[D. ANNOUNCEMENT ON DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Any Conflicts of Interest or Appearance of a Conflict of Interest with items on this agenda shall be declared at this time. Members with conflicts will refrain from voting and are asked to refrain from discussion on such items. Conflicts discovered later in the meeting shall be disclosed at that time.]

I DON'T KNOW IF I SAID THE MAGIC WORDS, I CERT FINA A QUORUM IS PRESENT. ANNOUNCEMENT ON DISCLOSURES.

IF THERE ARE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OR APPEAR TO BE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA SHOULD BE SAID AT THIS TIME. MEMBERS WITH CONFLICTS SHALL NOT

[E. SAFETY BRIEFING]

DISCUSS ITEMS. AND IT CAN BE DISCLOSED LATER IN THE TIME IF NOT DONE ALREADY. I WILL MOVE FOR THE SAFETY BRIEFING AND HAVE REBECCA GO TO THE PODIUM AND ASK YOU TO FIVE

HER YOUR ATTENTION. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, ATTENDEES. OUR SAFETIES BRIEFING FOR TODAY, AUGUST 5, HELD IN THE NUECES COUNTY COURT ROOM.

REST ROOMS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE THIRD FLOOR ATRIUM PAST THE HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE. THERE IS A FIRE EXTINGUISHER LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE COURTROOM AND FIVE ADDITIONAL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS LOCATED THROUGH THE ATRIUM AREA.

BLEED CONTROL STATIONS ARE ON EVERY FLOOR.

IN THE EVENT OF A CARDIAC EMERGENCY, AN AED IS LOCATED ON THE RIGHT WALL NEXT TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE.

PARTICIPANT FOR TODAY WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DIALING 911 WILL BE CONNIE. IN THE EVENT OF AN EVACUATION, OUR EGRESS ROUTE WILL BE SLOWLY DOWN THE ATRIUM STAIRS, PROCEEDING OUT THE DOORS LOCATED ON THE LAPAN STREET SIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE. IF SOMEONE IS UNABLE TO WALK DOWN THE STAIRS, PLEASE WAIT AT THE ELEVATOR AND MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE GOES DOWN AND LET'S LAW ENFORCEMENT KNOW THAT YOU ARE WAITING TO BE ASSISTED. ONCE YOU ARE DOWN, THEN YOU WILL ASSEMBLE IN THE PARKING LOT ACROSS THE STREET.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO STAY TOGETHER.

SHOULD THERE BE A NEED TO SHELTER IN PLACE DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE SHELTER IN PLACE, THE COURT ROOM'S DOUBLE DOORS WILL BE SECURED AND REMAIN SECURE UNTIL GIVEN NOTICE FROM THE NUECES COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. OUR GUEST SANITIZER FOR THE DAY WILL BE DANIEL AND TWO OTHER ITEMS. ONE IS EVERYONE REMEMBER SCHOOL IS STARTING ON TUESDAY.

AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO SIGNS.

IF THE LIGHTS AREN'T WORKING, BE AWARE OF THE CHILDREN IN THE STREET. ALSO I WANTED TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DADDY WHO IS 90 YEARS OLD TODAY.

[F. 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 SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU. SO WE WILL MOVE NOW TO PUBLIC COMMENT. AS I DO EVERY COURT, I AM GIVEN A SHEET. AND THIS ONE IS FULL.

SO I WILL ASK ALL OF YOU -- WE ALSO HAVE SOME ONLINE, CONNIE.

AND I WILL BE MINDFUL OF THAT. WHAT I WILL DO IS MAYBE -- MISS

[00:05:02]

FUENTES, I SEE YOU AND I WILL WORK YOU INSIDE THIS PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL CALL ON YOU.

AND WHEN I DO, YOU CAN UNMUTE. AT THIS TIME I WILL TAKE US A LITTLE BIT IN ORDER AND CALL MISS BETTY SHEETS.

MISS SHEETS, JUST HOLD ON ONE MOMENT.

THE HARD PART ON TODAY THAT THERE WERE NO ITEMS REFERENCED.

SO HERE IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SAY TO YOU.

LET ME JUST DO A PIE HOE THETICAL.

THERE IS A GREAT ITEM COMING UP ON THE VETERANS CEMETERY CONTRACT. I RECOGNIZE SOME OF MY VETERANS.

IF YOU ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE VETERANS CEMETERY CONTRACT, YOU CAN DO SO WHEN I BRING THAT UP. OF COURSE, IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVE, YOU CAN ALSO DO IT RIGHT NOW. I THINK I AM GIVING YOU, YOU KNOW, THE OPTION. SAME THING -- I CAN TELL BECAUSE I KNOW THE AUDIENCE SO WELL. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITIES AND ADVOCACY GROUPS.

IF YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THAT PRESENTATION, YOU MAY, OR YOU JUST NEED TO ANNOUNCE, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING IT NOW IN ADVANCE. I HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE.

SOMETIMES WE -- WE DO GET PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS UNRELATED TO AGENDA. AND I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE DON'T SPEAK BACK TO YOU AT THIS TIME.

BUT YOU MIGHT GET INFORMATION ON THE AGENDA ITEMS LATER.

YOU GOT A THREE-MINUTE TIMER AND I ASK THAT YOU BE MINDFUL OF IT SINCE WE HAVE A SHEET AND A HALF OF IT.

AND SPEAKING OF SHEET, MISS BETTY SHEETS, YOU MAY PROCEED.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

I'M HERE TODAY -- IT IS NOT ON THE NORMAL TOPIC THAT I'M HERE FOR. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL TOPIC AND I HOPE EACH ONE OF YOU TAKES THIS TO HEART TODAY.

AS YOU KNOW, JUDGE BAR BARBARA CANALES IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION. I HAD SOMETHING I WAS SUPPOSED TO SAY, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING, BECAUSE WHEN I WALK THROUGH THOSE FRONT DOOR THIS MORNING, THAT TABLET DOWN THERE SAID IT ALL. AS YOU KNOW, IT CONTAINS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. THE MAJOR COMMANDMENTS TO ME ARE EIGHT AND FIVE. THEY ARE THOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOR.

WHEN COMES ELECTION TIME THE NASTINESS, DIRTINESS AND THE LIES ARE COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK.

PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER AS IT HAS BEEN SEEN AND PROVEN HERE. I HOPE YOU CAN IN YOUR GOOD CONSCIOUSNESS TONIGHT SLEEP KNOWING THAT YOU HAD BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR. THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALL NOT KILL. YOU ARE KILLING YOUR SOUL AND YOU ARE KILLING YOUR OWN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ESPECIALLY YOU, GENTLEMEN, THAT ARE TEARING HER DOWN.

YOU SHOULD BE SUPPORT TESTIFY. WHEN YOU RUN, SHE IS THERE FOR YOU. YOU NEED TO BE THERE FOR THIS LADY. PLEASE FORGIVE AND FORGET WHATEVER YOUR PROBLEMS ARE AND SUPPORT HER AND BACK HER.

TECH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND LET'S GO TO LUNCH TODAY.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU.

NEXT WE WILL HAVE -- IT'S ANDREA.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL -- EITHER WAY.

>> I CAN GO AHEAD AND GO NOW. >>JUDGE CANALES: PLEASE DO.

CAVEREC. >> MY NAME IS ANDREA CORVAREC, MENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR OF MHRD. WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE LIVES IN OUR COUNTY AND TO BE ABLE TO HELP SOME OF THE INCREASING ISSUES THAT WE ARE SEEING NATIONWIDE WHICH IS THE OVERRUNNING OF JAILS AND THE OVERRUNNING OF OUR ERS DUE TO THE RISE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUE THAT ARE SHOWN NATIONWIDE, ESPECIALLY SINCE COVID HAS COME ABOUT. SO WHILE -- BACK IN 2018, THIS WAS ALREADY AN ISSUE AND IT IS JUST INCREASED.

IN 2018, IT WAS RECOGNIZED AND MHID WAS ASKED FOR HELP TO ADDRESS THESE AND WHERE THE PITFALLS LIE.

AS ONE OF THE LARGEST OUTPATIENT PROVIDERS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND DISORDERS, WE KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE.

SO WHEN WE WERE ASKED FOR HELP, IN 90 DAYS WE WERE ABLE TO DESIGN DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS THROUGH CIT OR JAIL-BASED COMPETENCY RESTORATION FOR THOSE SITTING IN THE JAIL FOR YEARS WAITING TO GET TO A STATE HOSPITAL BED BECAUSE THE LABLG

[00:10:01]

OF THE RESOURCE -- LACK OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.

WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND GET THEM COMPETENT WITHIN NOW A 60-DAY AVERAGE NOW WITH THE SLOWING DOWN OF THE COURTS. THROUGH THIS WITH CIT, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DIVERT JUST FROM OCTOBER OF JUNE OF THIS YEAR 722 PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SERVE FOR CALLS OF SERVICE JUST THROUGH THAT PROGRAM ALONE AS WELL AS DIVERTING 362 OF THOSE PEOPLE. SO OVERALL THIS IS A HUMAN STK ISSUE AND SAVES LIVES THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY AND HELPS THOUSAND OF PEOPLE. ANNUALLY WE SERVE 10,000.

BUT OVERALL, IT DOES HELP THE COUNTY ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES FOR AGENDA ITEM 4, THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COLLABORATIVE.

WITH THE DIVERSION CENTER, WE CAN INCREASE THESE EFFORTS AND SAVE THE COUNTY A LOT MORE. NOT ONLY DOES THIS IMPACT THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTIES, BUT IT ALSO IMPACTS OUR TAXPAYERS. OVERALL, WITH THESE DIVERSIONS, AFTER THE EXPENSE OF THESE PROGRAMS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A NET RETURN OF $4,4,000,719.

WITH THE DIVERSION CENTER THIS IS AN EASE FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE JAILS, MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY AND ALSO STRENGTHEN THOSE PARTNERSHIPS WITH CENECORP THAT ADDRESSES THOSE SUBSTANCE ABUSE DIVERSIONS AND GET PEOPLE THE HELP THEY NEED AND GIVES PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO FINDS THEIR PURPOSE IN LIFE AND GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SO THAT'S WHERE I STRONGLY ENCOURAGING YOU ALL TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE ON THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY.

AND IMPROVE THE PROCESSES. THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN CREATED AND CLOSE THE GAPS THAT ARE REMAINING, WHICH WE HAVE DONE A LOT. AND I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT MORE. THANK YOU.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU. THE NEXT ON OUR LIST IS RENEE MEN CEOLA. HONORABLE JUDGE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING.

I WANT TO SAY GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALL AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF BITS TO ADD TO THAT. I AM WITH THE SAME PROGRAM WITH THE MCNHID. I AM MORE ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE AND A COUPLE OF POINTS TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF.

AND ONE, WE ARE A NONPROFIT. EVERY DOLLAR THAT IS SEPTEMBER TO US OR AWARDED TO US ARE SPENT ON THE PROGRAMS. THEY ARE RETURNED TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNERS.

THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT EVERY DOLLAR THAT IS SPENT ARE SPENT ON THE PROGRAMS THAT WE GET.

THE SECOND ITEM THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT, WE ARE ONE OF 39 CENTERS. THE FOURTH DIVERSE CENTER IN THE STATE. AND IT IS IMPORTANT TOP NOTE WE ARE GOVERNED BY NHCC AND ANYBODY ELSE.

WE ARE AUDITED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND A AUDIT BY THE OUTSIDE FIRM TO ENSURE THAT WE FOLLOW EVERY GAP FUNDING PRINCIPLES AND MANDATES AND EVERY DOLLAR SPENT IS SPENT IN A CORRECT MANNER.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT ALL THE FUND THAT COMES FORWARD GOES TO THE PROGRAMS THEMSELVES AND I KNOW Y'ALL WILL HAVE A BUSY DAY AND A LOT OF STUFF TO COVER AND I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BRING THOSE POINTS, THOSE TWO IN PARTICULAR OF HOW THE FUNDING IS SPENT AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY AUDITED AND AN ANNUAL AUDIT DONE EVERY YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDING IS SPENT PROPERLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU, MR. MENCEOLA.

THE NEXT WESTERN IS GINA BENYA. >> GOOD MORNING, COURT.

GINA BENYA. I AM REQUEST MHID.

I WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE SPECIALIZED SERVICES 2345 MHID GIVES TO THOSE WITH EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.

IQ SCORE ABOUT HE LOW 70 AND THOSE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM.

MANY ALSO HAVE MANY COMPLEX, PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. AS A RESULT OF THESE COMPLEXITIES, MANY INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS TURN AWAY SOMEONE. THIS LEFT OUR FAMILIES IN NUECES COUNTY WITH VERY FEW OPTIONS THAN CALLING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. OFTEN LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONDS AND ESCALATES IT FURTHER AS THE INDIVIDUALS DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING. THIS COULD RESULT IN THEM BEING REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES OR EVEN PLACED IN JAIL.

PLACEMENT OF SPECIAL NEEDS INDIVIDUALS IN INSTITUTIONS AND JAILS PUTS THEM AT INCREASED RISK OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, EXPLOITATION, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DETERIORATION OF THEIR HEALTH.

IN ORDER TO PREVENT, 911MHID OFFERS CRISIS RESPITE SERVICES.

OUR PROGRAMS HAVE SPECIALLY TRAINED STAFF THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH WORK WITH THESE POPULATIONS.

[00:15:01]

THEY PARTNER COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND OUR CRISIS TEAM INCLUDING CIT AND MCOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEEDS ARE SAFELY MET WHILE THEY ARE AT HOME OR IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE NO OTHER SERVICES OR PROGRAMS LIKE THIS IN NUECES COUNTY THAT SERVE SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATION AS MHID THAT IS THE LOCAL LEG LEG WALL AUTHORITY FOR NUECES COUNTY AND THE SEOUL PROVIDER OF THESE SERVICES.

SO FAR THIS FISCAL YEAR, MHID HAS PROVIDED WITH IDD SERVICES.

AND HAVE ENGAGED IN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.

REFERRED TO ADULT MENTAL HEALTH AND YOUTH SERVICES.

WE HAVE ACCESS TO MHID CRIMINAL RESPITE FACILITY, WALK-IN PSYCHE AT TRICK CLINIC AND COUNSELING PROGRAMS WHENEVER NEED.

WITHOUT THESE SERVICES, THESE INDIVIDUALS COULD HAVE ENDED UP IN JAILS, STATE HOSPITALS, STATE SUPPORTED LIVING CENTERS OR IN MANY CASES ENDED UP HOMELESS INTERACTING MORE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE THESE PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON BEST PRACTICES AND REGULATED BY THE TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION THAT PROVIDES OVERSIGHT FOR ALL SERVICES. AND PROVIDES ANNUAL SURVEYS TO OUR IDD SERVICES THAT ARE IN SIGNIFICANCE COMPLIANCE WITH ALL STATE RULES AND REGULATIONS. MHID IS ACCREDITED IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND THE ONLY CERTIFIED BEHAVIORAL CLINIC IN NUECES COUNTY AND CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF SEEKING EYE ACCREDITATION FOR IDD LONG TERM SUPPORTS.

IT IS MY BELIEF THAT A DIVERSION CENTER AS PROPOSED AND OVERSEEN BY MHID WILL BE A BENEFIT TO THE RESIDENTS OF NUECES COUNTY INCLUDING THOSE ARE IDD AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT HERE FROM KAYLA BUREAU. >> GOOD MOMORNING.

>> I AM ALPC AND SUPERVISOR FOR NUECES COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH.

I AM SUPERVISOR FOR MOBILE OUTREACH CRISIS TEAM AND I WANT TO SPEAK OF OUR CRISIS SERVICES OVERALL AND WHY THE DIVERSION CENTER ALSO BENEFIT THOSE CRISIS SERVICES.

TWO YEARS AGO WE EXPANDED CRISIS SERVICES TO INCLUDE OUR OWN PSYCHIATRISTS, TWO NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND MEDICAL ASSISTANT AND TEN CASE MANAGERS. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, BAYVIEW AS WELL AS OCEAN,CENECORP HERE AS WELL. THE DIVERSION CENTER WILL BE A BENEFIT BECAUSE WE SERVE A POPULATION WHO STEP DOWN FROM THESE FACILITIES AND IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL CARE WHICH IS INCLUSIVE OF MEDICATION, EDUCATION, STABILIZATION.

SO WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT THROUGH OUR NEW WALK-IN CLINIC.

THEY CAN STEP DOWN AND SEE A PSYCHIATRIST.

HELP THEM WITH MEDICATIONS AND HELP THEM OBTAIN FINANCIALLY WITH MEDICATIONS. AND EX-EXTEND THE CARE UP TO 30 DAYS WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO SEE A PERSON EVERY DAY THROUGH OUR CASE MANAGERS. WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT EXTENDED INDEPENDENT LIVING AND COPING SKILLS AND GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THESE PEOPLE AND LOCATE THEM IMMEDIATELY UPON THEIR HOSPITAL STEP DOWN.

TODAY I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY CONSIDERATION THAT YOU HAVE CAN

GIVE AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU.

MR. BILL HOLSHIR. OKAY.

MISS -- MEREDITH -- IS IT --GRANTHOM.

>>JUDGE CANALES: MEREDITH -- OH, SORRY.

DAWN OSBOURNE. NOT TO EMBARRASS YOU, BUT

FOREVER YOU WILL BE CHIP TO ME. >> I WAS GOING TO MENTION -- SOME OF YOU MIGHT REMEMBER ME FROM HIGH SCHOOL AS CHIP.

LIFE IS FULL OF FIRSTS. MY FIRST TIME IN A NONCRIMINAL COURT IN THIS BUILDING. [LAUGHTER] AND IT -- IT IS KIND OF A STRANGE THING.

BUT I COME, YOU KNOW, NOW AS LIFE TURNS.

I LOOK BACK AND MY LIFE HAS BEEN FULL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS. AND FROM BEGINNING I CAN REMEMBER EARLY ON, WAY -- AT EIGHT I REMEMBER DRINKING BEFORE THE BUS. PROBABLY CAUSED BY THE POST TRAUMATIC STRESS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD.

I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL THE AGE OF 45 THAT SUICIDAL IDEALIZATIONS AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS WERE NOT NORMAL.

[00:20:06]

AND THAT WAS -- THAT IS WHEN I WAS IN THE LOVING HANDS OF OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND SEEING A PSYCHIATRIST AT THIS TIME.

SO MY JOURNEYS HAVE BEEN UP AND DOWN.

THROUGH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM WHEN I GOT OUT, I WAS LEARNING HOW TO LIVE SOBER. BEFORE I LEARNED -- I WAS TRYING TO BE SOBER AND I USED THE MHMR SERVICES BECAUSE WHEN I WAS GETTING SOBER I HAD SUICIDAL IDEALIZATION AND I HAD TO SEEK MEDICATION AT THE TIME. I GOT OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM WHICH IS AN ANSWER TO THE PRAYER.

I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IF, YOU KNOW, IT SAVED MY LIFE AND MADE ME TURN AROUND. WHEN I GOT OUT I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE SOBER AND REACHED TO THE COUNCIL FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE GUIDANCE AND HAD TO GO BACK TO MHMR, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS IN THE HALFWAY HOUSE, I HAD A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.

THE STRESSORS OF LIFE GOT TO ME. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.

I WAS FINE ONE MINUTE AND SFECH CRYING AND BAWLING IN THE HALFWAY HOUSE AND I COULDN'T SLEEP AND I DIDN'T KNOW.

I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND. THIS IS FROM SOMEBODY WHO HAS A COLLEGE EDUCATION. THAT HAD RESOURCES.

AND SO I COULDN'T IMAGINE TRYING TO DEAL WITH THIS BEING ON THE STREET AND NOT BEING ABLE TO REACH OUT.

SO IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS SHORT, I THINK THAT THE DIVERSION PROGRAM AT SOME POINT ALONG MY JOURNEY, LET'S SAY, WILL MAKE A FECHLS GREAT IMPACT ON ME. ON ONE OF THE ARRESTS FOR POSSESSION THAT I HAD, WOULD HAVE STOPPED THE PROGRESSION OF THAT. I WAS NEVER AWARDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO A REHAB. YOU KNOW IN MY CRIMINAL MIND, I THOUGHT I WAS OUTSMARTING RIGHT BUT IN REALITY, I WAS JUST PROLONGING THE INEVITABLE. THE SOONER WE CAN CATCH THESE THINGS THROUGH A DIVERSION COURT SYSTEM, THE GREATER IMPACT ON THE INDIVIDUAL, THE LESS IMPACT ON SOCIETY.

BECAUSE WHEN I WAS INCARCERATED, WHEN I FIRST GOT IN, IT WAS $32,000 TO HOUSE ME. WHEN I GOT OUT, IT WAS $45,000 OR OVER $45,000 A YEAR TO HOUSE ME IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM.

THE MONEY SPENT NOW BRINGS GREAT REWARDS AND GAINS ON THE BACK SIDE. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO SPEND THE MONEY UP FRONT. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> ALSO USE ROBERT FOR -- THANK YOU, ROBERT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: I KNOW IT IS JUST THESE DOLLAR GENERAL GLASSES AND I DO APOLOGIZE. I CAN SEE REUBEN VERY WELL BUT THE LAST NAME -- YES. YOU ARE GOING TO WAIT.

OKAY. IS IT -- CANDACE CLOUD?

>> YES, MA'AM. >>JUDGE CANALES: DR. LUCENS.

>> I WILL WAIT. >>JUDGE CANALES: CRYSTAL.

>> I WILL WAIT AS WELL. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU.

SUSIE LUNA SALDANIA? >> SUSIE LUNA SALDANIA.

I'M HERE AND VERY UPSET WITH YOU GUYS.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME THAT THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS BEEN SPLIT. AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT.

AND I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU COMMISSIONER MAREZ.

THE REST OF YOU HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER TO ATTACK THE JUDGE.

TO ATTACK A WOMAN. AND I AM SICK AND TIRED OF WOMEN BEING ATTACKED. YOU WANT TO REMOVE HER FROM HER POSITION? IF YOU ARE WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE BECAUSE THIS IS ALL ABOUT ELECTIONS, PEOPLE.

DON'T GET IT WRONG. IT IS ALL ABOUT ELECTIONS.

YOU WANT TO SET UP SO YOU CAN REMOVE ALL THE POWER AND THE ABILITY FOR THE JUDGE TO DO HER JOB, SO THAT YOU CAN SHINE.

SO YOU CAN SAY, LOOK, SHE WASN'T ABLE TO COMPLETE WHAT SHE WAS GOING TO DO. AND THE TWO OF YOU THAT ARE LEFT UP THERE THAT CARRY ONE LABEL, ONE LABEL, BUT YOU ACT AS

[00:25:01]

ANOTHER. YOU DO NOT REPRESENT YOUR PEOPLE. YOU DO NOT REPRESENT THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED YOU TO THAT JOB BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT APPROVE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO THE COUNTY JUDGE.

THEY WILL NOT APPROVE OF YOUR AGENDAS THAT YOU HAVE DONE NOW.

HOW DARE YOU. HOW THEIR YOU COME IN HERE WITH SHEEP'S CLOTHING AND SAY ONE THING AND DO ANOTHER.

YOU PUT THIS -- THE CITY DOES THIS.

WELL, THE CITY DOES A LOT OF STUPID THINGS.

DO YOU FOLLOW THEM? DO YOU AGREE WITH THEM ON A LOT OF THINGS? YOU DON'T.

YOU DO YOUR OWN THING AND YOU ARE DOING THIS FOR POLITICAL REASONS DON'T GET MIXED UP FOR POLITICAL REASONS.

THE WORST PART IS, YOU MAKE IT A POINT TO ATTACK A WOMAN EVERY TIME YOU TURN AROUND. WE ARE STICK AND TIRED OF WOMEN BEING ATTACKED. WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THE POSITIONS YOU ARE TAKING. LIKE I SAID HOW DARE YOU.

HOW DARE YOU SAY YOU ARE ONE THING AND DO ANOTHER.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE ONE PARTY, BE THAT PARTY.

DON'T RUN ON ANOTHER LABEL DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH I WANT THIS FOR MY PARTY. MORE POWER TO YOU.

BUT DON'T DO IT TO A POINT WHERE YOU ARE A I CANNING PEOPLE CONSTANTLY IN ORDER TO MAKE A GOOD POINT.

IF YOU HAVE A GOOD CANDIDATE, LET THEM SHINE.

DON'T YOU SET IT UP FOR HER. TIRED OF THIS BUSINESS.

TIRED OF YOU BEING UP. THE PEOPLE WHO VOTE NEED TO KNOW THAT AND I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN BEFORE ONE OF YOU GOT ELECTED. AM I ASHAMED OF YOU? I SURE AM. I AM TIRED OF YOU DOING THESE THINGS AND I HOPE IN YOUR CONSCIOUS YOU BEGIN TO KNOW WHO ELECTED YOU AND WHO YOUR PEOPLE ARE, THANK YOU.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU. MISS TERRY LONGORIA.

SUSIE IS A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW. BUT I I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING SHE SAYS. AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND A FELLOW CORPUS CHRISTIAN AND VOTER, I AM A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED, DISCOURAGE D. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS HERE, BUT IF YOU ARE SO UPSET ABOUT YOUR LOCAL JUDGE, THEN WAIT FOR THE ELECTION AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

BUT TO UNDERMINE A LOT OF THIS THAT IS GOING ON IS NOT GOOD.

IT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS NOT GOOD FOR ANY OF US THAT ARE WATCHING THIS.

WITHOUT REALLY TRUE FACTS. LA CRONICA.

CHANNEL 6 INVESTIGATE I HAVE IT NEWS.

THEY CAN ONLY GO TO TSAR. LET'S BE TRUTHFUL AND I THINK THIS WEEKEND -- THIS WEEK IN HONOR OF JUDGE NO WAS AN INCLUSIVE MAN. NOT EXCLUSIVE.

AND I KNEW HIM FROM THE FIRST TIME HE -- HE WAS MY INSURANCE MAN WHEN WE STARTED OUR BUSINESS.

AND WHEN HE DECIDED TO RUN FOR MAYOR, HE CALLED MY HUSBAND AND I. WHAT DO YOU THINK? AVENUES REPUBLICAN. I WAS A DEMOCRAT.

HE DIDN'T CARE. HE CARED ABOUT THE CITY.

HE HAD A VISION WHAT WE WOULD CONTRIBUTE.

WHAT WERE OUR CONCERNS AND I THINK YOU NEED TO STEPAK IN HONOR OF THE JUDGE AND THINK OF THE WAY YOU ARE HANDLING YOUR SITUATIONS. THANK YOU.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU, MISS LONGORIA.

FRANCIS. >> I WILL WAIT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: CONSTABLE JASON MCHACKEN.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. >>JUDGE CANALES: GOOD MORNING,

CONSTABLE. >> PUT THAT UP THERE.

CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME. >>JUDGE CANALES: YEA.

>> GOOD MORNING JUDGE, COMEDIES. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS GOES WITH GENERAL PUBLIC BUT THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY THAT IS OUR OFFICE HAS REPORTED FOR 400 CALLS OF SERVICE FOR MENTAL HEALTH SINCE WE BEGAN. SO I THINK I AM GOING TO SPEAK WHEN MENTAL HEALTH. UP FOR CONSIDERATION CONSIDERING FOR ARPA FUNDS. WE NOW HAVE THE BACKING OF THE

[00:30:10]

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND JP COURTS.

I THINK IT WILL BE A FREIGHT THING FOR THE COUNTY AND WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THEN ON THAT MATTER SO.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU, CONSTABLE.

I AM GOING TO SWITCH TO ONLINE JUST IN FAIRNESS AN I WILL CALL THEM THE WAY I SEE IT. MISS FUENTES FIRST FOLLOWED BY MR. MIKE DAVIS AND THEN COME BACK TO THE PIECE OF PAPER.

MISS FEN WITH A TESS. IF YOU CAN UNMUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING HONORABLE BARBARA CANALES AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. IN ADDITION TO SERVING AS AT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE NUECES COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM. I SERVE AS THE VOLUNTEER TO THE CORPUS CHRISTI LEADERSHIP TEAM. I AM THANKFUL TO HAVE THE BACKING FROM BOTH ENTITIES AND I WAS HONORED TO CONNECT THEM TOGETHER AS WELL. MY PUBLIC COMMENT IS ON BEHALF OF MAMI GREATER CORPUS CHRISTI AS OUR AFFILIATE LEAD HER A PRIOR COMMITMENT TO ATTEND TO. FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE SUPPORT ALL FUNDING SOURCES THAT WILL PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND TREATMENT, ESPECIALLY TO THE UNDERSERVED POPULATION. WE UNDERSTAND THAT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OR ARPA WILL BE DISCUSSED AS PART OF DR.

GONZALEZ'S PRESENTATION. WE APPEAL TO YOU TO APPROVE THE ALLOCATIONS AS REQUESTED. NOT ONLY WILL IT LEVERAGE NUECES COUNTY AS A PRIME EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW, BUT IT WILL ALSO GUARANTEE A WIN, WIN POSITION AMONG THE COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES WITH THE APPROPRIATE STAKEH STAKEHOLDERS SECONDLY WITH THE ARPA FUND IN PLACE AND COMMITMENT TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN CONSUMERS OF MENTAL HEALTH STAKE SHOULDERS THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF 2022, WE WISH TO BE PART OF THE MOVEMENT TO ELIMINATE THE STIGMA OF MENTAL HEALTH. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, MAMI GREATER CORPUS CHRISTI EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THE SUPPORT OF JUDGE CANALES AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

IN CLOSING, WE INVITE YOU TO ATTEND AND BE PART OF THE UPCOMING SUICIDE SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 8 AND 9 AT DELMAR COLLEGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU. MIKE DAVIS.

AND FOR THE CLERK, I AM FILLING OUT HERE FOR YOU THOSE --

>> YES, MA'AM. WELL, I APOLOGIZE THAT I COULD NOT BE THERE TODAY. I AM IN AUSTIN TAKING CARE OF MHID BUSINESS. BUT I WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT. MY STAFF HAVE DONE AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB EXPLAINING WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY, BUT BACK IN 1965, MHR COMMUNITY CENTER OF NUECES COUNTY.

WE HAVE SERVED THIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

WE ARE NOT A STATE AGENCY OR A COUNTY AGENCY, BUT WE ARE A UNIT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. WE ARE BASICALLY A MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY, INDISABILITY AUTHORITY AND WE CONTINUE TO ASSERT THOSE GOALS AS OF TODAY. WE OFFER 30-PLUS PROGRAMS. WE ARE JOINT COMMISSION ACCREDITED.

WE ARE ONLY ONE CENTER OUT OF 39.

THE CENTER THAT IS ACCREDITED. AND I WILL ALSO GO BACK TO A VISION. KIND OF IRONIC THE WAY THIS MEETING FELL THIS WEEK IS JUDGE CANALES, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ, IF YOU REMEMBER BACK AUGUST 8, 2019, I INVITED YOU, CITY COUNCIL, VARIOUS OTHER ENTITIES IN NUECES COUNTY TO GO VISIT THE HARRIS K69 DIVERSION CENTER. AND WE TOOK A TOUR OF THAT FACILITY AND WE LOOKED A VISION OF WHAT IT COULD BE IN NUECES COUNTY. AND HERE WE ARE NEARLY THREE YEARS LATER AND WE ARE STILL HAVING THE SAME CONVERSATION, BUT WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW TO MAKE IT A REALITY. TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU, IF WE CAN ACTUALLY GET THE MONEY TO RENOVATE THE BUILDING ON 1630 SOUTH BROWNLY WHICH IS MY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING, CURRENT FUNDING TO RUN A

[00:35:05]

DIVERGENT CENTER WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING COMING IN.

THAT IS REALITY. IF YOU ASK ABOUT THE PROGRAMS WE OFFERED THE PAST THREE AND A HALF TO FOUR YEARS IN NUECES COUNTY AND SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE LISTED EARLIER, THE ACTUAL PROGRAM WILL PAY FOR ITSELF THREE TIMES OVER.

A HUGE BENEFIT TO NUECES COUNTY, A HUGE SAVINGS, BUT ALSO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE IMPACT ON LIVES. THAT IS REALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. RENEE TOUCHED ON THIS.

OUR ORGANIZATION IS AUDITED EVERY YEAR.

WE ARE EXTREMELY TRANSPARENT. THAT SINGLE AUDIT GOES TO THE COUNTY. EVERY LITTLE DOLLAR WE SPENDS.

WE DON'T MAKE A PROFIT OFF OF ANYTHING.

AND I THINK -- IT IS PROFOUNDLY UNIQUE WE ARE IN THIS POSITION RIGHT NOW AND OFFER THESE SERVICES, BUT I IMPLORE YOU TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THIS AND IF YOU HAVE ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS AT THIS MEETING, WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH ANYONE AND CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION TO GET THIS ACCOMPLISHED. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU, SIR. I WILL GO BACK ON TO THE LIST NOW. I BELIEVE CONNIE I HAVE TACKLED

THE ONLINE. >> M. DAVIS HAS HAND RAISED AND

DON'T HAVE A AUDIO CONNECTION. >>JUDGE CANALES: THAT IS MIKE.

WE JUST HEARD FROM HIM. I WILL MOVE ON TO MISS LINDA WHITE. AND CHIEF SHOWER, YOU WILL BE

NEXT. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS LINDA WHITE.

I LIVE AT 825 EGYPTIAN DRIVE. AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT ITEM 2-A-13 WHICH I FIND TO BE A BIT RIDICULOUS.

I FIND IT TO BE A WASTE OF TIME THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO PENALIZE PEOPLE FOR TRAVELING OUTSIDE OF OUR COUNTY TO DO COUNTY BUSINESS, TO RECRUIT FUNDS WHICH HAVE MADE YOUR BUDGET A LOT BETTER. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT MY TAX BASE, BUT I AM SURE GLAD WHEN I SEE FEDERAL FUNDS COMING IN MY DIRECTION. SO I AM VERY WORRIED THAT YOU ARE GOING TO TRY TO RESTRICT THE JU JUDGES AND YOURSELVES FOR TRAVELLING TO DO COUNTY BUSINESS WHEREVER IT MIGHT BE. WE HAVE IMPORTANT ISSUES BEFORE US. MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER TO THIS COMMUNITY.

AND FOR YOU TO GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO BE PETTY AND UGLY AND RESTRICT NOT ONLY THE COUNTY JUDGE BUT YOURSELVES FOR BEING THE WORK OF NUECES COUNTY AND BRINGING GRANTS IN TO DO THE WORK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE DONE SEEMS RIDICULOUS TO ME AND VERY PETTY. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT WE NEED OPEN DOOR POLICIES BOTH NATIONALLY AND STATEWIDE TO BRING THINGS TO NUECES COUNTY.

OUR PORT DEPENDS ON IT. THE NAVAL AIR STATION DEPENDS ON IT. PEOPLE, YOU NEED TO GET OFF OF YOUR CANS AND BE REALISTIC. THANK YOU.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU, MISS WHITE.

CHIEF MARK SHOWER. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MARK SHOWER AND I WORK WITH THE CORPUS CHRISTI POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I AM THE LONGEST SERVING OFFICER IN THE DEPARTMENT.

OVER 40 YEARS. I DON'T SAY THAT WITH PRIDE.

THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT HAPPENED.

BUT TO MAKE A POINT IN MY CAREER, I MADE WELL OVER 12,000 ARRESTS. I HAVE BEEN ON WELL OVER 300 SEARCH WARRANTS WHERE I WAS THE SUPERVISOR AND NO KNOCK WARRANTS AT THE TIME. I HAVE TAKEN INCREDIBLE RISK TO MAKE ARRESTS. I AM THE FIRST ONE TO TELL YOU WE NEED A PARADIGM IN POLICING. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. CAN'T JUST KEEP SENDING PEOPLE TO THE COUNTY JAIL. THERE IS NO ROOM.

WE NEED ROOM FOR CRIMINALS, GANG MEMBERS, FAMILY VIOLENCE OFFENDERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE PRONE TO EXTREME VIOLENCE, INCLUDING MURDER. SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, IF YOU CONSIDER YOUR FAMILY AND SOME OF YOUR CLOSE FRIENDS, YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY, DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY IN THERE WHO HAS SUFFERED FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER, INCLUDING ALCOHOLISM, DEPRESSION, BIPOLAR, PSYCHOSIS OR HAS ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OR COMMITTED SUICIDE. IF YOU ASK ME THIS THAT, MY EXTENDED FAMILY COUSINS AND FRIENDS, I HIT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE THINGS. SO THE SECOND QUESTION IS, WOULD YOU RATHER US AS A COMMUNITY, AS A COLLABORATION, TRY TO ADDRESS

[00:40:01]

THOSE PROBLEMS AS WE BECOME AWARE OF THEM AND FUNNEL THEM INTO THE SOCIAL SECTOR WHERE THEY CAN GET TREATMENT.

OR WOULD YOU RATHER US WAIT UNTIL THEY FALL DOWN, SCRAPE THEM UP AND SEND THEM INTO THE COUNTY WHERE IT IS ALREADY OVERCROWDED WITH JAIL POPULATION.

SO THAT IS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS.

JUST TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF NUMBERS REALLY QUICKLY, WE SEND ABOUT -- WE ARE EXPECTED TO PROBABLY MAKE 13,000 ARRESTS THIS YEAR AT THE CITY. ABOUT 60% OF THOSE WILL GO TO COUNTY AND CLASS A, B AND FELONY CHARGES.

OUT OF THOSE NOT PEOPLE BUT NUMBER OF CHARGES, ABOUT 3,000 OF THOSE WHO ARE CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES WHICH WILL QUALIFY FOR DIVERSION.

THEY ARE POSSESSION CASES BUT NOT SCARFACE AMOUNTS.

THAT IS ABOUT 7800 PEOPLE PREDICTED TO SEND TO THE COUNTY THIS YEAR. A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THOSE CAN BE DIVERTED INTO TREATMENT BEFORE THEY REACH THE COUNTY.

IT IS ALSO SAID THAT THE THREE LARGEST MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY ARE RIKERS ISLAND JAIL R, COOK COUNTY JAIL AND. THE LAST WRAP AND I GOT 20 SECONDS LEFT. WE COMMITTED 3671 PERSON FROM MAY OF LAST YEAR TO MAY OF THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT WE ARE COMMITTING TO TRY TO GET THEM INTO SERVICES, BUT WE MAKE CALLS ON A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS WHO NEED HELP AND CAN'T COMMIT THEM.

WE HAVE ONE HOMELESS GUY WE ARRESTED OVER 60 TIMES IN LESS THAN A YEAR AND A HALF. HE HAD 87 CHARGES AND SOME OF THOSE ARE COUNTY CHARGES AND THAT MEANS HE GOES TO THE COUNTY JAIL. THANK YOU.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE DIVERSION CENTER.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU. >>JUDGE CANALES: COMMISSIONER

HERNANDEZ, YOU SIGNED UP. >> COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ: I

WILL WAIT, JUDGE. >>JUDGE CANALES: TERRY MILLS FOLLOWED BY DO THE SUN LEWIS. LIKE TO GET YOU READY.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE CANALES, COMMISSIONERS CHESNEY, GONZALEZ, MAREZ AND HERNANDEZ. UNPRECEDENTED.

THE PROFOUND DISRESPECT TO HONORABLE JUDGE CANALES, NUECES COUNTY MUCH JUDGE MIRRORS THE YEAR THAT SUFFERING WOMEN HAVE DURING THE YEARS ESPECIALLY AS A PRIORITY, AS OUTCASTS AND DIMINISHED. I AM ASKING YOU AS CONSTITUENT IN PRECINCT 2, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ TO RECONSIDER YOUR ACTIONS AND BUILD A BETTER LEADERSHIP OF THE JUDGE.

THE ACTION OF THE COURT REFLECTS ON ALL OF YOU.

BRING BACK DIGNITY, RESPECT. THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

AND WE THE PEOPLE WILL NOT SOL RATE IT.

IF YOU HAVE -- I AM SURE EACH ONE OF YOU GUYS HAVE WIVES, DAUGHTERS, AUNTS, COUSINS, SO FORTH AND SO ON WHO ARE FEMALE.

THE WAY YOU GUYS ARE TREATING HER IS VERY UGLY AND VERY DISRESPECTFUL AND GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND WHETHER YOU ARE REPUBLICAN ARE OR DEMOCRAT, TO TREAT A FEMALE DISRESPECTFUL, THAT IS HORRIBLE.

AND THE VOTERS REMEMBER THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES AT THE BALLOT BOX. YOU WANT US TO WORK WITH YOU.

WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON HERE, BUT IT NEEDS TO STOP.

IT NEEDS TO STOP. JUST LIKE YOU ARE ELECTED TO DO A JOB, WE ARE ELECTED TO VOTE. AND WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM. BECAUSE WE NEED TO BUILD UP CORPUS CHRISTI. BUILD UP NUECES COUNTY AND NOT TEAR IT DOWN. YOU HAVE OTHER COUNTIES THAT DON'T EVEN HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT WE DO, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO GO OUT AND GET THESE GRANTS AND BRING THEM BACK AND LIKE MRS. WHITE SAID, THE COUNTY BUDGET IS MUCH BETTER FOR THE FACT WE DON'T HAVE TO USE -- GO INTO THE RESERVE FUNDS TO DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE NUECES COUNTY BETTER LIKE MRS. WHITE SAID.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE DIVERSION PLAN.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. THIS IS CRAZY.

TAKE THAT TIME AND USE IT ON CONSTRUCTIVE RATHER THAN DESTRUCTIVE BECAUSE IT IS WRONG. I DON'T GIVE A DOGGONE -- I ALMOST SAID SOMETHING ELSE -- Y'ALL WATCH ME NOW.

I AM NOT A PREACHER BUT I WILL SAY SOMETHING.

BUT WE NEED TO LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER.

THIS IS CRAZY. I AM SORRY.

I KNOW EACH ONE OF YOU GUYS ON A FIRST NAME BASIS ONLY.

WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER. IF THE OTHER COUNTIES IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE WORSE ISSUES. THEY HAVE A LOT OF MURDERS AND CRIMES, WE DO TOO, BUT NOT LIKE THIS.

OUR CRIME RATE IS VERY LOW THANKS TO THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, BUT IF WE DON'T WORK TOGETHER, WE WILL BE LIKE A LOS

[00:45:01]

ANGELES. WE WILL BE LIKE A CHICAGO.

THE PART OF THE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS HAVING MENTAL ISSUE, IT IS GOING TO GET WORSE. NO MONEY OUT THERE.

NOBODY TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. I WILL ASK THAT YOU RECONSIDER WHAT YOU ARE DOING BECAUSE WHEN YOU STRIP HER OF HER POWER, IT GOES RIGHT BACK TO YOU. AND GOES RIGHT BACK TO THE CITIZENS. WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING HERE, IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE CITIZENS OF NUECES COUNTY.

THE COUNTY BUSINESS HAS TO BE DONE.

IT HAS TO BE DONE. AMEN.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU. DATSUN LEWIS.

YOU WILL WAIT FOR THE AGENDA ITEM? SOUNDS GOOD. SHEREE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK NOW? OK

OKAY. >> I WROTE THIS THING UP.

IF THERE ARE ANY MISTAKES -- GOOD MORNING.

PART OF OUR NUECES COUNTY AND CORPUS CHRISTI.

I AM A GRADUATE OF LEADERSHIP CLASS OF CORPUS CHRISTI.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT IT WAS PURE COINCIDENCE, BECAUSE I JUST KNEW I WOULD BE HERE FOR AN HOUR BUT SEEMS LIKE IT IS THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY. I AM NO EXPERT AT MENTAL HEALTH.

THEY DISCOVERED WHY WE NEED THE DIVERSION CENTER, THE STAFF AND THE BENEFITS. SO MAYBE THE REASON I'M HERE I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AS I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE SAME.

AND SO I PRESENT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND WANT TO TRY TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

NOW WITH THAT DESIRE AND WITH SUPPORT FROM TEN OTHER LEADERSHIP CLASSMATES, WE LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE LAST -- MARCH OF THIS YEAR AS PART OF THE PROGRAM CALLED "CALL TO ACTION FOR MENTAL HEALTH." AND THE INTENT WAS TO BRING THE STAKEHOLDERS UNDER ONE ROOF THAT WE ACHIEVED THE OBJECT JEB I HAVE IT. OUR JAIL DIVERSION IS A HUGE MILESTONE A COMMUNITY THAT CARES OF THE QUALITY OF HEALTH OF OUR CITIZENS. A LOT OF WOULD, TO BE DONE AND ME AND MY TEAM ARE LOOKING INTO HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS USING TECHNOLOGIES AND COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

BUT WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND LOOK HOW TO TRANSFORM AND ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH. MAYBE IF WE DO THAT, WE CAN SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER COUNTIES AND CITIES TO FOLLOW A LEAD IN HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND BE THE CHANGE.

THANK YOU. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. TERRY SHAMSY.

FOLLOWED BY RICK DEGAL. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. SO I WANT TO ADDRESS THE AGENDA ITEM 2-A-13. I WAS COUNTY JUDGE HERE AND I DEALT AND NEGOTIATED DEALS WITH ALL THE COMMISSIONERS, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS. AND MOST OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS WERE DONE AT WORKSHOPS AND THEY WERE CIVIL IN NATURE.

WE HAD OUR DIFFERENCES, BUT THERE WAS ALWAYS A COMPROMISE.

AND THAT IS WHAT GOVERNMENT IS, A COMPROMISE.

YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT.

YOU GET A PIECE OF IT. FOR JUDGE BORCHARD.

FOR JUDGE BARNES. I WORKED WITH JUDGE BARNES AS ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY AND JUDGE NEAL AND MYSELF.

WE NEVER HAD AN ITEM LIKE 2-A-13.

ALL OF US MEN WERE NEVER RESTRICTED IN THIS MANNER.

NONE OF US. NOW I AM SURE THAT THERE IS SOME PERSONAL ANIMOSITY AMONG ALL OF YOU ALL.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY TO SIT AND FIGHT WHILE GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IS NOT ADDRESSED.

YOU ALL ARE MAKING $100,000 PLUS A YEAR.

YOU GET RETIREMENT. YOU GET INSURANCE.

YOU GET A TRAVEL BUDGET AND SOME OF YOU HAVE A GREAT SECOND JOB MAKING A WHOLE LOT MORE. YOU ARE FLUSHING CASH.

THE ITEMS THAT THIS COUNTY FACES AND I SEE IT EVERY DAY.

YOU HAVE A SEVERE CRISIS IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

THEY ARE SO UNDERPAID, PEOPLE WON'T EVEN APPLY FOR THE JO BE.

YOU HAVE A CRISIS TO THE JAIL, BECAUSE YOU WON'T PAY YOUR EMPLOYEES ENOUGH TO ATTRACT THEM.

YOU NOW HAVE A CRISIS AT THE JUVENILE CENTER, BECAUSE YOU DON'T PAY THEM ENOUGH TO ATTRACT THOSE EMPLOYEES.

YOU HAVE A CRISIS IN THE COURT NOW.

[00:50:03]

THIS WEEK, IT WAS REVEALED THAT JURORS WHILE DELIBERATING WERE AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDED DURING THEIR DELIBERATIONS AND LAWYERS WATCHED IT. YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT CONCERN US CITIZENS. WE WANT THINGS FIXED.

FIGHTING DOESN'T HELP. PERSONALITY DIFFICULTIES, I UNDERSTAND BUT ALL OF US AS CITIZENS WHETHER REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, WE WANT THE SYSTEM TO FUNCTION.

I AM ASKING YOU TO PUT THE DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE AS THE HAPPEN, THE BUDGETARY ISSUES, A LIVABLE WAGE AND GOVERNMENT THAT FUNCTIONS. AND I AM NOT GOING TO CAST BLAME ON WHO IS DOING WHAT. I AM JUST ASKING YOU.

I PAY MY TAXES. DO THE RIGHT THING AND DO YOUR JOB. THANK YOU.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU. RICK DEGAL.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS.

I HOPE I AM NOT REDUNDANT. I HAVEN'T BEEN TO A COUNCIL MEETING FOR TWO YEARS FOR THE SAME REASON THAT A LOT OF YOU HAD AS WELL. SO I AM NOT IN THIS BOAT ALONE.

BUT WE WERE IN DARKNESS, OF COURSE.

WE COULDN'T GO ANYWHERE FOR A LONG TIME.

AND SO, THEREFORE, I HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY UNTIL TODAY TO DO SOMETHING THAT, LIKE I SAID, I HOPE -- I DON'T THINK IT HAS BEEN DONE ENOUGH -- IF IT HAS, IT HAVEN'T BEEN DONE ENOUGH.

DURING THAT DARKNESS, THE FIRST FEW DAYS THAT WE WERE TOLD ABOUT THIS TERRIBLE ENEMY THAT WE COULDN'T SEE, WE COULDN'T FEEL, WE COULDN'T TOUCH. EVERYBODY WAS CONCERNED, BECAUSE NOBODY KNEW ANYTHING AND THAT IS WHAT MADE IT SO DEPRESSING IS THAT WE GOT AN ENEMY THAT WE DON'T KNOW AND WHEN WE DON'T KNOW SOMETHING, WE GET WORRIED. I AM 80 YEARS OLD AND I SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID OF ANYTHING BUT LIVING ANOTHER DAY.

I WAS. BUT JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, I WASN'T ALONE. AND OUT OF THAT DARKNESS, CAME A LIGHT. THAT LIGHT WAS IN THE FORM OF A LADY, OUR COUNTY JUDGE WAS THE PERSON THAT CAME ON THE TUBE EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT I REMEMBER DURING THAT CRISIS GIVING US INFORMATION, VALUABLE INFORMATION WHAT WE NEEDED TO BE DOING AS CITIZENS TO PROTECT US. THEN AFTER THE INFORMATION, THEN SHE WENT TO WORK. AND I KNOW SHE PROBABLY HAD HELP, BUT I KNOW SHE DID IT. SHE GOT US RESOURCES A LOT QUICKER THAN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES DID.

I HAVE FRIENDS ALL OVER -- ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

AND I WILL GUARANTEE YOU SHE GOT US RESOURCES.

WE ARE USUALLY THE LAST ON THE TOTEM POLE.

YOU ALL KNOW THAT. SHE DID IT.

SHE BROUGHT US THOSE -- THOSE RESOURCES, NEEDED RESOURCINGS.

FIRST THE TESTING. WAS OUT THERE ON THE LINE TELLING US WHERE TO GO AND HOW TO GET THERE.

ASSURING US THAT WE WOULD BE SAFE GETTING THERE.

THEN THE SHOTS. THEN THE BOOSTERS.

SHE WAS RIGHT ON THE FRONT LINE. I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY STANDING NEXT TO HER. I SWEAR, I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY STANDING NEXT TO HER. SHE DID THIS ON HER OWN.

I MEAN, I DIDN'T SEE THE MAYOR OF CORPUS CHRISTI DO MUCH.

SHE WAS THERE EVERY DAY. AND YOU KNOW WHAT, SHE DIDN'T ASK FOR YOUR PERMISSION. SHE JUST DID IT BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. AND IF YOU STAND IN FRONT OF HER AND DO NOT LET THEY ARE GO GET THE VALUABLE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI OR THE VALUABLE INFORMATION THAT SHE CAN BRING BACK TO BE ABLE TO RUN AN EFFICIENT OPERATION, YOU ARE LIABLE. I BELIEVE IT.

I AM NOT A LAWYER, BUT IF YOU STOP HER, I HOPE YOUR NAME IS LISTED AS THE PEOPLE WHO STOPPED HER, BECAUSE YOU ARE OF LIABLE.

YOU ARE IN MY TAX POCKET. AND THAT GETS PERSONAL.

THA THANKS.

>>JUDGE CANALES: CHAVIS. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO ITEM 2A-13 WITH MUCH CONCERN.

IN THE '50S, THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAVEL IN THIS COUNTY.

DID YOU KNOW THAT BUT IT WASN'T THE LEADERS BUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAD TO MOVE WHEN RED MACK CLOSED BECAUSE THE LEADERS WERE NOT TRAVELING AND FINDING OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

FAMILIES LEFT. THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT TRAVELED AT THAT TIME. EVER SINCE THEN A MILITARY TASK

[00:55:03]

AND MILITARY CONCERNS. AND JUDGE BORCHARD, JUDGE RAMSEY, JUDGE CANALES HAS KEPT THAT GOING.

THE YEAR 1999, 2000. STUCK HIS HEAD UP.

BUT OUR LEADERS WERE READY TO TRAVEL.

AND TOOK CARE OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE CONCERNS.

THEY NEED TO BE AVAILABLE. THE JUDGE NEEDS TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THAT. IT IS ALREADY BEING REPEATED OVER AND OVER THE RESOURCES SHE BROUGHT INTO THIS COUNTY.

WE HAVE A PORT DESIGNATED AS A MILITARY DEPLOYMENT PORT BECAUSE OF THAT WORK. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.

IT HAPPENED IN THE YEAR 2000 UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COUNTY, THE STATE, AND THE NATIONAL, PAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO TRAVEL. THE JUDGE CANNOT BE HELD BACK TO BRING THE RESOURCES. BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE FAMILIES THAT WILL BE HURT ARE THE ONE THAT ARE GOING TO TRAVEL.

AND WE MUST NOT SEE THAT. SO I'M HERE TO ASK YOU PLEASE DO NOT TIE THE HANDS OF OUR COUNTY CITIZENS.

DO NOT TIE THE HANDS OF OUR JUDGE.

AND DO NOT TIE YOUR OWN HANDS BECAUSE YOU ARE PART OF THE LEADERSHIP. AND THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED TO BE CONCERN WITH. THINK BACK OF ALL THE TIMES WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT ABILITY. AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS COUNTY, TO THIS AREA. CORPUS CHRISTI AND NUECES COUNTY IS THE LEADER IN THE MILITARY AREA IN THIS PORT.

OUT OF ALL THE PORTS IN TEXAS, CORPUS CHRISTI WAS DESIGNATED AS A MILITARY DEPLOYMENT PORT. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOES ON THERE. RIGHT NOW WE PASS BY MILITARY VEHICLES COVERED. THEY ARE BEING TRAVELED TO EUROPE. RIGHT HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI IN NUECES COUNTY. THE PORT OF NUECES COUNTY IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE 37 TENANTS ARE AT THE BASE.

AND THEY CAN LEAVE ANY TIME IF OUR LEADERSHIP DOESN'T HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH WASHINGTON, AUSTIN, AND OUR OWN CITY AND COUNTY. SO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT BECAUSE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WILL TRAVEL WILL BE THE FAMILIES THAT WILL HAVE TO LEAVE, BECAUSE YOU DID NOT TAKE TIME TO LEAD IN WASHINGTON OR WHEREVER IT NEEDS TO BE DONE THANK YOU FOR YOUR

TIME. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU, MR. CHAVIS. THAT CONCLUDES THOSE I SEE ONLINE WISHING TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, AS WELL AS THOSE HERE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ.

IS YOURS ON A PARTICULAR ITEM AND YOU WISH TO WAIT?

>> COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ: I WILL GO AHEAD AND GO, JUDGE.

>>JUDGE CANALES: OKAY. >> COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ: I

JUST WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT. >> COMMISSIONER, SPEAK INTO

THE MIC HERE. >> COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ: AS COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 1 IN NUECES COUNTY, I TOOK THE OATH TO REPRESENT THE CONSTITUTION TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY; THEREFORE, I FEEL THE NEED TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERNS TO ME THAT THEY ARE STILL NOT PLEASED WITH HOW COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BEING CONDUCTED. AND THE LACK OF INFORMATION WHICH IS BEING PROVIDED TO THEM. I FEEL SINCE I TOOK THE OATH TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THIS COMMUNITY, THAT I SHOULD VOICE THEIR LATEST CONCERNS PUBLICLY WHICH IS -- AS I MENTIONEDED IN PREVIOUS PUBLIC COMMENTS, THERE IS A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE BY THIS CONSTITUENTS DUE TO THE CONTINUOUS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY SINCE LAST NEWS REPORT. THEY HAVE FORMED AN OPINION THAT THIS COURT IS NOT BEING TRANSPARENT ON IMPORTANT ISSUES.

I REMIND YOU ALL AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OFFICERS OF THIS COURT, WE TOOK AN OATH TO UPHOLD LAWS AND POLICIES THAT WE MUST ABIDE BY. THE OATH THAT WE ALL TOOK SHOWS THE CONSTITUTION THAT IT SHALL CONSTITUENTS THAT WE HAVE THEIR BEST INTEREST. FURTHERMORE, IT IS NOT ABOUT BEING A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, IT IS SIMPLY DOING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE TAXPAYER AND THIS COMMUNITY.

AND THERE IS A SAYING IN SPANISH -- -- NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE COOK IS COOKING IN THE POT EXCEPT FOR THAT COOK THAT IS STIRRING THE POT.

SO I ASK YOU ALL, AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR COMMENTS,

[01:00:05]

BUT Y'ALL ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

S&P. >>JUDGE CANALES: MISS DORSEY.

>> I WWOULD WARN YOU OF SAYING ANYTHING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ: I AM SAYING EXCESSIVE SESSION.

>> ANY COMMUNICATION THAT HAPPENS IS CONFIDENTIAL.

>> COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ: EXACTLY.

THAT IS WHAT I AM SAYING. YOU DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THERE. IF YOU ONLY HAD THAT OPPORTUNITIES, YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT WE ARE SAYING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU.

THERE IS -- THERE IS NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT -- YES? JIMMY RODRIGUEZ. WHICH STITCH MINISTRIES.

>> THAT -- I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF IMAGE ID.

I AM CHAIRMAN OF THEIR BOARDS AND MARK HENDRICKS AND THE REST OF THE STAFF IS AMAZING. I HAVE WORKED FOR TEN YEARS AT THE STATE SCHOOL HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI.

THAT IS HOW I STARTED MY CAREER. IF NOT FOR MHMR BACK THEN, MY DAUGHTER CHARISMA WOULDN'T BE ALIVE.

INFANT STIMULATION PROVIDED BY HMMR. THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT IS PERSONAL.

I SERVED ON THE BOARD AND ALL THIS TIME.

SHE IS 42 YEARS OLD NOW, BY THE WAY.

I SPENT TEN YEARS OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS HELPING PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THANK YOU BRENT CHESNEY FOR HELPING US RAISE EVERYONE WITH THREE-ON-THREE BASKETBALL ALL THOSE YEARS. I HAVE A HEART FOR HELPING SPECIAL NEEDS. I SPENT TEN YEARS AT THE NUECES COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS THE CHIEF DEPUTY.

MAN, I WISH WE WOULD HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT JAIL DIVERSION AND THE RESOURCE THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO DIVERT PEOPLE FROM GOING THERE. PACK THEN WE HAD MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUITS THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH AND SUICIDES AND THIS WAS UNTHOUGHT OF. WELL, WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. SO I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THESE INITIATIVES BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN NUECES COUNTY IS A FIVE-STAR AGENCY WHO WOULD NOT REFER PEOPLE TO THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELDS.

AND WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE THAT.

THE LAST TEN YEARS I HAVE BEEN SPEND IN MINISTRY AND OUR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY NEED TO ALSO GET ENGAGED AND BE THE SUPPORT THAT THESE PEOPLE NEEDS. NO MATTER WHAT THE FAITH.

NO MATTER WHAT FLAVOR YOU ARE, WHERE ARE WE? AND HOW CAN WE HELP. AND WE CAN HELP AND HELP THIS COURT GET FARTHER ALONG IN HELPING SUPPORT DIVERSION PRO PROGRAMS. IT JUST MAKES SENSE OR WE KEEP SPENDING MONEY AND MORE LAWSUITS. AND EARLIER THE JUDGE TALKED ABOUT THE CRISES THAT WE ARE FACING.

AND THE SOLUTIONS ARE RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF US.

SO I IMPLORE YOU TO HAVE EMPATHY FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED THE HELP OR WE PAY MUCH MORE LATER IF WE DON'T.

THANK YOU. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.

WE WILL MOVE -- YES, MA'AM, I AM SORRY, FRANCIS, YES.

>> CAN I? >>JUDGE CANALES: YES, ABSOL ABSOLUTELY.

>> HELLO THIS MORNING. I AM FRANCIS.

AND I AM A VOTER HERE IN NUECES COUNTY.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE -- I TRIED TO LEARN SOMETHING BY WAITING THE OTHER PEOPLE SPEAK ABOUT IT, BUT I AM SURE THIS IS IMPORTANT IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH LIMITING BARBARA CANALES AND THE OFFICE. AND THE CONDUCTS OF THE OFFICE.

I VOTED FOR HER LIKE KARLA SAID, ELECT ME AND IT WILL BE LIKE BEING THERE YOURSELF. AND THAT IS HOW I FELT OF BARBERIE BEING OUR COUNTY JUDGE. SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THE DETAILS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND THE CEMETERY AND THE JAIL AND ALL THESE THINGS.

AND NOW I HEAR THAT SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO KEEP HER FROM FUNCTIONING IN HER OFFICE? AND I DON'T KNOW IF WHAT EXECUTIVE SESSION STANDS FOR, BUT THAT IS NOT TRANSPARENCY IF IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN THERE. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I GOT TO SAY THESE THINGS BEFORE THE ISSUE IS TAKEN CARE OF WITHOUT US KNOWING WHAT IT IS EVEN ABOUT.

[01:05:01]

SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU. ANY OTHER -- YES, I HAVE GOT YOU. GIVE ME ONE SECOND.

ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE? OKAY. COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ.

COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ. >>COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ: JUDGE,

I WANT TO ADDRESS -- >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: EXCUSE

ME, MISTER. >> I VOTED FOR YOU JUDGE.

I PUT UP SIGNS FOR YOU JUDGE. >> YOU NEED TO SPEAK IN THE MIC.

>> YOU CAN RESPOND PUBLIC COMMENT BY STATING SIMPLE STATEMENTS OF FACT, BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO ADDRESS PUBLIC COMMENT, THE ADDRESS THAT YOU CAN DO IS TO ANNOUNCE THAT IT CAN BE AND SHOULD BE PUT ON A FUTURE AGENDA.

>> COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ: ALL RIGHT, I WAS GOING TO INCLUDE IT ON MY STATEMENT, BUT THAT'S FINE.

>>JUDGE CANALES: COMMISSIONER GONZ

GONZALEZ. >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: JUDGE -- I ALSO VOTED FOR JU JUDGE CANALES AND I WORKED 150% FOR JUDGE CANALES. AND I BELIEVED IN JUDGE CANALES WHEN RUNNING FOR COUNTY JUDGE. I HEAR PEOPLE TODAY AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MY FRIENDS FOR LONG TIME TELLING ME, I GUESS, IT IS OKAY TO SUPPORT DEMOCRATS. IT IS OKAY TO SUPPORT REPUBLICANS. BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE.

SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM HAS.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS NOW.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I RAN, I DIDN'T HEAR NOBODY COME TO THE PODIUM AND DEFEND THE FACT THAT I WAS RAKED ON THE COALS.

I WAS CALLED OUT CORRUPTION AND I DID ALL THESE OTHER CRAZY THINGS AND I STOLE SOME MONEY. AND.THERE WERE FLIERS OUT THERE.

I DIDN'T SEE NOBODY COME TO THE PODIUM.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I RAN MY CAMPAIGN AS AN OFFICIAL.

AND IT IS NOT ABOUT A FEMALE. NOT ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL FEMALE.

NOT ABOUT WOMEN. THIS IS ISSUE THAT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT YOU GUYS DO NOT UNDERSTAND BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THERE ARE POLICIES THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW OF HOW THINGS ARE DONE. YOU KNOW, MOST OF THIS -- 99% OF THE ITEMS HAVE TO GO TO COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR APPROVAL. THAT IS THE WAY IT IS.

UNLESS WE CHANGE THEM. SO THE FACT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY COMES UP HERE AND STARTS THROWING ROCKS, YOU KNOW.

I KNOW THOSE OF HOW THROW THE BIGGEST ROCKS, YOU HAVE BEEN ON BOTH SIDES. YOU HAVE BEEN ON BOTH SEEDS OF THE ALLEY. SO DON'T TELL ME ABOUT BEING ON ONE SIDE AND I SHOULD BE AND BE A DEMOCRAT AND BE -- I HAVE BEEN A DEMOCRAT ALL MY LIFE, BUT, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT MOST OF YOU HAVE NOT. AND IF YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD BE ON BOTH SIDES. AND I DON'T BLACH BLAME YOU FOR THAT. NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. IT IS ABOUT POLITICS AND RUNNING FOR OFFICE. NOT ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL FEMALE OR MALE. ABOUT RUNNING THE OFFICE THE BEST WAY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR TAXPAYER'S MUDGE AND TO CONTINUE FORWARD. WE CAN NOT LET SOMEBODY OPEN UP THE DOORS AND START RUNNING WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE WOULD BE IN A WORSE PROBLEM THAN WE ARE NOW.

I DID NOT LIE WHEN I MADE THAT STATEMENT.

AGAIN, THIS IS BEHIND DOORS, EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THOSE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND, WE CAN NOT TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

SO THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT, RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU, SIR.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO -- WE HAVE NO MINUTES.

JUST TO KIND OF REMIND YOU. REMEMBER -- OH, WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE? DID SOMEONE SAY SOMETHING ONLINE, CONNIE? DID YOU HEAR SOMETHING?

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: I DID. >> SOMEBODY UNMUTED THEMSELVES.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THAT WAS JUST A MISTAKE.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: I HAVE TABLE MOTIONS.

IF YOU DON'T MIND. >>JUDGE CANALES: IF YOU DON'T SEE WE HAVE MINUTES OR WE DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE THINGS WE NORMALLY HAVE BECAUSE THIS IS SORT OF PART TWO OF LAST WEEK'S AGENDA. SO I WILL MOVE INTO TABLES AND

THEN GENERAL INFORMATION. >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: ON TABLES, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECESS FROM 12 TO 1.

I HAVE A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. >>JUDGE CANALES: SPEAK INTO

THE MIC. >> COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECESS FOR 12 TO 1.

THE RECESS TO NOON TO 1 SO EVERYBODY ONLINE KNOWS THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND AND IF WE DO THAT, WE WILL COME AFTER 1:00. A MOTION AND A SECOND.

AND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR FOR THE RECESS, SIGNIFY BY SO SAYING AYE. OKAY.

AND THEN ON GENERAL INFORMATION REPORTS BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE AUDIENCE FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH PIECE, I WILL ASK MR. RAY WHO IS ON LIEN TO HOLD LOUIE, DOES THAT WORK FOR YOUR

[01:10:07]

SCHEDULE. >> JUDGE CANALES, I WILL BE

SPEAKING. >> THANK YOU, KATHY BLATNER FOR THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM. I APPRECIATE THAT.

MOVE INTO 2-A-1. >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: CAN I

DO THE TABLES. >>JUDGE CANALES: SORRY, YOU ASKED EARLIER. GIVE ME A SECOND XAVIER.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: JUDGE, I HAVE SEVERAL TABLES TO CONSIDER BASED ON NOT BEING READY AND I AM SORRY THAT ALL THOSE PEOPLE HAVE TO BE HERE TODAY AND THAT IS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT I WILL PARTIALLY TABLE -- OR TRY TO BECAUSE THE

[8. Discuss and consider all related matters to the construction of Bob Hall Pier; discuss and consider the timeline needed to move forward regarding the construction of Bob Hall Pier and related matters.]

COUNTY ATTORNEY ASKED ME SOME QUESTIONS THAT I NEED TO GET CLEARED ON. FIRST ONE IS, 2-A-8.

NOTHING ON THAT ITEM. WE ARE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A LENGTHY PRESENTATION AND THAT NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE PARKS BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION AS WELL. I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO TABLE

#-A-8. >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: SECOND.

>>JUDGE CANALES: MOTION AND A SECOND.

AGAIN, SO WE KNOW ARE YOU SUBJECT THIS WILL BE ON THE

10TH. >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: NO

MA'AM. >>JUDGE CANALES: GO TO THE PARKS

BOARD TABLE TO THE 31S. >>JUDGE CANALES: YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU. IF JJZ JAUJZ MOTION AND A SECOND. CALLING FOR DISCUSSION.

>>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM.

FOR CLARIFICATION. I KNOW SOME ISSUES BROUGHT UP ON THE DESIGN AND WILL THIS GIVE THE PARKS BOARD A CHANCE.

I DON'T WANT THEM TO GET TOO FAR AHEAD ON THEIR WORK.

A LOT OF US HAVE HEARD ONLD RECEIVED FEEDBACK THERE ARE CONCERNS. WILL THAT BE GOING TO THE PARKS

BOARD OR AT LEAST BOTH OF US. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: THEY ARE A STATUTORY BOARD AND A COASTAL ASSET.

I AM MAKING SURE THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH KIND OF WHAT IS OUT THERE AND WHAT IS GOING ON AND GET INPUT ON IT. ONE OF THE ITEMS I AM GOING TO ADDRESS WILL DEAL WITH THOSE CONCERNS THAT YOU ARE TALKED ABOUT ON THE DESIGN. WE HAVE SEVERAL MEETINGS ON THEM AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

JUST A MATTER OF LETTING THE PARKS BOARD HAVE TIME TO REVIEW.

>>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: SOUNDS GOOD.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFI

CLARIFICATION. >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: CALL

[13. Discuss and consider additional changes to the policies and procedures of the Nueces County Commissioners Court.]

FOR THE QUESTION. >>JUDGE CANALES: NO OTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. YOUR NEXT ONE.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: JUDGE, THE NEXT ONE IS A PARTIAL TABLE AND I KNOW THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS RAISED QUESTIONS THAT I NEED TO GET WITH HER ON THE REWORDING.

SOUNDS LIKE SOME OF IT IS VERY CONFUSING BY THE COMMENTS TODAY THAT ARE NOT ACCURATE AND NOT THE TINT OF WHAT WAS INTENDED TO BE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO TABLE ALL OF IT, BUT NUMBERA-1 BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO DEAL WITH THAT BUT 2, #, 4, 5, 6 AND 7. A PARTIAL TABLE TO INCLUDE JUST -- SORRY, JUST NUMBER 1 ON THE PROCEDURES.

>>JUDGE CANALES: AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOUR MOTION IS TO TABLE ITEM 2-A-13 AND CALL IT LITTLE 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 AND 7.

EXCEPT FOR NUMBER 1. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: JENNY HAD QUESTIONS THAT WERE LEGIT THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO GET WITH HER AND ADDRESS. WE ARE GOING BACK AND FORTH.

IT NEEDS TO BE REWORDED BASED ON THE COMMENTS BECAUSE NOT THE INTENT OF WHAT THIS WAS. I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY HEARD THIS AND REWORK IT TO SHOW A BETTER INTENT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: OKAY. SO THERE IS A MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? FOND DU LAC GONZALEZ I WILL SECOND IT. ARE WE TALKING ABOUT FROM 2-7 ONLY. INSIDE 2-A-13.

>>JUDGE CANALES: SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND.

AND I AM GOING TO CALL FOR A DISCUSSION HERE.

AND WHILE I DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS LEGALLY VE VETTED, I THINK THIS WAS AN ATTACHMENT JUST FOR THE RECORD THAT CAME IN ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3. SO I AM GLAD THERE IS GOING TO

BE TIME -- >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: THAT IS

PART OF IT. >>JUDGE CANALES: -- TO DIGEST IT. BUT I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, ITEM NUMBER 4 IS -- NEEDS TO NOT ONLY HAVE LEGAL REVIEW BUT I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SEEK THE OPINION OF JIM ALISON, BECAUSE WHEN WE SPOKE TO COUNSELOR ALISON, THAT IS CLEARLY NOT TEXAS LAW. AND ON ITEM NUMBER 5, WHICH IS WHAT EVERYBODY SPOKE ON TODAY, THERE SHALL BE NO OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT WITHOUT COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVAL NOR ANY MEMBER OF THE COURT PAY FOR SAID TRAVEL.

[01:15:02]

IN THE DISCUSSION WHILE IT IS GOING TO BE TABLED, IF THE VOTE IS SUCH, I JUST WANT TO SAY I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER WORDING COULD HAVE BEEN MISINTERPRETED THERE OTHER THAN I WOULD HAVE TO SEEK YOUR APPROVAL OR OTHER COMMISSIONERS APPROVAL TO DO THE WORK THAT HAS YIELDED SO MUCH GOOD FOR THIS COUNTY.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: I AM TRYING TO TABLE IT -- IF YOU WANT TO DEBATE IT. THE POINT OF THE TABLE.

THE POINT OF THE TABLE TO GO BACK -- NOT HAVE A DISCUSSION AFTER THE ROBERT RULES OR MIGHT AS WELL HAVE THE DISCUSSION.

I AM TRYING TO REWORK IT WHERE IT DOESN'T HAVE THE INTENT THAT YOU THINK IT DOES AND JENNY MADE SUGGESTIONS AND I NEED TO SIT DOWN AND DO IT. THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE TABLE. THE REASON FOR THE INTENT.

IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ALL THESE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE SHOWN UP I WOULD HAVE DONE IT -- I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT PUBLIC COMMENT. I MADE A MOTION TO TABLE.

SECONDED OTHER THAN A-1. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD AND BRING IT BACK WHEN IT IS READY TO BE BROUGHT BACK.

>>JUDGE CANALES: WILL YOU ALSO DISCUSS WITH JENNY DORSEY SINCE YOU ARE GOING TO BRING IT BACK ON ITEM NUMBER 7, WHICH SAYS THAT NO MEMBER OF THE COURT, INCLUDING ME, CAN SERVE ON ANY

BOARD. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: I AM GOING TO DISCUSS ALL OF THEM. THAT'S WHY I AM TABLING THEM.

>>JUDGE CANALES: IN THE EFFORT OF TRANSPARENCY --

>> COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: 7 HAS BEEN TABLED.

>>JUDGE CANALES: HAVEN'T BEEN TABLED YET.

WE NEED TO BE CONSISTENT. YOU KNOW WHEN JOHN ASKED THE QUESTION AFTER WE TABLED, THE HE BOB HALL PIER ONE, WE WERE ALLOWED TO DISCUSS IT. THAT IS WHY I BROUGHT THAT UP.

>>JUDGE CANALES: I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION AND SAID I AM GOING TO REWORK THEM AND GET WITH JENNY AND TRY TO TABLE THEM BECAUSE UNCLEAR WORDING. I GET IT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

ANY OTHERS? >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: YES,

MA'AM. >> IS THERE A DATE?

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: I WILL NEED TO GETS TO JENNY.

>>JUDGE CANALES: AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: PUT IT BACK WHEN I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.

MOTION TO TABLE 14. >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: SECOND.

>>JUDGE CANALES: MOTION AND A SECOND.

AGAIN JUST FOR THE AUDIENCE, THE DRAINAGE PROJECTS.

YOU WILL BRING THEM BACK WHEN YOU ARE READY.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: YES, MA'AM.

THE PRECINCT 4 ARPAAL THE CAPED FUNDS THAT EACH COMMISSIONER

[15. Discuss and consider allocating all of or part of all remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for qualified projects to each commissioner and county judge in an equal amount. All projects would have to be brought back to court by each County Commissioner and County Judge for approval.]

HAS. >>JUDGE CANALES: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED SAME SIGN.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: JUDGE, A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

I DON'T KNOW IF 15 WAS INTENDED TO BE ON THERE BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THIS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT GOT CARRIED

OVER. >> IT DID.

>> IF SOMEBODY NEEDS TO -- I DON'T WANT TO TABLE IT IF SOMEONE WAS PUT IT ON INTENTIONALLY.

>>JUDGE CANALES: IT WAS NOT. IT WAS A CARRYOVER.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: CONTINUE THAT INDEFINITELY.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED A MOTION. >> COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ:

SECOND. >>JUDGE CANALES: ALL THOSE IN

FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU,

[1. Receive presentation regarding development of a comprehensive collaborative behavioral mental health restoration program; Discuss and consider approving an Order transferring County funds to a Mental Health account; Discuss and consider American Rescue Act Plan (ARPA) funding for mental health restoration program. ]

JUDGE, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOING BACK INTO THE REGULAR AGENDA, XAVIER. DR. XAVIER GONZALEZ IS HERE TO HELP US WITH 2-A-1. RECEIVE A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE COLLABORATIVE BEHAVIORAL MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM IS THE TITLE OF THE PRESENTATION.

THERE ARE ACTION ITEMS ATTACHED TO IT.

WE WILL TAKE THEM ONE AT A TIME. FIRST THE PRESENTATION CONNIE.

>> SOMEBODY HAD A COMMENT FOR JEREMY COLEMAN.

>>JUDGE CANALES: OKAY. I WILL TELL YOU WHAT.

JEREMY, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME. THE MINUTE THIS ITEM IS OVER, GIVEN HIS POSITION WITH T THE NAACP, I WILL REOPEN PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT OUT OF COURTESY FOR DR. GONZALEZ SINCE HE IS AT THE PODIUM, WE WILL DO IT AFTER THIS ITEM.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: JUDGE, QUICK QUESTION.

IS THIS THE SAME PRESENTATION THAT WE HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN?

>>JUDGE CANALES: DR. GONZALEZ, IS THIS THE SAME PRESENTATION?

>> NO. >>JUDGE CANALES: IT'S NOT, COMMISSIONER. DR. GONZALEZ, PLEASE PROCEED.

>> SUMMARIZE IT INTO ONE SLIDE TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: I AM READY TO GET INTO THE MEAT OF

IT. >>JUDGE CANALES: LOOKING FOR A SLIDE. YES.

CAN YOU BLOW IT UP, CONNIE, TOO FOR THOSE OF US WITH CHALLENGED

[01:20:01]

EYES. OKAY, THAT IS FANTASTIC.

>> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR GIVING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU ALL TODAY. FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE WHO MAY NOT KNOW ME, ANY NAME IS DR. XAVIER GONZALEZ.

I AM NUECES COUNTY DIRECTOR OF MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. SO TODAY, THIS ITEM IS BASICALLY TO DISCUSS SOME RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, IN PARTICULAR TRYING TO IMPACT JAIL DIVERSION IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS BASICALLY AN OVERVIEW OF HOW WE -- WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US WITH REGARDS TO JAIL DIVERSION IN NUECES COUNTY AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TOWARDS.

LOOKING AT THIS FIRST AND FOREMOST, JUST TO RECAP, ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE LOOK AT TRYING TO GET PEOPLE GOING INTO THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IN PARTICULAR IS BECAUSE OF MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER, WE FOLLOW THE INTERCEPT MODEL.

THE MODEL ON THE VERY TOP. I HAD SOME DETAILS IN THE REPORTS THAT I PROVIDED TO THE COMMISSIONERS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO OF THE DEFINITION OF ALL THAT.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THIS AS FAR AS THE DIFFERENT POINTS.

INTERCEPT ZERO, 1, 2, 3 ALREADY 4, 5, 01 ARE THOSE INDIVIDUALS BEFORE THEY ENTER INTO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

BASICALLY CATCHING PEOPLE AND GETTING THEM TREATMENT BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY GET ANY DEEPER PROBLEMS THAT ARE HARD TO GET OOUT OF. WE HAVE SOME PROGRAMS THAT YOU HEARD FROM MHID AND SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS BACK IN 2018, THEY WERE ASKED TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS FOR JAIL DIVERSION.

YOU SEE THOSE AS FAR AS THE MOBILE CRISIS UNIT, THE WALK-IN CRISIS AND THE CRISIS INTERBE VENTUAL TEAMS. WEDS SOME ONGOING THINGS TO IT UNDER DEVELOPMENT.

ONE IS COMING UP WITH WAYS TO COMMUNICATE WITH -- WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE -- DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE IMPACTED OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

I SAY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS I AM TALKING ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT. I AM TALKING ABOUT HOSPITALS.

I AM T PROVIDERS.

HAVING DO THAT, HAVING -- USING A TELEHEALTH SYSTEM CALLED CLOUD NINE. THAT HAS BEEN -- IT IS NOW NEARLY IN -- IT IS ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF BEING UTILIZED AND BEING EVALUATED AS TO MAKE -- TO GET SOME MORE CHECKS ON THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT THAT WELL AND EXPAND IT -- EXPAND IT TO OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS IN FOOT THE FUTURE AND HELP IN DATA COLLECTION. HELP HAVING TO COMMUNICATE WITH AN INDIVIDUAL ACROSS THE BOARD. BUT TODAY, THE REQUEST ARE THREE THINGS. I HAVE THEM LISTED ONE, TWO AND THREE THERE. NUMBER ONE TO CREATE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CON SORB RUM. YOU GO BACK TO THE REPORT, THE BEST THING IS COLLABORATION. IF WE WANT THINGS TO WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY, WE NEED ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER. BASICALLY, YOU KNOW TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE GROUPS. YOU SEE ON THAT COMMUNITY HEALTH BEHAVIORAL CONSORTIUM. FIRST AND FOREMOST, WHO WAS LEADING THE DISCUSSION WAS MHID. YOU SAW THEIR REPRESENTATIVES HERE. BUT YOU ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COASTAL BEND WELLNESS FOUNDATION.

FROM THE COUNCIL OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE.

YOU HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM AMISTAD.

FROM CENECOR AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE. THEY ARE ALL HERE AND READY TO MOVE AND WORK TOGETHER AS FAR AS THE CONSORTIUM.

TAKING THE FIRST STEP, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I WAS ASKING OF THEM TO SIGN A LETTER OF INTENT TO WORK TOGETHER AND TRY TO GET US TO BUILD TOWARD JAIL DIVERSION PRACTICES THAT INCLUDE DIVERSION CENTERINGS. DIVERSION CENTERS THE ONE-STOP-SHOP WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT TAKE INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE TREATMENT AND KEEP THEM FROM GOING TO JAIL.

NOW NUMBER TWO IS TO DEVELOP A COUNTY JAIL DIVERSION AND SUPPORT SERVICES ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO JAIL DIVERSION, ESPECIALLY JAIL DIVERSION CENTERS AS WELL, WE NEED TO HAVE SUSTAINABILITY.

THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE CREATING SOMETHING THAT WILL NEED THE COUNTY TO CONTINUE FUNDING. WELL, THE GOAL IS GOING BACK TO THIS COLLABORATION. IF YOU HAVE THESE GROUPS -- RESOURCE THAT HAVE THE THE SEVERAL CURRENT ON GOING PROGRAMS THEY CAN INCORPORATE INTO THAT, THEN THE FUNDING WILL WORK ITSELF OUT WHERE THE COUNTY IS NOT HAVING TO CONTINUALLY

[01:25:02]

SUPPLEMENT IN THIS LONG-TERM BASIS.

BUT THAT IS WHAT THAT IS. IT IS ABOUT COLLECTING DATA, ABOUT ABOUT EVALUATING THE INFORMATION AND WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THIS COLLABORATION AND HOW WE CAN WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO MAINTAIN SUSTAINABILITY.

AND LAST AND THIRD. BUILDING JAIL DIVERSION CAPACITY IN THE COUNTY. WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU HEARD THE TERM "A DIVERSION CENTER." IN NO WAY AM I RECOMMENDING THAT THE COUNTY BUILD A BRAND-NEW DIVERSION CENTER ONE-STOP SHOP AND THEY HAVE TO TAKE CONTROL OF THAT AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO RUN THAT. WHAT I AM SAYING IS USE WHAT WE HAVE HERE THAT HAS BEEN WORKING. YOU ARE GOING PACK TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS. THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE -- GOT CHOSEN BECAUSE THEY -- THEY GARNERED YOUR SUPPORT IN THE PAST. THEY HAVE GARNERED SUPPORT OF GETTING FUND FROM THIS COURT AND FROM THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.

SO THEY HAVE SHOWN THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD AND WORK WELL IMPENITENTIARILY AND THE GOAL IS TO GET THE WORK EVEN BETTER.

THE REQUEST THERE ON THIS NUMBER 3 IS SEEING IF WE CAN IDENTIFY SOME TYPE OF FUNDING SOURCE TO ALLOW FOR FUNDING OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE CONCURRENT. BUILDINGS THAT THEY HAVE SO THEY CAN DEVELOP THREE KEY DIVERSIONS -- JAIL DIVERSION PROGRAMS. ONE BEING A CRISIS CARE CENTER. TWO, BEING A SOBERING CENTER.

THREE HAVING TRANSITIONAL RECOVERY HOUSING.

IT IS WRAP-AROUND. AND ADDING THAT TO THE SERVICES THEY HAVE WILL MAKE THIS NEARLY COMPLETE TO HAVE STANDARDS OF CARE AS FAR AS THE JAIL DIVERSION CENTERS KNOWN NATIONALLY FROM BEXAR COUNTY AND HARRIS COUNTY.

THAT IS WHY I AM COMING TO YOU TODAY.

THIS IS THE CORE RECOMMENDATIONS.

ABOUT GETTING THE GROUPS HERE, SERVICE PROVIDERS WORKING TOGETHER. AND JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THEM TOO.

I HAVE -- I HAVE DR. BAGGERMAN. I HAVE DR. GONZALEZ WHO IS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HALE.

I HAVE BILL HOSTER WHO IS THE CEO OF COASTAL BEND FOUNDATION. MIKE DAVIS THE CEO OF IMAGE ID AND CENECOR WHERE HER CEO HAS SIGNED OFF IN A LETTER OF INTENT TO WORK TOGETHER. ANOTHER THING AS OF YESTERDAY, I HAD SIX LETTER OF INTENTS FROM THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK TOGETHER. THE IDEA IS JUST THAT.

HOW CAN WE MOVE FORWARD. I AM GOING TO STOP IT THERE, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS DIRECTLY FOR ME OR ANY OF THE SERVICE PROVIDER THAT ARE HERE, WE ARE READY TO ANSWER.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU. DR. GONZALEZ, SOME OF THE PEOPLE I MARKED A W WERE WAITING. SO I AM GOING TO ASK IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS NOW AND WANTED TO MAKE YOUR COMMENT REGARD THIS AGENDA ITEM, MAYBE A GOOD TIME TO DO IT AND I WILL ASK COMMISSIONERS IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS.

SO, AGAIN, CERTAINLY NOT FORCING YOU, BUT THOSE OF HOW HAD WS FOR COASTAL BELLED WELLNESS. ANY OF YOU WANT TO COME UP AT THIS TIME? THIS WILL BE THE OPPORTUNITY.

CRYSTALING A FEW LAR. AS THEY SAY, YOU KNOW HAD YOU ARE. AND U\.S\.

JUST OPINION. >> I AM THE COASTAL WELLNESS FOUNDATION. THE WELLNESS FOUNDATION HAS BEEN PART OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR 36 YEARS AND WE HAVE TACKLED MANY ISSUES THAT AT TIMES HAVE BEEN VERY CHALLENGING.

I'M HERE TODAY IN SPORT OF THE DIVERSION PROGRAM.

AND THE COLLABORATION THAT IS NOW BEING CREATED.

WE ARE ALL THESE UNIQUE SPECIAL ORGANIZATION ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO VARIOUS RESOURCES IN SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY.

WE REALLY JUST WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

AS YOU KNOW WE CONTINUOUSLY TRY TO FIND NEW PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO COME IN. AND I THINK THIS IS THE NEXT STEP FOR OUR COUNTY. IN YOU EVER HAD ANYONE WHO HAD A SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUE OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE IN YOUR FAMILY, YOU KNOW THEY ARE INSIDIOUS DISEASES AND TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT AND ENERGY TO TRY TO MANAGE AND DEAL WITH IT.

I AM PROUD OF OUR COUNTY AND SO MANY GREAT RESOURCES AND TRY TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE COMMUNITY ISSUES.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: CAN I ASK HIM A QUESTION?

>>JUDGE CANALES: BILL. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: I HEARD MR. DAVIS SAID EARLIER IMAGE ID IF WE GAVE THEM FUNDING THIS HE WOULD RUN THE CENTER WITHOUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

OBVIOUSLY I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR AGENCY AND CENECOR AND EVERYBODY IS INVOLVED IN THIS, RIGHT.

[01:30:01]

I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO BE -- EXCUSE ME -- LEFT OUT.

SO WHAT IS YOUR KIND OF VISION IN HOW YOU THIS WORKS.

I WANT TO SUPPORT THIS, BUT I DON'T WANT THE COUNTY IN THE MENTAL HEALTH BUSINESS. I DON'T WANT TO SET UP ANOTHER MOUSE TRAP WHERE WE HAVE STAFF -- I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

THAT IS ME. I WANT Y'ALL TO DO IT IN A MANNER. YOU ARE THE PROFESSIONALS, YOU KNOW HOW TO DO THIS. YOUR THOUGHT ON THAT VISION?

DO YOU SEE THAT WORKING? >> WE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL THINGS AND JUST NOW KIND OF FORMULATING, AN EX-FOR MAY BE YOU CAN ABLE TO EXPRESS THIS BETTER THAN I CAN AT THIS POINT.

IT IS A ONE-STOP SHOP WHERE PEOPLE ARE BROUGHT IN AND PROVIDED AN ASSESSMENT. MHID RECEIVES FUND THAT WE HAVE NOT. WE HAVE RECEIVED SOME FEDERAL FUND THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, IN ORDER TO BECOME A CERTIFIED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC LIKE THEY ARE, IT DOES NOT FOCUS A LOT ON THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE. WE HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM THAT WE ARE UTILIZING UNRESTRICTED FUNDS AND PIECE MEELG SEVERAL PROXIMATE, FEDERAL GRANTS.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MAYBE THERE WILL BE SOME KIND OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT REQUIRED ESPECIALLY IF WE ARE DOING 24-7 SOBRIETY CENTERS. THE -- I AM NOT FAMILIAR W WITH MHID AND WHAT THEIR FUNDING IS AT THAT LEVEL FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS. MY UNDERSTANDING MAY NOT BE PART OF THE PROGRAM FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA AND BIPOLAR.

THEY ARE CERTAINLY WELL-EQUIPPED AND THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE, THEY HAVE THAT PROGRAM AS WELL. I DON'T THINK THAT WILL BE A PROBLEM. I KNOW WE ARE TALKING OF RENOVATING A BUILDING THAT IS ALREADY ON THE MHID PROPERTY AND THE COUNTY WILL NOT BE PURCHASING ANYTHING.

AND I THINK THAT IS A VERY GOOD CHOICE.

YOU CERTAINLY DON'T PUT A BUNCH OF MONEY INTO OWNING ANOTHER PROPERTY. AND I THINK IN THE -- WITH THIS COLLABORATION AND THE BEGINNING OF IT, WE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT OUR BUDGETS AND DETERMINE WHAT WE CAN PUT IN. AND THEN BE ABLE TO COME BACK TO THE COUNTY AND SAY THAT THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO GET STARTED.

AND THEN ALSO, WITH THAT KIND OF COLLABORATION, I THINK THE ABILITY TO GET A LOT MORE FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THE COUNTY COULD BE RATHER IMPRESSIVE. YOU KNOW, NONPROFITS DON'T ALWAYS WORK WELL TOGETHER LIKE ANY OTHER ENTITY BECAUSE YOU ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO FULFILL YOUR OWN NEEDS.

BUT WITH THIS ORGANIZATION, THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE, I FOUND PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY DEDICATED AND HAVE THE TRUE DESIRE TO MAKE A CHANGE. AND PART OF IT IS REMOVING PEOPLE FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND TO RESIDENTIAL OR MEDICAL DEFENSE TOX. THEN WE ARE LUCKY TO HA HAVE CENECOR. I THINK THEY WILL REQUIRE SOME KIND OF FUNDING TO PROVIDE THESE BEDS PAUSE THE FUNDING FOR UNINSURED AND THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FUNDING FROM WHAT I HAVE

SEEN TO GET THEM IN. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: SO YOU ARE ENVISIONING -- AND I AM ASSUMING OTHERS IN THE BUILDING ARE ENVISIONS SOME OPERATIONAL FUNDING REQUESTS AS WELL.

MEANING NHID SAYS -- GIVE US THE MONEY FOR THE BUILDING AND WE DON'T HAVE I ANY OR COLORS FOR WHAT YOU DO.

THEY ARE SAYING NOT DOING THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

AND YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE DOLLARS TO BE APPEAR PARTNER, A PLAYER WITHOUT OPERATIONAL HELP FROM US.

IS THAT A FAIR ASSESSMENT? >> CORRECT, I THINK THE EXPANSIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM WILL REQUIRE SOME INITIAL

SUPPORT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: LIKE I SAID, I AM WAITING TO SEE WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE UP HERE SAYS TOO.

BUT IF THE COURT -- THESE ARPA FUNDS.

I AM ASSUMING THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

ARPA FUNDS AND WE ONLY HAVE UNTIL 2026 -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM DOING IT RIGHT. 2026 TO ALLOCATE THEM.

ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS WILL NOT BE FOREVER BUT KIND OF ONE OF THOSE DEALS. WE GOT THEM AS LONG AS WE GOT THEM AND OBVIOUSLY I THINK THE REHAB IS GOING TO BE A BIG CHUNK OF IT. I AM REAL INTERESTED IN KNOWING.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU MAY BE ABLE TO COLLABORATE ON THE ASK ON THE OPERATIONAL FUNDING BASED ON I THINK WHAT YOU JUST SAID AND MAYBE OTHERS DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.

I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT THAT ASK IS BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE ALL INTERESTED IN THIS CONCEPT.

I DON'T KNOW IF -- I DON'T KNOW YET, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM EVERYBODY WHERE EVERYBODY IS ON HOW THEY WANT TO DO THIS.

MY INTEREST IS VERY MUCH. I WANT TO GIVE IT TO YOU AND I DON'T WANT THE COUNTY TO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

SOUNDS WRONG NOT DISMISS SIEVE AT ALL.

[01:35:01]

I DON'T WANT TO DUPLICATE WHAT YOU ALREADY ARE DOING IF WE CAN DO IT AND MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE DIVERSION CENTER IF THAT IS WHAT THE CONSENSUS IS AND PROVIDING THE OPERATIONAL FUNDS TO GET YOU STARTED AND THE COUNTY CAN SAY GO DO AND BE AT PIECE KIND OF THING. I THINK THAT IS A WIN -- A WIN IN MY PERSPECTIVE. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE YOUR ASSESSMENT RIGHT AND I DON'T MEAN TO CUT EVERYBODY OUT.

AND FIRST ONE HAS GOT UP. >>JUDGE CANALES: MEREDITH IS NEXT. I HAVE THE IMPRESSION, MEREDITH, IF YOU WILL YIELD, THAT MARK HENDRICKS MAYBE WANTS TO ADD TO THE ANSWER. HIS HAND SHOT UP THE MINUTE YOU ASKED THE QUESTION. MEREDITH, IF IT IS ALL RIGHT WITH YOU, I WILL TRANSITION TO MARK AND GO BACK TO YOU, MEREDITH. I AM GUESSING MARK.

IF YOU WANT TO HAVE OTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE DON'T LET MEAN IMPEDE YOU. I GOT THE IMPRESSION --

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >>JUDGE CANALES: THAT YOU WANTED

TO VISIT. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME OKAY?

>>JUDGE CANALES: A LITTLE LOUDER.

IF YOU CAN JUST GO A LITTLE LOUDER.

>> OKAY. IS THIS BETTER?

>>JUDGE CANALES: MUCH BETTER. >> SORRY I COULDN'T BE THERE IN PERSON TODAY. I AM OVER IN HOUSTON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN ALLOWING ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON THIS.

I THINK JUST TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION TO WHAT MR. HOLSTER AND HIS ORGANIZATION WAS STATING AND PROVIDED CONTEXT TO OUR STATEMENT WHERE IT RELATES TO EXISTING FUNDING BEING ADEQUATE. ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE ARE SAYING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF OUR EXISTING OPERATIONS AND HOW WE ARE FUNDED TO OPERATE THESE PROGRAMS, THE CREATION AND OPERATION OF A DIVERSION CENTER. A, THE NEED IS THERE TO RENOVATE THE BUILDING. THE OPERATIONAL FUNDING BASED ON THE TOTALITY OF THE PROGRAM WE ALREADY OPERATE THAT IS FUNDED THROUGH THE DISTRICT, AS WELL AS FUND THAT WE ALREADY RECEIVE THROUGH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION WOULD GIVE US THE ABILITY TO -- TO COVER THOSE OPERATIONAL COSTS WITHOUT AN ADDITIONAL ASK FOR THOSE OPERATIONAL COSTS AS IT RELATES TO THE SUBSTANCE PIECE WITHIN DR. GONZALEZ'S PRESENTATION.

YOU ARE SEEING MULTIPLE ELEMENTS THAT GO BEYOND THE DIVERSION CENTER ITSELF. YOU HAVE THE THREE CORE THAT HE IS REFERRING TO AS A CRISIS CARE CENTER WHICH IS THE DIVERSION CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER.

THERE IS FUNDING AVAILABLE TO OPERATE DIVERSIONARY ACTIVITIES WITHIN THAT DIVERSION CENTER CONCEPT FOR ISSUE RELATED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE. IT WILL BE THINGS LIKE HAVING SOBERING -- MR. HOLSTRA IS DI TAX SERVICES.

WE ARE ALREADY CURRENTLY CONTRACTED WITH CENECOR WITH THAT. COASTAL BED WELLNESS WILL PLAY AN ADDITIONAL ROLE IN THAT CONCEPT AND THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL AND DETOX SERVICES IS ALREADY THERE AND UNDER THE SAME ROOF UN UNDER CENECOR'S ROOF.

SO BRINGING THAT BACK IS -- YES, IT WOULD BE INCUMBENT ON EACH OF OUR AGENCIES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY THIS IS LOOKING LIKE.

AND AND THE DIVERSION CENTERS ARE THE HUB THAT PEOPLE ACCESS THESE SERVICES.

THE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. AND TRADITIONAL HOUSING.

THOSE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THERE AND THEY COULD BE. THERE ARE ELEMENTS THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING COURSE FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. BUT AS IT RELATES FOR THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE FOR RESIDENTIAL AND DETOX SERVICES, THAT IS ALREADY IN PLACE. SO.

I AM MIS INTERPRETING OR MISSPOKEN, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CLARIFY PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE I WANTED THE COURT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE WITH CURRENT FUNDING.

ABOUT CONSOLIDATING THE ACTIVITIES AND THE PROGRAMMING

UNDER ONE ROOF. >>JUDGE CANALES: I HOPE THAT HELPS. I AM GOING TO CONTINUE JUST TO KEEP THE BALL ROLLING AND KEEP ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS IN THIS DISCUSSION. THAT WAS VERY -- A GOOD SYNOPSIS. MEREDITH, WELCOME.

>>. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WANT TO REITERATE AND JUST WANT TO SHOW SUPPORT THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY. AND IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES.

[01:40:04]

IT IS NOT OFTEN THAT WE ARE ALL ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND THIS IS ONE THING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

FOR THOSE OF US WORKING FRONT LINE, WE SEE IT DAY AND DAY AND DAY. ALL OF THESE AGENCIES.

ALL OF THESE ENTITIES DO AMAZING WORK, BUT WE ARE BETTER WHEN WE ARE TOGETHER. IF WE ARE ABLE TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS OF NUECES COUNTY THAT NEED IT AND ALSO HELP TO PROVIDE SOME RELIEF TO OUR JAIL, I AM JUST ASKING YOU ALL TO PLEASE LOOK AT IT VERY CAREFULLY AND TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER IT.

BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT K7 NUECES NEEDS.

AS I SAID WITH ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS AND TAKES ALL OF US AT THE TABLE.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR DISCUSS THIS, FOR THINKING ABOUT THIS. AND FOR REALLY CONSIDERING MAKING A HUGE IMPACT FOR THE CITIZENS OF NUECES COUNTY.

THANK YOU. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU.

CRYSTAL. >> HI, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY -- I AM CRYSTAL AGUILAR.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW I AM THE DIRECTOR FOR CENECO, R, 3R50E6LY CHARLIE'S PLACE. CENECOR WAS BEEN AROUND 55 YEARS. I SAID WE SERVE 2505 CLIENTS.

THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE -- AND IT WAS PROJECTED THAT COVID TOOK AN IMPACT ON THAT. AND WE WERE PROJECTING THAT WE WERE GOING TO SURPASS THAT AND SERVE ABOUT 2150 -- THOSE REPORT JEKSS. WE ENDED WITH SERVING 2425 CLIENTS. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE SERVE THE SURROUNDING 11 COUNTIES.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE HIGHEST REFERRALS ZIP CODE IS 78408. THE HIGHEST REFERRALS CITY IS CORPUS CHRISTI. NOW I -- I WANT TO JUST MAKE A NOTE THAT I RECENTLY WORKED ON GETTING SOMEBODY OUT OF JAIL.

I WORKED ON IT SINCE JANUARY FROM ALABAMA.

HE IS NOW IN OUR FACILITY. I SAY THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE SEVERAL PARTNERS. I -- I DON'T DO ANYTHING SPECIAL, I DODON'T I WANT BE AB TO DO WHAT I DO WITHOUT THIS COLLABORATION WITH EVERYBODY, WITHOUT YOUR HELP.

BUT PARTICULARLY WITHOUT THIS COLLABORATION.

BECAUSE WE ARE STARTING TO SEE AN INCREASE OF NOT ONLY SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND FENTANYL IS ATTRIBUTING TO THAT WHICH I WILL TOUCH BASE ON IN A SECOND, BUT ALSO MENTAL HEALTH.

AND COVID-19 TOOK A BIG IMPACT ON THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE AT HOME. AND THEY WERE USING.

AND THEY WERE DRINKING. AND NOW WE DON'T KNOW IF IT IS MENTAL HEALTH THAT IS SUBSTANCE ABUSE RELATED.

OR JUST MENTAL HEALTH ALONE. BUT NOW WE HAVE FENTANYL.

AND THERE IS ORDINARY DRUGS THAT ARE BEING LACED WITH FENTANYL.

AND PEOPLE ARE DETOXING OR WITHDRAWING REALLY HARD AND THEY ARE NOT WANTING TO STAY IN TREATMENT.

THEY ARE WANTING TO GO OUT AND USE.

AND MARIJUANA. THE AVERAGE MARIJUANA.

THE REGULAR POTS. DEALERS ARE LACE THAT WITH FENTANYL. AND THEY ARE PRODUCING PILLS ON THE STREET WITH FENTANYL. METHAMPHETAMINE IS BEING LACED WITH FENTANYL. AND PEOPLE ARE NOT KNOWING WHAT THEY ARE TAKING. AND PEOPLE ARE DYING.

SO I SUPPORT THE DIVERGENT CENTER, THE PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DO.

I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I DO WITHOUT THIS SUPPORT.

AND IT IS NOT GOING TO STOP. AND WE NEED TO HELP.

SO WE WANT TO -- I WANT TO ASK YOU TO ASSIST IN TAKING THE BURDEN OFF THE OVERCROWDING OF JAILS, THE HOSPITALS AND THE COMMUNITY. I WANT TO DO THAT WITH YOUR HELP. SO THANK YOU.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU. >>JUDGE CANALES: LOOKING OVER -- I FEEL LIKE THERE IS AT LEAST MAYBE THREE MORE FOR THIS SUBJECT MATTER. PLEASE, THAT IS EXACTLY HOW I

WOULD LIKE TO YOU HANDSEL IT. >> JUDGES, COMMISSIONERS, I AM REUBEN AND WITH THE COUNCIL OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE.

I HAVE BEEN WITH THE COUNCIL SINCE 2015, NOVEMBER OF 2015.

AND SO I AM A PERSON IN LONG-TERM RECOVERY.

[01:45:05]

I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME INTO TREATMENT THROUGH CHARLIE'S PLACE BACK IN 2012. THERE WAS SOME REOCCURRENCES.

I GUESS IN THE STAGES OF CHANGE, THERE WAS A LACK OF SERVICES FOR ME AND THE MAINTENANCE ASPECT OF THE STAGE OF CHANGE.

THEREFORE, I -- I FELL THROUGHOUT CRACKS AT THAT POINT.

AND I KNEW THE SEED WAS PLANTED AND I CAME PACK TO WHERE I KNEW I WOULD GET THE HELP THAT I NEEDED.

IN 2015, I CAME BACK, WENT BACK TO TREATMENT, STAYED IN CORPUS CHRISTI AND I HAVE BEEN CLEAN AND SOBER SINCE THEN.

I HAVE GONE BACK TO SCHOOL WITH THE HELP OF COMMISSIONER JAG.

I WAS ABLE TO ENROLL IN COLLEGE WHERE I AM STILL ENROLLED AND DOING VERY WELL. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE DIVERSION CENTER FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

I THINK THAT IN 1985 IF I WAS TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF RESOURCE, THE SUICIDAL ATTEMPT OF MY FATHER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

I SPEAK ON THAT BECAUSE IN 2011, WE -- OUR FAMILY HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN. WE ALSO LOST MY BROTHER TO AN ATTEMPTED SUICIDE THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL.

SO REMINDS ME WHEN WE NETWORK. I THINK THAT I ASK THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE TO PLEASE CONSIDER THE FUNDING COMPONENT SO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THIS WORK CAN HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO TOMORROW TOGETHER AS A VILLAGE AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, REUBEN.

INTEREST LUCENS. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT.

A LITTLE ABOUT ME AND WHO I REPRESENT.

I AM PRESIDENT OF THE CORPUS CHRISTI MEDICAL CENTER STAFF.

CHAIR CHAIRPERSON OF PSYCHIATRY AT KRISTA SPANN.

AND MEDICAL DIRECTORS AND CHAIRPERSON AT BAYVIEW BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL. FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I AM THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHAIRPERSON.

I DO FORENSIC CONTRACT WORK WITH NHID AND I WORKED AS A PSYCHIATRIST IN OUR JAIL. AT THIS TIME, I OWN THE LARGEST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRIVATE PRACTICE IN CORPUS CHRISTI WITH NURSE PRACTITIONS AND PSYCHIATRISTS INCLUDING CHILDS PSYCHOLOGY. CURRENTLY I DO ROUNDS AT MEMORIAL AND BAYVIEW AND I AM WELL AWARE OF THE CRISIS AND THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND WORSENED SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

I COME HERE IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE THREE PROPOSALS.

INCREASE OF JAIL DIVERSION CAPACITY THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT MHID. I WORKED WITH MHID THROUGH OUR JAIL DIVERSION AND MOVED PEOPLE OUT OF OUR JAILS.

ALSO DEVELOPED A DIVERSION CENTER.

FULLY, ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS PAUSE IT WILL BE A COLLABORATION THAT WILL SUPPORT NOT JUST -- WE ARE TALKING JUST ABOUT THE NEEDS OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE BUT WELLNESS NEEDS FOR OUR CITIZENS OUT THERE AMISTAD PROVIDING SUPPORT.

AND MHID SUPPORTING THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHEN WE MOVE PATIENTS FROM THE HOSPITAL, WE HAVE THE SHELTERS AND WE HAVE PATHWAYS AND INDISP INDISPENSABLE. THE EXPANSION OF THESE PROGRAMS AND FOR THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO MOVE TO DIFFERENT STEP-DOWNS IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. NOW ALSO, THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM. WHEN I MOVED HERE NINE YEARS AGO, MY WIFE AND I MOVED HERE. SHE IS FROM CORPUS CHRISTI.

SHE IS A OBGYN. WE DECIDED TO HAVE CHILDREN.

WHEN I FIRST CAME, IT WAS A FRACTURED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UNIT. MANY DOCTORS NOT TALKING.

CEO FROM SPANN AND CORPUS CHRISTI BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

THEY DIDN'T WORK TOGETHER. ONE OF THE PRESENTATION WAS ON SUPER OUTIZERS THAT BOUNCED BETWEEN THE ERS.

[01:50:05]

HARSHLY AT TIME REFER TO AS FREQUENT FLYERS AND THESE PEOPLE NEED THE HELP AND NO COMMUNICATION.

HOWEVER IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE HAVE SEEN ERIC EVANS AND DR.

BLOW. WE HAVE SEEN THEM SIT DOWN AND ACTUALLY MAKE PLANS. OCEANS HEALTH CARE CAME IN WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF DR. BLOW AND MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND WILL MAKE MORE OF A DIFFERENCE WHEN WE MOVE TO 42 BEDS ON SHORELINE INCREASING THE CAPACITY HOWEVER I WANT TO STRESS NOT A PSYCHIATRIC BED CAPACITY ISSUE LIKE WE LOOKED AT WITH THE MET DOES REPORT BEFORE. NOT JUST ABOUT BEDS.

BUT APROP YANTNESS OF WHERE PEOPLE SHOULD BE MOVED.

BECAUSE WE HAVE PLENTY OF BEDS AT THE COUNTY JAIL WHERE THE MOST PSYCHE PATIENTS ARE. NOT WHERE THEY SHOULD BE AND WE ALL KNOW THAT. THEY EXPECT GET THE CARE THAT THEY NEED NOW. WE HAVE GREAT PSYCHIATRISTS AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS. THERE ARE TOO MANY AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE THERE. NOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I JUST HAD A MEETING WITH ARE OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND THIS THAT'S WHERE I SEE IT HELPING THE MOST.

OUR ER DOSHLTERS, OUR NURSING STAFF.

THEY ARE QUITTING. THEY CAN'T KEEP WORKING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS AND OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PATIENTS ARE SIT IN CHAIRS WAITING ON DAYS WITH EMERGENCY DETENTION WARRANTS WELL-PLACED BY THE POLICE WITH GOOD MEANING BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THESE PEOPLE HELP THE DIVERSION CENTER AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE. YOU ALL ASK ARE WE JUST REDOING WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE. ARE WE CREATING MORE PSYCHE BEDS, CREATING MORE SERVICES. HIS OR HER ARE WE SPENDING MORE MONEY TO DO WHAT WE ALREADY DO? THE ANSWER IS NO.

MORE SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS AND SPECIALIZED WITHIN THESE GROUPS OF WHAT WE BRING. IMAGE ID DOES WHAT THEY DO AND THIS DOE IT WELL. COASTAL BEND NUECES WELLNESS DOES WHAT THEY DO. THEY MHID DOES THE FUNDING HA WHAT THEY DO ALREADY. COASTAL BEND HAS THE GRANT TO DO WHAT THEY DO. AMISTAD, AND THERE WILL BE MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE WILL BE MONEY FOR OPERATIONS, WITHOUT A DOUBT BECAUSE IT IS STARTING UP; HOWEVER, IF ANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS CAN DO IT ON THEIR OWN INCLUDING PSYCHE HOSPITALS, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.

OPERATIONALLY AND OR FUNDING WISE.

I STRESS, THE DIVERSION CENTER IS WHERE WE ARE GOING BUT THE COLLABORATION AND THE CREATION OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SO WE CAN COME BACK TO YOU IN A YEAR AND SAY WE MADE A DIFFERENCE.

OR YOU CAN LOOK AT IT AND SAY, GUYS, YOU ARE NOT DOING WHAT WE ASKED YOU TO DO. THERE HAS TO BE THREE PARTS.

THANK YOU. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU.

JUST IN COMPLETENESS, I AM GOING TO ASK, DID I MISS EVERYBODY? CANDACE -- I THOUGHT MAYBE. AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYBODY BUT THANK YOU, CANDACE FOR WAITING PATIENTLY.

>> I AM CAN A KRCE CLOSE. AND LEADING I'M HERE TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE DIVERGENT CENTER.

I WORK WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER AND RECOVERY PROCESS FOR PEOPLE. I KNOW THAT I HAVE A LOT OF PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE CO-OCCURRING WHICH MEAN THEY SUFFER FROM MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL AS SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER SI DO BELIEVE I CAN GIVE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF PARTICIPANTS THAT THE DIVERGENT CENTER HAVE ABSOLUTELY BENEFITED. I HAVE A PARTICULAR WOMAN TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE. AS LONG AS SHE IS ON HER MEDICATIONS, SHE IS GOOD. BUT ONCE SHE STOPS TAKING HER MEDICATIONS FOR WHATEVER REASON, WHETHER SHE LOST THEM OR THEY WERE STOLEN, I DO KNOW SHE THEN TURNS TO SUBSTANCES TO SELF-MEDICATE. I BELIEVE -- SHE HAS BEEN ARRESTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE BEEN IN COUNTY JAIL I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES. OPINIONED I BELIEVE THAT A DIVERGENT SENT WEAR HAVE HELPED HER WITH WHAT SHE NEEDED.

I AM IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU. I WILL TURN TO YOU FOR THOUGHTS, COMMENTS, DR. XAVIER IS OBVIOUSLY STANDING BY.

I THINK THAT -- IF YOU DON'T MIND ME ASKING AS THEY SAY THE OBVIOUS QUESTION. DR. GONZALEZ, THERE IS AN ASK.

AND THAT ASK HAS A DOLLAR. FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPENNESS, WILL YOU TELL US WHAT THAT ASK IS, AND JUST ASK IS YOU TO HOLD THERE FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS STAFF BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT GETS OUT. IT WAS SAID BRIEFLY AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET OUT RIGHT NO

[01:55:04]

NOW. >> CONNIE, IF YOU CAN SWITCH THE NEXT SLIDE. BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I HAVE SOME VIEWS ON THE ASK. THE QUESTION WAS.

WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT HERE IS BASICALLY A TABLE THAT BREAKS DOWN THE COMPONENTS THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED TO BE FUNDED BOTH FROM AN INFRASTRUCTURE COST AND OPERATIONAL COST.

IN PARTICULAR. DISCUSSING ARPA FUNDS IS INFRASTRUCTURE COST. 3.5 MILLION FOR THE CRISIS CARE CENTER. ABOUT.3 FOR SOBERING CENTER AND THE NEXT ONE THAT IS MENTIONED 3.5 FOR TRANSITIONAL RECOVERY HOUSING. EACH OF THEM HAS A PURPOSE.

WE KNOW WHEN THINKING OF CRISIS. THINKING OF THOSE OF MENTAL HEALTH CRY CITIES. THINKING OF THOSE THAT SHUFFLE THROUGH THE DETENTION CENTER ON A FREQUENT BASIS FOR PUBLIC INTOXICATION. HAVING A PLACE FOR THEM TO GO AS WELL. THE ASK IS HOW THIS GET TO THE COMPONENT. AND WE ARE NO THE ASKING FOR THAT FOR ARPA FUND AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES BUT AS FAR AS OPERATIONAL COSTS. IT GOT MENTIONED WITH MHID THAT THEY HAD THE FUNDING WHAT THEY WOULD BE DO CURRENTLY AT THE CRISIS CARE CENTER. THAT IS FUNDING PROVIDED THROUGH THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. INCORPORATE A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS AND DOING IT INTO THE CENTER.

OPERATING COST FOR THE OWNER ISSING CENTER WILL BE 1.4.

AND THE OTHER ONE FOR 1.5. THE NUMBERS ON THE OPERATIONAL COST. THE REASON IT IS VERY SPECIFIC IS YEAR ONE IS BECAUSE IT -- THIS IS THE IDEA.

IF EACH OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS CAME IN AND WORKED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT LEVERAGING RESOURCES AND HOW TO LEVERAGE FUNDING SOURCES THAT IS WHAT THAT OPERATIONAL COST WILL BE.

THE IDEA THOUGH IS TO COME BACK AND CIRCLE AROUND AND FIND OUT, OKAY, WHAT ARE THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE.

AND HOW MUCH -- HOW MUCH OF WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON IN FUND THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY HAVE IS TO LEVERAGE AND BRING DOWN OPERATIONAL COSTS SO MOVE FORWARD AND EVENTUALLY GET TO THAT POINT WHERE IT IS COMPLETELY SUSTAINABLE.

WHERE ARPA IS LISTED. AND PORTION OF THAT EVER 3.5.

AN ASTERISK. THE ASK BY CENECOR IF THE COUNTY CAN HELP THEM GET TO THAT AMOUNT, THEY COULD MATCH IT AND RENOVATE WELL TO HAVE THE EXPANSION BEDS.

>>JUDGE CANALES: COULD I ASK YOU TO FURTHER -- IF I ADD UP EVERYTHING FROM ARPA SINCE YOU DON'T SPECIFY IT.

IS THAT WHERE THE $5 COMES? >> THAT'S WHERE THE $5 MILLION

COMES. >>JUDGE CANALES: 3.5.3.

AND THEN THE REMAINDER TO GET TO THE FIVE IS FROM ARPA?

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: I AM NOT CLEAR TELL ME THE DIFFERENCE AND WHAT MR. DAVID PUT FORWARD IF WE REDID THAT BUILDING, THEY COULD RUN THE DIVERSION CENTER AND WHERE IS THAT IN HERE BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THESE THINGS HERE.

WHAT THEY ARE REFERRING TO IS THAT CRISIS CARE CENTER.

THAT'S HOW IT IS DEFINED THERE. THAT ALL THE SERVICES THAT THEY WILL BE PROVIDING THERE. THEY ALREADY HAVE A FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT. AND THAT'S WHY I HIGHLIGHT -- ONE OF THOSE FUNDING SOURCES BEING THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: COMES FROM THERE.

THE 1.9 IS ALREADY FUNDED, DR. GONZALEZ.

>>JUDGE CANALES: ARE ANY OF THESE THREE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS THE BUILDING THAT MR. DAVIS WAS TALKING ABOUT?

>> THE BUILDING HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IS THE 3.5.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THE -- WHAT ARE YOU -- WHAT IS --

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: THE CRISIS CARE CENTER.

AND SOBERING IS ANOTHER ACROSS THEIR PARKING LOT.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: WHO DOES?

>> MHID. FOR TRANSITIONAL THAT I

IS CENECOR'S FACILITIES. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: OKAY.

>>JUDGE CANALES: DO YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE THE SLIDE THAT SHOWS THE VISUAL? MAYBE THAT IS HELPFUL.

>> IF NO THE ON THIS ONE, THE PACKAGE.

[02:00:01]

>>JUDGE CANALES: PART OF WHY YOU ARE PACKET.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE BUILDING, IT IS IN WHY YOU ARE PACKET.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD TOO.

MAYBE WHAT MR. HENDRICKS WAS SAYING -- I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY WE NEED TO DO TWO FACILITIES.

I UNDERSTAND NEEDING TO DO ONE FACILITY AND CO-OPING PEOPLE AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS -- AND FUNDING OPERATIONAL.

BUT I AM TRYING TO GET TO WHY WE WILL NEED TO DO TWO FACILITIES.

IF I THOUGHT MR. HENDRICKS SAID THERE WAS A PIECE IN THEIRS THAT ALSO DID THE -- THE -- MY GOSH, I CAN'T THINK WHAT JUVENLGZ

JUDGE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY:

SUBSTANCE ABUSE. >> WHAT THEY ARE REFERRING TO IS HAVING SOBERING BEDS. AND WHEN WE ARE TALKING OF A SOBERING CENTER MORE THAN HAVING SOBERING BEDS.

TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT COULD COME IN UNDER TWO DIFFERENT CONDITIONS. THEY ARE COMING IN BECAUSE OF ALCOHOL. THEY ARE UNDER THE USE OF ALCOHOL OR UNUSE OF SOME TYPE OF STIMULANT.

THOSE WILL BE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU PROVIDE CARE FOR THOSE

INDIVIDUALS. >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: I UNDERSTAND. WHY DO WE NEED TWO FACILITIES.

MR. HENDRICKS' PRESENTATION AND MR. DAVIS.

WE CAN MAKE IT WORK IN ONE FACILITY -- MAKE I MISUNDERSTOOD IT, THAT'S WHY I AM ASKING. DO IT IN ONE FACILITY AND HELP EVERYBODY WITH THEIR PROGRAMS. AM I HEARING THAT RIGHT?

>> EVERYTHING IS THERE WITH THEIR SITE.

TO SHOW YOU A VISUAL TO BE LOOKING AT THAT SLIDE.

IT IS STILL THEIR ONE FACILITY, THEIR ONE-STOP-SHOP IS THERE.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING THEIR CRISIS CARE CENTER WILL BE THE WHERE PEOPLE WILL DROP YOU OFF. ACROSS THE PARKING LOT IS AN INDIV INDIVIDUAL.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: LET ME TELL YOU IT COULD BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND. MAYBE REHAB THE CENECOR FACILITY

-- >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: COMMISSIONER, YOU NEED TO GET THE SLIDE.

FORGIVE ME, BUT THE SLIDE IS VERY HELPFUL IF WE CAN FINDS IT.

IT IS IN OUR POCKETS. JUST SO YOU KNOW, HE IS COMBINING TWO ARPA REQUESTS IN ONE SLIDE.

CENECOR IS TRANSITIONAL HOUSE WHERE PEOPLE CAN STAY FOR MONTHS OF A TIME. DIVERSION CENTER MAY STAY THERE

FOR THREE TO FIVE DAYS. >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: IF

THESE ARE -- >> I WAS TELLING HER THAT IS NOT THE SLIDE. .

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT ARPA REQUESTS WE NEED TO TREAT THEM AS SUCH. I AM GETTING A LITTLE --

CONFUSED. >> I BROKE IT UP IN THIS MANNER AS FAR AS TO ALLOW FOR DETERMINATION OF WHAT -- HOW FAR -- HOW FAR CAN WE GET. IF WE CAN JUST FUND THE CRISIS CARE CENTER, THAT'S WHAT IT IS. IF WE CAN ADD THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT WITH THE SOBERING CENTER, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

THAT IS IT WHY IT IS BROKEN UP THIS WAY WHERE YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE FOR FUNDING. IF WE CAN FUND IT ALL, PERFECT.

AT LEAST IF WE CAN'T, SUPPORT ONE OF THE AREAS HERE.

>> COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: CAN I SAY SOMETHING.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: SURE. >> COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: YOU SAID YOU HAD THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT IN

REFERENCE TO -- >> IN REFERENCE TO THE CURRENT FUNDING THEY ARE PROVIDING FOR CRISIS CARE, YES.

>>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: CRISIS CARE.

THAT IS FOR THE 3.5? >>JUDGE CANALES: NO, SIR.

>> WE ARE TALKING OF OPERATIONAL COSTS.

THEY ARE ALREADY PROVIDING THOSE OPERATIONAL COSTS, THE HOSPITAL

DISTRICT. >> COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: FOR

THE ONE YEAR, TWO YEARS OR WHAT. >> THIS -- THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING CONTRACT NOW GOING INTO YEAR TWO.

IT WOULD CONTINUE THAT CONTRACT. >> COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: OF COURSE YOU AND I HAVE TALKED SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS, DOCTOR.

I SUPPORT THIS 150%. BUT I ALWAYS -- WHEN I SEE THE DIVERSION, WE SAY RESTORATION, RIGHT.

BECAUSE MY DREAM IS TO HAVE BOTH EVENTUALLY, RIGHT.

CAN'T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: SAY THAT AGAIN.

>> DIVERSION AND RESTORATION. WE WENT TO SAN ANTONIO, IF YOU REMEMBER, WE WALKED IT. AND THERE WERE A COUPLE OF BUILDINGS THAT WE WALKED. AND WE SAW HOW THE PROCESS WAS WHERE A POLICE OFFICER WOULD DROP OFF SOMEBODY AND SECTION OF A ONE-STOP SHOP. THIS IS WHAT I ENVISION RIGHT NOW THAT THE COUNTY. MENTAL HEALTH SHURPT BE UNDER THE COUNTY. YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS. THEY ARE AND THEY DO A GREAT

[02:05:03]

JOB. IMAGE ID HAS A GOOD CONCEPT AND I THINK THE CONCEPT OF BUILDING THAT CRISIS CENTER TO START OFF WITH MIGHT BE A GOOD STEP. OUR JOB WILL PROBABLY BE TO PROVIDE SOME FUNDS AT THE BEGINNING TO SEE.

BUT I -- I ENVISION THE FACT THAT THAT CENTER OR THE -- OR THE RESTORATION THAT I SEE OR COMBINED BOTH OR NOT -- I AM NOT STILL SURE HOW WE ARE -- WHAT WE ARE GOING TO CALL IT.

I JUST DON'T WANT JAIL DIVERSION.

I WANT A RESTORATION CENTER THAT IS A ONE-STOP SHOP.

AND I -- AND I KIND OF ARE GIVING YOU MY CONCEPT OF -- YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT, THEN THERE SHOULD BE A SPACE THERE FOR COASTAL BEND COUNCIL TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE WILL PROVIDE THE SERVICES.

WE ARE THERE, RIGHT. AND THERE IS DRUG AND ALCOHOL.

OKAY, NOW WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO THE NEXT ONE -- THE NEXT LEVEL OR THE NEXT STEP. AND EVERYBODY WILL BE DOING THEIR SERVICES. AND DOING THEIR OWN OPERATIONS, RIGHT. SO -- AND AT ONE POINT, THERE WILL BE THE MENTAL HEALTH. AND I WOULDN'T GO ON THIS WITHOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH. AS I EXPLAINED TO YOU, THE MENTAL HEALTH IS GOING TO BE MENTAL HEALTH WHERE IT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO PROVIDE THE EXTENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH THAT WE NEED. TO PUT BACK IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOPEFULLY FUNCTION LIKE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION WITH CONTINUED TREATMENT. NOW YENECOR HAVE BEEN OPEN TO RECEIVE PEOPLE AND TECH THEM ON A LONG-TERM BASIS.

THE REFERRALS HAVE TO COME PROBABLY FROM THAT -- FROM THAT COMPONENT. FROM THE RESTORATION CENTER, THE JAIL DIVERGENT CENTER, WHATEVER IT IS.

I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE CONCEPT OF SAYING ALL WE ARE WORKING WITH IS THE DIVERGENT. YOU KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THE ROAD AND SAYING WE DIDN'T TALK OF THE DIVERGENT CENTER. I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE TABLE WITH IMAGE ID. HOW ARE WE GOING TO HANDLE THIS AND IF YOU CAN SHOW THE COMPONENTS OF HOW EVERYBODY IS GOING TO OPERATE. WHERE DOES AMISTAD COME IN.

WHAT ARE THEY BRINGING TO THE TABLE.

YOU KNOW. AND BOTH OF THEM.

TWO AGENCIES ARE DOING THE SAME THING AND MIGHT HAVE TO BECAUSE OF THE OVERFLOW. AND I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HEADED THAT DIRECTION. OUR JOB -- OUR -- OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS GOING TO BE THE FINANCE.

HOW MUCH CAN WE PUT OUT. HOW MUCH CAN WE GIVE START MONEY. HOW MUCH -- BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE ARE HURTING TO, YOU KNOW. AND THIS IS WHY I AM THINKING WE CAN'T -- THE COUNTY -- WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.

WE DON'T HAVE THE FINANCES TO TAKE OVER MENTAL HEALTH AND WE SHOULDN'T. WITH ALL THE PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT WE DO AND DO GREAT, IT HAS GOT TO COME FROM YOU GUYS.

GOT TO COME FROM YOU. BUT WE GOT TO HELP YOU AT ONE POINT. HOW DO WE GET STARTED.

MAYBE THE CRISIS CENTER IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET STARTED AND WE GROW FROM THERE. IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK

AT. >> YOU KNOW THE REPORT THAT I SENT TO YOU ALL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

.3 AND HOW THEY WILL WORK TOGETHER DELINEATED THERE TOO THAT THEM -- GIVING THEM SOME TIME TO REALLY FIGURE OUT HOW THOSE OPERATIONS WILL WORK IN CONJUNCTION TOGETHER.

AT THIS POINT, THOUGH, WE WERE MAKING SURE THERE WAS FUNDING EAR MARKED TO MOVE FORWARD KNOWING THAT THERE WAS SOME FUNDING FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO OCCUR.

>>JUDGE CANALES: DR. GONZALEZ, LET ME ASK THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

HE HAS ANOTHER QUESTION AND THEN MO OF TO THE OTHER

COMMISSIONERS. >> COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: I SEE YOUR POINT, DOCTOR. BUT AT ONE POINT WE NEED TO KNOW -- $4 MILLION IF WE DON'T NEED THE $4 MILLION RIGHT NOW.

YOU ARE RIGHT, BUT I JUST -- WHAT IS THE $3 MILLION.

AND WHAT IS THE $2.5 MILLION. WHAT IS THAT GOING TO BRING TO THE TABLE? THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW RIGHT OFF THE BAT. SO, YOU KNOW -- HERE IS WHERE I CAN POINT TO THE ORGANIZATIONS. YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS THE $3.5 MILLION IS GOING TO BRING THE INFRASTRUCTURE COST FOR THAT BUILDING ONE, WHICH IS LABELING IT AS CRISIS CARE. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE THINK OF SERVICES AND I CAN POINT TO ANDREA AND FIND WHAT SERVICES. AS FAR AS ADDING THE BUILDING THAT IS AT THE PARKING LOT. AND HOW THE OPERATIONS WOULD

[02:10:08]

OCCUR, I WOULD POINT TO COASTAL BEND CANCEL WELLNESS AND HOW DO YOU TRANSITION PEOPLE. THOSE FACILITIES DO NOT ALLOW FOR LONG-TERM CARE OR DETOX. WHY WE HAVE CENECOR.

AND EVEN GOING BEFORE THAT, WHAT SERVICES.

YOU WANT TO HAVE THE INTEGRATED CARE.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS THAT COME IN GET MEDICAL CLEARANCES WHICH IS WHY WE WERE AT -- TALKING TO AMISTAD AND TALKING OF COASTAL BEND WELLNESS TO HAVE GROUPS AND TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

>> COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: AFTER THREE AND A HALF YEARS I AM GLAD WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT AND TO MOVE FORWARD.

SOMEBODY SAID WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT.

WE SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THIS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU.

I WILL ASK OTHER COMMISSIONERS BUT, AGAIN, JUST FOR CLARITY, YOUR ASK TODAY AS I UNDERSTOOD MY PAPERWORK WAS FOR $5 MILLION.

THAT $5 MILLION WILL BE DEDICATED FROM ARPA, THAT IS THE

REQUEST. >> YES.

>>JUDGE CANALES: -- THOSE DOLLARS WILL BE USED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE BROWN LEE SITE.

EASIER THAN THE OTHER NAMES THAT WE ARE USING AND THAT WILL PROVI PROVIDE FOR THE BROWNLY BUILDING. WHEN WE SAY THAT MAYBE THE WORD IS "COMPLEX." BECAUSE IT IS ONE COMPLEX AND THOSE $5 MILLION WILL BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THERE.

IS THAT YOUR ASK HERE TODAY. >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: HOW M

MUCH. >>JUDGE CANALES: $5 MILLION.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: I GOT $4 MILLION ON THE BROWNLY

FACILITY. >>JUDGE CANALES: I THOUGHT IT WAS 5. IS HE ON? ALL I KNOW -- I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I WILL ASK THESE OTHER GUYS QUESTIONS AND TRY TO KEEP IT MOVING AND DO SOME TEXTING. BECAUSE WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT NUMBER IS, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT CAME FROM A COST ESTIMATE FROM AN ARCHITECT.

AND THE MHID BOARD MEMBERS BROUGHT US -- DR. GONZALEZ BROUGHT US THAT DOLLAR OF $5 MILLION.

IT HAS BEEN BROKEN DOWN HERE FOR YOU.

IF IT IS LESS, THAN IT IS LESS. MAYBE IT IS 4.

WE CAN GET THAT NUMBER. WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THAT NUMBER IS FOR.

THAT IS FUNNY, 4 FOR. WHAT IS THAT NUMBER GOING TO DO? IT IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO BUILD THE FACILITY THAT EVERYBODY HERE IS TALKING ABOUT WITH US AND

SUPPORTING. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: MY INFORMATION IS FOUR. SO I NEED CLARIFICATION.

>>JUDGE CANALES: WE CAN GET THAT DONE.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: MAKES SENSE AND ADDS UP.

BECAUSE ON HERE THE CRISIS CENTER WATT 3.5.

POINT 3 IS 3.8. >>JUDGE CANALES: IT DOES.

WHILE WE GET MORE COMMENTS, MAGGIE, CAN YOU PLEASE TEXT MIKE AND MARK HENDRICKS. MARK IS ON THERE.

HE ASKED IF YOU COULD CALL ON HIM.

>>JUDGE CANALES: MARK. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: PEOPLE TELL THEIR TITLES FOR EVERYBODY DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

>>JUDGE CANALES: MARK HENDRICKS, REMIND EVERYBODY WHO YOU ARE

WHEN ANSWERING. >>.

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME, JUDGE? >>JUDGE CANALES: YES.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO AS IT RELATES TO THE CONCRETE COST FOR THE RENOVATION ESTIMATION. BETWEEN $2.5 MILLION TODAY 3.5 MILLION. $3.5 WILL BE THE NUMBER FOR THE RENOVATION OF THAT FACILITY AT 1630 SOUTH BROWNLY.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: 3.5? >>JUDGE CANALES: DOES THAT INCLUDE THE ARCHITECTURAL FEES AND THE REST OF IT IS THE CRISIS CARE CENTER THE WAY DR. GONZALEZ HAS BROKEN IT OUT?

>> 3.5 IS THE ESTIMATION OUT THE DOOR.

ALL-INCLUSIVE. >>JUDGE CANALES: GOT IT.

THAT IS VERY HELPFUL. >> MARK, JUST TO ADD, YOU ARE NOT ADDING THE FACILITY ACROSS THE WAY.

SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN? >> YOU ARE NOT INCLUDING THE FUNDING TO ALSO -- THE SOBRIETY PORTION.

CORRECT. SO BASICALLY, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, WHAT YOU SEE HERE AND WHAT DR. GONZALEZ HAS IS THREE SEPARATE PROJECTS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE ASK FOR CREATING THIS COLLABORATIVE. SO THE FACILITY THAT IS -- SHARES A PARKING LOT WITH 1630 SOUTH BROWNLY IS THE PATHWAY UNIT. THE UNIT IS ESSENTIALLY MOVE-IN READY WITH MINIMUM MODIFICATIONS FOR A LONGER-TERM SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES. SO THAT IS WHY THAT NUMBER IS MUCH SMALLER. SO THE $5 MILLION TOTAL ASK IS FOR THE THREE COMPONENTS. 3.5 FOR THE DIVERSION CENTER,

[02:15:05]

INFRASTRUCTURE AND RENOVATION OF 1630.

THE.3 FOR PATHWAYS RESPITE FACILITY WHICH IS 100 YARDS IN THE SAME PARKING LOT. AND THE REMAINING AMOUNT, XAVIER. I DON'T HAVE THE SLIDE IN FRONT OF ME. THAT IS TO MOVE TO FURTHER

DEVELOPMENT OF THE RECOVERY. >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY:THAT IS

NOT ON THE SCREEN. >>JUDGE CANALES: THE THIRD

RUN, CENECOR. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: BUT

DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING -- >> CAN I JUST --

>>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: CRYSTAL, RIGHT, IT ALL GOES

TOGETHER. >> SO REAL QUICK.

ORIGINALLY IT IS A DIFFERENT ASK BECAUSE WE ALREADY PROVIDE ALL THOSE SERVICES. WE PROVIDE DETOX.

WE PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL INTENSIVE TREATMENT.

WE PROVIDE ALREADY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.

SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN OUT TO THE FACILITY AS YOU KNOW.

THAT BUILDING HAS BEEN AROUND A REALLY LONG TIME.

AND IT NEEDS A FACELIFT. SO WE HAVE A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING WHICH IS A TWO-PLUS-YEAR PROGRAM.

OUR GOAL IN THAT ASK ORIGINALLY. AND STILL IS, IS TO MOVE OUR DETOX AROUND. OUR DETOX HOUSES 30 CLIENTS.

OUR GOAL IS TO MOVE OUR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING DOWN BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME CLIENTS WHO HAVE HANDI CAPABILITIES.

THEY DON'T HAVE AN ELEVATOR TO GO DOWNSTAIRS.

AN OLDS HOTEL WHICH IS STILL WEIRD THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN ELEVATOR BUT ANYWAY, MOVE THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING DOWN AND MOVE DETOX INTO THE ADMIN HALLWAY AND EXPAND BECAUSE WE ALREADY PROVIDE THE SERVICES. IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE BUILDING AND IF YOU HAVE TAKEN A TOUR, THAT IS WHAT THE 3.5 MILLION ASK IS FOR. NO THE FOR SERVICES.

IT IS TO EXPAND. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: IT IS A

DIFFERENT ASK. >>JUDGE CANALES: IT IS BUT THEY

ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER. >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: THE $5 MILLION THAT DR. GONZALEZ IS NOT WHAT MHID NEEDED.

THEY NEED 3.5. >>JUDGE CANALES: PLUS THE.3.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: WE ARE TALKING TWO SEPARATE ASKS AND I

THINK WE HAVE TO -- >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: THAT'S

CORRECT. >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO EITHER IS DUPLICATE.

A LOT OF CONFUSION IN THE ROOM AND WITH A LIKE TO GET IT DONE AND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR YOU TO REGROUP A LITTLE BIT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ASK FOR THE DI VIR GENT CENTER IS THIS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL

THIS, CENECOR. >>JUDGE CANALES: TRANSITIONAL

HOUSING. >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: I TOURED IT WITH YOU. I WAS THERE WHEN THE DEAL WAS THERE. AND I AM FAMILIAR WITH IT.

IF WE CAN SAY CENECOR IS ASKING FOR AN ASK AND MHID AND OTHER FOLKS WHO NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS LIKE THE WELLNESS FOUNDATION AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED AND NOT PUSHED OUT OF THE MIX. I KNOW EVERYBODY IS IN THE ROOM NOW AND EVERYBODY IS HOLDING HANDS AND KUMBAYAH.

BUT WHEN MONEY IS BEING DISTRIBUTED PEOPLE FORGET.

NOT INTENTIONALLY, NO ILL-WILL. .WE DO THIS WRAP THIS UP IN THE PACKAGE AND NOBODY COMES UP AND SAYS WE -- I DON'T KNOW HOW TO

DO THAT TODAY. >>JUDGE CANALES: COMMISSIONER, I THINK WE CAN DO IT TODAY. BECAUSE I THINK THE ASK FROM MHID AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE YOU HEARD FROM.

AND I AM JUST GOING TO ROUND IT UP TODAY 4 MILLION.

THE 375 TO.3 PLUS INFLATION. $4 MILLION IS THERE FOR THE DIVERSION CENTER OR YOU CAN RENAME IT THE RESTORATION CENTER. IT IS THE SAME THING.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HERE IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE REASON DR. XAVIER PUT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IN AN ASK COMING IN FOR A DIFFERENT ENTITY BUT THAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS CRITICAL.

ALL OF THESE GROUPS WORK IN TANDEM EVERY DAY ALL DAY.

THE LETTERS OF INTENT ALREADY EXPRESS THE COMMITMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. I THINK THE GOAL HERE TODAY I THINK FROM XAVIER'S ONE, TWO, THREE IS TO PLEASE CONSIDER ALL OF THEM. LIKE YOU SAID IF YOU FEEL GOOD

[02:20:01]

SAYING MHID BUILDING IS -- IT IS 3.5.

BUT 3.5 PLUS THE.3 SO 3.8. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT UP. AND THEN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER CENECOR'S. IT IS TO DO EXACTLY WHAT CRYSTAL JUST SAID. THEY NEED DOLLARS TO IMPROVE THEIR FACILITY. CENECOR RUNS THEIR FACILITY AND THAT IS THE OPERATOR AND THEY HAVE FUNDS TO OPERATE THEIR FACILITY. THEY ARE A 501-C-3 AND LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS. WHY? BECAUSE WE ARE REVAMPING THE WAY WE DO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES HERE. THEY WILL BE AN INTEGRAL PART OPINION I AM SORRY HE HAD TO LEAVE, BUT ROBERT REED EARLIER FROM BROKEN CHAINS, HE WORKS WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE GROUPS AS WELL. THEY ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER.

YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHEN THE -- WHEN THE MOU GETS DONE, THE MOU WILL ARTICULATE HOW THEY PROVIDE IN THE BUILDING. TODAY AS COMMISSIONER CONSTABLE HAS SUGGESTED TO MOVE FORWARD, WE NEED TO -- WE NEED TO APPROPRIATE THESE FUNDS SO THAT THEY KNOW THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH TODAY'S DOLLARS, BECAUSE TOMORROW IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE. I SEE IT AS A $4 MILLION ASK AND A POTENTIAL $3.5 MILLION AS -- IN MY MIND.

AND THAT -- THAT IS WHAT HE HAS GOT HERE FOR US TO CONSIDER.

COMMISSIONER MAREZ, I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING.

>>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: YES, JUDGE, THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE HEARING COMMISSIONER CHESNEY AND GONZALEZ SHARE THEIR CONCERNS. UP WANT TO MAKE SURE NO ONE IS LEFT OUT. WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE EVERYONE IN THE ROOM -- I AM ASSUMING LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE EVERYONE HERE IN THE ROOM SO DO THAT HOSTAGE BLANK IF YOU FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO BE INCLUDED SOMEHOW. WE NEED TO -- WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS. I DON'T WANT TO RUSH IT BECAUSE FOR THE SEEK OF RUSHING, BUT IT -- IT IS ESSENTIAL.

AND TO SEE -- I THINK D DR. LUCIANS SAID.

ALL THE GROUPS WORKING TOGETHER LIKE THEY NEVER HAVE AT ANY POINT BEFORE. THAT IS REALLY ENCOURAGING AND EXCITING TO SHOW THAT COLLABOROWING THAT EVERYONE IS A PART OF A PIECE OF THIS SOLUTION.

AND THAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE THIS CONCERTED EFFORT FROM EVERYONE INVOLVED TO FIX SOME OF THE FACILITIES TO MEET THE VARIOUS STAGES THAT YOU ALL ARE PRESENTING.

IT IS EXACTLY WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR.

I THINK BACK IN MY DAYS WHEN HE WAS AN INVESTIGATOR AND A CASEWORKER WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY OF PROTECTIVE SERVICES. AND BACK THEN IT WAS CHARLIE'S PLACE. AND YOU WOULD GO AND YOU WERE LIMITED IN TRYING TO GET FAMILIES GET THE HELP THEY NEEDED. AND THEY COULDN'T, RIGHT.

MOM AND DAD COULDN'T GET THEIR -- THEIR LIVES STARTING TO -- ON THE PATH OF RECOVERY, THEN THAT IMPACTED THE REST OF THE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN DOWN THE LINE AND DEALT WITH CONSERVATORSHIP THAT JUDGE CHESNEY KNEW ABOUT AND DEALT WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS. WE ALL GET IT.

NOT EVERYONE THAT DISPUTES WHERE WE ARE, RIGHT.

I THINK FROM WHAT I AM HEARING, WANT TO MAKE SURE THE NUMBERS WORK. WHAT I SEE IS I SEE THAT IT DOES. I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE VERY SPECIFIC, VERY CONCENTRATED ON OUR -- ON OUR FUNDING THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS NEEDED.

BUT NOT, YOU KNOW, EXTRA BELLS AND WHISTLES.

I DO WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE THREE PARTS GET THEIR FUNDING NEEDED. THE CRISIS CARE CENTER, SOBERING AND DETOX PART AND THE TRANSITIONAL RECOVERY.

AND THAT'S WHAT I HEAR. I HEAR THAT FROM PEOPLE NOT EVERY DAY BUT PRETTY OFTEN, ESPECIALLY LATELY, AND ESPECIALLY FOR ONE PARTICULAR CONSTITUENT WHO CONTINUES TO TALK ABOUT -- JUST THAT TRYING TO GET HER CHILD -- HER ADULT CHILD -- INTO RECOVERY AND GETTING THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE AND DETOX ASSISTANCE NEEDED THAT WILL PREVENT THAT CHILD FROM HAVING TO GET INVOLVED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OR A STAY WITHIN THE JAIL OR PERHAPS EVEN INTO THE PRISON SYSTEM. SO I AM SOLD ON THAT.

SO IF WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE VERIFY THESE NUMBERS, THEN I AGREE, TODAY IS THE DAY THAT WE MOVE FORWARD THAT WE CAN SAY WE ARE READY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND COMMIT TO THAT -- TO THAT MONEY THAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR. THAT WILL BE MY ONLY ASK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THIS IS IT. IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS.

HEARING ALL THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS REPRESENTED TODAY.

SEEING THEM OUGHT AT ONCE. THE FACT THAT THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER SHOWS THAT IT IS NOT ABOUT A ME DEAL, RIGHT.

JUST ME AND MY ORGANIZATION. COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE, YOU KNOW CENECOR, EVERYONE THAT IS INVOLVED.

[02:25:02]

I LOVE SEEING THIS COLLABORATION.

AND THE FACT THAT CHIEF SHOWER AND SHERIFF HOOP IS HERE AND CONGRESSMAN, A PASSION FOR HIM. THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND NONPROFIT AND MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH GROUPS PARTICIPATING. THAT COLLABORATIVE -- THAT HUB, THAT'S WHERE I AM FOCUSED ON. THAT'S WHERE I AM LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW. THIS IS WHERE I AM AT.

WE ARE DONE. WE ARE AT THAT POINT WHERE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. AND SO YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT ON THAT. WE GET THESE QUESTIONS WORKED OUT SPECIFICALLY, THEN LET'S PUT A MOTION FORWARD.

WE ARE THERE. TO ME IT'S -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE VERY CLEAR THAT YES, WE HAVE TO BE LIMITED IN OUR MONEY. NOT NOW, WHEN.

WE NEED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THE COLLABORATION.

IT IS A OPERATE. WE NEED TO CHOOSE OURSELVES AS A COURT. WE SEE IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

WE HEAR THE ASK. WE HAVE BEEN TO THESE FACILITIES IF NOT RECENTLY OVER THE TIME OF OUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND OUR OTHER LIVES THAT WE HAVE LED TO BE IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT FACILITIES.

AND WE KNOW THERE ARE NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED.

BUT TO GO IN AND SAY, WEIGH WANT TO START ONLY ON STAGE 1.

BEING THE LAYPERSON AND BEING INVOLVED IN REFERENCING PEOPLE INTO THIS SYSTEM, I WANT TO SEE THE ENTIRE COG PUT TOGETHER.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE ONE SPOKE ON THERE.

FOR IT TO WORK, IT HAS TO BE PUT TOGETHER IN ONE PIECE TODAY.

I HOPE THAT IS WHAT WE, AS A COURT, CAN COME TO.

IF IT SIMPLY CANNOT BE DONE TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE STILL STRUGGLING WITH NUMBERS, THEN I WOULD EXPECT IT TO BE DONE WITHIN THE NEXT MEETING OR TWO BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO REALLY PUT TOGETHER AND MAKE HAPPEN.

AND THIS -- AN EXCITING TIME FOR US, BUT ALSO I HAVE -- I HAVE A GREAT HESITATION KNOWING THAT IF SOMETHING FALLS APART, WE MAY NOT MAKE IT HAPPEN. IF IT DOESN'T, IT COULD BE YEARS IN THE MAKING BEFORE WE GET THIS CHANCE AGAIN AS A COURT.

SO YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT. THANK YOU.

>>JUDGE CANALES: COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ.

>> COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ: YES, JUDGE, THANK YOU.

AND AS I SIT HERE, IT BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES WHEN I WAS IN JUNIOR HIGH. A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WAS FOUND DEAD IN A PARK. AND HE HAD STARTED OUT SNIFFING GLUE. SO IF WE HAD ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS WHERE HIS PARENTS COULD HAVE TURNED TO FOR HELP, MAYBE HE WOULD STILL BE WITH US TODAY. I AM IN TOTAL SUPPORT, DR.

GONZALEZ. I ALWAYS TOLD YOU THIS.

CRYSTAL, I HAVE BEEN TO YOUR PLACE.

YOU GAVE ME THE TOUR, MISS KING AND I.

I AGREE, YOUR PLACE DOES NEED A FACELIFT.

YOU DO A TREMENDOUS JOB AND YOU HAVE MANY PEOPLE THERE.

SO I HOPE THAT THE MONEY ISSUE, WE CAN GET ACROSS THAT, JUMP THAT HOOP. AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN FOR OUR COUNTY, FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR PEOPLE THAT NEED THE HELP.

MENTAL HEALTH IS A BIG PROBLEM. LET'S TRY TO STOP -- WE ARE NEVER GOING TO STOP IT, BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD THE PROBLEMS T THAT UVALVE HAD WITH PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ISSUES.

LET'S NOT WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS HERE.

LET'S START WORK WITH ALL OF YOU AND WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND WE WILL DO OUR PART TO TRY TO GET YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO GET IT DONE. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ, I WOULD LIKE TO AT THIS TIME MAKE A MOTION THAT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING BE ALLOCATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $4 MILLION FOR --

>> SECOND. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU.

FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND I LIKE THE WORD RESTORATION PROGRAM.

A LOT OF US USED DIVERSION BECAUSE THAT IS HOW WE STARTED IT, BUT WE CAN ENDS IT THE RIGHT WAY WHICH IS RESTORATION.

DR. GONZALEZ, I THINK THE CONSENSUS I HEARD FROM THE COURT THAT THE FUNDS BE FOR THE 3.5 AND THE .3 AT THIS TIME.

AND THERE IS A SECOND. APPEAR FINANCED IF THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, LET ME TAKE A HISTORICAL VOTE.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: REAL QUICK.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE. CAN WE JUST ADD TO THAT THAT WE SOMEHOW CONTINUE -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INTENT OF THIS IS BY ALL OF THIS THAT ALL OF US ARE INCLUDED IN THIS.

>>JUDGE CANALES: I WILL BE HAPPY TO A ADD.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: I WANT ALL OF THE MOTIONS TO INCLUDE WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO BE LEFT OUT.

[02:30:04]

>>JUDGE CANALES: I WILL TAKE THAT LORENZO AS THE ADDITIONAL ITEM. BUT COLLABORATIVE E6R9 BY THE LETTER OF INTENT AND THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTATION.

WE CAN LIST THEM FOR YOU. THEY ARE PART OF THE RECORD BUT LIST THEM FOR YOU FOR THE CLERKS.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. IN ADDITION, I WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST HAVE US CONSIDER THAT BECAUSE IN MY MIND I HAD THAT $5 MILLION ASK. THAT $1 MILLION BE APPROPRIATED TO THE CENECOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND I WOULD LIKE THE SE SECOND.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: WITH THE SAME INTENT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: WITH THE CALL FOR DISCUSSION.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: CAN I ASK.

>>JUDGE CANALES: YES. FOR THE CALL OF DISCUSSION -- I WILL COME IN FOR YOU IN JUST A SECOND.

COMMISSIONER? >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: AND TELL ME -- ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I GOTTEN ARE SOMETHING ABOUT -- I GUESS ON THE CENECOR -- SOMEBODY IS ASKING ME ARE BEDS LIMITED ON THE DHS FUNDS. I AM NOT SURE WHO I AM ASKING THAT TO. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.

>>JUDGE CANALES: CRYSTAL, HE WANTS YOU TO APPROACH.

HE HAS A QUESTION ON THE DHS FUNDING.

>> I MEAN -- IT FLUCTUATES WITH THE STATE.

STATE FUNDS REALLY FLUBBING WEIGHT.

REALLY -- WE NEVER KNOW RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE ALLOCATED TO 25 BEDS IN DETAX AND 31 BEDS IN RESIDENTIAL AND 25 BEDS FOR SPECIALIZE FEMALE AND RESIDENTIAL AND WOMEN WHO HAVE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: HOW DOES THAT EFFECT THE OTHER AGENCIES IN THE ROOM AGAIN THIS IS TRULY BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER. HOW DOES THAT EFFECT THEM AT BEING ABLE TO BE AT THE TABLE AND BEING ABLE TO FUNCTION WITHIN THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS. BECAUSE I KNOW -- I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AGAIN THAT -- THIS IS A HUGE DAY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WALKS OUT OF HERE FEELING IT IS A HUGE DAY.

HOW DOES THAT WORK? >> THERE IS -- SO -- WITHOUT GOING INTO THE LOGISTICS BECAUSE IT PROBABLY WILL BE A LONG CONVERSATION, WE ALWAYS FIND A WAY TO GET PEOPLE FUNDED.

AND IT IS WITH THE PARTNERSHIPS. SO WITH COASTAL BEND WELLNESS PAYS FOR BEDS. THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE MHID THROUGH THE CIT PROGRAM.

PROBATION. YOU HELPED WITH COMMISSIONERS COURT GRANTS. SO ALL THESE FUNDING SOURCES -- UNITED WAY. WE ARE A UNITED WAY GRANT FUNDER RECIPIENT. TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PARTNERSHIPS. THROUGHOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ALLOW US TO HAVE THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE FUNDING ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO PAY.

SO ANYBODY WHO COMES THROUGH OUR DOORS, WE WILL FIND A WAY TO GET THEM IN. WE WON'T TURN ANYBODY AWAY.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: OKAY, THAT -- THANK YOU.

>>JUDGE CANALES: CRYSTAL, IF YOU DON'T MIND ME STAYING THERE.

HANG ON FOR A SECOND. IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

>> AYE. >>JUDGE CANALES: THAT MILLION DOLLARS MAY HAVE SOME POTENTIAL FOR A MATCH.

THAT IS CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: I WOULD LIKE ON ANOTHER COURT FOR YOU TO COME BACK AND TELL US ABOUT THAT. BECAUSE I THINK THAT COULD BE VERY POWERFUL. ADDITION, I WANT THE COURT TO KNOW BECAUSE IT WAS I BELIEVE LISTED HERE -- LET ME DOUBLE CHECK IT. IS IT REALLY -- IT IS LISTED IN AN UNUSUAL WAY. AND YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IT AS AN AUDIENCE OR A COURT MEMBER. IT ALSO SAYS THAT WE COULD TRANSFER COUNTY FUNDS TO A MENTAL HEALTH ACCOUNT.

WE MIGHT WANT TO TAKE THIS UP. EXECUTIVE TO UNDERSTAND ELIGIBILITY, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND NOT TO PUT DANTE ON THE SPOT BUT HE IS HERE.

HE IS ONE OF THOSE -- WHAT DO THEY CALL THEM, STAKEHOLDERS.

WHAT DID WE JUST CALL THEM, TEAM MEMBERS, COLLABORATORS, REPRESENTING CITY COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.

THIS COUNTY HAS THE ABILITY TO HAVE FUNDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH IN MULTIPLE WAYS THROUGH THE 1115 WAIVER PROGRAM.

THESE ARE OLDS FUNDS THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT WE CAN USE IN A POWERFUL WAY TO GET US TO THAT MARK OF 3.5.

IN ADDITION, THERE ARE OPIOID LITIGATION FUNDS THAT ARE COMING TO THIS COUNTY THAT WILL TOTAL $1.6 MILLION.

WE DID NOT NOTICE THAT TODAY, BUT PLEASE KNOW, COURT, IF YOU

[02:35:06]

WANT THESE PROGRAMS TO JUST REALLY SHINE AND SOAR, THIS -- OUR FUTURE IS RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF US FOR PROGRAMMING.

THE CITY HAS 1.6 APPROXIMATELY. I LOOKED HARD TO FIND IT AND I AM GOING TO ASK JENNY TO DIG IT UP.

NOT TODAY, JENNY, BUT WE HAVE A WORKSHEET THAT SHOWS WHAT NUECES WILL GETS FROM THE OPIOID LITIGATION SETTLEMENT.

WE KNOW WHAT THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI IS GOING TO GET.

I DON'T THINK WE KNOW WHAT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT IS GOING TO GET. BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T PART OF THE AG'S PIECE. WE KNOW THERE IS THAT BIG FUND THAT IS REGIONAL OF WHICH WE ARE THE LARGEST COUNTY WITH STATS.

SO ALL I AM SAYING TO YOU, COURT, IS I AGREE WITH YOU MUCH CHESNEY, THAT WE CAN FURTHER. MUCH THERE IS MORE TO DO.

TODAY IS HISTORIC BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO GUESS ANYMORE AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO TALK ANYMORE AFTER THREE AND A HALF TO ALMOST FOUR LONG YEARS, WE HAVE DONE IT.

BUT THERE IS MORE TO DO AND I THINK THERE ARE TWO FUNDING SOURCES THAT THIS COURT NEEDS TO THINK ABOUT AND ADDRESS, BUT I HOPE THAT THE $4 MILLION TODAY IS A SIGN OF GOOD FAITH BECAUSE WHEN YOU AND I TALKED OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, THAT WAS A GOOD NUMBER. AND NOW WE KNOW THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. AND I HOPE THAT DANTE CAN CARRY THAT MESSAGE BACK. HE IS STANDING UP SO I AM GOING TO LET HIM SAY SOMETHING. DANTE.

DR. GONZALEZ, EXCUSE ME. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT -- YOU MENTIONED THE 1115 WAIVERS AND HOW THOSE FUNDS WERE ACTUALLY REIMUS REIMBURSED THROUGH THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM. THESE FUNDS WERE COLLECTED BY DOING SERVICES THAT WERE NOT NECESSARILY ON MENTAL HEALTH.

I AM NOT HERE SPEAKING WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN USE THOSE FUNDS.

NOT FOR ME TO SAY. BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE FUNDS SPECIFICALLY REIMBURSED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO SPECIFIC THINGS LIKE DIABETES, NUTRITION.

>>JUDGE CANALES: RIGHT. >> WELLNESS BUT NOT NECESSARILY

MENTAL HEALTH. >>JUDGE CANALES: ALL I AM SAYING A LITTLE MORE VETTING AND WE MIGHT GET THERE.

BECAUSE AS IT TURNS OUT, I NEVER REALLY ASK A QUESTION I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO. SO I REALLY DO THINK ONCE WE GET THE 11:15 STAFF WAIVER EXPERT IN HERE AND THE STATE'S INPUT THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THERE COULD BE.

IF THAT IS THE CASE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE. AND IT GOES ALONG WITH -- IT TURNS OUT LIKE YOU SAID, THERE ARE LAYERING EFFECTS.

TURNS OUT THERE ARE DIABETIC. AND THEY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. SO WE WILL -- I REALLY WANT TO GET TO ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM. DR. GONZALEZ, I WILL GIVE YOU THE BEST ADVICE THAT SOMEBODY GAVE ME, WHEN YOU HAVE WON, RUN.

[LAUGHTER] WOULD YOU ALSO WANT -- I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE HIM. WILL YOU RECOGNIZE AARON DIAZ.

YOU STAYED QUIET BUT CERTAINLY NOT IN THE BACK ROOM.

YOU HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING DR. GONZALEZ.

DR. GONZALEZ WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE --

>> WHEN -- WHEN I -- WHEN I WAS BROUGHT FORTH THIS VENTURE, THE VERY FIRST THING I DID WAS I WENT AND ASKED THE EXPERTS THAT HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THIS. I TALKED TO LEON EVANS FR FROM BEXAR COUNTY AND GILBERT GONZALEZ.

THE FIRST THING HE TOLD ME SOMEONE IS WATCHING OVER YOU BECAUSE SOMEONE IN CORPUS CHRISTI WHO RETIRED THAT IS PART OF WHO STARTED DIVERSION INFORM BEXAR COUNTY.

AND AARON DIAZ THAT PULLED OUT OF RETIERMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING THE RIGHT -- RETIREMENT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TAKING THE RIGHT PATH FORWARD AND WHAT THEY LEARNED IN BEXAR COUNTY AND OF IT TO LEARN HERE IN NUECES COUNTY.

>>JUDGE CANALES: COMMISSIONERS, I AM GOING TO JUST -- THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO GET UP.

SO WE WILL LET YOU DO THAT. THANK YOU.

A REQUEST TO GO TO OF EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE LEGAL COMPONENTS OF THE AMENDMENT, SO I WILL SKIP IT RIGHT NOW.

AND THIS WAY I WILL ADDRESS THE REST OF THE PEOPLE WAITING SO PATIENTLY. ITEM NUMBER 3.

WE WILL KIND OF WAIT UNTIL THE CROWD GOES JUST 30 MORE SECONDS.

[3. Discuss and consider renewal and amendment of agreement between Texas General Land Office/Veterans Land Board and Nueces County related to the operation of the Coastal Bend Veteran’s Cemetery, and related matters.]

GIVE THEM A MOMENT. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER RENULT AND

[02:40:02]

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE, VETERANS LAND BOARD AND NUECES COUNTY RELATING TO THE MUCH.COASTAL BEND VETERAN CEMETERY AND RELATED MATTERS.

JJ -- >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: CAN I ASK ARE THERE ANY CHANGES OR SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES.

>>JUDGE CANALES: ACTUALLY ONE THAT IS GOOD.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THIS IS KIND OF A SLAM DUNK OF.

>>JUDGE CANALES: ONE CHANGE AND GOOD MUCH CHANGE.

>> TWO CHANGES. >>JUDGE CANALES: TWO CHANGES.

>> THE ONLY CHANGES, COMMISSIONER, IS THEY ARE WANTING TO ADD AN 5789 WHERE ANY SURPLUS FUNDS IN OUR BUDGET GETS PUT INTO A CAPITAL FUND EXPENDITURE.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE CAN PURCHASE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT OR DO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT. THAT'S IT.

SECONDLY THEY WANT TO REDUCE BUDGET FROM 918,000 TODAY 900,000. WE HAD OVER 100,000 IN SURPLUS AND GOT IT BACK TO 900. SO A PERFECT DEAL.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: ON THE SURPLUS ON MOST OF OUR ACCOUNTS, WE TRY TO CREATE A RESERVE BAT IN THERE.

SO BY NOT PUT IT IN OUR RESERVE AND PUT IT IN THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT, IS THERE ANY DETRIMENT TO THAT IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, WE DON'T HAVE THE CONTINGENCY LIKE ANY OTHER ACCOUNT.

>> CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT, DALE? >> COMMISSIONER, IT IS GOING TO BE RESERVED FOR THIS PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT.

THOSE RESERVES CAN ONLY BE USED FOR CAPITAL ACCOUNTS.

SO 1130,000 OF RESERVE AND FUND BALANCE.

FUND BALANCE CAN BE USED FOR CAPITAL EXPENSES.

THEY ARE RESERVED. >>JUDGE CANALES: LIKE YOUR $100,000, COMMISSIONER, THAT WE SAVED, WE ACTUALLY GOT IT.

NEXT IF WE HAVE $100 SAVINGS, IT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THERE RATHER THAN OUR GENERAL FUND.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: WOULD THAT BE THE ONLY REASON WE HAVE CAPITAL FUNDS IN THESE OTHER FUNDS WHICH IS JUST FOR CAPITAL

IMPROVEMENTS? >> THE MAIN PURPOSE WHILE THEY ARE DOING THIS A BIG ISSUE WHEN WE FIRST TOOK OVER THE CEMETERY THAT THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE AND THE VETERANS LAND BOARD WAS VERY HESITANT OF THE CURRENT VENDOR PURCHASING AT CAPITAL EXPENSE.

BACK HOES OR MOWERS, WHATEVER MIGHT BE THE CASE, SEVERAL GOING BACK AND FORTH. SO WE NOW HAVE A FUNDS BALANCE.

THESE FUNDS CAN BE USED TO BUY THE CAPITAL EXPENSE WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO THE LAND BOARD FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY.

>>JUDGE CANALES: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT I HEARD ON THIS IS THAT /* JJ IS HAVING TO SPEND A TON MUCH TIME AT THAT CEMETERY. A LOT MORE TIME AND ENERGY TO DO THINGS. SO ARE WE SHORTING OURSELVES A LITTLE BIT ON THIS BUDGET BECAUSE WE GOT JJ DOING MORE WORK AND MAY NEED ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER TO HELP HIM NOT HAVE TO GO DO THAT? BECAUSE WITH ALL THE 360 BURN PITS. HE HAS HIS HANDS FULL.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT SHORTING OURSELVES ON THIS.

I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE HIM HAVING AS MUCH TIME AS I HEAR HIM SPENDING AND MAY BE BECAUSE HE IS A GREAT GUY AND DOES IT ON HIS OWN. STILL NOT FAIR TO HIM.

WE MAY HAVE TO LOOK FOR -- LET'S SAY SOME ALLOCATION OUT OF THOSE

FUNDS TO OFFSET SOME. >>JUDGE CANALES: THAT'S CORRECT.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: REDUCING OUR BUDGET.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THE BUDGET ACCOUNTED, I THINK, FOR THAT.

>> 50,000. >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: $50,000

OF WHAT. >> FOR COLA INCREASE FOR CEMETERY STAFF AND ANY PAY RAISES.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: IF WE NEED AN ADDITIONAL PERSON BECAUSE YOU NEED TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME TAKING YOU AWAY FROM THINGS WE ORIGINALLY HIRED YOU FOR.

I AM CONCERNED WE MAY NEED THE EXTRA MONEY FOR ANOTHER STAFF OR

PAY PART OF YOUR SALARY OR. >>JUDGE CANALES: THE BUDGET ACTUALLY CONTEMPLATED A SUPPLEMENT FOR HIM.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: IN THIS BUDGET?

>>JUDGE CANALES: YES. THIS THIS BUDGET, I THINK ENOUGH DOLLARS IN THERE FOR A SUPPLEMENT FOR HIM.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT BUDGET.

>>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: FULL TIME, PART-TIME OR WHAT.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: IF WE SAY HEY, JJ NEEDS A RAISE -- NOT THE ONLY RUN, BUT THE REASON HE NEEDS A RAISE, HE IS DOING SO MUCH WORK OVER HERE THAT WE ANTICIPATE.

THE BUDGET THAT IS COMING OUT WILL HAVE AN AMOUNT IN THERE THAT SAYS WE CAN SUPPLEMENT AND GET HIM THAT RAISE OUT OF THAT

BUDGET? >>JUDGE CANALES: YES, SIR,

THAT'S CORRECT. >> IF YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET, ONE ITEM OF A FEE THAT WE CHARGE THE CEMETERYR WORK THAT MY STAFF DOES, THAT HR, THAT JJ. $75,000 AND REDUCED TODAY

50,000. >> $46,000.

>> STILL ENOUGH FUNDS TO COVER HIS ADDITIONAL INCREASES IN HIS JOB OR RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL AS WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: OKAY. THAT IS A BIG QUESTION FOR ME BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T GET LEFT OUT OF ON

[02:45:04]

THIS, JJ. >>JUDGE CANALES: YOU MUST BE DOING AN EFFICIENT OPERATION TO BE GIVING LESS.

AND TO RUN THE CEMETERY WELL AND THE WAY THE VETERANS WANT IT RUN. I NEVER -- I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME. NEVER HAVE ANYBODY COME BACK AND SAY WE ARE OKAY WITH LESS MONEY FROM THE STATE.

ONCE YOU TAKE LESS, NEXT YEAR THEY ARE GOING TO ASK FOR THE SAME THING. SO FORTH AND SO ON.

SO THE AMENDMENT ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.

LITTLE NERVOUS. >> WE WERE TRYING TO DO THE BUDGET FROM WHAT THE LAST VENDORS WERE DOING THIS.

AND BECAUSE LAST VENDORS DIDN'T HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY WE HAD FOR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS WITH THE MEDICAL, DENTAL, VISION, RETIREMENT. SO WE HAD TO PUT THIS UNDER THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT LAST YEAR AND NOW WE KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH IT WILL

COST SO WHY -- >> ALSO WE HAVE SAVINGS, COMMISSIONERS. BECAUSE WE HAVE RESOURCES THAT THAT VENDOR DOESN'T HAVE. WE HAVE THINGS FOR LESS THAN THEY DID. HELPS A LOT.

>> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: A ONE-YEAR RENEWAL.

>> ONE YEAR. >>JUDGE CANALES: WILL YOU MAKE

THE MOTION. >> COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ: I WANT TO TELL JJ FOR WHAT THEY DO.

PLEASE LET YOUR EMPLOYEES KNOW. >> YES, SIR.

>>JUDGE CANALES: IT IS PHENO

PHENOMENAL. >>COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ: LOOKS VERY NICE AND GOOD COMPLIMENTS FROM MY NEIGHBORS ON THAT.

>> THANK YOU, WE TRY VERY HARD. >>JUDGE CANALES: A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. JJ, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. ON ANOTHER DAY, MAYBE YOU WILL COME AND SHARE WITH US ON SOME OF THE THINGS YOU ARE DOING TO MAKE US A PURPLE HEART CEMETERY. PURPLE HEART VETERANS CEMETERY.

WHEN I SAY PURPLE HEART, I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AIRBORNE IN THE ROOM THAT REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS FOR VETERANS.

>> COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: SEMPER FI.

>>COMMISSIONER CHES CHESNEY: SEMPER FI.

TAMPA. >>JUDGE CANALES: PURPLE HEART MEMORIAL THIS SATURDAY. AND MAYBE YOU WILL SEND THAT OUT IN CASE ANYBODY KNOWS AND HAVE TO OUR HAERPT AS A.PURPLE HEART VETERANS CEMETERY IS EXCEPTIONAL.

WOULD LIKE EXCEPTIONAL FOR NUECES COUNTY.

>> WE ARE PUSHING FOR NOVEMBER TO BE DESIGNATED AS A PURPLE HEART VETERANS CEMETERY. THE REST OF THE STATE THE VETERANS CEMETERY WILL BE PURPLE HEART CEMETERIES.

JJ, WILL YOU ASSIST HIM. ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED IS WE NEED TO HAVE AN ADA PODIUM. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO THAT.

>> I AM THE AIRBORNE. I AM THE MILITARY ORDER FOR PURPLE HEART. ALSO I AM THE COMMANDER FOR THE VFW 397 AND. PAST COMMANDER FOR THE CHAPTER 150. WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT BEFORE I SAY SOMETHING ABOUT JJ. THERE IS NO MONEY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IN NUECES COUNTY AND UNITED STATES TO PAY MY BROTHER-IN-ARM WITH WHAT HE IS DOING.

WE DON'T COMPLAIN PAUSE WE DO IT FROM THE HEART.

I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 40 YEARS PLUS, TO HELP OUR VETERANS. I AM A VOLUNTEER SERVICE OFFICER. HE TOOK OVER EVERY TIME I NEED SOMETHING OR A VETERAN OR WIFE OF A VETERAN, HE RESPOND RIGHT AWAY. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR ANYBODY ELSE WHO NEED HELP. HE DON'T COMPLAIN.

WE DON'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS. OF THE WAY HE DOES HIS JOB.

AND THIS IS THE KINDS OF VETERAN THAT YOU HIRE.

AND YOU HERE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS KIND OF PERSON.

AND I AM VERY PROUD TO CALL HIM A BROTHER-IN-ARMS AND MY FRIENDS. ALSO, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING HIM TO GO BACK TO STATE CEMETERY. HE IS DOING A GREAT JOB FOR ALL YOU REPRESENTATIVES OF NUECES COUNTY.

BECOMING PURPLE HEART WILL BE GREAT.

THE FIRST PURPLE HEART IN THE NATION WAS DALLAS, TEXAS.

[02:50:05]

I PRESENTED A DESIGN. THE FIRST ONE IN THE NATION.

SO I BELIEVE THE STATE OF TEXAS WILL BE GREAT TO BE HERE IN NUECES COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SAY

A FEW WORDS. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU.

>> REMEMBER THERE IS NO MONEY IN THE UNITED STATES TO PAY THIS MAN FOR WHAT HE IS DOING FOR HIS FELLOW VETERANS, NOT ONLY VETERANS, BUT THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AIRBORNE [APPLAUSE]

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE DR. JOHN KELLY FROM THE VETERANS LAND BOARD.

I HOOKED OVER AND SEE HIM ONLINE.

A GREAT PARTNERSHIP DR. KELLY REPRESENTING THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS. WE ARE A VETERAN STATE.

WE LOVE OUR MILITARY. WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE A MILITARY COUNTY. I JUST -- I HOPE THAT YOU ARE ALSO PROUD OF US NOT ONLY IN PASSING ANOTHER YEAR CONTRACT BUT IN THE WORK WE ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER.

PLEASE RELAY TO COMMISSIONER BUSH TO SEE THE BEST VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS IN THE STATE AND THE BEST VETERAN STATE CEMETERY IN NUECES COUNTY. THANK YOU.

OKAY, JJ, ALL DONE HERE? >> YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

>>JUDGE CANALES: I WOULD LIKE TO GO OUT OF ORDER AND RECOGNIZE DR. DANTE HAS BEEN WAITING ALL MORNING AND ADVANCE.

YOU HAVE SOME AGENDA ITEMS AND THIS WILL HELP HIM I KNOW AT LEAST GET TO A LUNCH ON TIME. THAT ONE IS GOING TO BE A COUPLE OF THEM. ONE OF THEM -- WELL, NUMBER 12 IS -- THERE IS A CPI. LET'S DO NUMBER 9 FIRST.

[9. Discuss and consider adopting annual payment agreement amount – including request by City to increase budget based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) – for the 2022-23 fiscal year between Nueces County and the City of Corpus Christi pursuant to Section 4 of the Amended Cooperative Agreement for City-Operated Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District and related matters.]

NUMBER 9. NUMBER 9 -- AND I AM GOING TO LET IDAY TAKE THESE, BUT I WILL INTRODUCE THEM, DANTE, FOR THE RECORD. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ANNUAL PAYMENT AMOUNT INCLUDING REQUEST BY THE CITY TO INCREASE THE BUDGET BASED ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX OTHERWISE THRONE AS A CPI FOR THE 20 -- 2022-'23 OF THE AMENDED DOOR A I HAVE IT AGREEMENT FOR CORPUS CHRISTI MUCH HEALTH DISTRICT AND RELATED MATTERS. DR. DANTE IS HERE.

IDAY, YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY HERE.

YOU HAVE A NUMBER THAT YOU HAVE CONFIRMED AND THEN DANTE CAN DO THE FAVOR FOR ME, DANTE, OF CONFIRMING THE CPI.

GIVE A LITTLE BACK GROUND WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH HERE WITH THIS NEW NUMBER. IF YOU WANT TO START AND IDAY

CAN FINISH UP. >> ABSOLUTELY.

DR. GONZALEZ, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE NUMBER YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IS BASICALLY THE BUDGET WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING FOR THE -- FOR MANY YEARS WITH -- BUT THIS TIME AROUND, INCLUDING A CPI. WE TOOK THE CPI OF 9.2 WHICH IS WHAT WAS PUBLISHED. 9.2% INCREASE PUBLISHED IN MAY -- THE DIFFERENCE FOR 12 MONTHS. AND THIS IS PUBLISHED BY THE U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. NOT A NUMBER THAT THE CITY CAME UP WITH. IT IS A NUMBER THAT HAS ALREADY

BEEN PUBLISHED. >>JUDGE CANALES: DR. DANTE, DOES CONNIE HAVE IT? IT IS NO THE ON OUR SCREENS.

DO YOU HAVE IT CONNIE? THAT IS FINE.

WE WILL TURN TO OUR BUDGET BOOK. >> YOU CAN FIND IT ON THE U.S.

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS WHICH IS PUBLISHED.

IF YOU LOOK AT THIS MONTH, IT CAME UP TO 9.8%.

SO DUE WE ARE STILL USING 9.2. >>JUDGE CANALES: THE TOTAL NUMBER FOR US DR. DANTE OF WHAT WE PAID THANKS YEAR AND WHAT THE REQUEST IS THIS YEAR IF WE ADOPT THIS CPI INDEX FOR THE HEALTH

DISTRICT. >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: JUDGE,

CAN I ASK -- >> YES, SIR.

LAST YEAR 1.6 MILLION. IF YOU WANT EXACT NUMBER, 1.6.

>>JUDGE CANALES: CLOSE ENOUGH. THIS YEAR.

>> THIS YEAR WE ARE ASKING 1.7 MILLION.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CHESNEY, A QUESTION

FOR MR. DANTE. >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: SHOULDN'T TAKE IT TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT FIRST.

>>JUDGE CANALES: IT ALREADY HAS. IDAY, CAN YOU TALK OF HOW DR.

CHESNEY -- COMMISSIONER CHESNEY. COMMISSIONER CHESNEY SAYS TO TAKE THIS TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, THE ANSWER IS, WE DID.

>> WE DID IN THE LAST BOARD MEET WITH THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND THEY ARE WILLING TO GIVE US UP TODAY 2 MILLION TO COVER THE EXPENSES, MEDICAL EXPENSES FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

>> THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND GAVE UP TO TWO AND THE

[02:55:04]

ANSWER IS 1.7. >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: I WILL

MOVE TO PASS. >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: SECOND.

>>JUDGE CANALES: MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION OR CONCERNS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY

[12. Discuss and consider Addendum to Amended Cooperative Agreement for City-Operated Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District for Fiscal Year 2022-23.]

SAYING AYE. OKAY.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO JUMP TO NUMBER 12 WHICH IS THE ACTUAL

AGREEMENT. >> COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: 1.7 OR

2 MILLION. >>JUDGE CANALES: PASSED THE 1.7.

>> TWO DIFFERENT AGREEMENTS, COMMISSIONER.

>>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: OKAY. >>JUDGE CANALES: ITEM NUMBER 12, IDAY, TO DISCUSS THE EYE DEN DUMB FOR THE WHOLE FISCAL YEAR.

>> THIS INCLUDES THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WELL, BUT ALSO INCLUDES THE 11:15 WAIVER. THE 11.15 WAIVER WILL BE DIFFERENT. WE ARE TRYING TO CONFIRM WITH THE STATE THAT ACTUALLY THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE SITTING FOR THE REMANDING EXCESS FUNDS FROM THE WAIVER, WE CAN TRANSFER THAT TO THE CITY. SO THAT -- I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IF YOU WILL ALLOW ME TO CONTACT HHS TO CONFIRM THAT THE COUNTY CAN TRANSFER THE MONEY THAT THE CITY IS ASKING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE WAIVER PROGRAM.

>>JUDGE CANALES: I AM WOK THAT BUT DEAL WITH HALF OF THE

AGREEMENT. >> WHATEVER IS RELATED TO THE

HEALTH DEPARTMENT. >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: WHICH

HALF. >>JUDGE CANALES: THE HALF THAT RUNS THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT BUT ANYTHING BUT THE WAIVER PROGRAM.

I WOULD LIKE TO PASS THAT SO I DON'T WANT THEM -- I MEAN, THEY ARE APPROACHING -- THEY HAVE A NEED TO GET THAT DONE.