[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:17] >> IF ALL OF YOU WOULD PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ALSO FOR OUR TEXAS FLAG. ANY VOLUNTEERS FOR INVOCATION THIS MORNING. >> LET US PRAY, DEAR LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US AND ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SON AND HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS. WE ASK YOU TODAY, LORD, TO WATCH OVER NUECES COUNTY AS WE DO EVERY DAY, WE ASK YOU TO WATCH OVER THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HILL AND HELP HEAL THEM AND HELP THOSE AROUND THEM TO BE COMFORTED. WE ASK YOU TO WATCH OVER US TODAY AS WE ATTEMPT TO MAKE DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS THAT WE SERVE. WE ASK ALL OF THESE THINGS IN YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST NAME. FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, 1 NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL NA UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JON NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALLE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL HONOR TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS, ONE STATE, UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE. OKAY. FOR THE CLERK THIS MORNING, THE TIME IS 9:17. I IMAGINE WE STARTED TWO MINUTES AGO, 9:15 AND THE DATE IS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH. WE ARE HERE IN NUECES COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM, 901 NORTH LEOPARD STREET. I LOOK FOR HIM ONLINE AND NOTE FOR THE RECORD THE TIME THAT HE COMES IN. CLEARLY A QUORUM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED I DO CERTIFY SO AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER. WE'LL MOVE TO REBECCA, WHO WILL HAVE A SAFETY BRIEFING FOR US. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS AND ATTENDEES. OUR SAFETY BRIEFING FOR TODAY FEBRUARY 9TH IS BEING HELD IN THE NUECES COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM. THE RESTROOMS ARE LOCATED ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE THIRD FLOOR EIGHT ATRIUM, THERE IS A FIRE EXTINGUISHERS LOCATED THE REAR OF THE COURTROOM. CONTROL STATIONS ARE ON EVERY FLOOR. IN THE EVENT OF A CARDIAC EMERGENCY, AED IS LOCATED ON THE RIGHT WALL NEXT TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE. PARTICIPANT TODAY WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DIALING 911 WILL BE CONNIE. ANYONE CAN RENDER AID. IN EVENT OF EVACUATION OUR REGRESS RATE WILL BE SLOWLY DOWN THE ATRIUM STAIRS, ASSEMBLE IN THE PARKING LOT ACROSS THE STREET. IT IS IMPORTANT TO STAY TOGETHER. SHOULD THERE BE A NEED TO SHELTER IN PLACE, DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE SHELTER IN PLACE, THE COURTROOM DOUBLE DOORS WILL BE SECURED AND REMAIN SECURE UNTIL GIVEN FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE NUECES COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. OUR GUEST SANITIZER FOR TODAY WILL BE MICHAEL. OUR SAFETY TOPIC FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY IS VALENTINE'S DAY DURING A PANDEMIC. YOU CAN GO ON A VIRTUAL DATE. HAVE A PICNIC, OUTDOORS OR INDOORS. GIFTS BY MAIL. CREATE SOMETHING SPECIAL ONLINE. GO ON A CAMPING TRIP. BINGE WATCH ROMANTIC FUN OR SCARY MOVIES. COOK DINNER. VOLUNTEER TOGETHER. TAKE A VIRTUAL CLASS. AND PLAY A BOARD GAME TOGETHER. AND THIS CONCLUDES OUR RISK MANAGEMENT SAFETY BRIEFING FOR [D. 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.] TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HOW ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME? DEPUTY DO I HAVE ANYBODY WAITING FOR US? I DON'T SEE ANY ICON OF THE HAND UP. OKAY. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF NICE FOLKS WITH US THAT I RECOGNIZE. I KNOW YOU'RE HERE FOR THE ARPA WORKSHOP. YOU SEE ONE? HELP ME OUT. WHERE? ON THE TOP. OKAY. GREAT. GOOD MORNING, KAYLA. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CHANGE THE NAME ON THE SCREEN. MY NAME IS SAMANTHA GRAY. [00:05:01] >> WE'LL MAKE THAT NOTE FOR THE RECORD HERE. YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? >> I WOULD. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COURT. >> PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> OKAY. GOOD MORNING. I'M ADDRESSING THIS COURT BECAUSE I MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE WITH THE NUECES SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I SEEK TO BRING ATTENTION TO IT IN HOPES OF CHANGE. MY EX-HUSBAND WAS A RESERVE OF THE DEPARTMENT. IN MARCH OF 2020, I WAS MADE AWARE OF A DEPUTY WITH THE DEPARTMENT WHO HAD BEEN FALSELY DOCUMENTING MY LICENSE PLATES AND DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER AS TRAFFIC STOPS ON HIS DAILY REPORTS. 19 OR MORE TIMES. THESE WERE ALSO LATE AT NIGHT. ANOTHER OFFICER WAS QUESTIONED AND THIS OFFICER REPORTED TO HIS SUPERVISOR THAT HE HAD BEEN CONTACTING ME. I NEVER MET EITHER OFFICER. I SUBMITTED A STATEMENT AT THAT TIME THAT I NEVER BEEN STOPPED BY THEM OR SPOKE TO HIM. LATER, I DID IDENTIFY THE CONNECTION BUT COULD NOT CONFIRM IT. A FEW WEEKS LATER, IN APRIL 2020, I HAD ANOTHER INCIDENT WHERE AN EPO WAS GRANTED. MY EX-HUSBAND WORKED SECURITY FOR AN EVENT. I IMMEDIATELY REPORTED TO THE SHERIFF AND CHIEF. YOU CANNOT CARRY A WEAPON, AS WAS THIS CASE. I ATTEND THE REPRIMAND LETTER FOR THE OFFICER DOCUMENTING THE FALSE STOPS. IT DOES NOT MENTION TO THE EXTENT, IT'S MORE OF A GENERAL STOP BEING LAZY LETTER. THE PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST STATES THAT MY EX-HUSBAND RECEIVED A VERBAL SUSPENSION AFTER MY REPORT. I NOTIFIED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHEN THE OFFICIAL CHARGES WERE FILED FOR ASSAULTING ME AND SENT A COPY FOR THE CHARGES WHEN IT WAS FILED IN OCTOBER OF 2020. THEY HAVE 30 DAYS TO REPORT THE CHANGES. CHARGES WERE NOT REPORTED UNTIL MAY OF 2021, WHEN HE WAS DISCHARGED. I HAVE NUMEROUS OTHER PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ANSWERED. I COMMUNICATED I WANTED TO PRESS CHARGES. THE RESPONSES I RECEIVED IS THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL, WHICH I KNOW OTHERWISE FROM MY TIME HERE AS A RESERVE. AGAIN, NO RESPONSE. I TRIED TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE LACK OF RESPONSE TO MY E-MAILS AND LACK OF RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST AND CANNOT GET A RETURN CALL. THEY HAVE NOT ALLOWED ME TO PUT MY COMPLAINT IN WRITING AFTER MULTIPLE REQUESTS TO DO SO. IF THEY SAY THERE IS NO POLICY, THEN ONE SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUES WITH AN EMPLOYEE AND IT BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. THIS IS A CONTINUAL ISSUE. I KNOW HOW IT WORKS. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE TREATMENT OF THE OTHER MEN AND WOMEN THAT NEED HELP AND PROTECTION. SINCE THERE IS NO DOCUMENTATION OF ANY OF THIS, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO LEAVE IT CIVILLY. THIS MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT IF I INCLUDED ALL OF THE DETAILS, WE WOULD BE HERE FOR AN HOUR, NOT THREE MINUTES I HAVE TO SPEAK. I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH INFLUENCE YOU HAVE OVER THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BUT IF NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, THERE WON'T BE A MUCH NEEDED SOLUTION. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU AND JUST EVERYBODY ELSE THAT MAKES PUBLIC COMMENT, I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU KNOW THE RULES, BUT WE DON'T SPEAK BACK AT THIS TIME. BUT I ALWAYS TELL EVERYBODY THAT COMES TO PUBLIC COMMENT WE ARE LISTENING INTENTLY AND TO EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAY AT THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU. >> I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. >> WE'LL MOVE ON. I SEE ANOTHER VIRTUAL HAND AT THIS TIME. I'LL RECOGNIZE CHRIS GARCIA. >> HELLO, COURT. AM I COMING THROUGH? >> YES. YOU ARE AND SO IS YOUR PUPPY DOG. CUTE. >> THANK YOU. FIRST THING, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THESE COMMENTS. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO START OUT, I OBSERVED IN THE LAST COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING, A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME BE USED TO DEBATE AN OPINION ON THE JUDGE'S AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISIONS AND PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. I CRINGED. I JUST HOPE WE CAN MOVE ON FROM THAT. NEXT COMMENT FOR COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 2, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT SIR, WE HAVE A SPLASH PAD COMING IN HERE, WE'RE GOING TO BREAK GROUND FOR IT THIS WEEK. FOR THE MOST PART, THE COMMUNITY IS EXCITED AND HAPPY ABOUT IT. ALTHOUGH I STOP TO THINK IF WE WERE PRESENTED THE OPTION, WHAT MIGHT WE HAVE DONE WITH THAT MONEY? $400,000. OKAY. IN MY OPINION, WHAT GOOD IS A SPLASH PAD IF WE HAVE TO PASS 20 DELAPIDATED PROPERTIES TO GET THERE. [00:10:02] THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. >> THANK YOU. I DON'T SEE ANY FURTHER HANDS UP AT THIS TIME. [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.] DOES ANYBODY -- CONNIE, ONLINE. WE'LL MOVE ON AT THIS TIME, I NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT WE HAVE GENERAL INFORMATION REPORTS AND I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE WE DO HAVE LOUIE RAY HERE. YOU GOT A BIG COVID-19 BRIEFING. BUT LOUIE, IF YOU WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING. I THINK IT'S A NICE THING TO TALK ABOUT OUR WARMING CENTERS. THIS WINTER STORM HAD A NAME. IT WAS CALLED LANDON. YOU'LL REMEMBER YURI FROM FEBRUARY LAST. WE HAD A STRONG EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RESPONSE AND COURT RECOGNIZES LOUIE RAY. IF ANYONE DOES HAVE ANY COVID QUESTIONS FOR LOUIE, WE CAN CERTAINLY ASK AS SOON AS HE'S COMPLETE. >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. >> SO OVER THE LAST WEEK, WE STOOD UP THE EOC ACTIVATION FOR WINTER STORM LANDON. WE STARTED THE ACTIVATION ON EIGHT O'CLOCK THURSDAY. IT WAS A JOINT EFFORT. THE LOCATION WAS IN THE R&B FAIRGROUNDS. THE TEMPERATURE AT THAT TIME WAS ABOUT RANGING FROM 20 DEGREES TO 30 DEGREES, WIND CHILLS ABOUT 18. ON THE AVERAGE. SO WE NEEDED THE WARMING CENTER STOOD UP. WE ALSO WORKED WITH OUR PARTNERS RTA, RED CROSS AND THE EMS SERVICES AS WELL AS CORPUS CHRISTI. AND IT WAS A GOOD EVENT. WE SERVICED ABOUT 61 PEOPLE. WITH THE ABILITY TO SERVICE THE ANIMALS, IF NEEDED. FURTHERMORE, ABOUT 30 DAYS OUT, 30 DAYS OUTLOOK, WE ARE GETTING READY FOR HURRICANE COMFORT THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN MAY. WE HAD A WALK-THROUGH LAST WEEK AS WELL, THAT HAPPENED ON THURSDAY AS WELL. ABOUT 12 O'CLOCK. IT WAS A GOOD EVENT. AND THEN LAST 30 DAYS, WE ACTIVATED THE EOC ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS FOR TWO WINTER STORMS. AND WE ALSO HAD -- YESTERDAY WE HAD A MINOR FIRE. WE HAD LIKE FIVE FIRES THAT CAME ABOUT IN THE COUNTY. NO REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE, BUT THEY ALL SEEMED TO BE UNDER CONTROL. COVID, WE HAVE A MARGINAL DECREASE IN TESTING. WE'RE AVERAGING ABOUT 150 TESTS PER DAY. AS WELL AS WE REDUCED THE TIMELINES FOR TESTING. WE USED TO TEST ALL WEEK, NOW WE'RE TESTING ON A COUPLE OF DAYS. THOSE DAYS ARE TUESDAY AND THURSDAY. VACCINATION CLINIC HAPPENING, THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON FRIDAY. I WILL GET THE TIMELINES FOR THAT AS WELL. ANY QUESTIONS FROM ME? >> ANY QUESTIONS, COURT? OKAY. GOOD. THE ONLY THING I MIGHT DO IS NEXT COURT WE HAVE -- YOU MIGHT WANT TO ANNOUNCE, WE HAVE HIRED AN EMERGENCY -- TWO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOLKS. ONE THAT IS RIGHT IS ALREADY ON BOARDED, ONE THAT WILL ON BOARD AND WE WOULD LOVE TO MEET THEM AND TALK MORE ABOUT THE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR AND THANK YOU TO THIS COURT FOR OF COURSE, PROVIDING FOR A ROBUST EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. BUT WOULD BE GREAT TO MEET HIM NEXT TIME. [1. January 26, 2022 February 2, 2022] >> YES, MA'AM. >> ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON. I SEE THAT WE HAVE MINUTES TO APPROVE AND WE'LL MOVE STRAIGHT TO WORKSHOP. I NOTE THAT WE'VE GOT FOR THE CLERK, JANUARY 26TH AND FEBRUARY 2ND. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE BOTH SETS OF MINUTES? >> SO MOVED. >> HOW ABOUT A SECOND? >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY [G. WORKSHOP:] BY SAYINGA. LET'S GO INTO WORKSHOP AT THIS TIME. FOR THE RECORD, WE'VE GOT 9:29. YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE KEEPING THAT -- OKAY. 9:29 A.M. JUST SWITCHED. 9:30 A.M. ON THE DOT, WE'LL GO INTO WORKSHOP. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. THIS IS A WORKSHOP LISTED UNDER ITEM G-1. >> IF I COULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TABLE THIS. >> SECOND. >> I'M NOT READY FOR THIS RIGHT NOW. I HAVEN'T SEEN NOTHING COME THROUGH MY DESK. I KNOW A REPORT HAS ALREADY MADE A WHILE BACK. I GUESS IT WAS SENT TO YOUR OFFICE, BUT NOT TO OUR OFFICE. YOU KNOW, THERE IS ONE THING THAT I STRESSED TO HAGERTY, THAT THEY'RE WORKING FOR ALL OF US. AND WHATEVER REPORT ONE GETS, ALL OF US SHOULD GET IT. [00:15:02] AND I GOT STUFF THIS MORNING THAT I HADN'T SEEN. SO I'M NOT READY FOR THIS WORKSHOP. AND THERE'S SOME OTHER STUFF THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ALSO THAT I'M LOOKING AT THAT HAS COME UP THROUGH OUR DESK IN REFERENCE TO SOME ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING. SO MY MOTION RIGHT NOW IS TO TABLE THIS UNTIL WE ACTUALLY REVIEW WHAT WE HAVE AND COME BACK WITH SOME GOOD SOLID DECISIONS. >> OKAY. I APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO CLEAR THE RECORD. NUMBER ONE, THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR OVER A MONTH. THE PURPOSE OF THE WORKSHOP IS TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE VERY THINGS THAT QUITE FRANKLY, WE HAVE BEEN PRESENTED WITH. THE ONLY THING THAT YOU HAVE THIS MORNING IS A GUIDELINE TO REMIND YOU OF THE TEMPLATE THAT WE WERE PROVIDED. I HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME THING YOU'VE GOTTEN. HAGERTY HAS PRESENTED THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND THE PLAN TO US ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. ALL THAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU THIS MORNING IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE A WORKSHEET. HELPFUL TOOL TO YOU. IT'S NOT MEANT TO DO ANYTHING BUT PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WOULD THINK THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE'VE SPENT IN PREMIUM PAY. HOW MUCH MONEY THE COURT HAS ALREADY DESIGNATED FOR GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES, LIKE LIFEGUARDS AND CSCD. AND COUNTY ATTORNEY POSITIONS, DISTRICT ATTORNEY DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED. ALL THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU ARE SUMMARY SHEETS. AND THE PURPOSE OF THE WORKSHOP IS JUST TO HAVE EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT, WHICH IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS. >> THAT IS ONE THING THAT I'M KIND OF WORRIED ABOUT TOO, PREMIUM PAY. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING OR NOT ON PREMIUM PAY. I NEED MORE INFORMATION ON IT. A LOT OF OTHER COUNTIES HAVE GOTTEN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINIONS. AND IT DIDN'T LOOK TOO GOOD. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND DOING THE RIGHT THING HERE. >> WELL, AGAIN, YOU'RE BRINGING UP AN ITEM THAT I'M CERTAIN SHOULD BE DISCUSSED. WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW. BUT WE'VE SET THE TONE TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WORKSHOP. WE POSTED, NOTED IT. I THINK THE REASON THE PEOPLE ARE IN THE AUDIENCE, AT LEAST SOME OF THEM. I DON'T KNOW YOUR SPECIFIC YOU KNOW ITEM. I CAN KIND OF TELL THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE HERE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ITEMS IN THAT COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN. AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO DECEIVE THE PUBLIC AND TELL THEM NO WORKSHOP. >> JUDGE, IF I COULD RESPOND. I DON'T THINK IT'S DECEIVING THE PUBLIC. I THINK IT'S DECEIVING THE PUBLIC TO PUT FORTH AN AGENDA WITH ABSOLUTELY NO BACK-UP. ZERO. >> IT'S A WORKSHOP. >> IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S A WORKSHOP OR NOT. HOW DO WE HAVE AN INTELLIGENT CONVERSATION IF WE HAVE NOTHING IN FRONT OF US TO DISCUSS. NOTHING. I GOT SOME E-MAIL THAT NUECES RIVER AUTHORITY IS COMING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION. I'M CLUELESS ON THAT. I DIDN'T GET ANY BACK-UP. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE COMING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION, WHEN WE'VE GOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVOLVED IN THIS. I DON'T KNOW WHY MY UNDERSTANDING WAS DEPARTMENT HEADS WERE ASKED TO SUBMIT LISTS OF THINGS THEY WANT, WHERE IS THAT? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO US. THIS WORKSHOP SHEET THAT WE GOT, IT'S A FIVE OR SIX-PAGE EXCEL SPREADSHEET THAT I GOT THIS MORNING. WORKSHOPS DON'T MEAN DON'T GIVE ME ANYTHING. LET'S ALL HAVE AN OPEN CONVERSATION. WE CAN'T DISCUSS THINGS WHEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSED. SO I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAPPENS. AND I'M GOING TO ASK THE COUNTY MANAGER ON THIS TOO. BECAUSE OUR POLICY, JUDGE, THAT WE ALL PASSED WAS IF THERE IS NO BACK-UP IN OUR AGENDA, THEN WE SHOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD ON THAT ITEM. THERE IS NO BACK-UP IN OUR AGENDA. I'VE GOT IT RIGHT HERE. I WENT AND LOOKED AGAIN. WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS WALKED INTO US THIS MORNING AND AN E-MAIL SENT TO US THIS MORNING. I'M SORRY. I CAN'T FUNCTION AND BE A GOOD -- DO GOOD GOVERNANCE, WHEN NO ONE -- NOT NO ONE. WHEN I DON'T GET INFORMATION ON AN AMAZINGLY IMPORTANT AGENDA ITEM LIKE THIS. I CAN SIT HERE AND LIST AND I CAN'T HAVE A DISCUSSION. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S VALID FOR THE NUECES RIVER AUTHORITY TO COME MAKE A PRESENTATION. BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE AN OPINION ON THAT. I MEAN, WE'RE WASTING PEOPLE'S TIME IS WHAT WE'RE DOING. THAT IS NOT FAIR EITHER. IT'S NOT FAIR TO PUT US IN THIS CONTINUED SPOT OF WHEN PEOPLE KNOW WE HAVE THIS WORKSHOP POSTED, THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE US BACK-UP. NO ONE HAS PROVIDED US BACK-UP. THERE IS ZERO ZERO BACK-UP FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS TODAY. THAT IS NOT HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK IN GOVERNMENT. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE POSTED WITH BACK-UP SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN [00:20:01] SEE WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS. AND THERE IS NOTHING IN HERE IN THE BACK-UP. ZERO. AND WE'VE ALL BEEN ASKING FOR IT. WE'VE ASKED THE COUNTY MANAGER FOR IT. SO DON'T -- I DON'T WANT THAT TO COME UP. THE COUNTY MANAGER HAS TOLD ME. SHE'S BEEN ASKING FOR IT. SO WE HAVE GONE THE ROUTES, KNOWING THIS WAS ON THERE TO TRY TO DO OUR HOMEWORK. I KEPT SAYING, WHERE IS THE BACK-UP? I'VE ASKED FOR THE BACK-UP. I SENT AN E-MAIL THIS MORNING TO HAGERTY THAT I'M NOT HAPPY WITH HOW THIS HAS GONE DOWN EITHER. THEY SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED THE COUNTY MANAGER THE BACK-UP TO PROVIDE US ANYTHING IN ADVANCE THAT WE WOULD HAVE. WE DIDN'T GET THIS IN ADVANCE. THIS CAN'T BE SOMETHING THAT THE WHOLE COURT DOESN'T GET TO SEE IN ADVANCE. I DON'T KNOW WHEN OR WHERE YOU GOT STUFF. THAT IS NOT MY ISSUE. MY ISSUE IS WHEN I GET IT. I DIDN'T GET IT. I'VE NOT GOTTEN ANYTHING OF ANY SUBSTANCE. I GOT A LITTLE BIT THIS MORNING. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO KEEP DOING THIS TO THIS COURT. >> COMMISSIONER, WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE COURT THAT YOU HAVE HAD FOR MONTHS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THAT WAS PRODUCED BY HAGERTY. WHICH ALSO LISTS REFERENCE TO THE LARGER -- I THINK IT'S A LARGER DOCUMENT. HAGERTY IS ONLINE. AND THAT LARGER DOCUMENT INCLUDED A SPECIFIC LIST OF OVER SEVERAL HUNDRED PROJECTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED. WE HAD FIVE DIFFERENT TOWN HALLS. WE HAD AN ONLINE COMMUNITY SURVEY. WE'VE ALSO HAD THAT PRESENTED IN COURT. ALL OF THAT MATERIAL IS YOUR BACK-UP. YOU'VE HAD THE -- ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS'S INFORMATION COMPILED FOR YOU, WITH PIE CHARTS AND BAR GRAPHS, QUITE FRANKLY, MORE INFORMATION THAN YOU CAN SHAKE A STICK AT REGARDING WHAT THIS COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE US -- THIS COURT DISCUSS AND HOPEFULLY A POTENTIALLY APPROPRIATE. THAT IS YOUR BACK-UP. YOU'VE LITERALLY HAD THE BACK-UP MATERIAL FOR MONTHS. THE PURPOSE OF THE WORKSHOP IS TO DISCUSS THAT. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST CONCENTRATE ON THAT REPORT. IF THIS DOES NOT -- AGAIN, SHOCKING THAT THIS WOULD NOT PLEASE YOU, BECAUSE ALL THIS IS A COMPILATION OF DOLLARS THAT WE'VE APPROPRIATED, QUITE FRANKLY, AS LATE AS LAST WEEK. EVERY TIME THE COURT MAKES A DECISION TO APPROPRIATE DOLLARS THAT GO TO AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, IT STARTS, YOU KNOW, ACCUMULATING ON A SUMMARY SHEET. WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS THE LATEST AND GREATEST THAT I JUST SAW BROUGHT TO ME HERE THIS MORNING TOO IN ITS FINAL FORM. COMPILATION OF WHERE WE ARE ON PREMIUM PAY, WHICH THIS COURT HAS ALREADY PAID OUT ON, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, DALE, WE'VE HAD PREMIUM PAYMENT I THINK WE'VE HAD A ROBUST LOOK AT PREMIUM PAY THROUGH OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, INCLUDING AND NOT LIMITED TO RETROACTIVE PAY AND THE CONSTITUTIONALITY FOR THAT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO WITH COMMISSIONER GONZALES CONCERN. YOU CAN RAISE IT TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. WHAT YOU HAVE IS ALREADY MATERIAL THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT FOR MONTHS. I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING POSITION THAT YOU TAKE. AND IF THE COURT DOESN'T WANT TO YIELD TO THE PEOPLE TO DISCUSS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN ON THE COURT'S AGENDA FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS, I SUPPOSE THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE THESE COMMISSIONERS, OUR COMMISSIONERS COURTS JOB. BUT TO SAY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE BACK-UP. >> I DON'T, JUDGE. >> THEN YOU'RE NOT READING YOUR MATERIAL. >> WHAT I DON'T HAVE -- >> YOU NEVER WENT TO A TOWN HALL. >> I'VE GOT THE DATA TODAY AT 8:22 THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO. >> NO. >> YES, JUDGE. YOU WANT TO SEE MY E-MAIL. >> EXECUTIVE SUMMARIES. MAGGIE, PLEASE BRING THEM ALL. >> NO, JUDGE. THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU JUST REFERRED TO ABOUT ALL OF THE PREMIUM PAY AND ALL OF THE TABULATIONS. WE GOT THIS AT 8:22 THIS MORNING. >> DON'T YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TOTAL? >> JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IT 15 MINUTES BEFORE I WALK IN. THAT WASN'T POSTED. MY UNDERSTANDING IS, I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM, THAT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE MADE A BUNCH OF SPECIFIC REQUESTS AND HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED SOMEWHERE OR ASKED TO SUBMIT OR ASKED TO BRING. THAT SHOULD BE POSTED. THAT IS NEW INFORMATION. THAT IS NOT OLD INFORMATION. IT IS NEW INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE POSTED. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN POST, THIS NUECES COUNTY RIVER AUTHORITY SPECIFIC AUTHORITY. SO THAT WE COULD HAVE SEEN IT IN ADVANCE. SURE, WE'VE HAD ALL OF THE NICE MEETINGS AND PIE CHARTS, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT INFO. [00:25:03] I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE INFO NEEDED FOR TODAY THAT ISN'T PROVIDED TO US. AND THIS IS NOT PROVIDED TO US. IF SOMEBODY ON STAFF WANTS TO TELL ME DIFFERENTLY, I UNDERSTAND YOUR PERSPECTIVE, YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD. >> I WANT TO YIELD TO THE PUBLIC >> YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT POSTING STUFF, I DO. >> THAT IS NOT TRUE. BRETT >> YOU MAKE IT REAL DRAMATIC. I'M GOING TO RESPOND BACK AND SAY YOU USED THOSE TERMS. >> YOU ARE FUNNY. >> MAKING US LOOK BAD WHEN IN FACT MY CONCERN IS FOLLOWING PROCEDURES AND THE RULES AND BEING TRANSPARENT AND POSTING THINGS ONLINE. THAT IS THE RULES. THAT IS HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO. IF THERE IS BACK-UP THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER TODAY, IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE WALKED IN, OH, FOR THE PUBLIC WHO DIDN'T GET TO SEE IT, SO SORRY, SO SAD, WE FORGOT TO POST IT FOR YOU. THAT IS RULES AND PROCEDURES, CLEARLY. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE POST THINGS IF THE PUBLIC CAN SEE IT. IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO THE PUBLIC ROUTE, LET'S TALK BOTH SIDES OF THAT. >> I'M GOING TO -- EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER GONZALES. KALEN, CAN YOU SCROLL FOR ME HERE. KALEN TAYLOR, ARE YOU ON IN OR RACHEL, ARE YOU ON? >> RICK ESTRADA. >> RICK, WHAT WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT IS OUR ORIGINAL REPORT. DOES IT IS -- DOESN'T IT HAVE CONTAINED THE LIST OF ALL OF THE SPECIFICS, ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT HEADS, STAKEHOLDERS, BY POLITICAL JURISDICTIONS, ALL OF THOSE WERE PART AND PARCEL OF OUR ORIGINAL REPORT THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE COURT AND ACTUALLY POSTED AND YOU KNOW, PROVIDED QUITE FRANKLY MONTHS AGO. >> YES, JUDGE, IT HAS THOSE ITEMS AS OF THE DATE WE PUBLISHED THE REPORT. >> WHICH WAS WHEN? >> WHEN WAS THAT REPORT PUBLISHED? >> I FORGET THE EXACT DATE. I BELIEVE IT WAS IN DECEMBER. >> DECEMBER 15TH. >> DECEMBER 15TH. >> WE BROUGHT THAT TO COURT. AND IT WAS AT THAT TIME THAT WE SAID WE WANT TO HAVE A WORKSHOP AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR A DATE FOR A WORKSHOP AND THIS WAS FINALLY THE DATE THAT WE COULD HAVE THE WORKSHOP. THAT IS WHAT TODAY IS ALL ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT TAKING THAT REPORT AND REALLY HAVING YOU SAID COMMISSIONER CHESNEY, YOU WANTED TIME, WE CAN ROLL THAT TAPE, WE WANTED ADEQUATE TIME TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FUND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE, THE GREAT CHALLENGES THAT EXIST AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE ACROSS THE COUNTY. I DON'T KNOW WHY A WORKSHOP IS SO THREATENING TO EVERYBODY. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE'S TIME WAS NOT WASTED HERE. BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE SINCE WE'RE IN DISCUSSION PERIOD, THE RIGHT TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT HERE. ALL THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS LET THIS COURT KNOW WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE PUBLIC. I SEE MEMBERS HERE FROM DIFFERENT YOU KNOW, ARENAS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FORUMS. AND I'M SHOCKED THAT THIS COURT DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM. WHEN YOU'VE ALREADY HAD THE REPORT IN YOUR HANDS SINCE DECEMBER 15TH. TODAY WAS THE DAY FOR THE WORKSHOP. THAT IS ALL. I MEAN, IT WAS YOUR MOTION TO FIND A DATE FOR THE WORKSHOP. OFF THE REPORT. THAT LISTS EVERY SINGLE PROJECT. RICK, DO YOU RECALL HOW MANY PROJECTS ARE LISTED? >> I CAN REVIEW THE EXACT NUMBER. >> HUNDREDS WOULD BE ACCURATE? I MEAN, THERE ARE HUNDREDS, NOT LIKE FIVE OR TEN. >> OVER 100 PROJECTS. >> AND THE POINT OF IT IS THAT TODAY WAS THE DAY YOU WERE GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTARY AND THIS HAS BEEN POSTED APPROPRIATELY, WHICH IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM YOU, SO YOU KNOW, THE PRESENTATION IS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND YOU ABOUT THAT DECEMBER 15TH, MORE EXTENSIVE REPORT IN BRIEF FORM. >> DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THAT REPORT HANDY, JUDGE? >> LET'S DO THAT. >> WITH YOU NOW? >> I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE. DO YOU WANT IT? >> CAN YOU FORWARD IT ON. THERE IS NO SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE REPORTS? NO ADDITIONAL REQUESTS THAT -- HAVE THESE ALL BEEN VETTED? HAVE THERE BEEN ADDITIONAL REQUESTS? I'M ASKING RICK OR RACHEL. >> I WOULD HAVE TO ASK THEM. [00:30:03] >> ADDITIONAL >> LIKE ADDITIONAL PROJECTS MAYBE, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? >> HAVE THERE BEEN ADDITIONAL REQUESTS FOR FUNDING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS TODAY THAT HAVE BEEN VETTED BY YOU THAT IS NOT ON THAT LIST? >> YES. THERE ARE A FEW NEW ITEMS IN THE EXCEL SPREADSHEET THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED SINCE THE DECEMBER 15TH PUBLICATION >> HOW MANY ADDITIONAL ONES? >> FEWER THAN TEN. >> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY SPECIFICALLY? BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE SPREADSHEET YOU SENT BECAUSE I GOT IT AT 8:20 THIS MORNING. >> I'M NOT SURE OF THE EXACT NUMBER, NO. >> OKAY. AND HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DOES THAT REPRESENT IN THOSE REQUESTS, DO YOU KNOW? >> THE NEW REQUESTS I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER HANDY, BUT SOME OF THE NEW REQUESTS THAT HAVE COME IN DIDN'T ALL HAVE COST ESTIMATES. >> OKAY. SO WERE THOSE NEW REQUESTS SENT TO US PRIOR TO TODAY'S MEETING, PRIOR TO THE SPREADSHEET BEING SENT TODAY? >> RACHEL, I'M NOT SURE IF WE SENT THEM. BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY WERE SENT BY OUR TEAM PRIOR TO TODAY. WE WOULD HAVE SENT THEM THROUGH OUR CONTACT AT THE COUNTY. >> WHO IS YOUR CONTACT AT THE COUNTY. >> WE PRESENTLY WORK WITH COUNTY STAFF, OUR PRIMARY CONTACT IS WITH COUNTY STAFF RIGHT NOW. >> WHO IS COUNTY STAFF THAT YOU'RE SENDING IT TO? >> TYPICALLY WE INTERFACE WITH THE JUDGE'S OFFICE RIGHT NOW. >> SO WHEN DID THOSE ITEMS GET SENT TO THE JUDGE'S OFFICE FOR THESE NEW REQUESTS THAT WE GOT AT 8:22 THIS MORNING? >> THAT ONE I CAN'T ANSWER. WE ADD THEM TO THE LIST WE'RE KEEPING AS WE RECEIVE THEM. >> WHEN WERE THEY SENT? YOU SHOULD KNOW. >> I GOT THIS LAST NIGHT. I GOT THIS LAST NIGHT. >> SO DID YOU SEND THESE BEFORE LAST NIGHT TO THE JUDGE? YOU'RE ASKING QUESTIONS. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS TOO. >> WE'RE NOT IN AN -- THIS ISN'T ABOUT YOU ASKING QUESTIONS. >> I DIDN'T STOP YOU FROM ASKING YOUR QUESTIONS. WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOU DEFLECT FROM ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS. >> RICK, CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN THOSE PROJECTS WERE SENT TO THE COUNTY JUDGE, THOSE EIGHT, SIX, FIVE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY THERE ARE, WHATEVER THEY WERE. BECAUSE WE JUST GOT THEM THIS MORNING. I MEAN, I GOT AN E-MAIL THAT SAID Y'ALL WERE WAITING ON FINAL APPROVAL FOR THE LIST FROM THE JUDGE BUT THEY DIDN'T SAY -- I FORWARDED THAT TO YOU. IT DOESN'T SAY WHEN THOSE WERE SENT TO HER. SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN THOSE WERE. RICK. RACHEL. ANY ANSWER? >> HE IS LOOKING I THINK. >> HE CAN TELL ME THAT. I DIDN'T KNOW IF HE KNEW I WAS ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS. >> SINCE YOU WANT TO KNOW -- >> THE QUESTION IS WHEN WERE THEY SENT. >> LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. TWO DAYS AGO, BUT JUST WAIT A SECOND. BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO ACT LIKE THIS WORKSHOP IS NOT APPROPRIATE. >> JUDGE, I'M TRYING TO ASK -- I'M NOT ASKING YOU. I'M ASKING HIM. I DIDN'T INTERRUPT YOU WHEN YOU ASKED QUESTIONS. I DON'T INTERRUPT WHEN YOU TALK TO 20 MINUTES. >> I WANT US TO GET BACK TO THE WORKSHOP. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE WORKSHOP. YOU HAVEN'T LET ANY OF THESE GOOD PEOPLE COME AND TELL THIS COURT WHAT THEY WANT AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS. >> I AM STILL ASKING QUESTIONS THAT YOU DON'T WANT ME TO ASK. >> I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH YOU ASKING QUESTIONS. >> I'M TRYING TO ASK NICELY. >> OH, MY GOSH, BRENT. YOU'RE SUCH A GRANDSTANDER. >> YOU DON'T WANT TO GET THE QUESTIONS ANSWERED. >> THIS IS TOTALLY IRRELEVANT. >> CAN RICK OR RACHEL PLEASE ANSWER FOR ME WHEN THIS INFORMATION WAS GIVEN AND I CAN MOVE ON. IF THE ANSWER IS -- I WANT TO KNOW WHEN THEY WERE SENT TO THE COUNTY. BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR FUTURE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION. THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COUNTY MANAGER WHO CAN THEN DISSEMINATE IT EQUALLY AND TO ALL MEMBERS OF THIS COURT. I DON'T THINK WE WOULD BE IN THIS POSITION. I'M ASKING AGAIN, RICK AND RACHEL, WHEN WERE THEY SENT TO THE COUNTY STAFF THAT YOU DEAL WITH, WHEN WERE THEY SENT? NOT WHEN WERE THEY PUT ON THE LIST, BUT WHEN WERE THEY SENT? >> COMMISSIONER, WE CERTAINLY CAN ANSWER THAT BUT WE'LL NEED TO LOOK BACK BECAUSE THAT IS NOT ONE OF THE DATA ITEMS THAT WE TRACKED FOR THE 100 PLUS ITEMS EXACTLY WHEN THEY GOT ADDED TO THE LIST. WE CAN CERTAINLY GO BACK AND LOOK AT E-MAILS. >> THAT IS A FAIR ANSWER. IF YOU WILL PROVIDE THAT TO THE ENTIRE COURT, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. GOING BACK TO WHAT IS RELEVANT IS THAT YOUR STRATEGIC FISCAL [00:35:03] RECOVERY PLAN, WHICH WAS PROVIDED TO YOU ALL IN DECEMBER HAS KEY TAKE-AWAYS PROJECT PRIORITIES BY THE NUMBERS, OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND, IMPLEMENTING INTERNAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT, FINDING SUMMARY, OVERVIEW AND HERE IS THE IMPORTANT THING, A COMPLETE LIST OF PROJECT IDEAS. HOWEVER, AS YOU HAVE POINTED OUT, FOR EXAMPLE, A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, IT DAWNS ON ME EVERY MORNING THAT WHEN WE GET OUT OF CONTRACT HOUSING NUMBERS, FOR PRISONERS WHO ARE HOUSED OUTSIDE THE COUNTY, THAT THAT MIGHT BE AN ELIGIBLE RECOVERY OF FISCAL DOLLARS. SO I TOOK THE LATEST AND GREATEST ONES TWO DAYS AGO, THE LATEST NUMBER AND FLIPPED IT TO HAGERTY AND SAID HEY, WILL YOU ADD THIS TO THE LIST BECAUSE WE HAD ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS IN COURT THAT THAT COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THOSE DOLLARS RECOVERED BY THE COUNTY. YOU MIGHT ALSO REMEMBER THAT JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE HAD FINAL RULES BROUGHT FORTH AND SINCE DECEMBER 15TH, WE NOW KNOW THAT THERE IS TWO AWESOME RULES THAT HELP US. ONE OF WHICH, BY THE WAY, WE AS A COURT DISCUSSED. THE TEN MILLION DOLLAR RULE ON LOST REVENUE. WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AGO. THAT IS NEW. IT'S NOT IN THIS REPORT FROM DECEMBER. BUT IT'S NOW REFLECTED IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS THAT YOU HAVE THIS MORNING. SECOND, THERE WAS THE ISSUE OF OUR COVID HEALTH INSURANCE, WHETHER OR NOT THAT COULD BE RECOVERABLE, WHEN WE GOT OUR FINAL RULES A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT MIGHT ALSO HAVE SOME RECOVERY. ALL OF WHICH THE COURT MANAGER HAS BEEN A PART OF. SO THE TRUTH IS, IS THAT THE COURT MANAGER HAS ONLY HAD TWO COURTS, THIS IS MAYBE YOUR THIRD COURT. THIS IS YOUR THIRD COURT. SO THE PURPOSE OF RECOVERY HAS ALWAYS BEEN WITHIN A PURVIEW OF THIS COURT. SO YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE TO DISCUSS TO AT LEAST START TALKING ABOUT, YOU'VE NEVER HEARD FROM THE PEOPLE IN THIS FORMAL FORMAT. WE'VE HAD STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS. BUT WE NEVER HAD A CHANCE FOR THEM TO SAY DRAINAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE OUR PROJECT. THE REASON THE NUECES RIVER AUTHORITY IS HERE IS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT GET TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EARLIER AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FORUM MEETINGS TO TELL US ABOUT THEIR PROJECT. SO TODAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SAY HEY, IT MAY NOT HAVE MADE MY PROJECT LIST, BUT IT'S ELIGIBLE AND THE COURT SHOULD LOOK AT IT AND CONSIDER IT. WHAT BETTER WAY TO TALK ABOUT ELIGIBILITY THAN HAVING PEOPLE COME FORWARD IN WORKSHOP? >> JUDGE, I'M CERTAINLY FINE WITH DISCUSSING THINGS THAT THE COURT HAS SEEN. MAYBE WE COULD -- IT'S UP TO THEM. THEY'VE GOT A MOTION TO TABLE. MAYBE WE COULD LIMIT THE THINGS TO THE STUFF THAT WE'VE SEEN PRIOR TO 8:22 THIS MORNING AND NO OFFENSE TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THIS NUECES RIVER AUTHORITY PROJECT PROPOSAL IS VALID. I DON'T THINK THAT ONE WAS ON THE LIST. MAYBE I MISSED THAT ONE. >> WHY DON'T YOU HEAR IT FIRST IN PUBLIC COMMENT BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT WASTE WATER, IF YOU KNOW THE ELIGIBILITY RULES, THERE'S THREE THAT STAND OUT TO EVERY AMERICAN WHO KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. THAT IS THAT DRAINAGE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING WASTE WATER IS ELIGIBLE. >> IF THAT ONE WAS ADDED AFTER. >> LISTEN, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM, THAT IS FINE. IF YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM THE OTHER 115 THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE COURT MANAGER, GIVEN TO EVERYBODY, WE'VE HAD A COMMUNITY SURVEY ON IT, I'M TELLING YOU IT'S THERE. >> MY PROBLEM IS THAT IT WASN'T PROVIDED AS BACK-UP AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. >> IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE THOSE TEN, I'LL HAVE KAYLEN AND RICK. >> IN TODAY'S AGENDA, THERE WAS NO BACK-UP POSTED ONLINE. I'M TRYING TO MAKE THE POINT THAT I BELIEVE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. >> YOU SHOULD DIRECT THAT TO THE COURT MANAGER, SIR. DIRECT THAT TO THE COURT MANAGER. >> I'M JUST MAKING A COMMENT, JUDGE. I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT. >> I THINK YOU'VE AD NAUSEAM EXPRESSED THAT YOU DON'T WANT THE PEOPLE TO BE HEARD TODAY. >> THERE YOU GO. I KNEW IT IT HAD TO GET PERSONAL. IT ALWAYS DOES. >> IT'S NOT PERSONAL, BRENT. YOU HAVE A SYSTEM AND A PROCESS. >> I WOULDN'T MIND HEARING PUBLIC COMMENT. >> OKAY. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, CAN I HAVE A SIGN-UP SHEET. THERESA, PUT IT AT THE BACK WHERE IT NORMALLY IS. >> THERE IS A MOTION TO TABLE. DO Y'ALL WANT TO PULL THAT? >> IT'S BEING RESCINDED. IS THERE A SECOND? >> I DON'T RESCIND IT. [00:40:01] >> I'M ASKING THEM. >> HE WANTS YOU TO PULL YOUR MOTION FOR RIGHT NOW. >> I'M ASKING IF HE WANTS TO. I'M ASKING. IT'S HIS MOTION. >> NO. I'M NOT GOING TO RESCIND MY MOTION. >> YOU CAN BRING IT BACK, JACK. IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, HE NEEDS YOU TO TABLE YOUR TABLE. >> I WAS GOING TO EXPLAIN -- >> TEMPORARILY TABLE. >> WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO >> ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE DISCUSSION ON WHAT IS ON. EVEN PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS POINT BEFORE VOTING ON THE MOTION TO TABLE. I WAS JUST SAYING IF YOU WANT TO HAVE -- IF COMMISSIONER GONZALES WANTS TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, THEN WE WOULD NEED FOR THE MOMENT TO RESCIND MOTION TO TABLE AND THEN REMAKE IT AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT. >> FOR THAT PURPOSE I WILL. >> FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY I'M NOT GOING TO HEAR YOU PERIOD. >> OKAY. WELL, WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS AFTER 30 MINUTES. >> EXCUSE ME, JUDGE. >> YES, SIR. >> WHEN DID WE HAVE THAT SURVEY? >> OKAY. YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN THE SURVEY. LET ME JUST ASK, RACHEL, COULD YOU BRING UP THIS SURVEY DATE? >> I PRESENTED AN OVERVIEW OF THE SURVEY AT THE DECEMBER 15TH COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING. >> THERE YOU GO. >> I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING IT. >> DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR OFFICE HAS IT? WOULD YOU LIKE ANOTHER COPY? >> YOU'LL FIND OUT? >> YES, MA'AM. DO YOU HAVE AN EXTRA COPY? >> THE ONE THAT WAS PROVIDED TO YOU EARLIER. WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO GET YOU ANOTHER ONE. >> SURVEY WAS JUST GENERAL CATEGORIES. >> I'LL GET HIM A COPY. >> THE SURVEY WAS JUST CATEGORIES THAT PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE PROJECTS IN. THEN THERE IS A LOT OF REQUESTS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT -- >> I RECALL. >> MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF REQUESTS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OTHER FOLKS AND NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY. >> STRATEGIC FISCAL RECOVERY PLAN. THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS, THOSE ARE THE DOCUMENTS YOU SHOULD BRING. KIND OF LIKE HOMEWORK YOU BRING WITH YOU, YOU KNOW, YOUR RESOURCES. >> I UNDERSTAND, JUDGE. >> I'M JUST WONDERING BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T REMEMBER. ALL RIGHT. SO LET'S DO THIS, JOHN, WE WILL START WITH YOU. AND THEN FOR ANY OF YOU THAT ARE HERE TO REPRESENT STAKEHOLDERS OR NOT >> HONORABLE JUDGE, MEMBERS OF THE COURT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK THIS MORNING. I AM JOHN -- WE SPENT THOSE FUNDS ON MUCH NEEDED EQUIPMENT. IT HAS NOT SOLVED THE ISSUE. OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COASTAL BEND BAYS AND ESTUARIES ABOUT FINDING THE REASONS FOR THE IMPACTED STREAMS IN THE AREA. THERE ARE STREAMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY LISTED ON THE STATE'S IMPACTED LIST OF WATER QUALITY. THEY HAVE GOT ISSUES WITH BACTERIA, ISSUES WITH NUTRIENTS. WE HAVE FOUND OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS THAT THESE NUTRIENTS ARE BASICALLY DUE TO WASTE WATER TREATMENT IN THE AREA. AND I'M SORRY FOR BEING LAST MINUTE, BUT THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY AND IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND SOME MONEY FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN TO DO JUST THAT. AND THAT IS RESCUE THE WATER QUALITY IN THE AREA AND PROTECT NUECES BAY FROM FURTHER IMPAIRMENTS. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS REQUEST $3.5 MILLION SO THAT WE COULD TAKE THIS INFORMATION THAT WE'VE GATHERED BUNDLE THAT UP IN A PACKAGE TO SEND AND APPLY FOR FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING THAT COULD BE IN THE FORM OF GRANTS FOR THE AREA IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY THERE ARE CURRENTLY SOME PONDING DUE TO THE AEROBIC WASTE WATER TREATMENT CENTER IN THE AREA. CERTAINLY ISSUES WITH PLANTS. THESE PEOPLE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB, BUT THESE PLANTS WERE BUILT BACK IN THE '70S AND EARLY '80S. IT'S TIME THAT WE TAKE AND PUT A CONCERTED EFFORT INTO [00:45:05] IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF WATER, AND BECAUSE OF THE REGIONAL CONCEPT THAT THE STATE HAS, THIS WILL BE LOOKED FAVORABLY ON FUTURE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO ACTUALLY BUILD A PLANT IN ONE AREA IN THE WESTERN PART TO TREAT THE WASTE FROM THESE AREAS THAT THE FOLKS JUST SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND THE MONEY ON THOSE IMPROVEMENTS AT THIS POINT IN TIME. SO WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THIS, IT'S VERY NEEDED. THIS IS A ONE-TIME EXPENDITURE FROM THE COUNTY THAT COULD RESULT IN FUTURE WATER QUALITY, NOT ONLY FOR THE CURRENT GENERATION, BUT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS GOING FORWARD. >> I WOULD BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. >> OKAY. ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THE COURT IS REALLY WRESTLING WITH OUR TRI-COUNTY DRAINAGE STUDY IS WATER QUALITY, IN GENERAL. AND THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WOULD BENEFIT IN A REGION, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. IT COULD BE BASICALLY EVERYTHING WEST OF THE -- >> WE'RE IN PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU CAN'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS. >> THIS IS A WORKSHOP. >> THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT. IT'S NOT A WORKSHOP. >> WELL, I MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT WE WERE DOING HERE. I THOUGHT WE WERE INSIDE A WORKSHOP, MAKING COMMENT. I DID NOT CLOSE THE WORKSHOP. I DID NOT CLOSE THE WORKSHOP AND REOPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. I'M NOT TRYING TO GO BACK INTO PUBLIC COMMENT. I'M TRYING TO CREATE COMMENT ON THIS AGENDA ITEM WHICH IS A WORKSHOP. >> JUDGE, THEY MADE A MOTION TO TABLE. >> I'M SORRY. THEY DON'T WANT US TO ACTUALLY HAVE DIALOG. WE'RE JUST AT THIS POINT THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE DIALOG HERE. >> WE CAN'T BY LAW. PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THAT IS ACTUALLY NOT ACCURATE. >> IT IS ACCURATE. >> NO. IT'S NOT. IT IS ACCURATE. >> I'M SAYING THAT WE'RE INSIDE A WORKSHOP. AND INSIDE WORKSHOPS WE'VE ALWAYS HAD DIALOG. >> JUDGE, THEY MOVED >> YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, LET'S TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK SO I CAN TALK TO COUNTY ATTORNEY, SO LET'S GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO WE CAN HAVE SOME SORT OF DISCUSSIONS HERE AFTER THAT >> HE MADE A MOTION TO TABLE AND RESCINDED IT SO WE COULD HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> I SHOULD HAVE CLOSED THE WORKSHOP AND REOPENED PUBLIC COMMENT. I THOUGHT HE WAS TABLING IT. HE WAS REMOVING HIS TABLE SO WE COULD HEAR FROM THESE PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE TO TALK TO US. THIS IS THEIR HOUSE. NOT YOURS. THIS IS THEIR HOUSE. THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK. THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENGAGE WITH US WITH QUESTIONS. HOW TERRIBLE THAT CONGRESS GAVE US THESE FUNDS THAT BELONG TO THE PEOPLE FOR BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE AND STIMULATION OF OUR ECONOMY AND THAT YOU DENY THEM AFTER WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HAVING A WORKSHOP SINCE DECEMBER 15TH. WHAT A TERRIBLE TERRIBLE THING THIS IS. >> WE ASKED THAT WE JUST NOT DISCUSS THE ITEMS THAT WE HAD NOT SEEN OR HEARD ABOUT. YOU SAID FINE. THEN YOU SAID CAN WE PLEASE HEAR FROM THE -- >> ACTUALLY, GONZALES SAID. >> NO. BECAUSE YOU SAID CAN WE PLEASE HEAR FROM THE NUECES RIVER AUTHORITY WHO IS HERE. COMMISSIONER GONZALES WITHDREW HIS TABLE TO MAKE THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU AGREED TO THAT. >> LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT WE REOPENED PUBLIC COMMENT. ALL RIGHT. BECAUSE THAT IS NOT HOW I INTENDED IT. BUT GIVEN THE -- WE CAN'T SEEM TO DO ANY OF THE PEOPLE'S WORK. >> THERE IS 100 OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE WANT TO DISCUSS. >> I'M GOING TO GET THE CLERK TO ACCURATELY REFLECT THE MINUTES, SIR. WE'VE CLOSED WORKSHOP. >> WE ARE DOING THE PEOPLE'S JOB. WE WANT TO BE HEARD. >> I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND IT. YOU GOT IT. BUT FOR THE RECORD, THERE IS TWO THINGS I NEED TO PLACE IN THE RECORD. I THINK COMMISSIONER MARES JOINED AROUND THE 9:42 A.M. ALL COMMISSIONERS ARE PRESENT. AND THE SECOND IS THAT IN ORDER TO OBTAIN PUBLIC COMMENT WE CLOSED MOMENTARILY WORKSHOP, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WANTS TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROJECTS THAT WERE NOT LISTED? OKAY. SO NOW WE'LL GO BACK INTO WORKSHOP. AND THE TIME IS 10:05. CALL THAT A THREE-MINUTE PUBLIC COMMENT I THINK FOR THE RECORD. >> THAT IS ALL WE WERE TRYING TO DO, JUDGE, THANK YOU. JUST WOULD LIKE SOME TIME TO SEE THE NEW ITEMS, THAT IS ALL I'M ASKING. >> I'M GOING TO ASK RICK TO PLEASE PARCEL OUT THE NEW ITEMS THAT HAVE COME OVER TIME THAT WERE MEANT TO BE ADDED TO THE [00:50:01] LIST YOU KNOW, SO THAT THIS COURT COULD CONSIDER TODAY. WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER WORKSHOP TO THROW THE OTHER TEN IN. PLEASE SEND THEM TO THE COURT MANAGER SO THAT SHE CAN SEE THEM. >> HEY, JUDGE. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO PARCEL OUT THE ONES THAT HAVE COME SINCE THE LAST WORKSHOP. NOT DATA THAT WAS PART OF THE TRACKING THAT WE SET UP AS TO WHEN IT ARRIVED ON THE LIST. WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO TAKE I THINK AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR. BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH E-MAILS AND LOOK. >> I CAN TELL YOU THAT I KNOW IT'S COVID-19. IT'S THE ONE THAT HAD OUT OF COUNTY HOUSING, ON SHERIFF. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THIS ONE. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS ONE GOT ADDED TO THE LIST OR NOT. I KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO COME TALK ABOUT IT TODAY. I DON'T THINK THAT THERE IS THAT MANY. I THINK THEY'RE THE ONES THAT WE BASICALLY SAID HEY, THESE NEW RULES GIVE YOU NEW OPPORTUNITIES AFTER FINAL RULES HAVE COME OUT. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TODAY. BUT GET THEM PARCELLED OUT. BUT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS THAT ARE PART OF THE FINANCIAL RECOVERY PLAN. >> I WOULD JUST RICK TO, SO I THINK IT WOULD BE EASY FOR US TO DO IT OURSELVES, IF YOU REFORWARD THE REPORT OF THE PROJECTS SUBMITTED AS OF DECEMBER 15TH THAT WAS GIVEN TO US IN THE REPORT. AND THEN WE'LL DO IT THAT WAY. >> I JUST SENT THEM TO YOU BECAUSE I FIGURED YOU DIDN'T HAVE THEM HANDY. I JUST SENT THEM TO YOU, BRENT. MAGGIE IS PRINTING THEM OUT FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE TANGIBLE. AND I JUST SENT YOU THE -- I JUST SENT YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU LIKE DIGITAL. >> I WOULD JUST ASK THAT -- >> YOU DON'T WANT THEM? >> NO. I WAS ASKING THE COUNTY MANAGER SOMETHING, IF I CAN. I WOULD JUST ASKING TO MAKE SURE AGAIN THAT WHATEVER IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSED IN A SESSION THAT -- SO THAT IT BE POSTED AS PART OF THE AGENDA, SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, SO WE KNOW SPECIFICALLY THESE ARE THE AREAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT AND WHAT WE'RE NOT. THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AS A MATTER OF COURSE. >> I UNDERSTAND. I WAS ASKING FOR THAT INFO SINCE LAST WEEK. I WAS ASKING TO RICK AND AS OF TODAY I DIDN'T GET NOTHING. >> RIGHT. I KNOW YOU WERE. BUT ON THE DECEMBER 15TH REPORT, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY HAGERTY IN OTHER WORDS, WHOEVER IS SUBMITTING AN AGENDA ITEM IS SUPPOSED TO -- THAT IS NOT YOU. YOU DIDN'T SUBMIT IT. HAGERTY, OR WE DID IT. SO HAGERTY SHOULD HAVE, IN MY OPINION, SUBMITTED EVERYTHING FOR BACK-UP TO YOU THAT WAS GOING TO BE DISCUSSED TODAY. MEANING THE PAST REPORTS, PIE CHARTS, EVERYTHING, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AS PART OF OUR BACK-UP. THAT IS THE WAY I HAVE ALWAYS DONE THINGS. IT WASN'T IN THERE. SO I'M JUST ASKING PLEASE THAT IF ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS, WHEN BACK-UP IS REQUESTED BY THE COUNTY MANAGER FOR THE AGENDA ITEM, FOR ANY DEPARTMENT HEAD, ANY AGENDA ITEM, PLEASE PUT IT IN THERE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO SEE. THAT IS I AT LEAST NEED TO SEE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. >> ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT ANOTHER IMPORTANT PERSON THAT SHOULD BE INVOLVED IS THE CPA FIRM BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO TELL US ABOUT THE AUDIT SIDE AND IT'S UNDERSTANDING, I THINK THAT THEY'RE HERE, THEY DIDN'T GET ANY INFORMATION ON TIME. SO THEY CANNOT PROVIDE ANY -- WITH ANYTHING. >> I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THAT UP YOU KNOW, LATER. SEE, WE'RE THE POLICY MAKERS HERE. OKAY. AND ONCE WE MAKE A POLICY DECISION, THEN IT GOES TO COMPLIANCE. IT DOESN'T GO THE OTHER WAY AROUND. AND WHAT I THINK IS REALLY DISINGENUOUS IS TO ACT LIKE NOBODY KNEW THAT THIS WORKSHOP WAS COMING OUT. IN FACT, WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW UNTIL LAST WEEK FROM YOUR OFFICE, THAT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD DAY FOR EVERYBODY. SO THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE TIME, OKAY. TO EVEN KNOW THIS WAS THE ACCEPTABLE DATE FOR THE WORKSHOP. WE JUST GOT NOTICE LAST WEEK THAT FEBRUARY 9TH WOULD WORK FOR EVERYBODY'S CALENDAR. BUT WHAT WE HAVE KNOWN FOR MONTHS, OKAY, IS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. AND ALL OF THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTATION, IF IT NEEDS TO BE REPOSTED AGAIN, FINE, POST IT. BUT LET'S NOT ACT LIKE WE DIDN'T HAVE IT OR THAT WE HAVEN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN REVIEWING IT. WE'VE HAD PRESENTATIONS IN COURT, AS A RESULT OF THESE GREAT SUMMARIES. SO THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT. WE'RE THE POLICY MAKERS HERE. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> NOT THE AUDITORS, THEY MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE DECIDE UPON HAS VALIDITY AND COMPLIANCE. [00:55:04] >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> SHE IS AN EXTERNAL AUDITOR. EXTERNAL AUDITOR. SO THE PERSON THAT HAS THE ABILITY FIRST TO MAKE THE DECISION IS HERE. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> AND ALL OF THESE -- ALL OF THE STRATEGIC FISCAL RECOVERY PLAN, UNTIL WE GOT FINAL RULES, WHICH WAS JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, THAT WAS A GAME CHANGER. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, TO GET US READY FOR THIS, WE HAD BEEN WORKING WITH OUR AUDITOR TO SAY HEY, HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE WE SPENT. AND YES, IT TOOK US A LITTLE WHILE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE HAD THAT COMPILED. AND IF YOU WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT ALL OF THIS GETS POSTED, MY SUGGESTION IS FIND EVERYBODY'S SCHEDULE, WAIT 72 HOURS AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND HAVE A REAL WORKSHOP. BECAUSE THE INFORMATION THAT IS GIVEN TO YOU THIS MORNING IS NO DIFFERENT THAN WHEN WE HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM AND SOMEBODY LIKE THERESA COMES UP AND SAY HEY, LET ME SHOW YOU WHERE YOU ARE, OR FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE HAVE OVERTIME AND DALE PASSES OUT ITEMS TO US AND SAYS HEY, LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT THE COMPILATION HERE. YOU GET PHYSICAL ITEMS HERE, IT'S MEANT TO HAVE A QUESTION ANSWERED AUTHENTICALLY. WHAT WAS GIVEN TO US THIS MORNING IS EXCELLENT. BECAUSE IT SHOWS YOU HOW MUCH MONEY THIS COURT HAS ALREADY APPROPRIATED. AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO PUBLICIZE IT IS PUT ON THE SCREEN. >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT, IF RICK WOULD QUALIFY THAT. HE WAS MAKING IT LOOK LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING NEW. I THINK THE MISCOMMUNICATION ON HIS PART WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HAGERTY WAS TELLING ME. EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. >> SO TO KEEP GOING, WE'VE GOT THE STRATEGIC FISCAL RECOVERY PLAN AND YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT HOW THE PIE CHARTS LOOK. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYTHING, COMMISSIONER CHESNEY THAT WAS GIVEN TODAY, SHALL I NOT REFER TO IT? >> YOU MAY HAVE KIND OF MISSTATED, I DON'T MEAN MISSTATED, YOU SAID WE DO THE POLICIES AND THEN IT GOES TO COMPLIANCE. I DON'T THINK THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU -- I DON'T THINK MEANT. BECAUSE WE ALL WORK THROUGH COMPLIANCE WAY BEFORE IT COMES TO US. >> EVERYTHING ON HERE HAS BEEN VETTED. >> RIGHT. I WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP. IT SOUNDED LIKE WE MAKE A DECISION AND THEN IT GOES TO COMPLIANCE. I DON'T THINK THAT IS HOW YOU MEANT IT. EVERYTHING GETS VETTED USUALLY BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION. >> ALL OF THESE HAVE BEEN VETTED. I'M NOT GOING TO BROWN AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT COUNTY PRIORITIES. I'M SORRY. COLLIER JOHNSON WOODSS. I'M NOT GOING TO GO TO THEM -- I MEAN THEY HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE VETTING PROCESSES. WHAT YOU'VE SEEN HERE HAS ALREADY BEEN VETTED FOR ELIGIBILITY. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR. >> HAGERTY HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH SOMEONE WHO VETTED THIS, SOME OF THESE PROJECTS HAVEN'T BEEN CLEARED BY THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD MEAN -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE ON THINGS TODAY ANYWAY, I DON'T THINK. >> WE'RE NOT THERE YET. >> WE DO VET THESE THINGS. IT'S NOT LIKE WE DECIDE AND IN FACT WE'RE ANAL ABOUT HOW MUCH WE TRY TO VET IT BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION. >> OF COURSE, BUT THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR IS SO FAR DOWN THE ROAD. >> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY IT. THAT WAS ALL. >> I'M DISTRAUGHT BY THIS, HOW THIS WHOLE QUITE FRANKLY, HOW THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS BEEN HIGHJACKED, SOMETHING SO GOOD HAS BEEN HIGHJACKED IN A WAY THAT IS SO UNFITTING FOR HOW UNBELIEVABLE IT'S BEEN TO WORK ON THIS. >> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT GETS HIGHJACKED. >> I DO. >> NOBODY STARTED BY SAYING YOU DID ANYTHING WRONG. WE STARTED BY SAYING IT WASN'T POSTED. >> I KNOW I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF EVERYTHING RIGHT. >> I DON'T THINK IT WAS POSTED PROPERLY. I DON'T THINK IT FOLLOWED OUR PROCEDURES AND THAT IS WHAT IT SHOULD DO. THAT IS WHERE THIS STARTED, ALL OF THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN POSTED. ALL OF THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE IS WHAT WE WANT FOR BACK-UP. HAGERTY SHOULD HAVE SAID HEY, COUNTY MANAGER, THIS IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DISCUSS. I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS ALL OF THESE THINGS, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT IT BOTHERS ME THAT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING BECAUSE IT WASN'T POSTED. MY WISH IS FOR HAGERTY TO MAKE THEIR PUBLICATION. THERE'S FOUR SLIDES. I DON'T THINK ANY OF THEM ARE NOT IN KEEPING -- THERE IS NO LISTING OF PROJECTS, [01:00:03] COMMISSIONERS. IT'S FOUR SLIDES THAT ARE COMPLETELY IN KEEPING WITH WHAT YOU RECEIVED ON DECEMBER 15TH, SHORT SHORT VERSION, WITH FILL IN THE BLANKS FOR YOU, JUST LIKE WE DO DURING BUDGET, TO CONSIDER WHAT TRANCHES OF DOLLARS COULD BE APPROPRIATED FOR THINGS LIKE DRAINAGE, INFRASTRUCTURE, MENTAL HEALTH, PUBLIC SECTOR CAPACITY AND THE LIKE. >> JUDGE, I'M FINE WITH TALKING ABOUT THINGS WE'VE ALREADY SEEN. I SAID THAT FROM THE BEGINNING. >> WE'RE GOING TO PITCH TO RACHEL. >> ALL I WAS TRYING TO DO, THE ONES THAT WERE NEW, I HADN'T HAD TIME TO DIGEST. THAT WAS ALL. AND POSTING. >> RACHEL, YOU'RE GETTING A LESSON IN GOVERNANCE HERE. WILL YOU GO AHEAD AND START -- UNMUTE AND WILL YOU GO AHEAD AND RUN THROUGH THAT FOUR SLIDE DECK THAT REALLY JUST WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A LEVEL SETTING FOR EVERYBODY. I THINK IT WILL BE A GOOD WAY TO MAYBE PRESS THE RESET BUTTON HERE. LET'S TRY TO BEGIN THE MEETING. >> IS THE POWERPOINT AVAILABLE? >> I DIDN'T GET A POWERPOINT. >> DO YOU HAVE YOUR FOUR SLIDES THAT YOU CAN E-MAIL TO CONNIE MORGAN? >> HEY, JUDGE. RICK HERE. WE CAN GO AHEAD AND SEND THE SLIDES OVER. JUST GIVE ME A MOMENT. I CAN SEND THEM. WHO WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO SEND THOSE TO? >> WHILE HE'S DOING THAT -- I'M SORRY. >> IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE IT LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT IT. IT'S MEANT TO FACILITATE THE NEXT MEETINGS HERE. WE ALL WANT TO GET EVERYTHING IN ADVANCE. THAT IS THE WHOLE THING. BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE BUSY, IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS. THE WHOLE POINT HERE IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO RECEIVE INFORMATION IN A PUBLIC FORUM IN A TRANSPARENT WAY OR NOT. >> JUDGE, ALL I WAS GOING TO SAY WAS SINCE THE PUBLIC HAS NOT IN A TRANSPARENT WAY RECEIVED THE STRATEGIC PLAN. >> YES, THEY HAVE. YES, IT HAS BEEN A PART OF OUR -- >> IT WASN'T POSTED FOR TODAY. >> NOT FOR TODAY, BRENT. IT'S LIKE SAYING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET WHEN BUDGET HAS BEEN POSTED. YOU DON'T POST THE BUDGET EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU TALK ABOUT BUDGET. >> YOU POST IT WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A WORKSHOP ON IT, YES, IT DOES. THE POINT IS, SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE HAVE RECEIVED $35 MILLION ON OUR FIRST PAYMENT AND ANOTHER 35 MILLION SUPPOSED TO BE COMING. IF I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY, THE TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR PROJECTS BEEN REQUESTED TO THIS COUNTY FROM EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN 178 MILLION PLUS ANOTHER 29. AM I READING THAT RIGHT, RACHEL? 178 MILLION PLUS 29. OR IS THAT 29 INCLUDED IN THE 178 MILLION? I'M WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT THE RIGHT NUMBER OUT THERE SO THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST AND HOW MUCH WE'VE GOTTEN REQUESTED. IS THAT CORRECT? IS 178 PLUS 29? >> THE TOTAL THAT THE COUNTY HAS REMAINING TO BE ALLOCATED FROM THEIR FISCAL RECOVERY FUND ALLOCATION IS THE 57 AND CHANGE. >> HOW MUCH HAVE WE RECEIVED IN TOTAL REQUESTS FROM ALL OF THE ROUND TABLES, TOWN HALLS, AND SO FORTH? WHAT I SEE IS 178 PLUS 29. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I PUT THE RIGHT NUMBER OUT. >> YES. YOU HAVE RECEIVED -- THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED OVER 227 MILLIONS >> 207 OR 227. >> 227. >> WE HAVE 57 MILLION REMAINING AND WE HAVE 227 MILLION IN REQUESTS. I THINK THAT IS A NUMBER THAT HOPEFULLY THE MEDIA WILL PICK UP ON AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR US TO DO, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A PROJECT ON HERE THAT I DON'T THINK IS A VALID AND LEGITIMATE REQUEST PROJECT. HOW WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH 227 MILLION REQUESTS AND 57 MILLION WOULD BE THE FIRST AREA THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IN THE WORKSHOP. BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EVEN -- I'M HAPPY TO HEAR FROM ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO TALK. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EVEN LIKE JUMP INTO THIS. BECAUSE THEY ALL MEET THE CRITERIA APPARENTLY. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL VALID. A LOT OF THEM ARE OUTSIDE OF NUECES COUNTY JURISDICTION, MEANING US AS A BODY. THAT IS TROUBLING TO ME. BECAUSE YOU KNOW, NOW THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT OTHER PLACES OUTSIDE THAT WERE GOING TO EXPECT US TO DO SOMETHING, LIKE NUECES RIVER AUTHORITY. [01:05:09] CITY OF PORT A. >> CITY OF PORT A IS IN NUECES COUNTY. >> WHAT WERE YOU SAYING? >> I'M SAYING LIKE ANOTHER GOVERNMENTAL SUBSIDY. >> OH, IF ANOTHER POLITICAL JURISDICTION. >> POLITICAL JURISDICTION HAS REQUESTED WHEN WE WITHIN OUR POLITICAL JURISDICTION AND I WOULD ASK THAT IS MY NEXT QUESTION FOR RACHEL OR RICK, HOW MANY OF THOSE MILLIONS ARE WITHIN OUR POLITICAL JURISDICTION OF THE 227 REQUESTED? >> ALL OF THEM. >> DO YOU KNOW THAT ANSWER? YOU CAN TAKE A MINUTE IF YOU DON'T. I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. >> WE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND ADD THAT TO THE ANALYSIS. >> THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. >> ARE YOU ASKING -- I'M CONFUSED. ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE FOR NUECES COUNTY. WHAT ARE YOU ASKING? WHETHER OR NOT SOME OTHER JURISDICTION ASKED FOR IT? THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT ARPA WAS GIVEN TO COUNTIES OUR SIZE BY DIRECT ALLOCATION SO THAT WE WOULD HELP OUR POLITICAL JURISDICTIONS IN THESE ARENAS. CAN YOU ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN SO I CAN UNDERSTAND IT. >> I'M ASKING TO KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE. WHAT ARE THE REQUESTS WITHIN THE POLITICAL JURISDICTION OF NUECES COUNTY AND WHAT DO THE TOTAL OF OUTSIDE POLITICAL JURISDICTION. >> I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. ALL OF THEM ARE INSIDE NUECES COUNTY. I'M CONFUSED BY THAT. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? HOW MANY CAME FROM CITIES? >> RIGHT. AS USING YOUR TERM, HOW MANY CAME FROM OUR POLITICAL JURISDICTION, WHAT WAS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. >> YOU MEAN LIKE OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS. >> YES. I JUST WANT IT TALLIED SO THAT WE KNOW. IT'S JUST A QUESTION. >> THE WHOLE PERSON IS THAT WHEN OTHER COMMUNITIES, WHEN A COUNTY IS GIVEN DOLLARS, IT'S MEANT TO -- >> WE GOT $70 MILLION. AND THERE'S $227 MILLION REQUESTED. >> SO MAYBE IF WE COULD GET RACHEL. SHE WAS, IF WE HAD ACTUALLY ENGAGED IN THE WORKSHOP FROM THE GET-GO, I THINK THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO HAVE A REAL GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW YOU GO ABOUT DOING THAT. WHEN YOU HAVE MORE NEEDS THAN ABILITY. AND THE IDEA HERE IS TO GO BACK TO THE THREE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU JUST GOT HANDED OUT. ONE WAS THE PLAN THAT YOU WERE GIVEN IN DECEMBER. ONE WAS THE ONE-PAGE OVERVIEW, FRONT AND BACK, THAT BASICALLY TALKS ABOUT HOW ALL OF THE DATA WAS GATHERED. AND THEN ALL OF THE PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS, EVERY SINGLE PROJECT THAT WAS SUBMITTED IS BOTH CATEGORIZED AND FOCUSED INSIDE WHAT THEY CALL APPENDIX A. AND SO IF YOU'LL START THERE, LET'S LET RACHEL AT LEAST SHOW YOU WHAT THIS WORKSHOP WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE. AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS A PARTICULAR PROJECT OR PRE-SEPS OF PROJECTS, MAYBE WE COULD GET INTO THAT. DO WE HAVE THEM NOW? >> STILL WAITING ON AN E-MAIL. >> Y'ALL CAN PROVIDE ME THE INFO THAT I NEEDED AND THE WHOLE COURT LATER. WE'RE NOT VOTING ON THINGS. I JUST NEED IT FOR LATER, PLEASE. >> RIGHT. THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF TODAY WAS EXACTLY TO PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW. THAT WAS THE COURT MANAGER'S CONCEPT. IT WAS OUR CONCEPT. >> I'M READY. >> I HAD SENT THAT E-MAIL TO YOU. >> I JUST GOT IT. >> OKAY. ON MAY OF 2021, WE RECEIVED OUR FIRST TRANCHE OF FUNDS. IN JUNE OF JULY OF 2021, WE DID AN INTERNAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT. THAT MEANS HERE AT THE COUNTY. IN SEPTEMBER, WE DID A CITY AND COUNTY LEADS FORUM. IN SEPTEMBER, WE DID A LOCAL BUSINESS AND NON-PROFITS FORUM. IN SEPTEMBER, WE DID A GENERAL PUBLIC FORUM. IN OCTOBER, WE DID A GENERAL PUBLIC FORUM. IN OCTOBER, WE DID A LAUNCH COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SURVEY. IN DECEMBER, THE COURT WAS PRESENTED WITH THE FRAMEWORK FOR SPENDING. THAT HAS BEEN THE TIMELINE. TODAY IS FEBRUARY 9TH. AND THE MONTH OF JANUARY, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE DATE FOR THE COURT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SINCE DECEMBER THAT WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A WORKSHOP. SO THE TRUTH IS THAT WHATEVER IT IS THAT EVERYONE WAS ALL HOT AND BOTHERED ABOUT TODAY THAT DIDN'T GET POSTED, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS CALLED YOU KNOW, I JUST SAW THIS, A GUY THAT WROTE A BOOK TODAY, [01:10:03] 2022, AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS. AND NOT ABOUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. WELL, AMEN TO THAT TODAY. TODAY IT'S ABOUT RESPONSIBILITIES. YOU SHOULD HAVE THESE THREE THINGS, THEY SHOULD BE COMMITTED TO MEMORY, YOU SHOULD KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM. BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, FOLKS. BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT A GLASS HALF EMPTY. IT'S NOT ABOUT 220 MILLION AND US ONLY HAVING 60. YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT HAVING $60 MILLION. WE NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE. HOW ABOUT A LITTLE HAPPINESS, JOY. WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS IF WE DO OUR JOB RIGHT. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE DRUDGERY OF THE TASK. IT'S ABOUT THE JOY THAT WE COULD CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES. CHANGE THE ATTITUDE SO THAT WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS. VERY FEW JURISDICTIONS, VERY FEW, HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR DOING THIS KIND OF ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT. AND FOR OUTSIDE AUDITORS AND FOR INSIDE AUDITORS, THIS IS WHAT MAKES THEIR JOB EASY. BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE A COMPLETE ASSESSMENT AND PRE-VETTING OF THESE PROJECTS. AND WE'VE PLACED THEM INTO TRANCHES. AND THEN WE'VE SAID COMMUNITY, WHAT DO YOU THINK? AND NOW YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE HOW THIS MAKES SENSE. BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT 220 MILLION, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE COMMUNITY THINKS IS VALUED. AND TO SEE WHAT EXTENT IT'S VALUED. AND THAT SHOULD HELP US AS A COURT, AS POLICY MAKERS MAKE THESE DECISIONS. GO AHEAD, RICK. YOU'VE GOT IT LOADED. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. >> I'M SORRY, RACHEL. FORGIVE ME. IT'S RACHEL SPEAKING TO US. >> YES. SO WE ARE HERE TODAY TO HELP FACILITATE THIS WORKSHOP AND TO HELP BE A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION AND TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT THE PROJECTS IN THE EXCEL SPREADSHEET, AS WELL AS THE PROJECTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE STRATEGIC FISCAL RECOVERY FROM DECEMBER. CAN YOU FLIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. IS THAT CONNIE WHO IS CHANGING SLIDES? >> I SWITCHED SLIDES FOR YOU. >> IT'S ON THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES. WE'VE SEEN THIS SLIDE TOO. >> FROM MY END, IT'S STILL SHOWING THE INITIAL SLIDE. >> OKAY. WE'RE ON THE NEXT ONE. GO AHEAD. >> OKAY. ONE MOMENT THEN. OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS AND WHAT THOSE FUNDS CAN DO FOR THE COUNTY AND THEN WITH THE PUBLISHING OF THE FINAL RULE IN JANUARY, WE WERE REALLY ABLE TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN START TO SPEND THESE FUNDS. AND SO FOR THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, THIS IS WHERE WE REALLY START TO SEE WHAT THESE FUNDS ARE DESIGNED TO DO. ON ONE END OF THE SPECTRUM, THE FUNDS ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT ONE-TIME FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, IN TIMELY INVESTMENTS AND WE'VE SEEN THE COURT ACT ON THAT OPPORTUNITY AS YOU START TO FUND REALLY IMPORTANT AND TIMELY PROJECTS. OTHER SIDE OF THIS PROJECT, THAT IS WHERE THIS WORKSHOP COMES IN, PRIORITIZING LONG-TERM RECOVERY PROJECTS, USING STRATEGIES TO LEAD TO AN EFFECTIVE AND EQUITABLE RECOVERY. FOCUSING ON TRANSFORMATIONAL OUTCOMES. IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT THEN IS LOOKING AT MAXIMIZING THE OPPORTUNITY AFFORDED TO THE COUNTY WITH THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY. ONE OF THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN DO THAT IS BY LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS. I SEE THAT NCDC IS ON THE CALL HERE TODAY. THE NUECES COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS AT THE MOMENT REVIEWING ALL OF THE PROJECTS THE COURT RECEIVED IN DECEMBER TO STUDY AND REVIEW AND IDENTIFY THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF EACH AND EVERY OF THOSE PROJECTS. TO THEN GIVE THE COURT A REPORT IN THE COMING MONTHS, RELATED TO WHAT THOSE PROJECTS CAN DO FOR NUECES COUNTY. WHAT IT MEANS TO FUND THE JAIL DIVERSION CENTER. WHAT IT MEANS TO FUND A PARTICULAR DRAINAGE PROJECT OR A ROAD PROJECT, FOR EXAMPLE. AND THEN BEYOND MAXIMIZING OPPORTUNITY, THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY THEN, THIS IS WHAT THE TREASURY ASKS US TO DO WITH THESE FUNDS, LOOK AT NEEDS. AND ALIGN AN ALLOCATION, METHODOLOGY AT A HIGH LEVEL, TO ATTACK THOSE DEMONSTRATIVE NEEDS THAT THE COUNTY HAS WORKED SO HARD TO IDENTIFY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AND WITH THAT, WE CAN TURN IT TO THE NEXT SLIDE TO TALK ABOUT [01:15:02] WHAT THE COUNTY HAS DONE TO IDENTIFY THE NEEDS. ARE WE ON THE NEXT SLIDE. >> YEAH. WE'VE GOT THE TIMELINE, I ACTUALLY READ IT A SECOND AGO. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. SO AS THE JUDGE MENTIONED IN MAY, THE COUNTY RECEIVED THE FIRST HALF OF THE FUNDS AND FROM THERE, MOVED FORWARD THROUGH THE INTERNAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT. WE MET WITH YOU, THE COURT MEMBERS. WE MET WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND WE ASKED WHAT PROJECTS COULD BE FUNDED TO HELP THAT COVID-19 RECOVERY HERE IN THE COUNTY. THOSE PROJECTS ARE PRESENTED TO YOU IN THE STRATEGIC RECOVERY PLAN. I BELIEVE THERE WERE 60 OR SO THAT CAME OUT OF THAT. WE THEN HELPED THE COUNTY MOVE FORWARD THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS. AS THE JUDGE MENTIONED, THERE WERE FIVE EVENTS. TWO LOCAL PUBLIC FORUMS. WE MET WITH YOUR BUSINESS AND NON-PROFIT MEMBERS. THE COUNTY MET WITH LOCAL JURISDICTIONS. I'LL REVIEW THOSE RESULTS AS WELL IN A MINUTE. IN DECEMBER, THE STRATEGIC FISCAL RECOVERY PLAN WAS PRESENTED TO YOU AND THERE WAS A SPENDING FRAMEWORK PRESENTED AS A PART OF THAT AS WELL, WHICH CAN THEN BE USED TO HELP GUIDE TODAY'S CONVERSATION, WHICH IS ABOUT ALLOCATING FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS ACROSS HIGH LEVEL CATEGORIES. NOT FUNDING PARTICULAR PROJECTS. THE PROJECTS INCLUDED IN THAT EXCEL SPREADSHEET ARE USED AS A WAY TO GUIDE THAT CONVERSATION. SO THAT YOU CAN KNOW WHICH PROJECTS WOULD GO INTO THOSE HIGH LEVEL THEMES, NOT NECESSARILY WHICH PROJECTS YOU WANT TO FUND WITHIN THOSE THEMES. THAT WAS THE INTENDED OUTCOME OF TODAY'S WORKSHOP. THAT ALLOCATION PROCESS CAN THEN POSITION THE COURT TO BE IN MARCH AND ONGOING TO RECEIVE THAT FEEDBACK ON THE NUECES COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND ALL OF THE RESEARCH ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT TO EACH OF THOSE PROJECTS TO HELP YOU PRIORITIZE THE MOST TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS WITHIN THE THEMED BUCKETS. WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS THERE. OKAY. SO FOR TODAY'S FUNDING ALLOCATION SESSION, IT WAS REALLY GOING TO BE, IT IS REALLY GOING TO BE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW FUNDING CAN BE ALLOCATED INTO THESE HIGH LEVEL THEMES IN A WAY THAT ADDRESSES COUNTY, COURT AND COMMUNITY NEEDS. AS I MENTIONED, INTERNAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT WAS CONDUCTED. AND ALL OF THE NEEDS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BY MEETING WITH YOU ALL AND YOUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS CHART THAT YOU SAW IN THE DECEMBER 15TH PRESENTATION AND IN THE STRATEGIC FISCAL RECOVERY PLAN. WE WERE ALSO A PART OF THE FIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS. I DO SEE SOMEONE HAS COMMENTED THAT THE SLIDES ARE NOT CHANGING ON ZOOM AS WELL. >> WE'RE GOING TO LET CONNIE WORK ON THAT. KEEP GOING. FOR THOSE OF YOU ONLINE, WE'RE GOING TO CORRECT THIS. GIVE US A MOMENT. BUT LET'S NOT STOP. KEEP GOING AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM CONNIE, AFTER RACHEL STOPS TALKING AND GO THROUGH EACH OF THEM. HOLD ON. >> THE FIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FUNDS IN TOTAL -- >> HOLD ON. WE'VE LOST SCREEN. HOLD ON. HOW ABOUT SOMEBODY ONLINE LETTING US KNOW. CAN Y'ALL SEE IT IT ONLINE NOW? GO BACK TO SLIDE THREE, PLEASE. GO BACK TO SLIDE TWO, PLEASE. FOR THOSE OF YOU ONLINE, WE STARTED HERE WITH THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES. GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. AND THEN WE LOOKED AT THE TIME LINE SHOWING KIND OF WHERE WE THINK, WHERE WE ARE TODAY, GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. RACHEL WAS STARTING HERE. GO AHEAD. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. AS I WAS SAYING, THE INTERNAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROJECTS INCLUDED IN THE STRATEGIC FISCAL RECOVERY PLAN ARE ALL CAPTURED IN THIS CHART HERE, AS WELL ASSUME A SUMMARY OF ALL OF THE PROJECT IDEAS THAT CAME OUT OF THE FIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS, TWO LOCAL PUBLIC FORUMS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS. ONE ROUND TABLE WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ACROSS NINE JURISDICTIONS IN THE COUNTY. ANOTHER ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP MEETING WITH BUSINESS AND NON-PROFIT LEADERS, OVER 55 PEOPLE ATTENDED THAT MEETING AND THEN ANOTHER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT IN DECEMBER, WHERE THE COUNTY CALLED ON STAKEHOLDERS WHO ATTENDED PREVIOUS EVENTS AND NEW STAKEHOLDERS TO COME AND TALK ABOUT THE STRATEGIC FISCAL RECOVERY PLAN. [01:20:01] THERE WAS ALSO A COMMUNITY-WIDE SURVEY. 600 PEOPLE RESPONDED TO THAT AND SHARED THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT THEY WOULD PRIORITIZE FOR USE OF FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS. IN TOTAL, THE FEEDBACK HERE COMES FROM 90 STAKEHOLDERS WHO CAME TO THOSE EVENTS, INCLUDES YOU ALL ON THE COURT, DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, 600 PEOPLE RESPONDING TO THE SURVEY SHARING THEIR FEEDBACK AND THOUGHTS ON THIS PROCESS. IN TOTAL, 130 PROJECT IDEAS CAME FORWARD OUT OF THAT PROCESS. AND WHEN ORGANIZED, THEY FIT INTO THESE SIX KEY PRIORITY AREAS. AND I'LL DISCUSS THE DOLLAR VALUES THAT YOU SEE ON THIS SCREEN IN A MOMENT. BUT FIRST, I'LL EXPLAIN WHAT THE PERCENTS ARE. SO AFTER ALL OF THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COUNTY OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENT, WHAT WE FOUND THAT 13 PERCENT OF THE NEEDS THAT CAME FORWARD WERE RELATED TO WATER AND DRAINAGE PROJECTS, BOOSTER PUMP STATIONS, WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. THEY FIT INTO THAT 13 PERCENT CHUNK. ALSO ANOTHER PROJECTS RELATED TO SUPPORTING FAMILIES WITH FOOD PROGRAMS, HOUSING INITIATIVES AND PREMIUM PAY. SURVIVOR BENEFITS. THAT WAS 11 PERCENT OF THE PROJECTS IN THAT HOUSEHOLD INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE BUCKET. ANOTHER 13 PERCENT OF THE PROJECTS THAT CAME FORWARD RELATED TO INCREASING ACCESS TO PUBLIC HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, JAIL DIVERSION CENTER. THAT WAS A BIG PIECE OF A LOT OF OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BUSINESS FOLKS AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LEADERS. ANOTHER 11 PERCENT OF THE PROJECTS RELATED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GIVING FUNDING TO NON-PROFITS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND FUNDING LOCAL TOURIST ATTRACTIONS AND HELPING THAT PART OF THE NUECES COUNTY ECONOMY COME BACK UP. 30 PERCENT OF THE PROJECTS WERE RELATED TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES. SO THIS IS INVESTMENTS IN YOUR PARKS, GENERAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND JUST GENERAL PROJECTS THAT WOULDN'T FIT INTO THE OTHER BUCKETS THAT YOU SEE HERE. AND THEN LASTLY, 20 PERCENT OF THE PROJECTS THAT CAME OUT OF ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS FIT INTO THE IMPROVING PUBLIC SECTOR CAPACITY BUCKET. THIS WAS RELATED TO FUNDING NECESSARY COUNTY POSITIONS, AND IT IMPROVEMENTS AND CYBER SECURITY PROJECTS. SO THE COUNTY, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, IDENTIFIED OVER $227 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS. BUT THAT DOESN'T EVEN CAPTURE ALL OF THE PROJECTS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PROJECTS, MOST OF THE PROJECTS THAT YOU SEE ON THE EXCEL SPREADSHEET DIDN'T HAVE COST ESTIMATES YET. SO THAT CAPTURE ALL OF THE NEED. WHAT THE PERCENTS CAPTURE IS THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT FIT INTO THOSE CATEGORIES. >> OKAY. I'M GOING TO HOLD RIGHT NOW. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SLIDE. LET'S LET COMMISSIONERS ASK QUESTIONS. WE'VE LEARNED THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME SMALL AMOUNT OF THE OVER 130 PROJECTS THAT REPRESENT THINGS THAT CAME IN OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS THAT YOU KNOW, WE THOUGHT SHOULD BE AT LEAST BROUGHT FORTH BECAUSE THEY MET THE REQUIREMENTS. AND THEY WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE COUNTY. SO LET'S JUST ASSUME THAT THERE IS A FEW IN HERE BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THESE PERCENTAGES ARE REFLECTIVE OF ALL OF THE PROJECTS, WE KNOW THAT ALL OF THESE PROJECTS WERE BROUGHT FORTH BY SOMEBODY, COULD HAVE BEEN A COMMISSIONER, COULD HAVE BEEN A DEPARTMENT HEAD. MAYOR OF A SMALL COMMUNITY. COULD HAVE BEEN A NON-PROFIT. NOW WE CAN SEE ON THIS CIRCLE CHART HOW THEY FIT INTO THESE BUCKETS. AND WHAT THOSE BUCKETS MEAN DOLLAR-WISE, ASSUMING, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS, THAT WE ARE CLOSE TO ACCURATE. I'LL CONCEDE THAT WE MAY NOT BE PERFECT, 57984655, BUT IF THAT IS WHAT WE'VE GOT LEFT, GIVEN THE COURT HAS ALREADY APPROPRIATED ALL OF THESE OTHER DOLLARS, PREMIUM PAY, ET CETERA, HERE IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON A PIE CHART WITH DOLLARS ALLOCATED. >> WOULD THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? >> SAY IT AGAIN. >> WOULD THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THE PAY ALREADY ALLOCATED. >> THE PAY REPRESENTS ABOUT TEN MILLION, IF I REMEMBER DALE. SO THE DIFFERENCE, COMMISSIONER, IS THAT IF YOU DID NOT HAVE, IF YOU HAD -- LET'S SAY PREMIUM PAY WASN'T THERE. YOU WOULD HAVE 67 MILLION. WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU IS THAT THE PERCENTAGES JUST APPLY TO THE PROJECTS. THAT IS WHAT I'M TAKING AWAY HERE, IS THAT -- THAT IS WAY WANTED TO KNOW, I WANTED TO KNOW OUT OF ALL OF THE PROJECTS SUBMITTED, HOW DO THEY BREAK DOWN AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN [01:25:01] MONEY-WISE. THAT IS WHAT THIS CHART IS SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU. IF YOU HAVE 67 MILLION, THOSE NUMBERS WILL CHANGE. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. BUT I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, THAT SHIP HAS SAILED. PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN CHECKS. >> I'M JUST SAYING THE REQUEST FOR 178 MILLION PLUS 29, TOTAL WAS 207, NOW IT'S 227. WE GOT ALLOCATED 70 MILLION. SO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT WE PROBABLY DON'T HAVE 157 MORE TO COVER EVERYTHING. >> OF COURSE NOT. I MEAN, THESE ARE JUST CHOICES. >> THAT IS ONE THING PEOPLE REALLY REALLY NEED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW WE ARE STILL WAY SHORT 157 MILLION. >> RIGHT. >> TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR EVERYTHING. >> RIGHT. NO DIFFERENT THAN OUR REGULAR BUDGET. WE GET REQUESTS OF A HUGE AMOUNT. THE GOOD NEWS HERE IS THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN YOU CONCEPTS OF WHERE THEY WANT YOU TO SEE WHERE YOU CAN ALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS. AND AGAIN, WE'RE OPERATING ON SOME ASSUMPTIONS. THE ASSUMPTION IS WE HAVE 57.9, CALL IT 60 MILLION LEFT. OUT OF THE 60 MILLION LEFT, HERE IS WHERE THIS, IF YOU'RE FOLLOWING JUST THE TEMPLATE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED. ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? SHE'S GOT MAYBE TWO MORE SLIDES. GO AHEAD. >> THIS SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN OF THE FUNDS THAT THE COUNTY STILL HAS AVAILABLE AND WHAT IS REMAINING TO BE ALLOCATED. PROVIDE A BIT MORE CONTEXT TO THAT PIECE HERE. SO THE COUNTY RECEIVED THE $70.3 MILLION ALLOCATION. TEN MILLION OF THAT IS LOST REVENUE, UNDER THE FINAL RULE, TREASURY INCLUDED THAT AS AN OPTION FOR RECIPIENTS TO USE THE STANDARD TEN MILLION DOLLARS ALLOCATION. INSTEAD OF CALCULATING THE COUNTY'S LOST REVENUE. THE COURT DID ACCEPT THAT STANDARD OPTION. THAT LEAVES 60 MILLION FOR PROJECTS THAT AREN'T LOST REVENUE. UNDERSTOOD THE PUBLIC HEALTH, NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT BUCKET, PREMIUM PAID BUCKET, WATER, BROADBAND AND SEWER BUCKET. OF THE 60 MILLION THAT CAN GO TOWARD ELIGIBLE PROJECTS OUTSIDE OF LOST REVENUE, THE COUNTY HAS SPENT FUNDING ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AS WELL AS ALLOCATED TO VARIOUS PROJECTS. PROJECTS BOLDED IN THE SPREADSHEET AND EQUAL ABOUT 10 MILLION. LEAVING 49 OR SO LEFT MILLION FOR PROJECTS ELIGIBLE UNDER THE CATEGORIES OUTSIDE OF LOST REVENUE. 8 MILLION IS REMAINING IN YOUR LOST REVENUE BUCKET TO BE ALLOCATED TO PROJECTS THAT AREN'T ELIGIBLE UNDER CATEGORIES 1, 2, 3 AND 4. THAT LEAVES THE 57 MILLION THAT CAN BE ALLOCATED TO THE THEMES THAT WE HAVE HERE, GENERAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES, PUBLIC HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SO ON. THAT WAS THE POINT OF CONVERSATION FOR TODAY'S WORKSHOP. WITH THE PROJECTS INCLUDED IN THE EXCEL SPREADSHEET, AND IN THE STRATEGIC FISCAL RECOVERY PLAN, AS A WAY TO GUIDE THAT CONVERSATION. >> OKAY. LET ME PAUSE THERE FOR THE COMMISSIONERS. SO YOU'VE GOT YOUR BREAKDOWN RIGHT THERE. IF YOU START OFF WITH X, AND YOU SPENT Y, AT THE VERY END IS YOUR AMOUNT. AND IT ACTUALLY SHOWS YOU WHAT THIS COURT HAS ALREADY DONE, WHICH IS 1,142,000 HAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED OVER THE COURSE OF TIME, SINCE YOU KNOW, WE RECEIVED THE DOLLARS. AND OF THOSE, THAT GOES TOWARDS THAT LOST REVENUE PIECE OF IT. WHICH MEANS GOVERNMENT SERVICES. IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT ABOUT THE 10 MILLION ON PREMIUM PAY, THAT DOES NOT GET COUNTED AGAINST LOST REVENUE. YOU'LL SEE THAT HIGHER UP IN THAT 10,000,439 NUMBER, PLUS THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WHICH APPEARS THAT COLLIER JOHNSON WOODS HAS ALREADY LOOKED WOODS HAS ALWOODS HAS ALREADY LOOKED ,439 NUMBERE ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WHICH APPEARS THAT COLLIER JOHN WOODS HAS ALREADY LOOKED ,439 NUMBER ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WHICH APPEARS THAT COLLIER JOHN WOODS HAS ALREADY LOOKED ,439 NUMBER ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WHICH APPEARS THAT COLLIER JOHN WOODS HAS ALREA439 NUMBER, PLUS THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WHICH APPEARS THAT COLLIER JOHN WOODS HAS ALREADY LOOKED ,439 NUMBE ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WHICH APPEARS THAT COLLIER JOHN WOODS HAS ALREADY LOOKED MI,439 NUMBE ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WHICH APPEARS THAT COLLIER JOHN WOODS HAS ALREAL,439 NUMBER, PLUS THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WHICH APPEARS THAT COLLIER JOHN WOODS HAS ALREAL,439 NUMBER, PLUS THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WHICH APPEARS THAT COLLIER JOHN WOODS HAS ALREADY LOOKED ION,439 NUM PLUS THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WHICH APPEARS THAT COLLIER JOHN WOODS HAS ALREADY LOOKED 439 NS THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WHICH APPEARS THAT COLLIER JOHN WOODS HAS ALREADY LOOKED 439 NUMBER PLUS THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WHICH APPEARS THAT COLLIER JOHN WOODS HAS ALREADY LOOKED AT. THAT IS HOW YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT [01:30:01] REMAINING. IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES. >> SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOUR 49 MILLION IS IN ONE TRANCHE. THAT IS NON-LOST REVENUE. AND THEN THE 885 IS LOST REVENUE. YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT IN TWO PIECES, BECAUSE THAT IS HOW THE GOVERNMENT THINKS ABOUT IT. WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH LOST REVENUE, WHAT WE HAVE LEFT IN OUR BANK ACCOUNT, DOWN FROM TEN MILLION. WE SPENT A MILLION 1. AND THEN THE OTHER BUCKET IS WE HAVE ABOUT 49 MILLION LEFT OUT OF THE 60 MILLION. WHERE DID IT ALL GO? PREMIUM PAY. OKAY. SO THAT -- THIS IS WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR TODAY. AND I THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL. AND THEN THERE IS BLANKS THERE TO GET YOU TO FIGURE OUT WHAT BUCKETS OF MONEY ARE ELIGIBLE SO THAT THESE PROJECTS CAN BE CONSIDERED IN THE RIGHT WAY. WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR RACHEL BASED ON THIS PARTICULAR DOCUMENT? THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAD RUN OFF FOR EVERYBODY, ALL IT IS IS BACK-UP DATA FOR THESE NUMBERS. ALL IT IS. PROVE TO YOU THAT 491,276. BACK- BACK-UP DATA TO SHOW YOU WHAT THE COURT HAS APPROPRIATED AND GIVEN TO YOU. AGAIN, THAT IS WHERE WE ARE. THE DESCRIPTIONS UNDER EACH OF THE TRANCHES TELL YOU WHAT IS WHAT. PUBLIC SECTOR CAPACITY IS WHERE FOR EXAMPLE, WE PUT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S PAY RAISES AS WELL AS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S ADDITIONAL COUNTY ATTORNEY. THAT IS WHAT THAT MEANS BY PUBLIC SECTOR CAPACITY. BUT IT COULD ALSO MEAN, I THOUGHT I SAW DARRYL HERE EARLIER. THERE HE IS. IT COULD ALSO MEAN DARRYL, THAT THAT IS WHERE CYBER SECURITY AND IT INFRASTRUCTURE GOES. THAT IS THE TRANCHE THERE THAT WOULD FIT. THAT IS CALLED PUBLIC SECTOR CAPACITY. ANY THOUGHTS, COMMENTS? >> I'M DISTRACTED. >> WHAT IS GOING ON? >> I JUST GOT WORD THAT MAYOR OF PORT -- >> WHY DON'T WE TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE. WOULD YOU LIKE SOME TIME? >> TAKE A BREAK. >> YES. >> TAKE A RECESS. >> ALL RIGHT. WELL, I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT. LET'S FIRST OF ALL, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL HERE TOGETHER, HOWEVER YOU PRAY, WILL YOU JUST CLOSE YOUR EYES WITH US AND REMEMBER CHARLES BOULLON FOR A MOMENT OF 60 SECONDS OF SILENCE, FOLLOWED BY A 10-MINUTE RECESS. PLEASE REPORT BACK TO COURT AT PROMPTLY 11:00 A.M. I'LL START OUR MINUTE NOW OF SILENCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COURT STANDS IN REC 10:49 A.M. >> OKAY. WE'RE BACK ON THE RECORD AT 11:08:00 A.M. AND WHERE WE WERE WAS WE HAD KIND OF GONE OVER THE PRESENTATION, THERE IS ONE OTHER SLIDE. IT'S JUST KIND OF A REMINDER TO EVERYBODY WHAT THOSE ELIGIBLE USES ARE. THEY'RE ON YOUR -- AT THE VERY END, I NOTICED IT -- I HAVE THE BENEFIT OF SEEING CONNIE'S DECK ON THE SIDE. GO TO SLIDE SEVEN. THIS IS JUST A REMINDER THAT THESE ARE THE FOUR ELIGIBLE USE CATEGORIES. YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD TO JUST REMIND YOURSELF THAT YOU CAN SUPPORT PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURES, INVEST IN WATER, SEWER AND BROADBAND. LOST PUBLIC SECTOR REVENUE, PREMIUM PAY FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS. THE ACT IS MUCH LONGER THAN THIS ONE SLIDE, HOWEVER, THIS IS A GOOD SUMMARY OF THE ELIGIBLE USE CATEGORIES. AND ALSO, WHEN YOU GET YOUR -- YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT ON DECEMBER 15TH, YOU HAD AN APPENDIX AND IT HAD 9 DIFFERENT LINKS. [01:35:02] THOSE LINKS ARE FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU WOULD NEED, INCLUDING THE TREASURY'S REFERENCE GUIDE, THE WEBSITES, THE REPORTING GUIDANCE. IT REALLY JUST -- IT'S A COMPLETE, THE ACT ITSELF, IT'S EVERYTHING THAT YOU WOULD POSSIBLY CARE TO KNOW. THAT IS IN YOUR APPENDIX THAT YOU RECEIVED IN DECEMBER. >> EXCUSE ME, JUDGE. I HAVE A QUESTION. ON THIS SURVEY THAT WE DID, DO WE KNOW WHO IS REQUESTING THE MONEYS? >> YES, WE DO, SIR. I GAVE YOU A COPY. TURN TO THIS ONE RIGHT HERE. IF YOU GO BACK HERE, IT IS -- THE REQUESTERS IS LISTED ON THE CHART. SO YOU HAVE A CHART. AND IT'S GOT A FRAMEWORK, WHICH MEANS IT'S GOT -- IT'S 1, 2, 3 OR 4 ON THIS SLIDE. TITLE OF THE PROJECT. IT TELLS YOU WHO IS REQUESTING IT. IT TELLS YOU IF THERE IS A COST ESTIMATE. SOMETIMES PEOPLE, AS WAS POINTED OUT HAD COST ESTIMATES, SOMETIMES THEY HAD NOT. AND THEN THERE IS POTENTIAL EXPENDITURE CATEGORIES. SO LIKE I'M JUST PICKING ONE, I'M JUST GOING TO PICK ONE. IT TALKS ABOUT, THE REQUESTER WAS WCID, WATER CONTROL DISTRICT NUMBER THREE AND THE EXPENDITURE CATEGORY WOULD BE IN TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION FOR WATER. AND THEN THEY REFER TO THE AREA 5.11, THAT IS WHERE THE AUTHORITY IS. SO THAT IS HOW YOU KNOW. YOU JUST USE THIS CHART. AND IT'S AGAIN, THE THICKER ONE. IT IS THE ONE YOU CALL STRATEGIC FISCAL RECOVERY PLAN. YOU GOT THIS IN DECEMBER. THIS IS WHAT GAVE US THE RISE TO THE WORKSHOP. >> I'M JUST HOPING TO SEE SOME OF MY PRECINCT COMMUNITIES IN THERE. >> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT BEFORE REDISTRICTING, A LOT OF YOUR FOLKS WERE IN THERE, AND POST, YOU HAVE THE MAJORITY, WATER DISTRICT 3 SUPPLIES WATER TO THE AREA. SO BY PURE COINCIDENCE, THE ONE I PICKED SHOULD BE OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO YOU, WITHOUT WATER DISTRICT NUMBER THREE, YOU WOULD FIND YOURSELF IN A LOT OF CONSTITUENCY PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DELIVER WATER TO YOUR AREA, WHERE YOU HAVE HIGH RESIDENTIAL POPULATION. YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO THINK ABOUT GETTING TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE WASTE WATER PROJECT THAT WAS MENTIONED, BECAUSE THAT WOULD HELP YOUR AREA OF DRISCOLL, WOULD ALL GREATLY BENEFIT BY A SEPTIC CONVERSION TO WASTE WATER. AND I'M CERTAIN THERE IS MANY MANY OTHERS. BUT THOSE COME TO MIND VERY VERY QUICKLY. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT, JUDGE. GETTING FAMILIAR WITH MY NEW PRECINCTS THAT I TOOK OVER. JUST HOPING TO SEE THAT THERE IS SOME MONEYS THERE FOR DRISCOLL. >> YES, SIR, I THINK YOU'LL FIND THAT THEY ARE, AGAIN, ALL FOCUSED INSIDE THIS TRANCHE, WHAT WE CALL NUMBER TWO THAT YOU SEE ON THE BOARD. THERE IS A TON OF WATER, SEWER AND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE IN THERE. NOT TO MENTION, YOU KNOW, THE OVERALL BENEFIT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PLUS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TO ALL -- TO THE WHOLE COUNTY. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> UH-HUH. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, IF YOU WOULD GO BACK TO THE PIE CHART. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THOUGHT THAT THIS WORKSHOP COULD AT LEAST EXPLORE AND MAYBE TAKE A FEW MORE MINUTES TO DO, IF THERE IS NO MORE QUESTIONS, IF YOU'LL LOOK AT THE ONE-PAGER THAT WE RECEIVED, IT'S CALLED THE PROJECT OVERVIEW AND RESULTS, IT BASICALLY TALKS ABOUT WHAT THE TOP-MENTIONED PROJECTS ARE. AND BY LOOKING AT THE TOP MENTIONED PROJECTS, IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO ME THAT ALMOST EVERYBODY, NO MATTER WHO THEY WERE, FROM WHATEVER BACKGROUND KIND OF FOCUSED ON THREE AREAS, THAT WAS STORMWATER AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, MENTAL HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE AND TO SOME EXTENT, I'M GOING TO CALL IT ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS WAS ALSO SUPER HIGH. IF YOU TOOK THOSE FOUR TO HAVE A GREAT DISCUSSION, THE ONE THAT SCORED THE HIGHEST ACROSS THE BOARD FROM ALL WAS MENTAL HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IS AN ARENA THAT MANY OF US, ALL OF US ON THIS COURT HAVE EXPRESSED ONE TIME OR ANOTHER A VERY [01:40:05] SINCERE DESIRE TO SEE US MAKE AN INVESTMENT THAT WOULD MAKE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANYBODY HERE THAT WANTED TO SPEAK ON THAT. IF NOT, I WANTED TO SAY THAT IF I LOOK HERE, IT'S THE ONE THAT SAYS 13 PERCENT. SO I GUESS IF YOU JUST FOLLOWED THE PIE CHART, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT AT LEAST $7 MILLION OF OUR REMAINING MONEY SHOULD BE INVESTED IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE, BUT FOR ME, USING THIS CHART AS A GUIDELINE, AT LEAST $7 MILLION, NOT ONLY REFLECTS THE 13 PERCENT, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR JAILS, ARE OUR LARGEST MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY. THAT HAS TO CHANGE. AND THE ONLY WAY THAT CAN CHANGE IS BY DOING A JAIL DIVERSION CENTER. THE ONLY WAY THAT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU GET MONEY. I BELIEVE THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY, $7 MILLION PROBABLY WOULD BE A GOOD AMOUNT. YES, MA'AM. >> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADDRESS, I REPRESENT SINICOR, WE TREAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH, THE FACILITY, I FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY. A LOT OF THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE, IT VARIES, WE TREAT THE INDIGENT POPULATION AND VETERANS. IT DOESN'T JUST STOP THERE, WITH COVID, IT'S INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. EVERY INDIVIDUAL THAT COMES, WE SEE SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND BOTH MENTAL HEALTH. AND COVID HAS IMPACTED THAT DRAMATICALLY. AND SO WE ASKED FOR DOLLARS FOR THE ARPA DOLLARS. WE SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL, ASKING FOR DOLLARS FOR ASSISTANCE, TO EXPAND SERVICES. WE HAVE SPECIFICALLY FOR A VETERAN'S WING. BECAUSE WE TREAT THE HOMELESS VETERANS, THE NON-HOMELESS VETERANS AND THEN ALSO ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL. SO JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WITH COVID RISING AGAIN, WE STARTED SEEING A RISE. AND DURING COVID, WE NEVER CLOSED OUR DOORS. AND SO JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THE COURT AND LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU DO HAVE OUR PROPOSAL, IT'S QUITE EXTENSIVE AND IT DOES HAVE FIGURES, DURING THE TIMES FROM THE BEGINNING OF COVID AND THEN NOW. SO THAT IS BASICALLY IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> JUST TO KIND OF MAKE IT FEEL LIKE A REAL WORKSHOP, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT ANYBODY ON THE SPOT, BUT DARRYL, I AM NOT GOING TO MAKE YOU BE READY FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE NOT, BUT IN GENERAL, PART OF WHAT WE WERE PRESENTED WAS SOME SORT OF OVERALL, HEY, LOOK, COUNTY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO FUNCTION IN THE FUTURE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN IT. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT IT GENERALLY? THIS CONCEPT OF CYBER SECURITY INVESTMENT OR IT INVESTMENT, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IN A WORKSHOP. >> YES, MA'AM. ACTUALLY, I HAVE UPDATED SOME OF THE DATA FROM WHAT WAS IN THE LONG REPORT THAT HAGERTY DID. THESE PROJECTS WERE LISTED IN THERE. AND THEY'VE BEEN EXPANDED ON ACTUALLY, BETTER EXPLANATORY. WERE THEY GIVEN THIS BY ANY CHANCE? >> WE GOT IT THIS MORNING. >> YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. SINCE I APOLOGIZE THIS DIDN'T COME EARLIER, BUT THIS WAS GIVEN AS A NON-DECISION MAKING COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING. SO IT DOESN'T ADD ANYTHING. IT JUST ELABORATES. ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE INITIAL INFORMATION WAS GIVEN. THIS BREAKS DOWN EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH INFRASTRUCTURE. WE'RE WAY BEHIND AND THE COUNTY WAS NOT ABLE TO DO MUCH ABOUT THIS DURING COVID, BECAUSE PERSONNEL WAS TIED UP WITH THE COVID, REMOTE ACCESS AND ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF. SO BUT IT DOES BREAK IT OUT. AND GIVES YOU MORE INFORMATION TO GO OFF OF. SO WHENEVER THE TIME COMES TO ACTUALLY MAKE DECISIONS, YOU'LL HAVE THIS TO REVIEW AND BE ABLE TO MAKE HOPEFULLY GOOD DECISIONS ON IT. BECAUSE WE KIND OF NEED THIS IN PLACE IN ORDER TO PROCEED WITH A LOT OF OTHER ITEMS WE WANT TO DO. [01:45:03] TOWARDS THE END, THERE ARE TWO SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE MORE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT IT GIVES YOU AN EXAMPLE OF ADDING MORE ITEMS TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO EXPAND LIKE WE NEED TO AND ADD MORE WITHOUT DOING THIS. OF COURSE, THE CYBER SECURITY COMPONENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO PROCEED KIND OF ADVANCE IN TO THE FUTURE. >> I'M TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO START THINKING ABOUT WHERE THESE BIG PICTURE ITEMS ARE THAT ARE TRANSFORMATIONAL. IF YOU GO BACK TO THE FIRST SLIDE, CONNIE, WHAT IS YOUR MISSION. YOU KNOW, THE MISSION IS DEFINED FOR US ON THAT FIRST SLIDE WITH THE CHECK MARKS. AND THIS IS THE MISSION, RIGHT THERE. IS IT NEEDED? DOES IT MAXIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITY? IS THERE ANYTHING OUT THERE LEVERAGING YOU KNOW, THESE DOLLARS? IS THIS GOING TO BE A GOOD INVESTMENT WITH A GOOD RATE OF RETURN? AND THEN THE TRANSFORMATIONAL OUTCOME, YOU KNOW, IS THAT A LONG-TERM STRATEGY? TYPICALLY IT IS. IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THE NCDC IS HERE. I'VE SEEN DIFFERENT MEMBERS. THE REASON THAT CAME ABOUT WAS BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE THINKING ABOUT BOB HERE, OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC IMPACT, THE SAME THING OCCURS HERE, ANY TIME YOU MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF INVESTMENT, WE HAVE THESE AMAZING LOCAL RESOURCES LIKE THE UNIVERSITY, LIKE YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS. AND THE WHOLE CONCEPT IS HEY, I MEAN, YOU HAVE THEM WORKING FOR YOU. GET THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND SAY WE REPRESENT XY AND Z. WE THINK THIS WOULD BE A GREAT RATE OF RETURN. BUT YOU CAN'T ASK THEM TO GO AND VET, YOU KNOW, 200 PROJECTS. YOU GOT TO GIVE THEM SOME GUIDANCE AND GUIDELINES. AND THAT IS WHAT THIS WORKSHOP WAS HOPEFULLY GEARED TO DO. IS THAT IF YOU GO BACK NOW CONNIE TO NUMBER THREE, FOUR. HERE IS WHERE YOU START. AND THEN GO TO 5. I MEAN, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT PARKS? I'M JUST GOING DOWN THE LIST. PUBLIC HEALTH. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE UNITED WAY MADE A PRETTY GOOD PITCH, AS WELL AS 100 NON-PROFITS REALLY THAT ANSWERED. WE SHOULD DO NON-PROFITS. >> JUDGE, YEAH, PROBABLY THE BETTER PART OF -- JUST GET CLARITY ON SOME OF THIS STUFF WE'VE ASKED FOR. SET IT BACK TO A REGULAR LIKE TO VOTE YOU KNOW, AGENDA ITEM, PRETTY SOON SO THAT WE CAN START MOVING BECAUSE I MEAN, I'M NOT ARGUING WITH ANY OF THE QUALITY OF ANY OF THESE PROJECTS. JUST GOING TO BE HAVE TO SIT AND FIGURE OUT WHERE THE COURT -- >> LET ME THROW IT RIGHT BACK AT YOU. LET'S HAVE A DISCUSSION. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WORKSHOP IS SO GREAT ABOUT. I'M GOING TO TAKE AN EASY PEASY ONE. LET'S TAKE IT, IMPROVING PUBLIC SECTOR CAPACITY. ONE AT THE BOTTOM. CAN WE GO BACK TO NUMBER 4. WHAT DID THEY SAY ON 4? SO ON 4, 20 PERCENT OF THE PROJECTS WERE LISTED BY THE PEOPLE AS PUBLIC SECTOR CAPACITY. AND THAT IS BECAUSE THOSE WORDS INCLUDE -- GO BACK TO YOUR DEFINITIONS GUYS, ON 5. WHAT DOES THAT INCLUDE? IF YOU DON'T MIND. THAT IS YOUR PERSONNEL AND SOFTWARE IT IMPROVEMENTS. WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF ADDRESSED PERSONNEL. I MEAN, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT INVESTING IN -- I MEAN, WE'RE NOT HERE TO PUT NUMBERS. I'M SAYING DO YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA? DO YOU THINK IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA. CAN YOU SEE THAT AS BEING SOMETHING THAT THESE DOLLARS BEING GOOD FOR. THAT IS WHAT A WORKSHOP IS ABOUT. JUST TALK. >> I UNDERSTAND. WHAT I'M SAYING I DON'T -- HAVING LOOKED THROUGH THESE PROJECTS, I DON'T HAVE -- I DON'T SEE ANY THAT ARE OBSCENE OR HORRIBLE. SOME OF THE NEW ONES, I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO BE VETTED. I DON'T SEE THE CATEGORIES AS A PROBLEM. AS I SIT HERE TODAY, I DON'T HAVE A CLUE RIGHT NOW -- I AM HAPPY THAT WE HAVE THIS EXTRA MONEY. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE UNHAPPY THAT DON'T GET THEIR ALLOCATIONS MADE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT PROCESS FOR THE COURT TO GO THROUGH, A LENGTHY DIFFICULT PROCESS TO PICK HOW TO SPEND 57 MILLION. THAT IS LIFE. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. I'M WILLING TO DO IT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EVEN -- >> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS [01:50:02] CONCEPT, THOUGH, NOT ALL THINGS HAVE TO HAVE A RATE OF RETURN, BUT SOME THINGS DO. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE PROCESS OF GETTING -- I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT DR. LEE ON THE HOOK HERE, BUT A PERSON TO LOOK AT ECONOMIC IMPACT AND THEN FOR OTHERS TO SAY HEY, LOOK, THIS MAY NOT HAVE A RATE OF RETURN, BUT THE RATE OF RETURN IS THE HAPPINESS THAT YOUR CHILDREN HAVE WHEN THEY GO TO THE PARKS AND THE PARKS HAVE WI-FI AND LIGHTS AND GOOD SIDEWALKS. >> I THINK THAT IS A VALID POINT TOO. JUDGE, I WISH IN MY PERFECT WORLD COUNTY GOVERNMENT WOULD OPERATE IN FINANCIAL INVESTMENT. BUT I KNOW THAT IS NOT REALITY. SO THE REALITY IS WE HAVE TO FIX BUILDINGS. WE HAVE TO FIX DRAINAGE. AND SOME OF THAT WILL HAVE A DIRECT FINANCIAL RETURN AND SOME OF IT WILL TAKE 10 OR 15 YEARS FOR QUALITY OF LIFE AND GROWTH AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. YEAH. IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO HAVE SOME EXPERT BROUGHT IN TO SEE HOW SOME OF THESE DOLLARS WOULD AFFECT THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT HOW -- WHAT CATEGORIES THOSE ARE. BECAUSE CERTAINLY THE STRAIGHT-UP ONES WOULD BE WHAT IS GOING TO PROVIDE US A RETURN INVESTMENT FOR THINGS AND THE OTHER ONES ARE GOING TO BE RETURN INVESTMENT ON QUALITY OF LIFE. I MEAN I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO KEEP DIGGING INTO THIS STUFF. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. IT LOOKS LIKE SCOTT -- >> I CAN MAKE THINGS EASY FOR COASTAL, THE LIST THAT I PROVIDED TO HAGERTY TO COMPLY WITH THE EXERCISE, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK ME AND DARRYL ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT MET THE DEADLINE, IN GETTING THE STUFF IN. SO THAT BEING SAID, THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF IN THAT LIST THAT COULD GO AWAY. I COULD PRIORITIZE STUFF IN THERE, FOCUSING ON EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENTS AND THINGS THAT ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO GET A RETURN ON INVESTMENT. BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE PIE CHART, I'M IN THAT TOURISM AREA. THAT IS WHERE ALL OF MY STUFF IS. I GOT THREE PRIORITIES ON THAT LIST. IF YOU WANT TO HEAR THEM NOW, I'LL TELL THEM TO YOU. I WANT THE DUNE WALK-OVER AND NATURE PARK ROAD. >> YOU'VE GOT TO TALK A LITTLE SLOWER. >> THAT KING PAVILION, I GUARANTEE YOU, BARRING ALL OF THE OTHER DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD ABOUT IT, BARRING ALL OF THE DISCUSSIONS, THE VISION THAT I HAVE THAT IS REPRESENTED IN THIS LIST IS GOING TO BE HUGE. IT WILL PAY DIVIDENDS TO THE COUNTY, WITHOUT A DOUBT. >> OKAY. SO THAT IS HELPFUL. I'VE WRITTEN THOSE DOWN. AND THOSE CAN BE NOW LOOKED AT AS YOUR PRIORITY. BUT WHAT I'M TRYING TO JUST DO IS GET MORE OF THAT. YOU KNOW, MORE INFORMATION THAT HELPS THE COURT SAY YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO PUT EVERYTHING ON THE LIST, BUT IF ASKED TO SAY WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR YOU. >> THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO WHEN WE GO THROUGH A BUDGET PROCESS. >> THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING EXERCISE. BECAUSE MAYBE IF WE WENT BACK TO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED PROJECTS AND SAID OKAY, FOLKS, WE NEED A LITTLE HELP HERE. WE DON'T HAVE 227 MILLION. WE THINK THE PROJECTS ARE ALL GREAT AND FINE AND GOOD, BUT ARE THERE ONES ON THIS LIST THAT ARE MULTIPLES THAT COULD BE PAIRED DOWN OR PAIRED AWAY TO WHERE WE KNOW THIS IS PARKS PRIORITY, COASTAL PARKS. IF THE CITY OF ROCKSTOWN SUBMITTED FOUR, MAYBE THESE TWO ARE THE TOP. JUST TO GIVE US SOME HELP. BECAUSE WE JUST CAN'T DO IT ALL. WE DON'T WANT THIS TO BE A NEGATIVE. WE WANT THIS TO BE A POSITIVE. MAYBE WE ASK EVERYBODY TO PAIR DOWN THEIR LISTS. >> WE CERTAINLY COULD. BUT IT IS OUR JOB TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS AND TOUGH DECISIONS. SO IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO AT LEAST -- THEY COULD PUT THEIR PRIORITY. THE IDEA HERE IS TO HAVE A WORKING DIALOG. GO BACK TO OUR PIE CHART. >> AS A DEPARTMENT HEAD, I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO TELL YOU THAT I DON'T NEED EVERYTHING. BUT BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO PAIR IT DOWN, GET MY INPUT ON WHAT I THINK SHOULD BE PAIRED DOWN TO. >> OF COURSE, NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WHAT CAN BE LEVERAGED, SCOTT. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WOULDN'T WANT, FOR EXAMPLE, FORGIVE ME TO PUT NATURE PARK IN EVEN THOUGH THAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, IF IT CAN BE FUNDED BY CBDG, THAT IS A HIGHER CALLING THERE. THE PURPOSE IF YOU GO BACK TO YOUR CHECKMARKS, THIS PROCESS MAKES SENSE. WHAT THE COURT NEEDS TO AT LEAST -- YOU DON'T NEED TO VOTE ON PROJECTS TODAY OR EVEN IN MARCH. WHAT YOU GOT TO DO AT LEAST IS START CREATES AN SIV SO THAT PEOPLE OUT THERE CAN EITHER PRIORITIZE OR CREATE ECONOMIC IMPACTS, SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT -- IF YOU PUT 7 MILLION INTO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND FIVE OF THE SEVEN WERE TO GO TO JAIL [01:55:05] DIVERSION. YOU COULD SAY HEY, JAIL DIVERSION COULD YIELD 23 MILLION IN SAVINGS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT IS WHERE THIS COURT WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP A LITTLE BIT BY AGREEING, DISAGREEING OR COMING UP WITH A HYBRID OF SLIDE NUMBER >> ANOTHER THING THAT I HELP WITH THIS PROCESS IS I LOOKED AT THINGS WHAT DO I HAVE A HEAD START ON. BRISCO, I'VE GOT ARCHITECTURAL RENDERINGS OF WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE AFTER REMODELLED. I'VE GOT CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS THAT I'M PAYING OUT OF MY BUDGET. I'VE GOT ALL MY ENGINEERING COSTS TALLIED. I LOOKED AT THOSE KIND OF THINGS WHERE YOU GOT A HEAD START, MAYBE I'VE GOT AN INVESTMENT IN THAT AREN'T IN THIS ASK. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. SCOTT, YOU'VE REALLY -- I REALLY THINK THE WAY TO DO THIS, I MEAN, I'M NOT PICKING ON YOU, THE ONE THAT STUCK OUT TO ME THE MOST WAS INLAND PARKS THEMSELVES ASKED FOR $85.5 MILLION WHEN WE ONLY HAD 70. THAT IS NOT CRITICIZING THEM. THEY IDENTIFIED AS ALL OF THEIR NEEDS. SURELY, AS A DEPARTMENT HEAD, WE CAN ASK THE PARKS DIRECTOR, TO SAY OKAY, WE DON'T HAVE THAT. WHY NOT ASK ALL OF THESE DEPARTMENT HEADS WHO SUBMITTED AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO SUBMITTED MULTIPLE PROJECTS, IF YOU ONLY SUBMITTED ONE, WE KNOW THAT IS YOUR PRIORITY. IF YOU SUBMITTED MULTIPLE, WE DON'T HAVE IT. REALITY IS WE DON'T HAVE IT. I THINK THIS COURT SHOULD AT LEAST MAKE SOME DIRECTION TO THE FOLKS SUBMITTED MULTIPLE ONES, YOU'VE GOT TO HELP US PAIR DOWN. YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT OFF THE LIST, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO TELL US, IF YOU ONLY GOT ONE OR TWO OR WHATEVER WE CAN AFFORD TO DO RIGHT NOW, YOU'VE GOT TO TELL US WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES. INLAND PARKS COME BACK OF THE FIVE DRAINAGE PONDS, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM. WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO TWO OF THEM. >> WE CAN DO THAT. >> WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS NUMBER MORE REASONABLE. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR FOR US TO START FROM 227 MILLION. NOW WE KNOW WHAT COASTAL PARKS TOP PRIORITIES ARE. LET'S GET A LIST ACCUMULATED FROM ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO SUBMITTED MULTIPLE REQUESTS. SORRY. SOME OF THESE PEOPLE SUBMITTED FIVE PROJECTS. THEY'VE GOT TO HELP US. I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START. >> IT'S NOT HARD TO START. BECAUSE ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS AT LEAST, AT LEAST RECOGNIZE THAT THE PEOPLE STARTED FOR YOU. AND GO BACK -- DON'T LEAVE ME WITH THE PIE CHART, CONNIE. LEAVE IT ON. THE PIE CHART IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WALK AWAY HERE TODAY, PLUS THIS PIECE HERE. THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE -- I HAVEN'T HEARD ENOUGH TALK ABOUT FOR EXAMPLE, TAKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION. AND THEN GO -- THINK ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF NON-PROFITS. WOULD YOU WANT TO CONSIDER GIVING A MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THE 59 MILLION FOR NON-PROFITS? START THERE. YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE COURAGE TO JUST SAY SOMETHING THAT COULD BE TRANSFORMATIONAL. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF THE NON-PROFITS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT IS WHAT WE CALL FORCE MULTIPLIERS. IF WE INVEST IN THEM AND GIVE THEM GUIDANCE ON HOW WE WANT THEM TO INVEST, THEY MAY NOT GO OUT OF BUSINESS. THEY MAY BE ABLE TO CONTINUE HELPING WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND DISEASE PREVENTION. THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF THAT WE OUGHT TO BE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. AND THEN YOU GO BACK AND SAY HEY, GUYS, WHY DON'T YOU PRIORITIZE. FOR ME, WE DIDN'T EVEN GET TO THE GOOD STUFF. WE DIDN'T GET TO TALK ABOUT THE REASON YOU SEE 55 MILLION IN INLAND PARKS IS BECAUSE -- WELL, 55 WAS FOR DETENTION PONDS, I THINK YOU MENTIONED THAT. IT'S GOOD TO KNOW WHAT THE HECK THESE THINGS COST. BUT OUT OF THAT, YOU CAN LEVERAGE IT, HEY, WE'LL GIVE YOU A HEAD START TOWARDS ONE PIECE OF IT AND WE'LL LEVERAGE THAT FOR FOR EXAMPLE, WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FUNDING, AFTER WE GET OUR DRAINAGE. I MEAN, AS THEY SAY, IT'S LITERAL BUT DON'T BE SO LITERAL. TRY TO UNDERSTAND IT IN TERMS OF WHAT THIS COULD PROVIDE FOR YOU DOWN THE ROAD. SAME THING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH. MY CONCERN IS WE GET ANOTHER VARIANT IN THE SUMMER. AND THAT IS VERY POSSIBLE OR LIKELY OR THE NEXT WINTER. WE'LL PROBABLY SEE ANOTHER VARIANT. DID WE ADEQUATELY TAKE CARE OF DOLLARS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR ANYTHING REGARDING PUBLIC HEALTH THAT COULD COME ABOUT? DID WE THINK ABOUT THAT? >> THAT IS A FAIR RESPONSE. >> BECAUSE THAT IS THE MONEY [02:00:01] THAT PAYS US BACK. >> THAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE OUT OF THE WORKSHOP. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS. IF OTHERS WANT TO COME FORWARD AND DISCUSS, THEY CAN. I'M ARTICULATING WHAT IN A WORKSHOP FASHION WHAT I NEED, WHAT I NEED TO GO ANY FURTHER IS I'M WILLING TO COMMIT DOLLARS TO ALL OF THESE CATEGORIES. BUT I NEED SOME PAIRING DOWN. >> I HEAR YOU. >> THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING. LET'S ASK EVERYBODY WHO SUBMITTED MULTIPLE PROJECTS TO COME BACK AND PAIR IT DOWN. NOT PAIRED DOWN. GIVE US A PRIORITY LIST AND THEN I THINK WE CAN HAVE A MORE FRUITFUL DISCUSSION IN THE WAY OF A VOTE. START VOTING ON THESE THINGS. AM I WILLING TO COMMIT TO NON-PROFITS? >> YOU SEE THIS PIE CHART AS HAVING A NUMBER IN IT FOR EACH BLANK. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS TODAY. >> I DON'T EITHER BECAUSE NOW WE'VE STARTED. NOW WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE. THAT IS THE WHOLE CONCEPT, WE GET TO TELL THE PUBLIC HEY, WE LISTENED TO YOU. WE'RE NOT HERE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DOLLAR AMOUNT SPECIFICALLY TODAY. THIS IS A HIGH LEVEL DISCUSSION THAT ALL OF IT'S VALUED. >> WE HAVE SIX BUCKETS HERE. >> YES, SIR. >> SO MOVE SOMETHING FROM THIS BUCKET TO THE OTHER BUCKET? >> HOWEVER YOU SEE FIT. >> BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T FORGET THE FOUR OR FIVE CORE FUNCTIONS THAT WE HAVE. THEY'RE IMPORTANT. WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF THEM, WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE TRYING TO BORROW MONEY FOR DOING THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO. AND WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GIVE 7 MILLION OR 5 MILLION OR WHATEVER IT IS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND NON-PROFITS 3 MILLION. SO WE'RE GOING TO DIVIDE THAT 3 MILLION BETWEEN HOW MANY NON-PROFITS? SO I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW ALSO HOW MANY NON-PROFITS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? YOU KNOW, DO WE HAVE A LIST? >> YES. >> SO I MEAN, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY EVERYBODY ISN'T GOING TO GET WHAT THEY REALLY WANT. ONCE WE START SPLITTING UP THIS PIE. BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S OTHER AREAS THAT WE'VE REALLY GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THAT ARE CORE FUNCTIONS FOR THE NUECES COUNTY TO DO. SO I'M JUST SAYING HERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE REALISTIC TO DO WHAT WE HAVE HERE. BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT TO START MOVING FROM BUCKET TO ANOTHER BUCKET. HOW MUCH DO WE ACTUALLY WANT TO SPEND IN THAT AREA. THERE IS NO WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO 7 MILLION. AS MUCH AS WE ALL CARE ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH. I REALLY CARE ABOUT IT. BUT WE CAN'T DO PUBLIC HEALTH IF WE DON'T HAVE FACILITIES GOING. >> WELL, I THINK IT MEANS BEHAVIOR -- FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HAVE COVID-19 EXPENSES IN THE FUTURE, IT'S JUST THAT YOU WOULD SET MAYBE LIKE HALF A MILLION. JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE -- THE BIG ONE HERE, BECAUSE I'VE LOOKED AT ALL OF THESE, IS THE JAIL DIVERSION CENTER. THAT IS THE ONE THAT GOT RANKED THE HIGHEST OUT OF EVERYTHING, ALONG WITH TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. >> AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO GET FOR THAT EITHER, RIGHT? >> NO, SIR. THE WHOLE THING HERE IS JUST TO FIGURE OUT THAT THIS IS HOW -- IF YOU FOLLOWED THE TEMPLATE OF WHAT THE PROJECTS, IT'S LIKE A ROAD MAP, EVERYBODY GAVE YOU KNOW, ALL OF THEIR DIFFERENT PIECES OF THE MAP AND THIS NOW TELLS YOU WHAT PERCENTAGE THEY REPRESENT AND WHAT PERCENTAGE IN DOLLARS THAT MEANS. AND THE WHOLE CONCEPT HERE IS WHERE DO YOU WANT TO SPEND. >> WELL, I THINK IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FUNCTIONS THAT WE NEED, WHICH IS THE IT, DEFINITELY WE NEED THE IT, TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE PROPERLY. BUT I THINK ALSO THE DRAINAGE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CONCERNS. THE DRAINAGE. AND PARKS. IT'S GOING TO BE PARKS THAT BUILD HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CHILDREN TO GROW IN A HEALTHY PLACE. BUT YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I KNOW SOME AREAS ARE GOING TO BRING IN MONEY, BUT SOME AREAS THE INVESTMENT IS THE COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT ABOUT CERTAIN AREAS ARE GOING TO MAKE MORE MONEY. COASTAL PARKS ALWAYS GOING TO MAKE SOME MONEY. INLAND PARKS ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE SOME MONEY. IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU GOT TO BE MORE IN COASTAL PARKS THAN YOU GOT TO BE IN PARKS. IF THE NEED IS THERE. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE THINGS. AGAIN, I JUST DON'T -- I NEED PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT PROBABLY NOBODY IS GOING TO GET WHAT THEY REALLY WANT TO GET. >> COMMISSIONER >> IT'S GOING TO BE HARD. >> JOHN, DID YOU WANT TO SAY [02:05:01] SOMETHING. I'M LOOKING AT COMMISSIONER MADES. WE WANT YOU TO FINISH. >> FINISHED. >> COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I THINK WE'RE REALLY GETTING INTO SOME GOOD DIALOG AND DISCUSSION AND STRATEGY AND MINDSET OF WHAT THE COURT NEEDS TO SET, I AGREE, I THINK THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. THAT IS WHY WE'RE PUT UP HERE. I DO LIKE THE IDEA, THOUGH, OF PAIRING DOWN, SAYING HEY, SOME ORGANIZATIONS HAVE MAYBE GIVEN US MULTIPLE PROJECTS OR SUGGESTIONS AND MAYBE IF THEY CAN PAIR DOWN WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE, AND THEN MAYBE AT THE NEXT POINT, RIGHT BEFORE WE DECIDE OR MAYBE SIMULTANEOUSLY, IF WE AS A COURT CAN REALLY COMMIT TO A PHILOSOPHY, I THINK THE PHILOSOPHY FOR ME IS THAT THERE ARE REQUESTS HERE THAT CAN BE COVERED WITH THIS FEDERAL MONEY, THAT WE AS A COURT COULD NEVER COVER ANY OTHER WAY. PROBABLY COULD MAYBE OUTSIDE AGENCY FUNDING, THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT I'M THINKING OF BOND WORK. I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME PROJECTS ON HERE THAT THEY MAY BE WORTHWHILE. BUT IF WE TAKE THEM ON, THEY TAKE A SIZEABLE CHUNK OUT OF OUR REMAINING BALANCE THAT WE HAVE. SO THAT IS A WORRY FOR ME. IF WE CAN TACKLE THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE, I KNOW IT HAS NOT BEEN TRADITIONALLY THE CUSTOM OF THE COURT, THIS IS OVER GENERATIONS AND OVER NO MATTER WHO CONTROLS THE COURT AS FAR AS BIPARTISAN LOOKING AT IT. BUT FOR ME, OVERALL THE COUNTY HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN MUCH OF LOOKING AT BONDS TO SUPPORT PROJECTS. AND I KNOW WE DO CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION BUT I'M TALKING VOTER APPROVED TYPE OF WORK. I THINK THERE IS PROJECTS ON THIS LIST THAT CAN AND SHOULD BE SUPPORTED THAT WAY. BECAUSE JUST THE AMOUNT ONCE AGAIN, THAT IS BEING REQUESTED THERE. IF IT COULD BE COVERED THAT WAY, THAT IS THE WAY TO GO. BUT IF WE LOOK AT SOME OF THESE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE COULDN'T FUND WITH BOND WORK OR NOT BE ABLE TO TACKLE WITH OUR SMALL RELATIVE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR TO SUPPORT THEM, MAYBE WE USE THE FEDERAL FUNDING HERE. I THINK THERE HAS GOT TO BE A WAY TO WORK OUT AND GO DOWN THE LIST TO SAY WHAT CAN BE COVERED AND HOW CAN IT BEST BE COVERED. IS THIS AN AREA THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A SERIOUS DISCUSSION AND SAY THIS NEEDS TO GO INTO BOND WORK. I THINK ALL OF THIS IS A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS IS DEFINITELY NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THIS IS JUST STILL I THINK A DROP IN THE BUCKET COMPARED TO GROUPS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT DIDN'T PROBABLY REALIZE THAT THEY COULD OR SHOULD HAVE PUT A REQUEST IN. BECAUSE THERE ARE GREAT GROUPS THAT ARE ON HERE, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHERS THAT COULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING AND DIDN'T FOR WHATEVER REASON. AT LEAST WE HAVE $250 MILLION OR SO IN REQUESTS. I WANT TO SEE US PAIR DOWN, GET THESE GROUPS TO PAIR DOWN WHAT THEY CAN, GIVE US PRIORITY. WE STILL MAY WANT TO GO WITH COASTAL PARKS, THEIR TOP FIVE, COMPARED TO INLAND PARKS, MAYBE WE FEEL THERE'S ONLY ONE OR TWO ITEMS. OR IT OR MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENT. I KNOW WE WANT TO KIND OF REMAIN IN PERSPECTIVE WITH THE WAY THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDING, THIS CHART BEFORE US. LIKE I SAID, I THINK IF THERE IS WAYS TO LOOK AT SOME OF IT HAS TO BE PUT INTO A BOND WHERE THE VOTERS AND THIS COURT CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION AND JUSTIFY HEY, WE NEED THIS, THEN I THINK THAT IS A WAY TO GO AS WELL. I DON'T WANT TO COMPLICATE IT. BUT LIKE I SAID, 250 MILLION. I MEAN, THERE IS NO -- I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY ARGUMENT DISPUTING THAT THAT -- THESE ARE LEGITIMATE REQUESTS AND NEEDS. NOW, WHERE DO THEY FALL IN PRIORITY, THAT IS GOING TO BE THE WHOLE ARGUMENT. BUT THESE ARE NEEDS. WATER, DRAINAGE ISSUES, MENTAL HEALTH, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PERSONNEL, PREMIUM PAY. ALL OF THESE THINGS LISTED HERE IN OUR PRESENTATION AND OUR WORKSHEETS, THOSE ARE AREAS THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY GIVE SOME MORE DIRECTION ON. DO WE AS A COURT SAY YOU KNOW WHAT, WE DON'T SEE ANYTHING ABOVE AND GIVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT. ANYTHING ABOVE THIS AMOUNT, WE DON'T CARE HOW JUSTIFIED IT IS OR IF THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS TO COMPLETE 100 PERCENT OF YOUR PROJECT, THIS IS ALL WE'RE WILLING TO FUND BECAUSE WE'LL NEVER GET TO THE 50 MILLION OR SO THAT IS NEEDED BECAUSE THAT WILL TAKE US WAY ABOVE. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM COMMITTING TO THAT. BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S OTHER WAYS TO GET IT FUNDED. [02:10:01] I THINK THERE'S OTHER PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE OUT THERE TO DO THAT. BUT I DO LOVE THE FIRST SUGGESTION, IT'S GOT TO GET US STARTED AND MOVING FORWARD ON THIS, JUDGE, TO GET THAT COMPLETION AND CLOSURE THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING OF US, DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUBMITTED, WHERE DO THEY FALL ON THE LIST AND WE CAN HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHERE TO GO FROM THERE. >> COMMISSIONER, NOT ONLY IS IT A GOOD IDEA, LOOKING AT HOLDEN RIGHT HERE, HE'S GOING TO GO OH NO. LOOK, YOU'VE GOT A PERFECT EXCEL SPREADSHEET. YOU COULD LITERALLY DISSECT IT BY REQUESTER. AND ALL YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO IS MAKE ONE PAGE PER REQUESTER. FIRST GET THAT TO THE COURT. THAT IS THE EASIEST ONE. BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE TEN PROJECTS $10,000 EACH PER DEPARTMENT. ALL OF THOSE MIGHT CREATE EFFICIENCIES AND TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE. DON'T PIGEONHOLE YOURSELF UNTIL YOU GET TO MAKE THE DECISION. ONE DEPARTMENT MIGHT GET TEN THINGS BECAUSE THAT MAKES SENSE ECONOMICALLY AND ONE MAYBE HAS A $55 MILLION REQUEST BECAUSE HONESTLY WHAT DETENTION PONDS WOULD COST, IT'S GOOD FOR THE AWARENESS. I THINK TO ACHIEVE WHAT THE COURT IS ASKING FOR, NUMBER ONE, DIVIDE BY REQUESTER. WHEN YOU DIVIDE BY REQUESTER TO SATISFY COMMISSIONER CHESNEY, ALSO PUT AN ASTERISK OR SOME SORT OF DELINEATION IF THEY ARE A POLITICAL JURISDICTION. SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT MAYBE BY COLOR, THAT IS HOW I WOULD DO IT, COLOR CODE IT AND THAT WAY, HE KNOWS THIS IS THE CITY ASKING, WATER DISTRICT ASKING, ET CETERA. >> THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU DO FOR IT. YOU'VE TAKEN CARE OF A HUGE ISSUE FOR ME IN COASTAL PARKS. NOW I'VE GOT BETTER INTERNET SERVICE. >> FOR ME, WHAT WAS INCUMBENT UPON US, WAS TO TAKE THIS AND RUN THE GAUNTLET OF SPEND THE MONEY. I ACTUALLY PRODUCED ON PAPER, HOW WOULD I SPEND MY 59 MILLION. USING THE PIE CHART. YOU SAY THIS PIE CHART WE'VE HAD SINCE DECEMBER 15TH. ALL YOU NEEDED WAS A CALCULATOR TO GET THOSE DOLLARS. I DID THIS EXACT EXERCISE. I DID IT BASED ON THE PROJECT LIST. NO DOUBT I'M MAKING ASSUMPTIONS [02:15:02] THAT THE PROJECTS WOULD BE PRIORITIZED AND WHETHER MINE MATCH UP WITH THE PROJECTS, I'M NOT SURE. I THINK THE PRIORITIZATION IS GREAT. BUT NOT TO THE EXCLUSION OF DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE SMALLER ITEMS. I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO HAVE TO DO HOMEWORK. I MEAN THE COLLECTIVE YOU, US. >> SO JUDGE, I THINK WE'VE GOT PARAMETER SO THAT MAYBE WE COULD MOVE TO OUR OTHER AGENDA ITEMS AND GET THIS BACK MAYBE THE SECOND MEETING IN MARCH. THAT WAS ALL I WAS GOING TO SAY. JUST TO MOVE FORWARD. >> RIGHT. MOVE TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM. >> I'M NOT TRYING TO CUT ANYBODY ELSE OFF FROM TALKING. >> SORRY. >> I JUST WANT TO ADD, JUDGE, THAT I AGREE WITH ALL OF THIS, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A PRIORITY SINCE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO REMEMBER A LOT OF THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE MAINTENANCED AND THAT IS GOING TO TAKE QUITE A BIT. WE'VE BUILT THINGS BUT THEN WE DON'T HAVE MONEY TO KEEP THEM UP. THEY DETERIORATE. THAT IS ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. SO WE'LL LOOK FOR A DATE, WE WILL LOOK FOR THE NCDC TO HELP YOU KNOW, BRIDGE THIS. GET ALL OF THAT INFORMATION TO THE COURT MANAGER. A LOT OF IT IS JUST YOU KNOW, SORTING OUT. SO THERE IS THESE NEW PROJECTS THAT GOT ADDED FROM DECEMBER 15TH. SORT THAT OUT TOO. BUT I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THAT THOSE ARE ONES THAT HAVE COME UP BECAUSE OF COURT ITEMS. AGAIN, INSURANCE, OUT OF CONTRACT HOUSING, THINGS LIKE THAT. IT'S NOT LIKE EXCEPT FOR THE RIVER AUTHORITY THAT CAME TODAY, THAT IS THE ONLY ONE THAT I KNOW OF THAT IS REALLY WHAT I CALL STAKEHOLDER, THE REST OF THEM ARE OUR OWN INTERNAL HEY, WE LOST MONEY HERE, WOULD THAT QUALIFY. AND WE CAN GET TO WORKING ON THAT. AND THEN I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT PLEASE FILE WHAT WE CALL A YOU KNOW, COMPLETE BRIEF SO THAT WE NEVER HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. I MEAN, FILE EVERYTHING. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, MS. COLLIER IF YOU HAVE NOTES SUBMIT THEM, PUT THEM IN. BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S GOT EVERYTHING. WHICH IN MY MIND, YOU HAD RIGHT HERE. THIS IS A REALLY GOOD LESSON TO ALL OF US THAT WHEN WE SAY WE'RE HAVING A WORKSHOP, LET'S HAVE ONE. LET'S HAVE ONE. AND YOU SHOULD HAVE READ THIS AND HAD ALREADY THEIR PRIORITIES LOOKING TOWARDS THAT. >> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ALREADY. >> WELL, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. BUT WORKS IS FOR US TO CALL UPON YOU, I'LL CALL UPON YOU IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION. YOU'RE NOT BEING CALLED UPON. AT THIS POINT WHAT WE'LL DO IS ASK THAT THIS PARTICULAR PRESENTATION GO AHEAD AND SEND IT TO EVERYBODY TODAY, EVEN THOUGH I THINK -- THEY ALREADY GOT IT. OKAY. GOOD. COULD WE GO AHEAD AND -- HOLDEN, YOU'LL GET A COPY OF THIS PRESENTATION THAT WE HAVE TODAY TOO. WHY DON'T WE TRY TO GET IT ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL. JUST THIS PIECE. IT'S NOT TOO LONG. JUST DO AN ICON TO CALL IT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT WORKSHOP. IN THE FUTURE, PART OF THAT IT GENERATION IS BEING ABLE TO CONDUCT INFORMATION BACK AND FORTH WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO RIGHT NOW. BUT GRANICUS, WHO IS OUR SERVER, OUR HOST HAS THAT CAPABILITY. SO THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE THING THAT MAY HAVE COME IN LATE THAT DARRYL JUST HANDED. THOSE ARE THE REAL IN THE WEEDS STUFF. I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE LOOKING FOR IS FOR YOU TO SAY HEY, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND FOUR MILLION DOLLARS HERE ON INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY, LET'S SAY HYPOTHETICALLY, BRING TO THIS COURT HOW YOU WOULD SPEND THAT JUDICIOUSLY. IF YOU DON'T NEED IT ALL, DON'T SPEND IT ALL. WE GET TO RATIFY OR APPROVE ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS. THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD WORK. UNLESS WE ALL HAVE BECOME IT EXPERTS OVERNIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. AND THE WORKSHOP, YOU GUYS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION. SO OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THEN WE'LL CLOSE THE WORKSHOP. AND WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO [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.] [02:20:13] CONSENT AGENDA. MICHAEL ROBINSON HERE. >> THE COURT LAST TIME DISCUSSED FUNDING FOR THE COUNTY'S NEW ERP SYSTEM AND I WAS ASKED TO COME BACK AND REQUEST TO GO OUT FOR RFP FOR THIS NEW SOFTWARE AND REPLACEMENT OF TIME CLOCKS. THE ONE CHANGE I WANT TO MAKE NOTE OF IS THE MEMBERS OF IN THE SELECTION COMMITTEE, IT WAS MISSING THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, DARRYL, I'VE GIVEN THE UPDATED COPIES TO THE COUNTY CLERK, SO THAT WILL BE THE VERSION THAT YOU WILL BE SIGNING. COMMISSIONER COURT ADMINISTRATION MANAGER, SO WE'RE JUST ASKING PERCENTAGE TO PUT THAT BID OUT AND COME BACK TO YOU WITH A PRICE. >> SO MOTION? >> SO MOVED >> SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING TIME-WISE, 60 DAYS? >> WE'VE ALREADY STARTED SOME OF THE PRELIMINARY WORK WITH DALE'S OFFICE ON WRITING THE BID. SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT'S AROUND 60 TO 90 DAYS MAX ON THAT. >> SOUNDS GOOD. [1. Discuss and consider development of a high-level allocation plan for American Rescue Plan Act funds.] ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. KEEP US POSTED. ON ITEMS 3A.1, WE'VE JUST DONE THAT. I GUESS WE NEED PROBABLY A FORMAL TABLE UNTIL THE MARCH MEETING. >> THAT'S FINE. TAKE THE MOTION AND A SECOND. [2. Discuss and consider Amended Cooperative Agreement for City-Operated Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District; authorize county representative to execute the reformation agreement on behalf of the County.] [1. Discuss and consider CSP No. 3187-21 Bob Hall Pier demolition award, including any recission; Discuss and consider any subsequent award under CSP No. 3187-21 Bob Hall Pier Demolition. ] DISCUSS AND CONSIDER AMENDED AND ITEM B1 C WILL ALSO BE [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.] DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO AT THIS TIME I AM GIVING NOTICE THAT WE DO ELECT TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING THESE ITEMS PURSUANT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT. WE'RE GOING TO CONSULT WITH OUR ATTORNEY. INCLUDING MATTERS RELATED TO LITIGATION, REAL PROPERTY, GIFTS, PERSONNEL MATTERS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS, ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND UPON COMPLETION, WE'LL COME BACK INTO OPEN SESSION AND WE WILL TAKE ACTION ON APPROPRIATE ITEMS THAT WE DISCUSSED AND THE TIME FOR THE CLERK IS 11:57. TAKE US OFF EVERYTHING, EX OKAY, GREAT, WE ARE BACK ON THE RECORD. IT IS TO: 04 P.M. AND WE HAVE CONCLUDED EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF MOTIONS THAT NEED TO BE HEARD. AT THIS TIME, THE FIRST HAS TO DO WITH CSP. I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER CHESLEY, YOU HAVE A MOTION. >> BASED ON B& BASED ON THE LEGAL ADVICE GIVEN BY COUNSEL, THE MOTION IS TO BEGRUDGINGLY RESCIND THE ORDER TO JM DAVIDSON. >> AND ALSO TO, UM, OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION, IS THERE A SECOND MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I. >> COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU COULD SAY SELECT INSTEAD OF AWARD, BECAUSE AT THIS CASE, WE ARE NOT AWARDING. >> THE MOTION WOULD BE BASED ON LEGAL ADVICE GIVEN BY COUNSEL, TO BEGRUDGINGLY RESCIND THE AWARD TO JM DAVIDSON AND A MOTION TO B& TO SELECT RUSSELL MARINE. >> THE MOTION WAS SECONDED, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING I'VE. OKAY. AND THEN, UM, WE ALSO HAVE ONE MORE MOTION, AND THAT IS ON ITEM NUMBER TWO IN THE AGENDA. I DON'T KNOW IF I SAID THAT CORRECTLY, BUT CARA, THE FIRST, THE LATTER WAS BEING ONE ON THE AGENDA ITEM, NOW THIS ONE IS 382. AND THE SUN HAS TO DO WITH THE AMENDED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT. FOR CORPUS CHRISTI PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT, IT AUTHORIZES THE COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE TO EXECUTE THE REFORMATION AGREEMENT ON BEHALFOF THE [02:25:01] COUNTY, AND, UM, WE DO HAVE A MOTION THAT HAS SOME SUBJECT TO LANGUAGE . COMMISSIONER CHESNEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION? >> I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CITY CHANGES WITH ADDITIONAL MINOR CHANGES, AS ARTICULATED HERETO BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. >> I HAVE GOT A MOTION IN THE SECOND AND I'M GOING TO ASK FOR COMPLETENESS OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AT THIS TIME, DO YOU READ INTO THE RECORD THE CHANGES THAT WE DESIRE? I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD, JENNY. >> OKAY. REGARDING, UM, THE DOCUMENTS SENT FROM THE CITY OF VOTED ON BY THE CITY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT, 28 OF 22, THE FIRST PAGE, THERE ARE NO CHANGES. SOUGHT FROM THE COURT. PAGE 2 AT THE TOP, THE COURT HAS VOTED TO REPLACE DEEMED WITH PRESUMED. >> SORRY. >> AND THEN THE PARAGRAPH THAT STARTS IF PRIOR TO THE END OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE INSERTION AND THE LAST PART WHERE IT SAYS, UM, PLACEMENT OF THAT EMPLOYEE ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY, THE COUNTY HAS STRUCK ORGANIZATION AND INSERTED CITY RUN HEALTH DISTRICT. THEN THE PARAGRAPH THAT'S ORIGINALLY TWO PARAGRAPHS DOWN THAT STARTS TO THE EXTENT THAT THE COUNTY HAS AWARDED PREMIUM PAY, THAT PARAGRAPH IS MOVED UP TO BEFORESECTION B , AND THE INSERTED PART IS AFTER, UM, THOSE AWARDS WILL TRANSFER TO THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO ADMINISTER TO THOSE EMPLOYEES. THE COUNTY HAS ASSERTED AT THE RATE ALREADY DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. THE REST OF THE PAGE, NO CHANGES. THEN ON PAGE THREE, WHERE IT SAYS TRANSFER OF SICKAND VACATION TIME TO THE CITY , UM, COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO WORKED FOR THE HEALTH DISTRICT WHO ARE HIRED BY THE CITY AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE SHALL BE GRANTED THE RIGHT TO ROLLOVER, AND THE COUNTY HAS INSERTED ALL OF THEIR ACCRUED UNUSED COUNTY SICK LEAVE AND INSERTED ALL OF THEIR ACCRUED UNUSED COUNTY VACATION LEAVE INTO THERE, UM, SICK LEAVE AND VACATION LEAVE WITH THE CITY. AND THEN INSERTED IN THE SECOND TO LAST SENTENCE, THIS TRANSFER WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE COUNTY TRANSFER TO THE CITY OF THE FUNDING AMOUNT FOR SAID TIME THAT IS TRANSFERRED FROM THE COUNTY TO THE CITY, AND INSERTED AS THOSE HOURS ARE UTILIZED BY THE EMPLOYEE. ON THE REST OF THE PAGE, THERE ARE NO CHANGES, THOSE BLANKS, WE DO NOT HAVE THOSE NUMBERS, UM, WITH SUFFICIENT ACCURACY IT YET TO FILL IN THOSE BLANKS. THEN PAGE FOUR, NO CHANGE. PAGE 5, NO CHANGE. PAGE 6, THERE IS ONE SMALL CHANGE IN SECTION 6 WHERE IN THE SECOND TO LAST LINE, HE REFERS TO SECTION 6, THAT SHOULD BE REFERRING TO SECTION 7. NO CHANGE ON PAGE 7. NO CHANGE ON PAGE 8, NO CHANGE ON PAGE 9 OR 10. HAVE I STATED THAT ACCURATELY? >> EIGHT. >> DID I MISS A CHANGE ON EIGHT? AND AGAIN, WHEN YOU SAY PAGE, WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE SECTIONS, RIGHT? >> YEAH, WHAT SECTION WAS THAT? >> NO, I WAS, I WAS TRYINGB& WHEN THERE IS NO CHANGE ON AN ENTIRE PAGE, I WAS NOT REFERRING TO SECTIONS, OKAY? >> GO FORWARD. >> THAT COMPLETES THE CHANGES THAT I'M AWARE OF. OKAY, SO, IT'S SUBJECT TO THOSE CHANGES, THERE IS A MOTION IN A SECOND, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU WILL BE SO NICE AS TO GET EVERYBODY A COPY OF ALL OF THOSE CHANGES. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> JUST SO WE CAN SEE IT INSIDE THAT DOCUMENT. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THOSE REPRESENT EVERYTHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE CLOSED SESSION?I'M ASKING COMMISSIONERS. [02:30:03] >> YES. >> JENNY, I THINK YOU TOOK AMPLE NOTES, SO I THINK THAT ACCURATELY REFLECTS, IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT GOING OVER YOUR NOTES, YOU REMEMBER, LET US KNOW, BUTB UM, I THINK THAT'S IT. >> SUBJECT TO, EVERYBODY? >> YES, MA'AM. >> ALL RIGHT, IN THAT CASE, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? >> NO, MA'AM. >> OKAY, I JUST WANT TO SAY ON THE RECORD, SINCE WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, THAT I AM GOING TOMORROW FULLY, I THINK SOMETIMES YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO WRITE DOWN SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL IS IMPORTANT FOR POSTERITY, SO, UM, WHEN WE VOTE, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE A COMPLETE EXPLANATION, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN IN MULTIPLE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS, PROBABLY DATING BACK SINCE MAYBE, WHAT, NOVEMBER? NOVEMBER? NOVEMBER, BACK AND FORTH, TO BE ABLE TO, UM, STRENGTHENING THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY GIVEN TO US. IF YOU TAKE THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE AND YOU LOOK TO WHERE WE'VE COME TODAY, IT'S CERTAINLY A FAR CRY FROM WHAT WAS PRESENTED. OF PARTICULAR NOTE, UM, WHEN THE PUBLIC ACTUALLY GETS THE DOCUMENT THAT BOTH PARTIES FINALLY AGREE TO AND SIGN, YOU WILL SEE THAT IN PARTICULAR, THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES, HAD QUITE A FEW PARAGRAPHS DEDICATED TO ALL THE, WHAT I'M CALLING HUMAN RESOURCE CONCERNS AND ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK BACK AND SAY, HEY, THAT WAS VERY, THAT WAS VERY GOOD, THAT WE STRENGTHENED ALL OF THAT LANGUAGE. AND THERE'S SOME OTHER REALLY IMPORTANT LANGUAGE IN HERE, DEALING WITH, UM, OPPORTUNITIES AND, UM, CHALLENGES, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY IS, YOU KNOW, TO CONTINUE WITH THE GRANTS THAT WERE SO IMPORTANT TO PUBLIC HEALTH DURING THIS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. IF THERE'S ONE GREAT THING THAT HAPPENS TODAY, IT'S THAT THE HEALTH DISTRICT STAYS INTACT. IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT REALLY BOTHERS ME, IT'S THAT, UM, THE RURAL COMMUNITIES, UM, IN MY OPINION, LOSE THEIR VOICE. THE SERVICES THAT WE WILL CONTRACT, WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN, I KNOW, AS A COUNTY. I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN AS A COUNTY JUDGE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT EACH AND EVERY, UM, YOU KNOW, TIME WE HAVE THAT ACCOUNTABILITY, UM, WHICH IN THIS CASE, WILL BE QUARTERLY, UM, THAT WE ASK ALL THE GREAT QUESTIONS, BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM HEALTH SERVICES MORE EFFICIENTLY IS GOING TO BE, UM, A GOAL OF OURS. IT'S ALSO A GOAL OF OURS TO EXPAND HEALTH, AND YOU WILL SEE EVIDENCE OF THAT BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CLINIC THAT WE WILL PAY FOR FROM THE COUNTY. AND SO, I THINK THOSE THINGS THAT YOU CAN SAY ARE GOOD. I THINK THERE'S THINGS THAT YOU CAN SAY THAT OVER TIME, BECAUSE WE, BECAUSE WE, YOU KNOW, STRENGTHENED CERTAIN CLAUSES, PROTECTED OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. BUT OVERALL, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN GENERAL THAT WE ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE AND WE ARE ELECTED TO GOVERN, AND YOU COULD ACHIEVE BOTH EFFICIENCY AND EXPANSION AND NOT LOSE GOVERNANCE. AND I FEEL VERY SAD THAT, THAT PEOPLE ARE SO WILLING TO SEE GOVERNANCE WHEN QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S REQUIRED. I DO BELIEVE THAT WE WILL DO A VERY GOOD JOB BEING DILIGENT IN OUR QUESTIONS OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, GET FROM, UM, THIS CONTRACT WITH THE CITY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT REALLY IS AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S A CONTRACT THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR THE SERVICES. AND THE HOPE IS THAT THE TRANSITION WILL ALLOW FOR EFFICIENCY OF THE EMPLOYEE. IF IT DOES NOT, I PROMISE YOU, WE ARE GOING TO CALL IT OUT. AND, UM, I'M GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, THE HARSHEST CRITIC, BECAUSE I AM DEFINITELY NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE WAY THIS WAS HANDLED, THE WAY IT WAS DONE. AND QUITE FRANKLY, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT, UM, THE PEOPLE WERE NOT PUT FIRST IN A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. WE SHOULD BE FIGURING OUT HOW TO DO GREATER THINGS TOGETHER WITH THIS DISTRICT, RATHER THAN TO FIND WAYS TO SEPARATE. UM, HAVING SAID THAT, IT'S TIME TO VOTE AND I DO BELIEVE THE PROCESS, WHEN YOU SEE US GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE GO PARAGRAPH BY PARAGRAPH. TALKING ABOUT THE CHANGES ON THE CITY SIDE, THEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT WE CAN [02:35:02] ACCEPT, THOSE THAT NEED TO BE EDITED, AND THAT'S WHY IT TAKES SO LONG. IT'S A VERY, UM, IT'S THOROUGH. AND ALL VOICES ARE HEARD. SO, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW. UM, AS I SAID, I'M GOING TO DISSECT THIS FURTHER BECAUSE PEOPLE OUGHT TO KNOW, UM, WHAT THEY ARE GIVING UP. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NO. OKAY, THANK YOU, WE HAVE ONE MOREB&. >> ONE THING. >> OKAY, BUTB& IT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH THE VOTE OR WHATEVER. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY RIGHT BEHIND YOU, TO COMPLAIN IF NOTHING IS GOING RIGHT, BUT AT THIS POINT, I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR THE JOB WELL DONE THAT SHE HAS BEEN DOING ALL THIS TIME, AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW SHE IS TAKING IT FROM BOTH SIDES, AND I WANT TO SAY, I WANT TO THANK HER FOR STICKING WITH IT AND DOING THE THINGS SHE'S DONE. AND OF COURSE, THE CITY FOR WORKING WITH US. AS MUCH AS THEY HAVE, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE EMPLOYEES TODAY, WE KIND OF REALLY MADE SURE THEY WERE TAKING CARE OF, MADE SURE THEY GOT WHAT THEY DESERVE, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IN THE LONG RUN, I THINK THE EMPLOYEES ALWAYS COME FIRST, BUT DOWN THE ROAD, IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, I WOULD JUMP IN AND SAY WHY NOT? YOU PROMISED US THIS AND YOU DID THIS. BUT I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS YEAR AND FOR DOING A GOOD JOB. YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL A LITTLE WAYS TO GO AND I THINK WE JUST HAD THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THERE WILL BE ONE BUILDING THAT WILL BE OURS TO USE, TOO, SO IT IS NOT JUST GOING TO BE BUILT FOR THE CITY TO USE, AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO USE IT FOR OUR OWN BENEFITS. IT'S THOSE SORT OF THINGS WE LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE LONG RUN, SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK EUGENIA IN PARTICULAR FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> OKAY, UM, AND I THINK THAT THAT CONCLUDES OUR REGULAR COURT AGENDA ITEM. HOWEVER, UM, LAST COURT, I WAS RIGHT HERE AT THIS EXACT MOMENT WHEN I SAID IT WOULD LIKE TO REOPEN PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN I REGRET THAT COMPLETELY, IT WENT A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. BUT THE REASON I DID ACTUALLY WALKED IN THE DOOR MOMENT AGO. THAT WAS YOU, DOCTOR SCOTT. I HAD ACTUALLY OPENED PUBLIC COMMENT LAST COURT AFTER WE FINISHED THE COURTS AGENDA BECAUSE I WANTED TO REMARK ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH, I WANTED TO REMARK ON THE BLACK COWBOY EXHIBIT DOWNSTAIRS.AND WHEN I SAW YOU WALK IN, THE LIGHTBULB WENT OFF, SO FOR THE VERY LIMITED PURPOSE, I'VE SIGNED MYSELF UP, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND, UM, IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO DELVE INTO THE HISTORY NOT ONLY OF OUR NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT HAD BEEN MADE, BUT, UM, ALSO, I LEARNED WHEN I WAS AT THE SMITHSONIAN NOT TOO LONG AGO, DOES ANYONE REMEMBER WHY? I KNOW DOCTOR SCOTT IS GOING TO KNOW, BUT WHY FEBRUARY WAS CHOSEN. FEBRUARY WAS CHOSEN AS A MONTH BECAUSE IT WAS BOTH LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY AND FREDERICK DOUGLASS'S BIRTHDAY. SO, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT HISTORY TO UNDERSTAND WHY FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY. WE HAVE A VERY RICH BLACK HISTORY AND HERITAGE HERE IN NUECES COUNTY. I REMEMBER FONDLY AS A YOUNG GIRL, REVEREND BRANCH AND ALL THE GREAT, GREAT MEETINGS THAT HE HAD WITH DOCTOR HECTOR WHEN I WAS DRAGGED ALONG AS A YOUNG GIRL. AND, UM, RECENTLY, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE ON FLOOR ONE THE SOUTH TEXAS HISTORY OF THE BLACK COWBOY AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEY MADE TO SOUTH TEXAS AND OUR BRANCHES , AND I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS A WONDERFUL DISPLAY THAT IS ON LOAN TO US RIGHT NOW. AND SO, DOCTOR SCOTT, YOU HAVE BEEN PART OF B& WHEN I THINK OF HISTORY, I THINK OF YOU. I THINK OF YOU BEING THE VERY FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO REPRESENT THE GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA. AS THEIR NATIONAL PRESIDENT. I THINK OF YOU REPRESENTING THE GIRL SCOUTS INTERNATIONALLY IN THAT ROLE. SADLY, YOU WERE PRESIDENT WHEN DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS KILLED, ASSASSINATED. YOU WERE THERE, MARCHING FOR FREEDOM. SO, YOU ARE PART OF OUR BLACK HISTORY THAT WE CELEBRATE AND WE SHARE, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS WHOSE STORIES WE DON'T KNOW, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS MONTH IS ALL ABOUT. TO GET TO UNDERSTAND YOUR UNIQUE LOCAL HISTORY, AND [02:40:01] UNDERSTAND ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. AND IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE TO VISIT THE SMITHSONIAN, THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM, I WOULD INVITE YOU ALL TO NOT MISS OUT ON THAT ONE. THAT REALLY DOES PORTRAY THE HISTORY OF THE VERY BEST POSSIBLE WAY FOR US, AND DOCTOR SCOTT, I WILL SIGN YOU UP AND THEN WE WILL MOVE TO ADJOURNMENT. GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I WOULD SAY TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS TIME, DURING THIS MONTH, WHATEVER DAY, TO COME OVER TO SOLOMON COLES HIGH SCHOOL. ONE OF THE THINGS I DO THEIR IS AS A VOLUNTEER. I DON'T GET PAID, I'M NOT WORKING THERE, BUT I'M A FULL-TIME VOLUNTEER, AND WE HAVE MADE THE MUSEUM IN ROOM 102. THERE'S A MUSEUM ON SOUTH TEXA , AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY AND HISTORY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. AND THE SOLOMON COLES, WHO WAS A PERSON WHO CAME DOWN HERE FROM PENNSYLVANIA, AND ACTUALLY STARTED SOLOMON COLES SCHOOL, IT IS NAMED FOR HIM. AT THE TIME THAT HE CAME DOWN, THERE WAS A TWO-STORY SCHOOL DOWN ON THE BROADWAY BRICK SCHOOL FOR CAUCASIAN CHILDREN. THERE WAS NO SCHOOLS IN CORPUS CHRISTI AT ALL FOR MEXICAN AMERICANS OR BLACKS OR ANY OTHERS. SO, SOLOMON COLES HAD HEARD THIS, HE WAS A MINISTER. AND, UM, IN HIS DEVELOPMENT UP IN PENNSYLVANIA SOMEHOW, IT WAS KNOWN WHAT THE SOUTH WAS LIKE, IN THIS PART OF TEXAS ESPECIALLY. SO, WHEN HE FINISHED AND GOT HIS RELEASE FROM THE CHURCH FOR HIS B& THE PART OF HIS DEGREE THAT WAS RELATED TO HIS BEING A MINISTER, HE CAME TO CORPUS AND THERE WERE TWO BUILDINGS THAT WERE OVER THERE WERE SOLOMON COLES IS NOW, AND THEY WERE BOTH DESCRIBED, AND THERE IS INFORMATION DOWNSTAIRS IN YOUR PLACE ABOUT THIS, TOO, THEY WERE BOTH DESCRIBED AS BEING TWO ROOM BROOM SHOCKS. AND THAT'S EXACTLY, THEY MADE BROOMS OVER THERE. AND SOLD THEM OR DID WHATEVER WITH THEM. SO, HE TOOK ONE OF THOSE AND THAT IS THE BUILDING IN WHICH HE ACTUALLY ORGANIZED SOLOMON COLES HIGH SCHOOL. AND NOT VERY FAR FROM THAT, THERE WAS ANOTHER TWO ROOM BROOM SHACK JUST LIKE THAT, AND HE DID HELP PEOPLE HERE IN THE CITY FORM OF SCHOOL FOR MEXICAN CHILDREN. AND THIS IS VERY MUCH A PART OF THIS MONTH. SO, THAT'S ALL IN OUR LARGE BOOKS AND ALL THE PICTURES OF PEOPLE AND THINGS OVER AT SOLOMON COLES, SO I JUST INVITE YOU TO COME OVER ANY TIME THAT SCHOOL IS OPEN, FROM THE REGULAR HOURS DOWN TO 5:00. THE STUDENTS MOSTLY LEAVE AT 4:30, THE TEACHERS, BUT SOME OF US ARE THERE TILL AROUND 5:00 IF YOU WANT TO COME OVER AND JUST LET ME KNOW, I WILL BE GLAD. I STAY UNTIL ABOUT 6:00. PLEASE COME OVER. ALL OF YOU ON THE COURT, AS WELL AS THOSE HERE.THOSE PERSONS LISTENING TO THIS RESUME. THANK YOU.> THANK YOU, DOCTOR SCOTT. OKAY, HAVING CONCLUDED AND CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT, I WILL MOVE TO ADJOURNMENTS AND MEMORY, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE. OH, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HOLD? IN THAT CASE, WE WILL STAND ADJOURNED, TO: 20 4 PM. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.