, BUT 
          [02:25:04]
ADD THE POINTS THAT THAT I'VE JUST MADE. BETSY. YES, SIR, AND I AGREE. I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE HEARD COMMENTS AND I WOULD HATE TO JUST HEAR THE COMMENTS AND THEN KEEP DOING WHAT WE THOUGHT AT THIS POINT. SO I TOO WOULD LIKE TO DELAY THAT FOR NEXT TIME AND THEN MAYBE INCORPORATE SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT COMMISSIONER STOUT MADE. SO WHAT I WOULD ASK IS, I WOULD ASK THE COURT TO AUTHORIZE US TO MAKE THE AMENDMENTS, TO MAKE SOME AMENDMENTS WILL CIRCULATE A DRAFT AND I'LL ACCEPT FEEDBACK, BUT I WOULD NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. THE THE FINAL DRAFT THAT WE WE COMPILE BECAUSE THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT TIME FOR ANOTHER COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING FOR THE DISCUSSION. SO I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. YEAH. I'LL SECOND. JUST, JUST JUST TO CLARIFY, THE DRAFT WOULD INCLUDE WHAT COMMISSIONER STOUT PROPOSED, WHICH IS OPPOSITION TO THE CHOSEN ALTERNATIVE. ALTERNATIVE. BUT IF THAT'S NOT IF, IF, IF WE HAVE TO GO WITH THEIR SELECTED OPTION, IT'S TO OPPOSE THE TURNING LANES. SO I, I IMAGINE IT WOULD BE HIGH SPEED FRONTAGE. YEAH. THE U-TURNS, THE HIGH SPEED FRONTAGE AND REQUESTING AN EXTENSION ON THE TIME FRAME FOR FOR COMMENTS AS WELL. AND AND OPPOSITION AND SUPPORT AGAIN OF OF OPTION. I THINK IT WAS F INSTEAD OF THE ONES THAT THEY'RE TAKING FORWARD RIGHT NOW. OKAY I THINK D IS I MIGHT BE WRONG, BUT I THINK D IS PREFERRED OPTION. SO I IMAGINE THE LETTER WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED IN A WAY THAT SAY WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR ALTERNATIVE F, AND WE CONTINUE TO THE U-TURNS, THE CONTINUOUS TURN LANES, THE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THOSE, THE FRONTAGE ROADS AND THE FRONTAGE ROADS AND ELEVATED ROADS, CONCERNS WITH NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACTS, SAFETY AND SAFETY, AND THEN THE EXTENSION OF TIME FOR COMMENTS. WELL, I THINK THERE'S A DISTINCTION THERE, RIGHT. SO WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR AN OPTION OR WE OPPOSE THE SELECTED OPTION, LIKE HOW STRONGLY IS THIS GOING TO BE WORDED. WELL, I MEAN, I MEAN I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE OPPOSE THE SELECTED OPTION AND WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO RECONSIDER OPTION F, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF AND IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO SO, AT LEAST TAKE THESE, THESE COMMENTS INTO, INTO ACCOUNT. WHEN IT COMES TO THE FRONTAGE ROADS, THE TIME FRAME AND THE THE U-TURNS. OKAY, IF THAT'S THE MOTION, THEN I'LL SUPPORT THAT. I AGREE WITH THAT AS WELL. JUDGE, MAY I SAY SOMETHING? YES, COMMISSIONER CORONADO? YEAH. YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THIS ISSUE, ABOUT THE WIDENING AND THAT IT'S GOING TO DESTROY, YOU KNOW, IT THE WIDENING OF THE FREEWAY DOWNTOWN IS NOT GOING TO BE THE THE BLUEPRINT OR RATHER, THE FOOTPRINT IS NOT EXPANDED. WE HAVE ON THE SIDES. WE HAVE GRADATED DOWN TO THE FREEWAY. 
          THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO GET TRUNCATED OFF. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DESTROY BUILDINGS. I DON'T KNOW THAT, COMMISSIONER. THE THE PROPOSAL DOES ELIMINATE TWO MULTIFAMILY HOUSING BUILDINGS, AND IT DOES ELIMINATE FOUR START DURING THE DOWN IN THE DOWNTOWN SEGMENT. 
          YEAH. FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND TWO MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS. AND ONE, I'M SORRY, I HAVE IT JUST ONE SECOND, BUT THERE ARE LESS THAN 30 BUILDINGS, MORE THAN 30 BUILDINGS TOTAL. 
          COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THAT ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN. SO I MEAN, I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH WITH THE STATEMENT THAT THAT DESTRUCTION WILL NOT OCCUR. OKAY. THE WIDENING OF THE I-10 DOWNTOWN. YEAH. OKAY. AT THE BEGINNING. WIDENING. THAT'LL BE THAT'LL DO THAT. IT'S WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO ON THE SIDES OF THE RIGHT. IT'S ON THE SIDES. I GET THE PART OF THE I-10 ITSELF. 
          IT'S THE FRONTAGE ROADS IS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO. BUT I'M, I'M, I'M OKAY WITH TAKING A LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF THE FRONTAGE ROADS WITH RESPECT OF THE SPEEDS. I MEAN, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT. ADVOCATING AGAINST THE I-10 PROJECT OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH THE DECK PARK THAT OUR DEPARTMENT BROUGHT UP IN TERMS OF THE TURN LANES BECAUSE OF THE CONNECTIVITY? SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE THE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE TURN LANES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW IT WOULD IMPACT IF THERE IS A FUTURE DECK PARK. EXACTLY. SO THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT THIS LETTER WAS ABOUT. WELL, THIS IS IT'S THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO COMMENT ON THE DOWNTOWN TEN PROJECT. YEAH. YEAH. THIS THIS 
          [02:30:01]
THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE DECK PARK. THIS IS ABOUT THE THE THE WIDENING PROJECT OF I-10. AND, YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS A DECK PARK THAT THAT IS THAT IS PUT INTO PLACE, THEN YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY THE FRONTAGE AND THE U-TURNS. AND I'M, I'M WITH THE COURT ON THOSE ISSUES. I JUST WITH THE OTHER ISSUE WITH RESPECT TO THAT, THE TRAFFIC IS NOT GOING TO BE THERE. I DISAGREE AND IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THERE, HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT IT? THEN I FAIL TO I FAILED TO RATIONALIZE THAT REASONING THAT WE DON'T NEED TO EXPAND IT. 
          SOME SOME OF THE PROJECTIONS ARE THAT THE TRAFFIC'S INCREASE. AND HISTORICALLY, OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS IT HAS. AND WE'RE SAYING DON'T INCREASE IT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO NEED IT. WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DECREASE IN POPULATION. SO THEN WHERE IS THE THE OBJECTION TO HAVING A BETTER PROCESS THROUGH THE I-10 CORRIDOR WITH EXPANDED LANES? IF, IF THE TRAFFIC'S NOT GOING TO BE THERE FROM THESE PROJECTIONS, IT'S A FALSE REASONING THAT, OKAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE MORE TRAFFIC. WE'RE ACTUALLY DECREASING. YEAH, I THINK I THINK IF YOU READ IF YOU READ THE THE REPORT THAT THAT OUR, OUR CONSULTANT GAVE, GAVE TO US THAT WE HIRED, THAT GAVE TO US, I THINK IT EXPLAINS VERY CLEARLY THE RATIONALE BEHIND THAT ARGUMENT, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. YEAH. AND AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, AS I STATED IN MY IN MY COMMENTS, I THINK IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR US TO ALSO ADVOCATE FOR, FOR, YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT BYPASS. BUILT FIRST. RIGHT? YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE ACTUALLY SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE MORE TRAFFIC. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO YOU KNOW, WE'RE IT'S GOING TO INDUCE TRAFFIC, RIGHT? IT'S GOING TO INDUCE TRAFFIC. SO YEAH, I THINK I THINK THAT AGAIN, WE, WE WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR NOT NOT MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES THAT THIS COMMUNITY MADE BACK IN THE LATE 50S AND EARLY 60S THAT WERE OUTLINED BY MR. DAVIS AS WELL. WELL, I GET THAT FACT THAT WE HAD ISSUES WITH RESPECT TO THE PLANNING, BUT WHAT LET'S JUST NOT HAVE A FREEWAY AT ALL. IS THAT THE ANSWER? I KNOW SOMETIMES WE NEED TO EXPAND OUR ROADWAYS AND CONSTRUCTION. LIKE SOME OF THE PEOPLE MENTIONED. 
          IT PRODUCES CHALLENGES, BUT WE'RE NOT ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO HANDLE THOSE CHALLENGES. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST NOT BUILD ANYTHING BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, ALL THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE. WELL, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER, I KIND OF, YOU KNOW, DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THAT REASONING, YOU KNOW, DOES IT POSE A CHALLENGE WHEN WE BUILD THINGS. ABSOLUTELY. SO WE'RE NOT. SO WE'RE GOING TO STOP DOING THINGS BECAUSE OF THOSE ISSUES, BECAUSE OF OF CONSTRUCTION ISSUES. COMMISSIONER. WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT ON THE WEST SIDE RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE ISSUES WITH, YOU KNOW, THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING ON. BUT WHY ARE WE WIDENING I-10 ON THE WEST SIDE ALL THE WAY FROM MESA STREET, ALL THE WAY TO ANTHONY WHEN NEW MEXICO'S ALREADY DONE IT, FROM ANTHONY ALL THE WAY LAS CRUCES, THEY'RE ALREADY AHEAD OF THE GAME. WE'RE NOT. IS THERE CONGESTION ISSUES ON THE WEST SIDE? ABSOLUTELY. WE SEE THEM AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO KEEP INCREASING. IT'S NOT FULLY DEVELOPED OUT THERE YET. COMMISSIONER BUTLER, PLEASE I JUST SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE, COMMISSIONER, ON THIS TOPIC. I DON'T THINK IT'S A FALSE NARRATIVE AT ALL BECAUSE WE'RE WE'RE I LIVE IN MY PRECINCT. IT IS CONSTANT GRIDLOCK EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT INVESTING IN THE ROADWAY SYSTEM IS IMPORTANT. 
          YOU'LL SEE IT WITH MONTANA BEING EXPANDED AND EVEN PELICANO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT WHILE IT'S PAINFUL, IT'S FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE AREA. THAT IS JUST THE DATA SHOWS VERY, VERY CLEARLY THAT TRAFFIC IS AN ISSUE ON THE FAR EAST SIDE. WE KNOW WHERE THE CONGESTION IS. WE KNOW WHERE THE WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE STUCK IN TRAFFIC EVERY DAY. THE DATA SUPPORTS THAT. AND THE GROWTH PROJECTIONS ON THE EAST SIDE SUPPORT THAT. SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF DO WE NEED I-10 TO BE WIDENED OR NOT? IT'S A MATTER OF WHAT ARE THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES THAT WE HAVE NOW? WHAT ARE WE INVESTING IN TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS THESE CONGESTION ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND NOT JUST DOWNTOWN? AND SO THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE ON THIS. YOU KNOW, I THINK THE DATA IS QUESTIONABLE DOWNTOWN, BUT 
          [02:35:02]
WHERE IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY CLEAR IS ON THE FAR EAST SIDE OF EL PASO WHERE THERE IS INVESTMENT, BUT NOT NEARLY ENOUGH. SO I AGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY, COMMISSIONER BUTLER. 
          AND THE WHOLE THING IS, IS THAT WE SHOULDN'T JUST FOCUS ON ONE AREA. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE ENTIRE COUNTIES, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE PROPER ACCESS IN ALL THE AREAS OF THE COUNTY. AND THE REASON IS EVERYBODY KEEPS TELLING, SAYING THAT, OH, IF YOU WIDEN DOWNTOWN I-10, IT'S GOING TO INCREASE AUTOMATICALLY. IT'S GOING TO INCREASE MORE CARS AND MORE. 
          WELL, WHAT IF WE WERE TO JUST SNAP OUR FINGERS ONE DAY TO THE NEXT? ARE WE GOING TO HAVE MORE CARS COMING THROUGH DOWNTOWN? IF WE WIDEN IT, WE HAVE AUTOMATICALLY MORE CARS IN THE COUNTY ONE DAY TO THE NEXT. WELL, I THINK I THINK EMPIRICAL DATA SHOWS AND HAS SHOWN IN MANY, MANY DIFFERENT CASES THAT WIDENING ROADWAYS INDUCES TRAFFIC. AND THE DATA COMMISSIONER. AND THE REASON THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE IT BECOMES MORE ATTRACTIVE, BECAUSE IT'S LESS CONGESTED THAN OTHER AREAS IN OUR COUNTY. WOULD YOU AGREE? SO SO I WOULD SAY PROBABLY IN THE BEGINNING IT IS LESS CONGESTED, BUT THEN IT BECOMES CONGESTED BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE USE IT. YES. OKAY. AND THE REASON THEY USE IT IS BECAUSE IT BECOMES MORE ATTRACTIVE. 
          YEAH. I MEAN, IF YOU HAD CONGESTION IN THE FIRST PLACE, THEN THEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE MORE CONGESTION WITH MORE CARS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SPEWING MORE, MORE POLLUTION INTO, INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT LIVE AROUND THE AREA. RIGHT? SO IT'S INDUCE, INDUCE INDUCES MORE TRAFFIC. AND, AND I THINK WE NEED, WE NEED, WE NEED TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, ALTERNATIVES. I DON'T THINK THAT TEX-DOT HAS REALLY PROVEN THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY CONGESTION DOWNTOWN. AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THE DATA THAT THEY'VE USED, WHICH IS I MEAN, I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AD NAUSEAM, BUT IT'S FLAWED DATA AND EVEN EVEN MORE SO NOW. I MEAN, THE, THE, THE GROWTH IN EL PASO, IF THERE IS ANY POPULATION GROWTH OR SHIFT, IT'S TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE COUNTY. AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, 2 TO 3 MAIN REASONS WHY THEY WANT TO WIDEN THE HIGHWAY, REALLY DON'T DON'T CARRY WATER, DON'T PASS THE SMELL TEST FOR ME WHEN IT COMES TO REASON, THEIR REASONING. RIGHT, WHICH IS TO REDUCE CONGESTION. THERE'S NOT CONGESTION, FIRST OF ALL, IN DOWNTOWN, IF THERE IS ANY BACKUP OF CARS, IT'S IT'S COMING OFF OF THE I-110 CONNECT THE CARS THAT ARE GOING TO JUAREZ IN THE AFTERNOON. THAT'S THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE CONGESTION. IT'S NOT EVEN ON, ON THE ON THE LIST OF THE OF THE 100 MOST CONGESTED CONGESTED HIGHWAYS OR AREAS. THERE ARE TWO OTHER AREAS IN EL PASO THAT ARE, I THINK, ON THAT LIST WHICH WHICH ARE ON THE EAST SIDE AND THE WEST SIDE. SO, YOU KNOW, THE PREMISE OF THE PROJECT, IN MY OPINION, IS FLAWED. AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO CONTINUE HAVE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR A BETTER OPTIONS. YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THAT WE HAVE CONGESTED AREAS, AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO WORK ON ALL OF THEM. AND TURNING DOWN THIS EXPANSION FOR THE FUTURE, TO ME IS NOT THE RIGHT THING, BECAUSE I KNOW IN THE FUTURE WE'RE GOING TO NEED IT, YOU KNOW? CAN ANYBODY TELL ME THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ZERO GROWTH IN OUR COUNTY OVER THE NEXT 20 OR 30 YEARS? JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR TO OUR COMMENTS, AREN'T SAYING THAT WE'RE OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT. IT'S JUST ASKING FOR CERTAIN THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE PROJECT AND THE AGREEMENT WITH THAT. BUT WE'RE BRINGING UP ISSUES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED AND WE BRINGING UP ISSUES THAT. YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS ISSUE OF, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO CAUSE MORE CONGESTION DOWNTOWN. AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THERE'S NO CONGESTION NOW, BUT IF WE EXPAND IT, THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE CONGESTION. AND I AGREE, BETSY, I TO I DIDN'T WANT TO OPPOSE LIKE I WANT ALL THESE THINGS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED ABOUT IMPROVING AND TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND ALL OF THAT. BUT I THINK THE OPPOSITION OF AN OPTION, I FEEL THAT'S GOING TO GET ENTANGLED BECAUSE THERE'S I THINK THAT SHIP HAS SAILED. I DON'T I DON'T SEE THEM BACKING OFF OF THAT. I THINK WE HAVE TO WORK WITH WHAT THEY'VE DECIDED AND SAY, LOOK, THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT THIS IS OUR THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS, THE TURNAROUNDS, ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED. 
          BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE THE OPPOSING THE OPTION ON ON THE SAME ON ON THE SAME PREMISE. I THINK IF IT'S THAT IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING SEPARATE. I AGREE WITH YOU. JUDGE IN YOUR MOTION. JUDGE, YOU'RE ASKING FOR AS WE HAVE PRESENTED THE TURNAROUNDS, THE CONTINUOUS TURN LANES, ALL THE FRONTAGE ROADS, THE EXTENSION OF TIME BUT NOT OPPOSING THE SELECTED OPTION AND ASKING THEM TO RECONSIDER ALTERNATE. WELL, BECAUSE WE'RE 
          [02:40:05]
GOING TO GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT. AND INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON WHAT IS NEEDED, BECAUSE THAT OPTION IS VERY UNLIKELY TO BE OPPOSED. OKAY. SO, COMMISSIONER STOUT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO WITHDRAW YOUR SECOND. YEAH. YEAH. THAT'S NOT THAT'S YOU KNOW, I, I THINK I STATED PRETTY CLEARLY, I THINK WE NEED TO TO CONTINUE TO OPPOSE THE PREFERRED OPTION, WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL MOTION, YOU KNOW, AND BECAUSE I MEAN, I LIKE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL LISTEN TO MY CONSTITUENTS THAT CAME AND SPOKE TODAY, BUT THIS IS ANOTHER CHANCE FOR US TO TO MAKE OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR VOICE HEARD AND, AND TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED LIKE THIS. PLEASE DON'T DISREGARD THE FACT THAT THEY CAME HERE AND AND SHARED WHAT THEY SHARED TODAY. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO TO TAKE THEIR THEIR COMMENTS INTO ACCOUNT. YOU KNOW, THIS IS THEIR THIS IS THEIR PROPERTY. THIS IS THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          THIS IS THE AIR THAT THEY'RE BREATHING. AND AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO WE NEED WE NEED TO KEEP THE, THE LETTER ACCORDING TO THE ORIGINAL THE ORIGINAL MOTION. IT'S WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE. WE'VE LET TEXDOT KNOW. OUR OPINION ON THIS IN THE PAST. AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO TO REITERATE THAT. AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE NOT LISTENING TO THEM BECAUSE WE ARE. BUT IF THERE'S ALREADY AN OPTION, IT'S ALREADY BEEN AGREED. IT'S MOVING FORWARD. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU WE'RE GOING TO GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT CONVERSATION INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I FEEL ARE VERY SOUND RECOMMENDATIONS ON ON THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE RECOMMENDED. BUT I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE OR MOVING FORWARD. 
          AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO SORT OF GO BACK TO THAT. A LOT OF ENERGY IS GOING TO GO INTO THAT INSTEAD OF THE ENERGY SHOULD GO INTO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OPTION THAT WAS CHOSEN BY TEXDOT. WELL, I HAVE I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION, BETSY, IS THE IS THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ABOUT THE OPTION THAT THEY CHOSE OR IS IT. YES. SO SO THE PURPOSE IS TO SAY WHETHER OR NOT WE AGREE WITH THIS OPTION. CORRECT. I DIDN'T THINK THE DECISION THE JUDGE IS IT IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE THAT THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE. IT IS NOT MADE UNTIL THE RECORD OF DECISION COMES OUT. SO THIS IS THE PART OF THE PROCESS WHERE WE MAKE OUR THOUGHTS KNOWN ON THE PREFERRED OPTION. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MISINFORMING THE PUBLIC. 
          AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS. THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF OF THIS. THIS CONVERSATION IS BECAUSE THE DECISION HAS NOT BEEN MADE. THE DECISION IS NOT NOT MADE UNTIL A RECORD OF DECISION IS PUT OUT. AND AND THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS BEFORE THAT CAN TAKE PLACE THIS COMMENT PERIOD. SO LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE BETTER. WILL, CAN WE CLEAR THAT BECAUSE I PARTICIPATED IN THE MPO AND WE'RE LOOKING AT IT AS SOMETHING THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE AND THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING THE DECISION AND LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE IMPROVE THAT PARTICULAR DECISION. SO I MIGHT BE WRONG, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT THE COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW ABOUT THE DECISION AS TO HOW DO YOU IMPROVE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE HERE TODAY. SO I MIGHT BE WRONG IN THAT, BUT MY IMPRESSION WAS THAT IT WAS A DECISION THAT HAD BEEN MADE. IF YOU COULD, IF WE COULD CLARIFY THAT, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO I HAVE THAT INFORMATION, SIR. OKAY. SO RIGHT NOW THIS THEY'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH PUBLIC HEARINGS, THEY'VE HAD PUBLIC MEETINGS. 
          THEY'VE ALSO HAD VIRTUAL MEETINGS. THE INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE NEXTGOV WEBSITE. AND THE PURPOSE RIGHT NOW IS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE PROJECT STATUS AND PRESENT THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE. DESCRIBE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS. IT'S ACTUALLY AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND RESULTING SELECTION OF THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE, SO THE PUBLIC CAN REVIEW POTENTIAL PROJECT IMPACTS, PROVIDE THE PUBLIC THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMMENTS, DEVELOP A RECORD OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SO THEY'RE ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THEIR PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE, WHICH IS NOT ALTERNATIVE F. 
          IT'S THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE IS ALTERNATIVE D. BUT JUDGE WHICH IS WHICH IS GO AHEAD I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I MEAN, THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENT AND GIVING PUBLIC COMMENT AND ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT IS TO TRY TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE ULTIMATE DECISION. I THINK THAT THERE IS I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTY TO REITERATE WHY WE'VE TAKEN THE STEPS THAT WE'VE TAKEN IN THE PAST. AND 
          [02:45:02]
YES, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO ADDRESS THE USE OF THE CONTINUOUS TURNING LANES AND THE TURNAROUNDS AND WHY WE DON'T LIKE THOSE THINGS. BUT I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO REITERATE WHY WE DIDN'T LIKE THIS ALTERNATIVE IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO I WOULD AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER STOUT THAT OUR LETTER NEEDS TO INCLUDE ALL OF THAT AS WELL, AND NOT JUST FOCUS ON ON THESE SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT THIS CURRENT LETTER FOCUSES ON. ALL RIGHT. WE WERE THAT WAS ROBERT RULES DISCUSSION. YEAH. SO SO SO I GUESS JUDGE JUDGE IF THERE'S YOU HAVE A MOTION RIGHT THAT YOU WANT TO AMEND BECAUSE I THINK YOUR ORIGINAL MOTION WAS WAS TO DO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW. BUT YOU WANTED TO CHANGE IT. OR. DO YOU WANT TO VOTE ON IT? I LIKED WHEN YOU SAID THAT WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT I JUST SEE, I FEEL THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THE INEVITABLE. AND INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE OUTCOME OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO, REALLY FOCUS ON, OKAY, IT'S VERY I MEAN, I GUESS I'M INCREDULOUS ABOUT BELIEVING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CHANGE THAT. BUT WHAT WE CAN CHANGE IS THE OUTCOME OF THAT. AND THAT'S HOW I FELT EVEN WHEN YOU READ IT, BETSY, YOU'RE SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THAT? AND SO I FEEL, I DON'T KNOW, I JUST FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIGURE, TRYING TO WORK WITH SOMETHING THAT'S INEVITABLE INSTEAD OF WORKING WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE ABOUT THE CHANGES AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO. AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU IT JUST FROM CONVERSATIONS AND THE ENERGY THAT GOES INTO THAT, I FEEL IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S INEVITABLE. AND BUT WHAT'S NOT INEVITABLE IS SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS DECISION, BUT WE WANT YOU TO TRULY, TRULY CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF THAT DECISION. AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO MINIMIZE THAT IMPACT. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD PROPOSE THAT, BUT. ORIGINALLY, ORIGINALLY I HAD SAID WE WOULD WE OPPOSE THIS OR WE ARE WE STILL ARE ADVOCATING FOR OUR PREFERRED ALTERNATE, WHICH IS F. AND ACTUALLY I MISSPOKE. THE PREFERRED ALTERNATE IS THE REVISED I BUT ALTERNATE WE WE ARE STILL ADVOCATING FOR ALTERNATIVE ALTERNATE F, BUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT I HEARD FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT AND COMMISSIONER BUTLER WAS THEY WOULD LIKE THE LANGUAGE TO SPECIFICALLY SAY WE OPPOSE THE REVISED ALTERNATE I THAT WAS SELECTED. AND SO SO FOR F AND I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. YEAH. SO SO IT'S IT'S OPPOSED THE PREFERRED OPTION SUPPORT OPTION F. AND THEN ASK FOR MORE TIME FOR COMMENT. SAY NO TO TEXAS TURNAROUNDS OR U-TURNS. NO TO FREEWAY STYLE FRONTAGE AND ELEVATIONS NEXT TO OR OVER THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESSES. AND SO, JUDGE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO WITHDRAW THAT MOTION? THE ORIGINAL MOTION, WHICH DID INCLUDE THAT, I MEAN, I CAN WITHDRAW THAT WE HAVE. YES YOU CAN. IT'S ALREADY BEEN A MOTION NEEDS TO BE SECOND. COMMISSIONER STOUT WITHDREW A SECOND. JUDGE AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. I THINK THERE WAS A DIFFERING OPINIONS IN TERMS OF THE MOTION, IN TERMS OF WHAT ENCOMPASSED. AND SO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A NEW MOTION, I THINK, TO REALLY CAPTURE WHAT THE COURT WOULD LIKE TO DO. AND SO I THINK AT THIS POINT, EITHER YOUR MOTION IS WITHDRAWN OR COMMISSIONER STOUT WOULD WITHDRAW HIS SECOND, BUT WE WOULD NEED A MOTION, I THINK, JUST FOR CLARITY AT THIS TIME, SINCE WE'VE ALSO HAD QUITE A BIT OF DISCUSSION TO CAPTURE WHAT THE COURT WOULD LIKE TO DO. WELL, I'LL WITHDRAW MINE. AND THEN YOU MAKE A NEW MOTION. 
          SURE. THAT'S FINE. SO I WILL THEN GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MAKE THE MOTION TO INCLUDE THE, THE THE FOLLOWING POINTS. OPPOSE A PREFERRED OPTION. ASK AGAIN FOR ALTERNATIVE F. MORE TIME TO COMMENT. NO TEXAS TURNAROUND U-TURNS, NO FREEWAY STYLE FRONTAGE AND ELEVATION NEXT TO OVER THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESSES. AND AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST. ALSO, IF THE COURT IS OKAY WITH THIS, NO NO PROPERTY TAKING. OH, I'M SORRY, I MEANT A SECOND ON THE SCREEN. OKAY, 
          [02:50:10]
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. 
          VOTING IS OPEN. JUDGE, MAY I. I DON'T HAVE MINE, BUT GIVEN THAT, I'LL VOTE NAY. THAT I'M NOT AGAINST THOSE WORKING WITH IMPROVING WHAT THEIR PLAN IS RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT SHOULD BE OUR FOCUS. YOU KNOW, THIS ISSUE OF. DISPUTING WHAT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, DIFFERING OPINIONS ON WHAT OUR GROWTH IS GOING TO BE. IT IS CERTAIN WE'RE GOING TO GROW. 
          THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S NOT I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S A DISPUTE AT ALL FROM ANYBODY. 
          AND THAT'S HISTORICALLY WHAT IT'S SHOWN. AND SO I THINK RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS, THESE FUNDS AVAILABLE, I THINK IT BEHOOVES US WHILE WE'RE WORKING ON OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, MAKE THEM BETTER IN TERMS OF THE CONGESTION. I THINK WE OUGHT TO WORK ON ALL OF THEM JUST BECAUSE ONE PART IS CONGESTED AND MAYBE WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, IMPROVE OTHERS. AND THIS ISSUE OF THAT, IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE CONGESTION DOWNTOWN. BUT IF WE ADD ONE MORE LANE ON EACH SIDE OR WHATEVER, THAT AUTOMATICALLY WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE CONGESTION. I JUST, YOU KNOW, I DON'T SEE THE REASONING BEHIND THAT. IF WE DON'T HAVE THE CONGESTION NOW, AND THE REASONING THAT IT MIGHT BE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO GET INCREASED TRAFFIC BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A BETTER ACCESS THAN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY. I AGREE WITH YOU. WE'VE GOT ISSUES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY IN TERMS OF CONGESTION, AND WE NEED TO WORK ON ALL OF THEM, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T STOP THAT WE STOP WORKING ON CERTAIN PARTS. SO I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING FUNDING THAT WE USED TO IN THE PAST COMPLAINED THAT WE WEREN'T GETTING. I THINK WE NEED TO DO THIS, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK. AND I'M GLAD THAT OUR DEPARTMENT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHAT WE DO, HOW WE GO ABOUT IT. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TO THE AREA IN THE DECK WHERE THE DECK PARK IN DALLAS WITH A COUPLE TIMES THIS LAST TIME, A COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH A BETTER EYE. 
          IT'S A LOT LESS NOISE, A LOT BETTER. IT'S A GREEN SPACE, A LOT LESS NOISE IN THAT AREA. 
          AND I PROMISE YOU, IT'S NOT WHAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING IT'S GOING TO BE WITH THIS DECK PARK. 
          IT IS REALLY AN IMPROVEMENT. IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG IMPROVEMENT. EVERYBODY COMPLAINING ABOUT NOISE, IT'S GOING TO REDUCE THE NOISE IN THIS AREA FOR SURE. I'VE SEEN IT. I'VE GONE TO THAT DECK PART AND LOOKED AT IT WITH A DIFFERENT EYE. AND THE AREAS THAT THE, THE FRONTAGE ROADS ON THAT ON THAT PARK ARE NOT HIGH SPEED. IT'S ACTUALLY VERY LOW SPEED. AND THEY HAVE FOOD TRUCKS ON ONE SIDE OF IT. WE HAVE BY ENGAGING IN THIS AND BEING PART OF THIS, WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO MAKE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND TO GUIDE THIS THROUGH. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON. SO I VOTE NAY. 
          JUDGE COMMISSIONERS, I, I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS. THE FIRST IS I THINK IT'S REALLY. DISHEARTENING AND DISAPPOINTING TO TO FEEL LIKE THIS PREFERRED OPTION THAT TXDOT SELECTED IS A IS. SET IN STONE WHEN THERE'S A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD THAT'S OPEN, SUPPOSED TO BE OPEN FOR A REASON. AND IF WE AS A COUNTY. SAY WE SHOULD BE LUCKY THAT WE'RE GETTING FUNDING AND THAT WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND JUST ACCEPT WHAT THEY'RE OFFERING US, I THINK THAT THAT REALLY STRIPS AWAY OUR ABILITY TO REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENTS. 
          AND IN A LOT OF WAYS, THAT'S DISENFRANCHISEMENT, RIGHT? IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO SPEAK FOR THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WE REPRESENT AND SAY, WE'RE JUST GOING TO TAKE WHAT THEY GIVE US AND BE THANKFUL FOR IT, THEN THEN WHAT IS EVEN THE PURPOSE OF OF OF PUBLIC COMMENT OR OUR REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTING OUR CONSTITUENTS? I THINK THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO BE SENDING PUBLIC COMMENT, IT SHOULD BE AS COMPREHENSIVE AND THOROUGH AS POSSIBLE. AND I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD DEMAND TEXDOT DO AS MUCH DUE DILIGENCE AS POSSIBLE AND ACTUALLY LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, AND THAT'S OUR JOB TO AND SO. I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY'S DISPUTING 
          [02:55:06]
THE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENTS ON I-10. I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY'S DISPUTING THAT. DECK PARK WILL BE WONDERFUL IN DOWNTOWN EL PASO EITHER. I THINK THERE'S A VALID DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THAT HAPPENS AND WHO HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS HERE. AND SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I THINK THIS VOTE IS ABOUT. AND SO THAT'S WHY I'LL VOTE. I, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT IT'S STILL NOT CLEAR TO ME. I THINK THE, THE COMMON PERIOD WHEN THEY WERE CHOOSING THE OPTIONS ALREADY TOOK PLACE, AND A LOT OF COMMENTS WERE MADE ABOUT EACH ONE OF THE OPTIONS. MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I'LL SAY IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IS THAT IT'S A DISCUSSION ON THE IMPACT OF THAT DECISION, AND THAT'S THE WAY I READ IT. SO I'M NOT SAYING LET'S JUST TAKE IT. I'M JUST SAYING A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE. NOW THEY'RE SAYING WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE IMPACT OF THIS DECISION. THAT'S HOW I UNDERSTAND THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT. FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S BASED ON THE OPTION THAT HAPPENED ALMOST A YEAR AGO. 
          THOSE DISCUSSIONS TOOK PLACE A LONG TIME AGO ABOUT WHETHER WHICH OPTIONS AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, ARGUED IT. WE WENT BACK AND FORTH, WE SUBMITTED OUR COMMENTS. AND SO UNLESS I'M COMPLETELY WRONG, THE THE COMMENT PERIOD IS BASED ON WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THAT DECISION. 
          THAT'S THE WAY I READ IT. AND SO IT'S NOT FAIR TO SAY THAT WE'RE JUST TAKING SOMETHING JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO ACCEPT IT. AND I THINK THIS DISCUSSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN HELD A YEAR AGO WHEN THEY WERE LOOKING AT THE OPTIONS. AND THEY GAVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TO DECIDE ON WHICH OF THE OPTIONS. AND THEN THE DECISION WAS MADE ON THAT OPTION. AND THEN THAT'S THAT'S WHERE I'M AT, THAT THERE IS A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE, AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE IMPACT OF THAT DECISION. IF I'M WRONG, THEN YOU KNOW I'LL BE WRONG. 
          BUT I STILL BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE. OKAY, BETSY. THANK YOU. THE MOTION CARRIES. SO WE WILL PROCEED WITH DRAFTING THE LETTER. THANK YOU, BETSY, AND THANK YOU ALSO TO BERNIE FOR FOR ALSO, YOU KNOW, TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE THE WRITE THE LETTER. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT. A GREAT STEP FOR US. AND I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT STEP FROM, FROM TO TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. ONE OTHER THING. YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT. NOW BESIDES THE SAYING WE DON'T LIKE THIS, WE NEED TO OFFER SOLUTIONS OF HOW TO GO ABOUT DOING THAT AS WELL. AND NOT JUST WE DON'T LIKE THIS. I AGREE, THAT'S MY POSITION. YEAH. AND COMMISSIONER CORONADO, TO THAT POINT WE HAVE WHEN WE WHEN WE HIRED A CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT THE DATA, WE, WE ACTUALLY HIRED HIM ALSO TO PROVIDE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES SO WE CAN BRING THOSE BACK UP. IF YOU'D LIKE. WE CAN WE CAN REVISIT THAT IF YOU'D LIKE. AND I'LL CLARIFY OVER AND OVER AGAIN. COMMISSIONER STOUT, WE HIRED A CONSULTANT THAT HAD A REPUTATION OF FOCUSING STRICTLY ON, ON ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT AND I ADDRESSED IT WHEN HE WAS HERE. I SAID, MAN, I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN THE ENTIRE YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING IT WAS GOING TO BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS. AND HE CAME IN QUICKLY SAYING NO. AND I OPPOSED THAT BECAUSE THE CONSULTANT HAD A REPUTATION OF GOING 1 IN 1 DIRECTION. AND I ALWAYS FELT THAT WAS NOT FAIR. WE WANTED A CONSULTANT THAT LOOKED AT ALL THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS, AND WE SAW HIS REPUTATION WAS FROM BEGINNING ADVOCATE FOR FOR WHAT, YOU KNOW, FOR ONE PARTICULAR THING. AND I WAS NOT VERY COMFORTABLE. SO I DON'T THINK IT'S A FAIR STATEMENT THAT THAT WE HAD A CONSULTANT, WE LEFT HIM. JUDGE, YOU WERE THE YOU WERE THE COUNTY JUDGE AT THE POINT IN TIME THAT WE HIRED THAT CONSULTANT. YOU YOU VOTED YES WHEN WE HIRED THAT CONSULTANT. I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT REPUTATION YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. IF YOU WANT TO CAST ASPERSIONS UPON PEOPLE, THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE. NO, NO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT THE CASE. I THINK THAT I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO TO POINT OUT THAT WE ARE THE BODY THAT HIRED HIM, AND WE ARE THE BODY THAT GAVE HIM DIRECTION TO DO WHAT HE DID, INCLUDING YOU. JUDGE. SO, ABSOLUTELY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I VOTED. I VOTED FOR THE CONSULTANT TO BE HERE. BUT WHEN HE CAME UP, WE HAD ALREADY VOTED AND I WAS VERY IN DISAGREEMENT THAT HE CAME IN FROM DAY ONE FOCUSING ON ONE THING. AND I JUST ASKED, WHY AREN'T WE LOOKING AT ALL THE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES INSTEAD OF YOU OPPOSING, YOU KNOW, ONE OR SUPPORTING ONE THING? THAT THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. I JUST DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE. I 
          [03:00:03]
THINK I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY THAT. AND I DID VOTE FOR HIM, BUT I WASN'T IN AGREEMENT WITH HIS PRESENTATION. AND I EXPRESSED IT TO BETSY AND TO OTHERS. OKAY. ARE WE READY, BETSY? JUDGE, BEFORE WE BREAK, I'D LIKE TO ASK IF WE COULD PLEASE TAKE THE NEXT ITEM. I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE RATHER SHORT, AND WE HAVE A GUEST IN THE AUDIENCE FOR ITEM EIGHT A. 
          ABSOLUTELY. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, A FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE TEXAS SPACE COALITION SPONSORSHIP FOR THE FIRST ANNUAL SPACE TECH EL 
          [A. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Texas Space Coalition sponsorship for the first annual Space Tech El Paso (STEP) Conference and/or membership in the Coalition.
Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]
PASO STEP CONFERENCE AND OR MEMBERSHIP IN THE COALITION. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. FIRST, BEFORE I INTRODUCE OUR GUEST, I JUST WANTED TO REMIND THE COURT THAT THE SPACE COALITION IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT UNITES INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS TO FOSTER INNOVATION IN THE SPACE INDUSTRY. THIS COALITION, WHICH I'M SURE MR. PRIOR WILL SPEAK ABOUT, WAS STOOD UP AFTER THE CREATION OF THE TEXAS SPACE COMMISSION TO HELP FACILITATE SOME OF THESE EFFORTS AND JUST BOOST THE SPACE ECOSYSTEM. THEY ARE ABOUT TO HAVE THEIR VERY FIRST CONFERENCE HERE IN EL PASO START IN NOVEMBER, AND WE ARE ALSO PART OF THAT CONFERENCE. WE'RE PART OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE THAT THEY HAVE OFFERED US A SPECIAL FROM THE MATERIALS I HAD PREVIOUSLY SHARED WITH YOU. THEY'VE OFFERED US A SPECIAL DEAL I'M GOING TO SAVE. I WON'T STEAL THE THUNDER, BUT I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO MIKE PRYOR, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE TEXAS SPACE COALITION. THANK YOU. WELCOME, MIKE. 
          APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE FOR THE TIME TODAY. AND IF I COULD JUST BEFORE I START, TAKE A NOTE. THANK YOU FOR WRESTLING WITH DIFFICULT CIVIC ISSUES LIKE YOU JUST WERE. THIS ISN'T FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE THE COUNTY AND THIS COMMUNITY. AS AS MENTIONED, THANK YOU, BETSY, FOR THE GREAT INTRODUCTION. TEXAS SPACE COALITION WAS FOUNDED TO FOSTER AN ECOSYSTEM OF ACADEMIC, INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS TO HELP GROW THE SPACE INDUSTRY, SPACE INNOVATION AND SPACE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THIS REGION. EARLY ON, I HAD A QUESTION. WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU DO THIS IN HOUSTON? I WAS LIKE, DON'T WANT TO DO IN HOUSTON, I WANT TO DO IN EL PASO. I'M NOT GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE IN HOUSTON. I SEE GREAT GROWTH POTENTIAL IN EL PASO. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE THE REGION AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT TEXAS SPACE COALITION CAN HAVE. IN PARTICULAR, WE'RE ASKING FOR SUPPORT, COMBINING A COALITION YEAR LONG MEMBERSHIP AT THE GALACTIC LEVEL AND SPONSORSHIP OF SPACE TECH EL PASO. AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT'S THE FIRST OF ITS KIND SPACE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD HERE IN EL PASO. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE SEE THIS INVESTMENT BY THE COUNTY AT SACRIFICE TO OTHER COUNTY PRIORITIES, WHICH ARE CLEAR AND PRESENT. WE SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH AND LONG TERM GROWTH IN AN EXPLOSIVE INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE STATE. IN THE COMMERCIAL SPACE SECTOR, TEXAS IS LEADING THE COUNTRY IN WAYS THAT IS ECLIPSING AN OLD SPACE ECONOMY. COUNTRY COMPANIES THAT USED TO GROW OUT OF AEROSPACE ONLY TO ACHIEVE SPACE ARE BEING ECLIPSED BY TEXAS BASED COMPANIES LIKE SPACE X, LIKE BLUE ORIGIN, LIKE FIREFLY, LIKE INTUITIVE MACHINE THAT ARE GOING STRAIGHT TO SPACE. THERE IS A GROWING ECONOMIES IN SPACE MEDICINE, SPACE INDUSTRY, SPACE MINING, SPACE SUSTAINABILITY, COMMUNICATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN TERRESTRIAL PLACES LIKE HERE. THE RESOURCES THAT ARE FOUND HERE IN THIS REGION ARE NOWHERE ELSE IN OUR COUNTRY. 
          THE THE WIDE OPEN SPACES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR OPERATIONAL TEST AND EVALUATION, THE OVERFLOWING TALENT THAT COMES OUT OF OUR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO GRADUATE WITH ADVANCED DEGREES IN ENGINEERING SOMETIMES HAVE TO LEAVE HOME TO FIND EMPLOYMENT IN THEIR FIELD OF STUDY. AND WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT. SO WE WE HUMBLY ASK FOR A $20,000 GRANT THAT WILL SUPPORT BOTH MEMBERSHIP FOR A YEAR AND SPACE TECH EL PASO. WE HAVE COMPANIES THAT ARE COMING IN FROM AS FAR AWAY AS AS DENVER, COLORADO, FROM HOUSTON, FROM SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO, AND FROM THE LOCAL AREA THAT WILL HELP ENRICH THIS COMMUNITY. WE HAVE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES THAT ARE COMING FROM NEW MEXICO AND AS FAR AWAY AS HOUSTON. WE HAVE GOVERNMENT LEADERS THAT ARE COMING IN FROM NASA AND SPACE FORCE. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY, OF COURSE, AND FROM THE CITY AS WELL. SO THIS GROUP OF LEADERS 
          [03:05:01]
THAT WE ARE BRINGING TOGETHER, WE HOPE TO AND WE EXPECT WILL HELP PUSH THE NEEDLE, WILL HELP ESTABLISH AND GROW THIS VITAL AND AND BURGEONING SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY. SO AGAIN, WE HUMBLY ASK AT AT $20,000 TO BE A TITLE SPONSOR FOR SPACE TECH EL PASO, TO DEMONSTRATE THE COMMITMENT THAT THE THE COUNTY HAS MADE TO SPACE AND AEROSPACE AND OTHER PROJECTS LIKE THE FABENS AIRPORT. AND COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR POINTING ME IN THAT DIRECTION AND YOUR TEAM FOR GETTING ME DOWN THERE AND OFFERING A TERRIFIC TOUR OF THAT FOR THE THE EFFORTS OF THE WEST TEXAS AEROSPACE DEVELOPMENT CORRIDOR. WE TWO HAVE REACHED OUT TO MIDLAND AND SAN ANGELO VIA THEIR COUNTIES IN ORDER TO CREATE THAT CONNECTION, TO CREATE THAT THAT ORGANIZATIONAL CONNECTION WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES. AND FOR THE THE RELAUNCH OF THE WEST TEXAS SPACEPORT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WHERE WE'RE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, BIG SUPPORTERS OF THOSE. AND SO WE THINK THIS INVESTMENT WILL HELP AMPLIFY THOSE EFFORTS BY THE COUNTY, WILL AMPLIFY OTHER EFFORTS BY THE CITY THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP THE ECONOMY, TO DEVELOP THE WORKFORCE, AND TO SPUR INNOVATION AND RESEARCH. JUDGE. COMMISSIONER. SO, IF I MAY, THIS IS WHEN I ORIGINALLY HAD SENT THIS. THE $20,000 WAS JUST THE MEMBERSHIP. BUT WHAT THEY'RE OFFERING US NOW IS FOR THAT TO COVER BOTH US BEING THE TITLE SPONSOR OF THE CONFERENCE HERE IN THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER AND HAVE THE FULL GALACTIC LEVEL MEMBERSHIP AND THE SPACE COALITION. SO IT'S AT A REDUCED COST FROM WHAT WE WERE ORIGINALLY CONSIDERING. IF WE WANTED TO DO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. AND I WOULD RECOMMEND, IF THE COURT IS INTERESTED, THAT AS PART OF YOUR MOTION, YOU WOULD ASK STAFF TO IDENTIFY IDENTIFY THE FUNDING SOURCE. WE WOULD LOOK TO EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD USE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS FOR ANY OF THE COST. OTHERWISE, I WOULD RECOMMEND EITHER OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT FUND OR OPERATIONAL CONTINGENCIES. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION, BUT IT'S NOT WORKING ON MY. WHAT'S THE TOTAL COST AGAIN? $20,000. I'LL SECOND. JUDGE COMMISSIONERS. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS IF THAT'S OKAY. YOU KNOW, WE SPOKE A LOT DURING OUR BUDGETING SESSIONS ABOUT HOW TIGHT OUR BUDGETS ARE THIS YEAR. WE'RE HAVING ONGOING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT REDUCING OUR MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATED COSTS WITH SUPPORTING OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS. AS THE COUNTY. I THINK THAT THE COUNTY HAS AND CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO, TO AEROSPACE AND AND TO OUR EFFORTS RELATED TO THE SPACE COMMISSION. I, I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE BEST USE OF OUR FUNDING, TO BE HONEST. I THINK I THINK THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE SPONSOR OR NOT, BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND BECAUSE THESE KINDS OF EFFORTS, YOU KNOW, THRIVE WHEN THERE'S BOTH GOVERNMENTAL AND NONPROFIT AND ACADEMIA AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. BUT BUT I THINK THESE KINDS OF SPONSORSHIPS ARE MUCH MORE APPROPRIATE FOR PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS TO, TO SPEARHEAD. AND JUST GIVEN OUR BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S THE BEST USE OF OUR FUNDS AT THIS TIME. AND I THINK THE THE MOTION IS FOR YOU TO SEE IF THERE'S, YOU KNOW, WHAT POSSIBILITIES THERE ARE. BUT SEE, IS THAT WHAT FUNDING OPTIONS THERE ARE? YES, SIR. BECAUSE IF IT'S A HOT FUND, IT STILL WOULD BE. I MEAN, IT WOULD BE STILL A FINANCIAL IMPACT TO THE COUNTY, BUT IT WOULD BE EITHER BETWEEN HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, ECONOMIC IMPACT FUND OR GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCIES. THAT WAS MY EXPECTATION. YEAH. COMMISSIONER. JUDGE, IF I MAY, I AM SECONDING THE MOTION BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT AREA THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN. HOWEVER, I MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE THAT IT BE FUNDED EITHER WITH HOT FUNDS IF POSSIBLE, AND IF NOT THEN WITH OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT FUNDS. I WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE THIS COME OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCY, BUT MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE THE FIRST TWO HOT FUNDS OR ECONOMIC IMPACT FUND, WHICH I KNOW THAT WE DID LEAVE FUNDING FOR. WE'LL BRING THAT BACK TO US TO SEE. I WON'T BRING IT BACK. WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD, BUT WE WOULD IDENTIFY. I KNOW IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE 100% FUNDED BY HOT FUNDS. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A PORTION BY HOT, A PORTION BY ECONOMIC IMPACT FUND, OR BY ECONOMIC IMPACT FUND. I'M GOOD WITH THAT. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE AYE. AYE. AYE. 
          [03:10:02]
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUTE. COMMISSIONER BUTLER VOTES NO. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU I APPRECIATE THAT. TAYLOR. THANK YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU. 
          JUDGE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE AN AFTERNOON RECESS, PLEASE? OKAY. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS UNTIL FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 12:40 P.M. 
          [03:16:12]
YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING OUT HERE AND COPING WITH SITUATIONS AND RELAXATION. IT'S PEACEFUL. IT'S QUIET, IT'S NICE. IN THE SUMMERTIME. IT'S NICE AND COOL DOWN HERE. ABOUT 8:00 IT STARTS GETTING WARM, BUT IT'S NICE AND COOL. COME DOWN HERE, RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND FACE THE WORLD. THE BAIT, IT VARIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT HERE, THEY WERE HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. WHAT'S VERY POPULAR IS WEENIE HOT DOG. AND THEN THEY STOP HITTING ON THE HOT DOG. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START HITTING ON THE SHRIMP, AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN ON THE SHRIMP. NOW I'M USING SOME STINK BAIT AND IT REALLY STINKS. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH SOMETHING WITH SOME STINK BAIT, BUT IT'S GREAT WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING. IT'S GREAT. YEAH, THE TROUT WILL PUT THE HOOK IN THEIR MOUTH AND WE'RE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY PULL ON IT LIKE THEY PULLED BEFORE. 
          THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE AND GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH. BUT YOU GOTTA TROUT. IT IS KIND OF HARD FISHING FOR TROUT. LIKE THAT. YEAH. THERE HE GOES. WELL, THE LARGE ONE, THE LARGEST ONE I CAUGHT HERE WAS A 15 POUNDER. YEAH, YOU CAN EAT THEM. I DON'T, BECAUSE I LIKE TO CATCH AND RELEASE. I WOULD IF I WAS GOING TO EAT FISH, I'D EAT THE FISH. AND I'VE BEEN FISHING HERE FOR 60 YEARS. AND YOU LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY. 
          UNO DE LOS TESOROS MAS GRANDES DEL PASO Y ES EL PARQUE. MUCHAS PERSONAS LO 
          [03:20:06]
TOMAN POR SENTADO ENTRE SUS INMENSA VERDE, DECENAS DE ACTIVIDADES Y RINCONES NO TE ACABAS EN UN SOLO DIA. ES LA MANERA PERFECTA DE ARRANCAR ESTA AVENTURA MAS DE CUATROCIENTOS EN EL PARQUE MAS GRANDE DEL CONDADO DE EL PASO Y LO MEJOR EN VERANO DE CINCO AM8PM SIN TEXTOS. EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLIMPICA DE CINCUENTA METROS TIENE. DOS. 
          TOBOGGANS Y VOLEIBOL. DESDE ESTE CATORCE DE JUNIO DE DOS CUATRO Y MEDIO DE SEMANA DE DOS CINCO TAMBIÉN OFRECEN CLASES DE NATACION CON HORARIOS FLEXIBLES PARA Q TENGAN TODOS TIENE UNA OPORTUNIDAD DE APRENDER A NADAR CON COMPANEROS, PUES DE SU NIVEL DE SU EDAD PADRES DE FAMILIA CREAM. CUANDO LES DIGO UNA CLASE DE NATATION A LA ENERGIA DE SUS PICKS ENCANTADOS. 
          POR QUÉ ES COMO SE VA A DORMIR? TOQUE ESPECIALES LLEVARLO DESPUÉS POR PIZZA Y ESO ES SUFICIENTE NO OBSTANTE EL AGUA ES PARA TODOS LA CANTIDAD DE BENEFICIOS. TANTO FISICOS COMO MENTALES ES ENORME EL MOVIMIENTO DE AGUA. EL SONIDO DEL AGUA ES RELAJANTE PARA EMPEZAR LA TRANSPARENCIA. EL COLOR DE LA TEXTURA BUENO EL AGUA Q LES PUEDO DECIR ES ES NUESTRO AMBIENTE. ES DE VERANO. PUEDES VIVIR LE FANTASIA DE MICHAEL PHELPS O BIEN DE LA SERENA. Y SI DESPUÉS DE NADA AUN QUEDAN ENERGIA'S. QUÉ TAL UN PASEO DE LA TUA O RENTA UNA HIBRIDA POR SIX DOLARES AL DIA. RAPIDO Y NO LA MITAD CON ESTAS VICES. NUNCA SE TE VOY A ESCAPAR EL CARRITO DE LAS NIEVES. ALIVIAN MICKEY ICE CREAM VIENE TODAS LAS TARDES Y ENCONTRADO ES COMO ES LA GENTE ESCUCHAR LA MUSICA Y NOS BUSCA Y BUENO AL MENOS CON LOS NINOS SI FUNCIONAN. Y YA LO HABIAS VISTO TODO AGARRATE PORQUE TAMBIÉN HAY CONCHAS PARA CUALQUIER DEPORTE OCURRA AQUI NO QUIERE HACER NADA. SIMPLEMENTE NO SALE PERO MUCHAS PARTES SON DIVERTIRSE. QUIERES SENTIRTE COMO UN MAGNATE SIN UN COUNTRY CLUB. EL GRANDE CAMPO DE GOLF DE ESTE LUGAR 20 CLASES PARA TODOS LOS NIVELES. DE ASCARATE HABIA CAMARON DE SOPA INSTANTANEA ESTAS MUY EQUIVOCADO PUEDO ENCONTRAR DESDE CATFISH CARPA LA PAZ. LA LLUVIA CONSIGUE APROBAR TO SUERTE. SI LO TUYO ES RELAJAR CON UNA CANA PARA MI LA HOYA DE LA CORONA DEL PARQUE. ASCARATE ES ESTE INMENSO LLEGO DONDE PUEDE PASAR Y POR SUPUESTO, DISFRUTAR DE UNA MARIDO Y DORADO ATARDECER CLARO. LAS MEJORES AVENTURAS ACERCA DE PENSAMOS NOS VEMOS EN LA PROXIMA PARADA. YO SOY MIGUEL CONTRERAS DE NOTICIAS 26. EL REPORTERO FAVORITE, FAVORITE. 
          [03:33:03]
YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING OUT HERE AND COPING WITH 
          [03:33:10]
SITUATIONS AND RELAXATION. IT'S PEACEFUL, IT'S QUIET, IT'S NICE. IN THE SUMMERTIME. IT'S NICE AND COOL DOWN HERE. ABOUT 8:00 STARTS GETTING WARM, BUT IT'S NICE AND COOL. COME DOWN HERE, RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND FACE THE WORLD. THE BAIT, IT VARIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT HERE, THEY WERE HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. 
          THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. WHAT'S VERY POPULAR IS WEENIE HOT DOG. AND THEN THEY STOP HITTING ON THE HOT DOG. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START HITTING ON THE SHRIMP, AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN ON THE SHRIMP. NOW I'M USING SOME STINK BAIT AND IT REALLY STINKS. 
          SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH SOMETHING WITH SOME STINK BAIT. BUT IT'S GREAT WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING. IT'S GREAT. YEAH, THE TROUT WILL PUT THE HOOK IN THEIR MOUTH AND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY PULL ON IT LIKE THEY PULLED BEFORE. THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE AND GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH. YOU GOT TO TROUT. IT IS KIND OF HARD FISHING FOR TROUT. LIKE THAT. YEAH. THERE HE GOES. WELL, THE LARGE ONE, THE LARGEST ONE I CAUGHT HERE WAS A 15 POUNDER. 
          YEAH, YOU CAN EAT THEM. I DON'T, BECAUSE I LIKE TO CATCH AND RELEASE. I WOULD IF I WAS GOING TO EAT FISH, I'D EAT THE FISH. AND I'VE BEEN FISHING HERE FOR 60 YEARS. AND YOU LIVE TO FIGHT 
          [03:35:03]
ANOTHER DAY. 
          CON UNO DE LOS MAS GRANDES DEL PASO Y ES EL PARQUE MUCHAS PERSONAS LO TOMAN POR SENTADO ENTRE SUS INMENSA VERDE DECENAS DE ACTIVIDADES Y RINCONES. QUÉ NO TE ACABAS EN UN SOLO DIA? ES LA MANERA PERFECTA DE ARRANCAR ESTA AVENTURA MAS DE CUATROCIENTOS EN EL PARQUE MAS GRANDE DEL CONDADO DE EL PASO Y LO MEJOR EN VERANO DE CINCO Y MEDIA AM8PM. SIN PRE-TEXTOS EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLIMPICA CINCUENTA METROS TIENE DOS. ZAPATERO TOBOGGANS Y VOLEIBOL DESDE ESTE DE JUNIO, LUNES DE CUATRO Y MEDIA FINES DE SEMANA DE DOS CINCO TAMBIÉN OFRECEN CLASES DE NATATION CON HORARIOS FLEXIBLES NO IMPORTA TENGAN TODOS OPORTUNIDAD DE APRENDER A NADAR CON COMPANEROS, PUES DE SU NIVEL Y DE CIUDAD PADRES DE FAMILIA. CUANDO LES DIGO UNA CLASE DE NATATION, LA ENERGIA DE SUS PEQUES. CANSADOS. Y POR QUÉ ES COMUN Y SE VA A DORMIR? EL TOQUE ESPECIALES LLEVARLO DESPUÉS POR ESO SERA SUFICIENTE NO OBSTANTE EL AGUA ES PARA TODOS LA CANTIDAD DE BENEFICIOS, TANTO FISICOS COMO ES ENORME EL MOVIMIENTO DEL AGUA. EL SONIDO DEL AGUA ES RELAJANTE PARA EMPEZAR LA. TRANSPARENCIA EL COLOR TEXTURE BUENO EL AGUA Q LES PUEDO DECIR ES ES NUESTRO AMBIENTE. ESTE VERANO PUEDES VIVIR LA FANTASIA DE MICHAEL PHELPS O BIEN DE LA SERENA. DESPUÉS DE NADA QUEDAN ENERGIA'S. QUÉ TAL UN PASEO DE LA RENTA. UNA HERIDA POR SIX DOLARES AL DIA. RAPIDO Y NO TE KANSAS A LA MITAD CON ESTAS VECES. NUNCA SE TE VOY A ESCAPAR EL CARRITO DE LAS NIEVES. ALIVIAN MICKEY ICE CREAM VIENE TODAS LAS TARDES Y ENCONTRADO ES COMO ES LA GENTE ESCUCHAR LA MUSICA Y NOS BUSCA Y BUENO AL MENOS CON LOS NINOS SI FUNCIONAN. HABIAS VISTO TODO AGARRATE PORQUE TAMBIÉN HAY GANANCIAS PARA PRACTICAR CUALQUIER DEPORT LOCURA AQUI NO QUIERE HACER NADA. SIMPLEMENTE NO SALE. POR QUÉ MUCHAS PARTES SON DIVERTIRSE. QUIERAS SENTIRTE COMO UN COUNTRY CLUB. EL GRAN CAMPO DE GOLF DE ASCARATE. ESTE LUGAR VEINTISIETE HOYOS CLASES PARA TODOS LOS NIVELES. DE ASCARATE HABIA PURO CAMARON DE SOPA INSTANTANEA ESTAS MUY EQUIVOCADO PUEDES ENCONTRAR DESDE CATFISH CARPA LA PAZ LA LUNA CON LICENCIA SI LO TUYO ES RELAJAR CON UNA CANA PARA MI LA JOYA DE LA CORONA DEL PARQUE ES ESTE INMENSO LAGO DONDE PUEDE PASAR Y POR SUPUESTO, DISFRUTAR DE UNA MARIDO Y DORADO ATARDECER CLARO LAS MEJORES AVENTURAS ACERCA DE PENSAMOS NOS VEMOS EN LA PROXIMA PARADA. 
          [03:40:05]
YO SOY MIGUEL CONTRERAS DE NOTICIAS 26. EL REPORTERO FAVORITO REPORTERO FAVORITO. 
          [03:49:53]
YOU KNOW IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING OUT HERE AND COPING WITH SITUATIONS AND RELAXATION. IT'S PEACEFUL, IT'S QUIET, IT'S NICE IN THE SUMMERTIME. IT'S NICE 
          [03:50:05]
AND COOL DOWN HERE. ABOUT 8:00 STARTS GETTING WARM, BUT IT'S NICE AND COOL. COME DOWN HERE AND RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND FACE THE WORLD. THE BAIT, IT VARIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT HERE, THEY WERE HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. 
          THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. WHAT'S VERY POPULAR IS WEENIE HOT DOG. AND THEN THEY STOP HITTING ON THE HOT DOG. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START HITTING ON THE SHRIMP, AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN ON THE SHRIMP. NOW I'M USING SOME STINK BAIT AND IT REALLY STINKS. 
          SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH SOMETHING WITH SOME STINK BAIT, BUT IT'S GREAT WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING. IT'S GREAT. YEAH, THE TROUT WILL PUT THE HOOK IN THEIR MOUTH AND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY PULL ON IT, LIKE THEY PULLED BEFORE. THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE AND GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH. BUT YOU GOTTA TROUT. IT IS KIND OF HARD FISHING FOR TROUT. LIKE THAT. YEAH. THERE HE GOES. WELL, THE LARGE ONE, THE LARGEST ONE I CAUGHT HERE WAS A 15 POUNDER. 
          YEAH, YOU CAN EAT THEM. I DON'T, BECAUSE I LIKE TO CATCH AND RELEASE. I WOULD IF I WAS GOING TO EAT FISH, I'D EAT THE FISH. AND I'VE BEEN FISHING HERE FOR 60 YEARS. AND YOU LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY. 
          CON UNO DE LOS MAS GRANDES DEL PASO Y ES EL PARQUE MUCHAS PERSONAS LO TOMAN POR SENTADO ENTRE SUS INMENSA AREAS VERDES DECENAS DE ACTIVIDADES Y RINCONES NO TE ACABAS EN UN SOLO DIA. ES LA MANERA PERFECTA DE ARRANCAR ESTA AVENTURA MAS DE CUATROCIENTOS. EL MAS GRANDE DEL CONDADO DE EL PASO Y LO MEJOR EN VERANO DE CINCO MEDIA. M SIN TEXTOS. EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLIMPICA CINCUENTA METROS TIENE. TOBOGGANS Y VOLLEYBALL. DESDE ESTE CATORCE DE JUNIO DE CUATRO Y MEDIA PM Y FIN DE SEMANA DE DOS CINCO TAMBIÉN OFRECEN CLASES DE NATACION CON HORARIOS FLEXIBLES PARA TENGAN OPORTUNIDAD DE APRENDER A NADAR CON COMPANEROS, PUES DE SU NIVEL DE SU EDAD PADRES DE FAMILIA. CUANDO UNA CLASE DE NATATION HA LA ENERGIA DE SUS PEQUES ENCANTADOS Y POR QUÉ ES COMO SE VA A DORMIR? EL TOC ESPECIALES LLEVARLO DESPUÉS POR ESO SERA SUFICIENTE NO OBSTANTE EL AGUA ES PARA TODOS LA CANTIDAD DE BENEFICIOS TANTO FISICOS COMO MENTALES ES EL MOVIMIENTO DEL AGUA. EL SONIDO DEL AGUA ES RELAJANTE PARA 
          [03:55:03]
EMPEZAR LA TRANSPARENCIA EL COLOR TEXTURE BUENO EL AGUA Q LES PUEDO DECIR ES ES NUESTRO AMBIENTE. ESTE VERANO PUEDES VIVIR LA FANTASIA DE MICHAEL PHELPS O VIENE DE LA SERENA. 
          DESPUÉS DE NADAR A UN ENERGIA'S. QUÉ TAL UN PASEO EN LA? ORIENTA. UNA HERIDA POR. $6 AL DIA Y NO KANSAS A LA MITAD CON ESTAS VECES NUNCA SE TIVER ESCAPAR EL CARRITO DE LAS NIEVES. ALIVIAN MICKEY'S ICE CREAM VIENE TODAS LAS TARDES Y. ES COMO ES LA GENTE ESCUCHAR LA MUSICA Y NOS BUSCA Y BUENO AL MENOS CON SI FUNCIONAN. Y SI YA LO HABIAS VISTO TODO AGARRATE PORQUE TAMBIÉN HAY CONCHAS PARA PRAKTIKER CUALQUIER DEPORTE OCURRA AQUI QUIERE HACER NADA. 
          SIMPLEMENTE NO SALE PERO MUCHAS PARTES SON DIVERTIRSE. QUIERES SENTIRTE COMO UN MAGNATE SIN UN COUNTRY CLUB. EL GRAN CAMPO DE GOLF DE ASCARATE ESTE LUGAR 20 CLASES PARA TODOS LOS NIVELES. 
          DE ASCARATE HABIA PURO CAMARON DE SOPA. INSTANTANEA ESTAS MUY EQUIVOCADO PUEDES ENCONTRAR. 
          DESDE CATFISH CARPA LA PAZ LA LUNA CON LICENCIA SUERTE SI LO TUYO ES RELAJATE CON UNA CANA PARA MI LA JOYA DE LA CORONA DEL PARQUE. ES ESTE INMENSO LLEGO DONDE PUEDE PASAR Y POR SUPUESTO, DISFRUTAR DE UNA MARIDO Y DORADO ATARDECER CLARO LAS MEJORES AVENTURAS CERCA DE PENSAMOS NOS VEMOS EN LA PROXIMA PARADA. YO SOY MIGUEL CONTRERAS DE NOTICIAS 26. EL REPORTER FAVORITO DE TO REPORTERO FAVORITO. 
          [04:06:43]
YOU KNOW IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING 
          [04:06:47]
OUT HERE AND COPING WITH SITUATIONS AND RELAXATION. IT'S PEACEFUL, IT'S QUIET, IT'S NICE. 
          IN THE SUMMERTIME. IT'S NICE AND COOL DOWN HERE. ABOUT 8:00 STARTS GETTING WARM, BUT IT'S NICE AND COOL. COME DOWN HERE, RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND FACE THE WORLD. THE BAIT, IT VARIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT HERE, THEY WERE HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. WHAT'S VERY POPULAR IS WEENIE HOT DOG. AND THEN THEY STOP HITTING ON THE HOT DOG. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START HITTING ON THE SHRIMP, AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN ON THE SHRIMP. NOW I'M USING SOME STINK BAIT AND IT REALLY STINKS. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH SOMETHING WITH SOME STINK BAIT, BUT IT'S GREAT WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING. IT'S GREAT. YEAH, THE TROUT WILL PUT THE HOOK IN THEIR MOUTH AND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY PULL ON IT, LIKE THEY PULLED BEFORE. 
          THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE AND GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH, BUT YOU GOT TO TROUT. IT IS KIND OF HARD FISHING FOR TROUT. LIKE THAT. BUT. YOU. THERE HE GOES. WELL, THE LARGE ONE, THE LARGEST ONE I CAUGHT HERE WAS A 15 POUNDER. YEAH, YOU CAN EAT THEM. I DON'T, BECAUSE I LIKE TO CATCH AND RELEASE. I WOULD IF I WAS GOING TO EAT FISH, I'D EAT THE FISH. AND I'VE BEEN FISHING HERE FOR 60 YEARS. AND YOU LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY. 
          [04:10:31]
UNO DE LOS MAS GRANDES DEL PASO Y ES EL PARQUE. MUCHAS PERSONAS LO TOMAN POR SENTADO ENTRE SUS INMENSA VERDE, DECENAS DE ACTIVIDADES Y RINCONES NO TE ACABAS EN UN SOLO DIA. ES LA MANERA PERFECTA DE ARRANCAR ESTA AVENTURA. MAS DE CUATROCIENTOS DIVERSION EL PARQUE MAS GRANDE DEL CONDADO DE EL PASO Y LO MEJOR EN VERANO DE CINCO Y MEDIA AM8PM. SIN PRE-TEXTOS EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLIMPICA CINCUENTA METROS TIENE DOS TOBOGGANS Y VOLEIBOL DESDE CATORCE DE JUNIO DE DOS CUATRO PM. FINES DE SEMANA DE DOS CINCO TAMBIÉN OFRECEN CLASES DE NATATION CON HORARIOS FLEXIBLES NO IMPORTA TENGAN TODOS TENGAN OPORTUNIDAD DE APRENDER A NADAR CON COMPANEROS, PUES DE SU NIVEL Y DE SU EDAD PADRES DE FAMILIA CREAM. CUANDO UNA CLASE DE NATATION A LA ENERGIA DE SUS PICKS ENCANTADOS. POR QUÉ ES COMO SE LE DORMIR? EL TOQUE ESPECIALES LLEVARLO DESPUÉS POR PIZZA Y ESO SERA SUFICIENTE NO OBSTANTE EL AGUA ES PARA TODOS LA CANTIDAD DE BENEFICIOS, TANTO FISICOS COMO MENTALES ES ENORME EL MOVIMIENTO DEL AGUA. EL SONIDO DEL AGUA ES RELAJANTE PARA EMPEZAR LA TRANSPARENCIA. 
          EL COLOR DE LA TEXTURA BUENO EL AGUA Q LES PUEDO DECIR ES ES NUESTRO AMBIENTE. ES DE VERANO. 
          PUEDES VER LA FANTASIA DE MICHAEL PHELPS O VIENE DE LA CINTA. Y SI DESPUÉS DE ENERGIAS. 
          QUÉ TAL UN PASEO EN LA TUYA O RENTA UNA HIBRIDA POR $6 AL DIA. Y NO KANSAS A LA MITAD CON ESTAS VECES. NUNCA SE TE VOY A ESCAPAR EL CARRITO DE LAS NIEVES. ALIVIAN MICKEY ICE CREAM VIENE TODAS LAS TARDES Y ENCONTRAR LO ESPAN COMEDO ES LA GENTE ESCUCHAR LA MUSICA Y NOS BUSCA Y BUENO AL MENOS CON FRENOS SI FUNCIONAN. Y YA LO HABIA VISTO TODO AGARRATE PORQUE TAMBIÉN HAY GANANCIAS PARA CUALQUIER DEPORTE SE OCURRA AQUI NO QUIERE HACER NADA. SIMPLEMENTE NO SALE. POR QUÉ MUCHAS PARTS SON DIVERTIRSE. QUIERES SENTIRTE COMO UN MAGNATE. UN COUNTRY CLUB. EL GRAN CAMPO DE GOLF DE ESTE LUGAR VEINTISIETE HOYOS CLASES PARA TODOS LOS NIVELES. EL LAGO DE ASCARATE HABIA PURO CAMARON DE SOPA INSTANTANEA ESTAS MUY EQUIVOCADO, PUES ENCONTRAR DESDE CATFISH CARPA LA PAZ, LA LUBINA APROBAR TO SUERTE. SI LO TUYO ES CON UNA CANA PARA MI LA JOYA DE LA CORONA DEL PARQUE. ES ESTE INMENSO LLEGO DONDE PUEDE PASAR Y POR SUPUESTO, DISFRUTAR DE UNA MARIDO Y DORADO ATARDECER CLARO LAS MEJORES AVENTURAS CERCA DE PENSAMOS NOS VEMOS EN LA PROXIMA PARADA. YO SOY MIGUEL CONTRERAS DE NOTICIAS 26. EL REPORTERO FAVORITO DE REPORTERO FAVORITO. 
          [04:19:29]
GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED INTO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. IT IS 1:49 P.M. WE'RE ON ITEM NUMBER NINE. A FROM HUMAN RESOURCES. RECEIVE AN UPDATE, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING HB 718 AND THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS LYDIA FERNANDEZ WITH THE HUMAN 
          [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]
RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, AS REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT. THE HUMAN RESOURCES 
          [04:20:01]
DEPARTMENT IS HERE TO PROVIDE THE WEEKLY UPDATE ON THE TAX COLLECTOR ASSESSOR'S OFFICE AND ITS ONGOING PROGRESS WITH HB 718 OPERATIONS. LAST WEEK, WE PRESENTED AN OVERVIEW OF HB 718, INCLUDING A SUMMARY OF ITS OPERATIONAL IMPACT ON THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. WE ALSO SHARED FINDINGS FROM TWO TIME AND MOTION STUDIES CONDUCTED OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDED THE COURT WITH UPDATES REGARDING STAFFING LEVELS, OVERTIME AND COMP TIME USAGE, WORKLOAD BACKLOGS, AND TRAINING EFFORTS. TODAY, WE WILL BE UPDATING THE COURT ON EACH OF THESE AREAS, HIGHLIGHTING THE ACTIONS TAKEN SINCE LAST WEEK. 
          ANY MEASURABLE PROGRESS ACHIEVED, AND ANY ONGOING CHALLENGES THAT MAY REQUIRE CONTINUED ATTENTION. SINCE LAST WEEK, WE DO HAVE THE FOLLOWING UPDATES. THE HIRING WAITING EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR FIVE ENTRY LEVEL VACANCIES WERE REVIEWED BY THE HIRING WAITING PERIOD REVIEW COMMITTEE ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2025 AND THEY WERE APPROVED TO BE FILLED IMMEDIATELY. THE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS LAST WEEK. 
          THE REQUEST FOR OVERTIME PAY WAS RECEIVED AND APPROVED BY THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR. THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR IS ABLE TO APPROVE UP TO $10,000 OF OVERTIME, INCLUDING FRINGE COSTS, AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WILL MONITOR THE USAGE AND BRING BACK TO THE COURT THE REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL OVERTIME AS THE DEPARTMENT NEARS THAT $10,000 LIMIT. AS OF THIS MORNING, THE CURRENT BACKLOG IN WEBB DEALER IS 4130 TRANSACTIONS DATING BACK TO SEPTEMBER 24TH, AND THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY DROP OFF OR MAIL IN WORK. AS A NOTE LAST. THE LAST THAT WE REPORTED WAS THERE WAS 5663 TRANSACTIONS DATING BACK TO THE 12TH. SO THAT'S A PROGRESS OF 12 DAYS AND ABOUT 1500 TRANSACTIONS. THE TAX OFFICE DID HAVE EMPLOYEES, 18 EMPLOYEES COME IN TO WORK THIS PAST SATURDAY ON THE FOURTH TO WORK ON THE BACKLOG, INCLUDING THREE MEMBERS OF THEIR MANAGEMENT TEAM AND THREE MEMBERS FROM THE ACCOUNTING TEAM. AND ALTHOUGH THE WEBB DEALER WORK WAS REVIEWED, THERE'S STILL A FEW MORE STEPS TO COMPLETE THE TRANSACTIONS, INCLUDING THE ACH REPORTS OR REQUESTS THAT NEED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THAT ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT SO THEY CAN BE SUBMITTED TO THE BANK AND SENT UP TO THE WEBB DEALER CLERKS. AS MENTIONED LAST WEEK, THE TAX OFFICE HAS SCHEDULED TWO ADDITIONAL TRAINING SESSIONS SESSIONS FOR DEALERS, ONE IN ENGLISH AND ONE IN SPANISH, AT EPCC THIS COMING SATURDAY, OCTOBER THE 10TH, HR WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR STAFFING, TRAINING AND PROCESS ADJUSTMENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TAX OFFICE AND REPORT EVERY WEEK TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ONGOING 2025 TIME AND MOTION STUDY WILL ALSO BE SHARED AS SOON AS THEY'RE FINALIZED. DOES THE COURT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. BETSY, ANYTHING. JUDGE. THE ONLY THING I WOULD TELL YOU ALL, WE'LL SEE WHAT IN TWO WEEKS WHEN WE HAVE THE UPDATE DURING THE HOLIDAY AFTER THE HOLIDAY BREAK. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SAM AND I DISCUSSED THIS MORNING IS ESPECIALLY WITH THE THE POSTING FOR THE AGENDA, THAT IT'S HAVING A WEEKLY UPDATE ON, THIS IS ACTUALLY KIND OF CHALLENGING WITH FOR HR TO TURN THE INFORMATION AROUND, WE MAY CONSIDER AFTER WE SEE, MAYBE WE SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN WE GET AN UPDATE IN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE HOLIDAY TO SEE IF WE DON'T GO TO EVERY TWO WEEKS. SO THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO IMPLEMENT AND AND SEE THE RESULTS OF ANY ACTIONS, LIKE THE OVERTIME AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. OKAY. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU COULD KEEP IT AND THEN DETERMINE AT THAT TIME? BECAUSE I KNOW THE PUBLIC IS VERY INTERESTED IN. YES. SO THAT'S DEFINITELY AN OPTION. WE COULD JUST KEEP IT ON. AND IF THERE'S NOT ANY MAJOR UPDATE THAT WEEK, JUST ASK THAT WE NO ACTION FOR THAT ITEM. AND THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT US TO SEE HOW WE'RE WE'RE DOING ON THAT ITEM. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE MOVE AHEAD TO THE PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP ITEM NUMBER FOUR, G THAT WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. OKAY. ITEM FOUR G IS PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 154.007. COPY ATTACHED ORDER ALL MONEY THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE DEPOSITED IN A SALARY FUND CREATED UNDER TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 154.042, TO BE DEPOSITED IN THE COUNTY'S GENERAL FUND. THE SALARY FUND REQUIRED BY TEXAS 
          [G. Pursuant to Texas Local Government Code, § 154.007, copy attached, order all money that otherwise would be deposited in a salary fund created under Texas Local Government Code, §154.042, be deposited in the County's general fund. The salary fund required by Texas Local Government Code, §154.042 has been a part of the general fund and it is recommended this practice be continued.
Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262]
          [04:25:05]
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 154.042, HAS BEEN A PART OF THE OF THE GENERAL FUND AND HAS RECOMMENDED THIS PRACTICE BE CONTINUED. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. THANKS, JUDGE. YEAH, BETSY, I JUST I PULLED THIS ITEM BECAUSE I JUST WANTED AN EXPLANATION, AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WITH THIS ITEM. JUST A LITTLE MORE CLARITY ON WHY, WHY, WHY WE HAVE TO DO THIS. SURE. YES, COMMISSIONER. WE HAVE BARBARA PARKER HERE TO EXPLAIN. THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE DONE FOR YEARS. NOT NOT THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE BEEN HERE. 
          BUT WE DID START DOING IT PROBABLY TEN YEARS AGO. AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO BARBARA. 
          YES, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS BARBARA PARKER, THE COUNTY AUDITOR. AND WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR BECAUSE IT'S REQUIRED BY THE STATUTE. IF WE DID NOT DO IT, WE WOULD HAVE TO OPEN SEPARATE BANK ACCOUNTS AND SEPARATE FUNDS FOR EACH ONE OF THE OFFICES, AS WELL AS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. AND THAT'S A LOT MORE WORK. SO IT'S EASIER FOR US TO PAY EVERYTHING OUT OF GENERAL FUND. AND THIS IS A REQUIREMENT BASED ON THE CURRENT STATUTES THAT WE BRING INTO COURT ON THE FIRST MEETING OF EACH YEAR, EACH FISCAL YEAR. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THE ITEM. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. A. 
          THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONER STOUT. I COULD YOU PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA BACK ON COMMISSIONER STOUT. I THOUGHT I HAD IT ON. HOLD ON. CAN YOU SEE ME NOW? YES, SIR. OKAY. YEAH. 
          MY MY VOTE IS I. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. ITEM NUMBER TEN A FROM PUBLIC WORKS. WE HAVE. I'M SORRY. WHAT ABOUT ITEM? YOU. YOU OKAY? THE OTHER ONE. YEAH. THAT WAY COMMISSIONER STOUT DIDN'T HAVE TO. I'VE GOT G AND H FOR SOME REASON. YEAH, I HAVE YOU THAT THE OTHER ITEM PULLED FROM CONSENT WAS ITEM FOR YOU. OKAY. APPROVE AN AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE STANDARD FORM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN EL PASO COUNTY AND OTSEGO ARCHITECTURE. 
          [U. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Standard Form of Agreement between El Paso County and  Exigo Architecture for design services for the El Paso County Ascarate Park Renovations Bond Project in the amount of $4,209,217.01. Funding is available in CP-TCO23B-DRAINDRED-PK IMPROV, CP-TCO23B-ASCARATE-CAPROJ-PROF, and CP-BD24ISSUEA-PROPA-PARK IMPRO.  (Contract No. 2025-0825)
Norma Rivera-Palacios, Deputy County Administrator, Public Works Department, 915-273-3330]
FOR DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE EL PASO COUNTY ASCARATE PARK RENOVATIONS BOND PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,209,217.01 FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN CP. 23, B DRAIN DREDGE PARK IMPROVEMENTS CP 23 B ASCARATE CAP PROJECT PROFESSIONAL AND CP BD 24 ISSUE A PROP PARK IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT NUMBER 2025 0825. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS JUDGE, PUBLIC WORKS. I'M JUST. 
          COMMISSIONER STOUT, ARE YOU THERE? YES. YES, YES, YES. THIS ITEM I PULLED BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO TO HIGHLIGHT IT AND AND GIVE A QUICK EXPLANATION TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE PROJECT AND WHAT WE'RE DOING. THANK YOU, LYDIA, FOR JOINING US. ABSOLUTELY, COMMISSIONER. AND THE JUDGE, JUST IN GENERAL, THIS IS THE DESIGN CONTRACT FOR THE BOND PROJECT. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE ENHANCEMENTS FOR THE AT THE LAKE. OUR DESIGN TEAM IS READY TO KICK OFF THIS DESIGN. AND IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, OUR FOCUS WILL BE REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND DEVELOPING THE AND DOING THE CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT. SOMETHING ELSE THAT FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS, THAT IS THAT WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON THE LAKE IMPROVEMENTS, AS WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY PREVIOUSLY, THAT THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE LAKE. SO WE WILL ALSO BE KICKING OFF THE WELL REHABILITATION ANALYSIS FOR THE AT THE PARK. AND LOOKING AHEAD, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE COMPLETION OF THE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT BY SUMMER OF 2026. THIS PROJECT WILL BE DELIVERED THROUGH CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT 
          [04:30:05]
MANAGEMENT MANAGER AT RISK APPROACH. AND WE PLAN TO GO OUT FOR TO BID FOR CMAR EARLY TO KEEP THE OUR TIMELINE ON TRACK. SO THAT'S A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF WHAT THIS CONTRACT'S ABOUT. AND AGAIN LIKE I MENTIONED OUR MEXICO OUR DESIGN TEAM IS EAGER TO GET THIS STARTED. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. THAT'S ALL I HAD TO APPROVE THE ITEM. OKAY. SECOND. JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS REALLY A GREAT THING FOR US. OUR PARK HAS GOT IT IS 85 YEARS OLD AND IT'S HIGH TIME WE REALLY, YOU KNOW, IMPROVED IT AND REALLY MADE IT A GREAT PLACE. AND I THINK THIS IS WELL ON ITS WAY TO GETTING THAT DONE. AND I THINK WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE CREDIBILITY OF DOING THINGS RIGHT AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING. YEAH, I THINK WE'RE NOT ONLY DOING THIS FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR ANYBODY ELSE THAT GOES TO BOND THAT WE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO RAISE THAT BAR LIKE WE'VE GOT THE DASHBOARD, WE'VE GOT ALL OF THESE THINGS HAPPENING. SO I'M VERY FORTUNATE. WE'RE ALL VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE'VE GOT THAT KIND OF A TEAM WITH LYDIA AND OTHERS. SO THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT, A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. JUDGE. 
          MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER TEN A FROM PUBLIC WORKS. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED REVISED BYLAWS OF THE EL PASO AREA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION, 
          [A. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the adoption of the proposed revised Bylaws of the El Paso Area Transportation Services, Local Government Corporation (EPATS, LGC), d.b.a. El Paso Transportation Authority (ETA).  (#8277-OP)
John Andoh, Director, Transit Operations, 915-273-3838]
DOING BUSINESS AS EL PASO TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY OPINION NUMBER 8277. 
          WELCOME. YES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          COUNTY JUDGE AND FELLOW COMMISSIONERS JOHN ANDO, DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT OPERATIONS FOR EL PASO COUNTY AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OF IPADS. I'M HERE TODAY TO BRING BEFORE AN UPDATE TO THE BYLAWS FOR THE EL PASO AREA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. THE LAST TIME THESE BYLAWS WERE BROUGHT BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WAS IN 2020, AND IPADS BOARD HAS GONE THROUGH AND DISCUSSED SEVERAL REVISIONS TO JUST BASICALLY REFLECT THE CURRENT BUSINESS STRUCTURE OF IPADS. AND I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER THE PROPOSED CHANGES THAT THE IPADS BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SEE. BASICALLY, THERE WAS A LOT OF TECHNICAL UPDATES AND CLEANUP OF THE BYLAWS TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS CONSISTENT TEXT AND CONSISTENCY IN THE LANGUAGE USED WITHIN THE BYLAWS. IN ADDITION, TECHNICAL UPDATES LIKE THE NAME EL PASO AREA TRANSPORTATION SERVICE SHOULD BE EL PASO AREA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. ADDING THE NEW DBA THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD AS EL PASO TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. ADDING. BASICALLY THE ABILITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO APPOINT A COUNTY APPOINTMENT TO THE EL PASO METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION TRANSPORTATION POLICY BOARD. THE ABILITY TO HIRE AND DISMISS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THE ABILITY TO ADD A MASS TRANSIT DEPARTMENT GOVERNED BY TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE SECTION 453 WITHIN EL PASO COUNTY TO BECOME A FULL MEMBER OF THE BOARD IF THEY PROVIDE CONTRIBUTIONS. TO ADD A THIRD SEAT FROM EL PASO COUNTY. DUE TO THE POTENTIAL GROWTH OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BY ADDING A SEAT FROM THE CITY OF SOCORRO AND THE CITY OF EL PASO MASS TRANSIT DEPARTMENT, THE ABILITY TO ADD ALTERNATES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IF A PRIMARY BOARD MEMBER IS NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. TO ADD DETAILS ABOUT MANDATORY ETHICS, OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT TRAINING FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS STATUTES. THE ABILITY TO REMOVE A DIRECTOR 
          [04:35:07]
FOR NONATTENDANCE TO THE BOARD. THE ABILITY IN SPECIAL CASES IF A BOARD. IF A MUNICIPALITY PARTICIPATING IN IPADS IS NOT ABLE TO SEND A STAFF MEMBER TO THE BOARD BECAUSE OF THEIR STAFFS. BECAUSE OF THEIR SIZE, SUCH AS THE TOWN OF CLINT, THE BOARD WOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO ALLOW THAT MUNICIPALITY TO APPOINT A COUNCIL MEMBER IN LIEU OF A STAFF MEMBER. 
          CLARIFYING THE POWERS OF THE CHAIR AND THEN ADDING THE ROLE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. 
          FURTHER CLARIFYING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IPADS AND EL PASO COUNTY. AND THEN LASTLY ADDING DISSOLUTION. IF THE CORPORATION WAS TO BE DISSOLVED FOR WHATEVER REASON, HOW THE ASSETS WOULD BE RETURNED TO THE MEMBERS PRIMARILY WOULD BE THE COUNTY. SINCE THE COUNTY IS THE LION'S SHARE OF FUNDING FOR THE BYLAWS FOR THE ORGANIZATION. SO I REQUEST THE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVAL OF THESE BYLAWS, AND UPON COMMISSIONERS COURT'S APPROVAL, WE WILL FILE THESE BYLAWS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND PROVIDE THEM TO ALL THE CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE CORPORATION. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY. COMMISSIONER BUTLER. 
          YES, THANK YOU, MR. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. ON THE BOARD, WE HAVE DILIGENTLY REVIEWED THE BYLAWS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR AND MADE ALL OF THESE CHANGES THAT MR. ANDO WENT OVER HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE LAST NINE MONTHS. AND, AND AS AS THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO GROW, ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY REMAINS WITH THE WITH THE MAJORITY, WITH WITH A MAJORITY SEAT ON ON THE BOARD. THAT IS THE DIRECTION THAT THIS COURT GAVE TO TO, TO MYSELF AND TO STAFF MEMBERS OF ETA TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY'S INTERESTS ARE STILL REPRESENTED. GIVEN THAT THE COUNTY DOES PROVIDE THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDING TO ETA. THE BYLAWS ARE A LIVING DOCUMENT, BUT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE LEGAL AND RATIFIED, THIS COURT NEEDS TO APPROVE THEM. SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU THE ASSURANCE THAT THE ETA BOARD HAS REVIEWED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE RECOMMENDED CHANGES AND AND VOTED IN FAVOR OF THEM. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL SEAT THAT IS BEING GIVEN TO THE COUNTY. WHEN WILL WE BE DISCUSSING WHO WILL FILL THAT THIRD SEAT? IS THAT SOMETHING? THAT'S THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM. THAT'S THE NEXT. YES. YEAH. 
          COMMISSIONER OR JUDGE? MAY I ASK ONE QUESTION ABOUT ONE OF THE CHANGES? SORRY. SO WHEN THE WHEN THE COUNTY ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED THE. LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION. AND IT REALLY I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CHANGED AT A LATER DATE JOHN AND I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DISCUSS THIS, BUT WE, WE TALK ABOUT IT AS A IN THE VERY FIRST PARAGRAPH. ONE OF THE CHANGES IS TO IT'S ADDRESSING RESIDENTS AREAS OUTSIDE OF EL PASO COUNTY AND OUTSIDE OF OUR AREAS IN EL PASO COUNTY, OUTSIDE OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY. AND I THOUGHT ONE OF THE GOALS WAS TO ACTUALLY TRY TO COVER EVEN THE JURISDICTION WITHIN THE CITY, LIKE THE END GOALS, TO HAVE A TRULY REGIONAL ONE BODY EVENTUALLY. THAT'S STILL THAT'S STILL THE INTENT THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE. THERE'S ALREADY LEGISLATION IN THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE THAT AUTHORIZES A COUNTY WIDE TRANSIT SYSTEM IN EL PASO COUNTY. A LOT OF IT IS BASED ON TAXATION, AND SEVERAL THE MUNICIPALITIES ARE ALREADY AT THEIR 2% CAP, WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT THEM FROM CONTRIBUTING TO THE TRANSIT SYSTEM BASED ON THAT CURRENT LEGISLATION. SO THIS IS KIND OF THE FIRST STEP. 
          AND THEN AS AS WE GO DOWN THE LINE, SHOULD LEGISLATION CHANGE, CHANGE OR THE ABILITY OF THOSE MUNICIPALITIES TO FUND THEIR ABILITY, THEIR FUND, THEIR TRANSIT OBLIGATION THROUGH 
          [04:40:02]
OTHER MEANS, THEN THAT CAN POTENTIALLY GET TO A POINT OF A COUNTYWIDE TRANSIT SYSTEM. BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT WE'RE PROBABLY A WAYS AWAY FROM GETTING THERE. SO THIS IS REALLY FOCUSING THE EFFORTS ON ALL OF THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, GIVING EL PASO MASS TRANSIT DEPARTMENT THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE AS A FIRST STEP AND THEN BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP TO SEE WHERE THAT GOES. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN I. VOTE IS I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. JUDGE. 
          I THANK YOU, SIR. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM TEN B DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPOINT A COUNTY COMMISSIONER TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EL PASO AREA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION, DOING BUSINESS AS EL PASO TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. HI, JOHN. OKAY. I'LL JUST GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE COUNTY JUDGE AND HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS JOHN ANDO, DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT OPERATIONS FOR EL PASO COUNTY AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF IPADS. THIS ACTION IS TO REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSIONER COURT TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO EITHER APPOINT A COMMISSIONER TO ACT AS THE THIRD SEAT ON IPADS, OR ONE THING THAT WAS DISCUSSED WITH THE CHAIR OF IPADS, AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER AND KERN COUNTY COMMISSIONER, IS PERHAPS WE CAN APPOINT A PUBLIC MEMBER AND GO THROUGH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION PROCESS TO APPOINT A PUBLIC MEMBER AND BRING THAT PROCESS BACK, OR BRING THAT PERSON BACK BEFORE THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT TO APPOINT. AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO THIS REQUEST. IS THERE INTEREST IN THE COMMISSIONERS? OR YOU'D RATHER THE PUBLIC IS GO THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH THAT JUDGE? I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SERVING, ACTUALLY, IF NONE OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COURT WOULD LIKE TO. I'M OKAY WITH THAT. I'M OKAY WITH IT. COMMISSIONER BUTLER, I'M HAPPY TO WELCOME COMMISSIONER STOUT TO THE BOARD. SO I'LL MOVE FOR COMMISSIONER STOUT TO BE APPOINTED. THANK YOU. JUDGE, I DON'T HAVE MY TECHNOLOGY WORKING FOR ME. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN I. MY VOTE 
          [B. Discuss and take appropriate action to appoint a County Commissioner to serve on the Board of Directors of the El Paso Area Transportation Services, Local Government Corporation (EPATS, LGC), d.b.a. El Paso Transportation Authority (ETA).
John Andoh, Director, Transit Operations, 915-273-3838]
IS I. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. SAFE TRAVELS. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEMS 11 A THROUGH 11 F PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 55 1.071 AND 55 1.0725. I'M SORRY, WE DO NEED TO READ IN. 11 F. ITEM F DISCUSS ONGOING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH VARIOUS STUDIOS PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551 .0725. THANK YOU, MR. NAVA, AND ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR ITEM 11. F STAFF IS ASKING TO DISCUSS THIS ITEM PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551 .0725. 
          THE COUNTY IS CURRENTLY IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH VARIOUS STUDIO REGARDING AN AMENDMENT TO THE COUNTY'S EXISTING AGREEMENT. THE INFORMATION TO BE DISCUSSED INCLUDES ISSUES INVOLVING BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THOSE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, AND THE COURT MUST BE FREE TO DISCUSS THOSE ISSUES WITHOUT UNDERMINING THE COUNTY'S POSITION. THEREFORE, CHRIS HERNANDEZ, AS YOUR LEGAL ADVISOR, HAS DETERMINED THAT DELIBERATION AND OPEN MEETING CONCERNING THESE BUSINESSES, THESE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL 
          [F. Discuss ongoing contract negotiations with Verus Studio, pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.0725.
Roberto Ransom, Director, Economic Development Department, 915-273-3583]
ISSUES RELATING TO THOSE NEGOTIATIONS WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND NEGOTIATIONS. THUS, I AM REQUESTING THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT UNANIMOUSLY VOTE THAT DELIBERATIONS IN OPEN MEETING WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND THAT NEGOTIATIONS, AND THAT ALL DELIBERATIONS TAKE PLACE IN CLOSED SESSION. I WOULD FURTHER REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, COMMISSIONERS, COURT REPORTERS TO ENSURE THAT ALL PROCEEDINGS IN CLOSED SESSION BE RECORDED. IF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AGREES, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND AND A RECORDED VOTE AT THIS TIME. AND A COPY OF THIS LEGAL MEMO HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, COMMISSIONERS, COURT REPORTERS TO BE MADE PART OF THE OFFICIAL COURT RECORDS. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. JUDGE 
          [04:45:08]
SAMANIEGO HAS STEPPED OUT OF THE MEETING. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. AT THIS TIME. NOW, COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEMS 11 A THROUGH 11 F PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 55 1.071 AND 551.0725. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECONVENE TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION. IT IS 2:15 P.M. 
          [04:51:23]
YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING OUT HERE AND COPING WITH SITUATIONS AND RELAXATION. IT'S PEACEFUL, IT'S QUIET, IT'S NICE. 
          IN THE SUMMERTIME. IT'S NICE AND COOL DOWN HERE. ABOUT 8:00 STARTS GETTING WARM, BUT IT'S NICE AND COOL. COME DOWN HERE AND RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND FACE THE WORLD. THE BAIT, IT VARIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT HERE, THEY WERE HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. WHAT'S VERY POPULAR IS WEENIE HOT DOG. AND THEN THEY STOP HITTING ON THE HOT DOG. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START HITTING ON THE SHRIMP, AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN ON THE SHRIMP. NOW I'M USING SOME STINK BAIT AND IT REALLY STINKS. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH SOMETHING WITH SOME STINK BAIT. 
          BUT IT'S GREAT WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING. IT'S GREAT. YEAH, THE TROUT WILL PUT THE HOOK IN THEIR MOUTH AND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY PULL ON IT, LIKE THEY PULLED BEFORE. 
          THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE AND GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH. BUT YOU GOTTA TROUT. IT IS KIND OF HARD FISHING FOR TROUT. LIKE THAT, BUT. YOU. THERE HE GOES. WELL, THE LARGE ONE, THE LARGEST ONE I CAUGHT HERE WAS A 15 POUNDER. YEAH, YOU CAN EAT THEM. I DON'T, BECAUSE I LIKE TO CATCH AND RELEASE. I WOULD IF I WAS GOING TO EAT FISH, I'D EAT THE FISH. AND I'VE BEEN FISHING HERE FOR 60 YEARS. AND YOU LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY. 
          [04:55:12]
CON UNO DE LOS MAS GRANDES DEL PASO Y ES EL PARQUE MUCHAS PERSONAS LO TOMAN POR SENTADO ENTRE SUS INMENSA AREAS VERDES DEZENAS DE ACTIVIDADES Y RINCONES NO TE ACABAS EN UN SOLO DIA. ES LA MANERA PERFECTA DE ARRANCAR ESTA AVENTURA MAS DE CUATROCIENTOS DIVERSION ES MAS GRANDE DEL CONDADO DE EL PASO Y LO MEJOR EN VERANO DE CINCO AM8PM. SIEMPRE TEXTOS EMPIEZA EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLIMPICA TIENE. DOS. TOBOGGANS Y VOLEIBOL DESDE ESTE CATORCE DE JUNIO DE DOS CUATRO PM. SI TIENES DE SEMANA DE DOS CINCO TAMBIÉN OFRECEN CLASES DE NATACION CON HORARIOS FLEXIBLES PARA Q TENGAN TODOS TIENE UNA OPORTUNIDAD DE APRENDER A NADAR CON COMPANEROS, PUES DE SU NIVEL DE SU EDAD PADRES DE FAMILIA CREAM. CUANDO UNA CLASE DE NATATION A LA ENERGIA DE SUS PEQUEAS ENCANTADOS Y POR QUÉ ES COMO SE VA A DORMIR? TOQUE ESPECIALES LLEVARLO DESPUÉS POR ESO SERA SUFICIENTE NO OBSTANTE EL AGUA ES PARA TODOS LA CANTIDAD DE BENEFICIOS. TANTO FISICOS COMO MENTALES ES ENORME EL MOVIMIENTO DEL AGUA. EL SONIDO DEL AGUA ES RELAJANTE PARA EMPEZAR LA TRANSPARENCIA. EL COLOR DE LA TEXTURA BUENO EL AGUA Q LES PUEDO DECIR ES ES NUESTRO AMBIENTE. ES DE VERANO. PUEDES VIVIR LA FANTASIA DE MICHAEL PHELPS O BIEN DE LA SERENA. Y SI DESPUÉS DE NADA A. QUEDAN ENERGIA'S. QUÉ TAL UN PASEO EN LA? RENTA? UNA HIBRIDA POR $6 AL DIA RAPIDO Y NO KANSAS A LA MITAD CON ESTAS VECES. NUNCA SE TE VOY A ESCAPAR EL CARRITO DE LAS NIEVES. UN MIX ICE CREAM VIENE TODAS LAS TARDES Y ENCONTRAR ES COMO ES LA GENTE ESCUCHAR LA MUSICA Y NOS BUSCA Y BUENO AL MENOS CON LOS NINOS SI FUNCIONAN. HABIAS VISTO TODO AGARRATE PORQUE TAMBIÉN HAY CONCHAS PARA PRACTICAR CUALQUIER DEPORTE SE OCURRA AQUI NO QUIERE HACER NADA. 
          SIMPLEMENTE NO SALE. POR QUÉ MUCHAS PARTES SON DIVERTIRSE? QUIERES SENTIRTE COMO UN MAGNATE SIN UN COUNTRY CLUB? EL GRAN CAMPO DE GOLF DE ASCARATE ESTE LUGAR HOYOS CLASES PARA TODOS LOS NIVELES. DE ASCARATE HABIA CAMARON DE SOPA INSTANTANEA ESTAS MUY EQUIVOCADO PUEDES ENCONTRAR DESDE CATFISH CARPA LA BASE. LA LOBINA APROBAR TU SUERTE SI LO TUYO ES RELAJATE CON UNA CANA PARA MI LA JOYA DE LA CORONA DEL PARQUE. KARATE ES ESTE INMENSO LLEGO DONDE PUEDES Y POR SUPUESTO DISFRUTAR DE UN AMARILLO Y DORADO ATARDECER CLARO LAS MEJORES AVENTURAS PENSAMOS NOS VEMOS EN LA PROXIMA PARADA YO SOY MIGUEL CONTRERAS DE NOTICIAS 26. EL REPORTER FAVORITO DE TU REPORTERO FAVORITO. 
          [05:08:14]
YOU KNOW IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING 
          [05:08:18]
OUT HERE AND COPING WITH SITUATIONS AND RELAXATION. IT'S PEACEFUL, IT'S QUIET, IT'S NICE. 
          IN THE SUMMERTIME. IT'S NICE AND COOL DOWN HERE. ABOUT 8:00 STARTS GETTING WARM, BUT IT'S NICE AND COOL. COME DOWN HERE, RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND FACE THE WORLD. THE BAIT, IT VARIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT HERE, THEY WERE HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. WHAT'S VERY POPULAR IS WEENIE HOT DOG. AND THEN THEY STOP HITTING ON THE HOT DOG. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START HITTING ON THE SHRIMP, AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN ON THE SHRIMP. NOW I'M USING SOME STINK BAIT AND IT REALLY STINKS. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH SOMETHING WITH SOME STINK BAIT, BUT IT'S GREAT WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING. IT'S GREAT. YEAH, THE TROUT WILL PUT THE HOOK IN THEIR MOUTH. AND WE'RE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY PULL ON IT LIKE THEY PULLED BEFORE. 
          THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE AND GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH. BUT YOU GOTTA TROUT. IT IS KIND OF HARD FISHING FOR TROUT. LIKE THAT. YOU. THERE HE GOES. WELL, THE LARGE ONE, THE LARGEST ONE I CAUGHT HERE WAS A 15 POUNDER. YEAH, YOU CAN EAT THEM. I DON'T, BECAUSE I LIKE TO CATCH AND 
          [05:10:03]
RELEASE. I WOULD IF I WAS GOING TO EAT FISH, I'D EAT THE FISH. AND I'VE BEEN FISHING HERE FOR 60 YEARS. AND YOU LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY. 
          MAS GRANDES DEL PASO Y ES EL PARQUE. MUCHAS PERSONAS LO TOMAN POR SENTADO ENTRE SUS INMENSA VERDE, DECENAS DE ACTIVIDADES Y RINCONES Q NO TE ACABAS EN UN SOLO. ES LA MANERA PERFECTA DE ARRANCAR ESTA AVENTURA MAS DE CUATROCIENTOS SACRÉES DE DIVERSION. EL PARQUE MAS GRANDE DEL CONDADO DE EL PASO Y LO MEJOR EN VERANO DE CINCO Y MEDIA A M A SIN PRE-TEXTOS EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLIMPICA CINCUENTA METROS TIENE LAVADOS TOBOGGANS Y VOLEIBOL DESDE CATORCE DE JUNIO DE DOS. CUATRO Y MEDIA PM FINES DE SEMANA DE DOS CINCO TAMBIÉN OFRECEN CLASES DE NATACION CON HORARIOS FLEXIBLES NO IMPORTA TENGAN TODOS TENGAN OPORTUNIDAD DE APRENDER A NADAR CON COMPANEROS, PUES DE SU NIVEL DE SU EDAD PADRES DE FAMILIA. CUANDO UNA CLASE DE NATATION, LA ENERGIA DE SUS PEQUES, ENCANTADOS. POR QUÉ Y SE VA A DORMIR? EL TOC ESPECIALES LLEVARLO DESPUÉS POR ESO SERA SUFICIENTE NO OBSTANTE EL AGUA ES PARA TODOS LA CANTIDAD DE BENEFICIOS, TANTO FISICOS COMO MENTALES ES ENORME EL MOVIMIENTO DEL AGUA. EL SONIDO DEL AGUA ES RELAJANTE PARA EMPEZAR LA TRANSPARENCIA. 
          EL COLOR DE LA TEXTURA BUENO EL AGUA Q LES PUEDO DECIR ES ES NUESTRO AMBIENTE. ES DE VERANO. 
          PUEDES VIVIR. LA FANTASIA DE MICHAEL PHELPS O BIEN DE LA SERENA. Y SI DESPUÉS DE NADER QUEDAN ENERGIA'S. QUÉ TAL UN PASEO DE LA TUA O RENTA UNA HERIDA POR SIX DOLARES AL DIA. 
          Y NO KANSAS A LA MITAD CON ESTAS VECES. NUNCA SE TE VOY A ESCAPAR EL CARRITO DE LAS NIEVES. ALIVIAN MICKEY ICE CREAM VIENE TODAS LAS TARDES Y ENCONTRADO ES COMO ES LA GENTE ESCUCHAR LA MUSICA Y NOS BUSCA Y BUENO AL MENOS CON LOS NINOS. SI FUNCIONAN. Y SI YA LO HABIA VISTO TODO AGARRATE PORQUE TAMBIÉN HAY PARA PRACTICAR CUALQUIER DEPORTE SE OCURRA AQUI NO QUIERE HACER NADA. SIMPLEMENTE NO SALE. POR QUÉ MUCHAS PARTES SON DIVERTIRSE. 
          QUIERAS SENTIRTE COMO UN MAGNATE SIN UN COUNTRY CLUB. EL GRAN CAMPO DE GOLF DE ASCARATE. 
          ESTE LUGAR VEINTISIETE HOYOS Y CLASES PARA TODOS LOS NIVELES. DE ASCARATE HABIA PURO CAMARON DE SOPA INSTANTANEA ESTAS MUY EQUIVOCADO PUEDES ENCONTRAR DESDE CATFISH CARPA LE BASS LA LUBINA CON LICENCIA SUERTE. SI LO TUYO ES CON UNA CANA PARA LA JOYA DE LA CORONA DEL PARQUE. 
          [05:15:03]
ASCARATE ES ESTE INMENSO LAGO DONDE PUEDE PASAR Y POR SUPUESTO, DISFRUTAR DE UNA MARIDO Y DORADO ATARDECER CLARO LAS MEJORES AVENTURAS CERCA DE PENSAMOS NOS VEMOS EN LA PROXIMA PARADA. YO SOY MIGUEL CONTRERAS DE NOTICIAS 26. EL REPORTERO FAVORITO REPORTERO FAVORITO. 
          [05:25:04]
YOU KNOW IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING OUT HERE 
          [05:25:10]
AND COPING WITH SITUATIONS AND RELAXATION. IT'S PEACEFUL, IT'S QUIET, IT'S NICE. IN THE SUMMERTIME. IT'S NICE AND COOL DOWN HERE. ABOUT 8:00 STARTS GETTING WARM, BUT IT'S NICE AND COOL. COME DOWN HERE, RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND FACE THE WORLD. THE BAIT. IT VARIES. 
          COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED INTO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. WE HAVE COMPLETED ALL THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY. GREAT. WELL, THANK YOU EVERYBODY. AND ALSO ON BEHALF OF JUDGE SAMANIEGO WHO HAD TO LEAVE US, WE HOPE HE'S DOING OKAY. AND SO WE WISH HIM WELL. 
          THANK EVERYBODY. HAVE A GOOD WEEK. THANK EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S MEETING AT 2:56 P.M.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.