Feb 07, 2024 Commissioners Court - Regular

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:10]

THE INVOCATION, PASTOR ROBERT SIMMONS IS HERE TODAY TO GIVE THE INVOCATION AND OUR PLEDGE PLEASE.

>> LORD AS WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY I THANK YOU FOR THE AWESOME PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO TALK TO YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE HERE. JUST THE IDEA THAT GOD IN HEAVEN CARES ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. LORD, I KNOW YOU CARE DEEPLY ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN THIS WORLD AND FATHER YOU CARE ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN THIS PLACE. I PRAY LORD THAT YOU WILL BRING ABSOLUTE JUSTICE , I PRAY FATHER THAT YOU BRING FAIRNESS OF BALANCE, I PRAY LORD THAT YOU WILL CUT THROUGH THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL AND LORD, THAT YOU BRING TRIUMPH , YOU ARE THE LORD GOD. WE PRAISE YOU AND GIVE YOU GLORY. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

SEATED. WE , SORRY, THANK YOU. IT IS FEBRUARY 7TH. IT IS 9:07, WE HAVE ALL THE COMMISSIONERS PRESENT AT THE NUECES COUNTY COURTHOUSE. WE ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD .

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

IF YOU FIND OUT YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT ONE OR YOU FIND ONE LATER YOU CAN ALWAYS DISCLOSE AT THE TIME WHEN IT

[1. In recognition of the month of February 2024 as "Teen Dating Violence Prevention Month".]

READ THAT RESOLUTION. >> COMMISSIONERS' COURT PROCLAMATION TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2024. WHEREAS TEEN DATING VIOLENCE IS AN ISSUE THAT UNFORTUNATELY IMPACTS YOUTH , AFFECTING ONE IN 10 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, ALMOST TRIPLE THE NATIONAL RATE OF ADULT VICTIMS. WHEREAS ONLY HALF OF THE TEENS EXPERIENCED THIS ABUSE AT SCHOOL AND ONLY 1/3 REPORT IT. WHEREAS ALTHOUGH TEENS WHO EXPERIENCE THE DATING VIOLENCE ARE MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP RISKY BEHAVIOR AND SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, FAR LESS RESEARCH IS FOCUSED ON THIS VULNERABLE AGE GROUP . WHEREAS TEEN DATING VIOLENCE CAN BE PREVENTED THROUGH EDUCATION ON HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY. WHEREAS TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS PREVENTION MONTH WILL GIVE A VOICE FOR SAFETY AND WELFARE OF YOUTH, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE. NOW THE FOUR BE IT RESOLVED THAT COMMISSIONERS' COURT OF NUECES COUNTY DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 2024 AS TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH AND FURTHER URGES CITIZENS OF NUECES COUNTY TO EMPOWER YOUTH TOWARD HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, INCREASE LOCAL RESOURCES FOR EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS IN SCHOOLS AND PROMOTING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION OF TEEN DATING VIOLENCE.

>> THANK YOU. I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

[00:05:05]

>> OKAY THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. DO WE HAVE ANYONE HERE FROM THE GROUPS OR ANYTHING THAT WISH TO SPEAK? YES, PLEASE IF YOU WANT TO COME TO THE PODIUM, ANNOUNCE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS OR JUST ANNOUNCE WHO YOU ARE AND YOUR GROUP.

>> HI I WORK WITH THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT VICTIM SERVICES AND AS OUR MOTTO SAYS WE WORK HARD TO CHANGE KIDS LIVES AND SOME OF THOSE KIDS ARE VICTIMS OF TEEN DATING VIOLENCE SO THE COUNTY SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION THAT WE HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THOSE KIDS.

>> YOU ARE DOING AN AWESOME JOB SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT

YOU DO. >> SECOND.

>> ALREADY A MOTION AND SECOND AND VOTED SO WE ARE GOOD. WE WILL HAVE A RESOLUTION, IF WE CAN GIVE YOU ALL AFTER IT IS

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

COMMISSIONERS MY NAME IS COMMISSIONER MAREZ INVITED ME TO GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT. I KIND OF FIND IT A LITTLE STRANGE THAT THE DOCTORS THAT HE NEGOTIATED WITH , YOU KNOW I THINK WE ALL GAVE HIM LIKE $20 MILLION AND NOW THEY'RE MAKING A FUNDRAISER FOR HIM. THE PERCEPTION IS THAT'S NOT GOOD, JOHN . THE PERCEPTION IS BAD. SECONDLY, I WAS ALSO NOTIFIED AND I GOT THE PRESS RELEASE RIGHT HERE. THAT THE TWO COMMISSIONERS, THAT YOU INSTALLED ALSO MADE YOU A FUNDRAISER. YOU KNOW, TO ME THE PERCEPTION IS ARE YOU SELLING YOUR VOTES TO THE COMMISSIONERS? THAT IS BAD, IT'S NOT GOOD, ESPECIALLY FOR YOU, JOHN. YOU ARE THE ONE THAT VOTED FOR THEM. AND THIRDLY WHY DO YOU WANT SO MUCH MONEY AFTER YOU HAVING A SECOND JOB THAT PAYS YOU SIX FIGURES IN KINGSVILLE? I THOUGHT AS A COMMISSIONER IT IS A FULL-TIME JOB SO WHERE IS YOUR LOYALTY JOHN? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME TO COME AND GET INVOLVED IN THE COURT. THANK YOU JOHN AND SEE YOU ON THE DEBATE TONIGHT.

ATTORNEY. I APPRECIATE YOU MR. ORTIZ, THANK YOU. THIS SEEMS MORE LIKE A CAMPAIGN THING. ANY RULES AGAINST THAT?

>> GENERALLY THE COURT DOES NOT ALLOW SOMEONE TO COME IN AND SAY SOME THINGS. HOWEVER , THERE WAS NO ACTUAL CAMPAIGNING ON BEHALF OF THE SPEAKER AND SO I'M NOT SURE THAT WOULD BE A PROHIBITED THING FROM THE COURT.

>> OKAY I JUST NEEDED CLARIFICATION.

>> THE SHOTS WERE DEFINITELY POLITICAL.

>> WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO RESPOND?

>> I JUST ASKED A QUESTION TO THE ATTORNEY. STEVE GOMEZ.

>> GOOD MORNING. ON BEHALF OF THE , HOPEFULLY A VOTE SHOULD BE TAKEN TODAY.

WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ON BEHALF OF FARRELL VALLEY AND THE CITY FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS. THE ONLY DELAY WE HAVE IN THIS PURSUIT IS A FEDERAL LAWSUIT, MULTIPLE STATE LAWSUITS, DELAYING US CONTINUOUSLY TRYING TO GET IT DONE. I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME CURRENT RELATED FACTS CONNECTED TO THIS. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THE GOLF COURSE WAS CLOSED AND IN ORDER TO MAKE THE CHANGE WE HAD TO GO TO AUSTIN. GET THE LAW CHANGED BECAUSE 800 GOLF COURSES AT THE TIME HAD SHUT DOWN AND PROPERTIES LIKE OURS IN FARRELL VALLEY AND ONE IN THE CITY IS RESTRICTED . YOU HAVE TO HAVE PERMISSION BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE HAD TO GET 75% BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT

[00:10:08]

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> CRAIG PETERSON.

>> YOUR NAME AND YOU KNOW THE DRILL.

>> YES MA'AM. THANK THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT AND MEMBERS FOR THE SUPPORT THEY HAVE SHOWN FOR THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS. WITHOUT YOUR EFFORTS AND COMMITMENT WE WERE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SECURE THE AGREEMENT. YOU HAVE TAKEN ACTION AND REPRESENTED THE INTEREST OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS WELL. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED ON SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND TO JUDGE SCOTT WHO HAD THE FORESIGHT TO CREATE THE COMMITTEE. GETTING EVERYONE AT THE TABLE IS CRUCIAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STRATEGY FOR EMERGENCY CARE IN NUECES COUNTY. I REALIZE THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT HAS A TREMENDOUS LIST OF RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDING BUDGETS, SALARY DECISIONS, CONTRACTS, ROADS AND BRIDGES AND OTHERS. IN ADDITION , CITIZENS DESERVE ACCESS TO RELIABLE AND HIGH QUALITY HEALTH CARE. FOR THOSE IN CRISIS EMERGENCY CARE IN THE ER CAN BE LIFESAVING AND CITIZENS NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRUST THE PHYSICIANS CARING FOR THEM WILL HAVE THE RESOURCES, PERSONNEL AND CAPACITY TO CARE FOR THEM. OUTLINED IN THE DESCRIPTION OF OFFICE FROM THE COUNTY JUDGE ON THE WEBSITE IS RESPONSIBILITY FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. ANY DAY IN THE ER CAN BE DEMANDING, OR JUST GET DISASTERS AND ACCIDENTS CAN QUICKLY OUTPACE THE CAPACITY OF ER IN THE CITY. EMERGENCY MEDICINE RESIDENCY HAS PROVEN INDISPENSABLE WITH DISASTER RESPONSE DURING HURRICANE HARVEY AN EMERGENCY STAFFING FOR MASS CASUALTY INCIDENTS. THE DECISION TO SUPPORT AND PRESERVE THE RESIDENCY WAS CRUCIAL TO MAINTAINING CITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND JUDGE SCOTT WAS RIGHT TO FORM THIS COMMITTEE AS PART OF HER ROLE IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

JUST AS WITH OTHER UTILITIES MEDICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WARNS CAREFUL ATTENTION AND PLANNING. THIS COURT HAS TAKEN GREAT STEPS TOWARD SECURING EMERGENCY CARE IN THE LONG TERM AND I AM THANKFUL. EMERGENCY CARE IS NOT ENOUGH WE NEED ROBUST PRIMARY CARE, PSYCHIATRIC CARE. WE NEED TO RECRUIT MEDICAL SPECIALTIES THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ROBUST ACCESS TO. THE COUNTY COMMITTED TO PROVIDING AND SECURING QUALITY HEALTH CARE WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY ATTRACTIVE TO POTENTIAL RECRUITS IN THE MEDICAL FIELDS THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ONCE THEY ARE HERE THEY WILL LOVE IT. WE HAVE NO PLANS TO LEAVE. PLEASE CONTINUE TO INVOLVE PHYSICIANS PRACTICING

[00:15:04]

COMMITTEES SUCH AS THIS SHOULD BE A PERMANENT FIXTURE HELPING TO GUIDE DECISION-MAKING AND NEXT STEPS FOR THE COUNTY HEALTH CARE RESOURCES WITH INPUT AND DISCUSSION FROM THOSE PROVIDING AND RECEIVING CARE. DISSOLVING THIS COMMITTEE WILL NOT ADVANCE HEALTHCARE OF THE COMMITTEE AND THE OPPORTUNITY COST OF COLLABORATION MAY CAUSE LASTING AND REMEMBER WE MUST DO NO HARM.

COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE SCOTT. MY NAME IS ] I AM ONE OF THE ER DOCTORS ON FACULTY VISIT. THE URGENCY WITH WHICH THIS COURT HELPED TO SECURE THE COUNTY ER TRAINING PROGRAM WAS UNPRECEDENTED. IT HAD LITERALLY NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. WE BEEN CONTACTED I DOCTORS ACROSS THE STATE AND COUNTRY ASKING HOW THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED. SO THANK YOU FOR BACKING UP WORDS WITH DEEDS.

INDISPENSABLE KEY TO THIS WAS THE WORK DONE BY THE EMERGENCY MEDICINE COMMITTEE THAT JUDGE SCOTT CREATED WITHIN A WEEK OF CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT. THOSE FROM THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT, NCHD COMMUNITY AND MY OWN PROGRAM WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THIS COMMITTEE AND ACHIEVED REMARKABLE OUTCOME. WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE AGREEMENT , WE FILLED ALL DECEMBER INTERVIEW SPOTS AND TODAY WE ARE INTERVIEWING RIGHT NOW WHICH IS WHY YOU DON'T SEE AS MUCH OF A SEA OF WHITE COACH. THEY ARE INTERVIEWING APPLICANTS. NOW THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COMMITTEE IS UP FOR DISCUSSION AND I'M HERE TO SAY WHILE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK DONE TO DATE WE ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR A LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO SECURE ER TRAINING IN THE COASTAL BEND. I FIND IT CURIOUS THAT COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ, ONE OF THEM NOT ON THE COMMITTEE IS THE ONE LISTED PUBLICLY AS HAVING THE ITEM SUBMITTED. I FIND IT ODD GIVEN SECURITY TO ER SECURITY ACHIEVED SO FAR THAT COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ WOULD WANT TO DISSOLVE THE COMMITTEE GIVEN PAST HISTORY OF DEDICATION TO THE HEALTH CARE AND CITIZENS OF NUECES COUNTY.

AUGUST 26, 2021 , JACK SET I'M RUNNING FOR REELECTION BECAUSE I WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK HARD FOR THE PEOPLE OF NUECES COUNTY , EVERY PERSON IN THE COUNTY DESERVES ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE. MARCH 1ST 2022 QUOTED AS SAYING THE HEALTHCARE OF EVERY PERSON IN NUECES COUNTY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY. ON DECEMBER 12, 2022 REFERRING TO HEALTH CARE SERVICE PROJECT HE HAD BEEN WORKING ON FOR OVER TWO YEARS , WAY LONGER THAN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THIS CURRENT COMMITTEE HAS BEEN GOING ON SAID IS GOING TO CREATE HEALTHIER LIVES, SAVE LIVES AND CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT WE NEED ONCE WE KNOW WE NEED SOMETHING WE WANT TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. GIVEN A CLEAR HISTORY OF DEDICATION TO HEALTHCARE, I INITIALLY THOUGHT I READ A TYPO IN READING THE AGENDA FOR TODAY. IT WOULD'VE BEEN MORE TRUE TO CHARACTER THAT HE RATHER ASKED FOR THE COMMITTEE TO CONTINUE TO NOT ONLY SERVE FOR A LONG-TERM SOLUTION, BUT TO EXPAND THIS COMMITTEE TO INVOLVE OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS FROM PHYSICIAN SPECIALIST TO ADDITIONAL MEMBERS. LET'S TAKE THIS COMMITTEE FROM SOMETHING IS STARTED TO COME PUSHING WONDERFUL THINGS TO SOMETHING THAT'S EVEN GREATER. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU DOCTOR.

STAY-AT-HOME MOM TO FOUR CHILDREN AND MY HUSBAND MICHAEL IS TEACHING FACULTY AT THE EMERGENCY MEDICINE PROGRAM.

BY 17 YEARS OLD I HAD LIVED IN 10 DIFFERENT STATES. HOME WAS WHERE YOUR FAMILY WAS. NOW, AFTER 10 YEARS HERE, HOME IS A PLACE, CORPUS CHRISTI. I FILL A MAMA BEAR PROTECTIVENESS TO WHAT I SEE HAPPENING. AS I HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THE EMERGENCY PROGRAM, THE WORD CIVIL SERVANT TAKES ON A NEW MEANING AS I HAVE SEEN THIS IN REAL TIME FROM ALL OF YOU. AND THE NCHD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO NUECES COUNTY. I MUST COMMENT ON THE ITEM SUBMITTED TO DISSOLVE THE EMERGENCY MEDICINE COMMITTEE. COMMISSIONER JAG , I HAVE HEARD OF HOW YOU HAVE HELPED CONSTITUENTS NAVIGATE HIGHER EDUCATION AND HOW HARD YOU FOUGHT FOR THE HECTOR GARCIA CLINIC. HE ALSO SIGNED

[00:20:02]

THE DOCTORS DID NOT KNOW. BOARD MEMBERS DO NOT KNOW, LOCAL LEADERSHIP DIDN'T KNOW. BLINDSIDED. WITHOUT YOUR QUICK ACTION WE WOULD'VE LOST OVER 50 ER DOCTORS IN THIS COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION THIS DECISION WOULD'VE EVENTUALLY VIOLATED THE NCHD CONTRACT FOR INDIGENT CARE. THAT CONTRACT REQUIRES TWO RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, REMOVING EMERGENCY MEDICINE WOULD HAVE LEFT ONE. WE NEEDED THE LEADERSHIP OF JUDGE SCOTT AND THIS BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE TO SAVE IT AND WE STILL NEED THAT LEADERSHIP TO FINISH THIS. LAST YEAR AT SHORELINE ALONE THE RESIDENCY CARED FOR 64,000 PATIENT ENCOUNTERS. SOME OF THOSE 64,000 PATIENTS WERE TRANSFERS FROM THE HECTOR GARCIA CLINIC. WHAT WILL BE THEIR LEVEL OF CARE? EMERGENCY CARE, SIX YEARS FROM NOW. I APPLAUD JUDGE SCOTT'S LONG-TERM STRATEGY AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS AGO RELEASED. THAT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT WORK WAS SPUN FOR COMMITMENT BE ON SIX YEARS AND TWO WE FIND ALTERNATIVE STRATEGY WITH OTHER HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN THE EVENT THAT IT CANNOT COMMIT PAST SIX YEARS. FROM RURAL PATIENTS FLOWN IN TO THE RESIDENTS TRANSFERRED, EVERYONE IN NUECES COUNTY DESERVES CUTTING-EDGE EMERGENCY CARE THAT THIS

PROGRAM DELIVERS. >> THANK YOU. SERVED FOR OVER 20 YEARS AS A VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. CURRENTLY HAS A MEMBER OF THE WORKING COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY JUDGE SCOTT. THE UNDERPINNING OF MY COMMITMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO EXTEND OUR MISSION TO EXTEND THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST. OUR MISSION IS EXPENSIVE AS IT SEEKS TO SERVE VULNERABLE, UNDERSERVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR HIS GRATITUDE TO NCHD AND THE FINANCIAL GIFT . $21 MILLION PRORATED OVER SIX AND GRATITUDE ESPECIALLY TO JUDGE SCOTT, TO THE COMMISSIONER MAREZ AND COMMISSIONER CHESNEY WHO QUICKLY RECOGNIZED LAST OCTOBER THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EMERGENCY RESIDENCY PROGRAM WHICH WAS ABRUPTLY TERMINATED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO SUSTAIN THE PROGRAM AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE PROGRAM WAS TERMINATED WITH TOTAL DISREGARD FOR FACULTY OR RESIDENT AND NUECES COUNTY PATIENTS. THE WORKING COMMITTEE STARTED THE PROCESS A POTENTIAL TO SAVE THE PROGRAM WITH A SIGNIFICANT EYE TO FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY. THE PROGRAMS IS SAFE AND THANKS TO NCHD FOR MAKING THE TOUGH DECISION TO SUPPORT FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS. HOWEVER, THE COMMITTEE ASSUSTAINABILITY FOR OF EMERGENCY CARE FOR NUECES COUNTY RESIDENTS BEYOND SIX YEARS ? THE AGREEMENT HAS A CLAUSE TO AGREE AND YET AGAIN THEY DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDING NOR THE INTEREST. WHAT THEN? PERHAPS ALTERNATIVE, ANOTHER ORGANIZATION ASSUMING THE ROLE OF EMR EDUCATION. I BELIEVE IN THE COMMITTEE BELIEVES IT'S WISE AND PROMINENT TO EXAMINE OTHER AVENUES AS IT WILL BE DOUBTFUL FOR NCHD TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING SPOHN PARTICULARLY AS THESE NUMBERS ARE INCREDIBLY LARGE, THE WORKING COMMITTEE HAS EYE ON THE FUTURE RESIDENCY PROGRAM POTENTIAL WITH A LASER FOCUS ON PATIENT CARE IN NUECES COUNTY. NOT ONE PERSON ON THE COMMITTEE HAS AN AGENDA, NOT A LYRICAL FINANCIAL OR SELF-SERVING. THE WORK OF THE GROUP IS HEALTHY AND DEDICATED TO THE BEST POSSIBLE QUALITY EDUCATION IN THE ARENA OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE IN NUECES COUNTY. I CANNOT IMAGINE DISBANDING A GROUP OF MORE DEDICATED AND PURPOSE DRIVEN PEOPLE WHO SHARE A COMMON GOAL. THANK YOU.

>> VERONICA WILSON.

[00:25:08]

REPRESENTATIVES HAVE SHOWN GREAT DISRESPECT AND HAVE NOT ATTENDED ANY EMC MEETINGS. THEY TOLD US IN OTHER SESSIONS IT WANTS TO REMOVE THE ER PROGRAM AND OPEN UP 162 FAMILY CLINICS RUN BY NURSE PRACTITIONERS. CLINICS FOR WHICH THEY WILL NOT PAY PROPERTY TAX, THESE CLINICS MAY PUT ALL YOUR FAVORITE DOCTORS OUT OF BUSINESS EVENTUALLY EVERY FAMILY DOCTOR MIGHT BE FORCED TO JOIN. THEIR PLANS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO SACRIFICE EMERGENCY CARE. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE IN 2014 HOSPITAL SYSTEM TORE DOWN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND ITS 300 PLUS BEDS AND EXCHANGE TO HAVE TWO TRAINING PROGRAMS AND THAT WAS A DEAL THAT WAS BROKE. IN 2018 THEY FIRED HALF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS. IT IS 2024 AND HERE WE ARE DOING THIS. I KNOW COMMISSIONERS CANNOT ADDRESS PUBLIC COMMENT DIRECTLY, I THINK RESPECTFULLY WE WOULD ALL LOVE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHO THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR COMMISSIONER JOE GONZALEZ TO SUGGEST SHUTTING DOWN OUR ONLY NUECES COUNTY APPOINTED HEROES THAT WORK TO SAVE EMERGENCY RESIDENCY PROGRAM. THE JOB MUST CONTINUE BECAUSE IT'S PURPOSE HAS NOT BEEN FULFILLED. WE HAVE FOUR HEALTH COMMITTEES THAT THE COUNTY APPOINTS PEOPLE TO THAT SERVE THE COUNTY AND TWO STOPPED MEETING DURING COVID AND HAVE NOT MET SINCE. THE NUECES COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT ONLY SERVES A FINITE NUMBER OF INDIGENT PATIENTS, THANK YOU JUDGE SCOTT FOR CREATING THE EMC FOR THE FUTURE WELL-BEING OF NUECES COUNTY TO GUARANTEE EMERGENCY CARE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS CHESNEY AND MAREZ FOR SERVING TO SAVE EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS FOR ALL CITIZENS OF NUECES COUNTY. THANK YOU AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

>> THANK YOU.

QUESTION IS WITH THE TRI-COUNTY DRAINAGE PLAN THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT THIS MORNING. ACCORDING TO THE GUIDELINES THE NUECES COUNTY TRAIN A CERTAIN NUMBER THREE WAS LEFT OUT OF THAT. AND PART OF THAT IS TO DRAIN WATER INTO ONE OF OUR DITCHES. NOT ONLY THAT BUT THEY WILL INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE DITCH FROM 35 FEET TO 75 FEET TO DRAIN 160 ACRES WHICH IS BASICALLY UNFEASIBLE. THE DITCHES BIG ENOUGH NOW TO DRAIN IT AND I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WHO CAN I CONTACT TO SEE ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR PLAN AND THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER PLANS THAT WE ALSO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? YES, FORMER COMMISSIONER I HAVE NO NOTES SO BEAR WITH ME. FIRST I WAS NOT GOING TO SAY THIS, BUT I FIND IT UNFATHOMABLE THAT SOMEONE CAN COME APPEAR AND TARNISH SOMEONE'S REPUTATION AND YOU CANNOT SPEAK BACK. IF THAT WASN'T A POLITICAL SPEECH I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. TWO THINGS I'M HERE FOR TODAY IS THE VILLAGE I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT. JEFF BLACKARD HAS BEEN SO PATIENT , 10 YEARS AND SOME OF THE RESIDENTS. THIS IS GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER FOR THE CITY AND I HOPE YOU ALL APPROVE IT TODAY. THE OTHER IS FOR THE RESIDENTS. IN MY MIND I CANNOT IMAGINE WHY ANYONE FIRST OFF THANK YOU FOR DOING THE COMMITTEE. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO DISBAND IT? ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE HAVE IS HEALTH CARE. OUR CITY DOES NOT HAVE THE THINGS WE NEED. YOU THERE, MYSELF AND SO MANY OTHERS CAN GO ANYWHERE YOU WANT FOR HEALTH CARE. WE

[00:30:05]

>> THANK YOU, ANYONE ELSE THAT DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK? YES. I WILL SIGN YOU UP.

>> THANK YOU. CORPUS CHRISTI RESIDENTS. WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOREVER. I HAVE WATCHED EMERGENCY MEDICINE EVOLVED IN CORPUS CHRISTI FROM A VERY SCARY TYPE OF ENCOUNTER IF YOU EVER GOT SICK TO A PREMIER EMERGENCY MEDICINE PROGRAM THAT NEEDS MAINTAINING TO THE MAX. HAVING A COMMITTEE LIKE THIS AND ANY KIND OF ORGANIZATION FOR ANY VERY VITAL ORGANIZATION YOU NEED TO HAVE YOU NEED TO HAVE A ENTITY THAT OVERSEES AND WATCHES IT, FINE-TUNES AND KEEPS IT GOING PROPERTY, I RESPECT THE IDEA OF TRYING TO DECREASE COMMITTEES BECAUSE I HATE COMMITTEES, TOO.

BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR FINGER ON THE PULSE AND CUBE WATCHING AND MONITORING AND IMPROVING AND THIS COMMITTEE IS PARAMOUNT IN THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT DOES WHAT WE NEEDED. WE HAVE NOW PROGRESSED WITH GREAT RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, A GREAT NUMBER OF PHYSICIANS THAT NOT ONLY SUPPLY THE HOSPITALS, BUT THEY SUPPLY ALL OUTLYING FREESTANDING EMERGENCY CENTERS AND ALL THE SMALL COMMUNITIES WHICH BEFORE WE HAD A HECKUVA TIME STAFFING AND THE STAFFING WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE EXPERTISE THAT WE HAVE NOW. MAINTAINING THIS PROGRAM IS SUPER IMPORTANT AND WE WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR YOU WANT TO KEEP THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR FINGER ON THE PULSE. TONS OF TIMES WHEN I GO TO D.C. AND THE CAPITOL AND AUSTIN I WILL HEAR IF YOU ARE NOT ON THE TABLE YOU'RE ON THE MENU SO YOU HAVE TO BE AT THE TABLE AND KEEP WATCHING AND

FINE-TUNE. THANK YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE? YES. I WILL PUT YOU DOWN , TOO.

>> EMERGENCY MEDICINE, I CAME TODAY BECAUSE AS A COUNTY WE DO NOT NEED TO LOSE ANYMORE DOCTORS. WE NEED ALL THE DOCTORS WE CAN GET AND WE NEED TO KEEP EMERGENCY MEDICINE DOCTORS. IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE ER YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. I HAVE HAD TO SEND MY NEIGHBORS OR CALL EMS AND YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEND THEM TO THE BEST CARE THEY CAN GET. I HAD TO SEND COMMISSIONER CHESNEY'S MOTHER TO THE ER.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT THAT IS WE DID NOT HAVE TO STAND AND SAY WHICH DO WE SEND HER TO? WE JUST SAID TAKE HER TO THE CLOSEST ONE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL GOOD AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP HERE. WE NEED TO KEEP THAT DECISION AND KEEP

DOCTORS IN TOWN. >> LAST CALL. ANYONE ELSE? I THINK THAT WILL END PUBLIC COMMENT . SORRY. COMMISSIONER

[1. Nueces County Airport Advisory Board]

ABSTAIN. >> YES MA'AM. LET ME GET TO THAT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM WINS G ONE, RECOMMENDATION FOR NUECES COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD , THERE THREE POSITIONS ON THE ADVISORY BOARD WITH TERMS THAT EXPIRED SEPTEMBER 23 WITH ONE APPLICATION RECEIVED FROM MICHAEL SCOTT PRECINCT ONE RESIDENT FOR PRECINCT ONE POSITION. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPOINT MR. SCOTT.

THANK YOU. >> SECOND.

>> MOTION AND SECOND TO APPOINT MICHAEL SCOTT AS PRECINCT TO APPOINT MICHAEL SCOTT AS PRECINCT 1 COMMISSIONER ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. ANY OPPOSED SAME SIGN? MOTION PASSES AND ONE ABSTENTION WITH JUDGE SCOTT

[2. Nueces County Civil Service Commission]

ABSTAINING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MOVING ON ITEM NUMBER 2 THE NUECES COUNTY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. WE HAVE SENT THIS BACK OUT FOR APPLICANTS AND WE HAVE TWO POSITIONS. JASON FLOYD HAS SENT HIS LETTER OF INTENT BACK WHEN WE HAVE A NEW APPLICANT THAT WOULD BE REPLACING DID NOT WISH TO BE REAPPOINTED. HE WAS ONLY SERVING UNTIL WE

[00:35:02]

>> SO MOVED. >> I WILL SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE THE MOTION PASSES.

[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.]

YOU WANT TO PULL THE MINUTES? THIS IS PART OF THE CONSENT. IT IS ALTOGETHER. I'M NEEDING TO PULL ITEM M BECAUSE THERE IS A CORRECTION. WILL HAVE TO MOVE IT TO THE NEXT COURT BECAUSE THERE WERE TWO MISTAKES, EVEN THE CORRECTED VERSION IS WRONG.

ITEM M AT THE REQUEST OF PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, MICHAEL HAS ASKED US TO TABLE THAT 2/21.

>> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS ON THE LIST YOU WISH TO PULL FOR DISCUSSION OR ANYTHING?

>> D? >> D 6? JUST DUNN 6 .

>> OKAY JUST D 6. OKAY, YES. ANY OTHERS?

>> S . YES OR. ANYTHING ELSE?

>> ONE MOMENT JUDGE. I DID HAVE , I'M SORRY. I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE IT IS. BOB HALL. I NEED TO TABLE THAT ONE, MOTION TO TABLE. I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THAT UNTIL

THE NEXT MEETING , 2/21. >> MOTION TO TABLE TO HAVE A SECOND? MOTION AND SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR TO TABLE THIS ITEM TO FEBRUARY 22ND? 21ST, SORRY. SORRY EXCUSE ME. DID

YOU CAN VOTE? >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE WOULD MAKE MOTION TO PASS THE REMAINING PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA EXCEPT FOR D 6 WHICH WAS TABLED, M AND S AND X .

>> SECOND FOR THAT MOTION? I WILL SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE ANY OPPOSED SAME SIGN? THE MOTION PASSES. LIVING ON

[D. Authorize payment of bills - Special Motions list dated February 7, 2024.]

ITEM D 6 SERVICE. >> FIRST A QUESTION INAUDIBLE ] IS THIS FINAL PAYMENT

>> COMING UP TO THE PODIUM, I'M ASSUMING IT IS. WE ASK FOR THE FINAL PAYMENT FOR EVERYTHING AND THAT'S WHAT WAS

ON THE AGENDA. >> YES SIR, ALL INVOICES RELATED TO COUNTY DRAINAGE ON SPECIAL MOTIONS ARE FINAL.

>> I REALLY HAVE A HARD TIME PAYING THAT BECAUSE SHE'S NOT EVEN HERE. IF SHE WAS ASKED TO TO DO A CLOSEOUT AND I GUESS YOU PASS IT ON TO ASSOCIATE AND SHE PAID A LOT OF MONEY , OVER $200,000 TO DO THIS PROGRAM AND SHE HAD HER MONEY BACK IN AUGUST AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN HER SINCE. SHE DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE. SO, I THINK SHE SHOULD BE HERE TO CLOSE IT OUT. SHE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THIS THING. THAT IS MY OPINION. THAT'S WHY I CANNOT SUPPORT THAT.

>> DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE A MOTION TO PASS THIS TO PAY

THIS? >> I FEEL THE SAME WAY. EVERY

[00:40:01]

SHE SHOULD BE HERE. >> IS THE BILL WAY PAST DUE?

>> YES, FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE FROM LAST YEAR. CAN I FINISH? I LET YOU SPEAK. THE OTHER PART OF THIS WAS IF WE ASK HER TO KEEP COMING AND WE HAVE TO KEEP ANCHOR TO KEEP COMING ALSO. SO IF EVERYBODY HAS CUT HER OFF AND SAYS DON'T SPEND ANY MORE TIME ON IT AND YOU SAY YOU WANT HER TO COME THEN IF YOU WANT HER TO COME YOU HAVE TO PAY HER AND WILL OPPOSE THAT TOO THEN THAT'S OKAY, BUT THIS IS A PAST-DUE BILL THAT WAS

OWED WHEN? >> SERVICES OF JUNE 2023.

>> WE HAVE NOT PAID HER SINCE JUNE OF 2023 SO IF YOU WANT TO VOTE AGAINST THAT FEEL FREE BUT I MAKE A MOTION TO PASS THIS

AND GET IT DONE. >> WHY DO WE FIND IT EASIER TO

PAY PEOPLE OFF? >> BECAUSE WE OWE THEM.

>> THEY ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE TO TALK TO US.

>> YOU HAVE TO AGREE TO PAY HER IF SHE COMES. HE DID NOT WANT

HER TO COME ANYMORE. >> OKAY WE HAVE A MOTION AND A

SECOND. >> I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH

HER. >> GUYS THAT'S ENOUGH.

>> WE SHOULD HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE TO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY AND COME TALK TO US AFTER WE HAVE PAID THEM

ANYWAY. >> WE HAVE NOT PAID HER SINCE

JUNE. >> THIS IS WHAT WE DO YOU TAKE

THE LEAD ON THAT. >> EVERYONE HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK COMMISSIONER I HAVE THE FLOOR.

I HAVE THE FLOOR. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO PASS THIS, THIS IS THE FLOOR. THERE IS A VOTE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THE CONTRACT ENDED IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR?

>> THE CONTRACT ENDED IN NOVEMBER OF 23. WE WERE STILL WAITING FOR THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO FINALIZE APPROVAL OF THE STUDY. WE DID NOT GET THAT UNTIL JANUARY. SO THAT'S WHY THE LAST FINAL BILLS WERE NOT SUBMITTED UNTIL WE DID GET THE APPROVAL STUDY.

>> WE DID NOT TAKE ACTION TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT NOR WAS , DID SHE ASK FOR EXTENSION ON THAT?

>> I THINK SHE, WE HAVE NOT BROUGHT IT TO THE COURT TO

EXTEND THE EXTENSION . >> WE WERE NOT ASKED? WHERE WE ASKED OR NOT TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE?

>> I BELIEVE SHE DID SEND OUT A REQUEST, MAYBE JANUARY OF LAST

YEAR. 23. >> TO EXTEND?

>> TO EXTEND TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

>> THE LAST INVOICE OR BILL OR CONTACT WAS NOVEMBER OF 23? WE DID NOT TAKE ANY ACTION TO EXTEND?

>> NOT FOR THE CONTRACT FOR SUSAN ROTH. WE HAVE REQUESTED EXTENSION FOR THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD CONTRACT IN ORDER FOR US TO SUBMIT THE FINAL FINALIZATION OF

REIMBURSEMENT. >> THIS, SO THIS ENDS THE

WORK, THIS SCOPE. >> YES IT DOES THAT'S WHY WE

ARE ASKING. >> I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR BECAUSE WE NEED THIS TO BE COMPLETE. I DO AGREE THAT WHEN WE APPROVE ITEMS, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE REPRESENTATIVES IN PERSON AND IF NOT, AT LEAST REMOTELY TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I THINK THAT GOES FOR ANY KIND OF ACTION THAT WE TAKE ON APPROVING CONTRACTS. I THINK THAT GOES WITH STAFF WHEN WE JUST HAVE IT COME HERE AND WE DON'T HAVE STAFF ANTICIPATING OR IN PERSON TO PRESENT AN ITEM BEFORE THIS COURT. COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ AND MAREZ ARE ON TO SOMETHING, ANY AND ALL ACTION SHOULD SHOW SOME REPRESENTATION THERE. EVEN IF THE QUESTION DOES NOT COME UP. SOMEONE SHOULD BE HERE IN CASE THERE IS A QUESTION BECAUSE SOMETIMES OUR DIRECTORS AND STAFF MEMBERS , THE LIAISONS DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION SO IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE SOMEONE HERE. BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN RESOLVED AND IT WILL END THE CONTRACT PHYSICALLY I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR, BUT I THINK FOR FUTURE ACTIONS WE SHOULD CONSIDER A POLICY OR PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT REQUIRES SOMEONE, EVEN LIKE I SAID WITH THIS DAY AND AGE IF SOMEONE CAN BE AVAILABLE ON ZOOM AND THEN QUIETLY GET OFF

[00:45:01]

] BACK THEN SUSAN ROTH WAS SENT AN EMAIL IN AUGUST. I BET IT WAS AUGUST OR JULY. TELLING HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO REQUEST AN EXTENSION IF SHE WANTED TO GET ONE. NOT TO DEPLETE HER MONEY BECAUSE THE PROGRAM WAS NOT OVER AND SHE KNEW ABOUT IT, SHE WAS ADVISED THAT IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING YOU NEED TO COME TO THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT AND ASK FOR EXTENSION OR DON'T DEPLETE YOUR MONEY UNTIL THE END OF THE CONTRACT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT END UNTIL NOVEMBER, WHY ARE YOU USING ALL THE MONEY IN AUGUST? SHE WANTED MORE MONEY, BUT THAT, SHE DID NOT KNOW, SHE WAS NOTIFIED. THAT IS THE ONLY THING I HAVE, SHE WAS NOTIFIED. BY EMAIL SENT BY THIS COURT, I THINK THE JUDGE.

>> I KNEW ABOUT THE EMAIL AND THAT IS WHY THE MOTION AND THE SECOND IS ON THE FLOOR. I WAS ASKING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ANYTHING I WANT TO PULL IT BACK TO THE EXECUTIVE BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE INFORMATION DISCLOSED WHEN I CONTACTED HER. WE HAVE ASSOCIATES THAT WILL BE HERE, I WAS ASKING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IF I COULD AND I THINK WE WILL AND WE WILL COME BACK TO THIS AFTERWARD. SO IF COMMISSIONER CHESNEY IS WILLING, I WOULD ASK THAT WE PULL THIS INTO EXECUTIVE AND

HE PULLED THE MOTION BACK. >> ONE LAST QUESTION.

>> HAPPY TO DRAW THE MOTION TO TAKE IT TO EXECUTIVE.

>> WAS SUSAN ROSS , I UNDERSTAND SHE'S WORKING FOR COUNTY I BELIEVE DO YOU KNOW SHE WAS WORKING THERE WHILE

UNDER CONTRACT? >> I WAS NOT MADE AWARE, I DID

NOT SEARCH FOR THAT. >> I DON'T SEE WHY YOU WOULD, BUT I'M WONDERING IF YOU KNEW.

>> TO CLARIFY, SUSAN ROTH WAS THE MANAGER ON THE STUDY AND ASSOCIATES WERE RESPONDING FOR ANY REQUEST ON THE STUDY FROM TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD SO THAT'S WHY THEY WILL BE

PRESENTING THE FINAL STUDY. >> I UNDERSTAND SHE IS WORKING FOR THE WATER IN KLABER COUNTY.

[S. Ratify Amendment No. 2 for extension of contract expiration date to April 30, 2024, with the Texas Water Development Board related to the Tri-County Drainage Study.]

>> WE WILL PULL THAT INTO EXECUTIVE, SO WE WILL COME BACK. ITEM S RATIFY AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO FOR EXTENSION OF CONTRACT EXPIRATION DATE TO APRIL 30TH WITH TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD RELATED. GOOD LUCK.

>> WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN? >> THE CONTRACT WITH THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD ENDED ON JANUARY 31ST, 2024. SINCE WE GOT THE FINAL APPROVAL OF THIS STUDY IN JANUARY, THAT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TIME TO REQUEST ALL THE FINAL REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS AND ALL THE PAPERWORK THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE. SO WE ARE EXTENDING IT, WE ASKED FOR EXTENSION AND GOT IT APPROVED TO EXTEND TO APRIL 24TH TO GIVE ME AMPLE TIME TO REQUEST THE FINAL FUNDING. IT IS IN ESCROW ACCOUNTS.

>> WHEN WILL THEY ASK FOR THE REQUIRED FUNDING? THEY STILL

OWE THE MONEY? >> THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, IT IS ESCROW THAT WE HAVE TO SUBMIT THE REQUEST AND THEN

THEY RELEASE. >> IT WILL ASK FOR THE FUNDS?

>> I AM. >> NOT SUSAN? THAT IS SUSAN'S

JOB, TOO. >> IT WAS.

>> OKAY THANK YOU.

FORWARD WITH THIS ONE? THE EXTENSION FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO ASK FOR REIMBURSEMENT.

>> I WILL SECOND HIS MOTION. >> A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE ANY OPPOSED SAME SIGN? THE MOTION PASSES. ITEM X. YOU WANT TO TABLE, DID WE HANDLE THAT ONE? YES, SORRY. OKAY. AND THEN MOVING ON TO THE REGULAR

[1. Discuss and consider dissolving the Emergency Medicine Committee to eliminate the county's involvement for the purpose of the Emergency Medicine Residency Program and all other matters.]

[00:50:04]

>> I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY, A LOT OF HECKLING OUT THERE ON THE THINGS I HAVE DONE BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMMITTEE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE INDIGENT IF YOU LOOK AT MY HISTORY SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. YOU KNOW TO LET YOU PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE. EVERYBODY IN HERE AT THIS TABLE HERE VOTED TO SUPPORT IT. NONE OF THEM VOTED NO. WE ALL VOTED TO SUPPORT THE RESIDENCY. IT IS IMPORTANT. WE ALL VOTED TO SUPPORT THE DOCTORS FOR SIX YEARS. SO, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE ARE THE BAD GUYS BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS AND DIFFERENT OPINIONS , YOU KNOW SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE ARE NOT SUPPORTING YOU. MAKES IT SOUND LIKE THIS IS THE BAD GUY HERE. BUT YOU KNOW, MY CONCERN IS THE PROCESS. I AM GLAD, YOU MAY NOT BE TOO FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS, BUT THERE IS A PROCESS WE ARE NOT FOLLOWING WHEN WE DO THIS. I REALLY DON'T CARE WHICH WAY WE GO. BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO COUNT THREE, YET THROUGH THAT'S A YES AND TWO SAY NO, IT IS STILL GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT IT SHOULD COME TO COMMISSIONERS' COURT. THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE. IF YOU DON'T THINK IT TO COMMISSIONERS' COURT I THINK WE ARE IN VIOLATION OF SOMETHING. THIS IS WHY I PUT IT ON HERE TO DISCUSS. NOT THAT I'M AGAINST IT. FROM DAY ONE I SUPPORTED , FROM DAY ONE WE SUPPORTED THE RESIDENCY. THE ACA CLOSED THEIR RESIDENCY AND NOBODY RAISED AN ISSUE, NOBODY DIED, EVERYBODY KEPT PROVIDING SERVICES. FAMILY MEDICINE WAS CUT IN HALF AND THEY'RE STILL SURVIVING AND NOBODY RAISED AN ISSUE. SO IT IS IMPORTANT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS. WE HAVE SIX YEARS, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO SPEND, WE SPENT $21 MILLION ALREADY FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT OF TAXPAYER MONEY, INDIGENT CARE. I KNOW THEY DO INDIGENT CARE AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM. WE'VE GOT MORE INDIGENT CARE IN THE OUTER AREAS THAN WE DO IN THE EMERGENCY ROOMS. IS NOT ABOUT DISSOLVING AND NOT COMING BACK. WE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK TO IT.

YOU'VE GOT SIX YEARS, SOMETHING CAN HAPPEN IN SIX YEARS, MAYBE SOMETHING BETTER MAYBE NOT. IF IT'S NOT BETTER THAN YOU REGROUP AND SAY WHAT'S GOING ON? BUT YOU KNOW I DON'T SEE THE PURPOSE BECAUSE AND JUDGE TOLD ME ONE TIME AND I RESPOND TELLING ME WHAT TO DO YOU SHOULDN'T TELL WHAT TO DO. WE ARE DOING IT SO I THINK THAT WE DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO TELL THEM WHAT TO DO. THEY HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT BETWEEN THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT .

WE DID A POLICY AND I SAID WE CANNOT ASK THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT WELL, $21 MILLION CAME TO COMMISSIONERS' COURT AND WE VOTED FOR IT. IT IS A GOOD THING RIGHT? SO WE DO NOT FOLLOW THE POLICY WE CREATED FOR A REASON. THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT ALSO CREATED A POLICY TO SAY IF YOU REQUEST THE MONEY YOU NEED TO GO BACK TO COMMISSIONERS' COURT AND GET A VOTE AND COME BACK. WE DO NOT DO THAT EITHER SO I THINK THE PROCESS IS NOT WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FOLLOWING. WE SENT A LETTER PREPARED BY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS. THE JUDGE READ THE LETTER AND IT WAS SENT, WHY AGAIN THAT SHOULD'VE COME TO COMMISSIONERS' COURT. TAKING ACTION WITHOUT GOING TO COMMISSIONERS' COURT AND THREE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE LETTER AND TWO DON'T KNOW. THAT'S THE PROBLEM I HAVE JUDGE. THE PROBLEM I HAVE, WE'RE DOING THINGS WITH THREE PEOPLE KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON AND TWO OTHER PEOPLE NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON. THE OTHER PROCESS WAS THE PRESS RELEASE. WE DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PRESS RELEASE. WHEN I TALKED THE DAY BEFORE THE PRESS RELEASE YOU DO NOT MENTION A PRESS RELEASE. YOU GUYS WERE ALREADY WORKING

ON A PRESS RELEASE. >> THAT'S NOT TRUE. I GOT HANDED A PAPER AND WHEN I SIGNED IT, IT WAS NOT PREPARED

[00:55:05]

AHEAD OF TIME. >> STILL, IT SHOULD HAVE COME TO COMMISSIONERS' COURT FOR APPROVAL FOR THE PRESS RELEASE.

ALL IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN HIS TWO MORE WEEKS. PROBABLY IT WOULD'VE SAID OKAY. IT'S JUST THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE THAT IS NOT RIGHT. THAT IS NOT BEING FOLLOWED. IT TOOK ME TO PUT THIS ON THE PAPER TO GET EVERYBODY HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT. WE SUPPORT YOU, WE ARE GLAD WHAT YOU'RE DOING, WE NEED HELP IN THAT PART OF THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A SEVEN-DAY HEALTH WHERE WE ARE DOING CLINICS, WE HOPE SOME OF YOU VOLUNTEER, SOME OF YOU DOCTORS, WE NEED DOCTORS AND DENTISTS.

YOU SIGNED UP, WE NEED YOU JUST LIKE YOU NEED US WE NEED YOU.

IT IS A WHOLE WEEK. SO WE ARE TAKING VOLUNTEERS. AS FAR AS DISSOLVING , I JUST DON'T THINK THE COUNTY SHOULD BE DRIVING THIS THING. YOU CAN HAVE COMMITTEES IF YOU WANT, COMMISSIONERS CAN GO WHERE THEY WANT TO GO. IF I WANT TO GO TO THE MEETING BECAUSE THEY INVITE ME I WILL SAY I'M NOT REPRESENTING THE COUNTY, I REPRESENT MYSELF AND I JUST GO.

NOTHING SAYS YOU CAN'T HAVE A COMMITTEE. WE CAN'T CONTROL THAT. IF IT IS DRIVEN BY THE COUNTY AND TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO AND WHAT THEY SHOULD DO IT IS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS TO ME. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND ANY MORE MONEY IN THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT THAT BELONGS TO INDIGENT CARE. SOME OF IT HAPPENS, HOPEFULLY NOT IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS OR ONE YEAR, AT THE BREAK UP WHERE ARE WE GOING TO BE? WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING TO BE? I DON'T KNOW HOW TO TELL YOU THIS, BUT YOU KNOW I'M NOT THE BAD GUY. WE JUST WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS. WE SHOULD DO THE PROCESS RIGHT. HERE IN COMMISSIONERS' COURT. WE HAVE FIVE COMMISSIONERS AND A JUDGE, IT SHOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH COMMISSIONERS' COURT AND IT

DID NOT COME THROUGH. >> CAN I DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT

ON THAT? >> TO EXTEND COMMITTEES I

DON'T REMEMBER DOING THAT. >> YOU PLAN AND DO THINGS ALL THE TIME WITH ALL OF YOUR STUFF AND IT DOES NOT COME TO

THE COURT. >> I'M JUST TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW THIS IS ON THE TABLE. YOU WANT TO BRING SOMETHING LATER THEN BRING IT UP, BUT IT IS ON THE TABLE BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING NOW. THREE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT IT IS IN VIOLATION OF QUORUM. TWO PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT AND IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE TAKEN TO COMMISSIONERS' COURT FOR A VOTE. YOU CAN DECIDE WHATEVER YOU WANT. RATIFY IT IN COURT AND WHETHER WE PASS OR NOT DOES NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. THREE VOTES IS GOOD AT LEAST I GOT THE VOTE. WHETHER I VOTE YES OR NO. THAT'S THE PROCESS I WANT.

>> OKAY THAT'S YOUR REQUEST. >>

>> I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT'S THE PROCESS YOU WANT, YOU ARE

DONE. >> ANYWAY, AGAIN, THIS IS JUST MY OPINION THAT'S HOW I FEEL. I'M GLAD BOTH OF YOU ARE HERE AND INDIGENT CARE MEANS A LOT AND WE ALL CARE ABOUT INDIGENT CARE. WE ARE HERE FOR THE SAME PURPOSE FOR THE SAME THING FOR THE SAME MISSION. SOMETIMES WE CAN'T DRIVE SOME THINGS FOREVER. IT'S GOT TO BE BETWEEN, IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT I DON'T KNOW THEN YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PUT IT IN THERE.

THAT I KNOW OF. SO THAT'S WHY I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DRIVE THIS THING AND BE PART OF IT LONG-TERM IN THE COMMITTEE. WE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK AND REGROUP IF IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AND COMMISSIONERS CAN MEET ALL THEY WANT. I THINK IT SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN BY THE COUNTY. THAT SO I FEEL THAT'S MY OPINION.

>> JUDGE . SO I THINK COMMISSIONER CHESNEY WAS NEXT.

>> OKAY I WISH I COULD SAY I COULDN'T DISAGREE MORE AND BE MORE EMPHATIC ABOUT IT BECAUSE I COULDN'T DISAGREE MORE WITH

[01:00:01]

[01:05:04]

BUT WE HAVE DONE BY THE BOOK, THIS COMMITTEE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB AND TO DO ANYTHING TO SAY IT HASN'T. WE HAVE STAKEHOLDERS, A COMMITTEE ATE UP OF STAKEHOLDERS AT THE TABLE THAT VERY FEW COMMITTEES HAVE. WE HAVE GOTTEN PUBLIC INPUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MEETINGS. 15 WE HAVE DEALT WITH OR 10 MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE HAD OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO COME TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANYBODY ELSE THAT HAS DONE MORE THAN THAT. PEOPLE SHOW UP AT THE MEETINGS, THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT WITH MEETING AFTER MEETING. PEOPLE HAVE WORKED THEIR TAILS OFF TO GET THIS DONE AND WE ALL CELEBRATED AS YOU SHOULD TWO BECAUSE YOU VOTED FOR AND WE SHOULD CELEBRATE THAT SIX-YEAR DEAL. THE WORK IS NOT DONE WE ARE NOWHERE NEAR DONE BECAUSE YOU CAN JUST QUIT AND PICK UP IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE THEN WE ARE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE WERE, WHERE THEY CAN GO AND TELL RESIDENTS IN ALL HONESTLY AND ETHICALLY THAT THE PROGRAM CONTINUES. SO THANKS TO SIGNING THE DEAL , THANKS TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT , TO THE COMMITTEE, THANKS TO THE DOCTORS. THANKS TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THE JUDGE FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER FOR THE COURT SO WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM IN A NEGATIVE MANNER IS ONLY RESPECTFULLY BECAUSE COMMISSIONER YOU DID PUT A MOTION TO DISBAND A COMMITTEE THAT HAS DONE REALLY GREAT WORK AND MAYBE IF YOU WORDED THE AGENDA ITEM DIFFERENTLY TO SAY MOTION TO DISCUSS THE OVERALL HEALTHCARE PROGRAM IT WOULD NOT HAVE MADE EVERYBODY SO UPSET, I DON'T THINK YOU ARE BAD GUY BUT THE WORDING ON THE AGENDA MADE EVERYBODY NERVOUS. YOU WANT TO DISBAND THE COMMITTEE. THAT HAS DONE GREAT WORK. SO THAT FIRED EVERYBODY UP AND MAYBE THEY MISINTERPRETED YOUR INTENTIONS AND YOU HAVE GONE A WAYS TO CLEAR THAT UP. SO AGAIN NOT BECAUSE I'M ON THE COMMITTEE, IF SOMEONE ELSE WANTS TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE OR WHATEVER , BUT I'M GOING TO WORK ON THIS NO MATTER WHAT AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN IT. AGAIN WE SHOULD CELEBRATE THE VICTORY , BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND WE ARE NOWHERE NEAR DONE AND I'M GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR THE DOCTORS AND THESE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AGAIN THE IRONY IS I DON'T REPRESENT A LOT OF INDIGENT PEOPLE, I DON'T AND I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BUT I'M FIGHTING AS HARD AS I CAN FOR THOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE WE DON'T FIGHT FOR THE DOCTORS AND FIGHT FOR THE PROGRAMS, THEN OUR INDIGENT COMMUNITY WILL SUFFER AND I'M GETTING OLDER EVERY DAY AND I DON'T WANT TO SUFFER AND I DON'T WANT THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT TO SUFFER EITHER.

THANK YOU JUDGE. >> COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ.

>> COMMISSIONER I DON'T THINK YOU ARE ONE SUFFER, I THINK YOU DO OKAY. MY CONCERN IS WHAT ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES? MONEY BEING TAKEN AWAY, WE HAVE A LOT OF INDIGENT EMPLOYEES HERE.

HAVING TO WORK TWO OR THREE JOBS OKAY AND WHAT ABOUT THEM? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR THEM? WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE THAT WORK AT THE JAIL? THE JAILERS AND POLICE OFFICERS? WE HAVE A HARD TIME , EVEN THOUGH WE CUT THE BUDGET WE STILL HAD A HARD TIME GETTING THINGS ACCOMPLISHED THAT WE NEEDED TO FOR THE EMPLOYEES. SO WHAT ABOUT THEM? IT'S NICE AND I SUPPORT THE DOCTORS BUT I THINK THE DOCTORS IF IT IS IN THEIR HEARTS TO BE HERE AND CARE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY, THEY WILL STAY. IF THE DOCTORS CHOOSE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE WHERE THE WATER IS NOT CONTAMINATED AND THE LAND IS NOT CONTAMINATED, I HAD MILLION DOLLARS SET ASIDE TO DO SOME WORK WHERE THE SEWAGE IS WE CAN IN THE GROUND AND IT HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR YEARS. NOBODY HAS TAKEN NOTICE OF THAT, NOBODY HAS DONE ANYTHING. THE ONLY THING THAT HAPPENED , COULD NOT GET THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE TO DO THE PROPER PAPERWORK. YOU KNOW, SO YOU GRABBED MY MILLION DOLLARS AWAY AND ADDED IT TO THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE TO FIX THE ROOF.

WITHOUT GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THAT MONEY ELSEWHERE WHERE I NEEDED IT. YOU PUT MONEY AWAY FROM , I HAD

[01:10:03]

INDIGENT HEALTH. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. BEFORE YOU SPEAK COMMISSIONER MAREZ I WANT TO CLARIFY, NONE OF THE COUNTY BUDGETS ARE GOING TOWARD ANY OF THIS. I WANTED TO BE CLEAR.

IN MOVING THIS PROCESS FORWARD WITH THE DOCTORS, THIS IS NOT

OUR FUNDING. >> WE HAD PROBLEMS GETTING THE CONTRACT FOR THE SHERIFFS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY. THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING AT.

>> THIS IS NOT GOING TO GIVE US ANY MONEY. THERE ARE OTHERS, THE PRIORITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTY THAT ARE NOT GETTING

TAKEN CARE OF, I GET THAT. >> OKAY THANK YOU. THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO CLARIFY. THIS MONEY DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE COUNTY BUDGET

CORRECT? OKAY. >> IT COMES FROM THE TAXPAYERS.

IT. >> LET ME FINISH. WE GET SIDETRACKED ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES. THE ISSUE IS WHAT IS AT HAND, WHAT WAS FILED. I LOOKED AT THE AUDIENCE HERE THIS MORNING AND IT'S LIKE THE RELUCTANT HERO. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE DOCTORS AND YOU HAVE YOUR COAT DRAPED OVER YOUR ARM AND YOU KIND OF SLIGHTED BACK ON AND YOU ARE ON WORK

[01:15:05]

YOU'RE DOING IT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO ADVOCATE. YOU'RE ALWAYS AN ADVOCATE. I DON'T THINK YOU TURN THAT SWITCH OFF. MOST OF THE TIME IT'S ALWAYS FOR SOMEONE ELSE. HERE TODAY IT IS ALSO FOR YOU, FOR THE DOCTORS. KNOW WHEN OR HOW MUCH WE SPIN, IT IS EITHER WITH YOU OR AGAINST YOU. I DON'T GET THE DOUBLETALK, I DON'T, I DON'T. I AM TRULY JUST FRUSTRATED THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE YOUR TIME . I BET IF I ASK SEVERAL OF YOU JUST GOT OFF OR GETTING READY TO GO ONCE IN. YOU TO GO TRY TO FIND A QUITE SPACE TO GET A COUPLE HOURS OF SLEEP IN BEFORE YOU GO BACK ON DUTY. WE CUT INTO YOUR PERSONAL TIME AND FAMILY TIME BECAUSE SOMEONE'S FEELINGS WERE HURT THAT THEY FELT THIS COMMITTEE CREATED BY THE JUDGE WHICH IS AD HOC WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING CREATED BY THIS COURT, IT WAS APPOINTED BY THE JUDGE, IT SHOULD NOT EVEN BE VOTED ON OR CONSIDERED AS AN AGENDA ITEM. I'M SURPRISED IT MADE IT HERE BECAUSE IT SHOULD NOT, IT SHOULD NOT TAKE YOUR TIME AWAY TO ADVOCATE. WE THOUGHT IT WAS OVER. WHEN WE'RE DOING HERE WILL CONTINUE. I AGREE COMMISSIONER CHESNEY YOU WILL NOT STOP US, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STOP ME OR KAREN, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STOP ALL THE OTHERS WHO PUT COUNTLESS AMOUNTS OF HOURS AND PASSION INTO THIS ISSUE. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT IS NOT GOING AWAY. THE TIMEFRAME THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN OPEN COURT WITH SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GOING AWAY. TWO YEARS GOES BY FAST AND IF WE KNOW ] DOES NOT WANT THE PROGRAM WE NEED TO KNOW SOONER SO WE CAN RECUPERATE AND GO OUT AND FIND A SYSTEM THAT WANTS IT. IT'S NOT ABOUT FOR MAKING DECISIONS THEY HAVE TO DO, BUT HOW WE GOT INVOLVED WAS INDIGENT CARE AND I AGREE WITH THAT. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, THE INDIGENT CARE. SO, WE'RE GOING IN ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS TO JUSTIFY WHY THIS ITEM IS HERE, BUT THE REALITY IS IT IS TAKING YOUR TIME AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO REST AND RECUPERATE, RECOVER AND GET BACK INTO THE HOSPITAL AGAIN TO TRAIN THOSE RESIDENTS COMING IN. AND YOU KNOW WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT, HOPEFULLY THE NUMBERS CAN BE RELEASED AS FAR AS HOW MUCH ATTENTION HAS BEEN BROUGHT, HOW MANY APPLICANTS THAT THE DOCTORS HAVE TO SCREEN THROUGH NOW. IT WAS A GOOD THING. THAT EXERCISE THAT WE DID NOT ASK FOR , JUST WANT TO SAY THIS ISSUE WAS CREATED FOR POLITICAL GAIN. IF IT WASN'T, THIS WAS AN ISSUE WE DID NOT ASK FOR, AND WAS THROWN ON OUR LAP, IN FRONT OF YOU AND COLLEAGUES DOWN THE ROAD AT CITY HALL WITH THE FIRST TO GET IT. AND THEN YOU CAME THE NEXT DAY TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. THEY HAD NO CONTROL OVER THIS. WE HAVE TIRELESSLY BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS FIGHT. THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOUR SELF-INTEREST, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU, IT NEVER IS, BUT YOU'RE BEING ADVOCATES LIKE YOU ALWAYS ARE FOR THE PATIENT AND THE PATIENT IS THIS COMMUNITY. WHETHER WE ARE IN THE HOSPITAL NOW, WE WILL BE IN THE FUTURE, FAMILY MEMBERS WILL BE, WE NEED TRAIN RESIDENTS THAT WILL BE THERE. WE NEED TRAINED DOCTORS, IT IS A TEACHING FACILITY TO HELP ENSURE WE HAVE A LEVEL II TRAUMA CENTER AND CARE PROVIDED IN THIS COMMUNITY. THAT IS WHAT'S IMPORTANT. THAT'S WHAT THIS ISSUE IS ALL ABOUT. IT'S NOT ABOUT TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN GET OUT OF IT. I'M A LITTLE AGHAST THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT MADE EARLIER THAT THERE IS A LACK OF INTEGRITY FROM OUR DOCTORS. IF THERE'S EVER AN EVENT HELD FOR SOMEONE IT'S BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN THEM AND THEY SUPPORT THEM. NOT BECAUSE WHAT DID I GET OUT OF IT OR WHAT CAN I GET OUT OF IT? YOUR ABOVE THAT. ME, I CAN TAKE IT, AS A POLITICIAN I SIGNED UP FOR THAT. I THINK I NEED TO SEE A NEUROLOGIST BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHY I KEEP SIGNING UP FOR THIS, BUT YOU DON'T ASK FOR THIS, Y■OU WERE JUST THERE EVERYDAY ON THE FRONT LINES DEALING WITH EMERGENCIES. AND YOUR INTEGRITY IS ABOVE REPROACH. SO I'M SORRY THAT COMMENTS WERE MADE EVEN THOUGH I DO NOT MAKE THEM THAT WERE MADE PUBLICLY AGAINST YOU ALL. BECAUSE IT DID TALK ABOUT INTEGRITY AND THAT IS WRONG. SO LET'S FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT ONE COME I DON'T THINK THIS AGENDA ITEM IS EVEN AN ITEM WE SHOULD BE DISCUSSING BECAUSE THIS COMMITTEE WAS CREATED BY THE

[01:20:05]

I HOPE THERE IS AT LEAST A MOTION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BECAUSE THEN THIS WAS JUST AN EXERCISE IN WASTING EVERYBODY'S TIME TO SUIT UP TO COME OUT HERE AGAIN. I THOUGHT WE WERE DONE BACK IN DECEMBER RIGHT? WITH THAT FINAL VOTE. BUT YES, THE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE OVER THE MONTHS AND WEEKS AHEAD. LEAVE ME THEIR PROJECTS WE CAN BE WORKING ON AND DOING OTHER THAN THIS. I LOVE TO SEE OUR DOCTORS. WE HAVE BUILT STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM AND THEIR STRONG ADVOCACY GROUP HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT THEY CAN BE DOING OTHER THINGS. THEY COULD BE GOING TO WORK. WE CAN BE WORKING ON OTHER ITEMS, BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S NOT GOING AWAY. SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD NO MATTER WHAT THE VOTE IS. I WILL STAY ON COURSE AND I WILL STILL MEET WITH YOU EVEN IF THE COURT TURNED IT DOWN BECAUSE THIS IS AN ISSUE WE HAVE TO RESOLVE SOON. SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

BEFORE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT I THOUGHT IT WAS WEEKS MONTHS AND YEARS AND WE REALIZE IT'S REALLY JUST HOURS, DAYS AND WEEKS. WE ARE KIND OF BACK INTO THAT MODE AGAIN. SO LET'S GET IT RESOLVED AND COMPLETE SO WE HAVE A LONG-TERM PLAN IN PLACE AND REMEMBER IT'S NOT JUST US. IT IS OUR HOSPITAL DISTRICT AS WELL. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE THE BINDING CONTRACT FOR THE INDIGENT CARE. SO IT'S REALLY A THREE PARTY AGREEMENT.

I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND COMING HERE AND SHARING YOUR PASSION AND ONCE AGAIN FOR TAKING TIME WHEN IT

IS SO PRECIOUS. >> EXCUSE ME JUDGE I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO IT PLEASE. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY QUESTIONS

THE DR.'S INTEGRITY. >> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE DID.

THE OTHER SPEAKER, NOT YOU. THE OTHER SPEAKER EARLIER.

>> I APOLOGIZE I DON'T THINK I CAUGHT THAT. IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INTEGRITY, COME ON. WE HAVE TWO COMMISSIONERS WHO COME TO WORK AT LEAST ONCE A DAY. WEARS THE INTEGRITY IN THAT? I'M SORRY JUDGE IT'S GOT TO BE TOLD. GOING TO LET THE PEOPLE AND THE PUBLIC KNOW HOW YOU GUYS ACT. YOU COME TO WORK ONE DAY BECAUSE YOU'RE WORKING FOR THE WATER DISTRICT.

PLACE. THESE DON'T GO THERE. IT IS MY TURN. YOU DO NOT WALK IN OR OUT, WE ALL DO WORK. LET'S NOT GO THERE. OKAY.

EVERYONE ELSE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK AND NOW IT'S MY TURN.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU IF THIS GOES TO VOTE I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST, BUT LET ME BE CLEAR. WHEN I SET THIS UP AND ASKED FOR THE COMMITTEE, IT WAS NEVER TO BASH NOT TO BASH THE HOSPITAL. IT WAS NOT TO TELL ANYBODY WHAT TO DO. IT WAS A COMMUNITY TEAM TO HELP US FOR THE FUTURE BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IT IS NOT A COUNTY ISSUE. WE DON'T HAVE FUNDS GOING INTO THIS, THIS IS NOT COMING FROM OUR BUDGET. THIS IS BECAUSE WE LIVE HERE, OUR KIDS LIVE HERE, PARENTS LIVE HERE, WE WANT BUSINESSES TO COME HERE. WE WANT EMPLOYEES TO COME HERE. WE WANT MORE DOCTORS TO COME HERE. THIS IS BASICALLY A COMMITTEE WORKING ON SOLUTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE DON'T WANT TO BASH ANYONE. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR GIVING US SIX YEARS, BUT SIX YEARS IS GONE E SO THANKFUL TOL DISTRICT FOR ALLOWING THEIR FUNDS TO BE SPENT ON THIS SO IT CAN BE WORKING ON A SOLUTION BETWEEN THEM. BUT THAT IS A SOLUTION THAT CAME BETWEEN THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND ]. AS WE SAID WE HAVE WANTED TO HELP THIS AND I AM SO VERY THANKFUL FOR YOU DOCTORS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF YOUR DAY AND COME HERE. SO MANY TIMES. I AM THANKFUL FOR CITIZENS WHO HAVE COME TO MY OFFICE, THE CITIZENS THAT HAVE SPOKEN TODAY. THIS IS A COMMITTEE THAT WANTS TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU VOTE AGAINST THIS. I'M GOING TO VOTE TO CONTINUE, SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE. THANK YOU FOR THE MEMBERS, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GONZALES AND EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR HEALTHCARE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ, YOU HAVE MANY FACILITIES IN YOURS.

COMMISSIONER MAREZ AND CHESNEY HAPPEN TO BE PROBABLY THE FIRST TWO PEOPLE THAT I SAW IN THE HALL TODAY. I CREATED THIS COMMITTEE AND IT WAS NOT A POLITICAL COMMITTEE. THIS IS NOTHING ABOUT POLITICS. THIS IS A BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE THAT WANTS TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY. LET'S KEEP IT AT THAT SO I WILL BE VOTING YES TO CONTINUE.

[01:25:02]

>> EXCUSE ME JUDGE DOES THIS MEAN WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ASKED YES OR NO ON ANYTHING ANYMORE? I DON'T OBJECT THE COMMITTEE, THEY CAN MEET WHENEVER THEY WANT AND DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT, BUT ARE WE AS A COUNTY GOING TO BE ASKED TO

APPROVE THINGS? >> WE HAVE NO REAL AUTHORITY IN THIS. IT'S ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS.

THERE IS NOTHING TO PROVE. THERE IS NO MONEY TO DONATE.

THIS IS A COMMITTEE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR TIME TO WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO FIND SOLUTIONS.

>> JUDGE , SHE BROUGHT THIS TO THE COURT AND ANNOUNCED IT AT THE COURT THAT THE COMMITTEE WAS FORMED. YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THEN AS DID ANYBODY ON THE COURT, SHE CAME AND SAID I'M GOING TO FORM THIS COMMITTEE AND IN OPEN COURT AND ANYONE COULD HAVE SAID DON'T DO IT OR YES DO IT.

NO ONE OBJECTED. IT WAS BROUGHT OUT IN OPEN COURT.

>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS TO IT, BUT WHEN YOU START BRINGING PEOPLE IN AND ASKING US TO DECIDE AND TRYING TO MAKE US LOOK LIKE THE BAD GUYS.

>> HOW DID WE MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE THE BAD GUYS?

>> WHAT YOU'RE ASKING NOW. >> WE DO NOT PUT IT ON HERE.

>> EVEN BEFORE WITH THE RESOLUTION, IMPROVED THE RESOLUTION. SO I MEAN THAT'S ONE THING.

>> WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IF IS NOT PUT ON

HERE TO DISSOLVE IT. >> THE REASON I BELIEVE JAG DID IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS. WE ARE SPENDING TIME TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT WE WILL DO WITH THIS COMMITTEE. I HAVE NO OBJECTIONS. YOU GUYS CAN MEET WHENEVER YOU WANT. YOU WERE PUT ON THERE AND THAT'S FINE, BUT WHY ARE YOU ASKING US TO DECIDE WHAT GOES ON? SO HE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. IT IS HIS

AGENDA ITEM NOT OURS. >> THAT'S HOW HE FEELS.

>> IT IS MY AGENDA ITEM AND LIKE I SAID I EXPLAINED WHY IT WAS PUT ON. I DID CHOOSE THE WRONG WORDING , BUT EVERYBODY IS HERE. I'M GLAD EVERYBODY IS HERE. WE HEARD THINGS THAT WE SHOULD AVERT. I AM CONCERNED AND LIKE I SAID , SIX YEARS WE ALL SUPPORTED, BUT YOU ACT LIKE WE DIDN'T SUPPORT IT, DID ANYONE MENTION , THEY DO NOT SAY COMMISSIONER MAREZ OR THE JUDGE. WHAT HAPPENED TO COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ AND JAG BECAUSE WE ALL VOTED FOR IT. WE ALL SUPPORTED IT. I DID NOT HEAR ONE OF YOU SAY WE WERE FOR IT.

THIS IS A COMMISSIONERS' COURT DECISION. SO AGAIN.

>> IT IS YOUR ITEM DO YOU HAVE A MOTION?

>> I DON'T REALLY HAVE A MOTION.

>> I HAVE A MOTION IF HE DOESN'T. JUDGE I HAVE GOT A MOTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE A PERMANENT STANDING COMMITTEE OF NUECES COUNTY AND ONCE THE EMERGENCY MEDICINE ISSUE HAS A LONG-TERM SOLUTION , EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THE COMMITTEE TO DEAL WITH DR.

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IN THE COASTAL BEND FOR ALL AREAS OF MEDICINE IN THE COASTAL BEND. THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION.

>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT

MOTION? >> YES.

>> TO GET ON THAT MOTION FOR SOLUTIONS. AGAIN I WANT TO MAKE SURE NOTHING BETWEEN THIS THING. SOLUTIONS IS ONE THING, BUT AS FAR IS NOT TAKING FUNDS FROM THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT IS ANOTHER. IF THERE ARE FUNDS TO BE TAKEN IT SHOULD COME TO

COMMISSIONERS' COURT . >> WE ARE ASKING FOR FUNDING.

TO BE CLEAR, THAT WAS ALL DISCUSSED. WE DID NOT ASK THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT TO PAY THAT PORTION. THEY NEGOTIATED WITH

ACRONYM ]. >> ANYWAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE

SURE I GOT THAT CLEAR. >> YES THAT IS CLEAR. WE HAVE A POLICY WHERE WE SHOULD COME TO COURT IF WE ASKED FOR FUNDING.

>> WE DISCUSSED BUT DID NOT VOTE.

>> RIGHT. NO ONE CHOSE TO MAKE A MOTION. OR NOT TO MAKE A MOTION, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT IT, DISCUSSED IT AND HAD A LONG DISCUSSION. WE SAID WE CONTINUE TO STAND BEHIND YOU AND SUPPORT. WE'VE GOT THE RESOLUTION, THAT WAS THE VOTE AND NO ONE CHOSE TO MAKE A MOTION ON THAT, BUT IT WAS ON AS AGENDA ITEM AND ACTION ITEM AND COULD HAVE BEEN VOTED ON HAD SOMEONE WANTED TO. YOU KNOW NEXT TIME IF YOU WANT TO VOTE

[01:30:02]

WHEN WE HAVE A NEW UPDATE WE BRING IT OUT AND IF YOU WANT TO PUT ON AS A PERMANENT UPDATE TO HAVE AN UPDATE ALL THE TIME I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT TO. THAT'S UP TO YOU.

>> A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE.

>> SOMEONE ONLINE WANTED TO TALK?

>> SORRY, MY THING IS NOT WORKING.

>> I DON'T SEE HANDS RAISED. DOES SOMEONE WISH TO SPEAK?

>> IS A PUBLIC DISCUSSION. >> I DON'T HAVE A SCREEN AND I CAN'T SEE THAT FAR IF THERE IS A HAND RAISED I'M VERY SORRY. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION ON MAKING THIS A STANDING COMMITTEE AND EVEN AFTER SOLUTION IS FOUND, LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE PHYSICIANS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ALSO, WITH THE ADVICE FROM COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ THAT THIS IS NOT FOR FUNDING OR ANYTHING THAT IS NOT COME BACK TO THE COURT FOR FUNDING BUT IT HAS TO COME BACK IF ASKING OR REQUESTING FOR FUNDING. YOU WANT TO ADD THAT?

>> THAT'S A GIVEN I HAVE MADE MY MOTION. I MADE MY MOTION, THAT'S A GIVEN. I'M NOT ADDING ANYTHING. IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO REDO IT TO RECONFIRM THE MOTION OR SOMETHING, BUT WE HAVE THAT POLICY. THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT IT TO COURT LIKE WE

DID. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE AND HE OPPOSED? SEEMS FINE.

>> JUDGE AGAIN THANK YOU TO THE DOCTORS BUT I WILL ABSTAIN.

>> I'M SORRY. I WAS GOING TO MAKE CLEAR THAT IS WHEN THE ISSUE HAS A LONG-TERM AGREEMENT BECAUSE NOW THIS COMMITTEE WANTS TO STAY LASER FOCUSED ON THIS AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK WITH SOME SORT OF, HOW DO WE REVISE AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COURT FOR SPECIFICS BUT THAT PUTS THE INTENT OUT AS TO

WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THIS. >> DID YOU VOTE OR ABSTAIN? OKAY. MOVING ON. THANK YOU, THE MOTION PASSES. WE ARE READY

. >> SORRY WHAT'S THE COUNT?

>> 3-2. THREE, TWO ABSTAIN. ITEM NUMBER TWO. RECEIVE VISITATION AND I KNOW DOCTORS HAVE TO GO OUT AND GO TO WORK

[2. Receive presentation on Jail Assessment.]

AND COMMISSIONERS. VICE PRESIDENT OF PLANNING AND I HAVE CARL BECKER WITH ME OUR JUSTICE SERVICES DIRECTOR. HERE TO CONDUCT A PRESENTATION ON THE RECENT JAIL NEEDS ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED BY OUR COMPANY AT THE REQUEST OF THE NUECES COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

>> AND PAID FOR BY THE SHERIFF.

>> YES, AND PAID FOR BY THE SHERIFF. ABSOLUTELY. IN DECEMBER OF 2022 WE WERE CONTRACTED BY NUECES COUNTY TO COME TAKE A LOOK AT THE JAIL . THE OBJECTIVES OF OUR STUDY WERE TO ASSESS THE PHYSICAL, THE CURRENT PHYSICAL PLANT AND OPERATING CONDITIONS OF THE COUNTY JAIL FACILITIES. WE WERE REVIEWING THE PROFILE OF PERSONS COMMITTED TO THE JAIL INCLUDING TRENDS IN SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INMATES AND POPULATION. FINALLY, WE DEVELOPED A PROJECTION OF THE FUTURE SIZE AND INMATE POPULATION IN DEMAND FOR JAIL BEDS. I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THE COURSE OF THIS PROCESS, WE HAVE INTERVIEWED SEVERAL STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN THE NUECES COUNTY JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE HAVE INTERVIEWED SEVERAL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS , WE INTERVIEWED HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR, THE ADULT PROBATION DIRECTOR, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER CHIEF , SEVERAL DEPUTY CHIEFS , SHIFT COMMANDERS AND SUPERVISORS AT THE NUECES COUNTY JAIL. WE INTERVIEWED JUDGE CONNIE SCOTT, WE INTERVIEWED A WARDEN, THE

[01:35:06]

A LOT OF THE OVERALL MAJOR SYSTEMS WILL FAIL ON A REGULAR BASIS, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT AND DEMANDING ON SECURITY STAFF AND MAINTENANCE STAFF. THE FACILITY LACKS BASIC PROGRAM SPACE IS REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE INMATE MANAGEMENT AND STAFFING IS AN ISSUE THERE IS CHRONICALLY LOW STAFFING. SINCE WE MADE THIS SITE VISIT AND PULLED THE DATA THE STAFFING SITUATION IS GETTING MUCH BETTER. IT IS IMPROVING. NOW THERE IS A CONCERN WITH THE PHYSICAL PLAN OF THE JAIL AND HOW THAT IMPACTS THE STAFF THAT ARE OPERATING IN THE JAIL. I DO WANT TO APPLAUD THE STAFF AT THE JAIL, CURRENTLY BOTH SECURITY STAFF AND SUPPORT STAFF AND MAINTENANCE STAFF, THE JOB THEY ARE DOING TO KEEP THE JAIL OPERATING AND WHAT THEY DO THERE IS PHENOMENAL GIVEN THE CONDITIONS OF THE JAIL. LET'S SEE. SO, THE PHYSICAL PLANT, A FEW THINGS OF NOTE. THE POOR CONDITIONS, AGAIN, THE OBSOLETE DESIGN , IN A MODERN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY THE NUECES COUNTY JAIL UTILIZES WHAT WE REFER TO AS LINEAR SUPERVISION, REMOTE SUPERVISION WHERE SECURITY AND STAFF ARE REMOTELY VIEWING ON A INTERMITTENT BASIS AND MID ACTIVITIES WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STAY ENGAGED WITH THE POPULATION TO ENSURE THEY ARE INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOOD FOR REINTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY. ALL OF THOSE ASPECTS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE SECURITY STAFF IN THE WAY THE OPEN BAR DESIGNS , THE INTERMITTENT SUPERVISION MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT TO MONITOR THAT BEHAVIOR AND A LOT OF TIMES THAT RESULTS IN ACTIVITIES THAT FURTHER DAMAGE THE JAIL, DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, ASSAULT ON STAFF AND EACH OTHER, IT CREATES HIGH LIABILITY IN JAIL AND THAT IS OBVIOUSLY THE CONCERN. THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF SPACES DESIGNATED IN THE JAIL FOR PROGRAM AND TREATMENT WHICH IS A MODERN TREND IN MODERN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. TO WORK AT THE IMPROVEMENT OF RECIDIVISM INTO THE COMMUNITY. AND LET'S SEE. THERE IS NO DEDICATED SPACE FOR TREATMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH INSIDE OF THE FACILITY. THAT IS A CONCERN IN A MODERN CORRECTION FACILITY. MOVING ON TO THE MCKINSEY JAIL ANNEX, MCKINSEY IS IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE THAN THE MAIN JAIL, BUT IT WAS NEVER DESIGNED AS A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. IT FEATURES A LOT OF OPEN DORMITORY STYLE HOUSING THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE POPULATION, AS WELL. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB UTILIZING IT FOR THAT PURPOSE. IT IS NOT IDEAL AND MANAGING A JAIL POPULATION IN THAT SETTING. THERE IS ALSO ABSENCE OF PROGRAM AND TREATMENT FACILITIES THERE. ONE OTHER

[01:40:03]

UNDERSTAFFING DUE TO ISSUES OF STAFF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IS AN ISSUE. IT IS ABOUT WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT, CONDITIONS OF THE WORKPLACE. MODERN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES UNDERSTAND THAT SECURITY AND SUPPORT STAFF AND MAINTENANCE STAFF SPEND UPWARDS OF SOMETIME 16 HOURS A DAY IN THOSE FACILITIES AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT, THE CURRENT CONDITIONS THAT THE STAFF ARE UP AGAINST TO ASK THEM TO WORK IN THOSE CONDITIONS WHICH PLAYS INTO RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION ISSUES FOR YOUNG PERSON TO WANT TO SPEND A CAREER WORKING IN THAT ENVIRONMENT. THOSE COMMITMENTS MAKE IT DIFFICULT WITH THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH THE INMATE POPULATION AS WELL SO THAT IS OF CONCERN. I MENTIONED THE MAIN JAIL RELIES DIRECTLY ON REMOTE SUPERVISION WHICH IS NOT A BEST PRACTICE IN JAILS ACROSS THE NATION. IT IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN WITH INCIDENTS THAT HAPPEN AT THE JAIL AND IT IS EXPECTED THAT SHOULD THE COUNTY DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD AND THINK ABOUT A NEW JAIL FACILITY, THE NEWER JAIL DESIGNS OPERATE IN A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT MANNER THAT MAKE BETTER USE OF SPACE, PERSONNEL AND TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE BETTER OUTCOMES AND RESULTS WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE POPULATION.

WE HAVE COMPLETED A FULL REPORT ON THIS. I AM GIVING HIGH-LEVEL INFORMATION THAT PULLED FROM THE REPORT, BUT THAT INFORMATION GOES INTO GREATER DETAIL IN THE REPORT.

NEXT, CARL BECKER WILL TALK ABOUT THE POPULATION PROJECTIONS OF THE JAIL POPULATIONS.

>> WE TOOK A DEEP DIVE INTO THE DATA AVAILABLE ON THE CURRENT JAIL POPULATION TO DISCERN WHAT THE TERM WILL BE FOR THE FUTURE AND WHAT FUTURE NEEDS WOULD BE. WE SEE THE POPULATION HAS GROWN SOMEWHAT OVER THE LAST 5 TO 7 YEARS. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS IS WHILE THE JAIL POPULATION HAS GROWN OVER THAT TIME, CRIME HAS GONE DOWN IN NUECES COUNTY.

ARREST AND BOOKINGS HAVE GONE DOWN. THE JAIL POPULATION HAS GONE UP SOMEWHAT AND THE REASON FOR THIS IS BASICALLY AS OVERALL CRIME RATES HAVE GONE DOWN, VIOLENT CRIME IS UP IN NUECES COUNTY AND WHAT WE SEE AS AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMMITTED TO THE JAIL FOR SERIOUS OFFENSE AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE NEXT SLIDE THE FELON POPULATION IN THE JAIL AS THE JAIL ABLATION HAS GROWN SLIGHTLY IT HAS GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS. REFLECTING MORE SERIOUS OFFENDERS INTO THE JAIL, YOU STAY FOR A MUCH LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. THAT'S WHAT'S DRIVING THE JAIL POPULATION. LOOKING AT THE NEXT SLIDE WE GO INTO SOME DETAIL WITH WHAT THE POPULATION LOOKS LIKE, 43% OF THE INMATE POPULATION IN FOR VIOLENT FELONY CHARGES. 11 OR 12,000 ANNUAL BOOKINGS WITH A TOTAL POPULATION AT 80% FELONY WHICH INCLUDES DRUG FELONY CASES. AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IS 37 DAYS IN THE JAIL WHICH COMPARES TO 31 DAYS, THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR FIVE YEARS AGO. C CAN SEE THE AVERAGE STAYING AND GOING UP. EVERY DAY 200 AND RATES IN THE JAILER SENTENCED OR WAITING TO BE PICKED UP AND THAT WAS THE STATUS AT THE TIME OVERVIEW WHICH HAS IMPROVED SOMEWHAT SINCE, BUT AGAIN SERIOUS OFFENDERS ARE WAITING TRANSPORT . DESPITE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF VIOLENT OFFENDERS IN THE POPULATION, A LARGE AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY IN THE JAIL IS ASSOCIATED WITH PROCESSING PEOPLE IN AND OUT AS THEY ENTER THE SYSTEM. 2/3 OF RELEASE ARE WITHIN 10 DAYS. PEOPLE WHO ARE BOOKED IN TO GET A COURT DATE AND GET OUT. GIVE A LARGE APPELLATION CYCLING TO THE JAIL FOR RELATIVELY MINOR OFFENSES AND A LARGER POPULATION STAYING FOR MORE EXTENDED TIME BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THEIR OFFENSE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. IN DEVELOPING OUR PROJECTIONS, WE BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL SEE BASICALLY STEADY GROWTH, MODERATE GROWTH IN THE JAIL POPULATION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. REACHING AN AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION OF NEARLY 1400. YOU NEED 1600 BEDS TO SUPPORT THE POPULATION BECAUSE AGAIN THE AVERAGE IS JUST THE AVERAGE IT DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT FLUCTUATION WITH PEAKS IN THE POPULATION TO HOUSE MORE INMATES THAN AVERAGE. WE

[01:45:04]

PRESENTATION. WE WANTED TO OPEN IT UP TO YOU ALL FOR QUESTIONS IF THERE WERE ANY FOLLOW-UP.

>> I GUESS, DO ANY OF YOU? I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON BASICALLY WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP? WE ALL KNOW THE SHAPE THAT THE COUNTY IS IN. LET'S BE CLEAR.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY, AS WELL. HOW DO WE WORK FORWARD OR WHO DO WE WORK WITH OR HOW DO WE WORK ON SOLUTIONS ON COMING TO SOMETHING? IT IS A MAJOR COST. FROM MY CALCULATIONS OUR JAIL IS 48 YEARS OLD, BUILDINGS HAVE A LIFESPAN. THESE DECISIONS IN THIS COURT , THEY WON'T EVEN AFFECT WHEN I'M HERE, IT WILL AFFECT MANY YEARS DOWN THE ROAD OF PLANNING AND DECISIONS BEING MADE. SO HELP ME POINT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WITH WHAT WE

NEED TO DO. >> YOU ARE CORRECT IT IS QUITE THE UNDERTAKING AND TAKES QUITE A BIT OF TIME. THESE ARE BIG DECISIONS, BIG-MONEY DECISIONS, THEY TAKE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION TO WANT TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM. THERE IS, I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THE QUESTION BECAUSE I WANTED TO PUT IT IN THE PRESENTATION. IT IS QUITE A PROCESS MOVING FORWARD AND WE ARE WORKING ON MANY SIMILAR PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND I AM HAPPY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE SPECIFIC PROJECTS AT A LATER DATE. AS FAR AS THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE JAIL PLANNING, THE FIRST THING IS REALLY EXPLORING THE FUNDING OPTIONS OF HOW A JURISDICTION MAY FUND. THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE AND OF COURSE THAT'S USUALLY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE.

SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE. SO AGAIN, ALL OF THESE ARE SERVICES THAT WE ARE CONDUCTING CURRENTLY IN OTHER PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND THEN SITE SELECTION AND SITE DEVELOPMENT. USUALLY YOU WILL NEED CIVIL ENGINEERS AND THINGS TO LOOK AT POTENTIAL SITES THAT A NEW JAIL MAY BE CONSTRUCTED. WHETHER OR NOT IT IS EDGES INTO THE CURRENT JAIL SPACE. WHETHER OR NOT THE COUNTY OWNS PROPERTY, HAS IDEAS, SITE SELECTION IS A BIG PART OF THAT. FROM THERE YOU WOULD MOVE ON TO DEVELOPING A DETAILED SPACE PROGRAM WHICH IS QUITE THE EFFORT BY PROFESSIONAL PLANNERS THAT WOULD COME IN AND WORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS THAT TOUCH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW MUCH SPACE NEEDS TO BE DEDICATED TO ALL THE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS, SERVICES, LIVING AREAS, PUBLIC LOBBIES AND EVERYTHING. WE WOULD DEVELOP A SPACE PROGRAM THAT ASSIGNS THOSE AREAS AND SPACES THAT NEED TO BE BUILT. ONCE YOU HAVE A DETAILED SPACE PROGRAM YOU HAVE A ROUGH IDEA OF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE REQUIRED FOR YOUR NEEDS. YOU WOULD WANT TO GET INTO A DETAILED COST MODELING EXERCISE WHERE YOU START TO LOOK AT HOW MUCH THE PROJECT WOULD COST WITH SPECIFIC INFORMATION. AND THEN YOU WOULD WANT TO CONDUCT A STAFFING ANALYSIS TO UNDERSTAND HOW A NEW DESIGN AND A NEW SPACE PROGRAM WOULD IMPACT THE CURRENT RESOURCES. ABOVE AND BEYOND OR BELOW WITH THE CURRENT RESOURCES ARE NOW. SO STAFFING ANALYSIS IS A BIG PART YOU DON'T WANT TO FORGET. FROM THERE HE WOULD DETERMINE METHOD OF DELIVERY. HOW YOU WOULD WANT THE PROJECT DELIVERED. WHETHER A DESIGN BUILD OR DESIGN BID AND BUILD, CONSTRUCTION MANAGER RISK. YOU WOULD THEN DEVELOP REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES.

>> I THINK WE KNOW ALL OF THAT ON THIS. I THINK OURS , GIVEN THE IMMEDIATE NEXT STEP MIGHT BE WHAT WE SHOULD DO AND WOULD THAT BE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY STUDY POSSIBLY THAT WE TALKED

ABOUT YESTERDAY? >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP .

>> ABSOLUTELY AND THAT IS SOMETHING I RECOMMEND. THE PREVIOUS STUDY WAS A NEEDS ASSESSMENT UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU

[01:50:04]

TO TALK OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? SORRY. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT , AN ISSUE THAT IS STATUTORILY REQUIRED. WE UNDERSTAND WE ARE THINKING FOR THE FUTURE AND WE MAY NOT BE SITTING IN THE SEATS WHEN THE PLANS OR ANYTHING, IF WE GO FORWARD WOULD EVEN BE IN PLACE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT FOR THE FUTURE. 1600 BEDS , I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING ON SOME OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE WITH OTHER POSSIBILITIES. WE TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT AVENUES WE CAN GO WHICH YOU WOULD LOOK INTO MORE EXTENSIVELY IF THE SHERIFF DECIDES TO MOVE FORWARD POSSIBLY WITH SOMETHING. THERE IS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, WE ALL NEED TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS. IT SEEMS OVERWHELMING AND THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE THE FUNDING TO DO THIS. THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE VOTERS AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A VESTED INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, WORK ON SOLUTIONS AND WE REALIZE THERE IS AN ISSUE AND WE REALIZE THERE IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE AND HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PROBLEMS. LIKE A ROOF ON THE HOUSE AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AT SOME POINT PUTTING BAND-AIDS ON FIXES, WE KNOW THERE'S A LIFESPAN ON SOME BUILDINGS AND THERE IS A LONG PLANNING TIME TO GET BUILDINGS REPLACED AND WE HAVE TO WORK ON THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY.

>> I WANTED TO COMMENT, APPRECIATE THE TIMELINESS OF THIS. I WAS AT A LUNCHEON A FEW DAYS AGO. AND THERE WERE MANY BUSINESS MEMBERS THERE. AND WHAT WERE THE TOPICS FACING THE COUNTY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WAS A BIG ONE BUT I DID TELL THEM A NEW JAIL IS ESSENTIAL. IT WAS KIND OF NEGATIVE WHICH I GUESS IT IS. WE TALK ABOUT THE NEED TO CREATE A BIGGER AND NEWER ONE, BUT IT IS DECADES OLD AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT AND UPDATES WE HAVE GOTTEN OVER THE YEARS HAVE IT EXPLAINED AND LAID OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY AND HOW THAT REQUIRES FEWER STAFF TO CONTROL LARGER INMATE POPULATION. SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. IT WAS TIMELY FOR ME TO BE PRESENTED WITH A QUESTION AND I GOT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. AND TOLD HIM HOW I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PRESENTATION. PEOPLE DON'T THINK IT'S PART OF A NECESSITY FOR ANY OTHER ISSUES WE TALK ABOUT BUT IT IS A REQUIREMENT AND TIMELINESS IS IMPORTANT , LIKE THE JUDGE SAID THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BUY INTO THIS. THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO HAVE AND IT IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE, IT IS ABOUT PROVIDING THE CARE THAT'S NEEDED TO HOUSE THESE INMATES.

HOPEFULLY IT WOULD HAVE SOMETHING WITH CLOSE ACCESS TO THE COURTHOUSE TO HELP REDUCE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AND THE SPAN OF CONTROL THAT THE SHERIFF HAS TALKED ABOUT BEFORE AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO DO MORE WITH FEWER OFFICERS WITH THE MOST UP-TO-DATE TECHNOLOGIES. SO IN A SENSE THAT IS A GOOD TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT. GOOD TO BRING IT FORWARD. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS BECAUSE WE NEED TO PROCEED ON THIS. IT IS NOT A BIG TICKET ITEM, BUT IT IS ON THE COMMUNITY RADAR. KNOWING IT WILL BE PERHAPS VERY COSTLY.

DEPENDING ON THE PRICE TAG . SO I THINK -- THANK YOU FOR THIS AND I HOPE THIS WILL CONTINUE TO GROW THE INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY MOVING FORWARD INTO THE MONTHS AND THE YEARS TO COME.

YOU WANT TO SPEAK? >> YES AND I WANT TO THANK THIS GENTLEMAN FOR COMING AND I WANT TO THANK THE SHERIFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. IF ANYBODY KNOWS, THE SHERIFF

DOES. >> SHERIFF DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK? WITH MICHAEL ROBINSON WE PUT OUT AN RFP OR COMPANY THAT COULD DO THIS STUDY AND ACCOMPANY THE COULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT RESUME IN DOING THIS TYPE OF STUDY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WE FOUND THESE TWO GENTLEMEN. AND I AM EXTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH THIS GUY BECAUSE Y'ALL MIGHT REMEMBER A VERY CONTROVERSIAL SHERIFF OUT IN ARIZONA. THIS GUY WAS A P.I.O.

FOR THAT SHERIFF ON THE NATIONAL USE KIND OF A GUY BUT THEY BOTH HAVE A PEDIGREE. THEY BOTH HAVE AMAZING RESUMES AND SO I WOULD BE REMISS IN MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS THE

[01:55:03]

>> BUT SHERIFF, TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. WE DO APPRECIATE YOU USING THOSE FUNDS FOR THIS BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, IT IS A BIG THING TO TAKE ON AND NOW, WE'VE GOT TO

FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT. >>

>> BUT WE GOT THE CONVERSATION STARTED.

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> THANKS, SHERIFF.

>> THANKS, SHERIFF. MET THE RECORD, I'D LIKE TO CHANGE THE MOTION FOR MY ITEM AND JUST FOR THE RECORD TO SHOW THAT AS LONG AS WE DO FIND SOLUTIONS AND NOT FINANCIALLY INVOLVED.

FOR THE RECORD. >> HE IS CHANGING HIS VOTE TO , AYE INSTEAD OF AND ABSTAIN. YES. MOVING ON NOW TO ITEM

[3. Receive update on the Tri-County Drainage Master Plan Study from Halff Associates.]

IN. THANKS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE.

MISSIONERS. ALL RIGHT. LONG STORY SHORT. WE'RE HERE TO SAY THAT THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE. THE STUDY IS COMPLETE. THE TEXAS WATER BOARD DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED, REVIEWED, AND ACCEPTED THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY. WE WILL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THERE IS JUST A TITLE THERE. JUST A QUICK RECAP ON THE STUDY. THIS WAS A TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLOODED INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDED PROJECT . A CATEGORY 1, WHICH IS A WATERSHED SCALE STUDY AND THE TWO WATERSHEDS THAT WERE STUDIED IN THIS WERE THE PETRI END GREEK WATERSHED FROM THE HEADWATERS IN JIM WELLS COUNTY NEAR ALICE DOWN THROUGH NUECES COUNTY AND INTO BACK IN BAY. AND THEN THE OSO CREEK WATERSHED FROM UP HERE ROBS DOWN DOWN INTO FOCUS KRISTI.

SO WE DID FOCUS ON THE RURAL AREAS. THE CITY AND FOCUS KRISTI WAS FOCUS ON INCLUDING THEIR OWN NEEDS ASSESSMENT DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN SO WE DID FOCUS , I WILL SAY, MORE IN THE RURAL AREAS IN THE COUNTY AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH ALL OF YOU IN THE SEVERAL PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT WE DID NEED SOME ATTENTION. SO IF YOU WILL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HERE ARE THE KEY DATES. THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE WITH MANY OF YOU WAS AROUND THE END OF MAY 2023. HAD A PUBLIC MEETING AND WE DISCUSSED THE DRAFT. WE HAVE THE DRAFT COMPLETED AND OVERALL PROJECTS IDENTIFIED . SOME PRELIMINARY COSTS AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER, WE SUBMITTED AN ACTUAL FORMAL DRAFT REPORT TO THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOWL AND TO ONE AT THE COUNTY FOR REVIEW. JUNE 26, ALL OF THOSE PRODUCTS WERE MOVING TO THE STATE FLOOD PLAN THAT IS THE IMPORTANT PIECE I'M GOING TO GET TO IT AS FAR AS OUR NEXT STEPS. SO ALL OF THE PRODUCT THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AND OTHER AREAS THAT WE WERE IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING MORE STEADY THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF OUR PROJECT WERE PUT INTO THE STATE FLOOD PLAN, WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR NEXT STEPS AND GRANTS.

SOMEWHERE THERE AROUND THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST, WE DID RECEIVE DRAFT COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT REPORT. THOSE WERE ADDRESSED IN THE SUMMER AND JUST HERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, JANUARY 9TH. THE TW BE ACCEPTED THAT ISSUED A FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE STUDY AND THAT STATE FLOOD PLAN HAS BEEN ADOPTED AS WELL. SO GO ON TO THE NEXT STEP HERE. OKAY. SO THE RESULT OF THAT STUDY , ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF WORTH OF TIME, WE LOOKED AT 19 AREAS -- MORE THAN THAT, 30 SOME ODD AREAS. 19 HAVE MOVED FORWARD INTO THE STATE FLOOD PLAN AREAS THAT NEED FURTHER A VIOLATION TO DETERMINE PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS . OF THE OTHER REMAINING 13, WERE ACTUALLY ADVANCED TUBAL PRODUCTS. WE MET WITH SEVERAL OF YOU GUYS ON

[02:00:02]

THERE ONE PAGERS SAY IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU KIND OF WANT TO DO. ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING FOR THOSE F MPS, FLOOD LITIGATION PROJECTS, THAT CAN BE PHASED. THEY ARE BIG PROJECT. THEY ARE HIGH DOLLAR PROJECTS. WE ARE WELL AROUND THAT BUT WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE CAPTURED WHAT WAS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL FLOOD REDUCTION.

>> CAN I JUMP IN, JUDGE, FOR SECOND IF YOU DON'T MIND. I DID GET SOME CALLS LAST NIGHT REGARDING THE PART ABOUT NOTTINGHAM ACRES. SO THERE ARE SOME FOLKS THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE ROAD BUT APPARENTLY DID NOT GET WIND OF IT OR WHATEVER THEY MAY BE THEY ARE JUST GETTING WIND OF IT. SO WHAT DO WE DO? I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE. ARE WE STILL WORKING WITH US GOING FORWARD? SO I CAN PUT SOMEONE IN CONTACT WITH Y'ALL WITH THEM TO COME AND TALK ABOUT SOME THE THINGS THAT WE CAME UP ON THAT THAT THEY WERE LITTLE CONCERNED

ABOUT? >> YOU CERTAINLY CAN DO THAT.

I MEAN, OUR CONTRACT IS COMPLETE. THAT WAS A LOT OF PUBLIC WORK FUNDING ALONG WITH THE COUNTY'S PARTNERSHIP. WE HAVEN'T FINALIZED THAT AND I BELIEVE IT IS FINALLY VOICE AND APPROVE THIS MORNING BUT WE ARE CERTAINLY HAPPY MESSAGE WHAT NEEDS TO BE MESSAGED. ESPECIALLY WITH THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO MOVING FORWARD WITH.

>> I GUESS THAT IS THE QUESTION. USING THE JUDGES TERMS FROM LAST TIME, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE BECAUSE IT IS GREAT TO DO THIS STUDY BUT WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT NOW?

>> THAT IS WHAT THIS SLIDE HERE IS FOR. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU AND JUAN AND ANNA KNOW THAT THIS WAS BASICALLY GETTING YOU TO THE POINT WHERE NOW YOU HAVE GOOD DATA AND YOU HAVE PROJECTS IDENTIFIED THAT YOU CAN TAKE FOR FURTHER FUNDING FOR ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION. SO THE FMPS IN PARTICULAR. NOTTINGHAM HAS A COUPLE OF FMPS IN PARTICULAR. THE NECK NOT KNOWING WHAT WE WANT TO DO OR HOW WE'RE GOING TO GO ABOUT IT, I GUESS WITH ONE FOR NOW UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO USE HALF WHEREVER WE ARE GOING TO DO, ON THIS, I NEED TO GET YOU WITH THESE NOTTINGHAM. IT IS ABOUT THE NOTTINGHAM ACRES F A 27 . THE ONE I SENT YOU. SO I NEED YOU CONNECTED WITH THEM AND KIND OF GET THEIR INPUT AS TO WHAT CONCERNS THEY HAVE ABOUT THE DRAWING THAT THEY HAVE SEEN AND THEN I GUESS YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE SLIDE AND TELL US OR SUGGEST WAS WHERE WE CAN GO FROM HERE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT US TO DO ALL THIS WORK AND PUT IT ON THE SHELF AND NOT GO GET FEDERAL FUNDS OR STATE FUNDS OR WHATEVER WE CAN GET BECAUSE THE WHOLE REASON WE DID THE STUDY SO THAT WE HAD THE DATA TO GO START MAKING

REQUESTS. >> 100%. THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS YEAR TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT APRIL 15TH TIMELINE. LIKE I SAID, THE FIFTH, WE SUSPECT -- IS THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD SO DEPENDENT ON WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DOES IS HOW THEY FUND THE FLOOD AND STRUCTURE FUND PROGRAM. THAT MONEY -- HOW MUCH IS GOING TO BE THERE -- CAN VARY YEAR TO YEAR. I THINK THIS CURRENT YEAR, WE ARE AROUND $700 MILLION OF A HAVE ELEVATED I LOOK AT ALLOCATED WHICH EVERYBODY IN THE STATE IS GOING TO BE APPLYING.

>> I GUESS WHAT WE NEED, JUDGE, IS SOME SORT OF RECOMMENDATION. I WOULD I WOULD MENTION ROTH BUT IT WOULD MENTION HER NAME OR MATT AGAIN BUT SOMEBODY WHO SHOWS US, OKAY, WHAT IS THE PLAN NOW THAT WE GO FORWARD? WHAT DO WE DO? BECAUSE WE HAVE GOT TO GET THESE APPLICATIONS IN AND WE MAY NOT GET ANY OF THIS GO AROUND BUT WE HAVE GOT TO GET GOING SO WE NEED A PROPOSAL FROM SOMEBODY THAT TELLS US, OKAY, THE NEXT STEP IS -- BECAUSE UNLESS ANYBODY HERE OR SOMEBODY IN THE COUNTY KNOWS HOW TO DO THIS, WE ARE GOING TO NEED SOME HELP FIGURING OUT HOW TO APPLY FOR THESE THINGS.

MAYBE IT IS THE WORKS, MEDIATED ANNA, MAYBE IT IS

Y'ALL BUT I DON'T KNOW -- >> I SAY THERE ARE TWO DEADLINES FOR THE ABKHAZIANS. THIS FIRST, APRIL 15TH IS THE ABRIDGED ADVOCATION. IT IS BASICALLY YOUR LETTER OF INTEREST. YOU ARE SHOWING THEM, HEY, THIS IS A STUDY THAT WE COMPLETED. THE FACT THAT IT IS A FIFTH STUDY THAT WAS COMPLETED IS A BENEFIT TO YOU BECAUSE YOU LIKE TO FUND THINGS THEY HAVE ALREADY FUNDED BUT ALSO, IT IS IN THE STATE FLOOD PLAN FOR REGIS 13, WHICH IS THE NUECES RIVER BASIN. INCLUDING

[02:05:02]

THESE PROJECTS WORD IDENTIFIED. THEY WERE ADVANCED TO THE FMP STATUS WHICH IS GOOD AND PUTS YOU IN A BETTER CATEGORY . THAT YOU ARE READY TO GO ON DESIGN AND POTENTIALLY CONSTRUCTION WITH FUNDING. SO THOSE 13 AREAS, INCLUDING THOSE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT CAN TAKE TO THAT. APRIL 15TH IS THE ABRIDGED APPLICATION. IT IS ABOUT A ONE PAGER. HONESTLY, ANNA CAN DO IT BETWEEN WHAT SHE KNOWS AND WHAT IS IN THE FLOOD PLAN DOCUMENTATION AND THAT JUST SAYS, WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, WE ARE INTERESTED IN HERE IS THE PROJECT IN HERE IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND LIKE I SAID, YOU CAN FAZE IT A LITTLE BIT AS WELL SO THAT ONE PRODUCT IS $20 MILLION IN YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A 25% OR WHATEVER THE MATCH WOULD BE REQUIRED, HIGHLY FAZE IT TO WHERE WE CAN DO SOMETHING NOW AND THEN TELL THEM, THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND LATER IN JULY, THE FULL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE. AND YOU MAY NEED MORE SYSTEMS WITH THOSE. I DON'T KNOW --

>> IS THAT WHAT YOU ALL DO? >> YEAH.

>> WE CAN'T VOTE BECAUSE IT IS JUST A DISCUSSION TODAY BUT UNLESS EVERYBODY CAN COME BACK AND SOMEBODY CAN COME BACK AND HELP US TO DO THIS SINCE THIS IS YOUR EXPERTISE, I AM CERTAINLY WILLING. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TO DO AN RFQ OR

RFP -- >>

SPEAKERS ] >> THERE ARE SOME THINGS HELPING WITH THE GRANT VERSUS HELPING WITH DESIGN

IMPLEMENTATION. >> WE CAN PUT ON THAT AGENDA IF

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING THERE. >> THE BIG THING WE WANT TO DO TODAY WAS THAT LET YOU KNOW THAT IN MIND WAS OUT THERE AND GOT EXTENDED FROM MARSH 18TH TO APRIL.

>> ARE YOU SAYING YOU WERE GOING TO PUT IT ON?

>> I WILL PUT IT ON THE AGENDA TO GET WITH MICHAEL ROBINSON AND SEE HOW WE CAN INCORPORATE YOUR HELP IN MOVING ALL OF OUR PROJECTS AND HOW MUCH WE NEED TO DO WITH THE STUDY THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THE INFORMATION FOR. ONE MORE THING BEFORE -- I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF YOU ARE THE PEOPLE. I KNOW GENTLEMEN FROM BISHOP IN THE BACK , MR. YOUNGMAN, WAS HERE AND HAD HIS ISSUES. I DON'T YOU WERE HERE WHEN HIS QUESTION CAME UP BUT

-- >> I AM AWARE WITH IT.

>> -- THE DITCH DRAINAGE? >> I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR BISHOP BECAUSE LONG STORY SHORT, THE STUDY FOCUSED ON THE -- THE GRANT HAD TO BE AT WATERSHED SCALE AND THAT IS LOOK AT THAT PETRI INC. WATERSHED AND IT DRAINED SOUTH

TO ST. FERNANDO. >> BUT Y'ALL ARE GOING TO WIDEN THE BRIDGE AND IT IS GOING TO CREATE A PROBLEM.

Y'ALL HAD A ADMONITION TO WHAT IN THE BRIDGE IN THE FIESTA AREA. IN THE NUMBER THREE AREA, THAT WILL CREATE A

PROBLEM. >> SO, WOULD IT PROPOSE A LOT OF DIFFERENT BRIDGE WIDENING TO GET IT TO THE FMP STATUS, WE DID HAVE TO PROVE THROUGH THIS STUDY THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE CREATING AN ADVERSE IMPACT SO THERE ARE SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE MADE THAT WE HAVE THE DATA THAT BACKS UP THAT SHOWS THAT IF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE, WE ARE NOT CREATING A ADVERSE AFFECT.

>> SO THIS IS NOT THE FINAL DATA?

>> I'M SORRY? >> SO THIS IS NOT THE FINAL

DATA. >> IT IS IN THERE.

>> I DIDN'T SEE IT. HAVE A CONCERNED TOO BECAUSE MY AREA,

MOST OF MY AREA FLOODS. >> YES, SIR.

>> I THOUGHT WHEN WE WERE DOING THE TRICOUNTY DRAINAGE FOR $2 MILLION, I THOUGHT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO SHOW HOW WE ARE STOPPING THE WATER COMING TO OUR AREA, RIGHT? IT SEEMS WE ARE WORKING MORE INSIDE THAN OUTSIDE. I THOUGHT THE GRANT WAS TO ELIMINATE WATER COMING INSIDE TO THE AREAS. BY THE TIME IT SHOULD GET TO THE AREA, IT SHOULD BE MINIMAL

WATER OR LESS WATER, RIGHT? >>

SPEAKERS ] >> LET ME FINISH WITH A QUICK.

I DON'T SEE ANY ONE OF MINE ON THIS SITE AND ALL THE OTHER ONES, YOU SAID NO CONCERN, NO CONCERN, NO CONCERN. ALL OF THOSE HAVE NO CONCERNS HAVE CONCERNS. IN CINDY LANE, INDIAN TRAIL , I DON'T MIND BUT I PULLED IT OUT AND IT IS STILL THERE. THE ONES I PUT IN ARE NOT THEY ARE SO THE LAST MEETING WE HAD, I NOTE SUSAN AND ROBIN WERE THERE AND WE CHANGE THINGS AROUND. BUT AS THE ONES I WANT. ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR. HAD TO COME UP WITH FOUR OR WHATEVER IT WAS AND WHEN I WAS THERE, WE HAD TO REMOVE IT IT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH SOUTH PALOMA. IT IS IN A HIGH AREA. WATER DRAINS, YOU KNOW? IT IS ONLY TWO ROADS . SO, I MEAN, I WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU DID THE STUDY WILL HAVE TO PULL IT OUT BUT ANYWAY, I JUST

[02:10:04]

>> A NEW I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT WE STUDIED SEVERAL THOSE AREAS YOU MENTIONED. I LEFT GO BACK THROUGH WITH YOU TO SHOW DEVELOPED OUT OF IT. THE STATE, I BELIEVE AS WE ARE GOING THROUGH AND WHITTLING DOWN FROM 30 TO 15 LIKE YOU MENTIONED, I BELIEVE Y'ALL WERE INVOLVES INVESTING SOME ARPA MONEY AND DOING PRODUCTS OUT THERE AT THE TIME.

>> THE CBG. >> THE CBG. THERE WERE SOME OTHER WORK BEING DONE YOUR PETROLINA THAT WE SAID, OKAY.

SINCE WE ARE DOING WORK IN THOSE AREAS, -- I KNOW WE LOOKED AT INDIAN CREEK. I KNOW THAT CINDY LANE IN SANDY.

>> BUT YOU ARE LIMITING US OUT OF THE WHOLE PICTURE.

>> WE DEFINITELY DID NOT ELIMINATE YOU FROM THE WHOLE

TEACHER. >> WE STILL SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE STUDY BECAUSE WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO NEED MORE

FUNDS IN THE FUTURE. >> I WILL SAY THIS TOO FROM A VERY -- EVERY BIT OF THOSE TWO WATERSHEDS WAS MAPPED AND STUDIED. THE PART THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH DIFFERENT PRODUCT AREAS WAS AN EXTRA STEP TOO. WE SAID, OKAY. WE HAVE NEW MAPPING. WE HAVE FLOOD DEPTHS EVERYWHERE IN THOSE TWO WATERSHEDS. WHERE WE THEN WENT TO, OKAY. LET'S FIND INDIVIDUAL NEGATION PRODUCT. FLOOD RISK REDUCTION PROJECTS AND TRYING TO FIND SPECIFIC WAYS TO ALLEVIATE FLOODING.

NOW, AND WE DID THAT FOR THREE OR FOUR AREAS WITHIN YOUR PRECINCT. I AM HAPPY TO GO OVER WHAT WE PROPOSALS PROPOSED

FOR THEM. >> SOME OF THE STUDIES WE ALREADY HAD DONE PREVIOUS TO ALL OF THIS BECAUSE HE ALREADY HAD PLANS TO DO CERTAIN THINGS. SOME OF THOSE ASSESSMENTS ARE

ALREADY DONE AND WE SENT THEM. >> WE INCORPORATED ANYTHING THAT WAS BEING DONE OR HAD BEEN DONE INTO WHAT WE DID. SO EVERYTHING WE'RE PROPOSING HERE IS NEW RELATIVE TO THAT.

>> WHY DO WE HAVE NO CONCERNS, NO CONCERNS . 90% OF THOSE HAVE

NO CONCERNS? >> I DON'T RECALL EVER SAYING THERE WERE NO CONCERNS EVEN IF THERE AREAS THAT WE FOCUS ON

BUT -- >> I JUST DON'T AGREE WITH THE FACT THAT 90% OF THEM SAY NO CONCERNS. EVERYONE OUT THERE HAS A CONCERN. TOO THEY FLOODED AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH DRAINAGE. YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT THAT AS NO CONCERNS THEN ON THE BACK PAGE, YOU KNOW, IT SAYS ON THEIR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS. YOU EVEN HAVE DRISCOLL AS NO CONCERNS AND DRISCOLL IS A BIG CONCERN.

>> HOLD ON. I KNOW DRISCOLL IS A HUGE CONCERN. WE HAD A VERY EXPENSIVE PROPOSED PROJECT THERE. NOW, THAT SAID, I WILL TELL YOU, THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE IN TERMS OF WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND THE WAY THE OF I WEIGHT PRODUCTS. THEY DO LOOK AT A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS. SO THE NUMBER OF HOMES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT. THE VALUE OF THOSE HOMES RELATIVE TO THE COST OF THE PROJECT. A LOT OF THESE DID NOT SCORE WELL IN TERMS OF THAT BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS ARE GOING WELL FOR THE COUNTY THAT MOST OF THESE ARE IN VERY

RURAL AREAS . >> DRISCOLL SAYS HERE NO

CONCERNS. >>

>> I AM NOT SURE WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT THOUGH.

>> WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT SPECIFICALLY.

>> 106. PAGE 106. >> 106.

>> I REALLY DON'T -- I MEAN I'M NOT REALLY HAPPY WITH THE

REPORT. >> OKAY.

>> I AM GLAD IT IS OVER. >> OKAY. THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS. I'M SORRY. PART OF THE EVALUATION OF ALL OF THESE PROJECTS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE ELIGIBLE TO GO FORWARD AND GET FUTURE FUNDING WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD EVALUATED SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM AS WELL. SO THAT, CHAPTER 10, THAT YOU LOOKING AT THEIR -- PAGE 106 -- ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PAGE FLOOD AREAS. WHEN IS A NO CONCERNS, THAT MEANS THERE WILL BE NO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS THAT WILL PREVENT THE DEVELOPING OF THAT PROJECT.

>> I THOUGHT WE WERE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO ELIMINATE FALLING

FLOODING? >> YES. AND I WILL TELL YOU, I CAN SPEAK HIGH-LEVEL TO THAT. WE DID. WHEN WE FIRST GOT OUR NEW EXISTING MODELS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED FOR EVERYWHERE IN THOSE TWO WATERSHEDS. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID, WE

[02:15:02]

IS NOT POSSIBLE. >> WAS A DIFFERENT IN THE

BEGINNING. >> WE LOOK AT IT FROM WATERSHED SCALE. WE SAID, IF WE WERE TO PUT A RETENTION POND

NEAR -- >>

SPEAKERS ] >> BASICALLY LOOKED AT THE DAM THE SAME SIZE AS CORPUS CHRISTI WOULD LOOK LIKE.

>> A LOT OF THE FLOODING PROBLEMS THAT WE SAW, AND OUR MODELS ARE BACKED IT UP, SHOW THAT A LOT OF THE FLOODING IS ALSO A LOCAL -- LOCALIZED FLOODING CONCERN. THERE ARE WATERSHED ISSUES BUT THERE ARE ALSO LOCAL FLOODING ISSUES. IT IS FLAT AND WHEN YOU GET A HEAVY RAIN, DOESN'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO AND THAT IS WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT DOING. THE A LOT OF RETENTION PONDS AND CHANNEL WIDENING TO GIVE THE

WATER PLACES TO GO AWAY. >> ALL HAS TO DO DRAINAGE BUT WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT RETENTION PONDS.

>> RIGHT. WHAT WE HOPE TO DO WAS IDENTIFY THE BEST PLACES

FOR THOSE RETENTION PONDS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM JUST NOT VERY HAPPY WITH THE REPORT.

>> BUT WE DO HAVE THOSE DATES TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE CAN WORK WITH ANNA TO MAKE APPLICATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY .

POSSIBLY BRING -- TERESA, WE PUT THAT FOR ME TO ADD ON THE AGENDA -- TO BRING THEM SO THAT THEY CAN HELP US WITH THOSE APPLICATIONS OR TO SIDE WITH THE FOCUS CAN BE WERE WHERE WE CAN HELP THE BEST BENEFITS OF THAT WE ARE FOCUSED

ON OUR ASK AND NOT JUST -- >> AGREE.

>> SO, EXCUSE ME. I REPRESENT DRISCOLL. I AM CONCERNED AND CITIZENS HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH FLOODING FOR A LONG TIME. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR US TO ALLEVIATE THAT? IS IT GOING TO TAKE A GOOD SIZE RETENTION POND OR HOW DO WE --

>> SEVERAL THINGS. A COUPLE OF BIG DETENTION PONDS. CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT. ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS. I THINK A PART OF DRISCOLL TOO IS ACCESS. PARTICULARLY DURING FLOOD EVENTS. GETTING EMERGENCY SERVICES IN AND OUT. OUR PROPOSED PROJECT MAY VERY HIGH LEVEL. WE LOOK AT $85 MILLION TO REALLY MAKE ANY KIND OF DENT IN THE FLOODING FOR DRISCOLL.

>> OH, WELL. >> WELL, THANK YOU. AND I DO

HAVE A QUESTION FOR 1010. >> OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

QUESTION. CAN COUNCILMAN GOVERNMENT HELP US WITH ANY OF THESE PROJECTS? ARE THERE GRANTS THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR?

>> TO THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT? I KNOW THEY APPLY AND RECOMMEND ON OUR BEHALF TO THE UP OFFICER OF THE GOVERNOR . EMILY AND I CAN SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING OUT THERE BUT THEY APPLY THEMSELVES AND THEY HELP US AS A RECOMMENDATION FOR

OTHER GRANTS AVAILABLE. >> COUNCIL GOVERNMENT APPLIES

THEMSELVES? >> YES. FOR THE AREA AND SOMETIMES THEY SPEAK ON OUR BEHALF OF WHAT WE NEED FOR

OTHER GRANTS. >> OKAY. WE NEED TO LET THEM KNOW HERE THAT THE COUNCIL GOVERNMENT KNOWS THAT WE ARE REALLY IN DIRE NEED IN THOSE AREAS AND DRISCOLL.

>> WE HAVE APPARITIONS ON THE PART OF THAT WE JUST PUT BACK TO REFOCUS ON THE GRANT WORKS IS GOING TO BE HELPING US WITH AND THAT IS THROUGH THE C.O.D. MONEY.

>> THE CDBG MONEY. SORRY. I SAID THE CARD BUT --

>>

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, ANNA.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. IF THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THEM , IF NOT, THINK, Y'ALL. WE APPRECIATE ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND ALL THE MEETINGS I HAD

[4. Discuss and approve Incentive Fee for $34,752 due Global Spectrum, LP as Manager of the Nueces County Regional Fairgrounds for Fiscal Year October 2022 - September 2023 as calculated with parameters set forth in the agreement; Issue payment within (30) days following completion of the Fiscal Year End 9/30/2023 Audit as stated in 'Exhibit B" Incentive Fee section incorporated in the contract.]

[02:20:01]

>> EXCUSE ME FOR WEIRD. WHAT WAS THE FEE AGAIN? THE AMOUNT?

>> $25,600. AND THIS IS AN ANNUAL FEE THAT IS CUCKOLDED BY PERCENTAGE . SO, I WOULD ACCEPT A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE FEE AS AMENDED COMING DOWN TO THE 25,600 AMOUNT AND, DO BOTH ISSUE A PAYMENT FOR AT THE SAME TIME OR DO I HAVE TO DO

TWO SEPARATE MOTIONS? >> I THINK YOU CAN DO WHATEVER

YOU WANT, JUDGE. >> OKAY. I AM GOING TO INCLUDE

THEM BOTH. >> SO LONG AS YOU GET THIS OVER

WITH. >>

>> HAVE EMOTIONAL AND WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ. YEAH. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> NUECES COUNTY. >> ANY OPPOSED. SAME SIGN.

[5. Discuss and consider approval of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Nueces County and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) for TAMU-CC to conduct Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“UAS”, “drone”) flights and operations involving aeronautical research & development and emergency management support out of the Nueces County Airport, and related matters.]

AYE. >> NUECES COUNTY

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE. NOT NECESSARY BUT WE

[6. Discuss and consider accepting and ratifying the donations provided to the Nueces County Robstown Community Center for Winter Storm Heather/Overnight Warming Center, and any other related matters.]

APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING. >> ITEM NUMBER 6. DISCUSS AND THE SITTER TO FIND THE DONATIONS INVITED TO THE NUECES COUNTY RUBS DOWN MINI CENTER FOR WHAT IS FROM HEATHER/OVERNIGHT WARMING CENTER. HE FORWARDED THE MOST AND DO THAT, I KNOW WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE HELPING US TOO BUT THANK YOU, MS. HAWKINS ON YOUR REPORT ON THAT AND THE EXTENSIVE PAPERWORK AND DOCUMENTATION WHICH THIS WAS A MINOR, MINOR, MINOR EMERGENCY BUT IN EMERGENCIES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF PAPERWORK AND AUGMENTATION. SIGNATURES, RECEIPTS, EVERYTHING. I THINK ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS PASSED DOWN A BINDER IF YOU TO GO AFTER THE TERM STORM SO HAD TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THAT BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK ON THAT. AND EDWARD AS WELL.

>> WE HAVE BEEN OUT THERE WITH EDWARD.

>> YES. EXACTLY. >> EDWARD WAS VERY HELPFUL. HE

REALLY WAS A TEAM MEMBER. >> SO I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT THE DONATIONS THAT WERE GIVEN AND COMMISSIONER CHESNEY IS THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

>> AYE >> SAME SIGN. THE MOTION

[7. Discuss and consider approval of the Interlocal Agreement between Nueces County and the City of Robstown for Fire & Emergency Services, and related matters.]

HAWKINS? >> WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE ARE TRYING TO GET THEM ON THE SAME SCHEDULE AS ESD TOO BECAUSE THEY ARE THE SAME THAT ORDERS FOR FIRE. I AM PUTTING EVERYBODY ON A MONTHLY INVOICING QUARTERLY. THAT HELPS US BUT AT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE NEED TO PAY BECAUSE THE FIRE FLUCTUATES SONDING ON WHAT KIND OF SEASON WE HAVE. SO IT WILL GIVE US A BETTER IDEA AND I TALKED TO TERESA ABOUT IT TO KNOW THAT IT WOULD GIVE US A

BETTER -- >> IT GETS US MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT THE OTHER INTERLOCAL THAT WE HAVE WITH EVERYONE

ELSE. >> -- EXACTLY. YES. THE OTHER CHANGES THAT WE MADE TO IT BECAUSE THE CONTRACTOR DID NOT HAVE AN UNLIMITED FALSE CALL ALARM. SO, WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE PAST SIX MONTHS HOW MANY CALLS WERE MADE AND AVERAGE THEM OUT AND THEY TYPICALLY WERE ABOUT 3.5. A MONTH. SO WE PUT A CAP ON FALSE ALARM CHARGES AT FIVE PER

MONTH. >> REALLY DONE WITH THIS. THEY POSTED AT THEIR CITY COUNCIL

MEETING. >> I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO

PASS AND APPROVE. >> SO MOVED.

>> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED SAME SIGN? MOTION PASSES AND THANK YOU ITEM NUMB

[8. Discuss and consider approval of an Engineering Service Contract for $50,000 with Ardurra Group, Inc. for Precinct 2 Colonias Septic System Electrical Improvements.]

[02:25:10]

CAPITAL FUNDS. >> SO MOVED.

[9. Discuss and consider approval for method of procurement IFB (Invitation for Bids) for Parker Pool Improvement Project; and authorized the Purchasing Agent to publish a notice; and related matters.]

>> SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED SAME SIGN, THE MOTION PASSES THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER NINE DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPROVAL FOR METHOD OF PROCUREMENT INVITATION FOR BID FOR THE PARKER POOL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. EDWARD IS HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THAT. I KNOW WE HAVE THE FUNDING ASSIGNED ALREADY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO TELL THE PUBLIC WHAT WE ARE DOING.

>> DISCUSSION. LET US KNOW WHAT THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE.

>> JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE FUNDING. I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A LARGE HOLE TO GET TO THIS POINT. IT'S GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT. THE FACILITY HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 1960S, LOOKING AT THE PLAQUE ON THE BUILDING IT HAS BEEN THERE. WE HAVE MADE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE GOTTEN US TO THIS POINT. NEW IMPROVEMENTS WILL ADDRESS THE BATHROOMS AND THE CONCESSION AREA AS WELL AS THE AREA , THE MEETING AREA WHERE STAFFING IS LOCATED. WE ALSO HAVE A GAZEBO BEING BUILT AND THEN THE BIGGEST PORTION OF THIS IS GOING TO BE IN THE CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE CONTROL ROOM WHERE AGAIN THE POOL WAS PUT IN BACK IN THE 60S SO A LOT OF THINGS WE'RE GOING TO DO WILL UPGRADE THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS THAT ARE LOCATED THERE. WE HAVE WORKED WITH OUR PARTNERS, FRIENDS OF AQUATICS WHO HELP MANAGE THE PROPERTY. THEY ARE VERY GOOD AND HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE PLANS. THE MAIN THING THEY WANT IS TO PAINT THE POOL , THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE WILL BE DOING AS PART OF THE PROJECT. THERE ARE SOME LEADTIMES ON THE ITEMS SO WE WILL COMMENCE THE WORK NOW AND WE WILL DO THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, BUT THE PUMPS AND STUFF MAY COME IN AFTER. SO WE WILL BE OPERATING THROUGHOUT.

>> TO BE CLEAR, YOU HAVE RUN THESE PLANS BY THE FULL COMMITTEE, FRIENDS OF AQUATICS. AND GOT THEIR INPUT AND THEY ARE GOOD WITH IT AND THEY LIKE IT AND EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD?

>> HEART OF WHAT WE WILL DO BECAUSE POOL SEASON IS UPCOMING WE WILL PROBABLY GET EVERYTHING DONE BEFORE THE SEASON, AS THE PUMP HAS LEADTIMES THAT WILL GET PAID AND WE WILL GET THE MAIN STRUCTURE PART OF IT DONE SO PEOPLE WILL SEE THE AESTHETIC UPGRADES AND WHEN THE PUMP COMES IN WE WILL FINISH THAT PART OF IT AFTER THE SEASON IS OVER SO WE DON'T INTERRUPT THE POOL SEASON AND THAT WILL CONTINUE. THAT'S FOR THE COURT AND THE PUBLIC THAT'S WATCHING BECAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM AND THE POOL IS SO IMPORTANT TO THEM. APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS, THANK YOU

VERY MUCH. >> A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE ANY OPPOSED SAME SIGN THE MOTION PASSES. I'M GOING TO SKIP NUMBER 10, I UNDERSTAND

[11. Discuss and consider upcoming Commissioners Court meeting date(s), workshop date(s), and related matters.]

ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING ADDED TO THAT? I DON'T THINK

[1. Discuss and consider current Nueces County Grants with a cash match and related matters.]

>> NO MA'AM. >> MOVING ON, ITEM NUMBER B 1.

DISCUSS AND CONSIDER NUECES COUNTY GRANTS WITH CASH MATCH AND RELATED MATTERS. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A , IN YOUR PACKET ? TO PUT ON FOR THE COURTS TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE HAD UPCOMING IN REGARDS TO ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING ON HERE. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A PRESENTATION. IT WAS REALLY JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY COULD SEE . MORE INFORMATION SO THE PUBLIC AND EVERYBODY COULD SEE WHAT COULD BE COMING UP. I THINK THE ONE OF NOTE. I KNOW IT'S NOT COMING UP, BUT YOU AND I HAD DISCUSSION TALKING ABOUT THIS THAT I WOULD LIKE THE COURT TO HEAR ABOUT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER GRANT AND WHERE THAT IS AND WHERE THAT STANDS. IT IS

[02:30:06]

>> YES SIR, THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A CORRECTION BECAUSE AT THE TIME WE SPOKE, HOW WE WERE WAITING FOR CONFIRMATION OF EXTENSION THE ORIGINAL GRANT WAS FOR TWO YEARS AND THE DATE OF THE CONTRACT STARTED JULY 1ST, 2022. SO WE WERE EXPECTING IT TO END IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR. SO WE DID ASK FOR AN EXTENSION AND WE WERE HOPING , WHILE THE REQUEST WAS BECAUSE WE DID NOT HIRE UNTIL NOVEMBER 2022 SO WE WERE HOPING THE EXTENSION WOULD BE NOVEMBER OF 2024. WE DID GET CONFIRMATION FROM MR. EDWIN COLFAX THAT THE EXTENSION IS IN AND WE WILL BRING IT TO THE COURT NEXT WEEK FOR NEXT COURT, BUT ONLY THROUGH 9/30/2024. IT IS BASICALLY A MONTH OR SO. WE WILL HAVE TO BRING IT IN ON THE BUDGET FOR THE COST THAT WILL BE 80% FROM THE STATE AND 20% MATCH.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT IT FOR A SECOND. WE HAVE NOT SPENT ALL THE MONEY BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE BROUGHT HER IN NOVEMBER OF 2022 , SHE DID NOT GEAR UP FOR SEVERAL MONTHS SO WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CORPUS OF THAT UNUSED GRANT MONEY? IS IT JUST GONE? SO WE HAVE TO SPEND FIRST AND THEN REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT.

HER STAFF HAS BEEN INCREASING AND INCREASING SO SHE WAS NOT FULLY STAFFED WITH ALL THE POSITIONS BUDGETED FOR UNTIL DECEMBER OF THIS PAST YEAR. NOW WE ARE TRYING TO SEE IF SHE STAYS FULLY STAFFED , THE HIGHEST BUDGET AMOUNT IS

PERSONNEL AND FRINGE. >> IN THEORY WE WILL NOT GET THE FULL TWO YEARS OF VALUE, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE GOTTEN . I THINK WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS WE WILL NOT HAVE GOTTEN FOR TWO YEARS OF VALUE OF THAT GRANT BECAUSE IT'S PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IT UNDER THE TERMS YOU ARE RELAYING BACK THAT YOU GOT BACK BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN SPEND ALL OF IT FROM DAY ONE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GEAR UP. TO ME, THAT EXTENSION SHOULD BE ASKED FOR TO GO LONGER BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE FROM WHEN WE WERE STAFFED UP, OR WE ARE NOT GETTING THE FULL VALUE AND THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A MISREPRESENTATION , UNINTENTIONALLY BY US, BUT THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF AN MIS-PRECIPITATION BY THIS COMMITTEE SAYING WE HAD TO USE FULLY PAID FOR WHEN IN FACT WE ARE NOT GETTING TO USE FULLY PAY FOR. RIGHT?

>> YOU ARE CORRECT. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MR. EDWIN COLFAX AND HE IS ENSURING HE WILL WORK WITH US TO GIVE USING THE MONEY. THIS POT OF MONEY THAT THEY HAVE ALLOCATED TO US IS PART OF THE ARPA FUNDING. THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE IT IS SPENT CORRECTLY. YOU KNOW WITH THE BUDGET.

>> WE JUST NEED MORE TIME. >> THE EQUIPMENT AND FURNITURE, SHE'S JUST GETTING FURNITURE AND THEY ARE MOVING AND PART OF IT WAS ALSO THE CONSTRUCTION. A LOT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE SPENT AND WE HOPE THEY CONTINUE TO WORK WITH US IN ORDER TO USE ALL THE FUNDS. IT MAY NOT BE 100%, BUT AT LEAST WE CAN CAPTURE THE 20% MATCH OPPOSED TO GOING ALL THE

WAY THROUGH. >> RIGHT AND IF THEY WILL TRULY WORK WITH US, BECAUSE I GET THEY HAVE TO SPEND BY 26 JUST LIKE WE DO. THEY HAVE TO ALLOCATE BY 24 LIKE WE DO AND I HAVE DONE THAT SO I UNDERSTAND. IF THEY ARE TRULY GOING TO WORK WITH US AND THIS IS WHERE YOU NEED TO GET THE JUDGES INVOLVED. THE JUDGES SIGN OFF ON IT WE WILL NEED HELP BECAUSE IT'S TRULY NOT FAIR TO THIS COUNTY AND THESE TAXPAYERS FOR US TO START ALREADY HAVING TO PAY 20% BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT THE SPIRIT OF THE DEAL WAS, THE SPIRIT OF THE DEAL WAS TO FOUR YEARS WHICH WAS AN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT EQUALS THREE POINT SOMETHING MILLION I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY. THANK YOU. $3.6 MILLION AND IF WE DON'T GET THAT $3.6 MILLION THAT'S NOT RIGHT AND FAIR AND IN THE SPIRIT OF THE DEAL. SO IF THE PULL IN THE JUDGES TO GET THEM TO HELP BECAUSE WE SHOULDN'T , THE WAY I CALCULATE THIS , TELL ME IF I'M WRONG. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE PAYING FOR THIS IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT SPENT ALL THE CORPUS. THEY WILL HOLD US TO THESE TIME FRAMES.

[02:35:05]

>> CARRY IT OVER. >> RIGHT BUT THEY ARE NOT

AGREEING TO THAT YET. >> THEY AGREE FOR THE FUNDING TO CONTINUE WITH A 20% MATCH. AT THIS TIME OCTOBER 1ST, 2024.

BROUGHT FORWARD BECAUSE WE ARE GIVEN $3.6 MILLION AND WE WILL NOT HAVE SPEND THAT , THROUGH NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. SO WE SHOULD GET THE WHOLE 3.6 MILLION BECAUSE WE SHOULDN'T, BECAUSE WHEN THE 20% COMES AROUND, THAT'S A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION FOR THE COURT AND WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE TO THIS COURT THAT IT IS WORTH CONTINUING TO PAY FOR IT AND SHE HAS NOT HAD TIME TO DO THAT. SHE DID NOT HAVE STATISTICS YET ENOUGH BECAUSE SHE HAS TO BE GEARED UP AND WE HAVE TO BE FAIR IN ASSESSING THIS. IF I HAVE TO ASSESS THIS FOR THE BUDGET BASED ON LIMITED TIME WE HAVE I WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT IMPRESSION THAN IF IT GETS TO FOUR YEARS TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. I'M BEGGING YOU TO GET THE JUDGES INVOLVED NOW AND I AM ONE PERSON, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO BE READY TO PULL THE TRIGGER AND SPEND 20% WHEN WE HAVE NOT SPENT THE 3.6 MILLION YET. SO PLEASE, THAT'S WHY I PUT IT ON AND THIS CAME BACK AND I SAID PLEASE PUT THIS PUBLIC DEFENDER BECAUSE I WANTED THE DISCUSSION TO BE OUT HERE AND I WANTED TO BE CLEAR. THIS IS COSTLY IF WE DON'T USE IT ALL. IS GOING TO BE COSTLY.

>> IF WE DO SPEND IT CAN WE GET REIMBURSED?

>> AS WE ARE SPENDING , WE REQUEST.

>> IF THEY AGREE. >> THAT'S THE QUESTION WE HAVE

TO ASK. >> OTHERWISE, SO THE COURT KNOWS IT, 3.6 MILLION THAT'S 1.8 PER YEAR. THIS COMING BUDGET IF THEY DON'T AGREE TO EXTEND AND GIVE IT ALL TO US, WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH $360,000 WHICH IS OUR 20% OF THE 1.8 FOLKS, SO HERE THIS NOW AND FEBRUARY. NOT IF THEY DON'T AGREE, IF THEY DON'T AGREE.

>> THEY DON'T, UNLESS THEY AGREE TO EXTEND PAST THE DEADLINE BECAUSE WE CAN'T PHYSICALLY SPEND IT BETWEEN NOW AND OCTOBER OF 24. THERE'S NO POSSIBLE WAY TO

SPEND IT. >> IN THE DOCUMENT THAT I ATTACHED, BY THE EXPENDITURE REPORT OF 12/31/23 THE REMAINING BALANCE WAS 2.6. IT'S NOT EVEN 20% TO 3.6.

>> OF THE 1.8. IN OTHER WORDS, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, IT'S 100 FOR TWO YEARS, 80, 60, 40. THAT MEANS IF THEY DON'T AGREE TO EXTEND THIS PAST OCTOBER 23 , THEN WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH THIS AS A COURT, 360,000 MORE DOLLARS STARTING NEXT , THIS COMING BUDGET CYCLE. THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN TWO YEARS.

I'M ONLY ONE VOTE, I CAN BE OUTVOTED BUT I THINK THE COURT NEEDS TO HEAR THIS CLEARLY. THIS IS A BIG DEAL IF WE DON'T GET IT RESOLVED WITH TO MAKE A DECISION A LOT FASTER ON THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE THAN IT IS FAIR TO MAKE BECAUSE AS I SAID SHE NEEDS TO GET TWO YEARS OF NUMBERS TO COME SHOW US HOW VALUABLE THIS IS OR ISN'T IN REGARDS TO SAVING ATTORNEYS. NUMBER THAT WAS THE DEBATE. THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY SAVE ATTORNEYS FEES, OTHERWISE WE ARE GOING TO GIVE AWAY 1 MILLION BUCKS AND HAVE TO START PAYING 360,000. YOU CAN TELL THEM PLEASE LET THE JUDGES KNOW WE NEED THEM AND WE NEED THEM BADLY TO GET INVOLVED AND I WANTED THE COURT TO HEAR ALL

OF THIS. >> IS THE PUBLIC DEFENDER

OFFICE READY TO GO? >> THEY WILL BE OPERATING.

>> ALL THE CONSTRUCTION AND EVERYTHING.

>> NOT ON THAT. THEY ARE MOVING , THAT WON'T BE READY UNTIL

THE END OF FEBRUARY. >> THEY ARE OPERATING ON THE

THIRD FLOOR. >> THEY ARE STILL ACTING TO FINISH. THANK YOU. WE NEED TO GET IT DONE.

[1. Discuss road improvements of Santa Clara Drive, a private roadway located in the South Rim Subdivision, for consideration of future acceptance into the Nueces County roadway inventory for maintenance.]

>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO PUBLIC WORKS, ITEM NUMBER ONE DISCUSS ROAD IMPROVEMENT SANTA CLARA DRIVE, YOU ARE HERE,

PRIVATE ROADWAY. >> YES JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

THIS IS PRETTY MUCH AN UPDATE ON SANTA CLARA DRIVE. THE ROAD WAS IN CONSTRUCTION INITIALLY PER THE STANDARD OF THE COUNTY AND THE OWNERS AND DEVELOPER ARE PLANNING ON DOING THE IMPROVEMENTS AND WE ARE JUST BRINGING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COURT THAT WHEN THE PERMITS ARE COMPLETED,

[02:40:09]

>> THERE IS NO VOTER ANYTHING NEEDED?

>> NO MA'AM. >> JUST INFORMATION LETTING US KNOW IT COMES BACK AND YOU WILL LET US KNOW.

>> YES THAT'S CORRECT. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM ON

[2. Discuss and consider approval of a no cost Change Order No. 1 for the Hazel Bazemore Park New Restroom Building Project.]

DATE I UNDERSTAND. >> THAT'S CORRECT. WE ARE EXTENDING THE TIMELINE, THE PROJECT . THE PROJECT IS LIKE 99.5% COMPLETE. SO THEY ARE WAITING .

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> WHEN THERE IS MONEY LEFT

OVER? >> THAT'S CORRECT. THE $1000 LEFT OVER IN THE PROJECT SAVINGS AND WE WILL BE BRINGING THAT BACK TO COMMISSIONERS' COURT.

>> JUDGE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT KNOWN THERE'S GOING TO BE MONIES LEFT OVER I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THAT INTO A EXERCISE.

AN EXERCISE AREA. >> TODAY'S ITEM , THAT WILL HAVE TO BE BROUGHT BACK. TODAY'S ITEM IS APPROVING NO COST SO I MADE THE MOTION. I MADE THE MOTION DO YOU WANT TO SECOND SINCE IT'S YOUR PART? THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE AND HE OPPOSED SAME SIGN. YES COMMISSIONER WITH

[3. Discuss and consider approval for method of procurement IFB (Invitation for Bids) for Nueces County Jail and Courthouse Roof Improvement Project; and authorize the Purchasing Agent to publish a notice; and related matters.]

GET IT DONE. >> JUDGE THAT IS PART OF THIS

PROJECT BEING PRESENTED. >> OKAY I SAY WE GO OUT FOR BIDS. MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ AND I WILL SECOND.

>> GO AHEAD, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE AND HE OPPOSED

[4. Discuss and consider approval for method of procurement IFB (Invitation for Bids) for Nueces County Retrofit for Veterans Services & Social Services; and authorize the Purchasing Agent to publish a notice; and related matters.]

DOWNSTAIRS YOU ARE DOING? >> THIS IS FOR THE VETERANS AND SOCIAL SERVICES AREA. HERE AT THE FIRST FLOOR AND WE ARE REQUESTING PERMISSION TO GO OUT FOR BIDS.

>> SO MOVED AND SECOND. >> A MOTION AND SECOND.

>> THAT IS FUNDED BY ARPA FUNDING. OKAY. SORRY.

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE AND HE OPPOSED SAME SIGN. ITEM

[5. Discuss and consider approval of no cost Change Order No. 1 for the Nueces County Courthouse 6th Floor Public Defenders Office Renovation Project.]