[00:00:02]
ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
THIS MORNING'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY OUR VERY OWN PASTOR, DARIUS TODD.
IF YOU WILL. PLEASE. ALL RISE.
I PRAY, FATHER, THAT YOU'LL GIVE US AN OPEN EAR EVEN IN THIS TIME OF CHANGE.
THE WORLD IS GOING THROUGH MANY THINGS. WE ASK FOR YOUR HELP.
WE ASK FOR YOUR DIRECTION. WE NEED YOUR PEACE.
WE ALSO PRAY, FATHER, FOR THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS AND YOUR GRACE. IN JESUS NAME I PRAY.
AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE.
TEXAS. ONE STATE, UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
COMMISSIONER INGALSBE HERE. COMMISSIONER COHEN HERE.
COMMISSIONER SMITH. COMMISSIONER. HAMMER HERE.
JUDGE BECERRA HERE. SO I WILL TELL YOU ALL THAT THERE IS A DEEP DESIRE OF MINE TO HEAR FROM YOU AS A COMMUNITY.
I'VE HAD BLOWBACK FROM COVID LEFTOVERS WHEN I SET IT UP TO RECEIVE LETTERS.
SOME FOLKS DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR THE LETTERS. AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S FAIR NOT TO WANT TO HEAR IT, BUT THERE ARE ATTACKS ON ME THAT COME IN LETTERS.
BUT WE SHOULD GIVE PEOPLE THAT SPACE. THIS IS, AFTER ALL, THEIR GOVERNMENT.
AND SO. THE ONLY EDITS THAT I HAVE HERE ON YOUR VOICE BEING HEARD ARE A BLATANT COPY PASTE. IF A STATEMENT IS WRITTEN IN AND IT IS A COPY PASTE, I WILL ASK THAT IT BE READ ONCE AND THEN ALL OF THE NAMES ATTACHED TO IT DESERVE CREDIT FOR BEING HEARD.
IF THERE'S A VARIATION, I WILL ASK IT TO BE READ.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, AND I WILL DO MY LEVEL BEST TO KEEP IT TIDY.
I WILL NOT KEEP YOU HERE TILL CRAZY HOURS, BUT I WILL REQUIRE THAT YOU HELP ME KNOW THAT MY AIM IS PURE IN LISTENING TO EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO BE HEARD.
LET'S HAVE MEANINGFUL DIALOG. LET'S MOVE IN A WAY THAT IS EFFICIENT FOR EVERYONE'S BENEFIT.
AND WHEN YOU HEAR THE TIMER, PLEASE STOP. DON'T FORCE OUR HAND.
JUST STOP WHEN THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
I'LL LET YOU CONCLUDE A SENTENCE OR CONCLUDE A THOUGHT.
THERE ARE TWO PLACES WHERE YOU CAN SIGN UP TO SPEAK.
IF YOU HAVE SIGNED UP OR IF YOU HAVE EMAILED.
THERE'S TWO WAYS TO COMMUNICATE TO THIS COURT.
THE FIRST ONE IS GENERAL OPEN. WHEN WE OPEN COURT AND THE SECOND ONE IS SPECIFICALLY TIED TO AN AGENDA ITEM. SO WHEN YOU SIGNED UP, I NEVER WANT ANYONE TO FEEL IGNORED BECAUSE IF YOU DO, I'VE NOT DONE MY JOB.
IF YOU SIGNED UP, YOU WILL HAVE SIGNED UP FOR ONE OF TWO FORMATS.
SO IF I DON'T CALL YOUR NAME, DON'T SAY, OH NO, I SIGNED UP WRONG.
[00:05:07]
THREE AND FOUR IMMEDIATELY AFTER OUR PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS SECTION.I WILL NOT MAKE PEOPLE WAIT AROUND ALL DAY TO HEAR WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU.
YOU WORK FOR A LIVING? FOR THE MOST PART, THAT'S HOW I SEE YOU.
THINKING OF YOU AND YOUR TIME AND EVERYONE ELSE'S.
SO YOU WILL HAVE SIGNED UP FOR ONE OF TWO WAYS.
IT WILL BE THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENTS NOW. AND IF NOT, DON'T FEAR.
WHEN I OPEN K2, YOU'LL PROBABLY HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THAT ONE.
AND IT'S IT'S CONSISTENT. WE'RE GOING TO GO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE HAVE THREE AGENDA ITEMS UNDER PRESENTATIONS.
AND THEN I WILL GO TO K TWO, WHICH IS WHAT I BELIEVE IS POPULATING THE COURTROOM TODAY.
AND I WAS ASKED, IS THERE GOING TO BE A FULL HOUSE? AND I SAID NO, BECAUSE I DIDN'T SPREAD THE WORD TO COME FILL THE COURTROOM AND STILL LOOK HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, WHETHER YOU ARE FOR OR AGAINST ANYTHING WE'RE DOING.
THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE. PLEASE OPEN F ONE.
OH NO NO NO NO SORRY SORRY. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO LIKE I JUST SAID, PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[E. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO THOSE THAT ARE IN PERSON.AND THEN WE WILL GO INTO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN EMAILED.
OKAY. SO WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? YOU JUST GO ONE BY ONE AND YOU READ THEM ALL.
I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU TO FOLLOW THE SEQUENCE. OKAY. PAULETTE.
WHO WILL SPEAK? I'LL LEAVE. I'LL LET YOU RUN THAT FOR ME.
FIRST UP, WE HAVE KAYLA LAMBERT. KAYLA LAMBERT.
WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, ANYONE'S NAME IS CALLED.
AND JUST KNOW THAT AT THIS MOMENT, ASKING US QUESTIONS WILL BE RHETORICAL.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. SO YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE CLEAN DRINKING WATER.
THINK OF OUR KIDS. OUR GRANDKIDS. IT MAKES ME SAD EVERY TIME I GO TO TO THE RIVER.
AND I THINK, HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO LAST? ARE MY KIDS GOING TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY THIS WITH THEIR KIDS? WILL I BE ABLE TO COME HERE WITH MY GRANDKIDS? THIS IS A SUPER SPECIAL PLACE. WE ARE THE LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY INHABITED WATERWAY IN NORTH AMERICA.
LET'S DO WHAT WE CAN TO SHOW THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE STANDS. WE CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR LOVED ONES.
I CAN'T TALK ABOUT THAT ENOUGH. THERE'S ALL THESE STATS AND DETAILS FOR PRO AND AGAINST.
DO WE HAVE ANYTHING TO PROTECT OUR AIR QUALITY, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY? ARE THERE THINGS IN THE REGULATIONS WE NEED TESTING BEFOREHAND? DURING THE DURATION, CONSEQUENCES FOR GOING OVER THRESHOLDS, ETC., ETC..
JUST TO BE HONEST, I JUST GOT TO BE HONEST. I LOVE YOU GUYS.
I DO WITH ALL MY HEART. WHETHER YOU LIKE ME OR NOT, DOESN'T MATTER.
I LOVE MY COMMUNITY. AND SO JUST KNOW IF YOUR MESSAGE HAS BEEN SAID.
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS LAST TINY LITTLE PIECE.
IF YOUR MESSAGE HAS BEEN SAID, JUST KNOW WE HEARD YOU.
AND IF YOU CAN MOVE US ALL ALONG, WE WOULD ALL APPRECIATE IT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. ALL YOURS. NEXT UP, SUE ANN HARRISON.
THANK YOU, JUDGE BECERRA AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS SUE ANN HARRISON.
FLOYD. I'M A MEMBER OF THE SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY CENTER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND RETIRED PEDIATRICIAN.
SOUTHSIDE. SOUTHSIDE PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SERVICES IN HAYS COUNTY THAT HELP OUR NEIGHBORS LIVE HEALTHIER, HAPPIER AND STABLE LIVES. AS A PHYSICIAN, I KNOW HOW CRITICAL HOUSING STABILITY AND FOOD SECURITY ARE TO THE OVERALL HEALTH OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. WHILE SOUTHSIDE DOES NOT PROVIDE DIRECT HEALTHCARE SERVICES, IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE OVERALL HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.
[00:10:05]
EVERY DAY, OUR NEIGHBORS ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE HEALTHY, WELL-ROUNDED MEALS SERVED WITH CARE.THE FRESH PRODUCE, WHOLE GRAINS, AND A VARIETY OF PROTEIN SOURCES OFFERED ARE CRITICAL TO HEALTH.
NEIGHBORS KNOW THEY CAN COUNT ON DINNER EVERY DAY AND BREAKFAST MOST DAYS AT SOUTHSIDE.
THIS MEANS THEIR FOOD ANXIETY IS LESSENED AT THE SAME TIME.
SHOWERS, HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND LAUNDRY SERVICES SUPPORT HEALTHY BODIES.
SOUTHSIDE COVERS BASIC NEEDS AND TREATS PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY THEY DESERVE NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE IN LOCATIONS NOT FIT FOR HABITATION IN THEIR CARS, OR A PARK OR SOME OTHER PLACE, ARE MORE LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER HEALTH CHALLENGES IN EXTREME HEAT OR COLD.
THEY HAVE A HIGHER PROBABILITY OF EXPERIENCING HEAT STROKE, FROSTBITE, OR EVEN DEATH.
SOUTHSIDE WEATHER SHELTER KEEPS PEOPLE SAFE IN TIMES WHEN BEING OUTSIDE IS DANGEROUS.
THIS REDUCES SOME OF THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF BEING UNHOUSED OR INADEQUATE HOUSING.
FINALLY, SOUTHSIDE PARTNERS WITH A VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS TO FURTHER SUPPORT HEALTH OUTCOMES.
SOUTH SIDE STAFF ENSURE THESE SERVICES ARE ACCESSIBLE.
INDIGENT HEALTH CARE. BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS, DIABETES SCREENING, DENTAL CARE, EYE CARE, VACCINES, TB TESTING AND MORE ARE PERFORMED ON SITE DURING HEALTH FAIRS AS WELL AS REGULAR OFFICE HOURS.
SOUTHSIDE IS AN INVALUABLE HUB OF ACTIVITY AND SERVICE IN HAYS COUNTY.
THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY IS DEPENDENT UPON IT, AND I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT SIGNIFICANT LONG TERM FUNDING FOR SOUTHSIDE AND OTHER CORE SERVICES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT UP, ERICA ROSA.
THANK YOU, JUDGE BECERRA AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ERICA ROSA AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AS WELL AS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS FOR BREAKING BREAD OUTREACH MINISTRIES.
SOUTHSIDE PARTNERS WITH HAYS HELPING HANDS, FORMERLY NOSOTROS LA GENTE.
SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN AND COMMUNITY ACTION.
BREAKING BREAD IS ONE OF THE SOUTH SIDE, ONE OF SOUTHSIDE'S PARTNERS OFFERING PEER SUPPORT TO CLIENTS IN THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM EVEN AFTER THEY MOVE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. WE ALSO PARTNER TO HELP WITH HOTEL STAYS AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF SOUTHSIDE SCOPE.
BERTIE ALSO SUPPORTS SOUTHSIDE'S TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM WITH ADDITIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS PAYING FOR DEPOSITS FOR NEIGHBORS MOVING INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
TOGETHER, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE WELL-ROUNDED SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN UNHOUSED. PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY CAN GO TO SOUTHSIDE AND HAVE VARIOUS NEEDS MET.
TO THIS END, STAFF HAVE WORKED TO OFFER OFFICE HOURS TO VARIOUS AGENCIES ON A WEEKLY AND MONTHLY BASIS SO THAT NEIGHBORS CAN RECEIVE RESUME AND INTERVIEW ASSISTANCE, FINANCIAL LITERACY, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE SUPPORT AND HOUSING NAVIGATION INSTEAD OF REMAINING SILOED ENTITIES, COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE COMING TOGETHER TO CREATE WELL-ROUNDED SUPPORT FOR NEIGHBORS AT THE VERY PLACE WHERE THEY KNOW THEY WILL BE.
THE STABILITY OF MANY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN HAYS COUNTY IS DEPENDENT ON SOUTHSIDE SERVICES, PARTNERSHIPS AND FACILITY. HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY ARE ALREADY CHALLENGES IN THIS COMMUNITY.
[00:15:08]
FAILING TO PROVIDE STABLE, LONG TERM FUNDING TO CORE SERVICES LIKE SOUTHSIDE WILL INEVITABLY LEAD TO MORE COSTLY NEEDS AND LESS COHESIVE RESPONSES IN THE FUTURE.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE SAM BENAVIDEZ.
THANK YOU, JUDGE BECERRA. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS SAM BENAVIDEZ, AND I COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING AS A NEW AND PROUD BOARD MEMBER OF SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY CENTER. ALONG WITH MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU INVEST IN THE NEEDS OF THIS INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION SO THAT THEY MAY CONTINUE SERVING THE NEEDS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A HANDFUL OF SUPPORTERS HERE.
THEY ALL WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE WAVE SOUTH SIDE.
AS SEVERAL OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR, I HAVE ADVOCATED FOR CHANGE TO OUR CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM BEFORE THIS VERY BODY FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, MOST NOTABLY AROUND ISSUES WITHIN THE HAYS COUNTY JAIL.
I THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR AND YOUR PREDECESSORS, FOR YOUR WORK OVER THE YEARS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND SHORTCOMINGS OF OUR CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. OUR COUNTY IS BETTER FOR IT. I HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY THE LEGAL SYSTEM OVER THE YEARS TO PUSH FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE, AND I BELIEVE THAT WHILE THERE IS STILL AN ABUNDANCE OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT CAN BE MADE WITHIN THE SYSTEM, A BETTER PART OF OUR PUBLIC RESOURCES SHOULD GO TOWARDS ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT MEET PEOPLE'S BASIC NEEDS, BECAUSE DATA SHOWS THAT CRIME HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE'S BASIC NEEDS GO UNMET.
I OFTEN THINK ABOUT THE PRESENTATION GIVEN BY THE HAYS COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH COURT IN 2024 THAT SHOWED THAT OVER 80% OF THE PEOPLE INCARCERATED IN OUR JAIL ARE SUFFERING FROM SOME KIND OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, AND IT WOULDN'T BE A STRETCH TO BELIEVE THAT MANY OF THE CRIMES OF WHICH THEY ARE ACCUSED STEM FROM THOSE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS A STRONG LINK BETWEEN HOUSING INSECURITY AND MENTAL ILLNESS, BECAUSE A PERSON CANNOT TRULY BEGIN TO HEAL IF THEIR BASIC NEEDS GO UNMET, IF THERE'S NO FOOD ON THE TABLE, IF THERE'S NO WATER IN THEIR FAUCET, IF THERE'S NO ROOF ABOVE THEIR HEAD.
I SEE INVESTING IN SOUTH SIDE AS THE LOGICAL, ESSENTIAL NEXT STEP IN THE ONGOING CONVERSATION WE'VE BEEN HAVING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS COUNTY FOR YEARS. IT'S HOW WE GET AHEAD OF CRIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS.
IT'S HOW WE CREATE A BETTER, SAFER COMMUNITY FOR ALL PEOPLE.
IT'S HOW WE TRANSITION. FUNNELING. FUNNELING OVER 60% OF THE COUNTY BUDGET TOWARDS THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, AND INSTEAD PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR ESSENTIAL DIRECT SERVICES THAT HELP PEOPLE'S BASIC NEEDS AND ACTUALLY PREVENT CRIME.
THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS HAS INVESTED GENEROUSLY INTO SOUTHSIDE AND IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE DOING SO.
IT'S TIME THAT THE COUNTY DO THE SAME. ALSO, I WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF K TWO, K3 AND K4.
FOR. THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE MINDY WEBER.
HI Y'ALL. IT'S ME AGAIN. THANK YOU, JUDGE BOCCHETTA AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS MINDY WEBER. I AM AN UPCOMING MEMBER OF THE SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, A RETIRED TEACHER, AND BASICALLY A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.
OFTEN SOUTH SIDE IS SEEN AS A SAN MARCUS SPECIFIC ENTITY.
EXCUSE ME, BUT REST ASSURED THAT ALL OF HAYS COUNTY BENEFITS FROM ITS EXISTENCE AND PROGRAMS. AS A WIMBERLEY RESIDENT, MISS HAMER, YOU GOTTA LISTEN TO THIS PART.
I KNOW THAT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, PEOPLE ARE SENT TO SOUTH SIDE.
WHETHER OR NOT SOUTH SIDE IS ACTUALLY EQUIPPED TO MEET THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.
THOSE RELEASED FROM JAIL OR THE HOSPITALS ARE OFTEN UNCEREMONIOUSLY DUMPED OFF AT SOUTH SIDE WITHOUT PERSONAL BELONGINGS OR IDENTIFICATION. CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CHURCHES BRING INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE SERVICES. HOTLINES LIKE THE BARNABAS HOTLINE IN WIMBERLEY AND OTHER AGENCY
[00:20:01]
SEND THOSE IN NEED TO SOUTH SIDE. EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY IS WELCOME FOR FREE MEALS, SHOWERS, LAUNDRY, MAIL AND HYGIENE SERVICES. THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS.NOW THIS IS A LITTLE BIT EMBARRASSING. INVEST TWICE AS MUCH INTO SOUTHSIDE'S WORK AS DOES THE COUNTY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY AWARDS PASS THROUGH FUNDING FROM FEDERAL PROGRAMS LIKE CDBG AND ARPA TO SOUTHSIDE AND OTHER SERVICE AGENCIES.
IT IS FRANKLY EMBARRASSING THAT THE COUNTY IS WOEFULLY BEHIND ONE OF THE CITIES IN SUPPORT OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES THE ENTIRE COUNTY AT THE MOMENT. EVICTION PREVENTION IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO SAN MARCOS RESIDENTS BECAUSE ALL THE FUNDING FOR THAT PROGRAM COMES FROM THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS.
THIS MEANS THAT MANY HAYS COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE LEFT BEHIND DURING MOMENTS OF OF CRISIS.
SOUTHSIDE CAN ONLY ASSIST WITH BILLS UP TO $500 FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, WHICH MEANS DENYING MANY HAYS COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE QUALIFY FOR THE MORE ROBUST AND IMPACTFUL EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM. AM I OUT OF TIME? 100%. MINDY, WE LOVE YOU. WE LOVE YOU. BUT YOU'RE SHUTTING ME UP.
I'M GOING, I'M GOING. NEXT UP, LOVE YOU WITH ALL OUR HEART.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO BE CONSISTENT AND PREDICTABLE.
NEXT. NEXT UP, CARMEN RUBELL. COULD YOU REPEAT YOUR LAST NAME, PLEASE? GOOD MORNING. I'M CARMEN BOUTTE, AND I LIVE IN SAN MARCOS.
I SUPPORT AND AND COMMEND THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE PROTECTION OF WATER IN THIS COUNTY TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT UP, CAROL PENNINGTON.
AND I AM ALSO VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE NONPROFIT GROUP HAYS RESIDENTS FOR LAND AND WATER PROTECTION.
YOU HAD A PACKET PASSED OUT TO YOU BEING PASSED OUT.
THAT IS A LOT OF HAYES COUNTIES. THREE QUARTERS OF IT.
THERE ARE TWO SEGMENTS OF THE EDWARDS THE BARTON SPRINGS SEGMENT AND THE SAN ANTONIO SEGMENT, AS SHOWN ON THE SECOND MAP, WHICH WAS TAKEN FROM A 2017 CITY OF AUSTIN WATERSHED DEPARTMENT DYE TRACER STUDY SHOWING THE FLOW OF THE UNDERGROUND WATER FROM THREE LOCATIONS IN THE BUDA AREA. I HAPPEN TO LIVE OVER THE BARTON SPRINGS SEGMENT OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AND HAVE LEARNED ALL OF THIS INFORMATION WHILE TRYING TO PROTECT 500 ACRES FROM THE PROPOSED HAYES COMMON SUBDIVISION.
ALTHOUGH I AM NOT AN EXPERT, I BELIEVE THAT MOST PEOPLE KNOW HOW THE AQUIFERS GET WATER FROM RAINFALL SEEPING INTO THE GROUND, WHICH IS CALLED RECHARGE. MAP THREE SHOWS THE DIFFERENT ZONES OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.
THE MOST IMPORTANT BEING THE RECHARGE ZONE SHOWN IN LIGHT PINK.
THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE COVERS ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE COUNTY.
THAT IS STILL A LOT OF LAND OVER THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR DRINKING WATER.
I DO NOT EVEN SEE A MENTION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING OUR GROUNDWATER.
IT MENTIONS RAPIDLY CHANGING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND HAZARDS, AS WELL AS THE CURRENT SITUATION OF GROUNDWATER BEING OVERDRAWN, AND HOW THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER TO DIRECTLY REGULATE THE USE OF GROUNDWATER.
THE RECOMMENDED RECOMMENDATIONS IN SECTION 4.01 THROUGH 0.04.05 ARE NOT RESTRICTIVE ENOUGH.
[00:25:07]
ANY BUILDING OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE SHOULD NOT BE INCENTIVIZED, BUT REQUIRED TO USE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, PRACTICES AND 15% IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS AND CONSERVATION SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS.AND THERE SHOULD BE NO VARIANCES. WE SHOULD NOT NEED INCENTIVES TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
ONE WATER STRATEGIES 15% IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS AND CONSERVATION SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TIME.
SO NOW THESE WILL BE EMAILED. I SAW YOUR HAND RAISED.
SO AFTER PRESENTATIONS WE WILL GO STRAIGHT TO.
THAT POSSIBILITY EXISTS. AND SO I GIVE PEOPLE THE FLEXIBILITY TO MODIFY THEIR INTENT.
GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M VIRGINIA PARKER WITH THE SAN MARCOS RIVER FOUNDATION.
SORRY, I THOUGHT I SIGNED UP UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT.
BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT AS WELL.
I'M SO HAPPY CAROL PASSED OUT THE MAP SHOWING YOU THE EDWARDS AND TRINITY AQUIFERS.
AND THE THING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE ABOUT THAT MAP THAT YOU SEE IS THAT THE TRINITY AND THE EDWARDS IN BOTH PARTS OF THE EDWARDS ALL INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER. SO DEPENDING ON THE LEVELS IN THE AQUIFER AND WHERE IT'S RAINING, THEY CAN PASS WATER TO AND FROM EACH OTHER.
SO WITH THAT THEME IN MIND, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH CROSSBOW TO PUT A SOLID ROCKET MOTOR TESTING SITE OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE, MEANING ANY CONTAMINANTS THAT ARE CREATED FROM THIS ACTIVITY CAN LITERALLY GO STRAIGHT DOWN INTO OUR AQUIFER.
AND THE REASON THAT THAT'S CONCERNING IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONTAMINANTS LIKE ALUMINUM OXIDE, AMMONIUM PERCHLORATE, AND THEN ALL OF THE BINDERS THAT COME ALONG WITH SOLID ROCKET MOTOR TESTING.
NOW THIS DOES NOT MEAN THEY'RE GOING TO BE LAUNCHING ROCKETS OVER THE HILL COUNTRY.
IT MEANS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A CONCRETE PAD WITH ALL THE EQUIPMENT ATTACHED TO IT.
AND EVERY TIME THEY TEST THAT FUEL. YOU CAN SEE THIS ONLINE IN MY NEXT NEWSLETTER.
I'LL HAVE EXAMPLES OF THIS, BUT THERE'S A HUGE PLUME OF STEAM.
WE'RE WORRIED THAT THERE'S NO MITIGATION PLAN SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT THESE HORRIBLE TOXIC CHEMICALS FROM GETTING INTO OUR GROUNDWATER. THERE ARE OTHER PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE THIS ACTIVITY HAS CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER OVER AQUIFERS THAT ARE NOT NEARLY AS SENSITIVE AS THE EDWARDS AQUIFER. SO THIS IS BIGGER THAN ONE RIVER OR THOUSANDS OF SPRINGS OR OR SEVEN ENDANGERED SPECIES.
THIS IS DRINKING WATER FOR 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE.
SO EVERYONE FROM AUSTIN TO UVALDE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ACTIVITY.
SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT THE COUNTY CAN DO A RESOLUTION, A LETTER, CALL THE BOARD OF REGENTS, PLEASE. THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT OUR DRINKING WATER.
AND IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT TAX REVENUE IN HAYS COUNTY.
IF WE DON'T HAVE WATER, CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THAT WHAT THAT WILL DO TO LAND VALUES.
SO THIS IS BIGGER THAN A RESEARCH PROJECT. ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS MOVE IT OFF THE AQUIFER.
WE SUPPORT RESEARCH. GET IT OFF THE AQUIFER. ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP.
WE APPRECIATE. THANKS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
FROM SAN MARCOS. HI. THIS IS ANA LUCIA, A RESIDENT OF HAYS COUNTY.
I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH THE HUGE RUSH OF DATA CENTERS COMING TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I AM IN FAVOR OF A COUNTY WIDE MORATORIUM ON THE APPROVAL OF PERMITS FOR THE NEW INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS, REQUESTING OVER 25,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY.
[00:30:03]
BIG TECH TO NOT COME TO OUR LANDS. WE ARE SITTING IN THE LAST BIT OF NATURE IN RAW LAND IN CENTRAL TEXAS.THIS IS THE GOLDEN EGG GOOSE WE HAVE. WE CANNOT LET THEM COME AND DRAIN US OF OUR RESOURCES.
YOU HAVE THE WHOLE COUNTY ROOTING AND SUPPORTING YOU.
WE ARE ORGANIZING AND NEED YOUR HELP TO STOP THIS.
THIS TECH COMPANIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
CONCERNED RESIDENT. DINA MADI FROM CANYON LAKE.
TO WHOMEVER THIS MAY CONCERN, I AM A TAXPAYING VOTING CITIZEN IN HAYS COUNTY SINCE 2019 AND THE LAKES, THE LAKE AND RIVERS HAVE HELPED BOTH MY BUSINESS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROSPER AND FLOURISH AFTER MOVING TO THIS REGION FROM DRYER PARTS OF THE STATE LIKE HOUSTON, AS WE WATCHED THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI BATTLE THEIR WATER CRISIS AND EXPAND ENORMOUS RESOURCES FOR COASTAL FACILITIES, IT IS WITH MUCH CARE THAT WE SUPPORT UNSUSTAINABLE RESIDENTIAL GROWTH AND UNNECESSARY DATA CENTERS THAT ARE DRAINING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.
WATER IS THE MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE IN ADDITION TO ALL THE GREEN SPACE.
PLEASE DON'T TURN OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTY INTO SOUTH AUSTIN, SLASH NORTH SAN ANTONIO AND PRESERVE THE LAND AND WATER IN THE SMALL SLICE OF PARADISE THAT YOUR TAXPAYERS ENJOY AND BRING INCREDIBLE INCOME WITH TOURISM.
I AM IN FAVOR OF THE COUNTYWIDE MORATORIUMS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, REQUESTING OVER 25,000 GALLONS OF WATER A DAY AND WILL BE ACTIVELY PROTESTING APPROVED DEVELOPMENTS SUCH AS LENNAR AND WASTEWATER PLANT PROPOSED IN FISHER.
YOU SAW WHAT RESIDENTS BANDING TOGETHER WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN SAN MARCOS LAST WEEK.
THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF UNITY AND THE CITIZENS MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WE HAVE LUCAS KRAFT FROM SAN MARCOS.
SLOWLY, SLOWLY, IN THE NAME OF ECONOMIC GAIN FROM LUBBOCK TO CORPUS CHRISTI.
STATE OFFICIALS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM. IN 2022, TEXAS WATER PLAN ESTIMATES THE STATE'S POPULATION WILL INCREASE TO 51.5 MILLION BY 2070. AT THE SAME TIME, WATER SUPPLY IS EXPECTED TO DECREASE APPROXIMATELY 18%.
THE BIGGEST REDUCTION IS IN GROUNDWATER, WHICH IS PROJECTED TO DECLINE 32% BY 2070.
A REPEATED DROUGHT OF SIMILAR SEVERITY WOULD CAUSE THE STATE'S MUNICIPAL WATER DEMAND TO EXCEED EXISTING WATER SUPPLIES, ACCORDING TO THE CALCULATIONS FROM THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
ALAN DAY, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE BRAZOS GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, IS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT WATER USE ISN'T JUST ABOUT WHO'S TAKING THE MOST, IT'S ABOUT WHERE IT'S COMING FROM, WHO'S WILLING TO PAY FOR IT, AND HOW WE DECIDE TO SHARE IT IN THE FUTURE.
PROVIDED LINKS WW.W.GOV/PLANTING/RW/EDUCATION/RW DROUGHT OF RECORD AND WW DOT T W T W DOT DOT GOV SLASH WATERING WATER PLANNING SLASH S W 2022. CAN YOU REPEAT THE LAST OR THE NAME OF THAT EMAIL COMMENT NAME? LUCAS KRAFT. I WAS LIKE, DON'T REPEAT THE LINK.
THAT'S IT FOR YOU. IS THAT IT FOR EMAIL PUBLIC COMMENTS, EMAIL.
SO IS THAT DOES THAT CONCLUDE THAT SECTION COMPLETELY? I WANT TO MAKE DOUBLE SURE I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY. OKAY.
SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE F SECTION, WHICH IS F ONE, TWO, THREE.
AND THEN WE WILL GO STRAIGHT INTO K TWO. FOR THOSE OF YOU FOLLOWING ALONG, PLEASE OPEN F1F1
[F.1. Presentation of February 2026 Service and Retirement Awards. BECERRA/GRANJENO]
PRESENTATION OF FEBRUARY 2026 SERVICE AND RETIREMENT AWARDS.GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. MY NAME IS MARIA PACHECO.
I AM THE EMPLOYMENT AND COMPENSATION COORDINATOR WITH THE HAYS COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE.
WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH ONE YEAR OF SERVICE.
AND THEN WHAT WE WILL DO IS WHEN WE CALL YOUR.
WHEN SHE CALLS YOUR NAME, COME ON UP TO THE DAIS AND WE WILL HOLD APPLAUSE UNTIL THE END.
WITH ONE YEAR OF SERVICE. WE HAVE CHRISTOPHER ARMSTRONG WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
MYRA OSORIO WITH THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.
[00:35:01]
TIA VENEZUELA WITH JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT TWO PLACE TWO.ODORLESS. VASQUEZ WITH CONSTABLE. PRECINCT TWO.
JESSICA ALTAMIRANO WITH DISTRICT CLERK. IDA. TALAVERA WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
MATTHEW HAMMONDS WITH COUNTY COURT AT LAW TWO.
JAMES SIMONS WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. TAMMY ADAMS WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
MADELINE. SALES WITH THE TAX OFFICE. NOMAR. IBARRA WITH JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.
QUENTIN LIDDLE WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. JACOB LEHMAN WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.
ANJULI. HERRERA WITH THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.
STEPHANIE HALL WITH THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.
CHRISTIAN GARZA WITH JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER AND BRALEY WITH JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.
AND THAT IS ALL FOR ONE YEAR OF SERVICE.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET RIGHT OVER HERE. ONE. TWO.
THREE. ONE TWO. THREE. ALL RIGHT.
CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS. THANK YOU.
FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE WITH FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE.
WE HAVE MOHAMED SEKOU WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
ALBERT PEREZ WITH THE CONSTABLE PRECINCT ONE AND RYAN GUERRERO WITH JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.
AND THAT IS ALL FOR FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE.
RIGHT OVER HERE. ONE TWO. THREE. ONE. TWO. THREE.
CONGRATULATIONS. AND WITH TEN YEARS OF SERVICE, WE HAVE JENNIFER SCENARIOS WITH THE DISTRICT COURTS.
REBECCA TEO WITH JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER AND DANIEL LAW WITH CONSTABLE PRECINCT ONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. YES.
IT'S A BLANKET. THROW A BLANKET. OVER HERE. ONE.
TWO. THREE. ONE. TWO. THREE. AND NO RETIREES.
THIS ONE. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OH YEAH, BECAUSE OF THE. F2.
[F.2. Presentation regarding the 2025 Hays County Judicial Services Report. INGALSBE/FACUNDO]
F2 PRESENTATION REGARDING THE 2025 HAYS COUNTY JUDICIAL SERVICES REPORT.RESTART THE TIMER. JUST KIDDING.
AND WE'RE HERE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF JUDICIAL SERVICES EFFORTS IN 2025.
INCLUDING OUR IMPACT ON THE PRETRIAL JAIL POPULATION, THE COMMUNITY, AND OUR COURT EFFICIENCY.
SO WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. WE'LL START WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT. OUR MISSION STATEMENT FOCUSES ON TWO AREAS BEING OF SERVICE TO THE COURTS AND BEING OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE A SERVICE TO THE COURTS BY PROVIDING THE MAGISTRATE JUDGES WITH OBJECTIVE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO MAKE FAIR PRETRIAL RELEASE DECISIONS
[00:40:02]
AND SET ANY BOND CONDITIONS AS THEY SEE FIT. SO THAT INDIVIDUAL ENSURING THEIR ADHERENCE TO COURT AND PUBLIC SAFETY, WE'RE OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY BY BY USING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES, TECHNOLOGY AND TREATMENT RESOURCES TO BETTER ASSIST IN KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE AND TO ASSIST THOSE UNDER OUR SUPERVISION WITH ANY NEEDS THAT MAY BECOME APPARENT, SUCH AS SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR MENTAL HEALTH.WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF OVERVIEW OF THIS IS NEW RELEASES FOR 2025. REGARDING PRETRIAL SERVICES, JONATHAN WILL TAP INTO OUR TOTAL POPULATION ON A LATER SLIDE.
THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 25% FROM 2024. OF THOSE 733 CLIENTS, 272 WERE RELEASED VIA PERSONAL BOND WITH PRETRIAL CONDITIONS TO FOLLOW. FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNAWARE, PERSONAL BOND IS THAT INDIVIDUAL DID NOT HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING TO GET OUT OF JAIL.
THEY JUST AGREED TO FOLLOW CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
461 WERE RELEASED ON A CASH OR SURETY BOND WITH PRETRIAL CONDITIONS.
CASH BOND, MEANING THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HAD TO PAY THE ENTIRE AMOUNT TO GET OUT OF JAIL SURETY BOND, MEANING THAT INDIVIDUAL OR THEIR FAMILY HAD TO GO THROUGH A BAIL BOND AND PAY AN AGREED UPON PERCENTAGE TO GET OUT OF JAIL.
AND THOSE 461 HAD TO FOLLOW CONDITIONS AS WELL THROUGH OUR OFFICE IN 2025, WE ASSISTED.
WE AVERAGED 61 NEW CLIENTS PER MONTH. THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 24% FROM 2024.
LOOKING AT THE SEVERITY OF CHARGE, WE MONITORED 362 CLIENTS WITH FELONY CHARGES, 226 WITH MISDEMEANOR CHARGES AND 145 WITH BOTH FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR CHARGE. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE NUMBERS REFLECT BOTH GROWTH IN WORKLOAD AND AN INCREASED RELIANCE ON SUPERVISED PRETRIAL RELEASE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO DETENTION.
IT COSTS AN AVERAGE OF $163 PER DAY TO HOUSE AN INMATE IN HAYS COUNTY, AND IT ALSO COSTS AN AVERAGE OF $83.75 PER DAY TO HOUSE AN INMATE OUTSIDE OF HAYS COUNTY. BE DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE HOW LONG SOMEONE WOULD STAY IN JAIL.
SO WE'LL JUST TAKE THE 272 THAT WERE GRANTED PERSONAL BONDS WITH CONDITIONS TO FOLLOW.
IN JUST ONE DAY, SAVE THE COUNTY $44,000. HAD THOSE SAME AMOUNT OF INDIVIDUALS HAD STAYED IN JAIL FOR 30 DAYS, IT WOULD HAVE COST THE COUNTY OVER APPROXIMATELY 101 MILLION, $1.3 MILLION.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS BENEFITS TO HAVING THIS DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED.
THIS LOWERED THE RATE FROM $11.50 PER DAY PER DEVICE TO $3 PER DAY PER DEVICE.
THIS RESULTED IN SAVINGS OF APPROXIMATELY $117,000 FOR 2025.
AND FINALLY, IN 2024, WE WERE ALLOWED TO START COLLECTING FEES FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
IN 2024, WE, WE COLLECTED APPROXIMATELY $25,000 WORTH OF FEES FOR 2025.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE COSTS DEMONSTRATE THE SIGNIFICANT FISCAL IMPACT OF PRETRIAL DETENTION AND THE VALUE THAT THIS COURT SET WHENEVER THEY CREATED THIS DEPARTMENT TO HELP OFFSET ANY OF THOSE COSTS. AND THEN I'LL LET JONATHAN TAKE OVER FROM HERE.
DO YOU WANT TO SLIDE RIGHT UP THERE? I THINK I MISSED THE SLIDE.
GOOD MORNING. I'M GOING TO GO OVER THE 2025 HIGHLIGHTS.
IN SEPTEMBER 2025, COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED OUR OFFICE FOR TWO ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITH THE FY 26 BUDGET, ONE BEING A JUDICIAL SERVICES OFFICER ONE AND ONE JUDICIAL SERVICES OFFICER.
TWO TOTAL ACTIVE PRETRIAL SUPERVISION POPULATION WAS 945 CLIENTS.
THAT IS A 16% INCREASE FROM 816 IN 2024. OUR OFFICE DOES PERFORM INTERVIEWS AT THE JAIL, AND THE TOTAL FOR THAT WAS 1163. THAT'S A 12% INCREASE FROM 1037 COMPLETED VERSUS 2024.
OUR OFFICE IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR DRUG TESTS.
AND WE, OUR OFFICE PERFORMED 1475. 1100 OF THAT WAS -43 WERE POSITIVE
[00:45:09]
85 POSITIVE WITH PRESCRIPTION 15 WERE SENT TO A LAB FOR CONFIRMATION, 216 POSITIVE TESTS ADMITTED TO USE AND 15 CONFIRMED POSITIVE TESTS FROM THE LAB. ONE CONFIRMED NEGATIVE FROM THE LAB.THAT'S 121% INCREASE FROM 28 DEVICES ORDERED BACK IN 2024.
IN 2025, WE ALSO HAD A 94 SUCCESS RATE IN PRETRIAL CLIENTS APPEARING FROM FOUR COURT AND 08,080% SUCCESS RATE IN KEEPING CLIENTS UNDER SUPERVISION, ARREST FREE.
IN 2025, WE HAD ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS THERE, AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE DEFENDANT TO PROVIDE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK INTO COMPLIANCE WITHOUT GETTING THE COURTS INVOLVED FOR ARREST MEASURES TO TAKE PLACE. SO WE HAD 61 ADMINISTRATIVE ADMIN HEARINGS COMPLETED.
AND THIS WORKED OUT REALLY GREAT. IT REALLY PROVIDES REASONABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANYBODY INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO GET A SECOND CHANCE WHILE THEY'RE ON BOND RELEASE. COULD WE HIT THE NEXT SLIDE? THE NEXT SLIDE HERE IS FOR THE JAIL POPULATION.
IT DOES SHOW DECLINE ALL ACROSS THE BOARD THERE WAS A SPIKE IN THE HAYS COUNTY AVERAGE FROM 2024 TO 2025 AND THE TOTAL JAIL POPULATION AVERAGE, BUT THERE IS DECREASE IN THE OUT OF COUNTY AVERAGE, MEANING THAT WE ARE KEEPING A LOT OF INMATES HERE IN JURISDICTION THUS NOT RESORTING TO OUT OF COUNTY HOUSING.
AVOIDING CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS AND OFFERS INDIVIDUALS A CHANCE FOR POSITIVE OUTCOMES.
WE DID MONITOR 189 CLIENTS IN 2025. THERE WAS AN AVERAGE OF 16 NEW PRETRIAL DIVERSION CLIENTS PER MONTH, AND 180 CLIENTS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN COMPLETING THIS PROGRAM IN 2025.
THUS, WE HAVE A SUCCESS RATE FOR 94%. FOR THE, FOR THE YEAR OF 2025.
THE, ALL THE COURTS, THE MAGISTRATE JUDGES, COUNTY COURT OF LAW, DISTRICT COURT, THE HAYS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE, AND THIS COURT FOR BEING SUPPORTIVE OF JUDICIAL SERVICES.
EVERY ONE OF THOSE AGENCIES MENTIONED HAS WELCOMED US WITH OPEN ARMS. SINCE THIS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED BACK IN 2023, AS WELL AS WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO OUR STAFF BACK AT THE OFFICE, BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PRESENT THESE SUCCESSES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE.
SO I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE. WELL, JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT YOU ALL ARE CERTAINLY MAKING AND HAVING A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON SO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS HERE IN HAYS COUNTY. AND I REALLY AND TRULY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING WITH SUCH A SMALL STAFF, TOO. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, JASON, FOR BEING HERE AND GIVING US THIS REPORT.
THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU, JASON AND EVERYONE ELSE FOR PUTTING THE PRESENTATION TOGETHER.
I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YOU ARE DOING SOME FANTASTIC WORK. WHAT OTHER INITIATIVES CAN YOU SEE THE PRETRIAL DIVISION ACTUALLY MAYBE IMPLEMENTING IN THE FUTURE TO TO BUILD UP YOUR DEPARTMENT? YEAH. ONE OF THE PLACES WE PLAN WITH THE NEW POSITIONS WE WERE GRANTED LAST YEAR, AND HOPEFULLY SOME NEW POSITIONS COMING UP IN THIS NEW BUDGET YEAR IS OUR INTAKE POSITION. THAT IS ONE DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVEN'T FOCUSED ON, AND THAT DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETING THE INTERVIEWS AT THE HAYS COUNTY JAIL.
AND WE IN HOPES OF GETTING MORE PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL.
OKAY, GOOD. NOTED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
NO PROBLEM, MR. HAMMER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO.
[00:50:09]
SO THEY HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE. THEY'RE ABLE TO SEE THEIR LOVED ONES. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO TO NOTATE AND I CONTINUE I WANT TO CONTINUE SEEING RATES GOING DOWN. SO THAT IS GOOD. GOOD TO SEE 2022 THOUGH.TO NOW WE DO SEE THAT INCREASE FROM AN AVERAGE PERSPECTIVE.
HAS IT BEEN TWO AND A HALF YEARS? YES. JUST ABOUT POSITION. CORRECT? YEAH.
AND AT THAT TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE AND I STILL DO.
I THINK YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB OVER THERE. AND I THINK YOUR STAFF IS DOING A GREAT JOB.
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THE TOTAL POPULATION COUNT OR TOTAL YOU MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING OF YOUR REPORT 733, BUT THEN YOU SAY THERE'S 945 TOTAL CLIENTS. DOES THAT INCLUDE PRETRIAL DIVERSION AND EVERYTHING ELSE, OR IS THAT JUST CONTINUOUS CLIENTS THAT WE'VE HAD LEFT OVER FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR THAT HAD NOT WE'RE NOT INTERVIEWED OR ENTERED THE PROGRAM THIS YEAR? CORRECT. WE'RE STILL MONITORING SOME CLIENTS WHO HAVE CASES PENDING PRIOR TO 2025.
SO THEIR CASES ARE STILL GOING THROUGH THE COURT PROCESS. SO THAT'S WHERE THE LEFTOVERS COMING FROM THE 733 MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING IS JUST BRAND NEW RELEASES FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER OF 2025. GOTCHA. AND FOR THOSE, I MEAN, I KNOW COMMISSIONER INGALSBE SITS ON THE BAT WITH ME, BUT FOR THE REST, JUST AS AN UPDATE FOR THE REST OF THE COURT, THE SMALL CHANGES THAT THESE GUYS HAVE SEEN, AND I'LL USE THE ANKLE MONITORING SYSTEM AS THE, AS AN EXAMPLE WE'RE LITERALLY PAYING ABOUT A THIRD OF WHAT WE WERE IN THE PAST. AND THAT WAS AN INITIATIVE THESE GUYS BROUGHT FORTH TO FIND A DIFFERENT VENDOR WITH THE SAME TYPE.
AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY INGENUITIVE IN THE FUNDING THAT WE'VE GIVEN, GIVEN THEM TO TRY TO MAKE IT GO AND STRETCH AS FAR AS IT CAN TO TO HELP AND HELP ACCESS TO AS MANY CLIENTS AS THEY COULD. SO I JUST, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND IT'S RECOGNIZED IF NOBODY ELSE HAS IT. WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU. AND I REMEMBER WHEN YOU BROUGHT THAT ANKLE MONITORING PROGRAM, I WAS PUSHING ON ON THAT TO HAPPEN THROUGH OUR DA, KELLY HIGGINS. AND I WAS LIKE, THERE'S, THERE'S WAYS WE CAN DO THIS. THERE'S WAYS WE CAN DO BETTER. AND YOU GUYS PICKED UP ON THAT, WHETHER IT WAS BEFORE OR AFTER, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO ME. OUR COMMUNITY IS BENEFITING FROM IT. AND YOU BROUGHT A WAY TO MAKE IT CHEAPER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE. AND I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT THROUGH ALL THESE EFFORTS, THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS WORKING. WE ARE NOT, AS A GOVERNMENT, PUTTING PEOPLE OUT THAT ARE A HARM TO THEMSELVES OR TO OTHERS. IS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT? CORRECT. AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS, AS WE CONTINUE TO DIAL IN AN EVEN BETTER AND MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM TO CARE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, THAT FOLKS NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THAT REALITY.
THERE IS AN ENTIRE SYSTEM DESIGNED AROUND SIFTING THROUGH DANGER AND NECESSITY AND WHAT YOU ARE PART OF HELPING TO MAKE SURE OF IS THAT WE USE ALL OF OUR TRAINED PROFESSIONALS, DEGREED, CREDENTIALED DOZENS OF PEOPLE'S EYES, LOOKING AT EVERY INDIVIDUAL CASE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THAT HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR AN ANKLE MONITOR OR FOR WHATEVER THE OTHER OPTIONS MAY BE, ARE SIFTED AND SORTED THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
I'M GLAD THE HASKELL NUMBERS ARE COMING DOWN, BUT OUR REAL VICTORY IS WHEN WE HAVE NO ONE WITH A VIOLENT CAPACITY OF ANY KIND MOVING ABOUT THEIR DAY AND BEING A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND OUR SOCIETY. SO YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH.
I THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WELL DONE. KEEP IT UP.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. PLEASE OPEN F3. F3 ADOPT
[F.3. Adopt a Proclamation recognizing February 2026 as Black History Month. INGALSBE/COHEN/PETERSON]
A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 2026 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.SO MOVED SECOND PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 2026 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH 100TH ANNIVERSARY.
WHEREAS, IN 1926, HISTORIAN DOCTOR CARTER WOODSON ESTABLISHED NEGRO HISTORY WEEK TO ENSURE THE ACHIEVEMENTS, STRUGGLES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WERE RECOGNIZED AND PRESERVED, LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR WHAT IS NOW CELEBRATED AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
AND WHEREAS THE YEAR 2026 MARKS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS HISTORIC OBSERVANCE COMMEMORATING A CENTURY OF INTENTIONAL EDUCATION, REFLECTION, AND RECOGNITION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY.
[00:55:01]
EDUCATIONAL, POLITICAL, MILITARY AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT OF HAYS COUNTY, THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE UNITED STATES.AND WHEREAS THE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF SAN MARCOS.
KYLE BUDA, BELTERRA, DRIPPING SPRINGS, WIMBERLEY, WOODCREEK, UHLAND, NIEDERWALD, MOUNTAIN CITY, BEAR CREEK, HAYS, HENLEY, DRIFTWOOD AND ANTIOCH COLONY, ALONG WITH SURROUNDING UNINCORPORATED AREAS HAVE BEEN SHAPED BY THE RESILIENCE, LEADERSHIP, LABOR, CREATIVITY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OF BLACK RESIDENTS PAST AND PRESENT.
AND WHEREAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF HAYS COUNTY TO HONOR THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS, ACKNOWLEDGE HISTORICAL INJUSTICES, CELEBRATE PROGRESS, AND RECOMMIT TO THE SHARED VALUES OF EQUITY AND DIGNITY, INCLUSION, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AND WHEREAS RECOGNIZING BLACK HISTORY STRENGTHENS OUR COLLECTIVE UNDERSTANDING, FOSTERS UNITY, AND AFFIRMS THAT THE STORY OF HAYS COUNTY IS RICHER, STRONGER, AND MORE COMPLETE WHEN ALL VOICES ARE ACKNOWLEDGED AND CELEBRATED.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 2026 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN HAYS COUNTY AND ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS, FAITH COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO OBSERVE THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY THROUGH EDUCATION, REFLECTION, DIALOG, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HONORING THE ENDURING LEGACY AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
ADOPTED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2026. THANK YOU.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER HAMER. YES.
COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES. COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE.
YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
YES. CONSTABLE PETERSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GRACE US WITH YOUR THOUGHTS? JUDGE COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. THIS IS A VERY GOOD DAY.
100 YEARS OF BLACK HISTORY MEANS SO MUCH TO OUR COUNTY, OUR, OUR PUBLIC PEOPLE AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PUT A LOT INTO THIS THE COMMUNITIES THAT, THAT ACTUALLY GET INVOLVED IN ALL THE, ALL OF THE FESTIVALS AND DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT GO ON WITHIN OUR COUNTY AND OUTSIDE OUR COUNTY. TODAY WE HAVE ONE OF OUR JUDGES HERE.
WE HAVE OUR JUNETEENTH SOME OF OUR PRESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE WE HAVE MR. BANBURY THAT IS HERE ALSO TODAY. IT'S GOING TO SAY SOMETHING SOMETHING SPECIAL ON OUR 100 YEARS LOOKING BACK ON THE HISTORY OF WHERE I CAME FROM WITH THE DUNBAR SCHOOL AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN FOR FOR YEARS AND YEARS, RIGHT HERE IN HAYS COUNTY HAS MEANT A LOT TO US.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO CARRY ON FOR YEARS AND YEARS AS SUPPORT FOR OUR CHILDREN.
THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY'RE IN BEING INVOLVED IN AND LIKE I SAID, OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WE HAVE OUR JUDGE, WHERE'S OUR JUDGE, JUDGE? AND THEN WE HAVE OUR JUNETEENTH AND WE GOT MR. BANBURY. WHERE ARE YOU? COME ON, COME ON UP. I THINK MR. BANBURY WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING TO YOU, JUDGE.
COME ON UP. GIVE IT TO THE THE LADY OF OF THE HONOR.
FIRST YEAR TODAY. HI, EVERYONE. I'M JUDGE SANDRA BRYANT, HAYS COUNTY PRECINCT FIVE HERE IN BUDA.
WELL, ACTUALLY, IN BUDA, HAYS COUNTY. LET ME JUST SHUT THIS DOWN.
SO GOOD. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE, COMMUNITY LEADERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
PROCLAMATION 100 YEARS. THAT NUMBER ALONE CARRIES WEIGHT BECAUSE A CENTURY AGO, MANY PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME WERE NOT SITTING IN COURTROOMS. WE WERE STANDING OUTSIDE OF THEM.
WE'RE NOT SHAPING POLICY. WE WERE FIGHTING FOR BASIC RIGHTS.
WE WERE NOT ELECTED. WE WERE EXCLUDED. AND YET HERE WE ARE TODAY.
THAT IS THE POWER OF HISTORY. BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY.
IT IS A STORY OF PEOPLE WHO BUILT. IT IS A STORY OF PEOPLE WHO BUILT, SERVE, EDUCATED, PROTECTED, INNOVATED AND LED WHEN SYSTEMS WERE NOT DESIGNED FOR THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL TODAY, AS I SERVE AS JUSTICE OF THE PEACE FOR HAYS COUNTY
[01:00:03]
PRECINCT FIVE AND THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ELECTED JUDGE IN HAYS COUNTY, I AM DEEPLY AWARE THAT THAT I DO NOT STAND ALONE.I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE WHO MARCHED, WHO PRAYED, WHO ORGANIZED, WHO ENDURED, AND WHO BELIEVED IN A FUTURE THAT A FUTURE THEY MAY NOT NEVER SEE. BUT HISTORY IS NOT JUST SOMETHING WE REFLECT ON.
IT'S SOMETHING WE CONTINUE TO WRITE. AND I'M GOING TO PUT A SHAMELESS PLUG IN HERE.
MY HUSBAND, RAY BRYANT, IS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CITY COUNCIL.
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY. COMMITMENT TO OPPORTUNITY.
COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT EVERY CHILD IN HAYS COUNTY, REGARDLESS OF REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, SEE THEMSELVES IN LEADERSHIP. THAT IS WHY THIS PROCLAMATION MATTERS, BECAUSE IT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT HAYS COUNTY, THAT HAYS COUNTY RECOGNIZES THE CONTRIBUTION, THE CULTURE, THE COURAGE AND CONTINUED IMPACT OF BLACK LEADERS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I SEE YOU. MAY WE CONTINUE TO SHINE. MAY WE CONTINUE TO BUILD BRIDGES AND MAY.
AND MAY WE CONTINUE TO WRITE HISTORY TOGETHER.
THANK YOU JUDGE. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. I AM LILLIAN PETERSON JIMENEZ, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE JUNETEENTH FOUNDATION, INC. AND I'M HERE AND I'M ECSTATIC TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS HERE.
SOME OF MY EXPERIENCE OF, OF JOURNEYING WITH WITH THIS PICTURE OF ART BY LAVETTE MOHAMEDT. AND THIS IS A SYMBOLIZATION THAT I SAW IN.
IN THIS PICTURE WAS SHOWING ME PROUD STRONG PERSEVERING.
AND I JUST HAD TO SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY AND BRING IT THIS THIS IS GIVING ME MORE THAN I COULD BEAR TO READ ON SOME OF THE HISTORY AND 100 YEARS TODAY, 2026 TO BE HERE AND SHARE IN THIS. MY ANCESTORS MAKE ME PROUD. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER 100 YEARS. AND I SHARE THIS WITH WITH EVERYONE HERE IN THE COURT.
AND I INVITE YOU TO VISIT OUR MUSEUM'S BLACK HISTORY MUSEUMS. WE HAVE ONE IN DALLAS, CORPUS CHRISTI, AND OUR NEARBY SAN ANTONIO.
SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. AND PLEASE VISIT OUR MUSEUMS. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I AM NOT MR. ALEX BANBURY, OUR PRESIDENT.
MY NAME IS DOCTOR CHARLES RAMIH. I'M ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF THE DUNBAR HERITAGE ASSOCIATION.
I'M JUST HERE TO REPRESENT THE ORGANIZATION ITSELF, WHICH WAS FOUNDED IN 1999 BY HARVEY MILLER.
AND IT WAS JUST IT WAS ORGANIZED AS A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION AGAIN.
OUR THREE, OUR MISSION IS A THREE FOLD MISSION OF CELEBRATING OUR TRADITIONS, ADVOCATING FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE DUNBAR CULTURAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, AS WELL AS EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY.
SO TO CELEBRATE AGAIN, 100 YEARS OF BLACK HISTORY IN AMERICA.
DH HAS PARTNERED AND HAS DONE TWO EVENTS, ONE BEING EARLIER THIS MONTH, WHICH WAS FEBRUARY THE 7TH ON A SATURDAY, AND WE PARTNERED WITH THE SAN MARCOS PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE BLACK HISTORY KIDS EVENT THAT WAS TITLED BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY.
AGAIN, THAT WAS FOR OUR FIRST THROUGH SIXTH GRADERS.
IT WAS A SCHOOL LIKE STYLE EVENT WHERE WE BROUGHT TOGETHER A GOOD CROWD AND A GREAT TURNOUT TO JUST DISCUSS BLACK HISTORY, NOT ONLY IN OUR COUNTRY, BUT WITHIN OUR AREA IN HAYS COUNTY.
NOW, IF YOU'RE STILL INTERESTED IN IN INTERACTING AND ENGAGING IN BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE DO HAVE OUR SIP AND PAINT AND POETRY THAT'S COMING UP THIS SATURDAY, WHICH IS FEBRUARY THE 28TH FROM FOUR UNTIL 7 P.M.
THIS IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRICE CENTER AS WELL.
THE EVENT WILL FEATURE AN OPEN MIC SHOWCASE OF BLACK POETS AND A SHOW OFF OF YOUR OWN POETRY,
[01:05:02]
IF YOU HAVE ANY THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE, AS WELL AS LIVE MUSIC.THERE WILL BE PAINTING FOR KIDS AND ADULTS AND FOOD.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A GUEST POET COMING IN FROM AUSTIN, ACTUALLY CAITLIN MCCLUNG.
SHE IS A BASED IN SHE'S A BASED POET AND ARTIST AGAIN FROM AUSTIN.
THE PRESALE IS AVAILABLE UNTIL FEBRUARY THE 25TH.
YOU CAN PURCHASE TICKETS AT OUR WEBSITE, WHICH IS AGAIN D H A T.COM, OR YOU CAN VISIT US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH IS FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM AT D H A S M T H T.
BUT AGAIN, WE WANT TO JUST RECOGNIZE HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS MOMENT IS FOR HAYS COUNTY TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF BLACK HISTORY AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT BLACK HISTORY MONTH ISN'T JUST 28 DAYS, BUT 365 DAYS IN A YEAR.
WHEN YOU CELEBRATE ONE, YOU CELEBRATE ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, JUDGE. JUDGE BRYANT, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THOSE WONDERFUL REMARKS THAT YOU MADE.
BUT I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT IS HERE TODAY RECOGNIZING THIS PROCLAMATION.
AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENCE TODAY.
COMMISSIONER COHEN, I'M HAPPY TO CO-SPONSOR THIS PROCLAMATION WITH COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME TODAY.
WE NEED TO HOLD THOSE ACCOUNTABLE WHO TRY AND CHANGE THE HISTORY OR MAYBE TRY TO ERASE IT.
I'M SURE EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS ROOM AND MADE THEM FEEL GREAT.
SO I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR KIND WORDS AND HEARING THAT YOU'RE THE FIRST ELECTED BLACK JUDGE.
AND THEN ALSO FOR THE CITY OF BUDA. CONGRATULATIONS.
I CAN'T WAIT TO CONTINUE TO SEE MY FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS GET MAKE HISTORY.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I RECOGNIZE YOU AND I KNOW THAT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM DOES RECOGNIZE YOU GUYS AS WELL? COMMISSIONER SMITH, I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME TODAY, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THANK YOU TO THOSE THAT POSSIBLY WEREN'T HERE TODAY.
THOSE THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED. I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE PETERSONS AND MISS BROOKS.
IT SADDENS ME NOT TO SEE ROSE HERE, AND I KNOW IT BREAKS HER HEART NOT TO BE HERE.
SO I'VE ONLY DONE THIS, I THIS IS PROBABLY. WELL, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LAST BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
I GET TO SIT UP HERE IN THE DAIS AND SHE WARMS PEOPLE AND WE MISS HER.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I WE'VE, I TRY TO TAKE A 30,000 FOOT VIEW A LITTLE FURTHER OUT AND I, WE'VE ALL THREE OF OUR PRESENTATIONS PROCLAMATIONS TOGETHER EFFORTLESSLY.
AND I REMEMBER WHAT SAMANTHA BENAVIDES WAS SAYING ABOUT SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER AND HOW HELPING OUR COMMUNITY, HOW HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS SO THAT THEY. HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE, IS STEP ONE IN FUNDAMENTAL. IT LITERALLY SOUNDED TO ME LIKE, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO KIND OF SENTIMENT.
AND IT WAS AWESOME. IT'S IT'S REAL. AND THEN AND THEN I HEAR OUR JUDICIAL SERVICES GIVING AN UPDATE THAT JUDICIAL SERVICES DIDN'T EXIST. WHEN COMMISSIONER SMITH AND I GOT INTO OFFICE, THERE WAS NO MODERNIZATION OF OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM TAKING PLACE.
AND IT JUST REQUIRES SO MANY PEOPLE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON AN ENTIRE GOVERNMENT, ON EVERYTHING JUDICIAL, FROM MAGISTRATE TO SPECIALTY COURTS TO EVERYTHING LIKE PROGRAMS THAT THIS COURT SUPPORTS.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE IS PUTTING IT LIGHTLY. IT TAKES AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO MOVE THE WAY WE ARE MOVING TO HELP CHANGE THINGS BECAUSE WE CAN SAY NICE THINGS. BUT WHEN WE HAVE OUR BUDGET REFLECTING OUR VALUES.
NOW YOU'RE TALKING. WE HAVE THE REPRESENTATION OF MINORITIES IN OUR THE TRAPPINGS OF OUR JAILS HIGHLY REPRESENTED. I REPRESENT ONE OF THOSE MINORITY GROUPS AS WELL.
[01:10:04]
WE ARE DOING MAGNIFICENT THINGS. WE ARE MAKING MAGNIFICENT STRIDES.BUT OF COURSE, EVERYONE IN THIS COURTROOM CAN AGREE WE ARE FAR FROM DONE.
BUT I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT WE CAN REMEMBER THROUGH THESE MOMENTS.
EVERYONE, NO MATTER WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE, EVERY SINGLE BEATING HEART IS SOMEONE'S LOVED ONE.
THAT'S WHAT THIS REMINDS ME OF. AND I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT IT TOGETHER THIS WAY.
SO ANYONE WANTING TO BE A PART OF THIS PICTURE, PLEASE COME ON UP.
HOW ARE YOU? CONGRATULATIONS. OH, THAT WAS SUCH A SWEET.
I LOVED IT SO MUCH. COMING UP.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A MAGNIFICENT.
OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT. THIS IS THE MOMENT. THANK YOU.
CONSTABLE PETERSON, THIS IS THE MOMENT WHERE WE GO TO TIER.
WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS. SOME OF YOU ON TOP AND SOME OF YOU ALIGNED DOWN HERE.
TAKE YOUR PICK. THERE IS NO WRONG PLACE TO BE EXCEPT OUT OF THIS PICTURE.
SO COME ON UP. YOU GUYS HAVE TWO OTHER SECTIONS IF YOU WANT TO BE THERE.
ARE YOU READY? ALMOST. ALMOST. ALMOST. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
THESE AREN'T FULLY SIGNED, BUT LET'S JUST HOLD ONE UP ANYWAY.
WE'LL JUST DO THIS. ALL RIGHT. LOOKING RIGHT OVER HERE. WHERE'S HERE? RIGHT OVER HERE. OKAY. ONE. TWO. THREE. ONE. TWO.
THREE. OKAY. HOLD ON. I CAN LOOK OVER HERE. JUST ONE MORE TIME.
ONE. TWO. THREE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CELEBRATING DIVERSITY.
I WASN'T, I WASN'T. I PROMISE YOU, I'M STILL SCRATCHING ON IT.
JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. JUST IN CASE THEY MAY NOT EVEN READ IT.
I'M SURE IT'S. GOOD TO SEE YOU. HERE WE GO. MOVING RIGHT ALONG. THANK YOU AGAIN, CONSTABLE.
AND EVERYONE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THAT. WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL.
I LIKE THE SONG. SAYS TIME MARCHES ON. IT'S TIME TO KEEP MOVING.
[K.2. Discussion and possible action to adopt a Resolution related to emergency drought response and water conservation measures in Hays County. BECERRA]
[01:15:04]
RESPONSE AND WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES IN HAYS COUNTY.SO MOVED. SECOND. THANK YOU. SO WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO RECORD WHO'S SPEAKING AND WHO'S MAKING SECOND.
SO IF YOU GUYS DON'T MIND, PLEASE, IT'S TIME TO TONE IT DOWN JUST ONE MORE TIME.
SO I MADE A MOTION. COMMISSIONER. HAMMEL. SECONDED. IF YOU WILL, PLEASE READ THE RESOLUTION.
RESOLUTION OF THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT.
TEMPORARY EVALUATION PERIOD ON HIGH WATER USE.
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS. STATE OF TEXAS. COUNTY OF HAYS.
WHEREAS, HAYS COUNTY RELIES HEAVILY ON GROUNDWATER RESOURCES, AQUIFER SYSTEMS AND SPRING FED WATER SOURCES THAT SUSTAIN RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AGRICULTURAL ECOSYSTEMS AND ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICES.
AND WHEREAS THE AVAILABILITY OF WATER IS DIRECTLY TIED TO THE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE, INCLUDING THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SUPPLIES FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION, EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE, LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS AND DISASTER RESPONSE.
AND WHEREAS, THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT FINDS THAT CURRENT DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND INCREASING DEMAND ON REGIONAL WATER SUPPLIES REQUIRE IMMEDIATE AND PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY DOES NOT ADVERSELY IMPACT WATER AVAILABILITY OR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
AND WHEREAS THE VAST MAJORITY OF HAYS COUNTY RESIDENTS AND WATER SUPPLIERS ARE DEPENDENT UPON THE AVAILABILITY OF GROUNDWATER AS PART OF THEIR OVERALL WATER SUPPLIES, AND HAYS COUNTY AQUIFERS ARE CURRENTLY IN EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT WITHOUT REALISTIC OPPORTUNITY FOR RECOVERY IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.
AND WHEREAS, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FURTHER FINDS THAT THE ACCEPTANCE, PROCESSING AND APPROVAL OF NEW INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH LARGE SCALE PROJECTED WATER DEMAND WITHOUT ENHANCED EVALUATION OF WATER SUPPLY FEASIBILITY MAY POSE RISKS TO GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND WHEREAS, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DETERMINES THAT A SHORT DEFINED PAUSE IS NECESSARY TO EVALUATE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS, REVIEW EXISTING DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURES AND CONSIDER UPDATES TO COUNTY STANDARDS GOVERNING DEVELOPMENTS WITH HIGH PROJECTED WATER USAGE.
SECTION ONE INCORPORATION OF FINDINGS. THE RECITAL CLAUSES SET FORTH ABOVE ARE HEREBY ADOPTED AND INCORPORATED AS FINDINGS OF FACT, AS IF FULLY STATED HEREIN. SECTION TWO. PURPOSE.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS ORDER RESOLUTION IS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND GENERAL WELFARE BY TEMPORARILY LIMITING THE ACCEPTANCE AND PROCESSING OF CERTAIN HIGH WATER DEMAND. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS WHILE THE COUNTY EVALUATES WATER IMPACT REVIEW PROCEDURES.
SECTION THREE. TEMPORARY EVALUATION PERIOD EFFECTIVELY EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON ADOPTION, THE COUNTY SHALL IMPLEMENT A TEMPORARY EVALUATION PERIOD FOR 30 DAYS ON THE APPROVAL OF ANY NEW APPLICATION FOR COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PERMITS AND OR DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS FOR PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS. REASONABLY PROJECTED TO USE MORE THAN 20,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY, AS DETERMINED FROM APPLICANT SUBMITTALS. WATER DEMAND DISCLOSURES.
YET. SECTION FIVE EVALUATION AND PROCEDURAL REVIEW.
DURING THE TEMPORARY EVALUATION PERIOD, THE COUNTY SHALL EVALUATE POTENTIAL UPDATES TO THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO HIGH WATER USE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS, INCLUDING ENHANCED DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS.
THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AFFIRMS ITS INTENT THAT DEVELOPMENTS EXCEEDING THE STATED THRESHOLD BE SUBJECT TO ENHANCED WATER SUPPLY REVIEW, INCLUDING SUBMISSION OF WATER FEASIBILITY STUDY, COMPARABLE DOCUMENTATION PREPARED BY THE APPLICABLE GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND OR RETAIL WATER PROVIDER ADDRESSING PROPOSED WATER RESOURCES, SUPPLY CAPACITY, RELIABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY, DROUGHT CONTINGENCY AND CONSIDERATIONS. INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRAINTS.
PUBLIC SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. SECTION SIX SCOPE AND DURATION THIS TEMPORARY EVALUATION PERIOD SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR 30 DAYS, UNLESS EARLIER TERMINATED OR EXTENDED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.
IT IS INTENDED AS A TEMPORARY PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE.
[01:20:06]
AND I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF BY THANKING THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS FOR BUYING THIS COMMUNITY MORE TIME TO PROCESS. THANK YOU. CITY OF SAN MARCOS. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PRO-BUSINESS COUNTY JUDGE, AND I TAKE THAT WITH NO CONCERN.BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY PRO-BUSINESS TO ME.
THIS IS PRO INDUSTRIAL BLOW UP OF CONSUMPTION OF RESOURCES.
AND WHAT SOME FOLKS MAY NOT UNDERSTAND IS THERE ARE A POTENTIAL OF SIX LARGE INDUSTRIAL USERS CIRCLING TO PLANT THEMSELVES HERE IN HAYS COUNTY AT A PLACE IN TIME WHERE WE CAN BARELY SUSTAIN OURSELVES. SO I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING MEANINGFUL OUT.
I HAVE DRAFTED A SHORT LITTLE STATEMENT. THIS RESOLUTION IS CALLING FOR A PAUSE IN FINALIZING ANY COUNTY PERMITS FOR INDUSTRIAL USERS WHO EXPECT TO USE OVER 20,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY. IF WE DO NOT ADDRESS HEAVY INDUSTRIAL SCALE WATER USE UNDER OUR CURRENT DROUGHT CONDITIONS, WE MAY SOON FIND OURSELVES FACING SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS.
WE COULD REACH A POINT WHERE WE ARE UNABLE TO ADEQUATELY FILL OUR FIRE TRUCKS.
THESE ARE NOT DISTANT POSSIBILITIES. THEY ARE LIKELY SCENARIOS.
NO AMOUNT OF PREPARATION CAN SAVE US WITHOUT WATER.
I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SEVERAL STATE SENATORS, AS WELL AS DOZENS OF COUNTY JUDGES, COMMISSIONERS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS ACROSS THIS GREAT STATE OF TEXAS. THAT TIME TO ACT IS NOW. WE DO NOT WANT TO LOOK BACK WEEKS, EVEN WEEKS FROM NOW, FACING WORSENING WATER SHORTAGES AND REGRET THAT WE CHOSE INACTION OVER A SENSE OF FEAR.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS TYPE OF EFFORT CAN BE CHALLENGING.
I RECOGNIZE THE OBJECTIONS RAISED BY OUR CIVIL DIVISION AND I DO NOT DISMISS OBJECTIONS.
LEADERSHIP DURING THIS MOMENT OF POTENTIAL CRISIS REQUIRES LEADERSHIP ON AN OCCASIONAL RISK.
THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. SORRY, GUYS. THIS PROPOSED PAUSE IS LIMITED TO 30 DAYS.
IT IS TEMPORARY AND MEASURED SEPARATELY. AND IN ADDITION TO THIS EFFORT, I AM WORKING ALONGSIDE STATE OFFICIALS TO ASK GOVERNOR ABBOTT FOR A LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AN EMERGENCY SESSION TO ADDRESS GAPS WITHIN THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SO THAT COUNTIES HAVE CLEARER AUTHORITY TO RESPOND TO HIGH VOLUME WATER CONSUMPTION DURING EMERGENCY DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS RESOLUTION REPRESENTS A PRUDENT SAFEGUARD.
A TEMPORARY PAUSE THAT PRIORITIZES PUBLIC SAFETY, PROTECTS CRITICAL RESOURCES, AND ALLOWS THIS COURT TO ACT RESPONSIBLY IN THE FACE OF A FORESEEABLE RISK. AND THE GREAT WORDS ATTRIBUTED TO PRESIDENT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT DO ANYTHING BUT DO SOMETHING.
WHAT RIGHT DO WE HAVE TO GIVE UP HOPE? AND I WILL ASK.
THERE'S TWO MORE LITTLE PIECES OF INFORMATION I WILL ASK.
OUR COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE TO READ BEFORE I OPEN IT UP TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
LET'S START WITH BECAUSE THIS MOVEMENT, I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH.
THIS MOVEMENT IS LITERALLY AFFECTING US HERE IN EVERY CITY.
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
WILL YOU PLEASE READ THAT ONE FIRST? SCALE COMPARISONS.
THANK YOU. PLEASE MAKE IT WHERE YOU CAN. COMMISSIONER SAMUELSON.
SCALE COMPARISONS. HOOD COUNTY. HOOD COUNTY POPULATION REFERENCE.
[01:25:01]
YOU'RE ALMOST 300,000. WE ARE JUST 70,000. DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE DESCRIBED 8000 ACRES OF DATA CENTERS AND ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT. PRIMARY COMPARISON 8000 ACRES IS LIKE FIVE NASA SPACE CENTERS.ALTERNATE COMPARISON OR TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, 57 AT&T STADIUMS. CLARIFICATION OF FOOTPRINT INCLUDING ALL PARKING, ALL THE PARKING AND THE STADIUM MULTIPLIED BY 57.
SO, YOU KNOW, A COMMUNITY OF 70,000 PEOPLE HAS THOSE ALARMING NUMBERS FOR FOLKS.
NOW, JUST ONE MOMENT MORE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IT'S A NATIONAL ISSUE.
CAN YOU READ THE NEXT ONE? THE LAST ONE, I SHOULD SAY.
SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS. YES. WE NEED A MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION.
WELL NOT ANYMORE. TODAY, THE MAYOR OF DENVER, COLORADO, FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF CITY COUNCILS AND STATE OFFICIALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ANNOUNCED A DATA CENTER MORATORIUM FOR HIS CITY.
THE LOCAL OFFICIALS WHO ARE SUPPORTING A MORATORIUM ARE RIGHT.
DATA CENTERS WILL HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON LAND AND WATER USE AND WILL DRIVE UP ELECTRICITY COSTS.
LET'S BE CLEAR AI WILL LIKELY HAVE A CATASTROPHIC IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF WORKING CLASS AMERICANS, ELIMINATING TENS OF MILLIONS OF BLUE AND WHITE COLLAR JOBS IN EVERY SECTOR OF OUR ECONOMY.
FURTHER, GIVEN THE EXTRAORDINARY SPEED AT WHICH AI IS PROGRESSING, ADDRESSING A NUMBER OF VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AI EXPERTS, FEAR THAT THIS REVOLUTIONARY TECHNOLOGY COULD SOON BECOME SMARTER THAN HUMANS AND ESCAPE HUMAN CONTROL WITH POTENTIALLY CATACLYSMIC OUTCOMES.
THE BOTTOM LINE WE CANNOT SIT BACK AND ALLOW A HANDFUL OF BILLIONAIRE BIG TECH OLIGARCHS TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL RESHAPE OUR ECONOMY, OUR DEMOCRACY, AND THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY. WE NEED SERIOUS PUBLIC DEBATE AND DEMOCRATIC OVERSIGHT OF THIS ENORMOUSLY CONSEQUENTIAL ISSUE.
THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW. WE NEED A FEDERAL MORATORIUM ON AI DATA CENTERS.
NOW, WILL YOU PLEASE GO THROUGH THE CITIZEN COMMENTS ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? IN PERSON FIRST. WE CAN HAVE BOBBY LIVINGSTON.
LIVINGSTON, BOBBY LEVINSKY, COME ON DOWN. AND PLEASE HONOR TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES WHEN THE TIMER GOES OFF, PLEASE. AGGRESSIVELY CONCLUDE YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT.
LAST NIGHT I SENT YOU A LETTER CO-WRITTEN BY THE SAN MARCOS RIVER FOUNDATION, HILL COUNTRY ALLIANCE WATERSHED ASSOCIATION, AND SAVE OUR SPRINGS AND SUPPORT OF ITEMS K2, K3, AND K4.
IT MAKES THREE CENTRAL POINTS. FIRST, IT THINKS THIS COURT.
FOR PAST EFFORTS THAT RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE AND LIMITS OF OUR GROUNDWATER RESOURCES.
IT IS PART OF OUR NEW REALITY THAT OUR COMMUNITY MUST ACKNOWLEDGE AND PLAN FOR.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST DROUGHT. THE RAPID DECLINE OF OUR STREAMS, RIVERS AND AQUIFERS IS ALSO TIED TO THE OVERALLOCATION AND OVERPUMPING, A SYMPTOM OF THE PITIFUL STATE OF TEXAS WATER LAWS.
EVERYONE WHO CARES ABOUT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE DEMANDING THE END OF THE RULE OF CAPTURE.
BUT THAT HYPOTHETICAL IS NOT NECESSARILY WITHIN OUR CONTROL RIGHT NOW.
WE URGE THIS COURT TO ACT. A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN'T.
THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE BUYING NEW ROPE TO TIE YOUR HANDS TO PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITIES.
YOU ARE FORCING A CONVERSATION THAT IS TIMELY AND NECESSARY.
AND OUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE HERE TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO SUPPORT AND HELP YOU IN THESE EFFORTS.
WE STAND READY. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS ACTION.
THANK YOU SIR. ABIGAIL LINDSEY.
[01:30:05]
GOOD MORNING, ABIGAIL LINDSEY. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.I'M HERE TO SUPPORT AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO WATER CONSERVATION IN HAYS COUNTY ON THE AGENDA.
THESE ITEMS ARE LOCATED UNDER MISCELLANEOUS NUMBERS K TWO THROUGH K FOUR.
WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO FIGHT.
WE CAN DO SOMETHING. WE JUST NEED OUR ELECTED LEADERS TO START THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT. WE HAVE BEEN URGING YOU TO DO SOMETHING.
NOW IS THE TIME. WE CAN NO LONGER PUT THIS ISSUE TO THE SIDE AND WORRY ABOUT IT YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, SITTING BY AND SAYING, WELL, THE DEVELOPERS HAVE MONEY, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING IS OUTDATED.
EVERYONE IS WATCHING SAN MARCOS AND HAYS COUNTY.
SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER COUNTIES FOR WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.
STRONG LOCAL LEADERSHIP IS VITAL TO OUR FUTURE.
ACCORDING TO MY OPEN RECORDS REQUEST. AND YOU'LL HAVE THAT PRINT OUT FROM CRYSTAL CLEAR.
OVER 3 MILLION GALLONS OF DRINKING WATER DAILY WILL BE USED.
I INVITE THE JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS AND THE PUBLIC TO COME TO CRYSTAL CLEAR SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT BOARD MEETING THIS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH AT 630. YOU CAN SIGN UP TO SPEAK AT THE DOOR.
THEY ARE NOT FOLLOWING THEIR OWN DROUGHT MONITORING WATER CONTINGENCY PLAN.
WE NEED TO PUT PRESSURE ON THEM. COMMISSIONERS, I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT JUDGE BECERRA IN ANY STEPS NECESSARY TO IMPOSE WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES ON DEVELOPMENTS WITH PROJECTED HIGH WATER DEMAND, SPECIFICALLY DATA CENTERS AND BEHIND THE METER POWER PLANTS.
THE MISSION OF HAYS COUNTY IS TO PROVIDE AND IMPROVE SERVICES TO ITS RESIDENTS THAT IMPACT THEIR HEALTH, SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. AS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTIES IN THE NATION, HAYS COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO ADAPTING TO GROWTH WHILE MAINTAINING A DEEP CONNECTION TO OUR RICH HISTORY AND NATURAL RESOURCES. WE EMBRACE FORWARD THINKING IDEAS WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION TO SERVING OUR RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LORI BROWN.
THANK YOU TO THE JUDGE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS LAURIE BROWN AND I'M A RESIDENT OF HAYS COUNTY.
I WORK IN HAYS COUNTY AND HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH LATELY.
A LOT OF RESEARCH ON DATA CENTERS AND THE AMOUNT OF WATER AND ELECTRICITY THAT THEY USE.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE ACTIONS OF DIRECTING HAYS COUNTY STAFF TO EVALUATE AND PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO COUNTY DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCEDURES TO ENSURE WATER CONSERVATION AND WATER SUPPLY FEASIBILITY ARE ADEQUATELY MEASURED AND CONSIDERED FOR DEVELOPMENTS WITH NOT ONLY HIGH WATER DEMAND BUT ANY WATER DEMAND. THE PAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS, HAYS COUNTY HAS ENDURED DROUGHT RESTRICTIONS OF VARYING LEVELS, AND IT APPEARS SOON WE WILL RISE TO A LEVEL THAT THE BARTON SPRINGS EDWARDS AQUIFER GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT HAS NEVER ENACTED SINCE ITS FORMATION, A STAGE FOUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERIOD.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGES IN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT REVIEW AND SPECIFICALLY SEE NUMBER ONE ONE WATER CONCEPTS ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. NUMBER TWO RAINWATER COLLECTION SYSTEMS, PURCHASE INCENTIVES FOR HOMEOWNERS AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS.
NUMBER THREE NEW DEVELOPMENT LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR XERISCAPING.
AND NUMBER FIVE STRONG LIMITS ON IMPERVIOUS COVER FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. ANGIE UNGER.
[01:35:10]
WATER USE. WE ARE IN AN EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT. RECHARGE IS SLOW.THE CONDITIONS WE ARE OPERATING UNDER RIGHT NOW ARE NOT ORDINARY.
WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE. RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP REASSESSES RISK.
LARGE SCALE INDUSTRIAL DEMAND CARRIES A DIFFERENT MAGNITUDE OF IMPACT.
TAKING 30 DAYS TO ENSURE OUR DATA AND ASSUMPTIONS REFLECT CURRENT DROUGHT REALITIES IS NOT EXTREME.
AND ONCE AN AQUIFER IS OVERCOMMITTED, THERE IS NO REFUND POLICY.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT STOPPING PROGRESS. IT IS ABOUT SEQUENCING IT RESPONSIBLY, MAKING SURE GIRLS DOES NOT OUTRUN THE RESOURCE THAT MAKES GIRLS POSSIBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
30 DAYS IS NOT A CRISIS. RUNNING DRY IS, AND I'VE SAID IT OVER THE YEARS, WE CANNOT DRINK MONEY, PROTECT OUR WATER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JENNA.
FLEMMING. COULD YOU SAY THE LAST NAME AGAIN? FLEMMING.
THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS K TWO THROUGH FOUR.
WE ARE IN A CLIMATE CRISIS. IT'S NOT JUST A PASSING, EPHEMERAL CONDITION.
WE WE DO NOT HAVE REGULATIONS IN PLACE OR MUNICIPAL ZONING REGULATIONS IN PLACE THAT WERE FORMED.
TAKING THESE INTO CONSIDERATION. ANOTHER GREAT CONCERN OF MINE IS THAT THE ENERGY WATER NEXUS IS BEING INADEQUATELY ADDRESSED OR NOT ADDRESSED AT ALL.
THESE. SOMETIMES THESE DATA CENTER COMPANIES ARE TRYING TO PROJECT THEIR WATER USE SIMPLY AS ON SITE WATER USE, BUT THERE IS A GREATER CONSUMPTION WITH OF WATER WITH THEIR ENERGY CONSUMPTION.
SO WE NEED TO SOMEHOW FIND A WAY TO COMPARTMENTALIZE THESE DISCUSSIONS ON ENERGY AND WATER.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE DATA CENTER, WE RECENTLY CONSIDERED THE USING LESS WATER CONSUMPTION THROUGH THE CLOSED LOOP WAS GOING TO REQUIRE MORE ENERGY, RESULTING IN A NET INCREASE OF WATER CONSUMPTION.
ALSO, WITH THE ENERGY PRODUCTION, IT'S NOT JUST THE CONVERSION OF FUEL TO ELECTRICITY THAT CONSUMES WATER, IT'S THE EXTRACTION THAT ENTAILS NOT ONLY WATER CONSUMPTION, BUT THE RISK OF WATER CONTAMINATION.
WE'RE AT A STAGE NOW WHERE IT'S BEING, I BELIEVE, APPROVED TO USE FRACKING WATER FOR IRRIGATION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND PLANTS, BIOACCUMULATE CONTAMINANTS. IT'S LIKE THERE'S A PLAN IN PLACE TO TAKE OUR WATER AND THEN RECYCLE IT, THEIR CONTAMINANTS THROUGH OUR FOOD.
AND WE ALSO NEED TO CHALLENGE THE TECHNO SOLUTIONISM OF LET THEM DRINK WASTEWATER.
WE REALLY NEED A VERY HOLISTIC, COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THESE NEW PROPOSALS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. RANDALL TERRELL.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS RANDALL TERRELL. I LIVE IN SAN MARCOS.
I'M A FATHER, A HUSBAND, A LAWYER, A BUSINESS OWNER, AND A POLICY WONK.
[01:40:03]
THREE, AND FOUR. I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY WIFE.I WAS WONDERING TODAY IF DATA CENTERS ARE BEING WELCOMED SO WARMLY, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE IN THE US HAVE NO REAL IDEA OR EXPERIENCE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE WITH A SERIOUS DROUGHT. DROUGHTS ARE NO NO BY NO MEANS UNCOMMON IN TEXAS.
IT'S WHAT WE DO. SINCE MY GRANDFATHER ATTENDED SOUTHWEST TEXAS NORMAL COLLEGE OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST SEVEN MAJOR DROUGHTS, AND I'VE LIVED THROUGH THREE OF THEM. WE ARE NOW IN OUR EIGHTH.
I'VE SEEN WHAT THEY DO TO LAND, TO CROPS, TO PEOPLE, TO BUSINESSES AND TO WILDLIFE.
I'VE KNOWN FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE LOST FARMS, LOST CATTLE, LOST JOBS, CLOSED BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES THAT MOVED AWAY, ALL DUE TO DROUGHT. I'VE LIVED WITH LIMITS ON TOILET FLUSHING AND SHOWERS AND EVEN RATIONING OF DRINKING WATER.
DROUGHTS CAN BE VERY, VERY UGLY THINGS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO IMAGINE WHAT HAYS COUNTY VOTERS WILL THINK OF THE DATA CENTERS IF WE GET ANYWHERE NEAR THAT DESPERATE. I IMAGINE MOST OF US ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH HOW BAD DROUGHTS CAN GET, BECAUSE AFTER THE DUST BOWL AND THE DROUGHTS OF THE 1950S, TEXAS, TEXAS INVESTED HEAVILY IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND DAMS TO CONTROL FLOODS, PROVIDE WATER DURING DROUGHTS, AND ALLOW FOR SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND GUESS WHAT? IT WORKED. IN FACT, IT WORKED SO WELL THAT WE'VE BEEN SPOILED.
WE'VE PUMPED SEEMINGLY INFINITE GROUNDWATER TO EXHAUSTION, DRAINED OUR LAKES ALMOST DRY, ALLOWED UNCONTROLLED GROWTH AND FORGOTTEN WHAT A [EXPLETIVE] MOTHER NATURE CAN BE IN OUR HEADLONG GROWTH, WE HAVE USED UP ALL THE SPARE CAPACITY THAT THE INVESTMENTS OF THE LAST CENTURY, PROVIDED WE HAVE OUTGROWN ALL THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WE'VE BEEN BUILDING FOR 100 YEARS, IT WOULD TAKE DECADES TO BUILD ANY KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MIGHT HELP US OUT AND CATCH US. CATCH US UP TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. BUT THIS IS LIKELY A PROBLEM THAT WE CAN NEVER BUILD OUR WAY OUT OF.
THE TRUTH IS, NO ONE HAS A PLAN FOR HOW TO PROCEED IF THINGS CONTINUE AS THEY ARE OR EVEN GET WORSE.
NOT THE CITY, NOT THE COUNTY, NOT THE STATE, NOT OUR COUNTRY.
A MORATORIUM IS NOT A PLAN. IT IS NOT THE BEGINNING OF A PLAN.
AT MOST, IT IS THE CHANCE TO BEGIN THINKING ABOUT A PLAN IN VERY, VERY TRUTHFULLY.
IT IS THE VERY, VERY LEAST WE CAN DO. WE HAVE NO SPARE CAPACITY.
THERE IS NO ONE COMING TO SAVE US. IF THERE IS NO WATER, THERE IS NO TAX BASE.
THERE ARE NO JOBS. WE CANNOT DRINK DIRT. THANK YOU.
SORRY. WE'LL START THE TIMER WHEN YOU START. I'M SORRY.
DON'T WORRY. OKAY. GOT IT. I'M KAYLIE. CHAMPAGNE.
THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM K22 WEEKS AGO.
THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES MET IN AUSTIN TO DISCUSS WATER CRISIS CONCERNS, GROUNDWATER ACTION, AND FUTURE ACTION TO CONSERVE WATER.
THE COO AND SOME LOCAL GROUNDWATER DISTRICTS.
THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD WARNS THAT CENTRAL TEXAS IS ON TRACK TO BE IN A WATER DEFICIT BY 2047, AND THAT OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS FOR WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND DON'T EVEN ACCOUNT FOR THE AI DATA CENTER BOOM.
THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY DECLARED STAGE FIVE DROUGHT THIS SUMMER, AND ACCORDING TO THEIR CRITERIA, WE ARE IN STAGE FOUR CURRENTLY AND HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE OCTOBER. RESEARCH FROM THE MEADOWS CENTER FOR WATER AND THE ENVIRONMENT AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND SHOWS THAT OUR AQUIFERS ARE BEING PUMPED FOR DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAN WHAT IS BEING REPLENISHED.
THIS IS UNSUSTAINABLE. AS WE KNOW, A DATA CENTER BOOM IS EMERGING IN TEXAS.
LAND IS BEING TARGETED HEAVILY. AS OF NOW, TEXAS HAS THE LARGEST DATA CENTER MARKET, SECOND ONLY TO VIRGINIA AND EXPECTED TO SURPASS VIRGINIA SOON, ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY STUDY INSTITUTE.
DATA CENTERS USE ON AVERAGE 5 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY.
IF WE RECKLESSLY APPROVE HIGH DEMAND ACTIVITY, WE RISK LOCKING IN IRREPARABLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND WATER SCARCITY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF HAYS COUNTY. I URGE YOU TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN WHICH WE CAN PAUSE, EVALUATE WHAT IS APPROPRIATE AND PRIORITIZE OUR RESIDENTS OVER CORPORATIONS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP. SURE. DAN SCHAEFER.
HELLO. MY NAME IS SHERIDAN SCHAEFER. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
[01:45:05]
I LIVE IN SAN MARCOS IN PRECINCT ONE, REPRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER DEBBIE INGALSBE.I'M HERE TODAY TO COMMENT THAT I'M IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED MORATORIUM ON APPROVAL OF PERMITS FOR NEW INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS, REQUESTING OVER 25,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY AS IT RELATES TO AGENDA ITEMS K TWO, THREE AND FOUR.
TO SECOND, WHAT THE LAST SPEAKER JUST SAID. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE TEXAS HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, LED BY REPUBLICAN HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE CODY HARRIS, MET FOR AN URGENT INTERIM HEARING TO DISCUSS TEXAS AQUIFER HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER PUMPING. THIS WAS OUT OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
IT'S IN PREPARATION FOR THE 90TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THAT DOESN'T BEGIN UNTIL JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR.
I'M WORRIED PRIMARILY THAT THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES IN TEXAS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROCEED AT THE SAME SPEED THAT THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IS HAPPENING IN OUR STATE. MANY PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE RULE OF CAPTURE, WHICH IS STILL THE LAW IN MANY PARTS OF OUR STATE.
THEY DISCUSSED DURING THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, HAYS COUNTY WAS PRESENTED AS KIND OF HIGHLIGHTED AS AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT CAN ARISE WITH GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, WHICH IN CURRENT TEXAS CODE HAVE VERY LIMITED FISCAL LEGAL AUTHORITY TO ACTUALLY ENFORCE GROUNDWATER PUMPING LIMITS. JUST IN OVER IN WIMBERLEY AND HAYS COUNTY, THE HAYS TRINITY GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT IS FACING INSOLVENCY BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN WRAPPED UP IN, IN LAWSUITS WITH AQUA WATER, AS SOME OF Y'ALL ARE PROBABLY WELL AWARE.
AND THEN ALSO, DOCTOR ROBERT MACE FROM THE MEADOWS CENTER SPOKE ABOUT HOW THE DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION SHOWED THAT 95% OF OUR DESIRED FUTURE CONDITIONS SHOW UNSUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER PUMPING, MEANING THAT OUR AQUIFERS CANNOT REPLENISH AT THE RATE THAT THEY ARE BEING DRAWN FROM. THIS WILL ULTIMATELY BE A HUGE TEXAS LEGISLATIVE MATTER, BUT GIVEN THEIR PACE AND THEIR UNPREPAREDNESS, I DO THINK THAT CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE TO STAND UP AND ACT AS THE GUARDRAILS KIND OF ATTACKING IT FROM BOTH ENDS TO HELP PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING OUR SUSTAINED DROUGHTS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING THIS AREA, TEXAS IS ON TRACK TO BECOME THE NUMBER ONE GLOBAL GLOBAL LEADER IN DATACENTER DEVELOPMENT BY 2030. THERE ARE 400 DATA CENTERS CURRENTLY BUILT OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION, WITH AN ESTIMATED 1000 BY 2030.
THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION HAS ALSO PASSED LEGISLATION TO ACCELERATE DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT BY BYPASSING OR RELAXING SEVERAL FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS AND REGULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ZAYN PORTERFIELD.
THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I'M HERE TODAY AS THE MESSENGER AND AS SOMEONE WHO STUDIES GROUNDWATER GOVERNANCE POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION, AS WELL AS THE ECOLOGY OF THIS REGION OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THERE'S BEEN A SHIFT IN THE TIDES OF TEXAS WATER, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT. WE'RE MAKING HISTORY HERE IN HAYS COUNTY.
TWO WEEKS AGO, I WAS ALSO AT THE HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE HEARING AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, AND THEY HELD THIS HISTORIC HEARING ON GROUNDWATER.
THE LAST THREE TESTIMONIES WERE ON BEHALF OF OUR REGION.
DESPITE THE ISSUE BEING LED BY CONSERVATIVES FROM EAST TEXAS, OUR PROBLEMS HERE IN HAYS COUNTY WERE BROUGHT IN AS THE LIVING EXAMPLE, THE POSTER CHILD FOR WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WATER IS MISMANAGED.
OUR GROUNDWATER DISTRICT, THE HAYS TRINITY, IS THE ONLY REGULATORY BODY THAT PROTECTS THE WELLS OF NEARLY 9000 RESIDENTS IN HAYS COUNTY, AND IT'S ABOUT TO BE THE FIRST GROUNDWATER DISTRICT EVER IN TEXAS HISTORY TO BE SUED TO DEATH TO ENFORCE ONE PERMIT.
IF ONE USER CAN BREAK OUR SYSTEM DOWN COMPLETELY, HOW HAVE WE FAILED ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, ON THE LOCAL POLICY LEVEL? WELL, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WE FAILED WITH SOME PROFOUND MISCOMMUNICATIONS ACROSS AGENCIES AND STAKEHOLDERS.
SO DESPITE GOOD POLICY BEING ON THE BOOKS, IT HAS GONE HISTORICALLY UNUSED OVER TEN YEARS AGO.
THIS BODY INITIATED A RESOLUTION TO REQUIRE WATER AVAILABILITY STUDIES FOR NEW SUBDIVISIONS, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT DURING HISTORIC DROUGHT, THIS MEASURE WOULD PREVENT THE CREATION OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS. AFTER THE LAST FEW YEARS OF WATCHING NEW SUBDIVISIONS COME ONLINE IN WOOD CREEK NORTH, I ASKED THE MANAGER OF THE GROUNDWATER DISTRICT HOW ARE THERE NEW SUBDIVISIONS BEING APPROVED? IF AQUA TEXAS HAS BEEN PUMPING WITHOUT A PERMIT FOR OVER TWO YEARS? IS THE GROUNDWATER CONSIDERED AVAILABLE IF THE PERMIT IS ILLEGAL? THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NEVER RECEIVED A WATER AVAILABILITY STUDY FROM THE COUNTY.
TEN YEARS ON THE BOOKS AND NEVER RECEIVED IT.
[01:50:04]
WITH THE ONLY REAL PUSHBACK COMING FROM THOSE ABOUT TO MAKE MONEY. ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM TODAY IS ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS, THE APPROVAL OF THE MOUNT SHARP AIR PARK, WHICH IS A RESIDENTIAL FLY IN SUBDIVISION ABOUT TWO MILES FROM JACOB'S WELL.THIS WAS OPPOSED BY LITERALLY EVERY PERSON I SPOKE TO OVER THE LAST YEAR.
COUNTY STAFF, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND OVER 150 LANDOWNERS.
THE CONSULTANT ON THE PROJECT ACTUALLY USED TO BE THE HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HERE IN HAYS COUNTY, AND HE OPENLY JOKED TO PEOPLE IN A PUBLIC HEARING THAT HE HAD CREATED THE POLICIES THAT HE WAS USING TO OBFUSCATE THE PROJECT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
THIS WAS DEVASTATING TO HEAR ON PEOPLE ON ALL SIDES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.
I HAD LEADERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY MEETING WITH ME, FLOATING THE IDEA OF ZONING THE COUNTY ON THIS ISSUE AND BRINGING IT TO THE LEGISLATURE THEMSELVES, SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT I'D EVER SEE.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO SEE THE APPROVAL OF THIS SUBDIVISION REGARDLESS.
SURE, THE COUNTY LACKS THE NEW TOOLS TO MANAGE DEVELOPMENT IN ALIGNMENT WITH COMMUNITIES VALUES, BUT WE ARE NOW AT A POWERFUL HINGE POINT, SO WE HAVE UNPRECEDENTED THREATS AT OUR DOOR.
YET WE HAVE LAID FALLOW THE TOOLS AND THE EXPERTS AND REGULATORS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
CJ. CAN YOU REPEAT THE NAME PLEASE? CJ SATINA.
LET ME JUST TAKE A SIP OF THIS SACRED WATER FIRST.
GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS CJ SATINA.
WE ARE LIVING IN A WATER CRISIS AND ARE AT A HISTORIC LOW WATER LEVELS.
WE'RE OFTEN KNOWN AS LIKE HAYS COUNTY IS OFTEN PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING A NATURAL, SACRED ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE SAN MARCOS RIVER AND THE BEAUTIFUL TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND OUR LOVELY AGRICULTURAL HERE.
BUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE TIME, THESE INDUSTRIAL WATER USERS WILL POLLUTE OUR AIR QUALITY AND INCREASE ELECTRICITY BILLS AND USE MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER, WHICH WE ARE ALREADY LOW ON HERE IN THE COUNTY.
ALSO TO, AND I SAW THIS ON THE NEWS, BUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL WATER USERS WILL AFFECT OUR FOOD SUPPLY, RESTRICTING FARMERS AND AGRICULTURAL CROPS. ACCESS TO WATER IN THE COUNTY, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE IN THE COUNTY, WHEREVER YOU ARE HERE IN SAN MARCOS, DRIPPING SPRINGS.
I URGE THE VOTING BODY TO ADOPT MEASURES K2, K3, AND K4.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT UP, MJ NORTHROP.
HI. LET ME GET MY NOTE. WE WON'T START UNTIL YOU START.
I'M A 44 YEAR OLD RESIDENT AND PARENT OF FOUR IN SAN MARCOS.
I CAME TO SAN MARCOS TO STUDY URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING AT TEXAS STATE IN THE MID 2000.
AFTER COLLEGE, I WENT ON TO WORK AS A PROJECT MANAGER IN AUSTIN.
SO WHEN IT WAS TIME TO RAISE MY CHILDREN, I CHOSE TO RETURN TO SAN MARCOS.
THERE ARE BETTER PEOPLE HERE WHO CAN DO THAT, BUT WHAT I WANT TO CONVEY IS MY EXPERIENCE IN TRYING TO SIFT THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN OF DATA, MISINFORMATION, AND UNKNOWNS WHEN I WENT IN. EVEN WITH EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE, I FOUND MYSELF WAIST DEEP IN THE CHAOS OF NEW SPECULATIVE INFO MASKED AS SCIENCE, TRYING TO FULLY GRASP THE IMPACTS OF THESE PROJECTS BY THE END.
A NUMBER OF DEEP DIVES INTO IT. I HAD ONE VERY CLEAR THOUGHT THIS IS TOTALLY CONVOLUTED.
IT'S RUSHED. THIS IS INFO BEING FORCE FED BY COMPANIES WHO STAND TO PROFIT OUT OF HAZE.
I RECALL A PROFESSOR IN REGIONAL PLANNING PUSHING OVER AND OVER AGAIN THIS ONE POINT THAT PLANNERS MUST PLAN TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF ITS CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE THE DEVELOPERS WILL NOT.
DEVELOPERS HAVE A BOTTOM LINE AND WE HAVE TO USE OUR SKILLS TO CREATE LAND USE CODE THAT HAS TEETH.
FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO LEAN ON REAL TEETH. MY PROFESSOR WAS SERIOUS AS A HEART ATTACK.
THIS IS THE ROLE WE TAKE ON AS PLANNERS TO BUILD CODE TO PROTECT RESIDENTS FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND TO WRITE CODE THAT EMPOWERS ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PROTECT US.
WELL, WE DIDN'T GET THERE FAST ENOUGH AGAINST THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS POURED INTO AI IN RECORD TIME.
[01:55:02]
SO WHAT I SEE CLEAR AS DAY, IS AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR STATE AND THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO BUILD OUR OWN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH, AND WE HAVE NOT HAD THE TIME TO BEEF UP OUR LOCAL ORDINANCE.SO I'LL SAY IT AGAIN WE ARE NOT GULLIBLE PEOPLE HERE IN HAYS COUNTY, AND THIS COURT HAS THE POWER RIGHT NOW TO SAY, HOLD UP, WAIT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE TIME AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK INTO IT OURSELVES.
SO PLEASE APPROVE THIS MORATORIUM. IT ISN'T A LEFT ISSUE.
IT ISN'T A RIGHT ISSUE, A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN ISSUE.
WE SHOULD COME TO THAT CONCLUSION ON OUR OWN, AND WE SURE AS HELL SHOULDN'T BLINDLY BE FOLLOWING FOLKS STANDING TO PROFIT THE MOST WHEN IT COMES TO THE SCIENCE. DENVER JUST DID THIS AND WE CAN DO IT.
THE 500 PEOPLE ON THE LAWN AT CITY HALL LAST WEEK WHO SHUT DOWN CYRUS ONE FOR SIX MONTHS.
THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW, AND THEY'RE ORGANIZING FAST AND THEY VOTE.
SO THE NEXT TIME IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, THERE WILL BE THOUSANDS ON THE LAWN OF THIS VERY BUILDING, READY TO FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE, TO UNDERSTAND THEIR OWN FUTURES, FOR THEIR FAMILY. PLEASE USE THE POWER OF THIS COURT TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF ITS COUNTY.
YOU WILL NOT STAND ALONE IN THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
SHARE WITH YOU ALL AN EMAIL WHICH I HAD PREVIOUSLY SENT TO MAYOR HOUSTON.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE, NOT ONLY OF THE ON SITE WATER USE, WHICH I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT, BUT ALSO THE OFF SITE WATER USE USED TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY FOR DATA CENTERS.
AND THIS ALSO BRINGS UP THE POINT THAT THIS MEASURE IS NOT JUST ABOUT DATA CENTERS.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE RELATED INCREASE IN POWER DEMAND THAT THIS GROWTH IN DATA CENTERS IS CAUSING THIS ALSO WITH POWER WITH THE WAY THAT ELECTRICITY IS SOCIALIZED WITHIN TEXAS AS WELL.
THIS MAKES IT, AS JUDGE BECERRA MENTIONED BEFORE, A STATEWIDE ISSUE.
THAT ONE DATA CENTER WOULD HAVE USED 2.32 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY JUST TO PRODUCE THE ELECTRICITY TO POWER IT. AND AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, WE HAVE SEVERAL MORE THAT ARE TRYING TO COME TO OUR AREA.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT THE GENERAL MOVEMENT TOWARDS THESE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS.
SO I HOPE THAT WILL BE PART OF Y'ALL'S CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT UP KEIRA RUMBLE.
RUMBLE. SORRY. OKAY, WE'LL GO ON TO THE NEXT PERSON.
THIS ONE WAS SUBMITTED AFTER 9 A.M.. I'M FINE WITH IT.
MARY, I WANT YOU TO KNOW, IN THESE INSTANCES I AM FINE WITH A AFTER 9 A.M.
SUBMITTAL IF IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO REALIZE WE ARE A LARGE COUNTY.
IT'S CONSISTENT, SO GO AHEAD. MARY. LINDA GREEN.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LINDA GREEN AND I LIVE IN KYLE, TEXAS.
ON JANUARY 20TH OF THIS YEAR, OUR CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO SUPPORT AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AI DATA CENTER SO THAT THE POLICE CAN PERFORM BETTER SECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND OUR COMMUNITY IS APPROACHING 70,000 AS WELL.
IT JUST CAME THE NIGHT BEFORE THE MEETING. I GOT A TEXT SAYING, PLEASE SHOW UP AT THE KYLE CITIZENS COMMUNICATION AND ACTS ON A SECURITY SYSTEM WAS SUPPOSED TO
[02:00:07]
PRESENT THEIR PROGRAM FOR THIS DATA CENTER, AND INSTEAD ONLY THE POLICE CHIEF SPOKE ON ITEM NUMBER 32. AND THEN THE ALL BUT ONE OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED TO APPROVE THIS DATA CENTER.AND IT WAS I WAS DUMBFOUNDED. AND THESE KINDS OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
SO I SUPPORT THE MORATORIUM, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE A YEAR'S MORATORIUM.
AND I'M 77 YEARS OLD. I'M A BERNIE GIRL. AND ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO, I PARTICIPATED IN EARTH DAY AND A SMALL BOOK CAME OUT.
A BOOK CALLED SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL ECONOMICS AS IF PEOPLE MATTERED.
AND I RECOMMEND THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM READ THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT'S STILL CURRENT TODAY.
SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL ECONOMICS, AS IF PEOPLE MATTERED ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO.
I ATTENDED LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDLIFE CENTER TO LISTEN TO MR. DAVID BAMBERGER GIVE A SLIDESHOW ABOUT HIS CONSERVATION OF 5500 ACRES OF DEGRADED TEXAS LAND DOWN NEAR JOHNSON CITY TO RESTORE 5500 ACRES OF LAND BY TAKING OUT ALL OF THE JUNIPER PLANTS AND I WOULD RECOMMEND TO, AS I DID THE GOVERNOR LAST YEAR, THAT EVERYBODY GO DOWN TO BAMBERGER RANCH PRESERVE AND YOU CAN TOUR THE FACILITY, BECAUSE AFTER TWO YEARS OF TAKING OUT ALL THOSE JUNIPERS, CEDAR FEVER PLANTS, SPRINGS POPPED UP ALL OVER THAT 5500 ACRES JUST BY TAKING OUT THE JUNIPER.
AND YOU SAY, WELL, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH ALL THESE PLANTS? WELL, YOU CAN MAKE LINOLEUM OUT OF THEM. LINOLEUM IS MADE OUT OF LINSEED PINE RESIN AND WOOD FLOUR AND GROUND LIMESTONE, WHICH WE HAVE PLENTY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. DOES THAT CONCLUDE OUR IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE CHARGED WITH THE COMPLICATED TASK OF READING THE WRITTEN STATEMENTS.
AND IF THERE IS A LITERAL. HERE'S A DISTINCTION.
IF THERE IS A LITERAL COPY PASTE. I KNOW YOU KNOW, BUT I'M SAYING IT FOR THE PUBLIC.
AND IF IT'S NOT A COPY PASTE, THEN YOU CAN READ THEM INDEPENDENTLY.
IF OUR FIRST ONE FROM MATT BAUER OF SAN MARCOS.
WE LIVE IN AN AREA OF PERSISTENT EXTREME DROUGHT.
DATA AVAILABLE@DROUGHT.GOV INDICATES THAT THIS HAS BEEN TRUE FOR MUCH OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THAT THE EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST IN THESE WATER STRAPPED TIMES.
WE KNOW THAT WE ARE HEADED TOWARDS CRISIS AND WATER AVAILABILITY IN THE NEXT DECADE.
WE NEED TO CONSERVE WATER AND ENSURE RESPONSIBLE PLANNING FOR THE EXISTING AND INCOMING POPULATION.
WE CANNOT ALLOW NEW WATER AND INCENTIVE INDUSTRIES TO CROWD INTO HAYS COUNTY AND COMPLETE AND COMPETE FOR THE RESOURCE IN THESE CONDITIONS. THE ALARM SOUNDED ABOUT THE COMING WATER CRISIS BEFORE WE HAD ANY CLUE THIS INDUSTRY WOULD SOON BE VYING FOR LOCAL WATER SUPPLY.
DEVELOPERS ARE EAGER TO BUILD DATA CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
THEY DO SO FOLLOWING THE TECH INDUSTRY SLOGAN MOVE FAST, BREAK THINGS.
DATA CENTERS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR IMMENSE DEMANDS.
THE MAJORITY OF THE WATER THEY REQUIRE IS NOT DIRECT AND USED ON SITE.
IT IS INDIRECT RESULT OF THE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF ENERGY THEY CONSUME, LARGELY OFF SITE.
WE NEED TO TAP THE BRAKES ON LETTING INDUSTRIES LIKE THIS EXPAND IN HAYS COUNTY.
ADOPTING THIS RESOLUTION IS AN IMMEDIATE ACTION THE COURT CAN TAKE TO DO THAT.
LET'S NOT HAVE ONE OF THE THINGS BROKEN IN THEIR HASTY MOVEMENT INTO HAYS COUNTY.
B THE INTEGRITY OF OUR COUNTY'S WATER SUPPLY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. JUST KEEP MOVING.
JOHNNY FLORES FROM KYLE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO HAYS COUNTY.
[02:05:04]
I AM WRITING AS A CONCERNED RESIDENTS REGARDING AGENDA ITEM K TWO TO EXPRESS MY DEEP CONCERN ABOUT OUR DECLINING WATER SUPPLIES AND THE LONG TERM RISK POSED BY LARGE SCALE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS, PARTICULARLY PARTICULARLY DATA CENTERS IN AND AROUND HAYS COUNTY.OUR MOST ESSENTIAL RESOURCE IS SUSTAINS OUR FAMILIES, OUR ECONOMY, AND OUR FUTURE.
LARGE SCALE DATA CENTERS REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL WATER AND ENERGY RESOURCES, PLACING ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND ON WORKING FAMILIES WHO ARE ALREADY FACING RISING COSTS. I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO USE EVERY TOOL WITHIN YOUR AUTHORITY AND TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR CITIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PREVENT DEVELOPMENTS THAT WOULD FURTHER DEPLETE OUR LIMITED WATER SUPPLY. PROTECTING OUR WATER IS NOT ONLY AN ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY, IT IS A COMMITMENT TO FUTURE GENERATIONS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS.
I. AS A MUSICIAN AND A LAND ADVOCATE, I ENGAGE WITH A LARGE CROSS-SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY AND I CAN TELL YOU, PEOPLE HERE ARE SCARED OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO OUR WATER SUPPLY.
MANY FAMILY MEMBERS AND DRIPPING SPRINGS HAVE HAD THEIR WELLS DRY UP.
THE RIVERS ARE SKELETONS OF THAT. THEY WERE EVEN TEN YEARS AGO.
ALL OF THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN PRESENT BEFORE TOO.
REQUESTING OVER 2020 5000 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND STEWARDSHIP. JOE PETERS FROM KYLE.
I HAVE LIVED IN HAYS COUNTY SINCE 1985. I'VE EXPERIENCED THE GROWTH OF OUR COUNTY.
ALSO REQUIRE ALL NEW DEVELOPMENTS TO USE. ESSER LANDSCAPING, NOT GRASS AND WASTEFUL SPRINKLING SPRINKLER SYSTEMS. THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING ME, A FAN, A HOMEOWNER, A VOTER, AND SOMEONE WHO IS STILL PROUD TO LIVE HERE.
CENTRAL TEXAS MUST TAKE EXTREME CARE THAT WE DON'T SIMPLY RUN OUT OF WATER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. KATIE BROWN. SORRY.
KATHERINE BROWN FROM SAN MARCOS. I AM WRITING IN FAVOR OF ITEMS K TWO, THREE, AND FOUR FOR THE FEBRUARY 24TH, 2026 COMMISSIONER COURT MEETING. I AM IN FAVOR OF THE COUNTY WIDE MORATORIUM ON THE APPROVAL OF PERMITS FOR THE NEW INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS, REQUESTING OVER 25,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY.
THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS IS CURRENTLY OPERATING AT STAGE THREE DROUGHT RESTRICTIONS, ALTHOUGH IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT WE NEED TO MOVE INTO STAGE FOUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESTRICTIONS. OUR WATER LEVELS ARE AT A HISTORIC LOW, AND WE NEED THE COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO ACT PROACTIVELY BEFORE OUR WATER SUPPLY RUNS OUT.
AS WELL AS KRISTEN BJORN, SHE SAID THE SAME THING.
PAM FAR FROM NEW BRAUNFELS, TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
THIS PERTAINS TO THE AGENDA ITEMS TWO THROUGH FOUR.
PLEASE CANCEL ALL CURRENT HIGH WATER USAGE PERMITS.
THEY CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO PROCEED. THANK YOU.
[02:10:03]
1950, OUR FAMILY HAS SEEN MANY DIFFERENT WATER CRISIS, FROM NOT ENOUGH WATER TO WAY TOO MUCH IN ONE PLACE, OVERFLOWING RIVERS TO DRY CREEK BEDS. I STRONGLY SUPPORT HAYS COUNTY TO TAKE THE BOLD ACTION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR NATURAL WATER RESOURCES.MANY CITIZENS AND DEVELOPERS BELIEVE THAT WATER IS AN UNLIMITED, RATHER THAN FINITE RESOURCE.
LET'S TAKE ACTION NOW IN LIMITING HIGH VOLUME WATER USERS.
USE GRAY WATER AROUND HOMES AND OTHER WAYS TO PRESERVE WHAT LITTLE FRESH WATER IS AVAILABLE.
THANK YOU. CAN WE HAVE PATRICK COX FROM WIMBERLEY? AS A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF HAYS COUNTY, WE MUST SUPPORT PROTECTION MEASURES OF OUR WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
I APPROVE OF THE THREE RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE ON YOUR AGENDA SUPPORT AGENDA ITEMS K2, K3, AND K4.
THANK YOU. SANDY. CHRISTIAN FROM SAN MARCOS. I AM IN FAVOR OF COUNTY WIDE MORATORIUM ON THE APPROVAL OF THE PERMITS OF THE NEW INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS REQUESTING OVER 25,000 GALLONS OF WATER.
SHAWN JONES FROM SAN MARCOS. I FULLY BELIEVE THAT ANY ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION FINDING OF FACTS AND CHANGE MADE TO THE EVOLUTION OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS SHOULD INCLUDE AND FOCUS ON INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY DATA CENTERS THAT WOULD SEVERELY DRAIN OUR WATER SUPPLIES.
THESE TYPES OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS REQUIRE IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WATER TO GENERATE THE POWER NEEDED TO RUN THEM, WHICH CAN OFTEN FAR EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF POWER NEEDED TO POWER ENTIRE CITIES IN OUR COUNTY.
IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR NEW DEVELOPMENTS DURING THIS TIME OF DROUGHT AND INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS LIKE DATA CENTERS OR ANY OTHER SIMILAR AMOUNTS OF WATER TO GENERATE POWER FOR THEM ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT.
JENNIFER LINDSAY FROM NEW BRAUNFELS. I SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION TO IMPLEMENT WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES I SUPPORT AND ADOPTION OF FINDING THE OF FACTS SO HAYS COUNTY CAN ASSESS THEIR WATER RESOURCES FOR PROVIDING EMERGENCY SERVICES.
THANK YOU. MEGAN LAVENDER FROM SAN MARCOS. NOT LONG AGO, COMMITTEES OF JACOB'S WELL, FOLKS WHO LIVED AROUND CANYON LAKE, AND A SPOT THAT HITS EVEN CLOSER TO HOME, FIVE MILE DAM WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT TO SEE THE DAY THAT THOSE WATER WAYS BECOME EITHER NONEXISTENT OR CLOSE TO IT. BUT HERE WE ARE. OUR CURRENT REALITY IS THAT THE BEAUTY OF OUR HILL COUNTRY IS DWINDLING.
WE CANNOT SIT BACK AND ALLOW OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE BE SOLD OFF.
A SINCERELY CONCERNED CITIZEN. AGAIN. ALLEN ECKERT FROM SAN MARCOS.
THE OUTPUT OF WATER ALREADY GREATLY OUTWEIGHS THE INPUT EVEN WITHOUT DATA CENTERS.
IT SHOULD TRULY BE THAT SIMPLE. THE AQUIFER CAN AND WILL RUN DRY IF WE DO NOT TAKE CARE OF IT.
PLEASE PUT THIS. PLEASE PUT HUMANS NEED FIRST BEFORE SERVING THE GREED OF BIG TECH.
THANK YOU. BARRY LINDSEY OF NEW BRAUNFELS. I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF HAYS COUNTY SINCE 1990.
I TRAVELED ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES TO MANY COUNTRIES, YET THIS I.
YES. YET THIS IS MY CHOSEN HOME. MY HOPE HAS BEEN TO LIVE HERE WITH MY FAMILY.
WATCH MY GRANDSON GROW UP AND CONTINUE TO ENJOY MY RETIREMENT.
BUT HOW CAN ANY OF US STAY HERE WITHOUT WATER? THIS IS A SERIOUS AND IMMEDIATE PROBLEM. THANK YOU, JUDGE BECERRA, FOR BRINGING THESE ISSUES BEFORE THE COURT.
I WOULD ALSO HOPE TO HAVE SUPPORT OF ALL THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
SINCERELY. COULD YOU REPEAT THE NAME ON THAT ONE, PLEASE? BARRY. LINDSAY. CAROL LINDSAY OF NEW BRAUNFELS.
I'VE LIVED HERE IN HAYS COUNTY FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH BOTH FLOODS AND DROUGHTS, BUT NEVER HAVE.
[02:15:02]
OUR WATER SOURCE SEEMED MORE IN DANGER OF BEING DEPLETED.THIS BEAUTIFUL AREA THAT WE ARE IN CAN BE LOST IN SUCH A SHORT TIME.
PLEASE LISTEN TO OUR VERY REAL, IMMEDIATE CONCERNS.
THANK YOU, JUDGE BECERRA, FOR BRINGING THESE ISSUES BEFORE THE COURT.
I HOPE THAT THESE MATTERS WILL ALSO NOT ONLY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MY COMMISSIONER, DEBBIE INGALSBE, BUT OF ALL THE COURT. KATE SHAW FROM SAN MARCOS.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT. WE NEED TO ENSURE OUR WATER SUPPLY IS ADEQUATE IN THE FACE OF WORSENING DROUGHT CONDITIONS, AND HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW FOR PROJECTS THAT USE HIGH WATER VOLUMES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS CRUCIAL MATTER.
AND WE HAVE AMY CAMP FROM SAN MARCOS, JUDGE BOCCHETTA AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS AMY CAMP AND I AM A RESIDENT OF SAN MARCOS AND HAYS COUNTY.
I URGE THE COUNTY TO VOTE FOR ALL 30 DAYS FOR A 30 DAY PAUSE ON ALL HIGH WATER USE INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS THAT WILL ALLOW US TIME TO THOUGHTFULLY AND ACCURATELY ASSESS OUR GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY.
WATER IS LIFE. IT IS NOT MUCH TO ASK THAT DURING A TIME OF EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT CONDITIONS, WE MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT COMMITTING TO PROJECTS THAT WILL ENDANGER THE ACCESS TO WATER THAT WE RELY ON TO RAISE OUR FAMILIES, SUSTAIN OUR COMMUNITY, MAINTAIN OUR HOMES AND BUSINESSES, AND NOURISH THE DIVERSE WILDLIFE WE ARE BLESSED TO COEXIST WITH.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE AUDREY MCGUIRE FROM SAN MARCOS.
OUR IMMEDIATE FUTURE IS AT STAKE, AND THESE. THIS AFFECTS EVERYONE.
THE UNITED NATIONS JUST RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT WE ARE NOW EXPERIENCING GLOBAL WATER BANKRUPTCY.
WATER SHORTAGES, SHORTAGES AND SINKHOLES ARE ON THE RISE.
NOT ONLY ARE WE AT RISK OF OUR WATER SOURCES GOING DRY DUE TO LARGE INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL PROJECTS AND MASSIVE, SPRAWLING DEVELOPMENTS, BUT THE LAND'S PHYSICAL STABILITY IS NOT FAR BEHIND.
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS CITIES AND COMMUNITIES IS AT RISK.
AT WHAT POINT DO WE SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH? AT WHAT POINT ARE TOO MANY DATA CENTERS? AT WHAT POINT DO WE AND YOU, AS YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL, TAKE BACK OUR POWER OF THE PEOPLE AND SET BOUNDARIES AND LIMITATIONS? LET US MAKE A REAL EDUCATION EDUCATED DECISION AND TAKE ACTION THAT BEST SERVES THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND OF HAYS COUNTY.
THANK YOU. GINA THOMPSON FROM SAN MARCOS. I THINK YOU ARE AWARE OF THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF THIS MORATORIUM IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I ASK THAT YOU REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS ACCORDINGLY.
JESSICA MORENO FROM MAXWELL. DEAR JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS JESSICA MORENO AND I LIVE IN OWN, A HOME IN HAYS COUNTY. I PLAN TO ATTEND THE 224 COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING, BUT WAS ALSO CALLED TO DALLAS TO SUPPORT THE BIRTH AND DELIVERY OF MY NIECE.
WE SEE THE EVIDENCE OF CONTINUED DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND WATER SECRECY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
WE CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT RELIABLE WATER TO DRINK, BATHE, COOK, CLEAN, PUT OUT FIRES, ETC.
WATER DOES NOT FOLLOW MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY BOUNDARIES.
IT IS INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL DO OUR PART TO PROTECT OUR WATER.
OVER 4200 RESIDENTS IN PRIMARILY HAYS COUNTY, AS WELL AS GUADALUPE, CARMEL AND CALDWELL COUNTIES HAVE CALLED ON OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS TO DO MORE TO PROTECT OUR WATER FROM HIGH WATER USE PROJECTS.
VIA THIS PETITION, ONCE WATER IS OVER COMMITTED, THERE IS NO EASY FIX.
I URGE YOU NOT ONLY TO DISCUSS AGENDA ITEMS K2, K3, AND K4, BUT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ADOPTING A RESOLUTION RELATED TO EMERGENCY DROUGHT RESPONSE AND WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES IN HAYS COUNTY.
[02:20:02]
AS WELL AS EMERGENCY SERVICES. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED SOLELY ON GOOD FAITH.OUR COLLECTIVE FATE IS IN YOUR HANDS THIS WEEK.
PLEASE HEAR OUR CALLS AND SHOW YOUR NEIGHBORS THAT HAYS COUNTY CARES ABOUT WATER, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND LONG TERM LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY. MARTIN SALAMI FROM SAN MARCOS. I AM IN FAVOR OF COUNTY WIDE MORATORIUM AND THE APPROVAL OF THE NEW INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS REQUESTING OVER 25,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, VISIBLE EFFECTS AND COMMON LOGICS ALL POINT TOWARDS THE STAGE FOR DROUGHT CONDITIONS CONTINUING, THE AQUIFER MUST RECHARGE BEFORE MORE WATER CAN BE EXTRACTED, OR ELSE UN PREDICTED DAMAGE TO OUR WATER SUPPLY WILL CONTINUE TO ESCALATE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUTDATED MODELS BASED ON EVEN OLDER PROJECT PROJECTIONS FOR HOW LONG OUR WATER SUPPLY CAN LAST US BEFORE ANY MORE WATER IS SOLD FOR INDUSTRIAL USE. OUR COMMUNITY AND THE ELECTED LEADERS MUST UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH WATER IS CONSERVED FOR LATER USE.
COMPANIES ALL OVER HAYES HAVE ALREADY BEEN OVERDRAWING FROM THE AQUIFER.
THESE COMPANIES SEEKING WATER INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT WILL CREATE AN UNINHABITABLE, UNINHABITABLE.
ARID ZONES AROUND THEIR PROJECTS. WHILE WHATEVER WATER IS CONSERVED.
THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY.
IF WE USE IT AT ALL, IF WE USE IT ALL, WE LOSE IT ALL.
TORI HALTOM. FROM SAN MARCOS. I AM A HAYES RESIDENT URGING YOU TO ISSUE A MORATORIUM ON INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS.
PROJECTED TO USE 20 4K GALLONS OF WATER OR MORE PER DAY.
OUR COUNTY LIBERAL ECOSYSTEM CANNOT SUPPORT IT.
IN EVERY FACET OF OUR COMMUNITY WILL SUFFER AS A RESULT.
IT IS A COMMON SENSE MEASURE. CASEY MARSHALL FROM SAN MARCOS.
I AM A RESIDENT OF SAN MARCOS, TEXAS AND HAYS COUNTY.
FOR 25 YEARS I LIVED IN CENTRAL TEXAS OVER 45 YEARS.
IMMENSE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR COUNTY AND WATERSHED.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING A DROUGHT IN SAN MARCUS.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS UNDER DROUGHT RESTRICTIONS.
OUR AREA HAS EXPERIENCED AND STILL EXPERIENCED TREMENDOUS POPULATION GROWTH.
I STRONGLY FAVOR A MORATORIUM OF THE APPROVAL OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL DRAIN ON OUR ALREADY STRESSED WATER RESOURCE IN HAYS COUNTY.
I HAVE NOT YET VOTED IN EARLY ELECTIONS THIS SPRING AND WILL BE WATCHING THIS CLOSELY.
IT IS A TOP ISSUE FOR ME. THANK YOU.
THOMAS WINCHELL, HAYS COUNTY RESIDENT. HELLO.
MY NAME IS THOMAS WINCHELL AND I AM A HAYS COUNTY RESIDENT AND LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER.
I AM IN FAVOR OF WATER USAGE MORATORIUM AND REGULATIONS OF ALL PROJECTS THAT USE MORE THAN 25,000.
THE EVIDENCE THAT GROUNDWATER IS NOT INFINITE.
WE HAVE SEEN JACOB'S WELL DRIVE UP PROACTIVE SAFETY FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FAMILIES.
A DOUBLE STANDARD, LACK OF INDUSTRIAL REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES FOR OVERUSE AND WASTE WATER SAFETY.
RESIDENTS ARE FINED AND NOTIFIED ABOUT THEIR CONSUMPTION, BUT INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS ARE NOT FINED FOR THEIR REGULAR OVERUSE, WHICH IS FAR GREATER. A LACK OF GREEN INCENTIVES TO HELP REDUCE OVERCONSUMPTION.
[02:25:02]
WHERE IT VIOLATES. KNOWN AS A TOTAL TRI, ALL HYPHENATED T T H M S WERE FOUND IN OUR DRINKING WATER. IF CURRENT MEASURES HAVE NOT BEEN IN PLACE TO PREVENT SUCH CONTAMINATION, I AM CONCERNED THAT NO OTHER MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN FOR CONTAMINATED WASTEWATER FROM INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE.I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF THIS NOTICE TO THIS PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU. MELISSA. FAR FROM SAN MARCOS. I WANT TO DRIVE HOME THE IMPORTANCE OF DEFENDING OUR WATER, ESPECIALLY AGAINST AI DATA CENTERS.
THIS AREA HAS BEEN TIED TO THE SAN MARCOS RIVER'S ECONOMICALLY, CULTURALLY AND EMOTIONALLY FOR ME FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS BEFORE IT WAS EVER NAMED SAN MARCOS. I'VE NEVER SEEN A CITY SO CONNECTED. AND I TRULY BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE OUR VIBRANT BLUE SPACE.
WE ARE. WE ARE RECENTLY NAMED THE MERMAID CAPITAL OF TEXAS.
THERE ARE RIVERS ALL AROUND THE CITY AND OUR WEBSITE.
OUR ROAD SIGNS, OUR MURALS, AND OUR BUSINESSES.
IT IS NOT RIGHT TO PROFIT OFF THE IMAGE OF THE RIVERS AND NOT VOW TO PROTECT IT.
I THINK WE SHOULD FULLY EMBRACE THE IMAGE WE'VE SET FOR OURSELVES AND LEAD THE WAY WITH TEXAS, IN TEXAS, WITH WATER POLICY. OUR RESOURCES ARE PRICELESS.
I KNOW THE I-35 WILL GROW EXPONENTIALLY, EXPONENTIALLY IN THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
WE SET THE TONE. FUTURE GENERATIONS DESERVE THE CHANCE TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR NATURE.
NATURAL WORLD, THE WAY COUNTLESS PAST GENERATIONS HAVE.
AI DATA CENTERS HAVE BECOME A THREAT TO OUR CITY AND OTHERS LIKE IT.
WELL, ABSOLUTELY. WHILE ABSOLUTELY THEY ARE DETERMINED TO.
OUR ENVIRONMENT, I THINK THE MORE DAMAGING THREAT IS WHAT AI MEANS FOR OUR FUTURE.
HOW WILL THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FARE WHEN EVIDENCE IS NO LONGER CREDIBLE? WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT NON-CONSENSUAL NUDE IMAGERY? ARE WE OKAY WITH OUR ONLINE DATA FEEDING INTO AI AND ALLOWING COMPLETE AND TOTAL SURVEILLANCE? THE LIST GOES ON. THERE ARE NO POLICIES IN PLACE TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM AI.
WE DO NOT NEED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE OPENING OF THE PANDORA'S BOX WITH THESE SINNERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE LEFT? TWO. HOW ABOUT THAT, FOLKS? TWO MORE. YOU'RE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.
KEEP IT UP. KELLY BRADSHAW FROM SAN MARCOS. I AM IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURES TO ENSURE WATER CONSERVATION AND WATER SUPPLY BEING ACCURATELY MEASURED AND CONSIDERED FOR DEVELOPMENT WITH HIGH WATER DEMANDS.
AND THE LAST ONE, ROXANA. TOUGH. MY NAME IS ROXANA TOUGH.
I AM DAUGHTER OF DONALD AND JIM. GEMINI TOUGH.
I AM WRITING IN OPPOSITION TO ANY CHANGE TO THE LAND USE IN THE NEAR AREA OF 900 BLOCK OF FRANCIS HARRIS LANE IN THE SOUTH OF THE INTERSECTION OF GRANT HARRIS ROAD AND FRANCIS HARRIS LANE, AS WELL AS THE AREA THAT INCLUDES LAND NEAR THAT AREA.
UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ACRES ARE AT THE BACK 50 OF MY PARENTS FARM AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD AS OF FEBRUARY 23RD, 2026, ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO. JOHNNY MAYBERRY APPROACHED MY PARENTS TO INQUIRE ABOUT 50 PLUS ACRES OF LAND FOR POTENTIAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, WITH ENTHUSIASTIC DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT AS A HIGH END HOUSING BUILD THAT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE NATURAL FLOW OF WATER AND PRESERVE MUCH OF THE NATURAL HABITAT, WHILE LITTLE RISK TO THOSE OF US WHO STILL LIVE HERE.
MY PARENTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO PROMISE TO SELL.
I AM UPSET THAT SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT OWN THE LAND IS ARGUING FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USE IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED PLAN TO BUILD HIGH END HOMES. ALTHOUGH THE DROUGHT WILL MAKE PLANS FOR A COMMUNITY DIFFICULT, THE BUILDING OF A DATA CENTER WILL STRESS MORE THAN WATER USE AT THE EXPENSE OF FAMILIES LIVING OUT HERE. A LARGE DATA CENTER WILL MORE.
MORE WILL LIKELY CREATE SOME VERY CONCERNING CHANGES IN THE AREA, SUCH AS INCREASED ENERGY COSTS,
[02:30:04]
THE NOISE FROM FANS, CHILLERS, ROOFTOPS, HAVOC, AND AT LEAST A CONSTANT HUM IN THE BACKGROUND.THE LARGE DATA CENTERS PLANTED WILL NECESSARILY USE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WATER.
EVEN WITH CLOSED LOOP SYSTEM, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE INITIAL WATER NEEDED TO CHARGE THE CLOSED LOOP SYSTEM, PLUS THE CONSTANT REPLACEMENT WATER WILL AMOUNT TO ANY SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE.
COMPARED TO WHAT A 550 HOME HOUSING COMMUNITY WOULD LIKELY USE OVER A SIMILAR TIME SPAN.
HAVING SAID THAT, ANY EXCESSIVE USE OF WATER IN A DROUGHT STRICKEN AREA IS CONCERNING.
I LIVE ON THE FAMILY FARM AND HAVE DONE SO FOR 25 YEARS.
I INTEND TO LIVE HERE FOR ANOTHER 15 TO 20 YEARS.
WE'VE ALREADY TOLERATED THE NOISE FROM THE HAYES ENERGY POWER PLANT.
THE PLANT IS VERY LOUD ON MOST DAYS. LIGHT POPULATION IS ALSO ANOTHER CONCERN.
THIS AREA IS ALSO SURROUNDED BY SEVERAL CEMENT PLANTS AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES WITH EXTREMELY BRIGHT LIGHTING, TRUCKS AND DUST. I ASSUME THAT THERE WILL BE MANY MORE INDUSTRIAL DELIVERIES RELATED TO CONSTRUCTION AND UPKEEP.
ADDING TO THE EXCESSIVE DUST FROM THE MANY SEMI TRUCKS ALREADY ON OUR ROAD.
NATURAL GAS TURBINES AND OTHER TYPES OF GENERATORS ALSO LEAD TO POOR AIR QUALITY.
I AM MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL TOXIC RUNOFF.
THANK YOU. WHAT I CAN HEAR FROM ALL OF THIS IS THE COMMUNITY CAN GO ON TILL THE COWS COME HOME.
WE CAN DO THIS FOR DAYS, AND WE CAN DO THIS OUTSIDE OF OUR COUNTY FOOTPRINT.
WE COULD DO THIS THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND THROUGHOUT OUR NATION.
COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, I'LL START OFF WITH YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE.
FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT AND AGREE WITH ALL THE COMMENTS THAT YOU HAVE MADE.
AND I, I WILL STAND BY MY CONSTITUENTS. AND JUDGE, LET ME JUST SAY THAT YOU KNOW, I FULLY SUPPORT THE WORDING OF YOUR AGENDA ITEM THE ENERGY DROUGHT RESPONSE AND THE WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES.
I KNOW I DID TEXT YOU LAST NIGHT AND ASKED FOR A COPY OF THE RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT'S JUST SO HARD TO PREPARE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF BACKUP MATERIAL IN WHICH WE HAD NONE. YOU KNOW, THESE PROPOSED DATA CENTERS ARE LITERALLY IN MY BACKYARD.
I WOULD, I DON'T WANT THEM EITHER. YOU KNOW, AND I WISH THAT WE COULD JUST STOP THEM FROM COMING.
YOU KNOW, I APPROACHED A ONE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS YEARS AGO AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, GOSH, YOUR PROPERTY WOULD BE SO NICE AS A PARK. YOU KNOW, WE COULD EVEN NAME THE PARK AFTER YOU.
AND HE KIND OF CHUCKLED AT ME, YOU KNOW, AND SAID, WELL, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE ABOUT THAT.
I MEAN, I REALLY SUPPORT BASICALLY EVERYTHING THAT IT SAYS.
THE, MY ONLY CONCERN AND I DON'T KNOW, I'D HAVE TO ASK JORDAN POWELL TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.
IS THAT THE PAUSE JUDGE? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS CONSIDERED A MORATORIUM, WHICH I THINK EVERYBODY HERE UNDERSTANDS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE A MORATORIUM. YOU KNOW, I'VE TALKED TO JORDAN.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK TO SEE IF THAT IF I, YOU KNOW, IF I WAS UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY.
I KNOW YOUR RESOLUTION DOES NOT HAVE THE WORD MORATORIUM IN IT, JUDGE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
WE CANNOT TEMPORARILY SUSPEND OR DELAY A SPECIFIC ACTIVITY.
AND SO I'M JUST WONDERING, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS WORD PAUSE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT IT SAYS HERE THAT WE SHALL IMPLEMENT A TEMPORARY EVALUATION PERIOD FOR 30 DAYS. I GUESS I'M WONDERING, JORDAN, THIS EVALUATION PERIOD.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL IS DIFFERENT THAN A MORATORIUM OR A PAUSE THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IN THIS RESOLUTION? JORDAN POWELL FIRST ASSISTANT FOR HAYS COUNTY.
I, IT'S OUR OPINION THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE A LEGAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MORATORIUM, TEMPORARY PAUSE,
[02:35:05]
ANYTHING OF THE LIKE WOULD HAVE THE SAME LEGAL EFFECT.WHAT ABOUT JUST SAYING THAT WE WANT TO GIVE OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THE ABILITY TO FULLY EVALUATE, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TIME PERIOD THAT IS.
THE OTHER. WELL, I GUESS IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THIS BECAUSE THIS IS FOR HIGH INDUSTRIAL USE PROJECTS.
I WAS AT ONE TIME I HAD WRITTEN DOWN, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO APPROVE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE HAVE A TIME LIMIT ON. BUT THIS IS NOT FOR THOSE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS.
JUDGE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY. BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S SOME REWORDING MAYBE THAT WE CAN DO.
I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THE RESOLUTION IS GREAT.
THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN. AND SO I HAD SO MANY OTHER COMMENTS THAT I HAVE WRITTEN DOWN, BUT WELL, I GUESS THE OTHER THING THAT I WILL SAY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE SPEAKERS SET THIS AND JUDGE, I THINK YOU MENTIONED IT. WE DO NEED TO WORK WITH OUR LEGISLATORS.
THEY CAN GIVE US THIS AUTHORITY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
THEY HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO DO SO AFTER THE YEARS OF ASKING.
I KNOW THAT REPRESENTATIVE ZWIENER INTRODUCED LEGISLATION THAT PASSED THE HOUSE BUT FAILED TO GO TO THE SENATE, AND WE NEED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH HER, JUDGE TO ENSURE.
AND THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE GOVERNOR. I HOPE THAT HE WILL CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO ADDRESS THESE TYPES OF ISSUES, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT IS HAPPENING EVERYWHERE AND PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED, AND I KNOW WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR WATER TOO.
WE WANT THESE NATURAL RESOURCES FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE HILL COUNTRY ALLIANCE AND VIRGINIA PARKER.
THEY'VE SHARED SO MUCH INFORMATION WITH ME THAT I THINK IS INVALUABLE.
AND SO, I MEAN, I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY, BUT IF THERE'S SOME WAY THAT WE CAN MASSAGE OR, YOU KNOW, JUST, YOU KNOW, DO WHAT WE CAN IN OUR LEGAL AUTHORITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS RESOLUTION, I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO DO SO. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER COHEN.
THANK YOU. JUDGE. YOU KNOW, MY MY WHOLE PERSONAL OPINION ABOUT AI DATA CENTER IS I NEVER WILLING TO SUPPORT THEM, EVER. THIS COURT COLLECTIVELY HAS NOT SUPPORTED DATA CENTERS, AND WE'VE ALL COLLECTIVELY AGREED THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE WATER.
LIKE WE DO KNOW THAT, RIGHT? LIKE COMMISSIONER ENGELSON MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, MY ONLY CONCERN WITH THIS AGENDA ITEM IS THAT I DID NOT HAVE A COPY OF THE RESOLUTION UNTIL TEN MINUTES AGO. SO, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS OUR WE ALL HEARD THIS THE FIRST TIME WE HEARD IT TOO.
SO I KIND OF HAVE LIKE A LITTLE EXTRA TIME TO BE ABLE TO, TO READ THIS THROUGH THOROUGHLY, HAVE CONSULTATION WITH OUR LEGAL TALK TO US ABOUT ACTUALLY HOW MANY PERMITS ARE WE ACTIVELY ARE WORKING ON OR IF ANY. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR ME OR NOT.
WE'LL GET YOU AN ANSWER. OKAY. YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT OUR LEGAL OPINION WAS.
WHAT IS THAT OPENED UP TO US AS A COUNTY LEGALLY THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF? I MEAN, I SIT ON THE CLEAN AIR COALITION. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT I SAID IN THAT MEETING WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT OTHER POLLUTANTS SHOULD WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THIS HERE.
AND I SAID, WHAT ABOUT ANY POLLUTANTS THAT COME OUT OF DATA CENTERS? HAVE WE TALKED ABOUT THAT? BECAUSE THERE IS THE WATER, THERE'S POSSIBLE POLLUTANTS, THERE'S NOISE.
THE EAST SIDE OF OUR COUNTY WHERE THERE IS THE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTY.
RIGHT? AND SO I FEEL THAT SOME ARE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
RIGHT. AND SO I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT THAT Y'ALL ARE ALL HERE SPEAKING UP FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT THAT DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO DO THAT OR MAY NOT BE AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITY. I GREW UP IN HAYS COUNTY.
I DRANK WHITE WATER LIKE I REMEMBER. I MEAN, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A WATER CONCERN IN HAYS COUNTY.
AND SO I, I REALLY SEE THIS ISSUE AS LIKE, WE NEED TO THINK BIGGER.
[02:40:01]
WE NEED TO THINK REGIONALLY. LIKE, HOW CAN US AS A COUNTY WORK WITH OUR CITIES, WITH OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES TOGETHER? HOW CAN WE PULL PULL OUR RESOURCES TOGETHER TO CREATE A WATER STRATEGIC PLAN FOR US REGIONALLY, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT'S COMING. WE KNOW THIS MEGAREGION IS COMING TOGETHER, SAN ANTONIO AND AUSTIN.IT IS COMING IN. HAYS IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT.
RIGHT. AND SO I THINK WE DO OUR VERY BEST TO MANAGE STRATEGICALLY THE GROWTH AND PUSH BACK AND AND PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. AND SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP IN HEADING THAT DIRECTION.
MY CONCERNS RIGHT NOW ARE JUST THE LEGAL SIDE OF IT.
WHAT DOES THAT OPEN US UP TO AS A COUNTY THAT WE JUST NEED TO DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER INTO? COMMISSIONER HAMMER. OKAY. WELL, THAT WAS FIRST OF ALL, ALEJANDROR GREAT JOB READING.
I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND WHAT THEY DID.
THAT WAS A HECK OF A HECK OF A READ. BUT I, I HEAR WE ALL HEAR YOU.
WE AS A COURT, WE HAVE SUPPORTED WATER CONSERVATION, SUSTAINABILITY, PARKS, BONDS.
WE, WE CARE ABOUT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. I REPRESENT WIMBERLEY AND WOOD CREEK.
I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR WATER. I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS MENTIONED.
WILL MY DAUGHTER EVER BE ABLE TO GO TO JACOB'S WELL AND SWIM? I DON'T KNOW. WILL MY SON BE ABLE TO DO THAT? I DON'T KNOW. SO THESE THINGS MATTER TO ME AND THEY MATTER TO ME GREATLY.
I WORK WITH THE WATERSHED ASSOCIATION. I WORK WITH, YOU KNOW, SMURF, SAN MARCOS RIVER FOUNDATION, WORKING WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT ENTITIES, THE HILL COUNTRY ALLIANCE, TO REALLY UNDERSTAND OUR PROBLEM AND OUR SITUATION.
RIGHT? AND IS IT CAN I ASK FOR A LEGAL OPINION ON HOOD COUNTY? DO THEY HAVE MORE AUTHORITY THAN WE DO DUE TO THEIR RIVER? YES.
COMMISSIONER THEY DO HAVE SOME WHAT I WOULD CALL SPECIALIZED STATUTORY AUTHORITY THAT PROVIDES THEM GENERALLY MORE AUTHORITY THAN OTHER COUNTIES IN TEXAS TO TAKE ADDITIONAL MEASURES REGARDING DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE OF THEIR THE WATER IN THEIR VICINITY.
YOU'RE CORRECT. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A COUNTY THAT EVEN HAS MORE AUTHORITY THAN WE DO AS A COUNTY.
AND HIS RESPONSE WAS HE SENT A LETTER AND SAYING, HEY, YOU HAVE NO CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY OR STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE ANY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT MORATORIUMS. HE ALSO SAID HB 2005 59 COUNTIES CANNOT CLAIM ANY POWERS UNLESS IT'S EXPRESSLY CONFERRED BY THE CONSTITUTION OR STATUTE. SO THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT.
IT'S A TERRIBLE POSITION TO BE IN. RIGHT? WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY NO.
MY BIGGEST THING I HATE TELLING PEOPLE IS THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.
DO I WANT TO EVER SAY THAT? NO. I WANT TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND WISH ALL OF MY THINGS AND TELL THEM HOW FRUSTRATED AND UPSET I AM EVERY SINGLE TIME I HAVE TO SAY THAT. ZAIN MENTIONED AIR MILES. MOUNT SHARP AIR PARK AS ONE OF THE DEVELOPMENTS IN MY PRECINCT, I. I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO BE ABLE TO SAY NO TO THAT.
I MEAN, SHE MENTIONED THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN PRIVATE AIRSTRIPS.
SO IMAGINE WHERE THAT IS. IF WE COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, DO YOU THINK THE KINDER MORGAN PIPELINE WOULD GO IN EITHER? ABSOLUTELY NOT. THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO AS A, AS COUNTIES.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL WHAT GOES ON FOR LAND USE.
WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS. WE HAVE OUR WE CAN HELP DICTATE WHERE ADULT BUSINESSES GO AND LANDFILLS.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED. AND WE NEED OUR STATE LEGISLATURE TO STEP UP AND DO THAT FOR US.
IT'S A BIPARTISAN ISSUE OR IT'S A NONPARTISAN ISSUE 100%.
ERIN ZWIENER JUST SENT US ALL AN EMAIL WITH HER, HER INPUT ON THIS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO READ A LITTLE EXCERPT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. I RECOGNIZE THAT THE CHOICES THAT THE COURT IS FACED WITH TODAY WITHOUT ROBUST AUTHORITY, ARE CHALLENGING. THE HAYS COUNTY COMMUNITY IS CALLING FOR ACTION, WHILE POWERFUL LEGISLATORS ARE ASKING FOR TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE ANY COUNTIES THAT PURSUE SUCH ACTION. UNDER HB 14, WHICH WAS PASSED IN THE 88TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION, DEVELOPERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO HIRE THIRD PARTY REVIEWERS TO APPROVE THEIR PERMITS IF THE COUNTY DOES NOT ACT ON THEM PROMPTLY.
[02:45:10]
PASSES, CALLING ON IMMEDIATE ACTION FOR OUR STATE LEGISLATURES.AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING TO TO DRUM UP AS MUCH PRESS AND AS MUCH, YOU KNOW JUST ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER AS YOU CAN BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE.
WE ARE POWERFUL IN NUMBERS, AS IF PEOPLE SAID BEFORE AND WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME SIDE OF WANTING TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR WATER AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE CLEAN DRINKING WATER FOR YEARS TO COME. AS A COURT. I DID SAY THAT WE, WE'VE SUPPORTED ALL THESE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS.
WE PASSED A WATER STUDY A COUPLE COURTS AGO, AND IN THAT WATER STUDY, WE'RE GOING TO LEARN A WHOLE LOT ABOUT WHAT THIS COUNTY HAS BENEATH IT. SO THE FACT FINDINGS THAT ARE GOING TO COME UP IN THE NEXT THAT KIND OF RELATES TO THAT A LOT.
WE'VE PASSED A ONE WATER RESOLUTION AS A COURT.
WE'VE PASSED WE JOINED THE RATE CASE FOR THE INVESTOR OWNED UTILITY WITH THE WATERSHED ASSOCIATION.
WE'VE, WE ARE CURRENTLY A PART OF THE BLANCO CYPRESS CREEK WATERSHED PROTECTION PLAN.
AND IN THAT WE, WE SUPPORT THE WATERSHED COORDINATOR POSITION.
WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD THINGS COMING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH OUR WATER IN WESTERN HAYS.
SO WE ARE. I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT, BUT WE ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR WATER.
AND I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO EVER THINK THAT THIS COURT DOESN'T FOCUS ON THAT BECAUSE WE DO.
YEAH. THAT'S IT. OKAY. COMMISSIONER SMITH. I'VE HAD TO THINK ABOUT THIS A LOT.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, JUDGE, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY CONSISTENT IN ASKING US TO GET OUR BACKUP.
GETTING IT AFTER WE STARTED CONSIDERATION. IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO DIGEST ALL OF IT AT ONCE.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU, I LIKE WHAT'S IN HERE, I REALLY DO.
DO WE HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO IT? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE DO.
AND I'VE GOTTEN THAT SAME FEEDBACK FROM BOTH OUR STATE ASSOCIATION.
I REACHED OUT TO HOOD COUNTY AND GOT THE SAME REACTION.
I HAVE A COPY OF THE LETTER THAT SENATOR SENATOR BETTENCOURT SENT THREATENING THEM.
AND I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO SEE Y'ALL THERE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT.
AND BEFORE I GO ON THIS, THIS SESSION WILL BE FOREVER KNOWN AS THE WATER SESSION IN TEXAS.
WE WERE ABLE TO PASS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WITH WITH THE WORK OF HUNDREDS OF LOCAL WATER ENTITIES TO PROVIDE $1 BILLION A YEAR FOR INCREASED WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE REPAIR OF OUR CURRENT WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT IT WAS FOLKS LIKE THE THE PEOPLE ON THIS DAIS WORKING WITH THE EDWARDS AQUIFER ALLIANCE AND THE TEXAS WATER FUND AND THE TEXAS WATER FOUNDATION AND ALL OF THOSE ENTITIES. SENATOR PERRY AND, AND AND CHAIRMAN COOK WERE AMAZING IN THE WORK THAT THEY DID TO GET THIS DONE.
NO ONE WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT IT WOULD GET DONE TEN YEARS AGO.
BUT THROUGHOUT THAT ENTIRE PROCESS, IN THOSE LAST THREE SESSIONS, ON TOP OF TALKING ABOUT WATER CONSISTENTLY, I KNOW THAT THAT COMMISSIONER INGALSBE AND MYSELF HAVE BOTH TESTIFIED ASKING FOR, FOR INCREASED AUTHORITY TO, TO REGULATE DEVELOPMENT AT A COUNTY LEVEL, WHETHER THAT'S BILLBOARDS ON 150, WHETHER THAT'S, YOU KNOW, A SPECIFIC ADDITIONAL WATER USAGE, GIVING US THE AUTHORITY DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION AFTER THE FLOOD THIS YEAR.
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT THAT REPRESENTATIVE ZWIENER ACTUALLY AUTHORED A BILL AND I WENT AND TESTIFIED ON BEHALF OF IT TO GIVE US CONTROL IN CERTAIN FLOOD, FLOOD PRONE AREAS OVER ADDITIONAL IMPERVIOUS COVER.
THAT WOULD HAVE MADE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE FOR US HERE.
AND WHILE DATA CENTERS LIKE I, WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY AS A COURT SAID THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY WE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANY INCENTIVIZATION FOR DATA CENTERS HERE.
AND WE DON'T SUPPORT HAVING THEM SPECIFICALLY IN THE PLACES THAT THEY HAVE THEM.
I DON'T I WILL NEVER PROBABLY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM IN MY PRECINCT.
THERE'S WAY TOO MUCH ROCK AND THEY MOVE WAY TOO MUCH DIRT.
[02:50:03]
AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THOSE TAKES A LOT. THEY DON'T WANT TO BE IN MY PRECINCT, BUT THEY WANT TO BE ON THE EAST SIDE. WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT THOSE GROUNDWATER FIGHTS. WE HAVE TO REITERATE WHAT COMMISSIONER HAMMER SAID.WE ACTUALLY NOW THERE'S A PROVISION UNDER STATE LAW WHERE WE COULD EXEMPT OR OFFER VARIANCES TO NOT REQUIRE WATER AVAILABILITY FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS. MYSELF AND COMMISSIONER HAMMER ACTUALLY DRAFTED A RESOLUTION SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITING US FROM EVER HEARING OR TAKING AN APPLICATION FOR ONE OF THOSE VARIANCES HERE, BECAUSE WE DON'T BELIEVE IN IT.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US. IF YOU LOOK AT A RECENT STUDY BY THE EDWARDS AQUIFER ALLIANCE, THEY RANKED EVERY COUNTY IN THE HILL COUNTRY AS FAR AS HOW STRINGENT THEY WERE ON DEVELOPMENT.
HAYS COUNTY RANKED NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE STRINGENT REGULATORY AUTHORITY HERE, BECAUSE WE MAKE USE OF OUR OTHER AUTHORITIES, SUCH AS SEPTIC AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS FOR MINIMUM LOT ACREAGES AND THOSE IN THOSE AREAS WHERE OTHER COUNTIES HAVEN'T TAKEN THOSE STEPS.
AND SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE HAVE WE ARE NOT ENGAGED IN THIS.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT IF YOU TALK TO THE COUNCIL OF BOTH THE COUNCIL OF URBAN COUNTIES AND THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THIS DAIS SHOWED UP AT EVERY SINGLE HEARING THIS YEAR AND SPOKE ON BEHALF OF INCREASED AUTHORITY FOR US TO TRY TO REGULATE THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES.
AND I WILL SAY, NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN IT WAS ME.
BUT THE PURPOSE OF THAT IS WE CARE ABOUT THIS AND NO MORE CAN YOU CARE FOR WATER THAN AND I WILL SAY THIS I LOVE TO HAVE THE EAST SIDE ENGAGED IN WATER TALKS BECAUSE IT GETS LONELY WHEN THE TWO OF US.
I WILL TELL YOU, I GET 15 TO 20 15 TO 20 RESIDENTS A MONTH THAT COME INTO MY OFFICE WHO HAVE TO EITHER REBUILD REDRILL OR ABANDON A WELL. IT IS A REAL PROBLEM IN OUR PORTION OF THE COUNTY.
IT IS A REAL PROBLEM. SEVERAL OF THE SPEAKERS MENTIONED THE HAYES TRINITY WATER DISTRICT.
WE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO GET THEM REAUTHORIZED AND DO DO A REWRITE OF THEIR AUTHORIZATION THIS YEAR.
IT'S BEEN THAT THAT ISSUE HAS BEEN BUILDING FOR YEARS.
AND WHENEVER YOU HAVE INDIVIDUAL WATER USERS OUT THERE OR CORPORATE WATER USERS SPECIFICALLY, AND I'M LOOK, I'M NOT RUNNING AGAIN. WHEN YOU HAVE AQUA TEXAS IN THE DRIPPING SPRINGS WATER SUPPLY CORP OVER PUMPING THEIR PERMITS BY A COMBINED OVER 2 MILLION GALLONS A YEAR. THAT'S WHERE OUR PROBLEM LIES. AND SO I'LL JUST TELL YOU THAT I SUPPORT I FULLY SUPPORT A MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS. THAT BEING SAID, I'M ALSO A PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS GUY.
AND WHENEVER WE CERTIFY, WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE PERMITS, THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS, WHERE IS THAT WATER COMING FROM? IF IT'S COMING FROM THE GROUND, YOU NEED A REALLY STRONG GROUNDWATER DISTRICT, AND WE NEED ONE THAT'S FULLY FUNDED AND SUPPORTED THAT CAN ENFORCE THE RULES AND THE PERMITS THAT THEY ISSUE. WE DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW.
THEY'VE BEEN LITIGATED TO DEATH QUITE LITERALLY.
THEIR ENTIRE BUDGET CAN'T COVER THE LITIGATION CHARGES THAT THEY HAVE FROM TWO OF THEIR USERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE MUCH, MUCH DEEPER POCKETS THAN THEM. HOW DO WE STEP UP AS A COUNTY AND HELP THEM? BELIEVE ME, I'VE HAD NUMEROUS, NUMEROUS MEETINGS WITH THEIR WITH MEMBERS OF THEIR BOARD, WITH THEIR PREVIOUS GENERAL MANAGER, THIS GENERAL MANAGER. I KNOW COMMISSIONER HAMMER HAS AS WELL AND TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO TO MAKE THEM SOLVENT, AT LEAST THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THAT, THAT BEING SAID, THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE, I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I LOVE THE EXAMPLE OF THE BAMBERGER RANCH.
AND IT WORKS. WE'VE SEEN THOSE THINGS WORK. I WILL TELL YOU THAT IF WE PASS THIS AS WRITTEN, WE'RE GOING TO GET SUED AND WE'RE GOING TO LOSE. AND WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT SOMETHING NO ONE ELSE HAS MENTIONED IS WE OPERATE.
WE HAVE HAD A DEATH OF A THOUSAND CUTS IN THE LAST FOUR LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, AS COUNTY OFFICIALS.
AND I SAY THAT SYSTEMATICALLY, AND NOT JUST US AS COUNTY OFFICIALS, BUT MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS AS WELL.
[02:55:07]
THE THE 30 DAY SHOT CLOCK. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO MENTION TODAY.AS I READ IT, IF WE PUT THE WAY THAT STATE LAW READS, WE HAVE A.
IT'S KNOWN AS A. WE DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO REJECT.
WE MUST HAVE COMMENT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF ACCEPTING AN APPLICATION AND JUST THEM SUBMITTING IT.
STATE LAW SAYS WE HAVE TO COMMENT WITH WHAT THEIR DEFICIENCY IS ON OUR CURRENT REGULATION WITHIN 30 DAYS, OR IT'S AUTOMATICALLY APPROVED. AND WE'VE HAD DEVELOPERS COME IN HERE ON ON RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS AND SAY, YOU'RE ON DAY 32. IT'S OUR WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
MY FEAR IS. AND I DON'T THINK THE GENERAL PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS.
THERE'S ONLY FIVE THINGS THAT WE PERMIT. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT.
THAT IS, NUMBER ONE, FOR A FACILITY SUCH AS THIS, IT WOULD BE FIRE CODE.
RIGHT. SO THEY'RE GOING TO MEET WHAT WE USE AT THE 2018 FIRE CODE.
DO THEY CONNECT TO A COUNTY ROADWAY? WE IF THEY MEET THE THE PARAMETERS OF AN ENTRANCE TO THEIR PROPERTY, BY LAW, WE HAVE TO APPROVE THAT PERMIT WITHIN 30 DAYS.
ON THIS CASE, IT WOULD BE A 24 FOOT COMMERCIAL DRIVEWAY AND ENTRANCE.
I KNOW THERE'S SEVERAL LOOKING AT IT, BUT THE ONE THAT CAME IN AND PRESENTED IN COURT, THEY WERE GETTING THEY WERE GETTING SURFACE WATER FROM OUTSIDE HAYS COUNTY THROUGH THEIR WATER SYSTEM. SO WE COULDN'T WE CAN'T. YES, THERE'S GROUNDWATER AVAILABLE FOR FOR THEIR USE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT USING GROUNDWATER.
AND THE LAST ONE WE HAVE IS WE CAN PERMIT SEPTIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS UP TO 5000 GALLONS.
NONE OF THESE FACILITIES ARE GOING TO BE ON SEPTIC.
AND IF THEY ARE ON SEPTIC, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH MORE THAN 5000 GALLONS A DAY.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY. WE GET A LETTER FROM THE STATE SAYING THIS HAS BEEN APPROVED. ALL THAT BEING SAID, THOSE FIVE THINGS, MY MY CONCERN IS IF WE PASS THIS TODAY, ANY OF THOSE FIVE THINGS THAT THEY SEND TO US AT DAY 30, WHEN IT HITS US, THEY'RE AUTOMATICALLY APPROVED.
NONE OF THOSE AREAS THAT WE HAVE AUTHORITY OVER DEAL ANYTHING WITH WATER EXCEPT FOR THE GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY AND THEY'RE NOT USING GROUNDWATER FOR THESE. THEY'RE BRINGING IT FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND SO THAT'S A DIFFERENT, IT'S A DIFFERENT ANIMAL.
AND SO MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS, IS THAT I WANT TO PASS SOMETHING TODAY.
I WOULD LOVE TO, I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO SEEN IT MORE THAN TEN MINUTES BEFORE WE STARTED.
BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO STEP BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN ACTUALLY LEGALLY DO AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR, NUMBER ONE, A LAWSUIT. BUT, BUT NUMBER TWO, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, SPECIFIC TO THESE FACILITIES, ARE WE NOT SETTING OURSELVES UP TO SAY, IF WE DELAY THESE BY 30 DAYS, STATE LAW SAYS THAT THE PERMIT IS AUTOMATICALLY APPROVED.
SO IF WE SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR 30 DAYS AND THEY SUBMIT SOMETHING, THEN GUESS WHAT? AT DAY 30, WE HAVE TO ACCEPT IT. AND I DON'T I DON'T WANT THAT.
AND I WOULD LIKE. JORDAN, DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION ON WHETHER THE SHOT CLOCK STILL PERTAINS IN THIS SITUATION? YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER SCHMIDT THE SHOT CLOCK WOULD APPLY TO MOST OF THE FIVE TYPE OF PERMITS THAT YOU LISTED OUT.
FOR THE ONES WHERE THE 30 DAY SHOT CLOCK WOULDN'T APPLY, WE STILL WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ISSUE ADDITIONAL CRITERIA, IF YOU WILL. FOR ANY OF THOSE THAT AS IT RELATES TO GROUNDWATER.
BUT LIKE YOU SAID, MOST OF THOSE PERMITS ARE NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO GROUNDWATER.
IS THERE ANYBODY IN HERE BESIDES ME FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS? OKAY. SO IF YOU REMEMBER, THE CITY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS DID A MORATORIA TWO YEARS AGO.
THEY DID THAT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF LACK OF WASTEWATER AVAILABILITY.
[03:00:04]
BECAUSE THEY KNEW AT MINIMUM, ANY CITY, COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY WOULD TRY TO DO A 30 DAY MORATORIUM.AND BY INSTITUTING THE SHOT CLOCK, IT CUT THE KNEES OUT OF ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHO WANTED TO DO IT.
OKAY, I'M GOING TO BE GOOD. YOU GOT EVERYTHING OUT? OKAY, GOOD. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. SO YOU JUST HEARD THE COMMISSIONERS AND I VALUE AND APPRECIATE THEIR PERSPECTIVES.
BUT WE HEARD A LOT OF HOW WE CAN'T, WHY WE SHOULDN'T AND WHY WE WON'T.
AND I AM LOOKING FOR. YES WE CAN. YES WE LEAN FORWARD.
YES. LET'S FIGURE IT OUT. ENERGY. BECAUSE REMEMBER WHAT WE HEARD.
AND SO I'M NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE, BUT THE WAY THINGS ARE WRITTEN CANNOT BE THE WAY WE MOVE ON BECAUSE WE WILL BE STANDING IN FRONT OF A MACK TRUCK IF WE DO NOT DO SOMETHING, DO ANYTHING. IT WAS LITERALLY IN ONE OF MY QUOTES.
DO ANYTHING BUT DO SOMETHING. SO MY AIM TODAY IS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEE A SINCERE EFFORT FROM THIS COURT, BECAUSE WE'VE ALL HEARD, AND WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS ARE SAYING ARE ALL ACCURATE DEPICTIONS OF WHAT THIS BODY HAS DONE IN THE PAST, SUPPORT WATERS, SUPPORT COMMUNITY EFFORTS ON EVERY FRONT.
ALL THOSE THINGS ARE TRUE. HOWEVER, IT IS TIME WE ARE IN A MOMENT OF CRISIS.
THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE BOOKS TODAY ARE NOT THE WAY WE CAN ACT TODAY.
AND WE ARE. I AM LOOKING FOR OUT FRONT, BOLD, CREATIVE WAYS TO LEAN FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A STANCE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO WAIT UNTIL 2027 FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO MEET.
WE DON'T HAVE TIME. ONE OF THE GREAT NAMES THAT I'VE REACHED OUT TO AND HAD SOME DIALOG WITH, I CAN'T LEAVE IT UNSAID, WHICH IS MY FAVORITE SENATOR, SENATOR ZAFFIRINI.
I ALWAYS HAVE HER ON SPEED DIAL. I BELIEVE IN WORKING TOGETHER.
WE CAN ALL SAY NICE, PRETTY WORDS, BUT WE CAN'T DRINK THOSE WORDS.
WE HAVE TO TREAT IT AS THE URGENT EMERGENCY THAT IT IS.
AS YOUR DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, I AM ASKING MY GOVERNMENT, MY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, MY LEGAL DIVISION OF THE DA'S OFFICE TO SHAKE THE TREES AND LOOK, LOOKING AT THE LETTER OF THE LAW AND SAYS, WELL, WE DON'T THINK SO.
WELL, IT'S NOT WORKED IS NOT HOW WE CAN MOVE AT THIS MOMENT.
WE NEED SOMETHING MORE URGENT. WE NEED SOMETHING MORE PRESSING.
AND IF YOU NEED IT, READ AGAIN. I CAN ASK THAT YOU PLEASE READ THE RESOLUTION ONE MORE TIME.
BECAUSE I HEARD A COUPLE OF TIMES WE JUST GOT IT.
WELL, THE TRUTH IS, WE'RE A SMALL OFFICE. WE JUST FINISHED.
I WASN'T KEEPING IT FROM PEOPLE. WE JUST FINISHED.
SO JUST FOR THE SAKE OF EVERYONE, LET'S SEE IF YOU DON'T MIND MAYBE READING IT AGAIN.
IS THAT OKAY? DO YOU WANT THAT? DOES THAT HELP? READ IT ONE MORE TIME. THE RESOLUTION. WHAT? I AM SIMPLY ASKING.
COULD WE. COULD WE HAVE THAT READ? OH, I THOUGHT THE PIECE YOU WANTED WAS SPOKEN.
OKAY. NO, I JUST LIKE TO HEAR WHAT SHE SAID. SURE.
AND THIS IS BY ERIN ZWIENER, DISTRICT 45 FROM HAYS COUNTY.
WHAT MAKES OUR COUNTY SPECIAL IS OUR WATERWAYS.
THE BLANCO RIVER, CYPRESS CREEK, ONION CREEK, SPRING LAKE AND OTHERS.
JACOB'S WELL, ONE OF OUR ICONIC SPRINGS, HAS BARELY FLOWED SINCE 2022.
WATER NEEDS ACROSS THE COUNTY FOR HOUSEHOLDS HAVE EXPLODED ALONGSIDE OUR GROWTH.
TRADITIONALLY, AREAS OF DENSE DEVELOPMENT AND THUS HIGH WATER USE WERE CONTAINED WITHIN CITIES.
CITIES HAVE BROAD POWERS TO REGULATE DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING WATER USE.
[03:05:05]
MUNICIPAL USE DEVELOPMENTS. BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE MUDS HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE LIMITED AUTHORITY TO REGULATE GROWTH.COUNTIES, IN PARTICULAR ARE THE MOST LIMITED AND CAN ONLY REGULATE AREAS WHERE THEY HAVE AFFIRMATIVE AUTHORITY FROM THE STATE, SUCH AS FLOODING, FIRE SAFETY AND SEPTIC. SINCE I ASSUMED OFFICE IN 2019, FINDING WAYS TO GIVE HAYS COUNTY MORE TOOLS TO MANAGE OUR RAPID GROWTH, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO WATER, HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF MINE.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE CONSISTENT AND BIPARTISAN SUPPORT OF THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT REGARDING THIS LEGISLATION AND THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I FILED HB 2346 AND HB 2347, WHICH WOULD HAVE GIVEN WATER CONSERVATION TOOLS TO COUNTIES.
HB 2347, WHICH PASSED THE TEXAS HOUSE BUT FAILED TO ADVANCE IN THE SENATE, WAS A NARROWER BILL THAT, IN THE END, WOULD HAVE ONLY APPLIED TO HAYS COUNTY AND ALLOWED THE COUNTY TO REGULATE LANDSCAPING WATER USE FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT.
ALTHOUGH THIS BILL DID NOT BECOME LAW, IT. PASSING THE TEXAS HOUSE IS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE AND INDICATES THE LEGISLATURE'S INCREASING AWARENESS THAT UNFETTERED WATER USE AND THE LIMITED TOOLS TO MANAGE LOCAL GROWTH ARE BECOMING A CRISIS FOR MANY TEXAS COMMUNITIES.
I WANT TO THANK THE COURT FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF HB 2347 AND COMMISSIONER WALT SMITH FOR PROVIDING TESTIMONY TO THE HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF IT. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT I HAVE FILED OR ADVOCATED FOR, TO HELP US PROTECT OUR WATER RESOURCES.
WHILE THE LEGISLATURE IS MAKING PROGRESS ON DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM, THE OPPOSITION TO ANY LOCAL LOCAL TOOLS IS FORMIDABLE AND ATTACKS ON LOCAL CONTROL HAVE CONTINUED. I ASK THE COURT TO CONTINUE CALLING ATTENTION TO THIS CRITICAL ISSUE AND PUSHING THE ENTIRETY OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO FOLLOW MORE LOCAL OVERSIGHT OF USE OF WATER USE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE CHOICES THE COURT IS FACED WITH TODAY WITHOUT ROBUST AUTHORITY, ARE CHALLENGING. THE HAYS COUNTY COMMUNITY IS CALLING FOR ACTION, WHILE POWERFUL LEGISLATORS ARE ASKING FOR THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE ANY COUNTIES THAT PURSUE ANY SUCH ACTION. UNDER HB 14, WHICH WAS PASSED IN THE 88TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
LIKEWISE, THE COUNTY DENIES DEVELOPMENT PERMITS WITHOUT CLEAR AUTHORITY.
THE COUNTY OPENS ITSELF UP TO LITIGATION. THIS IS A TRAP OF THE LEGISLATURES MAKING.
I AM ENCOURAGED BY SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS OCCURRING ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING IN HOOD COUNTY, ONE OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE COUNTIES IN THE STATE.
WATER USE IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE, AND WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS IT.
AS THE COURT CONSIDERS ITS OPTIONS TODAY, I HOPE THAT IT CAN CHART A PATH THAT IS BOTH BRAVE AND STRATEGIC, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT GOOD LEGAL COUNSEL AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER COUNTIES WITH SIMILAR CONCERNS.
NO SINGLE ELECTED OFFICIAL CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS BOTH SAFETY AND POWER IN NUMBERS.
IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT PROTECTING OUR WATER, WE MUST BUILD A POWERFUL COALITION THAT SECURES LEGAL AUTHORITY AND WINS WIDESPREAD PUBLIC BUY IN. I AM IN THIS FIGHT FOR THE LONG HAUL, AND I REMAIN AT THE COURT'S DISPOSAL TO HELP CHART AN INTENTIONAL AND STRATEGIC PATH FORWARD. SINCERELY, ERIN ZWIENER. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT.
IT DID NOT GENERATE CHANGE. AND HER LETTER ALSO SAID SHE HOPES THAT WE INCREASE AWARENESS AND THAT WE CHART A PATH. THOSE ARE THINGS I WROTE DOWN THAT WERE HONESTLY A CONTINUATION OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING.
IF YOU DO MORE OF THE SAME AND EXPECT A DIFFERENT OUTCOME, CLICHE IS WHAT I'M FACING WITH TODAY.
BECAUSE FILING THINGS, NO MATTER WHERE YOUR HEART LIES OR SUPPORTING CAUSES WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING FOR SOMETHING BOLD, THIS IS THE TIME TO ACT AND I AM SIMPLY ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
[03:10:04]
AND BY THE TIME THE STATE TURNS A CORNER, BECAUSE EVERYONE'S COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS, TO LOOK OVER AT WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE COULD HAVE CLEANED UP OUR FIRMED UP OUR PROCESSES, WHICH IS ALL I'M ASKING.WHO CAN HARM US FOR THAT? JUDGE, I WOULD SAY.
I'M SORRY. GIVE ME ONE MORE SECOND, SIR. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. WELL, I MEAN, JUDGE, I'M.
AND I'M SORRY TO PUT THAT ON Y'ALL, JORDAN, BUT, YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED, I THINK A LOT OF THE LANGUAGE IN HERE IS FINE, BUT THERE ARE ITEMS THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT.
I'M NOT TRYING TO DELAY THE VOTE. I MEAN, AS I'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESEARCH TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, ITEM.
I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, JUST TO CHIME IN A LITTLE BIT, WHICH ITEM ON THE SHEET ARE YOU REFERRING TO FOR JORDAN TO DIAL IN ON THE WORD CHOICE? THIS RESOLUTION THAT WAS HANDED TO US THIS MORNING.
SO I GUESS IT'S ITEM K TWO. NO, BUT IN THE RESOLUTION YOU SAID YOU'RE OKAY WITH MOST OF IT.
I WAS ASKING WHAT PART OF IT. OH OKAY. CONCERNED WITH 12345.
THE SIXTH WEIGHT ONE TWO. THREE. FOUR. FIVE. THE SIXTH.
THANK YOU. THE SIXTH WHEREAS THE ONE THAT WAS READ IN COURT.
IT'S YOURS. WE CAN WRITE ON IT. WE HAVE ABILITY TO MAKE 12, 50, 200 COPIES IF WE NEED THEM.
SORRY, COMMISSIONER. THE SIXTH. WHEREAS. AND THEN.
SECTION TWO. THE PURPOSE. LET ME SEE. LET ME MAKE SURE.
BECAUSE IT JUST SAYS CERTAIN HIGH WATER DEMAND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION THAT 1ST MAY.
WELL, IT ISN'T THE INTENT. AND. WELL, LET ME GIVE YOU SOME MORE TIME TO READ IT. COMMISSIONER BECAUSE I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. WILL YOU MIND? COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. SO THE PUBLIC KEEPS UP THE SIXTH, WHEREAS CAN YOU READ THAT ONE OUT LOUD SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHICH ONE COMMISSIONER INGALSBE IS ASKING FOR? YEAH. PUT THAT MIC CLOSE TO YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE FAR AWAY. PLEASE. WHEREAS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DETERMINES THAT A SHORT, DEFINED PAUSE IS NECESSARY TO EVALUATE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS, REVIEW EXISTING DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURES AND CONSIDER UPDATES TO COUNTY STANDARDS GOVERNING DEVELOPMENTS WITH HIGH PROJECTED WATER USAGE.
OKAY. OKAY. AND THEN THE SECTION TWO PURPOSE, BECAUSE IT DOES SAY TEMPORARILY LIMITING THE ACCEPTANCE AND PROCESSING OF CERTAIN HIGH WATER DEMAND, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS. AND THEN SECTION THREE, TEMPORARY EVALUATION PERIOD SHALL IMPLEMENT A TEMPORARY EVALUATION PERIOD FOR 30 DAYS. LET ME SEE SECTION FIVE.
DURING THE TEMPORARY EVALUATION PERIOD, IT JUST MEANS MENTIONS A TEMPORARY EVALUATION PERIOD.
AND SO, AND JUST TO CLARIFY, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, IT IS IT IS ME ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO GIVE OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT A CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH. I LOVE THE PHRASE.
I WROTE IT DOWN. WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE ARE FACING, MOVE FAST, BREAK THINGS.
THAT IS WHAT IS AT OUR DOORSTEPS. AND THAT'S WHAT I HOPE YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THE SENSE OF URGENCY BEHIND JUST GIVING OUR DEPARTMENTS THE SUPPORT, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO ASSESS. I UNDERSTAND THAT, JUDGE.
SO I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE LEGALLY AUTHORIZED TO DO THAT.
AND I'M I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, FOR THE MOST PART, I THINK THE RESOLUTION RESOLUTION STATES OUR OPINION, WHICH ARE GOOD OPINIONS. I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT A FEW SECTIONS IN THERE AND HOW WE CAN MAYBE REWARD REWARD IT.
SO. JORDAN, THERE IT IS. DO YOU DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE REST? WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? WHY DON'T WE GIVE A TEN MINUTE RECESS AND GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THINGS AND TALK ABOUT THINGS? WE'LL TAKE A TEN MINUTE RECESS. I KNOW PEOPLE WANT TO DO A RESTROOM BREAK, TOO. TEN MINUTE RECESS.
NOTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE. COMMISSIONER. ONE MORE TIME.
SURE, I'LL DO IT. PLAYING WHACK A MOLE. FINE BY ME.
ALRIGHT. WE ARE BACK FROM A SHORT RECESS. WE TOOK A SHORT RECESS, IN PART BECAUSE SOME FOLKS SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW THIS. SIMPLE, STRAIGHTFORWARD WORDED ONE PAGER.
OR MAYBE IT'S TWO PAGERS, TWO PAGER RESOLUTION.
[03:15:02]
AND NOW THEY'VE HAD IT FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF HOURS. AND I KNOW THAT MY OFFICE.I CONFIRMED IN THE RECESS THAT MY OFFICE HAS SENT IT TO JORDAN LAST WEEK AND I THINK CANDACE HAD IT THE EMAILED MONDAY. AND SO I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS, SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT THIS STRAIGHT TALK DOCUMENT ON WATER REQUIRES. TIME TO CONTEMPLATE. THAT'S A PHRASE THAT OUR CURRENT DA, KELLY HIGGINS, TAUGHT ME. I'M SORRY, BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A WORKER.
BUT HE TOLD ME, BECAUSE I DON'T APPRECIATE THE PACE AT WHICH GOVERNMENT MOVES.
AND THAT WAS HIS RESPONSE TO ME. JUDGE, WE NEED MORE TIME TO CONTEMPLATE.
I'VE SEEN THAT, AND I LOVE KELLY HIGGINS, BUT I'VE SEEN THAT APPROACH IN THAT CONVERSATION, IN THAT STYLE AND THAT. TECHNIQUE USED AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
AND SO WE NEEDED TIME TO CONTEMPLATE. FOR OUR PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.
WE NEEDED TIME TO CONTEMPLATE. TO GET RID OF FLOCK CAMERAS.
WE NEEDED TIME TO CONTEMPLATE FOR A LOT OF THINGS.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU A SIMPLY WORDED DOCUMENT THAT OUR CIVIL DIVISION HAS HAD SINCE LAST WEEK, AND OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. EVERYONE CAN SEE YOUR FACES.
CANDACE, AM I WRONG? HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY SINCE MONDAY, ACCORDING TO MY OFFICE, SO I AM SIMPLY ASKING FOLKS TO SUPPORT AN IDEA THAT WE ARE FACING A MACK TRUCK COMING TO TAKE US OUT, AND I'M HOPING MY BODY WILL.
BODY OF GOVERNMENT HERE WILL HELP ME IN MOVING OUT OF THE WAY.
THAT'S WHAT MY HOPE IS. SO, JORDAN, I BOUGHT YOU SOME EXTRA TIME.
SO IT IS DIFFERENT. AND I WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT.
IT IS VERY EASY AND NOT NUANCED IN REGARDS TO WHAT'S LEGAL AND WHAT'S NOT.
AND WHILE THERE WERE OTHER SECTIONS THAT WEREN'T SPECIFICALLY LISTED BY COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, THEY ALL RELATE TO THE SECTIONS THAT WERE. SO I THINK IN JUST GENERAL TERMS, ANY RESOLUTION THAT WOULD CONTEMPLATE ANY SORT OF PAUSE, MORATORIUM HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DESCRIBE IT WOULD NOT FALL WITHIN THE COUNTY'S LEGAL PURVIEW.
HOWEVER, THERE MIGHT BE SOME VERSIONS THAT WOULD SUCH AS, FOR EXAMPLE, CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENTAL BODIES THAT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT AND, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONERS URGING THEM OR ASKING THEM TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTION, THERE ARE THERE ARE SOME OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE A VERSION THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME THAT IS IN FRONT OF US TODAY.
AND SO SINCE WE ARE IN THIS MOMENT WHERE WE ARE BEING TOLD BY OUR CIVIL DIVISION THAT IT'S NOT DOABLE IN THIS WAY BECAUSE THE STATE HAS HAMSTRUNG US, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING LEFT UNSAID.
IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE TO BE SAID, COMMISSIONER SMITH? YES. ON YOUR SIDE. AND THE REASON THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO CONTEMPLATE EARLIER, BEFORE WE RECESSED.
THERE'S TWO THINGS BEING TALKED ABOUT HERE TODAY.
ONE IS WE DON'T HAVE PLANNING AND ZONING AUTHORITY.
IF WE LOOK AT THE OTHER CONVERSATION THAT'S BEING HAD TODAY AND THE REAL CONVERSATION THAT I CARE ABOUT, AND I THINK THAT MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES CARE ABOUT IS GROUNDWATER.
AND IF THIS IS GROUNDWATER CONVERSATION, THEN WHY NOT MAKE THE RESOLUTION AND THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE RESOLUTION EMPOWER THOSE GROUNDWATER DISTRICTS THAT WE WORK WITH ON A DAILY BASIS? SO MY QUESTION IS REMOVING SECTION TWO THROUGH FIVE, BRINGING IT BACK TO THE NEXT COURT WITH A FUNDING MECHANISM WHERE WE CAN PAY OUR GROUNDWATER DISTRICTS WHO ARE DOING ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REVIEWING THIS ANYWAY, HAVE THAT PORTION OF WHAT WE DO IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THAT THAT GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY, HAVE A REVIEW DONE BY THE GROUNDWATER DISTRICTS AND PAY THEM FOR THAT SERVICE AND THEN TURN AROUND,
[03:20:04]
AND THEN WE CAN HAVE THEIR DIRECT EVALUATION OF IT BEFORE WE EVER CONSIDER ANY OF THESE PERMITS SPECIFICALLY, THE ONLY PERMIT THAT WE CAN DO THAT ON WOULD BE THE GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY.DRIVEWAY PERMITS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS. WE CAN'T. BUT IT ENSURES AND ONE OF THE COMMENTS EARLIER WAS THAT THE GROUNDWATER DISTRICT, HAYES TRINITY HAD NEVER SEEN ANY OF OUR GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY STUDIES.
WE ACTUALLY PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT INCLUDED THAT THEY GET ALL OF THEM NOW.
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. BUT IF WE INCLUDED THEM IN THE PROCESS AND MANDATED THAT THEY HAD SEVEN BUSINESS DAYS OR WHATEVER THAT MAY BE TO REVIEW THOSE AND PAY THEM FOR THAT SERVICE BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T DO IT FOR FREE, I'M SURE.
IT WOULD REMAIN WITHIN THE 30 DAY SHOT CLOCK TIMELINE, SO WE WOULDN'T BE VIOLATING STATE LAW.
THE STATE COULDN'T SAY ANYTHING TO US ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING.
AND IT IS WITHIN OUR CURRENT REGULATORY PURVIEW.
THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT AS FAR AS A, A REAL USABLE RESOLUTION RATHER THAN SOMETHING THAT WE COULD WAVE AROUND IF WE'RE RUNNING FOR OFFICE. I THINK WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS.
AND SO COMMISSIONER SHOTS FIRED. I HEARD YOU RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
I HAVE A DEEP DESIRE TO EFFECT CHANGE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN YOURS.
AND I HAVE ALWAYS SAID I DON'T APPRECIATE THE PACE AT WHICH GOVERNMENT MOVES.
AND SO I THINK WE CAN AVOID THE CHEAP SHOTS AS A THEATRICAL STUNT AND INSTEAD TAKE THE BOLDNESS FOR WHAT IT IS BECAUSE I'M NOT ATTACKING YOU AND YOUR STATEMENT SEEMS, UNFORTUNATELY, A DISTRACTION. COMMISSIONER HAMMER.
I HAVE A QUESTION. CAN I SEE CAN I HAVE CHASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM? CHASE YOUNG IN OUR CIVIL DIVISION. THE ONLY REASON WHY IS BECAUSE HE.
I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. CHASE IS AMAZING AT ALL THINGS DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, CODE REGULATION, ALL THOSE THINGS. SO IT WAS STATED THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, CONTEMPLATING AND THINGS TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND THEY DO, AND ESPECIALLY FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF THERE IS A PLAY AT HAND, WE CAN DO IT RIGHT. CHASE, HAVE YOU THOROUGHLY SEARCHED THROUGH WAYS THAT WE CAN LEGALLY STOP DATA CENTERS? FIRST OF ALL CHASE YOUNG ASSISTANT CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY WITH HAYS COUNTY AND COMMISSIONER HAMMER.
YES, I'VE, I'VE SPENT AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME TRYING TO FIND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO PROTECT OUR GROUNDWATER IN GENERAL. AND IN FACT, THE WORK THAT WE DO WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, I WOULD ARGUE, IS, QUITE FRANKLY, ON THE BLEEDING EDGE OF WHAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO. AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY INNOVATING.
WE USE THINGS LIKE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS IN A VERY AGGRESSIVE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT GROUNDWATER LIKE THAT WE GET AUTHORITY THROUGH DOING THOSE AGREEMENTS THAT WE OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAVE, LIKE THE ABILITY TO GET DEVELOPERS TO AGREE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE RAINWATER COLLECTION, DO LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT FOR IRRIGATION, THINGS THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE OTHERWISE.
BUT AS FAR AS THE ABILITY TO PAUSE SOMETHING, I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY AUTHORITY THAT WE HAVE BEEN GRANTED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND THE COUNTY AS A CREATION OF THE CONSTITUTION, A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF TEXAS, UNLIKE A CITY WHERE IT'S SELF INCORPORATED, ONLY HAS THE ABILITY THAT IT IS EXPLICITLY GRANTED BY STATUTE, BY CONSTITUTION, OR BY FEDERAL LAW, AND THE ABILITY TO PAUSE SOMETHING AT THIS POINT.
AND THAT WOULD. YEAH. OKAY. AND THEN DO YOU THINK, AS IT'S WRITTEN, FROM YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE, THE RESOLUTION IS WRITTEN, IS IT IS IT YES OR NO? LEGAL? NO. UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY WILL BE ABLE TO LEGALLY DO GOING FORWARD.
I THINK WE WOULD BE EXPOSING OURSELVES TO SIGNIFICANT LEGAL LIABILITY.
AND I THINK THAT IF WE CLOSED IT THREE, WE'D BE SUED BY FOUR.
OKAY. THANKS, CHASE. SO WHAT I WILL DO, CHASE, IS BECAUSE I SEE, I, I FEEL I UNDERSTAND THAT THE LEANING FORWARD, PUTTING PRESSURE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES IS NOT MOST UNIFIED.
AND I WILL PUSH AND I WILL NOT SLOW DOWN AND I WILL NOT BACK OFF.
AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE IF THIS IS A POLITICAL STUNT, ROLL THE TAPE.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR EIGHT YEARS. YOU PICK THE SUBJECT.
NEVER MIND THE CALENDAR. SO JUST KNOW I WILL TABLE THIS, BUT IT WILL NOT BE A DISTRACTION.
[03:25:05]
IT WILL NOT BE A. MAYBE THEY'LL FORGET ABOUT IT BECAUSE I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH SENATOR ZAFFIRINI BECAUSE SHE'S GOT A WHOLE COMMITTEE WORKING ON THINGS LIKE THIS, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO LEAN ON AND PRESS HARD, AND I WILL ASK KELLY HIGGINS TO TELL ME EXACTLY OR THROUGH JORDAN, TELL ME EXACTLY WHO WITHOUT THUMB ON THE SCALE THOUGHT PROCESS WILL HELP ME SPECIFICALLY TO MAKE SURE WE PUSH THIS IN A MEANINGFUL WAY, NOT JUST WHAT'S IN THE BOUNDARIES, BUT TO CHALLENGE THE BOUNDARIES.BECAUSE JUST TO STAND THERE AND BE OKAY WITH WHAT'S THERE AND SAY, WELL, WRINGING OUR HANDS, WRITING STERN LETTERS IS NO LONGER ENOUGH. AND IF THE STATE NEEDS TO BE CALLED TO THE CARPET BY THIS COMMUNITY TO START, WE'RE NOT THAT FAR. WE'RE 40 MINUTES 40 MILES AWAY FROM THEM.
IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO START THE CONVERSATION, SO BE IT.
WE MUST STAND UNIFIED. LET'S DO IT. OKAY, SO I'LL TABLE THIS ITEM AND PUSH THIS ON FOR ANOTHER TIME.
LET'S HAVE. JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE DONE TALKING ON THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE ISSUE IS SETTLED.
AND IF IF THERE IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL COMING OUT OF THIS IN THE FUTURE, IT HAS TO BE DONE WITH THE WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COURT WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED ON THESE ISSUES, NOT JUST AT A BASE LEVEL, BUT AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR LITERALLY YEARS.
AND I'M JUST TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, MY FRUSTRATION, MY FRUSTRATION IS LITERALLY I WAS AWAY FROM MY FAMILY 3 TO 4 DAYS A WEEK DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE LAST THREE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, WORKING ON WATER ISSUES FOR THIS COUNTY AND FOR YOU TO SAY IT'S ONLY 40 MILES UP THERE.
IT DOESN'T TAKE TOO MUCH. IT'S ONLY 40 MILES UP THERE.
AND IF. IF YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THESE ISSUES, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE OUR MEMBER OF THE STATE HOUSE ON THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE FIGHTING FOR US. SHE'S NOT A MEMBER OF MY PARTY, BUT SHE RIDES FOR THE BRAND FOR HAYS COUNTY ON WATER EVERY DAY.
AND THAT'S ERIN ZWIENER. AND TO SAY THAT THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT NOW IT JUST BECAME A PROBLEM.
DATA CENTERS JUST BECAME A PROBLEM. SIR, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON NOW. OKAY.
SO I JUST WANT TO OFFER OFFER MY ASSISTANCE IN ANY WAY.
IT IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, I THINK, TO ALL OF US.
BUT IT'S AFFECTING MY CONSTITUENTS, AND I WANT TO BE INVOLVED, IF YOU SO CHOOSE TO LET ME.
AND JUDGE, YES, YES, YOU HAD AN IDEA TOO, WHENEVER WE DISCUSSED THINGS WITH WATER.
YOU KNOW, FOR A TASK FORCE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I'D LOVE TO HELP ON ANY TYPE OF INITIATIVES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I'M HAVING A CLEAR I MEAN, YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
I'VE NOT SAID EVERYTHING I'M TOUCHING BECAUSE WE WOULD BE HERE FOR TOO LONG.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I'M WORKING ON IS I'M CREATING A SUMMIT.
WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE'RE GOING TO BE COMING TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU WERE, WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT YOUR PROJECTIONS ARE, BECAUSE WE AS A COUNTY, FULL BODY.
AND SO I HAVE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FOR REMINDING ME.
I HAVE ASKED SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP IN THAT SPACE OF THE ACTUAL PROVIDERS TO HELP ME PUT THE GROUP TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MEANINGFUL DIALOG, SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND IT MOST ACCURATELY, MOST COMPLETELY.
WHAT'S GOING ON IN WHAT WE'RE DOING. LET ME TELL YOU THIS WORK WE ARE PUSHING ON RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE IN CALDWELL COUNTY, PEOPLE IN GUADALUPE COUNTY, PEOPLE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, PEOPLE IN COMAL COUNTY AND BEYOND ARE CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO SEE MOVEMENT, TO SEE PROGRESS, BECAUSE NO ONE IS MOVING, BECAUSE THEY ARE HAMSTRUNG AT THE STATE LEVEL.
WE CAN'T PLAY CHICKEN ANY LONGER. WE'VE GOT TO KEEP MOVING.
AND SO THIS IS THAT. AND I WILL I WILL FIND ANOTHER WAY TO MODIFY THIS DOCUMENT THAT WILL BE MORE ROBUSTLY SUPPORTED, BUT I WILL NOT STOP ON THE PUSH AND I WILL NOT STOP ON THE EFFORT.
[03:30:02]
AS DO THE ELECTRIC PROVIDERS, AS DO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE A REGULATORY STANCE THERE.WE PASSED A MORATORIUM SIX MONTHS AGO. THERE WE HAD THREE WE HAD 300M LEFT.
UNTIL THERE'S AN EXPANSION OF THE SYSTEM. THAT'S 300.
LOUIS. THAT'S ALL. IF YOU LOOK, THE HE'S TRINITY GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT HASN'T AUTHORED OR HASN'T ISSUED A COMMERCIAL PERMIT, AND I WOULD GUESS ROUGHLY TWO YEARS. AND SO THOSE GROUNDWATER DISTRICTS AND THE CURRENT WATER PROVIDERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO IMPACT DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THIS. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNOR'S LETTER TO ME AS THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND OF COURSE, HE'S OUR DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
I ECHOED THE GOVERNOR'S SENTIMENT, URGING OUR WATER PROVIDERS IN THE COUNTY TO MOVE TO STAGE FOUR.
AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WOULD PUT THE BRAKES, WHERE THE AUTHORITY 100% SQUARELY LIES TODAY.
I GAVE THEM THE SUPPORT, I GAVE THEM THE COVER.
I GAVE THEM THE GREEN LIGHT TO STOP THIS IN ITS TRACKS.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, I WASN'T CALLING IT OUT. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, I SHOULD, I SHOULD. THE ONLY ONE SO FAR THAT TOOK ME UP ON THAT WAS MARTINDALE WATER SUPPLY CORPORATION. THEY WENT TO STAGE FOUR. AND IF THERE'S ANOTHER ONE, I'M SORRY.
THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT COMES TO MIND RIGHT NOW. BUT IF IF IF THE ONE RIGHT HERE CRYSTAL CLEAR, FOLLOWS THE GOVERNOR'S DIRECTIVE AND MY RECOMMENDATION AND GOES TO STAGE FOR THIS CONVERSATION, AND COMMISSIONER INGLESBY'S PRECINCT IS OVER, BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ISSUE INDUSTRIAL PERMITS UNDER STAGE FOUR RESTRICTIONS. SO I'M PUSHING ON ALL FRONTS, TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE THE COVER THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THE LEVERS ARE.
I'M TRYING. YES. AND I'M DOING ALL OF THE ABOVE.
I'M NOT DOING EITHER OR. I'M DOING ALL OF THE ABOVE.
WITH THAT SAID, I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.
THIS IS TO BE CONTINUED. IT IS NOT OVER ON THE WATER ISSUE.
WHAT WE CAN DO NEXT IS SWIPE ALL THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ALL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, IS THERE A CONVERSATION ON ANY OF THOSE ITEMS? GOOD MORNING, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS ON ITEM G10.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT PAYROLL WILL CREATE A NEW JOB CODE AND SLOT NUMBERS FOR THOSE POSITIONS THAT DON'T CURRENTLY EXIST, AS WELL AS CLOSE OUT ANY OLD ONES THAT WILL NOT NO LONGER BE USED.
BE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I CAN SEE THE FUTURE AND I SEE MONEY TIED TO THEM IN THE NEXT BUDGET.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. TWO THINGS.
THE FIRST ONE IS ON ITEM 28. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT FOR WORKING WITH HAYS CONSOLIDATED AND UPDATING THE H I H C ISD.
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS THAT CONTRACT AND THEN I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY.
THAT WAS A 2016 ROAD BOND ITEM. AND WE ARE GLAD ALL THE UTILITIES ARE FINALLY RELOCATED.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO CONSTRUCTION. ANYTHING ELSE ON CONSENT? COMMISSIONERS ON THIS SIDE. ALL RIGHT. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER HAMER. YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.
YES. COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES. COMMISSIONER COHEN.
YES. JUDGE BECERRA. YES. COMMISSIONERS YOU CALL IT.
[I.9. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a Contract for Engineering Services (2026-PSA-47) between Hays County and Alfred Benesch & Company to provide design services for the RM 150 East project in Precinct 1 and Precinct 2. INGALSBE/COHEN/A.JONES]
WHAT'S. IT'S IN THE COURTROOM. I NINE AND K TEN, I NINE, FOLLOWED BY K TEN, I NINE.DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES.
2026 PSA 47 BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND ALFRED BENESCH AND THE COMPANY TO PROVIDE DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE MX 150 EAST PROJECT IN PRECINCT ONE AND PRECINCT TWO. SO MOVED. SECOND.
OKAY. COMMISSIONER. SO JUDGE BENESCH WAS SELECTED BACK IN NOVEMBER FOR DESIGN SERVICES.
AND THIS IS THE NEGOTIATED CONTRACT FOR FOR OUR CONSIDERATION TODAY.
[03:35:05]
FOR THEM TO MOVE FORWARD. OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE? COMMISSIONERS. CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE.YES. COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
YES. COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
[K.10. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a Development Agreement between Hays County, LB Simpson LLC, and Hays County Municipal Utility District. No. 11 for the Simpson Tract Subdivision. INGALSBE/BOUTTÉ]
COUNTY L.B. SIMPSON, LLC AND HAYS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 11 FOR THE SIMPSON TRACT DIVISION.SO MOVED. SECOND. AND DO WE HAVE. WHO'S TAKING THIS ONE? GOOD MORNING. COURT. MY NAME IS MICHAEL BARTLETT. I'M THE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT IS LOCATED OFF OF RODI ROAD. IT'S GOING TO CONTAIN 1250 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES 18 ACRES OF MULTIFAMILY AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS 290 TOTAL ACRES.
THE DEVELOPMENT WILL BE ABOUT EIGHT PHASES OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 TO 15 YEARS.
THERE ARE A FEW VARIANCES WITH THIS ONE PREDOMINANTLY GOING TO BE ROADWAY STANDARDS.
AND THE PRELIMINARY PLAN FEE FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE COUNTY.
THIS PARTICULAR TRACT OF LAND DOES HAS FUTURE 2001 GOING THROUGH IT.
THE DEVELOPER HAS ALSO AGREED TO UTILIZE RAINWATER HARVESTING WHERE POSSIBLE, FOLLOW THE DARK SKIES INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS A VOTING AND POLLING LOCATION. THIS HAS ALSO BEEN REVIEWED BY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF.
THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND LEGAL WITH ME TODAY.
I ALSO HAVE TYLER GATEWOOD WITH THE DEVELOPER.
AND SO WE'RE HAPPY THAT THEY'RE FOLLOWING SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE KNOW ARE IMPORTANT TO US.
ALL RIGHT. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER.
HAMMER. YES, COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES, COMMISSIONER.
SELBY. YES. COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
[K.12. Discussion and possible action to authorize the purchase of Blue Voice software through SHI Government Solutions for the Hays County Sheriff's Office, in the amount of $78,530.92, to be paid over a forty-threemonth term, and accept the related Software Agreement and End User License Agreement. INGALSBE/HIPOLITO]
HAYS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $78,530.92 TO BE PAID OVER A 43 MONTH TERM, AND ACCEPT THE RELATED SOFTWARE AGREEMENTS AND END USER LICENSE AGREEMENTS.IS THIS MIKE? YES. SO MOVED. SECOND. COMMISSIONER.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY? LET'S SEE.
WHERE. WHERE IS MY AGENDA ITEM? OH! K12. I'M SO SORRY, JUDGE.
THAT'S OKAY. DON'T WORRY. MISS LABELED MY LITTLE MARKS.
OH, CHIEF BAILEY IS HERE. OKAY. WHY DON'T YOU COME ON UP? CHIEF, I CAN'T FIND MY AGENDA ITEM FAST ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
SORRY. THANK YOU. BRETT BAILEY, CHIEF DEPUTY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M HERE MAINLY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT BLUE VOICE.
IT'S GOING TO BE A NEW A NEW CONTRACT. I WILL SPEAK ON VERY BRIEFLY ON JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE IS I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS A CLOSED AI PLATFORM.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT DOESN'T REACH OUT TO OPEN SOURCES AND SO FORTH.
IT'S MANAGED BY THE COMPANY BLUE VOICE OR BLUE TO GIVE US AT OUR FINGERTIPS VERY QUICK ACCESS TO STATE LAWS SUCH AS PENAL CODE, CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, THAT SORT OF THING.
AND ANYTHING WE CHOOSE TO PUT INTO IT. SO THERE'S TWO SIDES TO THE PLATFORM.
ONE IS STATE LAW. THE OTHER IS INTERNAL POLICIES AND DOCUMENTS.
AND IT'S, IT'S ALL MANAGED. IT'S A CLOUD BASED SYSTEM, ALL MANAGED IN-HOUSE AND WE HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER WHAT IS, WHAT IS PUT IN AND WHAT COMES OUT. OKAY. YOU SAID THE RIGHT THINGS.
SO ARE WE GUINEA PIGS? HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT IF THAT'S IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S CRITICAL.
WE ARE NOT THE FIRST. WE ARE NOT THE FIRST. I DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE UTILIZING THIS SOFTWARE, AND SO IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR DESCRIPTION CORRECTLY, THIS IS A WAY FOR SOMEONE TO SOMEONE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TO REFERENCE LEGAL CODE ON THE FLY. IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH. JUST I CAN ACTUALLY SPEAK VERY, VERY DELIBERATE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.
IT CAN BE RUN ON A PLATFORM SUCH AS A CELL PHONE, A COMPUTER, A LAPTOP, ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
AND BASICALLY WHAT YOU DO IS YOU GO IN AND YOU DO A KEYWORD SEARCH, YOU LOOK FOR VEHICLE IMPOUND,
[03:40:02]
IF YOU WILL. IT WILL PULL UP TWO DIFFERENT COLUMNS, ONE FOR STATE LAW, ONE FOR INTERNAL POLICY.IT WILL ASK YOU WHICH YOU WANT TO GET OR BOTH.
AND THEN YOU, YOU CLICK WHICH ONE YOU WANT OR BOTH.
AND IT PULLS UP THE INTERNAL POLICY FROM OUR POLICY MANUAL ON VEHICLE IMPOUNDS WHEN YOU CAN, WHEN YOU CAN'T. AND IT WILL ALSO REFER TO STATE LAW ON WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT VEHICLE IMPOUNDS.
SO IT'S, IT'S JUST A VERY QUICK WAY TO ACCESS.
AND IF I MAY TAKE ONE MORE SECOND TO SAY THE REASON THIS IS GOING TO BE SO VALUABLE IN FISCAL YEAR 25, THE COURT GAVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, LEXAPRO, A CONTRACT WITH LEXAPRO TO REWRITE OUR POLICIES.
I LOVE I LOVE THE IDEA OF IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY. BUT YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE HERE, MY PHONE WILL START GOING OFF WITH CONCERNS ASIDE SO WE CAN JUST BEAT IT. AND MAYBE YOU CAN SHARE WITH ME.
WHY WOULD SOMEONE NOT LIKE THIS? HONESTLY SPEAKING, GIVE ME A NEGATIVE SIDE OF IT.
I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU A NEGATIVE SIDE. I THINK THE BIGGEST SELL HERE IS THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS SHARED WITH ANYONE ELSE EXCEPT OUR AGENCY, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS GATHERED FROM ANYWHERE ELSE EXCEPT OUR AGENCY OR THE THE ADOPTED STATE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO LEGAL DIRECTION ON THE FINGERTIPS FOR OUR FRONT LINE.
WHAT ABOUT OUTSIDE OF A VEHICLE, BUT WITH A PERSON? I'VE HEARD AND WE'VE ALL PROBABLY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, SEEN A VIDEO WHERE SOMEONE IN UNIFORM WAS CITING THE LAW ERRONEOUSLY AND THEY'RE CALLING THEM OUT. AND UNLESS YOU'RE LOOKING IT UP, YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S RIGHT AND WHO'S WRONG.
IT'S CLICKBAIT. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THIS WOULD HELP US NOT TRYING TO BE WILLIAMSON COUNTY, BUT THIS WILL HELP US TO BE ACCURATE WITHOUT AS MUCH VARIATION, AM I RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. IT WOULD GIVE THOSE DEPUTIES AND SUPERVISORS ON THE STREET.
NOW, AS THE CHEAPSKATE FISCAL CONSERVATIVE THAT I AM, I WANT TO ASK YOU HOW AND TO BAD, JEFF MCGILL'S NOT HERE, BUT HOW. 80 GRAND. OKAY. JUST TO HAVE A QUICK DATA OF OUR STUFF. SURE. HOW HOW DO WE JUSTIFY NOT JUST DOING IT OURSELVES? WELL, I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO IT OURSELVES AT ALL.
OKAY. I WILL SAY I'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY, EVEN MET WITH THE TOP EXECUTIVES AT BLUE.
AND THEN WE'RE GETTING A SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNT FOR YEAR TWO.
A PARTIAL OF 25% DISCOUNT FOR YEAR THREE. AND THEN WE PAY THE FULL YEARLY RATE.
ANNUAL RATE FOR THAT LAST YEAR OF THIS CONTRACT.
IS THERE ANYONE AVAILABLE TO YOU FROM THIS COMPANY AT THIS MOMENT? THERE IS. CAN YOU REACH OUT TO THEM WHILE WE CONTINUE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT AND ASK THEM? I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHERE WE ARE IN THE NUMBERS WISE.
YEAH. HOW MANY ARE USING THIS FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO FEEL LIKE GUINEA PIGS? ABSOLUTELY. COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE. YEAH. JUDGE.
YOU KNOW, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT FINDING THE AGENDA ITEM.
NO. THAT'S OKAY. QUICKLY. BUT, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT I LIKED ABOUT OR WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE BACKUP IS THAT OFFICERS HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO ACCURATE LEGAL INFORMATION. IT IS JUST OUR INFORMATION THAT IS FED INTO IT.
BUT THEY GET TO LOOK AT ALL THE STATUTES AND CODES AND WHATEVER TO MAKE THOSE SO FAR.
I BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE INTRINSICALLY GOOD. SO FAR, I DON'T SEE A NEGATIVE SIDE TO IT, I REALLY DON'T.
I'M JUST TOSSING IT AROUND, YOU KNOW? YOU KNOW OUR ROLE HERE.
COMMISSIONER COHEN. NO. I'M GOOD. YOU'RE GOOD.
COMMISSIONER HAMMER NO, I THINK THAT HE'LL PROBABLY TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND COME BACK AND GIVE US SOME BETTER IDEA OF WHAT WHAT YOU ASKED FOR, BUT I THINK THAT'S ALL GREAT POINTS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SPENDING ALL BY ITSELF. RIGHT. YEAH. I WANT TO MAKE SURE, THOUGH, THAT $80,000 GOES TO SOMETHING VERY MEANINGFUL. GOOD, GOOD, GOOD. COMMISSIONER SMITH. SURE.
I JUST OVERALL ON THE 42 MONTH CONTRACT, IT'S LESS THAN $8,870 A MONTH TO HAVE THAT KIND OF CAPABILITY WITH OUR OFFICERS. I JUST LOOK AT THAT. AND IF THEY MAKE ONE ARREST THE RIGHT WAY OR THEY HAVE ONE INTERACTION THAT FALLS A DIFFERENT WAY,
[03:45:09]
THAT'S I DON'T KNOW THAT WE COULD EVEN TALK ABOUT ADDRESSING A LAWSUIT FOR $1,800 A MONTH.AND SO I THINK IT'S PROBABLY MONEY WELL SPENT.
OKAY. OKAY. SO THE CHIEF STEPPED OUT AND HE TEXTED ME THAT HE WAS READY.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I DID THAT. SO JUST FOR A SHORT MINUTE WAITING FOR HIM TO COME THROUGH ON K 12.
LET'S JUST PAUSE THAT FOR A SECOND. OH, THERE HE IS.
PERFECT. I WAS ABOUT TO SWING TO THE NEXT ITEM.
WE JUST FINISHED. AND IF YOU CAN GET TO THE MIC AND TELL US WHAT YOU HEARD, YOU MAY HAVE TO MOVE ON.
AND THEN WE REVISIT. I'M HAPPY TO WAIT. BUT HE DID NOT ANSWER.
I'VE SENT HIM A TEXT MESSAGE AND I JUST I JUST MY ONLY LAST QUESTION.
SO JUST FOR A MOMENT, AS SOON AS YOU YOU KNOW HOW RECEPTIVE I AM TO TEXT.
TEXT ME AS SOON AS YOU HAVE SOMETHING. IF YOU JUST TAP ME IN THE MEANTIME.
OKAY? OKAY. JUST MAKING SURE YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEONE WAITING FOR SOMETHING.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO THROUGH THE J SECTION, ONE AT A TIME.
[J.1. PLN-2901-PC; Call for a Public Hearing on March 10th, 2026 regarding Oakridge Park at Kinnicinik, Section 5, Lot 6A, Replat. SMITH/BOUTTE]
J1J1P2901PC. CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 10TH 2026 REGARDING OAK RIDGE PARK AT SECTION FIVE, LOT SIX A REPLAT. SO MOVED.SECOND, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER. HAMMER.
YES. COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
YES. J2J2P-2855-PC. CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 10TH, 2026 REGARDING THE HAWK
[J.2. PLN-2855-PC; Call for a Public Hearing on March 10th, 2026 regarding the Hawk Ridge Phase 2 Replat of lots 2- 16 & 27. SMITH/BOUTTE]
RIDGE PHASE TWO REPLAT OF LOTS TWO, 16 AND 27.SO MOVED. SECOND OKAY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER COHEN.
YES. COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE. YES. COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES.
COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES. JUDGE BECERRA. YES. J3J3PLN-2756-NP RATIFY
[J.3. PLN-2756-NP; Ratify Approval for the Poco Loco, Final Plat. INGALSBE/BOUTTE]
APPROVAL FOR THE POCO LOCO. FINAL PLAT. SO MOVED.SECOND. AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY. KOBI.
FOR THIS ITEM, AGAIN, TO RATIFY APPROVAL, WE HAVE ISSUED ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL OF THIS PROJECT.
ALL REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET PURSUANT TO THE HAYS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AS SET FORTH AND UNDER TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 232. UN POCO LOCO WILL CREATE EIGHT LOTS ACROSS 15.5403 ACRES.
WATER UTILITY WILL BE SERVED BY MAXWELL SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH AQUA TEXAS, INC.. THERE WERE NO VARIANCES REQUESTED WITH THIS APPLICATION AND AGAIN, WE'VE ALREADY PROVIDED ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES, COMMISSIONER.
HAMMER. YES, COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER. SMITH.
YES. JUDGE BECERRA. YES. J3J4J4P2727NP. RATIFY APPROVAL FOR
[J.4. PLN-2727-NP; Ratify approval for the River Oaks of Wimberley, Lots 3A & 3B Final Plat. HAMMER/BOUTTE]
THE RIVER OAKS OF WIMBERLEY. LOTS THREE A AND THREE B FINAL PLAT.SO MOVED. SECOND. THANK YOU ON THIS PROJECT. RIVER OAKS WIMBERLEY, LOT 3A3B WILL CONSIST OF TWO LOTS ACROSS 6.683 ACRES. THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED ALONG OAK RUN DRIVE AND RAMBLING OAKS DRIVE IN WIMBERLEY AND IN PRECINCT THREE. WATER UTILITY PROVIDED BY RAINWATER COLLECTION FOR LOT THREE A AND INDIVIDUAL WATER WELL FOR LOT THREE B.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT FOR BOTH LOTS WILL BE ADVANCED ONSITE SEWAGE FACILITIES.
AND WE HAVE ISSUED ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL. ALL RIGHT.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER HAMER. YES.
COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES. COMMISSIONER SMITH.
YES. COMMISSIONER COHEN. YES. JUDGE BECERRA. YES.
AFTER WE FINISH J. FIVE, I GOT YOUR TEXT. WE'LL GO TO K9J5P-2680-NP.
[J.5. PLN-2680-NP; Ratify approval of the Mount Sharp Airpark, Final Plat. HAMMER/BOUTTE]
RATIFY APPROVAL FOR THE MOUNT SHARP AIR PARK FINAL PLAT.SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY, ALTHOUGH THIS IS A LITTLE WEIRD, JUST YOU DIDN'T DO IT LAST TIME, BUT JUST SAY YOUR NAME IT EVERY TIME WE OPEN A NEW ITEM.
YES, SIR. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS.
OH, NO. NO, YOU GO FOR IT. OKAY. SORRY. COLBY.
HAYS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PLANNING DIVISION MOUNT SHARP AIR PARK.
FINAL PLAT WILL CONSIST OF 22 LOTS ACROSS 193.37 ACRES.
[03:50:05]
WASTEWATER TREATMENT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY INDIVIDUAL ONSITE SEWAGE FACILITIES.NO VARIANCES HAVE BEEN REQUESTED AND STAFF HAS PROVIDED ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL FOR THIS PROJECT.
SO THIS IS. I DID WANT TO ADDRESS THE COURT AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THEY, I MEAN, MET ALL OF OUR FIVE THINGS.
AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT ALSO HAS THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIPS IN EACH AREA.
SO A LOT OF LOT OF PLANES NOW IN WIMBERLEY. THEY LOVE IT.
THAT'S SARCASM. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THANK YOU, MR. HAMMER. YES. COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES, COMMISSIONER COHEN.
YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
[K.9. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a Master Services Agreement, Fee Schedule, and HIPPA Vendor Agreement between Hays County and BIG Language Solutions, LLC to provide translation services for the Juvenile Probation Office and the Juvenile Detention Center; and authorize a waiver to the purchasing policy of obtaining three quotes. BECERRA/WARE/DAY/HUNT]
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HAYS COUNTY AND BIG LANGUAGE SOLUTIONS, LLC TO PROVIDE TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR THE JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICE AND THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, AND AUTHORIZE A WAIVER TO THE PURCHASING POLICY OF OBTAINING THREE QUOTES.SO MOVED. SECOND, EVEN THOUGH I SEE YOU THERE, I ALWAYS WAIT UNTIL I GET A TEXT.
THANK YOU TAMMY. SO YOU MIGHT BE WAITING FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
AND SO I ALWAYS JUST ASSUME YOU'LL LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY.
SO SPEAK YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
LISA DAY, JUVENILE PROBATION. OKAY. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT THIS ITEM THAT COULD BE MEANINGFUL FOR THE CONVERSATION? WELL, THIS ITEM THAT WE'RE UP HERE FOR IS REALLY ME AND LISA.
ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES IS LANGUAGE BARRIERS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO REQUIRE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AND ALSO THE BARRIERS WITH THE LANGUAGE BARRIER. AND SO IF WE CAN FIND AN INTERPRETER QUICKLY, A LOT OF TIMES FAMILIES WHO ARE TRYING TO NAVIGATE THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR THE FIRST TIME, THAT CAUSES STRESS ALONG WITH MISCOMMUNICATION.
AND SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE IN BIG LANGUAGE SOLUTIONS.
SO I DON'T SEE A FUNDING SOURCES. CAN SOMEONE TALK ABOUT THAT? SO. SCOTT WOODLAND BUDGET OFFICER THE FUNDING SOURCE WOULD BE COMING FROM EITHER THE GENERAL FUND OR THE JUVENILE DETENTION FUND, DEPENDING ON WHO'S PROVIDING THE SERVICES.
IT'S ONLY WHEN WE USE THE SERVICES THAT THE CHARGES WOULD BE INCURRED.
OKAY. THANK YOU. IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA UNTIL WE FIND A CHEAPER WAY TO DO IT.
YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES, COMMISSIONER.
HAMMER. YES. COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
YES. THANK YOU. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. AND THANK YOU TO STEPHANIE AND JORDAN FOR HELPING US.
[K.11. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a Clerk E-Certify Services Order Form and Software as a Service (SaaS) Services Agreement with Triedata Inc. for an electronic certified document portal, authorize a waiver to the purchasing policy to obtain three quotes. BECERRA/CALVERT]
THANK YOU. PLEASE OPEN K11, K11 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A CLARK E CERTIFIED SERVICES ORDER FORM AND SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE. S A A S SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH TRI DATA, INC.SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
HELLO, MY NAME IS AMANDA CALVERT, HAYS COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK.
IT'S MY FIRST ONE, BUT IT IS A VERY SPECIFIC AND IMPORTANT TO ME.
TRI DATA IS AN ONLINE PORTAL TO RECEIVE ELECTRONICALLY CERTIFIED DOCUMENTS.
EXCUSE ME. AND THIS WAS NOT A VENDOR THAT APPROACHED ME.
IT WAS ACTUALLY A VENDOR THAT CAME HIGHLY SUGGESTED FROM OTHER COUNTIES.
SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTIES THAT HAVE THIS SOFTWARE ARE GUADALUPE, DALLAS COUNTY, ANDERSON COUNTY, AND FORT BEND. AND IT'S KIND OF SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF OTHER TEXAS COUNTIES ARE TRYING TO GET INTO.
THEY EXPLAINED THAT THEY DID NOT, BUT PLANNED TO HAVE IT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
I THEN WENT BACK AND TALKED TO THEM A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHEN I WAS AT THE COUNTY AND DISTRICT CLERK'S ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS CONFERENCE AND ASKED THEM IF THEY HAD THE SOFTWARE NOW, AND THEY TOLD ME NOT YET. IN RESEARCHING THIS, I BROUGHT IN OUR IT DEPARTMENT TO DO A,
[03:55:09]
A VIRTUAL MEETING WITH TRAI DATA TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY THOUGHTS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE SOFTWARE.THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT. SOME OF THE REASONS I LIKE THIS SOFTWARE IS IT'S HIGHLY USER FRIENDLY AND IT PROVIDES A LEVEL OF SECURITY AND AUTHENTICITY FOR DOCUMENTS AT A TIME WHERE A LOT OF THINGS ARE DRAWN INTO QUESTIONS INTO QUESTION.
IF ONE KEYSTROKE IS CHANGED ON THIS DOCUMENT AND IS IMMEDIATELY UNAUTHENTICATED, AND EVERY DOCUMENT COMES WITH A COVER PAGE WITH A QR CODE THAT WILL SHOW YOU THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THE DOCUMENT. ANOTHER COMPANY THAT WAS SUGGESTED TO PROVIDE ONLINE CERTIFICATIONS WAS NURO.
THEY DO NOT HAVE INTEGRATION WITH OUR CURRENT CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
IT DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGALLY COMPLIANT ELECTRONIC CERTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR ACCEPTANCE BY FEDERAL AGENCIES, WHICH TRIJATA DOES, AND IT DOES NOT OFFER SELF-VALIDATING DOCUMENTS.
ALL DOCUMENTS WOULD HAVE TO BE VALIDATED MANUALLY, AND IT DOES NOT SUPPORT U.S.
GOVERNMENT MANDATED CRYPTOGRAPHY STANDARDS FOR DOCUMENT CERTIFICATION, AND IT DOES NOT PROVIDE A LEGALLY COMPLIANT ELECTRONIC CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT ACCEPTED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THIS CONTRACT IN THIS PROGRAM, IN MY OPINION, IS EXTREMELY COST FRIENDLY.
SO IT COSTS MONEY, BUT WE'RE STILL GETTING MONEY AS IF WE WERE DOING IT.
ALONG THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE FEE SCHEDULE FROM THE COURTS.
IT'S NOT LIKE, OH, WE'RE STILL GOING TO CHARGE PEOPLE.
IT'S MANDATED. AND THEN GENERAL COUNSEL HAS REVIEWED THE CONTRACT.
AND RECOMMENDED CHANGES, AND THOSE CHANGES WERE AGREED ON BY THE COMPANY.
SO THEREFORE I'M REQUESTING THAT THE REQUIRED THREE QUOTES BE WAIVED.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS SIDE? ANY QUESTIONS? I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. YOU'RE ALWAYS REALLY GREAT AT USING YOUR MONEY WISELY.
I APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THEN PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER.
YES, COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.
YES. JUDGE BECERRA. YES. THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY.
NOW YOU CAN LEAVE THE COURTROOM. ANYONE ELSE? GIVE ME A OH, LET'S LET'S GO BACK TO THE CHIEF.
[K.12. Discussion and possible action to authorize the purchase of Blue Voice software through SHI Government Solutions for the Hays County Sheriff's Office, in the amount of $78,530.92, to be paid over a forty-threemonth term, and accept the related Software Agreement and End User License Agreement. INGALSBE/HIPOLITO]
LET'S REOPEN. K 12 K 12. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF BLUE VOICE SOFTWARE THROUGH S H I GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS FOR THE HAYS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $78,530.92 TO BE PAID OVER A 43 MONTH TERM, AND ACCEPT THE RELATED SOFTWARE AGREEMENT AND END USER LICENSE AGREEMENTS.SO JUST TO BE SAFE, WHY NOT? OKAY, CHIEF, WITH WITH THE EXTREME ASSISTANCE OF SOME VERY ASTUTE PEOPLE IN THE COURTROOM I WAS ABLE TO LEARN THAT THEIR WEBSITE DOES BOAST MORE THAN 200 AGENCIES THEY'VE PARTNERED WITH.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOESN'T LIST THOSE AGENCIES, BUT WE, WE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, IN THE TWO HUNDREDS.
SO WE'RE IN THE TWO HUNDREDS OF USERS, CORRECT? OKAY. OKAY. I CAN LIVE WITH THAT. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES. COMMISSIONER. SMITH.
YES. COMMISSIONER COHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.
YES. JUDGE BECERRA. YES, CHIEF. THANK YOU. SO WE'LL KEEP MOVING THROUGH.
[K.1. Discussion and possible action to authorize the Hays County Human Resources Department to coordinate onsite Preventive Care Services through Teledoc Health, Inc. for eligible employees as an additional benefit in connection with Hays County's employee benefits program. BECERRA/GRANJENO]
MISCELLANEOUS. I THINK WE HAVE NOT DONE K ONE.K ONE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE HAYS COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO COORDINATE ON SITE PREVENTATIVE CARE SERVICES THROUGH TELADOC HEALTH, INC. FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES AS AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT IN CONNECTION WITH HAYS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PROGRAM.
SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS.
ERIC REGIONAL HR DIRECTOR. SO WITH THIS ITEM AS A REMINDER, THE COURT APPROVED THE EXPANSION OF OUR WELLNESS PROGRAM TO REQUIRE EMPLOYEES TO GET THEIR WELLNESS EXAM BY MARCH 31ST OF THIS YEAR IN ORDER TO AVOID A PREMIUM SURCHARGE OF 11.5%.
WHILE NOW THEY CAN GET AHEAD OF IT THROUGH SOME PREVENTATIVE CARE.
AND SO WITH THIS ITEM, WE DID SEND OUT A SURVEY TO OUR EMPLOYEES WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN ONSITE BIOMETRIC SCREENINGS TO MAKE IT MORE EASIER FOR THEM TO AND CONVENIENT FOR THEM TO COMPLETE A WELLNESS EXAM. WE DID GET 200 EMPLOYEE RESPONSES ACROSS THE COUNTY.
SAYING THAT THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN COMPLETING AN ONSITE BIOMETRIC SCREENING. AND SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, 05,056% OF OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE COMPLETED THE WELLNESS EXAM.
[04:00:01]
TO SEND OUT REMINDERS TO EMPLOYEES TO GET IT DONE.BUT AGAIN, TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE CONVENIENT FOR THEM TO HAVE THAT CONVENIENCE OF BEING ABLE TO COMPLETE IT, I THINK WOULD HELP US IN HELPING THEM KNOW THEIR NUMBERS, BUT THEN ALSO CONTROLLING COSTS.
AS A REMINDER, WE ARE A SELF-INSURANCE, SELF-INSURED BENEFITS PLAN, WHICH MEANS THAT WE PAY FOR COUNTY WE PAY DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR FOR EVERY CLAIM THAT COMES THROUGH THE COUNTY. AND SO WHEN EMPLOYEES ARE ABLE TO KNOW THEIR NUMBERS, IT NOT ONLY HELPS THEIR HEALTH, BUT ALSO HELPS KEEPS COSTS DOWN, WHICH IN ADDITION CAN HELP US ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT RAISING COSTS FOR THEM IN THE FUTURE.
AND SO I'M ASKING THE COURT TO CONSIDER THIS ADDITIONAL BENEFIT THAT'S ALREADY OFFERED BY BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS TO FACILITATE ONSITE BIOMETRIC SCREENINGS. AND WHILE I HAVE THE FLOOR, I DO WANT TO REMIND OUR EMPLOYEES THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO COMPLETE THEIR WELLNESS EXAM WITH THEIR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN. SOMETIMES THEY ARE BOOKED OUT QUITE A FEW MONTHS OUT.
AND SO AS LONG AS YOU COMPLETE THE WELLNESS EXAM WITH ANY PROVIDER THAT CAN DO A WELLNESS EXAM, THAT WILL BE SUFFICE. AS WELL AS THE BEST WAY TO GET YOUR WELLNESS EXAM CREDIT IS THROUGH THE SCREENING VERIFICATION FORM.
REACH OUT TO OUR DEPARTMENT TO GET THAT FORM IF YOU DON'T ALREADY HAVE IT.
IF YOU NEED HELP IN BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT, REACH OUT TO OUR DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
AND SO DON'T WAIT FOR THIS ONSITE BIOMETRIC SCREENING IF APPROVED, BUT IF IT IS, IT WILL ADD AN ADDITIONAL CONVENIENCE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THAT WELLNESS EXAM. ANY QUESTIONS? JUDGE, I HAVE A QUESTION.
I MEAN, IN ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT IS THE DEPARTMENT.
ARE THEY AWARE THAT IF THEY DON'T GET THIS EXAM BY A CERTAIN DATE, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE CHARGED? I'M SORRY. COMMISSIONER DID YOU SAY A SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT? I DIDN'T CATCH THE ROAD DEPARTMENT. I MEAN, I'M TALKING ABOUT COUNTY WIDE, BUT SPECIFICALLY THE ROAD DEPARTMENT. I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, HOPING THAT WE HAVE REALLY GOTTEN THAT INFORMATION OUT.
YEAH. SO WE DID PUT OUT FLIERS AT ALL LOCATIONS.
WE'VE SENT OUT COMMUNICATIONS VIA EMAIL. WE'VE GONE TO ALL OF OUR LOCATIONS IN DEPARTMENTS TO HAVE MEETINGS WITH THE DEPARTMENTS, TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND WHAT IT MEANS.
WE HAVE SPECIFICALLY GONE ON TO TRANSPORTATION TO DISCUSS THE PROGRAM WITH THEM.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEND OUT EMAIL REMINDERS.
SO WE, WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT THERE.
AND WHAT ABOUT IN SPANISH? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, SPANISH SPEAKING EMPLOYEES AND UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE MORE THAN THEY DO THE OTHER.
YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT. COMMISSIONER. WE CAN ACTUALLY REACH OUT TO THE DEPARTMENTS AND SEE WHO AND THOSE DEPARTMENTS ARE SPANISH SPEAKING JUST TO MAKE A TAILORED COMMUNICATION FOR THEM AS WELL AS ANY INDIVIDUALIZED MEETINGS.
OKAY. COMMISSIONER AARON JONES TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR WE'VE, WE'VE, WE ACTUALLY, WE EARLY ON, WE MET WITH ERIC AND HIS STAFF CAME OUT AND SPOKE WITH THE ENTIRETY OF OUR, OUR CREWS.
WE HAD A GROUP MEETING. ALSO OUR FRONT DESK. WE'VE GOT ALL OF THE FORMS THERE ON THE FRONT DESK.
WE'RE REMINDING OUR SUPERVISORS OF IT. I WILL MAKE ANOTHER PUSH FOR THAT.
MAKE SURE WE SEND THAT OUT AND GET TO ALL OF OUR, OUR STAFF.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ONE, I KNOW OUR FRONT DESK.
THEY TALKED TO ME A FEW TIMES ABOUT JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PUSHING THAT AND WE ARE, I MEAN, IT'S A, THE TIME, I MEAN, THE DEADLINES COMING.
SO THEY'RE, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A CONCERN OF OURS ALSO.
YEAH. OKAY. I MEAN, BECAUSE 56% IS A CONCERNING NUMBER.
SO DID YOU SAY SPANISH POPULATION IS MINIMAL SPANISH SPEAKING? YES. ANYTHING ELSE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL IF I MAY.
OH, YES. ERIC, WE I NOTICED THERE WAS A TELADOC HEALTH SERVICES AGREEMENT AND BACKUP.
WE ARE NOT BEING ASKED, NOR ARE WE ASKING THE COURT TO EXECUTE THAT SERVICES AGREEMENT.
CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE IT WAS IN BACKUP, BUT WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO FILL THAT OUT, NOR ARE WE ASKING THE COURT TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF THAT. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE. I THINK WE WANTED TO MAYBE PROVIDE THE THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH TAC THROUGH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD. SO THAT'S THANK YOU FOR CATCHING THAT. YEAH, SURE. THANK YOU.
[04:05:02]
SO I'M SORRY. NOPE, NOPE. THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.PLEASE PLUG IN THAT MICROPHONE, STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE.
AND I WANT THAT QUESTION RECORDED. THAT'S ALL.
IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. STEPHANIE HUNT PURCHASING AGENT.
SO WHY WOULD WE NOT BE LOCKING IN OR EXECUTING THAT? SO BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ALREADY CONTRACTS WITH TELADOC.
SO THE RATE IS ALREADY CONTRACTED TO BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, AND SINCE WE CONTRACT WITH BLUE CROSS AND BLUE TACK, THAT RATE IS ALREADY LOGGED IN. SO WE DON'T NEED AN AGREEMENT WITH TELETALK BECAUSE THEY ALREADY A CONTRACT WITH PROVIDE THOSE SPECIFIC SERVICES TO US.
YES. OKAY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER.
INGALSBE. YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES, COMMISSIONER.
HAMMER. YES. COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
YES. AM I RIGHT? WE'RE ON K SIX. WAS K3 AND K4 A54 ON FIVE.
WE JUST DID FIVE. NO WE DIDN'T. CAN WE PUT ON MY READING GLASSES THEN.
THAT WAS ONE. OH THAT WAS ONE. THAT'S RIGHT. SO LET'S GO TO K5 AND THEN KEEP MOVING FROM THERE.
[K.5. Discussion and possible action to authorize Commissioner Ingalsbe to execute a Letter of Support on behalf of the Commissioners Court in support of Central Texas Food Bank's response to the City of San Marcos' Community Development Block Grant Opportunity. INGALSBE/GONZALES]
K5 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE COMMISSIONER INGALSBE TO EXECUTE A LETTER OF SUPPORT ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN SUPPORT OF CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK'S RESPONSE TO THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT.OPPORTUNITY. SO MOVED. SECOND COMMISSIONER. SO, JUDGE, THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK IS SEEKING A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM HAYS COUNTY, AND THEIR APPLICATION IS TO THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT.
SO WE'RE JUST SENDING A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THAT.
OKAY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER. HAMMER.
YES. COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
YES. COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
YES. SORRY, MATTHEW. WE DON'T NEED THE COMMITTEE TODAY. GOOD.
SO MOVED. SECOND COMMISSIONER. SO BASICALLY, WE ARE NOT SAYING, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY GOODBYE TO THEM, BUT WE ARE SAYING THAT THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF WORK THAT THEY CAN DO AT THIS CURRENT MOMENT FOR THAT GOVERNMENT CENTER PROJECT.
AND SO YOU FIND IT USEFUL TO SHUT IT DOWN? YES.
AND THEN WE CAN, YOU KNOW, JUST FROM A COST PERSPECTIVE WHAT IS OUR TOTAL? LIKE, HOW MUCH HAVE WE SPENT WITH BROADUS AND ASSOCIATES SO FAR? ON THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT. KNOW IN GENERAL HOW MUCH HAVE WE SPENT WITH THEM TOTAL.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW. WOULD THAT INCLUDE LIKE CIP EVERYTHING.
DEFINITELY PURCHASING AGENT. SO SINCE WE EXECUTED THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT POOL.
THE CONTRACTS FOR THOSE TOTAL OVER PROBABLY LIKE 1.2 MILLION ROUGHLY.
YOU'RE RIGHT. JUST. BUT THEY HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT CONTRACTS WITH US WITH THIS GOVERNMENT CENTER.
ONE, WE JUST BECAUSE WE'RE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES FROM THE COURT DIRECTION AND WHATNOT.
IT'S VERY STAGNANT ON THEIR LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT RIGHT NOW.
SO WE JUST DON'T NEED THE CONTRACT. RIGHT ON.
YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES, COMMISSIONER SMITH.
YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
[K.7. Discussion and possible action to authorize the submission of a grant application to the Texas A&M Forest Service, 2026 Community Forestry Grants, Watershed Protection Implementation grant project in the amount of $50,000.00 HAMMER/BOUTTE/FLOCKE]
FORESTRY GRANTS. WATERSHED PROTECTION IMPLEMENTATION GRANT PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000.SO. MOVED. SECOND. VERY GOOD IDEA. YEAH. SO EXCITED.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES, COMMISSIONER.
SMITH. YES, COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.
[K.8. Discussion and possible action authorizing the execution of Professional Services Agreements with the Erwin Law Firm (2026-PSA-66), the Law Office of J. Chris Villarreal (2026-PSA-67), and the AZ Law Firm (2026-PSA-68) to provide legal services related to expunctions for qualifying mental health court graduates. COHEN/BROWN]
2026 PSA 66, THE LAW OFFICE OF CHRIS VILLARREAL, 2026, PSA 67 AND THE AZ LAW FIRM 2026. PSA 68 TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES RELATED TO EXPANSIONS FOR QUALIFYING MENTAL HEALTH COURT GRADUATES.[04:10:03]
SO MOVED. SECOND. PERFECT. I'VE BEEN ASKING THE DEA TO WORK ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME.I THINK IT'S GREAT. I THINK THE IDEA OF HAVING MUG SHOTS ON THE INTERNET IS A TERRIBLE IDEA.
I BELIEVE IT'S INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. THAT'S THE COUNTRY WE LIVE IN.
AND I THINK THOSE MUG SHOTS LIVE ONLINE FOREVER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING TO IT? I SEE YOU IN THE AUDIENCE. NO, NO. NO REQUIREMENT.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. ANYTHING ELSE? I DO HAVE QUESTION AND NUMBER ONE.
WELL, I'VE GOT TWO QUESTIONS. WHAT WAS THE PROCESS IN SELECTING THESE TERMS? KIMI MATTILA MENTAL HEALTH COURT ADMINISTRATOR SO WE HAVE THREE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PRIVATE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE REPRESENTING OUR MENTAL HEALTH COURT PARTICIPANTS.
SO THOSE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMPLETING THE EXPANSIONS FOR OUR GRADUATES.
SO THOSE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN WORKING WITH THEM.
THAT WAS MY ASSUMPTION BECAUSE I'VE RECOGNIZED THE FIRMS. MY QUESTION IS THIS WHENEVER THEY'RE REPRESENTING THOSE CLIENTS AND THEY'RE IN THEIR REGULAR COURSE OF CLIENT REPRESENTATION, NOT FOR THIS ADDED SERVICE. MY QUESTION IS, WHY NOT IN THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT WHEN WE'RE WORKING? WE KNOW THE JUDGES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH. WHY ARE WE NOT ASKING FOR EXPUNCTION UPON THE ORIGINAL SENTENCING.
IF THEY COMPLETE THE. THE COURSEWORK, IF THEY.
IF THEY COMPLETE ALL. EVERYTHING THAT IT TAKES TO GRADUATE.
WHY ARE WE NOT TRYING TO BUILD INTO THAT? THAT IF THEY MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS THEN IT WILL BE EXPUNGED? I MEAN, I THINK ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO.
BUT THE WAY THAT THE COURT IS STRUCTURED, LIKE THE LEGAL OUTCOME IS DEPENDENT ON WHAT THE DA'S OFFICE AND THE ATTORNEY AGREE TO, TO LET THE INDIVIDUAL ENTER INTO MENTAL HEALTH COURT.
SO SOME INDIVIDUALS DO NOT QUALIFY FOR EXPULSIONS DUE TO THE THEIR CHARGES.
AND I'M AWARE THAT STATUTE DOESN'T ALLOW EXPUNGEMENT FOR CERTAIN FOR CERTAIN THINGS. I GET THAT, BUT MY QUESTION IS, I DON'T WANT I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO FEATHER THE.
AND IT'S BETTER FOR THE DEFENDANT. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? KIND OF. I MEAN, THIS IS LIKE THE EXPULSIONS ITSELF ARE SIMPLE.
WHEREAS OUR OUR ATTORNEYS ARE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ATTORNEYS.
SO THIS IS KIND OF OUTSIDE OF THEIR WHEELHOUSE.
NOW ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS THAT IS GOING TO BE DOING THIS HAS ALSO DONE EXPUNCTION.
SO TWO OF THESE FIRMS HAVEN'T DONE EXPANSIONS BEFORE, BUT WE'RE HIRING THEM TO DO EXPUNCTION.
THEY HAVEN'T DONE EXPUNCTION SPECIFICALLY FOR MENTAL HEALTH COURT PARTICIPANTS.
I'M VERY I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE CONCEPT. I JUST HAVE A I HAVE A PROBLEM PAYING SOMEBODY WHO'S NEVER DONE IT BEFORE TO DO IT, TO GO TO THE TRAINING AND DO IT WHEN WE HAVE LITERALLY DOZENS OF DEFENSE ATTORNEYS HERE WHO DO IT EVERY DAY.
IF IT'S Y'ALL'S RECOMMENDATION, I'LL SUPPORT IT. BUT THAT'S IT'S PROBLEMATIC FOR ME.
HERE, LET ME SUMMARIZE THIS SO WE CAN MOVE ON AND CALL THE VOTE. IN SUMMARY, LET'S SEE WHERE WE CAN WEAVE THIS PROCESS IN WHEN THEY QUALIFY, WHEN APPLICABLE, THAT AN EXPUNGEMENT BE PART OF THE ROADMAP.
SOUND GOOD? YES, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THAT. I KNOW, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER. HAMMEL. YES. COMMISSIONER. YES.
COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE. YES. COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
[K.13. Discussion and possible action to accept a proposal from Water & Earth Technologies (WET) in the amount of $4,404.75 related to repairs to the Flasher # 1 pole at 50050 Cotton Gin Road; authorize a discretionary exemption pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Ch. 262.024 (a)(7)(D), and amend the budget accordingly. INGALSBE/JONES]
YES. AS WE WERE. ARE WE ON K 13? YES. K 13 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO ACCEPT A PROPOSAL FROM WATER AND EARTH TECHNOLOGIES.WET IN THE AMOUNT OF 4000 $404,404.75 RELATED TO REPAIRS TO THE FLASHER.
NUMBER ONE POLE AT 50050 COTTON GIN ROAD AND AUTHORIZE A DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 262. 024A7D AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.
SO MOVED. SECOND AND JUDGE, THIS WAS. THESE ARE REPAIRS DUE TO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
AS ALWAYS, AS ALWAYS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND WE WOULD.
[04:15:04]
I'M WITH YOU. AND SO LET'S CREATE THAT CONVERSATION WHEN THE TIME COMES IN THE AGENDA EFFORT.WELL, IT'S AGENDIZED FOR THAT CONVERSATION. SO WE'RE GOOD. GOT IT.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES.
COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE. YES.
COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES. JUDGE BECERRA, 14 K 14.
[K.14. Discussion and possible action to approve the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Calendar. The Budget Officer will also provide an update on the budget process. BECERRA/WOODLAND]
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET CALENDAR.THE BUDGET OFFICER WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE BUDGET PROCESS.
ALL RIGHT. NAME AND TITLE. MY FRIEND. SCOTT WOODLAND BUDGET OFFICER AND THERE'S A THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS ON THIS AGENDA ITEM. THE NUMBER ONE THING IS THE BUDGET CALENDAR, WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SINCE WE'RE REALLY RAMPING THAT UP NEXT WEEK AND WE'VE ALREADY STARTED SOME PROCEDURES TO GET STARTED ON THE PROCESS.
JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S IN LINE WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE ITEM THAT I'M ASKING YOU TO TAKE TAKE ACTION ON.
AND JUST TO BE VERY HIGH LEVEL. BUT I DO WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT.
SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STOP ME AND ASK.
AND I'M REALLY JUST GOING TO COVER IT KIND OF MONTH BY MONTH AND WHAT'S GOING INTO THE CALENDAR? STARTING IN MARCH IS GOING TO BE A KICKOFF. MARCH 3RD IS GOING TO BE WHEN WE SEND OUT OUR COMMUNICATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENTS, WHEN I WORK WITH THE COUNTY AUDITOR TO GET INTO THE NEW WORLD, TO OPEN UP THE BUDGET SO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS CAN THEN ENTER THEIR REQUESTED BUDGETS.
THAT PROCESS WILL GO FROM THE BEGINNING OF MARCH THROUGH ABOUT MID-APRIL.
APRIL 13TH IS GOING TO BE OUR CUTOFF FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS.
WE WILL WE'LL HAVE CONSTANT COMMUNICATION JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE HAVING, THEY AREN'T HAVING ISSUES PUTTING IT IN AND TO REMIND THEM OF THE DEADLINE COMING UP IN APRIL 2ND. THAT'S WHEN WE WILL START MEETING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AS WELL.
WE WILL REVIEW THE REQUESTED BUDGETS, WORK THROUGH THEM, THINK WHAT WE THINK FITS IN WITH THE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY KNOWING GOING FORWARD THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ANTICIPATING.
AND THEN STARTING THE WEEK OF 421, WE'RE GOING TO START MEETING WITH OUR LARGER DEPARTMENTS.
WE'RE HOPING TO GET THAT DONE IN THE NEXT IN THE TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THAT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF MAY, BUT IT MAY EXTEND A LITTLE LONGER IN THAT JUST BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS, THEN IN MAY SLASH JUNE IS WHEN THE BUDGET OFFICE IS GOING TO BE DOING THE MAJORITY OF OUR WORK, WHICH IS GOING TO BE MEETING WITH DEPARTMENTS, GETTING THE, GETTING IN THE ORIGINAL TAX TAX ROLL WITHOUT IT BEING FINALIZED SO WE CAN GET AN IDEA OF OUR REVENUE AND THEN JUST WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO CUT THINGS, DISCUSS THINGS, MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WANT WHAT THEY WANT, AND THAT IT FITS IN LINE WITH WHAT THE COUNTY'S GOALS AND STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES ARE.
FOLLOWING UP IN JULY, THAT IS WHEN WE WILL GET THE CERTIFIED ROLL FROM THE TAX APPRAISAL DISTRICT, AND THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO REALLY COME UP WITH SOME FIRM REVENUE NUMBERS AND LOOK AT PROPERTY TAX RATES BASED OFF THE EXPENDITURES THAT WE WANT TO MEET.
SO FOLLOWING UP IN AUGUST, THAT IS WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HOLD OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS AS WELL AS ANOTHER IMPORTANT ASPECT IN AUGUST IS GETTING THOSE PUBLIC NOTICES OUT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET CALENDAR, PROVIDED, WE HAVE MADE SURE TO MEET ALL THE STATUTORY REGULATIONS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. AS FAR AS THOSE PUBLIC NOTICES AND WHEN THEY HAVE TO BE PUBLISHED, ARE, AND THAT AUGUST WILL BE OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS AS WELL.
AT THE END OF THAT MONTH, THE HOPE IS THAT WE HAVE A GOOD RECOMMENDED BUDGET, AND THAT.
WE HAVE A GOOD GRASP ON WHERE THE TAX RATES AT.
THEN FINAL STEPS ARE GOING TO BE IN SEPTEMBER WHERE WE FINALIZE EVERYTHING.
WE. WE FINALIZED EVERYTHING WITH COMMISSIONERS FOR APPROVAL.
WE WE MAKE SURE ALL THOSE PUBLIC NOTICES GET OUT AS WELL AS LOOKING AT THE TAX RATE AND HOW WE WANT TO UTILIZE THAT FINAL CHANGES. THEN MID SEPTEMBER, SEPTEMBER 15TH, I BELIEVE IS WHEN WE'LL FINALIZE THE BUDGET AS WELL AS THE TAX RATE.
THE OTHER ASPECTS. PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. JUST ONE JUST ONE QUESTION.
YES, SIR. I SINCERELY ARE EXCITED THAT YOU'RE HERE, NUMBER ONE.
[04:20:03]
NUMBER TWO, OUR IMMEDIATE PREVIOUS BUDGET OFFICER.WE WERE PROBABLY ABOUT 90% NOT THERE. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE LIKE.
I KNOW THAT VICKY DID A GREAT JOB OF SENDING OUT REMINDERS. IF YOUR BUDGET WASN'T TURNED IN, IF YOU MISSED A DEADLINE, IF YOU HADN'T BUDGETED CORRECTLY. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU AND TO HELP CANDICE ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING GETS TURNED IN ON TIME AND THAT THE WORK PRODUCT, WHENEVER IT'S THERE, IS GOING TO BE THERE WHEN IT'S NEEDED.
IS THAT A FAIR QUESTION? YEAH. YES, SIR. YES.
COMMISSIONER. ABSOLUTELY. OUR, OUR GOAL IS TO PROBABLY SEND OUT PROBABLY NOT THAT FIRST WEEK, BUT FOLLOWING THAT, THE SECOND WEEK, SEND OUT A REMINDER JUST TO LET ALL THE DEPARTMENTS KNOW, I WOULD SAY. AND THEN WE WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH A REMINDER EVERY WEEK AFTER THAT UNTIL THE END, I WOULD SAY IF WE START TO GET TO AROUND THE END OF MARCH, EARLY APRIL, WITH THE CUTOFF BEING APRIL 13TH, I WILL REACH OUT TO YOU AND LET YOU KNOW. AND THEN IF LET YOU KNOW AND SEE IF YOU CAN MAYBE APPLY SOME PRESSURE, BUT I WILL ONLY DO THAT AFTER. OBVIOUSLY I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEPARTMENT AND ASKED THEM, WE WANT YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND WE WANT TO BE AS HELPFUL AS POSSIBLE.
THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I WOULD SAY ON THAT COMMISSIONER AND THIS THIS GOES FOR THE CORE, IS THAT IT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE A LEAN BUDGET YEAR, AND I KNOW SOMETIMES DEPARTMENTS.
SOMETIMES IT'S JUST NOT AVAILABLE WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, THOUGH. SO FOR ALL THE COMMISSIONERS, I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN KIND OF IF IF STAFF SAYS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS OR IF WE DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY FITTING INTO OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES, IT WOULD BE THAT HELP IN TALKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND JUST KIND OF TAKING OUR BACK IN THAT ASPECT, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE BIGGEST, BIGGEST HELP YOU COULD PROVIDE.
ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, ANYTHING ELSE? I'M GOOD.
THANK YOU SCOTT. THANK YOU SCOTT. ALL RIGHT. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER HAMER. YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
YES. COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.
YES. JUDGE BECERRA. YES. THANK YOU SIR. M ONE, PLEASE.
[M.1. Discussion related to the Hays County inmate population, to include current population counts and costs. BECERRA]
M ONE DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE HAYS COUNTY INMATE POPULATION TO INCLUDE CURRENT POPULATION COUNTS AND COSTS.WE HAVEN'T DONE ROADS. OH, WE HAVEN'T DONE ROADS, MAN.
I'M MOVING THROUGH IT THE BEST I CAN. YOU OUGHT TO SEE HOW MY PHONE JUST GOING OFF WITH THIS AND THAT AND THIS AND THAT. PEOPLE WANT TO TALK IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. I KNOW I'M ABOUT TO LEAVE YOU BEHIND, AARON. THANK YOU FOR OPENING THAT.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SENDS MY OFFICE A REPORT OF OUR INMATES.
AND HERE IT IS. THIS REPORT OUT LOUD. I WILL READ TO YOU.
HAYS COUNTY IS CURRENTLY AT CAPACITY OF 464 INMATES.
JAIL'S DAILY AVERAGE WAS, HOWEVER, 582 AND PEAK WAS AT 590 ON FEBRUARY 17TH.
THE ESTIMATED COST FOR OUTSOURCING INMATES THIS WEEK IS $88,867.50.
WE ARE CURRENTLY HOLDING 41 PAPER READY INMATES, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE HAD THEIR DAY IN COURT.
WE HAVE DONE OUR JOB IN THE JUDICIAL PROCESS.
THEY HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY AND NOW THEY ARE STATE INMATES, WHICH MEANS WE'RE HOPING THAT THEY'LL COME OFF COUNTY TAX ROLLS AND INSTEAD GO TO STATE TAX ROLLS. NOW LET'S OPEN ROADS. CAN WE OPEN M2?
[M.2. Discussion and possible action related to the burn ban. BECERRA]
SURE. NO PROBLEM. OPEN M2 BEFORE ROADS. M2 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION RELATED TO THE BAN.BURN. BURN. BURN. BAN. ALRIGHT, SO WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? I HAVE MULTIPLE RESIDENTS OUT THERE WHO. THEY HAVE GOT A TON OF WHAT THEY'RE CONSIDERING.
WHAT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT IS FUEL THAT IF THEY DON'T GET RID OF IT IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS DURING THE RAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE THERE DURING THE SUMMER AND IT'S GOING TO BE A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD.
I MENTIONED THIS DURING OUR LAST CALL, BUT I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THE ABILITY FOR US TO TAKE THE BURN BAN OFF FOR AT LEAST UNTIL OUR NEXT MEETING, AND GET AN UPDATE FOR FROM OUR FIRE MARSHAL, BECAUSE THE MOISTURE NUMBERS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM HIM OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
FIRE MARSHALS HERE. I KNOW HE'S HERE. SO I PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION.
[04:25:03]
OF COURSE. I TAKE MY DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAT VERY SERIOUSLY.AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT. COMMISSIONER. AND SO I AM ALWAYS WATCHING A&M FOREST SERVICES.
THERE ARE PARTS OF FAR WEST TEXAS THAT ARE GETTING SUPPORT FROM US IN HAYS COUNTY.
OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE GOING TO WEST TEXAS WITH THE FIRES THAT ARE GOING ON HERE IN OUR STATE.
AND SO IT'S A MIXED BAG. WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS A MIXED BAG BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN.
I HAD ISD FIVE, FOR EXAMPLE, TELLING ME THEY'RE BEEFING UP BRUSH TRUCKS AND I MEAN SEVERAL SDS BEEFING UP BRUSH TRUCKS, BEEFING UP PERSONNEL BECAUSE OF OF THE HEIGHTENED RISK.
SO I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT EVERY TIME I BRING FORTH A BURN BAN, IT IS EXCLUSIVELY EXCLUSIVELY BECAUSE OF THE GROUPING OF ALL THE FIRE MARSHALS AND THE. I MEAN FIRE CHIEFS AND FIRE MARSHAL GUIDING THAT DIRECTION.
I NEVER DO THINGS IN A SILO, AND SO I'M. WELL, YOU WALKED IN.
I THINK THIS WAS A GREAT COORDINATION OR TIMING OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO FRAME IT, BUT WOULD YOU LIKE TO APPROACH THE PODIUM AND GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS AND SEE IF IT INFLUENCES THE NEEDLE MOVING? THANK YOU. STEVE HAYS, COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL.
AND WHAT DID YOU THINK OF WHAT COMMISSIONER SMITH JUST SAID THIS WEEK WOULD BE A BAD WEEK? TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW IS ONE OF THE WORST DAYS WE'VE HAD IN QUITE SOME TIME AS FAR AS WIND, HUMIDITY AND TREE MOISTURE. RIGHT NOW, 100 HUNDRED, OUR FUEL, WHICH IS THE PINE PINES, IS STARTING TO DRY UP, SO THIS WOULD NOT BE A GOOD WEEK. WE ARE MOST LIKELY TO GET A COOL FRONT COMING IN ON THURSDAY.
MAYBE SOME RAIN WILL WILL GET US THEN. AND THEN WE'LL GET SOME MORE GUIDANCE FROM THE PREDICTIVE SERVICES AT A AND M, BUT ACCORDING TO A AND M PREDICTIVE SERVICES, RIGHT NOW IT'S THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS ARE GOING TO BE KIND OF SKETCHY.
NO, I, AND I COMPLETELY I GET THAT AND I, I JUST WANT TO TO I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT I'M GOING TO BRING IT UP EVERY SESSION BECAUSE I, WE HAVE FOLKS THAT I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT. AND THE FACT IS, IS THAT I FEEL LIKE, I FEEL LIKE WE REALLY MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY WHEN WE HAD 4 TO 5IN OF ICE ON THE GROUND TO GET RID OF A LOT OF IT. IF WE COULD HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT SWIFTER ACTION AT THAT POINT.
SO COMMISSIONER JUST KNOW, SWIFTER ACTION IS ACTUALLY WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. I'VE EVEN MESSED UP MESSAGED OUR CIVIL DIVISION AND HAD A CONVERSATION WITH OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SWIFTER RESPONSE IN THIS EFFORT.
AND WE HAD THE CONVERSATION AROUND MAKING IT MORE NIMBLE, WHERE THE WORDING ON THE BURN BAN ALLOWS FOR THE JUDGE TO PULL IT OFF INSTEAD OF HAVING A WHOLE COURT MEETING ABOUT IT.
AND SO LITERALLY THAT PHRASE YOU'RE DESCRIBING, I WAS MOVING THROUGH FITZHUGH AND THERE WERE PARTS THAT THERE WERE STILL ICE THERE, AND THIS WHOLE AREA WAS BONE DRY AND SUNNY, HOT.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE TOPOGRAPHY AND THE DYNAMICS OF OUR COUNTY.
THEY ARE UNIQUE. THEY ARE DIFFERENT. THEY ARE VERY VASTLY DIFFERENT.
AND YOUR PRECINCT ABSOLUTELY MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT NEED THAN OTHER SPOTS.
AND SO KNOW THAT I WILL ALWAYS WORK WITH OUR PROFESSIONALS TO SUPPORT YOUR ASK.
AND IT'S NOT FALLING ON DEAF EARS. COMMISSIONER HAMAD, DO YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING I DIDN'T KNOW? OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD THAT I MISSED? NO, SIR.
OKAY. JORDAN, DID I LEAVE ANYTHING OUT ON THAT FRONT? NOPE. ALL GOOD. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO TO RHODES, PLEASE GIVE AARON A BREAK.
[I.1. Discussion and possible action to call for a public hearing on March 10, 2026, to consider the implementation of a 'No Left Turn' for the Rooster Springs Elementary. SMITH/A.JONES]
I WON THE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 10TH, 2026 TO CONSIDER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NO LEFT TURN FOR THE ROOSTER SPRINGS ELEMENTARY.SO MOVED. SECOND, ALWAYS LISTENING TO THE PROS ON THE FIELD MAKES NO.
WELL DONE. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER.
HAMMER. YES. COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES. COMMISSIONER.
COHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
[I.2. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of the County Corridor Agreement with the Texas Department Transportation (TxDOT) in accordance with HB 3697 from the 88th Texas Legislative Session. SMITH/A.JONES]
TXDOT. IN ACCORDANCE WITH HB 3697 FROM THE 80TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE.SO MOVED. SECOND, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE A QUICK RECAP? SURE. AND ERIN, ADD IN WHAT I MISSED HERE, BUT IN THE 88TH LEGISLATURE HB 3697 REQUIRED THAT EVERY COUNTY SUBMIT A GENERAL OVERALL PLAN AND ROADWAY PLAN. IF YOU NOTICE, IT'S IN THE BACKUP.
[04:30:01]
IT'S OUR. AND WHAT QUALIFIES FOR US IS THE SUBMISSION OF OUR 2021 MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN.AND SO THIS IS MORE OR LESS OUR SUBMISSION TO THAT.
AND AS WE AS WE UPDATE THAT PLAN WE'LL HAVE TO RESUBMIT AGAIN ONCE WE HAVE AN UPDATED PLAN, BUT THIS IS OUR MOST CURRENT. IS THAT FAIR? YES.
ALL RIGHT, THEN PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER. HAMMER.
YES, COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES, COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
YES. COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
[I.3. Discussion and possible action to adopt a Resolution of Support for Caldwell County's submission to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) 2028-2031 grant applications for the FM 2720 Widening project in Caldwell County. INGALSBE/A.JONES]
SUBMISSION TO THE CAPITAL AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION.CAMPO 2028 DASH 2031 GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR THE FM 2720 WIDENING PROJECT IN CALDWELL COUNTY.
SO MOVED. SECOND, AND THIS IS JUST SUPPORTING CALDWELL COUNTY'S 2728 WIDENING PROJECT THAT WILL ENHANCE CONNECTIVITY, SAFETY AND BEAUTIFULLY SAID, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES.
COMMISSIONER. SMITH. YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN.
[I.4. Discussion and possible action to consider the acceptance of road construction and surface drainage improvements, release of the subdivision bond #83BSBJK9053 in the amount of $53,844.00, acceptance of the 2- year maintenance bond #PB03016801419 in the amount of $48,533.85, and acceptance of the 1-year revegetation bond / for 6 Creeks subdivision, Phase 1, Section 17. HAMMER/A.JONES]
RELEASE THE SUBDIVISION BOND NUMBER 83BSBJK9053.IN THE AMOUNT OF $53,844. ACCEPTANCE OF THE TWO YEAR MAINTENANCE BOND NUMBER.
PB03016801419, AND THE AMOUNT OF $533.85, AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE ONE YEAR REVEGETATION BOND FOR SIX CREEKS SUBDIVISION PHASE ONE, SECTION 17.
SO MOVED. SECOND COMMISSIONER. PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
WELL WRITTEN. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER HAMER.
YES. COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES. COMMISSIONER COHEN.
YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES. JUDGE BECERRA YES, I FIVE.
[I.5. Discussion and possible action to consider the acceptance of road construction and surface drainage improvements, release of the performance bond #0873578 in the amount of $123,931.92, acceptance of the 2-year maintenance bond #PB03016801417 in the amount of $69,266.92, and acceptance of the 1-year revegetation bond #PB03016801195M in the amount of $25,781.61 for 6 Creeks subdivision, Phase 1, Section 15. HAMMER/A.JONES]
OH, YEAH. 5I5. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CONSIDER THE ACCEPTANCE OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND SURFACE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.RELEASE THE PERFORMANCE BOND NUMBER 0873578 IN THE AMOUNT OF $123,931.92.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE TWO YEAR MAINTENANCE BOND NUMBER.
PB03016801417, IN THE AMOUNT OF $69,266.92, AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE ONE YEAR REVEGETATION BOND NUMBER PB 016801195M IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,781.61 FOR SIX CREEK SUBDIVISION PHASE ONE, SECTION 15.
SO MOVED. SECOND, WE COULD HAVE OPENED THEM TOGETHER. NEXT TIME WE WILL.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER HAMER. YES.
COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER. SMITH.
YES. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
[I.6. Discussion and possible action to consider the release of maintenance bond #2322927 in the amount of $207,976.09, release of revegetation bond #2322927 in the amount of $11,784.00, and acceptance of the roads into the County Road Maintenance System for Prairie Lakes Subdivision Phase 1, Section 1. COHEN/A.JONES]
YES. NOW, THE NEXT ONE, I SIX. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CONSIDER THE RELEASE OF MAINTENANCE BOND NUMBER 2322927 IN THE AMOUNT OF $207,976.09. RELEASED THE REVEGETATION BOND NUMBER 2322927, IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,784, AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE ROADS INTO THE COUNTY ROAD MAINTENANCE SYSTEM FOR PRAIRIE LAKE SUBDIVISION.PHASE ONE, SECTION ONE. SO MOVED. SECOND, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. YES. COMMISSIONER. YES.
COMMISSIONER SMITH. YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER.
[I.7. Discussion and possible action to approve the selection of DCCM (formerly Binkley & Barfield, Inc. (BBI)) to provide Utility Coordination services for the Windy Hill Road project in Precinct No. 1 and Precinct No. 2 and authorize staff and counsel to negotiate a contract. COHEN/INGALSBE/A.JONES]
BINKLEY AND BARFIELD INC BVI TO PROVIDE UTILITY COORDINATION SERVICES FOR THE WINDY HILL ROAD PROJECT IN PRECINCT ONE AND PRECINCT TWO, AND AUTHORIZED STAFF AND COUNCIL TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT.SO MOVED. SECOND, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE.
YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER. SMITH.
YES, COMMISSIONER. HAMMER. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
[I.8. Discussion and possible action to approve the selection of BGE, Inc., to provide design engineering services for the Hillside Terrace project in Precinct 2 and authorize staff and counsel to negotiate a contract. COHEN/A.JONES]
YES, I ATE. I ATE. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE SELECTION OF PGE, INC.SO MOVED. SECOND. WE JUST CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER SMITH.
YES. COMMISSIONER. INGALSBE. YES. COMMISSIONER.
HAMMER. YES. COMMISSIONER. COHEN. YES. JUDGE BECERRA.
YES. AND I THINK NINE IS DONE, AM I RIGHT? YES.
SO WHAT'S LEFT EXECUTIVE. SO SINCE I HAVE A COUPLE OF FOLKS WANTING TO SPEAK ABOUT EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE OPEN THEM. JORDAN. DO WE OPEN THEM ALL? WHICH ONES DON'T WE OPEN? I DON'T THINK WE OPEN OR TABLED OR PULLED K THREE OR K FOUR.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO OPEN THE K 3 OR 4. SO EXECUTIVE WHICH ONES DO WE OPEN.
ALL THREE PLEASE OPEN ALL THREE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. AFTER WE OPEN THEM I WILL OPEN THE CONVERSATION FOR COMMENTS.
[04:35:03]
I DON'T HAVE A THREE OR A THREE AND FOUR. I HAVE A IT JUST GOES UP TO THREE ON MINE.NO OAK3. SHE'S TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING. OH I'M SORRY.
[L. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS]
SO WE'RE GOING TO OPEN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. AND THEN SOMEONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. OKAY.GO AHEAD. L ONE EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071 AND SECTION 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 RODGER HANKS PARKWAY IN PRECINCT FOUR. POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT L2.
EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FIVE, FIVE, 1.071 AND 551.072 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
PROJECTS BEING CONSIDERED BY HAYS COUNTY, INCLUDING GRAMMY'S PARK AND GRAND TRAILHEAD.
POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT.
L3 EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 55107, ONE OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL REGARDING A VARIANCE REQUEST INVOLVING A PRELIMINARY PLAN SUBMITTED FOR THE HAYS COUNTY COMMONS DEVELOPMENT IN PRECINCT FOUR.
IF YOU CALL THAT OUT. OKAY. BOBBY. LAVINSKY. ALL RIGHT.
PERFECT. ON WHICH ITEM? L THREE. OKAY. AND THEN AFTER HE SPEAKS, IF THERE IS NO ONE ELSE, WE WILL CUT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. CLEAR THE COURTROOM.
I THINK THERE'S ONE MORE PERSON. BOBBY LAVINSKY SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON L THREE, WHICH IS A COMMONS ITEM.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HAZE RESIDENTS FOR LAND AND WATER PROTECTION, AS WELL AS JIA AND THE SAFE TEXAS DREAMS. THEY'VE ALL ORGANIZED A PETITION. OVER 200 RESIDENTS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE HAYES COMMONS DEVELOPMENT AGAINST THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE ACTIVE LITIGATION CONCERNING THE FIRST MUD, WHICH IS DEPENDENT UPON SUSPECT PUMPING FROM THE LOWER TRINITY AQUIFER AND A PROPOSED T LAP PERMIT SPRAY EFFLUENT WHICH IS ACTIVELY BEING CONTESTED AT THE TCE.
Q ALL THE WHILE, MILESTONE HAS BEEN TRYING TO BULLY THE CITY OF AUSTIN, CITY OF HAYES, AND EVEN THE CITY OF BUDA INTO SUBMISSION AND TO PROVIDE WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES AT THE SCALE THAT IT DESIRES.
AN AREA OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER THAT IS NOT WELL SUITED FOR A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT.
NOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ITEM IS BEFORE YOU BECAUSE THERE IS NO BACKUP MATERIAL.
AND IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT VARIANCE IS BEING REQUESTED.
THAT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S ANOTHER CONCERN THAT THERE'S NO BACKUP MATERIAL. WE HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO EVEN COMMUNICATE WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE OPPOSED TO THIS PROJECT. SO WE ASKED YOU NOT TO TAKE ACTION TODAY. HOWEVER, I'D GUESS THAT THE WORD VARIANCE IS A REQUEST BY MILESTONE TO REDUCE THE LOT SIZES.
WE WOULD ASK THE COURT NOT TO MAKE DEVELOPING ON THIS SITE MORE FLEXIBLE.
ADDITIONALLY, I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES WITH MILESTONE'S PLAN, INCLUDING THE MAIN ACCESS POINT ON THE SH 45 SOUTHWEST, WHICH WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED INTO THE 1990 CONSENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN TXDOT AND BC CD.
AND I'VE BEEN IN A MEETING WITH BOTH OF THOSE ENTITIES TO CONFIRM THAT MILESTONE HAS NOT BEEN GRANTED THAT ACCESS, NOR WOULD IT BE ALLOWED UNDER THE AGREEMENT. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE ACTION ON THIS TODAY AND GIVE THE COMMUNITY A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO WHATEVER IS BEING PROPOSED.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING INTO.
YOU DO HAVE ONE MORE. OH, OKAY. WE HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC COMMENT FROM CAROL PENNINGTON.
OKAY. AFTER CAROL PENNINGTON, WE'RE GOING TO CLEAR THE COURTROOM.
I AM VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HAYS RESIDENCE FOR LAND AND WATER PROTECTION.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING TO PROTECT 290 ACRES AT THE ENTRANCE TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
LITTLE BEAR CREEK RUNS THROUGH THE PROPERTY AND THAT AREA IS FULL OF NUMEROUS KARST SINKHOLES, SPRINGS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES. THAT MAKES THIS PART ABOUT 200 ACRES.
UNDEVELOPABLE. MILESTONE WANTS TO PUT 257 MULTI-FAMILY CONDO UNITS ON 88 ACRES.
YOU JUST HEARD ME SPEAK EARLIER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING THE RECHARGE ZONE.
[04:40:04]
I ALSO SAID THERE SHOULD BE NO VARIANCES WHEN PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS ARE OVER THE RECHARGE ZONE.THERE IS A REASON YOU HAVE THESE RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE, AND THAT IS TO PROTECT THE AVAILABILITY, QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF THE AQUIFER WATER, WHICH IS MY DRINKING WATER.
THE STANDARD IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT IS 15%. I GAVE YOU A DIAGRAM EARLIER SHOWING HOW IMPORTANT AND IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS ARE TO THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT REACHED THE AQUIFER. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN AQUIFER RECHARGE ABILITY.
THIS IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT SHOULD BE FOR CONDOS AS WELL AS HOUSES.
THAT MEANS THAT THE CONDO UNITS CANNOT COVER MORE THAN 13.2 OF THE 88 ACRES.
PLEASE DON'T LET THEM COVER UP THE ENTIRE 88 ACRES WITH CONDO UNITS.
MILESTONE HAS PROVEN TO NOT BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE LAND.
IN MY OPINION, THEY SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO BUILD ANYTHING IN HAYS COUNTY.
I AM NOT SURE WHAT VARIANCES MILESTONE IS ASKING FOR, BUT THEY SHOULD NOT BE GRANTED ANY.
I CAN GUESS THAT THE ONE ACRE HOUSE. LOTS WITH OSF INSTEAD OF THE REQUIRED TWO AND A HALF ACRES.
THAT WAY THEY CAN PUT MORE HOUSES ON THE SAME AMOUNT OF ACRES.
ALL THEY WANT IS MORE MONEY. NO REGARD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
SOME OF THOSE HOUSES BACK UP TO A TRIBUTARY CREEK THAT FLOWS INTO THE LITTLE BEAR.
I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THEY FLOOD WHEN WE GET ENOUGH RAIN.
THESE HOUSES ARE ALSO BUILT AROUND SEVERAL CAR FEATURES, ALLOWING THE BUILDER TO FILL IN THOSE CARS, CUTTING OFF VALUABLE RECHARGE OF THE AQUIFER TO PROTECT THE INVALUABLE, INVALUABLE EDWARDS AQUIFER, YOU MUST ADHERE TO THE REGULATIONS AND NOT GRANT ANY VARIANCES.
THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NOW WE CLEAR THE COURTROOM.
CAN I DO KNOW THAT I HAVE TYLENOL. AND WE ARE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
COMMISSIONER SMITH. MOTION TO ADJOURN. ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR WEEK.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.