Jun 24, 2025 REGULAR SESSION AGENDA

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TODAY IS TUESDAY, JUNE 25TH, 2020.

[1. Call to Order.]

AND THE TIME, AS I MENTIONED IT IS 101.

I CALL TO ORDER THIS REGULAR MEETING OF FORT BEND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT.

WELCOME TO OUR COURTROOM, AND THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO ARE THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US VIA LIVE STREAM.

PLEASE BE ADVISED WE HAVE A PRESENCE OF A QUORUM.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS NOTICE OF COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED ONLINE UNDER LEGAL NOTICES FOR AT LEAST 72 HOURS PURSUANT TO TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 551. PLEASE STAND AS PASTOR OTIS CLARK FROM MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH, LEAD US IN PRAYER AND FOLLOWED BY INVOCATION OF PASTOR.

FIRST OF ALL, GOOD MORNING TO EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE.

LET US BREATHE A WORD OF PRAYER.

GOD OUR FATHER. WE PAUSE THIS MORNING IN HUMILITY AND GRATITUDE, ACKNOWLEDGING YOU AS THE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF WISDOM, JUSTICE, AND PEACE. WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF GOVERNING AND THE SACRED TRUST PLACED UPON THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT STAFF OUR COMMUNITY, FOR THEY ARE SERVANTS OF THE FORT BEND COUNTY.

TODAY, LORD, WE INVITE YOUR PRESENCE INTO THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT.

MAY EVERY DECISION MADE IN THIS CHAMBER REFLECT OUR CHARACTER ROOTED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, COMPASSION, EQUITY, AND TRUTH.

GRANT OUR COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY LEADERS DISCERNMENT BEYOND DATA, VISION BEYOND POLITICS, COURAGE BEYOND CONVENIENCE.

MAY THEY GOVERN NOT MERELY BY WHAT IS LEGAL, BUT BY WHAT IS RIGHT.

SEEKING THE WELFARE OF ALL RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THE VOICELESS, THE VULNERABLE AND THE UNSEEN, WE PRAY FOR UNITY AMONG THEM.

NOT UNIFORMITY OF THOUGHT, BUT HARMONY OF HEART.

LET EVERY DEBATE BE GOVERNED BY DIGNITY.

LET EVERY DIFFERENCE BE GUIDED BY MUTUAL RESPECT.

BLESS THIS COUNTY FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO OUR SCHOOLS, FROM OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

MAY PEACE DWELL IN OUR STREETS AND HOPE RISE IN EVERY HOME.

AND FINALLY, MY SAVIOR, REMIND US THAT LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT POSITION, BUT ABOUT STEWARDSHIP.

KEEP US ALL MINDFUL THAT WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, TO WHOM MUCH IS REQUIRED.

IN THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS, AMEN.

AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU SIR.

AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO PLEDGES.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO OUR NATION'S FLAG.

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 HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE. PLEASE BE SEATED.

THANK YOU, PASTOR, FOR BEING HERE.

APPRECIATE IT. AND ITEM NUMBER THREE APPROVAL.

[3. Approve minutes of regular meeting held on June 10, 2025. ]

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

[4. Public Comments regarding the Agenda and Announcements.]

WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT, I NEED TO READ A STATEMENT.

IT IS IMPORTANT. JUST.

PLEASE. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME HERE.

BEFORE WE BEGIN TODAY, TODAY'S MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMIND ALL OF US OF THE IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES WE CARRY AS THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT AND OTHERS WHO SUPPORT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE ROLES. LAST COUPLE OF SESSIONS, WE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL OUTBURSTS THAT DISRUPTED OUR PROCEEDINGS AND KIND OF CREATED CONFUSION.

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE MAINTAIN PROPER DECORUM SO THAT OUR DISCUSSIONS REMAIN CLEAR, FOCUSED AND PRODUCTIVE.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING MINUTES MANAGING AGENDA ITEMS. MULTIMEDIA. PRESENTATION.

MANAGEMENT, AND ALSO INCLUDING THE DISRUPTION OF LIVE STREAMING WHEN IT VERY NOISY PEOPLE

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IF THIS PROBLEM ARISES, I WILL RESIST MOVING FORWARD.

IF THIS PROBLEM ARISES, I WILL RECESS THE MEETING TO PROVIDE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECT THEMSELVES SO THAT WE COULD CONTINUE WITH OUR PROCEEDINGS.

AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, I WILL.

I MUST ASK THAT NO MORE CLAPPING, SHOUTING, OR ANY OTHER FORMS OF LOUD OR DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR DURING THE COURT PROCEEDING.

WHILE WE CAN AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH MEMBERS OF OUR COURT, THE CONVERSATION MUST BE IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER AND NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED TO DISRUPT A COURT MEMBER WHILE THEY ARE MAKING THEIR POINT.

I WILL READ THAT NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED TO DISRUPT A COURT MEMBER WHILE THEY ARE MAKING THEIR POINT. IT IS NOW GOING TO BE TOLERATED.

SUCH ACTIONS INTERFERE WITH THE COURTS ABILITY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS WITH CLARITY, EFFICIENCY AND RESPECT.

AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER, I AM ASKING THAT EVERYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COURT ON A PUBLIC SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM MUST WAIT TO BE RECOGNIZED BEFORE SPEAKING.

THIS ENSURED THAT ONLY ONE PERSON SPEAK AT A TIME AT PROMOTING RESPECTFUL AND ORGANIZED DISCUSSION GOING TO BE THE RESULT.

IF A COMMISSIONER WISHES TO CHALLENGE A RULING, RAISE A POINT OF ORDER OR SEEK CLARIFICATION ON PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, PLEASE DO SO RESPECTFULLY.

CLEARLY STATE YOUR POINT AND WAIT TO BE BE RECOGNIZED, AT WHICH POINT THE MATTER WILL BE ADDRESSED ACCORDING TO THE ADOPTED RULES OF PROCEDURE AND ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.

THESE PROTOCOLS HELP ENSURE FAIRNESS AND ORDER IN OUR DELIBERATIONS.

RESPECTFULLY, I ASK EVERYONE TO FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES.

WAIT FOR THEIR TURN TO SPEAK.

AVOID INTERRUPTIONS AND TREAT ONE ANOTHER WITH RESPECT.

DURING OUR COURT PROCEEDINGS, WE ARE HERE TO CONDUCT GOVERNMENT BUSINESS.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ALWAYS REMEMBER.

ALWAYS REMEMBER. OUR CITIZENS ARE WATCHING.

AND THIS IS ALSO RECORDED BY WORKING TOGETHER WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND COURTESY, WE CAN CONDUCT OUR FUTURE MEETINGS MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER. I ASK ONCE AGAIN THE COOPERATION FROM OUR COURT MEMBERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND OF COURSE, THE CITIZENS WHO ARE PRESENT HERE.

WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO NEXT ITEM.

AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS.

JULY 4TH IS GOING TO BE ALL COUNTY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY, JULY 4TH, 2025, IN OBSERVANCE OF INDEPENDENCE DAY.

REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS WILL START ON MONDAY, JULY 7TH.

GREG, ARE YOU HERE? YOU HAVE AN UPDATE? YEAH. PLEASE. COME ON.

GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS JUST FROM THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AGAIN.

WEATHER THIS WEEK DURING MIDDAY, 12 TO 3:00.

ALMOST EVERY DAY THIS WEEK, WITH A POSSIBILITY OF THUNDERSHOWERS THROUGHOUT FORT BEND COUNTY.

MORE ON THE EASTERN AND NORTHEAST.

NORTHEAST SIDE OF THE COUNTY WILL BE THESE THUNDERSTORMS. SOME FLASH FLOODS. LOOKS TO BE THIS AFTERNOON, POSSIBLY TOMORROW. NO DANGER OR THREAT TO CITIZENS OR THE COMMUNITY CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW. THE ROADWAY SHOULD HANDLE THAT STUFF.

LIKE LIKE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO. WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT, AND THE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT ASSURES ME THAT THE RIVER LEVELS ARE ALL CURRENTLY WELL, AND ALL WATERSHEDS THAT ARE FLOWING WATER THIS WAY ARE BEING HELD AND HELD, HOLDING ACCOUNTABLE. SO THERE'LL BE NO FLOODS AT THE FORT BEND COUNTY LEVEL AT THIS CURRENT TIME. ALSO JUST TO NOTE, AS WE'RE IN HURRICANE SEASON, THE FIRST NAMED HURRICANE HAS BEEN NAMED OUT THERE IN THE ATLANTIC. IT'S ANDREA.

THERE'S NO IMPACT TO THE ATLANTIC COAST OR THE GULF.

THANK GOODNESS. BUT FIRST NAMED STORM IS OUT THERE CURRENTLY.

WE'RE ALSO WATCHING SOME ACTIVITY CALLED 95 EL.

THAT'S ON THE VERY PACIFIC SIDE OF THE OF MEXICO.

WE'RE WATCHING THAT OFF THERE AS IT HAS POTENTIAL TO CROSS ACROSS ACROSS MEXICO, GET INTO THE GULF, AND MAYBE CAUSE A LITTLE BIT OF DISTURBANCE OVER THERE IN THE GULF.

AND WE'LL BE WATCHING THAT IF IT TRACKS UP. AND IF ANYTHING, THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER WILL KEEP EVERYBODY INFORMED IF THERE'S ANY POTENTIAL THREAT AS THAT STORM MOVES OVER INTO THE GULF.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AT THIS TIME. I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS THIS COUPLE OF PROCLAMATION.

ARE YOU GOING TO BE READING THE PROCLAMATION? PLEASE COME FORWARD. THANK YOU.

JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

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THE PROCLAMATION READS AS SUCH.

WHEREAS FORT BEND COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES FCAHS SERVES AS THE MUNICIPAL SHELTER AND RABIES CONTROL AUTHORITY FOR ALL UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, MAINTAINING AN IMPRESSIVE 90% SAVE RATE FOR ALL PETS ENTERING THE SHELTER SINCE AUGUST 2018. AND WHEREAS SINCE 2018, FB HAS PARTNERED WITH THE FORT BEND PAWS PETS ARE WORTH SAVING AS DEDICATED 500 1C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT RAISES VITAL FUNDS FOR SHELTER, PETS AND PROGRAMS NOT COVERED BY THE COUNTY BUDGET.

PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR KENNEL IMPROVEMENTS, SPAY NEUTER INITIATIVES, SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE, PET TRANSPORT, AND EMERGENCY SUPPLIES.

AND WHEREAS, SPCAS ACTIVELY COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING IN MAJOR ADOPTION INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE HOUSTON MEGA ADOPTION EVENT.

CLEAR THE SHELTERS, EMPTY THE SHELTERS, AND THE SUMMER BEACH PARTY, SHOWCASING THE SHELTER'S UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO LIFE SAVING OUTCOMES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND WHEREAS THE SUCCESS OF FORT BEND COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES IS A TESTAMENT TO THE DEDICATION OF ITS STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FORT BEND COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND THE FORT BEND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT.

AND THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT KP JORDAN, THE COMMISSIONERS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE THIS 24TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025.

FORT BEND COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES FOR ITS EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS, LIFE SAVING PARTNERSHIPS AND STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS AND THE ENRICHMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

NUMBER TWO, THE PROCLAMATION READS.

AS SUCH, WHEREAS THE FORT BEND COUNTY PROUDLY ACKNOWLEDGES ORGANIZATIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE EXTRAORDINARY COMMITMENT TO ANIMAL WELFARE, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.

AND WHEREAS, THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT ESTABLISHED BY CANINE RESCUE IN 2017 WAS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO THE REGION'S URGENT PET OVERPOPULATION CRISIS, RECOGNIZING THAT ADOPTIONS ALONE CANNOT RESOLVE THE VOLUME OF ANIMALS ENTERING THE SHELTER SYSTEM. AND WHEREAS TSP, TS, SPP.

EXCUSE ME HAS PROVIDED FREE SPAY NEUTER, MICROCHIPPING, AND VACCINATION SERVICES TO MORE THAN 26,000 PETS ACROSS THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, DIRECTLY BENEFITING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND REDUCING THE FLOW OF UNWANTED ANIMALS INTO SHELTERS. AND WHEREAS THESE EFFORTS HAVE HAD A PROFOUND FISCAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT, WITH ESTIMATES SUGGESTING THAT REDUCING SHELTER INTAKE BY HALF COULD SAVE TAXPAYERS NEARLY 500,000 IN ANIMAL CARE AND SHELTERING COSTS, WHILE EASING PRESSURE ON MUNICIPAL SHELTER SYSTEMS. AND WHEREAS THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT ACTIVELY COLLABORATES WITH THE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS, ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS AND HAS MET WITH ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT THROUGHOUT FORT BEND COUNTY.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT K.P.

GEORGE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE ON THE 24TH OF JUNE, 2025, THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT FOR ITS LIFE CHANGING CONTRIBUTIONS TO ANIMAL WELFARE, COMMUNITY HEALTH AND TAXPAYER SAVINGS AND ENCOURAGE CONTINUED SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION FOR THIS CRITICAL INITIATIVE.

IF YOU ALL COULD COME DOWN TO TAKE THE PICTURE AND I WILL ASK THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT AND OUR FORT BEND COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES AND MAYOR BENTON TO COME UP AND TAKE A PICTURE. THANK YOU.

OKAY. CAN YOU VOTE? YEAH, YOU CAN DO THAT. DO YOU WANT TO DO IT RIGHT HERE REAL QUICK? I'LL DO IT REAL QUICK. IF I COULD JUST ADDRESS THE COURT. OKAY.

PERFECT. COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF ROSENBERG, WE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP FOR THE CLEAR THE SHELTERS EVENT THAT WE HAD.

APRIL THE 26TH IN ROSENBERG AT TERRY HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS IS IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF RECORD BREAKING, RECORD SETTING, SPAY AND NEUTER EVENT.

THEY SPAYED AND NEUTERED 720 720 ANIMALS.

MANY OF THOSE FROM ROSENBERG.

SO WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S EFFORT AND YOUR HELP AND YOUR FUNDING AND YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT.

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AND THEN THIS IS TO FORT BEND PAUL'S, WHICH DID A GREAT JOB AND PROVIDED MUCH OF THE FUNDING AS WELL AS FORT BEND COUNTY.

SO APPLAUD YOURSELVES.

AND THIS IS THE LADY THAT HELPED MAKE A LOT OF THIS HAPPEN.

THAT'S RIGHT. WITH RENEE. I'LL TELL YOU THAT.

PERFECT. THANK YOU, MAYOR BENTON. THANK YOU. THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT. AND THANK YOU, ANIMAL SERVICES. RENEE, IF YOU COULD COME UP AND JUST GIVE REAL QUICK WHAT WE HAVE ON THE SLIDE.

THAT WE'VE CREATED SO THAT WE CAN INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT OUR LONG TIME RESIDENTS.

SO, YES. SO ON THE SLIDE SHOW HERE, THOSE ARE OUR LONGEST RESIDENTS.

WE DO WE'VE HAD SOME THAT HAVE BEEN THERE.

SO YESTERDAY WE HAD OUR LONGEST, LONGEST RESIDENTS GET ADOPTED.

HE WAS JUST OVERLOOKED.

NOTHING WRONG WITH HIM. WE TOOK HIM TO CHANNEL TWO ON FRIDAY OR CHANNEL 26 ON FRIDAY. HE DID GREAT AND HE WAS ADOPTED YESTERDAY.

HE WAS AT THE SHELTER FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS.

SO YEAH, AND IT'S JUST ONE OF THEM THINGS.

HE WAS NOT MEAN GOOD WITH KIDS, GOOD WITH JUST JUST OVERLOOKED.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WALK IN SOMETIMES THEY FOCUS ON PUPPIES, SO ON AND SO FORTH. THESE GUYS HERE, THEY'VE BEEN OVER A YEAR.

AGAIN, NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THEY'RE READY TO, TO GET GOOD HOMES. SO YOU KNOW YOUR SUPPORT BY YOU GUYS AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO.

IT'S BEEN WORKING IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES SOME OF THESE GUYS, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A LITTLE LONGER THAN, THAN EVERYONE ELSE TO GET ADOPTED OUT. SO APPRECIATE THANK YOU FOR FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU THAT YOU DO FOR US.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND THAT CONCLUDES OKAY.

I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE NUMEROUS PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

AND ALSO, I WANTED TO BE CLEAR SOME OF YOU WILL BE TALKING ON A PUBLIC HEARING.

SO WE WILL INVITE YOU TO SPEAK DURING THAT PUBLIC HEARING TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

OTHERS. OLGA, GO AHEAD AND READ THE NAME.

THE FIRST SPEAKER IS TED OR EXCUSE ME ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.

GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON.

I HAVE TRAVELED TO AUSTIN TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD REGARDING A BOOK THEY ADOPTED CALLED WE THE PEOPLE.

WE THE PEOPLE ARE THE FIRST THREE WORDS OF THE PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION WHEN THEY WERE CONSIDERING IT. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE TEXT OF THE PREAMBLE.

NOW THEY DO. I RAN A WORKSHOP FOR THE RYAN WHITE PLANNING COUNCIL BACK IN THE EARLY 1990S. THEY WERE RECEIVING $1 MILLION IN FUNDING, AND THEY WERE AFRAID, BECAUSE THEIR MEETINGS WERE SO BAD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO LOSE THAT FUNDING.

THEY NOW HAVE RECEIVED OVER THEIR HISTORY.

OVER $300 MILLION IN HARRIS COUNTY.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE THE FREEDOM TO DO THINGS THAT ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER ALLOWS YOU TO DO IN THIS BOOK ON PAGE 365 AND 300.

I'M SAYING THAT WRONG.

IT IS 464 AND 465. IT SAYS THAT MOTIONS NEED NOT BE SECONDED.

IT ALSO SAYS THAT LIMITING DEBATE IN SMALL BOARDS, WHICH IS WHAT YOU ARE, THAT LIMITING DEBATE IS GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED. LIMITING DEBATE HAS TO BE THE DEBATE HAS TO BE GERMANE.

IT MUST NOT BE DILATORY, BUT AS LONG AS IT IS THOSE THINGS, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUT ANY IDEA FORWARD BY LIMITING MOTIONS TO PEOPLE WHO CAN GET A SECOND. YOU DENY THE FREEDOM OF FRESH IDEAS.

THEY MAY NOT BE GOOD IDEAS, BUT SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT HAVE A BETTER IDEA AND OFFER AN AMENDMENT WHICH ALSO DOES NOT REQUIRE A SECOND.

SO WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS IN THIS BODY AND IN ALL THE POLITICAL BODIES THAT

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IT WILL MAKE YOU A FRESHER, MORE VIBRANT BODY, AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL EXCEED THE $300 MILLION THAT THE RYAN WHITE PLANNING COUNCIL HAS RECEIVED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HEARING ME OUT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT PERSON.

THE NEXT PERSON IS MAHINDRA ON AGENDA ITEM 25.

PLEASE, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF. I AM A RESIDENT OF SUGARLAND COUNTY.

JUDGE COMMISSIONERS THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT. I'M STANDING HERE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE LAST ONE YEAR TO GIVE PERMISSION TO BURST FIRECRACKERS DURING A FESTIVAL CALLED DIWALI, AND THIS TIME WE ARE REQUESTING FOR A LONGER DURATION SO THAT WE DON'T NEED TO COME EVERY YEAR AROUND. AND THIS LAST ONE YEAR, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY INCIDENT WHERE PEOPLE WERE INJURED OR ANY FIRE TOOK PLACE.

I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER TO GIVE US A LONG DURATION SO THAT WE CELEBRATE OUR FESTIVAL CALLED DEEPAVALI. AND I INVITE YOU ALL TO ALL THE EVENTS WHERE WE ARE CELEBRATING COMMON ONE AND ENJOY TOGETHER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

NEXT PERSON. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVE.

AGENDA 25. AGENDA ITEM 25.

GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS FOR GIVING ME THE TIME TO SPEAK.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN THE SAME MANNER THAT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER WAS HERE WITH RESPECT TO FIREWORKS DURING THE DIWALI CELEBRATION THIS YEAR.

AS YOU KNOW, THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS AUTHORIZED SALE OF FIREWORKS DURING THIS FESTIVAL, AND IT'S UP TO EACH COUNTY TO ADOPT THAT GOING FORWARD.

I BELIEVE WE HAD A ACCEPTANCE OF THAT IN FORT BEND COUNTY LAST YEAR.

FOR ONE YEAR, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, THERE HAVE BEEN NO UNTOWARD INCIDENTS OF INJURY OR FIRES, AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY SAFE USE.

A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS BEFORE THIS PARTICULAR AUTHORIZATION WAS SUPPORTED, BOUGHT FIREWORKS DURING JULY 4TH WINDOW AND THEN STORED THEM, WHICH IS QUITE UNSAFE.

SO ALLOWING A LONGER TERM APPROVAL OVER SEVERAL YEARS WILL BE VERY HELPFUL FOR THE HINDU COMMUNITY THAT CELEBRATES DIWALI, ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE.

AND I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND AND REQUEST THE COURT TO GRANT A LONG DURATION APPROVAL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

NEXT QUESTION. BHARAT PATEL.

AGENDA ITEM 25. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.

NAMASTE. MY NAME IS BHARAT PATEL.

I LIVE IN SUGARLAND AND I REPRESENT SEVERAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

AND AS YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GRANTING THE APPROVAL FOR THE SALE OF FIREWORKS LAST YEAR.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD NO INCIDENTS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT DO FIREWORKS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS ARE, IS SMALL.

SO THE INCIDENTS ARE NOT NOT ANY.

LAST YEAR YOU APPROVED IT FOR ONE YEAR AND WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A LONG TERM APPROVAL THIS TIME SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP COMING HERE IN FRONT OF YOU EVERY YEAR.

AND AS THE PREVIOUS GENTLEMAN MENTIONED PEOPLE ARE STORING THE FIREWORKS DURING JULY 4TH TO DO THEM DURING DIWALI, WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE STARTED WE WANTED TO REQUEST THIS EARLIER BEFORE JULY 4TH, SO WE CAN TELL OUR COMMUNITY PEOPLE MEMBERS NOT TO.

BY JULY 4TH, THEY CAN WAIT UNTIL DIWALI TO BUY THEM AND NOT HAVING TO STORE THEM AT THEIR AT THEIR HOUSE. SO AGAIN, WE HUMBLY REQUEST YOU ALL TO PLEASE GRANT US THE APPROVAL FOR A LONG TERM SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP COMING HERE EVERY YEAR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HEMANG.

DAKAR AGENDA ITEM 25. THANK YOU JUDGE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS HEMANG TUCKER.

I'M A RESIDENT OF MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS.

AND MY HUMBLE REQUEST IS ALSO TO PLEASE GRANT US THE LONG TERM PERMISSION FOR FIREWORKS DURING DIWALI FIREWORKS SALE.

AND LIKE STATED EARLIER, THERE ARE THREE FACTS I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THAT CAN SUPPORT OUR REQUEST.

NUMBER ONE DIWALI FIREWORKS ARE A FAMILY AFFAIR, AND THEY'RE STRICTLY DONE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF PARENTS AS WELL AS ADULTS.

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AND THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON BEING, WE DO NOT WANT PEOPLE TO STORE FIREWORKS, YOU KNOW, AFTER JULY 4TH OR AFTER THE NEW YEAR FIREWORKS, BECAUSE THAT POSES A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD NOT ONLY FOR OUR OWN HOMES, BUT ALSO THE NEIGHBORS.

SO WITH THAT IN MIND WE WOULD HUMBLY REQUEST YOUR CONSIDERATION IN ALLOWING US FOR THE FIREWORKS SALE. SO, AGAIN, LIKE MR. PATEL SAID WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP COMING BACK.

SO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING OUR REQUEST.

THANK YOU. THANKS, BRUCE.

KALPESH. RANA. AGENDA ITEM 25.

GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGES.

MY NAME IS KALPESH RANA, AND I'M COMING WITH THE SAME AGENDA TO EXTEND THE FIREWORKS FOR THE DIWALI TIME FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS.

SO EVERYBODY CAN ENJOY THE FIREWORKS WITH THE FAMILY, KIDS AND GRANDKIDS. AND WE ARE, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, THAT WE ARE LIKE A SAFE, SAFELY ORIENTED FAMILIES AND FAMILIES.

SO PLEASE ALLOW US FOR 25 MORE YEARS FOR THE FIREWORKS.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THAT IS ALL FOR THOSE ITEMS. THE OTHER SPEAKERS ARE FOR YOUR PUBLIC HEARING, PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME.

IF THERE IS ANY ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE COURT MEMBERS.

HEARING NONE, I WILL MOVE ON TO SECTION TWO.

[5. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1:00 p.m.: Conduct Public Hearings and take all appropriate action on the following matters:]

FIVE A ENGINEERING CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN 5A1 KAREN LANE AT GASTON ROAD, PRECINCT ONE TWO TOMPKINS RESERVE SECTION ONE, PRECINCT ONE AND THREE BLUE HERON ESTATES, PRECINCT FOUR. NOW WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SPEAKERS.

AND THIS IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO STEP FORWARD TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

AND I THINK YOU ALREADY SIGNED UP, RIGHT? YES, YOU COULD CALL THEM RESPECTIVELY.

PLEASE COME FORWARD AND SPEAK. AND SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE IN THE OTHER ROOM, SO JUST PROVIDE THEM A FEW SECONDS TO COME IN.

OH, YEAH. OKAY. NO PROBLEM.

THE FIRST SPEAKER IS JAMIE SMITH ON AGENDA ITEM 582.

COME ON UP, SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JAMIE SMITH.

I LIVE ON HUNTER LANE.

CURRENTLY THE ONLY ENTRANCE TO THIS 84 HOME DEVELOPMENT, TOMPKINS RESERVE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

I TRULY APPRECIATE IT.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS OF HUNTER LANE AND THE FUTURE RESIDENTS OF TOMPKINS RESERVE.

THE TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF TOMPKINS RESERVE DOES NOT MATCH THE REALITY OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING BUILT.

IN FACT, THE CURRENT TRAFFIC PROPOSAL IS MISLEADING.

THE SUBMITTED PLANS SHOW SANFORD GREEN ROAD AS A CONNECTING BRIDGE BETWEEN TOMPKINS RESERVE AND WESTLAKE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THE BRIDGE DOES NOT EXIST.

THE VARIANCE APPROVED BY THIS COURT ON AUGUST 13TH, 2024, SHOWED SANFORD GREEN ROAD AS A SECOND REQUIRED ENTRANCE AND EXIT NECESSARY TO MEET THE COUNTY ENGINEERING, SUBDIVISION REGULATION AND FIRE MARSHALS TWO ACCESS CODE REQUIREMENT FOR NEIGHBORHOODS OVER 30 HOMES.

WE SUPPORTED THAT PLAN AND WE WELCOME OUR NEW NEIGHBORS.

HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THIS COURT HAS BEEN MISLED BY BOTH THE DEVELOPER AND CERTAIN COUNTY ENGINEERING STAFF. SO PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING FIVE FACTS.

FACT NUMBER ONE, THE DEVELOPER IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO BUILD THE BRIDGE.

MUD 58 OWNS THE DRAINAGE CHANNEL AND EMAILS OBTAINED FROM A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST DATED MAY 5TH, 2023 SHOW THE MUD WILL NOT APPROVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF SANFORD GREEN ROAD. FACT NUMBER TWO, A YEAR LATER, THE DEVELOPER'S ATTORNEY ASKED COUNTY PLANNING TO SKIP BUILDING THE BRIDGE, BUT MENTIONED THAT THEY WOULD STILL SHOW IT IN THE PLAT. FACT NUMBER THREE.

COUNTY ENGINEERING APPROVED THIS REQUEST VIA EMAIL WHILE CLAIMING THE FIRE MARSHAL SIGNED OFF ON IT, BUT THERE'S NO DOCUMENTATION.

WHEN I ASKED THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE NEVER ASKED, NOR WOULD THEY HAVE APPROVED IT.

FACT NUMBER FOUR, THIS COURT HAS NEVER APPROVED A VARIANCE TO REMOVE THAT BRIDGE.

YET 30 HOMES ARE ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, DESPITE THE DEVELOPER KNOWING THAT THEY COULD NOT MEET THE APPROVED PLAT REQUIREMENTS.

IN FACT, NUMBER FIVE, AS OF TODAY, EVERY APPROVED PLAT VARIANCE AND THIS CURRENT TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN STILL SHOWS SANFORD GREEN ROAD AS A BUILT BRIDGE AND SECOND ENTRANCE AND EXIT FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.

GIVEN THESE FACTS, IT'S CLEAR THE DEVELOPER IS NOT ACTING IN GOOD FAITH AND THIS COURT HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY MISLED.

[00:30:01]

HOWEVER, THEY WANTED THIS COURT TO BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD.

TODAY'S VOTE IS ABOUT A TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN, BUT THE INTENT OF THIS IS PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THIS DEVELOPER IS PLACING US IN THE FUTURE RESIDENTS AND INTENTIONAL HARM.

I URGE YOU, WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PROTECT US.

HUNDREDS OF LIVES ARE AT STAKE.

PLEASE VOTE NO ON THE CURRENT TRAFFIC CONTROL PROPOSAL FOR TOMPKINS RESERVE.

SECTION ONE. PRECINCT.

PRECINCT ONE. DEMAND THAT THE DEVELOPER WORK WITH MUD 58 TO BUILD THE ROAD AS SHOWN AND APPROVED, AND HALT ALL CONSTRUCTION UNTIL THAT TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AMY SMITH. AGENDA ITEM 582.

OH, I'M AMY SMITH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO FORT BEND COUNTY.

I NEVER IMAGINED I'D BE HERE TODAY FIGHTING FOR SOMETHING AS BASIC AS SAFE TRAFFIC CONTROL. BUT AS A MOTHER, I'VE SPENT TOO MANY NIGHTS AWAKE, WORRIED ABOUT MY CHILDREN'S LIVES.

AND NOW I'M BEGGING YOU TO HELP SOLVE THIS REAL LIFE PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS WE'RE LIVING IN. WE NEED HELP. I'VE MADE HUNDREDS OF CALLS, SENT EMAILS, MOST UNANSWERED, PLEADING FOR HELP FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS AND MANY OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

TODAY I'M ASKING YOU TO STEP IN BEFORE A TRAGEDY FORCES ACTION.

I WISH I WAS EXAGGERATING WHEN I SAY CHILDREN'S LIVES ARE 100% ON THE LINE WITH THIS AGENDA ITEM, INCLUDING MY OWN.

I LIVE ON HUNTER LANE, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN A QUIET COUNTRY ROAD SINCE 1975. THAT CHANGED WHEN CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON THE TRIPOINT DEVELOPMENT.

SINCE THEN, OUR NARROW DEAD END STREET WITH NO SIDEWALKS, NO STREET LIGHTS, NO CURBS, NO MARKINGS, AND ABSOLUTELY ZERO FIRE HYDRANTS HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A DANGEROUS CONSTRUCTION ZONE.

ACCORDING TO THE FIRE MARSHALL'S CODE FROM 2021, ANY DEVELOPMENT WITH MORE THAN 30 HOMES REQUIRES TWO POINTS OF ENTRY AND EXIT, SINCE TOMPKINS RESERVE IS BEING BUILT HALFWAY DOWN HUNTER LANE.

IT'S 84 HOMES COMBINED WITH OUR 34 HOMES WILL BRING THAT TOTAL TO 118.

ALL OF THESE HOMES WILL BE FORCED TO USE THE SINGLE DANGEROUS INTERSECTION ON GASTON ROAD, WHICH SHARES OUR BUS STOP AND A BUSY COMMERCIAL CENTER THAT URGENTLY NEEDS A TRAFFIC LIGHT. IT'S DOWN HERE.

THE CURRENT TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN CLAIMS TO INCLUDE A SECOND NEIGHBORHOOD EXIT AND TWO STOP SIGNS ATTACHED TO SANFORD GREEN ROAD THAT LEAD INTO THE WESTLAKE NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT THAT ROAD DOES NOT EXIST.

IT'S A DEAD END SUB STREET INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH.

AND ACCORDING TO FORT BEND COUNTY ENGINEERING, THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR IT TO EVER BE BUILT, EVEN THOUGH IT DIRECTLY CONFLICTS WITH MULTIPLE OF THEIR OWN CODES.

THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MISREPRESENTATION OF THE CURRENT PLAN, WITH THESE STOP SIGNS OF NO PURPOSE AND A SECOND ENTRANCE NOT EVEN STARTED.

WHAT IN THE WORLD WOULD HAPPEN IF GASTON ROAD WAS BLOCKED AND A HOME CAUGHT ON FIRE? OR WE WERE FLOODED? WE ALL WOULD BE TRAPPED AND IN DANGER OF LOSING OUR LIVES.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE WANTS THAT ON THEIR CONSCIENCE.

ABOVE ALL, THE GREATEST CONCERN IS THE LACK OF EMERGENCY ACCESS.

EVEN ONE FORT BEND COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL HAS CONFIRMED THAT A SINGLE EXIT CANNOT IN ANY WAY SAFELY SUPPORT THE EVACUATION OF 118 HOMES IN AN EMERGENCY.

RESIDENTS OF TOMPKINS RESERVE WOULD BE COMPLETELY TRAPPED AS SANFORD GREEN ROAD DOESN'T EXIST IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, IS LANDLOCKED BY BUFFALO BAYOU, A DRAINAGE DITCH. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS IS BUFFALO BAYOU, THE DRAINAGE DITCH. THESE ARE THE TWO STOP SIGNS IN THE BRIDGE THAT LEAD ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT EXIST.

I'M ASKING YOU TODAY. TO ONLY APPROVE A REAL TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN WHEN THAT HOLDS THE DEVELOPERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROVIDING A TRUE SECOND EXIT.

THIS PLAN MUST ALSO ENSURE THAT THE 118 HOMES HERE AREN'T TRAPPED IN AN EMERGENCY, AND THAT CHILDREN DON'T HAVE TO JUMP JUMP INTO DITCHES TO DODGE THE EXPECTED 400 PLUS CARS TO FREQUENT HUNTER LANE IN THE FUTURE.

YOU MAY MOVE ON FROM THIS MEETING AND NEVER THINK ABOUT US AGAIN, BUT WE LIVE IN THIS NIGHTMARE EVERY DAY.

PLEASE DON'T WAIT FOR A TRAGEDY TO TAKE THIS PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS SERIOUSLY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, LARRY SMITH.

AGENDA ITEM 582.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS LARRY SMITH.

I'M A RETIRED PASTOR WHO LIVES WITH MY WIFE, TERRI, ON HUNTER LANE AND NEXT TO MY TWO GRANDKIDS.

AND MY SON AND DAUGHTER IN LAW HAVE ALREADY SHARED SOME OF THE SPECIFICS AND SOME OF THE PROMISES MADE TO US THAT LIVE ON HUNTER LANE.

I'D JUST LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF MY FEELINGS.

FOREMOST, SENDING TRAFFIC FROM 880 PLUS NEW HOMES EACH DAY ONTO HUNTER LANE IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR OUR KIDS. THEY WILL HAVE TO WALK ON EACH SCHOOL DAY ON A TIGHT UND NO CENTER

[00:35:06]

TWO LANE PAVED ROAD THAT INVOLVES ALSO MEN AND WOMEN LEAVING THEIR HOMES, GOING TO WORK. AND IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

AND THE WAY IT'S SET UP IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TRY AND TAKE EVERYONE FROM THAT SUBDIVISION OF 80 PLUS HOMES, RUN IT ON TO HUNTER LANE, WHERE OUR HOMES ARE, AND THERE'S OTHER HOMES.

AND THAT JUST WON'T WORK.

IT'S IT'LL BE A DANGER FOR OUR KIDS.

IT'S NOT DIFFICULT TO ENVISION, YOU KNOW, HERE'S 80 SOMETHING HOMES TRYING TO DO SOMETHING EVERY MORNING.

AND THEN HERE'S THE OTHER HOMES THAT LIVE ON HUNTER LANE.

AND THEN UP HERE IS GASTON, WHICH IS A FOUR LANE ROAD, BUT IT'S A STOP SIGN, THAT'S ALL.

AND THAT OUR KIDS MAY BE THE 15TH, OR WE MAY BE THE 15TH CAR, OR OUR KIDS MAY HAVE THE BE THE 15TH OR 20TH OR 25TH BIKE.

IT WILL BACK UP MANY, MANY YARDS TO GASTON AND I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE. I CAN'T IMAGINE MY GRANDSON RIDING HIS BIKE TO SCHOOL AND HAVING TO BE NOWHERE TO GO BUT BE BEHIND CARS AND IN CARS BEHIND HIM AND THE INCHES UP JUST A LITTLE AT A TIME. SO I DON'T KNOW ALL THE FACTS THAT WILL DETERMINE, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE FACTORS THAT WILL DETERMINE YOUR DECISION THIS MATTER, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT YOU MAKE THE SAFETY OF OUR KIDS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M CRYING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

OUR LAST SPEAKER IS OMAR ISFAR ON AGENDA ITEM FIVE B.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS OMAR ASFAR WITH WILSON CRIBBS, AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING REID KING, THE DEVELOPER OF THE WATERVIEW TOWNE CENTER.

WE'RE HERE TO FIRST WELCOME THE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THIS PLAT.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO GET BACK TO WORK ON WATERVIEW TOWNE CENTER.

AND ALSO, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND.

EXTEND SPECIAL THANKS TO BRIDGET LAWSON SMITH, MICHELLE TURNER AND JENNIFER FOX, WHO WORKED WITH US, AND ESPECIALLY RICK STEGALL, WHO WORKED WITH US TO NAVIGATE THE PROCESS AND ENSURE THAT WE COULD BE HERE TODAY.

FOR TIMELY APPROVAL, JUST IN TIME TO MAKE PROGRESS ON OUR NEXT PHASE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS.

YES, SIR. I THINK COMMISSIONER YOU HAVE A STATEMENT TO MAKE.

YES, JUDGE. PLEASE GO AHEAD.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME TODAY TO TALK ABOUT TOMPKINS RESERVE. ALSO THE FIRE MARSHAL AND THE COUNTY ENGINEER IS SITTING BACK IN THE BACK.

THEY HEARD YOU. AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS A PRIORITY FOR US HERE IN THE COUNTY.

BUT TODAY, I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE APPROVING TODAY.

IF, IF, IF APPROVED, THE ACTION IS FOR THE TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN, WHICH ALLOWS THE STOP SIGNS AND THE SPEED LIMITS TO BE ENFORCED BY OUR POLICE AND THE COURTS. THE ISSUE RELATED TO THE NUMBER OF ACCESS POINTS IS STILL UNDER REVIEW.

SO THEY HEARD YOU TODAY.

WE'LL BE TALKING TO THEM AS WELL.

THE PRECINCT WILL. BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY AND TO BE HEARD. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING AND TAKING THE TIME TO COME.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM FIVE.

BE ENGINEERING CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PLAT FOR WATERVIEW TOWNE CENTER. SECTION TWO, PARTIAL REPLAT NUMBER ONE, PRECINCT FOUR. DO WE HAVE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE HAS COME FORWARD? AT THIS TIME, I WILL CLOSE BOTH THIS PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 5A1, TWO AND THREE, AND ALSO FIVE B.

I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT THESE ITEMS ARE READY FOR ACTION.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT FIVE A AND B SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM AGENDA ITEM FIVE A AND B.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING.

NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

AND NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS.

[ CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS: (6-18) ]

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS SIX THROUGH 18.

[00:40:03]

MOVE. APPROVAL OF ITEM SIX THROUGH 18 AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON CONSENT.

AGENDA ITEM. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING. NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO SECTION THREE.

[19. COMMISSIONER, PCT. 2:]

I MOVE APPROVAL OF. I MOVE APPROVAL OF 619 A AND B AS PRESENTED SECOND.

AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING.

NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 20 A AND BE PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT THREE.

[20. COMMISSIONER, PCT. 3:]

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION.

ON MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM 20, A AND B.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 21 A AND B, PRESENTED BY CONSTABLE PRECINCT FOUR.

[21. CONSTABLE, PCT. 4:]

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM 21 A AND B.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING.

NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

AGENDA ITEM 22. PRESENTED BY DISTRICT JUDGES TWO 68TH DISTRICT COURT.

[22. DISTRICT JUDGE(s):]

AS PRESENTED. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS ITEM.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING.

NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM 23 A THROUGH I PRESENTED BY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT APPROVAL.

[23. ENGINEERING:]

SECOND AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM ITEMS. 23 A THROUGH I ANY DISCUSSION.

I JUST WANT TO NOTE FOR THE PUBLIC THAT AGENDA ITEM H 23 H PERTAINS TO MADDEN ROAD IMPROVEMENT. THE DEVELOPER OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE IMPROVING MADDEN ROAD.

AND WE ARE MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO THAT IMPROVEMENT FROM THE PREVIOUS MOBILITY BOND INITIATIVE THAT WAS EARMARKED FOR THIS PROJECT.

THIS IS BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER STEPPED UP.

IT'S SAVING THE COUNTY QUITE A BIT OF MONEY AND IMPROVING THAT ROADWAY.

SO WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE THE PARTNERSHIP THERE.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 24, PRESENTED BY FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND

[24. FACILITIES MANAGEMENT & PLANNING:]

IT. AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM 24.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING.

NONE. BASICALLY THE ROAD AND BRIDGE.

IS THERE FACILITY OUT THERE.

RIGHT? YEP. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW, AGENDA ITEM I PRESENT TO THE COURT.

[25. FIRE MARSHAL:]

YES. 25 IS PRESENTED. COULD I MAKE A MODIFICATION? SURE. BASED ON THE FEEDBACK WE GOT TODAY, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO WITHDRAW YOUR MOTION, I'LL WITHDRAW THEM. OKAY. THANK YOU.

I MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM 25 TO TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THE SALE OF FIREWORKS DURING THE DIWALI HOLIDAY, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS OCCUPATIONS CODE 2001 54 RELATING TO THE SALE OF FIREWORKS, AND MODIFIED THE ORDER TO STATE THROUGH 2030.

FURTHERMORE, MOVE FOR MOVE THAT THE FIRE MARSHAL'S, FIRE MARSHAL AND COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICES MUST SUBMIT A SCHEDULE FOR DATES OF ALLOWABLE SALES BY JULY 4TH OF EACH YEAR FOR DIWALI FIREWORKS SALES.

THAT WE MAY THAT WE THEN CAN LET VENDORS AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS KNOW THE DIWALI EACH YEAR. THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. OH, OKAY.

SECOND. YEAH. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS ITEM.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ANY DISCUSSION. JUSTIN.

COME FORWARD. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS, I'D ASK THAT WE GIVE IT LEGAL TO DETERMINE IF THAT'S GOING TO BE ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE OF THE ROTATING DATE OF DIWALI IS NOT A SET DATE FOR SALES. AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S BROUGHT TO THE COURT EVERY YEAR FOR APPROVAL IS BECAUSE OF ROTATING DATE. THERE ARE CERTAIN LAWS AND PROVISIONS OUT THERE THROUGH THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. AND THAT FOR THE SALE OF FIREWORKS, WHICH INCLUDES TEN DAYS OF SALES BEFORE THE EVENT OCCURS.

THE ONLY REASON WHY WE DON'T HAVE TO BRING JULY 4TH AND NEW YEAR'S EVE IS BECAUSE THOSE ARE SET, ESTABLISHED DATES.

SO I WOULD RECOMMEND FOR US TO GET WITH LEGAL BEFORE THAT IS.

[00:45:04]

NEXT COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING FOR THAT PURPOSE, WOULD THAT BE TOO LATE? THERE IS NO PROBLEM, RIGHT? WELL, I WOULD JUST NOTE THAT'S WHY I ADDED IN THERE THAT A SCHEDULE MUST BE SUBMITTED BY JULY 4TH OF EACH YEAR.

THAT GIVES US COVER FOR YOUR OFFICE AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO LET US KNOW EACH YEAR WHAT THAT DATE IS.

BUT THE ORDER NOT HAVING TO COME BACK BEFORE COURT EVERY YEAR LIKE WE'RE HAVING TO DO RIGHT NOW. I KNOW THIS FOLLOWS WHAT OUR PARTNERS IN HARRIS COUNTY JUST DID.

I BELIEVE A WEEK BEFORE LAST OR LAST WEEK, WHICH WOULD GIVE THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WILL ALLOW BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, PER THE LAW THAT PASSED IN AUSTIN, I THINK LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE DON'T WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THE ASSURANCE THAT, YES, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO BUY FIREWORKS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY DURING JULY 4TH AND STORE UP FOR DIWALI.

BUT WE WILL PUBLISH WHAT THAT DATE IS EACH YEAR FROM YOUR OFFICE IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. SO I THINK THAT WOULD COVER THE CONCERN THAT YOU HAVE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COVERED LEGALLY. AND SO I'M LOOKING AT YES FOR THIS.

WE'LL WORK WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER CONTROLLING ORDER THAT WE COME UP WITH INCLUDES ALL APPLICABLE STATUTES.

AND IF IT IS NECESSARY THAT WE COME BACK TO COURT TO REVISIT THIS MATTER, WE'LL BUILD IN A CLAUSE THAT SAYS, SO THAT SOUNDS GREAT.

OKAY, SO YOU'RE AGREEING THERE IS NO PROBLEM IN APPROVING THIS THE WAY IT'S PRESENTED.

I'M RELYING ON LEGAL FOR THAT. NO PROBLEM.

OKAY. MADAM, YOU FEEL FINE.

OKAY WITH THAT? ASSUMING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

AND I WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 26 A THROUGH E,

[26. GRANTS ADMINISTRATION:]

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

AGENDA ITEM. MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM 27 A AND B PRESENTED BY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[27. HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES:]

SECOND. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM 27 A AND B ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 28, PRESENTED BY FORT BEND COUNTY LIBRARY V

[28. LIBRARY:]

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

AGENDA ITEM 29. ALSO PRESENTED BY PRESENTED BY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

[29. PARKS & RECREATION:]

SECOND. YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM 29.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

SO NOW I WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 30 A THROUGH Y.

[30. PURCHASING:]

I'M GOING TO DISCUSS ITEM B OKAY.

SO SOMEBODY NEED TO MAKE A MOTION EXCLUDING THAT ITEM.

SO THAT SO THAT MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE WHOEVER WANTED TO MAKE ME APPROVE ITEM 30 A THROUGH I. WHY? WHY? WHY? WITH EXCEPTION OF B AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM 30 A THROUGH Y, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM B.

CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING.

NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL COME BACK AND WE WILL TAKE AGENDA ITEM 30 B, PRESENTED BY PURCHASING DEPARTMENT.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM PURCHASING AND FACILITIES.

ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS, IF I MAY THE ITEM HERE THAT WE HAVE IS MY UNDERSTANDING AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS BEING FUNDED WITH CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. CORRECT. CORRECT.

OKAY, SO ONCE AGAIN THE COUNTY IS NOT GOING TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND TAXPAYERS TO GET THEIR AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL ON A MAJOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES THAT'S GOING TO EXCEED

[00:50:03]

SO PERHAPS THE AUDITOR CAN GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF IDEA, BACKGROUND, ETC., WHERE WE STAND WITH REGARD TO THE COUNTY'S DEBT, BECAUSE THIS WILL BE ADDING 40, 40 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS OF DEBT.

IT WOULD AND THIS IS CURRENTLY IT HAS A PLACEHOLDER IN THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION THAT'S BEING PROPOSED FOR UPCOMING CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT.

THE 45 MILLION IS CAUSING OUR CO BORROWING TO BE AT ABOUT 145 THAT FOR THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.

WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER FACILITIES IN THERE THAT'S CAUSING IT TO BE UP NORTH OF 100 MILLION. CURRENTLY WE ARE WE ARE.

EXPOSED TO A HIGH LEVEL OF DEBT SERVICE INCREASE.

WHAT WITH REGARD TO THIS ITEM OR ANY OTHER ITEM THAT AFFECTS DEBT SERVICE, IT HAS CREATED SOME STRAIN ON THE UPCOMING BUDGET PROCESS.

AND IT THIS AS WELL AS THE STRAIN ON THE DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED FOR PROPOSAL TO COMMISSIONERS COURT.

THERE'S GOING TO NEED TO BE SOME REDUCTIONS.

I WILL SAY THAT ONE ITEM WITHOUT RESPECT TO THIS ITEM THAT WE WILL LIKELY HAVE TO PULL FROM THE. THE BORROWING GROUP IS THE THE OPEB OBLIGATION BONDS.

OPEB BONDS. THAT WOULD BE A TAX.

NOTE A SHORT TERM TAX NOTE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 20 MILLION.

IT'S VERY UNLIKELY THAT YOUR YOUR BUDGET FOR 2026 CAN AFFORD THAT.

THIS WILL CREATE RELIEF FOR THE TAX RATE FOR DEBT SERVICE.

WE DO NEED TO DO SOME OTHER PENCIL SHARPENING WITHIN DEBT SERVICE TO ACCOMMODATE THE THE GROWTH IN OUR DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE, BUT THIS IS A PROPOSED ITEM THAT IS TARGETED FOR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.

SINCE YOU MENTIONED THE BUDGET, AND I KNOW THAT'S A WORK IN PROCESS. OUR BUDGET OFFICER. WHERE DO WE STAND ESSENTIALLY WITH WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE BUDGET AND WHAT WHAT ESSENTIALLY HAVE YOU HAD TO REMOVE FROM THE CONSIDERATION WITH JUST NOW TALKING TO ED RIGHT BEFORE COURT STARTED, WE TALKED ABOUT THE OPEB AND PERHAPS DELAYING THAT $20 MILLION. WE'RE CURRENTLY AT A FUND BALANCE OF 24%.

HOWEVER, I HAVE TAKEN, YOU KNOW, ALL THE NEW POSITIONS OUT, I'VE TAKEN PROGRAMING OUT, I'VE TAKEN LIKE RIGHT NOW IT'S BARE BONES BUDGET AND WE'RE STILL NOT AT OUR 30% ENDING FUND BALANCE THAT WE NEED TO BE.

SO BECAUSE OF THE DEBT SERVICE, BECAUSE IT HAS GROWN AS IT HAS WHAT ED WAS JUST DESCRIBING, I'VE HAD TO MOVE $0.03 OVER INTO DEBT SERVICE THAT TOOK IT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. WE JUST FINISHED WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND I CAN REPORT THAT CURRENTLY, THE CURRENT MAKEUP OF OUR LEGISLATORS IS THAT THEY ARE ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO GRANTING COUNTIES ANY AUTHORITY TO ISSUE ANY MORE DEBT, PERIOD. SO THE OP ED DEBT IS DEAD AND IT IF THE LEGISLATORS DON'T CHANGE, IT WILL BE DEAD IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IT'S THE STANCE THAT THEY'VE TAKEN.

WE, WE HAD TO TO WORK EXTREMELY HARD TO PREVENT THE LEGISLATORS FROM PASSING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD TAKE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF AUTHORITY AWAY FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF, OF DEBT AND OTHER AUTHORITY TO, TO BASICALLY PROVIDE SOME SERVICES TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.

WE CAME VERY CLOSE TO THERE WAS A VERY CLOSE DEAL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TO KILL AT THE LAST MINUTE. BUT I ANTICIPATE THAT YOU KNOW, THAT WILL COME BACK IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I CAUTION US TO BE PRUDENT ABOUT HOW WE ADD TO OUR DEBT BURDEN AND HOW WE CONTINUE TO CIRCUMVENT EVENT GOING TO THE TAXPAYERS AND VOTERS TO GET THEIR AUTHORIZATION AND THEIR APPROVAL TO ISSUE THIS KIND OF DEBT.

SO IT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE PAUSE THIS EFFORT.

IT'S NOT ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE A PARKING GARAGE FOR THE EPICENTER.

SO IT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE PAUSE THIS UNTIL WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR AND

[00:55:02]

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YEAH. IN ALL DUE RESPECT, YES, SIR.

THERE WAS NO BACKUP ON THIS ITEM ON THE GARAGE.

YES. NOTHING TO SHOW THAT.

WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED WHERE WE WERE.

YEAH. SO I JUST WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL, BUT KNOWING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE NEVER EVEN PUT THIS ITEM ON THERE.

SO ANYWAY RIGHT NOW, FROM WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME WE DO NEED.

I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER MYERS ON THIS ONE.

WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT HOW THE BUDGET'S GOING TO PLAY OUT.

WE'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE'VE GOT TO MEET OTHER OBLIGATIONS.

AND SO ANYWAY, I'M JUST DISAPPOINTED THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS INFORMATION PRIOR, BUT THANK YOU. OKAY. WITH THAT? IF I ALSO WANT TO USE THIS POINT, BECAUSE COMMISSIONER MYERS BROUGHT UP VERY, VERY GOOD POINTS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR BUDGET.

AND UNFORTUNATELY OUT OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE YET AGAIN, DIDN'T SEE ADDITIONAL REVENUES FLOWING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR THE UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT THE STATE HAS PUT ON US.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT ARE OUR COUNTY AND OUR RESIDENTS DESPERATELY NEED BECAUSE OF OUR RAPID GROWTH, IT LEAVES US IN THIS PREDICAMENT TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE DELIVER SAID INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE EPICENTER OR OUR MOBILITY OR PARKS, AND WHILE ALSO BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR OUR TAX DOLLARS AS A WHOLE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN IMPLORE OUR STATE LEGISLATURES, OUR STATE, OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT THEIR DECISION MAKING IS HAVING ON OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS THEY CONTINUE TO ADD ADDITIONAL MANDATES WITHOUT THE ACCOMPANYING FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT.

ONE OF THE OTHER ASPECTS OF THAT COMMISSIONER. I'M SORRY.

ONE SECOND THERE, JUST STANDING THERE, PLEASE GO BACK.

PLEASE GO BACK TO YOUR SEATS, PLEASE.

YEAH. PLEASE GO AHEAD.

TO ADD TO THAT COMMISSIONER IS THAT NOT ONLY WE'RE HAVING TO FACE THE RAPID GROWTH THAT WE HAVE HERE, WE NOW HAVE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO HAVE TO PAY SOME ATTENTION TO AND PROVIDE SOME RELIEF TO.

IF WE DON'T, WE RUN THE RISK OF, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, VALUES DECREASING OVER TIME, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IMPACTS THE PROPERTY OWNERS, BUT ALSO IMPACTS THE JURISDICTIONS THAT DEPEND ON PROPERTY TAXES THAT, AS WE SAW IN THIS YEAR THAT PROPERTY, EXISTING PROPERTY VALUES ACTUALLY WENT DOWN.

WE MAY BE FACING THE SAME THING IN FUTURE YEARS.

HOPEFULLY NOT. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.

SO YOU'RE CORRECT. WE HAVE SOME REAL CHALLENGES IN FRONT OF US, AND A LITTLE BIT OF HELP WOULD GO A LONG WAY.

AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THIS, BASED ON THIS CONVERSATION, I THINK WE SHOULD TABLE THIS ITEM AT THIS POINT AND WE WILL WE WILL GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT BUDGET.

AND I'M GLAD THESE CONVERSATIONS WE ARE HAVING BECAUSE WE STARTED FROM THE BEGINNING TALKING ABOUT MAYBE, HEY, WE NEED TO LOOK INTO A MUCH THINNER, LEANER BUDGET. I'M GLAD WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION.

NOW WE ARE IN THE SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO LOOK INTO.

SO IF CODE AGREES, WE WILL TABLE THIS ITEM FOR ANOTHER DAY.

RIGHT. YEAH. LET'S TABLE IT AND MOVE ON TO.

AND WE TABLE THE ITEM 30 B.

AND NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 31 PRESENTED BY FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF'S

[31. SHERIFF'S OFFICE:]

SECOND, AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

I WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 32 PRESENTED BY FORT BEND COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR.

[32. TAX ASSESSOR/COLLECTOR:]

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO NOW.

I PRESENTED THE AGENDA ITEM 33, 34 AND 35.

[33. Approve Bills.]

[34. Ratify the release of time-sensitive disbursements made on June 19, 2025.]

[35. Authorize County auditor to pay and release the time-sensitive disbursements on July 3, 2025, to be ratified by Commissioners Court on July 8, 2025.]

[01:00:02]

MOVE FOR APPROVAL. SECOND, AND WE HAVE A MOTION ON AGENDA ITEM 33, 34 AND 35. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 36.

[36. WORKSHOP:]

I UNDERSTAND THIS IS WORKSHOPS.

YES. 36 A CONDUCT WORKSHOP TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE FROM IMPACT STRATEGIC CONSULTING REGARDING EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN COVID 19 FEMA PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. GO AHEAD.

GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.

I'M GOING TO LET BRITTANY COMPTON START WITH US.

WELL, WE GOTTA CONNECT.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO. IT'S UP THERE.

MY MIND IS JUST FOR ME.

OKAY. RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. SORRY.

OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMISSIONER. JUDGES.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ERA TWO PROGRAM, AS WELL AS PRESENTING SOME DETAILS.

OKAY. SPURGEON WILL BE PRESENTING SOME DETAILS ON FEMA REIMBURSEMENT.

SO SOME QUICK UPDATES ON THE FINAL PHASE OF THE ERA TWO PROGRAM.

WE'RE TARGETING LOW INCOME FAMILIES WITHIN THE COUNTY.

THEY ARE RECEIVING UP TO $2,000 PER MONTH AND $500 FOR UTILITIES.

THIS PROGRAM STARTED ON NOVEMBER 25TH OF 2024 AND WE HAVE TO SPEND THE FUNDS BY SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2025 THIS YEAR.

THE PROGRAM HAS SERVED ABOUT 150 HOUSEHOLDS AS OF TODAY.

WELL KNOW THIS INFORMATION IS AS OF JUNE 6TH, SO TO DATE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT.

WE'VE RECEIVED ABOUT 1400 TENANT APPLICATIONS SINCE THE LAUNCH OF THE PROGRAM.

THERE'S ABOUT 240 LANDLORDS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS THAT ARE REGISTERED WITHIN THE PROGRAM, AND 42 OF THOSE ARE ELIGIBLE LANDLORDS THAT ARE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING.

WE'RE USING THE TAX SOFTWARE THIS GO ROUND TO MANAGE THE PROGRAM DOCUMENTS, AS WELL AS USING THAT AS A PRIMARY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE LANDLORDS AND THE TENANTS AND THE STAFF.

THE PROGRAM BUDGET WAS AROUND 2.5 MILLION.

WE'VE USED ABOUT 42% OF THAT HAS BEEN DISPERSED AS OF JUNE 6TH, WITH 235,000 AT THE POINT OF THIS DATA COLLECTION WAS IN PROCESS.

THAT LEAVES ABOUT 1.2 MILLION UNALLOCATED AT THE MOMENT.

SO THERE IS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT THAT IS THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR ASSISTANCE.

AND WITH OUR RECENT OUTREACH EFFORTS, THE TEAM HAS BEEN IN PERSON VISITING THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, PROMOTING THE PROGRAM, ENGAGING WITH PROPERTY MANAGERS, EXPLAINING THE PROGRAM, GIVING CLEAR GUIDANCE.

AND WE'VE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE FOR INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS AS WELL. SO THAT HAS DEFINITELY DECREASED THAT UNALLOCATED AMOUNT.

AS OF TODAY. WE'RE PROBABLY A LITTLE UNDER 1 MILLION TO REACH THE REMAINING HOUSEHOLDS.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO CONDUCT THOSE DOOR TO DOOR OUTREACH FLIER DROPS, RECONNECT WITH THOSE LANDLORDS THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM AND OFFER ANY MORE INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS THAT MAY BE NEEDED, WHETHER IT'S TENANT OR LANDLORD BASED.

I'LL PASS IT ON TO SPURGEON.

YES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL AS WELL.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE ON THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO PARTICIPATE, TO BE INVOLVED IN IT, GET THE MESSAGE OUT ABOUT GETTING THIS ASSISTANCE BECAUSE IT ENDS IN SEPTEMBER FROM.

RIGHT. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO GET THE REMAINING FUNDS EXPENDED.

I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT THE FEMA PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SUMMARY AS WELL.

AND. ALL RIGHT. I'M SORRY I SWITCHED OVER.

[01:05:03]

SO TO DATE, THERE'S A TOTAL SUBMISSION OF $44 MILLION THAT HAS BEEN IN FOR COVID RESPONSE, PANDEMIC RESPONSE, ARPA, AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES THAT CAME FROM COVID 19. OF THAT, FEMA HAS AWARDED OVER $27 MILLION BACK TO THE COUNTY, AND THERE'S STILL ABOUT 16, ALMOST 17 MILLION STILL UNDER REVIEW.

I APOLOGIZE, THIS SLIDE LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM MINE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN IT.

BUT IT JUST GOT TRANSPOSED SOMEHOW, SO I APOLOGIZE.

I HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A CLEANER COPY OF IT.

IN YOUR FOLDERS AND BINDERS.

SO, APOLOGIES. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE SLIDE GOT MESSED UP, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT TO DATE, THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED $22 MILLION OF REIMBURSEMENT FROM FEMA.

DUE TO OUR EFFORTS IN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AND THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COUNTY TO GET THE DOCUMENTATION THAT'S REQUIRED, AS PEOPLE MAY UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S VERY HEAVY IN DOCUMENTATION TO JUSTIFY ALL THE EXPENDITURES THAT RELATED TO FEMA TODAY.

BUT OVER $22 MILLION HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY TO DATE, AND THAT'S MONEY IN THE BANK, IF I'M CORRECT, COUNTY AUDITOR AND MISS MISS PAMELA.

SO WITH THAT, THERE'S STILL MORE TO COME.

I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THERE'S A COUPLE OF LARGE PROJECT CLOSEOUT DEADLINES THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO MANAGE AND SHOOT FOR, TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE COSTS AND THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COUNTY IS ACCOUNTED FOR.

AND OUR OVERALL CLOSEOUT DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025. SO I'LL LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT AS WELL.

AND JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THAT OVERALL, WE'VE MANAGED OVER $121 MILLION OF FUNDS FOR THE COUNTY. THOSE HAVE BEEN MANAGING PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THOSE THAT MAY BE MAY RECALL THE SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM.

I THINK YOU HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN ANOTHER PRESENTATION AND ON CDBG ALLOCATIONS. SO A LOT OF BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY.

AND I WANT TO REALLY EXPRESS HOW MUCH THAT BENEFIT HAS ACTUALLY HELPED THE COUNTY RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC AT THAT TIME.

OKAY. YES, SIR. YES. IT'S ABOUT RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE.

RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE.

YES. YES. PRESENTATION.

WHAT IS THE DEADLINE? IS THERE ANY ANY COMPLETION DATE ATTACHED TO IT? WE HAVE TO FINISH IT BY A CERTAIN DATE.

YES. SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

25. AND YOU HAVE 1.2 MILLION LEFT.

IT'S A LITTLE UNDER A MILLION AS OF TODAY.

OKAY. THAT WAS JUST AT THAT DATA.

YOU'RE CONFIDENT YOU ARE? YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITH THE OUTREACH EFFORTS.

YES. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THEN WHAT HAPPENED? IT GOES BACK TO THE US TREASURY.

WE WILL AVOID THAT. YEAH.

WE DON'T DO I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T WANT TO SEND BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO STILL IN NEED IN OUR COUNTY.

SO YOU'RE I MEAN, I HOPE YOU WILL GEAR UP AND MAKE SURE THOSE FUNDS WILL GO TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN REAL NEED. YES, THE TEAM IS IN OVERDRIVE RIGHT NOW HELPING THOSE APPLICANTS. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JUDGE, I HAVE A COMMENT, IF I MAY PLEASE.

JUST TO REINFORCE WHAT SPURGEON SHARED WITH THE FEMA RECOVERY FUNDS, YOU MAY NOT BE FULLY AWARE OF THIS, BUT YOUR GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE SHOULDERED ALL OF THE FINANCING OF THE PANDEMIC EXPENSES THAT WERE FEMA ELIGIBLE.

AND WITH THE IMPACT TEAM PUTTING MUCH OF THE EFFORT INTO RECOVERY.

ACTUALLY, THE MAJORITY OF THE EFFORT IT HAS RESULTED IN, IN THE REPLENISHMENT AT THIS POINT TO THE TUNE OF 22 MILLION.

YOU HAVE BETWEEN 16 AND 18 MILLION.

SO JUST TO KIND OF SEGUE BACK TO A DISCUSSION WE WERE HAVING ABOUT OUR DEBT SERVICE AND FUND BALANCE LEVELS, YOU'RE GOING TO ENJOY THAT REPLENISHMENT OF YOUR FUND BALANCE TO HELP WITH YOUR BUDGET PROCESS THIS YEAR.

OKAY. THIS YEAR, WITH THE EFFORT OF THE IMPACT TEAM TODAY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS SO MUCH TO YOUR TEAM.

WE ON THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE SIDE OF THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DID A FANTASTIC JOB.

I KNOW AT ONE POINT, MY OFFICE TEMPORARILY, TEMPORARILY SHARED A SUITE WITH YOUR STAFF.

AND WE GOT A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY HEAR FIRSTHAND SOME OF THE CASES OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE COMING IN FOR ASSISTANCE.

KUDOS TO YOU ALL. AND WHAT WAS CLEAR WAS THERE WAS A GENUINE HEART FOR SERVING AND FOR ASSISTANCE, EVEN GOING AS FAR AS TO BE IN SOME OF OUR JP COURTS TO HELP PEOPLE WHO CLEARLY WERE VISIBLE OR VISIBLY IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE.

SO BUT FOR THIS, THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO WOULD BE LIVING OUT ON THE STREETS IN THEIR CARS. SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR STEWARDSHIP OF THIS PROJECT.

[01:10:04]

IT HAS BEEN IT'S BEEN A RELATIONSHIP.

GOING BACK TO WHAT? 2020.

YES. 2020. YEAH, YEAH.

ROAD. AND LIKE I SAID, STILL HELPING FAMILIES.

AND I THINK ALSO AS ED MENTIONED GETTING ALL OF THE FUNDS BACK TO FORT BEND COUNTY.

SO IT'S NOT $20 MILLION.

WE'RE STILL TRYING TO SECURE AND GET THAT BACK INTO YOUR INTO YOUR GENERAL FUND AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. ASSUMING NO OTHER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 36 B CONDUCT WORKSHOP TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE FROM HGA REGARDING THE TRIPLE R LOAN PROGRAM.

COME ON UP, SIR.

I BELIEVE I BELIEVE THEY'VE INCLUDED IT IN THE SLIDE DECK SO THAT IT CAN BE EXECUTED WHEN YOU GET TO THAT SLIDE.

YES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, ESTEEMED JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

I'M OMAR FORTUNE, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, HOUSTON, GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A PRESENTATION ABOUT OUR SMALL BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM WITH FORT BEND COUNTY. WE CALL IT THE TRIPLE R PROGRAM, AFFECTIONATELY STANDS FOR REGIONAL REVOLVING RESILIENT.

AND YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN ME DO THIS PRESENTATION A FEW TIMES NOW.

AND SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO BRING UP SOME FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY WORK A LITTLE BIT MORE INTIMATELY IN THE PROGRAM SO YOU CAN HEAR FROM THEM.

ALTHOUGH FOLKS MAY THINK THAT I DO IT BY MYSELF, I DON'T YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME SOME GREAT FOLKS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT ARE WORKING ON IT. SO WITH THAT, I WILL INTRODUCE CHRISTINA CORNELIUS TO COME ON UP.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M CHRISTINA CORNELIUS.

I AM THE PRINCIPAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR OUR LENDING PROGRAM.

SO I OVERSEE THE R LOAN PROGRAM.

OKAY, I DID IT RIGHT. OKAY, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS. IT'S A COLLABORATION BETWEEN TWO TEAMS, THE GULF COAST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

AND FOR THIS PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR, WE FOCUS ON FORT BEND COUNTY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE COUNTY.

THE WAY THAT THAT WORKS IS WE HAVE THE REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM FOR ANYTHING FROM WORKING CAPITAL. THEN WE CAN ALSO PARTNER SOME OF THESE LOAN FUNDS WITH OUR SBA 504 PROGRAM. SO WE'RE GOING TO START WITH A TESTIMONIAL.

HERE AT HELIO, IN A NUTSHELL WE DESIGN, BUILD AND THEN OFFER AGRICULTURAL DRONES.

SO THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY LARGE AUTONOMOUS DRONES THAT CAN PRECISELY APPLY CROP INPUTS TO HELP FARMERS EITHER FIGHT PESTS OR INCREASE THEIR YIELDS, OR BOTH. I THINK WE FOUND OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE A LOT OF TRADITIONAL BANKS DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND OUR BUSINESS SO MUCH, SO IT WAS DIFFICULT TO UNDERWRITE FOR THEM.

THEY COULDN'T GRASP IT.

AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, WE ENDED UP SUFFERING FROM SUCCESS A BIT.

WE HAD A LOT OF SALES, A LOT OF DEMAND AND GOOD FINANCIALS, WHICH PUT US A LITTLE FURTHER AHEAD THAN A LOT OF VCS LIKE.

SO A LOT OF VENTURE CAPITALISTS, WHEN THEY'RE DOING VENTURE FUNDING, THEY WANT TO FIND YOU VERY EARLY AND IT'S A HIGH REWARD PLAY FOR THEM.

ONE OF THE STANDOUT INITIATIVES WE OFFER IS THE ESSER PROGRAM.

THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON REINVESTING AND REVITALIZING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY THROUGH STREAMLINED FINANCING SOLUTIONS FOR COMPANIES LOCATED IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

TRIPLE R PROGRAM. IT SPOKE MORE TO DEVELOPMENT IN THE IN THE REGION.

SO WHERE WE ARE IN RICHMOND, TEXAS, IT SPOKE MORE TO.

YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING LOCAL HIGH TECH JOBS.

SO WE FOUND A REALLY GOOD FIT THERE WHERE THEY WOULD. LET'S SAY LOOK PAST SOME OF THE THE OTHER THINGS THAT THE OTHER PROGRAMS WOULDN'T AND THEY WOULD. INSTEAD, LOOK AT WHAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE, WHICH IS, YEAH, HIGH TECH JOBS IN TEXAS GIVING AMERICANS.

AN ABILITY TO TO GROW THEIR SKILLS IN A VERY NICHE AND UPCOMING MARKET.

THE HOUSTON, GALVESTON AREA LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE GULF COAST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT PROVIDED A 1 MILLION TANDEM LOAN TO HELIO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STELLAR BANK. 50,000 OF THIS LOAN WAS PROVIDED THROUGH FORT BEND COUNTY'S TRIPLE R PROGRAM. OVERALL, I THINK IT WAS A SMOOTHER EXPERIENCE THAN A LOT OF OTHER METHODS FOR FOR FUNDRAISING OR ACQUIRING CAPITAL FOR YOUR BUSINESS TO REALLY GIVE US ENOUGH WORKING

[01:15:04]

SO WE'RE GOING FROM 500 DRONES PRODUCED PER YEAR IN OUR OLD FACILITY TO NOW UP TO 5000 PER YEAR WHEN WE'RE AT FULL CAPACITY. SO THIS IS A VERY LARGE INCREASE IN OUR PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES. IT'S A CONCRETE BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM.

OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACROSS OUR REGION.

SO IT REALLY HELPED US GROW AS A COMPANY. IT WAS A LIFESAVER FOR US.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE TAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INVESTMENT THAT THE COUNTY MADE GOES A LONG WAY, WHETHER THAT'S PARTNERING WITH OTHER LOAN PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE INSIDE OF OUR DEPARTMENT, OR PARTNERING WITH OUR BANKING INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE REGION.

I'M GOING TO BRING UP JESSICA WILKIE REYES TO DIG INTO SOME OF THE METRICS AND NUMBERS.

SHE'S OUR LOAN COORDINATOR, AND I WILL WILL KIND OF TAG TEAM THIS PART.

THANK YOU. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON.

SO THIS IS JUST A BREAKDOWN OF THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF FORT BEND COUNTY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS WAS 360.

IT ALSO BREAKS IT DOWN BY PRECINCT.

AND SO WE GO ONE THROUGH FOUR PRECINCT.

ALSO THE LOANS AWARDED BY INDUSTRY, THESE ARE REALLY TINY, AND IT'S HARD FOR ME TO READ WITH IT WITHOUT MY GLASSES.

BUT WE START WITH AGRICULTURAL AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, FISHING. AND YOU WORK YOUR WAY DOWN ALL THE WAY TO THE PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SERVICES. SO WE ARE KEEPING TRACK OF WHO WE'RE HELPING ALONG THE WAY AND INCLUDING ALL THE DIFFERENT REGIONS.

WE HAVE THE GENDER AND THE RACE BROKEN DOWN AS WELL.

SO YOU KNOW HOW MANY FEMALE OWNED BUSINESSES WE HAVE SERVED AND THE MALE AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE IN BETWEEN.

OKAY, SO BY NUMBERS, THE LOAN APPLICATIONS, WE HAD 672 OF THOSE LOANS APPROVED, 36, 29 WERE AWARDED, WHICH IS ALL THE FUNDING OF 1.298.

OF THOSE, WE ONLY HAVE TWO IN DEFAULT.

AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ALONGSIDE THEM MONTHLY TO HELP THEM CONTINUE TO TRY TO STAY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THEIR WITH THEIR LOAN PAYMENTS.

WE DO HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT IN DEFAULT BUT ARE SOMETIMES DELINQUENT.

AND SO WE KEEP IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THEM ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

AND WE TRY TO WORK WITH THEM ANY WAY POSSIBLE THAT SUITS THEIR NEEDS.

SO IT'S NOT JUST A ONE PAYMENT.

IF THEY NEED TO MAKE BIWEEKLY PAYMENTS, WE WORK WITH THEM. IF THEY NEED TO MAKE WEEKLY PAYMENTS, WE WORK WITH THEM.

AND TO ADD TO THAT, WE HAVE DEVELOPED OUR PROGRAMING TO ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND SOME WORKSHOPS.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN EVENT THIS AFTERNOON IN MISSOURI CITY, WHICH WITHIN THE COUNTY WITH HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND A SUCCESS IN BUSINESS PROGRAM TO HELP NOT ONLY INFORM THE FORT BEND COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR LOAN PROGRAM, BUT ALSO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO THOSE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

AND JESSICA HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB KEEPING IN CONTACT WITH SOME OF OUR CLIENTS THAT MAY HAVE HAD TROUBLE IN THE PAST PAYING THEIR LOAN BACK.

SO THIS IS OUR LOAN PERFORMANCE IS BASED ON THE 29 LOANS THAT WE FUNDED.

SO OF THOSE, 62% OF THEM ARE PERFORMING 34% OR THE TWO ARE IN I'M SORRY, THE TWO, IT'S 3% ARE IN DELINQUENT AND THE REMAINING BALANCE ARE IN DEFAULT 34%.

SO THAT'S 18 PERFORMING TEN DEFAULT, ONE DELINQUENT AND TOTAL OF 29.

AND YOU SEE THE CHANGE BETWEEN THE ONE AND TWO DELINQUENT BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR PAYMENTS.

WHEN WE HAVE DONE THOSE TWO SLIDES OUR OVERALL IMPACT $37,000 IN REVOLVING REVOLVING DEFAULT DOLLARS. SO WHEN JESSICA STARTED WE HAD LOWER PERFORMANCE.

BUT WITH HER BEING THERE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RECOUP A LOT OF THOSE FUNDS AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REINVEST IT INTO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN FORT BEND COUNTY. AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO HELP EVEN MORE BUSINESSES.

SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, WE WILL TAKE THEM.

[01:20:01]

NO. THAT ONE, THAT ONE.

WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE CAUSE FOR THE THERE 36 LOANS THAT WERE APPROVED, BUT ONLY 29 AWARDED? WHY IS THAT? I WILL HAVE OMAR COME.

ANSWER THAT. THAT WAS PRE MY TIME.

YEAH. SOMETIMES HAPPENS BETWEEN APPROVAL AND ACTUAL FUNDING WHERE A BUSINESS MIGHT SEEK ADDITIONAL FUNDING ELSEWHERE.

AND SO THEY PROBABLY WERE ABLE TO GET FUNDING THROUGH A BANK OR SOME OTHER PROGRAM BEFORE OURS ACTUALLY TOOK EFFECT.

WELL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS WORK.

THIS IS IMPORTANT TO HELPING CLEARLY BY THE TESTIMONY YOU SHARED HELPING BUSINESSES TO EXPAND THEIR THEIR WORK AND THEIR OPERATIONS, WHICH HAS ECONOMIC IMPACT HERE LOCALLY.

SO I THINK THAT'S GREAT. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO GET A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ALL OF THOSE WHO WERE AWARDED AND THEN WHAT THOSE PROJECTS ENTAILED.

IF YOU COULD SEND THAT TO ALL MEMBERS OF COURT, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. WILL DO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. YES. APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE ON.

THANK YOU. 37 MEETING CLOSED SESSION TO DELIBERATE THE FOLLOWING MATTERS AS AUTHORIZED BY THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE A SECTION 551.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY ONE CAUSE NUMBER 25 DASH CCV DASH 075395 FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS VERSUS R SALINAS FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, ET AL. WEST SYCAMORE SEGMENT THREE, PROJECT NUMBER 17123X PARCEL 12, PRECINCT TWO TWO. FORT BEND COUNTY VERSUS OWASSO INVESTMENTS LIMITED, ET AL. WESTON FIELD ROAD, PROJECT NUMBER 17124X PARCEL EIGHT, PRECINCT TWO THREE FORT BEND COUNTY VERSUS OWASSO INVESTMENTS LIMITED, ET AL. WESTON FELT ROAD, PROJECT NUMBER 17124X PARCEL NINE, PRECINCT TWO FOR TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY.

CHAPTER 533 SERVICES FIVE CLARIFICATION OF EMPLOYEE APPROVED LEAVE CATEGORIZATION SIX LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 262.

023AB. SECTION 551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS, DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS C SECTION 551.087 DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS.

GRANT PARKWAY SEGMENTS C1 AND NC TWO.

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, COMMISSIONER SCOTT WILL STAND IN RECESS AS WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING.

IT IS TIME. 224 I CALL TO ORDER FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING. TODAY IS TUESDAY, JUNE 24TH, 2025 AND I PRESENT TO THE COURT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO OF THE MINUTES.

SECOND, AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW I WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM THREE.

APPROVAL OF THREE AS PRESENTED.

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THREE.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW I WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

APPROVAL OF ITEM FOUR AS PRESENTED.

SECOND, AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM FOUR.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY WITH THAT.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN?

[37. Meet in Closed Session to deliberate the following matters as authorized by the Texas Government Code:]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.

THANK YOU. WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.

[38. Reconvene Open Session and consider taking action on the following matters:]

FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS VERSUS R SALINAS FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, ET AL. WEST SYCAMORE SEGMENT THREE, PROJECT NUMBER 17123.

X PARCEL 12, PRECINCT TWO.

I MOVE THAT IN 25 CC 075395 FORT BEND COUNTY,

[01:25:02]

I START ALL OVER AGAIN. NO, NO.

OKAY. OKAY. BE AUTHORIZED TO COUNTERSIGN ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY THE CONDITIONAL RULE 11 AGREEMENT NEGOTIATED AND DOCUMENTED BETWEEN LEGAL COUNSEL.

ON MAY 28TH, 2025, AND TO RESOLVE THE SUIT AND FUND AND CLOSE THE ACQUISITION FOR THE AMOUNT SET FORTH IN SUCH CONDITIONAL RULE 11 AGREEMENT, AND THAT MOBILITY BONDS BE DESIGNATED AS A FUNDING SOURCE.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS ITEM.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING.

NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

TO FORT BEND COUNTY VERSUS OWASSO INVESTMENTS LIMITED, ET AL. WESTON FIELD ROAD, PROJECT NUMBER 17124X PARCEL EIGHT, PRECINCT TWO. OKAY, I HAVE THE ORDER HERE.

THAT'S THE ORDER. OKAY.

I MOVE THAT IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS VERSUS OWASSO INVESTMENTS LIMITED AT ALL WESTFIELD ROAD PROJECT NUMBER 17124X PARCEL NINE, PRECINCT TWO AT BRIDGE SMITH.

LAWSON COUNTY ATTORNEY, FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, BE AUTHORIZED TO SETTLE THE ABOVE CONDEMNATION SUIT FOR AND 990 AND $33.00 FOR THE PARCEL AND ALL APPURTENANCES IN THE ACQUISITION, IF ANY, AND THAT MOBILITY BONDS BE DESIGNATED AS THE FUNDING SOURCE.

AND MAY I INTERRUPT BEFORE YOU TAKE A VOTE, COMMISSIONER, WE BELIEVE YOU SAID PARCEL NINE INSTEAD OF PERSON EIGHT.

THAT'S ON THE PAPER. THAT'S NUMBER THREE.

I DON'T HAVE I DON'T HAVE IT.

THEN. WHAT I HAD HERE WAS AN ORDER.

SO YOU READ THE ORDER FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.

I DON'T HAVE IT. THIS IS THE ORDER I NEED.

I NEED THE MOTION FOR.

FOR NUMBER TWO. THAT WAS NUMBER THREE.

SO CAN WE JUST SAY WE DID NUMBER THREE? LET ME CHECK WITH. I WON'T READ THIS ALL OVER AGAIN.

SO THE MOTION IS THE SAME THING, BUT MAYBE THE MOTIONS IN SAME THING IS JUST IT JUST GIVE IT TO ME JUST NOW.

HE JUST GAVE IT TO ME.

OKAY. THAT WAS I WAS READING 30 7A3.

LOOK AND SEE. I DON'T HAVE A 30 7A2.

THERE'S A THAT'S A MOTION.

THERE IT IS. RIGHT THERE. THERE IT IS. YES.

I DIDN'T TAKE IT. SOMEBODY GIVE IT TO ME! I READ WHATEVER Y'ALL PUT IN FRONT OF MY FACE, SO. OKAY. TAKE YOUR TIME.

ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING.

SO, DO I READ THE THREE AGAIN? I CAN'T SAY THAT WAS THREE.

WITHDRAW THE MOTION AND PLEASE START OVER.

THANK YOU FOR CLARITY OF THE RECORD.

ALRIGHT, I'M GOING BACK TO TWO.

OKAY. MOTION ORDER AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF CONDEMNATION SUIT.

I MOVE THAT IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS VERSUS OWASSO INVESTMENTS LIMITED AT ALL WESTFIELD ROAD, PROJECT NUMBER 17124X PARCEL EIGHT.

PRECINCT TWO BRIDGE. SMITH, LAWSON, COUNTY ATTORNEY OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, BE AUTHORIZED TO SETTLE IN THE ABOVE CONDEMNATION SUIT FOR $16,424.00 FOR THE PARCEL AND ALL APPURTENANCES IN THE ACQUISITION, IF ANY, THEREWITH BILLY BONDS BE DESIGNATED AS A FUNDING SOURCE.

SECOND, IF YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER TWO, ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

OKAY. ITEM NUMBER THREE I MOVE THAT IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS VERSUS OWASSO INVESTMENTS LIMITED AT ALL WESTFIELD ROAD.

PROJECT NUMBER 17124X PARCEL NINE, PRECINCT TWO.

BRIDGET SMITH, LAWSON COUNTY ATTORNEY, FORT BEND COUNTY, BE AUTHORIZED TO SETTLE THE ABOVE CONDEMNATION SUIT FOR $159,933.00 FOR THE PARCEL AND ALL APPURTENANCES IN THE ACQUISITION, IF ANY, THE MOBILITY BONDS BE DESIGNATED AS A FUNDING SOURCE.

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM THREE.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO NEXT FOR TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY.

CHAPTER 533 SERVICES ONLY FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES.

NO ACTION FIVE CLARIFICATION OF EMPLOYEE APPROVED LEAVE CATEGORIZATION ONLY FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES. NO.

[01:30:02]

023A ONLY FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES.

NO ACTION B SECTION 551.07 FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS.

DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS INFORMATION PURPOSES NO ACTION C SECTION 551.087 DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS.

GRANT PARKWAY SEGMENTS C1 AND C2 ONLY FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES.

NO ACTION WITH THAT. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? ADJOURNED. WITH NO OBJECTION. THIS FORT BEND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT REGULAR MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.