[20. Discussion and possible action to order a Special Election to be held on November 2, 2021; and to approve Early Voting schedule & locations and Election Day locations for the Special Election called by the Governor to vote on Constitutional Amendments.]

ITEM NUMBER 20. >> JUDGE BECERRA: --

>> NUMBER 20, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO ORDER A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 2, 2021, AND TO RAY PROVE EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE AND LOCATIONS AND ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION CALLED BY THE GOVERNOR TO VOTE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

>> MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: WE'VE SPEECHES ON THIS ITEM.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MR. TREVOR NEWMAN.

IF YOU WILL APPROACH THE PODIUM PLEASE.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT WEARING A MASK BUT I'M VACCINATED. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF COLLEGE DEMOCRATS OF TEXAS STATE. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO MAKE L.B.J.STUDENT CERTAINTY THE PERMANENT POLLING LOCATION ON CAMPUS. THIS IS MY 4TH YEAR TESTIFYING IN THIS ROOM ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE.

THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS BEEN TRYING TO ALTER THE TEXAS STATE POLLING LOCATION FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION OF MY COLLEGE CAREER. EVERY YEAR I HAVE COME INTO THIS ROOM AND TESTIFIED ABOUT HOW MOVING A POLLING LOCATION WHEN IT'S HISTORICALLY BEEN LOCATED SOMEWHERE IS A FORM OF VOTER DISENFRANCHISEMENT.

AS FAR AS I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN TRIED 4 TIMES BY THIS BODY. I'M TIRED OF COMING TO THIS ROOM PRACTICALLY EVERY YEAR AND STATING THAT TEXAS STATE STUDENTS DO NOT WANT A DIFFERENT POLLING LOCATION.

WE WANT OUR POLLING LOCATION TO STAY PUT AND BE OPEN AT THE RIGHT TIMES. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT AND WILL NEVER ACCEPT THE ATTEMPTS TO DISENFRANCHISE TEXAS STATE STUDENTS. I'M ASKING YOU TO KEEP THE POLLING LOCATION AT THE L.B.J.POLLING CENTER.

ADDITIONALLY A LETTER WAS SENT TO YOU YESTERDAY AFTERNOON VIA E-MAIL. IT DETAILED OPINIONS ON THIS MATTER. THE TEXAS STATE STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATION BELIEVE THAT THE PREFERRED LOCATION ON CAMPUS IS THE L.B.J.STUDENT CERTAINTY.

AGAIN I'M ASKING THAT YOU LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND REAFFIRM THE STUDENT POLLING LOCATION WILL BE AT THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, MR. TREVOR NEWMAN.

[00:30:02]

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. MARK, DR. MARK TRAYHAN.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE BECERRA AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.

AT FIRST I WAS GOING TO SPEAK AS MY ROLL, AS A BEING FA ULT MEMBER AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY IN THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK BECAUSE I WANTED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS, BUT BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION THIS MORNING IN PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT MY ROLE AS THE HAYS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AS WELL.

IN A MEETING THAT I HAD WITH JENNIFER ANDERSON AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR, THERE WAS A CONVERSATION ABOUT VOTING LOCATIONS. IT WAS A DISCUSSION.

I SAID THAT I WOULD DO SOME RESEARCH RELATED TO THESE LOCATIONS AND GET BACK TO THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR AND TO MR. BOB PARKS. I DID THAT.

I PHONED JENNIFER ANDERSON, GAVE HER INFORMATION THAT I HAD RESEARCHED. I SENT AN E-MAIL TO MR. PARKS ABOUT WANTING TO START A PHONE CONVERSATION.

HE NEVER REPLIED TO MY E-MAIL.

PERHAPS HE JUST FORGOT TO GET BACK WITH ME.

I DON'T KNOW THE REASONS FOR THAT.

BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M HAPPY TO SUPPLY THAT E-MAIL IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN MY RESPONSIBILITY IN MY ROLE. I ALSO WANT TO REPORT TO YOU ABOUT MY RESEARCH. MY INTEREST IN THIS CONVERSATION IS ABOUT STUDENTS.

ON SATURDAY WITH MY DAUGHTERS WHO ARE 5 AND 7, WE TOOK A FIELD TRIP TO GO CHECK OUT THE TWO POTENTIAL VOTING CERTAINTY SITES AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY.

I DECIDED TO COMPARE THE PERF AND THE L.B.J.CENTER.

ANY ATTEMPT TO MOVE THE VOTING CENTER TO STRAYHAN WOULD CLEARLY BE, WOULD CLEARLY SUPPRESS UNDERSTAND STUDENT VOICES AND VOTES. I DECIDED TO FOCUS ON THOSE TWO. THE PACK, I COUNTED ENTRANCES AND EXITS TO THE PAC FIRST.

THE PACK HAS 14 DOORS AND THREE MAYBE ENTRANCES.

THE L.B.J.HAS 17 ENTRANCINGS AND ONE, SO THREE MAIN ENTRANCES. THE SAME.

THE THEN I COUNTED PARKING SPACES.

THE PACK ACCORDING TO MIGRATIONS HAS 158 REGULAR SPARKING SPOTS 25 LOW EMISSION VOTES AND 246 E.SPOTS ONLY ALLOCATED TO STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE HALLS. ADD THOSE UP AND YOU HAVE 429 PARKING LOTS. THE L.B.J.HAS 513 STUDENTS.

THEY'RE FAIRLY EQUAL WITH L.B.J.HAVING A FEW MORE SPOTS. THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPOTS IS UP TO THE UNIVERSITY. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER OR NOT ONE HAS MORE PARKING BECAUSE IT'S UP TO THE UNIVERSITY TO DECIDE THAT. I WALKED 100 FEET TO CHECK ELECTIONIER. THE LINE WOULD ALLOW CANDIDATES TO TALK TO STUDENTS ON THE MALL AND KEEP THEM OUT OF VOTING LINES IN THE BUILDING.

THE 100 LAW WOULD ALLOW CANDIDATES TO TALK TO VOTERS IN LINE WAITING TO VOTE. AS A VOTER I WOULD RATHER APPROACH SOMEONE TO TALK TO THEM RATHER THAN BE APPROACHED WHILE I'M IN LINE.

BUT THAT'S ME. I ALSO DID A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH STUDENTS. HERE IS WHAT I HEARD: STUDENTS WANT TO VOTE AT L.B.J.

THAT'S WHERE THEY WANT TO VOTE.

IT'S THEIR HUB. IT'S WHERE THEY EAT.

WITH YOUR THEY CONGREGATE. IT'S WHERE THEY SPENT TIME.

WE HAVE A NEW BUILDING THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED THERE SO IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION. AND IT'S ON THE THIRD FLOOR WHICH IS RIGHT OFF THE PARKING GARAGE.

HANDICAPPED PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO CROSS A STREET AT THE PACK IN ORDER TO GET TO THE VOTING LOCATION.

NOW I'M NOT INTERESTED IN MAKING THIS A PARTISAN ISSUE. WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN IS WHAT IS BEST FOR THE STUDENTS.

THEY'RE TELLING YOU WHERE THEY WANT TO VOTE.

THEY WANT TO VOTE AT L.B.J. SO IN THINKING ABOUT YOUR DECISION CONSIDER THAT IT'S TIME TO MUTT ASIDE PAR SANSHIP. IT'S TIME FOR US TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOOD FOR THE PEOPLES OF THE VOTING CENTER IS SERVING, AND THAT'S THE STUDENTS.

STUDENT VOICES CONTINUE TO ASK FOR THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER. LET'S LISTEN.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, DR. TRAYHAN.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. BRENDAN OLIS.

SORRY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY.

[INAUDIBLE] >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANKS.

>> >> HOW DO YOU SAY YOUR LAST

NAME. >> ELSE.

>> SOME PEOPLE CALL ME OLE. >> WE DO HAVE A LOT OF HISPANIC INFLUENCE IN THE REGION.

>> THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. AS STATED MY NAME IS BRANDON OLES AND I COME TO YOU AS A MEDICALLY RETIRED MARINE CORPS COMBAT VETERAN, AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE VETERANS ALLIANCE AND AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE

[00:35:01]

VETERAN COMMUNITY HERE AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY.

I'M STANDING HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF NOT ONLY THE L.B.J.VOTING CENTER BUT ALSO IN SUPPORT OF AN ADDITIONAL VOTING CENTER HERE AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY.

I WANT I'M GOING TO KEEP IT BRIEF.

YOU HAVE A FULL AGENDA. I DON'T LIKE TO RAMP -- RAMBLE BUT I WILL BUT SOMETHING PEOPLE OFTEN FORGET ABOUT OUR SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHIC IS WE'RE VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS HERE AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY. WE'RE A VERY LARGE GROUP.

WE HAVE A THREE SEMESTER AVERAGE OF 1700 VETERANS AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I THINK AS OF APRIL THAT WAS. SPRING, FALL, SPRING.

WE'RE VERY TIME RESTRICTED. MANY OF US HAVE FAMILIES, FULL TIME JOBS. THE ACADEMIC ARENA IS NOT OUR FULL-TIME RESPONSIBILITY.

THAT BEING SAID, I THINK SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND AS WELL, CENTRAL HUB FOR THE VETERAN COMMUNITY AT TAX STATE IS THE VETERANS YOUNG WHERE MANY CONGRESS JUG EIGHT. GET TOGETHER, ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES THEY HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND RELAX ON CAMPUS, BETWEEN CLASSES, I APOLOGIZE.

KEEPING THE VOTING CERTAINTY AT L.B.J.IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE CENTRAL HUB MANY VETERANS ARE USED TO GETTING TOGETHER CREATES A LITTLE CONVENIENCE FOR A TIME RESTRICTED DEMOGRAPHIC, AS YOU KEEP THAT IN MIND ALSO GIVEN THE HIGH NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ON CAMPUS, THREE SEMESTER AVERAGE 1700 VETERANS AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

MANY OF US WE'RE IN AND OUT OF CAMPUS QUICK.

WE ADD A SECOND POLLING LOCATION IT CREATES A LEVEL OF CONVENIENCE THAT PROMOTES POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AMONG VETERAN COMMUNITY WHICH I HOPE WOULD BE A FACT FACTOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. OLES.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. MAKING NOTES OF YOUR COMMENTS. OUR FINAL SPEAKER ON THIS AGENDA ITEM IS MR. LOUIS BOWDEN, IF YOU WILL PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM UM HAVE THREE MINUTES.

>> IT'S LIKE THE LEGISLATURE.

THANK YOU, MY NAME IS LOUIS BODEN AND I'M A SENIOR IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY.

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY TEXAS STATE HAS ONLY ONE VOTING CERTAINTY. THE POPULATION OF WIMBERLY HAS AROUND 3500 PEOPLE AND HAS AT LEAST 3 VOTING CENTERS IN 2020. TAX STATE OTHER THAN HAS PROBABLY OVER 20,000 COUNTY RESIDENTS AND ON ITS CAMPUS ON ANY GIVEN DAY ONLY HAS 1 VOTING CENTER.

WHY IS THAT? BASED ON THESE NUMBERS WE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 3 VOTING CENTERS. THE NUMBERS SUPPORT IT.

BUT A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE VOTING CENTERS IS THE STUDENT CERTAINTY AT TEXAS STATE.

I HAVE VOTE THERE HAD FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

IT IS CONVENIENT. IT IS WELL APPRECIATED BY THE STUDENTS AND STAFF ALIKE FOR ITS EASE OF ACCESS, AND HAS A VARIETY OF RESOURCE FORCE STUDENTS.

THIS LOCATION IS SUPPORTED BY THE UNIVERSITY AND IN PARTICULAR THE STUDENTS. THERE IS NO LEGITIMATE REASON FOR THIS COURT TO EXCLUDE IT, WHETHER FOR REGULAR OR SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

PLEASE KEEP IT ON THE LIST. I'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT MY DEMOCRACY BY VOTING AND I HOPE YOU CAN ALL WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY TO MAKE ACCESS EASIER AND BETTER FOR THIS SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE COUNTY POPULATION.

THANK YOU. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

NOW THAT CONCLUSION -- OH, NO WE'VE MORE.

>> WE HAVE QUITE A BIT MORE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU,

MA'AM. >> FROM JEFF COUGHMAN, COMMISSIONER AND JUDGE JUDGE BECERRA, THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY WRITTEN TESTIMONY TODAY.

ITEM 20 ON YOUR AGENDA IS TO CONSIDER POLLING LOCATIONS FOR EARLY VOTING AT ELECTION DAY VOTING FOR THE NOVEMBER 2021 GENERAL LEAKS. -- ELECTION, CURRENTLY THERE IS AND TRADITIONALLY HAS BEEN AT A FOLLOWING PLACE AT THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER ON CAMPUS PURCHASE I REQUEST THE COMMISSIONERS VOTE TO KEEP IT AT THE CURRENT LOCATION. I'VE HEARD SOME COMMISSIONERS FAVOR MOVING THE POLLING SITE FROM THE TEXAS STATE L.B.J.SENTER TO A SITE FAR FROM THE CAMPUS CENTER. SUCH A MOVE WOULD MAKE IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY INCLUDING STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF TO FLOT THIS AND FUTURE ELECTIONS. AS AN ALUMNI I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE L.B.J.CENTER IS FOR MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY TO GATHER AND TO VOTE.

THE COMPRISING OVER 50% OF THE SAN MARCOS POPULATION, THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE A POLLING LOCATION THAT MAXIMIZES THEIR OPPORTUNITY FOR

[00:40:01]

PARTICIPATION. PLEASE RE-AUTHORIZE THE TEXAS STATE L.B.J.AS A POLLING STATION FOR THE NOVEMBER 2021 VOTING ELECTION.

DIE AN MCCABE WRITES I WAS AN 18-YEAR-OLD FRESHMEN AT THEN S.W.T.IN 1969. WHEN THE VOTING AGE CHANGED FROM 21 TO 18, SOME THREE YEARS LATER I WAS ABLE TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE 1972 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY. A SIGNIFICANT EVENT IN MY LIFE. VOTING SO COMPLICATED IN TEXAS BECAME A LIFE LONG PRACTICE FOR MY HUSBAND AND ME. BEFORE RETIRING HAVING TAUGHT AT TEXAS STATE FOR 23 YEARS I SAW STUDENTS' INTEREST IN VOTING GROW OVER THE YEARS ESPECIALLY AFTER THE CONCEPT OF VOTING CERTAINTIES WAS ENACTED WITH THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER SERVING AS A CENTER.

NOW I'VE BEEN INSPIRED BY TEXAS STATE STUDENTS ENTHUSIASM FOR REGISTERING TO VOTE.

LEARNING WHAT IS ON THE BALLOT AND CASTING THEIR VOTES. A TRADITION YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED TO HAVE A VOTING CERTAINTY AT THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER RENOVATED MAKES VOTING LESS COMPLICATED AS IT SHOULD BE. THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS THE POWER TO GOVERNOR'S ONE DESTINY.

I BECAME A POLL WORKER FOR THE RECENT PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY IN 2020 SOME 48 YEARS AFTER FIRST VOTING.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW TRIALING IT WAS TO SEE STUDENTS LINE UP TO ENTER THE ROOM TO VOTE.

WE ELECTION WORKERS WERE THERE ON ELECTION NIGHT UNTIL 1:00 AM. A SECOND VOTING CENTER ON CAMPUS WOULD BE REALLY SMART.

I WRITE TO URGE YOU TO CHOOSE AGAIN THE L.B.J.STUDENT CERTAINTY AS ONE VOTING CENTER ON CAMPUS AND POSSIBLY CHOOSE THE PERFORMING ARTS CERTAINTY AS A SECOND VOTING CENTER FOR THE ROUGHLY 55% OF THE POPULATION OF SAN MARCOS WHO MAKE UP THE TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY. THAT IS OVER 37,000 OUT OF AN ESTIMATED 69,000 PEOPLE. THAT INCLUDES STUDENTS WHO LIVE ON CAMPUS AND IN HAYS COUNTY AS WELL AS FACULTY AND STAFF WHO LIVE IN COUNTY.

AS A SIGNIFICANT POPULATION OF SAN MARCOS, THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE A POLLING LOCATION THAT MAXIMIZES PARTICIPATION SUCH AS THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER, THE PRIMARY CAMPUS HUB FOR STUDENTS AT THE CERTAINTY OF CAMPUS. HAVING A POLLING PLACE AT THAT LOCATION JUST MAKES GOOD SENSE AND GOOD POLITICS FOR ALL CONCERNED. I HOPE WE ALL CAN KEEP UP THE WORK TO INSTILL IN YOUNG PEOPLE A PASSION FOR REGISTERING TO VOTE, BEING EDUCATED ABOUT WHAT IS ON THE BALLOT AND VOTING TO STRENGTHEN THEIR FAITH THAT OUR DEMOCRACY CAN WORK FOR THE GOOD OF US ALL.

KEEPING THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER AS A VOTING CENTER IS ONE WAY TO DO THAT. THANK YOU FOR LIMPING TO THAT -- LISTENING TO THIS AND FOR YOUR WORK TO STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY. THE NEXT IS FROM A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS. THE COLLEGE DEMOCRATS STATE, TEXAS STATE FIRST JEG LOW INCOME PARTNERSHIP AT TEXAS STATE, HIP HOP CONGRESS, INTERRUPTIONS LAMBDA OF TEXAS STATE, ROBERT F. KENNEDY YOUNG LEADERS AT TEXAS STATE. STUDENT COMMUNITY OF PROGRESSIVE EMPOWERMENT AT TEXAS STATE, TEXAS RISING CHAPTER AT TEXAS STATE AND YOUNG DEMOCRATS AT STATE TEXAS. OR AT TEXAS STATE RATHER.

THEY WRITE WE'RE REACHING OUT BECAUSE WE RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT IS CONSIDERING PLACING STUDENT VOTING LOCATION AT SOME OF THE FURTHEST CORNERS OF TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. THIS IS THE 4TH YEAR IN A ROW WE'VE HAD TO SPEAK TO YOU REGARDING THIS ISSUE.

EVERY TIME IT HAS BEEN BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IS TRYING TO SUPPRESS THE STUDENT VOTE. THIS YEAR IS NO DIFFERENT.

AFTER HEARING ABOUT YOUR CONSIDERATION TO KEEP THE POLLING LOCATION AT THE PERFORMING ARTS CERTAINTY OR EVEN MOVE IT TO THE STRAY HAN ARENA WE REACHED OUT TO THE TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS AND DEAN OF STUDENTS TO ASK THEIR PREFERENCE ONSED MATTER. EACH AGREED THAT THE BEST POLLING CENTER ON CAMPUS IS THE L.B.J.CENTERED AND HAVE WORKED WITH THE COURT TO SECURE THE LOCATION.

THE VERY INTENT OF HAVING A CAMPUS POLLING LOCATION IS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE A PLACE TO VOTE ON CAMPUS.

THE L.B.J.CENTER REVISED AND AND REFRESHED BEST FULFILLS THIS PURPOSE BY PROVIDING A CENTRALIZED AND SECURE POLLING LOCATION FOR OUR TEXAS STATE COMMUNITY.

WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING CONVENIENCE FOR VOTERS, DUE TO THE NEARBY PARKING GARAGE AND THE ABUNDANCE OF SPACE WITHIN THE BUILDING. COMPARED TO THE PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE POLLING LOCATIONS, THE L.B.J.CENTER PREVAILS AS THE MOST LOGISTIC EFFICIENT LOCATION FOR VOTING IN THE TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AREA. THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER IS A FAMILIAR PLACE THAT STUDENTS KNOW AS THEIR POLLING LOCATION. LAST YEAR THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MOVED THE POLLING LOCATION TO THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TO ACCOMMODATE COMPUTER LABS IN THE

[00:45:03]

BALLROOM SPACE, WE WERE PROMISED THE UNIVERSITY POLLING LOCATION WOULD RETURN TO THE L.B.J.STUDENT CERTAINTY AFTER THE LAST ELECTION.

THIS CHANGE CAUSED STUDENT CONFUSION AND FRUSTRATION AT THE POLLING LOCATION HAD BEEN MOVED TO FUN OF THE FURTHEST CORNERS OF CAMPUS AWAY FROM DAY-TO-DAY STUDENT ACTIVITY AND VOTER TURN OUT HAPPENED AS A CONSEQUENCE: A HART EARNED TITLE THAT COULD BE IN JEOPARDY IF THIS EXCLUSION OF STUDENTS IN ELECTIONS CONTINUES.

SECURING L.B.J.AS OUR POLLING LOCATION WILL NOT SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM REGARDING THE SUPPRESSION OF THE STUDENT VOTE, BUT IT WILL ALLOW FOR STUDENTS TO ACCESS THE CENTRALIZED POLLING LOCATION THAT IS THE HUB FOR STUDENT ACTIVITY. WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU LISTEN TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FACULTY THAT HAVE SIGNED ON TO THIS LETTER AND CONFIRM THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER AT OUR MAIN CAMPUS POLLING SITE.

TEXAS STATE STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATION BELIEVE IN THE EFFICIENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THE L.B.J.CENTER AND THEIR WISHES SHOULD BE HONORED AS THE VOICE OF THE VOTERS WHO WILL BE CASTING THEIR BALLOTS AT THE SITES. YOUR SUPPORT WILL SHOW THAT THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER IS THE MOST PRACTICAL CAMPUS VOTING SITE AND WILL AFFIRM THAT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT WANT STUDENTS TO HAVE EASY ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX.

ABOVE ALL, WE IMPLORE YOU TO STAND ON THE SIDE OF SUFFRAGE BECAUSE THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER IS THE RIGHT CHOICE TO ENSURE STUDENTS, FACULTY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT DISINFRANCHISED BY UNNECESSARY AND INCONVENIENT CHANGES.

C.J.TSUU T WRITES IN SUPPORT OF KEEPING THE POLLING LOCATION FOR TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY AT THE L.B.J.SENT IS CENTER, THE CENTER HAS BEEN THE LONG TIME POLLING LOCATION ON CAMPUS AND HAS BEEN A STAPLE FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THE LOCATION OF THE L.B.J.IS RIGHT IN THE HEART OF TEXAS STATE AND IS A PERFECT SPOT FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY COMING OUT OF CLASSROOMS, NEARBY ALL THE DORMS ON CAMPUS AND IS PERFECT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH THE L.B.J.PARKING GARAGE BEING OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.

THE L.B.J.STUDENT IS NOT ON SOME FAR AWAY CORNER OF CAMPUS. IT'S, I THINK IT'S L.B.J.CENTER IS NOT ON SOME FAR AWAY CORNER OF CAMPUS BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF CAMPUS INSTEAD OF NEAR THE LIBRARY, ARNOLD HALL, THE QUAD AND THE MCCOY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS TO NAME A FEW. TURNOUT HAS BEEN HIGH WHEN L.B.J.HAS BEEN THE POLLING LOCATION ON CAMPUS LOOKING BACK AT 2016, 2018, 2019 ELECTIONS AND 2021 PRIMARY.

WITH THE RELOCATION TO THE PACK FOR LAST YEAR'S GENERAL ELECTION, LED TO DECREAE OF TURNOUT ON CAMPUS.

ONLY BECAUSE IT'S SO FAR AWAY AND ON THE BORDERLINE OF TEXAS STATE. I'M ASKING FOR THE COMMISSIONERS TO KEEP THE TEXAS STATE POLLING LOCATION AT L.B.J. IT WON'T BE MINDED IF L.B.J.HAD ONE MORE LOCATION ARE DESIGNATED AS POLLING LOCATION ONS CAMPUS. FINALLY,IANA WRITES, I'M A RECENTLY RETIRED TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND I'M ASKING THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO KEEP THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER AT THE CAMPUS VOTING LOCATION IN NOVEMBER. THE REASON TO SUPPORT L.B.J.INCLUDES MISS ANDERSON THE HAYS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ALREADY WORKED WITH THE TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY TO IDENTIFY AVAILABILITY OF THE BEST LOCATION AND RECOMMENDED WE USE THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER. TWO BECAUSE L.B.J.HOUSES OF THE OFFICE OF STUDENT INVOLVEMENT WHICH COORDINATES WITH THE ELECTIONS SUPPORTER SUPPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE. L.B.J.IS CENTRALLY LOCATED NEAR MOST DEPARTMENT, DORMS, CLASSROOMS, THE LIBRARY AND SEVERAL SHUTTLE BUS STATIONS.

4, STUDENT TRAFFIC IS HEAVY AT L.B.J.

THE BUILDING INCLUDES LARGE CLASSROOMS, MEETING AND CONFERENCE ROOMS, SHOPPING, DINING AND BANKING.

FIVE, L.B.J.HAS TRADITIONALLY SERVED AS A CAMPUS VOTING CENTER FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF, CHANGING THE SITE CREATES CONFUSION AND NATION HARDER FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF TO VOTE.

THE REASONS TO OPPOSE THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE SITES SUCH AS PACK OR STRAYHAN INCLUDE: ONE, IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT STRAYHAN BE USED DUE TO CONCERNS REGARDING VIOLATIONS OF ELECTIONIERING POLICIES.

THESE CONCERNS CAN BE ADDRESSED BY CLEARLY MARKING THE 100 FOOT BOUNDARY, INCREASING SIGNAGE EDUCATING CANDIDATES THEIR STAFF AND VOLUME TEES, ELENGIERING VIOLATIONS ARE NOT UNIQUE TO ONE LOCATION, THEY CAN OCCUR AT L.B.J.OR ANY VOTING CENTER.

[00:50:02]

THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES FREE PARKING IN NEARBY PARKING GARAGES FOR OFFCAMPUS VOTERS.

TEXAS STATE AND THE LEAKS OFFICE CAN EASILY PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION OR SIGNAG TO ALLAY THAT WORRY.

3, THE PACK CANNOT BE USED DURING THE ENTIRE VOTING PERIOD DUE TO A PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED EVENT.

FOUR, STRAYHAN IS INCONVENIENTLY LOCATED ON THE MARGINS OF CAMPUS AND WOULD MAKE IT HARDER FOR MOST STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF TO VOTE.

THIS LOCATION WOULD HINDER VOTING AND IS NOT ACCEPTABLE

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THAT CONCLUDE, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ALTHOUGH EVERYONE'S COMMENTS SHOULD BE HEARD AND ARE IMPORTANT, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND US TO ALSO, TO BE FADE AND RESPECTFUL, HAVE A TIMER SET FOR THOSE AS WELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW AT THIS POINT I WILL ASK MISS ANDERSON, SHE IS HERE IN THE COURTROOM.

SHE IS THE LEADER OF THE PACK.

IF YOU WILL PLEASE UPDATE US ON YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> YES, THANK YOU, JENNIFER ANDERSON, HAYS COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR. DR. HERNANDEZ WAS SPECIALED TO SPEAK. I'M ASSUMING SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO CONNECT. [INAUDIBLE] SHE IS? OKAY. I DIDN'T KNOW IF I NEEDED TO READ SOMETHING OR SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WELL. [INAUDIBLE]

>> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA: DO YOU WANT HERE TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU, IS THAT YOUR GOAL?

>> I THINK SO, I THINK IT'S BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYBODY TO ASK QUESTION, HEAR WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: OKAY. IF YOU'LL TELL US WHO DOCTOR HERNANDEZ IS FOR THE AUDIENCE.

>> DR. HERNANDEZ IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS WHO TOOK THE PLACE OF DR. JOANNE SMITH AT TEXAS

STATE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: DR. HERNANDEZ, CAN YOU HEAR US? YOU ARE MUTED.

>> YOU MAY BE MUTED, MA'AM. >> JUDGE BECERRA: KEEP TALKING, SEE IF WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT.

LET'S SEE. YOU, MAYBE YOU COULD SING UNTIL SOMETHING COMES UP. STILL MUTED.

NOW I SEE THE CAMERA IN FRONT OF ME.

THERE YOU ARE. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: GOOD MORNING.

AS YOU CAN VERY WELL HEAR FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE A PART OF THIS AGENDA ITEM.

AND MISS ANDERSON HAS REMINDED US THAT YOU ARE HERE VIEWING REMOTELY. AS YOU CAN TELL, I THINK YOU'VE BEEN ON THIS WHOLE TIME.

THE OVERWHELMING SPEAKING, COMMENTS AND WRITTEN COMMENTS ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER, HISTORICAL SITE FOR CAMPUS, 37,000 PLUS FOLKS TO CONTINUE THAT SITE AND HOW THE PACK THAT WAS USED LAST YEAR WAS TEMPORARY AND SO I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA IF YOU COULD JUST, I GUESS, SHOOT US AN OVERVIEW ABOUT THE REASONS AND HOW YOU GUYS ARE IN SUPPORT OF WHATEVER SITES YOU ARE SUPPORTING.

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE ÚTHE OPPORTUNITY.

YOU KNOW, ONE IT'S WONDERFUL TO HEAR FROM OUR FACULTY.

FROM OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS. YOU HEARD FROM ALL OF THEM TODAY. I WANT TO ECHO THAT THERE IS QUITE A BIT SENTIMENTS FROM THESE INDIVIDUALS TO KEEP OUR VOTING LOCATION AT THE L.B.J.STUDENT CERTAINTY.

I D CENTER. I SUPPORT THAT.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MISS ANDERSON FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS NOW TO IDENTIFY A POLLING LOCATION, AND HAVE HAD SOME INQUIRIES AS YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT PERHAPS KEEPING IT AT THE PERFORMING ARTS CERTAINTY.

WE WERE' PLEASED TO OFFER THE SPACE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND BECAUSE WE WERE LARGELY RE REMOTE INSTRUCTION WE'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT BUILDING IN A WAY THAT WE'RE JUST NOT ABLE TO DO SO AS WE RETURN TO 100% IN PERSON INSTRUCTION AND ACTIVITIES THIS FALL. YOU KNOW, THE LOBBY OF THE PAC WILL BE FILLED WITH STUDENTS AND WILL BE OPENED ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT. WE COMMUNICATED WITH MISS ANDERSON ABOUT THE INABILITY TO SECURE VOTING MACHINES OVERNIGHT IN THE FACILITY BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE'LL BE USING IT THIS FALL. AS ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED, TOO, THE PLETHORA OF PARKING THAT WAS AVAILABLE OVER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FOR THAT BUILDING, THAT PARKING PICTURE WILL LOOK DIFFERENT THIS FALL BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE RESIDENCE AND THE LOTS IN FRONT WILL BE FILLED. SO IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT OF A PARKING SITUATION. BUT WE DO HAVE PLANS AND

[00:55:04]

HAVE BEEN MAKING PROVISIONS TO MOVE IT BACK TO THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER, THE HISTORICAL SITE AS YOU'VE HEARD. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MISS ANDERSON AND OTHERS TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THEY'VE HAD AROUND THE PROHIBITED ELECTIONIERING THAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST AS WELL AS THE RENOVATION, THE COMPLETION OF THE RENOVATION OF THE STUDENT CENTER WILL ALLOW US SOME NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO DIVERT TRAFFIC IN A WAY WE'RE NOT CO-MINGLING THE INDIVIDUALS WAITING IN LINE WITH THOSE WHO ARE JUST VISITING THE STUDENT CENTER.

I THINK WE HAVE SOME GOOD SOLUTIONS BUT WE'RE PREPARED TO WORK WITH MISS ANDERSON AND HER TEAM TO IMPROVE ABOUT USING STANCHIONS, GOOD WAY FINDING AND SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES. WE'RE PREPARED TO MOVE BACK TO THE L.B.J.STUDENT CERTAINTY.

WE THINK WE CAN MITIGATE THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST. BRING NEW KNOWLEDGE WITH ME FROM MY PREVIOUS INSTITUTION IN HOW WE RAN SOME OF THE POLLING PLACES OVER THERE AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND SUCCESSFUL AS WELL IRTHINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT HERE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT AS A GOOD HUB AND A GOOD OPTION FOR OUR STUDENTS.

I WILL STOP THERE IN CASE ANYBODY HAS ANY OTHER

QUESTION FORCE ME. >> JUDGE BECERRA: OKAY.

THANK YOU. THE FIRST QUESTION IS, MISS ANDERSON, IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO RETURN TO THE HISTORICAL L.B.J.SITE FOR THE CAMPUS?

>> THE WAY THESE WORK WE REACH OUT EVERY ELECTION TO ALL OF THE LOCATIONS. WEISS TALK TO THEM ABOUT -- WE TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND WHAT THE SCHEDULE LOOK LIKES ACCORDING TO THEIR CALENDAR.

THEY TELL US WHAT IS AVAILABLE.

THAT IS THE WAY THIS HAS ALWAYS WORKED.

WHEN THAT HAPPENED WITH TEXAS STATE WE DID QUESTION THEM ABOUT THE USE OF THE PAC BECAUSE QUITE FORTUNATELY FOR US IN 2020 ONE OF THE LARGEST ELECTION IT IS WORKED SMOOTHLY OVER THERE.

WE WERE ABLE TO CONTROL THAT ELECTIONIERING.

WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE LINES. WE HAD PLENTY OF SPACE TO PUT DIFFERENT STATIONS OUT THERE TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS. WE DIDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEMS. SO WE DID QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

THEY WENT THROUGH THESE THINGS THEY JUST TOLD US WERE GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT IF IT WERE HELD THERE TODAY.

THAT'S WHY THE REPRESENTATION ON MY LIST IS

FOR THE L.B.J. >> JUDGE BECERRA: GOOD.

THANK YOU. I'LL GO BACK THEN TO DR. HERNANDEZ. I WILL POP OFF, I WAS TAKING NOTES OF EVERYONE'S COMMENTS.

DR. HERNANDEZ, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE VIEWING PUBLIC, I KNOW THAT IT'S EASY TO ACCIDENTALLY THINK THAT EVERYBODY IS IN OUR HEADS IS IN EVERYONE'S HEADS, THAT'S NOT FAIR SO I'M GOING TO AS I LIKE TO TRY TO DO, AND IF ACRONYMS ARE USED, SPEAK THEM OUT, ETC.

SO I'M GOING TO RECAP SOME OF THE NOTES I'VE TAKEN FROM THE SPEAKERS. AND I COULD STOP AT A COUPLE THEN GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO SAY, YES, IT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED OR NO IT'S NOT A PROBLEM, A LITTLE BEFORE THE BACK AND FORTH ON THAT LOCATION SINCE SO MANY FOLKS HERE HAVE BROUGHT UP DIFFERENT CONCERNS IF THAT

IS OKAY WITH YOU. >> YES, SIR.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: I'M GOING TO CHECK THE BOX, YOU HAVE ADDRESSED THE 100 FOOT ELECTIONIERING PIECE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. PARKING CONCERN YOU'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED THIS AS WELL.

THAT THERE, THE WAY I REMEMBER IT, PARKING WHEN YOU GO VOTE, THERE IS ALSO A VOUCHER TO MAKE IT FREE FOR

YOU, CORRECT? >> YES, SIR.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: PERFECT. OKAY.

I KNOW THAT TEXAS STATE IS A STATE FACILITY.

A.D.A.IS AMERICA'S WITH DISABILITY ACT, IT WAS ENACTED TO INSURE FOLKS WITH DISABILITY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE ABOUT MOVE FREELY.

AND BEING A STATE FACILITY, I'M CONFIDENT THAT YOU ARE

A.D.A.COMPLIANT, RIGHT? >> YES, SIR.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: OKAY. GOOD.

NOTES REAL QUICK. >> JUDGE, THIS IS COMMISSIONER INGALSBE ITEM, MAYBE SHE WANTS TO TALK

ABOUT IT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WE ALL WILL HAVE TIME, THANK YOU. I NEVER, I NEVER CUT ANYBODY OFF. YOU'LL HAVE A CHANCE.

>> IT'S HER ITEM IS ALL I'M --

>> JUDGE BECERRA: IT'S THE COURT'S ITEM.

I GOT THIS. THANK YOU, SIR.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, ARE YOU IN A POSITION WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK EITHER DR. HERNANDEZ OR MISS ANDERSON ANY QUESTIONS?

>> YES, THANK YOU, JUDGE. I ALSO TOOK THE TIME TO CALL UP TO TEXAS STATE TO ASK ABOUT THE PARKING, ANDHEY HAVE A

[01:00:05]

PARKING VALIDATION STICKER PROGRAM.

WHERE THEY GIVE YOU, YOU TAKE YOUR STICKER.

YOU GO FINANCED A VOTE. THEY VALIDATE IT FOR YOU.

YOU LEAVE THE PARKING GARAGE AND IT'S FREE.

SO THAT WAS MENTIONED. THERE WAS SOMETHING MENTIONED REGARDING THAT THIS BOX DOES NOT MEET ELECTION CODE. JENNIFER, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU IF THAT PARTICULAR BOX MEETS THE ELECTION CODE BECAUSE IT WAS MENTION THAT HAD IT DID NOT?

>> SO I THINK THE CONTEXT OF THE STATEMENT JUST LISTENING FROM BACK THERE WAS THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH ENFORCING THE ELECTION CODE. THERE THOSE ARE VALID CONCERNS THAT I'VE SPOKEN DR. HERNANDEZ ABOUT AND DR. RODRIGUEZ B. I PARTICIPATED IN A TASK FORCE WITH PERSONS FROM BOTH PARTIES AND ALL OVER THE UNIVERSITY LAST YEAR THAT WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT.

I KNOW THERE ARE SOME FOLKS IN THE ROOM CAN VERIFY THOSE ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS. I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT JUDGE BECERRA JUST TALKED ABOUT ABOUT THE A.D.A.COMPLIANCE. I DON'T THINK THAT IS RAMPS AND SLOPES. I THINK THAT IS MORE RELATED TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN EFFECTIVELY CURB SIDE VOTE AT THE LOCATION. THAT IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE ONLY PLACE TO CURB SIDE VOTE IS IN THE BUS LANE.

THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE OVER THERE. OTHER, PARKING, THERE IS A VALIDATION PROCESS. WE USED IT LAST YEAR.

IT RELIED ON VOTERS TO LET US KNOW THEY NEEDED VALIDATION WHICH IS A CHALLENGE.

THAT IS A DIFFERENCE THAN WE OPERATE ANY OTHER POLLING LOCATION. HOW DO YOU GET THE WORDS OUT JUST TO SPECIFIC PEOPLE AT A SPECIFIC LOCATION THAT THEY NEED TO DO SPECIFIC THINGS? THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS DIFFICULT TO DO IN THE WORLD OF ELECTIONS.

AND THE ELECTIONIERING HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE THERE AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE. IT HAS BEEN REALLY HARD TO CONTROL BECAUSE OF THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE IN THE AREA THAT ARE NOT VOTING.

BUT THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON SHOULD THIS LOCATION BE CHOSEN AGAIN. WE'RE GOING TO FIND A WAY ULTIMATELY EVENTUALLY TO TAKE CARE OF THESE ISSUES BECAUSE MY OFFICE IS ADAMANT WE'RE GOING TO RUN FAIR ELECTIONS. SO WE'LL KEEP WORKING AT IT.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: DOES ELECTIONIER --

>> DOES ELECTIONIERING WITHIN THE 100 FEET RADIUS

OCCUR IN OTHER LOCATIONS? >> IT HAS.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT NEVER HAS BUT IT'S A CONTINUING AND ONGOING PROBLEM THERE.

WE MAY ADDRESS IT ONE HOUR AND THE NEXT MINUTE SOMEBODY IS DOING THAT AGAIN. THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY WITH.

IT'S SOMETHING DEFINITELY I HEARD ONE PARTY CHAIR SAY IT TODAY. THE PARTY CHAIRS COULD BE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING WITH THAT IN TALKING WITH THEIR CAN DAYS. BY DON'T EDUCATE CANDIDATES IN MY OFFICE, BUT THEY COULD HELP WERE THEIR CANDIDATES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ABIDING BY THOSE LAWS.

>> THAT'S MY POINT. IT DOES HAPPEN IN OTHER LOBBIES. WE NEED TO DO OUR BEST TO ENSURE IF A VIOLATION IS OCCURRING, THAT WE ADDRESS IT AND SO, YOU KNOW, I HEARD FROM DR. HERNANDEZ THAT THE INABILITY TO SECURE VOTING MACHINES IS AN ISSUE AT THE PAC. I ALSO THOUGHT THAT THE PAC WORKED WELL. I UNDERSTAND THAT L.B.J.HAS BEEN THE LOCATION HISTORICALLY THAT WE HAVE USED AT THE UNIVERSITY, AND I SUPPORT THAT 100%.

AND SO, THEN PARKING WOULD ALSO BE AN ISSUE.

THERE IS GOING TO BE STUDENTS I GUESS WE'RE IN FULL FORCE NOW HERE IN A LITTLE BIT.

SO THOSE ARE SOME CONCERNS I BELIEVE THAT ARE VALID.

BUT I APPRECIATE IT AND IN MY MOTION THAT I MADE EARLIER, I SUPPORT THE LIST AS PROVIDED IN THERE AND I'LL, I'LL PASS IT ON TO MY COLLEAGUE.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER.

>> YES, SIR, THANK YOU, JUDGE.

JENNIFER, IS THERE ANOTHER PLACE ON CAMPUS WHERE THE A.D.A.WON'T BE A PROBLEM AS FAR AS CURB SIDE?

>> AGAIN, THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE RELYING ON THE CAMPUS TO LET US KNOW. ARE THERE BUILDINGS? ABSOLUTELY. BUT HOW THE BUILDINGS ARE USED AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE WHEN THEY'RE 100% BACK IN CLASS, I MEAN THAT IS WHERE THE PROBLE WITH PAC IS COMING FROM. THE PAC WORKED GREAT BECAUSE YOU COULD PULL UP OUT THE FRONT AND WALK THE MACHINE OUT THERE FOR A.D.A.COMPLIANCE.

OR CURB SIDE VOTING, BUT THAT BUILDING AS WE UNDERSTAND IT RIGHT NOW WOULDN'T LOOK THE SAIMS. WE WON'T BE AGE TO PULL IN THE SAME LOCATION OUT IN THE LOBBY. WE WON'T HAVE ANY WHERE TO SECURE MACHINES AT NIGHT WHAT THEY'RE TELLING US AND WE'D HAVE TO BREAK THEM DOWN AND PUT THEM BACK UP EVERYDAY WHICH IS NOT OPTIMUM.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW OF A BETTER LOCATION I'M GUESSING

-- >> NOT THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE

[01:05:02]

TO DETERMINE. THAT LEADS ME TO THE QUESTIONS THAT WE GET ALL THE TIME ABOUT TWO LOCATIONS ON CAMPUS. WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY DURING A REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR ANOTHER LOCATION ON CAMPUS THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO US FOR VOTING.

I WANT TO SAY THAT TO THE FOLKS OUT THERE, THAT HAVE THAT CONCERN AND THAT CONTINUE TO BRING THAT CONCERN FORWARD. WE DON'T HAVE AT THIS TIME ANOTHER LOCATION TO PUT ON CAMPUS.

WHEN WE LOOK AT LOCATIONS, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT TEXAS STATE POPULATION THAT IS A PART OF SAN MARCOS AND WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE LOCATIONS BY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT, NOT BY THE SCHOOL OR ANY PARTICULAR LOCATION.

>> THANK YOU. >> JUDGE BECERRA: I WILL SAY ON YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER, THE CURB SIDE VOTING, I'M REMINDED GRATEFULLY, IT REQUIRES THE VEHICLE. SO THEY DROVE THERE, AND THE VERY HUGE INVESTMENT WE MADE AS A COURT WAS IN THE NEW VOTING MACHINES THAT TURNED IT US OWL INTO VOTING CENTER SO WELL HIGHLIGHTED EARLIER. SO SINCE IT CAN BE VIEWED OR AS COMMUNICATED L.B.J.MAY NIGHT BE THE MOST FRIENDLY CURB SIDE VOTING SITE THEY CAN DRIVE TO ANOTHER ONE THAT IS. THAT IS ALWAYS COMFORTING FOR FOLKS. THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE TO THAT PARTICULAR SITE TO VOTE IF THEY REQUIRE CURB SIDE. THAT IS COMFORTING,

COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> HOW DOES THE CURB SIDE WORK THERE? FOR INSTANCE THAT COMMUNITY CENTER IN WIMBERLY, IF SOMEONE IS, PULLS UP AND WANTS TO DO CURB SIDE, THEY HAVE SOMEONE WITH THEM THAT GOES INSIDE S. THAT THE COMMON PRACTICE. THEY TALK TO SOMEONE? HOW DOES SOMEONE INSIDE THE POLLING LOCATION KNOW SOMEONE IS WAITING AT CURB SIDE TO VOTE?

>> IN THE PAST IT WORKED MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

SOMETIMES IT'S THE WAY THEY BRING AN ASSISTANT AND THE ASSISTANT CHECKS THEM IN. SOMETIMES THEY ASK SOMEBODY THAT IS WALKING IN AND SAY, CAN YOU GO TELL THEM I'M OUT HERE. IRNEED TO CURB SIDE OR THEY CALL THE OFFICE. THEY'VE DONE THAT AND WE LOCATE THE JUDGE AND LET THE JUDGE KNOW THEY'RE OUT THERE. BUT WE RECENTLY DID THE CURB SIDE DOORBELLS. SO WE PURCHASED THOSE.

THOSE WILL BE IN USE STARTING IN NOVEMBER MOVING FORWARD. WE FEEL LIKE MOST PEOPLE

WILL RING THE DOORBELL. >> THAT WAS ONE IDEA.

WHETHER IT'S A UNIVERSITY LOCATION OR ANY OTHER LOCATION, ANYTHING WE COULD DO TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO KNOW HOW TO CONTACT SOMEONE THAT IS ACTUAL THREE THAT CAN SEND THE MACHINE OUT PROBABLY BE BENEFICIAL.

I ASSUME THAT COULD HAPPEN AT MANY OF OUR LOCATIONS, SOMEONE PULLS UP TO VOTE. MAYBE THEY DON'T EVEN INTEND A CURB SIDE VOTE BUT THEY REALIZE IT'S GOING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE SIGNAGE OR SOME WAY TO COMMUNICATE.

SEND SOMEBODY OUT. >> THAT'S WHY WE PROOF THE

DOORBELL. >> JUDGE BECERRA: GREAT

POINT, GREAT RESPONSE. >> ONE THING, MISS ANDERSON TALKED ABOUT THIS. SIMILAR TO ANY OTHER VOTING LOCATION WE HAVE, WHETHER IT'S AT A SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH ARE HARDER AND HARDER TO DO.

ANOTHER PUBLIC BUILDING, AT A CHURCH, IT REQUIRING THE OWNER, OPERATOR OF THE FACILITY TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND OTHERS IN ORDER TO HOLD THEIR ELECTIONS THERE. IT'S NOT, NO ONE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DICTATE TO SOMEONE THEY MUST HOLD AN ELECTION OR HAVE AN ELECTION ON THEIR PROPERTY, EVEN IFÚWE AE THE BEST LOCATION. ESPECIALLY IF IT INTERFERES WITH THEIR DAILY BUSINESS. MANYPLACE ARE LESS LIKELY TO OFFER THEIR SPACES BECAUSE IT IS DEFINITELY, CAN BE, BECOME A HIND RANCE TO WHATEVER IT IS -- HANDERRANCE, TO WHATEVER IT IS THEY'RE DOING.

THE UNIVERSITY IS MORE DIFFERENT IN THE FACT THAT IT USES ITS BUILDINGS IN DIFFERENT WAYS COMBINING ON WHAT TIME OF THE YEAR. WE RELY ON THE UNIVERSITY JUST AS WE WOULD RELY ON A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FIND US A LOCATION WHICH BEST SUITS ALL PARTIES WHICH IS OUR INTENT TO HAVE AN ACCESSIBLE VOTING LOCATION CONTINUE AND THEIR INTENT TO CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS FOR WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO. MOST OF THE BUILDINGS ARE NOT BUILT TO HOUSE ELECTIONS.

WE RUN INTO THE PROBLEM ALL OVER COUNTY.

I THINK DR. HERNANDEZ MADE IT CLEAR AS FAR AS THE UNIVERSITY IS CONCERNED FOR THIS ELECTION THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER IS THEIR PREFERENCE, THAT'S THE ONE THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE AVAILABLE FOR THIS ELECTION.

I WOULD SAY IT'S, PEOPLE HAVE TO START I'M SURE ADVERTISING FOR THIS LEAKS. THOSE THAT HAVE LEAKS DURING THIS -- ELECTIONS DURING THIS TIME WHETHER IT'S STATE AND THEIR SUBSTITUTION AMOUNT AMENDMENTS, WHETHER IT'S CITY OR SCHOOL BOARD RACES THERE HAS TO BE A SLATE OF LEAKS SITES ADVERTISED SO THEY CAN BUILD THEIR ELECTIONS. SO I THINK WE'RE AT THE TIME, IF THE UNIVERSITY SAYS THE L.B.J.STUDENT CENTER, THAT IS THEIR PREFERENCE. THAT IS WHAT WE'LL MAKE ACCESSIBLE. I DO AGREE HAVING GAINED

[01:10:01]

THERE THE ELECTIONIERING WAS A GREAT ISSUE THERE.

GREATER SO THAN MOST OTHER PLACES BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE BUILDING AND WHERE THE LEAKS TAKES PLACE IN THE BUILDING. A LOT OF WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE FUTURE TO MAKE SURE THE PROBLEMS ARE FIXED.

I KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS LIKE DR. HERNANDEZ IS VERY, IS UNDERSTANDING OF AND WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO HELP US TO FIND LOCATIONS WHETHER IT'S THAT LOCATION OR ANOTHER ONE WE CAN MEET, THAT MEETS ALL OF THE RULES AND STILL AYOU -- ALLOWS FOR ACCESSIBILITY AND I WANTED TO TELL DR. HERNANDEZ I APPRECIATE SOMEONE WITH A TEXAS A & M DEGREE.

[LAUGHTER] >> JUDGE BECERRA: GOOD JOB.

>> I DO WANT TO SAY LATE, IT WAS EITHER LATE LAST NIGHT OR EARLY THIS MORNING SHE SENT AN E-MAIL WITH AN OUTLINE OF A STANCHIONED AREA OF HOW TO CUE THE LINE THAT CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE CONVERSATION I'VE HAD WITH HER THAT I'M HOPING WILL HELP SOME OF THAT AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, LAST BUT NOT LEAST

COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER INNING GALLONBY FOR THINGEVER BRINGING THIS I-- INGALSBE. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP. THERE WERE SOME THINGS, SOME COMMENTS MADE BOTH IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION TODAY AS WELL AS THE INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS DURING THIS, WHENEVER THIS AGENDA ITEMS WAS BROUGHT UP THAT, THOSE OF Y'ALL WHO WATCH COURT OR PARTICIPATE YOU KNOW I'M VERY MUCH A NUMBERS GUY. THE NUMBERS AND THE SOME OF THE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE, THEY WERE NOT BASED IN TRUTH. I SAY THAT NOT IN A LIGHT WAY BECAUSE AGAIN, NUMBERS TELL THE TRUTH MANUFACTURE WE TALK -- WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL ISSUES.

WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE IN 2018 I WAS AT THE CAMPUS AND AT THE UNIVERSITY. I CAMPAIGNED THERE.

I CAN TELL YOU LE EEKSIERING WAS NOT HAPPENING BUT IT WAS HAPPENING WITHIN 5-10 FOOT OF THE POLLING LOCATION.

YOU HAD PEOPLE HANDING OUT PIZZA WITH A VOTER LIST WITHIN 10 FOOT OF WHEN SOMEBODY WAS WALKING IN.

THOSE ARE THE CONCERNS THAT I'VE ALWAYS HAD WITH L.B.J.CENTER BECAUSE IT, AT THE TIME PRE-RENOVATION WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW BUT AT THE TIME THERE WERE ISSUES THERE. MY CONCERNS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TRUE ACCESSIBILITY FOR JUST FOR STUDENTS BUT VOTERS COUNTY WIDE. SO A COUPLE -- OF THING, IT WAS STATED IN 2016 AND 2018 THE ELECTION WE HELD IN 2020 AT THE PAC SOMEHOW WAS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED, THE VOTER TOURNIQUET ON CAMPUS. THE -- TURNOUT ON CAMPUS.

THE FACT IS IN 1206 EARLY VOTING WE HAD JUST OVER 4,000 PEOPLE VOTE ON CAMPUS. IN 2018 WE HAD JUST UNDER 5,000 PEOPLE VOTE ON CAMPUS. IN 2020, WE HAD OVER 8,000 PEOPLE, 8,228 PEOPLE EARLY VOTED THERE.

WHENEVER I RAN IN 2018, THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE HERE AND TESTIFIED ABOUT BEING HERE WATCHING AND ADVOCATING FOR ADDITIONAL VOTING DAYS THERE, I WAS HERE.

CAME TO COURT TO COURT THAT DAY AND LIMPED TO THE BACK AN FORTH ABOUT IT. AT THAT TIME IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS, THIS WAS ONLY 3 DAYS OF EARLY VOTING TOTAL AT THE UNIVERSITY. FOR 12 HOURS A DAY.

THEN WE DIDN'T HAVE VOTING OR POLLING CENTERS.

WE DIDN'T HAVE POLLING CENTERS SO ON ELECTION DAY, ONLY ONE VOTING PRECINCT VOTED ON CAMP JUST.

IT WAS PRECINCT 3 AND FORGIVE ME, WHAT BOX WAS

THAT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: 334.

>> YES. >> THAT WAS THE ONLY, THOSE WERE THE ONLY STUDENTS WHO COULD VOTE ON CAMPUS.

SO WHEN WE CHANGED THAT UNDER THE LAST ELECTION, THE CHANGES WE MADE, WE MADE THE UNIVERSITY AN EARLY POLLING LOCATION FOR TWO FULL WEEKS. WE MADE IT A VOTING CENTER.

SO ANYONE IN THE COUNTY WHETHER THEY LIVE IN PRECINCT 4, PRECINCT 1 -- IT DIDN'T MATTER.

ANYONE CAN VOTE THERE FOR A TWO-WEEK PERIOD THEN WE MADE IT A FULL ON VOTING CENTER ON THE DAY OF.

NOT ONLY DID WE DO THAT BUT BECAUSE WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH CHECK IN AND WAIT TIMES THERE, WE ACTUALLY WENT FROM ONE CHECK IN STATION AND ONE LINE TO TWO FULL TIME CHECK IN STATIONS PLUS WHAT WE DID FOR THE UNIVERSITY THAT NO OTHER POLLING LOCATION IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY HAD WAS WE SET UP A THIRD LINE JUST TO DEAL WITH WHAT WE CALLED PROBLEM VOTERS. WHENEVER THEY CHECKED IN, MAYBE THEIR I.D.DIDN'T MATCH WHAT THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION CARD. MAYBE OTHER ISSUES BUT THEY WON'T HOLD UP THE LINE SO ADDITIONAL STUDENTS COULD VOTE THERE. I WANT TO CLARIFY SOME OF THE THINGS STATED BECAUSE I BELIEVE AS A COURT WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO REACH OUT AND DO THE BEST WE COULD FOR THE UNIVERSITY. I DON'T THINK THERE IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THAT. IT'S DISHEARTENING TO HEAR THIS COURT IS SOMEHOW TRYING TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE'RE

[01:15:03]

NOT. WHENEVER WE'VE GONE OUT OF OUR WAY. I CAN TELL YOU JUST IN MY PRECINCT THE L.B.J.CENTER AND THE PAC ARE IN MY PRECINCT. IT'S NOT EVEN A TOP TWO VOTING LOCATION IN MY PRECINCT BY NUMBERS BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH GROWTH IN THE COUNTY.

WHENEVER I HAD STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS TALKING EXPLAINING DURING THE LAST ELECTION ABOUT WAITING IN LINE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF TO VOTE.

I WAS THERE ON THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING.

I LEFT COURT. IT WAS ON A TUESDAY.

I LEFT COURT HERE. I LITERALLY WALKED STRAIGHT OVER TO PAC AND WALKED IN AND VOTED IN FIVE MINUTES.

AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS AN HOUR AND 45 WAIT, AN HOUR 45 MINUTE WAIT TO VOTE IN DRIPPING SPRINGS.

ON THE DAY. IT CONTINUED THROUGHOUT EARLY VOTING. IF WE LOOK AT THE EARLY VOTING NUMBERS FOR EVERY LOCATION IN THE COUNTY, IT NEVER RANKED UNTIL THE LAST WEEK, LAST SELF DAYS OF EARLY VOTING, THE LAST 3-4 DAY, THE PAC AND TEXAS STATE NEVER EVEN RANKED IN THE TOP 4 OR 5 OF POLLING LOCATIONS AND WAIT TIMES IN THE COUNTY.

SO I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WE HAVE GONE OUT OF OUR WAY TO TRY TO ENSURE ACCESS, NOT ONLY HERE, NOT ONLY FIVE BLOCKS FROM HERE, BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO VOTE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT L.B.J.AND I WATCHED IT OVER MULTIPLE ELECTIONS.

THE PAC WORKED PHENOMENONALLY WELL LAST TIME. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WILL DISAGREE THAT IT WORKED. IT WORKED BECAUSE AT THE FRONT DOOR, THERE WAS 100 FEET RADIUS WELL DEFINED.

YOU COULD WALK IN. YOU COULD WALK OUT.

THE LONGEST LINE I SAW DURING THE LARGEST LEAKS IN U.S. HISTORY -- ELECTION IN HISTORY WAS ABOUT 1 HOUR 20 MINUTES. I WAS THERE ON ELECTION DAY AND PEOPLE AT MOST WAITED ABOUT AN HOUR TO AN HOUR AND 20 MINUTES. I THINK THAT IS PRET PHENOMENAL BECAUSE WE HAD OTHER LOCATIONS IN COUNTY WHERE WE HAD PEOPLE WAITING FOR 2, TWO AND A HALF HOURS, FOR ME THAT IS, THAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME P. I DO HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS OVER ELECTIONIERING.

I STOOD THERE AND WATCHED PEOPLE HANDING OUT PIZZA WITH A VOTER LIST WITHIN 10 FOOT OF WHERE SOMEBODY WAS GOING IN TO VOTE. TELLING THEM, OH, YEAH, HERE IS A SLICE OF PIZZA, HERE IS HOW YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR.

THAT IS NOT LEGAL. I APPRECIATE DR. HERNANDEZ.

I DO. I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH HER AND DR. TROP THIS WEEK.

I APPRECIATE THEIR WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO MY CONCERNS AND ACTUALLY TRY TO ADDRESS THEM.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THE DIAGRAM THAT YOU RECEIVED TODAY.

I HOPE THAT ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES THAT WE HAVE. I DO HAVE A SERIOUS CONCERN OVER PARKING. AGAIN I HAVE A NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS ON, IN THE LION KILL ROAD AREA.

, JUST LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM CAMPUS.

WHENEVER WE CREATE POLLING LOCATIONS, AS COMMISSIONER SHELL SAID WE HAVE TO DISTRIBUTE THEM EVENLY AMONGST COMMISSIONERS' PRECINCTS.

SO IT DOT MATTER WHAT THE UPON LAKES IS RIGHT NOW.

BY STATE STATUTE WE HAVE TO DO THOSE EQUITABLY AMONG PRECINCTS. IF I TRY TO ADD ANOTHER LOCATION ON THE CAMPUS EVEN THOUGH THEY WON'T GIVE US ANOTHER LOCATION, WE WOULD HAVE TO ADD ANOTHER LOCATION IN WIMBERLY AND WE HEARD WIMBERLY IS OVERHELPED.

I MEAN, BY-- OVERREPRESENTED.

BY STATE LAW WE HAVE TO ADHERE TO THAT.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT WE HAVE CONCERNS OVER A LOT OF THINGS WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE THATS, IT SOUNDS GREAT BUT WE CAN'T NECESSARILY DO SOME OF THINGS THOSE.

BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, I SEE SOME OF ITSELF FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE WERE HERE THE LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED THIS.

I WAS THE ONE WHO PUT FORTH L.B.J.IN 2019 THE.

I SUPPORTED T. I WAS THE COMMISSIONER WHO PUT FORTH THE AGENDA ITEM TO DO THAT. I WOULD STILL SUPPORT IT AS A POLLING LOCATION IF I HAD CONFIDENCE THAT WE COULD CONTROL THE LOCATION AND DO IT IN AN EQUITABLE WAY AS WE DO THE OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE COUNTY.

I DON'T HAVE THE CONFIDENCE IN THE LOCATION.

I WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH THE UNIVERSITY. I THINK IT'S, AS A TAXPAYER AND A CITIZEN OF TEX -- TEXAS, I THINK WE HAVE OVER

[01:20:04]

A BILLION OF INFRAFROM YOUR SITTING ON THE CAMPUS, SOME OF THOSE ARE MOUTH BALLED NOW AND TO THINK NONE OF THOSE LOCATIONS WOULD WORK, NONE OTHER THAN ONE LOCATION WE HAVE SEER USE CONCERNS ABOUT EQUITY AND THE VIABILITY OF THE LOCATION? I HAVE A CONCERN OVER THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF I GET PAST THAT.

DR. TROP AND DR. HERNANDEZ, THEY ASKED ME WHENEVER I SPOKE TO THEM ON FRIDAY, I SAID CAN YOU GET US OTHER LOCATIONS TO LOOK AT OR ADDRESS THE ISSUE THAT IS I BROUGHT UP. I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU AND THE RESPONSE WAS WE THINK THAT THE CONCERNS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP ARE VALID CONCERNS.

WE DON'T THINK WE CAN GET YOU AN ANSWER BY FRIDAY AT, WHENEVER THE AGENDA, THE AGENDA GOES OUT.

SO WE WOULD'S LIKE ADDITIONAL TIME TO TALK ABOUT THAT. SO I TOOK THEM AT THEIR WORD. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO. I WOULD LIKE TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND TALK THROUGH SOME OF THE ISSUES.

MAYBE THE DIAGRAM SOLVES THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE BUT NONE OF US HAVE SEEN T. AT LEAST I HAVEN'T.

SO I STILL HAVE THOSE SAME CONCERNS.

NOT ONLY FOR THIS LOCATION BUT FOR EVERY LOCATION ON THIS MAP. I DO HAVE GREATER CONCERNS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD THOSE ISSUES COME UP IN THE PAST.

I'VE YET TO HAVE AN ELECTION WHERE I DIDN'T GET A CALL FROM A SAN MARCOS CONSTITUENT TELLING ME THEY GOT CHARGED TO VOTE. WHAT WAS THE COUNTY DOING? IT'S ALWAYS AT THIS LOCATION.

I WILL BE AN ADVOCATE AND I WILL' CONTINUE TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR HAVING A POLLING LOCATION ON CAMPUS.

SOME PEOPLE MAY DISAGREE WITH ME ON THAT BUT I BELIEVE WE NEED A POLLING LOCATION ON CAMPUS BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A POLLING LOCATION THERE THAT IF SOMEONE CAN'T GET TO THE LOCATION, TO THE JUDGE'S POINT WHEN HE SAYS IF THEY CAN'T VOTE THERE, AND THEY ARE DISABLED. WE'RE GOING TO DO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THEM, WHENEVER YOU SAY, WELL, THEY CAN, THEY DROVE THERE.

SO THEY CAN DRIVE TO ANOTHER LOCATION.

THAT'S A GREAT BENEFIT IF YOU LIVE IN SAN MARCOS BECAUSE WE HAVE LITERALLY HOW MANY LOCATIONS IN SAN

MARCOS, MISS ANDERSON? >> LET ME COUNT THEM.

15. >> 15.

THAT'S NOT EQUITABLE TO ME. IF WE'RE TRULY TALKING ABOUT EQUITABLE, EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF VOTERS, I FEEL LIKE I WOULD BE DISENFRANCHISING MY VOTERS IN NORTH HAYS COUNTY IF I DIDN'T DO SOMETHING FOR THEM WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING ANOTHER LOCATION THAT IS WALKABLE ON THE SAME CAMPUS.

MAYBE I'M LOOKING AT THIS THE WRONG WAY.

THAT'S WHY I HAVE A CONCERN OVER THIS.

I'VE STATED THIS FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. AGAIN I WAS THE ADVOCATE.

I ACTUALLY PUT FORTH THE AGENDA ITEM TO HAVE THE ELECTION AT L.B.J.IN 2019. IT'S IN MY PRECINCT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS IN MY PRECINCT.

I HAVE NEVER HEARD AFTER AN ELECTION, I'VE NEVER HEARD AFTER AN ELECTION FROM A CONSTITUENT IN SAN MARCOS SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, I COULDN'T VOTE ON CAMPUS.

I'M CONSTANTLY HEARING FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITHIN NYE PRECINCT THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO VOTE HI TO DRIVE 5 MILES TO DO IT. HI TO -- YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T, SO, I WOULD MUCH RATHER TRY TO ADDRESS THOSE THAN TO STAY WE'RE NOT PROVIDING EQUITY WHEN I KNOW

[01:25:01]

THE EXTENT WITH WHICH THE COURT HAS TRIED TO ADDRESS THE UNIVERSITY. I WOULD CHALLENGE ANYONE TO SAY WE HAVEN'T DONE MORE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL POLLING LOCATION THAN ANY OTHER IN THE COUNTY.

TODAY I'LL TELL YOU WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE POLLING LOCATIONS. I WOULD ASK THAT IT BE TABLED. I PROBABLY WON'T GET THAT.

IT PROBABLY WON'T PASS. I'M WILLING TO DO IT BECAUSE I WANT AN EQUITABLE LOCATION ON CAMPUS.

I WOULD ASK THAT THE UNIVERSITY TRULY LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE ASKING HERE. IF IT DOESN'T GET TABLED THAT IS FINE BUT I'M GOING TO FEEL BETTER TALKING TO MY CONSTITUENTS ABOUT WHAT I DID TODAY AND THE REASONING BEHIND IT. I'LL STAND BEHIND HAVING A POLLING LOCATION ON CAMPUS BUT I WANT TO ENSURE IT'S A LOCATION EQUITABLE FOR EVERY CITIZEN OF HAYS COUNTY.

NOT JUST THE ONES WHO CAN WALK TO IT WHO LIVE THERE.

I KNOW I'VE PROBABLY SPOKEN LONGER THAN I NEEDED TO BUT IT'S VERY UPSETTING TO LOOK AT OVERALL NUMBERS AND I LOOK IN MY PRECINCT UNDER THE LAST ELECTION.

IT WAS THE 4TH MOST USED AREA.

IF I WERE TO SAY, WE NEED FIVE MORE POLLING LOCATIONS IN EVERY PRECINCT, I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

BUT NONE OF THEM SHOULD BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY ARE THE OTHERS. EVERY VOTE SHOULD COUNT.

WE SHOULD TRY TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT

EVERY VOTE COUNTS. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I WILL CLOSE WITH YOUR LAST COMMENT. I WILL ADDRESS THE NOTES I TOOK WHILE YOU SPOKE. I REMEMBER WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO ADD EXTRA BOXES, VERY CLEARLY, THAT I THINK IT WAS PRECINCT 1, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ADDING ANOTHER BOX.

AND THEN I THINK IT WAS COMMISSIONER JONES THAT SAID, THEN WE WOULD NEED ANOTHER BOX IN PRECINCT TWO.

MY RESPONSE WAS ABSOLUTELY. LET'S DO IT.

WHY NOT? IF WE HAVE A 15 MINUTE DRIVE FOR FOLKS IN NORTHWEST HOW MANY TIMESY WE'VE GOT MORE WORK TO DO.

I'M NOT LOOKING AT YOU, MISS ANDERSON, YOU ARE DOING YOUR JOB BUT THAT IS ON US. IF THERE IS A 15 MINUTE DRIVE IN PRECINCT FOUR BECAUSE COMMISSIONER SMITH, THOSE ARE MY CONSTITUENTS, TOO, I'M THE COUNTY WIDE UP HERE AND I'M ALONGSIDE. I ELECTIONIERED WITH YOU, IN DRIPPING SPRINGS, YOU REMEMBER.

YOU TOOK A PICTURE FOR ME. WE'RE SINCERELY IN THIS TOGETHER FIREFIGHT A COMMISSIONER IS ASKING FOR ANOTHER BOX, BY ALL MEANS WE NEED TO SUPPORT THEM.

SO WHATEVER YOU NEED, I KNOW THAT THE COURT WILL SUPPORT ANOTHER BOX TO MAKE SURE OUR CONSTITUENTS IN NORTHWEST HAYS COUNTY DON'T TO HAVE A 15 MINUTE DRIVE.

OUR GOAL IS TO FAST ILTODAY. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO. THAT'S WHY I LIKE THE VOTING CENTER THING. THAT WAS A BIG TURN THAT WE TOOK, HUGE TURN TO TURN IN THE VOTING CENTERS.

A LOT OF PROTESTING TOOK PLACE AS ANYTHING IMPORTANT.

THE BEAUTIFUL THING IS WE MADE IT THROUGH AS A COMMUNITY. NOW WE'RE FINE TUNING.

I KNOW PART OF THE EFFORT WAS AS YOU STATED, MISS ANDERSON, WAS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING SO PEOPLE HAVE THE NORMS, PEOPLE HAVE UNDERSTANDINGS AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO WONDER.

I RAISED MY FAMILY IN WILLOW CREEK, SOMETIMES WE WOULD VOTE AT THE ELD HERNANDEZ AND SOMETIMES AT THE MCCARTY CHURCH. WHICH ONE IS IT, IT'S 6:00,YOU ARE RUNNING HOME FROM WORK.

THAT STOPS. WHEREVER THERE IS A BOX YOU VOTE. IF YOU KNOW THERE IS A BOX SOMEWHERE ON THE WAY HOME, WHATEVER, ALL THOSE UNDER CASS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AND I KNOW YOU WERE UNDER CONSTANT FIRE, THIS IS IT BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT YOU HELPED TO SHEPHERD ALOK FOR US AS A COMMUNITY.

FOR THAT I THANK YOU. IF WE HAVE A SPOT THAT HAS ELEE,ING ISSUES, I -- ELECTIONIERING ISSUE, I WILL TELL YOU LAST ELECTION I SAT THERE AT THE PAC AS A WITNESS WITH NOT A SINGLE STITCH OF CAMPAIGN MATERIALS OR EVEN COLORS ON OR FOR ANYONE OR ANYTHING AND I STOOD OUTSIDE THE 10 O FOOT MARK AND I SAT THERE AS A PEACEFUL WITNESS BECAUSE I HELP SERVE ON THE LEAKS COMMISSION. I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE. I LITERALLY TOOK PICTURES.

THE PACS WITH A GREAT SPOT. IT WAS GOOD GEOGRAPHICALLY FOR COMMUNITY BUT CLEARLY A HIKE FOR THE TRAVEL PATH.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS AND SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SO IF, I'M ONE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I AM ONE OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO VOTES ON CAMPUS. I KNOW THAT THE VALIDATION OF PARKING IS A THING THAT SOMEONE BROUGHT UP.

WE COULD EASILY SAY WHEN YOU ARE SIGNING UP HAVE A SIGN

[01:30:01]

THAT SAYS VALIDATION PARKING, AS SOON AS SOMEONE IS SIGNING IN THEY COULD SEE THAT AND SAY, OH, DONE.

WE DON'T WANT A POLL TAX ANYWHERE.

EASE OF ACCESS IS -- >> I WANT TO ANSWER THAT QUICK BECAUSE YOU CAN'T, IT'S NOT THAT EASY IN A POLLING LOCATION. YOU CAN'T PUT A SIGN UP THAT IS NOT APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE IN A POLLING LOCATION. YOU CAN'T HAVE SPECIFIC RULES RELATED TO VOTING NOT SANCTIONED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE. THAT IS THE DIFFICULT WE HAVE WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THE UNIVERSITY CAN DO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW --

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THEY COULD PUT A SANDWICH SIGNS.

>> OUTSIDE OF THE 100 FEET. >> JUDGE BECERRA: VALIDATE YOUR PARKING, A GOOD SIGN SO ADDRESS THAT.

COMMISSION COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, BROADWAY, A VERY POPULAR SPOT. I'M COUNTY WIDE.

I KNOW ALLIOR SPOTS. I WORKED THEM MY SEPTEMBER HOW MANY SPOTS DOES BROADWAY HAVE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD? 7. THEY MAKE IT AND THEY MAKE IT AND THERE IS ELECTIONIERING GOING ON INSIDE THE 100 FOOT MARK, CARS SHOW UP WITH CAMPAIGN SIGNS ON THE DOORS INSIDE THE 100 FOOT MARK, PEOPLE ARE TRYING. ELECTION JUDGES ARE TRYING.

EVERY SINGLE BOX WHETHER IT'S A BLUE BOX, WHETHER IT'S A RED BOX, EVERY SINGLE ELECTION JUDGE IS DOING THEIR VERY LEVEL BEST. I BELIEVE, I SINCERELY BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE GOOD. HATE THE SIN, NOT THE SINNER SO I'VE SEEN PRECINCT 4 AT MOMENTS LIKE AN COMPUS, JUST AVALANCHE WITH EXPOSURE BUT I'VE SEEN ELECTIONIERING EVERY WHERE. THESE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN HIGHLIGHTED AT L.B.J.HAVE BEEN EVERY WHERE.

THE PLACE THAT I SAW IT BEST MANAGED, I WILL SAY IT THIS WASHES THE PLACE WHICH ARE SAW IT BEST MANAGED WHICH I DIDN'T LIKE BECAUSE I WAS CAMPAIGNING WAS IN BEAUTA CITY HALL. HOLY SMOKES, THIS IS THE BEST MANAGED BOX. DON'T YOU AGREE? WE HAD TO SAY SO FAR AWAY. IT WAS LIKE, HELLO, I GET IT. THAT WAS THEIR DESIGN.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BE A SEA GULL THROWING BRED.

I GET IT BUT TRULY IT'S A PROCESS.

PEOPLE MEANDER IN AND OUT OF THINGS BUT JUDGES I BELIEVE ARE DOING THEIR BEST. AS LONG AS WE BRING THINGS UP I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE FINE.

>> THAT IS BECAUSE BHUTTO HAS THEIR OWN ELECTIONIERING POLICY. IT GOES BEYOND 100 FEET.

THESE LOCATIONS CAN DO THAT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: I'LL SAY IN CLOSING SO WE'VE GIVEN THIS ENOUGHPEOPLE TIME AND WE HAVE A WORKSHOP AND I HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RUNNING THE MEETING IN A TIMELY MANNER: I'M GOING TO ADDRESS IT BUT YOU'VE SAID SEVERAL TIMES I WAS THE ADVOCATE FOR THIS BOX ON CAMPUS.

BUT YOU CONTINUE TO BEAT THE DRUM OF I'VE SERIOUS CONCERNS, I'VE NO CONFIDENCE.

I'VE SERIOUS CONCERNS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING BUT THE COMMENTS ARE ALL UNIVERSALLY APPLICABLE, NOT JUST TO THE L.B.J.BOX, THAT IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO RECAP IN THE BROAD WEIGH SPACE.

UNIVERSALLY THESE CONCERNS ARE UNIVERSAL.

I FEEL IT'S IN MY OPINION, I'LL USE THE LIGHTER WORD, UNFAIR TO SAY THAT IS AN L.B.J.ISSUE.

IT'S EVERY WHERE. BUT I KNOW JUDGES ARE DOING

THEIR VERY BEST. >> I WOULD SAY OUR ELECTIONS WORKERS UNEQUIVOCALLY DO THE BEST THEY CAN WITH THE SITUATION WE PUT THEM IN. SO IT'S, PURSUANT TO US TO PUT THEM IN MANAGEABLE SITUATIONS.

TO ADDRESS THE POINTS THAT YOU MADE, I DON'T SAY THIS LIGHTLY, I'VE CAMPAIGNED ALL OVER THE COUNTY.

THE WHETHER IT HAS BEEN IN BEAUTA OR SARK OH, DUN BARKS THE HEALTH CENTER, I'VE BEEN TO ALL OF THEM.

THE REASON I HAVE THE CONCERN AT L.B.J.AND, YOU KNOW, MY MOTHER I'LL USE THIS EXAMPLE.

MY MOTHER HAD CROHNS DISEASE.

I DON'T HAVE CRONES DISEASE BUT THERE IS A HIGHER PROPENSITY FOR IT IN MY FAY -- FAMILY.

ITE SHOES THAT WE SEE COUNTY WIDE, MAYBE WE SEE IT AT PRECINCT 4 OFFICE ONCE THERE IS A HIRE PROPENSITY AT THE OFFICE BECAUSE I'VE SEEN IT MULTIPLE TIMES AND NOT JUST ONE DAYS BUT 20 TIMES DAY. TO PUT OUR ELECTION WORKERS IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY ARE THERE TO RUN AN LEAKS.

THEY'RE NOT THERE TO BE POLICE OFFICERS.

THEY'RE NOT THERE TO POLICE THE POLICIES.

IT SHOULD BE THE DUTY OF THE LOCATION.

I HOPE THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS WILLING AND ABLE TO DO THAT. THAT'S WHERE MY CONCERN WAS BECAUSE WE DON'T SEE IT ONCE OR TWICE.

WE SEE IT TWO DOZEN TIMES OVER A 2 OR 4-DAY PERIOD.

YOU GET THE COMPLAINTS JUST LIKE I DO.

I CAN TELL YOU IN THE ENTIRE ELECTION LAST TIME, I GOT ONE COMPLAINT FROM THE RE, IN THE LARGEST LEAKS WE HAVE

[01:35:02]

AREA CONDUCTED I GOT ONE COMPLAINT FROM THE REMAINDER OF MY POLLING LOCATIONS THAT WERE IN MY PRECINCT.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT I WAS ON CAMPUS WITH YOU WHENEVER FOUR OF THEM CAME UP. THE SAME DAY WITHIN TWO HOURS AND YOU WERE STANDING THERE.

THE SAME TIME I WAS. SO THAT IS JUST THE NATURE OF THE BEAST THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: WELL SAID. NATURE OF THE BEAST.

THANK YOU, I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TO MISS ANDERSON FOR

CLOSING COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU, BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER GOOD CHANGES ON LIST THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO LIGHT FOR ANYBODY IN COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT BE LISTENING PURCHASE WE'VE ADDED TWO EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY LOCATION ONS THE EAST SIDE.

WHICH IS SOMETHING WE HEARD ABOUT A LOT IN THE PAST.

THAT IS AT SIMON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND AT SUN FIELD CENTER IN PRECINCT 2. BOTH.

AND THAT IS GOING TO BE COMMUNITY CENTER AT SUNFIELD. WE'VE ALSO MOVED FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS, RANCH PARK BECAUSE THE CITY DIDN'T WANT US POLLING THERE, NECESSARILY AND THEY HAD SPOKEN WITH THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WHO OFFERED TO HOLD EARLY VOTING ELECTION DAY LOCATION THERE.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES THIS ELECTION --

>> WE'RE IN LEDGESTONE AS WELL.

>> YES, WE DID GET LEDGESTONE AND BROOKDALE --

>> CLARIFICATION THE SIMON MIDDLE SCHOOL IS IN PRECINCT

1. >> I THINK I HAVE IT.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: IT HAS GEN --

>> IT DOES. >> I KNOW I SAY WE'RE USING A LOT LOWS SCHOOLS BUT WE NEED TO WORK TO NOT USING

ANY SCHOOLS. >> THIS ACTUALLY IS A -- THIS IS ONE GOOD THING, IT'S IN A BUILDING OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL BUT IT IS A BUILDING THAT DOES A LOT OF COMMUNITY WORK. SO THERE IS SOME CHALLENGE

IN HOW TO BALANCE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: OKAY.

FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC ONE LAST TIME, BECAUSE NOT EM- HAS WHAT IS BEFORE US, WOULD YOU MINDS, READING THE FULL

THE VOTE AS PRESENT. >> I'LL SAY --

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THE NAME. >> JUST THE EARLY VOTING, ELECTION DAY, WE'VE BROAD WAY EARLY VOTING ELECTION DAY, THE GOVERNMENT CENTER WHICH IS THE MAIN EARLY VOTING SITE THEN ALSO ELECTION DAY, HOSPITALE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AT YARRINGTON EARLY VOTING ELECTION DAY. TEXAS TATE L.B.J., STUDENT CENTER EARLY VOTING, ELECTION DAY.

BROOKDALE SAN MARCOS NORTH ELECTION DAY.

CALVARY BAPTISTE CHURCH ELECTION DAY, SIN THROW COLLATERALIA ELECTION DAY. DUNBAR ELECTION DAY.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SAN MARCOS ELECT DAY, PROMISED LAND CHURCH ELECTION DAY. SAN MARCOS ACTIVITY CENTER ELECTION DAY. FIRE DEPARTMENT NUMBER 5, ELECTION DAY. C.M.L.AND HOMES ELECTION DAY. SUN PENT COASTAL CHURCH, ELECTION DAY. SOUTH HAYS FIRE DEPARTMENT 12 ELECTION DAY.% HAZE ADMIN. THE ARNOLD BUILDING, EARLY VOTING, ELECTION DAY.

LIFE OAK ACADEMY EARLY VOTING, ELECTION DAY.

SIMON MIDDLE SCHOOL, EARLY VOTING, ELECTION DAY, THAT WILL BE IN THE I.S.D.CLOTH CLOSET.

HAYS COUNTY PRECINCT 2 OFFICE ELECTION DAY.

HAYS COUNTY TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, ELECTION DAY, KYLE CITY HALL LEAKS DAY, TOBIAS ELEMENTARY ELECTION DAY, WALLACE MIDDLE SCHOOL, ELECTION DAY, BEAUTA CITY HALL EARLY VOTING, ELECTION DAY.

SUNFIELD STATION, EARLY VOTING, ELECTION DAY.

HEYS HILL BAPTIST CHURCH, ELECTION DAY, MCCORM MIC MIDDLE SCHOOL ELECTION DAY. SOUTHERN HILLS CHURCH OF CHRIST ELECTION GI. SUTTER PRIMARY THE FORMER CAMPUS EARLY VOTING ELECTION DAY.

KIMBERLY COMMUNITY CENTER, EARLY VOTING ELECTION DAY.

CYPRUS CREEK CHURCH ELECTION DAY.

POST 6441 ELECTION DAY. DRIPPING SPRINGS UNITED METHODIST EARLY VOTING, ELECTION DAY.

RECOMMENDATIONSTONE SENIOR CENTER EARLY VOTING, ELECTION DAY. VALUE TERRA CENTER ELECTION DAY. HAYS COUNTY PRECINCT 4 ELECTION DAY. NORTH HAYS FIRE RESCUE NUMBER 4 ANDRADEWOOD ELECTION DAY.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU FOR GOING THROUGH THAT EXERCISE IT'S INFORMATIVE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEE.

IF THE THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

>> I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I DON'T SEE AN BETTER ALTERNATIVE BUT BETWEEN THIS AND THE NEXT ELECTION I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY OR WHATEVER PREDICT FOR MY VOTE YES.

SECOND LOCATION AND EVEN A THIRD LOCATION, WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO TO SUPPORT THE CAMPUS I CONTINUE TO SAY, YES. THANK YOU, WE'LL TAK.

[01:40:03]

>> JUDGE BECERRA: I KNOW YOU UNDERSTAND IN THE AUDIENCE THAT THE DOUBLE GAVEL IS FOR THE TELEVISED VERSION, WE'RE BACK FROM A SHORT RECESS. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS GIVEN A LITTLE ROAD MAPPING, GIVE OUR TWO COMMISSIONERS A CHANCE TO RETURN. WE'RE GOING TO HIT A FEW AGENDA ITEMS, SO WE CAN AT 11:00 WE CAN GO INTO THE WORKSSHOP. IF YOU'LL START WITH NUMBER

[11. Discussion and possible action to approve the selection of BGE, Inc. to provide long range planning for Yarrington Road between State Hwy 21 and IH35; and authorize staff and counsel to negotiate a contract.]

11 PLEASE, OPEN AGENDA ITEM 11.

>> 11, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE A SELECTION OF B.G.E., INC., TO PROVIDE LONG RANGE PLANNING FOR YARRINGTON ROAD BETWEEN STATE HIGHWAY 21 AND I.H.35; AND AUTHORIZE STAFF AND COUP TO NEGOTIATE A

CONTRACT. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WE HAVE A MORE, A SECOND FOR NUMBER 11.

MR. BORCHERDING, I'M DRAGGING MY FEET BUT LET'S

-- >> JUST FOR CLARITY, WE DID SAY FOR YARRINGTON ROAD BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A CONNECTION BETWEEN STATE ROAD 142 IN CALDWELL COUNTY AND 21, TO CLARIFY, THAT IS THE SECTION WE ARE NOT INVOLVED WITH FUNDING OR REALLY ANY DISCUSSION ON.

BUT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WE'LL CONSIDER YARRINGTON BUT WE'RE LOOKING FOR A GENERAL ROUTE BETWEEN 21 AND 35 THAT WILL CONNECT TO THIS PREPLANNED EXTENSION IN CALDWELL COUNTY FROM 142 TO 21.

>> IT HELPS TAKES CARE OFF OF --

>> JUDGE BECERRA: IT'S A GREAT RIDGE.

COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE.

I JUST STARTED THE CONVERSATION TO GET US MOVING. WE'RE JUST HAVING A CONVERSATION. SO JERRY, GIVING US THE BACKUP ON THE ITEM ABOUT THE CONNECTION FOR 35 TO 130.

>> YES. >> IT BEING NOT NECESSARILYARINGSTON FOCUSEDMENT.

>> CORRECT. >> BUT GET A GOOD CONNECTION

BETWEEN 21 AND 35. >> TO 13 --

>> YES. >> PART OF THIS IS FOR THEM

TO FIND THE BEST CONNECTION. >> YES.

>> YEAH, SO IT WILL BE A CONNECTION FROM I-35 TO F.M.

110 AND THEN ON TO 130 AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A COMMITTEE, THE WESTERN TRAVIS COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLANNING COMMITTEE, AND IT'S CERTAINLY COMES INTO HAYS COUNTY AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS. AND APPRECIATE THEM INCLUDING US. SO, YEAH.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, JERRY FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER INGALLSBES, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

THE MOTOR VEHICLES AND SECOND.

>> FIRST AND SECOND. >> SORRY, THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: JUST A MOMENT TO MOVE THROUGH THIS EFFICIENTLY. CAN YOU PLEASE OPEN 1-7.

[Items 1 - 7]

>> ONE, APPROVE PAYMENTS OF COUNTY INVOICE, 2 APPROVE APPOINTMENTS OF JURY CHECKS, 3, APPROVE THE PAYMENT OF UNITED HEALTHCARE CLAIMS, 4, APPROVE COMMISSIONERS COURT MINUTES OF JULY 27, 2021 AND AUGUST 3, 2021.

5, AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF THE ANNUAL RENEWAL CONTRACT BETWEEN THE HAYS COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT COUNTY WIDE OPERATIONS AND CHECK FRONT INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF 8,248.50 FOR THE CONTINUED ACCESS TO THE ON-LINE RESERVATION SYSTEMS. 6, AUTHORIZE PAYMENT TO 4-WAY AUTO L.L.C.FOR THE CONSTABLE PRECINCT 2 OFFICE RELATED TO REPAIRS TO A DODGE RAM 1500 IN WHICH NO PURCHASE ORDER WAS ISSUED AS REQUIRED PER HAYS COUNTY PERFORMING POLICY. 7 AUTHORIZE THE SUBMISSION OF A GRAND APPLICATION TO DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES PUBLIC HEALTH EQUITY PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT

OF $400,000. >> SO MOVED --

>> JUDGE BECERRA: STOP AT 7. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

[01:45:03]

I'M THE SPONSOR OF DEPEND OOH ITEM NUMBER 8, IT IS

[Items 8 - 10]

MISSING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF PUTTING EVERYTHING IN PRINT FOR FOLKS TO SEE WERE A ONE PAGER WHICH IS OUR AGENDA SO I APOLOGIZE THAT ITEM WAS NOT WRITTEN WITH THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, NUMBER 8 BUT PLEASE

OPEN 8, 9 AND SO. >> 8, AUTHORIZE THE OFFICIAL OF EMERGENCY SERVICES HAYS COUNTY C.E.R.T.TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT THAT WILL ENHANCE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE EXISTING C.E.R.T.TRAILERS AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. 9 AYE PROVE THE TRANSFER OF A 2011 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK FROM THE HAYS COUNTY CONSTABLE PRESYN 2 OFFICE TO THE HAYS COUNTY BUILDING MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT. 10 AUTHORIZE THE CONSTABLE PRECINCT 1 OFFICE TO PURCHASE ONE REPLACEMENT S.X.LEVEL 3 A. BLUEPROOF VEST VALUED AT $880.

>> SO MOVED. >> JUDGE BECERRA: TWO

MOTIONS. >> SECOND.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THERE WE GO, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

GOING TO FINISH ROAD, YES, WE'RE GOING TO FINISH ROADS AND GO INTO THE WORKSHOP. PLEASE OPEN 12.

[12. Discussion and possible action to consider the acceptance of road construction & drainage improvements and accept the 2-year maintenance bond #4438044MNT in the amount of $30,833.58 for Anthem subd., Phase 1B.]

>> 12, DISCUSS AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CONSIDER THE ACCEPTANCE OF A ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS AND ACCEPT A TWO-YEAR MAINTENANCE BOND NUMBER 4438044 M.N.T.IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,833.58 FOR ANTHEM SUBDIVISION PHASE 1 B.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THIS.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: PERFECT. PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

OPEN 13. >> 13, DISCUSSION AND

[13. Discussion and possible action to authorize the County Judge to execute Supplemental No. 9 in the amount of $5,989.30 to the Professional Services Agreement for General Engineering Consultant (GEC)/Program Management services between Hays County and HNTB Corporation for the Hays County/TxDOT Partnership Program and authorize a discretionary exemption pursuant to Texas Local Government Code, Ch. 262.024(a)(4).]

POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL NUMBER 9 IN THE AMOUNT OF 5,989.30 TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR GENERAL ENGINEERING CONSULTANT PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND N.H.T.B.CORPORATION FOR THE HAYS COUNTY TEXAS D.T.T.PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AND AUTHORIZE A DESCRIPTIONER EXEDGES PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER

262.024. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: CALL THE ROLE.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE OPEN 14.

[14. Discussion and possible action to accept the Subdivision and Site Improvement Bond No. ES00007788 in the amount of $350,046.72 for drainage, street, and erosion control improvements in the Headwaters at Barton Creek Subdivision, Phase 5, Section 1.]

>> 14, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLABLION TO ACCEPT THE SUBDIVISION AND SITE IMPROVEMENT BOND NUMBER E.

S. 00007788 IN THE AMOUNT OF 350,046.72 FOR DRAINAGE, STREET AND EROSION CONTROL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HEAD QUARTZ AT BART ON CREEK SUBDIVISION PHASE 5 SECTION

1. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THAT'S A WELL WRITTEN AGENDA ITEM, I DIG IT.

ANY COMMENTS? PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

OPEN 21. >> 21, BUDGET WORKSHOP

[21. 11:00 a.m. - Budget Workshop regarding the FY 2022 Hays County Budget. Possible action may follow.]

REGARDING THE F.Y.20 2,200Y BUDGET.

POSSIBLE ACTION MAY FOLLOW. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WE'RE OPENING THIS WORKSHOP. I'M GOING TO GAVEL IN TO GET FORM ALITYS IN PLACE. IN THE WORKSHOP SETTING WE HAVE A TIGHT SCHEDULE WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW.

AND JUST SO YOU KNOW WHEN WE'RE OUT OF THE WORKSHOP WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH MOUSE AND EXECUTE -- MISCELLANEOUS AND EXECUTIVE SESSION THEN GET OUT BUT IN THE WORKSSHOP WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. SO I'LL START WITH THEM.

FIRST WE HAVE SAMANTHA. IF YOU'LL PROPOSE THE PODIUM -- APPROACH THE PODIUM. [INAUDIBLE]

>> THANK YOU, I DIDN'T HEAR YOU, JUDGE.

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, I COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING TO URGE YOU ALL TO PUT FORTH THE NECESSARY FUNDING TO ESTABLISH A PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE IN HAYS COUNTY. WHILE COURT APPOINTMENTS FOR PEOPLE UNABLE TO AFFORD THEIR OWN ATTORNEY ROSE CONSIDERABLY IN 2020 INDIGENT EXPENDITURES HAVE GONE DOWN IN HUNT. WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN REPRESENTATION AND NOT INCORES RATION, WHEN PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO REDUCE DAYS OF PRE-TRIAL INCAR RATION AND GET SECURE SHORTER SENTENCES FOR CLIENTS CONVICTED OR PLEAD GUILTY.

HOLISTIC PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES WORK ON SEVERAL ISSUES RELATED TO CASES AS WELL.

INCLUDING HOUSING, TENANTS RIGHTS, JOB TRAINING, SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND OTHER ISSUES. CO-DEFENDANTS CAN PROVIDE

[01:50:03]

COMPARABLE QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES AT LESS COST THAN ANY OTHER INDIG GENT METHOD. WHILE INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE ATTORNEYS ARE CAPABLE OF PERFORMING THE SAME OR BERT QUALITY WORK THAN PUBLIC DEFENDERS THEY ORDINARILY COST MORE. PUBLIC DEFENDERS KOST LESS TO OPERATE BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE THAT LEAVE MOST ATTORNEYS TO WORK IN LAW FIRMS RATHER THAN OPERATE INDIVIDUAL OFFICES ANDED SAME FACTORS WHICH ENABLE PROSECUTOR OFFICES TO OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY AS A COHESIVE UNIT. IT MAKES SENSE FISCALLY AND IT MAKES SENSE CONSTITUTIONALLY IN THAT WE'LL ENSURE ALL DEFENDANTS HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY REPRESENTATION. MY HOPE IS THAT YOUR FAITH IN THE MODEL WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE WAYS YOU ALLOCATE THE PEOPLES' MONEY. MY COLLEAGUES AND I WILL LISTEN IN TO LEARN HOW EACH WILL ADVOCATE AND THE TAXPAYER MONEY. I'M HOPEFUL AND EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU BRING FORWARD TODAY.

I URGE YOU ONCE AGAIN TO BRING THIS 3 YEAR LONG CAMPAIGN TO AN END WITH A VICTORY FOR QUALITY INDIGENT

DEFENSE IN OUR COUNTY. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, SAMANTHA. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS

MR. GEORGE BUCKLY. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, AND JUDGE. THERE'S A REALLY MONUMENTAL EXPOSE THAT CAME OUT IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TITLED LACEY JUDGES, IN THAT, IT'S JUST ABOUT HIS COUNTY BETWEEN LATE 1206 AND 2018 OUR JAIL POPULATION DOUBLED SO AGAIN BETWEEN LATE 2016 AND 2018 OUR JAIL POPULATION DOUBLED. REPUBLICAN DISTRICT JUDGE BILL HENRY SAID DISTRICT JUDGES HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ONGOING SHAM FOR MANY YEARS AT THE EXTENSE OF OUR TAXPAYERS. HE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THE LACK OF WORK ETHIC AMONG HIS COLLEAGUES.

THE ARTICLE SHOWED THATT COURT HERE IS THE 7TH SLOWEST AMONG DETECT'S LARGEST COURT SYSTEMS, THIS IS AMONG HUNDREDS OF COURT SYSTEMS WE'RE ONE OF THE SLOWEST.

I OFFERED MY PRAYS FOR THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION AS YOU EMBRACE THE BARE DASHBOARD. COMMISSION COMMISSIONER INNING GALLONBY BEHIND THE SADAT A HUMAN COST.

WE'VE ONLY STARTED COLLECTING DATA BUT IT RACED QUESTIONS AND REVEALED TUNES FOR -- THE DASHBOARD ENABLES US TO ACT FASTER, DO BETTER AND IMPLEMENT POLICY CHANGES THAT ENSURE INDIVIDUALS WHO SHUT NOT BE IN JAIL ARE NOT IN JAIL. ONE THING WE'VE SEEN WITH THE DASHBOARD IS ROUGHLY 80% OF THE PEOPLE WE LOCK UP IN OUR CELLS HAVEN'T HAD THEIR DAY IN COURT.

AS WE'VE SEEN FROM THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE EXPOSE A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE COURT SYSTEMS ARE SO SLOW.

WE'VE OPERATED A BAIL FUND AND SEEN FIRSTHAND PEOPLE ATTORNEYS THE ATTORNEY KEEPS POSTPONING AND THE PEOPLE WAIT IN CAGES AS TAXPAYERS FOOT THE BILL AS THEY WAIT FOR THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEIR CASE IN COURT.

COMMISSIONER SHELL LIKEWISE SAID THE DASHBOARD ALLOWS TO US MAKE SOUND COITIONS FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TO "ANALYZE WHO IS IN THE JAIL AND WHY SO WE CAN SEE WHERE TAXPAYER RESOURCES ARE GOING AND HOW TO REDUCE THE JAIL POPULATION SIMULTANEOUSLY IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY." THAT IS RIGHT.

THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ACTUALLY INVEST IN A PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE. I THINK THROUGH THE FEW YEARS OF RESEARCH THAT YOU'VE DONE AS THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR YOU'VE SEEN THAT IT'S THE SUPERIOR MODEL.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO NOT SEEK COUNSEL FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT FAULT FOR THE DELAYS IN OUR SYSTEM AND THAT ARE TRULY CULPABLE FOR THE REASON WHY WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE LOCKED UP FOR MONTHS ON END.

YOU KNOW I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND FULLY WHY THIS SYSTEM OPERATES AS IT IS AND WHY WE SPENT MILLIONS TO PAY OTHER COUNTIES TO HOLD PEOPLE IN THEIR CAGES BECAUSE OUR SYSTEM ISN'T OPERATING AS IT SHOULD.

SO, YES, I WANT TO SUPPORT FULLY FUNDING THE $2.2 MILLION THE COURT SAW IT, THOUGHT IT WAS' REASONABLE TO AYE PLY FOR A GRANT FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS TO FUND IT. UNFORTUNATELY THE VERY JUDGE CALLED A LAZY JUDGE IN THE ARTICLE WASN'T BEHIND IT AND IF THE LAZY UNDERJUDGE HADN'T BEEN WE WOULD BE GETTING MILLIONS BUT A BECAUSE -- IT'S INCUMBENT ON YOU TO INVEST FULLY IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, MR. BUCKLY.

I WILL SAY I AM SORRY BUT I HADN'T HEARD QUOTES.

THOSE ARE TWO MAGNIFICENT QUOTES, FROM THE TWO COMMISSIONERS IN, WELL SAID. I HADN'T HEARD THEM.

NEXT UP WE'VE MR. ERIC MARTINEZ.

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, THEORY 3.

[01:55:01]

I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE AND ASK THAT YOU PLEASE FULLY FUND A $2.2 MILLION OFFICE.

AND TAKE IT THROUGH THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS. FOR THOSE OF VIEWING WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PUBLIC DEFENDER AND A PRIVATE ASSIGNED COUNSEL COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY.

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT I'M NOT SPEAKING OF INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALS QUALITIES BUT SYSTEMS OF PROVIDING INDIGENT DEFENSE FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD AN ATTORNEY.

UNDER THE ASSIGNED COUNSEL MOD THAT WILL WE HAVE PRIVATE ATTORNEYS OPERATE AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS WITH THE COUNTY AND THEY'RE PAID HOURLY OR BY THE MOTION.

PRIVATE ASSIGNED COUNCIL DO NOT NORMALLY HAVE IN HOUSE SUPPORT. MENTORING, SUPERVISION, TRAINING OR ACCOUNTABILITY UNLESS THEY COME FROM A LARGE FIRM. WHICH IS RARE IN HAYS COUNTY. SINCE THERE IS NO DIRECT BOSS ABOVE A LOW INCOME'S PERSON'S ASSIGNED COUNSEL LOW-INCOME INDIGENT DEFENDANTS HAVE FEW OPTIONS TO AID AGAINST POOR PERFORMING ASSIGNED COUNSEL COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS, THERE ARE SOME UNDER THE SYSTEM WHO ARE EXPERIENCED. SOME FROM LARGER PRACTICE.

SUCH IS THOSE AS PROVIDE INDIGENT DEFENSE PROBONO BUT THE QUALITY OF ATTORNEYS UNDER THE CREPT SYSTEM WE HAVE VARIES WIDELY. RESEARCH AT SAMANTHA STATED THROUGHOUT TEXAS AND THE NATION SHOWN WHEN COMPARED TO THE MODEL OF ASSIGNED COUNSEL PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO REDUCE DAYS OF PRE-TRIAL INCARCERATION GET CASED DISMISSION AND SECURE SHORTER SENTENCES FOR THOSE CLIENTS CONVICTED OR WHO PLEAD GUILTY. THIS IS DUE TO THE SAME ECONOMIC FACTORS OF ECONOMIES OF SCALE THAT LEAD MOST ATTORNEYS TO WORK IN LAW FIRMS RATHER THAN OPERATE INDIVIDUAL OFFICES. THESE ARE THE SAME FACTORS ECONOMIES OF SCALE WHICH ENENABLE PROSECUTOR OFFICES TO OPERATE MORE EFFICIENT AS A COHESIVE UNIT UNDER ONE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH ANY OF YOU ON THE DIEAS MORE ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF INVESTMENTS INTO REPRESENTATION FOR THE POOR.

PLEASE FULLY FUND A $2.2 MILLION OFFICE AND TAKE THE BID THROUGH THE R.F.P.PROCESS, THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, MR. MARTINEZ, OUR LAST SPEAKER IS NO STRANGER TO THE PODIUM, MR. DAN LYON.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUDGE BECERRA, I'M BASKING IN MY NEW FOUND FAME HERE. I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN A STATEMENT UNDER HAYS COUNTY FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY AND IT REALLY CONCERNS ME. SOME OF THE DEBTS THAT WE HAVE AND HOW WE'RE PAYING THEM OFF.

SAYS FISCAL YEAR 22 PRINCIPLE PAYMENT IS GOING TO BE $20,205000. INTEREST PAYMENTS FISCAL YEAR 202 GOING TO BE 20,829,134 SO WE'RE PAYING MORE IN INTEREST THAN WE ARE IN PRINCIPLE AND THIS IS WHY I GET UP HERE EVERY WEEK. BUT ANYWAY, I REALIZE YOU DIDN'T PUT ALL THAT DEBT THERE.

IT'S OVERYEARS AND YEARS. BUT WE'RE NOT MAKING MUCH PROGRESS IN GETTING RID OF IT.

ANY WAY, I WANT TO GO DOWN THE LINE HERE ON SOME OF THESE ITEMS THAT YOU'VE GOT. YOU'VE GOT ON PAGE 12 DEPARTMENT 612, DEPARTMENT HEAD SALARY, 5011, $463,001.%

THAT MUST BE A MISTAKE. >> I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU BUT I GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE STAYING ON ITEM NUMBER 21. IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE

REFERENCING, WORKSHOP. >> WORKSHOP.

WE'RE ON THE WORKSHOP. >> THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING,

I WAS THINKING -- >> JUDGE BECERRA: OKAY.

>> YOU MADE YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET AND WE COULD ASK

QUESTIONS ON IT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YOU BET.

>> ALL RIGHT. ANYWAY, SO ON PAGE 15, DEPARTMENT 614, DEPARTMENT SALARY, GENERAL COUNCIL DOLLAR 152,THEN ALLOWANCE OF $9,000.

DO WE NEED THAT MUCH FOR A TRAVEL ALLOWANCE? COULDN'T THAT BE DONE ON AS YOU GO BASES IF HE HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE HE COULD SUBMIT, YOU KNOW, FOR PAYMENT? ANYWAY WE GOT PAGE NUMBER 16.

FUND 5429 SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND LICENSING, QUESTIONED $22,000, RECOMMENDED $26,368.

[02:00:02]

I WAS WONDERING WHY YOU ARE GIVING THEM MORE THAN THEY REQUESTED. DEPARTMENT 645.

COUNTY WIDE 5402 CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, REQUESTED $730,000, RECOMMENDED $820,391.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT EITHER.

PAGE 38, 5463, LEGS ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE.

75,000, REQUESTED $75,REPLED, I GUESS THAT'S FOR A LOBBYIST BUT I'M NOT SURE.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED A LOBBYIST.

PAGE 38 ALSO 574 41 MISCELLANEOUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. REQUESTED -- I DON'T EVEN HAVE THERE BUT RECOMMENDED IS $350,000.

38 AND 39 HAS, WE ARE APAYING FOR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

ONE LAST ONE, PAGE 71, CONTRACT SERVICES, CONSULTANT, 54, 48 THEN 008. 2,960,335, DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT AT ALL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, YOU ARE CORRECT.

THIS IS THE WORKSHOP FOR THE BACK AND FORTH.

MICKEY, DID YOU TAKE NOTE OF ANY OF THOSE TO HAVE AN ANSWER? I KNOW THIS: GENERALLY SPEAKING, AS THIS BUDGET SHUTS DOWN, EVERYONE IS FULLY LOADED WITH THEIR FULL TIME JOB OF RUNNING THEIR DEPARTMENTS.

THEY HAVE TIMELINES AND CUTOFFS OF TRYING TO MEET THE BUDGET SUBMITTALS, REQUESTS FOR BULLETS AND IT HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ONCE THAT COMES TO MIND RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE CAPTAIN WALKED IN AND OUT. THE JAIL HAD SOME STAFFING REQUESTS. I NEEDED MORE INFORMATION.

SO SOMETIMES THEIR ENTERED REQUEST, I'M NOT SAYING THAT ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S OPS DEPARTMENT BUT SOMETIMES THE DEPARTMENT'S ENTERED REQUEST TO MEET THE CUTOFF WASN'T MOST COMPLETE OR ALL INCLUSIVE.

AFTER FURTHER CONVERSATION AS NEW NUMBER THAT MADE SENSE COMES TO LIGHT. THAT WILL GENERALLY SPEAKING ADDRESS THE LOWER REQUEST TO THE PROPOSED JUST AS A GENERAL CLARIFICATION. VICKY UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE SPECIFIC I'M GOING TO READ OFF THE LIST WHEN WE'RE GOING. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IN 15 MINUTES INCREMENTS AND WE'RE RUNNING BEHIND BECAUSE OF PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT IS OKAY.

IF YOU DON'T NEED THE FULL 15 MINUTES WE'LL HAVE OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOLLOWED I BY OUR TRANSPORT THINGS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THEN JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT 5. FOLLOWED BY COUNTY CLERK AND THEN COUNTY COURT AT HOW AND THEN OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES FOLLOWING BY CONSTABLE PRECINCT 2 THEN THE DISTRICT CLERK TAX OFFICE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER. AGAIN YOU HAVE 15 MINUTE INCREMENTS. IF YOU DON'T NEED THEM ALL, DON'T USE THEM. WE WOULD BE THANKFUL.

SO FIRST UP IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE I LIKE TO CALL UP OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY. THANK YOU FOR BEING SO

PATIENT. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE.

I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING THESE BUDGET WORKSHOPS.

DO I HAVE SOME MATERIALS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAPPENED OUT TO THE COURT IF THAT IS ALL RIGHT.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: YOU BET. WE COULD GET SOMEONE TO GRAB THEM FROM YOU, SO YOU CAN START TALKING, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU, ROXANNE.

>> FIVE COPIES. COUPLE OF THINGS JUST TO KIND OF LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT YOUR HONOR WAS COLLECT ABOUT SOME OF THE EARLY PROPOSES FOR BUDGET.

ONCE OF THE PROPOSALS WE MADE IN THE ORIGINAL REQUEST, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS FOR NEW PERSONNEL TO STAFF THE NEW DISTRICT COURT AT THE TIME, WE HAD TO GET OUR BUDGET IN, ACCORDING TO THE COURT'S SCHEDULE.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER THE COURT WAS GOING INTO EFFECT THIS SEPTEMBER 1 OR NEXT YEAR.

WE KNOW IT WILL BE NEXT YEAR SEPTEMBER 1 SO WE'LL BE WITHDRAWING OUR REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL ATTORNEYS AND STAFF TO STAFF THE COURT BECAUSE I DON'T ANTICIPATE NEEDING THOSE UNLESS AT LEAST THE VERY TAIL END OF FISCAL YEAR 22 AND PROBABLY NOT UNTIL FISCALS YEAR 23.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON IS THE CURRENT CONCERNS WE HAVE IN MY OFFICE WITH THE STAFFING OF THE POSITIONS WE ALREADY HAVE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD OPEN HERE CONVENIENTLY IN THE -- IN THE PACK THAT I HANDED YOU THE FIRST PAGE SHOWS THE NUMBER OF DEPARTING STAFF WE'VE HAD AND THEN SECOND, IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS SINCE APRIL.

[02:05:02]

WE'VE HAD 18 EMPLOYEES LEAVE BETWEEN APRIL 1 AND JULY 14 INCLUDING FOUR OF OUR VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATORS, FOUR OUT OF EIGHT THAT WE HAVE REPLACING THESE PEOPLE CRUCIAL FOR US. WE DO NOT RUN AT A SURPLUS IN STAFF. WE GENERALLY IF WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE WHO LEAVES, WE TRY TO FILL THE POSITION, HOPEFULLY BEFORE THE EMPLOYEE LEAVES IF THEY GIVE US TWO WEEKS NOTICE BUT SOON AFTER IF POSSIBLE.

IF WE DON'T THAT PUTS KA EXTRA STRESS ON THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE. WE'RE TRYING TO FILL A HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HEREE- RECENTLY HAS BEEN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EITHER APPLYING FOR THE JOBS AND THEN WHEN WE CALL THEM TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW ASKING US WHETHER OR NOT THE SALVI WHAT WE HAVE POSTED.

WE TELL THEM THAT IS THE POSTED SALARY.

WHAT WE ANTICIPATE PAYING, THEY PULL THEIR APPLICATION, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ENTERING WITH US AND AT THE CLOSE OF THE INTERVIEW WE'D TOLD THEM, THEY SAY A IS THAT THE SALARY.

WE SAY, YES. AND THEY DECLINE.

OR THEY HAVE LEFT TO, LEFT THE PROCESS WITH US BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN OFFERED HIGHER PAYING JOBS SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AS CRITICAL AS THE PROBLEM OF FILLING THE EMPTY SPOTS IS WE'VE EMPLOY ES LEAVING TO TAKE HIGHER PAYING JOBS.

ONE OF THE VICTIM ASSISTANT COORDINATORS WAS WORKING THREE JOBS TO TRY TO MAKE ENDS MEET WHILE WORKING FOR HAYS COUNTY FOR MY OFFICE. ENDED UP TAKING A JOB IN AUSTIN WHERE SHE IS GOING TO COMMUTE AND REALIZE AUSTIN IS GOING TO PAY MORE THAN HAYS COUNTY BUT THE COST OF LIVING HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY WITHOUT OUR EMPLOYEES GETTING INCREASES IN THEIR SALARIES, THEY'RE FALLING BLIND. WE'RE CHARGING OUR EMPLOYEES TO CONTINUE TO WORK HERE BECAUSE IT'S COSTING THEM MORE TO LIVE HERE BUT THEY'RE NOT GETTING MORE MONEY. THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY FOREVER. WE DON'T PAY OUR EMPLOYEES EVERYTHING WE KNOW THEY'RE WORTH.

BUT NOW THEY SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP THESE JOBS.

THAT IS GOING TO CAUSE A CRUCIAL PROBLEM FOR US.

ON THE SECOND PAGE OF THE PACKET THAT I HANDED TO YOU I'VE LISTED THE HAYS COUNTY POSITIONS IN THE D.A.'S OFFICE AND WHAT THEIR HOURLY RATES OF PAY R. CURRENTLY LEGAL ASSISTANTS, STARTED A 13,82.

THERE IS A LIST OF JOBS DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE WE HAVE AN INTERN DRIVE AROUND THE SAN MARCOS AREA LOOK FOR PLACES WITH HIRING SIGNS OUT AND INCLEAR WHAT THE JOCKS ARE PAYING. -- JOBS ARE PAYING.

THERE ARE JOBS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE COLLEGE DEGREES AS WE DO. THAT DO NOT REQUIRE CLEANUP HISORIES BECAUSE THEIR EMPLOYEES HAVE ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION THAT MAY PAY MORE NAN THAN WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES MAKE. I WAS GOING -- HI TO GO TO BATON ROGUE TO WEEKEND TO TAKE ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS TO COLLEGE. ON THE WAY WE STOPPED AT BUCKIE, BUCKIES HAS A SIGN THEY'RE PAYING SALES ASSOCIATES AT BUGGIES $17 WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT PAY INCREASE FOR ONE OF MY LEGAL ASSISTANTS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT BUCKIE'S REQUIREMENTS ARE BUT I AM CONFIDENT BUCKIES DOES NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, THEY'RE NOT DEALING WITH THE INFORMATION MY EMPLOYEES ARE THAT HAS TO BE COLLECTED AND COLATE AND PROVIDED TO DEFENSE ATTORNEYS IN A WAY TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF DEFENDANTS. THESE ARE IMPORTANT AND GRAPHTUS JOBS THAT OUR PLY EMPLOYEES HAVE.

THEY COULD WORK ELSEWHERE FOR QUITE A BIT MORE MONEY.

THE PROPOSAL THAT I'M MAKING ALSO WILL BRING US MORE INTO LINE WITH NOT JUST THOSE JOBS WORKING AT CONVENIENCE STORES AND FAST-FOOD RESTAURANTS BUT OTHER AGENCIES AROUNDS THE STATE. THE AGENCIES THAT WERE PROVIDED TO US BY OUR HOW MANY RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AS BEING COMPARABLE ARE LISTED. THERE YOU WILL SEE A LIST AT THE TOP OF THE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE AND WHAT THE VARIOUS POSITIONS ARE PAID AND THE OTHER COUNTY, I'VE INDICATED IN RED EVERY WHERE WHERE THERE IS ANOTHER COUNT THAT HE IS PAYING LEGS THAN WE ARE.

YOU WILL SEE THERE IS VERY LITTLE RED ON THE CHART.

SOME OF THE COUNTIES WILLIAMSON COUNTY ARE VERY, GUADALUPEY COUNTY ARE CLOSE TO US.

THESE ARE POSITIONS MY EMPLOYEES COULD SEEK OUT WITHOUT HAVING TO MAKE A BIG MOVE.

SOME OF THEM WE CAN OFFER A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE AREA BUT AGAIN THE VERY IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN SO, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WILL NOTICE BEAR COUNTY PAYS QUITE A BIT LESS THAN MOST OF THE OTHER COUNTIES BUT THEY HAVE A MUCH LOWER COST OF LIVING THAN WHAT WE HAVE.

THAT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I THINK THEY CAN BE COMPETITIVE WITH PAYING LOWER SALARIES.

[02:10:02]

VERY FEW COUNTIES ARE PAYING LOWER SALARIES THAN WE ARE FOR THE SAME POSITIONS. LAST PAGES ARE THE PROPOSE MILLION THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WE ASKED FOR ALL OF THE POSITIONS LISTED HERE, THESE ARE ALL ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS, THESE ARE NOT MY ATTORNEYS OR COURT CHIEFS.

THESE ARE MY LEGAL ASSISTANTS, MY PARALEGALS, MY VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATORS THAT I'M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER REGRADING AND RETITLING.

I'LL GET TO RETITLING IN A SECOND.

THE ORIGINAL REQUEST WAS THAT ALL OF THE POSITIONS BE REGRADED AS OF OCTOBER 1. I WOULD PREFER WE GELT THEM UP TO A STARTING SALARY MORE COMPETITIVE THE SOONER WE CAN FILL THE POSITIONS AND TAKE STRESS OFF OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE CURRENTLY HAVING TO DO DOUBLE DUTY, BUT I DID HAVE MY LEGAL SUPPORT SERVICES COORDINATOR WHO I WOULD LIKE TO RETITLE MY LEGAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATE OOH I DID HAVE HER GO THROUGH AND DO SOME WORK TO PLACE THE START DATES LATER IN THE FISCAL YEAR TO THE POTENTIALLY DEMONSTRATE HOW TO BE ABLE TO AT LEAST RECEIVE SOME OF THE MONEY OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. BUT AGAIN, THOSE OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S NOT A TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT POP SIGNIFICANCE FOR ME. I'M -- POP SIGNIFICANCE -- PROPOSITION, I'LL TAKE WHATEVER I CAN GET.

I NEED TO HAVE THE POSITIONS FILLED.

THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET THEM FILLED WITH COMPETENT INDIVIDUALS IS TO PAY THEM MORE, THE SOONER THAT CAN BE DONE. THE BETTER.

IF I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL LATER IN THE YEAR TO REDUCE THE IMPACT ON THE BUT THE BEINGS I AM WILLING TO DO THAT BUT OCTOBER FIRST WOULD BE IDEAL FOR ME.

THE OTHER THING WE'RE PROPOSING HERE ASIDE FROM THE REGRADES IS TO RECITELE SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS -- RETITLE. IN LOOKING AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE 2'S OUR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TWOS ARE LEGAL ASSISTANTS. THEY DO LEGAL WORK, THEY DRAFT LEGAL DOCUMENTS. DOCUMENTS.

THEY DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED THEM EARLIER THAT REQUIRE THEM TO HAVE NO ANNUAL HISTORY DOCUMENTS, PROVIDING INFORMATION TO DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T BE IN THE DISCOVERY PACKETS THAT WE SEND OUT OF THE THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY REQUIRED A DIFFERENT, A VERY DIFFERENT SET OF DUTIES THAN WHAT OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS TWO'S IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING. I'M NOT TRYING TO TALK DOWN ABOUT THE OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE TWO, THEY SHOULD HAVE DIFFERENT JOBS BECAUSE THEY HAVE DIMPLES EGYPTIAN, WHETHER THE OTHER ASSISTANTS SHOULD BE GRADED THE SAME OR DIFFERENT SHOULD BE GRADED ON THE DUTIES THEY'RE PERFORMING RATHER THAN THEIR TITLE.

I WOULD LIKE TO RETITLE MY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TWO'S AS LEGAL ASSISTANT AND HOT CHECK COORDINATORS WHICH ARE THE POSITION THAT IS I HAVE DIVIDED UP AMONGST ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TWO'S.

YOU WILL NOTICE THAT I PLAID ON THE -- PLAYED ON THE CHART THE PERCENTAGE CHANGE FOR THE EMPLOYEINGS.

SOME OF THE LONGER TERM EMPLOYEES YOU CAN MY LEGAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME. THEIR SALARIES WILL NOT BE IMPACTED BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING IN THE MID RANGE OF THE CURRENT SALARY. REGRADING THEM WOULD NOT EFFECT THEIR CURRENT SALARY, BUT A LOT OF THE EMPLOYEES WOULD BE GETTING SUBSTANTIAL PAY INCREASES WITH REGRADES.

THE HUMAN RESOURCES HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THIS STUFF AS WELL. WHAT THEY'VE INDICATED TO US IS THAT OUR LEGAL ASSISTANT SALARIES PARTICULARLY ARE ABOUT 20% LOWER THAN THE MARKET AVERAGE FOR THESE JOBS. MOST OF THESE POSITIONS ARE NOT GOING TO GET 20% PAY INCREASES BUT THEY WILL BE MORE COMPETITIVE WERE THESE REGRADES AND RETITLES ARE ACCOMPLISHED. THAT IS MY FOCUS.

I WOULD BE WILLING TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE. DO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

WE ARE STRUGGLING TO GET ALL OF THE WORK DONE.

EVEN WITH THE COVID SHUTDOWN WHICH HAS TAKEN A LITTLE BIT OF PRESSURE OFF BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PREPARING FOR JURY TRIALS, BUT TO GET POSITIONS FILLED IS GOING TO BE CRUCIAL FOR US PARTICULARLY IF THE COURTS OPEN BACK UP AND HAVE MORE JURY TIMES BECAUSE THAT IS MUCH MORE INTENSE EFFORT PARTICULARLY ON THE VICTIM SERVICES SIDE.

VICTIM SERVICS FOLKS ARE UNDER INCREDIBLE PRESSURE.

THEY'RE I THINK PROBABLY MORE APT TO LEAVE BEFORE WE GET NEW PEOPLE GIVEN THE SALARY AND THE COMPETENCY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET TO HIRE.

SO WE REAL NEED THE POSITIONINGS FILLED BEFORE WE START GOING BACK AND DOING BACK-TO-BACK JURY TRIALS. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONERS.

>> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.% I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION. I KNOW THAT YOU'VE SPOKEN

[02:15:01]

WITH ME PRIOR TO PRESENTING THIS UNDER AAPPRECIATE -- AND APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE IN MANY OF THE OUR DEPARTMENT. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL HEAR FROM MISS MILLER THAT, TO SEE WHAT OUR MARKET STUDY TELLS US AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES THROUGH THAT. I UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THAT YOU ARE IN. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE ADVOCATING FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES.

>> SO THE COURT IS AWARE I'VE SPOKEN TO MISS MILLER.

I HOPE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT THIS.

IT'S MY IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE BUT I DO NOT PRESENT THIS WITHOUT AT LEAST TRYING TO CONFIRM MY INFORMATION IS WHAT THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT FEELS LIKE Y'ALL

WILL BE LOOKING AT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: I APPRECIATE THE WAY YOU PRESENTED IT BY LITERALLY GOING IN A CAR IN A TWO TO FIVE MAIL RADIUS AND SAY WHAT ARE THEY PAYING? KUDOS FOR THAT.

>> I GIVE CREDIT TO MY FIRST ASSISTANT WHO TOOK $20 OF HIS OWN POCKET FOR THE INTERN, IT WAS AN INTERN

WORKING FOR FREE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THAT WAS VERY CRAFTY THING. COMMISSIONERS, ANY COMMENTS

OR QUESTIONS? OKAY. >> I JUST ONE POINT.

I DO APPRECIATE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY COMING BY, SITTING THROUGH, PRESENTING SO. ISSUES THAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH. I DO APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING AT YOUR BUDGET REQUEST AND WHAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THAT NEW COURT BEING, YOU KNOW, AMENABLE TO LOOKING AT WHEN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SOME DATES WOULD BE.

THE THING THAT STANDS OUT FOR ME, WHATEVER I LOOK AT THIS SPECIFICALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT CURRENT OPEN POSITIONS, KIND OF THE BEDROCK OF ONE OF THE THINGS WE O, WE TALK A LOT IN HERE.

THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE TESTIFY TODAY RELATIVE TO THE P.D.O.'S OFFICE TRYING TO BE AN ADVOCATE ON THAT SIDE OF THE BALL.

I THINK IT'S PURSUANT TO US TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THE VICTIM AS WELL. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LIST AND THE -- THREE OPEN POSITIONS IN OUR VICTIMS ASSOCIATED -- ADVOCATES -- IT'S VERY DISHEARTENING TO ME WE CAN'T GET PEOPLE INTO THE POSITIONS BECAUSE OF PAY.

THOSE ARE POSITIONS THAT THEY ARE THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT THOSE VICTIMS SEE IN THE OFFICE.

THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO COORDINATE WITH THEM AND TRY TO ENSURE THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF AND WE'VE TRIED TO PUT A FOCUS ON THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COURT: IT'S VERY HARD HEARTENING WE CAN'T GET PEOPLE INTO THE POSITIONS. I'M GOING TO BE AN ADVOCATE TO TRY TO ASSESS THAT AND ADDRESS THOSE SPECIFICALLY.

I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO LOOK AT THE REST OF THE QUESTION, TOO, BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE AT DUTY TO LOOK AT THOSE MORE, IN A HARDER FASHION THAN NEW MEXICO OF

SOME OF THE OTHER FASHIONS. >> I SHOULD ADD WE'VE BEEN STAFFING A POSITION ALT THE SAN MARCOS JUSTICE CENTER WITH A VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR TO HAVE SOMEBODY% OVER THERE. WE PULLED BACK BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE MY PEOPLE THERE IN MY OFFICE.

FILLED I INTEND TO GO BACK AND EXPAND THE SERVICES WE'RE PROVIDING. BUT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE PULLING BACK RATHER THAN EXPANDING WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR VICTIMS, THAT HAS NOT BEEN MY FOCUS AS D.A.

I APPRECIATE THE COURTS' SUPPORT OF THOSE INITIATIVES WE TRIED TO DO. I DO THINK IT'S OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT. IT'S NOT JUST IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S OUR LEGAL OBLIGATION, BUT I THINK IT'S AS MUCH ASSISTANCE WE CAN PROVIDE TO VICTIMS TO MAKE SURE THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH %-ÚM ARE AS EASY AS WE CAN MAKE IT.

IS IMPORTANT. RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT EASY.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, MR. MAU, I APPRECIATE IT.

YOUR PRESENTATION MATERIALS WERE EASY TO FOLLOW.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF EXTRA COPIES IF ANYONE ELSE NEEDS

ONE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: OKAY.

THANK YOU. >> I'LL GIVE YOU TIME BACK,

IF NOT I APOLOGIZE. >> WE'LL SQUEEZE IT OUT WITH TRANSPORTATION, HE IS EFFICIENT WITH HIS WORDS.

JERRY, YOU ARE UP. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND DISCUSS MY BUDGET.

[02:20:02]

>> JUDGE BECERRA: DO WE HAVE YOUR MATERIALS BEFORE US?

>> YES, THE FIRST FOUR PAGES THERE DEAL WITH PERSONNEL CHANGES THAT I'M REQUESTING. VERY SIMILAR TO THE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY. I FEEL LIKE THE LEVEL OF WORK THESE PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN JUSTIFY GREAT CHANGES. I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

IN THOSE FOUR PAGES ARE MY ABBREVIATED JUSTIFICATIONS, AND SHERRY AND HER STAFF ARE CURRENTLY EVALUATING SOME OF THESE REQUESTS AND I THINK NEXT WEEK YOU'LL REPORT ON -- SHE IS GOING TO REPORT TO THE COURT ON HER FINDINGS, HER ANALYSIS. SO BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO EACH COURT MEMBER TO GO OVER THOSE JUSTIFICATIONS I WILL SAY THAT I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK BUT OVER THE YEARS WE'VE HAD VERY FEW INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. IT HAS BEEN MY PHILOSOPHY THAT IF YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE FINISHING UP THEIR WORK, EVERYDAY, TO GO HOME, THEN YOU MAY HAVE TOO MANY EMPLOYEES. AND SO OUR PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS, ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO START BACK ON THE NEXT DAY WHEN THEY SIT DOWN AT THE DESK.

THERE IS NO SPARE TIME TO DISCUSS THINGS AT THE WATER COOLER AND WHAT NOT. BUT FURTHER THAN THAT, THE COMPLEXITY OF THE JOBS HAS CHANGED AND I REALLY BELIEVE THE CHANGE IN GRADES WILL BE REPRESENTATIVE.

WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. THE LAST PAGE OF YOUR PACKET THERE DISCUSSES ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT ARE NEEDED TO GET WORK DONE IN THE COUNTY. I HAVE BROKEN IT OUT INTO LINE 64, 48, 544810, AND THE BOND PROGRAM.

MENT -- I'VE LISTED THE PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE CONSULTANTS TO BE ASSIGNED TO THOSE PROJECTS.

THESE PROJECTS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN MY BUDGET SUBMISSION BACK IN AIM OR MAY.

WE NEED TO FIND FUNDS FOR THESE PROJECTS ALL OF WHICH ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE RESPECTIVE COMMISSIONERS IN.

THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR, NEEDED FOR 5448008, THE SON SULTANT SIDE. MY TOLL NUMBER IS INCORRECT.

IT SHOULD BE DOLLAR 2,740,6 6684 -- 2,740, 88 -- WE HAVE AN ITEM THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED FAT DEPENDING ON HOW COVID GO GOES, HOW OUR ABILITY TO HIRE ADDITIONAL CREW MEMBERS AND HOW OUR WEATHER TREATS US THIS YEAR AS FAR AS MATERIALS LINE ITEM WILL BE NEEDED.

IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET ALL OF OUR PROJECTS WE WON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY. BUT JANICE WEBER, MY BUDGET ANALYST AND MANAGER, KEEPS TRACK OF THIS VERY CLOSELY AND I TRUST HER ANALYSIS. AND IT'S POSSIBLE THAT IN

[02:25:02]

THE END OF THE YEAR BASED ON ALL THESE FACTORS, WE MAY HAVE A MILLION DOLLAR IN THE MATERIAL LINE ITEM THAT COULD GO TO SOME OF THESE UNFUNDED PROJECTS.

THAT REDUCE THAT IS $2LE,7 MILLION TO ONE MILLION, 8, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. FURTHER, SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, THE ESTIMATED NOT BE COMPLETELY SPENT IN F.Y.22. IT'LL ROLLOVER INTO THE NEXT YEAR. WE'VE SOME LEEWAY THERE.

IT MAY CUT ANOTHER $250 TO MAYBE DOLLAR 500,000 OUT OF THE TOLL -- TOTAL FUNDS NEED SOD WE'RE SHORT BUT WE'VE SOME RELIEF ON SOME OF THE PROJECTS.

>> JERRY? >> IF WE ADDED THAT, WE TOOK A PENNY AWAY FROM OUR ROAD BUDGET, IF WE PUT THAT BACK

IS THAT. >> THIS WOULD GO AWAY, IF I, IF MY TAX RATE WAS INCREASED IT WOULD --

>> IF IT WENT BACK TO WHERE IT WAS?

>> YES. THAT WOULD BE IDEAL.

SO EVERYBODY AGREES -- >> THAT'S JUST ME.

I DON'T WANT TO LET PROJECTS GET UNDONE -- WE'RE GETTING

BEHIND ON THE MAINTENANCE. >> I UNDERSTAND.

>> I DON'T WANT THE PROJECTS TO GET --

>> I UNDERSTAND. DOWN HERE ON 544801 O.

OUR CONTRACTOR AWARD, WE ASKED FOR $7.7 MILLION.

THES JUDGE CUT THE BUDGET $2 MILLION.

AGAIN MOSTLY AT THE REAL NEEDS AND BASED ON THE REAL NEEDS OF THE MOST PRESSING NEEDS P, IT LOOKS LIKE WE NEED AN ADDITIONAL $961,000. AGAIN, SOME OF THIS CAN BE COVERED BY OUR MATERIALS LINE ITEM ASSUMING THAT BECAUSE OF COVID, WEATHER AND INABILITY TO HIRE ADDITIONAL CREW MEMBERS, WE MAY BE ABLE TO GIVE SOME RELIEF TO THAT DOLLAR NEED. BUT AGAIN, IT WOULD MAKE IT MUCH EASIER TO MANAGE MY BUDGET OVERALL IF I DID HAVE THE PENNY BACK AS THE COMMISSIONER REFERENCED.

ON THE BOND PROGRAM, THE FINAL ITEM OF CONCERN, THESE AMOUNTS CAME UP OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT WERE -- LET ME BACK UP. THERE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS CALLED OUT IN THE BOND PROGRAM THAT THE ROAD DEPARTMENT HAD AGREED TO FUND DESIGN EFFORT, NOT CONSTRUCTION BUT DESIGN. AND IN THE LAST 2 OR 3 MONTHS, ADDITIONAL FUNDS HAVE BEEN NEEDED FOR VARIOUS REASONS TO SUPPLEMENT THOSE ORIGINAL OUTLAYS FROM OUR EARLIER COMMITMENT. THESE ARE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THESE FOUR PROJECTS THAT ALSO NEED TO BE FUNDED.

NOW WE HAVEN'T TAKEN A CLOSE LOOK AT THE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN PAID SO FAR IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

SO OUT OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, SO THESE, THESE NUMBERS MAY BE SOMEWHAT LOWER.

MENT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN PAYING BILLS FOR THESE PROJECTS. BUT AGAIN IT'S A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER THAT WE HAVE TO OVERCOME AND AGAIN, IF I GET THAT TAX RATE REESTABLISHED, THINK IT WILL BE MUCH EASIER TO MANAGE THE BUDGET AS THE YEAR GOES ALONG.

[02:30:07]

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THE OTHER CHARGES IN THE JUDGE'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET WE CAN LIVE WITH.

I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION ON MY REQUEST.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, JERRY.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. BORCHERDING, HE GAVE US BACK FIVE MINUTES. SO BEAUTIFUL.

>> JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION, I'M LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL NEEDS FOR 2022. LAST PAGE, I WANTED TO POINT OUT THIS ENTIRE THING, IF YOU GO DAWN ARE DOWN 5448010. THE ONLY LINE ITEM IN HERE FOR PRECINCT 4 IS SPLIT BETWEEN PRECINCT 2 AND PRECINCT 4. THAT $250,000 FOR HOT PATCH.

IF YOU WANT TO ADD STUFF BACK INTO THE BUDGET I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ADDITIONAL THERE IN PRECINCT 4.

I'M FEELING A LITTLE LEFT OUT HERE, JERSEY.

>> IT LOOKED PRETTY GOOD TO ME.

>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. I FIGURED IT DID.

[LAUGHTER] >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, JERRY. I APPRECIATE YOUR UPDATE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT GOING TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

JUST LIKE THAT WE'RE ON TIME.

THANK YOU, JERRY. >> THANK YOU, JERRY.

[PAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, GOOD MORNING, COURT, I DO HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT I'LL BE BRINGING UP SHORTLY BUT WHILE THAT IS COMING UP, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

TODAY I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO DISCUSSION SOME OF THE REQUESTS THAT OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS REQUESTING FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET. AND I'M MARK, I AM ATE HAYS COUNTY BUILDING SERVICES DIRECTOR.

I WANT TO PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT AND REASONING BEHIND THE REQUESTS AND JUST GO FROM THERE.

SO LET'S START OFF THE PRESENTATION.

OKAY. I'M GOING TO START OVER WITH AN OVERALL MISSION STATEMENT THAT OUR DEPARTMENT HAS, WE HAVE TRIED TO ACHIEVE YEAR AFTER YEAR AND THAT IS TO PROVIDE MOTE AND PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE HAYS COUNTY CITIZENS THROUGH QUALITY PLANNING, PERMITTING ADDRESSING AND INSPECTIONS.

OUR DEPARTMENT ADHERES TO THE MISSION STATEMENT YEAR AFTER YEAR SINCE IT HAS BEEN FOUNDED BY MY PREDECESSORS AND EVERY STAFF MEMBERS STRIFES TO MEET THIS STATEMENT. THAT ANOTHER THING WE ALWAYS STRIFE TO DO IS ENSURE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF CUSTOMER SERVICE. IN MY LIMITED TIME SPEAKING TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, I DON'T THINK I CAN HAMMER IT ENOUGH. OUR DEPARTMENT STRIVES TO EXCEED THE HIGHEST EXPECTATION, WE'RE STRIVING TO MEET THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, WITH THAT BEING SAID THE REQUESTS WERE MADE WITH THOSE PRINCIPLES IN MIND FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.

FIRST GOING TO START OFF WITH A QUICK SNAPSHOT ON, AT SOME NUMBERS AND DATA. SEVERAL OF YOU LIKE NUMBERS AND DATA. SEVERAL OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE NUMBERS ROLL OUT. REAL QUICK THIS IS AN UPDATE FROM THE U.S. CENSUS FOR POPULATION AND HOUSING STATE DATA. AT THE STATE LEVEL THIS IS A LOOK AT POPULATION COUNT. NOT JUST POPULATION COUNT.

THIS IS A QUICK THING TO GO TO.

WHAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS THE PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN POPULATION THAT WITH THE LATEST 2020 CENSUS, IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU CAN SEE NUMBER ONE IS HAYS COUNTY.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THESE AREN'T CONCRETE NUMBERS YET.

THAT WILL COME LATER ON IN THE PROCESS BUT WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT THE NUMBERS WILL LOOK LIKE.

AT THE LAST UPDATE IS AUGUST 12, HAYS COUNTY IS NUMBER ONE, THAT IS A PERCENTAGE OF 53%, IF YOU TAKE IN 2010 NUMBERS, WE'VE MORE THAN DOUBLED THE POPULATION WITHIN THE 10-YEAR TIME SPAN WHICH IS NOT UNPRESS GEND.

WE'RE EXPECTING IT BUT SEEING IT IN BULLET POINTS AND NUMBERS IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE.

[02:35:02]

WE ARE THE HIGHEST COUNTY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IN TERMS OF POPULATION CHANGE. ALTHOUGH THAT IS IMPORTANT, HERE IS SOMETHING EVEN MORE TELLING.

THIS IS THE SAME TYPE OF BREAKDOWN, PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN POPULATION THIS IS NATIONWIDE.

NOT JUST THE STATE. TAKE A LOOK AT NUMBER 3 IS HAYS COUNTY. WE'RE THE THIRD HIGHEST COUNTY OF PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN POPULATION IN COUNTRY.

FURTHER TELLING HOW FAST WE'RE GROWING, NOT JUST AS A COUNTY BUT THERE ARE TWO OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE IN THE TOP 11. AS FAR AS PERCENTAGE CHANGE.

SO YOU ARE TAKING US AND THOSE TWO COUNTIES, THROW IN COUNTIES OF BEAR AND TRAVIS WHICH HAVE A HIGH ESTABLISHED POPULATION COUNTS THE CENTRAL TEXAS AREA IS EXPERIENCED UNPRECEDENTED GROAT CHANGES.

SOMETHING -- GROWTH CHANGES, SOMETHING THAT WE'VE NOTICE AND SOMETHING THAT WILL STICK AROUND FOR QUITE SOMETIMES. THE REASONS I'M BRINGING THIS INFORMATION TO YOU IS BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THAT IS INFORMATION IS KNOWN AND IT'S GOOD TO, TO RECOGNIZE HOW IT AFFECTS STUFF AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

THAT IS MORE TELLING. HOW IS THE TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT BEING FELT? AT OUR DEPARTMENT THIS NEXT SNAPSHOT WILL HELP WITH THAT.

THIS GRAPH SHOWS OUR DEVELOPMENT AS A WHOLE OVER THE PAST 6 FISCAL YEARS. FROM 15, TO FISCAL YEAR 21.

BIG THINGS TO TAKE FROM THE GRAPH, THE BLUE BAR SHOWS THE NUMBERS OF PERMITS WE SIGH SHOED.

THE GLEAN BAR SHOWS THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS WE'VE TAKEN IN DURING THAT TIME SPANN.

YELLOW IS OUR. GENERATED REVENUE.

IN THE SAME SOMETIME FRAME. LAST BAR BOTTOM IS TOUGH TO PUT EVERYTHING INTO ONE IS AMOUNT OF STAFF WE HAD DURING THIS TIMEFRAME. THERE WAS AN UPWARD TREND.

THE OWN OUTLIERS IS FISCAL YEAR 19 BUT 20 AND 21 THE TREND TO TAKE WE HAVE NOTICED A PROCESS WE'RE RECEIVING MORE APPLICATIONS COMING IN THAN PERMISSION BEING ISSUED. I THINK THAT CAN TIE BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDES BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE TO DEVELOP THAN WHAT WE CAN CURRENTLY SUSTAIN.

THAT'S ONE THING TO NOTE. THERE FURTHERMORE DIVING IN, THAT IS A NICE GRAPH. HE'S ARE NUMBERS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT. PAST TWO AND A HALF FISCAL YEARS INCLUDING THIS CREPT FISCAL YEAR, THE VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS WE INTAKE FROM DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS OUR STANDARD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORIZATION, IF YOU ARE ELECTING ANY PORTABLE INSTRUCTION YEAR AFTER YEAR THAT FROM FISCAL YEAR 19 TO 20 THERE WAS AN INCREASE AND AS FAR AS FISCAL YEAR 21 WE'VE ALREADY HAVE EXCEEDED LAST YEAR'S TOTALS. SAME THING ALONGSIDE SEPTIC SYSTEMS, ANOTHER BIG PROPONENT OF THE MAIN PERMITS WE GET DAY AND DAY OUT WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

ON SITE SEWAGE FACILITIES WHICH IS THE APPROPRIATE TERM TO CALL THESE. IN 19 WE HAD 610, 2020 AND AS OF AUGUST 1ST WE EXCEEDED THAT.

THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS. OUR INSPECTORS DO COMPLAINTS WHETHER IT BE FAILING SYSTEMS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE THAT SHOWS AMOUNT THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED YEAR AFTERNOON YEAR.

ESTABLISHMENTS ANOTHER ASPECT WE TAKE INTO OUR ACCOUNT OF OUR DEPARTMENT. THIS IS FOR NEW AND RENEWAL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF THE GROWTH AS WELL. LASTLY, SUBDIVISIONS SUBMITTED, IT'S GENERALLY A RED FLAG, IF WE SEE A HIGH NUMBER OF SUBDIVISIONS THAT IS GOING TO CORRELATE TO HOMES FOR EVERY ONE APPLICATION THERE CAN BE 100 HOMES THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT ONE APPLICATION.

IN FISCAL YEAR 21 WE RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 70.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD MENTION IS WE LOOK AT THIS, THESE ARE AS OF AUGUST 1 OF THIS YEAR.

>> YES. >> YOU SAID THIS BUT I WANT TO REITERATE BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT CAME UP IN OUR

CONVERSATION LAST WEEK. >> YES.

>> WAS THE FACT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT SEVEN MONTHS WORTH OF DATA AND WE ALSO HAVE LARGE INCREASES JUST IN

THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS. >> YES.

>> COMPARED TO AN ENTIRE FISCAL YEAR.

>> CORRECT. THAT IS 100% CORRECT.

WE IMMEDIATED TOTALS ACROSS THE BOARD.

EVEN INCLUDING REVENUE. LAST THING IN A JUMPS OUT I DID HIGH LIGHT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THE REASON WHY I DID THAT IS TO EMPHASIZE DEVELOPMENT DIDN'T STOP. ACROSS THE BOARD IT WAS EMPHASIZING MANY DEPARTMENTS OR SECTORS THAT WE DEAL WITH IN COUNTY, BUSINESS KEPT GOING, BUSINESS AS USUAL.

[02:40:01]

THE BIG THING WE NOTICED WITH OUR DEPARTMENT IS THE SHUTDOWN. YOU KNOW, TOOK AWAY A BIG PROPONENT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE ACCUSTOMED TO THE OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS, COME INTO THE DEPARTMENT.

SUBMITTING STUFF IN HAND IN PERSON.

MAYBE DOING A SMALL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS COMPARED TO NOW MULTIPLYING IT TIMES 5 OR 10 BECAUSE THE SHUT DOWN FORCED THEM TO ADAPT. THE INDIVIDUALS BECAME MORE ACCLIMB EIGHTED WITH THE PLATFORM AND AS A RESULT, THEY'RE MULTIPLYING THEIR EFFORTS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS TIMES 5, 10, 20.

THAT'S THE REASON MAINLY WHY I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT.

WE'RE EXPERIENCING THE HIGH INCREASE IN DEMAND.

THAT IS A QUICK BACKGROUND OF WHAT OUR DEPARTMENT WILL BE EXPERIENCING THIS PAST YEAR UNDER A THE PROCEEDING -- AND THE PROCEEDING YEARS, NEXT I WANT TO GET TO REQUEST ITEMS. FIRST THE ONLY ITEM I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS REGARDING VEHICLES.

SOMETHING THAT IS PROBABLY BEEN ECHOED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE SPEECHES HERE AT THE WORKSHOP BUT CURRENTLY BACK GROUND, OUR VEHICLE FLEET IS 10 COUNTY OWNED VEHICLES, OUT OF THE 10 VEHICLES THEY RANGE FROM EITHER IN EXCELLENT OR POOR CONDITION. OUT OF THE VEHICLES, WE HAVE 6 OF THEM THAT ARE MANUFACTURED FROM THE YEARS 2002-2007. OUT OF THOSE WE HAVE FOUR AFTER THE 2007 MANUFACTURE DATE.

THREE VEHICLES DO NOT START AND FIVE VEHICLES HAVE A MILE TOTAL OVER 120,000. WE DO HAVE ONE VEHICLE CURRENTLY UNDER THE COUNTY ENTERPRISE LEASE PROGRAM.

BUT THE REMAINING 10 ARE COUNTY OWNED VEHICLES, ON AVERAGE WE SPEND ON AVERAGE 3300 ON VEHICLE MAINTENANCE YEARLY. CURRENTLY AT THIS TIME SPEAKING TO YOU GUYS WE HAVE SPEND APPROXIMATELY 2400 ON VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FOR THIS YEAR, FOR SEVEN VEHICLES THIS FISCAL YEAR. AS A RESULT WE'RE REQUESTING, OUR DEPARTMENT REQUESTED SEVEN ENTERPRISE.

LEASE PROGRAM, THE MAIN EMPHASIS IS TO HAVE SAFE, RELIABLE ROAD READY VEHICLES FOR INSPECTORS TO PERFORM DAILY OPERATIONS WHICH IS COMPLAINTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. INSPECTIONS FOR SEPTICS AND FOR FLOOD MITIGATION AND FLOOD HAZARD.

SITE VISITS TO DO REVISITS SUCH AS FOLLOWING UP OREN QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC. THE QUESTION TO HAVE THE SEVEN VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INSPECTORS RESOURCES TO DO THEIR DAILY JOBS. I'M GOING TO SEGUE INTO PERSONNEL REQUESTS. EACH REQUEST HAS THEIR OWN IMPACT. AND NEED.

WHETHER IT'S AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT OR SOMETHING THAT CAN BED A JUSTED TO LATER IN THE YEAR OR EVEN THE FUTURE.

SO I WANT, BEFORE I GET INTO THAT I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THE REQUESTS, WHAT THEY'LL DO AND THE MAIN GOALS WITH THE REQUESTS IS LIKE I SAID BEFORE THESE REQUESTS WILL ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE TO EXCEED THE HIGH CUSTOMER SERVICE STANDARDS WE'VE SET FORTH.

NOT ONLY WILL IT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO OUR CURRENT STAFF BUT ALSO TO THE PUBLIC TO ENSURE THAT OUR CORE PRINCIPLES ARE BEING MET. LASTLY ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE'RE FOCUSING ON IS TO PROVIDE MORE OF A DIRECT ACCESS TO CONSTITUENTS TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

THIS WILL SEGUE INTO THE FIRST PERSONNEL REQUEST WHICH IS FOR A GEOLOGIST SPECIALIST.

THAT IS A POSITION REQUESTED IN THE MAIN REASON WE'RE REQUESTING THIS POSITION IS TO PROVIDE, TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND TAKE THE INITIAL STEPS OF CREATING AN ON-LINE FOOTPRINT FOR COUNTY. THAT WOULD BE FOR PUBLIC WEB MAPS, ALLOW HAYS COUNTY TO BE OUT THERE AND TO BE ON PAR WITH WHAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE OFFERING TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS. INCREASE ON-LINE PLATFORM WITH ACCESS TO KEY DATA, WHETHER IT BE PERMITS THAT ARE REVIEWED ORB APPROVED. SUBDIVISIONS BEING REVIEWED OR BEEN, APPROVED, MASTER PLAN COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY'RE AT IN THE PROGRESS, WHAT MASTER PLAN COMMUNITIES DO WE HAVE COMING UP IN THE FUTURE.

THINGS OF THAT NATURE. TO PROVIDE MORE OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY PIECE TO OUR CITIZENS IS THE REAL BIG POSITION, BIG REQUEST WITH THE POSITION.

ALSO IT'S ASSISTING DAILY OPERATIONS OF OUR G.I.S.DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE TWO MUCH THE G.I.S.POSITIONS THAT ASSIST WITH THE 911 ADDRESSING CREATION AND MAINTENANCE, WHAT THE STAFF MEMBERS DO, THEY DO ADDRESSING FOR ALL DEVELOPMENTS IN COUNTY INCLUDING INCORPORATED AREAS AS CITIES.

WHETHER IT BE DOING DATA CREATION FOR THEM ARE A

[02:45:03]

REVIEWING DATA THE CITIES HAVE CREATED TO MAKE SURE IT MEETS WITH THE NEXT GEN911 MAP.

THAT WE HAVE TO MEET THROUGH THE CAPITAL AREA COUNCIL GOVERNMENT GRANT THAT FUNDS A MAJORITY EVER THE POSITIONS. THE NEXT GEN911 MAPPING IS VITAL PROCESS AND GOLD THAT OUR 9 -- GOAL THAT OUR 911 ADDRESSERS ATTAIN TO. HERE ARE MORE NUMBERS FOR ADDRESSING DEPARTMENT. DO YOU MIND GOING BACK? SORRY. MORE NUMBERS FROM THE ADDRESSING DEPARTMENT. IN FISCAL YEAR 19 OUR DEPARTMENT ISSUED 2300 ADDRESS, 20 THEY ISSUED 3686, THEN CURRENTLY AT TODAY AS OF LAST FRIDAY WE ISSUED 6,195 ADDRESSES IN COUNTY.

>> I DO, I, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AS AS A COURT SEVERAL TIMES SPECIFICALLY ON THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE FOR ATTRITION AND SOME OF THE POSITIONS THIS THIS STANDS OUT TO ME BECAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.

OUR CURRENT SPECIALIST, IF THEY WERE TO CHOOSE TO WALK OUT THE DOOR TODAY, IF THEY'RE NOT AT RETIREMENT OR IF THEY'RE NOT RETIREMENT READY THEY WILL BE IN YEAR TO TWO YEARS. SPECIFICALLY AS WE LOOK AT REDISTRICTING THIS YEAR, AND SOME OTHER THINGS, WE COULD BE IN A WORLD OF HURT IF WE DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY IN ANOTHER POSITION HERE ON THIS SPECIFIC POSITION WHO CAN FILL THE ROLE WITH SOME TYPE OF BACKGROUND IN THE AREA. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> YES, OUR STAFF -- >> JUDGE BECERRA: SHORT TIME, IT EXPIRED SO YOU KNOW.

I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL TO EVERYONE THAT FOLLOWS YOU.

>> THERE WERE SOME OTHER THINGS I WANTED TO BRING UP BUT I'LL HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ALL.

THE NOTE OF THE G. I. S. SPECIALIST IT'S IMPERATIVE TO BRING SOMEONE IN SOONER THAN LATER.

WE DO HAVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT HAVE 15 OR 20 YEARS EVER INSTITUTIONALIZED KNOWLEDGE THERE AND THE NEXT GEN911 MAPPING IS SOMETHING ON THE JOB LEARNING.

YOU HAVE TO BE THERE. DO IT DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME TO BE FULLY INVESTED IN THE EDUCATION PIECE. ONE MORE PIECE WE'RE -- I'M LOSING A GO. I. S. STAFF MEMBER AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THE CURRENT G.I.S.APPEAR LIST MADE INTENTIONS OF RETIRING, THIS BECOMES MORE OF A BIG ISSUE THAT WE HAVE THE ISSUE BE BROUGHT UP SIGNER RATHER THAN LATER. IF I CAN DISCUSSION ONE OTHER POSITION REQUEST. I PROMISE YOU I'LL BE BRIEF.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: OKAY. >> THIS IS REGARDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST POSITION.

THIS IS TIES BACK TO THE DEMAND WE SEE ON THE TWO BIGGEST FRONTS. DEVELOPMENT AND SEPTEMBERIC.

THE -- SEPTIC, IT'S TWO QUESTION TWO NEW POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. THEY WILL HAPPY WITH THE HIGH INCREASE OF DEMAND OF THE PERMIT REQUESTS AND RIGHT NOW OUR STAFF IS EXPERIENCING A CURRENT HIGH INTAKE WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPMENT REQUESTS ACROSS THE BOARD. WE HAVE FIVE H.E.S.1'S 3 H.S.TWO'S, BRINGING TWO MORE TO HELP WITH THE DAILY OPERATIONS, HELP WITH THE TIMEFRAMES NOT ONLY DO WE DO COUNTY STUFF WE'RE DOING REVIEWS FOR KYLE, BHUTTO AND WIMBERLY. WHETHER IT'S ACCEPTTIC OR COMMUNICATE AND -- SEPTIC, THE DEMAND IS THERE.

WE HAVE THE ASSISTANCE TO MEET THED DEMAND.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: I APPRECIATE T. THANK YOU FOR COMING UP WITH THESE EXPLANATIONS AND VERY GOOD

PRESENTATION. >> JUDGE, IF YOU HAVE

QUESTION, I HOPE WE CAN -- >> JUDGE BECERRA: YOU DO A GOOD JOB OF PLEDGE CONTENT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANK YOU, SIR. >> ONE QUICK COMMENT.

CAN WE MAKE SURE WE UPDATE THE REVENUE FOR HIS DEPARTMENT? I KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT DID YOU -- [INAUDIBLE]

>> OKAY. >>

[INAUDIBLE] >> WE CAN EVALUATE FURTHER.

>> WOULD THE NUMBER OF STAFF INCREASE THE NUMBER AT ALL?

>> I'M NOT SURE, I'LL HAVE TO TALK WITH THE OTHER OFFICE AND H.R.ABOUT THAT YOU.

>> KNOW WHAT I'M ASKING. >> JUDGE BECERRA: GOOD

QUESTION. >> MARCOS, YOU ARE, ARE YOU GOING TO BRING SOMETHING TO COURT REGARDING THE IN--

>> I WOULD LIKE TO IF IT'S POSSIBLE MAYBE NEXT WEEK.

ANOTHER POSSIBILITY IF I CAN DO IT TO POSSIBLY HAVE MORE

OPTIONS. >> THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, NEXT UP JUSTICE MUCH THE PEACE PRECINCT 5 BATTER UP. SORRY WE'RE BEHIND.

>> WE'RE TAG TEAMING. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WELL DONE,

THAT IS BEAUTIFUL. >> I WAS GOING TO SEE IF I COULD CHIME N. I WAS IN HER COURT AND SHE MENTIONED THIS DATE. INVITED ME TO COUPLE.

I THEME IS OKAY IF CAN I DO SOME OF THE TALKING.

[02:50:01]

>> JUDGE BECERRA: YOU BET. >> I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY ON ALL OF OUR POSITIONS AS, ALL THE CLERKS POSITIONS. ONE-GAME THING THAT I ASKED OR MENTIONED IN MY BUDGET, I DON'T HAVE MYS INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME. I'VE ASKED FOR THE CLERKS OF THE COURT IF THEY WOULD WANT TO GET TOGETHER AND THERE BE A RECOGNITION FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS.

I KNOW IN MY OFFICE ALONE, WE HAVE A SCENARIO WHERE SHE DOES IT BUT SHE LITERALLY LEADERSHIPS EVERY OFFICE IN THE PRECINCT THAT HAS A PROBLEM OR NEEDS HELP WITH A TRANSLATION. I KNOW THE GROUNDWORK HAS BEEN LAID FOR IT WITHIN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

I THINK THERE IS A STIPEND. I WISH WE COULD BRING THAT INTO THE BUDGET AND RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO DO HAVE THAT SKILLSET AND HELP US SO MUCH.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: SO YOU KNOW JUDGE, I HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH SHERRY EARLY ON BECAUSE I AGREE.

I BELIEVE IN IT AND IT'S, I HAVE OFTEN BEEN THE GUY THAT GETS PASSED BECAUSE I'M BILINGUAL.

I GET ASKED TO DO SOMETHING. I UNDERSTAND IF YOU ARE CHARGED WITH CERTAIN TASKS AND YOU HAVE TO BE PULL AID SIDE TO HELP IN ANOTHER CAPACITY, IT FURTHER RUNS YOU BEHIND BECAUSE YOU ARE BILINGUAL.

SO I AGREE WITH YOU 100%. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY ELSE'S OFFICE BUT MY CLERK THE ONE, I'M DOWN A CLERK, THAT COMES INTO THE SECOND PART.

THE CLERK I DO HAVE THAT DOES SPEAK SPANISH THERE IS ANOTHER -- SHE JUMPS OUT THERE AND RUNS TO HELP.

SAME WITH MY OFFICE AS WELL. EVEN IN THE COURTROOM SHE COMES INTO THE COURTROOM AS WELL.

>> WE'RE LUCKY IN WIMBERLY WE HAVE A TRANSLATOR THAT COMES INTO CASES, SHE VOLUNTEERS, NEVER CHARGES US ANYTHING. AGAIN, I KNOW THEY'RE WORKING ESPECIALLY WITH THE 108'S.

IT'S, Y'ALL ARE WORKING ON ADDRESSING THOSE.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS ACTUALLY A MOVEMENT WITHIN THE RANGE, I CAN SPEAK FOR MY TWO CLERKS, ONE HAS GOING ON 6 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND E RECEIVED COST OF LIVINGS BUT WE ARE ASKING KNOWING THAT THE LIKELIHOOD THESE POSITIONS ARE GOING TO BE REGRADED. IF WE'D ASK THAT Y'ALL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION KNOWING THESE HAVE BEEN EVALUATE AND MISS MILLER IS WORKING ON THESE AND THE LIKELIHOOD IS THEY'RE GOING TO BE CHANGED BUT WE WOULD LIKE UNDER THIS BUDGET TO NOT A GRADE, THAT COMES WITH A LOT OF RESOURCES AND INVESTIGATION AND BALANCING OF SIMILAR COUNTIES BUT WE'RE ASKING WITHIN THE RANGE THEY ARE ALREADY IN. I THINK AND AGAIN I DON'T HAVE NYE PAPERWORK, ONE CLERK IS AT 11% WITHIN HER GRADE. I THINK I'M GOING TO GO TO 25% OF THE GRADE. I THINK SHE HAS BEEN THERE 4, 5 YEARS NOW. SO STAYING WITHIN THE RANGE WE CAN. AGAIN I'M AT A DISADVANTAGE.

I DON'T HAVE NYE STUFF WITH ME -- MY STUFF WITH ME.

>> I'M WITH JUDGE CABLE. IN MY OFFICE THERE IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN THERE 15 YEARS SEE, CAN MOVE WELL WITHIN THE GRADE. MY BUDGET DIDN'T ASK FOR A PAY RAISE. I DID IN MY NEWNESS DID NOT PUT THAT IN THERE SO I SAY WHAT THE JUDGE CABLE IS STAYING. NOTE CHANGE IT SO MUCH AS MOVE THE NEEDLE WITHIN THE GRADE FOR THE LADIES, IT'S REALLY NOT A LIVABLE WAGE FOR A LOT OF THEM.

THEY HAVE TO MAKE A LOT OF CHOICES.

>> EVERY DEPARTMENT EXPERIENCED THIS.

I'M ON SIX MONTHS AND NOT TO SAY I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY APPLICATIONS. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN APPLICATIONS THAT I'M USED TO GETTING AT A TIME RIGHT NOW. 6 MONTHS.

SHERRY, I THOUGHT DO WE HAVE ANY MORE? DO WE HAVE ANY MORE? THEY'RE GOOD APPLICANTS BUT NOT WHAT I'M USED TO. MENT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO ATTRIBUTE THAT SO. THIS COUNTY DOES WELL BY ITS EMPLOYEES BUT THIS SITUATION I THINK IT, IT DESERVES A

MOVE OF THE NEEDLE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: NICE.

>> DID WE BURN OUR TIME? >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: GENUINELY AAPPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THIS IS BEAUTIFUL, BECAUSE --

>> WE REMEMBER THIS IF WE GO OVER.

WE GAVE YOU TIME. >> JUDGE BECERRA: I MADE A NOTE. MOVE THE NEEDLE WITHIN THE GRADE. THAT IS A VERY REASONABLE

ASK. >> AGAIN BACK TO THE STIPEND FOR THE, SOMEDAY FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKERS.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: I TOTALLY AGREE.

THAT SHOULD BE A COUNTYWIDE EFFORT.

IF THEY'RE A ROUTINE WE'RE VISITING, TAPPING WITH YOU TO TIE UP TRANSLATION TIME, YOU SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR IT. I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WE'RE IN A GREAT PLACE, READY FOR THE COUNTY CLERK.

SHE WILL RELOCATE. (CAPTIONS WILL RESUME

[02:55:26]

SHORTLY.) >> THE REVISED BUDGET CUT IT ALMOST ANOTHER $1 O 00,000. THE PROBLEM IS THAT OUR RECORDS DIVISION IS IN CRISIS.

WE'RE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH MANY OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO LIVE UP TO AND WE'RE UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICES WE NEED IN COUNTY.

I'LL ECHO SOME OF THE SAME THINGS THAT YOU'VE HEARD EARLIER ABOUT OUR STAFF BEING AT THE VERY LOW END OF THE PAY SCALE. AND HEAVY TURNOVER DUE TO THAT, DIFFICULTIES FINDING PEOPLE TO FILL POSITIONS AND ALSO ALONG WITH THAT, THE ASTRONOMICAL GROWTH IN OUR COUNTY. SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE THINGS, FOUR PARTS TO MY REQUEST THAT I WANT TO COVER. THEY ALL RELATE TO THAT VERY ISSUE. IT'S ALL IN OUR RECORDS, IT'S PRIMARILY IN OUR RECORDS DIVISION.

I THINK YOU'VE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF US IN OUR COURTS DIVISION, WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE OKAY THERE ALTHOUGH WE'LL SEE WHEN COVID END THERE, ARE FOUR ELEMENTS TO MY REQUEST. IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO MY -- SO THE FIRST IS THAT I'M REQUESTING AN EARLIER START DATE FOR THE DEPUTIES THAT YOU HAVE APPROVED FOR THE RECORDS DIVISION. YOU DID APPROVE TWO OR RECOMMENDED TWO. I DO APPRECIATE THAT BUT TO START IN APRIL. WE'RE IN CRISIS NOW.

I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT YOU LET ONE OF THEM AT LEAST START IN OCTOBER. THAT WOULD BE $23,000.

I'LL GIVE YOU MORE DETAIL IN A MINUTE.

IT'S TWO WHO, TWO AND A HALF F.T.E.BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN

PICKING UP -- >> JUDGE BECERRA: ARE YOU

CALLING HALF A SHORT PERSON. >> SHE IS KIND OF PETITE.

FEDERAL TALK, TWO INFORM F.T.E.'S.

THE THIRD PART OF THE REQUEST IS FOR $4,000 TO BE RESTORED TO TAKE SUPPLIES BUDGET BACK TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WITH GROWTH IN THE COUNTY WE NEED SUPPLIES TO GO ALONG WITH IT LIKE THE PAPER FOR MARRIAGE SERTS. THE FINAL ISYSTEM IS TO RE-- ITEM IS TO RESTORE $6,000 TO OUR CONTINUING EDUCATION BUDGET BECAUSE, AGAIN, OUR NEEDS FOR TRAINING CONTINUES AND GROWS WITH THE CHANGES. LET ME GO THROUGH INTO LITTLE MORE DETAIL EACH OF THESE.

I'LL TELL YOU ROXANNE RODRIGUEZ WHO IS CHIEF OF OUR RECORDS DIVISION PUT TOGETHER THE SLIDE SET.

IT'S PACKED WITH DETAILS THAT I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO THROUGH IN EXTREME DETAIL BUT SHE DISTRIBUTED COPIES TO YOU SO YOU CAN LOOK AT IT AT YOUR LEISURE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE DETAIL P.

SHE ALSO HANDOUTS FOUR. IF YOU READ THROUGH THE ITEMS SHE PUT IN, HER PASSION FOR THIS AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY ANG ANXIETY ABOUT IT TOO.

BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY IN CRISIS RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY ADDITIONS TO OUR STAFF OF DEPUTIES IN THE RECORDS DIVISION SINCE 20 17/.

THIS IS BEFORE I CAME, THIS IS THE RECORD DIVISION, NOT COURT. BUT THEY, THEY WERE ADDED TO STAFF THE SUBSTATIONS, WE AT THIS POINT HAVE FIVE CLERKS WHO WORK IN THE RECORDS DIVISION.

THREE OF THEM LOCATED AT THE SUBSTATION.

SO THAT LEAVES US ONLY TWO IN OUR SAN MARCOS OFFICE.

WE DO HAVE TWO SUPERVISORS AS WELL.

THEY'VE OTHER DUTIES LIKE BEING HERE AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE COURT, AND WE'VE BEEN TAKING VARIOUS MEASURES THAT I WOULD CALL SHORT-TERM EMERGENCY MEASURES TO MAKE UP THIS. ALL OF US, THE ENTIRE SENIOR MANAGEMENT STAFF HAS BEEN JUMPING IN HELPING TO DO THINGS INCLUDING ME DOING INDEXING AND BELIEVE ME I'M NOT THE BEST IN THE WORLD AT THAT.

BUT EVERYBODY IS SLUGGING IN, OSCAR HAS HELPED OUT.

WE ALSO HAVE AUTHORIZED SOME COMPENSATORY TIME FOR PEOPLE

[03:00:04]

TO COME IN ON WEEKENDS AND WORK NIGHTS BUT AS YOU KNOW THAT IS A BAD THING TO DO IN A THE LONG-TERM BECAUSE YOU END UP SHORT LATER ON. THE THIRD THING WE'VE DONE WE'VE CLOSED OUR SUBSTATION INTO DRIP DRIPPING SPRINGS FOR AUGUST WHICH I HATE TO DO.

IT KILLS ME TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE NEED STAFF.

THE PROBLEM IS IF WE'VE JUST TWO STAFF MEMBERS DOING THIS IN OUR SAN MARCOS OFFICE THE MINUTE WE'VE F.M.L.A.OR A VACATION OR A SICK LEAVE AND WE'RE HAVING THOSE THINGS FROM COVID, IT MEANS WE DON' HAVE ANYONE.

YESTERDAY ROXANNE WAS THE ONLY PERSON WORKING AT THE DESK. WE'RE BEHIND.

OUT OF COMPLIANCE, THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF REGULATIONS WE HAVE TO PROCESS. WE'VE PROCESS FINANCIAL PAYMENTS WITHIN A DAY OR SO BY STATUTE AND WE HAVE TO UPLOAD ALL OF THE RECORDS THAT WE DO.

WE HAVE TO DO WITH, THERE IS A TEN-DAY RULE.

IT EFFECTS NOT ONLY US BUT THE TITLE COMPANY AGENTS AND THEIR AGENTS SO IT'S EFFECTING CONSTITUENTS AND CUSTOMERS AS WELL. IT'S REAL' PROBLEM.

WE'RE ASKING $23,000 TO APPROVE ONE PERSON, BUNCH THE DEPUTIES, -- ONE OF THE DEPUTIES YOU APPROVED, AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU APPROVED TWO BUT I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU PUT ONE OF THEM BACK IN OCTOBER.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: YOU SAID APRIL?

>> I'M SORRY, YOU APPROVED TWO FOR APRIL.

I WOULD LIKE ONE OF THEM TO START OCTOBER.

THAT WOULD BE $23,000 INCLUDING EQUIPMENT THE PERSON WOULD NEED, COMPUTE E AND PHONES AND THINGS LIKES

THAT. >> DRIPPING SPRINGS IS THE ONLY OFFICE CLOSED RIGHT NOW?

>> I BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE.

PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT'S EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO WIMBERLY TO GET HELP AND WE HAVE A VERY HIGH DEMAND IN KILE. SO I MEAN WE LOOKED AT VARIOUS THINGS. BY THAT.

STRATEGICALLY IT IS, IT WAS SOMETHING WE COULD DO.

IT'S NOT IDEAL. >> WE COULD POTENTIALLY SWAP

PRECINCT 3 AND 4. >> WE DO DO SOMETHING LIKE

THAT. >> WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS LIKE THAT. I'M POINTING THIS OUT.

I HATE TO DO THIS BUT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN THINK OF TO TRY TO MAKE UP FOR THIS.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT OUR, THE NUMBER OF RECORDS WE GET.

DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO RECORD HAS INCREASED 40%S IN TWO YEARS. ANDER TIME YOU HAVE AN -- EVERY TIME YOU HAVE AN INCREASE FOR EXAMPLE IN WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE IS DOING YOU HAVE A COMMENSURATE INCREASE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.

SO, YOU KNOW THAT IS JUST A TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF PROCESSING BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE DOCUMENTS GOES THROUGH AT LEAST A THREE-STEP PROCESS THAT INCLUDES THE ORIGINAL REGARDING AND THEN QUALITIY CONTROL STEPS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ACCURATE.

WE WANT TO MAINTAIN OUR ACCURACY.

GIVEN THESE ARE DEEDS TO PROPERTY AND REALLY IMPORTANT FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS FOR THE PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY. SO WE'RE REALLY CONSCIENCEIOUS ABOUT THAT. OUR STAFF IF THEY FEEL THEY'RE GETTING BEHIND WORKING AT THE FATTEST PACE THEY POSSIBLY CAN IT EFFECTS, IT'S DEMORALIZING, AFFECTS MORAL AND THERE ARE OTHER JOBS THAT PAY MORE.

SO IT'S A REAL PROBLEM FOR US.

>> DO WE'VE RECORDS MANAGEMENT FUNDS? ARE THEY

INCREASING? >> I'M SURE, YEAH.

>> I WOULD FIGURE THAT WOULD BE THE RESULT OF ALL OF

ÚTHAT. >> ABSOLUTELY, WE HAVE A LOT

OF MONEY COMING IN. >> OKAY.

>> SO THE SECOND ITEM THAT RELATES TO THAT IS THAT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE AIR AIR SIS -- ASSISTANTS HAVE AYOU SUMED OTHER DUTIES IN THE OFFICE.

THEY HAVE BEEN PICKING UP A LOT OF THE MORE GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS INCLUDING ANSWERING THE PHONE CALLS THAT COME IN GIVING OUT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS THEY CAN BY THE PHONE.

AND LOGGING IN ALL OF THE MAIL WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND VARIOUS OTHER STEPS.

AGAIN THESE PEOPLE ARE AT THE VERY BOTTOM RUNG IN THE SALARY. PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A FEW YEARS FOR US AND THEY'RE COMPETENT AND DEDICATED. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE BUMPED UP TO RECOGNIZE THE ADDITIONAL DUTIES THEY'RE TAKEN ON AND THEY'RE DOING. SO THAT REGRADING WOULD BE $12,000 TO REGRADE THESE 2.5 F.T.E.'S.

THE THIRD REQUEST HAS TO DO WITH THE SUPPLIES.

AS I MENTIONED, ALONG WITH THE GROWTH IN COUNTY AND THE DEMAND ON SERVICES, WE HAVE A COMMENSURATE INCREASE IN THE USE OF MATERIALS. JUST TO SUPPLY THE NEEDS.

BASIC PAPER AND TONER EXPENSIVE TO PROVIDE ALL OF THOSE THINGS. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE

[03:05:01]

HAVE A PROBLEM. WE NEED NEW CHAIRS BELIEVE IT OR NOT. IT MAY SOUND TRIVIAL BUT OUR CHAIRS ARE HAZARDOUS AND DANGEROUS HAVING SAT IN THEM FROM TIME TO TIME MYSELF. IF YOU LOOK AT THE THIRD PHOTO THERE IS NO WHEEL ON ONE OF THE CHAIRS.

WE HAVE THE PROBLEM. WHEELS ARE FALLING OFF.

IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT COMICAL BUT NOT REALLY.

IT'S PAINFUL WHEN THEY COLLAPSE ON YOU.

AND THE UPDOWN LEVELS DON'T WORK SO YOU CAN BE SITTING THERE. ALL OF A SUDDEN CRASH TO THE FLOOR. SO THEY'RE EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE. UNWORKABLE.

AND THEY'RE ALSO UNSIGHTLY AS YOU CAN SEE.

IT'S NOT JUST THEY'RE UNATTRACTIVE.

THAT IS THE SURFACE FABRIC ON THE CHAIRS HAS WORN OFF BUT IT'S. -- (CAPTIONS WILL RESUME SHORTLY.) PART OF OUR SUPPLY BUDGET WOULD GO TO GETTING NEW CHAIRS FOR OUR DEPUTIES. THE 4TH REQUIREMENT I WHY.

THE I'M SIMPLY ASKING TO HAVE THE $6,000 PUT IN TO BRING US BACK UP TO WHERE WE WERE IN 2021 BUDGET BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEW HIRES SINCE JANUARY GIVEN THE TURNOVER WE'RE GIVEN. (CAPTIONS WILL RESUME

SHORTLY.) >> ALL OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY PROCESSED, THEY DO ALL THE VITAL STATISTICS WORK. SO THEY NEED TO BE TRAINED ON EVERY ONE OF THOSE ■AND THERE ARE STATUTORY CHANGES, MANY OVER ARE EVERY CYCLE THAT AFFECT THEM THEY HAVE TO BE TRAINED ON. WE'VE REQUIREMENTS TO DO CONTINUING EDUCATION JUST AS YOU DO TRUE THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AND THE OTHER ASSOCIATIONS THAT OVERSEE WHAT WE DO. OUR PROBATE TRAINING, THIS DOES SPILL OVER TO COURT SIDE AS WELL.

WE'VE NEW STAFF. WE'VE CHANGING REQUIREMENTS.

AND WE NEED TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES. WE HAVE MOSTLY TYLER, THESE DAYS. WE NEED TO KNOW HOW IT WORKS. WE'RE BEHIND ON SOME OF THE THINGS. WE'RE TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY TRAINED ON AGENDA QUICK.

SO Y'ALL KNOW WE'RE BEHIND BUT IT ALL FITS TOGETHER.

THIS IS A FACTOR THAT AFFECTS MORALE IN THE OFFICE. I'M CONCERNED.

JUST IN SUM IT'S FOUR THINGS THAT RELATE.

ONE IS TO BURCH UP THE TIME -- BURCH UP THE TIME ON ONE OF THE DEPUTIES YOU HAVE APPROVED SO WE CAN STOP CLOSING SUBSTATIONS. ANOTHER IS TO RECOGNIZE THE ADDITIONAL WORK THAT OUR A.A.'S ARE DOING, BY REGRADING THEM. THE THIRD IS TO RESTORE OUR SUPPLIES BUDGET TO THE 2021 LEVEL AND THE 4TH IS TO RESTORE OUR CONTINUING EDUCATION BUDGET TO THE 2021 LEVEL. THAT IS $45,000.

IT WOULD STILLING UNDER THE 2021 BUDGET I BELIEVE.

I'M HAPPY TO -- >> JUDGE BECERRA: PERFECT.

COMMISSION E QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

>> THANK YOU, ROXANNE, BOTH VERY GOOD PRESENTATION, VERY

WELL PUT TOGETHER. >> THANK YOU.

>> JUST ONE QUESTION. GIVEN THE HIGH RATE OF TURNOFF THAT YOU HAVE EVEN, WE TALKED ABOUT THE RATE OF TUNOVER THAT YOU HAVE, HAVE YOU DONE -- I THINK WE ALL THE, ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT HEATH DO A GOOD JOB ONBOARDING AS FAR AS SETTING LEVELS OF EXPECTATIONS, HAVING TO LEARN OR EDUCATE EMPLOYEES ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING. HAVE YOU DONE ANY OFFBOARDING WITH THE EMPLOYEES? HAVE YOU ASKED WHAT WERE THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED -- WHAT WAS THE TWO REASONS THAT -- I'M ASKING BECAUSE AS YOU START TO FILL THESE OTHER POSITIONS, IT COULD BE VERY

HELPFUL. >> IT IS.

IT'S A VALUABLE PRACTICE IN GENERAL.

YOU ARE CORRECT. WE'RE DOING THAT, WE'RE STARTING TO MAKE IT A MORE FORMAL PART OF WHAT WE DO.

IT'S IMPORTANT. MOST PEOPLE LOVE WORKING IN THE OFFICE. WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM.

THEY ARE VERY COMMITTED. THEY HELP ONE ANOTHER EVERY BIT THEY CAN. EVERYBODY GOING THEY HATE TO LEAVE. THE FACT IS THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE GOING TO BETTER JOBS.

[03:10:01]

IT'S A PROBLEM OF HIRING, TOO, I WOULD SAY AT LEAST A THIRD OF THE PEOPLE WHO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO US WITHDRAW THEM WHEN THEY HEAR THE MONEY THAT WE CAN PAY.

AND SOME OF THEM HAVE GONE ON TO OTHER BETTERS THINGS.

WHICH I SUPPORT. YOU KNOW, I LYING TO SEE THAT. IT'S HARD TO DEAL WITH STAFF TURNOVER BUT WE'VE HAD REALLY GOOD PEOPLE THAT HAVE' GONE ON TO GRADUATE SCHOOL OR TAKEN HIGHER LEVEL JOBS ELSEWHERE IN COUNTY. WE'RE PRIMARY SITE FOR FISHING FOR NEW STAFF FROM SOME OF THE OTHER OFFICES.

THE COUNTY COURTS AT LAW LIKE TO PICK OFF OUR BEST.

SOMETIMES THERE ARE SOME OF OUR, ALL OF THEM ARE GOOD BUT THEY KEEP THEIR EYE WHO WE'RE HIRING AND WHO IS WORKING WELL AND THEY'RE IN DANGER.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: THEY'RE SITTING RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

[LAUGHTER] >> YEAH.

THEY'RE -- [LAUGHTER]

>> JUDGE BECERRA: IDENTIFIED TALENT.

>> THEY'RE GOOD. SOME HAVE LEFT TO, SOME OF THE YOUNGER ONES THAT HAVE THE COLLEGE DEGREES HAVE GONE ON TO INTERNSHIPS AND SOME HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE HILLS LATELY. THEY'VE GONE ON TO GOOD THINGS. WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE RETIRE FOR FAMILY REASONS AND HEALTH REASONS.

SO NOBODY IS LEAVING BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE IT.

THEY'RE LEAVING FOR SALARY AND FOR BETTER

OPPORTUNITIES. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THAT'S

FAIR. >> YES.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU

SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: YOU'VE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB WITH YOUR TIME. THAT PUTS US 4 MINUTES EARLY WHICH WE'LL KEEP MOVING THROUGH IT AND WE'LL SINCE THEY'VE CLIMBED IN AND SHOWED UP, COUNTY COURTS AT LAW. YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES OR LESS,

WHATEVER YOU WANT TO YIELD. >> WE CAN DO IT IN LESS THAT IS GREAT. JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU TODAY. THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY A VARIETY OF BUDGETARY REQUESTS BUT PRESENTATION FOCUS ONS STAFF QUESTIONS. PERSPECTIVE RAISES TO EXISTING STAFF MEMBERS, MY NAME IS DAN O'BRIAN, I'M HERE WITH JUDGE JOHNSON AND SANDRA LOPEZ THE CURRENT COURT ADMINISTRATOR, THERE ARE CENTRAL CORE INCLUDING THE COURT ADMINISTRATE OOH THE LEAD ASSISTANT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR THEN ONE OF THE COURT CLERKS WE'RE SEEKING AN INCREASE FROM A 0 PERCENTTILE A 25% SALARY RANGE. IN LOOKING AT THE SALARIES, WE LOOKED AT RELATED COUNTIES INCLUDING A LIST PROVIDED BY HUMAN RESOURCES INCLUDING WILLIAM, SMITH AND OTHERS. WE ALSO LOOKED AT SAN MARCOS. WE BELIEVE THAT TO BE SOMEWHAT RELEVANT. NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE LITERALLY DOWN THE HALL FROM YOU, SOME OF THOSE ARE SIMILAR ROLES. WE THOUGHT THOSE WOULD BE RELEVANT PARTICULARLY FOR THE PUMPS OF RETAINING STAFF. WITH REGARD TO THE SORT CLERKS, THE PAY IS AROUND $28,000 -- 38,249.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR A RAISE UP TO $43,000 IN CHANGE, TWO YEARS IN THE COUNTY COURT AT LOU SYSTEM.

THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE GIVEN THE EXPERIENCE THAT A 25% OR THE 25TH PERCENTILE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.

THE LEAD ASSISTANT COURT ADMINISTRATOR BRING A SPECIAL SET OF SKILLS INCLUDING BEING BILINGUAL, TAKES LEAD ON MENTAL HEALTH CASES, I WANTED TO DISTINGUISH THAT FROM MENTAL HEALTH COURT IT, WOULD BE EMERGENCY DETENTIONS, CIVIL COMMITMENTS AND SO NORTH WHICH EXIST APART FROM THE CONCEPT OF A DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM.

HE BRING NINE YEARS OF SERVICE TO COUNTY INCLUDING 6 AT THE COURTS AT LAW. THE REQUEST IS TO MOVE FROM 462LE 2 TO 5 52,0587. THAT WOULD BE FROM A 0 PERCENTILE TO 25TH PERCENTILE.

>> JUDGE BECERRA: I'M SORRY --

[INAUDIBLE] >> --

[INAUDIBLE] >> THE THINK THE COURT WILL

RECKIFIES THAT AS WELL. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE: OUR COURT ADMINISTRATOR IS 15 YEARS WITH THE COUNTY.

WORKING WITH THE J.P.AND CONSTABLE, FIVE YEARS IN THE COUNTY AT LAW. SHE NEEDS AND THE PREPARED INCREASE WOULD BE TO 57,275. THIS IS AN INSTANCE WHERE WE KNOW SHE ACCEPTED A PROMOTION DURING A TUMULTUOUS TIME WITHIN THE CORES.

THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT TURNOVER.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT AT TIMES THE 25TH PERCENTILE MY BE A TOOL TO USE TO ENTICE INDIVIDUALS TO WORK FOR COUNTY BUT WE'RE ADVISED THAT IT'S NOT INAPPROPRIATE TO COME TO COURT AND ASK FOR THAT DURING BUDGETARY TIME.

THIS WAS NOT REQUESTED AT THE TIME OF THE PROMOTION

[03:15:03]

BECAUSE OF THE SOME OF THE CHANGES IN STAFFING OF THE COURTS AT THAT TIME. THE WAY WE SEEK TO FUND THAT IS THE RETIREMENT OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATORS SAVED APPROXIMATELY 25,455. IN SWITCH --

>> WE HAVE A NEIGHBORING COUNTY WITH IT'S OWN COURT WILLING TO PAY (INDISCERNIBLE).

>> JUDGE, I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION ON THAT. YOU SAY YOU'RE GIVING GRANT

MONEY BACK. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT FOR ME. >> THERE'S MONEY TO BE HAD.

WE CAN DO WITH IT WHAT WE WANT TO, BUT I CAN'T GET IT TO HER AS PART OF HER SALARY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO. >> OKAY.

>> WE WOULD HAVE TO COME TO YOU AND ASK YOU PERMISSION, AND THAT'S WHY THAT'S A BIG GOAL.

THAT'S MONEY THAT -- >> ABSOLUTELY ESPECIALLY IF IT'S GRANT MONEY, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. ABSOLUTELY. YOU CALL ANYTIME ON ME FOR THAT

AND I'LL SPONSOR THAT AGENDA ITEM, SIR. >> YES, SIR.

>> JUDGE, GOOD POINT. I'M GOING TO GO A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER TO ADDRESS THAT TOPIC.

WE HAVE A TREATMENT COURT CASE MANAGER AND THAT'S THE INDIVIDUAL ABOUT WHOM THE JUDGE IS REFERRING, AND BOTH IN REGARDS TO A REQUESTED INCREASE IN SALARY FOR THE CASE MANAGER AND THE PROGRAM MANAGER, THOSE ARE EXISTING GRANT FUNDS THAT COUL BE USED TO SUBSIDIZE SALARY OR OTHER EXPENSES WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM THE COURT. WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO PAY THEM IN THAT MANNER. THE EXPECTED OR THE REQUESTED RATES FOR THE PROGRAM MANAGER IS FROM 53109 TO 57853. AND THEN FOR THE CASE MANAGER, WHICH WE MIGHT WELL LOSE, IS FROM 39704 TO 52-. SO THAT IS A BIG BUMP. THERE IS A LOT OF SHEPHERDING OF DEFENDANTS IN THAT PROGRAM. IT REQUIRES A LOT OF TIME. THAT INDIVIDUAL IS ON CALL 24-7.

SO THAT JOB IS A LITTLE UNUSUAL WITHIN THE COURT SYSTEM, BUT IMPORTANT WITH THE GOALS THE COMMISSIONER COURT EXPRESSED AND ESSENTIALLY COULD BE A ZERO-DOLLAR FUNDING MECHANISM FROM THIS COURT WITH YOUR APPROVAL. SKIPPING BACK --

>> HOLD ON. >> THERE MAY BE A COMMENT FROM MR. OR ORCED ON GRANT FUNDING.

>> DID YOU WANT TO EXPAND, CIG VICKY. >> I WANTED TO POINT OUT WHILE THE GRANTING AGENCIES DO FUND THE SALARIES IN FULL, AS MOSTS ALL OUR GRANTS, THEY REQUIRE US TO COMPLY WITH OUR INTERNAL POLICIES. SO THEY ARE IN AUDIT.

THEY WILL PULL OUR PERSONNEL AND TRAVEL POLICIES TO MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW OUR OWN INTERNAL AS WELL AS ANY STATE OR FEDERAL POLICIES PUT INTO PLACE. THE SAVINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION GRANTS HAVE BEEN FROM THE BENEFITS SIDE BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HIRED TO NOT ACCEPT THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BENEFITS, SO WE DO HAVE SAVINGS IN THE BENEFIT, NOT THE SALARY PORTION AT THIS POINT.

>> (INDISCERNIBLE) -- REMAINS ON ACTIVE DUTY AND THE OTHER ONE IS RETIRED.

SO THEY TAKE THEIR BENEFITS FROM UNCLE SAM. THEY DON'T TAKE THEIR

BENEFITS -- >> FROM TRICARE. >> TRICARE IS THE BOMB,

ABSOLUTELY. >> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE VETERANS COURT COMPONENT? OKAY. THEN I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY EARDZ GENERALLY SPECIALTY COURTS. AS WE KNOW WE HAVE A POPULATION OF 200,000, WHETHER OFFICIAL OR NOT. STATUTES TALK ABOUT CREATING ADDITIONAL SPECIALTY COURTS.

WE HAVE A VETERANS COURT THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, MENTAL HEALTH COURT THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MOMENT. THE ADDITIONAL SPECIALTY COURT WILL BE THE DRUG COURT, DWI COURT, FAMILY VIOLENCE AND PROSTITUTION. THERE WAS AN INITIAL REQUEST WHEN THE BUDGET WAS FORMULATED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO TO SUGGEST THERE WOULD BE TWO INDIVIDUALS NEEDED TO WORK THOSE COURTS. THE COUNTY COURTS AT LAW ARE UNSURE EXACTLY WHAT THE POLICY

[03:20:01]

GOALS OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT MIGHT BE AND THAT WOULD HELP US FRAME WHAT THE GOALS AND THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WOULD BE PROVIDED. IT COULD BE SIMILAR TO A VETERANS COURT MODEL WHICH IS MORE INTENSIVE. IT COULD BE MORE HANDS-OFF.

SO WITH FURTHER DIRECTION, IF AND WHEN THE TIME COMES TO ENACT THOSE SPECIALTY COURTS, I THINK WE COULD INT A MORE PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION. BUT THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE

INITIAL INCLUSION. >> I APOLOGIZE IF I CAUSED SOME CONFUSION -- (INDISCERNIBLE) -- AROUND OUR VETERANS COURT TO HELP Y'ALL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THAT MORE HANDS-ON MODEL SO THAT IF IT IS A PATH YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO GO DOWN, YOU HAVE A GOOD CLEAR IDEA OF

WHAT'S INVOLVED. >> THE VETERANS COURT MODEL HAS A PHENOMENAL SUCCESS RATE.

I AM TRAIL IMPRESSED. AND TO YOUR FUTURE QUESTION, I WANT YOU TO KNOW I AM FULLY BEHIND THAT ENGAGEMENT LEVEL BECAUSE IT IS HELPING SOMEONE IN A SPACE AND TIME WHERE THEY ARE IN MOST NEED, MOST VULNERABLE, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO LABEL IT, AND A LITTLE EXTRA HAND HOLDING THROUGH THAT MOMENT IN THEIR LIVES CHANGES OUR LIVES AS WELL. THEY'RE IN OUR COMMUNITY OR IN OUR JAILS ARE THE RECIDIVISM, ET CETERA. SO I AM A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THE VETERANS' SUCCESS. SO IF WE, SPEAKING PURELY MYSELF HERE, I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF

THAT LEVEL OF HANDS ON WITH FOLKS IN SPECIALTY COURTS. >> JUDGE, I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU THE ONLY ISSUE I SEE WITH THE STATUTE AS IT'S WRITTEN IS THE VARIOUS COURTS THAT WE HAVE TO ESTABLISH OVER 200,000, SOME OF THEM, UNLIKE THE VETERANS COURT OR A DRUG COURT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF CASES RUN THROUGH THOSE DOCKETS, SOME OF THEM THERE LITERALLY WOULD JUST BE A COURT ON PAPER. I MEAN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BY STATUTE WE HAVE TO ESTABLISH A PROSTITUTION COURT, AS AN EXAMPLE, WE HAVE MAYBE THREE CASES A YEAR.

SO THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE AND THAT LEVEL OF INCLUSIVENESS ON SOME OF THESE OTHER SPECIALTY COURTS I DON'T THINK WILL WORK IN THE STADIUM MODEL THAT WE HAVE IN A VETERANS COURT THAT'S DONE SO WELL. AND MAYBE I'M WRONG, BUT WOULD YOU --

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. SIR, I THINK THE INTENT IS TO HELP AND SHEPHERD PEOPLE THE BEST WE CAN. HOW THAT MODEL LOOKS WHEN IT'S IMPLEMENTED FOR THE DIFFERENT SPECIALTY COURTS CAN VARY. I TOOK AN OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE LAST MONTH OR SIX WEEKS, THE IDEA WAS TO SPRINGBOARD MENTAL HEALTH COURT AFTER VETERANS COURT WITH REGARD TO STAFFING, UNDERSTAND THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LITTLE MORE INTENSIVE LIKE VETERANS COURT HAS BEEN, MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND TREATMENT APPOINTMENTS AND SO FORTH, AND THAT GOES TO THE CONCEPT OF THE NEW POSITION WE TALKED ABOUT. THAT MAY BE A FAR LESS HANDS-ON APPROACH FOR PROSTITUTION COURT, THAT MIGHT ROLL INTO DRUG COURT. THERE MAY NOT HAVE BE AVAILABLE PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ITEMS. I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

I THINK DWI COURT OR DRUG COURT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SOME LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE AND SHEPHERDING, BUT PROBABLY IS GOING TO FALL SHORT OF THE INTENSITY THAT WE SEE IN VETERANS COURT AT THIS TIME. THOSE ARE ALL FLEXIBLE AND WE ALL INVITE THE COMMISSIONER COURT INPUT ABOUT WHAT YOUR POLICY GOALS ARE AND HOW WE CAN BEST MEET THOSE.

>> I ACTUALLY DO WANT TO REITERATE -- (INDISCERNIBLE) LISTENING TO WHAT YOU SAY AND ALSO (INDISCERNIBLE). -- TO MAKE THAT PART OF THE CONVERSATION

HOW BEST TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE. (INDISCERNIBLE). >> LET'S ASSUME WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT. I GUESS WITH THEOUT YOU ARE FOUR SPECIALTY COURTS, WHAT THEY COME TO BE OR MAY LOOK LIKE IS A LITTLE BIT UP IN THE AIR.

BUT IF WE HAVE SIX SPECIALTY COURT, THE IDEA IS TO CREATE A SPECIALTY COURT MANAGER.

WE HAVE A GENERAL CASE FLOW THAT COMES IN, REGULARLY FILED CASES, WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S CRIMINAL IN NATURE, AND THEY'RE DIVERTED OUT TO A SPECIAL SPECIALTY COURT.

THEY WORK WITHIN THAT COURT, THEY WILL EITHER FAIL OR SUCCEED.

IF THEY FAIL TO COME BACK INTO THE REGULAR PROCESS, THEN THE CASE IS DISPOSED OF.

IF WE HAVE SIX SPECIALTY COURTS, WE ANTICIPATE SOMEBODY IS GOING TO WRANGLE ALL THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND CASE WORKERS, AND A SPECIALTY COURT MANAGER COULD BE APPROPRIATE.

THE PROPOSAL WAS AT $63,000. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A RESPONSE TO THAT WAS SLIGHTLY LESS. WHATEVER THE AMOUNT WOULD BE, WE BELIEVE THAT THERE WOULD BE A MANAGER IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL SPECIALTY COURTS INVOLVED. WITH REGARD TO MENTAL HEALTH, WITH EARE SEEKING A CASE MANAGER SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE IN VETERANS COURT, AND THE OPTIMAL

[03:25:02]

PERSON WOULD BE SOMEONE THAT'S PROBABLY A LICENSED MASTER SOCIAL WORKER OR LICENSED PRACTICING CLINICIAN TO ACT IN A LOT OF WAYS LIKE AN INVESTIGATOR OF A COURT WOULD, BE EYES AND EARS ABOUT THE SUCCESS OR POTENTIAL SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THOSE MOVING INTO COURT AND QUARTERBACK LIKE THE VETERANS COURT IS REQUEST B QUARTERBACKD BY THE CASE MANAGER.

WE EXPECT A RANGE AROUND 57- TO HIRE AN INDIVIDUAL WITH THAT CLINICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH EXPERIENCE AND WE THINK THAT'S ESSENTIAL TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT.

CAN I ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT OR ANY OTHER ISSUES?

>> COMMISSIONERS? >> ALL RIGHT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. >> APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. >> GREAT, OVERALL AWESOME.

THANK YOU. >> JUDGE, WE HAVE FOUR MINUTES. DO YOU THINK WE COULD TAKE A

QUICK RESTROOM BREAK? >> WHAT? THAT'S ODD COMING FROM THAT SIDE

OVER THERE. >> SURE. WE'RE JUST GOING TO LEAVE THOSE RUNNING AND SLIDE OUT REAL QUICK FOR A BREAK. A QUICK IN AND OUT.

]

>> YOU'RE UP. IF YOU WILL INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE VIEWING CAMERA.

[03:30:03]

>> MIKE JONES, DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING LIGHT TO THE EMERGENCY SERVICES. I'M GOING TO TAKE THE BUDGET WORKSHEET REPORT, GAVE IT TO ALL OF Y'ALL. WE ASKED FOR 83-15 FOR EMERGENCY FEES AND BONDS. I LOOKED AT THAT, AND IN ORDER TO KEEP THE FIRE MARSHAL AND THE MEMBERSHIPS, TO STAY CURRENT FOR THE FIRE MARSHAL AND THE TWO MEMBERSHIPS FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS AND THE INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.

ON THE MAINTENANCE REPAIR, I GAVE YOU -- >> I'M NOT TRYING TO BUY INTO YOUR TIME, WHAT DO WE GET FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP. HOW VALUABLE IS IT.

>> PRETTY VALUABLE, CONSIDERING THE COLLABORATION WITH ALL THE OTHER EMERGENCY MANAGERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INTERNATIONALLY. IT'S PRETTY INEXPENSIVE. WE'RE TAKING ABOUT $225.

>> OKAY. >> MOVING ON TO THE EQUIPMENT AND MAINTAIN REPAIR ON 5411, I

GAVE ALL OF Y'ALL A REPORT THAT SHOWS THE WET TECHNOLOGIES. >> WATER AND EARTH TECHNOLOGIES.

>> ON THE WARREN BUFFETT AND EARTH TECHNOLOGY YOU SEE IT SAYS 139 ON THE BOTTOM LINE, THAT INCLUDES THE 10,000 JUST IN CASE. REMOVE THAT 10,000 JUST IN CASE, AND WE NEED 129 129- ON THAT. THE SECOND PAGE, YOU HAVE ANOTHER $16,000 FIGURE, THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPOSITIONING OF OUR LIME WATER AND FLOOD MONITORING SYSTEM THERE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT WE NEED, INCLUDES THE REPLACEMENT BATTERIES FOR THE MONITORING SYSTEMS, WAW'S (PHONETIC) IS THE REMOTE WEATHER MONITORING SYSTEM AND LOW WATER CROSSINGS, 146,069 IS WHAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN AND OPERATE THOSE SYSTEMS WITHIN THE COUNTY. I'D LIKE TO TAKE YOU TO THE SECOND PAGE TO HAVE THE BUDGET WORKSHEET, COMMUNICATION CAPITOL. THIS IS FOR A PASSENGER TRUCK, THE DUAL CONTROL HEAD FOR HAZMAT. I KNOW YOU DIDN'T FUND US ON THIS ONE. I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO IMPRESS WHAT THIS IS FOR.

THIS IS OUR VHF, OUR UHF, OUR 800 AND 700 SO HAZMAT CAN COMMUNICATE WHILE ON SCENE AND MAKE THE CHANNEL ADJUSTMENTS VERSUS GOING INSIDE THE CAB TO CONTINUE TO CHANGE THOSE

>> MIKE, I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION. >> YES, SIR.

>> THE ONLY REASON I BRING IT UP IS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NUMBER OF THESE.

AS FOR THE 2016 ROAD BOND, WE HAVE, WHAT, EIGHT LOW WATER CROSSINGS THERE THAT WE'RE REDOING, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS, BUT I KNOW I'VE GOT TWO IN MY PRECINCT, TWO OTHER ONES, IF WE HAVE TO RELOCATE NEW LIME KILL BECAUSE OF THAT NEW BRIDGE, WE WILL HAVE TO DO IT ON PROBABLY 24R50*ES A HANDFUL OF THOSE AS WELL.

MY QUESTION WOULD BE I WOULD TRY TO COORDINATE WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND SEE IF THAT COULDN'T COME OUT OF THE UTILITY RELOCATION FOR THOSE PROJECTS BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THESE FOR EACH ONE OF THESE NEW PROJECTS, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK FOR IT IN YOUR BUDGET WHEN WE PROVIDED MONEY IN THE BOND TO DO THAT.

WOULD Y'ALL AGREE WITH THAT? I WOULD EVEN ASK IF THERE'S EXISTING FUNDS FOR THE SPECIFIC

ONE LEFT IN THE UTILITY RELOCATION FOR LIME KILL. >> THAT WOULD BE MY QUESTION,

TOO. >> THERE MAY BE. >> OKAY.

I CAN CHECK. >> THAT MAY SAVE YOU MONEY IN YOUR BUDGET AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S

THERE FOR, SO... >> I'M ALL ABOUT THAT. WE DON'T CARE WHERE WE GET THE MONEY AS LONG AS WE CAN KEEP THINGS WORKING AND IN OPERATION. SO IF YOU GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO DOUBLE BACK WITH JERRY AND ASK HIM AND SEE IF WE'VE GOT ANY MONEY LEFT FOR THAT LIME KILL MOVE, THAT 16,000 COMING OUT OF THAT BOND, THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC, ACTUALLY.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. >> ANY QUESTIONS ON THE DUAL HEAD HAZMAT TRUCK? THE LAST ITEM I HAVE TO BRING UP HERE IS -- I SHOULD HAVE PUT THIS IN THE BUDGET REQUEST INITIALLY, SO I GUESS YOU GET TO HEAR ME SPEAK ABOUT HOW WE NEED A FIRE MARSHAL ASSISTANT,

[03:35:05]

DEPUTY. I PUT NUMBERS TOGETHER. I DID SOME COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS WITH OUR COUNTY AS COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, COMAL COUNTY HAS A STAFF OF SIX IN THEIR FIRE MARSHAL DIVISION, AND THOSE FOLKS ARE ARSON INVESTIGATORS, ASSISTANT INVESTIGATORS, ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHAL, DEPUTY FIRE MARSHAL. STAFF OF SIX AND THEY HAVE 106,000 PEOPLE IN COMAL SCNT.

GUADALUPE COUNTY WITH 150,000 FOLKS, THEY HAVE A STAFF OF FOUR.

IN MIDLAND COUNTY BY LUBBOCK, THEY HAVE A STAFF OF 7, 168,000 FOLKS IN THAT COUNTY.

IN ELLIS COUNTY, WITH I IS WHERE WAXAHACHIE IS, 173,000 FOLKS AND THEY HAVE A STAFF OF FOUR.

IN SMITH COUNTY, WITH SI WHERE TYLER TEXAS IS, THEY HAVE A COUNTY POPULATION OF 227,000 WITH A STAFF OF FIVE. WE CURRENTLY ARE AT THE 238,000. NOW, I KNOW THE CENSUS WILL BRING US IN A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN THAT, I THINK, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A GROWTH RATE THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF 3% IN THIS COUNTY, ABOUT 7,400 BODIES COMING IN HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT THINGS TO OFFER FOLKS WHO COME IN AND LIVE HERE. HAYS HAS DONE MORE IN TWO DECADES THAN ANY OTHER COUNTY. GIBB IS ON FOR 20 HOURS, BUT HE'S GIVING US 26 HOURS A WEEK ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH UP TO ADDITIONAL 11 HOURS NOT ON THE CLOCK EVERY WEEK.

WE HAVE A POOL, JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY, WE HAVE A POOL FOR FIRE INVESTIGATORS AND ARSON INVESTIGATORS. WE HAVE FOUR PART-TIME FIRE INVESTIGATORS AND SIX PART-TIME& ARSON INVESTIGATORS THAT PULLS OUT OF OUR 1,040 HOURS EACH YEAR.

ONE FIRE MARSHAL. ONE 20-HOUR PART TIMER AND TEN OF THOSE REALLY PART TIMERS THAT JUST COME OUT ON CALLS WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY WHEN THE FIRE MARSHAL CAN'T MAKE IT FOR HIMSELF. I'M ASKING FOR A DEPUTY FIRE MARSHAL FULL TIME.

WE BRING HIM IN HERE, THE STARTING RATE IN HAYS COUNTY IS 46,000.

THE EAVE PAY IN TEXAS IS 56,000. WE'RE STARTING OFF ASKING FOR SOMEONE TO COME IN 10,000LESS.

20% TILE WE CAN CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN IT COMES TO CROSS. I'M ASKING YOU TO GIVE US ANOTHER DEPUTY FIRE MARSHAL TO COME IN AND HELP NATHAN AND THE TEAM THAT HAVE BEEN DOING SO WELL AND SUCH A GOOD JOB, PLUS WE HAVE A FIRE CODE CHANGING IN 2021, AND IF WE WANT ANY CO-COMPLIANCE AND ASSISTANCE, I WOULD IMPLORE THIS COURT TO AT LEAST GIVE US THIS FIRE MARSHAL.

THAT'S MY ASK. >> I'LL TELL YOU THAT THE -- AND I THINK THAT Y'ALL CAN PROBABLY SPEAK TO THIS AS WELL OR BETTER THAN I CAN, BUT GIVEN THE VOLUME THAT WE'VE SEEN IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, I THINK THE HARDEST PART FOR ME IS THAT, AT THIS POINT, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS BUSTING THEIR TAIL TO TRY TO GET PLANS REVIEWED AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS, AND I'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH NATHAN, HE'S WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL, HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB DEDICATING HOURS TO DO THE PLAN REVIEWS, AND I COMMEND HIM FOR THE NEW PROCESS HE'S PUT IN PLACE WHERE IT'S A BRING IN STAMPED PLANS THAT MEET FIRE CODE THAT ALL WE DO IS A QUICK REVIEW ON THOSE BECAUSE THEY ARE CERTIFIED, BUT THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO DO IT. THE LARGEST DELAY WE HAVE IN THE DEVELOPMENT REALM RIGHT NOW, POINT BLANK, IS ON FIRE PLAN REVIEW, AND IT'S BY NO MEANS -- IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT THE WORK ETHIC OR THE HOURS THEY'RE PUTTING IN.

THEY'RE PUTTING IN EVERYTHING THEY CAN, BUT IT'S NOT GETTING DONE BECAUSE THEY'RE OVERWHELMED. AND I CAN TELL YOU, I CAN'T GO TWO DAYS WITHOUT SOMEBODY CALLING ME AND SAYING MY PLAN'S BEEN SUBMITTED FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, SIX MONTHS.

AND, SO, I WOULD, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CONCERN FOR ME, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM THE REST OF

THE COURT BECAUSE I NO EIT'S A CONCERN FOR ME. >> WELL, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENT AND I KNOW THAT OTHERS HAVE SAID WE DO SO MUCH MORE WITH LESS, AND THAT HAS BEEN A

[03:40:07]

COMMENT THAT HAS BEEN MADE FOR YEARS, ACTUALLY. YOU KNOW, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT OUR DEPARTMENTS DO BECAUSE I KNOW THAT Y'ALL PUT IN A BUNCH OF HOURS AND DO THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND YOU DO IT SHORT-HANDED. AND, SO, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP, AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE LIKE THAT IN MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS AND WE

NEED TO ADDRESS IT. SO THANKS. >> WHAT ELSE?

>> THAT'S IT, SIR. >> ONE QUICK COMMENT ON FIRE CODE.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON HOW WE ADMINISTER THAT FIRE CODE.

IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR THE 12 OR SO YEARS THAT I HAVE NOW, I'VE SEEN THE REQUESTS OVER THE YEARS TO START A FIRE CODE. I CAN REMEMBER THE COURT VARIOUS TIMES BEING ASKED TO CREATE A FIRE CODE AND EACH TIME INVOLVING MULTIPLE POSITIONS, WHICH I THINK WE'RE UNDERSTANDING WHAT THOSE REQUESTS USED TO MEAN. IT CAME WITH THE FIRE CODE.

THE COURT NEVER ADOPTED THE FIRE CODE IN THOSE DIFFERENT ASKS USUALLY BECAUSE IT INVOLVED -- OR AT LEAST ONE TO HAVE THE REASONS, SITTING ON THE SIDELINE, BECAUSE IT INVOLVED THE ADDITION OF MULTIPLE STAFF MEMBERS TO STRAIT IT PROPERLY. SO I THINK WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING IS WE STARTED A FIRE CODE WITH ONE AND A HALF PEOPLE TO ADMINISTER THE FIRE CODE, AND, LIKE COMMISSIONER SMITH MENTIONED, ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL PARTS OF OUR PRECINCT WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE UTILITIES OR THINGS LIKE THAT, IT HAS BECOME A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS AND I THINK WE HAVE WORK TO DO ON HOW IT SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED.

I'M FINE ON HOW THAT INVOLVES STAFF. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO PROPERLY ADMINISTER THE FIRE CODE. I DOUBT AN EXTRA HALF A PERSON CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEMS I'M SEEING ON THE STREET. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO BE WORKING BOTH SIDES AND TO MAKE THE PROCESS MORE EFFICIENT, EXACTLY WHAT THE FIRE CODE MEANS AND WHAT IT IS AND HOW WE'LL ADMINISTER IT. I DEFINITELY SUPPORT LOOKING INTO IT BECAUSE I DO NOT BELIEVI WAS AROUND FOR THE CREATION OF IT AND I'M HERE NOW -- I DO NOT THINK WE WERE PREPARED FOR THE ROLLOUT OF THE FIRE CODE, AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT HAPPEN NOW WITH OUR CITIZENS. WE NEED TO FIGURE THAT, HOW IT SHOULD LOOK, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF STAFFING FOR IT AND PREPARING FOR IT.

AND NOW WE'VE SEEN IT, SO WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF, I THINK, WHAT WE SHOULD DO, BUT I THINK THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE PROCESS, EXACTLY HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADMINISTER IT AND

WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE. >> ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK THAT, EFFICIENCIES, WHEN DESIGNING A WHEEL, YOU'RE LIKE FIVE LUG NUTS, OKAY, TAKE IT DOWN TO FOUR, OKAY.

STILL HOLDS. TAKE IT DOWN TO THREE. OH, WOBBLING, PUT ANOTHER ONE BACK ON. I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. SO I LIKE THAT EXPLANATION.

IT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND, OKAY, WE'VE REACHED OUR FLOOR, LET'S MOVE BACK UP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU FOR

BEING ON TIME. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE Y'ALL.

>> NEXT UP THE CONSTABLE PRECINCT TWO. IF YOU WILL PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM. YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES. YOU CAN YIELD BACK WHATEVER

TIME. >> THANK YOU, SIR. AND I CAN PASS THE REST OVER.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I WON'T NEED THE WHOLE 15 MINUTES.

>> PERFECT. >> UNLESS Y'ALL ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE'LL BE

HERE AN HOUR OR SO. >> NO, WE WON'T. NO, WE WON'T.

COME SPEAK TO Y'ALL TODAY AND DO MY PRESENTATION. I AM A CONSTABLE MICHAEL TORRES, COUNTY PRECINCT TWO. ROBERT ELLER JUST PASSED OUT WHAT I WILL BE GOING OVER IN MY PRESENTATION. I AM HERE BECAUSE I'M REQUESTING A NEW DEPUTY IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. THREE YEARS AGO, I STARTED A MOTORCYCLE UNIT.

I DID SO BY UTILIZING AN OLD MOTORCYCLE WE RECEIVED FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

I USED EXISTING STAFF TO SEE HOW EFFECTIVE IT WOULD BE, AND I THINK IT WAS PRETTY WELL RECEIVED AT THAT TIME. WE RECEIVED NUMEROUS REQUESTS FROM THE PUBLIC AND FROM COMMISSIONERS TO ASSIST WITH TRAFFIC COMPLAINTS MAINLY, AND HAVING THE MOTORCYCLE VISIBLE IS

[03:45:06]

MORE EFFECTIVE. I HELD OFF ASKING LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC AND THE UNKNOWNS THAT SURROUNDED IT. AS OTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE BEING LIFTED AND COURTS PLAYING WATCHUP TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN OUR AREA, IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO MEET THE DEMANDS USING THE EXISTING STAFF. THIS IS MY FIFTH BUDGET CYCLE SINCE TAKING OFFICE FIVE YEARS -- FOUR YEARS, ACTUALLY. I INHERITED ONE.

I HAVEN'T ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF TILL NOW. PRECINCT TWO IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COMMUNITIES IN OUR COUNTY. THE FOLLOWING IS A COMPARISONNEN GROWTH OF SURROUNDING COMMUNITY DURING MY TERM IN OFFICE. JUST IN THE CITY OF COWL SINCE I TOOK OFFICE, THERE HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO 18,000 NEW PEOPLE THAT MOVED IN AND WE WELCOMED THEM.

I KNOW I DO. I'M SURE Y'ALL DO, TOO. AND THESE NUMBERS REFLECT THE GROWTH OF THE SURROUNDING CITIES BUT NOT IN PRECINCT TWO IN GENERAL OR THE COUNTY, THE NUMBERS I PROVIDED Y'ALL. SAN MARCOS, THEY'VE HAD 9,000 INCREASE, DUE TO 6,000 DRIPPING SPRINGS 4500. I'M I DON'T HAVE TO TELL Y'ALL THIS.

I'M HOPING Y'ALL WOULD KNOW THE& GROWTH GOING ON IN HAYS COUNTY. >> WIMBERLY, 132.

WOW. >> THOSE ARE ALL CHILDREN BORN IN WIMBERLY.

>> I LEFT THAT ONE OUT INTENTIONALLY BECAUSE TO HAVE THE LOW NUMBER.

EVERYBODY LIKES MOVING TO KYLE. AS YOU CAN SEE MY PREDIRCHGHT RECEIVED ALMOST DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF NEW RESIDENTS AS COMPARED TO OTHER AREAS AND HAVE HAD NO STAFF INCREASE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. AND PRECINCT TWO, WE HAVE MANY NEW SUBDIVISIONS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THESE NUMBERS WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO INCREASE. ALONG WITH THE DEPUTY, I'M REQUESTING ALL EQUIPMENT BE PROVIDED FOR HIM OR HER, WHICHEVER MAY BE THE CASE.

YOU KNOW, I'VE PUT ALL THE LINE ITEMS. AS FAR AS THE EQUIPMENT, I DIDN'T HAVE A TOTAL ON THAT, BUT I'M SURE IT CAN BE FIGURED OUT IF NEED BE.

ALSO, I KNOW CONSTABLE MONAHUP TOUCHED ON THE COMPUTERS LAST WEEK.

WE ARE ASKING FOR THE DELL COMPUTER. I DIDN'T HAVE A COMMENT ON

SURFACE PRO THAT WOULD HELP MY CASE. >> AT APPROXIMATELY $900 PER UNIT DIFFERENCE IN COST, MY CHOICE WAS TO GIVE YOU GUYS EVERYTHING YOU NEEDED AND NOT DESIGNER BRAND, FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION, OF WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE MOST IDEALLY, BUT I WANTED EVERY DEPUTY TO HAVE IN THEIR POSSESSION THE THINGS THEY NEEDED TO DO THEIR JOB MOST EFFICIENTLY. AT $900 PER UNIT, WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THE WHOLE COUNTY, YOU

CAN SEE HOW QUICKLY THAT ADDS UP. >> I GET IT'S COST EFFECTIVE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, TECHNOLOGY WIDES, ALL --WISE ALL WE NEED IS AN OPERATING SYSTEM AND SOMETHING TO RUN OUR NDT AND OUR IN-CAR CAMERA. THE TECHNOLOGY PART, YES, SIR, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE, BUT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE NEED IT, DON'T GET ME WRONG.

>> RIGHT. >> YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I'M REQUESTING THE DELL COMPUTER BECAUSE IT'S MORE RUGGED, IT'S BUILT TO STAY IN THE CAR EIGHT, TEN, TWELVE HOURS, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. YOU CAN POP IT IN AND OUT. I KNOW, FINANCIALLY, YOU KNOW,

IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO -- >> I JUST WANTED TO GET NOT THE VERY BEST FOR EVERY ONE, BUT A

LITTLE LOWER SO THAT EVERYONE COULD ACTUALLY GET ONE. >> RIGHT.

>> THANK YOU. >> IF I MAY JUST GO BACK TO THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE NEW DEPUTY.

WHAT WE FORGOT TO PUT IN THERE IS TO PIECE THIS TOGETHER WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE THE MOTORCYCLE.& HAVING EVERYTHING FOR THIS TO RUN BECAUSE WE'RE USING EXISTING STAFF, WE HAVE GROWN WHERE WE

[03:50:01]

NEED A NEW BODY TO TAKE OVER. SO WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR A CHUNK OF MONEY, JUST A BODY, BUILT UP

TO THAT POINT. >> SO WE HAVE TWO DEPUTIES THAT ARE QUALIFIED TO DO MOTOR?

I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON WHO. >> YEAH. >> OKAY.

>> SO WE'RE NOT EVEN -- WE USE OUR EXISTING VEHICLES, TOO. WE'RE NOT EVEN ASKING FOR A

VEHICLE TO GO WITH THAT. >> THAT'S VERY GOOD. WHAT I DID WAS, WITH THE NEW LINES BEING DRAWN, WE WEREN'T SURE WHERE THE NEW PRECINCTS WERE GOING TO SIT FOR YOU, SO MAYBE -- JUST AS AN EASY EXAMPLE, MAYBE YOU NEED MOTORS, WHICH I FULLY SUPPORT AND I AGREE THEY'RE MORE EFFICIENT. OF COURSE, ON RAINY DAYS, THAT'S NOT, BUT THOSE ARE FAR AND FEW OVERALL. THE WHOLE REDISTRICTING IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE MOTORS PATROLLING, WHATEVER, 967, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN 967 IS NO LONGER IN YOUR PRECINCT, THAT'S WHY I PUT THE BUDGETING OF DEPUTIES IN THE POOL BECAUSE YOU SEE THE SUPPORT, BUT IT WASN'T SPECIFIC TO AN OFFICE BUT MORE TO THE JOB.

>> I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE ARE GRATEFUL, BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, OUR PROBLEM AREAS ARE PROBABLY WELL WITHIN PRECINCT TWO THAT ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

>> SURE, MAY NOT, RIGHT. >> I MEAN, IF THEY DO, I'LL PROBABLY END UP LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB BECAUSE I WILL BE MOVED OUT OF MY PRECINCT AS WELL.

WE HOPE NOT, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE REQUESTING BECAUSE WE ARE GROWING, PRECINCT TWO, KYLE IN GENERAL. YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE I'VE SAT UP HERE AND ASKED FOR ANYBODY, OF COURSE I KNOW YOU RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE WHO

HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE I'VE COME IN. >> I WANT TO DOUBLE DOWN THAT I FULLY SUPPORT THE EFFORT, IT WAS JUST THAT VARIABLE THAT HADN'T BEEN ADDRESSED YET FOR MY COMFORT LEVEL TO SAY THIS PRECINCT IS THIS NUMBER OR WHATEVER.

>> I'M NOT TRYING TO RUSH OR YO, WOULD THAT BE DONE -- >> DRAWING THE LINES IS ALL WE'RE WAITING FOR, REALLY, FOR MY COMFORT LEVEL TO DETERMINE WHERE THE PRECINCTS ARE GOING TO

LIE. >> I'VE HAD PEOPLE ASK. I SAID ASK THE COUNTY JUDGE OR

COMMISSIONERS, I DON'T KNOW. >> WHEN THE LINES ARE DRAWN WE CAN GET TO SEE WHAT PRECINCT WILL ACTUALLY INHERIT, FOR EXAMPLE, A SPOT THAT NEEDS ANOTHER MOTORS UNIT AND THAT'S

WHERE WE FEEL WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. >> 18,000, JUST ALONE IN THE

CITY OF KYLE. >> THE CORRIDOR IS A ZONE FOR SURE.

>> YES, SIR. ALSO I'M HERE FOR A REQUEST FOR A NEW DEPUTY, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE CONSTABLE -- OR THE CLERK FROM 108 TO 110, CHANGE IT FROM JUSTICE CLERK TO JUSTICE ADMINISTRATOR AND TO INCREASE THE SALARY. I KNOW THIS WAS DISCUSSED LAST WEEK AS WELL, SO I'M JUST HERE TO -- I'M IN SUPPORT OF THAT 100% FOR THIS NEW BUDGET.

HOW, OVER THE YEAR DURING MY TENURE AS CONSTABLE, I BELIEVE I HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT I DON'T ASK FOR UNNECESSARY ITEMS NOR HAVE SHOWN ANY WASTEFUL SPENDING.

IN FACT, I'VE WORKED WITH OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS BY UTILIZING SOME OF OUR REPLACED EQUIPMENT THAT STILL HAS SOME VALUE TO IT AND TO PUT IT BACK TO YOU WITHIN THE COUNTY.

I DO BELIEVE I'VE SHOWN THAT BECAUSE OF GROWTH IN MY PRECINCT THAT THE TIME HAS COME TO INCREASE MY STAFF TO MEET THE DEMANDS THAT THE COMMUNITY EXPECTS FROM ME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS? >> ONE COMMENT ON REDISTRICTING BECAUSE THAT PROCESS IS ABOUT TO START. ONE GOOD THING WOULD PROBABLY BE FOR ALL THE CON STABILITY TO LOOK AT THEIR CONSTABLE PRECINCT LINES ALONG WITH THEIR J.P.S TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY AREAS THAT NEED TO BE EXCHANGED JUST BECAUSE OF A NEW SUBDIVISION RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

FOR THE MOST PART, I DON'T THINK WE'VE CHANGED J.P. CONSTABLE LINES EXCEPT FOR HERE OR THERE.

THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING GOOD FOR Y'ALL TO DO IN THE INTERIM IS TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE AREAS. IF ONE IS SPLIT, WHICH ONE SHOULD WE PUT IT IN.

>> YOU EACH KNOW THE AREAS BETTER THAN ANYBODY, IF YOU COULD MUTUALLY COME UP WITH WHAT

LINES NEED TO BE, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. >> THOSE PRECINCTS AREN'T SUBJECT TO THE EXACT SAME RULES AS OURS POPULATIONWISE, SO Y'ALL CAN DO IT IN A MORE EQUITABLE MANNER WHEN IT COMES TO POLICING THOSE AREAS, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT.

>> WE WANT YOU GUYS TO DO EXACTLY WHAT THEY'VE SAID, GET TOGETHER AND DECIDE BECAUSE

[03:55:01]

THERE ARE, LIKE YOU'VE SAID, LOTS OF NEW NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE SPLIT NEIGHBORHOODS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFICIENT USE OF IT.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS SIDE? >> I WAS GOING TO SAY LAST THURSDAY I DID SPEAK WITH JIM ALISON AND WE KNOW THEY GOT NUMBERS LAST THURSDAY. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO COME IN ON THE 16TH AND THEY GOT THEM IN EARLY. SO I KNOW THEY ARE WORKING ON

MAPS. >> I THINK THEY GOT THE OVER ALL COUNTY NUMBERS FOR EACH COUNTY,

BUT AS FAR AS THE INDIVIDUAL BOXES AND PRECINCTS -- >> AND THEY WERE GOING TO VERIFY, PUT HAT INTO THEIR SOFTWARE PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE ACCURATE.

THEY CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO USE ANYTHING THAT'S INACCURATE, SO THEY'RE WORKING ON IT.

>> THANK YOU CONSTABLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH DEPUTY CONSTABLE.

YOU GUYS ARE REALLY WONDERFUL AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

>> THANK YOU. >> WE ARE IN A GREAT PLACE FOR THE DISTRICT CLERK.

WE'RE FIVE MINUTES EARLY. >> (INDISCERNIBLE). >> THAT'S WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU FOR BEING SO PATIENT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M BEVERLY CRUMLEY, HAYS COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK. I'M REALLY ONLY HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT ONE ITEM FROM THE SUBMITTED BUDGET, AND THAT IS MY NEW EMPLOYEE REQUEST. SO, FIRST, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURTS THAT I SERVICE.

OF COURSE, I SERVICE DISTRICT COURTS. WE HAVE FIVE CURRENT DISTRICT COURTS, ONE FAMILY SAW JUDGE, ONE CPS ASSOCIATE JUDGE, AND ONE ATTORNEY GENERAL COURT MASTER, ALL OF WHICH MY STAFF SERVES THIS COURT IN SOME CAPACITY. SO YOU ALSO KNOW THAT A NEW COURT HAS BEEN APPROVED TO COME IN TO HAYS COUNTY IN 2022, AND THAT'S THE REASON IMASKING FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF TO SERVICE THAT COURT. WITH THE LAST NEW DISTRICT COURT WE GOT, I DID NOT ASK FOR ADDITIONAL HELP, AND WE MANAGED WELL.

I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AGAIN. JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS ON WHAT KIND OF DOCKETS WE'RE& SEEING AND WHAT KIND OF STAFFING REQUIREMENTS IT'S CREATING, OF COURSE, WE JUST STARTED JURY TRIALS BACK AGAIN JUNE 7TH OF THIS YEAR.

SINCE THAT DAY, WE HAVE SENT OUT 24 SUMMONS FOR PANELS FOR JURIES JUST SINCE JUNE.

THIS WEEK WE HAVE STOPPED HAVING JURY TRIALS AGAIN FOR AN UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT OF TIME UNTIL THE COVID NUMBERS CAN MAYBE REASSESS AND THE COURTS FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE BRINGING PEOPLE IN. WE'VE SUMMONED AT LEAST 400 JURORS FOR EACH PANEL WE SUMMONS. ON SOME WEEKS WE WERE SENDING OUT ABOUT 1,600 JURY SUMMONS EACH WEEK, SO THAT'S FOUR JURY IMPANELMENTS EACH WEEK. NOT EVERY WEEK IS THAT BUBBA IT RANGES TWO TO FOUR EVERY WEEK SINCE WE STARTED BACK. FOR NONJURY CRIMINAL DOCKETS, WE HAVE DONE 372. FOR CIVIL DOCKETS, WE'VE DONE 230, AND FOR FAMILY LAW CASES, 189. SO EACH ONE OF THOSE COURTS REQUIRES ONE OF MY CLERKS TO GO INTO COURT AND MANAGE THE DOCKET, ANSWER QUESTIONS, TAKE OATHS, DO COURT WRITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I CAN SPREAD IT OUT A LILT BIT FARTHER, I HAVE FOUR COURT CLERKS THAT SERVICE CRIMINAL COURTS WITH ONE CHIEF DEPUTY AND THREE CLERKS THAT SERVICE CIVIL AND TWO THAT ESERVICE FAMILY COURTS. TWO HAVE A CHIEF DEPUTY AND MY ASSISTANT AND MYSELF WILL GO IN AND HELP FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN WE NEED IT.

ADDING A NEW COURT WILL CREATE MORE DOCKETS THAT NEED TO BE HEARD AND TO SPREAD THAT MANY COURT CLERKS THAT MANY TIMES A WEEK IS EXTREMELY TIGHT, NO TOT MENTION WE HAVE TO STILL MANAGE THE PAPERWORK THAT COMES IN, THE CASES FILED, THE ISSUANCE THAT NEEDS TO GO OUT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REQUESTS. SO I HAVE TO HAVE STAFF IN THE OFFICE AND IN COURT, AND IT'S KIND OF TIGHT SOMETIMES. I ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW I CURRENTLY HAVE 17 EMPLOYEES AND SINCE JUNE OF 2020, I'VE LOST NINE EMPLOYEES, MOST RESIGNED TO GO TO HIGHER-PAYING POSITIONS.

THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE. I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE FOR ME.

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> LET ME ADD ONE MORE THING, TOO.

I KNOW WHEN WE SUBMIT THE BUDGET REQUESTS, WE ASK FOR IT TO START OCTOBER.

IT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE FOR ME TO MOVE THAT DATE TO APRIL. I WOULD LIKE AT LEAST A SIX-MONTH PERIOD OF TIME TO TRAIN SOMEONE TO BE READY TO GO TO COURT PRIOR TO THE COURT

COMING IN. >> COMMISSIONER. >> THAT'S THE QUESTION I WAS

[04:00:02]

GOING TO ASK. >> ME, TOO. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING SO THUR ROGUE. APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM, YOU DID YIELD BACK A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME.

GENUINELY GRATEFUL. WE ARE SO LUCKY THE TAX OFFICE IS HERE.

MS. JENNIFER CANE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE PUBLIC.

>> JENNIFER CANE, HAYS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND ULTIMATELY THE TAXPAYERS, WE'RE INCLUDING IN THE BUDGET THE TWO CSRS FOR THE OFFICE.

WE ARE SWAMPED. WE JUST ARE. TO ECHO OUR DISTRICT -- OR OUR COUNTY CLERK AND BASICALLY ALL TO HAVE THE OTHER OFFERS THAT HAVE GOTTEN UP TO SPEAK, WE ARE STRUGGLING, AND I HATE TO ADMIT THAT BUT WE ARE AND SO THAT IS THAT WILL TAKE SOME TO HAVE THE STRESS OFF OUR LEAD DEPUTIES, WHICH WILL TAKE SOME OF THE STRESS OFF THE SUPERVISORS, AND IT ALL COMPOUNDS ITSSELF, SO I'M VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. TO DIVE IN, I ALSO WANT TO ECHO THE POTENTIAL PAY STIPEND FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKERS. THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT SEVERAL OF MY EMPLOYEES HAVE ASKED ABOUT BEFORE I EVER TAKE OFFICE, TOOK OFFICE, SO I JUST WANT TO PUT MY TWO CENTS IN TO SAY THAT THAT WOULD BE VERY, VERY MUCH APPRECIATED IF

POSSIBLE. >> DID YOU HEAR US SAY THAT EARLIER?

IS THAT WHEN WE BRING IT UP? >> YES. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, MAN,

THAT'S A COINCIDENCE. GOOD JOB. >> YES.

AND ALSO, I HAVE SOME HANDOUTS. WE'LL GET THOSE OUT TO YOU. I'M REALLY HERE TO JUST ADDRESS THE PAY FOR MY CHIEF DEPUTY AND MY ACCOUNTANT. BEGINNING WITH THE CHIEF DEPUTY, SHE IS AT A 114, A GRADE OF 114. SHE'S AT 56,100, AND I'M ASKING THAT SHE BE BROUGHT UP TO A 117.

I DID HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH SHERRY WITH H.R. ABOUT HOW THE MARKET SUPPORTS THIS, AND SHE IS ACTUALLY BELOW THE MARKET BY 25 25%. SO THE SALARY MARKET DATA COMPARISON TO THE MINIMUM SUPPORTS A REGRADING TO 117 AND INTERNAL EKE EQUITY TO SIMILAR POSITIONS IN THE COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY TO OTHER COMMAND POSITION AND OTHER ASSISTANT DEPUTY POSITIONS. IT FISTS IN WITH THE 117. HER POSITION OVERSEES MY ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE. IT TOUCHES ON EVERY ASPECT OF OUR OPERATIONS.

SHE ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL SUPERVISORS, ALL SUBSTATIONS, ALL PERSONNEL.

SHE ALSO MUST BE PREPARED AT ANYTIME TO STEP IN AS TAX ASSESSOR FOR MYSELF IN MY ABSENCE. JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER SPECIFICALLY, I KNOW WE CAN'T GET TOO IN DEPTH WITH THE SPECIFIC PERSON, BUT I DO WANT TO JUST SAY SHE'S BEEN HERE FOR EIGHT YEARS AND SHE IS ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT, THOUGHTFUL INDIVIDUALS I HAVE EVER MET.

I AM SO LUCKY TO HAVE HER AND I DO NOT WANT TO LOSE HER. I FEEL LIKE IT IS REALLY A JOB SEEKER'S MARKET RIGHT NOW, AND, SO, I AM GETTING NERVOUS ABOUT MY CHIEF DEPUTY AND MY ACCOUNTANT LOOKING ELSEWHERE, SO THAT IS WHY I AM HERE TODAY. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CHIEF

DEPUTY POSITION BEFORE I GO ON TO THE ACCOUNTANT? >> NOPE.

>> OKAY. MY ACCOUNTANT, SHE IS CURRENTLY AT A 113.

I AM ASKING THAT SHE GET TO THE MIDPOINT OF HER GRADE, WHICH WOULD BE 57-853.

AND YOU WILL SEE THE FIRST PAGE OF THAT PACKET IS A COMPARISON OF OUR OTHER BENCHMARK COUNTIES AND BOTH OF THESE POSITIONS ARE WELL UNDER COMPARISON TO POSITIONS IN THOSE COUNTIES.

AFTER SPEAKING TO SHERRY AND REVIEWING HER JOB DESCRIPTION VERSUS HER ACTUAL DUTIES, IT MAY, AND I THINK SHERRY MAY RECOMMEND THIS, BE PERTINENT TO ACTUALLY REGRADE HER, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I HAD SUBMITTED AT THE TIME. SO SALARY MARKET DATA COMPARISON TO THE MINIMUM DOES SUPPORT HER REGRADE. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE REALLY CHANGED SINCE WE BROUGHT HER ON WHICH HAS BEEN THREE YEARS AGO, SHE BALANCES AND PREPARES CASH STATEMENTS FOR ALL ELEVEN BANK ACCOUNTS. SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF WIRE TRANSFERS IN MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS AND SHE HAS PUT IN ENOUGH SAFETY CHECKS.

SHE'S DONE A LOT FOR OUR ACCOUNT SECURITY. AND, SO, AGAIN, SHE WAS HIRED THREE YEARS AGO. SHE BRINGS 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO THE TABLE.

AND THOSE ARE MY ASKS. >> BEAUTIFUL. VERY VALID.

[04:05:07]

COMMISSIONERS, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. >> I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU. >> I LOVE HOW YOU ARE PASSIONATELY REPRESENTING YOUR

DEPARTMENT. >> THANK YOU. >> I LOVE IT.

TO WORK WITH SOMEONE THAT IS SUPERVISED -- LET ME STEP BACK A SECOND.

SO HAVE YOU AS A SUPERVISOR GOING UP TO BAT FOR THOSE FOLKS, THE WAY YOU ARE DESCRIBING IT IS

SO HEART WARMING TO ME. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> COMMISSIONER? THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL DONE.

AND WE ARE ON I.T., MR. MCGILL, YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES.

>> AN HOUR'S WORTH OF MATERIAL JUST MAINLY HERE TO REVISIT THE STAFFING REQUESTS THAT WE MADE IN THE BUDGET. I THINK TO SAY THAT WE'VE BITTEN OFF A LOT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT, SINCE WE'RE SLOWLY BECOMING THE I.T. HUB OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND A LOT OF OTHER AGENCIES HERE COMING UP PRETTY SOON. WE'RE TRYING TO GET SHIFT WORK GOING IN OUR OFFICE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH WORK THAT WE CAN'T DO DURING THE DAY WHEN PEOPLE ARE WORKING. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE -- I KNOW THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE KNOW THEY WORK 24-7, SO WE HAVE TO SCHEDULE OUR STUFF AROUND THEM A LOT OF TIMES, AND THE D.A. AND A LOT OF OUR OFFICES THAT WORK AFTER HOURS, EVERYTHING HAS KIND OF BEEN A DOMINO EFFECT FOR US.

THE MORE WE HAD ON, THE MORE DEMAND WE HAVE FOR OPPOSITIONS IN OUR OFFICE FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE DOWN TO THE COURTS AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS. WE'VE GOT EVERYBODY JUST BURNING UP HOURS DAY AND NIGHT. WE WORK NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS PRETTY MUCH EVERY NIGHT.

OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE PLAQUESED OUT ON VACATION HOURS HAVE GIVEN ALL THEIR HOURS BACK FOR VACATION HOURS. THIS HAS GONE ON A COUPLE OF YEARS.

IT'S DOUBLED IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. I CAN SAY OUR WORKLOAD THAT IS PRETTY MUCH DOUBLED IN THE PAST TWO YEARS ACROSS THE BOARD. BUT I WENT BACK AFTER OUR LAST EXECUTIVE SESSION AND DID A REALLY GOOD ANALYSIS OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO KIND OF GET OUR HEADS ABOVE WATER. WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN BUMPED, YOU KNOW, OUR TELEPHONE SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR PORTAL, OUR DISCOVERY, OUR WEB SITE WORKING WITH -- WE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS WE HAVE TO KEEP BUMPING BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET THEM ON THE SCHEDULE.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GETTING ANY BETTER, AND WITH THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS COMING ON BOARD WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY HOPEFULLY PRETTY SOON FOR THE SAKE OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S A GREAT THING, BUT IT JUST PUTS A LOT OF EXTRA WORK ON OUR DEPARTMENT.

I ASKING FOR AN ACTUAL LEAD POSITION -- AND I THINK THAT'S A TYPOON MY PART.

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REQUEST FOR A GRADE 115 FOR A LEAD OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR AND THEN AN APPLICATIONS ANALYST, WHICH DOES MOST OF THE CLEANUP WORK AND MOST OF THE SYSTEM MANAGEMENT WORK ON THE BACK END WITH ODYSSEY, YOU KNOW, BRAZOS TICKET WRITERS, ALL THE BACK THINGS THAT COME IN WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ANOTHER FRONT LINE TECH POSITION.

SO LOOKING AT THOSE, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE JUDGE APPROVING THE POSITION FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY ANALYST. THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY WITH ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE TAKEN ON OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. BUT WE'VE GOT TO GET SOME KIND OF RELIEF OF OUR EMPLOYEES HAVING TO WORK SO MANY HOURS. BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT.

IT FLOWS OVER THE WEEKEND AND STARTS BACK. AFTER A WHILE THE VACATION TIME GETS EATEN UP AND THEY CAN'T USE IT. SO I'M TRYING TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF SHIFTWORK GOING SO WE CAN OFFSET OUR SHIFTS AND HAVE PEOPLE WORK, YOU KNOW, FROM MAYBE NOON ON TO EVENINGS BECAUSE MOST OF THE BORK THAT WE'RE HAVING TO DO FOR OUR SECURITY AND OUR CYBER SECURITY AND ALL OF OUR SYSTEM PATCHES FOR SOFTWARE, WE CAN'T DO IT WHILE PEOPLE ARE AT WORK BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SHUT THE SYSTEM DOWN, YOU KNOW, SCHEDULE OUR DISASTER RECOVERY, AND IT'S JUST OVERFLOWING TO WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO WORK, YOU KNOW, AT THE NEXT MORNING BEFORE WE'VE COMPLETED THAT NIGHT'S WORK OF BACKUPS AND PATCHES.

SO WE'RE REALLY STRUGGLING TO DO THAT WITH THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE WITHOUT EVERYBODY WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK. WE'RE DOING 14 TO 16-HOUR DAYS EVERY DAY JUST TO KEEP IT GOING.

[04:10:07]

BUT AFTER REVIEWING ALL THE BEST PRACTICES FOR CYBER SECURITY, WE CAN'T RELAX ON KEEPING OUR PATCHES AND OUR SOFTWARE UPGRADES CURRENT. WE GET THOSE EVERY DAY.

IF YOU GET THOSE CYBER SECURITY REPORTS, WE GET THEM EVERY DAY, AND WE HAVE TO REVIEW THEM, AND WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND DO THE APPROPRIATE PATCHES, YOU KNOW, REVIEW OUR NETWORK TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE NO VULNERABILITIES. IT'S JUST BECOME SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD TO DO IN YEARS PAST BUT IT'S A REALITY THAT IT'S JUST PART OF OUR DAILY PROCESS.

SO I THINK WHAT I ASKED FOR WAS KIND OF WHAT THE COURT ASKED ME TO DO DURING OUR LAST EXECUTIVE SESSION IS COME BAG WITH A REALISTIC STAFFING OF WHAT IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY GET US ON A MORE OF A PROACTIVE THAN A REACTIVE BASE ON I.T. WE'RE IN A WHAC-A-MOLE MODE NOW,

WE'RE JUST DOING IT AS IT COMES UP. >> A QUESTION.

THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES IN YOUR DEPARTMENT NOW, HOW MANY? >> WE'RE FILLING THE LAST

POSITION NOW. >> GOOD. >> WE ALWAYS HAVE A VACANCY.

WE USUALLY LOSE THEM TO HIGHER-PAYING POSITIONS. WE'VE LOST ONE FOR RETIREMENT THIS YEAR. BUT IT JUST TAKES US SO LONG TO GET A POSITION FILLED.

THE MARKET IS COMPLETELY COMPETITIVE, AND THAT WAS ONE TO HAVE THE REASONS WE KIND OF WANTED TO DO A SALARY STUDY THIS YEAR TO SEE WHERE WE STOOD IN THE MARKET.

I KNOW EVERYONE SPOKE ABOUT THAT, BUT WE REALLY CAN'T GET A LOT OF APPLICANTS, AND IT JUST IS APPALLING TO ME, WITH THE AMOUNT OF POSITIONS -- YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OUT THERE, YOU THINK THEY WOULD WANT A JOB, BUT THEY JUST DON'T APPLY. AND I KNOW IT'S BECAUSE OF SALARIES, MAINLY. WE'RE HAVING TO FIGHT THAT AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, AS THE WORKLOAD. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALL THESE OTHER PROJECTS THAT I'VE ALREADY SEEN ON THE HORIZON THAT'S ALREADY COMING UP, NOT INCLUDING OUR PHONE SYSTEM, BUT, YOU KNOW, NEW VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM, NEW TIME KEEPING SYSTEM. ALL THIS STUFF EVENTUALLY FALL ALSO BACK ON US FOR MAINTAINING IT. SO JUST TRYING TO KEEP OUR HEAD ABOVE WATER, MAKING SURE WE HAVE APPROPRIATE STAFFING, BECAUSE SOME OFFICES HAVE TO SUFFER UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE WE FOCUS SO MUCH ATTENTION ON PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THAT PORTION OF I.T., AND IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, BUT OTHER PROJECTS WE'VE HAD TO JUST KEEP BUMPING.

SO OUR PHONE SYSTEM, WE'RE ON YEAR TWO NOW, SO WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF.

EVERY MONDAY WHEN WE HAVE A STAFF MEETING WITH ALL MY STAFF WHEN WE GO OVER PENDING PROJECTS, WORK ORDER, SAME THING KEEPS COMING UP. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THE TIME TO DO THIS? IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BUMPED BACK.

SO THAT WAS THE INTENTION THAT THE -- THE EMPLOYEE REQUEST THAT I MADE.

SO IT'S NOT A SKY IS FALLING TYPE THING, BUT THIS IS WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD GET US A TO A POSITION WHERE WE COULD OFFER HIGH LEVEL SUPPORT ESPECIALLY TO THE NEW AGENCIES COMING ON, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EXPECTATION& THAT WE SUPPLY GOOD QUALITY I.T.

SERVICE TO THEM. DID I STAY UNDER MY 15 MINUTES? >> COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS?

>> I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR TAKING US SERLS AND DOING A RALE ANALYSIS AFTER WE HAD OUR CONVERSATION LAST TIME. I KNOW YOU HEARD OUR CONCERNS IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND YOU DID A THOROUGH JOB IN LOOKING AT THE BUDGET REQUESTS, YOU CAN TELL YOU DID A THOROUGH JOB.

I DO APPRECIATE IT. >> THANKS, JEFF. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK ESPECIALLY ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE AND Y'ALL REALLY PICKED UP TAKING IT AND HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES AND REALLY JUST WANT YOU AND YOUR STAFF KNOWING HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THEM TAKING THAT ON. REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB WITH IT.

>> THERE'S A DIRECTOR IN THE PIPELINE, RIGHT, COMMISSIONER? >> YES, FIRST ROUND OF

INTERVIEWS. >> HELP IS ON THE WAY. >> THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I POINTED OUT AND I THINK IT WAS MY FAULT IS THAT IF THAT LEAD POSITION IS GOING TO BE CONSIDERED, THAT WAS A GRADE 115. I THINK I SUBMITTED IT AS A 114, BUT THAT DOESN'T MATCH THE JOB DESCRIPTION. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A 115 BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE SOME SUPERVISORY ROLES OVER THE SECURITY.

>> COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? >> I DON'T THINK I CAN SAY MUCH MORE THAN MY COLLEAGUES ARE ALREADY SHARED, JEFF. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. I KNOW THAT, THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE TOLD US THAT YOU DON'T LIKE TO ASK FOR, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT YOU REALLY DON'T NEED, BUT I THINK THAT WAS A DISSERICE AT TIMES, RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU WERE REALLY GETTING MORE AND MORE BEHIND ON YOUR PERSONNEL SIDE, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOUR STAFF DOES.

[04:15:06]

I KNOW IT'S A LOT. AS COMMISSIONER SHELL SAID, THE PUBLIC SAFETY PART OF OF IT IS BIG AND Y'ALL HAVE DONE AN AWESOME JOB. SO THANKS, AND I WILL SERIOUSLY

CONSIDER THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. >> WE REALLY DO WANT TO GET ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE RATHER THAN BEING ON THE REACTIVE SIDE OF DOING I.T. WORK.

I KNOW IT'S COME UP A FEW TIMES FOR THERE TO BE DATA FLOW ANALYSIS DONE IN THE COUNTY TO MAKE US MORE EFFICIENT, I WOULD LOVE TO GET TO THAT POINT. WE'RE JUST SO BOGGED DOWN WE

DON'T HAVE TIME TO GET TO THAT. BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THERE. >> THANK YOU, JEFF.

I WAS BEING VERY MINDFUL OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING BECAUSE WE WERE BEING TELEVISED.

I WAS, LIKE, DON'T GO TOO FAR IN ANYTHING. YOU DID PIEWTFULLY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE HAVE OUR FINAL PRESENTATION, BRETT LITTLE JOHN,

JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER. 15 MINUTES ARE ALL YOURS. >> ALL RIGHT.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> I KNOW I'M HOLDING OUT FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.

BRETT LITTLE JOHN, HAYS COUNTY JUVENILE CENTER. MENTAL HEALTH UP THE UNT PROBABLY ALONG THE LINES OF A P.C. BACK STORY, HISTORICALLY OUR DETENTION KIDS DON'T GET A LOT OF COUNSELING WHILE THEY ARE THERE.

THERE'S A REASON. ON AVERAGE A DETENTION KIDS STAYS SEVEN DAYS.

WHAT HAS CHANGED ACE KIND OF PREVIOUSLY SAID HERE IS WE'VE SEEN AN UPTICK IN SOME PRETTY SERIOUS OFFENSES ALL THE WAY TO MURDER, AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. ASSAULT FAMILY VIOLENCE CONTINUES, VIOLENCE AGAINST FAMILIES. SO WE'RE DEALING WITH SOME PRETTY SERIOUS CASES AND, AGAIN, THESE KIDS ARE NOT GETTING A LOT OF SERVICE, AND I'LL EXPLAIN THAT IN A SECOND, TOO.

ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE'RE DEALING IS WE HAVE CRISIS REFERRAL FORMS FOR THOSE KIDS THAT WE SCREEN COMING IN, THAT FLAG EITHER SUICIDAL IDEATION OR DEPRESSION.

FISCAL YEAR 20, WE HAD 247 OF THOSE FOR DETENTION, AND THIS YEAR ALONE AS OF THE END OF JULY WAS AT 144. 100 DIFFERENT BUT ALSO 100 LESS KIDS THAN PREVIOUS YEARS DUE TO COVID. SO WE'RE OBVIOUSLY SEEING MORE REFERRALS FOR THAT ASPECT OF OUR DETENTION PROCESS. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, A COUNSELOR HA HAS TO SEE THEM. RIGHT NOW I'M DIVERTING MY DIRECTOR OF COUNSELING SERVICE TO DO THAT PROCESS FOR US, DOING AN EVALUATION TO SEE IF THEY ARE SUICIDAL OR NOT AND NEED FURTHER MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT IN REGARDS TO HOSPITALIZATION. ANOTHER THING WE TALKED ABOUT THE INCREASE OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS, ASSAULT, FAMILY VIOLENCE, CONTINUOUS VIOLENCE, POSTER CHILD IS SITTING IN THE DETENTION CENTER NOW. A YOUNG MAN, WE'VE HAD HIM THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. HE SPENT 44 DAYS WITH US IN JUN, 42 DAYS IN MARCH AND CURRENTLY SPENDING 56 DAYS WITH US. THIS YOUNGMAN'S ALSO -- AND HIS OFFENSES ARE ALL AGAINST THE FAMILY, AND THEN CONTINUOUS FAMILY VIOLENCE. HE SPENT A BRIEF EIGHT PERIOD DAY WITH US IN THE POST PROGRAM TILL HE TRIED TO SCALE THE FENCE, WE PUT HIM BACK IN DETENTION. THEY SENT HIM TO ANOTHER PLACEMENT, FOR BATTERY.

HE'S BACK WITH US NOW. ADJUDICATING AND SPENDING GOING TO TJJD BECAUSE THEY HAVE HOLDS, YOU HAVE TO SET AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING A KID. SO WE'RE WAITING ON THAT.

HE'S SITTING IN OUR DETENTION CENTER WAITING FOR THE TRANSITION.

IT'S CURRENTLY AT 56 DAYS. IT LAPSE OVER INTO A STANDARD THAT WE HAVE AS WELL.

KIDS CAN ASK FOR A TIME OUT, RESIDENT INITIATED SEPARATION. IF A KID DOES THAT AND STATES I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POPULATION, I WANT TO GO TO MY ROOM OR CELL, AND IF THEY HAVE MORE THAN THREE OF THOSE A WEEK, THEN WE HAVE TO DO A PLAN, ACCORDING TO OUR STANDARDS, OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO WITH THEM TO GET THEM BACK INTO A PROGRAM BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOOD FOR KIDS TO BE IN ISOLATION THAT LONG. HE DOES IT ONCE A WAY, DUNCE EVERY OTHER DAY HE'S GOING IN THERE. SO IT'S A CONSTANT STRAIN FOR US DEALING WITH THE STAFF TO DEAL WITH THIS YOUNG MAN. HE'S GOING TO TJJDC (PHONETIC).

HE'S IN AN EXTREME. I HAVE A JUNG LADY THAT FITS THE SAME CATEGORY.

[04:20:03]

EVERY TIME SHE IS COMES IN, ASSAULT, FAMILY VIOLENCE, RUNNING AWAY.

EVERY TIME SHE COMES IN, SHE'S BEEN RAPED, SHE'S 14 YEARS OLD. IT'S OVER AND OVER.

WE CALL THEM OUR FREQUENT FLYERS. SO IT'S BEEN AN UPTICK.

I REALLY PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE COME LAST SUMMER. DUE TO COVID, I WAS HOPING IT WAS GOING TO CALM DOWN BUT IT DIDN'T DO THAT. IT'S STARTING TO BECOME ONE TO

HAVE THE BELLS IS GOING OFF, WE HAVE GOT A PROBLEM. >> AND THE MENTAL HEALTH

COUNSELOR POSITION WOULD BE HANDY. >> THEY WOULD BE.

THEY WOULD BE DEDICATED TO DEDEPOSITION. IT'S A COOPERATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN US AND JUVENILE PROBATION AND I WILL EXPLAIN TOWARD THE END HOW THAT WORKS BECAUSE THAT COUNSELOR WORKS WITH THOSE KIDS WHEN THEY'RE ON PROBATION IF THEY DON'T GET PLACED SOMEWHERE. THE SECOND ASPECT, IS DETAINEES ARE STAYING LONGER.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, AVERAGE IS G7 AND A HALF DAYS OR SEVEN DAYS BEFORE.

I'LL SAY REALLY DECEMBER 2019. WHAT CHANGED THEN IS BASICALLY WE HAD OUR FIRST SERIES OF MURDERS. WE HAD FOUR YOUNG MEN COME IN IN DECEMBER OF 2019.

OF THOSE FOUR, THE ONE THAT STAYED THE LONGEST WAS 556 DAYS. I HAD TWO THAT STAYED -- WELL ONE, STAYED 505, ONE 493, ONE YOUNG MAN STAYED SIX MONTH TILL HE ASSAULTED ONE OF OUR STAFF.

HE WENT TO JAIL AND SERVED THE REST OF HIS TIME IN JAIL. BACKSTORY BEHIND THAT IS COVID PUT A DAMPER ON SOME OF THAT BECAUSE COURTS CLOSED DOWN, BUT THE D.A.S OFFICE TRIED TO CERTIFY THE FOUR YOUNG MEN TO STAND TRIAL AS AN ADULT. THEY LOST ALL THOSE CASES AND WOUND UP HAVING TO ADJUDICATE THEM AS WELL. ONE OF THEM WAS PRETTY HARD TO DEAL WITH, SO HE GOT IN A LOT OF RESTRAINTS, NEEDED A LOT OF HELP.

PROBATION TAPPED IN WITH SOME TELE-HEALTH, A CONTRACT WITH A GUY NAMED MR. CONVOY, ESPECIALLY WHEN COVID HIT, THEY DO IT ON FACETIME. SO YOU SEE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THESE YOUNG MEN THAT THEY WERE WITH US PENDING COURT, DUE TO COVID AND ALSO DUE TO COVID WE DIDN'T ALLOW VISITATION FOR OBVIOUS REASONS SO THEY HAD VERY LITTLE PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THEIR PARENTS BECAUSE MOST OF THE HEARINGS WERE DONE VIRTUALLY, WE DID NOT ALLOW VISITATION, SO IT BECAME KIND OF JUST A BAD PERFECT STORM FOR A LOT OF THESE KIDS.

BUMP ALONG, I CURRENTLY HAVE FOUR MORE KIDS IN FOR MURDER. AT ONE POINT I HAD EIGHT KIDS IN FOR MURDER. I HAVE BEEN WITH THE COUNTY 30 YEARS.

PRIOR TO THESE FOUR COMING IN, WE HADN'T HAD THAT MANY KIDS FOR MURDER MY ENTIRE CAREER.

THE CURRENT GROUP OF KIDS I HAVE NOW, ONE'S BEEN THERE 241 DAYS, HE IS PENDING CERTIFICATION HEARING, THE JUDGE IS HEARING AND RECREWING THE PAPERWORK TO SEE IF HE'S GOING TO TRANSFER HIM TO THE JAIL OR NOT. THREE OTHERS ARE BASICALLY HERE, TWO OF THEM AT 200 DAYS RIGHT NOW AND ONE AT 201 DAYS. ALL OF THEM PENDING COURT AGAIN. MY UNDERSTANDING FOR CERTIFICATION, TO STAND TRIAL AS AN ADULT. TWO OF THOSE FOUR RIGHT NOW ARE ALSO PENDING WHAT'S CALLED CHAPTER 55 HEARING, AND IT'S BASICALLY A COMPETENCY HEARING FOR JUVE NICELY, WHETHER THEY'RE COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL, WHETHER THEY'RE ARESULTS ORB JUVENILE AT THIS POINT, SO YOU CAN SEE THEY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AS WELL.

AGAIN, PROBATION IS PIPING IN, MR. CONVOY, ON HIS VIDEO OR THEIR LAPTOPS, AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS, MR. CONVOY'S CURRENTLY IN PENNSYLVANIA. SO IT'S NOT THE SAME THING.

IT'S GOOD FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME AS BEING HANDS-ON, FACE-TO-FACE AS GOOD AS WE CAN DO WITH MASKS. IT'S JUST A PATCH-IN. DOES IT MEAN WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE MURDERS? I CAN'T TELL YOU. EVERY SECOND OR THIRD OFFENSE INVOLVES ASSAULT WHETHER PUBLIC OR FAMILY AT THIS POINT. SO IT'S CONCERNING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE JUVE NICELY. I'LL TELL YOU SOME OF THIS, WE'RE BASICALLY WHAT I CONSIDER SOUTH AUSTIN NOW. THREE OF THESE YOUNG MEN ARE FROM AUSTIN AND DID THEIR OFFENSES IN THE BUTTE AREA. WE'RE BECOMING A HUB FOR THEM AND THEY'RE GETTING IN TROUBLE HERE. CURRENT SERVICES, I MENTIONED MR. CONVOY.

THERE'S ANOTHER LADY THAT WILL COME OUT AND SEE OUR KIDS PERIODICALLY.

MR. CONVOY CHARGES $80 AN HOUR. THE YOUNG LADY THAT COMES OUT FROM THE LOCAL YOUTH SHELTER

[04:25:04]

CHARGES $25 A DAY. SHE CAN COME IN AND DO NONCONTACT VISITATION.

MR. CONVOY IS TAKING CARE OF HIS ELDERLY MOTHER AND IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THERE'S NO INTENTION FOR HIM TO COME BACK. SHE'S WILLING TO DO IT VIRTUALLY BUT IN MY MINDETH NOT THE SAME AS SITTING FACE TO FACE IN A ROOM WITH SOMEBODY TO WORK THROUGH THEIR ISSUES.

A LOT OF THE MURDER KIDS, SINCE THE DETENTION SITE IS LIMITED ON THE SERVICES IN REGARDS TO COUNSELING AND WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTIVE, PRETTY HIGH-PROFILE CASES, WHAT THEY GET INTO WITH CANCELING AND DON'T WANT TO BE PULLED INTO CORT, BUT THE ATTORNEYS ARE STARTING TO SQUAWK A BIT ABOUT THERE'S NOT A LOT GOING ON WITH THESE KIDS.

SCHOOL'S IN SESSION, WE STARTED YESTERDAY, SO THAT KEEPS THEM BUSY A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU CAN IMAGINE A 14, 15, 16-YEAR-OLD KID THAT'S STAYING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME PENDING LIFE CHANGING OFFENSES, IT'S REALLY HARD. IS IT THE NORM? I HOPE NOT BUT ALL INDICATORS IS WE'RE HEADED DOWN THAT PATH. WE'RE HAVING BIG CITY PROBLEMS RIGHT HERE IN HAYS COUNTY TO. PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, MY LONG-TERM KIDS SENT TO US STATEWIDE TO DO PROGRAMMING, THEY WERE PROGRAMMING IS SIX MONTHS, 180 DAYS.

THEY CAN COMPLETE THAT PROGRAM IN SIX MONTHS, AND I'VE GOT SOME OF THESE KIDS WELL EXCEEDING THAT IN POST, NOT SEEING COUNSELORS ON A CONSISTENT BASIS, MAYBE ONCE A WEEK, ONCE EVERY OTHER WEEK VIA SKYPE. MY LONG-TERM KIDS ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY DO FIVE DAYS A WEEK OF GROUP COUNSELING, INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING ON TOP OF THAT AND FAMILY.

WE PLAN TO TAKE THAT MODEL IF WE GET THIS PERSON AND DO SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR.

STAFF WOULD BE ON SITE AND THIS IS THE CONJUNCTION WITH PROBATION BECAUSE PREADJUDICATION IS A PROBATION RESPONSIBILITY. THEY CAN CONDUCT THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS REFERRALS, OUR LONG-TERM COUNSELORS HAVE STAY WITH THEIR CLIENTS BUT, ALSO, WHEN A KID IS NOT ON PROBATION WHERE IT'S A SERIOUS OFFENSE WHERE THEY GET SENT AWAY, THEY CAN TO PROGRAMMING WHERE THEY'RE ON PROBATION. PROBATION WOULD HAVE TO TRIYANL AND FIGURE OUT WHO NEED IT MOST, IF WE CAN'T GET THEM INTO MHMR, WHICH WE KNOW THERE'S A BIG DELAY IN GETTING SERVICES THERE, THEY WOULD CONTINUE AT OUR PLACE SO THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS AS WELL. TALKING ABOUT DOING IS PROVIDING PARENTING CLASSES.

MOST OF OUR KIDS ARE COMING TO US FOR A REASON, PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT BEING SUPERVISED THAT WELL IS AT LEAST ONE PART OF IT. THE OTHER PART OF IT IS THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE SERVICES THEY NEED LOCALLY FOR VARIOUS REASONS, AND THEY HAVE THESE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PLUG UP WITH DAM THAT'S LEAKING AND LEAKING PRETTY SEVERELY AT THIS POINT. AGAIN, I HOPE IT'S NOT THE FUTURE, BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK IT IS. THAT'S WHAT THE COUNSELOR

POSITION IS ABOUT. >> DO YOU HAVE A STOP WATCH GOING? YOU'RE LITERALLY A MINUTE OUT. GOOD JOB. COMMISSIONERS, COMMENTS?

>> COMMENT. WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND YOURS. ANOTHER AREA THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, BECOMING MORE AND MORE AWARE OF THAT -- OF THE HELP THAT IS NEEDED AND, YOU KNOW, IN PROVIDING THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH THAT HELP, AND, SO, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION AND LETTING US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND I HOPE THIS CAN POSSIBLY HELP IN THAT AREA.

>> I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION. >> SURE. >> GIVEN THAT I KNOW THAT WE CAN USE THE ARP FUNDS SPECIFICALLY, I'VE LOOKED IN THERE AND THERE'S PROVISIONS ON MENTAL HEALTH ON POSITIONS. MY QUESTION IS, IF WE COULD SOMEHOW MAKE THIS FIT IN AS A POSITION AT LEAST ON A TEMPORARY BASIS, HONOR THOSE FUNDS, THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO AT LEAST PARTIALLY FUND THIS OUT OF THOSE FOR THE FIRST YEAR. WE WOULD HAVE TO EXTEND IT FOR THAT FIRST YEAR, I THINK. VICKY, COULD YOU COSOME CHECKING ON THAT BECAUSE IT COULD HELP US

OFFSET THE PHOS COST OF THE T YEAR, MAYBE. >> AND WE WOULD HAVE TO SPEND IT BY DECEMBER 31, 2024, SO THERE'S A GOOD WINDOW THOR THAT ACTIVITY.

>> EAGREE. I KEEP ASKING VICKY, FEDERAL FUNDS, STATE FUND, WHAT CAN WE

DO? I'M ALWAYS DOING THE SAME THING. >> THIS IS ONE OF THE CATEGORIES

[04:30:02]

SPECIFICALLY OUTLINED IN THERE. IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD SHOOT ONE.

>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

WE GENERALLY APPRECIATE IT. I'M GOING TO GAVEL THIS. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT HASN'T SPOKEN IN THIS CRRM IN THE WORKSHOP, APPROACH THE PODIUM. OTHERWISE, WE'LL CLOSE THE

WORKSHOP AND CONTINUE COURT. >> YES, MA'AM. >> COULD I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR NEXT WEEK'S BUDGET WORKSHOP? WE ANNOUNCED THAT TO BE HELD AT 11:00.

YOU WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING NEXT WEEK AT 1:00, AND THAT'S A POSTED PUBLIC HEARING.

THERE'S TWO DEPARTMENTS COMING NEXT WEEK AS WELL AS SHERRY WITH THE MARKET ANALYSIS.

WE CAN CHANGE THE FINAL TIMEE BUDGET WORKSHOP BUT WE MIGHT NEED TO START AT 10:00 FOR THE

WORKSHOP TO GIVE YOU YOU MORE TIME -- >> (INDISCERNIBLE).

>> YES. >> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THREE DEPARTMENTS TO LISTEN TO NEXT WEEK, AND THEN GO THROUGH THE LIST, MAKE ANY CHANGES, GIVE ME TIME TO RECONCILE IT AND THEN

VOTE DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 1:00. >> PERFECT.

10:00 A.M. SOUNDS PERFECT. YOU GOT IT. PLEASE OPEN AGENDA ITEM 15.

[15. Discussion and possible action to authorize the demolition and replacement of shower stalls and restroom partitions within the existing portion of the Jail Facility as part of the Jail Expansion Project.]

>> 15, DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE DEMOLITION AND REPLACEMENT OF SHOWER STALLS AND RESTROOM PARTITIONS WITHIN THE EXISTING PORTION OF THE JAIL FACILITY AS

PART OF THE JAIL EXPANSION PROJECT. >> SO MOVED.

>> COMMISSIONER, ANY IDEA? >> JUDGE, IN ORDER TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS JAIL STANDARDS, THIS WORK HAS TO BE DONE, AND, SO, THAT'S WHY WE'VE BROUGHT IT TO THE COURT FOR

THEIR CONSIDERATION. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. >> COMMISSIONER JONES.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER I THINK ALSO BY.

[16. Discussion and possible action to authorize the County Judge to execute a Professional Services Agreement between Hays County and Donnoe & Associates, Inc. for the creation of test exam booklets and questionnaires for the promotional exams at the Sheriff's Office.]

>> YES. >> JUDGE VEES RAY. >> YES.

>> TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND DUNNO FOR EXAMS AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SO MOVED.

>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER I THINK ING.

[17. Discussion and possible action to authorize the County Judge to execute a Professional Services Agreement between Hays County and Dr. Jan Ford Mustin to perform pre-employment psychological evaluations.]

>> YES. >> JONES. >> YES.

>> 17. >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS CAN'T TO PERFORM PRE-EMPLOYMENT PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS.

[18. Discussion and possible action to authorize the County Judge to execute a Professional Services Agreement between Hays County and Dr. Steven A. Logsdon, PH.D. to perform pre-employment psychological evaluations.]

[19. Discussion and possible action to create the Hays County Salary Grievance Committee for the remainder of the fiscal year Pursuant to Chapter 152 of the Local Government Code.]

[04:36:25]

>> THERE'S A TIMELINE FOR THE SALARY GRIEVER TO FILE AND THEN FOR US TO RESPOND.

AND WE NORMALLY LIKE TO FORM THE SALARY GRIEVOUS COMMITTEE IN ADVANCE.

THAT WAY WE CAN BE MORE NIMBLE IN RESPONDING TO IT. >> DO YOU FEEL THE VERSION WITH

THE ELECTED IS IN THE MIX OR WITHOUT IS BETTER? >> I DON'T RECALL.

>> DO YOU WANT ME TO NAME. >> NO, WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY IS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS I THINK WE'VE HAD THE OPTION OF HAVING THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THAT GRIEVANCE AND I CAN'T

RECALL THE LAST TIME WE DID ONE WITH JUST CITIZENS. >> THREE FISCAL CYCLES AGO I BELIEVE WE DID THE FIRST CHOICE, WHICH IS THE DESIGNATED ELECTED OFFICIALS PLUS MEMBERS.

>> THE NINE CITIZENS OR FOUR OR FIVE ELECTS? >> I'LL NAME THEM.

IT'S THE SHERIFF, COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR, COUNTY TREASURER, COUNTY CLERK, DISTRICT CLERK, AND THEN THE C.D.A. THAT TOTALS SIX.

SO I WOULD HAVE THEN THREE MEMBERS FROM THE GRAND JURY LIST PLUS ALTERNATES.

IF ONE OF THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS IS THE PERSON GRIEVING.

>> THEY'RE OUT. THEY WOULD BE OUT AND THEY WOULD ALTERNATE IN A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC. SO IT COULD BE FIVE, I SUPPOSED, OR SOMEONE FELT CONVICTED, IT'S