[A. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:06] >> COUNTY JUDGE: GOOD MORNING. THIS MORNING INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY OUR VERY OWN PASTOR DARIUS TODD. IF YOU WILL PLEASE ALL RISE. >> LET'S BOW. HEAVENLY FATHER WE THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO GATHER TO SPEND TIME WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS TO, RECOGNIZE THE GRACE THAT WE HAVE TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER. WE THANK YOU EVEN IN A TIME OF CHANGE, EVEN CHALLENGES THAT ARE IN THE WORLD, YOU HAVE GIVEN US GRACE TO BE LIET LIGHT IN A DARK LAND. WE COME TOGETHER TO HEAR FROM ONE ANOTHER AND TO LEAD. HELP US TO DO IT WITH WISDOM. GIVE US GRACE AND STRENGTH IS MY PRAYER IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. >> ANNOUNCER: AMEN. THANK YOU. >> 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, OE AND INDIVISIBLE. >> ANNOUNCER: WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. [E. PUBLIC COMMENTS ] >> COUNTY JUDGE: SOME OF THEM HE WOULDN'T BE OPEN. THEY ASKED ME NOT TO OPEN THEM. BUT IF YOU HAVE SIGNED, SIGNED UP TO BE HEARD ON AN AGENDA ITEM THAT WE WILL NOT ACTUALLY TAKE UP AND DO BUSINESS WILL, I WILL STILL OPEN IT BECAUSE YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. WE'LL CLOSE IT WITH NO INTENDED ACTION AND MOVE ON, AND ALSO SO YOU UNDERSTAND THE LAY OF THE LAND ON HOW I RUN THIS COURT. IF THERE ARE ENOUGH OF YOU HEAVER TO CREATE AN INTEREST IN AGENDA ITEM PASSED, PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS WHICH I NEVER MOVE. I WILL JUMP THAT ITEM UP SO THAT YOU CAN GO ABOUT YOUR DAY AND NOT BE STUCK HERE ALL DAY LONG. SO JUST HAVE THAT IN YOUR HEART AND KNOW THAT WE WILL JUMP TO, FOR EXAMPLE, K17, I'VE ASKED TO TABLE IT. SOME HAVE ASKED TO SPEAK. I WILL MOVE IT UP JUST AS QUICKLY AS I CAN, BUT I WILL LIKELY NOT ANY ACTION ON IT, BUT WE WOULD STILL LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU. PLEASE OPEN. PUBLIC COMMENTS FIRST. LET'S GO WITH THAT. >> IN PERSON, BOBBY LEWINSKY. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, BOBBY LIEU VINSKI WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE. I WANTED TO SPEAK TO COUNTY AUTHORITY TO KIND OF GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A COUNTER PERSPECTIVE TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE HEARD. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE ANALYSIS I SUBMITTED AS LONG AS THE COMMENTS WITH TOM KNUCKLES. HE IS A FORMER COUNTY ATTORNEY WITH TRAVIS COUNTY. ALSO WORKED FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN. UNFORTUNATELY HE PASSED AWAY RECENTLY. BUT HE PREPARED AN ANALYSIS ALONGSIDE JOHN WHYTE WHO IS ALSO RETIRED TRAVIS COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION MANAGER OF COUNTY AUTHORITY AND WHAT HE LOOKED AT WAS-- THAT WAS TRYING TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT COUNTIES HAVE MORE AUTHORITY THAN THEY THINK THEY DO WITH IMPER VOWS COVER LIMITS. IN THE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, MINIMUM LOT SIZES WERE REMOVED FROM THE COUNTY AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE EVEN ANTICIPATED BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE PRETTY SETTLED IN STATE LAW THAT COUNTY DOES HAVE MINIMUM AUTHORITY. AND IN THAT ANALYSIS WHAT HE POINTS OUT IS UNDER CHAPTER 232, COUNTIES HAVE THE ABILITY TO ENFORCE THEIR GENERAL WELFARE BY ADOPTING SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS. IT HAS THIS GENERAL STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN GRANTED TO THE AUTHORITY THAT IS ACTUALLY WHY THEY'RE BROAD SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WOULD FIND IN CITY POLICE POWER'S AUTHORITY, AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT, YOU HAVE CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS UNDER CHAPTER 232, AND THAT INCLUDES THAT ESSENTIALLY THAT YOU CAN'T REGULATE USE. YOU CAN'T REGULATE DENSITY LIMITS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. BUT THAT IS USUALLY WHAT IS [00:05:02] TRACK 2 OF-- WHICH PERTAINS TO CITIES. THOSE ARE ESSENTIALLY ZONING EXCEPTIONS. I THINK THAT IS WELL UNDERSTOOD. WATER QUALITY REGULATIONS CAN BE FOUND IN THAT GENERAL POLICE POWERS THAT YOU HAVE UNDER CHAPTER 232 SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS DECIDED BY THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT IN QUICK V. CITY OF AUSTIN WHERE IT WAS LOOKING AT THE HOME RULE OF CITIES. THEIR POLICE POWERS TO ADOPT WATER QUALITY REGULATIONS, AND SO IT'S TRUE THAT COUNTIES CAN'T DO ANYTHING THAT THEY AREN'T TOLD AND THEY ARE TOLD THEY CAN'T DO. THE LEGISLATURE GAVE YOU THAT AUTHORITY UNDER POLICE POWERS UNDER CHAPTER 232 TO REGULATE THINGS LIKE MINIMUM LOT SIZES TO DO THE ORDER SHALY GROWTH OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY. THAT IS AUTHORITY THAT YOU HAVE, AND WE DON'T WANT YOU TO DELETE. THAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PAUSE HERE BECAUSE I THINK YOU ARE GIVING UP TOO MUCH. YOU ARE SHOOTING YOURSELF IN THE FOOT BY NOT HOLDING ON TO WHAT WE HAVE. IT'S ESTABLISHED YOU CAN DO MINIMUM LOT SIZES. I WOULD ARGUE YOU CAN DO IMPERIOUS-- AT A MINUTE MURM PLEASE HOLD ON TO WHAT THEY HAVE. TEXAS JUST TRANSFORMED. WE HAVE AND OPPORTUNITY. LET'S WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT LEGISLATION LAY TIEF SESSION. THANK YOU. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU. >> CAROL PINNINGTON. GOOD. COURT, AND JUDGE BECERRA. MY NAME IS CAROL PINNINGTON FROM MAND JACK. THE TENGZHO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNME SAYS THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT MAY ADOPT RULES COVERING PLOTS AND SUBDIVISIONS OF LAND WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF THE COUNTY TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH, SAFETY, MORALS, OR GENERAL WELFARE OF THE COUNTY AND THE SAFE, ORDERLY AND HELPFUL DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF THE COUNTY. SO THE WAY I INTERPRET THIS IS THAT THE COMMISSIONER COURT MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS FOR SUBDIVISION IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY TO PROMOTE HEALTH, SAFETY, MORALS, OR GENERAL WELFARE. AND FOR HELPFUL DEVELOPMENT. SINCE MUCH OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF HAYES COUNTY IS OVER THE EDWARDS AND TRINITY AQUIFERS, IF REMOVED, THE COUNTY WOULD SUFFER A HEALTH AND SAFETY CATASTROPHIC, AND WOULD BE UNHELPFUL DEVELOPMENT. I BELIEVE YOU KNOW THERE ARE ABOUT 100,000 THROW PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY THAT RELY SOLELY ON WATER FROM THE AQUIFERS. THIS IS THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY YOU ARE PROTECTING. YOUR CONSTITUENTS. YOU KNOW PROTECHING THE AQUIFERS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. YOU KNOW IN YOUR HEART THAT PAVING OVER THE RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES WITH SUBDIVISIONS IS MORALLY WRONG. BY REMOVING THE EXISTING LOT-SIZE REQUIREMENT FOR SUBDIVISIONS, AND THE UNINCORPORATED PORTION OF COUNTY YOU ARE AFFECTING THE GENERAL WELFARE OF THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND PROMOTING UNHELPFUL DEVELOPMENT. YOU ARE AFRAID SOMEONE WILL FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY 124 I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY COURT DECISION HOLDING THAT THE COUNTY'S MINMURM LOT-SIZE REQUIREMENTS ARE UNLAWFUL. I REALLY BELIEVE YOU DO HAVE THE AUTHORITY LIKE BOBBY STATED TO REGULATE LOT SIZES. IF YOU REALLY LOOK AT THE CODE. IF THE COUNTY DOES GET A LAW SUITED FILED AGAINST THEM. SO WHAT? THEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO PROVE IN THE COURT OF LAW HOW IMPORTANT LOT-SIZE REQUIREMENTS ARE TO HAYS COUNTY. DON'T BACK DOWN. THIS IS OUR LIFE SOURCE OF WATER. YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT YOU TO STAND UP FOR US, AND WE WILL BACK YOU. WE ASK COUNTY MAINTAIN THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS RATHER THAN GO THROUGH REPEAL. UNLESS A COURT OF LAW RULES THAT 24R ARE UNENFORCEABLE THEN YOUR DEYOU LESION SHOULD NOT BE PRESENTED. THANK YOU. >> COUNTY JUDGE: HOME RUN. >> SAMANTHA ARMBRESTER. >> COUNCILLOR: WHOEVERS THAT THAT PHONE, PLEASE LEAVE THE ROOM OR TURN IT OFFER. >> I'M HERE WITH THE SAN MARCUS LIONS CLUB AND THE TWO THINGS ARE WEAR THESE FANCY VESTS TO OFFICIAL MEETINGS AND TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS FRIDAY TO CELEBRATE 85 YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WEARING THESE VESTS AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE HOSTING OUR 85TH ANNIVERSARY THIS FRIDAY THE 13TH. IT WILL BE AT THE AIR FORCE MUSEUM-- I DIDN'T SAY THAT RIGHT, THE C.A.F. MUSEUM. THE EVENT WILL KICK OFF AT 6:00. IT WILL BE A CASINO NIGHT. [00:10:03] WE HOPE THE COURT AND THE COMMUNITY WILL JOIN US IN THE CELEBRATION. ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE RAISED AT THIS EVENT WILL BENEFIT OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND FOR ANYONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW, SINCE 2018, THE SAN MARCUS LIONS CLUB HAS FUNDED OVER 134 LOCAL STUDENTS, OVER 416,000-DOLLARS IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION. SO HANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU. >> JEN CAMP. >> MY NAME IS JIM CAMP. I LIVE AT 3803 CATTLEMAN DRIVE. JUST NORTH OF BUTA. FIRST I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO COMMISSIONER COUNCOHEN ON WINNING AND COMMISSIONER-ELECT YOUNGER AND JOHNNY FLORES IS ALSO A NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 2. HE IS TEACHING TODAY SO HE IS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE. BUT HE DID SAY HE WOULD WATCH THE SESSION THIS EVENING. I'M HERE TO ASK THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT WITHHOLD APPROVAL OF THE REGULATIONS UPDATE DIRECT STAFF TO PUBLISH RED LINE OR ANNOTATED SUMMARY OF THE CHANGES, GIVE THE PUBLIC TIME TO REVIEW THESE MATERIALS AND COMMENT ON THE FINAL DRAFT AND MAINTAIN ALL EXISTING PROTECTIONS INCLUDING MINIMUM LOT SIZE RESTRICTIONS IN THE AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONE. MS. UNGER CAN SPEAK FOR HERSELF BUT I DID SPEAK WITH COMMISSIONER ELECT FLORES. HE IS AGAINST ELIMINATING MINIMUM LOT SIZES. AND I THINK IT MIGHT BE WORTH COMMUNICATING WITH THEM ON THEY TAKING OFFICE IN JANUARY AND THEM LOOKING AT THE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS REVISIONS AND FINAL DRAFT. I DON'T THINK LAME DUCK IS A GOOD WORD. SO OUTGOING. ALSO I WANTED TO JUST SAY THANK YOU, JUDGE, AND WALT SMITH, COMMISSIONER SMITH FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE WON'T FORGET THAT YOU ONCE SAID THAT WE WANT TO MAKE HAYS COUNTY THE CENTRAL PARK OF CENTRAL TEXAS, AND WE DO RECOGNIZE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT WILL HAPPEN, BUT WE THINK THE ECONOMIC ENGINE IS GOOD, BUT A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON WATER. AND WE CAN DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT JACOBS A WELL, SKYPE PRESS CREEK. SAN MARCUS RIVER. PLUM CREEK. LITTLE BEAR CREEK. THE EDWARDS AND TRINITY AQUIFERS. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WILL SUSTAIN US THE NEXT TWO OR THREE OR FIVE DECADES, AND I HOPE YOU KEEP THAT IN MIND. THANK YOU. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU, MR. CAMP. >> CLERK: WE HAVE 22 E-MAILED PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> COUNTY JUDGE: ALL RIGHT. BRACE YOURSELF. IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR YOU COPY AND PASTED TO READ IT ONCE AND JUST LIST THE NAMES. >> CLERK: FIRST WE HAVE AARON ANDREW ASH. DEAR JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS THIS IS A GENERAL COMMENT I'M WRITING TO ASK THE COURT TO RESTORE THE MINIMUM LOT-SIZE TABLE FOR SUBDIVISIONS IN THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE CONTRIBUTING ZONES AND TO DEFER ANY LOW ON THE REVISED HAYS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS UNTIL THE NEWLY ELECTED COURT IS SEATED IN JANUARY. THE OCTOBER DRAFT REMOVES THE TABLE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE EXISTING REGULATIONS AND IN THE JULY DRAFT PRESENTED FOR THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK. IT GIST RESIDENTS, COUNTY STAFF AND DEVELOPERS A CLEAR STANDARD STATED IN ACRES FOR WHAT CAN BE BUILT IN THESE SENSITIVE AREAS. SUBDIVISIONS CAN BRING MORE ROOFS, DRIVEWAYS, AND ROADS, THAT ADDITIONAL IMPERVIOUS COVER CAN REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT SOAKS INTO THE GROUND AND INCREASES RUNWAY THAT CARRY POLLUTANTS INTO THE AQUIFER. THOSE CONSEQUENCES MATTER TO THE HOUSEHOLDS AND COMMUNITY THAT DEPEND ON WATER. PLEASE RELEASE THE RED LINE COMPARING THE-- WITH THE CURRENT REGULATIONS AND IDENTIFY THE SENSITIVE CHANGES MADE AFTER THE JULY PUBLIC REVIEW. IF OTHER PREVIOUS ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE EQUIVALENT PROTECTION, PLEASE IDENTIFY THEM AND EXPLAIN HOW THEY WOULD WORK IN PRACTICE. GIVE THE PUBLIC ADEQUATE TIME TO REVIEW THE CHANGES. ASK QUESTIONS AND COMMENT BEFORE THE COURT TAKES A VOTE. DECISIONS ABOUT SUBDIVISIONS, DENSITY CAN AFFECT YOUR DRINKING WATER FOR DECADES. [00:15:01] PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO PRESERVE CLEAR ENFORCEMENT PROTECTIONS AND GIVE RESIDENTS A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE RULES BEFORE THEY ARE ADOPTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF MY COMMENT. >>> NEXT ONE IS STEWART D. BURKE FROM N CHAKA. THIS IS A GENERAL COMMENT. I AM AGAINST CHANGES TO THE SUBDIVISION REGULATION THAT WOULD REDUCE THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO PROTECT THE AQUIFER RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONE LAND WHICH CONTAINS OUR CRITICAL NATURED INFRASTRUCTURE AND AQUIFERS IN THE GROUND WATER WE RELY ON FOR DRINKING WATER. UNDER TEXAS STATE LAW BY AN ORDER ADOPTED AND ENTERED INTO THE MINUTES OF THE COMMISSIONER COURT AND AFTER NOTICE AND PUB LISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION IN THE COUNTY, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT MAY ADOPT RULES GOVERNING LAND IN THE UNINCOPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH, SAFETY, MORLTS OR GENERAL WELFARE OF COUNTEDY IN A SAFE ORDERLY AND HEM HELPFUL. TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 232 SECTION 232,101. MUCH OF THE INIS COVERED OVER THE WEARSD AND TRINITY AQUIFER. THIS ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE RURAL LAND THAT IS OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION OF CITY AND TOWN GOVERNMENT IS A PRIME TARGET FOR DEVELOPERS BECAUSE IT IS ONLY UNDER COUNTY PROTECTIONS. IF THESE AREAS WERE TO BE DEVELOPED INTO HIGH DENSITY SUBDIVISION, THE RESIDENTS OF UNINCOURTED AREAS OF THE AREA WOULD SUFFER CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES. IS NOT SAFE AND WOULD REDUCE THE ABILITY OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT TO RECHARGE THE AQUIFERS LENDING TO QUICKER-- AND INCREASE POLLUTION FOR OUR DRINKING WATER. HISTORICALLY THIS HAS BEEN PREVENTED IN HAYS COUNTY BY REQUIRING LARGE MINIMUM LOT SIZES AND NEW DEVELOPMENT. THE 220-PAGE FINAL DRAFT OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE RELEASE OCTOBEA TABLE WHICH SPECIFIED THESE MINIMUM LOT SIZES OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES AND ACRES. FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IN THIS TABLE HAVE BEEN CRUCIAL IN PREVENTING HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT PROVIDING ESSENTIAL PROTECTION. THIS TABLE CAN BE FOUND IN THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT CODES AND IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT RELEASED FOR THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK IN JULY BETWEEN THE TIME OF THE PUBLIC VIEWING AND THE OPEN HOUSES IN LATE JULY WHEN THE PUBLIC WAS INVITED TO GIVE FEEDBACK, AND THE RELEASE OF THE FINAL DRAFT IN OCTOBER. THIS TABLE WAS REMOVED WITHOUT PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. DECREASING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE WOULD ALLOW HAYS COUNTY WHICH IS A LESS FROM A MILE FROM MY HOME TO GO FORWARD. IT WOULD AND WILL POLLUTE MY DRINKING WATER WHICH I GET FROM AQUA, TEXAS WELL. THIS WELL DRAWS FROM THE AQUIFER THAT THIS WILL POLLUTE. PLEASE VOTE. NO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >>> NEXT ONE IS FROM PATRICIA MY NAME IS PATRICIA LONGORIA. I'M WRITING TO IMPLORE YOU TO PROTECT THE WATER WE ALL DRINK. TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 232.101 GIVES THE COURT AUTHORITY OVER SUBDIVISIONS FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE TO PROMOITD HEALTH, SAFETY, AND GENERAL WELFARE IN THE COUNTY AND THE SAFE, ORDERLY AND HELLFUL DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS UNINCORPORATED AREAS REMOVING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE TABLE DOES NOT MEET THAT STANDARD. FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS A TABLE HAS BEEN THE COUNTY MOST EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR PROTECTING THE ZONES WHICH COVERS MORE THAN 75% OF HAYS COUNTY. IT IS THE CURRENT CODE. IT WAS IN THE JULY DRAFT IN THE PUBLIC REVIEWED AND THEN BETWEEN JULY AND OPEN HOUSE AND THE OCTOBER 15TH FINAL DRAFT IT DISAPPEARED WITH NO PUBLIC NOTICE OR EXPLANATION. AS OUR WATER GETS-- THOSE MINIMUMS SHOULD BE GOING UP. NOT VANISHES. LOT SIZES IS HOW WE LIMIT ROOF TAP DRIVEWAYS ROADS, MORE PAVEMENT MEANS LESS RAIN EACH REACHING THE AQUIFERS AND MORE POLLUTANT FLOWING INTO IT. THOSE THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS ON PRIVATE WELLS, THIS IS DRINKING WATER. WOPTSONCE IT'S DEPLETED IT CANNE UNDONE. HIGH DENSITY SUBDIVISION IN RURAL AREAS DON'T PAY FOR THEMSELVES. THEY NEED NEW ROADS. UTILITY EXTENSIONS. DRAINAGE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES AND COUNTY WAS NEVER BUILT TO SERVE. THE COUNTY TAXPAYERS MAINTAIN THOSE ROADS FOR DECADES. WHEN WELLS FELL OR WATER QUALITY DECLINES RESIDENTS PAY FOR NEW [00:20:04] SUPPLY AND TREATMENT. VAGUE RULES INVITE COSTLY LITIGATION AS THE DISPUTE OVER HAYES COMMONS ALREADY SHOWS. CLEARANCE SCIENCE BASED LOTS ARE THE CHEAPEST WATER PROTECTION THIS COUNTY WILL EVER HAVE. FINALLY THE PROCESS, THIS IS 220-PAGE DOCUMENT REORGANIZE SOD COMPLETELY THAT EVEN CAREFUL READERS CAN'T TRACK WHAT CHANGED AND NO RED LINE HAS BEEN RELEASED. DOES THIS COURT HAVE A RED LINE? DO THEY KNOW EVERY CHANGE THAT WOULD BE ADOPTING. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THREE THINGS. RESTORE LOT SIZE TABLE. RELEASELET RED LINE VERSION TO THE PUBLIC WITH ADEQUATE TIME FOR QUESTION AND COMMENT AND DELAY THE VOTE UNTIL THE NEWLY ELECTED COURT IS SEATED IN JANUARY. GETTING THIS RIGHT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN GETTING THE DONE FAST. THANK YOU. >>> THIS ONE IS A COPY AND PASTE FROM ELIZABETH CONRAD. ANOTHER COPY AND PASTE FROM ANN LOUISE TUCOHEN. THIS ONE IS FROM MICHELLE CAMPIONE. KACAMP.I URGE THE COURT TO OPPOE MINIMAL-- TO PREVENT TOO MUCH COVER FROM DEVELOPMENTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO DEGRADE WATER QUALITY. WE NEED TO KEEP MINIMUM LOT SIZE NSES THE COUNTY REGULATIONS TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR CRITICAL IN FACT THIS IS THE COURT'S DUTY PER THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 232 SECTION 232.101 WHIC TAKES THE COLLISIONER'S COURT TO PROMOTE THE SAFETY ORDERLY AND HEALTHFUL DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF THE COUNTY. TO PROMETRO TRANSPARENCY, THE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THIS IMPACT REVISIONS I URGE THE COURT TO RELEASE A REDLINE VERSION OF THE REVISIONS TO THE PUBLIC PRIOR TO A VOTE WITH A REDLINE VERSION THE PUBLIC CAN ACCESS A CLEAR SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON ENSURING THEY'RE FULLY INFORMED OF THE TE DECISION. I URGE THE COURT TO DELAY THE VOTE UNTIL THE NEWLY ELECTED COURT IS SEATED IN JANUARY. >>> THIS IS FROM RUSSELL SANDERS. PLEASE GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION AND STRENGTHENING DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTIONS OVER THE CONTRIBUTING ZONES AND RECHARGE ZONES OF HAYS COUNTY AQUIFERS. I'M ASKING THAT YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT CRITICAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES. I WOULD SUPPORT BONDS TO PURCHASE CONSERVATION EASEMENT OVER THESE CRITICAL AREAS. >>> THIS ONE IS FROM NATALIA. DEAR HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I'M WRITING TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS REGARDING THE PROPOSED REVISION OF THE HAYES COUNTY DEVELOPMENT CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION. THE FINAL DRAFT APPEARS TO REMOVE LONG-STANDING MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE THE CONTRIBUTIONING ZONES AND PROTECTIONS THAT ARE HELP PREVENT HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVE AREAS FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES. MUCH OF UNINCORPORATED HAYS COUNTY LIES OVER EDWARDS AND TRINITY AQUIFER WHICH PROVIDE DRINKING WATER FOR COUNTEDY RESIDENTS AND CONTRIBUTE TO WATER SPLICE FOR COMMUNITIES INCLUDING DRIPPING SPRINGS, INCREASED COVERS FROM HIGHER DENSITY DEVELOPMENT COULD REDUCE AQUIFER RECHARGE AND INCREASE THE RISK OF GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION. THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS AN IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY TO REMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT. I URGE YOU TO ENSURE THAT ANY REGULATORY CHANGES FULLY PROTECT OUR WATER RESOURCES AND THE LONG-TERM WELL BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >>> FRANCIS HARGROVE. PLEASE DELAY T AND TAKE TIME TO RRECONSIDER, THE REMOVAL SPECIFIED MINIMUM LOT SIZES ARE OVER ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE WATERSHEDS IN HAYS COUNTY IS PARTICULARLY SUSPECTED. HAYS COUNTY CITIZENS DESERVE A BETTER CLEAR EXPLANATION OF HOW THE DRAFT DEVELOPMENT CODE-- SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON OF THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND THE REASONING BEHIND THOSE CHANGES, PROTECTING OUR WATER RESOURCES WAS A MAJOR INFLUENCE IN THE LATEST ELECTION AND NOW IT IS TIME TO TAKE A MINUTE TO RECONSIDER THE BETTER PATH FORWARD. TO BE CLEAR I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING AND READILY SUPPORT DENSEIVE WALKABILITY IN APPROPRIATE AREAS THAT DO NOT NEGATIVELY AFFECT WATER QUALITY OR AVAILABILITY. REMOVING MINIMUM LOT SIZES OVER THOSE AREAS IN HAYS COUNTY IS A [00:25:01] GIFT TO DEVELOPERS AND MINIMIZE THEIR INSENSITIVE TO DEVELOP HOUSING AND MORE SUSTAINABLE DIRECTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE TRANSPARENCY RECORDING THIS PROCESS. I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU DELAY ANY DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD INCLUDE THE NEW COURT IS SEEDED IN JANUARY. DEVELOPMENT CODES ARE NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT TO DECIPHER. PLEASE PROVIDE A RED-LINE VERSION SO THAT THE CITIZENS OF HAYS COUNTY CAN HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF PROPOSED CHAGES AND HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CHANGES. BY ADD QUATD TIME, I MEAN AFTER THE HOLL K HOLIDAYS. RESIST THE URGE TO PUSH IT THROUGH. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO GET THIS RIGHT AS IT WILL LIKELY BE DECADES BEFORE IT IS EVER REVISITED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >>> FROM SANDRA CHRISLER. REGARDING TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 232 SECTION 232.101, THE COMING PRESENTATION BY FRIESEN NICHOLS REMOVES THE MINIMUM LOT-SIZE REQUIREMENTS FOR AREAS OVER THE EDWARDS AND OVER TRINITY AQUIFERS. HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT AND CREATE EXTRAORDINARY DEMANDS ON WATER USAGE. WE ARE IN A DROUGHT STAGE. THE PREDICTIONS FOR THE FUTURE. WATER AVAILABILITY IS DREYER. TO PURPOSELY INSENSITIZED THE-- WATER SOURCES IS UNCONSIDERABLE. THE PROPOSAL SHOULD BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC FOR REVIEW AND FEEDBACK AND THE VOTING SHOULD BE DELAYED UNTIL THE NEW COURT IS SEATED. OUR WATER MUST BE PROTECTED. THIS IS A GENERAL COMMENT. >>> FROM ALFONZO CARLON. DELAY, REVIEW OR VOTE NO ON THE PRESENTATION BY THE NICHING FIRM FRIESEN NICHOLS PROPOSAL TO LIBERTYIZE EXI EXISTING HAYS COY UNTIL THE MISSING CURRENT DEVELOPMENT CODE TABLE IS INCLUDED FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT. IT IS CRITICAL THAT HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PROTECT THEIR ABILITY TO PROTECT THE AQUIFER CONTRIBUTING ZONE LAND WHICH CONTAINS OUR CRITICAL NATURE INFRASTRUCTURE. THE AQUIFERS OF THE GROUNDWATER WE RELY ON FOR OUR DRINKING WATER. TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 232 SECTION 232.101 INCLUDES A LEGAL MANDATE TO ADOPT THE RULES GOVERNING PLADGES AND SUBDIVISIONS OF PLANS THE INCORPORATED AREA OF THE COUNTEDY TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH SAFETY MORALS OR GENERAL WELFARE OF THE COUNTY AND SAFE ORDERLY AND HELPFUL DEVELOPMENT TO THE INCORPORATED AREAS OF THE CTHECOUNTY. SUCH AS THE PROPOSED HAYES COMMON SUBDIVISION OF THE EXISTING RESIDENCY. THIS WOULD REDUCE THE ONLY SUPPLY OF DRINKING WATER-- 75% OF HAYS COUNTY WHICH IS OVER THE RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES AND INCLUDES CITIES LIKE DRIPPING SPRINGS, KYLE, BUTA AND SAN MARCUS WHO ALSO GET SOME OF THEIR DRINKING WATER DIRECTLY FROM THE AQUIFERS. THE RESULT OF WHICH COULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE LIVED ON MY PROPERTY FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND HAVE SLOWLY WITNESSED THE DRYING UP OF LITTLE BEAR CREEK. IT IS ESTABLISHED THE FACT THAT HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT OVER RECEIPT CHARGE CONTRIBUTING ZONES IS NOT SAFE AND WOULD ONE REDUCE THE ABILITY TO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT-- [INDISCERNIBLE] AND TWO INCREASE POLLUTION TO OUR DRINKING WATER. IN ADDITION, LARGE HIGH DENSITY SUBDIVISIONS WILL AREQUIRE ADDITIONAL ROADS, UTILITY CONSTRUCTION AND THESE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENNELS TIFF ENVIRONMENTALLY NATURE AQUIFER ECOSYSTEM AND DRINKING WATER WE DEFEND. FRIESEN NICHOLS FINAL DRAFT OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE REWRITES RELEASED OCTOBER 15TH, 2026 REMOVE THE TABLE WHICH SPECIFIED THESE MINIMUM LOT SIZES OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES AND ACRES FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IN THE TABLE HAVE BEEN CRUCIAL IN PREVENTING HIGH D DENSITY. THIS TABLE CAN BE FOUND IN THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT CODES AND IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE SORRY. PRELIMINARY. >> COUNTY JUDGE: DON'T WORRY. YOU ARE KILLING IT. >> CLERK: EMILY HUTCHINSON. THIS IS A GENERAL COMMENT. [00:30:01] TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 232 SECTION 232.101 ENSURES THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE SAFE HELPFUL DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COUNTY. I HOPE THAT THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THE TABLE WHICH SPECIFIED MINIMUM LOT SIZES OVER EDWARDS AQUIFER WAS REMOVED WITHOUT WARNING OR CONSIDERATION. I HOPE THAT WASN'T DELIBERATE ACT TO CATER TO DEVELOPERS AND SNEAK SOMETHING IN PRIOR TO THE NEW COMMISSIONER'S COURT. REMOVAL OF THIS TABLE AFFECTS MORE THAN 75% OF HAYS COUNTY WHICH IS OVER THE RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE CLEAR COMMUNICATED REGULATIONS ABOUT MINIMUM LOT SIZES AND THE ACRES TO PROTECT RECHARGE ZONES. A RED LINE VERSION NEEDS TO BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC FOR A REVIEW ALONG WITH LOGICAL TIME FRAME FOR THAT REVIEW AND OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT I'M REQUESTING TO REDELAY ON VOTING FOR ADOPTION UNTIL THE NEWLY ELECTED COURT IS IN PLACE IN JANUARY. THANK YOU. >>> LEAH MCTTOSH. GENERAL COMMENT. I URGE THE COURT TO PROPOSE ANY ACTION TO THE PRESENTATION BY FRIESEN NICHOLS DEAL WITH ADEQUATE TIME SPAN ALLOW FOR THE PUBLIC TO-- GIVE FEEDBACK IN THIS LARGE DOCUMENT THE IMPORTANT PART OF WHICH IS A TABLE OF LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS HAS SUSPICIOUSLY BEEN REMOVED SINCE THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION OF THOSE PROPOSED REVISIONS IN JULY OF 2026. SMALLER LOT SIZES PUT A RISK IN THE AQUIFER AND GROUND WATER BELOW HAYS COUNTY WHICH FROM WHICH MOST OF THE AREAS GETS ITS DRINKING WATER. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS TO ENSURE SAFE AND HELPFUL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN ITS COUNTY. IT IS NOT TO CATER TO THE REQUESTS OF THE DEVELOPERS WHICH PROPOSE SQUEEZING AS MANY LOTS AS POSSIBLE INTO AN UNDEVELOPED AREAS FOR PURE PROFIT. IF NO RED LINE VERSION HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, HAS THE COURT HAD ACCESS TO IT, DO THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW WHAT THE CHANGES ARE TRULY BEING MADE IF THEY WERE TO ADOPT THIS VERSION AS IS. A RED LINE VERSION OF THESE REVISIONS NEEDS TO BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC WITH ADEQUATE TIME. WEEKS NOT DAYS GIVEN ITS SIZE OF COMPLEXITY. TO REVIEW FOR FEEDBACK. I URGE THE COURT TO PROPOSE ANY ACTION ON THESE REVISIONS UNTIL THE NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONERS AND JUST TAKE THEIR-- TAKE THEIR SEATS THIS THE NEW YEAR AND AFTER THE RED-LINE VERSION HAS BEEN IN CIRCULATION WITH THE PUBLIC FOR A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. >>> SANDY. DEAR MEMBERS OF THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT. THIS IS A GENERAL COMMENT I'M WRITING TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE COURT DELAY VOTING ON THE PROPOSED REVISION OF THE HAYS COUNTY REGULATIONS. THIS DELAY IS NECESSARY TO ALLOWED A QAT TIME FOR CITIZENS TO REVIEW, EVALUATE AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK. REMOVING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENT FOR SUBDIVISION-- I CAN'T SAY THAT WORD. PRELIMINARY BENEFITS HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPERS AND THE EXTENSE OF HAYS COUNTY RESIDENTS. OUR LOCAL WATER SOURCES ARE INCREASINGLY SACRED IN PERMITTING HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENTS WILL FURTHER ENDANGER OUR COMMITMENTED SUPPLY. THE INCREASED CONSUMPTION OF LARGE AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM SUCH DEVELOPMENTS WILL GREATLY HAMPER THE RECHARGE OF OUR AQUIFER GIVEN THE RAPIDLY DEPLETING WATER SUPPLY IT WOULD BE FAR MORE PRUDENT TO INCREASE MINIMUM LOT SIZES OVER ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS AND PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF HAYS COUNTY RESIDENTS. THIS CRITICAL DECISION SHOULD BE POSTPONED UNTIL PROPER CITIZENS INPUT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE NEWLY ELECTED COURT IS INSTALLED IN JANUARY OF 2027. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION ON THIS IMPORTANT MATTER. >>> NEXT ONE IS FROM CLAUDIA HARDENING. TO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I'M WRITING TODAY TO URGE YOU TO DELAY VOTING ON THE ADOPTION OF THE REVISED REGULATIONS UNTIL THE NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS SEATED IN JANUARY TO ENSURE SAFE AND HELPFUL DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COUNTY AS STATED IN THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. THE CURRENT REWRITE RELEASED ON OCTOBER 15TH DOES NOT INCLUDE THE TABLE WITH MINIMUM LOT SIZES OVER THE EDWARD AQUIFER RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES. THE REMOVAL-- HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS PROPOSED HAYS COUNTY SUBDIVISIONS. HOWEVER THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD EXTEND FAR BEHIND ANY INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT. MORE THAN 75% OF HAYS COUNTY LIES OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES. THESE AREAS ARE CRITICAL TO REPLENISHNG THE AQUIFERS THAT [00:35:01] SUPPLY DRINKING WATER TO OUR COMMUNITIES. CLEARLY COMMUNICATED AND ENFORCEMENT REGULATIONS ESTABLISHING MINIMUM LOT SIZES AND ACRES ARE ESSENTIAL TO PROTECTING THESE ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVE AREAS. LOT SIZES MATTER BECAUSE THEY HELP LIMIT IMPERVIOUS COVER INCLUDING ROOF TOPS, DRIVE WAHS, ROADS, PARKING LOT IN CONCRETE AS IMPERVIOUS COVER INCREASE, LESS RAIN WATER-- THIS THREATENS BOTH WATER QUALITY-- LARGE HIGH DENSITY SUBDIVISIONS ARE PARTICULARLY DESTRUCTIVE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF OUR COUNTY. AS THESE PROJECTS REQUIRE ADDITIONAL ROADS, UTILITIES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE BEING CONSTRUCTED INTO ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS. THIS FURTHER DISRUPTS THE NATURAL SYSTEM THAT KEEPS OUR AQUIFERS HEALTHY AND THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE HAS BEEN PART OF THE HAYS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AND WERE ESTABLISHED FOR A GOOD SEASON. REMOVING THEM DOES NOT SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HAYS COUNTY. THIS IS NOT A DECISION THAT SHOULD BE RUSHED. REMOVED AND IRRESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT TAKES PLACE, THE RESULTING DAMAGE TO OUR AQUIFERS AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO REVERSE. WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO LOOK BEYOND IMMEDIATE DEVELOPMENT HAVE AND CONSIDER THE GENERATIONS OF RESIDENTS-- HAS BEEN MADE. IT IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT TO BE THROUGH-- GET THESE REGULATIONS RIGHT AND PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES THAN TO RUSH AND ADOPTION AND ALLOW DEVELOPMENT THAT PERMANENTLY ENDANGER THE FUTURE OF HAZE COUNTY. ONCE AGAIN I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO DELAY THE VOTE UNTIL THE NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONER KUYT IS SEATED IN JANUARY. >>> STSTLET LAND AND ENVIRONMENL SENSITIVE OUR NA IF THESE REVISS WERE ADOPTED IT WOULD ONLY HELP THE DEVELOPERS THAT DON'T CARE ABOUT THE LAND. KEEP THE LOT SIZES OR BETTER YET INCREASE THEM, LET'S NOT RUSH INTO THIS. PLEASE DELAY THE VOTING AND STRAY STRONG AND SAY NO TO THESE PROPOSED REVISIONS. PENNY REEVES. I'M WRITING TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN ABOUT THE PROPOSED REVISIONS IN THE HAYS COUNTY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT REGULATION. NEEDLESS TO SAY REDUCING LOT SIZES FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS CREATE A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS INCLUDING AND NOT LIMITED TO WATER SPECIFICALLY PROTECTING THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES. I FIND IT SHOCKING THAT THE COURT IS EVEN CONSIDERING THIS CHANGE AND THAT THE DEVELOPMENT CODE CONSIDERING OUR CURRENT WATER ISSUES IN COUNTY. I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE TABLE SPECIFYING MINIMUM LOT SIZES OVER EDWARDS RECHARGE AND-- THIS HAS BEEN IN THE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS FOR TWO DECADES AND SUDDENLY IT HAS DISAPPEARED. SOMETHING SMELLS VERY FISHY TO ME. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON OF THE REVISED DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, A 220-PAGE DOCUMENT WITH THE COWRNT HAYS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT REGULATION. A RED LINE VERSION COULD BE RELEASED FOR THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW AND COMMENT PRIOR TO SUBMITTING FOR APLOAFL. FURTHERMORE OUR NEW COMMISSIONERS SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO STUDY WHAT THIS MAY MEAN FOR HAYS COUNTY. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST A DELAY ON VOTING TO ADOPT THESE REVISED REGULATIONS SO THAT THE PUBLIC ALONG WITH OUR NEW COMMISSIONERS HAVE A CHANCE TO GIVE IT THROUGH REVIEW. >>> EMILY VALENTIN. DEAR HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ONE PRESERVE THE EXISTING MINIMUM LOT-SIZE PROTECTIONS FOR THE EDWARDS RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES, TWO REJECT ANY REVISIONS THAT WEAKEN EXISTING GROUNDWATER RECHARGE OR IMPERVIOUS COVER PROTECTIONS, THREE RELEASE THE COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC REDLINE COMPARISON OF THE CURRENT PRELIMINARY AND FINAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS. FOUR PROVIDED A QUATD TIME FOR PUBLIC REVIEW, EXPERT INPUT AND MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. FIVE POSTPONE ADOPTION OF THE REVISED REGULATIONS UNTILLE THE NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS SEATED IN JANUARY ALLOWING THE INCOMING COURT TO REVIEW THE LONG IMPLICATIONS OF THESE DECISIONS. OUR WATER SUPPLY MUST COME BEFORE DEVELOPMENT PROFITS. WATER IS ONE OF THE MOST PLESHES AND IRRELAYS PLAABLE RESOURCES. ESSENTIAL TO PUBLIC HEALTH, OUR FAMILY AND LOCAL ECONOMY. AND THE FUTURE OF HAYS COUNTY. SINCE HAYS COUNTY LIES OVER AN AQUIFER. THIS LAND PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN ALLOWING RAINFALL TO FILTER [00:40:04] THROUGH THE GROUND AND REPLENISH THE AQUIFERS THAT WATER TO OUR COMMUNITIES. FOR MANY OF OUR NEIGHBOURS, GROUNDWATER IS NOT AN ALTERNATE. IT IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER. ONCE WE DAMAGE OUR AQUIFERS WE CANNOT REPLACE THEM. RAINFALL THAT ENTERS THE RECHARGE ZONE CAN CARRY POLLUTEDDANTS DIRECTLY INTO GROUNDWATER. EVERY ACRE OF LAND WE COVER WITH ROOF-- DRIVEWAYS, ROADS AND PARKING LOT CHANGES THE WAY WATER MOVES ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE. INSTEAD OF SOAKING INTO THE GROUND AND REPLENISHING OUR WATER SUPPLY, RAINFALL BECOMES RUNOFF WHICH CARRIES FERTILIZERS, OIL, CHEMICALS, OTHER POLLUTANTS INTO OUR CREEK WATERWAYS AND GROUNDWATER SYSTEM. THIS IS WHY MINIMUM WATER LOT SIZE MATTERS! THE RESRICTIONS HELP PRESERVE THE NATURE-- THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE THAT SUSTAINS OUR WATER SUPPLY. REMOVING OR WEAKENING MINIMUM LOT SIZE PROTECTIONS WOULD SEND US IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. AT A TIME WHEN WATER RESOURCES ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY STRAINED WHY, WOULD WE CONSIDER REMOVING OR WEAKENING SAFEGUARD THAT WAS ESTABLISHED TWO DECADES AGO. IF ANYTHING WE SHOULD STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS EVEN FURTHER. RESIDENTS SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO READ HUNDREDS OF PAGES TO DETERMINE IF THEIR DRINKING WATER IS AT RISK. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THE REDLINE VERSION BE RELEASED. THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO CONSIDER HEALTH AND FUTURE OF THIS COUNTY:DEVELOPERS WILL MOVE ON THEIR NEXT PROJECT, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE WILL BE LEFT WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR DECISION. PLEASE DO NOT RUSH A DECISION THAT WILL AFFECT GENERATIONS. >>> THREE MORE. >> COUNTY JUDGE: HANG IN THERE, GUYS. >> DEAR HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE COURT TO DIRECT HAYS COUNTY SHERIFF TO NOT SIGN ANY 287 G AGREEMENT WITH ICE. THE MASS EVENT CRIMINALIZATION OF PERSONS PER UNIT IS IMMIGRANT STATUS MUST CEASE IMMEDIATELY. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS SUPPORT. THE MIXED STATUS IMMIGRANT AND WORKING 23578LYS LIFE LONG GENERATIONS RESIDENTS OF HAYS COUNTY CONTRIBUTE EVERY DAY TO THE CULTURE AND VALUES OF COMMUNITY. I WILL NOT STAND WHILE MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY ARE STRIP CHED THEIR DIG OUT AND DEMANDED TO VIOLENT -- YOU OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE TO LIVE WITHOUT FARE. OF TAKING THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL OR SHOWING UP TO WORK OR ACCESSING HEALTH CARE. THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS HAVE SPOKEN. THE VIOLENT STATUS QUO FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT BY THE CURRENT FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION IN OUR STATE AND COUNTY DOES NOT REFLECT THE WIT WILL OF THE PEO. GRACE AND COMPASSION WILL GUIDE US AS WE MOVE FORWARD. LOVE THESE N. >>> THIS IS FROM NIKO M. HOWARD. IS A GENERAL COMMENT. THE EDWARDS AND TRINITY AQUIFERS ON THE WEST SIDE OF HAYS COUNTY HAS ABUNDANT CAVES THAT WERE LARGELY FILLED TO DISPOSE OF TRASH TO LIVESTOCK AND TO KEEP MILLS RUNNING ELIMINATE LIVESTOCK. HAZARDS, AND MAKE LAND MARKETABLE FOR FUTURE. THIS HISTORICAL LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES HAVE GREATLY PROMOTED FOODING SOIL EROSION, FILLING OF THE RESERVOIRS, AND WATER QUALITY AND CREATED MORE EXTREME TEMPERATURES. THESE AQUIFERS ARE SOME OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE WATER SOURCES AND THE REASON FOR DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL TEXAS. WATER PUMPAGE DIRECTLY REDUCES SPRING FLOW. MY TEAM MEASURED JACOBS WELL DRYING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY-- FROM NEARBY PUMPING IN 200. 0. GROUNDWATER FLOWING THROUGH CAVES WITH NO NATURAL TREATMENT. THE 1989 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY MANUAL ON PROTECTING WATER SUPPLY NOTED WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY SHOULD NOT BE LOCATED WITHIN THE TERRAIN UNTIL IT IS WILLING TO RISK SACRIFICING THE USE OF THE AT LEAST PART OF THE MM AQUIFER AS A SOURCE OF PORTABLE WATER THCHT IS A HIGH RISK AND ALMOST [00:45:02] CERTAIN IS I. TREES GREATLY ENHANCE-- REDUCE SOIL-- ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS WERE CLEARED FOR HIVE STOCK RANCHING AND FORMLAND DEVELOPMENT AND EVEN AS PRACTISED ON LAND PUTTING DENSE DEVELOPMENT OVER A SENSITIVE WATER SOURCE IS IRRESPONSIBLE. IF HAYS COUNTY WAS SERIOUS WILL CREATING A COMMUNITY TO GROW, IT WOULD INVEST IN PRESERVING FOREST SUPPORT RESILIENT LONG TERM WATER SUPPLY. >>> FROM ALANA BETTY. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. I HAVE AND A HAYS COUNTY RESIDENT OVER 20 YEARS. I HAVE MADE PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THIS COURT MULTIPLE TIMES. EACH TIME SPEAKING ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENT. ABOUT PROTECTING AQUIFERS. GROUND WATERS AND THE RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONE LAND THAT SUPPORTS THIS CRITICAL NATURED INFRASTRUCTURE. TODAY WITH NO CAPITALLATION BUT PLY COMMENTED AND REQUEST FOR TODAY CARRIES HEAVIER WEIGHT. AIL DONGS OF THE REWRITTEN DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS WHETHER BE CARRYING US INTO A FUTURE OF UNFLOWNS ESPECIALLY WITH REGARDS TO OUR WATER RESOURCES. ADOPTING THIS DRAFT RELEASE ON OCTOBER 15TH THAT IS CURRENT WHETHER I WRITTEN WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE HEALTH OR GENERAL WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS OF HAYS COUNTY. AS IS IT CURRENTLY READS THIS WOULD WEAKEN THE COUNTY AND THEIR COURT'S ABILITY TO PROTECT THE DRINKING WATER OF MANY CURRENT HAYS COUNTY RESIDENTS. MYSELF INCLUDED. THIS COURT SHOULD NOT BE WEAKENING ITS PROTECTIONS OF OUR EVER SACRED WATER RESOURCES. IT SHOULD BE STRENGTHENING THEM. ON JULY 20TH. THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT CAME OUT AND LESS THAN 10 DAYS LATER THE PUBLIC MEETINGS WERE HELD. OVER 200 TO DECIPHER WITH ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES. AND THIS IS NOT AN EASY READ. AFTER FEEDBACK WAS GIVEN IT APPEARS MORE REORGANIZATION OCCURRED ENDEARING THAT PROCESS TABLE 705.05.01 MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND ACRES WAS REMOVED. REMOVAL OF THIS TABLE WOULD BE A GREEN LIGHT FOR DEVELOPERS TO CAUSE A PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY DISASTER FOR RESIDENTS WHO CURRENTLY RESIGN IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF COUNTEDY. WHO KNEW WHAT THAT THAT THIS TABLE WAS REMOVED. DID YOU KNOW THAT IT WAS REMOVED. DID THE FRIESEN NICHOLS KNOW IT WAS REMOVED. DID DEVELOPMENT SERVICES KNOW IT WAS REMOVED. IF SO, THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE TABLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR ALMOST TWO DECADES. IT HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO PREVENTING HIGH DENSITY SUBDIVISIONS, DEVELOPMENT, AND INTURN PROVIDING PROTECTIONS FOR OUR CRITICAL NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND AQUIFERS IN THE GROUNDWATER FROM WHICH THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS DRAW THEIR ONLY DRINKING WATER. PLEASED BE ASSURED TO NOW HOW CHANGES IN THE REWRITE WILL AFFECT THE HEALTH SAFETY AND LIVES OF CURRENT RESIDENTS WHO ARE GOVERNED BY THIS COUNTY. PLEASE RELEASE THE RED LINE VERSION TO THE PUBLIC SO THAT WE CAN COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES AND GIVE TIME TO REVIEW AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CHANGES. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE PUTTING THE PEOPLE OF HAYS COUNTY BEFORE ANY SPECIAL INTEREST. TO NOT RUSH TO ADOPT SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT PROTECT THE LAND AND THE WATT SHALL OF HAYS COUNTY TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE. THANK YOU TO YOUR SERVICE TO OUR [F. 1. Adopt a Proclamation recognizing November 2026 as Turkeys Tackling Hunger Month. INGALSBE] COMMUNITY. >> COUNTY JUDGE: PLEASE UP F1. >> ADOPT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER 27 AS TURKEYS TACKLING HUNGER MONTH MONTH. >> NO MOVED. >> COUNTY JUDGE: PLEASE READ THE. >> WHEREAS HAYS COUNTY FOOD BANK REPRESENT A COUNTY WIDE EFFORT TO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO INDIVIDUALS AND FLAMES FACING FOOD INSECURITY MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF INDIVIDUALS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESSES. AND WHEREAS FOOD INSECURITY CONTINUES TO AFFECT MANY HAZEL MAE HOUSEHOLDS WITH WHERE FAMILIES STRUGGLE. EPTS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. AND WHEREAS THE HAYS COUNTY FOOD BANKS TURKEYS TACKLING HUNGER CAMPAIGN NOW IN ITS 20TH YEAR UNITES THE COMMUNITY EACH NOVEMBER TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL FAMILIES CAN ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS WITH A TRADITIONAL MEAL. AND WHEREAS IN 2025, THE HAYS COUNTY FOOD BANK AND ITS COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROVIDE HOLIDAY MEAL TILTS KITTS TO 1,500 HOUSEHILLED EVERY YEAR. ALONGSIDE A HOLIDAY MEAL HOSTED IN SAN MARCUS GIVING OUR NEIGHBOURS THE INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR A FULL HOME COOKED HOLIDAY SPREAD AND WHEREAS THE TURKEYS TACKLING HUNGER MONTH REFLECTS THE GENEROSITY AND COMPASSION OF HAYS COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO CONTINUE TO STEP FORWARD TO FIGHT HUNGER, PROMOTE DIG VIT. [00:50:09] TURKEYS TACKLING HUNGER MONTH MONTH. AND DO HEREBY CALL UPON THE PEOPLE OF HAZEL MAE TO PLEDGE TO SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS% PROGRAM BY HELPING TO PROVIDE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUAL IN NEED THROUGH HAYS COUNTY WITH FOOD TO PREPARE ADDITIONAL HOLIDAY MEAL AT HOME ADAPTED THIS DAY THE 10TH OF NOVEMBER, 2026. >> COUNTY JUDGE: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL GLERGS COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES INGALSBE. >> YES. >> SMITH. >> YES. >> COHEN. >> YES. >> JUDGE. >> YES. >> WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST. SPECIAL GUEST. ABOUT TURKEYS TODAY. SO RECENTLY WE HAD-- I HAVE A FEW GIP DATES FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'VE ALL BEEN SO HELPFUL IN ALL OF OUR EFFORTS YEAR-ROUND BUT IN NOVEMBER WE DEFINITELY FOCUS ON GRATITUDE. WE RECENTLY HAD AN EVENT WHERE WE ASKED MS. SMITTY TO FIND A POLK POEM THAT WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE COUNTY IN CHARITABLE FOOD RESPONSE AND ONE OF THE LINES IN THE POEM THAT SHE CHOOSE WITH THANKFUL HANDS WE GIVE. THAT SUMS UP THIS WHOLE EFFORT FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER. WE LOVE SERVING THE COMMUNITY. WE DO IT EVERY DAY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WORK ON AND IS OUR MAIN MISSION IN LIFE. BUT IT IS WITH THANKFUL HANDS THAT WE GIVE WE'RE THANKFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY, OUR DONORS WHO MAKE THIS TAKING CARE OF OUR NEIGHBOURS POSSIBLE. WE'RE THANKFUL FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HELP US KEEP THE LIGHTS ON AND THE WHEELS TURNING. WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM. WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT OUR OVER 2,000 VOLUNTEERINGS. BUT THE COUPLE OF UPDATES I WANTED TO GIVE YOU BEFORE WE START HANDING OUT TURKEYS NEXT WEEK IT STARTS MONDAY WHICH BLOWS MY MIND THAT WE'RE ALREADY THERE. FIRST OF ALL, THE LAST TIME I STOOD BEHIND YOU BEFORE YOU COMPLETELY IN ORANGE WAS TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR STACK THE MAC. MACARONI FOOD DRIVE, AND NOW WE RAISED MORE THAN A TON OF MACARONI AND CHEESE JUST FROM DONATIONS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THAT IS 20,000 SERVINGS OF MACARONI AND CHEESE. THAT IS KIDS THAT GOT SOMETHING FUN TO EAT THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HAD ANYTHING TO EAT WITHOUT YOU. SO IT IS WITH THE MOST THANKFUL HANDS THAT WE GIVE, AND I WANT TO PERSONALLY INVIEWT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ON NOVEMBER 19TH TO COME TO OUR COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER. IT'S THE SECOND ANNUAL ONE. WE WILL BE HOSTING IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNITED WAY OF HAYS COUNTY. IT WILL BE AT SAY IT FOR ME. -- HALL. >> EVERYBODY TELLS ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT. I WILL TELL YOU, JUDGE. AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU THERE. LAST YEAR COMMISSIONERS INGALSBE AND COHEN HELPED. PUT ON BANDANNAS AND HANDED OUT GRAVY AND I THINK YOU WERE ON COFFEE, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, BUT THEY ARE DISHING OUT THE MASHED POTATOES AND TURKEY. I WOULD LOVE YOU ALL TO DO THE SAME. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST JOYFUL NIGHTS OF THE YEAR FOR ME. THIS IS ITS SECOND YEAR. I THINK IT WILL BE AGAIN THIS YEAR, AND AGAIN FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT YOU. YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY RELY UPON THE FOOD BANK AND THE FOOD BANK RELIES UPON YOU AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY. DID ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? >> WE THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER COHEN WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE THIS OVER. THE PROBLEM IS. >> THAT IS WHAT I ASKED TWO SESSIONS AGO. >> THE PROBLEM IS WHEN WE GOT THIS-- IT CAME WITH STUFFING. AND WE HAD SINCE LOST THAT STUFFING. SO I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN FILL IT OUT. SHE IS SAFE FOR A WHILE BUT THANK YOU Y'ALL. >> AS ALWAYS THANK YOU TO THE COURT FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO. AS YOU SAID WE PROVIDE SO MANY MEALS SO MANY FAMILIES THAT WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE THE HABIT TO ENJOY THANKSGIVING. I REALLY TRULY AND APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL YOU DO. >> THANK YOU LISA FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO BE ON THE BOARD. WE HAVE A GREAT BOARD. THAT IS ALL VERY CARRYING AND WANT TO DO THE GOOD WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I LOVE THE EVENT. I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL. I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING AGAIN. >> COUNTY JUDGE: COMMISSIONER HAMMER. [00:55:01] >> THANKS AGAIN FOR THAT Y'ALL DO. YOU ARE AN AMAZING BOARD. I THANK YOU FOR WEARING THE TURKEY SUIT AND JUST BRINGING A LITTLE BIT OF JOY TO EVERYONE THAT WE SEE BECAUSE YOU LOOK SO GREAT IN IT. AND. >> EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES ME IN IT. >> I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD BE MARK JONES WITHOUT IT SO I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT YOU HAVE 245 AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO VOLUNTEER AND HELP OUT WITH THAT EVENT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT AND AGAIN APPRECIATE ALL YOU GUYS DO JEU MENTIONED THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE WAS THE STACK OF MAC EVENT, AND I WAS HAPPY TO STOP OFF STUFF AT THE FOOD BANK HERE, AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I'M 6'1". STANDING IN THE MIDDLE TRYING TO STACK UP THE NUMBER OF MACARONI AND CHEESE BOXES TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW MANY MACARONI AND CHEESE BOXES THAT I NEEDED TO DO. I GOT SOME FUNNY STARES, BUT I CONVINCED THREE OTHER PEOPLE THEY NEEDED TO DO THE SAME THING. THREE OF US. >> THANK YOU. >> BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. EVERYBODY HAS MENTIONED WHAT YOU ALL DO. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY YOU COORDINATE NOT JUST THE WORK DO YOU AT A COUNTY LEVEL BUT THE INDIVIDUAL FOOD DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTEDY WHETHER THAT IS IN DRIPPINGS SPRINGS OR SAN MARK I DON'T SAY OR WIMBERLEY. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW YOU AREN'T JUST A BUILDING HERE IN SAN MARCUS AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO, AND IT REALLY IS A COUNTYWIDE EFFORT AND I APPRECIATE IT. >> COUNTY JUDGE: SOMETHING I'VE LEARNED MORE ALMOST A DECADE AS DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS JUST HOW MUCH OUR GOVERNMENTS AND OUR ORGANIZATIONS HELP ONE ANOTHER WHEN IT COMES TO FIRES, FLOODS, OR ANYTHING ELSE GOING ON. IT IS ONE OF THE COOLEST GIFTS I WILL TAKE AND KEEP FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE HOW COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO HELP COMMUNITY. I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE GRATEFUL THAN I AM NOW TO HAVE LIVED THIS LIFE OF-- I CAN SADLY COUNTED ALL THE ISSUES WE'VE HAD PANDEMIC AND MOVING FORWARD AND EVERY COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER WE'VE JUMPED THE AT OPPORTUNITY. SO I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE A FRONT-ROW SEAT TO BE A WITNESS OF ALL THIS MAGNIFICENT WORK. IT IS CUSTOMARY COME ON UP ANYONE THAT WANTS TO BE A PART OF THIS PICTURE. >> COUNTY JUDGE: PLEASE OPEN F [F. 2. Adopt a Proclamation recognizing November 2026 as Veteran and Military Family Appreciation Month in Hays County. HAMMER/PRATHER] 2. >> ADOPT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER 26TH AS VETERAN AND MILITARY FAMILY APPRECIATION MONTH IN HAYS COUNTY. >> COUNTY JUDGE: PLEASE READ IT. >> CLERK: WHEREAS EACH VETERAN AND MILITARY FAMILY REPRESENTS A PROUD LINK IN A LONG CHAIN OF HONOR AND SERVICE THAT STRETCHES BACK TO OUR NATION'S FOUNDING, AND WHEREAS MILITARY FAMILIES STAND BESIDE THEIR LOVED ONES IN UNIFORM ENDURING LONG SEPARATIONS, FREQUENT MOVES AND COUNTLESS SACRIFICES AND SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY WHEREAS AMERICA AGENCY MILITARY HEN AND WOMEN AND FAMILIES ARE VITAL TO THE SECURITY AND PROSPERITY OF OUR NATION, AND WHERE AS HAYS COUNTY IS HOME TO MANY VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS, RESERVISTS AND MILITARY FAMILIES WHO CONTRIBUTE DAILY TO THE STRENGTH AND CHARACTER OF OUR COMMUNITIES, AND WHEREAS THE HAYS COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES OFFICE IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH CLAIMS ASSISTANCE, ACCESS TO VITAL BENEFITS AND RESOURCES AND WHEREAS THE HOPE FOR HAYES GRANT PROGRAM HELPING WITH LATE RENT, UTILITY PEMENTS, TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS GAS AND GROCERIES AND WHEREAS RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL LEALT AND [01:00:01] EMOTIONAL WEETERANS SERVICES HAD COMMUNITY BASED COUNSELLING SUPPORT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUSTON VET CENTER BE . OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT HAYS COUNTY. WHEREAS THE HAYS COUNTY VETERANS OFFICE PARTNERS WITH LOCAL VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND NONPROFITS REFLECT HAYS COUNTY ONGOING COMMITTEDMENT TO STRENGTH THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF ALL RESIDENTS. SICKLY THOSE WHO SERVED OUR NATION PROMOTING HOUSING STABILITY AND FOSTERING COMMUNITY CONNECTION. AND WHEREAS THESE PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO HAYS COUNTY OBJECTIVES OF EXPANDING COMMUNITY BASED BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH SERVICES AND IMPROVING HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES AMONG VETERANS. THESE COMBINE EFFORTS HAVE PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN REDUCING HOMELESSNESS, PROMOTING HOUSING STABILITY, REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY, STRENGTHEN THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING FOR VETERANS IN HAYS COUNTY. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 2026 AS VETERAN AND MILITARY FAMILY APPRECIATION IN ONTARIO HAYS COUNTY. AND ENCIEWRNLINGSZ ALL RESIDENTS TO EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES FOR OUR MILITARY FAMILIES THROUGH ACTS OF SERVICE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND GRATITUDE ADOPTED THE 10TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2026. >> COUNTY JUDGE: BEAUTIFULLY DONE. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> SMITH. >> YES. >> COHEN. >> YES. >> HAMMER. >> YES. >> JUDGE. >> YES. >> COUNTY JUDGE: GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, I LOVE TO SAY THAT V VETERANS DAY IS THE START OF HOLIDAYS. TOMORROW IS VETERANS DAY WHERE WE CELEBRATE OUR NATION'S VETERANS. WE HAVE A LOT OF EVENTS GOING ON TODAY THERE IS RED, WHITE, AND YOU HIRING EVENT JUST DOWN THE ROAD AT THE ACTIVITY CENTER. THAT IS GOING ON FROM NOW UNTIL 1:00 P.M. THE SAN MARCOS AND BEAUTA COMMUNITIES HELD THEIR PARADES LAST SATURDAY. DRIPTION SPRINGS ROTARY DPLUB. TEXAS STATE, IT'S HEROES NIGHT FOR THEIR FOOTBALL GAME. IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT GAME. BUT IT'S A VETERAN THEMED FIRST RESPONDER EVENT, AND THEN TOMORROW AT THE STUDENT CENTER AT TEXAS STATE THEY'RE HAVING A VETERANS EVENT FROM 11/1. NEARLY EVERY SCHOOL IN OUR COMMUNITY IS HAVING A VETERANS DAY EVENT AT THEIR SCHOOLS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO REACH OUT 20 THEIR LOCAL SCHOOLS TO FIND OUT TYPICALLY IT'S BREAKFAST IN THE MORNING THAT THEY INVITE VETERAN FAMILIES TO COME TO THEIR LOCAL SCHOOLS. WIMBERLEY VFW ON SATURDAY FROM 10:00 TO 1:00 IS HOLDING A LUNCHEON THERE AT THE WIMBERLEY HALL. THE KYLE VETERANS DAY PARADE IS THIS SATURDAY. IT STARTS AT 11:45 THERE IN DOWNTOWN KYLE. PATRIOTS HALL IS HAVING A DINNER TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:45, AND THEN THE COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE SAN MARCUS AIRPORT IS HAVING THEIR DANCE AT 6:00 P.M. I ALSO VETERANS DAY PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK ME ABOUT WHAT ARE THE FREE MEALS AND THE DISCOUNTS. I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO TO MILT.COM. THEY WILL LIST ALL THE MEALS AND DISCOUNTS FOR OUR VETERANS, BUT I WANT TO SAY THNK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS AND OUR VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. AMERICAN LEGION, HATS OFF FOR VETERANS. JUDGE WITH YOUR PERMISSION, IF THEY COULD INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. THEIR BRANCH OF SERVICE OR MILITARY AFFILIATION AND THE VETERAN SERVICE. >> COUNTY JUDGE: ABSOLUTELY. >> ALLAN CAMERA. MARINE CORPS. BY THE WAY IT'S THEIR BIRTHDAY. 251 YEARS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ME. UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. UNITED STATES ARMY. HAYS COUNTY VETERAN SERVICE OFFICE. SAN MARCUS P.O.W. VETERANS AFFAIRS ALLIANCE COMMITTEE AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS. >> COUNTY JUDGE: WELL DONE. CHEER CLEAR [APPLAUSE] >> ABBOTTNY TIMBER MEYER. UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. I ALSO REPRESENTS HATS OFF FOR VETERANS. >> STEVEN SAXON, LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP OF AND VETS, VFW. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, AND THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THIS [01:05:01] TIME. >> PATRICK CASE, UNITED STATES ARMY. VFW. VIETNAM VETERANS ASSOCIATION. UNITED STATES ARMY. SERVED 66, 67 IN VIETNAM. MEMBER OF THE VFW. LIFETIME. LIFETIME OF DISABLED VETERANS, AND EMBEDS ALSO. THANK YOU. >> SYLVESTER, RETIRED FIRST SERGEANT. THANK YOU ALL RIGHT THERE FOR EVERYONE. BLESS YOU. >> DAVID FRANKLIN SECOND EXPWREN RACIAL NAVAL VETERAN. LIFETIME. AND BIG SUPPORT OF REACH ACROSS AMERICAS THAT IS COMING UP IN DECEMBER. TEXAS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AND A PROUD ARMY BRAT AND PRESIDENT OF HATS OFF FOR VETERANS. >> MARK SELENIS U.S. ARMY. STATE OF TEXAS AND VETS. THE ARMY, OF COURSE, IN GERMANY AND PLUS I WORKED 40 YEARS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HELPING OTHER VETERANS ALL OVER THE WORLD. >> RICK-- UNITED STATES NAVY. >> I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR YOUR TIME FOR ALLOWING TO US SPEAK. THANK YOU. CURTIS MORNEAU. U.S. NAVY SERVED ON THE USS FROM 1979 TO 1980 ON THE HOSTAGE CRUISE, AND AFTER THAT, GOT SAN MARCUS. CAME DOWN HERE AND WENT TO COLLEGE AND PRETTY MUCH STAYED EVER SINCE. THANK YOU. >> RONNIE, U.S. NAVY. WENT ON THREE CRUISES, I'M NOT SURE WERE A CRUISE. >> JOHN GILLIHAM. U.S. ARMY. COLONEL RETIRED U.S. ARMY 30 YEARS, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO JUDE AND YOUR STAFF FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO BECAUSE THEY HAVE PROVIDED SO MANY SERVICES TO ME AND TO ALL THE VETERANS HERE. SO THANK YOU. JUDGE SANDRA BRYANT. I'M ARMY AND ARMY RESERVE. WEAPONS AND SUPPLIES. >> IT IS CUSTOMARY TO COME ON UP FOR A PICTURE. COMMISSIONER'S COURT WANT TO OFFER THANKS TO YOU ALL TOO [01:10:02] AFTER THE PICTURE. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THE COURT IS GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS. LET'S MOVE DOWN AND TALK. JUST A FEW PLOR WORDS. MORE WORDS.THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> COUNTY JUDGE: DO YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS. START OVER THERE. GO FOR IT. LET'S START. >> ALL RIGHT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES HERE TODAY, THE ONE THING THAT THIS RESOLUTION HAS THAT EVERY YEAR WE MAKE SURE IT HAS, AND NOBODY MENTIONED IT WHEN WE WERE TALKING, BUT THE SACRIFICE THAT Y'ALL MAKE EVERYTHING IS. THE SACRIFICE THAT YOUR FAMILIES MAKE IS EVERYTHING TO THEM AS WELL. THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILIES IF NOBODY ELSE HAS TODAY. THIS WEEK IS A WEEK THAT NOT ONLY CELEBRATES YOU, BUT CELEBRATES THOSE MOMS AND DADS AND WIVES AND KIDS THAT AND HUSBANDS THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT HAVE HAD THAT SACRIFICE FOR YOU TOO, AND IT WILL NEVER LEAVE ME A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WE HAD SOME FOLKS COME IN AND TALK ABOUT FAMILIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND I'VE TOLD THIS STORY AT PUBLIC SPEAKING EVENTS. VETERANS COME UP AND THEIR WIVES COME UP AND SAY, YOU HAVE NO IDEA THERE IS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL. WE HAD A WIFE OF ONE OF OUR POLICE-OFFICERS OR SHERIFFS DEPUTIES TELL ME THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT SOUND SHE LITERATURES IS THE CROW AT 5:00 A.M. THAT MEANS HE GOT HOME AND HAS TAKEN HIS VEST OFF. THOSE OF US WHO DON'T HAVE FAMILY OR MY DAD SERVED. MY BROTHER SERVED, BUT THOSE FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE SOMEONE WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILY OR SERVED IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND THEIR FAMILY, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. JUST KNOWING THAT THEY GOT LOMB SAFE, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL PLESH THEM. I PLESH Y'ALL. I APPRECIATE Y'ALL.I CAN'T SAY F JUDE AND HIS OFFICE. I THUS JUST THINK IN GENERAL. WE DIDN'T INTRODUCE CATHY IN THE LAST PROCLAMATION OR RESOLUTION. BUT YOU TALK ABOUT A FAMILY OF SERVICE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE FAMILY FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO. I'M-- THIS IS MY THIRD TO LAST COURT, AND THE THINGS THAT I'M MOST PROUD OF ARE THE WORK THAT I DID WITH PATRIOTS HALL, AND HAVING A VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER THERE FOR THAT SIDE OF THE COUNTCOUNTY. THE ADVISORY COUNCIL AND THINGS LIKE THAT, CREATING AND MAKING HAYS COUNTY A PURPLE HEART COUNTY FOR THE ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART IS A BIG THING I'M REALLY PROUD OF. I HAVE THE FIRST ONE HANGING IN MY OFFICE. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. MY FAMILY THANKS YOU HOST OF THE FOLKS IN MY FAMILY SERVED. THANK THEM TOO. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. IT'S REALLY NOT DEEP ENOUGH FOR A MEANING FOR WHAT YOU FOUGHT FOR. OUR COUNTRY AND YOU MAKE AMERICA WHAT IT IS. MY GRANDFATHER FOUGHT IN VIETNAM AND DIED OF AGENT ORANGE. I'M SO GRATEFUL. GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND THANK THE GOOD LORD THAT YOU EXIST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND HAVE SUCH AN AHAZING COUNTY. >> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND HOW YOU ALL CONTINUE TO LOOK [01:15:03] AFTER ONE ANOTHER. NO MATTER WHAT BRANCH OF SERVICE. YOU ALL STICK TOGETHER AS BROTHERS AND SERVICES, AND THANK YOU FOR DOING. THAT THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I AM THE DAUGHTER OF A MARINE AND, YOU KNOW, I'M TAKING THE DAY TO REFLECT ON HIM. MICHAEL IRONSIDE BECAUSE HE WAS A PRETTY GOOD BOXER WHEN HE WAS A MARINE. I'M HONORED TO BE HERE IN THIS SEAT FOR HIM AND TO CONTINUE THE WORK FORWARD AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON OUR VETERANS AND CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES GOING FORWARD IN THIS COUNTY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING Y'ALL YOU HAVE DONE. >> WELL, JUDGE, YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE IT'S JUST WONDERFUL TO SEE SO MANY FAMILIAR FACES. I ALSO HAD AN UNCLE THAT SERVED IN THE ARMY AT VIETNAM. PASSED AWAY IN VIETNAM. I KNOW SOME OF Y'ALL KNEW HIM. EVEN AS EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO HELP THOSE THAT NEED THE HELP AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO, AND JUDE, I HAVE TO GIVE YOU A SHOUTOUT. WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO, THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH AND FOR BEING HERE. >> COUNTY JUDGE: YOU SEE HOW EASY IT IS FOR THIS COURT TO STAND BEHIND YOU BECAUSE WE EACH HAVE A DIRECT CONNECTION FROM MY FATHER-IN-LAW SERVING IN VIETNAM AS WELL TO ME LOSING A FIRST COUSIN IN THE NAVY TO MY THANKSGIVING DINNERS THAT HAPPEN EVEN NOW. WE HAVE ALL BRANCHES OF THE MILITARY AROUND THE TABLE. MY NEPHEW'S BIGGEST POKE IN THE RIBS IS HIS LAST TOUR WAS IN THE AIR FORCE ON THE ISLAND OF GUAM, AND SO WE ALWAYS RIB HIM. BUT NEVERTHELESS EVERYONE AROUND THE TABLE IS REPRESENTED AND SO WE ARE SO GRATEFUL AND I'M GRATEFUL TO BE REMINDED OF WHAT THIS COURT FEELS IN THIS LANE IN THIS VEIN BECAUSE WE ARE ALL TRUE PATRIOTS ON THIS FRONT AND I WILL ADD AS A FINAL COMMENT THAT ONE OF THE SECRETS THAT I USED TO PUSH SO MUCH POLICY THROUGH THIS COURT WAS THE UNIFYING THEME OF THE VETERAN SERVICES AND ALL THE OTHER FRONTS BECAUSE WHEN YOU CONNECT PEOPLE TO ISSUES AND INCIDENTS THEN PEOPLE HAVE A QUICKER, STRONGER CONNECTION TO SUPPORTING A CAUSE. SO I WAS ABLE TO GETTING A LOT OF THINGS DONE, AND THE COURT ULTIMATELY SUPPORT WHEN IT CAME TO MENTAL HEALTH. IT'S EASIER TO SEE A SOLUTION SUPPORT WHICH HAD IN THIS BODY REPRESENTS MONEY WHEN YOU CAN CONNECT TO IT. WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE OR EVERYONE AS SOMEONE'S LOVED ONES. AND SO I THANK YOU BECAUSE I USED YOUR GREAT REPUTATION FOR THE GREATER GOOD. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO AND CONTINUE TO DO, AND PLAY GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS THIS GREAT STATE OF TEXAS. THANK YOU. A PUBLIC HEARING AT 10:00 A.M. AND WE'RE ALMOST THERE, BUT WE [F. 3. Presentation by Freese & Nichols Inc. regarding updates to the Hays County Development Regulations. BECERRA/BERLAD] AREN'T GOING THROB ON TIME. PLEASE OPEN F3. >> CLERK: F3. PRESENTATION BY FREESE AND NICHOLS INC. REGARDING UPDATES TO THE HAYS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS. >> COUNTY JUDGE: YEAH. PLEASE READ YOUR COMMENTS FIRST AND THEN WE WILL WILL POPULATE THE PODIUM. >> FIRST E-MAILED COMMENT IS FROM DAVID SMITH. COMMISSIONERS I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A DOCUMENT PENDING FOR APPROVAL OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS A PARAGRAPH REMOVED CONCERNING MINIMUM LOT SIZES TO ALLOW FOR SAFE RECHARGE OF THE TRINITY AND EDWARDS AQUIFERS UNDER HAYS COUNTY LAND. THESE MINIMUM SIZES BE RESPECTED AND ALL COMMISSIONERS KNOW IF THE PERMIT VIOLATES THOSE RESTRICTIONS, IF IT DOES, THERE MUST BE SOME CAUTION TO PROTECT OUR ACQUESTION FERS. DEVELOPERS' INTEREST SHOULD NOT OVERRIDE THE INTEREST OF RESIDENTS, THANKS. >>> SCHAFER. IN REFERENCE TO AGENDA ITEM F3. DEAR HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT. THE HAYS COUNTY REGULATION REWRITE AS IT HAS BEEN REVISED COULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR DEVELOPERS TO OVERDEVELOP IN THE RECHARGE ZONE. CHANGES TO THE SUBDIVISION [01:20:02] REGULATION WOULD SAY REDUCE THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO PROTECT THE AQUIFER RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONE LAND WHICH CONTAINS OUR CRITICAL NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THESE AQUIFERS AND THE GROUND WATER WE RELY ON FOR DRINKING OVER THE RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES IS NOT SAFE AND WOULD REDUCE THE ABILITY OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT TO RECHARGE THE AQUIFERS LENDING TO QUICKER-- AND WOULD INCREASE POLLUTION OF OUR DRINKING WATER. HISTORICALLY THIS HAS BEEN VENTED BY REQUIRING LARGE MINIMUM LOT SIZES IN NEW DEVELOPMENT. WE MUST RETAIN REGULATIONS ON MINIMUM LOT SIZES TO EMPLOYEE FFECT THE CONTRIBUTING AND RECHARGE ZONES FROM TOO MUCH IMPERVIOUS COVERS. IF ANYTHING MINIMUM LOT SIZES SHOULD BE INCREASING OVER ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVE AREAS AS OUR WATER RESOURCES ARE BECOMING SACREDDER. IT IS MORE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THOROUGH AND GET THIS RIGHT INSTEAD OF RUSHING IT THROUGH AND ALLOWING RECKLESS DEVELOPMENT TO ENDANGER OUR FUTURE FOR RESIDENTS IN CENTRAL TEXAS IN WAY WAYS THAT CANNOT BE UDONE. I WOULD TO QUESTION DELAY ON VOTING UNTIL THE NEWLY ELECTED COURT IN SEATED IN JANUARY. THANK YOU. >>> THIS ONE IS FROM MAGGIE MILLS. HELLO. I AM A WIMBERLEY RESIDENT AND THE FOUNDER OF DON'T DRAIN TEXAS, A STATEWIDE GRASS-ROOTS COALITION DEDICATED TO RESTORING THE VICE OF CITIZENS ACROSS TEXAS. OVER THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS I HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE TO FIGHT FOR TRANSPARENCY AGAINST DATA CENTER DEVELOPERS, INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES, AND BIG INDUSTRIES STRONG ARMING THEIR WAY INTO RURAL TEXAS. I AM WRITING TODAY TO FORMERLY REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT PAUSE THE FINAL APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE DRAFT HAYS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS WHILE UPDATING OUR REGULATIONS IS ESSENTIAL TO MANAGE GROWTH, THE CURRENT DRAFT CONTAINS CRITICAL GAPS THAT JEOPARDIZE OUR LOCAL GROUNDWATER INCREASED DOWNSTREAM FLOOD HAZARDS AND WEAKEN PUBLIC OVERFIGHT. I URGE THE COURT TO DIRECT STAFF TO ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING FOUR KEY AREAS: ONE, REQUIRE MANDATED GROUNDWATER CERTIFICATIONS. COUNTY WATER AVAILABILITY RULES UNDER CHAPTER 232 ARE AS STRONGEST DEFENSE AGAINST UNSUITABLE GROWTH. THE DRAFT REGULATIONS MUST REQUIRE LONG-TERM HYDRO GEOLOGICAL PROVING PERIODS THAT CONTINUOUS AQUIFER TESTING PRIOR TO ANY PRELIMINARY PLANT APPROVAL. HIGH DENSIVITY PUMPING WITHOUT PROVEN LONG-TERM YIELDS DIRECTLY THREATENS NEIGHBOURING RESIDENTS, WELLS, JACOBS WELL AND THE BRANKO RIVER BASIN. TWO, TIGHTEN ADMINISTRATIVE VAIRNTION LOOP HOLES. THE CURRENT DRAFT LEAVES TOO MUCH DISCRETION FOR ADMINISTRATION VARIANCES REGARDING LOT SIZING SETBACKS AND ROADS STANDARDS. HIGH IMPACT DEVELOPMENT SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BY PASS FULL PUBLIC HEARINGS OR ENVIRONMENTAL SCRUTINY THROUGH PIECEMEAL ADMINISTRATIVE EXCEPTIONS. ALL MARRIAGE VARIANCES MUST REMAIN SUBJECT TO OPEN COURT REVIEW AND PUBLIC NOTICE. THREE, ESTABLISH DENSITY CAPS FOR HIGH DENSITY AND ALTERNATE DEVELOPMENTS. SUCH AS BUILD TO-- HIGH DENSITY MULTIPLE-- ACROSS RURAL HAYS COUNTY OUR REGULATIONS MUST KEEP PEACE, PACE. THE DRAFT RULES PLUS ESTABLISH CLEAR DENSITY LIMITS, MANDATORY OPEN SPACE ALLOCATIONS AND STRICT ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS FOR ALL DEVELOPMENT TYPES TO PREVENT RAPID URBAN SENSE TIT IN RURAL LAND. FOUR, IMPLEMENT CUMULATIVE WATERSHED ASSESSMENTS. EVALUATING STORM WATER RUNOFF AND EROSION CONTROL IN ISOLATED SITE BY SITE TO PROTECT DOWNSTREAM PROPERTY OWNERS, HAYS COUNTY-- TOPOGRAPHY-- REQUIRE CUP LAY TIFF BASIN-- TO PREVENT INCREASE FLASH FLOODING AND-- >> COUNTY JUDGE: THAT IS THE LAST ONE, RIDE. >> YES. >> COUNTY JUDGE: I WILL BE MOVING K1 UP, YES, JENNIFER. I COMMIT TO IT AND THEN IMMEDIATELY INTO OUR K2 WHICH WILL BE OUR PUBLIC HEARING JUST FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING. NOW WE'RE READY TO POPULATE THE PODIUM. STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLES. >> GOOD MORNING, COURT. MICHAEL-- DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WITH ME TIED IS FREEZE NICHOLS TO PROVIDE A PRESENTATION ON THE REVISED FINAL DRAFT. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A REVISED FINAL DRAFT COMPETED ON FRIDAY. IT WILL BE POSTED TODAY FOR PUBLIC VIEW. [01:25:02] WE'LL GET THAT POSTED THIS AFTERNOON. THAT WAY EVERYONE CAN SEE IT. HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON DECEMBER 1ST. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU. >> I WILL TURN IT OVER TO FREEZE NICHOLS. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COURT. DAVID JONES WITH FREESE NICHOLS 801 CHERRY STREET FORT WORTH, TEXAS. IN THE PAST, I'VE KIND OF PRESENTED OFF OF THE SLIDES I WROTE MYSELF SOME FLOATS BASED ON ALL OF THE COMMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAD ADDRESS ALL OF THOSE SO THERE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN PAST PRESENTATIONS THAT I DO HAVE THE SLIDE IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AFTER THIS ONE. JUST TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR KEY CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS AND DO APPRECIATE ALL THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN ALL THE FOLKS OUT THERE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS, AND ARE PROVIDING THAT FEEDBACK. I WANT TO ADDRESS A FEW OF THE POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP INCLUDING THE TABLE WITH THE MINIMUM LOT SIZES. IF YOU RECALL BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS 18-MONTH PROCESS THAT WE'VE EMBARKED ON TO UPDATE THE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, ONE OF THE GOALS WAS TO MAKE THE NEW REGULATIONS MORE STREAMLINED. AS IT'S BEEN MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES, THIS IS OVER A 200 PAGE DOCUMENT. WHEREVER POSSIBLE WE WANT TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF REDUNDANCIES AND TRY TO MAKE THE DOCUMENT EASIER TO MANAGE AND EASIER TO DIGEST. THAT CAN HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. WE CAN LOSE SIGHT OF THE BIG PICTURE SOMETIMES IN DOING THAT. WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT HAVING TO MAINTAIN THINGS IN MULTIPLE PLACES. SO UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT THAT WOAF' RECEIVED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE MINIMUM LOT SIZES. I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR WE WEN FAVOUR OF KEEPING THOSE LOT SIZES. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT TOOL AND REGULATING DEVELOPMENT IN SENSITIVE AREAS OF THE COUNTY. WE'RE CLOSELY MONITORING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. PREFILING JUST STARTED. WE'RE HOPING SOME ADDITIONAL TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE TO US SOON. THAT SAID THOSE WOULDN'T TAKE EFFECT FOR AT LEAST 10 MONTHS. POSSIBLY A LITTLE BIT LONGER. SO AGAIN WE'RE IN FAVOUR OF MAINTAINING THOSE. WE'RE IN FAVOUR OF PROTECTING GROUNDWATER THAT WAS ONE OF THE KEY MISSIONS OF THIS UPDATE WAS TO IMPROVE THE TOOLS OF THE COUNTY HAS AT ITS DISPOSAL TO REGULATE THE USE OF GROUNDWATER IN DEVELOPMENT. WE ALSO WANTED TO HAVE THE COUNTIES DOCUMENTS TALKING TO EACH OTHER. MAKING SURE HA THAT THOSE THINS ARE CONSISTENT IS VERY IMPO IMPORTANT. OUR CONVERSATION HAS TAKEN PLACE OVER THE LAST 18 PLONTS THROUGH EXTENSIVE STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH. MULTIPLE OPEN HOUSES ACROSS THE COUNTEDY. THECOUNTY. FULL OVERHAUL OF COUNTY REGULATIONS AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT ONLY HAPPENS EVERY SO OFTEN. USUALLY A DECADE OR MORE. THAT IS NOT TO SAY INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS WON'T TAKE PLACE OVER TIME. WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT CONVERSATION AND THAT ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE CAN MAKE OVER TIME. LEGISLATURE FORCES TO US DO THAT EVERY TWO YEARS ANYWAY. WANT TO MAKE THEM. IT WAS TIME OF A FULL OVERHAUL. >> COUNTY JUDGE: I WANT THE VIEWING PUBLIC TO FOLLOW ALONG BECAUSE IT IS WHAT IT IS. SOME PEOPLE WILL GET LOST IN SLIDE SHOWS HOWEVER TIDY THEY MAY BE. CAN YOU FINISH-- JUST TOUCH THE POINTS THAT WERE DISCUSSED REPEATEDLY. I KNOW YOU TOUCHED SOME OF THEM. MAKE SURE YOU HIT THEM ALL SO THEY CAN SAY, YES, WE HEARD THE CREATION AUTHORITY OF THE DOCUMENT PRESENTED TO COURT. SAY YES. WE'RE DOING THIS. YES, WE'RE PROPOSING THAT. NO, WE AREN'T PROPOSING THIS. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE FLOATS, NOTES.I DO. FOR LL THE VIEWING PUBLIC. >> YES, SIR. I ONLY HAVE THE ONE SLIDE SO IT WON'T BE A LONG IN-DEPTH PRESENTATION. YES. I DO WANTED TO TOUCH ON THE CHAPTER 232 AUTHORITY WHERE IT INCORPTDING THAT TO THE EXTENTED THAT WE CAN AND AT EACH STEP ALONG WAIT AND THE PROCESS WE'VE ASKED WHERE IS THE AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING. 232 GIVES US PLANNING AUTHORITY AS THE COUNTY. THE GENERAL AUTHORITY UNDER HEALTH SAFETY AND WELFARE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AREN'T OUTRUN WHRAG IS DEFENSIBLE. A GOOD EXAMPLE IS AROUND FLOOD [01:30:01] PLAIN REGULATIONS. VERY GOOD POINT. THAT AUTHORITY DOES NOT EXIST EXPLICITLY. HOWEVER THERE ISR EXAMPLE OF THAT IN THE WATER CODE SO WE'RE WORKING TO INCORPORATE THOSE TO THE EXTENT THAT WE FEEL LIKES IT DEFENSIBLE. DEVELOPMENT IS STILL OCCURRING. WE WANT TO PROMOTE COORDINATION WITH OUR OUTSIDE AGENCIES, IN A WAY THAT THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS DON'T ALLOW US TO DO TO THE SAME EXTENT. AS DEVELOPMENT IS STILL OCCURRING WHERE WE'RE PROPOSING THAT I HAVE ON THE SLIDE HERE IS MULTIPLE BENEFICIAL CHANGES THAT WOULD BE DELAYED. IN ADDITION TO THE GROUNDWATER PROTECTIONS ALSO STRENGTHENING REQUIREMENTS FOR FLOOD PLAIN DEVELOPMENTS DEFINING THINGS ARE LIKE FLAG LOTS, AND CROSS ACCESS THAT IS MUCH MORE CLEAR THAN EXISTS IN THE CURRENT REGULATIONS, AND ALSO ESTABLISHING OTHER THINGS LIKE A DEVELOPMENT MIDDLE CALENDAR. MAKE DEVELOPMENT MUCH MORE PREDICTABLE. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER BENEFICIAL CHANGES WITHIN THE REGULATIONS BEYOND JUST THE GROUNDWATER THAT WE WANTED TO INCORPORATE AGAIN BASED ON THE FEEDBACK AND MAKE SURE THOSE COUNTY DOCUMENTS ARE TALKING TO EACH OTHER? THAT IS REALLY THE EXTENT OF MY PRESENTATION THIS MORNING. JUST HOPEFULLY TOUCH ON SOME OF THOSE POINTS. >> COUNTY JUDGE: GREAT. COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> SURE. I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION OVER THE LAST THREE WEEKS. OVER MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND THE CHART THAT WAS IN THE PREVIOUS DOCUMENT AND OUR ON SITE SEWAGE FACILITY REGULATIONS. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU. >> THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS IN THE OLD VERSION, IT WAS ALL IN ONE CHART. AND THOSE MINIMAL LOT SIZES, I CONTINUE TO HEAR WE ARE DOING AWAY WITH MINIMUM LOT SIZES. WE HAVE ALWAYS REGULATED OUR MINIMUM LOT SIZE USING OUR OSSF RULES. THOSE OSSF RULES SPECIFICALLY STATE IF YOU HAVE-- IF YOU WERE ON GROUNDWATER OR IF YOU WERE ON SURFACE WATER, THEN THIS IS THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE YOU CAN HAVE IF YOU-- FOR YOUR ON-SITE SEWAGE FACILITY. HAVE ANY OF THOSE CHANGED WHATSOEVER? >> NO, SIR. >> NONE. >> WE HAVE A DIFFERENT DOCUMENT. O.S.S.F. DOCUMENT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE STATE. IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DOCUMENT, AND THAT-- MY FRUSTRATION IS-- AND SWRI HAD TO ADDRESS THIS LITERALLY DOZENS OF VERY PUBLICLY EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COURT AT EVERY TIME THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS SINCE WE STARTED THIS PROCESS HAS SAID THE ONE THING WE DO NOT WANT TO CHANGE IS MINIMUM LOT SIZE. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DEFINE A LINE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEW REGULATION, FLAG LOTS ARE CLEARLY DEFINED, AND IT MORE OR LESS ESTABLISHES A MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR FLAG LOTS AS WELL. WHICH WE'VE NEVER HAD AS BEFORE. UNDER STATE LAW TWO YEARS AGO. WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY AS A REQUIREMENT OR WE HAVE FOR AT LEAST THE LAST DECADES. UM, THE STATE OFFERED THE IN-STATE LAW IT SAID COUNTIES MAY DO THAT. IN HAYS COUNTY WE DID THAT. WE DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO IT ON ALL DEVELOPMENT. STATE LAW CHANGED IN 2025 TO SAY THAT ALL COUNTIES SHALL DO IT NOW. WE WERE AHEAD OF THAT CURVE. BUT IT GAVE COUNTIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY ON A PROJECTS OR DEVELOPMENT BY DEVELOPMENT BASIS. WE COULD OFFER A VARIANCE TO THAT GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY. IMMEDIATELY I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR COURT BECAUSE IMMEDIATELY I DRAFTED A RESOLUTION STATING THAT WE WOULD NEVER EVEN ENTERTAIN A WAVER TO GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY, AND IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN THIS COURT. MY CONCERN IS A LOT OF THIS RHETORIC WAS PUT OUT THERE IN A VERY DISIN GENERALLERROUS WAY. IF SO, GREAT. [01:35:13] IF NOT, GREAT. IT WILL HAVE TO BE DONE. AND WHEN IFER ITS DONE, THE CITIZENS OF HAYS COUNTY FLB A BETTER PLACE FOR IT. DO WE NEED TO REDRAFT THAT CHART AND GO BACK TO THE OLD CHART THAT IS SAYS IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES RIGHT NOW? FINE. I'M OKAY WITH THAT. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON THAT IF THAT MAKES THEM MORE COMFORTABLE THEN GREAT. BUT I JUST-- I THINK IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN AN 18-MONTH PROCESS WITH EIGHT PUBLIC MEETINGS ON IT AND HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS, AND IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS BECAUSE OF A POLITICAL MOTIVATION, I FEEL, UM, FOLKS HAVE JUST STARTED TO TAKE NOTICE, AND THOSE-- WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO IS SOLIDIFY WHAT WE HAVE, NOT CHANGE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOOD ABOUT A REGULATION. IT'S DISAPPOINTING. I DO THINK THAT THE WORK THAT OUR STAFF, BUT THE CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN REALLY INVOLVED, I MEAN I CAN'T STATE ENOUGH. I HAVE GOT MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE WHO HAVE REACHED OUT AND SAID HERE IS WHY WE THINK THIS IS A BETTER MOVE AND WE'VE TRIED TO INCORPORATE THOSE CHANGES. I WILL SAY THAT MANY HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE EDWARDS AQUIFER. EDWARDS AQUIFER ALLIANCE, THEY DID A GREAT STUDY, I GUESS TWO YEARS AGO ON EVERY COUNTY IN THE HILL COUNTY ON WHAT-- HOW THEY USE THE TOOLS THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR TOOL BOX GIVEN TO US BY THE STATE LEG LEGISLA LEGISLATIE ORGANIZATION I'M PROUD OF THAT. WHERE HE USE OUR OSSF RULE. IN TRAVIS COUNTY YOU CAN PUT 1,000-GALLONS A DAY PER ACHE NICHE THE GROUND OF WASTEWATER ON A SEPTIC SYSTEM. YOU KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO HERE IN HAYS COUNTY. 300-GALLONS. OUR RULES ARE THAT MUCH MORE STRINGENT. AND EVERYONE LIKES TO POINT TO THEM AS A GOLD STANDARD OF HOW THIS SHOULD BE DONE. OUR RULES ARE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN THEIRS. AND THAT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF LITERALLY DOZENS THAT ARE IN THIS RULE SET AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DONE. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> COMMISSIONER IF I MAY SAY ONE QUICK THING. TO YOUR POINT ON THE LOT-SIZE TABLE, WE HAVE PLACED THAT BACK INTO THE RULES.% IT IS IN OUR REVISED DRAFT THAT WILL BE COMING OUT THIS AFTERNOON. THAT WAY IT KIND OF TALKS TO ALL THESE DIFFERENT RULE SETS SPEAKING TO ONE EVERYONE. CO-HEESEI AND TRANSPARENT ADDS POSSIBLE. >> THANK YOU. >> SO I DO BELIEVED AING IN THAT TABLE WILL HELP AND JUST EASE SOME DERN. I DO AGREE THERE WAS SOME RUMBLINGS BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT IS THE ONLY CONCERN FOR THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS IS JUST THAT ONE PERSON. I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF ENTITIES THAT WOULD AGREE THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS LIKE I JUST FOR EXAMPLE LIKE THE INCENTIVES ON CONSERVATION SUBDIVISIONS. I DON'T THINK THAT THE INCENTIVES WERE SUPER I TRIED TO READ THROUGH THEM A COUPLE OF TIMES AND IT WAS HARD TO DECIPHER I DO THINK THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN CONSISTENTLY ADD INTO IT. I ALSO KNOW I SAID THIS A WHILE BACK BUT INCREASING THE ACREAGE FOR THE PIGMA, AGAIN I THINK WHAT I SAID ORIGINALLY WAS COMPLETELY MISINTERPRETED BUT I DON'T MEAN INCREASING THE PIGMA I MEAN INCREASING THE LOTS OR THE ACRES FROM SIX TO TEN. I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD INCORPORATE WITH THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS I TALKED TO QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT WATERSHED ASSOCIATION AND COUNTRY ALLIANCE AND DIFFERENT AREAS. THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON WHY WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME IF NOT GREATER ON THAT VERSUS OTHER COUNTIES THAT DON'T HAVE SUCH A CRITICAL WATER NEED LIKE WE DO. I DO THINK THEY RECEIVE ROOM. I KNOW YOU WORKED VERY HARD AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU'VE PUT INTO IT AND LUCKY YOU THAT YOU HAVE A COUNTY WHERE WE SPEAK OUR MIND, I DO THINK DELAYING AND DOING SOME CONSISTENT PUBLIC OUTREACH I HONESTLY TRULY THINK, [01:40:02] I NOTE YOU SAID THAT WE HAVE ROOM FOR ONE MORE PUBLIC MEETING PER PRECINCT, IS THAT THE CASE STILL? >> AS FAR AS COMMUNITY OUTREACH, THE OPEN HOUSES LIKE WE DID BEFORE? >> CORRECT. >> WE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK AND DISCUSS THAT WITH STAFF, I DON'T WANT TO SAY FOR SURE THAT WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT BUT OF COURSE IF THAT'S THE INTENTION OF THE COUNTY WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN. >> I'M NOT EVEN SAYING WE DO THAT, WE COULD POTENTIALLY ADOPT THEM BUT I DON'T THINK WE ADOPT THEM OH, YOU SCARED ME. >> THIS IS AGAIN WE DO THIS EVERY TEN YEARS, WE HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT ALL THIS EFFORT INTO IT AND THEN TRY TO RUSH IT AT THE END. I'M OKAY WITH PAUSING DELAYING AND EVALUATING AND ENSURING THAT THESE ARE THE BEST SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS THAT WE CAN CONJURE UP, THAT'S HOW I FEEL. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE, THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HEARD TODAY IN PUBLIC COMMENT AND EXPLAINING THE TABLE. I HAD KNOWN THAT YOU HAD PUT THAT BACK SO THAT'S GREAT AND JUST FOR EVERYONE ON THE TIMELINE OF EVERYTHING IS ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL WEBSITE RIGHT? I THINK WHAT ALSO WOULD BE HELPFUL IS BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HEARD TODAY, HAVING AN FAQ, BASED ON SOME OTHER FEEDBACK WE HEARD MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL TO HELP THOSE UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS CHANGED TO. I DO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER HAMMER, MAY BE HAVING JUST ANOTHER SET OF A FINAL PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE JUST TO LET THE COMMUNITY COME, ASK QUESTIONS OF YOU AND THE FIRM AND JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS CLEAR. I THINK THERE WAS DEFINITELY MISINFORMATION SPREAD AROUND THIS ISSUE ABOUT THE TABLE BUT I THINK WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB AND ACTUALLY EXPLAINING WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED AND WHAT CHANGED AND IF THEY COULD SEE THAT, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THEY WANT. THEY WANT TO SEE WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE CORRECT WHAT IS CHANGING CORRECT IS THAT THE BEST INTEREST FOR THE COUNTY, IS THAT THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO AND YOU'RE RIGHT. WITH THAT LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPON US A LOT OF THINGS COULD CHANGE. THERE'S A LOT OF COUNTIES THAT ARE FIGHTING FOR MORE COUNTY AUTHORITY AND THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT. THIS WILL PROBABLY BE AMENDED INTO SOMETHING MORE BENEFICIAL FOR THE COUNTY. SO JUST THANK YOU AGAIN MICHAEL AND THE FIRM FOR THE WORK AND I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE THAT WE COULD DO IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS CLEAR AND THE REFERENCES OF THE NEW COURT COMING ON, DEFINITELY HEARD THAT. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA TO LET THE NEW COURT REVIEW THE DRAFT AND MAKE SURE THEY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING AS WELL. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES MICHAEL AND DAVID THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND I AGREE, WHAT WAS CONSISTENTLY HEARD TODAY WAS THE RED LINE VERSION, THE PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THAT AND SEE WHAT THOSE DIFFERENCES ARE, WHAT THE CHANGES ARE I THINK THAT IS VERY USEFUL AND WE NEED TO GET THAT OUT, THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE TABLE! AND, THE PLACE THAT IT WAS WHEN PEOPLE WERE USED TO SEEING IT. AND OF COURSE THE DELAY FOR THE NEW COURT AND SO I THINK THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER BUT I ALSO WANT TO TALK JUST BRIEFLY BECAUSE SOME OTHER CONCERNS THAT I HAD CAME FROM THE CONSERVATION GUIDELINES AND WE HAD PASSED SEVERAL YEARS AGO AN OPEN SPACE. AND SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S BEEN ANY DELUSION OF THAT AND CAN YOU SPEAK BRIEFLY TO THAT BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED THAT MAYBE THEY ARE NOT WHAT THEY WERE WHEN WE LAST ADOPTED AND WORKED HARD FOR THAT. I MEAN I THINK THIS COURT HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT CONSERVATION GUIDELINES AND HOW WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN THOSE IF WE CAN AND KEEP THEM IN THERE BUT IF HE CAN SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THAT BECAUSE I FEAR THAT THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE FEELING THAT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE AS STRONGLY AS WE HAVE THEM IN OUR PREVIOUS ROLES. >> YES COMMISSIONER. WITH A NEW RULE SET ESSENTIALLY WE HAVE MADE THAT AS STRONG AS WHAT WE CAN DO FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT THROUGHOUT THAT DOCUMENT IT DOES REFERENCE THE GAP STRATEGY CONSERVATION [01:45:03] GUIDELINES THAT WAS DONE AND THAT COURT PASSED IN 2022. ESSENTIALLY THE RULE SET IS UNFORTUNATELY FOR COUNTIES IT IS A VOLUNTARY RULE SET, IT IS A SET THAT WE WANT TO BE AS STRINGENT AS POSSIBLE SO WE DO GET A LOT OF CONSERVATION, FOR THOSE LANDOWNERS THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT. BY DOING THAT WE REFERENCE THE GAP STRATEGY STUDIES. DOCUMENTS 200 PAGES, IS NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO CODIFY EVERY ASPECT BUT IT'S GUIDELINES ON HOW TO DO THINGS, WHAT THE COUNTY WILL ANTICIPATE AND WHAT WE WILL LOOK FOR. THOSE TWO DOCUMENTS DO TALK TO EACH OTHER, WE FEEL THE INFORMATION THAT IS IN THERE CURRENTLY IS A BETTER PATH FORWARD THAN WHAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR CURRENT ONE. >> I KNOW I ASKED THIS THE LAST TIME WE HAD AN UPDATE BUT THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH OUR GROUNDWATER DISTRICTS AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR COUNTY, CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT. AND WHAT THAT DOES FOR OUR COUNTY. >> THEY'VE BEEN TALKING TO BOTH THE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING AN ILA WITH BOTH DISTRICTS TO ADOPT STRICTER STANDARDS FOR GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY STUDIES WITHIN THAT AREA. IT IS A LONGER PROCESS THAN WHAT WE ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED, THEY ALSO DID JUST HAVE THEIR ELECTIONS FOR THEIR BOARD RECENTLY SO WE'RE HAVING TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS BUT ESSENTIALLY A NEW BOARD IN SOME AREAS AND THE CONVERSATION IS GOING LONGER THAN WE ANTICIPATE BUT IT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO ADOPT SOME STRICTER STANDARDS FOR GROUNDWATER STUDIES. >> JUST SO WE DON'T LOSE ANY ONE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, COMMISSIONER SMITH WANTS ANOTHER BITE OF THE APPLE. >> I WAS GOING TO MENTION THIS SPECIFICALLY THE WORK WITH THE GROUNDWATER DISTRICTS, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYONE UNDERSTANDS SPECIFICALLY WHAT THAT MEANS BUT NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF THAT COUNTY HAVE WE'VE HAD DIRECT AGREEMENTS WITH THOSE GROUNDWATER DISTRICTS AS TO WHAT INFORMATION THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO ABOUT GETTING THAT INFORMATION. WHEN WE GET THOSE WE DO SHARE THEM, IT IS COMPLETELY NOT UNIFORM AND SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL. THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE INTERESTED HERE TODAY, I SINCERELY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SHOW UP JANUARY IN AUSTIN, WE ARE CLOSE, LAST SESSION ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED JUST BRIEFLY A MOMENT AGO WAS CONDO REGIMES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DETEST IN MY PRECINCT THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY GETTING NOW IS CONDO REGIMES WHERE SOMEONE TAKES A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND SAYS YOU KNOW WHAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO PLOT IT WE'RE GOING TO PUT A CONDO REGIME ON IT. THEY PUT TEN HOUSES ON IT. IT'S A SUBDIVISION, IT IS NOT A CONDO REGIME. I'VE ACTUALLY TESTIFIED AND PROVIDED TALKING POINTS FOR REPRESENTATIVE LAST SESSION TO FIGHT THE CERTIFICATION OF CONDO REGIMES IN UNDER STATE LAW. SHE WAS ABLE TO WIN THAT FIGHT ON THE FLOOR. WHEN WE HAD THE SPECIAL SESSION LAST YEAR AFTER -- TWO YEARS AGO AFTER THE FLOODS ONE OF THE BILLS THAT SHE INTRODUCED AND I WAS ABLE TO GO TESTIFY WAS GIVING COUNTIES THE RIGHT TO REGULATE IMPERVIOUS COVER WHICH SEEMS LIKE A NO BRAINER BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE DON'T HAVE AUTHORITY FOR THAT WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR CONSTANTLY. COMMITTEE FOR THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSION. AND IN THAT COMMITTEE WE ASKED EVERY YEAR AND THIS YEAR WE STRENGTHENED THE RESOLUTION THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE COUNTIES MORE PLANNING AUTHORITY, MORE ABILITY TO REGULATE AND MANAGE DEVELOPMENT IN A REGULAR WAY. URBAN COUNTIES HAS DONE THE SAME THING. I BELIEVE WHETHER -- NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION WAS LAST TUESDAY THERE IS A GROUNDSWELL IN THAT STATE CAPITAL COUNTY REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT BOTH, AND DEMOCRATS FRIENDLY SOIL COUNTIES, THEY WANT ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY BECAUSE OF THE LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE COMING IN THERE. AND I BELIEVE THIS SESSION WE WILL SEE SOME CHANGES THERE BUT THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE GROUND IN THE HARDEST HIT COUNTIES THE COUNTIES THAT ARE GETTING HIT HARDER THAN ANYBODY WITH DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE HAVE NOT HAD THOSE TOOLS TO REGULATE. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE THE 20 MINUTE DRIVE TO AUSTIN, HELP US, I WANT TO BE HERE ANY MORE BUT HELP THE COURT AND HELP OUR COUNTY TO TRY TO GET SOME OF THAT AUTHORITY THAT -- THIS IS ME, A LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPUBLICAN SAYING WE'VE ALWAYS NEEDED THIS AUTHORITY AND OUR HANDS HAVE BEEN TIED TO. AND IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO HELP US HELP YOU. >> I COULD EVEN TAKE THAT IN REVERSE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS COMMISSIONERS. [01:50:01] I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE NO TOOLS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE NEVER LISTENED TO I THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, I AM UNAFRAID BECAUSE YOU'VE ASKED ME TO BE UNAFRAID, PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE HERE, I HAVE PROOF, THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE REALIZE THE 30 PLUS YEARS OF THE CONTROL THAT IS SO FRUSTRATING AND EVERYTHING ELSE HAS CHANGED TUESDAY NIGHT. WE ARE NOW IN A GOVERNMENT THAT WILL BE LOOKING AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND I REMAIN COMMITTED TO PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES EVEN AFTER JANUARY 1 AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CARDS I HAVE LEFT I HAVE TO DEPEND ON COMMISSIONER SMITH WHEN HE ANNOUNCES IT BECAUSE I DON'T CARE. AFTER JANUARY 1I WILL STILL BE OUTSPOKEN OF, AND FOR THE PEOPLE. AND SO WHEN YOU BRING UP THE DRAFTING OF THIS DOCUMENT I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT THE BOUNDARY, THE LINE, THE SHELL, THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THOSE THINGS MEAN EVEN. IN THE WAY IT'S BEING DESCRIBED. AND I'M NOT TRYING TO DIMINISH ANYONE'S INTELLECT IT IS LITERALLY A SKILL SET TO UNDERSTAND THESE DOCUMENTS IN A GOVERNMENT LENS. MAY IN SUMMARY SAYS WE COULD DO IT, IN SUMMARY SAYS WE MUST DO IT. AND SO COMMISSIONER SMITH SIMPLY SAID ON THE MAY PORTION WE ACTUALLY DID IT. EVERY OPPORTUNITY I'VE HAD REGARDLESS OF THE POLITICAL CALENDAR AND I STILL SAY IT EVEN AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION, I WILL CONTINUE TO DO IT EVEN IF IT BURNS POLITICAL STOCK BECAUSE WE DESERVE THE REPRESENTATION AS A PEOPLE, WE NEED LEADERS THAT ARE UNAFRAID TO PUSH THE BOUNDARY SO WHEN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU'RE DRAFTING, WHEN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR INTERNALLY DISCUSSING EVERY TIME YOU TOUCH IT WHETHER YOU SHOULD PUT IT IN MORE FORCEFULLY I ENCOURAGE YOU AS MY PARTING THOUGHTS BEFORE YOU I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEAN IN AND TEMPT SOMEONE TO SUE US FOR TRYING TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY. I WAS DOING THE UNPOPULAR THING IN FEBRUARY PROTESTING LARGE INDUSTRIAL USE AND IT COST ME POLITICAL POINTS AND I DON'T CARE. IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO REGARDLESS OF THE CALENDARS. PROTECT OUR WATER, PROTECT OUR LAND AND THESE 22 EMAILS THAT WE RECEIVED I PROMISE YOU I. -- IT COULD EASILY BE 500. LET'S DO US ALL A FAVOR, ESPECIALLY WITH A CHANGE OF COLORS OF THE TEENS AT THE STATE LEVEL WE HAVE MORE SUPPORT TO CREATE A STRONG DOCUMENT THEN WE THINK WE CAN'T WALK THROUGH THIS LIKE IF WE'RE WALKING ON EGGSHELLS OR KIDDY GLOVES, WE MUST APPROACH IT WITH TENACITY BECAUSE AS COMMISSIONER HAMMER SAID THIS IS ONCE EVERY TEN YEARS ALTHOUGH I SEE IT AS A LIVING DOCUMENT, I BELIEVE THIS IS THE TIME TO SOLIDIFY WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING, POLITICAL POINTS, MISINFORMATION BEING SPREAD, I DON'T BUY IT. IF THE COMMUNITY IS AFRAID OF -- IF THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT SEE RED LINES THEN THE COMMUNITY IS RIGHTFULLY PROTESTING AND EVERY TIME THE COMMUNITY PROTESTS I AM HERE TO LISTEN AND SO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, THANK YOU FOR TAKING IT IN AND THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS COURT WILL NOT BE AFRAID TO BE MOST USEFUL FOR THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE I WAS REMINDED HAYS COUNTY SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE THE CENTRAL PART OF CENTRAL TEXAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WE WILL SNEAK IN TWO MORE AND THEN GO TO OUR 10:00. WE COMMEND IT TO THIS AND SO WE SHALL DO IT. > DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE Select to skip to this part of the video">." >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CANVASS NOVEMBER THIRD 2026 GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YOU ARE WELCOME JENNIFER. >> GOOD MORNING I DO APPRECIATE YOU MOVING ME UP, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS BUT WE ARE ACTUALLY CONDUCTING OUR HAND COUNT AUDIT TODAY AS I'M SITTING HERE. I WANT TO GIVE BACK AND SEE HOW THAT IS GOING. I PROVIDED EVERYONE WITH A CUMULATIVE IN THEIR EMAIL YOU ALSO HAVE THE VERY LONG HUNDREDS OF-PAGE REPORT THAT IS BY [01:55:01] PRECINCT. AS WELL AS THE RECONCILIATION FORM THAT WE CAN PLAY AFTER EVERY ELECTION THAT IS SIGNED BY THE PARTIES IN THE CENTRAL COUNTY STATION. I AM READY TO TAKE QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE IT ON THE CUMULATIVE, OTHER THAN THAT I WANT TO GO OVER JUST THE RUNOFF ELECTION AND THE TIMELINE FOR THAT THAT WE HAVE COMING UP. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> READY TO HEAR ABOUT THE CITY OF KYLE AND YOU HAD THE LARGE NUMBER OF IT AGAIN, IT DID NOT IMPACT THE OUTCOME ON ANY ELECTION CORRECT? >> CORRECT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONERS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN, COMMISSIONER HAMMER, SURREY, COMMISSIONER SMITH, JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. WHAT WE JUST DID WAS SELECT AND SOLIDIFY THE ELECTION RESULTS. YOU ARE SITTING HERE IN THE COURTROOM AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW SOMETIMES BECAUSE OF THE WAY THINGS ARE WORDED AND THE WAY THINGS ARE CONDUCTED WHAT'S GOING ON AND THAT'S WHY I SOMETIMES DO THE ANNOYING THING OF EXPLAINING A BIT MORE. THANK YOU ALL AND JENNIFER THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR SO MANY YEARS. >> I DO WANT TO REMIND THE VIEWING PUBLIC THAT WE ARE CONDUCTING A RUNOFF ELECTION SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH WRAPPING UP THIS ELECTION, THAT WILL BE ON DECEMBER 12TH. FOR THE CITY OF KYLE THERE IS TWO POSITIONS CURRENTLY ON THE RUNOFF AND THEN AS SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL A VACANCY ALSO ON THAT BALLOT AND EARLY VOTING RUNS DURING NOVEMBER 19TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH. WE WILL BE DOING TESTING FOR THAT NEXT WEEK. >> JUDGE BECERRA: RIGHT ON. AS A REMINDER I WAS ASKED TO TAKE A LOOK AT 17, LET'S GO [K. 12. Discussion and possible action to approve the execution of an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) between Hays County and the City of San Marcos for the installation of decorative tree lighting on the Historic Courthouse grounds utilizing Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) No. 5 funding. INGALSBE/CRUMLEY] AHEAD AND OPEN 12 REALLY QUICK. K12. >> CLERK: K12 DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION TO IMPROVE THE EXECUTION OF INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF DECORATIVE TREE LIGHTING ON THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE GROUNDS UTILIZING TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 5 FUNDING. >> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: IF WE WILL STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONER AND JUDGE, DOWNTOWN MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS. I HAVE A LITTLE STATEMENT WITH BACKGROUND ABOUT THIS PROJECT BEFORE YOU TODAY. TO SUPPORT UNIFICATION EFFORTS IN DOWNTOWN SAN MARCOS THAT TAX INCREMENT AND THE INVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 5 THE BOARD APPROVED $100,000 IN FUNDING FOR THE INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF LIGHTING ON THE HISTORIC HAYS COUNTY HOUSE PROPERTY. THIS APPROVAL WAS GRANTED ON JULY SIXTH OF THIS YEAR AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT IS NECESSARY TO GIVE THE CITY AN HOUR VENDOR PERMISSION TO ACCESS YOUR PROPERTY SO THAT WE CAN INSTALL THESE LIGHTS, THEY WILL BE EXTENDABLE STRING LIGHTS THAT WILL BE WRAPPED AROUND THE TREES SO THAT THEY CAN GROW WITH THE TREES AND THEY DO NOT INTERFERE OR STRANGLE THE TREES AS WE'VE HEARD CONCERNS WITH IN THE PAST. WE HAVE MET WITH HAYS COUNTY STAFF FROM BOTH FACILITIES AND PARKS AND REC AND THEY ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT. I AM BEFORE YOU TODAY ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP JOSE, THAT THE CITY IS WILLING TO PARTICIPATE WITH US IN SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND EXPLAINING THINGS. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER COHEN. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> NO QUESTIONS. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU AND I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS AN AMAZING USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IT'S IN, IT'S DESIGNED TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND THE TIRZ INCREMENTAL REINVESTMENT ZONE TO BE REINVESTED IN THAT SAME FOOTPRINT WHICH WE RESIDE IN AND SO, SO GRATEFUL THAT THIS IS FOR THAT PURPOSE, PLEASE CALL A ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA: SEE YOU AT THE NEXT TIRZ MEETING. WHICH WAY SHOULD WE GO NEXT ON THE AGENDA ITEMS? [K. 14. Discussion and possible action to authorize the Office of the County Administrator and the Hays County Criminal District Attorney's Office to negotiate an agreement with The Nature Conservancy concerning the potential acquisition of the Mount Edith property located at or near FM 2325 and Woodcreek Drive in Precinct 3, including an initial funding commitment of $200,000.00, and to return the agreement to Commissioners Court for consideration and final approval and amend the budget accordingly. HAMMER1] >> K14. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WE WILL DO K14. >> CLERK: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THE HAYS COUNTY CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT WITH A MAJOR CONSERVANCY CONCERNING THE POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF THE MOUNT EDITH PROPERTY LOCATED AT OR NEAR FM 2325 AND WOODCREEK DRIVE IN PRECINCT THREE INCLUDING AN INITIAL FUNDING COMMITMENT $200,000 AND TO RETURN THE AGREEMENT TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR CONSIDERATION AND FINAL APPROVAL AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND? >> JUDGE BECERRA: OKAY COMMISSIONER. >> WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS SIMILAR TO THE CANYON. [02:00:02] >> JUDGE BECERRA: SORRY COMMISSIONER CAN YOU HOLD UP A SECOND. WE HAVE SOME OF YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, YOU ALWAYS GO FIRST. SO IF YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE THAT PART OVER. >> CLERK: THOMAS. >> , I'M AT 312 TONIA TRAIL AND WIMBERLEY. I AM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT MOUNT EDITH AND THE ACQUISITION IN THE HOPES THAT WE MAY HAVE AT. I WANTED TO START WITH THANKING THE COURT AND YOUR PREDECESSORS FOR ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORK YOU'VE DONE AND WHAT IS COMMONLY CALLED THE JEWEL OF HAYS COUNTY WHICH IS THE WIMBERLEY VALLEY. I'M TALKING ABOUT CARS CANYON ABOUT SETTING A PEAK, BLUE HOLE, THERE ARE TWO GEMS IN THAT TITLE OF JEWEL OF HAYS COUNTY THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT. ONE IS MOUNT ALBERTA, AND THE CITY IS TAKING THAT OVER AND WE HAVE A PARK ON TOP OF IT AND SO IT'S WELL MAINTAINED. THE ISSUE I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS THE SECOND GEM WHICH IS THE TWIN SISTER CALLED MOUNT EDITH. NOW EDITH HAS BEEN PURCHASED THE LAND BY DEVELOPER AND WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH I THINK THAT PURCHASE HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO, ABOUT A YEAR AGO TEN MONTHS AGO THE DEVELOPER CAME AND GAVE A PRESENTATION TO US AND WE ARE A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT IT. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A. I THINK WE HAD 96 EMAILS COME IN. >> NINETY-TWO. >> SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE DON'T NEED TO READ THEM ALL I HOPE BUT THEY ALL SAY PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING WHICH IS WE HAVE TO PUT A STOP TO THIS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COUNTY MAY HAVE AN ABILITY TO HELP US DO THAT JUST AS I DID SENTINEL PRESERVE, JUST AS I DID CARSON CANYON. WE'RE ASKING TO DO THE SAME THING HERE. FOR MOUNT EDITH. AS A CITIZEN IN WIMBERLEY WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND APPRECIATIVE AND I JUST HOPE THAT YOU VOTE YES ON ANY MOVEMENT TO GET THIS MOUNT EDITH PUT INTO SOME CONSERVANCY I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED WITH A NATURE CONSERVANCY AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP VERY, VERY MUCH SO. >> REBECCA STONE. >> I'M HERE BECAUSE I RUN THE THEATER AND GARDENS IN WIMBERLEY AND HE ACTUALLY BOUGHT THAT LAND, -- BORDER THAT LAND WE HAVE A WONDERFUL VETERAN MEMORIAL WE DO THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS WHICH IS THIS IS OUR 28TH YEAR. MY SISTER WAS ACTUALLY KILLED ON RANCH ROAD 12 IN 1996 BY A MAN TAKING HIS OWN LIFE AND AFTER THAT WE STARTED THE EMILY ANN. WE ARE STILL THERE, WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE A TOUCHSTONE OF THIS COMMUNITY AND, WE WELCOME OVER 37,000 PEOPLE TO OUR TRAIL OF LIGHTS EVERY YEAR AND WE ARE ONE OF THE VERY LAST DONATION BASED ENTERTAINMENT SO PEOPLE CAN GO TO AT CHRISTMAS. OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS TO REINVEST IN THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT, WE FEEL LIKE THE ABILITY FOR OUR CHILD TO COME AND SEE SANTA, MARSHMALLOWS ROASTED OVER A FIRE, DO ALL OF THAT AND NO CHARGE IN THE BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL WE WELCOME 7000 PEOPLE, WE INCORPORATE THE SAINT MARK IN SCHOOLS AND THE BUTTERFLY RAISING, WE DO ALL OF THIS AND THAT DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT WOULD BE RIGHT ON OUR DOORSTEP HERE IT WOULD LITERALLY RUN UP AGAINST US. I MET WITH A DEVELOPER AT THE TIME HE MADE MY MOTHER CRY WHICH I THINK IS ABOMINABLE, HE WANTED TO PUT SIX HOMES TO SURROUND OUR VETERANS MEMORIAL. THEY WOULD LITERALLY BE MAYBE I COULD THROW A BASEBALL AND HIT THE BACK OF THE YARD. TO ME THAT IS JUST SAD I GUESS, I KNOW THERE'S NOT MUCH I CAN DO AS AN INDIVIDUAL BUT I KNOW THAT WE'VE MADE THEIR PLACE A PLACE OF PEACE, A CELEBRATION, OF VETERANS, OF CHILDREN, WE NOW HAVE OPEN SPORTS FACILITIES, WE HAVE SOME OF THE ONLY PUBLIC PICKLEBALL COURTS, TENNIS COURTS, MAZES, VETERANS STAGES, EVERYTHING TO HELP THE KIDS IN THIS COUNTY AND THE FAMILIES ALSO WELCOMED AT THE BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL THE FAMILIES FROM THE JAPANESE TSUNAMI YEARS AGO, 911, AND WE LOVE THAT HILLTOP AND WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE NEXT, IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN OUT THERE AND WE WOULD LOVE FOR THAT TO BE PROTECTED SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE A PLACE OF PEACE IN THE MIDDLE OF HAYS COUNTY. BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE THANK YOU. >> CLERK: GINA FULKERSON. >> HELLO. I WOULD JUST ECHO EVERYTHING THAT TOM SAID, HE SAID IT VERY WELL AND AS FAR AS EMILY ANNE'S [02:05:06] POSITION I HOPE THAT WAS WELL HEARD AS WELL. I SHOULD START WITH WHO I AM I AM GINA FULKERSON I AM FROM WIMBERLEY TEXAS, I HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND BEING PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR PART OF THE 12 YEARS THAT I'VE DONE THAT AND THEN FOUR YEARS AS MAYOR. AND I REALLY AM TRYING TO GET SOME TIME WITH FAMILY AND NOT SPEND THE TIME THAT I KNOW YOU ALL DO, IT'S VERY -- IT'S A BIG SACRIFICE BUT I APPLAUD AND THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR DOING THAT. I AM JUST HERE TO SAY THAT IN THE TIME THAT I WAS PRIVILEGED TO BE OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY I HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN HOW IMPORTANT OUR RESOURCES ARE, OUR DARK SKIES, OUR VIEWS, OUR HISTORY, IT'S A VERY SPECIAL COMMUNITY AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS MOVE TO TRY TO PROTECT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE VIEW IN OUR HISTORY OF THE TWIN SISTERS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TO CONTINUE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY THAT WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR WATER RESOURCES, OUR OPEN LAND, OUR DARK SKIES, IT'S WHAT MAKES OUR WHOLE HILL COUNTRY AREA SO SPECIAL. AND I WORK ON A LOT OF THOSE PROJECTS WHERE WE HAD RAINWATER COLLECTION AT JACOBS WELL, WE HAD THE RAINWATER SCHOOL DURING THE TIME I WAS THERE, WE WORKED ON DARK SKY INITIATIVES AND AS MAYOR I SAW HOW OUR CONTROL AND OUR EFFORTS WERE GOOD BUT THE AMOUNT WE COULD CONTROL WITHOUT PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, DONATIONS AND CONSERVANCIES WERE SHRINKING AND WE LOST OUR ETJ ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE A DEVELOPER CAN SAY WE WANT OUT OF IT. PLEASE DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN THIS IS AN AMAZING INITIATIVE, PLEASE HAVE THAT PAST AND CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU CAN TO REGAIN CONTROL AND TO RESPONSIBLY PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE THANK YOU. >> CLERK: THAT IS ALL FOR IN PERSON, FOR EMAIL PUBLIC COMMENT THERE WAS 106 EMAILED PUBLIC COMMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE HAYS COUNTY CLERK OFFICE, WE HAVE 103, AND 103 -- 134 AND 103 AGAINST. >> JUDGE BECERRA: READ AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE FOR IT AND ALL THE NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO WROTE IN, IS THAT HARD TO DO FOR YOU GUYS WOW I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY CAME IN, IS THAT A POSSIBILITY? >> CLERK: I CAN READ THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: READ ALL THE NAMES AND THEN READ ONE. THEY DESERVE, THEY TOOK THE TIME, THEY DESERVE TO BE CALLED OUT AND RESPECTED. >> THAT'S A LOT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: I KNOW, IT ALWAYS IS BUT AS LONG AS I'M THE CHAIR I'M NOT GOING TO STOP IT. >> CLERK: AGAINST IT'S SARAH CLEAVER KAREN STARKEY, AND WILLIAM KNIGHT. I'VE READ ONE OF THOSE LETTERS PLEASE. >> NO PRESSURE. >> CLERK: NO MOUNT EDITH DEVELOPMENT, CONSERVE MOUNT EDITH AS IS. >> JUDGE BECERRA: HOW ABOUT YOU TRY ANOTHER ONE THEN SINCE THERE WASN'T A GOOD EXAMPLE. I REALLY WANT TO KNOW, I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHY WOULD YOU SUPPORT THIS OR WHY WOULD YOU NOT SUPPORT THIS, I'M GENUINELY CONCERNED WITH MAKING SURE THEIR CONCERNS ARE AIRED. THIS IS A COURT OF RECORD, THIS WILL BE IN THE HISTORY BOOKS FOREVERMORE WHILE WE ARE ALL SOMEWHERE ELSE, SOMEONE CAN DIAL IN AND FUTURE AND SEE THIS MOMENT. >> JUDGE, WE ALL RECEIVED ONE LETTER PRETTY GOOD EXPLANATION OF THE BRIEFING BEHIND IT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WE WANT TO ASK THEM TO PICK IT? GIVE THEM THE NAME OR DID YOU [02:10:07] HAVE IT PRINTED? GO FOR IT. >> THIS IS FROM MAGGIE ELIZABETH HILL JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS MY NAME IS MAGGIE ELIZABETH I. AM A WIMBERLEY RESIDENT FOUNDER OF DON'T DRINK DANCES A STATEWIDE GRASSROOTS COALITION DEDICATED TO RESTORING THE VOICE OF CITIZENS ACROSS TEXAS OVER THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS I'VE WORKED ALONGSIDE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE TO FIGHT FOR TRANSPARENCY AGAINST DATA CENTER DEVELOPERS, INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES AND BIG INDUSTRY STRONG ARMING THEIR WAY INTO RURAL TEXAS WITH THE ENCROACHING DEVELOPMENT OF MOUNT EDITH RIGHT ON MY DOORSTEP I MUST NOW STAND UP TO PROTECT WIMBERLEY AM WRITING TODAY TO REQUEST THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION ON TWO DEEPLY INTERCONNECTED ISSUES CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF OUR WATER, LANDSCAPE AND RURAL CHARACTER, NUMBER 1 ACQUIRED MOUNT EDITH AND ESTABLISH A LAND CONSERVANCY, I STRONGLY URGE THE COURT TO PRIORITIZE ACQUIRING MOUNT EDITH PROPERTY AND PLACING IT INTO A PERMANENT LAND CONSERVANCY, PROTECTING THIS RAW UNDEVELOPED LAND IS VITAL TO PRESERVING AQUIFER RECHARGE MOUNT EDITH AS PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN LOCAL HYDROLOGY, PROTECTING THE SENSITIVE RECHARGE ZONE THAT FEED OUR WELLS, JACOB'S WELL, AND MITIGATING FLOOD EROSION RISK, MAINTAINING NATURAL TERRAIN, PREVENTS RAPID ROT AND PREVENTS DOWNSTREAM PROPERTY OWNERS FROM WORSENING STREAM CONDITIONS. SAFEGUARDING TEXAS HERITAGE, 1 HILL COUNTRY LAND IS PAVED OVER IT IS LOST FOREVER PLACING MOUNT EDITH IN THE CONSERVANCY ENSURES FUTURE GENERATIONS INHERIT THE NATURAL RESILIENCY AND BEAUTY OF HAYS COUNTY. AND RURAL TEXAS IS FACING UNPRECEDENTED DEVELOPMENT PRESSURES BUT HAYS COUNTY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, BY ACQUIRING MOUNT EDITH FOR CONSERVATION AND PAUSING THE APPROVAL OF SUBDIVISION RULES TO ENSURE THAT THEY TRULY PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY THE COURT WILL TAKE A DECISIVE STAND FOR SMART GROWTH, AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNANCE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR TIME AND YOUR DEDICATION TO PRESERVING THE HEART OF THE HILL COUNTRY, RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED. >> JUDGE BECERRA: AND NOW SHALL READ AND AGAINST. IN THE C OF E MAILS I HOPE YOU CAN FIND ONE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. >> CLERK: I DON'T THINK WE HAD ANY AGAINST, WHEN THEY PUT AGAINST IT WAS JUST AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT AND SO WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THEM THEY'RE ACTUALLY SAYING THE SAME THING. >> JUDGE BECERRA: VERY GOOD, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> RT. HON. MARK CARNEY: . >> OKAY. SO. >> CLERK: ALL THE NAMES. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YOU ARE GOING TO READ ALL THE NAMES OF EVERYONE THAT EMAILED US. THEY DESERVE TO BE, AND THEY'RE ALL FOUR, THEY TOOK THIS EFFORT THEY DESERVE TO BE RECOGNIZED PLEASE READ THE NAMES. >> CLERK: AND AGAIN I APOLOGIZE IF I PRONOUNCE THE NAMES NOT CORRECT, JONATHAN FLETCHER. JESSICA HOGAN. SARAH LONG, ANNIE TINKER, SHANNON DO PLEASE -- SUSAN HOLD, SCOTT, CHRISTINE, PAM VALENTINE, WENDY TAYLOR GONZALEZ, SUSAN STRONG, KELLY KIRKHAM, SHELLY, KRISTA RICHARDSON, CINDY SANDERS, SUSAN ROSS LINDSAY SANSOM, LINDSAY THOMAS, DON HUTSON CHRISTY CAMPBELL, JAMIE RENEE LAMANDA MELANIE WEINBERGER, ELIZABETH SALINAS CAROLINE GAYLE WESLEY KIRKHAM KELLY MILLER, KATRINA, JOE CAMPBELL, RYAN AND CAMPBELL, LEXIN, JESSICA SHAW, HALEY, DAVID, JORDAN, KATE CROSSWHITE, MARY JO PARMAN DONOVAN DAVID MILLER, BROWN AND FRASER MILLER SHARON LUND KELSEY EDWARDS, ANGELA PATTON PETER FISHER LISA EMMONS, DAVID WAYMAN, GORDON YOUNG, BRENNAN WARK, COURTNEY BOWMAN CHRISTIAN ALEXANDRA DUNCAN, GAIL. >> INTERPRETER: , MAT MATTHEW D. COLETTI JAY HOLLANDSWORTH BRITTANY SIMMS PATRICIA AND CHRISTOPHER YOUNG, SANDRA TIRZ, AMY CROWELL, TIFFANY ADAMS SARAH CLEAVER, DIANE STEWART, CHRIS GRAMMER VIOLET SCOTT, SAMANTHA CAROLINE BROCK, ROSE GABRIEL RACHEL MIDDLETON, JAMES PRICE, KASEY [02:15:01] HARRIS, ISABEL SAINT JOHN, MIKE HARGROVE, JACKIE, BETH LADD, CHRIS CHATFIELD, KAREN STARKEY, GRACE ALLEN, EMMA ALLEN, ANDREW HARDIN, RICK AND TERRY ALLEN, PAMELA BOSTICK, TESS UHLAND, ELIZABETH GREY JAY LARRY GUNNINGHAM, CINDY LOU CLARE MARGARET HILL, ERICA FLOCKE TOM HUTT, GRACE DUNCAN, TODD DUNCAN, TERESA, -- CINDY LEVERAGE, ANGELA SCHAEFER, ELIZABETH WAGNER CATHERINE WILLIAMS KELLY CAROL SCHAEFER, KAYLA WEED, -- TONY GREAVES AND THAT'S ALL THE NAMES. >> JUDGE BECERRA: OKAY BUY. >> ALL RIGHT, THAT'S A LOT OF SUPPORT. SO BASICALLY WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THIS DEVELOPER AND HE DID A PUBLIC MEETING WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT AND IT JUST WASN'T REALLY SOMETHING THAT OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND THIS IS JUST SUCH A GREAT PART OF WIMBERLEY VALLEY THAT YOU WANT TO TRY TO PROTECT, THERE IS ALSO -- WE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A WILL ON THAT PROPERTY THAT POTENTIALLY DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME EFFECT FOR THE DRAWDOWN WELLS THAT ARE BEING USED RIGHT NOW FROM AQUA AND IF WE COULD POTENTIALLY TRY TO REROUTE THE WELLS THERE THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS OF A POSITIVE DEFINITELY POSITIVE FOR JACOB'S WELL IN THAT WHOLE VALLEY. SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY GREAT FOR OUR RECHARGE TO THE AQUIFER AND THERE'S SO MUCH BEAUTY THAT COMES INTO THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY IT'S ALSO A SERENE PLACE FOR THE VETERANS MEMORIAL AND EMILY ANNE AND IT'S SUCH A COMMUNITY STAPLE THAT I WOULD HATE TO SEE IT DEVELOPED AND RIGHT NOW WITH COUNTY REGULATION AND COUNTY AUTHORITY NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO SAY NO TO THIS DEVELOPMENT, THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS BUY IT. SO WE ENGAGE WITH IT NATURE CONSERVANCY AND ASK THEM IN THE NATURE CONSERVANCY THEY ARE NOT ONES THAT JUST, I WILL BUY ANY LAND, IT HAS TO BE ONE OF THEIR SOUGHT AFTER LANDS TO BUY AND SO WE ENGAGE WITH THEM AND THEY SAID YOU KNOW WE WILL THINK ABOUT IT AND THEY CAME BACK, THEY TALKED TO THE BOARD AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WANTED TO INVEST IN. SO ANYWAYS, THEY OBVIOUSLY HAD TO DO THEIR PART AND THEIR CONTRACT AND HOW THEY GET THEIR FUNDS IS DEFINITELY SEPARATE BUT WHAT WE WILL DO IS SIMILAR TO SENTINEL PEAK AND SIMILAR TO A CANYON WHERE THE NATURE CONSERVANCY BUYS IT OR ANOTHER ORGANIZATION BUYS IT, WE GIVE SOMETHING TO HAVE SOME SKIN IN THE GAME WHICH IS WHAT THE $200,000 IS FOR AND THEN WHENEVER, HAVE ALREADY MADE IT CLEAR PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, ALL ACROSS THE BOARD THAT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF A 2028 PARKS AND OPEN SPACES BOND AGAIN BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT $75 MILLION THAT WE TURNED INTO $300 MILLION IS A VERY POSITIVE THING AND I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT GOING FORWARD. THIS WOULD BASICALLY SAY WE WOULD BUY IT IN THE FUTURE BUT THE CONTRACT, THIS WOULD BE NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND THE COUNTY WITH A $200,000 SKIN IN THE GAME. THEY WILL THEN PRESENT TO THE DEVELOPER THIS IS OUR OFFER AND THE DEVELOPER HAS A RIGHT TO SAY YES OR NO, IF THE DEVELOPER SAYS NO WE DID ALL WE CAN DO AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TRY BUT DEVELOPER SAYS YES, WE JUST PRESERVE THAT PIECE OF LAND AND LET'S SAY THE PARKS BOND DOES NOT PASS THIS $200,000 IS NOT FOR NOTHING THE NATURE CONSERVANCY WILL STILL PUT IT IN A CONSERVATION, THAT PROPERTY WILL STILL BE CONSERVED AND WE ONE, IT'S A WIN-WIN AND I DON'T SEE HOW ANYONE CANNOT SUPPORT THIS. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> SO IT SAYS THE INITIAL FUNDING OF $200,000 SO BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE POTENTIAL BUY OF THE PARK. SO THIS IS JUST A 200,000, SO WE HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME LIKE WE SAID. [02:20:04] I WAS THINKING, YOU'RE COUNTING ON THERE BEING A 2028 PARKS BOND AND HOPEFULLY THAT PASSES AND WE WOULD BUY IT. AND ALSO SAID IF IT DID NOT PASS THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT AVENUE. >> IS IT OKAY IF I ANSWER? THE NATURE CONSERVANCY WOULD PUT IT INTO A CONSERVATION EASEMENT AND THEY WOULD SELL THE PROPERTY, MOST LIKELY BUT THEY WOULD SELL IT SO IT WON'T BE DEVELOPED INTO ITS ENTIRETY. >> THIS WAS NOT BUDGETED IN OUR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. >> THE BUDGET OFFICER, THIS IS CORRECT, IT WAS NOT BUDGETED, THAT BEING SAID I DID BUDGET FOR SOME PROJECT CONTRIBUTIONS THAT BASED OFF MY CONVERSATIONS WITH CARL AND HOW IT'S PROGRESSING FOR THE PARTS. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE WILL DO THAT FULL AMOUNT I BUDGETED FOR THAT PARTICULAR PARK. ONE OTHER ITEM I DO WANT TO SAY IS IF THIS WERE TO GO THROUGH JUST MENTIONING THE BOND, WITHOUT A REIMBUREMENT RESOLUTION THIS PAYMENT WILL BE GOING TO THE LAND WHICH WOULD REDUCE THE COST OF FUTURE PURCHASES BUT WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT WE COULD NOT ESSENTIALLY RECOVER THIS MONEY BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT OKAY THE MONEY IS BEING USED FOR A GOOD CAUSE. >> THANK YOU. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> OTHER QUESTIONS I HAVE THE ANSWER I WAS GOING TO ASK IF MOUNT EDITH WAS NAMED A ONE OF OUR PARKS BONDS AND I GUESS IT WAS NOT, IS THAT CORRECT? MAYBE I DID NOT HEAR YOU CLEARLY ENOUGH BUT WHERE WILL THE $200,000 COME FROM? >> RIGHT NOW IT'S SITTING IN COUNTY WIDE PROJECT CONTRIBUTIONS AND THAT MONEY WAS SET ASIDE FOR A GENERAL FUND, INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WE HAD WITH THE WY FOR SOME SOCCER FIELDS. I HAD SET ASIDE ENOUGH MONEY THAT IF THEY WERE TO COMPLETE THAT PROJECT WE COULD PAY THEM OUT THIS YEAR BUT WE'VE HAD SOME HURDLES ALONG THE WAY. THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE SOME BUDGET THAT COULD BE PULLED FOR THIS ACCOUNT. >> THAT IS THE WIMBERLEY YOUTH CHARACTER THAT WILL COME FROM. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> TWO THINGS. THE FIRST ONE, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, WE TALKED ABOUT IT JUST SOME FUNCTIONALITY OF IT. I HAD SOME CONCERNS WITH INITIALLY. THE ONE THING I WOULD ASK IS THAT WE DO WHETHER IT'S THE NEXT COURT OR SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, THE REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION. I THINK THAT WOULD BE AND WE CAN DO THAT POST COMMITTING THE FUNDS CORRECT? >> THAT IS AN ITEM I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH LEGAL AND BOND COUNSEL ABOUT JUST TO ENSURE THAT THAT IS TRUE. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS ACCURATE. FOR CLARIFICATION CORRECT THE REIMBURSEMENT SAYS IF AND WHEN WE HAVE A BOND WE CAN PAY OURSELVES BACK OUT OF THAT BONDING. FOR THE MONEY THAT WE'VE ALREADY EXPANDED ON THIS PROJECT. SO IN THE FUTURE AT SOME POINT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COME UP OUR CURRENT BALANCE BUDGET WE JUST PASSED A MONTH AGO. IF THAT MAKES SENSE? ONE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS I KNOW THE CONSERVANCY IS PURCHASING THE PROPERTY, IN THE PAST WE'VE HELD THE PAPER ON THAT IF THAT MAKES SENSE? ON SOME OF THESE PROJECTS WHERE MY QUESTION IS IS THE CONSERVANCY HOLDING THE PAPER ON THE CONSERVATION OR ARE WE GOING TO HOLD THE PAPER ON THE CONSERVATION BECAUSE THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: EXPLAIN WHY IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. >> IN THE MOST SIMPLEST TERMS IF YOU'RE A RANCHER IN HAYS COUNTY AND YOU WANT TO DO A CONSERVATION AMUSEMENT IN YOUR PROPERTY WOULD YOU RATHER DO AN ENTITY THAT IS NOT LOCATED HERE OR NOT OPERATED HERE OR WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE HAYS COUNTY DOING IT? OR YOU HAVE AN ORGANIZATION WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE THE OFFICIALS HAD YOU CONTROL AND YOU CONTROL HOW THAT IS DONE. ALONG WITH THAT HAYS COUNTY INTERPRET THAT CONSERVATION BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN THOSE AGREEMENTS THAT WE MAY LOOK VERY DIFFERENTLY THAN THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OR THE HILL COUNTRY CONSERVANCY AS FAR AS HOW THOSE THINGS ARE DONE. FOR EXAMPLE ON -- I'VE DONE SEVEN OF THESE SINCE I WAS IN OFFICE, WE USE MONEY FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO HELP PAY FOR IT BECAUSE THEY WERE LOCATED IN A WATERSHED THAT FEEDS THE CITY [02:25:01] OF AUSTIN. THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS AND GENERALLY THE FOLKS HERE IN HAYS COUNTY HAVE ALWAYS REQUESTED THAT WE HOLD THE PAPER ON THOSE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS INSTEAD OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. OR SOMEBODY ELSE OUTSIDE. IS JUST A GENERAL QUESTION, IS NOT A MAKE OR BREAK FOR ME BUT I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: PERFECT GO AHEAD. >> I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE GOING TO NEGOTIATE THAT AGREEMENT, THIS IS THE VOTE TO SAY THAT WE WILL NEGOTIATE IT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: I WAS GOING TO RECAP IT THAT WAY, THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. >> WHAT IS THE ACREAGE OF THIS? 289. >> JUDGE BECERRA: STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE. >> PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AS 280 -- 280 ACRES. >> DO WE HAVE WHAT THE COST MIGHT BE? IS THAT NOT SOMETHING. >> JUDGE BECERRA: APPROXIMATE MARKET VALUE? >> THE NATURE CONSERVANCY PAYS MARKET VALUE, THEY DON'T PAY ABOVE WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MARKETED FOR, I WILL SAY THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THERE IN NEGOTIATIONS, AFTER WE AGREE -- LET'S SAY WE AGREE HERE, THEY WILL PRESENT THE OFFER TO THE DEVELOPER. SO THEY ARE WAITING ON US TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THAT OFFER. >> JUDGE BECERRA: SO STAND BY. >> JUDGE BECERRA: CANDACE AND GREG YOU UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT TO LOOP IN THESE LAST THREE DETAILS, YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM THE COURT TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS. BUT LUPINE AND THESE OTHERS THROUGHOUT THIS NEGOTIATION PROCESS. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> WE NEED TO PUT CARLA WAS ONE OF THE NAMES THAT WAS MISSED AND THEN TONI WAYNE GREAVES WAS NOW PART OF THE K14 SUBMISSION. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU FOR THE -- CLARIFICATION, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH, COMMISSIONER COHEN, COMMISSIONER [K. 13. Discussion and possible action regarding the reassignment of the DWI & Drug Court Case Manager, position 0437-001, from County Court at Law 2, to District Courts, effective November 16, 2026, and amend the budget accordingly. INGALSBE/TIBBE/HALL] HAMMER, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. K13, THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT. >> CLERK: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE REASSIGNMENT OF DWI AND DRUG COURT CASE MANAGER POSITION NUMBER 0437-001 FROM COUNTY COURT AT LAW NUMBER 2 TO THE DISTRICT COURT'S EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 16TH 2026 AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: HELLO STEVE. >> HELLO, THIS AGENDA ITEM IS THE SUMMARY STAGE, IT'S A TRANSFER OF THE CASE MANAGER TO THE DISTRICT COURT AND THE COUNTY COURT OF LAW BUT WE WILL STILL SUPPORT THE EVALUATIONS FOR THE DWI. >> JUDGE BECERRA: ANY QUESTIONS AND WE ALSO HAVE JUDGE HALL HERE IN CASE ANYONE HAS ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS INCLUDING JUDGE HALL TO MAKE ANY. ALL GOOD. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES. [K. 2. 10:00 A.M. - Hold a public hearing in accordance with section 293.101 of the Texas Health & Safety Code to discuss, consider, and take action on setting an amended rate for the Fiscal Year 2027 for the Local Provider Participation Fund mandatory payments. The mandatory payments will be imposed exclusively and separately on net patient revenue attributable to inpatient hospital services and on net patient revenue attributable to outpatient hospital services (using Medicare Cost Reports based on the Upper Payment Limit methodology), how the revenue derived from those payments is to be spent, and creation of a new LPPF bank account for the mandatory payments. The mandatory payments will be imposed exclusively and separately on net patient revenue attributable to inpatient hospital services and on net patient revenue attributable to outpatient hospital services (using Medicare Cost Reports based on the Upper Payment Limit methodology), how the revenue derived from those payments is to be spent, and creation of a new LPPF bank account for the mandatory payments. HAMMER/GONZALES] >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. SQUEEZED OUT EVERYTHING I COULD, I HAVE TO HURRY UP AND GET BACK TO IT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: K TWO, 10:00 A.M. HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 293.010 OF THE TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE TO DISCUSS, CONSIDER, AND TAKE ACTION ON SETTLING AN AMENDED RATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 FOR THE LOCAL PROVIDER PARTICIPATION FUND MANDATORY PAYMENTS. THE MANDATORY PAYMENTS WILL BE IMPOSED EXCLUSIVELY AND SEPARATELY ON NET PATIENT REVENUE ATTRIBUTABLE TO INPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES AND ON THAT PATIENT REVENUE ATTRIBUTABLE TO OUTPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES USING MEDICARE COST REPORTS BASED ON THE UPPER PAYMENT LIMIT -- UPPER PAYMENT LIMIT METHODOLOGY. HOW THE REVENUE DERIVED FROM THOSE PAYMENTS IS TO BE SPENT, THE CREATION OF NEW LPPF BANK ACCOUNT FOR THE MANDATORY PAYMENTS. THE MANDATORY PAYMENTS WILL BE IMPOSED EXCLUSIVELY AND SEPARATELY ON THAT PATIENT REVENUE ATTRIBUTABLE TO INPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES AND ON NET PATIENT REVENUE ATTRIBUTABLE TO OUTPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES USING MEDICARE COST REPORTS BASED ON THE UPPER PAYMENT LIMIT METHODOLOGY, HOW THE REVENUE DERIVED FROM THOSE PAYMENTS IS TO BE SPENT, THE CREATION OF NEW L BANK ACCOUNT FOR THE MANDATORY PAYMENTS. >> JUDGE BECERRA: I OPENED THIS AGENDA ITEM FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS AGENDA ITEM PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM. THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE SIGNED UP BUT YOU HAVE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AND YOU CAN APPROACH THE PODIUM. [02:30:04] NO STRINGS ATTACHED. I SEE NO MOMENT I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE CHARGE ON THAT, IS THAT CANDICE, IS THAT MATTHEW? COME ON UP. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE BECERRA, BRINGING BACK ITEMS REGARDING THE LOCAL PROVIDER PARTICIPATION FUND, ORDERS AND RULES WHICH INCLUDE NECESSARY HEARING WHICH YOU JUST COMPLETED. THE HEARING WAS PUBLISHED ON HAYNES FREE COURT TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION IMPLEMENTED NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR LPPF, MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE FOR. THEY HELP SUPPORT THE SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS THROUGH INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS, ALSO KNOWN AS ID TIRZ. THESE CHANGES ARE DRIVEN BY GUIDANCE AND CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES, CMS HAS TAKEN THE POSITION THAT HEALTH CARE RELATED TAXES MUST BE ASSESSED SEPARATELY BY SERVICE CLASS RATHER THAN BY HOSPITALS OVERALL NET PATIENT REVENUE. THIS WAS DISCUSSED DURING THE LAST HEARING THAT WE HAD IN SEPTEMBER BUT THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT THEY ARE REQUIRING THAT I WILL GO OVER. HISTORICALLY THE MANDATORY HOSPITAL ASSESSMENTS CAN BE BASED ON A HOSPITAL'S AGGREGATE NET PATIENT REVENUE BUT BEGINNING OCTOBER FIRST 2026 THESE ASSESSMENTS USED TO SUPPORT MUST BE CALCULATED SEPARATELY ON INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT REVENUE AND OUTPATIENT REVENUE. AS A RESULT OF THESE CHANGES THEY'RE REQUIRING LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES OR LGS TO UPDATE THEIR LOCAL POLICIES AND ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY AND USE MEDICARE COST REPORT DATA AS A PRIMARY SOURCE FOR CALCULATING INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT REVENUE ESTABLISH A NEW LPPF BANK ACCOUNT AND RELATED STATE FOR POST OCTOBER FIRST 2026 ASSESSMENTS. AND MAINTAIN DOCUMENTATION DEMONSTRATING COMPLIANCE WITH THESE NEW REQUIREMENTS. SO TODAY'S REQUESTED ACTIONS ALONG WITH K TWO, AND K FOUR IS APPROVAL OF THE PROPERTY -- NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN ELIGIBILITY FOR THESE ACCEPTANCE OF OUR FUTURE AND CONTINUE PARTICIPATION IN MEDICAL DISTRICT MEDICAID SUPPLEMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HEALTH CARE VENTURES FOR THEIR PREPARATION ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR THEIR SUPPORT AS I TRANSITION TO TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY. THEY ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE FROM THE STUFF I JUST READ TO YOU. >> JUDGE BECERRA: PERFECT, THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER INGALSBE DO YOU WANT TO CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING AT THIS TIME OR LET THE SPEAKER COME OUT? >> JUDGE BECERRA: ON OFF WE G GO. ONLY FOR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS. I WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THIS ITEM. I MADE A FEW NOTES. WE DO HAVE AN I'M STATING THE OBVIOUS BUT THIS IS A UNIQUE AGENDA ITEM STANDING BY ITSELF, WE DO HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY NOW THAT WE HAVE THE NEW GOVERNOR. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR STATE GOVERNMENT HAD SAID NO, THANK YOU TO FEDERAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WE WERE MAKING AS A COUNTY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR RESIDENTS, NO, THANK YOU WE WILL NOT DO IT. THIS WHOLE LPPF BY MATTHEW SO DESCRIBED IS A BAND-AID OR A BRIDGE TO HELP CAPTURE SOME OF THAT MONEY IN ANOTHER CREATIVE WAY. NOW THAT WE HAVE A NEW STATE GOVERNMENT WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO STOP ASKING FOR SCRAPS OR SETTLING FOR PIECEMEAL OPPORTUNITIES AND IT'S A CHANCE TO CREATE A ROBUST COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE INITIATIVE SO I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US, I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE DOING THIS AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD, EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVELY TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE IN A MORE MEANINGFUL WAY. WE CAN MOVE FROM A REACTIVE FRAGMENTED SOLUTION TO A PROACTIVE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE PLANNING. WE ALL BENEFIT, EARLIER THIS MORNING WE SAW THE LINE UP OF VETERANS THAT HAVE SERVED THIS FINE COUNTRY, IT IS OUR PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY PEOPLE IN THEIR SIMILAR LIGHT THROUGH ALL WALKS OF LIFE BUT EVEN IT RIPPLES BEYOND OUR OWN FOOTPRINTS. WE CAN'T FORGET THAT. THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE A NEW LANDSCAPE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE -- TO LEAD, WE SHOULD NOT SETTLE FOR INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS WHEN WE HAVE A CHANCE TO BUILD SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER. NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT, THANK YOU. I WANTED TO INCLUDE THAT IN THAT AGENDA ITEM. [K.3. Discussion and possible action to approve the order implementing the amended rate for the Hays County FY27 LPPF mandatory payments to be imposed exclusively and separately on net patient revenue attributable to inpatient hospital services and on net patient revenue attributable to outpatient hospital services (using Medicare Cost Reports based on the Upper Payment Limit methodology), how the revenue derived from those payments is to be spent, and creation of a new LPPF bank account for the mandatory payments. HAMMER/GONZALES ] ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE GO TO K3. I WANT TO OPEN THEM TOGETHER. K3. >> CLERK: K3 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO IMPROVE THE ORDER IMPLEMENTING THE AMENDED RATE FOR THE HAYS COUNTY 2027 LPPF MANDATORY PAYMENTS TO BE IMPOSED EXCLUSIVELY AND SEPARATELY ON A NET PATIENT REVENUE ATTRIBUTABLE TO [02:35:01] INPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES AND ON NET PATIENT REVENUE ATTRIBUTABLE TO OUTPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES USING MEDICARE COST REPORTS BASED ON THE UPPER PAYMENT LIMIT METHODOLOGY HOW THE REVENUE DERIVED FROM THOSE PAYMENTS IS TO BE SPENT AND THE CREATION OF NEW LPPF BANK ACCOUNT FOR THE MANDATORY PAYMENTS. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: A MOTION AND A SECOND AND BRAND NEW AGENDA ITEM, THE INTRO AND THEN I LIKE THOSE REPRESENTATIVES TO COME UP AND HIGHLIGHT AND SUMMARIZE. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THIS SPECIFIC ORDER IS ASKING US TO LOOK AT HOW THE INSTITUTIONS WILL BE MAKING THEIR MANDATORY PAYMENTS, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP FOR JUDGE'S QUESTIONS. >> JUDGE BECERRA: NOT IF, WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU DO AND STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE AND SUMMARIZE AS YOU HAVE SEEN YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 9:00 A.M., YOU SEE HOW WE SPEAK IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, NONE OF US HERE SHOULD ASSUME TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING AND SO IT'S EASIEST WHEN YOU APPROACH IT THAT WAY. MY SUMMARY IS I WOULD RATHER HEAR TWICE THAN NOT AT ALL BECAUSE THERE'S SOMEONE IN THE VIEWING PUBLIC THAT HAS NO IDEA WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OR THAT THIS EXISTS. FOR THAT WILL YOU SPEAK ON THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. WHAT ESSENTIALLY YOU'VE DESCRIBED IS PERFECT, THIS IS A MANDATE SITUATION OF MEDICAID DOES NOT COVER EVERYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOSPITAL SOURCES, FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR PEOPLE. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THESE INSTITUTIONS, THE ONES THAT SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY WHERE THEY CANNOT ONLY PROVIDE THE BASIC SERVICES BUT GO A STEP FURTHER. THIS FUNDING ENSURES THAT GOOD TALENT, GOOD DOCTORS, GOOD SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. IT'S VERY HELPFUL FOR US AND HELPFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YOU FORGOT ONLY NAME AND TITLE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. >> WHAT IS THE RATE, ARE WE CHANGING THE RATE FROM LESS. >> THROUGH THE HONORABLE JUDGE, INITIALLY WHAT YOU PASSED WAS THE AGGREGATE RATE, NOW IS THE STATE MEN EVADED -- IT'S ACQUIRING THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT THESE RATES BE SEPARATED THAT NET PATIENT REVENUE ON INPATIENT AND NET REVENUE FOR OUTPATIENT. THAT'S WHY IT'S BEFORE THIS HONORABLE COURT AGAIN. >> THANK YOU. >> JUST TO CLARIFY THIS SPECIFIC RATE IS 6%, FOR BOTH OUTPATIENT NET PATIENT REVENUE AND INPATIENT. >> THEY ARE BEING SPLIT BUT IS TOTAL 6%. >> YES, MA'AM,. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> NO QUESTIONS THANK YOU. >> NO QUESTIONS THANK YOU. >> I'M GOOD. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WELL DONE. AND IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. [K 4. Discussion and possible action on an order adopting a Local Provider Participation Fund rule to require that Hays County LPPF mandatory payments be imposed exclusively and separately on net patient revenue attributable to inpatient hospital services and on net patient revenue attributable to outpatient services. HAMMER/GONZALES] >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES, K FOUR. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON AND UNDER ADOPTING A LOCAL PROVIDER PARTICIPATION FUND RULE TO REQUIRE THAT HAYS COUNTY LPPF MANDATORY PAYMENTS BE IMPOSED EXCLUSIVELY AND SEPARATELY ON THAT PATIENT REVENUE ATTRIBUTABLE TO INPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES AND ON NET PATIENT REVENUE ATTRIBUTABLE TO OUTPATIENT SERVICES. >> SO MOVED. >> JUDGE BECERRA: AS WAS DESCRIBED IN A PREVIOUS MOMENT IT IS PURELY A STATEMENT FEDERAL SEPARATION THAT THIS IS BEFORE US, NO? I AM RECAPPING THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM, I'M WATCHING THE WHOLE ROOM, YOU START NODDING AND I PAY ATTENTION. SO THIS IS AN AGENDA ITEM SEPARATING STATE AND FEDERAL ARTICULATION OF USE OF FUNDS BUT NOT THE CHANGE OF THE PERCENTAGE, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. [G. 21. Authorize the acceptance of the grant award from the Texas Bar Foundation, Fall 2026 Grant, on behalf of the DWI Court, in the amount of $5,000.00, and amend the budget accordingly. INGALSBE/BECERRA/BOUTTE/HALL ] >> YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES, LET'S TAKE G20 ONE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: I'M HOPPING THROUGH THE LIST OF WHAT PEOPLE SEND ME. >> CLERK: AUTHORIZED THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE GRANT AWARD FROM THE TEXAS BAR FOUNDATION FALL 2026 GRANT ON BEHALF OF DWI COURT AN AMOUNT OF $5000 AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: GO ON, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING, HAYS COUNTY COURT NUMBER 1. THIS IS A GRANT FROM THE TEXAS BAR FOUNDATION THE AMOUNT OF $5000 THAT THE COURT REQUESTED THE MEMBER OF THE BAR FOUNDATION FOR TWO YEARS AND I THINK 35 PLUS. I PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE FOUNDATION, MAYBE IT COMES BACK TO THE COUNTY BUT THIS IS FOR THE COURT FOR THEM IT IS OUTPATIENT AS WELL WE DO HAVE A GRANT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S [02:40:02] OFFICE, WITH MORE PARTICIPANTS WITH TREATMENT AUTHORITIES TO GET PEOPLE WHO NEED TREATMENT THE TREATMENT THEY NEED. >> JUDGE BECERRA: IS ONE OF THE PEACEFUL WITNESSES IN THAT SHARED JOURNEY YOU AND I HAVE HAD, IN 2017 WHEN WE WERE OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT MODERNIZING OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM DID YOU EVER IMAGINE YOU WOULD BE WHERE YOU ARE TODAY? >> I DID NOT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: IT IS A GIFT, IT IS A GIFT TO SEE WHERE WE HAVE GONE FROM WHERE WE STARTED AND IT IS IN GREAT PART HUGE THANKS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM IMPROVING OURSELVES. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MANY HANDS MAKE A LOT OF LOVE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: MANY HANDS MAKE A LOT OF LIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY I WILL PLUCK AWAY AT AGENDA ITEMS, TELL ME QUICKLY OR I WILL HIT NUMBERS. >> I WILL SAY K17 EVEN THOUGH WE PULLED IT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WE WILL OPEN IT ANYWAY. K17. [K. 17. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a quitclaim deed between Hays County and Lisa Greaves Taylor, Lauren Greaves, Jennifer Roberts, Emily Roberts of roughly 3.69 acres for the Presa Grande Trailhead. HAMMER/FLOCKE] >> CLERK: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF QUITCLAIM DEED BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND LISA GREAVES TAYLOR, LAUREN GREAVES, JENNIFER ROBERTS, EMILY ROBERTS OF ROUGHLY SIX-POINT -- 3.69 ACRES FURTHER PRESA GRANDE TRAILHEAD. >> SO MOVED. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WE ARE OPENING IT WE ARE OPENING IT BECAUSE WE WANT TO ALLOW FOR THOSE COMMENTS TO BE READ IN THE COURT OF RECORD BUT THERE WAS NO ACTION INTENDED SO PLEASE GO ON. >> FIRST UP IS LAUREN GREAVES. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS MY NAME IS LAUREN GREAVES AND ONE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS LISTED UNDER THIS AGENDA AND I AM HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY APPROVING THE QUITCLAIM DEED, THE ENTIRE 3.6 MILLION ACRES. THE PROPERTY WE ARE DISCUSSING TODAY IS WHAT MY FAMILY HAS ALWAYS CALLED THE JENKINS, IT HAS BEEN IN OUR FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS PASSED DOWN FROM MY GREAT GRANDFATHER TO MY GRANDPARENTS AND EVENTUALLY TO MY SISTER, MY COUSINS AND MYSELF. WE'VE INHERITED NOT ONLY THE PROPERTY BUT ALSO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT ITS FUTURE. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE OUR FAMILY'S PROPERTY REFERRED TO ON TODAY'S AGENDA AS THE PRESA GRANDE TRAILHEAD, THAT'S THE NAME OF A PROJECT PROPOSED BY GREAT SPRINGS, A POTENTIAL BUYER OF IT. WE SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME MONEY AND EFFORT WORKING WITH GREAT SPRINGS TOWARDS A POTENTIAL SALE, WE'VE DONE THAT IN GOOD FAITH AND I WOULD HATE TO THINK THAT OUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH THEM COULD SOMEHOW PUT US AT A DISADVANTAGE WHEN IT COMES TO RESOLVING OUR OWN PROPERTY RIGHTS. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING SIX MONTHS FOR THIS QUITCLAIM DEED AND HOPE THE COUNTY WILL HELP BRING THIS MATTER TO A CLOSE BY APPROVING THE CONVEYANCE OF THE 3.69 ACRES AS OUTLINED IN THE AGENDA. THANK YOU. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> JENNIFER ROBERTS. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK THIS MORNING, MY NAME IS JENNIFER ROBERTS I. LIVE AT 600 SAINT MARCUS TEXAS. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE QUIT CLAIM DEED OF THAT PROPERTY, BACK TO OUR FAMILY. THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOMEHOW BEEN A BIG ISSUE FOR 30 YEARS NOW, AND HILLIARD ROAD WAS WIDENED AND THEY TOOK OUT A CURVE THERE IN THE 90S AND SO IT CUT THROUGH OUR ACREAGE WHICH PUT A PIECE OF OUR LAND ACROSS THE STREET, WE ALWAYS CALL IT THE TRIANGLE -- TRIANGLE SECTION AND THERE WAS NO -- WE WERE NEVER PAID FOR ANY OF OUR PROPERTY AT THE TIME IT WAS A SWAP OF LAND WHERE THE OLD ROADBED WOULD BE EXCHANGED FOR WHERE THE NEW ROAD CAME THROUGH THE PROPERTY WHICH WAS MUCH WIDER ROAD. I WAS LOOKING UP THE PICTURES THE JUDGE WAS AT THE TIME WHEN THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE MY GRANDFATHER HAD NOTICED SOME OTHER COUNTY HAD GONE OUT THERE AND PUT DOWN SOME TREES AND HAD DUMPED SOME STUFF ON THE PROPERTY AND HE CALLED JUDGE ETHERIDGE WHO WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT SOMETHING AND IMMEDIATELY HE SAID YES, YOU ARE CORRECT WE ARE [02:45:03] SO SORRY THIS IS YOUR PROPERTY, HE WAS VERY POLITE ABOUT IT AND REALIZED THAT AT THE TIME. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE EXCHANGED THAT ROAD CAME OFF OUR LAND AND IT WAS JUST A SWAP OF LAND AND I KNOW THERE'S AN ISSUE NOW ABOUT THE ROAD. SO ANYWAY WE ARE ASKING FOR SUPPORT OF THE FOOT CLAIM DEED TO HAVE THAT PIECE BACK TO OUR FAMILY. I KNOW IT IS SHOWN ON THE RECORD AS -- HAYS COUNTY FOR A WHILE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: BEAUTIFULLY DONE, THANK YOU. TO EMAILED COMMENTS. >> CLERK: HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MY NAME IS TONY GRAVES I'M A HUSBAND OF CAROL CONWAY GRAVES, WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED OVER 59 YEARS, MARRIED MAY 30TH 1967, MY WIFE IS A DAUGHTER OF BRUCE CONWAY AND MARY HILL AND HOUSTON, CONWAY IS THE DAUGHTER OF ANOTHER CHARACTER IN THAT HE IS MY FATHER IN LAW TOOK ME AROUND THE NUMEROUS TIMES LOOKING AT THE LAND THAT THE FATHER OWNED THAT MARY HELEN INHERITED. ONE TRIP LOOKING AT THEIR PLACES HE SHOWED ME WHAT THE FAMILY CALLED THE JENKINS PLACE. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE 3.69 ACRE CORNER BEING DISCUSSED TODAY WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF JENKINS PLACE AND SAID WHEN HILLARY ROAD WAS REROUTED THAT CORNER ACREAGE WAS CUT OFF, SOME YEARS LATER I REMEMBER TWO INSTANCES WHERE HE TOLD ME THE COUNTY HAD STORED STUFF ON JENKINS PLACE CORNER AND HE HAD CONTACTED THEM AND HAD THEM MOVE WHERE THEY HAD ILLEGALLY STORED THERE. AND AT THAT TIME THEY HAD CUT DOWN SOME TREES ON THE LAND BUT WHEN HE POINTED IT OUT TO THE COUNTY THEY ACKNOWLEDGED IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AND APOLOGIZED. BEFORE MR. AND MRS. CONWAY DIED THEY DECIDED TO BUILD JENKINS PLACE TO THEIR FOUR GRANDCHILDREN LISA AND LAUREN, OURS AND JENNIFER, CAROL'S SISTER NANCY CONWAY. I FIND IT DISGUSTING THE LAND WAS CUT OFF BECAUSE THE ROAD CUTTING THROUGH THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN SUCH A BONE OF CONTINUATION OFF AND ON FOR SO VERY MANY YEARS. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT IT IS FINALLY SETTLED TODAY, SINCERELY TONY WAYNE GRACE. THIS COMMENT IS FROM LISA GREAVES TAYLOR. GOOD MORNING JUDGE COMMISSIONERS MY NAME IS LISA GREAVES TAYLOR, I AM WRITING ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY ABOUT THE QUIT CLAIM DEED OF THE 3.69 ACRE TRACK ON HILLIARD ROAD. THIS LAND WHICH OUR FAMILY HAS ALWAYS CALLED THE JENKINS PLACE HAS BEEN IN OUR FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS, IN 1991 OUR GRANDPARENTS BRUCE AND MARY CONWAY THEY DID IT TO THEIR -- DEEDED IT TO THE FOUR GRANDCHILDREN, OUR COUSIN JENNIFER ROBERTS AND COUSIN JIMMY WHOSE SON LOGAN NOW HOLDS HIS SHARE. IN 1995 OUR FAMILY CONVEYED 1.3 ACRES TO HAYS COUNTY SO THAT THEY COULD STRAIGHTEN HILLIARD ROAD. IN DECEMBER 2024 WE DISCOVERED THAT ON OCTOBER 82022 THE NEIGHBORING LANDOWNER BIRD NEST VENTURES HAD SIGNED A QUITCLAIM DEEDS TO HAYS COUNTY COVERING OUR LAND WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE, BIRD NEST NEVER OWNED OR TRACKED A TITLE COMPANY HAS SINCE CONFIRMED THAT LEGAL TITLE BELONGING TO OUR FAMILY IN THE COUNTY AGREED THAT THIS WOULD DEED IT BACK. WE ASK YOU TO PROVE THIS QUIT CLAIM DEED SO THAT CLOUD ON OUR TITLE CAN BE REMOVED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP IN SETTING THIS RECORD STRAIGHT SINCERELY LISA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: NOW NOT TO PUT ANYONE ON THE SPOT, THAT'S NOT MY STYLE BUT I STILL NEED TO KNOW WHAT DEPARTMENT IS NOT READY TO ACT ON THIS TODAY? >> THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT SOME RECORDS FROM 1914 THAT NEED TO BE IRONED OUT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: OKAY. THERE'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE HOLDUP WHICH IS WHY WE WILL NOT ACT ON IT TODAY, WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR AND THE REACHING IN FROM OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ARTICULATE THE DETAILS NECESSARY TO ACT CONFIDENTLY ARE NOT YET BACK, THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD BUY. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY WE DID HAVE CORRIDOR TITLED DUE, A DEEP DIVE IN IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE ARE AT ON THIS AND WE DO CONFIRM WE DON'T KNOW. [I. 6. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of Change Order No. 7 in the amount of $37,655.12 to the Professional Services Agreement with BGE, Inc. for the RM 12 Safety Improvements near the intersection of Mountain Crest and Skyline Drive project in Precinct 3, utilizing a discretionary exemption pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Ch. 262.024(a)(4). HAMMER/A.JONES] >> JUDGE BECERRA: IT SEEMS IT'S GOOD WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE FINAL BOW AND IT SEEMS LIKE A POSITIVE RESULT, I PROMISE NOTHING EVER. WE ARE TABLING THIS ITEM, NEXT WE WILL TAKE THANK YOU FOR COMING, I SIX. >> CLERK: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE -- AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF CHANGE ORDER NUMBER 7 IN THE AMOUNT OF $37,655.12 TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH BGE INC. FOR THE RM 12 SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS NEAR THE [02:50:02] INTERSECTION OF MOUNTAIN CREST AND SKYLINE DRIVE PROJECT IN PRECINCT THREE ALTO -- UTILIZING A DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CH262 .024 A FOUR YEAR. >> JUDGE BECERRA: LOOKING FOR A MOTION? >> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WE HAVE A CUSTOMARY APPROACH WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND, MR. JONES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ONE MACK I'M SORRY THE OTHER JONES, SAME LINE OF SIGHT. OTHER JONES, SAME LINE OF SIGHT I DID THAT TO THE ASSISTANT DA A SECOND AGO. >> NO RELATION TO THAT JONES. AARON JONES, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, THIS IS A CHANGE ORDER, ADJUSTING FOR SOME WORK FOR WORK ON THE SKYLINE MOUNTAIN CREST ADJUSTMENTS, IT IS JUST SOME ADDITIONAL WORK THAT WAS ADDED TO THIS PROJECT. AS WE GET READY TO START THE PROCESS OF LETTING IT, THIS SPRING THERE'S SOME ITEMS THAT CAME UP THAT WE HAD TO ADD. >> JUDGE BECERRA: BESIDES THE WORD UTILITY THAT CAME UP AT THE END ANYTHING ELSE WOW. >> NOTHING IN PARTICULAR. >> JUDGE BECERRA: ANYTHING ELSE TO CONTRIBUTE? >> NO. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. [G.CONSENT ITEMS ] >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. I MOVE THAT WE OPEN, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ALL CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. MOTION TO SECOND IT PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR NUMBER 7. AND BEFORE THAT WE WILL ENTERTAIN ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS. PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON NUMBER 7. >> CLERK: CAROL. , FROM. >> THANK YOU AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THE CHART BACK INTO THE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, I THINK PART OF THE QUESTION OR THE MISUNDERSTANDING MIGHT BE COMING FROM INDIVIDUALS VERSUS DEVELOPERS. AND WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL COMES IN AND PURCHASES A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND IN AN INCORPORATED AREA THEY WILL PUT UP THEIR HOUSE, THEY WILL HAVE A DRILLING WELL AND THEY WILL HAVE THEIR OWN SEPTIC SYSTEM. AND THAT IS THE RULES. WE UNDERSTAND THOSE HAVE NOT CHANGED. WITH A MAJORITY OF US ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS DEVELOPERS COMING IN, THE UNINCORPORATED AREA AND BUYING 600 ACRES OF LAND AND WANTING TO PUT HOUSES LIKE THEY HAVE IN AUSTIN ON SMALL LOTS OVER THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE OR RECHARGE ZONE. WHERE THEY WILL HAVE INDIVIDUAL WELLS THAT HAVE THEIR OWN PUBLIC OR PRIVATE WATER SUPPLY WITHIN THAT SUBDIVISION AND THEY WILL HAVE A PERMIT WASTEWATER LIKE A TEA LAB AND THAT'S WHERE WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE. THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO KEEP IT MINIMUM 0.75 ACRE AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ESPECIALLY OVER THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE AND THE RECHARGE ZONE. SO I WOULD LIKE YOU TO NOT HOLD THE HEARING ON DECEMBER FIRST IF YOU CAN AND PUT IT UP TO NEXT YEAR TO WHERE WE HAVE THE NEW COURT AND WE CAN HAVE SOME MORE PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER COMMENTS IN THE CONSENT SESSION? I KNOW ABOUT YOURS, I'M TALKING ABOUT CITIZENS, I'M SORRY I GOT YOUR TEXT. NOW? WELL, APPARENTLY NOT. LET'S FIND OUT. >> FOR ALL THE OTHER CONSENT ITEM NO,. >> JUDGE BECERRA: LET'S FINISH AT . CONSENT, THAT WAS A [G.7 Call for a public hearing at 11:00 A.M. on December 1, 2026, regarding the proposed updates to the Hays County Development Regulations. BECERRA/BERLAD] MISCOMMUNICATION STYLE LET'S GO TO THE NEXT PERSON. >> CLERK: JIM. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YOU AGAIN. [LAUGHTER] >> ME AGAIN. JIM, MANCHAC AREA, I DID APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS THAT WERE READ, COMMENTS THAT WERE SPOKEN, THE INTERACTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS, THEY ASKED GOOD QUESTIONS. I DO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING. WORKING WITH THE GROUNDWATER [02:55:01] DISTRICTS, HAYS TRINITY, TO DO GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY, I HAVE TO COMMEND YOU ALL, FANTASTIC. I DON'T THINK THAT'S EVER BEEN DONE BEFORE SO THANK YOU. AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO BUT ONE OF THE CONCERNS I DO HAVE IS THE INCREASING ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVALS, WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BUT IF WE COULD GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS OR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WORKING WITH THE STAFF AND THEN PERHAPS RE ADDRESSING A LOT OF THESE CONCERNS WITH THE NEW COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD HOPE TO HAVE HAPPEN THANK YOU. >> JUDGE BECERRA: BEAUTIFUL AND THANK YOU AND I THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE ON THE SAME ITEM CORRECT? >> CLERK: YES. AND THEN THERE'S SIX EMAILED COMMENTS ON IT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WHILE THEY'RE SPEAKING CAN YOU SKIM FOR SIMILARITY, WHAT'S THE NEXT THING. >> CLERK: ZANE PORTERFIELD. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WHY AM I NOT SURPRISED I SAW YOU READY. >> THANK YOU GOD THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND YOUR GRACE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING THIS COMPLICATED DISCUSSION. I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME HISTORY, IN THAT YEAR OF OUR LORD 1990 THE STATE OF TEXAS TOLD US THAT WE WERE IN A WATER CRISIS, THEY TOLD US THAT WE HAVE A CHARGE TO PROTECT OUR GROUNDWATER WITH A SAFE SUSTAINABLE YIELD AND THEY ACTUALLY GAVE US A BUNCH OF RIGHTS TO DO SO THAT OTHER AREAS DID NOT HAVE AND ADDITIONALLY THEY TOLD US WE HAVE TO KEEP A GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT. AS WE KNOW SINCE 1990 OUR GOALS AS A GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT HAVE NOT EXACTLY BEEN MET. IN THE 2010S WE ESTABLISH A DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION OF 19 FEET OF ECUADOR -- AQUIFER DRAW DOWN TO 2060. WE WERE AT FOR THE AVERAGE FEET OF AQUIFER DRAWDOWN AND IT'S ONLY 2026. IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE. THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE FROM THE STATE, THE BEST TOOLS WE CAN HAVE ARE NOW BEING IMPLEMENTED TO THE DEGREE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. WE ARE ACTUALLY FAILING IN OUR DUTIES, WE'RE FAILING OUR CHARGE. WHAT IS SO INTERESTING TO ME AS I STARTED TO DO A LOT OF RESEARCH INTO NEARBY COUNTIES THAT HAVE A SIMILAR CHARGE LIKE KENDALL COUNTY, I SENT THIS TO YOUR INBOXES. KENDALL COUNTY'S GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY REPORT IS RIGOROUS, THE DEFINITIONS ARE AMAZING, THE LEGAL PRECEDENT THAT IS SET IN THAT REPORT CAN BE COPIED AND PASTED FOR HAYS COUNTY AND GET THIS, KENDALL COUNTY'S NEVER BEEN SUED, YOU CAN CALL THE COMMISSIONERS THEIR COUNTY YOU CAN CALL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, PEOPLE KIND OF KNOW READING THOSE GAR REPORT REQUIREMENTS EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE IN FOR. IT SAVES DEVELOPERS A LOT OF CLIMBING COSTS AND DEALING WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND THOSE ONE ON ONES. ADDITIONALLY IT ESTABLISHES AN ETHIC, THERE ARE PARTS OF THE END OF THE GA REPORT REQUIREMENTS THAT A KENDALL COUNTY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE LANDSCAPING AND PREVENT OUTDOOR WATER ON COUNTY LANDS. IT RESERVES THAT RIGHT UNDER PIGMA IN CHAPTER 35. SAYS KENDALL COUNTY INCENTIVIZES RAINWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM AND CHARGES ITS OWN COURT TO CREATE STRONGER INCENTIVES TO THE PUBLIC. I WANT TO ADD THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KENDALL COUNTY AND HAYS COUNTY IS FEAR, WE HAVE A LOT OF FEAR HERE, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT GROUNDWATER SHOULD BE MANAGED AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME CORPORATE INTERESTS AND SOME LOCAL INTERESTS ARE MAKING MONEY ON GROUNDWATER THAT TEND TO INFLUENCE THE GENERAL FEAR WE FEEL ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL GET SUED. YESTERDAY OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE FILED A BILL IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE ADDRESSING CHAPTER 35 AND ATTEMPTING TO AMEND IT TO PUT CHAPTER 232 ABOVE CHAPTER 35. IN PRESIDENT. THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU AN INDICATION THAT WE ACTUALLY ALREADY HAVE THESE RIGHTS CURRENTLY ACCELERATE HAD THEM FOR A LONG TIME, REPRESENTATIVE ISAAC IN ATTEMPTING TO DO SO ALSO ASKS THAT RATHER THAN GAR REPORTS GOING TO THE GROUNDWATER DISTRICT THEY WILL GO TO A SURFACE WATER POLLUTION REGULATOR TO ESTABLISH WHETHER OR NOT GROUNDWATER IS EFFECTIVELY BEING MEASURED BY THE STANDARDS. THIS BILL WILL NOT PASS BECAUSE IT'S NOT LEGAL THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WELL DONE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND YOU HAVE SOME WRITTEN? >> WELL SAID. >> SECOND. >> CLERK: JENNY. >> HAYS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT RAY READ ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT ACCEPTING THE FREEZE AND NICOLE REREAD SHOULD BE POSTPONED UNTIL THE NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONERS ARE SEATED, ONE REASON FOR THE DELAY IN DECIDING ON A REWRITE CONCERNS ANOTHER STUDY. THE CURRENT COMMISSION AUTHORIZED A COUNTY WIDE WATER STUDY IN 2026 TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE FUTURE NEED FOR WATER AND POSSIBLE WATER PROBLEMS SUCH AS FLOODING DUE TO RAPID GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY. THE STUDY CONDUCTED BY HDR ENGINEERING IS NOT COMPLETE, MY CONCERN IS HOW THEY PROVIDED A DRAFT OF CHANGES TO REGULATIONS BEFORE THE STUDY OF LONG TERM WATER NEEDS IS COMPLETED. LONG TERM WATER NEEDS SHOULD [03:00:03] DICTATE THE CHANGE NEEDED TO THE REGULATIONS IN ORDER TO ADDRESS ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLIES FOR THE FUTURE. THE REGULATION REWRITE HAS BEEN PRESENTED IN A VERY CONFUSING MANNER FROM AN ORIGINAL TO PRELIMINARY TO THE FINAL DRAFT HAS MADE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO COMPARE CHANGES PROPOSED. SOME CHANGES WERE MADE AFTER THE PUBLIC VIEWED THE FINAL DRAFT SO SOME MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF ALL THE CHANGES BEING IMPOSED. THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE GIVEN ADDITIONAL TIME TO FULLY UNDERSTAND ALL OTHER CHANGES. THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DUTY IS DUTY TO THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF HAYS COUNTY IS TO PROMOTE A HELPFUL DEVELOPMENT OF AREA OR IN SOME CASES DENY DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IT IS -- IT WOULD CAUSE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE. ONE CHANGE IT ALLOWS A MORE HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT BY EASING UP ON FLAT RESTRICTIONS. OTHER SUBTLE CHANGES ARE ENOUGH TO QUESTION WHETHER IT WAS ACTING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF HAYS COUNTY. AND TO HIGHLY QUALIFIED FIRM BOASTING OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH IN SOLVING REGULATORY COMPLEXITIES, THERE WAS NO QUESTION ABOUT THEIR ABILITY HOWEVER THERE IS A QUESTION ABOUT THEIR PERSPECTIVE IN HELPING YOUR CASE COUNTY SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH TIGHTENING RESTRICTIONS IN OUR AREAS DUE TO THE LARGE AMOUNT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVE LANDS LIMITED WATER SUPPLY, AND RAPIDLY GROWING POPULATION. IT APPEARS FREESE & NICHOLS IS AN AGENT FOR SUBVERTING PROTECTION USING THE WORD FIRM FREESE & NICHOLS WEBSITE THAT THEY HAVE EARNED THE REPUTATION FOR PROVIDING CLIENTS WITH PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, OUR BIOLOGIST ECOLOGIST AND GEOLOGIST ENGINEERING WETLAND AND SCIENCES ET CETERA, THE ANALYST CAN QUICKLY ACCESS ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND FROM THERE WE DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO HELP TO AVOID OR MINIMIZE COSTS AND TIME CONSUMING REGULATORY OBSTACLES. REGULATORY OBSTACLES THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT REGULATORY ARE ONLY OBSTACLES TO DEVELOPERS AND COMPANIES WHO GENUINELY -- GENERALLY EXPLOITED LANDS. CITIZENS WOULD BENEFIT FROM TARGETED RESTRICTIONS THAT WOULD PROTECT OUR RESOURCES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME NEXT ONE IS DAVID PATERSON. UNTIL THIS LAST ELECTION NO CANDIDATES RAN ON PROTECTING OUR WATER RESOURCES AS A MAJOR PLANK OF THE PLATFORM. THIS YEAR EVERY SUCCESSFUL COMMISSIONER AND COUNTY JUDGE CANDIDATE IN THIS ELECTION RAN ON PROTECTING HAYS COUNTY WATER RESOURCES HAYS COUNTY VOTERS GAVE A CLEAR MANDATE THAT PROTECTING OUR WATER RESOURCE IS A HIGH PRIORITY. I PETITION TO HONOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS CONCERN OVER OVERDEVELOPING OUR WATER RESOURCES AND PROTECTING THE RECHARGE ZONES OF OUR -- PRECIOUS AQUIFERS. I DON'T BELIEVE ALL THE CURRENT COMMISSIONERS REPRESENT THE MANDATE FROM THIS ELECTION, OTHERWISE THEY WILL NOT BE TRYING TO SLIP THIS IN BEFORE THE NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONERS ARE INSTALLED. THE BEST WAY TO HONOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS CONCERNS IS TO POSTPONE THE DECEMBER FIRST PUBLIC HEARING UNTIL NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE ARE SEATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THAT'S THE END OF THAT? >> SEVERAL. >> CLERK: NICK MATHIS, HONORABLE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE CHANGES TO THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS THAT WILL REDUCE THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO PROTECT THE AQUIFERS RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONE. THE CREOLE NATURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS A PLACE WHERE OUR WATERS COME FROM AND WE RELY ON FOR DRINKING WATER. PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR ATTENTION TO THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 232 SECTION 232.101, HIGH DENSITY SUBDIVISIONS DO NOT BELONG ON TOP OF OUR AQUIFERS. WHY ARE WE CONTINUING TO PAVE OVER PARADISE FOR A FEW DEVELOPERS, PLEASE STAND UP FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND PROTECT OUR AQUIFERS. PLEASE PROVIDE A RED LINE VERSION TO BE RELEASED FOR THE PUBLIC VIEW, THIS COURT MUST SHOW THAT THEY ARE WELCOME TO SCRUTINY OF THE PUBLIC, IT IS YOUR DUTY THANK YOU. BECAUSE THE REWRITE OF THE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS DOES NOT TRACK WITH THE ORIGINAL IT IS TIME CONSUMING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAS BEEN CHANGED, NEED A COPY OF THE REWRITTEN REGULATIONS THAT TRACK THE CHANGES SO THAT THE PUBLIC AND THE COURT KNOW WHAT IS BEING VOTED ON. WE ALSO NEED MORE TIME FOR THE PUBLIC AND THE COURT TO READ AND DIGEST WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT DEVELOPERS ARE TRYING TO LOOSEN THE COUNTY REGULATIONS FOR THEMSELVES BUT HERE IS THE DEAL. THERE IS SUCH A THING AS NEGOTIATING CHANGES BETWEEN ONE HUMAN AND ANOTHER HUMAN PARTY BUT WHEN THE HUMANS ARE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE BETWEEN OURSELVES AND MOTHER NATURE MOTHER NATURE HOLDS ALL THE CARDS. THERE IS NO NEGOTIATING WITH NATURAL PROCESSES. WE ACT LIKE A SPECIES THAT CAN DOMINATE EVERY OTHER SPECIES, THE ROCK, THE WATER, AND WE FIND OUT WE ARE NOT IN CHARGE AT ALL. NEGOTIATING WITH MOTHER NATURE IS AN ILLUSION, OUR SPECIES WILL LOSE EVERY TIME AND TAKE OTHERS [03:05:03] WITH US. BEING SMART AND TAKE TIME TO REWRITE REGULATIONS THAT TO DESTROY US AND OUR PLANTS PURE SIMILAR AS BOB BRIDGE AND THE LAST COMMENT IS FROM MELANIE SMITH. DEAR JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS I'M HAYS COUNTY RESIDENT WRITING ABOUT THE FREESE & NICHOLS PRESENTATION ON THE REVISED DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ON NOVEMBER TENTH 2026 I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COURT TO RESTORE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE TABLE FOR THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 232 SECTION 232, .0101, MUCH OF THE UNINCORPORATED HAYS COUNTY SITS OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AND/OR TRINITY AQUIFERS FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES THE TABLE OF A MINIMUM LOT SIZE AS AN ACRE HAS LIMITED HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT AND PREVIOUS COVERAGE TO THE RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES. THE TABLE IN THE CURRENT CODE AND THE JULY PRELIMINARY DRAFT IS MISSING FROM THE 220 PAGE FINAL DRAFT RELEASED OCTOBER 15TH 2026 AND WAS REMOVED WITHOUT NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. REMOVING IT WOULD REDUCE AQUIFER CHARGES INCREASE POLLUTION RISK AND OPEN THE DOOR TO HIGH DENSITY PROJECTS LIKE THE PROPOSED HAYS CONDO SUBDIVISION ALONG WITH THE ROADS, UTILITY THEY REQUIRE. IT WOULD ALSO AFFECT A LARGE SHARE OF THE COUNTY OVER THESE ZONES AND THE CITIES. THAT DRAW SOME OF THEIR WATER FROM THE AQUIFER AS THEY GROW SAFER -- SACRED. THESE PROTECTIONS SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED NOT REMOVED, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROCESS THE COMPLETE REORGANIZATION OF THE CODE MAKES A CHANGE VERY HARD TO FOLLOW AND NO RED LINE VERSION HAS BEEN PUBLIC. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTY. >> JUDGE BECERRA: MY FIRST QUESTION IS TO YOU PIERRE I BELIEVE WE DON'T NEED TO MOVE THE HEARING DATE, I BELIEVE EVERYTHING STAYS THE COURSE ON THE SCHEDULE BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER THINGS WE'VE COMMITTED TO AND THE CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS ET CETERA. AND WE BRING THE COMMUNITY WITH US AND WE INFORM THEM AND WE INCLUDE THEM, I DON'T THINK VOTING FOR THIS IS A NEGATIVE THING. >> IF THE OBJECTIVE OF DELAYING UNTIL A NEW COURT IS SEATED THE ONE THING ABOUT HAVING THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW IS THE NEW MEMBERS ARE NOT HERE TO HEAR THE COMMUNITY. SO IF YOU WANT TO DELAY THAT PUBLIC HEARING UNTIL AFTER THE START OF THE NEW YEAR THERE IS THE BENEFIT OF THAT. BUT IS UP TO YOU WHETHER OR NOT TO VOTE TO DELAY THAT HEARING OR KEEP IT ON DECEMBER FIRST. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> I AM FINE EITHER WAY, WE CAN DELAY IT UNTIL THE FIRST OF THE YEAR IF WE WANT TO DO THAT I KNOW THAT WE'VE ADVERTISED IT AND WE WILL NOT HAVE TO TAKE ACTION EVEN AT THAT CALL TO PUBLIC HEARING IF WE HELD IT. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING, MICHAEL IS THERE. I KNOW WE'VE CALLED AND WE'VE PUBLISHED IT BUT I WOULD BE OKAY HOLDING IT AND NOT TAKING ANY ACTION UNTIL THE NEW COURT IS IN PLACE OR BECAUSE THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT ALREADY REGARDING THAT WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING ONCE THE NEW COURT IS IN, OR NOT TAKE ANY ACTION UNTIL WE BRING THEM UP TO SPEED ON EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN DONE HERE YOU CAN ANSWER THAT BUT THEN I DO HAVE A QUESTION. >> DIRECTOR OF SERVICES, THIS ITEM IS FOR THE CALL, WE DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION AFTER THAT, WE CAN TAKE ALL THE INPUT AND WE CAN SO-CALLED FOR A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING IF THE COURT PREFERS INTO THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR. >> BUT THEN I WANTED TO ASK BECAUSE KENDALL COUNTY IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT IT'S BEEN MENTIONED, DID YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT TO OR LOOK AT THE RULES. >> WE HAVE. WE LOOKED AT THE GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY, ALONG WITH THOSE ILAS, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO THEY DO THAT AND SOME OTHER COUNTIES HAVE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE. WE'RE TRYING TO EXPLORE ALL AVENUES OF WHAT THEY -- WHAT DECISION TO DO. >> BY NOT TAKING ANY ACTION, WE HOLD THAT PUBLIC HEARING TO THEN TRY TO INCORPORATE SOME OF THOSE THINGS. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> OKAY. A COUPLE OF COMMENTS I COMPLETELY AGREE, THESE ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND WE HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING IN JANUARY IF NEED BE, LET THE NEW [03:10:02] COURT MAKE THE DECISIONS, I'M 100% FINE WITH THAT. ON THE GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY STUDY STUFF, SPECIFICALLY WHAT KENDALL COUNTY WANTS, MY CONCERN AND IT'S BEEN MENTIONED HERE TODAY, HAYS TRINITY GROUNDWATER DISTRICT HAS BEEN HOG-TIED AND HAMSTRUNG FOR DECADES, THEIR ABILITY TO DO THE RESEARCH AND TO EVALUATE THOSE LIKE OTHER GROUNDWATER DISTRICTS CAN, I WORRY THAT THEY HAVE THE FINANCIAL ABILITY. THEY ARE IN FINANCIAL DIRE STRAITS. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THEM SURVIVING FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS IN ALL HONESTY. AND SO IF WE INCORPORATE WHAT KENDALL COUNTY DOES WHICH I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT, I'VE READ THROUGH IT ABOUT FOUR DOZEN TIMES, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE NEGOTIATE THOSE ILA WITH THE GROUND DISTRICT THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO PERFORM UNDER THEM BECAUSE WE WOULD STILL FALL UNDER THE SHOT CLOCK, IF WE ASK THEM TO DO THE REVIEWS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHETHER OR NOT WE STAY LEGAL UNDER STATE LAW. IS THAT A CONCERN FOR ANYONE ELSE ON THE COURT? IT SHOULD BE AS FAR AS THEM SURVIVING TO DO THIS THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE IF WE ASK THEM AND WE START ASKING THEM TO DO THOSE REVIEWS THAT IS WORK THAT I THINK, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SENTENCE THE FUTURE COURT TO A PAYMENT BUT WE NEED TO BE PAYING THEM TO DO THAT. AND THOSE ILAS, WE NEED TO ESTABLISH THAT TO KEEP THEM AROUND IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DO THESE REVIEWS. >> THE DEVELOPER NEEDS TO PAY. >> THE DEVELOPER NEEDS TO PAY FOR IT BUT THOSE FUNDS WOULD GO TO THE COUNTY BUT THEY NEED TO GO TO THOSE GROUNDWATER DISTRICTS TO ENSURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS GO THERE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO SELL A PERMIT TO PROTECT THE WATER THAT THEY'RE TRYING. >> 100%. >> THAT'S BEEN PART OF OUR DISCUSSION SO FAR WITH THE BARTON'S GREEN AQUIFER, THEY HAVE SOME STAFF TO REVIEW THAT AND HAS BEEN PART OF OUR DISCUSSIONS IN REVIEWING IT AS WELL AS THE TIMELINE. >> THAT'S PERFECT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: I BELIEVE CALLING FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING IN DECEMBER FOR THIS ITEM, THE COURT -- IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO THE COURT BUT THE CONVERSATION IS ALWAYS GOOD TO BE HAD, I THINK TALKING MORE IS BETTER AND THAT'S WHY I AM FOR IT. BUT IF THE COURT -- I THINK IT'S GOOD. WE WON'T LEAVE IT THERE AND INCLUDED G27, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT ONE MAC. >> CLERK: PURCHASING AGENT. >> THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS IN THERE THAT HAD DRAFT ON IT, WE WERE STILL WORKING ON IT WITH TYLER TO UPDATE THE PROPOSAL AND I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO CHANGES, EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN BACKUP WAS APPROVED ON CHANGE IS GOING TO BE ON PAGE 8 WHERE IT SAYS COUNTY CLERK CALCULUS FOR THE DISTRICT'S CLERK'S OFFICE. AND THIS WAS ORIGINALLY BROUGHT TO COURT IN DECEMBER AND WAS APPROVED IN TYLER'S ASKING FOR IT IN THE DOCUMENT VERSUS THE ONE THAT WAS PROVIDED. >> JUDGE BECERRA: AND THE VOTE WILL BE FOR ALL THE 21, WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON 21. SO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. [I. 1. Discussion and possible action to release the performance bond #800241665 in the amount of $4,620,654.75, accept the 2-year maintenance bond #PB03016801567 in the amount of $456,234.94, accept the 1-year revegetation bond #PB03016801054M in the amount $247,261.00, and consider the acceptance of road construction & surface drainage improvements for The Ranch at Caliterra. SMITH/A.JONES ] >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. I ONE PLEASE. >> CLERK: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO RELEASE A PERFORMANCE BOND NUMBER 800,241,665 IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,620,654.75 EXCEPT THE TWO YEAR MAINTENANCE BOND NUMBER PB03016801567 IN THE AMOUNT OF $456,234.94, EXCEPT THE ONE YEAR REVEGETATION BOND NUMBER PB03016801054M IN THE AMOUNT OF $247,261 AND CONSIDER THE ACCEPTANCE OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND SURFACE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE RANCH AT CALITERRA. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT ON THIS ONE. UPON THE ACCEPTANCE, HOW QUICKLY WILL THE ROADWAYS IN THERE BE OPEN WOW BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE KNOW THEY'RE ALL BARRICADED. >> AARON JONES TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR KIRK THEY WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN THE ROAD, IT WILL BE USED FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION. THIS IS THE START TO THE MAINTENANCE, THEY TAKE YOUR MAINTENANCE BONDS. THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE [03:15:03] ROADWAY. >> JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS ROADWAY FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IT WAS DONE UNDER A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF STRINGS? THAT THEY DID NOT CONSULT WITH US WHATSOEVER ON? THIS WILL CREATE THE FINAL LEG OF A ROAD BETWEEN RANCH ROAD 12 AND CREEK ROAD AND MOUNT GAYNOR ROAD THAT TURNS INTO CREEK ROAD AS IT COMES INTO THE STRINGS. THIS IS GOING TO BE A HIGH VOLUME ROADWAY UNTIL WE GET SOME OF OUR OTHER PROJECTS LIKE THE SOUTHWEST CONNECTOR DONE, THIS VERY WELL COULD FACILITATE 1500 TO 2000 CARS A DAY THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD. AND AGAIN THE CITY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS, WHEN I HAD THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT THE IMPACT THEY WILL HAVE ON MOUNT GAYNOR ROAD AFTER THIS WAS DONE, THEY LET ME KNOW THAT THEY HAD $100,000 TO HELP WITH THE RECONSTRUCTION OR REDESIGN OF MOUNT GAYNOR ROAD. IT'S GOING TO COST SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS FOR US TO DO THAT AND I WANT TO PREPARE THE FUTURE COURT FOR THAT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WE WILL KEEP GOING. ALL RIGHT WE ARE BACK FROM A [I. 2. Discussion and possible action to approve the selection of Heidaker Land Services, Inc. to provide Right-of-Way Acquisition services for the William Pettus project in Precinct 1; and authorize staff and counsel to negotiate a contract. INGALSBE/A.JONES] SHORT RECESS PLEASE OPEN I TO. >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE SELECTION OF HEIDAKER LAND SERVICES TO PROVIDE RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION SERVICES FOR THE WILLIAM PETTUS PROJECT IN PRECINCT ONE AND AUTHORIZE STAFF AND COUNCIL TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER NEW FIRM THAT IS BEING APPROVED IN COMMISSIONERS COURT ARE BEING CONSIDERED FOR APPROVAL AND COMMISSIONERS COURT TODAY AND THEY HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN TEXAS IN A RIGHT OF WAY THEY ESTABLISH REALLY GOOD PARTNERSHIPS WITH TITLE COMPANIES AND APPRAISERS AND SO I KNOW THEY WILL DO A REALLY GOOD JOB FOR US AND WE WILL NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT AND BRING THAT BACK TO COURT FOR APPROVAL. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. WELDON. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. [I. 3. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a Contract for Engineering Services (2027-PSA-16) between Hays County and Pape-Dawson Consulting Engineers, LLC. to provide engineering services for the Leah Avenue project in Precinct 1 and amend the budget accordingly. INGALSBE/A.JONES ] >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. CONGRATULATIONS WELCOME TO THE FAMILY. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES 2027PSA-16 BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND PAPE-DAWSON -- CONSULTING ENGINEERS LLC TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE LEAH AVENUE PROJECT IN PRECINCT ONE AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> SO MOVED. >> JUDGE BECERRA: ARE WE GOING TO MERGE THESE TWO? >> THEY WAS ELECTED BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 25 AND THIS IS THE NEGOTIATED CONTRACT JUDGE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. [I. 4. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a Professional Services Agreement (2027-PSA-13) between Hays County and Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to provide Design services for the FM 2001 East project in Precinct 1. INGALSBE/A.JONES ] >> JUDGE BECERRA: I FOUR. >> CLERK: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT 2027 -- PSA -- 13 BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES INC. TO PROVIDE DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE FM 2001 EAST PROJECT IN PRECINCT ONE. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> THEY WILL BE CONDUCTING AN ENVIRONMENTAL REEVALUATION ON THIS PROJECT WHY DID I PUT, THIS IS THE NEGOTIATED CONTRACT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. [I. 5. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of Contract Amendment No. 1 of the Professional Services Agreement between Hays County and Quiddity Engineering, LLC for the Centerpoint Road project in Precinct 3 to add further subconsultant labor rate categories. HAMMER/A.JONES] >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: '05 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF CONTRACT AMENDMENT NUMBER 1 THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND QUIDDITY ENGINEERING LLC FOR THE CENTERPOINT ROAD PROJECT IN PRECINCT THREE TO ADD FURTHER SUBCONSULTANT LABOR RATE CATEGORIES. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> I'M GOING TO GIVE THIS ONE TO YOU, THIS IS PRECINCT THREE AND COMMISSIONER HAMMER IS NOT IN HER CHAIR. >> THIS AN ADJUSTMENT ON RIGHTS, THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL COST TO IT WITH GETTING THE GRANT THE FEDERAL GRANT AND THERE' SOME RIGHTS THAT WE NEED TO ADJUST ACCORDINGLY. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THAT YOU GO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH, COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> M RECUSING MYSELF FROM THIS DUE TO MY STEPFATHER EMPLOYED THERE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THIS WOULD BE INTERESTING THOUGH TODAY FOR ME WOULDN'T. YES. ALL RIGHT,-IS OVER. [k. 5. Discussion and possible action to approve the Assessment and Collection Agreement with La Cima Municipal Management District #1. HAMMER/ESCOBAR] LET'S MOVE ON TO WHERE WERE WE ON MISCELLANEOUS K FIVE? [03:20:04] >> YES PLEASE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT WITH LA CIMA MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 1. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS, TELL PEOPLE WHAT WE ARE DOING? NO ONE? >> THIS IS WHAT THE COLLECTION. >> THIS IS THE REESTABLISHMENT, WE SHOULD HAVE SEVERAL OF THESE COURTESY REESTABLISHMENT THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR. >> JUDGE BECERRA: AND COLLECTION OF TAXES. SOME WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT AND SAY THAT'S COOL PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. [K.6 Discussion and possible action to modify the 2B113 Time Off to Vote Policy of the personnel policies effective October 19, 2026. COHEN/GRANJENO ] >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. K SIX DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO MODIFY TIBBE 113 TIME OFF TO VOTE POLICY OTHER PERSONNEL POLICIES EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 19TH 2026. >> SO MOVED. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR. WE WOULD LIKE TO UPDATE THE TIME OFF TO VOTE POLICY TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO EMPLOYEES, CURRENTLY EMPLOYEES ARE ONLY GIVEN TIME OFF TO VOTE IF THEY HAVE TWO HOURS CONSECUTIVE TO VOTE BEFORE THEIR SCHEDULED SHIFT OR AFTER THEIR SCHEDULED SHIFT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: TWO VOTES JUST SO YOU KNOW TWO HOURS. CONSECUTIVE YES TO CAST THEIR VOTE YES THANK YOU, JUDGE. AND SO OTHERWISE THEY WOULD NOT BE GIVEN THAT TIME OFF TO VOTE. SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE CHANGE THAT POLICY TO JUST GIVE IT BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, SUPERVISORS TO ALLOW THEM TO GIVE APPROVAL TO THEIR EMPLOYEES IF THEY WISH THAT THEY CAN MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS ON THE BUSINESS OPERATIONS SIDE PIERRE CRYSTAL WANT TO ALLOW THEM, WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES TO VOTE EALY, VOTE ON WEEKENDS, VOTE OUTSIDE THE REGULAR SCHEDULED WORK HOURS BUT WE DO WANT TO PROVIDE THAT GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO EMPLOYEES WHO MAY NOT HAVE THAT TIME OFF TO GO DURING WEEKENDS OR WEEK TIMES AFTER 5:00 P.M. AGAIN GIVING IT BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, ELECTED OFFICIALS TO RETAIN APPROVAL BASED ON STAFFING NEEDS, OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND DEPARTMENT ABILITY TO MAINTAIN ESSENTIAL SERVICES. AS OUR 15 COMPENSATION MARKET SOURCES ONLY TO, TRAVIS COUNTY AND CITY OF KYLE CURRENTLY OFFER A COMPARABLE BENEFIT. ADOPTING THIS WOULD UPDATE THE COUNTY TO BE AHEAD OF MOST OF THE MARKET AND PROVIDE EMPLOYEES WITH GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: MY ONLY CONCERN IS INCONSISTENCIES BASED ON DEPARTMENT HEADS AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT WE MAKE IT UNIFORM AND CONSISTENT AND NOT UP TO INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE A CONSISTENT POLICY WHERE EVERYONE HAS THAT AS A DONE DEAL AND NOT WELL, DID THEY WORK FOR THIS PERSON TOMORROW YOU MIGHT WORK FOR A DIFFERENT PERSON AND THE RULES KEEP CHANGING. I LIKE THE CONCRETE SUGGESTION INSTEAD. >> CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT JUDGE? >> JUDGE BECERRA: I DON'T WANT IT TO BE UP TO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS I WANT IT TO BE POLICY WHERE THEY GIVE IT. I WANT US TO BE THE DECIDING ENERGY TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN. >> MY ONLY CONCERN WITH THAT JUDGE IS IF WE HAVE A BIG DEPARTMENT AND EVERYONE SUBMIT A TIME OFF REQUEST TO VOTE THAT IS GOING TO CAUSE A HARDSHIP. >> JUDGE BECERRA: OF COURSE, SO WHEN IT IS GRANTED IT CAN BE MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT HEADS BUT THAT IT IS GRANTED SHOULD BE A COURT DECISION. >> OKAY, IT'S GRANTED BUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS. >> JUDGE BECERRA: RIGHT. FACILITATED, EXECUTED, SIMPLIFIED FROM THE PEOPLE TOUCHING THE MANAGEMENT OF THAT POSITION HOWEVER POLICY DECISION TO BE UNIVERSALLY CONSISTENT COUNTY WIDE TO THE MORE THAN 1000 EMPLOYEES FROM THIS BODY. >> UNDERSTOOD. >> JUDGE BECERRA: DOES ANYONE HAVE -- DO YOU AGREE WITH ME ON THAT COMMISSIONERS WOW. >> YES. >> I AGREE I THINK LOOKING AT THE POLICY IT ALREADY DOES THIS THOUGH, AM I WRONG IN THAT? >> CURRENTLY IF THE EMPLOYEE HAS TO TWO CONSECUTIVE HOURS BEFORE THEIR SHIFT WHICH IS. >> WITH THIS CHANGE IN GIVING THAT DISCRETION TO THE DEPARTMENT WE CAN GIVE THEM DIRECTION TO DO EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING, I AGREE WITH YOU. I JUST THINK THAT THE CHANGE THAT IS PROPOSED I THINK THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW. >> CORRECT, YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA: HOW ABOUT THIS, AS SOON AS YOU HEAR OF TWO VARIABLES AND SOME LANGUAGE THAT SEEMS POTENTIAL MAY BE DEFINITE ABSOLUTELY I'M SURE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE TO REITERATE THE INTENT THAT THE COURT HAS CONVEYED SUPPORT FOR WHICH IS MAKE IT WHAT IT IS AN AUTOMATIC AND THEN THE TIMING OF CAN BE LEFT TO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS INDIVIDUALLY BUT THE DECISION TO GO IS MADE TODAY, ACCORDINGLY PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. [K. 7. Discussion and possible approval to enter into an agreement with a private media studio to use the historic courthouse grounds and parking spaces to film a commercial on or about November 17, 18, or 19, 2026. BECERRA/CRUMLEY] >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. [03:25:01] THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT CASE SEVEN. >> CLERK: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH A PRIVATE MEDIA STUDIO TO USE THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE GROUNDS AND PARKING SPACES TO FILM A COMMERCIAL ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER SEVENTH, 18TH, 19TH 2026. >> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: AND THAT'S TO HAVE A MEDIA COMPANY RECORD SOMETHING HERE ON THE PROPERTY AND OF COURSE IT'S POLICY TO ASK FOR -- PERMISSION, ANYTHING TO ADD? >> ANY DETAILS ON WHAT KIND OF COMMERCIAL? >> JUDGE BECERRA: NO COMMISSIONER YOU CANNOT BE IN IT. [LAUGHTER] >> I DON'T KNOW NO, MA'AM, SORRY. ALL THE WAY TO THE PODIUM. >> I PROJECT SO WELL. >> JUDGE BECERRA: NOT WELL ENOUGH FOR MEDIA. >> CIVIL DIVISION, ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY CIVIL DIVISION IT IS GOING TO BE A COMMERCIAL ABOUT A BLOOD CANCER DRUG. AND IT WILL JUST BE IN THE ROTUNDA AND IT WILL BE A FOUR HOUR SHOOTING AND THEN OUT ON THE FRONT. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS POLICY THEY'RE DOING THE DEPOSIT AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND AFTERWARDS WE REIMBURSE THEM. >> THEY SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO US TODAY ABOUT WHETHER THEY WILL CHOOSE US OR THE OTHER COUNTY SO I WANTED TO HAVE IT HERE SO THEY DID HAVE PERMISSION WHEN THEY DO THE FULL APPLICATION AND EVERYTHING THEY WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW ALL THE POLICIES. >> JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> SORRY JUDGE, DIRECTOR OF RESOURCES, IF YOU WOULD JUST MAKE SURE THEY ARE AWARE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE OUR CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS UP SO IF THEY'RE PLANNING ON USING THE ROTUNDA EMPTY IT DOES NOT. >> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA: GREAT POINT, GREAT CONTRIBUTION THANK YOU. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. [K.8. Discussion and possible action to authorize the County Clerk's Office to obtain a cloud-based software platform to generate Commissioners Court minutes through Govably, Inc. in the amount of $19,200.00 for year one, and authorize a waiver to the purchasing policy of obtaining three quotes. BECERRA/CARDENAS/HUNT ] >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE TO OBTAIN A CLOUD BASED SOFTWARE PLATFORM TO GENERATE COMMISSIONERS COURT MINUTES THROUGH GOVABLY INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,200 FOR YEAR ONE AND AUTHORIZE A WAIVER TO THE PURCHASING POLICY OF OBTAINING THREE QUOTES. >> SPEAKER-04: SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU. MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? THAT'S PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> CLERK: SMITH, COMMISSIONER [K. 9. Discussion and possible action to authorize Facilities and Resource Management to purchase a Knox Emergency Key Box in the amount of $535.00 for the Hays County Sports Complex located at 2880 East Bebee Road, and amend the budget accordingly. INGALSBE/CRUMLEY] COHEN, COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES, THANK YOU FOR STANDING BY. OKAY EIGHT -- NINE. >> CLERK: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE FACILITIES AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TO PURCHASE A KNOX EMERGENCY KEY BOX IN THE AMOUNT OF $535 FOR THE HAYS COUNTY SPORTS COMPLEX LOCATED AT 2880 EAST BEEBE ROAD AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? >> NO, SIR,. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH, COMMISSIONER COHEN, COMMISSIONER HAMMER, COMMISSIONER [K. 10. Discussion and possible action to authorize Facilities and Resource Management to replace the roof of the Elections IT building in the amount of $267,478.29 and amend the budget accordingly. HAMMER/CRUMLEY K] COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. TEN. >> CLERK: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE FACILITIES AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TO REPLACE THE ROOF OF THE ELECTIONS IT BUILDING AND THE AMOUNT OF $267,478.29 AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: I'M GLAD THERE WAS A DELAY ON THAT ONE. THIS WE WILL NEED YOU TO CHIME IN ON. I VOTED THERE I SAW THE SPORADIC LEAKS ET CETERA AM I RIGHT WHILE YOU ARE WALKING UP THIS IS A METAL ROOF THAT THE GARAGE HAS A -- WAS IT A METAL ROOF? >> IT IS NOT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: I SAID THIS ISN'T METAL ROOF IT'S SUPPOSED TO LAST 50 YEARS. >> IT IS NOT. THIS $260,000 WE DID NOT HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR IN OUR BUDGET AND LOOKING AT OUR FY27 BUDGET WE WERE ABLE TO GO THROUGH AND IDENTIFY FUNDS THAT WE COULD REALLOCATE TO THIS AND NOT HAVE TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS. SO WE CAME OUT AT THAT MONEY WITH PROJECTS THAT COULD WAIT OR HAVE BEEN RESOLVED IN AN ALTERNATIVE MANNER. >> JUDGE BECERRA: AND WE'VE BEEN HERE AND I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT HOW OLD IS OUR BUILDING? ISN'T IT LIKE 12 YEARS OLD? >> IT'S OLDER THAN THAT, WHEN WE PURCHASED THE BUILDING THE ROOF WAS NOT IDEAL. >> JUDGE BECERRA: AND PATCH THE LEAK IS NOT AN OPTION ESPECIALLY JUST REPLACE THE WHOLE THING? >> YES, SIR,. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THE PRICE POINT IS WE TELL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING WHY THREE QUARTERS -- QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS. >> INTO THE ENTIRE ROOF OF THAT BUILDING AND THE BUILDING IS I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT SQUARE FOOTAGE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: IT'S A BIG BUILDING. >> WHAT WILL THE MATERIAL BE? >> THE FLAT ROOF IS IT'S A TAR BASED ROOF YOU CAN'T SHINGLE IT OR ANYTHING BECAUSE IT'S COMPLETELY FLAT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WILL IT BE THE STUFF THAT TEXAS STATE USES THAT IS THAT WHITE RUBBERIZED [03:30:01] MATERIAL THAT IS WRAPPED AROUND IN HEAT? >> YES. THE FRONT PART IT IS A DIFFERENT YOU HAVE TO GET DOWN INTO IT TO REPLACE THE ROOF SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE IF NOT JUST A FLAT ROOF GETTING UP THERE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: ALL RIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? RELUCTANTLY PLEASE CALL THE VOTE. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN, COMMISSIONER HAMMER, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES THANK YOU FOR DOING A GOOD JOB. [K. 11. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Hays County, Texas and Emergency Management and Response (EMR) for the use of EMR's resources during emergency incidents or disasters. BECERRA/M.JONES] PLEASE OPEN K15. >> CLERK: DISCUSSION -- >> JUDGE BECERRA: 11, LOOK THERE'S AN 11 THERE. >> CLERK: K11 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, MOU, BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS AND THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSE EMR FOR THE USE OF EMR RESOURCES DURING EMERGENCY INCIDENTS OR DISASTERS. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: GREAT PREEMPTIVE APPROACH I APPRECIATE THIS. IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS COMMISSIONERS? PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER HAMMER, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, COMMISSIONER SMITH, COMMISSIONER [K.15. Discussion and possible action to authorize the acceptance of a grant agreement and execute associated documents from the Texas Water Development Board in the amount of $178,526.00 and amend the budget accordingly. HAMMER/BOUTTE/BERLAD/M.JONES] COHEN. >> YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. >> CLERK: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACCESS TO AUTHORIZE THE ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT AGREEMENT AND EXECUTE ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS FROM THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $178,526 AND AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? >> NOT REALLY. THIS IS GOING TO INCLUDE PORTIONS OF HAYS COUNTY NEAR THE GUADALUPE WATER BASIN, SAINT MARCUS RIVER. P.E.I. THERE YOU GO. >> FUNDS WILL BE LEVERAGED TO MAP THE IDENTIFIED AREAS THAT ARE AT RISK OF FLOODING. >> JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, COMMISSIONER SMITH, COMMISSIONER COHEN, COMMISSIONER [K. 16. Discussion and possible action to authorize the purchase of tree planting and watershed management supplies in the amount of $11,065.94 from Forestry Suppliers, Inc. using Texas A&M Forest Watershed Protection Plan Grant funds. HAMMER/FLOCKE] HAMMER. >> YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. K6. >> CLERK: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF TREE PLANTING AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT SUPPLIES AND THE AMOUNT OF $11,065.94 FROM FORESTRY SUPPLIERS INC. USING TEXAS A AND M FOREST WATERSHED PROTECTION PLAN GRANT FUNDS. >> SO MOVED. >> JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH, COMMISSIONER COHEN, COMMISSIONER HAMMER, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE [K. 18. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of an Agreement between Hays County and Granicus related to Commissioners Court video streaming totaling $61,369.68, effective November 1, 2026. BECERRA/CARDENAS/HUNT ] JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. K8. >> CLERK: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND GRANICUS RELATED TO COMMISSIONERS COURT VIDEO STREAMING TOTALING $61,369.68 EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER FIRST 2026. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SMITH I. SEE YOU. >> I'M HAPPY WITH OUR VIDEO SERVICE EVERYTHING THAT WAS PROMISED WHEN WE BOUGHT THIS SYSTEM WE DON'T USE HALF OF IT AND WE DON'T HAVE THE ACCESS TO HALF OF IT. UNDER THIS CONTRACT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE AVAILABILITY FOR THESE SCREENS TO WORK IN OUR VOTING SYSTEM TO WORK AND THOSE THINGS? I WON'T BE HERE FOR IT BUT I'M THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS CONTRACT IN THE PAST SO MY QUESTION IS ARE WE GOING TO GET A FIXED? >> JUDGE BECERRA: I WILL SAY BEFORE YOU SPEAK I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IT WAS SET UP IN A WAY YEARS AGO WHERE I WAS GIVEN THE OPTIONS AS THE CHAIR OF THE COURT TO MANAGE SOME OF THAT STUFF YOU ARE DESCRIBING, AND I JUST DID NOT FEEL, I KNOW YOU KNOW I'M NOT AFRAID OF IT, BUT I DIDN'T FEEL IT RIGHT FOR ME TO BE PRESSING BUTTONS ACTIVATING YOUR MICS AND SO THAT'S WHY I SAID I DON'T FEEL LIKE I SHOULD DO THAT. >> I'M TALKING ABOUT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS TO BE USED FOR OUR AGENDA FOR ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER USES IT FOR HER AGENDA. >> I HAVE THIS LITTLE THING. THAT GOES BACK AND FORTH. HOW ABOUT THIS, CAN YOU GIVE THE INCOMING COURT A TUTORIAL ON THE PIECES OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW IT WORKS AND IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT BEING UTILIZED MAYBE LET'S CROP IT FROM THE CONTRACT? >> CLERK: LET ME DO THE PUBLIC PART FIRST. THE ASSISTANT COUNTY CLERK. AND JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THE SYSTEM IN THE COURTROOM, WE BEEN EVALUATING IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, WE'VE HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH IT OVER THE LAST YEAR AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE AND WHAT IT PROVIDES. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF VENDORS IN THE MARKETPLACE THAT DO THIS WORK BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO EVALUATE OTHER VENDORS TO BRING ON BOARD. GRANICUS, CONTRACTED WITH THEM OR WHEN ELAINE DID, THEY WERE THE VENDOR WE REMOVED THEM FOR CAUSE AND THEN WE GOT ANOTHER COMPANY AND THEN GRANICUS BOUGHT THEM. >> JUDGE BECERRA: OH BROTHER. >> THAT IS RIGHT WHERE WE ARE [03:35:03] BACK TO, THEY ARE LISTENING TO US. PROBABLY NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY. WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH THEM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE COURT, THE INCOMING COURT AND STEPHANIE IN CONTRACTING AND LOOK AT ALL OF OUR AVAILABLE OPTIONS, AND WE WILL LOOK AT GETTING EVERYTHING TURNED ON THAT YOU WANT TURNED ON. >> THE REASON I SAY THAT IS I KNOW THEY DO SAN MARCOS, WE HAVE OTHER PARTNERS HERE IN THE COUNTY THAT USE THEIR TECHNOLOGY AND IT WORKS REALLY WELL I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT DOESN'T WORK WELL FOR US. >> AND I THINK THE PLACEMENT OF THE MONITORS, I KNOW WE ARE LIMITED BUT IT'S SO DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LOOK TO THE SIDE, WE DON'T -- THE CITY OF KYLE HAS THEM UP HERE IN FRONT BUT WE HAVE THIS THAT PROHIBITS THESE CUBBIES THAT PROHIBIT US TO HAVE THEM HERE. IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT, THE SET UP THAT WE HAVE. >> LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN GET, I WILL WORK WITH CHRIS AND IT AS WELL AND SEE HOW WE CAN RECONFIGURE AND MAKE IT WORK BEST FOR EVERYONE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: I LOVE IT AND I THANK YOU, IN THE MEANTIME PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN, COMMISSIONER HAMMER, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, [K. 19. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of contract Amendment 1 to A Better Boat, LLC (2027-PSA-01) and Axis of Mental Healthcare, PLLC (2027-PSA-03) to add additional services related to the Office of the Governor Grant, $72,000.00. COHEN/INGALSBE/BROWN/HUNT] COMMISSIONER SMITH, JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. 19 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF CONTRACT AMENDMENT NUMBER 1 TO A BETTER BOAT LLC 2027 -- PSA -- 01 AND THE AXIS OF MENTAL HEALTH HEALTH CARE 2027 -- PSA -- 03 TO ADD ADDITIONAL SERVICES RELATED TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $72,000. >> SO MOVED SECOND. >> JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER HAMMER, COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, COMMISSIONER SMITH,. >> NO. [K. 20. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of Amendment 1 to RFP 2026-P01 Flood Warning System Maintenance & Repair Services between Hays County and Water, Earth, Technologies, adding server update services to the bi-annual preventative maintenance schedule, annually $8,000.00 (4% increase) and amend the budget accordingly. BECERRA/M.JONES/HUNT] >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> JUDGE BECERRA: K21. >> CLERK: 20? DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF -- AMENDMENT NUMBER 1 TO RFP 2026-301 FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND WATER EARTH TECHNOLOGIES ADDING SERVER UPDATE SERVICES TO THE BI ANNUAL PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND NEARLY $8000 FOR PERCENT INCREASE IN AMEND THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. >> SO MOVED. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. [K. 21. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of a Professional Services Agreement (2027-PSA-21) between Hays County and Ecological Works related to the Regional Habitat Conservation Plan (RHCP), effective October 1, 2026, with a not-to-exceed contract value $48,000.00, and authorize a waiver to the purchasing policy of obtaining three quotes. HAMMER/FLOCKE/HUNT ] >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YES. >> CLERK: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT (2027-PSA-21) BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND ECOLOGICAL WORKS RELATED TO THE REGIONAL HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN (RHCP), EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2026, WITH A NOT-TO-EXCEED CONTRACT VALUE $48,000.00, AND AUTHORIZE A WAIVER TO THEÚPURCHG THREE QUOTES. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> THIS IS TO ENGAGE RACHEL LINDSAY BACK INTO HER CONTRACT, TO CONTINUE THE CONTRACT BASICALLY, SHE WAS WHO REPLACED JENNY BLAIR WHO WE'VE HAD THERE FOR A YEAR AND SHE'S INCREDIBLE, ABSOLUTELY LOVE HER. >> FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW THE CONSERVATION PLANS AND THE REGIONAL CONSERVATION PLAN THAT WE HAVE WE HAVE TO HAVE EXPERTS WHO GO IN AND VERIFY THAT OUR PARTNERS IN THOSE PROJECTS ARE DOING WHAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO ON THE CONSERVATION PLAN. >> JUDGE BECERRA: I'VE ALREADY OFFERED TO DO IT FOR A/-- A LOT LESS MONEY. YOU KNOW HOW THAT WENT. >> YOU MIGHT NEED TO HAVE MORE CERTIFICATION. >> JUDGE BECERRA: CAN'T JUST WEAR THE HAT PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER COHEN. [K. 22. Discussion and possible action regarding the development of the Hays County Commissioners Court's legislative agenda and priorities for the 90th Session of the Texas Legislature, including direction to the Office of County Administrator to return with a proposed slate of priorities for the Court's final approval. COHEN] >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> CLERK: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> YES. >> CLERK: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND PRIORITIES FOR THE 90TH SESSION OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, INCLUDING DIRECTION TO THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO RETURN WITH A PROPOSED SLATE OF PRIORITIES FOR THE COURT'S FINAL APPROVAL. >> SO MOVED. >> DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BEFORE I START I WILL HAVE A SMALL THING FOR YOU HERE. >> JUDGE BECERRA: THAT SUSPICIOUS GIVING IT TO US LAST MINUTE. >> IT IS. >> COURT, A FEW WEEKS AGO YOU HAD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE CONTRACT ENTERING WITH DAVIS KAUFMAN LLP, TO ASSIST HAYS COUNTY WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS DURING THE 90TH [03:40:01] LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SINCE THAT TIME, MY OFFICE, CANDACE AND I HAVE MET MULTIPLE TIMES WITH DENISE TO DISCUSS DIFFERENT THINGS FOR THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SHE HAS DONE MULTIPLE THINGS IN ADDITION TO THAT, SHE FOR EXAMPLE HAS PROVIDED US A POST-ELECTION REPORT AND ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATES, I SHARED THAT ELECTION REPORT WITH ALL OF YOU. TODAY, OUR OFFICE WOULD LIKE TO IDENTIFY YOUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES SO THAT WE CAN GIVE OUR TEAM CLEAR DIRECTION TO START MOVING TOWARDS. I DID APPROACH YOUR OFFICES OVER THE PAST WEEK TO GIVE YOU A HEADS-UP THAT WE WERE GOING TO START THIS CONVERSATION BUT BY NO MEANS WILL IT BE FINAL OR END TODAY. THIS JUST GETS THE BALL ROLLING SO YOU HAVE TIME OVER THE NEXT MONTH TO THINK ABOUT THINGS AND SO THAT WHENEVER I LEAVE HERE I CAN GET MY CANDACE AND I CAN WORK WITH OTHERS TO DISCUSS WHETHER LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES LOOK LIKE AND THEN TO PUT THEM ON PAPER. THE DOCUMENT I PROVIDED YOU OUTLINES AN APPROACH, THIS APPROACH WAS REQUESTED BY DAVIS KAUFMAN AT OUR MEETING LAST WEEK. THEY EMAILED IT TO US A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO TO GIVE YOU EXAMPLES WHENEVER YOU LEAVE HERE WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE. FOR EXAMPLE, IT INCLUDES YOUR TOP FIVE PRIORITIES, IT ALSO HAS INDIVIDUAL PRIORITIES THAT YOU MAY CHOOSE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO HERE, WHAT ISSUES WERE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU, WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO PURSUE ON BEHALF OF HAYS COUNTY AND HOW YOU CAN BEST MOVE YOUR PRIORITIES FORWARD. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER SMITH WE WILL START WITH YOU. >> SURE. AS OF ABOUT 4:00 YESTERDAY I WAS IN THE CAPITOL I DO VOLUNTEER WORK EVERY NOW AND THEN WE BRING CHILDREN OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS UP, THEY DRAFT A BILL, THEY WORK WITH THEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND THEN WE WALK THEM AROUND THE CAPITOL, I'M SUPPOSED TO BE WALKING THOSE KIDS AROUND THE CAPITOL RIGHT NOW. WE WERE UP THERE YESTERDAY WE MET WITH A NUMBER. >> JUDGE BECERRA: I WAS MAKING A JOKE, ARE THEY WAITING. >> WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS AS OF ABOUT 4:00 YESTERDAY THERE WERE OVER 1400 BILLS ALREADY INTRODUCED WHICH IS A LANDSLIDE AS YOU COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS FOUR SESSIONS, FOUR OR FIVE SESSIONS. I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT HAVE GONE INTO THIS AS FAR AS STRUCTURE, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE SORELY NEEDED FOR A WHILE JUST REVIEWING THE BILLS THAT WERE INTRODUCED YESTERDAY I KNOW THERE ARE SOME THAT WERE INTRODUCED BY THE TWO STATE REPRESENTATIVES WHO REPRESENT HAYS COUNTY THAT I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE TAKES VERY SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS FORWARD AND ENDORSING AND PASSING RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT, CONVERSELY THERE'S BEEN AT LEAST ONE INTRODUCED BY ONE OF OUR STATE REPS THAT I WOULD HOPE WE WOULD ADAMANTLY OPPOSED AND THAT WOULD LIFT VARIOUS RESTRICTIONS ON HIGH VOLUME WATER USERS RELATED TO THEIR USE OF OUR GROUNDWATER. THOSE ARE GOING TO BE PRIORITIES THAT I SEE I THINK THE OTHER THING WE ALWAYS PASS RESOLUTIONS RELATED TO UNFUNDED MANDATES AND WE DID 12 WEEKS AGO WHICH WAS THAT IN GENERAL UNFUNDED MANDATE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS FOR OUR BUDGET OFFICE TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THOSE MANDATES THAT WE KNOW HIT US THE HARDEST. WE KNOW THAT WHEN IT COMES TO JAIL OCCUPANCY, ONE -- WE KNOW THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT FOR EXAMPLE IF WE HAD THEY HOLD THEM -- WE HAVE TO HOLD THEM FOR UP TO 45 DAYS AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE AND THIS IS TALKING TO THE COUNCIL OF URBAN COUNTIES AS WELL, NOT A SINGLE COUNTY HAS BEEN REIMBURSED BY THE STATE AFTER THAT 45 DAYS EVEN THOUGH IT IS STATE LAW. THERE IS THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE VERY SPECIFIC THAT I THINK ONLY OUR BUDGET OFFICE WILL BE ABLE TO POINT OUT TO US THAT I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL IN MAKING THESE DECISIONS BUT I CAN TELL YOU I'VE ALREADY STARTED MY LIST AND I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY IF WE DO THIS ON THE FIRST OR THE 15TH I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THAT LIST PREPARED AT THAT POINT AND POSSIBLE RESOLUTIONS TO GO ALONG WITH THEM. I WOULD ALSO AGAIN I'M ROTATING OFF ON THE 15TH SO IT'S MY LAST COURT SOMEONE ON THE COURT NEEDS TO PICK UP THE BATON AND AN OUR MISCELLANEOUS SECTION I BELIEVE IT IS MISCELLANEOUS ACTUALLY NO, IT'S A STANDING ITEM SECTION,. >> JUDGE BECERRA: PROVIDE UPDATES. >> THERE NEEDS TO BE AN AGENDA ITEM ESPECIALLY THROUGHOUT SESSION WHERE YOU CAN HAVE DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO WHATEVER IS HAPPENING AT THE CAPITOL AT THAT TIME. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> I'M ECHOING WHAT COMMISSIONER SMITH SAID, THERE ARE SOME GOOD PRIORITIES THAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT. JUST IN MY GENERAL TWO YEARS OF BEING ONE YEAR AND 11 MONTHS OF BEING IN OFFICE, I WILL SAY I HAVE CONSISTENTLY GET NOISE ORDINANCES, COUNTY IS ENACTING NOISE AUTHORITY, I THINK THAT WOULD BE SUCH AN AMAZING THING FOR US TO DO AND NOT JUST HAVE IT BE 85 DECIBELS IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH. [03:45:03] I WOULD SAY PROBABLY EVERY WEEKEND I HEAR SOMETHING SAYING THIS OR ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE. I'D SAY THE ETJ BEING ABLE I BELIEVE THAT'S CHAPTER, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT CHAPTER ON IT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: LET'S ROLL THAT BACK. >> I WOULD LOVE TO NOT HAVE THAT BE BASICALLY DEVELOPERS BEING ABLE TO BULLY CITIES INTO DOING WHAT THEY WANT AND IF THEY DON'T THEY JUST GO TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE THAT PUTS US IN A BAD AND UNFAVORABLE POSITION AS WELL. I ALSO THINK FROM A SUSTAINABILITY STANDPOINT WE CAN REQUIRE WATER VIABILITY STUDIES BUT WE CAN'T REQUIRE THEM TO BE SUSTAINABLE SO ANY TYPE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HELP US DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE SUSTAINABLE FROM A WIDER PERSPECTIVE WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. >> JUDGE BECERRA: MY SINGULAR TINY ITEM BECAUSE THERE'S A HUGE OVERLAP OF INTERESTS THAT THEY HAVE JUST CONVEYED IS FUNDING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. WE HAVE AN INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT THAT WILL BE SENT TO THE VOTERS FOR THE FORMATION OF A HOSPITAL DISTRICT COUNTYWIDE AND I BELIEVE THE LPPF CONVERSATION WE HAD EARLIER TOUCHES ON THAT GENTLY, -- DEDICATING 6% OF THE TAX DOLLARS GOING TOWARDS THAT EFFORT BUT I BELIEVE SERIOUSLY ROBUST MECHANISM TO HELP ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS IN A MEANINGFUL CONSISTENT WAY WOULD BE MOST IDEAL FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE WE HOLD THE LABOR POOL IN OUR HANDS, I LEARNED THAT THROUGH COVID 19. WHEN THEY PUT ON THE SHELF BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT WELL WE LOSE AS EMPLOYERS, WE LOSE AS GOVERNMENT, AND WE LOSE AS FILL IN THE BLANK, WE LOSE AS A HOLE. SO PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING WOULD BE MY NUMBER 1 OF ALL PICKS. COMMISSIONER COHEN. >> I HAVE SEVERAL BUT MOST OF IT IS RELATED TO GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. THE LEGISLATURE TO GIVE COUNTIES MORE USABLE TOOLS TO MAX DEVELOPMENT, THE ROADS AND WATER THAT CAN SUPPORT IT. OUR WATER SUPPLY, GROUNDWATER AND FLOOD RESILIENCE ASKING FOR MORE FLOOD PLANNING TOOLS AND PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS, OUR WELLS, SPRINGS AND SAFETY, PUBLIC SALE, PUBLIC SAFETY, JAIL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF COURSE BECAUSE OF THE NEW PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE IMPLEMENTING MORE FUNDING IS GOING TO BE NEEDED AROUND ALL THOSE FUND DIVERSIONS CRISIS RESPONSE, THE PROBATION SERVICES, MORE FUNDING AROUND THAT PUBLIC HEALTH AS WELL. THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE THAT I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR TRYING TO GET MORE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. I AGREE WITH THE JUDGE YOU CAN'T HAVE A HEALTHY ECONOMY IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT GOES HAND-IN-HAND. I HAVE SOME OTHER IDEAS, TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND I-35 CORRIDOR, WHATEVER WE CAN DO MORE FUNDS FOR THAT. IT'S WORKING WITH OUR FELLOW COUNTIES AS WELL, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE CORRIDOR WITH OUR LEADERSHIP. REPRESENT THE AREAS. I AM GOING TO TYPE THIS OFF, I WILL BE ABLE TO GET THAT TO YOU. >> JUDGE BECERRA: COMMIS COMMISSIONER? >> MY COLLEAGUES MENTIONED A LOT OF THE ONES THAT I WAS THINKING OF ALSO, THE NOISE ORDINANCE AND WE ARE DEALING TODAY WITH SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE GOES OUT THERE AND THEY HAVE THE METERS TO TAKE THE DECIBEL READINGS, IT DOESN'T GO UP TO THE LEVEL, UNTIL THEY ARE CALLING OUR OFFICE, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WILL BE OUR TOP PRIORITIES BUT IT CERTAINLY IS AN IMPORTANT ONE THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR BECAUSE WE GET THESE AS COMMISSIONER HAMMER SAID FREQUENTLY AND IT'S REALLY DISHEARTENING TO KNOW THAT WE CAN'T REALLY DO MUCH ABOUT IT AND YET THEY ARE SUFFERING THROUGH ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING OUTSIDE IN THE COUNTY. ANOTHER ONE WHICH IS CONTROVERSIAL IS THE DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS CALLS ON THAT, [03:50:01] PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN SUBDIVISIONS AND A 10-ACRE TRACK, RIGHT NEXT TO HIM, THAT CAN BECOME VERY TRICKY WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THAT BUT THAT IS ANOTHER -- THOSE ARE CALLS THAT WE GET ON A REGULAR BASIS IN MY OFFICE. THERE IS SOME CONTROVERSIAL THINGS THAT I CAN WRITE UP ALSO. THE FLOCKE CAMERAS AND THE DATA STORAGE, AN ITEM THAT WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT. WE NEED TO DO THAT. I STILL LOOK FORWARD TO US GETTING A POLICY TOGETHER REGARDING THAT AI USAGE AND ALL THAT. I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE ONE. I AM GOING TO GO TO WATER BECAUSE I THINK WATER CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES. WE NEED GREATER ABILITY TO ADDRESS DATA CENTERS ACROSS INCREASING DEMANDS ON OUR AQUIFER, SUSTAINABILITY AND GROUNDWATER SUPPLY BUT ALSO THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT ON WATER AVAILABILITY IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND OF COURSE PROTECTING OUR WATER RESOURCES FOR FURTHER -- FUTURE GENERATIONS. ONE OF THE GENERATIONS IS IF THE LEGISLATION GRANTS COUNTIES ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY WILL THAT AUTHORITY ALLOW US TO ACTUALLY LIMIT OR DENY A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WHEN IT IS REJECTED WATER USE CONJUNCT -- CONJUNCTION, THE LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR WATER RESOURCES OR WILL ADJUST SIMPLY ALLOW US TO REQUEST STUDIES AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST. I THINK IT NEEDS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL REGULATORY POWER AND NOT JUST SIMPLY ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT. AND SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO MONITOR THAT AND REQUEST ADDITIONAL TRUE AUTHORITY BUT I HAVE A LIST AND I WILL GET THAT TO YOU. >> JUDGE BECERRA: YOU CAN SEE A COMMON THEME HERE, CREDIT UNIVERSAL. >> ABSOLUTELY AND THAT WAS THE POINT, WE TRIED TO GET ON TO THE SAME TRAIN SO WE CAN WORK WITH THE LLP, WE START -- EVEN THOUGH PRE-FILING WAS YESTERDAY TO START THIS EARLIER. THAT'S WHAT YOU DID WITH THE CONTRACT TWO MONTHS EARLIER THIS YEAR AS OPPOSED TO THE CONTRACTS IN THE PAST WERE STARTED IN JANUARY. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS, I WOULD EMPLOY ALL THE EMAIL, WHATEVER PRIORITIES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED TODAY, WHENEVER WE DO HAVE THE WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH DENISE I CAN BE SURE TO UPDATE EACH OF YOU AS THINGS EVOLVE AND AS BILLS GET FILED, IDEAS INDIVIDUALLY, AND WHAT THEY MIGHT LOOK LIKE, AT THE LEGISLATURE THE NEXT SESSION. THE OTHER THING IS TO WORK ALONG THE CORRIDOR AS YOU MENTIONED, I HAVE REACHED OUT THIS WEEK TO THE CENTRAL TEXAS ALLIANCE TO INQUIRE ON THAT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND TO ASK WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE SO WE COULD GIVE THAT TO YOU SO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. ANTICIPATES BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK WE WILL GET THAT TO YOU. IF THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS I APPRECIATE IT. >> JUDGE BECERRA: I APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT. >> I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THE COMMON THEME HERE WAS GROSSLY PUSHED TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT, I AGREE WITH THAT. COMPLETELY BUT THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO DO AND LOOK AT YOU ARE THOSE REGULATORY STRUCTURES AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT CIRCUMVENT WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE IN HAYS COUNTY. I WILL USE THE EXAMPLE OF WASTEWATER SYSTEM HERE IF A DEVELOPER DOES NOT WANT TO ADHERE TO THE WASTEWATER RULES, THEY GET OVER 5000 GALLONS HE GOES TO THE STATE OF TEXAS. >> JUDGE BECERRA: WE ARE OUT OF THE PICTURE. >> IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN LOOK AT WHERE THAT REGULATORY AUTHORITY LIES HERE WHERE WE ARE BEING SERVED -- CIRCUMVENTED STATE LAW PURPOSEFULLY LED TO TRY TO IDENTIFY THOSE AND MAKE THOSE PRIORITIES AS WELL. [M. 1. Discussion related to the Hays County inmate population, to include current population counts and costs. BECERRA] >> JUDGE BECERRA: PLEASE OPEN M ONE. >> CLERK: DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE HAYS COUNTY INMATE POPULATION TO INCLUDE CURRENT POPULATION COUNTS AND COSTS. >> THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, A WEEKLY REPORT, OUR JAIL CAPACITY IS AT 464 INMATES. JAIL STANDARDS RECOMMEND APPROXIMATELY 10% OF IT WHICH LOWERS THE ACTUAL CAPACITY TO 417. THE CURRENT -- THE COUNTY'S CURRENT MAXIMUM JAIL CAPACITY AND HEAD COUNT WAS 464 INMATES [03:55:05] HOWEVER. THE MAXIMUM WAS 533 ON NOVEMBER THIRD AND THE COST OF THAT WAS $64,062.50 AND WE HELD 89 MALES IN THE COUNTY AND ZERO FEMALES. AND SO THE OVERCROWDING IN OUR JAIL IS ALL LOWERED, IT IS DONE, WE ARE STILL BURNING A LOT OF MONEY ON THEIR FRONT. WE HAVE HAD THOSE DAY IN COURTS, THAT WILL BE ON THE STATE DIME, [L. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS] EXECUTIVE SESSION, OPEN ALL FOUR EXECUTIVE SESSIONS. >> EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071 AND 551.087 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL AND DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PROJECT HERCULES. POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT. ALTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551 -- -- .071 AND SECTION 551.072 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL AND DELIBERATION REGARDING THE EXCHANGE PURCHASE LEASE SALE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT OR NEAR EAST FM 150 KYLE, TEXAS 78640 IN PRECINCT ONE. POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT. L THREE -- EXEC SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071 AND 551.072 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL AND DELIBERATION REGARDING THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE CALCULUS AND/OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY ASSOCIATED WITH PARKS AND OPEN SPACE PROJECTS. BEING CONSIDERED BY HAYS COUNTY. DISCUSSION AND INTERACTION -- ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT. L4, EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE: CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL REGARDING THE COUNTY'S LEGAL OPTIONS AND REMEDIES INVOLVING THE INDIGENT DEFENSE SERVICES PROVIDED BY NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDER SERVICES. POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT >> WE WOULD LIKE TO DO ONE, THREE AND FOUR. >> JUDGE BECERRA: ONE, FOUR, THREE AND THEN TWO. >> ALL RIGHT. WE ARE WAITING FOR THE LIGHTS TO SHOW UP ON THE SCREEN HERE WE ARE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE BEEN ENLIGHTENED ON MANY * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.