[*Due to technical issues, the time currently displayed in the video is incorrect.*]
[A. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. OUR INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY OUR VERY OWN PASTOR, DARIUS TODD. IF YOU WILL, PLEASE.
GOOD MORNING. I AM NOT DARIUS TODD. I AM PAUL VALDEZ.
BUT I AM SO HONORED TO GET TO BE HERE THIS MORNING AND TO LEAD US IN OUR INVOCATION.
I THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR SO LOVING THE WORLD THAT YOU GAVE US YOUR ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, JESUS, AND THAT THROUGH HIM YOU HAVE GRANTED TO ETERNAL LIFE TO WHOMEVER WOULD BELIEVE IN HIM FOR SALVATION.
HEAVENLY FATHER, AS THIS MEETING TAKES PLACE, I RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS YOU WHO HAS ULTIMATELY ORDAINED FOR JUDGE BECERRA, COMMISSIONERS, INGALSBE, COHEN, HAMER, AND SMITH TO SERVE FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS.
SO I ASK THAT YOU WOULD GRANT THEM WISDOM NOT OF THIS WORLD, BUT THAT WHICH COMES FROM ABOVE.
FOR THE WISDOM THAT COMES FROM ABOVE IS FIRST PURE, THEN PEACEABLE, GENTLE, OPEN TO REASON, FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS, IMPARTIAL AND SINCERE.
GOD, I PRAY ONLY FOR THE PROCLAMATIONS THAT ARE MADE IN ACCORDANCE TO YOUR HOLY SCRIPTURES.
I PRAY FOR A SPIRIT OF COURAGE AGAINST THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURE AND THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL THAT WOULD SEEK TO DESTROY WHAT YOU INTENDED A FAMILY TO BE, THAT WHICH BEGAN WITH ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN. AND FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR THESE LEADERS RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF LIFE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE UNDERGOING PAIN AND SUFFERING.
FOR THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT A HOUSE DIVIDED CANNOT STAND.
BUT BUT IN HUMILITY EACH OF US WOULD COUNT OTHERS MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN OURSELVES.
FOR YOUR WORD TELLS US THAT PRIDE GOES BEFORE THE FALL AND A HAUGHTY SPIRIT BEFORE DESTRUCTION.
GOD, PLEASE HELP EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE ATTENDANTS TO WALK HUMBLY, TO ACT JUSTLY, AND TO LOVE MERCY.
IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS I PRAY. AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.
MY LIFE LONG BUDDY, PAUL VALDEZ. GOOD JOB. THANK YOU.
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.
AND THE BEAT GOES ON. ROXANNE, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COMMISSIONER INGALSBE HERE, COMMISSIONER COHEN HERE, COMMISSIONER HAMMER HERE, COMMISSIONER SMITH, JUDGE BECERRA HERE. DO YOU HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS PORTION OF COURT?
[E. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
I HAVE ONE EMAIL, PUBLIC COMMENT, ONE EMAIL. OKAY, IF YOU WILL READ THAT EMAIL THEN.EMAILED PUBLIC COMMENT IS FROM CATHERINE BEAMER.
GOOD DAY COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS KAT BEAMER AND I LIVE IN SAN MARCOS, TEXAS.
I RISE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE DUE PROCESS PROCLAMATION AND ASK THIS COURT TO ADOPT IT.
AS A PERSON OF FAITH. I BELIEVE IN JUSTICE THAT IS FAIR, IMPARTIAL AND GROUNDED IN TRUTH.
DUE PROCESS IS A REFLECTION OF THAT COMMAND. IT PROTECTS EVERY PERSON'S RIGHT TO FAIR TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, INCOME, OR CIRCUMSTANCE.
PASSING THIS PROCLAMATION DOES JUST THAT. IT AFFIRMS HAYS COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO THE FOUNDATIONAL VALUES OF FAIRNESS, DIGNITY, AND THE RULE OF LAW. THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS.
IT'S ABOUT PRINCIPLE. IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT NO ONE IS PRESUMED GUILTY WITHOUT A CHANCE TO BE HEARD, AND THAT EVERY RESIDENT IS TREATED WITH EQUAL RESPECT IN THE EYES OF THE LAW.
[00:05:02]
I URGE YOU, I URGE YOU, TO ADOPT THIS PROCLAMATION AND DEMONSTRATE THAT HAYS COUNTY STANDS FOR THE SIDE OF JUSTICE, MERCY, AND GOOD GOVERNANCE. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND SUPPORT AND SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY.AND THANK YOU. SO AT THIS POINT, I GET THE PRIVILEGE OF ASKING YOU TO OPEN F1,
[F.1. Adopt a Resolution affirming Hays County’s commitment to the Constitutional and Humane Treatment of Immigrants in the custody of any U.S. law enforcement agency, and calling for due process and the protection of habeas corpus. BECERRA (Part 1 of 2)]
F1 ADOPT A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING HAYS COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE CUSTODY OF ANY U.S.LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, AND CALLING FOR DUE PROCESS AND THE PROTECTION OF HABEAS CORPUS.
SO MOVE. THANK YOU. SECOND, PLEASE. READ IT. RESOLUTION OF THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT AFFIRMING THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS, WHEREAS THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING ITS BILL OF RIGHTS, GUARANTEES DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW TO ALL PERSONS, NOT JUST CITIZENS.
REAFFIRMED IN LANDMARK RULINGS SUCH AS EXODUS AND DAVID VERSUS DAVIS IN 2001, AND HAYS COUNTY IS STEADFAST IN ITS OATH BOUND DUTY TO UPHOLD THESE PROTECTIONS. AND WHEREAS THE FIFTH AND 14TH AMENDMENTS MANDATE THAT NO PERSON SHALL BE DEPRIVED OF LIFE, LIBERTY OR PROPERTY WITHOUT DUE PROCESS OF LAW, A PROTECTION EXTENDED TO EVERY HUMAN BEING ON AMERICAN SOIL, UNDERSCORING OUR NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS AND RESTRAINT.
AND WHEREAS THE SUPREME COURT HAS LONG AFFIRMED THAT THE CONSTITUTION APPLIES TO ALL PERSONS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING ALIENS, WHETHER THEIR PRESENCE HERE IS LAWFUL, UNLAWFUL, TEMPORARY, OR PERMANENT.
AND WHEREAS THE WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS ENSHRINED IN ARTICLE ONE, SECTION NINE OF THE US CONSTITUTION PROTECTS AGAINST ARBITRARY DETENTION AND UNDERSCORES THE AMERICAN REJECTION OF UNCHECKED GOVERNMENTAL POWER, OBLIGATING US TO MAINTAIN ACCOUNTABILITY IN ALL ACTS OF RESTRAINT AND RELOCATION.
AND WHEREAS, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE TREATMENT, DETENTION, AND TRANSPORT OF INDIVIDUALS WITHIN HAYS COUNTY IS NOT ONLY A MATTER OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, BUT A CONSTITUTIONAL IMPERATIVE GROUNDED IN THE FIRST AND FOURTH AMENDMENT'S PROTECTIONS OF SPEECH, ASSOCIATION AND FREEDOM FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES.
AND WHEREAS THE PRINCIPLE OF RECIPROCITY RECIPROCITY, EXCUSE ME DUE TO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO TO YOU, ECHOES NOT ONLY THROUGH SACRED SCRIPTURE, BUT THROUGH THE AMERICAN ETHOS EMBEDDED IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, WHICH ASSERTS THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS.
AND WHEREAS THE WEARING OF BODY CAMERAS, VISIBLE NAME IDENTIFICATION, AND CLEAR ORGANIZATIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL INSIGNIA BY ANY INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THE PHYSICAL CUSTODY OR TRANSPORT OF PERSONS IS A NECESSARY SAFEGUARD IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE VALUES OF TRANSPARENCY, DEMOCRATIC OVERSIGHT, AND CONSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND SUCH INDIVIDUALS MUST NOT WEAR FACE COVERINGS EXCEPT FOR MEDICALLY NECESSARY REASONS, SO THAT THEY MAY BE CLEARLY AND FULLY IDENTIFIED BY THE PUBLIC THEY SERVE. AND WHEREAS EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS SWORN AN OATH TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WE EMBRACE THIS RESOLUTION AS A PATRIOTIC ACT OF FIDELITY TO THAT SACRED PROMISE.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DEMANDS A CLEAR, CONSISTENT, AND CONSTITUTIONALLY SOUND PROCESS FOR THE HANDLING OF INDIVIDUALS, IMMIGRANTS OR OTHERWISE, BY ANY AGENCY OR ORGANIZATION OPERATING WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS PROCESS MUST INCLUDE TIMELY AND TRANSPARENT NOTIFICATION DETAILING WHO WAS TAKEN, UNDER WHAT AUTHORITY, WHERE THEY WERE TRANSPORTED, AND WHY SUCH ACTIONS WERE TAKEN WERE UNDERTAKEN.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT URGES EVERY CITY COUNCIL AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ACROSS THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS TO ADOPT SIMILAR RESOLUTIONS REAFFIRMING THE TIMELESS AMERICAN PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS, JUSTICE AND HUMAN DIGNITY, AND TO DO SO NOT AS PARTIZANS BUT AS PATRIOTS.
ADOPTED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025. THANK YOU FOR READING THAT.
AND I MAKE NO ASSUMPTIONS. WHEN I WALK INTO A ROOM, I ALWAYS INTRODUCE MYSELF.
I ASSUME NO ONE KNOWS WHO I AM. THAT'S, IN MY OPINION, ARROGANT.
AND SO I ALWAYS SAY WHO I AM, AND I MAKE NO ASSUMPTIONS THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
THROUGH THAT LENS. WITH THAT EFFORT, I'VE PREPARED A SHORT VIDEO.
[00:10:03]
ROXANNE, WILL YOU PLEASE PLAY IT SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE BRINGING THIS TO COURT? WHY? I AM BRINGING THIS TO COURT. AND YOU GOT TO KNOW, WHILE THEY'RE PREPARING THAT IT IS LITERALLY A THUMBNAIL.AT MOST, IT IS A TINY DROP OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
AQUI ESTOY YO. UN AUMENTO UN AUMENTO.
HOMES ARE IN CONDITIONING. AIR CONDITIONING IS ON.
NO SYNTHESIS. PORQUE NO PUEDO ESTAR AQUI. HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY.
WE'LL BE THERE IN TEN MINUTES. IT'S NOT A LONG DRIVE.
OKAY. COME ON. LET'S GET THOSE PEOPLE. GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE, PLEASE.
GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE. YOU GUYS BACK UP, BACK UP, BACK UP, BACK UP.
KEEP GOING. BACK UP, PLEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH, I'LL GET THEM TO DO A MEDICAL CHECK ON.
ALL AROUND US NATIONALLY, STATEWIDE, REGIONALLY, AND YES, EVEN HERE AT HOME.
A DISTURBING PATTERN IS UNFOLDING. INDIVIDUALS MASKED, ANONYMOUS AND IMPOSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY ARE TAKING PART IN MOVEMENTS THAT ERODE TRUST, INCREASED DIVISION, AND DISRUPT THE PEACE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
THEY WEAR NO MARKERS, NO BADGES, NO FACES, JUST SHADOWS IN PLAIN SIGHT.
THEIR TACTICS, ONCE DISTANT HEADLINES, ARE NOW SHOWING UP IN OUR OWN BACKYARDS IN HAYS COUNTY.
THIS IS NOT HAPPENING IN SOME FAR OFF CORNER OF THE COUNTRY.
IT'S HAPPENING HERE, RIGHT HERE IN HAYS COUNTY, WHERE EVEN YOUR COUNTY JUDGE CAN BE PROFILED.
THESE ACTIONS ARE NOT JUST WRONG. THEY ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
THEY ARE DIVISIVE. AND ABOVE ALL, THEY ARE HIGHLY UNPRODUCTIVE.
THAT'S THE EXTENT OF IT. WE HAVE SOME COMMENTS, DON'T WE? YES, WE DO HAVE COMMENTS. IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? OKAY. WE'LL FOLLOW. I USUALLY GET THEM HANDED TO ME.
[00:15:05]
MY SECOND JUDGE. NO. DON'T WORRY, DON'T WORRY.THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. FIRST UP TO SPEAK, JONATHAN STEINBERG.
GOOD MORNING. I'M JONATHAN STEINBERG, A 35 YEAR RESIDENT OF HAYS COUNTY, A 66 YEAR OLD RETIREE IN DRIFTWOOD. AND THE GRANDSON OF IMMIGRANTS OF RUSSIAN PERSECUTION OF JEWS.
I WANT TO MAKE THREE POINTS. I SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE OFFICERS THAT SERVE AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS, ARE DESERVEDLY PROUD TO WEAR THE BADGE, AND IT'S ENTIRELY FAIR AND JUST TO EXPECT LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AND THE AUTHORITY THEY USE IN PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES ON OUR BEHALF. AND THEY SHOULD HAVE EVERY REASON TO DO SO WITH PRIDE AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY, STATE AND COUNTY. NUMBER TWO, I SUPPORT A CITIZEN'S RIGHT, OUR RIGHTS TO PEACEFUL PROTEST, AND TO PETITION OUR GOVERNMENT FOR REDRESS OF OUR GRIEVANCE.
BEING OF A FAMILY WHO ESCAPED GOVERNMENT PERSECUTION.
CITIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT AND DUTY TO PEACEFULLY, PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE AND PROTEST AGAINST MASKED AND UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE TAKING PEOPLE OFF THE STREET, ANY PERSON OFF THE STREET TO BE IMPRISONED AND POSSIBLY SENT OVERSEAS WITHOUT DUE PROCESS.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, NONE OF US ARE SAFE. NONE OF US.
I BELIEVE IT STRIKES THE APPROPRIATE BALANCE BETWEEN JUST AND FAIR LAW ENFORCEMENT UNDER DUE PROCESS, BALANCED WITH THE PEOPLE'S OBLIGATIONS TO STAND UP TO UNJUST OPPRESSION.
NO GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PULL UP IN AN UNMARKED VEHICLE, TAKE A PERSON OFF THE STREET AND AND WITHOUT DUE PROCESS, IMPRISON THAT PERSON. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT HAVE THAT AUTHORITY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT UP WE HAVE ALYSSA FOSTER LASSER.
HELLO. THANK YOU. WHO AMONG US HERE TODAY ARE NOT THE DESCENDANTS OF IMMIGRANTS? SOME OF OUR ANCESTORS TRAVELED SEEKING ASYLUM.
OTHERS WERE BROUGHT AGAINST THEIR WILL. MANY OF US HAVE SOME INDIGENOUS ANCESTORS AS WELL, BUT ONLY A FEW OF US CAN CLAIM THAT THIS LAND IS THEIRS BY ORIGIN OF ALL ANCESTRY.
TEXAS HAS A COMPLEX HISTORY, AND MUCH OF OUR SHARED HISTORIES ARE NOT TAUGHT IN THE FOURTH, 11TH, AND SEVENTH GRADE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IMMIGRANTS CAME TO THIS LAND IN THE 19TH CENTURY IN LARGE NUMBERS.
AMONG THEM WAS MY FAMOUS ANCESTOR, HENRY WAX KARNES, A TEXAS RANGER.
I RECALL BEING TAUGHT OF HIS HEROISM AT THE KNEE OF MY GRANDMOTHER.
YET AS A YOUNG WOMAN WITH MY FIRST CHILD, I LEARNED ABOUT THE CAREER OF GREGORIO CORTEZ, WHOSE LYRICS TELL ANOTHER STORY OF BRUTALITY BY MY ANCESTOR AMONG THE BORDERS OF WHAT IS NOW TEXAS.
MY DAUGHTER'S FATHER IS THE SON OF MIGRANT FARM WORKER FROM MICHOACAN, MEXICO, WHO AT THE AGE OF 13 EMIGRATED TO THE MIDWEST, SETTLED AND HAD TEN CHILDREN. HE WORKED A FACTORY JOB WITH THE PENSION AND BECAUSE OF THEIR DEDICATION TO HARD WORK AND FAMILY, THEY RAISED THESE CHILDREN ALL COLLEGE EDUCATED, THREE PHYSICIANS, THREE NURSES, AND A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER AND OTHERS WHO WERE LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. MY HEART BROKE AT THE AWARENESS THAT MY LINEAGE WAS INVOLVED IN VIOLENTLY OPPRESSING MEXICANS, MEXICANS ALONG THE BORDER. SO SINCE THAT TIME, I'VE TAKEN IT UPON MYSELF TO LEARN OF OUR COMPLEX HISTORY.
CONSIDER THE MORAL VACANCY OF POLICIES THAT PERSECUTE IMMIGRANTS.
JAPANESE INTERNMENT CAMPS AND THE REFUSAL TO ACCEPT REFUGEES SEEKING ASYLUM FROM NAZI GERMANY.
THE SS SAINT LOUIS IN 1939 CARRIED 303 937 SOULS, BUT WAS TURNED AWAY FROM OUR SHORES BY FDR AND SENT INTO THE UNSPEAKABLE HORRORS OF THE HOLOCAUST. ONE QUARTER OF AMONG THEM DIED AT THE HANDS OF A DERANGED DICTATOR, ADOLF HITLER. MY SPOUSE OF 29 YEARS IS DESCENDANT OF JEWISH IMMIGRANTS FROM POLAND SEEKING SAFETY FROM POGROMS. THEY WERE PUT ON SHIPS AT THE TURN OF THE 19TH CENTURY BY THEIR PARENTS AT THE AGE OF 13.
[00:20:01]
THEY PROSPERED IN TEXAS, ARRIVING THROUGH THE PORT OF GALVESTON AND TRAVELING TO TYLER.TODAY, NO JEWS REMAIN IN THEIR VILLAGE OF POLAND.
THEY WERE ALL SLAYED. WHO ARE WE? WE HAVE A COMPLEX HISTORY AND ORIGINS.
DO WE CARE ABOUT IMMIGRANTS, OR DO WE CHOOSE TO HATE THEM AS SCAPEGOATS FOR PROBLEMS WE DON'T UNDERSTAND AT THE DIRECTION OF A POLITICIANS WHO DO NOT WISH TO ADDRESS CLASS DISPARITIES. DO WE WANT TO LEARN TO BECOME BETTER HUMANS, A BETTER STATE THAT CARES ABOUT ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS? WHAT WILL OUR DESCENDANTS SAY ABOUT US WHEN THEY LEARN ABOUT THE CURRENT POLICIES OF TERROR THAT KIDNAP, DETAIN AND DEPORT SOULS WITHOUT DUE PROCESS? IT'S TYRANNICAL.
BROADLY, BROADLY, BREEDING FEAR AND DISTRUST AND DESTROYING OUR DESTROYING LIVES.
LET'S TEACH OUR CHILDREN ETHICS AND MORALS THAT REFLECT HUMANE VALUES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, PASTOR JEFF THOMPSON.
GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M GEOFF THOMPSON, A PASTOR OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA.
I'VE COME TO SPEAK ABOUT A TRAGEDY TAKING PLACE ACROSS OUR NATION, A TRAGEDY THAT IS TOTALLY IN OPPOSITION TO OUR VALUES AS PEOPLE OF FAITH. IN OUR HOLY SCRIPTURES, WE ARE ADMONISHED TIME AND AGAIN TO WELCOME AND CARE FOR THE POOR, THE WIDOWS, THE ORPHANS, AND THE STRANGERS AMONG US.
ALTHOUGH WE DON'T DO ALWAYS DO A GREAT JOB WITH THE POOR, THE WIDOWS AND THE ORPHANS, IT'S THE LACK OF THE CARE FOR STRANGERS IN OUR LAND THAT IS UPPERMOST IN MY MIND TODAY. AND IT'S NOT JUST THE LACK OF CARE, BUT THE PERSECUTION OF THE IMMIGRANTS THAT IS TAKING PLACE AMONG US. THAT SHOCKS ME THE MOST.
THE POWERS THAT BE HAVE LABELED THEM AS VIOLENT CRIMINALS, MENTAL PATIENTS, SEX OFFENDERS, INVADERS WHO ARE HERE TO DO NOTHING BUT HARM.
THE TRUTH IS THAT A VAST, VAST MAJORITY OF THESE FOLKS ARE JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE FLEEING ABJECT POVERTY AND STARVATION. MANY HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN THEIR OWN NATIONS.
I'VE HAD SEVERAL I'VE HAVE VISITED SEVERAL OF THEIR COUNTRIES AND KNOW HOW THEY ARE FORCED TO LIVE.
THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS JUST LOOKING FOR A SAFE PLACE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES INSTEAD OF WELCOMING WELCOMING THEM AS SCRIPTURES TELL US TO DO.
THEY'VE BEEN ARRESTED, DETAINED WITHOUT DUE PROCESS, AND TREATED AS A PLAGUE ON OUR NATION.
I SUPPORT TODAY ANYTHING THIS COURT CAN DO TO HELP MITIGATE IN HAYS COUNTY THE EFFECTS OF THIS TRAGEDY THAT IS SWEEPING OUR NATION SO THAT WE CAN BE THE LOVING, CARING PEOPLE I BELIEVE THAT GOD CALLS US TO BE.
THEREFORE, I SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT UP, KEVIN CHEATHAM.
SIR. I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL IMMIGRANTS.
NO ONE AMONG US, AT LEAST TO MY KNOWLEDGE WERE INDIGENOUS TO THIS PLACE WHERE WE ARE. SOME OF US WERE BROUGHT HERE, SOME OF US MOVED HERE.
SOME OF US CAME FROM OVERSEAS LOOKING FOR A BETTER LIFE.
AND I THINK THAT IS ONE THING THAT WE'RE ALL ENTITLED TO, TO BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH EACH OTHER,
[00:25:01]
BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AND BE ABLE TO WALK IN THAT OTHER PERSON'S SHOES.YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT ANOTHER PERSON HAS GONE THROUGH UNTIL YOU TALK TO THEM.
IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T DO ANYMORE IS TALK A SIMPLE CONVERSATION.
IT GETS A LOT DONE AND. IT JUST IT JUST BOGGLES MY MIND HOW WE CAN TREAT EACH OTHER IN THE WAY THAT WE DO.
SO UNCARING, SO NONCHALANT. SO. RUDE. IT WOULD BE THE BEST ANSWER. BUT I THINK THROUGH TIME, IF WE WOULD JUST SIT BACK AND THINK ABOUT THINGS BEFORE WE JUST REACTED DID THAT, WE COULD BRING A LOT MORE THINGS TO LIGHT AND BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT PERSON. OF COURSE, WITH ANYTHING YOU HAVE BAD APPLES IN EVERY GROUP.
WE HAVE ENOUGH BAD IN OUR OWN COUNTRY FROM US.
YOU KNOW, WHY ARE WE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THEY HAVE BROUGHT OVER IS SO MINUTE.
TO ME, IT DOESN'T COUNT. YOU KNOW, AND HOPEFULLY, LORD WILLING.
BRIGHTER DAYS ARE AROUND THE CORNER. I REALLY HOPE SO.
I BELIEVE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHEATHAM.
NEXT UP, JAMES BRYANT JUNIOR. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. I'M NEW TO THIS. THAT WAS THE DOCUMENT THAT THIS LADY READ WAS RIGHT TO THE POINT.
I'M ANGRY ABOUT SEEING A MOTHER DELIVER ON A DELIVERY TABLE A CHILD.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THERE TO TAKE HER AND DEPORT HER TO A DETENTION CENTER.
HER KIDS HAD NOWHERE TO GO AND THEY WENT WITH IT.
DEAR GOD, HAS THIS COUNTRY. GONE TO THIS DEGREE? I'M HERE BECAUSE OF A PROFESSOR. I HAD DOCTOR LEMONS COLLINS OF PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY TOLD ME SILENCE GIVES CONSENT. THAT'S WHY I GOT MY NOT LOOKING AT MY SHOWS THIS MORNING.
COME ON DOWN HERE TO THIS AUGUST BODY AND TALK.
LATER IN MY LIFE, I LEARNED ABOUT ERICH BONHOEFFER.
A LUTHERAN MINISTER WHO SAID, WHEN YOU DO NOT SPEAK IS YOU, IS THAT YOU SPEAK TO DO NOTHING, YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING THE WRONG WAY.
HE ALSO SAID THAT. AFTER EVERYBODY DIDN'T SPEAK FOR WHOMEVER HE WAS SPEAKING OF THE MINISTERS, THE PHYSICIANS OR WHATEVER.
YES, MISS ROSE BROOKS, WHEN YOU ASK, WHERE HAVE I BEEN? I'VE BEEN AROUND THE WORLD SEVEN TIMES. AND THIS.
DESPICABLE HUMAN BEING INDICTED 91 TIMES. THE CONVICTED FELON OF 34 CONVICTED CONVICTIONS IS GOING TO SEND HISPANIC HISPANIC SPEAKING PEOPLE TO DJIBOUTI.
THE LAST TIME I WAS IN DJIBOUTI, EVERYBODY WAS TRYING TO GET OUT.
SIR, PLEASE FACE THE COURT. OKAY. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. OKAY. WHEN I WAS IN SOUTH AFRICA, ALL THE THINGS THAT HE'S ALLUDING TO RIGHT NOW, THE AFRIKANERS WERE VERY HAPPY. THEY TREATED ME ROYALLY.
I WANT POLICE OFFICERS HANDSOMELY PAID. I WANT THEM TO GO HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES.
I WANT THEM TO LEARN EARN RESPECT EVERY TIME A POLICE OFFICER AM I.
[00:30:07]
OVERTIME, YOU WILL CONCLUDE YOUR THOUGHTS. THAT'LL BE PLENTY.JUST AS CONCISE AS YOU CAN. CENTRAL TEXAS POLICE CHIEFS.
I WANT THEM TO BE HONEST. I WANT THEM TO TREAT INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR CARE WITH DIGNITY.
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE MISTREATED BECAUSE OF THEIR COLOR.
THEIR BASIC ANATOMY WAS TAUGHT BY CHINESE PHYSICIAN.
CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY. ENCEPHALOPATHY WAS COINED AND FOUND OUT BY NIGERIAN IMMIGRANT.
THANK YOU SIR. AND THE IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME TO GARY JOB CORPS RIGHT OFF THE BOAT THERE.
THE KIDS HAD 2 TO 3 TIMES THE SCORES OF AMERICAN KIDS ON THEIR MATH TEST.
THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP WE HAVE JACKIE JUAREZ.
CAN YOU STATE THE LAST NAME? JUAREZ? SHE SAID SHE.
OKAY. NEXT UP, WE HAVE ALYSSA GARZA. ALYSSA GARZA.
LET ME MAKE THAT ARTICULATION. THANK YOU. MA'AM.
THESE THOUGHTS ARE MY OWN. I'VE ALWAYS HAD WHAT I CONSIDER A HEALTHY DISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT.
SO IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT EVEN AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, I'M NOT A FAN OF PROCLAMATIONS OR RESOLUTIONS.
ABSENT A ROBUST PLAN TO IMPLEMENT POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY FAIL LIKE SYMBOLIC PERFORMANCES POLITICIANS USE TO PLACATE THEIR BASE, ESPECIALLY DURING ELECTION SEASON. THAT'S NOT TO SAY I DON'T UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE, BUT MY ABUELITA TAUGHT ME THAT LOVE AND CARE MUST BE SHOWN THROUGH ACTION AND NOT JUST WORDS. I'VE CARRIED THAT WISDOM WITH ME INTO EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE, INCLUDING PUBLIC SERVICE.
UNFORTUNATELY, GIVEN THE MOMENT WE'RE IN WITH AN INCREASINGLY AUTHORITARIAN STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ATTACKING THE VERY FOUNDATION OF THIS COUNTRY, THIS RESOLUTION IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. WE FIND OURSELVES NEEDING TO PUBLICLY AFFIRM WHAT SHOULD BE BASIC SHARED VALUES.
I MEAN, THE CONSTITUTION IS GOOD AND ABUSE OF POWER IS BAD.
THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. THOSE IN POWER CONVINCING THEMSELVES THAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY ENDS AT ROADS, WATER AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND NOT AT THE BASIC RIGHTS AND MATERIAL NEEDS OF CONSTITUENTS IS WHAT LED US HERE.
IF WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD, WE HAVE TO RECKON WITH THAT TRUTH.
AND THAT EFFORT MUST NOW BE MET WITH SUSTAINED FUNDING AND SUPPORT.
WE MUST ALSO ADDRESS ONGOING MEDICAL NEGLECT IN THE JAIL.
I'M GRATEFUL TO KNOW EACH OF YOU FAIRLY WELL.
I KNOW THAT YOU CARE DEEPLY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, SO I FIRMLY BELIEVE RESISTANCE ISN'T ONLY A RESOLUTION, BUT A PRACTICE. I ALSO BELIEVE THE MEMBERS OF THIS COURT HAVE WHAT IS NECESSARY TO RISE TO THE OCCASION.
SO THANK YOU, JUDGE BECERRA, FOR BRINGING FORTH THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY.
AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER COHEN, FOR CONSISTENTLY SHOWING UP IN SOLIDARITY AT EVERY ACTION, EVERY INFORMATION SESSION, EVERY PANEL THAT WE HAVE ASKED YOU TO SHOW UP TO.
IT MEANS MORE THAN YOU KNOW. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU AND OUR NEIGHBORS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE NATALIE AVENDANO.
[00:35:03]
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS NATALIE AVENDANO.I'M HERE AS AN INDIVIDUAL, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, AND AS A DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS.
AS SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN THROUGH THIS ALREADY MY DAD WAS DETAINED IN A DETENTION CENTER BACK IN 2018, AND IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD FOR ME TO SEE THE NEWS EVERY DAY SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON, BECAUSE I EXPERIENCED IT.
I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS TO NOT KNOW WHERE YOUR LOVED ONE IS.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE BEING TREATED AND YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN A REALLY COLD SPACE.
I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE EVER VISITED THE PEARSALL DETENTION CENTER.
THAT'S JUST DOWN THE ROAD IN SAN ANTONIO. THE FIRST TIME THAT I WENT THERE TO TRY TO VISIT MY DAD, I WASN'T ABLE TO. THEY WOULD NOT LET ME GO IN BECAUSE I WAS ONLY 17 YEARS OLD.
SO I WENT FOR ABOUT A COUPLE MONTHS WITHOUT SEEING MY DAD.
AND I JUST REMEMBER BEING THERE AND SEEING THE BARBED WIRE, JUST THE PLACE, HOW IT WAS.
HE WAS LITERALLY IN A PRISON. HE WAS IN A PRISON.
AND THE ONLY CRIME THAT THEY SAID THAT HE WAS GUILTY OF IS COMING HERE TO GIVE ME AND MY BROTHER AND SISTER A BETTER LIFE, THANKS TO THE SACRIFICE THAT MY PARENTS DID.
I AM HERE. I'M ABLE TO DO WORK IN MY COMMUNITY TO HELP MY COMMUNITY BE A BETTER PLACE.
THIS IS TERRIBLE. OUR COUNTRY IS IN A TERRIBLE PLACE RIGHT NOW.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL PUSHING FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THIS CANNOT CONTINUE. AND WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT DUE PROCESS IS BEING PROVIDED TO THESE INDIVIDUALS, WHICH IS WHY WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S FUNDING CONTINUES, ESPECIALLY TO PROVIDE REPRESENTATION FOR IMMIGRANTS.
THANK YOU. WELL DONE. THANK YOU. NEXT UP, ERIC MARTINEZ.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ERIC MARTINEZ AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MANO AMIGA.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO JUDGE BECERRA AND THIS COURT FOR CENTERING DUE PROCESS, A VALUE THAT SHOULD APPLY TO EVERYONE, NO MATTER WHERE THEY WERE BORN OR WHAT PAPERS THEY CARRY.
THE PROCLAMATION IS A MEANINGFUL STEP, BUT A STEP FORWARD NONETHELESS.
IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS ARE NAVIGATING DEEP FEAR.
WHAT HAPPENED ON APRIL 1ST IN DRIPPING SPRINGS, THE EARLY MORNING RAID, THE DETENTIONS, THE FLASH BANGS, AND THE KIDNAPING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SENT SHOCKWAVES THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY.
WHAT I DO KNOW IS THIS A COUNTY THAT PROCLAIMS SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS SHOULD HAVE NO TROUBLE PROVIDING PATHWAYS TO MAKE THAT SUPPORT REAL.
LET'S FUND LEGAL NAVIGATION. LET'S OFFER DEPORTATION DEFENSE.
LET'S ENSURE THAT INTERPRETERS AND TRUSTED NAVIGATORS ARE IN PLACE TO HELP PEOPLE NAVIGATE A COMPLEX AND OFTEN CRUEL SYSTEM. YOU'VE TAKEN THE FIRST ESSENTIAL STEP BY NAMING THIS TRUTH.
NOW, WE ASK THAT YOU CARRY THAT SAME ENERGY INTO YOUR BUDGET SO THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN OFFER SAFETY, STABILITY, AND A SENSE OF BELONGING WHEN EVERY OTHER FORM OF OUR GOVERNMENT HAS DONE THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT UP, MILES MARTIN.
MY NAME IS. I AM THE SOCIAL MEDIA ORGANIZER FOR MANO AMIGA.
[00:40:02]
I THINK THIS IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.I'M GOING TO READ SOMETHING ON THAT MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.
MANIFEST DESTINY. NEVER LETTING MY ANCESTORS REST IN PEACE.
KEEPING THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS HIDDEN AND STILL.
VAULT HEAVILY GUARDED BY HEARTLESS PALE FACES.
MAKE IT GREAT AGAIN. LIKE IT WAS BEFORE THEY CAME AND SPREAD INFLUENCE THROUGH RAPE AND GENOCIDE.
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN BEFORE THE TERRIBLE IMPLEMENTATION OF SHARECROPPERS AND RESERVATIONS.
REMEMBER WHEN TEXAS WAS MEXICO? FOR THOSE WHO DON'T, WE FORGOT WHEN OUR COUNTRY WAS AS GREAT AS WE SEE SO MUCH HATRED ON A DAILY BASIS THAT WE ASSOCIATE HATRED WITH GREATNESS. I HATE TO DO THIS, BUT WE ACTUALLY DID GET THE 40 ACRES AND A MULE BACK WHEN THEY MADE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE REPARATIONS DISINTEGRATED INTO THE WORST TIMES.
JANUARY 16TH, 1865. FIELD ORDER 15 WAS SIGNED.
400,000 ACRES OF CONFEDERATE LAND WAS GIVEN TO THE NEWLY FREED MAN, BUT THIS DID NOT STAND.
APRIL 15TH THAT SAME YEAR, ABRAHAM LINCOLN DIED.
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN LIKE IT WAS FOR THE THREE MONTHS BEFORE THEY KILLED OUR DREAMS, DESTROYED OUR GENERATIONAL WEALTH, AND REPLACED IT WITH GENERATIONAL TRAUMA. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN LIKE IT WAS BACK WHEN WE HAD PRIDE IN WHO WE ARE.
NEVER HAD ENOUGH SLICES FOR US. LET'S MAKE AMERICAN COBBLER OR AMERICAN EMPANADAS WITH ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY, NOT JUST THE CAPITALIST ELITES WHO SPEAK AS IF OUR VOICES SHOULDN'T BE HEARD FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA.
THEY SAY BLACK LIVES DON'T MATTER. THEY SAY BROWN ONES DON'T EITHER.
WE ON THE FIELD POURING OUT OUR HEARTS WHILE THEY INSIDE EATING THEIR GENERATIONAL WEALTH, SLEEPING IN THE COMFORTS OF THEIR INHERITANCE, LIVING OFF OUR BACKS WHILE WE PLEAD ON OUR KNEES FOR THE MONEY. TREES THAT WE PLANTED.
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. PAINT THE FLAG BLACK AND BROWN.
LIKE THE FOLKS WHO WORK YEAR ROUND TO KEEP CORPORATIONS THRIVING.
LIKE THE ONES WHOSE BLOOD BUILT THIS COUNTRY.
WHOSE SWEAT AND TEARS WATER. THESE MONEY TREES THAT Y'ALL PICK FROM ON A DAILY BASIS JUST TO GIVE US THE SEEDS AND SAY, GO GROW SOME MORE. IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN SHOULD MEAN NOW YOU KNOW HOW.
OUR TREASURER, MISS STEPHANIE TENORIO.
GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS DAPHNE HAYES, COUNTY TREASURER, FOR THE RECORD.
I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT TWO FOUR LETTER WORDS THAT SEEM TO HAVE CONSUMED OUR COMMUNITIES, NATION AND WORLD. THOSE TWO WORDS ARE HATE AND LOVE.
I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A VERY RELIGIOUS HOUSEHOLD, AND I HOLD MY RELIGION AT THE CORE OF MY LIFE.
SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME. FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD.
DID YOU NOTICE THE VERSE DIDN'T DICTATE SEXUALITY? THE VERSE DIDN'T DICTATE RACE. IT SPEAKS OF LOVE.
WITHOUT LOVE, THERE CAN BE NO HATE. WITHOUT HATE, THERE CAN BE NO LOVE.
THEY GO HAND IN HAND. BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IN SOCIETY IS HATE.
I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IN SOCIETY IS INDIFFERENCE TO HATE.
THAT'S THE TRUE BATTLE. INDIFFERENCE HAS ALLOWED HATE TO FLOURISH.
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.
THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. DID YOU NOTICE THE QUOTE DIDN'T DICTATE SEXUALITY? IT DIDN'T DICTATE RACE. IT REFLECTS TO THE CORE IDEALS OF EQUALITY AND RIGHTS AND THE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.
THERE ARE TWO PROCLAMATIONS THAT SPEAK OF LOVE ON THIS AGENDA TODAY.
AND FOR THAT I APPLAUD YOU. YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
LOVE DOES NO WRONG TO A NEIGHBOR. THEREFORE, LOVE IS FULFILLING THE LAW.
AS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO CHOOSE LOVE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ROXANNE. THAT'S THE END OF THE COMMENTS, AM I RIGHT?
[00:45:04]
I ALSO HAVE FIVE E-MAILED PUBLIC COMMENTS OR COMMENTS FOR F1 SPECIFICALLY.IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR US TO READ THOSE, SO PLEASE START A TIMER AND READ THOSE.
THANK YOU. AND THOSE ARE TWO PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WERE NOT GIVEN TO YOU.
SO F1 IF YOU WANT TO READ THEM. YES. YES. WE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO SKIP THEM.
THANK YOU. TIME ME FOR THIS FIRST EMAILED PUBLIC COMMENT IS FROM AL. I'M SORRY. AMY CAMP. HELLO.
MY NAME IS AMY CAMP. GO AHEAD. HELLO. MY NAME IS AMY CAMP, AND I AM A RESIDENT OF HAYS COUNTY.
I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER MY SUPPORT FOR JUDGE BECERRA'S PROCLAMATION SUPPORTING DUE PROCESS FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING IMMIGRANTS. ABANDONING BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR ANY REASON ONLY MAKES US MAKES ALL OF US LESS SAFE.
IT IS PROFOUNDLY DISTURBING AND FRIGHTENING TO SEE COUNTLESS REPORTS OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING CHILDREN AND BABIES, BEING TERRORIZED, ARRESTED AND DEPORTED FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN BEING SUSPECTED OF BEING IMMIGRANTS.
MOST OF US IN THIS COUNTRY ARE EITHER IMMIGRANTS OR THE DESCENDANTS OF IMMIGRANTS.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS TO PUSH BACK AGAINST NARRATIVES, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES THAT DEMONIZE IMMIGRANTS. I URGE THE HAYS COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO AFFIRM THIS PROCLAMATION AND TO CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF AND VISITORS TO THIS COUNTY.
THANK YOU, AMY KEMP. SECOND EMAILED PUBLIC COMMENT IS FROM CATHY THOMAS TO THE COURT IN THE STRONGEST TERMS POSSIBLE, I ENDORSE THE RESOLUTION CALLING FOR DUE PROCESS, WHICH IS THE LEGAL RIGHT FOR EVERY PERSON ON AMERICAN SOIL AND THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS. I'M HORRIFIED BY WHAT BY WHAT WE'RE SEEING FROM THE CURRENT WHITE HOUSE REGIME.
IMMIGRANTS COME HERE TO EITHER SAVE THEIR LIVES OR FILL JOBS THAT NEED FILLING.
NOTE THAT WE ARE NOT SEEING THE CEOS OF THE COMPANIES WHO HIRE THE UNDOCUMENTED FOLKS BEING ARRESTED AND DEPORTED, CITIZEN OR NOT. FACTS SHOW THAT IMMIGRANTS, WHETHER DOCUMENTED OR NOT, COMMIT FAR FEWER CRIMES THAN DO HOMEGROWN FOLKS.
SO THE LIES ABOUT THEIR VIOLENCE ARE JUST TO WHIP UP FEAR.
DON'T GIVE IN TO THAT. WHEN THE RHETORIC IS THAT THEY'RE LAZY AND COMING HERE TO GET OUR BENEFITS, WHICH THEY CAN'T GET. ONE HAS TO WONDER WHY THE MAJORITY OF ARRESTS ARE EITHER IN THEIR WORKPLACE OR OUTSIDE OF COURTS, WHERE PEOPLE ARE UNDERGOING THEIR LEGAL PROCESS OF ASYLUM.
THE US HAS BEEN A SHINING CITY ON THE HILL, BUT NO MORE.
THE CRUELTY OF THIS REGIME TURNS MY STOMACH. THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY DOES NOT KNOW THAT EVERY PERSON ON AMERICAN SOIL HAS THE RIGHT OF DUE PROCESS, AND APPARENTLY MORE THAN A FEW OTHERS IN OFFICE DON'T EITHER.
THEY NEED TO READ THE CONSTITUTION. AS SOMEONE WHO STRIVES TO FOLLOW CHRIST, I TAKE SERIOUSLY THE ADMONISHMENTS THAT WHATSOEVER YOU DO TO THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU DO TO ME. THIS RESOLUTION ENCOURAGES THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY.
PLEASE VOTE FOR IT. IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR THIS TO BE A UNANIMOUS VOTE, PLEASE SHOW THAT HAYS COUNTY RESPECTS THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF EVERY PERSON ON US SOIL, AND THAT THE ACTUAL LAW CAN BE FOLLOWED HUMANELY AND DECENTLY.
THANK YOU. KATHY THOMAS NEXT EMAILED PUBLIC COMMENT IS FROM FAITH BRIDGE.
GOOD MORNING, JUDGE BECERRA AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS FAITH BRIDGE AND I LIVE IN SAN MARCOS, TEXAS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT AND STRONG SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM F-1, THE RESOLUTION AFFIRMING HAYS COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS. I WORK AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, WHERE I INTERACT WITH STUDENTS EVERY DAY, MANY OF WHOM ARE IMMIGRANTS OR FROM IMMIGRANT FAMILIES.
IN MY ROLE, I STRIVE TO BE A POSITIVE EXAMPLE, TO CONNECT THEM WITH RESOURCES AND TO HELP THEM FEEL SAFE, SUPPORTED, AND VALUED IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS RESOLUTION AFFIRMS THE PRINCIPLES I BELIEVE IN DEEPLY THAT EVERYONE IN OUR COUNTRY, INCLUDING IMMIGRANTS AND NON-CITIZENS, DESERVES DUE PROCESS, EQUAL PROTECTION, AND FAIR TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW.
THIS IS NOT JUST A POLICY ISSUE. IT'S PERSONAL FOR ME.
THEY'RE NOT ALONE. THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES IN HAYS COUNTY ARE LIVING WITH THE SAME ANXIETY.
[00:50:01]
THAT'S WHY THIS RESOLUTION MATTERS. IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE LAW.IT DEMANDS BODY CAMERAS, NAME TAGS, AND CLEAR IDENTIFICATION.
BASIC MEASURES THAT PROTECT BOTH THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE OFFICERS INVOLVED.
I BELIEVE IN THE RULE OF LAW. I WANT OUR CITY, COUNTY, STATE AND COUNTRY TO FOLLOW THE LAW.
THAT'S WHAT THIS RESOLUTION DOES. IT UPHOLDS OUR CONSTITUTION AND REMINDS US THAT THOSE RIGHTS BELONG TO ALL PEOPLE, NOT JUST CITIZENS. AS A STAFF MEMBER AT TEXAS STATE, AS A SISTER, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION. IT'S NOT ABOUT POLITICS, IT'S ABOUT PRINCIPLES.
LET HAYS COUNTY BE KNOWN FOR FAIRNESS, HUMANITY, AND COURAGE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THE FOURTH PUBLIC EMAILED PUBLIC COMMENT FOR F1 IS FROM ALYSSA FOSTER.
AS A SEVENTH GENERATION LIFELONG TEXAN, I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE VALUE OF IMMIGRANTS TO OUR COMMUNITIES, STATE AND COUNTRY. THAT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE READ OUT LOUD, THAT WAS SENT TO INDIVIDUALS.
I'M SORRY, I ALREADY SPOKE. THAT'S OKAY. PERFECT. AND THANK YOU.
BUT THAT JUST GOES TO PROVE THAT YOU SEND IT.
WE READ IT. SO THANK YOU. HONESTLY, WE'VE HAD THINGS READ THAT ARE OF ALL VARIETIES AND IT IS A HOLDOVER FROM COVID, WHEN PEOPLE COULDN'T FILL THE COURTROOM LIKE WE ARE POSSIBLY TAKING FOR GRANTED RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE SO CLOSE TOGETHER.
I FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT AS I STARTED THIS COURT TODAY WITH APPRECIATION OF A FULL COURTROOM.
IT IS. IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR ME TO ALLOW ALL THAT SPACE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE WORKING.
PEOPLE ARE EITHER SLEEPING FROM A GRAVEYARD SHIFT, MANAGING FAMILIES, AND CAN'T BE HERE.
THIS IS A LUXURY THAT SOME OF US WILL NEVER HAVE.
AND SO I'VE ALWAYS ALLOWED THAT TO CONTINUE HOLD OVER FROM COVID.
AND SO YOU HAVE ONE MORE. OKAY. FINAL EMAILED PUBLIC COMMENT FOR F ONE IS FROM MARY GILROY.
IN MY COMMUNITY OF WIMBERLEY, IMMIGRANTS ARE A VITAL PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE.
THEIR CHILDREN GO TO OUR SCHOOLS, THEIR FAMILIES ATTEND CHURCHES.
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE JUST LIKE EACH OF US AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THEY DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND COMPASSION.
AS TEXAS RESIDENTS, THEY HAVE LEGAL RIGHTS AFFORDED UNDER US LAW, INCLUDING DUE PROCESS IF DETAINED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS CRITICAL MATTER. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU JUDGE. SO FIRST OF ALL, LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO IS HERE AND SPOKE.
I THINK YOUR WORDS RESONATE WITH HOW I FEEL ALSO AND I'LL JUST SAY, JUDGE, THAT THERE ARE WORDS IN THIS RESOLUTION THAT I FIND DEEPLY MEANINGFUL WORDS I WORDS. I BELIEVE WE SHOULD WORDS I BELIEVE SHOULD GUIDE HOW WE TREAT ONE ANOTHER.
WORDS SUCH AS FAIRNESS, DIGNITY, JUSTICE, DUE PROCESS, ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU. I THINK THESE ARE JUST FUNDAMENTAL VALUES ON HOW WE SHOULD LIVE AND TREAT OTHERS.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD, AND I FULLY SUPPORT IT.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, THAT MEANS A WHOLE LOT TO ME, COMMISSIONER COHEN.
THANK YOU. JUDGE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT SPOKE TODAY.
FOR THE FOR THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, JUDGE, FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, I TOOK MY OATH TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, AND I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN WHAT THAT MEANS.
YOU KNOW WHAT I SEE TODAY ON TELEVISION AND HEARING FROM FROM OTHERS CONSTITUENTS.
IT'S THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED BACK IN 2017.
RIGHT. AND I REMEMBER HOW I FELT BACK THEN. HOW HEARTBREAKING IT WAS FOR ME TO WATCH ON TELEVISION.
FAMILIES BEING BROKEN APART. WHOLE FACILITIES FULL OF CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER.
AND THAT CHANGED ME FOREVER. TO THE POINT WHERE I FELT I HAD TO DO SOMETHING AS A CITIZEN.
AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT CITIZENS CAN DO IF YOU'RE FEELING THAT WAY.
YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATE IN A PEACEFUL PROTEST.
YOU CAN DONATE TO ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE DOING, YOU KNOW, BOOTS ON THE GROUND WORK, YOU KNOW, BEHIND THE SCENES. YOU CAN WRITE LETTERS TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
YOU COULD RUN FOR OFFICE AND MAKE A CHANGE, WHICH IS ONE OF THIS IS JUST ONE REASON WHY I,
[00:55:08]
YOU KNOW, RAN FOR OFFICE AS WELL IS TO MAKE A CHANGE.AND I KNEW THAT I COULD NO LONGER JUST SIT BACK AND AND WATCH THIS HAPPEN.
SO TO SEE IT HAPPEN AGAIN, YOU KNOW, TODAY. PERSONALLY, I FEEL OKAY.
I'M READY. RIGHT. I WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS. I'M IN AN ELECTED POSITION.
I CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP PROTECT MY COMMUNITY.
I CAN'T CONTROL WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
EVEN AT THE STATE LEVEL. BUT I CAN DO SOMETHING HERE IN HAYS COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU, JUDGE, FOR THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER HAMMER, THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE THAT SPOKE I DO.
I MEAN, YOU CAN'T WATCH A VIDEO LIKE THAT AND NOT HAVE IT GET TO YOU.
I THINK THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON. I MEAN, IF THEY HAVE A HEART THAT WOULD GET TO THEM AS A MOTHER, THAT JUST BREAKS MY HEART. AND I HATE SEEING PEOPLE LIKE THAT OR IN THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS, I DO AGREE. I WANT TO AFFIRM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE CONSTITUTION, HAYS COUNTY, TREATING OTHERS WITH RESPECT AND DUE PROCESS.
I MEAN, IT'S A NO BRAINER. I THINK THAT ONE OF THE ONE OF THE QUOTES THAT YOU HAVE IN THIS PROCLAMATION IS TO DO TO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE DONE THEM, DONE TO YOU. AND I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY HAVE A PROCLAMATION EVERY SINGLE COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT SAYS THAT.
AND WE WOULD HAVE WE WOULD BE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
RIGHT. SO I DO I DO BELIEVE IN HUMANE TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS.
I THINK THAT ALL OF US WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT FAIR, HUMANE IMMIGRATION A SYSTEM LIKE THAT IS IMPORTANT.
AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO BELIEVE IN SECURE BORDERS.
SO WE KNOW WHO'S COMING IN AND WE CAN CREATE A SYSTEM OF ORDERLY AND SAFE PROCESSES.
I MEAN, THEY GO TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY AND THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO COME HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES. AND IF THEY'RE WEARING FACE COVERINGS FOR, LET'S SAY, A RAID, BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM WILL BE UNDER COVER, THAT'S PROTECTING THEM AND PROTECTING THEIR FAMILY.
SO THAT'S THE ONLY PART I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A, A HICCUP ON.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER SMITH. I JUST I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ON ON BACKGROUND FOR A SECOND, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF FACES HERE WHO A LOT OF Y'ALL KNOW ME, A LOT OF YOU DON'T.
MY DAD DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH UNTIL HE WAS 12 YEARS OLD.
AND WHENEVER I WAS 12 YEARS OLD MY MOTHER WAS A SCHOOL TEACHER AND A MAJORITY MINORITY SCHOOL.
AND MY JOB EVERY DAY BECAUSE SHE HAD TO STAY AT WORK LATE EVERY AFTERNOON, WHENEVER SCHOOL LET OUT, I WOULD WALK TO HER SCHOOL, DROP OFF MY BOOK BAG, AND MY DAD GAVE ME A LIST OF NAMES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU ALL REMEMBER THE ASYLUM THAT WAS GRANTED UNDER THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, BUT MY JOB FOR A YEAR WAS TO GO THROUGH THE MICROFICHE RECORDS OF DONATIONS AT THE CHURCH AND THE MEMBERSHIP ROLLS OF THE CHURCH, AND IDENTIFY HOW LONG THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAD BEEN IN THE US.
AND I DID THAT BECAUSE THERE WERE PROBABLY EIGHT FAMILIES THAT FOR GENERATIONS.
FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS HAD WORKED FOR MY DAD ON THE RANCH OR IN HIS FENCING COMPANY.
AND EVERY COUSIN, EVERY NEPHEW, EVERY BROTHER KNEW THAT, THAT THEY COULD COME AND WORK FOR HIM.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET 18 PEOPLE CITIZENSHIP THROUGH THAT.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, SOME OF MY FIRST MEMORIES ARE AT GOING TO GOING TO CONCERTS AT THEIR HOUSES OR OR HAVING THEM COME TO MY HOUSE FOR BARBECUE. I MEAN, THOSE ARE IMPORTANT MEMORIES TO ME.
I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE.
I THINK THAT, BUT WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS, RIGHT? I IT'S SO PERSONAL TO ME. WHENEVER I WORKED, I WORKED IN CONGRESS FOR A LONG TIME, AND I DRAFTED A BILL WHEN I WORKED FOR, FOR CONGRESSMAN HENRY BONILLA TO TO PROVIDE A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP FOR FARM LABOR WORKERS.
[01:00:06]
AND WE WORKED DIRECTLY WITH A MEMBER FROM CALIFORNIA WHO WANTED TO PROVIDE A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP FOR SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKERS.AND WE COULDN'T GET IT TO GO ANYWHERE IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION, ONE REPUBLICAN AND ONE DEMOCRAT.
THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE ALL AGREE ON.
AND I JUST I WROTE IT HERE. I SAID, YOU KNOW, I FULLY ENDORSE AND AFFIRM MY OATH AND SUPPORT THE US CONSTITUTION AND AFFIRM OUR SUPPORT OF THIS MOST OUR MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENT, AND FURTHER SUPPORT THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ALL INDIVIDUALS AND DUE PROCESS. WE HAD SPEAKERS TODAY TALK ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OUR OFFICE, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU ALL WHO DON'T DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT ACRONYM IS, IT'S A PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. I THINK THAT WE AS A COURT UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED THAT BECAUSE WE FELT LIKE THAT THERE WAS A LACK IN THE SYSTEM THERE.
THERE'S CERTAIN REFERENCES IN HERE TO CASE LAW AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS. AND I DID A LOT OF DUE DILIGENCE WHEN THIS WAS PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY. I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THE REFERENCES TO CASE LAW IN HERE ARE, ARE, ARE ACCURATE 100% ACCURATE.
I THEY'RE OPEN TO INTERPRETATION IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
I DO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE ON THE PROTECTION OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMBERS.
I THINK THE BASIS OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT I JUST SAID, AND I THINK THAT ALL OF US WOULD AGREE IN THE ROOM THAT WE COULD SUPPORT THAT WITHOUT SOME CHANGES TO THE, THE THE RESOLUTION RELATIVE TO THE FIRST, THE FIRST PARAGRAPH THE PARAGRAPH THAT THAT THE COMMISSIONER HAMMER HAD MENTIONED AND AGAIN REFERENCING ALL OF OUR CITIZENS, NOT NOT JUST IMMIGRANTS, BUT ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF ADJUSTMENTS THERE, AND I COULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
BUT IF AT ITS MOST BASIC LEVEL, THE PARAGRAPH THAT I JUST READ, I THINK ALL OF US, IF WE USE THAT AS A RESOLUTION, I THINK EVERY ONE OF US WOULD SUPPORT IT. AND IT CAPTURES EVERYTHING THAT WE HEARD TODAY.
AND I MAY BE WRONG, BUT I, I DO BELIEVE IN DUE PROCESS FOR EVERYONE.
AND I DO BELIEVE THAT OUR CONSTITUTION IS A GREAT AND NOT ONLY OATH WORTHY, BUT FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT. I DO BELIEVE THAT IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, AND EVEN IN THIS, IN THIS PROCLAMATION, THERE ARE CERTAIN REFERENCES TO TO THINGS THAT.
NUMBER ONE, I WORRY THAT WE WE CAN'T CONTROL, WE CAN'T CONTROL WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES.
WE CAN'T CONTROL WHAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT DOES. WE WATCH THE PASSAGE OF OF LEGISLATION OVER THE LAST TWO SESSIONS THAT AS A AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN HAYS COUNTY, OUR SHERIFF MUST ENFORCE. WE WE HAVE FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.
AND I THIS ISN'T THE PLACE TO TO RETRY OR TO TO RE HAVE AN ELECTION.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD SUPPORT A RESOLUTION THAT SAID THAT.
THANK YOU SIR. I WOULD LIKE TO, AS A CREATOR OF THAT SHORT VIDEO CLIP THAT YOU SAW, SOME OF YOU WERE LATE AND I UNDERSTAND AND IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL, BUT I PUT IT IN BECAUSE WE ARE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
WE ARE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, WHICH IS THE COURT OF RECORD FOR OUR COUNTY.
FOREVER MORE. WHEN YOUR GRANDKIDS LOOK BACK AND ASK YOU WHAT YOU WERE DOING.
IN THIS TIME YOU CAN POINT. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE DONE, IS I'VE CREATED A MARKER.
SINCE WE DON'T USE MICROFICHE ANYMORE, YOU CAN TYPE IT IN AND FLIP TO THIS MOMENT AND SAY, I WAS THERE. HERE'S WHAT I DID. AND LIKE YOU SAID SO PROFOUNDLY, YOUR SILENCE IS SPEAKING AS WELL. CHOOSE YOUR WORDS CAREFULLY. SO THE VIDEO FOOTAGE I'VE SEEN, LIKE MOST EVERY OTHER CONSUMER OF MEDIA AND NEWS. WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A SLANT IN 90% OF THE MEDIA COVERAGE.
I DON'T CARE WHICH WAY YOU SLICE IT, THERE'S ALWAYS AN ANGLE.
[01:05:03]
DOGGONE IT, I WISH THAT WASN'T THE CASE. BUT THESE VISUAL FACTS OF A PICTURE'S WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS ARE WHY I CHOSE A VIDEO. WE'VE SEEN ALL TOO OFTEN SOMEONE THAT SHOOTS SOMEBODY IN BROAD DAYLIGHT GET HANDCUFFED PEACEFULLY, RESPECTFULLY, HEAD TUCKED IN SO THEY DON'T BUMP IT.GETTING INTO THE POLICE CAR OR PUT IN THE BACK OF A VAN.
PLENTY OF ELBOW ROOM AND BREATHING SPACE. THE START OF THE VIDEO, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES, BECAUSE I REACHED OUT TO THE MEDIA THAT CAPTURED THE CONTENT.
I WILL RESTATE IT THIS WAY. MOTHER COMES ACROSS THE BORDER.
ASYLUM SEEKER CAME IN LEGALLY. CHECK. GRANTED, HER ASYLUM DURING THAT PROCESS.
SHE SHOWS UP FOLLOWING THE LEGAL PROCESS, HOWEVER BROKEN WE ALL KNOW IT TO BE.
THE TEMPERATURE HAS CHANGED IN THOSE COURTS. THERE WAS A A POSSE.
I GOT LUCKY THAT I SAW A BADGE ON ONE OF THOSE GUYS.
THIS IS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE. GIVE ME 15FT. YEAH, I DON'T QUALIFY THAT AS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS, BUT AT LEAST YOU HAD A BADGE ON. HE WASN'T ACTING LIKE A COWARD AS MUCH.
THEN WE SEE THIS LADY WHO HAS ALL THE WHILE FOLLOWED THE LEGAL SYSTEM.
100% GET PUT INTO A VAN. THAT WOULD BE OKAY. YOU KNOW, IN NEW YORK, I GREW UP WATCHING.
NOT THAT I WAS IN NEW YORK, BUT I WATCHED GREW UP WATCHING BIGGER CITIES ON TV WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE THEY WOULD CALL THEM PADDY WAGONS, WHERE THEY WOULD PARK ON THE CORNER AND JUST PUT A BUNCH OF WHETHER IT BE SPRING BREAKERS OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, TO JUST LOAD THE VAN UP WITH PEOPLE. OKAY. BUT THAT WAS TOO, TOO BIG.
THEY ACTUALLY BECAUSE YOU GUYS WILL NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO ROLL THE TAPE.
WHEN YOU GO HOME, YOU CAN CLICK THE COUNTY LINK AND WATCH IT AND PAUSE IT.
THEY LITERALLY HAVE THIS VAN CUT IN HALF. AND THEY ARE PUTTING PEOPLE WHAT I CALL IN VERTICAL COFFINS. THIS MOTHER WITH HER CHILD IS BEING BOUND AND GAGGED, HANDCUFFED.
BENCHED. MASKED. PLACED IN THAT TINY SPACE. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU SPEAK SPANISH, BUT SHE'S YELLING, I CAN'T BREATHE. GOD DAMN IT, THAT HURTS.
AND THIS IS OKAY. NO, IT'S NOT. AND PEOPLE WANT TO WORDSMITH AND SEMANTICS PERSPECTIVES.
I AM ONE OF THE BIGGEST PATRIOTS BECAUSE OF MY IMMIGRANT FATHER.
HE TAUGHT ME TO BE A PATRIOT. I ALWAYS WEAR MY AMERICAN FLAG LAPEL PIN.
NO SNUB ON THE FORMER COUNTY JUDGES. BUT WHEN YOU WALK OUT THIS COURTROOM AND NO ONE PREDICTED THIS MOMENT WHEN YOU WALK OUTSIDE THIS COURTROOM, I WANT YOU TO WALK AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE ROTUNDA.
I WILL FAST FORWARD FOR YOU. I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT MADE THE ABSOLUTE DECLARATION TO SAY, I WANT TWO THINGS IN MY PICTURE. IN GOD WE TRUST AND THE AMERICAN FLAG.
CHECK IT. THAT'S SEVEN YEARS AGO. SO. THE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WALKING AROUND IN HOODIES. I KNOW THAT MINORITIES GET A BAD RAP FOR WALKING AROUND IN HOODIES.
WE'VE SEEN MINORITIES JOGGING AND GET KILLED FOR JOGGING IN HOODIES, BUT YET WE HAVE AN ARSENAL,
[01:10:02]
A NATIONAL ARMADA OF PEOPLE WALKING AROUND IN HOODIES AND VANS, SHOES, TENNIS SHOES, SNEAKERS, NOTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE A UNIFORM, NOT EVEN IN THE CLOSEST OF IOTAS.GRABBING PEOPLE. NO IDENTIFIERS, NO NAME IDS.
NOTHING TO TELL YOU WHERE. LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN THEY ASK.
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, ALL THE FOOTAGE I'VE SEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND THIS IS A COURT OF RECORD.
I SPEAK TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY WITH FACTS AND TRUTH AND NO SLANT.
THEY REFUSE TO TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES. THE ORGANIZATION AND THEY COME MASKED.
I'M SORRY, BUT WHEN THEY COME FOR ME IN THAT CONDITION, I'M BEING KIDNAPED.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, THAT IS WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME.
AND WHEN IT'S HAPPENING TO YOU, I WILL SPEAK UP.
I SPEAK UP FOR THE DEFENSELESS AS A ROUTINE. I'VE DONE IT ALL MY YEARS IN COURT.
IT IS AN HONOR. IT IS A GIFT THAT I HOLD WITH HIGH ESTEEM.
WHAT WAS THAT CALLED? ERIC. WHAT WAS THAT CALLING FEE? WHATEVER IT'S CALLED WHEN WE CHARGE THEM TO CALL THEIR LOVED ONES.
I PUSHED TO BRING THEM CLOSER TO HOME. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THEM A TEN HOUR DRIVE TO HASKELL COUNTY.
I DROVE OUT THERE TO SEE JUST HOW FAR IT WAS.
WHAT ARE WE PUTTING AND EXPOSING OUR COMMUNITY TO.
SO THIS IT'S ABSOLUTELY PREDICTABLE. MY RESPONSE IS GOING TO BE CONSISTENT.
I DON'T CARE WHO YOU'RE ATTACKING IF IT IS A VULNERABLE, IF IT IS THE UNDERREPRESENTED, IF IT IS THE WEAK, I WILL ALWAYS PUSH ON THAT FRONT. BUT THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER BEHIND IT GIVES ME SAIL BEHIND MY WINGS BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE DONE IT ALONE.
I WOULD HAVE DONE IT ALONE. BUT I THANK YOU FOR THE FULL COURTROOM AND THOSE THOSE PICTURES YOU SAW THERE, THOSE WERE MINE. I'M A WORKER. I DON'T THINK THIS IS A LEFT VERSUS RIGHT.
WE'RE ALL AMERICANS HERE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT OH, YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT.
OOH, YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN. WE'RE SUCKERS. IF WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A WORKING PEOPLE VERSUS THE ULTRA ELITE, AS LONG AS WE'RE FIGHTING ONE ANOTHER, THEY CAN KEEP RIPPING US OFF.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WITH ALL MY HEART. SO I WILL ALWAYS WORK FOR AND FIGHT FOR THE WORKERS.
WHY? BECAUSE THAT IS WHO I'VE BEEN ALL MY LIFE.
AND SO JUST KNOW THIS. I'VE WALKED INTO LOWE'S ALL MY LIFE BECAUSE I AM THE WILL DO.
IT CAN DO IT. I'M THE MEXICAN THEY CALL TO GET IT DONE KIND OF GUY.
I WALK INTO LOWE'S THIS FRIDAY, 10 A.M. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ALL THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN VERY BUSY AND THE PLACE WAS A GHOST TOWN.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. THERE WAS NO ONE IN SIGHT.
I HAD TO TAKE PICTURES AND SHARE IT WITH MY FAMILY.
AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WELL, WHEN YOU ATTACK YOUR WORKING FORCE, WHEN YOU ATTACK YOUR LABOR, THIS IS WHAT YOU GET. THEY DON'T COME OUT. THEY'RE HIDING UNDER THE BEDS.
NOT LITERALLY, OF COURSE, UNDER THE HOUSES AND ALL THE OTHER REFERENCES THAT WE KNOW WERE BEING CARRIED OUT DURING THE HOLOCAUST AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND ALL THOSE OTHER TERRIBLE MOMENTS IN OUR EXISTENCE.
PEOPLE AREN'T COMING OUT AND YOU EXPECT THEM TO BUILD YOUR HOUSE, MOW YOUR LAWN, CLEAN YOUR HOUSE, BUILD YOUR SKYSCRAPER, PAVE YOUR ROAD, PICK YOUR FRUITS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND THOSE PICTURES WERE TO EXEMPLIFY THAT THAT FENCE I DON'T WANT TO MISCHARACTERIZE.
I DO MY VERY BEST TO HAVE MY FOUR H'S, MY HEAD, MY HEART AND MY HANDS TO HARMONIZE.
I DO MY LEVEL BEST, ALWAYS, REGARDLESS OF THE AUDIENCE, TO BE THAT PERSON.
SO THAT FENCE, I WANT TO CLARIFY BECAUSE IT DIDN'T QUITE COME OUT LIKE I HAD HOPED.
WE ARE COUNTING. I DON'T MESS WITH CITY OR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. THAT'S NOT MY INTENT WITH THAT POST. BUT THE ENERGY OF THE IDEA OF PUTTING UP BARRIERS, KEEPING PEOPLE OUT, PUTTING THESE SIGNS OUT.
AND EVERY TIME I DRIVE BY THAT PLACE, EVERY DAY, EVERY TIME I DRIVE BY, THERE'S NOBODY IN THERE.
[01:15:04]
IT'S A BAD LOOK FOR US AS A COMMUNITY. IT'S A BAD LOOK FOR US AS A REGION.IT ONLY HAD TO DO WITH THE ENERGY THAT IT'S CONVEYING.
OKAY. AND THAT LAST THING I WILL POINT OUT IS THE TRUCK THING.
IT'S TRUE. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WHEN IT HAPPENED, BUT IT'S TRUE.
I MADE A POST ABOUT IT BECAUSE I BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE INTRINSICALLY GOOD.
I AM AN ETERNAL OPTIMIST. I WILL DIE THAT WAY.
AS A TRUE FUNDAMENTAL, DO I SCREW UP? ABSOLUTELY.
WHEN YOU'RE ON THE MOVE, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES. YOU WANT TO MAKE NO MISTAKES? SIT STILL. BUT JUST KNOW THIS. I MADE A POST ABOUT IT.
JUST SCROLL TO MY FEED. TIME STAMPED. I WAS LIKE, EVERYTHING'S OKAY FOLKS.
PROBABLY FROM THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I IMPART ADDED THAT LAST PIECE.
SO HERE'S THE LAST THING I'LL SAY, AND THEN WE'LL CALL THE VOTE.
IF THEY WANTED A SOLUTION, THEY'D PASS ONE. THIS ISN'T ABOUT FIXING A BROKEN SYSTEM.
IT'S ABOUT WEAPONIZING IT. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HOLDS FULL CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, SENATE, WHITE HOUSE? YES. AND EVEN THE SUPREME COURT.
IF THEY WERE TRULY AFTER SOLUTIONS, THEY'D PURSUE THEM THROUGH PROPER LEGISLATIVE CHANNELS, NOT THROUGH FEAR, INTIMIDATION, OR POLITICAL THEATER.
REFORM IS FULLY WITHIN REACH, BUT INSTEAD THEY CHOOSE TO INFLAME, DIVIDE, DESTABILIZE.
STABILIZE BECAUSE FEAR NOT, PROGRESS IS THEIR END GAME.
AND DON'T GET ME WRONG IN SAYING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SUCKED TOO.
YES, AND I ALWAYS SAY YES. AND WE HAVE A HISTORY OF DEMOCRAT CONTROLLED EVERYTHING AND THEY HAVE FAILED MISERABLY. I'VE EVEN. YES, I'M RUNNING FOR REELECTION IN TWO YEARS, BUT I'M EVEN CONSIDERING REMOVING THE WORD DEMOCRAT BECAUSE I'M SO DISAPPOINTED WITH THE WAY THE DEMOCRATS IN FULL CONTROL HAVE HANDLED THIS ISSUE.
SO IT'S NOT A SNUB ON TRUMP. IT'S A SNUB ON OUR ENTIRE FEDERAL SYSTEM FOR DECADES.
AND AS A FINAL COMMENT, COMMISSIONER SMITH, I RELATE TO YOUR IMMIGRATION PIECE WITH RONALD REAGAN BECAUSE RONALD REAGAN IS THE REASON TODAY THAT I AM A US CITIZEN. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER HAMER, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.
WHAT? THERE'S BEEN NO DEBATE ON THIS ISSUE AT ALL.
A DEBATE IS WHAT YOUR TIME WAS TO TALK. NO, YOU ASKED FOR FOR GENERAL COMMENT.
OKAY, SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD? I, I WOULD LITERALLY LIKE IN, IN TO MAKE LOOK AT A COUPLE OF ADJUSTMENTS IN THE DOCUMENT ITSELF TO SPECIFICALLY REFERENCE ALL CITIZENS SO YOU CAN CREATE YOUR RESOLUTION THE WAY YOU WANT IT.
THIS IS MINE AND I WANT TO LEAVE IT. AND IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT IT, SUPPORT IT.
AND IF YOU WANT TO DO ONE FOR ALL CITIZENS, BRING IT BACK AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT ONE.
BUT SO YOU HAVE NO. SO WE'VE FINISH THE COMMENT.
THE ASK THAT YOU HAVE IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE ENERGY THAT I SEEK.
THAT'S FINE. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ENERGY, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY FINE.
WE BRING THESE THINGS RESOLUTIONS. WE BRING ITEMS TO COURT EVERY WEEK.
WE'VE ADJUSTED RESOLUTIONS AND HAD DEBATE AND TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THEM EVERY WEEK.
IT'S NOT NOT ONLY NOT UNCOMMON, IT'S VERY COMMON FOR US TO MAKE CHANGES TO THESE THINGS AND FOR YOU TO SAY, NO, I'M NOT EVEN WILLING TO TALK ABOUT IT. WHEN YOU MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT POLITICAL THEATER, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. IT'S VERY TELLING.
WHENEVER YOU BROUGHT THIS UP AND IN YOUR COMMENT, YOU SAID, THIS IS MY MOMENT.
ARE WE HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S RIGHT OR ARE WE? I DIDN'T INTERRUPT YOU. WE ARE. I DIDN'T INTERRUPT YOU DURING THAT ENTIRE WEEK.
[01:20:03]
IF WE WANT TO CORRECT THIS, OR IF WE WANT TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT TO THIS FOR US TO FEEL AS THOUGH.AND IF THE REST OF THE COURT DOESN'T WANT TO SAY ALL CITIZENS, THEN THAT'S FINE.
WE CAN DO THAT. BUT AS AS A MEMBER OF THE COURT, EACH OF US HAVE THAT RIGHT TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT, MAKE A MOTION. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON ITEM NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THE THIRD PARAGRAPH FROM THE BOTTOM TO SAY THE HANDLING OF ALL INDIVIDUALS BY ANY AGENCY OR ORGANIZATION OPERATING WITHIN THE US. MY JOB IS TO FOCUS ON HAYS COUNTY, AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO DILUTE IT.
AND SO I HEARD IN YOUR COMMENTS MY FOCUS IS A HAYS COUNTY RESOLUTION.
ALL RESIDENTS. I'M 100% FINE WITH THAT. BUT ALL OF THE US, THAT IS NOT OUR LENS.
ALL I AM GOOD WITH. BUT THE WAY YOU WERE TALKING EARLIER, YOU WEREN'T THOUGH, BUT THE WAY YOU WERE TALKING EARLIER, OF ALL YOUR VARIATIONS IN YOUR COMMENTS THAT YOU WENT ON ABOUT, THANK YOU FOR DOING IT.
THANK YOU. I SUPPORT THE ALL BECAUSE ALL SHOULD BE SUPPORTED.
THAT'S 100% TRUE. BUT THROUGHOUT THE US I'M FOCUSING ON HAYS COUNTY.
SO LET'S JUST FOCUS ON THAT. I SUPPORT THE ALL BUT ALL BUT NOT THE US.
HAYS COUNTY IS THE JUDGE I AM OF. THERE'S A GIVE FOR YOU, BUT I JUST WANT TO GIVE A GIVE A GIVE.
OKAY. I JUST I CAN I'M SORRY. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY TO SATISFY EVERYONE.
CAN WE MAKE IT SO IT'S ALL INDIVIDUALS, IMMIGRANTS OR OTHERWISE, BY ANY AGENCY ORGANIZATION OPERATING WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION? WE JUST PUT ALL IN THERE. OKAY, ABSOLUTELY. ALL WE DO JUST.
I'M GOOD WITH THAT BECAUSE I AM INTERESTED IN THAT.
YOU HEAR THAT? PERFECT. ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS END? COMMISSIONERS. NO. I JUST DON'T WANT TO SINGLE OUT ANYONE.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY TYPE OF ANYONE ON THE COURT? HAVE ANY OTHER TYPE OF FEELING TOWARDS MAYBE IN THIS PROCLAMATION, NOT SAYING HOW WE SHOULD DICTATE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATION? I THINK THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT ANY MUNICIPALITY, ANY STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL, THE. WE'RE IN THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS. LET'S USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE.
THE POLICE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS WORKS DIRECTLY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND WORKS DIRECTLY FOR A UNIT OF GOVERNMENT THERE, AND THE CITY COUNCIL CAN DICTATE EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT HIM TO DO BY LAW.
THEY CAN GIVE HIM THE PARAMETERS TO DO SO. IN TEXAS, OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WHO WE HAVE OVERSIGHT OF, AND OUR CONSTABLES WHO WE HAVE OVERSIGHT OF, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY LEGALLY TO DICTATE HOW THEY OPERATE THEIR JOB.
THEY'RE MANDATED BY THE STATE AS TO HOW THEY CONDUCT THEIR JOB.
WE CAN RECOMMEND, BUT WE CANNOT MANDATE FOR THEM TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY ARE INDEPENDENT ELECTED OFFICIALS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. THAT'S THE REASON I HAVE.
WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE MAKE YOURSELF IDENTIFIABLE.
SO I KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MANDATE WHAT CHIEFS AND CONSTABLES AND SHERIFFS DO.
I CAN'T SHAKE THAT. AND WE'RE WATCHING IN THE FOOTAGE THESE PEOPLE, THESE HOODED PEOPLE WITH NOTHING IDENTIFYING THEM, GOING INTO KITCHENS. I UNDERSTAND THE IDEA COMMISSIONER OF DOING A RAID.
ABSOLUTELY VALID. BE COVERED HEAD TO TOE LIKE A NINJA IF YOU WANT TO.
ALL THAT'S VALID. BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE WALKING AROUND COMMUNITIES, GOING INTO CHURCHES, GOING INTO SCHOOLS, GOING INTO CAFETERIAS, GOING INTO SPACES DRESSED LIKE THIS WITH, I MEAN, WHO'S TO SAY THAT'S NOT A BUNCH OF PROUD BOYS ACTING OUT? WHO'S GOING TO SAY, NO, IT'S NOT. WE NEED TO SEE WHO THEY ARE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
AND THAT'S COMMISSIONER THE REASON FOR THAT ITEM.
[01:25:03]
I, I COMPLETELY AGREE THAT IN, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS SCENARIO THAT YOU YOU SHOWED.I COMPLETELY AGREE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFICATION THERE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT. WHAT I DO HAVE PROBLEM WITH IS VIDEO? I HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS WHERE WE HAVE, THERE ARE FEDERAL AGENTS OF ONE TYPE OR ANOTHER IN A MARKED VEHICLE WITH WITH EMBLAZONED, EMBLAZONED WITH EITHER A BADGE OR EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT WEARING THAT, BUT IN A MARKED VEHICLE.
I HAVE ISSUE WITH THAT. LUCKILY, SO DO I. INDIVIDUAL AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
WE ASK THEM TO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY.
YES. AND I WANT TO LEAVE IT. I HAVE FULL FAITH THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN HAYS COUNTY THAT ANSWERS TO US. I HAVE FULL FAITH IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND I HAVE FULL FAITH IN THEIR ABILITY TO DETERMINE THE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY NEED TO DO THAT AND NOT DO THAT IF YOU NEED CLARIFICATION, I FULLY AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'VE DESCRIBED ABOUT FULLY MARKED VEHICLES, CLEARLY CREDENTIALED SETTINGS, AND PEOPLE ARE PROTESTING IT IN AGGRESSIVE WAYS.
THOSE THAT ARE CREATING HAVOC. BY BEING DESTRUCTIVE, BY DESTROYING PROPERTY SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY WITH THE SWIFTEST, ABSOLUTE, MOST POWERFUL SPACE POSSIBLE TO REMEDY THE SITUATION 100%.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I AM TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY'RE COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITIES KIDNAPING FOLKS, AND WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO THEY ARE, WHERE THEY'RE GOING, AND WHY THEY TOOK THEM.
THAT'S WHAT I'M REFERRING TO. IF AND WHEN WE START TO SEE MARKED VEHICLES BEING HARASSED, MAN, WE CAN CALL AN EMERGENCY COURT SESSION AND WE'LL ADDRESS IT. BUT THAT'S NOT THE SPIRIT OF THIS EITHER.
BUT I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. YOU HAVE NO ARGUMENT THERE. SO WE'LL CHANGE IT TO ALL.
I'M GOOD WITH THAT. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER HAMMER.
YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES. COMMISSIONER SMITH.
YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
YES. TEN MINUTE RECESS. THANK YOU.
[F.2. Adopt a Proclamation recognizing June 2025 as Hays County Month-Long Celebration of Juneteenth. INGALSBE/PETERSON]
SECOND, WILL YOU PLEASE READ PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 2025 AS HAYS COUNTY MONTH LONG CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH, WHEREAS THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY FOR AFRICAN PEOPLE IN AMERICA BEGAN IN 1619 WITH THE LANDING OF THE FIRST SLAVES ON OUR SHORES, AND CONTINUED SOME 246 YEARS UNTIL PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN ISSUED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION ON JANUARY 1ST, 1863, TO BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 1865. AND WHEREAS THE PROCLAMATION DECLARED ALL ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN THE CONFEDERATE STATES IN REBELLION AGAINST THE UNION SHALL BE THEN HENCEFORWARD AND FOREVER FREE.OFFICIAL NOTICE TO TEXAS CAME ON JUNE 19TH, 1865.
AND TODAY IS THE OLDEST KNOWN CELEBRATION OF THE ENDING OF SLAVERY IN OUR NATION.
JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATES AFRICAN AMERICAN FREEDOM AND EMPHASIZES EDUCATION AND ACHIEVEMENT.
AND WHEREAS HAYS COUNTY SUPPORTS AND RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF HONORING AND CELEBRATING THE RICH HERITAGE, RESILIENCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN OUR COUNTRY AND IN OUR COUNTY.
WE ALSO SEEK TO FOSTER AN UNDERSTANDING, RESPECT AND CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSE CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS.
AND WHEREAS, THE HONORABLE AL EDWARDS, A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM HOUSTON, AUTHORED AND INTRODUCED HB 1016 IN 1978, AND ON JUNE 13TH, 1979, GOVERNOR WILLIAM P CLEMENTS SIGNED A BILL INTO LAW THAT MADE THE JUNETEENTH EMANCIPATION DAY AN OFFICIAL STATE HOLIDAY IN TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS JUNE 19TH DID NOT MARK THE END OF AMERICA'S WORK TO DELIVER ON THE PROMISE OF EQUALITY, IT WAS A MAJOR MILESTONE IN RECOGNIZING THE END OF A DARK CHAPTER IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND OPTIMISTICALLY MARKED A NEW BEGINNING.
[01:30:08]
JUNETEENTH NOT ONLY COMMEMORATES THE PAST, IT ALSO CALLS US TO ACTION TODAY.AND WHEREAS JUNETEENTH HOLDS SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE, IT ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT UPON OUR NATION'S JOURNEY TOWARD FREEDOM, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. IT CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A REMINDER OF THE WORK STILL NEEDED TO ACTUALIZE THE WORDS OF OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL AND ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN INALIENABLE RIGHTS, AMONG THEM LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
AND WHEREAS, IN JUNE 2021, JUNETEENTH BECAME THE NEWEST NATIONAL HOLIDAY, ONE OF THE MAJOR POINTS OF JUNETEENTH IS TO REMIND US THAT ALL AMERICANS WERE NOT FREE ON JULY 4TH, 1776. IT. JUNETEENTH REPRESENTS THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM THAT IS OLDER THAN AMERICA ITSELF, AND REMINDS US THAT FREEDOM SHOULD BE CELEBRATED, WHETHER IT CAME ON JULY 4TH, 1776, OR JUNE 19TH, 1865. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 2025 AS HAYS COUNTY MONTH LONG CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH, AND CALLS UPON THE PEOPLE OF HAYS COUNTY TO JOIN TOGETHER THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF JUNE.
IN HONOR OF THIS SIGNIFICANT DAY AND TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF JUNETEENTH.
ADOPTED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025. BEAUTIFULLY DONE.
WE HAVE SOME COMMENTS, BUT I WAS GOING TO SAY WE CAN CALL THE ROLL.
HOWEVER YOU GUYS WANT TO DO IT. CALL THE ROLL.
RIGHT. IT'S AUTOMATIC. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.
YES. COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES. COMMISSIONER COHEN.
YES. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
YES. AND THEN WE HAVE A FEW SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
AND WE HAVE HAL AND BETTY MEYER.
JUDGE, SIR, DID YOU SIGN UP FOR GENERAL COMMENT? HAL? HELL. YES. YES. I THINK WE HE WAS MISSED IN GENERAL COMMENT.
NOT ON THIS ITEM. AND HE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT UTILITY POLES.
YOU WANT TO HOLD ON A MINUTE? I CAN HOLD ON A MINUTE.
I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. I WILL SAY THIS. I DIDN'T WANT TO.
I WAS LIKE, I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S A UTILITY ISSUE. SO.
BUT JUST KNOW I WAS GIVEN THIS IN I GUESS YOU SHOWED UP A LITTLE LATE, AND THAT'S OKAY.
I WILL ALWAYS DO MY PART TO GIVE YOU. YOU TAKE THE TIME TO GET HERE.
I WILL GIVE YOU THE YOUR THREE MINUTES. SO WE'LL CHOOSE A SEQUENCE THAT'S BEST FOR YOU.
LINDA COKER. SEEMS LIKE I DON'T WANT HIM TO. YOU CAME TO MY OFFICE, SO I KNOW YOU'RE ON THIS.
THANK Y'ALL FOR LETTING US BE HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL THIS.
AND MY COMPUTER JUST KEEPS KEEP SAYING LOG IN TO MICROSOFT 365 AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
SO I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS UP AS I GO ALONG. I JUST JUNETEENTH, THE CELEBRATIONS ARE AMAZING AND FUN, BUT I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON ROSE BROOKLYN, THE CAKE AUCTION.
FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS, THIS WOMAN HAS SHOWN UP AND RAISED MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND TO HONOR PEOPLE, AND I DON'T. I'M CHAIR OF THE HAYS COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
AND HISTORY IS NOT JUST CEMETERIES AND BUILDINGS, IT'S LIVING PEOPLE THAT HAVE SHOWN US WHAT HISTORY IS AND WHAT IT CAN DO. THE POWER THAT YOU HAVE.
SHE WAS BORN IN 1933. SHE LIVED THROUGH THE DEPRESSION, THROUGH WORLD WAR TWO, THROUGH THE RISE OF MOTOWN AND ROCK AND ROLL AND OAKLAND AND THE. EDGE. I MEAN, IT'S LIKE THIS WOMAN HAS LIVED EVERYTHING THAT WE WATCH MOVIES ABOUT, AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT WHAT SHE DOES IS.
SHE IS A LEADER IN THE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
AND I JUST I AM SO IN AWE WHEN I SIT AND TALK TO HER.
AND I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THE CAKE AUCTION.
IT'S ON JUNETEENTH AT THE METHODIST CHURCH. AT WHAT TIME FOR THE MONEY GOES TO SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS? I JUST WANT TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE, BUT I DO WANT TO GET IN THAT I AM IN.
AWE OF YOU, ROSE. JUST. IT AMAZES ME. I'M HONORED TO CALL YOU FRIEND.
[01:35:04]
I'M HONORED TO CALL HER FAMILY. MY FAMILY. AND WE ARE TRULY BLESSED TO HAVE PEOPLE LIKE ROSE THAT CAN SHOW US HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE.THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON F3? I'M SORRY. F2. I'M SORRY. NO, NO. WE'RE GOOD.
OKAY. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. ANYTHING ELSE? NO.
WAS THERE ANYBODY ELSE FROM JUNETEENTH THAT WANTED TO SPEAK? YES, CONSTABLE. ARE YOU READY TO SPEAK ON IT? THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. JUDGE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. EVERY YEAR THAT WE COME UP HERE FOR JUNETEENTH, IT'S AN HONOR. AND WE THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR LETTING US COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT JUNETEENTH, JUNE 19TH, WHICH IS A DAY OF FREEDOM. IT'S A DAY OF FREEDOM FOR EVERYONE IN THIS WORLD.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ALL THE THE WORDS THAT I HEARD TODAY IN COMMISSIONERS COURT.
THERE'S A FREEDOM DAY FOR EVERYBODY. YOU GET UP IN THE MORNINGS.
RESPECTING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO GO BY ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME PEOPLE HAPPY AND YOU'RE GOING TO NOT MAKE SOME PEOPLE HAPPY.
EVERY DAY, EVERY SECOND, EVERY MINUTE THAT YOU CAN THINK OF WHEN YOU'RE BREATHING IS A GOOD DAY.
WE HONOR A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT ONLY BLACK, WHITE, BLUE, GREEN, ORANGE, PURPLE, BUT ALL OF THE ABOVE.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF BLACK PEOPLE IN SAN MARCOS.
MAYBE 3%. AND WE HAVE THREE BLACK FEMALES THAT ARE LEFT IN SAN MARCOS.
ROSE BROOKS, GEORGIA CHEATHAM, AND MRS. WILLIAMS. THOSE ARE THE THREE BLACK MENTOR LEADERS IN THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN LEADERS FOR A VERY, VERY, VERY LONG TIME.
MENTORS OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US THAT HAVE LIVED HERE IN SAN MARCOS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HISPANICS. WE HAVE WHITES THAT ARE THE SAME WAY.
WE CELEBRATE EVERY DAY, CELEBRATE THAT FREEDOM THAT WE HAVE, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS.
I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BICKER WITH EACH OTHER.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO AGREE WITH EACH OTHER. BUT HONOR YOUR FREEDOM.
THAT IS SO, SO IMPORTANT. MISS BROOKS IS HERE.
SHE HAS BEEN A MENTOR AND LEADER IN SAN MARCOS.
THE WHOLE COUNTY, ACTUALLY MISS GEORGIA CHEATHAM.
SHE COULDN'T BE HERE. SHE'S ON A CRUISE. SHE RETIRED AFTER BEING AT GARY JOB CORPS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. HER SON KEVIN WAS UP HERE. HE WAS SPEAKING EARLIER.
AND SOME OF IT. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ANALYZE, YOU KNOW, BUT GIVE RESPECT.
MISS BROOKS, MISS CHEATHAM, MISS WILLIAMS. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE LEFT HERE AMONGST OTHER MENTORS THAT ARE HERE IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY OF OF OF HAYS COUNTY. I HAVE MRS. CHEATHAM. SHE'S ON A ON A CRUISE, BUT I HAVE HER HER DAUGHTER IN LAW THAT'S HERE, AND HER GRANDCHILDREN. WOULD YOU COME UP, PLEASE? COME ON. HE WON'T BITE MORE THAN ONCE. IT'S OKAY.
BUT MISS CHEATHAM, SHE DESERVED TO GO ON THAT.
MISS BROOKS, COME ON UP HERE. MISS BROOKS. SHE GAVE YOU THE.
ARE YOU CRAZY? LOOK. THAT'S GREAT.
THIS YOUNG LADY HAS A LOT OF HISTORY. SHE HAS A LOT OF HISTORY IN SAN MARCOS.
[01:40:06]
I LISTEN TO HER. I GUESS THAT'S WHY I'M AT RIGHT NOW DOING WHAT I'M DOING.BUT I'M FOLLOWING A LOT OF LEADERS IN THIS COUNTY, AND SHE IS ONE OF THE MAIN ONES.
MISS CHEATHAM IS, TOO, THOUGH. SHE'S NOT HERE.
THESE ARE FOOTSTEPS THAT I FOLLOWED. AND I KNOW THESE CHILDREN ARE, TOO.
AND ANYTHING THAT WE'RE CALLED UPON TO TO HELP WITHIN THE COUNTY.
THE THE THE JUNETEENTH COMMITTEE IS HERE. YOU CAN PROBABLY SEE THEM IN GREEN SHIRTS.
IT'S CALLED WE NOT I. AND WE'VE COME A LONG WAYS AND IT'S BECAUSE OF US.
WE NOT JUST I, WE, BUT WE HAVE A PLAQUE FOR MISS CHEATHAM.
HERE ALSO GAVE THIS PLAQUE IN IN AT CITY COUNCIL HALL ALSO.
AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING IN RECOGNITION THAT THAT THEY CAN LOOK BACK ON.
IT'S NOT A LOT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL CARRY ON IN MEMORIES.
AND THIS IS GOING TO GO TO MISS CHEATHAM. SHE ALREADY HAS ONE.
WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS ONE BACK FOR OUR WALL.
BUT THIS IS GOING TO GO TO HER. AND I'M SORRY THAT KEVIN HADN'T HE COULDN'T BE HERE.
HE HAD A VERY IMPORTANT SOMEWHERE TO BE. BUT OVERALL, OUR FREEDOM IS SO IMPORTANT. I TELL PEOPLE THAT MY MOTHER WAS WHITE, MY DAD WAS BLACK AND HISPANIC. SO ALL OUR COLORS ARE ALL THE SAME.
WE BREATHE THE SAME. SO FREEDOM IS WHAT WE LOOK AT.
FREEDOM. THANK YOU. WELL SAID. CONSTABLE.
THANK YOU. WELL SAID. EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO BE A PART OF THIS PICTURE, PLEASE COME ON UP.
NOBODY'S MADE A COMMENT. SORRY, I'M STILL MOVING. GIVE US A MINUTE. I'M STILL MOVING THROUGH IT. GIVE US A SECOND. THE PICTURE'S NOT QUITE READY YET. WE GOTTA GO. QUICK COMMENTS FIRST, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. THANK YOU.
JUDGE. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL TIME TO COME TOGETHER IN UNITY, TO CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH AND TO RECOGNIZE SOME VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE.
AND I DON'T KNOW, IT'S A POWERFUL REMINDER TO ME OF THE THE FREEDOM, THE RESILIENCE AND THE CONTINUED PURSUIT OF JUSTICE THAT MANY FACE AND MAYBE ARE FACING TODAY. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE CELEBRATION.
GOOD JOB, COMMISSIONER COHEN. I JUST WANT TO I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS PROCLAMATION THE LAST THREE YEARS NOW, AND I DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO THE CELEBRATIONS.
AND LIKE, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE SAID ABOUT FREEDOM AND CONSTABLE PETERSON, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW NEVER TO TAKE FOR GRANTED NOW. RIGHT. AND AND I THINK SOME OF US HONOR THAT FREEDOM BY SERVING.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF US THAT DO THAT HERE IN THIS CITY AND COUNTY.
COMMISSIONER HAMER I JUST WANT TO SAY, GOD BLESS ABRAHAM LINCOLN FOR HAVING THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE THE LAND OF THE FREE AND GIVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AS AMERICANS. I MEAN, I BELIEVE IN HONORING THIS HISTORY PROMOTING UNITY.
I MEAN, WHAT? OH AND THEN I JUST WANT TO ALSO TAKE A REMINDER OF HOW FAR OUR COUNTRY HAS COME AND THE ONGOING WORK THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO TO ENSURE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AMERICANS ACROSS THE BOARD.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. I JUST, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME I GET TO SEE MISS BROOKS ANYWHERE, IT'S A GOOD DAY BECAUSE I KNOW I'M GETTING A HUG. SO BUT I SAY THAT JOKINGLY.
WHENEVER I FIRST DECIDED TO RUN FOR OFFICE IN 20 I GUESS 28, 2017.
MY PREDECESSOR, RAY WHISNANT, HE HE SAT DOWN WITH ME AND ASKED ME IF I WOULD LOOK AT THIS JOB, AND I SAID, SURE, BUT I GOT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
MY PRECINCT, THAT PRECINCT IS OVER HALF THE COUNTY.
AND I HAD A BIG CHUNK OF SAN MARCOS. AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY IN SAN MARCOS.
AND HIS ADVICE WAS, IF YOU KNOW ROSE BROOKS, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW EVERYBODY IN SAN MARCOS.
[01:45:04]
AND SO HE TOLD ME TO GO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO MISS BROOKS.AND AND SO I DID AND I CHERISH THAT. I APPRECIATE THE BROOKS AND THE BURLESON'S AND Y'ALL, I REALLY DO LOVE Y'ALL. Y'ALL ARE GREAT PEOPLE.
AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT Y'ALL GIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY ARE UNHERALDED AT TIMES, BECAUSE Y'ALL DON'T ASK FOR A PAT ON THE BACK, BUT PEOPLE SEE YOU DOING IT. AND I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT THAT THE CHEATHAM'S ARE BEING HONORED TODAY, TOO. BUT IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT PROCLAMATION TO SUPPORT, ALWAYS FOR THE BEST REASONS.
AND I JUST JUST KNOW I APPRECIATE YOU ALL. WELL SAID.
PRETTY COOL HISTORICAL. AND IT'S PART OF THE MESSAGE OF WE'VE ALL BEEN HERE FOREVER.
AND THAT'S A REALLY COOL REMINDER. SOME OF US MAY FEEL LIKE LITERALLY.
THAT IS A TREAT. SO WHEN YOU SAID, OH, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CAKE WALK, I SAID, OH, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU GOT TO TALK ABOUT THAT CAKE WALK. IT'S ABSOLUTELY MY ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS.
WE ALL HAVE THE STRUGGLES. WE ALL HAVE THE HURT.
WE ALL HAVE THE MORE PERFECT UNION ON OUR LAPS.
WE'RE ALL WORKING TOWARDS IMPROVING. SO, CONSTABLE, YOUR WORDS WERE RESOUNDINGLY PERFECT TODAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR THEM. IF NOTHING ELSE, COME ON UP, EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO BE ANOTHER COMMENT.
YOU GOT IT. ONE MORE THING. AFTER THE CONSTABLE SPEAKS, THEN COME ON UP FOR A PICTURE.
I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THE CAKE, THE CAKE AUCTION ON THE 19TH, WE WILL ALSO HAVE A PARADE IN UNITY WALK. THAT WILL START AT THE CROSSWALKS.
AND MARTIN LUTHER KING THAT'S ON A THURSDAY. THAT IS ON JUNE 19TH.
FOLLOWING THE 21ST, WE WILL HAVE A BARBECUE COOK OFF AT THE FISH HATCHERY, WHICH IS THE PLAZA ON HOPKINS STREET AND ALSO DUNBAR ASSOCIATION WILL ALSO HAVE SOME FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE GOING ON.
ALSO, AND I DON'T KNOW IF MITTIE MEHDI OR MR. BANBURY WANTED TO JUST SPEAK ON THAT? JUST FOR A SECOND.
THANK YOU, ALEX BANBURY, IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC. ALEX BANBURY, DA DUNBAR HERITAGE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, DAVID, FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE DID A JUNETEENTH HISTORICAL MAZE AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND WE HAD OVER 50 PARTICIPANTS COME THROUGH THAT MAZE TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH. ON THE 19TH OF JUNE, WE'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING THE PARADE.
AND THAT WILL START AT 10 A.M. AND IT WILL GO THROUGH TILL 3 P.M..
OBVIOUSLY, JUDGE BECERRA HAS SIGNED UP TO RUN IN THAT.
SO HE WAS OUR WINNER PREVIOUS YEARS. SO WE ASK THAT Y'ALL COME OUT AND BEAT THE COUNTY JUDGE.
COME ON. AND THAT WILL START A PISTOL. I'M GOING TO SAY SLOW DOWN AND SHOOT AT THE DIRT.
SO THAT WILL START AT 8 A.M.. AT THE CITY PARK RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE THE LIONS.
WHAT IS IT? THE TWO RENTAL PLACE. THERE'S A LIONS CLUB RENTAL.
AND WITHIN THE HAYS COUNTY BASED OFF OF THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF KWANZAA.
AND THAT WILL START THAT WILL BE JUNE 28TH, AND THAT WILL BE FROM 3 P.M.
03:30 P.M. TO 5:30 P.M. AT THE SAN MARCOS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WELL DONE. ALEX. AND, JENNIFER, WILL YOU JOIN US UP HERE, TOO? COME ON, LET'S TAKE A PICTURE, EVERYONE. LET'S GET THE.
YEAH, LET'S GET THE THE BOARD UP HERE, TOO. YEAH.
[01:50:05]
I KNOW, YEAH. MAKING THEM OFFICIAL WITH SIGNING UP. THAT'S ALL IT TAKES.A FEW PEN STROKES AND WE'RE DONE. IT'S OFFICIAL.
BUT LET'S DO THIS. LET'S DO THIS. I AM ABSOLUTELY YES, MA'AM.
BUT LET'S HOLD ONE TOGETHER FIRST, AND THEN YOU WALK AWAY WITH IT.
SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, JUST A LITTLE BIT. I WANT TO PUT IT RIGHT UP HERE.
ARE YOU ALMOST READY? OKAY, HOLD THAT SIDE WITH ONE HAND.
THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. YEAH. WELL DONE. NOW AND NOW.
IS EVERYONE READY? EVERYBODY LEFT. LOOKING RIGHT HERE.
READY? ONE. TWO. THREE. ONE. TWO. THREE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD. COMMITTEE. ALL RIGHT, GOT IT DONE. GET IT DONE.
CONGRATS ON YOUR EVENT LAST WEEK. IT LOOKED AWESOME.
ARE YOU GOING TO BE DOING THE PRESENTATION? YOU GOTTA KEEP GOING. YES.
OKAY. OH. THAT'S CUTE, I LOVE THAT.
HEY, IT'S ONLY 11. WE GOT ONE AN HOUR. ONE ONLY BECAUSE ONE SPOKE.
SO THERE'S ONLY ONE AN HOUR. WE'RE DONE PRETTY QUICK.
I LOVE THE CONVERSATION. YOU KNOW I DO, BUT WE'VE GOT A PACKED AGENDA TO KEEP MOVING THROUGH.
SO I THINK NOW IN A NEUTRAL, QUIET SPACE, I INVITE YOU TO SPEAK FOR YOUR THREE MINUTES, MR. MYERS. MYERS, COME ON UP AND PLEASE START A TIMER FOR HIM.
AND NOW WE ARE IN A PUBLIC COMMENTS ENERGY. YES.
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS HAL MEYER. I'M HERE WITH MY WIFE AND ANOTHER ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE LIVE AT 8000 MOUNT SHARP ROAD IN WIMBERLEY, AND IT'S BEEN OUR RESIDENCE SINCE 1998.
OUR RANCH IS CALLED JACK MOUNTAIN RANCH. WE REGISTERED LONGHORNS SEVERAL MONTHS BACK.
THE ONLY COMMENT WAS THAT IT WAS FOR SPECTRUM.
FAST FORWARD TO THE WEEK OF MAY THE 26TH. WE SAW THE SUBCONTRACTOR SUBCONTRACTORS OUT PUTTING POLES IN THE GROUND ON MOUNT GRANER, COMING AROUND TO THE MOUNT SHARP ROAD. NOTIFIED COMMISSIONER HAMMER'S OFFICE AND LINDA IN TURN REFERRED ME TO AARON JONES.
[01:55:05]
AND MARK BALLESTEROS AND I MET WITH MARK ON WEDNESDAY, MAY THE 28TH.I SHOWED MARK THE POLES THAT WERE BEING ERECTED, AND HE SUBSEQUENTLY ISSUED A STOP WORK ORDER TO THE CONTRACTORS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE A PERMIT TO BE DOING WHAT THEY WERE DOING IN TERMS OF CONCERNS AND ISSUES THAT THAT WE HAVE.
WE HAVE ABOUT 5000FT OF FRONTAGE ALONG 8000 MOUNT SHARP ROAD.
THE SUBCONTRACTORS FOR SPECTRUM SET STAKES ALONG MY FENCE LINE WITH THE POLES WERE TO BE PLACED, AS WELL AS OTHER POLES ALONG BOTH SECTIONS OF THAT ROAD.
THEY FAILED. SPECTRUM FAILED TO OPERATE WITHIN THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
AS I SAID EARLIER, NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SPECTRUM OR FROM SPECTRUM OR HAYS COUNTY.
AND ONCE WE WERE NOTIFIED, COMMISSIONER HAMMER'S OFFICE MARK BALLESTEROS PROMPTLY RESPONDED WITH A STOP WORK NOTICE THE WAY THEY HAVE SET THINGS UP ON OUR PROPERTY LINE. THEY GOT 36 STAKES SET UP WHICH MEANS THEY'RE GOING TO STICK UP A POLE ABOUT EVERY 120FT ALONG OUR FENCE LINE, ON OUR FRONT PASTURE AND THE ENTRANCE TO OUR RANCH.
OUR FENCE LINE IS CLEAR. IT'S BEEN WELL KEPT AND MAINTAINED TO ENSURE IT'S NOT OVERGROWN WITH TREES, SHRUBS, ETC. MOWING, WEED EATING, CLEARING THE DITCH ALONG OUR FENCE LINE 36 POLES WILL DESTROY THE RURAL BEAUTY BEAUTY OF THE RANCH LAND THAT SURROUNDS US AND OUR NEIGHBORS. THE POLES LOOK LIKE TINKERTOY STICKS LINING THE FRONT FENCE LINE AND WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY SET UP.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT 36 TINKERTOY STICKS STICKING UP UP THOSE POLES WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY THAT WE OCCUPY, AS WELL AS THOSE OF OUR NEIGHBORS. WE'LL CONTINUE AS A RANCH.
WE STARTED 27 YEARS AGO, AND WE'LL CONTINUE GOING FORWARD.
SO I'M RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTING THAT NO POLES BE ERECTED.
SHOULD SPECTRUM AND HAYS COUNTY WANT TO BRING FIBER OPTICS AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY TO US AND OUR NEIGHBORS ALONG THE 8000 MOUNT SHARP CORRIDOR AND MOUNT GRANER ROAD GO UNDERGROUND. I AM AVAILABLE, AS ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, TO MEET WITH COMMISSIONER, HAMMER, MARK AND SPECTRUM TO VIEW THE 8000 MOUNT SHARP AREA AND DISCUSS.
YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. PLEASE OPEN F3. F3 ADOPT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 2025 AS LGBTQ
[F.3. Adopta Proclamation recognizing June 2025 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. COHEN/BECERRA]
PLUS PRIDE MONTH. SO MOVED. SECOND, PLEASE READ IT.PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 2025 AS LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, INTERSEX, AND ASEXUAL PRIDE MONTH. WHEREAS DURING PRIDE MONTH, WE RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE COURAGE, RESILIENCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, INTERSEX AND ASEXUAL LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY, WE REFLECT ON THE PROGRESS MADE TOWARD EQUALITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AND WHEREAS HAYS COUNTY AFFIRMS THE VALUES OF FREEDOM AND FAIRNESS AND REMAINS COMMITTED TO FOSTERING A COMMUNITY WHERE ALL RESIDENTS ARE WELCOMED, RESPECTED AND PROTECTED FROM DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR GENDER EXPRESSION.
AND WHEREAS, PRIDE MONTH IS A TIME TO HONOR THE DIVERSITY THAT STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY AND TO RECOGNIZE THE ONGOING IMPACT AND LEADERSHIP OF OUR LGBTQIA+ NEIGHBORS IN EVERY ASPECT OF CIVIC LIFE. AND WHEREAS EMBRACING THE FULL SPECTRUM OF IDENTITIES AND EXPERIENCES IN OUR COUNTY MAKE US STRONGER, MORE COMPASSIONATE, AND MORE UNITED. AND WHEREAS, BY PROCLAIMING JUNE 2025 AS PRIDE MONTH, HAYS COUNTY RECOMMITS TO BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE SOCIETY WHERE EVERYONE IS TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND WHERE BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION ARE ACTIVELY CHALLENGED. AND WHEREAS, AS WE MARK PRIDE MONTH, WE BOTH CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS ACHIEVED AND RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT STILL LIES AHEAD IN SAFEGUARDING THE RIGHTS, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF LGBTQIA+ INDIVIDUALS IN HAYS COUNTY AND BEYOND.
AND WHEREAS, WE HONOR THOSE WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR EQUALITY, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO WORK TODAY, STRIVING TOWARD A FUTURE WHERE EVERYONE CAN LIVE OPENLY, AUTHENTICALLY, AND WITHOUT FEAR.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 2025 AS LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, INTERSEX AND ASEXUAL LGBTQIA+ PRIDE MONTH.
ADOPTED THIS THE 10TH OF JUNE 2025. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER SMITH GOOD. AGAIN. YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR ANY DEBATE ON THIS AT
[02:00:05]
ALL, JUDGE. DO YOU HAVE. I WOULD LIKE. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.OKAY, LET'S DO THAT THEN. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM ANY OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COURT? I'M STILL THE CHAIR. LET ME HAVE THAT FREEDOM TO MOVE THIS MEETING ALONG.
F3 DID IT JUST COME IN? NO, IT WAS HERE. OH, OKAY.
I'M GIVING YOU THE SPACE TO HAVE YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS RESOLUTION.
JUST READ. PLEASE SPEAK YOUR COMMENTS. I HAVE SOME CONCERNS.
I WANT TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS ON THIS BEFORE WE VOTE.
AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE EVERY YEAR I.
I APPRECIATE THE RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN FOR THE MOST PART THIS YEAR.
IN THE PAST, THERE'S BEEN LINES SPECIFICALLY STATING THAT YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, IN LAST YEAR'S RESOLUTION REFERENCING HATEFUL LAWS THAT ARE THAT ARE OUR LEGISLATURE AND THE NATIONAL LEGISLATURE WE'RE ADDRESSING AT THE TIME.
AND THOSE SPECIFIC LAWS WERE DEALT WITH AS A FATHER OF THREE DAUGHTERS, INDIVIDUALS BORN AS MALES, PLAYING IN WOMEN'S SPORTS. THOSE WERE ISSUES LAST YEAR.
THAT WAS A MAJOR PART OF THE RESOLUTION. I APPRECIATED THAT THAT BEING CHANGED.
LOOKING AT THE RESOLUTION THIS YEAR, I, I DON'T HAVE AS MANY.
I DON'T HAVE AS MANY ISSUES WITH IT, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.
BUT AGAIN. I SINCERELY RESPECT AND AND I SINCERELY RESPECT OUR EMPLOYEES.
I SINCERELY RESPECT OUR MEMBERS OF THE OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE WHATEVER ORIENTATION THEY WANT.
I DO HAVE ISSUE WITH CELEBRATING. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PROGRESS IN THIS RESOLUTION, I HAVE ISSUES CELEBRATING SOME OF THE CHANGES AND SOME OF THE THE GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING IN THIS RESOLUTION TODAY.
I TRULY AND HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THAT IS A FACT.
I TRULY CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE PERSECUTION THAT MANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE GONE THROUGH, AND CAN YOU AND CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH. BUT I ALSO HAVE ISSUE WITH.
AS A CHRISTIAN, I HAVE ISSUE WITH. PROMOTING.
BOTH PROMOTING AND AND RECOGNIZING AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF GENDER IDENTITIES OUT THERE.
AND THAT'S MY PERSONAL VIEW. I'M JUST TELLING YOU IT IS.
AND THAT MAY BE WRONG, BUT I FIND THAT HARD TO DO.
SOUND GOOD? DO YOU DO WE WANT TO HEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS OF THOSE WHO SUBMITTED PUBLIC COMMENTS? THERE WAS ONE THAT WAS JUST HANDED TO ME. OKAY.
SO I'M GOING TO LET THE COURT SINCE I STARTED IT, I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THE PATTERN OF AND THANK YOU.
I FOLLOW THE PATTERN AS I STARTED, AND THEN I WILL GO TO THE ONE COMMENT THAT WAS JUST HANDED TO ME.
COMMISSIONER HAMMER. OH. SO OBVIOUSLY THIS TYPE OF TOPIC HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS POLARIZED OUR NATION IN TERMS OF REPUBLICAN VERSUS DEMOCRAT AND HOW THEY SUPPORT I, AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, SUPPORT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WITH ZERO PREJUDICE IN HAYS COUNTY.
AND OF COURSE, ANYONE ELSE, BUT SPECIFICALLY HAYS COUNTY.
AND I BELIEVE ALSO AS A CHRISTIAN, WE ARE OBLIGATED FROM, YOU KNOW, THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT TO HAVE COMPASSION, TO ACCEPT EVERYONE FOR WHO THEY ARE, TO TREAT THEM.
YOU KNOW, HOW WE WANT TO BE TREATED. GOING BACK TO THE THE FIRST PROCLAMATION THAT WE HAD.
SO I BELIEVE AND AS A REPUBLICAN, I DO BELIEVE PERSONAL LIBERTY, LIBERTY, LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND THE RIGHT OF ALL AMERICANS TO LIVE FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION, INCLUDING THOSE OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY DESERVE IT.
AND I DO CELEBRATE THEIR INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE A GAY MALE IN THE 70S AND 80S TO GO AND FIGHT FOR YOUR COUNTRY AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION.
[02:05:01]
AND I 110% AM SORRY FOR THAT. AND YOU GUYS ARE CONTINUALLY GROWING AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SHOW EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE BOARD.BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID I ALSO FIRMLY AND I KNOW IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING IN HERE ABOUT CHILDREN OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, BUT I DO FIRMLY OPPOSE ANY TYPE OF POLITICAL POLITICALIZATION OR IDEOLOGICAL INDOCTRINATION, INDOCTRINATION, INDOCTRINATION OF CHILDREN. SUPPORTING THE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF ADULTS DOES NOT MEAN PUSHING ANY TYPE OF AGENDA ONTO KIDS OR COMPROMISING PARENTAL RIGHTS. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, BUT I DID HAVE TO MAKE THAT POINT CLEAR.
I LOVE IT COMMISSIONER BECAUSE YOU DID IT RESPECTFULLY AND TASTEFULLY, AND YOU SAID, THIS IS WHO I AM AS A PRIVATE PERSON, AS A CHRISTIAN, AND THIS IS WHO I AM AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WITH MY DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY.
AND YOU DID IT MOST ELOQUENTLY. THAT IS THREADING THE NEEDLE AS I WILL DESCRIBE IT BEAUTIFULLY.
COMMISSIONER COHEN. WELL, YEAH. AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES YOU KNOW, RESPONSES.
YOU KNOW, I RESPECT YOUR OPINIONS. BUT JUST AS A HUMAN WHO CARES ABOUT OTHER HUMANS? YOU KNOW, WE STILL NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE STRUGGLE OF THIS GROUP.
WE HAVE WE MUST CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT PROTECT LGBTQ PLUS RIGHTS, CHALLENGE DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES, AND FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE FEELS SAFE, RESPECTED, AND INVOLVED.
PRIDE IS ABOUT EMBRACING DIVERSITY IN ALL OF ITS FORMS. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED THIS PROCLAMATION THE LAST THREE YEARS.
I BELIEVE IN IT. I SEE WHAT THIS GROUP HAS ENDURED YOU KNOW, FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
AND I SUPPORT THE PROCLAMATION, THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN.
AND YOU KNOW, WE ALL SHOULD, YOU KNOW, HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS.
AND LIKE I SAID, I RESPECT MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR OPINION. BUT AS A HUMAN PERSON WHO CARES ABOUT PEOPLE THIS PROCLAMATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AND THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THIS GROUP AT ALL COSTS.
WELL SAID. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE.
I NAMED SOME OF THEM EARLIER, YOU KNOW, HONOR, FREEDOM, FAIRNESS.
AND ONE OF THE PARAGRAPHS SAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BUILD A MORE INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE SOCIETY WHERE EVERYONE IS TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT NO MATTER WHAT OUR BELIEFS ARE.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE AMERICANS FIRST, AND GOD CREATED US IN HIS IMAGE.
WE MAY NOT AGREE WITH EVERYONE, BUT I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. AND I GET THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING LAST.
I BELIEVE IN SMALL GOVERNMENT. I'M A WEIRD DEMOCRAT.
HERE YOU GO. I BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE SMALL.
I BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE NIMBLE. I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD STAY OUT OF YOUR LIVES.
I DON'T CARE HOW MANY GUNS ARE IN YOUR CLOSET OR WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN YOUR BEDROOM.
I TELL PEOPLE BECAUSE I REPRESENT 350,000 TEXANS, AND I HAVE TO DO WITH THE MOST EVENHANDED, HOLISTIC APPROACH POSSIBLE WITHOUT ALIENATING ANYONE.
BUT YET, IF YOU'RE VULNERABLE, I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL ATTACKED WITH MY PRESENCE.
THOSE ARE THE LANES I OCCUPY, THE BANDWIDTH OF MY LIFE.
AND IF YOU'LL NOTICE, NONE OF THEM SAY WHAT BATHROOM YOU'RE GOING TO WALK INTO OR WHAT YOU'RE DOING, WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ABORTION OR NOT. NONE OF THAT IS MY BUSINESS.
IT'S NONE OF MY BUSINESS. IT IS NOT MY PLACE.
YOU ARE AMERICANS. YOU ARE TEXANS. YOU ARE NEIGHBORS.
YOU RUN YOUR LIVES AS YOUR RELIGION AND YOUR SPOUSE OR YOUR MATE AND YOUR FAMILY SEE FIT.
THAT DOESN'T HARM OTHERS, AND I'M STAYING OUT OF YOUR WAY.
BUT IF YOU'RE HARMING OTHERS OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S NEGATIVE, THEN WE SHOW UP HAPPILY.
BUT UNTIL THEN, WE MUST DEFEND AND PROTECT ALL THE VULNERABLE LIKE IT WAS IN THIS ONE PROCLAMATION AND THE PREVIOUS JUNETEENTH PROCLAMATION AND THE PREVIOUS RESOLUTION ABOUT IMMIGRANTS. ABSOLUTELY ALWAYS DEFEND THE VULNERABLE.
HECK, IT'S BIBLICAL. WE'RE CITING CHRISTIANITY UP HERE.
LIFELONG CATHOLIC, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. I'M CHRISTIAN, SO I BELIEVE IN THOSE FOUNDATIONAL BELIEFS.
DEFEND, PROTECT. ALL THOSE IDEAS ARE REAL. THEY'RE WHOLESOME.
[02:10:01]
AND THAT'S WHY I ADDED MY NAME. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER COHEN.I ADDED MY NAME TO THIS RESOLUTION. PROCLAMATION.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL AND THEN I WILL LET THE SPEAKER SPEAK.
COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES, COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES, COMMISSIONER.
INGALSBE. YES. JUDGE. BECERRA. YES. MR.. GONZALEZ.
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS COURT. MY NAME IS MATTHEW GONZALEZ. I AM THE HAYS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR. BEFORE I TALK ABOUT WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IN MY SPEECH, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONER HAMER SAID THAT REALLY STICKS OUT WITH ME AS A GAY MAN, AND THAT IS THE TRAUMA THAT LIVES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
FROM THE 1980S DURING THE AIDS AND HIV EPIDEMIC.
MANY LIVES WERE LOST IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND MANY OF THOSE LIVES WON'T BE ABLE TO PASS ALONG THE COURAGE, THE STRENGTH AND THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY AND TRUST THAT WAS THERE FOR THEM BECAUSE OUR GOVERNMENT FAILED THEM.
NOT ONLY DID OUR GOVERNMENT FAILED THEM, BUT PUBLIC HEALTH FAILED THEM.
AND SO I VALUE YOUR COMMENTS VERY WELL, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I THINK IT'S A NOTE TO ME TO ALWAYS TRY TO DO MORE FOR EVERY PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR THEIR DEMOGRAPHICS THAT MAY BE DEFINE THEM.
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THAT TRAUMA TO BE INSTILLED ON THEM IN THE FUTURE.
IT IS PROCLAMATIONS LIKE THIS, ACTS OF RECOGNITION AND INCLUSION THAT ALLOWS ME IN SO MANY OTHERS TO LIVE AUTHENTICALLY WITHOUT FEAR OF REPERCUSSIONS FROM OUR EMPLOYERS, OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, LET ME BE CLEAR MY SEXUAL ORIENTATION IS NOT MY ONLY IDENTITY.
THESE ARE ALL JUST SOME OF THE ROLES AND EXPERIENCES THAT SHAPE WHO I AM.
MY IDENTITY IS NOT A SINGULAR. IT'S A RICH TAPESTRY OF LIVED EXPERIENCES.
AND I'M NOT JUST DEFINED BY ONE ASPECT, BY MYSELF.
SO THAT'S WHY THIS PROCLAMATION IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE I GET TO CELEBRATE SOMETHING THAT MAKES ME UNIQUE OUT OF THE THRESHOLD OF MAJORITY SITUATIONS. I STAND HERE AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE VIBRANT AND DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PART OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.
WE CONTRIBUTE LABOR, LOVE, AND LOYALTY TO ENSURE THAT EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY HAS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, SOCIAL INCLUSION, AND HEALTH EQUITY. WE HAVE BEEN HERE IN THE PAST.
WE ARE HERE NOW AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE HERE IN THE FUTURE.
PROCLAMATIONS LIKE THIS ONE MATTER. THEY ARE MORE THAN SYMBOLIC GESTURES.
THEY ARE POWERFUL SIGNALS. THEY TELL RESIDENTS, VISITORS, BUSINESSES AND POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES THAT HAYS COUNTY IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAFE, VALUED AND WELCOME. BUT BEYOND POLICY AND BEYOND ECONOMICS, PROCLAMATIONS LIKE THIS CAN SAVE LIVES.
TO SEE THE GOVERNMENT STAND UP AND SAY, YOU ARE SEEN, YOU ARE VALUED AND YOU ARE LOVED.
THAT CAN BE THE VERY THING THAT GIVES SOMEONE THE STRENGTH TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY.
THAT CAN BE THE HOPE THAT INTERRUPTS THEIR DESPAIR.
IT ATTRACTS TOURISTS WHO SHOP IN OUR BUSINESSES AND DINE IN OUR RESTAURANTS.
IT BRINGS IN A MORE DIVERSE, SKILLED AND EDUCATED WORKFORCE.
BY CREATING AN INCLUSIVE AND AFFIRMING ENVIRONMENT, WE ARE NOT ONLY DOING WHAT IS RIGHT, WE ARE INVESTING IN THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ECONOMIC HEALTH OF OUR COUNTY. THANK YOU.
OKAY. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK ONE OF OUR LONGTIME LEADERS IN THIS MOVEMENT TO APPROACH THE PODIUM, MISS SANDOVAL. I DIDN'T SIGN UP TO SPEAK BECAUSE I'M NOT GREAT AT PUBLIC SPEAKING.
BUT STILL, I PULLED YOU UP. YEAH. AND THE SAD PART FOR YOU IS THERE'S NO TIMER IN THIS MODE.
THERE'S. I FALL UNDER ALL THESE CATEGORIES. I'M FROM MEXICO.
LESBIAN. THAT WAS RAISED BY TWO IMMIGRANTS. SO BEING LGBT FOR ME IS A BIG DEAL.
MY MOM EMBRACES IT WITH ME. SO TO HAVE MY COMMUNITY HERE AND YOU ARE YOUR BACKS.
I MEAN, THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO ME. WE'VE COME A LONG WAY FROM JUNETEENTH TO LGBT TO IMMIGRATION.
WE GOT TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD. WE GOT TO CLEAN UP THESE STREETS.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT. AND IF YOU EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT LGBT, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO GET UP THERE AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR US AS WELL. BEAUTIFULLY DONE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER COLEMAN.
[02:15:01]
ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK? OKAY. ANYONE WANTING TO BE A PART OF THIS PICTURE, PLEASE COME ON UP FOR A QUICK PIC.I'M SORRY. WHAT IS THAT? OH, IT'S RIGHT THERE.
COMMISSIONER. IT'S RIGHT THERE. YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS, WHAT IS THAT? LOG BACKLOG. OH, THAT'S SO CUTE. HI. HOW ARE YOU? HI. HI THERE. HELLO THERE. YEAH.
YEAH. OH OKAY. SCRAM. BEAT IT. HI, THERE. GOOD JOB.
ANY. COMMISSIONER. SPEAKING OF SIGNATURE. BITCH.
THEY HELD IT UP OVER THERE AT THE OTHER END. THERE YOU ARE AGAIN.
REALLY? SORRY. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. I THINK WE'RE RIGHT BEHIND YOU. YEAH. WHAT DID YOU STAND NEXT TO HER.
AND YOU GO THIS WAY. NO, YOU GO THIS WAY. YOU GO THAT WAY.
NO SHAME, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GO RIGHT THERE. RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.
WHY ARE YOU HERE? NO. HERE WE GO. PUT YOUR HAND ON THIS OTHER SIDE.
RIGHT HERE. ONE. TWO. THREE. ONE. TWO. THREE.
I'M FULL OF EMOTIONS. THANK YOU ALL. GOOD FOR YOU.
THANK YOU. COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. BLACK EYES, I GOT HIM. COME ON. ARE YOU READY? YES. NO PROBLEM. HAYS COUNTY HAYS FOOD GALA. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS.
I WAS LIKE, I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE. I'M SORRY. EXACTLY. IT WAS THE CASINO.
YES. YES, EXACTLY. HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD. THANK YOU FOR HAVING I KNOW IT'S NOT.
WITH YOUR HEART. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT WE GOTTA DO? BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA BE. ABLE TO SPEAK CANDIDLY.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YEAH. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. SCRAM! BEAT IT. WE GOTTA GET TO WORK. JUST KIDDING, JUST KIDDING.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP MOVING, FOLKS.
THANK YOU. REUBEN. PLEASE OPEN F REUBEN 4F4. ADOPT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY
[F.4. Adopt a Proclamation recognizing the 150th Anniversary of Rambo Lodge #426. SMITH]
OF RAMBO. LODGE NUMBER FOUR, TWO SIX. SO MOVED.SECOND, IF YOU'LL PLEASE READ IT. PROCLAMATION.
RECOGNIZING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF RAMBO LODGE 426.
WHEREAS ON OCTOBER 2ND, 1874 A DISPENSE A DISPENSATION WAS GRANTED BY THE GRAND LODGE OF TEXAS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RAMBOW LODGE IN THE COMMUNITY OF CEDAR VALLEY, TEXAS. AND WHEREAS, ON JUNE 7TH, 1875, A CHARTER WAS ISSUED FOR RAMBOW LODGE NUMBER 426, A.F. AND AM, AND THE LODGE HAS CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED UNDER THAT AUTHORITY FOR OVER 150 YEARS.
AND WHEREAS FREEMASONRY IS A WAY OF LIFE, A SOCIETY OF FRIENDS AND BROTHERS UNITED BY A COMMON GOAL OF BECOMING BETTER MEN THROUGH SERVICE, MORALITY AND BROTHERLY LOVE. AND WHEREAS TEXAS MASONS HAVE HISTORICALLY INCLUDED VETERANS OF THE TEXAS REVOLUTION, DELEGATES TO THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS CONVENTIONS, AND NUMEROUS LEADERS IN STATE, COUNTY, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS TRUSTEES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. AND WHEREAS, MEMBERS OF LODGE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CIVIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND GOVERNMENTAL FABRIC OF HAYS COUNTY, AND WHEREAS, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF RAINBOW LODGE HAVE GONE ON TO SERVE AS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, EXEMPLIFYING A CONTINUED LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE, INCLUDING P.L.
TURNER FROM 1913 TO 1916, J.W. CHAMPION FROM 1921 TO 1924, LEWIS B JENNINGS, 1943 VIRGIL KAHN, 1947 TO 1962 LEONARD MCCARTY, 1961 TO 1989.
AND RAY O. WHISNANT, JR, 2011 TO 2018. AND WHEREAS RAINBOW LODGE NO.
[02:20:02]
46 HAS RESIDED IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY, INCLUDING FRIENDSHIP CHURCH IN CEDAR VALLEY.NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DOES HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF RAMBO MASONIC LODGE NUMBER 46 AND HONORS ITS ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY, LEADERSHIP, AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT OF HAYS COUNTY.
ADOPTED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025. WONDERFULLY DONE.
I WILL START WITH COMMISSIONER SMITH. THANK YOU.
JUDGE. AND I'M NOT SURE THAT ANYBODY FROM THE LODGE IS HERE, BUT.
OH, THERE THEY ARE. ALL RIGHT. I MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE.
WELL, YOU WANT THEM TO SPEAK FIRST? HOW ABOUT WE DO THAT? WE'LL, WE'LL WE'LL BREAK OUT OF THE CYCLE.
AND IF YOU WILL STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE YOU EARLIER WHEN YOU CAME IN. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. JUDGE.
COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS LYNN ALDERSON. I'M THE CURRENT SECRETARY OF RAMBO LODGE 426.
IT IS WITH SINCERE THANK YOU FOR FOR ALLOWING THE COMMISSIONERS TO SHOW OUR LODGE THAT WE HAVE MET SOMETHING. TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW LONG THE FREEMASONRY HAS BEEN AROUND GEORGE WASHINGTON, SAM HOUSTON, MULTIPLE PEOPLE AT THE ALAMO.
AND IN FACT, THE COUNTY WE LIVE IN, J JACK C HAYS WAS A FREEMASON.
SO IT WAS IT'S WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT WE ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION.
AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I FOUND OUT THAT IN 1885, THE HEAD OF MASONIC LODGE 426 WAS ROLAND CRYSTAL, WHO WAS MY GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER.
WOW. SO WE DO APPRECIATE THAT WE WILL BE HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE ON SATURDAY.
FOR EVERYONE WHO'S EVER DRIVEN BY AND WONDERED WHAT'S IN THE SCARY BUILDING.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY DRIPPING SPRINGS ACADEMY, SO IT WAS.
IT WAS A SCHOOL I HAVE PERSONALLY SHOWN WHEN I SAY THIS TO OLDER LADIES THROUGH THE BUILDING, WHICH I WAS CORRECTED BY MY WIFE CALLING THEM OLD.
I EXPLAINED TO HER THAT THEY WENT TO SCHOOL THERE, SO THEY, THEY THEY WERE.
SO IT IS IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION. THE CITY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS IS THAT IT IS NOT A FUNDRAISER.
IT'S JUST AN OPENING. AND WE DO APPRECIATE THE COUNTY PROVIDING THIS PROCLAMATION.
BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I WILL SAY AS SOMEONE MOVING THROUGH THE MASONIC PROCESS, AND I KNOW MASONS THAT ARE HAPPY, ALIVE AND WELL AROUND IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW, I WON'T CALL THEM OUT.
IT'S REALLY WARM, HEARTWARMING FOR ME TO SEE THIS, BECAUSE NOT UNTIL YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S ABOUT. DO YOU REALLY GET A FEEL FOR THE MOST WELL-INTENTIONED, SPIRITED, HUMANITARIAN, UPLIFTING EFFORT OF THE MASONIC LODGES AROUND OUR NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD, OF COURSE.
AND SO I THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL ENDEAVOR THAT NEEDS MORE ATTENTION.
SO I'M GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF THIS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SMITH.
WE MENTIONED WHAT BUILDING IT'S IN. IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN DRIPPING SPRINGS, RIGHT OFF MERCER STREET. IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO FOUNDER'S DAY, IT'S THE.
IT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF WHERE THE BIG STAGE WHERE THE DANCE IS HELD IS AT.
AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS. THEY'RE A GREAT AND THRIVING MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M ALSO GLAD TO SAY THAT THROUGH THE TEARS IN DRIPPING SPRINGS, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL HAVE SOME BETTER PARKING AND SOME NICER FACILITIES SURROUNDING THE BUILDING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AND WE'RE JUST EXCITED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
BEAUTIFUL. COMMISSIONER HAMER, ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, WE NEED MORE OF THOSE OUT HERE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND FOR ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE APPRECIATE RAY AND EVERYTHING HE DID BEFORE I GOT HERE.
YEAH. ROXANNE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER COHEN.
[02:25:04]
YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES, COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE. YES, COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES.JUDGE BECERRA. YES. LET'S COME UP AND TAKE A QUICK PICTURE.
ANYONE THAT WANTS TO BE A PART OF THIS.
STUFF GOING ON. THANK YOU SIR. YES SIR. THANK YOU SIR.
THERE YOU ARE. THERE YOU ARE. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY.
I GOT ONE. THANK YOU. I GOT A PROCESS. I'M SYSTEMS ORIENTED.
OTHERWISE, I FORGET MY PERIOD, SO I'M USUALLY UNDERGONE.
SO HOW ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO BE? MAYBE YOU GO THAT WAY.
OKAY. WHAT DO YOU THINK? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. LET ME GO.
OVER HERE. ONE. TWO. THREE. OVER HERE. ONE. TWO.
TO THREE. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. AND THIS IS FOR YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. MOST GRATEFUL. THANKS AGAIN.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALEX. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
YEAH OKAY OKAY. SO YOU. GOT ONE.
YOU GOT IT. THANK YOU. AND JUST AS A HEADS UP, AFTER WE'RE DONE WITH THE PROCLAMATION SECTION, WE'LL TAKE A LITTLE QUICK RECESS, PLEASE OPEN EF FIVE EF FIVE, ADOPT A PROCLAMATION COMMEMORATING THE 19TH
[F.5. Adopta Proclamation commemorating the 19th Anniversary of the death of U.S. Army Private First Class Kristian Menchaca. BECERRA]
ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF US ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KRISTIAN MENCHACA.SECOND. PROCLAMATION COMMEMORATING THE 19TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF US ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KRISTIAN MENCHACA, WHEREAS BEFORE ENLISTING IN THE ARMY, KRISTIAN MENCHACA FURTHERED HIS EDUCATION BY ATTENDING THE GARY JOB CORPS CENTER IN SAN MARCOS FROM SEPTEMBER 2004 TO FEBRUARY 2005, EARNING A GED CERTIFICATE AND COMPLETING THE SECURITY OFFICER PROGRAM.
AND WHEREAS, DURING HIS JOB CORPS TRAINING, KRISTIAN MENCHACA, AN INSPIRING YOUNG MAN, VOLUNTEERED HIS TIME AND TALENTS AT A NUMBER OF LOCAL EVENTS, INCLUDING THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS WHILE DEMONSTRATING RESPECT FOR OTHERS AND AN EXCUSE ME, AN ADMIRABLE COMMITMENT TO HIS GOALS, WHICH EXEMPLIFY THE JOB CORPS CORE VALUES.
AND WHEREAS, IN 2006, WHILE ASSIGNED TO THE FIRST BATTALION, 502ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, SECOND BRIGADE, 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, PRIVATE MENCHACA WAS KILLED FOLLOWING AN INSURGENT ATTACK ON A US ARMY CHECKPOINT SOUTH OF BAGHDAD, IRAQ, AND WAS POSTHUMOUSLY LEE AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART AND PRISONER OF WAR MEDALS.
AND WHEREAS IN 2019, HAYS COUNTY DESIGNATED A PORTION OF STATE HIGHWAY 21 BETWEEN HIGHWAY 80 AND YARRINGTON ROAD AS THE PFC KRISTIAN MENCHACA MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. AND WHEREAS WILLING TO LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE US ARMED FORCES DEMONSTRATE EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE, HONOR, AND LOVE OF COUNTRY AND TIME CAN NEVER DIMINISH THE PROFOUND DEBT THAT ALL AMERICANS OWE TO. KRISTIAN MENCHACA FOR THE CHALLENGE HE UNDERTOOK AND THE IMMENSE SACRIFICE HE RENDERED.
AND WHEREAS JUNE 16TH, 2025, MARKS THE 19TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF US ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KRISTIAN MENCHACA OF BROWNSVILLE, PROVIDING A FITTING OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON HIS LIFE AND HIS SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF HAYS COUNTY DOES HEREBY COMMEMORATE THE 19TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF US ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KRISTIAN MENCHACA AND PAYS TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY AND SERVICE.
ADOPTED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF JUNE 2005. BEAUTIFULLY DONE.
WE CAN CALL THE ROLL. AND THEN I WILL ASK RANDOLPH GOODMAN TO SPEAK.
COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.
YES, COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
YES. JUDGE. BECERRA. YES. WITH HIGH HONOR. MR. GOODWIN, OUR NAVY FRIEND. WELL, THANK YOU, JUDGE.
ALL YOURS. ALRIGHT, HERE, I THINK I'LL START.
ANYWAY, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP TWO PEOPLE. MAJOR ALSBURY AND CAPTAIN ESCALANTE.
ANYWAY, JUST A POINT OF PRIVILEGE BEFORE I GET GOING HERE.
YOU KNOW ME, I JUST CAN'T LET IT GO. BUT ANYWAY, A COUPLE OF THINGS WERE BROUGHT UP.
FIRST OFF, JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING ME IN THIS.
[02:30:06]
IN THIS TORNADO I'M IN RIGHT NOW. I'VE BEEN I JUST I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH NOT ON THE PHONE, BUT TEXTING THAT THE NEWSCASTER IN AT CBS IN HOUSTON.SHE WANTS TO COME UP HERE REAL BAD. BUT ANYWAY.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW OR NOT, BUT WE ARE BEING ASSAILED BY THE CONGRESS OR WHATEVER ABOUT CUT BACK. ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT EVEN CUTBACKS.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST TOTALLY DISMISSING THE JOB CORPS PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
AND AS SOON AS THIS BECAME EVIDENT, OUR HONORABLE JUDGE BASCETTA PICKED UP ON IT.
AND WE HAVE HAD MEDIA COVERAGE. WE'VE HAD CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT.
IN FACT, OVER 200 CONGRESSMEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAVE BEEN BEFORE BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF LABOR, AS MANY OF OUR SENATORS HAVE. SO ANYWAY, THAT WAS PART OF MY POINT OF PRIVILEGE.
THE OTHER THINGS WERE, AS YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS WERE BROUGHT UP.
YOU KNOW, I WAS I WAS IN HAITI. YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THESE THINGS.
I WAS IN HAITI DURING AN ATTEMPTED COUP D'ETAT.
SO I KNOW WHAT THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY CAN GO SOUTH IN A HURRY.
AND I WAS ALSO IN 2019 OR 2017, I WAS IN ARIZONA WHEN JUDGE, I MEAN, WHERE SHERIFF ARPAIO WAS, YOU KNOW, SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS. LAW. AND I WAS THINKING THAT HAD I NOT BEEN IN THE SUIT, I WOULD HAVE BEEN.
SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS. BUT ANYWAY, ANYWAY, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS I.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR HONORING PFC KRISTIAN MENCHACA.
I HOPE I WON'T CRY WHEN I SAY A COUPLE OF THESE THINGS, BUT I TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, WE KNEW HIM.
MAJOR ALSBURY WAS HIS INSTRUCTOR. AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF THE OTHER FOLKS IN HERE.
AND I THINK I'VE QUOTED BIBLICALLY WHAT TWO THINGS, ONE OF THEM AND IT REFERS TO ALL OF US, YOU GUYS IN THERE AND THE MILITARY AND ALL OF US.
AND HE GOES, IT WAS ISAIAH SIX EIGHT AND HE GOES, WHOM SHALL I SEND? AND WHO WILL GO FOR US? AND I SAID, HERE I AM, SEND ME.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS DO EVERY DAY, BECAUSE I KNOW I, YOU KNOW, JUST, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT SINCE I WAS HERE THE LAST TIME. YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE REALLY.
Y'ALL ARE THE TIP OF THE SPEAR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY.
AND THE OTHER ONE WAS GREATER. NO. LOVE HAD GREATER.
LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS TO LAY DOWN ONE'S LIFE FOR ONE'S FRIENDS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO IN THE MILITARY. AND I SPENT 20 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY.
AND AS WE HAVE JUDE PRATHER'S IN HERE, YOU KNOW, AND MIKE WAS HERE A WHILE AGO.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WE DO WE DO THOSE THINGS AND WE DO THEM WITHOUT.
THANKS. WE JUST DO IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S EXPECTED OF US.
AND THEN ALSO CAPTAIN ESCALANTE ABOUT SOME OF THE, THE WHAT WE DO.
ANYWAY, IT'S CALLED HONESTA DE MORA HONESTA.
HONORABLY WE LIVE AND HONORABLY WE DIE. YOUR TURN.
I WASN'T GOING TO CRY. MY NAME IS TROY AUBREY.
OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND OPPORTUNITY TO.
AND THE BLESSING TO SERVE THE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS OF GARY JOB CORPS.
IN 2007, ABOUT A YEAR AFTER WE LOST KRISTIN IN IRAQ.
AND IT'S BEEN KNOWN AS THE CHRISTIAN TRAINING ACADEMY SINCE 2007.
AND WE HONOR THAT. AND WE CERTAINLY FEEL THAT POSITIVE SPIRIT OF CHRISTIAN AND THOSE WHO ALSO HAVE WENT THROUGH THE ACADEMY AND GIVEN THEIR LIVES TO THEIR COUNTRY. JUDGE BECERRA, I TRULY APPRECIATE I SAW ON SOCIAL MEDIA YOUR STATEMENT OVER YOUR SUPPORT OF GARY JOB CORPS. AND WE TRULY APPRECIATE THAT.
[02:35:04]
AND WE I PERSONALLY HAVE FAITH THAT GARY IS NOT ONE AND DONE.BUT IT CERTAINLY HELPS WHEN WE HAVE COMMUNITY LEADERS ADVOCATING FOR THE PROGRAM.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. CAPTAIN. GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. IT'S BEEN A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF 19 YEARS RECOGNIZING CHRISTIAN MENCHACA.
I WENT THROUGH THE ACADEMY IN THE MIDDLE OF 2014.
AND WHEN I LEARNED CHRISTIAN MENCHACA AND HIS STORY, HIS JOURNEY, HIS SACRIFICE.
NEVER MET HIM. SEEN PICTURES OF HIM. AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN CARRIED WITH ME THROUGHOUT THE REST OF MY MY PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY TO RETURN TO GARY JOB CORPS AND TO EVEN THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE BATTLING TO KEEP JOB CORPS AND THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COUNTRY THAT THIS WOULD BE THE LAST TIME US AS REPRESENTING JOB CORPS HERE IN THE COURTS FOR THIS PROCLAMATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING ANNUALLY.
HOPEFULLY THAT IS NOT THE CASE. AND IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO KEEP HIS SPIRIT ALIVE.
AND. YES. SO THAT IS WHAT THAT'S WHAT I HAVE THIS MORNING AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND YEAH. ALL RIGHT. AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.
AND ANY QUESTIONS? BUT FIRST, LET ME SEE IF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS.
COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. RANDOLPH, I JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I MEAN, IT'S I IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S BEEN 19 YEARS THAT HE HAS PASSED.
AND SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO BRING THE REMEMBRANCE HERE TO COURT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO. THANK YOU, RANDOLPH, TOO, FOR BEING HERE.
AND THANK YOU, JUDGE, FOR, YOU KNOW, BRINGING THAT MEDIA TO THE COUNTY.
AND WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. AND WE HAVE YOUR BACKS.
YOU KNOW, HE CAME OUT OF THAT PROGRAM TOO. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
I THINK WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU HOWEVER WE CAN.
BEAUTIFULLY SAID. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. THANK YOU FOR COMING AND BRINGING HIM EVERY YEAR TO LIFE.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO JUST HAVE HIS MEMORY LIVE ON.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BRINGING THIS. THANK YOU FOR MY, MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THIS.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO SAY WE DO I SUPPORT YOU AND WHAT GARY JOB CORPS HAS DONE.
SO I APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO. AND WE SUPPORT YOU IN ANY WAY THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.
BEAUTIFUL. COMMISSIONER SMITH. I WOULD JUST SAY THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME Y'ALL BEEN UNDER ATTACK, AND AND Y'ALL ARE SURVIVORS. AND I WANT TO. I WANT TO COMMIT JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE COURT, THAT WE'RE HERE FOR YOU, AND I DON'T SAY THAT LIGHTLY.
I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU, RANDOLPH, YOU'RE APPRECIATED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
GARY AND GARY'S STILL BEING OPEN, SO I'LL JUST TELL YOU, I HOPE THERE'S A HUGE CELEBRATION OF LIFE NEXT YEAR, AND I'D BE WILLING TO HELP YOU WITH THAT. THANK YOU.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I GET LUCKY TO BE IN THE POSITION THAT I'M IN, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF GARY JOB CORPS, GENERATING THE LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT IT DESERVES ESPECIALLY.
IF YOU DO IT ON ACCIDENT, I GET IT. LET'S CLARIFY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
[02:40:01]
IT IS ABOUT. AND THEN I PUT PEOPLE IN TWO CATEGORIES.EITHER YOU DON'T KNOW OR YOU DON'T CARE. ONCE YOU KNOW THAT GARY JOB CORPS DOESN'T RESIDE IN THE 32% SUCCESS RATE, INSTEAD IN THE 92% SUCCESS RATE, AND YOU KEEP PEDALING FOR ITS CLOSURE.
WELL, NOW YOU DON'T CARE. NOW YOU'RE BEING CARELESS BECAUSE GARY JOB CORPS ABSOLUTELY HELPS THE VULNERABLE, THE DISENFRANCHIZED AMONG US. AND FOR THAT REASON, OF COURSE, I GET TO SAY THIS AGAIN.
I WILL SPEAK UP ON YOUR BEHALF. YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN TWO COMMISSIONERS DIRECTLY BENEFITING FROM GARY'S LEADERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND ALL OF US AS A COURT HAVE SEEN THE GIFT THAT GARY IS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND MY ADDITIONAL GIFT OF SPEAKING AT YOUR COMMENCEMENTS.
AMONG OTHER THINGS. SO I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR YOU GUYS, BECAUSE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE BEACONS ON THE HILL FOR US AND OUR VULNERABLE, OUR DISENFRANCHIZED AND WHAT OTHERWISE COULD BE IN OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
LET'S JUST BE HONEST, YOU GUYS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THERE ARE NONE LEFT.
GIVING FOLKS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THINGS THAT ARE MOST CRITICAL.
WE NEED LINESMEN. WE NEED THE LABOR. THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE PLAN.
WE NEED WELDERS. WE NEED PLUMBERS. WE NEED ELECTRICIANS. WE NEED ALL OF THE ABOVE.
WE CAN'T ALL BE ENGINEERS. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
IT'S A VERY BIG DEAL. AND I SAY, JUDE, BEFORE WE CALL THE VOTE, I WANTED TO SPEAK A BIT.
YES. I JUST WANTED TO ADD JUST WHAT A UNIQUE AND TRUE HERO PFC MENCHACA WAS.
THEY MENTIONED IT IN THE PROCLAMATION THAT HE WAS IN THE FIRST, THE 502ND AT 101ST AIRBORNE, THAT IS, AMERICA'S ONE OF THE MOST PREMIER INFANTRY UNITS THAT HE SERVED IN.
AND HE WAS A P.O.W., WHICH IS ANOTHER VERY RARE THING IN THE IRAQ WAR.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, HIS BODY DID HAVE SIGNS OF TORTURE AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THE TOTAL NUMBER OF OF STUDENTS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH GARY JOB CORPS.
THEY END UP SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES, BUT IT IS SIZABLE ENOUGH TO THE POINT WHERE EVEN WHEN I SHOWED UP TO BASIC TRAINING, THE DRILL SERGEANT SAID, OH, YOU'RE FROM SAN MARCOS. YOU MUST BE FROM GARY JOB CORPS. WOW.
I'D LOVE TO GET THAT NUMBER. YEAH. THAT'S GREAT.
BUT JUST TO SPEAK TO THE CALIBER OF SOMEONE LIKE PFC MENCHACA, THE UNIT HE SERVED WITH, THE MANNER OF HIS PASSING AS A POW IN THE IRAQ WAR, WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY RARE, VERY RARE OCCURRENCE.
I JUST THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT SO WELL SAID.
THANK YOU JUDE. THAT'S A GREAT CONTRIBUTION. ROXANNE.
ALL YOURS. DID WE ALREADY VOTE? WE DID VOTE. OKAY, GOOD.
PERFECT. NOW, THE FINAL PIECE IS. LET'S COME ON UP FOR A PICTURE WITH YOU GUYS.
YES. BECAUSE IT CHANGES ALL THE PEOPLE. COME ON GUYS.
HI THERE. HOW YOU DOING? HI. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
HI THERE. HI, THERE. GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? HEY. GOOD JOB.
I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. THERE'S ANOTHER FAMOUS PERSON.
ONE MORE TIME. GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB. KEEP IT UP.
KEEP WEARING THAT WITH PRIDE. GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB.
HI. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. SIR.
WOW. COMMISSIONERS. ARE WE GOING TO MESS IT UP BY ADDING OURSELVES TO IT? YOU GUYS LOOK GREAT. EXCUSE ME. I JUST SAW HER ON FACEBOOK.
I KNOW I DIDN'T. I DIDN'T WANT TO DO THE NAMEDROP THING.
COME ON. ALL RIGHT. I DIDN'T GET TO SAY ON THIS SIDE.
LET'S GET CAPTAIN. CAN YOU. COME ON. GET IN THERE.
GET IN THERE. JUST SO YOU KNOW, MY SPOT, RIGHT? RIGHT NEXT TO THE JUDGE. EVERYBODY TURN SIDEWAYS.
SIDEWAYS. TURN. THERE YOU GO. 45. 4545. YEAH.
AND FACE THE 45 AND LET ME. TAKE THE. YEAH. ALWAYS TRYING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE A LITTLE BIT MORE A LITTLE BIT MORE A LITTLE TIGHTER A LITTLE TIGHTER TIGHTER A LITTLE TIGHTER.
THAT WAY TIGHTER. YOU GOT THIS. YOU GOT EVERYBODY GET SKINNIER.
[02:45:01]
RANDOLPH. GET SKINNY. RIGHT. COME ON. DON'T LEAVE MY WIFE ALWAYS LEAVE.123123. THANK YOU. DID Y'ALL GET GOOD PICTURES? NOW YOU GOT IT. YOU PROMISED. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH, RANDOLPH.
YES, SIR. YES, SIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CBS. THANK YOU.
JUST BEEN BURNING UP THE PHONE. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. WILL YOU GUYS HAVE PLAYED WELL.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. PLEASE OPEN F6. F6. ADOPT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING
[F.6. Adopt a Proclamation recognizing June 2025 as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. SMITH/GONZALES/PRATHER]
JUNE 2025 AS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER PTSD AWARENESS MONTH.SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL RIGHT, IF YOU PLEASE READ IT.
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 2025 AS PTSD AWARENESS MONTH.
HAYS COUNTY RECOGNIZES THAT POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, PTSD, IS A SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION THAT CAN DEVELOP AFTER EXPERIENCING OR WITNESSING LIFE THREATENING OR TRAUMATIC EVENTS SUCH AS NATURAL DISASTERS, VIOLENCE, COMBAT, OR SEVERE ACCIDENTS. AND WHEREAS AN ESTIMATED 5 IN 100 OLDER ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES, APPROXIMATELY 5% EXPERIENCED PTSD IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, AFFECTING MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE NATION, INCLUDING MANY OF OUR VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OTHER TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES.
AND WHEREAS VETERANS ARE AT A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RISK FOR DEVELOPING PTSD DUE TO THE UNIQUE AND OFTEN EXTREME STRESSORS ASSOCIATED WITH MILITARY SERVICE, ESPECIALLY DEPLOYMENT TO COMBAT ZONES. AND WHEREAS WOMEN ARE APPROXIMATELY TWICE AS LIKELY AS MEN TO DEVELOP POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, IN PART BECAUSE THEY ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY CERTAIN TYPES OF TRAUMA, SUCH AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT THAT CARRY A HIGHER CONDITIONAL RISK OF LEADING TO PTSD. AND WHEREAS THE LIKELIHOOD AND SEVERITY OF PTSD CAN BE INFLUENCED BY NUMEROUS FACTORS, INCLUDING LEVELS OF SOCIAL SUPPORT, PERSONAL HISTORY OF MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND THE PRESENCE OF ADDITIONAL STRESSORS FOLLOWING TRAUMA, SUCH AS THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE, SERIOUS INJURY, OR LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT OR HOUSING.
AND WHEREAS INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IS CRITICAL TO CONFRONTING THE UNIQUE STIGMA OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH TRAUMA RELATED MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, HELPING TO CORRECT MISINFORMATION AND FOSTERING A COMMUNITY IN WHICH INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH PTSD FEEL SAFE, SUPPORTED, AND ENCOURAGED TO SEEK CARE WITHOUT FEAR OF JUDGMENT OR ISOLATION.
AND WHEREAS, WITH EARLY AND EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS, INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH PTSD CAN MANAGE THEIR SYMPTOMS, IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE, AND EXPERIENCE A MEANINGFUL RECOVERY THROUGH ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH CARE, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND EVIDENCE BASED TREATMENTS.
AND WHEREAS IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVED ACCESS TO TRAUMA INFORMED MENTAL HEALTH CARE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS, PARTICULARLY FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS SO THAT INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY PTSD CAN RECEIVE TIMELY, EFFECTIVE TREATMENT AND LEAD HEALTHY, FULFILLING LIVES WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF UNADDRESSED TRAUMA.
AND WHEREAS, THE STEP UP FOR PTSD AWARENESS EVENT ORGANIZED BY PATRIOTS HALL, HAYES COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND HAYES COUNTY INVITES THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A FAMILY FRIENDLY WORKOUT AND BREAKFAST ON JUNE 28TH, 2025 TO HONOR AND RAISE AWARENESS FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY PTSD. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT HAYES COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 2025 AS PTSD AWARENESS MONTH. ADOPTED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF JUNE 2025.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE.
COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
YES. COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES. JUDGE. BECERRA.
YES. SHOULD WE HAVE JUNE APPROACH THE PODIUM? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION TO BRING MORE AWARENESS TO POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD THE PHRASE IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP.
IT'S ALSO OKAY TO ASK, DOES SOMEONE NEED HELP TO CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBOR, TO CHECK ON YOUR FRIEND, CHECK ON A FAMILY MEMBER. IF YOU CAN TELL THEY'RE STRUGGLING, IT'S OKAY TO CHECK ON THEM AS WELL AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE OUT THERE TO ADDRESS AND TREAT AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS IN REGARDS TO VETERANS AND SOME OF THE RESOURCES AND SERVICES THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDES.
[02:50:06]
WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SAMARITAN CENTER AND THE AUSTIN VET CENTER.WE'RE HERE ONCE A WEEK TO PROVIDE IN-PERSON COUNSELING.
BUT THIS THIS PROCLAMATION HELPS BRING AWARENESS TO POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS.
YOU'VE HEARD THE PHRASE IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP, BUT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE.
IT'S ALSO OKAY TO CHECK ON PEOPLE AS WELL. BEAUTIFULLY SAID AND SO SUCCINCTLY.
THANK YOU. JUDE. COMMISSIONER SMITH. THANK YOU.
I THINK WE HAVE ONE MORE STAFFER WHO WANTS TO SPEAK.
NO. NO. NO WORRIES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT.
YEAH. SO I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THE HAYS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND HAYS COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS WE'RE WORKING WITH COMMISSIONER SMITH, PATRIOTS HALL AND OUTSIDERS ANONYMOUS ON A STEP UP FOR PTSD AWARENESS WALK.
IT'S GOING TO BE ON JUNE 28TH AT 9 A.M.. AND IT'S GOING TO BE AT PATRIOTS HALL IN DRIPPING SPRINGS.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.
AND YET THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SPEAK UP FOR THE VULNERABLE.
SO JUDE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS. THESE WORDS, COMMISSIONER SMITH. THANK YOU.
NUMBER ONE. BUT NUMBER TWO, RECOGNIZING THAT WHILE WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH PROPENSITY OF OUR VETERANS WHO HAVE THOSE PHYSICAL SCARS WHO GET THAT PURPLE HEART, WE HAVE A HUGE PROPENSITY OR A HUGE PREPONDERANCE OF VETERANS OUT THERE WHO WEAR THOSE SCARS ON THE INSIDE, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OR THE ABILITY TO KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE WITH THOSE TRAUMAS.
SAME IN OUR IN OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD SAY THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF IS THE WORK THAT PATRIOTS HALL, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS COURT, HAS DONE AND IS DOING BY PUTTING A FULL TIME COUNSELOR OR A COUNSELOR, A VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER AT PATRIOTS HALL DURING THE WEEK. I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO TO THEM FOR STEPPING UP AND HELPING WITH THIS EVENT AND HOSTING IT. BUT I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT ANY VETERAN OUT THERE WHO WANTS ASSISTANCE, WHO NEEDS ASSISTANCE, WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHO TO TALK TO, THE THE BEST ADVICE I'VE HEARD IS TO FIND YOUR TRIBE.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION BASED IN DRIPPING SPRINGS RUN BY JOE AND STACY HOGG, WHO HAVE 12 FOX BREWING. AND EVERY MONDAY NIGHT, THEY HOST WHAT THEY CALL FIRESIDE CHATS.
IT'S EVERY MONDAY FROM 7 TO 9 AT AT 12 FOX BREWING.
AND IT'S FOR ANY VETERAN, ANY FIRST RESPONDER TO INTERACT, SOCIALIZE, GET A BUDDY.
BECAUSE IN OUR COMMUNITY, I CAN TELL YOU, JUST IN MY PRECINCT, I KNOW OF AT LEAST SEVEN DEATHS BY SUICIDE OF OUR VETERANS SINCE I'VE BEEN SERVING. AND THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE FRIENDS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO, WHO. STILL FELT LIKE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A TRIBE.
AND THEY'RE FATHERS. THEY'RE. CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE THEY'RE COACHES. I MEAN, THEY'RE THEY'RE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY THAT WEAR THOSE SCARS ON THE INSIDE AND GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER, TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH SIMILAR ONES, I THINK IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM. AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU THAT IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY WHO HAS SHOWING THE SIGNS OR HAS REACHED OUT TO YOU. JUST TELL THEM YOU KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY THEY CAN TALK TO.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A GUY OR A WOMAN IN AN OFFICE WHO'S GOING TO ANALYZE THEM.
IT CAN BE A BUDDY WHO WAS IN A FOXHOLE JUST LIKE THEY WERE.
WONDERFUL. WELL DONE AND VERY COMPLETE COMMISSIONER.
VERY AWESOME OF YOU. COMMISSIONER HAMMER, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS.
[02:55:03]
BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR PEOPLE THAT FIGHT FOR FOR OUR FREEDOM.AND THEY GO OVERSEAS AND THEY FIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY.
IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO I MEAN, WE SEE IT ON TV.
WE'LL WATCH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR FAVORITE MOVIES, ALL OF OUR FAVORITE WAR MOVIES.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW, BEEN OVERSEAS AND FOUGHT.
YOU DON'T. IT DOESN'T SEEM REAL. BUT ALL OF THESE THINGS ACTUALLY HAPPEN TO THESE PEOPLE.
SO I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO WALK WITH, WALK WITH THEM, HOLD THEIR HAND, GIVE THEM GRACE, AND TELL THEM THAT YOU'RE THERE FOR THEM WHENEVER THEY NEED IT.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR HAYS COUNTY RESIDENTS TO PARTAKE IN THEM.
SO THEY DO KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR BRINGING THIS UP, COMMISSIONER COHEN.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL FOR A LOT OF VETERANS AND THEIR AND THE WIDOWS.
RIGHT. JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR THAT WORK, COMMISSIONER.
THANK YOU. JUD, I ALSO WANT TO JUST THANK YOU.
AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING THIS AWARENESS TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO US.
I THINK IT HELPS US BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SUPPORT AND THE CARE THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS NEED.
AND SO I JUST THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND YOUR STAFF.
AWESOME. AND IN CLOSING, I'LL JUST BE AS CONCISE AS POSSIBLE.
AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER REMINDER HIGHLIGHTED, ITALICIZED, AND UNDERLINED THAT THIS IS YET ANOTHER VULNERABLE POPULATION THAT NEEDS SUPPORT. ANYONE WANTING TO BE A PART OF THIS PICTURE, PLEASE COME ON UP.
AND THEN WE GO TO THE PRESENTATION. CHIEF, I SEE YOU.
LAST NIGHT, PRECINCT CHAIR. SHE GOES. THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL.
OH, THANKS FOR THIS. SHOW ME THE LINK THAT THEY SENT YOU TO READ.
ONCE AGAIN. HI. OH. THANK YOU. I BOUGHT THIS, LIKE, THANK YOU JUMPSUIT.
IT'S A GREAT ONE. OH, I HAVEN'T GOT IT YET.
THEY'RE READY FOR A PICK. COME ON IN. OH! THERE WE GO. NOW WE GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. SCOOCH IN A LITTLE AND LOOKING RIGHT HERE.
ONE. TWO. THREE. OVER HERE IN THE MIDDLE. RIGHT OVER HERE.
ONE. TWO. THREE. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. SHAZAM! THANK YOU GUYS. AND NOW, IF YOU WILL OPEN. F7.
[F.7. Presentation by the Hays County Behavioral Advisory Team (BAT) regarding a Diversion Center. INGALSBE/SMITH]
F7. PRESENTATION BY THE HAYS COUNTY BEHAVIORAL ADVISORY TEAM.BAT REGARDING A DIVERSION CENTER. IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, PLEASE STAND. STATE POLICE CHIEF, CITY OF SAN MARCOS.
GOOD AFTERNOON. HAYS COUNTY BEHAVIORAL ADVISORY TEAM WAS ACTUALLY FORMED IN MAY OF 2023 TO SERVE AS A SINGLE POINT FOR ADVISORY, RESOURCE AND PLANNING COORDINATION WITHIN THE COUNTY, WHICH MEANS ALSO WITHIN THE CITIES THEREIN, AS WELL AS OUR LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY, HILL COUNTRY.
PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE GOAL OF THE BEHAVIORAL ADVISORY TEAM, AS EXPRESSED IN ITS CHARTER, WHICH WAS ADOPTED IN 2023 SPECIFICALLY TO EXPAND CRISIS OPTIONS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DIVERSION CENTER.
SO WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER VERTICAL VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER ONGOING FUNDING THEREIN.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
SO THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE EACH BEEN PROVIDED A DOCUMENT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OPTIONS THAT WE ASK YOU TO WADE CAREFULLY THROUGH.
I'LL BEGIN WITH THE MOST INTENSIVE OPTION, WHICH IS A CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT, A CSU.
A CSU PROVIDES CRISIS BEDS FOR SHORT TERM INTENSIVE PSYCHIATRIC CARE.
[03:00:04]
THERE ARE ALSO OBVIOUSLY THE MOST COSTLY, AND THEY'RE COMPARABLE TO A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL.THAT'S WHAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH THEM.
THAT'S DONE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR UP TO 48 HOURS.
HOLD. SO THAT'S THE CSU. ALTERNATIVELY, THERE'S AN EXTENDED OBSERVATION UNIT, AN IOU.
IT PROVIDES SHORT TERM UP TO THE 48 HOURS PROVIDED BY STATUTE.
INTENSIVE STABILIZATION CARE FOR PATIENTS WHO MIGHT POSE A HIGH TO MODERATE RISK OF HARM.
THEY ARE LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN A CSU. THEY ALLOW PATIENTS TO BE ASSESSED, RECEIVE MEDICATION AND HAVE THEIR CRISIS RESOLVED BEFORE BEING DISCHARGED. THEY CAN ALSO ACCEPT PEOPLE UNDER EMERGENCY DETENTION, WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE COUNTY.
LASTLY, CRISIS RESIDENTIAL BEDS CREWS. THEY ARE STEP DOWN SERVICES.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THEY ARE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS, AND THE NORMATIVE STAY WOULD BE UP TO TEN DAYS TO PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL STABILIZATION FOLLOWING THE EXTENDED OBSERVATION. SO JUST LOOKING AT IT FROM A TIMEFRAME PERSPECTIVE, IF A PERSON IS TAKEN INTO EMERGENCY CUSTODY, THEN THEY WOULD BE HELD IN THE EXTENDED OBSERVATION UNIT FOR 48 HOURS TO EITHER MEDICATE OR STABILIZE.
AND THEN IDEALLY, THEY WOULD DROP DOWN TO A LESSER SERVICE, LESS COST ULTIMATELY TO OUR TAXPAYERS, AND ULTIMATELY BE IN A CRISIS RESIDENTIAL BED FOR AS MANY AS TEN DAYS.
WHAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FROM THE BEHAVIORAL ADVISORY TEAM IS A GROUPING OF AN EXTENDED OBSERVATION UNIT, POSSIBLY UP TO SIX BEDS, ACCOMPANIED WITH TEN CRISIS RESIDENTIAL BEDS.
THIS IS THE MODEL THAT IS BEING ADOPTED IN COMAL COUNTY.
AND WE ACTUALLY WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THAT MODEL BE ADOPTED HERE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IF YOU GO HIGHER THAN 16 DIVERSION BEDS, THEN YOU'RE BASICALLY GOING TO ENTER THE REGULATION ASSOCIATED WITH A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL. SO THAT IS WHY WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR COST MODELING AND CENSUS MODELING, THE NUMBER OF ACTUAL CLIENTS WHO WILL BE IN THERE, 16 IS ABOUT THE NORMATIVE.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS BEING LITERALLY BUILT BY OUR NEIGHBORS.
AND SO OUR RECOMMENDATION TO YOU THIS MORNING ACTUALLY THIS AFTERNOON IS SIX BEDS ACCOMPANIED WITH TEN CRISIS RESIDENTIAL BEDS. AND TO SPEAK ADDITIONALLY AS IT RELATES TO WHERE THIS SHOULD BE BUILT, I WOULD ASK MATTHEW GONZALEZ TO COME FORWARD.
DO YOU NEED THESE TALKING POINTS? I'LL LEAVE THEM UP HERE JUST IN CASE.
SO WHAT I'M, AS CHIEF SAID, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHERE OUR DIVERSION CENTER SHOULD BE BUILT.
HAYS. HAYS COUNTY SHOULD PRIORITIZE LOCATING ITS MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER WITHIN OR ADJACENT TO A HEALTH CARE SETTING, IDEALLY A LOCAL HOSPITAL OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FACILITY.
THIS APPROACH ALIGNS WITH BEST PRACTICES BY SUPPORTING A TRAUMA INFORMED, HEALTH CENTERED ENVIRONMENT, DISTANCING THE PROGRAM FROM PUNITIVE ASSOCIATION.
THAT MEANS IDEAS SUCH AS JAILS OR PRISONS AND ENSURING ACCESS TO IMMEDIATE CLINICAL CARE.
YOU. INTEGRATING WITH THE HOSPITAL AND OR HEALTHCARE FACILITY OFFERS SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS, SUCH AS A ROUND THE CLOCK MEDICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC STAFFING, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ACCESS FOR MEDICAL CLEARANCE, AND SHARED INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS PHARMACY SECURITY AND IT.
THESE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES LOWER THE STARTUP COSTS.
AFFILIATED WITH THIS AND ENABLE LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY.
STANDALONE CENTERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE LOCATED NEAR JAILS, ARE IN ISOLATED AREAS, HAVE STRUGGLED WITH LOW UTILIZATION, LOW STAFFING OR STAFFING CHALLENGES, AND LIMITED FLEXIBILITY.
TO AVOID SIMILAR PITFALLS, THE COUNTY SHOULD EVALUATE HEALTHCARE AND MHRD SITES BASED ON ACCESS, SCALABILITY, AND PROXIMITY TO EMERGENCY SERVICES.
THIS RECOMMENDATION ENSURES THE CENTER IS EQUIPPED TO MEET BOTH CLINICAL AND COMMUNITY NEEDS,
[03:05:04]
WHILE STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUPPORT THE BROADER MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN HAYS COUNTY AND LOWER THE START UP COSTS.AND I BELIEVE SHERIFF HIPPOLITO WILL BE TALKING ABOUT DATA.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COURT SHERIFF. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER? YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT DATA TO BACK THAT UP. AND THAT'S I'M GOING TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE DATA THAT ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COUNTY COURT AT LAW HAS, HAS COME UP WITH SINCE 2022. SO I'LL COVER THREE YEARS, 2022, 23 AND 24.
IN 2022, WE DID 868 EMERGENCY DETENTIONS. AND THAT COMES OUT TO, I'M SORRY, 884 EMERGENCY DETENTIONS, WHICH COMES OUT TO APPROXIMATELY 2.4 EMERGENCY DETENTIONS A DAY IN 2023.
AND IN 2024, WE DID 795 EMERGENCY DETENTIONS, WHICH COMES OUT ALSO TO 2.1.
THEY PERFORMED EIGHT EMERGENCY DETENTIONS AND 85 ORDER OF PROTECTIVE CUSTODY IN 2023 EIGHT EMERGENCY DETENTIONS AND 84 ORDER PROTECTIVE CUSTODY. AND IN 2024, THEY DID 19 EMERGENCY DETENTIONS AND 32 ORDER OF PROTECTIVE CUSTODY.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE HAD A SLIGHT DECREASE.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE AVERAGING OVER TWO EMERGENCY DETENTIONS A DAY AND SEVERAL OPCS A DAY I THINK THE DATA FULLY SUPPORTS THE NEED OF A MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER. HOW IS A MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER FUNDED? I'LL LET CAMMIE COME UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT IT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TAMMY MATTILA. I AM THE CO-CHAIR OF THE BEHAVIORAL ADVISORY TEAM.
I'M ALSO THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE HAYS COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH COURT.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JAIL DIVERSION FACILITIES A MAJOR QUESTION IS HOW ARE THEY FUNDED? THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STANDALONE CENTER WOULD REQUIRE LOCAL DOLLARS FROM THE COUNTY, AND ALL CITIES WITHIN.
ONCE CONSTRUCTED, SUSTAINABLE FUNDING WOULD THEN NEED TO BE IDENTIFIED.
OTHER FUNDING OPTIONS MIGHT INCLUDE A BLEND OF LOCAL FOUNDATIONS, DONATIONS AND COUNTY FUNDS.
SO IN SUMMARY, THE BEHAVIORAL ADVISORY TEAM, OR THE BAT WAS ESTABLISHED TO ADDRESS COUNTYWIDE MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES, WITH THE JAIL DIVERSION FACILITY BEING THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
THAT REMAINS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS A REALITY.
WE SPECIFY THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF UNITS.
CHIEF STANDARDS MENTIONED INCLUDING CRISIS STABILIZATION, WHICH IS MOST RESTRICTIVE EXTENDED OBSERVATION UNIT AND THEN RESIDENTIAL BEDS, WHICH IS THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE TO OFFER THE INDIVIDUAL MORE TIME TO STABILIZE BEFORE STEPPING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY FOR OUTPATIENT SERVICES, THE DIVERSION FACILITY MUST HAVE UNDER 16 BEDS PER STATE REGULATION AND IS RECOMMENDED TO HAVE A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF CSU AND RESIDENTIAL BEDS TO MEET THE VARIOUS NEEDS AND CLINICAL NECESSITY. THE BAT RECOMMENDS COLLABORATING WITH THE LOCAL HOSPITAL AND THE MHA TO PILOT A PROGRAM SIMILAR TO COMAL COUNTY ONE THAT IS BOTH SUSTAINABLE FINANCIALLY AND MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY.
THANK YOU. BEAUTIFUL. BEAUTIFUL. ANYONE ELSE ON THIS PRESENTATION PART? I THINK WHAT YOU GUYS SAID WAS SUCCINCT AND BEAUTIFULLY DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. WE'LL START WITH YOU. OKAY. WELL, JUDGE, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE BEHAVIORAL ADVISORY TEAM.
YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB. THEY WORK TOGETHER SO WELL TO HELP IMPROVE AND ENHANCE THE THE SERVICES, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF MENTAL HEALTH. AND I THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO SHARE DATA DRIVEN INFORMATION TO JUSTIFY THE CREATION OF THE DIVERSION CENTER, WHICH YOU HEARD IS THE NUMBER ONE GOAL OF THE BAT.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT JAIL IS NOT THE RIGHT PLACE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED TREATMENT AND SUPPORT, AND A DIVERSION CENTER OFFERS A MORE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE BUILD THE FACILITY OR WE PARTNER WITH AN EXISTING PROVIDER, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET IT RIGHT TO ENSURE THAT WE DELIVER MEANINGFUL CARE AND ACHIEVE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
[03:10:02]
AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AS A TEAM AND BRING ADDITIONAL UPDATES TO THE COURT.BUT THAT IS STILL OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL AND WE WILL WORK TOWARDS THAT.
THIS REALLY HELPED ME KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHERE WE WERE WITH THAT.
I THINK ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS, DO YOU ALL HAVE AN ESTIMATED COST, OPERATIONAL COST OF WHAT? 16 BEDS WOULD, WOULD BE A YEAR? I GUESS. EVERYTHING I COUCHED BY SAYING THESE ARE YESTERDAY'S DOLLARS. SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO ANYTHING.
YOU CAN CONSERVATIVELY SAY THAT IT'S GOING TO COST A MINIMUM OF $5 MILLION PER YEAR TO OPERATE, WHICH WOULD. THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR STATE LEGISLATIVE FUNDS TO BE PASSED THROUGH HILL COUNTRY.
AND AND THE HOPE IS THAT THE CITIES THAT WITHIN HAYS COUNTY PARTICIPATE AS WELL.
WE WOULD TRY TO DIVERSIFY THAT COST, BUT THE ACTUAL OPERATIONAL EXPENSE, IN OTHER WORDS, TO KEEP IT GOING, REALLY NEEDS TO COME FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE SO THAT WE HAVE ENSURED FUNDING.
WE DON'T WANT TO BEGIN AND THEN HAVE TO CEASE THIS PROGRAM.
AND WHO WOULD ACTUALLY OVERSEE THE DIVERSION CENTER? WOULD IT BE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT? WOULD IT BE IT WOULD BE HILL COUNTRY, THE LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY.
SO? SO THE COUNTY WOULD BUILD THIS FACILITY AND THEN HILL COUNTRY WOULD RUN IT.
IF WE COULD BUILD THIS IN COLLABORATION WITH AN INCOMING HOSPITAL OR AN EXISTING, AS MATTHEW ALLEGED, IT'S JUST IT'S GOING TO REDUCE OUR COST. IT'S GOING TO REDUCE OUR FOOTPRINT.
IT BENEFITS EVERYBODY. OKAY. BUT OUR MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY WOULD STILL BE INVOLVED IN THAT.
YES. EVEN IF THEY WERE AT THE HOSPITAL, LMW-HA WOULD STILL BE INVOLVED 100%.
GREAT QUESTIONS, GREAT POINTS. AND THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR POINTING THAT OUT, BECAUSE I'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CEO OF HILL COUNTRY AND HE SAID, YOU GUYS SET THIS UP AND WE WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS RUNNING IT ABSOLUTELY 100% CORRECT.
GREAT POINTS, AND I LOVE YOUR POINT ABOUT SHARING THE LOAD.
KIND OF LIKE OUR CEC, OUR 911, WE COULD FIGURE OUT A MODEL WHERE WE SHARE USAGE AND PERCENTAGES AND COMPARTMENTS WHERE EVERYBODY SHARES THE LOAD AND IT'S NOT SUCH A BURDEN ON ONE. AND THE IDEA OF PARTNERING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW OUR ECONOMY WITH TARIFFS AND EVERYTHING ELSE HAS REALLY TURNED US ALL AROUND. AND SO IF WE CAN PARTNER WITH JUST LIKE YOU SAID, CHIEF, SOMEONE COMING IN OR SOMEONE WILLING TO EXPAND OR SHARE BECAUSE IT'S ONLY LET'S BE HONEST, IT'S ONLY 16 BEDS. THAT'S NOT A LOT. WE CAN DO THIS.
AND SO WE PARTNER WITH SOMEONE ALREADY ON THE GROUND AND WE CAN TURN THIS AROUND NOW.
I THINK THAT'S BEAUTIFULLY STATED, COMMISSIONER HAMER. YEAH.
I THINK FROM THE DATA TO THE FUNDING TO THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT YOU ALL JUST WENT OVER, I MEAN, I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY. I MEAN, YOU GUYS DID YOUR RESEARCH AND IT SHOWS.
THE ONLY QUESTIONS THAT I HAD WERE ONES THAT COMMISSIONER COHEN HAD ALREADY ANSWERED.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING AND PRESENTING AND BEING THOROUGH.
PERFECT, COMMISSIONER SMITH. I WOULD JUST SAY THANKS AGAIN.
I MEAN, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ON THE BAT WITH WITH COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.
AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE COURT STEPPING UP AND DESIGNATING THE TWO OF US TO WORK WITH YOU ALL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO TO THOSE MEETINGS EVERY MONTH.
I LEARNED SOMETHING EVERY TIME. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD MENTION, ALONG WITH, WITH THE OVERALL COST AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE, THE, THE MODEL THAT THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING AND THE MODEL THAT CARMEL COUNTY IS USING RIGHT NOW. WHENEVER WE LOOK AT THAT, THAT OVERALL COST, THE REASON I THINK IT WAS A GOOD POINT THAT WAS MADE RELATIVE TO THAT CONTINUATION OF FUNDING. RIGHT. THE THE PREVIOUSLY AGENDA ITEM YOU MENTIONED IT'S 60 BEDS, TRULY IS AT THAT POINT, YOU ARE DESIGNATED A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL.
I THINK THAT THAT FULL TIME CARE ON A 16 BED FACILITY, THE ESTIMATES THAT WE HEARD WAS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED 50 FULL TIME STAFF FOR THAT, 50 FTE FTES FOR THAT. AND SO IF WE LOOKED AT A AT A DIVERSION FACILITY THAT, AS WAS SUGGESTED, OF 60 BEDS. THE ISSUES THERE, THEY'RE THEY'RE BIGGER FROM A STATUTORY LEVEL THAN WHAT I THINK WE REALIZE. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE STATUTORILY, EVEN IN THE LARGE COUNTIES THAT HAVE MULTIPLE DIVERSION CENTERS IN THEM,
[03:15:06]
THEY LIMIT THEM TO 16 AND THEN THEY'LL BUILD ANOTHER.OR BECAUSE OF THOSE, THOSE STATUTORY RESTRICTIONS AND THE REQUIREMENTS AND ADDITIONAL STAFFING THAT WOULD BE NEEDED ON A 60 BED FACILITY, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 200, 200 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES TO STAFF THAT.
ALONG WITH THE ADDITIONAL, QUITE FRANKLY, THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE AND BURDEN OF THE REGULATORY, THE REGULATORY STRUCTURE THAT GOES OVER A TRUE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL.
IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE EXACTLY HOW OUR NEIGHBORS DEAL WITH IT.
I THINK THE NUMBERS ARE INTERESTING. I ACTUALLY THOUGHT WHENEVER WE HAD THE CONVERSATION AND THEN Y'ALL WERE GOING, Y'ALL WERE PULLING THE NUMBERS. I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE MORE ACTUALLY THAN 2.1 A DAY.
THAT WAS THAT WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY SURPRISING TO ME.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE THE INTENSIVE TIMELINE OF SIX BEDS AND THE AND THE STEP DOWN TIMELINE OF TEN BEDS AT TWO A DAY, YOU MORE THAN MAKE UP FOR THAT IN YOUR ROTATION.
I MEAN, BY STATUTE. I APPRECIATE AGAIN ALL THE DATA AND THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THIS.
AND AS WE STATED IN THE IN THE BAT THE OTHER DAY, I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER INGALSBE AND I ARE ARE READY AND WILLING TO STEP UP AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL AND AND CONTINUE TO GARNER SUPPORT ON THE COURT FOR IT.
THIS IS TRULY A MULTIDISCIPLINARY. I JUST HAPPEN TO BE SPEAKING RIGHT NOW.
BUT YOU CAN SEE EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, MOST BEAUTIFULLY.
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAND THERE, CHIEF, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY EARLIER. SO ABOUT THE 60 BED AGENDA ITEM WAS PURELY IT SPUN OUT OF A TWO PART CONVERSATION I WAS HAVING WITH OUR SHERIFF, CHIEF DEPUTY, AND THE LIEUTENANTS RUNNING THE JAILS.
NEVER, EVER, EVER DID I EVER SAY I WANTED TO CREATE A 60 BED FACILITY.
AND I'VE EVEN WORKED WITH SENATOR ZAFFIRINI, AMONG OTHERS, TO BRING THIS EVER CLOSER, EVER CLOSER, EVER CLOSER. NEVER, EVER, EVER TRYING TO UNDERMINE OR USURP WHAT THE BAT HAS BEEN CREATED TO DO.
IT'S BEEN MISCHARACTERIZED AGAIN TWICE TODAY, ERRONEOUSLY, DELIBERATELY, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT IT WAS NEVER MY INTENTION TO CREATE A 60 BED FACILITY. IT WAS A JAIL EXPANSION, AND IT WAS TIED TO THE NUMBER OF PODS FOR THE JAIL.
IF YOU PULL THOSE NUMBERS OUT. I DON'T REMEMBER RIGHT NOW, CHIEF.
I MEAN, SHERIFF, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET UP.
BUT IT WAS IT WAS TIED TO THE NUMBER OF PODS, EXPANSION OF CERTAIN SECTIONS AND ADDING THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER THAT WE ALL KNOW AND AGREE THAT WE NEED. AND SO IT'S JUST IMPORTANT THAT I'LL CLEAR IT UP YET AGAIN, BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT IT UP YET AGAIN, THAT MY INTENT IN THE PREVIOUS AGENDA ITEM WAS NEVER TO CREATE A 60 BED FACILITY.
THAT IS LUDICROUS. MY INTENT WAS TO BRING THE CONVERSATION FORWARD BECAUSE, AS CAMI SAID, STRATEGIC PLANNED APPROACH IS IMPERATIVE. THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I BROUGHT HOCKEY INTO THE PICTURE.
ONE OF OUR NATION'S LEADERS IN THIS TYPE OF WORK AND PLANNING SO THAT THEY COULD HELP DO THE STRATEGIC PLANNED APPROACH, GET THE VOICE FROM THE COURT AND THE PERMISSION FROM THE COURT ON OUR ON OUR DIME TO REACH OUT TO BAT AND EVERY OTHER ORGANIZATION THAT IS INFINITELY TIED FOREVER TO THIS EFFORT WITH ALL KINDS OF PASSION.
THE AIM WAS ALWAYS TO HIRE HOCKEY BECAUSE THEY WERE ALREADY DOING WORK IN OUR JAIL, WITH OUR COUNTY, WITH OUR ARCHITECTURAL WORK. IT WAS NEVER TO DO ANYTHING MORE THAN FOR US TO GIVE THEM THE GREEN LIGHT, BECAUSE THEY WERE ALREADY IN THE ON THE PAYROLL SIMPLY TO START A NEW CONTRACT SO THAT THEY COULD REACH OUT TO ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT WE JUST HEARD TODAY, IN PART, BUT TO MEMORIALIZE IT IN A MEANINGFUL WAY FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.
NEVER, EVER, EVER. CAN YOU REPEAT 60 BED HOSPITAL WITHOUT HAVING THIS LINK TIED TO YOU? I'VE CLARIFIED REPEATEDLY, AND YET YOU CONTINUE TO MISREPRESENT.
[03:20:05]
JUDGE, I THINK IT'S A MISREPRESENTATION TO SAY THAT YOU REACHED OUT TO ANYONE IN OUR ORGANIZATION WHO HAS SPECIFICALLY BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE COURT TO DO THIS, AND THAT'S THAT FROM THE ONSET, THIS WAS SET UP BY EVERY SINGLE GROUP IN OUR COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO BUILD A DIVERSION CENTER AND TO ADDRESS NOT JUST THE DIVERSION CENTER, BUT EVERY ASPECT IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM WHERE MENTAL HEALTH WAS NEEDED, AND WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON THAT. I SAID THIS WHENEVER YOUR OTHER AGENDIZED ITEM CAME UP BEFORE, THE FACT IS YOU HAD SOMEONE TO REPRESENT YOU IN THAT ROOM.THEY CHOSE TO NOT PARTICIPATE. AFTER A WHILE, THEY CHOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE.
THERE WAS THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO HAVE SOMEONE IN THAT ROOM.
I APPRECIATE THAT GETTING A REPORT FROM US. AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE WE SHOULD COME IN EVERY SO OFTEN AND UPDATE YOU ON THE PROGRESS OF EVERY ONE OF THOSE THINGS. BUT WE AS A COURT VOTED SPECIFICALLY TO.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.
TO SAY IT WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHO'VE ACTUALLY DONE RESEARCH AND ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THOSE RULES AND REGULATIONS LOOK LIKE, I THINK IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. AND YOU CAN SAY THAT'S A MISCHARACTERIZATION.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU, I HAVE TALKED TO PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE, WELL, EVERYONE ON THE BAT, AND IT WAS NOT WELL RECEIVED AT ALL. AGAIN, I SAID THIS. I SAID THIS WHEN YOU BROUGHT IT FORWARD BEFORE, THIS IS MORE ABOUT THIS IS MUCH MORE ABOUT PRESS RELEASE THAN POLICY. I'M GOING TO STAND WITH THE POLICY MAKERS, AND I'M GOING TO STAND WITH THE PEOPLE, THE EXPERTS WHO HAVE NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE FOLKS HAVE HAVE BUILT AND WORKING ON THE CREATION OF THESE AS WE SPEAK.
THAT INITIAL THAT INITIAL AGENDA ITEM YOU HAD, WE WERE DISCUSSING 60 BEDS.
YOU CAN'T SAY THAT WE DIDN'T. ANYBODY CAN GO BACK AND LOOK IN COURT THAT DAY.
ANYONE COULD. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO. VERY GOOD.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THE LAST THING I'LL SAY BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO F EIGHT IS PRESS RELEASE OVER POLICY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I BROUGHT IT TO COURT WHILE YOU WERE ON THIS COMMITTEE FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS, AND I VALUE AND RESPECT EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL ON THERE. TWO AND A HALF YEARS. YOU CAN'T PUT IT TOGETHER. THAT'S ON YOU.
PLEASE OPEN F EIGHT. NO, WE'RE. NO, SIR. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TRY TO INSULT ME AND THEN MOVE ON TO.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'VE DONE? I'VE SPOKEN THE TRUTH HERE TODAY.
[F.8. Presentation on the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Hays County Safety Action Plan with possible action to approve a Resolution of Support. BECERRA/MOCZYGEMBA]
HAYS COUNTY SAFETY ACTION PLAN WITH POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT.THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE'RE READY FOR THAT ONE.
SINCE WE HAVE A RESOLUTION, DON'T WE NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.
SO MOVED. SECOND. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M JENNIFER MOCZYGEMBA, THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION.
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION HERE TODAY WILL BE GIVEN BY MATT MILLER, WHO IS WITH CAMBRIDGE SYSTEMATICS.
THEY'VE BEEN DOING SOME WORK ON THE REGIONAL SAFETY ACTION PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES HAYS COUNTY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU'LL PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
MATT MILLER. I'M WITH THE CAMBRIDGE SYSTEMATICS SENIOR ASSOCIATE, AND WE'RE DOING SAFETY RESEARCH, PLANNING FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR FIRM. AND WE'RE ALSO ON A TEAM WITH DCS AND UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE CAPITAL AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION.
SO THEY'RE DOING A REGION WIDE SAFETY ASSESSMENT AND PLAN THAT'S LOOKING AT ALL MANNER OF INVESTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP, HELP FORWARD FOR THIS REGION INTO MORE AND MORE AND MORE OF A TARGETED APPROACH TO SAFETY INVESTMENTS FOR TRANSPORTATION.
[03:25:07]
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO THIS THIS SLIDE IS SHOWING FATAL CRASHES THAT HAVE STEADILY INCREASED FROM 2019 TO 2023. BUT THE TEAM DID IS WE LOOKED AT ALL CRASHES ACROSS THE REGION IN THIS TIME FRAME 16,000, APPROXIMATELY A LITTLE OVER 16,000 AND MORE VEHICLES VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED BASICALLY MEANS MORE CRASHES.THOSE ARE USUALLY IN SYNC WITH ONE ANOTHER. IN COVID, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE WAS A DIP IN VMT AS WELL AS IN SAFETY CRASHES OR SAFETY RELATED CRASHES. SO WE HAVE WE HAVE SOME OF THE, THE DOCUMENTATION, THE DATA SHOWING THIS.
AND OUT OF THIS TOTAL 16,443 CRASHES 4% WERE SUSPECTED SERIOUS INJURIES AND 1% WERE FATAL.
SO IT'S APPROXIMATELY 800 800 FATAL AND SERIOUS INJURY CRASHES.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CRASH REPORTS IN THE CHRIS DATABASE, WE WERE ABLE TO FIND FROM LOOKING AT ALL THE DIFFERENT THE DIFFERENT DATA SETS AND FIELDS, EXACTLY WHAT'S CAUSING THOSE CRASHES.
AND FROM WHAT WE FOUND OUT OF THOSE 797 FATAL AND SUSPECTED SERIOUS INJURIES.
THE TOP EMPHASIS AREAS FOR HAYS COUNTY INCLUDE DARK CONDITIONS, ROADWAY DEPARTURES, SPEEDING, AND THEN YOUNGER AND OLDER DRIVERS AS SOME OF THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THESE CRASHES.
THE SAFETY ACTION PLAN BASICALLY MAPS THESE LOCATIONS, SO IF YOU CAN IMAGINE A MAP, IT TAKES THESE CRASHES, LOOKS AT THE EMPHASIS AREAS, AND IT MAPS OUT EXACTLY WHERE THEY'RE OCCURRING.
SO WE CAN GET A SENSE FOR WHERE INVESTMENTS CLOSELY MATCH WHERE THE NEEDS ARE.
SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND SO FOR THE VISION AND GOALS BEHIND THIS IT'S THAT HAYS COUNTY WOULD COMMIT TO REDUCING ROADWAY FATALITIES AND SUSPECTED SERIOUS INJURIES BY 50% BY 2035 AND BY 100% BY 2050. SO THAT'S THAT IS THE CURRENT GOAL. IT ALIGNS WITH THE STATEWIDE ROAD TO ZERO EFFORT, BUT IT ALSO CONSIDERS THE VISION ZERO EFFORTS THAT ORIGINATED OUT OF NORWAY, BUT HAVE SINCE SPREAD ACROSS THE GLOBE.
IT'S NOT JUST FOR ROAD, JUST FOR DRIVERS ON VEHICLES.
IT'S ALSO FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PEDESTRIANS, FOR PEOPLE ON BICYCLES TRANSIT USERS AND THE LIKE.
SO IT'S IT'S REALLY EXPENSIVE. AND NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
REALLY I MEAN THIS THIS SLIDE BREAKS OUT. WHAT'S IN THE PLAN ITSELF.
THE EFFORTS ARE FOR THE COUNTY TO TEAM TO INTEGRATE EXISTING PLANS, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
THE FRAMEWORK THEN HIGHLIGHTS THE PROBLEM AREAS ON THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION NETWORK FOR VULNERABLE ROAD USERS, AS WELL AS VEHICLE DRIVERS ALIKE. THE PROJECTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED ARE REALLY CONSIDERED FROM A HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES PERSPECTIVE, WHICH INFORMS THE TIERING. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE THESE DIFFERENT INVESTMENTS ARE GOING IN.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO PRIORITIZE AND LOOK AT TIERING ONE, TWO AND THREE.
SO YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE IMPACTS MIGHT BE FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES.
A LOT OF PUBLIC OUTREACH WAS ALSO DONE IN TWO PHASES.
THE PLAN OFFERS RECOMMENDATIONS AND METRICS, WHICH THEN HELP TO ESTABLISH A COUNTY WIDE AGREEMENT AND A ROADMAP TO ACHIEVE THE REDUCTION AND TO MEASURE AND MONITOR RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS.
SO THE HAYS COUNTY IS ALSO PART OF THE CAPITAL AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS, URBAN METROPOLITAN URBAN BOUNDARY, AND SO ITS CONTRIBUTIONS WILL ALSO ROLL UP TO INTEGRATE WITH THOSE THAT ARE REGION WIDE FOR THE REGION WIDE SAFETY PLAN.
BUT THIS IS YOUR OWN SLICE OF THE PIE. THIS IS THE ACTUAL THIS IS WHAT MATTERS TO THE COUNTY ITSELF.
THIS IS THE IMPACT OF THE COUNTY. AND SO BEYOND THIS, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE, OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS TO SUPPORT THOSE IN KYLE AND SAN MARCOS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT SAFETY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS THAT THEY'RE PURSUING THAT WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO ALLOW THEM TO REFERENCE THIS SUPPORT FROM THIS COURT AS WELL AS TO CARRY THAT FORWARD INTO THEIR OWN APPLICATION GRANTS.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SORRY, ONE MORE SLIDE. THERE'S THERE'S A DUPLICATE ON THAT.
THERE WE GO. SO THE PROJECT TEAM MET WITH THE SAFETY ACTION PLAN TASK FORCE IN JULY.
[03:30:03]
OCTOBER. AND SO THOSE ARE THE MEMBERS IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT? IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO SAY, BUT HAYS COUNTY, CITY. CITY OF BUDA. CITY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS.KYLE, SAN MARCOS, WIMBERLEY, TEXAS AUSTIN DISTRICT, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY.
SO A WIDE ARRAY OF STAKEHOLDERS THAT SIT ACROSS THE REGION.
WE ALSO HELD ONE ON ONE MEETINGS IN JANUARY WITH EACH INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO TALK THROUGH WHAT THEIR NEEDS WERE AND TO GET A GOOD SENSE FOR THE PROJECT LISTINGS THAT WE PROVIDED AS A DRAFT TO GET THEIR INPUT AND SEE IF THIS MAKES SENSE TO THEM, OR IF THEY HAVE NEW ONES TO ADD TO THE MIX.
WHAT IS BEHIND A LOT OF THIS WORK THOUGH, IS IS THE MAPPING COMPONENTS.
AND SO WE'LL GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER IN SOME OF THE COMING SLIDES.
THE TASK FORCE ALSO PROVIDED INPUT ON THE SAFETY ANALYSIS TO GUIDE THE FRAMEWORK AND ENSURE THAT THESE THESE HIGH INJURY NETWORKS THAT WE'RE BUILDING AS PART OF THE HAYS COUNTY, IT TRULY REFLECTS THE NEEDS. SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS WERE ALSO CENTRAL TO A LOT OF THE EFFORT.
SO WE HAD SEVERAL POP UPS AROUND VARIOUS CITIES ACROSS THE REGION IN OCTOBER OF 2024 AND MARCH 2025.
WE ALSO HAVE A THIRD ROUND COMING UP THAT WILL BE IN SUMMER 2025, THAT IS GOING TO USE SIMILAR APPROACHES WITH WITH POP UP EVENTS AND THEN ALSO ONLINE DASHBOARDS AND SURVEYS TO COLLECT FEEDBACK.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND SO THE ANALYSIS PROCESS WHAT THE CRASH DATA COLLECTION AND USE.
WE, THE HAYS COUNTY SAFETY ACTION PLAN USES CRASH DATA LIKE REFERENCED BEFORE, FROM 2019 TO 2023.
AND THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT INFORMS SOME OF THE PROJECT SELECTION.
SO NEXT SLIDE. THE HOTSPOT ANALYSIS. THIS SLIDE IS BASICALLY JUST TO TELL HOW WE CAME UP WITH IT.
WE, WE WENT MILE BY MILE ALONG EACH ROAD BASICALLY.
SO WE TOOK ALL THESE DOTS OF WHERE CRASHES WERE PLACED ONTO THE MAP.
16,000 DOTS WHERE EACH, YOU KNOW, THESE REFLECT CRASHES, BUT THEY WERE THEY REFLECT FATAL INJURIES.
THEY REFLECT SUSPECTED SERIOUS INJURIES. AND WE DID A COUNT WHAT THEY CALL A MILE BY MILE ROLL UP.
SO IF YOU GET A HEAT MAP OFF OF THOSE, YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHERE YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS.
AND WHERE THOSE SAFETY ELEMENTS ARE STILL KIND OF TRAILING ALONG WITH THE TREND MAP.
AND IT ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO BREAK OUT CRASHES FOR VULNERABLE ROAD USERS.
SO IF YOU GET PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING HIT AGAIN AND AGAIN ON ROADS IN SAN MARCOS, OR WE'VE SEEN SOME ROADS WHERE THEY'RE WALKING ALONG THE CORRIDORS AND THEY HAVE INNER TUBES TRAIPSING BEHIND THEM, AND THEY'VE GOT BUSSES ROLLING TO THE RIGHT, THEY'VE GOT THEY'VE GOT MAJOR EVENTS THAT OCCUR WITHIN THE, THE ADJACENT AREA WITH A LOT OF VEHICLE TRAFFIC THAT DROPS ON AT DIFFERENT POINTS.
SO THIS IS KIND OF THE THE ANALYSIS PROCESS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE WAS TO MAP THOSE CRASHES DOWN TO THAT, THAT LEVEL. THIS IS THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK. SO IF YOU GO TWO SLIDES FORWARD, I THINK I CAN SKIP THIS NEXT ONE.
AND THIS SHOWS YOU THOSE THOSE INTERSECTIONS THAT ARE AT HIGHEST CRASH LEVELS.
AND SO IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE THIS FATAL AND SEVERE INJURY COUNT DROPS FURTHER WITH GREATER DISTRIBUTION OF FATAL AND SEVERE INJURIES ACROSS NON INTERSECTION ROADWAY SEGMENTS. SO THESE ARE NOT COUNTING THE INTERSECTIONS.
SO INTERSECTIONS ARE REAL NARROW WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR PROBLEM INTERSECTIONS.
[03:35:07]
APART. AND SO YOU LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTY, THEY START SHOWING UP.64% OF THOSE FATALITIES ARE KIND OF BEING DISTRIBUTED ACROSS A WIDER ARRAY OF SEGMENTS.
SO IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE THESE WERE THE CORRIDORS THAT REALLY PRESENTED CHALLENGES.
AND SO I ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE COURT AS WELL AS ANYBODY ELSE TO, YOU KNOW, DRILL IN AND SEE WHERE, WHERE WHETHER THIS MAKES SENSE TO YOU. AND PLEASE PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF COLLECTING COMMENTS AND DRAFTS.
TASK FORCE MEMBERS WERE THEN PROVIDED MULTIPLE, YOU KNOW, POINTS TO PROVIDE THEIR INPUT, AS WELL AS TO REVIEW THESE, THESE PROPOSED STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENTS. AND THE PRIMARY POINT OF THESE REVIEWS WAS CARRIED OUT ONE ON ONE DISCUSSIONS WITH TASK FORCE MEMBERS.
SO THANK YOU TO THE TASK FORCE FOR THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED.
SO IT WAS A VERY, VERY USEFUL TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT PARTICIPATION.
NEXT SLIDE. CAN I JUST ASK A CLARIFICATION QUESTION ON THAT.
SO THOSE CAN YOU GO BACK ONE PLEASE TO THE SLIDE PREVIOUS SLIDE.
EXACTLY. SO WHAT WAS ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE WAS THE NETWORK.
THESE THESE WERE THEN PROJECT LISTINGS THAT SHOWED UP ON AS OVERLAPPED WITH THOSE.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
PERFECT. AND SINCE YOU CAUSED THAT PAUSE, I'M GOING TO EXPAND A LITTLE FURTHER AND ASK, DO YOU KNOW BY CHANCE WE PASSED A HALF $1 BILLION ROAD BOND? WHICH ONES OF THOSE ADDRESS THESE NUMBERS, IF ANY? OH, AS PART OF THIS. SO THERE ARE THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
THERE ARE ONGOING INVESTMENTS THAT ARE PROPOSED TO HAVE UPDATES TO THEM.
SO IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS STILL IN DESIGN.
IT'S NOT QUITE IT'S BEEN APPROVED BUT IT'S NOT.
IT'S BEING CONSTRUCTED. SO I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE OF THAT NUMBER.
THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE STANDALONE, SO THEY'RE NOT PART OF A ROAD BOND AT ALL.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS WHENEVER IT LENDS ITSELF, DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.
NOW, I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. HOWEVER, WHENEVER WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, HERE'S WHAT'S IN GET SHOVEL READY MODE AND WHAT IS ALREADY IDENTIFIED AND WORKING AND TAKING PLACE AND OR ALREADY ON THE BOND LIST THAT WE'VE PASSED. WHAT DOES THAT LEAVE TO BE DONE AND ADDRESSED OF YOUR LIST? I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT, BECAUSE THEN THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE CLEAR, CONCISE DIRECTION AS TO WHERE TO BEELINE TO FOR MAXIMUM SAFETY.
SURE, JENNIFER, MAYBE YOU CAN HELP PREPARE THAT.
YOU KNOW, OUR HOW OUR BOND ROADS REFLECT. IT'S A GOOD IDEA, RIGHT, COMMISSIONER? IT'S A GOOD IDEA. YOU'VE DONE THIS LEGWORK. HOW DO WE OVERLAY IT? WITH ALL THE LEGWORK THAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON HERE IN OUR COUNTY? THANK YOU, SIR. YEAH. NO PROBLEM. AND THAT'S THAT'S EXACTLY THE EFFORT IS TO ALIGN WITH THOSE INVESTMENTS.
THAT ROAD BOND IS THAT FOR THE COUNTY ROADS. IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY OKAY. THERE'S BUT THERE ARE SOME OVERLAPPING WITH CITY OVER THE CITY AS WELL.
OKAY. OKAY. YES. SO WE WE ARE PRIMARILY LOOKING AT COUNTY AND CITY ROADS.
WE DID NOT. ONE IMPORTANT CAVEAT WE DIDN'T INCLUDE I-35.
SO I-35 IS A JUGGERNAUT OF CRASHES, AND IT WOULD OUTSIZE AND OUTWEIGH ANY EFFORT TO DO PROJECT PRIORITIZATION FOR THE COUNTY ITSELF THAT'S CENTRIC TO THE COUNTY. SO BECAUSE IT'S ITS OWN ALMOST STANDALONE ITEM, WE DID INCLUDE FRONTAGE ROADS OFF OF I-35, BUT NOT SO JUST THAT'S ONE EXTRA THING TO ADD INTO THE MIX JUST TO CONSIDER THOSE CRASHES.
THE 16,443 ARE SEPARATE FROM MAIN LINE CRASHES ON I-35.
SO OKAY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OKAY. THIS LISTS THE LOCATIONS OF THE SELECTED IMPROVEMENTS BY SEGMENT.
AND THESE CLUSTERS OF INVESTMENTS LARGELY MATCH THE CLUSTERING OF HIN SEGMENTS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF A COUPLE OF WHERE WE SAW AN EMPHASIS AREA, A CLUSTER OF EMPHASIS AREA CRASHES THAT DID NOT MATCH EXACTLY THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK, WHICH WE FELT VALID TO ADD TO THIS AS WELL.
NEXT SLIDE. AND SIMILARLY, THE TARGETED IMPROVEMENTS FOR INTERSECTIONS WERE ALSO PROPOSED IN THESE LOCATIONS, WHICH ALIGN WITH THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK. NEXT SLIDE.
[03:40:06]
THE SAFETY ACTION PLAN SHOWS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CORRIDOR FOR ROAD SEGMENTS AND CORRIDORS BY CLOSELY STUDYING CRASH PATTERNS IN HAYS COUNTY.SO YOU HAVE A REALLY LARGE PROBLEM WITH DARK ROADWAYS, BUT ALSO WITH ROAD ROADWAY DEPARTURES TYPES, CRASHES. THEY GET THEY GET THE HIGHEST COUNTS AS FAR AS WHAT WAS LOOKED AT FROM THOSE FATAL AND SERIOUS INJURIES.
THE 800 OR SO CRASHES OVER A 2019 TO 2023. SO TO MAKE ROADS SAFER, THE PLAN ALSO HAS A LIST OF COUNTERMEASURES THAT ALMOST SERVE AS KIND OF LIKE, IF YOU COULD IMAGINE, A BATCH OF INVESTMENTS SO YOU COULD LOOK AT THESE AS TARGETED.
YOU BUY THEM IN BATCH AND THEN YOU CAN DEPLOY THEM ACROSS THE COUNTY.
THEY'RE MORE INEXPENSIVE. THEY'RE NOT PART OF MAJOR ROADWAY PROJECTS.
THEY'RE REALLY KIND OF ALMOST ON THEIR OWN. SO THESE ARE THE KIND OF MEASURES WE'RE LOOKING AT.
BUT THEY ALSO INCLUDE POLICY ORDINANCES, THOSE SORTS OF THOSE SORTS OF COUNTERMEASURES AS WELL.
SO THAT'S IT'S IT'S REALLY COVERING A WIDE ARRAY.
IT'S COVERING INVESTMENTS IN PROJECTS. IT'S ALSO COVERING POLICIES COVERING PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO IT'S A LOT OF WAYS TO KIND OF ANGLE AT THIS REDUCTION.
IT'S AN ALL IT'S AN EXPANSIVE WAY TO LOOK AT HOW TO GET TO HAVING HAVING THE FATAL AND SERIOUS INJURIES BY 2035, WHICH IS NOT TOO FAR AWAY. IT'S IT'S COMING. NEXT SLIDE.
AND THIS IS MOSTLY BECAUSE INTERSECTIONS HAVE GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT TRAFFIC MOVEMENTS.
THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT A LOT OF WAYS TO LIKE, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY WHERE THEY OCCUR, WHERE THEY IMPACT AN INTERSECTION. BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO ALSO IMPROVE THEM.
SO YOU COULD YOU COULD THROW IN A ROUNDABOUT TO MAKE THAT THAT CHANGE.
YOU COULD ADD IN PROTECTED LEFT TURN SIGNALS.
YOU COULD IMPROVE TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND THEIR TIMING.
YOU CAN ADD MAKING INTERSECTIONS EASIER TO SEE.
WHY IS IT THERE? WELL, THAT'S FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE AS THEY'RE COMING AROUND. AND BEFORE THEY'RE HITTING, THEY'RE HITTING A CUE RIGHT THERE. AND SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF INVESTMENTS WE'RE LOOKING TO DO. AND THEN FINALLY, THE PLAN GETS INTO NEW POLICIES, USES A STANDARD PROCESS TO DECIDE WHICH INTERSECTIONS SHOULD BE DESIGNED. YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR THESE KIND OF THINGS LIKE CALMING MEASURES AND FEATURES TO SLOW CARS DOWN.
AND THEN NEXT SLIDE, I GUESS TWO SLIDES IF YOU COULD.
SO I KNOW I KIND OF THERE'S A LOT COMING THROUGH THIS.
THERE'S EVEN MORE WITHIN THE PLAN, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT'S IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE.
SO THINGS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH THE COUNTY, THINGS COMING THROUGH CITIES, MUNICIPALITIES, THE WORK PROGRAMS THE REGIONAL TIP, THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FROM CAPITAL AREA MPO. SO THAT'S REALLY THE NEXT STEP IS TO REALLY START TO SYSTEMATICALLY CONSIDER SOME OF THE OUTPUTS OF THE PLAN, INTEGRATE IT POTENTIALLY WITHIN OR CONSIDER IT FOR, FOR FUTURE INPUT AS IT GOES ALONG.
SO THIS COULD BE THE BEGINNING OF ONE THAT YOU COULD CARRY FORWARD FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
SO THE FEDERAL FUNDING PROGRAMS FOR A SAFE STREETS FOR ALL THESE ARE THE TYPES OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS. THEY LOOK TO LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT. AND SO IF THEY SEE IT, THEY SEE A SUPPORT.
THEY SEE CITIES ALSO CITY COUNCILS GETTING BEHIND IT.
THEN THEY CAN THEY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE GIVING YOU THE APPROVAL TO GET THAT FUNDING, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S SHOVEL READY, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S SHOVEL READY, WHICH THESE COURT MEMBERS ARE GOOD AT WORKING TOWARDS, WHICH IS A REALLY BIG PLUS THAT I APPLAUD FOR.
YEAH. YEAH. GOOD. THANK YOU. WELL DONE. AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE HE WALKS AWAY FROM THE PODIUM? I WOULD JUST I WOULD JUST SAY GETTING A MORE DETAILED MAP TO EACH OF US.
I THINK ALL OF US KNOW OUR PRECINCTS PRETTY WELL, AND WE CAN LOOK AT THOSE IN PRETTY SHORT ORDER.
JUST LOOKING AT THE GENERAL MAP THAT YOU HAVE ON THERE, I KNOW OF, I MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE, COMMISSIONER HAMMER AND I ARE LOOKING AT A POSSIBLE CORRIDOR STUDY ON 12. THERE'S CERTAIN SECTIONS OF 12 BETWEEN DRIPPING SPRINGS AND WIMBERLEY THAT WE KNOW ARE CRASH HEAVY, AND IT'S FOR THAT REASON WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT THAT.
WE CAN IDENTIFY OR HELP YOU IDENTIFY WHERE THERE COULD BE SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THERE THAT WE, WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS AND WE'VE TRIED TO ADDRESS. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND WE ALSO HAVE AN ONLINE MAP.
SO WE CAN SEND YOU A LISTING OF THE PROJECTS.
AND THEN YOU CAN CLICK ON THE LINK IN IT AND IT'LL TAKE YOU TO A MAP.
YOU CAN YOU CAN DRILL IN. YOU CAN CHANGE THE LAYERS TO WHAT YOU WANT TO LOOK AT.
[03:45:03]
THAT'S THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. YEAH, THAT'D BE GOOD.THANK YOU. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. AND BACK TO YOU.
OKAY, SO I JUST WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR NEXT STEPS.
SO OUR SUPPORT IS KIND OF CRITICAL TO THEM MOVING THAT FORWARD.
AND THOSE ARE DUE ON THE 26TH OF THIS MONTH. OKAY.
AND SO I WAS GOING TO ASK IF ROXANNE HAD IT HANDY TO READ IT WHENEVER YOU WERE DONE.
YES. AND SO. AND THEN LIKE HE TALKED ABOUT TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLANS ARE OVERALL GOAL WOULD BE TO ACTUALLY INCORPORATE THESE PROJECTS INTO OUR UPDATE OF OUR TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN, WHICH WE HOPE TO KICK OFF AROUND THE OCTOBER TIME FRAME.
AND WE'LL BE INCORPORATING THOSE AT THAT TIME.
JUST LOOKING AT THE THOSE SOME OF THESE, BECAUSE OF THE CRASH DATA, WAS THE 20, 2023.
IT LOOKED LIKE SOME OF THOSE MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED WITH SOME PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE.
SO AND WE WILL LOOK AT THE, THE BOND PROJECTS, BOTH THE 2016 BONDS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING AND THE FUTURE 2024 BONDS AND SEE HOW THAT ALL OVERLAYS. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ROXANNE, WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE RESOLUTION? A RESOLUTION OF THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HAYS COUNTY SAFETY ACTION PLAN.
WHEREAS HAYS COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION SAFETY FOR ALL ROAD USERS, INCLUDING MOTORISTS, PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, AND FREIGHT OPERATORS.
AND WHEREAS, HAYS COUNTY IS A MEMBER OF THE CAPITAL AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, CAMPO AND WHEREAS, CAMPO IS DEVELOPING A REGIONAL SAFETY ACTION PLAN, RSAP, TO ENHANCE TRAFFIC SAFETY ACROSS ITS SIX COUNTY REGION. AND WHEREAS, HAYS COUNTY SAFETY ACTION PLAN WAS DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH CAMPO AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIES AND PROJECTS THAT REDUCE THE NUMBER AND SEVERITY OF CRASHES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. COUNTY.
I'M SORRY. AND WHEREAS HAYS COUNTY INTENDS TO INCORPORATE THESE PROJECTS INTO ITS UPCOMING MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE, AND WHEREAS, THE SAP INCLUDES RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROJECTS PRIORITIES THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT HAYS COUNTY AND ITS RESIDENTS.
AND WHEREAS SUPPORT OF THE SAP POSITIONS THE COUNTY AND THE CITIES WITHIN HAYS COUNTY TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL AND STATE SAFETY FUNDING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THOSE UNDER THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL SS PROGRAM.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ONE SUPPORTS THE HAYS COUNTY SAFETY ACTION PLAN AS A GUIDING DOCUMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION. TWO AUTHORIZES COUNTY STAFF TO COORDINATE WITH TXDOT AND CAMPO TO PURSUE FUNDING AND IMPLEMENT SAFETY STRATEGIES IDENTIFIED IN THE SAP, AND THREE, THAT THIS RESOLUTION SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY UPON ITS PASSAGE.
PASSAGE PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 10TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY COMMENTS BEFORE WE CALL THE VOTE ON THAT RESOLUTION? SEEM GOOD? ALL RIGHT. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER COHEN.
YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMER. COMMISSIONER. SMITH.
YES, COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE. YES. JUDGE. BECERRA.
YES. THERE YOU ARE. KEEP MOVING. RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT, TEN MINUTE RECESS, CHIEF. I'M NOT FORGETTING ABOUT YOU. BUT AS SOON AS WE GET BACK, ROXANNE, PLEASE READ HIKO'S LETTER SO WE CAN GET THAT OFF MY CONSCIENCE.
AND THEN WE WILL GO ON TO THE CHIEF'S ITEM K TWO.
YOU KNOW IT'S REAL. I KNOW EVERYONE SAW HIM. OKAY, WE'RE BACK ONE MORE TIME.
WE ARE BACK FROM A SHORT RECESS. THANK YOU ALL.
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO PULL K 12 G 20 3I2. WHAT IS THAT? TO BRING THEM UP OR PULL THEM. BRING THEM UP.
BRING THEM UP SOONER. SUBDIVISION J2K3. SO THERE'S A SEQUENCE OF ASKS AND I WILL PULL THEM IN THAT ORDER. IT IS IT'S CUSTOMARY FOR ME TO DO THAT FOR FOLKS TO KEEP PEOPLE MOVING, AS PROMISED.
CHIEF, PLEASE OPEN K2. OH THAT'S RIGHT. FIRST READ THAT AND THEN K2.
[F.1. Adopt a Resolution affirming Hays County’s commitment to the Constitutional and Humane Treatment of Immigrants in the custody of any U.S. law enforcement agency, and calling for due process and the protection of habeas corpus. BECERRA (Part 2 of 2)]
THIS ONE, WE DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT IT WAS LEFT OUT AND IT WAS TIED TO F1.SO IF YOU WILL PLEASE READ THIS INTO THE RECORD OF F1.
[03:50:03]
COMMENT FROM PACO STANG. HERE'S MY PUBLIC COMMENT.DEAR MEMBERS OF THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY COMMENT ON THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM REGARDING THE RESOLUTION AFFIRMING HAYS COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE CUSTODY OF ANY U.S.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, AND CALLING FOR DUE PROCESS.
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS THAT THESE BASIC REQUIREMENTS MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN MET DURING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT MEASURES HERE IN HAYS COUNTY. MOREOVER, DEEPLY TROUBLING INSTANCES OF DEPORTATIONS OF LEGAL RESIDENTS WITHOUT DUE PROCESS HAVE BEEN CREDIBLY REPORTED FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND EVEN THE THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF DETAINEES IS NO LONGER A GIVEN WHEN THEY COULD BE DEPORTED TO INHUMANE FACILITIES IN COUNTRIES LIKE EL SALVADOR WITH DUBIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS. IN LIGHT OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS, PASSING THIS RESOLUTION WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT WOULD SEND A STRONG SIGNAL THAT HAYS COUNTY REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, THE RULE OF LAW, AND THE DECENT TREATMENT OF DETAINEES.
PLEASE VOTE YES ON THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, HEIKO SEEING.
[K.2. Discussion and possible action to authorize the Constable Pct. 1 Office to purchase additional vehicle equipment from Dana Safety Supply, and amend the budget accordingly. INGALSBE/PETERSON]
TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL VEHICLE EQUIPMENT FROM DANA SAFETY SUPPLY AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMAN. ALL RIGHT. CHIEF. ALL YOURS, CHIEF MIKE BARELA WITH HAYS COUNTY CONSTABLE, PRECINCT ONE, DAVID PETERSON'S OFFICE. THIS THIS EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS FOR TWO VEHICLES THAT WE GOT IN 2023.
WE GOT THOSE MID-YEAR, AND THEY WERE BASIC. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED.
AND SO THIS WOULD ACTUALLY FULLY EQUIP THESE VEHICLES.
MOST IMPORTANT OKAY. COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
OH IT'S A LITTLE BUTTON FIX RIGHT NOW. COULD I.
WAS YOURS GREEN RING OR RED RING. IT'S GREEN.
AND I LOOKED AT ALL THE COURT MEMBERS AND EVERYBODY WAS IN LINE WITH THAT IDEA. THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR STANDING BY. ROXANNE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES, COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES, COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE. YES. JUDGE. BECERRA.
YES. THANK YOU. CHIEF. NOW, I AGREED ALSO FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
F7, PLEASE OPEN F7. F7. PRESENTATION BY THE HAYS COUNTY BEHAVIORAL ADVISORY TEAM.
I'M SORRY. THEY WERE JUST ASKING. I'M TELLING YOU, I'M GOING BY A CHECKLIST. ALL DONE.
[K.3. Discussion and possible action to establish one new Attorney III position, grade 130, within the Hays County Criminal District Attorney's Office, effective June 16, 2025, and amend the budget accordingly. INGALSBE/HIGGINS]
THREE POSITION GRADE 130 WITHIN THE HAYS COUNTY CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EFFECTIVE JUNE 16TH, 2025, AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. SECOND.ALL RIGHT, OUR DA, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
HELLO, HONORED MEMBERS OF THE COURT. MY NAME IS KELLY HIGGINS.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR. I KIND OF WANT TO SHOUT.
OUR OFFICE FULLY SUPPORTS AND EMBRACES THE PROCLAMATION THAT YOU GUYS CREATED THIS MORNING.
AS IT SHOULD BE. IF I FLATTER YOU AFTER IT RINGS HOLLOW.
IT'S REALLY TRUE. I REALLY LIKE THAT. I REALLY LIKE IT.
I, I TEXTED THE JUDGE MIDWEEK TO TELL HIM HOW MUCH I LIKED IT.
AND I GOTTA CONFESS, THE ONE THAT MADE IT IN BACKUP WAS A MISTAKE FROM MY OFFICE.
IT. I ACTUALLY HAD MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO IT, BUT IT WAS STILL GOOD.
AND SO I'M JUST GRATEFUL THAT YOU THAT YOU SUPPORTED IT BECAUSE YOUR OPINION MATTERS GREATLY TO ME.
I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I REALLY DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THE OFFICE IS COMMITTED TO THOSE PRINCIPLES.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. K THREE IS OUR REQUEST FOR A NEW ATTORNEY THREE POSITION.
[03:55:02]
THIS WILL BE TO SERVE AS THE MENTAL HEALTH ATTORNEY, TO SERVE THE MENTAL HEALTH COURTS AND THE UPCOMING MENTAL HEALTH DOCKETS.THE LAWYER I HAVE SELECTED FOR THIS IS ASHLEY SEITZ.
SHE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING NEW PROGRAMS FOR US, INCLUDING PRETRIAL DIVERSION.
I'M NOT SURE WHETHER YOU'VE HAD AN UPDATE ON THAT, BUT IT'S BEEN A SMASHING SUCCESS.
AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE PRETRIAL DIVERSION.
ASHLEY IS NOW MOVING INTO HOPEFULLY THIS NEW POSITION.
SO I NEED TO TELL YOU ONE OTHER THING. FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, I'M COMING TO YOU MID-YEAR FOR THIS ATTORNEY THREE POSITION TO SO THAT I CAN HURRY UP AND STAFF THIS TIMELY. BUT WITHIN OUR BUDGET IS A REQUEST FOR AN ATTORNEY FOR FOR THIS POSITION.
IF YOU GIVE ME A YES FOR THIS POSITION TODAY, WE DROP THAT OFF OFF OF OUR BUDGET REQUEST.
AND WE WOULD JUST. BUT I DO ANTICIPATE THAT ASHLEY WILL BE AN ATTORNEY FOR BY THE FALL.
OKAY. SHE'S A REALLY STRONG ATTORNEY IN OUR OFFICE, A SIGNIFICANT PLAYER.
AND I HOPE WE CAN GIVE HER THIS POSITION. I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL.
I'M REALLY. I REALLY NEED TO SAY TO YOU. YOU BET.
YOU BET. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHAT YOU'VE POINTED OUT, WHICH IS THIS POSITION, IS FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH SPACE SPECIFICALLY. IT'S NOT TO BLOAT THE CIVIL DIVISION.
NO, I THINK IT'S GREAT HOW YOU'VE ARTICULATED THE USE AND THE NEED AND IT'S AWESOME.
AND THANK YOU TO BE ALMOST ENTIRELY CRIMINAL.
FOR THE FOR THE CRIMINAL COURTS DOING MENTAL HEALTH.
BUT SHE WILL BE DOING CIVIL WORK ALSO. RIGHT.
AND I GUESS IT IT'S WORTH SAYING THAT AS I'M SEEING THE COUNTY SINCE I CAME INTO OFFICE TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, I'VE SEEN THIS COUNTY EMBRACE THE PROJECT OF IMPROVING PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH IN A WAY I REALLY AM SHOCKED BY.
I'M PLEASANTLY SHOCKED BY WE'VE BEEN ALMOST UNANIMOUS AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE BAT, THE POLICE AGENCIES. YOU GUYS OUR OFFICE? I'VE JUST SEEN.
AND ESPECIALLY COUNTY COURT, THE JUDGE BROWN'S COUNTY COURT.
I'VE SEEN A GREAT UNANIMITY, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ENERGY.
THIS REQUEST IS A VERY, VERY SMALL PART OF THAT.
BUT I THINK WE'LL WE'LL SHOW TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF PROGRESS WITHIN THE COUNTY.
SO I I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. IT'S BEEN A LONG MORNING.
AND KELLY, JUST TO ADD TO WHAT YOU'VE SAID. I TELL PEOPLE OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM WAS IN A DIFFERENT PLACE PRE 2018, WOULD YOU SAY? AND IT IS THESE TYPES OF MOVES THAT COMMISSIONER INGALSBE AND COMMISSIONER SHELL AT THE TIME HELPED TO PUT ON THE RAILS? AND I LITERALLY DO SAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH NOT PERFECT, WE ALL KNOW THIS. IT IS REALLY IT'S ON THE RAILS TO DOING AND BEING THE BEST IT CAN POSSIBLY BE.
I DON'T FIND YOU WILL HAVE ANY RESISTANCE FROM US AS A COURT BECAUSE THIS IS BEAUTIFULLY STATED THROUGH YOU, COMMISSIONER. I GOTTA TELL YOU, SIR, EVERY TIME I'VE COME TO THIS COURT AND ASKED FOR SOMETHING, YOU'VE GIVEN IT TO ME UNANIMOUSLY. I'M SCARED TO DEATH OF THE DAY WHEN THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AND I DON'T WANT IT TO BE.
BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAY NO TO ME, RIGHT. IT'S.
YEAH, WE CAN ALWAYS. WE CAN ALWAYS FIND THE MONEY.
I ALWAYS SAY THAT LET YOUR BUDGET BE YOUR PROOF OF YOUR EMOTIONAL AND MORAL COMPASS.
LET THAT BE AN INDICATOR OF WE PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS.
COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YEAH, WELL, KELLY, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO, YOUR COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE THE SERVICES AS IT RELATES TO MENTAL HEALTH.
IT'S BEEN REALLY A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU, AND I WAS HAPPY TO SPONSOR THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT IS NEEDED AND I JUST APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER COHEN.
ANYTHING ELSE ANYONE ELSE WANT TO ADD? MR.. ERIC, DO YOU HAVE ANY RESPONSE YOU'RE GOOD WITH? OKAY. ANYONE OVER HERE? WE'RE GOOD. ALL RIGHT.
I WOULD JUST SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE IN YOUR NOT ONLY YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE BAT, BUT THE CONTINUED PARTICIPATION OF ALL THE ATTORNEYS THAT YOU BRING IN THERE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST IT'S TRULY A TEAM EFFORT ON BEHALF OF KELLY'S OFFICE.
AND I DON'T SAY THAT LIGHTLY. THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER COHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER HAMMER.
YES. COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER SMITH.
YES. JUDGE. BECERRA? YES. ON THAT NOTE, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.
[04:00:03]
LET'S OPEN K SIX, K SIX. THANK YOU. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE SELECTION OF HELLMUTH,[K.6. Discussion and possible action to approve the selection of Hellmuth Obata Kassabaum, L.P. (HOK) to work with Hays County Stakeholders regarding the design of a Mental Health Diversion Center; and authorize staff and the District Attorney Civil Division to negotiate a contract. BECERRA]
OBATA KASSABAUM LLP LP TO WORK WITH HAYS COUNTY STAKEHOLDERS REGARDING THE DESIGN OF A MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER, AND AUTHORIZED STAFF AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY CIVIL DIVISION TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT.I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR DISCUSSION SECOND. SO THIS IS THE SPACE WHERE IT IS PURELY ARCHITECTURAL.
IT IS PURELY TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING TO PURELY AND SIMPLY LIKE A ROAD PROJECT, TO MAKE IT GET IT TO A SHOVEL READY STATE, TO TALK TO THE STAKEHOLDERS, TO COORDINATE, TO ARTICULATE THE NEEDS IN A FORMAL OFFICIAL CHANNEL, TO THEN IN THE FUTURE, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE POTENTIALLY HAND IT OFF TO SOMEONE ELSE TO TAKE OVER FROM.
BUT THIS IS JUST TO GET A THREE RING BINDER AROUND.
IT IS WHAT IT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT, COMMISSIONER? YOU KNOW. THIS IS WHERE WE TALK ABOUT IT. NO, I UNDERSTAND.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD I'VE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHO I WOULD LIKE, YOU KNOW, TO LEAD THIS EFFORT. THAT'S JUST KIND OF WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW HOK HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK AS IT RELATES TO OUR JAIL.
THEY'VE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB. THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
AND I'M JUST NOT CERTAIN THAT I'M PREPARED TO MAKE THAT DECISION TODAY, SO.
OKAY, SO MAYBE NOT A DECISION ON THE ORGANIZATION, BUT HOW ABOUT A DECISION ON THE EFFORT SO THAT WE CAN GIVE PURCHASING THE DIRECTION? BECAUSE I MY DOG IN THE HUNT IS OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, THEY HAVE A HUGE. I SAW IT TWICE OR THREE TIMES A HUGE RESUME OF ALL THE NATIONWIDE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY EFFORTS THAT THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED.
AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE A GOOD REASON, A GOOD FIT FOR THAT REASON.
BUT LISTEN, I'M AFTER THE RESULTS AND I DON'T CARE ABOUT WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN AND WHY.
IF WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DIRECTION AND PICK WHOEVER ELSE I JUST WANT TO PICK.
I JUST WANT TO KEEP MOVING. IT'S MY ONLY AIM AND MY ONLY ASK.
DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? YEAH, I SAW YOU MOVE YOUR MIC.
OH WE'RE GIVING PLEASE. WE'RE GIVING YOU A B LANE.
ALL RIGHT. NO PROBLEM. STEPHANIE HUNT, PURCHASING AGENT.
SO AND THIS IS KIND OF I WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE PULL JORDAN IN ON HERE SINCE HILL COUNTRY WOULD HAVE TO BE THE OPERATING THIS ENTITY OF THIS ORGANIZATION. AND I KNOW OUR GOAL IS ALWAYS TO WORK WITH THEM.
WOULD IT NOT BE BEST TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT IN HAND WITH THEM TO HAVE, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THEY WOULD WANT TO HAVE SOME BUY IN AS FAR AS LIKE DESIGN AND ALL OF THAT AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT'S NEEDED.
SO I, I'M NOT SAYING WE DON'T NEED THIS AT SOME POINT, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT WITH THEM FIRST ON WHAT ALL THAT LOOKS LIKE. SO WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER. AND BEFORE YOU GO THERE, JORDAN, WHAT I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST AS AN ANSWER, STEPHANIE, TO THAT GREAT THOUGHT PROCESS QUESTION IS THIS IS THE DIALOG TO CREATE THE REACH, THE ASK AND TO HAVE THEM. CLEARLY, HILL COUNTRY IS ONE OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
THEY'VE AGREED TO MEET CEO TO COUNTY JUDGE MORE THAN ONCE.
WE WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT OPERATING IT.
WHAT THAT DETAILS RELATE TO. OKAY, FINE. BUT THE POINT IS THE IDEA OF HAVING AN OFFICIAL DIRECTION FOR ORGANIZATION, HIRED COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE THROUGH A CONTRACT TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND TO REACH OUT TO THE BAT TEAM AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT WE NEED. THAT'S THE AGENDA. ASK FOR US TO PUT SOMEONE ON THE PAYROLL SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ON OUR DIME. SO YOU'RE WANTING MORE OF LIKE, PROJECT MANAGEMENT TO COME IN AND COORDINATE THAT VERSUS AN ACTUAL DESIGN CONTRACT? WHATEVER. HOWEVER, WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE, I JUST WANT TO KEEP IT MOVING.
I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE JABS, BUT IT'S TIME. I THINK IT'S JUST TIME.
JORDAN. SO YES. JORDAN POWELL, CIVIL FIRST ASSISTANT.
MY QUESTION KIND OF DOVETAILS WITH STEPHANIE IS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE WAS SOME SORT OF NEGOTIATION HAPPENING, THAT I HAD CLARITY ON THAT. AND SO MY QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, DID WE HAVE SPECS.
[04:05:05]
IF WE WENT THIS ROUTE, DID WE ALREADY HAVE SPECS THAT WE KNEW? LIKE WHAT TO NEGOTIATE AS A SCOPE IN A CONTRACT AND OR I WAS JUST MAKING AN ASSUMPTION HERE, BUT MAYBE AN INCORRECT ONE. IS THAT THE SCOPE ON WHAT WE WERE ASKING A COMPANY, WHOEVER THAT WOULD BE, TO TO SEND US AND IN LIGHT OF NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT IS THAT BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION WE JUST GOT FROM BAT OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT? I JUST WANTED CLARITY IN THAT REGARD AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.SO I COULD I COULD AMEND THIS MOTION, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, FOR YOUR MAXIMUM COMFORT, BECAUSE I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DIALOG WE'RE HAVING HERE TO TO SIMPLY SAY, BASED ON THE INFORMATION, THAT THE DIVERSION CENTER IS THE NUMBER ONE GOAL OF THIS BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT TEAM, ADVISORY TEAM, THEY'VE EXPRESSED IT SINCE MAY OF 2023.
IN ITS FORMATION, EVERY SINGLE ORGANIZATION, EVERY SINGLE ENTITY EVERYWHERE SAYS WE NEED THIS.
THEY HAVE DONE AN EXTENSIVE, EXHAUSTIVE IN ALL THEIR FOLDERS AND ALL THEIR HISTORICALS, FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, TO ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES. THEY'VE DONE ALL THE WORK.
HOWEVER THAT LOOKS, I WANT THAT DIRECTION TO COME FROM THE COURT SO THAT YOU CAN BRING IT BACK.
HOWEVER, IT MAKES LEGAL SENSE. I NEVER WANT US TO DO IT AT A SEQUENCE.
I JUST WANT US TO DO IT. SO WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE TO YOU, STEPHANIE? WHAT KIND OF MOTION WOULD NEED TO AMEND HERE TO MAKE IT RIGHT? I WOULD RECOMMEND HIRING A PROJECT MANAGEMENT FIRM TO COORDINATE ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT OUTSIDE OF JUST WORKING WITH HOC, WITH THE DESIGN PIECE OF IT.
NO PROBLEM. MY HOPE WAS TO HAVE THE HOC CONVERSATION BE AROUND PROJECT MANAGEMENT INCLUDED, BUT WE CAN MAKE A MOTION FOR YOU TO PROMOTE SOLICIT FOR BIDS FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT FIRM.
SO WE ALREADY HAVE A PROJECT MANAGEMENT POOL.
AND THEN BRING A SELECTION TO COURT FOR APPROVAL.
YES, PLEASE I. YES, PLEASE. IS THAT OKAY? BRINGING EVERYBODY TOGETHER TO BRING IT BACK TO COURT? WELL, HERE'S MY QUESTION. THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE BAT TEAM WAS TO WORK WITH SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, SUCH AS AN INCOMING HOSPITAL SYSTEM. MY CONCERN WITH HIRING A DESIGN OR ARCHITECTURAL FIRM TO DESIGN A PROJECT IS THAT IF WE PARTNER WITH A HOSPITAL, WE'RE GOING TO GET WHATEVER DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT FIRM THEY'RE USING.
BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU IF WE'RE IF WE'RE GOING TO END UP PARTNERING WITH A MEDICAL FACILITY OF SOME TYPE THAT IS GOING TO BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANYBODY MANAGING THAT PROJECT.
1604 YEAH. SO IF THEY'RE DOING THAT, THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF THAT PROJECT, BUT THEY'LL BE OWNER, MANAGER, REPRESENTATIVE. I MEAN, AND I AGREE, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK IF WE WERE TO MAKE A MOTION TODAY OR TAKE ACTION TODAY, THAT IT WOULD BE FOR THE DESIGN OF A BUILDING.
I MEAN, THAT'S EXACTLY THAT'S FAR DOWN THE ROAD, NOT WHAT.
WELL, I'M JUST SAYING, LIKE FOR A PROJECT MANAGEMENT FIRM TO COME IN AND KIND OF HELP COORDINATE, LIKE RIGHT DISCUSSION WITH HILL COUNTRY, THE BAT TEAM, LIKE ALL THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES TO FIGURE OUT, LIKE BUILDINGS AND STUFF. EXACTLY. GET A PLAN TOGETHER.
YEAH. SO LET'S LOOK AT WHAT? THAT SCOPE. SOMETHING YOU NEED AS A MOTION.
OR WOULD YOU LIKE IT AS JUST DIRECTION? WHAT MAKES IT BETTER FOR YOU? AND THE COVER ON THE LEGAL FRONT? OKAY. CAN I ANSWER THAT? YES, PLEASE. OKAY. FAIR. I DIDN'T WANT TO STEP OUT OF LINE, SO.
AND Y'ALL CAN TELL ME THIS IS THE DUMBEST IDEA ON THE WORLD. BUT I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT BRINGING BACK AN ITEM IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO SELECT A PROJECT MANAGEMENT FIRM FROM THE POOL. YES. AND THEN UTILIZE THAT PROJECT MANAGEMENT FIRM TO WORK ON ALL THE THINGS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WAY OF PUTTING IT, IS THAT THAT'S WHAT I THINK I'M HEARING.
I DON'T THINK THE WAY THE ITEM IS WORDED TODAY COVERS US TO DO THAT.
THAT'S GREAT. WHEN IS OUR NEXT MEETING? I THINK IT'S.
YEAH. NEXT MEETING. I DON'T HOLD ON, I CAN TELL YOU.
SO LET'S DO THIS. LET'S LET'S TABLE THIS ITEM AND THEN CREATE A NEW AGENDA ITEM TO DO THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT FIRM, BECAUSE I WANT TO PUT IT WHERE YOU GUYS ARE MOST CLEAR, PROTECTED, DEFENDED AND COMFORTABLE. KNOWING THAT OUR GOAL IS TO GRAB EVERYONE'S
[04:10:04]
INFORMATION, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING HILL COUNTRY, SO THAT THEY COULD COORDINATE.SO THE VERY NEXT COURT AFTER THAT WE'LL DO THAT OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WORKING WITH ME. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE SO WE'RE DONE WITH THAT ONE.
I'M GOING DOWN THE LIST HERE. I WAS ASKED TO PULL K 12, SO G 23 AND I TWO AND THEN J TWO OKAY G 23 AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A THIRD AMENDMENT FOR A DURATION EXTENSION TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND HALF
[G.23. Authorize the execution of a Third Amendment for a duration extension to the Professional Services Agreement between Hays County and Halff Associates, Inc. regarding the Willow Springs Flood Mitigation Project. HAMMER]
ASSOCIATES, INC. REGARDING THE WILLOW SPRINGS FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT.SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY, COMMISSIONER. ALL YOURS.
LET'S TALK. ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE THE HALF TEAM HERE, AND DO YOU WANT TO COME AND SPEAK? OKAY. BASICALLY, WHAT WE JUST NEED TO DO IS JUST EXTEND OUR CONTRACT THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING FOR THE WILLOW SPRINGS FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK INTO, LIKE, THE GOVERNMENT CENTER, OBVIOUSLY WORKING WITH JOHN CARSON.
JOHN DAVID CARSON, I ALWAYS CALL HIM CARSON DALY.
IT'S IT'S IT'S A BIG FLOOD SPACE. YEAH. ESPECIALLY WITH BY THE GOVERNMENT CENTER.
SO IS COMMISSIONER IS YOUR IDEA WITH THIS ITEM TO PAVE THE ROAD FOR US TO BUILD ON THAT FLOODING SPACE EVEN FURTHER. SO NO, WE ALREADY HAVE THE CONTRACT IN PLACE.
IT'S JUST EXTENDING IT. BUT IS THAT FOR THE EXTENSION? IS IT FOR THAT PURPOSE? NO, NO, IT'S JUST TO MITIGATE THE DRAINAGE ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING ON THE GOVERNMENT CENTER.
CENTER. OKAY. I MEAN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY BUILDING A PARKING GARAGE AT ONE POINT.
YES. I JUST DON'T WANT TO ACCIDENTALLY. HERE'S WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO.
I DON'T WANT TO ACCIDENTALLY SUPPORT SOMETHING TODAY THAT I DON'T SUPPORT THE FINISHED PRODUCT OF.
THAT'S ALL. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION. YEAH, NO, WE STILL HAVE MONEY LEFT WITHIN OUR CONTRACT. SO THIS IS EXTENDING IT WITH THE FUNDS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE BECAUSE THE PROJECT'S NOT DONE YET. RIGHT.
BUT I WAS JUST REFERRING TO, LIKE, SAYING WHETHER THERE'S MONEY IN THE HOPPER OR NOT ABOUT EXPANDING EXPENSE TAXPAYER DOLLARS INTO ROAD MAPPING FUTURE BUILDING ON A SPACE THAT IS NOT.
NO, NO, THIS ISN'T. OKAY, GOOD. YEAH, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN WITH FUTURE BUILDING.
THAT'S HIS SIDE OF THINGS. THIS IS JUST THE FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT, RIGHT? IF I IF I COULD JUST ADD SOMETHING, THERE'S A GRANT THAT'S COMING OUT THAT WILL BE OPEN NEXT YEAR.
AND SO THANK YOU, TAMMY. AND SO JUST TO DOUBLE DOWN AND GET MAXIMUM CLARIFICATION, THIS IS TO TALK ABOUT THE DRAINAGE ON THE CURRENT FOOTPRINT THAT WE CONTROL AND TALK ABOUT HOW TO BEST DESIGN IT.
HOW DO WE SUMMARIZE THIS IN AN ENCAPSULATED FORMAT.
IT'S THE FLOOD MITIGATION PLAN THAT COMES FROM WILLOW CREEK DOWN ACROSS THE STREET THROUGH THE CHANNEL FROM HEB AND THE, THE STUFF ACROSS THE STREET THAT THEN FLOODS INTO THE GOVERNMENT CENTER.
SO IT'S NOT JUST THE GOVERNMENT CENTER PROPERTY, IT'S COMING ACROSS THE STREET.
AND THERE'S JUST THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP, LIKE OBVIOUSLY DOING LIKE A, LIKE A RETENTION WALL FOR FLOODING AND HOW DEEP DO WE BUILD OR HOW DEEP DO WE PUT THE HOLE IN THE GROUND FOR POTENTIAL DETENTION AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE? SO JUST EXTENDING THAT THE GRANT IS I BELIEVE WE PAY 25% AND THEY MATCH THE 75%.
SO IF WE GET THAT AWARDED, WE COULD TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THAT FLOOD MITIGATION.
IS THIS THAT $10 MILLION THAT COMMISSIONERS USED TO TALK ABOUT ONCE IN A WHILE? YES. YEAH.
WE'VE SEVERAL TIMES I WAS GOING TO SAY WE HAVEN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL, BUT THIRD TIME'S A CHARM.
COMMISSIONER HAMMER IS GOING TO WORK WITH HCB DISTRIBUTION CENTER TO SEE WHAT OPTIONS WE HAVE THERE,
[04:15:02]
AND THE CARSONS TO SEE WHAT OPTIONS WE HAVE ON THEIR PROPERTY.TO WORK OUT OUR FLOOD MITIGATION WITH WILLOW CREEK.
WHAM, BAM. DONE. GOOD JOB. OKAY, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME SO THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR OUR FOR THE GRANT.
OKAY. AND WE HAVE HALF HERE IF HE WANTS TO SPEAK.
AND AND THIS IS NOT TO SAY WE'VE DONE THIS WORK.
WE NEED TO MITIGATE THE PERFECT TO PREVENT THE, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THE WATER FROM GOING INTO THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING TOO, BECAUSE IT'S IN THE FLOODPLAIN NOW. OH, I WAS I CAUSED ALARMS WHEN I HEARD ABOUT WHERE IT WAS BEING BUILT AND EVERYBODY HAD A A FIT ABOUT IT.
JUDGE, DON'T STOP THIS PSB BUILDING. WE'RE GOING TO NEED BOATS TO GET INTO IT.
WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT IT. MIKE JONES REMEMBERS.
YEAH, WELL, HE'S DUCKING. THE PSB HAS BEEN ELEVATED.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THE GOVERNMENT CENTER THAT'S A LITTLE BIT LOWER. LOWER? YEAH, BUT IT'S A WHOLE AREA THAT IS OF CONCERN, AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO ADD MORE TO IT. I'M ACTUALLY HOPING SINCE WE'RE ON THIS LANE, I'M ACTUALLY HOPING ON THE CIP PROJECT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION WHERE WE COULD EVEN CONSIDER TAMMY, HERE'S ONE FOR YOU. EVACUATING THAT PSB, CREATING A DIFFERENT PSB SOMEWHERE CENTRAL, MORE ELEVATED, AND GIVING THAT TO AN EXTENSION CAPACITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT CENTER IN SOME KIND OF WAY.
THAT'S HOW MUCH I DON'T LIKE WHERE WE ARE. JUST SO YOU KNOW, AND IF WE HAD A TRAIN DERAILMENT RIGHT THERE AT WONDERWORLD WITH PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE TOXICITY AND THE EXPLOSIVENESS OF THE THINGS THAT ARE PASSING ON OUR RAIL.
OKAY. IF ONE DERAILMENT TOOK PLACE AT WONDERWORLD IN 35, WHICH IS THE RAIL.
I'LL JUST SAY A BLOCK IN FROM 35 GOING WEST. YOU WOULD TAKE OUT NOT ONLY SAN MARCOS EMERGENCY RESPONSE, BUT HAYS COUNTY'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE. THAT PROXIMITY IS ALSO NOT THE IDEAL FOR US.
SO FOR MORE THAN ONE REASON, I'D REALLY LOVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION OF, GIVEN THAT PSB TO THE COUNTY EXPANSION AND DOING SOMETHING ELSE WITH THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE. I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD OKAY, IF NOTHING ELSE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES, COMMISSIONER.
SMITH. YES, COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES, COMMISSIONER.
HAMMER. YES. JUDGE. BECERRA. YES. GO DESIGN SOMETHING.
ALL RIGHT. SO THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO I TWO.
[I.2. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a Professional Services Agreement between Hays County and Alfred Benesch & Company pursuant to RFQ 2025-Q01 Professional Services Pool for traffic modeling for the Old Kyle Road project. HAMMER/HUNT/MOCZYGEMBA]
I TWO DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND ALFRED BENESCH AND COMPANY PURSUANT TO RFQ 2025 Q01 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES POOL FOR TRAFFIC MODELING FOR THE OLD KYLE ROAD PROJECT.SECOND. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER. SO WHAT IF ANYONE KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT THE OLD KYLE ROAD PROJECT? IT'S OBVIOUSLY IT'S BEING FUNDED BY THE COUNTY, BUT IT IS IN THE CITY LIMITS OF WIMBERLEY.
CREATING A ONE WAY FROM A TWO WAY. IT HAS BEEN A HUGE POINT OF CONTENTION.
SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS HIRE SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND DO THE 3D VISUALIZATION OF THE TWO DIFFERENT WAYS THAT IT CAN BE DONE AND SHOW THE PUBLIC, HEY, THIS IS WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
I MEAN, SO THEY DON'T THINK EVERYTHING'S YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
SO THIS IS THE WIMBERLEY SPOT, RIGHT? CORRECT.
BOTH SAT IN WITH THE MAYOR. MAYOR PRO TEM AND MANAGERS.
AND WE'VE SEEN I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE. THE REASON YOU HAVE THIS HERE TODAY.
SO I APPLAUD IT. AND I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES, COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES. COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE.
YES. JUDGE BECERRA. YES. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I'M BEING ASKED FOR J2 TO OPEN J2 PLN 2352 PRE
[J2. PLN-2352-PRE; Discussion and possible action to consider granting a variance to Chapter 725§3.02 of the Hays County Development Regulations concerning the Sunfield BFR, Prelim. COHEN/PACHECO]
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CONSIDER GRANTING A VARIANCE TO CHAPTER 725, SECTION 3.02 OF THE HAYS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE SUN FILLED BFR PRELIM. SO MOVED SECOND. ALL RIGHT.WHAT ARE YOU DOING OVER THERE? THANK YOU. YES.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND KIND OF TEED UP FOR YOU. COURT.
SO THIS IS AN AGENDA ITEM THAT WAS TABLED BACK ON APRIL 22ND OF COMMISSIONERS COURT.
[04:20:03]
THE SUN FILLED BFR PROJECT. SO THE AGENDA ITEM BROUGHT TO YOU TODAY IS FOR A VARIANCE REQUEST FROM OUR CHAPTER SEVEN 2725 OF OUR STORMWATER AND DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS. IN THAT CHAPTER, JUST TO BE VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD, IT'S A IT'S A REQUIREMENT THAT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ANY INCREASE IN FLOW RATE RUNOFF.ESPECIALLY WHERE POST-DEVELOPMENT CONDITIONS ARE DO NOT EXCEED PRE-DEVELOPMENT CONDITIONS.
WITH THE SUN FILLED BFR PROJECT, THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THOSE CONDITIONS.
THERE WERE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REALIGNMENT OF FM 2001, AND BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE FOLKS HERE FROM KIMLEY-HORN, BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE ASPECTS THAT LEADS TO THE REQUEST TODAY OF THE EXISTING CONDITIONS THAT THAT REALIGNMENT PROJECT HAS CREATED, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT UNDUE HARDSHIP ON THE PROPERTY ITSELF TODAY.
SO I KIMLEY-HORN IS GOING TO COME UP AND SPEAK ON THE HISTORY ABOUT IT.
REGARDING THE DONATION OF THE AREA, THE RIGHT OF WAY FOR FM 2001, WHAT WAS DONE BY TXDOT WITH THAT CONSTRUCTION, WHICH HAS LED TO THE EVENTS THAT IS BROUGHT ON THE PROPERTY TODAY AND WHY THEY ARE SEEKING THE VARIANCE AND THEIR MITIGATIONS? IF THE VARIANCE REQUEST IS GRANTED TO THEM TODAY.
OKAY. WOULD YOU MIND COMING UP AND SPEAKING BRIEFLY? BRIEFLY. 30S. ALL RIGHT. YOU GOT IT. JUST KIDDING.
WE'VE MET WITH COMMISSIONER COHEN. WE'VE MET WITH STAFF A FEW TIMES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE ASKED TO DO WAS TO PUT TOGETHER A NARRATIVE OF THE PROJECT, KIND OF THE HISTORY WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THAT, BUT I'LL HIT THE HIGH POINTS. SO IN 2012, SUNFIELD DONATED THE RIGHT OF WAY FOR THE REALIGNMENT OF FM 2001. SO THAT WAS THERE WAS NO COMPENSATION FOR THAT.
IT WAS JUST A DONATION. THEY ALSO FUNDED THE ENGINEERING FOR THAT REALIGNMENT.
THEY WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THE ENGINEERING. THEY JUST FUNDED IT. SO, SO NO COST TO THE COUNTY TO TEX-DOT IN THAT WITH THAT REALIGNMENT, IT KIND OF SEGREGATED THIS TRACK THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DEVELOP NOW.
YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW. TEX-DOT IS NOT REQUIRED TO FOLLOW HAYS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.
CORRECT. AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY'RE DESIGNED TO NOT FOLLOW IT.
THEY DID NOT DESIGN FOR THE FULLY DEVELOPED 100 YEAR STORM, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT FOR HAYS COUNTY.
AND WHAT ESSENTIALLY HAPPENED IS WHEN THE ROAD WAS BUILT IN 2021, IT CREATED, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, A DAM. THAT RESTRICTED DRAINAGE FROM PASSING THROUGH THE SITE.
AND ESSENTIALLY MADE IT SOMEWHAT OF A DETENTION POND ON THE SITE.
SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO DO IS ADD A CULVERT TO THE EXISTING CULVERTS THAT TEX-DOT DESIGNED, WHICH WOULD ESSENTIALLY GET THE FLOW BACK TO WHAT IT WAS PRE 2021.
AND SO AS MARKUS DESCRIBED, THAT DOES RAISE THE THE FLOOD ELEVATION VERY SLIGHTLY.
WE'RE TALKING INCH AND A HALF, TWO INCHES UP FROM WHAT IT IS TODAY.
BUT IT IS STILL BELOW WHAT IT WAS PRIOR TO TEX-DOT BUILDING THE ROAD.
AND SO THAT'S THE REQUEST FOR THE VARIANCE IS TO ALLOW US TO ESSENTIALLY GET IT BACK TO WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD TEX-DOT FOLLOWED HAYS COUNTY DESIGN REGULATIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO I REMEMBER THIS, MR. PACHECO, WHAT'S YOUR TAKE? THANK YOU. JUDGE. SO AS ANY REQUEST THAT WE GET BROUGHT TO US, WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING OF THIS, OF THIS MAGNITUDE OR EVEN A SIMPLE, YOU KNOW WHAT WE SEE A LOT SIZE VARIANCE STAFF ALWAYS WILL DEFAULT TO, YOU KNOW, WE DO NOT SUPPORT OR RECOMMEND ANY VARIANCE BECAUSE WE'RE THE KEEPERS OF THE REGULATIONS.
IT'S OUR JOB AND OUR IMPETUS TO ALWAYS LOOK AT THE, THE THE UNDUE HARDSHIP FACTS AND FINDINGS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, REGULATIONS, THEY'RE BLACK AND WHITE. THEY DON'T SPEAK TO SPECIFIC SPECIFICITIES OF PROPERTY IN THE HISTORY, AS MR. WILLIAMS POINTED OUT, THAT HAS UNDERTAKEN WITH THEIR PROPERTY AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS SUCH AS THE REALIGNMENT, WHICH IS VITAL TO OUR TRANSPORTATION EFFORTS IN THE COUNTY.
AS MR. WILLIAMS POINTED OUT. AND AS I POINTED OUT, THERE IS AN INCREASE.
AND SO WITH ANY INCREASE, EVEN THE SMALLEST OF LIKELIHOODS, YOU KNOW, AN INCH TO TWO INCH,
[04:25:05]
WILL WE SEE AN IMPACT FROM THAT? POSSIBLY NOT.BUT WE CANNOT SAY FOR CERTAIN THAT THERE WON'T BE AN IMPACT.
SO MY MY THOUGHTS IS IT'S UP TO THE COURT TODAY, YOU KNOW, AFTER HEARING THE TESTIMONY FROM MR. WILLIAMS AND THEN KNOWING I WILL ALSO ADVOCATE THAT THIS IS A VARIANCE THAT IN MY HISTORY HERE IN THIS ROLE WE HAVE NOT GIVEN BECAUSE TYPICALLY I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK, YOU KNOW, SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO MEET THIS, BUT ALL DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERING, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO ENSURE TO MEET THE REGULATIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO DRAINAGE RATE AND RUNOFF. IT'S JUST THE PARTICULARS HERE OF HOW THINGS WERE DONE, YOU KNOW, THE TEXAN INVOLVEMENT. AND THEN NOW TRYING TO DEVELOP THE PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN MASTER PLAN FOR 20 YEARS NOW AT THIS AT THIS RATE IN TIME, WE'RE GIVEN THIS SITUATION. NOW, WE'RE EITHER WAY, IT WON'T MEET THE REGULATIONS.
SO, GRANTED, THIS VARIANCE, THE COUNTY WILL HAVE TO BE UNDERSTANDING AND CONSIDERING OF A DEVELOPER PUTTING ADDITIONAL CULVERT, ALSO DEDICATING DRAINAGE EASEMENT TO ENCOMPASS FUTURE DRAINAGE FLOWS.
BUT ALSO, WE WOULD HAVE TO BE CONSIDERATE THAT WE ARE TAKING, YOU KNOW, A RISK IN THE INCREASE OF THE RATE OF THE RATE, EVEN IF, EVEN IF IT MEETS THE PRE, THE 2021 RATE, AND THEY'RE WILLING TO DO THOSE THINGS YOU'VE MENTIONED.
YES. I MEAN YOU CAN SPEAK DIRECTLY FOR YOU. I CAN I CAN RESPOND JUST A LITTLE BIT TO THAT.
THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL LAND THAT WE WOULD BE DEDICATING DRAINAGE EASEMENT THE PROPERTY SURROUNDING IT, THE HOMES THAT ARE THERE WERE BUILT PRIOR TO 2001 OR NOT, THE YEAR 2001, BUT FM 2001.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE WE'RE DECREASING FLOW FROM WHAT IT WAS WHEN THOSE HOMES WERE BUILT.
AGAIN, WE'RE DESIGNING FOR FULLY DEVELOPED ALL DOWNSTREAM PROPERTY, FULLY DEVELOPED, WHICH IS NOT FULLY DEVELOPED TODAY, BUT WE WE STILL DESIGN FOR IT TO BE FULLY DEVELOPED.
BEAUTIFUL AND COMMISSIONER COHEN, YOU SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT? YES. I MEAN, WE TABLED IT BECAUSE I HAD A LOT OF CONCERNS.
AND SO WE'VE MET AND WE'VE KIND OF TALKED THROUGH THAT.
AND RIGHT NOW I FEEL COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE VARIANCE.
WELL, OKAY. I THINK WE'VE HEARD THE KEYS. THE KEYS ARE JINGLING.
IF NOTHING ELSE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER COHEN.
YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES, COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE.
YES, COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
YES. THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY. AND THANK YOU, MR. PACHECO. YES. OKAY. IF THERE'S NOT A PREFERENCE, I'M GOING TO START OPENING THE REST OF THE SLATE OF CONSENT.
[G. CONSENT ITEMS]
OKAY, LET'S DO THAT. G1 APPROVE PAYMENTS OF COUNTY INVOICES.G2 APPROVE THE PAYMENT OF JUROR DISBURSEMENTS.
G3 APPROVE THE PAYMENT OF UNITEDHEALTHCARE AND TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES HEALTH CARE CLAIMS, AND AUTHORIZE AN ADDITIONAL DISBURSEMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500,000 TO THE HEALTH CARE CLAIMS ACCOUNT.
G4 APPROVED THE PAYMENT OF THE JUNE 15TH, 2020 PAYROLL DISBURSEMENTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,500,000 EFFECTIVE JUNE 15TH, 2025, AND POST TOTALS OF WAGES, WITHHOLDINGS, DEDUCTIONS, AND BENEFITS ON THE HAYS COUNTY WEBSITE ONCE FINALIZED.
G5 ACCEPT THE DELIVERY OF THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
QUARTERLY INTERNAL EXAMINATION REPORTS G6. ACCEPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2024.
G7 ACCEPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2024. HAYS COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NUMBER SIX AUDIT REPORT PER TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE 775.082. G8 ACCEPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2023. HAYS COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN INTERNAL EXAMINATION REPORT PER TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE 775. 082E G9, EXCEPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2024.
HAYS COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NUMBER NINE AUDIT REPORT.
PER TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE 775.082. G10 ACCEPT DONATIONS TOTALING $3,700 ON BEHALF OF HAYS COUNTY CHILD PROTECTIVE BOARD AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.
G11 AMEND VARIOUS DEPARTMENTAL OPERATING SPECIAL REVENUE AND CAPITAL PROJECT BUDGETS.
G12 AUTHORIZE BUILDING MAINTENANCE TO REPLACE THE EXISTING MINI SPLIT SYSTEM LOCATED AT THE WIMBERLEY ROAD YARD WITH A NEW ONE TON MINI SPLIT SYSTEM IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,488.05 AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. G13 AUTHORIZE A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE TRANSFER OF $400 TO CONTINUING
[04:30:05]
EDUCATION FUNDS WITHIN THE RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT OPERATING BUDGET, AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.G14 AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A WORK ORDER WITH MYERS MAYA'S CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,132.40 FOR THE DEMOLITION AND INSTALLATION OF A NEW ADA COMPLIANT SIDEWALK AND RAMP IN FRONT OF THE ELECTION IT BUILDING, AS WELL AS $765.88 IN MATERIAL COSTS AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.
G15 AUTHORIZED THE EXECUTION OF A WORK ORDER WITH MEIER'S CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,132.40 FOR THE DEMOLITION AND INSTALLATION OF A NEW ADA COMPLIANT SIDEWALK AND RAMP AT THE THURMAN BUILDING, AS WELL AS $765.88 FOR MATERIALS AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. G16 AUTHORIZED THE MOVEMENT OF $2,000 FROM THE CONSTABLE PRECINCT FIVE BUDGET TO THE BUILDING MAINTENANCE BUDGET FOR UPGRADING THE EVIDENCE AND PROPERTY STORAGE CLOSET, AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. G17 AUTHORIZED PAYMENTS TO IPI AUTO SALON IN THE AMOUNT OF 787.
50 OR $7.50 FOR THE CONSTABLE PRECINCT FIVE RELATED TO VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, FOR WHICH NO PURCHASE ORDER WAS OBTAINED AS REQUIRED PER THE HAYS COUNTY PURCHASING POLICY. G18 AUTHORIZED THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO TRANSFER EXISTING FUNDS TO THE BUILDING MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT FOR REMODELING AND RENOVATION NEEDS WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.
G19 RATIFY THE ACCEPTANCE OF A $4,348 SUPPLEMENTAL AND EMERGENT FUND ALLOCATION TO THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT FROM THE TEXAS JUVENILE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.
G20 AUTHORIZE PAYMENT TO SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $540 FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT RELATED TO THE LEASE OF PORTABLE TOILETS, WHERE NO PURCHASE ORDER WAS OBTAINED AS REQUIRED PER THE HAYS COUNTY PURCHASING POLICY.
G21 APPROVED THE EXECUTION AND SENDING OF A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE SUBMISSION OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 2025 TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES GRANT APPLICATION BY THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS FOR THE CAPE STREET RECONSTRUCTION AND SHARED USE PATH PROJECT GRANT APPLICATION.
G22 APPROVED A $2,000 CONTRIBUTION AND DISBURSEMENT TO THE DUNBAR HERITAGE HERITAGE ASSOCIATION FOR THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION FIVE K EVENT TO BE HELD ON JUNE 19TH, 2025. G24 AUTHORIZED PAYMENTS TO RDO EQUIPMENT CO IN THE AMOUNT OF $612.46 FOR REPAIR PARTS WHERE NO PURCHASE ORDER WAS OBTAINED PER THE PURCHASING POLICY.
G25 AUTHORIZED THE EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR RFP 2021, P01 ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES WITH OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY WITH PROPOSED PRICE CHANGES. G26 AUTHORIZED PAYMENT TO VANGUARD TRUCK CENTERS FOR TWO INVOICES TOTALING $719.52 FOR REPAIR PARTS WHERE NO PURCHASE ORDER WAS OBTAINED, PER THE HAYS COUNTY PURCHASING POLICY.
G27 AUTHORIZED PAYMENT TO CARD SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $586 RELATED TO STATE BAR DUES FOR TWO OF THE DISTRICT JUDGES, WHERE NO PURCHASE ORDER WAS OBTAINED, PER THE HAYS COUNTY PURCHASING POLICY.
G28 AUTHORIZED PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,712 TO CARD SERVICE CENTER RELATED TO THE ANNUAL RENEWAL OF QUICKBOOKS ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE UTILIZED BY THE TAX OFFICE, WHERE NO PURCHASE ORDER WAS OBTAINED PER THE HAYS COUNTY PURCHASING POLICY.
G29 AUTHORIZED THE CONSTABLE PRECINCT FOUR OFFICE TO PURCHASE TWO EXTERNAL ARMORED CARRIER VESTS AND PAY $1,242 TO RICHARD COWELL TACTICAL, WHERE NO PURCHASE ORDER WAS OBTAINED AS REQUIRED PER THE HAYS COUNTY PURCHASING POLICY.
G30 APPROVED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO UTILIZE COUNTY FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE 2025 PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK SYMPOSIUM, TOTALING THE AMOUNT OF $2,050 AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.
G 31 AUTHORIZED PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,181 TO THE TEXAS CONFERENCE OF URBAN COUNTIES RELATED TO HAYS COUNTY, FISCAL YEAR 2025 MEMBERSHIP DUES WHERE NO PURCHASE ORDER WAS OBTAINED PER THE HAYS COUNTY PURCHASING POLICY.
G 32 APPROVED RENEWAL OF RFP 2024, P08 GENERATOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES COUNTYWIDE WITH CONTEC, INC. FOR ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR. G 33 AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF THE GOVERNMENTAL 457 B PLAN ADOPTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND CORBRIDGE FINANCIAL G. 34 AUTHORIZE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO PURCHASE K9 TRAINING EQUIPMENT FROM TOP NOTCH K9 TRAINING EQUIPMENT VALUED AT $1,850, AND AUTHORIZE A WAIVER TO THE PURCHASING POLICY OF OBTAINING THREE COATS QUOTES AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.
[04:35:04]
G 35 APPROVE OUT-OF-STATE STATE TRAVEL FOR THREE SHERIFF'S OFFICE EMPLOYEES TO ATTEND THE RESPONSE TO BOMBING INCIDENTS COURSE BEGINNING AUGUST 26TH THROUGH 28TH, 2025, IN SOCORRO, NEW MEXICO. G 36 APPROVED OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL FOR DEPUTY MARK ANDREWS TO ATTEND THE NORTHWEST ALCOHOL CONFERENCE IN BOISE, IDAHO, ON JULY 13TH THROUGH JULY 15TH, 2025.G 37 AUTHORIZED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO ACCEPT INSURANCE PROCEEDS FROM USAA TOTALING $4,996.95, AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. G 38 AUTHORIZED AN AMENDMENT IN THE GELS OPERATING BUDGET OF $34,965, FROM CAPITAL EQUIPMENT TO OPERATING EXPENSES, G 39 AUTHORIZED THE ACCEPTANCE OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE FY 25 OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM, ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM GRANT AWARD AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.
G 40 AUTHORIZED THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE FY 26 TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $489,361.87. G41 APPROVED ALL 2025 EVENTS HOSTED BY THE SAN MARCOS MAIN STREET PROGRAM THAT MAY INCLUDE COMMERCIAL VENDORS. G42 APPROVED UTILITY PERMITS AND G43 AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT ARPA FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND FOUR OVER 15 PROJECT REGARDING RECOVERY ASSISTANCE FOR DIRECT OR INDIRECT IMPACTS OF COVID 19.
SO MOVED. SECOND. BEAUTIFUL. PERFECT. WELL DONE.
ROXANNE. HOME RUN. ANYTHING. COMMISSIONERS. JUST JUDGE.
THANK YOU. TO THE CITY OF BUDA, KATIE. FENCING, COASTAL AGRICULTURAL SUPPLIES AND SARA SIMMONS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HAYS COUNTY CHILD PROTECTIVE BOARD.
BEAUTIFUL. WELL DONE. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. I'M SORRY.
JUDGE. YES, MA'AM. TAMMY CRUMLEY, DIRECTOR OF COUNTYWIDE OPERATIONS.
A NUMBER 13 AND 14. THOSE AMOUNTS NEED TO BE AMENDED TO $8,832.40 FOR BOTH ITEMS. THERE WAS AN ERROR ON THE QUOTE OF $300 EACH.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER. HAMER. YES. COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE.
YES. COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
YES. JUDGE. BECERRA. YES. SO LET'S FINISH THE REST OF J.
J. ONE I'M SORRY. LET ME. THAT WAS 14 AND 15, NOT 13 AND 14.
OKAY. SO WHAT WHAT ARE WE OPENING? NO, WE HAD TO MAKE CORRECTIONS TO 14 AND 15.
[J.1. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a Development Agreement between Hays County, Hays Consolidated Independent School District (HCISD), and Lennar Homes Of Texas Land And Construction, LTD fora portion of the Waterstone Subdivision. INGALSBE/PACHECO]
HAYS CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LENNAR HOMES OF TEXAS.LAND AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITED FOR A PORTION OF THE WATERSTONE SUBDIVISION.
SECOND, MR. PACHECO. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU.
THIS IS A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 1665 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS THREE COMMERCIAL AND MULTIFAMILY LOTS AND ONE LOT THAT WILL BE DESIGNATED AS A PROPOSED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT SITE.
IN TOTALITY, THE PROPERTY IS APPROXIMATELY 337 ACRES IN SIZE.
THE AGREEMENT THE DEVELOPER IS SEEKING TO ENTER INTO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY, HAYS CONSOLIDATED CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LENNAR HOMES ULTIMATELY COURT.
IF ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS OVER THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE FOR A PERIOD OF TEN YEARS AND WILL ACCOMMODATE NINE PHASES FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER, THAT SOUNDS AMAZING.
YEAH, IT'S A LARGE SUBDIVISION. AND JUDGE, ALSO YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE DEVELOPERS WORKING WITH US FOR THE HAYS CISD SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SET ASIDE A SITE FOR A FUTURE SCHOOL.
THAT'S AWESOME. THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD PLUS. COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IS THIS ROBERT'S? NO, NO. OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT?
[04:40:02]
JASON, ROBERT'S WITH HIS ISD. NO, THIS IS NOT.OKAY, OKAY. I WAS LIKE, DID HE MOVE? NO. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? ALL GOOD. OKAY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES. COMMISSIONER SMITH.
YES. COMMISSIONER COHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER HAMMER.
YES. JUDGE BECERRA. YES. JAY. THREE, PLEASE. JAY.
THREE. 2745. PC CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON JUNE 24TH, 2025 REGARDING PIONEER RANCHES, SECTION ONE,
[J.3. PLN-2745-PC; Call for a Public Hearing on June 24, 2025, regarding Pioneer Ranches, Section 1, Lot 26A Replat. HAMMER/PACHECO]
LOT 26, A REPLAT. SECOND, MR. PACHECO. YES, JUDGE.THIS IS JUST FOR CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON JUNE 24TH.
SO NO ACTION REQUIRED TODAY JUST TO CALL FOR THE HEARING.
BUT THERE'S NOTHING ELSE BEHIND IT LIKE REASON FOR IT. WE'RE GOOD. NOPE.
WE'RE GOOD. JUST STATUTORY REQUIREMENT. YOU GOT IT.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES.
COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES. JUDGE. BECERRA.
YES. NUMBER 4J42749 PC CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON JUNE 24TH, 2025 FOR
[J.4. PLN-2749-PC; Call for a Public Hearing on June 24, 2025, for Indian Hills Ranch, Lot 1, Replat. COHEN/SMITH/PACHECO]
INDIAN HILLS RANCH, LOT ONE REPLAT J FIVE PL 2746 PC.[J.5. PLN-2746-PC; Call for a Public Hearing on July 8, 2025, regarding Cliffs at Onion Creek, Lot 1A and Lot 1B Cancellation. HAMMER/PACHECO]
SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. CALL THE ROLL, COMMISSIONER COHEN.YES. COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES.
COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES. JUDGE BECERRA. YES. AND J6J6 PLN 2433 PC.
[J.6. PLN-2433-PC; Ratify approval of the Castro's Addition, Lot 1, Replat. INGALSBE/PACHECO]
RATIFY APPROVAL OF THE CASTROS ADDITION. LOT ONE REPLAT.SO MOVED. SECOND. ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD, MR. PACHECO? NO, JUDGE. THIS IS JUST TO RATIFY THE APPROVAL OF THAT CASTRO'S ADDITION.
LOT ONE REPLIED VERY GOOD. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER HAMMER. YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.
YES. COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
[K.1. Discussion and possible action authorizing the execution of a Grants Software Agreement with Carahsoft Technology Corp for eCivis software in the amount of $9,601.00 and amend the budget accordingly. HAMMER/T.CRUMLEY]
TECHNOLOGY CORP. FOR CIVICORP SOFTWARE IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,601, AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT? SAY ANYTHING. YEAH. SORRY. TAMMY CRUMLEY, DIRECTOR OF COUNTYWIDE OPERATIONS.
WE'VE DEMOED THIS SOFTWARE TWO, THREE TIMES NOW.
WE ALSO DEMOED IT WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THE BUDGET OFFICE.
WE FEEL IT'S AN EXCELLENT SOFTWARE THAT WILL HELP US STREAMLINE OUR GRANT PROCESS.
EVERYBODY HAS LIKE HANDS ON. IT'S A LIVE PROCESS.
THAT SOUNDS BEAUTIFUL. THAT IS VERY FORWARD THINKING.
MISS CRUMLEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LEADING THAT CONVERSATION.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES, COMMISSIONER.
SMITH. YES, COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES, COMMISSIONER.
HAMMER. YES. JUDGE. BECERRA. YES, PLEASE. LET'S SEE HERE.
I BELIEVE THAT'S BEEN DONE FOR. WHAT DID YOU SAY? TWO AND THREE HAVE BEEN READ. OH THEY HAVE. I SHOULD JUST DO THIS.
OKAY, FINE. LOOK, HERE WE GO. PUT THEM ON. YES IT HAS.
[K.4. Discussion and possible action to approve the Assessment and Collection Agreement with Buda MUD #2 (City ofBuda). COHEN/ESCOBAR]
MUD NUMBER TWO, CITY OF BUDA. SO MOVED. SECOND.ALL RIGHT. PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES, COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES, COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE.
YES. JUDGE. BECERRA. YES. K FIVE, PLEASE. K K5.
[K.5. Discussion and possible action to accept a Proposal from Water & Earth Technologies (WET) related to the replacement of the Pressure Transducer located at Woodacre; authorize a discretionary exemption pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Ch. 262.024 (a)(7)(D), and amend the budget accordingly. HAMMER/M.JONES]
AUTHORIZE A DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER TWO, 62.02 FOR A7D AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.SECOND, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER COHEN.
YES. COMMISSIONER. HAMER. COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE.
YES. COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES. JUDGE BECERRA. YES.
WE ARE SKIPPING. SIX. PLEASE OPEN SEVEN K. SEVEN.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING AN UPDATE ON THE COUNTY'S PURCHASING POLICY REVISIONS.
[K.7. Discussion and possible action regarding an update on the county purchasing policy revisions. BECERRA]
SO MOVED. SECOND. SO THIS WAS TO HELP US. I GET A LOT OF CALLS.I JUST BEING HONEST. IT'S NOT A JAB ON ANYONE, BUT I GET A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT.
HEY, WHERE ARE WE? HEY, WHAT ARE WE DOING? AND THAT'S WHEN I SAY, BECAUSE I HAVE ENOUGH THINGS THAT I TOUCH. I'M LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, LET'S FIND OUT. AND SO I GAVE OUR PURCHASING DIRECTOR A HEADS UP AND TOLD HER THAT WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR AN UPDATE SO THAT WHEN YOU GIVE IT HERE, EVERYONE HEARS IT. AND I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT HEAD CONVERSATIONS AND REPEAT MODE.
SO WILL YOU TELL US WHERE WE'RE AT AND HOW WE CAN BRING RESOLUTION TO IT? SO WE WERE WAITING ON A OH, SORRY. STEPHANIE HUNT, PURCHASING AGENT.
[04:45:05]
SORRY, BUT IT'S REAL. SO WE WERE ACTUALLY WAITING ON SENATE BILL NUMBER 11, 1173 TO SEE IF IT WAS GOING TO PASS BECAUSE IT INCREASES OUR LIMIT FOR THE FORMAL BIDDING PROCESS.SO WE GOT WORD LAST WEEK THAT IT ACTUALLY DID PASS.
AND SO OUR UPDATED LIMIT FOR FORMAL PROCUREMENTS WILL GO FROM 50,000 TO 100,000.
IT DOES NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1ST.
SO I WORKED THIS PAST WEEK TO UPDATE THE POLICY TO REFLECT THAT UPDATE.
I HAVE THE LAST THING THAT I NEED TO DO IS GO THROUGH.
IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A BRAND NEW POLICY. BUT IN ORDER TO GIVE YOU GUYS MORE OF A SNAPSHOT OF LIKE WHAT'S BEING ADDED, WHAT'S BEING REMOVED, WHAT WAS REQUESTED VERSUS WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION IS.
WITH THE OLD POLICY AND THEN THE NEW, BECAUSE IT WENT FROM LIKE 20 SOME PAGES TO 60 PLUS PAGES.
SO IT'S A LOT. BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS WAS THAT IT WAS CONFUSING TO EVERYBODY.
I WILL TELL ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS EXCEPTIONS IN THE POLICY.
AND SO I TRY TO TELL THEM, WORRY ABOUT YOUR DEPARTMENT AND YOUR EXCEPTIONS AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT OTHER DEPARTMENTS EXCEPTIONS, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THOSE.
GOOD POINT. FORGET THE WHAT ABOUT ISMS, RIGHT.
SO I WOULD LIKE FOR SEPTEMBER 1ST. CORRECT. AND SO MY GOAL IS TO GET THIS TO YOU GUYS BEFORE THE END OF JUNE, GIVE YOU GUYS THE MONTH OF JULY TO REVIEW SCHEDULE MEETINGS WITH YOU GUYS.
THIS IS MY RECOMMENDATION. AND THEN YOU GUYS APPROVE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO MOVE IT UP TO 100,000 IF Y'ALL DON'T WANT TO.
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP IT AT 50, WE CAN DO THAT.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS ALL THE INFORMATION.
AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF OCTOBER OR AUGUST, WORK IN ANY EDITS WHATNOT, FINALIZE IT AND THEN BRING IT TO COURT BEFORE THE END OF AUGUST. SO IT GOES EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST. PERFECT.
AND THIS IS A REALLY GOOD JOB YOU'VE DONE ON THE CALLS THAT I'VE BEEN ON.
BEING ON THIS COMMITTEE, TASK FORCE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE CALLED.
I HAD TRANSPORTATION ON THERE. I HAD COUNTYWIDE OPERATIONS ON THERE.
I HAD A LOT OF BIG DEPARTMENTS, DEPARTMENT ON THERE.
IT. YES. AND THERE WAS A UNIFIED REQUEST, FOR EXAMPLE, TO, LET'S SAY, BRING A CREDIT PURCHASE FOR FROM 500 TO 2500, FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WERE DISCUSSED IN THOSE MEETINGS I WAS IN WILL BE BROUGHT TO COURT.
RIGHT? YES, THOSE WILL BE IN THE POLICY. RECOMMENDATION.
YES. AS KIND OF WHAT I WILL PRESENT TO YOU GUYS WILL BE WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE POLICY.
LIKE THAT IS MY ROLE AS THE PURCHASING AGENT TO PRESENT TO YOU GUYS.
I MAY NOT AGREE WITH SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS HAD, JUST BECAUSE I HAVE A MORE OVERVIEWING PURVIEW OF ALL THE STATUTES AND GUIDELINES THAT WE HAVE TO OPERATE WITHIN, AND I CAN'T MAKE THIS POLICY SPECIFIC TO A DEPARTMENT.
IT HAS TO BE COUNTY WIDE. AND SO SOME OF THOSE SUGGESTIONS MAY JUST NOT.
IT MAY WORK FOR THAT PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT, BUT IT MAY NOT WORK FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS.
SO I HAVE TO KIND OF DO THAT. SO THIS WILL BE WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION IS.
I AM ON THAT KIND OF CHEAT SHEET THAT I WILL GIVE YOU GUYS WILL HAVE.
OKAY. THIS WAS WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED. BUT THIS IS WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS.
AND THAT'S. I'M SO GLAD YOU GAVE THE FINAL GRANULATED RESPONSE THAT I WAS ACTUALLY LEANING TOWARDS, BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO I'M NOT I'M NOT SAYING YOU ARE, BUT I'M NOT A MICROMANAGER.
AND I WANT TO GIVE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS THE LATITUDE TO RUN THEIR DEPARTMENTS WITHOUT HAVING TO BOG YOU DOWN, BOG THE AUDITORS DOWN WITHIN LEGAL PARAMETERS.
TO THE EXAMPLE THAT COMES TO MIND IS THE ONE AARON GAVE TO BUY A TIRE, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, YOU'RE GOING TO BURN THE $500 LIMIT WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE.
AND I JUST I GREW UP WATCHING THEM. IT'S NO SNUB ON ANYBODY.
BUT WE'RE NO LONGER THE DUKES OF HAZZARD. YEAH.
RIGHT. OF HAZZARD COUNTY, ONE HORSE TOWN WITH THE GENERAL LEE.
I LOVE THAT SHOW. IT WAS GREAT, BUT WE'RE NO LONGER THAT TINY LITTLE COUNTY.
[04:50:03]
AND SO THE IDEA THAT WE NEED TO BRING OUR CAPACITY TO BUY FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS HIRE MAKES SENSE.AND SO I'M GLAD YOU SAID TO HAVE IT. HERE'S WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED.
BUT HERE'S WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IN ANOTHER INSTANCE.
RIGHT. AND TO THE LEGAL REASON AS TO WHY I THINK, ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS SO TEDIOUS ON YOUR PART, I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU'LL PROVIDE IT BECAUSE WE AS A COURT NEED TO HEAR WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.
BECAUSE I KNOW IN MY HEART, AND WITH COMMISSIONER COHEN'S PURCHASING EXPERIENCE.
IT IS. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE WHY BUT THE HOW.
ALSO HOW CAN WE SUPPORT ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS IN THE COUNTY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE MOST EFFICIENT FORM OF GOVERNMENT? SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE UPDATE.
WELL, THERE'S OTHER THINGS TOO, LIKE OTHER AVENUES.
AND JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, LIKE I LITERALLY EMAILED THE TRANSPORTATION, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM AS FAR AS LIKE A LOT OF THE VEHICLE REPAIR PLACES THAT THEY GET PARKS FROM OR PARTS FROM ALL BUT ONE OF THE VENDORS WAS ON BY BOARD.
AND SO JUST WORKING KIND OF WITH THE DEPARTMENTS MORE ON A ONE ON ONE BASIS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR HANGUP IS, WHAT THEIR HEARTBURN IS, AND FIGURING OUT OTHER AVENUES TO GET THEM TO WHERE THEY CAN EFFECTIVELY RUN THEIR DEPARTMENTS AND DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
ABSOLUTELY. GOOD JOB. GOOD JOB FOR THAT. COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR HER ON UPDATING THIS POLICY FOR US? REALLY, REALLY GOOD. RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS. GOOD STUFF.
[K.8. Discussion and possible action to authorize the County Administrator's Office to hire an Executive Assistant, grade 119, effective July 1, 2025, and amend the budget accordingly. COHEN/GRANJENO]
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE TO HIRE AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT.GRADE 119, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2025, AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.
SO MOVED. SECOND. VERY PERFECT. ERIC, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING? IT'S WELL WRITTEN. IT DOESN'T NEED ANY MORE. OKAY.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES, COMMISSIONER.
SMITH. YES, COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES, COMMISSIONER.
[K.9. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a contract amendment between Hays County and Freese & Nichols, Inc. related to the Stormwater Management Program, extending the contract duratton. HAMMER/MOCZYGEMBA]
INC. RELATED TO THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, EXTENDING THE CONTRACT DURATION.SO MOVE SECOND CONTRACT DURATION, JUST EXTENDING THE CONTRACT FOR IT.
JENNIFER, DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ON IT? JENNIFER MR., DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION.
SORRY, I GOT US ALL DOING IT. IT WAS GOOD. IT WAS GOOD.
YEAH. JUST JUST TO CLARIFY ON THIS ONE, IT IS JUST A TIME EXTENSION.
BUT WE HAVE YET TO ACTUALLY GET OUR APPROVAL FROM TC ON THE NOI.
SO THEY'VE GOT 90 DAYS FROM THAT POINT TO DO TO FINISH UP THAT REPORT.
WE DO HAVE THEY DID SUBMIT THE DRAFT REPORT. SO WE DO HAVE THAT AND WE'RE REVIEWING IT.
AND IT'S NOT A MONETARY SHIFT, JUST A TIME SHIFT.
CORRECT. BEAUTIFUL. AND THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER SMITH.
YES, COMMISSIONER COHEN. YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER.
YES, COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
[K.10. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a three-year contract in the amount of $1,118.20 monthly with Thompson Reuters West Proflex for legal research in the Hays County Court at Law Office.]
MONTHLY WITH THOMPSON, REUTERS WEST PROFLEX FOR LEGAL RESEARCH IN THE HAYS COUNTY COURT AT LAW OFFICE.SECOND, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER COHEN.
YES. COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE. YES.
COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES. JUDGE. BECERRA. YES.
[K.11. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of Amendment 2 to the Traffic Signal Maintenance COHEN/SMITH/MOCZYGEMBA/HUNT ]
LLC, HAYS COUNTY, WITH PROPOSED PRICE INCREASES.SO MOVED. SECOND. IT'S JUST THAT. RIGHT? JUST THE INCREASES STANDARD.
OKAY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER. HAMMER.
YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES. COMMISSIONER SMITH.
YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
YES. SORRY. I JUST DIDN'T HEAR YOU MAKE THE SECOND, SO I JUMPED IN THERE.
SORRY. WE PULLED 12. PLEASE OPEN 13 K 13. K13.
[K.13. Discussion and possible action to direct the Hays County Budget Officer to include funding in the proposed FY2026 Budget for the establishment of a stand-alone Hays County Parks and Natural Resources Department, which will include but is not limited to additional personnel and equipment. SMITH/HAMMER/GRANJENO]
COUNTY PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, WHICH WILL INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT. SO MOVED.SECOND. WONDERFUL. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.
YES. OH, YES. COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES. COMMISSIONER COHEN.
YES. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
BEFORE I ANSWER, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS, AND IT'S A BIG DEAL,
[04:55:06]
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT. AND WE'RE GOING TO SAY YES.OKAY. 14. I'M SORRY. SORRY. IF WE CAN JUDGE, I THINK THERE WAS A DESIRE TO WAIT ON K14 AND K15 UNTIL AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION. DON'T LET ME MISSPEAK, IF THAT'S OKAY.
14 K 15. I WILL HOLD AND JUDGE K K 16 IS PULLED.
OKAY. THANK YOU. SO K14 AND K 15 WE'RE GOING TO HOLD OKAY.
MAKE THAT NOTE. AND THEN K 16. YES I HAVE IT MARKED AS WE'RE GOING TO PULL IT.
SO IN THAT REGARD THEN I WILL SAY BEFORE WE DO THE RHODES PART LET'S JUST CLEAR THIS ONE OUT OF THE WAY M ONE OR EYES. WE'RE GOING TO GO M1. AND THEN EYES. YES M1 EYES.
[M.1. Discussion related to the Hays County inmate population, to include current population counts and costs. BECERRA]
DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE HAYS COUNTY INMATE POPULATION TO INCLUDE CURRENT POPULATION COUNTS AND COSTS.SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY EYES, BUT THERE I'M NEEDING GLASSES TODAY MORE THAN USUAL.
THE JAIL'S DAILY AVERAGE WAS, HOWEVER, 530, WITH PEAK AT 537 ON JUNE 5TH.
THE ESTIMATED COST FOR OUTSOURCING INMATES THIS WEEK IS $132,145.
THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF OUTSOURCED MALES IS 200 AND FEMALES ARE ZERO.
THEY ARE ALL HOUSED IN HASKELL COUNTY. WE HAVE 31 PAPER READY INMATES, WHICH ARE THOSE THAT HAVE HAD THEIR DAY IN COURT AND ARE NOW STATE INMATES, NOT COUNTY INMATES. THE LAST SECTION BEFORE EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE ROADS I.
[I.1. Hold a public hearing with possible action to consider the implementation of a 'No Left Turn' restriction for the Valor Kyle driveway onto Windy Hill Road. COHEN/INGALSBE/MOCZYGEMBA]
ONE IS WHERE WE WILL START. I ONE HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING WITH POSSIBLE ACTION TO CONSIDER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NO LEFT TURN RESTRICTION FOR THE VALOR KYLE DRIVEWAY ONTO WINDY HILL ROAD.I AM HOPING THIS AGENDA ITEM FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS AGENDA ITEM, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
NO MOVEMENT. I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. JUDGE, THIS IS RELATED TO TRAFFIC SAFETY CONCERNS.
AND SO WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A NO LEFT TURN LANE RESTRICTION.
SO MOVED. AND I SECOND PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER COHEN.
YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES, COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE.
YES. COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES. JUDGE. BECERRA.
[I.3. Discussion and possible action to enter into a Professional Services Agreement between Hays County and Cobb and Fendley & Associates, Inc., to provide design and utility coordination on the Fitzhugh Road project in Precinct 4 as part of the 2024 Road Bond and approve Work Authorization No.1, project expenditures of which should be reimbursed from future tax-exempt obligations utilizing the reimbursement resolution approved by the Commissioners Court on December 3, 2024. SMITH/MOCZYGEMBA]
INC. TO PROVIDE DESIGN AND UTILITY COORDINATION ON THE FITZHUGH ROAD PROJECT IN PRECINCT FOUR AS PART OF THE 2024 ROAD BOND AND IMPROVE WORK AUTHORIZATION NUMBER ONE, PROJECT EXPENDITURES OF WHICH SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FROM FUTURE TAX EXEMPT OBLIGATIONS.UTILIZING THE REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ON DECEMBER 3RD, 2024. SO MOVED. SECOND. SO COMMISSIONER. SURE.
YEAH. MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THIS. AND IF JENNIFER, CHIME IN WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING A CORRIDOR STUDY ON PIT ROAD FOR TWO YEARS NOW.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IF CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IF WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AT THIS POINT, IT WILL END UP COSTING US SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY IN THE FUTURE.
IS THAT A FAIR WAY TO PUT IT? JENNIFER. YES, JENNIFER.
MICHIGAN DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION. YES. SO THE TEX-DOT IS DOING THE CORRIDOR ALONG RANCH.
THEY'RE CURRENTLY DOING A CORRIDOR STUDY FROM FROM WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? FROM 150 SOUTH OF DRIPPING SPRINGS ALL THE WAY UP TO HAMILTON POOL ROAD.
A FULL CORRIDOR STUDY AT 12 AT THIS POINT. YEAH.
AND SO THEY WILL HAVE DESIGN OF THIS SECTION OF ROADWAY READY FOR LETTING IN APRIL OF 26.
SO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS TO GET THE FITZHUGH 12 INTERSECTION PLANS READY TO GO, SO THEY CAN BE INCLUDED EITHER IN THE TXDOT PLANS OR AS A CHANGE ORDER TO THE TEX DOT PLAN.
THAT'S GOOD. AND THE UTILITY COORDINATION PART THAT'S TIED TO WHICH UTILITIES.
[05:00:07]
I THINK THERE'S ELECTRIC, BUT I'M NOT I'M NOT POSITIVE.I THINK EVERYTHING THERE IS ON IT'S ALL ON. IT'S ON WELLS AND SEPTIC, SO.
OKAY, GOOD. THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. WE'RE DODGING BULLETS HERE.
THAT'S VERY GOOD, BECAUSE I WAS I WAS TOLD THAT SOMETHING ELSE COULD BE GOING ON, AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, I GOTTA ASK IF I DON'T HAVE TO. I'D RATHER NOT.
OKAY. GOOD TO KNOW. ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? NO, I WOULD SAY I DO KNOW, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THE PIPE THAT THERE'S A GAS LINE THAT MIGHT BE GOING IN THERE, BUT THAT MIGHT BE THE ONLY THING I'VE SEEN.
THEY HAVE IT LAID OUT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD GOING UP 12.
OKAY. BUT THAT IS PART OF THE SCOPE OF WORK IS FOR THEM TO DO ALL THE UTILITIES, UTILITY LEVEL D AND C, WHICH IS VISUAL. THAT WAS A CONVERSATION IN THE MEETING YOU AND I WERE AT IN DRIPPING SPRINGS YESTERDAY WHERE SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT IN THIS THERE COULD BE SOME WATER LINE MOVEMENT, DIALOG COORDINATION, AND THAT I SHOULD BE CAREFUL BECAUSE WALT SMITH SERVES ON THE PUA, AND THAT HE COULD BE TRYING TO USE COUNTY DOLLARS TO BENEFIT THE PUA AND TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. SO I WAS GOING TO ASK, BUT I WOULD JUST SAY, ANY TIME THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE WATER LINES THAT ARE IN OUR RIGHT OF WAY, IT'S VERY CLEAR ON WHO HAS TO PAY FOR THAT.
IF WE IF THEY ARE IN OUR RIGHT OF WAY AND WE BUILD A ROADWAY, THE UTILITY HAS TO MOVE IT.
IT'S VERY CLEAR UNDER STATUTE. RIGHT. BUT MY POINT IS, THEY WERE TELLING ME THAT WHEN YOU SAID THERE'S NO WATERLINE, I WAS LIKE, PERFECT, I'M GOOD. BUT I WAS JUST TELLING YOU WHAT WAS SHARED WITH ME. BUT IT'S ALL GOOD. AWESOME.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER HAMER. YES.
COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES. COMMISSIONER. SMITH.
YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES. JUDGE. BECERRA.
[I.4. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a Resolution and submission of a detailed grant application to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA) Program for the Hays County Sawyer Ranch Road Shared Use Path Extension. SMITH/MOCZYGEMBA]
OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES SET ASIDE PROGRAM FOR THE HAYS COUNTY SAWYER RANCH ROAD SHARED USE PATH EXTENSION.SO MOVED. SECOND. ANYTHING ELSE? COMMISSIONER? NO, THIS IS A I WOULD JUST ADD, THIS IS ONE OF OUR BOND PROJECTS AND CONSTRUCTION.
FULL CONSTRUCTION WAS INCLUDED IN THE BOND, BUT THIS CONNECTS THE END OF THE SHARED USE PATH ON SAWYER RANCH ROAD TO THE NEW SCHOOL CAMPUS AT THE END OF SAWYER RANCH ROAD AT DARDEN HILL, WHERE THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE LOCATED IN CYPRESS SPRINGS ELEMENTARY IS CURRENTLY LOCATED.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES.
COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
[I.5. Discussion and possible action to call for a public hearing on June 24, 2025 to establish a continuous "No Thru Truck Traffic" zone along Purgatory Road with signage posted from the Hays/Comal County line to RM 32 HAMMER/MOCZYGEMBA]
24TH, 2025 TO ESTABLISH A CONTINUOUS NO THROUGH TRUCK TRAFFIC ZONE ALONG PURGATORY ROAD WITH SIGNAGE POSTED FROM THE HAYS COMAL COUNTY LINE TO RM 32. SO MOVED SO THE COUNTY LINE ON 32? NO. THROUGH TRAFFIC? YES, BECAUSE COMAL HAS IT ON THEIR SIDE.NO. THROUGH IT'S ON PURGATORY ROAD. YEAH OKAY OKAY OKAY.
BECAUSE I'M LIKE HOW DO YOU SAY THAT ON 32? I WAS LIKE, SOMETHING'S WRONG HERE.
OKAY, OKAY OKAY. GOT IT. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES, COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES, COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE.
YES. JUDGE. BECERRA. YES. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, ALL WE HAVE LEFT ARE EXEC SIX SIX.
WHY DO YOU KEEP ADDING THINGS? I SIX IT'S MEAL TIME.
[I.6. Discussion and possible action to consider the acceptance of road construction & surface drainage improvements, release of the performance bond #K41798208 in the amount of $1,062,578.49, and acceptance of the 2-year maintenance bond #446306J in the amount of $72,690.60 for Trails at Windy Hill subdivision, Phase 9. INGALSBE/MOCZYGEMBA]
I SIX. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CONSIDER THE ACCEPTANCE OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND SURFACE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.RELEASE OF THE PERFORMANCE BOND NUMBER K41798208, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,062,578.49.
AN ACCEPTANCE OF THE TWO YEAR MAINTENANCE BOND NUMBER 446306.
J IN THE AMOUNT OF $72,690.60 FOR TRAILS AT WINDY HILL SUBDIVISION PHASE NINE.
BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER COHEN.
YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES, COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE. YES, COMMISSIONER SMITH.
JUDGE VISTA. YES, EXEC. JORDAN. WHAT WILL WE OPEN?
[L. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS]
OKAY. PLEASE OPEN THEM ALL. L1 EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FIVE, FIVE, 1.071 AND 551.072 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL AND DELIBERATION REGARDING THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE AND OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOLLOWING PARKS AND OPEN SPACE BOND PROJECTS BEING CONSIDERED BY HAYS COUNTY SENTINEL PEAK AND[05:05:10]
INDIGENOUS CULTURES INSTITUTE. POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT.POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT.
CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL AND DELIBERATION REGARDING THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE AND OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT OR NEAR DUTTON DRIVE IN PRECINCT ONE, THURMAN DRIVE IN PRECINCT ONE AND STAGECOACH TRAIL IN PRECINCT ONE.
POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT L4.
EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FIVE, FIVE AND 551.072 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL AND DELIBERATION REGARDING THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE AND OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT OR NEAR ROGER HINCKS PARKWAY AND PRECINCT FOUR.
POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT.
L5 EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FIVE, FIVE, 1.071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL REGARDING PENDING AND OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION INVOLVING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO IN REGARDS TO HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS. CAUSE NUMBER D ONE JN 25002049 PENDING IN THE 126TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT IN TRAVIS COUNTY. POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT L6 EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FIVE, FIVE, 1.071 AND 551.074 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT.
CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL AND DELIBERATION REGARDING THE EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF THE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR.
POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT.
WE ARE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MY FRIEND. HOLD ON, BECAUSE I MIXED IT IN WITH MY NOTES FROM YESTERDAY.
OKAY, HERE WE GO, GUYS. MICS ARE HOT. WE ARE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE ARE TAKING NO ACTION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, PLEASE OPEN K ONE FOR K-14 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PROJECT ALLOCATIONS
[K.14. Discussion and possible action regarding project allocations related to 2020 Hays County Parks and Open Space bond projects. BECERRA]
RELATED TO 2020. HAYS COUNTY PARKS AND OPEN SPACE BOND PROJECTS.MOTION. OKAY, SO MOTION AND A SECOND. YES. ALL YOURS.
OKAY. MOTION TO APPROVE A REAL ALLOCATION OF 2020 HAYS COUNTY PARKS AND OPEN SPACE BOND FUNDS, AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. DIRECT THE BUDGET OFFICE TO POST THE REALLOCATIONS ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE.
SO MOTION AND A SECOND. THANK YOU GUYS. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES, COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES, COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE.
JUDGE BECERRA. YES. YOU WANT SOME MORE NOTES TO READ? YES. I JUST WANT TO GET IT ON THE RECORD. THE PRECINCT REALLOCATIONS FUNDING.
THIS IS HOW IT WILL BE BE REALLOCATED FROM THE 2020 PARKS BOND.
WE HAVE IN PRECINCT ONE, THE HAYS SPORTSPLEX OF $1 MILLION PER PURGATORY CREEK TRAILS, $1 MILLION, KEEPS POND PARK $2.5 MILLION IN PRECINCT ONE, AND THEN IN PRECINCT TWO, WE HAVE GREG CLARK PARK, 300,000. PLUM CREEK TRAIL 1 MILLION. KYLE SPORTSPLEX PARK 5.5 MILLION.
PRECINCT THREE. WE HAVE ROY CREEK RESERVE, 1 MILLION.
BLUE HOLE CENTER, 2 MILLION FOR PRECINCT FOUR.
VIOLET CROWN PARK AT 500,000, DRIPPING SPRINGS TCE AT 700,000, AND GARTH GERBER AT 2 MILLION, TOTALING 17.5. $17,500,000 TO SENTINEL PEAK.
NO PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED, AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, HAVE GONE AWAY.
EVERYTHING AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED IS STAYING PUT.
[05:10:01]
COMMISSIONERS DID NOT LOSE FUNDING FOR THEIR PROJECTS.THE ONES COMMISSIONER HAMMER JUST NAMED. THERE IS PURELY A LEGAL REQUIREMENT FOR US TO PUBLICLY STATE THE SHIFT, BUT EVERYTHING IS AS IT ORIGINALLY WAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[K.15. Discussion and possible action to hire and appoint a Budget Officer, contingent on an acceptable background check and acceptance of an offer of employment. SMITH]
BACKGROUND CHECK AND ACCEPTANCE OF AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT.I MOVE TO HIRE AND APPOINT VICKI DORSET AS THE HAYS COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER AT GRADE 136 STEP 11 CONTINGENT ON AN ACCEPTABLE BACKGROUND CHECK AND ACCEPTANCE OF AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT. SECOND, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER COHEN.
YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES, COMMISSIONER.
INGALSBE. YES. COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES. JUDGE.
BECERRA. YES. ONE MORE MOTION OVER THERE. MOTION TO ADJOURN.
ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR WEEK. THANK YOU GUYS FOR JOINING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.