[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.]

PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME. I JUST HAVE ONE.

CHRIS GAIL. >>JUDGE CANALES: YOU ARE O E ONLINE. WILL YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF.

I WILL ASK IF ANYBODY ELSE IS ONLINE.

IF YOU USE YOUR VIRTUAL ICON OF A HAND.

I WOULD BE HAPPY TO CALL UPON YOU AFTER MR. GALE.

CHRIS, YOU MAY PROCEED. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

>>JUDGE CANALES: GOOD MORNING. >> I JUST REAL QUICK.

I KNOW THERE IS NOTHING -- AT LEAST I DON'T THINK THERE IS WITH MR. PIMENTAL AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ALMOST TO DEATH THE LAST TIME WE GOT TOGETHER. I JUST -- I WANTED TO MAKE SURE OF ONE PARTICULAR THING THAT ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND YOU, YOUR HONOR, WERE AWARE OF, AND THAT IS AFTER THE HEARING THAT WE D HAD, THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WORKSHEETS AND WORK OR ORDERS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM AND I HAD THOSE FORWARDED DIRECTLY FROM HIS OFFICE, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY A PLETHORA OF W WORKSHEETS AND WE HAD ISSUES WHETHER OR NOT WORK ORDERS WERE CREATED WITH REGARD TO THE AREA THE WORK WAS BEING PERFORMED ON AND QUITE A FEW. SO I WANTED THE ENTIRE COURT TO JUST BE AWARE AS -- AS I AM KIND OF ASSUMING YOU ARE THAT THOSE WORK ORDERS WERE ACTUALLY IN EXISTENCE.

AND THEY WERE FOUND. AND THEY WERE FORWARDED TO THE NUECES COUNTY ATTORNEY. I THINK PURSUANT TO OUR AGREEMENT A COPY WAS FORWARDED TO ME WHICH I PUT IN MY FILE.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS CLEAR AND THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WERE AWARE THAT THOSE WERE LOCATED.

AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT MAYBE SOME OF THE, I WOULD SAY, FAUX PASS WITH THE MEETING WERE LEARNING TOGETHER.

AND EVERYTHING WILL BE WORKED OUT FOR MR. PIMENTAL AND I WANTED YOU TO BE COMPLETELY AWARE OF THAT.

THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO STATE. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU SO MUCH. AS A REMINDER DURING PUBLIC

COMMENT, WE DO NOT RESPOND. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: AND SO AT THIS TIME, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER ONLINE VIRTUAL HAND, BUT WE WILL ASK ONCE MORE.

AND NOBODY ELSE LISTED ON THE SIGN-UP SHEETS SO I WILL MOVE ON

[1. In recognition of December 8, 2021 as Special Hearts Day.]

TO PROCLAMATIONS. AND THIS FIRST ONE IS SPECIAL HEARTS DAY. IT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN ON DECEMBER 8. FOR THIS I WILL CALL ON BELINDA.

>> I AM JUST GOING TO POKE MY HEAD OUT.

I KNOW THERE IS A REPRE E REPRESENTATIVE.

>>JUDGE CANALES: ALL RIGHT. >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, SPECIAL HEARTS IN THE ARTS PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE ART, MUSIC, DANCE AND THEATRE, WHICH GIVES OUR COMMUNITY THE GIFT OF EXPERIENCING THE UNIQUE AND SPECIAL ABILITIES EACH TALENTED SPECIAL HEART EXPRESSES WITH JAY; AND WHEREAS SPECIAL HEARTS DAY ALLOWS SPECIAL HURTS IN THE ARTS A COMMUNITY PLATFORM TO SHARE THEIR GIFT TO THE WORLD THROUGH THEIR OWN UNIQUE AINGTS ABILITIES. THEY REJOICE IN NOT JUST ONE SPECIAL ABILITY ALL SPECIAL ABILITIES WHETHER IN SPORTS, FINE ARTS AND UNIQUE GIFTS THAT SPECIAL HEART PROUDLY AND UNSELFISHLY OFFERS. SPECIAL HEARTS DAY ALLOWS EVERYONE TO EMBRACE A REALITY THAT FOCUSES ON SPECIAL ABILITIES INSTEAD OF DISABILITIES AND WHEREAS SPECIAL HEARTS DAY IS A CELEBRATION OF SPECIAL HURTS, FAMILIES, VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT PROVIDE THE COUNTY THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE SPECIAL HEART ARE REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTORS IN THE GREATNESS OF THE COMMUNITY.

SPECIAL HEARTS CELEBRATE THE BLESSING AND GIFT OF EVERY

[00:10:04]

SPECIAL HEART IN OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF NUECES COUNTY HEREBY FORMALLY DESIGNATE DECEMBER 8.

>>JUDGE CANALES: I WILL MAKE A MOTION FOR A DECLARATION.

>> SECOND. >>JUDGE CANALES: WOULD YOU LIKE TO APPROACH. WE WELCOME YOU.

>> SPECIAL HEARTS IS A PLACE WHERE I GO AND I LOVE GOING TO IT BECAUSE I LOVE TO DO ART MUSIC AND DANCE WITH ALL MY

FRIENDS. >> WE WERE HOPING OUR SPOKESPERSON WILL GET HERE ON TIME BECAUSE WILL THE THRILL WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW OF SPECIAL HEARTS. HOPEFULLY HE CAN WALK IN TWO SECONDS SO YOU CAN HEAR FROM M HIM.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND JUDGE.

YOU HAVE SUPPORTED US A LOT WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THINGS WE HAD TO DO TO ADJUST TO KEEP IT GOING.

YOU GUYS STEPPED UP AND HELPED US TREMENDOUSLY.

SO I WANT TO AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. AND THAT TODAY IS TREMENDOUS TUESDAY. AND OUT OF THE BLUE, YOU GUYS DID THIS FOR US AGAIN. AND IT'S LIKE YOU GUYS CARE AND PAY ATTENTION. SO YOUR OFFICE STAFF IS -- THEY ARE TREMENDOUS. BECAUSE THEY CAME UP AND CALLED ME AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WE ARE DOING THIS FOR YOU AGAIN.

I WAS LIKE THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR OFFICE GROUP, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE.

YOUR BACKGROUND, THEY HELP DO SO MUCH AND SOMETIMES DON'T GET RECOGNIZED. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM.

THANK YOU FOR HONORING US. OUR VERY GOOD SPEAKER, BY THE

WAY. >> GOOD TIMING.

>> THAT IS ETHAN. >>JUDGE CANALES: HI, ETHAN.

>> WILL OUT THERE YET? I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU AND YOU ARE A BLESS TO US.

>>JUDGE CANALES: NO WORRIES. WE CAN ALWAYS HAVE HIM COME BACK

UP TO THE PODIUM. >> OH, YOU WILL LOVE IT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: WHEN YOU SEE HIM, JUST KIND OF GIVE ME A SIGNAL AND AS SOON AS WE GET ANOTHER BREAK, WE WILL COME RIGHT BACK IN. BUT WE ARE SO HAPPY THAT YOU ARE HERE WITH US. WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HONOR YOU.

AND I LOVE ART, MUSIC AND DANCE TOO.

IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD. I AM GLAD YOU ALL GET TO EXPERIENCE THAT WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL ORGANIZATION.

>> WE CAN EXPECT YOU SATURDAY MORNING AT 9 TO 11 AT OUR

BUILDING, ALL OF YOU. >>JUDGE CANALES: I FORGOT TO TELL YOU I AM A TERRIBLE SINGER AND TERRIBLE DANCER AND I AM NOT A VERY GOOD ARTIST AND I STILL LOVE ALL THREE.

>> YOU JUST SPOKE ABOUT ME. BUT 9 TO 11:00 ON SATURDAY MORNINGS. ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM, PLEASE

DROP BY. >>JUDGE CANALES: TELL US WHERE.

>> SPECIAL HEARTS AND THE ARTS 3102 SOUTH ALAMEDA ACROSS FROM HEB BY DRISCOLL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

THAT IS OUR LOCATION. >>JUDGE CANALES: BY TEXAN

TRAIL. >> WALK IN AND ENJOY.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THAT SOUNDS WONDERFUL.

ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS?

>> I WOULD, JUDGE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK RUDY FOR INTRODUCING ME -- RUDY, IF WE CAN OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT AGAIN OR TIE IN THIS SHERRY. ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH

THE GROUP? >>JUDGE CANALES: I WILL HAVE

YOU SIGN IN FOR HIM, JOHN. >> HE IS GOING TO TALK ON THE

RESOLUTION. >>JUDGE CANALES: THAT IS TRUE.

>> COMMISSIONER MAREZ HAS BEEN THERE FROM DAY ONE.

REACHED OUT. THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT MISS DAVIS WAS MY THEATRE ARTS TEACHER BACK IN 1980 SOMETHING.

I AM 50, SO SHE IS REAL OLD. [LAUGHTER] SHE TAUGHT ME. SHE TAUGHT MY KID.

AND ONE OF THE INSTRUCTIONS WAS, WHAT IS YOUR DREAM.

AND ONE OF THE STUDENTS ASKED WHAT IS YOUR DREAM.

WITH FELLOW STUDENTS AND HELP WITH PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT WANT TO KEEP THIS PROGRAM ALIVE. AND I APPRECIATE EVERY ONE OF YOU AND IT MAKES YOU -- BRINGS YOU DOWN TO EARTH AND GIVE THANKS TO WHAT WE HAVE. AND IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TO DO SOMETHING. SO COMMISSIONER MAREZ, THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FROM DAY ONE. AND OUR KIDS APPRECIATE IT.

AND IT IS ABOUT THEM. DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, YOU KNOW, WE JUST TEND TO BE A LITTLE MORE GRATEFUL.

WHEN WE CAN GIVE BACK TOWARD OUR COMMUNITY, IT HELPS US.

AND I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AS WELL. THANK YOU.

[00:15:02]

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU, RUDY.

THANK YOU, ETHAN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, SAME SIGN.

THANK YOU. LET US KNOW WHEN HE COMES BACK IN. WE HAVE JOEL RO MO ONLINE RIGHT NOW AND I WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE THIS -- MOVE FORWARD TO ITEM

[2. In opposition to Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) Rate Increase.]

NUMBER 2. AS JOEL SAID OUR PRESENCE IS REQUESTED AND I THINK YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY AS WE MAKE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. JOEL, WILL YOU YIELD TO BELINDA FIRST AND WE WILL PITCH TO YOU. GO AHEAD, BELINDA.

>> WHEREAS THE TEXAS WINDSTORM INSURANCE ASSOCIATION BOARD MET IN AUGUST OF 2021 AND VOTED TO INCREASE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL RATES BY 5%. WHEREAS, THE NEXT QUARTERLY MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 20, 2021.

COASTAL RESIDENCES AND BUS BUSINESSES ARE STILL ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER FROM THE ECONOMIC DISTRESS CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND CONTINUING TO REBUILD AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF NUECES COUNTY IS OPPOSED TO ANY WINDSTORM INSURANCE RATE INCREASE AND REQUEST THAT THE WINDSTORM ORGANIZATION TAKE ALL NECESSARY ACTION TO OVERTURN THEIR PRIOR DECISION.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU SO MUCH AND OBVIOUSLY JOEL ROMO.

YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEARING THAT WILL TAKE PLACE. YOU GO AHEAD AND INFORM THE COURT AND THOSE LISTENING O E ONLINE.

>> YES, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CHAIRMAN TODD HUNTER ON THIS ISSUE.

HE HELPS TO TAKE THE LEAD AND RALLY THE TROOPS.

THE TEXAS WINDSTORM INSURANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTOR ALSO MEET AT THE OMNI ON DECEMBER 7 AND ASKED TO SUBMIT RESOLUTIONS IN OPPOSITION TO TRY TO STOP THE 5% INCREASE THAT THE BOARD HAS RECEIVED AND ADOPTED RECENTLY.

HE HAS RALLIED THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION FROM UP AND DOWN THE COAST AND EVEN SOME INLAND LAWMAKERS TO COMMIT LEADERS TO THE TWIA BOARD IN OPPOSITION OF THE RATE INCREASE.

AND WE HAD A CALL ABOUT THE DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES AND NUECES COUNTY AND THE COURT AND OTHER PARTIES AND ALL DOING SIMILAR RESOLUTIONS. ONCE THIS IS APPROVED TO THE TWIA PUBLIC INFORMATION ONLINE AND WE WILL WORK WITH BELINDA ON THAT. I SENT AN E-MAIL TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE YESTERDAY WITH INSTRUCTIONS IF THEY SO PLEASE THEY WILL SUBMIT THEIR OWN COMMENTS TO THE TWIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS VIA E-MAIL AND URGING THEM TO NOT ADOPT THIS OR TO KINDS OF WALK BACK THE PROPOSED 5 FERRARI RATE INCREASE. WE CAN SEND THAT TO YOU AGAIN.

CHAIRMAN HUNTER IS ASKING TO GET THE WORD OUT.

TO REALLY HIT THEM HARD IN TERMS OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND OPPOSING THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE. WITH THAT SAID, CHAIRMAN HUNTER ASKING ANYONE WHO CAN ATTEND FROM NUECES COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THE HEARING AND IS WILLING TO SPEAK FROM THE BOARD HEARING NEXT TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7 7, TO BE AT THE OMNI 8:45, 8:30.

AND MORE DETAILS WHERE THE RENDEVOUS ROOM WILL BE BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH HIS OFFICE AND OTHER LAWMAKERS AS WELL.

THE ACTION FOR THE BOARD IS -- ACTUALLY TO VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION AND ALSO FOR THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ALSO DO THE PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL AS IF YOUR SCHEDULES ALLOW TO ATTEND THE HEARING ON DECEMBER 7, AND DEMONSTRATE THE OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE. WITH THAT I WILL STOP IF THERE

ARE ANY QUESTIONS. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO -- FIRST LET'S GET OUR MOTION IN FOR THE OPPOSITION SO WE CAN GET THAT FILED APPROPRIATELY.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>>JUDGE CANALES: A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

OKAY, JOEL, WE HAVE A FORMAL RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO THIS RATE INCREASE. AND I THINK ALL OF US WILL MARK OUR CALENDARS TO BE PRESENT, IF POSSIBLE, AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR COASTAL BEND RESIDENTS WITH THIS QUITE UNFAIR AND TARGETED RATE INCREASE. THAT SEEMS TO REALLY GO AGAINST THE LEGISLATURE'S WILL AS WELL. THAT IS WHAT IS SO KINDS OF ODD

ABOUT IT -- >> NOT REALLY, JUDGE.

THEY ARE PRETTY ODD. THEY DO THIS ALL THE TIME.

THEY KIND OF DISREGARD WHAT -- IT IS VERY -- IT NEEDS TO BE A

[00:20:02]

NEW BOARD. NEEDS TO BE RESTRUCTURED COMPLETELY. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR YEARS.

THEY JUST DON'T GET IT. WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR A LONG TIME.

>>JUDGE CANALES: WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING BUT THE BOARD IS

APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR. >>JUDGE CANALES: SO MANY

INSURANCE PEOPLE AND -- >> THEY NEED TO REDEFINE WHAT THE BOARD MAKE-UP IS AND NEEDS MORE CONSUMER SPOTS ON THE BOARD AND I GUESS THAT IS A LEGISLATIVE ACTION.

>>JUDGE CANALES: I DON'T KNOW. I WAS GOING TO ASK JOEL THAT.

THE LEGISLATIVE ACTION, THE MAKE-UP OF THE BOARD.

>> THERE ARE SOME STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.

AND TO ADD TO THE CONVERSATION, CHAIRMAN HUNTER HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES FOR GROUP THAT WILL START HAVING HEARINGS IN JANUARY.

SO WE DO HAVE STRONG REPRESENTATION ON THOSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES LOOK AT GUNNEDING AND EVERYTHING.

>>JUDGE CANALES: JOEL, THANK YOU.

WILL YOU ASK THEM AND CONTEMPLATING IF ANY OF THE HEARINGS WILL HAPPEN ON THE COAST AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ON OUR CALENDAR IF THEY ARE ALREADY

PLANNING. >> SURE.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU. WE WILL OBVIOUSLY GET YOU THE COPIES FROM COURT ADMIN N ADMINISTRATION'S OFFICE AND WE WILL SEE YOU ON THE 7TH. THANK YOU, SIR.

OKAY. IT IS STILL TWO TO ARE THREE MINUTES BEFORE 9:00. YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK I WOULD

LIKE TO DO -- >> WE HAD THAT FINAL MEMBER SHOW

UP. >>JUDGE CANALES: LET'S DO --

ABSOLUTELY. >> THEY ARE OUTSIDE.

BELINDA -- >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU SO MUCH FROM SPECIAL HEARTS. THAT IS THEIR PROCLAMATION, RIGHT. OKAY.

>>JUDGE CANALES: WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO A PICTURE.

HI. >> HELLO, I AM WILL THE THRILL AND I'M WITH SPECIAL HEARTS IN THE ARTS.

AND WE DO -- WE DO NIGHTS, TURKEY DANCE AND WE DO WALK SLOWLY AND MISS SHERRY DAVIS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

WE DO ARTS, MUSIC, THEATRE, DANCE, PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILM.

AND THEN WE DO -- WE DO SNACK TIME.

AND I -- WE DO LIKE CHRISTMAS TREE, SCRATCH IT LIKE THIS.

AND -- YEAH. I LOVE -- I LOVE TO DO THE SIGN LANGUAGE. AND I LOVE -- I LOVE -- I LOVE

TO -- I LOVE TO -- >> SPEAK TO EVERYBODY.

>> OKAY. >> DON'T LIKE TO SPEAK TO

EVERYBODY. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ARE YOU OUR SPOKESPERSON FOR SPECIAL HEARTS?

>> YES. >> HE IS OUR SPOKESPERSON.

>>JUDGE CANALES: AWESOME. YOU DID A GREAT JOB.

[APPLAUSE] AND IN HONOR -- IN HONOR OF YOU BEING HERE WITH US TO NOT ONLY COMMEMORATE SPECIAL HEARTS DAY BUT TO REMIND US THAT WE ARE ALL SPECIAL IN OUR OWN WAY, QUESTION THIS BEAUTIFUL RESOLUTION THAT IT IS MY HONOR TO COME PRESENT TO YOU AND ASK IF YOU ALL WILL TAKE A PICTURE WITH US. TAKE A PICTURE WITH US.

[00:25:07]

>>JUDGE CANALES: A RESOLUTION THAT TELLS ALL THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT GUYS. ISN'T THAT GREAT.

YOU ARE LIKE AN AMBASSADOR.

>> GOOD JOB. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU.

I AM GLAD YOU GUYS ARE DOING THIS.

[APPLAUSE] >> GOOD JOB.

[APPLAUSE] >>JUDGE CANALES: OKAY.

AS I SIGN THE TWIA RESOLUTIONS, WE HAVE CAROLYN VAUGHN WHO IS HERE WITH US AND WILL SIGN UP. WE WILL REOPEN PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. YES.

>> GOOD MORNING. NICE TO SEE YOU ALL.

I CERTAINLY MISS MY PARKING SPACE FROM THAT PARKING LOT THIS MORNING. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I -- I WAS OUT OF TOWN LAST WEEK AND I SAW SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED DURING THE COURT WITH JUAN PINMENTEL.

I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND I KNOW JUAN VERY WELL AND INFORMATION THAT MAY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS COURT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN VETTED ENOUGH. I DON'T KNOW.

BUT LET ME SPEAK TO IT THIS WAY. WHEN I WAS ON THE COURT WE GOT TO FIX SOME ROADS. I PICKED THREE.

I WAS VERY STRATEGIC IN PICKING THEM.

YOU ALL VOTED ON IT. WE ALL VOTED ON EVERYBODY'S ROADS. AND I WENT TO ONE LIKE I ALWAYS DO. ASKED THEM WHAT I THEY THINK ABOUT THE PROJECTS BECAUSE I KNEW THEY WOULD BE FOLLOWING THEM. AS SOON AS I WENT TO ONE, A FLAG WENT UP WITH HIM. HE WAS VERY CONCERNED.

HE WAS OKAY WITH 48. HE WAS OKAY WITH 69.

I PICKED 48 AND 69, BY THE WAY, BECAUSE THEY -- DIVERT TRAFFIC FROM 624 WHICH TXDOT NEEDS TO FIX.

IN THE CASE OF A HURRICANE, WE WILL NEED IT.

THEY DO IT IN THE MORNING WHEN THE SCHOOLS ARE BUSY DIVERTS THE TRAFFIC. 73 WAS ONE OF THE ROADS I HAD A LOT OF CALLS ON WHEN I WAS ON COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER.

THEY HAVE TERRIBLE DRAINAGE AND THE ROADS WERE AWFUL.

AND I THOUGHT A LONG STRETCH OF ROAD YOU COULD PROBABLY DO IT IN THREE PHASES. I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST PHASE JUAN IMMEDIATELY SAID MY FAMILY LIVED ON THAT ROAD AND HE WAS CONCERNED, JUDGE, BECAUSE OF THAT.

I SAID IT DIDN'T MAT OTHER LIVES ON THE ROAD, EVERYBODY WHO LIVES ON THE ROAD PAYS TAXES. YOU DON'T FIX BECAUSE THEY ARE KIN TO YOU. I THINK HE IS ONE OF THE BEST HIRES THIS COUNTY EVER MADE. I KNOW WHO HE WAS BEFORE.

I KNOW HOW HE IS LOOKING AT THE PROJECTS.

HE WANTS TO SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY AND I THINK THAT INFORMATION WAS NOT VETTED. SO I HOPE THIS COURT REALLY.

I THINK HIS REPUTATION WAS TARNISHED AND HE WANTED IT BROUGHT TO PUBLIC BECAUSE HE HAD NOTHING TO HIDE.

YOU TAKE A RISK WHEN DO YOU THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST THINK THE WORSE. THEY ALWAYS DO.

AND THAT WILL FOLLOW HIM. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC KNEW I PICKED THAT ROAD.

I PICKED IT. AND THIS COURT VOTED ON IT.

I DON'T THINK THE COURT DID ANYTHING WRONG.

I THINK THE COURT OWNS HIM AN APOLOGY.

I DON'T THINK HE HAS A DISHONEST BONE IN HIS BODY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE DOG PARK.

I WANT TO THANK YOU, JUDGE, FOR CONTINUALLY PUSH THIS PROJECTS.

I WILL ASK COURT THIS THAT YOU WILL NOT TAKE THE DOG PARK OUT.

I WAS AT HAZEL MAY PARK, 15 TO 20 KIDS ON THAT PLAYGROUND THAT WE BUILT AND COMMISSIONER MAREZ, YOUR AREA USES THAT AS WELL.

NORTHWEST DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WHEN I CAME ON THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, WHEN JUDGE CAME ON.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WAS MOVING FORWARD.

NOT THINKING OLD FOGEY BUT BRINGING THE COUNTY UP TO SPEED.

[00:30:07]

WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR AN AMENITY THAT YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE.

YOU HAVE NEW HOMES AND THOSE PEOPLE WILL COME OUT THERE.

DOG PARK -- I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF DOG PARKS.

I WALK MY DOG IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE. AN AMENITY WE NEED TO KEEP.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHO IS DOING IT, FIND SOMEONE ELSE, BUT REMEMBER THIS, MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT.

TAXPAYER MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT ON THAT.

I WILL JUST LEAVE AND SAY THIS. I HOPE THIS COURT COMES TO R TOGETHER, BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY.

AND I HOPE THAT SOMEHOW THE OTHER EMPLOYEES IN THIS COUNTY DON'T FEEL LIKE IF THEY DO SOMETHING THEY WILL BE ATTACKED IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT VETTING. BECAUSE JUAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN VETTED. IT REALLY SHOULD HAVE.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

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

>>JUDGE CANALES: WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER -- I GOT ITEM 1. AND THEN JJ, YOU KNOW YOURS WILL

[2. Receive update from Nueces County Veterans Services Officer regarding Wreaths Across America ceremony and the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery 10-year Anniversary Commemoration.]

NOT TAKE THAT LONG. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER TWO SO OUR VETERAN SERVICES OFFICER CAN CONTINUE WITH THE IMPORTANT PLANS WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEKEND. HE HAS COME TO GIVE A PRESENTATION REGARDING REACH ACROSS AMERICA AND OUR COASTAL BEND STATE CEMETERY TEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE.

GOOD, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. WANT TO BRIEF YOU WHAT IS COMING UP THIS COMING WEEKEND AND THE WEEKENDS TO COME.

THIS SATURDAY DECEMBER 4, 2021 AT 10 A.M., THE NUECES COUNTY WILL BE HOSTING THE VETERANS CEMETERY TRANSITIONAL CEREMONY FOLLOWED BY A CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE THE CEMETERY'S 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY. DURING THE TRANSITIONAL CEREMONY NUECES COUNTY WILL GET MAINTENANCE AND CONTROL OF THE VETERANS CEMETERY FROM THE LAND OFFICE, TEXAS VETERANS LAND BOARD. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRANSITIONAL CEREMONY WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ANNIVERSARY CEREMONY THAT WE INTRODUCE THOSE WHO HAD A HAND IN BRINGING THE STATE VETERANS CEMETERY TO THE COASTAL BEND.

AGAIN, THIS INCLUDES COMMITTEE AND VETERAN AFFAIRS AND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, NUECES COUNTY CEMETERY COMMITTEE AND LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS. OUR GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE SENATOR JUAN HOSA. THIS CEREMONY IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. SATURDAY DECEMBER 18, 2021 AT 11 A.M., WE WILL ALSO HOST THE REACH ACROSS AMERICA CEREMONY AT THE COASTAL BEND STATE VETERANS CEMETERY.

DURING THIS EVENT, WE PLAN TO ADORN EVERY GRAVE SITE WITH A WREATH FOR THE HOLIDAYS. WE ARE WORKING FUND RAISING FOR THIS EVENT. WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED SOME ISSUES WITH THE NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES.

WREATHS ARE HARD TO COME BY IN LARGE QUANTITIES, AND WE ARE REACHING OUT TO MERCHANTS IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY FOR THE FRESH AND ARTIFICIAL WREATHS IN SMALL NUMBERS TO REACH OUR 3600 WREATH GOAL.

BEFORE THE CEREMONY AT 10 A.M., THE WREATH ALSO ARRIVE AT THE CEMETERY VIA MOTORCYCLE PROCESSION, MAKE ONE LOOP AROUND THE CEMETERY CIRCLE AND BE PLACED IN DESIGNATED SECTIONS.

ONCE THE WREATHS ARE IN PLACE, THE CEREMONY WILL BEGIN SHARPLY AT 11 A.M. WITH THE PRESENTATION OF THE HONOR WREATHS AT THE ASSEMBLY AREA. THERE WILL BE PARKING AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS A REGISTRATION TABLE FOR FAMILIES AND A CHECK-IN.

FAMILIES WITH LOVED ONES BURIED AT THE CEMETERY WILL HAVE FIRST PRIORITY LAYING AT THE WREATH. AFTERWARDS, WE WILL INVITE ALL VOLUNTEERS TO PARTICIPATE AND THEN CONCLUDE THE CEREMONY.

AGAIN, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THIS INCLUDES MY BRIEF ON UPCOMING CEMETERIES. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I

WILL BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL COMMEMORATION OF TEN YEARS. I SPOKE WITH FLINT HILLS LATE LAST WEEK AND THEY RECALLED THAT THE DAY WE OPENED TEN YEARS AGO THAT THEY HAD TO DELAY THE OPENING OF THE CEREMONY FOR OVER HALF HOUR BECAUSE CARS WERE E LINED UP JUST, YOU KNOW, SNAKING AROUND I-37, TRYING TO, YOU W KNOW, DISEMBARK AND GET TO THE LOCATION. CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE DO ARE NOT MEANT TO PRODUCE A RATE OF RETURN.

CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE DO ARE MEANT TO HONOR THE SACRIFICE OF OTHERS. THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE VETERAN CEMETERY. IT IS TO HONOR THE SACRIFICE OF

[00:35:01]

THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN ALL FOR US AND THEIR SPOUSES TO HAVE A FINAL RESTING PLACE. IT IS OUR HONOR TO BE REALLY THE KEEPERS OF THIS GROUND. AND ON SATURDAY, I HOPE COMMISSIONERS THAT YOU JOIN ME IN THIS INCREDIBLE CELEBRATION.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IN THE LAST 60 DAYS THAT HAS BEEN UNDER LOCAL CONTROL REALLY IDENTIFY FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS THE NEEDS OF OUR VETERAN CEMETERIES. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS.

AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE BUDGETS FOR THEM.

AND I THINK AS A RESULT OF OUR WORK, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND YOU WILL SEE HEARINGS THAT DEAL WITH BETTER BUDGETS TO BETTER ADDRESS THESE IMPORTANT BURIAL PLACES. SO PLEASE JOIN US.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE REACH ACROSS AMERICA.

IF YOU DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THAT, PLEASE GOOGLE IT. ALL IT TAKES IS 30 SECONDS TO READ THE FRONT COVER OF THE WEB PAGE, WHICH WILL BE ENOUGH TO GET YOU HOOKED FOR THE NEXT 30 MINUTES TO REALLY READ ABOUT THE STORY OF HOW ONE MAN WHO SOLD CHRISTMAS WREATHS ON THE EAST COAST HAD A FEW EXTRA ONE YEAR AND CHANGED REALLY THE COURSE OF THE NATION. THE MOST INCREDIBLE -- INCREDIBLE SERVICE. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT GETS MARKED ON YOUR CALENDARS. I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS OUR T K THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO REACHED OUT ACROSS THE COASTAL BEND TO HELP US WITH SPONSORSHIP. ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF YOUR NAMES PERFECTLY. TURNER RAMIREZ.

WE WANT TO THANK HEB. WE WANT TO THANK CITGO.

AEP, MY GOODNESS, HOW CAN I FORGET.

THEY ARE OUR TITLE SPONSORS. OTHERS THAT COME TO OUR AID, THE VETERANS BAND AND CHAVEZ HAVE BEEN REALLY SUPER.

SO, YEAH, IT HAS JUST BEEN AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF A NATIONAL MOVEMENT WITH WALMART TO LAY THESE BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS WREATHS. WE DO NEED HANDS AND WE DO NEED HELP. SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED AND YOU ARE LISTENING, PLEASE REACH OUT JJ AND OUR VETERANS SERVICES OFFICE. COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY

QUESTIONS FOR JJ? >> CAN YOU TELL ME THE TIME.

>>JUDGE CANALES: ON SATURDAY. >> 10 A.M. THIS SATURDAY, COMMISSIONER. THE WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA.

I SUGGEST YOU GET THERE EARLY BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE HAVE A WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA WE HAVE 2,000 PEOPLE SHOW UP.

>> THE ONE ON THE 18TH? >> THE ONE ON THE 18TH, YES, R

SIR. >> I DON'T THINK WE WILL HAVE SNOW LIKE THEY DO IN ARLINGTON BUT OURS WILL BE A COASTAL BEAUTY. AND I REALLY -- THIS, I THINK, WILL BE THE HALLMARK WHAT WE CAN DO LOCALLY.

ALTHOUGH WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE STATE, FOR THE AMOUNT THEY BROUGHT FORWARD, THE TRUTH IS THAT WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA WILL TAKE PLACE BECAUSE OF OUR LOCAL PARTNERSHIP AND LOCAL ADVOCACY.

I TRULY BELIEVE IF WE WERE NOT IN CHARGE, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PUT FORTH THIS KIND OF E T EFFORT.

AND JJ HAS BEEN GOING ALL OVER THE STATE GETTING THESE WREATHS ORGANIZED. NEXT YEAR WE ARE GOING TO

PREORDER. >> YES, MA'AM.

>>JUDGE CANALES: REMEMBER WE JUST TOOK OVER OCTOBER 1.

A VERY, VERY SPECIAL EVENT. OKAY.

IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, JJ, WE ARE WISHING YOUR ENTIRE TEAM A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON AS WE REMEMBER YOUR SACRIFICE AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS.

>> YOU SAID YOU WERE SHORT -- HOW MANY ARE YOU SHORT?

>> RIGHT NOW COMMISSIONER WE HAVE 1091 WREATHS THAT ARE SECURED. WE NEED 3600.

BUT WE ARE WORKING -- I WILL BE TRAVELLING TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY THIS UPCOMING MONDAY WITH RAM CHAVEZ TO GET AS MANY FROM HOBBY LOBBY AND WALMARTS AND GO TO THE NORTH TO SAN ANTONIO, AUSTIN, HOUSTON. AND WHEREVER WE CAN FINDS THEM.

>>JUDGE CANALES: WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA.

THEY RUN $15 A WREATH. AND OUR BUDGET IS $7 A WREATH.

WE HAVE FUND RAISED FOR A TOTAL OF $35,000 WHICH SHOULD BE ENOUGH IF WE ARE AT THE $7 MARK. BUT NOT ENOUGH IF WE ARE AT THE $15 MARK. AGAIN, WE ARE LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY. IF YOU WANT TO LEND A HAND WITH DONATIONS. THE DONATIONS GETS MADE TO THE

[00:40:02]

VETERANS BAND OF TEXAS. A 501-C-3 AND HIGHLY URGE TO YOU DO SO TODAY BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE THESE ORDERS TODAY.

>> LET ME TALK TO TERESA AND MAYBE I CAN DONATE 20,000.

>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT, SIR. >>JUDGE CANALES: THAT WILL BE

GREAT. >> DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY -- THE ABILITY TO TAKE THAT OUT OF OUR --

>>JUDGE CANALES: OUT OF WHAT YOUR WHAT?

>> PRECINCT FUNDS. IT IS A CHARITY.

>>JUDGE CANALES: A WONDERFUL GESTURE.

HERE IS THE SITUATION. JJ IS BEING VERY HUMBLE.

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA HAVE A DEADLINE OF TODAY.

THEY HAVE FRESH WREATHS. FRESH GREEN.

SO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO FOR HALF THE PRICE IS GO OUT EVERYWHERE. RAM HAS BEEN IN SAN ANTONIO, JJ, AND WE HAVE BEEN BUYING THE ARTIFICIAL ONES AND HARDER TO COME THINK ABOUT QUANTITY. AND SO IF WE KNEW THERE WAS COUNTY MONEY FOR THE WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA, TWO THINGS, E DALE. ONE, JJ AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE ENOUGH DOLLARS RAISED TO REIMBURSE THE COUNTY.

IN THERE WAS A MECHANISM THAT JJ COULD ORDER ONLINE TODAY WHICH IS THE DEADLINE AND WE KNOW THAT WE -- JJ DO YOU -- I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE SINCE -- SINCE WE WERE THE ONES THAT MADE THE CALLS TOGETHER. WE KNOW THESE DOLLARS ARE COMING IN. THEY ARE COMMITTED.

BUT YOU KNOW CORPORATIONS, TAKES A LITTLE WHILE --

>> A LAG TIME. >>JUDGE CANALES: -- THERE IS A LAG TIME. THAT IS SOUR CONCERN.

>> I WOULD JUST -- I JUST WANT TO -- WANT TO KNOW IF IT IS AN APPROPRIATE USE OF IT. WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE BEFORE

WE COMMIT TO IT. >>JUDGE CANALES: THE MONEY CAN BE BROUGHT BACK, IS WHAT I AM SAYING.

IT COULD BE JUST A BRIDGE, IF THAT IS POSSIBLE.

>> THE CEMETERY IS PART OF THE COUNTY ORGANIZATION PORTION OF IT. NOW LEGITIMATE FUNDS TO USE THE PRECINCT FUNDS AND WITH THE DONATIONS.

AND I WILL STILL DEFER TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WITHLY AT, BUT I

DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS AN ISSUE. >> IF YOU WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK IT, WE CAN DO IT LATER IN THE MEETING.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE OKAY.

>>JUDGE CANALES: WE CAN USE OUTSIDE AGENCY FUNDS FOR THE VETERANS BAND OF TEXAS. THAT I KNOW BECAUSE THEY ARE A 501-C-3. IF WE WANTED TO DO IT -- I GUESS WHAT I AM SAYING JJ, MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE IN A LITTLE BIT. WE WILL CALL YOU IF WE NEED FOR

YOU TO COME BACK OVER. >> SOMEBODY ELSE GIVES AND YOU

CAN DO IT, MARK ME DOWN FOR TEN. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

>>JUDGE CANALES: WHAT I AM THINKING, COMMISSIONER, WE WILL REIMBURSE IT TO YOU IF IT IS FULLY FUNDED.

BUT THE BRIDGE WILL HELP YOU PLACE THE ORDER AND WORK WITH TERESA AND DALE AND ORDER THAT $10,000 WORTH OF FRESH WREATHS

IS A HUGE -- >> HAPPY TO DO IT FOR THE

VETERANS. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

FUTURE REFERENCE, WE ARE WORKING TO GET FRESH WREATH.

IN THE FUTURE FOR ARTIFICIAL. AND THESE FRESH WREATHS IS $15 APIECE AND COSTS $50,000 TO DO THIS ONE YEAR TO AND THOSE WREATHS GO BAD IN TWO WEEKS. IF WE BUY ARTIFICIAL REUSE THEM

AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. >> IS THAT WHERE YOU ARE HEADED

GET CAN THE ARTIFICIAL ONES? >> WE ARE PULLING THOSE NOW,

COMMISSIONER. >>JUDGE CANALES: THE 1,000 THAT

WE HAVE SECURED AS ARTIFICIAL. >> IF WE DO THAT FOREVER, THAT WOULD MAKE A LOT OF SENSE. THE ARTIFICIAL -- NOTHING LIKE A NATURAL WREATH, BUT ARTIFICIAL. THERE ARE SOME BEAUTIFUL ARTIFICIAL WREATHS THAT ARE MORE THAN APPROPRIATE AND CAN LAST FOR MANY YEARS AND THAT WILL CERTAINLY BE A GREAT WAY TO DO THIS, I WOULD THINK AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FUND RAISING EVERY YEAR. THAT WOULD BE THE ANOTHER THING.

.>JUDGE C >>JUDGE CANALES: RED BOWS.

YOU WILL KEEP SEEING THE IMAGE, THE RED BOWS.

WE ARE PURCHASING THESE FROM THE DOLLAR STORE ALREADY PREMADE AND THEY CAN BE REPURPOSED YEAR AFTER YEAR.

AT LEAST FOR A FEW YEARS THEY WILL STAY PRETTY.

THEY WILL STAY FRESH. AGAIN, THIS WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA, JUST A MAJOR HONOR TO BE ONE OF FOUR PLACE NOTICE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS TO HAVE A VETERANS CEMETERY.

OUR GUEST SPEAKER. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAID IT SENATOR JUAN CHINHOSA. FOR THE PUBLIC LISTENING, THE COUNTY, PLEASE COME AND JOIN US. AS JJ RECOMMENDS, PLEASE GET

THERE EARLY. >> THAT'S ALL I HAVE, JUDGE.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> JUDGE, IF IT CAN BE DONE LEGALLY.

PUT ME DOWN FOR TEN. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU.

[00:45:01]

NOW WE KNOW WE CAN ORDER WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA ONLINE AND WE WILL WORK THE DETAILS LATER THIS AFTERNOON.

>> YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND

COMMISSIONERS. >> JUDGE, I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. JUDGE WE ARE NOW OVER -- THAT IS

[E. PUBLIC HEARING WILL BEGIN AT 9:00 A.M. The County will solicit input from the public regarding the selection of five (5) colonias to receive concentrated attention from the Colonia Self-Help Center that the County is seeking to establish through the Colonia Self-Help Center Program, Contract No. 7220033, in the amount $500,000, made available through Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING AND RECONVENE SPECIAL MEETING]

WHAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES MOVE TO THE PUBLIC HEARING WHICH IS THE PURPOSE IT SO SOLICIT INPUT OF THE SELECTION OF FIVE COLONIAS TO RECEIVE ATTENTION FROM THE COLONIA SELF-HELP CENTER.

AND MARIA IS HERE. AND THIS CONTRACT IS NUMBER 0 722033 FOR THE RECORD HALF A MILLION DOLLARS AND AVAILABLE THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

SORRY PUBLIC HEARING, 9 A.M. THAT IS E.

>> GREAT FOR READING THE AGENDA ITEM LANGUAGE, JUDGE.

SAVED MY, THIS IS THE SECOND TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THIS.

THE FIRST WAS HELD YESTERDAY EVENING AT 6 P.M. AT THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA. THANK YOU FOR COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ FOR ATTENDING AND FOR THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR ACCOMMODATING US. LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND BECAUSE THIS IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE GRANT.

LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, 1995, THE 74TH LEDGE PASSED 1709 WHICH WAS A LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE TO ESTABLISH COLONIA SELF-HELP CENTER AND STAR, WEBB AND EL PASO ACCOUNTS.

COLONIA SELF-HELP CENTER ARE FUNDED BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK FRATERNITY, HUD, CDBG.

A 2.5% COLONIA SET-ASIDE FUND THAT FUNDS THIS PROGRAM.

THE PROGRAM IS MANAGED AS THE JUDGE SAID BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. IN 2001 WAS ABLE TO ESTABLISH.

THE LEGISLATURE PASSED HOUSE BILL 1301 TO ESTABLISH AN EIGHTH COLONIA SELF-HELP CENTER HERE IN NUECES COUNTY.

AS THE JUDGE MENTIONED 7220233 FOR AN INITIAL BUDGET OF $500,000 FOR UP TO FOUR YEARS. THE FUNDING IS THEN BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE CATEGORIES WITH APPLICABLE LIMITS WITH EACH CATEGORY. THE FIRST CATEGORY IS FOR CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES. 75 TO 77% OF THE FUNDS WILL GO TO THIS PARTICULAR ACTIVITY WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 7 $375,000. THIS MONEY MUST BE USED IN THE FIVE TARGETED COLONIAS WHICH I WILL NAME IN JUST A MINUTE.

THIS WILL COVER REHABILITATION, PER PROPERTY UP TO $60,000 OR NEW CONSTRUCTION OR RECONSTRUCTION UP TO $75,000 PER PROPERTY. THE SECOND CATEGORY IS PUBLIC SERVICE. APPROXIMATELY 8% TO 10% OF THE FUNDING CAN BE USED IN THIS CATEGORY, WHICH WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $50,000. THIS CATEGORY WITH SERVE ALL COLONIAS WITHIN NUECES COUNTY. IT IS NOT JUST LIMITED TO THOSE FIVE COLONIAS THAT WE ARE GOING TO DESIGNATE.

ACTIVITY WILL INCLUDE TECHNOLOGY ACCESS LIKE A COMPUTER LAB, TOOL LENDING, SOLID WASTE EVENTS, TIDAL CLEARING, FINANCIAL AND LITERACY CLASSES, ETC. AN ADMINISTRATIVE CAP OF 15%.

THIS IS ABOUT $37,500 THAT CAN BE USED TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SELF-HELP CENTER AND CAN BE DONE THROUGH A LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY AND WILL BE DONE IN-HOUSE AND ALSO WILL BE DONE THROUGH A HYBRID OF A COMBINATION OF THOSE ACTIVITIES. UNDER THE COLONIA SELF-HELP CENTER PROGRAM, THE COUNTY WILL NEED TO IDENTIFY FIVE COLONIAS TO RECEIVE CONCENTRATED ATTENTION FROM THE CENTER.

THESE COLONIAS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS.

HAVE A TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD ASSIGNED M NUMBER WHICH IS THE STATE IDENTIFIER FOR CATEGORY OF COLONIAS.

THEY MUST HAVE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER AVAILABLE.

AFTER TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THESE REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH BANKETI.

OUR INTERNAL TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS THE FOLLOWING CO A COLONIAS IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER BLUE BONNET, CINDY PARK, THE RANCH, GENTLEMANLIN AND BANKETY TOWN THAT ARE THE COLONIAS LISTED ON YOUR SCREEN FOR THAT MAP. THANK YOU, BELINDA, FOR PREPARING THAT MAP. THANK YOU, CONNIE.

WE WANT TO NOTE THAT THE INITIAL CONTRACT TERM IF AWARDED IS FOR FOUR YEARS; HOWEVER, ADDITIONAL FUNDS CAN BE REQUESTED BASED ON

[00:50:04]

PROGRESS MADE THAT WILL ALLOW THE COUNTY TO SELECT ANOTHER FIVE COLONIAS DOWN THE ROAD AND SO ON AS FUNDING IS AVAILABLE.

WE KNOW THERE IS A GREAT NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WANT TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC THIS IS A STARTING POINT MOVING FORWARD AND WE HOPE TO OBVIOUSLY KEEP THE PROGRAM GOING AS LONG AS WE ARE ABLE TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM AND AS LONG AS FUNDING IS AVAILABLE.

SOME OF THE COMMENTS WE RECEIVED LAST NIGHT JUST AS STARTING POINT FOR TODAY'S DISCUSSION. OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE MAIN COMMENTS WAS MORE COLONIAS ARE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE AND I MENTION THIS IS A STARTING POINT FOR US.

IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS KIND OF PILOT PROJECT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN TARGET MORE COLONIAS DOWN THE ROAD.

ANOTHER COMMENT WE RECEIVED WAS THE TECHNOLOGY ACCESS WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO THE RES S RESIDENTS' CHILDREN.

NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE OLDER ADULTS.

THE TOOL LENDING WAS OF INTEREST AND MAY NOT HELP WITH OLDER ADULTS SINCE THEY CANNOT PERFORM PHYSICAL WORK ON THEIR HOUSE.

ANOTHER SEVERAL PEOPLE MENTIONED THAT THE SOLID WASTE REMOVAL AND TRASH CLEANUPS WILL BE BENEFICIAL IN THESE AREAS AND DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS.

500,000, WHILE IT IS GREAT WHEN WE ARE TALKING OF CONSTRUCTION, POSSIBILITY THAT THE FUNDS WILL NOT STRETCH AS FAR AS WE WANT TO GO. HOME DEPOT FOR TRAINING CLASS, DEL MAR COLLEGE, CRAFT TRAINING CENTER.

PARTNERING WITH A LOCAL BANK TO HELP US HOLD THE FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASSES. CORPUS CHRISTI, REFINERIES AND THE EDWARD SHELL. THIS IS TO SOLICIT PUBLIC INPUT.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY IS ONLINE BUT OPEN UP FOR ANY COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS IF THEY HAVE REGARDING THE PROGRAM.

COMMISSIONERS? >> VERY GOOD.

>>JUDGE CANALES: I AM HEARING VERY GOOD.

>> IT IS EXCITING TO SEE IN PROGRAM GET TO THIS POINT.

IT HAS COME ABOUT PRETTY GENERIC EARLIER THIS YEAR, MAKING SURE -- WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL DELEGATION, WITH BELINDA AND, OF COURSE, WITH OUR LOBBYIST TEAM AND THOSE WHO HELPED PASS -- GET THIS INTRODUCED AND PASSED ON THE HOUSE AND SENATE SIDE AND ULTIMATELY SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR TO THE POINT WE ARE AT HERE. THIS HAS NEVER BEEN THE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD BE HERE, BUT THE FACT THAT -- THAT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS REALLY KIND OF STEMMED UP AND SAID, HEY, WE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING WHICH, INITIALLY, I DON'T THINK THAT IS WHAT OUR THOUGHTS WERE, BUT THAT WE ARE HERE. IT IS TRULY EXCITING.

AND, YOU KNOW WE ALWAYS WONDERED AS A COURT AND I KNOW I HAVE ESPECIALLY HOW CAN WE REALLY PROVIDE A GREAT IMPACT FOR OUR COLONIAS WHEN WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE FOUND DO O SO. SO WITH THAT -- WITH THIS FUNDING COMING IN PLACE, I THINK THIS IS A TRUE GAME CHANGER.

WE WILL ADDRESS ALL THE NEEDS IN EACH OF THE COLONIAS, NO.

BUT I THINK INITIALLY FOR THESE FIRST FIVE AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY IN THE NEXT GROUP AND BEYOND THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW SIZABLE CHANGES IN HOW THESE COMMUNITIES ARE RUN AND GIVEN RESOURCES AND HOW IT HELPS JUST THEIR OVERALL GROWTH AND HOPEFULLY SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER NEEDS THESE IN EACH OF THE COMMUNITIES. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BELINDA AND MARIA AS WELL. THIS IS TRULY AN AMAZING DAY TO HAVE THIS BEFORE US AND TO VOTE ON THIS, SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT ITEM LATER ON TO VOTE ON IT.

THANK YOU. >> MARIA, I ALSO WANT TO THANK

YOU AS WELL, AND BELINDA. >> BELINDA DESERVES ALL THE

CREDIT, HER AND EDWARD. >> THANK YOU, BELINDA.

BUT I THINK LAST NIGHT WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE.

NOT AS MANY PEOPLE THERE THAT I WAS HOPING FOR.

BUT ANYWAY, ONCE THEY WERE T E THERE, THEY WERE REALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE CO S COLONIAS.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEY REALLY WANT TO GET THINGS GOING.

SO I OFFER HIGH HELP HOWEVER I CAN.

AND WE ARE IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS FOR ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO

VOLUNTEER. >> AN ALL HANDS ON DECK.

AGAIN, THIS IS A PILOT PROJECT. I DON'T MEAN TO GO QUICKLY OVER THE NOTES THAT I HAVE, BECAUSE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND IT IS EXCITING. I KNOW I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

AGAIN, THERE ARE SO MANY NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THAT WAS EVIDENCED BY THE ARMY'S INNOVATIVE TRAINING.

AND NOW WE ARE FINALLY GETTING THE DATA WE NEED TO MAKE AN

[00:55:01]

IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS KIND OF LIKE THE FIRST STEPS. SO, AGAIN, I REALLY GIVE ALL THE CREDIT TO BELINDA. I WAS BROUGHT IN AT THE END TO KIND OF FACILITATE THE PAPERWORK ENDS OF IT.

SO BELINDA, I GIVE HER ALL THE CREDIT AND COMMISSIONER MAREZ FOR CHAMPIONING. COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ?

OKAY, >> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

>>JUDGE CANALES: ANYBODY ONLINE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A

COMMENT? >> JUDGE, HI, JILL STRISICK.

I GUESS FOR THE RECORD 5 495 SUNRISE TRAIL IN ROBSTOWN.

I AM ALSO A SENIOR CLERK. SO WE ARE VERY CONCERNED NOT JUST ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUT ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. SO WHEN I SAW THIS AS -- YOU KNOW, THE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

I WENT OUT YESTERDAY TO BANKETY. I WAS INTRIGUED BY THE FIRST COUPLE OF WORDS, THE SELF-HELP FOR THE CENTER.

AND THIS, TO ME, WAS VERY EXCITING.

$500,000 SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT IS NOT.

. IT IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET AND SOMETHING THAT KEPT UP. AND SO MUCH WORK AND PASSION AND SO MUCH THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. $375,000.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KIND OF -- YOU KNOW, ON THE DRIVE HOME, I WAS THINKING ABOUT WAS SELF-HELP IS BEST DONE REPETITIVELY. YOU KNOW MY SON IS ACTIVE-DUTY NAVY AND WATCH ONE, DO ONE, TEACH ONE.

AND SO ONE OF THE SIDE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD WAS, GREAT, YEAH, WE CAN GO IN AND DO $60,000 PER HOUSE, I'M PRETTY SURE IS THE MAX IF IT IS REHABILITATION, $75,000, IF IT IS A NEW STRUCTURE. BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO EDUCATE AND WE ARE GOING TO TEACH AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE CLASSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU ALMOST GET MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK IF YOU WERE GOING TO DO SOMETHING REPETITIVELY.

SO FA IF IT WAS -- LET'S JUST SAY WHEN THE SURVEYS ARE DONE, WHAT IS THE NEED, RIGHT. THAT IS GOING TO BE A DELICATE THING. YOU GOT TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO GET THE RIGHT ANSWERS.

SO WHAT IS THE NEED, RIGHT. SO LET'S SAY IT COMES BACK AS RUBES. PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING POST HARVEY AND NEED ROOFS. YOUR AVERAGE ROOF IS $4,000 TO $6,000, IF YOU ARE DOING THE WORK YOURSELF, $375,000, $4,000 TO $6,000. THAT IS 12 ROOFS PER COLONIAS.

NOW THAT IS TEACHABLE. OKAY, WELL, DO YOU HAVE THE TREES OFF THE ROOF? DO YOU NEED GUTTERS? HOW ARE THE SOFT FITS. -- SOFFITS.

THE GROUP. YOU HAVE TO LEARN OF WINDSTORM AND HOW TO PREPARE FOR HURRICANES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THE IDEA OF THE SELF-HELP AND WHAT MAYBE YOUR HOUSE ISN'T CHOSEN, BUT WHILE WE ARE OUT THERE, WE COULD REMOVE THE TREES OFF YOUR ROOF LINE FOR PREVENTION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I REALLY LIKED THE IDEA OF THE CLASSES AND HOW TO MAKE THIS A TEACHABLE MOMENT. I ALSO -- YOU KNOW, THE REPETITION. TALKING TO EDWARD, YOU KNOW, AFTER -- AFTER THE MEETING CLOSED, IF FOR RESOURCES, REPETITION IS EASIER ON THE RESOURCES.

IF WE ARE GOING TO DO ONE ROOF, WE MIGHT AS WELL DO FOUR.

IF WE ARE GOING TO DO TREE REMOVAL, WE MIGHT AS WELL DO THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND COMMISSIONER MAREZ AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS. AND I -- PERSONALLY I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF DROP IN THE BUCKET. A LOT IMPACT.

SO RATHER THAN JUST FIX UP ONE HOUSE, IF WE CAN JUST REALLY CLEAN UP -- AND I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ AND COMMISSIONER MAREZ HAVE DONE LOTS OF GREAT CLEANUP PROJECTS.

AND YOU SEE THE IMPACT WHEN IT IS DONE REPETITIVELY AND IT IS DONE EN MASSE. I FEEL THAT IS GOING TO GIVE YOU MORE IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF -- I AM GOING TO CALL IT FEAR THAT WE ARE NEVER GOING TO COME BACK A LITTLE CONCERN IF THERE WAS A PHASE TWO THAT PHASE TWO WOULDN'T HAPPEN. THAT WE WOULDN'T APPLY FOR A GRANT IF THE GRANT IS AVAILABLE. I THINK THE MARKETING FOR THE PUBLIC IS IMPORTANT TO SAY WE SEE YOU.

ONE OF THE THINGS IT SAYS IS PROPOSED COLONIAS TO RECEIVE

[01:00:03]

CONCENTRATED ATTENTION. WHAT THAT MEANS OUR COLONIAS SHOULD BE RECEIVING ATTENTION. IT IS JUST THAT THESE ARE GETTING CONCENTRATED ATTENTION. SO HOW CAN WE BRING COMFORT TO THE PEOPLE IN THESE AREAS THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU AREN'T SELECTED FOR THIS ONE PROJECT DOESN'T MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE OUR ATTENTION. SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO FOR THAT.

AND MARIA MENTIONED HOME DEPOT. HOME DEPOT LOVES THEIR VETERANS.

IT IS THEIR NUMBER ONE VOLUNTEERING SITUATION.

THEY GIVE THE MOST DONATIONS TO VETERANS.

SO -- AND WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT IN-KIND DONATIONS FROM CORPORATIONS RATHER THAN CASH. IT GOES FURTHER FOR THEM.

AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU NEED GRAVEL, YOU MIGHT AS WELL ASK A GRAVEL COMPANY. IF YOU NEED STAGING, YOU -- INSTEAD OF ASKING FOR MONEY SO WE CAN GET STAGING TO GET UP ON A ROOF SAFELY, WE MIGHT AS WELL ASK A STAGE COMPANY.

SO IT IS A VERY EXCITING CONVERSATION.

I WAS GLAD THAT I WENT. AND BEFORE I CLOSE, I HAVE TO SAY, I WENT OUT TO THE FIELDS OF HONOR ON SATURDAY AND I HAD A MOMENT. AND IT WAS FABULOUS.

THERE WERE SEVERAL FAMILIES OUT THERE.

HONESTLY I THINK THEN AT THE COVID CLINIC AT THE OUTLETS.

AND, MAN, THE FLAGS WERE STANDING OUT.

WHAT A FEAT THAT WAS. AND IT WAS EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL WHEN I WAS OUT THERE ON SATURDAY THAN IT WAS THE DAY OF THE E T EVENT. IT WAS SO WELL-DONE AND SO GLAD FOR THAT. SO, THANK YOU.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU, JILL.

YOU ARE SUCH A GREAT ASSET TO THE NUECES COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. I THINK YOUR WORDS ARE JUST SPOT ON. AND I KNOW MARIA IS SITTING HERE SHAKING HER HEAD AND SAYING THAT HOPEFULLY THE BEST IS YET TO COME. BUT WHAT YOU ARE REALLY SAYING IS KNOWN IN THE BUSINESS AS THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE.

AND WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT AS WE SEE HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE THESE HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, MARIA, YOU KNOW.

WE, OF COURSE, WANT TO IMPACT INDIVIDUALS' LIVES.

BUT SOMETIMES IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO DO A BLOCK RATHER THAN A HOUSE, RIGHT. A FOREST INSTEAD OF A COUPLE OF BUSHES. THE METAPHOR.

I THINK THAT IS WELL NOTED. ANYTHING, MARIA, THAT YOU NEED

TO, AS THEY SAY, FOLLOW UP ON? >> LINDA, I DID MISS ANYTHING?

>> NO. JUST AS POINT OF CLARIFICATION, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE SE S SERVICES.

WE WOULD STILL NEED TO MEET CERTAIN METRICS WITH THE CONCENTRATED COLONIAS. IT WOULD BE OPEN TO EVERYBODY AND I UNDERSTAND THE THRESHOLD TO BE PRETTY LOW AT THE BEGINNING. ALSO JUST WANTED TO KIND OF CLARIFY THAT THE FIRST YEAR WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING THIS, CERTAINLY WE NEED TO BE BUILDING THIS OUT.

THE IDEA IS TO MAKE IT BIGGER AND BETTER.

IT MAY LOOK A LITTLE SLOW GOING AT THE BEGINNING BECAUSE CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO REQUIRE THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON AT LEAST FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS.

AND SO JUST TO LINE IN THE OUT. >>JUDGE CANALES: MARIA, IT SEEMS TO ME ONCE THIS ACTUALLY DOES GET ESTABLISH AND AS THEY SAY THE FIRST MOVEMENT, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT IS GOING TO ATTRACT INTEREST. MAYBE WE SHOULD ALREADY PRETHINK HOW WE ARE GOING OTHERS FOR THIS EFFORT AND FITS INTO THE GATES FOUNDATION AND INTO THE SANCHEZ HEALTH FAMILY FOUNDATION.

CERTAIN FOUNDATIONS THAT TARGET THIS POPULATION AND IF WE CAN PRETHINK HOW TO ACCEPT MATCHING GRANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT

THINK OF THAT FOR THE FUTURE. >> WHAT IS THE OTHER ONE, THE

SANCHEZ? >>JUDGE CANALES: I FEEL LIKE IT IS CALLED THE AR SANCHEZ FAMILY FOUNDATION.

IT IS HEALTH-BASED. SELF-HELP.

FOCUSED ON HEALTH. NOT JUST HEALTH BUT HEALTH AND EDUCATION. I KNOW THAT THE GATES FOUNDATION IS VERY FOCUSED IN THIS REGARD -- I KNOW -- DOES EVERYBODY MENTION JEFF BEZOS' WIFE NAME. SHE HAS HER OWN FOUNDATION -- IS IT SHARON? A FEW FOUNDATIONS THAT ARE REALLY FOCUSED IN THIS. I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD -- JILL IS RIGHT. HALF A MILLION SEEMS AMAZING TO ME WHEN I LOOK AT IT ON THE PAPER AND I START THINKING OF HOW MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS. AND I REALIZE THAT IT IS VERY HARD TO MOVE THE NEEDLE. SO I THINK WHAT WE ARE -- OUR

[01:05:04]

GOAL IS GOVERNMENT IS TO OPEN THE DOOR AND TO FLING IT WIDE

OPEN, IT IS ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS. >> YEAH, WE ARE WELCOMING -- AGAIN THAT IS WHY WE ARE HAVING THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE JILL THERE TONIGHT TO SHARE WITH US -- I NEVER HEARD OF HOME DEPOT DAYS. IT IS KIND OF THAT INFORMATION THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR. SO THE PUBLIC NOTICE DOES HAVE -- MY OFFICE'S PHONE NUMBER. AGAIN, WE ARE BUILDING THIS OUT AND LEARNING AS GO ALONG. THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME.

AND WE ARE EXCITED. YEAH, WE WILL TAKE AS MUCH INPUT AS WE GET. AS WE CAN GET.

>>JUDGE CANALES: JUST BECAUSE JILL IS ON THE LINE AND I CAN SAY THIS TO HER. AN AWESOME TIME.

EVERY DAY I PASS BY ON 44, I SEE HOW MUCH PROGRESS AMAZON LAST MILE NETWORK IS MAKING AND YOU CAN SEE TONS OF ACTIVITY IN THERE. CERTAINLY NOT DONE.

BUT VERY OBVIOUS HOW MUCH WORK IS BEING DONE.

MAYBE THIS IS A PERFECT PARTNERSHIP WITH AMAZON GIVEN THEIR LOCATION, GRAPHICALLY, WHAT THEY DO.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT.

WE HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF -- WELL, MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT JILL CAN CHECK INTO FOR US.

>> JUDGE, I MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE, I THINK THERE WAS A WRITTEN COMMENT ON THE CHATS. BUT THEY HAD TO LEAVE, BUT THEY

DID PROVIDE ONE. >>JUDGE CANALES: GO AHEAD AND

READ THAT FOR US, BELINDA. >> CERTAINLY.

REGARDING PUBLIC HEARING SELF COLONIAS.

I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE COLONIA SELF-HELP CENTER LOCATION.

I ASK THAT THE COURT BE MINDFUL AND ATTENTIVE OF WEST SIDE BISHOP FRANCIS AND HAROLD S T STREET.

WE HAVE FAMILIES OUT THERE ACTIVELY TRYING TO SUBMIT USDA PAPERWORK FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT GRANTS AND COULD USE ASSISTANCE AND I CANNOT STAY ON ZOOM. THANK YOU.

MY E-MAIL HERE IS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK FURTHER.

AND THEY LIST THEIR E-MAIL. CONNIE, DID YOU HAVE A NAME?

>>JUDGE CANALES: CHRIS GARCIA. AND CHRIS IS VERY INVOLVED IN BISHOP. OKAY.

GREAT COMMENTS. >> CONNIE, CAN YOU SEND THAT TO

ME, PLEASE? >> I WILL.

>>JUDGE CANALES: IF THERE ARE NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE. GO AHEAD.

>> HE IS NOT THERE NO MORE, BUT WE CLEANED HAROLD STREET AND THE STREET WAS CLEARED -- THE TRASH WAS PICKED UP AND ALL -- SO WE -- WE ARE OUT THERE. WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON AND A LOT OF DILAPIDATED HOUSES FALLING APART THAT ARE STILL OWNED BY THE PEOPLE THANK YOU, MARIA AND THANK YOU, BILL, FOR

EVERYTHING. >>JUDGE CANALES: THANK YOU.

HEARING NO FURTHER INPUT AT THIS TIME.

I THINK I HEARD COMMISSIONER CHESNEY.

>> SECOND. >>JUDGE CANALES: A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

[1. Discuss disaster preparedness and response, including matters related to COVID-19, Emergency Orders, severe weather, flooding, drainage, economic recovery, state and federal assistance, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), and infrastructure status, and other related matters.]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR BY SAYING E AYE.

MOVE TONIGHT GENERAL INFORMATION REPORTS AND I NOTE THAT WE HAVE BOTH GARRET NELSON AND ANNETTE RODRIGUEZ.

SO WE ARE GOING TO BASICALLY START OFF WITH AN UPDATE BY GARRET AND HE WILL PITCH TO ANNETTE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE GROUP HERE, COMMISSIONERS, THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING ERAP, MARIA IS STILL HERE.

ARPA, I HAVE SOME PRINTED MATERIAL IN FRONT OF ME AND ANY OTHER RELATED MATTERS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO BRING UP AT THIS TIME. THE COURT RECOGNIZES GARRET

NELSON. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE CANALES. NO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER THREATS TO THE REGION AT THIS TIME WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

AS YOU PROBABLY HEARD, I HAVE SOME THINGS TO TALK ABOUT REGARDING COVID-19. AND THEN WE RECEIVED WORD OVER THE WEEKEND OF THIS NEW VARIANT THAT IS COMING THROUGH.

AND A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN ANNETTE RODRIGUEZ, THE DIRECT, -- THE DIRECTOR, TO COME AND TALK ABOUT THAT AND WILL GIVE A PRESENTATION ON THAT ISSUE AND COVID.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO GET IN THE RECORD BEFORE -- BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO HER.

FIRST OF ALL, WE TOLD YOU LAST MEETING THAT THE VICTIM ARE, THE INFUSION CENTER WAS DEMOBILIZED AND DID INDEED DEMOBILIZED AS OF NOVEMBER 22 AS WE REPORTED. THEY ENDED UP WITH 2212 TREATMENTS AS OF 11/22. SO WE WERE VERY THANKFUL FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE AND THERE IS NO TELLING HOW MANY LIVES WERE

[01:10:01]

SAVED BECAUSE OF THAT INFUSION TREATMENT.

AND SO THAT WAS A GREAT THING. WE WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT IS STILL GOING TO BE AVAILABLE. JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE LEFT, DOESN'T MEAN THAT WON'T BE AVAILABLE.

ONE OF THE WAYS THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REPORT IT IS THEY HAVE A MOBILE UNIT THAT THEY CAN BRING TO OUR AREA TO SERVICE THE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY FOR PEOPLE AT THEIR HOME 1- 7 1-800-742-5990. AND, OF COURSE, THAT IS ON THE WEB SITE, NUECESKNOWS.COM FOR THAT INFORMATION AND MORE ABOUT COVID. I WANTED TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE, TO AN AGENDA ITEM UNDER THE REGULAR AGENDA, ITEM 10. IT WAS TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A DRAINAGE PROJECT, COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF DRISCOLL OF CLEANUP OF DRAINAGE DEBRIS AND ALLOCATION OF COUNTY FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE. THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF THAT PROJECT.

FOR THE FUTURE OF ANY PROJECT THAT DOES ANYTHING TO HELP THE -- THE SUFFERING OF THE PART OF THE COUNTY THAT DEALS WITH FLOODING EVERY TIME WE HAVE HEAVY RAIN.

SO I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT AS WELL THAT OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO -- TO MISS RODRIGUEZ?

ANNETTE. >>JUDGE CANALES: GOOD MORNING,

ANNETTE. >> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

HAPPY TO BE HERE. I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START THE UPDATE ON THE OMICRON, THE B 11529.

I THINK PEOPLE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT IT, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU MORE PARTICULARS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

NOVEMBER 9 WAS THE FIRST KNOWN CONFIRMED INFECTION WAS DISCOVERED FROM A SPECIMEN COLLECTED NORTH OF SOUTH AFRICA IN WOTS WANNA. NOVEMBER -- BOTSWANA.

24TH, THE OMICRON VARIANT WAS REPORTED TO THE W.H.O. FROM SOUTH AFRICA. NOVEMBER 26, A COUPLE OF THINGS WERE HAPPENING QUICKLY THE W.H.O. CLASS TIDE IN VARIANT AT THE 11529 AND CLASSIFIED IT AS A VARIANT OF CONCERN.

A VARIANT OF CONCERN. THIS WAS THE FIRST -- THE FIRST -- THE FIFTH NAMED VARIANT OF CONCERN.

THE ONLY OTHERS ALPHA, B 117 OPINION THE BETA, DELTA AND GAMMA. THIS MADE THE FIFTH VARIANT OF CONCERN NAMED BY THE W.H.O. AND A VARIANT OF CONCERN ALSO SIGNIFIES SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF A THREAT.

NOVEMBER 26, THE ALSO THE UNITED STATES RESTRICTED TRAVEL FROM EIGHT SOUTH AFRICAN COUNTRIES OPINION THAT WAS EFFECTIVE YESTERDAY. AND THEN NOVEMBER 29, 26 COUNTRIES HAVE REPORTED CASES OF THE OMICRON.

SOME OF THESE INCLUDE CANADA, HONG KONG, ISRAEL, UK, GERMANY, BELGIUM, SOUTH AFRICA, AUSTRALIA AND ITALY.

SO NONE HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN THE UNITED STATES AS OF TODAY.

NEXT SLIDE. WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS OMICRON? IT HAS A LARGE NUMBER OF MUTATIONS. THAT IS THE BIGGEST THREAT HERE.

IT APPEARS TO HAVE OVER 30 MUTATIONS WITHIN THE SPIKE PROTEIN. IF YOU WANT TO COMPARE THAT TO THE DELTA, THE DELTA ONLY HAD NINE MUTATIONS.

THIS ONE HAS 32. SOME OF THESE MUTATIONS ARE SIMILAR TO THE OTHER VOCS, VARIANTS OF CONCERN.

THE COMPUTER MODELING SHOW THAT THE VARIANT MAY ESCAPE IMMUNITY.

THAT IS VERY SIGNIFICANT. THESE MUTATIONS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INFECTION WITH THE VARIANT COMPARED TO THE V OCS WITH, AND VACCINES ARE URGENTLY NEEDED TO PREVENT IMMUNE ESCAPE AND THAT IS EXPECTED WITHIN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE WEEKS.

UNKNOWN HOW THE VARIANT WILL SPREAD IN POPULATIONS WITH HIGH LEVELS OF IMMUNITY AND UNKNOWN IF THE OMICRON VARIANT CAUSES A MILD OR MORE SEVERE COVID INFECTION.

IN SOUTH AFRICA, 24% OF OUR POPULATION VACCINATED.

FULLY VACCINATED. HERE IN NUECES COUNTY, WE HAVE 52% OF THE POPULATION FULLY VACCINATED.

THE PROBLEM IS 50% OF OUR POPULATION IS NOT FULLY VACCINATED AND THAT IS ONE THE CONCERNS HERE.

NEXT SLIDE. ANSWER THE UNITED STATES RESTRICTED TRAVEL FROM EIGHT COUNTRIES STARTING YESTERDAY JUST IN AN EFFORT TO SLOW THE SPREAD.

WE KNOW THAT OMICRON WILL BE HERE BECAUSE TRAVEL IS SO FLUID, BUT TO -- TO SLOW IT DOWN, TO GIVE US AMPLE TIME TO PREPARE

[01:15:01]

FOR IT THAT IS WHAT THE BAN WAS ABOUT.

NEXT SLIDE. WHAT CAUSES CONCERN IN VARIANTS? SOME OF THE THINGS -- I WANT TO TALK OF THE MAIN THREE ARE THE CONTAGIOUSNESS OF THE VARIANT. HOW CONTAGIOUS IS THIS VARIANT.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN SOUTH AFRICA THAT OMICRON IS TAKING OVER AS THE DOCHL MAN IN THE VARIANT IN SOUTH AFRICA.

IT IS TAKING OVER FROM DELTA. HERE HOW QUICKLY DELTA VARIANT BECAME THE DOMINANT STRAIN. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN AFRICA WITH OMICRON. SEEM TO BE HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE.

CAN IT ESCAPE IMMUNITY? EVADE THE PROTECTION OF THE VACCINE AND EVEN FROM NATURAL IMMUNITY? WE HAVE GOTTEN COVID INFECTION AND YOU HAVE SOME PROTECTION BUT NOW YOU END UP GETTING OMICRON. WE ARE SEEING THAT IT CAN ESCAPE IMMUNITY. AGAIN WE NEED MORE STATISTICS AND STUDIES TO BE ABLE TO SAY SAY THAT CERTAINLY.

.> THE LAST THING IS THE P PATHOGENCITY OF THIS VARIANT. HOW SEVERE IS THIS VARIANT COMPARED TO DELTA AND THE O S OTHERS, THAT IS THE BIG QU N QUESTION. THE CHILDREN SEEM TO BE AFFECTED IN SOUTH AFRICA. WE HAVE SEEN MILD CASES AND WE HAVE ALSO SEEN SEVERE CASES. WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.

AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED A COUPLE MORE WEEKS TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THESE COUNTRIES THAT WE NOW KNOW THAT THE OMICRON EXISTS. NEXT SLIDE.

WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT VA S VARIANTS, YOU ARE ALSO LOOKING AT CAN THEY EVADE DIAGNOSTICS AND CAN THEY EVADE TREATMENT.

THE TREATMENT IS LIKE CONVALESCENT PLASMA.

DELAY THESE THINGS AND BEING RESEARCH AT THIS TEAM.

DON'T PANIC AND DO PREPARE. WE TALK ABOUT PREPARING FOR HURRICANES. YOU KNOW, WE -- WE DO PREPARATION ALL THE TIME. GOOD TO BE PREPARED.

SO IF YOU WERE NOT VACCINATED, BUT YOU HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT. KIND OF BEEN ON THE FENCE, NOW IS THE TIME GO IN AND GET VACCINATED.

IF YOU ARE FULLY VACCINATED WITH TWO MRNAS AND 18 YEARS OR OLDER, NOW TIME TO GO IN AND GET THEIR BOOSTER.

GO IN AND GET THAT BOOSTER BECAUSE THAT ACTUALLY INCREASES YOUR PROTECTION BACK UP TO THE 9 970%.

IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER NOT VACCINATED AND YOU CONSIDERED TO GETTING THEM VACCINATED.

TAKE THEM IN AND GET VACCINATED NOW.

REMEMBER, IT TAKES AT LEAST TWO WEEKS TO BUILD UP IMMUNITY AND USE YOUR PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES IN COMBINATION WITH GETTING VACCINATED. I HAVE THAT TO DEPICT ON THE NEXT SLIDE THE MULTILAYER APPROACH IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL.

MOST OF US PRACTICE THE MULTILAYER APPROACH.

IF YOU ARE SOCIAL DISTANCING, THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

IF THEY GET CLOSE TO YOU AND COUGHING AND YOU DON'T HAVE A MASK ON, THAT IS NOT GOOD E H ENOUGH.

SOCIAL DISTANCING IN COMBINATION OF WEARING YOUR MASK PROPERLY COVERING YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH. AND GOOD HAND HYGIENE AND DON'T TOUCH YOUR EYES AND NOSE AND ACCIDENTALLY INFECT YOURSELF.

STAY OUT OF PUBLIC AREAS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

WE ARE LIMITING. IF YOU ARE SICK STAYING HOME AND GETTING TESTED AND ISOLATING YOURSELF IN COMBINATION WITH QUARANTINE. THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE COULD N CONTACT WITH YOU AND ALSO GETTING VACCINATED.

IF YOU USE THE MULTILAYER APPROACHES YOU WILL BE SO MUCH BETTER OFF THAN AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DOES NOT.

NEXT SLIDE. THE VACCINATION EUCLIDEAN THAIX WE HAVE, LA PAMERA, THE ROBSTOWN OUTLET, THE NIKE STORE, PHYSICIANS WEST, NUECES COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND CITY HALL.

I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT THEY ARE ALL DOING VERY, VERY WELL.

ARE THE OFF-SITE CLINICS. WE DIDN'T GET THESE.

EDWARD GOT THESE FOR US AND THESE ARE WONDERFUL SITES, THE QSR LEGACY, THE GOOD WILL CLEARANCE STORE TUESDAY AND THURSDAYS. THE FALLIS PARKING LOT.

WE ARE THERE IN WEDNESDAY. WE WERE DOING 115 VACCINES PER DAY WITH ALL OF THESE SITES. YESTERDAY 930 VACCINE AS THAT WE GAVE JUST IN ONE DAY. SO THE VACCINES ADMINISTRATION IS GOING UP. AND THAT IS A REALLY GOOD NEWS ITEM AND WORKING WITH CCISD OPINION FLOWER BLUFF ISD AND TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS GET VACCINATED IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. YESTERDAY WE STARTED BACK AT THE

[01:20:02]

NURSING HOME. WE ARE CIRCLING BACK TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE VACCINATE AND. WE HAVE BOOSTERS.

IF THEY ARE NOT VACCINATED AND THEY WANT TO GET VACCINATED WE ARE THERE FOR THEM AS WELL. OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AND THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION GOING ON.

ANY NEW UPDATES WE WILL LET YOU KNOW, PLEASE DON'T WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE TO TELL YOU WE HAVE A OMICRON CASE IN NUECES COUNTY.

START PREPARING NOW. THAT'S ALL I HAVE UNLESS ANYBODY

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >>JUDGE CANALES: THE ONLY THING I WANT TO REMARK THAT YOU LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE ARE HAVING COVID BRIEFING IN CASE YOU WANT TO ATTEND.

WILL YOU SHARE THAT INFORMATION RIGHT NOW?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY. WE WILL HAVE A COVID PRESS BRIEFING THIS AFTERNOON P.M. IT WILL BE HEAR IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM. YOU ARE WELCOME TO BE HERE AND JOIN US, BECAUSE WE WANT A UNIFIED MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE AWARENESS OF THE OMICRON VARIANT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THE CITY WILL BE HERE WITH US?

>> YES, WE WILL BE HERE AS L WELL.

>>JUDGE CANALES: ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANNETTE? I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF QUICK STATEMENTS ABOUT ARPA E HERE. BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING WHAT YOU ARE SEEING.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID WE ARE DOING VERY WELL AT ALL OUR SITES -- BUT A COUPLE OF SITES WE ARE DOING EXTREMELY WELL AND ONE OF THEM IN OUR NUECES COUNTY COURT HOUSE.

WE KEEP LOGGING IN SUPER HIGH NUMBERS HERE.

AND THIS IS A GREAT SIGN. AND IT IS ABOUT THESE BOOSTERS AND SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE.

THANKS TO COLLABORATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND GRANTS, WE ARE WORKING ON HOPEFULLY BRINGING FORTH A NEW HOLIDAY PUBLIC MESSAGING CAMPAIGN AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. SO IF THERE ARE CONCEPTS YOU HAVE, NOW THE TIME TO BRING IT FORWARD.

WE HAVE A SHORT WINDOW TO WORK TO OUR PROFESSIONALS AND GET RADIO PLACED AND TV PLACED. BUT THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE INTERFAITH MINISTRIES.

ALL THE CLEAR FEE THAT HAS SORT OF COME FORWARD TO SAY WE WANT BE TOO PART OF THE UNIFIED MESSAGE DURING THE HOLIDAY I THINK ONE OF THE BEST ADS ALL THIS SEE NUECESKNOWS.COM A PICTURE OF THE VACCINATION CARD. IT SAYS THIS IS THE BEST HOLIDAY CARD YOU CAN GET THIS YEAR. IT IS REALLY A GREAT AD, BUT ONE MANY. AGAIN, LIKE YOU SAID, WE PREPARE FOR EVERY HURRICANE, EVERY TROPICAL SYSTEM, EVEN, YOU KNOW, JUST INCLEMENT WEATHER WE PREPARE.

THIS IS REALLY NO DIFFERENT EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE A CASE, OUR OFFICE HAS RECEIVED AND WE HAVE BEEN ON MANY CONFERENCE CALLS.

WE FULLY EXPECT THIS VARIANT TO BE IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS ALREADY IN NORTH AMERICA. WHICH MEANS IT WON'T TAKE LONG WE HAVE A SHORT WINDOW TO GET PROTECTED AND UNTIL WE KNOW MORE, WE NEED TO STAY VERY VIGILANT.

A LOT OF CONCERN FROM THE HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY INSIDE NUECES COUNTY. WE HAVE BEEN NUMBER ONE MULTIPLE YEARS. WE ARE TRYING TO AVOID THAT AT

ALL COSTS. >> THE OTHER THING, JUDGE, WHILE YOU SAY MORE VACCINES ARE GIVEN HERE AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.

THAT IS TRUE. IT ALSO REMINDS US THAT WE HAVE MORE TRAFFIC HERE. SO WE HAVE A LOT MORE INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE THAT COME THROUGH THE COURTHOUSE.

SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU START USING YOUR PRO YOU ARE NOT. BECAUSE OMICRON IS AROUND THE CORNER. WE KNOW THAT THERE IS NO DOUBT.

>> EVERYBODY JUST REACHED FOR THEIR MASKS.

TERESA. YOU ARE RIGHT.

YOU ARE SAYING THAT. >> LET'S START NOW.

SO WHEN WE DO HAVE A CASE, WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS WHAT WE ALWAYS DO IN PUBLIC HEALTH, WE MAKE SURE WE CONTRACT TRACE AND ISOLATE. WE ARE NOT GOING TO WAIT TO GET THE GENO SEQUENCING BACK FOR THE OMICRON, WE WILL START THAT NOW.

WE KNOW PEOPLE TRAVEL AND DO DUE DILIGENCE.

34 CASES OF COVID-19. THAT IS OUR BASELINE TO SEE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE GOING. USE OUR PROTECTION.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILIES.

ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS AND BE SAFE. >> YES, MA'AM, THANK YOU.

NO QUESTIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AT ALL? OKAY. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT ON YOUR NEXT COURT AGENDA UNDER ARPA, I THINK PROBABLY WILL HAVE KALEN TAYLOR AND THE HAGGERTY TEAM COME IN.

WE ARE A WEEK AWAY -- MAYBE JUST ONE WEEK AWAY FROM HAVING OUR FINAL PUBLIC INPUT INFORMATION. SO, AGAIN, IF YOU WERE WONDERING WHERE WE ARE ON THAT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT AND ALL THE

[01:25:05]

PUBLIC COMMENTS AND IT IS C G COMING.

IT IS COMING VERY, VERY SOON. AND SO I DO WISH FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT IS GOING TO BE, AS THEY Y SAY, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY HAVE A WORKSHOP AND I ASKED TO HAVE CALENDAR DATES EARLY JANUARY FOR THAT. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, WE WILL MOVE ON, GARRET. WE APPRECIATE IT ACTUALLY, GAR RELATE, YOU KNOW WHAT. THEY WILL NOT HAVE A CHANCE -- THE NEXT COURT IS DECEMBER 15. SO IF YOU WILL STAY FOR ONE SECOND AND END WITH OUR GENERAL INFORMATION REPORT BY SAYING THAT GARRET'S LAST DAY IS DECEMBER 6, 2020.

HE WAS HERE OBVIOUSLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HIRE A PERMANENT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT AS OF YESTERDAY. IRONICALLY, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET A HOLD OF HIM AND THERE IS A REASON OF THAT.

HE IS OUT OF POCKET FOR THIS PARTICULAR 24 HOURS.

WE WILL INTRODUCE HIM TO THE COURT AT OUR NEXT COURT.

BUT GARRET HAS BEEN A GODSEND FOR THIS ENTIRE REGION BECAUSE THE VERY FIRST THING HE DID WAS GET TO KNOW NUECES COUNTY AND GET TO KNOW OUR REGIONAL PA R PARTNERS AND STEP IN TWO DAYS BEFORE A TROPICAL STORM NAMED NICHOLAS DIME SEE US ON THE GULF COAST AND ALONG WITH OTHER SERIOUS ISSUES WHICH NEVER SEEMED TO STOP. EVEN THOUGH WE SOMETIMES DON'T HEAR ABOUT THEM, JUST THE LAST TWO WEEKENDS TWO MAJOR VESSELS THAT HAD COVID-19 CREWMEMBERS. THESE ARE THE DAILY CRISES THAT WE DEAL WITH. AND HIS EXPERIENCE AS A FIRE CHIEF, FIRE MARSHAL IN MANAGE MANAGEMENT REALLY, A LIAISON OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS MADE HIM JUST EASE INTO THE JOB.

AND I WISH THAT -- THAT WE HAD MORE TIME, AS THEY SAY, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP HAS ONLY STRENGTHENED BETWEEN NORTH TEXAS AND SOUTH TEXAS. ANY TIME NORTH TEXAS THEY CAN CALL ON US AND VICE VERSA. SO WE ARE WISHING YOU THE BEST BACK HOME IN LUBBOCK, TEXAS WITH YOUR FAMILY FOR A BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY SEASON. PLEASE KNOW THAT -- THAT YOUR ADVISE READY COUNCIL AND INCREDIBLE WORK ETHNIC HAS MADE A MAJOR EFFORT IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

EVERY DAY WE ARE IN A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IS AN EME Y EMERGENCY. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRADITUDE AND SAY WE WILL SEE YOU, OF COURSE, UP UNTIL DECEMBER 6.

AND THEN IF NEEDED AGAIN, I KNOW YOU ARE JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, GAP GARRET. THANK YOU.

[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.]

MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THIS TIME.

THAT IS A THROUGH R. A THROUGH R.

COMMISSIONERS? IS THERE A MOTION AT THIS TIME?

[N. Approve method of procurement (request for proposals) for Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Services for County Residents; authorize Purchasing Agent to publish a notice; and adopt an Order delegating selection to an Evaluation Committee.]

>> I WANT TO PULL -- >> I WAS GOING DO ASK -- WE RECEIVED A REQUEST TO PULL LETTER N.

>>JUDGE CANALES: N WILL BE PULLED.

>> POSTED AND BROUGHT DIFFERENTLY

>>JUDGE CANALES: A MOTION THAT IS TABLED.

>> THAT IS THE ONE I AM BULGE. TO DISCUSS THAT ONE?

>> WILL TABLE IT. >> PURCHASING ASKED TO TABLE

THAT, YES. >>JUDGE CANALES: I WILL MOTION TO TABLE AND HE WILL SECOND IT. AND YOU CAN WORK WITH MICHAEL ON THE QUESTIONS AND WE WILL TABLE IT UNTIL DECEMBER 15.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR BY STIING ANY PHI BY SAYING AYE.

A MOTION FOR THE REMAINDER? >> MOTION TO APPROVE, JUDGE.

>> MOTION AND A SECOND. I WILL SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 3 A 1.

[1. Discuss and consider authorizing and approving a new Motor Vehicle WebDealer Agreement for Khoury Automotive of Corpus Christi, LLC DBA Corpus Christi Mitsubishi.]

[2. Discuss and consider authorizing and approving a new Motor Vehicle WebDealer Agreement for Khoury Automotive of Corpus Christi, LLC DBA Mazda of Corpus Christi.]

THIS IS NEW MOTOR VEHICLE WEBDEALER AGREEMENT.

AND I WILL ASK -- IS THIS MICHAEL, KHOURY AUTOMOTIVE?

>> I DON'T SEE ANYONE HERE BUT WHAT THE TAX ASSESSOR GETS IN WITH DEALERSHIPS TO GET THE TITLES MORE TIMELY FOR CLIENT SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME IN SEPARATELY.

>>JUDGE CANALES: IS IT THE SAME THAT WE ALWAYS USED, BELINDA?

>> YOU CAN CONFIRM WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

>>JUDGE CANALES: JENNY. >> I TALKED WITH KEVIN ON THIS.

THE SAME THING. JUST A NAME THING THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF. NORMAL STUFF.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THAT IS MY INFORMATION AS WELL.

[01:30:02]

I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE NEW MOTOR VEHICLE WEBDEALER

AGREEMENT FOR KHOURY AUTOMOTIVE. >> SECOND.

>>JUDGE CANALES: MOTION AND A SECOND.

>> 1 AND 2, JUDGE. >>JUDGE CANALES: IF WE CAN DO BOTH, THAT IS GREAT. KHOURY AUTOMOTIVE AS MITSUBISHI AND LCC DBA MAZDA. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING

[3. Ratify Supplemental Agreement No. 1 for a no cost time extension to the Engineering Services Contract with Hanson Professional Services, Inc. related to the ADA design work for accessible parking, ramp and pathway to the new Horace Caldwell Pier Observation Deck.]

AYE. ITEM NUMBER 3 IS RATIFICATION.

NO COSTS. TIME ONLY.

HANSON PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. THE ADA DESIGN FOR OUR RAMP.

VERY IMPORTANT ADA RAMP FOR HORACE CALDWELL PIER OBSERVATION DECK. AND SCOTT CROSS WHO LOOKS LIKE

HE IS OUTSIDE. >> I AM IN PORT A. WITH A GRANT I AM WORKING ON. I HAD TO DO THIS REMOTELY.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. >>JUDGE CANALES: NO WORRIES.

THIS LOOKS LOVELY. >> AN EXTENSION TO KEEP THIS UNDER CONTRACT -- PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WHILE THEY

COMPLETE THEIR WORK. >> SO MOVED, JUDGE.

>>JUDGE CANALES: I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

JUST IN THE DISCUSSION. ANY OTHER INTERESTING COMMENTS OR ITEMS? HOW -- HOW ARE THEY DOING.

I KNOW IT'S -- IT IS JUST A TIME SITUATION HERE.

BUT ALL GOOD NEWS TO REPORT HERE ON OUR PROGRESS, SCOTT?

>> YES. WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE BY -- I THINK DECEMBER 3 -- IS THAT THE NEXT COURT DATE?

>>JUDGE CANALES: DECEMBER 15. >> WE BRING TO YOU THE REQUEST TO GO OUT FOR BIDS ON THAT ADA RAMP.

WE SHOULD BE DONE WITH ALL THE PLANS AND SPEC S.

SORRY FOR THE HELICOPTER IN THE BACKGROUND.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THAT SOUNDS VERY GOOD.

JUST AS A REMINDER, WILL THIS BE VETTED BY MR. PRUITT?

>> YES. HAROLD HAS ALREADY LOOKED AT IT ALL. ONCE WE GET THE FINAL PLANS AND SPEC S, WE WILL SEND IT TO HIM FOR ANOTHER REVIEW TO GET ALL THE THAT TIED UP, CLEANED UP BEFORE WE GO OUT WITH IT AND WE

DON'T HAVE ANY AMENDMENTS. >>JUDGE CANALES: ALL RIGHTY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

[4. Discuss and consider approval of Change Order No. 4 for Geofill Material Technologies for no cost, sixty (60) day contract extension.]

OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THE NEXT ONE SCOTT HAS TO DO WITH THE CONTRACTOR AT THE HORACE CALDWELL PIER OAKS DECK.

CHANGE ORDER FOR GEOFILL TO GET WINDOWS IN.

DO YOU WANT TO ELABORATE. >> THE WINDOWS -- THEY JUST FINISHED UP THE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY AND REDOING THE WINDOWS ON THE ELECTRICAL STRUCTURES SO EVERYTHING IS NEAT AND MATCHES UP. WE HAD THE OLD STRUCTURE REPAINTED, SO WE ARE TRYING TO PUSH FOR THE END OF FEBRUARY.

TO BASICALLY OPEN THIS THING UP. WE GOT TO GO THROUGH -- OUR CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY AND FIRE MARE STHAL INSPECTION.

ONE THING I NEED TO GET GOING, JUDGE, AND I AM A LITTLE BEHIND TO GET YOU UPDATED. IDA AT THE LIBRARY -- SHE AND HER ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, I FORGOT HER NAME.

>>JUDGE CANALES: CRYSTAL. >> WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO OUTFIT THE INSIDE OF THIS THING AND JASON, IT MAY BE END OF MARCH THAT WE GET THE FINISHING TOUCHES INSIDE THERE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH ROMEO IN PURCHASING, THE LEAD TIME FOR ORDERS TABLES AND CHAIRS AND ALL THAT STUFF.

WE ARE WORKING THROUGH ALL THAT AND KIND OF WHERE WE ARE AT TO GIVE THE CONTRACTOR MORE TIME TO FINISH WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO.

ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR. >>JUDGE CANALES: SOUNDS GOOD.

I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION. >> SECOND.

>>JUDGE CANALES: A MOTION AND A SECOND.

SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. SCOTT CROSS, I WILL LET YOU GO.

I DON'T THINK ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION.

DOUBLE CHECK THAT WITH YOU. >> NO MA'AM.

[5. Discuss and consider adopting payment option for Premium Pay under the American Rescue Plan Act for Nueces County law enforcement in the Nueces County Collective Bargaining Agreement; authorize date(s) to issue payment(s).]

>>JUDGE CANALES: WISHING YOU A GOOD DAY IN THE ISLAND.

NUMBER 5 IS DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE PAYMENT OPTION FOR PREMIUM PAY UNDER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FOR NUECES COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE NUECES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT AND ISSUE DATE TO ISSUE PAYMENT.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO COME BEFORE THE SCHEDULE AND A PROCESS. YOU HAVE ASSISTED IN THAT.

YOU HAVE GIVEN PARAMETERS AND NOW WE ARE ACTUALLY READY TO LAY FORTH THE ACTUAL OPTION, THE PAYMENT OPTION AND DATES.

SO I THINK SKILL DALE TO JUST HELP US OUTLINE IT.

THERE MIGHT BE OTHERS, BELINDA, ONLINE.

I AM LOOKING BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I SEE ANYBODY.

BUT IF WE NEED ANY EXPERIENCE, I PRINTED OUT EVERYTHING THAT SETH

[01:35:02]

GAVE ME FROM HAGGERTY ON THIS ISSUE.

>> WE MET WITH HAGGERTY CONSULTING AND OUR OUTSIDE CPA FIRM AND MET WITH MR. SMITH FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AND CURRENTLY TWO PARTICULAR OPTIONS WE ARE LOOKING INTO.

ONE OF OUR OPTION IS KINDS OF AN AVERAGING OPTION.

AND ALSO AN OPTION OF A BONUSING ISSUE.

WE WORKED WITH THE HAGGERTY TEAM AND MY TEAM.

WE INDUSTRIAL SMALL ISSUES WE NEED TO ADDRESS IN WORKING WITH THEM. WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING THAT IS FRIDAY TO WORK ON THIS. WE ARE MOST LIKELY GOING TO GO WITH OPTION ONE. AND DON'T WANT TO SET THAT IN STONE JUST AT THE MOMENT AND WE HAVE A FEW ISSUES TO WORK OUT AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH OUR PAYROLL SYSTEM.

MAYBE AT THIS POINT BEST TO TABLE THIS ISSUE.

>>JUDGE CANALES: OKAY. OKAY WITH THAT BECAUSE WE A PLAN TO VOTE ON; HOWEVER, I WANT TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE -- I KNOW WE STARTED TO GET QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME IN FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT. I THINK WHAT WE WANT TO BASICALLY SAY IS THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED ON THE COMMITMENT.

NOTHING. WHAT HAPPENS IS THERE IS SORT OF THE WILL TO DO IT AND THE LOGISTICS TO GET IT DONE.

WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON FROM YOUR OFFICE IS NOT ONLY THE LOGISTICS ON THE TIME, BUT THE PAYROLL PROCESS, AS WELL AS WHAT WE ARE CALLING THE FORMULA. IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THE OPTIONS THAT THEY HAVE WE ARE WORKING ON THE LEGAL SIDE OF IT BECAUSE WE HAVE SEVERAL ISSUES ON WHETHER THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE IN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT AND THE WAGE ISSUES AND IRS ISSUES THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T VIOLATE ANY RULES FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BALANCES ARE THERE.

WE HAVE COME UP WITH SOME TOTALS THAT WE HAVE AND ONCE WE GET EVERYTHING SITUATED WE ARE READY TO GO, BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR HOLIDAY SEASON AND PAYROLL RIGHT NOW IS VERY DIFFICULT. THIS IS ADDITIONAL ISSUE THAT WE HAVE AROUND 1300 EMPLOYEES IF WE COUNT EVERYBODY.

AND WE HAVE TO ADD A PAYROLL -- NOT SOMETHING WE CAN JUST DO

OVERNIGHT. >>JUDGE CANALES: UNDERSTOOD.

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE AN EDUCATED GUESS SO WE CAN -- PEOPLE LISTENING IN. IF YOU SAY WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE THEIR FIRST SUPPLEMENT PAY.

WOULD YOU GUESS THAT WOULD BE IN JANUARY?

>> YES. >>JUDGE CANALES: OKAY.

DO YOU FEEL CONFIDENT? BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT JANUARY IS THE SAME TIME FRAME THEY CAN EXPECT IT.

>> WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR SOFTWARE COMPANY WHERE THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS. WORKING WITH THE IFR SITUATION, THERE ARE ACTUALLY THREE TYPE OF THRESHOLDS THAT WE CAN'T MISS.

WE CAN'T DO IT. WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT NOT AN ISSUE BECAUSE WE SAID 150% IS NOT AN ISSUE.

WE HAVE TO RECEIVE OVER 50% OF THE AVERAGE SALARY AND ANOTHER ISSUE CAN'T RECEIVE HIGHER THAN $13 IN PREMIUM PAY.

THE LAST ISSUE ONCE THIS STARTED FROM BEGINNING, NO MORE THAN $25,000 IN PREMIUM PAY. THREE SEPARATE THRESHOLDS TO GET OUR SOFTWARE TO IDENTIFY AND TRACK AND BE ABLE TO MONITOR.

OTHERWISE WE HAVE TO DO THIS MANUALLY AND I HAVE TO COME TO

YOU FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. >> JUDGE, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REITERATE EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID THAT THERE IS NOT ANY LESS OF A COMMITMENT BY THIS COURT TO DO WHAT WE DID, THE LOGISTICS HAVE BECOME A LITTLE MORE NIGHTMARISH THEN WHEN WE STARTED ALL THIS. WE DO.

BECAUSE WE -- THE JUDGE IS R T RIGHT.

I HAVE MY SHARE AND OTHERS. WHAT IS GOING ON.

IS THERE A PROBLEM. I KEEP TELLING PEOPLE TO CALL ME. NO, NOT A PROBLEM BUT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE LOGISTICS HOW TO DO THIS.

BUT THIS COURT HAS UNANIMOUSLY CONSENTED ON DOING THIS.

AND CONTINUES TO BE STRONG IN ITS SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT GETS THE MONEY IN THE PROPER FASHION THEY SHOULD GET IT. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HEAR THIS FROM US AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY DO HEAR THIS FROM US AND FOUND THE HURDLES.

WE ARE OVERCOMING THOSE HURDLES AS WE FIND THEM AND WORKING HARD TO DO THIS AND WANT PEOPLE TO GET THESE FUNDS AND REALLY TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THEM THEIR FUNDS SCHEDULED MEETING WITH HAGGERTY AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND OUR CPA FIRM AND SHOULD COME TO YOU ON THE 15TH WITH A DEFINITE OPTION TO PROCEED AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, I HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE SOME DIRECTION FROM OUR PAY ROLL SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE -- HOW WE CAN WORK WITH A BETTER IDEA HOW

TO START. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY JANUARY

[01:40:02]

AND IT DON'T COME JANUARY. WE SAY DECEMBER AND NOT COMING DECEMBER. I KNOW WE HAVE OBSTACLES AND ALL THIS OTHER KIND OF STUFF THAT WE KNEW WE WOULD ENCOUNTER HATE TO SAY -- YOU TOLD US THAT TWICE ALREADY.

>> NOT AN EASY ISSUE, COMMISSIONER.

I WISH I CAN GUARANTEE YOU JANUARY, BUT A LOT OF ISSUES

WITH THE LEGAL SIDE OF IT. >> AS YOU SAID NOT GUARANTEES.

>> NOT GUARANTEEING AND HOPING TO TRY -- I HAVE GOT MY STAFF WORKING TO WORK ON THIS. ONE OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS OUR SOFTWARE COMPANY IS NOT WORKING AS FAST AND WE WANT TO BRING TO YOU AT ANOTHER POINT IN TIME TO REPLACE THEM, BUT THAT IS

ANOTHER ISSUE AT ANOTHER POINT. >>JUDGE CANALES: I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE AND DALE IS ASKING FOR THE ISSUE TO BE

TABLED. >> BETTER CLEARANCE ON THE 15TH.

>>JUDGE CANALES: I WILL TAKE THAT AS A MOTION AND SECOND IT.

ON DECEMBER 15, WE WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE ON A PAYMENT OPTION PLAN AND A DATE THAT FAR. AND A GREAT COMMITMENT FROM THE COURT AND AUDITOR'S OFFICE IS WORKING AS DILIGENTLY AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE THIS A REALITY IN JANUARY AND IF THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, IT WILL BE FORTHCOMING IMMINENTLY AFTER JANUARY. THE FIRST THING TO DO IF A COURT MAKES A RULING IT MUST BE VETTED FOR THE LEGAL -- THE LEGALITY OF IT. THAT IS THE FIRST HURDLE.

ONCE WE GET OVER THE FIRST HURDLE ALL THE OTHER ELEMENTS.

AND AN OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME THAT THIS COURT HAS.

WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS BUT FOR THESE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS.

SO WILL ASK YOUR PATIENCE IF ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT AND WE ARE REALLY GETTING GOOD THINGS DONE WITH THOSE ARPA FUNDS. FULL CONTINUE TO GIVE US UPDATE, DALE, THAT IS THE MOST WE CAN ASK FOR.

>> COMMISSIONER AND JUDGE, ON THE 15TH WILL GIVE YOU A STARTING PLAN FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE ADDITIONAL -- THAT WE WANT TO START ON JANUARY 1, THAT WILL

BE AT A LATER DATE. >>JUDGE CANALES: AGAIN ON THE 15TH, MY GOAL IS TO HAVE A CALENDAR THAT WE CAN ADOPT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR THE TABLE. TO THE 15TH.

THANK YOU. PLEASE SIGNIFY BIG SAYING AYE.

AYE. AND I THINK EVERYBODY ELSE SAID AYE, KARA, OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT, GREAT.

SETTING NEW RECORDS FOR SPEED, I MOVE TO THE NEXT PAGE.

RIGHT, K ARA. >> DON'T JINX US, JUDGE.

>>JUDGE CANALES: DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ALL AMENDMENTS TO THE NUECES COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT POLICIES.

AND ALL HAVE LEGAL THAT HAVE BEEN NOTED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AND I WILL MOVE THOSE TO THE END OF THE BLOCK AND ALSO WAITING PATIENTLY SOMEWHERE IS -- BELINDA, I DON'T ACTUALLY SEE

[9. Discuss and consider selection of Nueces County Commissioners Court Manager.]

HER ON ITEM NUMBER 9. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO ANNOUNCE THAT EARLY THIS MORNING. BUT SHE IS NOT HERE.

OKAY, CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE CALL JULIE SO SHE CAN MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT. WE WILL MOVE CONTINUE TO ITEM

NUMBER 10 -- >> WAIT, WHAT ARE WE CALLING JULIE FOR, NUMBER NINE? CAN WE JUST MAKE A MOTION,

JUDGE? >> MOTION TO TABLE.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THAT IS FINE. SHE WANTED TO COME AND SAY IT, IF YOU DON'T MIND. MOTION TO TABLE ITEM NUMBER 9.

A MOTION AND A SECOND. >> TO DECEMBER 15?

>>JUDGE CANALES: DECEMBER 15. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY

[10. Discuss and consider approval of drainage project collaboration with City of Driscoll, including clearing and cleanup of drainage debris and allocation of County funds. ]

SAYING AYE. OPPOSED SAME TINE.

ITEM NUMBER 10 IS DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF DRAINAGE PROJECT COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF DRISCOLL, INCLUDING CLEARING AND CLEANUP OF DRAINAGE DEBRIS AND ALLOCATION OF COUNTY FUNDS. I AM LOOKING ONLINE.

I DON'T KNOW IF I KNEW WE WERE GOING TO MOVE THIS FAST, SO I DIDN'T HAVE SUSAN REALLY AVAILABLE UNTIL AFTER LUNCH.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK I CAN TE THESHTION UP WITH THE HELP OF OTHERS HERE IN THE -- TEE THIS UP WITH OTHERS IN THE COURT ROOM. THE CONCEPT IS THAT THE CITY OF DRISCOLL HAS A REAL NEED FOR WHAT WILL BE A BAND-AID BUT AN IMPORTANT BAND-AID. STOP THE BLEED.

ANY TIME WE HAVE ANY RAIN -- NOT JUST TORRENTIAL RAIN, BUT ANY RAIN, BACK-UP OF WATERS EAST AND WEST OF 77 THAT HAVE BEEN PERFECTLY IDENTIFIED. I BELIEVE THE STREET IS AUSTIN STREET AND I CAN LOOK THAT UP. BUT THE CONCEPT HERE IS THAT BY DOING TWO THINGS, BY ALLOWING THERE TO BE A COLLABORATION WITH

[01:45:02]

THE CITY OF DRISCOLL AND THEY IDENTIFY THE LOCATIONS.

WE BELIEVE THAT WITH PROPER CLEANUP OF DEBRIS, VEGETATION AND SPECIFIC AND CLEANUP OF CULVERTS, THAT THE NEXT TIME IT SEVERELY RAINS, IT WILL BE GREATLY IMPROVED.

THIS IS NOT THE END ALL -- IT IS NOT EVERYTHING.

IT IS NOT EVEN CLOSE. NOW THE ONE THING THAT HAS NOT BEEN 100% DETERMINED IS WHETHER ENGINEERING IS NEEDED IF THERE WOULD BE ANY LIKE DREDGING OF THOSE DITCHES, OKAY.

WHAT WE THOUGHT IS THAT WE COULD BEGIN WITH THE CONCEPT OF INCLUDING IT TO BE INCLUDING ENGINEERING, CLEARING, CLEANUP.

IT WOULD BE COMPREHENSIVE IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000.

THAT WAS THE AMOUNT THEY HAD ASKED FOR.

AND I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. >> EXCUSE ME, JUDGE, WHERE WOULD THE FUNDING COME FROM? JUDGE BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

COMMISSIONER MAREZ -- WHO JUST STEPPED OUT -- HE ORIGINALLY SAID HE WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE FUNDING AND WE WERE GOING TO BRING IT TO COURT TO SEE IF ANY COMMISSIONERS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO -- TO DO THAT. I AM HAPPY TO PARTICIPATE.

I GUESS I AM TRYING TO SEE IF YOU ARE TOO.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE ESPECIALLY GETTING THERE.

>> SEEING THAT IT IS MY PRECINCT I WOULD LIKE TO STUDY IT MORE

AND SEE IF WE CAN WORK THIS OUT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO TABLE -- I

CAN MOVE TO TABLE THIS ITEM. >>JUDGE CANALES: I WILL TELL THAT YOU -- I DON'T KNOW IF THE MAYOR OF DRISCOLL IS --

>> WE NEED TO WORK -- MY MOTION IS TO TABLE.

IF I DON'T GET A SECOND, THAT'S FINE.

>> SECOND. >>JUDGE CANALES: A MOTION AND A SECOND TO TABLE. I WILL CALL FOR DISCUSSION.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE MAYOR OF DRISCOLL ASKED FOR THIS AND SUPPORTS THIS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COMMISSIONER MAREZ TO COME IN -- OKAY, THERE HE IS.

COMMISSIONER MAREZ -- >>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: JUDGE, I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO WITHDRAW THE MOTION TO TABLE BECAUSE NO DISCUSSION WHILE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO TABLE.

IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE DISCUSSION, THEY WOULD --

>>JUDGE CANALES: WOULD YOU MIND SINCE COMMISSIONER MAREZ ORIGINALLY WORKED ON THIS. WOULD YOU RECONSIDER AND ASK -- I WILL LET YOU MAKE YOUR MOTION AGAIN, BUT CAN YOU WITHDRAW IT SO HE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE CONVERSATION.

JUST FOR THAT PURPOSE. SO HE IS WITHDRAWING IT.

>> WITHDRAW. >>JUDGE CANALES: COMMISSIONER MAREZ WHEN YOU STEPPED OUT WE MOVED ON TO ITEM NUMBER 10 WHICH IS COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF DRISCOLL TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR DEBRIS REMOVAL. AND WHERE IT HAD BEEN AMPLE DISCUSSION WITH THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT, YOU W KNOW, THE REAL FIX THAT IS NEEDED.

IT CANNOT WAIT. AND SO THE IDEA HERE IS TO ALLOW THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THIS -- THIS CLEANUP.

AND THE ONLY THING THAT IS LEFT UP TO A LITTLE BIT OF DECISION IS WHETHER OR NOT -- AND THEY WILL HAVE TO DO THIS -- AND AN INTERLOCAL, I GUESS, WOULD BE REQUIRED HERE IS WHETHER OR NOT THEY NEED SOME ENGINEERING TO WORK ON THE CLEANUP.

THEY MAY OR MAY NOT, BUT THE AMOUNT THAT WAS REQUESTED WAS $150,000. AND I KNOW AT THE TIME YOU THOUGHT THAT WAS IMPORTANT. I HAD SUGGESTED THAT I AM WILLING TO FROM MY CO 2021 ASSIST IN THIS EFFORT.

DO YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY CO S COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ WOULD LIKE TO --

>>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: DO YOU THAT WITH YOUR COS IF WE DON'T OWN THE PROPERTY. I THINK IT IS NOT PROPERTY WE

OWN OR DO WE OWN IT? >>JUDGE CANALES: WE DO.

IT'S COUNTY -- IT WOULD BE AN INTERLOCAL THAT WE WOULD FUND.

>>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: MY UNDERSTANDING WITH COS, UNLESS IT IS COUNTY-OWNED PROPERTIES, COS CAN'T BE USED FOR IT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: FOR DRAINAGE. >>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: FOR

COUNTY-OWNED PROPERTY. >>JUDGE CANALES: FOR CLEANUP OF DRAINAGE IN THAT AREA. I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY FIND OUT, BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE.

BUT WE CAN -- >> WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC PROJECT AND ALSO THE LANGUAGE OF THE CO IN PAR R

PARTICULAR. >>JUDGE CANALES: RIGHT.

>> SO I GUESS BACKGROUND ON S THIS, UP UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO DRISCOLL WAS IN MY PRECINCT. AND NOW IN COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ'S PRECINCT. I WANT TO COMMIT TO WHAT I HAD ORIGINALLY INDICATED TO THE MAYOR WHICH IS TO HELP WITH SOME OF THEIR DRAINAGE. THIS IS JUST A DROP IN THE

[01:50:01]

BUCKET REALLY FOR THE OVERALL NEEDS AND WE KNOW WE NEED A -- THE TRI-COUNTY AGREEMENT IS WHAT REALLY HELPS FIX THESE PROJECTS AND THESE COMMUNITIES DOW M DOWNSTREAM, BUT I -- I DO WANT TO COMMIT MONEY TO HELPING FIX OR AT LEAST BEGIN SOME WORK ON CLEARING UP AND CLEANING UP. OF COURSE I WILL DEFER TO COMMISSIONER. IT IS HIS PRECINCT.

AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO PUT MONEY IN.

I DON'T KNOW -- IF YOU HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE MAYBE FROM YOUR OWN BUDGETS TO BE ABLE TO COMMIT TO THAT AS WELL.

BUT, I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO HELP OUT GET TO THAT.

GET US TO THAT NUMBER OF 150,000 SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT HA S

HAPPENS. >> COMMISSIONER, I WOULD LOVE

FOR YOU TO PUT MONEY IN. >> I KNOW, RIGHT, IT IS LIKE,

HEY -- >>JUDGE CANALES: THAT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS HIS PRECINCT WHEN THE CONVERSATION STARTED.

YOU KNOW -- >> I COMMITTED TO MAYOR GONZALEZ A WHILE AGO AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I KEEP WITH THAT.

>> I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE WHAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE MAYOR AND TALK WITH HIM. AND BEFORE I COMMIT TO ANYTHING.

>> ANY TIME DO YOU DRAINAGE AND DREDGING, YOU NEED ENGINEERING.

>> 150 FOR THE ENGINEERING, I MEAN THAT'S -- IT IS A GOOD

AMOUNT TO HELP THEM GET STARTED. >>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: I GUESS I GOT TO ASK THE QUESTION. AGAIN, WE ARE -- WE ARE GOING DOWN A PATH HERE OF HELPING A MUNICIPALITY OR HELPING A CITY WITH THEIR DRAINAGE PROBLEMS. WE SEEM -- IT WOULD SEEM TO BE OPENING THE DOOR FOR ANYBODY ELSE WHO ASKS, PORT ARANSUS,

BANQUETE, -- I MEAN THIS -- >>JUDGE CANALES: THAT IS RIGHT.

>>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: A LITTLE TROUBLESOME WITHOUT A POLICY IN PLACE TO JUST BE DOING THIS. AND I GUESS I -- AND WAS THIS -- AND I AM NOT -- I KNOW THE BISHOP -- DRISCOLL GAVE UP THEIR ABILITY TO APPLY FOR $150,000 GRANT.

WAS THIS SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT TO HELP COMPENSATE THEM FOR THAT? I AM TRYING TO FIGURE -- IT -- THE SAME EXACT AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY GAVE UP ON A GRANT FOR.

SO I AM JUST -- >>JUDGE CANALES: THE GRANT IS FOR A STUDY THAT HAD NO RELEVANCE AT ALL WITH ACTUAL WORK. SO IT IS NOT --

>>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: THE SAME AMOUNT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THAT WAS THE AMOUNT THAT THEY REQUESTED.

THE AMOUNT THEY BROUGHT UP. SO -- JUST SO YOU KNOW FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, STORMWATER AND DRAINAGE IS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE THREE PRECEPTS OF THE ENTIRE --

>>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: DID THEY ASK FOR THIS? BECAUSE -- DID THEY SAY TO YOU OR ANYONE BECAUSE WE ARE GIVING UP OUR GRANT, WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO GIVE US $150,000

SOMEWHERE ELSE? >>JUDGE CANALES: NO, THEY DID

NOT DO THAT, BRENT, AT ALL. >>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: IT WASN'T

PROMISED BY ANYBODY ELSE? >>JUDGE CANALES: NO, SIR.

>>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: -- E R EITHER.

THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO MAKE E SURE.

AN UNUSUAL COINCIDENCE THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT THEY GAVE UP THEIR GRANT FOR SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE.

BUT MY OVERLYING ISSUE -- >>JUDGE CANALES: THE DOLLAR ABILITY CAME FROM COMMISSIONER MAREZ'S VISIT WITH HIM AND SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT WE ARE DOING COUNTYWIDE WHICH IS DRAINAGE.

YOU WILL SEE LATER THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT -- WE ARE HAVING DRAINAGE WORKSHOP IN BANQUETE.

IT IS A COUNTY-CENTRIC DRAINAGE WORKSHOP THAT IS HAPPENING TOMORROW. AND I BELIEVE IT IS FROM 2:00 -- 3 TO 5 -- 3:00 TO 5:00. DRAINAGE BEING ONE OF THE P R PILLARS OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, AND BEING ONE OF THE -- THE HIGHEST PUBLIC COMMENT DISCUSSIONS WERE DRAINAGE.

WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS ADDRESS DRAINAGE COUNTYWIDE.

THEY HAVE A FEW -- >> I STILL THINK THAT -- THERE IS SOME PROPERTY THERE, COMMISSIONER, THAT PROBABLY BELONGS TO THE COUNTY, BUT YOU HAVE TO DO AN ASSESSMENT AND DO A SURVEY OF WHAT ACTUALLY BELONGS TO THE COUNTY.

WHAT BELONGS TO THE COUNTY. THIS IS WHY I THINK THAT -- I MADE MY MOTION AND I AM GOING TO REPEAT MY MOTION THAT WE TABLE IT BECAUSE I THINK COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ NEEDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE MAYOR AND SEE WHAT THEY DO NEED.

WHAT ACTUALLY CAN WE GIVE THEM AND WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE.

HOW MUCH PROPERTY BELONGS TO US. AND COME BACK TO THE COURT AND SAY THIS IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED.

>>JUDGE CANALES: RIGHT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE --

>> I DON'T WANT TO SAY A NUMBER AND WE DON'T USE THE NUMBER.

>>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: I AGREE. IT HAS GOT TO BE COUNTY

PROPERTY. >>JUDGE CANALES: WE WILL BE HAPPY TO SET A -- AN OPPORTUNITY UP, BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, THEY ARE PLANNING TO COME TO THE DRAINAGE WORKSHOP TOMORROW, SO YOU HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THAT. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL BE THERE AND

[01:55:04]

WILL BE ABLE TO TALK TO THEM TOMORROW ABOUT THE NEED.

AGAIN, THIS ISSUE WAS -- ONLY BECAUSE OF A REDISTRICTING SITUATION. COMMISSIONER MAREZ HAS BEEN TALKING WITH THEM -- THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY ASSISTANCE AND JUST SO YOU KNOW WE ASSIST THIS MUNICIPALITY TWICE THIS YEAR. ONCE WITH A WATER PUMP.

THE OTHER WITH A TCU PERMIT, THE NUECES RIVER AUTHORITIES CAME TO THEM ON THEIR BEHALF. THE CONCEPT IS SOUND.

DRAINAGE IS SOUND. WE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST AS A COUNTY, AND CHECK CO 2021 TO SEE IT IF THAT WILL COVER IT BUT SUBMIT TO THE COURT THAT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN -- THIS IS IN ORDER TO GET THEM STARTED. IF YOU FEAR A RAIN, THAT IS A PROBLEM. AND WE CAN WORK WITH THEM THROUGH INTERLOCAL. WHETHER WE OWN THE PARTICULAR -- WE DON'T OWN, FOR EXAMPLE -- LET ME GIVE YOU A GREAT EXAMPLE.

WE DON'T OWN THEIR STORMWATER FACILITY, THEIR SEWER SYSTEM FACILITY, BUT WE HAVE ASSISTED, YOU KNOW, IN THAT REGARD.

SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE APPROPRIATE FUNDING SOURCES.

AND THE NEED IS GREAT. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE NEED IS URGENT. MAYBE TOMORROW -- AND I WOULD SUBMIT THAT IT IS OPEN SEASON. EVERY JURISDICTION IS NOW PLACED ON NOTICE THAT THEY NEED TO COME TO THIS COURT ASKING FOR HELP WITH DRAINAGE. YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.

OTHERWISE YOU WILL KEEP HAVING PEOPLE AT THE PODIUM SAYING YOU

ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. >>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: JUDGE, I THINK THAT IS A REALLY DANGEROUS THING TO SAY TO ALLUDE TO THE FACT THAT THIS COUNTY HAS SOME PILE OF MONEY.

>>JUDGE CANALES: WE DO. >>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: -- TO HELP EVERYBODY WITH WITHOUT COMING WITH A PLAN.

WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS ENTIRE DRAINAGE PLAN.

WE ARE DOING THIS STUDY TO SEE WHAT IS NEEDED.

WE HAVE THIS BIG MASTER PLAN. NOW GUYS, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT BECAUSE WE HAVE A BUNCH OF MONEY AND PIECEMEAL IT.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. >>JUDGE CANALES: IT'S PUBLIC

COMMENT. >>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: I DON'T

UNDERSTAND THIS. >>JUDGE CANALES: MAYBE -- THE

PUBLIC -- >>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: CAN I

FINISH WITHOUT BEING CUT OFF. >>JUDGE CANALES: NOBODY CUT YOU

OFF. >>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: I AM STILL TALKING AND YOU ARE TALKING OVER ME.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD DO THIS BEFORE WE GET THIS DRAINAGE STUDY IN PLACE AND GO AND COME UP WITH AN ENTIRE PLAN TO HELP PEOPLE. THESE JURORS DINKS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE JURISDICTIONS AND CERTAINLY WHERE WE CAN HELP. I RAISE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE TCU PERMIT AND PUMP THAT WE ARE SETTING A PRECEDENT THAT WE HAVE NEEDS THAT WE CAN'T FULFILL AND INVITING OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE THEIR OWN JURI N JURISDICTIONS IN PLACE TO HANDLE THESE THINGS. WE CAN'T HANDLE THE NEED WE HAVE THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. I DON'T AGREE SITTING HERE AND SAYING, EVERYBODY, COME BRING US OUR WISH LIST BECAUSE WE HAVE PILE OF MONEY. IF WE HAVE SUCH A PILE OF MONEY SPEND IT IN NUECES COUNTY IN THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE MAJOR DRAINAGE PROBLEMS IN LONDON.

WE HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THE COUNTY AREA.

MAJOR DRAINAGE PROBLEMS THAT WE CAN'T SATISFY, AND TO TAKE ON ANOTHER PROJECT WITHOUT STUDYING AND LOOKING AT IT AND BEING CAREFUL AND INSTEAD OF SAYING BRING IT, WE GOT IF.

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED. I THINK THAT IS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT TO SET. I AGREE.

I WILL SECOND -- >>JUDGE CANALES: IT HAS ALREADY

BEEN SECONDED. >>COMMISSIONER MAREZ: I THINK IT WAS WITHDRAWN. I WILL WAIT FOR DISCUSSION BECAUSE I AM NOT INTERRUPTSING ANYBODY'S OPPORTUNITY TO TALK.

BECAUSE ONE PERSON HAS COME AND ASKED.

NOT FAIR TO EVERYBODY ELSE HOUR LANE IS TO TAKE CARE OF NUECES COUNTY. CORPUS CHRISTI WILL DO CORPUS CHRISTI. AND WHAT TO STOP CORPUS CHRISTI, BECAUSE THEY HAVE DRAINAGE I E ISSUES IN NUECES COUNTY.

I THINK WE ARE GOING DOWN A PATH THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS OF AND I DON'T THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE TO SAY BRING US YOUR WISH LIST BECAUSE WE HAVE A BUNCH OF MONEY TO SPEND ON YOU BECAUSE THAT IS NOT EXACTLY THE WAY THIS IS.

>> I THINK MOST OF THE TIME, WE -- WE TRY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN DRAINAGE ISSUE IN OUR OWN PRECINCTS.

WE HAVE THE MONEY. AND I THINK, COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ HAS SOME MONEY IN HIS PRECINCT -- FOR DRAINAGE THAT HE CAN USE IF HE NEEDS TO USE. AND I DON'T THINK -- I DON'T THINK HE NEEDS TO BORROW SOME. IF HE NEEDS SOME, WE WILL GIVE HIM SOME, BUT I THINK -- THAT IS WHAT I THINK -- I TABLED IT BECAUSE SOMETHING HE NEEDS TO SIT DOWN WITH THE MAYOR AND SAYS WHERE DO YOU START, WHAT DO YOU NEED.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FIRST. WHAT DO YOU WANT SECOND.

AND WE WILL HAVE AN ENGINEER. I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO -- --

[02:00:07]

YOU NEED TO HAVE A ENGINEER BECAUSE YOU GOT TO KNOW WHERE THE WATER FLOWS AND HOW IT GOES. YOU CAN'T SAY WE WILL -- TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I USED TO THINK THAT WAY TOO, BUT IT IS NOT -- YOU KNOW, IT IS MORE THAN -- YOU KNOW, NOT ONE STEP, BUT LIKE TEN STEPS. SO -- AND THIS IS WHY -- COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ. IF I AM OUT OF PLACE LET ME KNOW, THAT'S WHY I TABLED -- TABLED -- I MOVED TO TABLE.

>>COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ: NO, SIR, COMMISSIONER.

I DON'T THINK YOU ARE OUT OF PLACE AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND HELP. I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER MAREZ BUT I DO BELIEVE IN DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY SO WE CAN DO IT ONCE, OKAY. JUST LIKE THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE -- STILL HAVE IN PRECINCT 1. AND WE HAVE TAKEN CARE OF SOME OF THOSE, BUT I DO WANT TO TABLE IT SO I CAN SPEAK WITH THE M R MAYOR, SEE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE ON THEIR PART.

IF THEY ASKED FOR ANY GRANTS FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR WHEREVER THEY MIGHT GET THEM FROM.

SO, YES, I WOULD LIKE TO TABLE, BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW

MORE ABOUT THIS AREA. >>JUDGE CANALES: YEAH, AND, AGAIN, COMMISSIONER MAREZ, IT WAS IN HIS AREA.

HE HAD SPOKEN TO THE MAYOR. THIS WAS AN ITEM HE WAS WILLING TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS. THAT IS WHY IT CAME UP, BUT I DO WANT TO RE-EMPHASIZE THAT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT HAVE FIVE MAJOR PRECEPTS, ONE OF WHICH IS DRAINAGE.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BEEN SEEKING PUBLIC COMMENT IN FIVE DIFFERENT PUBLIC FORUMS AND WE HAVE BEEN ASKING ALL JURISDICTIONS.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS N D NEEDED, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A GOOD DECISION. ONE OF THE CONSENTS THAT COMES FORWARD IS A COUNTYWIDE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS PROGRAM. THE PLAN THAT WE ARE STUDIES IS

A MAJOR, MAJOR ISSUE. >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: TABLE

ON THE FLOOR -- TO MOVE -- >>JUDGE CANALES: EXCUSE ME, ONE SECOND. YOU WITHDREW IT AND ENGAGED.

>>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: I HAVE A MOTION AND COMMISSIONER

HERNANDEZ MADE A SECOND. >>JUDGE CANALES: OKAY, COMMISSIONER MAREZ, WE WORKED ON THIS TOGETHER.

WILL YOU ALSO SUPPORT THE 15TH SO WE CAN TALK TO THE MAYOR OF DRISCOLL TO HELP COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ?

>> I THINK THIS WILL BE A CHANCE TO TRANSFER OVER THE AREAS THAT I REPRESENT THAT NOW COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ DOES AND HE WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM MAYOR GONZALEZ HIMSELF.

THE IMMEDIATE NEED. I KNOW HE WANTS AN IMMEDIATE FIX OR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITH -- WITH THE AREA THAT WE CAN HELP.

I MENTION THIS ABOUT BUSINESS COLLAGEN.

TALL TAKES IS JUST TO DRIVE INTO DRISCOLL -- WHICH BY THE WAY DON'T GO DURING RUSH HOUR BECAUSE YOU WILL IN TRAFFIC AT LEAST A MILE LONG WHILE THEY STILL WORK ON THAT BYPASS.

YOU ABOUT THE BYPASS IS ALREADY KILLING THEM ON ONE SIDE AND I AM NOT SAYING THAT TO BE MORBID OR TO BE -- TO CONCEDE FAILURE, BUT THE CITY IS ON THE PATH OF -- A DOWNWARD PATH OF SHRINKING AND PERHAPS DISSOLVING. THAT IS LANGUAGE THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TO ME SEVERAL TIMES WORKING WITH THE CITY OF DRISCOLL. THIS WILL BE OURS WHETHER THEY DE-ANNEX AS A CITY AND GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE TO GET THAT HELP. WE HAVE DONE THAT ALREADY WHEN THEY NEEDED LAWSUIT WHEN THEIR ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS DECIMATED WITH VACANCIES. WE ARE DOING THIS WITH DRAINAGE AND WITH -- WITH ROAD FILL THAT THEY NEED, VECTOR CONTROL SPRAY WE HAVE ASKED TO BORROW FROM JUAN FROM PUBLIC WORKS TO THE CITY OF DRISCOLL. ON AND ON AND ON THAT THE CITY -- EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE TECHNICALLY A CITY HAS GONE THROUGH A LOT OF PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY JUST CANNOT AFFORD AND THEIR CITY IS SHRINKING. THEIR TAX BASE IS DRAMATICALLY SHRINKING. SPEAKING WITH MAYOR GONZALEZ A FEW WEEKS AGO, HE SAID THEIR ONE AND ONLY TRUE LARGE GENERATOR OF SALES TAX WHICH IS STRIPES THERE ON HIGHWAY 77 SEE -- WOULD SEE NORMALLY 60 TO 80 PEOPLE COME IN THE MORNING HOURS BETWEEN 66 AND 8:00 IN THE MORNING. NOW THEY SEE SIX TO EIGHT P E PEOPLE. SO THEY ARE LOSING MONEY.

SO THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO HELP THEM.

THIS IS A REQUEST THAT THE MAYOR HAS PUT OUT.

AND THAT THEY WANT AND NEED FIXED.

SO IT IS GOING TO BE OUR PROBLEM NOW OR GOING TO BE OUR PROBLEM LATER. BUT I AM JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, TELLING YOU BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN IT AND SEEING IT FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS. AND THAT GOES WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THERE GOES MANY OTHER SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED

[02:05:03]

THERE IN THAT AREA. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE ARE FACING. WE ARE FACING A COMMUNITY WHO IS STRUGGLING. WE ARE FACING A COMMUNITY THAT IS PART OF NUECES COUNTY AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE IS, AND I UNDERSTAND AND HERE ARE THE REASONS WHY AND WHY NOT.

WE DO NOT HAVE AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT I DO THINK THAT -- YOU KNOW, TRYING TO WORK WITH RESPONSES THAT THEY HAVE IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO AS GOOD STEWARDS AND GOOD PARTNERS.

I DO AGREE THAT ANYTHING THAT WE DO AS A COURT SHOULD NOT BE DONE HAPHAZARDLY. I AGREE THAT EVERYTHING WE DO AS A COURT SHOULD BE UNIFORMED AND IN A PLANNED OUT MANNER AND NOT JUST ONE -- MAKING ONE DECISION FOR ONE AREA FOR ONE IMMEDIATE NEED. SO I DO AGREE WITH THAT WHOLEHEARTEDLY. AND I WOULD JUST SUGGEST TO LOOK AT WHAT OUR ACTIONS HAVE BEEN AS A COURT BEFORE AND WHAT OUR ACTIONS WILL BE AS A COURT IN THE FUTURE.

BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO AVOID.

WE NEED TO HAVE ONE MASTER PLAN IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

BUT, I MEAN, I AM WILLING TO STILL SEE HOW WE CAN HELP.

NOT MAKING A THREAT, BUT I AM JUST SAYING THAT I CAN ABSOLUTELY PUT MONEY FROM MY PRECINCT INTO MY PRECINCT AND NOT COMMIT TO A PRECINCT I DON'T REPRESENT ANY LONGER BUT HO L HOPEFULLY THIS CAN ALL GET ADDRESSED AND BE TAKEN CARE OF BY TOMORROW. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WORKSHOP TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND HOPEFULLY GET THIS MOTHER

DISCUSSED FURTHER. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER M Z MAREZ. I INVITE YOU AND COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ, WHEN I DO MEET WITH THE MAYOR THAT YOU TAG ALONG.

>>JUDGE CANALES: ALL THREE CAN'T THEREBY TOGETHER BUT YOU

CAN INVITE -- >>COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ: EITHER COMMISSIONER MAREZ AND -- I WOULD INVITE JACK TO COME WITH ME TO SPEAK WITH THE MAYOR SINCE JACK IS ALSO FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA. SO I AM HOPING THAT HE CAN GUIDE ME. NOT THAT I DON'T -- THAT I WON'T MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS, I WILL, JUST LIKE I DID WITH PRECINCT 1.

THE THING IS TO GET THOSE PEOPLE THE HELP THEY NEED.

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

ALL THOSE -- I WILL LOOK FOR THE TABLE NOW, PLEASE.

TABLE TO DECEMBER 15. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: WE MADE IT. HE SECONDED IT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: OKAY. SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOW, BUT, OKAY, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

OKAY. LET'S SEE HERE.

[11. Discuss and consider resolution authorizing the submission of proposal documents to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs in relation to the establishment of a Colonia Self-Help Center in Nueces County; and discuss and consider the selection of five (5) colonias to be served by the Colonia Self-Help Center.]

WE ARE ON NUMBER 11, WHICH IS -- MARIA HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THIS RESOLUTION. THIS IS THE ONE THAT IS THE SUBMISSION OF THE PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS THAT SHE OUTLINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING COMMUNITY AFFAIRS IN REL RELATIONSHIP TO ESTABLISHING THE COLONIA SELF-HELP CENTER WHICH WE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MORNING AND THE SELECTION OF THE FIVE COLONIAS. IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR?

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>>JUDGE CANALES: A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER MAREZ AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ. AND THOSE IN FAVOR -- ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AT ALL? MARIA, THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE, I WAS LOOKING IN THE BOOK AND TRYING TO FIND THE MAP WE HAD ONLINE. I DIDN'T SEE IT.

MIGHT HAVE BEEN A MISS? >> WE DIDN'T.

>>JUDGE CANALES: DIDN'T PUT THEM IN THE BOOKS?

>> WE DIDN'T PUT THEM IN THE BOOKS BUT I CAN FORWARD THAT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: GIVE ME THE WHOLE PRESENTATION BECAUSE I CAN COMPARE WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR BOOKS.

ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. NEXT ONE IS AN APPOINTMENT.

>> A TWO-PART -- >>JUDGE CANALES: THAT'S CORRECT. WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY GET THE SELECTION, MARIA. YOU WILL ACTUALLY CALL FOR THE

SELECTION. >> THE PROPOSAL IS BLUE BONNET, CINDY PARK, THE RANCH, JA-LIN AND TOWN SITE.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THOSE ARE RECOMMENDED, CORRECT, MARIA, BY

YOUR OFFICE? >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >>JUDGE CANALES: A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED SAME SIGN.

AS JILL SO PERFECTLY SAID, THOSE ARE OUR LEVELS OF CONCENTRATION BUT WE ARE NOT FORGETTING ANY OF THE OTHERS.

IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF ANY OF THE OTHERS OR REPRESENT THE OTHERS, PLEASE KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE -- THE CONCEPT IS HOLISTIC. BUT WE GOT -- IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS WORK FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL, WE NEEDED TO IDENTIFY

[12. Discuss and consider appointment recommendations to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for the Colonia Residents Advisory Committee (C-RAC).]

FIVE. ALL RIGHT.

-- ITEM NUMBER 12, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPOINTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR THE COLONIA RESIDENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ALSO THRONE AS C-RAC.

BELINDA. >> THAT'S CORRECT.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE TODAY.

WE WILL AT ONE POINT BE NEEDING TO IDENTIFY RECOMMENDATIONS AS A PRIMARY AND AN ALTERNATE TO SIT ON THE STATE COMMITTEE, WHICH BASICALLY MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS WITH REGARDS TO THESE COLONIA

PROJECTS. >> I HAVE TWO NAMES THAT I WILL

[02:10:01]

PRESENT TO THE COURT. NORA BAERA AND RENEE BOSQUEZ AND MEMBERS OF TWO OF THE FIVE COLONIAS THAT HAVE BEEN DECLARED

BY THIS COURT. >>JUDGE CANALES: NORA BARERA

AND RENEE BOSQUEZ. >> NORA WILL BE THE PRIMARY.

PRIMARY VOSQUEZ. >>JUDGE CANALES: V AS IN V R VICTOR. A MOTION AND A SECOND AND GET THE CONTACT INFORMATION TO BELINDA.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. NORA BARERA.

RENEE VOSQUEZ. >> THEY WILL IN THE CASE IF THE

PRIMARY IS NOT AVAILABLE. >>JUDGE CANALES: WOULD YOU IDENTIFY WHICH COLONIA, BELINDA, LATER, THAT THEY REPRESENT AND

[13. Discuss and consider adopting Courthouse Security Committee Badging Policy.]

WE WILL GET THAT INFORMATION. ALL RIGHT.

MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 13, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ADOPTING COURTHOUSE SECURITY COMMITTEE BADGING POLICY.

THIS WAS TABLED LAST TIME. HOW ARE WE DOING ON THIS?

>> THE SAME POLICY THAT WAS GIVEN LAST TIME.

IT JUST NEEDS THE VOTE. YOU ALREADY I BELIEVE HAD ALL

THE DISCUSSION AND $40 FEE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION THEN TO ADOPT THIS CO COURTHOUSE SECURITY BADGING POLICIES. SUBSTANTIVELY NO DIFFERENTLY THAN THE ONE WE REVIEWED BEFORE AND ASK FOR A SECOND.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: SECOND. >>JUDGE CANALES: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY SAYING AYE. EVERYBODY, VOTING? KARA, IF YOU DON'T MIND THE LAST TWO COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ STEPPED OUT. MOTHER'S EYES.

[14. Discuss and consider approval of any accrued overtime hours pursuant to County policy for essential exempt employees during declared disasters as it relates to COVID-19, and/or storm preparedness and response; severe weather preparedness and response.]

DISCUSS ITEM NUMBER 14, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF OVERTIME HOURS. NONE ARE PRESENTED FOR US AT THIS TIME, THAT'S CORRECT? ALL RIGHT.

SO THERE IS NO ACTION REQUIRED HERE ON ITEM NUMBER 14.

[1. Discuss and consider potential project(s) for submission under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) DR-4586 and/or DR-4572 managed by the Texas Division of Emergency Management; and discuss and consider funding source(s) for applicable match requirements.]

I WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM B 1, AND ASK MARIA TO COME BACK TOWARD AND TALK OF THE SUBMISSION OF HAZARD MITIGATING GRANTS MANAGED

BY TETEM. >> THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAVE RELEASED FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TWO DISASTERS. DR 454572 WHICH IS HURRICANE LAURA AND 4586 FOR THE TEXAS WINTER STORMS. THE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE ON JANUARY 15.

WE CAN APPLY FOR ONE OR MORE PROJECTS UNDER EACH OPPORTUN%-ÚY THAT WAS IN YOUR POCKETS, I DID LIST OUT A COUPLE OF POTENTIAL PROJECTS. BUT WE WILL NEED TO IDENTIFY A MATCHING -- THE CASH MATCH OR IN-KIND MATCH FOR THESE PR S PROJECTS. LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

THIS IS UNDER THEIR HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH WE CALL HGMP. THE PROJECT WE SUBMIT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE TIED BACK TO THAT SPECIFIC DISASTER AND HAS TO BE LISTED IN THE HAZARD MITIGATION ACTION PLAN.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR IS JUST TO KIND OF GET TO THIS POINT IS WAS I DID MEET WITH OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.

WE LOOKED THROUGH THE HAZARD MITIGATION ACTION PLAN TO TRY TO IDENTIFY THE BEST PROJECTS THAT WE COULD PROBABLY PUT FORWARD AND ESPECIALLY GIVEN, YOU KNOW, THE MATCH CONSIDERATION.

SO THE PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND FOR YOU ALL TO KIND OF GIVE US DIRECTION WHICH ONES WE SHOULD APPLY FOR. THE FIRST ONE IS A POTABLE WATER STORAGE CONTAINER SYSTEM. THIS ACTUALLY RELATES BACK TO THE WINTER STORM EVENT. SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT WOULD BE TO INSTALL POTABLE WATER STORAGE CONTAINER SYSTEM FOR THE COURTHOUSE AND JAIL TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS DURING DISASTER THAT COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY.

IT WOULD ADDRESS HURRICANES, FLOODS, TORNADOES, ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT HAZARDS. THE PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE THAT WAS IN OUR HAZARD MITIGATION ACTION PLAN WAS ABOUT $200,000.

THAT WOULD MAKE THE MATCH REQUIREMENT ABOUT $50,000.

ANOTHER PROJECT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS A FOUNDATION WATERING SYSTEM AND DROUGHT TOLERANT LANDSCAPING AT ALL COUNTY BUILDINGS.

DOESN'T SEEM ALL THAT EXCITING BUT WILL BE TO DESIGN AND INSTALL FOUNDATION WATERING SYSTEMS TO COUNTY OWNED BUILDINGS TO REDUCE, SHRINK AND POTENTIAL AND PROTECT STRUCTURES FROM MOVEMENT DURING DROUGHT. WE HAD A VERY DRY SUMMER AND

[02:15:01]

ESTABLISH DROUGHT TOLERANCE CRITERIA FOR NEW LANDSCAPING.

JUST SO YOU KNOW, I DID KIND OF VET -- THESE TWO PROJECTS.

I DID SPEAK TO JUAN ABOUT THESE PROJECTS.

HE THOUGHT THEY ARE A GREAT IDEA.

I KNOW HE WAS KIND OF GETTING SOME PRELIMINARY INFORMATION ON THEM AS WELL. AGAIN, IT DOESN'T SEASON ALL THIS EXCITING, BUT WE HAVE VERY DRY CONDITIONS HERE.

IF YOU OWN HOUSE, YOU KNOW HOW FOUNDATION SHIFTS, AND THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT. THE ESTIMATE IS ABOUT $300,000 THAT IS TO INCLUDE ALL COUNTY OWNED BUILDINGS.

THE REQUIRED MATCH ON THAT PROJECT WOULD BE $75,000.

THE LAST PROJECT THAT WE HAVE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS THE SHORELINE EROSION PLAN AND DUNE PROTECTION PLAN.

I HOPED TO MEET WITH SCOTT PRIOR TO THIS AND I SEE HE MIGHT STILL

BE ONLINE. >> YEAH, I'M HERE.

>> IF HE HAS TO ADD ANY ADDITIONAL DETAIL ON THAT.

BUT BASICALLY IT IS ASSESSING THE SHORELINE AND PROTECTION AND EROSION PLAN. SCOTT, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF THAT IS INCORRECT, BUT ESTIMATED ABOUT $150,000.

SO THE REQUIRED MATCH ON THAT PROJECT WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $37 THUNDERSHOWER 500. SCOTT, DID -- $37,500.

SCOTT, DO YOU WANT TO ADD THINKING WITH THAT?

>> I THINK WE CAN DO IF FOR LESS NOW THAT I HAVE MEGAN JONES ON BOARD. SHE HAS BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE OLD BEACH MANAGEMENT PLAN AND THE EROSION RESPONSE PLAN.

JUST FOR THE COURT'S CLARIFICATION, THE JOINT EROSION RESPONSE PLAN THAT WE DID WHEN GREG SMITH WAS CHAIR OF BMAC AT THE TIME IS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE BEACH MANAGEMENT PLAN NOT A GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT. BUT IN NEED OF REWORKING AND LANGUAGE IN EACH ONE THAT REALLY NEEDS CLARIFICATION SO THAT THE CITY STAYS IN THEIR LANE ON BCC, BEACHFRONT CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATION WHICH IS BUILDING CODE AND ACCESS AND THE COUNTY HAS THE DUN PRO TEXAS AUTHORITY AS THE COURT KNOWS AS -- PROTECTION AND WANT TO UPDATE THE PLAN YEARS AND THIS IS A WAY FORWARD AND I THINK WE CAN REDUCE THAT NUMBER BASED ON KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO FIX THIS THING.

>> THANK YOU, SCOTT. >>JUDGE CANALES: MARIA, WHAT YOU NEED TODAY IS FOR US TO SAY THESE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT WE NEED TO SET FORTH FOR HAZARD MITIGATION AND HE LEFT AND I NEEDED TO HAVE HIM ADDRESS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CERTIFIES DOES APPROVE AND RECOMMEND THESE PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN

IDENTIFIED. >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: SO

MOVED. >> I WILL NEED DIRECTION ON -- OBVIOUSLY THREE PROJECTS ON THE TABLE.

I WILL NEED DIRECTION ON WHICH -- YOU KNOW, WHICH PROJECTS, IF NOT ALL OF THEM HAD WILLY, AND AN IDENTIFICATION AND COMMITMENT

FOR THE MATCH REQUIREMENT. >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: DO ALL

OF THEM. >>JUDGE CANALES: THE REQUIRED MATCH CUMULATIVELY -- LET ME DOUBLE CHECK IT.

50, 125, 157 -- $157,500, SH SHORELINE EROSION IS MY NUMBER

ONE -- >> BASED ON WHAT SCOTT SAID SHORELINE AND DUNE PROTECTION. THE $27 MATCH COULD BE IN KIND.

WE WILL HAVE TO WORK THROUGH -- AND HE IS MENTIONING IN-HOUSE AND THAT CAN BE INCLUDED AS IN-KIND.

>> WE CAN USE WHAT WE ARE SPENDING WITH THE INSTITUTE AS IN-KIND MATCH WHICH IS SUBSTANTIAL.

>>JUDGE CANALES: RIGHT. I WILL TELL YOU FOR OUR VETTING ON THIS, SHORELINE EROSION AND POTABLE WATER ARE ABSOLUTELY JUST NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO. AND THEY FIGHT FOR NUMBER ONES EACH. THEY ARE JUST SO DIFFERENT, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE RESILIENCY OF THIS COURTHOUSE DURING EMERGENCIES, THE POTABLE WATER IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL AND SHORELINE EROSION AND DUNE PROTECTION IS THE MAIN COMPONENT PROVE TICKETING ALL OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE COAST.

THOSE ARE MY ONE AND TWO. I AM IN FAVOR OF ALL THREE AND I WILL MAKE THE MOTION FOR ALL THREE AND ASK FOR A SECOND AND THEN DISCUSS FUNDING. OKAY, MOTION AND A SECOND.

THE DISCUSSION IS WHAT IS THE FUNDING.

YOU KNOW IF AWARDED -- THAT WILL BE HIGHLY UNLIKELY, BUT IF AWARDED, DALE, LOOKS LIKE THE EXPOSURE COULD BE $137,500.

WITH ANY -- DO YOU HAVE ANY IDENTIFICATION OF -- I CAN TELL

[02:20:03]

YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD -- WE COULD USE GOVERNMENT SERVICES

TO. >> NO MA'AM, OUR GRANT MATCHES COME FROM A TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND THAT WE BUDGET EVERY YEAR. THIS YEAR WE BUDGET $125,000 OR MORE FOR TRANSFER OF OPTIONS OF GRANTS.

SOME ARE AWARDED. SOME ARE NOT.

WE HAVE OTHER OPTIONS SHOULD WE COME AROUND.

AS YOU SAID, JUDGE, SOME OTHER OPTIONS TO TAKE THE FUNDS OUT.

THE MAJORITY OF TIME THE GENERAL FUND MATCH.

>>JUDGE CANALES: WITH THAT BEING SAID, A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION FOR MARIA.

HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

[1. Discuss and consider selection of Govind Development, LLC. for Professional Engineering services related to the reconstruction of County Road 26; discuss and consider approval of proposal.]

>> THANK YOU. >>JUDGE CANALES: GOOD LUCK.

WE WILL SEE HOW WE DO. WE WILL HEAR FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND MOVE ON TO THE SELECTION. ITEM NUMBER 1 OF GOVIND DEVELOPMENT LLC FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES RELATED TO THE RECONSTRUCTION OF COUNTY ROAD 26.

AND DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSAL.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM 2 IS 26 -- NUMBER ONE IS 26.

AND NUMBER TWO IS 26 A. AND TELL US MORE ABOUT THE

PROJECT. >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING. THE PROJECTS -- THESE PROJECTS WILL BE ABOUT 15,000 LINEAR FEET FOR 26.

A RECONSTRUCTION OF A ROAD. WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT GOVIND IS THE ENGINEER ON THE PROJECT. AND THAT IS PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION. AND THAT IS FOR COUNTY ROAD 26.

>>JUDGE CANALES: ALL RIGHT OPINION DO YOU WANT TO GO OVER

THE COST AND FUNDING SOURCE? >> THE FUNDING SOURCE -- COST IS $14,850. FUNDING SOURCE WILL BE FROM CO

-- FROM COMMISSIONERS' CO. >> 14850 FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE.

AND 26 -- BUSINESS COMMISSIONER? >> COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ.

>>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: I AM WORKING WITH TERESA RIGHT NOW.

>>JUDGE CANALES: TERESA, WHAT WILL BE THE NUMBER? SORRY, WE NEED IT FOR THE R D RECORD.

>> THE 2015 COS. >>JUDGE CANALES: 2015.

ALL RIGHT. AND -- OKAY, IS THERE A MOTION

TO APPROVE. >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: SO

MOVED. >>JUDGE CANALES: IS THERE A SECOND. THANK YOU, GOVIND FOR BEING E HERE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE WORK AND WE HAPPEN TO HAVE THE ENGINEER WHO WILL BE OVERSEEING THE WORK. HEARING NONE, THOSE IN FAVOR

[2. Discuss and consider selection of Govind Development, LLC. for Professional Engineering services related to the reconstruction of County Road 26A; discuss and consider approval of proposal.]

SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. ITEM NUMBER 2, AGAIN, IT LOOKS VERY SIMILAR, JUST 26 A, THE EXTENSION OF 26.

>> THIS WILL BE ALSO ROAD CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENT ON 26 A, JUDGE. THIS ONE IS A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

ABOUT A MILE STRETCH. AND WITHIN THE SAME ENGINEERING DESIGN RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ROAD.

AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING GOVIND & ASSOCIATES FOR THE PROJECT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: ARE WE GOING TO REDO THE ROAD.

THIS IS NOT VERY MUCH MONEY, THIS JUST RESURFACING.

>> THIS IS FULL RECONSTRUCTION. >>JUDGE CANALES: FULL RECONSTRUCTION. WHAT IS THE PRICE ON THIS ONE?

>> FOR THE DESIGN $49,600. >>JUDGE CANALES: THAT IS MORE

IN KEEPING. >> THE COS -- TERESA.

>>JUDGE CANALES: 2015. ALSO COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >>JUDGE CANALES: ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THIS PARTICULAR -- MOTION AND WHAT ABOUT A SECOND? SECOND. MULTIPLE SECONDS, WHOEVER YOU HEARD FIRST. AND ANY DISCUSSION REGARDS WITH THESE ROADS? ALL THOSE INYING AYE.

[3. Discuss and consider selection of Govind Development, LLC professional engineering services related to construction of Hazel Bazemore Dog Park.]

OKAY. ITEM NUMBER 3 IS DISCUSS AND CONSIDER SELECTION OF G OVIND DEVELOPMENT LLC PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF HAZEL

BAZEMORE DOG PARK. >> PUBLIC WORKS IS RECOMMENDING GOVIND DEVELOPMENT LLC FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE HAZEL BAZEMORE DOG PARK. A RECOMMENDATION FROM PUBLIC

WORKS. >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: SO

MOVED. >>JUDGE CANALES: A FUNDING

SOURCE AND ALSO THE AMOUNT? >> ON THE FUNDING SOURCE, JUDGE, WE PROBABLY WILL USE THE PREVIOUS FUNDING SOURCE AND I

DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME. >>JUDGE CANALES: IF YOU COULD

GET IT FOR US, TERESA. >> I DON'T KNOW THE --

>>JUDGE CANALES: THE ORIGINAL ONE.

WE CAN DO IT AFTER TLOUVRJ DO IT TO SUPPLEMENT THE RECORD.

>> I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. THIS IS JUST THE SELECTION, JUDGE. JUST --

>>JUDGE CANALES: THAT IS TRUE. THIS IS THE SELECTION.

WHEN WE GET THE CONTRACT WE WILL COME BACK, BUT I ALWAYS LIKE TO KNOW. PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE

WE ARE MOVING FROM. >> YES, MA'AM.

>>JUDGE CANALES: WITH REGARD TO THE SELECTION OF GOVIND DEVELOPMENT LLC. WE HAVE WE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION

[02:25:03]

AND COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ, YOU WILL SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

I JUST WANT TO BRING UP THIS CONCEPT THAT AS LONG AS WE ARE HERE. WOULD YOU BE AMENABLE OF EX E EXPLORING THE PARKING LOT, THE TOILET FACILITIES AND THE -- WHEN YOU SAY "THE PARK" I AM THINKING JUST THE DOG PARK BECAUSE THAT IS HOW IT IS LISTED BUT IN ORDER FOR ANY DOG PARK TO GET APPROVED FOR ADA, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE PARKING LOT.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE REST ROOM FACILITIES.

AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE SIDEWALKS.

I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO DO IT, MAYBE THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT.

>> YES, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, WELL, TWO CONTRACTS THAT ARE -- ONE FOR THE REST ROOM IS ADRUA ENGINEERING.

THE ONES THAT WILL DO THE REST ROOMS AND PARKING SPACE FOR THE REST ROOM FACILITIES AND ADRURA DOING THE SPLASH PAD -- PART OF THE -- NOT PART OF THE WORK BUT A DIFFERENT SCOPE OF WORK FOR THAT. SO ADURA IS DOINGING THE PARKING LOT. WITH THE DOG PARK ITSELF, IT WILL BE PART OF GOVIND SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE DOG PARK.

>>JUDGE CANALES: IMPORTANT TO NOTE.

PARKING LOT. IT IS SIDEWALK AND PARK.

>> CORRECT. >>JUDGE CANALES: THREE THINGS.

>> CORRECT. >>JUDGE CANALES: THAT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW FOR THE RECORD.

>> SORRY ABOUT THAT. >>JUDGE CANALES: THAT IS ALL RIGHT. I THINK THAT IS MUCH MORE CLEAR AND NOW WE HAVE A PATHWAY TOWARD TO GETTING THIS ADA APPROVAL.

ALL NOSE THIS FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

[1. Receive update from County Auditor related to County health self-insurance fund, and related matters; discuss and consider funding options.]

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. >>JUDGE CANALES: AN UPDATE FROM THE AUDITOR ON THE HEALTH SELF-INSURANCE FUND AND RELATED MATTERS. D 1 FOR THE AUDITOR SO PROVIDED FOR YOU PAGES FOR OUR PARTICULAR FUNDS.

ONE PAGE IS SHOWING THAT THE CURRENT FUNDS FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE FAWNDZ DEFICIT OF 1 NOW, 151,883.65.

WE ARE TRYING COME UP WITH A FUNDING OPTION HOW TO OVERCOME THAT. SEVERAL REASONS FOR THIS EVENTS.

WE HAD SEVERAL -- INJURIES AND OTHER EVENTS COST OF OTHER ITEMS AND COVID-RELATED ACTIVITIES THAT CAUSE THIS LARGE DEFICIT.

WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH OUR -- HAGGERTY AS WELL TO TRY TO RECOVER SOME OF THE COVID MACHINE RELATED EXPENSES AND WE CAN'T GUARANTEE IF THAT WILL HAPPEN.

TO HAVE FUNDING SOURCES AND WORKING WITH TOMAS AND MYSELF AND THE JUDGE TO COME UP WITH POLICIES OF HOW TO FUND THESE BALANCES. IF YOU SEE ON THE PAGES I PROVIDE YOU, BALANCES FOR ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR EACH OF OUR FUNDS. WE HAVE THREE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN OUR SELF-INSURANCE FUND. THE DEPARTMENT 101 IS OUR WORKER COMPENSATION FUND. 0102 IS THE GENERAL LIABILITY WHICH COVERS OUR BUILDING INSURANCE AND AUTO INSURANCE.

AND 103 IS OUR HEALTH INSURANCE FUND.

WORKERS COMPENSATION FUND HAS A SIGNIFICANTLY LARGE FUND BALANCE AND THEY LEARN INCREASE THIS YEAR.

OUR GENERAL LIABILITY HAS $ $187,000 FUND BALANCE WITH A $70,000 INCREASE THIS YEAR. SO ON FIRST PAGE, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND TRY TRANSFER SOME OF THE FUNDS OVER TO HELP COVER THE FUNDING AROUND $451,000. NOW THAT STILL LEADS A SHORTAGE.

SO I PROVIDE YOU A LIST OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM ALL FUNDS THAT PROVIDE BALANCES TO OUR GENERAL LIABILITY FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE.

GENERAL FUND, ROAD FUND. LAW LIBRARY.

EVERYBODY THAT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT -- EXPENSE FOR T IT, PLAN ON TAKING FUNDING FOR THAT.

I NEED AN ADDITIONAL $700,000 FUNDING COMING FROM THAT.

I PROVIDED YOU A BREAKDOWN THIS IS WHERE THE MONEY WILL BE REQUESTED TO COME WITH THIS. THE 700,000 OF THE GENERAL FUND WILL BE CONTRIBUTING $586,000 WHICH IS THE LARGEST, OF COURSE, OUR ROAD FUND AROUND 41,000. SPECIAL REVENUE $19,000.

YOU CAN SEE THE ADDITIONAL BALANCES.

WITH THESE BALANCES, WE WILL HAVE $151,884 ADDITIONAL FUNDING WHICH BASICALLY MEAN A NET ZERO FUND BALANCE.

I WORKED WITH TOMAS AND MYSELF AND THE JUDGE LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR. WITH THE PLANS WE DID IN THE BUDGET CYCLE WHERE Y'ALL INCREASED THE PREMIUM PAY AS WELL AS AND RENEGOTIATED CONTRACT WITH RESPONSE NETWORK AND AETNA'S NETWORK AND PRESCRIPTION NETWORK CLAIMS. WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT FUNDS NEXT YEAR WHERE THIS WILL NOT BE AN ISSUE; HOWEVER, FOR THIS PARTICULAR FISCAL YEAR WE NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND I AM BRINGING THIS FUNDING TO YOU AS AN OPTION HOW WE NEED TO FUND THIS TO TRY TO GET TO A NET ZERO BALANCE OF OUR -- OF OUR GENERAL HEALTH INSURANCE LIABILITY. I WILL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE AND I AM PROPOSING TO TRY TO RESOLVE THAT NET DEFICIT, THANK YOU.

[02:30:07]

>>JUDGE CANALES: I HAVE GONE OVER THIS FOR YOU AND THE AND KAY AT THAT THAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU OR ANY -- DATA THAT IS FRONT

OF YOU AND ANY MATTER. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: YOU WILL KEEP WORKING ON IT AND COME BACK WITH SPECIFIC --

>>JUDGE CANALES: WHO HE HAS GIVEN YOU.

>> TO FUNDS THAT NET DEFICIT. AND IF ANYONE STAYED ON THE CURRENT AETNA PLAN AND. THOSE CLAIMS AND RENEGOTIATION OF THE CONTRACT WHEN MICHAEL TOMAS BROUGHT THE CONTRACTS FOR THE THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR AND PRESCRIPTION -- THEY HAD SOME SAVINGS. IF IT DOES OCCUR AND WE DON'T HAVE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF LARGE CLAIMS, WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT WILL EVER BE A ISSUE AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: WHAT ARE YOU WANTING US TO DO TODAY.

>> TO GIVE ME PERMISSION TO TRANSFER $700,000 FROM THE OPTION OF THE FUNDS MENTIONED ABOVE AND TRANSFER ADDITIONAL -- THE RESOURCES FROM THE OTHER TWO FUNDS WITHIN OUR SELF-INSURANCE FUND FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT COMING INTO OUR GENERAL LIABLE FUND FOR

1,151, 850. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: DOESN'T

SEEM THAT WE HAVE MUCH CHOICE. >> UNFORTUNATELY NOT.

WE ARE STILL FIGHTING WITH FEMA AND OTHERS WHEN WE -- WHEN WE HAD THE CARES ACT AND THEY TOLD US NOT TO GET COVID-RELATED IN OUR HEALTH INSURANCE. AND TOMAS IS LOOKING AT THIS AND TRYING TO RECOVER THIS AND -- GONZALEZ GONZALEZ IS IN THE AMOUNT WE ARE IN DEBT? HOW MUCH ARE WE BEHIND ON THIS THING HERE? I UNDERSTAND 1.7 MILLION.

>> WE -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE INCOME STATEMENT.

WE ACTUALLY WERE IN A DEFINITE OF $1.8 MILLION.

>>JUDGE CANALES: THIS IS WHAT HE IS GOING TO TRANSFER.

>> LOST $2 MILLION IN TOTAL FUNDS BECAUSE FUND BALANCE LAST WAS $849,000. THE NET LOSS $2 MILLION.

AND TAKE THE BALANCE THAT WE HAD WE ARE CURRENTLY AT IN EGG I HAVE IT 1,151,000. WITH THIS FUNDING ACTION THAT WE ARE ASKING TO YOU DO, THIS WILL GIVE YOU A ZERO BALANCE THERE

AND GIVE YOU $.40. >>JUDGE CANALES: THIS IS GOOD NEWS. WHAT HE IS SAYING IS, THAT IF YOU REFER -- I DON'T -- DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A PAGE NUMBER

ON THERE. >> SORRY I DIDN'T PUT PAGE

NUMBERS. >>JUDGE CANALES: THAT'S OKAY.

IF YOU TURN TO YOUR D-1 BACKUP, WE NEED 1151.

AND YOU WILL SEE HOW HE WILL GET 1151.

COMES 700,000 FROM ONE SOURCE WHICH IS THE TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND AGAIN, YOU MIGHT ASK YOURSELF WHY -- HOLD ON IF YOU DON'T MIND -- I WILL BRING THIS -- SO SOMEONE WILL REFER TO THIS. WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? THE SAME THING -- WE ARE ALLOCATING BY DEPARTMENT THEIR PRO RATA SHARE FOR INSURANCE AND SO YOU LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUND, BUILDING BRIDGE, LAW LIBRARY, INLAND COASTAL GRANTS AND JUVENILE, AND YOU SEE THE APPORTIONMENT PER CAPITA, RIGHT.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

AND YOU GET A TOTAL OF $700,000. AND THAT $700,000 COUPLED WITH THE 351 AND THE 100, MAKE UP THE DEFICIT WITHOUT IT HURTING US FISCALLY OVERALL. SO WE NEED 1151.

HERE IS THE PLAN ON HOW YOU WILL GET IT.

AND GET A NET BALANCE OF ZERO -- WELL, $.40.

ALMOST ZERO. WHILE THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED MORE AS A COUNTY FOR NEXT YEAR'S PREMIUM PLUS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE DISCOUNT/REBATES, WE SHOULD BARRING ANY CAT STROOVBING LOSSES WHICH ARE ALWAYS -- CAT STRAVX LOSSES WHICH ARE -- CATASTROPHIC L S LOSSES. AND THIS IS A REALLY PLAN HOW WE WILL GET BACK TO A BALANCED BUDGET FOR HEALTH.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: DALE, EXPLAIN TO ME AGAIN.

I UNDERSTAND THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENTS AND THEN THE ADDITIONAL TRANSFER FROM 101 AND 102, WHICH I AM LOOKING AT THOSE. AND CAN YOU DEFINE FOR ME, AGAIN -- I DON'T SEE WHERE IT SAYS WHAT 101 IS.

IT JUST SAYS CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENT, INVESTMENTS.

WHAT IS 101. >> 101 IS THE WORKERS COMPENSATION. 102 GENERAL LIABILITY, WINDSTORM, CAR INSURANCE, ANY DAMAGES THAT ARE COUNTY-RELATED.

[02:35:05]

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: EXPLAIN TO ME THE LOGIC ON TAKING IT FROM THOSE FUNDS AND NOT JUST TAKING ALL OF IT FROM THE ABOVE

FUNDS? >> THOSE FUNDS FROM FUNDED BY THE GENERAL SOURCES -- THEY ARE ALREADY FUNDED BY CONTRIBUTIONS WE HAVE. FOR EXAMPLE, WORKERS COMP IS BASED ON ALL OF OUR PAYROLL ISSUES THAT WE -- WE PUT IN.

WE ALWAYS BASE ON A CERTAIN RATE OF WHAT WE DETERMINE FROM RISK MANAGEMENT. WE PUT IN A CLAIM.

AND THEN -- THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.

MAYBE IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME, BUT THEY SUBMIT US A BILL.

AND NORMALLY THIS BILL. AND OUR BILL IS LESS THAN WHAT OUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE. OUR CONTRIBUTIONS COME FROM GENERAL FUND, AND MONEY WE HAVE PUT OVER THERE FOR THIS PARTICULAR FUNCTION, AND IT WASN'T NEEDED.

SO WE ARE SAYING WE CAN USE THOSE FUNDS PART OF THE GENERAL FUND AS OPERATING FUND FOR THIS OTHER FUND.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: I MAY NOT BE ASKING THIS RIGHT AND I MAY NOT JUST BE UNDERSTANDING IT.

LET'S SAY WE DIDN'T HAVE -- LET ME ASK THIS WAY, WHY WOULDN'T WE TAKE EVERYTHING FROM THE EIGHT CATEGORIES OR WHATEVER THEY ARE ABOVE. WHY WOULD WE TAKE IT FEDERAL THAT OR WHY WOULDN'T WE TAKE IT FEDERAL 101 AND 102.

>> CAN'T TAKE IT ALL FROM 101. 101 AND 0102 OPINION I NEED 171

MILLION. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: 101 AND

102 COMBINED. >> YES.

>> ANSWER ON THE TOP PART. >> YOUR OPTION.

I WAS TRYING REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF IMPACT ON THE OPERATING FUNDS FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR SINCE WE ARE IN A PANDEMIC AND SOME OF THEM WERE NOT AS BENEFICIAL AS THEY WOULD LIKED TO HAVE BEEN.

WE CAN TAKE 100% OF THE $1.5 MILLION.

WITH YOU I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A DIFFERENT OPTION.

THESE FUNDS ARE SITTING IN OUR HEALTH INSURANCE FUND BASED ON WORKER'S COMPOR COMP AND GENERAL LIABILITY AND NOT BEING USED AND MOVED OVER TO WHERE THEY ARE BEING USED.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: THAT IS FINE.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAME TO THE RECOMMENDATION WHERE TO TAKE IT FROM. BY TAKING THE MONEY OUT OF 101 AND 102, DOES THAT PUT THAT FUND IN ANY KIND OF FINANCIAL DANGER FOR LACK OF A BETTER WAY OF ASKING FOR IT.

>> 101 -- YOU SHOULD SEE A BALANCE SHEET IN THERE.

THE FUND BALANCE FOR 0101. IF WE TAKE ONLY 300,000 FROM THAT LEAVES ME $168,000. SAME THING FOR THE 102, A FUND BALANCE OF $187,000. TAKE $100,000, THAT IS $87,000.

WEAPON PUT IN 1 -- WE PUT IN 100% OF OUR CLAIMS FOR INSURANCE AND THAT WOULD NEVER BE BE ISSUE.

I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS AN ISSUE OF MOVING THE FUND FOR THE PARTICULAR FUNDS. WE WILL BE GLAD TO HANDLE IT HOWEVER YOU SEE FIT. BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS THE BEST

WAY OF HANDLING IT. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: GOING UP TO THE TOP CATEGORIES, WHAT WOULD BE THE DOWNSIDE OF TAKING THE 1.151 FROM ALL OF THOSE CATEGORIES? WHAT WOULD BE THE DOWNSIDE T E THERE.

>> THE ONLY ISSUE IS ONCE WE START GETTING THE SMALL FUNDS LIKE LAW LIBRARY, AIRPORT FUND, COASTAL PARKS, MOST OF THEM ARE FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND ANYWAY AND THEIR FUND BALANCE IS SMALL AND YOU INCREASE TO 1.5 MILLION, YOU ARE ACTUALLY INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE LAW LIBRARY FROM 1100 TO CLOSE TO 0 10,1,000.

DOUBLING, TRIPLING THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES FROM THE CURRENT FUND

BALANCES. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: WHAT WOULD YOU IN YOUR OPINION THE TRUEST WAY OF SHOWING WHERE THESE EXPENSES ARE COMING FROM? I GET WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO AND THAT IS A GREAT SUGGESTION, BUT WHAT IS THE TRUEST WAY OF SHOWING WHAT IS ACTUALLY COSTING US TO DO THIS.

WILL IT BE DOING IT ALL OUT OF THIS OR DOING IT THE WAY YOU ARE SAYING. BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING IT AND SHOWS WHAT IT IS COSTS TO RUN EACH DEPARTMENT FOR LACK OF A BETTER WAY OF SAYING IT.

>> DO 100% OF THE OPERATING FUNDS.

IT MAY MEAN THAT THE GENERAL FUND WILL EXCEED THE 83%.

SOME OF THESE ARE VERY LOW IN FUNDS TO BEGIN WITH AND MAY HAVE TO TRANSFER -- TRANSFER ALL OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AND REDUCING THE FUND BALANCE BY WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.

AND FUNDING THE -- FOR MYSELF AND WORKING WITH RISK MANAGEMENT AND TOMAS, THE FUND BALANCE OF 101 OUR WORKERS COMPENSATION, ALMOST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS MIGHT BE EXCESSIVE AND MAY BE WHAT WE CAN DO IS IF WE DON'T DO THIS TRANSFER, NEXT YEAR, I CAN WORK WITH MY STAFF AND RISK MANAGE NUMBER REDUCING OUR CONTRIBUTION FROM THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT JUST SOMETHING WE NEED TO DETERMINE. I THOUGHT THERE WAS EXCESS FUNDS IN BOTH THESE ACCOUNTS THAT WILL BASICALLY HELP US TO FUND THIS SHORTAGE WITH DOING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE OTHER

FUNDS FROM THIS CURRENT YEAR. >>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE FUNDS FROM 101 AND 102 ARE -- A JUSTIFIABLY

[02:40:07]

MEANING -- IT'S -- IT'S PAYING FOR WHAT IT SHOULD BE PAYING R

FOR? >> THESE BALANCES ARE FOR WORKERS COMPENSATION. IF WE HAVE A LARGE WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIM AND NOT AN ISSUE BECAUSE COMING OUT OF GENERAL FUNDS AND THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AND THEY BILL US EVERY YEAR BASED ON THIS.

WE BASE OUR CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WE PAY AS A BENEFIT WORE WORKERS COMP AND PUT IN WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE THE FUNDS NECESSARY AND DO A HISTORY. EVERY YEAR WE EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF EXPENSES BY 100,000 EVERY YEAR.

THIS FUND CONSTANTLY INCREASES EVERY YEAR.

THAT IS SOMETHING THINK THAT FELT THAT WE ARE ALREADY CONTRIBUTING THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND AND WORKER COMPENSATION AND WHY TRY IN THIS PANDEMIC TRY HIT THE FUNDS ADDITIONALLY HARDER.

>>COMMISSIONER CHESNEY: THAT IS A GOOD DIALOGUE.

I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

>>JUDGE CANALES: SO THE MATTER THAT IS BEFORE US IS TO CONSIDER THE FUNDING OPTION THAT REALLY SOLVES THE PROBLEM.

SO IS THERE -- >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: I HAVE

A QUESTION OPINION. >>JUDGE CANALES: YES.

>>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: YOU KNOW, I -- I ALWAYS -- MY FEAR IS ALWAYS THAT WE BORROW FROM SOMEWHERE.

AND THEN WE CAN'T EVER PUT IT BACK.

IF WE TAKE $100,000, WE ARE LEAVING $88,000 WITH GENERAL LIABILITY. SOMETHING HAPPENS -- SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN. AND -- IT IS GOING TO BE MORE THAN $88,000, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GO TO.

>> GENERAL LIABILITY COVERS CERTAIN AREAS.

FUNDING SOURCES FOR OUR INSURANCE FOR OUR WINDSTORM AND OUR FLOOD INSURANCE, AS WELL AS OUR CAR INSURANCE.

WE ALWAYS MAKE SURE WE WORK WITH MICHAEL AND HIS STAFF ON HOW MUCH IS NEEDED. AND WE ALWAYS BUDGET THAT AMOUNT ISSUED. I WORK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY EVERY YEAR WHAT OUR ESTIMATED CLAIMS LIABILITY FOR LAWSUIT PENDING AND FUND THOSE LAWSUITS THAT WE TRANSFER FUNDS FOR THE PENDING ESTIMATED LIABILITY FOR THAT.

AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT THE FUNDS AND ARE THERE ARE -- ARE THERE NOW. I AM NOT SAYING IF WE HAVE -- A LOT OF THE STUFF HAS TO DO -- WASN'T INSURED OR NOT INSURED.

IF WE HAVE A CAR DAMAGE AND RUN INTO SOMETHING AND SOMETHING HAPPENS. WHATEVER MIGHT BE THE CASE AND WE ARE LIABLE FOR IT, THAT IS WHERE THESE FUNDS COME OUT OF.

WE WORK WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO HELP PAY FOR SOMETHING AS WELL. AND WE HAVE GENERAL LIABILITY TO COVER THAT. THIS COVERS OUR DAMAGE.

AND LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERS THAT.

WE DON'T THINK THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT WE WILL BE CATASTROPHIC ENOUGH EVENT TO CAUSE THIS TO BE INDEFINITE.

>>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: SAME THING WITH THE WORKMAN'S COMP.

DIDN'T WE HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE WORKMAN'S COMP LAST YEAR THAT WE

DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY -- >> WE HAD THE MONEY.

THERE WAS A DISPUTE WITH -- THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS WORKING WITH THEM ON AN ISSUE WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF IT BECAUSE OF HOW OUR CURRENT PROVIDERS PAY THEIR WORKER'S COMPENSATION ON THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT AND THE LAW SAYING WE HAVE TO PAY LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.

THAT BECAME AN ISSUE, I BELIEVE. MICHAEL AND THEM ARE WORKING ON AND AS WELL AS TIM IS WORKING ON GOING BACK TO THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES WHERE THEY PAY 100% OF THE WORKERS COMPENSATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT RELATED.

SO THAT WAS THE ONLY ISSUE I WAS AWARE OF.

PETITION NEVER HAVE BEEN IN DEFICIT WHERE WE COVER THE PROBLEM WHERE -- WE HAULS ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR THE LIABILITY THAT THE -- WHOEVER OUR INSURANCE PROVIDER IS, PROVIDES US A CLAIM EVERY YEAR AND WE ALWAYS HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO

COVER IT. >>JUDGE CANALES: YOU ARE NOT CONCERNED -- YOU BELIEVE THIS TO BE FUNDING PROPOSAL THAT GETS US THE DOLLARS THAT WE NEED WITHOUT HAVING ANY, YOU KNOW, I GUESS -- THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH ANY OF THE RISK AT THIS POINT.

>> THAT IS MY PROPOSAL, YES. >>JUDGE CANALES: IN THAT CASE

-- >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: MY LAST QUESTION WOULD BE ON THE INSURANCE.

IS THIS AFFECTING ALSO THE INSURANCE? BECAUSE I THINK LAST YEAR -- OR THIS PAST YEAR, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY. THAT IS WHY WE RAISED THE INSURANCE. AND ASKED THE EMPLOYEES TO PAY MORE. SO WHAT MONEY -- THE INSURANCE -- ARE THERE ANY MONIES COMING OUT OF THE INSURANCE TO PAY

ANYTHING ELSE? >> FOR OUR HEALTH INSURANCE, IT COVERS OUR THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATORS.

OUR MEDICAL CLAIMS. OUR PRESCRIPTION CLAIMS AND THEN

[02:45:04]

OUR CONTRACTS WITH RESPOND N NETWORK AND AETNA NETWORKS AND PARTS OF THE I GREED THAT WE HAVE.

AND NO ADDITIONAL COST. TELEDOC, WELL MED.

AND ALL PART. >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: SEVERING OKAY WITH OUR SELF-INSURANCE AS FAR AS -- OUR

BALANCE, WE ARE OKAY? >> ONCE WE -- LAST YEAR DURING THE BUDGET CYCLE YOU HAD AN INCREASE OF PREMIUM ON THE EMPLOYER SIDE, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT, $175 MILLION TO $1.7 MILLION ADDITIONAL MONIES COMING IN AND ANYONE ON THE CURRENT AETNA NETWORK. IF THEY WANTED TO SAY ON THE AETNA NETWORK CONTRIBUTED ANOTHER $480 ON THE EMPLOYEE SIDE OF IT AND A SMALL INCREASE ON THE EMPLOYEE'S SIDE AND A LARGE INCREASE ON THE EMPLOYER'S SIDE.

WORKING WITH TOMAS, MICHAEL AND MYSELF, WE SAW CHANGES BECAUSE OF RESPOND NETWORK AND SEEING $600,000 TO $800,000 SAVINGS.

WE EXPECT THAT TO BE HIGHER BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE RENEGOTIATE THE CONTRACTS. SO WE FORESEE THAT NEXT YEAR WITH WHAT THE COURT DID AND WHAT WE KNOW THE SAVINGS MIGHT BE, WE DON'T BELIEVE THIS WILL BE AN ISSUE UNLESS THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CATASTROPHIC INJURIES.

AND YOU CAN NEVER CONTROL THAT. >>COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: I AM

SAYING IT COULD HAPPEN THOUGH. >> IT COULD HAPPEN.

>>JUDGE CANALES: RIGHT. BUT THE PURPOSE OF THE COUNTY PUTTING FORTH ALL OF THE EXTRA DOLLARS THAT WE DID, WHICH WAS CLOSE TO $1.5 MILLION IS TO RESTORE THE HEALTH OF OUR CASH RESERVES THAT WERE DRAINED UNDER COVID-19.

IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A $2 MILLION -- NOT QUITE -- BUT ALMOST A $2 MILLION CLAIM ON COVID-19 THAT WE HOPE WE CAN RECOVER AS LOST REVENUE. WE HAVE THOSE CLAIMS STILL OUT THERE. BUT IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FULLY KEEPING UP WITH THE EXPENSIVE HEALTH CARE, WE TAXED OURSELF, FULL. WE PUT THE BURDEN ON NOT EMPLOYEES, WE PUT IT ON US TO THE MAX.

TO CHOOSE FOR THE EPO OR THE PPO THAT COSTS $40 A MONTH.

SO IT IS BETTER SAID THAT WE HAVE RESTORED OUR OWN CASH RESERVES TO PREPARE FOR ANY CATASTROPHIC SITUATIONS THAT SOMETIMES OCCUR IN A FISCAL YEAR AND SOMETIMES DON'T, BUT TODAY WHAT IS BEFORE US IS A METHOD TO GET US BACK TO ZERO.

AND IT STILL GIVES US PLENTY OF BALANCE WITH REGARD TO WORKMAN'S COMP AND GENERAL LIABILITY. SO, AS I SAY, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOUR -- YOUR ABILITY TO SAVE, KEEPING YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNTS HEALTHY ARE IMPORTANT. OUR SAVING ACCOUNTS THROUGHOUT -- WELL, THIS PARTICULAR PAPER INDICATE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GET BACK TO NET NEUTRAL WHICH IS ZERO.

40 CENTS. >> QUESTION FOR YOU, DALE.

ON THE GENERAL FUND CATEGORY. >> YES.

>> TAKING $586,879 OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.

THAT COMING OUT OF JUST RE S RESERVES?

>> COMING OUT OF RESERVE WHEN -- I AM BRINGING YOU THE NUMBERS VERY SOON FOR OUR SEPTEMBER 30 YEAR-END.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE STILL COMPILING OUR TRANSACTION ENTRIES BUT WE ARE SEEING FROM 1.5 TO $2 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE.

$500,000 WILL BE SMALL REDUCTION AND SHOULD STILL SEE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF FUND BALANCE FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS

YEAR. >>JUDGE CANALES: WITH THE $2 MILLION FUND BALANCE INCREASE AND 586, YOU WILL STILL SEE A

MILLION FOUR, MILLION FIVE. >> THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE QUESTION TO SEE WHERE WE ARE GOING BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO KNOCK DOWN OUR RESERVES SINCE WE WORKED SO HARD TO BUILD THEM UP AND SOUNDS LIKE EVEN WITH THIS -- BUT, AGAIN, TIMES WHERE YOU HAVE TO TAP INTO RESERVES WHEN YOU HAVE EMERGENCY.

THIS AN EMERGENCY, YOU HAVE A 1 $1.5 MILLION DEFICIT YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FUND IT. SO THAT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT TO MAKE. YOU THINK EVEN WITH THIS 586.

>> EVEN WITH THIS. I HAVE THE NUMBERS IN AND A FEW MORE ENTRIES TO DO AND A FEW MORE TRANSFERS TO DO.

BUT MY LAST WAS 175 TO 1.7 INCREASE.

FROM 1.1 TO 1.3 INCREASE IN FUND WAS.

FROM 25 TO 27. >> APPRECIATE THAT.

>>JUDGE CANALES: A HUGE -- IF YOU THINK OF COVID-19 AND ALL THE LOSSES. AND WE STILL GET TO BOOK A PLUS

[02:50:02]

MILLION DOLLAR POSITIVE ADDITION TO OUR RESERVES.

I THINK THAT IS A GOOD. A GOOD RESULT.

>> MY APOLOGIES. I WAS GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION

TO PASS THIS. >>JUDGE CANALES: MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY

[2. Discuss and consider approving the Federal Equitable Sharing Agreement & Certification for Sheriff Department.]

SAYING AYE. OKAY.

DISCUSS AND CONSIDER -- IS THE SHERIFF -- I DON'T SEE HIM ON,

BELINDA. >> YOUR HONOR, WE DID THIS LAST

COMMISSIONERS COURT. >> JOHN NEEDS TO SHOW HIS FACE

TO VOTE. >>JUDGE CANALES: HE IS REALLY

TINY. >> I THOUGHT WAS HIS THUMB.

>>JUDGE CANALES: KIND OF LIKE NATIONAL HIS IN WONDERLAND." THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MAREZ. AND CERTIFICATION FOR THE

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. >> LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE HAD -- THIS IS FEDERAL SIDE ONLY.

WE WILL BRING THE STATE PROBABLY ON THE 15TH.

THIS IS THE FEDERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT WE BROUGHT IN SIMILAR TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AS WELL AS TWO OF THE CONSTABLES LAST WEEK. A REPORT THAT THEY MUST SUBMIT TO THE -- TO THE -- TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR AGREEMENT THAT SHOWS THEIR AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTIONS.

MY STAFF HAS WORKED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE NUMBERS COMPLY WITH WHAT THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED FOR.

WE NEED THIS SO THEY CAN CONTINUE THE FEDERAL SHARING.

AND I SUBMIT THIS APPROVAL -- TO FOR YOUR APPROVAL, YOUR HONOR.

>>JUDGE CANALES: ALL RIGHT. >> SO MOVED.

JUDGE HOW ABOUT A SECOND. >> SECOND.

[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.]

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

AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO CON FWIRM BELINDA AND THE CLERK, I SEE NO OTHER MATTER BEFORE US N ON.THE REGULAR AGENDA OTHER THAN THE ONES THAT WE WILL ADDRESS WHEN WE COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND SO I WILL MOVE TOWARD MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

BUT FIRST RECOGNIZING THAT IT IS 11:30.

AND WE HAVE DONE AWESOME. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I WILL READ THE MAGIC LANGUAGE AND ASK FOR AT LEAST TEN MINUTES BEFORE WE COME BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION SO THAT THOSE OF US WHO HAVEN'T MOVED CAN USE THE LADIES ROOM AND GET A CUP OF WATER.

AND WE WOULD BE BACK. SO AT THIS TIME, I GIVE PUBLIC NOTICE THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MAY ELECT TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AS PROVIDED FOR BY PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN MEETING ACT 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.

WE DO THAT AND I PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE THIS AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VERNONS 551072, 72, 73, 74, 45, 076, 086 AND 087. WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH OUR ATTORNEYS WITH MATTERS RELATED TO REAL PROPERTY, GIFTS, SECURITY DEVICES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS IN RELATION TO ANY OTHER MATTER THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED THAT -- THAT MAY BE DISCUSSED PROPERLY IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. UPON COMPLETION, WE WILL COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE MAY TAKE -- THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MAY OPT TO TAKE ACTION AS APPROPRIATE ON ITEMS THAT WERE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE CLERK.

TAMPA THE TIME IS 11:29 A.M. I AM GAVELLING US OUT AND AGAIN, ASK TEN MINUTES BEFORE WE REPORT

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.