[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:09] >>> IF I LED BAIL OUR INVOCATION. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET US PRAY. FATHER, ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD AS THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS, I EXHORT FIRST OF ALL THAT SUPPLICATIONS, PRAYERS, INTERCESSIONS, AND GIVING OF THANKS BE MADE FOR ALL MEN. FOR KINGS AND ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY, THAT WE MAY LEAD A QUIET AND PEACE LIFE IN ALL GODLINESS AND REVERENCE. FOR THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, OUR SAVIOR, WHO DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. FOR THERE IS ONE GOD AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, AND CHRIST JESUS GAVE HIMSELF, A RANSOM FOR ALL. FATHER, YOU HAVE INSTRUCTED US TO PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS. THEREFORE, I ASK THAT YOU WOULD ENDOW THESE SERVANTS WITH WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE TO DO THEIR JOB . I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD HELP THEM TO MAKE GOOD AND GODLY DECISIONS. GIVE THEM NOT ONLY PHYSICAL SUPPORT AND OUR VOICES, GIVE THEM SPIRITUAL SUPPORT. CAUSE THEM TO KNOW YOU AND THOSE RAISED THAT ONLY THOSE WHO SPEND TIME WITH YOU WOULD KNOW. WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THEM WITH GOOD IDEAS , NOVEL IDEAS , NOR WILL YOU FORSAKE THEM. AND IT IS IN CHRIST JESUS NAME I PRAY AND THANK YOU, AMEN. >> AND I FAILED TO MENTION, HE IS WITH THE CORPUS CHRISTI CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE AND TEXAS . ONE STATE, UNDER GOD , INDIVISIBLE . THANK YOU, AND PLEASE BE SEATED. IT IS AUGUST THE 21ST, AND WE ARE IT 901 LEOPARD IN THE OASIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ROOM. IT IS 9:07, AND WE HAVE ALL COMMISSIONERS PRESENT, SO I WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS, DISCLOSURES , CONFLICT OF INTEREST? IF YOU DON'T, AT THIS TIME, YOU CAN [1. In recognition of August 26, 2024 as Women's Equality Day in honor of the League of Women Voters Corpus Christi and in celebration of the 104th anniversary of women's right to vote.] ALWAYS MENTION IT AT THE TIME THE ITEM IS PULLED UP. ITEM E, ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, PROCLAMATIONS, AND ORDERS. NUMBER ONE, IN RECOGNITION OF AUGUST 26, 2024, AS WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY IN HONOR OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CORPUS CHRISTI D, AND IN CELEBRATION OF THE 104TH ANNIVERSARY OF WOMEN'S RIGHT TO VOTE. >> WHEREAS CARRIE CHAPMAN FOUNDED THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION 104 YEARS AGO IN 1920 DURING CONVENTION OF THE NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION. THE CONVENTION WAS HELD JUST SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE 19TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION WAS RATIFIED AND CERTIFIED , GIVING AMERICAN WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE AFTER A CENTURIES STRUGGLE. IN 1945, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS CORPUS CHRISTI AREA WAS FORMED WITH DOROTHY GREENE SERVING AS ITS FIRST PRESIDENT. AND WHEREAS, FROM THE BEGINNING OF ITS EXISTENCE, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HAVE BEEN AN ACTIVIST, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION WHOSE LEADERS BELIEVE THAT THE DISTANCE SHOULD ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNANCE, ADVOCACY, AND VOTING. AND WHEREAS, THE GOALS OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ARE TO EMPOWER CITIZENS TO SHAPE DEBTOR COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE, SHOW RESPECT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY, AND EMPOWER OTHERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES DEMOCRACY WORK. AND WHEREAS, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ACTS WITH TRUST, INTEGRITY, AND PROFESSIONALISM, OPERATES IN AN OPEN AND EFFECTIVE MANNER TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THROUGH [00:05:02] VOTER GUIDES AND CANDIDATE FORMS, TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO ENGAGE VOTERS AND DEFEND DEMOCRACY, AND ACKNOWLEDGES THE LEAGUE'S HERITAGE AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY. AND WHEREAS, FOR 79 YEARS, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS CORPUS CHRISTI AREA HAS BUILT CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS BY ENGAGING COMMUNITIES, PROMOTING POSITIVE SOLUTIONS TO PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY AND STATE ISSUES. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF NUECES COUNTY DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 26, 2024, AS WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY IN HONOR OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN'S VOTERS AND IN CELEBRATION OF THE 104TH ANNIVERSARY OF WOMEN'S RIGHT TO VOTE , AND FURTHERMORE ENCOURAGE THE CITIZENS OF NUECES COUNTY TO OBSERVE THIS ANNIVERSARY WITH APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS, CEREMONIES, AND ACTIVITIES THAT HONOR WOMEN'S HISTORY WITH THEIR EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. DULY ADOPTED BY VOTE OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF NUECES COUNTY, TEXAS ON THIS, THE 21ST DAY OF AUGUST, 2024. >> MOTION PASSES. BRITTANY YOUNG IS HERE. ARE YOU GOING TO BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF -- THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE SCOTT, FOR PROCLAIMING AUGUST 26TH AS WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY. IT'S REALLY AN HONOR AND A TESTAMENT TO WHY WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHT TO VOTE AND CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR OUR RIGHT TO VOTE. THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS AN ONGOING FIGHT, AND WE CAN'T STOP . THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IS PART OF THAT EFFORT BY CREATING BILINGUAL VOTERS GUIDES THAT WE DID FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME THIS PAST ELECTION. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK AND CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR VOTING POLICIES THAT MAKE VOTING ACCESSIBLE TO ALL AMERICANS. SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PROCLAIM WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE GOES OUT AND VOTES IN THIS UPCOMING ELECTION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, BRITTNEY. WE HAVE THIS RESOLUTION, IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND TAKE A PHOTO ON BEHALF OF MYSELF . THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR WOMEN. SINCE I'M THE ONLY FEMALE HERE. >> ME TO. THANK YOU. [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.] MOVING ON TO F, PUBLIC COMMENT. WE DID NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. >> SIGN ME UP. I'D LIKE TO MAKE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT. FOR JJ, WHO IS NOT HERE. I LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND INVITE EVERYBODY TO JOIN US . BISHOP, TEXAS, ON AUGUST THE 27TH, WHEN WE HAVE A CEREMONY AT THE MEMORIAL PARK HONORING ALL OUR VETERANS , AND ESPECIALLY THOSE VETERANS FROM WORLD WAR I AND WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM , AND DESERT STORM. WE ARE HAVING A SPECIAL CEREMONY. WE WILL BE OUT THERE, WE WILL HAVE FIVE OR SIX RV MEDICAL UNITS OUT THERE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND GET THE SHOT, OR WHATEVER THEY WANT TO GET. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON A FLYOVER. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, SO IT IS GOING TO BE A SPECIAL EVENT ON AUGUST THE SEVENTH AT THE MEMORIAL [00:10:02] PARK. SO WE INVITE YOU AND HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. >> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? IF YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS TO THE BOARD. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. THE CLIPBOARD HAD BEEN PICKED UP BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO SIGN UP . I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING ME DO THIS. I AM JANICE HSU. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE, AGAIN, TO REQUEST THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE CONSIDER RESTORING FULL FUNDING TO NUECES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO FULLY RESTORE THE FUNDING FOR STAFF FOR THE FULL STAFF THAT , UNFORTUNATELY, WERE ELIMINATED. 12 POSITIONS, INCLUDING THE CLERK AND SOCIAL WORKERS AND CASE MANAGERS SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK OF SERVING NUECES COUNTY RESIDENTS AND HELPING HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS -- OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS -- WOULD BASIC NEED ASSISTANCE THAT IS SO CRITICALLY NEEDED RIGHT NOW WITH OUR GIVEN ECONOMIC TIMES. I KNOW YOU HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT JOB WITH THE BUDGET, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND AS THE MINISTER SAID, PRAY FOR YOU. CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHERE CUTS NEED TO BE MADE. I KNOW A DECISION WAS ALREADY MADE TO CLOSE THE DEPARTMENT SEPTEMBER 30TH, BUT I BELIEVE , LIKE THE MINISTER SAID, WE CAN ALWAYS DO WHAT IS RIGHT. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. WE CAN ALWAYS PRAY ABOUT IT AND I JUST ASK THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER THAT. AND IF THE DECISION REMAINS, WHATEVER COUNTY DOLLARS THAT WERE ALLOCATED FOR THE COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES, I REQUEST THAT YOU CONSIDER MAKING THAT AN OPEN PROCESS IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES IN NUECES COUNTY TO APPLY FOR , THAT IS A FAIR, TRANSPARENT PROCESS. AND IT IS NOT JUST GIVEN TO ONE AGENCY , BECAUSE ONE AGENCY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST THE HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN HELPED EACH YEAR. SO I HOPE THAT THAT IS CONSIDERED AS WELL. IT IS AN OPEN PROCESS FOR AGENCIES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW THEY CAN HELP OUR RESIDENTS, AND I JUST THINK YOU AGAIN FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY. THANK [1. Nueces County Beach Management Advisory Committee] YOU, JUDGE. >> MOVING ON TO ITEM G, BOARD APPOINTMENT . ITEM NUMBER ONE, NUECES COUNTY BEACH MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. WE HAD ONE RESIGNATION, AND WE HAVE ONE YOU APPLICANT, MICHELLE LORETTE. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AND HE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES. MOVING [2. CONSENT AGENDA: The following Agenda Items are of a routine nature, and the Commissioners Court has received supporting materials for consideration. All of these Agenda Items will be passed with one vote without being discussed separately, unless a member of the Commissioners Court or the public requests that a particular Agenda Item be discussed. If so, that Agenda Item will be pulled from the Consent Agenda and discussed as part of the regular Agenda at the appropriate time. One vote will approve the remaining items on the Consent Agenda.] ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS IN THE CONSENT AGENDA, COMMISSIONER , THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON? OR WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION? >> JUDGE, THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO POLE, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE PASSED ALL CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS EXCEPT FOR ITEM L. >> AND K. >> ACTUALLY, I'M ASKING FOR THE SAME THING YOU JUST MENTIONED. >> YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PULL K THEN? >> I WILL KEEP MY MOTION. THAT WILL BE MY MOTION, JUDGE. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO PASS ALL THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS, EXCLUDING L . ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE . AND [L. Approve Amendment No. 1 between Nueces County and ABM Industry Groups, LLC for facility cleaning services during the COVID-19 Pandemic (No Cost) (No Time-Extension) to include FEMA required provisions (2 C.F.R. 200) & Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment Certification.] HE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. MOTION PASSES. MOVING ON TO L, YOU PULLED THIS ONE. >> I THINK THAT SHOULD OF BEEN A REGULAR AGENDA ITEM. THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT HASN'T BEEN GIVEN. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WAS PUT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. BUT ANYWAY , I'D LIKE TO PUT IT BACK ON THE REGULAR AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION. AS LONG AS WE CAN PROVIDE THE [00:15:02] INFORMATION THAT WE NEED ON IT. >> THIS IS LIKE THOSE OTHERS THAT FEMA CALLED BACK ON SOME OF OUR GRANTS AND WE DIDN'T HAVE SOME PAPERWORK ATTACHED . THE ANTI-LOBBYING AMENDMENT CERTIFICATE , THAT IS ADDITIONAL PAPERWORK . ANNA WAS IN HERE , AND THEY DID THESE ON SEVERAL LAST TIME. >> ARE THEY HERE TO CLARIFY? >> WE HAVE DONE THIS ON THREE OR FOUR OTHER ONES. THESE ARE OUR GRANTS THAT WE HAVE HAD, THAT THEY WENT THROUGH. THERE'S NO DOCUMENT , IT'S JUST A FORM WE HAVE TO GET THEM TO SIGN. HERE'S ANNA. COME UP TO THE PODIUM. ON ITEM L ON THE CONSENT, THE ADDITIONAL PAPERWORK, APPROVE AMENDMENT ONE BETWEEN NUECES COUNTY AND ABM INDUSTRY GROUPS FOR FACILITY CLEANING SERVICES . THIS IS A NO-COST TIME EXTENSION TO INCLUDE THE FEMA REQUIRED PROVISIONS FOR THE BIRD ANTI-LOBBYING AMENDMENT. THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT HAD TO BE ATTACHED AND SIGNED. >> BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT DID NOT HAVE THOSE PROVISIONS. WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FROM FEMA, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS. THEY WANT THAT CONTRACT REVISED AND AMENDED. AND PURCHASE ORDERS AND EVERYTHING. >> IT'S NOT ABOUT MONIES THAT WE OWE? OR WHAT? >> THESE ARE INVOICES THAT WE SUBMITTED FOR REIMBURSEMENT. IT IS CONTINGENT ON ALL THE REQUIREMENTS BEING MET, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS. >> CAN WE SUBMIT THIS BEFORE ALREADY? IS THIS A SECOND TIME WE'VE DONE THIS? >> WE SUBMITTED THE CONTRACT, BUT IT DID NOT HAVE THE AMENDMENTS. IT DID NOT HAVE THOSE PROVISIONS. >> ONE IS THE AMENDMENT GOING OUT? >> WE WILL SIGN IT AND WE WILL SEND IT BACK TO THEM. >> I SIGNED IT AFTER YOU ALL VOTE FOR IT. >> WE CAN HAVE THE JUDGE SIGN, AND WE DO GET THEM A NOTE THAT IT WILL BE GOING TO BOARD AT A CERTAIN DATE, AND WE WILL PROVIDE THE SIGNATURE DATE AS SOON AS WE SEND IT. >> I LIKE TO PUT THIS IN THE REGULAR AGENDA. YOU KNOW, ONCE WE SIGN IT AND SEE WHAT ELSE THEY ARE ASKING FOR. >> OKAY. >> NO-COST, NO TIME EXTENSION. JUST A FORMALITY. >> JUST A FORMALITY, YES. THEY DIDN'T HAVE CFR'S. THERE WAS A SIGNATURE PAGE MISSING, OR ALL THE INITIALS THAT FEMA REQUIRES. >> OKAY. I WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE IT. >> I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AND HE OPPOSED , SAME SIGN. THE MOTION [1. Receive update on tentative Nueces County Legislative Agenda and all related matters.] PASSES. THE REGULAR AGENDA, WE ARE TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON TENTATIVE NUECES LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. JOEL ROMO AND PATRICIA SHIPTON ARE BOTH HERE. AND THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB FOR US . LET ME JUST BEGIN WITH THAT. THANK YOU FOR BOTH BEING HERE AS WELL. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING US COME VISIT WITH YOU. YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF AN INTERIM. NOT MUCH. WE'VE BEEN SUPER BUSY IN THE CAPITAL. BEFORE WE START WITH THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST REVIEW A BRIEF LANDSCAPE FOR THE CONTEXT OF IT. WE'VE GONE THROUGH SOME PRETTY CONTENTIOUS PRIMARY RACES IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, BOTH IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE. MUCH LESS SO IN THE SENATE. THE HOUSE, CURRENTLY A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY WITH 86 REPUBLICANS, 64 DEMOCRATS. BUT THAT IS ABOUT AVERAGE. THAT'S WHAT IT HAS BEEN FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF SESSIONS. HOWEVER, WE HAD 16 INCUMBENT LEGISLATORS RESIGN AND RETIRE. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, ANOTHER 16 WHO LOST THEIR PRIMARY CHALLENGE OR THEIR RUNOFFS. WE WILL HAVE A MINIMUM 32 NEW LEGISLATORS IN THE HOUSE, WHICH IS NOT UNPRECEDENTED, BUT IS BUMPING UP THERE TO A BIGGER TURNOVER THAN USUAL. NEW FACES, NEW ATTITUDES, NEW AGENDAS. THE OTHER THING THAT IS KIND OF DIFFERENT AT KEEPING THIS ON HER TOES IS ONE OF THOSE THAT FACED A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT REPUBLICAN PRIMARY CHALLENGE AS [00:20:02] THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. NARROWLY MADE IT BACK. HE ALSO FACES SOME OPPOSITION WITHIN THE HOUSE. AND SO THE SPEAKERSHIP IS NOT A FOREGONE CONCLUSION. HE HAS TO ANNOUNCE CANDIDATES WILL ALREADY ANNOUNCED THEIR CHALLENGE, THERE ARE OTHER NAMES RUMORED OUT THERE. AND SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT, TOO, WILL CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE. AND THE HARMONY THAT WE ARE HOPING FOR IN THE HOUSE. I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE A VERY HARMONIOUS HOUSE. IT WILL TAKE A WHILE FOR THEM TO GET THEMSELVES STRUCTURED AND READY. I THINK THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE NEXT SESSION IS THE UNPRECEDENTED -- THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED STRIKE BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE. AND SO THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TENSION BETWEEN THOSE TWO HOUSES. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GENERAL, AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP ALL ENGAGED IN THESE PRIMARY RACES. THEY MADE THEM VERY CONTENTIOUS, SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT OF ENDORSEMENT EFFORT IN GOING AFTER SOME OF THESE INCUMBENT MEMBERS. ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO SET THE STAGE FOR, I THINK, A DIFFICULT SESSION. SOME OF THE BIG ISSUES THAT THE STATE WILL FACE, THEY ARE OUTLINED IS A PRIORITY, OUR SCHOOL CHOICE AND VOUCHERS, FINANCE REFORM, UTILITY RECREATION , ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ISSUES, RESPONSIBILITY OF REGULATION OF CONSUMER PROTECTIONS, SECURING THE TEXAS/MEXICO BORDER. CONTINUING PROPERTY REDUCTIONS, AND MAINTAINING ELECTION SECURITY. ALL OF THOSE ARE BIG ISSUES THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAVE BASED, THE CANDIDATES SAY THEY WANT TO PRIORITIZE. WE HOPE TO FIT IN SOME OF THOSE ISSUES. JOEL AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, TO OUTLINE THOSE PRIORITIES. I'M GOING TO HANDED OVER TO HIM TO KIND OF GO THROUGH THOSE. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US. >> CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE? >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. IT'S BEEN A VERY INTERIM . GONE ARE THE DAYS WERE THE INTERIMS WERE QUIET. NOW IT IS CONSTANTLY HEARINGS AND MEETINGS. WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA -- SOME OF THESE ITEMS LOOK FAMILIAR. SOME OF THESE ITEMS ARE NEW. WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS , AND WE ALSO -- BASED ON SOME OF THE INTEL WE GATHERED FROM ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, WE WANT TO MODIFY SOME OF THESE REQUESTS IN THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. THERE'S A WORKING DOCUMENT . IT IS IMPORTANT. I THINK THE TIMING IS IMPORTANT, AS PATRICIA MENTIONED. GIVEN THE CHANGES IN THE TEXAS HOUSE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE. THAT'S A REQUEST IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS DRAFTED. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE DELEGATION CHAIRMAN, HUNTER. AND SURROUNDING COLLEAGUES. SO THE DRAFT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, YOU KNOW, WE DID PRIORITIZE SOME THINGS . SOME OF THESE ITEMS WILL LOOK FAMILIAR. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO KIND OF LAY THIS OUT FOR YOU. HOWEVER YOU'D LIKE TO APPROACH THIS, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR YOU WANT US TO GO THROUGH, WE WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME. SO I WON'T GO LINE BY LINE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO GO BY CATEGORIES, WE ARE HAPPY TO DO THIS. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS JUST KIND OF A DOCUMENT. WE ARE HAPPY TO MAKE ANY REVISIONS AND GATHER ANY INPUT THAT YOU MAY HAVE HERE TODAY AND REVISE IT AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS. >> BEFORE WE PROCEED ANY FURTHER, WE ARE HAPPY TO STOP THERE AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS AS PRESENTED TO YOU. >> I'M GOING TO HOLD UNTIL THE END. I'D LIKE TO HEAR MAYBE AN OVERVIEW. MAYBE NOT EVERYTHING SPECIFIC. I WILL WAIT UNTIL THE END. >> WE MAY BE AT THE END, COMMISSIONER. >> SO I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE VERY MUCH DEFENSIVE IN POSTURE AND OFFENSIVE WHERE IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE HAVE TOO MANY ASKS. AND I KNOW THAT TEXAS WINDSTORM IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IN THIS DAY AND AGE IN POLITICS AND ESPECIALLY AUSTIN POLITICS, LEGISLATIVE POLITICS, IT IS HARD TO FIND TRUE CROSS-SECTIONAL BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. AND IT IS ALWAYS FUNNY WHEN I TELL PEOPLE, BECAUSE [00:25:02] MOST RESIDENTS ARE TUNED TO IT BECAUSE THEY REALIZE THE BIG HIT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ONCE AGAIN. THEY DON'T REALIZE HOUSTON IS OUT OF THE MIX, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED. THAT'S A VERY POWERFUL ALLY WE COULD HAVE ON OUR SIDE. IT'S KIND OF BEEN CHIPPED AWAY. IT'S US AGAINST THE STATE. 14 COUNTIES, COASTAL COUNTIES . AND SOME MAY BE A LITTLE BIT IN THE INTERIOR. BUT WE ARE GOING UP AGAINST THE OTHER 240 SOMETHING COUNTIES. MY CONCERN IS , IS -- WELL, THE CHAIRMAN HUNTER HAS MADE IT DEFINITELY A PRIORITY FOR HIM. TYPICALLY, WHEN HE PUTS HIS NAME AND MARK ON SOMETHING, HE'S GOING TO SEE IT TO THE VERY END. I AM THANKFUL FOR THAT. WHAT ARE OUR CHANCES TO MAKE THE CHANGES LEGISLATIVELY, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO BE HONEST. HOW MUCH TIME -- I WANT YOU TO BE PRACTICAL, RIGHT? YES, PUT SUPPORT THAT WE NEED TO, AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE SOME OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI HERE. WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT AS WELL. DO YOU SEE THIS AS SOMETHING WE CAN ACTUALLY FIGHT AND WIN QUESTION? >> WE HAVE STAVED OFF A RATE INCREASE FOR THE LAST TWO OR THREE ATTEMPTS , BUT NOT THE FOURTH. THAT IS TO OUR CREDIT. I DO THINK THAT WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE THIS TO THE LEGISLATURE, AND IT WILL BE A LEGISLATIVE DECISION. IT IS NOT A FOREGONE CONCLUSION. CHAIRMAN HUNTER WAS SUCCESSFUL IN PUSHING THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO HOLD REGIONAL MEETINGS ON THE ISSUE , TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC. AND SO I THINK THOSE ARE TO BE SCHEDULED IN THE COMING MONTHS. CHAIRMAN HUNTER IS PUSHING HARD TO HAVE THIS BECOME A LEGISLATIVE DECISION. I THINK AN UNKNOWN FACTOR THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FULLY ASSESS, CHAIRMAN HUNTER IS GOING TO HOLD A HEARING ON THE PANHANDLE WILDFIRES THAT OCCURRED LAST SPRING . IS THAT RIGHT? ANYWAY , WHAT OCCURRED IN THE PANHANDLE BROUGHT HOME THE NEED FOR THESE REGIONAL NATURAL DISASTERS, AND SOME ENTITY TO HELP MITIGATE THOSE. AND SO WHAT WAS OFTEN SAID IN SOME OF THOSE EARLY HEARINGS ON THE PANHANDLE WILDFIRE IS, WHY DON'T WE HAVE AN ENTITY TO HELP HANDLE THOSE? THAT IS GOING TO HELP US IN A WAY TO POINT TO THE NEEDS OF THESE NATURAL DISASTERS, SOMETHING THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE NORM OF REGULAR INSURANCE COVERAGES. BUT IT ALSO IS GOING TO MAYBE EXPAND THE CONVERSATION AND MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE. WE JUST GOT TO ASSESS THAT AND TAKE IT ALL IN CONTEXT. I DO THINK WE HAVE TO FIGHT HARD. WOULD YOU HAVE SOME GREAT ALLIES IN THE SCENT, WHICH WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS HAD THOSE GREAT ALLIES IN THE SENATOR. EVEN THOUGH HOUSTON IS NOT PART OF THIS FIGHT, THAT GALVESTON REGION CARRIES SOME WEIGHT. AND SO I THINK WE WILL GET THERE. I THINK IT'S WORTH THE FIGHT, IS WHAT I'M SAYING, I THINK. >> AND IF I CAN ADD, WE DID ATTEND THE GALVESTON HEARING ABOUT THE COUNTY, AND THERE WAS MOMENTUM THERE FROM THE AREA. NOT ALL THE COASTAL COMMUNITIES CAME STRONG WITH THE PRESENCE, BUT AT THE HEARING THAT CHAIRMAN HUNTER HAD THIS PAST FRIDAY AT THE CAPITAL, A LOT OF LAWMAKERS ON HIS COMMITTEE FROM THE PANHANDLE OR TEXAS, THEIR EYES BECAME WIDE OPEN ON THE ISSUE AND HOW UNFAIR IT IS. I THINK THOSE COLLEAGUES ARE GOING TO BE HELPING HIM GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. IT MAY LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THERE MAY BE A BUNCH OF CASUALTY ISSUES, SO WE DO FORESEE SOME CHANGES. WE HAVE THE EFFORTS FOR OUR SUPPORT THERE ARE BOUND AND THERE MAY BE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES. >> YOU KNOW, I THINK IN THE AREA OF NATURAL DISASTERS, WHAT IS STARTING TO HAPPEN IS PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE SAYING, THERE BEFORE THE GRACE OF GOD GO I. BECAUSE IT IS NO LONGER JUST A COASTAL ISSUE. IT IS BECOMING MORE APPARENT WHETHER IT IS FLOODING DAMAGE OR HURRICANES OR WILDFIRE DISASTERS. >> HAILSTORMS. >> EXACTLY. SO THERE IS A LITTLE MORE SYMPATHY IN THAT, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THEIR OWN NATURAL DISASTERS. MAYBE NOT TO THE EXTENT OF A HURRICANE, PERHAPS, THAT THEY ARE RECOGNIZING IT. >> MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THERE'S ARE MORE FREQUENT THAN THE HURRICANES ON THE COAST. >> TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT, THERE'S GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS AND FOCUS ON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT THIS SESSION. GIVEN HURRICANE BERYL AND OTHERS, I THINK NUECES COUNTY, AND WHAT WE OBSERVED WAS VERY WELL PREPARED . IT FORTUNATELY WAS NOT AS IMPACTED AS GALVESTON, BUT OVERALL, THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION , [00:30:09] PREPAREDNESS, POWER, ET CETERA. WE DO SEE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BEING ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE HIGH MANAGEMENT ISSUES WHERE WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ENGAGED WITH SOME OF THE LAWMAKERS ON THOSE POTENTIAL HEARINGS COMING UP. >> WE SHOULD'VE DONE THIS AT THE BEGINNING, BUT I KNOW YOU ALL ARE MODEST PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND IF YOU JUST NAME DROP FOR US WHAT YOUR BACKGROUND IS, WILL YOU WORK FOR BEFORE YOU BECAME WORKING FOR NUECES COUNTY AND LOBBING EFFORTS. PATRICIA, DO WANT TO START OFF? >> I STARTED AS A VERY YOUNG STAFFER, WORKED MY WAY THROUGH WITH VARIOUS EXPERIENCE IN DIFFERENT COMMITTEE WORK. HAD BEEN AT A VERY LARGE LAW FIRM AS A RESEARCHER AND VERY JUNIOR LOBBYIST WHEN GOVERNOR PERRY TOLD ME TO COME SERVE AS HIS LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR. I WAS ONE OF SIX SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS ON GOVERNOR PERRY'S -- THE FIRST TWO SESSIONS. THE FIRST NON-LEGISLATOR TO HOLD THOSE POSITIONS. KIND OF PROUD OF THAT. AND THEN I LEFT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WENT AND STARTED MY OWN LOBBY PRACTICE, AND DID THAT REPRESENTING VARIOUS CLIENTS. WHEN SPEAKER JOE STRAUS ASKED ME TO COME IN AND BE A SENIOR ADVISER, KIND OF MANAGE HIS LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, AND IS SPEAKER STRAUS TO HE RETIRED. AND THEN BACK IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, REPRESENTING YOU ALL AND A FEW OTHER CLIENTS. >> CAN YOU DATE US AND TELL US WHEN YOU STARTED IN LEGISLATURE? >> OH, MY GOSH. I DON'T CARE. I'M OKAY. I STARTED AS AN 18-YEAR-OLD IN 1981. >> JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE. WE CROSSED PATHS THERE FOR A LITTLE BIT. I AM SURE I AM WAY OLDER. I AM WAY, WAY OLDER. >> ALSO, COMMISSIONER CHESNEY AND I ALSO CROSSED AT THE BUILDING BACK WHEN YOU STILL USED XEROX COPY MACHINES. I STARTED MY FIRST JOKE WITH MY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, MY FIRST DAY WAS OF THE SCHOOL OF FINANCE. HERE WE ARE AND WE ARE STILL WORKING ON IT. THEY PASSED A LOT ON THAT DAY. IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING TO SAY, THIS IS GOING TO SCALD SCHOOL FINANCE. THEN I WORKED WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF N KUBIAK FOR 2 YEARS. WE WORKED ON BUDGETARY ISSUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND NUMEROUS ISSUES. AND I WENT TO WORK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE LOCAL AREA HERE. I WAS HER CHIEF OF STAFF . LEFT TO LOBBY FOR 2 YEARS, AND SHE NEEDED A CHIEF OF STAFF, HE NEEDED SOME MORE TIME. HELPED CAROLINA APPROPRIATIONS, AND THEN LEFT TO GO LOBBY FOR THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS CLIENTS SINCE THEN AND BEEN WORKING WITH NUECES COUNTY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES SUCH AS THE COOPER CLINIC OUT OF DALLAS. AMERICAN HEART, AMERICAN DIABETES ARE STILL CLIENTS AS WELL. BUT I ALSO WAS PROBABLY 11 WHEN I STARTED. AND SO THE REASON FOR ASKING THIS IS TO STRESS A POINT THAT THE LAST COUPLE OF SESSIONS, THERE'S BEEN A MIND-SET THAT GOVERNMENT PAID LOBBYING EFFORTS SHOULD BE ELIMINATED. AND I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN INTERNAL DEBATE ARGUMENT LUCKILY AS FAR AS HOW MUCH SHOULD BE PUT INTO THE EFFORT. NUECES HAS QUALITY. SOME EXPERTS SAY THEY'VE BEEN OPEN A LOT OF DOORS FOR US. AND WE CAN'T BE IN AUSTIN. TRAVELING THE COST, AND WE DO MAKE A LOT OF EFFORTS. WE ARE ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF COUNTIES IN THIS STATE THAT HAS A FORMER LEGISLATOR WHO WAS A PART OF THAT COURT , WHO ACTUALLY IS THE JUDGE. SHE MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE OF THE COLLEAGUES SHE HAS TO BE THERE, BUT WITH YOU ALL BEING THERE AS WELL. WE HAVE ALL BEEN CALLED UP, WE ALL GO ON THEIR SPECIAL DAYS. ALL THE DAYS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE IN THERE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE YOU THERE TO REPRESENT US, TO BE THE EYES AND THE EARS ON BEHALF OF NUECES COUNTY AND OUR EFFORTS AS WE SHARE A LOT OF JOINT RESOLUTIONS BETWEEN THE CITY, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND ALL THE OTHER ENTITIES . THE RTA. ALL THOSE THAT HAVE SPECIAL LEGISLATION OR FUNDING THAT THEY ARE SEEKING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. BECAUSE WHEN ONE WINS, OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY WINS. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO CHAMPION THAT ISSUE. I KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU FOCUSED ON THE HOUSE, BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY WHERE WE BOTH RATIONALIZED WHEN YOU MENTIONED [00:35:03] HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. AS CONSERVATIVE AS IT IS, IT IS STILL THE LAST BARRIER TO PROTECT GOVERNMENT FROM HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY. NOT TO HAVE A HUGE OPPORTUNITY, NOT TO GO CRAZY ON SPENDING, JUST TO ADVOCATES THERE. IT'S NOT PRACTICAL FOR US TO BE THERE ALL THE TIME. PLEASE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT, CHAMPION THAT ISSUE, BECAUSE I KNOW IT WILL BE UNDER ATTACK AGAIN. IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THIS QUALITY OF REPRESENTATION THERE BEFORE US. AND I THINK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL IN PERSON. >> AND ABSOLUTELY, THE QUALITY MATTERS. BOTH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE STELLAR REPUTATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COURTHOUSE , AND MY FRIENDS THAT STILL WORK THERE AS WELL, WE ARE VERY WELL REPRESENTED, AND REPRESENTED WHEN YOU GO AND YOU TALK ON OUR BEHALF, AND YOU KEEP US IN TOUCH WITH THINGS. I'VE BEEN UP THERE, YOUR SET UP THE MEETINGS FOR ME, AND I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, BECAUSE WE DASH UP THERE AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING IN FIVE MINUTES YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH. >> I GUESS THIS IS A RECEIVE UPDATE, SO IT'S NOT AN ACTION ITEM, TECHNICALLY. WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS AT SOME POINT. ONE OF THE AREAS WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING IN THE COMMITTEE THAT YOU FORMED, JUDGE, IN REGARDS TO THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY WAS TO PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT . I KNOW THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE WORKING ON THIS, TO SUPPORT SOME LEGISLATION -- PUTTING FORWARD SOME LEGISLATION, NOT JUST SUPPORT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO HELP WITH SUPPLEMENT FUNDING RELATED TO RETENTION AND NOT LIMITED TO THE MEDICAL PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SO DILIGENTLY IN THIS COMMUNITY. OH, SORRY. YOU COULDN'T HEAR ME. ANYWAY, I AM NOT SAYING IT AGAIN. BUT ANYWAY, I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER OR PUT THAT ON THE ITEM, OR THE -- THE PROPOSED AGENDA, AND I SUPPOSE WE WILL PUT IT BACK TO VOTE SO THAT YOU CAN DIGEST IT AND SEE IT AND SO FORTH. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT ONE ON, AND I WILL EMAIL YOU GUYS SOME VERBIAGE, AND I APOLOGIZE. I JUST HAVE NOT HONESTLY HAVE THE TIME TO GET WITH YOU BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS SO CRAZY AROUND HERE. THE REST OF THESE PRIORITIES LOOK VERY GOOD TO ME. THAT WOULD JUST BE WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE COURT TO CONSIDER AS PART OF THE AGENDA. >> IS AT THE EDUCATION AND TRAUMA CARE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM? ADDITIONAL FUNDING UNDER THAT LEGISLATION? >> JOHNNY IS GOING TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT TO YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT GOES. WE JUST -- IT IS PART OF IT, BUT THERE'S ADDITIONAL PARTS I THINK WILL COME ALONG WITH IT, AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO GET WITH JOHNNY, WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT ROW AND IS KIND OF WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT. PART OF IT IS, YOU FOLLOW THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, MAKING A HUGE COMMITMENT TO KEEP DOCTORS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND KEEP GRADUATE MEDICAL PROGRAMS IN THIS COMMUNITY, JUST SO IMPORTANT TO THE INDIGENT CARE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND JUST THE COMMUNITY. BUT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO FIND FUNDS TO SUPPLEMENT THOSE, TO GET THOSE DOLLARS BACK IN THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT'S POCKET AND NOT HAVE TO BE PAID OUT IF POSSIBLE. THAT WOULD ALSO BE VERY GOOD FOR THAT COMMUNITY. THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT THINKS THAT THERE ARE SOME VEHICLES TO DO THAT. BUT I THINK IT WOULD REQUIRE SOME LEGISLATION. AND I'D JUST LIKE TO PUT THAT ON FOR CONSIDERATION. ON THE JUDGE AND THE COMMISSIONER, SPEAKING ABOUT HOW GREAT YOU ARE AND STROKE YOUR EGOS AND ALL THAT. HOPEFULLY YOU FEEL GOOD LEAVING HERE, BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T KEEP HIRING YOU IF WE DIDN'T THINK THAT. SO I CONCUR WITH WHAT THEY SAID. I WON'T REPEAT IT NOW . NOT BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IT, I CONCUR BECAUSE I AGREE AND ENJOY THE TIME THAT WE WORK TOGETHER AS COLLEAGUES IN THE CAPITAL. I REALLY DO KNOW YOU ALL DO A GREAT JOB AND I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. HOPEFULLY, WE WON'T GET TO BEAT UP. COUNTIES HAVE A TENDENCY TO UNFORTUNATELY GET THE WRATH. SOMETIMES IT IS INTENDED, AND SOMETIMES IT IS NOT. THESE GREAT IDEAS THAT THEY COME UP WITH, I SUPPORT A LOT OF THE GREAT IDEAS THEY COME UP WITH, BUT I WISH THERE WAS SOME FUNDING MECHANISMS AND SOME THOUGHT GIVEN TO THE EFFECT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON THE COUNTIES. SO WATCHING THAT CAREFULLY IS ALWAYS CRUCIAL. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. >> SOMETIMES THEY LEGISLATE FOR ONE BIG 3 MILLION POPULATION [00:40:01] COUNTY AS OPPOSED TO ALL OF THE 254. WE GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT SOMETIMES. >> I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND EXCLUDING HARRIS COUNTY FROM THE WHOLE THING, BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THEY GET COVERED. THEY GET HAMMERED PROBABLY AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE, THAN ANYBODY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. IT'S JUST KINDA STAGGERING TO ME. IT IS HARD. YOU WOULD THINK -- YOU KNOW, WE WOULD -- YOU WOULD COME UP WITH A SYSTEM THAT WOULD SHARE EQUITABLY WITH PEOPLE , BECAUSE LAST TIME I CHECKED, IT WAS A LOT OF TORNADOES UP IN THE DFW AREA , AND WARNINGS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND YOU KNOW, EAST AND RURAL TEXAS, I JUST DON'T GET IT . I THINK IT WOULD COMPLETELY CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE IF THERE WAS JUST AND EQUITABLE SHARING. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY ALL THE WHOLE PITCH HAS BEEN FOR AS LONG AS I CAN THINK ABOUT. I WORKED ON THIS ISSUE MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE, HONESTLY. GOING BACK TO MY DAYS AS CHIEF OF STAFF WITH TODD HUNTER, LITERALLY, MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE, BEING BACK IN CORPUS CHRISTI, FIRST JOB, AND I DON'T THINK -- I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER GOING TO POP. WILL KEEP GOING FOREVER BECAUSE IT IS SO INEQUITABLE RIGHT NOW. AND YOU KNOW, HE HAS TO GREAT QUESTION. DO YOU THINK WE HAVE A CHOICE OF WINNING? THAT'S REALLY SUBJECTIVE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WINNING IS. I THINK WINNING IS NOT LOSING IN THIS CASE, DOCKETING HAMMERED FOR SOMETHING MORE. YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. >> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD ONE THING. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH, WHICH IS THE MONDAY AFTER THE ELECTION. THE FIRST DAY OF SESSION IS JANUARY 14TH. >> I THINK THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT IS GOING TO LEAD ON IT. I THINK IT IS JUST MORE THAN ADDING -- I GUESS SUPPORT WOULD'VE BEEN THE RIGHT WORD, I THINK FOR WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, IF THE COURT SUPPORTS IT, WE'VE GOT TO -- YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANT TO SUPPORT WHATEVER THEY ARE DOING AND REALLY SUPPORTED STRONGLY, ASSUMING IF THE COURT VOTES FOR. I'M NOT TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF MYSELF. IF THE COURT VOTES FOR IT, THEN THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING. I DIDN'T SEE A LOT OVER HERE THAT WE WOULD BE ACTUALLY FILING BILLS ON , TWO OR THREE THINGS. BUT I THINK MOST OF IT IS DEFENSIVE. AS JOHN SAID. AND THAT IS -- UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS WHAT MOST OF THE PROCESS IS, IS BEING DEFENSIVE. IT'S A LOT HARDER TO PASS A BILL THAN IT IS TO KILL A BILL, AND MIKE'S VARIANCE. AND THANKFULLY, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY BAD BILLS TO GET FILED, AND SO MANY BAD THINGS THAT GET WILD. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS NOT EASY, BUT IT'S EASIER THAN PASSING SOMETHING. PASSING IS JUST REALLY, REALLY HARD. UNLESS IT'S A BILL THAT EVERYTHING SIGNS OFF ON, IT BETTER A. BUT WE MOVE ON. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AS [2. Receive presentation from Belinda Flores, Medical Lead on the Nueces County Operation Health and Wellness event held on July 22-27, a no-cost event to the public.] WELL. >> THANK YOU. >> MOVING ON TO ITEM TWO, RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM BELINDA FLOREZ, MEDICAL LEAVE ON THE NUECES COUNTY OPERATION HEALTH AND WELLNESS EVENT THAT WAS HELD JULY 22ND TO THE 27TH. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THIS TIME. WE DID WANT TO SHARE AND RECOGNIZE OUR LOCAL PARTNERS AND THE COUNTY FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT WE DID THIS YEAR. THIS IS CALLED NUECES COUNTY OPERATION HEALTH AND WELLNESS. CAN I DO MY OWN SLIDES? CAN YOU FORWARD? THANKS. >> THAT'S A BIG ASK. >> I NEED A CLICKER. CAN SOMEBODY GIVE ME A CLICKER? SO A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT OPERATION HEALTH AND WELLNESS. IT STARTED BACK IN 2021, AND IT WAS CALLED AND IRT , THE INNOVATIVE READINESS TRAINING. IT WAS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, THE PROGRAM BROUGHT IT TO NUECES COUNTY, AND NUECES COUNTY PARTNERED WITH THE MILITARY AND THE LOCAL PARTNERS TO MAKE THIS MISSION HAPPEN. AND SO WHAT IT IS, IT'S A TWO WEEK CLINIC. IT STARTED AS A TWO WEEK CLINIC. OF COURSE, THE PREPARATION WAS MONTH AND MONTH, BUT THE CLINIC WAS A TWO WEEK CLINIC. TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO ANYBODY THAT WALKED IN THE DOOR. SO THE MISSION CONSISTED OF MEDICAL CIVIL AFFAIRS, ENGINEERING AND CYBER SECURITY. THE OTHER PART OF THIS MISSION WERE BEING DONE AT THE SAME TIME AS OUR CLINIC WAS. BUT I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON THE OPERATION OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS. SO WITH THE CLINIC, WE PROVIDED MENTAL, DENTAL, AND VISION SERVICES. AND WE HAD -- FOR THE FOUR YEARS, THE FIRST YEAR, WE HAVE FIVE SITES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THE NEXT YEAR, WE HAVE FOUR SITES. AND THIS YEAR, THE MILITARY DID NOT HAVE FUNDING TO DO OPERATION HEALTH AND WELLNESS. EVEN [00:45:04] THOUGH THEY WERE GOING TO BE HERE, THEY DIDN'T HAVE FUNDING TO COME AND HELP WITH THIS MISSION. SO WE HAD A MEETING -- COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ APPROACHED US AND SAID, I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO CONTINUE . AND LET'S SEE IF THE PARTNERS CAN DO IT. I LOCAL PARTNERS, WE ALL MET AND GOT TOGETHER AND MADE IT HAPPEN. IT WAS A WEEKLONG NORMALLY, AND SO FOR THE WEEK THAT WE HAD, WE HAD MEDICAL, VISION, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND VETERINARY SERVICES. WE TRIED TO GET DENTAL, BUT THE MILITARY NORMALLY BRINGS ABOUT 30 TO 40 DENTIST TO GET 30 TO 40 DENTIST IN OUR COMMUNITY IS VERY DIFFICULT TO VOLUNTEER. AND SO THAT WAS ONE AREA THAT WE ARE GOING TO LOOK INTO FOR TEACHER YEARS TO COME, BUT IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. YOU WANT TO MOVE ONTO THE NEXT SLIDE. AND SO IT WAS SIX DAYS, THREE SITES. WE HAVE 379 PATIENTS THAT WE SERVED. WHEN THE MILITARY WAS HERE, WE HAD 658. SO THIS YEAR, AND IT WAS TWO WEEKS, AND FOR THIS YEAR, IT WAS A WEEK AND WE HAVE 379 PATIENTS. WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE OVER 1700 SERVICES. WE MADE REFERRALS TO -- AND DIFFERENT RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT MANY TIMES, MANY PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT. AND THEN OF COURSE, THE PETS. PETS HAVE BECOME PART OF OUR FAMILY. FOR ANYONE THAT HAS A PET, YOU KNOW WE TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF OUR PETS. WE HAD OVER 1000 PETS THAT PEOPLE BROUGHT, FAMILIES BROUGHT, AND OVER 3000 SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDED FOR THE PETS. NEXT SLIDE. ONE MORE. THANK YOU. SO ARE LOCATIONS WHERE THE JUNIOR HIGH, VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALWAYS BEING A PARTNER. THE COLOR ON BUILDING, WHICH THAT BEAUTIFUL CLINIC REALLY HELPED WITH -- IT WAS ALREADY READY, SO WE WERE ABLE JUST TO KIND OF MOVE IN AND START SERVING PATIENTS. AND THEN MISSION OF MERCY. MISSION OF MERCY PROVIDED ALL OF THE VISION CARE. THE SCREENINGS, OPERATIONS -- THEY DID SEVERAL OPERATIONS ON INDIVIDUALS, AND THEY PROVIDED GLASSES. THERE WAS ALSO A PARTNERSHIP . BECAUSE OF THE COUNTY, WITH A COUPLE OF EYEGLASS PLACES TO WHERE PEOPLE WERE GIVING -- GIVEN VOUCHERS, AND THEN THEY COULD GO GET THEIR GLASSES FILLED. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO SERVICES. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA FOR MEDICAL SERVICES, WE DID ROUTINE VISITS, WE DID ACUTE VISITS, PHYSICALS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND WOMEN EXAMS. THESE ARE THE VITAL SIGNS THAT WE DID AS WELL. BLOOD PRESSURE, BMI, A1C, AND CHOLESTEROL. LIKE THEY SAID, WE PROVIDED EYE EXAMS, GLASSES, READING GLASSES, AND THEN THE VOUCHERS. AND THEN OTHERS, IMMUNIZATIONS, PRESCRIPTIONS. SOUTH TEXAS FAMILY PLANNING, AND THE TEXAS AND M PHARMACY SCHOOL HELPED PROVIDE PRESCRIPTIONS AS WELL AS METHODIST HEALTH MINISTRIES, WHEN THERE WERE SEVERAL PATIENTS THAT COULDN'T AFFORD THEIR PRESCRIPTIONS AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MEDICATIONS THERE, SO THEY COVER THOSE COSTS. SO EVERYTHING WAS DONE AT NO COST. THE HEALTH PLAN CAME AND GAVE BACKPACKS TO KIDS, AND NEXT SLIDE. SO AGAIN, THIS IS JUST BY SIGHT. ANOTHER BREAKDOWN, I WON'T GO THROUGH IT, BUT IT JUST SHOWS THE THOUSAND 727 SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDED. NEXT SLIDE. THE DIFFERENT Z.I.P. CODES. MOST OF THE PATIENTS CAME FROM THE 78 THREE , RON'S TOWN, 78415, 78416, AND 78410 R WHERE THE MAJORITY OF PATIENTS THAT WERE CARED FOR , THOSE ARE THE AREAS. NEXT SLIDE. A COUPLE OF SUCCESS STORIES. MEDICATIONS WERE PROVIDED AT NO COST. SO NO ONE LAUGHED WHEN THEY WERE SEEN FOR SOMETHING ACUTE. YOU KNOW, THEY WERE TREATED, SO THAT WAS GREAT FOR THE PATIENTS, BECAUSE IT WAS MANY TIMES, MANY OF OUR PATIENTS GO TO THE E.R. IS A COULDN'T AFFORD THEIR MEDICATIONS. SO HERE, WE PROVIDED THE ENTIRE SERVICE FROM CARING FOR THE MEDICATIONS , YOU KNOW, AND THEN FOLLOW-UP. ONE OF THE FOLLOW-UP CARE STORIES I WANT TO SHARE IS ONE THAT THE DOCTOR SAW, AND SHE SAW SEVERAL PATIENTS. AND THEN SHE WAS GOING TO WORK ON SATURDAY THERE ROSS TOWN, AND SO THEY WERE GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH HER. NOT ONLY -- SHE TREATED THESE PATIENTS, AND THEN THEY WERE GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH THEM. SOUTH TEXAS FAMILY PLANNING, SAME THING. WE HAD PATIENTS THAT NEEDED TO BE FOLLOWED UP, THEY WERE [00:50:01] FOLLOWING UP ON THE PATIENTS. PATIENTS WERE JUST SEEN AND SAID, OH WELL, GOOD LUCK WITH WHATEVER YOU HAVE. NO, THEY WERE ASSIGNED TO WHATEVER WITH TEXAS FAMILY PLANNING. WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE CLINIC CARDS TO THOSE THAT NEEDED THAT CAN QUALIFY, AND SO THEY COULD HAVE FOLLOW-UP CARE. I WAS IN ROB STONE ONE OF THE DAYS I WAS THERE, AND THE DOCTOR HAD CALLED AN AMBULANCE BECAUSE ONE OF THE PATIENT'S WAS NEEDING TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE HOSPITAL. SO THAT AS WELL. AND THEN ONE STORY THAT STUCK WITH ME AT WEST OSO WAS THIS GRANDMOTHER THAT BROUGHT HER TEENAGE -- TEENAGE GRANDDAUGHTER , AND THE TEENAGE GRANDDAUGHTER HAD A REALLY BAD SKIN CONDITION, ACNE. AND THE GIRL HAD ALL HER HAIR ON HER FACE, AND SHE JUST DIDN'T TALK MUCH. SHE JUST KIND OF NODDED AND STUFF. THE GRANDMOTHER SAID, YOU KNOW, SHE NEEDED CARE. WITH THE BEAUTY OF IT, THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO BE CARED , HER SKIN CONDITION, SHE IS GIVEN MEDICATION. THEY TREATED HER. AND SINCE WE HAD SOMEBODY THERE TO TALK TO HER, A COUNSELOR SAT AND TALKED TO HER. WHEN SHE LEFT, SHE JUST SAID, THANK YOU, AND SHE HADN'T SAID A WORD TO US BEFORE. SO THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY NICE, AND MH I.D. WAS GOING TO CONTINUE TO VISIT WITH THIS YOUNG WOMAN. NEXT SLIDE. SO AGAIN, COST SAVINGS, THIS IS JUST FROM WHAT THE MILITARY HAD DONE LAST TIME. THEY SAID X AMOUNT OF PATIENTS, FOR X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, I DIVIDED TO SEE WHAT AMOUNT THAT WOULD BE HER PATIENT, DIVIDED TO THE PATIENTS THAT WE SAW FOR MEDICAL, VISION, AND VETERINARY SERVICES. AND IT WAS A TOTAL OF ABOUT, ON AVERAGE, 376 THOUSAND DOLLARS . AND THE PATIENT SATISFACTION, OBVIOUSLY PRICELESS, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT WE SAW WERE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T HAVE INSURANCE AND DIDN'T HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO. BUT NOW, THEY HAD BEEN -- THEY HAD BEEN REFERRED TO A CLINIC FOR FOLLOW-UP CARE. NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE. YEAH. WE ALSO HAD A WEBSITE. I WANT TO THANK KIRSTEN. SHE PUT A WEBSITE TOGETHER, SHE STARTED PUSHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT WAS A NEW THING FOR US THAT WE HAD A WEBSITE SO PEOPLE CAN VISIT, AND IT WAS GOING OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AS EVERYBODY IS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, APPARENTLY EXCEPT FOR ME. OTHER THAN THAT, PEOPLE COULD ACCESS OUR INFORMATION. NEXT SLIDE. HERE, OUR PARTNERS, THERE'S LOTS OF THEM. NEXT SLIDE. AND SO AGAIN, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ ALWAYS SAYS IT TAKES A VILLAGE. YES, IT TOOK A VILLAGE, BUT IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. NEXT SLIDE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUST A FEW PICTURES FROM OUR OPERATION. I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE -- WHERE DID HE GO? JOSE LUIS. HE IS WITH THE TEXAS A&M PROGRAM AS WELL JUST TO FINISH OUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE, COMMISSIONER. MY NAME IS JOSE LUIS GUTIERREZ. AND I JUST -- I COME IN HERE FOR ONE SPECIFIC REASON. I WANT TO COMMEND EACH AND EVERY PARTNER THAT IS HERE, BECAUSE THIS IS MY 22ND IRT MISSION I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH , AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYWHERE, OTHER THAN NUECES COUNTY, HOW A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL THE PARTNERS THAT CAME IN , INSTITUTIONS, NONPROFITS, DOCTORS, ALL THE AGENCIES THAT CAME IN, THEY DID SUCH A FABULOUS JOB. AND NOT JUST ONCE, BUT THEY BEEN DOING IT FOR 4 YEARS. I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS ANYWHERE ELSE BELOW, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY BE COMMENDED. THIS IS THERE ONE MINUTE OF FAME. IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE PARTNERS THAT WAS A PART OF THIS PROJECT, CAN YOU PLEASE STAND UP JUST TO BE RECOGNIZED? YES. UNCONDITIONAL COMMITMENT FROM THESE PEOPLE. THEY DID A FABULOUS JOB. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS ANYWHERE ELSE BEFORE, SO I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT. I GOT CERTIFICATES FOR THEM THAT WE WILL GIVE THEM OUTSIDE. JUDGE, I GOT ONE FOR YOU, ONE FOR THE COUNTY, FOR THE RECOGNITION YOU ALL HAVE DONE. BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE ONE THING YOU ALL HAVE DONE THAT HAS BEEN GREAT. >> JOSE, YOU CAN CALL THE CERTIFICATES OUT IF YOU WANT TO. >> WELL, WHAT I WANT TO DO IS -- WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE IS ALSO AMAZING, BECAUSE THE INFORMATION AND DATA THAT YOU WILL HAVE COLLECTED OVER THE YEARS, YOU ALL ARE NOW RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS AND DEMANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE CALDERON BUILDING , THAT YOU HAVE CREATED A MEDICAL FACILITY. THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN WEBB COUNTY, THAT THEY HAD THE SAME SITUATION. THEY BUILT ONE MEDICAL FACILITY IN AN AREA THAT IS 45 MINUTES FROM THE CITY OF LAREDO, BUT THEN RECENTLY, THEY JUST RECEIVED LIKE $4 MILLION TO BUILD A 12,000 SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY TO PROVIDE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN THE AREA. WE HAVE ALSO NOTICED IN [00:55:03] THIS MISSION THAT THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN ONLY COME IN AND SEE THE DOCTOR ONCE A YEAR, AND THAT IS WHERE THEY ARE HERE WITH YOU ALL. AND WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING IS PROVIDING MEDICAL SERVICES WHERE IT IS HARD TO GET MEDICAL SERVICES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND COMMEND YOU ALL. WHERE ARE YOU? YOU WANT TO GO FORWARD? GO AHEAD AND GIVE IT TO THEM. >> SO THE NUECES COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT , TEXAS A&M, KINGSVILLE, THE PHARMACY SCHOOL, WEST OSO ISD. VOICES OF APOLLONIUS. NUECES COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES. GULF COAST HUMANE SOCIETY. EDGAR AND IVY'S CAT SANCTUARY. VETERINARY TREATMENT FACILITY. MISSION OF MERCY. SOUTH COASTAL -- MY OFFICE. EMMA START COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER. CORPUS CHRISTI METROHEALTH MINISTRIES. DRISCOLL HEALTH PLAN. TEXAS A& M, COLLEGE OF NURSING, AND HEALTH SCIENCES. METHODIST HEALTHCARE MINISTRIES. TEXAS A& M UNIVERSITY COASTAL HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER . SOUTH TEXAS FAMILY PLANNING. NUECES COUNTY -- NUECES CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. PHYSICIANS PREMIER E.R.. AND ALSO, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI NUECES COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THEY PROVIDED ALL THE IPADS AND INFORMATION -- THE I.T. INFORMATION. SO REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, EVERYONE. >> THANK YOU. >> IS THAT ONE FOR THE JUDGE THERE? >> THEY HAVE IT, YES. >> JUDGE, WHILE YOU'RE WAITING, I REMEMBER ASKING PROBABLY WITHIN -- WELL, A YEAR PROBABLY BEFORE THIS, I REMEMBER ASKING COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ, ARE YOU GETTING READY FOR THE IRT? HE SAID, NO, WE DON'T HAVE IT THIS YEAR. HE SAID, DON'T WORRY, EVERYTHING IS ON AUTOMATIC PILOT NOW. ALL THESE GROUPS THAT WORK TOGETHER FOR ALL THESE YEARS, WE WORKED UP OUR POOL OF RESOURCES, AND WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS OURSELVES. AND I REMEMBER IN THE EARLY DAYS WHEN WE WERE TALKING WITH ESTHER GOODYEAR AS AND THE GROUP FROM THE COLONIALS PROGRAM FROM TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, THANKS TO THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS. BUT I REMEMBER ALWAYS HEARING ABOUT WEBB COUNTY, AND THEY WERE REALLY THE IDEAL EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS PROGRAM CAN AND SHOULD BE ROLLED OUT, AND I THOUGHT, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO ACHIEVE. BUT WE HAVE ACHIEVED OUR OWN GREATNESS IN A CERTAIN WAY THAT WE ARE SELF-SUSTAINING NOW. WE WANT THIS BACK AND WE KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET THE IRT BACK, BUT THE FACT THAT WE COULD DO THIS ON OUR OWN, AND THIS WILL BE CONTINUAL, THAT IS SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF, IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THESE PARTNERS IN ENFORCEMENT. AS TO COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ FOR TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS. >> REAL QUICKLY, LAST YEAR, WHEN WE FINISHED THE LAST MISSION, WE KNEW THEY WERE NOT COMING, AND I GOT TO POINT A FINGER TO SOMEBODY. WALKING OUT AFTER THE MISSION WAS OVER, AND THE DOCTOR CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, YOU KNOW, MR. GUTIERREZ, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW SOMETHING. WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT COMING, BUT WE CAN DO THIS EVEN IF THEY DON'T SHOW UP. I WANT TO GIVE HER THE CREDIT FOR GETTING IT STARTED, BECAUSE SHE STARTED IT. THANK YOU. >> WILL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A PICTURE. CAN THE GROUP COME APPEAR? >> YES. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. [01:02:04] >> JUDGE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE ONE QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT. >> SORRY. >> JUST REAL QUICK, WE ARE ALREADY PLANNING FOR '25. THE AIR FORCE HAS MADE SOME COMMITMENTS, THAT THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THE IRT. IN FACT, THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED COMMUNICATIONS. LIKE ANYTHING, WE LIKE TO PASS BATONS, SO MAYBE WE CAN PASS MY BATON TO SOMEBODY ELSE UP HERE, WHO CAN TAKE MY BATON. >> HOW ABOUT WE JUST RENAME THE BATON THE JOE GONZALEZ BATON AND YOU KEEP IT FOREVER. COME ON, MAN. [3. Discuss and consider approval of a 90-day Renewal for Dune Protection Permit for a proposed single family residence and dune walkover at 6149 State Highway 361, Corpus Christi, Texas – DPP- 202105-01p.] >> APPRECIATE YOU. >> NOW MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A 90 DAY RENEWAL FOR A PROTECTION PERMIT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, YOU ALL MAY CORRECT ME, THIS IS FOR THE ALLOTTED TIME TO COMPLETE THE HOUSEBUILDING. OH, YES. I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO PASS . >> SECOND. >> THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BEFORE, THIS IS JUST EXTENDING THE TIME BECAUSE THE HOUSE IS NOT FINISHED. WITH EMOTION AND A SECOND PASS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED, [4. Discuss and consider adoption of the Nueces County, Texas Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan on behalf of Nueces County, and related matters. ] SAME SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER FOUR, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE MULTIJURISDICTIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN ON BEHALF OF NUECES COUNTY. I BELIEVE EACH OF YOU GOT THIS MAP SENT TO YOU. WE NEED A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE MAP. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN [5. Discuss and consider a License Agreement for a Temporary Staging Area for the Texas State Aquarium for use of staging area for the temporary storage of high-profile vehicles and equipment related to the performance of work necessary to protect and rescue Coastal Bend wildlife, and any related matters.] FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES. TO CONSIDER A LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR A TEMPORARY STAGING AREA FOR THE TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM FOR STAGING THEIR VEHICLES IN AN EMERGENCY -- AND SOME OF THEIR EQUIPMENT. WE FOUND THEY ARE IN A VERY LOW-LYING AREA AND NEEDED SPACE, AND WE HAVE THIS PARKING LOT OVER HERE ACROSS , AND SOME OTHERS HAVE GIVEN US A COVERED PARKING LOT AND OTHER WAYS WE LIKE TO HELP WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, AS WELL. WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE THESE AGREEMENTS IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. I WILL MAKE THE MOTION PASSED. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. AND I KNOW -- DID YOU WANT TO SAY -- >> MR. GILBERT WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. >> YES. >> A MORNING, JUDGE, AND COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS, AND FOR OUR LEADERSHIP. THIS IS NOT ONLY FOR THE AQUARIUM AS AN ATTRACTION, BUT REALLY, THE WILDLIFE RESCUE PROGRAM HAS BECOME MORE OF AN ASSET FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND SO WHAT WE EXPERIENCED ON NORTH BEACH, [01:05:02] FLOODING, WE HAD PEOPLE RESCUING OUT OF THEIR HOMES THERE. AND SO FOR OUR CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS, PARTICULARLY THE OPERATIONS CENTER FOR THE AQUARIUM, THIS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP . >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AS WELL, AND FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO OVER THERE FOR THE ANIMALS AS WELL. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY OTHER [6. Discuss and consider appointment of election judges for voting centers pursuant to Section 32.002 of the Texas Election Code.] DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES. ITEM NUMBER SIX IS OUR DUTY AS WELL, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ELECTION JUDGES FOR VOTING CENTERS PURSUANT TO SECTION 32.002 OF THE TEXAS CODE. AND BOTH PARTIES, THE REPUBLICAN IN THE DEMOCRAT PARTY, HAVE SENT IN THEIR LIST. IT IS BEHIND, AND I GUESS THEY CAN MAKE CHANGES TO THIS IF CARE OF ANY CHANGES NEED TO HAPPEN. BUT WE MAKE THE MOTION TO PASS. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES. [1. Discuss and consider setting a Proposal for the 2024 Tax Rate for Nueces County, NC Farm to Market, and NC Hospital District; Commissioners Court must take a record vote and authorize publishing appropriate notices.] THE AUDITOR -- CAN WE PULL UP F1? I KNOW MR. HIPP IS HERE AND HE NEEDS TO GET BACK TO SOME BUSINESS . IF WE COULD, CAN WE DO OURS FIRST, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER SETTING THE PROPOSAL FOR THE 2024 TAX RATE FOR THE NUECES COUNTY FARM TO MARKET? CAN WE JUST DO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT SO WE CAN GET HIM OUT? >> YES. >> OKAY. >> F1. >> IT'S THE PROPOSAL FOR THE CEILING RATE. THIS IS NOT -- >> THIS IS THE HIGHEST RATE THE COUNTY CAN PASS WITH -- THE ITEM COMES UP ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, WE CAN DEFINITELY VOTE BELOW THAT RATE, BUT WE CAN'T GO ABOVE THAT. WORKING WITH JOHNNY, WHATEVER THESE ARE, YOU DO MENTION IN THE PRESENTATION, I WILL BE BE USING IT A LOT LOWER RATE THAN WE ARE PROPOSING. HE ASKED ME TO RECOMMEND USING THE VOTER IMPROVEMENT RATED .09712. >> JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT AS VOTING ON THE RATE, THIS IS JUST KEEPING OUR OPTIONS OPEN, MOVING FORWARD WHAT WE ARE LOOKING. IT REQUIRES A RECORD VOTE, AS WELL. >> QUESTION . >> YES. >> YOU INDICATED IN THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU ANTICIPATED A NEW TAX RATE PROPOSED AS YOUR FINAL RATE. IS THAT STILL YOUR ANTICIPATION? >> THAT IS CORRECT. WE ARE SUGGESTING -- AND SUGGESTED TO DALE, THE USE OF THE VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE AS A CAUTIONARY MEASURE. WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR . EVERY YEAR, WE ASK HIM TO ADOPT THAT RATE. WE HAVE HIM COME BACK WITH THE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE INTEND TO DO, COMMISSIONER. AS I STATED THE OTHER DAY. BUT -- THE DAYS BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN THE COURT APPROVES THE TAX RATE IN THE BUDGET ARE WHAT I REFER TO AS DAYS OF INNOVATION. AND SO THINGS COULD COME ALONG THAT WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THAT WERE A NEW AND UNKNOWN TO US ALONG THE WAY. SO THE VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE WOULD BE , I THINK, A GOOD CAUTIONARY MEASURE . BUT I DON'T FORESEE ANYTHING AT THIS POINT THAT WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE DISTRICT WOULD NEED TO DO ANYMORE THAN THE NEW TYPE REVENUE TAX RATE. >> DOES THIS JUST GET A RECORD VOTE, OR DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. >> IT'S JUST PROPOSING THE RATE. >> JUST PROPOSING THE RATE. THIS IS NOT ADOPTING THE RATE. >> NO NEW TAXES WILL REQUIRE PUBLISHING AND PUBLIC HEARINGS. >> YES. BUT YOU ARE NOT ANTICIPATING THAT. THIS IS ONLY ALLOWING DISCUSSION BEFORE MOVING FORWARD, NOT LIMITING OR HINDERING YOUR OPPORTUNITY IF YOU SO NEED. I MADE THE MOTION. COMMISSIONER HAS SECONDED. >> YOUR MOTION NEEDS TO STATE THE RATE. >> OH, I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME. DO I? .097012. IS MY MOTION TO SET THE RATE FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. I MADE THE MOTION. COMMISSIONER HAS SECONDED IT. COMMISSIONER, HOW DO YOU VOTE? [01:10:02] >> NO NEED TAX BREAK. >> INTO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE. >> THE NO NEW TAX RATE. >> AND TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS ONLY PROPOSING. THIS IS NOT THE TAX RATE, SETTING THE TAX RATE YET. THIS IS JUST ALLOWING US ALL TO GO IN AND WORK ON OUR BUDGETS, AND IT DOESN'T HINDER THEM BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE IT. >> YEAH, AND THAT'S GOING TO -- YEAH. >> SORRY VOTING YES? YES, OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY, I MISUNDERSTOOD. COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ. COMMISSIONER CHESNEY. >> ABSTAIN. >> HE WAS A SECOND ON THE MOTION, SO YES. >> YEAH, YEAH. YES. WE WILL COME BACK TO THE REST OF THIS LATER ON. I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET MR. HIPP OUT. HE HAS SOME OTHER BUSINESS HE HAS TO ATTEND TO, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SIT HERE AND WAIT. >> I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK TO YOU ALL TO PRESENT THE DISTRICT'S BUDGET WHEN YOU ALL TAKE FINAL ACTION. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JOHNNY. [7. Discuss and consider approving application process to nominate up to five (5) qualified candidates to be listed on the ballot for the five (5) positions to be filled on the Appraisal District Board of Directors for the term beginning January 1, 2025 (pursuant to Tax Code § 6.0301) and related matters.] >> ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPROVING THE APPLICATION PROCESS TO NOMINATE UP TO FIVE QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO BE LISTED ON THE BALLOT FOR THE FIVE POSITIONS TO BE FILLED ON THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FOR THE TERM BEGINNING IN JANUARY. SO WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD AN ELECTION THIS PAST YEAR THEY GIVES US THREE MEMBERS. SO RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE 12 MEMBERS. THAT IS GOING TO GO DOWN AS OF JANUARY WITH THE CYCLE. I'VE HAD A MEETING WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. I HAVE TALKED TO JENNY, OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY. AND THIS IS THE PROCESS. WE WILL HAVE DIRECTORS MOVING FORWARD. THERE ARE FIVE DIRECTORS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT WILL BE PLACED, BUT THERE ARE ONLY FIVE. IT IS NOT ONE ENTITY GOING TO NOMINATE ANYMORE. THERE WILL BE FIVE NAMES. EACH OF US, THE ENTITIES, THE VOTING ENTITIES, CAN ALL PRODUCE THIS YEAR, SINCE IT'S GOING TO BE FIVE, AND ALL HAVE FIVE NAMES ON THE BOARD. WE HAVE TO GO OUT FOR APPLICANTS, PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE HERE TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD. AFTER WE RECEIVE THESE NAMES BACK, WE GET OUR NAMES, WE TURN THEM IN TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, AND THEY THEN COMPILED A LIST OF ALL THE VOTING ENTITIES THAT SENT THE NAMES IN. THEY WILL MAKE A LIST. ONCE WE GET THE LIST BACK FROM THEM, WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAST OUR VOTES. AND IF YOU WILL LOOK IN THE BACKUP, IT SHOWS NUECES COUNTY WILL HAVE 700 VOTES. WE CAN CAST THOSE VOTES 100% TOWARD AN INDIVIDUAL, OR WE CAN DO IT SELECTIVELY. SO MANY VOTES PER PERSON IF WE WANT TO, WHATEVER. THE CANDIDATES WITH THE TOP FIVE VOTES ARE THE APPOINTED DIRECTORS. THIS WOULD BE THE SAME CHALLENGE IN THE FUTURE IF THERE IS AN OPENING ON THEIR. THIS WOULD KIND OF GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS, WHERE THERE WOULD ONLY BE ONE. BUT FOR THE UPCOMING APPOINTMENTS, TWO WILL SERVE FOR ONE-YEAR TERMS, AND THREE WILL SERVE FOR THREE-YEAR TERMS. I THINK I LISTED EVERYTHING ON THERE CORRECTLY. >> JUDGE, WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE THAT A PERSON NEEDS TO GET TO GET ENOUGH VOTES TO GET ON? BECAUSE -- >> I GUESS YOU COULD -- >> THE REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT MIGHT BE BETTER FOR NUECES COUNTY, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VOTES TO SPLIT OUR VOTES , TO SPLIT OUR VOTES AND FOR SURE GET SOME ON. SO WE NEED SOME -- NOT TODAY, BUT I HAVE READ THIS, I AM STILL NOT CLEAR . I'M CONFUSED. I'M STILL NOT CLEAR IF, IF WE CAST ALL 700 VOTES FOR ONE PERSON, DOES THAT GET ENOUGH -- ARE NOTHING WE ARE. I'M JUST SAYING, WE JUST NEED TO KNOW. IF WE CAST ALL 700 VOTES FROM ONE PERSON, DOES THAT ASSURE US OF SOMEONE GETTING ON? BECAUSE THAT IS ENOUGH OF A PERCENTAGE? BECAUSE WE GET 14% OF THE TOTAL. I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN THIS EXPLANATION, SO I STILL THINK THE COURT NEED SOME CLARITY ON THAT, BECAUSE WE CAN CERTAINLY NOMINATE UP TO FIVE, AND THEN CAST 100 HERE AND 150 HERE. WE TAKE A CHANCE THAT WE GET NOBODY ON, IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD. I'M NOT SURE I'M RIGHT, AND I DIDN'T SEE AN EXPLANATION, SO I KIND OF NEED TO KNOW -- I KIND OF WOULD LIKE TO KNOW BEFORE WE START NOMINATING PEOPLE -- WHAT THAT -- >> THE NOMINATION PROCESS DOESN'T CHANGE. THERE ARE FIVE [01:15:01] DIRECTORS. YES. ALL OF THIS COMES BACK AFTERWARDS WE GET THE LIST. IT WILL DEPEND, AS WELL, HOW MANY NAMES THERE ARE. THERE MAY BE A LIMITED NUMBER OF NAMES UP THERE AS WELL. SO I THINK THIS IS ALL VERY NEW, AND -- WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT AS WE GO. BUT YOU CAN COUNT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTES, AND IF YOU MAY BE -- BUT IT DEPENDS. THEY COULD CAST THEIR VOTES 100% FOR ONE PERSON AS WELL, SO SOMEONE WITH A SMALLER AMOUNT OF VOTES , WITH WHATEVER IS LEFT OVER, COULD POSSIBLY WIN, BECAUSE YOU HAVE CAST ALL YOUR VOTES TOWARD ONE PERSON. SO IT IS REALLY KIND OF DEPENDING ON WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE DOES. I KNOW THAT YOU CAN GET A FIGURE, IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN AMOUNT, OR SOMEONE GOT 13%, THEY WOULD GET IN. I JUST -- YOU KNOW, THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THESE WELL INTENDED LEGISLATIVE CHANGES. IT'S JUST A LITTLE GOOFY. >> THIS WAS NOT WELL INTENDED. >> THE FILING WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE WAS BAD. >> THIS IS TO HURT LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND THIS IS NOT WELL INTENDED AT ALL. THIS IS INTENDED FOR CHAOS, AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS CREATING, UNFORTUNATELY. WE STAND IS THE THIRD-LARGEST TAXING ENTITY IN VALUATIONS . TO LOSE OUT AND NOT HAVE REPRESENTATION THAT WE HAVE BEFORE, THAT'S THE ARGUMENT WE SHOULD'VE HAD A YEAR AND A HALF AGO THERE IN AUST. BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS. I KNOW CC I.D. DOES THIS. THEY ACTUALLY HAVE, LIKE -- A 10TH OF A PERCENTAGE POINT TO VOTE IN SAN PATRICIO COUNTIES. THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. THEY'VE ALWAYS HAD TO VOTE THIS WAY, SO IT IS KIND OF DONE SO SOME ENTITIES LOCALLY KNOW HOW TO DO IT, BUT I AGREE. WE NEED TO SEE WHAT THE BALLOT IS, AND THEN CAST THEIR VOTE. PUT THEM ALL BEHIND ONE, BUT I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHO THE NAMES ARE, FIRST. BUT IT IS -- IT IS GOING TO BE A GAME OF POLITICS . I DON'T KNOW HOW WE FORMERLY CAN TRY TO WORK WITH OTHER ENTITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENSURE WE GET A REPRESENTATIVE THERE THAT IS CLOSE TO THE COUNTY. AND WE SHOULD BE. OF ALL OF THOSE ENTITIES, WE OF ANYONE SHOULD HAVE REPRESENTATION SINCE WE -- YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE BOUNDARIES FALL WITHIN US. WE ARE ALL PARTS OF OUR AREA THAT WE REPRESENT. SO I'M REALLY CONCERNED. I THINK IF EVERYONE HOLDS TO THEIR OWN VOTES, WE SHOULD STILL BE ABLE TO GET THIS IF WE HOLD. >> AND ONE ALSO, THAT CHANGE IS -- >> ALL CHIPS IN -- >> FOR ONE PERSON. TO ME, THAT SOUNDS LIKE -- >> THAT'S NOT A GUARANTEE. >> IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE, BUT -- >> TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR IS NOW A VOTING MEMBER OF THAT AS WELL. SO WE HAVE SOMETHING AS WELL. WHERE, BEFORE, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO. THAT IS A BIG CHANGE. >> FOR SURE. >> SO , I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION PROCESS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ MADE THE MOTION. I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. >> IT'S REALLY NOT CLEAR TO ME WHAT WE ARE DOING. >> WELL -- YEAH. THAT'S THE WAY THE LAW SET IT UP FOR THIS TIME. SO WE HAVE ONE ABSTAIN. [8. Discuss and consider allocating Countywide American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) un-allocated funds in the amount of $138,971.00 for Metrocom 911 Dispatch Program.] YES. MOVING ON TO ITEM EIGHT, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ALLOCATING THE COUNTYWIDE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, ARPA, AND ALLOCATED FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF 138,900 71 FOR THIS YEAR'S BILL ON THE METRO COM 911 DISPATCH PROGRAM. WE USED ARPA FUNDS PREVIOUSLY FOR THIS. LULU HAS BEEN HERE, AND ANNA IS HERE, AND IT IS UNALLOWABLE USE OF IT, AND IT TAKES CARE OF OUR DEBT. PART OF OUR INCREASE . SORRY, NOT OUR DEBT. LET'S BE CLEAR. IT'S A SHORT-TERM AMOUNT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE [9. Discuss and consider Un-allocating $13,100.00 from Pct. 2 ARPA Funds as follows: NC Amistad Memorial Restoration Repairs $5,000.00 and People Assisting Animal Control (PAAC) $8,100.00, and other related matters.] IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER NINE, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ON ALLOCATING $13,100 IN PRECINCT 2, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ FUNDS, AS FOLLOWS. THE MEMORIAL RESTORATION REPAIRS, AND FOR THE PEOPLE ASSISTING ANIMAL CONTROL PACK FOR 8100 AND OTHER [01:20:04] RELATED MATTERS. >> WE CAN INCLUDE THE 9000 WE HAVE ALLOCATED FOR ANIMAL CONTROL, BUT WE COULD USE IT. IF THEY WOULD ALLOW US TO USE IT. IT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE ALSO REALLOCATED BACK. I MOVE THAT WE HAD THE $9000 TO IT. >> AT THE 9000? >> ANIMAL SERVICES? >> YEAH. ANIMAL SERVICES. >> SO YOU ARE JUST SAYING, THE ONES ON HERE PLUS THE 9000? >> YEAH. >> AND IT'S ALL GOING BACK TO YOUR FUNDS? >> YEAH. >> OKAY. >> THAT SECOND MOTION, IS THAT CLEAR? >> YEAH. +9000. WHAT'S ON HERE, +9000. >> SO IT IS 13 ONE , +900. >> RIGHT. I SECOND THAT. [10. Discuss and consider approving the award and execution of an ARPA-funded Contractor Agreement with DLF Two, Inc, dba DLF, Texas for Parker Pool Maintenance Repair Project (IFB No. 3276-24), in the amount of $531,909.21, and all related matters.] >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES. ITEM NUMBER 10. THE APPROVAL OF AN ARPA FUNDED CONTRACT AGREEMENT WITH ELF FOR PARKER POOL MAINTENANCE REPAIR PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $531,909. >> MOTION TO PASS , OR APPROVE THE REWARD AND THE FOR PARKER POOL MAINTENANCE REPAIR PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF 531.901. 531,000 TWO THE ARPA FUNDING. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. >> JUST A QUESTION REAL QUICK. I JUST WANT TO GET IT OUT THERE. YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT IT, CAN YOU GIVE ME -- AND TO THE PUBLIC WHO ARE WATCHING, IF WE CAN GET A LITTLE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE AND HOW THIS WILL GO? >>/WE DISCUSSED, COMMISSIONER -- ONCE WE GET THE APPROVAL TODAY, AND THE ISSUE OF THE NOTICE WE RECEIVED ON MONDAY, THAT WILL START UNTIL TO START ACTUALLY DOING ANY TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION AFTER LABOR DAY. AND SO THERE IS LEADTIME ON SOME ITEMS. IT WORKS WITH OUR SCHEDULE. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW. THANK YOU. >> I LIKE TO CLARIFY SOMETHING. THE ENTIRE 531 909 IS NOT ARPA FUNDS, BECAUSE ONLY 550,000 537 WAS ALLOCATED TOWARDS THE PARKER POOL. THERE WERE SEALS INVOLVED, SO PART OF -- AFTER THE ENGINEERING COST, IT WAS 480,734 LEFT WITH ARPA ALLOCATED FUNDS. >> TERESA, IT WAS ALL PRECINCT 4 FUNDING. >> RIGHT. THE ALLOCATED PART OF THE SEAL MONEY UNDER ARPA . IT JUST HAS TO BE REALLOCATED. IT HAS TO BE CORRECTED, BUT THIS WOULD BE FULLY FUNDED UNDER ARPA. >> NOT FULLY FUNDED UNDER ARPA. >> YES, IT IS. WE SWITCHED IT AROUND. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING. I ALLOCATED MORE MONEY FOR MY ARPA FUNDS. THAT IS MY RECOLLECTION, TERESA. >> THEY PUT 210, SO WE HAVE DIVIDED IT 70,000 ON EACH OF YOUR PROJECTS. SO YOU WANT TO JUST COMPLETE THE ARPA FUNDING COMPLETELY WITH THIS? WE HAD PUT 70,000 TOWARDS THE PARKER POOL, 70,000 TOWARDS THE DETENTION BOND PROJECT, AND THEN 70,000 TOWARDS THE BRIDGE WIDENING. >> THE 210,000 ALLOCATED WAS TO GO TO ALL THREE PROJECT. >> NOT BRIDGE WIDENING. IT WAS AS NEEDED . RIGHT. SO WE ALLOCATED 210,000 NOT TO THE BRIDGE WIDENING, BUT TO BOB HALL, TO PARKER POOL, AND LONDON DRAINAGE. AND THEN EDWARD CAME BACK VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER WITH THE AMOUNT THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE, AND SO SINCE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED, WE SHIFTED THOSE FUNDS, WE ARE DOING IT HERE. I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 50,000. TO FULLY FUND IT. SO I BELIEVE THIS IS FULLY FUNDED WITH ARPA. >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> WE WILL MAKE THE CHANGE IN OUR REPORTING. >> THAT WAS STILL ONLY BE 160,000 FOR EITHER LONDON DRAINAGE OR BOB HALL, DEPENDING ON WHAT IS NEEDED. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> WE ALREADY HAD A MOTION AND SECOND AND VOTED, RIGHT? >> WE DIDN'T VOTE. >> WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. [11. Discuss and Consider utilizing right-of-way funds in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) to cover the construction improvements to FM 624 (Northwest Boulevard) from Wildcat Drive to CR 73 in Nueces County, Texas. ] [01:25:01] >> THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY SEALS? >> IT DOES NOT. >> WE ARE GOOD. >> THANK YOU. >> ITEM NUMBER 11. DISCUSS RIGHT AWAY FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF 250,000 TO COVER THE INSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS TO FM 624 NORTHWEST BOULEVARD FROM WILDCAT DRIVE TO COUNTY ROAD 73. WE MAKE THE MOTION TO PASS. >> SORRY. >> ARE YOU GOING TO SECOND IT? I MADE THE MOTION TO PASS. >> SECOND. >> THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY EXPANSION? IS THIS THE CORRECT NUMBER? >> JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS PART OF F AND 624 THAT TIES INTO OUR COUNTY ROADS. YES, MA'AM. I THINK THEY ARE SPENDING OVER $50 MILLION THIS ROAD 69 THAT TIES IN ABOUT A MILE FROM THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THERE IS AN EXHIBIT THAT IS ATTACHED , AND WHAT THEY ARE PLANNING ON DOING AS PART OF THIS IS A PLAN ON DOING A RIGHT TURN LANE INTO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. RIGHT NOW, THERE SOME ISSUES REGARDING THE STACKING OF THE CARS , AND ALSO ON THE RIGHT TURN LANE GOING OUT ON 26 34. SO THIS WILL BE A SAFETY AND IMPROVEMENTS OUT TO OUR ROAD, AND ALSO TO THE ELEMENTARY WHEN YOU ARE DROPPING THE KIDS OFF AT THE SCHOOL. >> HOW MUCH IS IN THAT FUND? HOW MUCH WE HAVE LEFT AFTER THIS? THAT'S WHAT THIS FUND IS SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR. >> THAT IS CORRECT, JUDGE. >> TO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? IS ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SAME [12. Discuss and consider upcoming Commissioners Court meeting date(s), workshop date(s), and related matters.] SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 12, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER UPCOMING COMMISSIONERS COURT EATING DATES. I SAW ONE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER THE FOURTH ON OUR LIST THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED. I THINK I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO HER, AND SHE'S GOING TO INCLUDE THAT. BUT WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING SEPTEMBER 4TH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IT'S NOT ON MY CALENDAR, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT ON THEIRS FOR SOME REASON. >> IT WAS AN AGENDA? >> AND A PLANNING LIST. >> BUT IS PURELY THE TAX HEARING THAT DAY? THE MAC YES. >> I GOT IT ON MINE, TOO, BUT I HAVE ADJUSTED THE TAX HEARING. >> WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO A MOTION. MOTIONED AT COMMISSIONER CHESNEY. I WILL SECOND THAT. >> THAT IS FOR TAX HEARING ONLY, NO OTHER AGENDA. >> AND 9:00 A.M. START IS FINE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE . ANY OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. >> WAS ON THE PLANNING LIST. [1. Ratify and approve modifications to interlocal agreements with the U.S. Marshals Service for East Hidalgo Detention Center and Coastal Bend Detention Center.] >> THE MOTION PASSES. MOVING ON TO ITEM B 1. RATIFY AND APPROVE MODIFICATIONS TO THE INTER-AGREEMENT FOR THE EAST HIDALGO DETECTION CENTER. THIS IS SIMPLY -- THEY ARE INCREASING THEIR MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT, AND THIS IS -- IT JUST GOES THROUGH US. IT DOESN'T COST THE COUNTY ANYTHING WHEN WE DID OUR PAYROLL FOR THEM, IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES. I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO PASS. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE . [1. Discuss and consider authorizing and approving the award and execution of an Agreement with Community Development Corporation of Brownsville dba CDCB for Administration of Nueces County Colonia Self Help Program (RFP NO. 3266-24), and related matters.] ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES. MOVING ON TO C, AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING THE AWARD AND EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF BROWNSVILLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE HEALTH PROGRAM. DO YOU WANT TO COVER THAT ONE? >> YES, JUDGE. C 1. IS THIS YOURS, COMMISSIONER? >> GO AHEAD. >> WE ARE HAPPY TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. THIS CONTRACT WILL HELP US GET STARTED AND WORK ON THE HELP GRANT. WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES HERE THAT CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AND WE ARE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING IT GOING. WE STILL HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER 26, 2026, AND I WILL LET YOU -- >> I THINK IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE US A LITTLE QUICK UPDATE OF WHAT ALL -- MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS? THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS INCLUDED WITH THIS THAT CAN HELP OUR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO CAN YOU JUST DO [01:30:05] SOMETHING WITH THAT? >> THE SELF-HELP IS AWARDED TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. SORRY, A LOT OF ACRONYMS USED HERE. WE HAVE THE COURT SELECTED TO BE PART OF THIS. SO THIS IS BASICALLY TO GET BENCHMARKS, AND THOSE ARE SANDY PARK, RANCH, J LYNN, BLUEBONNET. >> AND HE CAN SPEAK IF HE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT. >> YEAH, OKAY. >> I WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I KNOW JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CONTRACT ARE, IT IS ENOUGH TO DO FULL RECONSTRUCTIONS. WE WILL ALSO BE PURCHASING TOOLS TO RUN A TOOL LENDING LIBRARY. WE HAVE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY NOW, ACTUALLY TODAY, THAT WILL BE GOING THROUGH SOME AND START RAMPING UP THE MARKETING TO LET FOLKS KNOW THE SERVICES WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE. THERE IS ALSO TECHNOLOGY CLASSES THAT ARE PART OF THE PROGRAM AS WELL. SO IT WILL BE LIKE A POP-UP COMPUTER LAB WITH LAPTOPS AND PEOPLE CAN COME AND JUST LEARNED DIFFERENT THINGS. SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY. >> HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU HAVE URINE NUECES COUNTY? >> STAFF? RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ONE. SHE JUST STARTED. WE WILL BE LOOKING TO GROW THAT AS WELL. WE ALSO HAVE SOME BOARD REPRESENTATION. AS PROGRAMS EXPAND AND OUR SERVICES EXPAND, WE ARE LOOKING TO ADD MORE STAFF. WE USE LOCAL FOLKS. WE ARE DOING THAT TO WRAP UP OUR GLOBAL SUBS TO GET THEM INVOLVED. >> VERY GOOD. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THIS WILL BENEFIT ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE RURAL AREAS. >> WAS A QUESTION? >> THIS WILL BENEFIT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE RURAL AREAS. >> YES, IT WILL BE PRIMARILY FOR THOSE THAT ARE IDENTIFIED, AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS, IN THE FUTURE GRANT, LET'S SAY THERE SOME DIFFERENT PLACES YOU WANT TO TARGET IN YOUR PRECINCT OR DISTRICT, YOU CAN CHANGE IT POTENTIALLY FOR A FUTURE AWARD. >> THINK YOU VERY MUCH. >> YES, SIR. >> COUNTY JUDGE, MAY I? I AM JUDY, I AM LOCAL AND HAVE BEEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I AM ON THE BOARD OF CDC BE. I HELPED ORGANIZE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE LOCALLY. VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT. THAT HAS HELPED ENTER INTO THIS AREA, WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR A FEW YEARS. AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO SAY, THIS IS GOING TO REALLY HELP THE LAUNCH OF OUR EFFORTS HERE IN NUECES COUNTY . PARTICULARLY FOR THE COLONIALS, WERE SO MUCH HELP AS NEEDED , WHICH I UNDERSTAND HAS NOT BEEN HAPPENING EVEN THOUGH THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE. WE ARE ALSO DOING A PROJECT HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI, AND LOOKING AT BOTH KLABER COUNTY AS WELL AS -- FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR APPROVING THIS, WHICH I'M SURE YOU WILL DO. >> THANK YOU, JUDY. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU ALL [1. Discuss and consider approving the award and execution of an ARPA-funded Contractor Agreement with DLF Two, Inc, dba DLF, Texas for Hilltop Community Center Renovation (CSP No. 3252-23), in the amount of $9,285,550.00, and all related matters.] FOR BEING HERE. MOVING ON TO ITEM D, PUBLIC WORKS. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER PERMANENT AWARD AND EXECUTION OF OUR BOTH FUNDED AGREEMENT WITH DLF FOR THE HILLTOP COMMUNITY CENTER RENOVATION IN THE AMOUNT OF 9,285,000 . AND THIS IS NOT ONLY ARCO FUNDED, LET ME BE CLEAR. THIS IS ARCO FUNDED, SO IT IS NOT SOLELY ARPA. YES. SO THANK YOU. MR. RICHTER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THIS? I KNOW WE GONE AROUND AND AROUND ABOUT THIS, BUT I THINK WE HAVE A SIGNED CONTRACT READY TO MOVE FORWARD. WE NEED TO GET THIS GOING. >> YES, MA'AM. IT HAS BEEN A JOURNEY, BUT I THINK WE ARE IN A GOOD PLACE. I APPRECIATE THE COURTS SUPPORT IN HELPING US GET THERE. I WILL JUST RECAP A LITTLE BIT KIND OF WHERE WE STARTED. AS YOU KNOW, WE STARTED WITH SOME VERY AMBITIOUS PLANS AND NOTIONS AND WE HAVE A TWO PAIR THEM BACK TO MEET THE BUDGET OF THE AVAILABLE FUNDS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE DELETED PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION PORTION OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WITH THE [01:35:01] EXCEPTION OF THE PUBLIC RESTROOMS AND THE NEW STORAGE FACILITY, WHICH WILL REPLACE A METAL BUILDING THE KIND OF NEEDS TO GO AWAY ANYWAY. SO THAT IS NEW CONSTRUCTION. THE REST OF THE MONEY IS ALL IN RENOVATIONS OF THE EXISTING BUILDINGS. THE EXISTING ENTRANCE AND FOYER WILL BE RENOVATED AND IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY TO WHERE IT LOOKS REALLY NICE, BUT IT IS BASICALLY THE EXISTING ENTRANCE OF THE FOYER. THE THREE NORTHERNMOST WINGS, WILL WE CALL A, B, AND C, ARE GOING TO BE RENOVATED CONSISTENT WITH THE ORIGINAL DESIGN, MEANING ENTIRELY -- BACK TO THEIR STRUCTURE, AND YOU AIR-CONDITIONING, ELECTRICAL FINISHES, NEW WINDOWS, THE NEW EXTERIOR . SO THOSE THREE WINGS WILL BE, YOU KNOW, VERY HIGH-PERFORMANCE. IT IS ESSENTIALLY LIKE NEW. THE REMAINING THREE RINGS WILL HAVE OTHER LEVELS OF RENOVATION . ALL OF THEM WILL GET NEW WINDOWS. SO ALL SIX WINGS WILL HAVE NEW WINDOWS, WHICH IS GOING TO HAVE A VERY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE APPEARANCES OF THE BUILDING. WHEN D, WHICH IS WHERE WIC WILL BE, WILL HAVE INTERIOR RENOVATIONS AND AIR CONDITIONING -- NEW AIR-CONDITIONING, BUT NOT NEW LIKE FROM SCRATCH, LIKE THE FIRST THREE WINGS. BUT IT WILL BE REPLACING -- EXISTING AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS WILL BE REPLACED, BUT NOT TO THE SAME LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE AS WINGS A, B, AND C. IT WILL BE JUST THE EXPERIENCE. JUST THE WINDOWS, THE INTERIORS, WHICH IS PRIMARILY THE VOTING AREA, VOTING MACHINES AND VOTING AREAS. THE INTERIORS WILL BE LEFT ENTIRELY AS IS. SO BASICALLY, THE OBJECTIVE OF UPGRADING THE APPEARANCES OF THE ENTIRE BUILDING IS ACHIEVED , THE OBJECTIVE OF SIGNIFICANTLY REDOING THE MAJORITY OF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE IS OF THE BUILDING IS ACHIEVED. WITHIN THE AVAILABLE FUNDS. >> DID YOU SAY D WOULD HAVE INTERIOR RENOVATIONS? I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY D, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. >> I MADE A MISTAKE. I MADE A MISTAKE. D AND F , THE INTERIOR ARE UNCHANGED. D AS IN DOG, AND F AS IN FRANK. >> EXCEPT FOR WINDOWS. >> EXCEPT FOR WINDOWS. THEY ALL HAVE NEW WINDOWS. E IS WHERE WIC IS GOING TO BE. THAT'S THE ONE THAT HAS INTERIOR RENOVATIONS , UPGRADES TO THE AIR-CONDITIONING, AND NEW WINDOWS. >> SO D AND F ARE HAVING WINDOWS AND WHAT ELSE? >> THAT IS IT. >> OKAY. WHICH ONE IS WHERE THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IS? WHERE IS THE ELECTION EQUIPMENT? >> IT IS AND B. AND THEN F IS WHERE VOTING HAPPENS. I THINK D IS PRIMARILY STORAGE. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A FACELIFT. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE ANY MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS. >> IT'S GOING TO BE A FACELIFT. IT'S GOING TO BE INSIDE AND OUT. LAST TIME I HEARD , FROM THE ELECTION -- ON THE ELECTION EQUIPMENT, THERE WAS GOING TO BE A RENOVATION INSIDE ON THE UPGRADE. >> COMMISSIONER, THAT IS ONE THING WE ARE LOOKING AT SEPARATELY. BUT I GUESS REGARDING THE MODIFICATIONS , IT'S ABOUT THE WINDOWS, RIGHT? WE ARE JUST PLANNING ON DOING THE WINDOWS, COMMISSIONER. >> SORRY? >> I THINK BASED ON THE MODIFICATIONS, THEY ARE PLANNING ON JUST DOING THE WINDOWS. >> ON WHAT? >> FOR THE SPACE. >> FOR THOSE SECTIONS? >> YES. >> I DON'T UNDERSTAND. >> IN OTHER WORDS, PRIOR TO MAKING THESE MODIFICATIONS, WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT IT, IT IS A SEPARATE CONTRACT TO MAKE THOSE MODIFICATIONS WHEN THESE MODIFICATIONS -- THE NEW REVISIONS , THEY JUST ARE JUST THE ONE OF THOSE. >> SO HOW DID WE GO FROM THE STORAGE BUILDING, THAT STUFF, TOO -- I THOUGHT ALL OF THESE ARE GOING TO BE TOUCHED. WHAT IS IN THE STORAGE BUILDING? WHY ARE WE BUILDING ANY STORAGE BUILDING THERE? WHY NOT JUST USE THAT? I THOUGHT YOU ALL WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT THINGS. >> WE DID, BUT THEN WE HAVEN'T BEEN CONTACTED. >> THEY WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT YOUR SPACE. >> WE TOLD YOU. INSIDE OF THE ELECTIONS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE [01:40:10] ACTUALLY KIND OF UPGRADED. UPGRADED AS FAR AS THE FLOORS, THE WINDOWS . >> THE RESTROOMS. >> AND THE CEILING TILES. >> THE CEILING TILES ARE FALLING. IT'S BAD. >> SO I THINK THAT ONE REALLY NEEDS TO BE -- I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE CHANGE, BUT -- >> MY UNDERSTANDING WAS, SORT OF THE BOTTOM LINE OBJECTIVE WAS TO MAKE THE EXTERIORS LOOK CONSISTENT AND IMPROVED, AND IMPROVE AS MUCH OF THE INTERIORS AS WE COULD, AND WE BASICALLY WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF E AND F. THANK YOU, SORRY. D AND F. THOSE ARE BASICALLY EXTERIOR, BUT NOT INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS. BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE COUNTY MIGHT PURSUE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS UNDER SEPARATE FUNDS. BUT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH IN THIS BUDGET. TO GET TO DO THAT. >> I'M SAYING, I THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO BE -- ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SOME OTHER FUNDS THAT THE EQUIPMENT -- >> ONE WAS GOING TO DO THOSE INTERIOR THINGS . >> WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT, FOR THE COMMISSIONER FOR THAT, WHICH FUNDS THEY WERE COMING FROM , BUT I WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT FOR SURE. >> THAT ONE REALLY NEEDS THE WORK. >> F, FOR SURE. BUT WAS THE STORAGE FACILITY A PART OF THE ORIGINAL THING? I DON'T REMEMBER THE STORAGE FACILITY. HE SAID THAT CHANGED. AND YOU BUILDING. >> ESSENTIALLY, IT IS A GARAGE. THEY STORE THE LAWN EQUIPMENT, AND MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT, AND THE EXISTING BUILDINGS ARE NOT REALLY SUITABLE FOR THAT. THAT METAL BUILDING THAT SITS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE COURTYARDS IS WHERE THAT IS PROVIDED. AND WE HAVE IN THE ORIGINAL BID , A BID ALTERNATE TO BID A NEW GARAGE AND SOME NEW PUBLIC RESTROOMS. AND THAT, WE ROLLED INTO THE BASEMENT OF THIS PROJECT. BUT NOT ANY OF THE OTHER NEW CONSTRUCTION. >> HOW MUCH IS THAT? HOW MUCH IS THE NEW GARAGE AND PUBLIC RESTROOMS? BECAUSE MY NEXT QUESTION IS GOING TO BE, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE NEED MORE PUBLIC RESTROOMS . I'M NOT SAYING WE DON'T, I'M JUST ASKING, DO WE NEED MORE PUBLIC RESTROOMS? >> F IS THE ONE THAT -- >> RIGHT. HOW MUCH IS IT FOR A NEW GARAGE A NEW PUBLIC RESTROOMS? I'M CURIOUS. >> I DON'T THINK THAT IS IN THERE. >> YES. THE -- 800,000. >> 800,000 FOR NEW RESTROOMS AND A GARAGE? >> TO DEMOLISH THE EXISTING GARAGE AND BUILD NEW RESTROOMS IN THE STORAGE GARAGE. >> WE COULD SHIFT SOME OF THAT OVER TO WHAT WE NEED DOING ON F. WHERE ARE THE RESTROOMS GOING, AND WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR NEW RESTROOMS? >> THERE ARE, BUT IN THE COURSE OF RENOVATING THE THREE MAIN WINGS, WHICH WE ARE TEARING BACK TO ZERO , TO FULLY RENOVATE THOSE MAIN THREE WINGS, IT IS MUCH MORE PRACTICAL TO BUILD NEW RESTROOMS TO SERVE THOSE. THE EXISTING RESTROOMS ARE SORT OF SPORADIC AND, YOU KNOW, NOT PARTICULARLY CONVENIENT TO THE TOTAL. AND THE NEW RESTROOMS BASICALLY PROVIDE NEW CENTRAL RESTROOMS FOR THE FACILITY. >> AND THEY ARE OUTSIDE IN A SEPARATE LOCATION. YOU HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE ON THESE WINGS . THEY ARE MORE FOR OUTDOOR USE. IF PEOPLE ARE INSIDE, THEY CAN USE THOSE AS WELL. >> THAT IS CORRECT. THEY ARE REALLY MORE FOR THE MEETING ROOMS IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH ARE ALL ACCESSED BY GOING OUTSIDE ANYWAY. AND OPEN COVERED BREEZEWAY'S. NOW, THERE IS ONE SET THAT IS REALLY JUST A SINGLE RESTROOM FOR -- FOR THE ADMINISTRATION , BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION WING [01:45:01] NOW IS INSIDE OF WING A. >> COULD WE DO A DRAWING OF THIS? MAYBE WE COULD VISUALIZE IT. I REALLY THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DO F. I THOUGHT -- THAT'S WHAT YOU WENT UP THERE, I THOUGHT YOU HAD IT IN THERE. WE COULD PICK. >> 800,000 FOR A GARAGE AND TWO NEW RESTROOMS? THAT IS A HUGE NUMBER. I JUST NEED TO SEE WHY WE ARE SPENDING -- WHY WE NEED NEW RESTROOMS OUT THERE. I JUST NEED A VISUAL. >> WE HAVE -- YEAH, I'M SORRY. I WASN'T PREPARED TO SHOW THAT. YOU KNOW, EVERY FACILITY HAS RESTROOM EXTRA ACCOUNTS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY CODE, AND JUST BY -- JUST BY PRACTICALITY. AND SO WE NEED TO PROVIDE THE PROPER NUMBER OF RESTROOMS. SOME OF THEM ARE ASSOCIATED WITH DEPARTMENTS LIKE WIC OR LIKE THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT A GOOD MANY OF THEM ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE MEETING ROOMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMMUNITY CENTER. THESE RESTROOMS ARE REALLY -- THEY ARE NOT JUST DEDICATED TO THAT, BUT THAT IS THEIR PRIMARY PURPOSE. >> SO THESE ADDITIONAL RESTROOMS FOR THE FACILITY THAT WE DON'T ALREADY HAVE -- >> WHEN WE FULLY RENOVATED THE FIRST THREE WINGS, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE RESTROOMS THAT WERE DEMOLISHED. I MEAN, IT IS HARD TO ENVISION, BUT YOU HAVE SOME OLD RESTROOMS AND YOU ARE TEARING OUT THE WHOLE WING, REBUILDING IT BRAND-NEW. YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T -- >> BRING THOSE RESTROOMS BACK. SO THESE ARE NEW RESTROOMS THAT WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE OUT THERE. IF WE HAVE 10 RESTROOMS AND WE ARE GOING TO 12, NINE, 11 -- >> I COULDN'T SAY, BUT I THINK I FIXED YOUR COUNT IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE NOW. MAYBE ONE OR TWO MORE FIXTURES. FUNDAMENTALLY, THIS RESTROOM BUILDING IS SERVING THREE WINGS THAT ARE BEING COMPLETELY GUTTED AND BUILT BACK LIKE NEW, AND IT JUST WAS MORE PRACTICAL. BECAUSE PUTTING PLUMBING INTO THE EXISTING WING , IT DISPLACES OTHER ACTIVITIES. AND PLUS, IT WAS MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT IN THE REDESIGN OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WHEN WE PRESENTED THE STRATEGY FOR MOVING FORWARD. WE WERE GOING TO KEEP THE DESIGN INTACT FOR THE THREE MAIN WINGS , THE THREE FIRST WINGS. AND THESE RESTROOMS ARE SORT OF ANCILLARY TO THAT. >> EXCUSE ME. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE RESTROOMS THAT HAVE BEEN BLOCKED OFF WHEN THEY DID -- THE RESTROOMS WERE PEOPLE CAN'T GET TO, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN BLOCKED OFF FROM THE PUBLIC? ARE THOSE THE ONES YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT? >> IT'S NOT ANY PARTICULAR RESTROOMS. I GUESS YOU COULD SAY IT IS THE RESTROOMS THAT SERVE WINGS A, B, C. >> BECAUSE THERE ARE RESTROOMS THAT WERE IN USE, AND THEN THEY WENT THROUGH SOME A.D.A. WORK, AND -- THEY SAID IT WAS TOO COMPLICATED TO GET TO THEM. >> I THINK THERE MIGHT BE ONE OR TWO RESTROOMS LIKE THAT. HONESTLY, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT WITH CONFIDENCE, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY VISITED THIS CONTENT FOR A WHILE. THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE BACK IN THE EARLY PART OF THE DESIGN. >> THERE'S ABOUT TWO OF THEM THAT I HAVE SEEN THAT ARE COMPLETELY BLOCKED OFF, THE PEOPLE CANNOT USE IT ALL, BECAUSE -- I UNDERSTAND THEY SAID IT WAS TOO COMPLICATED TO GET TO DOING THE A.D.A. WORK. >> BUT THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, BUT THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE WHAT THIS IS. THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT IS TWO NEW RESTROOMS AND A COMPLETELY NEW BUILDING, RIGHT? >> YES. TWO NEW RESTROOMS. AND A NEW STRUCTURE. >> THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING TODAY? IT'S A NEW STRUCTURE FOR THESE RESTROOMS. >> IS A NEW STRUCTURE THAT ESSENTIALLY CLOSES IN BETWEEN TWO WINGS. >> SO IT'S CONNECTED TO TWO WINGS? >> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY THERE THAT WE ARE ADDING, TWO RESTROOMS. >> TWO RESTROOMS AND THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY. BECAUSE, HONESTLY, IF WE WERE TO TAKE -- IF WE WERE TO TAKE AN EXISTING PORTION OF THE BUILDING AND RENOVATE IT TO PROVIDE THE PLUMBING AND AIR CONDITIONING AND THE TILE AND EVERYTHING TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, THESE NEW RESTROOMS WITH AN EXISTING WINGS, THE COST WOULD APPROACH WHAT THIS IS. >> SO F IS THE ONE THAT YOU USED FOR VOTING? >> FOR ELECTIONS, YES. >> NO, IS THIS WHERE PEOPLE GO TO TO VOTE? >> INTO YOUR MICROPHONE, PLEASE. >> SO HELP ME OUT HERE. E IS -- YEAH, I WISH WE HAD A VISUAL OF THIS. >> ELECTIONS IS E, WERE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE YOUR EQUIPMENT. [01:50:07] >> E IS THE ONE GETTING INTERIOR RENOVATIONS. BUT I THOUGHT HE SAID THAT WAS -- YOU SAID THAT WAS WIC. YOU SAID WIC WAS E. IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN, MY NOTES SAY -- WIC IS E. SO IT'S D AND F? SO WE ARE -- IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS RIGHT, WE ARE NOT RENOVATING THE AREA WHERE PEOPLE GO TO VOTE . IS THAT RIGHT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> THAT'S THE ONE AREA -- THAT'S THE ONE AREA THAT WE USE A LOT. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. I KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO GET DONE. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE THEY CUT, BUT -- >> IT'S THE SAME NUMBER. >> YOU WERE SAYING ON THE OTHER ONE, ON THE ELECTIONS -- >> I'M SORRY, BUT IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING AND IMPRESSION THAT THE FACILITY WAS USED FOR VOTING AND WAS SUITABLE FOR VOTING. AND THAT THAT WAS -- IT WAS JUST BEING MAINTAINED. WE WERE FIXING THE EXTERIOR. >> THAT ONE ACTUALLY ONLY NEEDED THE CENTRAL AIR . AND SOME WINDOWS OR SOMETHING. >> YES, THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED, BUT THE BATHROOMS, THE CEILING IS FALLING IN. >> WAS IT JUST KIND OF AN UPGRADE? >> YEAH. >> SO IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT MUCH FOR AN UPGRADE. BUT WHATEVER IT TAKES, I GUESS. WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO. WE GOT ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS SOMEWHERE. >> HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO DO THAT? YOU WENT OUT THERE AND LOOKED AT IT. >> WHAT WAS KIND OF THE ROUGH ESTIMATE? THAT YOU CAME UP WITH? >> COMMISSIONER, WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT IT TO DO IT, TO COVER UP THE WINDOWS, TO REDO AND TAKE OUT THE FLOORING -- >> IS ALREADY REPLACING THE WINDOWS. >> BUT THAT'S WHAT WERE TALKING ABOUT. WE ARE LOOKING AT IT UNDER 100,000, COMMISSIONER. >> 100,000? >> HOW ABOUT THE VOTING AREA ? >> ON THAT ONE, COMMISSIONER, WE JUST LOOKED AT THE STORAGE FOR THE VOTING -- WHERE THE VOTING EQUIPMENT IS BEING STORED. >> SO THE VOTING AREA IS OKAY WITH THE BATHROOMS? >> CEILING, PAINT, WHATEVER, CEILING TILES. YOU GOT TO GO TO THE MICROPHONE. >> WERE TALKING TWO DIFFERENT SECTIONS. WITH THE COMMISSIONER IS TALKING ABOUT IS THAT ENDPOINT, IT IS THE LAST ONE RIGHT THERE. CHARIS SECTION IS THE ONE THAT IS RIGHT THERE. THAT SECTION. THE MIDDLE SECTION IS THE ONE WHERE SHE STORES HER EQUIPMENT AND STUFF. THAT'S THE ONE THAT NEEDS THE BATHROOMS, AND THE FLOORING. >> THE MIDDLE, THAT IS D, OR F? >> D. >> SO D IS WHERE SHE STORES THE EQUIPMENT? >> WE ALSO WORK OUT THERE. >> STORAGE AND WORK. BUT F IS WHERE THEY VOTE? >> F IS WHERE THEY VOTE. THAT WAS RENOVATED PROBABLY ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, AND THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE THERE IS, WE NEED TO MOVE THE ACS OFF THE ROOF AND ONTO THE GROUND. OTHERWISE, WE NEED TO HEAD IT INTO TWO SECTIONS. THE ACS NEED TO BE MOVED TO THE GROUND, BECAUSE THEY ARE PERFORATED THE ROOF. THEY HAVE USED THEIR LIFETIME EQUIPMENT. SO OTHERWISE, THAT IS OKAY. >> WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT WE FIGURED ? COMING UP WITH THE ACS ON THAT ONE? WHAT WAS IT? >> IT'S ABOUT $60,000, COMMISSIONER. >> SO A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND, AND WE CAN GET -- WHERE THE PEOPLE COME IN AND VOTE, RENOVATED TO SOMETHING , NOT INCLUDING -- YOU ARE ALREADY DOING THE WINDOWS ON EVERYTHING, SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE THAT IN THE 200. >> 200 IS FOR THE END . >> FOR D AND F BOTH, WE COULD DO THE ADDITIONAL THINGS. >> IT'S NOT 1 MILLION. >> NO. SO CAN WE FIND -- DO WE HAVE ENOUGH UNALLOCATED ADDITIONAL ARPA MONEY TO PUT TOWARD SOMETHING LIKE THIS? CAN [01:55:04] WE COME UP WITH THE OTHER 200 OR CAPITAL? I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IS LEFT. >> WE DID HAVE SOME REALLOCATED COUNTYWIDE. >> YES. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT. >> YEAH. >> I MEAN, THERE'S UNALLOCATED FUNDS ALSO THAT ARE SEPARATE FROM THIS CONTRACT. IS IT GOING TO BE A SEPARATE DEAL AND THEN THEY ADDED? >> I MEAN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR BUILDING TWO NEW RESTROOMS AND THE STORAGE SHED. I THINK YOU COULD BUY A METAL STORAGE SHED. I DON'T GET THIS. I'M GOING TO BE HONEST. I DON'T UNDERSTAND BUILDING A NEW STORAGE SHED WHEN YOU CAN BUY ANOTHER -- YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT FOR LAWNMOWERS, WE ARE GOING TO BUILD A NEW BUILDING ? THAT JUST -- I'M SORRY, THAT DOESN'T EQUATE FOR ME. YOU CAN GO BY A STORAGE SHED AND SET IT OUT THERE. WE OWN A GAZILLION ACRES OUT THERE. HOW MUCH DOES THAT STORAGE SHED COST OUT OF THE 800,000? THAT IS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT FOR STORAGE. PLEASE STAND BY FOR REALTIME CAPTIONS. TRANSITIONING ] THE RESTROOMS WILL BE THE MAJORITY OF THE COST, BECAUSE -- >> SURE. BUT, 60% OF THAT IS STORAGE? >> 60% OF THE NEW BUILDING IS THE VEHICLE STORAGE PORTION OF IT. AND OF COURSE, IT IS DONE THAT WAY TO TRY TO BRING THE ENTIRE BUILDING UP TO A UNIFORM STANDARD OF QUALITY AND APPEARANCE, AND YOU KNOW, THE EXISTING METAL BUILDING WHICH WE HAD -- WE HAD PLANS TO KEEP IT, BUT IT IS NOT VERY ATTRACTIVE AND IT IS SITTING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COURTYARD, AND IF WE DIDN'T -- I MEAN, IF WE DIDN'T EXECUTE THAT MID ALTERNATE, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE SOLUTION FOR THE RESTROOMS, AND THAT IS MORE COST AND REDESIGN, AND WHATNOT FOR THAT. >> AT THIS POINT, I DON'T GET THE RESTROOMS. BUT -- >> I DON'T WANT TO BRING THEM BACK. >> I DON'T WANT TO REINVENT THE WHEEL. THE STORAGE IS A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE IF YOU ARE TELLING ME THAT IS 60% -- >> 60% OF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE. >> RIGHT, THAT WILL BE A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A STORAGE SHED. THAT RIGHT THERE, WOULD TAKE CARE OF DNS, AND THEN WE COULD GO BUY SOME STORAGE FACILITIES. NO OFFENSE, BUT THIS ISN'T OUR HOUSE. >> WELL, WE COULD LOOK -- ONE THING THAT WOULD BE RELATIVELY EXPEDIENT TO PRICE WOULD BE TO JUST DELETE THE PORTION OF THAT BUILDING WHICH IS THAT STORAGE, THAT GARAGE, THE STORAGE FACILITY, AND KEEP THE BUILDING THAT YOU GOT RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE SOME OF THE COST IS FOR DEMOLITION REMOVAL AND CLEANING UP WHERE THE EXISTING BUILDING IS. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A QUICK SOLUTION. IF WE WERE TO COMPLETELY DELETE THAT BUILDING, IT IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT REDESIGN BECAUSE IT INVOLVES PLUMBING, MECHANICAL, AND ALL OF THAT. THAT WAS A REASON WHY WE FELT LIKE IT WAS NOT PRUDENT TO DELETE THAT, AND THEN HAVE TO DO REDESIGN, PROBABLY SPEND MORE MONEY TO RENOVATE THE INTERIOR FOR NEW RESTROOMS, AND TO BUILD THE GROUND UP NEW RESTROOMS. IT IS -- YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT, YOU ARE JUST CHASING, YOU KNOW, MONEY THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE THERE. >> I'M OFF THE RESTROOM ARGUMENT FOR THE MOMENT, I'M ON THE STORAGE SHED. I WILL ASK MS. FERNANDEZ OR WHOEVER WANTS TO JUMP IN HERE -- IT WOULD NOT BE PRACTICAL TO JUST LEAVE THAT STORAGE SHED ALONE FOR NOW AND SHIFT THAT MONEY, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL BE $200,000 PLUS BECAUSE YOU HAVE DEMO IN THERE, TO COME AND MOVE THAT TO DNS, AND TAKE CARE OF WHAT IS NEEDED AT DNS. AND THEN, WE ARE TRULY TOUCHING THE ENTIRE FACILITY, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A HOME RUN FOR COMMISSIONER MAREZ AND THIS COURT, BECAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU WERE GOING TO LEAVE THE PUBLIC VOTING IN A CRAPPY WAY. NO OFFENSE, BUT THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING FOR -- I'M JUST TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING -- >> DOES THAT CHANGE OUR ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS CONTRACT? >> NO. >> IS THAT A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, OR CAN WE MOVE FORWARD? >> NO. MY OPINION IS THAT IS A CHANGE THAT COULD BE EXECUTED IN A CHANGE ORDER EXPEDIENTLY. >> AWESOME, THEN I THINK THAT IS A BETTER IDEA, MOVING FORWARD. >> FOR SURE. [02:00:02] >> I DON'T -- I CAN'T HEAR YOU, I'M SORRY. >> I AGREE. LET'S GO FORWARD. >> OKAY, SO, YOU ARE OKAY, THEN, WITH LEAVING THE STORAGE SHED ALONE, AND MOVING THAT MONEY TO DNF? >> YES, SIR. THIS IS A COUNTYWIDE PROJECT. I APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT AND IT MAKES SENSE, SO LET'S GET THIS DONE. MR. VICTOR, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A BIG HEADACHE FOR YOU, BUT LET'S KEEP GOING. LET'S GET THIS PROJECT DONE. THANK YOU, ALL. >> TAKE CARE. >> I AGREE. >> I WOULD MAKE A MOTION, THEN, TO AMEND WHATEVER WE ARE PASSING TODAY TO ELIMINATE -- >> A CHANGE ORDER. >> HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT, THAT WHAT IS PROPOSED IN FRONT OF US TODAY, WE ARE TAKING OUT THE STORAGE -- >> WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. MICHAEL IS TELLING US WE CAN'T DO IT TODAY. >> I'M NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T. YOU'LL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO. BUT, I THINK WHAT YOU DESCRIBED IS THAT THIS IDEA WOULD COME ABOUT IN THE FORM OF A CHANGE ORDER, SO I THINK WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO IS PASS THE CONTRACT AS IS, SUBJECT TO A CHANGE ORDER BEING BROUGHT BACK, SPECIFICALLY AS HE ALL DESCRIBED. >> YES. >> THAT MAKES SENSE. >> SUBJECT TO -- OKAY. BUT, THE CONTRACT, AS IS -- >> BECAUSE THE CHANGE ORDER IS AFTER AN ORIGINAL CONTRACT IS MADE, SO WE DID THE CONTRACT AND WE DISCOVERED THERE IS AN ISSUE WE NEED TO SOLVE, AND THAT DISCUSSION HAPPENS BETWEEN THE ARCHITECT AND CONTRACTOR IN ONE, THEN THEY COME BACK TO THE COURT AND THEY GIVE YOU THE CHANGE ORDER DETAILS. AT THAT POINT, THAT IS WHEN THE COURT WOULD VOTE TO APPROVE THAT CHANGE ORDER. IF YOU DO IT BEFORE AS YOU ARE SUGGESTING, WE HAVE TO REWRITE THE CONTRACT AND COME BACK. >> IT COULD BE DONE BEFORE, BUT IT WOULD BECOME A MESS IF IT WAS DONE THAT WAY. >> THAT IS A FAIR EXPLANATION. THAT IS A FAIR EXPLANATION. AS LONG AS IT IS CLEAR WITH THE INTENT OF THE COURT IS, WHICH IS TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT SUBJECT TO A CHANGE ORDER BEING EXECUTED THAT ELIMINATES THE STORAGE UNIT AND REMOVES THAT, AND PLACES THOSE FUNDS TO RENOVATE DNF. THAT WOULD BE THE MOTION. RIGHT? >> YES. AND THEN, I WOULD JUST ADD ON TO THAT, AS GRANT HAS US DO WHEN WE DO PARTIAL FUNDING, IS THAT THE STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL DISCOVERY FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,900,000.00 -- THAT IS WHERE THAT PORTION OF THE FUNDING IS COMING FROM, THAT IS CLEARLY STATED ON THE CONTRACT, AS WELL. >> YES. >> SECOND THAT MOTION. >> AT THE RISK OF COMPLICATING THIS FURTHER, I HOPE THIS MEANS THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT NOW, BECAUSE IF WE WAIT ON EXECUTING THE CONTRACT UNTIL WE HAVE THE ACTUAL DOLLARS FOR THE CHANGE, WE HAVE DESIGN WORK TO DO, WE HAVE TO REDUCE THAT BUILDING, THERE IS STRUCTURE INVOLVED, THERE IS MECHANICAL INVOLVED, WE HAVE DESIGN WORK -- FIRST OF ALL, JUST TO LOP OFF THE PORTION OF THE BUILDING WE ARE DELETING, AND THEN TO SPEND BACK ON THIS, WE HAVE TO GET INTO THESE NEW WINGS AND DETERMINE WHAT NEEDS TO BE SPENT, HOW, WHERE, AND HAVE THAT PRICE, THE LOGISTICS OF THE PRICING OF THIS CHANGE IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME. >> THAT IS WHY HE SAID TO PUT IT PAST THE CONTRACT TODAY. >> I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE BECAUSE WHEN YOU SAID "SUBJECT TO," I WAS AFRAID THAT MEANT HE WOULD WAIT ON EXECUTING UNTIL -- >> NO, NO, NO. WE JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW OUR DIRECTION FOR YOU WHEN YOU ARE DOING THAT. >> YEAH, WE GET WE NEED TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. >> SO, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS. ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> ITEM D1 -- OH, THAT WAS IT. SORRY, WE ALREADY DID THAT ONE. >> JUST ONE QUICK -- >> YES? >> IT IS NOT DONE COMPLETELY I GUESS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T TELL THEM TO DO THAT. SO, THERE IS GOING TO BE AN EXTRA CAT -- COST FOR THAT ONE, RIGHT? >> THE COST CHANGES EVERY TIME HE HAS TO GO BACK AND CHANGE, YES. >> FORTUNATELY, IT SEEMS LIKE A NEW THING IF YOU ARE JUST DOING THE RESTROOMS, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THAT IS A MAJOR ISSUE OR DESIGN CHANGE. SO, YEAH. YOU HAVE TO START IT, TO THEN DO THE CHANGE ORDER. >> OKAY, WE HAVE TO DO D AND F. [2. Discuss and consider approval of Change Order No. 2 for the Nueces County Veterans & Social Services Renovation Project.] >> OKAY, ITEM NUMBER TWO, THEN -- ARE WE GOOD, GUYS? OKAY. I DO NUMBER TWO, DISCUSSING AN APPROVAL CHANGE ORDER FOR THE COUNTY VETERANS AND SOCIAL SERVICES RENOVATION PROJECT. I [02:05:02] THINK THIS IS INCREASING BY $6343.85. I HAVE A NOTE IN HERE -- HAS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY LOOK AT THIS? WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THIS? >> WE JUST NEED SOME CLARIFICATION. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ONE ATTACHED WAS NOT THE SAME AS THE ONE THAT WAS REVIEWED, OR THERE WAS ONE THAT HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED BY OUR OFFICE, AND I WAS WONDERING IF GRANTS -- >> WELL, FOR RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO BRING THIS UP. WHATEVER YOU BRING FOR OUR CHANGES NEED TO BE THE SAME THING THAT YOU TURN INTO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THAT THEY SAY THEY HAVE LOOKED AT. LET'S MAKE SURE IF ANYTHING CHANGES IN THE PROCESS FOR EVERY DEPARTMENT, ANYTHING COMES FORWARD AT THE LAST MINUTE, THAT IT GOES THROUGH THAT SAME PROCESS AND YOU ARE PRESENTING WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. SO, HAS THIS ONE DONE SO? IS THIS DIFFERENT, OR IS THIS SOMETHING ELSE? >> JJ, I THINK WE ADDED -- I THINK THERE ARE MINOR MODIFICATIONS TO THE CHANGE ORDER. WITH THAT VERBIAGE, WE GAVE IT TO -- >> OKAY, SO, IT JUST HASN'T COME BACK TO US, BUT YOU HAVE ADDED THE REQUEST? >> YES, IT WAS ADDED. >> OKAY, SO -- >> WHAT WAS ADDED, THEN? >> I KNOW THERE WAS SOME INFORMATION THAT WAS ADDED TO, I GUESS, ON THE CURRENT CONTRACT. BUT, IT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. I KNOW WE -- >> SO, THIS IS ALREADY DONE AND WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, ANYWAY? >> YES, MA'AM, THAT IS CORRECT. THAT IS CORRECT, YES. IT IS ALREADY COMPLETE. >> THE CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY OUR OFFICE WERE ONLY, I THINK, TO KEEP IT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CFR'S AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO -- THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD HAVE -- >> OKAY, OKAY. AND THE FUNDS ARE STILL THERE, THE AVAILABLE FUNDS ARE STILL THERE >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> I DO HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? [3. Discuss and consider approval of Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Agreement between Nueces County and LBL Architects, dba Shelter Planners of America for the NC Animal Care Facility.] ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. ITEM NUMBER THREE, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPROVAL AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE PROFESSIONAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN NUECES COUNTY AND LBL ARCHITECTS, SHELTER PLANNERS OF AMERICA FOR THE OASIS COUNTY ANIMAL CARE FACILITY. THIS IS NAME CHANGE ONLY, I UNDERSTAND? >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO PASS. >> SO, WHAT DOES THIS DO TO OUR TIMELINE? AS FAR AS MOVING THIS ALONG -- >> NO, SIR. >> YES, THE MICROPHONE. >> UNFORTUNATELY, THIS REMAINS THE SAME, SO WE ARE STILL DOING BUSINESS WITH SHELTER PETS OF AMERICA, THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE CONTRACT. >> THAT WAS MY BIGGEST WORRY LIKE, OH, NO, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SLOW DOWN AGAIN. THANK YOU. >> SO, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A [1. Discuss and consider conditional selection of Amistad Community Health Center for Calderon Building Primary Care Services Facility Lease (CSP No. 3262-23); and related matters.] SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAME SIGN? MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER E1, PURCHASE -- DISCUSS AND CONSIDER CONDITIONAL SELECTION OF EMMA STONE COUNTY HEALTH CENTER FOR CAULDRON YOU BUILDING PRIMARY CARE SERVICES FACILITY LEASE, AND THIS IS JUST FOR THEM TO LEASE OUR BUILDING? >> YES, JUST A LEASE OF SPACE. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES. NOW, WE ARE AT THE AUDITORS, DO WE ALL -- OH, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT IT? I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WERE SITTING THERE. I SAW YOU EARLIER AND I THOUGHT YOU WERE AT THE -- YES. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR MY TOUR THE OTHER DAY. YES, THANK YOU. YES. THANKS FOR POINTING THAT OUT, COMMISSIONER. DO WE NEED TO WAIT UNTIL COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ IS BACK IN HERE FOR THE VOTE ON THIS, FOR ITEM [2. Approve the Monthly Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 for the nine months ending July 31, 2024.] NUMBER ONE? DALE? >> PROBABLY, YES. >> OKAY, WE WILL GIVE HIM A MINUTE, SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, APPROVE THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDING JULY 31ST, 2024. >> YOUR HONOR, WE HAVE THAT REPORT FOR JULY 31ST. THAT REMAINS 60% OF THE YOUR REMAINING BALANCES. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH TO SHOW YOU THE REVENUE COLLECTED IN PAGE FIVE FOR EACH OF THE FUNDS. AS WELL [02:10:02] AS THE EXPENSES, SHOWING WHAT OUR FUND BALANCE AT THIS TIME WOULD BE, FOR EACH. GOING THROUGH THE NONMAJOR FUNDS, THERE ARE ISSUES FOR EXPENSES, THEY ARE ALL DOING VERY WELL. IF YOU LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUND ON PAGE 62, I BELIEVE IT IS? LET'S SEE. 61. YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE 30% OF OUR BUDGET REMAINING, WITH 60% OF THE YEAR AVAILABLE. WE DON'T SHOW A FEW BOTTOMS HERE, BUT THAT IS A RELATIVELY PROMISING OUTLOOK. WE KNOW A LOT OF THE DEPARTMENTS ARE USING UP THEIR BUDGETS, SO WE EXPECT TO HAVE -- WHEN THE YEAR ENDS, WE WILL PROBABLY BE AT AROUND 100% COLLECTION OF OUR REVENUE. THAT IS PROMISING, HOWEVER OUR EXPENSES WILL BE CLOSER TO 85% OR EVEN NORTHERN OF 92%, SO THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR OUR FUND BALANCE FOR YEAR END BALANCES. WE ALSO SAW TRANSFERS AND OUR DEPOSIT FOR THE REVENUE REPORTS FROM EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS, THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN THE REPORT. I AM GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE, BUT THAT IS THE MONTHLY FINANCE REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 31ST, 2024. >> JUDGE, JUST A QUICK QUESTION? >> GO AHEAD. >> I KNOW THE COUNTY CLERK HAD SOME DISCREPANCIES WITH HER NUMBERS ON HERE. HAVE Y'ALL RESOLVED THAT? >> THOSE HAVE BEEN RESOLVED, YES. >> BUT, ARE THEY RESOLVED ON THIS REPORT? >> THEY SHOULD BECOME IN THE AUGUST REPORT. >> IN THE NEXT MONTH? >> THE NEXT REPORT, YES. >> RIGHT, CAN WE PASS THIS, SUBJECT TO THIS BEING CORRECTED? >> YES, YES. >> I KNOW FOR MINE, THERE ARE LOTS OF THEM. IT HITS AN EMAIL AUGUST 7TH RIGHT AFTER COURT TO SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO CORRECT THIS -- THEY WEREN'T CORRECTED UNTIL TODAY. >> WHERE IS THE LIST THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED? DO YOU HAVE THAT? >> SO, IT IS NOT CORRECTED IN THIS -- >> IT WILL BE CORRECTED ON THE NEXT REPORT, OKAY. SO, IF WE PASS THIS TODAY, IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE CORRECTIONS BEING MADE FOR THIS REPORT, GOING BACK AND MAKING THE CORRECTIONS IN THIS REPORT AND IN THE AUDITORS REPORT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> I AM OKAY WITH THAT, AS LONG AS WE AMEND THIS JULY REPORT LATER, BECAUSE I KNOW WE NEED TO PASS THESE REPORTS, BUT IF THEY ARE NOT CORRECT, WE CAN'T. BUT, IF WE PASS IT, SUBJECT TO IT BEING CORRECTED, NOT JUST FOR AUGUST BUT FOR JULY, THEN THAT SHOULD GET THIS ONE CORRECTED. >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> SO, GOING BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED FOR THE -- >> WELL, THAT'S A GOOD POINT. SUBJECT TO IT BEING CORRECTED FOR THE YEAR. LET'S SAY IT THAT WAY. >> IS THAT BECAUSE THE WORKDAY NEEDS CORRECTIONS? OR, TRANSITIONING HAS NOT MOVED OVER? OR, WHAT? JUST -- WE HAVE HAD TO MANUALLY ENTER A LOT OF THINGS, SO -- >> I DON'T KNOW WHY. I COULDN'T TELL YOU, MA'AM. I AM SURE LISA WILL BE WORKING ON THAT, BUT -- >> IT COULD BE FOR 10 YEARS. >> I HAVE CALLED OTHER COUNTIES AND IT WASN'T UNCOMMON FOR TRANSITIONS IN NEW COUNTY PROCEDURES, FOR THERE TO BE HICCUPS. SO, HICCUPS AND CONTINUAL MISTAKES ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, WHY I AM KIND OF ASKING, IS THIS JUST ONE OF THE -- >> SO, THESE ARE THE IDENTIFIED ERRORS I PREVIOUSLY ADDRESSED ON THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. WE ARE STILL WORKING ON CORRECTING THOSE. WE LOST BOTH OF OUR TEMPORARIES. JULIAN, THE ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT, HE LEFT TO GO TO THE CITY. WE HAD SOME TURNOVER, SO IT IS JUST TO LENGTHEN A LITTLE BIT, BUT LIKE I SAID, THOSE CORRECTIONS ARE BEING POSTED AND AS WE SPEAK, HE HAS THE MAJORITY OF THOSE DONE AND WE ARE GETTING THOSE CORRECTED. >> THE ISSUE I HAVE IS THE ARE GETTING POSTED, BUT THEY ARE POSTED IN WORKDAY, WITH US. THEY ARE NOT POSTED TO THE PUBLIC. SO, THE PUBLIC, WHAT THEY ARE SEEING IS JUST WRONG AND INACCURATE. THAT'S THE ISSUE I HAVE WITH IT. >> SO, THAT'S -- SO, THE NEW ONE IN AUGUST WILL BE THE PUBLISHED ONE THAT WILL HAVE THE CORRECTIONS. >> RIGHT, I AGREE. >> YES. >> BUT, THE ALSO -- THE ISSUE ALSO IS, YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE SUBMITTING TO THIS AGENDA IT WAS WRONG, YOU KNEW, BUT YOU CONTINUE TO SUBMIT AND YOU SAID, THERE ARE MISTAKES, THERE ARE PROBLEMS, AND WE WILL CORRECT THEM, BUT YOU CONTINUED TO SUBMIT THESE INACCURATE FINANCIAL REPORTS. KNOWING THEY ARE WRONG. >> I GET THE EXPENSES, THE EXPENSES ARE REFLECTED CORRECTLY, IT IS JUST WHERE THEY ARE SHOWN ON THE REPORT IS INCORRECT. >> BUT AGAIN, THAT IS AN ISSUE, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THOSE ARE CORRECT, BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT IF I AM AT A DEFICIT SOMEWHERE IN MY BUDGET, WHEN I AM REALLY NOT. YOU JUST DON'T PUT IT IN THE WRONG CATEGORY. IT IS STILL INACCURATE. I MEAN, I GET WHY THEY DID THAT, I JUST WANT THE COURT TO UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT, ALL RIGHT? WE WORK REALLY HARD TO BE GOOD STEWARDS WITH TAX DOLLARS, AND WHEN IT IS NOT REPORTED ACCURATELY, IT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE THAT WE ARE JUST SPENDING MONEY AND NOT PAYING ATTENTION, WASTING MONEY, AND THAT IS NOT [02:15:01] THE CASE. SO, I THINK I WOULD APPRECIATE THE AUDITORS OFFICE, KNOWING THAT YOU JUST NEED TO GET IN THERE, MAKE SURE YOUR REPORTS ARE GOOD, JUST GET IN THERE AND FIX THOSE NUMBERS. IF THEY ARE IN THE ACTUAL SYSTEM, THEN YOU NEED TO SUBMIT A CORRECTION WITH THE REPORT WHEN YOU COME INTO COURT. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING. >> SO, YOU WOULD LIKE THEM IN THE FUTURE, WITH THESE CHANGES, TO DO AN AMENDMENT ON THAT LIST, EVERY CORRECTION THAT WAS MADE IN THE PREVIOUS MONTHLY -- >> YES, I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. >> HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT? HAVE YOU SHARED THAT WITH ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS, AS WELL? WILL YOU SHARE THAT INFORMATION? >> WE WILL. YEAH, WE WILL. BUT AGAIN, WHEN WE SENT THE EMAIL ON AUGUST 7TH, THE DAY AFTER COURT WHEN WE SAW THE ISSUES -- WE SAW THE ISSUES PRIOR TO THAT, BUT -- >> SOME OF THE QUESTIONS -- OR, SOME OF THE ISSUES HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH WORKDAY. FOR INSTANCE, THE BILLINGS FOR ELECTIONS OVER TIME THAT NEEDS TO BE MOVED TO YOUR ELECTIONS BECAUSE THEY WERE BUILT OUT, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH -- >> THANK YOU. IT HAD TO DO WITH Y'ALL. >> LET HER FINISH, DON'T TALK OVER HER. JUST A SECOND. >> IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WORKDAY. IT IS THE PROCESS OF Y'ALL GIVING US THE BILL, AND US REVIEWING AND PREPARING, AND POSTING IT. >> RIGHT. NO, I AM WITH YOU, 100%. IT IS WITH Y'ALL, DOING Y'ALL'S PART. I GET YOU. >> RIGHT, JUST BECAUSE IT TAKES YOU TIME TO PREPARE THE BILLING TO THE ENTITIES FOR THE ELECTIONS, IT TAKES US TIME TO REVIEW, POST, AND PROCESS THOSE POSTINGS. YES, MA'AM. >> THANK YOU -- THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE ISSUE. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. >> NO, THANK YOU. AND I KNOW THEY ARE WORKING ON IT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. I JUST WILL -- WOULD LIKE FOR THAT TO BE A PART OF WHAT YOU, YOU KNOW, GIVE TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, WHAT YOU PUT ON THE AGENDA, AND IF IT IS GOING TO BE INACCURATE, HAVE SOMETHING ON THERE THAT SAYS, "THESE ARE NOT ACCURATE." OR, I GUESS JUST DON'T SUBMIT INACCURATE NUMBERS. LISA, PLEASE. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU KNOW -- WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO CHANGE. YOU KNOW THAT. YOU KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN THE WRONG BUCKET. Y'ALL JUST HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO IT, YET. AND I UNDERSTAND THE TURNOVER. I DO. >> I AGREE WITH THE PROCESS. MAYBE, IF YOU ARE PRESENTING SOMETHING, YOU SHOULD PRESENT A PAGE WITH A LIST OF CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE MADE, AND MAYBE THAT WOULD SOLVE IT, IT MAKES IT PUBLIC, THAT THERE ARE CHANGES THAT ARE REQUIRED. THE PROBLEM I COULD SEE WITH THIS IS THAT IS ALSO HAVE TO BE VERIFIED. JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY TURNS IT IN, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY A CHANGE THAT IS GOING TO BE -- >> AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. >> RIGHT. SO, THERE IS SOME TIME IN THERE, AND I THINK WHAT WE ARE ALL ASKING IS FOR A LITTLE BIT OF PATIENCE BETWEEN EVERYBODY, A LITTLE BIT OF COOPERATION IN TURNING IT IN. LET'S JUST TRY TO DO THE BEST. WE ARE ALL HUMAN AND WE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE MISTAKES, BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE THE NORM, SO LET'S TRY A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO GIVE ACCURATE -- AND IF IT IS PRESENTED HERE, EVEN IF IT IS JUST A LIST OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING FORWARD IN THE NEXT REPORT, IF SOMETHING COULD SHOW THAT, THAT YOU WERE WORKING ON IT, THAT MIGHT BE AN IDEA, A SOLUTION THAT EVERYBODY CAN WORK WITH. >> YES, MA'AM. OF COURSE. >> OKAY. SO, ARE YOU STILL GOING WITH YOUR MOTION? DO WE HAVE A MOTION, COMMISSIONER CHESNEY, TO APPROVE, SUBJECT TO THE FINAL CHANGES BEING MADE? >> YES, MA'AM. IT WOULD BE TO PASS THE REST OF THE REPORT, SUBJECT TO THE COUNTY CLERKS CORRECTIONS BEING MADE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. >> YES. >> I WILL SECOND THAT. ALL [3. Approve Budget Amendment No. 12 for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.] THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. EDDIE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THE ITEM PASSES. ITEM THREE, APPROVE THE BUDGET AMENDMENT NUMBER 12 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024. >> PAGE ONE IS FOR THE GENERAL FUND, PAGE TWO IS FOR OUR PARKS, FOR OUR GENERAL FUND. SOME OF THE VACANCIES THAT REQUIRE A LOT OF TRAINING, THAT YOU MUST SUBMIT TO STAFF, SO NEED SOME TROUBLE TO COVER THAT AND WE ARE WILLING TO REDUCE SOME OF THOSE OTHER EXPENSES TO COVER THAT EXPENSE. SAME THING WITH THE MEDICAL, THEY HAVE HAD SOME VACANCIES THAT THEY NEEDED TO COVER, SO THEY WERE ABLE TO COVER SOME OF THE COST WITH THE BALANCE IS HERE. THE COASTAL PARKS, ON PAGE TWO, YOU WILL SEE THAT THEY ARE -- PARDON ME -- AGAIN, WITH SOME VACANCIES. AND OF COURSE, THE SUMMARY AS YOU ARE COMING UP, THEY HAD SOME OVERTIME THEY HAD TO TAKE CARE OF. AS YOU KNOW, THE PROCESSES ARE VERY HIGH RIGHT NOW, SO THEY HAD TO MOVE SOME COSTS TO COVER THESE EXPENSES. MY STAFF HAS LOOKED OVER THESE CHANGE ORDERS, AND THE FUNDS ARE THERE FOR THESE CHANGES, AND WE SUBMIT BUDGET CHANGE ORDER NUMBER 12 FOR YOUR REVIEW AND ACCEPTANCE. [02:20:18] >> I MAKE THE MOTION TO PASS. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES, THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS -- I'M NOT MISSING [4. Approve Quarterly Investment Reports ending December 31, 2023, March 31, 2024, and June 30, 2024] SOMETHING, RIGHT? NO, FOUR. I WAS LIKE, I KNEW I WAS MISSING THAT. APPROVE THE QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORTS, ENDING DECEMBER 21ST, 2023, MARCH 31ST, 2024, AND JUNE 30TH, 2024. IN THE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MET WITH THIS, AND WE ALL VERIFIED AND AGREED WITH THE TOTALS ON THIS, SO I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO PASS. >> SECOND. [5. Discuss and consider increasing the allowable limit percentage for diversifying the operating account portfolio by type for local government investment pools from 90% to 95%.] >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES. ITEM NUMBER FIVE, DURING THIS MEETING, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER INCREASING THE ALLOWABLE LIMIT PERCENTAGE FOR DIVERSIFYING THE OPERATING ACCOUNT PORTFOLIO BY THE TYPE FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOLS FROM 90% TO 95%. THE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MET AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THIS, ASKING FOR THE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVAL. >> CAN YOU EXPLAIN? I READ ALL OF THIS BUT, JUST, WHY? >> SURE, COMMISSIONER. AS WE KNOW RIGHT NOW, IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW, WHERE INFLATION RATES ARE AND WHERE FEDERAL RATES ARE AT THE MOMENT, THE LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS WE HAVE FOR A POSSIBILITY ARE AT THE SAME INTEREST RATE AS OUR CURRENT POOL FUNDS. SO, RIGHT NOW, THE MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDS ARE INVESTED IN LOCAL POOL FUNDS, WHICH WE HAVE ACCESS TO ON A DAILY BASIS, IF WE NEED THE FUNDS. WHERE YOU ARE SEEING THESE ARE THREE, FOUR YEARS OUT. SO, WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR FUNDS IN OUR INVESTMENT POOL FUNDS, NOT THE INVESTMENT LONG-TERM, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SAME BASIC INTEREST RATE. WE HAVE THAT AT THE MOMENT, AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE FUNDS. SO, WE ARE JUST TRYING TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW. THE MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDS ARE IN OUR POOLS NOW. THIS MIGHT CHANGE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL RATE MIGHT START GOING DOWN, THERE MIGHT BE A BIGGER GAP BETWEEN THE LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM. RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NOT A BIG ENOUGH GAP TO INVEST LONG-TERM. >> SO, WE CAN UTILIZE THIS WELL IT IS -- YES. >> IT IS JUST SIMPLE. THE RATES ARE GREAT, WE WANT TO KEEP IT THERE, AND -- >> MICROPHONE. >> THE RATES ARE WONDERFUL. AND IF YOU MOVE IT -- WE ARE AT 95% RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 90%. SO, IF Y'ALL DON'T APPROVE THIS, WE HAVE TO TAKE 5% OUT -- >> THAT IS WHAT I WAS ASKING. OKAY. THAT, I UNDERSTAND. I'M GOOD WITH THAT. OKAY, THANK YOU. >> OKAY. >> AND I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> YES. >> AND COMMISSIONER, YOU SECONDED? I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ, WAS THAT YOUR MOTION? DID YOU SECOND? YES? OKAY. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO PASS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES. I WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO ITEM NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE COMMISSIONER MAREZ LEFT THE ROOM. IF I COULD GET EVERYONE TO STAY HERE FOR A FEW MINUTES? >> I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE INVESTMENT REPORTS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT NUMBER -- I FORGOT WHAT NUMBER IT WAS. >> NUMBER FOUR? >> YES, NUMBER FOUR. WE SAID WE APPROVED IT, HOW DO WE KNOW IF IT IS CORRECT? ARE WE MATCHING THOSE WITH THE BANK STATEMENTS? OR, ARE WE CHECKING THE BALANCES? >> SO, IT IS CREATED IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, AND THEN THERE IS A -- >> THERE IS A CHECKING BALANCE TO IT. >> IN MY OFFICE, YEAH, THE BALANCE IS STRAIGHT FROM THE BANK. SO, IT REALLY IS EXACTLY THE SAME. >> IT MATCHES THE BANK STATEMENT? >> YES. >> AND NOW, THE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE -- >> BECAUSE KARA'S OFFICE IS GETTING ACTUAL BANK STATEMENTS, AS WELL, SENT TO US TO VERIFY. >> WE ARE SENDING EVERYTHING. IT IS GOOD TO HAVE THAT DATA, [1. Discuss and consider adopting an Order to authorize and approve Request for Proposals (RFP) as the method of procurement for Commissioners Court Room – Audio/Video Conferencing Equipment, to authorize the Purchasing Agent to publish a notice, and to delegate evaluation authority to a selection committee, and related matters.] SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN KNOW. >> AND NOW, WE ARE MISSING ANOTHER COMMISSIONER, SO WE WILL WAIT, AGAIN. OKAY. >> WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM G1, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDER TO ADOPT PROPOSALS AS A METHOD OF PROCUREMENT FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT ROOMS, AUDIO/VIDEO CONFERENCE EQUIPMENT, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASING AGENT TO PUBLISH A NOTICE AND DELEGATE EVALUATION AUTHORITY TO A SELECTION COMMITTEE, AND RELATED MATTERS. NOW, THAT IS A MOUTHFUL. THIS IS SOMETHING WE APPROVED AND [02:25:02] THE FUNDING WAS APPROVED FOR, AND THIS JUST GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY AND AUTHORITY TO GO FORWARD AND MOVE WITH THIS. SO, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT AN ORDER TO AUTHORIZE GOING OUT FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AS METHOD OF PROCUREMENT FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT ROOM AUDIO/VIDEO PROJECTS AND -- WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE REST OF THAT? MICHAEL, DO YOU WANT TO HELP US OUT HERE? SORRY. THE DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE COMMITTEE? >> YES, AND I WILL BE THE AGENT TO POST THAT. >> THANK YOU! THAT WASN'T ON HERE. >> DID YOU GET ALL OF THAT? >> I DID. >> YES, THANK YOU. >> IS A MOUTHFUL. >> JUDGE, IS THIS ARPA FUNDING? IT SAID "AVAILABLE FUNDS." >> FOR THIS COURT TO UPDATE, YES. >> DIDN'T WE DO AN UPDATE NOT TOO LONG AGO? OR, IS THAT NOT PART OF OUR BROADCASTING CAPABILITIES? >> I HAVE BEEN HERE ABOUT THREE AND HALF YEARS IN THIS POSITION, AND WE HAVE NOT UPGRADED ANYTHING IN HERE. >> MAYBE IT IS A CONTRACT FOR SWAGIT, OR WHOEVER? >> YES, YOU WILL SEE THE ANNUAL PAYMENTS FOR SWAGIT. >> I THOUGHT WE DID SOMETHING WITH THEM? >> RELATIVELY RECENTLY. PRE-COVID, IT COULD HAVE BEEN -- >> WHAT ABOUT THAT CAMERA, RIGHT THERE? MAYBE IT WAS JUST THE CAMERA WE GOT, OR -- >> YEAH, THE CAMERA EQUIPMENT. >> I THOUGHT WE VOTED ON SOMETHING THAT DEALT WITH THE BROADCASTING CAPABILITIES OF IT? MAYBE IT WAS JUST A CONTRACT RENEWAL? IS THAT WHAT WE DID? >> IT IS ONLY AN ANNUAL RENEWAL, WE ARE NOT UNDER CONTRACT WITH THEM. >> SO, MAYBE THAT'S WHAT THIS ONE WAS, IT JUST SEEMED SO RECENT THAT -- OKAY, THANK YOU. >> I MADE THE MOTION ALREADY AND I WON'T TRY TO REPEAT THAT. BUT, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES. SO, NOW, I AM GOING TO GO BACK TO ITEM F1. WE HAVE TO SET THE CEILING RATE OR SET THE RATE FOR THE 2024 TAX RATE FOR NUECES COUNTY AND THE NUECES COUNTY FARM TO MARKET. THIS WILL MAKE THEM -- WE HAVE TO TAKE A RECORD VOTE AND WE HAVE TO AUTHORIZE THE PUBLISHING OF THE APPROPRIATE NOTICES. >> YOUR STAFF AT MY STAFF HAS GONE THROUGH SEVERAL SCENARIOS OF WHAT WE DETERMINED THE PROPOSED BUDGET WILL BE, AND THOSE ARE THE ITEMS WE BROUGHT TO THE COURT IN THE LAST BUDGET WORKSHOP WE HAD, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A POSSIBLE ADJUSTMENT IN FINALIZING THE NUMBERS, TO BRING IT TO YOU. BUT, TO GET THE BALANCE, WE PROBABLY NEED FOR THOSE DISCUSSION ITEMS, AS WELL AS THE COST OF LIVING INCREASE, WE ARE GOING TO SET THE CEILING FOR THE RATE -- IT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE GOING TO VOTE THIS RATE, BUT THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT WE NEED TO START WITH GOING DOWN FROM THAT POINT -- THE VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE. SO, THE TOTAL TAX RATE WE ARE PROPOSING IS 0.29379 WITH THE GENERAL FUND BEING 0.223074. AND THEN, 0.396339. THE ROAD FUND, 0.33159, AND UNUSED IS 0.13487. SO, WE ARE PROPOSING TO DO THE APPROVAL RATE WITH THE CEILING RATE AT 0.279379. >> SO, AND THIS IS JUST PROPOSING, GUYS, SO I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO USE THE VOTER APPROVED, PLUS THE UNUSED INCREMENT TAX RATE AT THE 0.27939 RATE . >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. MYSELF AND COMMISSIONER MAREZ ARE AYES. COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ? >> AYE. >> COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ? IT IS A RECORD VOTE. I'M SORRY. >> AYE. >> COMMISSIONER CHESNEY? >> NO. >> THEN, THE NEXT ONE FOR THE FARM TO MARKET? >> THAT WAS ENCLOSED, YOUR HONOR. >> THAT WAS ALL OF THEM? OKAY, THANK YOU. I WAS WRITING THOSE NUMBERS DOWN TO REMEMBER, IN CASE I HAD TO GET IT AGAIN. SO, WE ARE DONE HERE, WITH THAT PORTION. >> YES. >> MOVING ON, GOING INTO EXECUTIVE, I WILL NEED TO BRING UP 4C FROM EXECUTIVE, AND I WILL NEED A 5.0 VOTE TO DISCUSS AN EXECUTIVE, AND THIS IS ON THE -- >> WHICH ONE? >> DELIBERATE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE CONTRACT BEING NEGOTIATED IN CORPUS CHRISTI AND NUECES COUNTY TAX CODE REINVESTMENT, SECTION 6. SO, I WANT TO GET A [02:30:07] 5-0 VOTE. I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO TAKE IT INTO EXECUTIVE. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, [4. EXECUTIVE SESSION: PUBLIC NOTICE is given that the Commissioners Court may elect to go into an Executive Session anytime during the meeting to discuss matters listed anywhere on the Agenda, when authorized by the provisions of the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code. To the extent there has been a past practice of distinguishing items for public deliberation and those for executive session, the public is advised that the Court is departing from that practice, and reserves the right to discuss any listed agenda items in executive session when authorized by law to do so. In the event the Commissioners Court elects to go into Executive Session regarding an agenda item, the section or sections of the Open Meetings Act authorizing the Executive Session will be publicly announced by the presiding officer. In accordance with the authority of the Government Code, Vernon’s Texas Codes, Sections 551.071, 551.072, 551.073, 551.074, 551.0745, 551.076, 551.086, 551.087, the Commissioners Court will hold an Executive Session to consult with attorney(s) including matters related to litigation; deliberate regarding real property, prospective gift(s), personnel matters, including termination, county advisory bodies, security devices, and/or economic development negotiations and other matters that may be discussed in an Executive Session. Upon completion of the Executive Session, the Commissioners Court may in an open session take such action as appropriate on items discussed in an Executive Session.] AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. SO, NOW, WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. PUBLIC NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MAY ELECT TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT ANY TIME DURING THE MEETING TO DISCUSS MATTERS POSTED ANYWHERE ON THE AGENDA, WHEN AUTHORIZED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. TO THE EXTENT THERE HAS BEEN A PAST PRACTICE OF DISTINGUISHING ITEMS FOR PUBLIC DELIBERATION AND THOSE FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE PUBLIC IS ADVISED THAT THE COURT IS DEPARTING FROM THAT PRACTICE, AND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DISCUSS ANY LISTED AGENDA ITEMS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WHEN AUTHORIZED BY LAW TO DO SO. IN THE EVENT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ELECTS TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING AN AGENDA ITEM, THE SECTION OR SECTIONS OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, BERMAN'S TEXAS CODES, SECTIONS 551.071, 551.072, 551.073, 551.074, 551.0745, 551.076, 551.086, 551.087, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL HOLD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH ATTORNEYS, INCLUDING MATTERS RELATED TO LITIGATION, DELIBERATE REGARDING REAL PROPERTY, PERSPECTIVE GIFTS, PERSONNEL MATTERS, INCLUDING TERMINATION, COUNTY ADVISORY BODIES, SECURITY DEVICES, AND/OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS AND OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY BE DISCUSSED IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. UPON COMPLETION OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MAKE IN AN OPEN SESSION TAKE SUCH ACTION AS APPROPRIATE ON ITEMS DISCUSSED IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. ITEM A TODAY IS CONSULT WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ON LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE JULY 31ST, 24 94 -- 2024 CLAIM OF HECTOR BELTRAN AND RELATED MATTERS. TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.071. ITEM B, CONSULT WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY REGARDING LEGAL MATTERS RELATED TO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI AND NUECES COUNTY TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER SIX AND RELATED MATTERS. TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.071. ITEM C, DELIBERATE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATED TO A CONTRACT BEING NEGOTIATED, AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI AT NUECES COUNTY TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER SIX AND RELATED MATTERS -- TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.0725. ITEM D, CONSULT WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY REGARDING THE HIRING AND REHIRING EMPLOYMENT PROCESS OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND TAKE ACTION IN OPEN SESSION REGARDING OUR PERSONNEL POLICY RULES, IF NECESSARY. AND I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE 551.071. THERE IS NO NUMBER ATTACHED TO IT. >> I PRESUME -- >> YES. >> YES. >> AND E, DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT, DUTIES, DISCIPLINE, OR DISMISSAL OF THE ASSISTANT COUNTY LIBRARY AND, PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.074 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. DISCUSS, CONSIDER, AND TAKE ACTION IN REGULAR SESSION, IF NECESSARY, INCLUDING AUTHORIZING A SUPPLEMENTAL PAY. AND IT IS -- WHAT TIME? >> IT IS 1:49 AND WE ARE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE. I HAVE ITEM A. COMMISSIONER MAREZ I BELIEVE? >> YES. MOTION TO APPROVE THE JULY 31ST 2024 CLAIM OF HECTOR FOR $278.67 CONTINGENT ON EXECUTION OF ALL SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE DOCUMENTS. AND ALLOW THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE RELATED AGREEMENT. ALSO TO DIRECT THE CLERK AND THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO EXPEDITE PAYMENT. >> I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR, THE AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. MOVING ON TO ITEM E. COMMISSIONER CHESNEY, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MOTIONS. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> YES. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE IDA GARDNER TO TEMPORARY SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE COUNTY LIBRARY AND TO MOVE CRYSTAL DRILL AND AS ACTING DIRECTOR WITH THE PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THE DIRECTOR AND FREEZING CRYSTAL DRILL AND CURRENT POSITION UNTIL FURTHER MOTION BY COMMISSIONERS COURT. [02:35:04] >> I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION >> PER CURRENT POSITION. >> CORRECT. THE POSITION SHE IS MOVING UP TO. >> I SECOND THAT MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. [ Adjournment in Memory (upon request)] >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES. DO WE HAVE ANY ADJOURNMENTS IN MEMORY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? ANYONE HAVE ONE? >> I HAVE ONE, JUDGE. GEORGE, , PAST WASTE PEACEFULLY COMPLETELY IN HER HOME IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. SHE WAS 88 YEARS OLD. SHE MOVE WITH HER PARENTS TO CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS WHERE SHE ATTENDED AND GRADUATED FROM WBA HIGH SCHOOL IN 1953. SHE ATTENDED DELMAR COLLEGE WHERE SHE MET HER LIFE ON BEST FRIEND LETTER TO MEET LUCY'S BROTHER, DONALD E HANNAH WOULD BECOME HER HUSBAND IN LIFE PARTNER FOR 66 YEARS. NORMA ADAPTED WELL TO SELF TEXAS LIVING. SHE TAUGHT PIANO AND HELP SUPPORT DONALD THROUGH TENNIS SCHOOL. SHE WAS A FASCINATING AND RESILIENT WOMEN WHO IS FIERCELY LOYAL TO HER FAMILY TILL THE END SHE ENJOYED MUSIC, TRAVEL, NATURE, VERY INTELLECTUAL AND A VERY WELL WELL READ WOMAN. HER SWEET SPIRIT STYLE AND GRACE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED TO ALL WHO MET HER. SHE SURVIVED BY HER CHILDREN, OWEN S HANNAH, KELLY DON HANNAH, WIFE TINA, KEVIN PETRO CANADA AND RUBY CHRISTINE POWELL DEAR HUSBAND JOHN. AND HER GRANDCHILDREN WERE THE LIGHT OF HER LIFE, ALEXANDRIA HANNAH, SARAH HANNAH, AUSTIN HANNAH, LOGAN HANNAH, CAMERON HANNAH, POWELL. OUR CONDOLENCES FOR THE LOSS OF NORMAL FAYE HANNAH. >> ABSOLUTELY. ANY OTHERS? COMMISSIONERS? >> IF WE COULD JUST HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE PLEASE FOR THE FAMILY . >> >> >> YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.