[00:07:41] THE VETERANS CAPITOL OF THE USA. FROM INSIDE THE ALICIA CHACON COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM OF THE [00:07:47] ENRIQUE MORENO COUNTY COURTHOUSE. YOU ARE WATCHING THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING. GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. TODAY IS MONDAY, DECEMBER 8TH, 2025. TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY ASL INTERPRETER SELENA SALLOUM AND TAMARA [1. OPEN MEETING] MARQUEZ. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS MEETING IN REGULAR OPEN SESSION. COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE STUDENTS FOR TODAY? YES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING [2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] EVERYONE. SO TODAY WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE A RATHER LARGE GROUP OF STUDENTS FROM FABENS HIGH SCHOOL THAT ARE GOING TO BE LEADING US IN THE PLEDGE. SO AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE PODIUM, I DO WANT TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT. SO THESE ARE STUDENTS FROM THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF FUTURE EDUCATORS, FABENS CHAPTER, AND FROM THE STUDENT COUNCIL, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF FUTURE EDUCATORS. CHAPTER EIGHT OF THESE YOUNG FOLKS ACTUALLY JUST MADE IT TO STATE. SO THEY WILL BE COMPETING AT THE STATE LEVEL HERE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. AND OF COURSE, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THEIR TEACHERS, MISS SOTELO AND MR. VASQUEZ. WITHOUT THEM, WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT, THIS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE. AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO DOCTOR SEGOVIA, THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR FABENS. AND THESE STUDENTS WILL ACTUALLY BE RECEIVING A TOUR OF THE COUNTY COURT HOUSE AFTER THEY LISTEN TO A FEW RESOLUTIONS HERE IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM. SO I WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO LYNN FROM THE LAW LIBRARY AS WELL, FOR ALWAYS DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB AND HOSTING OUR STUDENTS WHEN THEY COME TAKE TOURS OF THE COURTHOUSE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WELCOME. I THINK WE'RE READY. MR. CHAIRMAN. OKAY. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS. ONE [00:10:03] STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WELCOME YOU AND ENJOY YOUR YOUR DAY HERE AT THE COURT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. GREAT JOB. AND NOW WE WILL RECEIVE AN INVOCATION BY PAM PERRONE. WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JUDGE. GOOD MORNING. IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU. YOU ALL JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND COMMISSIONERS, ALL WHO ARE WITH US TODAY ARE INVITED TO JOIN ME AS I PRAY, OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED, HOLY AND HONORED, BE YOUR NAME FOR THE BOOK OF REVELATION. THE UNVEILING OR REVEALING TELLS US WHO SHALL NOT FEAR YOU, O LORD? FOR YOU ALONE ARE HOLY. THY KINGDOM COME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. IN REVELATION 1115, THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD HAVE BECOME THE KINGDOMS OF OUR LORD AND OF HIS CHRIST, AND HE SHALL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER. WE DECLARE THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. WE KNOW THAT IN HEAVEN NO CHILD IS NEGLECTED, HUNGRY, ABUSED, TRAFFICKED, OR HARMED IN ANY WAY. FOR YOUR WORD IS CLEAR IN REVELATION 21 FOUR AND GOD WILL WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES. THERE SHALL BE NO MORE DEATH, NOR SORROW, NOR CRYING. THERE SHALL BE NO MORE PAIN. FOR THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY. GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. JESUS WORDS WRITTEN IN JOHN 635 ARE CLEAR I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. HE WHO COMES TO ME SHALL NEVER HUNGER, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER THIRST. AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, THE OFFENSES WE HAVE COMMITTED AGAINST YOU. OH, GOD, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US. FOR IN MATTHEW 614 AND 15, JESUS REVEALS THAT IF YOU FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU. BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, NEITHER WILL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES. AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS CLEAR. IN JAMES 113, LET NO ONE SAY, WHEN HE IS TEMPTED, I AM TEMPTED BY GOD. FOR GOD CANNOT BE TEMPTED BY EVIL, NOR DOES HE TEMPT ANYONE. FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOREVER AND EVER. FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, AND UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN. AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER, AND HIS NAME WILL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE, OF THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT AND PEACE, THERE SHALL BE NO END UPON THE THRONE OF DAVID AND OVER HIS KINGDOM, IN ORDER TO TO ORDER IT AND ESTABLISH IT WITH JUDGMENT AND JUSTICE FROM THAT TIME FORWARD, EVEN FOREVER. THE ZEAL OF THE LORD WILL PERFORM THIS TODAY. WHEN WE DECLARE THY KINGDOM COME, WE CELEBRATE WITH THE WORDS FROM HANDEL'S MESSIAH. THE KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD IS BECOME THE KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND OF HIS CHRIST, AND HE SHALL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER. KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. HALLELUJAH! LORD, WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US YOUR TRUTH IN YOUR WORD. YOU SENT YOUR SON, BORN IN A MANGER, INTO THE WORLD AS SAVIOR, PRINCE OF PEACE, THE WORD, THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIGHT. THE PEOPLE WHO WALKED IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT UPON THEM. A LIGHT HAS SHINED. AMEN. AND SO BE IT. THANK YOU. WE WELCOME YOU, OR MY BEST TO YOUR FAMILY, MRS. FERRONE. THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE OPENING COMMENTS BEFORE WE THANK YOU? WELL, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE WELCOME YOU ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OUR COMMISSIONERS. WE'RE ALWAYS, ALWAYS EXTREMELY THANKFUL THAT THAT YOU'RE HERE WITH US TODAY. YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR SOME INCREDIBLE RESOLUTIONS. EL PASO I MEAN, [3. INVOCATION] ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES US UNIQUE IS THAT WE RECOGNIZE PEOPLE, ORGANIZATIONS AND AND WE ALLOW OTHERS TO UNDERSTAND WHO THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE BECAUSE THEY MAKE SUCH AN IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. JUST WANT TO WISH YOU WELL THROUGH THE THE HOLIDAYS, AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU GO TO THE LAKE FOR THE LIGHTS. YOU'LL BE VERY, VERY IMPRESSED WITH WITH WHAT WE HAVE OUT THERE. SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AS YOU COULD SEE, OUR I HAD A STRUGGLE WITH PA PA RATE, I THINK IS WHAT IT WAS CALLED. SO. WE'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE CHANCE TO, TO SEE THAT. BUT. YEAH, THE DRONE SHOW WAS PRETTY MAGNIFICENT. [00:15:45] YOU PLEASE TAKE YOUR FAMILIES. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE AROUND THE LAKE, OR YOU CAN STOP. AND THERE'S SO MANY PLACES TO TAKE PICTURES WITH YOUR FAMILY. BUT, YOU KNOW, I KEEP SAYING THAT THIS, FOR SOME REASON, THIS CHRISTMAS HAS TO BE VERY SPECIAL. A LOT OF THINGS WENT, YOU KNOW, THE SHUTTING DOWN OF THE BENEFITS LIKE SNAP AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING OUT THERE. SO IF YOU CAN MAKE IT A POINT NOT ONLY TO BE KIND TO YOUR FAMILY, BUT GO A LITTLE OUTSIDE OF YOUR FAMILY, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SHOW THE REST OF THE COUNTRY WHAT A GREAT PLACE EL PASO IS. SO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR BEING HERE AND WISHING YOU THE BEST THIS WHOLE WEEK. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS THE CONSENT AGENDA, COMPOSED OF ITEMS FOR A THROUGH FOUR V. WE DO HAVE A CORRECTION TO READ IN FOR ITEM FOUR F CORRECTION READS. ACCEPT THE TEXAS COUNTY AND DISTRICT RETIREMENT SYSTEM PLAN ASSESSMENT FOR PLAN YEAR 2026. CONTRACT NUMBER 2025 1024. WE [4. CONSENT AGENDA] ALSO HAVE A REQUEST TO DELETE ITEM 40, WHICH IS A PROVEN AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES WITH THE EL PASO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, DOING BUSINESS AS UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER OF EL PASO. FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES AT THE MAIN HOSPITAL, CAMPUS AND SATELLITE EMERGENCY SITES FROM DECEMBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH, 2028, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,171,611.67. CONTRACT NUMBER 2025 0988. THIS ITEM WILL BE BROUGHT BACK AT A LATER MEETING. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS? MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY POOL? IF NOT, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO TO APPROVE. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM FIVE RESOLUTIONS FIVE A APPROVE AN ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE EL PASO MARINE HONOR UNIT FOR ITS EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, SACRIFICE, AND DEDICATION TO HONORING OUR NATION'S HEROES AND ITS LASTING CONTRIBUTION TO THE VETERANS AND FAMILIES OF EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. THANK YOU. COULD YOU PLEASE COME UP, PLEASE? OH, MR. WAYNE. THANK YOU. AS YOU KNOW THAT WITH THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. SO WE ALWAYS GET TO HONOR ALL OF THESE AMAZING CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD THAT END. WILL I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THIS RESOLUTION? AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM OUR SPEAKERS? WHEREAS EL PASO COUNTY PROUDLY RECOGNIZES EL PASO MARINE HONOR UNIT FOR ITS OUTSTANDING DEDICATION AND CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE VETERAN COMMUNITY, PROVIDING SOLEMN AND DIGNIFIED HONORS TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR NATION AND WAS. EL PASO MARINE HONOR UNIT WAS ESTABLISHED IN SEPTEMBER 2015 WITH A MISSION OF PROVIDING AN HONOR OF FIRING PARTY DETAIL FOR DECEASED VETERANS AT THEIR INTERMENT, ENSURING THAT EACH VETERAN IS LAID TO REST WITH MILITARY HONORS THEY HAVE EARNED. WHEREAS SINCE ITS FORMATION, THE EL PASO MARINE HONOR UNIT HAS CONDUCTED MORE THAN 900 HONOR FIRING DETAILS AND MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR DECEASED VETERANS THROUGHOUT THE EL PASO AREA. REFLECTING A DECADE OF UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO DUTY, HONOR AND RESPECT. WHEREAS DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, WHEN RESTRICTIONS LIMITED [A. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing the El Paso Marine Honor Unit for its exceptional service, sacrifice, and dedication to honoring our nation’s heroes, and its lasting contribution to the veterans and families of El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591] CEREMONIAL PARTICIPATION, THE EL PASO MARINE HONOR UNIT WAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION AUTHORIZED TO RENDER HONORS AT FORT BLISS NATIONAL CEMETERY, ENSURING THAT NO VETERAN WAS BURIED WITHOUT THE DIGNITY OF A PROPER MILITARY FAREWELL WAS. THE EL PASO MARINE HONOR UNIT HAS ALSO PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE UNACCOMPANIED VETERAN BURIAL PROGRAM, STANDING IN SOLEMN TRIBUTE TO THOSE VETERANS WHO HAVE NO KNOWN FAMILY, ENSURING THAT EVERY SERVICE MEMBER IS HONORED AND REMEMBERED AS PART OF OUR NATION'S PROMISE THAT NO VETERAN WILL EVER BE FORGOTTEN. WHEREAS THROUGH THE UNIT HAS BEEN A REDUCTION IN MEMBERSHIP DUE TO AGE AND MEDICAL CHALLENGES, IT CONTINUES TO [00:20:04] FAITHFULLY SERVE THE VETERAN COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING HONORS FOR THEIR FALLEN COMRADES WITH THE SAME REVERENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM THAT HAS DEFINED THEIR SERVICE SINCE ITS INCEPTION. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY EXPRESSES ITS DEEPEST APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE TO THE EL PASO MARINE HONOR UNIT FOR ITS EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, SACRIFICE, AND DEDICATION TO HONORING OUR NATION'S HEROES, AND COMMENDS THE UNIT FOR ITS LASTING CONTRIBUTION TO THE VETERANS AND FAMILIES OF EL PASO COUNTY. SIGNED THIS EIGHTH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME. MR. WAY, YOU HAVE THE ALSO A VETERAN OF THE YEAR AS WELL. ACTUALLY OUR FIRST VETERAN OF THE YEAR. WE START OUT A LITTLE BIT BIGGER WHEN WE ORIGINALLY WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'RE STILL DEDICATED TO TAKING CARE OF OUR DECEASED VETERANS. IT'S A JOB WE DON'T LIKE TO DO, BUT WE LOVE TO DO BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. AND BEING THE ONLY VETERAN GROUP RIGHT NOW FOR THIS LENGTH OF TIME THAT'S DOING THIS, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, PUSHING TO GET MORE. WE HAVE STARTED A VETERANS EL PASO HONOR UNIT THROUGH THE UNITED AMERICANS VETERANS ORGANIZATION. SO FOR THE PAST YEAR I'VE BEEN DUAL HATTED, WORKING WITH BOTH OF THEM. SO THAT AGAIN, IF WE CAN'T DO IT, THEY GO OFF THERE AND TRY AND DO IT. EXCELLENT. AND AGAIN, IT'S A COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO AS LONG AS WE CAN. AND SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES PLEASE. MORNING. MY NAME IS RAFAEL LUEVANOS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOMEZ THANK YOU. EDDIE SANTIAGO. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JOSE MARTINEZ. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, SOMETIME BACK ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, I WAS ASKED TO GO TO AN UNACCOMPANIED BURIAL. AND I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER GONE THROUGH A MORE SAD EXPERIENCE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, WE GET CHALLENGED, RIGHT? I MEAN, HOW CAN WE HAVE UNACCOMPANIED BURIAL WITH NOBODY THERE? I MEAN, THESE WERE THE LANDSCAPE WE'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, GET THE CASKET OUT. IT WAS JUST I'LL NEVER, EVER FORGET THAT. AND NOW AFTER EVERYBODY, AS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL RALLIED. NOW WE'VE HAD AS MANY AS 100 PEOPLE SHOW UP AT UNACCOMPANIED BURIALS. AND THAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE. THE NEXT THING WE NEED TO DO IS TRY TO IDENTIFY THAT SOMEONE DOESN'T END UP IN THAT SITUATION, THAT DIDN'T HAVE FRIENDS, DIDN'T HAVE FAMILY. AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GOING TOWARDS THAT. TONY AND OTHERS AND DEBO AND OTHERS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO BEFORE WE GET TO THAT POINT TO REALIZE THAT THEY WERE UNACCOMPANIED? SO I THANK YOU. IT'S SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT FOR EL PASO. AS YOU MENTIONED, THE WORD DIGNIFIED. OH MY GOODNESS, THAT'S YOU. WE HAVE TO YOU CAN'T BE A VETERAN AND NOT HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE HONORING YOU IN THAT HONOR. SO WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE'D LOVE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. [00:25:35] ITEM FIVE BE APPROVED. ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD PLACE WINNERS OF THE 2025 STICKER DESIGN CONTEST IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. THANK YOU. THIS IS SUCH A A SPECIAL RESOLUTION, AND I'D LIKE TO PUBLICLY THANK LISA FOR EVERYTHING. PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES TO DO THE ELECTIONS. I MEAN, IT'S JUST [B. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing the first, second, and third place winners of the 2025 Sticker Design Contest in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591] AMAZING. PEOPLE JUST SHOW UP AND LIKE MAGIC. EVERYTHING JUST WAS THERE. BUT LISA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. SO I'D LIKE TO READ THE RESOLUTION. WHEREAS VOTING IS A FUNDAMENTAL ACT OF CIVIC PARTICIPATION THROUGH WHICH INDIVIDUALS CONTRIBUTE TO THE STRENGTH OF OUR DEMOCRACY. AND WHILE IT IS ONLY ONE FORM OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, IT REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL WAYS FOR YOUNG VOTERS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND SHAPE THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES AND COMMUNITIES. WHEREAS VOTER EDUCATION IS ESSENTIAL TO FOSTERING A CULTURE OF PARTICIPATION, EQUIPPING FUTURE VOTERS WITH KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND THE ELECTORAL PROCESS, AND INSPIRING OUR YOUTH TO REGISTER AND VOTE ONCE THEY BECOME ELIGIBLE. AND WHEREAS, FOR THE FOURTH EDITION OF THE I VOTED STICKER CONTEST, THE EL PASO COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT INVITED LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TO DESIGN THE NEXT FUTURE VOTER STICKER AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT TO DESIGN THE NEXT I VOTED STICKER, FOR BOTH OF WHICH WILL BE PROUDLY DISTRIBUTED DURING THE 2026 ELECTORAL SEASON IN EL PASO COUNTY, AS WELL AS THROUGH THE POWER OF ART. THE EL PASO COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT HAS FOSTERED GREATER PARTICIPATION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AMONG THE NEXT GENERATION OF VOTERS THROUGH THIS CONTEST AND FOR YEARS TO COME, WE ARE COMMITTED TO USING THE STICKER DESIGN CONTEST AS A CREATIVE AND IMPACTFUL TOOL TO INSPIRE CIVIC PRIDE AND ENCOURAGE LIFELONG PARTICIPATION IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. WITH THIS ANNUAL CONTEST REFLECTS EL PASO COUNTY'S ONGOING COMMITMENT TO ENGAGING YOUTH AND CELEBRATING CREATIVITY AND ENSURING THAT EVERY RESIDENT, PRESENT AND FUTURE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTICIPATION IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT RECOGNIZE THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE WINNERS OF THE 2025 STICKER DESIGN CONTEST, SIGNED THIS EIGHTH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU LISA. WELCOME. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS LISA WEISS, THE EL PASO COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR. BEFORE I START TALKING ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM, I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR THREE WINNERS FOR THE FUTURE VOTED FUTURE VOTER STICKERS AND THE I VOTED STICKER SO I CAN HAVE ALL SIX OF MY RECIPIENTS UP HERE. I KNOW THERE'S SOME IN THE BACK AND SOME UP TOWARDS THE FRONT. RIGHT. YOU GUYS WANT TO STAND RIGHT HERE? THAT'D BE GREAT. WELCOME, CHICO. AND OF COURSE, CHICO. SO THIS YEAR, THE EL PASO COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, AS YOU STATED, INVITED LOCAL ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO SHOWCASE THEIR CREATIVITY AND PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THE 2025 STICKER DESIGN CONTEST. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE STARTED. I THINK THEY SAID THIS WAS OUR FOURTH. SO WE'VE WE'VE DONE IT A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND EVERY TIME IT GETS BETTER AND BETTER, WE GET MORE SUBMISSIONS, WE GET MORE JUDGES, WE GET THE ART IS IS IMPROVING AS WELL. SO THE FUTURE VOTER CATEGORY WAS OPEN TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND I VOTED CATEGORY WAS OPEN TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THIS YEAR WE RECEIVED 162 SUBMISSIONS, COMPARED TO 68 FOR THE LAST TWO MIDTERM ELECTIONS. I'M SORRY FOR THE LAST MIDTERM ELECTION YEAR. THE FIRST PLACE WINNING DESIGNS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO VOTERS DURING THE 2026 ELECTION, SO EVERYBODY WILL BE SEEING THEM OUT. SORRY I'M NOT FLIPPING THROUGH FOR ME. OKAY, HERE WE GO. SO AN INTERESTING THING IS WE HAD THIS WAS BLIND JUDGING. AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, OUR JUDGES WERE NOT ABLE TO SEE THE NAMES OR ANYTHING OF THAT ON THE ON THE, THE COMPETITORS. [00:30:05] BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE SIX WONDERFUL YOUNG LADIES FROM EL PASO COUNTY. WHO MANAGED TO SECURE ALL OF OUR SPOTS THIS YEAR. SO I'M GOING TO READ OFF OUR FUTURE VOTER STICKERS FIRST, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THE I FUTURE. I VOTED STICKERS AND WE HAVE MISS EL PASO USA HERE. WELCOME HANDOUT. THANK YOU. TO HELP HAND OUT THE TO HELP OUT THE CERTIFICATES. AND AFTERWARDS WE HAVE SOME DONATIONS BACK IN OUR OFFICE THAT WE'D LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO COME BACK AND GRAB AS WELL. SO FOR THE FUTURE VOTER, THIRD PLACE, WE HAVE FRANCELLA BELEN MARIN FROM LAMAR ELEMENTARY, FIFTH GRADE. IF YOU WANT TO COME OVER HERE AND GET YOUR. AND AFTERWARDS WE'LL TAKE PICTURES WITH THE COURT. SO IF YOU GUYS WANT TO COME STAND UP HERE, GO ON THAT SIDE WITH PABLO. OUR SECOND PLACE FOR FUTURE VOTER IS ZOE TARANGO FROM ALICIA CHACON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, SIXTH GRADE. CONGRATULATIONS. AND OUR FIRST PLACE FUTURE VOTER STICKER THAT YOU'LL SEE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS HOPEFULLY RUNNING AROUND IN 2026 IS SOFIA SALAS FROM COACH WALLY HARTLEY, FOURTH GRADE. YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS. YEAH, THEY DID GREAT. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE POSTED THEIR ART UP HERE AND WE'VE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE AND YOU'LL SEE IT OUT AGAIN. YOU'LL SEE THESE FIRST PLACE WINNERS OUT IN THE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. ONCE WE GET STARTED WITH 2026, THE I VOTED, WHICH WERE THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR THIRD PLACE, WE HAVE YAMILET MARGARITA GARCIA FROM MOUNTAIN VIEW HIGH SCHOOL, 12TH GRADE. CONGRATULATIONS. AND IF YOU CAN SEE THESE I MEAN, THESE STICKERS ARE SO GORGEOUS. IT'S HARD TO PICK BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE ONE WAS SO IT WAS SO CREATIVE AND COLORFUL AND VIBRANT AND IT JUST WE REALLY WE LOVE SEEING EVERYONE'S TALENT. SO IN SECOND PLACE FOR THE I VOTED IS SOFIA ALEXA GARCIA FROM HORIZON SCHOOL, 12TH GRADE. CONGRATULATIONS. AND OUR NUMBER ONE FIRST PLACE WHERE WE WILL BE PRINTING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE STICKERS FOR THE COMMUNITY IS NOVALEE LEON FORTENBERRY, 10TH GRADE, EASTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS. JUDGE. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES REALLY QUICK AND THANK OUR JUDGES BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT THEM. EVERY TWO YEARS THAT WE'VE DONE THIS, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO COMMUNITY LEADERS AND WE CONTINUE TO GET INCREDIBLE SUPPORT. SO WE JUST WANT TO REALLY QUICK AND QUICKLY THANK OUR JUDGES. GINA MARTINEZ, THE CEO OF LA NUBE. OKAY. SHE WASN'T ABLE TO COME. MISS IRIS LOPEZ FROM 93.1 KISS CO-HOST AND FOUNDER OF MIJA. YES YOU CAN. EVERYONE KNOWS IRIS. LOCAL ARTIST JUAN ORNELAS IS HERE. LOCAL ARTIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER MARCUS RAY. OUR OFFICIAL EL PASO CHIHUAHUA MASCOT. CHICO. AND OUR FINAL JUDGE WHO WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE BUT IS HERE IN SPIRIT. PAYDIRT PETE OFFICIAL UTEP MASCOT. THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY, JUST REALLY QUICKLY IS THAT ALONG WITH ALL OF THESE, WITH THE CERTIFICATE, WE ALSO RECEIVED DONATIONS FROM SOME REALLY GREAT COMMUNITY RAISING CANE'S WE RECEIVED. WE WANT TO THANK WENDY'S. WE WANT TO THANK EL PASO CHIHUAHUAS. WE WANT TO THANK LA NUBE. WE WANT TO THANK. AND MIJA, YES WE CAN. I'M SORRY. MIHA. YES YOU CAN. WE WANT TO THANK. AND OUR TWO LOCAL ARTISTS DONATED SOME REALLY BEAUTIFUL ITEMS. JUAN ORNELAS AND MARCUS RAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO THANK MY TWO STAFF MEMBERS WHO DO THIS EVERY TWO YEARS. IT'S A LOT HARDER THAN YOU PROBABLY THINK IT IS. MELISSA MARTIN AND PABLO AGUIRRE. STAND UP, STAND UP. THESE GUYS REALLY GO OUT. THEY PRINT, THEY MAKE SURE ALL OF THE BOOKLETS ARE READY. THEY CONTACT THE JUDGES, THEY DO EVERYTHING. SO WITHOUT THEM WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT. SO THANK YOU EVERYONE. AND I THINK WE'LL HAVE PICTURES AND [00:35:04] THAT'S. YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AS YOU SAW ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO TAKE PLACE AND AND FOR ALL OF YOU, WHAT A GREAT HONOR TO TO BE ABLE TO 160 PLUS ENTRIES AND TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK IN WHEN THE JUDGES WERE THERE AT THE AT THE END. OH MY GOD, THEY LOOKED LIKE IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THEM. IT WAS SO COMPETITIVE. MY STAFF REMINDED ME, I APOLOGIZE, I FORGOT. WE MADE A QUICK VIDEO OF ALL OF THE ENTRIES. OKAY, GREAT. JUST. WE'RE NOT OKAY. SORRY. OKAY. TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES GO ONLINE. SO YEAH, GO ONLINE. YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND YOU'LL FIND THEM. SO YOU'LL FIND THE THE VIDEO WITH ALL OF THE ENTRIES. OTHERWISE I THINK YEAH. ONCE AGAIN REMEMBER AS YOU KNOW THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING. WE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE'RE MUCH BETTER OFF WHEN PEOPLE GO OUT TO VOTE. WE ALSO WHEN WE HAVE CHALLENGES LIKE IN STATE CHALLENGES OR FEDERAL CHALLENGES, WE WANT TO BE IN A COMMUNITY THAT VOTES THAT HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME OUT, AND THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO US. IF WE'RE A COMMUNITY DOESN'T VOTE, WE DON'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION IN THE STATE OR FEDERAL LEVEL. SO THANK YOU, LISA, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR 2026 ELECTIONS. I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED, BUT ONCE AGAIN, ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THIS. INCREDIBLE. ALL RIGHT. IF YOU GUYS WANT TO HEAD UP HERE. CONGRATULATIONS. GREAT RESIGNATION. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO GREAT. I MEAN, THEY'RE JUST GORGEOUS. YOU GUYS OKAY? THEY WANT TO DO ONE WINNERS AND THEN. WHEN YOU. YEAH. THERE YOU GO. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. 12123. ALL THE JUDGES. CAN I GET ONE WITH THE SHIRT. YEAH I GUESS YOU CAN. GIRL POWER. YOU GUYS HAVE YOUR SHIRTS. IT. ALL. GIRLS. WE DID IT. READY? ONE. TWO. THREE. ME. HI. YES YOU CAN. THE JUDGES THAT ARE PRESENT. [00:40:01] OH, I WANTED TO GET OUR SUPERINTENDENT. ITEM FIVE C APPROVAL TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING UTEP VOLLEYBALL HEAD COACH BEN WALLACE FOR BEING NAMED CONFERENCE USA COACH OF THE YEAR, AND FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO THE SUCCESS OF THE UTEP VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM. [C. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing UTEP Volleyball Head Coach, Ben Wallis, for being named Conference USA Coach of the Year, and for his exceptional leadership and dedication to the success of the UTEP Volleyball program. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591] THANK YOU. WELCOME ALL OF YOU. SO I HAVE THE HONOR OF READING THE RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD WAS THE ARRIVAL OF COACH BEN WALLACE IN 2018 USHERED IN A RUN OF UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS FOR UTEP VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM. AND WHEREAS, ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2025, THE MINERS DEFEATED FIU 3 TO 0 AT MEMORIAL GYM TO TO CLINCH A SHARE OF THEIR FIRST EVER CONFERENCE USA REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP, WHERE THE MINERS MADE THEIR FIRST EVER NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE IN 2024 AND WAS. THE MINERS EARNED A SECOND STRAIGHT AT LARGE BID TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT ON NOVEMBER 30TH, 2025, GARNERING THE NUMBER SIX SEED AND MATCHING WITH NORTH CAROLINA AND MADISON, WISCONSIN. AND WHEREAS, THE UTEP VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM HAS RACKED UP AN ASTOUNDING 52 VICTORIES OVER THE LAST TWO SEASONS WITH ONLY TEN LOSSES, WHEREAS DURING THAT TWO YEAR SPAN, THE MINERS HAVE BEEN DOMINANT FORCE IN CONFERENCE USA, POSTING A RECORD OF 31 AND THREE IN REGULAR SEASON LEAGUE PLAY, WHEREAS UTEP 2025 TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE WINNING 3 TO 0 ON OCTOBER 25TH TO SNAP THE HILLTOPPERS 100 MATCH CONFERENCE USA REGULAR SEASON WIN STREAK. WHEREAS UTEP VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM IS FIRMLY ENTRENCHED AMONGST THE NATION'S ELITE PROGRAMS, WHEREAS THE UTEP VOLLEYBALL TEAM CONTINUES TO THROW A PARSONS, POSTING A 25 FOUR RECORD AT MEMORIAL GYM OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHILE AVERAGING 1624 FANS PER MATCH. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND PROUDLY HONORS COACH BEN WALLACE AND THE UTEP VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM FOR A TWO YEAR RUN OF EXCEPTIONAL PLAY AND FOR REPRESENTING EL PASO WITH PRIDE, HONOR AND EXCELLENCE. SIGN THIS EIGHTH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME. WELCOME. WHO CANNOT BE HEARD. CAN WE HEAR THAT MUSIC AGAIN? [00:45:35] THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WELCOME. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. BEN IS, OF COURSE A VERY BUSY MAN AND WISHES THAT HE COULD BE HERE. HE'S ACTUALLY ON AN ALL REGION CALL RIGHT NOW FOR THE WHOLE ENTIRE NCAA. SO HE'S OUT THERE VOTING FOR ALL REGION PLAYERS WITH OTHER TOP NCAA VOLLEYBALL COACHES. SO HE WISHES HE COULD BE HERE. AND HE'S OBVIOUSLY HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD AS WELL AS OUR WHOLE ENTIRE TEAM. WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THIS YEAR'S EFFORT, OBVIOUSLY LAST YEAR AS WELL, AND WE'VE GOT A GREAT GROUP OF YOUNG LADIES BEHIND US THAT DOES ALL THE WORK, AND US AS COACHES JUST KIND OF GET TO SIT BACK AND WATCH THEM SHINE. AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF GETTING TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF EL PASO, ALWAYS ON ON A NATIONAL STAGE EVERYWHERE WE GO, INCLUDING IN MADISON OVER THE OVER THE WEEKEND, AND OBVIOUSLY WOULD HAVE WISHED FOR A BETTER RESULT. BUT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE SEASON THAT THESE GUYS PUT UP AND ESPECIALLY THE SENIORS THAT PLAYED THEIR LAST COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL GAMES, WERE REALLY PROUD OF THEM AND THEIR EFFORTS OVER THE PAST FOUR AND FIVE YEARS AND JUST REALLY, REALLY PROUD TO BE UTEP MINERS AND REPRESENT EL PASO AND GET TO WEAR THE LOGO ACROSS OUR CHEST. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE USED TO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PICK WAS OR WHAT UTEP WAS, BUT THEY'RE STARTING TO RECOGNIZE IT AS FAR AS ON A VOLLEYBALL STAGE GOES. AND THAT'S THAT MAKES US REALLY PROUD WHEN WE GET TO GO PLACES, AND THEY ARE FINALLY STARTING TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN HERE. SO I WOULDN'T WANT TO WORK FOR ANYONE OTHER THAN BEN WALLACE. I WISH HE WAS HERE TO BE ABLE TO TO TALK TO YOU GUYS TOO. BUT WE'RE JUST WE'RE JUST ALL REALLY PROUD. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US. AND WE WERE PROUD TO RECEIVE THIS LAST YEAR. WE'VE GOT THE RESOLUTION FROM LAST YEAR HANGING IN OUR OUR BRAND NEW LOCKER ROOM, AND WE'LL BE PROUD TO PUT THIS ONE RIGHT NEXT TO IT. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING US. WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS. YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME YOU PUT AN EL PASO ON THE MAP, WE GO FROM WHAT PEOPLE BELIEVE WE ARE TO WHO WE REALLY ARE. AND IT'S INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELVES. AND I HAVE TO ALWAYS SAY THAT NOW YOU HAVE A CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITY WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE. THERE'S, I THINK, SOME RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP OTHERS. YOU SAW THE THE SIX YOUNG LADIES THAT WERE HERE FOR THE ARTWORK. WHERE'S MIHAI? YES. YOU CAN. HERE YOU HAVE THEM. I MEAN, IT'S JUST AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR EL PASO. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING US ON THE MAP. CONTINUED SUCCESS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND BEN, I KNOW THAT. PLEASE LET HIM KNOW THAT WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT HE DOES AND THE WORK THAT'S PUT IN. BUT TO EVERY ALL THE STAFF. AND ALSO DON'T FORGET THAT YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE OF YOUR PARENTS AND WHAT THEY DO FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. AND SO ALWAYS BE BLESSED THAT YOU'RE HERE IN THIS OPPORTUNITY. AND THERE HE IS, AND THERE HE IS. WELL, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. AND WE'LL TAKE WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE WITH ALL OF YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR HONORING EL PASO. THANK YOU. WHICH OF YOU ARE SEEING WHICH OF YOU ARE SENIORS? I'M SORRY, WHERE ARE THE SENIORS? WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM AND APPRECIATE Y'ALL. YES. YEAH. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELVES, IF YOU DON'T MIND JUST GOING IN AND LETTING US KNOW WHAT CLASS YOU'RE IN AND AND YOUR NAME, PLEASE. WE'LL START. I AM ALEXIS, AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER QUESTION? OH, I AM A JUNIOR. THANK YOU. I'M MACKENZIE AND I'M A FRESHMAN. WELL. I'M KAYLA AND I'M A SENIOR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YOU CAN CLAP. OKAY. THERE'S NO DON'T. I'M LAVINA AND I'M A SOPHOMORE. YEAH. I'M ELLA AND I'M A FRESHMAN. YEAH, WELL, I'M JORDAN AND I'M A SOPHOMORE. WELCOME. I'M KAYLA AND I'M A JUNIOR. OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO A ONE CLAP, OKAY? I'M LAUREN AND I'M A SOPHOMORE. YEAH. MY NAME IS DANIKA WASHINGTON AND I'M A SENIOR. MY NAME IS TORRANCE AND I'M A SENIOR. I'M LANDRY AND I'M A SOPHOMORE. MY NAME IS SARAH AND I'M A SENIOR. MY NAME IS HANNAH, [00:50:04] AND I'M A SOPHOMORE. MY NAME IS MADDIE, AND I'M A SENIOR. I'M EMMA, AND I'M A JUNIOR. WASN'T SURE THERE. HI. MY NAME IS SYDNEY, AND I'M A FRESHMAN. HI. MY NAME IS LEXI, AND I'M A FRESHMAN. WOW. IT'S A YOUNG GROUP, ALEX. WHO'S MISSING? WHO'S MISSING? COME. COME ON IN. COME ON IN. MY NAME IS ALEX, AND I'M A GAY. OKAY, GENTLEMEN, YOU. WE WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE. I'M NICK, AND I'M AN ASSISTANT COACH. I'M ALSO LEXI, AND I'M AN ASSISTANT COACH. MY NAME IS DALE BROWN, AND I'M THE SPORT ADMIN FOR VOLLEYBALL. HI, I'M LILIANA VALDESPINO. I'M THEIR SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR. I'M MISSING ANY. ANYONE. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE STAYING FOR NEXT YEAR'S PROGRAM, NO PUN INTENDED, BUT GO KILL IT. AND YOU, YOU'RE A VERY YOUNG TEAM, AS I COULD SEE. MY GOODNESS, WE GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO. THANK YOU. I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD GET BEHIND. YEAH. YOU GUYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. GREAT JOB, GREAT JOB, GREAT JOB, GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH THE FIRST TIME. ALL THE GREAT. NEXT YEAR YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE EVEN BETTER. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. ALL KNOW. YES. ALL RIGHT. THEY'RE A LITTLE TALLER. THREE. TWO ONE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. ITEM FIVE APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING DECEMBER 8TH, 2025 AS EL PASO EXECUTIVE WOMEN LIONS CLUB APPRECIATION DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. YOU WANT TO COME ON UP AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE. YEAH. UP HERE FIRST. THAT'D BE OKAY. CAN WE REREAD THE AGENDA ONCE I GET [D. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring December 8, 2025, as El Paso Executive Women Lions Club (EPEWLC) Appreciation Day in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591] EVERYBODY UP HERE? YEAH. THANK YOU. APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING DECEMBER 8TH, 2025 AS EL PASO EXECUTIVE, WOMEN'S LIONS CLUB APPRECIATION DAY AND EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. OKAY. WE'RE READY. OKAY. I'VE ALREADY READ IT. I'VE ALREADY READ IT TWICE. OKAY. WHERE ARE WE? OKAY, I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION. WELL LET ME. YEAH. OKAY. SORRY. OKAY. WAS A GROUP OF PROFESSIONAL WOMEN DECIDED TO FORM A LIONS CLUB DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING WOMEN AND SUPPORTING OUR GREAT COMMUNITY. ON OCTOBER 14TH, 2013, THE EL PASO EXECUTIVE WOMEN LIONS CLUB WAS FORMED AND CHARTERED UNDER LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL AND TEXAS DISTRICT 23223, WHEREAS THE EL PASO EXECUTIVE WOMEN LIONS CLUB WAS FOUNDED BY LION BETSY CASTILLO, WHO CURRENTLY CONTINUES TO SERVE THE CLUB AS ITS MEMBERSHIP CHAIR. WHEREAS LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL EACH YEAR SERVES MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE. LAST YEAR, FROM JULY 1 TO 20, 2023 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2024, MORE THAN 420 MILLION PEOPLE WERE HELPED ALL OVER THE WORLD THANKS TO THE UNWAVERING [00:55:05] COMMITMENT OF THE MORE THAN 1.4 MILLION LIONS AROUND THE WORLD. WHEREAS THE EL PASO EXECUTIVE WOMEN'S LIONS CLUB HAS CONDUCTED NUMEROUS LOCAL EVENTS, INCLUDING HELPING OUR CHILDREN TO GET MUCH NEEDED SCHOOL SUPPLIES, SUPPORTING OUR VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS, THE ELDERLY, WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THE JUSTICE INVOLVED TO MEET THEIR FOOD AND BASIC NEEDS. ASSISTING THE HOMELESS WITH BLANKETS AND TOILETRIES. ASSISTING OUR LOCAL ANIMAL SERVICES AGENCY BY WALKING SHELTER DOGS. ASSISTING THE SERVICES OF TNR TO TRAP AND NEUTER CATS AND CONTROL THEIR POPULATION. SUPPORTING FINANCIALLY AND WITH LABORS OF LOVE. THE CHILDREN OF GRIEF CENTER EL PASO'S FIGHTING HUNGER, THE RESCUE MISSION, THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER, THE SALVATION ARMY, NAMI CENTRAL, SAN VICENTE AND THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, AND NUMEROUS OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. AND BY SUPPORTING THE GOALS OF LCI, THE DISTRICT TWO TIER THREE SERVING INDIVIDUALS FACING CANCER, DIABETES VISION CHALLENGES, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS THROUGH THE AREA, CLEANUPS AND RECYCLING FOR EL PASO EXECUTIVE, WOMEN'S LIONS CLUB HAS PARTNERED WITH THE EL PASO VETERANS AND WRITERS ASSOCIATION TO SUPPORT VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY DISTRIBUTING SNACKS AT VA FACILITIES, PROVIDING MEALS TO DISPLACED VETERANS, WELCOMING AND RETURNING OUR MILITARY, AND SUPPLYING ESSENTIAL, ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES. THE EPB DEEPLY APPRECIATES THEIR SUPPORT IN OUR ANNUAL VETERANS FOOD DRIVES WITH EL PASO EXECUTIVE. WOMEN'S LIONS CLUB SUPPORTS EL PASO COUNTY'S DENOMINATION OF VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, AND WILL DO ITS BEST TO ENSURE THIS GREAT INITIATIVE CONTINUES TO GROW AND CONTINUES ITS SUPPORT ALL OVER EL PASO VETERANS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT DO HEREBY DECLARE DECEMBER THE 8TH, 2025 AS EL PASO EXECUTIVE WOMEN LIONS CLUB APPRECIATION DAY, SIGNED THIS EIGHTH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER. I'M VERY PROUD THE VOTING IS. OPEN. THE VOTE. HERE WE GO. MOTION CARRIES. I'M SORRY. IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. IT'S ALWAYS LIKE, OKAY, LET'S, LET'S LET'S DO THIS. WELL, WE GOT WE GOT WORK TO DO. WELCOME, DARRELL. I'M VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT I AM ALSO LADY LION. SO THEY HAVE PATIENTLY PUT UP WITH ME AND MY CRAZINESS AND MY IDEAS. BUT THEY'RE AN AWESOME TEAM. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A MORE DEDICATED GROUP OF LADIES IN MY ENTIRE LIFE WHO HAVE SUCH A GOAL OF SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY. EVEN I HAVE A HARD TIME TRYING TO TRACK EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING AND THEY ARE OUTSTANDING. THEY ARE TRULY DESERVING OF THIS RECOGNITION, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM MORE. AND WE WOULD LIKE THAT, YOU GUYS, TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE HERE, THEY'RE VERY EFFECTIVE. THEY'RE AWESOME. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, MISS BETSY, THE MEMBERSHIP, THE FOUNDING MEMBERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU BETSY. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. WELCOME. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE. AND ALSO WITH US TODAY IS PAST DISTRICT GOVERNOR PATSY, WHO'S DECIDED TO BE WITH US. WELCOME. THANK YOU. AS WELL AS PDG ORLANDO ORTEGA. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING RODRIGUEZ I'M SORRY, ORLANDO RODRIGUEZ GOOD MORNING. COUNTY JUDGE, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS ON BEHALF OF THE EL PASO EXECUTIVE WOMEN LIONS CLUB, I AM HONORED AND DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO ACCEPT THIS RESOLUTION. RECOGNIZING THE FORMATION OF OUR LIONS CLUB, WE ARE HUMBLED THAT OUR COUNTY HAS CHOSEN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS MOMENT IN OUR CLUB'S HISTORY, A MOMENT THAT REFLECTS NOT JUST THE BEGINNING OF AN ORGANIZATION, BUT THE BEGINNING OF SERVICE, COMMITMENT AND COMMUNITY IMPACT. THE LION MOTTO IS WE SERVE. THOSE TWO WORDS GUIDE EVERYTHING WE DO. WITH THIS RECOGNITION, YOU AFFIRM THE VALUES WE STAND FOR, WHICH IS COMPASSION, VOLUNTEERISM, THE BELIEF THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AND THE SHARED PURPOSE, INCREDIBLE THINGS CAN HAPPEN. WHEN WE WERE NEWLY CHARTERED IN DECEMBER OF 2013, OUR HEARTS WERE FULL OF BIG PLANS. WE LOOKED FORWARD TO SUPPORTING LOCAL NEEDS, FROM VISION HEALTH INITIATIVES TO YOUTH LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, HELPING OUR VETERANS AND RESPONDING WHEREVER THERE IS A NEED. WE ARE HERE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH LOCAL LEADERS, BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS AND EVERY RESIDENT WHO WANTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHAT MAKES OUR CLUB EXTRAORDINARY IS NOT JUST THE WORK WE DO, BUT THE HEART BEHIND IT. EACH MEMBER BRINGS STRENGTH, DEDICATION AND SPIRIT OF SERVICE THAT DEFINES WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE STAND FOR. OUR COMMUNITY FEELS THE DIFFERENCE BECAUSE OF THE PASSION WE BRING TO EVERY PROJECT AND EVERY ACT OF KINDNESS. IT HAS BEEN A COMPLETE HONOR TO SERVE ALONGSIDE THESE REMARKABLE WOMEN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUING JOURNEY AND BUILDING AN EVEN STRONGER LEGACY OF SERVICE, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF EL PASO. TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU [01:00:01] FOR WELCOMING US AND FOR BELIEVING IN OUR MISSION. YOUR SUPPORT ENERGIZES US AND REINFORCES OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVE WITH PASSION AND INTEGRITY TO OUR FELLOW LIONS. THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO SERVE, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO GIVE YOUR TIME, YOUR IDEAS, AND YOUR TALENT SHOWS THAT LEADERSHIP BEGINS WITH ACTION. AND FINALLY TO OUR COMMUNITY, I GET EMOTIONAL. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU, WE ARE READY TO LISTEN AND WE ARE READY TO HELP AND READY TO SERVE. TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE A LASTING IMPACT. TOGETHER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AND PROVE THAT WHERE THERE IS A NEED, THERE IS A LION. SINCERELY, BETSY. THANK YOU. BEAUTIFUL WORDS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND AT THIS TIME WE'VE GOT OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT THAT'S HOLDING US ALL TOGETHER. DEBBIE FIERRO. WELCOME. EXCUSE MY VOICE. ON BEHALF OF THE EL PASO EXECUTIVE LIONS CLUB, WE ARE WE EXTEND OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR RECOGNIZING OUR SERVICE. YOUR SUPPORT AFFIRMS OUR MISSION TO UPLIFT THE COMMUNITY AND INSPIRES US TO CONTINUE MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT AND REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO COMPASSION, DIGNITY AND SERVICE TO THOSE IN MOST NEED. WE ARE HONORED BY THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND WE THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP WITH US. THANK YOU SO MUCH, I APPRECIATE THAT. YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. YOU COULD COME UP TO THE MIC. THANK YOU JUDGE. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. I AM ASSOCIATE JUDGE DOLORES REYES WITH THE COUNTY, BUT I'M ALSO CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE LIONS SECRETARY FOR THIS YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE COULD SAY OUR VERY OWN. GOOD MORNING. MENDOZA. I'M CHIEF OF YOUR EIGHTH COURT OF APPEALS. I'M A CHARTER MEMBER OF THIS CLUB. VERY PROUD OF OUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. GREAT. ANOTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEE. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CHRISTINE SELIG, AND I'M PROUD TO STAND AS THE SECOND VICE PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DENISE MORALES, AND I'M THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I'M NANCY ZAMBRANO. I'M A MEMBER, JUST A REGULAR MEMBER, BUT I AM A RETIREE FROM THE COUNTY FOR 31 YEARS OF SERVICE. AND IT WAS AN HONOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. I AM CHRISTINA GONZALEZ AND I AM THE TREASURER FOR THIS YEAR. THANK THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE ONE CLAP. WE'RE GOING TO GET. GOOD MORNING MAGDALENA DELGADO TO TOWN. I AM PART OF THE BOARD. HELLO NANCY DIAZ I'M A CHARTERED MEMBER AND I'M ALSO A FIREFIGHTER. AND I'M VERY HONORED TO BE PART OF THIS GROUP. WELCOME. MIRIAM GUERRERO. I'M ALSO A MEMBER FROM WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. HI, PATSY. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS PATSY. I MAY PASS DISTRICT GOVERNOR AND VERY PROUD TO BE THEIR GUIDING LION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. DO WE GET EVERYBODY? OH, ORLANDO. HI. I'M A PAST DISTRICT GOVERNOR, ORLANDO RODRIGUEZ. I'M ALSO PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER OF SPOTLIGHT NEWS. WELL THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE GOT EVERYBODY RIGHT. WELL THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. I MEAN, I KEEP SAYING THAT BECAUSE OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURSELVES, IT TAKES A LOT OF PRESSURE FROM THE COUNTY. YOU KNOW, WHEN WHEN THE COUNTY'S OUTSIDE OF OUR COUNTY IS NOT RESPONDING, IT SORT OF FALLS ON US. SO ANYTHING THAT YOU DO, YOU'RE ACTUALLY HELPING THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB BETTER. SO WE THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR DOING THAT AND WISHING THE BEST FOR, FOR EACH. AND AND I'VE GOT TO BE INVOLVED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. AND I'VE SEEN HOW POWERFUL IT IS FOR WHAT YOU DO. SO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OUR COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. THANK YOU. THANK. YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU, [01:05:12] THANK YOU. GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK. THANK YOU FOR BEING A LADY. THANK YOU. FOR. WE'LL SEE YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONER SAID WE'D BE DONE BY 12. ITEM FIVE APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR SUCCESSFUL SAFETY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING THE 2025 4TH OF JULY AND 2025 TURKEY RUN AT THE RED SANDS. YES. YES, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, [E. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing the El Paso County Sheriff's Office for successful safety operations including the 2025 Fourth of July and 2025 Turkey Run at the Red Sands. Jackie Butler, Commissioner, Precinct 1, 915-273-3594] COMMISSIONER BUTLER. YES, I WANT TO INVITE OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND OUR CONSTABLE, WHO ARE HERE IN ATTENDANCE, TO JOIN US AT THE FRONT, IF YOU DON'T MIND. THAT'S RUDY RIGHT BACK THERE. IS THAT RUDY? THAT'S. THE ONE THE RESOLUTION IS FROM. SO GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELCOME. COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, CONSTABLE. PRECINCT SIX. THANK YOU. I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION. BUT REALLY I WANT TO. STRESS HOW IMPORTANT THE WORK THAT OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS BEEN DOING IN RED SANDS THIS YEAR. IT REALLY IS, I THINK, A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. AND WE'VE SEEN THAT BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS, WE'VE HAD ZERO WE'VE SEEN ZERO FATALITIES AT RED SANDS OVER THESE MAJOR HOLIDAY WEEKENDS. AND SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION. BUT I REALLY DO WANT TO STRESS THAT. THE INVESTMENT OF TIME AND RESOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BY OUR CONSTABLES, OUR ESD, AND ALL OF THE PARTNERS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THESE OPERATIONS HAS SAVED LIVES. AND IT'S SOMETHING WORTHY OF IMMENSE RECOGNITION. SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THIS, AND THEN I'LL ASK FOR SOME COMMENTS. WHEREAS THE EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, COMPRISED OF 1027 HARDWORKING INDIVIDUALS, HAS THIS YEAR ALONE COORDINATED, MULTI-AGENCY EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY DURING SOME OF THE COUNTY'S MOST HIGH IMPACT EVENTS, INCLUDING THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND AND THE ANNUAL TURKEY RUN AT RED SANDS. AND WHEREAS, DURING THE 4TH OF JULY SAFE STREETS OPERATION, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ORGANIZED AND UNIFIED THE EFFORTS OF MULTIPLE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE EL PASO POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE SOCORRO POLICE DEPARTMENT, HORIZON CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT. CLINTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, ANTHONY POLICE DEPARTMENT, SAN ELIZARIO MARSHAL'S OFFICE, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THE OFFICES OF EL PASO COUNTY CONSTABLE'S FRANK ARMADA, PRECINCT ONE, LUIS AGUILAR, PRECINCT FOUR, AND JAVIER GARCIA PRECINCT SIX. AND WHEREAS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPLOYED 168 UNITS ACROSS THE COUNTY DURING THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND, WITH DEDICATED PATROL COVERAGE IN EACH MUNICIPALITY TO DETER IMPAIRED DRIVING, REDUCE COLLISIONS, AND ENSURE A VISIBLE SAFETY PRESENCE DURING ONE OF EL PASO'S BUSIEST AND MOST DANGEROUS HOLIDAY PERIODS. AND WHEREAS FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE STATION DEPUTIES INSIDE RED SANDS, AN AREA THAT DRAWS THOUSANDS OF VISITORS DESPITE BEING PRIVATELY OWNED AND LACKING FORMAL INFRASTRUCTURE, DURING THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND, DEPLOYING APPROXIMATELY 30 DEPUTIES EQUIPPED WITH 4X4 UNITS ATVS, LIGHTING TOWERS AND ON SITE MEDICS TO PROACTIVELY PREVENT ACCIDENTS AND PROTECT [01:10:02] THE SURROUNDING PRECINCT ONE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WHEREAS, DURING THE ANNUAL TURKEY RUN AT RED SANDS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ONCE AGAIN CONDUCTED PROACTIVE OPERATIONS, DEPLOYING MORE THAN 40 UNITS WITHIN THE OFF ROAD RECREATION AREA TO PREVENT DANGEROUS ACCIDENTS, RESPOND RAPIDLY TO EMERGENCIES, AND SAFEGUARD NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WHEREAS, DURING BOTH THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND AND THE TURKEY RUN, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PRIORITIZED PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO HELP RESIDENTS AND VISITORS UNDERSTAND HOW TO STAY SAFE IN AND AROUND RED SANDS. AND WHEREAS THESE LARGE SCALE OPERATIONS EXEMPLIFY THE COUNTY'S ONGOING COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THEY HIGHLIGHT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ABILITY TO MOBILIZE SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES, BUILD STRONG INTERAGENCY PARTNERSHIPS, AND ADDRESS HIGH TRAFFIC, HIGH RISK AREAS SUCH AS RED SANDS. AND WHEREAS, DUE TO THESE COORDINATED STRATEGIC EFFORTS, THE COUNTY RECORDED ZERO FATALITIES AND ZERO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AT RED SANDS DURING 4TH OF JULY AND THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY EVENTS. AN EXTRAORDINARY DEMONSTRATION OF EFFECTIVE PLANNING AND MULTI-AGENCY COOPERATION. AND WHEREAS THESE PROACTIVE DEPLOYMENTS DEPLOYMENTS MARK A MAJOR STEP TOWARD IMPROVING SAFETY IN AN AREA THAT DRAWS THOUSANDS OF VISITORS DESPITE LACKING FORMAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE OR JURISDICTIONAL OVERSIGHT. REFLECTING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING FAMILIES IN AND AROUND PRECINCT ONE. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HEREBY RECOGNIZES SHERIFF OSCAR UGARTE AND THE EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM, AND SAFETY OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT 2025, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE WELL-BEING AND PROTECTION OF RESIDENTS ACROSS EL PASO COUNTY, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING IN AND VISITING PRECINCT ONE. SIGNED THIS EIGHTH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. DEPUTY CHIEF FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUREAU. WE KNOW PUBLIC SAFETY IS EXPENSIVE, BUT THIS ADMINISTRATION DOES LISTEN TO THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE COURT. AND WE PUT THIS OPERATIONS IN PLACE. AND WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT DURING THESE OPERATIONS IN OUR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY, WE HAD NO SHOOTINGS, MAJOR ACCIDENTS OR FATALITIES. WE ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE CONSTABLE PRECINCT ONE, FOUR AND SIX, THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, THE MONTANA VISTA FIRE RESCUE. WE CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO MAKE THIS A SAFE COMMUNITY, AND WE THANK THE COURT FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. ADDITIONALLY, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE COMMANDERS, LIEUTENANT PERALES, THAT WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS LOGISTICS. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S IN THE RIGHT PLACES, EVERYBODY'S GETTING FED, EVERYBODY'S GETTING BREAKS WHILE, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S HAVING A SAFE AND TIME DURING THESE EVENTS. SO I'D LIKE TO ALSO THANK CONSTABLE GARCIA FOR HIS TREMENDOUS SUPPORT TOWARDS THESE OPERATIONS. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU ULTIMATELY FOR ALL YOUR, YOUR, YOUR WONDERFUL SUPPORT IN GETTING AND PUTTING THIS OPERATIONS TOGETHER. SAFETY OPERATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. GO AHEAD. AND THE CONSTABLE IS EVERYWHERE. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS JAVIER GARCIA, CONSTABLE PRECINCT SIX. COMMISSIONER BUTLER, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND FOR INCLUDING THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE. IT'S ALWAYS OUR PLEASURE TO GO HELP, YOU KNOW, KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND ASSIST THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH THEIR PATROLS. EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT ONE OF OUR DUTIES, WE'RE STILL PEACE OFFICERS. AND IT'S OUR PLEASURE TO GO OUT THERE AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. I'D LIKE TO THANK SHERIFF UGARTE AND HIS COMMAND STAFF AND ALL OF HIS SUPERVISORS FOR, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING US AND LETTING US GO OUT THERE AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. ALWAYS. YOU'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR ANYTHING THAT WE ASK FOR. GO AHEAD. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS RUBEN. SORRY, I'M COMMANDER FOR THE PATROL DIVISION. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BUTLER, FOR INTRODUCING THIS RESOLUTION FOR RECOGNIZING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS. THE OPERATION COULD HAVE NOT BEEN A SUCCESS WITHOUT EVERYONE'S PARTICIPATION. THE GOAL WAS SIMPLE TO SHOW PRESENCE SO THAT FAMILIES CAN GO OUT THERE AND SAFELY ENJOY THEIR HOLIDAY TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS, SHOOTINGS, OR DISASTERS. THIS IS A BEGINNING OF MANY MORE OPERATIONS TO COME FOR THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESOLUTION, YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? COMMANDER. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. MORNING, JEROME WASHINGTON. COMMANDER, EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WELL, YOU KNOW, IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE HAVE A SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU [01:15:05] KIND OF GET DEALT WITH THE CARDS THAT YOU HAVE TO PLAY WITH, RIGHT? AND IN THIS SITUATION, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT AREA IN RED SANDS KIND OF JUST REGULATED, YOU KNOW, TURN INTO A STATE PARK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S NOT. SO OUR PHILOSOPHY RUNNING UP TO THAT AND GOING INTO THE FUTURE IS THAT VISIBILITY SAVES LIVES. SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THIS WITH YOU ALL. SUPPORT UNDER THE SHERIFF'S LEADERSHIP TO PREVENT LIVES. THAT IS OUR BIGGEST THING. WE UNDERSTAND THAT ALCOHOL AND OFF ROADING DO NOT MAKE A GOOD COMBINATION. BUT AGAIN, VISIBILITY SAVES LIVES AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO OUR JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE OKAY. WELL, YEAH. EACH ONE OF YOU THAT COULD INTRODUCE YOURSELVES, TO SAY HELLO. MORNING, MORALES. I'M DEPUTY SERGEANT WITH THE EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. COURT JUDGE LIEUTENANT PERALES, ALSO WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. ONE THING I DO WANT TO SAY IS RECOGNIZE THE DEPUTIES THAT WERE INSIDE RED SANDS TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS. IT WASN'T ONLY US THAT WERE OUT THERE. IT WAS ALSO SEVERAL DEPUTIES, SEVERAL SEVERAL OTHER PARTNERS THAT THAT MADE THIS HAPPEN. SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE RECOGNIZE THEM AS WELL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. EDUARDO MARTINEZ FROM PRECINCT SIX, CONSTABLE'S OFFICE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I GOT TO BE QUICK. JUST REAL QUICK. IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK COMMISSIONER BUTLER WHEN YOU SAID ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING, SHE'S THE ONE THAT'S REALLY PUSHED ON THIS AND GOT EVERYBODY TOGETHER. WORKED WITH SHERIFF UGARTE, CONSTABLES AND EVERYONE ELSE. WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT AND FOR THAT. CONTINUED. AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, IT'S IN GOOD HANDS WITH THE COMMISSIONER. I THINK SHE'LL FIND A WAY TO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE IT MORE OF A RECREATIONAL PLACE THAT WE CAN CONTROL. AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU THANKS BECAUSE I, I'M VERY PRIVILEGED. SOMETIMES WHEN WE TALK TO COMPANIES THAT ARE COMING IN AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT IF WE DIDN'T HAVE IT, WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE. THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THAT. BUT THE FIRST THING THAT ATTRACTS THEM TO OUR COMMUNITY IS WE'RE ONE OF THE SAFEST COMMUNITIES. AND PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHEN YOU SEE, LIKE META, COME IN, GIVE YOURSELVES CREDIT BECAUSE THEY THEY COME IN A LITTLE LIKE, ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE THE THE SAFEST COMMUNITY? THEY COME A LITTLE LEERY AND THEN THEY REALIZE WE HAVE THIS GREAT, SAFE COMMUNITY. SO A LOT OF THE REASONS THAT WE BRING GREAT COMPANIES IN IS BECAUSE OF THE BEING ONE OF THE SAFEST COUNTIES IN THE UNITED STATES. SO WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. I HOPE THAT YOU REALIZE THAT YOU'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY BY BEING THE WAY YOU ARE. SO THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE, I APPRECIATE THAT. I WANTED TO ALSO RECOGNIZE SOMEBODY WHO'S BEHIND THE SCENES BUT DESERVES RECOGNITION. THAT'S PRISCILLA CONTRERAS, AND SHE IS THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. A LOT OF WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED WITH THESE TWO MAJOR HOLIDAYS HAS ALSO INCLUDED A PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, AND PRISCILLA HAS BEEN THE ONE DRIVING THAT. AND SHE'S THERE AT RED SANDS DOCUMENTING IT. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL, BECAUSE WE NEED TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE ABOUT RED SANDS. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GOOGLE RED SANDS AND SEE THAT IT'S A FAMILY FRIENDLY, SAFE ENVIRONMENT. AND THE MORE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THESE OPERATIONS AND AND PREVENT AND REDUCE ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES, THE MORE THAT NARRATIVE WILL CHANGE TO THE BETTER. AND PRISCILLA IS A KEY PART OF THAT. SO THANK YOU, PRISCILLA. SHE'S NOT GOING TO COME FORWARD. BUT THANK YOU FOR CAN I KNOW THERE SHE IS. AT LEAST COME CAN BE PART OF THE PICTURE. SHE'S ALWAYS HIDING SOMEWHERE. BUT THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. AND THEN I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE, THE THE DEPUTIES AND EVERYBODY WHO IS INVOLVED IN THESE OPERATIONS WORKED ON A HOLIDAY. THEY SACRIFICED TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES, WITH THEIR CHILDREN. AND AND I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY TO DO THAT, BUT I, I AGAIN I WANT TO REINFORCE THAT THAT WHAT THEY DID, WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE HAS SAVED LIVES. AND I HOPE THAT YOU KNOW THAT, THAT YOU'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. YOU'RE SERVING THE PUBLIC. YOU'RE YOU'RE SAVING LIVES WITH EVERY OPERATION AND WITH YOUR PRESENCE OUT THERE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. AND I LOVE THAT CALL. I GET THAT CALL FROM SHERIFF UGARTE. NO CASUALTIES THE THE NEXT DAY. IT'S SO EXCITING. I COULD SEE IN HIS VOICE. AND OF COURSE, PRISCILLA THERE, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND ALL OF YOU. SO VERY HEARTFELT. THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. THANK YOU. LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A PICTURE. OKAY. WE. [01:20:21] THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE Y'ALL. AFTER THE GROUP PICTURE. 123. IT'S ALL ABOUT EFFICIENCY. ITEM FIVE E I'M SORRY. ITEM FIVE F APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF MISS AUSTIN DAVIS AND RECOGNIZING HER MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO EL PASO COMMISSIONER STOUTE. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING ABLE TO READ THIS RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD. WE'RE JOINED HERE TODAY BY MICHAEL DAVIS, MRS. DEAN'S SON. BUT I WANT TO START OFF BY BY SAYING THAT SOME INDIVIDUALS REALLY LEAVE A LEGACY THAT IS SO DEEP THAT IT BECOMES WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF A COMMUNITY. [F. Approve and adopt a resolution celebrating the life of Miss Estine Davis and recognizing her many contributions to El Paso. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-273-3559] AND MRS. DAVIS WAS ONE OF THOSE RARE FIGURES HERE IN EL PASO FOR MORE THAN EIGHT DECADES. SHE HELPED SHAPE THE CULTURAL, CIVIC AND HISTORIC LANDSCAPE OF SOUTH CENTRAL EL PASO THROUGH HER LEADERSHIP, CREATIVITY AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SERVICE FROM HER EARLY YEARS IN EL PASO, IN THE SEGREGATED, SEGREGATED SCHOOLS HERE, TO BECOMING ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK WOMEN TO OWN AND OPERATE HER OWN BUSINESS IN OUR REGION, MRS. STEIN BROKE BARRIERS WITH GRACE AND DETERMINATION THROUGH HER ICONIC BARBER SHOP, HER MENTORSHIP OF YOUNG PEOPLE, HER WORK PRESERVING BLACK HISTORY, AND HER INVOLVEMENT IN CIVIC AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. SHE BECAME A PILLAR OF STRENGTH, PRIDE AND PROGRESS FOR GENERATIONS. SO I'M GOING TO READ THE RESOLUTION AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM FROM MICHAEL, THE RESOLUTION STATES. WHEREAS MRS. STEIN DIED PEACEFULLY ON NOVEMBER 10TH, 2025 AT AGE 92. AND WHEREAS MRS. DAVIS WAS BORN IN TROY, TEXAS, ON DECEMBER 5TH, 1932, TO CLARK AND BEULAH HILL, HER FAMILY MOVED TO EL PASO WHEN SHE WAS SIX YEARS OLD, AND SHE ATTENDED THE SEGREGATED DOUGLAS ELEMENTARY AND DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH AT THE TIME WAS THE ONLY SCHOOL BLACK CHILDREN WERE ALLOWED TO ATTEND IN EL PASO AND JUAREZ. MRS. STEEN MOVED TO TYLER, TEXAS AT 18 FOR BARBER SCHOOL, THEN RETURNED TO EL PASO TO WORK AT FORT BLISS. IN 1964, SHE JOINED EAST SIDE BARBERSHOP, OWNED BY HER GODFATHER, MR. ROSCOE MARLIN, AND TOOK OWNERSHIP THE FOLLOWING YEAR. KNOWN AS MRS. STEEN, SHE CUT HAIR FOR OVER 62 YEARS AT 106 NORTH PIEDRAS STREET, AND WHEREAS SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK WOMEN TO OWN AND OPERATE HER OWN BUSINESS IN EL PASO, TEXAS, STYLING DIVERSE CLIENTS FROM HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS AND ENTERTAINERS LIKE LITTLE RICHARD AND EARL GRANT TO PROFESSIONAL WRESTLERS, COLLEGE ATHLETES, COUNTLESS SOLDIERS INCLUDING ARMY GENERAL OFFICERS, AND EVERYDAY CITIZENS WHO FREQUENTED THE STREETS OF PIEDRAS AND ALAMEDA. AND WHEREAS, AUSTIN'S BARBERSHOP WELCOMED VISITORS WITH A SENSE OF HISTORY, ESPECIALLY THROUGH HER WALL OF FAME, WHICH FEATURED SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS BY BLACK AMERICANS FROM VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS. THE WALL INCLUDED 1966 NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM FROM TEXAS WESTERN COLLEGE, NOW UTEP, WHO RECEIVED COMPLIMENTARY HAIRCUTS. AND WHEREAS, MRS. STEIN WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH IN EL PASO FOR OVER 82 YEARS, SUPERVISING AND MENTORING MANY YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS. AS DIRECTOR TRAINER OF [01:25:02] THE CHILDREN'S USHER BOARD, AGES 8 TO 12 FOR OVER 65 YEARS, ORGANIZING THE EASTER PARADE EACH YEAR AT EL PASO NATIONAL BANK. MISS DAVIS WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF MISSION SOCIETY NUMBER TWO, AND AS MRS. STEIN WAS THE FIRST BLACK PERSON TO GRADUATE FROM MANNEQUIN MANOR FINISHING AND MODELING SCHOOL, INC. IN EL PASO, FOUNDED STEIN'S FASHION MODEL AGENCY, WHICH WAS THE SOLE BLACK MODELING COMPANY IN THE SOUTHWEST FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND FOUNDED THE ANNUAL MISS BLACK EL PASO SOUTHWEST SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT. AND WHEREAS MRS. STEIN WAS A DEDICATED COMMUNITY ACTIVIST IN EL PASO'S BLACK COMMUNITY, DESIGNING FLOATS AND JOINING THE THANKSGIVING PARADE FROM 1982 TO 2021, SHE WAS ACTIVE WITH THE NAACP EL PASO CHAPTER AND CO-FOUNDED THE MCCALL NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER IN 1983. AS PRESIDENT OF THE EL PASO CHAPTER OF THE NINTH AND 10TH HORSE CAVALRY ASSOCIATION, SHE WORKED TO PRESERVE THE LEGACY OF THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS, AND WHEREAS FOR OVER 60 YEARS, MRS. STEIN WORKED WITH CITY, COUNTY, AND STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP ON NUMEROUS TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING, COMMERCE, AND CIVIL INITIATIVES FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL EL PASO AREA, A COMMUNITY THAT HELD A SPECIAL PLACE IN HER HEART. THERE ARE NUMEROUS BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND FORMAL ESSAYS WRITTEN ABOUT MRS. STEIN DAVIS AND HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO INCLUDE WHERESOEVER MY PEOPLE CHANCED TO DWELL BY DOCTOR MARCEL C DALY, AND BORDERS IN A DREAM FULFILLED AT AUSTIN'S EAST SIDE BARBERSHOP. AFTER ALL THESE YEARS BY EDDIE DELGADO, 29TH OF APRIL, 2010. AND WHEREAS MRS. STEIN WAS A CHARTER MEMBER OF ETA IOTA ZETA MCKAY OF THE ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, AND WHEREAS FOLLOWING HER RETIREMENT ON 25TH SEPTEMBER 2022, MRS. STEIN ENVISIONED A RENEWED ECONOMIC FUTURE FOR EASTSIDE CENTRAL EL PASO. THIS VISION LED IN JANUARY 2023 TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION EASTSIDE CENTRAL COALITION, WHICH AIMS TO EXPAND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN BOTH GOVERNMENT AND COMMERCIAL SECTORS. IN THE ALAMEDA CORRIDOR. AND WHEREAS, SHE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HER PARENTS, CLARK AND BEULAH HILL. SISTERS, VIOLA ARABEL, IOLA AND ESTHER. BROTHERS CLARK, JUNIOR EZELL AND BOSTON, AND HER SON WILLIAM ISAAC DAVIS JUNIOR. AND WHEREAS, SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER SON, MICHAEL DAVIS DENISE. SISTER IN LAW, AMELIA HILL JOHNSON. FIVE GRANDCHILDREN, TRACY, TIA, JAMES, MARQUEZ, SARAH AND ANTONIO. FIVE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, JADA, MILES COTTRELL, ATRAY AND ONE GREAT GRANDSON, EMMETT. FOUR NIECES AND THREE NEPHEWS, A HOST OF OTHER RELATIVES AND FRIENDS. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT EXTEND ITS WARMEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF MRS. AUSTIN DAVIS AND RECOGNIZES HER AS A TRAILBLAZER AND FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH. SIGN THIS EIGHTH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025, THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME, MICHAEL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OVER THE LAST FIVE DAYS, I'VE HAD TO TELL EVERYONE TO KEEP IT SHORT. AND THE DIFFERENT VENUES THAT I'VE PARTICIPATED IN WHEN TALKING AND AND HONORING MY MOTHER, MRS. DEAN DAVIS. AND SO I'M GOING TO KEEP MINE SHORT AS WELL. I AM HONORED AND BLESSED THAT I HAD MISS DAVIS AS MY MOTHER, WITH SUCH A ROLE MODEL TO NOT ONLY THE BLACK COMMUNITY, BUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT SHE LOVED SO, SO MUCH. SHE'S AN ICON IN HIS BIGGEST SENSE. SHE'S ONLY FIVE FEET, TWO AND A HALF AND 90 POUNDS, BUT SHE WAS SUCH AN ENERGY, SUCH A DYNAMIC INDIVIDUAL. IT'S BIG SHOES FOR US TO STEP INTO AND WE HOPE THROUGH THE EAST SIDE, CENTRAL COALITION AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS AND PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO DO IN THE 90 PLUS YEARS THAT SHE WAS ON THIS PLANET AND IN EL PASO. SO I THANK THE THANK EVERYONE FOR THE HONOR. AND I KNOW SHE'S UPSTAIRS ARGUING WITH GOD, NO DOUBT. AND GOD JUST TOLD HER TO GO DOWN AS AN USHER AND STAND AT THE GATE WITH THE WHITE GLOVES ON. AND SHE'S PROBABLY DOING THAT WITH WITH GREAT, GREAT PROFESSIONALISM. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. AND MICHAEL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL CEREMONY AND THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK IN REALITY. I WAS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OF COMMISSIONER STOUT BECAUSE HE'S BEEN SO INVOLVED. I'M SURE HE I MEAN, HE WASN'T ABLE TO BE THERE, BUT BUT I REALLY WAS REPRESENTING YOU AND WHAT [01:30:05] YOU'VE DONE IN THAT COMMUNITY. AND I'M SO GLAD THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE HERE, IF YOU LOOK HER UP AND ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID, YOU KNOW, SHE IS GOING TO SURVIVE THE TEST OF TIME, HER, YOU KNOW, SHE'LL GO FORWARD AND WE'LL REMEMBER HER. YOU WON'T GET TO MEET HER, BUT YOU NEED TO SEE HER AS A ROLE MODEL BECAUSE I'VE NEVER SEEN SOMETHING. EVERYTHING THAT SHE'S GONE THROUGH. AND I WAS SAYING THAT ANYBODY THAT COMES OUT OF DOUGLAS, SOMETHING HAPPENS. THEY'RE LIKE, ON FIRE. THEY COME OUT AND THEY GO THROUGH A LOT, A LOT OF ADVERSITY. BUT SHE'S TURNED ADVERSITY INTO SUCCESS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE NEW. EVERYTHING WAS A CHALLENGE, EVERYTHING. AND SHE WAS ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD. SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR HER MEMORY. AND WE AS I SAID, WE GOT TO FIGURE A WAY HOW TO KEEP HER MEMORY GOING AS MUCH AS WE CAN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE WE HAVE TODAY. SO, MICHAEL, THANK YOU FOR FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE THERE. AND COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP ON, ON, ON, ON PROMOTING THAT THAT AREA AND WHAT SHE WANTS IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS, JUDGE. AND MICHAEL, DO YOU WANT TO COME UP AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE WITH WITH THE WITH THE RESOLUTION. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS TO MICHAEL FOR CONTINUING HER LEGACY AND CONTINUING THE ADVOCACY. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE APPLE DIDN'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE. AND HE'S BEEN A BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR FOR HIS COMMUNITY AND HER COMMUNITY. AND AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE CONTINUING TO WORKING WITH YOU TO CONTINUE PUSHING HER LEGACY AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE DO NOT FORGET THE WORK THAT SHE DID IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND AND SHE WILL CONTINUE TO TO TO LIVE IN OUR MEMORIES FOREVER. THANK YOU. ITEM FIVE G APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE THE EFFORTS OF MARGARITA PEREZ, MARIO ORNELAS, ALBERTO PEREZ AND ALL OF THE SUPPORTERS AND ORGANIZERS OF EL PASO TRAILS FOR TOYS AND TO DESIGNATE DECEMBER 13TH, 2025, AS EL PASO TRAILS FOR TOYS DAY IN EL PASO [G. Approve and adopt a resolution to recognize the efforts of Margarita Perez, Mari Ornelas, Alberto Perez and all of the supporters and organizers of El Paso Trails for Toys, and to designate December 13, 2025, as “El Paso Trails for Toys Day” in El Paso County, Texas. Iliana Holguin, Commissioner, Precinct 3, 915-273-3594] COUNTY, TEXAS. COMMISSIONER OLGUIN THANK YOU, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING AGAIN EVERYONE. IT IS SUCH AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THIS ORGANIZATION AND ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THEY DO. FOR THOSE OF YOU ALL THAT MAY KNOW, MARGIE AND ALBERTO AND MARTY, THEY LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO DO INCREDIBLE WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEY THEY DON'T WANT CREDIT FOR IT. THEY DO IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THEIR HEART BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HELP IN WHATEVER WAY THAT THEY CAN. BUT WE FELT THAT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HONOR THE THREE OF THEM AND ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS THAT HELP WITH EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO FROM FOOD DRIVES, THANKSGIVING BASKET GIFTS. AND THEY'RE NOT JUST A BLESSING TO THE SOCORRO COMMUNITY, BUT THEY PROVIDE GIFTS TO CHILDREN INTERNATIONALLY AS WELL. SO I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE BEING IN THE SPOTLIGHT, MARGIE, BUT I REALLY FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY KNEW ABOUT THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD, AND THEN WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM THE THREE OF YOU. AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. MAYOR CRUZ FROM THE CITY OF SOCORRO, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, CONSTABLE GARCIA. THANK YOU ALSO FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT YOU PROVIDE TO MARGIE. SO WHEREAS CHRISTMAS TRAILS FOR TOYS IS A VOLUNTEER DRIVEN EFFORT THAT MOBILIZES FAMILIES, CLUBS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO COLLECT TOYS AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN NEED ACROSS EL PASO COUNTY AND BEYOND, OFTEN ORGANIZING CAR SHOW BENEFITS AND COMMUNITY DRIVES TO POWER ITS GIVING. AND WHEREAS THROUGH THESE COMMUNITY EVENTS, [01:35:01] CHRISTMAS TRAILS FOR TOYS AND ITS PARTNERS HAVE GATHERED TOYS, RAISED FUNDS AND ASSEMBLED CARE PACKAGES AT LOCAL VENUES TO BENEFIT UNDER-RESOURCED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHILE BUILDING A CULTURE OF NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR SERVICE ACROSS THE REGION. AND WHEREAS, THE ORGANIZATION SERVICE HAS INCLUDED INTERNATIONAL AND CROSS-BORDER GENEROSITY, SUCH AS THE DONATION OF UNIFORMS AND 20 PAIRS OF EYEGLASSES IN VENEZUELA IN 2022 AND 2023, AS WELL AS LOCAL AND REGIONAL OUTREACH, INCLUDING 500 PAIRS OF NEW BOOTS FROM COWTOWN BOOTS DELIVERED IN JANUARY 2023 TO SOCORRO AREA SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND DAYCARES WITHIN THE SOCORRO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMUNITY, AND 100 TOYS DELIVERED TO CASAS GRANDES, CHIHUAHUA FOR CHRISTMAS IN 2022. AND WHEREAS THIS COMMUNITY EFFORT IS ANIMATED BY THE LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION OF MARGARITA MARGIE PEREZ, ALBERTO PEREZ AND MARIO ORNELAS, WHOSE CONSISTENT ORGANIZING, FUNDRAISING, LOGISTICS AND HANDS ON SERVICE HAVE INSPIRED VOLUNTEERS AND PARTNERS ACROSS EL PASO COUNTY TO JOIN IN THE MISSION OF HELPING FAMILIES DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND WHEREAS CHRISTMAS TRAILS FOR TOYS EXTENDS HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE MANY VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, SMALL BUSINESSES, FAITH PARTNERS, SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, VENUE HOSTS, AND CIVIC ALLIES WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS, LARGE AND SMALL, MAKE THIS WORK POSSIBLE AND MULTIPLY THE IMPACT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACROSS OUR BORDERLAND COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS, IN RECOGNITION OF EXEMPLARY COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, MARGARITA PEREZ AND HER ORGANIZATION HAVE BEEN HONORED WITH THE FOLLOWING AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS. TELEMUNDO MARCH 2025. MUJERES IMPARABLES AWARD, MUJERES CON SENTIDO, MARCH 2024 AWARD. CONSTABLE'S OFFICE PRECINCT PRECINCT SIX 2023 AWARD, SERNA ELEMENTARY MAY 2023 AWARD, SOCORRO ISD 2023 VOLUNTEER EDUCATION EMPOWERMENT AWARD, CTE DIAMOND GALLERY 2023 AWARD KTSM 2023 REMARKABLE WOMEN AWARD, CLINT UNIVISION, 26TH MARCH 2022 ROMPIENDO BARRERAS. AND WHEREAS LOCAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY STORYTELLERS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED MARGARITA PEREZ'S TIRELESS ADVOCACY FOR FAMILIES, UNDERSCORING HER DETERMINATION TO HELP THOSE MOST IN NEED AND TO RALLY OUR COMMUNITY TO ACTION THROUGH CHRISTMAS TRAILS FOR TOYS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF CHRISTMAS TRAILS FOR TOYS, GENEROUS SERVICE TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN APPRECIATION OF THE LEADERSHIP OF MARGARITA PEREZ, ALBERTO PEREZ AND MARIO ORNELAS. AND WITH THANKS TO EVERY VOLUNTEER DONOR, PARTNER AND FRIEND WHO HELPS MAKE THIS MISSION POSSIBLE. THAT DECEMBER 13TH, 2025 BE HEREBY DECLARED AS CHRISTMAS TRAILS FOR TOYS DAY, AN OFFICIAL OFFICIAL RECOGNITION THEREOF. THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY AFFIXES THEIR SIGNATURE THIS EIGHTH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. WELCOME, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. MOTION. MOTION CARRIES. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SAMANIEGO. COMMISSIONERS. CHRISTMAS TRAILS FOR TOYS HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 2003. WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY. WE SERVE UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN FROM MAINLY SOCORRO, TEXAS, AS CHILDREN, BUT WE ALSO SERVE MEXICO, SOUTH AMERICA, AND WE DO IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS. CHRISTMAS TRAILS FOR TOYS. WE GIVE THE CHILDREN AND MAKE THEM SMILE. CHRISTMAS TOYS, CHRISTMAS GOODIES. WE PROVIDE TURKEY BASKETS, MEDICAL ITEMS, DENTAL ITEMS. AND YOU KNOW, WE REALLY THANK YOU FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ALL OUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION. HERE'S A LITTLE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OH, BEAUTIFUL. WELL, THANK YOU, MADDIE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING. COUNTY JUDGE, COUNTY COMMISSIONER, ONCE AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN, JAVIER GARCIA. CONSTABLE, PRECINCT SIX. CONSTABLE. I WAS ASKED TO ACCOMPANY MISS MARGIE PEREZ THIS MORNING, AND I'M. I'M HERE TO SHOW MY APPRECIATION AND MY SUPPORT FOR HER ORGANIZATION AND TELL HER JUST THANK YOU. MADDIE, ALBERT, MARGIE, ALL YOUR FAMILY FOR ALWAYS BRINGING SMILES AND AND PROVIDING FOR MY HOMETOWN OF [01:40:03] SOCORRO. I GREW UP IN THAT AREA AND I KNOW THE NEEDS OF OF OF THAT COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR FOR MY COMMUNITY AND FOR ALWAYS ALLOWING MY OFFICE TO HELP YOU. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO TO HER HOUSE DURING THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS, SHE SACRIFICES HER HOUSE BECAUSE IT'S FULL OF TOYS, IT'S FULL OF FOOD, IT'S FULL OF TURKEYS AND ALL TO HELP OUT THE SOCORRO COMMUNITY. SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU FOR DRAFTING UP THIS RESOLUTION AND RECOGNIZING SUCH A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU CONSTABLE. MAYOR RUDY CRUZ, WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, JUST TO ECHO WHAT CONSTABLE GARCIA SAID, I'VE WITNESSED IT MYSELF. MISS MARGIE, ALONG WITH HER SISTER AND HER HUSBAND, HAVE HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN PILLARS OF OUR COMMUNITY. IF YOU WERE IF YOU WERE TO LOOK UP THE DEFINITION OF WHAT A PILLAR FOR THE COMMUNITY MEANS, YOU'D SEE A PHOTOGRAPH OF THESE THREE INDIVIDUALS. THEY'RE A SMALL GROUP, BUT THEY IT'S A BIG IMPACT THAT THEY MAKE IN THE CITY OF SOCORRO, SUCH AN UNDERSERVED POPULATION AND JUST THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN SOCORRO, NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IN OTHER COUNTRIES, IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD GO, YOU KNOW, JUST RECOGNIZED AND, WELL, MARGIE, I KNOW HER AS MARGIE, MISS PEREZ, I'M JUST SO THRILLED TO SEE YOU RECOGNIZE THAT YOU'VE YOU'VE BEEN THE STEADY HEART OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR SO LONG, AND YOU'RE ALWAYS THERE TO LIFT OTHERS UP. YOUR STRENGTH AND KINDNESS ARE TRULY UNMATCHED. SO. SO CHEERS TO YOU, MARGIE, ON THIS AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT AND JUST WANT TO LET THE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT KNOW, AS WELL AS THOSE IN ATTENDANCE AND THOSE WATCHING THAT WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE MARGIE IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. AND I'LL TAKE MY HAT OFF TO SAY THIS OUT OF RESPECT FOR MARGIE AND CHRISTMAS TRAILS FOR TOYS, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS BECAUSE WE CAN ONLY SEE AND DO SO MUCH. BUT WITH THE HELP OF PEOPLE LIKE THIS AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS, IT'S JUST SO IMPACTFUL. SO WE WE TRY AND HELP OUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN AS ELECTED OFFICIALS. BUT MARGIE, TODAY'S YOUR DAY AND TODAY'S A SPECIAL DAY FOR CHRISTMAS TROLLS, FOR TOYS AND FOR THAT CITY OF SOCORRO IS FOREVER GRATEFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND MAYOR MAYOR RUDY CRUZ, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND THE SUPPORT YOU YOU PROVIDE TO OUR COMMISSIONER. IT'S REALLY WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE. THANK YOU. AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ACKNOWLEDGING OUR WORK. AND DECEMBER 13TH WILL BE OUR TOY GIVEAWAY IN THE CITY OF SOCORRO. AND WE ARE WE WILL BE HAVING A SMALL PARADE. AND THEN AT PETER PIPER'S WILL BE OUR TOY GIVEAWAY FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE SISD AREA. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. JUST LET US KNOW WHO YOU ARE. AND I'M MARIO ORNELAS AND I HAVE BEEN A SOCORRO RESIDENT FOR THE PAST 65 YEARS AND VERY PROUD TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. ALBERTO PEREZ. THANK YOU. JUST A QUICK SHOUT OUT ALSO TO OUR COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AND EVERYTHING SHE DOES IN THAT AREA. I KNOW SHE GETS A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR ANYTHING THAT THAT COMES UP. AND LIKE I SAID, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE RURAL MAYORS AND BEING ABLE TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN AT EVERY DIFFERENT COMMUNITY. SO, COMMISSIONER LEON, BACK TO YOU AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. WELL, I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE, MARGIE IS STILL COLLECTING TOYS FOR THE TOY GIVEAWAY THAT SHE JUST MENTIONED THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE THERE IN SOCORRO ON THE 13TH THIS COMING SATURDAY MORNING. SO IF ANYONE HAS ANY TOYS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO CHRISTMAS TRAILS FOR TOYS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE AND WE WILL GLADLY GET THEM TO MARGIE. THERE IS A LOT OF NEED IN THE COMMUNITY, AS WE ALL KNOW, AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE PARTICULARLY THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THE THREE OF YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. [01:45:37] DO WE SCOOT OVER A LITTLE? FOR THE PLEDGE KIDS? DO YOU? OF COURSE, YES. COME ON. SOME OF YOU MAYBE. I HAVE. TO. OKAY. THANK YOU. ITEM FIVE H APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE LEGACY OF DOCTOR PEDRO GALAVIZ FOR HIS REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AS AN EDUCATOR, MENTOR, AND COMMUNITY LEADER DURING HIS TIME AS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CANUTILLO [H. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing and honoring the legacy of Dr. Pedro Galaviz for his remarkable contributions as an educator, mentor, and community leader during his time as Superintendent of the Canutillo Independent School District. Sergio Coronado, Commissioner, Precinct 4, 915-273-3596] INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, CORONADO. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS REALLY NOT JUST AN HONOR, BUT A PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COURT. WE'VE KNOWN THIS GENTLEMAN FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND I WAS VERY HONORED AND PROUD THAT I WAS A BOARD PRESIDENT WHEN WE CANUTILLO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT RECRUITED AND HIRED DOCTOR PEDRO GALAVIZ TO BE THE LEADER OF THE CANUTILLO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WE KNEW WE HAD THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB THERE AND IS REALLY CURRENTLY THE LONGEST SERVING SUPERINTENDENT IN THIS REGION. AND SO I REALLY GIVES ME PLEASURE TO READ THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COURT. WHEREAS DOCTOR PEDRO GALAVIZ HAS FAITHFULLY SERVED AS SUPERINTENDENT OF CANUTILLO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT CISD FOR NEARLY 13 YEARS, DEMONSTRATING UNWAVERING DEDICATION, EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND A STEADFAST BELIEF IN THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD. AND WHEREAS, UNDER DOCTOR GALAVIZ LEADERSHIP, CANUTILLO ISD EARNED STATEWIDE RECOGNITION AS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PERFORMING SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS, ACHIEVING THREE CONSECUTIVE A RATINGS FROM THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY AND ACCOMPLISHED UNMATCHED BY ANY OTHER DISTRICT IN THE EL PASO REGION. AND WE'RE AFTER DOCTOR GALAVIZ LEGACY EXTENDS FAR BEYOND ACADEMIC METRICS, [01:50:01] REFLECTING A DEEP COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND FAMILIES. HIS BELIEF IN THE POWER OF EDUCATION CHANGED COUNTLESS LIVES, UPLIFTED DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, AND FOSTERED A CULTURE OF RESPECT, CELEBRATION, AND OPPORTUNITY. AND THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE, DOCTOR GALAVIZ CHAMPIONED NUMEROUS INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REGION'S FIRST PUBLIC MONTESSORI PROGRAM, THE CREATION OF THE STEAM ACADEMY AT CANUTILLO MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE PUBLIC SERVICE ACADEMIES AT ALDERETE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE NORTHWEST EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL STATUS. AND WHEREAS, UNDER HIS GUIDANCE, CANUTILLO ISD EARNED THE PRESTIGIOUS H-E-B EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARD FOR THE BEST SMALL DISTRICT IN TEXAS, MARKING THE FIRST TIME IN EL PASO AREA DISTRICT RECEIVED THIS HONOR. AND WHEREAS DOCTOR GALAVIZ PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF THE 2024 BOND, ENSURING THE DISTRICT FACILITIES WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND MODERNIZE IN SERVICE OF PRESENT AND FUTURE STUDENTS. AND WHEREAS DOCTOR GALAVIZ DECISION TO RETIRE THIS YEAR MARKS THE END OF A REMARKABLE CHAPTER IN CANUTILLO HISTORY, AND THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMUNITY RECOGNIZES THE PROFOUND, LASTING IMPACT OF HIS LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE. SO NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF EL PASO COUNTY FORMALLY HONORS AND EXPRESSES ITS DEEPEST GRATITUDE, DOCTOR PEDRO GALAVIZ, FOR HIS VISIONARY LEADERSHIP, HIS TIRELESS DEDICATION TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, AND HIS EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION IN OUR REGION. SIGNED THIS EIGHTH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025 BY THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS AND THE HONORABLE COUNTY JUDGE, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I JUST WANTED TO I HAVE TO TELL THE FABIAN'S KIDS BECAUSE I TOLD THEM SANTA CLAUS IS FROM CANUTILLO. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FABIAN'S SORRY ABOUT THAT. I'D LIKE TO ALSO INTRODUCE YOUR ONE OF YOUR NEWEST ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, MY SON, GABRIEL GALAVIZ. WELCOME. 2018 GRAD FROM. SO HE CAME BACK BECAUSE HE HE KNOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, EL PASO'S GROWING AND THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES HERE. BUT SO YOU BROUGHT ME 13 YEARS AGO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. YOU MISS PATSY MENDOZA, ARMANDO RODRIGUEZ I GOT MISS CINDY, TRUSTEE. MISS MISS. YOUR BROTHER BOBBY WAS A TRUSTEE, BUT YOU ALL BROUGHT ME HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND DO SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR FOR THE KIDS IN THE REGION. AND WE DID IT. I KNOW WE DID IT. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND FOR RECOGNIZING MY 13 YEARS AS SUPERINTENDENT OF CANUTILLO. IT HAS BEEN THE HONOR OF MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE TO SERVE THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND EDUCATORS OF OUR COMMUNITY. EVERY GRADUATE WE CELEBRATED, EVERY IMPROVEMENT WE MADE, AND EVERY CHALLENGE WE FACED WAS DONE WITH PARTNERSHIP, SHARED PURPOSE, AND A BELIEF IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. YOU KNOW, JUDGE, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT PUTTING PUTTING EL PASO ON THE MAP, MAKING SURE THAT WHAT YOU SAY IS NOT WHO THEY THINK WE ARE, BUT WHO WE REALLY ARE. AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. SO I HAVE A CALL TO ACTION FOR YOU ALL. EL PASO NEEDS A TRUE REGIONAL PLAN, NOT ONE AGENCY AT A TIME, NOT A DISTRICT BY DISTRICT, BUT TOGETHER, CITY, COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS, HIGHER ED ECONOMIC TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC HOUSING OR HOUSING AND PUBLIC SAFETY. BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS MOVE ACROSS BOUNDARIES. SO OUR LEADERSHIP MUST AS WELL, IF WE WANT A FUTURE THAT KEEPS OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HERE WORKING, RAISING FAMILIES, CONTRIBUTING, WE MUST ALIGN FUNDING, PLANNING AND A VISION ACROSS THE REGION. THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT. FOR EVERY CHILD IN EL PASO COUNTY. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP, THE SERVICE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS. FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. AGAIN, IT'S REALLY A TEAM EFFORT, AND I'LL LET EACH MEMBER OF THE TEAM COME UP AND BE RECOGNIZED. GUSTAVO, I'LL STOP USING AI NOW FOR MY SPEECHES. THANK YOU. COME INTRODUCE YOURSELVES, PLEASE. HELLO. JESSICA ARELLANO, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT FOR [01:55:07] CANUTILLO ISD, EMERITUS OF DOCTOR GALAVIZ. AND NOT ONLY A FRIEND, BUT OF THE FAMILY, BUT REALLY AN EXAMPLE IN A MODEL. HARD SHOES TO FILL. DEFINITELY. THANK YOU. GOOD LUCK. HI, MY NAME IS CINDY ANDRADE AND I'M A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. HE'S HELPED US A LOT. YOU KNOW, I WAS REALLY, REALLY NEW TO BEING A BOARD MEMBER. AND HE GUIDED ME, YOU KNOW, THROUGH A LOT OF THINGS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW AND JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND WE'LL MISS YOU. I GET FREE TAMALES. TRUE. THANK YOU. AND I AM OSCAR RICO. I OVERSEE OPERATIONS AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING THE REST OF THE COUNTY KNOW WHAT WE KNEW ALL ALONG THAT WE HAD AN AMAZING LEADER, AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE HIM AS MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTY, FOR WHICH WE ARE A LUCKY BUNCH TO TO HAVE HIM AROUND. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUST ONE RULE YOU CAN LOOK BETTER THAN US. SO WHEN YOU COME TO COMMISSIONERS COURT, CUT IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT. JUDGE. AND I'M ABIDING BY THAT RULE. SO HERE WE GO, GUSTAVO. REBELS. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO WORK FOR DOCTOR GALAVIZ TWICE AND TRY TO KEEP HIM IN LINE. BUT I WAS NOT VERY SUCCESSFUL MOST OF THE TIME. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I JUST WANT TO THANK MR. CORONADO BECAUSE HE BROUGHT OUR FAMILY HERE AND MY DAUGHTER, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TO EL PASO CANUTILLO REGION. AND MY DAD WAS VERY CONCERNED AS TO WHERE MY HUSBAND WAS GOING TO BRING ME, BLESS HIS SOUL. BUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU MENTIONED JUDGE THAT EL PASO WAS A SAFE COMMUNITY, AND IT WAS THE BEST PLACE MY HUSBAND COULD HAVE BROUGHT OUR FAMILY HERE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, PARENTS AND STUDENTS, WHICH I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO DO AS A NURSE PRACTITIONER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND THEN MY NAME IS GABRIEL GALAVIZ. AND YEAH, THANK YOU ALL FOR HONORING MY DAD TODAY. BUT WE DO GOT TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO MOVE TO EL PASO. EVERYBODY'S LEAVING. I KNOW NOBODY WANTS TO COME BACK WHEN THEY LEAVE, SO I'M GLAD I'M HERE. I'M BACK AND GOING TO TRY TO HELP BRING MORE PEOPLE BACK TO EL PASO. BUT THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR HONORING HONORING MY DAD. IT'S BEEN A WILD JOURNEY AND WE'RE ALL HAPPY WE'RE HERE. WELCOME BACK. YEAH. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. BOB, THE TWO GENTLEMEN. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, I'M A COMMITTEE MEMBER. CANUTILLO LIFELONG. I WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SERVE OR HELP DOCTOR GALAVIZ. HE'S DONE WONDERS FOR OUR DISTRICT, AND AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE HIM. WE'RE GOING TO MISS HIM, BUT HE'S GOING TO BE AROUND, AND I THINK HE'S GOING TO JUMP IN AND AND AND BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR AND HELP OUR STUDENTS FOR, FOR AS LONG AS HE CAN. AND AGAIN, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I THANK AND APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR HONORING HIM TODAY. THANK YOU. SO SILICA COMMITMENT, DOCTOR GALAVIZ THAT YOU'RE NOT LEAVING. YEAH. ONE MORE GENTLEMAN. YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO. BUENOS. YES. AND SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR GALAVIZ ES EL MEJOR SUPERINTENDENT BUENO EN LA COMUNIDAD. YA MUCHO MUCHO SE HA GANADO EL CARRINHO DE TODA LA GENTE EN LA COMUNIDAD. Y PUES ES EL MEJOR PARA MUCHAS GRACIAS. MUCHAS GRACIAS. YOU KNOW. YOU KNOW WHAT'S REALLY COOL IS THAT YOUR COMMISSIONER CORONADO'S BIGGEST FAN AND THAT HE'S YOUR BIGGEST FAN. SO I JUST WHAT A PERSON TO BE ABLE TO THAT UNDERSTANDS CANUTILLO. AND SO HIS WORDS COME FROM THE HEART. AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR BEING A ROLE MODEL. YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN THE SCHOOLS. AND AND SOMEHOW YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO EVOLVE INTO ALL THESE CHALLENGES AND CONTINUE TO BE A ROLE MODEL. SO WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. AND OBVIOUSLY THE RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE WITH WITH OUR GREAT COMMISSIONER IS VERY VALUABLE. I KNOW TIO OR ORANGE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HE'LL JUMP IN, RIGHT? COMPLETELY. SO BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS AGAIN, PEDRO, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU LEADING OUR HUMBLE BUT PROUD DISTRICT AND CANUTILLO AND ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AND WE KNOW THAT THE MOST OF ALL THAT THAT I CAN SAY ABOUT HIM IS THAT HE'S REALLY STUDENT CENTERED AND HE'S INGRAINED OURSELVES NOT JUST IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING HIS FAMILY. AND SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, NOT [02:00:03] JUST FOR THE STUDENTS, BUT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND MAKE YOUR HONOR HONORABLE AND HONORARY. EL PASOAN. THANK YOU. YOU. AND YOLANDA COMMISSIONER, A LITTLE BIT MORE. IF YOU MAKE YOUR COLOR A LITTLE BIT MORE OF BURNT ORANGE, A LITTLE WELL, THANK YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE WITH ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. NOW, I REALLY DO LIKE IT. LIKE LIKE THE THREE OF US. YEAH, YEAH. OH THANK YOU. YEAH, I LOVE IT. THANK YOU. I SAW YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANKS FOR COMING UP. OH. HEY. FOR PEDRO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ONE, TWO. THANK YOU. THANK. YOU. JUST PUT IT IN THE MIDDLE HERE. PEDRO. THANK YOU. NOTICE YOU. OKAY? ITEM SIX IS PUBLIC COMMENT. WE DO HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. FIRST, WE HAVE MR. DARRYL JAMON. WHO DO WE HAVE? OH. WELCOME. IT'S A LONG DAY. BEAUTIFUL DAY, BEAUTIFUL DAY, BEAUTIFUL DAY TO BE IN THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. YES. I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE FOOD DRIVE. WE'VE BEEN DOING WELL. WE ARE START PICKING UP FOOD DONATIONS, EVERYTHING. FRIDAY WE PICKED UP FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. WE ALSO PICKED UP FROM. YOUR BOX IS ALMOST FULL, BUT WE HAD THE HELP SO WE EMPTIED OUT. WE DID SOMETHING THIS YEAR TO KICK OFF OUR FOOD DRIVE WITH THE CITY OF SOCORRO WITH THE, YOU KNOW, THEY CUT THE THE SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON ON FOOD STAMPS AND EVERYTHING. AND WE COORDINATED WITH MAYOR RUDY CRUZ. WE WENT OUT THERE AND DID AN EMERGENCY DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD. THE EPI COORDINATOR, WITH HIM, WE JUST WE DISTRIBUTED OVER 400 BAGS OF FOOD TO THE SOCORRO RESIDENTS. AND WE WANT TO THANK MAYOR CRUZ, THE SOCORRO PD, AND THE CITY MANAGER, ADRIANA, FOR THEIR HELP AND COOPERATION. BUT I REALLY WANT YOU ALL TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT. COME HERE. HE'S LIKE THE HARDEST PERSON TO GET MODEST, YOU KNOW? JOIN ME. GIVE ME MAYOR CRUZ A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WHAT HE HAS DONE OUT THERE, THE ONE CLAP. OKAY, THAT'S VERY SPECIAL. ALL THAT PRACTICE FOR NOTHING. WELL, HE IS AN AUTHOR. SOCORRO HAS BEEN AMAZING, COORDINATING EFFORTS WITH THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND EVERYTHING. AND COMMISSIONER GREEN AND EVERYTHING. ALL THIS HAS JUST BEEN REALLY AMAZING. WE APPRECIATE IT AND THE SUPPORT AND EVERYTHING. WE WILL START PICKING UP THE FOOD ON DECEMBER 18TH. IF YOU NEED AN EARLIER PICKUP, PLEASE COORDINATE WITH ME. IF NOT, WE CAN GO OUT THERE. ALSO, THE ARMY RECRUITING COMMAND HAS [02:05:03] CAME IN. CORRECTION, EL PASO ARMY RECRUITING HAS CAME IN. YOU CAN NOW LEAVE ALL FOOD AT ANY ARMY RECRUITING STATION. THEY'RE SUPPORTING US. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE COMING TO SUPPORT US. GROUP ONE FOUR HAS BEEN OUR MAJOR SUPPORTER. THEY'RE GOING TO BE OUR BASE OF OPERATIONS FOR THE FOOD DRIVE THIS YEAR. SO IF YOU GUYS WANT TO VOLUNTEER AND COME PASS OUT FOOD, I KNOW YOU GOT A LOT ON YOUR PLATE, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS USE HELP. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. HAVE A GOOD DAY. OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS FROM MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD. WELCOME, ELIZABETH. MISS CRAWFORD COULD NOT BE WITH US. SHE SENT IN HER COMMENTS. I'LL BE READING THOSE IN. THANK YOU. MISS. FROM MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD. GOOD AFTERNOON. I FIRST WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR THE COURTESY AND KINDNESS SHOWN TO ME WHEN I'VE HAD ISSUES CALLING IN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I OFTEN TELL MY FRIENDS I AM OFTEN TAKEN ABACK BY THE COURTESY OF EL PASOANS. THIS MORNING AS I FLY TO THE MIDWEST. IT IS MY HOPE TO BE THERE ON THE DAY THAT THE MW ABORTION CENTER IN LEWISVILLE IS BEING DEMOLISHED TO MAKE ROOM FOR A NEW HOTEL CONSTRUCTION. WE AS PRO-LIFERS ARE THRILLED BEYOND WORDS. THANKFUL TO THE LORD. LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. IN INDIANAPOLIS, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, AND JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI ARE FOR THE CITIES IN THE CENTER OF OUR NATION WHERE THE SURGICAL ABORTION CENTERS HAVE CLOSED DOWN. IN THIS SEASON OF FOCUS ON THE INCARNATION OF JESUS, IT IS FASCINATING TO LOOK AT THE PROPHECIES OF THE CHRIST CHILD TUCKED IN A PASSAGE WRITTEN THROUGH THE PROPHET ISAIAH SPOKEN TO KING. IS A PROMISE OF A SIGN WITH ITS ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT. CENTURIES LATER, IN THE ADVENT OF THE LORD JESUS, THEREFORE THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL GIVE YOU A SIGN BEHOLD, A VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE AND BEAR A SON, AND SHALL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL. WE OFTEN HEAR CHRISTIANS IN OUR DAY SPEAK ABOUT THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF OUR NATION BEING CHRISTIAN. SOME WERE, YES, SOME WERE CHRISTIANS, BUT A NUMBER OF THEM WERE DEISTS. DEISM BASICALLY TEACHES GOD MADE THE EARTH, WOUND IT UP LIKE A CLOCK, AND LET IT GO TO FUNCTION COMPLETELY BY NATURAL LAWS UNTOUCHED BY DIVINE INTERVENTION. DEISM. THE BIBLE TEACHES THE EXACT OPPOSITE. IMMANUEL MEANS GOD WITH US. GOD IS WITH HIS CHILDREN EVEN THROUGH SUFFERING, DEISM, MISCARRY, AND HOPELESS. THOSE WHO SUPPORT ABORTION GENERALLY EMBRACE THIS MINDSET. THEY REASON IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION, FINANCIALLY MESSED UP RELATIONSHIP. PRODUCT OF AN AFFAIR. A BABY CONCEIVED IN RAPE. JUST ABORT THE BABY AND MOVE ON. YET THE GOD OF THE BIBLE DELIGHTS IN BRINGING BEAUTY OUT OF THE ASHES FOR THOSE WHO COME TO HIM DESPERATE FOR HELP, GOD DOES INDEED INTERVENE IN THE AFFAIRS OF MANKIND. IN THE BEAUTIFUL WORDS OF THE CAROL HARK, THE HERALD ANGELS SING CHRIST BY HIGHEST HEAVEN ADORED, CHRIST THE EVERLASTING LORD. LATE IN TIME BEHOLD HIM COME, OFFSPRING OF THE VIRGIN'S WOMB, VEILED IN FLESH THE GODHEAD SEE. HAIL THE INCARNATE DEITY. PLEASED AS MAN WITH MEN TO DWELL IN JESUS OUR EMMANUEL. THIS IS STILL IN THE 21ST CENTURY. THE GOOD NEWS OF THE BABY. ONCE LYING IN THE MANGER, THERE IS A GOD WHO HAS LOVINGLY INTERVENED IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND. BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND SHALL BRING FORTH A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL, WHICH BEING INTERPRETED IS GOD WITH US. MATTHEW 123. END OF PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. AND FINALLY, JUDGE, WE DO HAVE THE ELECTIONS VIDEO FOR THE I VOTED STICKER CONTEST THAT WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND PLAY FOR THE COURT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. [02:10:24] WELL AMAZING ENTRIES. MY GOODNESS. IT'S MUST BE REALLY TOUGH FOR THE JUDGES. WOW. AND THAT COMPLETES EVERYBODY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. ITEM SEVEN COUNTY ADMINISTRATION SEVEN A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE ITEMS AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE 119TH US CONGRESS. BUENOS [6. PUBLIC COMMENT] DIAS. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS ALISA TAMAYO, GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS MANAGER. [A. Receive a presentation, discuss and take appropriate action regarding Federal legislative items and communications with the 119th U.S. Congress. Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-273-3582] TODAY, WITH A FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. I WON'T TAKE A LOT OF YOUR TIME. I KNOW THERE'S A LETTER ALSO POSTED ON THE BACKUP, BUT I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE SLIDES REAL QUICK TO JUST SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE US 19 119TH CONGRESS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. SO A LITTLE REMINDER ABOUT H.R. ONE AND SB 1790, WHICH IS, AS YOU MIGHT RECALL, EARLIER THIS YEAR, IT WAS SENATOR CORNYN WHO INTRODUCED SENATE BILL 1790 TO INCLUDE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR BORDER STATES FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS. AND LATER IN THE SUMMER, THE THE BUDGET, H.R. ONE INCLUDED SOME OF THESE PROVISIONS. A LOT OF THE SENATE BILL 1790 PROVISIONS WERE ROLLED INTO H.R. ONE, WHICH IS THE BUDGET FOR CONGRESS, AND THEN THE ONE SENATE BILL 1790, BEFORE WE KNEW ABOUT THOSE VERSIONS, ROLLING INTO INTO THE H.R. ONE BILL, THE COURT DIRECTED STAFF TO SEND LETTERS TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION MEMBERS REQUESTING THAT THESE FUNDS BE SENT DIRECTLY TO COUNTIES FOLLOWING KIND OF THE ARPA MODEL FROM PREVIOUS YEARS IN LIEU OF LIKE THE THE STATE PASS THROUGH MODEL. HOWEVER, DURING THOSE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS, THESE PROVISIONS, LIKE I SAID, WERE ROLLED INTO H.R. ONE. AND THAT IS A CURRENT BUDGET BILL. AND SO FOLLOWING UP WITH THAT, WE SENT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE SENT TWO DIFFERENT LETTERS TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ASKING FOR GUIDANCE ON ON HOW TO ACCESS THOSE FUNDS FROM FROM H.R. ONE TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THOSE BORDER ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS. I, I'M NOT SURE IF WE'VE RECEIVED A RESPONSE YET OR NOT, BUT THE LETTERS WENT OUT, I BELIEVE, THE BEFORE THANKSGIVING, AND I KNOW IT WAS OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, CHRISTINA SANCHEZ, WHO SIGNED THE LETTERS AND SENT THEM OUT. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, LET US KNOW. BUT I KNOW WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP TO SEE, YOU KNOW, IF WE GET A RESPONSE OR HOW WE CAN ACCESS THOSE FUNDS. ALSO DURING THE VISIT IN FEBRUARY, THIS COULD BE SOMETHING TO BRING UP WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SEE HOW WE CAN, LIKE I SAID, TAP INTO THE FUNDS OR GET SOME GUIDANCE. WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET, AND I KNOW IT TAKES A FEW MONTHS TO TO GET THAT OUT, BUT BUT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SOME UPDATES ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. AS YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT ONLY WERE A LOT OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AFFECTED BY THE SHUTDOWN THAT LASTED OVER 40 DAYS, THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN OUR HISTORY, BUT ALSO SNAP BENEFITS RECIPIENTS, YOU KNOW, THEY STRUGGLE DURING THOSE MONTH AND AND TEN DAYS. THE HEALTHCARE ACCESS WAS ALSO IMPACTED. FUNDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL PROJECT FUNDING, FUNDING REQUESTS AND AND ALL THOSE THINGS WERE ALL IMPACTED. RIGHT NOW, CONGRESS HAS BEEN FUNDED THROUGH A CONTINUING RESOLUTION. SO IT'S STILL THEY HAVEN'T PASSED THE 12 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS. THEY HAVE ONLY PASSED, I BELIEVE, LIKE THREE OF THOSE. SO THEY HAVE UNTIL JANUARY THE 30TH TO FULLY PASS ALL THE APPROPRIATIONS. SO WE DON'T GO ON WITH THIS CONTINUING RESOLUTION FUNDING. THERE'S THEY'RE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. NEGOTIATIONS INCLUDED A VOTE. THERE WAS A PROMISE OF A VOTE ON HEALTHCARE SUBSIDIES. THERE'S A SHORT WINDOW TO EXTEND THOSE ENHANCED TAX CREDITS, WHAT THEY CALL A PREMIUM TAX CREDITS ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. IF THEY EXPIRE, THEN A LOT OF THE HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS FOR MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WILL GO UP. THERE IS AN ALTERNATE PROPOSAL BEING FLOATED AROUND. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF REPUBLICAN MEMBERS ARE DISCUSSING POTENTIALLY DIRECT HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS PAYMENTS FOR ENROLLEES, INSTEAD [02:15:05] OF GIVING THE THESE TAX CREDITS TO THE INSURERS AND THE MARKETPLACE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS THE REASON THAT WE DRAFTED THIS LETTER FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE BACKUP. MOST AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ENROLLEES MUST SIGN UP BEFORE OR BY DECEMBER 15TH FOR COVERAGE IN THE NEXT YEAR, OR THEY WOULD RISK BEING SHUT OUT OF THE MARKET AND NOT HAVE INSURANCE OR ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE. THERE'S ALSO A PENDING PROPOSAL BY THE WHITE HOUSE FOR AN AFFORDABLE CARE ACT EXTENSION WITH A LOT OF LIMITS, BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS OF YESTERDAY. THERE'S STILL NO PUBLIC PROPOSAL FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. ALL THAT WE KNOW IS THAT THERE'S BEEN ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS, SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE OR IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE BACKUP. YES. SO THE LETTERS THAT ARE LETTERS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THE BACKUP TO OUR TWO SENATORS, JOHN CORNYN AND TED CRUZ, ASKING THEM FOR THEIR VOTE IN THIS. WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE VOTE IS GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT, BUT, BUT THAT WAS A PROMISE TO REOPEN. THE GOVERNMENT ESSENTIALLY WAS TO HAVE A VOTE ON THE ENHANCED PREMIUM TAX CREDITS. AND THE SENATE LEADERSHIP COMMITTED TO A MID-DECEMBER VOTE. SO IT SHOULD BE COMING UP. BUT HOUSE LEADERSHIP DID NOT HOLD THE SAME COMMITMENT. SO THAT'S WHY THE LETTER WOULD BE TO OUR TWO US SENATORS BASICALLY ASKING THEM TO TO FOR THEIR VOTE TO APPROVE THE EXTENSION OF THIS EXPIRING ENHANCED PREMIUM HEALTHCARE, ENHANCED PREMIUM HEALTHCARE TAX CREDITS FOR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, IF THERE'S ANY AT THE MOMENT. YES, COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THANK YOU, LISA, FOR THE OVERVIEW. I JUST HAD ONE COMMENT ON THE LETTER. THE PROPOSED LETTERS TO OUR SENATORS ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT SUBSIDIES. I THINK IT'S A GOOD LETTER. I, I THINK IT WOULD IT WOULD HELP IF WE AT LEAST MENTIONED UMC IN THERE AND OUR COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND TALK ABOUT THE UNCOMPENSATED CARE THAT THEY CURRENTLY AMOUNT THEY CURRENTLY PROVIDE IN UNCOMPENSATED CARE NOW, BECAUSE, I MEAN, IT DOES MENTION AFFORDABILITY AND IMPACT TO TAXPAYERS HERE, BUT THAT IS REALLY, I THINK, SOMETHING THAT WE COULD STRENGTHEN AND PERSONALIZE A LITTLE BIT. AND, AND REALLY HOPEFULLY TELL A STORY ABOUT HOW THIS WILL IMPACT EL PASO COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY IN THE TAXPAYERS HERE. I DON'T KNOW, I MEAN, I'M I'M ASSUMING UMC HAS THAT INFORMATION WE COULD GET FROM THEM. YES. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH UMC WITH RUBEN AND LISA HERNANDEZ. THEY DID SHARE SOME ONE PAGERS AND SOME OF THAT INFO IS INCLUDED, BUT NOT. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, I CAN I CAN ADD ON A PARAGRAPH IF YOU IF YOU'D LIKE. AFTER THE SECOND PARAGRAPH WHERE WE MENTION HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IMPACTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, I KNOW THAT THE CONGRESSWOMAN PUT OUT THAT INFORMATION, WHICH IS VERY HELPFUL, BUT IF YOU'D LIKE, I CAN JUST ADD SOMETHING AFTER THAT PARAGRAPH TO SAY THIS IS HOW MUCH IT'S COSTING OUR HOSPITAL DISTRICT, AND THEN JUST GET THAT INFO FROM UMC. YEAH, I MEAN, IT WOULD THE THE WAY I WAS READING IT, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO PUT IT AT THE END OF THE SECOND TO LAST PARAGRAPH WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE CHOICE THAT IMPACTS TAXPAYERS. YES, YES. PUTTING IT ON THERE. OKAY. DEFINITELY. I CAN ADD THAT INFORMATION AFTER AFTER THAT SENTENCE, I THINK IT WOULD MAKE SENSE. YOU'RE RIGHT. UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER FEEDBACK FROM THE REST OF THE COURT. I HAD OTHER COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO THE LETTER AND JUST A COUPLE OF ISSUES THAT THAT I'M TRACKING. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW HOW CLOSELY WE TRACK THE INFORMATION THAT NACO PUTS OUT, BUT THEY'VE BEEN PUTTING OUT A LOT OF INFORMATION RELATED TO HUD CUTTING THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDING FOR HOUSING, WHICH COULD HAVE DRAMATIC IMPACTS HERE FOR OUR HOMELESS PREVENTION EFFORTS. AND I GET THAT INFORMATION THROUGH THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. BUT I'M NOT SURE IF ANYBODY HERE IS IS TRACKING THAT THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEND SOME LETTERS TO OUR DELEGATION ON THAT. AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S LITIGATION THAT'S BEEN FILED TO STOP THAT. THOSE CUTS FROM HAPPENING AS WELL. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS MELISSA CARRILLO COUNTY OPERATIONS. WE CAN DEFINITELY, IF YOU'LL ALLOW LISA AND I TO CIRCLE BACK TO, TO REALLY CLARIFY WHAT'S GOING ON THERE AND THEN BRING BACK AN ITEM REGARDING POTENTIAL LETTERS. WE'D ABSOLUTELY DO THAT. ONE THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS WE RECENTLY MET WITH STAFF OF CONGRESSWOMAN VERONICA ESCOBAR, AND GIVEN THE TIMING [02:20:04] AND THE TAX CREDITS, THIS KIND OF JUMPED TO THE FOREFRONT, WHICH IS WHY WE WANTED TO GET ON YOUR AGENDA. AND I APOLOGIZE FOR PLACING IT ON A RESOLUTION DAY, BUT JUST THERE'S SOME CRITICAL TIMING HAPPENING WITH REGARDS TO THE TAX CREDITS. BUT ABSOLUTELY, COMMISSIONER BUTLER, IF YOU'LL LET ME CIRCLE BACK AND WE CAN BRING AN ADDITIONAL ITEM WITH LETTERS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE. OKAY. AND JUST ONE OTHER ISSUE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BRIEFLY AT OUR TRANSIT BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK, AND SOMETHING THAT I KNOW OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS WATCHING VERY CAREFULLY IS POTENTIAL CUTS TO TRANSIT FEDERAL TRANSIT FUNDING, WHICH WOULD, WOULD WOULD CRIPPLE OUR OUR TRANSIT OPERATIONS IN EL PASO COUNTY. SO I UNDERSTAND THE TAX CREDITS ARE YOU KNOW, THERE'S A THERE'S A TIMING URGENCY FOR THAT. BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES RELATED TO FEDERAL SPENDING CUTS THAT I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE'RE TRACKING THEM AND HOW WE COULD PARTICIPATE IN, IN ADVOCATING FOR THOSE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. YES, MA'AM. WE'LL DO. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, ANY OTHER FEEDBACK ON THE LETTER OR ON THIS ITEM? NO. WE'RE OKAY. THANK YOU. THEN GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LETTER WITH THE EDITS AS SUGGESTED BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER. AND THEN WE'LL MAKE SURE TO SEND THAT LETTER THIS WEEK. THANK YOU LISA, AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US UP TO DATE. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CHANGES FOR THE LETTERS BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY, LISA. THANK YOU. YOU TOO. THANK YOU. ITEM EIGHT HUMAN RESOURCES 88A. RECEIVE AN UPDATE. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING HB 71 EIGHT AND THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS VALERIA FERNANDEZ WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, AS [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] REQUESTED BY THE COURT, THE HR DEPARTMENT IS HERE TO PROVIDE THE WEEKLY UPDATE ON THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE AND ITS ONGOING PROGRESS WITH HB 718 SINCE OUR LAST UPDATE, WE DO HAVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO SHARE. THE TAX OFFICE CURRENTLY HAS SEVEN VACANCIES AND AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED, TWO OF THOSE POSITIONS WILL BE FILLED IN JANUARY. THREE EMPLOYEES WERE PROMOTED THIS PAY PERIOD, WHICH VACATED TWO CUSTOMER RELATIONS SPECIALIST POSITIONS AND ONE CUSTOMER RELATIONS SPECIALIST INTERMEDIATE POSITION. THE VACANT ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST INTERMEDIATE POSITION WAS POSTED INTERNALLY AND IS ANTICIPATED TO BE FILLED SOON, AND WHEN THIS POSITION IS FILLED IT WILL LEAVE AN ENTRY LEVEL ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST POSITION FOR WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY POSTED AND TESTED FOR. THE RESULTS ARE BEING SENT TO THE DEPARTMENT TODAY. THE LAST VACANCY IS AN INVESTIGATOR POSITION WHICH WAS VACATED RECENTLY. WE ARE ALSO CONCLUDING THE TESTING PHASE FOR THE ENTRY LEVEL CUSTOMER RELATIONS SPECIALIST IN ANTICIPATION OF FUTURE VACANCIES, AND OUR TALENT MANAGEMENT TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE TAX OFFICE TO EXPEDITE ANY RECRUITMENT EFFORTS. THE COURT WAS PREVIOUSLY UPDATED THAT THE TAX OFFICE WILL WORK THE TWO SATURDAY SESSIONS IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF DECEMBER, AND SO AT THIS TIME, THERE ARE 576 PENDING TRANSACTIONS IN WEB DEALER. THIS IS A REDUCTION OF 305 TRANSACTIONS FROM THE LAST REPORTING DATE THAT WE PROVIDED LAST WEEK. WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR STAFFING, TRAINING, PROCESS ADJUSTMENTS AND REPORT TO THE COURT. AND THEN THE TIME AND MOTION STUDY IS FORTHCOMING. DOES THE COURT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSION. I, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WE'VE GOTTEN MY OFFICE HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF OUTREACH RECENTLY DUE TO THE TAX OFFICE BEING CLOSED ONE DAY A WEEK AT THE EAST SIDE ANNEX, AND I BELIEVE THE POSTING ON THE DOOR SAYS DUE TO A STAFFING SHORTAGE. AND SO I. I GUESS I WANT MORE CLARITY ABOUT. THE STAFFING NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED BY THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WE'VE BEEN RESPONSIVE TO ALL OF HIS REQUESTS AND HAVE PRIORITIZED FILLING THE POSITIONS THAT HE'S ASKED FOR. SO I'M REALLY TRYING TO TO GET A BETTER [02:25:05] UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT NEEDS ARE STILL PENDING. AND AND IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE CAN VALIDATE THAT THERE'S A STAFFING SHORTAGE THAT REQUIRES A CLOSING OF OFFICES. IF I CAN RESPOND TO THAT BEFORE YOU ADD ANY DETAILS. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MR. GONZALEZ HAS SAID IS THAT WE HAVE DENIED HIS REQUEST FOR STAFF, AND HE'S TALKING ABOUT OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, WE HAVE NOT DENIED HIS REQUEST FOR STAFF. WE HAVE NOT ACCEPTED REQUESTS FOR STAFFING. SO DEPARTMENTS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE. THEY HAVE STAFFING NEEDS. THEY HAVE USED OTHER POSITIONS TO CREATE THE POSITIONS THEY NEEDED. BUT BUT HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO SUBMIT STAFFING REQUESTS THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. SO THOSE ARE THAT'S HE HE I KNOW HE PHRASES IT AS HIS REQUESTS HAVE BEEN DENIED HIS REQUEST HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE SUBMITTED FOR EVALUATION. THE TIME AND MOTION STUDY THE HR IS COMPLETING WILL TELL US MORE INFORMATION BASED ON THE NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS, THE TIME IT TAKES, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, RELIEF FACTORS THAT HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED AND OTHER FACTORS THAT HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED IN IN PROVIDING FULL STAFFING. IT WILL GIVE US A RECOMMENDATION ON HOW MUCH MORE STAFFING, IF ANY, BUT IF IF MORE STAFFING IS NEEDED FOR THE TAX OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE AT A REASONABLE OPERATIONAL LEVEL. SO HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS WE'LL GET THAT AND BE ABLE TO TAKE IT UNDER ADVISEMENT AS WE CONSIDER ALLOCATING POSITIONS COMING IN INTO THE COMING 2026 YEAR. OKAY, I HAVE A QUESTION AS WELL. HAVE HAVE WE LOOKED AT OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING AND WHAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING? AND I MEAN, ARE THEY INCREASING STAFFING BY A LARGE AMOUNTS? ARE THEY SPENDING LOTS MORE ON OVERTIME LIKE WE ARE? WHAT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OTHER COUNTIES AND WHAT WHAT CAN WE DO TO WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEING AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE? BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY BELIEVE THAT THROWING MORE RESOURCES ALL THE TIME OR MONEY OR STAFF IS, IS THE CORRECT WAY TO DO THINGS. WE NEED TO LOOK AT EFFICIENCY FIRST. SIR. THERE'S THERE'S A FEW THINGS ABOUT THIS. SO THE LARGE COUNTIES THAT I'VE TALKED TO, WHICH IS THE MAJORITY OF OUR LARGEST COUNTIES, THE ONES I'VE SPOKEN TO DIRECTLY, HAVE NOT ADDED STAFFING, HAVE NOT ADDED OVERTIME. THEY STARTED DOING TRAINING EARLY ON BEYOND WHAT THE STATE PROVIDED TO TRY TO GET DEALERS TO MINIMIZE MISTAKES. BY THE TIME IT WAS ACTUALLY REQUIRED TO BE IMPLEMENTED. BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE WEREN'T SHORT-STAFFED BEFORE THE LAW CHANGE. SO THIS HR STUDY WILL HELP US WITH THAT. BUT AS FAR AS EFFICIENCY AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS TO ANY OPERATION AND LEADERSHIP, HOW YOU MANAGE IT. SO YOU CAN YOU CAN TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER. YOU CAN GIVE AS MUCH STAFFING AS POSSIBLE AS LONG AS IT'S BEING USED EFFECTIVELY, THAT THERE'S NO MORALE CHALLENGES, NO OTHER OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES. THOSE THINGS ALSO ARE AN IMPACT TO EFFICIENCY. AND SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT I DO BELIEVE. WHEN HR COMPLETES ITS TIME AND MOTION STUDY, IT'LL BE ABLE TO TELL US COMPARATIVELY FOR THE NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS WE HAVE. WEB DEALERS, SOME OTHER COUNTIES DON'T HAVE WEB DEALERS. YOU KNOW WHAT? OR I'M SORRY, NOT WEB DEALERS, BUT WE HAVE CONTRACTED OFFICES. THOSE ALL OF THOSE FACTORS NEED TO BE TAKEN IN. BUT EVEN EVEN IF IT'S APPLES TO APPLES, HOW WE'RE OPERATING IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE ANALYSIS, BECAUSE THAT THAT COULD BE A FACTOR AS MUCH AS WELL. SO EVEN LIKE OUR SICK LEAVE COMPARISON TO OTHER COUNTIES, WHICH CAN BE A SIGN OF THE MORALE IN THE OFFICE, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE TAX TAX ASSESSOR HAS INDICATED THAT THERE'S A RESISTANCE TO GIVE HIM STAFFING OR SPACE, AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THERE'S NO INDIVIDUALIZED RESISTANCE TO HIM HAVING THE SPACE HE NEEDS OR THE STAFF THAT HE NEEDS. AS YOU MENTIONED, THOUGH, HE NEEDS TO BE USING IT EFFICIENTLY AND JUST COMING AND ASKING FOR STAFF. NO, NONE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE ALLOWED TO JUST COME ASK FOR STAFF WITHOUT JUSTIFYING THE REQUEST, SHOWING THAT THEY'RE USING THEIR [02:30:02] CURRENT STAFF EFFICIENTLY. THERE IS NO DIFFERENT STANDARD BEING APPLIED TO THE TAX ASSESSOR. HE'S JUST NOT MEETING OUR BASIC STANDARD TO REQUEST STAFF IN THE WAY HE DOES IT. HE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THE DATA, SHOW HOW HE'S USING HIS STAFF EFFICIENTLY, AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM OVER YEARS. I HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND HAVE HAD, EVERY TIME I MET WITH HIM, HAVE HAD SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT EXACT ISSUE. YES, SIR. YEAH. AND I THINK ONE OF THE HARDEST THING IS THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN WHAT'S COMING OUT OF HIS OFFICE AND THEN WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS FELT WE SHOULD BE MORE IN PARTNERSHIP, BUT IT'S JUST REALLY DIFFICULT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS. WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST TO AS MUCH HELP AS WE CAN. AND THEN COMING OUT OF THE OFFICES LIKE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, JUST SITTING IN OUR HANDS. SO I WISH THERE WAS JUST A WAY WE COULD, YOU KNOW, CLOSE THAT GAP BETWEEN WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING AND WHAT'S BEING PUT OUT THERE. AND, OF COURSE, HE'S AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, SO HE COULD DO WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO. BUT I THINK IN FOR THE COMMUNITY, IT'S CONFUSING THE COMMUNITY TREMENDOUSLY. I MEAN, I GET A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ASSISTING AND THEN WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE THING THAT'S ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT CORRECTING THE RECORD AND SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT. IT'S NOT ABOUT TRYING TO POINT FINGERS. I MEAN, WE'RE WE'RE ALL A TEAM AND WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AS, AS QUICKLY AND AS EFFICIENTLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S BEING DONE AND WHAT HAS BEEN DONE AND WHAT HASN'T. AND YOU KNOW HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO GET TO GET OUT OF HERE. I AGREE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. YES, COMMISSIONER CORONADO HAS HAS HE USED UP THE ALLOTMENT THAT WE DID FOR OVERTIME? NO, NOT YET SIR, HE STILL HAS NOT. IT'S ONLY ABOUT HALF, I THINK. RIGHT, AS OF THE LAST UPDATE, AS OF THE LAST UPDATE. AND SO THIS IS PERIODICALLY UPDATED BECAUSE IT IT'S DEDUCTED FROM THAT ACCOUNT ONCE PAYROLL RUNS, WHICH IS EVERY TWO WEEKS. AND THE LAST TIME WE REPORTED IT WAS ALMOST 11,000 OUT OF THE 20 THAT'S BEEN APPROVED. I KNOW MR. GONZALEZ WAS OUT OUT OF TOWN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. DO WE KNOW IF HE'S BACK? YES. YES, MA'AM. OKAY, SO THEN PERHAPS WE CAN ASK HIM TO BE PRESENT AT THE NEXT UPDATE SO WE CAN MAYBE ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS FOR US. AND, COMMISSIONER STOUT, TO YOUR QUESTION, PREVIOUSLY, IF THERE WAS OTHER COUNTIES THAT HAD APPROVED NEW POSITIONS FROM OUR RECORDS AND WHAT WE HAD BEEN NOTIFIED, THERE'S BEEN THREE COUNTIES, TWO THAT DENTON AND MONTGOMERY THAT DID APPROVE NEW POSITIONS. IT WAS TWO AND THREE NEW POSITIONS. BEXAR COUNTY ALSO ADDED NEW STAFFING, BUT I BELIEVE THEY OPENED A LARGE NEW OFFICE. FROM THAT LOCATION. AND IT WAS 20 FULL SERVICE DEPUTIES THAT WERE ADDED AT THAT POINT. AND SO WE ARE REVIEWING AND THAT IS WILL BE PART OF THAT ANALYSIS THAT WE'RE CONDUCTING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. I KNOW THAT THAT UP TILL NOW THESE WEEKLY UPDATES HAVE BEEN RELATED TO TO THE CHANGES IN, IN LEGISLATION AND THE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE THAT ARE COMING FORTH BECAUSE OF THAT. BUT RELATED TO THE OFFICE CLOSURES, DO YOU THINK DO DO WE IF WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND ADDRESS THAT, SHOULD WE HAVE A SEPARATE AGENDA ITEM IN A FUTURE MEETING? AND AND MY MY QUESTION IS SO, SO UP TILL NOW, THE PRIMARY IMPACT DID COMMUNITY HAS BEEN THE DEALER COMMUNITY. BUT THE THE CALLS THAT MY OFFICE IS GETTING NOW ARE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST GOING TO THE TAX OFFICE TO RENEW THEIR REGISTRATIONS AND, YOU KNOW, DO THEIR DO THEIR BASIC RENEWALS OR PAY THEIR TAXES. THEY'RE TAKING TIME OFF OF WORK AND, YOU KNOW, ADJUSTING THEIR SCHEDULES, EXPECTING THE TAX OFFICE TO BE OPEN. AND THEY SHOW UP AND IT'S NOT AND AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE OR EASY FOR THEM TO TRAVEL ACROSS TOWN TO FIND A TAX OFFICE THAT IS OPEN. AND SO IF THIS IS GOING TO BE ONGOING, I THINK, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD GET MORE INFORMATION FROM THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR ON HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE. AND THEN IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO BETTER COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE PUBLIC, RECOGNIZING THAT THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR, AND THIS IS WHAT I TELL MY CONSTITUENTS, IS WE CANNOT CONTROL WHETHER HE CLOSES HIS OFFICE OR NOT OR WHERE HE DOES THAT. THAT'S THAT'S HIS DECISION. AND HE'S OPERATING HIS OFFICE. AND MAKING THOSE DECISIONS. BUT IT IS IMPACTING [02:35:08] THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND SO IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN MAYBE COMMUNICATE THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CLOSURES, IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO BE TAKING, I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE ITEM IN TERMS OF SIGNAGE BECAUSE PRESUMABLY, RIGHT, WE HAVE HIS ACTION WITH REGARDS TO 718. RIGHT. SO BECAUSE OF PRESUMABLY THEIR WORK ON THAT, IT HAS AFFECTED OTHER ITEMS. IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A DEEP DISCUSSION TO ALL THE OTHER PROJECTS AND THINGS THAT HE HE DOES, I WOULD RECOMMEND WE BRING THAT BACK. BUT I THINK WE DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY IF THEY'RE WORKING ON 718, AND THAT'S THEREFORE IMPACTING THEIR THEIR HOURS AND SIGNAGE WE MAY NEED. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO WHEN THESE CLOSURES ARE HAPPENING, DO WE KNOW THAT ALL THE PERSONNEL ARE WORKING ON THE ISSUES RELATED TO 718? DO WE KNOW ANYTHING FROM THAT FROM THE OFFICE? IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE STAFF IN THOSE LOCATIONS IS THEN SHIFTED TO WORK ON THE WEB DEALER. SO THAT WAY I FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE STAFF, THAT OF THE OFFICE THAT'S CLOSED EACH OF THOSE DAYS IS THEN REASSIGNED TO WORK ON THAT WEB DEALER. ALL OF THOSE ITEMS, I CAN'T SAY FOR CERTAIN, COMMISSIONER, I'M SORRY, BUT THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, IS THAT THAT STAFF IS REALLOCATED OR REASSIGNED TO. THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW. YEAH. THAT'S WHY I THINK WE NEED TO ASK THEM TO BE PRESENT AT OUR NEXT UPDATE. YEAH. ABSOLUTELY. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I CAN ANSWER? THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE WILL TAKE NO ACTION FOR ITEM EIGHT A ITEM NINE PUBLIC WORKS NINE A DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE EL PASO AREA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION'S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2026 STAFFING PLAN. YES, COUNTY JUDGE AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT JOHN ANDO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT OPERATIONS FOR ETA. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO REQUEST THE [A. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the El Paso Area Transportation Services, Local Government Corporation’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Staffing Plan. John Andoh, Executive Director, Transit Operations, 915-273-3838] COMMISSIONERS COURT'S CONSIDERATION TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR. LET ME USE THE EXACT WORDING TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE FUNDING FOR THE EL PASO AREA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION'S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2026 STAFFING PLAN, AND FURTHER APPROVE REORGANIZATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EL PASO COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AT THE JULY 2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, I DID PRESENT A PROPOSAL OF A STAFFING STRUCTURE FOR ETA TO PREPARE ETA FOR SEPARATION FROM COUNTY GOVERNMENT NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND TO ENSURE THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS THE APPROPRIATE FISCAL, TECHNICAL AND LEGAL CAPACITY TO MANAGE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION GRANTS AND THE VARIOUS TRANSIT PROGRAMS THAT THAT IS PRESENTLY UNDER THE PURVIEW OF ETA. PRESENTLY, IN THE CURRENT BUDGET, WE HAVE A DIRECTOR, WHICH IS MYSELF AND ASSOCIATE TRANSPORTATION PLANNER, A TRANSIT PLANNER AND ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST SENIOR, AND THEN ONE VACANT POSITION, WHICH IS THE SENIOR TRANSIT PROJECT MANAGER. WE ARE PROPOSING TO RECLASSIFY THE SENIOR TRANSIT PROJECT MANAGER AND THEN ADD THREE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS THAT WOULD FUNCTION IN FOUR DISTINCT UNITS OF OPERATIONS. WE WOULD HAVE AN OPERATIONS GROUP, A PLANNING GROUP, A FINANCE GROUP, AND AN ADMINISTRATION GROUP. THE PROPOSED POSITIONS THAT I'M PROPOSING TO ADD INCLUDE AN ACCOUNTING AND OFFICE MANAGER, WHICH WILL LEAD THE FINANCE GROUP, A CONTRACT COORDINATOR WHICH WILL SUPPORT THE TRANSIT OPERATIONS GROUP UNDER THE TRANSIT PLANNER, A GRANTS AND COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST THAT WOULD ENSURE THAT ALL OF ETA'S GRANTS THAT WE WOULD BE RECEIVING DIRECTLY FROM THE FTA, AS WELL AS FROM TXDOT, ENSURING THAT WE'RE COMPLYING WITH THOSE GRANTS. AND THEN A HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION PLAN COORDINATOR THAT WILL SUPPORT THE PLANNING UNIT AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE EFFECTIVELY PLANNING TRANSIT SERVICES FOR THE COUNTY. WE HAVE INCLUDED IN THE ETA BUDGET, WHICH WAS TRANSMITTED [02:40:01] TO THE ETA BOARD AND APPROVED AT ITS SEPTEMBER MEETING. THE APPROPRIATE FUNDING THROUGH VARIOUS TECH STOCKS, GRANTS TO COVER THESE POSITIONS. AND WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVE THE PROPOSED STAFFING PLAN AND THAT WE WILL COORDINATE WITH HUMAN RESOURCES ON THE NEXT STEPS TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS. I SHOULD STRESS THAT THE POSITIONS ARE IN THE BUDGET FOR SIX MONTHS, SO WE ANTICIPATE WE WOULD START RECRUITING IN EARLY WINTER OF 2026 AND FILL THOSE POSITIONS AROUND THE SPRING TIME FRAME OF 2026, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL, IF THERE ARE ANY. I, I JUST HAVE ONE COMMENT. THANK YOU, MISTER ANDO, FOR THAT OVERVIEW. AS MR. ANDO MENTIONED, THE ETA BOARD DID REVIEW THE STAFFING PLAN IN JULY, RIGHT AFTER MR. ANDO CAME ON BOARD, AND I. I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT IN A MEETING WITH MR. GONZALEZ, WHO IS THE LEAD FOR TXDOT FOR FOR EL PASO, FOR THE TRANSIT SIDE OF TEXDOT. AND HE WAS PRESENTED THE STAFFING PLAN AS WELL. AND HE HE GAVE US HIS HIS BLESSING AND AND REALLY COMMENDED MR. ANDO FOR THE THOUGHTFULNESS HE PUT INTO THAT, BECAUSE IT DOES. MIMIC WHAT OTHER TRANSIT OPERATIONS THAT ARE THE SIZE OF ETA HAVE FOR STAFFING, NOT JUST IN TERMS OF SIZE, BUT IN THE POSITIONS THAT MR. ANDO IS TRYING TO CREATE AND HIRE FOR. SO, MR. ANDREW, I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS IN PUTTING THE STAFFING PLAN TOGETHER. AND AND AGAIN, THIS WE HAVE ENSURED THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT BUDGET FOR THESE POSITIONS IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. GOOD MORNING. ANNA SCHUMACHER ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. I'M JUST GOING TO RESTATE THAT MOTION THAT MR. ANDREWS SAID AT THE BEGINNING. MR. ANDO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I MISSTATE ANYTHING THAT WAS TO APPROVE FUNDING FOR THE EL PASO AREA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS. PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2026 STAFFING PLAN AND FURTHER APPROVE REORGANIZATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EL PASO COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. THAT IS CORRECT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, MAY I MAKE A COMMENT FIRST? THIS IS BARBARA PARKER, COUNTY AUDITOR. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE FUNDING IS THROUGH THE GRANTS. IT'S NOT THROUGH COUNTY FUNDING. UNLESS WE USE SOME OF THE GRANTS THAT REQUIRE A 20% MATCH, AND THEY DO HAVE AVAILABLE MATCH. THANK YOU. BARBARA. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU JOHN. NICE SWEATER BY THE WAY. YES, IT'S MY SAN FRANCISCO MUNI CABLE CAR SWEATER. OKAY. TRUE. TRANSIT NERD OVER HERE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD DAY. THIS BRINGS US TO ITEM TEN EXECUTIVE SESSION. BEFORE BEFORE WE MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE DO HAVE A LEGAL MEMO TO READ IN BY COUNTY ATTORNEYS FOR ITEM TEN C. THANK YOU, MISS DOMINGUEZ. ANNA SCHUMACHER AN ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. SO STAFF IS ASKING THAT ITEM TEN BE HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 55 1.0725. THE COUNTY IS CURRENTLY IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH PHILLIPS USD MEACHAM PARTNERS, [C. Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.0725, discuss contract negotiations between Philips Uresti Meachum Partners and the County regarding the Consulting Services Agreement. Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-273-3582] REGARDING THE CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT. THE INFORMATION TO BE DISCUSSED INCLUDES ISSUES OF BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THOSE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, AND THE COURT MUST BE FREE TO DISCUSS THOSE ISSUES WITHOUT UNDERMINING THE COUNTY'S POSITION. THEREFORE, ERICA RESOLVES GAGLIONE, AS YOUR LEGAL ADVISOR, HAS DETERMINED THAT DELIBERATION AND OPEN MEETING CONCERNING THESE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATING TO THOSE NEGOTIATIONS WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN NEGOTIATIONS. THEREFORE, I AM REQUESTING THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT UNANIMOUSLY VOTE THAT DELIBERATIONS IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNTY IN THE NEGOTIATIONS, AND THAT ALL DELIBERATIONS TAKE PLACE IN CLOSED SESSION. I WOULD FURTHER REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, COMMISSIONERS, COURT REPORTERS TO ENSURE THAT ALL PROCEEDINGS IN CLOSED SESSION BE RECORDED. IF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AGREES, I NEED A MOTION, A SECOND AND A RECORDED VOTE AT THIS TIME. AND I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT A COPY OF THIS LEGAL MEMO HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, COMMISSIONERS, COURT REPORTERS TO BE MADE A PART OF THE OFFICIAL COURT RECORDS. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER, SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEMS TEN A THROUGH TEN PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 55 1.071 AND 551.0725 COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECONVENE TO TAKE OFFICIAL [02:45:02] ACTION. IT IS 12:15 P.M. [02:50:58] OH MY GOSH, THE LEDGES ARE WONDERFUL. THEY GRIND AMAZING. EVERY EVERYTHING IS SMOOTH. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. PARK. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ONE, TWO AND THREE. SO TODAY IS A VERY, VERY HAPPY DAY BECAUSE WE ARE HERE CELEBRATING THE RENOVATIONS AT AGUA DULCE PARK, BUT ALSO THE NAMING OF THIS SPECIFIC SKATEBOARD PARK TO THE MARIO NAVARRO SKATEBOARD PARK. MARIO WAS A PERSON WHO WAS VERY INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WHO SPENT A LOT OF HIS OWN PERSONAL TIME TEACHING CHILDREN HOW TO SKATEBOARD AND HOW TO SKATEBOARD SAFELY. A BIG PART OF THIS PROJECT WAS RECEIVING GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE FROM ACTUAL SKATEBOARDING PROFESSIONALS. WE HAD A SKATE PARK HERE AT AGUA DULCE BEFORE, BUT IT'S NOTHING LIKE WHAT YOU SEE TODAY. GO AHEAD. WOO WOO! THE COUNTY RECEIVED GRANT FUNDS IN 2021 TO BUILD THREE SAFE SKATE PARKS, AND IT WAS MATCHED BY COUNTY FUNDS. THE FAMILY OF ELIZABETH AVILA CONTACTED US TO LET US KNOW THAT THEY WOULD LIKE NAMING THE PARK IN HER HONOR AS AN OPTION, AND WE WERE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT. ELIZABETH WAS AN AVID SKATER AND UNFORTUNATELY PASSED AWAY DUE TO A SKATING INJURY, AND SO THIS IS A WAY TO HONOR HER LEGACY. YOU KNOW, IT'S A BITTERSWEET. OF COURSE, I WOULD WANT TO SEE HER HERE, BUT I KNOW THAT THROUGH HER TRAGEDY, WE CAN OFFER NOW THESE SAFE SKATE PARKS. AND THIS PARK WAS DESIGNED WITH SAFETY IN MIND. AND SO WE'RE REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE PROMOTING SAFETY IN ALL ASPECTS. AND WE HOPE THAT THE SKATING COMMUNITY WILL USE OUR PARKS AND KNOW THAT IT'S A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM TO DO SO. OH, THIS IS A GREAT EVENT THAT WE HAVE HERE OUT AT GALLEGOS PARK IN THE NORTHWEST AREA OF THE COUNTY, RIGHT NEXT TO CANUTILLO MIDDLE [10. EXECUTIVE SESSION Only the members of the Commissioners Court have a right to attend an executive session, except that legal counsel must be present if the executive session is held pursuant to Government Code section 551.071. In addition to legal counsel, Commissioners Court may include in executive session certain officers and employees if it finds that (1) their participation is necessary to the matter under consideration; (2) their interests are not adverse to the county, and (3) their presence will not waive the attorney client privilege. Generally, the Chief Administrator and County Clerk's representatives attend the closed session items based on the enumerated criteria, and certain other persons may attend based on the above-listed criteria or as otherwise provided by law.] SCHOOL. IT'S IT'S REALLY NICE. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE CAN DO DIFFERENT TRICKS ON. I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THERE'S MORE SKATE PARKS TO COME. AS YOU CAN SEE, A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE OUT HERE. THESE SKATEBOARDERS HAVE BEEN OUT HERE ACTUALLY, AS SOON AS IT WAS FINISHED, THEY DIDN'T WAIT FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING. THEY'VE BEEN OUT HERE DAILY USING THIS PARK. YEAH. SO I LOVE THE FACT THAT ONE THING THAT STUCK OUT TO ME IS THIS HALFPIPE HERE. NOT A LOT OF SKATE PARKS HERE HAVE HALF PIPES THAT WE CAN UTILIZE. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THIS COMMUNITY NOW IS ON TRACK TO MAKE SURE THAT EL PASO MOVES FORWARD WITH QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS. OH, IT WAS EXCELLENT. [02:55:50] 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 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, LYLA, 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 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 FALL. SO WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO JOINED US THIS SUMMER, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO START AGAIN NEXT SEASON. EL PASO I'M LAURA GALLEGOS AND THIS IS EL PASO COUNTY CONNECTS THE COUNTY, CONTINUES WORKING HARD ON COMMUNITY PROJECTS, EVENTS AND VOTER APPROVED IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS OUR REGION. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTY. EL PASO COUNTY AND AT&T KICKED OFF A MAJOR BROADBAND EXPANSION THAT WILL BRING HIGH SPEED INTERNET [03:00:05] TO MORE THAN A THOUSAND HOMES, INCLUDING 57 COLONIAS. AS PART OF THE CELEBRATION, 125 REFURBISHED LAPTOPS WERE DONATED TO FAMILIES TO HELP BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. THE COUNTY HOSTED THIS YEAR'S STATE OF THE COUNTY EVENT, WHERE JUDGE RICARDO SAMANIEGO DELIVERED THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS. HE HIGHLIGHTED MAJOR PROGRESS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE VOTER APPROVED BOND PROJECTS NOW MOVING FORWARD ACROSS THE REGION. FAMILIES CAMPED OUT UNDER THE STARS DURING THE ANNUAL ASCARATE PARK CAMPOUT, A WEEKEND FILLED WITH OUTDOOR FUN, GAMES AND COMMUNITY BONDING AT ONE OF THE COUNTY'S MOST ICONIC FAMILY GATHERING PLACES. COMMUNITIES ACROSS EL PASO COUNTY CAME TOGETHER TO HONOR OUR HEROES WITH VETERANS DAY PARADES AND CELEBRATIONS. AS THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, THE COUNTY PROUDLY RECOGNIZED THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF OUR VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY. THE COUNTY OFFICIALLY OPENED THE NEW SPARKS PARK, BRINGING FRESH RECREATIONAL SPACE TO THE COMMUNITY. THE PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW, WITH FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS FUNDED BY THE 2024 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOND. THE COUNTY CONTINUES ITS COMMITMENT TO KEEPING RESIDENTS INFORMED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. ON 2024 VOTER APPROVED PROJECTS THIS MONTH, TWO MAJOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS TOOK PLACE ONE IN FABENS FOR THE SAN FELIPE OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE PARK IMPROVEMENTS AND ANOTHER FOR THE NEW COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER. RESIDENTS HAD THE CHANCE TO REVIEW EARLY CONCEPTS, ASK QUESTIONS, AND SHARE IDEAS THAT WILL HELP SHAPE THESE PROJECTS AS DESIGN WORK MOVES FORWARD. IT'S ALL PART OF THE COUNTY'S EFFORT TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND STRONG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BOND PROGRAM. THAT'S IT FOR THIS MONTH'S EL PASO COUNTY CONNECTS. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE ASCARATE PARK IMPROVEMENT MEETING COMING UP ON DECEMBER 9TH. AS THESE COMMUNITY PROJECTS CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD FROM ALL OF US AT EL PASO COUNTY, WE WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING. UNTIL NEXT TIME, STAY WARM AND STAY CONNECTED. FELIZ NAVIDAD. WELCOME TO YOU TO THE LIGHTS ON THE LAKE 2025 LIGHTING CEREMONY AT THE BEAUTIFUL PARK. THE SUNSETS, THE MOUNTAINS, OUR BEAUTIFUL DESERT. YOU GUYS LOOK AMAZING. I LIKE THE ENERGY. I WANT TO WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS. I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT ALL OF YOU GUYS CAME OUT HERE TO LISTEN TO SOME MUSIC, TO HAVE SOME FUN. AS YOU ALL KNOW, ASCARATE PARK IS THE HEART OF EL PASO COUNTY AND WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE SO MANY OF YOU HERE CELEBRATING WITH US TONIGHT AS WE CELEBRATE TRADITION AND COMMUNITY AND THE JOY OF THE SEASON. HEY, HEY. WHY? I THINK IT WAS PRETTY AWESOME. YEAH, I LIKED IT. VERY COLORFUL FOR THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, SO I LIKED IT. YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S AWESOME. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I COME HERE. SO IT'S IT'S REALLY AWESOME TO KNOW THAT OUR COUNTY IS COMING TOGETHER AND DOING NEW STUFF. YEAH. GET EVERYONE IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT BETTER THAN BEING AT HOME AND, YOU KNOW, GET EVERYBODY OUT AND ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS. GET READY FOR HIM. YOU KNOW, IT'S FREE. PEOPLE CAN COME HERE. THEY CAN ENJOY. THEY CAN WRITE IN THEIR IN THEIR CARS, OR THEY CAN GET DOWN LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO TAKE PICTURES WITH THE FAMILY. OUR PARKS AND RECREATION TEAM HERE AT EL PASO COUNTY DEDICATED 2660 STAFF HOURS, AND OUR INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE MEMBERS CONTRIBUTED AN ADDITIONAL 2380 HOURS TO BRING THIS HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE TO LIFE. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY HERE IN EL PASO, AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE EL PASO COUNTY, ESPECIALLY ALL THE COMMISSIONERS HERE. AND WE'LL KEEP EVERYTHING GOING STRONG HERE IN EL PASO, ESPECIALLY HERE AT ESQUERITA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. HEY MERRY CHRISTMAS. HAPPY NEW YEAR. MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR. HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. [03:10:23] OH MY GOSH THE LEDGES ARE WONDERFUL. THEY GRIND AMAZING. EVERY EVERYTHING IS SMOOTH. [03:10:29] IT'S BEAUTIFUL. PARK. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ONE, TWO AND THREE. SO TODAY IS A VERY, VERY HAPPY DAY BECAUSE WE ARE HERE CELEBRATING THE RENOVATIONS AT AGUA DULCE PARK, BUT ALSO THE NAMING OF THIS SPECIFIC SKATEBOARD PARK TO THE MARIO NAVARRO SKATEBOARD PARK. MARIO WAS A PERSON WHO WAS VERY INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WHO SPENT A LOT OF HIS OWN PERSONAL TIME TEACHING CHILDREN HOW TO SKATEBOARD AND HOW TO SKATEBOARD SAFELY. A BIG PART OF THIS PROJECT WAS RECEIVING GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE FROM ACTUAL SKATEBOARDING PROFESSIONALS. WE HAD A SKATE PARK HERE AT AGUA DULCE BEFORE, BUT IT'S NOTHING LIKE WHAT YOU SEE TODAY. GO AHEAD. WOO WOO! THE COUNTY RECEIVED GRANT FUNDS IN 2021 TO BUILD THREE SAFE SKATE PARKS, AND IT WAS MATCHED BY COUNTY FUNDS. THE FAMILY OF ELIZABETH AVILA CONTACTED US TO LET US KNOW THAT THEY WOULD LIKE NAMING THE PARK IN HER HONOR AS AN OPTION, AND WE WERE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT. LIZBETH WAS AN AVID SKATER AND UNFORTUNATELY PASSED AWAY DUE TO A SKATING INJURY, AND SO THIS IS A WAY TO HONOR HER LEGACY. YOU KNOW, IT'S A BITTERSWEET. OF COURSE, I WOULD WANT TO SEE HER HERE, BUT I KNOW THAT THROUGH HER TRAGEDY, WE CAN OFFER NOW THESE SAFE SKATE PARKS. AND THIS PARK WAS DESIGNED WITH SAFETY IN MIND. AND SO WE'RE REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE PROMOTING SAFETY IN ALL ASPECTS. AND WE HOPE THAT THE SKATING COMMUNITY WILL USE OUR PARKS AND KNOW THAT IT'S A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM TO DO SO. OH, THIS IS A GREAT EVENT THAT WE HAVE HERE OUT AT GALLEGOS PARK IN THE NORTHWEST AREA OF THE COUNTY, RIGHT NEXT TO CANUTILLO MIDDLE SCHOOL. IT'S IT'S REALLY NICE. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE CAN DO DIFFERENT TRICKS ON. I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THERE'S MORE SKATE PARKS TO COME. AS YOU CAN SEE, A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE OUT HERE. THESE SKATEBOARDERS HAVE BEEN OUT HERE ACTUALLY, AS SOON AS IT WAS FINISHED, THEY DIDN'T WAIT FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING. THEY'VE BEEN OUT HERE DAILY USING THIS PARK. YEAH. SO I LOVE THE FACT THAT ONE THING THAT STUCK OUT TO ME IS THIS HALFPIPE HERE. NOT A LOT OF SKATE PARKS HERE HAVE HALFPIPES THAT WE CAN UTILIZE. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THIS COMMUNITY NOW IS ON TRACK TO MAKE SURE THAT EL PASO MOVES FORWARD WITH QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS. OH, IT WAS EXCELLENT. [03:15:15] 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. MINNIE MOUSE HEY, LYLA, YOU'RE THE WINNER. MY 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. 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. EL PASO I'M LAURA GALLEGOS AND THIS IS EL PASO COUNTY CONNECTS THE COUNTY, CONTINUES WORKING HARD ON COMMUNITY PROJECTS, EVENTS AND VOTER APPROVED IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS OUR REGION. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTY. EL PASO COUNTY AND AT&T KICKED OFF A MAJOR BROADBAND EXPANSION THAT WILL BRING HIGH SPEED INTERNET TO MORE THAN A THOUSAND HOMES, INCLUDING 57 COLONIAS. AS PART OF THE CELEBRATION, 125 REFURBISHED LAPTOPS WERE DONATED TO FAMILIES TO HELP BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. THE COUNTY HOSTED THIS YEAR'S STATE OF THE COUNTY EVENT, WHERE JUDGE RICARDO SAMANIEGO DELIVERED THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS. HE HIGHLIGHTED MAJOR PROGRESS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE VOTER APPROVED BOND PROJECTS NOW MOVING FORWARD ACROSS THE REGION. FAMILIES CAMPED OUT UNDER THE STARS DURING THE [03:20:07] ANNUAL ASCARATE PARK CAMPOUT, A WEEKEND FILLED WITH OUTDOOR FUN, GAMES AND COMMUNITY BONDING AT ONE OF THE COUNTY'S MOST ICONIC FAMILY GATHERING PLACES. COMMUNITIES ACROSS EL PASO COUNTY CAME TOGETHER TO HONOR OUR HEROES WITH VETERANS DAY PARADES AND CELEBRATIONS. AS THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, THE COUNTY PROUDLY RECOGNIZED THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF OUR VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY. THE COUNTY OFFICIALLY OPENED THE NEW SPARKS PARK, BRINGING FRESH RECREATIONAL SPACE TO THE COMMUNITY. THE PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW, WITH FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS FUNDED BY THE 2024 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOND. THE COUNTY CONTINUES ITS COMMITMENT TO KEEPING RESIDENTS INFORMED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY ON 2024 VOTER APPROVED PROJECTS. THIS MONTH, TWO MAJOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS TOOK PLACE ONE IN FABENS FOR THE SAN FELIPE OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE PARK IMPROVEMENTS AND ANOTHER FOR THE NEW COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER. RESIDENTS HAD THE CHANCE TO REVIEW EARLY CONCEPTS, ASK QUESTIONS, AND SHARE IDEAS THAT WILL HELP SHAPE THESE PROJECTS AS DESIGN WORK MOVES FORWARD. IT'S ALL PART OF THE COUNTY'S EFFORT TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND STRONG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BOND PROGRAM. THAT'S IT FOR THIS MONTH'S EL PASO COUNTY CONNECTS. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE ASCARATE PARK IMPROVEMENT MEETING COMING UP ON DECEMBER 9TH. AS THESE COMMUNITY PROJECTS CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD FROM ALL OF US AT EL PASO COUNTY, WE WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING. UNTIL NEXT TIME, STAY WARM AND STAY CONNECTED. FELIZ NAVIDAD. WELCOME TO YOU TO THE LIGHTS ON THE LAKE 2025 LIGHTING CEREMONY AT THE BEAUTIFUL ASCARATE PARK. THE SUNSETS. THE MOUNTAINS ARE BEAUTIFUL DESERT. YOU GUYS LOOK AMAZING. I LIKE THE ENERGY. I WANT TO WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS. I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT ALL OF YOU GUYS CAME OUT HERE TO LISTEN TO SOME MUSIC, TO HAVE SOME FUN. AS YOU ALL KNOW, ASCARATE PARK IS THE HEART OF EL PASO COUNTY AND WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE SO MANY OF YOU HERE CELEBRATING WITH US TONIGHT AS WE CELEBRATE TRADITION AND COMMUNITY AND THE JOY OF THE SEASON. HEY, HEY. WHY? I THINK IT WAS PRETTY AWESOME. YEAH, I LIKED IT. VERY COLORFUL FOR THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, SO I LIKED IT. YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S AWESOME. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I COME HERE, SO IT'S IT'S REALLY AWESOME TO KNOW THAT OUR COUNTY IS COMING TOGETHER AND DOING NEW STUFF. YEAH. GETTING INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT BETTER THAN BEING AT HOME AND, YOU KNOW, GET EVERYBODY OUT AND ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS. GET READY FOR HIM. YOU KNOW, IT'S FREE. PEOPLE CAN COME HERE. THEY CAN ENJOY. THEY CAN WRITE IN THEIR IN THEIR CARS, OR THEY CAN GET DOWN LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO TAKE PICTURES WITH A FAMILY. OUR PARKS AND RECREATION TEAM HERE AT EL PASO COUNTY DEDICATED 2660 STAFF HOURS, AND OUR INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE MEMBERS CONTRIBUTED AN ADDITIONAL 2380 HOURS TO BRING THIS HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE TO LIFE. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY HERE IN EL PASO, AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE EL PASO COUNTY, ESPECIALLY ALL THE COMMISSIONERS HERE. AND WE'LL KEEP EVERYTHING GOING STRONG HERE IN EL PASO, ESPECIALLY HERE AT ESQUERITA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. MERRY CHRISTMAS. HAPPY NEW YEAR. MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. [03:29:47] OH MY GOSH THE LEDGES ARE WONDERFUL. THEY GRIND AMAZING. EVERY EVERYTHING IS SMOOTH. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. PARK. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ONE, TWO AND THREE. SO [03:30:02] TODAY IS A VERY, VERY HAPPY DAY BECAUSE WE ARE HERE CELEBRATING THE RENOVATIONS AT AGUA DULCE PARK, BUT ALSO THE NAMING OF THIS SPECIFIC SKATEBOARD PARK TO THE MARIO NAVARRO SKATEBOARD PARK. MARIO WAS A PERSON WHO WAS VERY INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WHO SPENT A LOT OF HIS OWN PERSONAL TIME TEACHING CHILDREN HOW TO SKATEBOARD AND HOW TO SKATEBOARD SAFELY. A BIG PART OF THIS PROJECT WAS RECEIVING GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE FROM ACTUAL SKATEBOARDING PROFESSIONALS. WE HAD A SKATE PARK HERE AT AGUA DULCE BEFORE, BUT IT'S NOTHING LIKE WHAT YOU SEE TODAY. GO AHEAD. WOO! THE COUNTY RECEIVED GRANT FUNDS IN 2021 TO BUILD THREE SAFE SKATE PARKS, AND IT WAS MATCHED BY COUNTY FUNDS. THE FAMILY OF ELIZABETH AVILA CONTACTED US TO LET US KNOW THAT THEY WOULD LIKE NAMING THE PARK IN HER HONOR AS AN OPTION, AND WE WERE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT. ELIZABETH WAS AN AVID SKATER AND UNFORTUNATELY PASSED AWAY DUE TO A SKATING INJURY, AND SO THIS IS A WAY TO HONOR HER LEGACY. YOU KNOW, IT'S A BITTERSWEET. OF COURSE, I WOULD WANT TO SEE HER HERE, BUT I KNOW THAT THROUGH HER TRAGEDY, WE CAN OFFER NOW THESE SAFE SKATE PARKS. AND THIS PARK WAS DESIGNED WITH SAFETY IN MIND. AND SO WE'RE REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE PROMOTING SAFETY IN ALL ASPECTS. AND WE HOPE THAT THE SKATING COMMUNITY WILL USE OUR PARKS AND KNOW THAT IT'S A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM TO DO SO. OH, THIS IS A GREAT EVENT THAT WE HAVE HERE OUT AT GALLEGOS PARK IN THE NORTHWEST AREA OF THE COUNTY, RIGHT NEXT TO CANUTILLO MIDDLE SCHOOL. IT'S IT'S REALLY NICE. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE CAN DO DIFFERENT TRICKS ON. I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THERE'S MORE SKATE PARKS TO COME. AS YOU CAN SEE, A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE OUT HERE. THESE SKATEBOARDERS HAVE BEEN OUT HERE ACTUALLY, AS SOON AS IT WAS FINISHED, THEY DIDN'T WAIT FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING. THEY'VE BEEN OUT HERE DAILY USING THIS PARK. YEAH. SO I LOVE THE FACT THAT ONE THING THAT STUCK OUT TO ME IS THIS HALFPIPE HERE. NOT A LOT OF SKATE PARKS HERE HAVE HALFPIPES THAT WE CAN UTILIZE. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THIS COMMUNITY NOW IS ON TRACK TO MAKE SURE THAT EL PASO MOVES FORWARD WITH QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS. OH, IT WAS EXCELLENT. YOU. 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 [03:35:06] 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. 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 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. EL PASO I'M LAURA GALLEGOS AND THIS IS EL PASO COUNTY CONNECTS THE COUNTY CONTINUES WORKING HARD ON COMMUNITY PROJECTS, EVENTS AND VOTER APPROVED IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS OUR REGION. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTY. EL PASO COUNTY AND AT&T KICKED OFF A MAJOR BROADBAND EXPANSION THAT WILL BRING HIGH SPEED INTERNET TO MORE THAN A THOUSAND HOMES, INCLUDING 57 COLONIAS. AS PART OF THE CELEBRATION, 125 REFURBISHED LAPTOPS WERE DONATED TO FAMILIES TO HELP BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. THE COUNTY HOSTED THIS YEAR'S STATE OF THE COUNTY EVENT, WHERE JUDGE RICARDO SAMANIEGO DELIVERED THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS. HE HIGHLIGHTED MAJOR PROGRESS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE VOTER APPROVED BOND PROJECTS NOW MOVING FORWARD ACROSS THE REGION. FAMILIES CAMPED OUT UNDER THE STARS DURING THE ANNUAL ASCARATE PARK CAMPOUT, A WEEKEND FILLED WITH OUTDOOR FUN, GAMES AND COMMUNITY BONDING AT ONE OF THE COUNTY'S MOST ICONIC FAMILY GATHERING PLACES. COMMUNITIES ACROSS EL PASO COUNTY CAME TOGETHER TO HONOR OUR HEROES WITH VETERANS DAY PARADES AND CELEBRATIONS. AS THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, THE COUNTY PROUDLY RECOGNIZED THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF OUR VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY. THE COUNTY OFFICIALLY OPENED THE NEW SPARKS PARK, [03:40:07] BRINGING FRESH RECREATIONAL SPACE TO THE COMMUNITY. THE PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW, WITH FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS FUNDED BY THE 2024 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOND. THE COUNTY CONTINUES ITS COMMITMENT TO KEEPING RESIDENTS INFORMED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. ON 2024 VOTER APPROVED PROJECTS THIS MONTH, TWO MAJOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS TOOK PLACE ONE IN FABENS FOR THE SAN FELIPE OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE PARK IMPROVEMENTS AND ANOTHER FOR THE NEW COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER. RESIDENTS HAD THE CHANCE TO REVIEW EARLY CONCEPTS, ASK QUESTIONS, AND SHARE IDEAS THAT WILL HELP SHAPE THESE PROJECTS AS DESIGN WORK MOVES FORWARD. IT'S ALL PART OF THE COUNTY'S EFFORT TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND STRONG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BOND PROGRAM. THAT'S IT FOR THIS MONTH'S EL PASO COUNTY CONNECTS. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE ASCARATE PARK IMPROVEMENT MEETING COMING UP ON DECEMBER 9TH. AS THESE COMMUNITY PROJECTS CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD FROM ALL OF US AT EL PASO COUNTY, WE WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING. UNTIL NEXT TIME, STAY WARM AND STAY CONNECTED. FELIZ NAVIDAD. WELCOME TO YOU TO THE LIGHTS ON THE LAKE 2025 LIGHTING CEREMONY AT THE BEAUTIFUL PARK. THE SUNSETS. THE MOUNTAINS ARE BEAUTIFUL. DESERT. DESIERTO TOLEDO. YOU GUYS LOOK AMAZING. I LIKE THE ENERGY. I WANT TO WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS. I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT ALL OF YOU GUYS CAME OUT HERE TO LISTEN TO SOME MUSIC, TO HAVE SOME FUN. AS YOU ALL KNOW, ASCARATE PARK IS THE HEART OF EL PASO COUNTY AND WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE SO MANY OF YOU HERE CELEBRATING WITH US TONIGHT AS WE CELEBRATE TRADITION AND COMMUNITY AND THE JOY OF THE SEASON. HEY HEY, ONE. I THINK IT WAS PRETTY AWESOME. YEAH, I LIKED IT. VERY COLORFUL FOR THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, SO I LIKED IT. YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S AWESOME. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I COME HERE. SO IT'S IT'S REALLY AWESOME TO KNOW THAT OUR COUNTY IS COMING TOGETHER AND DOING NEW STUFF. YEAH. GET EVERYONE IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT BETTER THAN BEING AT HOME AND, YOU KNOW, GET EVERYBODY OUT AND ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS. GET READY FOR THEM. YOU KNOW, IT'S FREE. PEOPLE CAN COME HERE, THEY CAN ENJOY. THEY CAN WRITE IN THEIR IN THEIR CARS, OR THEY CAN GET DOWN LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO TAKE PICTURES WITH THE FAMILY. OUR PARKS AND RECREATION TEAM HERE AT EL PASO COUNTY DEDICATED 2660 STAFF HOURS, AND OUR INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE MEMBERS CONTRIBUTED AN ADDITIONAL 2380 HOURS TO BRING THIS HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE TO LIFE. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY HERE IN EL PASO, AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE EL PASO COUNTY, ESPECIALLY ALL THE COMMISSIONERS HERE. AND WE'LL KEEP EVERYTHING GOING STRONG HERE IN EL PASO, ESPECIALLY HERE AT ESQUERITA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. MERRY CHRISTMAS. HAPPY NEW YEAR. MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. [03:45:18] GO AHEAD. HAS RECONVENED TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. ITEM 11 A DISCUSS AND [11. REGULAR SESSION] TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION PERTAINING TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. PARTICIPATION IN THE EL PASO METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION MEETINGS AND THE MPOS. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO [A. Discuss and take appropriate action pertaining to the Commissioners Court participation in the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meetings and the MPO’s proposed amendments to its bylaws. Erica Rosales-Nigaglioni, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office, 915-273-3247] ITS BYLAWS. GOOD AFTERNOON. ANNA SCHUMACHER, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY ACTION FOR THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. SO NO ACTION FOR ITEM 11 A ITEM 11 B DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN EL PASO COUNTY AND PHILLIPS MITCHUM PARTNERS. CONTRACT NUMBER 2025 0811. AN ASSISTANT [B. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the Consulting Services Agreement between El Paso County and Philips Uresti Meachum Partners. (Contract No. 2025-0811) Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-273-3582] COUNTY ATTORNEY. I HEARD YOU SAY NO REQUESTED ACTION AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ACTION ITEM 11 B, THAT COMPLETES ALL THE ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. JUDGE. OKAY. THANK YOU. JUST WISHING ALL OF YOU A GREAT WEEK. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE EVERYTHING. EVERYBODY DOES. PROMOTION TEAM DOCTOR. THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S MEETING AT 1:16 P.M. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.