[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:13]
>> VERY GOOD MORM MORNING TO YOU ALL.
AS YOU CAN SEE, EVERYTHING IS TURNING GREEN.
IT IS SPRING. I KNOW EVERYBODY IS TAKING CLARITIND. THIS MORNING'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY PASTOR DARIUS TODD, ABUNDANT LIFE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE ALL RISE. >> LET US BOW.
MOST GRACIOUS FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE. WE THANK YOU, LORD THAT THE SUN IS SHINING AND THE FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING AND EVERYTHING IS MADE NEW. TODAY, IN YOUR PRESENCE, WE THANK YOU, GOD, FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER, TO LITIGATE AND TO MITIGATE AND TO SHARE IN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OVERSIGHT OF YOUR GREAT KINGDOM AND YOUR CREATION.
GIVE US WISDOM, GIVE US GRACE. GIVE US STRENGTH, TO DO THE RIGHT THING. IN SPITE OF ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE AND DISAGREEMENTS THAT WE MAY HAVE, I PRAY LORD, THAT YOUR SPIRIT WOULD LEAD US, BRING US PEACE, BRING US GRACE, TO SEE THE GOOD OF ALL AND TO BE ABLE TO MINISTER TO THEIR NEEDS. SO LORD, WE PLACE YOU ABOVE ALL OF THESE THINGS, ALL OF THESE ISSUES AND WE SAY LORD, HAVE YOUR WAY. WE THANK YOU, GOD, FOR YOUR POWER, FOR YOUR STRENGTH. AND IT IS IN JESUS NAME THAT I PRAY. AMEN.
>> PASTOR TODD, WELL DONE. THANK YOU AND FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, 1 NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL NA UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALLO N UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JN NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALLE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
>> HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS, ONE STATE, UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE.
>> WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE >> HERE.
>> COMMISSIONER JONES. >> HERE.
>> COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> HERE.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
>> SORTING THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENTS STACK, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO HAVE SUBMITTED A PUBLIC PARTICIPATION WITNESS FORM WILL NOW HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. UNFORTUNATELY, NO ACTION MAY BE TAKEN BY THE COURT, AS WE ARE EXPECTED NOT TO RESPOND.
ANY COMMENTS WILL BE TAKEN AS RHETORICAL.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS AND LANGUAGE CIVIL AND RESPECTFUL OR YOU WILL FORFEIT THE REMAINDER OF YOUR TIME.
IN THE SPIRIT OF RESPECT, PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES. THE COURTROOM IS NOT THAT FULL TODAY, SO I'LL SAY IT ONE MORE TIME JUST IN CASE YOU'RE DISTRACTED. PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES. FIRST UP TO SPEAK, IS MR. GARY SNELL. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I DON'T SEE MOVEMENT. IS THERE A GARY FROM -- OKAY.
SO IF GARY COMES BACK, WE'LL GIVE HIM A CHANCE.
YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE GARY. NEXT PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK,
MR. AMAYA. >> JUDGE, COURT, FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS PICKED UP ONE OF THESE LITTLE COMMENT THINGS, THIS ONE IS FILLED OUT, SOMEBODY'S NAME.
IT'S DATED 2/1/22. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT PERSON WAS HERE OR WHAT. LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, LAST WEEK, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND DOING THE RIGHT THING AND LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
AGAIN, SO MUCH GOING ON, COURT. WHEN I MENTIONED ABOUT SHOPPING LOCAL LAST TIME, FOR SOME REASON, I HAVE A VISUAL AID, CITIZENS COME UP HERE, WE HAVE A QUESTION, AND THE COURT SEEMS TO ANSWER IT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT DOOR, PRETTY SIMPLE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE COME UP WITH.
[00:05:01]
WHEN I MENTIONED ABOUT SHOPPING LOCAL, I WASN'T TALKING ABOUT HAYS LAWN SERVICE, I WAS TALKING ABOUT PRODUCE THAT USED TO PROVIDE PRODUCE TO THE JAIL. AND IT WAS OUTSOURCED.WHEN THE FORMER JUDGE THOMPSON WAS UP HERE AND THEY WERE DISCUSSING ABOUT HER COURT ADMINISTRATOR, I REMEMBER COMMISSIONER MARK JONES SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT HE COULDN'T MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION IF HE DIDN'T HAVE ALL OF THE FACTS. WELL, US CITIZENS, WHEN WE ASK QUESTIONS, WE TOO WANT THE FACTS, THE REAL FACTS, NOT WHAT Y'ALL CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, FACTS, WHAT THE REAL FACTS ARE.
WE HAVE QUESTIONS. AND AGAIN, SIMPLE, I REMEMBER CHIEF DAVENPORT COMES UP HERE, LYONS ASKED A QUESTION, ALL HE SAID WAS CLASSIFIED. I REMEMBER COMMISSIONER MARK JONES ASKING ABOUT CAR REPAIRS, HIS RESPONSE WAS IT BROKE.
WE NEED MORE THAN THAT. WE NEED SOME MORE MEAT ON THE BONE. THAT IS ENOUGH FOR US CITIZENS CONCERNED ABOUT THE TAXES AND BUDGET TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. I RAN INTO CONSTABLE PRECINCT ONE CAR. IT'S STILL IN VIOLATION.
THERE IS AN ARTICLE ABOUT BOTH CARS AND HOW THEY ARE PRIMARILY USED TO TARGET AND SHAKE DOWN CITIZENS.
I'VE GOT THE ARTICLE. THAT IS ILLEGAL.
HAS BEEN. FOR SOME REASON PRECINCT ONE CONSTABLE SEEMS TO BE ABOVE THE LAW.
I DON'T KNOW WHO TOLD THEM THAT.
BUT THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT LAW.
TALKING ABOUT THE LAW, YOU KNOW, I'VE CAUTIONED THIS COURT IN THE PAST ABOUT THE COURTROOM RULES AND REGULATIONS.
RIGHT NOW, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES CLARENCE THOMAS IS UNDER SCRUTINY FOR ABUSING THE LACK OF RULES WHEN IT COMES TO THE SUPREME COURT. WE'RE COMPROMISED AT THAT LEVEL, THIS IS WITHOUT EVEN -- I'M NOT GOING TO WORRY.
I CAN TELL YOU IT'S COMPROMISED.
AGAIN, WE NEED TO DO BETTER, COURT.
WE NEED TO DO BETTER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH Y'ALL. BUT I HOPE Y'ALL TAKE THIS SERIOUS. THANK YOU.
THE COURT:JUDGE BECERRA THANK . >> GOOD MORNING, I NOTICED FOUR MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY'S RESPONSE TEAM, 6/3/22 HAVE BOOKED LODGING FOR THE HISTORIC MANOR HOTEL, AT THE STAGGERING SUM OF $3,024. THAT IS OVER 700 APIECE.
HOW MANY OF US CAN AFFORD TO GO ON VACATION FOR $750 A NIGHT.
I CAN'T AFFORD $750 FOR AN ENTIRE VACATION.
APPARENTLY Y'ALL APPROVED THIS, EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THE COUNTY IS ALMOST THREE QUARTERS OF A BILLION IN DATE.
I EQUATE THIS OF GIVING THE PEOPLE OF HAYS COUNTY THE PROVERBIAL MIDDLE FINGER. THIS WEEK THERE IS A DISBURSEMENT FOR LODGING AT SOUTH SHORE HARBOR RESORT, 349.17. FAR LESS THAN THE 756.20, IT IS OUTRAGEOUS. THEN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY BUYS 255.92 WORTH OF AMMUNITION FROM GT DISTRIBUTORS.
YOU HAVE A METAL DETECTOR AND TWO WELL ARMED POLICE OFFICIALS OPERATING IT. SHOULD SOME UNFORTUNATE SOUL MAKE IT PAST THIS OBSTACLE, THERE IS AN ARMED OFFICER AROUND EVERY CORNER. YET THE DA FEELS IT IS NECESSARY TO ADD 255.92 TO THE DEBT BECAUSE HE AFRAID.
WE HAVE FINES FROM TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE FOR 1,755.
WHAT HAVE Y'ALL BEEN DOING TO THE GOLDEN CHIEF WAR BOOK? IN ONE WEEK THE COUNTY'S PARTS DEPARTMENT SPENT 5,000.
IF YOU VOTED FOR THE PARKS BILL AND BELIEVED THAT YOU WOULD ONLY BE PAYING $75 MILLION, THINK AGAIN.
YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF FINANCIALLY IF YOU HAD BOUGHT A TIME SHARE. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IF YOU GET A CHANCE, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO TO HILL COUNTRY ALLIANCE PODCAST WITH SHELL, EASING INTO WATERSHED PROTECTION WITH TAXES AND BONDS. SCROLL DOWN TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE. ANYWAY, I'VE GOT TO GET RIGHT INTO IT. FRANK DAVIS SAYS, IN OTHER
[00:10:01]
WORDS IF SOMEBODY TURNS ON THEIR TAP AND USES THAT RESOURCE, WELL, THEY'RE PAYING FOR ITS PROTECTION AND WE CAN RELY ON THAT FINANCING INTO THE FUTURE BECAUSE IT'S EXTREMELY UNLIKELY FOLKS ARE GOING TO STOP TAKING SHOWERS AND DRINKING WATER AND WASHING THEIR DISHES.WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT? HE'S TALKING ABOUT GETTING MONEY FROM THE EDWARDS UNDERGROUNDWATER DISTRICT THAT YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE PAYING TO PROTECT YOUR WATER, WHICH IS ACTUALLY YOURS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF CAPTURE, IF YOU HAVE A WELL OR WHATEVER. NOW, IF YOU WANT TO REGULATE WATER, DO IT WHEN BUY THE WATER COMMERCIALLY AND SELL IT COMMERCIALLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JUDGE BECERRA THAN: THANK YOU . >> PLEASE OPEN AGENDA ITEM
[1. Adopt a Proclamation recognizing Lights Out Hays County Months to the Hays County Friends of the Night Sky. BECERRA]
NUMBER 1. >> ADOPT A PROCLAMATION RECOMMENDING LIGHTS OUT HAYS COUNTY TO THE HAYS COUNTY
FRIENDS OF THE NIGHT SKY. >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. MR. AMAGA.
>> JUDGE, COURT, WHILE I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THE NIGHT, YOU KNOW, I LOVE THE NIGHT. I'M ALL ABOUT ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE AND CONCERN FOR ALL LIVING -- ALL LIFE FORMS. MY CONCERN IS THIS, COURT, PRIORITIES.
WE STILL DON'T HAVE DRINKABLE WATER, THE GOVERNMENT CENTER.
THIS MORNING WHEN I WALKED UP HERE, I NOTICED SOMETHING THAT HAS ME GREATLY CONCERNED AND I DON'T KNOW WHOSE IDEA THIS WAS.
IF YOU WALK UP THE SOUTH STEPS, SOMEBODY DRILLED INTO THIS COURTHOUSE, PUT THOSE LIGHTS THERE.
I WORKED AS A TROOPER, I REMEMBER WE HAD TO GO THROUGH HOOPS TO GET THAT APPROVED. YOU KNOW, PRIORITIES.
PRIORITIES. THAT IS WHAT I'M PUSHING FOR.
I'M ALL FOR WHAT THEY STAND FOR.
LESS LIGHT, I DON'T LIKE LIGHT, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHTTIME, IT DOES AFFECT THE MATING RITUALS OF ALL KINDS OF BUGS AND EVERYTHING. AT THE SAME TIME, PRIORITIES.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU.
WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE PROCLAMATION.
>> PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING LIGHTS OUT HAYS COUNTY MONTHS, WHEREAS LIGHTS OUT TEXAS IS A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE TO RAISE AWARENESS THE RISK LIGHT POLLUTION POSES TO BIRDS TO ASK BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS AND GOVERNMENTS TO TURN OFF NON-ESSENTIAL LIGHTS AT NIGHT FROM MARCH THROUGH JUNE 15TH AND FALL MIGRATION FROM AUGUST 15TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH. WHEREAS, HAYS COUNTY IS JOINING AN INTERNATIONAL LIGHTS OUT EFFORT AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORT ACROSS HAYS COUNTY BY PROPOSING AND IMPLEMENTING A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO DRAMATICALLY REDUCE HAZARDS TO MIGRATING BIRDS, ALLOWING THEM TO SAFELY PROCEED WITH THEIR JOURNEYS DURING CRITICAL MIGRATION PERIODS. MORE THAN ONE BILLION BIRDS DIE ANNUALLY IN THE UNITED STATES, IN COLLISIONS WITH BUILDINGS EACH YEAR, NEARLY 2 BILLION BIRDS TRAVEL THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS, MOSTLY AT NIGHT. WHEREAS, LIGHT POLLUTION FROM OUR NON-SHIELDED RURAL AND URBAN LIGHTS, BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, COMBINED WITH THE ENORMOUS BIRD MIGRATION, CREATES A PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENT.
BIRDS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE TEXAS ECONOMY, BIRDING TRAIL ATTRACTS TOURISTS AND LOCAL BIRDERS.
WHEREAS, TURNING OUT NON-ESSENTIAL LIGHTS ALSO PROVIDES ADDITIONAL BENEFITS, SUCH AS REDUCING ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION, SAVING MONEY AND REDUCING POLLUTION ASSOCIATED WITH POWER PRODUCTION. AND WHEREAS, HAYS COUNTY CITIZENS CARE ABOUT PROTECTING WILDLIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT, THE LIGHTS OUT PROGRAM SUPPORTS OTHER LOCAL ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS HAYS COUNTY MASTER NATURALIST, THE INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY COMMUNITY DESIGNATIONS, ADULT AND JUNIOR BIRDING CLUBS, HAYS COUNTY FRIENDS NIGHT SKY AND THE DARK SKY COMMITTEE.
THEY WILL HELP HAYS COUNTY QUALIFY FOR GRANTS TO SUPPORT NATURE TOURISM, BENEFITTING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
WHEREAS, BIRDS HELP CONTROL THE POPULATION OF PEST, PROVIDE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, ACT AS BENCHMARKS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, INCREASE LIVEABILITY AND CONNECT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES TO THE NATURAL WORLD.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT PROCLAIMS, NUMBER ONE, MARCH THROUGH JUNE 15TH, 2022,
[00:15:05]
AND AUGUST 15TH, THROUGH NOVEMBER 2022, SHALL HERE AFTER BE KNOWN AS LIGHTS OUT HAYS COUNTY MONTHS IN THE COUNTY OF HAYS COUNTY TEXAS. TWO, HAYS COUNTY SHALL WORK WITH A COLLABORATIVE TEAM ORGANIZED BY FRIENDS OF THE NIGHT SKY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE LIGHTS OUT HAYS COUNTY CAMPAIGN, THE IMPACTS OF LIGHTS ON BIRD MIGRATION AND THE BENEFITS OF REDUCING LIGHT POLLUTION AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION.ADOPTED THIS, THE 29TH DAY OF MARCH, 2022.
THE COURT: I WAS ASKED TO BRING THIS TO COURT AND I AM HAPPY TO DO IT. I WAS HAPPY TO DO IT.
SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE THINGS IT SAYS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. AND OF COURSE, HAS A MAJOR ALTHOUGH IT'S POLITICALLY CORRECT TO SAY FISCAL STEWARD, BUT I'M A CHEAP SKATE, IF YOU DON'T NEED A LIGHT, DON'T HAVE IT ON. I JUST THINK THAT IS A REALLY GOOD THING. AND IN REFERENCE TO THIS COURTHOUSE, I BELIEVE THIS COURTHOUSE STANDS LIKE A FLAG AND IF WE HAVE A FLAG FLYING AT NIGHT, WE SHOULD HAVE A LIGHT ON IT. AND THIS COURT SHOULD NOT BE BLACKED OUT AT NIGHT AS WELL. SO I SUPPORT THAT IDEA WHOLEHEARTEDLY. AND IF THERE ARE NO OTHER
COMMENTS. >> I WOULD JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY WE PASSED A DARK SKIES RESOLUTION EVERY YEAR SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. AND BOTH WEMBERLY AND DRIPPING SPRING, WE'VE TAKEN A LOT OF EFFORT ON THE BEHALF OF THE COUNTY AND INDIVIDUALIZED COUNTY PROJECT TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE DARK SKIES COMPLIANT. ONE THING THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH IN THE STATE LEGISLATOR, IS TRYING TO GIVE ACTUAL ZONING AUTHORITY TO THE COUNTY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
WE'VE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL THE LAST FEW SESSIONS, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMING YEAR AND HOPEFULLY BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH Y'ALL ON THAT. JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. >> THERE IS SOMEONE HERE WHO
WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. >> AFTER WE VOTE, WE WILL CALL
THE COURT: NOW, SOMEONE TO SPEAK ON THE AGENDA ITEM, THEY CAN APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE.
>> (INAUDIBLE)JUDGE BECERRA NO SPEAK ON THE AGENDA ITEM, THEY CAN APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE.
>> (INAUDIBLE) AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM OTHER CITIES IN HAYS COUNTY. WE HOPE TO CONTINUE (INAUDIBLE) FLYING THROUGH OUR AREA. WE ARE ASKING FOR NON-ESSENTIAL LIGHTS TO BE TURNED OFF. AND WE WOULD ALSO ASK IF POSSIBLE, THAT THE COUNTY ITSELF BE ADDED TO OUR WEBSITE THAT SAYS YOU GUYS ARE AN ADVOCATE OF THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. JUDGE BECERRA: WELL, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE IT. >> (INAUDIBLE) JUDGE BECERRA: PERFECT. IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR US TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THIS PROCLAMATION, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPROACH, WE'LL COME UP HERE AND TAKE A PICTURE.
[00:20:14]
VVILLILLA[2. Update by Director of Countywide Operations and Hays County Staff on the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP); possible discussion and/or action may follow. BECERRA]
JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE OPEN AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.>> UPDATE BY DIRECTOR OF COUNTY WIDE OPERATIONS AND HAYS COUNTY STAFF ON THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW.
THE COURT: IF YOU WILL PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND POSITION
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC. >> TAMMY CREMLY.
GOOD MORNING, COURT, JUDGE. UPDATE ON THE NUMBERS, SO LAST WEEK I REPORTED THAT WE HAD 1.9 MILLION, A LITTLE OVER THAT. SO THE NUMBERS THIS WEEK IS SIX-DAY PERIOD, SO THAT WOULD BE AS OF THE 23RD.
ADDITIONAL 76,711 AND $0.61. SO WE'RE AT $2,020,388.
WE DO GET REQUESTS DAILY FOR OUR NUMBER OF TICKETS.
WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 400 OPEN TICKETS.
130 PENDING CITIZEN COMPLETION. 25 UNDER AUDITOR REVIEW AND 230 UNDER CASEWORKER REVIEW. ADURA, BY THE END OF THE WEEK, THEY'RE WORKING ON THE PRINTED MATERIAL, NOT ONLY PRINT DISTRIBUTION, BUT DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION, THEY ARE WORKING ON DRAFTS OF E-MAILS AND LETTERS TO GO OUT FROM THE RENTERS TO THE LANDLORDS AND VICE VERSA.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE YET.
AND THEN FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO THE SCHOOL PARENTS, AND SOME TEXT MESSAGE COMMUNICATION.
AGAIN, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
JUDGE BECERRA: SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT BE.
>> I'M MORE THAN SURE IT SHALL BE DONE, BUT I WANT TO POINT IT OUT AS A REQUEST TO MAKE SURE IT'S ALL ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
WE ALWAYS GET ASKED FOR ENGLISH AND SPANISH IN THE MATERIALS.
AND THERE IS A MAGNIFICENT PIECE THAT THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE WORKING ON BECAUSE THIS IS EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE. I CAN'T GET TIRED OF SAYING IT ENOUGH. UTILITY ASSISTANCE.
SO ALL THOSE THAT ARE HOMEOWNERS ARE LEFT OUT.
SO THERE IS A PROGRAM THAT THE STATE MANAGES THAT IS OF COURSE, FEDERALLY FUNDED, THAT IS MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE.
FOR ALL OF THE HOMEOWNERS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU GUYS PLEASE CONVEY TO THEM, MAYBE JUST TO PUT THE LINK TO IT FOR INFORMATIONAL PIECES ONLY, SINCE ALL THAT WORK IS GOING TO BE DONE. THAT WAY -- I KNOW THAT WE'RE BECOMING A NATION OF RENTERS, BUT THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF US
>> COULD I ADD SOMETHING TO THAT?
JUDGE BECERRA: YES. >> I HAD MEETINGS OVER THE LAST MONTH WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS, SPECIFIC TO THAT PROGRAM.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT EVERYONE WHO IS IN HAYS COUNTY WHO IS CURRENTLY BEHIND ON THEIR MORTGAGE, WE'VE ACTUALLY ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM, OUR TAX OFFICE HAS ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE, AND ANY LETTER THAT IS RECEIVED BY A HOMEOWNER PURSUANT TO THEM EITHER BEING BEHIND ON THEIR TAXES OR IF THEY ARE IN DEFAULT ON THEIR LAST TAX BILL, THERE IS ACTUALLY DIRECT INFORMATION IN THAT LETTER TO THAT PROGRAM. THE BEST PART ABOUT THAT PROGRAM IS THAT WE'RE NOT ADMINISTERING IT.
IT'S OPEN TO EVERYONE. THAT PROGRAM ACTUALLY NOT ONLY PAYS FOR MORTGAGE, OR WILL HELP FOLKS GET RIGHT WITH THE MORTGAGE COMPANY, IT ACTUALLY PAYS FOR ALL OF THEIR -- ANY AND ALL PROPERTY TAXES THAT THEY'RE IN DEFAULT ON AS WELL AS UTILITIES, HOA FEES, THERE IS A NUMBER OF FEES THAT ACTUALLY QUALIFY UNDER THAT PROGRAM.
UNLIKE THIS PROGRAM, WE AS A COUNTY, DON'T HAVE TO TOUCH THAT, MUCH LIKE YOU SAID, JUDGE, YOU GO TO A STATE WEBSITE, ONCE YOU FILL THAT OUT, IT'S IMMEDIATE.
THEY ACTUALLY START PROCESSING THOSE.
I'M IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH THEM TO TRY -- THE STATE
[00:25:04]
IS LOOKING TO ESTABLISH PERMANENT PROCESSING CENTERS FOR PEOPLE TO GO IN AND APPLY FOR THAT, IF THEY DON'T HAVE INTERNET ACCESS. I'VE DISCUSSED WITH THEM BRINGING -- THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING A PROCESS FOR POP-UP CENTERS, WHERE THEY WOULD OPEN, THEY WOULD ADVERTISE FOR TWO TO THREE WEEKS AND THEN COME TO A COUNTY AND DO A POP-UP CENTER, WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO IN WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT AND JUST SIGN UP FOR THAT PROGRAM.THEY HAVE NOT DONE THOSE YET. I THINK HADALGO COUNTY WAS THE FIRST COUNTY THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TRY TO DO THAT.
I WILL SAY THAT HAYS COUNTY THANKFULLY IS ON THE FOREFRONT OF THAT. WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST TEN COUNTYS IN THE STATE TO INCLUDE THOSE LINKS AND THAT INFORMATION AND OUR INITIAL LETTERS FROM OUR TAX OFFICE.
SO HOPEFULLY OUR RESIDENTS WILL TAKE BENEFIT FROM THAT.
JUDGE BECERRA: ONE LAST LITTLE PIECE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT, IT'S NOT AUTOMATIC QUALIFICATION, JUST BY BEING LATE. YOU HAVE TO FALL WITHIN A CERTAIN INCOME BRACKET. SO MY GOAL IS, FOLLOW THE LINKS, AND GO THROUGH THE ASSESSMENT AND SEE IF YOU QUALIFY. BECAUSE IT'S THERE FOR THAT.
THANK YOU. >> IN ADDITION, I HAVE WORKED WITH THE LOCAL, THE JPS AND THEY SEND ME, TWO OF THEM -- I THINK THEY HAVE A HIGHER EVICTION DOCKET.
THEY SEND ME THEIR EVICTION DOCKET EVERY WEEK.
I LOOK UP EACH OF THEIR CASES AND GIVE THEM A STATUS, WHETHER THEY HAVE APPLIED TO THE PROGRAM, IF THEY HAVE, WHAT THEIR STATUS IS, WHEN THEY'VE APPLIED, WHERE THEY'RE AT IN THE PROCESS. OF COURSE IT'S UP TO THE JUDGE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL RESET THAT.
BUT THEY HAVE THAT INFORMATION. AND THEY KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
IF THEY HAVE NOT APPLIED. JUDGE BECERRA: TAMMY, THANKS FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT. BECAUSE EARLY ON, AS THIS PROCESS WAS UNFOLDING, I HAD CONVERSATION WITH OUR JPS AND THEY KNEW THAT IF THERE WAS SOMEONE IN THE SYSTEM, THERE WERE GOING TO BE NO EVICTIONS TIED TO PAYMENT.
THERE ARE EVICTIONS TIED TO BEHAVIORS AND OTHER THINGS.
BUT IF IT'S TIED TO PAYMENTS, THAT WAS THE CONVERSATION EARLY ON. SO THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT
OUT. >> I ALSO PUT A NOTE IN THE SYSTEM, SO IF SOMEONE ELSE IS HANDLING IT, THEY WILL SEE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE JP'S OFFICE AND LET THEM KNOW IF THE STATUS HAS CHANGED. JUDGE BECERRA: ANYTHING FOR TAMMY? THANK YOU SO MUCH, TAMMY GENUINELY APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP EVERY WEEK AND UPDATING US.
WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
I USUALLY LET THEM GO FIRST. BUT IT'S NOT COMMON SO MUCH TO HAVE PRESENTATIONS WITH CITIZEN COMMENTS.
BUT I HAVE ONE HERE. MR. AMAYA, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE
APPROACH THE PODIUM. >> JUDGE, COURT, THIS AGENDA ITEM, JUST WANTED TO REEMPHASIZE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, BUT I ALSO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A LOT OF FOLKS THAT APPROACH ME OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THE $2.5 MILLION LOSS THAT THIS COUNTY WAS SUBJECTED TO AS A RESULT OF ILL-PREPAREDNESS, Y'ALL CAN CALL IT WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, BUT THE ONLY GOOD THING IS THAT DALLAS COUNTY, $17 MILLION WAS LOST.
ONE OF THE COUNTIES. THERE WAS AN ARTICLE ABOUT THAT. IN ADDITION, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK'S PRESENTATION ABOUT TWO PEOPLE APPLYING FOR THAT POSITION SHOULD CLEARLY ALARM YOU THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE RECRUITING PROCESS. WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY? WHERE THE TERMINATIONS? OKAY.
TRAVIS COUNTY, UP THE STREET REALIZED THEY MADE SOME MISTAKES. BUT INSTEAD OF MAKING IT WORSE, COURT, WHAT THEY DID IS THEY ARE PREPARING ATTORNEYS WHO, UNDER THEIR DISCIPLINARY RULES, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DONATE TIME TO PROMOTE A BETTER RAPPORT WITH THE PUBLIC, FREE OF CHARGE. SO TRAVIS COUNTY TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO DO, EVEN THOUGH THEY MADE SOME MISTAKES, THEY GOT A COALITION OF ATTORNEYS, THERE IS AN ARTICLE ON THAT.
THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO HELP OUT WITH EVICTION PROCESSES.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL VERSED Y'ALL ARE IN THE PROCESS, AT THE JP COURTS AND ALL OF THAT STUFF, BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, FROM DEEP DOWN IN MY HEART, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A FAVORABLE ONE IN HAYS COUNTY.
SO JUST WANTED Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT WE WANT TO KNOW WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE $2.5 MILLION IN LOSSES.
IT'S SHAMEFUL TO SEE ARTICLES ABOUT OUR COUNTY JUDGE ASKING CONGRESSIONAL FIGURES TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET THAT MONEY BACK. WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY IS
[Items 3, 4 & 6]
WHAT THE CITIZENRY IS ASKING. THANK YOU.[00:30:01]
JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU. PLEASE OPEN 3, 4 AND 6.>> 3, APPROVE PAYMENTS OF COUNTY INVOICES.
4, APPROVE THE PAYMENT OF UNITED HEALTH CARE CLAIMS. 6, APPROVE THE PAYMENT OF THE MARCH 31ST, 2022, PAYROLL AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,100,000, EFFECTIVE MARCH 31ST, 2022. AND POST TOTALS FOR WAGES, WITHHOLDING, DEDUCTIONS AND BENEFITS ON THE HAYS COUNTY
WEBSITE ONCE FINALIZED >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE
[7. Authorize an amendment for $1000.00 to the Transportation Departments operating budget for travel expenditures related to County business. SHELL/BORCHERDING]
JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE OPEN NUMBER 7.>> NUMBER 7, AUTHORIZE AN AMENDMENT FOR $1,000 TO THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT'S OPERATING BUDGET FOR TRAVEL EXPENDITURES RELATED TO COUNTY BUSINESS.
JUDGE BECERRA: MR. AMAYA, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> JUDGE, COURT, AGAIN. THE ISSUE OF FISCALLY RESPO RESPONSIBLE, I REMEMBER LAST WEEK Y'ALL BROUGHT IN A ROAD DEPARTMENT GUY, HE IS GOING TO HAVE A TAKE-HOME VEHICLE. THEN WITH THE DEBT OVER 722, $26 MILLION WHERE IS THE RESPECT FOR THE TAXPAYER AND THE REPEATEDLY APPROACH OF BURDENING WITH EVEN MORE.
LIKE I SAID LAST TIME, I APPLIED FOR SOME OF THE POSITIONS THERE. I WAS DEEPLY TROUBLED WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT CLEARLY SAID THAT EMPLOYEES WILL PERFORM TO A SATISFACTION OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I DON'T WANT TO PERFORM TO THE SATISFACTION OF ELECTED OFFICIALS. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE OUTDOING UNETHICAL THINGS OFF DUTY.
SO THAT CLEARLY AGAIN, Y'ALL NEED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF A TASKS FORCE OR SOMETHING TO ACCURATELY DOCUMENT WHY A LOT OF EMPLOYEES ARE BEING TURNED AWAY.
MY CONCERN, ONE OF MANY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
JUDGE BECERRA: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 7, IF YOU WOULD STAY ON THAT POINT.
>> YOU CAN JUSTIFY THIS. WHERE IS THE RESPECT TO THE TAXPAYERS AND BUDGET. Y'ALL SIT UP HERE AND MAKE ALL KINDS OF DECISIONS THAT CONTINUES TO BURDEN THE TAXPAYER. WHEN ARE Y'ALL GOING TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT? THAT'S DISRUPTIVE.
JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[8. Authorize the County Judge to execute a renewal Service Agreement with Smiths Detention, Inc. in the amount of $8,938.00 for the general maintenance, inspection, and repairs of the industrial X-Ray security scanners located at the Hays County Government Center. INGALSBE/T.CRUMLEY]
>> COMMISSIONER SMITH >> YEAH.
>> JUDGE BECERRA. JUDGE BECERRA: YES.
NUMBER 8. >> AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE RENEWAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH SMITH DETENTION INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,938 FOR THE GENERAL MAINTENANCE, INSPECTION AND REPAIRS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL X-RAY SECURITY
>> SECOND. JUDGE BECERRA: WE HAVE MR. AMAYA SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. PLEASE START A THREE-MINUTE TIMER. THE COURT: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
EARLIER BEN LYONS BROUGHT THIS UP ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE PERSONNEL AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.
I WENT THERE YESTERDAY. Y'ALL HAVE ALL OF THESE MACHINES AND TOYS, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY THIS? I CAN TELL YOU FROM EXPERIENCE, YOU CANNOT JUSTIFY THIS, WHERE IS THE RESPECT TO THE TAXPAYERS. WHEN IS IT GOING TO BEGIN? THANK YOU JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE
[Items 9 & 10]
JUDGE BECERRA: YES. PLEASE OPEN NINE AND TEN.
>> NINE, APPROVE THE JOINT ELECTION AGREEMENTS FOR LOCAL POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS THAT WILL RUN JOINTLY WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELECTION.
JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> ROLL CALL. JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE OPEN 11.
[11. Approve and confirm the appointment of Dave Austin Dykes as a regular full-time Deputy Constable in the Hays County Constable Precinct 2 Office effective April 1, 2022. JONES/TORRES]
>> APPROVE AND CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT OF DAVID AUSTIN DYKES AS A REGULAR FULL-TIME DEPUTY CONSTABLE EFFECTIVE
>> SECOND JUDGE BECERRA: WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. MR. AMAYA.
[00:35:02]
>> THANK YOU, JUDGE, COURT. THIS ITEM, GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. YOU KNOW, I SEE ALL OF THESE APPOINTMENTS OF THIS DEPUTY CONSTABLES, AND AGAIN, CAN'T JUSTIFY IT. I WATCH THESE GUYS.
I DRIVE AROUND THE COUNTY. I TALK TO FOLKS.
YOU KNOW, PRECINCT TWO CONSTABLE SPENDS MORE TIME AT THE PGM CATALYTIC CONVERT PLACE THAN HIS OFFICE.
HOW DO YOU CONTINUE TO BRING MORE FOLKS IN SO THAT YOU CAN DO LESS, BUT YOU COME UP HERE AND CRY DURING SALARY THAT YOU'RE OVERWORKED AND UNDER-PAID.
HYPOCRISY. IT'S EVEN MORE SHAMEFUL COMING FROM AN INDIVIDUAL THAT TOOK AN OATH, OFFICE TO BE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. IT'S SHAMEFUL.
I WATCH THESE GUYS. YOU CANNOT JUSTIFY IT.
YOU GOT THESE FOLKS OUT HERE RUNNING AROUND ASKING YOU FOR ALL KINDS OF MONEY. YOU LOOK AT THEIR BELT, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF USE OF FORCE, CHEMICAL SPRAYS, BATONS, THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE VESTS, BUT THEY COME UP HERE AND TELL US HOW DANGEROUS IT IS, LIKE WE'RE LIVING IN AFGHANISTAN. LOOK AT THE CHIEF DEPUTY, LITTLE GUN, LITTLE THING, HANDCUFFS YOU NEED YOUR FLASHLIGHT. THOSE ARE USE OF FORCE CONTINUUMS. I WENT THROUGH TWO ACADEMIES, SO I AM QUALIFIED. 4,000 HOURS OF VERY DETAILED AND SOPHISTICATED TRAINING. WHEN THEY COME UP HERE AND TELL Y'ALL ALL OF THIS STUFF, Y'ALL RUN WITH IT LIKE IT'S -- IT CAME FROM DIVINE SOURCES. THEY'RE LIES.
JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER JONES.
>> WE HAVE CONSTABLE TORRIS HERE AND THE NEW DEPUTY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE HIM. JUDGE BECERRA: SO WE'VE NOT VOTED YET. DO WE WANT TO VOTE FIRST? WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE CONSTABLE. INTRODUCTION AND THEN VOTE.
OKAY. >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, I WANT TO WELCOME AUSTIN DYKE, INFORMALLY TO HAYS COUNTY PRECINCT TWO CONSTABLE OFFICE, HE'S GOT VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE. HE WORKED INFORM HAYS COUNTY PREVIOUSLY AND NOW HE'S BACK HOME TO OUR HOUSE.
WE ARE FORTUNATE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS APPOINTMENT.
THANK YOU. JUDGE BECERRA: WOULD YOU LIKE
TO SAY ANYTHING? >> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
JUDGE BECERRA: WONDERFUL. IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE COMMISSIONERS, WE'LL CALL THE ROLL.
>> ROLL CALL. JUDGE BECERRA: NOW YOU'RE OFFICIALLY HAYS COUNTY CO-WORKER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WELCOME.
NOW YOU GET TO BE A CONSTABLE OFFICE EMPLOYEE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUDGE BECERRA: WILL YOU PLEASE
[Items 12 & 13]
OPEN AGENDA ITEMS 12 AND 13. >> 12, ACCEPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 HAYS COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR AUDIT REPORT, 775.082. 13, APPROVE UTILITY PERMITS.
JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> ROLL CALL. JUDGE BECERRA: YES.
[32. Discussion and possible action to accept the Fiscal Year 2021 Hays County Annual Comprehensive Financial Report as audited by ABIP, PC Certified Public Accountants. VILLARREAL-ALONZO]
PLEASE OPEN 32. >> 32, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO ACCEPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 HAYS COUNTY ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT AS AUDITED CERTIFIED PUBLIC
>> SECOND. JUDGE BECERRA: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. SHOULD WE CALL THE ROLL FIRST
OR DO YOU WANT A PRESENTATION? >> PRESENTING IT TO YOU FOR
APPROVAL. >> WE HAVE WITH THE INDEPENDENT CPA FIRM, OUR EXTERNAL AUDITORS, WE HAVE MR. JEREMY BARBADO, THEY ARE HERE, THEY HAVE SPENT THE TIME REVIEWING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PREPARED BY MY OFFICE, THEY ARE HERE TO GIVE YOU THEIR OPINIONS ON IT.
JUDGE BECERRA: PERFECT. THANK YOU.
STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
>> SURE. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT. MY NAME IS JEREMY BARBADO, AUDIT SENIOR MANAGER. ACCOMPANIED BY MICHAEL DELTORO, THE ENGAGEMENT PARTNER OVER THE ENGAGEMENT HAYS COUNTY.
[00:40:04]
YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU UP ON THE SCREEN HERE, KIND OF EXCERPTS OF THE 2021, FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT. THIS IS THE CERTIFICATE THAT THE HAYS COUNTY RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICER'S ASSOCIATION. IT'S A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENTS FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING.FOR FISCAL YEAR SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2020, THAT IS THIS DOCUMENT THAT Y'ALL REVIEWED LAST YEAR. REAL THICK DOCUMENT.
THIS IS THE 7TH YEAR IN A ROW THAT HAYS COUNTY HAS RECEIVED IT. WE DON'T ANTICIPATE NOT GETTING THE 8TH YEAR. THE 2021 FISCAL YEAR.
REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES, EACH MAJOR FUND AND AGGREGATE REMAINING FUND INFORMATION FOR HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS.
MANAGER'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THEMSELVES AND THE FAIR PRESENTATION OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR STANDARDS. WE DID AUDIT THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS, GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS, AS WELL AS THE UNIFORM GUIDANCE FOR YOUR FEDERAL AND STATE SINGLE AUDIT.
THE NEXT PAGE ON THE TOP THERE IS THE KIND OF HARD TO SEE, THE MOST IMPORTANT PARAGRAPH THERE IS OUR OPINION.
CLEAN OPINION, WE HAD NO MODIFYING STATEMENTS TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REPRESENTED IN THIS ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES. HIGHEST OPINION THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE FROM AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING FIRM.
SO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH US GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES. STARTING ON PAGE 6, THIS IS OUR STATEMENT OF NET POSITION. THIS IS REALLY MEANT FOR INVESTORS AND BOND RATING AGENCIES.
BUT IT'S ALL YOUR FUNDS CONSOLIDATED INTO ONE COLUMN.
NOT NECESSARILY HOW THE COUNTY MANAGES ITS FUNDS.
BUT IT'S REQUIRED FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE GOVERNMENT AUDIT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS FOR. SO COLLECTIVELY, THE COUNTY DID HAVE 764 MILLION IN TOTAL ASSETS.
INCLUDED IN THAT IS ABOUT 323 MILLION IN CASH.
THAT IS ABOUT AN INCREASE OF 58 MILLION IN CASH, RELATED TO LAST YEAR AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH ADVANCED ARPA FUNDS THAT THE COUNTY RECEIVED IN LATE SEPTEMBER, AS WELL AS THE NEW BOND ISSUANCE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN UNDERGONE YET.
AT THE BOTTOM, WE HAVE OUR TOTAL NET POSITION FOR ALL OF YOUR FUNDS ROLLED UP INTO ONE COLUMN HERE.
67.6 MILLION, IT'S AN INCREASE OF JUST UNDER $3 MILLION.
I'LL GO OVER THAT ON THE NEXT FEW PAGES.
BUT THE ONE THING THAT MIGHT STRIKE YOU ODD THERE, UNRESTRICTED NET POSITION. NEGATIVE 118 MILLION DEFICIT.
IT'S REAL JUST A PAPER ENTRY, AN ACTUARY DETERMINATION ENTRY FOR THAT. PAGE 7, OUR TOTAL EXPENSES ARE LISTED OUT HERE BY FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES.
WITHIN EACH FUNCTION IS ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT MAKE UP THOSE EXPENDITURES. 185 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR, THE NEXT THREE COLUMNS ARE REVENUES THAT CAN BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THESE FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT.
SO WE HAVE CHARGE FOR SERVICES, OPERATING GRANTS AND CAPITAL GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. A LOT OF THE CHARGE FOR SERVICES ARE YOUR FINES, FEES OF OFFICE, YOUR OPERATING GRANTS, FROM YOUR FEDERAL AND STATE SINGLE AUDIT MONEY THAT YOU GET. AND THEN CAPITAL GRANTS ARE CONSTRUCTION OR CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS GIVEN TO THE COUNTY. ON THE NEXT PAGE, IF YOU GO ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT, BREAKS DOWN WHAT THE COST OF THE GOVERNMENT IS, WITHOUT GENERAL REVENUES. AND IT'S 153 MILLION IN TOTAL EXPENDITURES THAT GENERAL REVENUES HAVE TO MAKE UP TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY OPERATIONS.
THAT SAID, OUR TOTAL GENERAL REVENUES WAS 156 MILLION, AN
[00:45:03]
INCREASE OF JUST UNDER $3 MILLION.A GOOD PERCENTAGE OF YOUR REVENUE STREAM COMES FROM PROPERTY AND SALES TAXES. ABOUT 141 MILLION.
THAT IS KIND OF REPRESENTED RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE.
110 MILLION IN PROPERTY AND 31 MILLION IN SALES TAXES.
76 PERCENT OF TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES COME FROM THOSE TWO STREAMS. ON THE NEXT PAGE, THIS IS THE BALANCE SHEET OF THE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS.
THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE MORE ACCUSTOMED TO SEEING.
EACH FUND REPRESENTED AND HOW YOU OPERATE YOUR FUNDS.
I'LL FOCUS MAINLY ON THE GENERAL FUND, BUT YOU CAN SEE A TREND GOING ACROSS THE PAGE. TOTAL ASSETS FOR THE GENERAL FUND WAS 91 MILLION. OF THAT, 72 MILLION IS IN CASH, IN THE GENERAL FUND. OUR TOTAL UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE FOR THE GENERAL FUND WAS 56.7 MILLION.
THAT IS ROUGHLY 6 MONTHS OPERATING RESERVES IN THE GENERAL FUND. RECOMMEND ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO 6 MONTHS OF OPERATING RESERVES IN THE GENERAL FUND, SO YOU'RE RIGHT AT THAT NUMBER, TOP END OF THAT RECOMMENDATION.
SO A GOOD HEALTHY FUND BALANCE FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
THE NEXT THREE FUNDS, ROAD AND BRIDGE FUNDS, DEBT SERVICE AND THE ROAD BOND, YOU CAN SEE MOST OF THAT ASSET ACTIVITY IS RELATED TO THE CASH. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WITH THOSE FUNDS IS RESTRICTED FOR THOSE PURPOSES.
SO WE HAVE SOME RESTRICTED FUND BALANCE RELATED TO THOSE CASH BALANCES. THE NEXT PAGE, ARE SOME MORE MAJOR FUNDS THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO REPORT ON.
THE PARK BOND THAT WAS NEW THIS YEAR, THAT AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, JUST STARTED TO GO UNDERWAY.
WE BROUGHT IN ABOUT 50 MILLION IN BOND PROCEEDS FOR THAT.
AND THEN ALSO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT GRANT ADVANCE OF 22 MILLION. ALL OF THE OTHER FUNDS THAT AREN'T REQUIRED TO BE PRESENTED ON THIS FRONT PAGE ARE REPRESENTED IN THE THIRD MOST COLUMN.
THERE IS A DETAILED SCHEDULE IN THE BACK OF THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT THAT EXPLAINS THOSE OUT INDIVIDUALLY. THAT SAID, THIS IS HOW WE DID DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE STATEMENT OF REVENUE EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE, THE GENERAL FUND HAD ABOUT 94 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAXES.
TOTAL REVENUE OF 111 MILLION. THAT IS 85 PERCENT IN PROPERTY TAX FUNDED IN THE GENERAL FUND. TOTAL EXPENDITURES WAS 98.3.
AGAIN, A LOT OF THAT IS RELATED TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUDICIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, MAKE UP A GOOD CHUNK OF THAT.
AS WITH MOST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THAT SAID, IF YOU LOOK DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, THIRD LINE UP, THE GENERAL FUND DID BRING IN $11 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE. SO WE STARTED THE YEAR WITH 55.4 AND WE ENDED UP WITH 66.5. A GOOD YEAR FOR THE GENERAL FUND. REALLY ALL THE FUNDS ACROSS THE BOARD HAD A REALLY GOOD YEAR. THE ROAD AND BRIDGE HAD A SMALL DEFICIT OF 732,000. THE ROAD BOND OF 2019 FUND HAD A DEFICIT, BUT THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY ON TO GET THOSE ROAD PROJECTS COMPLETED.
ON THE NEXT PAGE, PARK REVENUE BOND, ARPA FUND ALL HAD POSITIVE INCREASES AS WELL. NEXT PAGE, INTERNAL SERVICE FUND, MEDICAL AND DENTAL FUND. YOU ARE SELF-INSURED.
SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE RESTRICTED FOR FUTURE CLAIMS OF 18.1 MILLION DOWN THERE AT THE BOTTOM.
AND THAT WAS ENOUGH TO MEET YOUR ACTUARY CLAIM RESERVES REQUIREMENT. THE NEXT PAGE SHOWS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY BROUGHT IN FROM THE OTHER FUNDS AND THE RETIREES AND HOW MUCH IN CLAIMS YOU HAD DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.
SO WE DID HAVE A SLIGHT DECREASE OF 1.4 MILLION.
BUT WE STILL HAVE 18.1 IN FUND RESERVES TO MEET FUTURE CLAIMS. SO HEALTHY FUND BALANCE THERE. THIS IS A NEW STATEMENT, GADSBY STATEMENT, 84, FIDUCIARY FUNDS. THE COUNTY COLLECTS MONEY AND HOLDS IT FOR OTHER ENTITIES. THE BIG ONE BEING THE TAX OFFICE AND SOME DISTRICT CLERK AND COUNTY CLERK FUNDS.
AND SO THE NEW 84 REQUIRES US TO PUT THIS STATEMENT IN THE
[00:50:03]
FRONT, BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.THIS SHOWS THE AMOUNT OF CASH ON HAND AND THE EQUITY THAT WE'RE HOLDING FOR OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND JURISDICTIONS.
WE HAD 27.5 MILLION AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, HELD FOR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. THE NEXT PAGE KIND OF SHOWS THE INS AND OUTS OF THAT CASH. WE DID HAVE A RESTATEMENT AS A RESULT OF THIS OF 29 MILLION. THAT IS HOW MUCH CASH WE HAD AT THE END OF LAST FISCAL YEAR. BUT WE DID BRING IN 933 MILLION. AND WE SENT OUT 935 MILLION ACROSS THE DIFFERENT REVENUE AND EXPENSE STREAMS. A LOT OF CASH GOING BACK AND FORTH.
AND WE'RE REQUIRED TO REPORT THIS ACTIVITY IN THE CURRENT YEAR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW GADSBY.
THIS IS A SCHEDULE OF FINDING AND QUESTION COSTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2021. IT'S JUST A REQUIRED TITLE.
GOOD SUMMARY OF HOW THE AUDIT WENT.
AT THE TOP IT SAYS WHAT TYPE OF AUDITOR'S REPORT WAS ISSUED ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. UNMODIFIED OPINION.
CLEAN OPINION. INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTINGS. IF THERE WAS ANY MATERIAL WEAKNESS OR SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES OVER THE FINANCIAL REPO REPORTING, WE'RE REQUIRED TO LIST IT HERE AND WE HAD NONE OF THOSE.
ANY NON-COMPLIANCE IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR ANY INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER THE MAJOR PROGRAMS FOR THE STATE AND SINGLE AUDIT, OR ANY MATERIAL WEAKNESS AND SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES RELATED TO THOSE INTERNAL CONTROLS, WE HAD NONE. AND THEN OUR OPINION OVER THE MAJOR PROGRAMS WE AUDITED WAS AN UNMODIFIED OPINION.
AGAIN, A CLEAN OPINION FOR THE COUNTY.
BULLET POINT TWO IS IDENTIFICATION OF THE MAJOR FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS THAT WE AUDITED.
WE DID AUDIT THE HIGHWAY PLANNING CONSTRUCTION ALN 20.205 AND THAT IS THE TXDOT PASS-THROUGH FUNDING ARRANGEMENT THAT YOU HAVE. THE OTHER PROGRAM THAT WE HAD TO AUDIT THIS YEAR WERE THE FUNDS EXPENDED FOR THE TEXAS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS FOR THE DISASTER RECOVERY. AND THEN FINALLY, THE STATE AWARDS. WE DID AUDIT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, HIGHWAY PLANNING CONSTRUCTING, THAT ARRANGEMENT YOU HAVE IS 80/20.
SO WE GOT THE STATE COVERAGE WE NEEDED TO AUDIT THAT.
WE HAD NO ISSUES OR ANY FINDINGS RELATED TO THAT.
YEAH. SO ON OUR LETTERHEAD HERE, IS ANOTHER OPINION, OR ANOTHER INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT WE ISSUE. OVER INTERNAL CONTROLS ON FINANCIAL REPORTING AND ON COMPLIANCE AND OTHER MATTERS BASED ON THE AUDIT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PERFORMED IN IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS.
IF WE HAD ANY DEFICIENCIES, IT WOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED IN THESE LETTERS. SO ANOTHER CLEAN LETTER THERE.
AND THEN FINALLY, OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT ON COMPLIANCE IN EACH MAJOR PROGRAM, FOR UNDER THE UNIFORM GUIDANCE AND STATE CIRCULAR SINGLE AUDIT.
AGAIN, THIS IS AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT DONE OVER YOUR FEDERAL AND STATE AWARDS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER OVER THE TXDOT DISASTER RECOVERY AND COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANTS.
IF WE HAD ANY MODIFYING STATEMENTS OR INTERNAL CONTROL RELATED DEFICIENCIES, WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE THAT IN THIS LETTER AND WE HAD NONE. ANOTHER CLEAN OPINION IN THE COUNTY OVER THOSE TWO MAJOR PROGRAMS. THEN FINALLY, THIS IS OUR LAST LETTER, FOR REQUIRED COMMUNICATION TO THE GOVERNING BODY OVER THE COUNTY.
WE DO A MANAGEMENT ON A DAY TO DAY, WEEK TO WEEK, MONTH TO MONTH BASIS TO GET THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN FRONT OF YOU. THIS IS JUST OUR LETTER TO THOSE CHARGING GOVERNANCE ON THE CONDUCT OF AUDIT THAT UNDERWENT. ACCOUNTING POLICIES, IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES, WE'RE REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO YOU.
AS MENTIONED, WE DID ADOPT STATEMENT 84, FIDUCIARY ACTIVITIES. THOSE ARE REPRESENTED IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AS I JUST COVERED.
ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES ARE INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE MOST SENSITIVE ONES BEING THE ACTUARY DETERMINATION OF THE NET PENSION LIABILITY AND OTHER POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT LIABILITIES.
[00:55:02]
ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION OVER THE FIXED ASSETS, DEPRECIATION EXPENSE AND ALLOWANCE FOR AD VALOREM TAX RECEIVABLES.WE FEEL THAT THEY'RE REASONABLE AND RELATED TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TAKEN AS A WHOLE. ONE FINANCIAL STATEMENT DISCLOSURE I WOULD HIGHLIGHT IS NOTE 4H.
RELATED TO THE RESTATEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATEMENT 84 THAT WE HAD TO DO. THAT HIGHLIGHTS THAT THERE WAS A RESTATEMENT TO THE FIDUCIARY NET POSITION.
IF WE HAD ANY DIFFICULTIES OR DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT, WE ARE REQUIRED TO BRING THAT FORWARD.
WE HAD NO SUCH DIFFICULTIES OR DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT.
IF THERE WAS ANY UNCORRECTED MISSTATEMENTS OR MATERIALLY CORRECTED MISSTATEMENTS FOUND DURING OUR AUDIT, WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO YOU.
I THINK WE HAD FOUR JOURNAL ENTRIES, BUT ALL OF THEM WERE MINOR IN CONSIDERATION TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS A WELL.
ON THE LAST PAGE, IS THE COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT ACT. IF YOU RECALL, LAST YEAR WE DID HAVE A COMPLIANCE FINDING RELATED TO THE PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT ACT. QUARTERLY REPORTS WEREN'T BEING PRESENTED TO THE COURT TIMELY ON THE INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS THE INVESTMENT POLICY WASN'T APPROVED ANNUALLY. SO WE REVIEWED THE QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORTS BROUGHT TO YOU, AS WELL AS THE APPROVAL OF THE OVERALL INVESTMENT POLICY, AND THE CERTIFICATES OF CONTINUING ED THAT YOUR INVESTMENT OFFICES UNDERTAKE AND THE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS THAT THE COUNTY INVESTS IN.
WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THAT FINDING HAS GONE AWAY, YOU ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT ACT.
WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE OVER ANYTHING I COVERED TODAY OR ANYTHING OVER THE AUDIT PROCESS. JUDGE BECERRA: THE FIRST -- GOOD JOB, BY THE WAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR FOR THE WAY WE AS A COUNTY ARE MANAGING OVERALL FUNDING, MOVEMENT OF FUNDS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. MY FIRST QUESTION WAS, WHEN WE WENT OVER THE GRANTS PART, DO YOU HAVE ANY WAY OF SEEING PERCENTAGE OF GRANT DOLLARS THAT WE ARE BRINGING IN COMPARD TO OTHER COUNTIES, BASICALLY HOW WELL ARE WE DOING
PULLING DOWN GRANT DOLLARS? >> SO WE DO AUDIT OTHER ENTITIES. I THINK WE HAVE TWO OTHER COUNTIES THAT WE'VE AUDITED. AND Y'ALL HAVE THE MOST GRANT ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THOSE OTHER TWO COUNTIES.
SO THERE IS DOLLARS OUT THERE THAT Y'ALL ARE STRIVING TO REACH FOR AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE.
JUDGE BECERRA: IT'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK AND I WANTED TO HEAR THAT FROM YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE $1.8 MILLION DECREASE, THAT WAS
TIED TO THE MEDICAL, DENTAL? >> YES.
JUDGE BECERRA: CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY YOU THINK THAT MAY HAVE
BEEN? >> EVERY YEAR, AS BUDGETED, THE MEDICAL DENTAL FUND CHARGES THE OTHER FUNDS AS A PRODUCT OF PAYROLL, THE DIFFERENT REQUIRED PREMIUMS THAT ARE GETTING CHARGED TO YOUR ACTIVE FORCE, YOUR DEPENDENTS, ANYONE ON THE PLAN. SO YOU CAN CONTROL THE REVENUE SIDE BY WHAT YOU'RE CHARGING AND KIND OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO -- WHAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO COVER VERSUS THE ACTUAL PLAN PARTICIPANTS. THE HARD PART TO BUDGET OUT IS THE CLAIMS. THAT PART.
AND LAST YEAR, I LOOKED TWO YEARS BACK, BECAUSE I DID SEE THAT YOU DID HAVE A DECREASE. LAST YEAR WAS ABOUT TEN MILLION IN CLAIMS. OKAY.
LAST YEAR YOU HAD ABOUT TEN MILLION IN CLAIMS AND THIS YEAR YOU HAD 16. SO IT'S KIND OF HARD TO BUDGET THAT. BUT THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE THAT RESERVE, TO HANDLE THAT. THOSE FLUCTUATIONS.
AND YOU DO GET AN ACTUARY STUDY ON THAT TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH YOU NEED TO HAVE TO RESERVE FOR THOSE ANTICIPATED CLAIMS DOWN THE ROAD. JUDGE BECERRA: I KNOW WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH IT. AS YOU SAID, WE HAVE SIX MONTHS WORTH OF RESERVES, WHICH IS ON THE HIGH END OF SAVINGS, WHICH IS ALSO WONDERFUL. BUT I FELT THAT THOSE TWO PIECES DESERVED A LITTLE BIT OF REPEAT AND LEANING INTO FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC. SO THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING ALL OF THIS INFORMATION. I WANT TO THANK OUR AUDITOR'S OFFICE, JUDGE, FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO TO PREPARE FOR THIS. I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK.
[01:00:01]
I APPRECIATE THE ENTIRE OFFICE. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU. GREAT JOB AS USUAL.
JUDGE BECERRA: TURN THE MIC ON. IT'S OFF AGAIN.
>> AS JEREMY SAID, WE WILL BE PRESENTING THIS FINANCIAL STATEMENT TO THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICE ASSOCIATION, AGAIN FOR AN AWARD, SO I'M JUST REVIEWING IT ONE LAST TIME AND I WILL E-MAIL IT OUT TO EVERYBODY AND POST IT ON THE
WEBSITE. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AGAIN, THANKS TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE REALIZE HOW MUCH TIME THIS TAKES, IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
GREAT DEDICATION TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK THEM. BECAUSE I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OUT OF THEM. TELL THE STAFF WE APPRECIATE THEM. JUDGE BECERRA: YES.
COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> I WOULD SAY THE PAYOFF FOR THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE FOR ALL OF THE HARD DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE DURING THE YEAR THAT SOMETIMES ARE HARD TO EXPLAIN WHENEVER WE'RE TELLING OUR STAFF AND OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WHY WE NEED SPECIFIC THINGS AND WHY THEY HAVE TO BE SO EXACT IN WHAT THEY DO. I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S WORK.
JUDGE BECERRA: RIGHT ON. ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS FRONT BEFORE WE VOTE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH ONE LAST TIME. IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. JUDGE BECERRA:
>> ROLL CALL JUDGE BECERRA: YES.
[14. Authorize payment to Longhorn Truck Rental in the amount of $719.18 for truck use during elections to deliver equipment in which no purchase order was issued as required per the Hays County Purchasing Policy. SHELL/DOINOFF]
THANKS AGAIN, GENTLEMEN. WILL YOU PLEASE OPEN AGENDA ITEM NUMBER I THINK WE'RE ON 14.>> 14, AUTHORIZE PAYMENT TO LONGHORN TRUCK RENTAL IN THE AMOUNT OF 719.18 FOR TRUCK USE DURING ELECTIONS TO DELIVER EQUIPMENT IN WHICH NO PURCHASE ORDER WAS ISSUED, AS REQUIRED FOR THE HAYS COUNTY PURCHASING POLICY.
JUDGE BECERRA: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
AND ONE INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
THIS ITEM I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT A COUPLE OF COURT SESSIONS AGO Y'ALL ALLOWED MR. MIKE JONES OVER HERE TO PURCHASE THAT TRUST. I WAS WONDERING, WASN'T IT POSSIBLE TO POSSIBLY USE THAT ONE TO TRANSPORT MACHINES INSTEAD OF USING THE LEASING COMPANY.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN AN OPTION. WONDERING WHY IT WASN'T THOUGHT OF. OR IS THERE A REASON WHY THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. THANK YOU.
JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER SH SH SHELL.
>> I BELIEVE THESE ARE STORAGE TRUCKS, TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT OPERATES THOSE DURING ELECTION TIMES AND HELPS OUT THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT. I DON'T THINK WE WOULD WANT TO PUT ELECTION EQUIPMET IN THE BACK OF THE BED OF THE TRUCK.
>> THE REASON IT'S COMING TO US BECAUSE THEY HAD TO USE IN ADDITION TO THAT DAY. BUT SINCE THEY WENT THE SECOND DAY, THEY'VE GOT TO BRING IT TO US JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[Items 15 - 17]
>> ROLL CALL. JUDGE BECERRA: YES.
PLEASE OPEN 15 THROUGH 17. >> 15, AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE A GENERAL AND NO LITIGATION CERTIFICATE OF HAYS RELATED TO THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS BY CAPITAL AREA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION FOR 1800 APARTMENTS LOCATED IN SAN MARCOS HAYS COUNTY TEXAS. 16, AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE A GENERAL AND NO LITIGATION CERTIFICATE OF HAYS RELATED TO THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS BY CAPITAL AREA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION FOR LEGACY SENIOR RESIDENCES, LOCATED IN CALDWELL COUNTY, TEXAS. 17, AUTHORIZE THE BUILDING MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT TO UTILIZE INSURANCE PROCEEDS FOR REPAIRS TO SIGNAGE LOCATED AT THE ELECTIONS BUILDING.
AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> SO MOVED
>> SECOND JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE
[18. Approve out-of-state travel using salary savings to send Lt. Jeffrey Spencer, Sgt. Ryan Hayden, Sgt. Pete Chaney, Cpl. David Marshall, Cpl. Brian Wahlert and Deputy Matthew Hales to National Police Week on May 11-17, 2022, in Washington, D.C., and amend the budget accordingly. SMITH/CUTLER]
JUDGE BECERRA: YES. PLEASE OPEN 18.
>> 18 APPROVE OUT OF STATE TRAVEL USING SALARY SAVINGS, TO SEND LIEUTENANT JEFFREY SPENCER, SERGEANT RYAN HAYDEN, DEPUTY MATTHEW HAILS TO NATIONAL POLICE WEEK ON MAY 11TH THROUGH 17, 2022 IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND AMEND THE
BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. JUDGE BECERRA: WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS LINED UP TO SPEAK. THREE MINUTES EACH.
[01:05:02]
>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. ALL I HEAR FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS THAT THEY ARE SHORT-HANDED, YET WE CAN SPARE SIX OFFICERS TO GO TO WASHINGTON D.C.
LET ME GO AHEAD AND READ THE SUMMARY AND BACK-UP HERE.
NATIONAL POLICE WEEK OCCURS EVERY MAY AND AT THIS TIME THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS REQUESTING APPROVAL OF OUT OF STATE TRAVEL FOR OFFICERS TO ATTEND THE HONORING OF AMERICA'S LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY. THE LATE HAYS COUNTY CORRECTIONS OFFICER JAMES HENRY WILL HAVE HIS NAME ADDED TO THE POLICE MEMORIAL WALL, THE HONOR GUARD AND CORRECTION OFFICERS ATTENDING WILL BE REPRESENTING THE CITIZENS OF HAYS COUNTY.
AS OUR NATION HONORS OFFICER HENRY AND OTHERS WHO DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
THE SHERIFF REQUESTS THE COURT TO APPROVE TRAVEL EXPENSES, INCLUDING AIR FARE, HOTEL, PER DIEM AND MISCELLANEOUS TRAVEL EXPENSES, NOT TO EXCEED $10,500.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE DUE TO ATTRITION TO FUND THIS REQUEST.
NOW, YOU'VE DISTORTED THE BUDGET SO MUCH HERE, IT SAYS BUDGET AMENDMENT, DECREASE STAFF SALARIES .50121, INCREASE JAIL TRAVEL, 03.5501, $3,500. INCREASE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TRAVEL, 00.5501, $7,000. I'M SORRY.
WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THIS.
YOU KNOW, IN COMING AGENDA ITEMS, WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR MONEY TO HIRE SOME NEW PEOPLE. SO WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE. AS MUCH AS THESE GUYS WANT TO GO AND HONOR THEIR FALLEN COMRAD, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. WE SPENT $410 APIECE ON HATS FOR THE HONOR GUARD. I'VE SEEN THAT IN THE DISBURSEMENTS. IT'S GOT TO END SOMEWHERE.
AND STAFFING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN SENDING THESE FOLKS TO WASHINGTON D.C.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, SIR.
MR. AMAYA. >> JUNL JUDGE, COURT, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, PHIL HENRY WAS MY FRIEND.
SKINNY I CALLED HIM. I LOST MY BROTHER BACK IN '08.
NONE OF THIS WAS DONE IN HIS BEHALF.
AS FAR AS THE AGENDA ITEM TO APPROVE THESE KINDS OF THINGS, THAT ELECTION YEAR SHERIFF RACE WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT -- LET ME GO BACK. CONTACTED THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL, I ASKED FOR SOME PAPERWORK ON SOME STUFF THAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE JAIL, SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COUNTY SAID THAT THERE WAS OVER 300 EMPLOYEES AT THAT JAIL. AND THE CONCERN WAS DURING THE ELECTION, ONE OF THE CANDIDATES SHARED WITH ME THAT THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL ROOM AT THE JAIL BUT NOW YOU HAVE INSTEAD OF 100 AND SOME EMPLOYEES, YOU HAVE 300.
LIKE MR. DAN LYONS ASKED, WHEN IS IT GOING TO STOP? HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY THESE RECKLESS REQUESTS AGAIN, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START RESPONSIBLY HANDLING THE TAXPAYERS'S MONEY. AND I JUST AGAIN, WANT TO ECHO WHAT HE SAID. WHEN IS IT GOING TO STOP? IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET. THANK YOU.
JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER SMITH.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO, BEFORE I SPEAK, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK SOMEONE FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO COME FORWARD AND POSSIBLY SPEAK. MR. DAVENPORT.
CHIEF DAVENPORT. THANK YOU, JUDGE.
>> GOOD MORNING. THIS AGENDA ITEM IS -- JUDGE BECERRA: STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING
PUBLIC. >> CHIEF DAVENPORT, SHERIFF'S OFFICE. AS MANY OF Y'ALL KNOW WE HAD AN OFFICER PASS AWAY. IT'S CONSIDERED IN THE LINE OF DUTY DEATH. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND HIS NAME BEING PUT ON THE PEACE OFFICER WALL.
AND WE NEED TO GO. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY.
[01:10:02]
IT'S NOT A COMMON OCCURRENCE. SECOND TIME IN THE HISTORY OF HAYS COUNTY THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN.SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US THAT WE DO THIS.
>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I WOULD JUST SAY THAT OTHER THAN DURING COVID, I ATTENDED POLICE WEEK AT MY PERSONAL EXPENSE SINCE I WAS A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL.
IT'S SOMETHING VERY SOLEMN AND ONE THING THAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT EACH ONE OF THOSE OFFICERS, THERE IS -- IT'S TRADITIONAL FOR ONE CONTINGENT FROM THEIR COLLEAGUE TO BE THERE FOR THAT CEREMONY. UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF COVID, I THINK THIS YEAR AND POSSIBLY LAST YEAR BECAUSE THEY DID SOME OF IT VIA ELECTRONIC MEANS, ZOOM, I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT THIS YEAR IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE MASSIVE BECAUSE OF THE NUMBERS OF FOLKS WHO WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND LAST YEAR.
WHENEVER I SAY IT'S SOLEMN AND IT'S TRULY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE REPRESENTATIVES OF I WOULD SAY THE LARGEST DEPARTMENT IN OUR COUNTY, THE LARGEST CONTINGENT OF EMPLOYEES TO FEEL AS THOUGH THEY'RE A PART OF REALLY CLOSURE FOR THEM IN THIS SCENARIO. NOT ONLY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT FOR THE FAMILY, SOMEONE WHO I CONSIDER GAVE HIS LIFE ON BEHALF OF OUR COUNTY. AND I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS.
AND I WOULD JUST ASK FOR YOUR VOTE IF THERE AREN'T ANY MORE COMMENTS, I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU. >> JUST THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC -- THERE IS NEVER GOING TO BE AN AGREEMENT ON HOW BEST TO SPEND THEIR TAX DOLLARS.
THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SPEND MONEY ON SOMETHING, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT FEEL THAT THAT IS A WASTE OF MONEY AND WE'RE NOT SPENDING MONEY ON THINGS THAT WE SHOULD.
THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE DISAGREEMENTS WITH THAT.
THAT IS VERY COMMON. I DO THINK IN THIS CASE, I BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF OUR PUBLIC TO ALLOW OUR OFFICERS TO GO AND ATTEND THIS FOR CORRECTIONS OFFICER HENRY. I AM OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW, IN FULL SUPPORT, LIKE CHIEF DAVENPORT MENTIONED, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN, THANK GOD IT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN HERE. WE'RE VERY BLESSED THAT OUR OFFICERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE SO SAFE HERE.
BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE PUBLIC OF HAYS COUNTY WOULD SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR ATTENDANCE AND OUR HONOR GUARD'S ATTENDANCE AT THIS EVENT. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD SUPPORT THAT. JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU BOTH COMMISSIONERS. I AGREE WITH THE THINGS YOU SAID 100 PERCENT, THIS IS A VERY BIG DEAL.
AND WHEN THIS AGENDA ITEM CAME UP, OF COURSE WE GOT TO SEE IT FRIDAY, SO DID THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
I WAS ONLY ASKED ONE QUESTION, I WILL JUST POSE IT TO THE CHIEF. BACK-UP SAYS REPRESENTING THE CITIZENS OF HAYS COUNTY. AND I TOO HAVE LIFE-LONG FAMILY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IN A VERY SCARY PLACE, LAPD, FOR EXAMPLE, AMONG OTHERS. SO I KNOW THAT DIVERSITY IS ALWAYS A QUESTION. AND PEOPLE WILL POLITICIZE IT NEEDLESSLY AND IN MY OPINION, VERY OFTEN WASTEFULLY.
I WANT TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT I WAS ASKED ABOUT DIVERSITY OF WHO YOU'RE SENDING, WHO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, NOT YOU SPECIFICALLY, IS SENDING AND DO THEY HAVE ANY PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION OF THOSE CHARGED WITH REPRESENTING FROM HAYS COUNTY.
>> THE NAMES, WELL, WE'RE SENDING OUR HONOR GUARD, THAT IS WHO IT IS. THERE IS NO CONSIDERATION TAKEN AS FAR AS THAT GOES. AND THE FAMILY MEMBER OF THE FALLEN OFFICER REQUESTED THAT THESE SPECIFIC MEMBERS FROM THE JAIL GO. SO THAT IS THE REASON THEY WERE CHOSEN. THERE IS NO ETHNICITY CONSIDERATION GIVEN. BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME NARROW PARAMETERS OF WHO IT IS THAT WE ARE INTENDING TO SEND.
JUDGE BECERRA: PERFECT. THANK YOU, CHIEF.
I WAS ASKED A QUESTION AND I SAID I WOULD ASK IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> ROLL CALL. JUDGE BECERRA: YES.
[Items 19 - 25]
PLEASE OPEN 19 THROUGH 25. >> 19, AUTHORIZE THE HAYS COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE THE FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
[01:15:01]
AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE JOINT FUNDING FOR THE PROVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY, THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE SAN MARCOS CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH WILL EXTEND THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT UNTIL JANUARY 25TH, 2022.20, AUTHORIZE PAYMENT TO ECKMANN INC., FOR APPRAISAL SERVICES, IN WHICH NO PURCHASE ORDER WAS ISSUED, AS REQUIRED PER HAYS COUNTY PURCHASING POLICY.
21, APPROVE EXTENSION OF RFP 2016-P06, BANK DEPOSETORY WITH SAGE CAPITAL BANK. 22, APPROVE RENEWAL OF IFB 2019-B02, ROAD BUILDING MATERIALS, GENERAL ROAD CONSTRUCTION, COLORADO MATERIALS LIMITED.
AND INDUSTRIAL ASPHALT LLC. 23, AUTHORIZE THE FIRE MARSHAL TO ACCEPT LEOSE FUNDS DISTRIBUTED FROM THE STATE CONTROLLER AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.
24, AUTHORIZE THE ACCEPTANCE OF $4,389 OF SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT FUNDS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION, GENERAL VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THE HAYS COUNTY VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR.
25, AUTHORIZE ACCEPTANCE OF $5,328.34 OF SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT FUNDS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION, FOR THE HAYS COUNTY VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR
FOR THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER. >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. JUDGE BECERRA: NUMBER 23, I KNOW IT'S MY AGENDA ITEM. I KNOW MIKE JONES IS HERE.
THE VIEWING PUBLIC DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK INTO BACK-UP OR ANYTHING ELSE. MY ONLY ASK IF YOU PUT THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IN ANYTHING I SPONSOR IN THE AGENDA.
MIKE, DO YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE THAT NUMBER IN FRONT OF YOU FOR
>> 55465. >> I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY DO AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY ADDRESS.
THE OTHER THING THAT I DO WANT TO BRING UP IS NUMBER 21, WE CONTINUE TO DO THESE AGREEMENTS WITH SAGE.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE GONE OUT FOR RFP OR RFQ A HANDFUL OF TIMES.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE, I KNOW -- I DON'T KNOW IF THE TREASURER'S OFFICE IS HERE. BUT I APPRECIATE THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO CONTINUE TO SERVICE OUR COUNTY.
BUT WE HAVE TO TRY TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF OPEN PROCESS ON THAT.
AND GET SOME ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS THERE.
I THINK THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COUNTY TO CHANGE SOME THINGS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN ADDITIONAL RFP GO OUT AND TRUE EDUCATION TO POSSIBLE VENDORS OUT THERE TO TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN'T SOLICIT ADDITIONAL FOLKS TO TRY TO SUBMIT. JUDGE BECERRA: I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE, COMMISSIONER. THAT IS EXACTLY, LITERALLY TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH.
SOME TYPE OF OPEN PROCESS. I BELIEVE THE AUDITOR MAY HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITY TO ILLUCIDATE. WHAT DO YOU THINK? I KNOW THAT THESE BIG NATIONAL BRANDS WANT TO CHARGE US A WHOLE LOT MORE. CAN YOU ADD ANYTHING TO IT?
>> WE DID SPEAK TO THE TREASURER, SHE IS WORKING ON THE RFP (INAUDIBLE) DURING COVID, THERE WAS SOME DIFFICULTIES TRYING TO GET BANKS TO RESPOND.
SO SHE IS WORKING ON A DEVELOPING THE SCOPES FOR THE NEW RFP AND THE PURCHASING OFFICE HAS BEEN SENDING OUT REMINDERS TO HER. AND SO WE HOPE TO GET THAT SCOPE BACK SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY BRING THE SPECIFICATIONS TO COURT FOR APPROVAL SOON.
JUDGE BECERRA: RIGHT ON. BECAUSE I TOO HAVE SEEN IT PUSHED OUT QUITE A FEW TIMES. COMMISSIONER SHELL.
>> I WANT TO THANK SAGE FOR ALLOWING US TO CONTINUE TO EXTEND THIS. IT'S TECHNICALLY A LIABILITY.
THE BANKS ARE REALLY NOT INTERESTED IN HOLDING THAT KIND
[01:20:01]
OF MONEY FOR US. I JUST WANTED TO THANK SAGE.JUDGE BECERRA: GREAT REMINDER. SAGE, LOCAL BANK.
GENERALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE EFFORT.
I THINK IT'S WHY, BECAUSE WE CAN SEE THE LEADERSHIP.
THAT IS ALWAYS THE CASE ON LOCAL AND SMALL BUSINESS TYPE THINGS. IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> ROLL CALL.
[26. Authorize the Hays County Office of Emergency Services to use American Rescue Plan Funds in the amount of $639.93 to purchase a 6-bay radio charger and in addition use $5,362.50 to upgrade 16 handheld radios to have VHF capabilities. BECERRA/MIKE JONES]
JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE OPEN 26. >> 26, AUTHORIZE THE HAYS COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES TO USE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $639.93, TO PURCHASE A SIX-BAY RADIO CHARGER AND IN ADDITION USE $5,362.50, TO UPGRADE 16 HAND-HELD RADIOS TO HAVE VHF CAPABILITIES.
JUDGE BECERRA: ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
MR. DAN LYON. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. LET ME JUST SAY, BECAUSE THE SHER SHERIFF'S BUDGET HAS BEEN SO DISPORTED, YOU MUST USE FUNDS THAT WEREN'T INTENDED FOR WHAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT CONSIDERS BASIC EQUIPMENT, THESE FUNDS WERE INTENDED TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF HAYS COUNTY RECOVER FROM THE LOSSES THAT THEY SUSTAINED BECAUSE OF COVID. YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT NOT AGENDA ITEM, BUT IT ACTUALLY IS AND I'LL EXPLAIN HOW IT IS.
I MADE ABOUT $2,200 LAST YEAR. AND OF THAT MONEY, I'M EXPECTED TO PAY 5100 IN TAXES. I'M IN A REAL WORLD OF HURT.
I'M USING RETIREMENT MONEY THAT I SAVED TO PAY TAXES.
AND THIS MONEY THAT YOU'RE USING FOR THESE RADIOS WAS INTENDED TO REIMBURSE PEOPLE LIKE THEY.
NOW, I GOT $3,200 IN WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE GOT LAST YEAR.
BUT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. AND PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE HURTING.
AND I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE HURTING A LOT WORSE THAN I AM. IT MIGHT MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHETHER THEY WILL EAT REGULARLY OR NOT.
I'M DOWN TO ONE MEAL A DAY. BUT YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMEWHAT OF A PERSONAL CHOICE. BUT THIS MONEY SHOULD NOT BE GOING TO THESE RADIOS. THE MONEY THAT SHOULD BE GOING TO THE RADIOS ARE THE 10,000 THAT WE SPENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 18. Y'ALL ARE NOT SERVING THE PEOPLE OF HAYS COUNTY WELL. AND I HAVE SEEN YESTERDAY, I'VE SEEN PEOPLE LINED UP AROUND THE LIBRARY, PUBLIC LIBRARY WAITING TO GET A BAG OF GROCERIES AND I LOOKED AT A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE IN THE EYE. THEY DID NOT EVEN WANT TO LOOK AT ME. THEY WERE SO EMBARRASSED BY HAVING TO TAKE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
AND IT'S BECAUSE Y'ALL ARE NOT BUDGETING PROPERLY AND WE'RE SPENDING 20 MILLION A YEAR JUST TO SERVICE THE DEBT Y'ALL ACCUM ACCUMULATED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONERS, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> JUDGE, I WOULD JUST SAY THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED BY TREASURY ON WHERE THEY CAN AND WILL BE SPENT. THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE SPENDING TODAY ARE ACTUALLY DESIGNATED BY THIS COURT AS A PORTION OF THAT THROUGH THE RADIO AND COMMUNICATIONS FUNDING THAT WE AUTHORIZED TWO MONTHS AGO. AS A QUALIFIED EXPENSE UNDER THAT. THE DIRECT INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE THAT IS OUT THERE, IS ACTUALLY SPECIFICALLY CARVED OUT FROM THIS MONEY AND IT MAY NOT BE USED FOR DIRECT INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE. AND SO I WOULD JUST SAY TO PURPORT THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THAT MONEY IN THAT WAY, IT'S NOT ONLY INCORRECT, IT WOUL BE ILLEGAL FOR US TO DO SO. JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT, COMMISSIONER.
IT IS TRUE THAT ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE FEDERALLY MILLIONS THAT ARE FEDERALLY FUNDED TO OUR COUNTY, ARE VERY VERY CLOSELY MONITORED AND WE CAN'T MOVE A DOLLAR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF WHAT TREASURY INTENDED ITS USE TO BE. AND WE JUST HAVE A MAGNIFICENT REPORT ABOUT HOW OUR AUDITORS, GATE KEEPERS ARE HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY USE THE MONEY AS INTENDED.
I AM VERY COMFORTABLE THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE ON THAT PATH. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> ROLL CALL. JUDGE BECERRA: MY INTENTION IS TO GO THROUGH ROADS, BUT IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR ME TO JUMP
[01:25:03]
AROUND. WOULD YOU LIKE TO START ON THIS SIDE. AGENDA ITEM TO KEEP YOU MOVING.[34. Discussion and possible action to authorize the Sheriff's Office to hire a Budget Coordinator, slot 0027-001 at the 50th percentile effective 4/1/22. SHELL/CUTLER]
>> 34 JUDGE BECERRA: LET'S OPEN 34.
>> DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO HIRE A BUDGET COORDINATOR, SLOT 002 0027-001 AT THE 50TH
>> SECOND. JUDGE BECERRA: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. AND WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. MR. AMAYA AND MR. DAN LYON.
JUDGE BECERRA: THIS AGENDA ITEM, Y'ALL TABLED IT THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE. CAN'T JUSTIFY THIS.
TOP HEAVY. EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ACHIEVE AT THAT OFFICE. WHERE ARE THE INDIANS.
PLEASE ON BEHALF OF NOT JUST MYSELF, EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE COUNTY, TURN THIS DOWN. CAN'T JUSTIFY THIS.
THANK YOU. JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER. HOW COULD I FORGET.
I MEAN IT. I HAD JUST CALLED IT OUT.
YEAH. LIKE MR. AMAYA SAID, THIS IS NOT JUSTIFIABLE, IF I WAS WRONG ON THE LAST AGENDA ITEM I WAS TALKING ABOUT, I AM RIGHT ON THIS ONE.
THIS IS ONE WHERE THE BUDGET FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS SO DISTORTED THAT NOW THEY NEED TO COME IN AND I KNOW PROBABLY BY LAW, THEY HAVE TO DO THIS ALSO IF THEY WANT TO JUMP INTO THE 50TH PERCENTILE. BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND AMEND THE BUDGET AND YOU KNOW, PAY THE GUY 13,326 MORE THAN HE WOULD HAVE BEEN PAID. OR THE WOMAN.
LIKE I SAY, IT'S LIKE MR. AMAYA SAID, TOO MANY CHIEFS, NOT ENOUGH INDIANS. WE CAN'T AFFORD THIS.
ONCE AGAIN, PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.
BECAUSE Y'ALL'S LACK OF BUDGETING ABILITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER SHELL. OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS?
>> I WOULD JUST SAY, JUDGE, I GUESS WE DISCUSSED IT LAST TIME WE WERE HERE. I KNOW THERE WAS OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE GOING TO HAVE A WORKSHOP HERE IN A LITTLE BIT. AND HOPEFULLY TRY TO ADDRESS ALL OF THESE ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THROUGHOUT
DEPARTMENTS AND SO YEAH. >> HOW MANY APPLICANTS DID WE ACTUALLY GET AFTER EXTENDING IT?
>> CHIEF DAVENPORT, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, IF YOU WILL PLEASE
APPROACH THE PODIUM. >> WE ONLY HAD ONE.
THE LAST TIME WE MET WE AGREED TO POST IT FOR TWO WEEKS.
WE DID THAT. WE HAD ONE ADDITIONAL APPLICANT APPLY. AND THAT PERSON SUBSEQUENTLY WITHDREW HER APPLICATION. SO WE ARE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL ONE. JUDGE BECERRA: OKAY.
I KNOW WE HAVE A WORKSHOP TO ADDRESS IT, AS COMMISSIONER INGALSBE HAS STATED. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE ON THIS ITEM?
>> I DO NOT. JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE
JUDGE BECERRA: YES. AGENDA ITEM TO KEEP MOVING.
ANYTHING FOR YOU, SIR? WHITE SHIRT WITH THE TIE.
NO. NOTHING FOR YOU. BEHIND YOU GUYS.
[28. Discussion and possible action to approve the selection of BGE Inc. to serve as the General Engineering Consultant (GEC) for the study of a proposed extension of SH45 Southwest from FM 1626 to IH35; and to authorize staff and General Counsel to negotiate a contract. SMITH/JONES/BORCHERDING]
JUDGE BECERRA: 28. PLEASE OPEN 28.>> 28, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE SELECTION OF BGE INC. TO SERVE AS THE GENERAL ENGINEERING CONSULTANT FOR THE STUDY OF PROPOSED EXTENSION OF SH 45 SOUTHWEST FROM FH 1626 TO IH35 AND TO AUTHORIZE STAFF AND GENERAL COUNSEL TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT.
>> ONE INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
MR. DAN LYON. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE.
I NOTICE THAT Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT USING BGE HERE.
[01:30:08]
AND WHEN I GO THROUGH COMMISSIONER SMITH'S CANDIDATE AND OFFICER CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT, HE HAS RECEIVED MANY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BGE. AND WHILE IT MAY NOT BE ILLEGAL, IT IS CERTAINLY UNETHICAL FOR HIM TO VOTE ON THIS. BECAUSE IT'S A CLEAR CONFLICT OF INTEREST. I SEE -- LET ME SEE HOW MANY HE'S GOT HERE. AT LEAST NINE THAT I COUNT CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BGE. AND TO BE FAIR, I DON'T HAVE EVERYONE'S CANDIDATE AND OFFICE HOLDER CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT.I JUST HAVE HIS. SO I'M NOT PICKING ON HIM.
BUT I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET THAT THERE ARE OTHERS ON THE COURT HERE RECEIVING FUNDS FROM BGE.
I WOULD ASK Y'ALL ALL TO RECUSE YOURSELVES AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. BUT I DOUBT WE WOULD HAVE A QUORUM IF YOU DID ACTUALLY RECUSE YOURSELVES.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, MR. DAN LYON. ANY COMMENTS, MR. SMITH OR
ANYONE ELSE? >> THIS IS FOR SERVICE TO OVERSEE THE ENGINEERING DESIGN WORK THAT WE'RE HAVING DONE BY CPNY, IT'S A HUGE PROJECT FOR US.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE STAFF AVAILABLE TO OVERSEE THIS.
AND IT'S A NEEDED PART OF THIS PROJECT.
>> I THINK TO GIVE OUR PARTNERS ON THIS PROJECT A LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE AS WELL ON THE INVESTMENT THAT THEY ARE MAKING, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY, THIS ADDITIONAL LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT IS NEEDED. I'M HAPPY TO PUT IT IN THERE.
JUDGE BECERRA: I WILL SAY I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM WHO WE ARE VOTING ON TODAY.
IF THERE IS NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL THE
[27. Discussion and possible action to call for a public hearing on April 12, 2022 to establish a 4-way stop location on Main Street at the intersection with Campo Del Sol Parkway near Sunfield subdivision, per a recent traffic study. JONES/BORCHERDING]
JUDGE BECERRA: NEXT AGENDA ITEM.PLEASE OPEN 27. Ô> 27, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING APRIL 12, 2022, TO ESTABLISH A FOUR-WAY STOP LOCATION ON MAIN STREET, AT THE INTERSECTION NEAR SUNFIELD SUBDIVISION, PER A RECENT
>> SECOND. JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE
[29. Discussion and possible action to accept the Site Improvement Performance Bond No. 800132287 in the amount of $660,477.10 for street excavation, drainage, and erosion control improvements in the Caliterra Subdivision, Phase 4, Section 12. SMITH/BORCHERDING]
JUDGE BECERRA: YES. PLEASE OPEN 29.
>> 29. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO ACCEPT THE SITE IMPROVEMENT PERFORMANCE BOND NUMBER 800132287, IN THE AMOUNT OF 660,000 FOR STREET EXCAVATION, DRAINAGE AND EROSION CONTROL IMPROVEMENTS, PHASE FOUR,
>> SECOND. JUDGE BECERRA: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> ROLL CALL. JUDGE BECERRA: YES.
[30. PLN-1887-NP; Discussion and possible action regarding the final plat for the Martinez Place Subdivision (1 Lot). SHELL/PACHECO]
PLEASE OPEN NUMBER 30. >> NUMBER 30, SUBDIVISIONS.
PLN-1887-NP, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE FINAL PLAT FOR THE MARTINEZ PLACE SUBDIVISION.
>> MARTINEZ PLACE SUBDIVISION IS A PROPOSED ONE LOT SUBDIVISION, COMPRISING OF 3.01 ACRES.
PRECINCT THREE. AND WATER UTILITIES WILL BE PROVIDED BY INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE WELL AND WASTE WATER TREATMENT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY INDIVIDUAL ON-SITE SEWAGE FACILITIES. THERE ARE NO VARIANCES REQUESTED AND FULL STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
JUDGE BECERRA: OKAY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE >> YES.
[31. PLN-1759-NP Anthem Phase 4 Preliminary Plan (110 Lots). approve preliminary plan. SMITH/PACHECO]
JUDGE BECERRA: YES. PLEASE OPEN 31.>> 31, PLN-1759-NP, PRELIMINARY PLAN, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE PRELIMINARY PLAN.
JUDGE BECERRA: ONE MORE TIME. >> YES, JUDGE.
SO THE ANTHEM PHASE FOUR PRELIMINARY PLAN IS 110-LOT SUBDIVISION LOCATED ACROSS APPROXIMATELY 50 ACRES, OFF OF FM 150 IN PRECINCT FOUR. 104 WILL BE SINGLE FAMILY
[01:35:03]
RESIDENTIAL LOTS AND SIX LOTS WILL BE INTENDED FOR OPEN SPACE AND GREENBELT. IN ADDITION TO THE LOTS WILL BE A SCHOOL SITE FOR THIS PHASE FOUR PROJECT.ALL LOTS ARE GOING TO BE SERVED BY ANTHEM FOR WATER AND WASTE WATER. THIS NOW GETS US A THIRD OF THE WAY FOR FULL DEVELOPMENT. THERE ARE 12 PHASES TO BE BUILT. JUDGE BECERRA: MUCH NEEDED ROOFTOP SPACE FOR US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY. IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> ROLL CALL.
[35. Discussion and possible action to authorize the Transportation Department to hire a Road Maintenance Lead, slot 1055-007 at the 25th percentile effective April 4,2022. INGALSBE/BORCHERDING]
JUDGE BECERRA: YES. AND HOW FUNNY THAT YOU SAW IT COMING. WILL YOU PLEASE OPEN NUMBER 35.>> 35, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO HIRE A ROAD MAINTENANCE LEAD SLOT 1055-007 AT THE 25TH PERCENTILE, EFFECTIVE
>> SECOND. JUDGE BECERRA: AND WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. MR. AMAYA.
>> JUDGE, COURT. ONCE AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE, I SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD. BUT THIS IS ANOTHER ILLEGITIMATE AGENDA ITEM. YOU CAN'T JUSTIFY THIS.
YOU CAN'T CONVINCE ME IF YOU GO OUT THERE AND DRIVE AROUND THESE ROADS THAT THE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING OUR COUNTY ROADS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE HAS BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB. YOU MUST LIVE IN DRIPPING SPRINGS OR WEMBERLY. BECAUSE THE OTHER AREAS, SOME OF PRECINCT TWO IS OKAY I GUESS.
BUT THE OTHER ONES, THEY ARE BELOW STANDARDS.
I KNOW 152, VERY VERY POORLY MAINTAINED.
SO AGAIN, YOU CANNOT JUSTIFY THIS.
THANK YOU. JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, MR. AMAYA. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.
>> JUDGE, I KNOW AARON IS HERE, BUT THIS PERSON HAS MORE THAN TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN MANY DIFFERENT ITEMS, LEADERSHIP AND CDL AND TRAINING AND I DON'T KNOW, AARON, IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE.
JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE
VIEWING PUBLIC. >> AARON JONES, ROAD MAINTENANCE SUPERINTENDENT FOR HAYS COUNTY.
THIS APPLICANT HAS WORKED FOR ADJACENT COUNTY TO THE SOUTH OF US, CURRENTLY WORKING FOR ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY.
HAS VARIOUS SKILL SETS THAT WE WOULD NEED WITH THE CURRENT POSITIONS AND VACANCIES IN OUR DEPARTMENT, HE WOULD BE AN ASSET. HE'LL START OUT, SINCE WE WILL PUT HIM IN AS FAR AS WITH OTHER CREWS TO SUPPORT THOSE, AS WE EXPAND HOPEFULLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE WITH GETTING SOME OF OUR STAFFING CORRECTED AND BACK INTO PLACE.
JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM AARON? THANK YOU.
IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> ROLL CALL. JUDGE BECERRA: YES.
[36. Discussion and possible action to award contract for RFQ 2022-Q01 Onion Creek Watershed Hydraulic Study to Halff Associates, Inc.; and authorize staff and General Counsel to negotiate a contract to be brought back to court for approval and final contract award. SMITH/JONES/PACHECO]
PLEASE OPEN 36. >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AWARD CONTRACT FOR RFQ-2022-Q01, ONION CREEK WATERSHED HYDRAULIC STUDY AND AUTHORIZE STAFF AND GENERAL COUNSEL TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO COURT FOR APPROVAL AND FINAL CONTRACT AWARD.
JUDGE BECERRA: WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, MR. AMAYA, FOLLOWED BY MR. DAN LYON.
IT'S YOU FIRST. >> JUDGE, COURT.
IT'S KIND OF TIGHT. JUST WANT TO REMIND THE COURT THOSE IN ATTENDANCE HERE, THOSE IN CYBERSPACE, I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM INCLUDING GENERAL COUNSEL CONSIDERING 1.5 LOSS PINES INCIDENT. WE LOSS OVER 1000000.5.
HOW CAN YOU HAVE SOMEONE LIKE THAT BE A PART OF THE
DISCUSSION. >> POINT OF ORDER.
>> IT SURE IS, COMMISSIONER WILL SMITH.
IT SURE IS. SO YOU DON'T HAVE THE GOODS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS DISCUSSION. $1.5 MILLION IT COST LAST TIME.
THE GUY IS STILL EMPLOYED. THANK YOU.
[01:40:02]
JUDGE BECERRA: MR. DAN LYON. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. Y'ALL MAY CORRECT ME IF I AM INCORRECT ON THIS, THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE GAVE HALFF AND ASSOCIATES 365 DAY CHANGE ORDER.
HOWEVER, AT THE END Y'ALL CAN CORRECT ME IF THAT IS INCORRECT. I NOTICED IN THE BACK-UP THAT THERE WAS ONE OTHER FIRM THAT PUT IN A BID ON THIS.
AQUA OR SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW THE WHOLE TITLE OF THAT.
BUT SOMETHING I DO KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT HERE ON CANDIDATE AND OFFICE HOLDER CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT, COMMISSIONER SMITH, HALFF AND ASSOCIATES GAVE $500.
APPARENTLY AQUA OR WHATEVER IT IS, DIDN'T GIVE ANY MONEY.
LIKE I SAY, HE IS PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT RECEIVED PAC MONEY FROM HALFF ASSOCIATES. WE SEE THIS TIME AFTER TIME, PEOPLE THAT DO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAMPAIGNS SEEM TO BE THE PEOPLE THAT ALWAYS GET THE CONTRACTS.
I GUESS IT'S JUST COINCIDENCE. BU SOME PEOPLE LOOK AT IT AND SAY, THAT IS NOT SUCH A GOOD LOOK.
THAT IS NOT SUCH A GOOD THING. AND THEY START TO SUSPECT THAT SOMETHING IS UP. BUT ANYWAY, I'M NOT THAT TYPE OF PERSON. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, MR. DAN LYON.
>> JUDGE, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF OUR AUDITOR'S OFFICE CAN WALK THROUGH THE SELECTION PROCESS.
JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO HAVE QUESTIONS ON HOW THESE RFPS ARE DONE, HOW THEY'RE SCORED AND HOW THE STATE MANDATES THAT PROCESS. JUDGE BECERRA: ARE YOU -- I KNOW IT'S A TALL ORDER. ARE YOU OKAY TO ANSWER THAT AT
THIS TIME? >> I'LL SPEAK DIRECTLY ABOUT THIS ONE, HOW MANY REVIEWERS THERE ARE.
JUDGE BECERRA: I'LL SPOON FEED US THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
>> FOR THIS SPECIFIC REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS, THERE WAS FIVE INDIVIDUALS. THE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
JUDGE BECERRA: CAN YOU STATE THEIR NAMES.
REVIEWER NUMBER ONE, MARK JONES, LINDSEY, REVIEWER NUMBER FIVE, WALT SMITH. JUDGE BECERRA: OKAY.
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, CAN YOU TELL US WHO THEY ARE?
>> MARK JONES IS COMMISSIONER MARK JONES.
LINDSEY BATHUNE IS A GRANTS WRITER.
MARCUS, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
>> ERIC IS THE HAYS COUNTY FLOODPLAIN ADMINISTRATOR.
AND COMMISSIONER WALT SMITH. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE INSTRUCTED TO PERFORM THESE EVALUATIONS ON THEIR OWN.
CONTACTED BY A PURCHASING MANAGER, WHO GIVES THEM THE SPECIFICATIONS, ALL THE BIDS, PACKETS FOR QUALIFICATIONS ARE SUBMITTED TO THE PURCHASING OFFICE.
THEY ARE OPENED AND THEY ARE PREPARED FOR DISPERSION TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. THEY RATE, THEY REVIEW THE PROPOSALS AND THEY RATE THEM ON THEIR OWN AND THEY SEND THEIR RATINGS TO THE PURCHASING MANAGER, WHO WILL TALLY ALL OF THE RATINGS. AND CREATE THE FINAL EVALUATION WORKSHEET. THE FINAL EVALUATION WORKSHEET IS THEN SHARED WITH THE COMMITTEE.
AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS MADE TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT BASED ON THE FINAL TABULATION AWARD.
I'M TRYING TO OPEN IT UP AT THIS MOMENT.
SORRY. JUDGE BECERRA: IN SUMMARY, IT IS TWO COMMISSIONERS AND THREE EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY THAT ARE ON THIS COMMITTEE. KNOWLEDGEABLE GROUP.
>> VERY SPECIFIC ONE. OF THE TWO ENTITIES THAT WERE THERE, AND SCORED, THE AVERAGES, I CAN SHARE THE OVERALL AVERAGES. FOR THIS SPECIFIC RFP, AGAIN, EACH INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER IS 20 PERCENT OF AN OVERALL AVERAGE SCORE. THE AVERAGES ON THIS ONE HAD THIS FIRM SCORING 9 POINTS ABOVE THE OTHER FIRM THAT APPLIED. I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE 20 APPLICANTS FOR THIS. SOMETIMES, FOR EXAMPLE, WHENEVER ONE OF THE PREVIOUS ONES I DID TWO WEEKS AGO, THREE WEEKS AGO WAS ON THERE, I THINK WE HAD 14 DIFFERENT FIRMS THAT
[01:45:03]
APPLIED. THIS ONE HAD TWO.AND WE SCORED THE ONES THAT WE GOT.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. THOSE RATINGS WERE CORRECT, AS FAR AS THE AVERAGE SCORES, ONCE THEY WERE AVERAGED ACROSS THE FIVE REVIEWERS JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THIS SPECIFIC PROCESS.
WHAT ELSE, COMMISSIONER SMITH? ANYTHING ON THIS END?
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> ROLL CALL.
JUDGE BECERRA: DO I KEEP GOING? OR DO YOU WANT A BONA FIDE
[37. Discussion and possible action to authorize the County Judge to execute an Interlocal Cooperative Agreement between Hays County and the City of Buda for contracts procured by the Hays County Purchasing Department. BECERRA/VILLARREAL-ALONZO]
BREAK? PLEASE OPEN 37.>> 37, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE AN INTERLOCAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF BUDA FOR CONTRACTS PROCURED BY THE HAYS COUNTY PURCHASING DEPARTMENT.
JUDGE BECERRA: MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANYTHING TO ADD TO IT? PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[38. Discussion and possible action regarding the previously approved Interlocal Agreement between Hays County and the City of Kyle regarding the City of Kyle Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No.3 (TIRZ 3). SHELL/KENNEDY]
>> 38, DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF KYLE REGARDING THE CITY OF KYLE TAX INCREMENT
REINVESTMENT ZONE 3. >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER
SHELL, ANYTHING? >> I BELIEVE MR. KENNEDY HAS AN
UPDATE FOR US. >> WHEN WE LAST CONSIDERED THIS ITEM, I STATED THAT THE TIMELINE FOR THE EXISTENCE WAS STILL IN FLUX AND YOU ALL APPROVED IT CONTINGENT ON THE CREATION OF THE PID BY THE CITY.
BUT WHAT I REPRESENTED TO YOU ON THAT DAY IS THAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD GO AS LONG AS 25 YEARS.
BECAUSE THIS IS A TERS THAT RELATES BACK TO A PID AND HELPS PAY DOWN THE PID AND BECAUSE THE PID IS PLANNED TO BE, TO FUND IN THREE TRANCHES, THESE ARE 30-YEAR BONDS AND THREE TRANCHES. BECAUSE OF THAT, THE TIRSILA IS NOW PROPOSED TO BE A 40-YEAR INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT.
I FELT MORE COMFORTABLE COMING BACK AND INFORMING THE COURT OF THIS BEFORE WE EXECUTE SO THAT WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. THE MOTION AND ACTION OF THE COURT THAT YOU TOOK LAST TIME IS STILL IN MY OPINION SUFFICIENT FOR THE JUDGE TO EXECUTE ONCE WE HAVE THE FINAL DETAILS ON THE TERS AND PID CREATION.
I WANTED TO BE SURE YOU WERE INFORMED OF THIS IN ADVANCE.
THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE. FOR INSTANCE, THERE IS A CAP, ANNUAL CAP THAT THE TERS WILL PAY TOWARD THE COST TO THE PID.
THE REASON, I'LL REPEAT THIS, I SAID THIS LAST TIME, BUT THE REASON THESE ARE TIED TOGETHER, IT'S AN INTERESTING CONCEPT.
WE'VE NOT DONE IT BEFORE HERE. BUT YOU KNOW, THE PID IS A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE LANDOWNERS WITHIN THAT SUBDIVISION. THE TERS, WHICH CAN PAY FOR SOME OF THE SAME PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS THAT A PID WOULD PAY FOR IS BEING PUT IN PLACE TO HELP PAY DOWN THE IMPACT OF THAT PID ON THE RESIDENTS OF SAVANNAH SUBDIVISION WITHIN THE WATERRIDGE DEVELOPMENT. SO I THINK THE CONCEPT IS A GOOD ONE IN TERMS OF LESSENING THE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE ON THE RESIDENTS OF THAT SUBDIVISION. THERE NEED TO BE SOME SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE SO THAT THE TERS DOESN'T, IF FOR INSTANCE, THE VALUES OF THE PROPERTY WENT MUCH HIGHER THAN THEY WERE FORECASTED TO BE, THEN THE APPROXIMATELY 37 PERCENT OR SO THAT WERE COLLECTING OFF THAT INCREMENT WOULD BE MORE THAN IT NEEDED TO BE TO ACCOMPLISH ITS GOAL.
SO THAT IS WHY THERE IS A CAP THERE.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I'VE ASKED THE CITY TO ADD A CLAUSE TO THE TERMINATION SECTION OF THIS AGREEMENT THAT SAYS IF THERE IS A SURPLUS LEFT IN THE FUND, AFTER THE TERS HAS DONE ITS JOB, THAT THE COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTION WILL BE RETURNED TO THE COUNTY. JUDGE BECERRA: FROM THE MOMENT I HEARD ABOUT THIS CONCEPT, AS YOU SAID IT'S THE FIRST ONE COMING TO OUR COUNTY, I AM -- IT IS WHAT IT IS.
I AM IMPRESSED WITH THE CREATIVITY AND I AM GENUINELY
[01:50:04]
APPRECIATIVE OF THE CRAFT. I REALLY AM.I'M A FAN OF THE CREATIVITY. AND SO MY ASSUMPTION IS THE EXTENSION OF TIME IS CLEARLY TO DIMINISH THE PAYMENT FOR THE
HOMEOWNER, CORRECT? >> THAT'S RIGHT.
THESE TWO FUNDING MECHANISMS ARE WORKING IN TANDEM WITH ONE ANOTHER. YES.
JUDGE BECERRA: I THINK IT'S ELEGANT.
COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> NOTHING FURTHER, JUDGE.
>> I MEAN, I APPRECIATE YOU KNOW, THE HELP TO THE HOMEOWNER, ALTHOUGH, BOY, THAT IS A LONG TIME.
40-YEAR JUDGE BECERRA: WE MAY ALL BE GONE BY THEN.
THANK YOU, MR. KENNEDY FOR BRINGING IT BACK.
THAT IS A REALLY USEFUL ARTICULATION OF INFORMATION FOR HANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR . IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE, MOTION IS GOING TO BE TO MOVE THIS TO 40 YEARS IN SUMMARY,
I SUPPOSE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TAKE ACTION, THEN YOU COULD JUST CONFIRM THE VOTE OF THE COURT LAST TIME TO EXECUTE ONCE THE TERS IS FINAL. JUDGE BECERRA: I MOVE THAT WE EXECUTE ONCE THE TERS IS FINAL TO EXTEND UP TO A 40-YEAR SHELF
LIFE OF THE AGREEMENT. >> CORRECT.
JUDGE BECERRA: I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE THE WORDING.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> ROLL CALL.
JUDGE BECERRA: YES. SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS TAKE A 10-MINUTE BREAK. PUT YOUR TIMER TO IT AND WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK WITH ITEM 33 AND GO INTO THE WORKSHOP.
ITEM >>JUDGE BECERRA: THROUGH FISCAL
[*A portion of this item is without audio* 33. Discussion and possible action to review and approve a preliminary Hays County budget calendar for Fiscal Year 2023. VILLARREAL-ALONZO]
YEAR 2022, HAYS COUNTY OPERATED UNDER SUB-CHAPTER A WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE AS THE BUDGET OFFICER, DUE TO THE RECENT CENSUS HAYS COUNTY POPULATION NOW MOVES OUR BUDGET PROCESS TO EITHER SUB CHAPTER B, COUNTY AUDITOR IS THE OFFICER.OR SUB CHAPTER B, THE COURT APPOINTS THE BUDGET OFFICER.
DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, THE COURT SET ASIDE FUNDS TO ESTABLISH A BUDGET OFFICE AND A BUDGET OFFICE.
ONCE THE BUDGET OFFICE IS ESTABLISHED, THE BUDGET OFFICER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING A BALANCED BUDGET TO PRESENT TO THE COURT FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND FINAL ADOPTION. ALSO, I WANTED TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER. THE DATES INCLUDED FOR BUDGET WORKSHOPS AND THE PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER HAVE ONE DATE THAT THE COURT HAS CANCELLED ON AUGUST 23RDRD. THE COURT WILL NEED TO RECONSIDER THAT COURT CANCELLATION DATE IN ORDER TO MEET TIMELINES FOR SOME REQUIRED PUBLIC NOTICES.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: SO THE FIRST QUESTION IS, ON THAT CANCELLATION DOES ANYONE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MEETING? SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA. OKAY.
SO WE WILL CREATE A MOTION TO REINSTATE THAT DATE FOR A COURT DATE FIRST. AND THEN SECOND, I ALSO HEARD YOU SAY WE HAVE A NEED TO APPOINT A PERSON.
>> YES. SO WE DID SET ASIDE FUNDS DURING THE FY22 BUDGET PROCESS FOR A BUDGET OFFICE.
THAT POSITION OR THE OFFICE HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED YET.
BUT THE FUNDS ARE SET ASIDE FOR THAT.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: I REMEMBER I CREATED THE LINE ITEM FOR IT.
I DO. >> SO BECAUSE WE ARE OVER POPULATION OF 225,000, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, NOW WE HAVE TO OPERATE UNDER A DIFFERENT SUB-CHAPTER FOR THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET, PROPOSED BUDGET THAT GETS PRESENTED TO
THE COURT FOR REVIEW >>JUDGE BECERRA: SINCE WE PUT MONEY ASIDE FOR THE POSITION, THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS, WHAT YOU WOULD NEED FROM US WOULD BE DEFINITIVE DIRECTION TO TURN THAT ON, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES. SO WE WOULD MOST LIKELY WANT THE COURT TO DETERMINE HOW THEY WOULD LIKE THAT OFFICE TO FUN FUNCTION.
POSITIONS THAT WOULD BE WITHIN THAT OFFICE, DUTIES, DEVELOPMENT, JOB DESCRIPTION. OUR NORMAL HIRING PROCESS.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING IN CONCERT WITH OUR
HR DIRECTOR, I'M SURE. >> YES.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: HOW MUCH TIME, I'VE BEEN THE CHIEF BUDGET OFFICER NOW FOR A FEW YEARS, I UNDERSTAND WHAT GOES INTO IT, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE LENS OF THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND HEOW
[01:55:04]
HELPFUL YOU HAVE BEEN TO BE, WHOLE HEARTED APPRECIATIVE.I KNOW THE POPULATION WAS GOING O BE SUCH THAT WE NEEDED TO DO THIS, CREATION OF THE OFFICE. THAT IS WHY I BUDGETED FOR IT AND THE COURTS APPROVED IT. HOW MUCH TIME TO TURN THIS THING ON. WE NEED TO THINK WITH TIME ON OUR SIDE, ESPECIALLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE IT, HIRING FOLKS RIGHT NOW IS TOUGH.
SO THE SOONER WE GET AFTER THIS IS THE BETTER.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I ALREADY BEGAN RESEARCHING WHAT OTHER COUNTIES ARE UTILIZING FOR BUDGET OFFICE.
>> COULD YOU DO ME A FAVOR -- THANK YOU.
RECAPPING AND NAME AND TITLE. >> GOOD MORNING.
SHERI MILLER, HAYS COUNTY HR DIRECTOR.
I HAVE BEGUN LOOKING AT OTHER COUNTIES TO SEE HOW THEY ORGANIZED AND UTILIZED BUDGET OFFICE STAFF SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ANTICIPATE. SO BY THE 12TH, I WOULD BE PREPARED TO COME WITH RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT OR THOSE POSITIONS. GIVEN YOUR DIRECTION.
AND ESTABLISH POST HOPE FOR SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS, QUICK APPLICANTS. SO THE SOONER THE BETTER.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: FOR SURE. COULD YOU TELL US WHAT YOU'VE SEEN SO FAR AS FAR AS STRUCTURE, DIRECTOR AND TWO ASSISTANTS OR HOW DO YOU SEE IT SO FAR?
>> I'VE JUST BEGAN. AND REALLY DIGGING INTO THE COUNTIES THAT WE BENCHMARK AGAINST, I ANTICIPATE USING OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL. MOST ARE STAND-ALONE DEPARTMENTS THAT MAY ALSO HANDLE OTHER FINANCE FUNCTIONS.
AND SO USUALLY AN OFFICER OR A DIRECTOR.
AND ONE OR TWO STAFF MEMBERS. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MUCH LARGER COUNTIES THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A MUCH LARGER STAFF.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: OF COURSE. >> IF I CAN JUST INTERRUPT REAL QUICK. JUST UNDERSTANDING THAT IT HAS GREATER IMPACTS IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AS WELL.
SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A VERY THOROUGH DISCUSSION. SO THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT WILL COME TOGETHER THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ORGANIZE IT IN THE PROPER WAY AND THEN ALSO FROM A STAFFING PERSPECTIVE OF BOTH OFFICES, THERE IS IMPACTS TO OUR CURRENT AUDITOR'S OFFICE. SO JUST SOMETHING THAT IS
PRETTY IN-DEPTH. >> I THINK WE ARE GETTING OFF
THIS AGENDA ITEM. >> COMMISSIONERS, AND EVERYONE, IN CASE YOU'RE FEELING ANSY ABOUT IT, GIVE THEM, LOAD THEM WITH AS MUCH DIRECTION AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WHEN IT COMES BACK, IT WILL HAVE MORE TRAJECTORY AND MORE ACTIONABLE DIRECTION. BECAUSE IF SHERI COMES BACK IN TWO WEEKS OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, AND MARISOL COMES BACK IN THE SAME COUPLE OF WEEKS, IT COULD JUST DELAY.
I THOUGHT WE COULD HAVE MORE CONVERSATION AROUND THE GENERAL BROAD STROKES OF IT SO THAT YOU GUYS COULD BE CHARGED WITH WHAT IS NECESSARY. THAT IS KIND OF MY INTENT.
>> JUDGE, I HAVE A QUESTION. SO ONCE THESE -- SHERI, YOU'RE READY TO COME BACK TO COURT REGARDING THIS OFFICE AND JOB DESCRIPTIONS, THEN WHAT IS THE PROCESS AFTER THAT? I MEAN, DO WE JUST GO AHEAD AND ADVERTISE YOU KNOW, SUBMIT THOSE AND CAN WE HIRE SOMEONE IMMEDIATELY OR DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE POST THOSE?
>> POSITIONS HAVE TO BE POSTED, UNLESS YOU APPROVE AN EXCEPTION TO OUR POSTING POLICY. WE'RE ENCOURAGING ALL OF OUR POSITIONS NOW TO BE POSTED FOR TWO WEEKS TO MEET OUR NEW DIRECTION FOR SALARY EXCEPTIONS.
>> I GUESS I'M ASKING SCAN WE HIRE SOMEONE NOW OR IS THERE A TIMELINE FOR THAT HIRING? DO WE KNOW?
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING INTO -- ARE WE LEGAL TO TALK ABOUT THIS NOW?
>> JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE RIGHT.
>> THERE IS SOME RELATION HERE TO THE BUDGET CALENDAR.
I THINK SOME CONVERSATIONS WARRANTED.
IT'S PROBABLY LIMITED AND I DON'T THINK WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL. BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CREATION OF A SUB-CHAPTER C BUDGET OFFICER IMPACTS THE BUDGET CALENDAR, THEN YES, I THINK WE CAN.
INCLUDING, FOR INSTANCE, THE QUESTION THAT COMMISSIONER INGALSBE JUST ASKED, HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE IF WE WERE HIRING EXTERNALLY AND NOT INTERNALLY, OR EITHER WOULD IT TAKE TO GET SOMEONE PUT IN PLACE FOR THIS BUDGET.
[02:00:01]
AND THIS BUDGET CYCLE THAT IS REALLY AT OUR DOORSTEP.>>JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, MR. KENNEDY.
BECAUSE I SEE IT ALL FOLDING BACK IN TO THE CALENDAR.
GREAT QUESTIONS. WHO WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION? WE PROBABLY WANT TO POST, IS WHAT I'M HEARING FROM MS. MILLER, CORRECT? FINISH THE DETAILS AND CREATE A POSTING FOR TWO WEEKS AND SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF IT. MIGHT SEEM THE MOST USEFUL ROAD MAP, CORRECT? AND DOES THAT HELP YOU ON THE CALENDAR PIECE JUST TO ROLL IT BACK IN TO KNOW THAT WE WILL BE
PURSUING THAT DEVELOPMENT? >> SO THE BUDGET CALENDAR IS DRAFTED, THAT GIVES THE DEPARTMENTS ROUGHLY A MONTH OR SO TO INPUT THEIR REQUEST FOR THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.
SO THIS TIMELINE HAS BEEN DRAFTED FOR A BUDGET OFFICE TO START REVIEWING THOSE REQUESTS ON MAY 23RD, AFTER THE DEPARTMENT DEADLINE. IT IS A SHORT WINDOW BUT YOU WOULD HAVE THAT TWO-WEEK TIMELINE TO POST.
AND NOW, THIS BUDGET CALENDAR IS A DRAFT FOR YOU TO REVIEW.
IT'S A WORKING DOCUMENT THAT CAN CHANGE.
WE'VE REVISED BUDGET CALENDARS IN THE PAST TO MEET OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP. SO IT CAN BE REVISED IF NEEDED.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: BEAUTIFUL. MS. MILLER, DOES THAT SEEM IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU CAN PULL OFF? I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. YOU SAID YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO COME BACK FOR NEXT COURT. THAT DATE AND THEN KNOWING THAT WE ADD IT BACK IN MAY 23RD, WOULD SOMEONE STAFFED AND READY TO GO SEEM DOABLE TO YOU? AS LONG AS THEY APPLY.
>> AS LONG AS THERE IS APPLICANTS.
SHAKE THE TREES. >>JUDGE BECERRA: YES.
PREPARING THE WORK YOU GOT THIS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. >>JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU.
>> JUDGE, AS FAR AS THAT DAY, THE 23RD THAT WE NEED TO REINSTATE, DO WE COME BACK WITH AN AGENDA ITEM REGARDING THAT? IS THAT PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THAT? AND THEN I KNOW THAT THERE IS ALSO THE 30TH AND THE 6TH.
ARE WE PROPOSED TO THOSE DATES TO TAKE ANY KIND OF ACTION?
>> NO, MA'AM. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I CAN WORK WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE REGARDING THAT.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: WE WILL BRING BACK AN AGENDA ITEM FOR YOU BASED ON THE THINGS YOU'RE ASKING AND THAT WILL KEEP YOU THIS LINE WITH THE GOALS AND WE WILL ALSO IN THAT MOTION BRING US BACK TO COURT ON THE DAY THAT WOULD HAMPER THE SCHEDULING. FUTURE AGENDA ITEM IS OKAY WITH
>>JUDGE BECERRA: MR. KENNEDY, ANYTHING ELSE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN LEFT LOOSE ON THAT ITEM? NO ACTION REQUIRED.
WHAT ELSE, VICKIE? WE'RE ALL DONE WITH THAT.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO NOW >> APPROVE THE PRELIMINARY CALENDAR. ONE T -- ONE T- ONE TYPO IN -
>> APPROVE THE PRELIMINARY CALENDAR
ONE T- >> APPROVE THE PRELIMINARY CALENDAR ONE T
>> APPROVE THE PRELIMINARY CALENDAR
ONE TYPO IN IT. >>JUDGE BECERRA: I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE PRELIMINARY CALENDAR.
>> SECOND. > PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> ROLL CALL. >>JUDGE BECERRA: YES.
AND NOW WHAT WE HAVE LEFT ARE THE WORKSHOP AND EXECUTIVE
[39. Review of the Hays County compensation practices and discussion related to the approach going forward, including identification of the goals of the current salary study being conducted by the Human Resources Department. SHELL/MILLER]
SESSION. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO WORKSHOP. PLEASE OPEN AGENDA ITEM NUMBER39. >> 39, REVIEW OF THE HAYS COUNTY COMPENSATION PRACTICES AND DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE APPROACH GOING FORWARD, INCLUDING IDENTIFICATION OF THE GOALS OF THE CURRENT SALARY STUDY BEING CONDUCTED BY THE
HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. >>JUDGE BECERRA: WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN ORDER, MR. AMAYA AND MR. DAN LYON, YOU WILL EACH HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> ON THIS AGENDA ITEM, I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT THE WAY THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN COMING HERE, FRIENDS OF MINE THAT USED TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY, SOME THAT HAVE PENDING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE COUNTY.
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT TOP IS WHERE THE BALL STOPS.
FIRM BELIEVER OF CHAIN OF COMMAND OF TALK ALL OF THIS STUFF ABOUT CONSERVATIVE, ALL OF THAT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL STAY ALIGNED WITH WHAT Y'ALL SAY. LAST TIME I TALKED ABOUT THAT PROGRAM WITH WORK MAN'S COMP PART OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AND ALL OF THAT STUFF, I WAS CHALLENGED TO BRING UP A PROGRAM TO DO THAT. IT'S REALLY EASY FOR ME.
[02:05:01]
BUT I'M NOT GOING TO DO THE COUNTY'S JOB, ESPECIALLY THE KIND OF SALARIES THAT Y'ALL ARE GETTING PAID FOR.YOU GOT ALL OF THESE DIRECTORS. THAT IS THEIR JOB.
OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, THE OPENINGS, SOME OF YOU GUYS KNOW FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNTY, ABLE, HE USED TO WORK THERE.
FOUR PEOPLE SINCE HE LEFT WERE HIRED TO DO HIS JOB.
HIS SALARY WAS POVERTY. HE SHARED A BUNCH OF STORIES WITH ME ABOUT HOW THE COUNTY DOES AREAS THAT MOST CITIZENS DON'T SEE. SO AGAIN, IT'S NOT WORKING.
IT'S VERY OBVIOUS IT'S NOT WORKING.
THERE IS A REASON WHY THAT WALL IS FILLED WITH ALL KINDS OF OPENINGS. I CAN TELL YOU WHY.
IF YOU EVER WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION, ANY OF Y'ALL, I WILL SIT DOWN AND TELL YOU. THE ONLY QUESTION IS, ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? DON'T WASTE MY TIME.
I COME UP HERE AND DEDICATE THIS TIME TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY, BECAUSE I CARE. THIS IS NOT -- I DON'T GET COMPENSATED FOR IT OTHER THAN TO PUT A SMILE ON THEIR FACE WHEN THEIR CONCERNS ARE EXPRESSED UP HERE ON THIS PODIUM. SO WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY THINGS ARE BEING DONE. AND WE NEED TO CHANGE IT TEN YEARS AGO. A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE HAVE LEFT THIS COUNTY. I MISS HIS PERSONALITY.
HE WAS MY BUDDY. I HEAR Y'ALL TALK ABOUT BACKING THE BLUE AND SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH HIM, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH CHEETUM. THE WAY THINGS HAVE BEEN WORKING, OPERATING IS BEYOND UNACCEPTABLE.
Y'ALL ARE THE ONES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE THAT THESE DIRECTORS COMPLY, FOLLOW, RIGHT NOW TALKING ABOUT POSITIONS.
WHERE IS THE MONEY? JOB DESCRIPTION, DUTIES, BENEFITS. ALL OF THAT STUFF.
WHERE IS ALL OF THAT? Y'ALL ARE PUTTING THE CARRIAGE BEFORE THE HORSE. SO STOP DOING THAT.
Y'ALL ARE TAKING RISKS WITH THE PUBLIC'S MONEY.
AND Y'ALL HAVE A RECORD OF REPEATEDLY MISSING THE MARK.
SO WITH ALL THAT, PLEASE YOU KNOW, DO A BETTER JOB.
THANK YOU. >>JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, SIR. MR. DAN LYON.
>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF SOUND OFF ON HOW I THINK THE SALARIES SHOULD BE STRUCTURED. TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, IF I WERE Y'ALL, AND I HAD THE ABILITY TO DO THIS, I WOULD IMMEDIATELY CUT MY SALARY IN HALF.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD GIVE YOU, SAY, AROUND 41,000 A YEAR.
THAT IS ABOUT $20 PER HOUR, WHICH IS A TOP RATE FOR UNSKILLED LABOR. YOU'RE NOT OUT IN THE SUN.
YOU'RE NOT DOING THE THINGS I USED TO DO WHEN I WAS WORKING AT A CEMENT PLANT AND DIDN'T GET NEAR THAT AMOUNT.
WE HAVE TO JUDGE THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES BY WHAT THEY PRODUCE.
WHAT Y'ALL HAVE PRODUCED IS THREE QUARTERS OF A BILLION IN DEBT. AND $20 MILLION A YEAR PAYMENT TO BANKERS, JUST TO BE SUPPORTING THAT DEBT.
I WOULD NOT STAND UP AND SAY THAT WAS A VERY GOOD -- WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? TRACK RECORD.
THERE IS NO WAY YOU COULD GO TO ANOTHER EMPLOYEE AND SAY IF THEY ASK YOU WHAT YOU DID AND HOW YOU PERFORMED, THAT YOU SAID OH, WELL, I RAN A THREE QUARTER BILLION DOLLAR DEBT.
AND I DIDN'T REDUCE IT WHATSOEVER, ACTUALLY, I MADE IT BIGGER. I KNOW A LOT OF YOU SAY YOU'RE NOT PAID ACCORDING TO WHAT YOU'RE WORTH.
WHY DON'T Y'ALL TAKE YOUR TRACK RECORD AND GO AROUND, SHOP IT AROUND AND SEE IF YOU CAN GET A JOB.
I'LL GUARANTEE THAT ANYBODY THAT HAS TO SHOW A PROFIT, Y'ALL WOULD NOT GET A JOB. YOU MIGHT GET A JOB WITH ANOTHER COUNTY. I DON'T KNOW.
DEPENDS ON HOW CORRUPT THEY MIGHT BE.
BUT YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HAS GOT TO CHANGE, LIKE MR. AMAYA SAID.
THIS IS NOT WORKING. WE'RE PAYING ABOUT TWICE WHAT WE WOULD BE PAYING IN ANOTHER COUNTY FOR PROPERTY TAXES.
WE'RE ABOUT THE FIRST OR SECOND MOST INDEBTED PER INDIVIDUAL IN THE STATE. I KNOW THERE IS A LOT BEING MADE ABOUT 40TH TAX RATE. LIKE EXPLAINED BEFORE, THAT IS
[02:10:03]
MEANINGLESS IN AND OF ITSELF. BUT IT'S NOT WORKING, FOLKS.THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE. I THINK YOU NEED TO CUT SALARIES, NOT ONLY YOUR OWN, BUT DEPARTMENT HEADS.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU. MS. SHERI MILLER, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO APPROACH THE PODIUM. >> SHERI MILLER, HAYS COUNTY HR DIRECTOR. THANK YOU FOR GIVING EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A WORKSHOP WHERE WE COULD HAVE OPEN COMMUNICATION. IT IS KNOWN THAT WE ARE PREPARING TO PUT TOGETHER THE SPECS FOR AN RFP REQUEST FOR COMPENSATION STUDY. HAYS COUNTY HAS NOT DONE THAT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES OTHER THAN ELECTED OFFICIALS, IN 2008.
WE DID ENGAGE WITH RAY AND ASSOCIATES FOR A SALARY STUDY OF JUST ELECTED OFFICIALS. SO THE COUNTY HIRED MYSELF, IN 2005, AS A COMPENSATION ANALYST.
I BROUGHT TO THE COUNTY 13 YEARS OF STATE COMPENSATION EXPERIENCE. AND THE COUNTY HAD THE FORSIGHT TO REALIZE THAT THEY NEEDED SOMEONE WITH THAT EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE. SINCE THEN, OUR JOB ANALYSIS, JOB DESCRIPTIONS, COMPENSATION STUDIES, MARKET STUDIES HAVE ALL BEEN DONE INTERNALLY. I THINK THIS IS A FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY -- I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY AND PROBABLY A REALLY IMPORTANT NECESSARY TIME AS WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCING EVERYONE, EVERY ENTITY THAT HIRES EMPLOYEES IS EXPERIENCING THE FACT OF LOW UNEMPLOYMENT.
WE'RE DOWN AROUND THREE PERCENT I THINK NOW, MOST RECENT NUMBERS. AND HIGH INFLATION.
WE'RE ALL FILLING OUR OWN CARS UP TO DRIVE.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE THIS WORKSHOP TO INCLUDE, IN ADDITION TO WHAT I PROVIDED YOU, WHICH IS JUST A NARRATIVE WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, OUR SALARIES, WHAT OUR RAISE HISTORIES HAVE BEEN, A RECORD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
A COPY OF OUR PAY PLAN. AS WELL AS A LIST OF ALL OF THE JOBS POSTED TODAY THAT WALL OF JOB POSTINGS AND HOW MANY APPLICANTS WE HAVE. WE HAVE TEN OR MORE APPLICANTS.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: I'M SORRY. THERE IS A NOISE THAT I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM AND IT'S DISTRACTING.
IT STOPPED. >> IS IT FROM THE MIC MAYBE?
>> I DON'T HEAR IT. >> JUST TO REITERATE ABOUT A THIRD OF THE JOBS THAT WE HAVE POSTED RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TEN OR MORE APPLICANTS. AND WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE VACANCIES IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, WHICH I PERSONALLY DON'T EXPERIENCE, I HAVE ONE VACANCY RIGHT NOW, REALLY GOOD APPLICANTS, THANKFULLY. IT'S FRUSTRATING AND SCARY TO THINK THAT YOUR JOBS ARE GOING TO BE VACANT FOR A LONG TIME.
WHO IS GOING TO DO THE JOB. THE WORK IS STILL THERE.
I WOULD APPRECIATE OPEN COMMUNICATION, OPEN DIRECTION.
ESPECIALLY RELATED TO WHERE THE COURT MEMBERS SEE THIS MARKET STUDY GOING SO THAT WE CAN WRITE THE SPECS APPROPRIATELY.
THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC CONSULTING FIRMS WITHIN REACH THAT DO THIS, THIS IS THEIR BUSINESS.
AND I HAVE MY OWN THOUGHTS AND I NEED TO BE ABLE TO INCLUDE YOUR DESIRES AND EXPECTATIONS AS WELL.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: MS. MILLER, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS, AS YOU AND I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS IN THE BACKGROUND. AND WHAT YOU JUST SAID WAS A GREAT REMINDER TO ME ABOUT OPEN COMMUNICATION.
I UNDERSTAND, AS A LIFE-LONG SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, WHAT WE
[02:15:06]
ARE ACTUALLY LIVING WITH BECAUSE OF COVID.BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND YOU CAN THEORIZE ALL YOU WANT AS TO WHY PEOPLE AREN'T APPLYING. WHY PEOPLE ARE NOW WORKING FROM HOME, REMOTELY, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO WORD IT.
I'VE HEARD THIS AND YOU NEVER KNOW, BECAUSE WE NEVER DO KNOW UNTIL WE ASK. BUT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY, I BELIEVE WE ARE A GREAT COUNTY. I BELIEVE WE RUN GREAT DEPARTMENTS. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THAT OPEN COMMUNICATION PIECE, IF WE COULD CREATE SOMETHING, SINCE THIS IS OUT THERE, AND WE COULD POSSIBLY DIMINISH SOME SPECULATION, TO CREATE AN ANONYMOUS FORM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE MAIL CHAMP OR WHATEVER DIGITAL POTENTIAL, TO INTERVIEW OUR OWN EMPLOYEES AND RATE THEIR LEVEL OF HAPPINESS WITH THE COMPANY. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO THAT WOULD INCLUDE IN THE PROCESS.
BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU THROW AT SOMEONE, IF THEY'RE NOT HAPPY, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO INCORPORATE -- I KNOW WE HAVE A MAGNIFICENT COMPENSATION PROGRAM. I KNOW WE HAVE AWESOME INSURANCE. I KNOW IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO WORK IN REFERENCE TO PACKAGE OF CARE.
BUT I THINK IF WE WERE TO TOUCH, TO MAKE SURE, HOW HAPPY ARE YOU AT YOUR CURRENT JOB, HOWEVER THAT MAY LOOK, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT PIECE OF FOR US TO ENGAGE AND ASSESS.
>> JIM, IS THAT POSSIBLE TO DO A SURVEY MONKEY OR CHIMP OR
WHATEVER YOU SAID. >>JUDGE BECERRA: WHATEVER
ANIMAL. >> WHERE THE RESPONDER IS ANONYMOUS. I THINK EMPLOYEES WILL BE HESITANT TO TELL YOU -- YEAH. I CAN'T STAND MY CO-WORKERS.
THEY'RE WHATEVER THEY ARE. THEY'RE MEAN TO ME.
BUT IF THERE IS A GUARANTEE OF ANONYMITY, THEN CERTAINLY, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO INTERNALLY.
IF THAT SOMETHING THE COURT IS INTERESTED IN WE CAN PURSUE
THAT. >> I WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. THAT COULD BE SOMETHING DONE INTERNALLY AND SEPARATE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO WHAT I'M LOOKIS AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY TO COME IN AND DO A SURVEY.
FOR YEARS ALL WE'VE USED IS OTHER COUNTIES IN GOVERNMENT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE LOSING OUR EMPLOYEES TO OTHER COUNTIES. I THINK WE'RE LOSING THEM TO OTHER BUSINESSES THAT CAN PAY THEM MORE RIGHT NOW WITHIN HAYS COUNTY. SO WE MAY NEED PART OF THE INDEPENDENT STUDIES, YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE THEY GOING, THE ONES THAT LEAVE US. WHAT IS THE MARKET RATE OUT THERE. NOT JUST IN GOVERNMENT JOBS, BUT IN JOBS IN GENERAL THAT THESE SAME PEOPLE WOULD QUALIFY FOR. YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'VE DONE, BUT I THINK WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS SOMEBODY FROM OUTSIDE COMING IN, LOOKING AT OUR STRUCTURE.
SEEING WHERE OUR SALARIES SHOULD BE.
WHAT THAT JOB IS ACTUALLY IN THE MARKET, WHAT THAT JOB IS WORTH. AND MAYBE TRYING TO SIMPLIFY OUR COMPENSATION SCHEDULE, FROM STEPS AND JUST MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING, JUST I THINK WE'RE JUST THE SIZE WE ARE NOW, WE JUST NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER SET OF EYES COME IN AND JUST DO AN OVERALL ON ALL LEVELS.
EVERY JOB WE HAVE, INCLUDING ELECTEDS OR WHATEVER.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: YES. AND I'M SORRY, DO WANT TO ADD A LITTLE PIECE TO IT. I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST WE'VE LEFT OUT TRAVIS COUNTY AS AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE IT'S AN 800-POUND GORILLA COMPARED TO US.
LET'S BE HONEST, TRAVIS COUNTY IS A HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP AWAY FROM OUR EMPLOYEES, I FEEL WE MUST CONSIDER EVERYTHING IN OUR RADIUS FOR OUR CO-WORKERS TO STAY.
OF COURSE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY TRAVIS COUNTY SALARIES, BUT WE MUST STAY RECEPTIVE TO IT. BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING NOT ONLY TO TRAVIS COUNTY, TO THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS, WE'RE LOSING TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COUNTY.
I'M LOOKING FOR THE OVERALL TRUIST ASSESSMENT OF SHERI MILLER LOOKING FOR A JOB TODAY, WHERE CAN SHE GO.
>> NOT WITHIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WHERE ELSE ARE THEY GOING. THOSE ARE OUR COMPETITORS.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: YES. >> THAT WAS MY FIRST QUESTION, SHERI. YOU KNOW, DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT ADDITIONAL MARKET EMPLOYERS. AND ALSO JOB FAMILIES.
I KNOW THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GET SO LARGE IN THE JOB FAMILIES. I KNOW WE HAVE 11 CURRENTLY.
BUT I KNOW THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST. YOU KNOW, BUT I AGREE WITH WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID. YOU KNOW, THE MARKET EMPLOYERS, YOU KNOW, ARE WE TARGETING -- WE'VE GOT A BIG LIST.
UT ARE WE TARGETING THE -- DO WE NEED TO ADD MORE TO THAT LIST AND MAYBE REMOVE SOME? I DON'T KNOW.
[02:20:02]
I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.AND THEN I WANTED TO ASK, YOU KNOW, WHICH JOBS ARE CURRENTLY NOT MATCHED IN THE MARKET. I KNOW YOU SAY THAT THEY'RE SLOTTED WITHIN A HIERARCHY OF THE JOBS.
BUT CAN YOU SHARE WHICH ONES? >> YES.
THERE ARE POSITIONS THAT HAYS COUNTY HAS ESTABLISHED THAT ARE NOT CONSIDERED BENCHMARK POSITIONS, WHICH IS A POSITION THAT IS SIMILAR ACROSS THE ENTITIES THAT YOU ARE BENCHMARKING AGAINST. SO EVERY COUNTY HAS DEPUTY CLERKS IN THEIR TAX OFFICES, AND IN THEIR CLERK'S OFFICES.
SO THE DEPUTY CLERK POSITIONS WOULD BE A BENCHMARK POSITION.
BUT NOT EVERY -- GIVE ME A MINUTE AND LET ME JUST THINK HERE. IN HR, NOT EVERY HR DEPARTMENT HAS COMPENSATION ANALYST. OR A BENEFITS MANAGER TO THE DEGREE THAT WE DO. A LOT OF TIMES COUNTIES WOULD USE ONE PERSON AND THEY WILL DO THREE DIFFERENT JOB FUNCTIONS, WHERE WE'VE GROWN AND NEED TO SEPARATE THEM.
SO THE BENCHMARKING PROCESS IS THAT YOU IDENTIFY ABOUT A THIRD OF YOUR POSITIONS AS BENCHMARK POSITIONS.
AND YOU IDENTIFY THEM FROM EACH OF -- WHATEVER YOUR PAY SYSTEM IS, YOU HAVE GRADES OR GROUPS OR JOB FAMILIES, YOU MAKE SURE YOU HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM EACH OF THAT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE. SO IN JERRY'S DEPARTMENT, FOR INSTANCE, IN TRANSPORTATION, HE HAS QUITE A FEW POSITIONS THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO INCLUDE IN BENCHMARKING BECAUSE THEY'RE UNIQUE TO HAYS COUNTY AND HIS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.
WE HAVE QUITE A FEW. WE HAVE ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR POSITIONS THAT WE BENCHMARK WHICH MEANS WE GET SALARY DATA FROM OUR BENCHMARK AGENCIS AND ENTITIES EVERY YEAR.
AND THAT HELPS US. IT HELPS US LOOK AT NOT JUST THOSE POSITIONS, BUT THAT GROUP OF POSITIONS AND THAT GRADE AS A WHOLE. SO IT'S MORE COMPLEX THAN JUST LOOKING AT THAT ONE POSITION. MY IDEA, IF I CAN SHARE, IS THAT THIS OUTSIDE ENTITY WOULD HELP US VERIFY OR IDENTIFY BENCHMARK ENTITIES, INCLUDING PRIVATE EMPLOYERS, JUST ALONG WITH DISCUSSIONS OF GAINING THAT INFORMATION FROM OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO INTERACT WITH ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.
EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN DIFFERENT STORY.
AND THERE IS 45 OF US WITH DIFFERENT STORIES.
AND THEN TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST VERSUS WHERE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING. WHERE ARE WE LOSING OUR EMPLOYEES TO. AND WHERE ARE WE GETTING EMPLOYEES FROM. THE OTHER PART OF THE REVIEW THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COST OF THE STUDY, INTERNAL EQUITY. I CAN PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF EMPLOYEES, HOW LONG THEY WORKED HERE, WHAT THEIR SALARIES ARE, BUT WITH FEEDBACK FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE INTUITIVELY KNOW WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE MAKING, WE KNOW WHEN APPLICANTS DECLINE JOB OFFERS, WHICH THAT IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE. CHIEF DAVENPORT HAD AN ADDITIONAL APPLICANT THAT WITHDREW FOR WHATEVER REASON.
COULD HAVE BEEN SALARY. COULD HAVE BEEN A MILLION DIFFERENT REASONS. I WOULD HOPE THAT WHOMEVER WE GO WITH FOR A SALARY STUDY WOULD COME ALONG BESIDE US, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND WORK WITH OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
HELPING US WITH OUR STRUCTURE. A STEP STRUCTURE, WHICH COUNTY HAD I BELIEVE, THE LAST STUDY THE COUNTY PARTICIPATED IN FOR
[02:25:02]
ALL EMPLOYEES FROM OUTSIDE ENTITIES WAS 2003.WE CALL IT THE WATERS STUDY. I BELIEVE THE STRUCTURE WAS A GRADE AND STEP SYSTEM AT THAT TIME.
WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT FOR OTHER ENTITIES.
I THINK COMAL STILL HAS A STEP PLAN.
THEY'RE MORE SYSTEMATIC. >> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD WANT THE CONSULTANT THAT WE BRING ON BOARD.
LET THEM TELL US. THAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY MOVING FORWARD.
>> SHERI, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE MIDPOINT FOR MANY YEARS. WE'VE STRUGGLED GETTING THERE FOR A LONG LONG TIME. CAN YOU GIVE ME AN APPROXIMATE PERCENTAGE OF HOW MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE BELOW THE 50TH
PERCENTILE. >> I CANNOT RIGHT NOW.
OUR DATA GATHERING OUT OF NEW WORLD IS COMPLEX.
SO I HAVE ONLY ASKED HER YESTERDAY.
SO I ANTICIPATE GETTING THOSE WHERE I CAN REARRANGE THEM AND SORT THEM AND I WILL BE ABLE TO -- WHEN WE COME BACK FOR THE RFP REQUEST ON THE 12TH, I CAN CERTAINLY HAVE THAT INFORMATION OR PROVIDE IT TO YOU BEFORE. I COULD GUESS.
WITH OUR RANGES MOVING, AS LON SALARY ADJUSTMENTS IN SOME SORT OF LOCKSTEP WITH RANGE MOVEMENTS, OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE STAYED IN THE SAME PLACEMENT IN THEIR NEW RANGE STRUCTURE.
BUT I DON'T EVEN WANT TO GUESS AT HOW MANY ARE AT THE 50TH PERCENTILE. IN 2008, WE LOOKED AT WITH A GOAL OF IF YOU HAD TEN OR MORE YEARS OF SERVICE, YOU SHOULD BE AT OR CLOSE TO THE 50TH PERCENTILE.
AND THEN IN 2015, 2016, WE DID A SIMILAR STUDY OR ANALYSIS WHERE COMMISSIONER SHELL, WAS IT -- IT WAS SOME PERCENTAGE, IF YOU WERE WITHIN FIVE PERCENT OF THE MIDPOINT.
IT WAS COMPLICATED. IT WAS A COMPLICATED CALCULATION. BUT WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS QUITE A FEW INEQUITIES. BASED ON THAT PHILOSOPHY.
>> JUST REALLY WHAT YOU MENTIONED, THE INTERNAL EQUITY, I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT. I MEAN, I THINK WE HEAR IT ALL OF THE TIME AND SEE IT AND WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE
DEALING WITH THAT. >> SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I WANT TO GLEAN FROM YOU TODAY IS IN THIS STUDY, ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A BENEFIS ANALYSIS AS WELL AGAINST OTHER
>> I THINK A TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE.
THE WHOLE PACKAGE IS WHAT WE WOULD WANT.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: I AGREE WITH TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE.
MY TAKE ON THIS, BEING SMALL BUSINESS I GOT TO REPEAT IT, THAT IS MY SOURCE, SMALL BUSINESS MY WHOLE LIFE, I UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE TO TRACT TALENT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD COMPENSATION PACKAGE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CO-WORKERS IN THIS MAGNIFICENT WAY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY TO WHAT I BELIEVE IS A GOOD PLACE. WE'RE ON THE UPPER END OF THAT CURVE. AND I WANT TO STAY THERE AND STAY ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THAT COMPENSATION PACKAGE.
SO KNOWING WHERE THE REST ARE HELPS US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
DON'T ACCIDENTALLY FALL BEHIND. >> ABSOLUTELY.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN INCLUDE IN EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION SURVEY. THE COURT: COMMISSIONER
INGALSBE. >> I'M OKAY RIGHT NOW, JUDGE.
THANK YOU. >> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO GET STARTED ON PRETTY QUICK.
I DON'T KNOW IF INFLATION IS HITTING US NOW.
WE CAN'T FILL POSITIONS NOW AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GET ANY EASIER. IF WE DON'T DO CHANGES.
SEVERAL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED, ARE WE AT A CRISIS POINT AT OUR HIRING IN FILLING POSITIONS?
>> IS THAT A SPECIFIC QUESTION? >> YEAH.
>> WELL, I THINK TRANSPORTATION INQUIRY A FEW WEEKS AGO STARTED
[02:30:03]
THIS DISCUSSION ROLLING. AND AS FAR AS THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT IS CONCERNED, WE'RE AT CRITICAL POINT RIGHT NOW. AND WE WERE HOPING FOR SOME SPECIFIC ACTION FOR TRANSPORTATION TO HAPPEN QUICKLY. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A LONG RANGE PROJECT TO STUDY SALARIES. AND WE'RE HURTING RIGHT NOW.>> CAN I JUST ASK SHERI, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IS WHY WE BROUGHT THIS UP FOR DISCUSSION. I THINK WE WANTED SOMETHING TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT, AND WE JUST APPROVED THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET CALENDAR. WHAT IS THE POSSIBILITY FOR HAVING THAT DONE IN TIME FOR BUDGET?
>> TIME FRAME, I THINK IF WE CAN MOVE EXPEDITIOUSLY ONCE WE LET THE BID AND GET THE BIDS IN, THEN TIME FRAME, I'M PREPARED TO MOVE IT PRETTY QUICKLY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD PUT IN OUR SPECS, IS OUR EXPECTED TIME FRAME.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: THAT'S RIGHT. RIGHT ON.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT A NORMAL TIME FRAME IS FOR A STUDY LIKE
THIS. >>JUDGE BECERRA: BUT WE WANT IT
SOONER. >> SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
I WOULD TOTALLY EXPECT THAT WE COULD DO THIS WITHIN ALONGSIDE
OUR BUDGET PROCESS. >>JUDGE BECERRA: I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR AWAY FROM GIVING THESE COMMISSIONERS AN OPPORTUNITY. COMMISSIONER SHELL.
COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> I AGREE WITH WHAT HAS BEEN SAID. IN THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WE DO WORK.
MAJORITY OF WORK GETS DONE THROUGH THE SPRING AND SUMMER.
IF THEY'RE AT THAT CRITICAL POINT RIGHT NOW, COULD GET BEHIND FOR YEARS IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL.
>> JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS, ON THE MARKET ANALYSIS ITSELF, I TEND TO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER END, IF YOU LOOK AT -- I HAD A CONVERSATION YESTERDAY.
A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH OUR CLERK'S DEPARTMENT.
OR VERY SPECIFICALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT JOB DESCRIPTIONS, AT A FEDERAL LEVEL, YOU'VE GOT REGIONALIZATION THAT IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO SOME OF THE INCENTIVIZATION THAT IS THERE. I CAN TELL YOU THAT COST OF LIVING, WE HEAR ABOUT IT EVERY WEEK HERE, COST OF LIVING IN THIS AREA IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PLACES.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, I THINK WE'RE SHORT-SELLING OURSELVES AND EMPLOYEES IF WE REMOVE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY FROM THAT PROCESS.
IT'S BEEN VERY DIRECT. WE'VE STOLEN INDIVIDUALS FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
BUT THEY DO A GOOD JOB OF TAKING THEM FROM US BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION THAT IS THERE.
I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF SOME TYPE OF OUTSIDE MARKET ANALYSIS THAT WOULD TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT, ESPECIALLY IF IT HAS SOME TYPE OF EMPLOYEES SATISFACTION COMPONENT TO THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DIDN'T HEAR MENTION TODAY, THAT IS OF CONCERN TO ME, AND EVERY DEPARTMENT WE HAVE, IS NOT A MANDATED PROGRESSION SCHEDULE, BUT SOME TYPE OF PROGRESSION SCHEDULE, WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE POSITIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE CUSTOMER SERVICE ORIENTED.
WHEN WE HIRE A CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON FOR THE CLERK'S OFFICE OR TAX OFFICE, AND WE HIRE THEM AT AN AN INDIVIDUAL RATE, NUMBER ONE, WE'RE HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME GETTING THE CUSTOMER SERVICE INDIVIDUALS IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.
BUT NUMBER TWO, MAINTAINING MAINTAINING THEM THERE, KNOWING THE FACT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN THE EXACT SAME JOB FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS, MAINTAINING THEM LONG TERM, WE CAN'T MAKE AY, BUT HAVING SOME EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION AND PROGRESSION PLAN WHERE THERE IS THE ABILITY FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES TO DO OTHER THINGS OR TO PROGRESS IN THAT OFFICE, AT SOME POINT, HAVING THOSE CLEARLY DEFINED WITHIN THOSE OFFICES, THAT IS A MUCH LONGER, LARGER PROCESS THAT IS GOING TO ENTAIL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO DO THAT.
I THINK THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYEES. THAT IS A LONGER PROCESS.
BUT HAVING SOME TYPE OF INITIATIVE THERE I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR US. WE'RE STARING IN THE FACE RIGHT NOW, IF WE HAD A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENT HEADS DECIDED TO RETIRE TOMORROW, OR THEIR ASSISTANTS DECIDED TO RETIRE TOMORROW, OR THE THIRD AND FOURTH AND FIVE IN LINE, WE ARE GOING TO BE RUTTERLESS IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO STEP INTO THE ROLES. IT'S A WHOLE LOT EASIER OVER TIME TO CULTIVATE THOSE EMPLOYEES, EDUCATE THOSE EMPLOYEES, HAVE THEM IN A POSITION WHERE THEY CAN PROGRESS THAN TO TRY TO SCRAMBLE AND HIRE SOMEBODY TO
[02:35:04]
DO THE JOB. FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, AS FAR AS LOOKING AT THE REPORT AND WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM SPEAKING WITH THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS, THOSE ARE THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE. I THINK THAT THOSE CONCERN WOULD BE RELEVANT IN THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE. AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY WIDE OPERATIONS.EVERY ONE OF THOSE DEPARTMENT VERSUS SIMILAR ISSUES THAT I
JUST DESCRIBED. >>JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU.
I WILL JUST REITERATE, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU SAID IT, ELECTED OFFICIALS, I PRESIDED OVER, AS YOU WELL KNOW, THE SHERIFF'S AND CONSTABLES HEARING, WHERE CITIZENS FROM THE GRAND JURY POOL WERE PULLED IN AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS, I'M KIND OF SAYING IT FOR THEM. CITIZENS WERE PULLED FROM THE GRAND JURY POOL TO HELP WEIGH IN ON PROPER PAY FOR SITTING ELECTED OFFICIALS, ET CETERA. SO MY AIM THROUGH THIS PROCESS IS I KNOW THIS COURT HAS A HISTORY OF NOT GIVING THEMSELVES A RAISE, AND I GET IT.
BUT IT'S ALSO VERY DISRUPTIVE, I FELT LIKE IT WAS A TOUGH THING TO DO TO PRESIDE OVER THE SHERIFF AND CONSTABLE'S PAY PROGRAM WITH THE GRAND JURY POOL.
AND I FEEL THAT THE COMMUNITY SPOKE AND THEY SUPPORTED IT.
AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD INCLUDE EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL, INCLUDING THE COURT. I KNOW THAT YOU SAID IT, BUT I WANT THE OVERLY THE TOP, MAKE SURE YOU LOOK AT EVERY ONE, SO THAT WE DON'T END UP IN THE SAME PLACE THAT WE WERE RECENTLY, PULLING PEOPLE THROUGH A PROCESS THAT WAS
FULLY SUPPORTED. >> THANK YOU.
I HAVE TWO OTHER IDEAS TO THROW OUT.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THIS OUTSIDE ENTITY LOOKING AT OUR UMBER OF POSITIONS, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE?
IF THEY SAY YOU ONLY NEED THREE PEOPLE, WE'VE GOT FIVE.
SURE, LET'S SEE THAT. YOU NEED THREE, YOU'VE GOT ONE.
SURE. LET'S SEE THAT TOO. I THINK IT'S USEFUL.
>> WE CAN INCLUDE THAT IN OUR SPECS.
THE LAST THING, ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM RIGHT NOW IS SALARY EXCEPTIONS. SO I WOULD ANTICIPATE THIS STUDY TO INCLUDE AN ANALYSIS OF HOW WE'VE HANDLED SALARY EXCEPTIONS. WHICH HAS BEEN A VERY COMPENSATION NORMALLY IS GRAY ANYWAY.
OUR SALARY EXCEPTIONS ARE GRAYER THAN GRAY.
AND ARE YOU INTERESTED IN RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMPENSATION STUDY ON HOW THE COUNTY SHOULD MOVE FORWAR WITH SALARY EXCEPTIONS IN EITHER A MORE SYSTEMATIC MANNER, ARE YOU STILL OKAY WITH IT THE WAY THE DEPARTMENT HEADS BRING THE REQUESTS FOR THOSE JOBS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED, THEY HAVE TO GET APPROVAL. KIND OF LOOKING FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT. AND IF RIGHT NOW, KIND OF COLD
TURKEY. >> I CAN TELL YOU I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.
I FEEL LIKE EVERY TIME WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT HEAD COME IN HERE, IT'S HAT AND HAND TRY TO HIRE AN EMPLOYEE, ANY OTHER SITUATION, WE WOULD BE HIRING THEM AT SOME POINT IN THAT RANGE ABOVE THE MINIMUM FOR THAT SPECIFIC JOB.
THERE IS A REASON THAT THOSE -- I MEAN, WE DON'T SEE DOZENS OF THOSE. BECAUSE THERE IS AN EXCEPTIONAL SITUATION THERE. IF WE HAD AT LEAST AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT THAT PROCESS IS, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL. I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUT OF IT THAT I DIDN'T MENTION, BUT I BROUGHT UP WHENEVER WE MET LAST WEEK, A TRUE ANALYSIS OF HOW MANY FOLKS WE HAVE THAT TERMINATION OF SERVICE WITH THE COUNTS COUNTY AND THEN COME BACK AND LOST THOSE BENEFITS. TRUE ANALYSIS OF THAT.
RIGHT NOW THAT IS A DETRIMENT TO OUR RECRUITING.
WE CAN'T BRING THEM IN AT A DIFFERENTLY LEVEL WITHOUT THEM LOSING THE PREVIOUS SERVICE AT TIMES.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T DO THAT.
IT PUTS AT A HIGHER DISADVANTAGE.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE, TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE AND STOP TRAINING THEM AND GIVING THEM OVER TO OTHER AGENCIES. THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.
>> SHERI, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THOSE OTHER THINGS, BUT IF THERE IS A WAY THAT THEY CAN GET THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE TO US FIRST, FIRST PRIORIT SO WE'LL HAVE THAT FOR OUR BUDGET PROCESS AT LEAST.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I DON'T ANTICIPATE THERE TO BE A PROBLEM IN GETTING IT DONE BY THE VERY LAST DEADLINE DATE IS
[02:40:06]
FOR FUNDING. AS WE GO ALONG, I THINK WE'LL GET IDEAS OF WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE.>> THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW TRAVIS COUNTY WAS MENTIONED HERE. BUT JUST THE OTHER COUNTIES, EVEN IF THE OTHER COUNTIES REGIONALLY, LOOKING OUR LIST, THOSE EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT THE SAME SIZE AS US, I KNOW THAT WE'VE LOST EMPLOYEES TO THOSE COUNTIES DUE SPECIFICALLY TO PAY. AND WHENEVER I TALKED WITH THAT EXCEPTION, I'M NOT JUST SAYING TRAVIS BECAUSE THEY'RE BIGGER, I'M SAYING SURROUNDED BECAUSE THEY'RE HERE.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: EXACTLY RIGHT. THAT IS WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO IN THE RADIUS, CANDIDATES ARE SO FAR AWAY FROM US, I THINK WE CAN REMOVE THOSE BECAUSE IT'S NOT -- I DON'T FIND IT AS USEFUL. AGAIN, THINKING GEOGRAPHY, GETTING IN THE CAR AND DRIVING. I AGREE.
THERE IS A WAY TO DEAL WITH TRAVIS'S SALARY VERSUS HAYS COUNTY SALARIES. YOU WEIGHT IT.
THERE IS A WAY TO INCLUDE THEM IN THE ENTIRE CALCULATION.
>> AND THE CONSULTANT THAT WE HIRE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >>JUDGE BECERRA: RIGHT ON.
WHAT ELSE? I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE
TO FINISH YOUR LIST. >> VICKIE, DO YOU HAVE ANY
INPUT? >> I THINK COMMISSIONER INGALSBE HAD ASKED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT WERE BELOW THE 50TH PERCENTILE. WHEN WE DID THE MARKET ANALYSIS LAST YEAR, DURING BUDGET PROCESS, WE ACTUALLY PULLED OUT POSITIONS THAT WERE LESS THAN THE -- WE PULLED ALL OF THE PERCENTAGES, TO SEE WHAT THAT GROUP WAS THAT WAS UNDER THE FOURTH PERCENTILE, BECAUSE WE WERE MOVING THE RANGES.
THIS IS BASED ON SEPTEMBER SALARIES.
BUT LOOKING AT THE POSITIONS THAT WERE LESS THAN THE 45TH PERCENTILE, THERE WERE 450 OF THOSE.
OF THOSE, WHEN I LOOK AT THOSE INDIVIDUALS YEARS OF SERVICE, APPROXIMATELY 200 HAVE AT LEAST FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE THAT ARE LESS THAN THE 50TH PERCENTILE. THAT IS KIND OF POINTING OUT THINGS THAT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SALARY EXCEPTION, AND YOU'RE CREATING THESE INEQUITIES, YOU KNOW, WITH AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS DIRECT COUNTY EXPERIENCE WITH APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEARS COMING IN AT THE 50TH PERCENTILE.
AND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HERE.
SO THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 200 INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE AT THAT LEVEL. I HAD SPOKEN WITH SHERI BRIEFLY BEFORE COURT REGARDING THE SALARY EXCEPTION POLICY AND MAYBE IMPLEMENTING SOMETHING THAT IS MORE METHODICAL.
PERCENTILE, BASED ON DIRECT COUNTY EXPERIENCE VERSUS OTHER TYPES OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCE THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LOOK INTO FURTHER. SO THEN IT'S A VERY METHODICAL WAY OF ADDRESSING SALARY EXCEPTIONS INSTEAD OF THE GRAY
AREA WE HAVE NOW. >>JUDGE BECERRA: ANYTHING ELSE FOR SHERI OR VICKIE, COMMISSIONERS? THANK YOU SO MUCH. HOPE YOU HAVE A CLEAR --
>> I WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT WITH THE COURT'S ACTION TODAY FROM ITEM NUMBER 34, IT DID CREATE AN INTERNAL EQUITY WHO ARE MAKING $36,000 AND WE'RE BRINGING IN SOMEONE IN AT 54,000. IT DOES CREATE DISHEARTENED EMPLOYEES, WHO ARE HONEST WITH ME AND TELL ME THAT THEY WILL BE LOOKING FOR OTHER JOBS. LOOK AT THOSE TYPES OF INSTANCES. INTERNAL EQUITY IS WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW TO SOME OF THESE EMPLOYEES MAKING DECISIONS WHETHER TO STAY OR LEAVE.
>>JUDGE BECERRA: WE SEE THE URGENCY.
WELL, THEN I GUESS WE'LL FINISH THIS WORKSHOP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.
[42. Discussion related to the Hays County inmate population, to include current population counts and costs. BECERRA]
AND SO WILL YOU PLEASE OPEN AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 42.>> >> 42, DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE HAYS COUNTY INMATE POPULATION TO INCLUDE CURRENT
POPULATION COUNTS AND COSTS. >> THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SENDS
[02:45:01]
ME MY USUAL REPORT. JAIL CAPACITY IS 410 INMATES CURRENTLY. JAIL STANDARDS RECOMMENDS HOLDING TEN PERCENT OPEN. DAILY AVERAGE WAS 659 AND PEAK WAS 664 ON MARCH 25TH. ESTIMATED COST FOR OUTSOURCING INMATES THIS WEEK, $107,471. THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF OUTSOURCED MALES IS 209 AND FEMALES 22.INMATES WERE HOUSED AT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES, MAVERICK AND RED RIVER. PAPER READY, INMATES.
PAPER READY INMATES FOR THOSE THAT DON'T REMEMBER ARE INMATES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TRANSFERRED TO STATE FACILITIES, THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN COUNTY, OUR COUNTY FACILITIES. SO THOSE ARE YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT SHOULD BE REALLOCATED TO A STATE'S
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
BUDGET. AND I THINK THAT JUST LEAVES OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION. PLEASE OPEN NUMBER 40.>> 40, EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 551.071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL REGARDING PROJECTS RELATED TO THE ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREAS PROGRAM AS CONDUCTED BY THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT
BOARD. >>JUDGE BECERRA: SO WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. IF YOU ARE NOT DIRECTLY TIED TO
THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM >>JUDGE BECERRA: AND WE ARE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT WAS A VERY USEFUL AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION.
VERY GRATEFUL THAT THE COURT HAD IT.
BUT WE HAVE NO ACTION AT THIS TIME.
MOTION. >> JUDGE, I
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.