[A. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:07] >> TOP OF THE MORNING TO YOU. A VERY GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALL. I WOULD LIKE TO TOCALL THIS TO ORDER. THIS MORNING'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY OUR VERY OWN PASTOR DARIUS TODD IF YOU WILL PLEASE ALL RISE. >> LET US BOW. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE. WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SHARE WITH THE FELLOW CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY. WE THANK YOU, LORD GOD, THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US GRACE AND MERCY FOR THIS DAY AND THESE ACTIVITIES. WE PRAY EVEN AS WE CELEBRATED YESTERDAY PEACE, UNITY, AND FREEDOM. WE THANK YOU FOR THESE IN THIS COUNTRY. WE WALK BY THEM. WE APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THEM. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE THEM IN THIS MEETING TODAY. LEAD US AS WE LEAD. LEAD US AS WE GO FORWARD, DOING THE WORK THAT PLEASES YOU AND HELPS EVERY CITIZEN. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE, IN JESUS' NAME I PRAY, AMEN. >> THANK YOU, PASTRO. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE, UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. >> WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> HERE. >> JUDGE CERRA. >> HERE. [E. PUBLIC COMMENTS] >> ALL FAMILIAR NAMES, I WON'T READ THE DISCLAIMER, WHEN THE TIMER GOES OFF, PLEASE COMPLETE YOUR STATEMENTS. OKAY. THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. WE'LL BEGIN WITH ALEX. IF YOU WILL PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, MY COMMANDER, CHRIS, IS SITTING THERE. I'M THE FIRST VICE COMMANDER, AND WE'RE HERE TOTO TALK THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET FOR OUR BUILDING. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE LEASE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US FOR AMVETS. WE ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OTHER VETERANS GROUPS. WE ARE AN INDIVIDUAL GROUP. OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORTSUPPORT VETERANS THEIR HEALTH ISSUES, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ANY HEALTH ISSUES, AS WELL AS TRYING TO INCREASE THEIR DISABILITY BENEFITS. WE HAVE A LOT OF COMBAT VETERANS THERE. WE HAVE A LOT OF NONCOMBAT VETERANS THERE. WE HAVE A VERY, VERY STRONG WOMEN'S AUXILIARY GROUP THAT HAS HELPED PROVIDE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. I HAVE A LIST OF PROGRAMS HERE. I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM. I'LL LET THE COMMANDER MENTION THAT BUT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SAFE PLACE FOR VETERANS AND THE OTHER GROUPS THAT FUNCTION IN OUR BUILDING FROM AMVETS TO LION'S, ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS. WE PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM TO COME AND HAVE BREAKFAST. IT'S A NONPOLITICAL ENTITY. WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR GOALS. THE BACK PORCH IS SINKING. WE DO NOT HAVE AN ADA- APPROVED BUILDING. IT WOULD COST US A LOT OF MONEY. WE HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MANAGE OUR FUNDS, AND WE HAVE HAD GOOD DONATIONS, AND WE'RE VERY GOOD STEWARDS OF WHAT WE DO. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THAT BUILDING ADA SO THAT THE OLDER VETERANS DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM ACCESSING THE FACILITY. THAT'S IT. >> WELL DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR VETERANS. NEXT, WE HAVE CHRIS. >> JUDGE, COULD YOU REPEAT THE LAST NAME, PLEASE? >> C-A-L-K-I-N-S. >> THANK YOU. SORRY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK FOR THE TIME TO PRESENT OURSELVES. IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD FOR OUR [00:05:01] AMVETS, AMERICAN VETERANS, AND IN TURN, WE TAKE CARE OF OUR VETERANS, BUT WE ALSO TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITY. WE TAKE CARE OF LION'S CLUB, TAKE CARE OF CERT, HAYS COUNTY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM, TROOP 125, KIWANIS CLUB, KYLE LION'S CLUB, AMERICAN LEGION POST 213, ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS. WE ALSO DID A SUPPORT TEAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT VETERANS. IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE COMMUNITY THAT COMES TO OUR BUILDING. WE OPEN OUR DOORS UP. WE LET OTHER PEOPLE USE OUR PLACE AND FACILITIES. WE TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE DID A THANKSGIVING AND A CHRISTMAS DINNERS FOR OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT COULDN'T PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES. IT'S VERY IMPERATIVE THAT WE SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT WE CARE FOR THEM AND TAKE CARE OF THEM. OUR FIRST PRIORITY, OF COURSE, IS VETERANS. THE VETERAN IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT SUPPORTED AND SO WE CAN SIT HERE TODAY AND TALK AND COMPLAIN AND BE PRAISED FOR WHAT WE RECEIVED. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT VETERANS ARE KNOWN FOR WHAT THEY DO. WE TAKE CARE OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND CERT. WE DEFINITELY WANT TO TAKE CARE OF ANYBODY ELSE THAT COMES THROUGH THE DOOR. WE'RE ASKING FOR A LITTLE HELP WITH OUR BACK PORCH TO MAKE SURE NOBODY GETS HURT AT OUR PLACE. IT'S IMPERATIVE WE TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY BY TAKING CARE OF WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT HAYS COUNTY HAS DONE FOR US. I THANK YOU FOR COMMISSIONERS IN PRECINCT 2 AND 3 THAT HELPED US MOVE ALONG. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF ME OFFICERS. I'VE GOT A GREAT CORE GROUP. THEY REALLY TAKE CARE OF ME AS A COMMANDER. I CAN'T TAKE THE PRAISE -- THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> NEXT UP, WE HAVE LAUREN ROMERO. >> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU AND THE CITIZENS WE SERVE. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS REWRITE FOR HAYS COUNTY. A DOCUMENT THAT IS GOING TO SET GUIDELINES AND POLICY THAT WILL AFFECT OUR CITIZENRY FOR DECADES TO COME. NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AN EXPANSION OF THE SCOPE BEFORE THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW REGULATIONS. THE DIAGNOSTIC IS SOLID WORK. WATER AVAILABILITY, FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE, PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT, ALL ARE THOROUGHLY ADDRESSED. THE REPORT ITSELF ACKNOWLEDGES THIS IS A STARTING POINT, NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE CATALOG. I'M TAKING THAT INVITATION SERIOUSLY. WHAT'S MISSING? ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS FOR EXISTING BUSINESSES AND CURRENT RESIDENTS. NOT AS FEEDBACK SOURCES, WHICH IS INCLUDED AS WELL, BUT AS SUBJECTS OF INDEPENDENT, RIGOROUS STUDY. WHY THIS MATTERS NOW, DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS DON'T OPERATE IN A VACUUM. THEY INTERACT WITH INFLATION, INTEREST RATES, FEDERAL TRADE AND ENERGY POLICY, SUPPLY CHAIN VOLATILITY. A REGULATORY FRAMEWORK DESIGNED WITHOUT MODELING THESE VARIABLES RISKS BECOMING A BARRIER TO THE VERY COMMUNITIES IT'S MEANT TO SERVE. CUMULATIVE COMPLIANCE COSTS AND CURRENT PROPERTY OWNERS TIME, COMPLEXITY, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, ALL OF THESE REQUIRE QUANTIFICATION. EFFECTS ON EXISTING SMALL BUSINESSES, B&BS, AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS, HOME- BASED ENTERPRISES HAVE NOT YET BEEN ASSESSED. DISPLACEMENT RISK AND AFFORDABILITY IMPLICATIONS HAVE NOT YET BEEN ADDRESSED. I DO NOT -- BY THE WAY, I WANT TO SAY THERE MAY BE THINGS ALREADY UNDER WAY THAT WE ARE NOT AWARE OF AS THE PUBLIC. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL EXCUSE ANY ASSUMPTIONS THAT THIS IS NOT UNDER WAY. BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW, THESE THINGS HAVE NOT YET BEEN ADDRESSED. SO, WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THIS REWRITE IN 15 YEARS, WHAT DO WE WANT TO HAVE BUILT? A COUNTY THAT GOT BIGGER? OR A COUNTY THAT GOT BETTER? [00:10:02] THOSE AREN'T AUTOMATICALLY THE SAME THING. THE ORIGINAL REGULATIONS LACKED IMPLEMENTATION RESOURCES AND MONITORING MECHANISMS. THIS REWRITE IS OUR CHANCE TO CORRECT THAT AND NOT REPEAT IT. IF WE REGULATE TOWARD A COUNTY THAT ONLY PENCILS OUT FOR LARGE- SCALE DEVELOPERS AND HIGH NET WORTH NEWCOMERS, WE WILL HAVE SUCCEEDED AT GROWING AND FAILED AT THRIVING. THE REQUEST BEFORE FINALIZING REVISIONS, COMMISSION, AND ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY EXAMINING EFFECTS ON EXISTING BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS, NOT JUST NEW DEVELOPMENT, STRESS TEST PROPOSED REGULATIONS AGAINST CURRENT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, INCLUDE IMPLEMENTATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACCOUNTABILITY METRICS THAT WERE ABSENT BEFORE. >> THANK YOU. I GAVE YOU AS MUCH AS I COULD AFTER THAT BUZZER. >> I APPRECIATE IT. >> GOT TO BE CONSISTENT AS I CAN. NEXT UP, WE HAVE TODD. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS PASTOR TODD AND I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY CENTER. WE HAVE HELPED VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS IN HAYS COUNTY GET BACK ON THEIR FEET, SUPPORTING FAMILIES THROUGH CRISIS, BUILDING SELF- SUFFICIENCY AND STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY WITH CARE AND COMPASSION. I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF SOUTH SIDE'S HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAM. WE LAUNCHED THIS PROGRAM TWO YEARS AGO WITH ONE CLEAR PURPOSE, TO STOP THE GROWTH OF HOMELESSNESS IN HAYS COUNTY. LAST YEAR ALONE, WE SHARED MORE THAN 600 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS, PROVIDING EMERGENCY AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SUPPORTED BY CASECASE AND NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIPS TO OFFER ASSISTANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO HELP FAMILIES KEEP THEMSELVES HOUSED. AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECOMES HAZARDER AND HARDER TO FINDS IN HAYS COUNTY, PREVENTING EVICTIONS HAS BECOME CRITICAL. IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS, SOUTH SIDE HAS HELPED 49 FAMILIES AVOID EVICTION. WE'VE KEPT FAMILIES HOUSED. WE'VE KEPT KIDS IN THE SAME SCHOOLS. WE'VE KEPT PARENTS WORKING THE SAME JOBS. WE'VE KEPT NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER AND MORE STABLE. WE HAVE HAD BETTER OUTCOMES, AND IT'S BEEN CHEAPER TO DO IT THIS WAY. AND HERE'S THE REALITY. INACTION, MY FRIENDS, IS EXPENSIVE. STUDIES SHOW THAT COMMUNITIES SPEND BETWEEN 15 TO $20,000 PER PERSON PER YEAR WHEN PEOPLE REMAIN UNHOUSED DUE TO INCREASED EMERGENCY SERVICES, ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE STRAIN ON OUR JUDICIAL AND PUBLIC SERVICES. LAST YEAR, HAYS COUNTY HAD 187 UNHOUSED RESIDENTS REPORTED THROUGH THE POINT IN TIME COUNT WE KNOW THAT'S AN UNDERCOUNT, BUT EVEN WITH THOSE NUMBERS, THAT'S ROUGHLY 2.8 MILLION TO $3.7 MILLION A YEAR MANAGING HOMELESSNESS INSTEAD OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM. SOUTH SIDE HAS PROVEN LOCALLY THAT EARLY INTERVENTION WORKS. WHEN A FAMILY FACES A TEMPORARY CRISIS, A MEDICAL BILL, A JOB DISRUPTION OR CAR REPAIR OR A RENT SPIKE, EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND CASE MANAGEMENT CAN KEEP THEM HOUSED AND STOP THINGS FROM GETTING WORSE. IT'S BETTER OUTCOMES, LOWER COSTS AND ACTUALLY SOLVES THE PROBLEM. OUR INITIAL TWO-YEAR FUNDING FOR THIS PROVEN PROGRAM RUNS OUT IN APRIL. THAT IS THREE MONTHS AWAY. AND WITHOUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING, WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE CUTS TO THE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. THIS YEAR, HAYS COUNTY HAS A $248 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET TAX REVENUES UP MORE THAN 11% LAST YEAR PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF HIGHER PROPERTY VALUES AND INCREASED HOUSING COSTS. SOUTH SIDE IS ASKING FOR LESS THAN ONE- TENTH OF 1% TO HELP MORE THAN 400 FAMILIES THIS COMING YEAR. THAT'S 0.01% TO KEEP HAYS COUNTY FAMILIES HOUSED, TO KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOLS, TO REDUCE THE STRAIN ON EMERGENCY SERVICES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE COURTS. WE'RE NOT ASKING HAYS COUNTY TO FUND THIS ALONE. WE HAVE A GROUP OF PARTNERS COMING ALONGSIDE, BUT WE NEED HAYS COUNTY TO COME AND BE A FUNDING PARTNER IN THIS PROGRAM. WILL YOU HELP US? HELP FAMILIES IN HAYS COUNTY WHO ARE EXPERIENCING EMERGENCIES REMAIN HOUSED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT UP, JULIA GUERRERO. >> HI. GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE WITH PAUSE PAUSE OF CENTRAL TEXAS. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE SPAY AND NEUTER AWARENESS MONTH. I DID WANT TO JUST READ WHAT I HAVE. SO, GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE SOMETHING TRULY POWERFUL THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S THE WORK OF PAWS SHELTER OF CENTRAL TEXAS AND THE [00:15:03] DEDICATED PARTNERS WHO STAND BESIDE THEM, INCLUDING T AND R GROUPS LIKE THUNDERING PAWS. NUMBERS ALONE ARE REMARKABLE. PAWS SHELTER OF CENTRAL TEXAS HELPED OVER 800 PETS LAST YEAR RECEIVE LIFE- CHANGING SURGERIES, FIND LOVING HOMES, THAT MEANS 800 ANIMALS NOW HAVE A FUTURE FILLED WITH SAFETY, CARE, AND LOVE. EACH OF THESE ANIMALS REPRESENTING A STORY THAT COULD HAVE ENDED VERY DIFFERENTLY BUT DID NOT BECAUSE SOMEONE CHOSE COMPASSION OVER INDIFFERENCE. PAWS AND ITS PARTNERS HAVE PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN TRAP, NEUTER, RETURN EFFORTS, TNR, WORKING ALONG SURROUNDING RESCUE GROUPS, THEY HAVE HELPED PREVENT COUNTLESS UNWANTED LITTERS. THIS WORK ISN'T FLASHY, BUT IT'S ESSENTIAL. TNR REDUCES SUFFERING, IMPROVES THE HEALTH OF COMMUNITY CATS, AND ADDRESSES THE ROOT CAUSE OF PET OVERPOPULATION RATHER THAN JUST THE SYMPTOMS. THIS MAKES THIS WORK SO MEANINGFUL, AND IT STRENGTHENS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. FEWER UNWANTED LITTERS MEANS FEWER ANIMALS STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE ON THE STREETS. ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE MEANS PETS ARE HEALTHIER, HAPPIER, AND MORE LIKELY TO THRIVE IN PERMANENT HOMES. FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO ADOPT ANIMALS WHO ARE ALREADY CARED FOR, VACCINATED, AND READY TO BECOME BELOVED COMPANIONS. NONE OF THIS HAPPENS BY ACCIDENT. IT HAPPENS BECAUSE OF VOLUNTEERS WHO GIVE THEIR TIME, VETERINARIANS WHO LEND THEIR SKILLS, DONORS WHO GIVE WHAT THEY CAN AND ADVOCATES WHO REFUSE TO LOOK AWAY WHEN ANIMALS ARE IN NEED. IT HAPPENS BECAUSE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE PAWS AND THUNDERING PAWS AND OTHER RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS BELIEVE THAT EVERY ANIMAL DESERVES DIGNITY, CARE, AND A CHANCE AT A SAFE LIFE. TODAY, WE REFLECT ON THIS IMPACT AND LET US REMEMBER THAT SAVING ANIMALS IS NOT JUST ABOUT RESCUING PETS. IT'S ABOUT BUILDING A KINDER, MORE RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY. IT'S ABOUT CHOOSING EMPATHY. IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN WE PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US, WE ELEVATE EVERYBODY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK ON BEHALFBEHALF PAWS SHELTER OF CENTRAL TEXAS, AND TO EVERYONE THAT SUPPORTS THIS MISSION, THANK YOU. YOUR WORK MATTERS. YOUR COMPASSION CHANGES LIVES, AND BECAUSE OF YOU, HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS NOW HAVE A FUTURE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE HAD OTHERWISE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. AND EMAILED, WE HAVE CHRISTINE NORTON. >> CHRISTINE NORTON FROM KYLE. MY NAME IS CHRISTINE NORTON, I'M A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER WHO HAS SPENT MY CAREER WORKING IN TRAUMA, MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO ENTERING OR EXPANDING A 287-G AGREEMENT WITH I.C.E. FROM BOTH RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, I KNOW THAT POLICIES WHICH ENTANGLE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ERODE TRUST, PARTICULARLY AMONG IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, MIXED STATUS HOUSEHOLDS AND COMMUNITIES ALREADY EXPERIENCING FEAR AND MARGINALIZATION. WHEN TRUST IS BROKEN, PEOPLE ARE LESS LIKELY TO REPORT CRIMES, CORROBORATE AS WITNESSES OR SEEK HELP WHEN THEY ARE VICTIMIZED. THAT MAKES ALL OF US LESS SAFE. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKS BEST WHEN IT FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY SAFETY, PREVENTION AND RESPONSIVENESS, NOT ON IMMIGRATION STATUS. DEPUTIES ARE TRAINED TO KEEP THE PEACE AND PROTECT RESIDENTS, NOT TO SERVE AS AN EXTENSION OF A FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENCY. 287-G SHIFTS LIMITED COUNTY RESOURCES AWAY FROM LOCAL PRIORITIES AND PLACES ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON JAIL STAFF, BUDGETS, AND LIABILITY. AS A CLINICIAN, I WANT TO NAME THE HUMAN COST. FEAR OF DETENTION OR DEPORTATION HAS REAL MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN. CHRONIC STRESS, ANXIETY, AND AVOIDANCE OF PUBLIC SYSTEM UNDERMINE LONG-TERM COMMUNITY HEALTH AND STABILITY. I ASK THIS COURT AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO CONSIDER POLICIES THAT PRIORITIZE TRUST, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING AND TO RESIST AGREEMENT THAT DEEPENS FEAR AND DIVISION IN OUR COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE TO HAYS COUNTY. SINCERELY, CHRISTINE LYNN NORTON. [F.1. Presentation of January 2026 Service and Retirement Awards. BECERRA/GRANJENO] >> ANY MORE EMAILS? THAT'S THE END OF IT? OKAY, PERFECT. NEXT, WE WILL BE GOING THROUGH PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS. PLEASE OPEN F- 1 PRESENTATION OF JANUARY 2026 SERVICE AND RETIREMENT AWARDS. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. MY NAME IS MARIAH, I'M THE EMPLOYMENT AND COMPENSATION COORDINATOR WITH THE HAYS COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE. WE ARE GOING TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE REACHED SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES IN THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE WITH HAYS COUNTY. WE WILL BEGIN WITH ONE YEAR OF SERVICE. >> PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THE END. [00:20:01] >> WITH ONE YEAR OF SERVICE, WE HAVE JENNIFER PUTNAM WITH COUNTY COURT AT LAW. KATE ESQUEDA WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. MARK MARTINEZ WITH TRANSPORTATION. LEAH WITH TRANSPORTATION. LAUREN WITH HUMAN RESOURCES. JEANETTE LOPEZ WITH THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. NEIL CRUCERO WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNE'S OFFICE. JOHN VOIGT WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. BENJAMIN FOREST WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. MONICA ALEJANDRO WITH TRANSPORTATION. SKYLER VAZQUEZ WITH THE TREASURER'S OFFICE. ALFREDO RAMIREZ WITH THE AUDIENCE TORE'S OFFICE. KAYLEE MILLER WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WILLIAM WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. KATHERINE HOWARD WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. KYLE WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. JOSEPH SMITH WITH I.T. LISA WITH THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. JAVIER WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. MARTIN RODRIGUEZ WITH CONSTABLE PRECINCT 5. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. ALICIA FROM THE DISTRICT COURT'S OFFICE AND THAT IS ALL FOR ONE YEAR OF SERVICE. >> WE'RE GOING TO DO A CRAZY THING, FRAMING YOU ANGLED AROUND THIS. COME ON IN. HIT A 45-DEGREE ANGLE FACING THE MIDDLE. LOOK AT THIS. THIS IS HAYS COUNTY SERVING HAYS COUNTY. OF, BY, AND FOR. >> THANK YOU. NOW GO BACK TO WORK. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. >> WITH FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE, WE HAVE MATTHEW GONZALEZ FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. MARINA DE LEON WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. ARMANDO SORIO WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND CAITLIN WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. AND NINA FUENTES WITH JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT 1, AND THAT IS ALL FOR FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE. >> WITH TEN YEARS OF SERVICE, WE HAVE NATHANIEL RAMSEY WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. LISA MASON WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. AND SHERRY ROGERS WITH THE DISTRICT COURTS, AND THAT IS ALL FOR TEN YEARS OF SERVICE. ALEXANDER MARTINEZ WITH JUVENILE PROBATION. JANICE JONES WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. >> WITH 20 YEARS OF SERVICE, WE HAVE CHRISTOPHER SONDHOLM WITH JUVENILE PROBATION. [00:25:35] >> WITH 25 YEARS OF SERVICE, WE HAVE JEFF JORDAN WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. JEFF ACTUALLY GETS A FLAG AND THE KNIFE. THAT'S JEFF'S. YES. YES. SORRY, JEFF. YOU DON'T GET A WATCH. >> BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE. >> AND THE KNIFE. >> OH! >> NOT THE WATCH. SORRY, JEFF. >> THIS IS UNLABELED. THERE YOU ARE. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> AND WITH 35 YEARS OF SERVICE, WE HAVE JENNIFER COURTNEY WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. >> WHAT ARE WE SAYING WITH THIS GIFT? KEEP AN EYE ON THE TIME? >> YES. >> CONGRATULATIONS. THIS IS ALMOST -- >> AND THAT IS IT. >> NO RETIREES? >> NO RETIREES. [F.2. Presentation recognizing Texas State University students who participated in Bobcat Shadow Day. HAMMER/BOUTTE] >> PLEASE OPEN F-2. >> F-2. PRESENTATION RECOGNIZING TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN BOBCAT SHADOW DAY. >> ALL RIGHT. PRESENTATION, WHO'S GOING TO DO THAT PRESENTATION? >> THERE'S NO PRESENTATION. >> IT'S JUST COMMENTS. >> VERY GOOD. >> YOU CAN COME UP, JESSICA. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE, SO THIS IS REALLY COOL. >> WELCOME TO THE RODEO. >> YES. THANK YOU. SO, REALLY BRIEFLY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AT TEXAS STATE, WE ARE STRIVING TO PROVIDE EACH STUDENT WITH CAREER EXPOSURE, PRIOR TO GRADUATION. THE BOBCAT SHADOW PROGRAM WITHIN ITSELF BASICALLY GIVES STUDENTS A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CAREER PRIOR TO THAT GRADUATION SO THAT THEY CAN GET THAT GLIMPSE. THE PROGRAM HAS ALLOWED FOR ALL THOSE THINGS TO HAPPEN ACROSS HAYS COUNTY, GOING TO TRAVIS COUNTY AND SO FORTH BUT WE WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU ALL HERE FOR SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM AND BEING A PART OF THE PROGRAM IN ITSELF AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO TAKE YOUR STUDENTS AND TO TALK TO THEM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT -- I'M A TEXAS STATE ALUMNI, AND I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING I WISH THAT I HAD, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT WAS EXPOSURE TO COUNTY GOVERNMENT -- I TOLD EVERYONE BY THE END OF IT, I SAID, YOU PROBABLY KNOW MORE ABOUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAN YOUR PARENTS DO. BECAUSE THEY GOT TO SEE EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT AND TALK TO ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER COHEN STEPPING IN, HELPING AS WELL, AND JUDGE AS WELL. FOR ALLOWING US TO DO THAT. I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW THE PROGRAM AND REALLY MAYBE EVENEVEN SOME INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW. BUT IT WAS SUCH A GREAT COLLABORATION. I MEAN, WHY NOT UTILIZE OUR UNIVERSITY THAT IS JUST STEPS [00:30:01] AWAY FROM THIS COURTHOUSE? >> GREAT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. [F.3. Presentation by Broaddus & Associates regarding the Capital Improvement Program. BECERRA/SMITH] >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY. PLEASE OPEN F-3. >> F-3. PRESENTATION BY BROADDUS & ASSOCIATES REGARDING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. I DID HAND OUT A -- A HANDOUT BEFOREHAND. HOPE Y'ALL GOT IT. THERE'S ALSO A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION TO GO ALONG WITH IT. JUST FOR THE SAKE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THIS CAPITAL IMPROVED PLAN OR CIP IS A FOCUS ON FACILITIES AND VERTICAL BRICKS AND MORTAR. AND BOTH EXISTING FACILITIES AND NEW CONSTRUCTION. SO, TODAY, WE'RE GOING GO OVER THE -- WHAT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS AND WHAT WE DID, SUMMARIZE THE PRIORITY PROJECTS, SUPPORT OF TRANSPARENCY AND LONG- RANGE PLANNING. AND THEN NEXT STEPS. I WANT TO THANK THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THAT WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH, WHICH WAS JUDGE BECERRA, CANDICE BOUTTE, MORGAN HAMMER, COMMISSIONER HAMMER, PRECINCT 3. TAMMY, THE DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. VICKY DORSE, THE RETIRED BUDGET OFFICER, AND THEN SCOTT WOODLAND, THE NEW BUDGET OFFICER THAT'S JUST STARTING. WE'VE BEEN KIND OF WORKING WITH BOTH THOSE FOLKS OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS. AND THEN JENNIFER ESCOBAR, THE HAYS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR AND COLLECTOR. THERE WERE MANY OTHER STAFF THAT WE WORKED WITH, INCLUDING SOME FOLKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEM, AND I DO WANT TO THANK EVERY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE COURT TODAY. I'VE MET, AND WE'VE MET, BROADDUS HAS MET WITH EVERY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE TODAY, INCLUDING THE JUDGE AND EVERY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS INDIVIDUALLY TO KIND OF ASSESS EVERYBODY'S NEEDS AND WHAT EVERYBODY KIND OF WHAT THE TALK IN THE COUNTY IS AND WHAT THE PEOPLE RECOGNIZE, WHAT THE NEEDS ARE. THE -- I DON'T KNOW WHY THE -- IF YOU COULD GO ON. I DON'T KNOW IF THE SLIDES ARE MOVING FORWARD. YEAH. ONE MORE, PLEASE. OKAY. SO, WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IS THE MAP OF THE COUNTY AND THE -- THESE ARE THE EXISTING -- THE STARS REPRESENT THE EXISTING FACILITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY. WE DID GO, AND I WANT TO MENTION THAT WE ASSESSED THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE WITH ALL THE PRECINCTS, ALL THE AREAS. WE TALKED TO THE COURTS. WE TALKED TO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, THE ADMINISTRATION STAFF. WE RECEIVED, LIKE I MENTIONED, INPUT FROM THE DIFFERENT COMMISSIONERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR THIS EFFORT. I WANT TO THANK THE HEADS OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS YOU SEE LISTED OVER HERE OFF TO THE RIGHT- HAND SIDE. WE WORKED WITH UNONE OF THOSE AND INTERVIEWED WITH EVERY ONE OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS. WE ALSO COMPLETED 190 STAFF SURVEYS COVERING ALL THOSE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COUNTY, COUNTY EMPLOYEES. WE DID ALSO REACH OUT TO GENERAL PUBLIC, LIKE I MENTIONED. 131 PUBLIC SURVEYS WERE COMPLETED. AND WE ATTENDED FIVE DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT WERE ALL OVER THE COUNTY. WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THESE WERE THE DIFFERENT COUNTY FACILITIES AS THEY ARE TODAY. I DO LIKE THIS PIE CHART THAT SHOWS ON THE LEFT, SHOWING THE SQUARE FOOTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF ALL THE COUNTY'S FACILITIES WITH A LARGE CHUNK OF THEM BEING THE GOVERNMENT CENTER, CURRENTLY, BEING THE GOVERNMENT CENTER AND THE JAIL. BOTH THE JAIL ITSELF AND THE JAIL ANNEX AND THE SPACES OUT THERE WITH THAT. COUPLE OF THE SMALL ONES BUT STILL LARGE ARE THE TRANSPORTATION BUILDING AND THE ELECTIONS BUILDING. NEXT SLIDE. SO, WHY IS THIS NEEDED? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS CIP EFFORT? WELL, THE COUNTY'S EXPERIENCING UNPRECEDENTED POPULATION GROWTH. THE FACILITIES WERE DESIGNED FOR SMALL POPULATIONS AND STAFFING VERSUS THEIR CURRENT FUNCTIONAL NEEDS. CURRENT FACILITY NEEDS ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING, [00:35:05] DEMANDING FLEXIBILITY. AND THIS IS A PROACTIVE CIP PLANNING EFFORT SUPPORTINGSUPPORTING NEEDS, AMONGST OTHERS BEING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. AS EVERYBODY KNOWS HERE, THE FACILITIES HAVE OUTGROWN THEIR INTENDED USE. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A GROWING COUNTY, WHICH LEADS ME TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THIS SHOWS THE CURRENT AND GROWTH PATTERNS WITHIN THE COUNTY. PROJECTED. SO, LAST -- THE LAST EFFORT SIMILAR TO THIS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WAS OVER 35 YEARS AGO, SO THIS IS DEFERENTLY A NEED THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH. I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE COURT FOR THIS. IT WAS A, FOR LOOKING AT THIS BEING PROACTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE, AND PUTTING TOGETHER A LONG- TERM ROAD MAP FOR LONG- TERM GROWTH WITHIN THE COUNTY. CURRENTLY, THE COUNTY HAS OVER 280,000 PEOPLE. IT IS THE SECOND FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. THAT'S CRAZY. AND YOU LOOK AT THIS CURRENT -- JUST EXPLAIN THIS GRAPH OVER ON THE LEFT. IT SHOWS THAT ON THIS CURRENT TRAJECTORY GROWTH, THE POPULATION WOULD BE, IN 35 YEARS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT OVER A MILLION PEOPLE. IF YOU TOOK IT AT HALF ITS CURRENT GROWTH, IT WOULD BE OVER 500,000 PEOPLE. SO, YOU CAN SEE THE CHART SHOWING HOW FAST THE COUNTY IS GROWING. AND AGAIN, JUST EMPHASIZING THAT DRAMATIC GROWTH WITHIN THE COUNTY. SO, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE OUR POPULATION AREAS BEING SAN MARCOS, KYLE, DRIPPING SPRINGS, WIMBERLY. WE DID WORK WITH HAYS CALDWELL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP AND JUST TO KIND OF SHOW WHATWHAT GROWTH WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY, 113 PROJECTS IF THEIR CURRENT PIPELINE THAT THEY'RE TRACKING. THAT'S 37,400 NEW JOBS AND DEVELOPMENT OVER 9,200 ACRES. OVER $33 BILLION IN INVESTMENT. AND THAT'S IN THEIR PIPELINE OF PROJECTS THEY'RE TRACKING. SO, PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS AND PRIORITIES. SO, THESE ARE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE EXECUTIVE TEAM FOR THE CIP, WHICH WAS THE COUNTY AND THE COMMISSIONERS AND, YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENT HEADS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. A COUPLE OF THESE I WANTED TO FOCUS ON IS, YOU KNOW, PICKING A COUPLE OF THESE, I MEAN, SAFETY AND SECURITY, ENVIRONMENT, WE LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT -- HOW SAFE THE BUILDINGS WERE. WHAT THEIR NEEDS WERE, WHAT THEIR CAMERAS WERE. WE ASSESSED OUR CURRENT SPACE DEMANDS. WE WALKED EVERY ONE OF THOSE FACILITIES THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER. WE LOOKED AT ADA NEEDS. WE LOOKED AT ACCESSIBLE NEEDS. WE LOOKED AT THE EXISTING -- WE LOOKED AT PROJECTS -- LOOKED AT THE FUTURE SCALABILITY OF THE PROJECTS THEMSELVES. WE DID PRIORITIZE PROJECTS BASED AND URGENCY. SO, JUST PICKING A COUPLE OF THESE THINGS IN HERE. BUT WE HIT ALL THESE, AND WE COVERED -- BLESS YOU -- THEY WERE COVERED BY THE ENTIRE TEAM THAT WE WORKED ON AND THEN EVALUATED. WE DID ALSO DO A FOCUS ON PREDICTABILITY AND SCHEDULE CONTROL. WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE, YOU KNOW, THE FUNDING APPROACHES AND OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY, BOTH WHAT THEY CURRENTLY ARE LOOKING AT AND WHAT THEIR FUTURE NEEDS ARE. CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION IS SOMETHING THAT AN EFFORT HAS BEEN ONGOING WITH THE COUNTY. I THINK THAT'S A LATER AGENDA ITEM FOR Y'ALL TO TALKTALK ABOUT. THERE'S ALSO THE GENERAL SPECIAL FUNDS AND ADDITIONAL FUNDS. OBVIOUSLY, BASED ON AVAILABILITY OF GRANTS OR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT CAN FUND POTENTIAL PROJECTS. AND THERE ARE OTHER UNIQUE PROJECTS -- >> WHILE YOU TOOK THAT SHORT PAUSE, I WAS GOING TO INTERRUPT YOU. >> SURE. >> ALTHOUGH THIS MAY SEEM BORING TO MOST, THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US IN PLANNING OUR EVER-GROWING COUNTY SO THAT WE CAN BE MOST PROACTIVE, AND SO THIS -- WHY IT HELPS IS BECAUSE THIS IS ULTIMATELY PART OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH, INFORMING, EDUCATING AND BROADCASTING. AND SO, I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE IS HUGE BECAUSE [00:40:02] THE WORK IS HUGE. DON'T THINK IT'S JUST US. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK, AND I JUST THOUGHT TO INCLUDE THAT WHILE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THEM TODAY AS WELL. THANK YOU, JAMES. >> YOU BET. AND JUST TO JUMP AHEAD TO ONE OF MY TALKING POINTS LATER ON, JUDGE, JUST TO BUILD ON WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THIS IS A ROAD MAP FOR THE COUNTY OVER THE NEXT 10 TO 15 YEARS. IS SOMETHING THAT BEING PROACTIVE, THE COUNTY CAN BUILD OFF OF AND USE AS A TOOL FOR WHERE THEIR NEEDS ARE AND WHAT THE COUNTY -- WHERE THE GROWTH NEEDS ARE AND WHAT THE FACILITY NEEDS FOR BOTH THE PUBLIC AND FOR THE STAFF OF THE COUNTY. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION ONE OF THE FUNDING APPROACHES OR FUNDING THINGS THAT WERE LOOKED AT WERE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND OTHER PRIVATE FUNDS WITHIN PROJECTS. THESE ARE THE HIGH-PRIORITY PROJECTS, MEETING THE HIGH-PRIORITY PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THE -- THAT -- I MENTIONED THAT CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION PROCESS. $100 MILLION CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. I'M GOING TO READ THESE OFF JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE IMPORTANT AND THEY'RE IDENTIFIED AS THE HIGH PRIORITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY FOR THIS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. THE EAST SIDE CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. THE EAST SIDE ANIMAL SHELTER OR PET RESOURCE CENTER. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WERE WORKING WITH THE JUDGE ON FOR OVER A YEAR TO ADDRESS THE SEPARATION FROM THE SAN MARCOS ANIMAL SHELTER. AND I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT ONE BECAUSE THIS EAST SIDE ANIMAL SHELTER HERE DOES COVER THE EAST PORTION OF THE COUNTY AS FAR AS -- AT LEAST FROM A MINIMALISTIC LEVEL, FOR THE -- THAT KYLE AREA IN THE COUNTY ADJACENT TO THE KYLE AREA, I GUESS. >> INCLUDING THE CITY AND ALMOST HALF OF THE WEST SIDE OF THE COUNTY. >> YES, SIR. IT IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY OF KYLE. >> AND WHILE YOU'VE GOT A SHORT PAUSE THERE ALSO, THESE NUMBERS ARE ABSOLUTELY ROUND- ABOUT NUMBERS AND THE CLOSER WE GET TO DOING ANYTHING, THE MORE IN FOCUS THEY COME. I SEE THESE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TOUCHING MORE THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON. IT'S EASY TO SEE HOW WE CAN SHIFT $2 MILLION THAT WAY. THE NUMBERS ARE OVERALL EQUALS IN THE SAME BALLPAR, BUT THEY KEEP MOVING AS THE PROGRESS UNFOLDS. AM I RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS? GENERALLY SPEAKING? OKAY. >> THE PRECINCT 4 NEW LOCATION AND÷÷AND BUILDING, THIS IS A -- THEY'VE OUTGROWN THEIR SPACE IN THE DRIPPING SPRINGS AREA. THAT FIRST PORTION OF THE FUNDING WOULD BE FOR ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY AND/OR AN EXISTING BUILDING. THE GOVERNMENT CENTER, THERE'S A COUPLE THAT'S BROKEN OUT IN A COUPLE SECTIONS BECAUSE THE COUNTY'S ALREADY BEEN DOING ITS HOMEWORK ON THE -- WHAT THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT CENTER NEEDS. I DID POINT OUT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE AND HOW LARGE OF A FACILITY, HOW IMPORTANT THAT FACILITY IS TO THE COUNTY. AND THEN, THE PRECINCT 5 BUILDING, THAT IS ONE OF THE PROJECTS WE IDENTIFIED AS THEY'VE REALLY OUTGROWN THEIR SPACE. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS WORKING OUT OF THAT CURRENT FACILITY. >> WHILE YOU PAUSE, ONE THING I WOULD SAY, AND JUST FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AS THEY'RE WATCHING AND LOOKING AT THESE PROJECTS, THE -- I WOULD SAY EVERY ONE OF THESE IS DIFFERENT AND SPECIAL IN A CERTAIN WAY. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FUNDING FOR THESE PROJECTS AND THE OVERALL COST FOR THESE PROJECTS, SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, WE HAVE THE PROPERTY. SO, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO PROPERTY ACQUISITION. SOME OF IT, WE'RE GETTING THE PROPERTY DONATED. SOME OF IT, WE'RE DOING PARTNERSHIPS TO GET THE PROPERTY AND THE FACILITIES. AND SO, I WOULD JUST VENTURE OR I WOULD CAUTION THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WHEN YOU SEE THESE NUMBERS, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S THE OVERALL COST OF WHAT THAT PROJECT IS. WE VERY WELL MAY BE PARTNERING WITH SOMEBODY AND RECEIVING -- FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRECINCT 5 BUILDING, WE ANTICIPATE THE PROPERTY WILL BE DONATED FOR THAT. SO, THERE ARE OTHER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT THAT WE MAYBE FOUND OTHER WAYS TO SAVE MONEY AND SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY IN ORDER TO BEST SUIT OUR -- THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS. >> THANK YOU. YEAH. AND TO BUILD ON WHAT COMMISSIONER SMITH HAD MENTIONED, PRECINCT 4 BUILDING, ACQUISITION OF LAND AND PROPERTY, THERE MAY BE SOME ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT ARE IN THE LATER SECTIONS HERE THAT WILL BE ONGOING OVER THE YEARS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST A ONE-TIME COST, ONE- TIME IMPACT TO THE COUNTY. [00:45:03] THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE A GOVERNMENT CENTER IS ANOTHER BUILDING THAT WILL HAVE ONGOING COSTS OVER THE MASTER PLAN THAT WAS LOOKED AT WITH -- IN ANOTHER EFFORT WITH -- FOR THE GOVERNMENT CENTER MASTER PLANNING. THESE ARE BUILDING THAT ROAD MAP. THE COUNTY HAS THESE NEEDS, BUT THE COUNTY CAN'T ADDRESS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF ITS NEEDS RIGHT NOW. THESE ARE THE THREE TO FIVE- YEAR, ONE TO THREE-YEAR IS WHAT IT SHOWS UP HERE. SUBJECT TO FUNDING. SUBJECT TO THE FUNDING THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER. THESE ARE ALSO PROJECTS WERE IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THE EXECUTIVE TEAM PRIORITIES AND YOU CAN GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE. YOU KNOW, BOTH THESE MEDIUM AND EVEN THESE LOW- PRIORITY PROJECTS WERE IDENTIFIED AND KIND OF CATEGORIZED BASED ON THE MEETINGS WE HAVE HAD AND WORKSHOPS WE HAD WITH THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. THE PROJECTS YOU SEE UP HERE, YOU KNOW, ARE MEDIUM TO LOW PRIORITY. IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE OVER THE YEARS. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT ONE SPECIFIC ONE ON THERE. THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER THAT'S HIGHLIGHTING GREEN. IT'S A HIGH-PRIORITY PROJECT, BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE UNIQUE ONES WHERE THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AS A PUBLIC- PRIVATE, WORK WITH A PRIVATE INDUSTRY GROUP, WHICH I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME EFFORTS WITH HILL COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH FOR A 16- BED FACILITY. I KNOW THE JUDGE BROUGHT IT UP AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN ON YOUR RADAR. YOU BROUGHT IT UP TO US FOR AT LEAST THE PAST YEAR. AND YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM ON THAT. >> JAMES, I'M GOING TO INTERRUPT YOU FOR ONE TIME. THIS'LL BE THE LAST TIME, BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY ON THAT ONE, I KNOW THAT THROUGH THE BAT AND COMMISSIONER INGLESBY AND I, WE ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR THAT AND THAT WILL PROBABLY BE ONE OF THE DECIDING FACTORS ON WHEN WE CAN DELIVER THAT PROJECT, BECAUSE WE FULLY ANTICIPATE THAT THE STATE WOULD PICK UP THE OPERATIONAL COSTS ON AN ANNUALIZED BASIS SO WE'RE PLANNING AND MOVING FORWARD WITH A PROPOSAL TO HAVE THAT FUNDED BY THE STATE BY THEIR NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AND WE WOULD HOPE TO HAVE A FACILITY ON-BOARDED BEFORE THAT. IS THAT FAIR? >> YES. AND EVERYONE ON THE GROUND HAS AGREED THAT A 16-BED FACILITY IS THE RIGHT FIT. IT'S THE RIGHT SIZE FOR OUR CURRENT SITUATION RIGHT NOW. SO, YES, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COLORING IT GREEN. >> YEAH, AND I DID WANT TO -- I KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION AND SOME WORK WITH IT. WE HAVEN'T REALLY WORKED WITH THE COMMITTEE THAT YOU MENTIONED BUT I KNEW THERE WERE SOME EFFORTS WITH THAT AND THAT'S WHY WE DID HIGHLIGHT THAT, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, JUDGE, AND I DID WANT TO POINT THAT ONE OUT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GETTING DONE FOR THETHE COUNTY, FOR HAYS COUNTY, THAT IS NOT -- POTENTIALLY NOT EVEN USING PUBLIC FUNDS AT ALL. AND IT'S -- IT'LL BE ONE OF THOSE FACILITIES THAT CAN FLOAT IN THERE. THE CIVIC CENTER, THAT'S A PROJECT THATIS -- THERE'S BEEN TALK INTHE COUNTY AND I KNOW THAT JUDGE, YOU BROUGHT IT UP. I THINK, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT IT AT SOME POINT IN TIME AS WELL, BUT JUDGE, YOU HAD MENTIONED INITIALLY, THE COUNTY ALREADY HAS PROPERTY FOR IT THAT'S CURRENTLY VACANT. THAT WOULD BE POTENTIALLY ON THAT ORIGINAL LOCATION, AND IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE LOOKED AT AS A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. SO, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO FUND THESE PROJECTS WITH VERY LITTLE PUBLIC FUNDS INVOLVED, AND THE COUNTY STILL BENEFITS FROM THAT THROUGH UNIQUE FUNDING MECHANISMS. ANOTHER ONE, JUST TO MENTION THAT'S A MEDIUM PRIORITY, IS THE -- GOING BACK AGAIN TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE COUNTY FOR THE PET RESOURCE CENTER. THAT'S LISTED IN THERE. THE FIRST ONE AT THE TOP OF THIS LIST IDENTIFIED IN A THREE TO FIVE-YEAR PRIORITY PROJECTS. THAT IS A NEED WITHIN THE COUNTY. AND THEN, THERE'S SOME TALK -- WE WORKED ON AN EFFORT TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER GROUPS IN THE COUNTY FOR THOSE FACILITIES ON THE WEST SIDE. KIND OF DDRESSING THE DRIPPING SPRINGS, WIMBERLEY AND EVERYTHING WEST OF THE SAN MARCOS, BUDA, KYLE AREA, THAT IS STILL A NEED AND ANOTHER ONE WE WORKED [00:50:02] ON AND WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY ON IT AND THERE WAS A NEED THERE. THAT'S THE LISTING OF THE PROJECTS. NEXT STEPS, IF YOU SEE HERE IN FRONT OF YOU. CONTINUE FUNDED PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER WAY. THAT CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS PROCESS IS ALREADY ONGOING. RETURN TO CORE AS FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE. I THINK THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING -- THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION WITH THE COURT OVER THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE, TEN YEARS AND I MENTIONED THAT LIVING -- THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT, AN ONGOING ROAD MAP FOR THE COUNTY, AND I APPRECIATE THE COUNTY FOR BEING THE COUNTY DIDN'T HAVE, REALLY, A PLAN FROM -- A YEAR AGO, AND NOW THE COUNTY HAS A VERY CLEAR DIRECTION THEY CAN GO TO OR A DOCUMENT THEY CAN REFERENCE FOR WHERE THEIR NEEDS ARE. >> THANK YOU, JAMES. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK. I'D RATHER NOT. HATE TO CREATE CONFUSION. BUT THE PREVIOUS SLIDE THAT SHOWS THE LOW AND MEDIUM AND THE TIME SLOTS RANGES, I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE WHAT YOU SAID, WHICH IS THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT, AND THOSE ARE DEBATABLE IF THE CIVIC CENTER, FOR EXAMPLE, IS A LOW PRIORITY, I WOULDN'T LABEL IT THAT WAY. OR THE WEST CAMPUS, TAKING CARE OF OUR PETS, THAT'S NOT A MEDIUM PRIORITY, IT'S A HIGH PRIORITY. THERE'S JUST A VARIATION OF GIVE-AND-TAKE, BUT YOU SAID IT'S A BREATHING DOCUMENT. THE KEY IN THIS EFFORT, I BELIEVE, THE MAIN PART ABOUT IT ALL IS GET IT IN PAPER, GET IT ON PAPER, AND THEN WE CAN ALWAYS MOVE IT AROUND AS THINGS BECOME MORE AVAILABLE AND WE PUSH SOME THINGS AND CERTAIN THINGS GIVE QUICKER THAN OTHERS. AND SO THE KEY IS, THEY'RE ON THERE AND I WOULD JUST CAUTION TO THE VIEWERS THAT SOMEONESOMEONE MAY SEE A PROJECT ON IT THAT THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT AND SEE IT IN A RANKING THAT MAY NOT QUALIFY WITH THEIR BELIEFS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW, I ALREADY AGREE. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? >> YEAH. JAMES, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK. IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. I THINK THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT. FUNDING IS GOING TO BE THE KEY, I THINK, TO A LOT OF THESE. BUT YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO CONSIDER AND MOVE FORWARD ON HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS AND BEYOND. SO, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JAMES, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I DO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW WE CAN INCORPORATE THIS INTO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AS WELL. BECAUSE I THINK THOSE TWO DOCUMENTS KIND OF RUN PARALLEL WITH ONE ANOTHER. WE ARE GROWING FAST AS A COUNTY. DEFINITELY. AND SO, YOU KNOW, FIND -- DIVERSIFY OUR FUNDING AND BUILD ON OUR PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR CITIES AND MAYBE EVEN NEIGHBORING COUNTIES, HOWEVER THAT'S GOING TO WORK. BUT I DEFINITELY WANT TO LOOK AT ALL OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT. ONE THING THAT WAS NOT MENTIONED IN THE LIST WAS, I CAN SEE US CREATING A VETERANS SERVICES BUILDING OFF OF VETERANS DRIVE IN KYLE. WE DO OWN THAT PROPERTY, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT LOCATION TO EXTEND OUR VETERANS SERVICES TO THAT AREA. I KNOW WE'RE TAKING STEPS TO FIX OUR CURRENT, YOU KNOW, BUILDING THAT WE HAVE THERE TODAY, BUT I DEFINITELY WANT TO MAYBE -- AND THAT COULD BE, AGAIN, JUST IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE THIS >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DID. IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS EASY TO COME INTO, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES UP ON THIS COURT TO WORK WITH THEM AND TO WORK WITH ALL OF THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE AND THIS GROWING COUNTY. Y'ALL DID A GREAT JOB IN DIRECTING THAT, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTS THERE. THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF BUILDINGS WITHIN MY PRECINCT THAT WERE REALLY TOUCHED UPON, BUT I KNOW ALL MY COLLEAGUES REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND WHAT THEY NEEDED TO GET DONE LOGISTICALLY IN THEIRS. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> JUST A COUPLE THINGS. THE FIRST ONE, I CAN'T AGREE MORE WITH COMMISSIONER COHEN AND THE PARALLEL TRACK THAT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN HAS MOVING FORWARD. I THINK THIS REALLY LAYS OUT A GOOD PROCESS, AND WE COULDN'T HAVE BOTH OF THEM MOVING AT A BETTER TIME FROM ONE ANOTHER. FOR THE COUNTY AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY, WHENEVER I BROUGHT THIS AND THE JUDGE AND I ACTUALLY PARTNERED ON THIS AGENDA ITEM WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO COURT THE FIRST TIME, I SERVE ON A NUMBER OF BOARDS AND I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHENEVER I CAME ON TO THE [00:55:01] COMMISSIONERS COURT AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE, LIKE, A TRUE CIP. COMPREHENSIVE INVESTMENT PLAN OR TO MOVE FORWARD ON A TIMELY BASIS. IT REALLY IS THE ROAD MAP THAT WE HAVE TO USE. I DON'T KNOW HOW -- IN THE PAST, AS I'VE UNDERSTOOD IT AND AS I'VE GONE BACK AND LOOKED AT PREVIOUS COURTS, REALLY, THE PERSON WHO RAISED THE MOST HECK OR THE PERSON WHO WAS THE LOUDEST DID A REALLY GOOD JOB, AND VARIOUS PEOPLE WHO SERVED ON THE COURT, THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF GETTING WHATEVER PROJECT THEY NEEDED DONE. THERE WASN'T A TRUE PLAN AS FAR AS HOW TO MOVE FORWARD FOR THE BETTERMENT. THE THING THAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS PLAN IS IT REALLY TAKES INTO ACCOUNT EXPANDING THE SERVICES THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AVAILABLE OR ARE AVAILABLE IN SAN MARCOSMARCOS TO OUTLYING AREAS OF THE COUNTY. AND THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN, AT LEAST THE PERSON WHO SAT IN THE PRECINCT 4 SEAT AND THE PRECINCT 3 SEAT, THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MAJOR CONCERN FOR US, WHETHER THAT'S VETERANS AFFAIRS SERVICES OR OUR HEALTH SERVICES OR ANYTHING. IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO TELL SOMEBODY TO GO GET HEALTHCARE AND DRIVE TO SAN MARCOS WHEN IT'S 45 MINUTES. AND SO, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO EXPAND THOSE SERVICES TO THE OUTLYING AREAS, I ENDORSE, AND I THINK THIS DOES A GOOD JOB OF GETTING THOSE SERVICES AT LEAST IN A BETTER PLACE FOR -- I KNOW THE FAR WEST SIDE OF THE COUNTY AND MORE THAN LIKELY LOOKING AT, ESPECIALLY, AT THE FACILITIES WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THE KYLE AREA FOR THE EAST SIDE AS WELL. >> ANYTHING ELSE, JAMES? >> NO, I APPRECIATE THE -- ALL THE COMMENTS AND APPRECIATE WORKING WITH THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND WITH THE JUDGE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. >> JUDGE, DO WE NEED TO FORMALLY ADOPT THE CIP? THAT'S MY QUESTION I WAS GOING TO ASK CANDICE. >> SINCE IT'S ONLY LABELED A PRESENTATION, I DON'T THINK WE'D BE ABLE TO. >> I DON'T KNOW. >> SO, WE JUST SENT YOU ALL THE PRE-FINAL DOCUMENT. I WOULD LIKE FOR THE COURT MEMBERS -- YES, SIR. WE CAN BRING IT ON THE 3RD TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE EVERYONE SIGN OFF ON IT AND MAKE SURE IT'S ON THE AGENDA. >> YOU GOT IT. GOOD. THANKS AGAIN, GUYS, AND AS HAS BEEN SAID, YOU HELPED US GRAB A LOOSE THOUGHT PROCESS THAT WAS JUST LOUDEST VOICE, SQUEAKY WHEEL, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, AND YOU HELPED US PUT OPERATIONSAL ORDER INTO IT. YOU HELPED US PROFESSIONALIZE IT IN A WAY THAT IS PREDICTABLE AND FUNDABLE AND MOST BENEFICIAL TO OUR RESIDENTS OF OUR COUNTY. SO, THANK YOU AGAIN [F.4. Ratify the adoption of a Proclamation declaring January 19th, 2026 as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. BECERRA] FOR ALL THIS WORK. MOST GRATEFUL. >> THANK YOU. PLEASE OPEN F-4. >> F- 4, RATIFY THE ADOPTION OF A PROCLAMATION DECLARING JANUARY 19, 2026, AS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THAT PROCLAMATION, PLEASE? >> PROK DECLARING JANUARY 19TH, 20206, AS DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY. WHEREAS THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES WILL OBSERVE THE FEDERAL HOLIDAY OBSERVING THE DR. -- HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ON JANUARY 19, 2026, TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF THE SIGNIFICANT CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER WHO INSPIRED PROFOUND AND LASTING CHANGE IN OUR NATION AND WHEREAS LOCAL STATE AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WILL REMEMBER THIS GREAT MAN BY LIVING THE THEME OF THE 2026 HOLIDAY, MISSION POSSIBLE, BUILDING COMMUNITY, UNITING A NATION THE NONVIOLENT WAY. THIS THEME EMBODIES THE DUNBAR HERITAGE ASSOCIATION'S COMMITMENT TO PROGRAMMING AND ACTION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY BUILDING, UNITY AND CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND AS PART OF OUR GOAL TO EDUCATE PARTICIPANTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HONORING AND CELEBRATING DR. KING'S LEGACY. AND WHEREAS THE CITIES OF SAN MARCOS AND HAYS COUNTY EACH YEAR COMMEMORATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. TO OUR NATION, OUR STATE, AND TO THE PEOPLE OF HAYS COUNTY, WITH SPECIAL OBSERVANCES, PROGRAMS AND CELEBRATIONS, AND WHEREAS THE DUNBAR HERITAGE ASSOCIATION, DHA, IS INVITING THE PUBLIC TO OBSERVE THE HOLIDAY FROM JANUARY 17TH THROUGH THE 19TH IN HONOR OF THE 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF HOSTING THE CELEBRATION. AND IN HONOR OF DR. KING'S 97TH BIRTHDAY. AND WHEREAS THE CELEBRATION WILL BEGIN WITH DHA MLK KIDS EVENT ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 17TH, FROM 10:30 A.M. TO 1:30 P.M. AT THE SAN MARCOS PUBLIC LIBRARY. THEN, ON MONDAY, JANUARY 19, THE HOLIDAY COMMEMORATION STARTS AT LBJ MLK CROSSROADS WITH THE DHA WREATH LAYING AT 9:30 FOLLOWED BY THE 24TH ANNUAL MLK WALK, A PROGRAM AT THE HAYS COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND A [01:00:03] RECEPTION AT THE PAUL LAWRENCE DUNBAR RECREATION CENTER AND AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS HOLIDAY IS TO ENCOURAGE ALL AMERICANS TO FULFILL MARTIN LUTHER KING'S VISION OF FREEDOM, EQUALITY, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL PEOPLE, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 19, 2026, AS DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY AND DO HEREBY CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AND TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL OBSERVANCES THAT COMMEMORATE HIS IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NATION, ADOPTED THIS, THE 20TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER SMITH. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. NO TIME FOR A SIP OF WATER. GOOD JOB. ALEX, WOULD YOU LIKE A FEW WORDS? MAYBE RECAP HOW IT WENT YESTERDAY. STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, PLEASE. >> HELLO, COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS ALEX, AND JUDGE, ALEX, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE DUNBAR HERITAGE ASSOCIATION. THIS IS A RECAP ON YESTERDAY. AS MENTIONED, THE -- THIS YEAR'S THEME WAS MISSION POSSIBLE 2, BUILDING COMMUNITY, UNITING A NATION IN A NONVIOLENT WAY. THE 2026 DUNBAR HERITAGE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WALK AND CELEBRATION WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. WE HAD MOTIVATIONAL SPEECHES AND INSPIRATIONAL SINGERS ON YESTERDAY. OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER WAS MR. TERRANCE PARKER. HE SPOKE ON DR. KING'S VISION ON THE BELOVED COMMUNITY, REMINDING US TO ASK OURSELVES WHOM HAVE WE HELPED TODAY? WE HAD 40 PARTICIPANTS IN OUR WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY. WE HAD 45 PARTICIPANTS IN OUR MLK EDUCATIONAL EVENT FOR KIDS AND ADULTS. WE HAD 12 ADULTS, 3 TEENS, 30 STUDENTS FROM 3 TO 15. ON YESTERDAY'S WALK, WE HAD OVER 500 PARTICIPANTS IN THE MLK WALK, INCLUDING 33 GROUPS AND HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN SAN MARCOS AND HAYS COUNTY. SO, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT YESTERDAY AND PARTICIPATED. IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF OUR LARGEST MLK WALKS THAT WE HAVE HAD TO DATE. AND WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON OUR 25TH CELEBRATION FOR NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT THAT HAYS COUNTY AND SAN MARCOS GIVES US. >> IT'S IMPORTANT THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND DURING ALL THIS TENSION THAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY, YOU, IN MY MIND, BECAUSE I SEE THE WHOLE COUNTY AND I'M FORCED TO SEE REGIONALLY AND STATEWIDE, YOU REPRESENTED TWO SPECIAL SPACES IN MY HEAD. OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, YESTERDAY, WHICH WAS, FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, WHICH IS A WONDERFUL, UNIFYING MESSAGE FOR THOSE OF US HERE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE AND COUNTRY. >> YES. >> AND THEN, YOU ALSO REMINDED US, WITH YOUR FINAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, ABOUT SMPD GIVING AWAY TACOS. >> YES. >> AND THIS IS AA BIG DEAL BECAUSE OUR STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTINUOUSLY IS ALWAYS PUSHING, PUSHING, PUSHING FOR COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIP BUILDING. ALWAYS ON SITE ALWAYS ATAT SCHOOLS, ALWAYS SHOWING UP WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT TOOLS AND THE OOHS AND AHHS TO ENCOURAGE AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD THINGS AS FAR BACK AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT CREATE TENSION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR COMMUNITIES. >> YES. >> AND WHEN WE ARE SUCH A MINORITY COMMUNITY, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT EFFORT BE HIGHLIGHTED. SO, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING IT, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PRAISING AND SUPPORTING AND WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT EVERY CHANCE YOU GET. AND YOU HAVE DONE THIS FOR YEARS. Ú>> YEARS. >> EXACTLY. YOU HAVE DONE THIS FOR YEARS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ALONGIDE YOU FOR YEARS. AND SO, IN A TIME LIKE THIS, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURESURE THE GENERAL MESSAGE IS PEACE BE WITH YOU, RIGHT? AND WE CAN'T TAKE THE ACIDITY AND THE TOXICITY THAT COULD BE GOING ON NATIONALLY AND BRING IT HOME. THOSE AREN'T OUR FOLKS DOING THOSE THINGS. AND I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND APPRECIATE THAT PIECE OF YOUR OVERALL PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THEY ARE ONE OF OUR BIGGEST SUPPORTERS EVERY YEAR. THEY REACH OUT TO US. WE REACH OUT TO THEM, AND THEY SUPPORT EVERY YEAR FOR ALL OF OUR EVENTS. >> EXACTLY. AND THEY DON'T DESERVE TO BE BUNDLED. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, ANYTHING ELSE? [01:05:01] YOU WERE THERE. >> JUDGE, I JUST AGREE. MR. BANBERRY, IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS AND IT WAS SO HUMBLING TO SEE EVERYBODY COME TOGETHER IN UNITY TO, YOU KNOW, ENJOY THAT SPECIAL TIME AND REMEMBRANCE, AND YEAH, Y'ALL DID A WONDERFUL JOB. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT'S TO COME NEXT YEAR. I MEAN, IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING BETTER AND I AGREE, I THINK THERE WAS A RECORD NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS. AND IT WAS JUST WONDERFUL TO SEE EVERYBODY TOGETHER. THANK YOU. >> YES, SO, CONGRATULATIONS. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE. >> YES. >> IN THERE AS WELL. SO, JUST CONGRATULATIONS AND DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR'S EVENT. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONSTANTLY WORK ON SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE THAT IS SO PIVOTAL TO WHERE WE ARE AS AMERICA TODAY. I MEAN, WHAT A GREAT MAN, AND FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO STEP INTO THE÷÷THE WHERE HE IS CONSISTENTLY RELIVED YEAR OVER YEAR, WHAT AN HONOR FOR YOU, AND WE VERY MUCH WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO IN THAT REGARD. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> TWO THINGS. NUMBER ONE, I'D BE REMISS IF WE TALKED ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THIS EVENT WITHOUT MENTIONING I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH DAVID PETERSON HAS COOKED FOR THIS EVENT. BUT CONSTABLE PETERSON AND HIS OFFICE AND STAFF, HE IS A CONSTANT. >> YES. >> AND THERE IS NO WAY I COULD SIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT THE EVENTS THAT OCCUR OVER THIS PERIOD AND NOT MENTION ROSE BROOKS AND HER FAMILY. SHE IS A CONSTANT. I CERTAINLY HOPE SHE'S DOING WELL WITH HER HEALTH AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS. AND WE MISS SEEING HER HERE ALL THE TIME. BUT LOVE HER. LOVE HER FAMILY AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO. >> THANK YOU. IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR A QUICK PIC. JUMP UP REAL FAST. ANYONE THAT WANTS TO BE A PART OF THIS PICTURE, ANYONE THAT WANTS TO BE A PART OF THIS PICTURE, JUMP ON UP. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK PIC. [F.5. Adopt a Proclamation recognizing February 2026 as Spay/Neuter Awareness Month. BECERRA] >> THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT. PLEASE OPEN F-5. >> F- 5, ADOPT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 2026 AS SPAY/NEUTER AWARENESS MONTH. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> PLEASE READ IT. >> PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY AS SPAY/NEUTER AWARENESS MONTH. WHEREAS TENS OF MILLIONS OF COMPANION ANIMALS CONTINUE TO ENTER÷÷ENTER ANIMAL IN THE UNITED STATES EACH YEAR WITH ABOUT 2.8 MILLION DOGS AND CATS ENTERING SHELTERS AND RESCUES IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2025 ALONE, OF THOSE, MANY FIND HOMES THROUGH ADOPTION OR RETURN TO OWNER, BUT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER STILL NEED COMMUNITY SUPPORT. AND WHEREAS NATIONAL LIFE- SAVING PROGRESS CONTINUES IN 2025, NEARLY 82% OF DOGS AND CATS THAT ENTERED SHELTERS WERE SAVED, A POSITIVE STEP TOWARDS REDUCING UNNECESSARY EUTHANASIA NATIONWIDE. WHEREAS SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAMS REMAIN ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHODS TO REDUCE UNWANTED LITTERS, DECREASE SHELTER INTAKE, PREVENT CERTAIN HEALTH PROBLEMS AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ANIMALS. AND WHEREAS KEEPING PETS CURRENT ON RABIES VACCINATIONS HELPS PREVENT THE SPREAD OF A FATAL BUT PREVENTABLE DISEASE AND PROTECTS ANIMALS THROUGHOUT HAYS COUNTY. AND WHEREAS COMMUNITY AND MUNICIPAL PARTNERS IN TEXAS CONTINUE TO WORK WITH SHELTERS TO SUPPORT NO- KILL GOALS AND PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP, INCLUDING SPAY AND NEUTER AND TRAP, NEUTER, VACCINATE, RETURN EFFORTS. AND WHEREAS LOCALLY MANY ANIMALS CONTINUE TO ENTER SHELTERS AND REQUIRE OUR COMMUNITY'S ONGOING ATTENTION, CARE AND RESOURCES TO REDUCE OVERPOPULATION AND INCREASE LIFE OUTCOMES. AND WHEREAS THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE SPAY AND NEUTER [01:10:01] SERVICES, PROTECT ANIMAL HEALTH, REDUCE SHELTER CROWDING AND ADVANCE NO- KILL PROGRESS FOR PETS IN OUR REGION. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY PROCLAIMS THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2026 AS SPAY/NEUTER AWARENESS MONTH AND ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP AND LIFE-SAVING SPAY AND NEUTER EFFORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, DAYDAY OF JANUARY, 2026. >> CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER SMITH. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER COHEN. JUDGE BECERRA. >> WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE AND I HOPE I CAN KEEP BEATING THE DRUM OF SUPPORT AND UNITY ON THIS FRONT, ESPECIALLY. ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS AND REASONS TO COME TOGETHER, AS ALWAYS, MY FAVORITE GOAL BECAUSE WE ARE STILL ONE HAYS COUNTY COMMUNITY. BUT I WILL START WITH MS. MS. SHERRY BOYET. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE BECERRA. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR SPAY/NEUTER AWARENESS AND FOR THE FUNDING OF THE NO- KILL PROGRAMS THAT SAVE LIVES. WE HEARD IN THIS PROCLAMATION THERE'S A STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN STERILIZING PETS AND OF COURSE NOW WE HAVE INCREASED CONCERNS ABOUT THE INCLUSION OF RABIES VACCINES. BUT THE CORRELATION IN LIFE SAVING. I HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING TO DO THESE PROGRAMS FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS BECAUSE OF MY COMMITMENT TO LIVE OUTCOMES ACROSS HAYS COUNTY. AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO DOES HAVE THEIR PET ALREADY ALTERED. PLEASE, COMMUNITY, SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS. THE CYCLE MUST END RIGHT HERE. WE CAN'T HAVE ANY MORE OOPS LITTERS. JUST ONE MAMA CAT OR DOG PRODUCES ENOUGH THAT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. SO, WE MUST HAVE THESETHESE STERILIZED BEFORE THEY ADD TO THE PROBLEM. SPAYING AND NEUTERING %-Ú IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY BEFORE ANIMALS ARE ADOPTED. SO, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TODAY SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INVITED BY JUDGE BECERRA. WE HAVE THE HAYS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANIMAL WELFARE SERVICES PRESENT TODAY. IF YOU ARE GOING TO COME UP TO THE PICTURE IN A MINUTE. WE HEARD FROM THE PAWS SHELTER MANAGER FROM KYLE. HER NAME IS JULIA GUERRERO. OFFICERS FROM THE CITY OF KYLE ANIMAL SERVICES. OFFICER GETTES AND OLIVO. THE PRESIDENT OF PREVENT A LITTER, LAUREN MARTIN IS HERE. I REPRESENT CAT TIP HAYS COMMUNITY CAT COALITION AND I'VE ALSO BEEN SENT WORD TO REPRESENT PAWS WIMBERLEY TNR. WE ALL SEND OUR GRATITUDE TO THE COURT FOR FUNDING AND RECOGNIZE THE SPAY/NEUTER AWARENESS. >> ANYONE SHE'S MENTIONED OR ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULDWOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS, I WANT TO GIVE YOU THAT CHANCE AT THE PODIUM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M REALLY EXCITED AND HAPPY THAT THE COURT IS RECOGNIZING THIS PROCLAMATION, BECAUSE SPAY AND NEUTER IS, AS I ALWAYS PREACH, THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN OUR OVERPOPULATION OF OUR ANIMALS. THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE CAN SLOW DOWN THE GROWTH OF ANIMAL POPULATIONS BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOMES. THE PROBLEM WITH ANIMAL HEALTHCARE TODAY IS THAT IT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, AND PEOPLE JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT. IT'S NOT THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO. THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT. SO, THAT'S WHERE PROGRAMS LIKE OUR VOUCHER PROGRAMS, OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COUNTY. WE'VE ALREADY SPAYED AND NEUTERED 447 ANIMALS FROM THE COUNTY'S GRANTS, AND WE'VE DONE OUR TARGETED TNR WITH THE COUNTY. WE'VE ALREADY DONE 61 CATS AT SADDLEBROOK. OUR GOAL WAS 150. WE'VE DONE THAT IN THREE MONTHS. WE'RE HOPING WE'LL BE DONE WITH THAT IN A FEW MORE MONTHS. THAT PROJECT WILL BE DONE. WE'LL HAVE A FULL REPORT TO PRESENT. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR PILOT PROGRAM TO SHOW THAT EACH MUNICIPALITIES AND COMMISSIONERS' AREAS CAN DECIDE IF THERE'S A SPACE THEY WANT TO HAVE TNR THAT WE CAN PARTNER TO JUST, ONE AT A TIME, AND THE TARGETED TNR IS ACTUALLY THE BEST WAY TO DO IT. IF YOU WILLY-NILLY AROUND CATCHING CATS, YOU REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON ONE AREA AND TAKE CARE OF THAT. BUT PALS IS HERE, IT'S PARTNERING WITH THE COUNTY, WE'RE HERE TO HELP THE CITIZENS. WE SPAYED AND NEUTERED OVER 6,800 ANIMALS LAST YEAR. WE GAVE OVER 1,700 FREE SURGERIES TO JUST THIS COUNTY. THAT'S A LOT. AND WE JUST HOPE TO DO MORE AND WITH OUR NEW ANIMAL [01:15:01] HOSPITAL, WE'RE EXPANDING OUR SERVICES TO LOW- COST HEARTWORM TREATMENT, LOW- COST EUTHANASIA. THAT'S PART OF WHY THE SHELTER GETS ANIMALS DROPPED OFF. PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT THEIR ELDERLY DOGS TO SLEEP AND WE'RE HAPPY TO LET THEM HAVE THEIR FINAL MOMENTS TOGETHER AND NOT SEPARATED BECAUSE, AS WE KNOW, THE STATE OF TEXAS DOES NOT ALLOW MUNICIPALITIES TO TREAT OWNED ANIMALS. IT HAS TO BE DONE BY AN OUTSIDE PARTNERSHIP. SO, BEING ABLE TO PARTNER WITH YOU GUYS TO FILL ALL OF THOSE GAPS THAT AREARE NEEDED, I'M JUST EXCITED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND DO THAT. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THIS PROCLAMATION. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PODIUM FOR ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE? AND THEN, WE'LL COME UP FOR A PIC AFTER THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE A CHANCE TO SAY SOMETHING. >> BRIANA GETTES, ANIMAL CONTROL SUPERVISOR FOR KYLE. JUST WOULD LIKE TO REMIND ALL OF OUR KYLE RESIDENTS THAT WE DO HAVE VOUCHERS AVAILABLE FOR SPAY/NEUTER. IT COVERS THE ENTIRE COST OF YOUR SPAY/NEUTER. WE'VE ALSO -- THERE'S A MOBILE CLINIC IN KYLE AND AROUND HAYS COUNTY, AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY NOT FILLING THOSE VANS. SO, MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE SIGNING UP FOR THAT. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS IN THE FUTURE ON OUR SHELTERING PROJECT. >> BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? YOU ALREADY HAD YOUR TURN. >> I WAS REMINDED, BUDA ANIMAL CONTROL, I BELIEVE, STILL HAS THEIR VOUCHER PROGRAM AS WELL. SO, THERE'S BROAD COVERAGE. >> BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, START WITH YOU. >> WELL, JUDGE, I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY OF OUR PARTNERS ARE HERE TODAY, AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THE WORK, THE ONGOING WORK THEY DO THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT AND SO, Y'ALL ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE COUNTY. THANK Y'ALL. >> IT'S CLEAR THAT IT'S A PASSION. >> VERY. >> WELL DONE. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES, THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR ALL THE PARTNERS LIKE I'VE ALWAYS SAID, WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR DOING THEIR PART, OUR ANIMAL WELFARE DIVISION FOR BRIDGING RELATIONSHIPS AND DOING THAT OUTREACH. SO, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> I WOULD SAY THAT WHENEVER I JOINED COURT, I DID NOT THINK THAT I WOULD BE SPENDING AS MUCH TIME WITH ANIMALS A I DO, BUT I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT AND EVERYONE THAT'S OUT THERE FROM PARTNER STANDPOINT, Y'ALL ARE THE ONES THAT ARE DISCOVERING THESE SOLUTIONS TO EVERYTHING AND BRINGING THEMTHEM TO THE COURT AND COMING UP WITH ALL THESE VARIOUS WAYS TO HELP THE PROBLEM AND WE CANNOT THANK Y'ALL ENOUGH FOR DOING THAT. THERE'S ONLY FIVE OF US. WE CAN'T GO OUT THERE AND DO ALL OF THAT. VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE WORK YOU DO THERE. ANYTHING THE COUNTY CAN DO TO SUPPORT Y'ALL, I KNOW THAT WE ARE OPEN DOOR, ANYTHING Y'ALL NEED. WELL, NOT ANYTHING, BUT WITHIN THE MEANS OF THE BUDGET AND EVERYTHING OF THAT NATURE. BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK MATTHEW AND HIS CREW FOR ALL OF ALL WORK THEY DO AND THEY WILL BE UP ALL NIGHT LONG, GETTING OUT SOME RABIES INFORMATION TO PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING, SO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO. I'M GLAD THIS PROCLAMATION CAME TO BE SO WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE AND CONSISTENTLY GET THE WORD OUT THERE ABOUT THE TNR PROGRAM. >> I WANT TO SAY A COUPLE THINGS. NUMBER ONE, THANK YOU TO MATTHEW AND YOUR WHOLE CREW. I CAN TELL YOU, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST WEEK, I KNOW THE RESPONSIVENESS HAS BEEN AMAZING. ANY TIME I HAVE HAD A QUESTION FROM RESIDENTS OR ANYTHING ELSE, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH. WE'RE MILES AHEAD OF WHERE WE WERE WHEN WE HAD THIS PROCLAMATION A YEAR AGO. I THINK THAT'S EASY TO SAY. I WILL -- I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PALS FOLKS WHO ARE HERE, THAT WAS LAUREN, SHE DIDN'T INTRODUCE HERSELF, BUT THAT'S LAUREN IF YOU NEED ANYTHING FROM PALS. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM AND TO BOTH PREVENT A LITTER AND TO HILL COUNTRY RESCUE AND RECOVERY, SPECIFICALLY, AND WE'RE HAVING A RABIES VACCINATION CLINIC AT MY OFFICE IN DRIPPING SPRINGS THIS AFTERNOON FROM 4:00 TO 6:00. SO, IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT ON THE WEST SIDE OR ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY,÷÷ AND YOU WANT RABIES VACCINE OR MICROCHIPPING, THAT'S AVAILABLE TODAY FROM 4:00 TO 6:00 AT THE PRECINCT 4 OFFICE. AND THANK YOU. THANK ALL Y'ALL. >> WONDERFUL. >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY, HE SAID, ANYBODY. ANY PET. DON'T COME TO GET MICROCHIPPED. >> WE MAY HAVE SOME RESIDENTS WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING A MICROCHIP. >> WE CAN WRAP THIS UP WITH A QUICK PIC. WE'VE ALREADY VOTED, RIGHT? GOOD. LET'S COME UP FOR A QUICK PIC. AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE LESS FUN STUFF. [G.13. Approve and confirm the appointment of Tim Kresta as a regular full-time Deputy Constable in the Hays County Constable Precinct 4 Office. BECERRA/HAMMER/GRAHAM] [01:21:26] >> G-13. APPROVE AND CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT OF TIM AS A FULL-TIME DEPUTY CONSTABLE IN THE PRECINCT 4 OFFICE. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. LET'S -- LET'S CALL THE ROLL. AND THEN WE'LL LET THEM SPEAK. CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES, AND NOW WITH THAT TINY LITTLE EDIT, YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING IN HOPES OF, YOU'RE SPEAKING IN GRATITUDE FOR. SO, TELL US AS A PUBLIC THE WONDERFUL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU WILL BE PUTTING THROUGH IN PRECINCT 4, NO LONGER AS A RESERVE BUT NOW AS A FULL-TIMER. >> FIRST OF ALL, THANKS. I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED LAST EVENT, I WORKED FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE FOR 31 YEARS, BUT I'VE LIVED IN DRIPPING SPRINGS SINCE '01, SO THE LAST 25 YEARS. AND SO, THAT'S THE PLACE THAT I I RAISED MY KIDS AND THE WIFE AND I LIVE AND GO TO CHURCH AND LIVE AND ENJOY OURSELVES. SO NOW, GOING FROM BEING A RESERVE TO BE FULL- TIME OUT THERE, I ACTUALLY GET TO HAVE A GREATER IMPACT IN THE AREA. AND NOT JUST DRIPPING SPRINGS BUT ALL OF PRECINCT 4. AND I REALLY WANTED TO TAKE ALL THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT I'VE GOT, THAT I ACQUIRED IN AUSTIN, AND JUST MAKE DRIPPING SPRINGS AND PRECINCT 4 IN THIS COUNTY JUST A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE÷÷LIVE WORK. >> BEAUTIFUL. AND THANK YOU. AND ANOTHER CONSTABLE WAS NOT AVAILABLE, BUT HE ASKED YOU TO BE HERE IN HIS STEAD. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THE CONVERSATION? >> I'M ZACH MILLER, THE CORPORAL FOR PRECINCT 4. JUST A QUICK RUNDOWN OF DEPUTY CRESTA'S CAREER. HE STARTED AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 1991. IN 1998, HE WAS PROMOTED TO DETECTIVE. THEN, 2000, HE WAS PROMOTED TO SERGEANT. AS A SERGEANT, HE SUPERVISED SOUTHWEST AREA COMMAND, STREET RESPONSE, INTERNAL AFFAIRS, INCLUDING MAJOR INVESTIGATIONS, CADET TRAINING, THE DWI TASK FORCE, THE METRO TECH, NARCOTICS AND THE AUSTIN PD'S PEER SUPPORT NETWORK. HE'S ALSO LED THE APD HONOR GUARD FOR 25 YEARS AND IS THE COORDINATOR FOR THE TEXAS PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL AT THE TEXAS CAPITOL SO WE'RE PLEASED HONESTLY, THAT LIST IS MAGNIFICENT. AND SOME FOLKS DON'T REALIZE THAT THERE'S PARTS OF SOUTH AUSTIN THAT ARE IN HAYS COUNTY. AND SO, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK, OH, THIS OFFICER COMES FROM AUSTIN, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. NO. AUSTIN IS ALSO HAYS COUNTY. SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT. COMMISSIONER SMITH? >> WE WILL TAKE EVERY APD OFFICER WE CAN GET IN HAYS COUNTY. >> THAT'S TRUE. >> IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO RETIRE, IF YOU'RE TIRED OF AUSTIN, WE WILL HIRE YOU. >> ALL DAY. >> ALL DAY LONG. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING ON FULL- TIME AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T GIVE A SHOUTOUT OR GIVE A CONGRATULATIONS TO CHICK. HE WAS A GREAT OFFICER FOR US. HE SERVED THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE FOR A LONG TIME. HE WAS -- Y'ALL WILL REMEMBER CHICK, WHO JUST RETIRED AS THE OFFICER WHOSE BOOTS WE BOUGHT AND PROMPTED THE CHANGE IN OUR POLICY RELATED TO MOTORCYCLE BOOTS. GREAT GUY, AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOU FILLING THAT SPOT. >> APPRECIATE IT. >> VERY GOOD. >> WHAT A BLESSING TO BE WHERE YOU GO TO CHURCH, WHERE [01:25:04] YOU, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOUR FAMILY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU CAME DOWN FROM APD AND ARE A PART OF, NOW, FULL-TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE ALREADY, AND I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE ALL THE THINGS YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH BEFORE YOUR TIME HERE IS UP WITH US. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN VOTED ON, SO IT'S ALREADY OFFICIAL. WANT TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE? >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS, AND WELCOME. >> HAPPILY, HAPPILY. GLADLY, PLEASE COME ON UP FOR A PICTURE. [G.CONSENT ITEMS] >> SO, NOW THAT I SEE THE AUDIENCE THINNING OUT, I CAN SEE WHO'S HERE. LET'S FINISH WHAT WE STARTED. I MOVE THAT WE OPEN THE REST OF CONSENT. DID I HEAR A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> GOT IT. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE REST OF CONSENT. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS YOU WANT TO DISCUSS? >> JUDGE, I JUST, ON G-8, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE WONDERFUL CONTRIBUTORS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE HAYS COUNTY CHILD PROTECTIVE BOARD. THEY HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, CONSISTENT, CONSTANT WITH THEIRTHEIR AND GENEROSITY. EMMETT AND MIRIAM MCCOY FOUNDATION, MICHAEL AND NICOLE BLAIR, CDS AND AGED TO PERFECTION. JUST WANT TO GIVE THEM A SHOUTOUT AND A THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER ITEMS? COMMISSIONER SMITH, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT 19. CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT ONE A LITTLE? >> LET ME GO DOWN AND LOOK. G? >> THE SOLID ROCK ONE. >> SURE. AS PART OF THE DUE DILIGENCE FOR THE÷÷ POSSIBLE PRECINCT 4 FACILITY, WE WANT TO DO A PROPERTY INSPECTION, WHICH IS STANDARD ON ALL PROPERTY THAT WE ACQUIRE. >> OKAY. ALL GOOD. >> WELL, ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN EXEC? >> WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN EXEC ON THE ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY, BUT EITHER WAY, DURING THE DUE DILIGENCE, IT'S PART OF THE STANDARD THING TO DO. >> TIRE-KICKING. I WANTED YOU TO -- PEOPLE ARE REACHING OUT TO ME ABOUT IT AND I SAID, I'LL ASK HIM PUBLICLY. THAT'S THE EASIEST WAY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. [K.1. Discussion and possible action on an order authorizing the issuance and sale of one or more series of "Hays County, Texas Limited Tax Refunding Bonds"; levying an annual ad valorem tax, within the limitations prescribed by law, for the payment of the refunding bonds; prescribing the form, terms, conditions, and resolving other matters incident and related to the issuance, sale, and delivery of the refunding bonds in accordance with specified parameters, including the approval and distribution of an official statement; delegating authority to members of the Commissioners Court and County Auditor to execute certain documents related to the sale of the refunding bonds; authorizing the execution and delivery of documents and agreements in connection therewith. The issuance of the refunding bonds will result in a debt service savings for the County. INGALSBE/COHEN] >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. NOW, LET'S JUMP OVER TO K-1. >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF ONE OR MORE SERIES OF HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS, LIMITED TAX REFUNDING BONDS, LEVYING AN ANNUAL AD VALOREM TAX WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS PRESCRIBED BY LAW FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE REFUNDING BONDS, PRESCRIBING THE FORM, TERMS, CONDITIONS, AND RESOLVING OTHER MATTERS INCIDENT AND RELATED TO THE ISSUANCE, SALE, AND DELIVERY OF THE REFUNDING BONDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SPECIFIED PARAMETERS, INCLUDING THE APPROVAL AND DISTRIBUTION OF AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND COUNTY AUDITOR TO EXECUTE CERTAIN ELEMENTS RELATED TO THE SALE OF THE REFUNDING BONDS, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, THE ISSUANCE OF THESE REFUNDING BONDS WILL REPORT IN A DEBT SERVICE SAVINGS FOR THE COUNTY. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> OKAY. IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC. >> GREAT. DAN WITH SPECIALIZED PUBLIC FINANCE, FINANCIAL ADVISOR TO THE COUNTY. THANK YOU, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. ONE THING TO NOTE, RELATED TO THIS ITEM, THERE'S K-2 IS OBVIOUSLY A CONSIDERATION OF ISSUING SOME ADDITIONAL DEBT THROUGH CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE HIGHLIGHTED. THERE'S OVER $37 MILLION IN OUTSTANDING DEBT OF THE COUNTY THAT DUE TO WHERE INTEREST RATES HAVE MOVED RECENTLY, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFINANCE. NET OF ALL COSTS RELATING TO REFINANCING TO CREATE A SAVINGS OR JUST REDUCE THE DEBT PAYMENTS SUCH AS MORTGAGE PAYMENTS OF THE COUNTY. THAT IS PROJECTED TO SAVE CLOSE TO $1.7 MILLION IN THE LOWERING OF DEBT COSTS. [01:30:01] THERE'S NO EXTENSION OF THE DEBT. IT'S STILL ISSUED OVER THE SAME REMAINING TERM. IT'S JUST TAKING ADVANTAGE OF LOWER INTEREST RATES AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS WHILE YOU'RE THE OTHER NEW MONEY ISSUANCE, AND ALSO SAVE SOME COSTS RELATED TO BOND RATINGS, WHICH, BY THE WAY, AS PART OF BOTH TRANSACTIONS, THE COUNTY'S OUTSTANDING AA- PLUS HAS BEEN AFFIRMED BY S&P AND FITCH. AND AGAIN, I'VE MENTIONED THIS LAST TIME YOU ISSUED. THEY NOT ONLY LOOK AT THE DEBT YOU'RE ABOUT TO ISSUE. THEY LOOK AT WHAT WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS AND CURRENTLY IN THE COURT. THEY ALSO LOOK AT ANY ADDITIONAL PLANS THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN THE CIP YOU DISCUSSED EARLIER. SO, THEY ENCOMPASS THAT AS THEY LOOK AT FUTURE POTENTIAL DEBT, AND THERE IS NO DOWNWARD PRESSURE AS THEY STARTED ON THE RATING. EVERYTHING'S JUST IN A POSITIVE TREND MOVING FORWARD AND POTENTIALLY MOVING UP. WITH THAT, I'M GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO THIS ORDINANCE. >> SO, IN THE REFINANCING OF THAT, WE ALL SEE IT. THE SQUEEZING OF THE FED CHAIR'S HEAD. IS THIS A GOOD TIME? OR IS THE RATE GOING TO DROP A LITTLE MORE? >> YOU KNOW, THE MOVEMENTS OF THE FED ARE REALLY RELATED TO SHORT-TERM RATES, AND THESE ARE LONGER- TERM RATES, SO ALTHOUGH THERE'S SOMETIMES SOME COINCIDENCE OF MOVEMENT, THE MOVEMENTS HERE ARE MUCH MORE RELATED TO TREASURY SECURITIES AND LONGER TERM STANDARDS. >> RIGHT ON. WE'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> NO, I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I MEAN, ANY TIME WE CAN SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, ESPECIALLY OFF OF ALREADY RECOGNIZED DEBT, WE SHOULD DO IT. I BELIEVE IT WAS MAYBE IN 2019, 2020, WE DID A REFI OF THE 2016 BOND. IS THAT CORRECT? >> I THINK THAT'S CORRECT. AND THESE ARE PART OF 2015 AND 2016 BONDS. SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, AND THAT'S A GREAT POINT, WE DON'T JUST GRAB WHAT'S OUT THERE. WE LOOK AT WHAT'S FRUITFUL AND MINIMUM LEVELS BECAUSE THERE CAN BE A CHANCE LIKE THIS THAT RATES STAY LOW AND THEY MIGHT BE MORE ADVANTAGEOUS. >> THIS IS DEBT THAT WAS INCURRED BEFORE ANY OF US, OTHER THAN COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, WAS ON THE COURT. AND THIS WILL BE AT LEAST THE SECOND TIME WE'VE TAKEN A BITE OUT OF THAT APPLE TO TRY TO GET A BETTER RATE FOR OUR TAXPAYERS. >> GREAT POINT. ANYONE ELSE? COMMENTS? >> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, DAN, FOR THE MANY YEARS OF SERVICE THAT YOU HAVEHAVE TO OUR COUNTY. IT'S BEEN GREAT. IT'S BEEN A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND JUST ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR OUR BEST INTEREST. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. >> DEFINITELY ECHOING COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YOU'VE BEEN SO AMAZING TO WORK WITH, AND EVERY TIME I PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL YOU, YOU WILL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING IN MUCH DETAIL, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> CANDICE, ANYTHING ELSE? JORDAN, ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT. PERFECT. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> [K.2. Discussion and possible action on an order authorizing the issuance and sale of one or more series of "Hays County, Texas, Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation," in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $100,000,000 for County office/ administrative buildings, judicial facility, and animal shelter facilities; levying a tax in payment thereof and further securing said certificates by a lien on and pledge of the pledged revenues of the solid waste management system; providing for the sale and delivery of the certificates in accordance with specified parameters, including the approval and distribution of an official statement; delegating the authority to members of the Commissioners Court and County Auditor to execute certain documents relating to the sale of the certificates; authorizing the execution and delivery of documents and agreements in connection therewith. The projects to be financed with the certificates are further described in the List of Projects posted herewith. The County estimates that a tax rate levy of $0.0102 per $100 assessed value will be necessary to pay the debt service on the certificates. INGALSBE/COHEN] YES. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA. PORTION OF THE [01:35:05] ORDER. >> I WILL LET YOUR ATTORNEY DO THAT PART. >> YOU CAUGHT THAT ONE. GOOD. >> GOOD MORNING, I'M JULIE HOUSTON, I'M WITH THE LAW FIRM WITH THE COUNTY'S BOND COUNSEL. IN ORDER TO SELL CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION THROUGH CASH FOR BONDS, THE LAW REQUIRES A PLEDGE OF A REVENUE STREAM. IT'S NOT THE COUNTY'S INTENT TO USE THAT REVENUE STREAM, BUT IT HAS TO BE THERE LEGALLY. WHAT IT IS, IT'S A PLEDGE TO THE EXTENT THAT THE COUNTY WANTS TO, THEY CAN USE NET REVENUES OF YOUR WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM. YOU CAN ALSO, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, EVEN ISSUE DEBT SECURED BY THOSE REVENUES. THAT'S ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF BEING ABLE TO PLEDGE THIS DEBT. AND SO, IT IS THERE, BASICALLY, TO SATISFY A REQUIREMENT UNDER THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION ACT. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER, ANY QUESTIONS FOR JULIE? >> NO QUESTIONS. I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE -- WE'VE DISCUSSED AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AND WE'VE HAD A PLAN AROUND, AND I'M SUPPORTIVE. I JUST, IN THE FUTURE, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, I THINK THAT CREATING THAT FUND FOR CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS A SMARTER THING TO DO, AND WE NEED TO PULL BACK ON BORROWING. >> THAT'S RIGHT. AND WHAT COMMISSIONER HAMMER IS ALLUDING TO IS WE HAVE A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM IN TODAY'S COURT TO CREATE A FUND SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT THIS WAY. GOOD POINT, COMMISSIONER HAMMER, COMMISSIONER COHEN, ANYTHING TO ADD? >> NO, I'M GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. >> YEAH. I'M OKAY TOO, JUDGE, THANK YOU. >> AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A LITTLE POINT OF CLARIFICATION, THAT THERE IS NO SINGLE COMMISSIONER COURT MEMBER THAT CAN BOTCH THIS PROCESS. AM I RIGHT, JORDAN? >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE ACTION THAT Y'ALL ARE SET TO TAKE TODAY? >> SURE. IN THIS PROCESS, THERE'S NO SINGLE COURT MEMBER THAT CAN SCREW IT UP, RIGHT? THIS IS A COURT DECISION SUPERVISED BY EVERYONE AROUND US. >> IF A MAJORITY OF THE COURT VOTES IN FAVOR OF ISSUING THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, THAT IS THE PIVOTAL POINT. >> THAT WILL BE THE DIRECTION. AND IF SOMETHING IS NOT POSTED PROPERLY OR SOMETHING IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE OTHER SITUATIONS WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST, THAT WON'T BE TIED TO A SINGLE COURT MEMBER, RIGHT? THAT WILL BE A UNIFIED COUNTY MOVEMENT AND PROGRESS. WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, WE HAVE A WHOLE MACHINE TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T REPEAT WHAT WE'VEDONE IN THE PAST, ENTIRE DEPARTMENTS, SO WE'RE PRETTY SAFE KNOWING THIS, MOVING FORWARD, WILL BE SMOOTH SAILING, RIGHT? >> IF THE QUESTION IS WHETHER EVERYTHING IN ALL OF LEGAL AND STAFF'S OPINIONS HAVE BEEN POSTED APPROPRIATELY, THE ANSWER TO THAT IS YES. I WILL ALSO ADD THAT THE SPECIFIC LIST OF PROJECTS AS WE'VE TYPICALLY DONE LATELY, WAS NOT ONLY LISTED ON, SORRY, POSTED ONLINE, IT WAS ALSO PHYSICALLY POSTED WITH PAPER AGENDAS AS WELL. BUT YES, IF THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE, AS A TEAM, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WAY OF PUTTING IT, BELIEVETHAT NOTICE WAS POSTED SUFFICIENTLY, THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS YES. >> VERY GOOD. I KNOW IT SOUNDS TERRIBLE, BUT THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO ASK. >> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION. >> I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I REALLY DO. CANDICE, ANYTHING ELSE TO CONTRIBUTE? >> NO. JUST AN AGREEMENT WITH JORDAN THAT STAFF HAS REVIEWED IT WITH ALL PARTIES, LEGAL, BUDGET, AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATION, AND WE ARE PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD. >> ALL RIGHT. THEN PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER SMITH. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. THERE YOU GO. BATTER UP. SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HIT NEXT, DEPARTMENT HEADS? WHAT ARE WE READY FOR? >> JENNIFER DORN? >> WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? >> I AM 8 AND 9 UNDER K. >> K- 8 AND 9. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE [K.8. & K.9.] WAITING FOR SOMEONE, SO I DON'T SEE YOU AND ASSUME YOU'RE READY. PLEASE OPEN K- 8 AND 9. >> K-8. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE TWO ENHANCED BALLOT REMAKE STATIONS AND ASSOCIATED SOFTWARE AND SERVICES FOR THE ELECTIONS OFFICE THROUGH ENHANCED VOTING, LLC, IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000. AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A REMOTE BALLOT MARKING STATION PURCHASE AND SERVICE AGREEMENT THE PURCHASING POLICY OF OBTAINING THREE QUOTES. AND K-9, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE EARLY VOTING POLLING PLACES AND SCHEDULE FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MARCH 3, 2026. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. [01:40:02] >> PERFECT. THEY'RE BOTH OPEN. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ONE AND THEN TALK ABOUT THE OTHER, AND ENTIRELY UP TO YOU, BUT STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE, PLEASE. >> PERFECT. GOOD MORNING. I'M ENNIFER, THE HAYS COUNTY ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND THE FIRST ITEM WAS THE ENHANCED BALLOT REMAKE STATIONS WE'RE LOOKING TO PURCHASE FROM ENHANCED VOTING WHICH ARE GOING TO HELP U.S. WITH BALLOT DUPLICATION PROCESS, WHICH IS A LEGISLATIVELY RECOGNIZED PROCESS THAT WE DO FOR FEDERAL POSTCARD APPLICATIONS WHICH ARE OVERSEAS BALLOTS. AND THEY WILL HELP US TO DO THESE IN AN ELECTRONIC FORMAT AS OPPOSED TO HUMAN PROGRAM THAT SOMETIMES CAN RESULT IN HUMAN ERROR. AND THAT IS WHERE WE ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY TAKE A BALLOT THAT WAS EMAILED OVERSEAS, SENT BACK TO US, IT'S USUALLY NOT ON BALLOT PAPER THAT IS RECOGNIZABLE BY OUR EQUIPMENT. AND SO, THERE IS A BALLOT DUPLICATION PROCESS UNDER THE EARLY VOTING BALLOT BOARD, WHICH ARE APPOINTEES FROM THE PARTIES, AND THEY DUP DUPLICATE THE BALLOT BY HAND. THIS WILL HELP THEM DO IT MORE EFFICIENTLY AND ACCURATELY. IT ALSO WILL HELP US WITH PRODUCING BALLOTS FOR LIMITED BALLOTS, WHICH W DO A LOT IN PRIMARY AND EVEN ELECTION YEARS. ELECTRONICALLY IN THE SAME WAY. >> WHAT'S REALLY GOOD ABOUT THIS IS BECAUSE -- ALMOST, JORDAN, SORRY. WHAT'S REALLY GOOD ABOUT THIS IS, AS I'VE BEEN, I THINK MY TITLE IS CHAIR OF THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. EVERY TIME I'VE STEPPED INTO THAT ELECTIONS PROCESS, AND I AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF PRESIDING OVER THE LARGEST RECOUNT IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY, EVERY TIME I HAVE SEEN HUMAN ERROR, IT IS LITERALLY WHEN HUMANS ARE TRYING TO AUDIT MACHINES' WORK. AND SO, I KNOW THAT AUTOMATION IS A HUGE HELP. BUT I ALSO HEAR THE CHRONIC BOTS ARE VOTING ENERGY. SO, I'M JUST GLAD THAT YOU ARE CREATING A MORE SYSTEMATIZED PROCESS THAT IS LEGISLATIVELY SUPPORTED AND EASILY AUDITABLE. SO, I THANK YOU FOR THAT. ANYTHING ON THAT ITEM, FOLKS? WE'RE GOOD ON THAT? AND THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OTHER ONE. I'M SORRY, JORDAN. SORRY. >> I WAS TRYING TO CATCH YOU AT THE RIGHT POINT. SORRY, JUDGE. I JUST WANTED TO NOTATE IN BETWEEN THE DATE OF POSTING, BACKUP CHANGED JUST A TINY BIT. WE ASKED THE COMPANY TO INCLUDE SOME THINGS IN THE CONTRACT AND I WANTED TO VERY QUICKLY POINT THOSE OUT. ON SECTION 3-H, WE HAD THE COMPANY SPECIFICALLY LIST -- ITIT ABOUT A REQUIREMENT TO CONTACT A HELP DESK. WE HAD THEM LIST THE EXACT CONTACT FOR SUCH HELP DESK. WE INCLUDED THAT. ON SECTION 4-A, WE CHANGED THE -- A TERM IN THAT SECTION FROM 90 DAYS TO 30 DAYS. THAT'S REGARDING OUR NOTICE FOR RENEWAL OR NOT. IN SECTION 4- B, WE HAD THEM INCLUDE A TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE CLAUSE SINCE WE'LL BE JUMPING OVER FISCAL YEARS. AND THEN SECTION 4- C, WE ALSO CHANGED A NOTICE -- A CURE PERIOD THERE FROM 60 DAYS TO 30 DAYS. AND I THINK THERE WAS A COUPLE TYPOS THAT WE CHANGED THROUGHOUT AND ADDED THE NOTICE PROVISION AND THEN ALSO IN SECTION 16, REFERENCED THE CORRECT FEDERAL COURT FOR JURISDICTION IN CASE IT'S NEEDED. THOSE WILL ALL BE NOTATED IN THE VERSION THAT YOU HAVE TO SIGN TODAY. >> PERFECT. AND THANK YOU. NOW YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE OTHER ONE. >> YES. SO, THE PRIMARY IS UPON US, AND THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD IS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE COUNTY, AND SO I HAVE BROUGHT TO YOU THESE RECOMMENDED EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS, AND THE SCHEDULE, ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY THE PARTIES AND AGREED UPON BY THE PARTIES. OF NOTE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT SUNFIELD IS BACK ON THE LIST AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE'VE DONE A LOT OF MEETING AND WORKING, COMMISSIONER COHEN, MYSELF, AARON WITH THE ROAD DEPARTMENT, AND OUR LIAISON, MR. TORKELSON, HAVE GONE AND MET WITH SUNFIELD. THE ROAD DEPARTMENT WILL BE DOING SOME MINOR THINGS, JUST SEALING SOME GAPS AND PUTTING DOWN MATS, BUT THEY DID THE MAJOR THINGS THEMSELVES, AND BECAUSE I'VE SAID THAT, I WANT TO SAY, TOO, THAT TEXAN ACADEMY AND COMMISSIONER HAMMER'S PRECINCT, IS ALSO MAKING SOME ADJUSTMENTS OVER THERE AS WELL. SO, WE APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERS THAT ARE TAKING THIS SERIOUS, AND THAT WANT TO CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH US IN THIS WAY. >> AND WHICH ONES, FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, ARE STILL OFF? >> NOBODY IS STILL OFF. NOT EVERYBODY IS -- WE'RE NOT [01:45:01] USING, AND WE DIDN'T RECOMMEND TO USE DRIFTWOOD AND THE ISD IN DRIPPING SPRINGS FOR THIS ELECTION. BUT BOTH OF THOSE LOCATIONS ALSO ARE ADDRESSING THEIRTHEIR ISSUES, AND TRYING TO MAKE PERMANENT REMEDIES SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO÷÷ USE THEM IN THE FUTURE. >> JUST FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, IN THE PAST, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN USING OR HAD THE ABILITY TO USE THE ISD BUILDING FOR DRIPPING SPRINGS OR THE DRIFTWOOD SPOT, AND IN THIS CYCLE, AS A REMINDER, THEY WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE. >> CORRECT. >> COMMISSIONERS? >> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO BOTH JENNIFER AND AARON JONESJONES FROM THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM ON THE DRIFTWOOD AND DRIPPING SPRINGS LOCATIONS. WE HAD A MEETING, AND WE HAVE A REAL COMMITMENT FROM OUR PARTNERS THERE. NOW THAT THEY HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING, JUST LIKE IT TOOK US TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ELECTION ADA VERSUS REGULAR ADA LOOKS LIKE, TO REALLY TRY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AT THOSE BUILDINGS. EVEN THOUGH ONE OF THEM, AGAIN, IT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE, IT'S SIMILAR TO SUNFIELD, IT'S COMPLETELY NEWLY RENOVATED WITHIN THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND DOESN'T QUALIFY UNDER ITS CURRENT STATE. BUT WE DO HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM BOTH OF THOSE PARTNERS TO TRY TO BRING THOSE LOCATIONS BACK ONLINE. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> ANYTHING ELSE? >> JENNIFER, YOU'VE DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB, AND YOU CONTINUE TO DO SUCH A GREAT JOB, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS, AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MORE STRESSFUL TIMES OF THE YEAR FOR YOU, SO I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU THERE. AND THEN, AARON AS WELL FOR MAKING EVERYTHING HAPPEN. GOODNESS, YOU HAVE BEEN THE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR FOR LIKE A MONTH AND HAVE DONE SO MUCH. LITTLE OVER A MONTH. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE SUPERINTENDENT AS WELL FOR WORKING WITH US WITHIN WIMBERLEY SO NOT EVERYTHING IS RELIANT UPON THE COMMUNITY CENTER, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE QUITE A BIT FOR THEM. THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. >> WONDERFUL. COMMISSIONERS? >> THANKS, JENNIFER, FOR THE WORK. THANK ERIN FOR, YOU KNOW, MAKING THE ACCOMMODATIONS, AND ESPECIALLY SUNFIELD STATION FOR QUICKLY ADDRESSING THOSE BIG ISSUES THAT WE HAD. THAT'S A BIG WIN FOR US TO HAVE THEM BACK. I WANT TO THANK THEM IF THEY'RE WATCHING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> I JUST AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES. ERIN, JENNIFER, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE TO ADDRESS IN THE FUTURE, SO -- NEAR FUTURE, SO WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE IMPROVEMENTS. >> ALL RIGHT. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON BOTH 8 AND 9. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER COHEN. [K.10. Discussion and possible action to ratify the acceptance of a grant award from the Office of the Governor, Victims Assistance, General Direct Services grant program in the amount of $58,478.38 and amend the budget accordingly. BECERRA/BOUTTE/HIGGINS] JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. THANK YOU, JENNIFER. >> THANK YOU. >> K-10? LET'S DO K-10. >> K-10. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO RATIFY THE ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT AWARD FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, VICTIMS ASSISTANCE, GENERAL DIRECT SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,478. 38 AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT. IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE, PLEASE. >> RED COX, FIRST ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY. THIS IS A GRANT THAT WE APPLIED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BACK AND APPARENTLY THERE WAS A LITTLE SNAFU WHERE THE GRANT AWARD WAS ACTUALLY SENT TO THE COUNTY BUT IT WAS LOST IN AN EMAIL. SO, NOW, WE'RE WANTING TO GETGET APPROVED SO WE CAN QUICKLY FILL IT. WE'VE ALREADY MISSED ABOUT FOUR MONTHS OF THE YEAR. THIS WILL BE FOR A VICTIMS ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR TO WORK WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN TO APPLY FOR PROTECTIVE ORDERS IN SITUATIONS INVOLVING STALKING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, POSSIBLY SEXUAL ASSAULT. WE HAVE REVAMPED OUR INTERNAL PROCESSES SIGNIFICANTLY, AND WE ARE NOW PROCESSING APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TIMES AS MANY PROTECTIVE ORDER APPLICATIONS AS WE WERE IN 2022 AND EARLY 2023. WE'VE DIALED IN THE PROCESS, AND WE HAVE THAT WORKING MUCH MORE SMOOTHLY. WHAT WE ARE MISSING IS THE VICTIM ADVOCACY PIECE. WE'RE -- WE HAVE LAWYERS AND PARALEGALS WORKING WITH THESE FOLKS, BUT THEY'RE NOT TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINED ON HOW TO DO SAFETY PLANNING AND DO THE OTHER KINDS OF THINGS THAT THESE FOLKS NEED IN ADDITION TO THE LEGAL WORK. SO, THIS POSITION WILL BE DOING THAT ADDITIONAL STEP OF SAFETY PLANNING AND LETHALITY ASSESSMENTS. >> SO PERFECTLY STATED. THANK YOU, SIR. COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> I CAN'T WAIT FOR IT TO BE UP AND RUNNING, AND I HAVE NEVER MET PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE COMMITTED TO THEIR JOB THAN YOUR VICTIMS ASSISTANCE FOLKS. >> OH YES. >> I MEAN, THEY ARE ADAMANT. I CAN'T SEE THEM IN EITHER SOCIALLY OUT IN PUBLIC OR WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT CENTER AND THEM NOT TALK TO ME ABOUT SOMEBODY THAT THEY HELPED AND HOW PASSIONATE THEY ARE. IT'S -- IT PERMEATES THEM AS PEOPLE AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT [01:50:01] THEM. >> WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THOSE FOLKS. THEY DO HARD WORK. >> EXCUSE ME, JUDGE, REALLY QUICKLY. I WANTED TO NOTE ON THIS ITEM THERE WERE SOME SLIGHT ADJUSTMENTS DUE TO THE GRANT BUDGET BEING FINALIZED. AND SOME OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT WAS MOVED BETWEEN OFFICE SUPPLIES, CAPITAL EQUIPMENT, AND OPERATING EQUIPMENT. THE TOTAL DOLLAR DID NOT CHANGE. IT WAS JUST A MIXTURE BETWEEN GENERAL LEDGER ACCOUNTS, AND I WANTED TO NOTE THAT FOR THE RECORD. >> THAT'S GOOD. AND THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SCOTT. GOOD TO KNOW. VERY PROUD OF YOUR -- THE DEPARTMENT AND EVERYTHING THEY DO. EXCITED FOR THIS. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONERS? >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> YEAH. THANK YOU, GREG. I'M SORRY WE HAD THAT FOUR- MONTH DELAY. IMPORTANT WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. SO, THANK Y'ALL. >> WE'RE READY TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. >> CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO NEXT? [I.1. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of Standard Utility Agreement Supplemental No. 1 between Hays County and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative for the FM 621 road project in Precinct 1 and amend the budget accordingly. INGALSBE/A.JONES] >> DO WE WANT TO GO BACK TO I-1? >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF STANDARD UTILITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENTAL NUMBER 1 BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE FOR THE FM 621 ROAD PROJECT IN PRECINCT 1. >> IT IS AN ADDITIONAL $116,968, QUITE A LARGE AMOUNT, BUT I REALLY WANT TO THANK ERIN AND OUR TEAM. BLUEBONNET WAS SEEKING WAY MORE THAN THIS AMOUNT, MORE THAN DOUBLE THIS AMOUNT, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WORK REALLY NEEDED TO BE DONE, AND I JUST APPRECIATE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A HIGH AMOUNT OR A HIGH COST, WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT A LOT LOWER THAN THEY WANTED. THANK Y'ALL. >> GOOD. GOOD. IF NOTHING ELSE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER COHEN. [I.2. Discussion and possible action to call for a Public Hearing on February 3, 2026 to consider the implementation of a "No Left Turn" restriction for the Rooster Springs Elementary school onto Belterra Drive. SMITH/A.JONES] COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER SMITH. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. WE'LL FINISH ROADS. I-2. >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARINGON FEBRUARY 3, 2026, TO CONSIDER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A "NO LEFT TURN" RESTRICTION FOR THE ROOSTER SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON BELTERRA DRIVE. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> JUDGE, I KNOW THIS IS JUST A CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THIS IS AT THE REQUEST OF THE ISD AND THE SPECIFIC PRINCIPAL THERE. ERIN MAY HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO ADD, BUT THE ISD HAS EXPERIENCED SOME ISSUES WITH TRAFFIC THERE. >> GOOD ENOUGH. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> [I.3. Discussion and possible action to adopt a Resolution of Support for the submission of a grant application to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) for the 2028-2031 Call for Projects for the Hays County FM 2001 Gap Project - Precinct 1 (Existing FM 2001 to Graef Road). INGALSBE/A.JONES] YES. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> I-3, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE CAPITAL AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, CAMPO, FOR THE 2028-2031 CALL FOR PROJECTS FOR THE HAYS COUNTY FM 2001 GAP PROJECT, PRECINCT 1. EXISTING FM 2001 TO GRAEF ROAD. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> THANK YOU. IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL AND AWARDED THE FUNDS THROUGH CAMPO, THIS WOULD GO TOWARDS THE DESIGN OF A 2.65-MILE SECTION OF A FOUR- LANE DIVIDED ROADWAY. WE'RE HOPING THAT CAMPO WILL TAKE US SERIOUSLY ON THIS ONE. >> BEAUTIFUL. BEAUTIFUL. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER COHEN. [N.2. Discussion and possible action related to the burn ban. BECERRA] COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. PLEASE OPEN N-2. >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION RELATED TO THE BURN BAN. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. SO, I'M RECEIVING SOME COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT DIRECTION ON THE BURN BAN, AND ANYBODY WANT TO APPROACH THE PODIUM TO TALK ABOUT IT? ABSOLUTELY WHY I WENT TO IT. >> GOOD MORNING. STILL MORNING, RIGHT? >> YES, SIR. GOT YOU OUT HERE AS QUICK AS I COULD. >> HAYS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL. I THINK WE NEED TO -- MIKE AND I TALKED ABOUT EXTENDING IT TO THE 10TH OF THE NEXT MEETING. WE HAVE SOME RAIN THAT'S PREDICTED RIGHT NOW OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. BUT IT'S -- IT'S MINUSCULE AS FAR AS THE PREDICTION RIGHT NOW. AND HOPEFULLY, BY THE WEEKEND, WE'LL GET A LITTLE BIT MORE AND THEY'LL BE WRONG BOTH TIMES. AND WE'LL GET A LOT. BUT -- >> SO YOU'RE ASKING FOR AN EXTENSION UNTIL MARCH 10? >> FEBRUARY. >> MARCH? >> THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST TUESDAY MEETING. IN MARCH? [01:55:06] >> FIRST COURT IN MARCH. >> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR. >> MIGHT WANT TO IRON OUT FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC WHAT THE REQUEST IS. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER SMITH. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. WE GOT YOU, BUDDY. YOU'RE THE PROS. WE LISTEN TO YOU. >> DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DO K-7 AS WELL? [K.7. Discussion and possible action to authorize the Fire Marshal division of the Office of Emergency Services to purchase three tasers and a two-day training course from Axon Enterprise, Inc., in the amount of $3,275.64 annually. BECERRA/M. JONES] FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE? >> LET'S DO K-7, THANK YOU. >> K-7. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE FIRE MARSHAL DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES TO PURCHASE THREE TASERS, AND A TWO- DAY TRAINING COURSE FROM AXON ENTERPRISE, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,275.64 ANNUALLY. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> I KNOW THIS SOUNDS WEIRD, BUT 25 YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN SOMEONE CLICKS THIS AGENDA ITEM, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW THAT YOU WERE JUST THERE TWO SECONDS AGO. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC. >> STEVE, HAYS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL. >> TELL US ABOUT THIS ITEM. >> THIS ITEM IS PART OF A MANDATE. WE ARE A LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION, ONE OF THE MANDATES THIS YEAR IS LESS LETHAL OPTION, AND TASER IS THE LESS LETHAL OPTION. >> IT'S THE MOST MAGNIFICENT REQUEST I CAN IMAGINE. IT IS A WONDERFUL WAY OF DE-ESCALATION, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR REQUEST, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR IT. ANYTHING ELSE, COMMISSIONERS? CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER SMITH. [J.1. PLN-2602-PC; Hold a Public Hearing regarding Indian Hills Ranch, Lot 19, Replat. SMITH/BOUTTE] COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. IF THERE'S NOTHING TO CHERRY-PICK, I WILL GO INTO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. PLEASE OPEN J-1 >> PLN-2602-PC, HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING INDIAN HILLS RANCH. >> I'M OPENING THIS FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS AGENDA ITEM, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM. I SEE NO MOVEMENT. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ALL RIGHT. AT THIS POINT, WHO WOULD LIKE TO GIVE AN UPDATE? >> I THINK COLBY HAS THE INFORMATION, SIR. >> COLBY, STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE BECERRA AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M WITH THE HAYS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PLANNING DIVISION FOR THIS PROJECT IN PARTICULAR. THE ONLY ITEM IS TO HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN TODAY. IN THE NEAR FUTURE, ONCE ALL REVIEW IS COMPLETE AND COMMENTS ARE CLEARED, WE'LL BRING THE [J.2. PLN-2787-PC; Hold a Public Hearing regarding Springlake, Replat of Lots 133-A, 134-A, & Tract 135. SMITH/BOUTTE] PROJECT BACK TO COURT TO SEEK DETERMINATION. >> THANK YOU. PLEASE OPEN J-2. >> J-2. PLN-2787-PC. HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING SPRINGLAKE, REPLAT OF LOTS 133-A, 134- A AND TRACT 135. >> I'M OPENING THIS AGENDA ITEM FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS AGENDA ITEM, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM. I SEE NO MOVEMENT. COLBY, COPY, PASTE? >> YES, SIR. HAYS COUNTY PLANNING DIVISION. WITH THIS PROJECT, NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN TODAY. IT IS SIMPLY TO HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING. ONCE ALL REVIEW IS COMPLETE AND COMMENTS ARE CLEARED, WE'LL BRING IT BACK FOR FINAL [J.3. PLN-2720-PC; Call for a Public Hearing on February 3rd, 2026 regarding Cypress Creek Acres, Replat of Lot 48 and 49-B. HAMMER/BOUTTE] DETERMINATION. >> THANK YOU FOR CATCHING THE VIEWING PUBLIC UP TO SPEED. >> J-3. PLN-2720-PC, CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY 3, 2026, REGARDING CYPRESS CREEK ACRES, REPLAT OF LOT 48 AND 49-B. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER COHEN. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. >> BREAK? >> LET'S ASK FOR A -- I'M BEING ASKED FOR A TEN-MINUTE RECESS. [K.15. Discussion and possible action to authorize the Sheriff's Office to add one Jail Facility Maintenance Specialist, Grade 115, effective January 16, 2026. SMITH/HIPOLITO/GRANJENO] >> ALL RIGHT. MICS ARE ON. WE ARE BACK FROM A SHORT RECESS. PLEASE OPEN K-15. >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO ADD ONE JAIL FACILITY MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST, GRADE 115, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 16, 2026. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> AND WE HAVE THE CAPTAIN HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM. IF YOU WILL PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC. >> YES, CAPTAIN, SHERIFF'S OFFICE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THIS MORNING, WE ARE REQUESTING TO ADD A FACILITY MAINTENANCE POSITION. SOME OF YOU MIGHT REMEMBER BACK IN 2024 THAT I CAME TO THE COURT, I WAS FULLY STAFFED IN MAINTENANCE, BUT I HAD AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD BE A [02:00:01] GOOD LEAD FACILITY MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR, BUT WE WANTED TO TRY HIM OUT, MAKE SURE HE WAS A GOOD FIT FOR THAT JOB. WHICH HE WAS. AND WE CAME BACK DECEMBER OF 2024, AND WE UPGRADED HIM INTO THE LEAD POSITION. SOMEHOW, THROUGH ALL THAT CONFUSION, WE LOST A FACILITY MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST, SO I'M HERE TO ASK THE COURT TO GIVE US BACK THAT POSITION DUE TO THETHE -- BRINGING INMATES BACK. WE ARE OPENING MORE DORMS. SO, THERE'S A LOTLOT FACILITY NEEDS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN ON A DAILY BASIS. AND WITH THAT, IT'LL GET ME BACK TO OUR ORIGINAL STAFFING, WHICH IS THE FACILITY MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR, THE LEAD, AND THE THREE SPECIALISTS. >> BEAUTIFUL. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> DO YOU MIND COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT I -- THERE WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION. I AM NOT DEFUNDING YOUR DEPARTMENT. WHENEVER WE'RE DONE. THANK YOU. >> YES. >> ANYTHING ELSE? >> YES, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFYCLARIFY AS THE CAPTAIN IS -- THE CAPTAIN SAID. THIS POSITION, AND I WENT BACK THROUGH THE LAST FEW FISCAL YEAR BUDGETS, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THIS POSITION GOT DROPPED, BECAUSE WE NEVER ELIMINATED THE POSITION. AND IT WAS IN TWO FISCAL YEARS AGO, IT WAS N THERE. >> I THINK IT WAS JUST RELABELED. >> NO, NO, THE POSITION WENT AWAY. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. WE NEVER -- WHEN WE MADE THAT PROMOTION, WE NEVER DROPPED THE POSITION, BUT FOR SOME REASON, IT DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE BUDGET, SO I -- IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ELIMINATED TO START WITH, I DON'T BELIEVE. >> SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING JUST SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS. >> YEP. >> GO AHEAD. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, YES, I DEFINITELY THINK THAT WE NEED TO ADD, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR -- THE COURT HAS A BIG INITIATIVE TO BRING BACK EVERYONE FROM HASKELL COUNTY, SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS DEFINITELY NEED. >> ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY, CAPTAIN. >> SCOTT, YOU'VE, I GUESS, ATTRITION IS WHERE IT'S COMING FROM. >> YES, MA'AM. SO, THE ANNUAL EFFECT TO THE BUDGET÷÷ WOULD BE $64,494. WITH THIS TAKING PLACE AS OF JANUARY 16, THE EFFECT TO THE CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET WOULD BE $45,684, AND THERE IS BUDGETED SAVINGS DUE TO ATTRITION AT THE JAIL, YS, MA'AM. >> AWESOME. AWESOME. OKAY. WELL, CAPTAIN, SOUNDS LIKE YOU GOT THIS. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER COHEN. [K.22. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a Professional Services Agreement (2026-PSA-43) between Hays County and HDR Engineers, Inc. related to a Countywide Water Study, not to exceed $542,360.00. HAMMER/HUNT] JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> OKAY. SO, NOW, LET'S GO ON TO K-22. >> K-22. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT, 2026-PSA- 43, BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND HDR ENGINEERS, INC. , RELATED TO A COUNTYWIDE WATER STUDY, NOT TO EXCEED $542,360. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> COMMISSIONER, I LOVE THIS. I'M SO GLAD THAT WE HAVE THE SAME FOCUS ON THIS VERY ITEM, AND I AM JUST SO GRATEFUL BECAUSE YOUR PREDECESSOR BROUGHT ME INTO A LOT OF TRAINING THAT WE ARE BOTH BENEFITTING FROM. SO, SPEAK ON THIS ITEM A LITTLE BIT. >> YEAH, NO, IT'S JUST, AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN LAST COURT, BUT THE LAST WATER STUDY THAT WE HAD IS FROM A COUNTY PERSPECTIVE, WAS DONE IN 2011. IT WAS DONE BY HDR AND GAVE PERSPECTIVE OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH OUR WATER -- FROM A WATER STANDPOINT. THIS ONE WOULD BE AMAZING TO HAVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THOSE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS TO REALLY GIVE US A GOOD UNDERSTANDING AND WHENEVER WE SEE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT IS A INCREASE OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO ASK ME WHAT PGMA STANDS FOR? >> PRIORITY GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AREA. >> IT WILL JUST HELP US WHEN IT COMES TO THE REWRITE. IT'LL HELP US WHEN IT COMES TO THE CURRENT PROVIDERS OVER IN MY PRECINCT THAT HAVE -- THEY HAVE SOME CHALLENGES. WE DON'T HAVE A BASIN. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO WEST HAYS. >> AND YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD CHALLENGES IN WES T T HAYS. WE WANT OUR COUNTY NOT TO GET BIGGER, WE WANT OUR COUNTY TO GET BETTER. THAT WAS SO WELL SAID EARLIER. COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> I WANTED TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS FROM THE -- OUR PREVIOUS MEETING AND WHAT WAS LOOKED AT IN 2011 AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS TIME. IN SITTING DOWN WITH HDR, THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE VERY, I THOUGHT, VERY WELL DONE IN THE 2011 STUDY. BUT I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A BUILDING BLOCK THAT WE REALLY NEEDED TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ASKED [02:05:03] FOR, TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK, AND IT'S IN HERE, AS FAR AS THE DATA COLLECTION, IS A TRUE LOOK AT WHAT THE CURRENT WATER FACILITIES ARE, BOTH UTILITY-- WISE AND WELL- WISE THAT ARE BEING USED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND WHERE THOSE RESOURCES ARE COMING FROM. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S, YOU KNOW -- I SIT ON THE BOARD OF THE WEST TRAVIS COUNTY PUA. THAT WATER IS COMING INTO THE NORTHERN PART -- NORTHWESTERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY, SERVING A LARGE POPULATION, BUT THAT ISN'T -- EVERYBODY CONSIDERS IT PUA WATER, BUT WHERE'S THAT WATER COMING FROM? IT'S LOWER COLORADO RIVER WATER. WE'RE LOOKING AT, IF YOU WOULD LOOK IN THE BACKGROUND OR TAKE A REVIEW OF THE BACKGROUND, WE LOOKED. THEY WILL BE GATHERING DATA FROM GBRA, THE GBRA, LCRA, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT AREAS, AND THEN LOOKING AT WHAT THAT USAGE AND THE FUTURE PLANNED USAGE WOULD BE IN THOSE AREAS, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE FACILITIES LIKE THE DRIPPING SPRINGS WATER SUPPLY CORP. , AQUA, OUR INDIVIDUAL CITIES, BUDA, KYLE, AND WHERE THEY'RE GETTING THEIR WATER, HOW IT'S BEING DISTRIBUTED AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINKWILL COME OUT OF THIS IS A REAL, MORE, I GUESS, VERY DIRECT OVERVIEW OF THE COUNTY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANTED TO LOOK AT AS WELL, SINCE WE'VE BEEN PRESSED ON THESE ISSUES RELATED TO DATACENTERS, IS WHERE THE -- THOSE FACILITIES ARE -- WHERE THOSE WATER SUPPLIERS ON THE EAST SIDE ARE GETTING THAT WATER, AND HOW MUCH VOLUME THEY ACTUALLY HAVE AND WHAT THE USABILITY WOULD BE OVER THERE. AND I THINK NOBODY'S DONE THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT WOULD BE -- IT WOULD BE GREAT, DETAILED INFORMATION TO HAVE WHENEVER WE'RE PRESENTED WITH FACILITIES LIKE THAT OR OTHER, JUST, LARGE-SCALE WATER USERS. BECAUSE WE REALLY DO NEED TO -- I KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN -- WE ON THE WEST SIDE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PREACHING ABOUT WATER AND OUR LACK THEREOF, BUT IT'S A NEVER-ENDING ISSUE FOR US. >> COMMISSIONER, I'M GOING TO USE -- YOU HAVE NO CHOICE. YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS FOR A LONG TIME, AND YOU SPOKE PERFECTLY, BUT I'M GOING TO PUT IT IN WORDS THAT LESS GOVERNMENTAL EARS WILL CATCH IT QUICKER. AND THE LAST PIECE YOU SAID. AND IT'S NOT ANYTHING AGAINST WHAT YOU SAID, BECAUSE IT WAS PERFECTLY SAID. BUT ONE THING THAT WE BENEFIT FROM WITH THIS PROCESS, WATER AVAILABILITY STUDY ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE COUNTY, IS IF THERE'S A LARGE WATER USER ON THE HORIZON, THIS WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND AND KNOW WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, AND WHY, AND WHAT WILL BE THE IMPACTS. SAID IN A MORE DIRECT WAY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S PERFECT. IT'S A GREAT MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS, AND THIS IS, HONESTLY, MAYBE STARTING WITH THE END FIRST, I DON'T KNOW. I THINK IT'S JUST A GREAT IDEA AND THE TIMING COULDN'T BE BETTER, AND THERE'S A DEFINITE SENSE OF URGENCY. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> WELL, JUDGE, I AGREE. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE WEST SIDE AND THE SENSITIVITY OF THE AREA AND THE WATER NEDS AND ALL OF THAT, AND WE NEED TO. IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S -- THE AQUIFERS OR ON THAT SIDE. BUT I AGREE, WE NEED TO STUDY THE EAST SIDE AND BIG WATER USERS THAT ARE PROPOSED POB TO BE COMING IN AND I THINK IT'S GREAT. I THINK IT'S TIME WE DO THIS, BUT I ALSO WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE INCORPORATE OR THEY WORK IN TANDEM, YOU KNOW, OUR DEVELOPMENT RULES, SUBDIVISION RULES AND REGULATIONS. I MEAN, WE NEED TO BE AGGRESSIVE, I THINK, IN THAT AREA, TOO. I THINK WE'VE ALL MENTIONED IT, AND SO WE JUST, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO FORGET THAT PIECE. I KNOW WE HAVEN'T. BUT IT'S GOING TO BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE INCORPORATE THESE TWO PIECES OF INFORMATION. >> BEAUTIFUL. COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HAMMER, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. YOU KNOW, MY BIGGEST CONCERNS ARE THE FLOODING IN THE EAST SIDE, BECAUSE OF ALL THE RECENT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS GONE ON ALL ACROSS THE EAST SIDE OF THE COUNTY. WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE THE OUR IS GOING TO GO, I FEAR. AND SO, I REALLY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT INITIATIVE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THAT ISSUE. I KNOW WE HAVEN'T DEALT WITH WATER IN A WHILE, BUT YOU KNOW, I JUST KNOW WHEN IT HAS HAD SOME RAIN EVENTS IN THE AREA, I'VE SEEN SOME OF THOSE AREAS THAT FLOOD. SO, JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING ON THIS INITIATIVE FOR THE COUNTY, AND COMMISSIONER HAMMER, FOR LEADING THIS INITIATIVE TOO. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER, THEN WE VOTE. >> I JUST WANT TO ALSO SAY I WAS LISTENING TO COMMISSIONER COHEN SPEAK AND THINKING ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT AREAS. I MEAN, EVEN WE ALWAYS SAY WEST SIDE IS HAVING ISSUES BUT DRIPPING AND WIMBERLEY ARE [02:10:02] JUST VASTLY DIFFERENT PLACES WITH DIFFERENT WATER SUPPLIES AND SOURCES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I DO THINK, I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT THE -- ALONG THE CORRIDOR, AND THEY'RE GETTING THE WATER FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. BUT THERE'S STILL SO MANYMANY FACTORS, AND OUR COUNTY IS SO DIFFERENT THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY GREAT TO BE ABLE TO PICTURE VIEW AND SEE WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON. >> BEFORE WE VOTE, I DO WANT TO JUST REITERATE ONE THING. I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY VERY SPECIFICALLY THAT ONE OF THE REASONS I'M SO SUPPORTIVE OF THIS IS I AM IN SUCH FEAR OF THE POSSIBLE ELIMINATION OF THE HAYS TRAINING GROUNDWATER DISTRICT AND NOT HAVING ANY SEMBLANCE OF KNOWING THE DAY-TO- DAY, LIKE, THE ACTUAL RESEARCH AND DATA THAT THEY'VE COLLECTED AND WHERE THAT WILL GO IF THAT WERE TO COME TO PASS. THEY ARE IN A FINANCIAL STRAIT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY'RE FUNDED. THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY GET FUNDING IS PUTTING ANOTHER STRAW IN THE GROUND, AND TAPPING INTO THE RESOURCE THAT THEY'RE TASKED WITH PROTECTING. AND RIGHT NOW, LIKE, I HAVE AT LEAST TWO COMMUNITIES IN MY PRECINCT THAT, WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, THEIR WELL HAS GONE DRY. AND THESE ARE COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEMS. THE TCQ IS ALLOWING THEM TO USE WHAT ARE CALLED GOOEY WELLS AND DO ADDITIONAL TREATMENT, THOSE KIND OF THINGS, BUT I CAN ONLY SEE ON THE HORIZON ADDITIONAL COMMUNITIES LIKE THAT. ONE OF THESE COMMUNITIES HAS 41 PEOPLE IN IT. THE ONE NEXT TO IT HAS ABOUT 400 THAT'S USING IN THE SAME GROUND WATER RESOURCE, SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS WILL DO A GOOD JOB OF IDENTIFYING WHERE THOSE ARE, BECAUSE HONESTLY, NO ONE'S EVER TOLD US WHERE -- WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING. MAYBE THOSE SYSTEMS WERE SET UP IN THE '60S OR IN THE '80S AT SOME POINT AS A PRIVATE SYSTEM. AND WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE EVERY ONE OF THOSE SYSTEMS ARE, AND I'VE GOT AT LEAST THREE FAILED ONES THAT ARE ACTUALLY NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE THAT I'VE IDENTIFIED SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE AND TWO THAT ARE NOW UNDER TCEQ REGULATION AND ON DAILY MONITORING BECAUSE OF FAILURES WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. >> DO YOU HEAR THE SENSE OF URGENCY? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. GO TO WORK. THANK YOU, SIR. >> APPRECIATE IT. >> ALL RIGHT. SO, ANY DIRECTION THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO TAKE? OTHERWISE, I'M GOING TO GO DOWN THE LIST. ALL RIGHT. STARTING AT THE TOP, WE'VE ALREADY DONE CONSENT. [K.3. Discussion and possible action to direct the County Administrator and Budget Officer to develop and implement a Capital Investment Fund for Hays County. BECERRA] WE FINISHED ROADS AND SUBDIVISIONS. WE WILL CONTINUE ON MISCELLANEOUS. GO TO 3. >> K-3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND BUDGET OFFICER TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR HAYS COUNTY. >> CANDICE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? >> SURE, JUDGE, I'LL START US OFF AND THEN SCOTT CAN GO INTO MORE TAIL.DETAIL. IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH SCOTT AND SOME OF THE COURT MEMBERS, AS WE MEET INDEPENDENTLY WITH YOU ALL TO DISCUSS FY27, WE THINK THIS THAT IT IS -- THERE IS A NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN SAVE FOR FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, AN ALTERNATIVE TO DOING DEBT. SO, THIS IS OUR FIRST ATTEMPT. ALL SIGNS SHOW THAT THIS WILL MOST LIKELY BE A TIGHT YEAR, SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE COURT, AS YOU ALL CONTINUE TO GIVE US DIRECTION, AND OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS TO, IDENTIFY THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS AND START TO PLAN ON HOWHOW WE CAN HELP CONTRIBUTE TO FUNDING THOSE NEEDS. >> PERFECT. WELL FRAMED. IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC. >> SCOTT WOODLAND, BUDGET OFFICER, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON TO WHAT CANDICE HAS SAID. I'D LIKE TO GIVE SOME ASPECTS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, AND THEN SEEK THE COURT'S GUIDANCE ON IMPLEMENTING IN THE 2027 BUDGET. JUST THE WEBSTER'S DEFINITION, ESSENTIALLY, IS THAT THE FUND IS A FUND DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO PAY FOR LARGE, NONRECURRING PROJECTS THAT CREATE NEW AETS OR EXTEND AN EXISTING ASSETS LIFE OR VALUE. SOME OF THESE PROJECTS MAY INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION BUILDINGS, AS WE HAVE IN OUR FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE, TECHNOLOGY -- MAJOR TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES LIKE SERVERS AND A SYSTEM- WIDE UPGRADE IS MORE THAN JUST A COUPLE COMPUTERS, THINGS LIKE THAT. REALLY INTENDED FOR MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. AND JUST A COUPLE OF THE ASPECTS, THIS WOULD BE FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND. WE WOULD MOVE MONEY OVER. AND WE WOULD TREAT THE CAPITAL [02:15:04] IMPROVEMENT FUND AS ALMOST A SAVINGS FUND, IF YOU WILL, THAT WE'RE GOING TO STORE THE MONEY IN THERE, LET IT SIT. WE NEED TO BE -- THE COUNTY NEEDS TO BE DISCIPLINED, KNOWING THAT THAT MONEY IS NOW SETTING IN THERE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND IT IS UNAVAILABLE TO THE COUNTY AT THAT POINT. A COUPLE THINGS THAT POTENTIALLY COULD ALLOW US TO DO WOULD BE TO KIND OF FIX A FUND RESERVE, AND THEN, IF AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THE YEAR ENDS UP BETTER THAN WHAT WAS ANTICIPATED, THAT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND COULD BE USED AS A SWEEP, MEANING THAT WE COULD TAKE SOME OF THOSE EXCESS FUNDS THAT WERE EARNED AND PUT IT IN THERE FOR FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECTS. LASTLY, AS MENTIONED, THE MONEY WOULD BE COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND SO THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE BUDGETED FOR. AND KNOWN THAT THAT MONEY IS NOW NOT AVAILABLE IN THE GENERAL FUND OR IN THE FUND BALANCE OF THE GENERAL FUND. BUT IT WILL BE SITTING IN THAT CAPITAL PROJECT FUND, BUILDING, GROWING, SO THAT WE CAN USE THAT FOR FUTURE NEEDS AND POTENTIALLY LESSEN THE DEBT THAT THE COUNTY ISSUES. AND COVER SOME OF THESE MAJOR PROJECTS IN-HOUSE. >> I LOVE IT. AND I WILL SAY THAT IN THE EIGHT YEARS I'VE BEEN COUNTY JUDGE, SOME BEGINNING YEARS, I WAS CHIEF BUDGET OFFICER OF THIS COUNTY. I LOVE THE IDEA. MOST IMPORTANTLY, OF CREATING THIS CAPITAL INVESTMENT % FUND BECAUSE IT TAKES US OUT OF FEAST-OR- FAMINE MENTALITIES. IT HELPS US TO PLAN AND PROJECT AND FORECAST, AND I KNOW WE HAVE AN AMAZING CREDIT RATING, AA- PLUS, AND I BELIEVE THIS WILL ALSO HELP US IN THAT AS WELL. AND SO, I AM JUST GRATEFUL TO BE CONTINUING TO UNROLL THINGS THAT WILL MOVE US INTO THE SMALL COUNTY LENS, INTO AN URBAN COUNTY LENS, AND TO BE THE BIGGER, BETTER BATTLESHIP THAT WE HAVE BECOME. BEFORE I GO TO MARISOL, I WANT TO ASK COMMISSIONER HAMMER FIRST. >> YEAH, NO, I DEFINITELY THINK, I MEAN, IT'S GREAT. I KNOW IT SAID EARLIER THAT WE HAVE 11% GROWTH, BUT WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO THE AFFECTEDAFFECTED LAST YEAR AFTER WE HAVE THE FROZEN TAXES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, IT WAS LESS THAN 2%. I BELIEVE IT WAS 1.4%. SO, CREATING THIS FUND WILL HELP US IN TIME, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO ISSUE DEBT. I MEAN, WE DON'T -- DEBT HAS ITS PLACE, BUT A LOT OF DEBT IS NEVER A GOOD THING. SO, TO BE THE MOST BENEFICIALBENEFICIAL TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THIS IS A NO-BRAINER. IT'S GOING TO HELP US. IT'S GOING TO, YOU'RE RIGHT, FROM A PLANNING, FORECASTING STANDPOINT, WE'LL KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH AND THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY HELP US, AS WELL, BE A LITTLE TIGHTER WITH WHAT WE'RE PLANNING. I'M ALL FOR THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> I MEAN, I'M CERTAINLY NOT OPPOSED. I THINK THAT AS A PLANNING TOOL, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE FUND OUR COUNTY AND HOW WE FUND MAJOR PROJECTS. I GUESS, SCOTT, YOU KNOW, WE, IN RESERVES, WE USUALLY KEEP A FOUR TO SIX- MONTH BALANCE AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AT THE HIGHER LEVEL. I MEAN, IT'S USUALLY CLOSER TO SIX THAN IT IS FOUR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER -- I KNOW PEOPLE SAY YOU NEVER WANT TO KEEP TOO MUCH BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE THAT VALKT ALSO FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. BUT YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO BE COG COGNIZANT OF THAT, THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT AT AA HEALTHY AND THAT WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE FOR US ALSO. I KNOW THERE'S OTHERS THAT ARE GOING TO DISCUSS THIS, BUT WE HAVE, IN THE PAST, TALKED ABOUT, AS WE DID TODAY, PAYING OFF DEBT, AND YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT WE LOOK AT THAT ASPECT ALSO BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. WE, AS PEOPLE HAVE COME IN HERE PREVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A HIGH DEBT, AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WHEN WE CAN, I MEAN, SOME OF THESE FUNDS, MAYBE, CAN BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE ALSO. AND SO I'M HOPING THAT AS WE WE LOOK AT WHAT WE DO WITH THIS PARTICULAR FUND, THAT WE LOOK AT IT WHOLISTICALLY AND LOOK AT OTHER AREAS SUCH AS DEBT AND RESERVES THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON ALSO. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, THAT IS SUCH WISDOM. AND I THINK THIS, IN -- I KNOW IT SOUNDS WEIRD,THIS, IN PART, IS TO HELP US STOP THAT FEAST-AND- FAMINE CYCLE THAT SOMETIMES WE GO THROUGH, BECAUSE OF THE PLANNING, BECAUSE OF THE MONEY SAVED, WE DON'T HAVE TO GET NEW DEBT, BUT WHILE WE STILL HAVE DEBT, SO YOUR POINT IS VERY WELL TAKEN. THANK YOU. [02:20:01] COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> NO, AND, COMMISSIONER, I MEAN, YOU POINT OUT SOME REAL IMPORTANT THINGS, THAT WE NEED TO IDENTIFY THE PARAMETERS AND HOW WE USE THE MONEY AND, YOU KNOW, NOT LIMIT US IN SOME SITUATIONS, BUT I THINK CREATING THIS IS A GOOD TOOL FOR US FOR THE FUTURE, AND IT'S GREAT, YOU KNOW, ALIGNING THIS WITH WHAT WE JUST SAW THIS MORNING WITH THE PRESENTTION AND I MEAN, WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS THATTHAT WE TO ADDRESS. AND NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT, THERE COULD BE A FUTURE OTHER COMMISSIONER COURT BUILDING EVENTUALLY, BECAUSE WE ARE OUTGROWING EVEN THIS SPACE. SO, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD TOOL FOR US, AND YOU KNOW, JUST TAKING IN COMMISSIONER INGALSBE'S CONCERNS AND -- ABOUT HOW IT'S USED. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> I LIKE THE CONCEPT. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I ACTUALLY WROTE DOWN THREE THINGS BEFORE COMMISSIONER INGALSBE SPOKE, AND SHE MENTIONED TWO OF THEM. THE FIRST ONE IS THAT WE'VE ALWAYS STRIVEN TO TRY TO HIT THAT SIX- MONTH MARK. WE NEVER KNOW WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER COVID OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I THINK OUR POLICY HAS BEEN FOUR TO SIX MONTHS. IF WE DO THIS, IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WHATEVER THAT SWEEP IS AT THE END, I THINK WE NEED TO STANDARDIZE THAT AND SAY IT WILL BE SIX MONTHS MONTHS IT WILL BE FOUR MONTHS OR WE NEED A TIMETABLE THERE. THAT GIVES US A HARD NUMBER AT THE END OF THE YEAR, SO IF WE DO THAT SWEEP, AND WE'VE GOT, I DON'T KNOW, $2 MILLION IN THERE, AND WE'RE -- WE NEED ANOTHER $1.5 MILLION FOR SIX MONTHS, WE SAY IT'S SIX MONTHS, THEN WE CAN USE THAT. ADDITIONALLY, A PORTION OF THIS -- OF THAT SWEEP, I COMPLETELY, 100% AGREE NEEDS TO GO TO DEBT. AND I DON'T -- I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE SAVING, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT GRAND NEW BUILDINGS AND THOSE THINGS. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE PRIORITIZING THEM FIRST TO DO THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE ON OUR EXISTING FACILITIES BEFORE WE SAY THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT ON A NEW BUILDING SOMEWHERE. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH THE DEBT THAT WE HAVE AS OPPOSED TO THAT REGULAR MAINTENANCE STUFF. FOR EXAMPLE, THE -- ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE NEEDED TO OUR FACILITIES, TO ENSURE THAT WE MET THE REGULATONS FOR POLLING LOCATIONS, HAVING A FUND LIKE THIS WOULD GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY TO PAY FOR THOSE. WHEREAS WE CAN'T GO OUT AND DO THOSE -- CAN'T NECESSARILY, IT'S HARDER TO GO OUT AND DO THOSE WITH DEBT, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE SHOULD BE TO PAY OFF THE DEBT WE ALREADY HAVE INCURRED. THAT'S JUST -- IF WE CAN PAY IT OFF SOONER, WE LEARNED TODAY THAT IT HELPS US OVERALL. THE THIRD THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT STATUTORILY, WE NEED TO IDENTIFY÷÷IDENTIFY WHAT COULD BE SWEPT, BECAUSE FOR EXAMPLE, WE CAN'T SWEEP FUNDS OUT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUT INTO THIS. BECAUSE STATUTORILY, IT'S A JUST TO ANSWER SOME OF COMMISSIONER SMITH'S QUESTIONS, OR COMMENTS, OUR CURRENT POLICY FOR OUR GENERAL FUND IS THREE TO SIX MONTHS. SO, HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE KEPTFY MONTHS IN OUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE. THAT HAS ASSISTED IN SHOWING STABILITY TO THE BOND RATING AGENCIES, SO -- BUT HOWEVER, SOMETIMES DURING THE BUDGET, WE HAVE HAD BUDGETS APPROVED WHERE WE ESTIMATED THE FUND BALANCE WOULD BE FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS. SO, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE COURT TO CONSIDER WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAINTAIN IN THERE. YOU KNOW, AND THEN SWEEP BEYOND THAT. JUST BECAUSE IT IS A BIG PART OF OUR BOND RATING, AND WE'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO BE [02:25:01] AA-PLUS OR HIGHER, AND THEN THE OTHER COMMENT I HAVE IS TO RESPOND TO COMMISSIONER SMITH. WHEN THE SWEEP IS CALCULATED, IT'S ACTUALLY NOT THE BUDGET OFFICE THAT DETERMINES WHAT THE FUND BALANCE -- ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE WILL BE. DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, THE FUND BALANCE ESTIMATION IS STATUTORILY PERFORMED BY THE AUDITOR, BECAUSE THAT IS SO THAT IT'S INDEPENDENT. THERE'S NO UNDUE STRAIN ON THE BUDGET OFFICE TO DETERMINE THAT FUND BALANCE. IT IS CALCULATED, ESTIMATED, BY THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. AND SO I PROVIDE THOSE NUMBERS TO THE BUDGET OFFICE, AND THEN THEY MOVE FROM THERE AND SAY, OKAY, WELL, IF WE SPEND THIS MUCH OR WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN SPENDING MONEY FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, SETTING ASIDE MONEY FROM RESERVES WITHIN GENERAL FUND SO IT'S BASICALLY JUST MOVING IT OUT AND PUTTING IT INTO A DIFFERENT FUND. BUT ESTIMATION, FUND BALANCE AND SWEEPING, THAT IS THE AUDITO'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ESTIMATE THAT FUND BALANCE SO THEY, THE BUDGET OFFICE, THEY WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE AUDITOR CERTIFY THOSE FUND BALANCES AND THE AMOUNTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND THEN BASED OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, DETERMINING HOW MUCH THEY WANT TO LEAVE IN THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE, SO THERE IS THAT CHECK AND BALANCE THERE THAT THOSE FUND BALANCES ARE AUDITED. >> VERY GOOD. >> CAN I JUST ADD TO MARISOL'S COMMENTS? WE ARE ABSOLUTELY IN AGREEMENT WITH HER, AND WHEN WE BRING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS BACK, IT WOULD BE -- WE WOULD RUN THEM BY AUDIT AND LEGAL, HAVE THEM INVOLVED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO THE COURT. AND OUR PLAN RIGHT NOW IS NOT TO TOUCH RESERVES. JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. >> OKAY. IF NOTHING ELSE, OUR MOTION IS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER SMITH. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. THANK YOU, COURT MEMBERS AND STAFF. DEPARTMENT HEADS, FOR HELPING US CREATE A RESPONSIBLE, FORWARD- LEANING FISCAL CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO THE WAY [K.4. Discussion and possible action to partner with Prevent A Litter of Central Texas (PALS) and the Hays County Health Department to provide a free Rabies Immunization Clinic for the public on January 20, 2026 (Dripping Springs); ratify the partnership and free Rabies Immunization Clinic that was provided to the public on January 17, 2026 (Wimberley, TX); authorize the payment for each clinic in an amount not to exceed $600.00 per clinic; and authorize a waiver to the purchasing policy of obtaining three quotes, and amend the budget accordingly. HAMMER/SMITH/GONZALES] OUR COUNTY OPERATES. AM MOST GRATEFUL. PLEASE MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM K-4. >> K-4. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO PARTNER WITH PREVENT A LITTER OF CENTRAL TEXAS, PALS, AND THE HAYS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A FREE RABIES IMMUNIZATION CLINIC FOR THE PUBLIC ON JANUARY 20, 2026, DRIPPING SPRINGS, RATIFY THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE FREE RABIES IMMUNIZATION CLINIC THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC ON JANUARY 17, 2026, IN WIMBERLEY, TEXAS, AND AUTHORIZE THE PAYMENT FOR EACH CLINIC IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $600 PER CLINIC AND AUTHORIZE A WAIVER TO THE PURCHASING POLICY OF BE CONTAINING THREE QUOTES AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER, WHAT DO YOU THINK? >> YEAH, SO, WE HAD -- WE HAVE BEEN PRETTY MUCH IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION REGARDING THE RABIES AS THE AREA 7 ZOOLOGIST SAYS WE'RE IN AN "OUTBREAK" ESPECIALLY ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THINGS. THIS WAS KIND OF AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE INTO MAKING SURE THAT PETS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE STAYED VACCINATED AND PREVENTED FROM THE OUTBREAK. >> THAT'S RIGHT. ALTHOUGH OUR COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE A HIGH, ALARMING NUMBER, BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T LIKE TO BE AN ALARMIST, IT'S STILL IN THE REGIONAL FOOTPRINT, A HIGH ENOUGH NUMBER THAT HAS CAUSED CONCERN FOR THE STATE. COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> I WOULD SAY TWO THINGS. NUMBER ONE, I SINCERELY APPRECIATE OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THE RAPID RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE SEEN. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M IN CONTACT RIGHT NOW DOING, AND I HOPE TO HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH MATTHEW ABOUT THIS, I ACTUALLY SPOKE TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE PROVIDING THE DROPS, THE RABIES VACCINE DROPS, TO THE STATE, AND I MET WITH SOME OF THEIR ZOOLOGISTS OVER THE PAST YEAR ON IT AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE WAY THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, THE USDA, AND OUR STATE AGENCIES WORK, THEY REALLY HAVE TRIED TO FORM A, WITH THE BASE THAT THEY USE, A BARRIER BETWEEN THE U.S. AND MEXICO, AND THEY ESTIMATE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE FOR THE STATE BY WHAT THE NEEDS ARE FOR THOSE BARRIERS, AND THEY RADIATE INTO THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE. THERE REALLY HASN'T BEEN ANY PLANNING -- I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ANY PLANNING. THERE HASN'T BEEN SIGNIFICANT PLANNING ON WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE THESE CENTRALIZED OR STATE-CENTRAL OUTBREAKS. AND SO, THAT BEING THE CASE, I WANT TO WORK WITH THEM ON A MORE REGIONAL BASIS TO TRY TO GET ADDITIONAL DROP BAITS AND ADDITIONAL ACTION WITHIN THE CENTRAL TEXAS REGION BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST OF THESETHESE OUTBREAKS THEY'VE SEEN AND THEY STARTED TO TRANSFER SOME OF THOSE FACILITIES, BUT I [02:30:01] KNOW, IN THE CURRENT BUDGET, THE CURRENT STATE BUDGET, WHEN WE WERE UP THERE LAST YEAR, THEY WERE TRYING TO -- THEY ACTUALLY -- THERE WAS A PROPOSAL OF, I WANT TO SAY, 7. 4 OR $7.6 MILLION TO TO THE NUMBER OF BAITS AND REALLY FOCUS THE PROGRAM MORE WITHIN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE. IT DID NOT. IT WAS A BUDGET ADDENDUM THAT WAS NOT FUNDED. AND SO, GOING INTO THE NEXT -- GOING INTO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HAYS COUNTY IS INVOLVED WITH OTHER COUNTIES HERE TO TRY TO PUSH THAT THROUGH ON BEHALF OF THE STATE AND GET THOSE DROPS HERE. >> AND I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, BECAUSE I'LL SAY MOST -- BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WATCH THIS STUFF UNLESS YOU'RE IN IT -- MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT SID MILLER'S HOSTED LOTS OF LEADERS FROM MEXICO HERE IN TEXAS BECAUSE OF THAT PARTNERSHIP INTERACTION AND THE REALITY, THE WAY CATTLE MOVES AND THE WAY OUR PEOPLE MOVE, AND THOSE ARE KEY COMPONENTS THAT I'M GLAD YOU HIGHLIGHTED. USDA AND OUR STATE WORKING WITH PARTNERS AND NEIGHBORS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T -- PEOPLE DON'T CLIFF'S EDGE OF THE WORLD AT THE RIO÷÷RIO GRANDE. IT'S A MOVING CONTINUUM, AND IT HAS ITS OPEN SET OF PROBLEMS. >> AND UNFORTUNATELY, 90% OF THOSE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN ON SCREW WORM AND WE HAVE IT. IT HASN'T BEEN RABIES- FOCUSED BECAUSE THAT HASN'T BEEN THE DEMON AT THE DOOR, SO TO SPEAK. >> THE AWARENESS IS CLEAR, AND THE WORKING THAT YOU MENTIONED IS GOING ON, ON MANY FRONTS, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. MATTHEW, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING TO THE CONVERSATION? >> I JUST WANTED -- I WANTED TO LEAD UP TO MATTHEW TALKING ABOUT THIS, BUT BASICALLY, I THINK THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF WORDS SAID, BUT WHENEVER SOMEONE REACHES OUT TO ME, A CONSTITUENT, THEY SAY, WHAT ABOUT BAITING? I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT WHAT YOU SAID THAT THE LEDGE, THEY DENIED THAT FUNDING TO EVEN HAPPEN. SO THAT "SOLUTION" THAT EVERYONE THINKS CAN HAPPEN UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T PASS THIS PAST TIME. CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ON THAT? >> AND NOW THAT SHE SAID THAT -- SORRY, MATTHEW, ONE MORE SECOND. I WANT TO CHIME IN AS A RESPONSE TO WHAT YOU SAID. ALL TOO OFTEN -- SORRY, MATTHEW. ALL TOO OFTEN, PEOPLE BLAME THE CAPITOL, PEOPLE BLAME AUSTIN, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE CAPITOL IS AND THE LEG, AND THEN WHEN THEY SEE THEIR LEGISLATORS, THEY PAT THEM ON THE BACK AND SAY, WE LOVE YOU, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, JUST WHAT YOU SAID, COMMISSIONER HAMMER. WE GOT TO CALL THEM OUT, BECAUSE THEY ARE AFFECTING US DIRECTLY WITH OUR ABILITY OR INABILITY TO PROPERLY AND EFFECTIVELY MANAGE, AND SO WE JUST GOT TO REMEMBER THESE THINGS THAT THE COMMISSIONER HAS JUST SAID ARE A CONSEQUENCE OF YOUR STATE REPS' VOTE. GREAT POINT. MATTHEW? >> MATTHEW GONZALES, HAYS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR. I WANT TO ECHO THE DISCUSSIONSDISCUSSIONS JUDGE BECERRA AND COMMISSIONERS SMITH AND HAMMER HAVE PROVIDED THAT REALLY Y'ALL HAD IT TO A T. THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH TO ADD, OTHER THAN JUST GENERAL CLARITY. WHAT I AM SEEING A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY ASK IS WHY THE COUNTY CANNOT DO AN ORAL RABIES VACCINATED PROGRAM OR BAITING AND TO PUT IT SIMPLY, THAT IS A STATE- LED INITIATIVE. THIS IS A STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP THAT HAS TO OCCUR. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN HAPPEN AT THE LOCAL LEGISLATIVE, BUT WE CAN REQUEST THAT ASSISTANCE. NOW, AS COMMUNICATED, THE LEGISLATURE DID HAVE A DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES DID REQUEST AN EXCEPTIONAL ITEM TO HELP BOOST MONEY INTO THE LOCAL STREAMS TO DO A LOCAL RESPONSE AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS FOR A BAITING PROGRAM. HOWEVER, THAT EXCEPTIONAL ITEM WAS TIED WITH OTHER ITEM REQUESTS AND THE OVERALL FUNDING WAS DENIED. THE OVERALL FUNDING WAS TO SUPPORT LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND THAT WAS AN ATTACHMENT IN THERE BECAUSE IT'S AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL AS WELL. HERE IN THE STATE, WE HAVE REGIONAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. OFTENTIMES, THEY GET POOLED FUNDING TOGETHER, SO THAT FUNDING ADDITIONAL ITEM REQUEST WAS DENIED. SO, THAT'S WHY WE CANNOT DO THAT. THAT'S THE SIMPLEST EXPLANATION TO OUR CONSTITUENTS IS THAT IT WAS NOT APPROVED THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THAT DOES NOT HENRIK THAT DSHS HAS STOPPED TRYING TO PUSH THAT INITIATIVE THROUGH. ANY SUPPORT THERE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. BUT IT IS A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVEL. >> MATTHEW, WHILE YOU HAVE THAT SHORT PAUSE FOR YOUR NEXT ITEM, I WOULD LIKE TO ERATE WHAT YOU HAVE JUST SAID. USDA, I'M GLAD THEY DIDN'T STOP SUPPORTING SUCH AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF OUR STATE, AND DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH [02:35:04] SERVICES, IT HAS ALWAYS, THROUGH MY EYES AS A DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ON THE READY AND ALWAYS BEEN THERE HELPING US AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T GET STORIES MIXED UP. WE ARE PRAISING DSHS AND THE OTHER ONE I WANT TO PRAISE WHILE WE'RE HERE IS ANOTHER AMAZING STATE AGENCY, WHICH IS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THESE AGENCIES REALLY HELP US. THEY REALLY DO A LOT OF GOOD WORK IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND SO, ONE MORE TIME, THIS IS THOSE LEGISLATORS THAT ARE GOING INTO THE CAPITOL AND VOTING NO AND HAMSTRINGING THESE WONDERFUL DEPARTMENTS. SORRY. >> YES, SIR. AND I WOULD ADD ONE OTHER THING. THE CURRENT PROGRAM, I WANT TO SAY THERE'S, LIKE -- IT'S OVER 600,000 BAITS THEY PURCHASED ANNUALLY. AND THAT'S ACTUALLY DOWN. I THINK IN THE PAST, UNDER MAYBE THE PREVIOUS LEGISLATURE OR ONE BEFORE THAT, THE STATE, WE WERE BUYING÷÷BUYING 800,000 AND SO IT'S A SITUATION WHERE IF WE HAD JUST STAYED AT THE SAME LEVEL, WE'D BE -- WE WOULD BE SIMILAR TO WHAT THE REQUESTS FOR THIS YEAR WAS. >> YEAH. >> AND SO, THERE'S BEEN NOT ONLY WAS THERE NOT THE SUPPORT FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL ITEM THIS YEAR, BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY BEEN CUTS TO THAT PROGRAM OVER THE LAST, LIKE, FOUR. AND NOW, I THINK THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. WE'RE SEEING THESE SPOTTED OUTBREAKS. IT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T MIND THE SHOP. YOU'RE GOING TO START SEEING THESE AND IT'S GOING TO COST MORE IN THE LONG RUN. >> 100%, COMMISSIONER. CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION SINCE YOU HAVE A, I WOULD SAY, A GOOD GRASP ON THE GENERALITIES OF THIS? DO YOU KNOW, OR MATTHEW, BY CHANCE, WHAT THE PERCENTAGE OF SUPPORT FROM THE LEG WAS ON THIS ITEM? HOW MANY VOTED NO? >> IT WASN'T AN EXCEPTIONAL ITEM THAT WAS VOTED ON, ON THE FLOOR. IT WAS WITHIN THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, AND I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A DIRECT VOTE ON THIS ITEM. IT WAS PART OF THE UNDERLYING BUDGET THAT WAS PASSED. I WILL SAY WE HAD TWO MEMBERS ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE FROM HAYS COUNTY, AND I PERSONALLY DID NOT EXPRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS AT THE TIME, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE AN OUTBREAK. SO, I CAN'T SAY, WELL, THEY DIDN'T SUPPORT IT OR THEY SUPPORTED IT. WHAT I WILL SAY IS BEFORE THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THEY WILL DARN SURE KNOW THAT WE ALL SUPPORT IT AND IT ALL TO BE IN THE UNDERLYING BUDGET. >> WE'RE GOING TO SHOW UP WITH A HIGHLIGHTER. IT IS WHAT IT IS. OKAY, MATTHEW, SORRY, AS YOU WERE. >> NO WORRIES. I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE REASON WHY WE'RE DOING THIS, YOU HEAR RABIES OUTBREAK AND THAT WARRANTS ENOUGH DISCUSSION TO SAY, THIS IS WHY WE'RE BREAKING PURCHASING POLICY. BUT THE REASON WHY IT'S OF SUCH IMPORTANCE IS BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE SEEING, AS ADVICE WAS FROM DSHS, IS SKUNKS ARE THE MAIN TRANSMITTER OF RABIES IN OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS. SO, ORBP PROGRAM,THE BAITING PROGRAM, IS TYPICALLY DONE ALONG THE BORDER ININ BECAUSE IT'S WITH FOXES AND THE VACCINE BAIT IS TYPICALLY TAKEN VERY WELL BY THE FOXES OR COYOTES IN THE AREA. SKUNK POPULATIONS, IT DOES NOT TAKE IT AS WELL. THEY GENERALLY DO NOT ACCEPT THE BAIT. HOWEVER, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR AREA IS SKUNK CHANGE FROM THE TRANSMITTERS TO POTENTIALLY FOXES. WE'RE WAITING ON THE CDC CONFIRMATION FOR THAT, BUT IT LOOKS AS IF THAT IS THE TREND THAT IS HAPPENING. SO, OVER THE PAST YEARS, THE AVERAGE HAS BEEN ABOUT FIVE FOXES THAT ARE REPORTED AND TESTED POSITIVE FOR RABIES. THIS RECENT YEAR IT WAS IN THE DOUBLE DIGITS, SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE TRANSMITTER OF RABIES IN OUR LOCAL AREA MAY BE FOXES AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING VACCINATIONS. THEY'RE A PREDATOR, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR ANIMALS ARE SAFE, ESPECIALLY IN THE WESTERN REGIONS, THEY TEND TO BE RANCH DOGS AND FARM DOGS. SO WE WANT THEM TO HAVE A HEALTHY OUTCOME AFTER ANY EXPOSURE. >> YOU SAID FOXES ABOUT SEVEN TIMES. AND I WOULD LIKE TO PLEAD WITH THE COMMUNITY NOT TO SEE THIS AS A GREEN LIGHT TO START SHOOTING FOXES BECAUSE IT'S NOT RIGHT. IT'S NOT FAIR. IT'S NOT ACCURATE. AND IT'S PROBABLY ILLEGAL. >> RIGHT. >> OKAY? SO, PLEASE, WE'RE WORKING ON IT AS A GOVERNMENT. PLEASE DO NOT START HUNTING FOXES. YOU'RE GOING TO DISRUPT THE BALANCE, THE ECOSYSTEM, AND WE DON'T NEED THAT. THEY ARE, HONESTLY, USUALLY, NOT THE BIGGEST CARRIERS, SO DON'T GO SHOOTING FOXES. >> THE OTHER THING I WOULD ADD THE DROP BAITS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING USED BY USDA AND DSHS, ONE OF THE OTHER ASPECTS IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE PLANNING AND PROCESS THAT THEY'VE USED IN THE PAST TO CREATE THAT BARRIER ALONG THE U.S. BORDER, THEY'VE ACTUALLY, OVER THE PAST PROBABLY TWO YEARS, EXTENDED THAT TO CREATE -- TO ATTEMPT TO CREATE A BORDER BETWEEN US AND NEW MEXICO AS WELL. FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT TO MATTHEW'S POINT, THE MAIN IN GENERAL, WELL, IN OUR PORTION OF THE U.S. , IS FOX. AND THERE'S A NEW VARIANT THEY'VE IDENTIFIED IN [02:40:04] NEW MEXICO, AND THOSE INFECTED WITH THAT VARIANT, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY RESPOND THAT GREAT TO THE DROP BAITS THAT ARE BEING USED. SO, I KNOW THERE'S RESEARCH OUT THERE GOING INTO TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT, BUT WE ARE SEEING MORE IN THE FOX POPULATION HERE. THAT'S JUST WHAT IT IS. >> SO, WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY, II PALS AND HILL COUNTRY ALLIANCE FOR HELPING US GET THIS RESPONSE OUT THERE VERY QUICKLY. WE'LL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE COURT AND WE'RE HOPING TO SCHEDULE A FEW MORE OF THESE CLINICS IN PRECINCT 1 AND 2 AND AS A COUNTY AS A WHOLE, ALWAYS GIVING THAT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO GET THE MOST EQUITABLE OUTCOMES. >> MATTHEW, CAN I JUST REAL QUICK QUESTION? THE $600 FOR, YOU KNOW, EACH CLINIC, HOW MANY WILL THAT VACCINATE? HOW MANY ANIMALS? >> SO, PALS, AS A NOTARY NPROFIT, IS ABLE TO GET THE VACCINES AT A DISCOUNTED RATE OR SOMETIMES IN THE INSTANCE WITH HILL COUNTRY, THEY WERE ABLE TO -- NOT HILL COUNTRY, ANOTHER LOCAL VETERINARY OFFICE WAS ABLE TO GET IT FOR FREE. SO, REALLY, WHAT THIS IS PAYING FOR IS A LOT OF THETHE RENDERED BY THE VETERINARIAN AND THE STAFF ASSOCIATED WITH IT VERSUS A QUANTITATIVE AMOUNT. I HAVE WRITTEN DOWN, ACTUALLY, THIS PAST WEEKEND, THEY GAVE OUTOUT 82 RABIES VACCINES TO DOGS AND 36 RABIES VACCINES TO CATS THIS PAST SATURDAY. IT WAS A HUGE TURNOUT FOR THE EVENT. AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT TONIGHT'S EVENT IN DRIPPING SPRINGS >> WONDERFUL. >> WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RABIES, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, TOO, THE CLINICS THEY'RE PUTTING ON ARE ALSO MICROCHIPPING CLINICS. WE'RE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SERVICES, INCLUDING THE RABIES VACCINE, BUT THAT'S ONLY ONE OF THE SERVICES THAT THESE CLINICS ARE PROVIDING. >> THERE YOU GO. IF NOTHING ELSE? PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER SMITH. COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. AND IF I DIDN'T SAY IT AGAIN, OR IF IT HASN'T BEEN SAID [K.5. Discussion and possible action regarding the reassignment of the Juvenile Diversion Coordinator, slot 001, from the Justice of the Peace, Place 5 Office to the Justice of the Peace, Place 2-2 Office effective January 16, 2026 and amend the budget accordingly. COHEN/BRYANT/MENDOZA] ENOUGH, MATTHEW, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THAT FRONT. >> THANK YOU. >> I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN K-5-DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE REASSIGNMENT OF THE JUVENILE DIVERSION COORDINATOR, SLOT 011, FROM THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PLACE 5 OFFICE TO THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PLACE 2-2 OFFICE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 16, 2026, AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, ERIC, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. THIS AGENDA ITEM IS TO MOVE THE DIVERSION COORDINATOR TO JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PLACE 2. THIS POSITION IS ONE THAT TRAVELS A LOT, SO THERE IS MORE OF A WORKLOAD IN JUSTICE OF THE PEACE 2. AND SO, GEOGRAPHICALLY, IT MAKES MORE SENSE FOR US TO MOVE THE POSITION ALONG WITH ANY EQUIPMENT TIED TO THE POSITION AS WELL. >> AND THE CONSTABLES AND JPS ARE GOOD WITH THIS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON? >> YES. >> PERFECT, GOOD. ALL GOOD. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER SMITH. [K.6. Discussion and possible action to authorize Facilities and Resource Management to replace the existing concrete patio located at the AMVETS Building in Kyle with a new ADA accessible patio and ramp in the amount of $6,100.00 and amend the budget accordingly. HAMMER/T.CRUMLEY] COMMISSIONER HAMMER. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. K-6. >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE FACILITIES AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TO REPLACE THE EXISTING CONCRETE PATIO LOCATED AT THE AMVETS BUILDING IN KYLE WITH A NEW ADA ACCESSIBLE PATIO AND RAMP IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,100 AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> HI. DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. WE HEARD FROM TWO OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT UTILIZE THAT FACILITY. THIS IS REPAIRING THAT VERY PATIO THEY WERE DISCUSSING. >> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD PRICE. WHAT'S THE FOOTPRINT, SQUARE FEE? >> I'M SORRY. >> BALLPARK. TEN BY TEN? >> IT'S PRETTY LARGE. >> THAT'S A GREAT PRICE. I'M GLAD. >> WELL, YEAH. >> WE GOT FOUR QUOTES SKBRKS IT WAS DEFINITELY THE LOWEST. >> I'M FEELING GRATEFUL, BECAUSE SOMETIMES I SEE STUFF GO THROUGH HERE AND I'M LIKE, OH, THAT'S AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY. AND THEN, I SEE STUFF LIKE THIS AND I'M LIKE, WONDERFUL. >> STEPHANIE HUNT WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY IN OUR CONCRETE CONTRACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO UTILIZE THIS LOWER CONTRACT. >> WELL DONE. STEPHANIE, ANYTHING ELSE TO CONTRIBUTE? ANYTHING ELSE HERE, COMMISSIONERS? >> IT DEFINITELY IS A PROBLEM. SO, I MEAN, GOING OUT TO THE LOCATION, IT'S AN ISSUE. IT'S NICE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. >> WELL SAID. COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> I THINK IT'S GREAT. MY QUESTION IS, DOES THIS BRING THEM INTO COMPLIANCE WITH ADA TO BE USED AS A POLLING LOCATION SHOULD WE NEED IT? >> I THOUGHT THAT TOO. >> THERE'S NO WAY. >> IT'S PROBABLY TOO SMALL. >> VERY OFF FROM BEING ADA COMPLIANT. >> THE LAST TIME I WAS IN THAT BUILDING, IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO FALL DOWN. >> STILL IS ABOUT TO. >> BUT HOW MUCH -- IT'S LIKE TWO ACRES. IT SETS ON VETERANS DRIVE. [02:45:05] IN THE FUTURE, MAYBE WE CAN BUILD A VETERANS BUILDING IN KYLE TO ICE THAT AREA. >> THE THING ABOUT THIS CONCRETE THAT'S KIND OF NICE IS WE DIDN'T -- WE HAVEN'T MOVED FORWARD WITH ANY INTERIOR RENOVATIONS JUST BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE OPENING A WHOLE CAN OF WORMS THERE. SO, THIS IS GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL FOR THEM FOR SURE. >> BEAUTIFUL. >> IT'S A 400-SQUARE-FOOT PATIO. >> THANK YOU, TAMMY, FOR THAT. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, [K.11. Discussion and possible action to execute a contract between Hays County and Certified Arbor Care in the amount of $23,031.00 for the assessment and removal of trees located in an easement owned by Hays County within the Trails Subdivision in Precinct 2. COHEN/A.JONES/HUNT] FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER SMITH. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WE'RE ON TO 11. >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND CERTIFIED ARBOR CARECARE IN THE OF $23,031 FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND REMOVAL OF TREES LOCATED IN AN EASEMENT OWNED BY HAYS COUNTY WITHIN THE TRAILS SUBDIVISION IN PRECINCT 2. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. COMMISSIONER, KMIG ELSE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? >> THIS IS TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT I WILL LET ERIN DO A DEEPER EXPLANATION OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. >> AARON? >> YES, AARON JONES, TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR. >> WILL YOU PLEASE TURN YOUR MIC TOWARDS YOU? IT'S VERY SENSITIVE. WE WON'T HEAR YOU ONLINE UNLESS IT'S FACING YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. AARON JONES, TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR. THIS PROJECT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP TO OUR ATTENTION. IT'S ACTUALLY A PROPERTY THAT WAS ACQUIRED THROUGH, I BELIEVE, A TAX LIEN, THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY. IT'S ACTUALLY WITHIN THE CITY OF KYLE. IT'S AN EASEMENT. WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION, IT WAS CODE ENFORCEMENT, CITY OF KYLE BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT WE OWNED IT. >> THAT'S A BAD LOOK. >> WELL, IT WAS A SHOCK. SO, THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY, WE WENT OUT TO ASSESS IT. THE COMPLAINT WAS THERE WAS A LOT OF HACKBERRY TREES, OLD TREES ALONG THIS EASEMENT THAT ARE HANGING OVER THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES AND THERE'S ROUGHLY ABOUT 17 ADJACENT PROPERTIES. IT WAS A SAFETY RISK FOR THEM. WE WORKED WITH JORDAN'S OFFICE, WITH COUNSEL, LOOKING AT ALL OUR OPTIONS HERE. WHAT WE'VE COME TO THE DECISION OF, SINCE WE'VE GOT -- IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS ARBORISTS GO OUT AND JUST TAKE A LOOK. THIS COMPANY IS GOING TO GO OUT, DO A REPORT OF ALL THE TREES, ASSESS EACH TREE, GIVE US THE REPORT BACK, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A COMMUNITY REACHOUT WITH COMMISSIONER COHEN, TALK WITH EACH OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THIS PROPERTY, PRIOR TO ANY OF THE REMOVAL, AND THEN ONCE WE HAVE THAT MEETING, WE'LL GO IN, THEY'LL REMOVE THE TREES, THE EASEMENT WILL BE SAFE. NO LONGER WILL THERE BE ANY HAZARDOUS TREES THERE. THEN, THE OTHER END OF THAT IS WE HAVE A PROPERTY THERE IN THE TRAILS SUBDIVISION THAT RUNS IN BETWEEN LOTS. >> HOW MANY -- WHAT'S THE SIDE OF IT? >> EASEMENT'S ROUGHLY -- IT'S 12 TO 1,300 FEET LONG. IT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT 20 FOOT WIDE. >> SO, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT. >> IT'S REALLY NOT ANYTHING THAT'S USEFUL FOR ROAD- WISE ANYWAY. THIS IS ONE THAT WE SOMETIMES GET THAT KIND OF SURPRISES TRANSPORTATION, AND THAT'S WHY WE ALSO REACHED OUT WITH SCOTT ON FUNDING OF IT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A NORMAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECT SO WE LEAVE SCOTT CAN KIND OF GO TO THE -- WHERE WE'RE GETTING THE FUNDING FOR THIS. >> ALSO, MAYBE WE CAN ENTERTAIN THE CONVERSATION TO SEE IF THIS IS SOMETHING KYLE WOULD WANT TO BUY FROM US IF WE DON'T HAVE A USE FOR IT. >> WE DID, TALKING WITH COUNSEL, WE'VE TALKED OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS. BEING THAT IT IS AN EASEMENT, DIFFERENT OPTIONS THERE. >> GOOD. >> I WOULD SAY I SAT DOWN WITH OUR GIS SERVICES ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. BECAUSE I'VE RUN ACROSS PROBABLY, MINIMUM, A DOZEN PROPERTIES LIKE THIS IN MY PRECINCT SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE. THAT WE JUST TRULY DIDN'T KNOW WE OWNED. THAT HAD BEEN DEDICATED AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER. AND THEY -- THERE'S -- THEY'RE VARIED. AND I SAY THAT, I'VE FOUND ONE THAT WAS 30 FOOT WIDE BY 150 YARDS. I MEAN, THEY'RE COMPLETELY, I WOULD SAY, ALL BUT UNUSABLE PROPERTIES, AND I WOULD PROPOSE, AND I'M GOING TO BRING BACK AN AGENDA ITEM TO THE COURT. I'VE ASKED OUR GIS SERVICES TO IDENTIFY ANY KNOWN PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE LIKE THAT. LOOK AT HOW WE COULD SURPLUS THOSE PROPERTIES, IF THEY HAVE BEEN DEDICATED FOR TRANSPORTATION, AND THEN MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE TO HAVE A -- TO HAVE -- TO LOOK AT GETTING THEM, IF WE WOULD REQUIRE THE OTHER -- THE POSSIBLE PURCHASERS TO SURVEY OR TO DO THE SURVEY AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS. BUT OFFERING THOSE TO ANY -- TO EITHER THE ADJACENT [02:50:04] LANDOWNERS FIRST AND THEN POSSIBLY SELLING OR IF IT'S WITHIN A MUNICIPALITY, SELLING IT TO A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY OR SELLING THOSE AND PUTTING THE PROCEEDS BACK INTO TRANSPORTATION FOR FUTURE PROJECTS. >> ABSOLUTELY. A GREAT IDEA BECAUSE IT'S DOING NOTHING FOR NO ONE AND WHEN YOU GET SOMEONE OWNING IT, THEY WILL LOVE IT AND SQUEEZE IT AND HOLD IT. >> THIS IS SOMETHING WE SEE FROM TIME TO TIME. SOMETIMES THESE KIND OF SURPRISE US LIKE THIS ONE. SOMETHING WE WEREN'T AWARE OF WHEN IT HAPPENS. I KNOW JORDAN'S OFFICE IS TALKING WITH COUNSEL. THEY'RE WORKING WITH WHEN THESE ACQUISITIONS HAPPEN THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE NOTIFICATION TO US, SO WHEN WE GET BROUGHT INTO IT, WE'RE A LITTLE MORE AWARE. >> MOST DEFINITELY. I REALLY DO LIKE YOUR IDEA, COMMISSIONER. IT'S SOUND, COMMON SENSE, THAT YOU'VE LIVED IN A WORLD WHERE YOU'VE SEEN ENOUGH COMMON SENSE, REALLY- LIFE APPLICATIONS TO WHERE YOU'RE DRAWING FROM IT, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT. >> WELL, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WE HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S ONE -- WE HAD A NEIGHBOR CALL AND SAY, HEY, THIS BUSINESS HAS BUILT A BUILDING ON Y'ALL'S PROPERTY NEXT TO ME, BECAUSE I HAD TO GIVE HALF OF MY -- HALF OF THE RIGHT-OF- WAY TO Y'ALL AND THEY HAD TO GIVE HALF, AND THERE'S NOW A BUILDING ON IT. OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND NONE OF OUR -- I MEAN, IT SHOWS ON THE COUNTY TAX ROLLS THAT IT BELONGS TO THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS. THERE WAS NO WAY TO IDENTIFY IT UNTIL WE LOOKED AT THE DEED RECORDS, AND SURE ENOUGH, WE OWNED THAT PROPERTY. AND THERE ARE PROPERTIES LIKE THAT ALL OVER THE COUNTY. WHAT I'VE ASKED GIS TO DO IS POSSIBLY NOW THAT WE'RE DIGITIZING, WE'RE ALMOST THROUGH DIGITIZING EVERYTHING IN THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, TO POSSIBLY FIGURE OUT A WAY TO USE A.I. TO GO THROUGH THOSE DIGITIZED RECORDS TO IDENTIFY ANY DEDICATION TO THE COUNTY AND THEN MAP THOSE FOR US. >> GREAT IDEA. GREAT HOUSEKEEPING. ANYTHING ELSE, COMMISSIONER? >> I THINK SCOTT WAS GOING TO IDENTIFY -- >> SCOTT, I SAW YOU LEANING IN. >> BASED OFF OF AARON'S CONVERSATION, I JUST WANTED TO IDENTIFY THE FUNDING. ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS SCOTT WOODLAND, BUDGET OFFICER. DUE TO IT NOT BEING A DISTINCTLY ROAD AND BRIDGE, WE TOOK IT FROM A ONE- TIME COST COUNTYWIDE ACCOUNT. >> HOW MUCH IS THAT AMOUNT? >> THE AMOUNT IS $23,031. >> THANK YOU, SIR. $23,000 IS GOING TO COME OUT BUT IT'S GOING TO INCLUDE A SURVEY OF THE REST OF THE SPACE, NOT JUST TRIMMING BRANCHES FOR THE LISTENERS. >> WELL, IT'LL INCLUDE THE ASSESSMENT OF THE TREES. THAT WAY, WE'VE GOT AN ABILITY TO SAY, THESE TREES ARE UNSAFE, WHICH ONES WOULD BE -- NEED TO BE REMOVED, AND THEN THAT WAY, WE CAN SPEAK WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THOSE THAT ARE÷÷ARE AFFECTED. >> HOW MANY TREES ARE THERE? ? >> A BUNCH. >> PROBABLY A HUNDRED-PLUS LARGE OLD HACKBERRY TREES. >> MORE PEOPLE LISTEN TO THIS THAN YOU REALIZE. I WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT PAYING SOMEONE $23,000 TO GO TRIM SOME TREES. >> WELL, AND THAT'S INTERESTING. WE -- IN THE BACKUP, WE HAVE THE THREE QUOTES. THIS IS, BY FAR, THE -- VERY COST EFFECTIVE. I THINK WE HAD ONE THAT WAS OVER $100,000. >> HONESTLY, AARON, THIS IS REALLY GOOD. AND I WILL JUST SAY, I'LL TAKE THIS HALF MOMENT TO SAY THIS VERY CONCERN GETS BROUGHT UP TO MY ON THE COURTHOUSE SQUARE HERE ON THE GROUNDS BECAUSE OUT OF THE BLUE, DEAD BRANCHES FALL. LUCKILY, THEY HAVEN'T FALLEN ON ANYONE. AND I HAVE ASKED IN THE PAST FOR THEM TO GET THINNED OUT AND CLEANED UP. BUT WE'VE HAD A LITTLE RESISTANCE, AND I GET IT. THEY'RE OLD TREES. BUT I THINK WE STILL NEED TO MAKE THAT ASSESSMENT SINCE WE'RE IN THIS SPACE. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE -- >> THAT'S WHY, JUDGE, WE KIND OF REALLY WANTED TO MOVE ON THIS, BECAUSE WE KNEW FEBRUARY WAS COMING AND THAT SEEMS TO TEND TO BRING THE COLDER TEMPERATURES. >> EXACTLY RIGHT. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN. [K.12. Discussion and possible action to direct the County Administrator and Budget Director to eliminate any non-lawenforcement positions that have remained posted and unfilled for more than 300 days. BECERRA] >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER SMITH. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. K-12. >> DISCUSS AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND BUDGET DIRECTOR TO ELIMINATE ANY NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS THAT HAVE REMAINED POSTED AND UNFILLED FOR MORE THAN 300 DAYS. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. AND THIS WAS INTENDED TO DO HOUSEKEEPING, AS YOU ARE LEARNING, FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, WE ARE ALREADY STARTING THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE. WE JUST FINISHED ONE, AND WE'RE ALREADY STAGING FOR THE NEXT ONE. AND WITH EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING IN THIS AGENDA, FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS A LOT OF STAGING AND PLANNING SO WE CAN HAVE A MORE PREDICTABLE, MORE UNDERSTANDABLE PROCESS AND BUDGET BECAUSE A LEAN BUDGET IS EASIER ON TAXPAYERS WHEN IT COMES TIME TO PAY THE BILL. WHO WOULD LIKE TO START THAT OFF? CANDICE, SCOTT? ADDITIONAL FRAMING? IT'S JUST HOUSEKEEPING. [02:55:04] >> JUST AS CONTEXT, BEFORE VICKY LEFT, SHE GOT A REQUEST FROM YOUR OFFICE TO OBVIOUSLY PROVIDE THE COUNTYWIDE VACANCIES. THIS LIST IS AS OF NOVEMBER 30. AND PER YOUR REQUEST, SHE WANTED IT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE COURT TO DISCUSS AND GIVE STAFFSTAFF GUIDANCE. SO, STAFF IS READY TO DO WHATEVER THE COURT APPROVES. >> BEAUTIFUL. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, YOU UNDERSTAND? AND SO, THIS IS THE POINT. THE VERY FIRST STEP, IT'S WRITTEN IN THE AGENDA THIS WAY, NOT INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S THE FIRST PART. THE SECOND PART IS, THIS IS FOR POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR SO LONG, AND WE ALREADY KNOW WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT OUR DEPARTMENTS, AND IF ANYBODY ACTUALLY NEEDS SOMETHING THAT OUT OF THE BLUE DECIDED TO GET FILLED, AS WE SAW JUST A FEW AGENDA ITEMS AGO, WE'RE HERE FOR THEM. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IT'S GOOD HOUSEKEEPING SO WE CAN BUTTON DOWN THE HATCH IN OUR FUTURE PLANNING AND NOT LEAN ON POTENTIAL SLUSH FUND MENTALITIES. >> AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, JUDGE. I GUESS I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, WELL, AND I HONE AARON, YOU KNOW, WILL MAYBE SPEAK TO THIS, SINCE HE'S HERE. HAVE WE GIVEN OUR DEPARTMENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS LIST AND GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHERE THEY'RE AT ON THIS? YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST. SOME OF THESE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN OPEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN FILLED. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT HAMPERING THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THESE DEPARTMENTS, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND IF THEY'VE BEEN OPEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME, ALMOST A YEAR. YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND GO AHEAD AND TAKE SOME ACTION. WHENEVER IT'S APPROPRIATE, JUDGE, I'D LIKE AARON -- >> I DO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I DID DOUBLE CHECK AND I ASKED THAT DEPARTMENT HEADS WERE REACHED OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE FELT MARGINALIZED OR SQUEEZED OUT BECAUSE AARON, I KNOW YOU FEEL SUPPORTED BY THIS COURT. >> AARON JONES, TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR. I SAW THE AGENDA FIRST ON FRIDAY. I KNOW RECENTLY I HAVE HAD A FEW CONVERSATIONS WITH ERIC AND CANDICE. NOTHING TO THIS EFFECT OF THE POSITIONS. WHAT I WANTED TO SPEAK A LITTLE ABOUT WITH LOOKING AT IT, AND I REVIEWED WHEN I GOT INTO THIS JUST TO GO OVER OUR DETAILS. SO, WE'RE -- WITH THE TRANSPORTATION, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN OTHER DEPARTMENTS. WITH OUR OPERATIONS, ON THE MAINTENANCE SIDE, WE HAVE OPERATORS ONE THROUGH FOUR, WHICH THERE'S A PROGRESSION THROUGH THOSE OPERATORS. IN THE PAST, AND BACK PRE- COVID, WE WERE ALMOST WITHIN PROBABLY TWO POSITIONS OF BEING COMPLETELY FILLED, AND THEN COVID HIT, AND THEN ECONOMY, LOSING EMPLOYEES, THAT. WE'VE ACTUALLY GOTTEN TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY STARTING TO REBUILD, AND WE'VE ALSO GOT OUR CDL TRAINING PROGRAM. THE BIGGEST POSITION, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE, IS OPERATOR 3S, WHICH IS A PRETTY SKILLED POSITION. BECAUSE IT TIES IN CDL DRIVERS PLUS THE OPERATING OF EQUIPMENT. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 14 STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE WITHIN OR INSIDE OF OUR CDL TRAINING PROGRAM THAT ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF BEING READIED FOR PROMOTION. IF WE CUT THESE POSITIONS OUT, IT WILL PREVENT THAT PROMOTION LEVEL. SO, WHAT WE'VE KIND OF BUILT IN THE DEPARTMENT IS THE ABILITY TO ADVANCE THROUGH THOSE OPERATOR ONE, TWO, AND THREE. OPERATOR ONES AND TWOS ARE TYPICALLY A -- AN ENTRY LEVEL WITHOUT A CDL, SO IT GIVES US THAT ABILITY. RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT NINE 2 S THAT ARE READY EITHER HAVE GOT THEIR PERMITS OR ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THEIR PERMITS THAT WE COULD BE PROMOTING THOSE INTO THE 3S. AND WE HAVE SOME 1S -- WE HAVE FIVE 1S THAT ARE READY, THAT ARE IN THE SAME PROCESS WITH THEIR CDL. WE'VE KIND OF PRESSED TO GET THIS. I WOULD SAY I SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL ON SOME OF THE STAFFING ON THIS END OF IT. AND I'M CONCERNED THAT IF WE WERE TO GO OUT, DROP THESE POSITIONS, THAT IT WOULD DEMORALIZE THOSE THAT ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO GET THAT CDL BECAUSE THAT'S A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE. THEY'RE ALREADY -- MOST OF THESE OPERATORS ARE VERY GOOD AT THEIR JOB AS FAR AS RUNNING EQUIPMENT AND THAT. IT'S JUST GETTING THEM TO THAT NEXT STEP. >> I'LL MAKE YOU A DEAL. WE HAVE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR OVER 2,000 DAYS. SORRY. OVER THERE. IT'S JUST THE WAY THE SOUND CARRIES. DON'T WORRY. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR OVER [03:00:02] 2,000 DAYS, AND SO HERE'S WHAT I WILL PROPOSE TO YOU. THOSE POSITIONS THAT YOU HAVE IN THE HOPPER, WE WANT TO FULLY SUPPORT YOU. WE DON'T WANT TO HAMPER TRANSPORTATION, NOT ONE IOTA. I WANT TO DO ADMINISTRATIVE HOUSEKEEPING THAT IS USEFUL AND PRODUCTIVE. IF YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE MOVING THROUGH A TRAINING TO TAKE ONE OF THESE SPOTS, LET US KNOW. WE'RE NOT GOING TO TOUCH THEM. >> WELL, THAT'S -- THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE WE'RE AT. AND WE'VE, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, THREE OF THESE POSITIONS THAT ARE OPEN, WE'VE INTERVIEWED LAST WEEK, AND THIS WEEK, WE WERE GOING TO SUBMIT TO ERIC FOR PROMOTION OF THOSE. SO, WE'RE IN THAT PROCESS. THERE'S TWO POSITIONS THERE. THE ONE IS THE ENGINEER THAT JUST THE PAST COURT WE CAME IN TO REGRADE AND WE JUST POSTED IT. >> HEAD COUNT NUMBERS SO WE COULD SUBTRACT THEM? >> WE CAN GO THROUGH AND WORK WITH ERIC AND CANDICE ON THOSE. THERE'S ANOTHER ITEM THAT TALKING WITH STAFF TODAY, WE'VE HAD PROMOTIONS IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS OR SO, AND WHEN THEY DO THEIR PROMOTIONS, THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE POSITIONING GRADE AND DATE OF LAST FILLED, SO WE PROBABLY HAD PROMOTIONS THAT FILLED POSITIONS THAT WERE LESS DAYS. IT'S JUST BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE, WE MIGHT HAVE MISSED THAT. SO, NOW THAT WE KNOW LOOKING AT THAT, AND THAT'S WHAT I DIRECTED STAFF THIS MORNING, WHEN WE DO THESE PROMOTIONS, MAKE SURE WHEN WE PUT THEM IN THE SLOT, THAT THEY'RE THE OLDEST SLOTS. THAT WAY, WE CAN GET THOSE OFF THE BOOKS. SO, THERE'S A LOT OF ITEMS. WE ALSO FOUND THAT THERE'S THREE OF THESE POSITIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILLED. THEY WERE IN THE OPERATOR SIDE. >> VERY GOOD. CANDICE, IT SOUNDS LIKE, WITH TRANSPORTATION, WHY DON'T WE JUST, AS A WHOLE AGENDA ITEM UNFOLDS, WHY DON'T WE TABLE IT AND LET PEOPLE HAVE A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH IT AND KNOW THAT THE AIM IS, NUMBER ONE, NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT. NUMBER TWO, WE FULLY SUPPORT YOU. YOU KNOW WE DO. AS A COURT, WE FULLY SUPPORT YOU. BUT WE GOT TO CLEAN OFF THE DEAD LIMBS FROM OUR BUDGET SYSTEM. >> OH, NO DOUBT. AND LIKE I SAID, WE'VE WORKED WITH CANDICE AND ERIC ON GETTING THESE GOING. WE DO HAVE A PLAN, AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS I KNOW CANDICE AND I HAD SPOKEN AA LITTLE ON FRIDAY AT A MEETING THAT WE WERE AT. WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING TOWARDS THAT BUDGET CYCLE. WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT NOW, AND WHERE WE FEEL WE'LL BE BY THAT TIME ROLLS AROUND. >> PERFECT. >> WE MAY BE NEEDING TO EXPAND WITH SOME OF OUR POSITIONS. >> IF YOU CAN FILL THEM, GREAT. SO, OKAY WITH YOU GUYS IF WE TABLE THIS FOR NOW SO WE CAN GIVE THEM MORE TIME TO DISCUSS? TABLE THIS FOR NOW. PERFECT, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, AARON, FOR WORKING WITH US ON THIS EFFORT. OKAY, LET'S GO NOW. >> JUDGE, BEFORE WE -- IF WE TABLE IT, THAT'S FINE, BUT WE OPEN IT UP AND THERE WAS TIME FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR DISCUSSION ON THIS. I DO WANT TO HAVE A SHORT DISCUSSION ON IT. >> OH YES. >> LOOKING, AGAIN, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE UPDATED NUMBERS ON WHAT THESE SLOTS ARE. BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS. THE REASON BEHIND A NUMBER OF THESE -- AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIST THAT WAS PROVIDED AS OF THE END OF NOVEMBER, THERE'S ONLY THREE AGENCIES THAT HAVE ANY POSITIONS THAT ARE OVER 300 DAYS. ONE OF THEM IS A BRAND- NEW AGENCY THAT WAS JUST STARTED IN OCTOBER. AND THERE WAS NOT A DIRECTOR FOR THAT AGENCY, AND THAT'S OUR PARKS AND REC. THOSE POSITIONS WERE HELD OPEN SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT WHEN CERTAIN ITEMS, SPECIFICALLY AT SENTINEL PEAK AND OTHER PLACES, WOULD COME ONLINE SO WE COULD HIRE UP POSITIONS IN ORDER TO FILL THOSE, AND I THINK I MAY BE MISTAKEN HERE, BUT HAVE ANY OF THOSE POSITIONS BEEN HIRED SINCE THEN? ARE WE STILL WAITING ON THOSE FACILITIES SO COME ONLINE IN ORDER TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS? I THINK THAT'S A VERY EXCEPTIONAL CASE. YOU STATED NOW VERY PUBLICLY THAT THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THAT'S PET SERVICES, ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO, IF YOU TAKE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OFF OF THERE, BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO HOLD ALL OF THOSE POSITIONS TO BRING BACK OUR PRISONERS AS WELL AS BOLSTER OUR PATROL AS WE HAVE PEOPLE RETIRE OR AS WE HAVE PEOPLE COME ON. IT'S REALLY TARGETED AT TRANSPORTATION. BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY OTHER AGENCY ON HERE. THAT HAS ANY POSITION EVEN CLOSE TO THAT. WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE TRANSPORTATION POSITIONS, THERE'S SOME CERTAIN THINGS IN THE LAST TWO BUDGETS, SPECIFICALLY, THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO ADDRESS. I THINK IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO THAT WE HAD TO DO SPECIFIC BONUSES FOR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE ARE IN SUCH A HIGH- GROWTH AREA. WE ARE GETTING HAMMERED. I MEAN, A PERFECT EXAMPLE IS OUR CONCRETE CREW. I THINK IT WAS TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO. THE SUPERVISOR WAS HIRED BY A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. WITHIN A WEEK, WE DIDN'T HAVE A CONCRETE CREW, BECAUSE HE TOOK THE WHOLE CREW WITH HIM. WE ARE COMPETING OUT THERE WITH PRIVATE [03:05:03] CONSTRUCTION, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE JOBS IN THIS, AND I DON'T ENVY AARON BECAUSE IT IS THE HARDEST ONE TO DO. STATUTORILY, WHATEVER MONEY WE PULL OUT OF THOSE POSITIONS HAS TO STAY IN TRANSPORTATION. WE CAN'T MOVE IT ANYWHERE ELSE. AND SO, I WANT TO GIVE AARON THE SUPPORT, AND I WANT TO GIVE OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT THE SUPPORT TO HAVE THE FLUIDITY THAT THEY NEED IN THAT AGENCY. THEY'VE PROPOSED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS OR, I GUESS, TWO FISCAL YEARS AGO, IF YOU REMEMBER, AN ADDITIONAL CREW, A COUNTYWIDE CREW TO FULLY STAFF. AND IF WE HAD THESE POSITIONS FILLED, THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE. I THINK THE BIGGEST DETRIMENT THAT WE HAVE, AND AS WE START TO LOOK AT THIS, AND IF IT WERE TO COME BACK IN THE FUTURE, IS A NUMBER OF THESE POSITIONS, I KNOW FOR A FACT NEED, LIKE, THE REASON THAT WE HAVEN'T FILLED THESE POSITIONS AND THE ENGINEER POSITION WE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK OR TWO WEEKS AGO IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. THE SALARY SURVEY NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE WE MAKE THIS DECISION. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE ON THAT, I FULLY BELIEVE, ON THAT ENGINEER POSITION, WE'LL SEE HOW MANY APPLICANTS WE GET, BUT IN SPEAKING TO DIFFERENT FIRMS, AN ENGINEE GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE IS GOING TO MAKE MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE OFFERING FOR THAT JOB. AND SO, AS WE LOOK AT THESE POSITIONS, I CAN TELL YOU, I'VE SPOKE TO A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND THEY WEREN'T -- THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS UNTIL IT WAS ON THE AGENDA. HAVING A REALLY HARD SITDOWN AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT THOSE POSITIONS, SEVERAL OF THEM WOULDN'T HAVE ANYONE, ANYTHING ON THIS LIST, IF THEY HAD GAMED THE SYSTEM OR JUST PUT THAT PERSON IN A DIFFERENT POSITION NUMBER. BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO IS SAY, I DON'T KNOW, SAY AARON HAS SOMEONE, OPERATOR 1, THAT LEAVES TOMORROW. THE NEXT PERSON HE HIRES FOR OPERATOR 1, HE WOULD HAVE PUT INTO THAT SAME POSITION NUMBER. THERE MIGHT BE TWO OTHER POSITIONS OUT THERE WITH A DIFFERENT POSITION NUMBER BUT IT'S STILL AN OPERATOR 1. IF HE WANTED TO, THAT NEW HIRE, HE WOULD PUT INTO ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN OPEN FOR 50 DAYS. >> THAT'S WHAT HE SAID, YEAH. >> IT'S THE SAME WAY IN EACH ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS. >> CORRECT. >> AND SO I JUST -- IF WE PASS A POLICY, I THINK WE SHOULD PASS A POLICY, BUT WE NEED TO ADDRESS EACH ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALLY AND HAVE A REAL -- HAVE A REAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT IMPACT IS AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THESE POSITIONS, THE REASON THEY'VE BEEN OPEN FOR SO LONG, IS BECAUSE THEY TRULY ARE UNDERPAID. >> OKAY. WE'RE TABLING THIS, BUT DOES ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER WANT TO ADD? >> DIDN'T WE RAISE THE ENGINEERING POSITION SALARY? WHAT DID WE RAISE IT TO, IF E DID? >> 98. >> YES, WE REGRADED IT FROM, I BELIEVE, 126 TO A 130. SO, TIME IS GOING TO TELL. I MEAN, THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE DISCUSSED IN LAST COURT. IT'S NEW POSTING. SEE HOW THAT -- WHAT WE DID FOR THAT. >> I MEAN, I -- I DON'T THINK ENGINEERS ARE COMING OUT OF COLLEGE MAKING $98,000. THEY MIGHT BE. >> THAT WAS JUST A BRAND- NEW DECISION WE DID TWO COURTS AGO. WE'RE TABLING THIS. AND WE WILL BRING IT BACK. I DON'T THINK WE CAN WAIT FOR [K.13. Discussion and possible action to authorize the County Judge to execute and submit of a letter of local support to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Public Transportation Division on behalf of the Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) for its FY26 Coordinated Call for Projects grant applications. BECERRA] A SALARY SURVEY TO DO SOME ADMINISTRATIVE HOUSEKEEPING. PLEASE OPEN 13. >> K-13. DISCUSS AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE HAYS COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE ANDAND A LETTER OF LOCAL SUPPORT TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, TXDOT, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DIVISION, ON BEHALF OF THE CAPITAL AREA RURAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, CARTS, FOR ITS FY26 COORDINATED CALL FOR PROJECTS GRANT APPLICATIONS. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WELL WRITTEN. SELF-EXPLANATORY. ANYTHING ELSE? PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER SMITH. COMMISSIONER COHEN. [K.14. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of an Agreement between Hays County and Rene Bates Auctioners, Inc. pursuant to their Buyboard Contract 708-23; approve the Purchasing Office to hold an online auction to dispose of surplus property pursuant to Texas Local Government Code 263.152 (a)(1); authorize the Purchasing Office to advertise; and to properly dispose of items that are placed in the online auction but do not sell. BECERRA/HUNT] JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. 14. >> K-14. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND RENE BATES AUCTIONEERS, INC. , PURSUANT TO THEIR BUYBOARD CONTRACT 708- 23, APPROVE THE PURCHASING OFFICEOFFICE HOLD AN ONLINE AUCTION TO DISPOSE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 263. 152 A 1, AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASING OFFICE TO ADVERTISE AND TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF ITEMS THAT ARE PLACED IN THE OFLINE AUCTION BUT NOT SELL. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE ACTIONS ON THE AGENDA TODAY TO DO SOME PRUNING AND HOUSEKEEPING AND CLEARING OUT OF THINGS. WE USE THESE GUYS EVERY YEAR AND WE'RE HAPPY WITH THEM. PLEASE [03:10:01] CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. [K.16. Discussion and possible action to approve Facilities and Resource Management to replace the failed Roof Top Unit (RTU) #5 located at the Elections/IT building with a new 12.5 Ton Rheem RTU in the amount of $20,248.06 and amend the budget accordingly. HAMMER/T.CRUMLEY] COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER COHEN. JUNG JUDGE BECERRA. >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE FACILITIES AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TO REPLACE THE FAILED ROOFTOP UNIT, RTU, NUMBER 5, LOCATED AT THE ELECTIONS/I.T. BUILDING WITH A NEW 12. 5 TOP RHEEM RTU IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,248.06 AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> MAN, WE JUST BOUGHT THAT BUILDING. THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE. I'M JUST A CHRONIC CHEAPSKATE. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD TO IT. RIGHT, TAMMY? WE'RE GOOD? THAT'S ALL IT IS. >> YES. >> YEAH. >> AND IT WAS A -- YEAH. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. [K.17. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of an Agreement between Hays County and Great Springs Project, Inc. and the submission of a grant application to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) in the amount of $425,000.00 related to a Priority Multi-Use Connectivity Study regarding the feasibility, alignment, and implementation strategies for multi-use crossing structures that promote connectivity for trail users and wildlife in certain locations in Hays County. HAMMER/FLOCKE] JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. MY DISCLAIMER, I'M JUST A CHEAPSKATE. 17. >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND GREAT PROJECT, INC. , AND THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE CAPITAL AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, CAMPO, IN THE AMOUNT OF $425,000 RELATED TO A PRIORITY MULTIUSE CONNECTIVITY STUDY REGARDING THE FEASIBILITY ALIGNMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES FOR MULTIUSE CROSSING STRUCTURES THAT PROMOTE CONNECTIVITY FOR TRAIL USERS AND WILDLIFE IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS IN HAYS COUNTY. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> SUCH A WELL WRITTEN AGENDA ITEM AND INCLUDES A DOLLAR AMOUNT. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN ADD. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER SMITH. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER COHEN. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. THAT IS THE MOST POWERFUL AGENDA ITEM WRITTEN WHEN IT IS COMPLETE FOR AN IDEA AND IT INCLUDES THE THERE ARE AMOUNT. TO TELL PEOPLE, IF IT'S IN THE BACKUP, IF YOU SEE IT IN THE BACKUP, IF YOU SEE IT IN THE BACKUP, NO ONE IS HOLDING THE BACKUP ON TV. YOU KNOW? THEY'RE WATCHING. SO, THIS IS VERY, VERY HELPFUL. [K.18. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of an Interlocal Agreement between Hays County and the City of San Marcos related to the submission of a grant application to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Orgnization (CAMPO) for the Cape Street Shared Use Path in the amount of $1,000,000.00. INGALSBE/FLOCKE] THANK YOU SO MUCH. 18. >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND THE CITY OFOF MARCOS RELATED TO THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE CAPITAL AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, CAMPO, FOR THE CAPE STREET SHARED USE PATH AND THE AMOUNT OF $1 MILLION. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> NOW, IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING, KMIRKS. >> I CAN, JUDGE. THIS WOULD BE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS AND HAYS COUNTY TO DEVELOP A SHARED USE PATH ALONG CAPE STREET AND IF WE'RE AWARDED THE FUNDS WOULD GO TO THE DESIGN COSTS, AND THERE IS A 20% MATCH, 20% LOCAL MATCH IN WHICH WE WILL SPLIT 50/50 WITH THE CITY AT A COST OF $100,000. AND SO, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A SHARED USE PATH IN THIS AREA. IT'S A VERY HEAVILY TRAVELED ROADWAY. LOT OF PEOPLE UTILIZE IT, AND I THINK THIS IS FOR SAFETY. >> 100%. AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE CONES THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. IT IS A, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER, IT IS SUCH A HIGH- USE AREA. THIS IS JUST A MAGNIFICENT MOVE. GOOD JOB. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. [K.19. Discussion and possible action to execute a resolution of support for the Hill Country Conservancy's application to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Recreational Trails grant program for construction of the Violet Crown Trail. SMITH/FLOCKE] COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER SMITH. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. >> K-19. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO EXECUTE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE HILL COUNTRY CONSERVANCYSY APPLICATION'S TO THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, CREATIONAL TRAILS GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE VIOLATE CROWN TRAIL. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. [K.20. Discussion and possible action to execute a Resolution of support for the City of Buda and Great Springs Project's joint application to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Call for Projects to study feasibility of a regional trail along Onion Creek. SMITH/FLOCKE] COMMISSIONER SMITH. COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. >> K-20. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO EXECUTE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE CITY OF BUDA AND GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT'S JOINT APPLICATION TO THE CAMPO CALL FOR PROJECTS TO STUDY FEASIBILITY OF A REGIONAL TRAIL ALONG ONION CREEK. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER COHEN. [K.21. Discussion and possible action to award and execute a contract for IFB 2026-B03 Cemetery Maintenance between Hays County and CY'Services and Landscape Solutions, LLC in the amount of $60,172.00 annually. BECERRA/T.CRUMLEY/A.JONES/HUNT] COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER SMITH. JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. 21. >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AWARD AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR IFB 2026-B03 CEMETERY MAINTENANCE BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND CY' SERVICES AND LANDSCAPE SOLUTIONS, LLC, IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,172 ANNUALLY. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT, TAMMY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING? >> PROCUREMENT. >> ALL RIGHT. ERIN, BATTER UP. GIVE US SOME BACKGROUND. >> AARON JONAS, TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. THIS IS OUR MAINTENANCE OF OUR CEMETERIES. I THINK WE -- THIS IS [03:15:01] THE SECOND TIME WE'VE COME BACK. WE'VE, I THINK, DROPPED ONE CEMETERY, WE'VE -- DID REVIEWS. HAPPY WITH WHAT'S -- WHAT WE'VE GOT. KIND OF GOING MAKE SURE, TALKING STAFF, AS WE GO THROUGH WITH THIS AGREEMENT, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S TRACKEDTRACKED KEPT -- THE TRACK INSIDE OF DOCUMENTATION AND THAT. SO WE DON'T FALL BACK INTO WHAT WE HAD PRIOR, OUR LAST CONTRACT. >> HOW ABOUT THE CONTINUITY? UNIFORMITY? ALL THE OTHER STUFF FROM THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THAT PERSPECTIVE JUST A TOUCH, STEPHANIE? >> STEPHANIE HUNT, PURCHASING AGENT. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE LAST ONE THAT WE DID? >> YES. >> OKAY. SO, I DID REACH -- SO, PHILLIPS CEMETERY WAS ORIGINALLY ON THE LIST THE DAY WE CAME TO COURT TO AWARD THAT ONE, THEY DECIDED THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE INVOLVED ANYMORE. I DID REACH OUT TO THEM PER THE COURT'S DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WAS IT THAT THEY HAD -- BECAUSE THEY REACHED OUT TO A THIRD PARTY TO DO. THEY DID EMAIL BACK AND I JUST NEED TO EMAIL IT -- I'M ASSUMING I NEED TO PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA TO SEE IF YOU GUYS ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH COVERING WHAT -- BECAUSE THEY HAD INITIALLY ASKED IF WE WOULD JUST PAY WHAT OUROUR COMPANY IS PAYING, BUT OBVIOUSLY, DIFFERENT PEOPLE SUBMIT DIFFERENT BIDS, SO I DID ASK FOR THEM TO SUBMIT KIND OF WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE PAYING THEIR CURRENT VENDOR, HOW MANY TIMES ARE THEY GOING OUT TO MOW? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE SOME GUIDELINES IN OURS OF HOW OFTEN THEY'RE GOING OUT, HOW OFTEN THEY'RE ALLOWED TO GO OUT. AND THEN JUST BRINGING THAT BACK TO COURT TO SEE IF YOU GUYS ARE WILLING TO COVER THAT COST. >> THAT'S A GREAT POINT THAT YOU'RE TAKING THAT SYSTEMIC APPROACH. THIS IS THE GRID PATTERN THAT WE USE AND WHO AND HOW WE SUPPORT OUR CEMETERIES COUNTYWIDE. SO, IF YOU HAVE GOT AN ALTERNATIVE, HOW DOES IT FALL INTO OUR CURRENTGRID SYSTEM? I THINK THAT'S PERFECT. IS IT GOING TO BE A COMPARABLE PRICE? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA YET? >> I DON'T KNOW. >> OKAY. >> AS SOON AS I HAVE THAT, HOPEFULLY I CAN BRING THAT BACK ON THE 3RD FOR Y'ALL TO MAKE A DECISION ON HOW YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH REIMBURSING THEM FOR PAYING FOR THE SERVICES THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING. >> VERY GOOD. VERY GOOD. AARON? >> I WOULD SAY JUST AS A THOUGHT FOR THE COMMISSIONERS THAT WITH THE NUMBER OF CEMETERIES THAT WE HAVE THAT WE MAINTAIN, I KNOW WITH THE PHILLIPS, GOING THAT ROUTE JUST TO BE AWARE THAT WE MAY OPEN THE DOOR FOR OTHER CEMETERIES, IF THAT. >> GREAT POINT, AARON. AARON MIGHT BE SUGGESTING, IF I COULD USE THAT WORD, STEADY THE SHIP SO WE DON'T HAVE A BUNCH OF SUBSETS. GREAT POINT. GREAT CAUTION. >> IT COULD CREATE -- I MEAN -- >> UNNECESSARY WORK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, AARON. THANK YOU, SIR. GREAT POINT. >> THE OTHER THING I WOULD ADD IS I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IF AND WHEN WE DO THAT, I BELIEVE THE COST THAT THEY CAME BACK WITH WAS LESS THAN WHAT PERP WE WERE PAYING. I MAY BE WRONG. IF WE WERE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT, BUT WE NEED SOME ASSURANCES TO MAKE SURE THAT WORK IS GETTING DONE IN SOME WAY, WHETHER THEY SUBMIT PHOTOS AFTER EACH ONE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, JUST TO ENSURE IF WE'RE PAYING FOR THIS SERVICE, THAT IT'S GETTING DONE. >> YEAH, YEAH. >> IT'S REALLY HARD TO DETERMINE BECAUSE THE COSTS THAT WE GOT ON THIS BID IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THAT IF WE HAD AWARDED THAT CONTRACT AND THEY STAYED. I MEAN, THIS ONE IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER. SO, IT'S HARD TO SIT THERE AND SAY, LIKE -- >> THIS IS WAY LESS THAN OUR LAST CONTRACT. >> EXACTLY. >> WAY LESS. >> I KNOW. >> SO, IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT, YES, THAT IS A GOOD PRICE. THE COURT WOULD JUST HAVE TO DETERMINE, LIKE, IF THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH REIMBURSING THEM. WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT DOLLAR AMOUNT. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WHAT IT COST THEM TO GET IT DONE >> RIGHT ON. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, JUDGE, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO BE FAIR AND CONSISTENT WITH ALL OUR CEMETERIES, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, I GUESS WE CAN TAKE AND DIVIDE THE -- THIS CONTRACT AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT BY THE NUMBER OF CEMETERIES WE DO. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY WANT TO BE FAIR TO PHILLIPS, BUT WE -- IT CAN OPEN UP. >> OKAY. YOU GUYS HEARD THE CAUTION. THANK YOU, AARON. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER SMITH. JUDGE BECERRA. [N.1. Discussion related to the Hays County inmate population, to include current population counts and costs. BECERRA] >> YES. CONFIRMED. HAVE WE FINISHED THAT GROUP? SO, THEN, PLEASE OPEN THE SHERIFF'S REPORT FOR ME, WHICH IS NUMBER N-1. >> N-1. DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE HAYS COUNTY INMATE POPULATION, TO INCLUDE CURRENT POPULATION COUNTS AND COSTS. >> THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SENDS MY OFFICE A WEEKLY REPORT ABOUT [03:20:01] OUR JAIL CAPACITY SO HERE IT IS. OUR CURRENT MAXIMUM JAIL CAPACITY IS 464 INMATES. JAIL STANDARDS RECOMMENDS HOLDING APPROXIMATELY 10% OF THAT OPEN. THAT LOWERS OUR CAPACITY TO ACTUALLY 417 INMATES. THE JAIL'S DAILY AVERAGE WAS 589, HOWEVER, AND PEAK WAS 594 ON JANUARY 11. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR OUTSOURCING INMATES THIS WEEK IS $106,907. THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF OUTSOURCED MALES IS 149 AND FEMALES ARE ZERO. THIS WEEK'S INMATES WERE HOUSED IN HASKELL COUNTY. AND WE HAVE 35 PAPER-READY INMATES, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE HAD THEIR DAY IN COURT. THEY HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY AND ARE NOW STATE INMATES, AND SO WE HOPE TO KEEP THAT NUMBER LOW BECAUSE WE WANT THAT TO COME FROM THE STATE BUDGET, NOT FROM THE COUNTY BUDGET. EXECUTIVE SESSION, JORDAN. WHAT DO WE DO? >> DO WE DO THREE? DID WE DO [N.3. Discussion and possible action related to proposed bills in the 89th Session of the Texas Legislature and to consider adoption of resolution(s) regarding proposed bills. The Court may opt to withdraw to Executive Session during this item to consult with legal counsel pursuant to Texas Government Code 551.071. SMITH] N-3? >> WHICH ONE? >> N-3. >> WE USUALLY DON'T. >> LET'S OPEN N-3. >> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANYTHING. >> DO YOU WANT TO? YOU'RE ASKING IT TO BE OPENED? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. >> I WAS JUST CHECKING TO SEE IF WE NEEDED TO OPEN [M. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS] N-3. >> NO. UNLESS SOMEONE ASKS, WE LEAVE IT. THAT'S WHAT STANDING IS ABOUT. EXECUTIVE, JORDAN? >> YES. >> OKAY, OPENING EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> M-1. EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551. 071 AND 551. 072 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL AND DELIBERATION REGARDING THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE AND/OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT OR NEAR ROGER HANKS PARKWAY IN PRECINCT 4. POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT. M-2. EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 551. 071 AND 551. 087 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL AND DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PROJECT SAN ANTONIO, PROJECT BUSHWOOD AND PROJECT DISCO INFERNO. POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT. >> IF YOU ARE NOT DIRECTLY RELATED OR >> ALL RIGHT. WE ARE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION AND COMMISSIONER SMITH, YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF MOTIONS. >> JUST ONE MOTION. >> WE HAD TWO BUT WE WILL START WITH THE FIRST ONE. >> I THINK -- YOU'RE RIGHT. SORRY. ON ITEM GENDER ONE, BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND 400 WEST OLD 290 AND ROGER HANKS PARKWAY LLC RELATED TO THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT OR NEAR ROGER HANKS PARKWAY IN PRECINCT 4 EXTENDING THE FEASIBILITY PERIOD TO MARCH 12TH, 2026 AND CLOSING TO APRIL 20TH 2026 AS WELL AS AUTHORIZE THE COMMITTEE ADMINISTERED TO REVIEW THE APPRAISAL, AUTHORIZE DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES OR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY RELATED PROPOSALS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN -- ATTAIN A REVIEW OF THE PROPOSAL REQUIRING THREE QUOTES RELATED TO OBTAINING A REVIEW OF THE APPRAISAL. >> SO MOVED. >> SURE. A SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA. >> THE 45 DAY EXTENSION -- APPROXIMATELY 45 DAY EXTENSION IS $10. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.