May 05, 2025 Commissioners Court - Special Meeting

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

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OKAY. IF I COULD ASK YOU ALL TO RISE FOR THE INVOCATION.

COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ IS GOING TO LEAD US AND THEN THE PLEDGES

AS WELL. >> LORD GOD HEAVENLY FATHER.

INAUDIBLE ] START AGAIN. LORD GOD HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK YOU TO DO LORD TO BE WITH US THROUGH THIS WEEK. THROUGH THIS MONTH.

THROUGH THIS YEAR. TO HELP US TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS. LORD, GIVE YOU THANKS FOR YESTERDAY. THANKS FOR TODAY. WE ASK YOU TO BE WITH US TOMORROW. PRAY FOR STAFF NEUCES COUNTY. PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES. PRAY FOR OUR FAMILIES, LORD. WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE GIVEN US. ESPECIALLY PROVIDING -- HELPING US TO PROVIDE HEALTH AND BETTER LIVES, QUALITY OF LIFE TO THOSE IN NEED. PRAY FOR US AND GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER

GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. >> YOU MAY BE SEATED. IT IS MONDAY, MAY 5TH. WE ARE AT THE NEUCES COUNTY COURTHOUSE 901. WE HAVE ALL FIVE COMMISSIONERS COURT MEMBERS PRESENT. IT IS 9:05 AND I AM CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER. DO WE HAVE ANY

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

ERNEST GARZA. >> GOOD EVENING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. I'M GLAD TO HERE COME SPEAK AND SUPPORT YOU ON THIS OPPOSITION OF HOUSE BILL 19. I WANT TO FIRST SAY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS ERNEST GARZA. WORKING IN THE GOVERNMENTAL WORLD AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT YOU FOR THIS OPPOSITION HOUSE BILL 19. FOR THE VIEWERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS LIMIT YOUR -- YOU GET A PROPERTY TAX RATE THAT YOU ALL VIEWERS KNOW, BUT OUT OF THAT IS MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION AND INS PAYMENT. THIS BILL WILL LIMIT YOUR PAYMENTS TO 20% OVER THE AVERAGE TAX COLLECTIONS OF THE PAST THREE YEARS. THIS WILL HURT -- IT'S ALREADY STRUGGLING ENOUGH TO BE AT THE 3.5% ON YOUR TAX LIMITATIONS WHEN YOU HAVE STATE MANDATED PROGRAMS, INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED, PROVIDING SERVICE, VA, ET CETERA. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE, NOT TO MENTION WHEN ENTITIES ASK FOR TAX ABATEMENTS FOR THE BIG BUSINESS, HOW CAN WE GIVE YOU WHAT WE DON'T HAVE? THIS IS A STRUGGLE. I WANT TO JUST BRIEFLY SUPPORT YOU IN OPPOSING THIS BILL. THERE'S SOME ENTITIES CLIENTS THAT HAVE THAT ARE OVER THAT 20%. SHOULD BE MAINTAINED AND ALLOW THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES TO KEEP THEIR LOCAL CONTROL. I'M SORRY TO SAY WE'RE LOSING GRASS FOR THAT. I SUPPORT YOU ON OPPOSING -- ON OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC COMMENT? DR. CHRISTINA NELSON, IF IT YOU WANT TO

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UNMUTE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS TIME. MY NAME IS DR. CHRISTINA NELSON. I SERVE AS THE BOARD.

THE FOR THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF THE COASTAL BEND. I'M HERE PROUDLY REPRESENTING THE CAC. I'D LIKE TO READ TO YOU A STATEMENT WE'VE PREPARED FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE AWARE OF.

THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF THE COASTAL BEND REFERRED TO AS THE CACCB WAS NOTIFIED BY THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS OF TEXAS THAT NEUCES COUNTY HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM DESIGNATED SERVICE AREA EFFECTIVE APRIL 22ND. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024, LEADERSHIP AT THE CACCB BECAME AWARE OF CONCERNS REGARDING A MATTER HANDLED BY THE CENTER. THE CACCB TAKES ALL CONCERNS REGARDING ITS SERVICES SERIOUSLY AND TOOK IMMEDIATE STEPS TO INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION. FOLLOWING AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION, THE CACCB IMPLEMENTED CORRECTIVE ACTIONS AND INFORMED THE CONCERNED PARTIES. DESPITE THESE EFFORTS ON MARCH 17TH, 2025, THE CAC-CB RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE NEUCES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE INDICATING WHEN CORRECTIVE MEASURES ARE IN PLACE THE OFFICE WILL THEN ACCEPT FILES INVOLVING CAC-CB INTERVIEWS. THE CAC-CB IS EAGER TO ENGAGE WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO COLLABORATIVELY RESOLVE THE SITUATION. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT. OUR PRIORITY IS ENSURING THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF ABUSED CHIRP AND THEIR FAMILIES. WHILE THE LOSS OF NEUCES COUNTY FROM OUR SERVICE AREA IS A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE, OUR FOCUS REMAINS ON CONTINUING TO PROVIDE UNINTERRUPTED SUPPORT TO THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO DEPEND ON US. CHILDREN WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM CAC-CB WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. WE ARE ACTIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH OTHER CHILDRENS ADVOCACY CENTERS TO ENSURE THAT NEW CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE SERVED PROMPTLY AND EFFECTIVELY. IN 2024 THE CAC-CB PROVIDED SERVICES TO OVER 1000 CHILDREN ACROSS TEN COUNTIES. INCLUDING 525 CHILDREN FROM NEUCES COUNTY. THE MAJORITY OF WHOM RESIDE IN CORPUS CHRISTI.

AS THIS MATTER IS ON GOING THE CAC-CB IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER COMMENT. AN UPDATED STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AT THAT TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE ONLINE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? I AM TOLD THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONE MORE. IS YOURS NOT WORKING?

>> WHAT'D YOU BREAK NOW?

>> THERE BEING NONE THAT IS THE END OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENT

[1. Discuss and consider Nueces County Commissioners Court legislative agenda for the 89th Session of the Texas Legislature and authorize the County Judge to sign letter on behalf of Nueces County opposing passage of House Bill 19 (HB19) regarding Critical Impacts on Infrastructure and Public Safety in Nueces County, and related matters.]

>> SO MOVED. >> I THINK WE HAVE JOEL AND PATRICIA ON THEY WANT TO GIVE US UPDATES. I KNOW THERE'S AN ISSUE. THE REASON THIS WAS PUT ON IN THE SPECIAL MEETING CALLED BECAUSE THEY'RE WANTING A LETTER SIGNED ON BEHALF OF NEUCES COUNTY. CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, NEUCES COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT. WE THOUGHT IT WAS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY Z A WELL TO UPDATE US ON OTHER LEGISLATION THAT IS GOING THROUGH THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME A CONCERN FOR NEUCES COUNTY. I THINK AT THE END OF THIS MY THOUGHTS IS TO SIGN THIS ONE AND TO POTENTIALLY COME UP WITH A WAY THAT I CAN SIGN LETTERS WE ALL KNOW IN THE LAST MONTH OF SESSION THEY HAVE 72 HOURS TO POST FOR SOMETHING IT NEEDS TO BE CRITICAL TO NEUCES COUNTY. SO PATRICIA, YOU AND JOEL ONE OF YOU GUYS WANT TO

START ON THIS? >> SURE. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. APPRECIATE THE QUICK RESPONSE. WE'LL TELL YOU THE STATUS OF HOUSE BILL 19. WE APPRECIATE YOU WANTING TO SIGN ON TO THIS LETTER. WE'VE BEEN MONITORING THIS BILL. IT'S A LOW BILL NUMBER SO IT'S A PRIORITY FOR THE HOUSE. AS OF FRIDAY AFTERNOON THERE'S NOT A NEW COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE. THERE WAS ONE BUT WE DIDN'T TALK WITH THE COMMITTEE CLERK AND HE

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PERHAPS EVEN COORDINATE SOME LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY AND GET SOME AMENDMENTS, POSSIBLY BE DRAFTED TO TAKE CARE OF SOME OF OUR CONCERNS. IF THEY WILL LISTEN. SO WE'RE GOING TO REGROUP WITH THAT GROUP THIS AFTERNOON AND SHARE WITH THEM THE LETTER Y'ALL HAVE SIGNED AND OTHERS BUT I'LL STOP THERE BECAUSE PATRICIA MAY HAVE MORE. THIS BILL DOES SEEM LIKE IT'LL PROBABLY MOVE. IT'S A LOW BILL NUMBER. THERE'S STILL TIME. THE LAST DAY FOR THE HOUSE TO CONSIDER HOUSE BILLS IS MAY 15TH. BUT IT'S GOT TO GET ON THE CALENDAR BY THE 12TH. THIS BILL HAS SUPPORT. WE'RE HEARING DIFFERENT STORIES THAT IT'S PART OF LEADERSHIP PACKAGE FOR SOME BIGGER ISSUES THAT COULD BE WORSE IF YOU CAN EVEN THINK THAT. BUT I'LL STOP THERE AND LET PATRICIA JUMP IN AND SHARE HER INSIGHT.

>> OF YOU GOT IT RIGHT ON POINT. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO TRACK DOWN. THERE ARE SO MANY ENTITIES OPPOSED TO THIS BILL. WE'RE AT THE POINT IN SESSION WHERE ALL OF THESE ARE NEGOTIATED PIECES BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. THE ODD THING ABOUT THIS ONE IS THAT NOBODY'S REALLY OTHER THAN THE HOUSE NOBODY'S REALLY EMBRACING THIS. JOEL AND I TALKED OVER THE WEEKEND AND STARTED OUR RESEARCH PROJECT. MY CONCERN IS IF THIS BILL GETS BOGGED DOWN THERE ARE PIECES OF IT IN OTHER PIECES OF LEGISLATION SUCH AS THE LIMITATION ON BOND ELECTIONS IF THERE'S A BILL THAT IF A BOND ELECTION FAILS YOU CANNOT BRING THAT SAME ELECTION BACK FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS. SO DIFFERENT PIECES OF IT. WE'LL TRACK THAT DOWN. WE APPRECIATE WORKING WITH THIS COALITION. I THINK IT HELPS US ALL. WE HAVE STATED IN THE COALITION WE'LL WORK OUR DELEGATION. WE WANT TO GET WITH Y'ALL AND PERHAPS MAYBE THERE ARE POTENTIAL INDIVIDUAL AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD BENEFIT NEUCES COUNTY. BRAINSTORMING OVER THE WEEKEND WE WONDERED IF THERE COULDN'T BE AN AMENDMENT DRAFTED THAT WOULD EXCLUDE BONDS PASSED IN RESPONSE TO DISASTERS FROM THAT DEBT CAP. WE WANT TO EXPLORE THOSE POSSIBILITIES BECAUSE IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY WE'D LIKE TO WORK WITH THAT. AS FAR AS AMENDMENTS OR HELPING THE BILL, WE NEED TO RELY ON THE LARGER ASSOCIATIONS, THE CONFERENCE OF URBAN COUNTIES, TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ASSOCIATION SO TO THE EXTENT THAT Y'ALL GET NOTICES OR INPUT FROM THEM, PLEASE SHARE THAT WITH US. WE NEED TO BE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION. ALSO PART OF THAT STRATEGY AS FAR AS BILL MANAGEMENT ON THE FLOOR. THAT IS OUR UPDATE FOR 19. WE APPRECIATE YOU SIGNING THE LETTER THAT IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL FOR US. I THINK THERE WILL BE AN EFFORT TO GET SOME OF THE LOCAL LOCAL REPRESENTATION FOR DIFFERENT ENTITIES. JOEL AND I LOBBYIST FOR DELMAR COLLEGE AND SOME OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN A MEETING WITH ALL OF OUR DELEGATION MEMBERS TO GO OVER THESE INDIVIDUALLY. AND WE'RE JUST KIND OF PLAYING WHACK A MOLE WITH THIS BILL PARTICULARLY. I THINK THAT'S ALL ON 19. JOEL, DO YOU WANT TO PIVOT TO OUR GOOD NEWS AT LEAST?

>> CAN I COME BACK TO Y'ALL ON THE OTHER. WE HAVE SOME OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS ON OTHER LEGISLATION; RIGHT?

>> YES, MA'AM. >> LET'S DO THIS ONE FIRST.

>> I THINK I MADE A MOTION I DON'T KNOW IF I GOT A SECOND.

>> TO VOTE TO OPPOSE IT. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. I BELIEVE JAMES HERNANDEZ IS ON. HE IS WELL VERSED ON THIS. IS HE ON? I CAN'T. TONY JOHNSON WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON HERE AS WELL. I THOUGHT JAMES HERNANDEZ WAS

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GIVING AN OVERVIEW. >> THAT'S CORRECT, JUDGE.

>> YES. >> HI. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS TONY. YOU'RE RIGHT. WE HAVE MR. HERNANDEZ ON FROM GREENBERG THROWING. HE'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS RESOURCE TO OUR FIRM AND TO OUR INDUSTRY. BUT WITH THAT I'LL LET JAMES COME ON AND

ADD A LITTLE MORE. THANK YOU. >> I DON'T SEE HIM ON OUR PANEL. ARE THERE WARNINGS ON THERE?

>> JAMES HERNANDEZ. >> JAMES, I THINK WE'RE -- DID

SOMETHING HAPPEN? >> YEAH. SOMETHING GOING.

>> HE'S ON. I JUST CAN'T HEAR HIS AUDIO.

>> WE DON'T SEE HIM ON OUR SCREEN EITHER FOR SOME REASON.

>> THERE HE IS. >> I DON'T SEE HIM OR HEAR HIM.

>> THERE HE IS. OKAY. >> CONNIE .

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? >> YES. YES.

>> SORRY ABOUT THAT. THANKS, TONY FOR INTRODUCING ME. I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT JOEL AND PATRICIA SAID EARLIER. I'M A BOND COUNSEL ATTORNEY. I DON'T REPRESENT NEUCES COUNTY BUT I DO REPRESENT A LOT OF OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT HAVE CONCERNS WITH THIS BILL. PARTICULARLY THE DEBT LIMIT PROVISION WHICH WE THINK IS OVERLY ONEROUS AND RESTRICTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. AND THEN ALSO THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE ISSUANCE OF COS AND TAX ANTICIPATION NOTES AND THE EFFORT OF THE BILL TO FORCE YOU TO LEVY TAXES FOR NOT VOTED DEBT USING YOUR ONM TAX WHICH IS SUBJECT TO THE PROPERTY TAX CAP RATHER THAN LEVYING IT ON THE DEBT SIDE OF YOUR BUDGET. SO THOSE WERE ALL CONCERNS WE HAVE. WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR ISSUER CLIENTS AND INTERESTED TAKE HOLDER GROUPS SUCH AS TML. ADVISORY COUNCIL OF TEXAS. CUC AND OTHERS. AND I'M ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH IS A GROUP OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS AND BOND FIRMS IN TENNESSEE THAT MONITOR PUBLIC FINANCE LEGISLATION EACH SESSION. WE HAVE A SERIES OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAVE DRAFTED UP AND SHARED WITH THE SPEAKERS OFFICE, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. ALSO MYERS OFFICE. WE DON'T HAVE AN AGREEMENT FROM THEM, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS BILL TO THE EXTICKET THAT IT MOVES AND AS JOEL MENTIONED, IT'S A LOW BILL NUMBER AND A PRIORITY BILL SO WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT. TO THE EXTENT IT DOES MOVE WE WANT TO MAKE THE BILL PALATABLE AS POSSIBLE. TO OFFER AMENDMENTS THAT CHAIRMAN MEYER DOES NOT ACCEPT AS PART OF HIS NEGOTIATION OF THE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE. SO I'M HAPPY TO SHARE WHAT WE'VE DRAFTED WITH PATRICIA AND JOEL AND OTHERS ON THIS CALL OR IN THIS MEETING AND TONY HAS MY CONTACT INFORMATION SO IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE THAT INFORMATION JUST LET ME KNOW AND

WE'LL GET IT TO YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE A QUESTION? ANYONE? NOE IS ON AS WELL. HE MIGHT WANT TO ADD. DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? I SAW YOUR HAND UP. WE'LL LET YOU SPEAK AFTER. WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE.

>> YEAH, I'M OVER HERE IN THE HOUSE OF THE CAPITOL AS WE SPEAK. THANK YOU. FRIEND JAMES HERNANDEZ TO GIVE YOU THE LAY OF THE LAND OUT HERE IN REGARDS TO THIS BILL. LAST WEEK I CEMENT SOME TIME HERE IN AUSTIN REGARDING HOUSE BILL 19 AND BASICALLY TWO MAJOR CONCERNS THAT AFFECTS NEUCES COUNTY AND OTHER COUNTIES YOUR SIZE IS THAT THE BILL ITSELF PUT AS DEBT CAP THAT I'M SURE JAMES ALREADY VISITED ON AND THAT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON NEUCES COUNTY AS FAR AS OUR ABILITY TO GO OUT AND

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DEFICITS. AND BASICALLY THE LIMIT IS YOU CAN ONLY ISSUE UP TO 5%. SO I CAN'T RECALL OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, MAYBE TONY DOES. LET'S SAY THAT DEBT OUTSTANDING AT THE COUNTY IS 100 MILLION. 5% IS 5 MILLION. IF YOU GET HIT WITH A HURRICANE OR SOMETHING AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE. NOT GOING TO TAKE YOU VERY FAR.

COUPLE THAT WITH HOW MUCH YOU HAVE IN FUN BALANCE. YOU MIGHT AS WELL GO PRETTY QUICKLY. THOSE ARE THE TWO, THREE CONCERNS WE HAVE. ONE DEBT CAP. ONE THE TAX NOTE DEBT CAPACITY OR LIMIT. AND OF COURSE ELIMINATION OF COS. THERE'S A PITCH ABOUT OR THERE'S A PROVISION IN THE BILL HAVING TO DO WITH UNIFORM THAT ALL THE ELECTIONS BE HELD IN NOVEMBER. I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH A DONE DEAL. WHEN I TALKED TO MR. JIMMY HENDERSTON FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE LAST WEEK HE WAS VERY RECEPTIVE TO THE THREE CONCERNS WE EXPRESSED. ALSO YOUR GUIDANCE, JUDGE, AND THANK YOU.

I WILL SAY I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH TODD HUNTER'S OFFICE.

MISS ANGIE GARCIA. HOUSE BILL 19 MAY NOT MAKE IT JUST BECAUSE OF TIMING CONSIDERATIONS. BUT IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR THE HOUSE TO BE CONSIDERING AS WE SPEAK SENATE BILLS. IF SOME OF THOSE SENATE BILLS CAN BE AMENDED WITH LANGUAGE FROM HOUSE BILL 19 THAT CAN HAPPEN. TO THE EXTENT YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY FOR ANY OF THE SENATE BILLS BE GERMANED WITH HOUSE BILL LANGUAGES? DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ON THAT?

>> YES, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? >> YES.

>> YEAH, THERE ARE JOEL AND PATRICIA ADDRESSED THIS EARLIER.

THERE ARE SENATE BILLS OUT THERE THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT COULD BECOME VEHICLES FOR ALL OR PARTS OF HOUSE BILL 19. ONE OF THOSE IS SENATE BILL 1024 WHICH IS A BILL THAT ADDRESSES TAX ANTICIPATION AND COS. OR LIMITATIONS ON PROPERTY TAXES THAT ALSO COULD BE REUSED AS WELL. WE HAVE A LIST WE PREPARED, A MR. IMTHEIR LIST I CAN CIRCULATE TO THIS GROUP ALSO OF SENATE BILLS WE NEED TO WATCH THAT COULD BECOME POTENTIAL VEHICLES FOR ALL OR PORTIONS OF HOUSE BILL 19.

>> THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I KNOW YOU HAD YOUR HAND RAISED. I THINK THIS IMPACTS DISTRICT AS WELL. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD QUICKLY? IT'S PRETTY UNIFORM WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON US. THE COUNTY

GOVERNMENT AND US. >> JUDGE, NO, I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE. ONLY THING I WAS GOING TO ADD TO SAY IS THAT HOSPITAL DISTRICT WOULD STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE COS UNDER HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE 281 BUT HOUSE BILL 19 TAKES AWAY THE MECHANISM THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO THAT SO WE, LIKE YOU ALL, WE DON'T USE, HAVEN'T USED COS IN A LONG TIME. BUT WE STILL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THEM IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY AND THINGS THAT MAY COME UP AND THEY DO COME UP FROM TIME TO TIME. SO THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAD.

>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A CORRECTION TO MAKE. THIS IS THE 89TH LEGISLATURE, NOT THE 88TH. BUT ALSO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CHESNEY. A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MAREZ.

>> YEAH, JUST FOR JOEL AND P DRINK PATRICIA.

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>> TIME ISN'T ON OUR SIDE. LIKE MENTIONED EARLIER, JOEL, THIS IS A LOW NUMBER BILL SO IT'S A HIGH PRIORITY TO THE HOUSE. IS THIS -- DO WE NEED TO HAVE ON OUR NEXT TWO MEETINGS FOR REGULAR SCHEDULED COURT MEETINGS WHICH ARE THE 14TH AND 21ST, SHOULD WE HAVE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ITEMS LISTED ON THERE IN CASE WE NEEDED TO TAKE ANY ACTION OR WHAT WOULD BE YOUR RECOMMENDATION WITH THAT IN CASE ANYTHING POPS UP AND WE NEED TO DECIDE ON OR SHOULD WE GIVE THAT TO THE JUDGE TO BE ABLE TO WORK

ON OUR BEHALF. >> WE NEED TO RESPOND QUICKLY.

WE HAVE ANOTHER REQUEST FOR A RESOLUTION THAT WE WANTED TO CAN BRING UP WITH Y'ALL. IT'S RELATED TO A PROJECT THAT HE IS WORKING ON WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR REGARDING THE FILM INDUSTRY. I DON'T KNOW THE PROPER MECHANISM. I CAN SEND Y'ALL THE RESOLUTION THAT JOEL DRAFTED.

>> WE HAVE IT. >> YET. OKAY. BUT YEAH, I MEAN, PROCEDURALLY, WE DO CALL THE JUDGE. WE BUG HER A LOT.

>> WE UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS. >> GIVE A LOT OF UPDATES TO SHARE WITH Y'ALL. WE'RE HAPPY IN THESE LAST FEW WEEKS OF SESSION TO GET ON WITH Y'ALL ON A REGULAR BASIS JUST TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE BECAUSE THINGS ARE MOVING THAT QUICKLY.

>> I MEAN, IT'S JUST A SUGGESTION. I WASN'T SURE OF WHAT ELSE IF ANY OTHER LEGISLATION IS COMING UP THAT WE NEEDED TO PASS A RESOLUTION. I MEAN IF IT LOOKS POSITIVE, MAY NOT NEED OUR RESOLUTION IN FAVOR OF IT, BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO OPPOSE, OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD WANT TO GET OUR NAME ON THE RECORD THAT WE'RE IN OPPOSITION. SO THAT WAS JUST MY CONCERN WITH THAT. AND SEEING HOW OUR MEETINGS ARE BACK TO BACK IN THESE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, IT'S HELPFUL THAT WE CAN RESPOND PRETTY MUCH TO THE END OR TOWARDS THE END OF

THE SESSION AT LEAST. >> WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE WE WERE THINKING ABOUT THIS THIS WEEKEND AS WELL. IN THE COUPLE OF WEEKS WE WERE GOING TO COME BACK TO Y'ALL TO ASK YOU TO DO A RESOLUTION OR A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR HOPEFULLY -- I'M KNOCKING WOOD AND TRYING NOT TO JINX IT IN SUPPORT OF OUR PRIORITY BILL 3093 ON THE

APPRAISALS. >> THE PLAN HERE IN THE WORDING TO BE ALL INCLUSIVE WAS TO ADDRESS THIS ONE FIRST RESOLUTION THAT NEEDED TO BE SIGNED. AND THEN MY COMMENT OR MY THOUGHTS TO YOU WAS FOR US TO COME UP WITH A PLAN BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW IN THE LAST MONTH OF SESSION YOU DON'T HAVE 72 HOURS TO GET TOGETHER FOR A MEETING AND WE CAN'T CALL -- WE CHECKED INTO THAT, YOU CAN'T CALL ON EMERGENCY MEETING FOR LEGISLATION. MAYBE POTENTIALLY PUT TO MYSELF AND ANOTHER COMMISSIONER AND THEN WE WOULD BRING IT BACK TO RATIFY ON LEGISLATION THAT IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY INSIDE PRIORITY SOMETHING THAT WOULD NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND NOT LEFT TILL THE 14TH OR 21ST OR SOMETHING. THEN WE WOULD ALWAYS ADD THOSE ON TO OUR AGENDA TO NOTIFY AND OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY AND EVERYONE COULD SEND Y'ALL INDIVIDUALLY WHAT WAS SIGNED OR DONE, BUT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT COMES UP IN THESE LAST FEW DAYS. THE WAY

LEGISLATION DOES IN SESSION. >> I'M SORRY, JUDGE, BEFORE YOU GET INTO THE NEXT ITEM, I BELIEVE THE VOTE NEEDS --

>> YES. >> I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT HE WAS ASKING FOR. THAT WAS THE PLAN THE SECOND HALF OF THIS WAS TO ADDRESS THAT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO SIGN THE RESOLUTION ON HB19.

>> I'M DOING DID ON PURPOSE. I COME IN EVERY MORNING AND JUST

-- >> WE TAKE TURN TORNADOES.

>> I'M TELLING YOU. THEY MUST PAY LIKE $27 AN INCH FOR THIS CABLE BECAUSE IT WON'T MOVE MORE THAN A QUARTER OF AN INCH.

NOT SOMETHING I'M TERRIBLY THRILLED ABOUT. ANYWAY. YOUR HONOR. WITH RESPECT TO THE WORDING ON THIS, YOU'RE GOING TO SIGN A LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE COURT OPPOSING PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 19, R REGARDING CRITICAL IMPACTS ON INFRASTRUCTURE. I GUESS MY CONCERN WITH THAT WORDING WAS THAT I GUESS WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS WE'RE OPPOSED TO HOUSE

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BILL 19 PERIOD. >> SOME OF THIS PERTAINS TO MUNICIPALITIES AS WELL AND THE MAJORITY OF IT IMPACTS --

>> I JUST DIDN'T WANT OUR LANGUAGE HERE TO MISCONSTRUE THE FACT WE'RE AGAINST THIS HOUSE BILL 19 IN ITS ENTIRETY. I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THESE KINDS OF THINGS ARE CONCERNING.

STATE LEGISLATURE PUTS UPON MUNICIPALITIES SUCH AS COUNTY GOVERNMENTS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH THINGS AS ADHERING TO THE DISTRICT STANDARDS THAT ARE SET OUT BY THE LEGISLATURE WITH RESPECT TO JAIL STANDARDS AND THEN WE'RE CHARGED WITH UPHOLDING THOSE STANDARDS AND THEN THE ABILITY FOR US TO FUND THOSE IS WITHDRAW FROM US. SO THIS BILL DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. IT WAY OVERSTEPS ITS BOUNDS WITH REGARDS TO HOW WE RUN GOVERNMENT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. I FULLY SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE DOING. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LANGUAGE HERE DOESN'T MISCONSTRUE OUR TOTAL OPPOSITION TO THIS. SORRY ABOUT

MY VOICE. I APOLOGIZE. >> THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER PUSLEY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANY OTHER

COMMISSIONERS? >> JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO SAY REAL QUICK THAT I THINK COMMISSIONER PUSLEY IS DEAD ON ON THIS IN THE LETTER WE'RE ASKING YOU TO SIGN IS VERY APPROPRIATE AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE'LL GOING TO DO THIS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS GOING FORWARD BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID WE CAN'T HAVE THESE MEETINGS ALL THE TIME ON 72 HOUR NOTICE. I'M CERTAINLY FINE WITH -- I JUST SOME CHECK AND BALANCE SYSTEM ON THIS. BUT NOT MUCH BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SIGN SOMETHING YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD FEEL FOR WHAT THE COURT IS OPPOSED TO. IT'S MORE THE OPPOSITION BILL -- OPPOSITION NOW MAKING SURE BAD BILLS STAY DEAD AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING OR WAIT AND DO A SEPARATE MOTION OR HOW YOU WANT TO HANDLE IT.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS FIRST.

>> WE VOTE ON THIS FIRST THEN TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS OTHER. JOEL AND PATRICIA ARE GOING TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON OTHER LEGISLATION WHERE WE ARE ON. LET'S VOTE ON THIS AND

COME BACK TO THAT. YES. >> AS A REMINDER TO FOLKS WE ONLY GET SALES TAX. THE STATE OF TEXAS, IT'S GREAT.

>> WE ONLY GET PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. WE DON'T GET SALES

TAX. >> WE DON'T GET SALES TAX. WE DON'T GET THE OIL AND GAS REVENUE THAT THE STATE GETS. WE DON'T GET THESE EXTRA SOURCES OF REVENUE THAT THE STATE CAN COME IN AND BE THE HERO AND CUT TAXES. I'M THE FIRST GUY THAT LIKES TO CUT TAXES. YOU CAN'T KEEP TAKING AWAY ALL THE TOOLS WE HAVE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE VERY MANY AND THIS WOULD TAKE AWAY A LARGE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO IT AND WE ANSWER TO THE VOTERS ON THESE THINGS. IF IT WE DON'T DO THE RIGHT THING

THEY'RE GOING TO KICK US OUT. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON SIGNING THE RESOLUTION WITH THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS ANY OTHER THINGS THAT COME UP, I'D LIKE FOR JOEL AND PATRICIA TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE LEGISLATION BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HELP YOU TO SEE WHAT WE MIGHT COME UP OR WHAT WE MIGHT NEED TO ADDRESS AND WHERE WE WON'T HAVE THE 72 HOURS POSTING THE FURTHER ALONG WE COME IN MAY YOU EITHER DO IT OR YOU DON'T. IT'S OVER AND DONE WITH BY THEN. DO YOU WANT TO GO FIRST OR PATRICIA?

>> I CAN KICK IT OFF. OUR BILL DEALING WITH HOUSE BILL 3093 THE CALCULATION OF TAX UNITS. APPRAISAL BILL WORKING ON FOR TWO YEARS. APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS DONE. WE GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE ON APRIL 17TH IT WAS REPORTED FROM THE SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON MAY 1ST AND NOW ON THE SENATE LOCAL NONCONTESTED CALENDAR I THINK THAT'LL BE TUESDAY. ONCE THAT BILL GOES FROM OUT OF THE SENATE IT'LL GO TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. THAT'S -- WE TAILORED IT AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION AND BACK AND FORTH AND REVISIONS. WE MADE IT A COASTAL COMMUNITY SO IT JUST IMPACTS THE COUNTIES ALONG THE COAST OF TEXAS AND THAT'S WHAT PATRICIA WAS SUGGESTING WAS ONCE THE BILL PASSES THE SENATE, WE'D LIKE FOR THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO SEND A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR ASKING HIM TO SIGN THE

[00:35:01]

COURT. SO THAT'S WHAT -- >> WE'RE LOSING YOU, JOEL.

>> YOU'VE KIND OF FROZEN, JOEL. YOU'RE KIND OF FROZEN. THERE

YOU GO. GO AHEAD, JOEL. >> OKAY. I'LL MOVE ON TO WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND FINANCING SENATE BILL 7 AND HJR. BOTH THOSE BILLS HAVE PASSED THE SENATE AND ARE IN THE HOUSE AND THE HOUSE IS CONSIDERED THOSE NATURAL RESOURCES ON ENABLING LEGISLATION AND THAT IS LOOKING AT THE FINANCING COMPONENT OF IT. BILL WAS REFERRED TO SENATE FINANCE LAST WEEK. ALONG THAT NOTE THERE'S A BILL THAT WE THINK WILL HELP THE COUNTY BASED ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD WITH THE COURT. SENATE BILL 1967 RELATING TO PROJECTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FLIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE FUND.

THIS NOW WOULD ALLOW THE FUND TO INCLUDE ALL CONSTRUCTION OF MULTIPURPOSE FLOOD MITIGATION AND DRAIN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. IN THE HOUSE IT WAS DEBATED ON THURSDAY OR FRIDAY, EXCUSE ME, THEY ADDED AN AMENDMENT TO THE BILL THAT WOULD LOANS FOR PROJECTS THAT INCLUDE SUPPLYING WATER AND WASTE WATER SERVICES. I THINK IT'S A GOOD BILL FOR NEUCES COUNTY. IT'LL GO BACK TO THE SENATE AND SENATOR MOST LIKELY CONQUER. THESE ARE COUPLE THINGS WE'VE BEEN WATCHING IN TERMS OF NOT ONLY WATER RESOURCES BUT POTENTIAL PROJECT FUNDING THAT WE CAN GO

BACK -- >> YOU'RE FREEZING UP AGAIN.

>> UM, I THINK THE OTHER BIG -- >> I'LL STOP THERE.

>> YEAH. PATRICIA TAKE OVER. >> THE OTHER BIG ISSUES ARE SOME OF THE BILLS THAT CHAIRMAN HUNTER HAS. THE OTHER SCRAMBLE WE HAD RECENTLY WAS A BILL BY SENATOR ALVARADO, A PORT CLEANUP BILL. WE WERE INITIALLY TOLD IT ONLY DEALT WITH GALVESTON. THE PORT OF HOUSTON AND GALVESTON WAS CONCERNED BUT THAT WENT AWAY. IT WAS WRITTEN SO BROADLY AND SO POORLY DRAFTED THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED THE PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI. SENATORS AND CHAIRMAN WORKED ON A FLOOR AMENDMENT SO THE BILL WAS NARROWLY TAILORED TO JUST THE PORT OF HOUSTON. IT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED HUGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND ALL KINDS OF -- GREATLY EXPANDED THE PORTS POWERS AND DUTIES AND THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT SENATOR JOSA KNEW THE COUNTY WOULD OPPOSE. WE DID THAT ALONG THE PORT NOTE, CHAIRMAN LAZANO'S HOUSE BILL 2120 RELATING TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI IS UP FOR HEARING DAY AFTER TOMORROW. NO, THURSDAY. IN HOUSE TRANSPORTATION -- AT THIS LATE DATE I DON'T THINK IT HAS MUCH OF A CHANCE IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT HEARING GOES. WE ARE GOING TO REGISTER IN OPPOSITION TO THAT BILL AND WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED. BUT I DON'T THINK IT HAS A BIG PUSH AT THIS POINT.

THE OTHER BIG PIECE THAT IS OUT THERE IS A -- THE BAIL REFORM ISSUE. IT'S A MAJOR PRIORITY OF THE SENATE. SENATE BILL 9 AND SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 5. THOSE WERE PASSED IN THE SENATE. IN EARLY -- LATE MARCH. STILL SITTING OUT THERE FOR ABOUT A MONTH IN THE HOUSE. THOSE ARE ONE OF THOSE TWO OR THREE BIG NEGOTIATING PIECES BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DAN PATRICK HAS SAID HE WOULD FORCE A SPECIAL SESSION BACK IF WE DON'T GET THAT PIECE DONE ALONG WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER PRIORITY ITEMS OF HIS. WE WILL WAIT TO SEE. THIS IS MEANT TO GIVE COUNTIES SOME RELIEF. I KNOW WE HAVE PROBLEM SOMETIMES WITH JAIL OVERCROWDING AND THOSE ISSUES PUT ON THE COUNTY. THIS IS MEANT TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT. WE HAVE YET TO SEE HOW IT'LL FLESH OUT IN THE HOUSE. JOEL, ANYTHING ELSE? THERE'S A BILL RELATING TO THE ELIGIBILITY OF COUNTIES FOR A RURAL SHERIFF SALARY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. WE THINK THE WAY THE AMENDMENT WAS

[00:40:04]

GRANTS FOR A SHERIFF'S PROGRAM. >> ANYTHING ELSE? IS THAT --

>> PARTICULARLY -- >> I THINK.

>> GO AHEAD, JOEL. >> ONE THING WE'D WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT WE ASKED TO SHARE WITH COMMISSIONERS COURT AND SEE IF COURT WOULD SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION. HUNTER HAS THE TEXAS MOVIE IMAGE INCENTIVE PROGRAM. MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT, IT'S ALL OVER THE NEWS. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE IS PUTTING A BIG INVESTMENT IN MORE FILMS AND PRODUCTIONS IN TEXAS. TEXAS PORTRAYING TEXAS IN A POSITIVE MANNER. IT IS -- WHAT WE FEEL AND CHAIRMAN HUNTER SHARED THIS WOULD BE A GREAT BENEFIT FOR THE COASTAL COMMUNITIES IN TERMS OF SHOOTING FILMS ALONG THE COAST.

WOULD HIRE LOCAL. CATERERS, CARPENTERS, WOULD PARTNER WITH ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS. THE REQUEST FROM THE CHAIRMAN IS WE CAN GET A RESOLUTION ADOPTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION THAT

HE'S ASKING. >> DO YOU HAVE THAT RESOLUTION IN YOUR PACKET IF IT WE NEED A SEPARATE VOTE ON THIS ONE? SINCE WE HAVE IT READILY AVAILABLE IF ANYONE -- CHAIRMAN HUNTER ASKED US TO DO, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO SIGN THE RESOLUTION. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOVING IMAGE

INDUSTRY? >> THE MOTION JUST BECAUSE IT'S

NOT. >> THE MOTION IS TO SIGN A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE TEXAS MOVING IMAGE INDUSTRY INCREDITTIVE PROGRAM. IT'S IN YOUR PACKET. WE MADE IT VAGUE WHERE WE COULD TALK ABOUT LEGISLATION AND OTHER RESOLUTIONS AND POTENTIALLY GIVE THE AUTHORITY FOR ME TO SIGN OR SET IT UP WITH MYSELF AND ONE OTHER COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE A QUORUM FOR US TO POTENTIALLY TAKE ACTION ON SOMETHING WHEN WE WON'T HAVE 72 HOURS FOR SOME THINGS. THE RESOLUTION WAS ATTACHED ONLINE AS WELL IS MY UNDERSTANDING. PAYTON ARE YOU HERE?

>> MOST OF THINK DIDN'T RECEIVE.

>> UH-HUH. >> UNTIL THIS MORNING.

>> I AM NOT HEARING FROM PAYTON. THEN MAYBE WE WON'T VOTE ON THIS WE'LL JUST DO OUR OTHER MOTION TO WHERE WE CAN DEMOCRATIC OKAY, IT WASN'T. SHE'S SHAKING HER HEAD. I

THOUGHT YOU ADDED THIS. >> WE GOT IT THIS MORNING SO I

WASN'T ABLE TO ATTACH. >> VERY GOOD THEN. OKAY. WELL THEN I'LL WITHDRAW MY MOTION. YOU CAN WITHDRAW YOUR SECOND.

NOW THE ISSUE AT HAND FOR US IS HOW DO WE ADDRESS THESE IN THE NEXT, LAST 29 DAYS OF LEGISLATION WHERE WE MAY NEED TO SIGN A LETTER OR DO SOMETHING WITHOUT THE 72 HOUR NOTICE. MY THOUGHTS WERE TO GIVE MYSELF PERMISSION AS LONG AS I CONQUER CONFERENCE WITH ONE OTHER COMMISSIONER. IT JUST AS COMMISSIONER CHESNEY SAID IT WOULD ONLY BE ON THINGS THAT WE HAD A PRETTY SOLID IDEA THAT THE HB 19 WAS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US. IT IS NOT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER LEGISLATION THAT YOU THINK IS GOING TO BE DIVIDED. THIS IS ON A PRETTY CLEAR, UNANIMOUS. BUT WE WON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IT HERE AND HAVE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT AND TESTIFY. WE ALL KNOW IN THE LAST PART OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION IT MAY NOT ONLY BE ON BILLS THAT HAVE PASSED THAT WE LIKE. WE ALSO KNOW THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN UP THERE AND WORKED IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION SOMETIMES THAT BILL THAT WE WERE FINE WITH GETS SOMETHING ATTACHED AND TACKED ON TO THAT WE ARE TOTALLY AGAINST AS WELL

AFTER THAT. >> I WOULD MAKE THAT MOTION, JUDGE. YOU HAD ME AT HELLO. I WOULD MAKE THAT MOTION TO ALLOW THE COUNTY JUDGE TO WEIGH IN AFTER CONFERRING WITH ONE OTHER MEMBER OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

>> SECOND. >> AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO PUT IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT AND STUFF AT THE NEXT MEETING IF WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY IN THE NEXT TWO COMING UP. I DO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER MAREZ ON PUTTING JOEL AND PATRICIA ON BOTH OF THOSE MEETINGS FOR AN UPDATE DO

[00:45:01]

>> DON'T HAVE TO BE PRESENT UNLESS SOMETHING GOING TO VOTE ON; RIGHT? DO THEY HAVE TO BE PRESENT BOTH TIMES?

>> JOEL AND PATRICIA? THEY CAN ZOOM IN THERE'S SOMETHING THEY NEED TO UPDATE US ABOUT. AS I SAID, LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE POTENTIALLY FOR, HAVE BEEN AND SIGN A RESOLUTION FOR, IF IT CHANGES WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR WAY ON THIS.

>> FOR EXAMPLE THE ONE YOU WITHDREW, IF YOU GO BACK AND READ IT AND ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES WANT IT, GO FOR IT. I HAVEN'T SEEN IT. I'M SURE IT'S GREAT. THAT WAY YOU CAN WEIGH IN ON THAT ONE IF TODD CALLS OR DENISE CALLS OR WHOEVER CALLS AND IF YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT, CONFER WITH SOMEBODY ELSE

AND GO FOR IT. THAT INCLUDED. >> AND I THINK ALSO I MEAN, I KNOW MOST OF THESE BILLS MAY CHANGE SOMEWHAT AND THEY COULD EVEN A MINOR CHANGE COULD DRASTICALLY CHANGE THE WAY IT'S DELIVERED AND PERCEIVED. BUT I THINK WE'VE MADE STATEMENTS ALREADY OF YOU WE FEEL AS A COURT. SO THEY'RE MINOR CHANGES. NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE AN ISSUE WITH AND THE FACT YOU WILL TRY TO THAT YOU WILL BRING IF AT LEAST FOR COURT REVIEW AFTER THE FACT. BUT I THINK AT LEAST WE'RE IN AN OPPORTUNE TIME WE HAVE BACK TO BACK MEETINGS IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS THAT HOPEFULLY THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH THAT CHANGES AROUND. BUT YEAH, AS LONG AS PATRICIA AND JOEL CAN KEEP YOU UPDATED AND THEN WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE REST OF THE COURT I'M FINE WITH SUPPORTING THAT.

>> I TALKED TO JOEL AND PATRICIA ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY DO KEEP ME VERY MUCH APPRISED. WEEKENDS, NIGHTS, ANY TIME. YES. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT MOTION? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES,

COMMISSIONER PUSLEY. >> UNLESS I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT AGENDA, I DON'T HAVE THAT ITEM ON MY AGENDA TO VOTE ON.

>> THE WORDING ON HERE IS AND RELATED MATTERS TO ADDRESS THE INITIAL LEGISLATION COMING UP AND STUFF. WE WANTED TO FIND A

WAY. >> I DON'T HAVE THAT. I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THAT. DO YOU NOT AN AGENDA?

>> I DO HAVE AN AGENDA. BUT IT HAS ONE AGENDA ITEM ON IT AND THAT AGENDA ITEM IS VERY SPECIFIC.

>> COMMISSIONER, DOES THE COVER OF YOUR AGENDA SAY AMENDED AT

THE TOP? >> NOPE.

>> LET ME GET YOU AN AMENDED ONE. WE AMENDED IT. WE HAD TO POST IT. I MADE MINOR MISTAKES AND WE ADDED SOME LANGUAGE TO IT. LET ME GET YOU THE UPDATED ONE THAT WAS POSTED LAST WEEK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> IT'S STILL GOING TO FALL UNDER THE RELATED MATTERS, COMMISSIONER.

>> BECAUSE IT'S LEGISLATIVE AND SIGNING A RESOLUTION.

>> RELATED MATTERS TO WHAT? >> DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IN ITS ENTIRETY, I SUPPOSE, AND THEN WITH SPECIFICITY HOUSE BILL 19 BUT THE ORIGINAL PART OF IT IS TO DISCUSS THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

>> IT DOESN'T SAY DISCUSS AND CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION. I CALL A POINT OF ORDER ON THAT. I DON'T THINK THAT'S CORRECT. WE ARE HERE TO VOTE AND OF COURSE I'VE BEEN TOLD NOW WE HAVE AN AMENDED AGENDA WHICH I DON'T HAVE.

>> MINE'S NOT AMENDED EITHER. >> I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP US

OUT OF TROUBLE. >> COUNTY ATTORNEY APPROVED THIS LANGUAGE TO MY KNOWLEDGE AND FEELS LIKE IT DOES KEEP US OUT

OF TROUBLE. THAT'S HOW WE -- >> WELL, BUT, COMMISSIONER.

>> TALKS ABOUT DISCUSSING THE NEUCES COUNTY COURT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE 89TH SESSION AND WHICH IS A SEPARATE AND MEETS IT SEPARATE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE. AND RELATED MATTERS. THIS IS THE LANGUAGE WE'VE USED FOR YEARS TO MAKE IT BROAD ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS ANYTHING THAT COMES UP BECAUSE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING FROM THE POSTING THAT CAME UP BECAUSE THAT'S HOW FAST THIS LEGISLATURE MOVES. I MEAN

-- >> I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER. BUT

MY AGENDA DOES NOT SAY THAT. >> THERE WAS ONE THAT WAS PUT ON FRIDAY AND IT WAS PULLED RIGHT DOWN AND THE NEW AGENDA SO YOU MUST HAVE GOT THE FIRST PRINTED AGENDA THAT IS INCORRECT.

>> I DON'T THINK THEY'RE THAT DIFFERENT.

>> MINE DOESN'T SAY AMENDED. >> THE DIFFERENCE IS -- JUST

CHANGES. >> MINE DOESN'T.

>> I MEAN WE CAN AMEND AGENDA ITEM 2 A ONE.

>> I DON'T HAVE THE AMENDED ONE EITHER.

>> INCLUDE ANYTHING. WE AMEND THINGS ALL THE TIME, REALLY. WE CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROPRIATE FUNDING IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

[00:50:03]

ANYTHING. >> WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF FUNDS IN THERE WHEN WE DO THAT. I GET COMMISSIONER'S CONCERN BUT IF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS CLEARED IT I'M FINE.

>> THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO SAY. I CHECKED ON THAT TOO.

>> NOT JUST FALLS TO THE JUDGE AFTER CONSENTING WITH ONE OTHER MEMBER OF THE COURT. THEN IT'LL COME BACK ON NEXT WEDNESDAY'S AGENDA ANYWAY. IS THAT CORRECT? I MEAN EVEN IF WE WENT THAT

ROUTE. >> YOU CAN PUT IT ON TODAY. UP

TO. >> FOR NEXT WEEK. BUT THEY'RE ASKING FOR ONE MORE WE DEPARTMENT GET. WE GOT THIS

MORNING. >> THAT'S THE REASON WE ADDED THE LANGUAGE. WE WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, THE FIRST RESOLUTION WE WERE ASKED FOR I WASN'T GOING TO SIGN IT ON HALF OF NEUCES COUNTY WITHOUT COMING TO COURT. TO POTENTIALLY CHANGE WHERE I HAD THE AUTHORITY. WE ALL KNOW THAT NOW WE'RE IN MAY THE LEGISLATION IS GOING TO HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY. IT'S GOING TO NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. I WILL POTENTIALLY BE GOING BACK TO

AUSTIN. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM OF THAT. I'M TRY FOG CLARIFY WHAT WE'RE DOING. DID THE CHANGE OF THIS ITEM THE AGENDA ITEM SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO OUR TOTAL OPPOSITION OR IS WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TO SUPPORTING ON TO SUPPORT THIS LETTER FROM COST PUS CHRISTIE.

>> I THINK COMMISSIONER CHESNEY, HIS ADDRESS IN THAT WAS THE FIRST PART SAYS THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE 89TH SESSION OF TEXAS AND IS A SEPARATE THEN TO DISCUSS SIGNING THIS ONE PASSAGE ON CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND RELATED MATTERS OPENS IT UP TO WHERE WE CAN DO BOTH IS MY OPINION. I GUESS IT'S JENNY'S

OPINION. >> I'M JUST -- I'M STILL NOT CLEAR ON WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE MAKING A MOTION HERE OR WE VOTED TODAY. WE ALREADY VOTED. OPPOSITION TO HOUSE BILL 19 OR OUR ACTION THAT WE VOTED ON TODAY WAS ONLY TO SUPPORT THE

LETTER THAT'S BEING -- >> OH, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. YES. I BELIEVE THAT JOEL AND PATRICIA WILL SIGN A CARD IN OPPOSITION AND WE WILL ALSO SEND THE LETTER TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WAYS AND MEANS ON THESE IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT THE LEGISLATION THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE COUNTY. IN THIS AS WELL AND WHAT JOEL AND PATRICIA HAVE HAD AND NOE HAD AND HELPED WITH THIS CONSTANCE DID A DEEP DIVE INTO THE LEGISLATION AND HOW IT WOULD IMPACT US AS WELL AND WE ALL UNANIMOUSLY AGREED ON

THIS. >> I'M IN TOTAL SUPPORT OF OPPOSING THIS BILL. DON'T GET ME WRONG. WHAT I'M SAYING IS OUR AGENDA ITEM SHOULD HAVE SPOKEEN TO OUR DIRECT AND DELIBERATE OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL AS IT IS WRITTEN AND AT THE SAME TIME SUPPORT THIS JOINT COMMUNICATION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SIGN WITH THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI. TO ME IT'S TWO

SEPARATE THINGS. >> I CAN AMEND MY MOTION WHICH WOULD BE TO DO BOTH. THAT WAS THE INTENT. IF IT DIDN'T ARTICULATE IT CLEARLY I'M HAPPY TO REDO THE MOTION. MY MOTION WOULD BE TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE LETTER ON BEHALF OF NEUCES COUNTY AND TO OPPOSE PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 19.

IS THAT BETTER? >> YEAH.

>> I WOULD AMEND THAT MOTION. >> AND YOU WERE THE SECOND.

COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ WAS THE SECOND ON THE FIRST. THAT WAS

THE FIRST VOTE WE TOOK. >> WAS THAT OKAY?

>> QUESTION HAVE AN AMENDED MOTION. AMENDED SECOND FOR THAT.

TO OPPOSE HOUSE BILL 19 AND TO SIGN THE LETTER WITH THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI AGAINST. YES, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NOW THE SECOND THING WE WERE TRYING TO DO AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT WAS YOUR QUESTION ON THIS IS TO ALLOW ME AND I THINK WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND. I FORGET WHO IT WAS.

>> DIDN'T WE VOTE ON THAT? >> I DO.

>> I DON'T THINK WE VOTED. >> WE DIDN'T VOTE. WE JUST HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ALLOW ME -- AUTHORIZE ME --

[00:55:04]

>> MAKE DECISIONS. TAKE ACTION. >> THAT ARE NECESSARY DURING THE LAST MONTH OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY AND COUNTY WITH THE CONSULTANT OF ONE OTHER MEMBER AT LEAST OF THE COURT AND TO BRING IT BACK AT THE NEXT COURT

TO RATIFY. >> THERE YOU GO.

>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO DO? ANYTHING ELSE JOEL AND PATRICIA THAT Y'ALL NEED TO UPDATE US ABOUT? ANYTHING ELSE?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. GO BACK TO SENATE BILL 1967. I THINK WHAT

SHE SAID. PATRICIA. >> YES, SIR.

>> OR JOEL. SOMEBODY TALKED ABOUT SB 1967.

>> YES, SIR. >> MENTION SOMETHING ABOUT WATER AND WATER IN THE RURAL AREAS. IT'S NOT A GRANT IT'S A LOAN?

>> IT PERTAINS TO THE FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FUND AND IT INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION OF MULTIPURPOSE FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS. IT WOULD BE -- JUST A MINUTE, COMMISSIONER. I'M GOING TO CHECK IF THERE ARE LOANS OR GRANTS. THEY'RE PROBABLY A COMBINATION OF BOTH. BUT WE WILL DIG INTO THAT AND GET YOU A

RESPONSE, COMMISSIONER. >> COMPLAINING ABOUT LOANS HERE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR. >> INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT THROUGH TEXAS WATER AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

>> IF Y'ALL COULD SEND US SOMETHING WE'LL SHARE THAT WITH

THE COURT ON THAT. >> WE WILL GET YOU A BILL

ANALYSIS. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> ANYTHING ELSE?

>> ANYTHING ELSE THEY NEED TO TELL US?

>> YEAH. ANY -- SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE THROUGH.

>> I THINK THAT'S MOST OF WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING THAT ARE THE

BIG PIECES. >> THEN IT IS -- IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS DO WE HAVE ANY ADJOURNMENTS IN MEMORY? THERE BEING NONE, IT IS 10:01 AND THIS MEETING IS

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.