Nov 24, 2025 Commissioners Court Regular

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THE VETERANS CAPITOL OF THE USA. FROM INSIDE THE ALICIA CHACON COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM OF THE

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[OPEN MEETING]

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TODAY WE WILL BE LED IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY ONE OF OUR FABULOUS COMMISSIONERS COURT INTERNS, JUDGE SAMANIEGO, ACTUALLY ONE OF YOUR INTERNS, RACHEL MOLINA, WHO IS A MASTER'S STUDENT AT UTEP AND ALSO THE FOUNDER OF EL PASO PROJECT. PERIOD. THANK YOU

[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

[INVOCATION]

I'M 68 YEARS OLD. THAT'S WHY. THAT'S WHY HE'S A PASTOR NOW. THERE YOU GO. YEAH, YEAH, I GOT I GOT SWATTED INTO ETERNITY. RIGHT? ALRIGHT. IT'S ALL GOOD. AMEN. PASTOR. PRAISE GOD. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE THIS MORNING. IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR. AMEN. TO COME BEFORE OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT HERE AND BE ABLE TO DO AN INVOCATION. BUT, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE IN THIS THANKSGIVING SEASON, THE BIBLE SAYS TO GIVE THANKS IN EVERYTHING. AND I ALSO I'M SORRY, I'D LIKE TO GIVE THANKS ALSO FOR MY GOOD FRIEND, PASTOR RAUL MARTINEZ OVER HERE, PASTOR IN THE CITY FOR OVER 50 YEARS. AMEN. AND THEN SOMEWHERE AROUND HERE, PASTOR BILL COBB FROM THE CHURCH OF SAINT CLEMENT. AMEN. GOD BLESS YOU AS WELL, PASTOR. GOOD FRIENDS. AMEN. BUT, YOU KNOW, BIBLE SAYS TO GIVE THANKS IN EVERYTHING. AMEN. AND ALL THINGS GIVE THANKS. AND SOMETIMES THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN STUFF IS HAPPENING AND STUFF IS GOING ON AROUND YOU OR TO YOU OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, BUT I'D JUST LIKE TO READ THIS, GIVING THANKS AND EVERYTHING. THOSE ARE GREAT. COMMENTATOR IN THE BIBLE CALLED, I MEAN, THEY WROTE A BIBLE COMMENTARY BIBLE, A BIBLE COMMENTARY, MATTHEW HENRY. AND ONE TIME HE WAS ON THE STREETS OF LONDON AND HE GOT HE GOT MUGGED. AMEN. BUT THIS IS WHAT HE SAID. AND, YOU KNOW, IN HONOR OF GIVING THANKS AND EVERYTHING HE SAYS, I WAS HE PUT THIS ENTRY IN HIS IN HIS DIARY. HE SAYS, I WAS MUGGED TODAY. BUT, LORD, YOU HAVE TAUGHT US TO BE THANKFUL IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SEVERAL THINGS. I THANK YOU. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I WAS EVER MUGGED. I THANK YOU. THEY TOOK MY MONEY, BUT NOT MY LIFE. I THANK YOU THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY TOOK ALL MY MONEY, IT WASN'T MUCH MONEY. I THANK YOU THAT I WAS THE ONE MUGGED AND NOT THE ONE DOING THE MUGGING. AMEN. SO? SO IT'S ALL GOOD. AMEN. YOU KNOW, ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID, NOW, THEREFORE, I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DO HEREBY APPOINT AND SET APART THE LAST THURSDAY OF NOVEMBER NEXT AS A DAY WHICH I DESIRE TO BE OBSERVED BY ALL MY FELLOW CITIZENS, WHEREVER THEY MAY, WHEREVER THEY MAY BE, AS THE DAY OF THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE OF ALMIGHTY GOD, THE BENEFICENT CREATOR AND RULER OF THE UNIVERSE. AMEN. SO WE GOT A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE. AMEN. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK GOD THIS MORNING FOR FOR OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, OUR OUR CITY COUNCILS OVER THERE DOWN THE STREET. AND JUST EVERYBODY WHO HELPS MOVE THIS CITY AND AND ALSO THE COUNTY OF EL PASO. AND THANK YOU FOR EACH ONE OF YOU. AND ALSO, I THINK YOU NEED TO BE THANKFUL AS WELL. I'M NOT SAYING YOU'RE NOT, BUT YOU NEED TO BE THANKFUL AS WELL, BECAUSE THE BIBLE ALSO TELLS US IN ROMANS THAT ALL AUTHORITY IS PLACED BY GOD. AMEN. SO THEREFORE GOD SAW SOMETHING IN YOU THAT HE SAW FIT FOR YOU TO BE WHERE YOU ARE THIS DAY. AND THAT'S SOMETHING REALLY TO BE THANKFUL FOR. AMEN. SO ANYWAY, CAN I GET AN AMEN FROM YOU GUYS?

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AMEN. ALRIGHT PRAISE GOD THANK YOU JUDGE. LET'S GO TO THE LORD IN PRAYER. FATHER, IN JESUS NAME, WE COME BEFORE YOUR PRESENCE. FATHER GOD, WE WANT TO JUST THANK YOU FOR OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. FATHER GOD, THAT JUST THERE THERE'S ON THE LINE EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THIS COUNTY. FATHER GOD, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR LIVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, LORD GOD, AND ANY NEEDS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE THIS MORNING, FATHER GOD AND THEIR PERSONAL LIVES AND THEIR AND THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIVES, WHATEVER THE NEED MAY BE. FATHER GOD, WE JUST BRING THAT UP TO YOU, FATHER GOD, THAT THEY MAY RECEIVE A FAVORABLE ANSWER FROM YOU. LORD GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF LOU JAMES THAT ARE HERE TODAY. FATHER GOD, A GREAT MAN. LORD GOD, WE ALSO THANK YOU, LORD GOD, FOR LISA WHO SERVED HERE AS WELL. FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR JUDGE ALICIA CHACON AND WE WE JUST PRAY FOR HER THIS MORNING. AND THANK YOU, GOD. THANK YOU BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO BE HERE. THANK YOU FOR THIS UPCOMING THANKSGIVING, LORD GOD. AND THANK YOU, LORD GOD, THAT THERE WOULD BE WARM MEALS ON PEOPLE'S TABLES ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THIS THANKSGIVING. THANK YOU FATHER. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, PASTOR. APPRECIATE THAT. JUDGE, DO YOU HAVE SOME OPENING COMMENTS FOR US THIS MORNING? THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OUR COMMISSIONERS, WE REALLY ALWAYS VERY, VERY PLEASED THAT THAT YOU'RE HERE IS YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME AMAZING, AMAZING RESOLUTIONS. BUT I ALSO WANT TO FOLLOW THE PASTOR. YOU KNOW, WE'RE AWARE, YOU KNOW, POLITICS AND EVERYTHING SEPARATES FAMILIES. AND THE UNITY IS NOT WHERE IT SHOULD BE ALL THE TIME. BUT WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND THANKSGIVING TO SEE THE CONTRAST BETWEEN WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE DON'T HAVE. AND YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE SO, SO MUCH MORE THAN WE DON'T HAVE. AND SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY BLESSED AND FEEL BLESSED. SO TO ME, THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT THANKSGIVINGS THAT I'VE SEEN, THAT IT'S A TIME TO DO A PIVOTAL MOVE. FIND THAT THAT UNCLE, THAT THAT BROTHER, THAT SISTER WHO SORT OF BRINGS THE FAMILY TOGETHER. THERE'S ALWAYS ONE IN THERE THAT YOU CAN DEPEND ON TO BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER. SO, YOU KNOW, I PRAY THAT THAT YOU DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS THANKSGIVING. WE'RE GOING INTO DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. A LOT OF CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE, A LOT OF DISRUPTION IN POLITICS AND THAT WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY THAT KNOWS HOW TO COME TOGETHER. I HAVE ALL THE CONFIDENCE IN THE WORLD. WE'VE SEEN IT IN EVERY SITUATION, FROM WALMART TO THE IMMIGRATION SITUATION, THE PANDEMIC. I MEAN, IT'S IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE HOW HOW WE HAVE BECOME A ROLE MODEL.

AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO FORGET THAT THERE'S SO MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES HAVE SEEN US IN A VERY DIFFERENT LIGHT. YOU KNOW, WE FEEL WE SEEM TO COME TOGETHER BETTER THAN MOST COMMUNITIES, BUT LET'S NOT LOWER THAT BENCHMARK. YOU KNOW, WE WE WE WE CAN UPHOLD THIS, OUR VALUES AND OUR FAMILY VALUES. SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU ARE. BUT THIS TIME REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S AN IMPORTANT THANKSGIVING, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT THAT I'VE SEEN TO REALLY GET BE UNITED, STAY TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, PUT THE POLITICS ASIDE, PUT ALL THESE OTHER THINGS ASIDE. YOU'LL MISS OUT SO MUCH. AND NOT BEING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

AND SO I'M HOPING THAT WE TAKE THAT TO HEART. WHAT THE PASTOR SAID AND AND LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, WANT TO WISH ALL OF YOU AN AMAZING THANKSGIVING, MAKE IT A VERY FAMILY. MAKE THE THEME SHOULD BE UNITY AND AND STRIVE FOR THAT. SO THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS THE CONSENT AGENDA COMPOSED OF ITEMS FOUR A THROUGH FOUR A-F. WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR ITEM FOUR J TO BE DELETED. ITEM FOUR J IS TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE A FOOD

[CONSENT AGENDA]

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[AA. Pursuant to Texas Local Government Codes 262.024(a)(9)(A) and 262.024(a)(9)(C), approve an exemption from procurement requirements for the purchase of personal property that is for sale in an auction conducted by an auctioneer licensed to operate in Texas, and to purchase vehicles that are for sale by the Emergency Services District 2 in an amount not to exceed $90,000. Funding is available in SG-SHTREASURYEQ19-CAP OUTLAYS. Oscar Ugarte, Sheriff, EPCSO, 915-273-3800]

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN SPECIAL GRANT, SHERIFF TREASURY EQ 19 CAPITAL OUTLAYS. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS BARBARA PARKER, THE COUNTY AUDITOR. I ASKED FOR THIS ITEM TO BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION ONLY BECAUSE I WANTED YOU TO HAVE SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON IT. I RECEIVED AN EMAIL LAST WEEK ON THE 18TH FROM THE SHERIFF, GIVING US A HEADS UP THAT HE WANTED TO MAKE A BID FOR THESE AUTOS. HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO BE SUBMITTING THE BID THAT DAY. HE'S USING ASSET FORFEITURE FUNDS, WHICH ARE FEDERAL FUNDS. AND WHILE I APPLAUD THE SHERIFF FOR THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX, WE DO HAVE TO FOLLOW ALL COUNTY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS. AND SO MY RECOMMENDATION TO HIM WAS TO GET WITH THE PURCHASING AGENT. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER, EXCUSE ME, WHETHER HE ACTUALLY SUBMITTED THE BID OR NOT. WE DID WORK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS, AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS ON THE AGENDA TODAY. IF HE SUBMITTED THE BID LAST WEEK, IT'S POSSIBLE IT COULD BE AN AUDIT FINDING SINCE WE DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE PROPER PROCEDURES BEFORE THE BID WAS PLACED. BUT I THINK, KAREN, YOUR PURCHASING AGENT MAY HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. OKAY. KAREN, WELCOME.

GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. KAREN DAVIDSON, YOUR COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT. WE DID REVIEW THIS REQUEST THAT THE SHERIFF HAD WITH LEGAL. AND THEY HAVE GIVEN THE OPINION ON THESE TWO PIECES OF STATUTE. HOWEVER, I'D LIKE TO BRING TO THE COURT'S ATTENTION THAT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT BEST PRACTICE, THAT YOUR FLEET DIRECTOR, WHEN HE SELECTS ONE OF OUR ITEMS TO BE PUT UP FOR A SURPLUS AUCTION, HAS DONE A FULL ANALYSIS OF THE LIFE CYCLE OF THAT EMERGENCY VEHICLE AND THE COST TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN IT, AS WELL AS TO OUTFIT AND PACK IT. AND IF IT IS DETERMINED TO BE MORE COSTLY, THEN WE PUT IT UP FOR SURPLUS.

I WOULD ASSUME THAT THIS ENTITY HAS DONE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE IN THAT AND DONE THAT ANALYSIS. I DID ASK THE SHERIFF FOR THE VIN NUMBERS AND THE LIST OF THE VEHICLES, SO THAT WE COULD DETERMINE IF THEY'VE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS OR HAD MAJOR REPAIRS OR INSURANCE CLAIMS. I ALSO WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD OUR FLEET DIRECTOR GO OUT THERE AND DO AN ASSESSMENT OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THAT VEHICLE AND THE REMAINING LIFE CYCLE, AND THAT WAS DECLINED. I DO BELIEVE THERE'S ANOTHER METHOD THAT THE SHERIFF COULD GO ABOUT USING, AND THAT IS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THIS POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THAT WOULD ALLOW US BETTER ANALYSIS AND MORE TIME TO PURCHASE THESE VEHICLES. AND THAT'S CERTAINLY ALLOWED BY LAW UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT STATUTE 791. I DO RECOMMEND TO THE COURT THAT WE RESIST THE URGE TO BID ON THESE ITEMS UNTIL WE CAN DO A PROPER ASSESSMENT, AND THEN IF WE WANT TO PROCURE IT, WE DO AN INTERLOCAL WITH THIS ENTITY. DO WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT? ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? NO. YES, SIR.

GOOD MORNING, COUNTY JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS COMMANDER CARDENAS SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SO AS AS YOU'RE ALL AWARE ABOUT THESE VEHICLES, THEY DO BELONG TO ESD TWO HERE LOCALLY, AS YOU ARE ALL AWARE ALSO THAT OUR WE CURRENTLY HAVE A VERY OLD FLEET AND US THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO HELP OUT THE COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT SITUATION. I HAVE BEEN OUT THERE PERSONALLY TO LOOK AT THESE VEHICLES. THEY ARE VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND THEY'RE LOW MILEAGE. AND AS YOU'RE AWARE, THESE VEHICLES ARE MAINTAINED BY ESD TWO VERY WELL. AS AS FAR AS US BIDDING, WE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ON THESE VEHICLES YET. WE WERE WAITING ON GUIDANCE FROM FROM OUR COUNTERPARTS HERE WITH THE COUNTY. SO. SO YOU'RE IN AGREEMENT THAT WE COULD WAIT UNTIL SORT OF FOLLOW KAREN'S PROCESS AT THIS TIME. SO, SO AS FAR AS THIS CURRENT BID, THE BID ENDS TODAY AT 4 P.M. THAT THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE KIND OF PUSHED A LITTLE BIT HARD ON THIS, ON THIS ITEM. THESE VEHICLES WERE WERE PUT UP FOR GOVERNMENT ENTITIES WHICH WE QUALIFIED TO BE ABLE TO BID ON THESE VEHICLES. ERICA, ANY OR ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS ERIC ROSALES, GAGLIONE ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. SO AS THE PURCHASING

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THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY, GOING BACK TO OUR ORDER, ITEM NUMBER FIVE A FROM RESOLUTIONS APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MARTHA VERA AS AN OUTSTANDING HONORARY CONSUL OF SPAIN IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. MARTHA, YOU WANT TO COME UP? VERY SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS

[A. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing Martha Vera as an Outstanding Honorary Consul of Spain in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]

WHEREAS THE VERA GROUP WORKS FOR TO REPRESENT AND BRING FOREIGN COMPANIES TO TEXAS. HER CLIENTS RANGE FROM TEXAS BASED BEEF IMPORTER FROM ARGENTINA, A STIRRED UP A1 COMPANY FROM SPAIN, AND A NAVAL SHIPYARD FROM SPAIN. WHEREAS AS PRESIDENT OF THE PASO DEL NORTE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL, WHOSE FLAGSHIP EVENT IS ACADEMIC WORLD QUEST, HER BOARD WORKS WITH LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS AND THEIR STUDENT TEAMS. STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT CAREERS AVAILABLE IN INTERNATIONAL LAW, PUBLIC SERVICE, THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE, WHERE SHE BROUGHT THE FIRST DIGITAL RADIOLOGY CENTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN. SHE HELPED THE CENTER FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF BREAST CANCER BE RECOGNIZED AS A STAR WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WHERE SHE HAS HAS A PRESENTATION SCHEDULED IN NOVEMBER ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORLD HERITAGE DESIGNATION OF UNESCO OF THE CAMINO REAL DE TIERRA DENTRO AND BERNALILLO, NEW MEXICO. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZES MISS VERA, MRS. VERA, AS AN OUTSTANDING HONORARY CONSUL OF SPAIN IN EL PASO, TEXAS, SIGNED THIS 24TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. AND NO DISRESPECT BECAUSE I MISS VERA. BECAUSE WE KNOW HER SO MUCH AS MARTHA. RIGHT? EVERYBODY KNOWS WHEN I SAY MARTHA, WHO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO, MARTHA, YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND SAY A FEW WORDS FOR US? I DEFINITELY WOULD. FIRST OF ALL, IT'S TRULY AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE RECOGNIZED BY MY ESTEEMED COUNTY JUDGE, RICARDO SAMANIEGO, AND OUR

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I EARNED A MASTER'S DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL LAW, FOREIGN TRADE AND FOREIGN RELATIONS FROM THE INSTITUTO SUPERIOR DE DERECHO Y ECONOMIA IN MADRID, SPAIN. I AM GRATEFUL TO THE HUNT INSTITUTE AT UTEP FOR WELCOMING ME AS A FELLOW WHERE I'VE CONTRIBUTED TO THE MISSION TRAIL PROJECT. AND AS WELL AS SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL, WHERE WE HIGHLIGHT EL PASO'S SISTER CITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD. AS HONORARY CONSUL, I'VE ASSISTED SPANISH CITIZENS WITH PASSPORTS, VISAS, NATIONALITY MATTERS, AND EVEN, YES, DEPORTATIONS. THROUGH THIS WORK, I EARNED A CERTIFICATE IN DIPLOMATIC LAW FROM THE UNITED NATIONS AND WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE PASO DEL NORTE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL, HELPING OUR STUDENTS DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. WE EVEN STARTED THE SOCIEDAD CULTURAL DE ESPANA IN 2013. NOT JUST TO INCLUDE SPANISH EVENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT ALSO TO TEACH ABOUT ALL OF THE COUNTRIES IN THE AMERICAS THAT WERE FOUNDED BY SPAIN, BY THAT HUGE EMPIRE AND HOW WE ALL ARE A FAMILY. WE ALL SPEAK SPANISH. WE ALL HAVE THE SAME CULTURAL.

BASIS. AND SO I REALLY WANT TO INVITE YOU ALL TO, TO VIEW ONE OF OUR FILMS AND TO BE PART OF OUR FUNDRAISING TO MAKE HISTORY BE CHANGED IN OUR NATION AND TO INCLUDE HISPANICS WHERE THEY RIGHTFULLY NEED TO BE. I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, MY HUSBAND, DOCTOR ROBERT VERA, FOR SUPPORTING ME IN MY MISSION. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THE RECOGNITION. GRACIAS POR SU APOYO PASADO, PRESENTE, FUTURO Y LOS ESPERO VER EN MUCHOS MUCHOS DIFERENTES EVENTOS.

VAMOS A HACER PARA RECONOCER A LA COMUNIDAD HISPANA. MUCHAS GRACIAS MARTA. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MY MOTTO, EL PASO TO KNOW US IS TO LOVE US. WELL, THEY HAVE TO MEET US. THEY HAVE TO KNOW WHO WE ARE. AND SHE DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB OF GOING ALL OVER SPAIN. PROMOTING EL PASO BROUGHT A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS

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AND IF WE'D LOVE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU AND YOUR THE REST OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME IN TODAY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE BE APPROVING. ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE LEGACY OF LEWIS LEE JAMES, JR FOR HIS REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AS AN ATHLETE, EDUCATOR, MENTOR, AND

[B. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing and honoring the legacy of Louis Lee James Jr. for his remarkable contributions as an athlete, educator, mentor, and community leader in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]

LEWIS JOSEPH JAMES, CLIFF JAMES AND TOOK IN RICKY MASTERS AND WHERE'S LEWIS? AND NORMA JEAN OPENED THEIR HOME TO THOSE IN NEED, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS JAMES WASHINGTON, A PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO HAD BEEN SLEEPING ON A PARK BENCH DURING HIS FRESHMAN YEAR. HE WAS TAKEN

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THANK YOU ALL FOR INVITING US OUT THIS MORNING. MY GRANDFATHER WAS HUGE ON BLACK AND BROWN RELATIONS AND HE COULD HAVE GONE ANYWHERE. AFTER PLAYING IN PHILADELPHIA, HE CAME BACK HOME BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IN EL PASO AND THAT'S WHY I'M STILL HERE. I BELIEVE IN EL PASO. AND JUST LIKE YOU SAID, IF YOU DON'T KNOW US, YOU HAVE TO GET TO KNOW US BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT PLACE. IT'S DIFFERENT FAR OUT FROM THE REST OF TEXAS, BUT IT'S ITS OWN SPECIAL PLACE. AND I'M JUST SO HAPPY THAT MY GRANDFATHER HAS LEFT SUCH A LASTING LEGACY. I CAN GO ANYWHERE, AND JAMES. LOU. JAMES. YES. YES, SIR. LOU. JAMES. AND EXCUSE ME. VERY FEW PEOPLE GET TO GROW UP WITH A REAL LIFE SUPERHERO. YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR STORIES, YOU READ COMIC BOOKS, YOU WATCH MOVIES. BUT TO WATCH LOU JAMES WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL. WHEN HE WALKED INTO THE ROOM, IT LIT UP. EVERYBODY KNEW HIM, AND HE TREATED EVERYONE WITH RESPECT.

I NEVER HAD I NEVER SAW MY GRANDPA HAVE ANY QUARRELS WITH ANYBODY, ANY PROBLEMS. AND IF HE DID, HE WOULD TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT AND IT WOULD BE FIXED. HE RAISED GENERATIONS, YOU KNOW, IN HEIGHTS, IN THE HEIGHTS, THE SEGUNDO BARRIO. AND IT'S BEEN GREAT TO JUST SEE, I'VE BEEN PROMOTING THIS AND TALKING ABOUT IT WITH PEOPLE, AND THEY'VE SHARED COUNTLESS STORIES WITH ME ON AGAIN, LIKE, LIKE MY MAN SAID HERE WITH THE PADDLE, YOU KNOW, I GUESS IT SAVED A LOT OF PEOPLE, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, IN HIS LATER YEARS, HE TOOK THE CHURCH AND HE JUST ALWAYS MADE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A CONNECTION WITH GOD NO MATTER WHAT RELIGION IT IS.

JUST THERE'S A HIGHER BEING, THERE'S PURPOSE AND THERE'S STRENGTH IN THAT. SO I THANK YOU ALL AND IT REALLY MEANS A LOT. AND THIS IS JUST A ONE CHECK ON MY BUCKET LIST TO DO THINGS FOR MY GRANDFATHER. SO I'M HOPING FOR A SCHOOL, A STREET, A PARK, ANYTHING. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. I DO APPRECIATE IT. A MOVIE, A MOVIE. SO THERE IS GOING TO BE BLEEDING RED BY ZG PRODUCTIONS. IT FOLLOWED BELLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH ONE OF THEIR FOOTBALL SEASONS, BUT THEY DID HONOR MY GRANDFATHER WITH THE HIGHLANDER AWARD AT BELLAIRE.

AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO SHOWCASE THAT. THEY DID A REALLY NICE INTERVIEW, SO I'LL KEEP YOU GUYS POSTED ON THAT. BUT HEY, A MOVIE, LIFETIME MOVIE, WHATEVER. THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. WELL, WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD FOR THE FILM INDUSTRY. WE WANT TO BE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR THE FILM INDUSTRY. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE SAID IS THAT GIVE US A STORY. THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED, AND YOU CAN WANT TO BE IN THE FILM INDUSTRY. IF YOU CAN COME UP WITH A STORY THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LIKE THAT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, THAT STORY IS GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. SOMEONE THAT STARTS OFF WHERE HE STARTED AND ENDED UP WHERE HIS LIFE IS JUST INCREDIBLE. THERE'S SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THINGS TO HAVE GONE WRONG AND THEY DIDN'T. AND THAT'S AMAZING. SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO ALSO SAY A FEW

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[C. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing Mia A. Navarro for her leadership, advocacy, and service in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]

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WHEREAS MIA'S LEADERSHIP, EMPATHY, AND DEDICATION TO BORDERLAND PRIDE ALIGNED WITH THE VALUES OF PUBLIC SERVICE, HEALTH, QUALITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY CENTRAL TO THE WELL-BEING AND FUTURE OF THE EL PASO COMMUNITY. WHO IS RECOGNIZING A YOUNG LEADER WHO EMBODIES SERVICE, HEALTH ADVOCACY, CLIMATE AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. SUPPORTS THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT IN INVESTING IN YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND INCLUSIVE, FORWARD LOOKING INITIATIVES FOR A HEALTHIER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE REGION. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT MIA AUTUMN NAVARRO BE RECOGNIZED FOR HER LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY AND SERVICE TO EL PASO COMMUNITY, INCLUDING HER WORK AS A MODEL UNITED NATIONS DELEGATE CHAMPIONING CLIMATE ACTION AND YOUTH BASED ISSUES. HER ENGAGEMENT, AND HER ADVOCACY AS A BREAKTHROUGH TIDE YOUTH AMBASSADOR, PROMOTING AWARENESS, RESEARCH, FUNDING, AND SUSTAINABLE HEALTH CARE PRACTICES. SIGNED THIS 24TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I THANK YOU, JUDGE. MOTION CARRIES. I WANTED TO START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE. THANK YOU JUDGE.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS, I FEEL SO HONORED TO KNOW THAT I'M THE FIRST MINER IN EL PASO TO GET A RESOLUTION AND BE RECOGNIZED. IT'S SO GREAT. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT MY PLATFORM AS MISS TEXAS.

I STARTED SOMETHING CALLED HEALING WITHOUT HARM. IT'S A IT'S MY PLATFORM AS I'M GOING TO COMPETE FOR TEEN MISS USA. WHAT IT IS, IS I GO TO DIFFERENT HOSPITALS AND I ADVOCATE FOR NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT FOR EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S GOING THROUGH THINGS THAT NEED HEALTH CARE. WHAT IT IS, IS COMING UP WITH MORE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR MEDICAL PRODUCTS.

AS A TYPE ONE DIABETIC, I SEE FIRSTHAND HOW MUCH PLASTIC IS ACTUALLY USED IN THE MEDICAL WORLD. SO I USE MY PLATFORM AND MY VOICE AS MISS TEXAS TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE HEALTH CARE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, AND I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE SUCH A GREAT THANKSGIVING. THANK YOU. YOU, AND WELCOME BACK TO THE COURT. THANK YOU JUDGE, DEFINITELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE SAMANIEGO, COMMISSIONER. BUTLER, COMMISSIONER. STOUT, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, WHO WE LOVE. YOU KNOW, WE'VE KNOWN HER FOREVER. AND COMMISSIONER CORONADO, ALSO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING NOT ONLY BECAUSE SHE'S MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND I, OF COURSE, ADORE HER, BUT BECAUSE OF THE WORK SHE'S DOING AND THE ADVOCACY SHE FOLLOWS. AND SHE'S SHE'S NOT, YOU KNOW, SHY ABOUT INTRODUCING HER IDEAS AND HER PLATFORMS AND, GOD WILLING, PLASTIC. ONCE IT GOES TO THE LANDFILLS, YOU KNOW, IT STAYS THERE FOREVER. SO MIA, BECAUSE OF HER DIABETES, HAS TAKEN IT UPON HERSELF TO INTRODUCE NEW IDEAS AND STUDY IT SO THAT SHE CAN IMPROVE THE RECYCLING EFFORTS AND ALL. SO, NEEDLESS TO SAY, I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS YOUNG LADY. THANK YOU. AND YOU KNOW WHAT IS TOMORROW? IT'S THE YOUTH. SO CAN WE BE PROUD OF? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ALL OF YOU. COMMISSIONER OLGUIN HAS AN OUTSTANDING DAUGHTER WHO ALSO. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S THE YOUTH. WE HAVE TO.

ABSOLUTELY APPLAUD THEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, YOU MIGHT SAY IN A FEW WORDS ABOUT OUR GOOD FRIEND PETE. OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY UNCLE PETE IS NOW IN HEAVEN. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH. IN 2022, YOU ALL RECOGNIZED HIM AS AN OUTSTANDING VETERAN OF EL PASO AND JUDGE YOU AND THE COMMISSIONER'S INITIATIVE TO MAKE EL PASO THE VETERANS CAPITAL IS OUTSTANDING. VETERANS. I'M IN THE VFW ALL THE TIME, AND THAT'S THE FIRST THING THEY SAY IS WHERE WE GET MORE HELP, CALL EL PASO THAT THEY EVEN TELL THEIR RELATIVES IF THEY LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE IN CALIFORNIA, COME TO EL PASO. EL PASO BELIEVES IN US. EL PASO IS WILLING TO FIGHT FOR US AND WORK FOR US BECAUSE, AGAIN, LIKE THE YOUTH, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE VETERANS THAT WE ARE WALKING FREE AND HAVE THE PRIVILEGES WE HAVE. SO THANK YOU ALL. SO JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR ALL THE OUTSTANDING WORK AND RECOGNITION YOU DO FOR THE VETERANS. HE WAS OUTSTANDING, AN AUTHOR, I MEAN, JUST AN ADVOCATE. AND FOR EL PASO. AND NOW YOU HAVE THIS COMBINATION

[01:05:02]

BUT I'M ALWAYS PROUD TO SEE YOUTH HERE IN EL PASO STEPPING UP AND, YOU KNOW, STANDING FOR WHAT WHAT REALLY MATTERS. THESE ISSUES ARE NOT THEY'RE VERY DYNAMIC. AND I SEE THE WORK THAT SHE'S PUTTING INTO IT. SO I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT IT'S BEING RECOGNIZED TODAY. ASIDE FROM THAT, I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT THERE'S A RESOLUTION UPCOMING RIGHT AFTER HER. VERY TIMELY FOR THE EL PASO DIABETES COMMUNITY. SO I THINK MIA PROBABLY LOOKS FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH THEM AND FINDING WAYS TO SORT OF COMBINE EFFORTS. BUT AS WELL ON THE COUNTY SIDE, TO WORK WITH THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND FIND BETTER SOLUTIONS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE FOR WASTE. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. IF YOU LISTEN TO THE RESOLUTION, EACH ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS, I WAS THINKING OF EACH ONE THAT HAS A CERTAIN LANE FROM HEALTH CARE TO EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING TO, YOU KNOW, JUST OUR PLANET THAT OUR COMMISSIONER STOUTE AND I MEAN, JUST EVERYTHING THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT FITS RIGHT INTO THE TO THE LANE OF THE COUNTY. SO WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE COULD DO, I'M SURE EACH ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS WILL GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU TO, TO SEE HOW WE COULD PROMOTE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT. I MEAN, THEY, THEY TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING.

BUT THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS WITH EACH COMMISSIONER THAT REALLY HAS PASSION BEHIND IT. AND I THINK YOU COULD BE VERY HELPFUL. AND LIKE YOU SAID, OUR NEXT OUR NEXT RESOLUTION FITS RIGHT IN AND I'M SURE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE EVEN A BIGGER CONNECTION. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. SO REPRESENT THE COUNTY IN ORLANDO. GO AHEAD IN ORLANDO FROM DECEMBER 30TH TO JANUARY 4TH I'LL BE THERE COMPETING FOR TEEN MISS EARTH USA. WE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT MY PLATFORM. RIGHT NOW I'M WORKING ON COMING UP WITH MY PROJECT. SO I THINK Y'ALL'S HELP WILL BE AMAZING AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WHATEVER WE COULD DO, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT SANDRA WILL BE RIGHT, RIGHT BEHIND YOU. THANK YOU.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE D APPROVE AND ADOPT THE RESOLUTION DECLARING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2025 AS DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH AND RECOGNIZING THE DIABETES ALLIANCE, THE EL PASO

[D. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring the Month of November 2025 as Diabetes Awareness Month and recognizing the Diabetes Alliance, the El Paso Center for Diabetes and the Paso del Norte Health Foundation for their leadership in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]

[01:10:03]

WHILE UTEP EVALUATORS ASSIST AND STRENGTHEN PROGRAM IMPACT ACROSS THE REGION AND WITH PARTNERS SUCH AS FIX SUPPORT, SECURE DATA INTEGRATION, COORDINATION OF CARE PROJECT EXPANDS ACCESS TO DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DIABETES. PROJECT VIVA OFFERS DPP AND COMMUNITY BASED PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN EL PASO NEIGHBORHOOD AND TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER. EL PASO LEADS AN INNOVATIVE DENTAL DIABETES SCREENING PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS ORAL HEALTH AND DIABETES CARE WAS TOGETHER. THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE TRANSFORMING DIABETES PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND MANAGEMENT ACROSS THE BORDERLAND, UNITED BY A SHARED VISION OF A HEALTHIER EL NORTE REGION. RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VISIT WW DIABETES NOW. WHAT TO TAKE A FREE DIABETES RISK TEST AND EXPLORE LOCAL PROGRAMS, RECIPES AND HEALTHY LIVING TIPS. THOSE AT HIGHER RISK SHOULD DISCUSS THE RESULTS WITH A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR VISIT EL PASO FOR DIABETES FOR A FREE WALK IN AIC SCREENING. NOW, THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY DECLARES NOVEMBER 2025 AS DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH AND RECOGNIZES DIABETES ALLIANCE, THE EL PASO CENTER FOR DIABETES AND THE PASO DEL NORTE HEALTH FOUNDATION FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND COLLECTIVE IMPACT IN ADVANCING DIABETES PREVENTION, EDUCATION, AND MANAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE PASO DEL NORTE REGION. SIGNED THIS 24TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. AUDREY.

YES. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. AUDREY GARCIA, PROGRAM OFFICER WITH THE PASO DEL NORTE HEALTH FOUNDATION. I OVERSEE THE DIABETES INITIATIVE WORK WE DO, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE ALLIANCE THAT ARE DOING AMAZING WORK IN DIABETES. YOU GOT TO READ A FEW OF THEM THAT DO IT. SO I THINK THE BIG MOMENT FOR US IS TO SAY PEOPLE CAN GO AND FIND HELP FOR THEIR DIABETES JOURNEY WHEREVER THEY'RE AT, WHETHER IT'S PREVENTION OR MANAGEMENT. AND WE HAVE A COUPLE INDIVIDUALS HERE TODAY WITH AMISTAD AND OF COURSE, SANDRA WITH THE CENTER FOR DIABETES. THANK YOU, SANDRA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SPECIAL DAY. I COULDN'T NOT THANK YOU, JUDGE, FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE CENTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

[01:15:04]

LET'S NAME OUR CITY THE HEALTHIEST CITY AND BRING THOSE NUMBERS DOWN. WE'RE THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. LET'S BRING THOSE NUMBERS DOWN. AND WE COULD ONLY DO IT ALL TOGETHER IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS A TEAM, TOGETHER. I'M EXCITED THAT WE SAW TYPE ONE THIS YEAR.

WE'RE THE ONLY CENTER THAT STILL HOSTS TYPE ONE DIABETES CAMPS FOR FREE. WE ARE TAKING THIS YEAR OUR TEENS CAMP TO RUIDOSO, SO WE'RE TAKING OUR KIDS TO CAMP, AND THAT'S WHY WE FUNDRAISE AND OUR KIDS CAMP. WE HAVE TWO CAMPS, ONE FROM 5 TO 11, AND THEN OUR TEENS CAMP FROM 12 TO 17 BECAUSE AT 17, THEY'RE TIRED OF THEIR DIABETES. THEY'RE BURNED OUT. WHY ME? I DON'T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF. SO WE'VE GOT TO GET TOGETHER AND CONTINUE HELPING OUR TYPE ONE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT OUR NEXT COMMISSIONERS, OUR NEXT JUDGE, OUR NEXT DOCTOR.

SO WE GOT TO BE THERE FOR THEM. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR US. THANK YOU.

SANDRA. THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT ORGANIZATIONS, BUT IF YOU THINK OF EVERY ACCESSIBILITY THAT YOU'RE TRYING I MEAN, YOU'RE TRYING FROM EVERY PERSPECTIVE OF MAKING IT EASY, REACHING OUT, TRYING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO DO THAT. AND YOU COULD SEE THE PASSION BEHIND ALL OF THIS. THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE REGION FOCUS, AND WE SOMETIMES WE MISS OUT ON THAT, THAT THIS IS A REGIONAL SITUATION. THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE, BUT YOU'RE DOING LIKE YOU'RE MAKING SURE SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO, THAT JUAREZ IS INVOLVED. EL PASO AND THAT'S OUR THAT'S OUR REGION. AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT BEING A REGION. BUT SOMETIMES WE DON'T ADDRESS THINGS FROM A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE. SO I THANK YOU FOR THOSE TWO ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS. SO THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO. ETCHEGOYEN WITH AMISTAD? JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I THINK AWARENESS IS IS KEY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY. WE'RE MORE PRONE TO DIABETES. BUT WE DO ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, IN LEARNING AND HAVING THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH PASO DEL NORTE HEALTH FOUNDATION, WE'VE ALSO LEARNED THAT DIABETES, AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS DIABETES, IS MORE PRONE TO HAVE ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA. WE ALSO OFFER THOSE SERVICES AT AMISTAD. AND SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TIE THOSE TWO TOGETHER TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AMISTAD HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER. GO AHEAD. DENISE APODACA, ALSO WITH AMISTAD. I CO-WROTE THE GRANT FOR THE HEALTH FOUNDATION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. SO, AS YOU KNOW, ONE OUT OF 14 AMERICANS CAN POSSIBLY HAVE DIABETES, BUT ONE OUT OF SIX PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE DIABETES, SO THEY'RE MORE PRONE TO HAVE IT. SO THIS GRANT IS VERY SPECIAL BECAUSE IT'S INCLUSIVE TO ALL. AND WE HAD ABOUT 149 PARTICIPANTS THAT INITIALLY STARTED, AND OUR GOAL WAS 125. SO WE SURPASSED THAT. IF YOU DRIVE AROUND EL PASO, YOU WILL SEE A DIALYSIS CLINIC ALMOST IN EVERY CORNER. IT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE. WE HAVE A PANDEMIC. AND SO WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY THAT NORTE HEALTH FOUNDATION REFUNDED US AND NOT ONLY REFUNDED US. NOW WE CAN HELP 200 PARTICIPANTS THIS YEAR. AND TOGETHER GOAL SHOULD BE TO GET DIALYSIS OUT OF OUR CITY. BECAUSE IN EVERY CORNER THERE IS ONE. AND THAT SHOULD BE OUR GOAL TO GET THEM OUT OF OUR CITY, BECAUSE THAT'S ALL DIABETES IS THE COMPLICATIONS AND THAT'S WHERE THEY END UP. BUT WE IF WE PREVENT IT WITH ALL OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE COULD DO IT TOGETHER. AND AS YOU SAW, ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTNERS THAT FROM, YOU KNOW, UMC AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER, BECAUSE THIS IS WE SAW THAT DURING THE DURING THE PANDEMIC OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT THAT DID NOT MAKE IT BECAUSE OF UNDERLYING CONDITIONS AND DIABETES WAS ONE OF THE THE HIGHEST DURING THE PANDEMIC. SO WE GOT TO FEEL THAT THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN, THAT SOMEONE IS NOT PROTECTED. YOU KNOW, THE FIRST, WE'VE ALWAYS SAID THE FIRST LINE OF PROTECTION IS GOOD HEALTH, WHATEVER, WHATEVER IT IS. SO THANK YOU. WE ALSO HAVE OUR CAMP DIRECTOR HERE. YES. COME ON. OUR CAMP DIRECTOR,

[01:20:01]

SHE'S GOING TO DO SOMETHING AMAZING FOR OUR KIDS FOR CHRISTMAS. THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME IS MARIO OROZCO. I'M THE CAMP DIRECTOR AND I'M A NUTRITIONIST AT EL PASO CENTER FOR DIABETES. I MYSELF HAVE TYPE ONE. THAT'S WHY I CHOSE TO WORK WITH KIDS AND PLANNING THE CAMP FOR THEM. IT'S MY HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR AND FOR CHRISTMAS I GOT THE GIRLS THE BARBIE WITH TYPE ONE DIABETES. AND THEN FOR THE BOYS I GOT A BEAR WHERE THEY CAN PUT THEIR DEVICES. OH HOW NICE. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. YOU WANT TO COME UP NOW? MIA? YOU WANT TO SAY WE HAVE MIA JOIN US UP HERE? CESAR, WE'RE GOING TO BE. E WILL WILL GO LAST, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO DELETE F, RIGHT? I'M SORRY THAT E IS GOING TO GO TO TO THE LAST. IS THAT CORRECT. ONE QUICK SECOND AND THEN YOU WILL BE DELETING F. SO THIS ONE.

YEAH. BUT THERE'S MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN.

OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO JUMP AHEAD TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE F APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION HONORING

[01:25:09]

[F. Approve and adopt a resolution honoring Lt. Col. Clinton M. Rutherford for his service in WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War and as one of the oldest living veterans in El Paso County, Texas. Jackie Butler, Commissioner, Precinct 1, 915-273-3594]

[G. Approve and adopt a resolution proclaiming the week of November 10-14, 2025, as National Nurse Practitioners Week in El Paso County, Texas. Iliana Holguin, Commissioner, Precinct 3, 915-273-3594]

AND WHEREAS THERE ARE MORE THAN 431,000 LICENSED NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND MORE THAN 1000 LICENSED NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN EL PASO, AND WHEREAS MORE THAN FIVE DECADES OF RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES THE HIGH QUALITY OF CARE PROVIDED BY NURSE PRACTITIONERS, AND WHEREAS, NURSE NATIONAL NURSE PRACTITIONER WEEK IS HELD ANNUALLY TO CELEBRATE THESE EXCEPTIONAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND IT IS THEREFORE FITTING THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE HIGH QUALITY CARE PROVIDED BY NURSE PRACTITIONERS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES NOVEMBER 10TH THROUGH THE 14TH, 2025 AS NATIONAL NURSE PRACTITIONERS WEEK. IN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION THEREOF, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY AFFIXES THEIR SIGNATURES THIS 24TH DAY OF 2025, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. AND I BELIEVE. DO WE HAVE DOCTOR MARTINEZ ON THE LINE? DOCTOR MARTINEZ, YOU'RE MUTED. IT LOOKS LIKE SHE MAY NOT BE CONNECTED. SO I'LL BE SURE TO DELIVER THE RESOLUTION TO HER. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

YES. YOU KNOW I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE NURSES AT OUR UMC SURGICAL HOSPITAL. WHEN I WAS THERE LAST DECEMBER. YOU KNOW, THEY WERE JUST EXCELLENT ABOUT LETTING ME KNOW WHO WAS ON DUTY, WHO WAS COMING IN VERY, VERY ATTENTIVE. WE HAVE A VERY, VERY SPECIAL SURGICAL HOSPITAL.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE NURSES THAT, YOU KNOW, HELPED ME DURING THOSE COUPLE DAYS THAT I WAS THERE, VERY, VERY ATTENTIVE. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE. SO THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER, I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, DURING THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH AND HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS. AND WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT BUSINESSES AND EVERYTHING ELSE. WHILE THE NURSES WERE JUST HAVING SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME, WE LOST A LOT OF THEM BECAUSE OF THEY FELT LACK OF APPRECIATION. AND NOW WE'RE RECRUITING BACK UP AGAIN TO WHERE IT USED TO BE, BUT JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT WAS

[01:30:05]

CONTINUING WITH ITEM NUMBER FIVE, H APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING EL PASO COUNTY'S CORE COMMUNITY VALUES OF DIGNITY AND RESPECT FOR IMMIGRANTS. COMMISSIONER. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. I WANT TO PREFACE THIS RESOLUTION

[H. Approve and adopt a resolution affirming El Paso County’s core community values of dignity and respect for immigrants. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-273-3559]

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT A CALENDAR EVENT AT UTEP. IT'S A MORAL QUESTION ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY. WHILE SOME TEXAS POLITICIANS LIKE CONGRESSMAN CHIP ROY ARE INTRODUCING BILLS TO KEEP UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, EL PASO COUNTY IS BEING ASKED TO ANSWER A BASIC QUESTION ARE WE THE COMMUNITY THAT BELIEVES IN THE PROMISE OF A MULTIRACIAL DEMOCRACY WHERE ALL OF US, REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE WERE BORN, CAN BELONG AND PARTICIPATE? OR ARE WE A COMMUNITY WHERE DEMOCRACY ONLY REALLY COUNTS FOR SOME, WHERE THE WORD DEMOCRACY IS USED, WHILE THE ENTIRE GROUPS OF PEOPLE ARE KEPT IN FEAR, IN

[01:35:03]

WE CANNOT AND WE SHOULD NOT ACCEPT POLITICS AND THREATS. A POLITICS THAT THREATENS OUR NEIGHBOR, OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR LOVED ONES, OUR COWORKERS, AND AND THREATENS TO BE MANAGED INSTEAD OF HUMAN BEINGS, TO BE RESPECTED. SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN WE'LL HEAR WE HAVE SOME GUESTS, I THINK, THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, THE RESOLUTION STATES, WHEREAS ON DECEMBER 4TH, QUOTE UNQUOTE, BORDERS, OUR TOM HOMAN WILL APPEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO. AND WHEREAS TOM HOMAN HAS PRESIDED OVER AN UNPRECEDENTED USE OF MILITARIZED FORCES OPERATING IN AMERICAN CITIES, THESE FORCES HAVE ENGAGED BOTH IN INDISCRIMINATE IMMIGRATION SWEEPS AND DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF APPEARANCE AND LANGUAGE. AND WHEREAS EL PASO COUNTY FOLLOWS THE LAW AND COOPERATES WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES TO ADDRESS CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THESE FEDERAL ACTIONS TARGET PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR APPEARANCE AND LANGUAGE WHILE THEY ARE WORKING, DROPPING OFF CHILDREN AT SCHOOL OR ENJOYING TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES, AND DO NOT MAKE COMMUNITIES SAFER. AND WHEREAS EL PASO IS A WELCOMING COUNTY ENCOMPASSING FOUR CITIES, TWO TOWNS, ONE VILLAGE, 13 UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES, AND ONE NATIVE AMERICAN RESERVATION, AS WELL AS A SHARED BORDER WITH THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND CIUDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO. AND WHEREAS, EL PASO COUNTY HAS BEEN A GATEWAY TO THE UNITED STATES SINCE ITS INCEPTION, AND OUR DEEP RELATIONSHIP WITH CIUDAD JUAREZ IS PART OF DAY TO DAY LIFE. AND WHEREAS OUR FAMILIES, OUR ECONOMY AND OUR CULTURE ARE ENRICHED BY A RELATIONSHIP WITH JUAREZ AND MEXICO. AND WHEREAS THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION IS IMPOSING A REGIME OF DISCRIMINATORY AND UNACCEPTABLE USE OF FORCE AGAINST PEOPLE, SOMETIMES SWEEPING UP U.S. CITIZENS ON THE BASIS OF THEIR APPEARANCE AND LANGUAGE, SEPARATING FAMILIES IN WHICH NO PERSON HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME, HOLDING PEOPLE IN SUBSTANDARD DETENTION CENTERS, SENDING PEOPLE TO COUNTRIES THAT ARE FOREIGN TO THEM, AND OTHER OFFENSES TO HUMAN DIGNITY. AND WHEREAS THE ADMINISTRATION FURTHER IS TARGETING COMMUNITIES IN A PARTIZAN MANNER, THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE BEING IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH HAS NOT ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE WITH LOCAL MATTERS AND WHOSE COMMUNITY IS BEING INTENSELY DISRUPTED THROUGH THIS UNPRECEDENTED ABUSE OF POWER. AND WHEREAS THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT PRIVATE PRISON CONTRACTORS HAVE LOBBIED FOR HARSHER ACTIONS AGAINST IMMIGRANTS IN ORDER TO ENRICH THEMSELVES, AND OTHER CONTRACTORS NOW ARE SEEKING TO TAP INTO THE BILLIONS UPON BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING RAPIDLY DISTRIBUTED.

RECENT REPORTING INDICATES THAT TOM HOMAN WAS REPORTED BY THE FBI ACCEPTING CASH DURING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING FOR THIS FLOOD OF CONTRACTS, BUT THE INVESTIGATION WAS SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN BY THIS ADMINISTRATION.

AND WHEREAS EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS PREVIOUSLY STATED ITS DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT ACTIONS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS TAKING AND PLANNED TO TAKE ON FEBRUARY 3RD, 2025, EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PASSED A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF PERSONS, DECLARING THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO VOICE THE CONCERNS OF COMMUNITY. THE COUNTY OF EL PASO FOLLOWS ALL STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS, PARTICIPATES IN LEGITIMATE, TARGETED LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS TO ROOT OUT CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION AND PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ALONGSIDE THE EL PASO COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, REMAINS STEADFAST IN ITS COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF OUR RESIDENTS AND SEEKING REDRESS FROM THE COURTS TO REJECT MEASURES THAT UNDERMINE THOSE RIGHTS, AND REMAINS DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT EL PASO COUNTY IS A COMMUNITY WHERE ITS RESIDENTS KNOW THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS AND WILL BE RESPECTED, AND WILL EXHAUST EVERY LEGAL AVENUE TO THAT END. ON JUNE 23RD, 2025, EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FURTHER PASSED A RESOLUTION REGARDING DUE PROCESS DEMANDING A CLEAR, CONSISTENT AND CONSTITUTIONALLY SOUND PROCESS FOR THE HANDLING OF INDIVIDUALS, IMMIGRANTS OR OTHERWISE BY ANY AGENCY OR ORGANIZATION OPERATING WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION, INCLUDING TIMELY AND TRANSPARENT NOTIFICATION DETAILING WHO WAS TAKEN, UNDER WHAT AUTHORITY AND WHERE THEY WERE TRANSPORTED, AND WHY SUCH ACTIONS WERE UNDERTAKEN. AND WHEREAS MEDIA REPORTS INDICATE THAT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF TOM HOMAN, DUE PROCESS AND RESPECT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS HAVE NOT BEEN OBSERVED, ULTIMATELY TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE RULE OF LAW. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT CONDEMNS THE ADMINISTRATION'S ACTIONS AND THOSE OF TOM HOMAN AGAINST PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT DISTRIBUTING DISTURBING THE PEACE. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT URGES EVERY CITY COUNCIL AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ADOPT SIMILAR RESOLUTIONS REAFFIRMING THE TIMELINESS AMERICAN PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS, JUSTICE AND HUMAN DIGNITY, AND TO DO SO

[01:40:05]

FIRST UP, WE HAVE ANGELICA RODRIGUEZ ONLINE. GOOD MORNING. CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME? GOOD MORNING. YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. MY NAME IS ANGELICA RODRIGUEZ, PRESIDENT OF COLLEGE DEMOCRATS AT UTEP. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM TODAY. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT, FOR INTRODUCING THIS RESOLUTION AND FOR STANDING WITH US NOT ONLY WITH THE UTEP STUDENTS, BUT WITH THE ENTIRE EL PASO COMMUNITY. I STAND IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT REFLECTS WHO WE ARE AS A BORDER COMMUNITY AND ADDRESSES WHO WE REFUSE TO BECOME. EL PASO HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE FOR CONNECTION, COMPASSION AND OPPORTUNITIES.

MANY STUDENTS AND FUTURE MINERS CROSS THE BORDER EVERY DAY TO ATTEND UTEP, SEEKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR A BETTER FUTURE. AS A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT. THIS RESOLUTION RECOGNIZES THOSE TRUTHS AND PUSHES BACK AGAINST THE HARMFUL AND DISCRIMINATORY FEDERAL POLICIES THAT HAVE BROUGHT MILITARIZED ENFORCEMENTS INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR IN OUR CAMPUS. UTEP STUDENTS DESERVE A CAMPUS AND A COMMUNITY FREE FROM FEAR, INTIMIDATION, AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT DO NOT REFLECT THE VALUES OF OUR BORDER COMMUNITY. AND WHEN STUDENTS STAND UP TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHT TO BE HEARD, RESPECTED AND PROTECTED, IT BECOMES OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, AS A RESIDENT, AND AS A NEIGHBOR TO STAND WITH THEM. THIS RESOLUTION IS THE FIRST STEP. YOU SEND A CLEAR AND POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT EL PASO REFUSES TO BE DIVIDED, REFUSES TO BE INTIMIDATED, AND REFUSES TO ALLOW OUTSIDE FORCES TO DEFINE WHO WE ARE. WE CHOOSE UNITY. WE CHOOSE SAFETY, WE CHOOSE RESPECT, AND WE CHOOSE TO BE EL PASO STRONG. AS WE CONTINUE ADVOCATING, I HAVE THE HONOR OF WELCOMING YOU TO ATTEND A PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY BEING HELD ON DECEMBER 4TH. THIS EVENT IS BY THE STUDENTS.

FOR THE STUDENTS, WE WILL SHARE THE IMPACTS WE ARE FACING ON CAMPUS, THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE SUPPORT WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR ADMINISTRATION, AND THE FEAR AND INTIMIDATION WE ARE CURRENTLY FACING AS STUDENTS. I HOPE ALL OF YOU CAN STAND WITH US AND I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS DOCTOR DIANA NATALICIO ONCE STATED, UTEP STANDS FULLY BEHIND YOU AND YOUR DREAMS OF A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE THROUGHOUT YOUR ATTAINMENT OF YOUR UTEP DEGREE. PLEASE KNOW TOO, THAT WE WILL DO ALL WITHIN OUR POWER TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE YOUR EDUCATIONAL GOALS ON OUR CAMPUS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE WILL SEE YOU ON DECEMBER 4TH. NEXT WE HAVE MR. JAIME ABEYTA. WELCOME. I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE HERE SPEAKING ON ANOTHER MATTER, BUT I WAS INSPIRED BY THE INVOCATION TODAY, PARTICULARLY THE INVOCATION OF SCRIPTURE INTO THE CONVERSATION. AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT SCRIPTURE, I THINK ABOUT MY FAVORITE PART OF THE BIBLE. AND THAT PART OF THE BIBLE IS WHEN JESUS WENT IN AND STOOD UP FOR THE OPPRESSED, AND HE WENT IN TO THE SEAT OF POWER, AND HE FLIPPED TABLES. AND I THINK THAT'S A MESSAGE THAT I WOULD LIKE THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE LISTENING TODAY TO REMEMBER, BECAUSE THERE IS NO CONFLICT, THERE IS NO RIGHT THAT WE HAVE.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO MAJOR CHANGE IN THIS COUNTRY HAS COME ABOUT WITHOUT CONFLICT, WITHOUT EXERCISING THAT FREEDOM OF SPEECH. AND AS ALL OF YOU ARE VERY WELL AWARE AND SOME OF YOU WILL BE MORE AWARE LATER, I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR FREE SPEECH PROBABLY BOTHERS A LOT OF YOU, BUT I THINK FREE SPEECH IS ESSENTIAL. AND I ALSO THINK THAT EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE AS A COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY AS AN ELECTED BODY, TO STAND AGAINST THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THEIR TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS IS VITAL. SO, COMMISSIONER, SO THANK YOU FOR YET AGAIN BEING THE CONSCIENCE OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. AND IF I HAVE ONE PARTING LESSON FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE LISTENING, DISTURB THE PEACE, RAISE SOME

[01:45:04]

AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, MY NAME IS JESUS MORENO. SOME OF YOU KNOW ME AS JESSE MORENO. I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE DEMOCRATS AND THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE TEXAS COLLEGE DEMOCRATS. ALONGSIDE ME ARE OUR MEMBERS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES RIGHT NOW.

BUT I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR EVERYBODY TO THOSE LISTENING VIRTUALLY AND THOSE WHO ARE HERE WITH MEDIA. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. IT'S UPSETTING. IT'S INSANE, AND IT'S VERY, VERY CONCERNING. I WANT TO BE SURE THAT ALL OF US KNOW THAT THIS IS TO THE EXTENT WHERE WE ARE IN FEAR PRACTICALLY, FOR EVEN BEING HERE. WE'RE IN FEAR OF BEING ON CAMPUS, MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE EDUCATED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT OUR STUDENTS, THEY'RE COLLEAGUES.

WE'RE GOING TO GROW UP WITH THEM AND EDUCATE AND END UP WORKING IN THE SAME WORKFORCE AS THEM. IT'S IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING FOR ME TO TRY TO EDUCATE THESE STUDENTS WHO ARE INVITING THIS DIVISION AND IGNORANCE AND HATE, AND I'LL CALL WHAT IT IS BECAUSE IT IS IGNORANCE. IT IS MY MEMBERS KNOW AND MY COLLEAGUES ON CAMPUS KNOW. I'M THE FIRST ONE TO CONFRONT THIS IGNORANCE AND HATE. IT IS UPSETTING THAT THEIR STUDENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO ARE VICTIMS OF OF EVEN MASSACRES THAT HAPPENED SO MANY YEARS AGO, THAT WAS CREATED BECAUSE OF RACISM INSTILLED BY RACISM. WE EXIST ON CAMPUS SO WE CAN EDUCATE THESE STUDENTS, SOLELY, EDUCATE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST INTEREST FOR THEM, WHETHER IT'S A SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE STATE LEVEL OR THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THESE MEMBERS FROM TPS USA JUST TO GET SOME COMMON GROUND. COMMON GROUND, THAT'S ALL. I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PERSPECTIVE. TELL ME WHY THESE STUDENTS DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEIR SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS, THAT THEY'RE SPECIAL ELECTIONS GOING ON, NOT EVEN THEIR OWN ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT YET THEY HAVE THE AUDACITY, THE AUDACITY TO INVITE SOMEBODY SPREADING DIVISION, HATE AND IGNORANCE. TO BE FRANK, ME SPEAKING HERE IS A VERY COURAGEOUS ACT BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S FUTURES AHEAD OF US IN THE CAREER FIELD. I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO BE RIDICULED OR BLACKLISTED BECAUSE I'M SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THIS. IT'S FEARFUL TO BE UP HERE, BUT IT'S ALSO COMMON SENSE. WE HEARD PREVIOUS FEDERAL LEADERS LAST WEEK SAYING THAT IT'S TIME TO PICK A SIDE. IT IS. THIS IS FRUSTRATING DAY IN AND DAY OUT. ALL OF US ARE WORKING TO FIGHT AGAINST THIS IGNORANCE, AND I WANT TO ALSO BE CLEAR THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SPREADING AND ENCOURAGING THIS DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION. WHEN ARE THEY EVER SAYING, HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIX THIS? I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S NATIONAL AND BORDER SECURITY CONCERNS, BUT WHEN DO THEY EVER, EVER, EVER BRING UP A SOLUTION BESIDES WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW? GOD FORBID WE HAVE LAWS AND ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE THEY BREAK IT CONSISTENTLY AND BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL LEVEL STANCE THAT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THEY THINK IT'S FINE BECAUSE THE TONE AT THE TOP IS SLATE, IS LETTING THEM KNOW YOU CAN BREAK THE LAWS AND I'LL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. YOU ALL KNOW YOU SEE IT EVERY DAY. YOU SEE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND IT'S NOTHING NEW WITH THIS. BUT IT'S NOT NORMAL. WE KIND OF NORMALIZE THIS ANYMORE. IT'S CONCERNING. SPEAKING OF THINKING ABOUT THIS EARLY, I WAS CRYING JUST THINKING ABOUT LIKE, AM I GOING TO GET HURT OR THREATENED OR BE CONSIDERED A THREAT TO THOSE IN OPPOSITION OF THIS, AND ALSO GIVE YOU ALL CONFIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE LEADERS LIKE US ON CAMPUS FIGHTING AGAINST THIS, BUT NOT BECAUSE WE JUST CAN'T, BUT BECAUSE IT'S CONCERNING FOR THE OVERALL CONCERN OF SOCIETY AND OUR COMMUNITY. THERE'S NOT VIOLENCE HAPPENING OUTSIDE THIS BUILDING. THERE'S NOT INSANE ACTS OF VIOLENCE HAPPENING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT YET THEY WANT TO INSTILL DREADFULNESS INSTILL THAT IT'S NOT NORMAL WHAT'S HAPPENING. MAKE THAT CLEAR TO THOSE LISTENING VIRTUALLY IN THE MEDIA HERE. THERE'S NEVER A SOLUTION. IT'S ALWAYS COMPLAINING AND DREADING FEAR AND INSTILLING FEAR. BUT WHEN WE CONFRONT THEM IN PERSON, THEY'RE QUIET. THERE'S GOING TO BE COMMENTS ON THE MEDIA ABOUT THIS, AND I WANT TO BE SURE EVERYBODY LISTENING. AND THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR THIS PLATFORM GIVING IT THAT. IT'S MAKES NO SENSE THAT THERE'S EVER A SOLUTION, SOLUTION, SOLUTION, SOLUTION AND STOP WITH THIS IGNORANCE AND HATE. IT IS IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING. YOU ALL COMMISSIONERS, WHEN WE'RE ON CAMPUS, GETTING A CERTAIN LOOK FROM STUDENTS OF THAT DEMOGRAPHIC BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHRISTIAN VALUES OR BECAUSE

[01:50:01]

HOWEVER, WHAT I WOULD BRING UP IS THAT THIS ISN'T SIMPLY A GUEST SPEAKER. THIS IS BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN, WHO HAS BROUGHT UP ISSUES FOR US IN TERMS OF STUDENT SAFETY, OUR RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH, AND OUR REPUTATION AT UTEP AS INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FRIENDLY. WHEN IT COMES TO STUDENT SAFETY, IT IS AWFUL HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE COME ACROSS STUDENTS AT UTEP THAT HATE WHAT'S GOING ON, THEN WANT TO SPEAK UP FOR IMMIGRANTS THAT KNOW THEIR GRANDMOTHER OR THEIR GRANDFATHER, THEIR LOCAL BUSINESSMEN, THEIR POLICEMEN, THEIR DOCTORS? HOW MANY OF THEM ARE NOT HERE DOCUMENTED? WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE THEY WERE EITHER VISA OR FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY CAN'T SPEAK UP FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POLITICAL CLIMATE RIGHT NOW. IN FACT, WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER STATES HOW PEOPLE HOLDING STUDENT VISAS, IF THEY SIMPLY PROTEST PEACEFULLY, THEY ARE GETTING THEIR VISAS REVOKED AND BEING SENT TO PLACES LIKE GUANTANAMO BAY, ALL OF THE CAMPS, THE CAMPS HERE IN EL PASO, THEY ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY FOR THEIR SIMPLE ACT OF FREE SPEECH. SO IT IS AWFUL THAT UTEP HAS NOT ONLY APPROVED OF SOMEONE WHO IS IN CHARGE OF ALL OF THIS HAPPENING, BUT IF ANYTHING HAS STOOD AGAINST US AND MADE US FEEL UNSAFE. ESPECIALLY WHEN I WANT TO BRING UP VERONICA ESCOBAR, AND HOW WHEN SHE ASKED TO COME TO RECOGNIZE THAT UTEP WAS GIVEN A NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRANT AWARD WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, IT WAS REJECTED IN TERMS THAT IT WAS POLITICAL, WHICH IS FUNNY BECAUSE ESPECIALLY WHEN THE OUR OUR SIZE COLLEGE DEMOCRATS IS NOT WELCOMED, IS NOT PLATFORMED. AND YET WE HAVE BORDERS OUR TOM HOMAN THAT IS INCREDIBLY AGGRESSIVE TO OUR STUDENTS, STUDENTS THAT HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS. BUT IN GENERAL, STUDENTS THAT MAY NOT FEEL SAFE BECAUSE THEY THEMSELVES ARE ON STUDENT VISAS. AND I JUST WANT TO END THIS WITH THAT. IT IS AWFUL BECAUSE THERE ARE ICE RAIDS HAPPENING DAILY, MULTIPLE RAIDS A DAY, NO WARRANTS. THERE WAS A DOG THAT WAS SHOT IN THE FACE. RACIAL PROFILING IS BEING NORMALIZED WHEN IT COMES TO THESE ICE RAIDS, WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY'RE SPEAKING, HOW THEY LOOK, THEIR FAMILIES. AND THAT SHOULD NEVER BE OKAY.

UTEP SHOULD BE HONORING US, SHOULD BE HELPING US, BECAUSE THERE WAS A POINT IN TIME IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE WE COULDN'T EVEN ATTEND UNIVERSITY. AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT WITH THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE, THAT WE WOULD STILL BE PROGRESSING. HOWEVER, WE ARE BEING GIVEN SO MANY OBSTACLES. SO MY HOPE WITH THIS RESOLUTION IS THAT THE CITY OF EL PASO BACKS THE STUDENTS, BACKS EVERYONE, AND BACKS THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THE FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COURT, BECAUSE I REALLY HOPE THAT WITH THIS GUEST SPEAKER, IT DOES NOT AFFECT MY UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, EL PASO, KNOWN FOR ITS WELCOMING NATURE OF WELCOMING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FROM ANYWHERE. I REALLY HOPE THAT WE GET TO KEEP OUR REPUTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. APPRECIATE THAT. WELCOME. HI.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE. MY NAME IS URRUTIA. I'M A STUDENT AT UTEP. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH JUDGES. AND OH OKAY. SO ONE THING I WANT TO BRING UP ABOUT ME IS THAT I'M AN EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. THIS MEANS THAT I'M A STUDENT AT EPISD AND ALSO A STUDENT AT UTEP. NOW, THE THING IS, I'M I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS PROPOSITION BECAUSE I'M NOT HERE JUST AS SOMEONE WHO'S REPRESENTING A POLITICAL PARTY. I'M HERE AS SOMEONE WHO'S SPEAKING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF EL PASO'S WORKFORCE, SOMEONE WHO'S SPEAKING AS THE CHILDREN THAT THEY'RE CALLING OVER THESE BORDER STARS TO SPEAK TO. THIS RESOLUTION TALKS THAT ON DECEMBER 4TH, TULLAHOMA IS GOING TO APPEAR AT UTEP. THAT'S MY CAMPUS. A UNIVERSITY IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFEST PLACE, AS I BELIEVE ANGELIKA MENTIONED, FOR A STUDENT TO BE. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A COMMUNITY WHERE YOU CAN GATHER WITH YOUR FRIENDS. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A FREE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS. AND DON'T

[01:55:01]

WE LEARNED THAT IN THIS COUNTRY YOU ARE JUDGED BY NOT WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE, NOT WHAT LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK, BUT WHAT YOU DO. BUT WHAT THIS RESOLUTION DESCRIBES. AS COMMISSIONER STOUT READ OUT FOR US INDISCRIMINATE SWEEPS, PROFILING BASED ON JUST YOUR APPEARANCE. DOES SUSPENSION OF DUE PROCESS GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TAUGHT TO VALUE. AS A YOUNG PERSON STUDYING THE LAW, THAT'S EXTREMELY DISTURBING. SECOND OF ALL, I TALKED TO YOU AS AN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MAJOR. I HAVE A MINOR IN ECONOMICS, AND MY STUDIES FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT EL PASO IS INHERENTLY TIED TO MEXICO. WE HAVE HAD AN ECONOMIC CONNECTION WITH MEXICO FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. WE'RE A TRADE HUB, AND OUR DEVELOPMENT DEPENDS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR TWIN CITY AS A BUSINESS MAJOR. THE POLICIES THAT THIS BORDERS ARE, AND AS THIS RESOLUTION CONDEMNS, ARE INHERENTLY DISASTROUS BECAUSE THEY SCARE PEOPLE. FEAR IS INHERENTLY BAD FOR BUSINESS. WHEN PEOPLE FEEL SCARED, THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE TO TRAVERSE BETWEEN THESE TWO CITIES, AND THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE TO DO BUSINESS IN OUR CITY OF EL PASO. NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE INCENTIVES. THIS RESOLUTION TALKS ABOUT PRIVATE POLICE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE LOBBYING FOR THESE MEASURES. WE'RE SEEING A SYSTEM WHERE ENFORCEMENT IS DRIVEN BY PROFITS INSTEAD OF PUBLIC SAFETY. AND AS A BUSINESS STUDENT, WHEN WE MONETIZE THIS LOSS OF LIBERTY, WHEN WE MONETIZE PEOPLE GOING TO JAIL, WE'RE ESSENTIALLY CREATING A MARKET FOR INJUSTICE. AND THIS ISN'T IN THE ECONOMY THAT I WANT TO GRADUATE INTO. FINALLY, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU AS A RESIDENT OF EL PASO, THIS RESOLUTION TALKS ABOUT TARGETING PEOPLE BASED ON APPEARANCE AND LANGUAGE. I LOOK AROUND AT MY CLASSMATES, I LOOK AROUND AT MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND I LOOK AT THIS COMMUNITY WHERE I DIVERSITY. BUT THAT DIVERSITY ISN'T NECESSARILY A THREAT. IT'S MORE SO OUR IDENTITY. IT'S WHAT WE'VE BUILT OUR LIVING OFF OFF OF. WHEN FEDERAL ACTIONS TARGET THE PEOPLE OF EL PASO FOR HOW THEY LOOK WHEN THEY TARGET THE FABRIC OF EL PASO, THEY'RE CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE SUSPICION AND WHERE FEAR SUPERSEDE OUR COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SO MUCH TODAY, I WANT TO LIVE IN THE CITY WHERE MY PEERS ARE JUDGED NOT BY THEIR CHARACTER, NOT BY WHAT LANGUAGE THEY SPEAK, AND NOT PROFILED WHILE WALKING TO THEIR CLASSES, BUT INSTEAD ONE WHERE PEOPLE ARE JUDGED BY THEIR CHARACTER.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAY BE LOSING ITS WAY, BUT EL PASO DOESN'T HAVE TO. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SAY THAT HERE IN OUR COUNTY THAT WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, AND BY PASSING THIS RESOLUTION, YOU ARE TELLING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE VALUE FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE. YOU'RE TELLING THE STUDENT BODY OF UTEP THAT OUR CAMPUS SHOULD BE A PLACE OF LEARNING AND NOT A PLACE OF FEAR. AND LASTLY, YOU'RE PROTECTING THE FUTURE OF STUDENTS LIKE ME THAT ARE WORKING OR THAT WE'RE WORKING SO HARD TO BUILD. SO PLEASE, I URGE YOU, I BEG YOU, IN FACT, TO STAND UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND PASS THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE SAMANIEGO. MY NAME IS MARISSA GARCIA. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LAS AMERICAS IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY CENTER. AND IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TO ACCOMPANY THESE YOUNG LEADERS ON THEIR JOURNEY AND TO LISTEN TO THEIR WISDOM, WHICH IS VAST. I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY OF ADVOCATES STANDS WITH YOU. WE'RE HONORED AND HAPPY TO FIGURE OUT IF YOU NEED SUPPORT WITH CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, IF THAT WOULD BE OF ASSISTANCE, AND PERHAPS THE CREATION OF A BAIL FUND IF THINGS GO OFF THE RAILS. I, LIKE ALL OF YOU, STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS. IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT WE ARE IN THE ALICIA ARCACHON COURTROOM WITHIN THE ENRIQUE MORENO COUNTY COURTHOUSE, AND I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING PERSONALLY IMPACTED BY THESE TWO FORMIDABLE LEADERS. AND IT'S IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS THAT I COME FORWARD IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION. WE KNOW THAT A VISIT BY ANY MEMBER OF THIS ADMINISTRATION IS OUTSIDE OF OUR VALUES, OUR VALUES OF FAMILY, COMMUNITY, SAFETY, SECURITY AND THE RULE OF LAW. WE KNOW THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS MAKING BILLIONS OFF OF THE SEPARATION OF FAMILIES. WE KNOW THAT THERE IS AN INSATIABLE THIRST FUELED BY GREED AND POWER. IF THOSE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION HAVE THEIR WILL, WE WILL BECOME A WHITE CHRISTIAN NATION, AND WE WILL OPT OUT OF DEMOCRACY IN FAVOR

[02:00:04]

GOOD MORNING, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ALAN LIZARRAGA HERE ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILIES ORGANIZED UNDER THE BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE THIS CLEAR

[02:05:02]

AND THIS IS NO LONGER JUST ABOUT IMMIGRANTS. THIS IS NO LONGER JUST ABOUT BORDER COMMUNITIES. THIS IS REALLY ABOUT UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, OF UPHOLDING OUR MOST BASIC LIBERTIES. AND AGAIN, STANDING UP FOR THE VISION OF THE AMERICA THAT WE BELIEVE IN, AN AMERICA THAT IS ROOTED IN FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE, IN A SYSTEM THAT PROTECTS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, REGARDLESS OF OUR SKIN COLOR, REGARDLESS OF OUR IMMIGRATION STATUS. SO AGAIN, WE WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO PROTECT THE BASIC DIGNITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO AGAIN FIGHT FOR THOSE VALUES THAT UNITE ALL OF US. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE MORE PUBLIC COMMENTS? DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS IN THE AUDIENCE? JUST JUST JUDGE. WE HAVE JUST ONE MORE COMMENT THAT I NEED TO READ. OKAY. GO AHEAD. THE FOLLOWING COMMENT IS FROM MISS LEANNE BAILEY. HER COMMENT BEGINS COMMISSIONER STOUT IS FOR ALL, FOR IS ALL FOR FREE SPEECH UNLESS IT GOES AGAINST HIS POLITICAL VIEWS. TOM HOMAN IS DOING THE SAME JOB HE DID UNDER OBAMA. YET NOT NOT. IT'S A PROBLEM. COMMISSIONER STOUT HAS SHOWN MORE SUPPORT FOR ILLEGALS THAN THE CITIZENS OF EL PASO. LET ME REMIND YOU, COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT, YOUR JUDGE SAMANIEGO CLAIMED THE VETTING OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WERE THOROUGHLY VETTED, BUT THAT WAS A LIE. LAKEN RILEY, RACHEL. MORAN, MARIA. GONZALEZ, JOCELYN OR GARY MURDERS WERE RELEASED FROM THE EL PASO MIGRANT CENTER. THE HYPOCRISY OF COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT RESOLUTION CAN BE FOUND IN JOCELYN, GARY AND MARIO GONZALEZ'S STORY. THEY WERE FAMILIES WHO MIGRATED HERE FOR BETTER LIFE, BUT INSTEAD WERE VIOLENTLY MURDERED BECAUSE OF CONGRESSWOMAN VERONICA ESCOBAR. EL PASO IS THE NEW ELLIS ISLAND, SO WHILE COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT FEELS LIKE HE HAS SOME MORAL HIGH GROUND TO STAND ON, CALLING OUT TOM HOMAN, SAYING HIS UTEP SPEECH WILL BE DEHUMANIZING RHETORIC WHEN HE HIMSELF HAS DEHUMANIZING. HE CLAIMS TO SUPPORT 300,000 CHILDREN MISSING. HE HE SAYS ANYTHING. NO WOMEN AND CHILDREN RAPED, TRAFFICKED. NOT A WORD. WHILE HE FEELS THE NEED TO INSULT HOMAN, WILL HE CALL VERONICA ESCOBAR? SHE COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING UNDER BIDEN FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, BUT INSTEAD IT WAS HATE TRUMP. AND WHO'S GOING TO PICK OUR CROPS AND SCORE BY TOILET? BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY ALL. DEMOCRATS SEE US AS INDENTURED SERVANTS. END OF COMMENT. THANK YOU. JUST WANT TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS, BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HIME EXPRESSED AND WHAT YOU'VE EXPRESSED IS THAT I AND WE'VE ALL SAID IT, THIS IS THE LAST STRONGHOLD FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, AND I THINK WE SHOWED IT DURING THE IMMIGRATION. EVERYTHING THAT WE STOOD UP FOR, WE GOT IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH THERE THINGS THAT WERE NOT VERY LIKELY THAT WE GOT THREATENED ABOUT DOING THOSE THINGS, CLAIMING THAT WE WANTED OPEN BORDERS, CLAIMING THAT EVERYTHING THAT THEY DID, BUT WE STOOD OUR GROUND. AND I FEEL EXTREMELY GOOD BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT ONLY FOR THIS COMMUNITY, BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT. OTHER COMMUNITIES START FADING AWAY FROM, FROM THESE ISSUES AND BUT THEY HAVE TO SEE IT. THEY HAVE TO SEE A COMMUNITY THAT'S SUCCESSFUL, THAT MAKES THINGS HAPPEN. AS WE SAID. AND OBVIOUSLY WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT. AND LORENA, AND THAT'S HELPED US TREMENDOUSLY. AND IT'S A PROVEN FACT THAT WE ARE NOT. I MEAN, AS MUCH AS WE'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH, THEY STAY AWAY FROM US MORE THAN OTHER COMMUNITIES. I'VE SEEN WHAT THEY DO AT OTHER COMMUNITIES, BUT THEY KNOW VERY WELL THAT THE MINUTE THEY STEP IN HERE, WE COME TOGETHER. YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MR. GARCIA? THE HOW WE SHOWED THE FORCE OF BEING THERE BEHIND HIM

[02:10:05]

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO SHOW. AND I'M ALWAYS THINKING THAT IT'S NOT JUST OUR COMMUNITY. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THEIR EYES ON US. AND IF WE DROP OUR GUARD, THERE'S SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, REASONING FOR THEM TO SAY, SEE, IT'S NOT WORKING. SEE, IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO.

WE GOT TO GET OTHER COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU, ALL OF YOU ARE DOING, THE ROLE MODELING THAT YOU'RE PLAYING AND STANDING UP FOR EVERY TIME, EVERY TIME WE SEE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT RIGHT, WE STAND UP AND THANK YOU. THANKS FOR OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

WE'VE GONE THROUGH SO MANY. I REMEMBER DURING THE IMMIGRATION SITUATION WHERE WE FILED EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD, AND WE DID EVERYTHING TO STAND UP FOR, FOR EL PASO. SO WITH DEEP, DEEP, DEEP RESPECT FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND FOR EVERYONE THAT'S SUPPORTING YOU, WE CAN'T WE CANNOT ALLOW TO BE PUSHED BACK. WE CANNOT ALLOW THAT. IT'S GOT TO BE THAT RAJA, RAJA AND LORENA AND I KNOW THAT IT'S WORKED FOR US BECAUSE WHEN WE DO THAT, THEY STEP AWAY.

WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS AND DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE I THINK WE COULD BE VERY PROUD OF WHERE WE'RE AT. BUT WE GOT TO CONTINUE THAT FIGHT. AND LIKE YOU SAID, TIME. AND WE HAVE TO DISRUPT THE THIS IDEA THAT IT'S BECOME NORMAL AND THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OKAY IF WE DON'T STAND UP. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT, AS ALWAYS, YOU'VE BEEN BEHIND SOME GREAT FIGHTS AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. SO THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY. JESS. ANGELICA ALI URRUTIA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE, FOR SPEAKING UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN AND WHAT YOU KNOW IS RIGHT. I KNOW HOW INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT THAT IS TO DO. BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST KNOW THAT WHEN YOU STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN, YOU MAKE IT EASIER FOR OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE TO STAND WITH YOU. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU NOT ONLY FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT TOOK AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF COURAGE FOR YOU TO BE HERE AND EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS IN SUCH A PUBLIC MANNER TODAY, BUT HONESTLY, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TO MAKE OUR LOCAL UNIVERSITY CAMPUS A WELCOMING AND SAFE PLACE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE. AND ALSO, OF COURSE, THANK YOU TO OUR ORGANIZATIONS, LAS AMERICAS AND BORDER NETWORK AND ESTRELLA DEL PASO. WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS LEADING THIS FIGHT HERE IN EL PASO. BUT WE KNOW THAT YOU ALL NEED HELP. THE AVAILABILITY OF IMMIGRATION RELATED LEGAL SERVICES HAS ALWAYS BEEN. THERE'S BEEN ALWAYS BEEN A VERY SMALL NUMBER ATTORNEYS TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS. BUT THAT'S EVEN MORE TRUE NOW THAN EVER BEFORE. SO FOR ANYONE WHO'S LISTENING, ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WANTS TO HELP WANTS TO GET INVOLVED, BUT ISN'T SURE HOW, WE HAVE TWO GREAT ORGANIZATIONS HERE WITH US TODAY. PLEASE REACH OUT TO BORDER NETWORK. PLEASE REACH OUT TO LAS AMERICAS TO ESTRELLA DEL PASO.

IF YOU CAN MAKE A MONETARY DONATION. THAT, OF COURSE, IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW MORE THAN EVER. BUT IF YOU CAN DONATE YOUR TIME, THAT'S EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE WORK THAT YOUR ORGANIZATIONS DO. THANK YOU FOR BEING AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT FIGHT, AND KNOW THAT THE COUNTY OF EL PASO IS HERE TO SUPPORT YOU IN WHATEVER WAY THAT WE CAN. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. IT IS OBVIOUS HER ADVOCACY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE. FROM THE TIME YOU'RE THE CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO WHAT YOU DO NOW, AND YOUR EXPERTISE IS, I KNOW, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. SO, COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT, FOR THIS RESOLUTION. YOU KNOW, I DO MAKE CLEAR THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE ABOUT FREE SPEECH.

YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO CLEAR ONE THING UP. IS THAT UTEP CANNOT REJECT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS ASKED TO SPEAK BY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY. AT THE SAME TIME, UTEP SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REJECT STUDENTS LIKE THESE, TO BE ABLE TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST AGAINST THAT VERY SAME INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS ASKED BY OTHER STUDENTS HERE, OKAY, THAT'S WHAT FREE SPEECH IS ABOUT. THAT'S WHAT OUR COUNTRY IS ABOUT. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A SITUATION IN OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW THE LAW,

[02:15:03]

THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CORNELL. THANK YOU. JUDGE BUTLER. I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER STOUT FOR PUTTING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD. IT'S NOT IT'S NOT EASY FOR LEADERS AND POLICY MAKERS TO STAND UP AND TAKE A STANCE ON ISSUES LIKE THIS. THERE'S A REASON WHY WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, EVEN IN EL PASO, STANDING UP AND BEING VOCAL ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY TO DO. I SAW A LOT OF THE COMMENTS ONLINE. AGAINST COMMISSIONER STOUT FOR THIS RESOLUTION, MAKING ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HIM AND THE COUNTY FOR BEING A SANCTUARY CITY OR. CARING MORE ABOUT OUR ILLEGAL MIGRANTS MORE THAN THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY. AND AND THAT HATEFUL RHETORIC IS IS PRONOUNCED AND IT'S REAL AND IT'S IT'S IT'S HARD TO STAND UP AND BE THAT VOCAL OPPOSITION TO IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT TRUE. RIGHT? I THINK WE ALL KNOW THIS COUNTY, THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS TAKEN MANY STANCES, ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, FOR THE THE DIGNITY AND EQUAL TREATMENT OF EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE NOT A SANCTUARY CITY. THE STATE OF TEXAS MAKES SURE THAT SANCTUARY CITIES CAN'T EXIST IN THIS STATE. WE WE ABIDE BY ALL STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND CALL EL PASO HOME, NO MATTER WHERE THEY COME FROM. SO I APPRECIATE THIS, COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR TAKING THOSE HARD STANCES, FOR MAKING OUR POSITIONS KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC, AND FOR GIVING A PLATFORM FOR THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE ABLE TO SPEAK OUT. WE KNOW THAT AS A AS A, YOU KNOW, MINORITY MIGRANT COMMUNITY, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE HERE WHO LIVE HERE CAN'T BE OUT THERE PROTESTING AND SPEAKING OUT IN MY OWN COMMUNITY. I GET CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THEY GO TO AN EVENT THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WON'T BE TARGETING THEM. SO I AND VERY THANKFUL FOR THE STUDENT LEADERS WHO ARE HERE, WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE UP THAT BATON AND THAT MANTLE AND SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T SPEAK, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY OF THEM. AND I'M GLAD TO BE A PART OF A COMMISSIONER'S COURT WHO IS ALSO WILLING TO DO THAT ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER STOUT. WELL, I'M I'M GRATEFUL AS WELL, COMMISSIONER, TO HAVE A COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT THAT IS FULLY BEHIND THIS, THIS RESOLUTION. AND I WANT TO THANK AGAIN OUR COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND AND IT'S JUST GREAT TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE HERE. I KNOW A LOT OF A LOT OF TIMES WE WE TALK ABOUT YOUTH BEING OUR FUTURE. BUT YOU'RE THE MOST POWERFUL PART OF OUR PRESENT AS WELL. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. YOU KNOW, THE RESOLUTION FRAMES OUR STANCE AS WHAT IT TRULY IS. IT'S A MORAL ISSUE. RIGHT. AND IT'S NOT IT'S NOT A PARTIZAN ONE. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT TOM HOMAN AND TURNING POINT AND THE RHETORIC THAT HAS COME FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION, FROM DONALD TRUMP ARE NOT HARMLESS TALKING POINTS AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS NOT ABSOLUTE EITHER. OKAY? YOU CAN'T YELL FIRE IN A MOVIE THEATER FOR A REASON. RIGHT? AND SO I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE THE SAME, THIS THESE TALKING POINTS THAT THEY AND THE RHETORIC THAT THEY USE ARE THE SAME KIND OF VIOLENT LANGUAGE THAT INSPIRED THE WHITE SUPREMACISTS WHO CAME TO OUR COMMUNITY ON ON AUGUST 3RD AND 2019 AND OPENED FIRE AT THE WALMART AT CIELO VISTA IN THE, IN THE IN THE PRECINCT THAT I REPRESENT. THOSE THOSE

[02:20:06]

IT'S IN OUR REGION, IT'S IN OUR BACKYARD, AND IT'S COST US PUBLIC DOLLARS. IT'S COST US TRUST AND IT'S COST US LIVES. IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL, IT IS GOING TO COST US OUR FUTURE AS A TRULY DEMOCRATIC, WELCOMING COMMUNITY. AND AS HOMAN VISITS THIS REGION, I WANT TO CHALLENGE HIM AND HONESTLY CHALLENGE ALL OF US TO SIT WITH SOME QUESTIONS. DO WE BELIEVE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS? ARE OUR NEIGHBORS? DO WE BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE DISPOSABLE WHEN IT'S POLITICALLY CONVENIENT? WHAT IS THE IN GAME OF THE CRUELTY? WHAT IS WHAT KIND OF COUNTRY ARE WE BUILDING? IF EVERY SOLUTION IS A CAGE, IT'S A WALL OR STARING DOWN THE BARREL OF A GUN, BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING TARGETED BY THIS RHETORIC AND BY THESE POLICIES, THEY'RE NOT FACELESS. THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO COOK OUR MEALS AND HARVEST OUR FOOD. THERE ARE WORKERS WHO STOCK OUR SHELVES AND CLEAN OUR OFFICES. THEY ARE FOLKS WHO DRIVE OUR RIDESHARES AND DELIVER OUR PACKAGES. THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO BUILD OUR HOMES AND SCHOOLS AND PAVE OUR STREETS. CLASSMATES, PARISHIONERS, COWORKERS, RELATIVES. THEY'RE RAISING CHILDREN WHO PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THAT FLAG BACK THERE IN OUR CLASSROOMS, AND WHO WILL ONE DAY VOTE IN THE ELECTIONS THAT WE HOLD. SO THEY'RE NOT STRANGERS. THEY'RE THEY'RE OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR FAMILY. YOU CANNOT SAY YOU LOVE EL PASO AND HATE IMMIGRANTS. YOU CANNOT PRAISE THE WORK ETHIC AND FAMILY VALUES OF OUR COMMUNITY WHILE SUPPORTING POLICIES THAT RIP THOSE VERY FAMILIES APART. YOU CANNOT CALL YOURSELF PRO-LIFE AND DEFEND SYSTEMS THAT LOCK PEOPLE AWAY IN INHUMANE CONDITIONS, THAT DEPORT THEM TO PLACES THEY BARELY KNOW AND THAT TREAT THEIR SUFFERING AS COLLATERAL DAMAGE. SO TODAY, WITH THIS RESOLUTION, EL PASO COUNTY IS DRAWING A CLEAR LINE. WE CHOOSE FAMILY OVER FEAR. WE CHOOSE DIGNITY OVER DEHUMANIZATION. WE CHOOSE DEMOCRACY OVER AUTHORITARIANISM. DRESSED UP AS LAW AND ORDER. WE CHOOSE A FUTURE WHERE OUR CHILDREN, REGARDLESS OF STATUS, CAN LEARN, GROW, AND THRIVE TOGETHER WITHOUT BEING SORTED INTO WHO DESERVES RIGHTS AND WHO DOES NOT. I'M REALLY PROUD TO REPRESENT A COMMUNITY THAT REFUSES TO FORGET WHAT HAPPENED TO US ON AUGUST 3RD, AND THAT REFUSES TO LET THE HORROR, THAT HORROR BE USED TO JUSTIFY MORE VIOLENCE AGAINST IMMIGRANTS. WE REMEMBER TO NOT HARDEN OUR HEARTS, BUT TO SOFTEN THEM AND TO SAY NEVER AGAIN TO AN IDEOLOGY THAT DIVIDES PEOPLE INTO THOSE WHO MATTER AND TO THOSE WHO DO NOT. OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS, TO OUR TO OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS, TO OUR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS, TO YOUNG PEOPLE ORGANIZING ON CAMPUS, IN THE STREETS AND IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. I WANT YOU TO HEAR THIS CLEARLY. YOUR COUNTY SEES YOU. YOUR COUNTY SEES YOU.

YOU'RE PART OF THE SOLUTION THAT THIS COUNTRY DESPERATELY NEEDS. AND MY LAST MY LAST THOUGHT IS, YOU KNOW, I SAW THAT DOCTOR WILSON WAS RECENTLY GIVEN AN AWARD BY THE MEXICAN CONSULATE, THE OHTLI AWARD. AND AND I KNOW THAT SHE IS NOT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO INVITED THIS PRESENTATION BY HOMAN, BUT I AND, YOU KNOW, THIS AWARD IS GIVEN BY THE MEXICAN CONSULATE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF MEXICANS AND MEXICAN AMERICANS AND IN THE UNITED STATES. AND I JUST I CHALLENGE HER ALSO TO BE APOLOGETIC FOR WHAT'S COMING, EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW IT FREEDOM OF SPEECH. AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT ALSO TO FULFILL THE PURPOSE FOR WHY SHE WAS GIVEN THIS AWARD, WHICH WAS ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF MEXICANS IN THIS, IN THIS COMMUNITY, IN THIS COUNTRY, AND MAKING SURE THAT THE STUDENTS ON HER CAMPUS, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF STUDENTS ON UTEP'S CAMPUS THAT ARE MEXICAN NATIONALS ARE PROTECTED, THAT THEY FEEL SAFE AND AND THAT THEY ARE NOT PERSECUTED. AND AND I HOPE THAT SHE WILL LIVE UP TO THAT RECOGNITION THAT THAT SHE WAS, THAT SHE WAS GIVEN. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR ONCE AGAIN BEING SUCH STRONG ADVOCATES TO THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND TO OUR

[02:25:03]

[02:31:36]

[E. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing November 22, 2025, as National Adoption Day in El Paso County, Texas. Jackie Butler, Commissioner, Precinct 1, 915-273-3594]

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF EL PASO COUNTY RECOGNIZES AND HONORS THE CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO MAKE THIS DAY OF LOVE, STABILITY, AND NEW BEGINNINGS POSSIBLE. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF EL PASO COUNTY ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO CONSIDER WAYS IN WHICH THEY MAY SUPPORT CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE, INCLUDING FOSTER CARE, ADOPTION, VOLUNTEERISM, OR COMMUNITY ADVOCACY. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, HEREBY DECLARES NOVEMBER 22ND, 2025 AS ADOPTION DAY AND EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS SIGNED THIS 24TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I THANK YOU, JUDGE. MOTION CARRIES. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS VANESSA LEON AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ART GALLERY OF EL PASO. I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR RECOGNIZING THIS REALLY IMPORTANT DAY HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY FOR OUR YOUTH, BUT ALSO FOR JUDGE.

SINCE IT WAS HER FIRST TIME PRESIDING OVER ADOPTION DAY HERE IN EL PASO. SO I WILL ALLOW FOR HER TO GIVE A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS MEANINGFUL RESOLUTION FOR US. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE.

[02:35:03]

IT WAS THE BEST DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. DECIDING, SORRY. DECIDING TO ADOPT OUR THREE CHILDREN. IT HAS BEEN A SENSE OF PRIDE, PROVIDED ME WITH IMMENSE JOY AND FULFILLMENT. AND AND IT'S NOT AS HARD AS A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT OR TO ADOPT A CHILD. AND SO I WOULD URGE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION TO CONTACT ANY OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES HOLDS EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS. I BELIEVE THE NEXT ONE IS ON DECEMBER 8TH, I THINK, WHERE NUMBER EIGHT, I BELIEVE YOU CAN ATTEND BY ZOOM, BUT JUST LOOK UP. DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PROTECTIVE SERVICES, FOSTER, ADOPT ANYTHING LIKE THAT AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND INFORMATION. AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND LET OUR OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNER, CASA EL PASO, SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. WELCOME. MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I'M LISA SALCIDO, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF CASA, AND WE ARE BEGINNING OUR 40TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN JANUARY OF 2026, HELPING THE CHILDREN THAT ARE IN THE CPS STATE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM FIND SAFE, LOVING AND ADOPTIVE HOMES. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. IT WAS NOT SO LONG AGO THAT WE HAD AN OFFICE HERE IN THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH YOUR SUPPORT THROUGH THE YEARS TO KEEP THE CASA PROGRAM GOING. AND AS JUDGE SIGN SAYS, I'M ALSO AN ADOPTIVE PARENT AND IT'S THE BEST DECISION THAT I'VE EVER MADE. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS MORE ADOPTIONS. WE NEED MORE ADOPTIVE FAMILIES. WE NEED MORE FOSTER HOMES, AND WE NEED MORE CASA VOLUNTEERS. SO SPREAD THE WORD ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US AND THANK YOU, JUDGE SIGNS FOR MAKING SATURDAY SUCH A SPECIAL DAY. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, MY SON MICHAEL WAS IN THE PROGRAM AND HE'S NOW AN ATTORNEY AS A BEST THING THAT HAPPENED. SO NOT ONLY HE WAS THINKING HELPING, BUT IT WAS SO GOOD FOR HIM TO SEE AND DEAL AND DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE CHALLENGES. A LOT OF THINGS CHANGED IN HIS IN HIS WORLD BY BY VOLUNTEERING. YEAH, WELL THAT'S GREAT. AND YOU KNOW, WE WORKED MANY YEARS WITH LSP OVER AT UTEP AND PROVIDED THE FIRST TIME COURTROOM EXPERIENCE REALLY AS BEING A CASA VOLUNTEER FOR TO THE UTEP STUDENTS THAT WERE GOING ON TO LAW SCHOOL. SO WE CAN'T BE MORE EXCITED TO HAVE A NEW LAW SCHOOL IN EL PASO. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? A LITTLE TESTIMONIAL, MY SON AT A VERY, VERY YOUNG AGE ADOPTED A A YOUNG GIRL AND SHE'S NOW A SERGEANT IN THE ARMY AND A MEDIC. THE DAD DIED OF OVERDOSE. THE MOM IN VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION. AND I GOT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. THE DIFFERENCE IN IN BRINGING HER INTO, YOU KNOW, A GOOD FAMILY AND JUST SEEING HER PROGRESS WAS JUST AMAZING. I MEAN, IT WAS SO OBVIOUS THAT IT WOULD HAVE GONE VERY WRONG FOR HER. AND LIKE I SAID, NOW, SHE'S VERY PROUD TO

[02:40:04]

AND SO I WANTED TO TO LET YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT THAT. AND, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S SO IMPORTANT. THESE KIDS ARE SO AMAZING AND THEY JUST DESERVE SO MUCH LOVE AND CARING AND A FAMILY. SO THANK YOU FOR FOR THE AMAZING WORK THAT YOU DO. I, I AGREE, JUST JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH JUDGE SIGNS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR OWN FAMILY AND YOUR OWN CHILDREN, BUT ALSO WITH JPD AND TAKING CARE OF KIDS ACROSS EL PASO COUNTY. AND I COULD SAY THAT EVERYBODY HERE WHO HELPS WITH OUR FOSTER KIDS AND CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, YOU'RE EXACTLY WHERE YOU NEED TO BE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING THE COUNTY AND FOR FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO. WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. LET'S TAKE A PICTURE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

JUDGE. WHILE WE STILL HAVE JUDGE SIGNS IN THE COURTROOM, COULD WE PLEASE COULD WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR ME TO READ IN ITEM EIGHT A PLEASE. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT A FROM GRANT APPLICATIONS EIGHT A GRANT AWARD. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO ACCEPT THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT JUSTICE AND TRAINING PROGRAM GRANT AWARD FOR THE 65TH

[A. GRANT AWARD - Approve and authorize the County Judge to accept the Violence Against Women Act Justice and Training Program Grant Award for the 65th Protective Order Court in the amount of $104,765.40 from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026. A County match in the amount of $176,960.60 is required and is available in GF-PROTORDERCRT-XFEROUT-GRNT. (Contract No. 2025-0969) Selina Saenz, District Judge, 65th District Court, (915) 273-3729]

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. WELCOME. I'M WITH THE BUDGET AND FINANCE AND THE GRANT ANALYST. FOR THIS GRANT, I'M GOING TO BE JUST INTRODUCING THE GRANT. AND THEN JUDGE WILL TAKE IT OVER. GET A

[02:45:07]

AWARDS AND CASH MATCH FROM 2020 TO 2022 WERE ABOUT THE SAME 159,679 FOR AWARD, WITH THE REQUIRED 30% MATCH OF 68,884. FOR THOSE THREE YEARS, IT DID JUMP IN 2023 WHEN THEY WERE PUT ON A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN, MEANING THAT THE AWARD WAS GOING TO BE REDUCED BY 10% EVERY FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER, MEANING THE CASH MATCH WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BE INCREASED.

SO IN 2023, THE AWARD WAS REDUCED AND THE CASH MATCH WENT UP BY 76%. IN 2024, AGAIN, ANOTHER 10% REDUCTION IN THE AWARD. THERE WAS AN AND THE CASH MATCH WENT UP 69%. 2025 THE REDUCTION IN THE AWARD WAS 116,406, AND THE CASH MATCH WENT UP TO 80%, AND IN 2026, THIS AWARD IS FOR 104,000 765,000, AND IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE PROGRAM, THE CASH MATCH HAS GONE UP TO 93%. AND THEN IT'S AFTERNOON ALREADY. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS SELENA SIGNS JUDGE OF THE 65TH DISTRICT COURT, AND I HAVE THE 65TH PROTECTIVE ORDER COURT UNDER MY MY UMBRELLA. THE PROTECTIVE ORDER COURT WAS CREATED IN 2011 TO ADDRESS THE DIFFICULTY OF THE FAMILY COURTS TO SCHEDULE ALL OF THE PROTECTIVE ORDER APPLICATIONS WITHIN THE STATUTORILY MANDATED 14 DAY TIME PERIOD. AFTER THE FILING OF THE APPLICATION TO ADDRESS THE INCREASING NUMBER OF PROTECTIVE ORDER APPLICATIONS BEING FILED, ESPECIALLY ONES WITH DIFFERENT CHANGES THAT HAVE COME TO THE LAW TO ALLOW FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER APPLICATIONS FOR STALKING, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ABUSE, AND INDECENT ASSAULT AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING. AND IT'S IT WAS ALSO CREATED TO ADDRESS, TO ENSURE THAT ONE COURT HANDLES THE PROTECTIVE ORDER AND ALL ANCILLARY FAMILY LAW MATTERS THAT ARISE FROM THE SAME PARTIES TO THE PROTECTIVE ORDER. SO THAT COULD BE A DIVORCE CASE, A CHILD SUPPORT CASE, A CUSTODY CASE, AND THEN ANY MODIFICATIONS OR ENFORCEMENT THAT ARISE OUT OF THOSE OTHER FAMILY LAW MATTERS. AND SO THAT COMPLIES WITH OUR BELIEF THAT ONE FAMILY SHOULD BE HANDLED BY ONE COURT. AS FAR AS SOME DATA, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS FILED A YEARLY AVERAGE OF 700 APPLICATIONS FOR PROTECTIVE ORDERS DURING 2023 AND 2024.

THE PROTECTIVE ORDER COURT, IN ADDITION TO THAT, HANDLED OVER 900 FAMILY LAW MATTERS IN THAT SAME PERIOD. DURING 2023 AND 2024, THE MONTHLY DISPOSITION CLEARANCE RATE, WHICH IS HOW MANY CASES ARE COMING IN AND HOW MANY CASES ARE BEING DISPOSED DURING ANY GIVEN MONTH, HAS BEEN APPROXIMATELY 100%. I WENT THROUGH OUR NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED SO FAR FROM 2025, AND THE AVERAGE BETWEEN JANUARY AND OCTOBER FOR THIS YEAR HAS BEEN 107%. SO THE PROTECTIVE ORDER COURT IS REGULARLY DISPOSING OVER 100% OF THE CASES THAT ARE COMING IN TO THE COURT EACH MONTH. LET ME SEE WHAT ELSE I HAVE. SO THE COURT CONSISTS OF OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGE VICTOR SALAS, WHO PRESIDES OVER THE PROTECTIVE ORDER COURT. WE HAVE A COURT COORDINATOR, A BAILIFF, AND OUR COURT REPORTER. THE COUNTY AT THIS POINT IS DUE TO THE THE

[02:50:06]

[02:55:04]

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN LOBBY OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO HELP US TO MAINTAIN, YOU KNOW, THE FUNDING FOR THIS. AND SO I'M ALL FOR THIS. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER SIX. PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE SIX SPEAKERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'D LIKE TO START OUT WITH MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD. I'D LIKE TO REMIND SPEAKERS THAT PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES. EVERYBODY'S BEING TIMED. THANK YOU. CHAIR.

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

THIS IS A DELICATE TIME WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON. I WANT TO COMMEND THE COURT ON A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED THIS MORNING. THE RESOLUTION FROM FROM MR. LOUIS LEE JAMES TO THE RESOLUTION ON IMMIGRATION AND ALL OTHERS, THE NAACP, WE STAND BEHIND AND SUPPORT ALL OF THOSE. BUT I AM HERE TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT AND ENTHUSIASM REGARDING THE UPCOMING 89TH TEXAS STATE CONVENTION. THIS EVENT IS A SIGNIFICANT HONOR FOR OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY. IT HIGHLIGHTS EL PASO'S IMPORTANCE WITHIN THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, BUILDING ON THE LEGACY OF THE EL PASO BRANCH BEING THE FIRST BRANCH OF THE NAACP ESTABLISHED IN TEXAS, RIGHT HERE IN EL PASO IN THE YEAR 1914, HOSTING THIS STATE CONVENTION WILL BOOST OUR EL PASO'S VISIBILITY AS A CENTER FOR CIVIL RIGHTS DISCOURSE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE STATE. AND JUDGE, I'LL ECHO WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER WITH ONE OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT EL PASO BEING A STRONGHOLD AND A LIGHT AND A BEACON AND AN EXAMPLE. WE AGREE WITH THAT. THIS CONVENTION WOULD ALSO BRING VALUABLE DIALOG ON CRITICAL ISSUES, ASPECTS SUCH AS EDUCATION, EQUITY, VOTING RIGHTS, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, AND TO EMPOWER OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THIS ENTIRE REGION. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN ECONOMIC BENEFIT BY ATTRACTING HUNDREDS OF DELEGATES. WE'RE EXPECTING ANYWHERE FROM 350 TO 500 DELEGATES TO DESCEND UPON OUR OUR COUNTY. I URGE THE COMMISSIONER COURT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS EVENT AND CONSIDER AN OFFERING THE NAACP, ANY APPROPRIATE INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT, RECOGNITION OR RESOURCES TO HELP ENSURE THE CONVENTION IS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS. ALSO SPEAKING ON PUBLIC COMMENT, WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND DOCTOR RENTERIA, AS WELL AS SOME OF YOUR OFFICE TO GET AN AGENDA ITEM TO YOU. I

[03:00:04]

HAPPY VETERANS DAY EVERY DAY. EL PASO, WHERE EVERY DAY IS VETERANS DAY. YES, EVERY DAY IS VETERANS DAY HERE IN EL PASO. AND THAT CAME FROM FROM CARL. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU JUDGE. AND ON THE TOURISM WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT ALSO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE EAST SIDE EAST SIDE CENTRAL COALITION AND THE COUNTY TO INCLUDE THE RECENTLY LAUNCHED OR THE THE BLACK HISTORY TOUR ALSO. SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO FIT ALL THIS STUFF INTO THREE DAYS. YOU'LL HAVE TO EXPAND THE THE TOUR BY A COUPLE DAYS. BUT REALLY COMING BACK IN JANUARY, WE'RE GOING TO BE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THOSE THREE DAYS. IT'S EVERYTHING LEADING UP TO THAT. WE'RE GOING TO BE HOSTING EVENTS AND DRAWING ATTENTION BECAUSE OCTOBER, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WHEN WE LEAVE THAT CONVENTION, WE'LL BE IT'LL BE A VERY SERIOUS AND IMPORTANT TIME AS WE ALL DEPART AND TO GO BACK. AS THE COMMISSIONER CORONADO HIGHLIGHTED EARLIER ABOUT THE BALLOT AND AND VOTING. SO WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON THAT THEME ALSO AS WE ADJOURN IN OCTOBER TO MAKE A POWERFUL MOVEMENT. WE WANT THAT STATEMENT TO COME FROM EL PASO AND COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THANK YOU AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN ON THE TRAILER FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. SO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. AND A HAPPY THANKSGIVING. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

DO WE HAVE MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD ON THE LINE NOW PRESS TWO TO ERASE. OKAY. WE'LL TRY AGAIN. I'D LIKE TO CALL UP MISS TINA SILVA. WELCOME, TINA. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. JOSH, HERE I AM. I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I'M HERE BECAUSE I NEED YOUR SUPPORT. I HAD MY EVENT. THANK YOU. THE SAME DAY MY COMMISSIONER. SHERIFF DID IT AT THE SAME TIME. AT THE SAME HOUR. THEY CHARGED ME TO HAVE THAT IN MY COMMUNITY. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS. AND I ASKED JAVIER GARCIA RAHAMI, THE SHERIFF CHARGED FOR THAT. HE DIDN'T EVEN TAKE SOMEBODY OUT THERE TO HELP ME OR TO HELP US TO THE TO THE WITH THE TRAFFIC. ARE THEY PAID TO, TO DO THE SAME THING IN MONTANA? THEY YOU PAY WHAT I PAY. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR. AND I DON'T LIKE THAT. WE ARE LEAVING THE COLONIAS AND SHE

[03:05:10]

EITHER. EITHER I NEED THE MONEY. HE CAN KEEP IT. OKAY, BUT WHAT I WANT IS RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE, FOR THE COLONIAS TO. OKAY. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I'VE BEEN USED FOR SO MANY, MANY YEARS AS TRAMPLING. AND I HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE THAT I CAN. I'M A RESIDENT FROM MONTANA VISTA FOR MORE THAN 43 YEARS. I ALSO PRECINCT CHAIR. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DO THIS. AND THE SAME TIME AND THE SAME COMMUNITY AND THE SAME HOURS. THEY GOT MORE EDUCATION THAN ME. I WANT TO KNOW IF HE PAYS FOR USING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. DO YOU PAY JOCKEY? I'M HERE. I'M GIVING YOU MY FACE AND MY DISAPPOINTED. I START WORKING SINCE AUGUST. I LOCK THE DOORS FOR THEM TO HELP ME WITH MY SENIORS, WITH MY PEOPLE. THEY'RE COMPETING TO ME.

THEY'RE LAW ENFORCEMENT, MY COMMISSIONER. SO SOMETHING'S GOTTA BE DONE. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. THANK YOU TINA. THANK YOU. TINA. JUDGE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. MISS SILVA, I KNOW THE COURT CANNOT RESPOND TO THIS SITUATION. I DO WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS. THE BETSY WAS. ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK? YES. GO AHEAD. YES. OKAY. YEAH. DO YOU WANT ME TO RESPOND NOW OR DO YOU WANT ME TO WAIT TILL AFTER MR. ABEYTA SPEAKS? GOOD FOR YOU TO SPEAK. AND THEN YOU COULD. OKAY. PERFECT. JUDGE SAMANIEGO, COMMISSIONERS BUTLER, STOUT AND CORONADO, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TODAY. THE LAST TIME I WAS UP ON THIS PODIUM, I WAS TALKING ABOUT OPPRESSIVE GOVERNMENT POLICIES. SO, SPEAKING OF WHICH, IT'S VERY RARE THAT I ACTUALLY COME TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. IN FACT, IT'S USUALLY A SIGN THAT SOMETHING HAS GONE VERY, VERY WRONG. IF PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET ME OUT OF THE LOWER VALLEY AND COME INTO THIS CHAMBERS. I HAVE BEEN WATCHING POLITICS IN THIS COUNTY LONGER THAN ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO YOUR SEATS, AND I HAVE SEEN MY FAIR SHARE OF THE PETTY, THE ABSURD, AND THE DOWNRIGHT EMBARRASSING POLITICAL MOMENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY. BUT WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK IN MONTANA VISTA IS TAKES THE CAKE. EVEN BY EL PASO STANDARDS OF PETTY FOR 26 YEARS, 26 YEARS, MISS SILVA HAS CONDUCTED HER ANNUAL THANKSGIVING TURKEY GIVEAWAY.

26 YEARS. IT'S COMPLETELY VOLUNTEER. SHE RUNS IT OUT OF HER HOME. I KNOW I'VE BEEN THERE AND IT TAKES UP PARTS OF HER HOME. SHE SACRIFICES HER OWN PERSONAL COMFORT IN HER OWN HOME, WHERE WE'RE ALL SUPPOSED TO BE THE MOST COMFORTABLE. SHE SACRIFICES IT SO THAT SHE CAN HAVE A PLACE TO PUT ALL THIS FOOD. BELIEVE ME, THERE'S A LOT OF BEANS AND RICE THAT GOT PUT INTO BAGS OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, AND LOTS OF SACKS OF POTATOES THAT GOT LUGGED AROUND.

THERE WAS NO PRESS CONFERENCE, THERE WAS NO PRESS RELEASE. THERE WAS NO LIKES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SHE DOES THIS EVERY YEAR BECAUSE SHE DOES IT OUT OF THE KINDNESS OF HER HEART TO ADVOCATE FOR HER CONSTITUENCIES. THAT'S REAL ADVOCACY. SHE DOESN'T GET PAID TO DO IT. AND IN ALL THOSE YEARS, SHE HAS NEVER BEEN CHARGED A FEE TO DO THAT UNTIL NOW. AND I'M VERY WELL AWARE, MISS KELLER, OF THE POLICY. IT WAS ENACTED IN 2016. IT WAS ENACTED IN 2016 BECAUSE

[03:10:03]

NO ONE. NOT ME, NOT THE CONSTABLE, NOT ANY VOLUNTEER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY MONEY TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC GOOD. NOT IN THIS COUNTRY, NOT IN THIS STATE, NOT IN THIS COUNTY, NOT IN THIS COMMUNITY. BUT LET'S BE HONEST WITH ONE ANOTHER. THIS WAS NOT ABOUT POLICY. THIS WAS NOT ABOUT PROCEDURE. THIS WAS ABOUT POLITICS AND POLITICAL PAYBACK. SO AFTER 26 YEARS OF NO FEE, AFTER DECADES OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, AFTER PREVIOUS SHERIFF'S OFFICE NEVER ONCE CHARGED HER, I KNOW I ASKED THEM ALL OF A SUDDEN, COINCIDENTALLY, AFTER HIS CRITICISM ABOUT THE EVENT, A FINE IS LEVIED. THAT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE. THAT'S NOT POLICY.

THAT'S RETALIATION. OR AT A MINIMUM, IT'S THE APPEARANCE OF RETALIATION, WHICH SHOULD UPSET EVERYONE. AND IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING WITH FOOD INSECURITY.

WHEN THE FEDERAL SHUTDOWN SHUT DOWN, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT. YOU ALL KNOW THAT. AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO CATCH UP ON SNAP BENEFITS, THIS COURT HAS SPOKEN AND TAKEN ACTION, RIGHTFULLY SO, ON FOOD INSECURITY. YET HERE WE ARE, PUTTING OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY SHOWS UP AND DOES THE HARD WORK, AND NOBODY PAYS HER TO DO IT. SO SECTION G, I'M SORRY. YEAH. SECTION FIVE, LETTER G OF YOUR OWN POLICY GIVES YOU THE AUTHORITY TO WAIVE THESE FEES WHEN IT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY. IF FEEDING FAMILIES IN COLONIAS DURING THANKSGIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT DOES. 30S THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE $150 FEE. I KNOW ALL OF YOU COULD REACH INTO YOUR POCKETS RIGHT NOW. HELL, YOU GUYS GET PAID A LOT OF MONEY THAT YOU GUYS GIVE YOURSELVES RAISED FOR THAT YOU GUYS COULD PAY THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANT. I WANT YOU TO FIX THE POLICY. BECAUSE NO COMMUNITY SHOULD BE HELD HOSTAGE BY A FEE TO FEED POOR PEOPLE. IT IS SHAMEFUL. AND I'M GOING TO PRESENT THE A LETTER FROM MRS. SILVA, ALONG WITH A COPY OF THE RECEIPT, ASKING THE COURT TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA NEXT MEETING, SO THAT THAT POLICY CAN BE CHANGED. I REALLY, REALLY HOPE COMMISSIONER BUTLER IS THE ONE THAT DOES THAT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JAIME. BETSY, YOU WANT TO COMMENT? SO THANK YOU FOR THIS INFORMATION. THIS IS A POLICY THAT HAS BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE 2016. I DO NOT BELIEVE MISS SILVA HAS EVER, IN THE PAST OR OR CONSTABLE GARCIA APPLIED FOR A ROAD CLOSURE PERMIT FOR THIS EVENT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SEEN A ROAD CLOSURE PERMIT APPLICATION FOR THIS EVENT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAME ABOUT BECAUSE CONSTABLE GARCIA IS AWARE OF THE PROCESS, AND HE WENT AND FILED FOR THE PERMIT. MY OFFICE RECEIVED THIS, MY OFFICE ON THE APPLICATION.

THERE WAS A REQUEST TO WAIVE THE FEE. SO I ASKED MY STAFF TO DOUBLE CHECK TO SEE IF I'D EVER WAIVED ANY FEES FOR A SPECIAL EVENT. I HAD NEVER WAIVED A FEE EVER, FOR A SPECIAL EVENT. I DIDN'T RECALL, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE BEFORE I CHECKED BEFORE I DID, I WILL TELL YOU I WAS NOT AWARE OF COMPETING EVENTS AND THIS IS NOT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IT'S PAID AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IT'S PROCESSED TO MY OFFICE FROM THEIR OFFICE SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE ROAD CLOSURE. BUT IT IS 100% MY OFFICE THAT DENIED THE WAIVER OF THE FEE.

SO I GOT IT. AGAIN, I'M NOT AWARE OF COMPETING EVENTS. I HAVE ZERO INTEREST IN COMPETING EVENTS, BUT I GET THE APPLICATION. IT'S ASKING FOR A WAIVER OF THE FEE. AND I CHECKED AGAIN. I DID THE RESEARCH. HAVE WE EVER WAIVED A FEE? NO, I, I PULLED THE POLICY

[03:15:03]

AND I KNOW CONSTABLE GARCIA AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT OTHER EVENTS WHERE NOT THROUGH THIS PROCESS, BUT WHERE THERE WAS A FEE FOR SOMETHING. AND I HAVE PREVIOUSLY OFFERED TO CONSTABLE GARCIA THAT IF THERE IS A FEE FOR SOMETHING, THAT IS SOMETHING HE'S PARTICIPATING IN, THAT I'D BE HAPPY TO PERSONALLY ALSO HELP HIM PAY THE FEES. BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE DID NOT DISCUSS THAT. BUT I THINK HE KNOWS THAT I WOULD ALWAYS BE WILLING TO HELP. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE WE SENT THE NOTICE THAT I DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY THAT THEY COULD PLACE IT ON THE AGENDA, BUT THE EVENT WAS HAPPENING THE NEXT DAY. AND SO CONSTABLE GARCIA CALLED ME AND HE SAID, I KNOW YOU DENIED IT BECAUSE OF THE FEE WAIVER, BUT THIS EVENT IS TOMORROW.

COULD YOU PLEASE I'LL GO DOWN AND PAY THE FEES JUST SO WE CAN GET THIS DONE. AND I SAID, ACTUALLY, I WAS OUT OF THE OFFICE AT THE TIME COMING INTO WORK, AND I TOLD HIM, I'LL PULL IT AND HAVE IT SIGNED BY THE TIME YOU GO PAY THE FEE. AND SO HE WENT IN TO PAY THE FEE THAT MORNING. I HAD MY STAFF PULL IT AND SIGNED AND APPROVED THE PERMIT SO THAT THE EVENT COULD CONTINUE. I'M NOT SURE AGAIN WHY THERE WAS A PERMIT SUBMITTED THIS YEAR. IF IT'S BEEN DONE THE SAME WAY YEAR AFTER YEAR, IT PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE HAD A PERMIT APPLICATION IN THE PAST, OR AT LEAST SINCE 2016 WHEN THE POLICY WENT INTO EFFECT. BUT I'M JUST NOT SURE THAT ANYBODY WAS AWARE OF IT. SO THIS WAS NOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SHERIFF. I NEVER DISCUSSED THIS WITH ANY MEMBER OF COMMISSIONERS COURT. IT WAS SIMPLY DONE BY MY OFFICE. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE IT CAUSED AND APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING, BUT I DO WANT TO CLARIFY. THIS WAS DONE IN MY OFFICE, NOT BY SHERIFF UGARTE, NOT BY ANY MEMBER OF THE COURT. AND I DON'T NOTIFY THE COURT OF THESE SPECIAL EVENTS PERMITS THAT WE GET UNTIL AFTER THEY'RE APPROVED. ONCE THEY'RE APPROVED AND PROCESSED, MY TEAM SENDS EACH MEMBER OF THE COURT, WHOEVER'S PRECINCT IT IS IN. THAT'S WHEN WE SEND YOU ALL A NOTICE THAT THIS EVENT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR PRECINCT. AND ALWAYS A COURTESY COPY TO THE JUDGE. SO YOU ALL WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN APPROVED UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE, OR THE SOMETIME THE DAY BEFORE THE EVENT. SO JUST WANTED TO CORRECT THE RECORD FOR WHAT THE PROCEDURE IS. I DO AGREE THAT WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT THIS POLICY THAT WAS ADOPTED IN 2016.

I DO NOT REMEMBER ALL THE DETAILS BEHIND WHY IT WAS ADOPTED OR WHAT. ALL IT WAS DRIVING AT AT THE TIME, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE'LL NEED MORE THAN A WEEK TO PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA. BUT I DO THINK THERE IS, BECAUSE THERE'S PROCESSES LIKE WHERE IT CAN WAIVERS CAN BE ASKED FOR, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE ASKED FOR AT BUDGET TIME, NOT AT THE TIME OF THE PERMIT. AND SO THERE'S THERE'S A PROCESS THAT MAY NOT BE REASONABLE IN HERE. WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT IT FURTHER. AND THERE'S PROBABLY OTHER AREAS IN IT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

BUT AGAIN I JUST WANT TO CORRECT THE RECORD. THIS WAS COMPLETELY BY MY OFFICE. NOT ANYTHING DONE BY SHERIFF UGARTE OR ANY MEMBER OF THE COURT. I KNOW WE CAN'T COMMENT, BETSY, BUT JUST TO YOU DIRECTING IT TO YOU, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE COULD REIMBURSE? WE CAN BRING BACK AN ITEM FOR THE COURT'S CONSIDERATION FOR THAT. OKAY. AND THE FEE WAS HIGHER THAN USUAL BECAUSE IT WAS DONE LESS THAN 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE. OKAY. WELL, MA'AM, IF YOU COULD JUST GO TO THE MIC, PLEASE. WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. TINA. AGAIN, I'M TINA SILVA AND LET ME AND LET ME LET ME ASK YOU. DID I GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC? THANK YOU. OKAY.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS. SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FEED MY PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS THAT JESUS ALLOW ME TO BE ALIVE BECAUSE OF THESE POLICIES. CAN YOU FIX IT? CAN SOMEBODY FIX IT? SO I'LL BE ABLE TO FEED THOSE PEOPLE IN MONTANA VISTA. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? DO YOU WANT ME TO STOP AND AND GET IN MY HOUSE AND AND CRY AND SAY, OH, I'M SO PROUD OF MY

[03:20:06]

SO THIS COMPLETES PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. AND WE'LL TAKE A BREAK. YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL NOW RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 12:54 P.M.

[03:30:26]

[03:30:32]

[03:35:17]

THERE A LOT ABOUT THEIR CANINES IN THIS CANINE FIESTA WAS A GREAT, GREAT THING TO DO, AND I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING THINGS. AND CLEARLY EVERYBODY HAS HAD A GREAT TIME TODAY. GOOD JOB. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS JOINED THE COUNTY FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON.

IT HAS BEEN A VERY GREAT SUMMER WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT JUST REALLY CAME TO ENJOY THE CALL.

SO WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO JOINED US THIS SUMMER AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO START AGAIN NEXT SEASON. HAVE A WINNER.

ALL EL PASO. I'M COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER LAURA GALLEGOS AND THIS IS EL PASO COUNTY. CONNECTS FROM AEROSPACE INNOVATION TO CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS. WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED. NOW LET'S GET STARTED. EL PASO COUNTY HELPED LAUNCH OUR REGION'S FUTURE WITH THE SPACETECH EL PASO STEPPE 2025 CONFERENCE, A MAJOR COLLABORATION FOCUSED ON AEROSPACE INNOVATION. PARTNERING WITH UTEP, THE CITY OF EL PASO AND THE TEXAS SPACE COALITION, THE COUNTY SHOWCASED HOW EDUCATION, WORKFORCE AND INDUSTRY ARE JOINING FORCES TO MAKE EL PASO A HUB FOR AEROSPACE GROWTH. EL PASO COUNTY PROUDLY CELEBRATED ITS THIRD ANNUAL COUNTY EMPLOYEE VETERANS LUNCHEON AT THE EL PASO COUNTY COLISEUM ON OCTOBER 9TH AND 10TH. THIS YEAR'S TWO DAY EVENT ALLOWED MORE PARTICIPANTS FROM SHERIFF'S OFFICE, VETERANS, AND COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE SERVED OUR NATION. THE LUNCHEON IS PART OF

[03:40:05]

[03:49:53]

[03:50:07]

THIS IS OUR SECOND ANNUAL DOG CANINE FIESTA. WE ALLOW THE DOGS TO COME SWIM WITH THEIR OWNERS FOR THE END OF THE SEASON. IT KICKS OFF OUR PILOT PROGRAM LAST YEAR. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DOG DAYS OF THE SUMMER. EVERYBODY'S SUPER EXCITED. THE DOGS ARE ACTUALLY

[03:55:02]

THERE A LOT ABOUT THEIR CANINES, AND THIS CANINE FIESTA WAS A GREAT, GREAT THING TO DO. AND I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING THINGS. AND CLEARLY EVERYBODY HAS HAD A GREAT TIME TODAY. GOOD JOB. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS JOINED THE COUNTY FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON.

IT HAS BEEN A VERY GREAT SUMMER WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT JUST REALLY CAME TO ENJOY THE CALL.

SO WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO JOINED US THIS SUMMER AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO START AGAIN NEXT SEASON. HAVE A WINNER.

ALL EL PASO. I'M COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER LAURA GALLEGOS AND THIS IS EL PASO COUNTY. CONNECTS FROM AEROSPACE INNOVATION TO CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS. WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED. NOW LET'S GET STARTED. EL PASO COUNTY HELPED LAUNCH OUR REGION'S FUTURE WITH THE SPACE TECH EL PASO STEP 2025 CONFERENCE, A MAJOR COLLABORATION FOCUSED ON AEROSPACE INNOVATION. PARTNERING WITH UTEP, THE CITY OF EL PASO AND THE TEXAS SPACE COALITION, THE COUNTY SHOWCASED HOW EDUCATION, WORKFORCE AND INDUSTRY ARE JOINING FORCES TO MAKE EL PASO A HUB FOR AEROSPACE GROWTH. EL PASO COUNTY PROUDLY CELEBRATED ITS THIRD ANNUAL COUNTY EMPLOYEE VETERANS LUNCHEON AT THE EL PASO COUNTY COLISEUM ON OCTOBER 9TH AND 10TH. THIS YEAR'S TWO DAY EVENT ALLOWED MORE PARTICIPANTS FROM SHERIFF'S OFFICE, VETERANS, AND HONORED COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE SERVED OUR NATION. THE LUNCHEON IS PART OF THE COUNTY'S MISSION TO BE THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, A COMMITMENT TO MAKING EL PASO COUNTY THE PREMIER DESTINATION FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES. EL PASO COUNTY BROKE GROUND ON MILAGRO PARK, A NEW RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HORIZON VIEW ESTATES THAT WILL BRING MUCH NEEDED OUTDOOR SPACES TO LOCAL FAMILIES. THE $3 MILLION PROJECT, FUNDED BY THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE AND EL PASO COUNTY, INCLUDES TRAILS, PLAYGROUNDS, PICNIC SHELTERS AND SPORTS FIELDS, ALL DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE WELLNESS AND

[04:00:03]

FAMILIES ENJOYED PAN DE MUERTO AND HOT CHOCOLATE WHILE CELEBRATING ONE OF MEXICO'S MOST CHERISHED TRADITIONS. A VIBRANT SYMBOL OF REMEMBRANCE AND UNITY, HALLOWEEN FUN FILLED THE ENRIQUE MORENO COUNTY COURTHOUSE, WHERE FAMILIES ENJOYED A SAFE AND FESTIVE TRICK OR TREAT. AT THE COURTHOUSE EVENT, KIDS COLLECTED TREATS FROM PARTICIPATING OFFICES WHILE COUNTY EMPLOYEES JOINED IN WITH COSTUME AND DECORATION CONTESTS.

THE EVENT BROUGHT SMILES, LAUGHTER AND PLENTY OF CANDY. A FUN AND SAFE WAY TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN IN THE HEART OF OUR COUNTY. WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EL PASO COUNTY CONNECTS.

MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA. UNTIL NEXT TIME, STAY INFORMED AND STAY CONNECTED.

[04:09:20]

[04:10:08]

THIS IS OUR SECOND ANNUAL DOG CANINE FIESTA. WE ALLOW THE DOGS TO COME SWIM WITH THEIR OWNERS FOR THE END OF THE SEASON. IT KICKS OFF OUR PILOT PROGRAM LAST YEAR. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DOG DAYS OF THE SUMMER. EVERYBODY'S SUPER EXCITED. THE DOGS ARE ACTUALLY INSIDE THE WATER FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME, AND ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE JUST SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE AND VERY HAPPY. FIRST ONE WE HAVE IS. CHEWBACCA. WOOHOO! THE MARIACHI! WOOHOO! THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR SPECIAL EVENTS LIKE THIS.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PLACES FOR OWNERS TO SWIM WITH THEIR DOGS, SO THAT'S WHERE WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO ENJOY THE ENTIRE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. AND IT'S JUST IT'S A IT'S AN OVERALL EXCITING EVENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO ENJOY. SO IT'S BEEN REALLY, REALLY EXCITING FOR THE END OF THE SUMMER TO HAVE SUCH A DIFFERENT EVENT. LYLA. HEY, LYLA, YOU'RE THE

[04:15:08]

GOOD JOB. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS JOINED THE COUNTY FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON.

IT HAS BEEN A VERY GREAT SUMMER WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT JUST REALLY CAME TO ENJOY THE FALL, SO WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO JOINED US THIS SUMMER, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO START AGAIN NEXT SEASON. A WINNER.

EL PASO I'M COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER LAURA GALLEGOS AND THIS IS EL PASO COUNTY CONNECTS FROM AEROSPACE INNOVATION TO CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS. WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED. NOW LET'S GET STARTED. EL PASO COUNTY HELPED LAUNCH OUR REGION'S FUTURE WITH THE SPACE TECH EL PASO STEP 2025 CONFERENCE, A MAJOR COLLABORATION FOCUSED ON AEROSPACE INNOVATION. PARTNERING WITH UTEP, THE CITY OF EL PASO AND THE TEXAS SPACE COALITION, THE COUNTY SHOWCASED HOW EDUCATION, WORKFORCE AND INDUSTRY ARE JOINING FORCES TO MAKE EL PASO A HUB FOR AEROSPACE GROWTH. EL PASO COUNTY PROUDLY CELEBRATED ITS THIRD ANNUAL COUNTY EMPLOYEE VETERANS LUNCHEON AT THE EL PASO COUNTY COLISEUM ON OCTOBER 9TH AND 10TH. THIS YEAR'S TWO DAY EVENT ALLOWED MORE PARTICIPANTS FROM SHERIFF'S OFFICE, VETERANS, AND HONORED COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE SERVED OUR NATION. THE LUNCHEON IS PART OF THE COUNTY'S MISSION TO BE THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, A COMMITMENT TO MAKING EL PASO COUNTY THE PREMIER DESTINATION FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES. EL PASO COUNTY BROKE GROUND ON MILAGRO PARK, A NEW RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HORIZON VIEW ESTATES THAT WILL BRING MUCH NEEDED OUTDOOR SPACES TO LOCAL FAMILIES. THE $3 MILLION PROJECT, FUNDED BY THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE AND EL PASO COUNTY, INCLUDES TRAILS, PLAYGROUNDS, PICNIC SHELTERS AND SPORTS FIELDS, ALL DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE WELLNESS AND CONNECTION. BUILT BASED ON COMMUNITY INPUT FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN, MILAGRO PARK WILL OPEN IN EARLY 2027, ADDING ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PARK TO OUR GROWING NETWORK OF GREEN SPACES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF MEXICO AND EL PASO, THE COUNTY HOSTED A BEAUTIFUL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION AT THE ENRIQUE MORENO COUNTY COURTHOUSE. THE EVENING FEATURED THE UNVEILING OF THE ALTAR DE MUERTOS, DEDICATED TO LOVED ONES WHO CAME BEFORE US AND HONORED THE WINNERS OF THE KALAVRITA LITERARY CONTEST.

[04:20:03]

TRICK OR TREAT AT THE COURTHOUSE EVENT, KIDS COLLECTED TREATS FROM PARTICIPATING OFFICES WHILE COUNTY EMPLOYEES JOINED IN WITH COSTUME AND DECORATION CONTESTS.

THE EVENT BROUGHT SMILES, LAUGHTER AND PLENTY OF CANDY. A FUN AND SAFE WAY TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN IN THE HEART OF OUR COUNTY. WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EL PASO COUNTY CONNECTS.

MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA. UNTIL NEXT TIME, STAY INFORMED AND STAY CONNECTED.

[04:28:47]

[04:30:05]

THIS IS OUR SECOND ANNUAL DOG CANINE FIESTA. WE ALLOW THE DOGS TO COME SWIM WITH THEIR OWNERS FOR THE END OF THE SEASON. IT KICKS OFF OUR PILOT PROGRAM LAST YEAR. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DOG DAYS OF THE SUMMER. EVERYBODY'S SUPER EXCITED. THE DOGS ARE ACTUALLY INSIDE THE WATER FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME, AND ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE JUST SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE AND VERY HAPPY. FIRST ONE WE HAVE IS CHEWBACCA. WOOHOO! THE MARIACHI! WOOHOO! THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR SPECIAL EVENTS LIKE THIS.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PLACES FOR OWNERS TO SWIM WITH THEIR DOGS, SO THAT'S WHERE WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO ENJOY THE ENTIRE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. AND IT'S JUST IT'S A IT'S AN OVERALL EXCITING EVENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO ENJOY. SO IT'S BEEN REALLY, REALLY EXCITING FOR THE END OF THE SUMMER TO HAVE SUCH A DIFFERENT EVENT. LYLA. HEY, LYLA, YOU'RE THE WINNER. WINNER? MY DOG LYLA WAS DRESSED UP AS MINNIE MOUSE AND I WAS MICKEY MOUSE, AND AND WE DECIDED WE WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FUN TO DO. SO WE HEARD ABOUT THIS AND WE CAME HOME A WINNER. THE WATER MAKES IT SO MUCH MORE FUN. THE COSTUMES MADE A LIVELY. YOU COULD JUDGE A COMMUNITY BY THE WAY THEY TREAT THEIR DOGS. AND CLEARLY EL PASO CARES A LOT, A

[04:35:02]

GOOD JOB. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS JOINED THE COUNTY FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON.

IT HAS BEEN A VERY GREAT SUMMER WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT JUST REALLY CAME TO ENJOY THE CALL.

SO WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO JOINED US THIS SUMMER, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO START AGAIN NEXT SEASON. HAVE A WINNER.

EL PASO I'M COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER LAURA GALLEGOS AND THIS IS EL PASO COUNTY CONNECTS FROM AEROSPACE INNOVATION TO CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS. WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED. NOW LET'S GET STARTED. EL PASO COUNTY HELPED LAUNCH OUR REGION'S FUTURE WITH THE SPACE TECH EL PASO STEP 2025 CONFERENCE, A MAJOR COLLABORATION FOCUSED ON AEROSPACE INNOVATION. PARTNERING WITH UTEP, THE CITY OF EL PASO AND THE TEXAS SPACE COALITION, THE COUNTY SHOWCASED HOW EDUCATION, WORKFORCE AND INDUSTRY ARE JOINING FORCES TO MAKE EL PASO A HUB FOR AEROSPACE GROWTH. EL PASO COUNTY PROUDLY CELEBRATED ITS THIRD ANNUAL COUNTY EMPLOYEE VETERANS LUNCHEON AT THE EL PASO COUNTY COLISEUM ON OCTOBER 9TH AND 10TH. THIS YEAR'S TWO DAY EVENT ALLOWED MORE PARTICIPANTS FROM SHERIFF'S OFFICE, VETERANS, AND COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE SERVED OUR NATION. THE LUNCHEON IS PART OF THE COUNTY'S MISSION TO BE THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, A COMMITMENT TO MAKING EL PASO COUNTY THE PREMIER DESTINATION FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES. EL PASO COUNTY BROKE GROUND ON MILAGRO PARK, A NEW RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HORIZON VIEW ESTATES THAT WILL BRING MUCH NEEDED OUTDOOR SPACES TO LOCAL FAMILIES. THE $3 MILLION PROJECT, FUNDED BY THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE AND EL PASO COUNTY, INCLUDES TRAILS, PLAYGROUNDS, PICNIC SHELTERS AND SPORTS FIELDS, ALL DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE WELLNESS AND CONNECTION. BUILT BASED ON COMMUNITY INPUT FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN, MILAGRO PARK WILL OPEN IN EARLY 2027, ADDING ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PARK TO OUR GROWING NETWORK OF GREEN SPACES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF MEXICO AND EL PASO, THE COUNTY HOSTED A BEAUTIFUL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION AT THE ENRIQUE MORENO COUNTY COURTHOUSE. THE EVENING FEATURED THE UNVEILING OF THE ALTAR DE MUERTOS, DEDICATED TO LOVED ONES WHO CAME BEFORE US AND HONORED THE WINNERS OF THE KALAVRITA LITERARY CONTEST. FAMILIES ENJOYED PAN DE MUERTO AND HOT CHOCOLATE WHILE CELEBRATING ONE OF MEXICO'S MOST CHERISHED TRADITIONS. A VIBRANT SYMBOL OF REMEMBRANCE AND UNITY, HALLOWEEN FUN FILLED THE ENRIQUE MORENO COUNTY COURTHOUSE, WHERE FAMILIES ENJOYED A SAFE AND FESTIVE. TRICK OR TREAT AT THE COURTHOUSE EVENT, KIDS COLLECTED TREATS FROM PARTICIPATING OFFICES WHILE COUNTY EMPLOYEES JOINED IN WITH COSTUME AND DECORATION CONTESTS. THE EVENT BROUGHT SMILES, LAUGHTER AND PLENTY OF CANDY. A FUN AND SAFE WAY TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN IN THE HEART OF OUR

[04:40:03]

GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED INTO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. IT IS 2:11 P.M. WE'RE ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. A HUMAN RESOURCES. RECEIVE AN UPDATE, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING HOUSE BILL 718 AND THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. AND JUDGE COMMISSIONERS VALERIA FERNANDEZ WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES

[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]

ITEM NUMBER EIGHT B GRANT AWARD, APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO ACCEPT FY 26 VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT AWARD FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IN THE AMOUNT OF $120,948 FROM OCTOBER

[B. GRANT AWARD - Approve and authorize the County Judge to accept the FY26 Victim Assistance Grant Award for the County Attorney in the amount of $120,948.00 from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026. A County match in the amount of $40,316.00 is required and is available in GADM-XFER OUT-GRANT MATCH. (Contract No. 2025-0955) Aaron Setliff, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office, (915) 273-3238]

[04:45:07]

VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. JUDGE SAMANIEGO IS ABSENT. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT C GRANT AWARD.

APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO ACCEPT THE AWARD FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 26.

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S

[C. GRANT AWARD - Approve and authorize the County Judge to accept the award for the FY26 Office of the Governor Victims of Crime Act Program on behalf of the District Attorney Office from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, in the amount of  $219,044.16 with total County match in the amount of $85,183.60. Match funds are available in GF-GADM-XFER OUT-GRANT MATCH. (Contract No. 2025-0970) James Montoya, District Attorney, District Attorney's Office, 915-273-3542]

[04:50:01]

APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO ACCEPT THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. FY 26 VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT FORMULA GRANT ON BEHALF OF THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE FOR THE VICTIM RESOURCE PROGRAM FOR SUPPORTIVE SUPERVISION AND GUARDIAN AD LITEM FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026, IN THE AMOUNT OF $138,803.09 A COUNTY, MATCHING THE AMOUNT OF $36,000 IS REQUIRED AND WAS APPROVED AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN GENERAL. FUND ACCESS, TRANSFER OUT. GRANT MATCH CONTRACT NUMBER 2020 50961. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS I'M WITH THE BUDGET AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT, THE GRANT SECTION. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE TO DIRECTLY TO VICTIMS OF CRIME.

THE GRANT WILL FOLLOW A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN, WHICH REQUIRES THE PROGRAM TO REDUCE THEIR GRANT REQUESTS 10% EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT DRO HAS RECEIVED THIS AWARD. THIS GRANT WILL FUND CONTRACTUAL SERVICES AND IT WILL SUPPLEMENT EXISTING STAFF SALARIES. AND AT THIS TIME, MR. STANLEY WILL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, NORMA AND LIZETTE, FOR FOR GETTING THIS GRANT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE BEEN AWARDED THIS GRANT. WE'RE VERY EXCITED. WE WERE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THE THE THE MATCH UTILIZING THE THE AMOUNT THAT WE USUALLY PROVIDE FOR CONTRACTING OUT SUPERVISED VISITS WITH A LOCAL PROVIDER, PROJECT AMISTAD. SO WE'RE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT MONEY TO EXPAND TO PROVIDE THEM MORE FUNDING, AS WELL AS ALSO THE SUPPORT OF SUPERVISED VISITS, WHICH IS A KIND OF FORM OF COACHING PARENT EDUCATION. THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL, ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS THAT HAVEN'T HAD INTERACTIONS WITH THEIR CHILDREN FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME OR HAVE NEVER HAD INTERACTIONS WITH THEIR CHILDREN, AS WELL AS GUARDIAN AD LITEM SERVICES FOR CHILDREN. ALL THESE WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE GRANT. FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HAVING FAMILY VIOLENCE OR AN APPREHENSION OF FAMILY VIOLENCE ON THEIR CASES, AND SO THIS WILL COVER THE SERVICE FEES THAT WE WOULD USUALLY CHARGE FOR THOSE SERVICES THAT WOULD COME AT NO COST FOR THEM. AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO EXPAND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES AT AMISTAD BY PROVIDING THEM MORE FUNDING, BECAUSE CURRENTLY I THINK THERE WAS ABOUT 17,000 THE LAST TIME I LOOKED AROUND 17,000 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS IN EL PASO COUNTY. SO THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILY VIOLENCE CONCERNS OUT THERE. AND SO THIS WILL REALLY HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH COURT ORDERS FOR ACCESS, POSSESSION OR THOSE TRYING TO GET COURT ORDER FOR ACCESS AND POSSESSION ESTABLISHED. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. AND I ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER.

VOTING IS OPEN. JUDGE SAMANIEGO IS ABSENT. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

GOOD JOB. I MEAN, I, I PERSONALLY KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF NEED FOR THIS, SO I'M GLAD THAT Y'ALL WERE ABLE TO GET THAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT E GRANT AWARD. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO ACCEPT THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. FISCAL YEAR 2526. VICTIM SERVICES GRANT ON BEHALF OF THE EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S

[D. GRANT AWARD - Approve and authorize the County Judge to accept the Office of the Governor FY26 Victims of Crime Act Formula Grant on behalf of the Domestic Relations Office for the Victim Resource Program for Supportive Supervision and Guardian ad Litem from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, in the amount of $138,803.09. A County match in the amount of $36,000 is required and was approved at the time of application.  Funds are available in GF-ACCESS-XFER OUT-GRANT MATCH. (Contract No. 2025-0961) Brian Stanley, Executive Director, Domestic Relations Office, 915-273-3533]

[E. GRANT AWARD - Approve and authorize the County Judge to accept the Office of the Governor (OOG), FY25-26 Victim Services grant on behalf of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, in the amount of $103,045.60. The grant would be from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026. A match of $25,762.00 is required by OOG, additional match in the amount of $87,986.40 is required by the department to sustain the program; for a total match of $113,748.40. Match was approved at the time of application and is available in GF-SOVOCAXFER OUT-GRANT MATCH.  (Contract No. 2025-0949)  Oscar Ugarte, Sheriff, EPCSO, 915-273-3800]

[04:55:07]

GRANT MATCH CONTRACT NUMBER 2025 0949. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS LIZETTE SOLTERO FROM THE BUDGET AND FINANCE DIVISION, GRANTS DEPARTMENT. WE ARE HERE TO REQUEST APPROVAL TO ACCEPT THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. FY 26 GENERAL VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT ON BEHALF OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE VICTIM SERVICES UNIT. THE GRANT PERIOD IS FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026, IN THE AMOUNT OF $103,045 WITH $0.60, WITH A MATCH OF $113,748 WITH $0.40. THIS IS A GRANT LAST YEAR UNDER SUSTAINABILITY. BACK IN 2022, THIS PROGRAM WAS PLACED UNDER A FIVE YEAR SUSTAINABILITY PLAN BY THE RIO GRANDE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, IN WHICH EVERY YEAR THE GRANT REQUEST HAD TO BE DECREASED BY NO LESS THAN 10%. IN FY 24, OUR GRANT AWARD WAS $127,216 WITH $0.80, WITH A MATCH OF 151,552 WITH $0.56. IN FY 25, OUR GRANT AWARD WAS $114. I'M SORRY, $114,496 WITH $0.12, WITH A MATCH OF $227,686 WITH $0.23.

AND FOR THIS YEAR, FY 26, OUR GRANT AWARD IS 103,000 WITH $45.60, WITH A MATCH OF $113,748 WITH $0.40. AND TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WE HAVE HERE FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, MISS GLADYS CARMONA AND COMMANDER WASHINGTON. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR'S GRANT WILL SUPPORT FUNDING FOR ONE FULL TIME LICENSED COUNSELOR AND ONE FULL TIME VICTIM ADVOCATE. OVER THE PAST YEAR, OUR COUNSELOR SERVED 250 INDIVIDUALS, PROVIDING 728 HOURS OF FREE COUNSELING SERVICES. THE EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REMAINS THE ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE COUNTY TO HAVE AN IN-HOUSE CRISIS COUNSELOR. OUR VICTIM ADVOCATE CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A CRISIS SERVICES TO MORE THAN 1300 VICTIMS OF CRIME, ASSISTING WITH PROTECTIVE ORDERS, COURT ACCOMPANIMENTS, TRANSPORTATION TO SHELTERS, AND CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE TEXAS CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM. CONTINUING TO RESPOND WITHIN AT LEAST 72 HOURS AFTER THE CRIME OCCURS. AND I ALWAYS SAY THIS THAT IF THESE SERVICES WERE NOT AVAILABLE, MANY OF OUR OUR MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WOULD FALL THROUGH THE THROUGH THE CRACKS. THESE ARE SERVICES THAT ARE CRUCIAL IN THE RURAL AREAS OF EL PASO. I'M RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING YOUR APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS GRANT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE PROVIDING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JEROME WASHINGTON, A COMMANDER FOR THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION. SHERIFF'S OFFICE LADIES DID AN EXCELLENT JOB. I'M JUST HERE, IF I COULD ADD, IT IS A VITAL PROGRAM. IT IS A NECESSARY PROGRAM. THESE SERVICES, AND WE WOULD GRATEFULLY BE APPRECIATIVE OF THE APPROVAL. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. JUDGE SAMANIEGO WAS ABSENT. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER NINE, A BUDGET AND FINANCE. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE, ADOPT AND ESTABLISH INDIVIDUAL PROJECT ACCOUNTS AND BUDGETS FOR THE 2024 GENERAL OBLIGATION

[A. Discuss and take appropriate action to approve, adopt, and establish individual project accounts and budgets for the 2024 General Obligation (GO) Bond Capital Improvement Projects, as listed and contained in the attached backup. Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria, Director, Budget and Finance, 915-273-3726]

[05:00:03]

BEFORE WE MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP ITEM NUMBER TEN. C, PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS FIVE, FIVE, 1.0725 AND 551.071. DISCUSS LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND DISCUSS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS ONE AND TWO AND THE COUNTY REGARDING ENFORCEMENT OF THE COUNTY, OUTDOOR BUSINESS ORDER AND COUNTY FIRE CODE. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS ERIC GAGLIONE, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR THIS STAFF, IS ASKING THIS ITEM TEN C BE TAKEN INTO EXECUTIVE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.0725. THE COUNTY IS CURRENTLY IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS ONE AND TWO REGARDING POTENTIAL INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS REGARDING THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE COUNTY OUTDOOR BUSINESS OWNER ORDER AND THE COUNTY FIRE CODE. 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. I'VE DETERMINED THAT DELIBERATION AND OPEN MEETING WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE EFFECT ON THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND NEGOTIATIONS. I'M REQUESTING THAT THE COURT UNANIMOUSLY VOTE THAT DELIBERATIONS IN OPEN WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT, THAT ALL DELIBERATIONS TAKE PLACE IN CLOSED SESSION. AND I'D FURTHER REQUEST THE COURT DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, COMMISSIONERS, COURT REPORTERS TO ENSURE THAT ALL PROCEEDINGS ENCLOSED BE RECORDED. A COPY OF THE LEGAL MEMO HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, COMMISSIONERS, COURT REPORTERS TO BE MADE A PART OF THE OFFICIAL COURT RECORDS. IF THE COURT AGREES, I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND AND A RECORDED VOTE AT THIS TIME, PLEASE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER, SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. VOTING IS OPEN. COUNTY JUDGE SAMANIEGO IS ABSENT. MOTION CARRIES. AT THIS TIME, COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEMS TEN A THROUGH TEN E PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION FIVE 51.071 AND 551.0725. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECONVENE TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION. IT IS 2:34 P.M.

[05:09:42]

ONE, TWO AND THREE. SO TODAY IS A VERY, VERY HAPPY DAY BECAUSE WE ARE HERE CELEBRATING THE

[05:10:02]

THIS IS OUR SECOND ANNUAL DOG CANINE FIESTA. WE ALLOW THE DOGS TO COME SWIM WITH THEIR OWNERS FOR THE END OF THE SEASON. IT KICKS OFF OUR PILOT PROGRAM LAST YEAR. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DOG DAYS OF THE SUMMER. EVERYBODY'S SUPER EXCITED. THE DOGS ARE ACTUALLY INSIDE THE WATER FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME, AND ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE JUST SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE AND VERY HAPPY. FIRST ONE WE HAVE IS CHEWBACCA, WHO THE MARIACHI.

[05:15:02]

GOOD JOB. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS JOINED THE COUNTY FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON.

IT HAS BEEN A VERY GREAT SUMMER WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT JUST REALLY CAME TO ENJOY THE CALL.

SO WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO JOINED US THIS SUMMER, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO START AGAIN NEXT SEASON. THE WINNERS.

OF EL PASO, I'M COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER LAURA GALLEGOS AND THIS IS EL PASO COUNTY CONNECTS FROM AEROSPACE INNOVATION TO CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS. WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED. NOW LET'S GET STARTED. EL PASO COUNTY HELPED LAUNCH OUR REGION'S FUTURE WITH THE SPACE TECH EL PASO STEP 2025 CONFERENCE, A MAJOR COLLABORATION FOCUSED ON AEROSPACE INNOVATION. PARTNERING WITH UTEP, THE CITY OF EL PASO AND THE TEXAS SPACE COALITION, THE COUNTY SHOWCASED HOW EDUCATION, WORKFORCE AND INDUSTRY ARE JOINING FORCES TO MAKE EL PASO A HUB FOR AEROSPACE GROWTH. EL PASO COUNTY PROUDLY CELEBRATED ITS THIRD ANNUAL COUNTY EMPLOYEE VETERANS LUNCHEON AT THE EL PASO COUNTY COLISEUM ON OCTOBER 9TH AND 10TH. THIS YEAR'S TWO DAY EVENT ALLOWED MORE PARTICIPANTS FROM SHERIFF'S OFFICE, VETERANS, AND HONORED COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE SERVED OUR NATION. THE LUNCHEON IS PART OF THE COUNTY'S MISSION TO BE THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, A COMMITMENT TO MAKING EL PASO COUNTY THE PREMIER DESTINATION FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES. EL PASO COUNTY BROKE GROUND ON MILAGRO PARK, A NEW RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HORIZON VIEW ESTATES THAT WILL BRING MUCH NEEDED OUTDOOR SPACES TO LOCAL FAMILIES. THE $3 MILLION PROJECT, FUNDED BY THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE AND EL PASO COUNTY, INCLUDES TRAILS, PLAYGROUNDS, PICNIC SHELTERS AND SPORTS FIELDS, ALL DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE WELLNESS AND CONNECTION. BUILT BASED ON COMMUNITY INPUT FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN, MILAGRO PARK WILL OPEN IN EARLY 2027, ADDING ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PARK TO OUR GROWING NETWORK OF

[05:20:04]

FAMILIES ENJOYED PAN DE MUERTO AND HOT CHOCOLATE WHILE CELEBRATING ONE OF MEXICO'S MOST CHERISHED TRADITIONS. A VIBRANT SYMBOL OF REMEMBRANCE AND UNITY, HALLOWEEN FUN FILLED THE ENRIQUE MORENO COUNTY COURTHOUSE, WHERE FAMILIES ENJOYED A SAFE AND FESTIVE.

TRICK OR TREAT AT THE COURTHOUSE EVENT, KIDS COLLECTED TREATS FROM PARTICIPATING OFFICES WHILE COUNTY EMPLOYEES JOINED IN WITH COSTUME AND DECORATION CONTESTS.

THE EVENT BROUGHT SMILES, LAUGHTER AND PLENTY OF CANDY. A FUN AND SAFE WAY TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN IN THE HEART OF OUR COUNTY. WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EL PASO COUNTY CONNECTS.

MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA. UNTIL NEXT TIME, STAY INFORMED AND STAY CONNECTED.

[05:29:10]

[05:30:03]

THIS IS OUR SECOND ANNUAL DOG CANINE FIESTA. WE ALLOW THE DOGS TO COME SWIM WITH THEIR OWNERS FOR THE END OF THE SEASON. IT KICKS OFF OUR PILOT PROGRAM LAST YEAR. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DOG DAYS OF THE SUMMER. EVERYBODY'S SUPER EXCITED. THE DOGS ARE ACTUALLY INSIDE THE WATER FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME, AND ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE JUST SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE AND VERY HAPPY. FIRST ONE WE HAVE IS CHEWBACCA. WOO WOO! THE MARIACHI. WOO WOO. THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR SPECIAL EVENTS LIKE THIS. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PLACES FOR OWNERS TO SWIM WITH THEIR DOGS, SO THAT'S WHERE WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO ENJOY THE ENTIRE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. AND IT'S JUST IT'S AN OVERALL EXCITING EVENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO ENJOY. SO IT'S BEEN REALLY, REALLY EXCITING FOR THE END OF THE SUMMER TO HAVE SUCH A DIFFERENT EVENT. LYLA MINNIE MOUSE HEY, LYLA, THE WINNER, MY WINNER. MY DOG LYLA WAS DRESSED UP AS MINNIE MOUSE AND I WAS MICKEY MOUSE.

[05:35:06]

GOOD JOB. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS JOINED THE COUNTY FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON.

IT HAS BEEN A VERY GREAT SUMMER WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT JUST REALLY CAME TO ENJOY THE CALL.

SO WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO JOINED US THIS SUMMER AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO START AGAIN NEXT SEASON. HAVE A WINNER.

ALL EL PASO. I'M COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER LAURA GALLEGOS AND THIS IS EL PASO COUNTY. CONNECTS FROM AEROSPACE INNOVATION TO CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS. WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED. NOW LET'S GET STARTED. EL PASO COUNTY HELPED LAUNCH OUR REGION'S FUTURE WITH THE SPACETECH EL PASO STEPPE 2025 CONFERENCE, A MAJOR COLLABORATION FOCUSED ON AEROSPACE INNOVATION. PARTNERING WITH UTEP, THE CITY OF EL PASO AND THE TEXAS SPACE COALITION, THE COUNTY SHOWCASED HOW EDUCATION, WORKFORCE AND INDUSTRY ARE JOINING FORCES TO MAKE EL PASO A HUB FOR AEROSPACE GROWTH. EL PASO COUNTY PROUDLY CELEBRATED ITS THIRD ANNUAL COUNTY EMPLOYEE VETERANS LUNCHEON AT THE EL PASO COUNTY COLISEUM ON OCTOBER 9TH AND 10TH. THIS YEAR'S TWO DAY EVENT ALLOWED MORE PARTICIPANTS FROM SHERIFF'S OFFICE, VETERANS, AND HONORED COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE SERVED OUR NATION. THE LUNCHEON IS PART OF THE COUNTY'S MISSION TO BE THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, A COMMITMENT TO MAKING EL PASO COUNTY THE PREMIER DESTINATION FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES. EL PASO COUNTY BROKE GROUND ON MILAGRO PARK, A NEW RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HORIZON VIEW ESTATES THAT WILL BRING MUCH NEEDED OUTDOOR SPACES TO LOCAL FAMILIES. THE $3 MILLION PROJECT, FUNDED BY THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE AND EL PASO COUNTY, INCLUDES TRAILS, PLAYGROUNDS, PICNIC SHELTERS AND SPORTS FIELDS, ALL DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE WELLNESS AND CONNECTION. BUILT BASED ON COMMUNITY INPUT FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN, MILAGRO PARK WILL OPEN IN EARLY 2027, ADDING ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PARK TO OUR GROWING NETWORK OF GREEN SPACES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF MEXICO AND EL PASO, THE COUNTY HOSTED A BEAUTIFUL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION AT THE ENRIQUE MORENO COUNTY COURTHOUSE. THE EVENING FEATURED THE UNVEILING OF THE ALTAR DE MUERTOS, DEDICATED TO LOVED ONES WHO CAME BEFORE US AND HONORED THE WINNERS OF THE KALAVRYTA LITERARY CONTEST.

FAMILIES ENJOYED PAN DE MUERTO AND HOT CHOCOLATE WHILE CELEBRATING ONE OF MEXICO'S MOST CHERISHED TRADITIONS. A VIBRANT SYMBOL OF REMEMBRANCE AND UNITY, HALLOWEEN FUN FILLED

[05:40:04]

THE EVENT BROUGHT SMILES, LAUGHTER AND PLENTY OF CANDY. A FUN AND SAFE WAY TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN IN THE HEART OF OUR COUNTY. WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EL PASO COUNTY CONNECTS.

MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA. UNTIL NEXT TIME, STAY INFORMED AND STAY CONNECTED.

[05:48:37]