Sep 22, 2021 Commissioners Court - Regular

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:07]

>>> GOOD MORNING. I WILL START WITH CALLING EVERYONE TO ORDER WE SHOULD GET WITH THE INTERFAITH COMMUNITY T IS SO NICE TO HAVE UNDERSTAND PASTOR REVEREND.

RABBI, PRIEST. SO NICE TO HAVE FOLKS FROM OUR FAITH BASED COMMUNITY HERE.

WOULD YOU MAKE THAT NOTE. I DON'T MIND ASKING THE COMMISSIONERS I DON'T THINK THEY MIND GIVING INVOCATION. I ENJOY INVITING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO JOIN IN.

[A. County Judge calls for the Invocation.]

>>> WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOU. YOUR SON AND ALL THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU MADE BY SENDING HIM TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR US. WE HAVE A GRATEFUL FOR HERE TODAY THAT SERVED AS THE COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY AND ALL THE CITIZENS THAT CARE ABOUT WHAT GOES ON.

WE ASK THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO HELP US DO THE RIGHT THING AND JUST THING AND WE ASK, LORD, THAT YOU WILL WATCH OVER US AND PROTECT ALL THAT SERVE ON THE COURT AND THE COURTROOM AND ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR NUECES COUNTY. WE ASK FOUR BLESSINGS AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR US, FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS AND ALL THE THINGS IN JESUS' NAME.

[B. Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America and Texas Flags.]

IT STANDS, ONE NATION, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND >>> HONOR THELL.

TEXAS FLAG; I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ON

[C. County Judge will call roll, note date, time, and location of meeting, and certify a quorum is present.]

AND INDIVISIBLE. >>> THE DATE IS SEPTEMB SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2021.

AND SOMEBODY TOLD ME IT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF FALL. IT LIVES UP TO THE CALENDAR VERY MUCH. THE TIME THAT WE STARTED WAS ABOUT 9:10 A.M. WHEN I LOOKED UP WE ASKED CONNIE TO BRING THE MICS UP. WE'RE THE THIRD FLOORED OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM INSIDE NUECES COUNTY COWARD. AND ALL COMMISSIONERS ARE PRESENT. MADAM CLERK, THAT MEANS WE HAVE A QUORUM THAT I CAN SERRED

[D. SAFETY BRIEFING]

>> THE 21ST OR THE 22ND. >> THE 22ND. >> WAS FALL YESTERDAY.

>> IT IS TODAY. >> PERFECT. >> I WOULD LOVE A DAY BACK.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. THE SAFETY BELIEVING FOR TODAY D IS BEING HANDLE IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURTROOM. THE RESTROOMS ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE ATRIUM PAST THE HUMAN RESO RESOURCES OFFICE.

THERE IS A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND FIVE LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

RELIEF CONTROL STATIONS ARE IN ON E EVERY FLOOR. AN AED IS NEXT TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES -FS. PARTICIPANT FOR TODAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DIALING 911 WILL BE CONNIE. PARTICIPANT CPR CERTIFIED WILL BE DALE AND, REMEMBER, ANYONE CAN RENDER AID. IN THE EVENT OF AN EVACUATION OUR EGRESS WILL BE DOWN THE STAIRS, PROCEEDING OUT THE DOORS LOCATED IN THE STREET SIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE AND IN THE PARKING LOT ACROSS THE STREET. SHOULD THERE BE A NEED TO SHELTER IN PLACE AND THE COURTROOM DOUBLE DOORS WILL BE SECURE AND REMAIN SECURE UNTIL GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE NUECES COUNTY SHERIFF OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

OUR GUEST SANITIZER WILL BE MICHAEL. YOU.

>> OUR SAFETY TOPIC IS SOCIAL MEDIA. STARTED OUT AS A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO STAY IN TOUCH. INSTEAD OF USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO ENHANCE A THEY HAVE TURNED IT INTO A PART OF THEIR LIFE.

[00:05:02]

THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO WHEN ARE YOU NOT ON THE PHONE.

AND TIME WITH FRIENDS AND WORK AND OTHER THINGS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED. KIDSNEED TO BE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE AROUND THEM. THE TONE OF A VOICE CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. THERE ARE REASONS WHY SOCIAL MEDIA NEEDS TO BE LIMITED. AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANGES THE WAY WE REACT TO EACH OTHER AS A WHOLE.

WE ARE TURNING TO THE DEVICES NOT THE HUMANS.

THEY CAN GET UGLIER BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPERSONAL.

AND INFORMATION CAN LEAD PEOPLE TO BE UNKIND TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS MAKING COMMENTS. TAKE SOME TIME TO BRING THE REAL PEOPLE BACK INTO YOUR LIFE.

SOCIAL MEDIA SHOWS NO SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN IT CAN BE AWARE OF A SITUATION. PUT THE PHONE DOWN AND LIFT

YOUR HEAD UP. >> AMEN TO ALL OF THAT.

[E. PUBLIC COMMENT: This section provides the public the opportunity to address the Commissioners Court on any issues within its jurisdiction. The Commissioners Court may not take formal action on any requests made during the Public Comment period which are not on the Agenda, but can refer such requests to County staff for review if appropriate.]

>>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'LL ASK THAT TYNER BRING FORWARD ANY PUBLIC COMMENT BUT I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS OUTSIDE AND I CERTAINLY.

AND KNOW THAT AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT WE'LL DO THE 4-H LET THEM KNOW. EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET BACK TO SCHOOL.

SO. >> WITH THAT AND JAN ROBERSON THERE ARE PEOPLE REPRESENTING THE NUECES COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IF YOU LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE NEXT BUT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO.

IF THEY HAVE A SPOKESPERSON THAT'S ALWAYS WELCOME AS WELL.

>> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.

>> I CALLED YOUR NAME I WAS GOING TO SAY CAN YOU REPEAT IT THE CLERK IS TAKING IT DOWN. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I SAY IT

PROPERLY. >> JAN ROBERSON.

>> WALK. >> YOU MAY PROCEED.

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. JAN ROBERSON A VOLUNTEER AND SUPPORTER OF THE NATIONAL SEA TURTLE PROGRAM.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING DONNA SCHAFER PROGRAM.

HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M AVAILABLE TO DO ANYTHING NEEDED AND I HAVE A DOCUMENT. AND THE 83RD LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS ADOPTED THE SEA TURTLE AS THE STATE SEA TURTLE OF TEXAS. PRESENTLY SUPPORTERS AND THE PROGRAM. AND TWO NEW DEVELOPMENTS THE NEW FISCAL NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 2022 BUDGET STATES THAT THE SEASHORE IS TO RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL $850,000 FOR AN UNDISCLOSED NUMBER OF YEARS WHY DO THEY DISMANTLE THE SEA TURTLE PROGRAM? NUMBER TWO, WE STARTED PETITION LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND FOUND AT CHANGE.ORG.

TO DATE, 30577 SIGNATURES HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED.

JUST A STORY REPRESENTING THE WORK OF DR. SCHAFER IN THE FALL OF 2020. DONNA PREDICTED A EVENT, REMEMBER WE ALL REMEMBER THE ARCTIC BLAST THIS PAST FEBRUARY. BECAUSE OF THE EXPERTISE, NUMEROUS COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS WERE ABLE TO SAVE THOUSANDS OF TURTLES AND ACKNOWLEDGING OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE SEA TURTLE AND THE PROGRAM IS WORLD ACCLAIM AND SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIC CONSERVATION EFFORT FOR THE ENDANGERED TEXAS SEA TURTLE. AT THE TIME GENERATES OVER 1 MILLION A YEAR TO THE ECONOMY.

WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE NICK MEYER OUR AMBASSADOR ON THE BEACH WHO WILL ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF A NEW STUDY THAT THE PARK WILL DO ON AS FAR AS BEACH MANAGEMENT REGARDING A STUDY. IF THIS IS INITIATED, IT IS

GOING TO AFFECT OUR ECONOMY. >> AND THE COURT CAN ACCEPT YOUR DOCUMENTS IF WOULD YOU HAND THEM TO MR. LITTLE, HE IS

[00:10:03]

MR. MEYER I SHOW YOU AS LISTED NEXT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT I CALL UPON YOU, SIR. WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> I'M MICK MEYER THE YES, SIR OF BREAK AWAY FISH AND TACKLE HERE SINCE 1994. THE REASON I CAME HERE BECAUSE OF THAT NATIONAL SEASHORE. AND ON A REGULAR BASIS I GIVE DAILY REPORTS. WE TALK TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THIS BEACH AND THAT IS SO VALUABLE I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT OUR CITY HAS NOT GOT MORE INFLUENCE ON WHEN THE WAY THEY ARE RUNNING IT.

THEY CAN COME IN AND MAKE CHANGES AND WILLY-NILLY CLOSE SECTIONS OFF NO CONSULTATION. NEVER BEFORE IN ALL PREVIOUS SUPERINTENDENTS THERE WAS A CHANGE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED, THERE WAS ALWAYS A PUBLIC MEETING THAT WOULD COME TO US AND ASK FOR FISHERMEN TO GIVE THEIR INPUT.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT.

AS A BUSINESSMAN WHO SUPPLIES MANY LOCAL SHOPS WITH FISHING EQUIPMENT, THIS WILL HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON ALL OF THEM. THEY COME TO FISH THAT BEACH IT IS FIS FISHING EQUIPMENT YOU SEE THEM AT THE WALMART, THEY ARE AT THE HOTELS THERE ARE MILLIONS OF DOLLAR AS YEAR

WE WILL BE LOSING. >> I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

KY NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A PROGRAM THAT HAD GRANTS SUPPLIED TO IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THEY KNOW THE VALUE WORLD WIDE IMPORTANCE VALUE OF THE PROGRAM IS BEING GIVEN TO FLORIDA.

IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. AND WE HAD THE KNOWLEDGE HERE.

LEAVING THEM ON THE BEACH 1 A DEATH SENTENCE I DO NOT KNOW WHY CORPUS CHRISTI IS NOT MORE INVOLVED IN THE DECISION TAKING PLACE OUT THERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU. >> I ANNOUNCE THIS DURING THE COMMENT WE LISTEN WITH OPEN EARS, WE DON'T MAKE A COMMENT BACK BUT WE INVITE EVERYONE TO, AS THEY SAY STAY TUNED FOR THE RESPONSE AND REACTION AND COMMISSIONERS, DO SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. I'M SORT OF THROWING THE SOFTEST BALL I CAN BUT THE POINT IS I WANT TO YOU KNOW WE'RE LISTENING, WE DON'T TEUPZICALLY ANSWER BACK AT THIS

TIME. >> JUDGE IF YOU JOIN THE COMMENT FOR THE SOFTBALL. I WANTED TO MAKE GENERAL COMMENT TO THE ISSUE NOT RESPOND TO THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS. THE JUDGE AND I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH TIM RICHARDSON WHO IS HELPING US WITH THE MATTER IN REGARDS TO MAKING SURE THAT THE COUNTY'S VOICE GETS HEARD IN WASHINGTON, DC AS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MATTER AND NUECES COUNTY. WE HAVE AUTHORIZED -- NOT AUTHORIZED. WE ASKED, THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT WORD, WE ASKED THAT THE TIM REACHED OUT TO OUR NATIONAL DELEGATION AND TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS TO TAKE IT TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS TO REACH OUT TO CONGRESSMAN CLOUD AND THAT WILL LISTEN DO EVERYTHING TO IMPRESS ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHO, UNFORTUNATELY, RUNS THIS, HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO NUECES COUNTY AND THE CITIZENS AND ALL OF THE CITIZENS BUT TO CONSTITUENTS IN PRECINCT 4. THIS IS A COUNTY-WIDE, WORLD WIDE, NATIONWIDE, NOT JUST IN MY PRECINCT BUT THERE IS, I THINK, THE COUNTY HAS RESPONDED AS APPROPRIATELY AS WE CAN AND HOW WE CAN RESPOND BETTER I KNOW THAT BOTH THE JUDGE AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HEARING THIS AND SO IMPORTANT TO KEEP THIS PROGRAM IN PLACE AND DONNA DOING IT AND KEEP RINGING THE BELL, IF YOU WILL, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY. WE ARE NOT GOING TO SIT SILENTLY IN THE NIGHT AS YOU WILL.

WE'RE GOING TO BE AS CROWD HAS WE CAN.

PO A LIGHT AND LOUD AT THE SAME TIME IT IS BOILS DOWN TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. ALL WE CAN DO IS CONTINUE TO SHARE THE IMPORTANCE THAT IT IS FOR NUECES COUNTY THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THAT, WE HAVE DONE. THAT WOULD END MY PUBLIC COMMENT NOT IN RESPONSE TO THE PEOPLE BUT ON THE MATTER AS

[00:15:01]

WELL. >> THANK YOU.

>> AGAIN I INVITE YOU ALL TO STAY, THERE IS AN ITEM, NUMBER 6 ON THE REGULAR AGENDA THAT MIGHT ALLOW ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER COMMENT. THANK YOU I'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PERSON WHO SIGNED UP THAT IS HOMER.FLOREZ.

RECOGNIZES OUR JUVENILE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.

>> GOOD MORNING. >> I'M HOMER FLOREZ CHIEF JUVENILE JUSTICE FOR NUECES COUNTY.

I ONLY CAME BEFORE YOU WHEN IT INVOLVED MONEY.

>> HE IS RIGHT? >> I'M GUILTY I APOLOGIZE BEFORE HAND. I'M HERE TO MAKE A BRIEF COMMENT. ON NUMBER 20.

INVOLVING THE POSSIBILITY OF ARPA FUNDS FOR THE EMPLOYEE RAISES. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A SUBSET OF EMPLOYEES AT THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD BE OUR JUVENILE SUPERVISION OFFICERS OR JSOS COMPARABLE TO JAILERS. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING 24/7 SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED AT OUR FACILITIES.

THEY HAVE BEEN ACCEPTING KIDS, THEY HAVE BEEN PROCESSING KIDS. THEY HAVE AT TIMES PUT THEM IN HARM'S DAZE AND COVID AND BY WAY OF HAVING TO RESTRAIN KIDS FROM TIME TO TIME. AS A BENCH MARK WHICH IS 15, AT 10%. THIS IS GROSS.

THIS IS VERY ROUGH. 10% WOULD BE AT 1 $188,000.

IF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WOULD LOOK AT DIFFERENT CATEGORIES FOR THE MONIES, I ASK THEY GIVE THE JUVENILE SUPERVISION OFFICERS CONSIDERATION TO ANYTHING ABOVE THE 10%. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE NEXT PERSON WE HAVE IS JUAN JIMENEZ.

THE COURT RECOMMENDS THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.

>> I WANTED TO UPDATE YOU A HIRED A NEW ENGINEER.

A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER. AND LJ FRANCES.

>> IT AND HE'S WELL KNOWN AND AND IMPROVEMENTS AND AND I KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A NEW ENGINEER ON BOARD AND THE PUBLIC WORKS AND INTRODUCING THEM TO YOU AS COMMISSIONERS.

AND SO I WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. >> YTHANK YOU, SIR.

>> THE NEXT AT LEAST 10 DEPUTY, TEN MORE HAVE SIGNED UP AND IN THE HALLWAY. WOULD YOU ASK THE SHERIFF TO COME FIRST OUT OF DEFERENCE TO THE ELECTED AND THEN HE CAN MAYBE LET US KNOW IF EACH OF THEM WILL COME OR BOLSTER ONE ANOTHER'S PUBLIC TESTIMONY. IF YOU WANTED TO SPEAK FIRST.

SHERIFF, GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, SIR.

WE HAVE A NICE GROUP THIS MORNING REPRESENTING YOUR OFFICE IN VARIOUS FACTIONS SOME HAVE SIGNED UP AND I WAS GOING TO CALL ON YOU AND ASK. I THINK THEY WANT TO COME IN,

SHERIFF. >> THEY DO.

>> DO YOU WANT TO INVITE THEM, DEPUTY.

[00:20:05]

HELLO, EVERYBODY. IF YOU JUST GATHER ALONG THE PERIMETER OF THE ROOM AND SPREAD OUT FOR US, ALLOW FOR EVERYONE TO FIT. THANK YOU.

>> YOU HAVE A LOT OF WALL SPACE TO UTILIZE.

>> THERE IS SOME ROOM UP. WE DO HAVE SOME SIGNS.

WELCOME, EVERYBODY. WE'RE IN THE SEGMENT THAT WE ARE WE KNOW IS PUBLIC COMMENT. I'LL CALL YOU BY NAME AND YOU WILL HAVE TIME TO COME TO THE PODIUM.

WE HAVE SOMEONE CLEANING THE MIC IF YOU ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT IN BETWEEN YOUR COMMENTS, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

AS A REMINDER WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN AND WE TAKE EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAY, WE DON'T RESPOND IMMEDIATELY BUT WE ALWAYS INVITE YOU TO LISTEN TO THE REST OF THE COURT.

IT HAS A FUNNY WAY OF GETTING ADDRESSED THROUGH OTHER ITEMS. I SAY DON'T TAKE OUR SILENCE TO BE ANYTHING BUT HOW IMPORTANT WHAT YOU SAY IS AND WHAT HOW, WE'RE TAKING IT IN.

SHERIFF HOOPER, WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, THE TOPIC THAT THE EMPLOYEES -- THE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE NUECES COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ARE HERE TO EXPRESS THIS MORNING HAS TO DO WITH THE TOPIC THAT AROSE AT THE LAST SESSION.

THAT HAD TO DO WITH HAZARDOUS DUTY PAY, COMPENSATION FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME ESPECIALLY RETROACTIVELY AND THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN HACKING OUR WAY THROUGH AND THE.

THE PRESENTATION FOCUSED ON THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT AND THE SWORN AND THOSE MEN AND WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT ARE REPRESENTED BY THE ASSOCIATION.

SO WE HAD COMMUNICATION BACK AND FORTH FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH THE COMMISSIONERS, I WANTED TO GO ON THE RECORD AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT THAT TERM "NON-ESSENTIAL" IS NOT A LEGITIMATE TERM WHEN IT COMES TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

YES, SOME OF US HAVE BADGES AND SOME OF US HAVE GUNNELLS AND WORK IN THE JAIL BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS AND THE TERMED TO BE NON-ESSENTIAL. THE DETERMINE DOES NOT APPLY WHETHER IT IS A HURRICANE OR A PANDEMIC.

EVERYONE AT THE NUECES SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS A ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEE. THAT IS NO MORE OBVIOUS THAN WHAT OCCURRED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THERE WERE MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHO WORKED FROM HOME FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.

THAT DID NOT OWE SURE IN THE NUECES COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT LUXURY.