6. PRESENTATION

[A. Receive a presentation, discuss, and take appropriate action regarding an interlocal agreement with the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority (CRRMA) on the Medical Center of Americas (MCA) Placemaking Guidelines Project. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]

WE HAVE RAYMOND WITH THE CR. MAY WITH US THIS MORNING. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM IS FOR THE COURT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AND PROVIDE STAFF WITH DIRECTION REGARDING A PROPOSED AGREEMENT WITH THE CRMA TO HAVE THEM DEVELOP PLACEMAKING DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR THE AREA SURROUNDING THE MEDICAL CENTERS OF THE AMERICAS. SO THIS WOULD BE FOR TEXAS TECH UMC CHILDREN'S, THE BRIDGE OVER REYNOLDS THAT THAT AREA. AND I KNOW THERE'S A MAP IN THE PRESENTATION FOR THE COURT TO CONSIDER. THE COMMISSIONER STOUT BROUGHT THIS TO MY OFFICE AND ASKED THAT WE PLACE THIS ON THE AGENDA. THE TOTAL PROJECT COST IS ABOUT $340,000, AND WE'RE BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER BEING ONE OF FIVE PARTNERS AND TO PAY RIGHT AROUND $68,000 FOR A SHARE OF THIS COST. THE OTHER PARTNERS WOULD BE UMC CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, CITY OF EL PASO AND TEXAS TECH. AND AGAIN, WE'LL GO OVER THE BOUNDARIES. AND THE RESULT OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE A SET OF DESIGN GUIDELINE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN AND AROUND THIS AREA. THIS TODAY, WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR THE COURT TO PROVIDE STAFF DIRECTION ON IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, WE'D WANT TO WORK WITH LEGAL ON THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT AND BRING IT BACK FOR YOUR FINAL APPROVAL.

AND WE WOULD HAVE TO IDENTIFY A FUNDING SOURCE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STONE. YEAH, THANKS. REAL QUICK, BEFORE WE HEAR FROM MR. GOOD MORNING. I THINK THIS MAY HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED WITH WITH SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT PREVIOUSLY AND I THINK, JUDGE, MAYBE YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS ALSO TO MAKE, BUT I ASKED BETSY TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN JUST HAVE THE DISCUSSION AND CONSIDER THIS. I KNOW THAT WE'RE IN A BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS THAT'S LEADING UP TO NEXT YEAR, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE REALLY HARD CHOICES REGARDING WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE, HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THEM, AND HOW TO BALANCE THOSE NEEDS WITH THINGS LIKE STATE CAPS AND LOSING FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. BUT WE ALSO, I THINK, HAVE A COMMITMENT TO AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER TO AT LEAST CONSIDER THESE TYPES OF ITEMS, IN THIS CASE TO IMPROVE THE THE LOOK AND FEEL OF A CRITICAL PUBLIC SPACE. THE COMPONENT INSTITUTIONS OF THE MCA FOOTPRINT. SO I KNOW THAT THERE MAY BE SOME QUESTIONS. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AS WELL, BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND AND GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION. AND THEN AND THEN WE'LL ASK QUESTIONS IF THAT'S OKAY. OKAY.

[00:25:05]

PERFECT. WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS RAY MATHIAS WITH THE CAMINO REAL REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY. SO YOU'LL HAVE TO BEAR WITH ME. WE WERE EXPECTING SOMEONE FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO BE HERE. WHO WAS THE INITIAL ENTITY THAT THAT PUT THIS GROUP TOGETHER AND, AND REALLY SPEARHEADED THIS INITIATIVE. SO IF YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME, I'LL TRY TO WING IT THROUGH THERE. THERE PART OF THE PRESENTATION. SO REALLY, AS I UNDERSTOOD IT, THE CHAMBER'S INTENT THROUGH THEIR EL PASO MOBILITY COALITION WAS TO LOOK AT THE MCA. AND IN THEIR REVIEW OF THE MCA, THEY RECOGNIZED THAT IT COULD LOOK A LOT BETTER COMING IN AND OUT OF THAT, OUT OF THAT AREA. SO WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS A QUOTE REGARDING FIRST IMPRESSIONS. REALLY, THE POINT HERE IS TO SIMPLY SAY WE HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT AREA AND WE COULD MAKE IT LOOK A LOT BETTER. THIS IS A LISTING OF THE THE VARIOUS INVESTMENTS MADE IN THE MEDICAL CENTER AREA, AND EVERYTHING FROM THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FOX CANCER CENTER, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, THE MOST RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT. AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN THE DENTAL SCHOOL, THE NURSING SCHOOL AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE THERE. SO, AS YOU KNOW, THIS COMMUNITY HAS MADE A REAL INVESTMENT IN IN THIS AREA. AND YET DESPITE THAT, YOU'LL SEE THESE QUOTES FROM OUR CONGRESSWOMAN, FROM OUR FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE, FROM LOCAL CEO OF, OF THE WESTSTAR BANK. AND THE LAST ONE IS, IS THE ONE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE CHAMBER WAS MOST FOCUSED ON AND THAT WAS A DENTAL STUDENT WHO WHO WAS NOTING HOW COMING INTO THE AREA YOU WANT TO YOU WANT TO CONVEY QUALITY FROM THE ONSET OF THE PATIENT'S EXPERIENCE, AND YOU'RE JUST NOT SEEING THAT AT THIS TIME. AND I'M SORRY, I CAN'T GIVE YOU MORE, MORE BACKGROUND ON IT, BUT THIS IS WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE CHAMBER. THAT'S WHAT STARTED THIS INITIATIVE. AND SO FROM THERE, THE CHAMBER STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT HAS BEEN DONE FOR ESTHETIC IMPROVEMENTS AND WAYFINDING AND THAT SORT OF THING. THEY FOUND A COLLABORATION BETWEEN TEXAS AND TEXAS TECH. THIS WAS BACK IN 2014. SOME INITIAL PLANS WERE DEVELOPED TO IMPROVE THE AREA AND ADVANCE THE COMMUNITY. HERE ARE SOME NOTABLE PUBLIC ENTRANCES TO BE USED AS EXAMPLES. AND I SHOULD MENTION ALSO, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE INITIATIVE ORIGINALLY STARTED WITH THE REYNOLDS OVERPASS. THE IDEA WAS THEY WANTED TO FOCUS ON A GRANDER ENTRANCE INTO THE MCA THROUGH REYNOLDS. SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT WERE THAT WERE GIVEN THROUGH THE EL PASO MOBILITY COALITION. THROUGH THE CHAMBER, VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS WERE BROUGHT TOGETHER THE CITY, THE COUNTY, UMC, CHILDREN'S, ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT MISS KELLER MENTIONED, PLUS OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN THE AREA WERE BROUGHT TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THIS IDEA. SEVERAL MEETINGS WERE HELD AND THE GROUP FELT THAT THIS WAS A WORTHY INITIATIVE TO ADVANCE. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY WANTED TO IDENTIFY A SET OF GUIDELINES FOR FUTURE ESTHETIC DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREA.

THAT'S WAYFINDING, THAT'S WALKING PATHS, SHARED USE PATHS, THAT SORT OF THING. WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE AND WHAT, AS A COMMUNITY, THE MCA COULD LOOK LIKE AS A UNIFIED CAMPUS. SO IT EXPANDED A LITTLE BIT FROM SIMPLY THE REYNOLDS OVERPASS TO THE ENTIRE MCA AREA. AND REALLY, THE POINT OF THE INITIATIVE BECAME THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SET OF GUIDELINES SO THAT WHEN FUTURE ENTITIES, WHEN ENTITIES DEVELOPED THEIR FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS, WHETHER IT'S TEXAS TECH, UMC, CHILDREN'S OR OR ANY OF THE OTHER MAJOR ENTITIES IN THE AREA, WHEN THEY DEVELOP THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, THEY WANTED TO HAVE THAT UNIFORM LOOK. THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THE ENTIRE AREA LOOKED LIKE A SINGULAR CAMPUS. SO THAT'S WHAT THE THE DISCUSSION MOVED TO. SO THAT'S WHEN THE ARMY GOT INVOLVED. AS YOU KNOW, THE REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY IS A MOBILITY AUTHORITY, IS A IS A TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. WE'RE ABLE TO DO ANY AND EVERYTHING RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. SO THIS FALLS WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION. WHAT WE WERE ASKED TO LOOK AT WAS POTENTIALLY ENGAGING A CONSULTANT TO CREATE A PLACEMAKING PLAN. AND SO YOU SEE THE INTENT THERE, AND SOME OF WHICH I'VE TALKED ABOUT TO DEVELOP A UNIFIED ESTHETIC, IDENTIFY WAYFINDING AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS AND POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES AS WELL. SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID. WE WENT OUT AND AND BROUGHT ON ONE OF OUR GENERAL ENGINEERING CONSULTANT TEAMS. IN THIS CASE, IT WAS HNTB, AND WE'VE ASKED THEM TO PUT TOGETHER A SCOPE OF WORK. WE WORKED WITH THAT STAKEHOLDER GROUP THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE TO NARROW IN ON ON WHAT THAT SCOPE OF WORK WOULD LOOK LIKE.

AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. SO GENERALLY YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE A VERY ROUGH ESTIMATE OF WHAT, WHAT THE PROJECT LIMITS WOULD LOOK LIKE. BUT IT IT SHOULD BE NOTED, IT'S, IT'S INTENDED TO REALLY COVER ALL OF THE MCA. SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE GRAND THAN, THAN THAT. MISS KELLER MENTIONED THE FIVE PARTNERS AS WELL. SO THAT'S THE CITY, THE COUNTY, TEXAS TECH UMC AND THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. SO THE IDEA THERE IS THAT EACH OF THOSE STAKEHOLDERS WOULD PUT IN ABOUT $68,000, AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THIS GUIDELINE

[00:30:03]

DOCUMENT FOR EVERYONE. I MENTIONED WE BROUGHT ON HNTB TO PROVIDE THAT THAT SUPPORT. AND EACH OF THE THE PROJECT PARTNERS WOULD, WOULD SIT ON A COMMITTEE THAT WOULD GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS WORK. SO IF YOU ALL PARTICIPATE, I THINK IN EITHER EVENT YOU ALL WILL PROVIDE INPUT AS THE AS THE PLANS ARE DEVELOPED. SO THE IDEA IS THAT THE MA BRINGS ON HNTB. WE MEET WITH THIS COMMITTEE REGULARLY AND SUBJECT TO THE GUIDANCE OF THE COMMITTEE, WE DEVELOPED THE GUIDELINES ALONG THE WAY. SO THE THE STEPS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PLAN INCLUDE EVERYTHING YOU SEE THERE. SO WE'LL REVIEW ALL THE COMPLETED PLANS FIRST. AND THAT'S I MENTIONED THE TXDOT PLAN THAT WAS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED. THE MCA HAS OBVIOUSLY VARIOUS PLANS IN THE AREA. THE CITY HAS SOME IMPROVEMENT PLANS. I MENTIONED TXDOT FOR THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE, BUT ALSO THERE ARE SOME HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PLANS THAT COULD BE ROLLED IN AS WELL. SO THEY'LL SYNTHESIZE EVERYTHING THAT'S OUT THERE TODAY AND REVIEWING EXISTING CONDITIONS AS WELL. SO IT'S REALLY KIND OF A WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW? AND THEN FROM THERE WE'LL DEVELOP A SHARED VISION AND SET GOALS FOR THE PLAN. AND THAT WILL BE DRIVEN BY THE COMMITTEE THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE. WE WILL CREATE THE DESIGN GUIDELINES, EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE THERE. AND THEN THAT FOURTH BULLET IS REALLY IMPORTANT. WE BEGIN IDENTIFYING FUNDING AND PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES. SO THAT'S LOOKING AT GRANT PROGRAMS, THAT'S LOOKING AT AREAS WHERE WE COULD PULL DOWN FUNDS TO START TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE THROUGH THE PLACEMAKING PLAN. AND THEN THE LAST ITEM WAS AN OPTIONAL ITEM THAT THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS FELT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND THAT IS TO DEVELOP A PRELIMINARY GRANT APPLICATION. SO AT THE END OF THIS PROJECT, THE COMMITTEE SAID, WELL, WE DON'T WANT JUST ANOTHER PLAN THAT GOES ON A SHELF. WE WANT SOME ACTIONABLE ITEM AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE THERE. SO PART OF THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR HNTB AND THAT YOU SEE IN THE DRAFT INTERLOCAL, THAT'S THAT'S INCLUDED AS PART OF YOUR BACKUP IS. A DELIVERABLE THAT PROVIDES PRELIMINARY GRANT APPLICATION DOCUMENTATION THAT ANY OF US, WHETHER IT'S A CITY, THE COUNTY, ANY OF THE PARTNERS, COULD USE TO GO OUT AND SEEK FUNDING FOR AN INITIAL PLAN. SO THAT'S THE ACTIONABLE, MOST ACTIONABLE ITEM OUT OF THE THE SCOPE OF WORK. HERE'S SOME SOME HIGHLIGHTS ON THE ON THE SCOPE ITSELF. WE THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE ABOUT 12 MONTHS OF WORK FROM THE ISSUANCE OF NOTICE TO PROCEED. IT WILL INCLUDE VARIOUS MEETINGS WITH THE COMMITTEE FOR THE REVIEW AND INPUT THAT WE DISCUSSED A LITTLE WHILE AGO. AND THEN THOSE ARE THE DELIVERABLES. WE'LL DO A TECHNICAL MEMO TO IDENTIFY WHAT'S OUT THERE TODAY.

WE'LL DO A VISION AND GOALS REPORT, THEN A RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT, AND THEN DEVELOP THE DESIGN GUIDELINES. AND THEN LASTLY, IT'S THE GRANT SUPPORT MATERIALS THAT I MENTIONED AS WELL. SO TO DATE THE CITY OF EL PASO WE'RE MEETING WE'RE PRESENTING TO CITY COUNCIL TOMORROW FOR THEIR APPROVAL. THE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED WITH STAFF. SO WE'RE TAKING THAT AGREEMENT TO CITY COUNCIL TOMORROW. TEXAS TECH HAS EXECUTED AN INTERLOCAL WITH THE RMA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER. THEY'VE ALSO NEGOTIATED AND SIGNED THE INTERLOCAL AND AND EL PASO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL HAS ALSO NEGOTIATED AND SIGNED THE INTERLOCAL. SO EACH OF THOSE SO I WOULD SAY THREE OF THE FIVE PROPOSED PROJECT PARTNERS HAVE EXECUTED THE AGREEMENT. AND AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO CITY COUNCIL TOMORROW TO RECEIVE HOPEFULLY APPROVAL FROM THEM. SO IF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVES THIS TODAY, WE WILL THEN, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, BEGIN NEGOTIATING AND HOPEFULLY EXECUTE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH YOU ALL. AT THAT POINT, WE WILL HAVE EXECUTED ALL FIVE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS. I SHOULD MENTION ALSO EACH OF THESE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS AND THE WORK AUTHORIZATION WITH HNTB WILL GO TO THE REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY BOARD NEXT WEDNESDAY FOR APPROVAL. AND SO AS SOON AS WE CAN NEGOTIATE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH EL PASO COUNTY, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXECUTE ALL THOSE AGREEMENTS AND ISSUE A NOTICE TO PROCEED AND BEGIN WORK. AND AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED THERE, THAT LAST POINT IS SIMPLY TO NOTE THAT WE WOULD THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO KICK OFF TO SCHEDULE A KICKOFF MEETING WITH THE WITH THE PLANNING COMMITTEE. SO I THINK THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE FOR YOU. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT THAT'S THAT'S THE PROPOSED PLAN, MR. STOUT. THANKS. THANKS, MR. TORRES, FOR THE FOR THE PRESENTATION. MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHY ISN'T THE MTA CONTRIBUTING? YEAH. YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T TELL YOU. I THINK I SAW SOMEONE FROM THE CHAMBER. I'LL ASK MR. ORTEGA TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM. I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE MTA WAS ASKED TO PARTICIPATE, BUT I COULDN'T TELL YOU MUCH MORE ABOUT THAT. WELCOME, STEVE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS. WE DID ASK THE MTA, AND THEY SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO PARTICIPATE. I BELIEVE THEIR ALLOCATION FROM EL PASO ELECTRIC ENDS IN 2030. AND THEY'RE THEY'RE TAPPED OUT. BUT OF ALL THE ENTITIES WE ASKED, THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT DID NOT PARTICIPATE. REGARDLESS, I THINK THIS IS A SLAM DUNK, NO BRAINER TYPE OF PLAN. WE AS A COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST 20

[00:35:05]

YEARS HAVE BET BIG TIME ON THIS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF LOCATION AND OF ECONOMY, AND IT'S NOT BEFITTING OF THE TYPE OF INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE MADE TO HAVE THE ENTRANCE LOOK THE WAY IT DOES. ANDREA TORNEY, WHO WORKED AT TEXAS TECH, WOULD SAY WHEN SHE WOULD BRING IN DOCTOR RECRUITS TO EL PASO, SHE WOULD TAKE A WAY AROUND BECAUSE THE ENTRANCE JUST WASN'T SOMETHING THAT SHE WANTED TO PROJECT ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY. SO I WISH THE MTA WAS PARTICIPATING.

THEY'RE NOT. REGARDLESS, WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF ENTITIES THAT ARE ARE WILLING TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE, AND HOPEFULLY THE COUNTY WILL AS WELL. THANK YOU STEVE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I ALSO WANTED TO ASK WHAT WHAT WHAT IN YOUR OPINION IS, IS ARE GOING TO BE THE PUBLIC BENEFITS? I MEAN, YOU KIND OF HAVE GONE OVER IT A LITTLE BIT ASIDE, BUT ASIDE FROM THE GENERAL ESTHETICS OF THE MTA FOOTPRINT, IS IT GOING TO TIE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, MAKE IT EASIER FOR RESIDENTS TO FIND AND ACCESS THE MTA IN THE HOSPITAL CAMPUS, OR THE FOOTPRINT INSTITUTIONS CAN? CAN YOU DELVE INTO THAT A LITTLE MORE? I THINK, AND I DON'T KNOW, RAYMOND, IF THE QUOTE FROM THE THE TEXAS TECH STUDENT WAS ON THERE, BUT I THINK HIS QUOTE SAYS IT ALL, COMMISSIONER STOUT. YEAH, THE DENTAL STUDENT WHEN WHEN YOU'RE ENTERING INTO A MEDICAL EXPERIENCE, YOU WANT TO HAVE THE PROJECTION OF QUALITY FROM YOUR FIRST STEP FORWARD.

AND RIGHT NOW, OUR FIRST STEP GOING OVER THAT REYNOLDS OVERPASS, IT DOESN'T PROJECT QUALITY FOR THE PATIENT, FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND IN TERMS OF THE BAR THAT WE'RE SETTING FOR EL PASO, WE CAN EITHER HAVE LOW BAR OR HIGH BARS. AND SO TO ANSWER YOUR YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT WILL ALSO INCLUDE WAYFINDING AND PEDESTRIAN FINDING, NOT ONLY FOR THE STUDENTS BUT ALSO FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEMBERS. AND WE'RE HAPPY TO CONVENE YOU AND THE CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, DOCTOR ACEVEDO, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE INVOLVED IN THE ASSOCIATIONS INVOLVED AS THE PLAN MOVES FORWARD. THANK YOU. AND THEN ONE LAST, ONE LAST QUESTION. THERE'S A THERE'S A PLANNING COMMITTEE. IF WE GET INTO THIS AND THROW SKIN IN THE GAME, OR ARE WE AM I GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE PART OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE? BECAUSE IN PAST PROJECTS WITH THE WITH THE MOBILITY COALITION, MY OFFICE HAS KIND OF BEEN ICED OUT. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IF I'M VOTING TO PROVIDE FUNDING, THAT I'M AT THE TABLE. YES, SIR. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT EACH OF THE PROJECT PARTNERS WOULD HAVE REPRESENTATIVES ON THAT COMMITTEE, AND I'M ASSUMING, AS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THAT AREA, YOU WOULD BE ON THAT COMMITTEE. BUT ULTIMATELY THAT'S A THAT'S A QUESTION FOR, FOR THIS GROUP, NOT FOR ME. YEAH. ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY LIKED IS THAT RIGHT NOW IT'S SORT OF ISOLATED TEXAS TECH, YOU'VE GOT DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, BUT WE'VE NEVER SEEN IT AS ONE BIG AREA. AND I THINK IF INDIVIDUALS COMING FROM OUT OF LIKE OUT OF TOWN OR COMING FROM JUAREZ OR MEXICO, THAT THEY FEEL THAT SENSE OF, OF UNITY, THAT IT'S ALL THERE. WE'VE GOT SO MANY THINGS TO OFFER, INCLUDING THE, YOU KNOW, THE PAISANO WHERE THEY DID THE CHILDREN'S CANCER AND THAT EXTENSION. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'D BE SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO TO BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE IT AS ONE, NOT AS INDIVIDUALS. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I STARTED GETTING EXCITED ABOUT HAVING THAT. AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LITTLE TRIVIA THINGS THAT PEOPLE TELL ME ABOUT, LIKE. TELLING ME, BRINGING A DOCTOR IN TO GET INTERVIEWED AND COMING IN THROUGH THAT OVERPASS AND REALLY DOESN'T SHOW THAT THAT FIRST IMPRESSION THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT NOT SHOWING, LIKE, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE AND THAT IT'S SORT OF A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE UNTIL THEY'RE ABLE TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF THAT. THE ENTRANCE. AND SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD SORT OF ALMOST DIGNIFY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF OF PRESENCE HERE IN EL PASO. ONE OF OUR PILLARS, OBVIOUSLY, IS HEALTH CARE. YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE AEROSPACE.

BUT HEALTH CARE IS A BIG ONE FOR US. IT CAN GENERATE REVENUE. WE CAN GET MORE INDIVIDUALS COMING IN FROM FROM OUT OF EL PASO TO, TO BE ABLE TO TO GET TAKEN CARE OF THERE, GET CARE OF THERE AT THE HOSPITALS. SO I JUST SEE IT AS ONE UNITY AND I THINK THIS WOULD REALLY BRING IT ALL TOGETHER. AND OF COURSE IT WOULD BENEFIT THE AREAS AROUND THE THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS AROUND THERE WOULD BENEFIT JUST BY THE NATURE OF CREATING THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT KIND OF FOCUS. SO SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE. I TALK A LOT ABOUT COUNTY SPENDING MONEY IN MY DISTRICT. AND THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE CAN WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND IT'S NOT A LOT. AND IT MAY HAVE SOME, SOME BENEFITS FOR SURE. SO, YOU KNOW, I ASKED I ASKED THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ASK THEM. BUT BUT I BUT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT. ABSOLUTELY. YOU ALWAYS HAVE

[00:40:02]

BEEN. SO BETSY. OH I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. NO. ARE WE LOOKING AT ECONOMIC IMPACT FUNDS AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FUNDING, OR WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT? THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE OPTIONS COMMISSIONERS, EITHER THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FUND. WE COULD ALSO LOOK TO SEE IF WE HAVE ANY FUNDING LEFT FROM THE ARTS. FUNDING. THOSE ARE THOSE ARE A COUPLE OPTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT INTERNALLY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. ANOTHER I, I'M ALL FOR THIS PROJECT.

I'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE MORE EMPHASIS ON THE NATIVE LANDSCAPE AND AND TREES. I SAW SOME OF THE PROPOSALS OR SOME OF THE PICTURES, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE A LITTLE MORE FOCUS TO SEE MORE FOCUS ON THAT, THAT KIND OF ISSUES. I MEAN, THE OTHER ONES, I DIDN'T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF TREES AROUND THOSE ENTRANCES. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE COURT HAS KIND OF PRETTY MADE KNOWN THAT WE WANT ALL PROJECTS TO INCLUDE SOME KIND OF, YOU KNOW, NATIVE LANDSCAPING TREES. SO I'M ABSOLUTELY IN AGREEMENT WITH YOU. AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE THAT IN THE SCOPE FOR HNTB. BUT I'LL CONFIRM. AND IF IT'S NOT, WE WILL I'LL MAKE SURE IT'S IN THERE. AND I LIKE THE IDEA OF INCLUDING THE ARTS COMMISSION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. THIS IS ONE OF THE ITEMS. SO, COMMISSIONER BUTLER, YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT, FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE TO THE COURT. I'M DEEPLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE MCA, ITS MISSION AND VISION.

THE MCA IS AN ORGANIZATION. AND AS A CAMPUS, BEFORE I CAME TO THE COUNTY, I WAS THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS THERE FOR FIVE YEARS. SO I SAT THROUGH A LOT OF CAMPUS PLANNING MEETINGS, BOARD MEETINGS, DISCUSSIONS WITH UMC AND TEXAS TECH, ALL OF THE CAMPUS PARTNERS ABOUT HOW WE BRING THAT CAMPUS TOGETHER. EMMA SCHWARTZ, FORMERLY AMBER SCHWARTZ, WAS THE BIGGEST CHAMPION OF THAT AREA THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE. SHE WAS CONSTANTLY TRYING TO TALK TO TXDOT ABOUT THE OVERPASS AND THE WONDERFUL VIEW THAT WE HAVE OF I-10 FROM THE CARDWELL COLLABORATIVE. SO, SO I AM FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF ANY PLACEMAKING INITIATIVES THERE.

I KNOW WHEN I WAS THERE THAT THE MCA HAD GONE THROUGH AT LEAST TWO MASTER PLANNING PROCESSES FOR THE CAMPUS, BOTH THAT WERE PRIVATELY FUNDED, AS WELL AS THROUGH EDA GRANTS. AND WE HAD EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE, INCLUDING THE SAN JUAN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, EPISD.

NOW WE HAVE THE TEXAS, THE THE UT HOUSTON SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. THAT'S A BIG PART OF THAT CAMPUS. HAVE YOU ALL TALKED TO THOSE PARTNERS AS WELL? I BELIEVE WE HAVE.

COMMISSIONER BUTLER. WE HAD DOCTOR GINGER PINEDA ATTEND SOME OF THE MEETINGS AS WELL AS I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE THE DIRECTOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SCHOOL, BUT SHE HAD HAD DIRECTED DOCTOR PINEDA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE IN THE MEETINGS. AND SO SHE DID PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF THE INITIAL MEETINGS. AND MOVING FORWARD, THEY'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO BE AT THE TABLE. OKAY. GREAT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THIS MOVES FORWARD, THAT IT'S AN INCLUSIVE PROCESS. I UNDERSTAND THAT MCA IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND MAY NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO INFUSE INTO THE THE PROCESS NOW, BUT IT HAS INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY.

AND WE WE INVITED ALL THOSE FOLKS, OKAY, TO INCLUDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, MCA, CITY COUNTY CHILDREN'S, TEXAS TECH. IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL NAMES, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TO TAKE THEM, BUT WE OURSELVES TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO TO DO THIS. THAT'S GREAT. SO THEY'LL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS, EVEN IF THEY ABSOLUTELY ALL ARE WELCOME TOWARDS IT. YEAH, OKAY. ALL ARE WELCOME. I AGREE THAT MCA IS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF THIS REGION. I FULLY, FULLY BELIEVE THAT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS AT THE MCA, WE WERE EVEN THINKING ABOUT A TOURS WITH THE CITY. BUT THAT'S REALLY HARD BECAUSE EVERYBODY THERE IS A GOVERNMENT OR NONPROFIT OR HIGHER ED, SO IT DOESN'T GENERATE ANY FUNDING. WHAT I, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS, IS AT LEAST AN EFFORT TO LOOK BACK AT THE MASTER PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED.

I UNDERSTAND THE CAMPUS HAS CHANGED. A LOT OF PROPERTY HAS SWITCHED OWNERSHIP OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT A LOT OF IT WAS VERY PEDESTRIAN FOCUSED, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S WAYFINDING AND PLACEMAKING AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS DON'T NEED TO. BE REDONE.

IF YOU IF YOU CAN UTILIZE SOME OF THAT WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN WRITTEN, SPEAK TO THAT BECAUSE HE'S DONE THAT. YES, MA'AM. THAT'S THAT'S THE FIRST TASK IS TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE PLANS THAT WERE DEVELOPED ANYWHERE NEAR THE AREA AND SYNTHESIZE THOSE AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AND SO THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE COMMITTEE IN TERMS OF WHAT HAD BEEN

[00:45:02]

DEVELOPED TO DATE, WHAT COULD STILL BE PULLED FROM THOSE AND THAT SORT OF THING? YES, MA'AM.

WELL, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME COST SAVINGS THERE IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO REDO EVERYTHING FROM SCRATCH, YOU CAN USE WHAT IS GOOD AND AND STILL VALID AND VALUABLE FOR THE PLAN, AND NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A BRAND NEW ONE. POTENTIALLY. SURE, IF THERE ARE SECTIONS THAT YOU COULD LITERALLY PULL OUT FROM AN OLDER PLAN AND DROP INTO THIS NEW ONE, THEN THAT WOULD SAVE TIME AND RESOURCES FROM THE NEW ONE. YES, MA'AM. YEAH. THAT'S POSSIBLE. OKAY. I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE MCA CAN'T PAY A LARGE FEE TOWARDS THIS, HAVE WERE YOU ABLE WAS IT EVEN NEGOTIATED LIKE A SMALLER FEE FOR A NONPROFIT? NO, WE DIDN'T, SO WE THOUGHT THAT ALL SHOULD BE OUT IN AT AN EQUAL PRICE. SO THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. THE LADY FROM UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IS DOCTOR KATHY MINA.

SHE'S THE ONE WHO PUT FORTH DOCTOR PINEDA. YEAH. CHRISTY. MINA. I GUESS FOR ME, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS. AS COMMISSIONER STOUT MENTIONED, WE'RE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY DIRE AND TIGHT BUDGET SITUATION AS A COUNTY. AND I, WE TALK ABOUT THIS EVERY MONDAY AND I FEEL VERY, VERY CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE THAT UMC AND THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT IS A KEY PARTNER IN THIS. I THINK WE ARE TIED DIRECTLY TO UMC, AND IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE FOR THEM TO BE INVESTED IN THIS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE HEALTHCARE ASSET FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND THEY'RE PART OF THEIR MISSION. IS THE CAMPUS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT OF THAT CAMPUS. BUT IF IT COMES TO USING GENERAL FUNDS, I THINK, I THINK. IT'S MORE APPROPRIATE FOR UMC TO BEAR THAT COST THAN THE COUNTY. OKAY, RUBEN, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? RUBEN FROM. WELL, HE'S COMING UP HERE REAL QUICKLY. I JUST WANTED TO SAY I WOULD MUCH RATHER THE FUNDING COME OUT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND. I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT THIS SHOULD BE FOR. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM THE ARTS THAT WE HAVE, HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD TO, TO TRY TO PUT TOWARDS CREATIVE AND, AND, AND I KNOW THIS IS HAS SOME TYPE OF ARTISTIC MAY HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW PLACEMAKING PLACEMAKING ISSUES BUT THIS IS, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE GUIDELINES, NOT ACTUAL LIKE PAYING FOR A PIECE OF ARTWORK. RIGHT. SO IT'S I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD COME FROM THE ARTS FUNDING. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONERS. RUBEN, ONE MORE THING. WE WE MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY COMING UP. THERE'S A BID THAT'S ALREADY BEEN THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO US AND SHOULD BE COMING UP PRETTY SOON, THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING SOME ADDITIONAL ADDITIONS TO THAT WORK THAT THAT'S BEING PROPOSED ON THE DIGITAL SIGNAGE, THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE IN SOME OF THIS PROJECT. AND AND TO HAVE A FUND OBVIOUSLY, THAT CONTINUES TO, YOU KNOW, BRING REVENUE WITHOUT ANY EXPENSE TO US TO DEDICATE TO THE MAINTENANCE OR MAYBE EVEN PART OF THE FUNDING. SO JUST THROWING THAT OUT, RUBEN. THANK YOU. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, RUBEN, VOTE THE CHIEF ADVOCACY OFFICER FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. AND WE ARE ONE OF THE PARTNERS THAT HAS BEEN APPROACHED AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE. I THINK, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED ALREADY, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT CAN COME FROM WHAT IS ONE OF OUR MAJOR INDUSTRIES IN THE COMMUNITY IS SO IMPORTANT, AND WE CONTINUE TO GROW WITH THE GROWTH OF THE CANCER CENTER AND THE GERIATRIC CLINIC THAT UMC IS SET TO BUILD RIGHT OFF THE GATEWAY. INHERENTLY, THAT AREA IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A HUGE ASSET FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO ENSURE THAT IT ENHANCES THE LOOK AND FEEL BY THINKING STRATEGICALLY TOGETHER ON HOW DO WE MAKE AN ENTRANCE THAT REALLY IS DIGNIFIED FOR THE WORK THAT IS DONE THERE BY ALL PARTNERS, ALONG WITH THE OVERPASS, BUT ALSO TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE COMMUNITY AND THE RICH ASSET THAT THAT ABUTS THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE'RE VERY MUCH EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE, TO LOOK AT FORMER PLANS, TO SEE WHAT CAN BE TAKEN FROM THOSE, BUT ALSO THINK STRATEGICALLY ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE WITH ALL THE GROWTH THAT'S HAPPENING. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED AND COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN THAT THE COURT MAY HAVE IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET SITUATION. BUT IF THE COURT DOES MAKE THE DECISION TO PARTICIPATE, WE'RE WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ENDEAVOR.

AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE. APPRECIATE THAT. BETSY. SO WE WOULD JUST WANT DIRECTION FROM THE COURT TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO WORK WITH THE CRMA ON PLACEMAKING GUIDELINES AGREEMENT THAT WE WOULD BRING BACK TO THE COURT FOR APPROVAL USING ECONOMIC IMPACT FUNDS. OKAY. CAN I MAKE ONE REQUEST? CAN WE ASK THE MCA TO COME AND PRESENT THEIR MASTER PLANNING PLANS HERE TO COMMISSIONERS COURT BEFORE WE AGREE TO FUND ANYTHING? JUST JUST JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS IN ALIGNMENT, THAT THAT WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW,

[00:50:05]

MAKING PLANS AND SOMETHING THAT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS HAVE INVESTED IN AS A COMMUNITY FOR 15 YEARS NOW. YOU'LL INCLUDE THAT. IT'S OBVIOUSLY IT'S UP TO THE COURT, BUT THE MCA HAS BEEN AT THE TABLE. DOCTOR CARLOS ORTEGA WAS AT THE PLANNING MEETINGS. AND THEY'RE FAMILIAR. THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS. OKAY. THANK YOU STEVE, I THINK WHAT COMMISSIONER BUTLER THOUGH, YOU THINK THERE MAY BE ALREADY PLANS THAT EXIST THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF. THERE ARE PLANS THAT EXIST. YEAH. AND JUST JUST TO KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. IT'S UP TO THE COURT. SO YOU'RE ASKING FOR WHEN THE ITEM GETS BROUGHT BACK FOR FINAL APPROVAL, THAT AT THAT TIME OR BEFORE OR ANYTIME BEFORE, THEN WE JUST ASK FOR AN UPDATE ON WHAT THOSE PLANS HAVE LOOKED LIKE. YEAH, WE CAN WORK ON THAT WHILE WE'RE WORKING ON ON THE CONTRACT. OKAY. THANK YOU. BITS MOVING FORWARD. YEAH RAYMOND. THANK YOU STEVE. THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF THE CHAMBER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. WE'RE ASKING FOR A MOTION. OH, I MAKE THE MOTION. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT USING ECONOMIC IMPACT FUNDS WITH CRMA FOR PLACEMAKING GUIDELINES PROJECT. CAN WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUTE? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. VOTE I.

YEAH, MINE'S NOT COMING UP, I VOTE AYE. MOTION CARRIES AND WE'LL WORK TO GET THE PRESENTATION TO BEFORE THE COURT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU RAYMOND. THANK YOU STEVE RUBEN.

THANK YOU. ITEM SIX B RECEIVE AN UPDATE FROM THE CAMINO REAL REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY REGARDING THE PELLICANO WIDENING PROJECT. GOOD MORNING AGAIN. SO I'LL LAUNCH INTO THIS.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BACK. IT'S BEEN SOME TIME SINCE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PELLICANO. I DO THANKFULLY HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU ALL AND THAT IS ONE OF PROGRESS. SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, ALLOW ME A MOMENT TO GO BACK IN TIME AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE BEFORE WE JUMP INTO WHERE WHERE WE'RE HEADED. SO AS YOU KNOW, THE PELLICANO PROJECT IS FOR THE BENEFIT, MORE FOR THE PUBLIC THAN THAN CERTAINLY THE COURT. BUT THE REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY AND THE COUNTY PARTNERED SOME YEARS AGO TO DEVELOP THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES NECESSARY FOR THE PELLICANO PROJECT. ALONG THE WAY, THE CONTRACTOR THAT WE SELECTED WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT, SO THE MAY DEFAULTED THAT CONTRACTOR. THE CONTRACTOR EVENTUALLY FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY AND FILED CERTAIN CLAIMS AGAINST THE MAY. THOSE CLAIMS

[B. Receive an update from the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority regarding the Pellicano Widening Project. (TxDOT CSJ 0924-06-534) Norma Rivera-Palacios, Deputy County Administrator, Public Works Department, 915-273-3330]

THAT WERE FILED THEN DERAILED THE RMA'S PURSUIT OF THE PERFORMANCE BOND THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE SURETY COMPANY TO STEP IN AND COMPLETE THE PROJECT. SO WE'VE BEEN SIDELINED FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS NOW, WAITING FOR THE SURETY COMPANY TO STEP BACK IN.

THE MAY INITIATED VARIOUS LAWSUITS WITHIN THE BANKRUPTCY TO ADVANCE THAT THAT SURETY, THOSE SURETY ACTIVITIES. AND WE'VE WON ON TWO COURT CASES SO FAR. THOSE CASES HAVE SINCE BEEN APPEALED. UNFORTUNATELY. HOWEVER, IN THE PROCESS, AS YOU WILL RECALL, THE COUNTY HAS AGREED TO UPFRONT SOME FUNDING TO RESTART THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES. THAT WAS REALLY A VERY IMPORTANT STEP. WE WERE ABLE TO USE THOSE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO PARTNER WITH THE SURETY COMPANY. ALTHOUGH THE SURETY COMPANY IS NOT PUTTING IN ANY OF THEIR OWN FUNDS, THEY'RE ALLOWING FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE PROJECT. AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT THE REMAINING WORK THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE FOR THE PELLICANO PROJECT CONSISTS OF TWO DISTINCT PHASES. NOW, PHASE ONE, WE DEVELOPED A DESIGN SET OF PLANS THAT EFFECTIVELY COMPLETES THE ROADWAY FROM AIR COUPE HEADED BACK WEST TOWARDS LOOP 375. AND WE'RE. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE CURRENT PROJECT, THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTOR WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE EASTBOUND SECTION FROM LOOP 375 OUT TO ERCOUPE. THIS PHASE ONE WILL COMPLETE THE WESTBOUND SEGMENT, SO WE'LL EFFECTIVELY HAVE COMPLETED THE ROADWAY BETWEEN LOOP 375 AND ERCOUPE.

AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESSES AND THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN THE AREA ARE ALONG THAT SEGMENT. SO IT'S A REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT SEGMENT. SO THAT'S REFERRED TO AS PHASE ONE. THE COUNTY GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO FRONT SOME FUNDS FOR THAT. WHILE WE CONTINUE OUR LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TRUSTEE AND THE SURETY AND THE LIKE. SO BECAUSE OF THAT AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE COUNTY AND THE SURETY, WE'VE EXECUTED A NEW WHAT'S REFERRED TO AS A TAKEOVER AGREEMENT WITH THE SURETY COMPANY, THAT REQUIRES THE SURETY COMPANY TO GO OUT AND HIRE A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR, WHICH HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THAT CONTRACTOR IS NOW ON BOARD, AND THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEGUN WORK ON PHASE ONE. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. I SHOULD MENTION, TOO, BEFORE WE GET INTO PHASE ONE, THE DESIGNS PLANS FOR PHASE TWO ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY AS WELL. THOSE WE EXPECT TO BE COMPLETE

[00:55:04]

IN DECEMBER. ONCE THOSE PLANS ARE IN HAND, WE'LL TAKE THOSE PLANS TO THE SURETY COMPANY'S CONTRACTOR, RECEIVE PRICING ON IT. AND AT THAT POINT, WE WILL THEN KNOW THE TOTAL COMPLETION COST THAT IS NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE PROJECT AS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED. THAT WILL ALLOW US THEN TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SURETY COMPANY ON THE COMPLETE FIX. AS I MENTIONED, THERE ARE STILL COURT COSTS, COURT PROCESSES GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND. SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THOSE. SO PHASE ONE DESIGN IS COMPLETE. HANDED THAT OVER TO CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR THROUGH THE SURETY. THE CONTRACTOR HAS NOW BEGUN WORK.

THEY HAVE AN OFFICE NOW ON SITE. THEY'VE DONE CLEANUP WORK IN THE AREA, AS YOU KNOW, WITH THE WEEDS AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, IT'S GOTTEN PRETTY ROUGH OUT THERE. SO THE CONTRACTOR HAS DONE QUITE A BIT OF CLEANING OF THE AREA, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR FOR THE COMMUNITY OUT THERE. THEY'VE REPLACED ALL OF THE TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES OUT THERE. SO THEY'RE BRAND NEW HIGH REFLECTIVITY CLEANED. BARRELS ARE FULL OF WATER. EVERYTHING IS IS THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. THE CONTRACTOR HAS HAS DONE ALL OF THAT. THEY'VE ALSO BEGUN WORK ON THE DETENTION POND IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL, WHICH IS ALSO VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, BECAUSE THAT THAT POND WAS ORIGINALLY DUG BY THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTOR, BUT IT'S EFFECTIVELY BEEN OPEN OUTSIDE OF SOME SOME CHAIN LINK FENCING. SO WE'VE BEGUN COMPLETING THE WORK FOR THAT. THAT POND, WHICH IS AGAIN RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL. SO FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT STEP. THAT WORK IS UNDERWAY. THE ROAD, THE WORK ON THE ROADWAY ITSELF WILL BEGIN IN DECEMBER. THEY ARE COMPLETING SOME SURVEY WORK AND SHOULD BE OUT THERE CONSTRUCTING THE ROADWAY ONCE THE POND IS COMPLETE. AND AGAIN, THAT WILL BE IN DECEMBER. OH, I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THIS AT THE OUTSET. PHASE ONE WILL TAKE ONE YEAR. AND SO WE STARTED IN SEPTEMBER. SO IN SEPTEMBER OF 2026, PHASE ONE WILL BE COMPLETE. AND THAT ENTIRE ROADWAY FROM LOOP 375 TO ERCOUPE AND ERCOUPE BACK TO 375 WILL BE COMPLETE AND OPERABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THE ONE YEAR TIMELINE HAS HAS BEGUN, AND I BELIEVE I'VE HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS. WORK IS UNDERWAY. I SHOULD OH, ONE OTHER REALLY IMPORTANT POINT. COMMISSIONER ASKED FOR SOME SORT OF A NOTICE TO GO OUT TO THE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA. WE'VE DEVELOPED A POSTCARD FOR THAT. THE COUNTY IDENTIFIED JUST SHY OF 2000 RESIDENTS WITHIN AND AND COMMISSIONER BUTLER, I'M SORRY YOU'RE PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WELL. SO THE COMMISSIONERS ASKED US TO PUT THAT NOTICE OUT. THE COUNTY PROVIDED A LIST OF JUST SHY OF 2000 RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE AREA, ROUGHLY HALF A MILE FROM THE ROADWAY. AND THAT THAT POSTCARD IS BEING DEVELOPED NOW AND SHOULD BE IN THE MAIL THIS WEEK, WE BELIEVE.

SO WE'LL SEND YOU A COPY OF THAT ONCE THAT'S OUT IN THE MAIL. AND I BELIEVE THAT THOSE ARE THE HIGH POINTS. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT ULTIMATELY, THIS IS A BIT OF GOOD NEWS ON THE PELLICANO PROJECT. PROGRESS IS UNDERWAY AND CONSTRUCTION IS NOW UNDERWAY, SO I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, RAYMOND, FOR THE UPDATE. I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC BE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AWARE OF THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO START SEEING IN THIS PROJECT. SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THE POSTCARD IS GOING TO BE IN THE MAIL THIS WEEK. THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. BUT ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I HAD REQUESTED THAT I'M HOPING YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE CONTRACTOR ABOUT, IS ALSO CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEDIA TO GO OUT THERE, MAYBE IN DECEMBER, WHEN THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL BEGIN SO THAT THEY CAN GET FILM OF THE TRUCKS MOVING, THINGS LIKE THAT. BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, UP UNTIL NOW, THE NARRATIVE WELL CONTINUES TO BE RIGHT, THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT MOVING.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT MOVING, WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT MOVING. AND I THINK WE NEED TO NOW CHANGE THAT NARRATIVE TO THE PROJECT IS NOW MOVING. SO I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE CONTRACTOR ABOUT THAT. BUT I THINK THE SOONER WE CAN DO THAT, THE BETTER. AND WE START CHANGING THE NARRATIVE. YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THE CONTRACTOR ABOUT THAT AND HE'S HAPPY TO DO IT. WE DO THINK WHEN THE ROADWAY ACTIVITIES ARE UNDERWAY, THAT WOULD BE THE RIGHT TIME TO DO IT. WE'RE HAPPY TO REVISIT THAT IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO GET OUT THERE SOONER. BUT ULTIMATELY, THE THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW ARE SIMPLY THE POND, WHICH I THINK THE PUBLIC WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THE ROADWAY UNDER. I AGREE, AND IF THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN DECEMBER, I MEAN, I'M HOPING FOR EARLY DECEMBER, NOT LATE DECEMBER, BUT IF THAT CAN HAPPEN IN DECEMBER, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S FINE. THAT GIVES US ABOUT A MONTH TO GET THINGS PLANNED. BUT I JUST THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE START THAT, THAT WE START REPLACING THE NARRATIVE THAT'S OUT THERE NOW WITH THE NARRATIVE OF WORK IS NOW BEING DONE. YES, MA'AM. WE'VE HEARD YOU AND AGREE. AND AND IN DECEMBER. IF SO, WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED. BUT THE ANSWER IS YES. YES, MA'AM. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER BUTLER. NO. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE BETSY. ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? NO THANK YOU. JUDGE, WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE BACK TO PUBLIC

[01:00:08]

COMMENT. WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. ITEM FIVE PUBLIC COMMENT. MISS, WE HAVE MR. WILFRED GARCIA. WELCOME. JUDGE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME UP AND ADDRESS YOU. I REPRESENT THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETS CHAPTER

[PUBLIC COMMENT - 2]

TEN, AND I ALSO REPRESENT THE UNITED AMERICAN VETERANS ORGANIZATION OF EL PASO. WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE SPONSORING THE VETERANS DAY PARADE THIS SATURDAY. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE EACH ONE OF YOU A SPECIAL INVITE TO COME JOIN US. WE HAVE A VIP SECTION THAT WE'RE ON ON SAN ANTONIO STREET. WE'VE GOT CHAIRS AND STUFF. I'LL MAKE SURE I PUT OUT A HEATER BECAUSE IT MAY GET A LITTLE COLD FOR YOU. SO IF I MAY APPROACH. THANK YOU. EACH ONE OF YOU. AN INVITATION. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. THIS IS OUR 250 YEARS OF CELEBRATING A MILITARY MICROPHONE, SIR. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. ABLE TO MAKE IT AND JOIN US. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR, THANK YOU. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. THANK YOU I APPRECIATE Y'ALL. THANK YOU I REALLY DO. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. MR. JUDGE, IF I MAY ADD, FOR MR. GARZA'S COMMENTS, IT WAS THERE WAS AN ERROR IN THE PUBLICATION ON ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE NEWS OUTLETS, AND IT WAS ADVERTISING THAT IT WAS ON THE NINTH, WHICH IS SUNDAY. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND CLARIFYING FOR THE PUBLIC TO THAT. IT'S SATURDAY AT 10 A.M.

FOR THE PARADE, FOR THE DOWNTOWN PARADE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED THERE IS THE FACT THAT IT'S LAST YEAR'S AND LAST YEAR WAS NOVEMBER 9TH. THIS YEAR IT FALLS ON NOVEMBER 8TH. THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE CORRECTION. AND I WILL GET WITH THE MEDIA TO TO SEE IF I CAN CORRECT THAT FOR THEM, BECAUSE THEY'RE USING LAST YEAR'S INFORMATION, NOT THIS YEAR'S. I ALSO ASKED OUR STAFF TO REACH OUT TO THEM TODAY TO TO CORRECT THE RECORD. OKAY. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. OKAY. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN BOARD APPOINTMENTS SEVEN A PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 158.008, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO DESIGNATE ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE EL PASO COUNTY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION, WE'RE ASKING FOR A MOTION TO

[A. Pursuant to Texas Local Government Code § 158.008, discuss and take appropriate action to designate one of the members of the El Paso County Civil Service Commission as Chairman of the Commission. Sam Trujillo, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, Human Resources Department, 915-273-3520]

DELETE THIS ITEM. HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO? THE VOTING IS OPEN. WE'LL BRING THIS ITEM BACK NEXT MONDAY FOR THE COURT TO INTERVIEW THE CANDIDATES. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM EIGHT. COMMISSIONERS COURT EIGHT A DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION PERTAINING TO THE COUNTY'S RESPONSE TO FOOD INSECURITY IN EL PASO COUNTY. AND JUST FOR INFORMATION, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM. OKAY, COMMISSIONER STOUT,

[A. Discuss and take appropriate action pertaining to the County’s response to food insecurity in El Paso County. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-273-3559]

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. JUDGE. PULL UP MY NOTES HERE. SO I REQUESTED TO PUT THIS AGENDA ITEM ON REGARDING FOOD INSECURITY BECAUSE I THINK THE STAKES ARE PRETTY HIGH RIGHT NOW. AS OF AS OF THE 1ST OF NOVEMBER, APPROXIMATELY 42 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE LOST ACCESS TO THEIR BENEFITS THROUGH THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR SNAP AND OTHER FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. DUE TO THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. AND THESE ARE NOT REALLY ABSTRACT NUMBERS. YOU KNOW, THEY REFLECT OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND CONSTITUENTS WHO RELY ON THESE BENEFITS. WE FUND THE SYSTEM WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS. IT'S OUR INVESTMENT IN THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY. HERE IN EL PASO. THE SITUATION IS ESPECIALLY URGENT.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST CONCENTRATIONS OF FEDERAL CIVILIAN WORKERS IN TEXAS, THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT COVERS OUR AREA HAS APPROXIMATELY 22,418 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, OR ABOUT 6.44% OF ITS CIVILIAN WORKFORCE. MANY OF THOSE FEDERAL WORKERS ARE NOW MORE THAN 30 DAYS INTO THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY, AND THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING PAYCHECKS. AND SO THERE ARE MANY OF THEM ARE IN NEED, MAYBE

[01:05:02]

SHOWING UP TO LOCAL FOOD BANKS BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEM THAT IS MEANT TO SUPPORT THEM HAS BEEN SEVERED. SO, YOU KNOW, WE WE CAN'T REALLY DEPEND ON THE ON THIS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE PROVING TO BE VERY UNRELIABLE AT BEST AND HOSTILE MANY TIMES AT WORST.

IT'S UP TO, I THINK, LOCAL GOVERNMENT NOW TO TO TRY TO HELP FILL IN GAPS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD, WHICH IS THE FOUNDATION OF HEALTH, WHICH IS, BY THE WAY, THE NEXT LOOMING CRISIS. AND ONE OF OUR MAJOR CHARGES IS, IS COUNTY OFFICIALS. SO I WANT TO TRY TO FIND SOME SOLUTIONS, WHICH IS, I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DISCUSS. I DON'T THINK WE CAN TURN A BLIND EYE TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE ENABLERS THAT EXIST IN CONGRESS WHO REFUSE TO SIT DOWN AND WORK WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF HALF OF THE COUNTRY, ESSENTIALLY FREEZING THEM OUT OF GOVERNMENT. THE GOVERNANCE PROCESS, SNAP BENEFITS KEEP GROCERY STORES OPERATING, FARMERS SELLING PRODUCE, TRUCKERS TRANSPORTING GOODS, LOCAL BUSINESSES RUNNING WHEN PEOPLE CANNOT BUY GROCERIES, LOCAL COMMERCE AND SUPPLIERS LOSE REVENUE. NATIONWIDE, SNAP GENERATES ROUGHLY $9 BILLION IN GROCERY SALES EACH MONTH, AND IT DOES HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT IN EVERY ZIP CODE IN OUR STATE, INCLUDING INCLUDING OURS. FOR OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN EL PASO, THESE BENEFITS MATTER IN REAL TERMS. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS AND OUR LOCAL GROCERS RELY ON SNAP AND SIMILAR FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. I ASKED FOR THE AGENDA ITEM SO THAT WE COULD SHINE A LIGHT ON THE REALITY. HEAR FROM COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS WHO SERVE THE COMMUNITY EVERY DAY, AND TO ASK WHAT OUR COUNTY CAN DO, WHAT WE MUST DO, INCLUDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE STATE FEDERAL DELEGATIONS TO SUPPORT WORKING FAMILIES. ENSURE THAT NO ONE IN EL PASO GOES HUNGRY. AND I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF, ESPECIALLY IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, BETSY, FOR BEING PROACTIVE AND OF COURSE, THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY. COMMUNITY SERVICES HAS SOME CONCEPTS FOR US TO DISCUSS AND OUR VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR ALSO, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH HAS IDEAS ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO. I KNOW THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ALSO HAS BEEN INVALUABLE IN DEVELOPING THIS DISCUSSION. AND SO THERE'S FIVE COMPONENTS THAT THAT I'M PROPOSING HERE.

AND SO NUMBER ONE IS IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES I WANT TO HEAR FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FIRST. BUT GO AHEAD THAT WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS POTENTIAL. THE WAY IF WE CAN JOIN LAWSUITS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED TO FORCE THE ADMINISTRATION TO FOLLOW THE LAW AND RELEASE SNAP FUNDS AND POTENTIAL CONTRACTS THAT WE MAY WANT TO ENTER INTO FOR FOOD SERVICES. NUMBER TWO, AFTER THAT, I WANT TO HEAR PROPOSALS FROM COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT REGARDING ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE TODAY. NUMBER THREE, I THINK WE SHOULD SEND A LETTER TO THE STATE REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR THAT THEY FILL THE FUNDING GAP WITH THE RESERVES, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF RESERVES THAT THEY ARE SITTING ON. AND NUMBER FOUR, I WANT TO DISCUSS THE CONVENING. I WANT TO DISCUSS CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS FOR COMMUNITY WIDE RESPONSE, OR IF OTHER ENTITIES TAKES THE LEAD, YOU KNOW, JOINING IN THAT CONVENING. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE ALREADY A NUMBER OF RESTAURANTS AND AND, YOU KNOW, GROCERY STORES LIKE, LIKE FOOD CITY WHO ARE HERE TODAY WITH US THAT HAVE ALREADY STARTED GIVING OUT FREE FOOD AND SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY. BUT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHO IS DOING THAT AND KIND OF HAVE A CLEARINGHOUSE AND THEN ALSO SEE WHO ELSE WE CAN ENGAGE IN THAT, IN THAT CONVERSATION. AND THEN THE FIFTH ITEM, IN THE SAME SPIRIT OF PULLING TOGETHER, MAYBE SETTING UP A WORKGROUP OF RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS, COMMUNITY SERVICES, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, FOR SURE, MAYBE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LEGAL. WE HAVE I THINK I SEE ERIC PEARSON THERE FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. I SEE CHRIS FROM THE EL PASOANS FIGHTING HUNGER.

I KNOW THAT WE'VE SPOKEN TO DESERT SPOON AND NO LOSS FOOD AND OF COURSE FOOD CITY, WHO WE ALREADY MENTIONED WHO HAVE BEGUN THEIR RESPONSE. BUT AGAIN, IN THE SAME SPIRIT OF WORKING TOGETHER, I THINK WE SHOULD REACH OUT TO OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, ESPECIALLY THE CITY, BUT ALSO POSSIBLY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE KIDS IN CAFETERIAS, TO KIND OF WORK COOPERATIVELY TO TO COME UP WITH A WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY DON'T GO HUNGRY. I DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS. AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME SOLID ACTIONS THAT WE CAN TAKE TODAY. BUT I'M REALLY EAGER TO HEAR DISCUSSION WITH OUR STAFF, THE GUESTS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COURT. SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS ANY COMMENTS RIGHT NOW, BUT I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT SIGNED UP TO TO SPEAK. AND THEN AND THEN AFTER THAT, IF WE CAN GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION JUDGE TO TO HEAR THE ADVICE THAT OUR COUNTY ATTORNEYS HAVE ON A POSSIBLE LAWSUIT AND THEN OTHER FUNDING SOURCES THAT WE

[01:10:04]

MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONER CORONADO. YEAH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP, COMMISSIONER STOUT. I'M I'M WITH YOU ON ALL THOSE ITEMS. I THINK ONE OF THE BEST THINGS, THOUGH, THAT WE CAN TRY AND DO IS, YOU KNOW, IS GET OUR STATE LEADERSHIP TO STEP UP. WE KNOW THAT THE NEW MEXICAN STATE LEADERSHIP, THE GOVERNOR HAS STEPPED UP AND DONE THAT. AND I DON'T SEE WHY WITH WITH THE FUNDING THAT WE THAT THIS STATE HAS HAD IN RECENT YEARS. I THINK IT'S UP TO THEM AT THIS POINT TO MAKE SURE. AND WE HAVE TO PRESSURE THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STEP UP TO DO THE RIGHT THING, JUST LIKE NEW MEXICO DID. SO I'M WITH YOU ON THAT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

OKAY. WE HAVE THREE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM. FIRST, WE HAVE MISS MELISSA SANTOS.

GOOD MORNING. WELCOME. I'M HERE AGAIN. ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, LAST WEEK WAS TAMALES. BUT THIS WEEK WE SEE OURSELVES IN A REALLY DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND SO I CAME JUST TO KIND OF GIVE THE PERSPECTIVE OF A LOCAL BUSINESS, A LOCAL GROCERY STORE AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING. MY NAME IS MELISSA SANTOS. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND MARKETING FOR FOOD CITY. MY GRANDFATHER STARTED FOOD CITY OVER 61 YEARS AGO. WE HAVE TWO LOCATIONS, ONE IN THE 79915 ZIP CODE AND ONE IN THE 79905 ZIP CODE AT FOOD CITY RANCH LAND.

16% OF OUR SALES COME FROM EBT TRANSACTIONS, AND AT FOOD CITY ESTRELLA, 31% OF OUR SALES COME FROM EBT TRANSACTIONS. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A DRAMATIC DECREASE IN SNAP BENEFITS. DURING COVID. A LOT OF SNAP BENEFITS WERE ISSUED JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. SO IN 2022, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, 28% OF OUR TRANSACTIONS AT FOOD CITY RANCH LAND WERE SNAP TRANSACTIONS. AND AT FOOD CITY IS 347% WHERE SNAP TRANSACTIONS. THIS WAS IN 2022. SO TODAY WE'RE SEEING 16% AND 31%. SO THERE'S BEEN A HUGE DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF SNAP BENEFITS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. IN TERMS OF DOLLAR SALES THAT WE'RE SEEING FROM LAST YEAR, WE'VE SEEN A 7% DECREASE IN DOLLAR AMOUNT IN EBT SALES COMPARED TO 2023. THERE'S BEEN A 26% DECREASE IN DOLLAR SALES FROM EBT. AND COMPARED TO 2022, THERE'S BEEN A 56% DECREASE IN DOLLAR SALES FROM SNAP TRANSACTIONS. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING A LOT MORE CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS, WHICH MEANS HIGHER FEES FOR US. WE'RE SEEING A LOT LESS CASH WHEN PEOPLE ARE PURCHASING THEIR GROCERIES. IN RESPONSE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE SHUTDOWN LAST WEEK, WE STARTED A GIFT CARD PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE GIVING GIFT CARDS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED, EITHER NOT RECEIVING THEIR SNAP BENEFITS OR PEOPLE WHO ARE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES THAT ARE NOT BEING PAID. SO FOOD CITY HAS CONTRIBUTED $1,000, AND THEN WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RAISE ANOTHER $8,500 IN DONATIONS. SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP 233 HOUSEHOLDS. SO FAR, HOWEVER, I'VE HAD 1500 APPLICATIONS, AND I HAD TO SHUT OFF APPLICATIONS FRIDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUE TO STILL GET CALLS AND EMAILS. SO THE NEED IS IS VERY, VERY GREAT. ALL WEEKEND WE WERE ISSUING THE THE GIFT CARDS TO DIFFERENT CUSTOMERS AND JUST HEARING THE DIFFERENT STORIES. I WANTED TO SHARE SOME WITH YOU FROM FEDERAL EMPLOYEES. I SAW ANYWHERE FROM IRS EMPLOYEES, SOCIAL SECURITY, BEAUMONT BORDER PATROL, FORT BLISS CIVILIANS, CYBERSECURITY AT WHITE SANDS. I MEAN, ANY AGENCY YOU CAN THINK OF, WE WERE SEEING I HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE TELL ME THEY WERE SELLING THEIR PLASMA BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY COULD GET ALONG. AND THESE ARE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.

I HAD PEOPLE TELLING ME THEY COULDN'T PAY THEIR MORTGAGES. I HAD ONE TELL ME THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SHE WAS ABLE TO BUY MEAT. SO I THINK JUST FOR YOU ALL TO BE AWARE, A LOT OF THESE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ARE SAYING THEY CAN'T GO TO THE FOOD BANKS BECAUSE THEY'RE OPEN DURING THE TIMES THAT THEY'RE AT WORK. SO ANYWAYS, JUST WE WANTED TO BE HERE PRESENT TO JUST KIND OF GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENING FROM THE LOCAL SIDE, THE LOCAL BUSINESS SIDE. AND MY COUSIN IS ALSO GOING TO BE SPEAKING WELL. THANK YOU. WHAT AN AMAZING ROLE MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP LIKE THAT. YOU'VE ALWAYS FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE. SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO DO THAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, WE HAVE MR. CARLOS LOWRY. WELCOME, CARLOS.

[01:15:06]

THANK YOU JUDGE. GOOD MORNING YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I JUST WANTED TO PIGGYBACK ON SOME OF THE INSIGHTS THAT MY COUSIN SPOKE ABOUT AND JUST UNDERLINE A VERY SIMPLE POINT. IF IF WE CAN TAKE A VIEW FROM 30,000FT ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS, MORE COMMUNITY WIDE THAN JUST THE FAMILIES THAT ARE MISSING OUT ON THESE BENEFITS. SO WHEN WE INVEST IN FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMS LIKE THESE, WE'RE REALLY FEEDING FAMILIES. AND IT'S LIKE SNAP. AND WHICH PROGRAMS ARE STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMY? THIS IS JUST PULLED OFF OF K FOX. BUT 21% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS IN THE COUNTY ARE ON SNAP BENEFITS. ALMOST A QUARTER OF OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY LIKE COMMISSIONER STOUT SAID. NOW, IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT, UTEP PUT OUT A STUDY TWO YEARS AGO THAT HIGHLIGHTED FOR EVERY DOLLAR IN SNAP OR BENEFITS.

THAT TRANSLATES TO $1.50 IN LOCAL ECONOMIC IMPACT. AND I WANT TO MAKE THIS POINT. FOOD ASSISTANCE IS NOT A HANDOUT. FOOD ASSISTANCE IS NOT A CHARITY. IT IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE. SMART ECONOMICS REALLY NOT GOVERNMENT DEPENDENCY. CONSISTENT SNAP AND QUICK SPENDING HELPS STABILIZE SUPPLY CHAINS. IT REDUCES WASTE AND IT SUSTAINS AN ENTIRE WEB OF JOB CREATION, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AND WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES. EVERY CARTON OF MILK, EVERY LOAF OF BREAD, AND EVERY BAG OF APPLES PURCHASED WITH A WICK OR SNAP HELPS MAINTAIN ALL THESE LAYERS. WHEN WE FUND FOOD SECURITY, WE ARE FUNDING AGAIN, AN ECONOMIC ENGINE. WE'RE FUNDING PROSPERITY. THIS IS NOT A HANDOUT. IT REALLY REPRESENTS, IN THE TRUEST SENSE OF THE WORD, A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT, BETWEEN PRODUCERS AND SUPPLIERS. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU CARLOS. GREAT WAY TO PERSPECTIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE MISTER CHRIS SIEGEL. COMMISSIONERS. WELCOME, CHRIS. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO SOME THOUGHTS TO SHARE ON FOOD INSECURITY. FIRST OFF YOU KNOW WE'RE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER HERE IN THE REGION THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. ACCORDING TO A STUDY DONE IN RECENT YEARS WE'RE AT 35%. WHEREAS THE NATIONAL AVERAGE SOMEWHERE IN THE 3,031%. AND THEN AT UTEP AMONG STUDENTS, THAT NUMBER IS ABOUT 65% FOOD INSECURITY. SO TWO THIRDS OF THAT POPULATION. SO IT'S SERIOUS, SERIOUS IN OUR REGION. AND LIKE THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT FOOD INSECURITY IS IS THE THE FIRST BASIS FOR ECONOMIC STABILITY IN THE REGION. FOOD INSECURITY CAN LEAD TO MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. IT CAN LEAD TO FAMILY AND WORK INSTABILITY.

AND OF COURSE THAT AFFECTS OUR REGION ECONOMICALLY. I THINK THE KEY HERE IS REALLY TO DRAW THIS CONNECTION WITH THE PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, BECAUSE IF THEY CAN SEE THE LINK BETWEEN FOOD INSECURITY AND ECONOMIC STABILITY FOR THE REGION THAT IMPACTS THEIR BUSINESSES, I THINK THEY'LL REALIZE THAT BECOMING A PART OF OUR DONOR BASE AT THE FOOD BANK AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, COMBATING FOOD INSECURITY IS THE WAY TO GO. SO THIS IS IN INITIAL STAGES, BUT I'M TRYING TO MAYBE WORK WITH UTEP TO DRAW THAT LINK BETWEEN FOOD INSECURITY AND ECONOMIC STABILITY. JUST IN RECENT TIMES. JUST WANT TO CATCH YOU UP ON KIND OF SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING. SO WE HAVE NOT SEEN NECESSARILY OUR NUMBERS INCREASE DUE TO THE SNAP CUTS YET, BUT WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT WE HAVE SEEN A SURGE IN THE SHUTDOWN NUMBERS FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES. WE'VE PREPARED ABOUT 2000 EMERGENCY BOXES IN RESPONSE TO THAT. AND ONE OF THE LARGEST REQUESTERS WAS A A UNIT FROM WILLIAM BEAUMONT, ACTUALLY FROM FORT BLISS. THEY HAVE THAT COMMANDER HAS 1500 CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, AND IT'S THEIR SECOND PAYCHECK THAT THEY'RE MISSING. SO SOME OF THOSE FAMILIES ARE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIFE. WE PUT TOGETHER ABOUT 1500 BOXES FOR THAT ORGANIZATION. WE'RE FINISHING THAT UP, AND WE'LL BE DELIVERING THOSE THIS WEEK.

WE'VE WE'VE OPERATED LARGELY ON A MODEL OF FREE OR NO COST FOOD SOURCING. IN TERMS OF OTHER

[01:20:07]

FOOD BANKS. THERE'S ABOUT 200 FOOD BANKS IN THE COUNTRY. THERE'S A MIX BETWEEN FREE FOOD AVAILABLE TO US THROUGH OUR NETWORKS FROM FEEDING AMERICA. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE AVAILABILITY TO PURCHASE FOOD. OUR MODEL HAS BEEN STRICTLY SOURCING FREE FOOD. IN THAT CASE, WE'VE REALIZED THAT WE CAN'T REACT AS FAST TO. YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS IT LIKE WE'RE LARGELY REACTIONARY NOW. IT'S A IT'S A BIG VESSEL AND IT'S A SMALL RUDDER. AND SO I'M SLOWLY TRYING TO TURN THAT. I AM NEW TO THE POSITION. SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME. WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE REALLOCATED SOME MONEY THAT WE HAD SITTING IN A DIFFERENT SPOT, KIND OF OUR CASH RESERVES. WE SPENT ABOUT 100 K FOR FOOD IN THE LAST WEEK TO PURCHASE FOOD TO BRING IT IN. THAT WILL LAST US ABOUT TWO WEEKS, AND WE HAVE WE HAVE MAYBE A HALF A MILLION LEFT THAT WE CAN ALLOCATE RIGHT NOW, IMMEDIATELY FOR FOOD. BUT IF YOU DO THE MATH, THAT'S NOT A LOT OF TIME. SO IF WE GET INTO THE HOLIDAYS HERE INTO MID DECEMBER, THAT 600 K THAT INITIALLY WE HAD TO SPEND ON FOOD PURCHASING IS GOING TO GO PRETTY QUICK. THERE'S OTHER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH DISTRIBUTING FOODS, ESPECIALLY IN EMERGENCY FASHION. SOMETHING YOU DON'T CONSIDER IS BOXES. SO WE HAVE TO BUY BOXES. 10,000 BOXES IS ABOUT $11,000. SO THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THAT NUMBER. I SAID FOR THE FOOD PURCHASE. ALSO NOT INCLUDED IN THERE IS OUR LOGISTICS COST TO GO OUT AND SOURCE THE FOOD AND BRING IT HERE INTO EL PASO. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR RESOURCES ARE LIMITED, BUT WE ARE REALLOCATING AND REACTING TO WHAT'S GOING ON OVER TIME. I'D LIKE TO SHIFT MORE TO AN OFFENSIVE MODEL. I THINK WE'VE BEEN ON DEFENSE A LOT IN RECENT YEARS AT THE FOOD BANK, WHEREAS WE'RE VERY REACTIONARY. LIKE I MENTIONED, I'D LIKE TO SHIFT KIND OF RETOOL THE ENGINE TO BE ABLE TO GO ON OFFENSE. AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS FILLING OUR PROCESSING ROOMS WITH EQUIPMENT TO WHERE WE CAN PROCESS, PRODUCE AND HOPEFULLY EVENTUALLY PROTEIN AND DRY GOODS. AND THEN NOT ONLY WILL WE BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOOD ON OUR DISTRIBUTION LINE, BUT ALSO WE'LL BE ABLE TO SELL SOME OF THAT FOOD. SO OTHER FOOD BANKS MORE TOWARDS THE WEST COAST. WE CAN USE THAT FUNDING TO THEN PURCHASE FOOD SO IT CAN CREATE AN ECONOMIC MODEL FOR US THAT'S MORE SELF-SUSTAINABLE THAN OUR CURRENT MODEL. AGAIN, THOUGH, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME. AND BUT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADING. SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GO ON ON OFFENSE. I THINK I'M OUT OF TIME. I HAD A FEW MORE POINTS. YOU CAN KEEP GOING AND KEEP GOING. OKAY. THE NEXT THING IS, I'VE NOTICED THAT IN MY SHORT TIME THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE DO A DIRECT DISTRIBUTION MODEL. IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY FOOD BANKS IN THE COUNTRY THAT DOES DIRECT DISTRIBUTION. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS OUR TRUCKS COME IN, WE RECEIVE THE FOOD, WE CAN HAVE IT BACK OUT TO THE PUBLIC WITHIN 30 MINUTES IN A IN A FAST PACE AND THEN LESS THAN A COUPLE HOURS IF WE'RE A LITTLE MORE SLAMMED WITH THE RECEIVING OF FOOD, THAT WORKS VERY WELL.

HOWEVER, OUR LOCATION IS FOR SOUTHEAST EL PASO, AND SO WE HAVE SOME OF OUR RECIPIENTS WHO TRAVEL FROM ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE OTHER REACHES OF THE COUNTY TO GET TO THE FOOD. THAT CREATES SOME CHALLENGES FOR THEM IN AN ALREADY TAXED SITUATION. THEY'RE SPENDING FUEL. SOME OF THEIR VEHICLES ARE CHALLENGED IN TERMS OF RELIABILITY, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER. I SEE A LOT OF CARS WITHOUT AC WORKING IN THE HEAT. KIDS IN THE BACK, YOU KNOW, JUST DOESN'T CREATE A GREAT SCENARIO. SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO MOVE TOWARDS IN THE NEXT YEAR IS MORE OF A DISPERSED DISTRIBUTION MODEL. I'D LIKE TO HARDEN A COUPLE OF OUR PANTRIES IN CENTRAL EL PASO, AND THEN ALSO ESTABLISH AND HARDEN OUR PROPERTY ON THE WEST SIDE. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IDENTIFY A PANTRY TO SERVE IN THE INTERIM AS A DISTRIBUTION POINT ON THE WEST SIDE. THE GOAL IS 20 MINUTES. ANYBODY IN OUR REGION CAN GET FOOD. THAT'S WHY I'D LIKE TO GET TO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE ME SOME TIME. BUT NEXT YEAR I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME REAL HEADWAY THAT WAY. WHAT WE REALLY NEED. SO WE WE SERVE AS THE POINT OF IMPACT FOR FOR FOOD INSECURITY, FOR THE FIGHT. BUT I DON'T PROFESS TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO WIN THIS FIGHT ALONE. WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY, THE CITY, DIFFERENT AGENCIES, DIFFERENT BUSINESSES TO HELP US TO TO TAKE ON THIS FIGHT IN TERMS OF RESOURCES, THE SWITCH TO OFFENSE AND BEING ABLE TO PRODUCE OUR OWN FOOD, POSSIBLY FOR RESALE, IS GOING TO HELP. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN INCREASE IN PRIVATE DONOR SUPPORT. WE HAVE A GREAT CITY AND WE

[01:25:07]

THEY'VE DONE A LOT FOR US, BUT WE HAVE MORE TO DO AND MORE WORK TO TO GET DONE BEFORE WE CAN REALLY REDUCE THIS NUMBER. AND THEN DURING THIS TIME, OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE REALLY THE MAINSTAY OF HOW WE'RE GETTING THIS ALL DONE. WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT OUR VOLUNTEERS. WE HAVE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 10 AND 50 VOLUNTEERS A DAY. WE'VE HAD AS MANY AS 200. WE COULD REALLY USE A SURGE IN THOSE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW. THESE BOXES ARE TEDIOUS TO PUT TOGETHER. THEY TAKE A LOT OF TIME, AND WE'RE TALKING IN TERMS OF THOUSANDS OF BOXES. SO I'M SURE THE COMMUNITY WILL RALLY AND HELP US WITH THAT. WE COULD REALLY USE THAT SUPPORT. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS, BUT I KNOW THERE MIGHT BE SOME QUESTIONS. SO THANK YOU, CHRIS. AS I'VE SAID SEVERAL TIMES TO YOU THAT THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP. AND ALSO WE HAVE FOUND THAT, YOU KNOW, LET'S GET THINGS TO THEM INSTEAD OF THIS IDEA OF THEY COME TO US. AND BEING THAT OUTREACH THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WILL BE EXTREMELY VALUABLE. SO THANK YOU FOR A GREAT STRATEGIC PLAN, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. COMMISSIONER STONE, I MEAN, CORONADO, JUDGE, ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE CAN REALLY WORK ON, MY TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON A PROPOSED BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE PROMISE PROGRAM, BUT I THINK WE HAVE MORE URGENT NEEDS RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK MAYBE THAT WE CAN REDIRECT THOSE EFFORTS AND DO A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR OUR, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THAT GAP IN THIS FOOD INSECURITY THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING THIS TIME. SO I'M THAT MIGHT BE ANOTHER AVENUE THAT WE CAN DO OF WHAT COMMISSIONER STOUT WAS THINKING.

AND SO I'M I'M WILLING TO START REDIRECTING THOSE EFFORTS. AND I THINK MAYBE THE ENTIRE COURT, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT. AND MY ESTIMATE IS THAT WE COULD RAISE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 150 TO $300,000. IT'S NOT GOING TO GET YOU WHERE YOU NEED TO BE, BUT IT WILL HELP. COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU. BUYS TIME. AND WITH TIME WE CAN WE CAN GET OTHER THINGS IN PLACE. SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. WE'LL CONTINUE PUBLIC COMMENTS, PLEASE. YES. I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO MORE SPEAKERS ON TEAMS. ADRIANA, ARE YOU AVAILABLE? OR ARE YOU THERE? ARE YOU GUYS ABLE TO HEAR ME? YES, YES. WELCOME. HI. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL. I'M PRIYA RAJKUMAR AND MY ORGANIZATION IS NO LOST FOOD.

WE'VE BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AND WE HAVE BEEN IN, YOU KNOW, THE FRONT LINES, TRYING TO HELP AS MANY FAMILIES AND HOMELESS POPULATION AND INDIVIDUALS AS POSSIBLE ACROSS EL PASO COUNTY, WHETHER IT'S WEST, EAST, CENTRAL, SOUTH, WHEREVER IT HAPPENS TO BE. AND MAKE SURE WE GET FOOD ON THEIR PLATES AS FOOD IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S OF LUXURY. IT IS A BASIC NECESSITY THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO. AND IN THE TIMES THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY FACING, IT'S MORE OF AN EQUITY ISSUE WHERE PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS DUE TO TRANSPORTATION OR FUNDING, LOSING OF THE SNAP BENEFITS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, IN COMPARISON TO MORE OF IT BEING THAT THEY JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT. SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE DOING, THE ORGANIZATION IS MODELED AFTER ROBIN HOOD MODEL, WHERE WE TAKE IT WHERE THERE'S SURPLUS FOOD WHEN IT COMES TO RESTAURANTS, BAKERIES AND STORES, AND BEING ABLE TO REDISTRIBUTE IT WITH OUR VOLUNTEER BASE AND BE ABLE TO IMPACT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. WHEN IT COMES TO THE INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES, A LOT OF CHILDREN THAT ARE SUFFERING WITHOUT FOOD, THAT ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHEN THEIR NEXT MEAL OR WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL IS GOING TO BE COMING FROM. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THESE ARE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES THAT WE NEED TO TAKE EFFORTS AND STRIDES. DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK MY HUGE VOLUNTEER BASE WHO HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, WORKING AS HARD AS THEY CAN WITH ALL THEIR OTHER COMMITMENTS TO MAKING THIS POSSIBLE. CURRENTLY, I THINK WE'D BE LOOKING FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS WHEN IT COMES TO REDISTRIBUTING FOOD, AND I WANT TO SECOND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO TALKED BEFORE ME IN REGARDS TO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS, AND TIME IS VERY MUCH NEEDED, ALONG WITH FUNDING SOURCES, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS EFFORT EVEN MORE WIDESPREAD THAN WE'RE ABLE TO AT THE CURRENT MOMENT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER STOUTE, FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE AGENDA AND HAVING, YOU KNOW, GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS VERY MUCH NEEDED ISSUE AND HOW WE'RE ABLE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY. SO I'M OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY. WELL,

[01:30:05]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. APPRECIATE THAT. ANY QUESTIONS? NO THANK THANK YOU. AND I'M SURE WE'LL BE ENGAGING WITH YOU AS WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND DECIDE WHAT WHAT OUR COURSE OF ACTION IS GOING TO BE. BUT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. THANK YOU. HELLO, THIS IS ARIANA CLOW WITH DESSERT SPOON. IF I'M ABLE TO SPEAK. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING.

COMMISSIONER, COURT AND JUDGE I'M WITH DESSERT SPOON FOOD HUB. FOOD ACCESS ACROSS OUR REGION REMAINS HIGHLY CONSOLIDATED. WE'RE HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON ON ONE MAJOR FOOD BANK AND OF COURSE NATIONAL GROCERY CHAINS. WHILE VITAL, THESE SYSTEMS ALONE CANNOT FULLY REACH REFLECT THE NEEDS OF ALL. WE URGE THE COUNTY TO EMBRACE A DECENTRALIZED APPROACH AS YOU AS YOU LOOK TOWARDS A MORE FOOD SECURE REGION, ONE THAT EMPOWERS LOCAL PARTNERS TO ESTABLISH MULTIPLE LOCALLY DRIVEN FOOD ACCESS POINTS, BUILDS RESILIENCE, STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, AND ENSURES A FOOD SYSTEM THAT MORE ACCURATELY REFLECTS OUR LOCAL NEEDS. TO TOUCH ON SOME LOCAL, COUNTY LEVEL ACTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE SEE AT DESSERT SPOON FOOD HUB. WE URGE THE COUNTY TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY BASED AND SATELLITE FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS THROUGH OPERATIONAL FUNDING FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT OPERATE COMMUNITY PANTRIES, FOOD BOX AND MEAL PROGRAMS. JUST LIKE NO LAST FOOD POSSIBLE, LOOK INTO GROCERY CO-OPS AND NONPROFIT MARKETS THAT PRIORITIZE LOCAL PROFIT REINVESTMENT AND SUPPORT THE HEALTH AND STABILITY OF LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS, AND SUSTAIN AND GROW EL PASO COUNTY'S HEALTHY FOOD FINANCING INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE A MORE DIVERSE NETWORK OF HEALTHY FOOD RETAIL ACCESS POINTS. STRENGTHEN YOUR REGIONAL FOOD HUB, DESERT SPOON FOOD HUB FOOD HUBS ACROSS THE NATION ACT AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAMS AND BROADER FOOD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, IT ALLOWS US TO DRAW DOWN FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING AND TIE THEM INTO EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAMS WHILE IMPACTING FOOD ACTORS COLLABORATION ACROSS THE REGION. EXPAND FOOD INCENTIVE AND PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS. STRENGTHEN AND PROMOTE DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS TEXAS DURING THIS UNCERTAINTY AROUND SNAP, DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS REMAINS A VITAL PROGRAM THAT INCREASES THE PURCHASING POWER OF SNAP DOLLARS THROUGH MATCHING FUNDS. DURING THIS TIME, WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO DOING A THREE TIMES MATCH FOR REMAINING SNAP DOLLARS FOR PARTICIPANTS.

THE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE SUSTAINABLE FOOD CENTER AND RELIES ON LOCAL SUPPORT TO ENSURE CONTINUED GROWTH AND ACCESS. DESERT SPOON FOOD HUB SERVES AS A REGIONAL LEAD FOR EL PASO COUNTY. WE ALSO URGE THE COUNTY TO EVALUATE AND SUPPORT PRODUCE PROGRAMS IN TEXAS. HOUSE BILL 2946 FOOD IS MEDICINE WAS INTRODUCED THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WOULD ALLOW THE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS TO COVER NUTRITION SUPPORT SERVICES. LASTLY, WE URGE THE COUNTY TO LOOK INTO A COUNTY WIDE COMMUNITY FOOD NETWORK, ADOPT A DECENTRALIZED APPROACH BY TRANSITIONING TO A COMMUNITY BASED FRAMEWORK THAT EXPANDS ACCESS POINTS AND PROMOTES DIVERSE FOOD ACCESS INITIATIVES THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, ESTABLISHED FOOD SYSTEM COORDINATOR POSITIONS TO ALIGN COUNTY PLANNING, FUNDING, AND DATA TRACKING WITH LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL POLICY INITIATIVES AND INTEGRATE FOOD ACCESS AND INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES INTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LAND USE, AND PUBLIC HEALTH PLANNING. WE ARE COMMITTED TO COLLABORATE ON THESE INITIATIVES AND ENHANCE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND PROMOTE EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE WITH US. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JESSICA, I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE MORE PUBLIC COMMENT. GIVE ME ONE SECOND. I BELIEVE WE HAVE. SHE'S NOT ON THE PHONE.

SHE'S NOT ON ANYMORE. OKAY. NO, THAT COMPLETES ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. I WAS GOING TO ASK REAL QUICK. I DON'T KNOW IF MR. PEARSON WANTS TO WANTS TO COME UP AND AND I'M GOING TO PUT HIM ON THE SPOT. YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO DO IT. BUT TO TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IS, IS, IS HELPING OUT WITH BECAUSE I KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE DEEP IN THIS AS WELL. WELCOME, ERICA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING ME UP BECAUSE I DIDN'T SIGN UP TO SPEAK. SO MY NAME IS ERIC PEARSON. I WORK FOR THE EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT SINCE 2020 AND THE COVID

[01:35:03]

CRISIS, WE HAVE BEEN A MASTERCARD VENDOR WITH THE MASTERCARD CITY POSSIBLE PROGRAM. SO LAST WEEK WE STOOD UP A FUND TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE SNAP ELIGIBLE AND WHO ARE WORKING AS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES MAINLY. IN FACT, CHRIS MENTIONED BEAUMONT HOSPITAL. WE SPOKE TO COLONEL WENDY GRAY ABOUT TRYING TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT. WE RECOGNIZE THAT EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM DOING IS A DROP, SMALL DROP IN A LARGE BUCKET.

BUT BUT I THINK WHAT IT DOES IS IT SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT THIS, THIS COMMUNITY IS TOGETHER FOR ITSELF. AND WE'VE WE'VE RISEN UP TO TOGETHER TO REALLY ADDRESS LARGE ISSUES THAT HAVE COME FORTH FOR OUR COMMUNITY MANY, MANY TIMES. AND THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE TIMES. SO WHAT THE FOUNDATION IS DOING IS WE SET UP THAT FUND. WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS AT PROJECT BRAVO, WHO ARE A COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY SET UP IN A FORMER PRESIDENT'S TERM TO COMBAT THE WAR ON POVERTY. AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED ABOUT AND ACTUALLY WORKING A LITTLE BIT WITH FOOD CITY TO TRY TO HELP THEM WITH THE AMAZING RESPONSE THAT THEY'VE HAD. AND SO WE'RE OFFERING THE EL PASO COMMUNITY DEBIT CARD. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF CARDS WE WILL BE ABLE TO TO GET OUT, BUT WE HAVE ABOUT 6000 PEOPLE WHO ARE PRE-VETTED WHO WE UNDERSTAND ARE IN DIRE NEED AT THIS POINT, AND WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO GET OUT THERE. WE'VE SET UP A SPECIAL PAGE FOR THAT, AND I'VE REACHED OUT TO ALL THE OTHER FUNDERS IN TOWN. AND THEN THE LAST THING TO TO KIND OF SPEAK TO THE LARGER FOOD SYSTEM ISSUE, THE FOUNDATION HAS FOR MANY YEARS HELD FORUMS AROUND FOOD SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY. WE DO IT SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN WE DO IT AROUND OTHER ISSUES, BUT WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO BE A HELP WITH THE CONVENING OF THOSE NONPROFITS WHO ARE WORKING IN THAT SPACE TO TRY TO HELP REACH A COLLECTIVE GOAL OF ADDRESSING OUR FOOD NEEDS FROM A REALLY, REALLY FULL SPECTRUM LEVEL. SO RIGHT NOW, FOUNDATION HAS SET UP A FUND. WE'LL BE PROVIDING GIFT CARDS TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND GIVE THEM SOME SOME BRIDGE FUNDING, RECOGNIZING THAT WE CAN'T DEAL WITH THE WHOLE THING. AND THEN FURTHER ON, AND I THINK IN A MORE PERMANENT FASHION, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO ROUNDTABLES THAT REALLY GET THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY TOGETHER AROUND ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY AND ESPECIALLY THE FOOD SYSTEMS THAT THAT PROVIDE THAT RELIEF. ERIC, AND THE FOUNDATION, YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNER. WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. PEARSON. I HAVE ONE JUST ONE. COMMISSIONER BUTLER. QUICKLY, JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR BRINGING THIS, I FEEL. VERY OVERWHELMED AND ANGRY ABOUT THE SITUATION THAT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE ARE PUT IN. I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT THAT WE'RE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BECAUSE OF OUR LARGE NUMBER OF FEDERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE IN EL PASO, AS WELL AS JUST OUR DEMOGRAPHICS THAT THAT MAKE UP THAT LARGE PERCENTAGE OF SNAP RECIPIENTS HERE. I APPRECIATE FOOD CITY BEING HERE AND TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT TO OUR BUSINESSES, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT I WANT TO REITERATE AND DIES THAT FOOD SECURITY IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK IT'S IN LINE WITH THE FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR COUNTY ARE ABLE TO, TO PROSPER AND THRIVE. AND FOUNDATIONAL TO THAT IS ACCESS TO TO FOOD AND NUTRITION. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS DISCUSSION WITH OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SEE WHAT WHAT WE CAN DO, WHAT LEVERS WE DO HAVE. YOU KNOW, I THINK IF, IF EVER WE HAD TO DIP INTO TO EMERGENCY FUNDS, THIS IS PROBABLY THE RIGHT TIME TO DO THAT. AND I WOULD I WANT TO SAY I HOPE THAT THIS IS TEMPORARY, BUT LOOKING AT TRENDS ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I THINK WE'RE JUST STARTING THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING TO FEEL FOR, FOR FROM SNAP BENEFITS AND FUNDING FOR FOOD. BUT ALSO, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CRISIS WITH HOUSING SOON. ALL OF THE ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY RELY HEAVILY ON ARE GOING TO START TO GET CUT SEVERELY. SO I THINK AS WE LOOK AT HOW WE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS A COUNTY, OBVIOUSLY WITH AS MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS POSSIBLE, I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO PREPARE

[01:40:01]

OURSELVES FOR FOR CUTS ACROSS THE BOARD AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO RESPOND TO THOSE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BUTLER. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, YOU KNOW, I JUST I'M JUST VIEWING AN UPDATE FROM CAPITOL HILL THAT THE FEDERAL THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS ONLY GOING TO PROVIDE PARTIAL FOOD STAMP BENEFITS THIS MONTH AS THE GOVERNMENT APPROACHES THE SHUTDOWN, APPROACHES THE RECORD LENGTH. SO WE KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN ORDERED TO TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY USE THE RESERVES TO NOT STOP THE SNAP BENEFITS. BUT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS JUST BRIEFED FEDERAL JUDGE THAT THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO DO IT PARTIALLY. AND AND ADDITIONALLY, IT'S GOING TO CAUSE A DELAY. WE KNOW THAT I KNOW CHRIS TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT EVEN WITH THEM PROVIDING THE BENEFITS, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE A DELAY BY THE TIME THEY GET AROUND TO SWITCHING THESE FUNDS. AND SO I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IF WE IF IF THIS COURT HAD NOT AGREED TO REPLENISH OUR RESERVES BACK WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUT OUR COMMUNITY IN THIS FASHION. AND I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER BUTLER. WE NEED TO LOOK AND SEE HOW WE CAN. TAP INTO SOME OF OUR RESERVES TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP OUR COMMUNITY. BUT WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE DONE THAT IF WE HADN'T REPLENISHED OUR RESERVES EARLIER THIS YEAR. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN DOWN THE ROAD FOR THINGS LIKE THIS, THAT THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO BE PREPARED. SO, JUDGE, JUST THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. OKAY. SO CAN WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE REAL QUICK TO CONSULT WITH OUR ATTORNEYS AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK OUT AND TALK. OKAY. WE HAVE ONE LAST MESSAGE TO READ IN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. SOMEBODY SUBMITTED A MESSAGE FOR US. THIS IS FROM MARLENE YANEZ. HI. MY NAME IS MARLENE YANEZ WITH LA SEMILLA. WE KNOW THAT SNAP DOLLARS HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, INCLUDING LOCAL TIENDITAS IN COLONIA COMMUNITIES, FARMERS WHO SELL AT FARMER'S MARKETS AND ENABLE OUR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO SERVE A WARM MEAL TO THEIR FAMILIES. WE ENCOURAGE EL PASO COUNTY TO TAKE ACTION TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY DO NOT GO HUNGRY BECAUSE OF THIS MANUFACTURED CRISIS. LA CIENEGA IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO RESPOND. FOR FARMERS, THIS IS CREATING A SENSE OF WHIPLASH, HAVING TO RESPOND TO FEWER PAID SALES AND DONATION REQUESTS.

THESE ARE SOME WAYS FARMERS ARE PREPARING PLANTING EXTRA ROWS AND SCHEDULING GLEANING TO HARVEST NEAR TERM FOOD SUPPLY. MAPS, WHO HAVE COLD STORAGE, WHO CAN DRIVE AND WHO CAN PACK TODAY AND PREPARE AND DISPATCH SO FOOD DOESN'T SIT QUIXIL SHARES FOR SEASON EXTENSION WORKS FOCUSES ON FOOD INSECURITY. WORK AT SYSTEMIC LEVEL. MOMENTS LIKE THIS REMIND US OF WHY THE FOOD SYSTEM, AS IT IS TODAY, IS VULNERABLE AND NEEDS TO, AND WHY. AS A COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO SUPPORT EFFORTS THAT WILL BOLSTER AND PROTECT THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND OF PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU CESAR. SO AT THIS TIME, CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE THE ITEM INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUTE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I. I. MOTION CARRIES. SO COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEM EIGHT A PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071, COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECONVENE TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION. IT IS 11:14 A.M.

[13. EXECUTIVE SESSION Only the members of the Commissioners Court have a right to attend an executive session, except that legal counsel must be present if the executive session is held pursuant to Government Code section 551.071. In addition to legal counsel, Commissioners Court may include in executive session certain officers and employees if it finds that (1) their participation is necessary to the matter under consideration; (2) their interests are not adverse to the county, and (3) their presence will not waive the attorney client privilege. Generally, the Chief Administrator and County Clerk's representatives attend the closed session items based on the enumerated criteria, and certain other persons may attend based on the above-listed criteria or as otherwise provided by law.]

[01:49:50]

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

[01:50:07]

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. 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.

LOS TESOROS 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 A UN PM SIN PRE-TEXTOS EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLIMPICA DE CINCUENTA METROS TIENE LAVADOS.

ZAPATERO, TOBOGGANS Y VOLEIBOL DESDE CATORCE DE JUNIO, LUNES A CUATRO PM. FINES DE SEMANA DE DOS CINCO TAMBIÉN OFRECEN CLASES DE NATACION CON HORARIOS FLEXIBLES NO IMPORTA TENGAN TODOS TENGA UNA OPORTUNIDAD DE APRENDER A NADAR CON COMPANEROS, PUES DE SU NIVEL DE SU EDAD PADRES DE FAMILIA. CUANDO UNA CLASE DE NATATION A LA ENERGIA DE SUS PEQUEAS, ENCANTADOS Y POR QUÉ ES COMO 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 MENTALES ES ENORME EL MOVIMIENTO DE LA AGUA. EL SONIDO DEL AGUA ES RELAJANTE PARA EMPEZAR LA TRANSPARENCIA

[01:55:03]

EL COLOR TEXTURE BUENO EL AGUA Q LES PUEDO DECIR ES ES NUESTRO AMBIENTE. ESTE VERANO PUEDES VER LA FANTASIA DE MICHAEL PHELPS O BIEN DE LA CINTA. DESPUÉS DE NADER AUN T QUEDAN ENERGIA'S. QUÉ TAL UN PASEO DE LA TUA ORIENTA UNA HIBRIDA POR $6 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 ENCONTRAR ES UN CAMINO. ES LA GENTE ESCUCHAR LA MUSICA Y NOS BUSCA Y BUENO AL MENOS CON LOS NINOS. SI FUNCIONAN. Y SI VISTO TODO AGARRATE PORQUE TAMBIÉN HAY GANANCIAS PARA CUALQUIER DEPORTE OCURRA AQUI NO QUIERE HACER NADA. SIMPLEMENTE NO SALE POR AQUI MUCHAS PARTES SON DIVERTIRSE. COMO UN MAGNATE SIN PAGAR UN COUNTRY CLUB. EL GRAN CAMPO DE GOLF DE ESTE LUGAR VEINTISIETE HOYOS Y CLASES PARA TODOS LOS NIVELES. DE PURO CAMARON DE SOPA INSTANTANEA ESTAS MUY EQUIVOCADO PUEDES ENCONTRAR DESDE CATFISH CARPA LA PAZ, LA LUBINA CON LICENCIA SI LO TUYO ES CON UNA CANA PARA LA JOYA DE LA CORONA DEL PARQUE. ASCARATE ES ESTE INMENSO LLEGO DONDE PUEDES PESCAR Y POR SUPUESTO, DISFRUTAR DE UN AMARILLO Y DORADO ATARDECER CLARO, LAS MEJORES AVENTURAS DE PENSAMOS NOS VEMOS EN LA PROXIMA PARADA YO SOY MIGUEL CONTRERAS DE NOTICIAS 26. EL REPORTERO FAVORITO REPORTERO FAVORITO.

[02:06:40]

YOU KNOW IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING OUT HERE

[02:06:45]

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. 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.

[02:10:28]

CON UNO DE LOS MAS GRANDES DEL PASO Y ES EL PARQUE MUCHAS PERSONAS 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 5 A.M. 1 P.M. SIN PRE-TEXTOS EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLIMPICA TIENE DOS CHAPATI, TOBOGGANS Y VOLEIBOL DESDE CATORCE DE JUNIO DE CUATRO Y MEDIO DE SEMANA DE DOS CINCO TAMBIÉN OFRECEN CLASES DE NATACION CON HORARIOS FLEXIBLES PARA TODOS OPORTUNIDAD DE APRENDER CON COMPANEROS, PUES DE SU NIVEL DE SU EDAD PADRES DE FAMILIA. CUANDO DIGO UNA CLASE DE NATATION AGOTAR LA ENERGIA DE SUS PEQUEAS ENCANTADOS Y POR QUÉ ES COMO SE VA A DORMIR? EL TOC ESPECIALES LLEVARLO DESPUÉS POR ESO SARA SUFICIENTE NO OBSTANTE EL AGUA ES PARA TODOS LA CANTIDAD DE BENEFICIOS TANTO. FISICOS COMO ES EL MOVIMIENTO DEL AGUA. EL SONIDO DEL AGUA ES RELAJANTE PARA EMPEZAR LA TRANSPARENCIA EL COLOR, LA TEXTURA BUENO EL AGUA Q LES PUEDO DECIR ES ES NUESTRO AMBIENTE. ESTE VERANO PUEDE RECIBIR LA FANTASIA DE MICHAEL PHELPS O BIEN DE LA SERENA. Y SI DESPUÉS DE NADER AUN QUEDAN ENERGIA'S. QUÉ TAL UN PASEO DE LA TUA O RENTA UNA HIBRIDA POR $6 AL DIA BAR RAPIDO Y LA MITAD CON ESTAS VICES. NUNCA SE TE VOY ESCAPAR EL CARRITO DE LAS NIEVES.

ALIVIAN. MICKEY'S ICE CREAM VIENE TODAS LAS TARDES Y ENCONTRAR ES UN CAMINO. LA GENTE ESCUCHAR LA MUSICA Y NOS BUSCA Y BUENO AL MENOS CON LOS FRENOS. SI FUNCIONAN. Y SI HA 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? COMO UN MAGNATE SIN UN COUNTRY CLUB. EL GRAN CAMPO DE GOLF DE ASCARATE. ESTE LUGAR VEINTISIETE HOYOS CLASES PARA TODOS LOS NIVELES. DE SOPA INSTANTANEA ESTAS MUY EQUIVOCADO PUEDEN ENCONTRAR. DESDE CATFISH CARPA LA PAZ. LA LOBINA. CEE LO TUYO ES CON UNA CANA PARA LA JOYA DE LA CORONA DEL PARQUE. ASCARATE ES ESTE INMENSO LLEGO DONDE PUEDES PASAR Y POR SUPUESTO, DISFRUTAR DE UN AMARILLO Y DORADO. ATARDECER CLARO LAS MEJORES AVENTURAS ESTAN PENSAMOS NOS VEMOS EN LA PROXIMA PARADA. YO SOY MIGUEL CONTRERAS DE NOTICIAS 26. EL REPORTERO FAVORITO DE TU REPORTERO FAVORITO.

[02:23:30]

YOU KNOW IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING OUT HERE

[02:23:35]

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

[02:25:11]

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 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 CUATRO VIENTOS EN EL PARQUE, MAS GRANDE DEL CONDADO DE EL PASO Y LO MEJOR EN VERANO DE 5 A.M. A CPM SIN TEXTOS. EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLIMPICA TIENE. LAVADOS. ZAPATERO TOBOGGANS Y VOLEIBOL DESDE CATORCE DE JUNIO DE DOS CUATRO Y MEDIA PM. DE SEMANA DE DOS CINCO TAMBIÉN OFRECEN CLASES DE NATACION CON HORARIOS FLEXIBLES PARA Q TODOS TENGAN OPORTUNIDAD DE APRENDER 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 PUEDEN DORMIR? TOQUE ESPECIALES LLEVARLO DESPUÉS POR ESO 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 TEXTURE 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 EN LA RENTA? UNA HIBRIDA POR $6 AL DIA BAR RAPIDO Y NO JUZGAR A LA MITAD CON ESTAS VECES. NUNCA SE TE VOY A ESCAPAR EL CARRITO DE LAS NIEVES. MICKEY'S ICE CREAM VIENE TODAS LAS TARDES Y ENCONTRAR UN CAMINO. ES LA GENTE ESCUCHAR LA MUSICA Y NOS BUSCA Y BUENO AL MENOS CON LOS NINOS. SI FUNCIONAN. Y SI YA LO HA VISTO TODO AGARRATE PORQUE TAMBIÉN HAY GANANCIAS PARA CUALQUIER DEPORTE SE TE OCURRA AQUI QUIERE HACER NADA SIMPLEMENTE NO SALE. POR QUÉ MUCHAS PARTES SON DIVERTIRSE? SENTIRTE COMO UN MAGNATE SIN UN COUNTRY CLUB. EL GRAN CAMPO DE GOLF DE ESTE LUGAR DE HOYOS Y CLASES PARA TODOS LOS NIVELES. DE PURO CAMARON DE SOPA

[02:30:02]

INSTANTANEA ESTAS MUY EQUIVOCADO PUEDES ENCONTRAR DESDE CATFISH CARPA LA PAZ, LA LUNA LICENCIA SUERTE. SI LO TUYO ES CON UNA CANA PARA MI LA JOYA DE LA CORONA DEL PARQUE.

ES ESTE INMENSO LAGO DONDE PUEDE PASAR Y POR SUPUESTO DISFRUTAR DE UN AMARILLO Y DORADO ATARDECER CLARO LAS MEJORES AVENTURAS CERCA DE LOS PENSAMOS NOS VEMOS EN LA PROXIMA PARADA. YO SOY MIGUEL CONTRERAS DE NOTICIAS 26. EL REPORTERO FAVORITO REPORTER FAVORITO.

[02:40:20]

YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY. COMING OUT HERE

[02:40:27]

AND COPING WITH SITUATIONS. GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED TO A REGULAR OPEN SESSION. WE ARE ON ITEM EIGHT A FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION PERTAINING TO THE COUNTY'S RESPONSE TO FOOD INSECURITY IN EL PASO COUNTY.

[ITEM 8A - 2]

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. IF THE COURT WOULD SO ENTERTAIN ERICA'S GOING TO READ A MOTION INTO THE RECORD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS ERIC GAGLIONE, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY, FOR THE COURT'S CONSIDERATION. THE MOTION COULD BE TO IT'S A MULTI-PART MOTION. SO THE FIRST PART WOULD BE TO DIRECT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO REVIEW ANY AND ALL LEGAL ACTION TO ADDRESS A RESPONSE TO FOOD INSECURITY IN EL PASO, FURTHER DIRECT COUNTY GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TO SEND A LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO THE FEDERAL DELEGATION, STATE DELEGATION AND THE GOVERNOR TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY ISSUES AND SPECIFICALLY REQUEST THE STATE TO USE SOME OF ITS RESERVES TO HELP WITH FOOD INSECURITY ISSUES. FURTHER DIRECT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO WORK WITH COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO REVIEW ANY AND ALL ACTIONS TO ADDRESS RESPONSE TO FOOD INSECURITY IN EL PASO, AND BRING BACK OPTIONS TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. AUTHORIZE THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEMENT THE TEMPORARY ELECTRIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. T EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026, OR UNTIL FUNDING IS EXHAUSTED.

FURTHER, BRING BACK AN ITEM TO IMMEDIATELY ACCEPT DONATIONS PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 81.032 TO ADDRESS A RESPONSE TO FOOD INSECURITY IN EL PASO. FURTHER DIRECT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO CONVENE AN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO ADDRESS THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, AND LASTLY, AUTHORIZE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO USE THE PURCHASING ACT DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 262, TO PRESERVE OR PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY RELATED TO FOOD INSECURITY FOR RESIDENTS OF EL PASO COUNTY. OKAY. IS THAT WE HAVE. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. COMMISSIONER STOUTE, BEFORE YOU MAKE THE MOTION, WE HAVE ONE QUICK CORRECTION, OKAY? AND THAT IS TO INSTEAD OF BRINGING BACK AN ITEM, AUTHORIZE US TO ACCEPT DONATIONS PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 81.032, IMMEDIATELY TO ADDRESS A RESPONSE TO FOOD INSECURITY. SO WE BEGIN ACCEPTING DONATIONS IMMEDIATELY. OKAY, THAT THAT CHANGES OKAY WITH WITH ME. SO I'LL MAKE THE MOTION INCLUDING THAT. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUTE, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER STOUTE, YOUR VOTE. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. SORRY. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. JUST WANT TO MAKE. THANK COMMISSIONER STOUTE. TIMING RIGHT NOW IS OF THE ESSENCE. IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. IT'S ALSO AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE CITY AND FOR OTHERS TO TO TAKE LEAD ON THIS AS WELL. BUT COMMISSIONER STOUTE, IF WE HAD WAITED EVEN ONE WEEK LONGER, IT'D BE ONE MORE WEEK THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THESE THINGS. SO VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. WE APPRECIATE THAT TREMENDOUSLY. I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M PROUD OF THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT. YOU KNOW, WHILE WHILE OUR OUR THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO REALLY DO A LOT TO DISMANTLE GOVERNMENT. YOU KNOW, AT THE LOCAL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE SERVING THE COMMUNITY. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO PICK UP THE SLACK. AND I KNOW THAT ALL OF OUR OFFICES ARE HERE, THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT HERE, THE COUNTY IS HERE, WE'RE PARTNERS FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO RETREAT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SIT BACK ON OUR LAURELS AND JUST, YOU KNOW, LET OUR PEOPLE GO HUNGRY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE RESOURCES. WE CAN WE CAN PUT OUT THERE AND RELY ON.

SO ANYBODY OUT THERE WHO'S EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY OR NEED HELP, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE COUNTY. WE CAN WORK WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, OUR STATE DELEGATION, OUR

[02:45:01]

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO TO TRY AND HELP ALL THE ALL THE EL PASOANS THAT ARE THAT REALLY HAVE MOST NEED TO HELP, YOU KNOW, TO HELP MAKE, MAKE ENDS MEET. AND I DID WANT TO REALLY QUICKLY THERE'S JUST OFF THE TOP OF. THE THERE'S A THERE'S A LIST OF SOME LOCAL GROUPS THAT ARE THAT ARE ALREADY PROVIDING SOME, SOME ASSISTANCE. SO WE HEARD ABOUT FOOD CITY, BUT WEIRDOS BAKERY AND CAFE IS OFFERING FREE BREAKFAST SANDWICHES FOR BREAKFAST SANDWICHES FOR CHILDREN FROM FAMILIES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY SNAP. OLD SHEEPDOG BREWERY STARTED ON NOVEMBER 1ST, OFFERING ANY FAMILY THAT HAS A FEDERAL WORKER ID OR SNAP CARD CAN GET A FREE BREAKFAST BURRITO FOR EACH FAMILY MEMBER. THE MEXICAN CANDY LADY FREE LUNCH BAGS FOR CHILDREN UNDER 12, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. CAFE PEDRO FROM STARTING THIS PAST SATURDAY, ANYONE CAN ASK FOR A FREE LIGHT MEAL. FREE BIRRIA RAMEN TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS A WARM MEAL. ROSIE'S DHABA OFFERING FREE CARE PACKAGES, FOOD ASSISTANCE CARE PACKAGES STARTING THE 5TH OF NOVEMBER, AND OF COURSE, FOOD CITY. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE WE STILL HAVE EL PASOANS FIGHTING HUNGER FOOD BANK. THANK YOU, CHRIS, FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SUPPORT WITH THIS. THERE'S IN PRECINCT TWO. THE KELLY CENTER FOR HUNGER RELIEF IS A FOOD PANTRY JUST UP JUST NORTH OF I-10. AND THEN REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS. SOCORRO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS FREE SUPPER PROGRAM FROM AGES 1 TO 18 AT MULTIPLE CAMPUSES. UTEP HAS FREE FOOD AND HYGIENE PANTRY THAT STUDENTS AND STAFF CAN TAP INTO, AND THEN FOOD NOT BOMBS. EL PASO HAS FREE COMMUNAL MEALS SATURDAYS AT HOUSTON PARK AT 900 MONTANA AVENUE, SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT MANY PEOPLE HERE IN EL PASO ARE ALREADY STEPPING UP TO TRY TO HELP WITH. AND I HOPE WE CAN ENGAGE MANY MORE SO THAT WE CAN WE CAN ALL COLLECTIVELY AS A COMMUNITY, GET THROUGH THIS.

WE'RE SO BLESSED. WHAT AN AMAZING COMMUNITY. WOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. LET'S SEE.

OH, ON NOVEMBER I BELIEVE IT'S STEVEN NOVEMBER 22ND. THE COLISEUM IS HAVING A FOOD DRIVE FOR INDIVIDUALS. IT'S NOVEMBER 22ND, I BELIEVE. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, IT IS OPERATION HOPE. SO WE WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT. AND WE ASK THAT ANY BODY WHO WANTS TO DONATE OUT TO THAT CAUSE TO PLEASE DO SO. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, BUT DO YOU WANT TO BREAK FOR LUNCH OR DO YOU WANT TO TAKE JUDGE? IF YOU WANT TO DO NINE A, I BELIEVE THAT ITEM WOULD BE VERY QUICK. OR WE COULD BREAK WHICHEVER YOU PREFER. WELL, WOULD NINE A IS FINE. YEAH NINE.

LET'S TAKE THAT ONE OKAY. OKAY. ITEM NINE FROM PURCHASING NINE A APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE AWARD. RECOMMENDATION OF RFP 25025 CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK, OFFICE OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS FOR EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, TO THE HIGHEST SCORING FIRM, BANES GENERAL CONTRACTORS,

[A. Approve and authorize the award recommendation of RFP 25-025 Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) Office of Medical Examiners for El Paso County, Texas, to the highest scoring firm Banes General Contractors Inc., of El Paso, Texas. Purchasing approved on October 21, 2025. Funds are available in B1-OME-PROF SERVICES. Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing Department, 915-273-3349]

INC. OF EL PASO, TEXAS. PURCHASING APPROVED ON OCTOBER 21ST, 2025. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN B ONE OAM PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. WELCOME, KAREN. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU JUDGE. GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, KAREN DAVIDSON YOUR COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT.

AND THIS IS THE LONG TALKED ABOUT. BUT VERY EXCITED TO ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZATION TO AWARD RFP 25 025 WHICH IS THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK FOR OUR OFFICE OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS. AND BANES CONSTRUCTION IS THE AWARDED VENDOR AT THE HIGHEST SCORE.

AND I CERTAINLY HAVE PUBLIC WORKS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL. BUT WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL TO AWARD IT TO BANES CONSTRUCTION AND JUDGE COMMISSIONERS BEFORE YOUR MOTION AND VOTE ON THIS ITEM. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK OUR PURCHASING TEAM, OUR LEGAL TEAM, OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, AND ALL THE PARTNERS WHO ARE WORKING ON THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR BOND. THIS IS 3 TO 4 MONTHS AHEAD OF OUR TIMELINE FOR THIS AWARD, AND I KNOW WE WILL BE AHEAD OF TIMELINE ON BRINGING BACK OUR CONTRACT. THIS TEAM HAS JUST REALLY SAILED THROUGH AND YET MADE SURE WE DIDN'T SKIP ANY STEPS, DOUBLE CHECKED AND CHECKED EVERYTHING. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE RECOMMENDED AWARD OR AWARDEE IS SOMEONE THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH. WE'VE HAD GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH IN THE PAST, AND SO WE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PERFORM AND DELIVER ON THIS.

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK. THANK YOU. BETSY. WHAT JUST WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS

[02:50:04]

WORK. OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES NOTHING BUT THIS. YOU KNOW THAT. WE RESPOND QUICKLY. THEY'RE ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW WE'RE GOING TO PERFORM. AND I THINK EVERYBODY'S DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB. SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU, KAREN AND THE REST OF THE TEAM HELPING OUT. THANK YOU.

ESPECIALLY A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO ERIKA ROSALES TOO, WHO ALSO REALLY WORKED ON THESE CONTRACTS AND THESE PROCESSES. THANK YOU. ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY STEVEN ARELLANO LED THE WAY WITH THIS ONE. THANK YOU BETSY. WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL. AND OF COURSE, MISS KELLY'S LEADERSHIP IS IS REALLY IMPERATIVE TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS TEAM. JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT TO I WANT TO SAY THIS, THIS IS A GREAT FIRM THAT WAS CHOSEN FOR THAT. THEY BUILT CANUTILLO HIGH SCHOOL. SO. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THEM. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. PERFECT. THANK YOU. KAREN. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL NOW RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 12:21 P.M.

THERE 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 ANOTHER DAY.

[02:55:16]

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 VENTURA MAS DE CUATROCIENTOS EN EL PARQUE MAS GRANDE DEL CONDADO DE EL PASO Y LO MEJOR EN VERANO DE CINCO Y MEDIA M PM SIEMPRE TEXTS EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLIMPICA CINCUENTA METROS TIENE LAVADOS TOBOGGANS Y VOLLEYBALL DESDE EL CATORCE DE JUNIO DE CUATRO Y MEDIO DE SEMANA DE DOS CINCO TAMBIÉN OFRECEN CLASES DE NATACION CON HORARIOS FLEXIBLES PARA 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 Y. POR QUÉ ES COMO SE VA A DORMIR? EL TOQUE ESPECIALES LLEVARLO DESPUÉS POR ESO ES 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 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 CINTA. DESPUÉS DE NADER AUN T QUEDAN ENERGIA'S. QUÉ TAL UN PASEO DE LA RENTA. UNA HIBRIDA POR SIX DOLARES AL DIA RAPIDO Y NO KANSAS A LA MITAD CON ESTAS VICES. NUNCA SE TE VOY A ESCAPAR EL CARRITO DE LAS NIEVES. NO ALIVIAN MICKEY ICE CREAM VIENE TODAS LAS TARDES Y ENCONTRADO ES COMO ES LA GENTE. ESCUCHA LA MUSICA Y NOS BUSCA Y BUENO AL MENOS CON LOS NINOS. SI FUNCIONAN. Y YA LO HABIAS VISTO TODO AGARRATE PORQUE TAMBIÉN HAY GANANCIAS PARA CUALQUIER DEPORTE SE OCURRA AQUI NO 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 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 LOBINA CON LICENCIA Y CEE LO TUYO IS RELAJATE CON UNA CANA PARA MI LA JOYA DE LA CORONA DEL PARQUE. ES ESTE INMENSO LLEGO DONDE PUEDES Y POR SUPUESTO DISFRUTAR DE UN AMARILLO Y DORADO ATARDECER CLARO LAS MEJORES AVENTURAS DE LO PENSAMOS NOS VEMOS EN LA PROXIMA PARADA. YO SOY MIGUEL CONTRERAS DE NOTICIAS 26. EL REPORTERO FAVORITO REPORTERO FAVORITO.

[03:08:18]

YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING OUT HERE

[03:08:23]

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 BREASTS. THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREASTS. 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

[03:10:07]

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.

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.

DIVERSION EL PARQUE MAS GRANDE DEL CONDADO DE EL PASO Y LO MEJOR EN VERANO DE CINCO. A M A SIN PRE-TEXTOS EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLIMPICA TIENE LAVADOS TOBOGGANS Y VOLEIBOL DESDE ESTE DE JUNIO DE CUATRO Y MEDIO DE SEMANA DE DOS CINCO TAMBIÉN OFRECEN CLASES DE NATACION CON HORARIOS FLEXIBLES PARA Q TENGAN TODOS UNA OPORTUNIDAD DE APRENDER CON COMPANEROS DE SU NIVEL Y DE SU PADRE DE FAMILIA CREAM. CUANDO LES DIJO Q, UNA CLASE DE NATATION AGOTAR LA ENERGIA DE SUS PEQUEAS ENCANTADOS Y POR QUÉ ES COMO SE VA DORMIR? EL TOC ESPECIALES LLEVARLO DESPUÉS POR ESO SERA SUFICIENTE NO OBSTANTE EL AGUA ES PARA TODOS LA CANTIDAD DE BENEFICIOS TANTO. FISICOS COMO ES 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 VIENE DE LA CINTA.

DESPUÉS DE QUEDAN ENERGIA'S. QUÉ TAL UN PASEO EN LA TUA ORIENTA UNA HERIDA POR $6 AL DIA RAPIDO Y NO LA MITAD CON ESTAS VICES. NUNCA SE TE VOY A ESCAPAR EL CARRITO DE LAS NIEVES. ALIVIAN. MICKEY'S ICE CREAM VIENE TODAS LAS TARDES Y ENCONTRAR ES UN CAMINO. LA GENTE ESCUCHAR. LA MUSICA Y NOS BUSCA Y BUENO AL MENOS CON LOS NINOS. SI FUNCIONAN. Y SI YA LO HA VISTO TODO AGARRATE PORQUE TAMBIÉN HAY GANANCIAS PARA CUALQUIER DEPORTE SE OCURRA AQUI EL Q NO QUIERE HACER NADA. SIMPLEMENTE NO SALE. POR QUÉ MUCHAS PARTS SON DIVERTIRSE? COMO UN MAGNATE. UN COUNTRY CLUB EL GRAN CAMPO DE GOLF DE ASCARATE. ESTE LUGAR VEINTISIETE HOYOS Y CLASES PARA TODOS LOS NIVELES. DE SOPA. INSTANTANEA ESTAS MUY EQUIVOCADO PUEDEN ENCONTRAR DESDE CATFISH CARPA LA PAZ. LA LOBINA APROBAR TO SUERTE CIELO

[03:15:03]

TUYO ES CON UNA CANA PARA MI LA JOYA DE LA CORONA DEL PARQUE ASCARATE ES ESTE INMENSO LLEGO DONDE PUEDES PASAR Y POR SUPUESTO, DISFRUTAR DE UN AMARILLO Y DORADO ATARDECER CLARO LAS MEJORES AVENTURAS ESTAN PENSAMOS NOS VEMOS EN LA PROXIMA PARADA. YO SOY MIGUEL CONTRERAS DE NOTICIAS 26. EL REPORTERO FAVORITO DE TU REPORTERO FAVORITO.

[03:25:08]

YOU KNOW IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING

[03:25:13]

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 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.

MAS GRANDES DEL PASO Y ES EL PARQUE ASCARATE MUCHAS PERSONAS LO TOMAN POR SENTADO ENTRE SUS INMENSA VERDE, DECENAS DE ACTIVIDADES Y RINCONES NO TE ACABAS EN UN SOLO. 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 M CPM SIN TEXTOS. EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLIMPICA CINCUENTA METROS TIENE CHAPATI. TOBOGGANS Y VOLEIBOL DESDE ESTE CATORCE DE JUNIO, LUNES A 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 Y DE SU EDAD PADRES DE FAMILIA CREAM. CUANDO UNA CLASE DE NATATION, LA ENERGIA DE SUS PEQUEAS ENCANTADOS. Y POR QUÉ ES COMO SE VA A DORMIR? EL TOC

[03:30:03]

ESPECIALES LLEVARLO DESPUÉS POR ESA 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 TEXTURE 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. DESPUÉS DE NADER AUN T QUEDAN ENERGIA'S UN PASEO DE LA TIRE O RENTA UNA HIBRIDA POR SIX DOLARES AL DIA BAR RAPIDO Y A LA MITAD CON ESTAS VECES. NUNCA SE TE VOY A ESCAPAR EL CARRITO DE LAS NIEVES. ALIVIAN MI IS ICE CREAM VIENE TODAS LAS TARDES Y ENCONTRAR MIEDO ES LA GENTE ESCUCHAR. LA MUSICA Y NOS BUSCA Y BUENO AL MENOS CON LOS NINOS. SI FUNCIONAN. Y SI VISTO TODO AGARRATE PORQUE TAMBIÉN HAY CANCION PARA CUALQUIER DEPORTE SE OCURRA AQUI NO QUIERE HACER NADA. SIMPLEMENTE NO SALE POR AQUI MUCHAS PARTES SON DIVERTIRSE. COMO UN MAGNATE SIN PAGAR UN COUNTRY CLUB. EL GRANDE 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 PAZ LUBINA APROBAR TU SUERTE SI LO TUYO ES RELAJATE CON UNA CANA PARA MI LA JOYA DE LA CORONA DEL PARQUE ASCARATE ES ESTE INMENSO LLEGO DONDE PUEDE PASAR Y POR SUPUESTO, DISFRUTAR DE UN AMARILLO 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 TU REPORTERO FAVORITO.

[03:41:58]

YOU KNOW IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING

[03:42:03]

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 SET IN HER 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 ANOTHER DAY.

[03:45:48]

MAS GRANDES DEL PASO Y ES EL PARQUE ASCARATE MUCHAS PERSONAS LO TOMAN POR SENTADO ENTRE SUS INMENSA VERDE, DECENAS DE ACTIVIDADES Y RINCONES. QUÉ 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. A M A SIN PRE-TEXTOS EMPIEZA EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLIMPICA DE. TOBOGGANS Y VOLEIBOL DESDE CATORCE DE JUNIO DE CUATRO Y MEDIO DE SEMANA DE DOS CINCO TAMBIÉN OFRECEN CLASES DE NATACION CON HORARIOS FLEXIBLES PARA Q TENGAN UNA OPORTUNIDAD DE APRENDER CON COMPANEROS, PUES DE SU NIVEL DE CIUDAD PADRES DE FAMILIA CREAM. CUANDO LES DIGO UNA CLASE DE NATATION AGOTAR LA ENERGIA DE SUS PEQUEAS ENCANTADOS Y POR QUÉ ES COMO SE DORMIR? TOQUE ESPECIALES LLEVARLO DESPUÉS POR ESO SERA SUFICIENTE NO OBSTANTE EL AGUA ES PARA TODOS LA CANTIDAD DE BENEFICIOS TANTO.

FISICOS COMO ES 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 NADER A UN T QUEDAN ENERGIA'S. QUÉ TAL UN PASEO DE LA? RENTA? UNA HIBRIDA POR $6 AL DIA BAR RAPIDO Y NO LA MITAD CON ESTAS VICES. NUNCA SE TE VOY A ESCAPAR EL CARRITO DE LAS NIEVES. ALIVIAN.

MICKEY'S ICE CREAM VIENE TODAS LAS TARDES Y ENCONTRAR ES UN COMIDA. ES LA GENTE ESCUCHAR LA MUSICA Y NOS BUSCAN Y BUENO AL MENOS CON LOS FRENOS SI FUNCIONAN. YA LO HA 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? COMO UN MAGNATE.

UN COUNTRY CLUB EL GRANDE CAMPO DE GOLF DE ASCARATE. ESTE LUGAR VEINTISIETE HOYOS Y CLASES PARA TODOS LOS NIVELES. DE SOPA. INSTANTANEA ESTAS MUY EQUIVOCADO PUEDEN ENCONTRAR DESDE CATFISH CARPA LA BAS, LA LLUVIA CONSIGUE APROBAR TO SUERTE SI LO TUYO IS RELAJAR CON UNA CANA PARA LA JOYA DE LA CORONA DEL PARQUE. ASCARATE ES ESTE INMENSO LLEGO DONDE PUEDES PESCAR 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 REPORTERO FAVORITO DE TWO REPORTERO FAVORITO.

[03:58:49]

YOU KNOW IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING OUT HERE

[03:58:54]

AND COPING WITH SITUATIONS AND RELAXATION. IT'S PEACEFUL, IT'S QUIET, IT'S NICE. IN THE SUMMERTIME. IT'S NICE AND COOL DOWN HERE. ABOUT 8:00 STARTS GETTING WARM, BUT IT'S NICE AND COOL. COME DOWN HERE AND RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND FACE THE WORLD. THE BAIT, IT VARIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT HERE, THEY WERE HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. WHAT'S VERY POPULAR IS WEENIE HOT DOG. AND THEN THEY STOP HITTING ON THE HOT DOG. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START HITTING ON THE SHRIMP, AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN ON THE SHRIMP. NOW I'M USING SOME STINK BAIT AND IT REALLY STINKS. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH SOMETHING WITH SOME STINK BAIT, BUT IT'S GREAT WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING. IT'S GREAT. YEAH, THE TROUT WILL PUT THE HOOK IN THEIR MOUTH AND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY PULL ON IT, LIKE THEY PULLED BEFORE.

THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE AND GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH, BUT YOU GOT TO TROUT. IT IS

[04:00:01]

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.

UNO DE LOS MAS GRANDES DEL PASO Y ES EL PARQUE. MUCHAS PERSONAS LO TOMAN POR SENTADO ENTRE SUS INMENSA VERDES DE ACTIVIDADES Y RINCONES. QUÉ NO TE ACABAS EN UN SOLO DIA? ES LA MANERA PERFECTA DE ARRANCAR ESTA VENTURA MAS DE CUATROCIENTOS 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 TOBOGGANS Y VOLEIBOL DESDE CATORCE DE JUNIO, LUNES A CUATRO DE SEMANA DE DOS CINCO TAMBIÉN OFRECEN CLASES DE NATACION CON HORARIOS FLEXIBLES TENGAN TODOS TENGAN OPORTUNIDAD DE APRENDER A NADAR CON COMPANEROS 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 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 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. ES DE VERANO. PUEDES VIVIR LE FANTASIA DE MICHAEL PHELPS O BIEN DE LA SERENA. Y SI DESPUÉS DE NADAR A UN ENERGIA'S. QUÉ UN PASEO DE LA TIRE O RENTA UNA HIBRIDA POR SIX DOLARES AL DIA. BAR RAPIDO IN KANSAS A LA MITAD CON ESTAS VECES. NUNCA SE TE VOY A ESCAPAR EL CARRITO DE LAS. TEN AUDITOR. I'M SORRY. OH, GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. WE ARE ON ITEM TEN. AUDITOR TEN A PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, TITLE TEN, SECTION 2256.023. ACCEPT THE ATTACHED PRESENTATION AND

[A. Pursuant to the Texas Government Code, Title 10, § 2256.023, accept the attached presentation and investment report for FY25 fourth quarter ended September 30, 2025. Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262]

INVESTMENT REPORT FOR FY 25. FOURTH QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025. WELCOME, MICHAEL.

[04:05:05]

HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. OKAY. MICHAEL LLAMAS, FIRST ASSISTANT COUNTY AUDITOR. TODAY'S PRESENTATION COVERS THE COUNTY INVESTMENTS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF FY 2025. AS ALWAYS, THE INVESTMENTS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO STRENGTHENING THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL HEALTH. THERE ARE TWO MAJOR GOALS FOR INVESTING FUNDS. FIRST, FOLLOWING THE STATUTORY PRINCIPLES AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT. STATUTORY PRINCIPLES INCLUDE SAFETY, LIQUIDITY AND DIVERSIFICATION IN THAT ORDER. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE GRAPH, WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS IN TREASURY AND AGENCY SECURITIES. IN THIS REPORT. SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS ARE DEFINED AS LESS THAN ONE YEAR UNTIL MATURITY. AT THE TIME WHEN THE COUNTY PURCHASED THE INVESTMENT AND CASH OR FUNDS LEFT IN THE BANK OR SAFEKEEPING ACCOUNT FOR THE COUNTY. DURING THE QUARTER, THE COUNTY PURCHASED THREE SECURITY PURCHASES TO DIVERSIFY THE COUNTY'S PORTFOLIO AND LADDER OUT INVESTMENTS. IN THE SHORT TERM, MORE INVESTMENTS HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN TEXAS OIL PRIME AND LESS IN CASH AND TEXTBOOK COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, ALTHOUGH TOTAL INVESTMENTS INCREASED BY $0.9 MILLION COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. THE BENCHMARK FEDERAL FUNDS TARGET RATE HAS DECREASED FROM 4.75 TO 5 TO 4.0 TO 4.25. AS A RESULT, INTEREST EARNED DURING THE QUARTER HAS DECREASED BY $1.4 MILLION. RATES LAST YEAR IN THE SAME QUARTER RANGED FROM 4.31% TO 4.25 AND 4.42 TO 4.36 FOR TEXTBOOK AND TEXTBOOK PINE, RESPECTIVELY. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE RATES FOR BOTH HAVE BEEN STEADY OVER THE FOURTH QUARTER, AND JUST AS A MATTER OF INFORMATION, THE THREE MONTH TARGET TREASURY AVERAGE YIELDS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER ARE 4.26 AND 2025, SO WE'RE A LITTLE BIT OVER THAT. YOU CAN SEE THE 90 DAY TREASURY BILL RATES ON THE ORANGE LINE AND THE COUNTY'S WEIGHTED AVERAGE YIELD ON THE BLUE. THE COUNTY IS 11 BASIS POINTS ABOVE THE 90 DAY TREASURY BILL BENCHMARK. OUR PORTFOLIO YIELD IS HIGHER THAN THE 90 DAY TREASURY DUE TO OUR HOLDINGS IN TEXTBOOK PRIME, WHICH YIELD A HIGHER RATE AT 4.35%. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE TREND OF INVESTMENTS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS FOR ALL COUNTY FUNDS. AGENCY FUNDS INCLUDE UNCLAIMED FUNDS, BAIL BOND FUNDS AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL FUNDS THAT CANNOT BE USED TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY'S OWN PROGRAMS. THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUND INCLUDES THE HEALTH AND LIFE AND WORKER'S COMP FUNDS. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE MARKET VALUE OF INVESTMENTS AT THE END OF THE FOURTH QUARTER FOR EACH FUND, GENERAL FUND, CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND SPECIAL REVENUE ARE THE LARGEST SLICES OF THE PIE. INVESTABLE GENERAL FUNDS REACHED THE HIGHEST POINT IN FEBRUARY AND DECREASED AFTER THAT POINT AS PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS DECREASE. CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS REACHED ITS HIGHEST POINT IN JULY DUE TO THE BOND ISSUANCE AND SPECIAL REVENUE GRANTS. INVESTABLE FUNDS CONTINUE THEIR DECREASING TREND AS WE EXHAUST ARPA FUNDS. THIS IS A SHORT PRESENTATION. THE FULL INVESTMENT REPORT WITH ALL THE REQUIRED INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET, AS WELL AS IN THE BACKUP OF THIS ITEM. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE INVESTMENTS OF THE FOURTH QUARTER? NOT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORT BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN.

SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN.

THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM TEN B PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 114.023114.02411, 4.025 AND 114.026 RECEIVED THE ATTACHED PRESENTATION AND THE INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN,

[B. Pursuant to Texas Local Government Code § 114.023, 114.024, 114.025, and 114.026, receive the attached presentation and the interim financial report for the month ended September 30, 2025. Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262]

COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE, THIS IS MICHAEL LLAMAS, FIRST ASSISTANT COUNTY AUDITOR, AND THIS PRESENTATION IS ON THE SEPTEMBER 2025 INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT, WHICH IS THE

[04:10:01]

LAST MONTH OF THE FY 25 FISCAL YEAR. THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SHOWS INFORMATION ABOUT REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. PLEASE NOTE THAT THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION, AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN ROUNDED TO THOUSANDS. NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2025, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LOCAL SUNDAY NEWSPAPER THIS PAST WEEKEND. WE HAVE A REVENUE SECTION. THIS SLIDE PRESENTS ALL REVENUE COLLECTED BY THE COUNTY BY FUND TYPE. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE FOCUS OF THE PRESENTATION EMPHASIZES THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS THE MAIN OPERATING FUND OF THE COUNTY. DURING THE CURRENT MONTH, THE GENERAL FUND COLLECTED APPROXIMATELY $18.6 MILLION. TOTAL YEAR TO DATE PROPERTY TAXES COLLECTED AS OF SEPTEMBER 2025 INCREASED BY $10.1 MILLION COMPARED TO FY 2024. FURTHER BREAKDOWN OF PROPERTY TAXES SHOW THAT THE CURRENT PROPERTY TAX HAS INCREASED BY $6.3 MILLION. DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES HAVE INCREASED BY $848,000. EXCESS PROPERTY TAXES HAVE INCREASED BY $59,000 AND HAVE INCREASED BY $117,000. NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE BY SOURCE YEAR TO DATE. AS OF THIS MONTH, GENERAL FUND REVENUES COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST FISCAL YEAR ARE SHOWN ON THIS TABLE. TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS HAVE INCREASED COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD IN LAST YEAR'S COLLECTIONS. THE TOP INCREASING AREAS ARE PROPERTY TAXES. AS I EXPLAINED EARLIER, SALES AND USE TAXES, WHICH HAVE INCREASED $2.5 MILLION. INTERGOVERNMENTAL, WHICH INCREASED $1.5 MILLION. CHARGES FOR SERVICES, WHICH INCREASED $2.2 MILLION, AND FINES AND FORFEITS, WHICH HAVE INCREASED $852,000. THE TOP DECREASING AREAS ARE INTEREST $4.6 MILLION DECREASE DUE TO LOWER INVESTABLE BALANCES AND LOWER RATES, AND MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE, WHICH DECREASED $1.7 MILLION, AND OTHER FINANCING SOURCES, WHICH ALSO DECREASED BY $1.7 MILLION. NEXT UP, WE HAVE AN OVERVIEW OF ACTUAL REVENUE COMPARED TO BUDGET FOR THE YEAR. GENERAL FUND HAS COLLECTED 103.4% OF TOTAL BUDGETED REVENUES, AND THE LARGEST REVENUE COLLECTIONS FOR THE FOR THE BUDGET INCLUDE PROPERTY TAXES, AS I EXPLAINED EARLIER, WHICH HAS COLLECTED 101% OF THE BUDGET SALES TAX, WHICH COLLECTED 103.5% OF BUDGET, AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL, WHICH COLLECTED 176% OF THE BUDGET. FOR THE INCREASE UNDER THE CHARGES FOR SERVICES, IS THAT AN INCREASE IN THE FEDERAL BEDS? THE CONTRACT? YES. FOR CHARGES FOR SERVICES. THAT INCREASE IS PARTLY DUE TO FEDERAL PRISONERS, WHICH INCREASED ALMOST $2 MILLION, AND THE OTHER ONE WAS COUNTY CLERK FEES. OKAY. THIS NEXT CHART SHOWS YOU THE YEAR TO DATE TAXES COMPRISED 86.6% OF REVENUES RECEIVED, WITH PROPERTY TAXES COMPRISING 64.4% OF TOTAL REVENUES. THIS NEXT SLIDE ILLUSTRATES THE TRENDS IN TOTAL REVENUES AND THE COUNTY'S TWO LARGEST REVENUE SOURCES.

PROPERTY TAXES AND SALES TAXES. THE LINES ON THE CHART REPRESENT TOTAL REVENUES. THE BAR GROUPINGS DISPLAY ACTUAL VERSUS BUDGETED AMOUNTS FOR THE PROPERTY AND SALES TAXES BY YEAR, PROVIDING A CLEAR VIEW OF PERFORMANCE RELATIVE TO THE TO OUR PROJECTIONS AS A PERCENTAGE OF BUDGET, THE CURRENT YEAR'S GENERAL FUND TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS INCREASED BY 1.8% COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, AND 5.2% GREATER COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR 2023. THIS NEXT SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS THE TOP FOUR INDUSTRIES FOR SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTIONS. WE HAVE RETAIL TRADE, WHICH INCREASED 1.2%, ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICES, WHICH INCREASED BY 3.4%, WHOLESALE TRADE, WHICH DECREASED BY 4.3%, AND MANUFACTURING, WHICH DECREASED BY 18.3%. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THEIR REVENUE? OKAY. THANK YOU. IF NOT, WE CAN MOVE OVER TO EXPENDITURES. THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS ALL OF THE EXPENDITURES FOR THE COUNTY BY FUND TYPE FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. THE GENERAL FUND RECORDED TOTAL

[04:15:02]

EXPENDITURES OF $36.2 MILLION. AND THE YEAR TO DATE TOTAL OF $385.1 MILLION. THE FOLLOWING SLIDES WILL GIVE YOU A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES. THIS CHART PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE COUNTY'S GENERAL FUND BUDGET, BREAKING EXPENDITURES DOWN BY THE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT. THIS BREAKDOWN OFFERS A CLEAR VIEW OF HOW RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED ACROSS KEY SERVICE AREAS. 85.3% OF THE BUDGET HAS BEEN EXPENDED, AND OF THAT, PUBLIC SAFETY ACCOUNTED FOR 42.8%. GENERAL GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTED FOR 26.2%, ADMIN OF JUSTICE 24.5, AND ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS MAKE UP THE REMAINING 6.5%. TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION ARE ALSO SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE. GENERAL GOVERNMENT. FOR GENERAL GOVERNMENT, WE'VE EXPENDED 69.2% OF THE BUDGET ADMIN OF JUSTICE, 94.7% OF THE BUDGET HAS BEEN EXPENDED. PUBLIC SAFETY 97.3% OF THE BUDGET HAS BEEN EXPENDED, AND ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS, 67.9% OF THE BUDGET HAS BEEN EXPENDED. THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS YOU A BREAKDOWN OF GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY CATEGORY. IN TOTAL, THEY HAVE DECREASED IN COMPARISON TO PRIOR YEAR BY 1.9%, DECREASING IN OPERATING CAPITAL OUTLAY AND TRANSFERS OUT, AND INCREASING IN. PERSONNEL. PERSONNEL INCREASES ARE PRIMARILY PRIMARILY DUE TO PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE AMOUNT OF $14.9 MILLION. OPERATING DECREASES ARE PRIMARILY PRIMARILY DUE TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND $2 MILLION PUBLIC SAFETY. $2 MILLION HEALTH AND WELFARE, $1 MILLION ADMIN OF JUSTICE, APPROXIMATELY $1,000,001 MILLION, AND CULTURE AND RECREATION $761,000. CAPITAL OUTLAY HAS DECREASED BY $5.2 MILLION COMPARED COMPARED TO PRIOR YEAR, AND TRANSFERS OUT DECREASED BY $11.6 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO A DECREASE IN GENERAL GOVERNMENT NON-DEPARTMENTAL OF $10.6 MILLION. THIS SLIDE SHOWS US THE GENERAL FUND CHANGES BY GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTION IN COMPARISON WITH THE SAME PERIOD THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE TOP AREAS OF CHANGE ARE GENERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH DECREASED BY $16.9 MILLION, PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH INCREASED BY $12.5 MILLION. OTHER FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT HEALTH AND WELFARE, WHICH DECREASED BY $1.4 MILLION, AND OTHER FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH DECREASED BY $1.2 MILLION. LAST UP, WE HAVE OUR DISCUSSION ON THE FUND BALANCE. THE FY 2025 PROJECTED FUND BALANCE IS BASED ON ESTIMATED REVENUES OF $397.7 MILLION AND PROJECTED EXPENDITURES OF $404.8 MILLION. THIS RESULTS IN A PROJECTED ENDING FUND BALANCE FOR FY 2025 OF $89.1 MILLION, COMPARED TO LAST MONTH. THIS REFLECTS AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY $5 MILLION, DRIVEN BY A $523,000 INCREASE IN PROJECTED REVENUES, PRIMARILY DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED SALES TAX COLLECTIONS AND A 4.5 MILLION REDUCTION IN PROJECTED EXPENDITURES. AND THIS ONE IS LARGELY LARGELY DUE TO THE REMOVAL OF GRANT MATCH OBLIGATIONS THAT WE'RE NO LONGER EXPECTING TO BE EXPENDED IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, FY 2025. THESE FIGURES REMAIN SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS FY 2025 FINANCIALS ARE FINALIZED. FOR FY 2026. THE PROJECTION INCORPORATES THE ADOPTED TAX RATE WITH REVENUES ESTIMATED AT $415.5 MILLION AND EXPENDITURES TOTALING $448.9 MILLION. THIS IS BASED ON THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND IT EXCLUDES APPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE. THIS RESULTS IN A FURTHER PROJECTED DECREASE IN FUND BALANCE. JUST FOR A NOTE, YEARS AFTER FY 2026 ARE BASED ON A 2% INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES AND EXPENDITURE INCREASES OF 5%. GIVEN TO THIS UNCERTAINTY, IT'S NOT PRUDENT TO PLACE SIGNIFICANT RELIANCE ON THIS FINANCIAL TREND BEYOND FY 2026. REVENUE STREAMS MAY SHIFT AND FUTURE LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS COULD MATERIALLY IMPACT COUNTY OPERATIONS. AND THIS IS JUST A TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR OUR FULL REPORT AVAILABLE ONLINE. LASTLY, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? SURE. AND I DON'T THINK THIS QUESTION IS ACTUALLY FOR YOU, MICHAEL. IT'S ABOUT THE FUND BALANCE INCREASING DUE TO GRANT MATCHES. I DON'T KNOW

[04:20:05]

IF BETSY OR CARMEN CAN LET US KNOW WHICH GRANTS. IS IT BECAUSE WE WEREN'T AWARDED GRANTS THAT WE WERE EXPECTING TO FUND BALANCE. YOU DID, MICHAEL SAY FUND BALANCE IS INCREASING DUE TO GRANT MATCHES, DUE TO DUE TO NOT SPENDING, NOT EXPECTING. SO THAT MONEY IS THEN REVERTED BACK TO FUND BALANCE BECAUSE IT'S NOT SPENT. SO WE BUDGET IN GRANT MATCH EVERY YEAR. SO SO MUCH FUNDS BASED ON WHAT WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET IN GRANTS AND WE THINK OR WHAT WE'VE APPLIED FOR. BUT THEN WHEN WE DON'T GET THEM, ALL THAT MONEY REVERTS TO FUND BALANCE. CAN WE GET AN UPDATE ON WHICH GRANTS HAVEN'T BEEN AWARDED? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANKS, MICHAEL. THANK YOU. MICHAEL, BACK ON SLIDE 19. IF YOU DON'T MIND WHERE YOU DO, SHOW THE FUND BALANCE WHERE SO IS THE NUMBER IN ORANGE THE ONE 16, 98, 96, 89, 56. IS THAT BUDGETED SOMEWHERE. THAT IS THE ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF THE YEAR. SO THE WHERE YOU WOULD FIND THAT NUMBER IS IN OUR AUDITED FINANCIALS AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THAT MATCHES WITH THE FUND BALANCE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY.

ITEM 11 HUMAN RESOURCES 11 A RECEIVE AN UPDATE. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING HB 718 88TH SESSION AND THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. GOOD

[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]

AFTERNOON. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS VALERIA FERNANDEZ WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, AS REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT. THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IS HERE TO PROVIDE THE WEEKLY UPDATE ON THE TAX COLLECTOR, COLLECTOR ASSESSOR'S OFFICE AND ITS ONGOING PROGRESS WITH HB 718 OPERATIONS. TODAY, WE WILL BE UPDATING THE COURT REGARDING STAFFING LEVELS, OVERTIME COMP TIME USAGE, WORKLOAD BACKLOGS AND TRAINING EFFORTS, HIGHLIGHTING ACTIONS TAKEN SINCE THE LAST TIME THAT WE PROVIDED AN UPDATE. ANY MEASURABLE PROGRESS ACHIEVED, AND ANY ONGOING CHALLENGES THAT MAY REQUIRE CONTINUED ATTENTION. AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED, THE TAX OFFICE DOES HAVE TEN CURRENT VACANCIES. HOWEVER, FOUR OF THOSE WILL BE FILLED BY THIS NEXT MONDAY, AND TWO ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WILL BE FILLED BY JANUARY 2026. IN ADDITION, OF THE THREE POSITIONS WHICH ARE BEING FILLED INTERNALLY, TWO INTERNAL BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE IN PROGRESS AND EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. INTERVIEWS ARE BEING HELD FOR THE THIRD INTERNAL POSITION. THIS MEANS THAT OF THE TEN, NINE OF THE POSITIONS ARE BEING FILLED AND OUR HR TALENT MANAGEMENT TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE TAX OFFICE TO EXPEDITE ANY RECRUITMENT EFFORTS. WE WILL ALSO BE POSTING FOR THE ANTICIPATED ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS THIS WEEK TO GET A HEAD START ON IDENTIFYING QUALIFIED POOL OF CANDIDATES. AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED, THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR APPROVED $10,000 OF OVERTIME, INCLUDING FRINGE COSTS. THE TAX OFFICE HAS UTILIZED APPROXIMATELY 62% OF THE APPROVED OVERTIME AMOUNT SO FAR, AFTER MOST RECENTLY COMPLETING A SATURDAY WORKING SESSION ON OCTOBER 25TH, 2025. THE NEXT SATURDAY WORKING SESSION IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8TH. AS A RESULT, THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IS RECOMMENDING THE COURT TO APPROVE ADDITIONAL OVERTIME IN THE EVENT ADDITIONAL SATURDAYS ARE WORKED.

AS OF THIS MORNING FOR THE BACKLOG. THE CURRENT BACKLOG IS 3989 TRANSACTIONS, AND THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY DROP OFF OR MAIL WORK, INCLUDING THOSE TRANSACTIONS. AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED, FROM THE 131 DEALERS WHO WERE DIRECTED TO FILE IN PERSON AT THE TAX OFFICE. MR. GONZALEZ SHARED THAT HE HAD BEEN THE. HE HAS BEEN THE PRIMARY MEDIATOR BETWEEN THE TEXAS DMV AND THE LOCAL MEXICAN CONSULATE TO IMPROVE AND RECOGNIZE VALID TEXAS REGISTRATION FOR VEHICLES SOLD BY THE DEALER COMMUNITY TO OUR CITIZENS WISHING TO TRAVEL INTO CIUDAD JUAREZ. CURRENTLY, TEXAS BUYERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TRAVEL INTO MEXICO WITH TEXAS PLATES WITHOUT A REGISTRATION STICKER. HE IS HOPEFUL THAT TEXAS AND MEXICO WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS EFFORT TO BENEFIT ALL CITIZENS ALONG THE TEXAS MEXICO BORDER. THE TRAINING THAT WAS HELD ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10TH, WAS ATTENDED BY 175 DEALERS, 100 IN THE MORNING AND 75 IN THE AFTERNOON, AND ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23RD, THE TEXAS DMV AND

[04:25:08]

THE COUNTY TAX OFFICE PARTICIPATED, AND THE TEXAS INDEPENDENT AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION TEXAS TOUR HELD AT MANHEIM AUTO AUCTION TO PROVIDE THE DEALER COMMUNITY WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING HB 718. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR STAFFING, TRAINING, AND PROCESS ADJUSTMENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TAX OFFICE AND CONTINUE REPORTING TO THE COURT. ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE TIME AND MOTION STUDY IS ALSO FORTHCOMING AND WILL BE SHARED AS SOON AS THEY'RE FINALIZED. DID HE HAS HE PROVIDED THE WEEKLY ERRORS REPORT YET? WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY ERROR REPORT YET. OKAY, SO I KNOW THAT WAS SOMETHING HE WAS TALKING ABOUT DOING SO THAT THE DEALERS COULD PAY ATTENTION TO MINIMIZE THE ERRORS, WHICH WOULD HELP US WITH LIKE STREAMLINING PROCESSING. HE WAS GOING TO MAKE SURE THE DEALERS WERE AWARE OF WHAT THE ERRORS WERE, SO THEY COULD WATCH FOR THEM AND CORRECT THEM, SO WE COULD FOLLOW UP TO SEE IF SOME OF THE DEALERS HAVE MENTIONED TO ME THAT THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST CHUNK, RIGHT, BECAUSE WE'RE ALMOST STUCK AT 5000 BACKLOG. AND YOU SAID 2000, 3000. NOW WE'RE AT 39, 39, 89. WELL, WE'RE MOVING. IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY WEEK IT WAS AROUND THE 5000. SO WE'RE STILL HOPING IT'S VOLUME RELATED THAT, YOU KNOW, IT CAME AT US SO QUICKLY THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH TIME WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BALANCE IT. BUT ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO. OH, SORRY. YES, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER, I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK BECAUSE YOU SAID FOUR VACANCIES, FOUR OF THE TEN VACANCIES WILL BE FILLED BY NEXT MONDAY. AND THEN EVENTUALLY, WE'LL GET TO THE POINT WHERE NINE OF THE TEN VACANCIES WILL BE FILLED. DO WE KNOW APPROXIMATELY WHEN THAT MIGHT HAPPEN? WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THE INTERNAL ONES WILL BE FILLED NO LATER THAN THE END OF THE MONTH. THAT'S THREE, I THINK, RIGHT? THAT'S THREE. SO THAT'S SEVEN IN TOTAL. AND THEN THERE'S TWO THAT WILL BE STARTING IN JANUARY. AND THAT WAS THE CANDIDATES WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. OKAY. COMMISSIONER CORONADO AND HAVE THE TAX ASSESSOR CORRECTED THE ISSUE OF PEOPLE. THE DEALERS THAT SUBMIT WITH AN ERROR. THEY'RE NOT GOING BACK TO THIS END OF THE LINE WHEN THEY RESUBMIT. HAVE THAT ISSUE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF? I'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT. COMMISSIONER. I DON'T KNOW THAT THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION AT THIS MOMENT, BUT WE'LL WE'LL PROVIDE AN UPDATE. I DON'T I THINK THAT WAS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN CORRECTED BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A FIX FOR IT UNLESS THEY'RE COMING BACK IN IN PERSON. I THINK IF THEY CAN'T SHOW MORE THAN THREE, LIKE IF THEY HAVE MADE THREE MISTAKES, THAT'S THE MAXIMUM.

AND THEN WE AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE AN EMAIL THAT WOULD BE SENT TO THEM WITH THE ADDITIONAL. AND THAT SHOULD REALLY HELP BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF AND THAT THEY'RE STILL GOING TO THE BACK OF THE LINE. IF THEY'RE STILL GOING TO THE BACK OF THE LINE.

AND HOPEFULLY THE SYSTEM WON'T ALLOW IT TO THE SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY. AND THERE WERE 175 OF THEM THAT ATTENDED THE TRAINING, WHICH IS GREAT. ALL RIGHT. AND SO THE LAST TIME THERE WAS A BACKLOG, IT WAS 5800 OR THEREABOUTS. WAS IT ALMOST 6000, THE HIGHEST IT HAS BEEN. IT WAS CLOSE TO 6000. YES, SIR. BUT MOST RECENTLY WE HAD IT ONLY WENT DOWN BY 52 SINCE LAST WEEK, I THINK FROM 52 TO 39. NO, BY 52 TOTAL IT WAS LIKE 4052. AND THAT WAS AS OF LAST MONDAY. SO IT WENT DOWN 52 FROM LAST MONDAY. EVEN THOUGH WE DID SOMETHING THIS WEEKEND, WE DID NOT DO SOMETHING THIS WEEKEND. THE LAST SATURDAY SESSION WAS ON THE 25TH, THE 25TH, AND THEN THEY'LL BE A WORKING SESSION THIS COMING SATURDAY ON THE EIGHTH. HOW MANY WERE KNOCKED DOWN FROM THE WEEK OF THE 25TH? I DO HAVE THAT NUMBER. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 14 TO 1500 WAS COMPLETED DURING THAT 14 1500 WE CAN KNOCK OFF THIS WEEKEND. IT WAS CLOSER TO 1500. YES, SIR.

AND THAT WAS 17 EMPLOYEES. I BELIEVE THIS COMING SATURDAY THEY'LL HAVE 20 EMPLOYEES WORKING AND IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE ADDITIONAL OVERTIME NOW? YES. IN WHAT AMOUNTS? THE SAME 10,000, 10,000 IS POSSIBLE. WE KNOW THAT WE'RE HAVING FOUR NEW EMPLOYEES THAT ARE STARTING. THAT MAY HELP TO OFFSET IT, BUT 10,000 WOULD GIVE YOU APPROXIMATELY THREE MORE SATURDAY SESSIONS IS AN APPROXIMATE AVERAGE. WELL, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION TO APPROVE THE ADDITIONAL 10,000 IN OVERTIME. WELL, DO WE DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE THAN THREE SATURDAYS? WELL, THREE SATURDAYS RUN ABOUT TEN

[04:30:03]

CLOSE TO 10,000, MAYBE A LITTLE UNDER. BUT IF YOU'D AUTHORIZE US UP TO THAT AMOUNT AND WE'LL WE'LL MONITOR IT AS IT GOES UP TO 10,000 OR UP TO AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 A LITTLE MORE.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP COMING BACK. WE'RE GOING TO GET UPDATES ON IT WEEKLY ANYWAY.

YEAH. WELL IF WE NEED MORE WE'LL ASK OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I'M GOOD. I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION THOUGH. HAS MR. GONZALEZ HIRED ANY TEMP TEMPORARY WORKERS? THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY. I THINK IT WAS THREE TEMP, 3 TO 4 TEMP EMPLOYEES, PRIMARILY THOSE TEMP EMPLOYEES ARE WILL BE UTILIZED FOR THE PROPERTY TAX SEASONS, WHICH WILL START FAIRLY SOON.

AND SO THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT THEY'RE USED FOR. NOT TO SAY THAT THEY CAN'T BE SHIFTED OR MOVED, BUT YES, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME THAT HAVE BEEN HIRED. YES, MA'AM. GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'LL SECOND COMMISSIONER LOGAN'S MOTION. WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. THANK YOU. ITEM 12 GRANT APPLICATIONS 12 A GRANT AWARD. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO ACCEPT THE FY 26 OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD GANG SUPERVISION PROGRAM AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $83,273 FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. NO

[A. GRANT AWARD - Approve and authorize the County Judge to accept the FY26 Office of the Governor Project Safe Neighborhood, Gang Supervision Program Award, in the amount of $83,273 from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026. No cash match is required; however, the program is requesting match in the amount of $15,882 to cover program costs. Funding is available in GF-GADM-XFER OUT-GRANT MATCH. (Contract No. 2025-0876) Catherine Jones, Director, Criminal Justice Coordination, 915-273-3353]

CASH MATCH IS REQUIRED. HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM IS REQUESTING MATCH IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,882 TO COVER PROGRAM COSTS. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN GENERAL FUND G ADMIN TRANSFER GRANT MATCH CONTRACT NUMBER 2025 0876. GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ELLEN WITH THE BUDGET AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT. THE GRANT SECTIONS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO FOSTER SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH A REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIMES. THIS GRANT WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ONE POSITION, WHICH IS AGAIN GANG SUPERVISION OFFICER, AND FOR FUEL AND MAINTENANCE FOR A VEHICLE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED WITH THIS GRANT. THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR THAT WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED THIS GRANT. BUT THIS YEAR, DUE TO LIMITED BUDGET, THIS GRANT WAS NOT FULLY, FULLY FUNDED. AND SO ALTHOUGH THIS GRANT DOES NOT REQUIRE A MATCH, WE ARE REQUESTING 15,882 OF CASH MATCH TO ENSURE THE POSITION IS FULLY SUPPORTED AND THAT THE PROGRAM CAN CONTINUE WITHOUT INTERRUPTIONS. AND MISS JONES IS HERE TO GIVE A FEW REMARKS AS WELL. THANK YOU CATHERINE, WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE COUNTY JUDGE, HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS CATHERINE JONES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIRECTOR WITH YOUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATION DEPARTMENT. I REALLY HATE TO BE STANDING BEFORE YOU TODAY. I NEVER LIKE TO BE HERE ASKING FOR MONEY. I'D LIKE TO BE HERE AS. AND I LIKE MY PERCENTAGE OF GRANTS WITH ZERO MATCH. OKAY. I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF I DIDN'T TRULY BELIEVE IN WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS DOING. WE RIGHT NOW HAVE JUST SHY OF 1000 GANG MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOW BEEN IDENTIFIED IN OUR ENTERPRISE SUPERVISION DATABASE. BY DOING THIS, IT ALLOWS US TO KEEP RIVAL GANG MEMBERS FROM FROM COMING INTO THE OFFICE ON THE SAME DAYS, HELPING MY STAFF SAY STAY SAFE. THIS ACTUAL POSITION OUR GANG SUPERVISION OFFICER IS HOUSED AT THE WEST TEXAS ANTI-GANG CENTER. HE WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WITH EPPD, WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WITH THE FBI, WITH THE DEA, WITH THE MARSHALS. AND THEY COME TO HIM FOR INFORMATION ON GANG MEMBERS WHO ARE BEING SUPERVISED BY US. MARTIN OFFICER RAMIREZ IS ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COURTS TO HELP THEM. WHEN WE DO GET A GANG MEMBER WHO IS IN VIOLATION OF THEIR BOND CONDITIONS, HE IS ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COURTS. A LOT OF THE COURTS HAVE TOLD ME THEY'RE INCREDIBLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A HIGH PROFILE OR DANGEROUS GANG MEMBER WHO IS IN THEIR COURT. END OF LAST WEEK.

FRIDAY EVENING, I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THEY ARE VERY

[04:35:02]

INTERESTED IN THIS PROGRAM. SO WITH THAT, BECAUSE I, AS YOU ARE AWARE, THEY HAVE NAMED CARTELS AND THOSE WHO WORK WITH THE CARTELS AS TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS. THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED IN OUR PROGRAM BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONLY PROGRAM LIKE THIS IN THE NATION WHO IS MONITORING OUR GANG MEMBERS IN THIS MANNER, WITH THAT AND WITH THEIR INTEREST, I AM ACTIVELY LOOKING AT OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS TO DRAW DOWN, SO I ANTICIPATE THIS WOULD BE THE ONLY TIME I WOULD EVER COME TO YOU ASKING FOR THIS MONEY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE. HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. THANK YOU CATHERINE. AND THE FUNDING IS BUDGETED IN THAT GRANT MATCH LINE ITEM THAT WE JUST MENTIONED. SO THAT'S WHERE WE THIS IS WHERE WE PUT THOSE FUNDS FOR THE GRANT MATCHES FOR THIS YEAR. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE DO HAVE A REQUEST FOR ITEM 13 F DISCUSS LITIGATION STYLE SUIT VERSUS COUNTY OF EL PASO CAUSE NUMBER 2021 CV 0247. COUNTY ATTORNEY CASE NUMBER 001221 LD PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071, WE HAVE A REQUEST TO DELETE THAT ALONG WITH THE CORRESPONDING REGULAR

[F. Discuss litigation styled Susan Campa v. County of El Paso; Cause No. 2021DCV0247; County Attorney case number 0012-21-LD, pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071. Ian Kaplan, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office, 915-273-3247]

SESSION ITEM 14 B. AND WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO TO DELETE SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. ALSO FOR ITEM 13 B IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE DO NEED TO MAKE FINDINGS BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS ERIC ROSALES, GAGLIONE ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. WE'RE ASKING THAT ITEM 13 B BE TAKEN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.0725. THE COUNTY IS CURRENTLY IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH EL PASO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, DBA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER OF EL PASO, REGARDING THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR INMATE HEALTH CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES. 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. COUNTY ATTORNEY CHRISTINA SANCHEZ HAS DETERMINED THAT DELIBERATION IN OPEN MEETING CONCERNING THESE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE NEGOTIATIONS

[B. Pursuant to Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 and 551.0725, discuss and receive legal advice concerning contract negotiations between El Paso County and the El Paso County Hospital District d/b/a University Medical Center of El Paso regarding the Interlocal Agreement for Inmate Healthcare and Mental Healthcare Services. Christina Sanchez, County Attorney, County Attorney's Office, 915-273-3247]

WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT IF DONE IN OPEN SESSION. SO WE'RE REQUESTING THAT THE COURT UNANIMOUSLY VOTE THAT DELIBERATIONS IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD HAVE THAT DETRIMENTAL EFFECT, THAT ALL DELIBERATIONS TAKE PLACE IN CLOSED. AND THEN WE'D FURTHER ASK THE COURT TO DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, COMMISSIONERS, COURT REPORTERS TO ENSURE THAT ALL PROCEEDINGS IN CLOSED SESSION BE RECORDED. WE HAVE PROVIDED A COPY OF THIS LEGAL, LEGAL, LEGAL MEMO, EXCUSE ME, TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, COMMISSIONERS, COURT REPORTERS TO BE PART OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD. SO WE WOULD ASK FOR THAT MOTION AT THIS TIME, PLEASE. HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER.

THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEMS 13 A THROUGH E, G AND F PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.07155, 1.0725 AND 551.087. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECONVENE TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION - 2]

[04:44:59]

YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING OUT HERE

[04:45:04]

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.

MAS GRANDES DEL PASO ES EL PARQUE ASCARATE MUCHAS PERSONAS LO TOMAN POR SENTADO ENTRE SUS VERDES DECENAS DE ACTIVIDADES Y RINCONES Q NO TE ACABAS EN UN SOLO 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 SIEMPRE. TEXTOS ES EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLIMPICA TIENE DOS. TOBOGGANS. Y VOLEIBOL DESDE ESTE DE JUNIO LUNES A CUATRO Y MEDIO 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 DE SU NIVEL DE SU EDAD PADRES DE FAMILIA. CUANDO LES DIGO UNA CLASE DE NATATION A LA ENERGIA DE SUS PEQUEAS ENCANTADOS Y POR QUÉ ES COMO Y SE PUEDEN DORMIR ESPECIALES LLEVARLO DESPUÉS POR ESO SERA SUFICIENTE NO OBSTANTE EL AGUA ES PARA TODOS LA CANTIDAD DE BENEFICIOS, TANTO

[04:50:02]

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. ES DE VERANO. PUEDES VIVIR LA FANTASIA DE MICHAEL PHELPS O BIEN DE LA SERENA.

DESPUÉS DE NADAR A UN ENERGIA'S. QUÉ UN PASEO DE LA O 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. 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 VISTO TODO AGARRATE PORQUE TAMBIÉN HAY GANANCIAS PARA PRACTICAR CUALQUIER DEPORTES QUIERE HACER NADA. SIMPLEMENTE NO SALE PERO MUCHAS PARTES SON DIVERTIRSE. QUIERAS SENTIRTE COMO UN MAGNATE SIN UN COUNTRY CLUB. EL GRAN CAMPO DE GOLF DE ESTE LUGAR 27 CLASES PARA TODOS LOS NIVELES. DE SOPA. INSTANTANEA ESTAS MUY EQUIVOCADO PUEDEN ENCONTRAR DESDE CATFISH CARPA LA PAZ. LA LLUVIA CON LICENCIA SUERTE. SI LO TUYO ES RELAJAR CON UNA CANA PARA MI LA JOYA DE LA CORONA DEL PARQUE ASCARATE ES ESTE INMENSO LLEGO DONDE PUEDES PASAR Y POR SUPUESTO, DISFRUTAR DE UN AMARILLO Y DORADO ATARDECER CLARO LAS MEJORES AVENTURAS ESTAN PENSAMOS NOS VEMOS EN LA PROXIMA PARADA. YO SOY MIGUEL CONTRERAS DE NOTICIAS 26. EL REPORTERO. FAVORITE, FAVORITE.