May 07, 2024 Regular

THE MEDIA . AS SOON AS THE CAMERA GOES ON, WE GAVEL FOR

[00:00:10]

>> HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER DAY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US TO BREATHE AND TO ENJOY LIFE. WE THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND GATHER AND SPEND TIME WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR FRIENDS AND WITH THOSE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE PRIVILEGE TO MAKE DECISIONS CONCERNING ALL OF OUR LIVES. WE THANK YOU LORD , THAT EVEN IN THIS WORLD WHERE PROTEST AND FREE SPEECH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE DESIRE, WE PRAY, FATHER, FOR PEACE. WE PRAY, FATHER, FOR JUSTICE. WE PRAY, FATHER, FOR TRUTH. IN ADDITION, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD LEAD US IN WORK AND IN INTEGRITY, LOVING YOU, LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES. I PRAY THAT YOU WILL HELP US TO LEARN AND ALLOW IT TO SET US FREE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY . IN JESUS' NAME, I PRAY.

>> AMEN. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE 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 AND

INDIVISIBLE. >> YOU ALSO HAVE TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND YOU ARE ALL IN HARMONY, IT RESOUNDS SO BEAUTIFULLY UP HERE, AS WELL.

DON'T YOU HEAR IT? IT IS A TREAT. I MEAN, IT IS ALWAYS GOOD. SOMETIMES, SOME PEOPLE DON'T REMEMBER THE TEXAS FLAGS PLEDGE BUT NEVERTHELESS, IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR. PLEASE

CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER SHELL.

>> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.

[E. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

COMMISSIONER SMITH . >> HERE.

>> JUDGE BECERRA. >> HERE.

>> THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WILL NOW HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN BY THE COURT AS WE ARE EXPECTED NOT TO RESPOND. ANY COMMENTS WILL BE VIEWED AS RHETORICAL.

ALL COMMENTS OF THE SPEAKERS ARE OPINIONS ARE NOT MEANT TO BE NECESSARILY CONSTRUED AS TRUTH. PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS CIVIL AND RESPECTFUL, OR YOU WILL FORFEIT THE REMAINDER OF YOUR TIME. IN THE SPIRIT OF RESPECT, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY SMILING FACES IN HERE, PLEASE REACH-IN AND SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES. FIRST UP IN OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS IS

MR. RODRIGO AMAYA. >> LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT I'M VERY GLAD THAT Y'ALL VOTED NOT TO APPOINT THE COMMISSIONER TO THE BOARD. I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW I APPRECIATE THAT. I'M GLAD THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER. I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN COMING UP HERE FOR YEARS AND IT IS RARE THAT THAT HAPPENS, SO WE DO APPRECIATE THAT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, JUST LIKE CREDIBILITY AND OTHER CONCERNS BECAME AN ISSUE WITH THE COMMISSIONER, I NOTE THERE IS AN AGENDA ITEM WHERE HE IS STILL A REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS COUNTY. MY QUESTION IS, TO THIS COURT, IF HE IS NOT FIT, WHAT IS HE DOING AT THE CAPITAL? SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT WHEN THAT AGENDA COMES UP. CREDIBILITY IS AN ISSUE. IT'S REPEATEDLY BEEN AN ISSUE. Y'ALL ARE THE ONES MAKING THE

[00:05:01]

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M NOTICING IN THESE COURTROOM SETTINGS IS A LACK OF COURTROOM DEMEANOR. I USED TO BE A BAILIFF FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURT . CHEWING GUM, WEARING CAPS -- AT TIMES, CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS ARE ALLOWED TO SPEAK OUT OF LINE, AND THE COUNTY JUDGE THAT HOLDS THE GAVEL. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THERE IS CONSISTENCY. WHEN THAT IS BROKEN, IT IS CHAOTIC. WE MONITOR ALL THAT. WE DOCUMENT IT. WE BRING IT UP. HOPEFULLY IT IS FIXED. FOR FOLKS TO COME UP HERE -- THAT TYPE OF RESPONSIBILITY -- THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT COURTROOM DEMEANOR. I USED TO ESCORT FOLKS OUT AND TELL THEM TO DRESS MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SETTING. JUST THINGS TO THINK ABOUT, FOLKS. THIS WEEKEND, CINCO DE MAYO, IT WAS AWESOME TO SEE FOLKS COME TOGETHER HERE. I WAS LOOKING AROUND THE GROUNDS. I WAS TROUBLED THAT THE OLD BUSHES WERE REMOVED. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. AMAYA. I THINK THAT WAS THE ONLY WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT. CAN YOU READ THAT, ROXANNE?

>> THIS IS FROM RICARDO LOPEZ. PUBLIC COMMENT RECEIVED ON SUNDAY. GOOD MORNING , COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE BECERRA. THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT PUSH FOR THE JUDGE TO TAKE UP A SPOT ON THE COMMITTEE INSTEAD OF ANOTHER COMMISSIONER. THE FLOOD OF LETTERS WAS EYE-OPENING. THE PUBLIC MAY NOT GRASP WHO THEY ARE THROWING THEIR SUPPORT BEHIND. THEY OUGHT TO SUPPORT -- APPROACH ANY FINANCIAL MATTERS WITH CARE. HE MAY TRY TO PAINT HIMSELF AS RELATABLE, BUT IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT HIS SALARY OF UPWARDS OF $100,000, HISTORY OF UNPAID TAXES AND BANKRUPTCY FILINGS. HIS ENTHUSIASM FOR SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE REGARDING STAFF SALARIES RINGS HOLLOW, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE DELAYED RAISES FOR STAFF DUE TO BUDGET CONSTRAINTS , JUXTAPOSED WITH THE EGREGIOUS RAYS GRANTED TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE COUNTY JUDGE. IT RAISES SUSPICION AND UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE IS OF SCRUTINIZING HIS ENDORSEMENTS, AND WHILE VALID POINTS MAY HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT THE NOMINATED COMMISSIONER, WE MUST PRIORITIZE POLITICIANS THAT PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY WELFARE OVER PRIVATE INTERESTS. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU. AND I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOW GO TO F1.

[F.1. Adopt a Proclamation recognizing May 6-10, 2024 as Air Quality Awareness Week. COHEN]

>> F 1 ADOPTED PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY 6TH THROUGH 10TH , 2024 AS AIR-QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK. WHEREAS AIR-QUALITY CAN THREATEN OUR ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY, AND THE RESIDENCE OF HAYS COUNTY, AND WHEREAS CHILDREN, OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH LUNG DISEASE, AND PEOPLE WITH HEART DISEASE ARE PARTICULARLY AFFECTED BY POOR AIR QUALITY, WHICH MAKES UP ABOUT HALF OF ALL RESIDENTS IN CENTRAL TEXAS, AND WHEREAS, IN 2023 COME AIR-QUALITY IN THE AUSTIN ROUND ROCK SAN MARCO'S METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA WAS MODERATED OR WORSE ACCORDING TO THE AIR-QUALITY INDEX, AQI, MORE THAN 50% OF DAYS, AND WHEREAS IN 2023, THE AUSTIN-ROUND ROCK-SAN MARCOS

[00:10:18]

>> BEAUTIFULLY RED. LIKE ALWAYS. IF YOU WILL PLEASE CALL

THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER SHELL.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH.

>> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA.

>> YES. >> I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYONE HERE THAT WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE AIR. AS A MEMBER OF THE CLEAN AIR COALITION, I WANTED TO JOIN THE COMMUNITY IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD, AND REMIND AROUND THAT AIR-QUALITY IS A REAL THING AND THAT THIS ALLIANCE PERFECTLY WITH THE BEGINNING OF OZONE SEASON, WILDFIRE SEASON, AND WORLD ASTHMA DAY. I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO THINK ABOUT WAYS THAT YOU COULD IMPROVE OUR AIR, AND CAR IDLING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM LONG COVID AS WELL. AND BEING THAT MY PRECINCT IS LONG I-35 AND CONGESTED EVERY DAY, I MENTIONED THE AIR QUALITY IS NOT GREAT. I WANTED TO BRING AWARENESS TO EVERYONE ABOUT AIR-QUALITY, THAT WE SHOULD ALL DO OUR PART.

>> AND ALSO, JUST KNOW THAT WITH SUCH A LARGE FOOTPRINT, SUCH A LARGE COUNTY, WE ARE SLATED TO BE THE NEXT METROPLEX. SO WHAT COMMISSIONER COHEN HAS SAID IS IMPORTANT.

THERE ARE MOMENTS IN TIME WHERE WE JUST SKATE UNDER THE RADAR ON ANY KIND OF OZONE ACTION ALERTS. AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW , AS WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR ALL THE EXPANSION THAT WE APPRECIATE FOR A MYRIAD OF REASONS, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT COMMISSIONER COHEN SAID, WHICH IS, BE MINDFUL OF IDLING IN ALL THESE OTHER THINGS. THANK YOU,

COMMISSIONER. >> BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNCILMEMBER FOR SERVING ON THE BOARD. I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT COMMISSIONER COHEN IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER. IT IS FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY LIKE MAYOR HOUSTON WHO SERVES ON IT THAT HAD REALLY BROUGHT AN AWARENESS OF THIS COMMISSION. AND UNFORTUNATELY, JUDGE, WE HAVE FEWER DAYS WHERE WE ARE NOT OVER THAT TIPPING POINT. WE ARE ACTUALLY ABOVE THOSE NUMBERS MORE SO THAN WE HAVE EVER BEEN

[F.2. Adopt a Proclamation recognizing May 2024 as Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas Month. BECERRA]

>> THANK YOU. PLEASE OPEN F 2.

>> ADOPTED PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY 2024 AS COMMUNITY ACTION INC. OF CENTRAL TEXAS MONTH. WHEREAS, COMMUNITY ACTION, INC. OF CENTRAL TEXAS HAS MADE ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS HAYS COUNTY BY CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES; AND WHEREAS, COMMUNITY ACTION, INC.

OF CENTRAL TEXAS IS A ROBUST STATE AND LOCAL FORCE CONNECTING PEOPLE TO LIFECHANGING SERVICES AND CREATING PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY IN HAYS, CALDWELL, BLANCO, AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES; AND WHEREAS, COMMUNITY ACTION, INC.

OF CENTRAL TEXAS BUILDS AND PROMOTES ECONOMIC STABILITY AS AN ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF ENABLING AND ENHANCING STRONGER COMMUNITIES AND STABLE HOMES; AND WHEREAS, COMMUNITY ACTION, INC. OF CENTRAL TEXAS PROMOTES COMMUNITY-WIDE SOLUTIONS TO CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT OUR CITIES, SUBURBS, AND RURAL AREAS; AND WHEREAS, COMMUNITY ACTION, INC. OF CENTRAL TEXAS DELIVERS INNOVATIVE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS THAT CREATE

[00:15:01]

>> BEAUTIFULLY RED, AGAIN. PLEASE CALL ROLE.

>> COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> YES.

>> COMMISSINER COHEN. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> YES.

>> JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. IF YOU WILL PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, TELL US YOUR NAME AND TITLE , AND IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR US TO TAKE A PICTURE IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT.

>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DOUG MUDD. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ACTION. WE STARTED SIX YEARS AGO TODAY.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS VERY DAY, BUT 60 YEARS AGO, WE STARTED A LITTLE BITTY HEAD START PROGRAM , AND NOW, WE HAVE BLUSTERED INTO NINE PROGRAMS, AND WE COVERED NOT JUST THE THREE COUNTIES -- BUT NINE COUNTIES THAT SURROUND TRAVIS COUNTY. SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR HAYS COUNTY COURT. YOU HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORTERS OF COMMUNITY ACTION. WE ARE COMMUNITY ACTION. WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COMMUNITY ACTION.

>> I WILL SAY THAT IT IS TOO EASY WITH POLARIZING ACIDITY THAT SOMETIMES TAKES PLACE IN POLITICS THAT FOLKS NEED TO COME DOWN AND REALIZE THAT WE ARE EACH OTHER'S NEIGHBORS. WE WILL SEE EACH OTHER AT AGB OR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT OR AT AN EVENT. THE MORE RESPECTFUL WE ARE WITH ONE ANOTHER, THE MORE WE SEE EACH OTHER WITH LOVING EYES, THE MORE HARMONY WE WILL HAVE FOR OURSELVES. SO ALL OF THOSE INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF THIS PICTURE, PLEASE COME ON UP.

THE

[F.3. Adopt a Proclamation recognizing May 2024 as Mental Health Awareness Month. BECERRA]

>> ALL RIGHT, ROXANNE, LET'S GO TO F3.

>> WHEREAS, THE CORE FOUR PARTNERSHIP, CITY OF SAN MARCOS, HAYS COUNTY, SAN MARCOS CISD, & TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, THROUGH THE SMTX MENTAL HEALTH COALITION, HEALTHY HAYS COALITION AND ITS MEMBERS AND PARTNERS RECOGNIZE THAT MENTAL HEALTH INCLUDES OUR EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL

[00:20:02]

SEVENTH DAY OF MAY, 2024. >> SO BEAUTIFULLY RED. I APPRECIATE IT. I WILL SAY THAT SHE READ A LOT OF GREAT PIECES OF INFORMATION. CORE FOUR. CORE FOUR IS AT OUR LOCAL COUNTY SEAT LEVEL, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY. SOME INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS, AND HAYS COUNTY. WE MAKE UP THE CORE FOUR. COMMISSIONER SMITH AND I SERVE ON THAT BODY. TO WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE INEFFICIENCIES OF -- WELL, WHAT IS THIS PERSON OR THIS GROUP OR THIS ORGANIZATION OR THIS AGENCY DOING WHEN IT COMES TO XY OR Z. IT WAS CREATED FOR EFFICIENCIES IN CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. COMMISSIONER COHEN BROUGHT UP COVID IN OUR FIRST PROCLAMATION. AND IT IS TRUE. COVID IMPACTED OUR LIVES IN SUCH CRAZY WAYS . I'M AN ETERNAL OPTIMIST, SO I SAY, THINGS HAPPEN FOR ME, I DON'T SAY THEY HAVE BEEN TO ME. I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO SAY THIS. WHEN I LOST MY FIRST COUSIN , A CARDIOLOGIST, 50 YEARS OLD, TO COVID, AND THREE AUNTS , THAT IS JUST MY LOSS. SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW AS YOUR COUNTY JUDGE. ONE EASY SENTENCE , BUT HEARTFELT IMPACT. JUST IN MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY. MENTAL HEALTH IS SUCH A BIG DEAL. AND COVID , IF NOTHING ELSE, TAUGHT US JUST HOW VULNERABLE WE ALL ARE . JUST HOW WE NEED ONE ANOTHER IN WAYS WE WOULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED . WHEN YOU STEP INTO AN ELEVATOR, YOU HAVE TO ROLL THE CLOCK BACK IN YOUR MIND FOR THIS NARRATIVE TO WORK. STEP BACK TO 2019, 2020, YOU LOOK OVER AND YOU SAY, DOES THAT PERSON HAVE COVID? I HAVE A CRITICAL CARE PULMONOLOGIST BROTHER-IN-LAW WHO IS ALREADY THIN AND LOST ABOUT 20 POUNDS BECAUSE HE WAS WORKING IN SAN ANTONIO NIGHT AND DAY BECAUSE COVID WAS ATTACKING OUR BODIES. IT DOESN'T STOP THE IMPACT. SO I, THROUGH THE FORCE OF REALITY AND EXISTENCE, BECAUSE OF MY JOB AS DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, I HAD TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH. AND I'M ENCOURAGING -- I AM TAKING THIS MOMENT TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO FIND WHAT SERVES YOU TOWARDS THE GOALS YOU SEEK WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. I TELL MY SONS -- I HAVE TO. WHEN WE GET MAD -- BECAUSE I WILL GET MAD. IT IS AN EASY CONFESSION POINT WE ALL HAVE EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS. IT'S OKAY TO GET MAD, BUT THEN YOU'VE GOT TO GET OVER IT. GET IN AND THEN GET BACK AT. WE HAVE TO DO OUR PART TO CENTER OURSELVES BUT I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TELL YOU THAT. THIS MONTH OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, I'M GOING TO CREATE A SOCIAL MEDIA POST. I DEVELOPED OVER TIME OUT OF NECESSITY SEVEN THINGS I DO FOR MY MENTAL HEALTH , MY WELL-BEING, BECAUSE AS YOU SAW, I HAD SOMEONE EARLIER THIS MORNING RIGHT IN SOME

[00:25:01]

COWORKERS. WE ARE ALL VULNERABLE. I WANT TO REMIND YOU TO PLEASE GO BACK TO THE TIMES WHEN WE WERE ALL STUCK IN OUR HOMES, WHETHER WE LIKED IT OR NOT. ALL THOSE OF VULNERABILITIES AND ALL THAT TROUBLE WAS UPON US ALL.

REMEMBER THEN IN THAT FRAME OF MIND, THAT WE ARE ALL IN NEED OF SUPPORT AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT EACH OF US IS CARRYING. IF WE JUST WALK THROUGH THIS DAY ONE DAY AT A TIME, WITH THE IDEA THAT WE ARE IN NO WAY GOING TO LOOK OVER AT OUR SEAT AND KNOW IF HE JUST LOST A LOVED ONE OR HIS JOB, OR IF YOU JUST GOT PROMOTED. WE DON'T KNOW. WE CAN'T TELL BY SEEING PEOPLE. WE DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE CARRY EXPRESSIONS. SOME PEOPLE GO THROUGH TRAUMA AND SMILE. SOME WILL GO THROUGH STRESS AND LAUGH. LET'S BE PEACEFUL. LET'S BE RESPECTFUL, TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES. BELIEVE ME. IT HELPS US. PLEASE CALL ROLE, THEN WE WILL GIVE IT TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

>> COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES.

>> JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES.

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR COLLEAGUE WHO IS NOT HERE. SHE AND I HAVE SERVED SINCE -- I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE IN THE ROOM IS AWARE, BUT I GUESS IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO. I KNOW WE WILL GET AN UPDATE WHENEVER WE HEAR FROM JUDGE BROWN LATER, RELATIVE TO THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE, BUT ALSO WITH MENTAL HEALTH IN GENERAL , SINCE OUR STEM WORKSHOP THAT WE DID ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO. IT WAS A COMING TOGETHER OF EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY. EVERYONE THAT HANDLES ANY TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH SITUATION FOR INDIVIDUALS IN THE COUNTY. AND WHEN I SAY THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN ATTEMPT EARLIER BY FORMER COMMISSIONER JONES AND I TO PUT TOGETHER A MEETING OF ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND ALL THE FUNCTIONS IN OUR COUNTY THAT ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH. WHAT WE REALIZED WHEN WE HAD THAT MEETING AND IT IS IN YOUR OFFICE, COMMISSIONER COHEN, IS THAT WE HAD PEOPLE OFFERING SERVICES THAT WERE STOVE PIPED. THEY WERE PICKING UP VETERANS AND THEN TAKING THEM TO MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES IN WACO OR SAN ANTONIO FOR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, WHEN IN ACTUALITY, IF WE HAD KNOWN OR IF THERE WAS COORDINATION, WE HAD 24 MENTAL HEALTH BEDS AVAILABLE SPECIFICALLY FOR VETERANS. AND WE ARE UNDER CONTRACT WITH HAYS COUNTY. THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE.

YOU HAVE AN OFFICER ROLLED TO AN INCIDENT WHERE THERE MAY BE A MENTAL HEALTH FACTOR TO IT. MAYBE IT IS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION WHERE WE ARE WORKING WITH A WOMAN'S SHELTER TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FAMILY ARE THE VICTIMS IN THAT SITUATION, BUT THERE IS NO KNOWLEDGE THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL -- HE MAY BE A VETERAN. HE MAY QUALIFY FOR VETERANS COURT. HE MAY QUALIFY FOR ADDITIONAL HEALTH NEEDS OR ASSISTANCE TO HELP ADDRESS THE SITUATION TO BRING THE FAMILY BACK TOGETHER. THOSE WERE NOT COURT NEEDED EFFORTS. I APPLAUD OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THE HEALTHY HAYS COALITION AS PART OF THAT. WE WERE TOGETHER AS A GROUP COMING OUT OF THAT TO CREATE THE BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS TEAM, WHICH REALLY ADDRESSES ALL OF THOSE ISSUES ON THE JUDICIAL SIDE, AND I COMMEND THE MEMBERS OF THAT GROUP TO LOOK , TO HAVE FORESIGHT, AND TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT ELSE IS NEEDED OUT THERE, AND GROWING OUT OF THE HEALTHY HAYS COALITION, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER GROUP THAT ADDRESSES THOSE OUTSIDE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THOSE FOLKS, JUST BY STRUCTURE, WE ARE LOOKING AT HAVING THOSE FEET INTO -- FEED INTO -- AND IDENTIFY WHAT THE NEEDS ARE IN THE COUNTY.

INAUDIBLE ] IT COULD BE SENIOR MENTAL HEALTH WITH GROUPS WE WORK WITH WITH OLDER CITIZENS OR ON THE JUDICIAL SIDE.

FEEDING THAT INTO A MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATING COMMISSION , WHICH ALL OF OUR CITIES AND OTHERS CAN PARTICIPATE IN TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THOSE CHANGES. THE POINT OF MIKE CONVERSATION IS WE HAVE A GRASSROOTS -- WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM NOT BY A TOP-DOWN MODEL. IT IS NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS OR FOLKS WHO ARE PSEUDO-EXPERTS IN THIS

[00:30:07]

REALLY STEPPED UP TO HELP US ON THAT.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER SHELL.

>> I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON THIS. THANK YOU.

>> I CAN'T SAY A LOT MORE THAN COMMISSIONER SMITH HAS SAID.

AND MY THROAT IS GOING CRAZY SO I WILL NOT TALK AS LONG. I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE GROUPS INVOLVED IN MENTAL HEALTH. I THINK I CAN SAY, THIS IS THE ONE ISSUE WHERE IT IS NOT PARTISAN. WE ARE ALL WORKING ON MENTAL HEALTH TOGETHER. IT IS GREAT TO SEE MY COLLEAGUES JUST AS, YOU KNOW, EXCITED ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN DOING THE GOOD WORK FOR THE PEOPLE. WE NEED MORE ACCESS POINT WE NEED TO REMOVE BARRIERS. WE NEED TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO SHOW THEM WHERE THE RESOURCES ARE. WE MAY ALL BE WORKING ON THIS FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS, BUT WE ARE ALL WORKING ON IT TOGETHER. THAT IS IMPORTANT. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO IS WORKING ON THIS THROUGH THE COURT, THROUGH THE HAYS COUNTY COURT DEPARTMENT. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE SO MUCH FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU ARE ALL PUTTING IN EVERYDAY FOR THIS.

YES. >> DID YOU CALL THE ROLE?

>> WE DID. >> WE TALKED FOR SO LONG I FORGOT WE CAUGHT THE ROLE. IF THERE IS SOMEONE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE

CAMERA. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M THE YOUTH SERVICES DIRECTOR AT COMMUNITY ACTION INC. OF CENTRAL TEXAS.

WE WANT TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT THE COUNTY IS DOING AND ALL OF OUR CORE FOUR ENTITIES. I'M EXCITED TO REPORT THAT THE SAN MARCUS COALITION EMPHASIZED EDUCATION AWARENESS, AND WE TRAINED OVER 300 MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING, WHETHER IT IS ADULT MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING AND YOUTH TASK FORCE MEMBERS WHICH SERVES AS AN ADVISORY GROUP. OUR MEMBERS RECEIVED ONE THROUGH THAT YOUTH AWARE TRAINING IN OCTOBER. IT IS NOT JUST US AS STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE PRIORITIZING MENTAL HEALTH. THE YOUTH ARE ASKING FOR THAT. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE ARE IN SPACES LIKE THIS, WE ARE MINDFUL OF YOUTH AND YOUNG PEOPLE, THAT THEY ARE ADVOCATING FOR THEM, BUT WE ARE MAKING POLICIES THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT THEIR LIVES.

THEY SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ENGAGED IN ALL THOSE PROCESSES , AND HAVE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THAT. I WANT TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES FROM HAYS COUNTY TO GO IN DEPTH IN TERMS OF THAT PARTNERSHIP OF THE CORE FOUR IN HAYS COUNTY AND THE SPECIFIC WORK THEY ARE DOING. I REALLY THANK ALL OF THE MENTAL HEALTH COALITION MEMBERS . THIS TYPE OF WORK CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY. IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING. THE WORK OF THE CORE FOUR PARTNERSHIP IS DEPENDENT ON THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE BUILT IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU TO MY COALITION MEMBERS. THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND TO THE JUDGE. I WANTED TO HAVE MY COLLEAGUE, MATTHEW , COME UP .

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MATTHEW.

IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR NEEDS AND GIVE

[00:35:01]

INAUDIBLE ] >> THANK YOU, MATTHEW. PEYTON SILER, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATOR. HELLO, EVERYONE.

IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO ADDRESS THE COUNTY COURT TODAY AS THE HEALTH COORDINATOR. I HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES WHICH HAS DRIVEN MY ACTION. I GRADUATED FROM TEXAS STATE IN 2019 AND PUT MY DEGREE IN COMMUNICATIONS TO USE IMMEDIATELY, WORKING FOR HILL COUNTRY AND HDD. THAT WAS ONE COVID HIT AND MENTAL HEALTH WAS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW. I WORKED PROGRAMMING AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AFTER COVID WRAPPED UP, I TOOK A POSITION WORKING AS A PROJECT MANAGER.

HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF A PROACTIVE COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH , WORKING WITH MENTAL HEALTH. MENTAL HEALTH HAS TOUCHED MY LIFE IN VARIOUS WAYS, MOTIVATING ME TO PURSUE A MASTERS DEGREE IN COUNSELING. I'M THRILLED TO BE UP TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COUNTY BY FOCUSING ON TREATMENT OF SYMPTOMS BUT ALSO EXAMINING THE ROOT CAUSES AND ENTERING THE COMPLEX INTERPLAY OF BIOLOGICAL FACTORS. I'M WORKING TO PLAN A STATIONS ACTIVITY FEATURING VARIOUS HEALTHY COPING SCHOOLS FOR SUMMER CAMPS AND SAN MARCO'S CSID, TO EQUIP YOUNG INDIVIDUALS WITH VALUABLE COPING SKILLS. I'M ALSO WORKING ON MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGNS FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, WHICH WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING PTSD AND THE -- IN THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY. THIS COMMUNITY STRUGGLES UP TO THREE TIMES MORE DUE TO LACK OF ACCESS FROM -- TO AFFIRMING CARE. I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND HELPING ALL THE GREAT WORK ALREADY BEING DONE WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO THE VIBRANT VISIONS HEALTH AND MENTAL WELLNESS FEST. I KNOW CRISTAL POURED HER HEART INTO IT. THERE WILL BE AN ART SHOW. GIVEAWAYS, AND MUCH MORE. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF A COUNTY THAT VALUES MENTAL HEALTH AND IS NURTURING THE WELLNESS OF OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU.

>> WELL DONE, AND THANK YOU. TELL US THE TIME AND PLACE.

>> THANK YOU. IT IS 6:00 TO 8:00 THIS THURSDAY AT THE

VILLAGE MAINE. >> THAT IS ON HUNTER ROAD.

>> YES. YES. >> ONE OTHER THING BEFORE PEYTON SITS DOWN . I SERVE ON THE COURT SINCE WE TOOK OFFICE BACK IN 2019. I HAVE LOST ALL OF SAN MARCUS WITH REDISTRICTING. WHEN THIS WAS PLACED ON HERE, I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REACH OUT TO MATTHEW YET, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND I INTEND TO BRING THE NOMINATION BACK IS NOW THAT WE HAVE A FULL-TIME MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATING POSITION WITH THE COUNTY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE -- I THINK I'M GOING TO STEP DOWN FROM THAT POSITION. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE PAYTON FOR IT BECAUSE SHE IS THE ONE ON THE GROUND TRYING TO COORDINATE THOSE EFFORTS. THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHY THIS POSITION WAS CREATED. AND GIVEN THAT SHE HAS A WORKING RELATIONSHIP EVEN IN THE ONE

[00:40:06]

>> APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, GUYS.

>> WELL DONE, ALL THREE SPEAKERS. I HAVE TO SAY ONE

MORE THING. >> SO SORRY. I KNOW I'M ALWAYS TALKING. MATTHEW GONZALES, HAYS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT MANAGER. I JUST WANT TO LET THE COURT KNOW THAT I DID GIVE Y'ALL A COPY. I HAVE ALL OF THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM. OUR GOALS, WHAT WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH FROM IT. ALSO, TO HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT COMMISSIONER SMITH WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THAT COORDINATING COMMITTEE. I WANT TO APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO HAS PLAYED A ROLE IN THAT. JUDGE BECERRA, I KNOW YOU'RE A PART OF THAT. I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, NUMBERS LIKE THAT. I KNOW JUDGE BROWN IS HERE. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO HER FOR HELPING TO GET THIS GOING. WE ALSO HAVE THE ADULT MENTAL WORKGROUP. WE HAVE THE CHAIRS HERE TODAY, WHICH, FOR THOSE CHAIRS, I WILL JUST CALL THEM OUT ACROSS. WE HAVE ADAM HOLT AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PRACTITIONERS WHO ARE WORKING ON THE GROUND . I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR WORK, AS WELL SOMEONE ELSE IN THIS COMMUNITY. WITH THAT, I APPRECIATE YOUR

TIME TODAY. >> WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IS ONE OF THE CLICHÉS I LOVE TO USE. THANK YOU TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND FOLKS. GIVING SO WILLINGLY OF THEIR TIME.

IT'S JUST LIKE A SMILE. IT COSTS SO LITTLE, YET GIVES SO MUCH. GOOD JOB, MATTHEW. LET'S COME ON UP FOR A PICTURE.

[F.4. Adopt a Proclamation recognizing May 6-10, 2024 as Youth Apprenticeship Week. BECERRA]

>> ALL RIGHT, ROXANNE. IF YOU WILL PLEASE OPEN F4.

>> F4. ADOPT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY 6-10, 2024 AS

YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP WEEK. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECONDED. WHEREAS, THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION LIES IN THE HANDS OF OUR YOUTH, AND IT IS IMPERATIVE TO FOSTER THEIR DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AND TRAINING; AND WHEREAS, GARY JOB CORPS CENTER, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DJH EXPRESS NATIONAL TRAINING ACADEMY, RECOGNIZES THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF APPRENTICESHIPS AS A GATEWAY TO SKILL DEVELOPMENT, CAREER READINESS, AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY; AND WHEREAS, THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY STANDS AS A PILLAR OF OUR ECONOMY, REQUIRING A NEW GENERATION OF SKILLED WORKERS EQUIPPED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE TO NAVIGATE THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF THIS SECTOR; AND WHEREAS, YOUTH APPRECIATION WEEK, SPONSORED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, PRESENTS AN INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT AND SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF OUR YOUNG WORKFORCE; AND WHEREAS, GARY JOBS CORPS AND DJH EXPRESS NATIONAL TRAINING ACADEMY PLEDGE TO SUPPORT THE NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE BY PROVIDING ROBUST TRAINING PROGRAMS TAILORED TO THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY, CREATING PATHWAYS FOR YOUTH TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL APPRENTICESHIPS THAT OFFER REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES, BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS TO ENSURE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS ALIGN WITH CURRENT AND FUTURE WORKFORCE NEEDS, AND ADVOCATING FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF APPRENTICESHIPS IN PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF WORKERS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY

[00:45:04]

THE SEVENTH DAY OF MAY, 2024. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES.

>> JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. NOW, YOU CAN CLAP. WHO DO WE HAVE TO SPEAK FROM THE GARY JOB CORPS CENTER?

>> YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY FROM THE LIMELIGHT. COME ON UP.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING THESE GUYS HERE. WE SEND OUR STUDENTS TO KENTUCKY TO FINISH THEIR TRAINING UP, AND THAT IS DEFINITELY GREAT. I CAN TALK FOR A LONG TIME.

>> PLEASE STATE YOUR TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS KATRINA HAWKINS. I AM THE FOUNDER OF DJH EXPRESS TRAINING ACADEMY. WE ARE A REGISTERED CORPORATION THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. WE PROVIDE JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY. WE ARE EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH GARY JOB CORPS TO BRING THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS , IS PREDATION IN GENERAL IS SO IMPORTANT TO THIS COUNTRY, TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS COUNTRY. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT COVID EARLIER. WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE WERE LOCKED DOWN, TRUCK DRIVERS WERE STILL OUT THERE WORKING. WE FEEL LIKE THIS PARTICULAR JOB TRAINING PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT. WE ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF WORKERS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY. WE ARE EXCITED TO WORK WITH GARY JOB CORPS. WE THANK YOU GUYS FOR RECOGNIZING

US TODAY. THANK YOU. >> THAT IS SO WELL SAID. AS SHE MENTIONED, I WAS PART OF THE ROAD MAP AS TO DECIDE WHEN WE HAD THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE TO DECIDE WHO CAN MOVE WHERE, WHAT, WHEN, AND WHY, DURING A CRITICAL TIME. PEOPLE WERE LIKE, WELL, THESE PEOPLE ARE CRITICAL. WELL, THESE PEOPLE ARE CRITICAL. AND FIRST, I LOVE SAYING THAT. IF YOU DON'T GATHER THAT, I'M SORRY. BUT I LOVE SAYING THAT. THE PUBLIC RESPONSE -- THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. THE UMBRELLA FITS UNDER CRITICAL . YOU KNOW THEY ARE CRITICAL. NO DOUBT. WHAT IF YOU CAN'T GET IN TO HEB TO GET YOUR FOOD. IS THAT NOT CRITICAL? WHAT IF YOU CAN'T GO GET MEDICINE? WHAT IF THE GAS GOT TURNED OFF AT THE MANUFACTURING FACILITY DOWN THE STREET. WHAT EXIT IS THAT? 193? PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A GAS PLANT THERE, MAKING ELECTRICITY FOR US. THE GUYS AND GALS THAT GO TO TURN THAT ON AND MAINTAIN IT -- ARE THEY NOT CRITICAL? WE START TO REALIZE THAT THE CRITICALNESS IS THERE. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A BUNCH OF PHD'S AND NO DRIVERS. THE WAY GARY FOCUSES ON PULLING PEOPLE INTO THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING -- I FIND IT SO ESSENTIAL BECAUSE WE HAVE TURNED INTO A NATION WHERE TOO MANY TIMES, WE SAY, COLLEGE PROGRAM IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO. FOR YOUR DEGREE OR NOTHING. AND WE ARE LOSING TOO MANY VALUABLE PAINTERS, BODYSHOP PEOPLE, REPAIR, MECHANICS, WELDERS, PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIANS. I SAY THEY ARE ALL CRITICAL, TOO. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING. WITHOUT THE MOVEMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES, WE ARE STANDING STILL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELCOME TO THE FAMILY. GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

>> NOW, THIS IS THE COORDINATOR FOR GARY. THIS IS MY PARTNER, SUZANNE.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE BECERRA. ON BEHALF OF GARY JOB CORPS, WE

[00:50:02]

WE ARE TAKING IT INTO APPRENTICESHIP. THAT IS THE JOB COURSE FOCUS, TO BRING A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT TRAININGS AND DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUTH, FROM 16 TO 24, SO THAT UPON GRADUATION DAY, THEY WILL HAVE CERTIFICATIONS AND BE THAT MUCH MORE EMPLOYABLE IN WORKING WITH EMPLOYEES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TRAINING TO MEET THE EMPLOYER NEEDS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOR THE COMMUNIY SUPPORT BECAUSE WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY, THERE IS NO WAY THAT GARY ITSELF COULD KEEP THRIVING AND MEET THESE NEEDS.

>> EVERYONE SUPPORTING PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIANS, MECHANICS, TRUCK DRIVERS, COMING -- COME ON UP FOR THIS PICTURE.

>> BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL.

[F.5. Presentation by Hays County 4-H members regarding the results at the District 10 - 4-H Roundup. SMITH]

>> LET'S GO TO F 5. >> PRESENTATION BY 4-H MEMBERS.

>> THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THIS AGENDA ITEM. ALL RIGHT. AS YOU KNOW, OUR 4-HERS PARTICIPATE IN COMPETITIONS.

THEY ARE PREPARING TO GO TO THE STATE ROUNDUP IN JUNE. I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT WAS MY FIRST TIME TO SET FOOT ON THE A AND M CAMPUS. I WAS 10 YEARS OLD WHEN I GOT TO GO TO THE 4-H ROUNDUP.

IT WAS A DIVISION 81. 4-H IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND TO A LOT OF KIDS AND FAMILIES. AND OUR COUNTY. I WAS ABLE TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH 4-H. I ATTENDED A AND M. I WAS THE COLLEGIATE 4-H PRESIDENT THERE AND WORKED AT THE CENTER IN BROWNWOOD AS THE CAMP COUNSELOR THERE. I APPRECIATE THE WORK THEY DO IN OUR COUNTY AND HOW THEY MOLD THE YOUNG PEOPLE HERE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR SUCCESSES AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, AND LET US KNOW HOW THE

PROGRAM IS GOING. SO. >> YES. WELL DONE. WHILE SHE IS APPROACHING THE PODIUM AND TELLING HER NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING AUDIENCE, I WANT TO SAY, 4-H IS ESSENTIAL. WE ARE A COUNTY THAT HAS BEEN MOVING FACED ON THE POPULATION, MOVING FROM RURAL TO URBAN, I WILL NEVER FORGET MY REALITY, WHICH IS THAT I REPRESENT BOTH URBAN AND RURAL RESIDENTS. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR WHAT 4-H DOES, AND ALSO -- IT IS NOT EITHER OR. IT IS BOTH AND. ALSO, BANKING AND IN DOING ALL THE PROMOTIONAL PIECES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS FOR OUR REGION'S PROSPERITY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. TELL US YOUR NAME AND TITLE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. MY NAME IS SIERRA MURRAY.

I'M THE 4-H PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR HAYS COUNTY. I CELEBRATED A YEAR IN JANUARY. OVER THAT YEAR, IT'S BEEN A BLESSING TO BUILD A CONNECTION WITH THE COURT AND ALSO THE

[00:55:01]

LIVESTOCK JUDGING. WE ALSO DID AN EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION IN THE FALL, AS WELL. WE COMPETE WITH 21 OTHER COUNTIES IN DISTRICT 10. AND SO WE CERTAINLY PUT UP A FIGHT AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE DO HAVE THREE MEMBERS WHO ARE GOING TO THE ROUNDUP. IT IS FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS, GRADES NINE THROUGH 12, WHO CAN ADVANCE. THEN WE HAVE ONE OF THEM HERE WITH US. WE HAVE TWO OF THEM HERE WITH US TODAY. I'M GOING TO LET THE YOUTH SPEAK BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR.

>> BEAUTIFULLY SAID. THANK YOU. >> IF YOU WILL TELL US YOUR NAME, AND WHAT IS MOST APPROPRIATE. NAME AND AGE? NAME

AND SCHOOL? >> I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO SHARE THEIR ACCOMPLISH MEDS, TOO.

>> BUT I WANT THEM TO START WITH -- NAME AND AGE. EVERYONE IN ON, GIVE US NAME AND AGE AND THEN YOUR STORY.

>> MY NAME IS EMILY. I'M 11 YEARS OLD. I'VE BEEN IN 4-H FOR FOUR YEARS. I WON FIRST PLACE IN THE FASHION SHOW. I

WON SECOND, IN THE FOOD SHOW. >> WELL DONE.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS PENELOPE. I AM IN NINTH GRADE. I'M PART OF THE 4-H CLUB IN HAYS COUNTY. I PARTICIPATE IN LOTS OF ACTIVITIES THROUGH THIS YEAR, IN THE TWO YEARS I WAS IN THIS PROGRAM. I HAVE WON THIRD PLACE IN A COMPETITION IN THE DISTRICT LEVEL.

SECOND PLACE IN THE FASHION SHOW IN THE DISTRICT. AND IN THE FOOD CHALLENGE, I WON THIRD PLACE.

>> BEAUTIFULLY DONE. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS GENEVIEVE. I AM 13 YEARS OLD. I'M IN THE 4-H CLUB IN HAYS COUNTY. I PARTICIPATED IN A BUNCH OF 4-H COMPETITIONS. MY MOST RECENT ONE WAS THE FOOD CHALLENGE. WE PLACED THIRD PLACE. THROUGH THAT COMPETITION, I LEARNED MANY SKILLS THROUGH THE 4-H PROGRAM. LIKE TO WORK BETTER AS A TEAM. THE COMPETITION WAS A GROUP PROJECT. I LEARNED BASIC COOKING SKILLS AND HOW TO USE CREATIVITY IN DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITY. IN THE COOKING COMPETITION, WE WERE GIVEN A MYSTERY ITEM AND WE HAD TO MAKE IT INTO A DISH. AND WE HAD TO WRITE A SPEECH. I LOVED THE FOOD CHALLENGE . THANK YOU FOR

LISTENING. >> WELL DONE.

>> I'M A MEMBER OF THE 4-H CLUB IN HAYS COUNTY. I COMPETED IN THE TALENT COMPETITION AND SANG PUCCINI. I HAVE GROWN MY STAGE PRESENCE EXPONENTIALLY AND I HAVE LEARNED HOW TO TAKE THE FEEDBACK GIVEN AND APPLY IT DILIGENTLY. AS THE COMPETITION IS NOT OVER THERE .

>> BEAUTIFUL. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> HI. I AM 17. I JOINED THE 4-H COMPETITION WITH MICRO SHAPE CLASS , INSPIREDBY THE LITTLE PRINCE TO GROW MY SKILLS IN CROCHET.

FRIENDSHIP. 4-H HAS BECOME A PERSONAL BENEFACTOR IN THAT I'M BETTER ABLE TO PROMOTE MYSELF, EXPLORE MY AMBITIONS AND FIND THE COURAGE TO TRY NEW THINGS AND MEET NEW PEOPLE.

BECAUSE OF THE VALUES I WENT TO CHURCH, I BELIEVE 4-H HAS AIDED MY PERSONAL BETTERMENT AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY. THANK

YOU. >> HI. MY NAME IS BROOKLYN BURNETT. I'M 11 YEARS OLD. I HAVE BEEN DOING 4-H FOR ONE YEAR. I HAVE ONE FIRST PLACE IN THE FOOD CHALLENGE WITH MY TEAM. I WON FIRST PLACE IN

YOU. >> WONDERFUL.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS 11 -- ELIZABETH CATES. I'M 11 YEARS

[01:00:02]

AND I WON -- SORRY -- I WON DISTRICT. IT TAUGHT ME REALLY GOOD TEAM SKILLS FOR WORKING

TOGETHER. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> HI. MY NAME IS NOLAN MOORE. I AM 13 YEARS OLD. MY CLUB IS 4-H. SOME OF THE PROJECTS I DO ARE PHOTOGRAPHY, AND SHOOTING SPORTS. THE REASON I GOT INTO SHOOTING SPORTS IS BECAUSE MY DAD MANAGES THE LONE STAR GUN RANGE. I WENT THERE A LOT, SO I PRACTICE, AND -- WHAT WAS THE ROUNDUP AGAIN? SORRY. AT THE EXTRAVAGANZA, I PLACED WELL. I DON'T REMEMBER MY EXACT PLACE IN, BUT I GOT PRETTY HIGH. SORRY.

FIRST-PLACE RIBBONS AT PHOTOGRAPHY.

>> WELL DONE. DON'T WORRY. PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT THIS PLACE IS DESIGNED TO BE INTIMIDATING. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DID THAT, BUT IT IS, AND YOU'RE NOT USED TO IT, AND YOU ARE ALL DOING A MAGNIFICENT JOB. KEEP IT UP.

>> THANK YOU. >> HI. MY NAME IS MARLENA DE LA ROSA MOORE. I'VE COMPETED IN THE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST. 4-H TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE A BETTER LEADER FOR MY COMMUNITY AND I'M VERY INVOLVED WITH BEING A PART OF THE HAYS COUNTY COUNSEL. SPEAKING OF LEADERSHIP, I AM A PHOTOGRAPHY AMBASSADOR FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS. I JUST GOT EMAIL THAT I

AM A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU. >> HI. MY NAME IS CAITLIN MILLER. I AM 17 YEARS OLD. I'M A MEMBER OF 4-H .

FOR SPRING ROUNDUP, I DID THE DISTRICT FASHION SHOW, AND I PARTICIPATED IN THE BUYING CATEGORY FOR BUSINESS CASUAL. I GOT FIRST PLACE. AND THEN, FOR FALL, I DID THE FOOD CHALLENGE WITH MARLENA MOORE, TRISTAN , AND ME. WE GOT FIRST PLACE FOR CULINARY CONQUERORS. FOR EDUCATION PRESENTATION, I GOT SECOND PLACE. I SPOKE ABOUT HOW TO KEEP SURGERY STERILE.

>> THANK YOU. >> HI. I'M PENELOPE. I'M 13 YEARS OLD. I FIRST WOULD LIKE TO START OFF BY THANKING THE COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE BECERRA AND EVERYONE IN THE ROOM LISTENING TO US TALK ABOUT OUR 4-H EXPENSES AND PLACINGS. AT THE DISTRICT TENT ROUNDUP, I DID LIVESTOCK JUDGING, AND A CHOREOGRAPHED ROUTINE WITH MY CHOREOGRAPHED ROUTINE, I PLACED FIRST WITH MY SOLO, GET READY NOW. AND WITH LIVESTOCK JUDGING, OUR LIVESTOCK TEAM PLACED THIRD OVERALL. I PLACED THIRD IN SHEEP AND GOAT AND FIFTH IN CATTLE. IF YOU HEAR OR GET ANYTHING BY US COMING HERE SPEAKING ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCES, I HOPE THAT YOU ARE -- DESIRE TO PUT YOUR CHILDREN OR ANY PEOPLE YOU KNOW INTO 4H BECAUSE IT EXCELS IN LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND CONFIDENCE GOES. I'VE SEEN THAT GROW IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE KIDS TALKING UP HERE. THANK YOU.

>> WELL DONE, AND THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> GOOD MORNING. I AM TRISTAN. I COMPETED WITH MARLENA MOORE AND CAITLIN IN THE FOOD CHALLENGE. WE DID GET FIRST PLACE. I ALSO DID PHOTOGRAPHY THIS YEAR. AND I GOT FIRST-PLACE RIBBONS . IN THESE ARE SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT I

DID. THESE WERE TWO OF THEM. >> WELL DONE. WITH MY PHOTOGRAPHY, I LIKE TO SHOW NATURE , TO SHOW THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE HERE IN HAYS COUNTY, AND WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE NATURE IS A BIG PART OF HAYS COUNTY. IT IS GOOD TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE SUCH A VARIETY OF NATURE IN THE

COUNTY. >> BEAUTIFULLY SAID.

BEAUTIFULLY SAID. AND I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THIS, COMMISSIONER SHALL -- I KNOW YOU WILL APPRECIATE THIS.

WE PASSED A $75 MILLION PARKS AND OPEN SPACE BOND. TO DO THAT

[01:05:26]

REPRESENTING HAYS COUNTY. >> THERE'S AN AGENDA ITEM LATER TODAY FOR THE ZIMMERMAN PROPERTY AND THE COMFORT DISH CONSERVATION NEEDS.

PUTTING IN $1 MILLION TOWARDS CONSERVING A LARGE PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR GREEN SPACE AND OPEN MANAGEMENT HERE, SPECIFICALLY THE WATERSHED CONSERVATION IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN POINT THEY STEPPED IN AND IS MATCHING THAT. WITH $6 MILLION. AND SO, IT IS A GREAT DEAL FOR OUR CITIZENS, BUT THE ONE THING I DID WANT TO SAY -- I REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR ADULT LEADERS BECAUSE ALL THESE KIDS ARE SUCCESSES, BUT THEY WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT A PARENT OR A FAMILY FRIEND OR ONE OF THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS FRIENDS WHO REALLY HAVE HELPED THEM IN A SITUATION TO PARTICIPATE. WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF OUR YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATED WHO HAD TO ATTEND SCHOOL TODAY WHO COULDN'T SNEAK OUT AND COME SEE US IN COURT. A LOT OF THOSE ADULT AND YOUTH LEADERS -- I DON'T THINK THERE IS A MORE IMPACTFUL LEADER . WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT THE 4-H PROGRAMS THAN THOSE KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN IN IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND ACT AS MENTORS BECAUSE YOUTH GENERALLY, THEY CAN JOIN 4-H AT THE AGE OF 9, STAY INCOME AND REALLY A LIFETIME, IF THEY CHOOSE TO BE IN DIFFERENT ROLES AS LEADERS OR AS INSTRUCTORS, AND SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THEM. I KNOW THAT THESE KIDS FEEL LIKE THEY WOULDN'T BE THE SUCCESS THAT THEY ARE IN THESE CATEGORIES AND THESE DIVISIONS WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS AND WITHOUT THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE STEPPED UP, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT THE PARENTS TO HELP THEM IN

THOSE SITUATIONS. >> WE DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO STAND AT THE PODIUM ANY LONGER.

>> GOOD JOB. >> WELL DONE.

>> LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

>> SO ONE THING MISSING IN EVERYONE'S PRESENTATION WAS AND ALSO, WELL DONE. STATE. IF WE WANT TO PARTICIPATE -- IF WE WANT TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE AND CHEER, TELL US WHEN, WHERE,

AND ALL OF THAT TAKES PLACE. >> ABSOLUTELY. SO STATE IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN COLLEGE STATION. AS COMMISSIONER SMITH SAID, FROM JUNE 3RD TO THE SIXTH. DIFFERENT CONTESTS HAVE DIFFERENT DAYS. I BELIEVE THE FASHION SHOW IS THE FIFTH. IT

IS THURSDAY. >> IT IS THE FIFTH.

>> SO IT WILL BE AT COLLEGE STATION. YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. HAYS COUNTY 4-H, ALSO OUR WEBPAGE. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND OUR RESULTS ARCHIVE, NOT ONLY FOR DISTRICTS, BUT ALSO OUR COUNTY CONTEST. AGAIN, I'M REALLY PROUD OF THESE KIDS. IF YOU DIDN'T HEAR, SEVERAL OF THEM SAY THE WORD TEAM. THEY HAVE SPEAKING SKILLS THAT THEY GET FROM THESE KINDS OF CONTESTS AND THE WIDE VARIETY THAT WE HAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING OUR KIDS. THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL.

>> CAN WE TAKE A QUICK PICTURE WITH EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED OR

PARTICIPATED? >> NO PROCLAMATION OR ACTION

TODAY. >> WE DON'T HAVE ONE, BUT

STILL TAKE A PICTURE. >> I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COURT. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED FOR FIVE YEARS AS A 4-H LEADER AND NOW I COULD SOME TEAMS. I WANT TO THANK THE FUNDING WE GOT TO HIRE SIERRA AS OUR 4-H COORDINATOR BECAUSE SHE HAS PROVIDED IMMENSE SUPPORT FOR ALL OF THESE PARENTS AND THE INCREASING URBAN PUBLISHING. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT 4-H BECAUSE THEY THINK IT IS A ROBUST FOOD AND FASHION PROGRAM. IT HAS BEEN SUCH A GIFT TO THESE KIDS, AND TWO NEW FAMILIES . THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> WONDERFUL. WAY TO GO, SIERRA.

>> FROM THE DRIPPING SPRINGS AREA.

>> COME ON UP FOR A PICTURE, EVERYONE.

[01:12:03]

>> THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT TAKES A WELL. THESE KIDS WORKED

REALLY HARD. >> ALL RIGHT, WHERE ARE WE? WE

[F.6. Update on the Mental Health Court by Judge Elaine Brown. BECERRA/BROWN]

ARE AT THE LAST ONE. F 6. >> F 6. UPDATE ON THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT BY A JUDGE ELAINE BROWN.

>> JUDGE BROWN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. AND FOR THE PUBLIC, WILL YOU STATE YOUR NAME .

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE TODAY. WE WANTED TO COME AND SHARE WITH YOU WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT. AS YOU SAID, MY NAME IS ELAINE BROWN.

I'M JUDGE OF COUNTY COURT OF LAW NUMBER 3, WHICH SERVES AS A MENTAL HEALTH COURT. I HAVE WITH ME, KAIMI MATTILA, WHO IS THE COORDINATOR. WE WANT TO CLEAR UP ANY MISINFORMATION THERE MIGHT BE FOR THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT CAN AND CANNOT DO, AND WHAT OUR MISSION ACTUALLY IS IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, SO THIS SEEMS LIKE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO COME AND TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE DO A PRESENTATION, AND SOME OF THE TOPICS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT ARE THE PREVALENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THEIR ROLE IN MENTAL HEALTH COURTS, THE CRITERIA FOR RURAL PROGRAMS OF OUR COURTS, OUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT, EXPANSION AND GRANT PURSUIT, COST SAVINGS AND STATISTICS, GRADUATE TESTIMONIES, AND PROGRAM EVALUATIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THE PREVALENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE UNITED STATES. ABOUT 19.86% OF AMERICANS THAT ARE ADULTS ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL ILLNESS. THAT EQUALS 50 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES. IF YOU WILL DROP THEM, YOU'LL SEE THAT 4.91% OF THOSE ARE EXPERIENCING A SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS , AND IN TEXAS, 17.7% OF OUR CITIZENS REPORT A DIAGNOSABLE MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH EQUALS TO ABOUT 306,206,000 PEOPLE. THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> MORE THAN I IMAGINED. >> YES. BUT THE NEXT SLIDE IS EVEN MORE INTERESTING. THIS IS THE PREVALENCE OF SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS AND OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM. IF YOU'LL NOTE, IN OUR LOCAL JAILS, 64% OF PEOPLE SITTING IN OUR JAIL REPORT A SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS. COMPARE THAT TO THE OVERALL POPULATION, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR JAILS ARE ACTUALLY BEING USED DEFECTIVE AS MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS FOR A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS. IN STATE PRISONS, 59% REPORT MENTAL

[01:15:02]

THAT IS THE GOAL OF A SPECIALTY COURT INVOLVING MENTAL ILLNESS.

MENTAL HEALTH COURTS SHARE THE FOLLOWING GOALS. WE WANT TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY BY REDUCING CRIMINAL RECIDIVISM.

WE WANT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, BUT NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, BUT THEIR LIVES ARE IMPROVED, AS WELL. WE WANT TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATING THEM IN JAIL. 64% OF LOCAL JAILS HAVE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT DOES REPORT A SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS. WE WOULD LIKE TO LINK THEM WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES. OUR TEAM MEMBERS ARE MYSELF, KAIMI, THE COURT ADMINISTERED HER, THE DEFENSE LAWYERS, COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND TREATMENT PROVIDERS. WE ALL MEET REGULARLY TO STAFF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN THE COURT TO DETERMINE WHAT IS WORKING FOR THEM, WHAT IS NOT WORKING FOR THEM, TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT IN THEIR TREATMENT PLANS. AND OF COURSE, WE ALL ATTEND COURT SESSIONS. AS I SAID, THOSE COURT SESSIONS -- SOME OF YOU HAVE COME AND WATCHED. THEY ARE RUN VERY DIFFERENTLY FROM A TRADITIONAL COURT, AND THERE IS A PURPOSE BEHIND THAT, AND THE PURPOSE IS TO GIVE THE PARTICIPANTS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE FROM WHAT THEY HAVE HAD BEFORE IN OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM. AND TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR REHABILITATION AND THEIR TREATMENT PROCESS.

THE NINE KEY COMPONENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL MENTAL HEALTH COURT, AS YOU CAN SEE, NUMBER ONE IS THE INTEGRATION OF MENTAL ILLNESS, OR IDD SERVICES. I WANT TO INTEGRATE THOSE TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR REHABILITATION. THE USE OF NONADVERSARIAL APPROACH TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROTECT DUE PROCESS RIGHTS.

AGAIN, THIS IS NOT AN ADVERSARIAL EXPENSE FOR INDIVIDUALS. OFTENTIMES, THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE HAD THAT EXPERIENCE IN THE COURT SYSTEM. WE ARE A PROBLEM SOLVING ORGANIZATION. WE COME TOGETHER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. EARLY 'S INVOCATION OF THESE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. SOMETIMES, UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE LATER RATHER THAN EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. WE SEE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEN IN THE SYSTEM MANY TIMES GOING THROUGH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN, UNTIL THEY COME INTO OUR COURT, AND THEN HOPEFULLY, THAT CHANGE CAN OCCUR AT THAT TIME.

ACCESS TO EVIDENCE-BASED SERVICES AND TREATMENT. AGAIN, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS BEEN VERY GENEROUS IN HELPING US TO ACQUIRE PROVIDERS FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS WHEN THEY NEED THEM AND THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY OR OTHER PROVIDERS. ONGOING JUDICIAL INTERACTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THEY COME IN TO SEE ME TWICE A MONTH. THAT PROVIDES SOME OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEM. THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME IN AND TALK TO ME. WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEIR TREATMENT PLAN, WHAT IS NOT WORKING, WHAT IS WORKING, AND I GIVE INCENTIVES AT THAT TIME, IF APPROPRIATE. THAT IS THE TIME WHEN THEY MAY NOT GET AN INCENTIVE. THEY MAY BE INSTRUCTED TO DO SOMETHING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROGRAM. EMERGENCY TREATMENT. AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO DIVERT THESE INDIVIDUALS OUT OF OUR JAILS INTO COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT PROGRAMS. WE DO MONITOR AND EVALUATE THE PROGRAM. WE HAVE A PROCESS FOR DOING THAT. AND KAIMI WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THAT IN AMOUNT. CONTINUING INTERDISCIPLINARY EDUCATION. I'VE GONE TO TWO CONFERENCES SO FAR THAT DEAL WITH SPECIALTY COURTS, AND WHAT IN PARTICULAR WITH MENTAL HEALTH. I ALSO COMMUNICATE REGULARLY WITH OTHER JUDGES WHO ACT AS MENTORS, AND WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT WORKING, AND GIVE EACH OTHER IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAM OVERALL. MY STAFF ALSO GOES TO DIFFERENT CONFERECES SO THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT IDEAS THAT CAN PROMOTE THE PROGRAM AND HELP THE INDIVIDUALS RUN THE PROGRAM. DEVELOPMENT OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. WE ARE VERY INVOLVED IN DOING THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SAID EARLIER WAS MHCC, THE MENTAL HEALTH COOPERATIVE COMMUNITY, WHICH WE ARE GETTING STARTED TO TRY TO PREVENT OVERLAP IN INDIVIDUALS NOT COOPERATING -- IN IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN THE BEHAVIORAL ADVISORY TEAM HAS

[01:20:01]

MORE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, HOPEFULLY. WHY TREATMENT COURTS? WELL, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY MANY STUDIES TO BE AN EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. IT IS A CELEBRATION OF THE LIVES WE SAVE. SOME OF OUR INDIVIDUALS HAVE HAD PREVIOUS SUICIDE ATTEMPTS, AND THEY ARE DOING QUITE WELL. WE ALSO HAVE FAMILIES REUNITED, AND THAT HAS HAPPENED WITH SOME OF OUR PARTICIPANTS. THEY HAVE BEEN NOT ABLE TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR FAMILIES, BUT DUE TO GETTING TREATMENT, AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE TREATMENT COURT, THEY HAVE NOT REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

COMMUNITIES RESTORED BY TREATMENT -- AND RECOVERY, AGAIN, IF WE GET THESE INDIVIDUALS OUT OF OUR JAILS, IT HELPS HER COMMUNITY AND THAT INDIVIDUAL. IT HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT. SO WHILE YOU MAY SAY, YEAH, THEY ONLY HAVE 25 PEOPLE IN THE COURT, WELL, THIS 25 PEOPLE, FIRST OF ALL, IT IS A REVOLVING THING. WE WILL HAVE 25 MORE, AND 25 MORE, AND 25 MORE. AND IN ADDITION, WE ARE HAVING THE RIPPLE EFFECT. IT IS NOT JUST AFFECTING THIS 25 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN COURT AT A GIVEN TIME. IT IS AFFECTING THEIR FAMILIES. IT IS AFFECTING THEIR FRIENDS. IT IS AFFECTING THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THE TREATMENT COURT IS EFFECTIVE AND HUMANE. IT ALSO SAVES CONSIDERABLE MONEY FOR TAXPAYERS. AND ACCORDING TO ALL RISE, A NONPROFIT GROUP THAT STUDIES TREATMENT COURTS AND PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR TREATMENT COURTS, IT SHOWS THAT TREATMENT COURTS SHOW BENEFITS OF 2008 -- FOR PARTICIPANTS. IT IS EIGHT TAX SAVING BENEFIT FOR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. IN ADDITION TO POSITIVE TREATMENT OUTCOMES FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, RESEARCH CONFIRMS THAT THE COURSE IMPROVES EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, FAMILY UNIFICATION, AND HEALTHCARE ADVANTAGES OF THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN OUR COURTS. THEY ALSO GIVE RISE TO OTHER ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS. ONE OF THE THINGS MENTIONED THAT COULD BE HELPFUL TO HAYS COUNTY IS A DIVERSION CENTER. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS HERE.

THAT WOULD BE A WAY TO DIVERT PEOPLE OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BEFORE THEY EVEN GO TO OUR JAILS. WE ALSO HAVE REDUCTION STRATEGIES. ADOLESCENT JUSTICE REFORM, SO AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICERS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF STARTING A JUVENILE MENTAL HEALTH COURT, WHICH COULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL. THESE PROGRAMS PROVE IT IS POSSIBLE TO REPAIR LIVES, TO REUNITE FAMILIES, REDUCE DRUG USE, AND CRIME. AND TO DO SO AT FAR LESS THAN IT COST US TO HOUSE THEM IN OUR JAILS. SO THE RITERIA FOR ENTERING INTO THE PROGRAM . YOU HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 17 YEARS OF AGE. I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD ANYBODY UNDER 17. THEY'VE ALL BEEN 18 OR OLDER. YOU NEED A DIAGNOSIS OF A PRIMARY MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER. YOU CAN HAVE A SECONDARY SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER, AND YOU CAN HAVE AN INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER, AS WELL. YOU NEED TO HAVE A PENDING MISDEMEANOR. YOU MUST LIVE IN HAYS COUNTY. WE HAVE TAKEN SOME OUT OF HAYS COUNTY, WHOSE CRIMES WERE COMMITTED IN HAYS COUNTY, WHO LIVE IN A COUNTY CLOSE BY. IT IS ALWAYS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. AND THERE MUST BE A NEXUS BETWEEN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER AND THE PENDING CHARGE AGAINST THE INDIVIDAL. AND THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT WILL DISQUALIFY YOU FROM ENTERING INTO THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT. THOSE ARE CRIMES OF A SEXUAL NATURE OR CONTINUOUS VIOLENCE. ONE THING THAT HAS OCCURRED SINCE WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT IS THAT WE ARE STARTING TO TAKE MORE AND MORE DIVERSIONARY TYPE CASES. IN OTHER WORDS, THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE IN WHAT THE DA CALLS PRETRIAL INTERVENTION. THEY ARE PLEADING GUILTY, HOWEVER, IF THEY COMPLETE THE PROGRAM, THEIR CHARGES ARE DISMISSED , AND THEN AT THAT TIME, THEY WOULD BE ENTITLED TO GO BACK AND GET THOSE CHARGES EXPUNGED. SOME OF THEM HAVE NOT PLAYED IN

[01:25:08]

THEY ARE ON PROBATION. AS A CONDITION OF PROBATION, THEY ARE IN THE COURT. AND AGAIN, THE DISTRICT JUDGE, JUDGE TIFFANY HELPS TO SUPERVISE THOSE WHILE THEY ARE THERE.

I'M GOING TO LET KAIMI GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION.

>> OKAY. SO FOR OUR REFERRAL PROCESS, ANYONE CAN SUPPORT A REFERRAL TO THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT. WE OFTEN GET REFERRALS FROM JUDGES, THE DAS OFFICE, ATTORNEYS, FAMILY MEMBERS, EVEN REFERRALS FROM THE COMMUNITY. REFERRALS CAN BE SUBMITTED ON OUR WEBSITE, IF YOU GOOGLE HAYS COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH COURT, THE FIRST LINK THAT COMES UP IS OUR WEBSITE. THERE IS A LINK EMBEDDED IN THAT WE CAN SUBMIT A REFERRAL. WE ASK THAT YOU PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU ARE REFERRING, WHO YOU ARE, TO THE PERSON TO THE PERSON YOUR FRIEND, AS WELL AS ANY INFORMATION, WHY YOU BELIEVE THEY MAY MEET THE CRITERIA AS FAR AS HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER , AND THAT THEY HAVE A PENDING CHARGE HERE IN HAYS COUNTY. ONCE WE RECEIVE THAT REFERRAL, WE CONTACT THE DAS OFFICE AND THE INDIVIDUAL ATTORNEY. AND PROPOSE IT AS A POTENTIAL OPTION. WE RECEIVED OO THIS REFERRAL. THIS IS THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THE ATTORNEY IS INTERESTED IN PURSUING THIS, AND POTENTIALLY TALKING TO THEIR CLIENT ABOUT IT, AND ALSO, ON THE DA SIDE, ARE THEY OPEN TO THIS INDIVIDUAL POTENTIALLY GETTING INTO MENTAL HEALTH -- OR HAVING AN INITIAL SCREENING TO SEE IF THEY MEET THE CRITERIA FOR MENTAL HEALTH COURT. AND ULTIMATELY, IT IS UP TO THOSE TWO PARTIES. THEY HAVE TO GIVE US THE GREEN LIGHT TO PROCEED AT ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THEN WE GO AHEAD AND SCREEN THE INDIVIDUAL. WE WILL DO CLINICAL ASSESSMENTS TO DETERMINE PRE-MEET -- PREVIOUS HISTORY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE HISTORY, WHAT IS THEIR SITUATION INCLUDING HOUSING, SUBSTANCE USE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. WE THEN REFER TO OUR THIRD-PARTY, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER. SO THAT COULD BE A CONTRACTED PROVIDER, OR THE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY.

AND THEY DO SOME ASSESSMENTS TO DETERMINE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS BASED OFF OF THIS INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS AND THE CLINICAL ASSESSMENTS THEY HAVE GATHERED FOR THEM.

ONCE THOSE ASSESSMENTS ARE PROVIDED TO OUR TEAM, WE THEN WE HAVE A STAFFING MEETING WHERE WE GO OVER THE RECORDS ALTOGETHER AND DETERMINE, CAN WE SUPPORT THIS INDIVIDUAL THROUGH THE COURT? WE HAVE THE RESOURCES? DO WE FEEL LIKE THEY ARE A GOOD FIT, AND WE FEEL LIKE THEY WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM? AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THEN IT GOES BACK TO THE DAS OFFICE AND THE ATTORNEY TO NEGOTIATE THE DETAILS OF THAT ARRANGEMENT, THE LEGAL ARRANGEMENT. THEN WE ADMIT THE PERSON INTO THE COURT. IT IS OPEN ENROLLMENT. SO WE ARE USUALLY ADMITTING 1 TO 2 PEOPLE PER MONTH. SOMETIMES MORE, DEPENDING ON THE FLOW OF OUR REFERRALS. BUT THAT IS THE REFERRAL PROCESS. OUR PROGRAM STRUCTURE. THE PROGRAM ITSELF IS MINIMUM 12 MONTHS. IT CAN LAST 15 MONTHS DEPENDING ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS. IF THEY NEED MORE SUPPORT TOWARD THE END OF THE PROGRAM. THE TREATMENT TEAM CAN STAFF THAT, AND WE CAN SAY WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT YOU STAY IN LONGER TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT READY FOR YOU TO ENTER INTO THE COMMUNITY SAFELY, AND WHERE YOU HAVE CONTINUITY OF CARE. SO THERE ARE THREE PHASES IN THE PROGRAM. EACH PHASE IS FOCUSED ON DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT PHASE ONE IS FOCUSED ON PSYCHIATRY, AND COUNSELING. WE ARE ADDRESSING THOSE THINGS RIGHT OFF THE BAT. ONCE WE KIND OF GET THOSE THINGS SET UP, THEN WE ARE ADDRESSING ADDITIONAL THINGS. THIS COULD BE HOUSING, SOBRIETY, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. IF THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED SOONER IN THE PROCESS, OF COURSE, WE WILL DO THAT. IT IS GOING TO BE BASED OFF OF THEIR PERSONAL SITUATION AND THEIR NEEDS. PHASE THREE IS PREPARING FOR GRADUATION AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS THAT CONTINUITY OF CARE THAT I MENTIONED, AND THAT SOCIAL SUPPORT. SO THROUGHOUT THIS PORTION OF THE PROGRAM, WE ARE REFERRING THEM TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT. MENTORS, PURE RECOVERY COACHES. WE HAVE OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. AND CONNECTIONS THAT WE ARE LINKING THESE INDIVIDUALS TO THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE PROGRAM. ONCE THEY GRADUATE, THEY ARE ALREADY THERE WITH THESE CONNECTIONS AND THEY FEEL PREPARED AND THEY FEEL INTEGRATED INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY ARE READY TO GRADUATE AND MOVE FORWARD. SO I DID MENTION SOME COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PARTNERSHIPS . LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS MENTIONED A LITTLE EARLIER PREVIOUSLY. BUT WE DO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE HAYS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH UNIT . THEY GO TO OUR STAFF MEETINGS AND

[01:30:08]

WE ALSO HAVE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMPUTER MENTAL HEALTH UNIT, AND THE SM PD MENTAL HEALTH UNIT. WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS IN EACH OF THOSE UNITS THAT WORK WITH OUR COURT AND PROVIDE US REFERRALS, AS WELL AS US CONNECTING WITH THEM IF WE ARE NEEDING SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH OUR CORE PARTICIPANTS. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS. WE WORK WITH A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING OUTSIDERS ANONYMOUS, WHO PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH SOBRIETY OR ARE IN RECOVERY. HILL COUNTRY HEALTH AUTHORITY IS A PARTNER WITH THE COURT, AS WELL. THE HAYS COUNTY HOMELESS COALITION IS SOMETHING THAT I'M A PART OF, AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADVOCATING FOR HOUSING AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, NOT ONLY FOR THE COURTS, BUT FOR THE GREATER COMMUNITY, AS WELL. THE BAT TEAM WAS MENTIONED. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT JUDGE BROWN AND CHIEF STANDRIDGE LEAD, AND I ALSO HELPED TO COURTNEY THAT, AND THAT IS THROUGH A COUNTYWIDE MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE AS THEY INTERSECT WITH LAW. WE ARE ALSO INVOLVED WITH THE SUICIDE PREVENTION COALITION. WE ARE VERY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OF THESE ISSUES AFFECT NOT ONLY COURT PARTICIPANTS , BUT OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL, AND WE ARE ALWAYS INVOLVED IN WORKING TOWARDS THOSE THINGS. SOME THINGS THAT THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT HAVE DONE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE HAVE DONE -- A COURT SYMPOSIUM WITH 40 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. THIS WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR LEGAL STAFF TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SPECIALTY COURTS AND TO LEARN FROM OTHER COUNTIES THAT HAVE DIFFERENT MODELS, AS WELL. WE ALSO HELD A MENTAL HEALTH SPRING WORKSHOP. THIS TRAINED OVER 100 PEOPLE, SPECIFICALLY IN MENTAL HEALTH AND LAW . WE TALKED ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. WE HAD THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS COME AND SPEAK. WE TALKED ABOUT SUBSTANCE USE, HOMELESSNESS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND WE HAD COMMUNITY PROVIDERS, AND PROVIDE EDUCATION TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND THE JUDICIARY. WE ALSO PROVIDE COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS , AND THAT IS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. IN LOCAL OFFICIALS. WE ATTENDED RESOURCE FAIRS. WE PROVIDE A MONTHLY INFORMATIONAL SESSION THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. WE HAVE TRAINED 56 PEOPLE SO FAR THIS YEAR, IN EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT AND WHAT SERVICES IT PROVIDES TO THE COMMUNITY. SPEAKING EVENTS AND PANELS. THE JUDGE AND I HAVE SPOKEN AT TEXAS STATE, THE STATE CAPITAL, TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH COURT. AND ALSO, TOURING OTHER FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATE. SO RECENTLY, I WENT TO BEAR COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH COURT COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY TO SEE WHAT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH COURT LOOKS LIKE, AND THEY HAD 21 GRADUATES. YOU KNOW, I HOPE AT ONE POINT IN TIME, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THERE, WHERE WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE MOVING THROUGH THE COURT, WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A CLASS AS BIG AS THAT. WE ALSO WENT TO WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TOWARD THEIR JAIL BASED COMPETENCY RESTORATION PROGRAM.

WE WENT TO WILLIAMSON COUNTY TO TOUR THAT. AND ALSO, -- COUNTY TO SEE THEIR COURT AS WELL. GATHERING THEIR IDEAS.

INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO BRING BACK TO HIS COUNTY IS ANOTHER PART

OF WHAT WE DO HERE. >> LET'S TALK MONEY. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO MONEY, DOESN'T IT? WE HAVE APPLIED FOR FIVE GRANTS. WE HAVE NOT BEEN AWARDED ONE YET, BUT WE ARE STILL HOPEFUL. WE HAVE APPLIED WITH THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR SPECIALTY COURT PROGRAM. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH COLLABORATION PROGRAM. WE HAVE APPLIED AGAIN WITH THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR SPECIAL COURT PROGRAM, THE TEXAS COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM, AND SAM SHOW -- SAMSHA. THAT SHOULD BE COMING THROUGH IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO LET US KNOW IF WE HAVE AN AWARD FOR THAT OR NOT. THAT WAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH A COMMUNITY PROVIDER. SO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT. THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH COURTS HAVE LOWER RATES OF RECIDIVISM. IN PARTICULAR, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED FOR NEW CRIMES THAN INDIVIDUALS WHO GO THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL COURT SYSTEM.

EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT THIS TREND CONTINUES AFTER THE GRADUATION OF THESE INDIVIDUALS. EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER UNDER COURT SUPERVISION. MENTAL HEALTH COURTS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE COURT SYSTEMS AT PROVIDING

[01:35:11]

WE HAVE HAD FIVE GRADUATE IN DECEMBER. WE HAVE SIX MORE SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK. SO FAR, ALL OF OUR GRADUATES HAVE NOT GONE BACK TO JAIL. NO NEW CHARGES. OUR SUCCESS RATE IS 93%. 25 OF 27 INDIVIDUALS HAVE GRADUATE DOES GRADUATED OR ARE CURRENTLY COMPLAINT IN OUR PROGRAM. WE HAVE 20 PARTICIPANTS CURRENTLY IN THE PROGRAM AND THAT NUMBER CHANGES AS WE TAKE MORE PEOPLE INTO THE PROGRAM. OF THE FIVE THAT HAVE GRADUATED LAST YEAR, ONE OF THEM IS ATTENDING COLLEGE. HE WILL BE GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE LATER THIS YEAR. HE HAS MOVED INTO HIS OWN HOME WITH ASSISTANCE FROM HIS FAMILY. AND HE IS CONTINUING CASE MANAGEMENT COUNSELING AND PSYCHIATRY POST GRADUATION FROM THE PROGRAM. ONE ALUMNI RECEIVED HER CDL CERTIFICATE WHILE IN THE PROGRAM, AND SHE NOW OWNS A HOTSHOT TRUCKING BUSINESS AND REPORTS IMPROVED RELATIONSHIPS WITH HER FAMILY. SHE CONTINUES TO ATTEND COUNSELING AS NEEDED. ANOTHER ALUMNI CONTINUES TO ENGAGE IN SERVICES WITH THE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY AS A PEER SUPPORT MENTOR TO SUPPORT OTHERS THAT HAVE SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS, AND SHE CONTINUES TO ENGAGE IN PSYCHIATRY AND COUNSELING. ONE ALUMNI HAS RETURNED TO RUNNING HIS FAMILY BUSINESS FULL-TIME. HE IS VOLUNTEERING AND HAS BEEN TRAVELING WITH HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND CONTINUES TO ENGAGE IN SERVICES. OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BE GRADUATING LATER THIS MONTH ON THE 13TH, NEXT MONDAY. ONE GRADUATE IS WORKING FULL TIME AND RECENTLY GOT A PROMOTION. HE UNFORTUNATELY LOST HIS MOTHER TO CANCER, BUT INSTEAD OF COPING WITH IT IN THE WAYS THAT HE WOULD HAVE COPED EARLIER, HE HAS MANAGED TO MAINTAIN HIS SOBRIETY AND CONTINUES TO UTILIZE HIS SUPPORT, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT COUNSELING. ONE GRADUATE HAS BUILT A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS, AND KNOWS THAT IF THEY ARE IN NEED -- IF THEY ARE IN CRISIS OR IN NEED OF A MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER, THEY CAN REACH OUT TO THEM, AND SHE HAS DONE SO. SHE PLANS TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN CASE MANAGEMENT PSYCHIATRY AND COUNSELING POST GRADUATION. SHE ALSO HAS A MUCH IMPROVED RELATIONSHIP WITH HER FAMILY. AND ONE GRADUATE WHO HAS HAD A LONG HISTORY OF HOSPITALIZATION AND SUICIDE ATTEMPTS HAS NOT BEEN HOSPITALIZED SINCE NOVEMBER, AND WILL BE CONTINUING WITH CASE MANAGEMENT COUNSELING AND PSYCHIATRY POST GRADUATION. SO RESILIENCY SCALES SHOW THAT COURT PARTICIPANTS REPORT HIGHER RESILIENCY, LOWER MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS AND HIGHER GOAL ACHIEVEMENT BY GRADUATION COMPARED TO THEIR ENTRANCE INTO THE PROGRAM. CLINICAL SKILLS ARE CONDUCTED AT INTAKE.

ENTRANCE INTO THE PROGRAM MIDWAY AND RIGHT BEFORE GRADUATION . AND AT THREE MONTHS POST GRADUATION, SIX MONTHS POST-GRADUATION, WHEN YOU'RE, AND TO YOUR POST GRADUATION, WE WILL ALSO BE EVALUATING THESE INDIVIDUALS TO DETERMINE HOW THE PROGRAM HAS IMPACTED THEM IN THEIR LIVES.

THESE MEASURES ARE BASED ON SELF-REPORT TO DETERMINE THEIR RESILIENCY. ALSO, STAFF IS MEASURING ANXIETY AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS WHILE IN THE PROGRAM. PROMOTION REFLECTION FORMS WOULD GIVE THEM A PROMOTION PHASE. EACH TIME THEY PROMOTE FROM PHASE ONE TO PHASE TWO, PHASE TWO TO PHAS THREE, AND AS THEY LEAVE THE PROGRAM, WE ASKED THEM TO FILL OUT A REFLECTION FORM TO DETERMINE HOW THEY FEEL THEY HAVE DONE IN THE PROGRAM, GOALS THEY HAVE MET, GOES THEY STILL WANT TO MEET, AND ALL PARTICIPANTS HAVE REPORTED BEING SATISFIED WITH THE PROGRAMS AND FOUND IT BENEFICIAL TO THEM. THAT IS ALL ANONYMOUS, SO THEY ARE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO GIVE US ANY FEEDBACK THEY FEEL IS APPROPRIATE AND IN FACT, WE WELCOME THAT. COST SAVINGS AND STATISTICS. AGAIN, INCARCERATION IN THE HAYS COUNTY JAIL RUNS ABOUT $130.55 PER NIGHT. INPATIENT HOSPITALIZATION FOR AN UNINSURED INDIVIDUAL COSTS ABOUT $3060 PER NIGHT, SO THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT IS GOING

[01:40:13]

WHEN THEY COME BACK TO JAIL, THAT IS ANOTHER TWO MONTHS. IT IS NOT ONE AND DONE. THEY ARE OFTENTIMES COMING BACK TO THE JAIL, SO THIS PROGRAM CAN BE A TREMENDOUS SAVINGS FOR THE COUNTY. I'M GOING TO LET KAIMI TELL YOU SOME OF OUR SUCCESS STORIES SO FAR. THESE ARE OUR PARTICIPANTS.

>> OKAY. SO THESE ARE QUOTES FROM OUR COURT PARTICIPANTS. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, WE DO PHASE PROMOTIONS EVERY TIME THEY PROMOTE FROM PHASE ONE TO PHASE TWO, TWO , TO THREE, AND THEN THREE TO GRADUATION. SO THIS INDIVIDUAL SAYS, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF SO FAR? THEY SAID, AFTER EXPERIENCING MY TWO MENTAL BREAKDOWNS IN 2020 AND 2021, MY LIFE IS RETURNING TO NORMAL AGAIN. I'M BECOMING MYSELF AGAIN. ANOTHER CORE PARTICIPANT. WHAT HAVE YOU GAINED FROM PARTICIPANT IN THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT UP TO THIS POINT? CONFIDENCE, MOTIVATION AND MENTAL HEALTH COURT HAS KEPT ME ON THE RIGHT TRACK. MY FAILY RELATIONSHIP HAS NOT BEEN THIS GREAT FOR YEARS. THE COURT PARTICIPANT ALSO STATED, I LEARNED THAT I'M A LOT STRONGER THAN I THINK I AM.

ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL, WHAT STRUGGLES HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED DURING YOUR TIME IN THE PROGRAM, AND HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THESE STRUGGLES? BECOMING A NEW PARENT AND UTILIZING SUPPORT SYSTEMS. WHAT DID YOU WORK ON TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT PHASE? GETTING READY FOR GRADUATION AND SCHOOL GRADUATION. ANOTHER COURT PARTICIPANT, I HAVE GAINED STABILITY AND SECURITY. I HAVE A GREAT TEAM THROUGH THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT PROGRAM THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ME. I HAVE GAINED SOME GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OUT OF THIS EXPENSE SUCH AS GETTING THINGS DONE, GOING TO COUNSELING, AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF SO FAR?

>> THAT YOU CAN BE HAPPY AND ENJOY LIFE WITHOUT SUBSTANCES.

WHAT HAVE YOU GAINED FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT UP TO THIS POINT? KNOWLEDGE AND FINDING MYSELF AGAIN. ALSO KNOWING IT IS OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP. USING MY TOOLS IN MY TOOL BAG, WHEN NEEDED TO FURTHER MY SUCCESS IN MY LIFE.

WHAT STRUGGLES HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED DURING YOUR TIME IN THE PROGRAM AND HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THESE STRUGGLES? FINDING OUT MY MOTHER HAS CANCER. I HAVE OVERCOME THEM BY REACHING OUT TO MY SUPPORT GROUP AND NOT LETTING MY MIND SET ME BACK INTO MY OLD COMFORT ZONE. ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL. I HAVE GAINED A LOT OF INTROSPECTIVE KNOWLEDGE ON MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY MOM. I STRUGGLED THROUGH THE YEARS WITH COMMUNICATION AND MY THERAPIST HAS HELPED BRIDE TOOLS TO HELP ME CONNECTICUT WITH MY MOM THAT IS NOT ARGUMENTATIVE. ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL. WHAT HAVE YOU GAINED FROM PARTICIPATING IN MENTAL HEALTH COURT TO THIS POINT? OVERALL SUPPORT AND STABILITY, MENTAL HEALTH COURT HELPED ME GET BACK ON TRACK. WHAT ADVANCES HAVE YOU MADE IN TREATMENT? WORKING THROUGH TRAUMA AND TALKING ABOUT IT.

CASE MANAGEMENT AND PSYCHIATRY IT WAS GREAT. WHAT TROUBLES HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED DURING YOUR TIME IN THE PROGRAM AND HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THESE STRUGGLES? PAST ISSUES COMING BACK UP DERAIL ME AND MADE ME REALIZE I HAD TO WORK THROUGH IT. THE IOP PROGRAM WAS VERY HELPFUL. WHAT HAVE YOU GAINED

[01:45:01]

>> STAYING COMMITTED TO THE PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT. I HAVE TO LET GO AND THERE ARE PEOPLE I CAN TRUST . I'M DOING WELL MENTALLY. I REALIZED THAT I DON'T WANT TO KEEP DRINKING AND I WANT TO STAY SOBER. I HAVE A PLACE OF MY OWN AND I'M

REALLY HAPPY. >> WHAT STRUGGLES HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED DURING YOUR TIME IN THE PROGRAM? THE HOUSING THING WAS A BIG STRUGGLE AND SOBRIETY. I STAYED WITH THIS PROGRAM. I FEEL BAD WHEN I MESS UP THAT I HAVE LET PEOPLE DOWN.

WHAT YOU PLAN TO WORK ON AND ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT PHASE? KEEP GETTING A FITTING TOGETHER. THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS ON HOUSED FOR 12 YEARS THAT IS NOW HOUSED. HE HAS THREE MONTHS LEFT IN THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT PROGRAM BEFORE HE GRADUATES. IS THERE A VIDEO LINK THAT IS COMING UP? IF NOT, THAT'S OKAY. OKAY. WE CAN JUST GO ON. THANK YOU. OKAY. HERE IS A SUCCESS STORY. THIS IS THE INDIVIDUAL I MENTIONED ON THE LAST SLIDE. THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS ON HOUSED FOR 12 YEARS. WE WILL CALL HIM RC. RC IS 50 YEARS OLD. HE IS A COURT PARTICIPANT WHO IS CHRONICALLY ON HOUSED INSANE MARCUS. HE ALSO LIVES WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA. HE STRUGGLED WITH SOBRIETY WITH MULTIPLE SUBSTANCES AND HAS GONE TO DETOX REHAB TWICE AND RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM IOP, INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAMMING. HE WAS AWARDED AN EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHER LAST YEAR AND MOVED INTO HIS APARTMENT IN KYLE RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, THIS CASEWORKER ASSISTED HIM IN APPLYING FOR BENEFITS, WHICH GOT HIM APPROVED. HE WAS AWARDED BACK PAY IN HEALTH INSURANCE. THINGS HE NEVER HAD ACCESS TO. HE HAS REMAINED ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM, DESPITE HIS STRUGGLES WITH SOBRIETY AND MENTAL ILLNESS. HE HAS THREE MORE MONTHS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT UNTIL HE GRADUATES. THESE ARE SOME TEXT MESSAGES THAT I GOT FROM RICHARD AROUND THE TIME THAT HE WAS BEING HOUSED LAST YEAR. I KNOW I WAS RESISTANT AND DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE REALLY GOING TO HELP YOU AND LET YOU DOWN. YOU KNOW WHEN WE ARE WALKING INTO COURT, YOU TOLD ME I AM NOT YOUR ENEMY. YOUR -- I AM HERE FOR YOU. I TOLD YOU I WOULD COMMIT TO THIS. I TRUSTED YOU.

THANKS FOR NOT HURTING ME. IN ANOTHER TEXT MESSAGE IN THE SAME CHAIN, HE SAID, I TOLD YOU I'M GOING TO NEED SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY. I TOLD YOU I TRUST YOU. I'M FAR FROM PERFECT. I JUST KNOW HOW TO KEEP MY WORD. LET'S KEEP WORKING TOGETHER. I CAN KEEP MY WORD. I'M JUST OVERWHELMED.

IT'S LIKE I NEVER HAVE TO SLEEP OUTSIDE AGAIN. ENJOY OUR

VICTORY. >> THAT IS POWERFUL.

>> WONDERFUL. >> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME HERE AND GIVE A REVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH COURT. IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO SIT WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS TO HEAR MANY OF THEIR STORIES. THEY ARE REALLY TOUCHING. I AM PRIVILEGED TO HAVE THE HONOR TO WORK WITH THEM IN THE COURT AND TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE IN WHATEVER WAY I CAN. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE OFTEN ENCOUNTER IS A NEED FOR SERVICES. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO COME TO COMMISSIONERS FOR SUPPORT AND SAY, CAN YOU HELP US? THESE INDIVIDUALS NEED YOUR HELP. AS I POINTED OUT, YOUR MONEY IS BEING WELL SPENT. THE TAXPAYER MONEY IS BEING WELL SPENT. WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO HELP IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY. AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH

FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >> THAT IS SO AWESOME. LET'S ALL GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. DON'T GO AWAY YET.

DON'T GO AWAY YET. WE WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE DIALOGUE HERE AND GO FURTHER WITH THIS INFORMATION. WHAT I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR IS THIS PRESENTATION, AND IT'S PERSPECTIVE. THERE IS A KALEIDOSCOPE OF WAYS THAT WE CAN SEE THINGS ON ANY FRONT ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER. AND THE PATH WE HAVE CHOSEN IS THE PATH I'M ALWAYS USING TO PROMOTE, WHICH I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR BECAUSE IT IS MOST UNIVERSAL.

IF YOU SEE THE AFFECTING OF PEOPLE'S LIVES, WE HAVE REFERENCE POINTS TO THAT. IF YOU HAVE A HARD TIME SEEING THAT, AND DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF WASTING MONEY BECAUSE YOUR A PENNYPINCHING TAXPAYER LIKE I AM, I HAVE A WAY TO ADDRESS

[01:50:02]

SOME FEAR THAT THAT PROGRAM IS AIMED AT, AND I KNOW IT'S NOT IF WE DO IT RIGHT. GETTING FOLKS COMPETENT, JUST TO STAND TRIAL, JUST TO THROW THEM AWAY IN A FEDERAL STATE OR PRISON. I KNOW THAT FEAR IS REAL. IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY OFFICE BY MORE THAN ONE PERSON, AND SO I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT DETAIL.

AS YOU SHAPE IT, YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE POTENTIAL MENTAL PITFALLS THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND NUMBER TWO, ASSISTED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT. THE MORE YOU SUPPORT THAT, APPARENTLY, I AM NO PROFESSIONAL ON THIS FRONT, BUT YOU ARE. BUT THE MORE YOU SUPPORT THAT, THE MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE VOICED CONCERNS WITH ME WILL BE QUICKER TO EMBRACE IT. THE REASON I BRING THIS UP HERE NOW IS BECAUSE WE HAD AN AWESOME CINCO DE MAYO EVENT ON THE COURTHOUSE GROUNDS. I HAD AN AWESOME PRESENTATION BY CRIME STOPPERS, AND THEY SAID TO ME, WE HAVE THIS GRANT. I'M GOING SOMEWHERE WITH THIS, SO BE PATIENT. THEY DONATED USE OF THIS. IT IS A FINGERPRINT MACHINE THAT THEY USED TO FINGERPRINT CHILDREN, FOR EXAMPLE. THEY FINGERPRINT CHILDREN AT EVENTS AND THEY GIVE THE INFORMATION TO THE PARENT OR TO THE GUARDIAN AND THEN AT THE END OF THE EVENT, CRIME STOPPERS DELETES ALL THE INFORMATION. SO THEY ARE TELLING ME THEY NEED SUPPORT. THEY NEED HELP POINT I'M ALWAYS READY, WILLING, AND ABLE. WE NOTE TOO OFTEN IN OUR NATION, WHEN A YOUNG CHILD GOES MISSING, THAT INFORMATION BECOMES EVER SO IMPORTANT. EVER SO RELEVANT TO GET A FINGERPRINT, TO GET WHAT WERE THEY LAST WEARING -- THEY ARE SO ADVANCED THAT EVEN THE VOICE RECOGNITION -- THEY SPEAK INTO A MICROPHONE. THEY DURING -- WERE DOING THIS OUT ON THE COURTHOUSE LAWN. THANK YOU, CRIME STOPPERS FOR DOING THAT.

THAT HELPS IN SO MANY WAYS. THE PROBLEM IS SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING TARGETED THAT ARE TRYING TO HELP HER TRYING TO HELP. THEY ARE OUT -- AFRAID OF IT. OH, GOVERNMENT IS OUT TO GET YOU. THE FINGERPRINTING -- ALL OF THESE IDEAS BUILDING AN ARCHIVE. THEY SCRUB THE SYSTEM WHEN IT IS OVER. NO ONE KEEPS THE INFORMATION. THAT IS ANOTHER PARALLEL OF, WE ARE HERE TO HELP, DO WE HAVE TO SHED MORE LIGHT AND SHED MORE COMMUNICATION, EXACTLY AS WE HAVE DONE TODAY. I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT IN THE MOST HUMBLE APPROACH BECAUSE I LOVE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND I DON'T

[01:55:04]

>> ONE THING IS THAT THE TEXAS JUDICIAL COMMISSION ON MENTAL HEALTH HAS CHOSEN HAYS COUNTY AS A PILOT COUNTY, AND THEY WILL BE GIVING A WORKSHOP SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO COMPETENCY RESTORATION, THE 1622 PROCESS AND IDENTIFICATION HERE IN HAYS COUNTY, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT -- I KNOW I SENT OUT AN EMAIL ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO ENCOURAGE COMMISSIONERS AND STAKEHOLDERS AND ANYONE IN THE JUDICIARY WHO WANTS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THOSE THINGS, THEY'RE WELCOME TO ATTEND THAT, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO -- THIS IS -- I MEAN, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT COMPETENCY RESTORATION AND BEST PRACTICES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC PROCESS AND WANTS TO LEARN MORE, YOU CAN ALWAYS CONTACT MYSELF TO ATTEND THIS WORKSHOP. WE HAVE LIMITED SEATING, THOUGH, SO, YOU WILL NEED TO LET ME KNOW. FOR THAT.

>> CAN WE ANNOUNCE THE TIME AND DATE FOR THE WORKSHOP? I WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO EMBRACE ALL THE THINGS WE ARE DOING BECAUSE

THEY ARE OH SO WONDERFUL. >> IT IS AUGUST THE SEVENTH.

AND I CAN SHARE MY EMAIL ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER.

>> SURE. IT IS ALL BEING RECORDED. PUT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, AND IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN THIS WORKSHOP TO SHED MORE LIGHT ON THIS PROCESS, THAT SOME ARE CONCERNED WITH, COME TO THE WORKSHOP AND GET EDUCATED. WHAT

IS YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. >> MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS KAIMI.MATTILA@CO.HAYS.TX.US. ANYONE INTERESTED IN THAT MENTAL HEALTH AND LOT WORKSHOP IS WELCOME TO CONTACT ME TO BE

ADDED TO THE ATTENDANCE. >> THAT IS SO PERFECT. THAT IS SO COMPLETE. I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR US TO ALL GROW TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONER COHEN.

>> GREAT PRESENTATION. I LOVE THE UPDATE. I HAD ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE REFERRAL PROCESS. SO YOU SAID THAT A FAMILY MEMBER CAN REFER THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE PROGRAM. I'M ASSUMING THAT THEY HAVE TO BE A WILLING PARTICIPANT. OR DO THEY GET A

CHOICE? >> THE FAMILY MEMBER CAN REFER , BUT THE DAS OFFICE WORKS WITH THE INDIVIDUAL'S ATTORNEY, THEIR DEFENSE ATTORNEY, TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO COME INTO THE PROGRAM AND UNDER WHAT ARRANGEMENT OF COMING TO THE PROGRAM. AND I THINK THAT HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT OF A CONFUSION FOR SOME PEOPLE, THAT, YES. YOU CAN REFER THEM OVER. THEY CAN BE SCREENED, BUT AGAIN, THE DAS OFFICE WILL HAVE TO WORK WITH THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY TO DETERMINE HOW THEY

WOULD COME INTO THE PROGRAM. >> RIGHT. SO YOU SAID THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY TREATING IS STILL RELATIVELY LOW, BUT YOU'RE HOPING TO INCREASE THAT. BUT IS PREVENTING YOU FROM INCREASING THAT NUMBER? IS IT THE

CASELOAD? >> IT IS THE STAFF.

>> OKAY. >> STAFFING AND BUDGET CONSTRAINTS. A LOT OF THAT. HOPEFULLY WE CAN IMPROVE

FUNDING IN THE FUTURE. >> I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH BOARD AND WHAT YOU DO. I'M STILL BEHIND YOU 100% RED CONFEDERATIONS, JUDGE BROWN WITH YOUR OFFICE AND THINGS YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> WELL SAID. AND I'M NOT TRYING TO LOSE ANY STEAM FROM THIS GOOD ENERGY, BUT IT IS THOSE SPACES WHERE THE JUDGES NEED OUR SUPPORT , AND, FOR EXAMPLE, A COURT REPORTER, AND ANYTHING -- THE STAFF -- WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAMERA SYSTEM? DID IT GO OUT? THEY HEARD US.

INAUDIBLE ] WHEN YOU'RE IN HERE REQUESTING SUPPORT TO BETTER PAY THE COURT REPORTER SO WE HAVE A FULLY FUNCTIONING COURTROOM, THIS IS FOR THE PUBLIC. DON'T HAVE A COURT REPORTER. MOST SIMPLY STATED, WE CAN'T RECORD. WE HAVE THE JUDGE. WE HAVE A WHOLE ARMY. WE HAVE A MAGNIFICENT PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE TODAY. WE HAVE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT MECHANISMS . OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY. A COURTROOM FULL OF PEOPLE ON THE PAYROLL, READY TO MOVE THROUGH COURT , AND WITHOUT THE COURT REPORTER, WE ARE DEAD IN THE WATER.

EVERYBODY GOES AWAY, AND THE SYSTEM IS ULTIMATELY UNDERMINED

AND STOPPED. RIGHT? >> CORRECT.

>> COMMISSIONER SHELLEY. >> WANT TO THANK YOU ALL. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. I'M PROUD OF THIS

[02:00:01]

YOU SO MUCH. >> COMMISSIONER SHELL HAS BEEN

VERY SUPPORTIVE. >> I'M SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT YOU DO. IT IS A GREAT JOB.

IN SOME OF OUR MEETINGS. I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WHATEVER WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IN THE FUTURE IS SOMETHING THAT IS SUSTAINABLE, AND SOMETHING THAT ONCE WE GET TO THE END OF WHERE THAT FUNDING IS, THAT THE ARPA FUNDING THAT WE HAVE USED, THAT WE HAVE CREATED A PROGRAM WHERE NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WAIT WHAT HAS WORKED IN WHAT HAS NOT WORKED, AND REALLY FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS. I DON'T WANT TO SAY THERAPY NECESSARILY, BUT IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THROUGH THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT, THAT HAVE NOT PERFORMED THE WEIGHT WE WANTED IT TO, SHIFT SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES TO THOSE THAT Y'ALL THINK ARE MOST IMPORTANT AND THAT YOU HAVE SEEN THE MOST BENEFIT FROM. ON TOP OF THAT, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, ADDRESSING THE ISSUE THAT JUDGE BECERRA BROUGHT UP, TO MENTION THAT THE GROUP WORKING ON THIS, IT HAS CREATED THE VAST MAJORITY -- THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS IN THAT GROUP ARE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

THEY ARE NOT FOLKS IN OUR SYSTEM TRYING TO DO THAT. I DON'T THINK ANYONE WANTS TO TRY TO MOVE FORWARD IN TRYING TO GET COMPETENCY RESTORED, SPECIFICALLY FOR PROSECUTION. I DON'T THINK THAT IS A FAIR ASSUMPTION. I THINK IT IS A VALID CONCERN, PERHAPS, BUT SITTING THROUGH THOSE MEETINGS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT IS NOT VALID.

ONE IN THAT PROCESS GOOD, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF OUR APPEALS PROCESS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, IT DOES NO GOOD IN OUR SYSTEM TO GET SOMEONE CERTIFIED, WORK THROUGH A PROSECUTION, AND THEN PERHAPS A CONVICTION, AND THEN HAVE THAT AS AN ISSUE ON ANY TYPE OF APPEAL OR ANY TYPE OF RETRIAL.

IT IS NOT PART OF THE PROCESS THAT WE DO AS A COUNTY, OR AS A PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ANY GOOD. AND SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT I DO COMMEND OUR SHERIFFS THE PERMED, OUR DAS OFFICE, WORKING WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT, AND ALL THOSE MEMBERS OF THE BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS TEAM TO TRY TO REALLY ADDRESS THAT SITUATION. AND FIND THE CORRECT MEANS AND PATH TO MOVE FORWARD ON IT. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OUTCOMES THAT THEY ARE LOOKING

FOR. >> THAT IS BEAUTIFUL. I WILL SAY, MONEY IS VERY IMPORTANT. MONEY IS A VERY BIG DEAL, AND IT IS WHAT MOVES ALL OF US. THAT IS WHY I HAVE ASKED TUCKER FOR CIVIL DIVISIONS DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO GIVE ME A RECAP AND A ROADMAP. TO HELP BRING DOWN THAT $10 MILION CONTRACT OF OUTSOURCING OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE COUNTY'S PRISON BECAUSE I WANT TO BRING THAT DOWN BECAUSE THERE, THEY ARE ALONE, IF WE KEEP MOVING PEOPLE THROUGH YOUR PROCESS, AMONG OTHERS, WE SAVE THE MONEY. AND WE ARE MORE BENEFICIAL TO OUR COMMUNITIES, AND PUTTING EVERYBODY IN JAIL, JUST THROWING THEM IN THEIR FOR REASONS THAT ARE NOT USEFUL, IT IS NOT THE ANSWER. COMMISSIONER SMITH SAID IT PERFECTLY.

WORKING ON PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT WORKING IS EXACTLY NO SOLUTION.

MUST DO STATUTORILY, BUT WE CAN DO BETTER, AND YOU ARE PROVING IT RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW. I THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE ARE GOING

>> THE FIRST ONE IS FOR THE CAMERA . THE SECOND ONE IS FOR THE PEOPLE WATCHING US. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE BACK FROM RECESS.

[G.16. Authorize the submission of a grant application to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, FY25 Improvement Grant Program in the amount of $480,000.00. COHEN/INGALSBE/T.CRUMLEY/S.THOMAS]

PLEASE, ROXANNE, OPEN G16. >> G16 . AUTHORIZE THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION, FY25 IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM

IN THE AMOUNT OF $480,000.00. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE HAVE SOMEONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. JEFF, COME ON DOWN. YOU ARE THE NEXT CONTESTANT ON THE PRICE IS RIGHT. STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC.

>> JEFF COLE, ATTORNEY FOR THE CRIMINAL DEFENSE TEAM.

>> AND I MET MINA WALTERS. >> COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COURT IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS REQUEST WOULD BE FOR FUNDS TO CREATE THE

[02:05:03]

HEALTH CASES. >> AS YOU SAY LETTERS, PLEASE TELL US WHAT IT MEANS. HE ALSO SAID TIDC.

>> TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION. THE GRANT REQUEST FROM TIDC, THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION, THIS FUND WOULD FUND TEAMS WITHIN NDS WOULD -- WHICH WOULD BE MADE UP OF AN ATTORNEY, A SOCIAL WORKER, AND A PARALEGAL. RIGHT NOW, WE CURRENTLY HANDLE MENTAL HEALTH CASES. THE HENSEL SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH CASES. CLIENTS WITH SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSES. A SPECIALIZED TEAM WOULD BE ABLE TO DEDICATE ALL OF THEIR TIME TOWARDS THIS TYPE OF CASE. WE CURRENTLY TAKE THESE CASES. WE TRY TO CHANNEL THEM DIRECTLY INTO THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT IF WE CAN. THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT, AS WE SAW THE PRESENTATION BY THE JUDGE IS A WONDERFUL COURT THAT IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB, AND THIS TEAM WOULD WORK CASES WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS AND ATTEMPT TO CHANNEL THEM INTO MENTAL HEALTH COURT. HOWEVER, OUTSIDE OF THE ABILITY TO GET AN INDIVIDUAL INTO THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT, WE DEAL WITH HUNDREDS OF CASES A YEAR WHERE OUR CLIENTS ARE DESIGNATED OR IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A MENTAL ILLNESS. AND MANY OF THEM HAVE SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESSES. AND WHEN I SAY IDENTIFY, THERE IS A PROCESS AT THE JAIL AND AT MAGISTRATE COURT UNDER A STATUE IT -- WHERE YOU HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT MAY HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS. WE GET HUNDREDS OF THOSE CASES. WE WORK HUNDREDS OF THOSE CASES PER YEAR. THIS TEAM WOULD BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THOSE TYPES OF CASES. THIS TEAM WOULD BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE CASES WHERE WE ARE NOT JUST WORKING THE CASE FOR A FEW DAYS AND CLOSING IT. THERE ARE SEVERAL FACETS TO A MENTAL HEALTH CASE. YOU ARE LOOKING AT GETTING THE PERSON OUT ON BOND, GETTING THEM SERVICES. GETTING THE MEDICATION. MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO GET THE RIGHT TYPES OF SERVICES. THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND OFTENTIMES, THESE CASES ARE MORE COMPLEX FOR THAT REASON.

THIS TEAM WOULD ALLOW THE INCREASED CAPACITY TO ADDRESS THOSE CASES, BUT ALONG WITH ADDRESSING THOSE CASES IN THE COURTHOUSE, THIS TEAM WOULD BE ABLE TO DEVELOP CHANNELS AND CULTIVATE SERVICES OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE. ESTABLISHED CHANNELS FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS , HOPEFULLY RAISE AWARENESS FOR MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS IN GENERAL. REDUCE THE STIGMA, AND INCREASING THOSE CONNECTIONS , AND NETWORKING OUTSIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE IS IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY FOR OUR CLIENTS, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY. ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE HOPE TO DO WITH THIS TEAM IS TO FORGE STRONG CONNECTIONS IN THE JUDICIARY WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH COURTS, MISDEMEANOR, AND FELONY, WITH TREATMENT PROVIDERS IN THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THIS ADDITIONAL TEAM TO HAYS COUNTY.

>> MOST BEAUTIFULLY STATED. WELL DONE. WELL DONE.

>> COMMISSIONER COHEN.. >> SO, JUST BECAUSE WE JUST SAW THE MENTAL HEALTH PRESENTATION, MAYBE YOU CAN TELL US THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT YOUR OFFICE WOULD BE DOING VERSUS THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT THAT WE HAVE.

>> SURE. WE PLAY A ROLE IN THE PROCESS. I GUESS YOU COULD LOOK

[02:10:01]

AND THEY ARE DOING WELL. DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING?

>> I DO. >> MINA WALTERS. WHAT I WANT TO ADD IS JUST THAT PART OF THE DIFFERENCE, WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAN DEPEND ON MENTAL HEALTH COURT, THE LIMITATIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH COURT -- NO SEX OFFENSES, NO VIOLENT CRIME OR CONTINUOUS VIOLENT OFFENDERS, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE RESTRICTIONS, SO WE ARE ABLE TO WORK ON MANY CASES, AND SO WHERE THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT TEAM -- WE ARE A PART OF THAT COURT, AS WELL, WHERE THEY HAVE THOSE RESTRICTIONS. WE ARE ABLE TO HELP MORE PEPLE. THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO REPRESENT 150 PEOPLE CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL ACTS OF ALL LEVELS. MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY, AND OF ALL NATURES. AND SO I THINK THAT THERE IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP THROUGH THIS GRANT, AND ADDITIONALLY, IF WE ARE ABLE TO GET IN AND FORGE DIFFERENT OR ADDITIONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, IDENTIFY OTHER PROVIDERS, THOSE THINGS THAT COULD HELP THE DEFENSE, AS WELL.

OUR OWN CLIENT. >> AND OUR ESTATE COMMISSION IS PUTTING THIS MONEY OUT THERE FOR US TO BRING TO OUR COMMUNITIES THESE PROGRAMS. THEY MUST HAVE THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION .

LAYER. IN THE SPIRIT OF MENTAL HEALTH MONTH, WHICH WE ALREADY CELEBRATED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST AN ADDED LAYER OF THAT SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY, IF WE GET AWARDED THAT.

>> RIGHT. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS APPLICATION IS MEANINGFUL, ALSO. IT IS A GOOD WAY FOR US TO PARTNER WITH THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION AND BRING THAT ADDITIONAL RESOURCE

INTO THIS COUNTY. >> BEAUTIFUL. COMMISSIONER SHELL. COMMISSIONER SMITH. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE IS NOTHING

ELSE, PLEASE CALL ROLE. >> COMMISSIONER SHELL.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH.

>> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA.

[G. CONSENT ITEMS]

>> YES. THERE YOU GO. OFF TO THE RACES. WE WISH YOU ALL GOOD LUCK. COMMISSIONERS, I WILL OPEN UP THE CONSENT LIST, UNLESS YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT REQUEST. OKAY. REMAINING

CONSENT. >> G 1 BRIT APPROVED PAYMENT OF COUNTY INVOICES. LITURGY 2 APPROVED PAYMENT OF CHECKS. G 3, APPROVED PAYMENT OF UNITED HEALTHCARE CLAIMS AND AN ADDITIONAL DISBURSEMENT TO THE HEALTHCARE CLAIMS ACCOUNT. G4 APPROVE COURT MINUTES. G5, PREPAYMENT OF THE MAY 15TH PAYROLL DISBURSEMENTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,003,000, EFFECTIVE MAY 15TH, 2024, AND POST TOTALS FOR WAGES, WITHHOLDINGS, DEDUCTIONS, AND BENEFITS ON THE HAYS COUNTY WEBSITE ONCE FINALIZED. G6, AUTHORIZE THE

[02:15:01]

[02:20:01]

G 32, AUTHORIZE THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT 2-1 AND 2-2, UTILIZING THE FUND, AUTHORIZING A WAIVER TO THE PURCHASING POLICY AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. G 33, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAYS COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND CAPITAL INVESTING IN DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT OF ADULTS INC., OR IDEA, REGARDING RECOVERY ASSISTANCE FOR DIRECT OR INDIRECT IMPACTS OF COVID-19, AND G 34, APPROVE THE OCTOBER 2023, NOVEMBER 2023, FEBRUARY 2023, AND DECEMBER 23 TREASURER REPORTS.

>> IS THERE A CORRECTION? DO WE HAVE A MOTION?

>> SECOND. >> THANK YOU BOTH.

>> I WAS JUST GIVEN A NOTE. G 34 SHOULD NOT HAVE FEBRUARY 2023 IN IT. I'M SURE THE MOTIONS AND SECONDS STILL STAND, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE THAT CORRECTION. G 34 SHOULD NOT HAVE FEBRUARY 2023 IN IT. OKAY. SO WE HAVE SOME INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. G 12 IS BACK HERE. THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD. OKAY. WE WILL MOVE MOST EFFICIENTLY .

COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? OTHERWISE, WE WILL CALL ROLE. LET'S CALL ROLE.

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES.

[I.1. Discussion and possible action to authorize the Court to execute Contract Amendment No. 2 in the amount of $250,000.00 to the Professional Services Agreement for design services between Hays County and BGE, Inc. for the Hillside Terrace Safety Improvements (IH 35 to FM 2001) project in Precinct 2, utilizing a discretionary exemption pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Ch. 262.024(a)(4). COHEN/BORCHERDING]

>> COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> YES.

>> JUDGE BECERRA. >> NO. JUST LIKE THAT. LET'S

GO TO I1. >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COURT TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000 TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR DESIGN SERVICES BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND BGE, INC FOR THE HILLSIDE TERRACE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT IN PRECINCT 2, UTILIZING A DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL

GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 262 . >> COMMISSIONER COHEN.

[I.2. Discussion and possible action to authorize the Court to execute Contract Amendment No. 7 to increase the contract compensation cap by $55,000.00 to the Professional Services Agreement between Hays County and American Structurepoint, Inc. for construction phase services on the RM 3237 Phase 1 Intersection improvements project in Precinct 3 and amend the budget accordingly. SHELL/BORCHERDING]

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER SHELL.

>> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA.

>> YES.. >> INCREASE THE CONCENTRATION -- CONTRACT COMPENSATION CUT BY $55,000 TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND AMERICAN STRUCTURE POINT INC. FOR CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES ON THE RM 3237 PHASE ONE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT OBJECT IN PRECINCT 3, AND AMEND THE BUDGET WILLINGLY.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> >> THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE FOUND FUNDING TO CONSTRUCT. WE HAVE SPLIT THE PROJECT INTO PHASES. THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN ACCELERATE SOME OF THOSE PHASES. WE WILL PUT IT BACK TOGETHER FOR THEM SO THEY CAN DO THAT WORK. PROBABLY IN 2025 AND MAYBE 2026.

>> WHAT A BLESSING. COMMISSIONER SHELL IS STELLAR AT FACILITATING THESE PROJECTS. YOU FOR BEING A BEACON OF WONDERFULNESS. PLEASE CALL ROLE.

>> COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> YES.

[I.3. Discussion and possible action to call for a public hearing on May 21, 2024 to establish a No Dumping zone on the cul-de-sac of Moonlit Meadow Path. INGALSBE/BORCHERDING]

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES. I3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 21ST, 2024, TO ESTABLISH A NO DUMPING SO -- ZONE ON MOONLIT MEADOW

PATH. >>

BY STREET. >> LET'S CONSIDER. I'M SERIOUS, TUCKER. LET'S LOOK INTO MAKING THE WHOLE COUNTY A NO DUMPING ZONE. THE IMPLICATIONS ARE -- ALTHOUGH IT IS FUNNY AND RIGHT -- THE IMPLICATIONS ARE, IF WE DO THIS, I FEEL THAT THERE MAY BE A POSSIBILITY THROUGH OUR CIVIL DIVISION OFFICE TO MORE AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE THE

[02:25:01]

>> JUDGE, I WANT TO COMPLEMENT SUCH A GOOD JOB TO GO AFTER THESE SITUATIONS.

>> WE WERE OUT THERE WITH THE BROKEN LIMBS IN TRANSPORTATION AND RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET WAS THAT BIG DUMP SIZE -- SITE THAT KELLY HIGGINS STEPPED INTO AS THE SORT OF WHAT WE WERE

[I.4. Discussion and possible action to accept the Performance Bond No. ACC006003448 in the amount of $1,257,090.00 for road pavement improvements for the Great Hills Subdivision, Section 8, Final Plat. INGALSBE/BORCHERDING]

THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER SHELL.

>> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA..

>> THIS IS FOR THE ROAD BASEMENT IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE

SUBDIVISION SECTION 8 . >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL ROLE.

>> COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES.

[I.5. Discussion and possible action to consider the acceptance of vegetative coverage and release of the revegetation bond #PB03016800694M4 in the amount of $22,277.75 for 6 Creeks subdivision, Phase 1, Section 4B. SHELL/BORCHERDING]

>> COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES.

>> JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES.. I FIVE . DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CONSIDER THE ACCEPTANCE OF VEGETATIVE COVERAGE AND RELEASE OF THE REVEGETATION BOND PB 0 3 016800694M 4 IN THE AMOUNT OF $22,277.75 FOR SIX GREEKS

[J.1. PLN-2445-PC; Call for a Public Hearing on May 21st, 2024, followed by discussion and possible action regarding Los Ranchos, Lots PT of 21 & 22, Replat. SMITH/PACHECO]

SUBDIVISION. >> CALL ROLE.

>> COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES.

>> JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. J 1. CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 21ST, 2004, FOLLOWED BY DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING LOS RANCHOS, LOTS PART OF 21 AND 22

RE-PLAT. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> NO FURTHER COMMENTS.

>> PERFECT.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER SHELL.

>> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA.

>> YES..

[J.2. PLN-2446-PC; Hold a Public Hearing, followed by discussion and possible action regarding Hurlbut Ranch West, Tract 20B, Replat. SHELL/PACHECO]

>> I AM OPENING THIS AGENDA FOR PUBLIC HEARING. IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM. I SEE NO MOVEMENT. I CLOSE THE HEARING.

>> MARK PACHECO.

TRACK 20 B. THIS IS A CROSSED 18 ACRES. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISH THROUGH INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE WELL OR RAINWATER COLLECTION.

PROPOSAL AND AT THIS TIME IS RECOMMENDING THIS APPROVAL BE GIVEN THE DUE TO DEFICIENCIES ON THE SOUTHERN PART. THE STAFF WILL WORK WITH THE APPLICANT TO REMEDY THIS DEFICIENCY'S

ADMISSION OF. >> SO WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE FLEET WORD ADDED TO THE END, WOULD YOU BE ASKING TO BE

COMING BACK TO COURT? >> I-WE WILL BRING IT BACK ONCE

IT HAS BEEN APPROVED. >> IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE,

PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH.

>> YES. >> JUST TO CLEAR UP THE MOTION.

[Items J.3. & J.4.]

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> YES.

>> JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES.

>> J 3. >> WE ALREADY DID 1.

>> I'M SORRY. OPEN 3 AND 4. >> PLN 2461 POINT CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 21ST, 2024, FOLLOWED BY DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING FAMILY TREE SUBDIVISION, CANCELLATION PART OF A PORTION OF LOT 4. AND J 4, PLN -2299 CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 21ST, 2024, FOLLOWED BY DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING KAI VISTA ESTATES.

[K.1. Discussion and possible action to authorize the County Judge to execute contracts for the purchase and monthly maintenance of the Pitney Bowes postage machine and amend the budget accordingly. BECERRA/TENORIO]

TRACT 20B REPLAT . >> K 1. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE

[02:30:03]

>> MOTION. >> SECOND.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

STANDBY TO ANSWER ANY CUSHIONS OR COMMENTS. IT IS WELL

[K.2. Discussion and possible action to adopt an order authorizing the sale of fireworks beginning the Wednesday before the last Monday in May and ending at midnight on the last Monday in May 2023. SHELL]

>> COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES.

>> JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES..

>> K 2. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE IN ORDER TO SO FIREWORKS BEFORE THE LAST MONDAY IN MAY AND ENDING AT MIDNIGHT IN -- ON THE LAST MONDAY IN MAY 2003.

>> WE ARE IN 2024. A TINY DETAIL. THANK YOU FOR THAT, ROXANNE. WE ASK FOR THE UPDATE TO 2024 ON THE EDIT. I'M SURE THE MOTION IS STILL APPROVED. DO YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN THE DATES FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC WEIGHT

>> THE STATE STATUTE ALLOWS US TO APPROVE THIS DATE, WHICH IS FOR THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AND OTHER DATES ARE IN THE STATUTE LIKE JULY 4TH, ET CETERA, AND NEW YEAR'S EVE, WHICH ARE AUTOMATICALLY GRANTED TO VENDORS TO SELL . NORMALLY, WE GET THE REQUEST TO APPROVE IT. WE ALWAYS CHECK WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND MAKE SURE THAT CONDITIONS LOOK LIKE THEY WILL BE FAVORABLE, WHICH AT THIS TIME, THEY DO.

INAUDIBLE ] >> BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU ALWAYS PROVIDE US THAT INFORMATION. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I KNOW THE VIEWING PUBLIC DOESN'T ALWAYS KNOW THAT. TUCKER, CAN YOU MAKE A NOTE FOR NEXT YEAR THAT THAT COMMENT THAT THE COMMENT THAT COMMISSIONER SCHELL MADE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING? THANK YOU. PLEASE

CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH .

>> YES.. >> JUDGE BECERRA..

[K.3. Discussion and possible action to amend the Hays County salary exception policy. SHELL/MILLER]

>> YES.. ARE WE ON K 3? >> K 3. AMENDMENT TO AMEND THE HAYS COUNTY CELERY EXCEPTION POLICY.

>> ON THIS POLICY, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF CONCERNS THAT CAME UP. FIRST, WE HAVE -- I DON'T WANT TO FORGET. BRITNEY.

INAUDIBLE ] SECOND, I AM THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COURT ON THIS BODY, BUT THE REACH OUT FOR THE MEETING WAS SO FAST -- SUCH A QUICK TURNAROUND. I COULDN'T MAKE THE MEETING. I DIDN'T KNOW THE SENSE OF URGENCY BEHIND IT, AND I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT IS BEFORE US AT THIS TIME. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT AHEAD OF TIME. IF YOU CAN, PLEASE,

ROXANNE, READ THE EMAIL. >> ALL RIGHT. IT IS A LETTER

FROM ELAINE. -- >> I AM A MEMBER OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. LAST YEAR, AT ONE OF OUR EARLIER MEETINGS, COMMITTEE MEMBERS AGREED TO RECOMMEND TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT WE GIVE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS MORE FLEXIBILITY IN NEGOTIATING PAY FOR NEW HIRES ALLOWING THEM TO HIRE UP TO THE SEVENTH OR EIGHTH STEP, WHICH IS MIDWAY ON THE STEP PLAN WITHOUT GOING TO COURT OR SEEKING HR APPROVAL. I DOCUMENTED THIS RECOMMENDATION AND OTHERS IN THE MEETING NOTES ISOLATED IN EMAILS TO MEMBERS FOLLOWING EACH MEETING. I CAN PRODUCE COPIES OF THOSE EMAILS IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM. THE POINT OF THE DECISION WAS TO HELP US MEET THE CHALLENGES WE FACE IN A DISH AND INCREASINGLY COMPETITIVE MARKET PLACE BUT IT WAS INTENDED TO SHOW FOR THE JUDGMENT AND EXPERTISE OF OFFICIALS IN DIFFERENT HATS TO REDUCE THE RED TAPE AND WASTED TIME SPENT PREPARING FOR AND APPEARING IN COURT TO DEFEND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE COST TO OUR TAXPAYERS. EARLIER THIS YEAR, OUR HR DIRECTOR, WITHOUT DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMITTEE REDUCE THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE FOURTH STEP, WITH HER APPROVAL. THIS IS WHERE WE WERE BEFORE, AT THE 25TH PERCENTILE, WITH HR APPROVAL. THAT CHANGE WAS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. THIS NEW AMENDMENT WILL WHITTLE AWAY FURTHER AT THE POLICY, CREATING MORE TIME-CONSUMING HURDLES, AND MORE UNNECESSARY EXPENSE FOR OUR COUNTY. IT ALSO REFLECTS A LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE JUDGMENT OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO HAVE STATUTORY AUTHORITY OVER HOW THEIR OFFICES ARE RUN, INCLUDING THEIR STAFFING. THE ONLY EXCEPTIONS ARE FOR THE HIGH-SPEED JOBS IN THE COUNTY, WHICH FAVORS SOME OFFICES OVER OTHERS FOR REASONS THAT ARE UNCLEAR. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COHORT VOTE AGAINST THIS POLICY CHANGE AND FURTHER, I RECOMMEND THAT PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES BE ESTABLISHED TOGETHER AND -- TO GOVERN THE COMMITTEE MORE EFFECTIVELY IN THE FUTURE.

[02:35:03]

>> YEAH. I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT LETTER UNTIL THIS MORNING.

I GOT A COPY OF IT IN THE MAIL. TO BE HONEST, I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO READ IT. I AGREE WITH THE CONCERNS.

>> COMMISSIONER SCHELL. >> THANKS, JUDGE BUT I'M NOT GOING TO WAS THE COURTS TIME AND GO OVER THE ISSUES I HAD ISSUES -- WHERE YOU PUT EVERYONE BASED ON SENIORITY AND THEN YOU GIVE SELLERS ABOVE PEOPLE YOU PLACED ABOVE THEM.

I'M NOT GOING TO WASTE TIME. THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE FRUITFUL. I DID NOTICE THERE WERE ISSUES WE WERE HAVING WITH CERTAIN POSITIONS IN THE COUNTY, GETTING THEM HIRED.

THOSE POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE MOST -- MORE EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, TRAINING, ET CETERA. THAT IS WHERE THIS COMES FROM.

WE HAVE CERTAIN POSITIONS THAT WHEN OPEN, WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF VARYAPPLICANTS THAT ARE QUALIFIED FOR IT. I DON'T THINK IT IS NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THAT. I WILL TAKE THE EXTREME. OUR TRANSPORTATION DIRECTORS RETURN AT THE END OF YOUR, HIRING A DIRECTOROF TRANSPORTATION, A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER WITH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, ENGINEERING DEGREE, ET CETERA -- THAT IS DIFFERENT. IT IS LIKELY YOU WOULD HAVE TO VERY -- WITH THE SKILLS.

APPLICANTS WILLING TO TAKE THE JOB. WHAT I'M ATTEMPTING TO DO IS GET FLEX ABILITY FOR RANGES WHERE IT IS HARD TO FIND EMPLOYEES, AND ALLOW OUR OFFICIALS TO HIRE UP TO A CERTAIN RANGE, BUT NOT ADDRESSING WHERE WE ARE GETTING PLENTY OF APPLICANTS. PEOPLE CAN ALWAYS COME TO THE COURT FOR AN EXCEPTION IF THEY BELIEVE IT IS VALID. I'VE TAKEN MY 14 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND SEEN HOW OUR PAID PLAN HAS CHANGED. AND HOW WE HAVE MADE ACTIONS THAT HAVE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED OUR ABILITY. THAT IS MY ATTEMPT IN THIS. I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE JOB OF THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT, TO MAKE THESE TYPES OF COMMISSION -- DECISIONS. THAT IS WHAT WE SIGNED UP FOR. I TAKE MY JOB PRETTY SERIOUSLY. I WILL UNTIL MY LAST DAY HERE. THAT IS IN DECEMBER. OUR COUNTY CLERK IS THE COUNTY CLERK. I'LL TAKE ON THE JOB OF COMMISSIONER. IF SHE WANTS TO RUN FOR COMMISSIONER, SHE IS WELCOME TO. SHE LIVES IN MY PRESENT. I DECIDED NOT TO RUN LAST TIME. SHE PUT HER NAME IN THE HAT. SHE GETS TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS. AS LONG AS I'M THE PERSON HELD ACCOUNTABLE, THEN I'M GOING TO MAKE THE DECISIONS OR ADVISE THE COURT TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT I THINK ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNTY. THAT IS FINE BY ME. THAT IS THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS. SO I GUESS A LITTLE BIT OF FRUSTRATION IN THAT I BELIEVE I HAVE LISTENED TO THE DEPARTMENT AND ELECTED OFFICIALS OVER THE LAST 14 YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MISTAKES I HAVE MADE IN HOW WE DO PAID PLANS AND ADMINISTERED THOSE PAY PLANS. I ADMINISTERED THOSE. THAT IS ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MANY OFFICIALS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS HIRING CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.

THIS IS THAT ATTEMPT TO TRY TO GIVE THEM , QUOTE, THAT FLEXIBILITY THAT THEY NEED. ALSO, THE BUDGET IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. WHEN WE APPROVE THE BUDGET, IT HAS TO BE BALANCED, BY STATE LAW. AND THAT TAKES SOME FLEX ABILITY AWAY RIGHT THERE. YOU HAVE A VACANCY IN A JOB. IT WAS AT A GRADE WHATEVER. STEP THREE. YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO HIRE SOMEONE AT STEP TONY, THE MONEY IS NOT THER. IT IS NOT BUDGETED FOR THAT. SO, THERE IS NO WAY . IT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND WOULD BE ADVISABLE TO ALLOW EVERYONE TO HAVE FULL DISCRETION TO PAY PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT TO GET PAID. AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENS, YOU CAN TAKE THE PLAN AND THE GRADES AND YOU CAN TRADE IT AND THROW IT AWAY BECAUSE IT WILL BE COMPLETELY MEANINGLESS AT THAT POINT. EVERY EMPLOYEE IN A DIFFERENT OFFICE WILL LOOK AND SEE WHAT IS DONE AND SAY, WHY DIDN'T I GET THAT? THAT IS THE PROBLEM WE HAVE CREATED AND CONTINUE TO CREATE. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO TRY TO GET THAT UNDER CONTROL BEFORE IT GETS TO THE SAME STATE THAT IT WAS IN BEFORE I WITNESSED OVER THOSE 14 YEARS, AND EACH DEPARTMENT ELECTED OFFICIAL HAS A SPECIFIC JOB, AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. THEY ARE TRAINED. THEY ARE CAPABLE. THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOB FOR THEIR DEPARTMENT. I DON'T EXPECT THEM TO LOOK ACROSS THE HALL LIGHT OR ANOTHER BUILDING OF THE COUNTY, AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT DEPARTMENT OR ELECTED OFFICIAL IS DOING THEIR JOB. THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.

THEY HAVE TO DO WHAT THEY ARE TASKED TO DO. THAT IS A FULL-TIME JOB. IT IS OUR JOB TO BE THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM EVERY NOW AND THEN AND SAY, LISTEN, YOU CAN DO THAT. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT, AND HE WOULD STAND UP AND BE ABLE TO SAY THAT AND CONVINCE ANYBODY THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS IF YOU MAKE THAT DECISION, YOU ARE GOING TO

[02:40:01]

YOU'RE GOING TO CAUSE DEPARTMENTS -- PROBLEMS. THAT IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO. NO OFFENSE AND ANYONE WHO PARTICIPATES ON THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. I THINK INPUT IS VALID. I SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I THINK IT IS GREAT TO GET DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS TOGETHER IN ONE ROOM TO DISCUSS WHAT IS GOING ON IN OTHER OFFICES BECAUSE IT MAKES US BETTER. IT MAKES A SAY, OH, YOU ARE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. I UNDERSTAND, IF I DO THIS, THIS COULD IMPACT YOUR EMPLOYEES OR HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT. BUT I HAVE NO CARE TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT WOULD SUBVERT THE AUTHORITY THAT THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS IN TRYING TO MANAGE THIS COUNTY.

I'M LOOKING AT THIS FROM THE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE. THIS ISN'T SELFISH FOR ME. I HAVE NOTHING TO GAIN FROM THIS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT MY PAY. THIS IS ABOUT WHAT IS TRYING TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT SO OUR COUNTY CAN PROGRESS. IT IS GETTING COMPLICATED, THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS WE HAVE. THE SOPHISTICATION REQUIRED OF THOSE POSITIONS. WE ARE TRYING TO GET INTO A PATH OF BEING SOMEWHAT CONSISTENT. AND IT IS HARD. I ASK FOR THE PATIENCE OF THE COURT AS WE DO THIS. IF THIS IS SOMETHING THE COURT WANTS MORE TIME ON, OR IF THERE ARE ELECTED OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT HEADS, THAT IS THE WILL OF THE COURT. WE CAN DO THAT FOR YOU NOT GOING TO HURT MY FEELINGS.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW, THIS IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO DO ANYTHING BUT TO TRY TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTY THE BEST WAY WE POSSIBLY CAN. COMMISSIONER COHEN. -

>> AT THIS TIME, I'M NOT FULLY PREPARED TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THIS MYSELF. I WANT TO THINK THROUGH THE CHANGES AND HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT OTHER INDIVIDUALS. TO SEE THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS. BUT IT IS NOT THAT I'M TOTALLY AGAINST WHAT COMMISSIONER SHELL IS TRYING TO DO. THE PLAN IS WHAT IT IS. I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF IT PERSONALLY, BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO THINK THROUGH THE PROPOSAL FROM

COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> ARE YOU SUGGESTING TABLING?

>> YES. >> I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. COMMISSIONER SMITH.

>> JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS. NUMBER ONE. BECAUSE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AND HONESTLY, THE WEIGHT FOR THE SALARY SURVEY THAT WE DID, I THINK WE HAVE TALKED THIS TO DEATH. THERE ARE THINGS THAT COMMISSIONER SCHELL BRINGS UP THAT WERE CONCERNS FOR ME DURING THAT PROCESS. I THINK THEY WERE CONCERNS FOR ALL OF US. AND ONE OF THEM DOES THE MOST SPECIFIC THAT I CAN STATE IS THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE SUCH A DIVERSE EMPLOYEE BASE RIGHT NOW. WE ALWAYS WILL. THAT WHAT IS GOOD FOR ONE DEPARTMENT WILL NEVER BE EXACTLY WHAT IS GOOD FOR ANOTHER. AND I APPRECIATE THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THERE MAY BE JUST THE REPRESENTATION ON THE COMMITTEE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO DEPARTMENT HEADS AND EMPLOYEES OUT THERE THAT, WHILE THAT MAY BE THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE OR SOMETHING COMES OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE, IT DOESN'T FIT WHAT WORKS WITH THAT DEPARTMENT. IT DOESN'T FIT WHAT WORKS FOR THAT EMPLOYEE, AND WE HAVE VERY UNIQUE CASES OUT THERE. AND FORGIVE ME IF I'M WRONG, COMMISSIONER, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT -- AND AGAIN, I COULD PROBABLY TAKE MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THIS. I WOULD PROBABLY ASK THAT WE DO THAT. BUT WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS IS THE FACT THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT HOLDS THOSE DEPARTMENT HEADS ACCOUNTABLE, TO WHAT THEIR DECISION FOR THEIR DEPARTMENT IS, WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE. TO YOUR POINT, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE ESTABLISH THAT COMMITTEE OR THAT WE TALKED ABOUT ESTABLISHING THAT COMMITTEE WAS TO HAVE A GROUP THAT COULD, ON A VERY QUICK BASIS, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO US FOR US TO CONSIDER. BY NATURE, I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT THAT COMPENSATION COMMITTEE HAS TO MEET VERY QUICKLY AND HAS TO BE ACTIVE. THEY HAVE TO MEET TO CONSIDER THESE THINGS TO GET THE RECOMMENDATION TO US, BUT I HAVE HEARD FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REALLY HAS HEARD FROM THEM, OR THE DECISIONS THAT HAVE COME OUT HAVE NOT BEEN WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE. WELL, THAT IS GOING TO BE UNDERSTANDABLE. IT IS OUR JOB TO BE THE ADULT IN THE ROOM AND DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS OR DOESN'T HAPPEN. I LIKE THE SMALL AMOUNT OF FLEXIBILITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, BUT I THINK IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT COMMISSIONER SCHELL IS SAYING, WE REALLY PUT THOSE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT TRY TO WORK HARD TO FIND GOOD INDIVIDUALS TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS WITHIN THE BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS THAT THEY HAVE -- AT A DISADVANTAGE. BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER DEPARTMENTS OR OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO GO TO THAT COMPOSITION COMMITTEE AND SAY, LOOK, IT IS THE WAY OF THE WORLD. I CAN'T HIRE ANYBODY FOR THE 25TH PERCENTILE. WE JUST WENT THROUGH A TWO-YEAR PROCESS TO ESTABLISH WHAT THESE

[02:45:01]

>> THAT IS VERY ACCURATE. I AM LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU ALL FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE SO FAR. I HAVE DIFFERENT APPRECIATIONS FOR EACH OF YOU, BUT I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU.

AND I THINK WE ARE ALL -- OUR HEARTS ARE ALL IN THE RIGHT PLACE. MY THING IS, YES. I ALWAYS SAY THIS. I DON'T APPRECIATE THE PACE AT WHICH GOVERNMENT WORKS. I OWN IT. I WOULD MAKE A BUMPER STICKER OF IT BECAUSE THAT IS JUST THE NATURE OF THE WAY MY BLOOD MOVES. BUT TO BE NOTIFIED OF A MEETING ON WEDNESDAY , COMMISSIONER SMITH, JUST SO YOU KNOW MY CALENDAR AND HOW IT WORKS FOR THIS MEETING. GET TO GET NOTIFIED ON WEDNESDAY FOR A MEETING TO TAKE PLACE FRIDAY, WHEN I HAVE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE FLYING IN ON THAT FRIDAY, I'M SORRY. I CAN'T BE THERE. BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND AS ALL OF YOU DO -- I TAKE OUR JOBS VERY SERIOUSLY, AND WHEN I WAS POINTING -- APPOINTED TO THAT COMMITTEE WITH YOUR APPROVAL -- I FEEL GRATEFUL FOR IT AND I TAKE IT WITH GREAT RESPONSIBLE AND PRIDE -- AND IT IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME TO BE INFORMED AND KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, BUT I HAVE NOT YET -- I'M NOT GOING TO CALL OUT NAMES, BUT I HAVE YET TO GET A PHONE CALL -- GET AN UPDATE A TEXT, ANYTHING THAT SAYS, HEY, HERE IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT. HERE IS WHAT WE VOTED ON AND HERE IS WHY. THE PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT THERE WERE LIKE, HEY, WHAT IS GOING ON? AND SO I BELIEVE -- I BELIEVE MUST COMPLETELY THAT IF WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO FIND JERRY'S REPLACEMENT, AND I HATE TO SAY THIS WAY, BUT WE CAN USURP THE ENTIRE SYSTEM TO REACH IN FOR A HIGHLY QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY QUALIFY, AND VALIDATE AND WARRANT A MODIFICATION EFFORTLESSLY. WE KNOW THAT. WE KNOW THAT FOR SURE, WITHOUT A DOUBT. AND SO, I COULDN'T DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE SAID AS FAR AS REASONS TO MOVE ON THINGS IN A TIMELY MANNER, BUT I AM ALSO OF THE ENERGY THAT WE NEED TO TABLE THIS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T CAUSE HASTE. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT AND I DON'T YET. I WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GOALS ARE.

I WANT TO FULLY SUPPORT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS. MOST COMPLETELY. I KNOW YOU GUYS KNOW THAT BECAUSE YOU DO, TOO. I FEEL THAT WE NEED A LITTLE

CONVERSATION. >> CAN WE HAVE MISS MILLER QUICKLY EXPLAIN THE INTENT OF THE POLICY? IN THE SHORTEST

AMOUNT OF WORDS POSSIBLE? >> COME ON, SHERRY.

>> FOR THOSE THAT DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY UNDERSTAND IT OR WHERE IT IS COMING FROM, THAT AT LEAST WE CAN START THAT

CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW. >> YEAH. SHERRY MILLER, HAYS COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW THINGS. I DID SEND AN EMAIL YESTERDAY,

>> JUDGE BECERRA., TO THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE TO UPDATE WHAT WAS TALKED ABOUT ON FRIDAY. THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTEND OUR MEETINGS, AS OTHERS HAVE DONE AND JERRY DID ON FRIDAY , BY TEAMS AND BY PHONE. WE HAVE OFTEN COMMUNICATIVE WITH YOU BY PHONE. I USED YOUR OUTLOOK CALENDAR TO SCHEDULE THE MEETING AT A TIME WHEN EVERYONE'S CALENDAR WAS AVAILABLE. I DON'T WANT THE VIEWING PUBLIC OR OUR EMPLOYEES TO THINK THAT I PURPOSELY QUICKLY SCHEDULED A MEETING WHEN JUDGE BECERRA AND MS. CARDENAS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

[02:50:04]

>> AS A SHORT REPLY TO THAT. I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU IN YOUR PRESENTATION MATERIAL, WHICH THE EFFICIENCY IS BEING LOST, BUT THAT'S OKAY. THAT OUTLOOK CALENDAR IS NOT THE ONLY CALENDAR THAT RUNS MY DAY-TO-DAY LIFE, AND SO, YOU HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE, A QUICK TEXT OR A QUICK CALL WOULD BE MOST USEFUL. I WOULD CONTINU TO APPRECIATE THAT COURTESY.

LOOKING AT MY OUTLOOK CALENDAR ALONE IS SHORT IN ENCOMPASSING

MY DAY. >> THE POLICY WAS ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1ST FOR SALARY EXCEPTIONS , AS WE ADOPTED THE STEP PLAN. THAT STEP PLAN POLICY ALLOWED FOR SALARY EXCEPTIONS UP TO STEP FOUR , FOR ANY POSITION IN ANY GRADE WITHOUT SPECIFIC CONSIDERATION TO THE POSITION OR THEIR BEING BUDGETED SALARY AMOUNTS IN THAT DEPARTMENT. THE DECISION-MAKING WAS HUNG ON HOW LONG THE APPLICANT HAD WORKED IN THE ENVIRONMENT OR IN THE WORKPLACE IN THE TYPE OF EXPENSE THE JOB THEY WERE APPLYING FOR REQUIRED. FOR INSTANCE, FOR AN ATTORNEY IN THE DAS OFFICE, AND APPLICANT WOULD NEED TO BE -- HAVE BEEN AN ATTORNEY FOR FIVE YEARS GREATER THAN THE MINIMUM REQUIRED ON THE JOB DESCRIPTION TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR STEP FOUR.

SO THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE OPERATED ON SINCE FEBRUARY. WE HAVE HAD 12 SALARY EXCEPTIONS . ALL BUT TWO WERE AT STEP FOUR.

WE WERE UNABLE TO HIRE SOME HIGHER-LEVEL POSITIONS BASED ON EXPERIENCE. AND THAT LED US TO BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT OTHER WAYS TO ADDRESS THE SALARY EXCEPTION DESIRE THAT THE PERMITS HAVE.

THE PROPOSAL IS THAT FOR JOBS IN THE LOWER LEVEL GRADES -- THE ONE TENDS THROUGH 119'S, WHERE MANY OF THEM ARE MULTIPLE JOBS, THE CLERKS AND THE CLERKS OFFICES. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS IN THE TAX OFFICE. THERE ARE LOTS OF EXAMPLES, WHERE THEY ARE NOT UNIQUE NECESSARILY UNIQUE POSITIONS, THEY ARE MORE ADMINISTRATIVE , TECHNICAL SUPPORT IN THE DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY SERVE IN. THE RECOMMENDATION OR PROPOSAL IS THAT DEPARTMENT HEADS CAN HIRE UP TO STEP TWO WITHOUT HR REVIEW USING THEIR INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT, AND ENSURING THAT THERE IS BUDGET IN THEIR DEPARTMENT SALARY BUDGET. FOR MID-LEVEL JOBS, GRADES 120 THREE 126, UP TO STEP TWO, THE SAME PROCEDURE WOULD APPLY. DEPARTMENT HEADS COULD DECIDE TO HIRE UP TO STEP TWO. AT THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT, INDISCRETION WITH THE BUDGET APPROVAL. ALL OF THESE REQUIRE BUDGET APPROVAL, SO I WON'T SAY THAT AGAIN. SHOULD IT BE A POSITION IN GRADES 120 THROUGH 126, AND THEY WANT TO HIRE AT STEPS 3 OR 4, THEY WOULD NEED TO DOCUMENT JUSTIFICATION AND MEET THE YEARS CRITERIA ABOVE THE MINIMUM. AS WOULD BE REVIEWED BY HR AND BUDGET APPROVAL. SO STEPS THREE AND FOUR IN THOSE MID GRADES WOULD NEED HR APPROVAL. GRADES 127 AND ABOVE, WHICH ARE GENERALLY OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS , OCCUPATIONALLY LICENSED OR CERTIFIED POSITIONS, ONE POSITION IN THE COUNTY -- THOSE TYPES OF VERY SPECIALTY POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT REQUIRE THOSE HIGHER-LEVEL CERTIFICATIONS, DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS -- COULD HIRE UP TO STEP SEVEN. WITH BUDGET OFFICE AND FUNDING APPROVAL. SO NO HR APPROVAL FOR THOSE HIGHER LEVELS. THAT GIVES THE COMMISSION RECORDS THE LATITUDE TO HIRE DEPARTMENT HEADS, UP TO STEP SEVEN. AND DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, FOR THEIR HIGHER-LEVEL POSITIONS.

[02:55:01]

QUESTIONS, CLARIFICATION? >> SO IF I HEAR THIS -- SADLY ENOUGH, I DIDN'T GET YESTERDAY'S EMAIL IN TIME FOR TODAY'S COURT. IT IS NOT A SURPRISE TO MOST PEOPLE. THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEES GOAL -- THE CREATION OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE -- PART OF THE GOAL WAS TO HELP FILTER SOME OF WHAT IS GOING ON NOW AND FUNNEL IT INTO WAYS THAT ARE MORE EFFICIENT AND USEFUL FOR OUR USE OF TIME AS A COURT.

AND SO, COMPENSATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN GOOD MEETINGS , AND A LOT OF BACK-AND-FORTH AND CONVERSATION. YOU ARE ALSO NOT COMMITTEE. IN MY DESCRIBING IT ACCURATELY? OVERALL, WE SHED LIGHT ON PERSPECTIVES. THE VALUE IN THAT COME -- COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INAUDIBLE ] WAS TO HAVE THAT THINKING AS A GROUP TO DRAW CONCLUSIONS THAT WOULD HELP THIS COURT . THE WEIGHT YOU JUST READ THAT -- AND I HEARD IT FOR THE -- FROM YOU FROM THE -- FOR THE FIRST TIME IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THE EFFORT OF THE CREATION AND THE MEETING AND THE PROCESS HAS BEEN SHIFTED FROM THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE TO YOU IN A WAY THAT MIGHT NOT BE CLEAR. IS THAT WHAT YOU HAVE JUST STATED?

>> SO HOW THIS PROPOSAL CAME ABOUT WAS COMMISSIONER SHELL ASKED ME AND MISS DORSETT TO WORK TOGETHER AS EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY THAT HAVE EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE PAY PLANS.

WE HAVE OUR HANDS ON EVERY SALARY EXCEPTION. AND SO, THE FOUNDATION OF THE PROPOSAL DID DEVELOP AMONG THE THREE OF US.

AND I SENT THAT PROPOSAL TO THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE TUESDAY

A WEEK AGO. >> AT 5:30 P.M. I REMEMBER.

>> PROBABLY. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT TIME IT WAS.

>> IT IS A FACT. BUT ANYWAY, THE WINDOW OF TIME FOR HOW THAT UNFOLDED WAS SHORT ON THE GOALS EFFORT. I APPRECIATE THE EFFICIENT SEE EFFORT. I REALLY DO. BUT WAS MY ASSESSMENT SO FAR -- WAS THERE ANY ACCURACY IN MY FIRST PASS AT ASSESSING

WHAT YOU JUST SAID? >> YOU WANT TO KNOW IF I THINK YOU ARE CORRECT IN THAT I DEVELOPED THESE GUIDELINES?

>> IN THE ASSESSMENT OF SHIFTING SOME OF THAT RECOMMENDATION ENERGY FROM THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE.

>> I SENT THE EMAIL TO THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE AS A RECOMMENDATION. NO ONE SAID ANYTHING UNTIL WEDNESDAY, LATE AFTERNOON. MS. CARDENAS INTERVIEWED -- EMAILED AND SAID, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO MEET, AND BY THE WAY, WHEN WILL WE DO THESE OTHER THINGS? I SCHEDULED A MEETING. THE COMMITTEE MET FOR 45 MINUTES MAYBE 45 MINUTES. WE TALKED

[03:00:03]

>> I WILL INTERRUPT. I'M SORRY. THIS IS MY ITEM. I'M TRYING TO DO MY JOB. EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO DO OTHER THINGS. GO DO IT. I HAVE A JOB TO DO. WHENEVER I GET EMAILS FROM THE DEPARTMENT SAYING THEY ARE HAVING A CHALLENGE, HIRING SOME OF THAT IS QUALIFIED, AND THERE IS ONE I'M GOING TO GUESS IT WAS TWO MONTHS AGO. MAYBE. I PROMISED I WOULD TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, AND SO THAT IS WHAT I HAVE TRIED TO DO. THIS IS MY ATTEMPT. IT LOOKS LIKE A TERRIBLE, FAILED ATTEMPTS. IT WON'T BE THE FIRST TIME. IT WON'T BE THE LAST TIME. BUT THAT IS THE REASON WE DID THIS. THIS ISN'T A GAME. I'M NOT TRYING TO GET AT SOMEBODY OR TAKE SOMEBODY'S AUTHORITY AWAY FROM THEM. IT IS TO SOLVE A PROBLEM. THAT IS THE ONLY ATTEMPT AT THIS. IT IS NOT ABOUT PERSONALITIES. IT IS NOT ABOUT ANYTHING. NOW, I KNOW PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO BELIEVE ME BECAUSE THEY JUST WANT TO FIGHT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS IN THE WORLD TODAY THAT MAKES PEOPLE WANT TO FIGHT SO MUCH.

JUST TRY TO UNDERSTAND THINGS. ASK QUESTIONS. BE PROFESSIONAL.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL. I WILL SAY THAT ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS, NO MATTER WHERE IT IS COMING FROM , IT IS BETTER DONE THAT WAY, TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM. ANYONE COULD'VE CALLED ME PERSONALLY. I'M FAIRLY CERTAIN AT SOME POINT IN TIME IN ALL THESE MEDICATIONS, SOMEONE PROBABLY SAID, OH, THIS WAS LON'S IDEA. DID ANYONE ASK ME WHAT I WAS THINKING? DID ANYONE WANT TO HEAR THAT? I HEAR THE UPSET IN HIS MEETING. WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE WITH ALMOST 40 YEARS OF EXPENSE IN THIS COUNTY, MANAGING PEOPLE, MANAGING SELLERS, MANAGING PLANTS. WHETHER THEY ARE RIGHT OR WRONG IS NOT IMPOTENT. I VALUE THE PITFALLS THEY HAVE SEEN THIS COUNTY FALL INTO. WE LEARN FROM MISTAKES. I'M LEARNING RIGHT NOW. WHY TRY TO FIX A PROBLEM AROUND THIS PLACE? PEOPLE WANT TO COMPLAIN. THEY DON'T WANT TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. THEY WANT TO COMPLAIN. IF THERE IS A BETTER IDEA, BRING IT. IF I LIKE IT, I'LL VOTE FOR IT. IF I DON'T, I WON'T. BUT I WILL RESPECT THE DECISION OF THIS COURT, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS. I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THAT IS MY ATTEMPT, PURELY TO SOLVE A PROBLEM. I CHALLENGE, NOW, WHATEVER WE WANT TO DO, LET PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT, IF THERE IS A WAY TO IMPROVE IT AND MAKE IT BETTER, MORE THAN OPEN TO IT, AND IF IT IS JUST WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT, THAT IS FINE. IF THAT IS THE WILL OF THE COURT, THAT IS THE WILL OF THE COURT.

THIS IS NOT A PERSONALITY THING. THIS IS NOT ABOUT PEOPLE. THIS IS ABOUT THE COUNTIES SETTING IT UP SO IT CAN BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT CAN PRINT I APOLOGIZE FOR WASTING

PEOPLE'S TIME AGAIN. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH.

>> I'M GOOD. THE FACT IS, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T READ THIS AS ANY TYPE OF -- ANY TYPE OF CHANGE OF AUTHORITY OR ATTEMPT TO GRAB AUTHORITY OR ANYTHING ELSE. AGAIN, TO COMMISSIONER SHELL'S POINT, IT IS A PROBLEM. WE ALL KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM. EVERY ONE OF US HAS HEARD FROM IF NOT ONE, MULTIPLE DEPARTMENT HEADS, BUT TO TRY TO MAKE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL -- IT IS HARD ON EVERYBODY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT DON'T LIKE ANYTHING WE DO, AS WE CHANGE THIS. BUT I, FOR ONE, APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER SHELL STEPPING UP AND ACTUALLY TRYING TO SOLVE IT. WE CAN ALL POKE HOLES IN THE WORK THAT EACH MEMBER OF THIS COURT , EACH ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, OR ANY OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS DO. AT THE END OF THE DAY, ARE THEY TRYING TO -- ARE WE TRYING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM IN THAT SENSE? ARE WE JUST TRYING TO POKE HOLES IN WORK THAT SONOS HAS DONE? I APPRECIATE IT. ALL OF US HAVE HEARD THE ISSUES WE HAD SURROUNDING THIS FOR NOT ONLY MONTHS, BUT YEARS. AND I COMMEND YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND AT LEAST TAKING A SHOT AT IT.

>> MOST DEFINITELY, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW FROM MY SEAT, I DON'T THINK THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO ANYTHING NEGATIVE. I DO BELIEVE YOUR INTENTS ARE WHOLESOME.

>> IT'S JUST MY FRUSTRATION. I THINK I PROBABLY DESERVE TO BE

A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATED. >> SURE, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, AND MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC KNEW THAT I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING -- ANY BACK CHANNELED ENERGY IN ANY KIND OF WAY, HOW THAT MIGHT LOOK FROM YOU ON THIS. I WANT TO CLARIFY

THAT. >> I HAVE WASTED ENOUGH PEOPLES TIMES, SO A FEW SECONDS WILL NOT MATTER. PART OF THE FRUSTRATION, THE REASON I'M FRUSTRATED IS I GO IN, TRYING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM. TRYING TO WORK WITH EVERYONE TO COME UP

[03:05:03]

WE HAVE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT SEEMS TO THINK THAT SHE WOULD DO A BETTER JOB THAN I WOULD DOING THIS. INSTEAD OF PICKING UP THE PHONE AND EVER CALLING ME, OR SENDING ME AN EMAIL PERSONALLY, HEY, WHAT IS THE THINKING ON THIS? I HAVE ENOUGH TRUST IN YOU. I DON'T THINK YOU'RE TRYING TO TURN THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN. AT LEAST I HOPE MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT.

MAYBE WE COULD ALL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU PUT SOME TIME IN HERE, MAYBE YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT YOUR JOB A LITTLE BIT.

MAYBE YOU CARE ABOUT OUR EMPLOYEES. MAYBE YOU CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOU ARE PRESENT. MAYBE HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN YOUR LIFE CARING ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE. MAYBE I COULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF RESPECT, AND JUST ASK ME WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO. A PUBLIC COMMENT IN COURT? IT IS A JOKE. I'M SICK OF HIDING BEHIND IT. IT IS RIDICULOUS. LET US ALL WORK TOGETHER HERE. YOU KNOW. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DEADLINE. YOU MAY BE RIGHT. MOST TIMES, SOMEBODY WILL BE.

LET'S TRY TO DO SOMETHING INSTEAD OF MAKING A GAME OUT OF EVERYTHING. ANYWAY, THAT IS MY PIECE FOR THE DAY.

>> I LOVE WHAT YOU SAID. WORKING TOGETHER IS KEY.

ABSOLUTELY. >> WELL, I DO LIKE THE FOUNDATION OF THIS THAT COMMISSIONER SHELL HAS STARTED.

YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM PEOPLE IS, YOU KNOW, THE MINIMUM IS NOT ENOUGH. IT IS NOT ENOUGH. YOU KNOW, AND WE ARE BATTLING THAT, BUT WE WANT TO BE FAIR TO EVERYONE. EXCEPTIONS ARE THERE BECAUSE THOSE CASES MAY ARISE WHERE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SOMEONE'S SKILL SET OR TIME IN ANOTHER JOB OR WHATEVER THEY HAVE, THAT IS HOW I UNDERSTOOD THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE AND WHAT IT WAS FOR. BY THE TIME I GOT TO US IN COURT, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT DEBATING THE PAY. IT IS MORE, HERE IS OUR RECOMMENDATION, AND HERE IS WHY. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND WE ARE JUST SAYING, OKAY, THAT SOUNDS GOOD. IF YOU ALL AGREE THAT THAT IS CORRECT, THEN WE SAY YES TO THAT. AND WE SHOULDN'T BE BATTLING HERE ABOUT PAY AT THIS POINT.

>> I AGREE 100%. >> AND COMMISSIONER SHELL, I THINK THIS IS A FOUNDATION FOR US. YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY. I LOVE CONTINUITY. I WANT STRUCTURE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

THEY DESERVE THAT. WE ARE GOING TO COME AND GO. THE PEOPLE THAT STAY WITH THIS COUNTY, THEY ARE HERE FOR A WILD. AND SO I WANT TO BE FAIR TO THEM, AS WELL. OKAY WITH TABLING UNTIL THE NEXT COMMISSIONER SHELL AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS. WE DON'T HAVE TO BATTLE IT OUT THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENT. WE CAN TALK. WE ARE ADULTS. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS.

>> I AGREE. I LOVE THAT SENTIMENT. I'M WITH YOU ON THAT FRONT, TOO, COMMISSIONER. YOU KNOW I REACH OUT TO YOU MORE THAN EVER. I'M ALSO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR EXPERIENCE. I WOULD NEVER WANT ANYTHING I SAY OR DO TO

MAKE THAT LOOK BAD. >> THIS BODY WILL MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THE INFORMATION HAVE INDIVIDUAL.

>>

ALL BEGAN. >> THANK YOU IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC.

>> GREG COX FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I'M SURE SOME OF YOU WERE AWARE THAT MR. HIGGINS WAS VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE POLICY AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF DIFFICULTIES HIRING LAWYERS . RIGHT NOW, WE ARE AT SIX VACANCIES. WE HAVE A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE REJECTED US BECAUSE OF THE PAY THAT WE CAN OFFER. THAT IS IN THE DOZENS AT THIS POINT. UNLIKE OUR LOWER-LEVEL POSITIONS, WHERE WHEN WE POSTED, WE MAY GET TWO, THREE, FOUR DOZEN APPLICATIONS, AND IT IS A LOCAL TALENT POOL. WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO HIRE LAWYERS, THERE IS NOBODY LOCAL. WE ARE HAVING TO HIRE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE OR EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE STATE. AND SINCE THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTEST, HIRING PROSECUTORS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. WHILE SCHOOLS HAVE TAUGHT THAT PROSECUTORS ARE BAD GUYS, SO EVERYONE THAT COMES OUT OF LAW SCHOOL WANTS TO BE A DEFENSE ATTORNEY. PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT INTERESTED IN BEING PROSECUTORS THE WAY THEY WERE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG PROSECUTOR. IT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO DO. THE WAY THE STRUCTURE -- THE POLICY IS CURRENTLY STRUCTURED -- IS YES, YOU CAN SEEK A SALARY EXCEPTION UP TO THE FOURTH STEP, BUT, DOING HER JOB UNDER THE POLICY HAS TO EVALUATE WHERE THAT

[03:10:03]

EVERY APPLICANT IN THE STATE IS FACING THE SAME PROBLEM WE ARE FACING. WHEN WE FIND SOMEBODY GOOD, WE HAVE TO SNATCH THEM UP RIGHT THEN, OR THEY ARE GOING TO BE GONE BECAUSE SOME OTHER OFFICE WILL HIRE THEM. THAT IS WHY I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS DRAFT OF POLICY IN THE EFFORT PUT INTO IT BECAUSE GRADES 127 AND ABOVE ARE REALLY LICENSED PROFESSIONALS OR MANAGEMENT, HIGHER LEVEL POSITIONS, WHERE THE JOB MARKET IS EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE. PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO RELOCATE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT LOCAL TALENT POOL. AND ART MINIMUMS ARE NOT ENOUGH. I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THEY LOOSENED THIS UP SOME BECAUSE THE WAY IT WAS, YOU COULDN'T GET TO STEP TWO WITHOUT GOING ABOVE THREE YEARS. THIS, FOR EVERY GRADE ALLOWS THE DEPARTMENT HAD TO GET TO STEP TWO WITHOUT HR APPROVAL. SO I REALLY LIKE THE POLICY, THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN. MR. HIGGINS LIKES IT, AS WELL. THAT IS WHY HE ENCOURAGED THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT. I BELIEVE THE VOTE WAS 5-0, WITH TWO ABSENT. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT, COMMISSIONER SHELL. I APPRECIATE SOMEBODY LISTENING TO OUR CONCERNS BECAUSE WE ARE AT A -- WE HAVE MADE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF HEADWAY IN REDUCING THE INTAKE BACKLOG AND THAT PEOPLE ARE STAYING IN - JAIL, AWAITING TRIAL. BUT WE HAVE SORT OF PLATEAUED. WE CAN'T GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL. WE CAN'T WATCH SOME OF THE DIVERSION EFFORTS WE WANT TO DO BECAUSE WE ARE CARRYING SO MANY VACANT POSITIONS. EVERYONE IS IN COURT ALL THE TIME. THEY ARE UNAVAILABLE TO BE WORKING ON SPECIAL PROJECTS. THAT WAS THE

GENESIS OF THIS ISSUE. >> HEARING THAT, SO THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE THAT DID MEET, IT WAS A 5-0 VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS POLICY WHEN IT CAME OUT?

>> YES. >> I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

>> I DIDN'T COME EITHER. THAT WOULD CHANGE MY VIEW AS OF

TODAY. >> ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT NO ONE IN THIS COURT WANTS TO THWART YOUR EFFORTS TO PROPERLY STAFF, AND I THINK -- I DON'T WANT TO CALL OUT ANY NAMES, BUT I THINK , AS WAS MENTIONED HERE ALREADY, MORE COMMUNICATION WITH COURT MEMBERS WOULD BE A USEFUL THING BECAUSE IT REQUIRES -- ALTHOUGH PATIENCE IS NOT ALWAYS MY FAVORITE THING, BUT IT REQUIRES PATIENCE AND COMMUNICATION , AND NO ONE HAS A MONOPOLY ON THIS COURT. WHOEVER TELLS YOU THEY DO IS A LIAR, OR FIVE COURT MEMBERS -- FIVE VOTES. WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS. THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF GOVERNANCE. AND SO, I MEAN,

>> JUDGE, I WOULD FEEL, INSTEAD OF TABLING IT, IF IT IS -- IF IT WAS 5-0 COMING OUT OF THE COMMITTEE, I THINK I WOULD ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE, I KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ATTORNEYS. THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM -- IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, THE VERY FIRST AGENDA ITEM THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY BROUGHT FORWARD WAS SALARY COMPENSATION EXCEPTIONS, SPECIFICALLY FOR ATTORNEYS, AND HONESTLY, I THINK THAT DA HIGGINS WAS SHOCKED WHEN I SPOKE ON BEHALF OF IT IN HIS FIRST COMMISSIONERS COURT HEARING.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THOSE ISSUES. I WOULD BE WILLING, ESPECIALLY SINCE I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE FOLKS YELL HAVE JOB OFFERS TO COME I - WOULD BE WILLING TO MOVE AHEAD WITH IT TODAY. THAT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN MY CONSIDERATION.

>> I WANT TO ADD TO THAT POINT. WHEN WE CAME, THE FIRST DAY THAT MR. AKINS WAS IN OFFICE, THAT WAS REALLY TO HELP US ALLOW US TO HIRE CHIEF

[03:15:01]

THIS WOULD GIVE US SOME FLEXIBILITY. I UNDERSTAND BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, AND WE ARE VERY COGNIZANT OF NOT OFFERING A NEW HIRE MORE THAN WHAT A SIMILARLY EXPENSED PEER WOULD BE MAKING, SO I KNOW THERE WAS SOME CONCERN THAT WE WOULD JUST THROW A BUNCH OF MONEY TO GET PEOPLE IN THE DOOR, BUT WE DON'T WANT OUR EXISTING ATTORNEYS -- OUR EXISTING EMPLOYEES TO FEEL LIKE, WELL, WHY DID YOU HIRE THAT PERSON WITH THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS ME AT A HIGHER LEVEL -- BUT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GO UP TO THE SAME LEVEL. IT IS THE MIDDLE RANGES OF OUR LAWYERS ALL OF WHICH ARE ABOVE 127 GRADE THAT WE ARE STUCK WITH. WE CANNOT HIGHER.

>> CURRENTLY, DO YOU HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE OUTSTANDING OUT THERE, WAITING ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS PASSES OR NOT -- WHERE Y'ALL

CAN MAKE OFFERS? >> I HAVE ONE. THE OTHERS ALL ACCEPTED JOBS AT OTHER OFFICES. I HAVE ONE THAT -- SHE WENT TO TEXAS STATE. SHE AND HER HUSBAND WANT TO LIVE IN SAN MARCUS. WE HAVE LOST THE OTHERS.

>> WE ARE ACTUALLY HAVING THE CONVERSATION AS WE SPEAK IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS. THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN GROUND GAME FOR US AHEAD OF TIME. SO THAT WE WALK IN WITH A BETTER UNDERSTANDING. BUT AS YOU SEE, I GOT AN EMAIL ALERT TO GO TO A MEETING. I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT WEDNESDAY, TO GO TO A MEETING FRIDAY. I GOT THE RECAP YESTERDAY ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING TODAY. SO SEE? WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMUNICATE IN WAYS THAT ARE MORE MEANINGFUL . AND I DID TEXT KELLY, TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THINGS. I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT YET AGAIN.

RECEPTIVE TO MEET WHEN I REACH OUT TO HIM. IT CAN ONLY BE TWO COURT MEMBERS SO I CAN ONLY TALK TO ONE .0 STRAINED TO GET SOME UNDERSTANDING, TRYING TO SAVE MY CALL UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE, BUT THIS IS WHY THESE COMMITTEES ARE USEFUL, BECAUSE THEY TURN AN AGENDA ITEM -- YOU SAW HOW WE WENT THROUGH CONSENT. THEY TURNED ONE AGENDA ITEM INTO A ONE HOUR CONVERSATION WHEN THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CAN HELP SHAKE SOME OF THAT OUT. SINCE YOU ARE AT THAT MEETING IN TEAMS OR WHATEVER, CAN YOU SUMMARIZE THE UNDERSTANDING ?

>> SIMILAR TO WHAT MR. COX GOES THROUGH IN HIS HIRING PROCESS, IT IS FRUSTRATING, THE CURRENT POLICY IS VERY FRUSTRATING.

WHEN I READ THIS POLICY, I SAID, WONDERFUL. I HOPE THIS GOES THROUGH. BECAUSE IT WILL STREAMLINE OUR PROCESS .

SIMILAR TO WHAT HE SAID, WE HAVE PEOPLE APPLYING AND INTERESTED . AND BY THE TIME WE GO THROUGH THE CURRENT PROCESS, THEY HAVE ALREADY HIRED AND ACCEPTED JOBS ELSEWHERE. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ANGER THAT THIS PROPOSAL GENERATED.

IT IS VERY HELPFUL TO DIFFERENT HEADS POINT

>> MOST DEFINITELY, JERRY. I WOULD LIKE TO -- BECAUSE I COULD BE LOOPED AND THAT DECISION. I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT MY ORIGINAL OPPOSITION WAS NOT ANGER. IT WAS WORK THAT I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

>> AT LEAST ONE OF YOU AT THIS SENT OUT TO EVERYBODY IN THE COMMITTEE , AND THEN SOME, I THINK.

A LOT OF ANGER DEALING WITH THE TIMING AND LEAVING OUT ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MEAT OF THE ISSUE, WHAT WE ARE TRYING

TO ACCOMPLISH PICK >> SO YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED FOR DECADES THROUGH THIS PROCESS. I KNOW THAT WE ALL -- IF YOU HAVE GATHERED THAT, I KNOW YOU HAVE. WE ALL WANT TO HELP THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, TWO STAFF.

ABSOLUTELY. >> THAT IS THE REASON I ASK

YOU. THE KEY. >> VICKI DORSETT. I DID WANT TO CLARIFY ONE POINT. IT WAS MADE EARLIER, IT SEEMED LIKE THE APPROVAL PROCESS WAS SHIFTING TO HR. SO WHEN THIS SALARY EXCEPTION POLICY WE CURRENTLY HAVE WAS PRESENTED TO COURT BACK IN JANUARY, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT BRINGING ALL SALARY EXCEPTIONS TO THE COMMITTEE. THE COURT DISCUSSED THAT. THEY SET THE POLICY TO HAVE HR AND BUDGET OFFICE APPROVAL THEN GO TO THE COMMITTEE. AND THEN COME SO THA

[03:20:04]

TO REQUEST. >> AND I KNOW YOU HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH COMMISSIONER SHELL AND I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU DON'T MIND, FOR OUR BENEFIT, GIVING US, AND AS CONCISE AS POSSIBLE A MENTOR, RESTATING THE SHIFT AND THE RIPPLES. YOU KNOW HOW WE ALWAYS COUNT THE RIPPLES. CAN YOU RESTATE THAT PIECE FOR US HERE?

>> SURE. AS WE WERE REVIEWING SOME OF THE SALARY EXCEPTIONS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH TO DATE SINCE FEBRUARY, MANY OF WHICH WERE BETWEEN GRADES 110 AND 119, WHERE THERE WERE -- AT SOME POINTS, OVER 200 APPLICATIONS. THEY WERE RECEIVED FOR THAT PARTICULAR POSITION. WHILE, THERE WERE OTHER POSITIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE STEP , SUCH AS IN THE DAS OFFICE. WE REVIEWED POSITIONS SUCH AS THE ATTORNEYS, THE AUDITORS, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS. THOSE POSITIONS THAT HAVE MULTIPLE LEVELS THAT WOULD MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO REQUEST A SALARY EXCEPTION UP TO THE STEP FOUR OF THE CURRENT POLICY, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE POSITIONS ARE STRUCTURED TO PROGRESS THROUGH THEIR CAREER.

MANY OF THESE POSITIONS ARE. THEY REQUIRED A DEGREE OR CERTIFICATIONS OR SPECIALIZED SKILL SETS. IT WAS AT THAT POINT THAT SHERRY AND I JUST STARTED DISCUSSING THOSE PARTICULAR POSITIONS , AND THEN, COMMISSIONER SHELL REACHED OUT TO SHERRY TO DISCUSS IT FURTHER TO TRY TO EXPAND ON THE CURRENT POLICY TO ACTUALLY ALLOW FOR MORE

FLEXIBILITY. >> BEAUTIFUL PERK YOU SAID THE MAGIC WORDS. COMMISSIONER COHEN, YOU SAID WE WERE IN THE DARK ABOUT THIS ITEM. DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO ASK OTHER

QUESTIONS? >> NO. I DON'T. I THINK I'M

PREPARED TO VOTE. >> 90 FEEL MORE UP TO SPEED ON

THIS? >> WE TALKED MORE ABOUT IT. WE UNDERSTAND MORE. NOW WE ARE MORE COMFORTABLE BECAUSE AS TRENT OFFSET, WE HAVE TO COUNT THE RIPPLES. HOW IT WILL AFFECT THESE PEOPLE AND THOSE PEOPLE AND WHAT KIND OF AVALANCHES CAN WE ANTICIPATE? I THINK YOU GUYS FOR HUMORING US ON THE PREVIOUS CONVERSATION. COMMISSIONER SHELL, ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD? I THINK WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS?

>> NO, BUT IF THERE ARE TWEAKS THAT NEED TO BE MADE OR INPUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN HURT, I'M PERFECTLY OF -- FINE WITH ADDRESSING IT. I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. IF THERE ARE FIXES IN THE FUTURE, THAT'S GOOD.

>> I THINK WE ARE AT A PLACE, MR. COX, WHERE WE CAN BUT FOR

THIS. >> ONE OTHER THING. IN THE FUTURE -- AND JUDGE, I KNOW YOU DO THIS ALL THE TIME. BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN IN THESE MEETINGS, BUT IF THERE ARE MEETINGS LIKE THIS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE -- YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE THERE, I KNOW THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT HEAD WHO WASN'T HERE, THEY HAVE NUMEROUS STAFF. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOUR STAFF TO HAVE SOMEBODY THERE WHO CAN DO A GOOD JOB OF REAPING YOU ON IT. I KNOW IT IS TOUGH. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I NOTE COMMISSIONER INGALSBE AND COHEN HAVE REQUESTED THAT POSITION. I UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO TO THESE THINGS ESPECIALLY IF IT IS SHORT

NOTICE. YOU HAVE THAT STAFF. >> ROXANNE, PLEASE CALL ROLE.

>> CAN I MAKE ONE CLARIFYING POINT? THE SALARY EXCEPTION IN THE BACKUP -- THE DRAFT YOU WILL VOTE ON IS UP TO STEP 2, DEPARTMENT HEAD, FULL DISCRETION, AS LONG AS THERE IS BUDGET AVAILABLE. THEY WILL DOCUMENT. THEY WILL HAVE TO DOCUMENT THE JUSTIFICATION AND ATTACH IT TO THEIR PCN, WITH NO REVIEW. THAT IS 110 TO 119. 120 TO 126. THAT IS THE PROCESS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY AT , UP TO STEP 2. UP TO STEP 4. AND THE BUDGET HAS TO BE AVAILABLE PERK SO NO SALARY OR COMPETENT COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REVIEW. IT IS UP TO STEP SEVEN. WITH NO HR REVIEW.

[03:25:04]

>> SOUNDS GOOD. I THINK NOW WE CAN CALL THE ROLE -- ROLL.

>> COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES.

>> JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. THANK YOU. LET'S KEEP

[K.4. Discussion and possible action to authorize the Transportation Department to waive the County Vehicle Policy allowing the Construction Inspector to take a county-issued vehicle to his residence on a daily basis. SHELL/BORCHERDING]

>> SECOND. >> BY THE WAY, I THINK THIS POLICY WAS THE GENESIS OF MY THOUGHTS, PROBABLY EIGHT OR 10 YEARS AGO. I'LL TAKE THE BLAME FOR THIS POLICY, AS WELL. WE DID SEE -- WE HAVE MANY JUSTIFICATIONS FOR SOME OF OUR TRANSPORTATION STAFF TO HAVE VEHICLES WITH THEM, ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR, WHEN WE HAVE FLOODS AND THINGS LIKE THAT SETTING UP BARRIERS AND THINGS. WE DO ALLOW THAT. WE DID PUT A RESTRICTION YEARS AGO THAT IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN THE COUNTY -- IF YOU LIVE WITHIN 20 MILES OF THE PRINCIPAL LOCATION OF YOUR OFFICE -- OTHERWISE, COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVAL IS REQUIRED. 20 MILES IS SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OF THERE. THERE ARE DISTANCES THAT ARE 30 OR 40 MILES THE PENDING ON WHERE YOU

[K.5. Discussion and possible action to authorize the County Judge to contribute $300.00 from his Community Program Expense to the Hill Country Leadership Institute, and to provide additional funding in the amount of $700.00 to the operating budget for an annual membership and amend the budget accordingly. BECERRA]

>> THEM TO MOVE TO HAYS COUNTY. SOUNDS GOOD, COMMISSIONER. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER SHELL. >> YES.

>> JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES..

>> K 5. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO CONTRIBUTE $300 FROM HIS COMMUNITY PROGRAM EXPENSE TO THE HILL COUNTRY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $700 TO THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP AND AMEND THE BUDGET

ACCORDINGLY. >> SECOND.

>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE AN EMAILED COMMENT IF YOU WILL

PLEASE READ THAT. >> PUBLIC COMMENT FROM ROSALINDA CARDENAS. K 5. NOW, HERE IS THE JOB -- JUDGE BECERRA WE EXPECT TO SEE. HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OF A PERSONAL BUDGET. HIS HOUSE IS IN THE FORECLOSURE LIST, SO OF COURSE, HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE COUNTY BUDGET. GO AHEAD. GIVE HIM MORE MONEY HE DOESN'T HAVE IN HIS BUDGET. THAT'S IT PERK

>> HOW NICE. BUCKLEY, WE ARE USED TO THOSE KINDS OF

COMMENTS. SHOULD I EXPLAIN? >> JUDGE, I DID WANT TO ASK A QUESTION. I KNOW THE $700 COUNTYWIDE CONTINGENCY IS THE

OPTION. >> YEAH, SO, CURRENTLY, THE JUDGE DID NOT PLAN ON THIS PARTICULAR MEMBERSHIP FOR THIS BUDGET YEAR, SO HE IS REQUESTING $700. THE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP IS $1000. HE DID WANT TO CONTRIBUTE $300 FROM HIS COMMUNITY PROGRAM,WHICH IS BUDGETED HOWEVER IT DOES REQUIRE COURT APPROVAL TO DETERMINE THE PUBLIC PURPOSE

FOR THE EXPENSE PERK >> I WILL TAKE THE BLAME FOR THIS. I ENCOURAGED THE JUDGE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS GROUP. I DID LAST YEAR, THE COUNTY SPONSORED, THROUGH THE BUDGET LAST YEAR. I DO THINK IT IS A BIG, GREAT EXPERIENCE, TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY'S INVOLVEMENT.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT PERK US IS MORE IN THE PUBLIC PERK I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF MUD THROWING. MY HOUSE IS SUPPOSED TO BE FORECLOSED ON TODAY ACCORDING TO THAT STATEMENT. OF COURSE, IT WAS A POLITICAL THEATRICAL STUNT. A MORTGAGE COMPANY THAT YOU ARE SUING IS DOING A BAD JOB , AND OF COURSE, DIDN'T GET FORECLOSED ON, SO THAT WAS A REAL APPRECIATION OF ME HAVING COMMISSIONER SHALL -- POSITION TO TAKE OVER AS ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON THAT FRONT. ALTHOUGH IT WASN'T BUDGETED FOR, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE PRIVILEGE. EVEN THOUGH I GOT IN THERE A LITTLE BIT LATE -- JUST A LITTLE BIT LATE -- I BELIEVE THEY DESERVE THE FULL SUPPORT THAT COMMISSIONER SHALL OFFERED LAST YEAR, AND I WANT TO CONTINUE THAT ENERGY SO WHEN WE PASS THE BATON, THEY CONTINUED TO SEE THE FULL SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY. PLEASE

CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER SHELL.

[K.6. Discussion and possible action to assign a scope of work conducting a countywide facility needs assessment and coordinate any previously conducted facility assessment into the final product/Report. BECERRA]

[03:30:04]

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH.

>> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA.

>> YES. >> THANK YOU. PLEASE OPEN K 6.

>> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO COORDINATE PREVIOUS FACILITY ASSESSMENT INTO THE FINAL PRODUCT AND REPORT.

>> SO MOVED. >> OKAY. OKAY K 6.

>> COMMISSIONER SHALL. >> SORRY. I WAS REREADING IT.

SO THE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS WE -- WE HAVE REALLY GOOD WORK DONE. YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF YOURS WITH HPR. -- HDR.

>> WE HAVE DONE PRECINCT 4. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS FOR PRECINCT

5 RIGHT NOW. >> WE ARE WORKING TO FIND ASSESSMENTS OF THE SPACES COUNTYWIDE.

WANT TO WAIT FOR THE CONVERSATION WE WILL BE HAVING AT CAPACITY. I BELIEVE THERE IS A GOOD CONVERSATION OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE TO LOOP IN ALL THE BRICKS AND MORTAR CONVERSATION, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A HOLISTIC APPROACH AND ASSESSMENT SO THAT IF THERE IS A DISCUSSION FOR A BRICK-AND-MORTAR BOND CONVERSATION IN PARALLEL WITH THE ROAD BOND CONVERSATION, THAT WE WILL BE READY FOR IT.

THIS IS AN ATTEMPT ON MY PART TO BRING ALL THE PIECES WE BRING TOGETHER UNDER ONE UMBRELLA, AND THAT IS MY AIM

AND HOPE. >> THANKS, JUDGE. I KNOW WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS. I DO KNOW THAT OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE ONGOING THAT MAY BE WITHIN THIS TYPE OF SCOPE, AND SO I'M NOT TRYING TO GET INTO THAT. BUT I DO BELIEVE FROM A GOVERNMENT CENTERED PERSPECTIVE, AND FROM THE NUMBER OF OFFICES AND COUNTY FUNCTIONS THAT ARE EITHER DELIVERED THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT CENTER OR VIA OTHER POTENTIAL OFFICES IN THE GOVERNMENT CENTER, THAT WE DO NEED TO DEFINITELY GET SOME PROFESSIONAL HELP ON BOARD FOR THAT PROCESS. WE SPENT A PRETTY GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME DOING CENTER USE. THAT WORK IS THERE. IT IS READY TO BE DEVELOPED. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEVELOP IT . THAT IS WHERE WE NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP FOR THIS TYPE OF THING PERK THAT WILL DOVETAIL INTO OTHER DISCUSSIONS OF OTHER FACILITIES, BUT A QUICK RECAP IS GOVERNMENT CENTER SITE, WITH PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AT THIS TIME PERIOD GOVERNMENT CENTER -- ALTHOUGH I NEVER WOULD'VE BELIEVED THIS WHEN I WALKED INTO THE BUILDING -- WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN 2011 PERK THE DAS OFFICE, HE CAN PLAY FOOTBALL GAME IN. YOU COULD THROW A PASS AND IT WOULDN'T HIT ANYBODY IN THE HEAD. IT IS THAT FULL OF SPACE.

TODAY, IT IS CRAMMED FULL OF PEOPLE PICK WE HAVE INCREASED NOT JUST JUDGES, BUT HOURS OF USAGE. WE HEARD MR. COX SAY THAT THE FOCUS AND SCRUTINY THAT HAS BEEN PLACED ON MAKING SURE WE GET THE MOST OUT OF IT HAS CAUSED QUITE A LOT OF CONGESTION AND THOSE OF US THAT ARE THERE WHEN JURIES ARE THERE AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE JURY TRIALS GOING ON, WE SEE PEOPLE PARKED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO UNDERWORLD. SO I THINK THAT IS A CLEARING ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN A PRETTY LARGE WAY. THE WORK THAT WAS DONE -- HDR WAS THE ARCHITECT ON THE BUILDING. THEY DID SOME ANALYSIS. NOW, IT IS TIME TO TURN IT OVER TO SOMEONE AND SAY, HOW DO WE DEVELOP THESE PHASES, AND WHAT TIME FRAMES, AND WITH WHAT MONEY? HOW DO WE PROCURE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO DESIGN, CONSTRUCT, ET CETERA. THAT IS WHERE WE ARE IN NEED OF A PROFESSIONAL HELP.

I'M NOT SURE WHERE THIS IS IN PRECINCT 4 AND FIVE.

INAUDIBLE ] I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE OR IF THAT WILL BE ENCOMPASSED. BUT FROM GOVERNMENT CENTER AND ALL OF THE OFFICES THAT USE THE GOVERNMENT CENTER, IT IS AN IMMEDIATE NEED THAT WE BRING ON SOMEONE TO HELP US FACILITATE HOW TO DEVELOP THAT EXPANSION. WHEN TO DO IT. WHO GOES WHERE PERK FLESH ALL THE DETAILS OUT AND MAKE SURE WE GET THOSE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES NEEDED TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT.

>> EXACTLY. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE COMMISSIONER SHELL'S YEARS OF EXPERIENCES. I ASKED HIM FOR A ROADMAP THAT WOULD BE MOST EFFICIENT TO NOT STEP ON HDR'S WORK OR ANYTHING ELSE, AND NOT INTERFERE WITH PRECINCT 4 IS PLANNING, BUT TO FIND A WAY TO

[03:35:01]

>> I WOULD NOT. >> IF IT IS RFP. LEAVITT PERK

>> WE HAVE COMPLETED THE RFP PERK WE HAVE QUALIFIED FIRMS. I THINK WHAT -- AND JUDGE, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS. IF WE WANTED TO BRING BACK A SELECTION BASED ON THE SCOPE THAT I DISCUSSED, AND AGAIN, LEAVING IT TO THE OTHER COURT MEMBERS, IF THERE IS ANY REASON FOR THEM TO TIGHTEN THEIR SCOPE ON THIS, I WOULD LEAVE IT UP TO THEM, IF NOT, THEY GO ABOUT THE BUSINESS THAT THEY ARE DOING NOW. IF AT ANY OTHER TIME IT NEEDS TO ENGAGE AT THIS LEVEL, THEN THAT TIME WHEN THAT'S APPROPRIATE WILL HAPPEN. BUT I CAN DEFINITELY HELP YOU GET A SCOPE AND A SELECTION FOR WHAT I THINK IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT NEED THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. WHICH IS GOVERNMENT CENTERED AND GOVERNMENT CENTERED USE IN

THOSE OFFICES . >> AND THAT WE COULD BRING THAT

BACK IN THE FUTURE. >> IF IT IS TRULY FOR COUNTYWIDE , I THINK THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN THE NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT CENTER. I JUST SAY THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE I KNOW THAT ANALYSIS ON WHAT THE NEEDS ARE. WE COMPLETED OUR SPIRIT OURS WAS THE FIRST IN PRECINCT 4 POINT PRECINCT 5 IS STILL IN THAT PROCESS, BUT IF WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE WANT TO DO ALL OF THESE OVERALL, I THINK IT HAS TO BE ALL OF THEM, AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT SCOPE. THE ONLY REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE I COMPLETELY AGREE. THE GOVERNMENT CENTER, THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE NEED THERE RIGHT NOW. THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FUNCTIONS IN THEIR THAT WILL HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON ALL OF THOSE OTHER PROJECTS AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE TAX OFFICES AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS IN A REASONABLE WAY, WE COULD HAVE SIX OR EIGHT OF THESE PROJECTS GOING AT ONE TIME, AND HAVING SOMEONE TO DO ALL OF THOSE AT ONCE, I THINK THERE IS BENEFIT TO THAT, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT THESE INDIVIDUAL PROCESSES TO

BE LOST. >> I SEE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

COMMISSIONER SHELL IS BEING RESPECTFUL OF THE SPACE AND TIME YOU HAVE TAKEN, AND WE WANT IN NO WAY TO HAVE THIS NEXT LEVEL COUNTYWIDE LEGISLATION EFFORT TO MAKE YOU FEEL ANY KIND OF WAY, UNDERMINED OR THWARTED OR ANYTHING. IT IS INTENDED AND DESIGNED TO PUT INTO A BINDER, IF YOU WILL. PUT INTO THE FOLD, EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THE DIFFERENT SPACES. COMMISSIONER SHELL IS RIGHT THAT THEY SHOULD DEFINITELY BECOME THOUGH SHE DIDN'T SAY THIS PART, BUT THAT IS THE ROADMAP.

CENTER ONLY FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC. THAT IS OF THE INEVITABILITY OF THE FUTURE OF THAT BUILDING. JUSTICE ONLY.

AND SO WE MUST USE THE MECHANISMS AND THE PROCESSES AND THE PROFESSIONALS AND THE TRAININGS AND ALL THE LEGWORK YOU HAVE DONE TO FIND OUT HOW WE CONSOLIATE AND COORDINATE A RESOURCE CENTER, ALONG WITH AS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON. IT MAKES SENSE TO BE EFFICIENT, SO WE CAN SAY PRECINCT 1, 4, 3.

THIS IS WHAT WE WANT, LIKE THE OPEN SPACE PROGRAM. AND THEN WE CREATE A POTENTIAL CONVERSATION OF PUTTING IT OUT FOR THE LONG

GAME PERK >> IF THEY HAD A PROJECT THEY WANTED TO FOLD IN, THAT SCOPE COULD ALWAYS BE INCLUDED OR NOT INCLUDED. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER SMITH THAT GOVERNMENT CENTER USE DOES OVERLAP WITH A LOT OF OTHER COUNTY FUNCTIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN FACILITIES ACROSS THE COUNTY, BUT THERE MAY BE SMALL PROJECTS THAT COME UP.

I'M NOT SAYING IT HAS TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF EVERYTHING, UNLESS THAT IS THE INTENT OF THE PERSON THAT IS MANAGING THOSE PROJECTS WITHIN THEIR PRECINCTS, AND IF THAT TIME COMES, WE CAN ADD THAT TO THE SCOPE. MY IDEA WAS THAT WE DO AT LEAST GET STARTED WITH SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO THE GOVERNMENT CENTERED. WE CAN DOVETAIL IT INTO OTHER USES BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS READY TO GO. WE ARE HAVING SOME REAL ISSUES PERK TO ME, WE CAN BRING A SELECTION . THE JUDGE AND I CAN BRING A SELECTION. WE CAN THEN TRY TO DEVELOP THE CONTRACT THAT ENCOMPASSES THE SCOPE THAT MAY BE VERY SPECIFIC IN SOME WAYS TO THE GOVERNMENT CENTER AND MAY LEAVE ITSELF OPEN IF THE COURT MEMBERS WANTED TO USE THAT SCOPE, THEY CAN PLUG IN THAT.

[03:40:02]

>> I WOULD TALK WITH THE JUDGE. WE WOULD BRING IN A SUCTION.

THE SCOPE WOULD INCLUDE THAT GOVERNMENT CENTER. AND THE COURT COULD EITHER APPROVE IT, OR NOT. WE CAN NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT. THE COURT CAN APPROVE IT OR NOT. IF AT ANY TIME, THE CORE GROUP SAYS, HEY, I'VE GOT SOMETHING FOR THIS, THE COURT MEMBER WOULD SPONSOR THE ITEM. YOU CAN TALK TO ME. HE WOULD BRING THE ITEM BACK AND SAY, HEY, I NEED A PROJECT THAT NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON, TOO. I MIGHT ADD IT TO THE SCOPE OF THE CURRENT FROM, OR I MIGHT CHOOSE A GOOD ONE AND GO THAT ROUTE. YOU WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO COME TO THE COURT AND SAY, HEY, CAN WE DISBAND -- EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THAT? THE COURT CAN THEN DECIDE, DO WE WANT TO EXPAND THE SCOPE TO DO THAT WORK? WE CAN COME BACK WITH AT LEAST -- THE GOVERNMENT CENTER, WHICH WOULD BE USED AS A MODEL TO EITHER TAG ON, OR DO IT WITH A DIFFERENT FIRM IN THE SAME MANNER.

>> THAT WAS WELL THOUGHT OUT. TO EXPAND ON THAT, WE COULD ALSO SAY, IN THE NEXT COURT, AND THAT IS MY AIM, I HOPE, FOR THE NEXT COURT, WE WILL BRING AN ITEM. WE WILL DO A COUNTYWIDE ASSESSMENT PERSPECTIVE APPROACH. AND BE PREPARED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE , WORKING IN YOUR PRECINCTS, AND SAY, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD HDR'S WORK TO THIS SCOPE SO IT CAN BE UNDER THE SAME BIG HOLISTIC LENS, SO WE CAN ALL HAVE THE UNIFIED FRONT, AND WE CAN ADD AT THAT TIME, WITH THAT INTENT, MAYBE WE CAN CRAFT THE AGENDA ITEM FOR THE NEXT COURT.

>> CAN I CHIME IN? >> SURE PERK

>> STEPHANIE HUNT, THIS WAS WRITTEN PER PROJECT. IT OPERATES LIKE OUR ENGINEERING POOLS, TO AIR, YOU CAN SELECT WHATEVER VENDOR WAS APPROVED OUT OF THAT POOL, AND BRING THE WORK CONTRACT BACK TO COURT WITH YOUR SPECIFIC PROJECT.

NOW, IT IS REALLY UP TO Y'ALL. IF YOU WANT TO DO COUNTYWIDE, BUT IT WAS DIRECTED KIND OF LIKE COMMISSIONER: -- I KNOW YOU AND COMMISSIONER INGALSBE ARE WORKING ON THIS. IF THERE IS A FIRM IN THERE THAT YOU WANT , BECAUSE THE RECENTLY AWARDED TO MULTIPLE VENDORS IS BECAUSE ONE VENDOR CANNOT HANDLE THE WORKLOAD OF ALL THE PROJECTS WE HAVE GOING ON IN THE COUNTY. IT WAS AGREED UPON BY ALL OF YOU. CAN WE PUT THE SCOPE OF WORK TOGETHER. IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT THE NEEDS ASSESSMENTS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY CONTRACTED WITH. THOSE DO NEED TO BE COMPLETED. IF YOU WANT TO DO -- THE RECOMMENDATION FOR MY OFFICE WOULD BE THAT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PROJECT, WE WOULD DO AN INDIVIDUAL CONTRACT BECAUSE THE NEEDS OF EACH PROJECT ARE GOING TO BE VERY SPECIFIC.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT DIRECTION. I MOST GRATEFUL, BUT I WILL STATE THIS, AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER SMITH MENTIONED THIS JUST NOW. THE EFFICIENCY OF IT. MY NAME -- AIM THROUGH THE COUNTYWIDE LENS IS TO ISSUE A CONTRACT THAT WOULD BE THE COUNTYWIDE LENS, AND SO HOW DO WE THREAD THAT NEEDLE WHERE THEY CAN COME BACK AND ADD TO IT SOME KIND OF WAY, PARTICULARLY WITH A SUB STATION OR PRECINCT ?

>> BUT TO YOUR POINT, AND TO -- WITH THAT CLARIFICATION, IT PUTS A FINER POINT ON IT. THE WORK THAT HDR HAS DONE IN EACH ONE OF THE INDIVIDUAL PRECINCTS, THEY HAVE SAT DOWN AND INTERVIEWED EACH ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ASKED HOW THEY WILL COURTNEY THAT, AND WHAT THAT WOULD BE OVER TIME.

SO I MORE COMFORTABLE NOW, KNOWING WITH THE CLARIFICATION THAT STEPHANIE HAS GIVEN US PERK MY CONCERN IS THAT A LOT OF THOSE EVALUATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE ON THE PRECINCT LEVEL, AND 1, 2, 5, AND 4, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAS BEEN THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN INPUT INTO, HERE IS WHAT OUR OVERALL NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT CENTER WILL BE.

WHOEVER GETS THAT CONTRACT -- AND I TRUST Y'ALL TO BRING BACK A PROPOSAL, BUT WHOEVER GETS THAT CONTRACT OR WHATEVER THE RECOMMENDATION INTO BEING THAT WE APPROVE FOR THE GOVERNMENT CENTER ITSELF, I JUST NEED TO ENSURE THAT WHATEVER HDR HAS, THE INFORMATION AND DATA THAT THOSE DEPARTMENT -- DEPARTMENT HAVE GIVEN TO HDR IN RELATION TO WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE IN THE PRECINCT, ARE INCORPORATED THERE. AND I FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE GIVING IT TO RFP WHEN IT'S DONE IN A WAY THAT IS DEFINITELY JUST -- INAUDIBLE ] SPOKE ABSOLUTELY. THE AIM IS TO CRAP THAT JERK

>> WHILE THE MASTER PLAN THAT WAS ORIGINALLY DONE BY HDR IS COMPLETE, I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THEM, TO REVISE THAT, AND I WAS

[03:45:05]

BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD RIGHT WHEN THEY WERE FINISHING UP, WE HAD SOME NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS COMING IN. WE HAD NEW DEFERMENTS CREATED SINCE THAT MASTER PLAN WAS DONE. THAT KIND OF CHANGE THE DYNAMIC OF WHAT THEIR ORIGINAL MASTER PLAN CALLED FOR. AND SO, I HAVE ASKED THEM TO REVISIT THAT, AND THEY HAVE OUTLINED THAT. AND SO WE GOT THAT STARTED AFTER WE HAD THAT. IT WON'T TAKE LONG BECAUSE THERE ARE THAT MANY

CHANGES . >> YOU'RE ASKING THEM TO JUST

GIVE A REFRESH. >> CORRECT.

>> AND WITH THE ADDITION OF THOSE COUPLE OF DEPARTMENTS, AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, IT WOULD JUST BE INTERVIEWING THOSE NEW DEFERMENTS TO SEE WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.

>> MY AIM IS -- I DON'T WANT HDR TO THINK THAT I WANT TO PLOW OVER ANY OF THAT WORK. I WANT TO CAPTURE ALL OF THAT WORK AND EVERY SINGLE KEYSTROKE AND GRAPH THAT WAS CREATED. I HAVE SEEN ALMOST ALL OF THOSE. I WANT TO CAPTURE ALL OF IT IN A MANNER SO THAT WE CAN CREATE THE COUNTYWIDE MASTER PLAN FOR

ALL OF US TO WORK WITH. >> YEAH. TO ME, FROM A NEEDS ASSESSMENT, WE HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NEEDS ASSESSMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. THEY ARE IN DIFFERENT STAGES RIGHT NOW. THE GOVERNMENT CENTER, IN MY OPINION, IS VERY HIGH LEVEL.

WE DO NEED TO REFRESH AND UPDATE FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THAT HAS BEEN DONE, BUT WE HAVE WHAT IS NEEDED. WE NEED HELP WITH SOMEBODY TO GET IT DONE. THAT IS A LONG TERM PROJECT , AND IF AT ANY TIME, A NEEDS RESULTS IN NEEDING TO GET IT DONE, STEPHANIE MENTIONED HOW THAT COULD HAPPEN PERK WE COULD TACK ONTO ONE CONTRACT AND SOME COULD BRING IN ANOTHER SELECTION OR NEGOTIATE ANOTHER, BUT TO ME, THERE IS AN ASSESSMENT OF THAT HAS TO COME WITH THE GOVERNMENT CENTER. AS COMMISSIONER SMITH MENTIONED, BECAUSE IT DOES DOVETAIL. WE CAN'T ACT LIKE IT DOESN'T IMPACT OTHER USE. THERE ARE WAYS YOU CAN TAKE FUNCTIONS AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER AND USE IT AS A FUNCTION SOMEWHERE ELSE. THEY CAN HAVE SOMETHING DONE FOR A PRECINCT 1 OFFICE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU'RE TRYING TO DEVELOP A PROJECT FOR THE GOVERNMENT CENTER IN YOU GO, MAYBE THIS FUNCTION CAN BE PLUGGED INTO THAT OFFICE. THAT MITIGATION NEEDS TO HAPPEN. YOU DON'T WANT TO JUST OPERATE INDIVIDUALLY PERK BUT I THINK FROM A NEEDS ASSESSMENT, WE HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NEEDS. TO ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS GETTING TO THE POINT IN THE PROJECT AND DELIVERING, AND TAKING THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND TAKING IT TO THE NEXT STEP. TO ME, THE GOVERNMENT CENTER IS THE BEST PLACE TO START.

BRING IN AN AGENDA ITEM WITH THAT PERK I KNOW THAT BETWEEN

[K.7. Discussion and possible action to award a contract for RFP 2024-P08 Generator Preventative Maintenance & Repair Services to Rig Safe Solutions Inc. and authorize staff and District Attorney, Civil Division to negotiate a contract. BECERRA/T.CRUMLEY/LITTLE JOHN/CUTLER]

>> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TOWARD A CONTRACT FOR RFP 2024 MINUS P 0 8, GENERATOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES TO RIG SAFE SOLUTIONS INC. AND AUTHORIZED STAFF AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY CIVIL DIVISION TO NEGOTIATE A

CONTRACT. >> SECOND.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? PLEASE CALL THE ROLL PERK

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES.

[K.8. Discussion and possible action to award and execute a contract for IFB 2024-B10 Road Building Materials -General Road Construction to Bauntex Materials, Inc. and Colorado Materials, Ltd per the Bid Form. BECERRA/BORCHERDING]

>> JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES..

>> K 8 PERK DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AWARD AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR IFB 2024 TO BE 10 BUILDING MATERIALS.

>> MOTION. >> SECOND

>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL PERK >> COMMISSIONER SHELL.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.

[M.2. Discussion related to the Hays County inmate population, to include current population counts and costs. BECERRA]

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN.

>> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA.

>> YES. >> M 2 PERK DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE HIS COUNTY INMATE PREPARATION TO INCLUDE CURRENT

PUBLISHING COUNTS AND COSTS. >> WE HAVE A REPORT OF OUR INMATE ABLATION. ARE JILL SYSTEM HAS A 410 CAPACITY.

INAUDIBLE ] THE JILL'S DAILY AVERAGE WAS 534. PEAK WAS 545 ON MAY 2ND. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR OUTSOURCING INMATES THIS

[03:50:02]

JORDAN. >> WE DO NOT NEED TO OPEN X NEGATIVE SESSION TODAY PERK YOUR WELCOME.

>> MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> SECOND.

>> UNLESS A COURT MEMBER REALLY WANTS TO.

>> WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.