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)

[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)]

TIME AND SUPPORT AND SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY.

>> BEAUTIFUL AND THANK YOU. AT THIS POINT I GET THE PRIVILEGE

OF ASKING YOU TO OPEN. F 1. >> S 1. A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING 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 MOVED. SECOND , PLEASE , READ IT.

>> RESOLUTION OF THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONER 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 , RE-AFFIRMED IN LANDMARK RULINGS SUCH AS -- VERSUS DAVIS IN 2001 AND HAYS COUNTY STEADFAST IN ITS OATH BOUND DUTY TO UPHOLD THESE PROTECTIONS. 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 A NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS AND RESTRAINT. WHEREAS THE SUPREME COURT HAS LONG AFFIRMED THAT THE CONSTITUTION APPLIES TO ALL PERSONS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING ALIENS, WHETHER THEIR PRESENCE IS LAWFUL, UNLAWFUL, TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT. PLIER VERSUS DOE, 1982. CEMENTING LEGAL AND MORAL RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO TREAT IMMIGRANTS WITH DIGNITY AND JUSTICE. WHEREAS, HABEAS CORPUS ENSHRINED IN ARTICLE ONE, SECTION 9 OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION DETECTS AGAINST ARBITRARY DETENTION AND UNDERSCORES THE AMERICAN REJECTION OF UNCHECKED GOVERNMENTAL POWER , OBLIGATING US TO MAINTAIN ACCOUNTABILITY IN ALL ACTS OF RESTRAINT AND RELOCATION. WHEREAS TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE TREATMENT AND 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 AMENDMENTS, PROTECTIONS OF SPEECH, ASSOCIATION AND FREEDOM FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES. WHEREAS THE PRINCIPAL OF RECIPROCITY DUE TO OTHERS, AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO TO YOU ECHOES NOT ONLY THROUGH SACRED SCRIPTURE THROUGH THE AMERICAN ETHOS EMBEDDED IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE , WHICH ASSERTS THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL AND ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR, WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS. AND WHEREAS THE WEARING OF BODY CAMERAS, VISIBLE NAME IDENTIFICATION AND CLEAR ORGANIZATIONAL INSIGNIA BY ANY INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THE PHYSICAL CUSTODY OR TRANSPORT OF PERSONS IS A NECESSARY SAFEGUARD IN LINE WITH THE VALUES OF TRANSPARENCY, DEMOCRATIC OVERSIGHT, AND CONSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY. 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. 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. 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 NOTIFICATIO, DETAILING WHO WAS TAKEN UNDER WHAT AUTHORITY, WHERE THEY WERE TRANSPORTED AND WHY SUCH ACTIONS WERE TAKEN OR UNDERTAKEN. THE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONER 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. TO DO SO NOT AS PARTISANS BUT AS PATRIOTS , ADOPTING THIS THE 10TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025.

>> THANK YOU FOR READING THAT. I MAKE NO ASSUMPTIONS. WHEN I WALK INTO A ROOM I INTRODUCED MYSELF, I ASSUME NO ONE KNOWS WHO I AM, IN MY OPINION THAT IS ARROGANT, I ALWAYS SAY WHO I AM AND I MAKE NO ASSUMPTIONS THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON . MOST PEOPLE ARE BUSY, WORKING AND MOST PEOPLE HAVE NO CLUE BECAUSE THEY ARE BUSY LIVING THEIR LIVES . THROUGH THAT LENS WITH THAT

[00:10:03]

EFFORT , I'VE PREPARED A SHORT VIDEO, ROXANNE, PLEASE PLATE. SO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE BRINGING THIS TO COURT AND WHY I AM BRINGING THIS TO COURT. AND YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW WHILE PREPARING THAT, IT IS LITERALLY A THUMBNAIL , AT MOST, IT IS A TINY DROP OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING . CLAIMANT

>> A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE, GUYS, A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE, THANK YOU, THANK YOU THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ALL AROUND US, NATIONALLY, STATEWIDE, REGIONALLY AND YES, EVEN HERE AT HOME , A DISTURBING PATTERN IS UNFOLDING.

INDIVIDUALS , MASK, ANONYMOUS AND IMPOSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY ARE TAKING PART IN MOVEMENTS THAT ERODE TRUST, INCREASE DIVISION AND DISRUPT THE PEACE OF OUR COMMUNITIES. THEY WERE 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 THE RIPPLE EFFECT HAS REACHED US . DESEED IN THE FENCING GOING UP IN THE SILENCER ANSWER SHOULD BE. THIS IS NOT HAPPENING IN SOME FAR-OFF CORNER OF THE COUNTRY. IT IS HAPPENING HERE. RIGHT HERE IN HAYS COUNTY WERE EVEN YOUR COUNTY JUDGE CAN BE PROFILED. THE POLICE CALLED THEM FOR NOTHING MORE THAN BEING A MINORITY MAN IN AN OLD TRUCK OUTSIDE OF THE VERY COURTHOUSE HE WAS ELECTED TO SERVE. THESE ACTIONS ARE NOT JUST WRONG , THEY ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL , THEY ARE DIVISIVE AND ABOVE ALL , THEY'RE HIGHLY UNPRODUCTIVE. IT IS TIME TO CALL THESE TACTICS OUT , IT IS TIME TO STAND UP FOR THE TRUTH AND CLAIM OUR SENSE OF JUSTICE, RIGHT HERE AT HOME.

>> THAT IS THE EXTENT OF IT. WE HAVE SOME COMMENTS, DON'T WE?

>> YES. >> THAT ANYONE YOUR SON UP TO

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SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? OKAY. I USUALLY GET THEM HANDED TO ME.

>> ONE SECOND, JUDGE. >> DO NOT WORRY, DON'T WORRY.

THANK YOU. FIRST UP TO SPEAK IS 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 PROUD TO WEAR THE BADGE AND ITS 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. THEY SHOULD HAVE EVERY REASON TO DO SO WITH THE PRIDE AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY, STATE AND COUNTY. NUMBER TWO, I SUPPORT A CITIZENS RIGHT OUR RIGHTS TO PEACEFUL PROTEST AND TO PETITION OUR GOVERNMENT FOR REDRESS OF OUR AGREEMENT. BEING OF A FAMILY WHO ESCAPED GOVERNMENT PERSECUTION, CITIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT AND DUTY TO PEACEFULLY 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 . NUMBER THREE , I SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS OFFERED TODAY BY JUDGE BECERRA. 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 DEPRESSION. NO GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PULL UP IN AN UNMARKED VEHICLE, TAKE A PERSON OFF THE STREET AND WITHOUT DUE PROCESS IN PRISON THAT PERSON. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT HAVE THAT AUTHORITY. I TRUST YOU TO AFFIRM THE COMMITMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT UP WE

HAVE ALYSSA FOSTER HOT-LATHER . >> THANK YOU. WHO AMONG US HERE TODAY ARE NOT THE DESCENDENTS OF IMMIGRANTS? SOME OF OUR ANCESTORS TRAVELED SEEKING ASYLUM AND 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 MEMBERS AND AMONG THEM WERE MY FAMOUS ANCESTORS, AND A TEXAS RANGER --, I RECALL BEING TAUGHT OF HIS HEROISM AT THE KNEE OF MY GRANDMOTHER YET IS A YOUNG WOMAN WITH MY FIRST CHILD I LEARNED ABOUT THE -- , 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 A MIGRANT FARMWORKER FROM MEXICO WHO AT THE AGE OF 13 IMMIGRATED TO THE MIDWEST, SETTLED AND HAD 10 CHILDREN . HE WORKED A FACTORY JOB WITH THE PENSION AND BECAUSE OF THEIR DEDICATION TO HARD WORK AND FAMILY THEY RAISE THESE CHILDREN COME ALL COLLEGE-EDUCATED, THREE PHYSICIANS, THREE NURSES AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYERS AND OTHERS WHO ARE LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. MY HEART BROKE AT THE AWARENESS THAT MY LINEAGE WAS INVOLVED IN VIOLENTLY OPPRESSING MEXICANS ALONG THE BORDER , 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 SEEK REFUGEES FROM GERMANY, THE -- IN 1939.

937 SOULS BUT WAS TURNED AWAY FROM OUR SHORES BY FDR AND SENT INTO THE UNSPEAKABLE HORRORS OF THE HOLOCAUST , ONE QUARTER AMONG THEM DIED AT THE HANDS OF DERANGED TATER ADOLF HITLER. MY SPOUSE OF 29 YEARS AS THE DESCENDENTS OF JEWISH IMMIGRANT

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FROM POLAND SEEKING SAFETY , THEY WERE PUT ON SHIPS IN THE 19TH CENTURY BY THEIR PARENTS AT THE AGE OF 13. THEY PROSPERED IN TEXAS ARRIVING TO GALVESTON AND TRAVELING TO TYLER. TODAY NO JEWS REMAIN IN THEIR VILLAGE OF POLAND BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL SLAYED. WHO ARE WE? DO WE CARE ABOUT IMMIGRANTS OR CHOOSE TO HATE THEM AS SCAPEGOATS FOR PROBLEMS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND? AT THE DIRECTION OF POLITICIANS WHO DON'T 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 DESCENDENTS SAY ABOUT US WHEN THEY LEARN ABOUT THE CURRENT POLICIES OF TERROR THAT KIDNAPPED, DETAINED AND DEPORTED SOULS WITHOUT DUE PROCESS? IT IS TYRANNICAL. IT IS BREEDING FEAR AND DISTRUST AND DESTROYING LIVES. LET'S TEACH OUR CHILDREN ETHICS AND MORALS THAT REFLECT HUMANE VALUES. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS PROCLAMATION AND CORRECT OUR COURSE OF HISTORY TO UPHOLD JUSTICE AND DIGNITY OF ALL. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. NEXT, PASTOR JEFF THOMPSON .

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. I AM JEFF 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 TO TIME AND AGAIN TO WELCOME AND CARE FOR THE POOR, THE WIDOWS, THE ORPHANS , AND THE STRANGERS AMONG US .

ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT ALWAYS DO A GREAT JOB WITH THE POOR, THE WIDOWS AND THE ORPHANS, IT IS THE LACK OF THE CARE FOR STRANGERS IN OUR LAND THAT IS MOST IN MY MIND TODAY. IT IS 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 MAJORITY OF THESE FOLKS ARE JUST PEOPLE WHO WERE FLEEING ABJECT POVERTY AND STARVATION . MANY HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN THEIR OWN NATIONS . I HAVEN'T VISITED SEVERAL OF THEIR COUNTRIES AND I 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 THEM AS THE SCRIPTURES TELL US TO DO , THEY HAVE 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 CHEETAM . >> HELLO, JUDGE , SIR. I THINK THAT WE ARE 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 . I THINK THAT IS ONE THING WE ARE ALL ENTITLED TO. TO BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH EACH

[00:25:04]

OTHER , 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 IS SOMETHING WE DO NOT 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 . BUT I THINK THROUGH TIME , IF WE WOULD JUST SIT BACK AND THINK ABOUT THINGS BEFORE WE JUST REACTED THAT WE COULD BRING A LOT MORE THINGS TO LIGHT AND BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE PERSON. OF COURSE, WITH ANYTHING , YOU HAVE A BAD APPLES IN EVERY GROUP. WE HAVE ENOUGH BAD IN OUR OWN COUNTRY FROM US, YOU KNOW? WHATEVER THEY HAVE BROUGHT OVER IS SO MINUTE , TO ME IT DOESN'T COUNT, YOU KNOW? HOPEFULLY , LORD WILLING, BRIGHTER DAYS ARE ROUND THE CORNER , I REALLY HOPE SO. I BELIEVE THAT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHEETAM THANK YOU, MR. NEXT UP IS JAMES BRYANT

JR. >> THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. I AM NEW TO THIS. THAT WAS, THE DOCUMENT THAT THIS LADY READ WAS RIGHT TO THE POINT. I AM ANGRY ABOUT SEEING A MOTHER ON THE DELIVERY TABLE, DELIVER A CHILD, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE THERE TO TAKE HER AND DEPORT HER TO A DETENTION CENTER . HER KIDS HAD NOWHERE TO GO AND THEY WENT WITH HER. DEAR GOD , HAS THIS COUNTRY GONE TO THIS DEGREE? I AM HERE BECAUSE OF A PROFESSOR I HAD, DR. RAMON C. COLLINS, AT -- UNIVERSITY, TOLD ME , SILENCE GIVES CONSENT. THAT IS WHERE I GOT MY, -- TO COME ON DOWN HERE TO THIS BODY AND TALK. LATER IN MY LIFE I LEARNED ABOUT ERIC -- A LUTHERAN MINISTER WHO SAID TO NOT SPEAK , TO DO NOTHING , YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING , THE WRONG WAY. HE ALSO SAID, AFTER EVERYBODY DID NOT SPEAK FOR WHOEVER HE WAS SPEAKING OF, THE MINISTERS, THE PHYSICIANS OR WHATEVER, AFTER THE GESTAPO TOOK THEM TO THE GAS CHAMBERS THERE WAS NOBODY LEFT TO SPEAK FOR ME.

YES, WHEN YOU ASK WHERE I HAVE BEEN, I'VE BEEN AROUND THE WORLD SEVEN TIMES AND THIS DESPICABLE HUMAN BEING INDICTED 91 TIMES , A CONVICTED FELON 34 CONVICTIONS IS GOING TO SEND HISPANIC SPEAKING PEOPLE TO DJIBOUTI , --

>> SIR, PLEASE FACE THE COURT. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. WHAT I WAS IN SOUTH AFRICA, ALL THE THINGS HE'S ALLUDING TO RIGHT NOW, THEY WERE HAPPY AND TREATED ME ROI WANT POLICE OFFICERS

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HANDSOMELY PAID, I WANT THEM TO GO HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES, I WANT THEM TO LEARN RESPECT . EVERY TIME A POLICE OFFICER, AND

MY OVERTIME? OH, GOD. >> CONCLUDE YOUR THOUGHTS, 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 DO NOT WANT PEOPLE MISTREATED BECAUSE OF THEIR COLOR . THE IMMIGRANTS THAT CAME HERE , YOUR DIPLOMATS, THE GRADUATING CLASS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL SCHOOL , THEIR BASIC ANATOMY WAS TAUGHT BY CHINESE PHYSICIANS. CHRONIC, TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALITIS WAS COINED AND FOUND OUT BY A NIGERIAN IMMIGRANT.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> AND THE IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME TO -- RAN OFF THE BOAT, THE KID SAID 2 TO 3 TIMES THE SCORES OF AMERICAN KIDS ON THEIR MATH TESTS.

>> THANK YOU, SIR, THANK YOU, VERY MUCH. NEXT UP WE HAVE

JACKIE WAR IS -- JACKIE JUAREZ . >> I YIELD MY TIME.

>> OKAY. NEXT UP WE HAVE ALYSSA GARZA . THANK YOU, MA'AM.

>> READY? GOOD MORNING , I SERVE AS A -- CITY COUNCILMEMBER AND DIRECTOR AT --, THESE THOUGHTS ARE MY OWN. I'VE ALWAYS HAD WHAT I CONSIDER A HEALTHY DISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT, IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT EVEN AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL I AM NOT A FAN OF PROCLAMATIONS OR RESOLUTIONS ABSENT A ROBUST PLAN TO MEANT POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS. THEY FAIL LIKE SYMBOLIC PERFORMANCES THAT POLITICIANS USE TO PLACATE THEIR BASE, ESPECIALLY DURING ELECTION SEASON. THAT IS NOT SAID DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEIR WALL BUT MY GRANDMA TAUGHT ME THAT LOVE AND CARE MUST BE SHOWN THROUGH ACTION AND NOT JUST WORDS. I HAVE CARRY THAT WISDOM WITH ME TO EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE INCLUDING PUBLIC SERVICE.

UNFORTUNATELY, GIVEN THE MOMENT WE ARE IN, WITH AN INCREASINGLY AUTHORITARIAN STATE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ATTACKING THE FOUNDATION OF THIS COUNTRY. THIS RESOLUTION IS NECESSARY. WE FIND OURSELVES NEEDING TO PUBLICLY AFFIRM WHAT SHOULD BE BASIC, SHARED VALUES. IT IS DYSTOPIAN THAT IN 2025 WE ARE FORCED TO PROCLAIM THINGS LIKE, THE CONSTITUTION IS BAD AND I MEAN THE CONSTITUTION IS GOOD AND ABUSIVE POWERS BAD, BUT HERE WE ARE. AND HONESTLY WE ARE HERE BECAUSE TOO OFTEN THOSE OF US IN POWER OF NOT PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH. WE HAVE FUNDED PUNISHMENT OVER PREVENTION , WITH NORMALIZED CAGES, SURVEILLANCE AND CRIMINALIZATION AS DEFAULT SOLUTIONS . THIS DID NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. TO THOSE IN POWER, CONVINCING THEMSELVES OF THE 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. WE CANNOT SIT HERE AND DEMAND JUSTICE, TRANSPARENCY AND CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS FROM OTHERS WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE HAVE STRUGGLED TO UPHOLD THESE VALUES AT HOME. IT TOOK YEARS OF ADVOCACY TO ESTABLISH A PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, BUT YOU OWE ME THAT HAPPENED ALONGSIDE OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT EFFORT MUST NOW BE MET WITH SUSTAINED FUNDING AND SUPPORT. WE MUST ALSO ADDRESS ONGOING MEDICAL NEGLECT IN THE JAIL . WE MUST FUND SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE LIFELINES TO OUR MIXED STATUS FAMILIES AND SO ON. I AM GRATEFUL TO KNOW EACH OF YOU, FAIRLY WELL, I KNOW YOU CARE DEEPLY FOR HER NEIGHBORS. I FIRMLY BELIEVE RESISTANCE IS NOT ONLY A RESOLUTION BUT A PRACTICE, I ALSO BELIEVE THE MEMBERS OF THIS COURT HAVE WHAT IS NECESSARY TO RISE TO THE OCCASION. I HAVE HAD HIGH HOPES THAT THIS BODY WILL CONTINUE TO MEET THE MOMENT AND SHOW UP IN THEIR COMMUNITY DEMANDS AND DESERVES , SO, THANK YOU JUDGE BECERRA FOR BRINGING FORTH HIS PROCLAMATION TODAY AND THANK YOU, TRAN11: FOR SHOWING UP IN SOLIDARITY AT EVERY ACTION, INFORMATION SESSION, EVERY PANEL THAT WE'VE 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 AVANDANO .

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>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS . MY NAME IS NATALIE AVANDANO , I'M HERE AS AN INDIVIDUAL, COMMUNITY MEMBER AND AS A DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS. I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION AFFIRMING HAYS COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS. AS SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN TO THIS ALREADY , MY DAD WAS DETAINED IN DETENTION CENTER BACK IN 2018 AND IT HAS BEEN REALLY HARD FOR ME TO SEE THE NEWS EVERY DAY. SEEING WHAT IS GOING ON BECAUSE I EXPERIENCED IT. I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS TO NOT WANT KNOW WHERE YOUR LOVED ONE IS. YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THEY ARE BEING TREATED AND YOU KNOW THEY ARE IN REALLY COLD SPACE . I AM NOT SURE IF ANY OF YOU ALL OF EVER VISITED THE PIERCE DETENTION CENTER THAT IS JUST DOWN THE ROAD IN SAN ANTONIO. THE FIRST TIME I WENT THERE TO TRY TO VISIT MY DAD I WAS NOT ABLE TO, THEY WOULD NOT LET ME GO IN BECAUSE I WAS ONLY 17 YEARS OLD. SO, I WENT A COUPLE MONTHS WITHOUT SEEING MY DAD AND I JUST REMEMBER BEING THERE AND SEEING THE BARB WIRE , JUST THE PLACE , HOW IT WAS. HE WAS LITERALLY IN A PRISON . HE WAS IN PRISON. AND THE ONLY CRIME THAT THEY SAID HE WAS GUILTY OF IS COMING HERE TO GIVE ME AND MY BROTHER AND SISTER ABOUT HER LIFE. THANKS TO THE SACRIFICE MY PARENTS DID, I AM HERE , I AM ABLE TO WORK IN MY COMMUNITY, TO HELP MY COMMUNITY BE A BETTER PLACE AND IT IS HEARTBREAKING TO SEE HOW FAMILIES ARE STILL BEING TORN APART . HOW THEY ARE EVEN PUTTING CHILDREN IN ZIP TIES .

THIS IS TERRIBLE. OUR COUNTRY IS IN A TERRIBLE PLACE RIGHT NOW. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU 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 IT 'S FUNDING CONTINUES TO PROVIDE REPRESENTATION FOR IMMIGRANTS ESPECIALLY. THANK

YOU. >> WELL DONE, THANK YOU. NEXT

UP, ERIC MARTINEZ. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ERIC MARTINEZ, I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF -- AMIGA AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE 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 HER IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS ARE NAVIGATING DEEP FEAR , WHAT HAPPENED ON APRIL 1ST IN DRIFTING SPRINGS , THE EARLY-MORNING RAID, THE DETENTIONS, THE FLASH BANGS , AND THE KIDNAPPING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. SENT SHOCKWAVES THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY. WHAT I DO KNOW IS THIS. A COUNTY THAT CLAIM 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 HAVE 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 IS MYLES MARTIN.

>> MY NAME IS MYLES MARTIN. I AM THE SOCIAL MEDIA ORGANIZER FOR

[00:40:08]

MANO AMIGA EDITED THIS IS THE PROPER OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. I WANT TO READ SOMETHING ON THAT. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, BACK WHEN IT WAS ITS GREATEST BEFORE RACIST CAME AND TOOK LAND FROM THE NATIVES AND MADE IT OUT TO BE MANIFEST DESTINY. NEVER LETTING MY ANCESTORS REST IN PEACE, KEEPING THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS HIDDEN AND HEAVILY GUARDED BY HEARTLESS FACES, MAKE IT GREAT AGAIN LIKE IT WAS BEFORE THEY CAME. AND SPREAD INFLUENCE THROUGH AND GENOCIDE, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN BEFORE THE TERRIBLE LIMITATION OF SHARECROPPERS AND RESERVATIONS . REMEMBER WHEN TEXAS WAS MEXICO? FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WE FORGOT WHAT OUR COUNTRY WAS AT ITS GREATEST, 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 THE MULE BACK WHEN THEY MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE REPARATIONS DISINTEGRATED INTO THE WORST TIMES, AFTER LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION ON 40 ACRES AND WHITEFACE WERE GIVEN REPARATIONS FOR THE LACK OF ENSLAVEMENT. JANUARY 16TH, 1865, FIELD ORDER 15 WAS SIGNED. 400,000 ACRES OF CONFEDERATE LAND WERE GIVEN TO THE NEWLY FREED MAN BUT THIS DID NOT STAND. APRIL 15TH THE SAME OR ABRAHAM LINCOLN DIED, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, LIKE IT WAS THE THREE MONTHS BEFORE THEY KILLED OUR DREAMS, DISTORTED GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND REPLACED IT WITH GENERATIONAL TRAUMA.

MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN LIKE IT WAS BACK WHEN WE HAD PRIDE IN WHO WE ARE. MAKE AMERICA GREAT, AT LEAST ONE MORE TIME, GIVE LIFE TO THE ONES WHO DIED, EVERY DAY IN AN ATTEMPT TO LIVE. THE AMERICAN PIE NEVER HAD ENOUGH SLICES FOR US, LET'S MAKE AMERICAN COBBLER WITH ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE NOT JUST THE CAPITALIST ELITES WHO SPEAK DIFFERENT VOICES SHOULD NOT BE HEARD FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA. THEY SAY BLACK LIVES DON'T MATTER, THEY SAY PROBLEMS DON'T EITHER NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES WE SAY OVER IT MEGAPHONES AND SPEAKERS THAT CANNOT BE HEARD BY EMPTY BLEACHERS. WE ARE ON THE FIELD POURING OUR HEARTS WILL THEY ARE INSIDE EATING THEIR GENERATIONAL WEALTH SLIPPING IN THE COMFORTS OF THEIR INHERITANCE LIVING OFF OUR BACKS WILL DEPLETE ON OUR KNEES FOR THE MONEY TREES THAT WE PLANTED. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, LATE PAINT THE FLAT BLACK AND GROUND, LIKE THE ONES WHOSE BLOOD BIT THIS COUNTRY, WHOSE SWEAT AND TEARS WATERED THESE MONEY TREES THAT YOU WILL PICK FROM ON A DAILY BASIS JUST TO GIVE US -- AND SAY, GOPRO S'MORE. WHAT MAKE AMERICA GREAT SHOULD MEAN, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, NOW YOU KNOW.

>> OUR TREASURER, MS. DAPHNE --.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE , HAYS COUNTY TREASURER FOR THE RECORD.

I AM HERE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT 24 LETTER WORDS, THAT SEEM TO HAVE CONSUMED OUR COMMUNITIES, NATIONS 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. GOD IS SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH. BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. JOHN 316 . THIS FIRST EMPHASIZES GOD'S LOVE FOR HUMANITY AND THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH FAITH. DID YOU NOTICE THE VERSE DID NOT DICTATE SEXUALITY? THE VERSE DID NOT DICTATE RACE , IT SPEAKS OF LOVE. WITHOUT LOVE THERE CAN BE NO HEAT, WITHOUT HATE THERE CAN BE NO LOVE. THEY GO HAND IN HAND. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IN SOCIETY IS HATE. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IN SOCIETY IS INDIFFERENCE TO HATE. THAT IS 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 . AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. DID YOU NOTICE THE QUOTE DID NOT DICTATE SEXUALITY? IT DID NOT DICTATE RACE. IT REFLECTS TO THE CORE IDEALS OF EQUALITY AND RIGHTS AND THE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY . THERE ARE TWO ACCLAMATION THAT SPEAK OF LOVE ON THIS AGENDA TODAY. AND FOR THAT, I APPLAUD YOU. YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. LOVE IT DOES NO WRONG TO A NEIGHBOR. THEREFORE LOVE IS PRO FILLING THE LAW. AS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO

[00:45:03]

CHOOSE LOVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.

ROXANNE, THAT IS THE END OF COMMENTS, AM I RIGHT?

>> I HAVE FIVE EMAILED PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR SPECIFICALLY F 1.

>> PLEASE START A TIMER AND READ THOSE. THANK YOU.

>> TWO PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WERE NOT GIVEN TO YOU.

>> OH, YES. THANK YOU. >> TIE ME FOR THIS. FIRST EMAILED PUBLIC COMMENT IS FROM AMY CAMP. MY NAME IS AMY CAMP , SORRY. HELLO, MY NAME IS AMY CAMP AND I'M 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 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 IMMIGRANTS OR THE DESCENDENTS OF IMMIGRANTS. IT MAKES NO SENSE TO BE AFRAID OF OR ATTACK A CERTAIN SUBSET OF THE POPULATION SIMPLY BECAUSE THEIR FAMILIES AND MORE RECENTLY ARRIVED HERE. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THE NARRATIVES, POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT DEMONIZE IMMIGRANTS. I URGE THE HAYS COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO AFFIRM HIS PROCLAMATION AND CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF AND VISITORS TO THIS COUNTY. THANK YOU, AMY CAMP. THE SECOND EMAILED PUBLIC COMMENT IS FROM KATHY 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 AM HORRIFIED BY WHAT WE ARE SEEING FROM THE CURRENT WHITE HOUSE REGIME. IMMIGRANTS COME HERE TO EITHER SAVE THEIR LIVES OR FILL JOBS THAT NEED FILLING. NOTE , WE ARE NOT SEEING THE CEOS OF THE COMPANIES WHO HIRE THE UNDOCUMENTED FOLKS BEING RATED, ARRESTED AND DEPORTED HIM A CITIZEN OR NOT. FACTS SHOW THAT IMMIGRANTS WHETHER DOCUMENTED OR NOT, COMMIT FAR FEWER CRIMES THAN DO HOMEGROWN FOLKS. THE LIES ABOUT THEIR VIOLENCE ARE JUST TO WHIP UP FEAR, DO NOT GIVE IN TO THAT. WHEN THE RHETORIC IS THAT THEY ARE LAZY AND COMING HERE TO GET OUR BENEFITS, WHICH THEY CANNOT GET, ONE HAS TO WONDER WHY THE MAJORITY OF ARREST ARE IN THEIR WORKPLACE OR OUTSIDE OF COURTS , WHERE PEOPLE ARE UNDERGOING THEIR LEGAL PROCESS OF ASYLUM.

THE U.S. 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 DO NOT 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 HUMANE TREATMENT OF SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY. PLEASE VOTE FOR IT . IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR THIS TO BE UNANIMOUS VOTE. WE SHOW THAT HAYS COUNTY RESPECTS THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF EVERY PERSON ON U.S. SOIL AT 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, I LIVE IN SAN MARCUS, TEXAS, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM F 1, THE RESOLUTION AFFIRMING HAYS COUNTY COMMITMENT TO CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS. I WORK AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY WERE 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, SUPPORTIVE 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 BROTHER IS MARRIED TO AN MY - IMMIGRANT, MY BROTHER-IN-LAW WORKS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE AND FREQUENT TRAVELS IN AND OUT OF THE COUNTRY. DESPITE BEING HARD-WORKING, LAW-ABIDING RESIDENTS, THEIR FAMILY LIVES WITH A SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY AND FEAR. FEAR THAT BASIC RIGHTS MIGHT NOT BE HONORED. FEAR THAT THEY COULD BE CAUGHT UP IN A

[00:50:02]

SYSTEM THAT LACKS TRANSPARENCY, THEY ARE NOT ALONE. THOUSANDS OF FAMILY IN HAYS COUNTY ARE LIVING WITH THE SAME ANXIETY. THAT IS WHY THIS RESOLUTION MATTERS. IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE LAW BUT REINFORCES IT. IT CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, DIGNITY AND CLARITY WHEN SOMEONE IS DETAINED OR TRANSPORTED IN OUR COUNTY. IT DEMANDS BODY CAMERAS, NAMETAGS AND CLEARED INDICATION. BASIC MEASURES TO PROTECT BOTH THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE OFFICERS INVOLVED. I BELIEVE IN THE RULE OF LAW AND I WANT TO CITY, COUNTY, STATE AND COUNTRY TO FOLLOW THE LAW. THAT IS 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, COMMITTEE MEMBER I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION. IT IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS BUT PRINCIPLES. LET HAYS COUNTY BE KNOWN FOR FAIRNESS, HUMANITY AND FAIRNESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THE FOURTH PUBLIC EMAILED PUBLIC COMMENT FOR F1 IS FROM MELISSA FOSTER. AS A SEVENTH GENERATION LIFELONG TEXAN I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE VALUE OF IMMIGRANTS TO OUR COMMUNITIES,

STATE AND COUNTRY. >> I WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE READ

OUT LOUD. I ALREADY SPOKE. >> THAT IS OKAY, PERFECT IN THANK YOU BUT THAT GOES TO PROVE, YOU SEND IT, WE READ IT.

THANK YOU, HONESTLY. WE HAVE HAD THINGS READ THAT ARE OF ALL VARIETIES AND IT IS A HOLDOVER FROM COVID WHEN PEOPLE COULD NOT FILL THE COURTROOM LIKE WE ARE POSSIBLY TAKING FOR GRANTED RIGHT NOW THAT WE ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER. I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT AS I STARTED THIS COURT TODAY WITH APPRECIATION OF A FULL COURTROOM. IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR ME TO ALLOW ALL OF THAT SPACE AS I KNOW PEOPLE ARE WORKING, PEOPLE ARE SLEEPING FROM A GRAVEYARD SHIFT, MANAGING FAMILIES AND CANNOT BE HERE.

THIS IS A LUXURY THAT SOME OF US WILL NEVER HAVE AND I HAVE ALWAYS ALLOWED THAT TO CONTINUE, HOLDOVER FROM COVID. WE HAVE ONE

MORE. >> THE FINAL EMAILED PUBLIC COMMENT FOR F1 IS FROM MARY GILROY. DEAR HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE PROCLAMATION AFFIRMING THE COUNTY'S EFFORTS TO ENSURE FAIR AND LEGAL TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. IN MY COMMUNITY OF WIMBERLY IMMIGRANTS ARE A VITAL PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE. THEIR CHILDREN GO TO OUR SCHOOLS, THEIR FAMILIES ATTEND CHURCHES, PARENTS WORK FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS, WHILE PAYING INCOME TAXES THAT SUPPORT OUR THRIVING ECONOMY. IN THER WORDS, THEY ARE JUST LIKE EACH OF US . AS COMMITTEE MEMBERS THEY DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND COMPASSION . AS TEXAS RESIDENTS THEY HAVE LEGAL RIGHTS AFFORDED UNDER U.S. LAW INCLUDING DUE PROCESS IF DETAINED. PLEASE SUPPORT THE PROCLAMATION BEFORE YOU TODAY AND TO SEND THE MESSAGE THEY SUPPORT ANYONE WHO CONTRIBUTES GOOD THINGS TO OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS CRITICAL

MANNER. >> THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL GO TO COURT MEMBER COMMENTS AND THEN WE WILL CALL THE VOTE.

COMMISSIONER INGALSBE? >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. FIRST OF ALL LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO IS HERE AND SPOKE.

I THINK YOUR WORDS RESONATE WITH HOW I FEEL ALSO. I WILL JUST SAY, JUDGE, THERE ARE WORDS IN THIS RESOLUTION THAT I FIND DEEPLY MEANINGFUL , 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. THESE ARE FUNDAMENTAL VALUES ON HOW WE SHOULD LIVE AND TREAT OTHERS. SO, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD AND I FULLY SUPPORT IT.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME. COMMISSIONER

COHEN? >> THEY COULD, JUDGE A THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SPOKE TODAY FOR THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, JUDGE FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD AS WELL. I TOOK MY OATH TO .5 YEARS AGO AND I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN WHAT THAT MEANS. THE RESOLUTION IS A GOOD START BUT I KNOW WE NEED TO ESTABLISH TRUE, TANGIBLE RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WHAT I SEE TODAY ON TELEVISION AND HEARING FROM OTHERS IT IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED BACK IN 2017, RIGHT? I REMEMBER HOW I FELT BACK THEN AND 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. 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 ARE FEELING THAT WAY, YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN A PEACEFUL PROTEST , YOU CAN DONATE TO ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE DOING BOOTS ON THE GROUND WORK , BEHIND THE SCENES . YOU CAN

[00:55:05]

WRITE LETTERS TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU CAN RUN FOR OFFICE AND MAKE A CHANGE , THIS IS JUST ONE REASON WHY I RAN FOR OFFICE AS WELL, TO MAKE A CHANGE AND I KNEW THAT I COULD NO LONGER JUST SIT BACK AND WATCH THIS HAPPEN. TO SEE IT HAPPEN AGAIN TODAY , PERSONALLY, I AM READY , WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS , I'M IN AN ELECTED POSITION , I CAN DO SOME TO HELP PROTECT MY COMMUNITY. I CANNOT CONTROL WHAT IS 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. YOU CANNOT WATCH A VIDEO LIKE THAT AND NOT HAVE A GET TO YOU. I THINK EVERY SINGLE PERSON IF THEY HAVE A HARD, THAT WOULD GET TO THEM. AS A MOTHER IT BREAKS MY HEART AND I HATE SEEING PEOPLE LIKE THAT OR IN THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS. I DO AGREE, I WANT TO AFFIRM THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE CONSTITUTION AS HAYS COUNTY, TREATING OTHERS WITH RESPECT AND DUE PROCESS. IT IS A NO-BRAINER. I THINK ONE OF THE QUOTE YOU HAVE IN THIS PROCLAMATION IS TO DO TO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE DONE TO YOU AND I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY HAVE A PROCLAMATION EVERY SINGLE COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT SAYS THAT AND WE WOULD BE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, RIGHT? I DO BELIEVE IN HUMANE TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS AND I THINK THAT ALL OF US WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. 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 IS COMING IN AND WE CAN CREATE A SYSTEM OF ORDERLY AND SAFE PROCESSES BUT WITH ALL THAT TO BE SAID I WILL ALSO GO TO PARAGRAPH SEVEN , THE PLACE WHERE WE TALK ABOUT WEARING FACE COVERINGS. THE ONLY THING I HAVE A PROBLEM OR AN ISSUE WITH, IS THAT I ALSO WANT TO PROTECT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE SAME TIME , THEY GO TO WORK EVERY DAY DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL COME HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES AND IF THEY ARE WEARING FACE COVERINGS FOR A RAID, BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM WILL BE UNDERCOVER , THAT IS PROTECTING THEM AND THEIR FAMILY. THAT IS THE ONLY PART I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A HICCUP ON BUT BESIDES THAT I 100% SUPPORT FAIR AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN IN HAYS COUNTY AND

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER SMITH? >> I WANT TO TALK ON BACKGROUND BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF , A LOT OF YOU WILL KNOW ME AND A LOT OF YOU DO NOT. BUT I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT TO THE JUDGE AND OTHERS WHO SPOKE AND WE HEARD SOME GREAT FOLKS TALK TODAY ABOUT WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND IS. MY DAD DID NOT SPEAK ENGLISH UNTIL HE WAS 12 YEARS OLD. HE GREW UP CLOSER TO THE RIO GRANDE RIVER THAN WE ARE TO THE STREET OUTSIDE. IN BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK. AND WHENEVER I WAS 12 YEARS OLD MY MOTHER WAS A SCHOOLTEACHER IN 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 BOOKBAG AND MY DAD GAVE ME A LIST OF NAMES. THAT LIST OF NAMES HAD 28 NAMES ON IT AND MY JOB WAS TO WALK TO MY MOTHER SCHOOL TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DOWN THE STREET . I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU ALL REMEMBER THE ASYLUM THAT WAS GRANTED UNDER THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION BUT MY JOB FOR ONE YEAR WAS TO GO THROUGH THE RECORDS OF DONATIONS AT THE CHURCH AND THE MEMBERSHIP ROLLS OF THE CHURCH AND IDENTIFY HOW LONG THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAD BEEN IN THE U.S. 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 , EVERY COUSIN, EVERY NEPHEW, EVERY BROTHER KNEW THEY COULD COME AND WORK FOR HIM. WE WERE ABLE TO GET 18 PEOPLE CITIZENSHIP THROUGH THAT. I CAN TELL YOU, SOME OF MY FIRST MEMORIES ARE GOING TO QUINCES AT THEIR HOUSES ARE COMING TO MY HOUSE FOR BARBECUES. I DON'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON OUT THERE WHAT IT WILL TELL YOU IS THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS, RIGHT? IT IS SO PERSONAL TO ME , I WORKED IN CONGRESS FOR A LONG TIME AND I

[01:00:04]

DRAFTED A BILL WHEN I WORKED FOR CONGRESSMAN HENRY BONILLA TO PROVIDE A PATH FOR CITIZENSHIP FOR FARMWORKERS AND WE WORKED WITH THE MEMBER FOR CALIFORNIA WANTED TO PROVIDE A PATH FOR CITIZENSHIP FOR SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKERS. WE COULD NOT GET IT TO GO ANYWHERE, IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION ONE REPUBLICAN AND ONE DEMOCRAT. I THINK THE THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME THEM THAT STANDS OUT TO ME TODAY IS THE BASIC TENETS OF WHAT EVERYONE HAS SAID IN THE ROOM TODAY. THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE ALL AGREE ON AND I WROTE IT HERE, I SAID, YOU KNOW, I FULLY ENDORSE AND AFFIRM MY OATH AND SUPPORT THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND AFFIRM OUR SUPPORT OF THIS 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 PDO OFFICE AND FOR THOSE OF Y'ALL WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT ACRONYM IT IS A PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. I THINK WE AS A COURT UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED THAT BECAUSE WE FELT THAT THERE WAS A LACK IN THE SYSTEM THERE. THE RESOLUTION TODAY, I'M GLAD THE JUDGE INTRODUCED IT BUT HONESTLY, I AM NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL ATTORNEY AND I'M NOT A LAWYER. THERE ARE CERTAIN REFERENCES IN HERE TO CASE LAW AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS THAT I DID DUE DILIGENCE WHEN IT WAS PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY. I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THE REFERENCES TO CASE LAW IN HERE ARE ACCURATE , 100% ACCURATE , THEY ARE OPEN TO INTERPRETATION IS WHAT I'M SAYING. I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE ON THE PROTECTION OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMBERS . I THINK THE BASIS OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT I JUST SAID AND I THINK THAT ALL OF US WOULD AGREE IN THE ROOM THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THAT . WITHOUT SOME CHANGES TO THE DOCUMENT, TO THE RESOLUTION RELATIVE TO THE FIRST PARAGRAPH . THE PARAGRAPH THAT COMMISSIONER HAMMER HAD MENTIONED AND AGAIN , REFERENCING ALL OF OUR CITIZENS, NOT JUST IMMIGRANTS BUT ALL OF OUR CITIZENS. I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF ADJUSTMENTS AND I COULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT BUT AT ITS MOST BASIC LEVEL, THE PARAGRAPH I JUST READ, I THINK IF WE USE THAT AS A RESOLUTION I THINK EVERYONE OF US WOULD SUPPORT IT AND IT CAPTURES EVERYTHING WE HEARD TODAY AND I MAY BE WRONG BUT I DO BELIEVE IN DUE PROCESS FOR EVERYONE AND I DO BELIEVE OUR CONSTITUTION IS A GREAT AND NOT ONLY OATH WERE THE BUT A FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT. I BELIEVE IN CERTAIN INSTANCES AND EVEN IN THIS PROCLAMATION THERE ARE CERTAIN REFERENCES TO THINGS , NUMBER ONE, I WORRY THAT WE CANNOT CONTROL , WE CANNOT CONTROL WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES. WE CANNOT CONTROL THE STATE GOVERNMENT DOES. WE WATCH THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION OVER THE LAST TWO SESSIONS THAT AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN HAYS COUNTY, OUR SHERIFF MUST ENFORCE . WE HAVE FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE TO RETRY OR TO RE-HAVE AN ELECTION, WE LIVE WITH WHAT WE HAVE, RIGHT? I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION , ALL OF US DO. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF EVERYONE AND WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DUE PROCESS. WITH THAT I SUPPORT A

RESOLUTION THAT SAYS THAT. >> THINK YOU, SIR. I WOULD LIKE TO AS THE CREATOR OF THAT SHORT VIDEO CLIP YOU SAW , SOME OF YOU ARE LATE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT AND THAT IS 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, FOR EVERMORE. WHEN YOUR GRANDKIDS LOOK BACK AND ASK YOU WHAT YOU WERE DOING IN THIS TIME , YOU CAN POINT . THAT IS WHAT I HAVE DONE, I CREATED A MARKER , SINCE YOU DO NOT USE MICROFICHE ANYMORE, YOU CAN TYPE IT IN AND FLIP TO THIS MOMENT AND SAY, I WAS THERE. HERE IS WHAT I DID.

AND LIKE YOU SAID SO PROFOUNDLY , YOUR SILENCE IS A SPEAKING AS WELL. CHOOSE YOUR WORDS CAREFULLY. SO, THE VIDEO FOOTAGE , I HAVE SEEN LIKE MOST EVERY OTHER CONSUMER OF THE MEDIA AND

[01:05:02]

THE NEWS, WE KNOW THERE IS A SLANT IN 90% OF THE MEDIA COVERAGE, I DON'T CARE WHICH WAY YOU SLICE IT. THERE IS ALWAYS AN ANGLE, DOGGONE IT , I WISH THAT WAS NOT THE CASE BUT THESE VISUAL FACTS OF A PICTURE IS WORTH 1000 WORDS ARE WHY I CHOSE A VIDEO . WE HAVE SEEN ALL TOO OFTEN SOMEONE THAT SHOOTS SOMEBODY IN BROAD DAYLIGHT GET HANDCUFFED PEACEFULLY , RESPECTFULLY , HEAD TUCKED IN THOMAS SO THEY DON'T BUMP AT 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 CAPTURE THE CONTENT, I WILL RESTATED THIS WAY. A MOTHER COMES ACROSS THE BORDER, ASYLUM SEEKER , CAME IN LEGALLY , CHECK. GRANTED HER ASYLUM DURING THAT PROCESS, HAS A DAY IN COURT, I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR AWAY IT WAS BUT SHE HAD A SCHEDULED DAY TO COME TO COURT TO HAVE IT HEARD. SHE SHOWS UP , FOLLOWING THE LEGAL PROCESS, HOWEVER BROKEN WE ALL KNOW IT TO BE, CHECK. THE TEMPERATURE HAS CHANGED IN THOSE COURTS. THERE WAS A POSSE , I GOT LUCKY THAT I SAW A BADGE ON ONE OF THOSE GUYS. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE, GIVE ME 15 FEET, YEAH, I DON'T QUALIFY THAT AS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS, BUT AT LEAST HE HAD A BADGE ON THEM. HE WAS NOT ACTING LIKE A COWARD, AS MUCH. THEN WE SEE THIS LADY WHO HAS ALL THE WHILE FOLLOW THE LEGAL SYSTEM , 100% GET PUT INTO A VAN , THAT WOULD BE OKAY, YOU KNOW, IN NEW YORK I GREW UP WATCHING, I WAS NOT IN NEW YORK BUT I GREW UP WATCHING IN BIGGER CITIES ON TV WHERE THEY HAD PADDY WAGONS WERE THEY WOULD PARK ON THE CORNER AND PUT A BUNCH OF WHETHER IT BE SPRING BREAKERS OR WHATEVER THEY LOAD THE VAN UP WITH PEOPLE. OKAY. THAT WAS 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 DEPOSIT 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 IS YELLING, I CAN'T BREATHE . GOD DAMMIT , THAT HURTS. AND THIS IS OKAY? NO, IT IS NOT. PEOPLE WANT TO WORDSMITH AND SEMANTICS PERSPECTIVES, DO IT, DO IT ON YOUR TIME, THIS IS MY MOMENT TO SPEAK ON WHAT IS RIGHT , TO SPEAK ON WHAT WE KNOW IS FUNDAMENTAL. I'M ONE OF THE BIGGEST PATRIOTS BECAUSE OF MY IMMIGRANT FATHER. HE TAUGHT ME TO BE SUCH A PATRIOT . I ALWAYS WEAR MY AMERICAN FLAG LAPEL PIN. NO SNUB ON THE FORMER COUNTY JUDGES, WHEN YOU WALK OUT OF THIS COURTROOM , AND NOBODY PREDICT AT THIS MOMENT, WHEN YOU WALK OUTSIDE THIS COURTROOM, I WANT YOU TO WALK AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE ROTUNDA AND LOOK , BEFORE THERE WERE CAMERAS, HOW WE ARE HONORED AND MEMORIALIZED ALL OF THE COUNTY JUDGES SINCE THE CREATION OF HAYS COUNTY. 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 IS A SEVEN YEARS AGO , SO , THE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WALKING AROUND IN HOODIES , I KNOW MINORITIES GET A BAD RAP FOR WALKING AROUND IN HOODIES , WE HAVE SEEN MINORITIES JOGGING AND GET KILLED FOR JOGGING IN HOODIES , BUT YET, WE HAVE AN

[01:10:07]

ARSENAL , A NATIONAL ARMADA OF PEOPLE WALKING AROUND IN HOODIES AND VANS, TENNIS SHOES, SNEAKERS, NOTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE A UNIFORM , NOT EVEN IN THE CLOSEST OF I OTIS, GRABBING PEOPLE , NO IDENTIFIERS , NO NAME I.D.S, NOTHING TO TELL YOU WE ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT . WHEN THEY ASK, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, ALL THE FOOTAGE I HAVE 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 NOAH'S SLANT. THEY REFUSED TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES, THE ORGANIZATION , AND THEY, MASKED I AM SORRY BUT WHEN THEY COME FOR ME IN THAT CONDITION, I AM BEING KIDNAPPED.

MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT , THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME AND WHEN IT IS HAPPENING TO YOU I WILL SPEAK UP . I SPEAK UP FOR THE DEFENSELESS AS A ROUTINE , I HAVE DONE IT ALL OF MY YEARS IN COURT , IT IS MY HONOR, IT IS A GIFT THAT I HOLD WITH HIGH ESTEEM. I SPEAK FOR THE DEFENSE IS IN JAIL, I SPOKE FOR THEM WHEN WE WERE RAPING ON THE FEES FOR CALLING, WHAT WAS THAT, ERIC? WHEN WE CHARGE THEM TO CALL THEIR LOVED ONES , I PUSHED TO BRING THEM CLOSER HOME, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THEM A 10 HOUR DRIVE TO -- COUNTY, I DROVE OUT THERE TO SEE HOW FAR IT WAS. WHAT ARE WE PUTTING IN EXPOSING OUR COMMUNITY TO? SO, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY PREDICTABLE. MY RESPONSE IS GOING TO BE CONSISTENT. I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE ATTACKING, IF IT IS THE VULNERABLE, IF IT IS THE UNDERREPRESENTED, THE WEEK, I WILL ALWAYS PUSH ON THAT FRONT BUT THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER BEHIND IT GIVES ME SAIL BEHIND MY WINGS BECAUSE I WOULD'VE DONE IT ALONE , I WOULD'VE DONE IT ALONE BUT I THINK YOU FOR THE FULL COURTROOM AND THOSE PICTURES YOU SEE THERE, THOSE ARE MINE. I'M A WORKER, I DON'T THINK THIS IS LEFT VERSUS RIGHT, WE ARE ALL AMERICANS HERE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT OH, YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT , OH, YOUR REPUBLICAN . WE ARE SUCKERS IF WE BELIEVE THAT, THIS IS THE WORKING PEOPLE VERSUS THE ULTRA-ELITE . AS LONG AS WE ARE FIGHTING ONE ANOTHER THEY CAN KEEP RIPPING US OFF. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WITH ALL OF MY HEART. SO, I WILL ALWAYS WORK FOR AND FIGHT FOR THE WORKERS, WHY? BECAUSE THAT IS WHO I HAVE BEEN ALL MY LIFE. SO, JUST KNOW THIS. I WALKED IN THE LOWE'S ALL MY LIFE BECAUSE I'M THEY WILL DO IT, CAN DO IT, I AM THE MEXICAN THE CALL TO GET IT DONE KIND OF A GUY. I WALKED INTO LOWE'S THIS FRIDAY AT 10:00 A.M. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ALL THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON BECAUSE ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN VERY BUSY AND THE PLACE WAS A GHOST TOWN. I CANNOT BELIEVE IT. THERE WAS NOBODY IN SIGHT. I HAD TO TAKE PICTURES AND SHARE IT WITH MY FAMILY. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WHEN YOU ATTACK YOUR WORKING FORCE , WHEN YOU ATTACK YOUR LABOR , THIS IS WHAT YOU GET , THEY DO NOT COME OUT .

THEY ARE HIDING UNDER THE BED, 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 THE OTHER TERRIBLE MOMENTS IN OUR EXISTENCE. PEOPLE ARE NOT COMING OUT AND YOU EXPECT THEM TO BUILD YOUR HOUSE, MOW YOUR LAWN, CLEAN YOUR HOUSE, BUILD YOU A SKYSCRAPER, PAID YOU A ROAD, PICK YOUR FRUITS, IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN , IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AND THOSE PICTURES EXEMPLIFY THAT. THAT FENCE, I DON'T WANT TO MISCHARACTERIZE, I DO MY BEST TO HAVE 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 DID NOT QUITE COME OUT LIKE I HAD HOPED. THAT FENCE IS THERE TO KEEP TOURISTS OUT OR WHATEVER AND I DO MY BEST TO SKATE IN MY LANE OF NOT MESSING WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS. WE ARE COUNTY COME I DON'T MESS WITH CITY OR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND IS NOT MY INTENT BUT THE ENERGY OF, THE IDEA OF PUTTING UP BARRIERS, KEEPING PEOPLE OUT , PUTTING THE SIGNS OUT, IT TALKS ABOUT THE ZEITGEIST. THE ENERGY THAT IS OUT HERE AND THE ENERGY THAT IS

[01:15:07]

GOING ON AND EVERY TIME I DRIVE BY THAT PLACE, EVERY DAY, EVERY TIME I DRIVE BY THERE IS NOBODY IN THERE. IT IS A BAD LOOK IS A COMMUNITY FOR US, IT IS A BAD LOOK IS A REGION, IT IS A BAD LOOK FOR US AS A NATION. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO POINT OUT THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IMMIGRATION, IT ONLY HAD TO DO WITH THE ENERGY THAT IT IS CONVEYING, OKAY? THE LAST THING I WILL POINT OUT IS THE TRUCK THING. IT IS TRUE , I DID NOT KNOW IT WHEN IT HAPPENED BUT IT IS TRUE. SOMEONE PROBABLY, MOST LIKELY, I HAVE DONE A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST BUT OF COURSE THERE IS FOOT DRAGGING GOING ON AND I WILL SUMMARIZE IT THIS WAY. LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS CALLED ON ME BECAUSE THEY SAW AN OLD MEXICAN IN AN OLD TRUCK IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE. I MADE A POST ABOUT BECAUSE I BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE INTRINSICALLY GOOD , I AM AN ETERNAL OPTIMIST AND I WILL DIE THAT WAY, YOU WILL NOT TAINT ME. I KNOW THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE IS GOOD AND I FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO AS A TRUE FUNDAMENTAL. DO I SCREWUP? ABSOLUTELY. WHEN YOU ARE ON THE MOVIE WILL MAKE MISTAKES. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE NO MISTAKES AND SIT STILL. JUST KNOW THIS. I MADE A POST ABOUT IT, JUST SCROLL TO MY FEED, TIME STAMPED, I WAS LIKE, EVERYTHING IS OKAY, FOLKS. NOT KNOWING THAT SOME INDIVIDUAL , THEY SAW ME AS A THREAT AND WANTED ME DEPORTED, PROBABLY, FROM THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, THAT IS WHY I IMPART ADDED THAT LAST PIECE. SO, HERE IS THE LAST THING I WILL SAY AND THEN WE WILL CALL THE BOAT. IF THEY WANTED A SOLUTION, THEY WOULD PASS ONE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT FIXING A BROKEN SYSTEM, IT IS ABOUT WEAPON ICING 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 WOULD 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 , BECAUSE FEAR , NOT PROGRESS, IS THERE END GAME. AND DO NOT GET ME WRONG IN SAYING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SUCK TOO, YES , AND, I ALWAYS SAY YES AND, WE HAVE A HISTORY OF DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED EVERYTHING AND THEY HAVE FAILED MISERABLY .

YES, I AM RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION TWO YEARS BUT I'M CONSIDERING REMOVING THE WORD DEMOCRAT BECAUSE I'M SO DISAPPOINTED WITH THE WAY THE DEMOCRATS IN FULL CONTROL OF HANDLING THIS ISSUE. IT IS NOT A SNUB ON PRESIDENT TRUMP BUT OUR ENTIRE FEDERAL SYSTEM FOR DECADES. AS A FINAL COMMENT, COMMISSIONER SMITH, I RELATE TO YOUR IMMIGRATION PEACE WITH RONALD REAGAN. RONALD REAGAN IS THE REASON TODAY THAT I AM A U.S. CITIZEN , PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> COMMISSIONER HAMMER? >> HOLD ON.

>> WHAT? >> THERE HAS BEEN NO DEBATE ON

THIS ISSUE. >> A DEBATE WAS YOUR TIME TO

TALK. >> YOU ASKED FOR GENERAL

COMMENT. >> WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD?

>> I WOULD LITERALLY LIKE TO 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, SUPPORTED AND IF YOU WANT TO DO ONE FOR ALL CITIZENS, BRING IT BACK AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT ONE. LET ME FINISH MY COMMENT. WE ASK THE ASK YOU HAVE IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE ENERGY THAT I SEEK.

>> THAT IS FINE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ENERGY, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY FINE. WE BRING THESE THINGS, RESOLUTIONS WE BRING ITEMS TO COURT EVERY WEEK . WE HAVE ADJUSTED RESOLUTIONS AND HAD A DEBATE AND TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THEM EVERY WEEK. IT IS NOT , IT IS NOT ONLY NOT UNCOMMON BUT VERY COMMON FOR US TO MAKE CHANGES TO THESE THINGS AND FOR YOU TO SAY, NO, I AM NOT EVEN WILLING TO TALK ABOUT IT, WHEN YOU MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT POLITICAL THEATER, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS AND IT IS VERY TELLING. YOU BROUGHT THIS UP. IN HER, YOU SAID THIS IS, MY MOMENT , ARE WE HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS

[01:20:02]

RIGHT? >> WE ARE.

>> I DID NOT INTERRUPT YOU. >> WE ARE. GO ON.

>> IF WE WANT TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT TO THIS , FOR US TO FEEL AS THOUGH , FOR THE REST OF THE COURT DOES NOT WANT TO SAY, ALL CITIZENS, THAT IS FINE, WE CAN DO THAT BUT 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 RESOLVED, THE THIRD PARAGRAPH FROM THE BOTTOM TO SAY, THE HANDLING OF ALL INDIVIDUALS , BY ANY AGENCY OR ORGANIZATION OPERATING WITHIN THE U.S. WITHIN THE U.S.

>> MY JOB IS TO FOCUS ON HAYS COUNTY AND GOING TO DILUTE IT. I HEARD IN YOUR COMMENTS, FOCUSES HAYS COUNTY RESOLUTION , ALL RESIDENTS, I'M 100% FINE WITH THAT BUT ALL OF THE U.S.? THAT IS NOT OUR LENS, THAT IS THE ONLY THING I WILL TELL YOU. TO BE RESPECTFULLY, PEACEFULLY AGREEABLE TO THE FACT THAT YOU WANT TO DO, ALL, I AGREE. ALL I AM GOOD WITH. BUT THE WAY YOU WERE TALKING EARLIER. BUT THE WAY YOU WERE TALKING EARLIER OF ALL OF YOUR VARIATIONS IN YOUR COMMENTS THAT YOU WENT ON ABOUT, THANK YOU FOR DOING IT, I WAS TICKING OFF TOO MANY VARIATIONS THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO BE AGREEABLE TO, BUT ESSENTIAL ACTUALLY VOCALIZED A MOTION, THANK YOU, I SUPPORT THE ALL BECAUSE ALL IT SHOULD BE SUPPORTED, THAT IS 100% TRUE BUT THROUGHOUT THE U.S., I'M FOCUSING ON HAYS COUNTY. LET'S JUST FOCUS ON THAT. I SUPPORT ALL BUT NOT THE U.S. , HAYS COUNTY IS THE JUDGE I AM OF . THERE IS A GIFT FOR YOU.

>> A GIVE FOR ME? OKAY. >> SORRY. I'M JUST GOING TO SAY TO SATISFY EVERYONE, CAN WE MAKE IT SO IT IS ALL INDIVIDUALS, IMMIGRANTS OR OTHERWISE BY ANY AGENCY, ORGANIZATION OPERATING

WITHIN ORGANIZATION? >> ABSOLUTELY. I AM GOOD WITH THAT BECAUSE I AM INTERESTED IN THAT. YOU HEAR THAT? PERFECT.

ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS, COMMISSIONERS? I DON'T WANT TO SINGLE OUT ANYONE, I'M GOOD WITH THAT.

>> AGREED. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE SOME ATTENTION TO PARAGRAPH SEVEN REALLY QUICK. 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 SHOULD DICTATE LOCAL LAW

ENFORCEMENT OPERATION? >> THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT ANY MUNICIPALITY , ANY STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL , WE ARE IN THE CITY OF SAN MARCUS, AS AN EXAMPLE. THE POLICE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF SAN MARCUS WORKS DIRECTLY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND DIRECTLY FOR A UNIT OF GOVERNMENT THERE. THE CITY COUNCIL CAN DICTATE EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT HIM TO DO, BY LAW. THEY CAN GIVEN THE PARAMETERS TO DO SO. IN TEXAS OUR SHERIFF DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE OVERSIGHT OF AND ARE CONSTABLES WE HAVE OVERSIGHT OF , WE DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY, LEGALLY, TO DICTATE HOW THEY OPERATE THEIR JOB. THEY ARE MANDATED BY THE STATE AS TO HOW THEY CONDUCT THEIR JOB. WE CAN RECOMMEND WE CANNOT MANDATE FOR THEM TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY ARE INDEPENDENT, ELECTED OFFICIALS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. THAT IS THE REASON I DO HAVE SOME CONSUMMATION OVER THAT.

>> THIS IS JUST A RESOLUTION THOUGH. IT IS CLEAR THAT , WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE MAKE YOURSELF IDENTIFIABLE, SO , I KNOW WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MANDATE WHAT CHIEFS AND CONSTABLES AND SHERIFF STEW. WE ARE SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE BELIEVE SHOULD BE DONE AND PEOPLE THAT ARE PICKING UP ENTIRE FAMILIES SHOULD IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AND THAT IS THE ASK.

PICKING PEOPLE UP WITH NO IDENTIFYING ANYTHING AND COVERED IN A MASK IS BEING KIDNAPPED. I CANNOT SHAKE THAT. AND WE ARE WATCHING, THE FOOTAGE , THESE HOODED PEOPLE WITH NOTHING IDENTIFYING THEM, GOING INTO KITCHENS. I UNDERSTAND THE IDEA, COMMISSIONER, OF DOING A RAID, ABSOLUTELY VALID TO BE COVERED HEAD TO TOE LIKE A NINJA IF YOU WANT TO. THAT IS A RAID AND YOU HAVE THESE BIG OLD DECALS ON THE BACK OF HER VEHICLE AND HER JACKET AND ALL OF THAT IS VALID BUT PEOPLE ARE WALKING AROUND COMMUNITIES, GOING TO CHURCHES, GOING INTO SCHOOLS, GOING TO CAFETERIAS, GOING TO SPACES DRESSED LIKE THIS, I MEAN WHO IS TO SAY THAT IS NOT A BUNCH OF PROUD BOYS ACTING OUT, WHO IS GOING TO SAY, NO IT IS NOT, WE NEED TO SEE WHO THEY ARE, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. AND THAT IS THE REASON FOR THAT ITEM. WE NEED TO

[01:25:03]

KNOW WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE TAKING OUR BEATING HEARTS, MOTHERS, FATHERS, CHILDREN, OUT OF CIRCULATION AND KIDNAPPING THEM.

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE , FOR EXAMPLE THE SCENARIO YOU SHOWED.

I COMPLETELY AGREE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFICATION THERE. I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT. WHAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HIS VIDEO I'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS WHERE WE HAVE FEDERAL AGENTS OF ONE TYPE OR ANOTHER IN A MARKED VEHICLE , WITH EITHER A BADGE OR EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT WEARING THAT BUT IN A MARKED VEHICLE AND THOSE OFFICERS ARE IN GRAVE DANGER OF BEING PELTED BY ROCKS AND STONES AND THEIR VEHICLES, I HAVE ISSUE

WITH THAT. >> LUCKILY, SO DO I.

>> WE ASK THOSE INDIVIDUALS PUT THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE EVERY DAY AND 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 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 IS NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I AM TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY COME INTO OUR COMMUNITIES , KIDNAPPING FOLKS AND WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE , WHERE THEY ARE GOING AND WHY THEY TOOK THEM THAT IS WHAT I'M REFERRING TO. IF AND WHEN WE START TO SEE MARKED VEHICLES BEING HARASSED, WE CAN CALL AN EMERGENCY COURT SESSION TO ADDRESS IT, THAT IS NOT THE SPIRIT OF THIS EITHER.

BUT I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU ARE SAYING AND YOU HAVE NO ARGUMENT THERE. SO, WE WILL 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. 10 MINUTE RECESS.

>> ALL RIGHT. WE ARE BACK AND WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE REST

[F.2. Adopt a Proclamation recognizing June 2025 as Hays County Month-Long Celebration of Juneteenth. INGALSBE/PETERSON]

OF THESE PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS IN ORDER. PLEASE

OPEN, F 2. >> ADOPT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 2025 IS HAYS COUNTY MONTH-LONG CELEBRATION OF

JUNETEENTH. >> SECOND.

>> PLEASE READ IT. >> PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 2025 IS HAYS COUNTY MONTH-LONG CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH WHERE IS 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 THROUGH 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. AND WHEREAS THE CIVIL WAR DID NOT OFFICIALLY END UNTIL APRIL 9TH, 1865, WHEN GENERAL ROBERT E LEE SURRENDERED TO GENERAL ULYSSES GRANT . OFFICIAL NOTICE TO TEXAS CAME ON JUNE 19TH, 1865. WHEREAS THE 19TH DAY OF JUNE OR JUNETEENTH BECAME A DAY OF JUBILATION AND LIBERATION FOR TEXAS SLAVES 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. IT IS A DAY, WEEK AND A MONTH MARKED WITH CELEBRATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, COOKOFFS, COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS AND FAMILY GATHERINGS. AND WHERE IS HAYS COUNTY SUPPORTS AND RECOGNIZES THE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF CELEBRATING THE RICH HERITAGE, RESILIENCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN OUR COUNTRY AND OUR COUNTY. WE ALSO SEEK TO FOSTER AN UNDERSTANDING, RESPECT AND CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSE CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS AND WHEREAS THE HONORABLE AL EDWARDS MEMBER OF THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM HOUSTON, INTRODUCED HB 1016 IN 1978. AND ON JUNE 13TH, 1979, GOVERNOR WILLIAM P. CLEMENTS SIGNED A BILL INTO LAW THAT MADE IT JUNETEENTH EMANCIPATION TO AN OFFICIAL STATE HOLIDAY IN TEXAS.

AND WHEREAS JUNE 19TH DID NOT MARK THE END OF AMERICA'S WORK

[01:30:06]

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.

JUNETEENTH ONLY COMMEMORATES THE PAST BUT CALLS US TO ACTION TODAY. WHEREAS JUNETEENTH HOLD SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE IT ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT UPON OUR NATION'S JOURNEY TO FREEDOM, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. IT CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A REMINDER TO 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 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. TRINITY REPRESENTS THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM THAT IS OLDER THAN AMERICA ITSELF AND REMIND US THAT FREEDOM SHOULD BE CELEBRATED WHETHER 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 WANT TO DO IT.

PLEASE CALL THE ROLL, ROXANNE. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE?

>> YES POINT >> COMMISSIONER SMITH?

>> YES. COMMISSIONER HAMMER? >> YES.

>> JUDGE BECERRA? >> YES. WE HAVE A FEW SIGN-UPS SPEAK. WE HAVE -- AND BETTY MEYER.

>> DID YOU SIGN UP FOR GENERAL COMMENT, HOW?

>> YES. >> HE WAS MISSED IN GENERAL, AND

NOT ON THIS ITEM. >> HE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT

UTILITY --. >> I CAN HOLD ON A MINUTE.

>> JUST KNOW, I WAS GIVEN THIS , I GUESS YOU SHOULD UP A LITTLE LATE, THAT IS OKAY. I WILL ALWAYS DO MY PART , IF YOU TAKE YOUR TIME TO GET HERE I WILL GIVE YOU OR THREE MINUTES. WE WILL CHOOSE A SEQUENCE THAT IS BEST FOR YOU. LINDA KROGER . YOU CAME TO MY OFFICE, I KNOW YOU ARE ON THIS.

>> THANK YOU, ALL FOR LETTING US BE HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS.

-- 365, I DON'T KNOW THAT IS. SO, I WILL MAKE THIS UP AS I GO ALONG. JUNETEENTH , THE CELEBRATIONS ARE AMAZING AND FUN. I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON ROSE BROOKE AND THE AUCTION, FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS THIS WOMAN HAS SHOWN UP AND RAISED MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND TO HONOR PEOPLE. I AM CHAIR OF THE HAYS COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION AND HISTORY IS NOT JUST CEMETERIES AND BUILDINGS IT IS LIVING PEOPLE THAT HAVE SHOWN US WHAT HISTORY IS AND WHAT IT CAN DO , THE POWER YOU HAVE. SHE WAS BORN IN 1933 AND SHE LIVED THROUGH THE DEPRESSION, THEIR WORLD WAR II, THROUGH THE RISE OF MOTOWN AND ROCK 'N ROLL AND GRUNGE. I MEAN 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 CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. SHE STOOD TOE TO TOE, SIDE BY SIDE WITH PEOPLE WE CAN ONLY BEGIN TO IMAGINE THE POWER THAT THEY HAD. I JUST, I AM SO IN AWE WHEN I SIT TO TALK TO HER AND I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THE CAKE AUCTION. IT IS ON JUNETEENTH AT THE METHODIST CHURCH AT WHAT TIME? 4:00 . THE MONEY GOES TO SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. I JUST WANT TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE BUT I WANT TO GET IN THAT I AM IN AWE OF YOU, ROSE, I'M

[01:35:09]

HONORED TO CALL YOU A FRIEND. I'M HONORED TO CALL HER MY FAMILY AND WE ARE TRULY BLESSED TO HAVE PEOPLE LIKE ROSE, I CAN SHOW US HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE. THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK?

>> ON F2, NO. >> WE ARE GOOD , OKAY.

COMMISSIONER INGALSBE? >> CONSTABLE ARE YOU READY TO

SPEAK ON IT? THERE YOU GO. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. EVERY YEAR THAT WE COME UP HERE FOR JUNETEENTH IT IS AN HONOR AND WE THANK EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU FOR LETTING US COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT JUNE 19TH, JUNETEENTH, WHICH IS A DAY OF FREEDOM. A DAY OF FREEDOM FOR EVERYONE. IN THIS WORLD. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, THE WORDS THAT I HEARD TODAY IN COMMISSIONERS COURT , THERE IS A FREEDOM DAY FOR EVERYBODY. YOU GET UP IN THE MORNINGS AND WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT? YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO THAT DAY.

WHETHER IT IS GOING TO BE BAD OR GOOD. RESPECTING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO GO BY ON A DAILY BASIS AND YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE SOME PEOPLE HAPPY AND YOU ARE GOING TO NOT MAKE SOME PEOPLE HAPPY BUT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT YOU ARE FREE. YOU ARE FREE IN THIS WORLD. YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED. EVERY DAY, EVERY SECOND, EVERY MINUTE THAT YOU CAN THINK OF WHEN YOU ARE 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 MARCUS, MAYBE 3% AND WE HAVE THREE BLACK FEMALES, ROSE BROOKS, GEORGIA TEE TIME AND MS. WILLIAMS, THOSE ARE THE THREE BLACK MENTOR LEADERS IN THE CITY OF SAN MARCUS AND THEY HAVE BEEN LEADERS FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME, MENTORS OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US THAT HAVE LIVED HERE IN SAN MARCUS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HISPANICS, WE HAVE WHITES, THAT ARE THE SAME WAY, WE CELEBRATE EVERY DAY , CELEBRATE THE FREEDOM THAT WE HAVE , NO MATTER WHAT IT IS. I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO BICKER WITH EACH OTHER AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO AGREE WITH EACH OTHER BUT HONOR YOUR FREEDOM. THAT IS SO, SO IMPORTANT. MS. IS HERE AND SHE HAS BEEN A MENTOR AND A LEADER IN SAN MARCUS, THE HALL COUNTY ACTUALLY. MS. GEORGIA CHEATHAM , SHE CANNOT BE HERE BECAUSE SHE'S ON A CRUISE, SHE RETIRED AFTER BEING A -- JOB CORPS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. HER SON KEVIN WAS UP HERE SPEAKING EARLIER. AND WHAT HE SAID AND WHAT OTHERS SAID IN THIS COURTROOM , YOU SHOULD REALIZE YOU WILL ANALYZE SOME OF IT AND SOME OF IT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ANALYZE. BUT GIVE RESPECT, YOU WILL NOT LIKE EACH OTHER ON SOME THINGS BUT GIVE EACH OTHER RESPECT. MS. BROOKS, MS. CHEATHAM, MS. WILLIAMS, THAT IS ALL WE HAVE LEFT HERE AMONGST OTHER MENTORS THAT ARE HERE IN THE CITY IN THE COUNTY OF HAYS COUNTY. I HAVE MS. CHEATHAM , SHE IS ON A CRUISE BUT I HAVE HER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW HERE AND HER GRANDCHILDREN , WOULD YOU COME UP, PLEASE?

>> HE WILL NOT BITE MORE THAN ONCE. IT IS OKAY.

>> BUT MS. CHEATHAM , SHE DESERVES TO GO ON A VACATION.,.

COME UP. SHE IS GIVING THE, ARE YOU CRAZY? LOOK. THAT IS GREAT.

THIS YOUNG LADY HAS A LOT OF HISTORY. SHE HAS A LOT OF HISTORY IN SAN MARCUS. MS. CHEATHAM DOES, MS. WILLIAMS ,

[01:40:06]

SHE COULD TELL YOU SOME HISTORY OF SAN MARCUS AND SOME HISTORY OF A LOT OF PEOPLE. I LISTENED TO HER, I GUESS THAT IS WHY I AM RIGHT NOW DOING WHAT I'M DOING. BUT I'M FOLLOWING A LOT OF LEADERS IN THIS COUNTY. SHE IS ONE OF THE MAIN ONES. MS. CHEATHAM IS , THOUGH SHE IS NOT HERE BUT HER GRANDCHILDREN , YOUR GRANDCHILDREN, YOUR CHILDREN , ARE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING YOU AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING YOUR FOOTSTEPS.

THESE ARE THE FOOTSTEPS THAT I FOLLOWED AND I KNOW THESE CHILDREN ARE TOO, SHE GIVES A LOT OF SCHOLARSHIPS. JUNETEENTH DOES TOO, SCHOLARSHIPS, FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS AND ANYTHING THAT WE ARE CALLED UPON TO HELP WITHIN THE COUNTY. THE JUNETEENTH COMMITTEE IS HERE AND WE ARE IN GREEN SHIRTS, IT IS CALLED, WE , NOT I AND WE HAVE COME A LONG WAYS BECAUSE OF US , NOT JUST I, WE. WE HAVE A PLAQUE FOR MS. CHEATHAM HERE. WE ALSO GAVE THIS PLAQUE AT THE CITY COUNCIL HALL ALSO AND IT IS JUST SOMETHING IN RECOGNITION , THAT THEY CAN LOOK BACK ON. MS. BROOKS GOT ONE LAST YEAR AND EACH YEAR WE WILL GIVE, HONOR SOMEONE , TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION BACK TO THEM. IT IS NOT A LOT BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL CARRY ON IN MEMORIES.

AND THIS IS GOING TO GO TO MS. CHEATHAM. SHE ALREADY HAS ONE.

WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS ONE BACK BUT THIS WILL GO TO HER AND I'M SORRY THAT KEVIN COULD NOT 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 , 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 MADE A COMMENT. >> GIVE US A SECOND, WE GOT A GO COURT COMMENTS FIRST. HAMMER INGALSBE?

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I WANT TO SAY THIS IS A WONDERFUL TIME TO COME TOGETHER IN UNITY TO CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH RECOGNIZE A VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE AND IT IS A POWERFUL REMINDER TO ME OF THE FREEDOM, THE RESILIENCE AND THE CONTINUED PURSUIT OF JUSTICE THAT MANY FACE AND ARE MAY BE FACING TODAY. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE

CELEBRATION. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN?

>> I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS PROCLAMATION THE LAST FEW YEARS NOW AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CELEBRATIONS AND LIKE COMMISSIONER INGALSBE SAID ABOUT FREEDOM AND CONSTABLE PIERCE SAID, IT IS SOMETHING WE KNOW TO NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED NOW.

RIGHT? AND I THINK SOME OF US HONOR THAT FREEDOM BY SERVING AND THERE ARE A LOT OF US THAT DO THAT HERE IN THE CITY, AND

COUNTY. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER?

>> I WANT TO SAY GOD BLESS ABRAHAM LINCOLN FOR HAVING THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND WE ARE THE LAND OF THE FREE AND GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AS AMERICANS. I BELIEVE IN HONORING THIS HISTORY, PROMOTING UNITY AS COMMISSIONER INGALSBE WAS SAYING, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THE FREEDOM IT DEFINES OUR NATION. AND I WANT TO TAKE A REMINDER OF HOW FAR OUR COUNTRY HAS COME IN THE ONGOING WORK WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO TO ENSURE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AMERICANS ACROSS THE BOARD AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT THE FAMILIES HAVE DONE HERE IN SAN MARCUS TO KEEP THE CULTURE ALIVE. WHAT YOU WILL DO IS IMPACTFUL . WITHOUT YOU ALL WE WOULD NOT HAVE THAT CULTURE THAT WE CAN ALL PARTAKE IN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

>> ANYTIME I GET TO SEE MS. BROOKS ANYWHERE IT IS A GOOD DAY , I KNOW I'M GETTING A HUG. BUT I SAY THAT JOKINGLY. WHENEVER I FIRST DECIDED TO RUN FOR OFFICE IN 2017 , MY PREDECESSOR -- 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, THAT PRECINCT

[01:45:02]

IS OVER HALF THE COUNTY AND I HAD A BIG CHUNK OF SAN MARCUS AND I SAID, I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY IN SAN MARCUS AND HIS ADVICE WAS, IF YOU KNOW ROSE BROOKS, YOU KNOW EVERYBODY IN SAN MARCUS. HE TOLD ME TO GO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO MS. BROOKS EDITED. I CHERISHED THAT. I APPRECIATE THE BROOKS AND YOU ALL AND I REALLY DO LOVE YOU ALL, YOU ARE GREAT PEOPLE AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU ALL GIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY ARE UNHERALDED AT TIMES BECAUSE YOU ALL DO NOT ASK FOR A PAT ON THE BACK BUT PEOPLE SEE YOU DOING IT AND I THINK IT IS GREAT THT YOU ARE BEING HONORED TODAY BUT IT IS ALWAYS A BIT PROCLAMATION SUPPORT AND ALWAYS FOR THE BEST OF REASONS AND JUST KNOW I

APPRECIATE YOU ALL. >> WELL SAID. I WILL ADD TO THESE COMMENTS THAT IF YOU LOOK TO THE COURTHOUSE HISTORY, CHEATHAM IS ACTUALLY THE NAME OF OUR FIRST COUNTY JUDGE, PRETTY COOL, HISTORICAL AND IT IS PART OF THE MESSAGE THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN HERE FOREVER. AND THAT IS A REALLY COOL REMINDER. SOME OF US FEEL LIKE LITERALLY BUT OVERALL WE HAVE ALL BEEN HERE AND AS A LOVER OF SWEETS AND BAKED GOODS, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CAKEWALK, THAT IS A TREAT. WHEN HE SAID I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CAKEWALK, I SAID, ABSOLUTELY, TALK ABOUT THAT CAKEWALK. IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS BUT JUNETEENTH IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE ALL UNIQUE , JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. WE ALL HAVE THE STRUGGLES, WE ALL HAVE THE HURT , WE ALL HAVE THE MORE PERFECT UNION ON OUR LAPS, WE ARE ALL WORKING TOWARDS IMPROVING, CONSTABLE, YOUR WORDS WERE RESOUNDINGLY PERFECT TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR THEM. IF NOTHING ELSE, COME ON UP, EVERYONE IT WANTS TO BE , ANOTHER COMMENT, ONE MORE THING AFTER THE CONSTABLE SPEAKS THEN

COME ON UP FOR A PICTURE. >> I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THE CAKE AUCTION. ON THE 19TH WE WILL ALSO HAVE A PARADE AND UNITY WALK THAT WILL START AT THE CROSSWALKS OF MARTIN LUTHER KING , ON A THURSDAY, THAT IS ON JUNE 19TH . FOLLOWING THE 21ST WE WILL HAVE A BARBECUE /COOKOFF AT THE FISH HATCHERY, WHICH IS ON HOPKINS STREET, THE PLAZA AND ALSO THE DUNBAR ASSOCIATION WILL ALSO HAVE SOME FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE GOING ON ALSO. MR. BRENT BARRY WANTED TO

SPEAK ON THAT FOR A SECOND. >> YES, IS WAITING FOR YOU TO FINISH BECAUSE THERE BEHIND YOU WAITING TO SPEAK TO GIVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE ACTIVITIES. THANK YOU, ALEX BEEN VERY STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE.

>> DHA -- PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY AT THE, COMMISSIONERS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. LIKE YOU SAID WE HAVE A FEW EVENTS GOING ON. THIS PAST WEEKEND WE DID A JUNETEENTH HISTORICAL MAZE OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND WE HAD OVER 50 PARTICIPANTS COME THROUGH THE MAZE 200 HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH.

ON THE 19TH OF JUNE , FOLLOWING THE PARADE THEY WILL END AT THE DUNBAR RECREATION CENTER WHERE WE WILL KICK OFF OUR JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION AND THAT WILL START AT 10:00 A.M. AND IT WILL GO UNTIL 3:00 P.M. UNTIL 3:00 P.M. ON THE 21ST WE WILL DO A JUNETEENTH 5K , WE ARE INVITING EVERYONE TO COMFORT DEBATE IN THAT. -- HAS SIGNED UP TO RUN IN THAT, OUR WINTER THE PREVIOUS YEAR , WE ASK YOU ALL COME OUT AND BEAT THE COUNTY JUDGE.

>> HEY, I'M GOING TO SAY SLOW DOWN AND HAVE A PISTOL AND SHOOT

AT THE DIRT. >> THAT WILL START AT 8:00 A.M.

AT THE CITY PARK RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE, WHAT IS IT, THE TUBA RENTAL PLACE. THERE IS A NATIONAL GUARD BUILDING, WE WILL START RIGHT THERE IN THE NATIONAL GUARD PARKING LOT AND RUN THROUGH THE TRAILS OF SAN MARCUS PARKS. AND THEN TO END THE MONTH WE WILL DO OUR BLACK KING CELEBRATION WE WILL HONOR SEVEN BLACK GENTLEMAN WITHIN HAYS COUNTY , BASED OFF THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF KWANZAA. AND THAT WILL BE JUNE 28TH FROM 3:30 P.M. TO 5:30 P.M. AT THE SAN MARCUS PUBLIC LIBRARY.

>> WELL DONE, ALEX. JOIN US APPEAR, LET'S TAKE A PICTURE, EVERYONE.

[01:53:45]

>> I LOVE THE CONVERSATION , YOU KNOW I DO BUT WE HAVE A PACKED AGENDA. BECAUSE THE ENTRY WAS A LITTLE BIT OFF OUR TIMING AND CADENCE , I HOLD IN HIGH ESTEEM THOSE THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROCESS AND I THINK NOW IN A NEUTRAL, QUIET SPACE I INVITE YOU TO SPEAK FOR YOUR FREE MINUTES, MR. MYERS. COME ON UP. PLEASE PUT A TIMER ON FOR HIM. WE ARE NOW IN A PUBLIC

COMMENT ENERGY. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS HAL MYERS, I'M HERE WITH MY WIFE AND ANOTHER ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS. WE LIVE AT 8000 MOUNT SHARP ROAD IN WIMBERLEY AND IT HAS BEEN A RESIDENT SINCE 1998. OUR RANCH IS CALLED JACK MOUNTAIN RANCH, WE REGISTER LONGHORNS. SEVERAL MONTHS BACK THE SUBCONTRACTORS APPEARED AND BEGAN TO SET A SERIES OF STEAKS ON OUR FRONT FENCE AS WELL AS THE NEIGHBORS FENCE LINE ON MOUNT SHARP ROAD IN MOUNT GAYNOR ROAD. THE ONLY COMMENT WAS THAT IT WAS FOR SPECTRUM. NEVER HAD ANY DISCUSSION WITH A SPECTRUM REPRESENTATIVE OR EVEN HAYS COUNTY THAT THIS PLAN OR WORK WAS BEING CONSIDERED. FAST FORWARD TO THE WEEK OF MAY 26TH, WE SAW THE SUBCONTRACTOR OUTPUTTING POLES IN THE GROUND

[01:55:04]

ON MOUNT GAYNOR COMING AROUND TO THE MOUNT SHARP ROAD. NOTIFIED COMMISSIONER HAMMER'S OFFICE AND LINDA IN TURN REFERRED ME TO ERIN JONES AND MARK VELASQUEZ AND A MARK WITH MARK ON WEDNESDAY MAY 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 WE HAVE . WE HAVE ABOUT 5000 FEET OF FRONTAGE ALONG -- THE SUBCONTRACTORS THAT STEAKS ALONG MY FENCE LINE OR THE POLES WERE TO BE PLACED AS WELL AS OTHER POLLS ALONG BOTH SECTIONS OF THAT ROAD. SPECTRUM FAILED TO OPERATE WITHIN THE PERMITTING PROCESS . AS I SAID EARLIER NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OR FROM SPECTRUM OR HAYS COUNTY AND ONCE WE WERE NOTIFIED ONCE WE NOTIFIED COMMISSIONER HAMMER'S OFFICE THEY PROBABLY RESPONDED WITH THE STOP WORK NOTICE. THE WAY THEY SET THINGS UP ON OUR PROPERTY LINE , THEY'VE GOT 36 STEAKS SET UP WHICH MEANS THEY WILL STICK UP A POLL ABOUT EVERY 120 FEET ALONG OUR FENCE LINE ON THE FRONT PASTURE AND THE ENTRANCE TO OUR RANCH. OUR FENCE LINE IS CLEAR, WELL KEPT AND MAINTAINED TO ENSURE IT IS NOT OVERGROWN WITH TREES, SHRUBS, ET CETERA , MOWING, WEEDING, CLEARING THE DITCH ALONG OUR FENCE LINE. 36 POLLS WILL DESTROY THE RULE BEAUTY OF THE RANCHLAND THAT SURROUNDS US AND OUR NEIGHBORS. THE POLES LOOK LIKE STICKS LINE THE FRONT FENCE LINE AND WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY SET UP WITH CABLE HANGING IN ALL DIRECTIONS. THE UNSIGHTLY POLES DESTROY THE BEAUTY OF THE RURAL RANCH SETTING FOR NEIGHBORS AS WELL AS FOR US, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LOOK AT 36 TINKER TOYS STICKING UP. THOSE POLLS WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY THAT WE OCCUPY AS WELL AS THOSE OF OUR NEIGHBORS. WE WILL CONTINUE AS A RANCH, WE STARTED 27 YEARS AGO AND WE WILL CONTINUE GOING FORWARD. I AM RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTING THAT NO POLES BE ERECTED , SHOULD SPECTRUM AND HAYS COUNTY WANT TO BRING FIBER OFF X AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY TO US AND OUR NEIGHBORS ALONG THE 8000 MOUNT SHARP CORRIDOR NOT GAYNOR ROAD, GO UNDERGROUND . I'M AVAILABLE AS OUR NEIGHBORS TO MEET WITH COMMISSIONER HAMMER, MARK AND SPECTRUM -- AND DISCUSS. THANK YOU, SIR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FLEXIBILITY IN SQUEEZING YOU IN.

[F.3. Adopta Proclamation recognizing June 2025 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. COHEN/BECERRA]

BECAUSE YOU DESERVE TO BE HEARD.

>> YES, THANK YOU. >> PLEASE OPEN F3.

>> F3, DR. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 25 AS LGBTQIA+

PRIDE MONTH. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND POINT >> PLEASE READ IT.

>> RECOGNIZING JUNE 2025 AS LGBTQIA+ PRIDE MONTH. WHERE IS DURING PRIDE MONTH WE RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE COURAGE, RESILIENCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE 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 DISCRIMNATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR GENDER EXPRESSION AND WHEREAS PRIDE MONTH IS A TIME TO HONOR DIVERSITY THAT STRENGTHENS OUR COMMITTEE AND TO RECOGNIZE THE ONGOING IMPACT AND LEADERSHIP OF OUR LGBTQIA+ NEIGHBORS AND 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 CROW CLAIMING JUNE 2025 IS PRIDE MONTH HAYS COUNTY RE-COMMITS TO BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE SOCIETY WHERE EVERYONE IS TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. AND WHEREAS BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION ARE ACTIVELY CHALLENGED AND WHEREAS, AS WE MARK PRIDE MONTH WE 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.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM, JUNE 2025, AS LGBTQIA+ PRIDE MONTH , ADOPTING THIS THE 10TH OF JUNE, 2025.

[02:00:01]

>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH?

>> YES. AGAIN , YOU DID NOT ASK FOR ANY DEBATE ON THIS AT ALL,

JUDGE? >> DO YOU HAVE A MOTION?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

>> OKAY, LET'S DO THAT THEN. >> ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM

ANYONE IN THE COURT? >> I AM STILL THE CHAIR, LET ME HAVE THE FREEDOM TO MOVE THE MEETING ALONG . F3 , DID IT JUST

COME IN? >> IT WAS HERE.

>> OKAY, LET'S START WITH COMMISSIONER SMITH .

>> LET'S FOLLOW THE DECORUM OF THE COURT.

>> LET'S FOLLOW AS THE CHAIR DICTATES, 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 COMMENTS ON THIS BEFORE WE VOTE AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE EVERY YEAR I APPRECIATE THE RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN FOR THE MOST PART THIS YEAR. IN THE PAST THERE HAVE BEEN LINE SPECIFICALLY STATING THAT FOR EXAMPLE, IN LAST YEAR'S RESOLUTION REFERENCING HATEFUL LAWS THAT ARE , THAT OUR LEGISLATURE AND THE NATIONAL LEGISLATOR WERE ADDRESSING AT THE TIME AND THOSE SPECIFIC LAWS 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 AND I APPRECIATED THAT BEING CHANGED. LOOKING AT THE RESOLUTION THIS YEAR, I DO NOT HAVE AS MANY ISSUES WITH IT.

I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU. I SINCERELY RESPECT , I SINCERELY RESPECT OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR MEMBERS 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 ISSUE CELEBRATING SOME OF THE CHANGES AND SOME OF THE GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING IN THIS RESOLUTION TODAY. I HAVE TO SAY THAT. I STILL BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN EQUALITY FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS. I TRULY AND HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT IS A FACT. I TRULY CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE PERSECUTION THAT MANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THESE COMMITTEES HAVE GONE THROUGH AND CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH. BUT I ALSO HAVE ISSUE WITH , AS A CHRISTIAN, I HAVE ISSUE WITH PROMOTING , BOTH PROMOTING AND RECOGNIZING AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF GENDER IDENTITIES OUT THERE. THAT IS MY PERSONAL VIEW. I'M JUST TELLING YOU IT IS, THAT MAY BE WRONG BUT I FIND THAT HARD TO DO. I DO NOT WANT TO VOTE ON THIS RESOLUTION WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO HAVE COMMENT AND DISCUSSION RELATIVE

TO THAT. >> VERY GOOD. WE WILL CONTINUE COMMENTS AND WHEN COMMISSIONER INGALSBE IS DONE, BUT I WILL GO BACK TO YOU TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT, SOUND GOOD?

>> DO WE WANT TO HEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS OF THOSE WHO SUBMITTED

PUBLIC COMMENTS AS WELL? >> THERE IS ONE. THAT WAS JUST HANDED TO ME. SINCE I STARTED I WILL FOLLOW THE PATTERN AS I HAVE STARTED AND THEN I WILL GO TO THE ONE COMMENT THAT WAS JUST HANDED TO ME. COMMISSIONER HAMMER?

>> 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. I BELIEVE ALSO AS A CHRISTIAN WE ARE OBLIGATED FROM THE SERMON ON THE MOUND HAVE COMPASSION TO ACCEPT EVERYONE FOR WHO THEY ARE AND TO TREAT THEM , YOU KNOW, AS WE WANT TO BE TREATED. GOING BACK TO THE FIRST PROCLAMATION THAT WE HAD. SO, AND AS A REPUBLICAN, I BELIEVE PERSONAL LIBERTY, LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND THE RIGHT OF ALL AMERICANS TO LIVE FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION, INCLUDING THOSE OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY DESERVE IT. THEY DESERVE THAT. THAT IS WHY SUPPORT THIS PROCLAMATION , JUST AS A RECOGNITION TO THE HARDSHIP THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH AND I DO CELEBRATE THEIR INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM. I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE A GAY MAN IN THE '70S AND '80S, TO GO FIGHT

[02:05:11]

FOR YOUR COUNTRY AND DEAL WITH DISCRIMINATION AND I 100% I'M SORRY FOR THAT. YOU GUYS ARE CONTINUALLY GROWING AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE BOARD. WITH THAT BEING SAID I ALSO FIRMLY , I KNOW IT IS NOT SEE ANYTHING IN HERE ABOUT CHILDREN OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, BUT I FIRMLY OPPOSE ANY TYPE OF POLITICALIZATION OR IDEOLOGICAL INDOCTRINATION OF CHILDREN , SUPPORTING THE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF ADULTS DOES NOT MEAN PUSHING ANY TYPE OF AGENDA ONTO KIDS OR COMPROMISING PARENTAL RIGHTS. I UNDERSTAND THIS DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT BUT I DO NEED TO MAKE THAT POINT

CLEAR. >> I LOVE IT, COMMISSIONER, AND I WAS RESPECTFUL AND TASTEFUL AND HE 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 ELOQUENTLY. THAT THREAD THE NEEDLE AS I WOULD DESCRIBE IT,

BEAUTIFULLY. COMMISSIONER COHEN? >> I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES RESPONSES AND 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 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. I HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED THIS PROCLAMATION THE LAST FEW YEARS, I BELIEVE IN IT. I SEE WHAT THIS GROUP HAS ENDURED , I HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND I SUPPORT THE PROCLAMATION THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN. WE ALL SHOULD HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AND I RESPECT MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR OPINIONS BUT AS A HUMAN PERSON WHO CARES ABOUT PEOPLE , THIS PROCLAMATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME , I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT THIS GROUP AT ALL COSTS.

STONEWALL SAID, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE?

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE, THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN MANY WORDS SPOKEN TODAY THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THIS RESOLUTION. I NAME SOME EARLIER, YOU KNOW, HONOR, FREEDOM, FAIRNESS AND ONE OF THE PARAGRAPHS SAYS THAT WE NEED TO BUILD A MORE INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE AND PSYD FOR EVERYONE, WHERE EVERYONE IS TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, NO MATTER WHAT OUR BELIEFS ARE. WE ARE AMERICANS FIRST AND GOD CREATED US IN HIS IMAGE . WE MAY NOT AGREE WITH EVERYONE BUT I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS

RESOLUTION. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. I GET THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING LAST. I BELIEVE IN SMALL GOVERNMENT. I'M A WEIRD DEMOCRAT, HERE YOU GO. I BELIEVE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE SMALL, I BELIEVE GOVERNMENTS SHOULD BE NIMBLE, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD STAY OUT OF YOUR LIVES, I DON'T CARE HOW MANY GUNS ARE IN YOUR CLOSET OR WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN YOUR BEDROOM. THAT IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS. I BELIEVE WE SHOULD STAY OUT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES SO MUCH THAT I'VE ACTUALLY CREATED AN ACRONYM ABOUT IT. P.I.E. , I TELL PEOPLE BECAUSE I WAS AT 350,000 TEXANS AN IDEAL THE MOST EVENHANDED HOLISTIC APPROACH POSSIBLE WITHOUT ALIENATING I DON'T NEED TO FEEL ATTACKED WITH MY PRESENCE. SO I LITERALLY SAY, MY JOB IS P.I.E. , PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH , INFRASTRUCTURE , AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THOSE ARE THE LANES I OCCUPY THE BANDWIDTH OF MY LIFE AND IF YOU NOTICE, NONE OF THEM SAY WHAT BATHROOM YOU'RE GOING TO WALK INTO OR WHAT YOU ARE DOING, WHETHER YOU ARE HAVE AN ABORTION OR NOT , NONE OF THAT IS MY BUSINESS, IT IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS. IT IS NOT MY PLACE. YOU ARE AMERICANS, YOU ARE TEXANS, YOUR NEIGHBORS , YOU RUN YOUR LIVES AS YOUR RELIGION AND YOUR SPOUSE OR YOUR MATE AND YOUR FAMILY SEE FIT, THAT DOES NOT HARM OTHERS. I'M STAYING OUT OF YOUR WAY. IF YOU ARE HARMING OTHERS OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS NEGATIVE, THEN WE SHOW UP, HAPPILY BUT UNTIL THEN WE MUST DEFEND AND PROTECT ALL THE VULNERABLE, LIKE IT WAS IN THIS ONE, AND THE PREVIOUS JUNETEENTH PROCLAMATION AND THE PREVIOUS REVERENT RESOLUTION ABOUT IMMIGRANTS. ABSOLUTELY, ALWAYS DEFEND THE VULNERABLE. IT IS BIBLICAL, WE ARE CITING CHRISTIANITY APPEAR, LIFELONG CATHOLIC, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, I'M CHRISTIAN. I BELIEVE IN THOSE FOUNDATIONAL BELIEFS, DEFEND, PROTECT, ALL OF THOSE

[02:10:06]

IDEAS ARE REAL AND WHOLESOME. THAT IS 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 SPEAKERS TO SPEAK.

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH? >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER COHEN? >> YES POINT

>> COMMISSIONER HAMMER? >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE? >> YES.

>> JUDGE BECERRA? >> YES. MATTHEW GONZALEZ.

>> GOOD MORNING, I'M THE HAYS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOMETHING THAT KRISTIAN MENCHACA HAMMER SAID THAT STICKS OUT WITH ME AS A GAY MAN, THE 1980 HIV/A.I.D.S. ACADEMIC, MANY LIVES WERE LOST IN MANY OF THOSE LIVES CANNOT PASS ALONG THE COURAGE AND 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. I VALUE YOUR COMMENTS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I THINK IT IS A NOTE TO ME TO ALWAYS TRY TO DO MORE FOR EVERY PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY REGARDLESS OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT DEFINE THEM BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THAT TRAUMA TO BE INSTILLED ON THEM IN THE FUTURE. I AM TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.

FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW I LIVE MY LIFE OPENLY AND PROBABLY AS AN GAY MARRIED MAN, IT IS PROCLAMATIONS LIKE THIS IN ACTS OF RECOGNITION THAT ALLOWS ME AND OTHERS TO LIVE AUTHENTICALLY WITHOUT FEAR OF REPERCUSSION FROM OUR EMPLOYERS, COMMITTEES IN OUR GOVERNMENT. LET ME BE CLEAR, MY SECTIONAL ORIENTATION IS NOT MY ONLY IDENTITY, I AM HISPANIC, I'M A HUSBAND, A SON, BROTHER AND AN UNCLE, A PET DATA IN A PROUD HOLDER OF A GRADUATE DEGREE. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE ROLES AND EXPERIENCES THAT SHAPE WHO I AM , MY IDENTITY IS NOT SINGULAR, IT IS A RICH TAPESTRY OF LIVE EXPERIENCES AND I'M NOT JUST DEFINED BY ONE ASPECT . THAT IS WHY THIS PROCLAMATION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I CELEBRATE SOME THAT MAKES ME UNIQUE OUT OF THE THRESHOLD MAJORITY SITUATIONS. I STAND HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE VIBRANT DEDICATED AND DIVERSE % INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PART OF THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY. WE CONTRIBUTE LABOR, LOVE AND LOYALTY TO ENSURE THAT EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMITTEE HAS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY , SOCIAL INCLUSION AND HEALTH EQUITY. WE HAVE BEEN HERE IN THE PAST, WE ARE HERE NOW AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE HERE IN THE FUTURE.

PROCLAMATIONS LIKE THIS MATTER, THEY ARE MORE THAN SYMBOLIC GESTURES, THEIR POWERFUL SIGNALS , THEY TELL RESIDENTS, VISITORS, BUSINESSES AND POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES THAT HAYS COUNTY IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAFE, VALUED AND WELCOME. BEYOND POLICY AND BEYOND ECONOMICS PROCLAMATIONS LIKE THIS CAN SAVE LIVES. THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE FIGHTING SILENT BATTLES, WHO ARE WONDERING IF THERE IS A PLACE FOR THEM IN THIS WORLD. TO SEE THE GOVERNMENT STAND UP AND SAY YOU ARE SEEN, YOU ARE VALUED AND LOVED , THAT CAN BE THE VERY THING THAT GIVE SOMEONE THE STRENGTH TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY.

THAT CAN BE THE HOPE THAT INTERRUPTS THEIR DESPAIR. WHEN PEOPLE FEEL SAFE TO LIVE, WORK AND VISIT HERE STRENGTHENS OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, IT ATTRACTS TOURISTS TO DINE IN OUR RESTAURANTS AND IT BRINGS A MORE DIVERSE SKILLED AND EDUCATED WORKFORCE. PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING , PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR COMMUNITIES AND EMBRACE THEM FOR WHO THEY ARE. BY CREATING AN INCLUSIVE AND AFFIRMING ENVIRONMENT WE ARE NOT ONLY DOING WHAT IS RIGHT, WE ARE INVESTING IN A SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL ENOUGH ECONOMIC HEALTH OF OUR COUNTY. I WILL WRAP UP.

>> THANK YOU. AT THIS POINT IN TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ONE OF OUR LONGTIME LEADERS IN THIS MOVEMENT TO APPROACH THE PODIUM,

MS. SANDOVAL . >> I DID NOT SIGN UP TO SPEAK BECAUSE I'M NOT GREAT AT PUBLIC SPEAKING. A

>> AND STILL I CALLED YOU UP. THE SAD PART FOR YOU IS THERE IS

NO TIMER IN THIS MODE. >> I FOLLOWED HER ALL OF THESE CATEGORIES, I'M FROM MEXICO, LESBIAN , RAISED BY TWO IMMIGRANTS. BEING LGBTQ IS A BIG DEAL, MY MOM EMBRACES IT TOO AND TO HAVE MY COMMUNITY HERE, YOUR BACKS, THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO ME. WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY FROM JUNETEENTH TO LGBT IMMIGRATION, WE GOT TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD, WE'VE GOT A CLEAN UP THE STREETS THAT I HOPE ONE DAY WE ALL UNITE AND WALK TOGETHER IN A PEACEFUL REMINDER FOR THIS COMMUNITY WOULD BE LIKE WITHOUT ALL OF US. AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL, FOR THE SUPPORT AND EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT LGBT, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO GET UP THERE AND SHOW

[02:15:02]

YOUR SUPPORT FOR US AS WELL. >> BEAUTIFULLY DONE. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK? OKAY, ANYONE WANTING TO BE A PART OF THIS PICTURE PLEASE COME ON UP FOR A QUICK PICTURE.

>> THANK YOU, ALL. >> THANK YOU, THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER. THANK YOU.

WILL . OKAY. HERE WE GO. WE ARE GOING TO KEEP MOVING, FOLKS. THANK

[F.4. Adopt a Proclamation recognizing the 150th Anniversary of Rambo Lodge #426. SMITH]

YOU, RUBEN. PLEASE OPEN >> REFEREE: 4.

>> DR. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE HUNDRED 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF

RAMBO LODGE NUMBER 426. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND POINT >> PLEASE READ IT.

>> RECOGNIZING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF RAMBO LODGE 426, WHEREAS ON OCTOBER 2ND, 1874, A DISPENSATION WAS GRANTED BY THE GRAND LODGE OF TEXAS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RAMBO LODGE IN THE COMMUNITY OF CEDAR VALLEY, TEXAS AND WHEREAS ON JUNE 7TH, 1875 CHARTER WAS ISSUED FOR RAMBO LODGE 426, AF AND A.M. AND A LOT OF TO CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED UNDER THAT AUTHORITY FOR OVER 150 YEARS. 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. WHEREAS TEXAS MASONS HAVE HISTORICALLY INCLUDED VETERANS OF THE TEXAS RESOLUTION , DELEGATES TO THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS CONVENTIONS AND NUMEROUS LEADERS AND STATE, COUNTY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS TRUSTEES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND WHEREAS MEMBERS OF RAMBO LODGE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CIVIC , EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL FABRIC OF HAYS COUNTY AND WHEREAS SEVERAL MEMBERS OF RAMBO LODGE HAVE GONE ON TO SERVE AS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, EXEMPLIFYING A CONTINUED LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE. INCLUDING PL TURNER FROM 1913 TO 1916, JW CHAMPION FROM 1921 TO 1924.

LOUIS B JENNINGS, 1943 , VIRGIL KOHN, 1947 TO 1962 , LEONARD MCCARTY, 1961 TO 1989 AND RAY -- JR. 2011 TO 2018. AND WHERE IS

[02:20:11]

RAMBO LODGE NUMBER 426 HAS RESIDED IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY. INCLUDING FRIENDSHIP CHURCH IN CEDAR VALLEY , RELOCATED TO DRIPPING SPRINGS IN 1883 AND HAS OPERATED FROM HISTORIC DRIPPING SPRINGS ACADEMY BUILDING SINCE 1951. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF RAMBO LODGE NUMBER 426 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. I'M NOT SURE ANYBODY FROM THE LODGES HERE. THERE THEY ARE. ALL RIGHT.

>> DO YOU WANT THEM TO SPEAK FIRST?

>> YES. >> WE WILL BREAK OUT OF THE CYCLE AND IF YOU WILL STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING

PUBLIC. >> SORRY DID NOT SEE YOU EARLIER

WHEN YOU CAME IN. >> THAT'S ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS LYNN ALDERSON THE CURRENT SECRETARY OF RAMBO LODGE 426. IT IS WITH SINCERE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE COMMISSIONERS TO SHOW OUR LIVES AND THAT WE HAVE MEANT 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 , JACK C. HAYS, WAS A FREEMASON , SO, IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE WE ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I FOUND OUT IN AN 1885 , THE HEAD OF RAMBO LODGE 426 WAS ROLLING CRYSTAL, WHO IS MY GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GRANDFATHER. SO, WE DO APPRECIATE THAT. WE WILL BE HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE ON SATURDAY FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER DRIVEN BY AND WONDERED WHAT IS IN THE SCARY BUILDING, IT WAS ORIGINALLY DRIPPING SPRINGS ACADEMY , IT WAS A SCHOOL. I HAVE PERSONALLY SHOWN, WHEN I SAY THIS, TWO OLDER LADIES, THROUGH THE BUILDING, WHICH I WAS CORRECTED BY MY WIFE CALLING THE MOLD . I EXPLAINED TO HER THAT THEY WENT TO SCHOOL THERE.

SO, IT IS, IT IS A UNIQUE SITUATION. THE CITY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS, IT IS NOT A FUNDRAISER, IT IS JUST AN OPENING AND WE DO APPRECIATE THE COUNTY PROVIDING THIS PROCLAMATION.

>> BEAUTIFUL, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I WILL SAY , SOMEONE MOVING THROUGH THE MASONIC PROCESS, I KNOW MASONS THAT ARE HAPPY, ALIVE AND WELL AROUND IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW, I WILL NOT CALL THEM OUT, IT IS REALLY HEARTWARMING FOR ME TO SEE THIS BECAUSE NOT UNTIL YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS 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. SO, I THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL ENDEAVOR THAT NEEDS MORE ATTENTION. I'M GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF THIS. COMMISSIONER

SMITH? >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW RAMBO LODGE, WE MENTIONED IT IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN, DRIPPING SPRINGS RIGHT OFF OF MERCER STREET. IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO FOUNDERS DAY IT IS THE , IT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER THE BIG STAGE WHERE THE DANCES HELD AT AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. THEY ARE A THRIVING MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY AND I'M ALSO GLAD TO SAY THAT THROUGH DRIPPING SPRINGS, HOPEFULLY THEY WILL HAVE SOME BETTER PARKING AND SOME NICER FACILITIES SURROUNDING THE BUILDING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. WE ARE EXCITED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT.

>> BEAUTIFUL. COMMISSIONER HAMMER ?

>> THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO , IT IS GREAT SUPPORT PLACES SUCH AS THE RAMBO LODGE THAT FOSTER GREAT COMMUNITY AND GREAT LEADERS AND BUILD LEADERSHIP. WE NEED MORE OF THOSE OUT HERE,

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE , THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION.

>> I WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR ALL OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU PROVIDE

TO OUR COMMUNITY. >> I ALSO WANT TO SAY AGAIN THAT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER -- WHO

[02:25:02]

COMMISSIONER INGALSBE SERVICE FOR EIGHT YEARS, WE APPRECIATE

RAY IN EVERYTHING HE DID . >> ROXANNE, PLEASE CALL THE

ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN?

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER?

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE?

>> YES POINT >> JUDGE BECERRA?

>> YES. COME UP, ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE A PART OF THIS, COME

UP TO TAKE A PICTURE. >> BEAUTIFUL, THANK YOU AND THIS IS FOR YOU, THANK YOU , THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUST AS A HEADS UP

[F.5. Adopta Proclamation commemorating the 19th Anniversary of the death of U.S. Army Private First Class Kristian Menchaca. BECERRA]

AFTER WE THE PROCLAMATION SECTION WE WILL TAKE A QUICK

RECESS. PLEASE OPEN F MAC 5. >> DR. PROCLAMATION COMMEMORATING THE 19 ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF U.S. ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KRISTIAN MENCHACA.

>> SECOND. >> PLEASE READ IT.

>> PROCLAMATION COMMEMORATING THE 19 ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF U.S. 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 MARCUS 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 ADMIRAL COMMITMENT TO HIS GOALS WHICH EXEMPLIFIED THE JOB CORPS'S CORE VALUES. WHEREAS IN 2006 WHILE ASSIGNED TO THE FIRST BATTALION 502ND INFANTRY REGIMENT SECOND BRIGADE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, PRIVATE KRISTIAN MENCHACA WAS KILLED FOLLOWING AN INSURGENT ATTACK ON A U.S. ARMY CHECKPOINT SOUTH OF BAGHDAD, IRAQ AND WAS POST HUMOROUSLY AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART AND PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL. AND WHEREAS IN 2019 HAYS COUNTY DESIGNATED A PORTION OF STATE HIGHWAY 21 BETWEEN HIGHWAY 80 AND YERINGTON ROAD AS THE PFC. KRISTIAN MENCHACA MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. AND WHEREAS WILLING TO LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MEN IN U.S. ARMED FORCES DEMONSTRATE EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE AND LOVE OF THEIR COUNTRY AND TIME CANNOT DIMINISH THE PROFOUND AT 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 19 ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF U.S. ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KRISTIAN MENCHACA OF BROWNSVILLE. PROVIDING A FITTING OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON HIS LIFE AND HIS SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF HAYS COUNTY DOES HEREBY COMMEMORATE THE 19 ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF U.S. ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KRISTIAN MENCHACA AND PAYS TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY AND SERVICE. ADOPTING THIS THE 10TH DAY OF JUNE, 2005.

>> BEAUTIFULLY DONE, WE CAN CALL ROLE AND THEN I WILL ASK

RANDOLPH GOODMAN TO SPEAK. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER?

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE?

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH?

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE?

>> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA?

>> YES WITH HIGH HONOR. MY FRIEND, ALL YOURS.

[02:30:06]

JUST CANNOT LET IT GO BUT ANYWAY, A COUPLE THINGS WERE BROUGHT UP, FIRST OFF, JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING ME IN THIS TORNADO I'M IN RIGHT NOW. I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH , WELL TEXTING THE NEWSCASTER AT CBS IN HOUSTON.

SHE WANTS TO COME UP HERE REAL BAD BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW OR NOT BUT WE ARE BEING ASSAILED BY THE CONGRESS OR WHATEVER ABOUT , ACTUALLY DOES NOT EVEN CUTBACKS, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT TOTALLY DISMISSING THE JOB CORPS PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE NATION. AND AS SOON AS THIS BECAME EVIDENT , OUR HONORABLE JUDGE PICKED UP ON IT AND WE HAVE HAD MEDIA COVERAGE. WE HAVE HAD CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT , IN FACT OVER 200 CONGRESSMEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAVE AND BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF LABOR AS MANY OF OUR SENATORS HAVE. ANYWAY, THAT WAS A PART OF MY POINT OF PRIVILEGE. THE OTHER THINGS, A LOT OF THINGS WERE BROUGHT UP. I WAS IN HAITI , WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THESE THINGS, I WAS IN HAITI DURING AN ATTEMPT OF A COUP D'ETAT AND I KNOW THESE THINGS LOOK LIKE, WHEN THEY CAN GO SOUTH IN A HURRY AND I WAS ALSO IN 2017 I WAS IN ARIZONA. WHEN SHERIFF -- WAS YOU KNOW, SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS LAW AND I WAS THINKING THAT HAD I NOT BEEN IN A SUIT, I WOULD'VE BEEN, SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS.

ANYWAY , ANYWAY. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR HONORING KRISTIAN MENCHACA AND I HOPE I WILL NOT CRY WHEN I SAY THESE THINGS BUT I TELL YOU, WE KNEW HIM, MAJOR ALL VERY WAS INSTRUCTOR AND A COUPLE OTHER FOLKS HERE, THERE IS , CONSTABLE PETERSON WORKED WITH KRISTIAN MENCHACA BUT IT WAS A NICE THING BECAUSE THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I THINK I'VE QUOTED, WELL ONE OF THEM, IT REFERS TO ALL OF US. YOU GUYS IN THERE , THE MILITARY AND ALL OF US AND IT GOES, IT WAS ISAIAH 6:18, WHOM SHALL I SEND? AND WHO WILL GO FOR US? AND I SAID, HERE I AM, SEND ME. THAT IS WHAT YOU GUYS DO EVERY DAY BECAUSE YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS CHANGED A BIT SINCE I WAS HERE THE LAST TIME. YOU GUYS ARE THE TIP OF THE SPEAR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY AND THE OTHER ONE WAS, GREATER NO LOVE , GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS TO LAY DOWN ONE'S LIFE, FOR ONE'S FRIENDS. THAT IS WHAT WE DO IN THE MILITARY. I SPENT 20 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY, AND AS WE HAVE JUDE PRATER'S HERE , AND YOU KNOW, WELL MIKE WAS HERE A WHILE AGO BUT YOU KNOW, WE DO THOSE THINGS AND WE DO THAT WITHOUT THANKS. WE JUST DO IT BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US. I READ SOMETHING THE OTHER DAY , I'M GETTING THESE OTHER GUYS UP AND HAVE THEM BRAG ABOUT MENCHACA AND ALSO ABOUT SOME OF THEM WHAT WE DO ANYWAY. IT IS CALLEDFIVE HONORABLY WE LIVE AND HONORABLY WE DIE. I TOLD YOU I WAS GOING

TO CRY. YOUR TURN. >> OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS I HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND OPPORTUNITY AND THE BLESSING TO SERVE THE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS OF AT JERRY GOB COURT IN 2007 ABOUT A YEAR AFTER WE LOST KRISTIAN MENCHACA IN IRAQ, THE CORRECTIONS OFFICER ACADEMY, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RENAME IT TO THE KRISTIAN MENCHACA TRAINING ACADEMY AND HAS BEEN KNOWN AS THE TRENTO TRAINING ACADEMY SINCE 2007 AND WE HONOR THAT AND WE CERTAINLY FEEL THAT POSITIVE SPIRIT OF HIM AND THOSE WHO WENT TO THE ACADEMY AND HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES TO THEIR COUNTRY. JUDGE BECERRA, I TRULY APPRECIATE, I SAW YOUR STATEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA ON YOUR SUPPORT OF JERRY GOB -- JERRY JOB CORPS

[02:35:02]

AND WE TRULY APPRECIATE THAT AND WE ASK EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM AND THE COMMUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE JOB CORPS PROGRAM . I PERSONALLY HAVE FAITH THAT GARY IS NOT ONE AND DONE, I BELIEVE AT SOME POINT, HOPEFULLY SOONER THAN LATER WE WILL COME BACK AND COME BACK STRONGER THAN EVER BUT IT CERTAINLY HELPS IF WE HAVE COMMUNITY LEADERS ADVOCATING FOR THE PROGRAM. I APPRECIATE THAT AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE THE KRISTIAN MENCHACA TRAINING ACADEMY FOR DECADES TO COME. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF , 19 YEARS RECOGNIING KRISTIAN MENCHACA. I WENT TO THE ACADEMY IN THE MIDDLE OF 2014. WHEN I LEARNED KRISTIAN MENCHACA AND HIS STORY, HIS JOURNEY, HIS SACRIFICE , JUST THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. I REMEMBER AS A YOUNG PERSON IT IMPACTED ME SO MUCH , TO WHERE I FELT HIS SPIRIT. I NEVER MET HIM , I'VE SEEN PICTURES OF HIM AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN CARRIED WITH ME THROUGHOUT THE REST OF MY PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY. TO RETURN TO GARY JOB CORD AND EVEN THINK THAT WE ARE BATTLING TO KEEP IT AND THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COUNTRY THAT THIS WOULD BE THE LAST TIME US AS REPRESENTING JOB COURSE HERE IN THE COURT 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 I HAVE THIS MORNING. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH .

>> AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> LET ME SEE IF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE COMMENTS.

COMMISSIONER INGALSBE? >> RANDOLPH, I THINK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP . IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN 19 YEARS THAT HE HAS PASSED AND SO, I JUST THINK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO BRING REMEMBRANCE HERE TO COURT , THANK YOU FOR YOU ALL DO.

>> THANK YOU, RANDOLPH , FOR BEING HERE, IT IS ALWAYS AN HONOR FOR ME TO SUPPORT THIS PROCLAMATION. I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS BEHIND YOU , I THINK EVERYONE WENT INTO ACTION AND STARTED MAKING PHONE CALLS AND THANK YOU, JUDGE , FOR BRINGING THAT MEDIA TO THE COUNTY. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. WE HAVE YOUR BACKS AND JOB CORPS HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR A LOT OF OUR KIDS, INCLUDING MY UNCLE. HE CAME OUT OF THAT PROGRAM. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU

WHEREVER WE CAN. >> BEAUTIFULLY SAID.

COMMISSIONER HAMMER? >> THANK YOU FOR COMING AND BRINGING HIM EVERY YEAR TO LIFE. I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE HIS MEMORY LIVE ON. SO, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BRINGING THIS. THANK YOU FOR MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THIS AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY , I SUPPORT YOU AND WOULD GARY JOB CORPS HAS DONE, WE HAVE TALKED AND ONE OF MY NUMBER ONE ROLE MODELS IN MY ENTIRE LIFE COMES FROM GARY JOB CORPS , I APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO AND WE SUPPORT YOU IN ANY WAY WE

POSSIBLY CAN. >> BEAUTIFUL. COMMISSIONER

SMITH? >> THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE ALL BEEN UNDER ATTACK AND YOU ARE ALL SURVIVORS. I WANT TO COMMIT JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE COURT THAT WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. I DO NOT SAY THAT LIGHTLY. I REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND LET THEM KNOW HOW IMPORTANT YOU ARE , YOU SPECIFICALLY ARE TO THAT PROGRAM. I WILL TELL YOU, RANDOLPH, YOU ARE APPRECIATED IN THIS COMMUNITY AND HER JOB COURSE APPRECIATED IN THIS COMMUNITY , YOU PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULD JUST NOT BE THERE OTHERWISE FOR A LOT OF OUR YOUTH. I WILL TELL YOU THAT I CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO THIS RESOLUTION NEXT YEAR AND THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY AND CELEBRATING IT AND GARY STILL BEING OPEN. I WILL TELL YOU THAT I HOPE THERE IS A HUGE CELEBRATION OF LIFE NEXT YEAR AND I'M WILLING TO HELP WITH THAT.

>> THANK YOU. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I GET LUCKY TO BE IN THE POSITION I'M IN, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF GARY JOB CORPS , GENERATING THE LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT IT DESERVES, ESPECIALLY , ESPECIALLY WHEN

[02:40:03]

THINGS ARE BEING MISCHARACTERIZED. IF YOU DO IT ON ACCIDENT I GET IT, LET'S CLARIFY, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT IS ABOUT. PEOPLE IN TWO CATEGORIES, YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU DO NOT CARE. ONCE YOU KNOW THAT GARY JOB CORPS DOES NOT RESIDE IN THE 32% SUCCESS RATE BUT INSTEAD IN THE 92% SUCCESS RATE , AND YOU KEEP PEDALING FOR ITS CLOSURE, NOW YOU DON'T CARE, NOW YOU'RE BEING CARELESS BECAUSE GARY JOB CORPS ABSOLUTELY HELPS THE VULNERABLE, THE DISENFRANCHISED AMONG US AND FOR THAT REASON OF COURSE I GET TO SAY THIS AGAIN, I WILL SPEAK UP ON YOUR BEHALF. WE HAVE 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 COMMENCEMENT 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 AND DISENFRANCHISED AND WHAT OTHERWISE COULD BE IN OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM. LET'S 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 IS NOT NECESSARILY A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE PLAN. WE NEED WELDERS, PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIANS, ALL OF THE ABOVE, WE CANNOT ALL BE ENGINEERS. SO, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO IT IS A VERY BIG DEAL. AND BEFORE WE CALL THE VOTE, I THINK JUDE WANTED TO SPEAK.

>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD , WHAT A TRUE HERO PFC MENCHACA WAS, THEY MENTIONED IT IN THE PROCLAMATION HE WAS IN THE FIRST OF THE BIBLE SECOND AT THE 101ST AIRBORNE , THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST PREMIER INFANTRY UNITS TO SERVE IN. WHEN HE WAS CAPTURED BY INSURGENTS THERE WAS A PERIOD HERE IN SAN MARCUS WERE WE WERE PRAYING FOR THEM BEFORE THEY DISCOVERED HIS BODY AND HE WAS A P.O.W. WHICH IS ANOTHER VERY RARE THING IN THE IRAQ WAR. UNFORTUNATELY HIS BODY DID HAVE SIGNS OF TORTURE AS WELL. SO, HE WAS ONE OF THE TRUE HEROES AND IT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE CHARACTER THAT GARY JOB CORPS PUTS OUT. I DON'T KNOW THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH GARY JOB CORPS OR END UP SERVING IN ARMED FORCES BUT IT IS SIZABLE , ENOUGH TO THE POINT WHERE EVEN WHEN I SHOWED UP TO BASIC TRAINING THE DRILL SERGEANT SAID, YOU ARE FROM SAN MARCUS, YOU MUST BE FROM GARY JOB CORPS.

>> WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO GET THAT NUMBER. BUT TO SPEAK TO THE CALIBER OF SOMEONE LIKE PFC MENCHACA IN THE MANNER OF HIS PASSING IS A P.O.W. IN THE IRAQ WAR WHICH IS A VERY RARE OCCURRENCE. I JUST SHOULD ALL KNOW THAT.

>> WELL SAID, GREAT CONTRIBUTION. ROXANNE, ALL YOURS , WE ARE DEVOTED, GOOD. NOW THE FINAL PIECES THE PICTURE.

EVERYBODY TURNED SIDEWAYS. DO A 45. FACE THE CENTER. A LITTLE

[02:45:01]

BIT MORE. A LITTLE BIT MORE. A LITTLE TIGHTER. A LITTLE TIGHTER. A LITTLE TIGHTER THAT WAY. COME ON , DO NOT LEAVE, WE'RE JUST GOING TO GET TIGHT. THAT IS GOOD.

>> ONE, TWO, THREE . >> BEAUTIFUL. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU , THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY, PLEASE OPEN F6.

[F.6. Adopt a Proclamation recognizing June 2025 as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. SMITH/GONZALES/PRATHER]

>> F6, PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 2025 IS POST DRAMATIC STRESS DISORDER , PTSD AWARENESS MONTH.

>> SECOND. >> PLEASE READ IT.

>> PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 2025 IS PTSD AWARENESS MONTH .

HAYS COUNTY RECOGNIZES THAT POST MEDIC 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 FIVE AND 100 ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES, PROXIMALLY 5% EXPERIENCE 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 POSTTRAUMATIC 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 WHERE IS 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. WHEREAS INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF POSTTRAUMATIC 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 THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND EXPERIENCE A MEANINGFUL RECOVERY THROUGH ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH CARE , COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENTS .

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, THAT INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY PTSD CAN RECEIVE TIMELY, EFFECTIVE TREATMENT AND LEAD HEALTHY, FULFILLING LIFE WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF UNADDRESSED TRAUMA. AND WHEREAS THE STEP UP FOR PTSD AWARENESS EVENT ORGANIZED BY PATRIOTS HALL , HAYS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND HAYS COUNTY INVITES THE COMMUNITY TO PRECIPITATE IN A FAMILY-FRIENDLY WORKOUT AND BREAKFAST ON JUNE 28TH, 2025 , TO HONOR AND RAISE AWARENESS FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY PTSD. THEREFORE NOW BE IT RESOLVED THAT HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 20, 2025 AS PTSD AWARENESS MONTH ADOPT IT ON THIS DAY OF JUNE

2025. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE? >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER SMITH? >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER COHEN? >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER HAMMER? >> YES. THE ONE JUDGE BECERRA?

>> YES. SHOULD WE HAVE JUDE APPROACHED THE PODIUM?

>> THINK YOU, COMMISSIONER FOR BRINGING THIS CLINICIAN TO BRING AWARENESS TO POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS . WE HAVE HEARD THE PHRASE IT IS OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP. IT IS ALSO OKAY TO ASK, DOES SOMEONE NEED HELP? CHECK ON HER NEIGHBORHOOD TO CHECK ON YOUR FRIEND, CHECK ON A FAMILY MEMBER IF YOU CAN TELL THEY ARE

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STRUGGLING, IT IS OKAY TO CHECK ON THEM AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE OUT THERE TO ADDRESS AND TREAT , AND SOME OF THE RESOURCES AND SERVICES THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDES WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SAMARITAN CENTER AND THE AUSTIN VET CENTER AND HAVE COUNSELORS, ACTUALLY ONE IS HERE RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE A ROOM SPECIFICALLY FOR COUNSELING WHERE THEY ARE HERE ONCE A WEEK TO PROVIDE IN PERSON COUNSELING BUT THIS PROCLAMATION HELPS BRING AWARENESS TO POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS, YOU HAVE HEARD THE PHRASE IT IS OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP BUT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE THAT IT IS OKAY TO CHECK

ON PEOPLE AS WELL. >> BEAUTIFULLY SAID AND SOSA SINGLY, THANK YOU, JUDE. COMMISSIONER SMITH?

>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE MORE STAFFER WHO WANTS TO SPEAK.

>> NO WORRIES. WHAT IS GOING ON AT THAT. I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THE HAYS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND VETERAN SERVICES AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING WITH COMMISSIONER SMITH, AND OUTSIDERS ANONYMOUS ON A STEP UP FOR PTSD AWARENESS WALK . IT WILL BE ON JUNE 28TH AT 9:00 A.M. IT WILL BE AT PATRIOTS HALL IN DRIPPING SPRINGS.

>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU. THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SPEAK UP FOR THE VULNERABLE. PTSD MAKES SOMEONE VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMITTEE AND WE MUST SLOW DOWN , FOCUS IN AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT. JUDE, THANK YOU FOR THESE WORDS. COMMISSIONER

SMITH? >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO BOTH OF OUR VETERANS SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND HER HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR WORKING WITH PATRIOTS HALL AND PUTTING THIS EVENT TOGETHER AND NUMBER TWO, RECOGNIZING THAT WHILE WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH PROPER DENSITY OF VETERANS WHO HAVE THOSE PHYSICAL SCARS , LOOK AT THE PURPLE HEART, WE HAVE A HUGE PROPENSITY 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 TRAUMAS. SAME IN OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMMUNITY, UNFORTUNATELY. AS FAR AS HAVING A COMMUNITY OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED THROUGH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE OVERLOOKED WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PTSD. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD SAY THAT I AM VERY PROUD OF IS THE WORK THAT PATRIOTS HALL WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS COURT HAS DONE, IS DOING , BY PUTTING A FULL-TIME COUNSELOR, A VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER AT PATRIOTS HALL , DURING THE WEEK.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM FOR STEPPING UP AND HELPING WITH THIS EVENT AND POSTING IT BUT I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT ANY VETERAN OUT THERE WHO WANT ASSISTANCE, WHO NEED ASSISTANCE , WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO TO TALK TO, THE BEST ADVICE I HAVE HEARD IS TO FIND YOUR TRIBE AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW ABOUT IT, THERE IS AN ORGANIZATION BASED IN DRIPPING SPRINGS , RUN BY JOE AND STACY HOGG WHO HAVE -- BREWING IN EVERY MONDAY NIGHT THEY HOST WHAT THEY CALL FIRESIDE CHATS.

EVERY MONDAY FROM 7:00 TO 9:00 AND 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 HAVE BEEN SERVING. THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE FRIENDS IN THE COMMUNITY, WHO STILL FELT LIKE THEY DID NOT HAVE A TRIBE AND THEY WERE FATHERS , THEY WERE CONTRIBUTORY COMMUNITY, COACHES, I MEAN 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 I ENCOURAGE YOU, ANYBODY WHO IS SHOWING SIGNS OR HAS REACHED OUT TO YOU , JUST TELL THEM THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEBODY THEY CAN TALK TO, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A GUY OR A WOMAN IN AN OFFICE WHO IS GOING TO ANALYZE THEM, IT CAN BE A BUDDY WHO IS IN A FOXHOLE, JUST LIKE THEY WERE AND I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU ALL LETTING ANYONE WHO YOU MAY KNOW WHO SUFFERS , LET THEM KNOW THERE IS THIS RESOURCE OUT THERE.

>> WONDERFUL. VERY COMPLETE, COMMISSIONER, AWESOME OF YOU.

COMMISSIONER HAMMER? >> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS

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AND THANK YOU TO JUDE AS WELL. PTSD HAPPENS, CAN HAPPEN TO ANYBODY, FOR ANY TYPE OF TRAUMATIC INSTANCE BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR PEOPLE THAT FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM AND THEY GO OVERSEAS AND FIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT , I MEAN WE SEE IT ON TV, WE WATCH ALL OF HER FAVORITE MOVIES , ALL OF OUR FAVORITE WAR MOVIES AND IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN OVERSEAS AND FOUGHT, IT DOES NOT SEEM REAL BUT ALL OF THESE THINGS ACTUALLY HAPPEN TO THESE PEOPLE. I THINK IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO WALK WITH THEM, HOLD THEIR HAND, GIVE THEM GRACE AND TELL THEM YOU ARE THERE FOR THEM WHEN THEY NEED IT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR HAYS COUNTY RESIDENTS TO PARTAKE IN THEM, SO THEY KNOW THEY ARE NOT ALONE. I THINK YOU GUYS FOR BRINGING THIS UP.

>> COMMISSIONER COHEN? >> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION AND TO JUDE AND ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING IN YOUR OFFICE. I KNOW IT HAS BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL FOR A LOT OF VETERANS AND THE WIDOWS , I THINK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT WORK.

>> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE? >> JUDE, I WANT TO THANK YOU I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING THIS AWARENESS TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO US . I THINK IT HELPS US BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SUPPORT AND CARE THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS NEED AND I THINK YOU FOR THE

WORK YOU DO AND YOUR STAFF. >> AWESOME, IN CLOSING I'LL BE

AS CONCISE AS POSSIBLE. >> THEIR LEVELS OF VULNERABILITIES THAT WE CAN ALL FIT INTO IS DISENFRANCHISE HER ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AND THIS IS A REMINDER , HIGHLIGHTED, ITALICIZED AND UNDERLINED, ANOTHER VULNERABLE POPULATION THAT NEED SUPPORT. DOES ANYONE WANT TO BE PART OF THE PICTURE, PLEASE COME ON UP. THEN WE GO TO THE PRESENTATIONS, CHIEF, ICU.

[F.7. Presentation by the Hays County Behavioral Advisory Team (BAT) regarding a Diversion Center. INGALSBE/SMITH]

BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, GUYS. AND NOW, IF YOU WILL OPEN,

F7. >> F7. PRESENTATION BY THE HAYS COUNTY BEHAVIORAL ADVISORY TEAM, BAT. REGARDING A DIVERSION

CENTER. >> STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC. IS HE TO STAND STATORS, POLICE CHIEF OF THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS. GOOD AFTERNOON. B.A.T. WAS FORMED TO SERVE AS A SINGLE POINT FOR ADVISORY RESOURCE AND PLANNING COORDINATION WITHIN THE COUNTY. WHICH MEANS ALSO WITHIN THE CITIES THERE IN. AS WELL AS OUR LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY --. THE COMMISSIONERS ACCORDED GENDERIZED AN ITEM ON MAY 6, 2025 RELATED TO THE CREATION OF A DIVERSION CENTER. THE PURPOSE TODAY IS TO PROVIDE FACTUAL INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO EVERYBODY'S HAVING A DIVERSION CENTER. PLEASE KNOW 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 DEVELOPMENT OF A DIVERSION CENTER. WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER . IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION BUT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER ONGOING FUNDING THEREIN AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THAT. THE COMMISSIONERS OF EACH BEEN PROVIDED A DOCUMENT. I WILL FORGO THE DEFINITIONS AND SKIP TO THE PORTION OF WHAT IS A DIVERSION CENTER . THERE ARE SEVERAL OPTIONS WE ASK YOU TO WADE CAREFULLY THROUGH. I WILL BEGIN WITH THE MOST INTENSIVE OPTION, A CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT. A CSU. A CSU PROVIDES CRISIS SPACE FOR SHORT-TERM, INTENSIVE PSYCHIATRIC CARE. IT

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WOULD BE THE MOST INTENSIVE LEVEL AND IT IS ACTUALLY NOT A RECOMMENDATION FOR HAYS COUNTY. OBVIOUSLY, THE MOST COSTLY AND THERE COMPARABLE TO A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL. THAT IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH THEM. THEY CAN ACCEPT PEOPLE ON ORDERS FROM PROTECTIVE CUSTODY, WHICH WOULD TYPICALLY BE AN ORDER BY A COURT. OR ON EMERGENCY DETENTION, REST ON BY LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR UP TO 48 HOURS HOLD. THAT IS THE CSU.

ALTERNATIVELY, THERE IS AN EXTENDED OBSERVATION UNIT, AN EOU , IT PROVIDES SHORT-TERM UP TO 48 HOURS PROVIDED BY STATUTE, INTENSIVE STABILIZATION CARE FOR PATIENTS WHO MAY 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. THEY ARE STEP DOWN SERVICES AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THEY ARE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS, THE NORMATIVE STATE WOULD BE UP TO 10 DAYS TO PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL STABILIZATION FOLLOWING THE EXTENDED OBSERVATION. TO LOOK AT IT FROM A TIMEFRAME PERSPECTIVE, IF A PERSON IS TAKEN INTO EMERGENCY CUSTODY , THEN THEY WOULD BE HELD IN THE EOU EXTENDED OBSERVATION UNIT, FOR 48 HOURS , TO MEDICATE OR STABILIZE, THEN IDEALLY THEY WOULD DROP DOWN TO A LESSER SERVICE, LESS COSTLY TO OUR TAXPAYERS AND ULTIMATELY BE IN A CRISIS , RESIDENTIAL BED FOR AS MANY AS 10 DAYS. WHAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING, FROM THE PAYROLL ADVISORY TEAM, IS A GROUPING OF AN EXTENDED OBSERVATION UNIT, POSSIBLY UP TO SIX BEDS, ACCOMPANIED WITH 10 CRISIS RESIDENTIAL BEDS. THIS IS THE MODEL THAT IS BEING ADOPTED IN -- COUNTY AND WE RECOMMEND THAT MODEL BE ADOPTED HERE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, IF YOU GO HIGHER THAN 16 DIVERSION BEDS, THEN YOU ARE PHYSICALLY GOING TO ENTER THE REGULATION ASSOCIATED WITH A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, THAT IS WHY WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS , FOR COST MODELING AND CENSUS MODELING, THE NUMBER OF ACTUAL BEDS IS 16 IS ABOUT THE NORMATIVE. WE RECOMMEND NO HIGHER THAN 16 BECAUSE OF THE REGULATION IN THE SHARED COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. AGAIN, THIS IS -- A RECOMMENDATION TO THIS MORNING OR THIS AFTERNOON IS SIX EOU BEDS ACCOMPANIED WITH 10 CRISIS RESIDENTIAL BEDS AND TO SPEAK ADDITIONALLY AS IT RELATES TO WHERE THEY SHOULD BE BILLED I WOULD ASK MATTHEW GONZALEZ TO

COME FORWARD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS COURT. MATTHEW GONZALEZ HAYS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR AND A MEMBER OF THE BEHAVIORAL ADVISORY TEAM. AS CHIEF SAID I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHERE DIVERSION CENTER SHOULD BE BUILT. HAYS COUNTY SHOULD PRIORITIZE LOCATING ITS MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER WITHIN OR ADJACENT TO A HEALTHCARE SETTING. IDEALLY A LOCAL HOSPITAL OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FACILITY. THIS APPROACH ALIGNS WITH BEST PRACTICES BY SUPPORTING A TRAUMA INFORMED, HEALTH CENTER ENVIRONMENT, DISTANCING THE PROGRAM FROM PUNITIVE ASSOCIATION , THAT MEANS IDEAS SUCH AS JAILS OR PRISONS AND ENSURING ACCESS TO IMMEDIATE, CLINICAL CARE. WITH HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE ALLOWS FOR ITS ABILITY IN MANAGING UNDER PREDICTABILITY AND REDUCE THE STIGMA FOR INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS. WE WANT INDIVIDUALS TO FEEL THAT THEY CAN GO IN FOR TREATMENT AND FEEL SAFE AND COMFORTED IN KNOWING IT IS NOT A PUNITIVE AREA. INTEGRATING AT THE HOSPITAL AND OR HEALTHCARE FACILITY OFFER SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS SUCH AS AROUND-THE-CLOCK MEDICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC STAFFING, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ACCESS FOR MEDICAL CLEARANCE AND SHARED INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS PHARMACY, SECURITY AND I.T. IT PROMOTES SEAMLESS TRANSITIONS BETWEEN CRISIS KAREN PATIENT SERVICES AND OUTPATIENT FOLLOW-UP. THESE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES LOWER THE STARTUP COST AFFILIATED WITH THIS AND ENABLE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. IF HOSPITALS ARE LOCAL HEALTHCARE CLINICS INTEGRATION PROVES INVISIBLE THE STRONG ALTERNATIVE IS TO -- WITH THE BEHAVIORAL MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES. STANDALONE CENTERS LOCATED NEAR JAILS ARE IN ISOLATED AREAS , THEY HAVE STRUGGLED WITH LOW UTILIZATION, LOW STAFFING , MANY STAFFING CHALLENGES AND LIMITED FLEXIBILITY. TO AVOID SIMILAR PITFALLS THE COUNTY SHOULD

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EVALUATE HEALTHCARE AND SITES BASED ON ACCESS, AVAILABILITY AND PROXIMITY TO EMERGENCY SERVICES. THIS RECOMMENDATION SERVES THE CENTER IS EQUIPPED TO MEET CLINICAL AND COMMUNITY NEED FOR STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUPPORT THE BROADER MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN HAYS COUNTY AND LOWER STARTUP COSTS. I BELIEVE

SHERIFF -- WILL TALK ABOUT IT. >> THE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, YOU NEED DATA TO BACK IT UP AND I WILL BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THE DATA THAT ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COUNTY COURT OF LAW HAS COME UP WITH SINCE 2022. I WILL COVER THREE YEARS, 2022, 23 AND 2024.

DURING THAT TIME -- IN HAYS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, IN 22 8868 COURTESY DETENTIONS. -- SORRY, 884 EMERGENCY DETENTION , WHICH COMES OUT TO APPROXIMATELY 2.4 EMERGENCY DETENTIONS PER DAY. IN 2023 LAW ENFORCEMENT THROUGHOUT HAYS COUNTY HIT 794 EMERGENCY DETENTIONS, WHICH COMES OUT TO APPROXIMATELY 2.1 PER DAY AND IN 2024, WE DID 795 EMERGENCY DETENTIONS WHICH COMES OUT TO 2.1 . THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH COURT THAT JUDGE BROWN RUNS. IN 2022 THEY PERFORMED EIGHT EMERGENCY DETENTIONS AND 85 ORDER PROTECTIVE CUSTODY'S. IN 2023 EIGHT EMERGENCY DETENTIONS AND 84 ORDER OF PROTECTIVE CUSTODY THAN IN 2024 THEY DID 19 EMERGENCY DETENTIONS AND 32 ORDER PROTECTIVE CUSTODY'S, AS YOU CAN SEE WE'VE HAD A SLIGHT DECREASE BUT WHEN YOU'RE AVERAGING OVER TWO EMERGENCY DETENTIONS PER DAY AND SEVERAL OPC'S PER DAY I THINK THE DATA SUPPORTS THE NEED OF A MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER. HOW IS A MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER FUNDED, I WILL LET KAMI COME

TALK ABOUT IT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, I AM --, THE CO-CHAIR OF THE BEHAVIORAL ADVISORY TEAM AND THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE HAYS COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH COURT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT JAIL DIVERSION FACILITIES WE QUESTION HOW THEY ARE FUNDED. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STANDALONE CENTER REQUIRES LOCAL DOLLARS AND THE COUNTY. -- IN SUMMARY THE BEHAVIORAL ADVISORY TEAM WITH B.A.T. WAS ESTABLISHED TO ADDRESS COUNTYWIDE MENTAL INITIATIVES WITH THE JAIL DIVERSION SUMMARY BEING THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. THAT REMAINS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO MAKING IT A REALITY AND IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT A STRATEGIC APPROACH IS IMPERATIVE -- WE SPECIFY DIFFERENT TYPES OF UNITS, SHE'S MENTIONED, INCLUDING CRISIS STABILIZATION, WHICH IS MOST RESTRICTIVE, EXTENDED OBSERVATION UNIT AND THEN RESIDENTIAL BEDS, 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 FOR STATE REGULATION AND IS RECOMMENDED TO HAVE A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF EOU, CSU AND RESIDENTIAL BEDS TO MEET VARIOUS NEEDS AND CLINICAL NECESSITY. THE OFFICER RECOMMEND COLLABORATING WITH THE LOCAL HOSPITAL AND THE -- PILOT PROGRAM SIMILAR TO COMO COUNTY. ONE THAT IS SUSTAINABLE FINANCIALLY AND MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY. FUNDING OPTIONS FOR THE FACILITY CAN INCLUDE STATE FUNDING, LOCAL FOUNDATIONS, DONATIONS AND COUNTY FUNDS.

>> BEAUTIFUL, ANYONE ELSE IN THIS PRESENTATION PART? I THINK WHAT YOU GUYS SAID WAS DISTINCT AND BEAUTIFULLY DONE, THE KEY VERY MUCH, WE WILL START WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE?

>> FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO THINK THE ENTIRE BEHAVIORAL ADVISORY TEAM. THEY HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB. THEY HAVE WORKED TOGETHER SO WELL TO HELP IMPROVE AND ENHANCE THE SERVICES, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF MENTAL HEALTH AND I THINK 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 B.A.T.. I THINK WE ALL KNOW JAIL IS NOT THE RIGHT PLACE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED TREATMENT AND SUPPORT. I DIVERSION CENTER OFFERS A MORE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH SERVICES THAT THEY NEED, WHETHER WE BUILD THE FACILITY OR WE PARTNER WITH AN EXISTING PROVIDER , THINK IT WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT WE GET

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IT RIGHT, TO ENSURE WE DELIVER MEANINGFUL CARE AND ACHIEVE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 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

IT. >> THANK YOU, B.A.T.? --

COMMISSIONER COHEN? >> THIS IS GREAT FOR ME TO SEE THE WORK AND THE EVALUATION THAT HAS BEEN DONE. THIS HELPED ME UNDERSTAND WHERE WE WERE AND ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS, DO YOU ALL HAVE AN ESTIMATED COST, OPERATIONAL COST ON WHAT 16 BEDS

WOULD BE? PER YEAR I GUESS . >> EVERYTHING RECOGNIZES OR YESTERDAY'S DOLLARS, WE ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE, YOU COULD CONSERVATIVELY SAY IT WILL COST A MINIMUM OF $5 MILLION PER YEAR TO OPERATE, THAT IS WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR STATE LEGISLATOR

FUNDS TO BE PASSED THROUGH. >> AND THE HOPE IS THAT THE CITIES THAT , WITHIN HAYS COUNTY PARTICIPATE AS WELL , IS THAT

PART OF THE GOAL TOO? >> HONESTLY, IF YOU ASKED FOR OUR VISION, THE VISION IS THE CREATION OF THE DIVERSION CENTER . WE WOULD TRY TO DIVERSIFY THAT COST. BUT THE ACTUAL OPERATIONAL EXPENSE, AND OTHER WAS TO KEEP IT GOING, IT REALLY NEEDS TO COME FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE, SO THAT WE HAVE INSURED FUNDING.

WE DON'T WANT TO BE GAINED IN THE NOT TO CEASE THIS PROGRAM.

>> AND WHO WOULD ACTUALLY OVERSEE THE DIVERSION CENTER?

THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT? >> IT WILL BE HILL COUNTRY. THE

LOCAL AUTHORITY. >> THE COUNTY WOULD BILL THIS FACILITY AND THEN HILL COUNTRY WOULD RUN IT?

>> OR, ALTERNATIVELY THE COUNTY PARTNERS WITH THE HOSPITAL SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO INDEPENDENT CONSTRUCTION. IF WE CAN BUILD THIS IN COLLABORATION WITH AN INCOMING HOSPITAL OR AN EXISTING , AS MATTHEW ALLEGED, IT WILL REDUCE OUR COST, REDUCE OUR FOOTPRINT , IT BENEFITS EVERYBODY.

>> BUT OUR MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY IS STILL INVOLVED IN

THAT? >> YES, EVEN AT THE HOSPITAL.

>> GREAT QUESTIONS AND POINTS AND THANK YOU, CHIEF FOR POINTING THAT OUT BECAUSE I HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CEO OF HILL COUNTRY AND HE SAID, YOU GUYS SET THIS UP AND HE WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS RUNNING IT, 100% CORRECT, GREAT POINTS. I LOVE YOUR POINT ABOUT SHARING THE LOAD, KIND OF LIKE OUR 911, WE CAN FIGURE OUT A MODEL WHERE WE SHARE USAGE AND PERCENTAGES , EVERYBODY SHARES THE LOAD AND IS NOT SUCH A BURDEN ON ONE. AND THE IDEA OF PARTNERING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW OUR ECONOMY WITH TARIFFS AND EVERYTHING HAS TURNED US ALL AROUND AND IF WE COULD PARTNER WITH, LIKE YOU SAID, CHIEF, SOMEONE COMING IN OR SOMEONE WILLING TO EXPAND HER SHARE BECAUSE LET'S BE HONEST, IT IS ONLY 16 BEDS AND THAT IS NOT A LOT. WE CAN DO THIS. WE PARTNERED WITH SOMEBODY ON THE GROUND, WE CAN TURN THIS AROUND NOW. BEAUTIFULLY STATED. COMMISSIONER HAMMER?

>> I THINK FROM THE DATA TO THE FUNDING TO THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT YOU ALL JUST AND OVER, I MEAN I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY. YOU GUYS DID YOUR RESEARCH AND IT SHOWS. THE ONLY QUESTIONS I HAVE ARE ONES THAT COMMISSIONER COHEN ALREADY ANSWERED, THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING AND PRESENTING AND BEING THOROUGH.

>> PERFECT. COMMISSIONER SMITH?

>> I WANT TO SAY THANKS AGAIN. IS A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE WITH COMMISSIONER INGALSBE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE COURT STEPPING UP AND DESIGNATING THE TWO TO WORK WITH YOU ALL HAS BEEN GREAT. THE AMOUNT OF PASSION IS PHENOMENAL. BUT PHENOMENAL THE AMOUNT OF EXPERTISE IN THE ROOM. I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE MEETINGS EVERY MONTH. I LEARN SOMETHING EVERY TIME. ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD MENTION ALONG WITH THE OVERALL COST AND WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MODEL THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING AND THE MODEL THAT COME ALL COUNTY IS USING NOW. WHENEVER WE LOOK AT THAT OVERALL COST, THE REASON, I THINK IT WAS A GOOD POINT THAT WAS MADE RELATIVE TO THE CONTINUATION OF FUNDING , THE PREVIOUSLY IT A GENDERIZED ITEM YOU MENTIONED, 60 BEDS, TRULY AT THAT POINT YOUR DESIGNATING A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL AND I THINK THAT FULL-TIME CARE ON A 16 BED FACILITY, THE ESTIMATES THAT WE HEARD WAS THAT YOU WILL NEED 50 FULL-TIME STAFF FOR THAT, 50 FTES FOR THAT. SO, IF WE LOOK AT A DIVERSION FACILITY , AS WAS SUGGESTED OF 60 BEDS, THE ISSUES THERE , THEY ARE BIGGER FROM A STATUTORY LEVEL , THAN WHAT I

[03:15:07]

THINK WE REALIZE. I SAY THAT BECAUSE STATUTORILY EVEN IN LARGE COUNTIES THAT HAVE MULTIPLE DIVERSION CENTERS, THEY LIMIT THEM TO 16 AND WILL BUILD ANOTHER. BECAUSE OF THE STATUTORY RESTRICTIONS AND THE REQUIREMENTS AND ADDITIONAL STAFFING THAT WOULD BE NEEDED. ON A 60 BED FACILITY YOU'RE LOOKING AT 200 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES TO STAFF THAT. ALONG WITH THE ADDITIONAL , QUITE FRANKLY, THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE IN BURDEN OF THE REGULATORY STRUCTURE THAT GOES OVER A TRUE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL . IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE EXACTLY HOW OUR NEIGHBORS DEAL WITH IT. TO SEE HOW THAT FUNDING PANS OUT OVER, YOU KNOW, IT'S ESTABLISHMENT AND HOW IT WORKS OVERTIME. I THINK THE NUMBERS ARE INTERESTING. I ACTUALLY THOUGHT WHENEVER WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION, AND YOU ARE ALL PULLING THE NUMBERS, I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE MORE ACTUALLY , THEN 2.1 PER DAY. THAT WAS ACTUALLY SURPRISING TO ME. IF YOU LOOK AT THE INTENSIVE TIMELINE OF SIX BEDS AND THE STEP DOWN TIMELINE OF 10 BEDS AT TWO PER DAY , YOU MORE THAN MAKE UP FOR THAT IN YOUR ROTATION, IT WORKS OUT , ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT IN THOSE INTENSIVE BEDS YOU CAN ONLY HOLD INDIVIDUALS FOR 40 HOURS, I MEAN BY STATUTE. I APPRECIATE ALL THE DATA AND THE WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS AND AS WE STATED THE OTHER DAY, I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER INGALSBE AND I ARE READY AND WILLING TO STEP UP AND CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL AND CONTINUING TO GARNER SUPPORT.

>> PURELY -- IT SPUN OUT OF A TWO-PART CONVERSATION I WAS HAVING WITH OUR SHERIFF, THE DEPUTY LIEUTENANT AND THE SHERIFF'S RUNNING THE JAIL. IT WAS ABOUT THE CIP PROGRAM. IT EVOLVED BECAUSE IT WAS A CIP ROAD MAP HORIZONNED FOR EXPANDING THE JAIL. NEVER, EVER, EVER DID I EVER SAY I WANTED TO CREATE A 60-BED FACILITY. I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FRONT WELL BEFORE MAY OF 2023 WHEN THE BAT WAS CREATED, WELL BEFORE KAMAL COUNTY TURNED DIRT. AND I'VE WORKED WITH GLAV ERINY TO BRING THIS 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'LL PULL THOSE NUMBERS OUT. I DON'T REMEMBER THEM RIGHT NOW, CHIEF -- I MEAN, SHERIFF. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET UP. BUT 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 FORTH BECAUSE AS CAMMIE SAID, STRATEGIC PLANNED APPROACH IS IMPERATIVE. THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I BROUGHT HOK INTO THE PICTURE, ONE OF OUR NATION'S LEADERS IN THIS TYPE OF WORK IN 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 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 HOK 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 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

[03:20:03]

REPEAT 60-BED HOSPITAL WITHOUT HAVING THIS LINK TIED TO YOU.

I'VE CLARIFIED REPEATEDLY, AND YET YOU CONTINUE TO

MISREPRESENT. >> 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 FROM THE ON SET, THIS WAS SET UP BY EVERY SINGLE GROUP IN OUR COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO BUILD A DIVERSION CENTER AND TO ADDRESS NOT JUST A DIVERSION CENTER BUT EVERY ASPECT IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM WHERE MENTAL HEALTH WAS NEEDED. , AND WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS. I SAID WHENEVER YOUR OTHER AGENDA 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'S ALWAYS BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE TO BE IN THAT ROOM. AFTER I BROUGHT THAT UP THE LAST TIME THAT WE CONSIDERED THAT AGENDA ITEM, YOU ACTUALLY HAD SOMEBODY THERE THAT DAY. I APPRECIATE THAT. GETTING A REPORT -- AND I TRULY BELIEVE WE SHOULD COME IN EVERY SO OFTEN AND UPDATE YOU ON THE PROGRESS OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS. BUT WE AS A COURT VOTED SPECIFICALLY TO -- WE AS A COURT VOTED SPECIFICALLY TO GIVE THE BAT, NUMBER ONE, ITS CREATION, NUMBER TWO, TWO MEMBERS OF THE COURT TO REPRESENT THE COURT ON THAT, AND, I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE. TO SAY IT WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS WHO HAVE 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 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 BUILT AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE CREATION OF THESE AS WE SPEAK. THAT'S WHO I'M GOING TO STAND WITH, AND THAT'S WHO I'M GOING TO RESPECT THEIR OPINION ON HOW WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD ON THIS. AND FOR THE CITIZENS OF HAYS COUNTY, 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 TO ON TO F8 IS PRESS RELEASE OVER POLICY. WE'RE TALKING THIS BECAUSE I BROUGHT IT TO THE COURT WHILE YOU WERE ON THIS COMMITTEE FOR 2 1/2 YEARS, AND I VALUE AND RESPECT EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL ON THERE. 2 1/2 YEARS, YOU CAN'T PUT IT TOGETHER? THAT'S ON YOU.

PLEASE OPEN F8. >> NO, SIR. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO

TRY TO INSULT ME AND MOVE ON. >> INSULT ME? WHAT DO YOU THINK

YOU'VE DONE? >> I'VE SPOKIN' THE TRUTH HERE

[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]

TODAY. >> SO DID I. LET'S CHANNEL THIS IN A DIFFERENT WAY WITHOUT THE PUBLIC HAVING TO BE TIED UP WITH THIS. LET'S KEEP DOING COUNTY BUSINESS.

>> LET'S DO F8, PLEASE. >> CAPITAL METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION 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, DOAN WE NEED A MOTION AND A

SECOND? >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND: >> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M JENNIFER, THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION HERE TODAY WILL BE GIVEN BY MATT MILLER WHO'S WITH CAMBRIDGE SYSTEMICS, WORKING WITH THE DKS TEAM WHO IS A CONSULTANT TO THE CAPITAL AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION CAMPUS. THEY'VE BEEN DOING SOME WORK ON THE REGIONAL ACTION PLAN WHICH INCLUDES HAYS COUNTY. SOILY HAVE HIM GIVE THE PRESENTATION. AND I BELIEVE THERE'S A RESOLUTION OF

SUPPORT IF THE COURT DESIRES. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU'LL PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING

PUBLIC. >> MILLER, I'M WITH THE CAMBRIDGE SYSTEMATICS, SENIOR ASSOCIATE OF THE WE'RE DOING SAFETY RESEARCH PLANNING FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR FIRM, AND WE'RE ALSO ON A TEAM WITH DKS 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

[03:25:07]

HELP FORWARD THIS REGION INTO MORE AND MORE OF A TARGETED APPROACH TO SAFETY INVESTMENTS FOR TRANSPORTATION. SO THIS SLIDE SHOWING FATAL CRASHES THAT STEADILY INCREASED FROM 2019 TO 2023. WHAT 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 TRAVEL 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 SOME OF THE DOCUMENTATION, THE DATA SHOWING THIS. AND OUT OF THIS TOTAL 16,443 CRASHES, 4% WERE SERIOUS INJURIES AND 1% WERE FATAL. SO IT'S APPROXIMATELY 800 FATAL AND SERIOUS INJURY CRASHES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO WHE WE LOOK AT THE REPORTS IN THE DATABASE, WE FIND FROM LOOKING AT ALL THE DIFFERENT DATA SETS AND FIELDS EXACTLY WHAT'S CAUSING THOSE CRASHES. AND FROM WHAT WE FOUND OF THE FATAL AND SUSPECTED SERIOUS INJURIES, THE TOP 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 CAN YOU COULD IMAGINE A MAP, IT TAKES THESE CRASHES, LOOKS AT THE EMPHASIS AREAS AND 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 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 KIND OF A WELL REGARDED METHODOLOGY. AND SO THIS FOCUS IS EXPANSIVE. IT ALSO INCLUDES ALL STREET USERS. 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 REALLY EXPANSIVE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT ON THE BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE. DETAILED SLIDE, I MEAN, THIS SLIDE BREAKS OUT WHAT'S IN THE PLAN ITSELF. THE EFFORTS ARE FOR THE COUNTY TEAMS 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 HISTORICAL DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY'S 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 TEARING 1, 2 AND 3 SO YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE IMPACTS MIGHT BE FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES. A LOT OF PUBLIC OUTREACH WAS ALSO DONE IN TWO PHASES. AND SO THIS SLIDE REALLY KIND OF SHOWS YOU -- YOU CAN ALMOST LOOK AT THIS AS A TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR WHAT'S INSIDE THE REPORT AND WHAT IT COVERS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND THE MAIN PURPOSE FOR THE PLAN IS TO SET A COURSE TO SUPPORT SOME STATEWIDE NATIONAL EFFORTS TO REDUCE FATALITIES. THE PLAN OFFERS RECOMMENDATIONS AND METRICS WHICH THEN HELP TO ESTABLISH A COUNTY WIDE AGREEMENT AND A ROAD MAP 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 ORGANIZATION'S -- METROPOLITAN AND URBAN BOUNDARY, AND SO ITS CONTRADICTIONS WILL ALSO ROLL UP TO WITH THOSE REGION WIDE SAFETY PLAN. THIS IS REALLY AIMED TO BE AN ALIGNMENT AND KIND OF A SUPPORT NETWORK OF SAFETY ACTION PLANNING FOR THE WHOLE REGION. 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 COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS TO SUPPORT THOSE IN KYLE AND MARK 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

[03:30:04]

APPLICATION GRANTS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. ONE MORE SLIDE THERE. SO THE PROJECT TEAM MET WITH THE SAFETY ACTION PLAN TASK FORCE IN JULY, OCTOBER AND SO THOSE ARE THE MEMBERS IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO SEE, BUT HAYS COUNTY, CITY OF BUT THEA, CITY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS, KYLE, SAN MARCOS, WOMEN BERLY, TXDOT AUSTIN DISTRICT, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, SO A WIDE ARRAY OF STAKEHOLDERS THAT SIT ACROSS THE REGION. WE ALSO HELD ONE-ON-ONE MEET NTION JANUARY WITH EACH OF THE 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 TO SEE IF THAT 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 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 HIGH-INJURY NETWORKS THAT WE'RE BUILDING AS PART OF THE HAYS COUNTY, IT TRULY REFLECTS THE NEEDS. NEXT SLIDE. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS WERE ALSO CENTRAL TO THE EFFORTS. SO WE HAD POPUPS IN VARIOUS CITIES ACROSS THE REGION IN OCTOBER OF 2024 AND MARCH OF 2025. WE ALSO HAVE A THIRD ROUND COMING UP THAT WILL BE IN SUMMER 2025 THAT IS GOING TO USE SIMILAR APPROACHES WITH POPUP EVENTS AND THEN ALSO ONLINE DASHBOARDS AND SURVEYS TO COLLECT FEEDBACK. AND SO THE ANALYSIS PROCESS, THE CRASH DATA COLLECTION AND USE, THE SAFETY PLAN USES CRASH DATA LIKE REFERENED FROM 2019 TO 2023. THE SAFETY ACTION PLAN USES CRASH AND ROADWAY DATA TO EXPLAIN HOW THE CRASHES RELATE TO THE DIFFERENT ROADWAY TYPES, WHO OWNS OR MAINTAINS THAT ROAD AND HOW LONG THE ROAD -- HOW LONG THE ROAD IS, WHAT INTERSECTIONS ARE ALONG IT. AND THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT INFORMS SOME OF THE PROJECT SELECTION. HAYS COUNTY IS BASICALLY HAS ESTABLISHED CRASH TRENDS ACROSS ALL THE COUNTY WHICH ARE SEPARATED BY THE DATA THAT ARE STATE-OWNED ROADS AND LOCAL ROADS. SO THE COUNTY SAFETY ACTION PLAN LOOKS AT CRASH TRENDS BY YEAR, SEVERITY AND THEN FOCUSES ON THOSE THAT WITH FATAL AND SERIOUS INJURIES.

NEXT SLIDE. THE HOT SPOT ANALYSIS, THIS SLIDE IS BASICALLY JUST TO TELL HOW WE CAME UP WITH IT. 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 REFLECT FATAL INJURIES, THEY REFLECT SERIOUS INJURIES, AND WE DID A COUNT -- WHAT THEY CALL A MILE-BY-MILE ROLLUP. SO THAT TAKES EACH OF THOSE DOTS INTO ACCOUNT, THEN LOOKS AT WHERE THEY ACTUALLY IMPACT THE ROAD AND WHERE THEY OCCUR IN CLUSTERS. 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 THAT ARE STILL KIND OF TRAILING ALONG WITH THE TREND MAP. SO IF YOU GET A TREND LINE GOING FROM 2019 TO 2023, YOU GET THE CLUSTERS AND THE MAPPING OF THE ROAD NETWORK, YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHERE YOU SHOULD TARGET YOUR INVESTMENTS AND WHAT'S GIVING YOU PROBLEM TIME AND TIME AGAIN. AND IT ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO BREAK OUT CRASHES FOR VULNERABLE ROAD USERS. SO IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING HIT AND HIT ON ROADS, LIKE IN SAN MARCOS, WE SEE SOME ROADS WHERE THEY'RE WALKING ALONG THE CORNERS, THEY GOT INNER TUBES, THEY'VE GOT BUSES ROLLING TO THE RIGHT, THEY'VE GOT MAJOR EVENTS OCCURRING WITHIN THE ADJACENT AREA WITH A LOT OF VEHICLE TRAFFIC THAT DROPS ON AT DIFFERENT POINTS. SO THIS IS KIND OF THE ANALYSIS PROCESS THAT WE WERE TRYING TO TAKE WAS TO MAP THOSE CRASHES DOWN TO THAT LEVEL. THIS IS THE HIGH-INJURY NETWORK. SO IF YOU GO TWO SLIDES FORWARD, I THINK I CAN SKIP THIS NEXT ONE. THISSOR WE BROKE UP THE ANALYSIS BY INTERSECTIONS AND BY SEGMENTS.

THIS SHOWS YOU THOSE INTERSECTIONS THAT ARE HIGHEST CRASH LEVELS. SO NOT ALL OF THE 5% OF INTERSECTIONS THAT HAD THOSE -- THAT ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE FATAL AND SEVERE INJURIES AND CRASH COUNTS, NOT ALL OF THOSE HAVE THAT, THOSE COUNTS WERE TALLIED AND RANKED FURTHER AND ENDED UP ON THE HIGH-INJURY NETWORK. SO IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS FATAL AND SEVERE INJURY COUNT DROPS FURTHER WITH DISTRIBUTION OF FATAL AND SEVERE INJURIES ACROSS NON-INTERSECTION ROADWAY SEGMENTS. SO THESE ARE NOT COUNTING THE INTERSECTIONS. AND SO INSTEAD OF NEARLY 50% OCCURRING ON INTERSECTIONS, 36% ARE OCCURRING ON 5% OF ROADWAY SEGMENTS. THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. THE IMPLICATION BASICALLY IS WHAT'S HAPPENING ON SEGMENTS VERSUS INTERSECTIONS IS A LOT WIDER. SO

[03:35:03]

INTERSECTIONS ARE REAL NARROW. WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR PROBLEM INTERSECTIONS, WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AND CAN PROBABLY REFERENCE ANYBODY IN THE ROOM FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE. BUT THE SEGMENTS ARE MUCH MORE FURTHER 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. IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THESE WERE THE CORDOES THAT REALLY PRESENTED CHALLENGE. AND SO I ASK MEMBERS OF THE COURT AND ANYBODY ELSE TO DRILL IN, SEE WHETHER THIS MAKES SENSE TO YOU AND PLEASE PROVIDE FEEDBACK.

WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF COLLECTING COMMENTS AND DRAFTS.

SO YEAH, IF YOU KNOW YOUR OWN REGIONS, YOUR OWN AREAS, PROBLEMS, YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND GIVE US SOME GOOD FEEDBACK FOR THAT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OKAY. SO 30 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS, 37 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE RESULT OF WHAT WE FOUND THEY WERE IDENTIFIED IN THIS REVIEW OF PROJECTS THAT OVERLAPPED WITH THAT NETWORK ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. TASK FORCE MEMBERS WERE THEN PROVIDED MULTIPLE POINTS TO PROVIDE THEIR INPUT AS WELL AS REVIEW THESE PROPOSED STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENTS. AND THE PRIMARY POINT OF THESE VIEWS WAS CARRIED OUT WITH ONE-ON WITHIN HUN MEMBERS FOR THE TASK FORCE. SO THANK YOU TO THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED. IT WAS A BIG HELP GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THEM, AS WELL AS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS. WE GOT A LOT OF GREAT INSIGHT INTO WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT, HOW THEY WERE DOING TARGETED SPEED ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGNS AND THE LIKE. IT WAS VERY USEFUL TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT PARTICIPATION. NEXT SLIDE.

>> CAN I JUST ASK A CLARIFICATION QUESTION ON THAT?

>> SURE. >> SO THOSE -- CAN YOU GO BACK ONE, PLEASE TO THE SLIDE, PREVIOUS SLIDE? SO ARE THESE THE CORRIDORS AND INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAE BEEN IDENTIFIED TODAY, LIKE WE NEED TO IMPROVE TODAY?

>> THAT'S CORRECT, YES. SO THIS PLAN HAS A LIST OF PROJECT S

>> THAT WERE ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE

>> ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, EXACTLY. THESE WERE THEN PROJECT LISTINGS THAT SHOWED UP WITH OVERLAPPED AS THOSE.

>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.

>> SINCE YOU CAUSED THAT PAUSE, I'M GOING TO EXPAND A LITTLE FURTHER AND ASK DO YOU KNOW BY CHANCE -- WE PASSED A HALF BILLION DOLLAR 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 BEEN APPROVED, BUT IT'S NOT -- IT'S BEING CONSTRUCTED, SO I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE OF THAT NUMBER. THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE STAND-ALONE, SO THEY'RE NOT PART OF A ROAD BOND AT ALL.

>> WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO -- WHENEVER IT LENDS ITSELF. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE NOW. I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. HOWEVER, WHEN 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

BEE LINE TOO FOR MAXIMUM SAFETY >> JENNIFER, MAYBE YOU CAN HELP PREPARE THAT, HOW YOU ROADS REFLECT.

>> IT'S A GOOD IDEA, COMMISSIONER. WE'VE DONE THIS LEGWORK, HOW DO WE OVERLAY WITH WITH ALL THE LEGWORK WE GOT GOING ON HERE IN OUR COUNTY. THANK YOU, SIR

>> NO PROBLEM. IT'S TO ALIGN WITH THOSE INVESTMENTS. THAT ROAD BOND, IS THAT FOR THE COUNTY ROADS, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES. >>

>> BUT THERE ARE SOME OVERLAPPING WITH CITY.

>> YES. SO WE ARE PRIMARILY LOOKING AT COUNTY AND CITY ROADS. WE DID NOT -- ONE IMPORTANT CALF YATZ, WE DIDN'T INCLUDE I-35. SO I-45 IS A JUGGERNAUT OF CRASHES, AND IT WOULD OUTSIZE AND OUTWEIGH TO DO ANY PRIORITIZATION FOR ITSELF THAT'S CENTRAL WITH THE COUNTY. THAT'S ONE EXTRA THING TO ADD INTO THE MIX. THOSE CRASHES ARE SEPARATE FROM MAIN LINE CRASHES ON I-35. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. 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. FOR ROAD SEGMENTS

[03:40:22]

AND CORRIDORS BY SLOWLY STUDYING CRASH PATTERNS. THE FOCUS WAS ON AREAS WHERE LANE DEPARTURE AND ROADWAY CRASHES REALLY KIND OF ADDED UP TO 42% OF ALL FATAL SERIOUS INJURY CRASHES. SO YOU HAVE A REALLY LARGE PROBLEM WITH DARK ROADWAYS BUT ALSO WITH ROADWAY DEPARTURES TYPE CRASHES. THEY GET THE HIGHEST COUNTS AS FAR AS WHAT WAS LOOKED AT FROM THOSE FATAL AND SERIOUS INJURIES, THE 800 OR SO CRASHES OVER 2019 TO 2023. THEY ALMOST SERVICE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE A BATCH OF INVESTMENTS. SO YOU CAN 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 COUNTERMEASURES WE'RE LOOKING AT. BUT THEY ALSO INCLUDE POLICY, ORDINANCES, THOSE SORTS OF COUNTERMEASURES AS WELL. SO IT'S REALLY COVERING A WIDE ARRAY. IT'S COVERING INVESTMENTS AND PROJECTS. IT'S ALSO COVERING POLICIES, PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS. IT'S A LOT OF WAYS TO KIND OF ANGLE AT THIS REDUCTION, AND IT'S AN EXPANSIVE WAY TO GET TO LOOK AT HALVING THE FATAL AND SERIOUS INJURIES BY 2035 WHICH IS NOT TOO FAR AWAY. IT'S COMING. NEXT SLIDE. AND THE SAFETY ACTION PLAN FOUND THAT ABOUT 30% OF SERIOUS OR DEADLY CRASHES IN HAYS COUNTY HAPPENED AT INTERSECTIONS, 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 OCCUR, WHERE THEY IMPACT AN INTERSECTION. THERE ARE ALSO WAYS TO IMPROVE THEM.

SO YOU COULD THROW IN A ROUND ABOUT TO MAKE THAT CHANGE. YOU COULD ADD IN PROTECTED LEFT TURN SIGNALS, YOU COULD IMPROVE TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND THEIR TIMING. YOU COULD ADD -- MAKING INTERSECTIONS EASIER TO SEE. YOU SEE SOME OF THOSE WHERE YOU'RE COMING AROUND A CORNER, AND YOU'VE GOT A SIGNAL THAT'S WAY UP IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. WHY IS IT THERE? THAT'S FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE AS THEY'RE COMING AROUND.

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 INTERSECTION SHOULD BE DESIGNED, YOU KNOW, FOR THESE KIND OF THINGS LIKE CALMING MEASURES AND FEATURES TO SLOW CARS DOWN. AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE, I GUESS TWO SLIDES, IF YOU COULD. I KNOW I KIND OF -- IT WAS A LOT COMING THROUGH THIS. THERE'S EVEN MORE WITHIN THE PLAN. BUT I FEEL LIKE IT'S IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE.

AND SO THE NEXT STEPS WE WANT TO DO IS WE WANT TO INCORPORATE IT WITHIN THE SAFETY ACTION PLAN LISTS INTO UPOMING MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLANS. 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 IS WITH -- OR CONSIDER IT FOR FUTURE INPUT AS IT GOES ALONG. SO THIS COULD BE THE BEGINNING OF ONE THAT YOU COULD CARRY FORWARD FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, YOU TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT IT, DUST IT OFF, SEE IF YOU STILL LIKE THE METHODOLOGY, COME BACK AND MAYBE MAKE SOME MORE REVISIONS. THE SUPPORT FOR THE SAFETY ACTION PLAN ALSO ENABLES THOSE CITIES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN FUTURE FUNDING EFFORTS. SO THE FEDERAL FUNDING PROGRAMS, SS4A, 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 COUNCIL IS GETTING BEHIND IT, THEN THEY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE GIVING YOU THE APPROVAL TO GET THAT.

>> 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. >> GOOD. WELL DONE AND THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE HE WALKS AWAY FROM THE PODIUM? COMMISSIONER SMITH.

>> I WOULD JUST SAY GETTING A MORE DETAILED MAP TO EACH OF US.

I THINK ALL OF US KNOW OUR PRECINCTS PRETTY WELL.

>> OKAY. >> AND WE CAN LOOK AT THOSE IN PRETTY SHORT ORDER, JUST LOOKING AT THE GENERAL MAP THAT YOU HAVE ON THERE, I KNOW OF -- FOR EXAMPLE, COMMISSIONER HAMMER AND I ARE POSSIBLY LOOKING AT A POSSIBLE CORRIDOR STUDY ON 12.

THERE'S CERTAIN SECTIONS OF 12 BETWEEN DRIPPING SPRINGS AND WOMEN BERLY THAT WE KNOW ARE CRASH HEAVY. AND FOR THAT REASON WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT THAT. WE CAN HELP YOU IDENTIFY WHERE THERE COULD BE SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THERE THAT WE'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS AND WE'VE TRIED TO ADDRESS.

>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WE ALSO HAVE AN ONLINE MAP SO WE CAN

[03:45:02]

SEND YOU A LISTING OF THE PROJECTS, AND THEN YOU CAN CLICK ON A LINK IN IT, AND IT'LL TAKE YOU TO A MAP YOU CAN DRILL IN, CHANGE THE LAYERS TO WHAT YOU WANT TO LOOK AT.

>> THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. >> THANK YOU.

>> BEAUTIFUL, THANK YOU. >> AND BACK TO YOU.

>> I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR NEXT STEPS. PART OF THIS TODAY IS LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT, THE RESOLUTION, BASICALLY JUST SAYING WE AGREE TO SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, THIS INFORMATION IS GOOD AND VALID, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO STUDY IT AND SEE HOW IT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED. THAT PROVIDES A WAY FOR THOSE OTHER CITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY TO GO AFTER THOSE SS4A PLANNING GRANTS. 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 HAVE YOU READ

IT WHENEVER YOU WERE DONE. >> YES. AND THEN LIKE HE TALKED ABOUT, TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLANS OUR 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 SOME OF THESE, BECAUSE OF THE CRASH DATA WAS THE 2023 IT LOOKED LIKE SOME OF THOSE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED WITH SOME PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE. AND WE WILL LOOK AT THE BOND PROJECTS, BOTH THE 2016 BONDS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING AND THEN 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 REGISTRATIONS OF THE HAYS COUNTY SAFETY ACTION PLAN. WHEREAS, HAYS COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION SAFETY FOR ALL ROAD USERS, INCLUDING CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ]

[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]

[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]

[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]

[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]

[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]

[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]

[G. CONSENT ITEMS]

[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]

[J.3. PLN-2745-PC; Call for a Public Hearing on June 24, 2025, regarding Pioneer Ranches, Section 1, Lot 26A Replat. HAMMER/PACHECO]

[J.4. PLN-2749-PC; Call for a Public Hearing on June 24, 2025, for Indian Hills Ranch, Lot 1, Replat. COHEN/SMITH/PACHECO]

[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]

[J.6. PLN-2433-PC; Ratify approval of the Castro's Addition, Lot 1, Replat. INGALSBE/PACHECO]

[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]

[K.4. Discussion and possible action to approve the Assessment and Collection Agreement with Buda MUD #2 (City ofBuda). COHEN/ESCOBAR]

[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]

[K.7. Discussion and possible action regarding an update on the county purchasing policy revisions. BECERRA]

[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]

[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]

[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.]

[K.11. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of Amendment 2 to the Traffic Signal Maintenance CoSESfTZH^CCZ?SSAL,LHCUNH?ys ^ ^ ^^ ^ '"^]

[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]

[M.1. Discussion related to the Hays County inmate population, to include current population counts and costs. BECERRA]

[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]

[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]

[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]

[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]

[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]

[L. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS]

[K.14. Discussion and possible action regarding project allocations related to 2020 Hays County Parks and Open Space bond projects. BECERRA]

[05:08:31]

EXECUTIVE SESSION AND MOTION AND A COURT FOR CONSIDERATION AND

[05:09:20]

AMEND THE BUDGET YES >> COMMISSIONER COHEN

[05:09:34]

>> PURGATORY CREEK CREEK TRAIL 1 MILLION, KYLES SPORTSPLEX PARK,

[05:10:09]

5.5 MILLION. PRECINCT 3 WE HAVE RAY CREEK PRESERVE 1 MILLION

[05:10:11]

BLUE HOLDS CENTER 2 MILLION, PRECINCT 4 VIOLET CROWN PARK AT

[05:10:12]

500,000, DRIPPING SPRINGS TC AT 700,000 AND 2 MILLION TOTALING

[05:10:20]

$17,500,000 TO SENTINEL PEAK. >> AND ON TOP OF EVERYTHING THE

[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]

[05:10:32]

COMMISSIONER JUST SAID THIS IS SIMPLY A TINY NO PROJECTS THAT

[05:10:34]

HAVE BEEN FUNDED AS PREVIOUSLY STATED HAVE GONE AWAY. IT IS

[05:10:57]

JUST AN ADMINISTRATIVE SHIFT TO KEEP THINGS MOVING IN A TIMELY

[05:10:59]

MANNER BASED ON PROJECT READINESS, EVERYTHING AS

[05:11:00]

ORIGINALLY INTENDED HAS BEEN PUT. COMMISSIONERS DID NOT LOSE

[05:11:01]

FUNDING FOR THEIR PROJECTS, THE ONES COMMISSIONER HAMMER JUST