Jul 22, 2025 REGULAR SESSION AGENDA

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HOUSTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WELCOME TO COMMISSIONERS COURT.

WOULD YOU PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF OUR ENTRY AND EXIT DOORS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY? WE ASK THAT YOU WILL WALK.

DON'T RUN, AND PLEASE DON'T TAKE THE ELEVATOR.

WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL TO THE COURT BY SILENCING ALL CELL PHONES, NO LOUD OUTBURSTS, AND KEEP YOUR TALKING TO A MERE WHISPER.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK.

BECAUSE YOUR COOPERATION WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

AND PLEASE BE ADVISED ANY DISRUPTION IN THIS COURTROOM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

AS STATED IN TEXAS PENAL CODE 38.1 13.

PLAY NICE. I DON'T HAVE TO SEND ANYBODY AT THE TIME OUT.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

[1. Call to Order.]

FOR THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US VIA LIVE STREAM.

WE HAVE A PRESENCE OF A QUORUM.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS NOTICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS CODE HAS BEEN POSTED ONLINE UNDER LEGAL NOTICES FOR AT LEAST 72 HOURS PURSUANT TO TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT.

TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 551.

PLEASE STAND AS COMMISSIONER DEXTER MCCOY.

LEAD US IN PRAYER, FOLLOWED BY INVOCATION TO OUR FLAGS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. PLEASE BOW IF THAT IS YOUR POSTURE FOR PRAYER. OH GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS AND YOUR MERCY.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING YOUR FACE SHINE UPON US TODAY AND GIVING US YOUR PEACE.

GOD, RIGHT NOW, AS WE COME BEFORE YOU, WE ASK FOR YOUR.

WE SUBMIT TO YOUR HUMBLE WILL.

WE ASK FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AS WE MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE BEST AND THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE.

WE ASK GOD THAT YOU GUIDE OUR HEARTS AND OUR THOUGHTS IN OUR MIND.

RIGHT NOW, CENTER US ON THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE CENTER OF OUR ISSUES, AND LORD, CENTER US ON THE JOY THAT YOU PROVIDE US IN DOING THIS GREAT WORK.

BLESS NOW THE PEOPLE OF GOD AS WE PARTAKE IN YOUR BUSINESS.

THIS IS OUR PRAYER AND WE ASK IT IN YOUR NAME.

AMEN. AMEN. THE PLEDGES, THE US AND TEXAS FLAGS.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE.

TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND PLEASE BE SEATED AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO

[3. Approve minutes of special meeting held on July 7, 2025, and regular meeting held on July 8, 2025. ]

YES, JUDGE. I HAD TWO AMENDMENTS THAT WERE NEEDED TO THE MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON JULY 8TH, 2025.

ONE. SORRY. GIVE ME JUST ONE SECOND HERE.

ON AGENDA ITEM 20, A IT DID NOT REFLECT THE FULL NATURE OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WAS HAD ON THAT PORTION OF THE MEETING IN PARTICULAR THERE IS AN AMENDMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE REGARDING THE DISCUSSION HAD ABOUT THE MAPS APPROVED IN 2021 WHERE I POINTED OUT TO THE COURT THAT THE COURT DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW MAPS IN 2021 AND THAT THAT ASSERTION WAS AFFIRMED AND THAT COMMISSIONER MYERS NOTED THAT HE DIDN'T FEEL THE TIME WAS ADEQUATE. THAT IS ONE ADJUSTMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE IN THE MEETING MINUTES THERE.

THE OTHER ONE IS REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 22, A AND B, TO REFLECT THAT AN INITIAL VOTE THAT THE JUDGE CALLED THE QUESTION.

AND THEN AN INITIAL VOTE WAS HAD WHERE COMMISSIONERS MORALES, PRESTIDGE MYERS AND MCCOY AFFIRMED SUPPORT.

THE JUDGE CONTINUED TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

DISCUSSION FURTHER ENSUED ABOUT THE LEGITIMACY OF THE ACTION, OR THE NEED OF THE ACTION BEING TAKEN BEFORE THE QUESTION WAS CALLED AGAIN.

I HAVE THE SUGGESTED LANGUAGE FOR THAT THAT I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE TO THE TO THE CLERK.

CAN YOU PROVIDE THAT TO THE CLERK AND LET HER REVIEW IT AND COME BACK TO THE COURT WITH ANY AMENDMENTS TO HER MINUTES THERE? HER MINUTES I WILL, BUT I WOULD REMIND THE COURT THAT IT IS MY JOB TO RECORD THE ACTIONS OF THE COURT. I DO NOT HAVE TO RECORD ALL OF THE DISCUSSION.

THAT IS WHAT THE VIDEO IS FOR, TO REVIEW EVERYTHING THAT IS OUT THERE.

SO I WILL REVIEW IT. COMMISSIONER AND I WILL COME BACK,

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SO WE WILL TAKE WE WILL.

AS A MATTER OF PARLIAMENTARIAN PROCEDURE, THE MINUTES WOULD NEED TO BE TABLED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY MIC, BUT THE MINUTES WOULD NEED TO BE TABLED.

THE MINUTES WOULD NEED TO BE TABLED UP AND UNTIL THERE IS CLARIFICATION REGARDING THE THE RECORDING OF THE SAME OR THE CLARIFICATION OF THE SAME.

SO ITEM NUMBER THREE, THE MINUTES ARE GOING TO BE TABLED UNTIL MORE CLARIFICATION BROUGHT TO THE COURT.

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

AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA AND ANNOUNCEMENT.

AND SO COME FORWARD. THANK YOU.

JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I'M GOING TO READ A PROCLAMATION TO HONOR OUR STAFF DURING THE KERRVILLE FLOODS, THE PROCLAMATION READS.

AS SUCH, WHEREAS FORT BEND COUNTY REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF NOT ONLY OUR RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO TO OUR FELLOW TEXANS ACROSS THE STATE IN TIMES OF CRISIS AND NEED. AND WHEREAS, ON JULY 18TH, FRIDAY, JULY 18TH, 2025, THE FORT BEND COUNTY MS 603 STRIKE TEAM, PART OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TASK FORCE MTF SIX, WAS EMPLOYED TO ASSIST IN THE AFTERMATH OF A CATASTROPHIC FLOODING IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY. AND WHEREAS THE HIGHLY TRAINED AND DEDICATED TEAM HAS PROVIDED CRITICAL SUPPORT IN WILLIAMSON AND BURNETT COUNTIES, INCLUDING PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVE SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE, AND FORCE PROTECTION FOR THE FEDERAL SEARCH AND RESCUE ASSETS ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER NEAR MARBLE FALLS.

AND WHEREAS THEIR DEPLOYMENT, EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK, REFLECTS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF SERVICE, COMPASSION AND COURAGE EXHIBITED BY FORT BEND COUNTY'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROFESSIONALS.

AND WHEREAS, THE MEMBERS OF THE MPV 603 STRIKE TEAM ARE A SHINING EXAMPLE OF FORT BEND COUNTY'S VALUES, SELFLESSNESS, COMMITMENT AND UNITY.

AND WE STAND IN FULL SUPPORT OF THEIR MISSION AND SAFE RETURN.

I NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT JUDGE KP GEORGE, FORT BEND COUNTY JUDGE AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE ON THE 22ND DAY OF JULY 2025, THE MPV 603 STRIKE TEAM IN ALL EM SIX MEMBERS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND SUPPORT TO THE OPERATION HILL COUNTRY.

WE ASK ALL RESIDENTS OF FORT BEND COUNTY TO KEEP THEIR HEROES AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY ARE SERVING IN THEIR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

IF YOU ALL COULD PLEASE COME DOWN SO THAT THEY CAN RECEIVE THEIR PROCLAMATION. TAKE A PICTURE.

OKAY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE GEORGE.

CHIEF WADE WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

THANK YOU. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

I EMAILED YOU ON JULY 4TH.

LET YOU KNOW THAT THE THE AM BUS WOULD BE TRAVELING, TRAVELED WITH FIVE OTHER AMBULANCES FROM ACROSS OUR HOUSTON REGION WITH SOME LEADERSHIP ELEMENTS. THEY WENT TO SAN ANTONIO FOR ABOUT 18 HOURS AND THEN GOT MOVED UP TO WILLIAMSON COUNTY WHERE THEY ASSISTED THE AUTHORITIES IN TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY AREAS IN SAN SABA COUNTY AND EVENTUALLY BURNET COUNTY, AND TRYING TO FIND SURVIVORS AT FIRST AND THEN RECOVER THOSE THAT THAT WERE MISSING.

AFTERWARDS. THEY WERE DEPLOYED FOR A TOTAL OF TWO WEEKS.

AND PERFORMING THAT AND THEY PERFORMED ADMIRABLY, AS DID ALL THE ASSETS.

THERE'S MANY MTF ASSETS FROM STILL HERE IN MTF SIX, WHICH IS THE HOUSTON AREA AND MTF EIGHT IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA THAT ARE STILL DEPLOYED

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AND STILL LOOKING FOR THOSE THAT REMAIN MISSING.

FORTUNATELY, THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN RECONCILED AND IT'S DOWN TO A MUCH SMALLER NUMBER.

BUT THEY STILL ARE SEARCHING FERVENTLY.

SO WE APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING US TO HAVE THIS ASSET AND ALLOWING US TO DEPLOY WHEN OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR AND OUR OTHER FOLKS IN OUR GREAT STATE OF TEXAS NEED THAT HELP, BECAUSE KNOCK ON WOOD, HOPEFULLY NOT.

BUT THERE'S LIKELY TO COME A DAY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO NEED THEIR HELP IN RETURN.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANK YOU. THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR OUTSTANDING TEAM HERE FOR THEIR WORK.

THANK YOU. YOU BET. AND, CHIEF, I'LL SAY I DID GET TWO TEXT MESSAGES FROM SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES OUT OF TRAVIS COUNTY WHO SENT ME PICTURES OF THE AM BUS OUT THERE. AND THEY NOTED HOW PROFESSIONAL YOUR TEAM WAS AND HOW HELPFUL EVERYONE WAS.

SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT FOLKS ARE HAVING TO BE SO FAR AWAY FROM THEIR OWN FAMILIES.

IT'S REALLY NICE TO HAVE THAT LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, SIR. YOU BET.

NEXT THE ITEM ONE THERE IS A VIDEO PRESENTED TO YOU.

CAUGHT THE COMMUNITY SHOUT OUT.

YES OKAY OKAY OKAY. CAN YOU GO TO.

OKAY. SO NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE ITEMS. GO AHEAD.

THIS SHOUT OUT IS TO OUR NEEDVILLE JUNIOR BOYS IN WHO ARE UP TO PLAY FOR THE JUNIOR LEAGUE, LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES.

THAT'S TOMORROW. THAT'S JUST AN INVITATION FOR ALL OF US TO JUST WATCH IT AND ROOT THEM ON. AND UNDER THE SAME ANNOUNCEMENTS, THE NEXT ITEM IS A PRESENTATION FROM OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INTERNS.

THEY'RE HERE TO PRESENT A VIDEO.

IF YOU CAN CALL ROBIN, SHE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO THAT.

PLEASE COME FORWARD. GOOD AFTERNOON.

SO I'M PRESENTING TO YOU GUYS TODAY A VIDEO THAT OUR INTERNS CREATED.

WE HAD ABOUT 50 INTERNS THAT WERE.

YEP. AND TEMPORARY YOUTH WORKERS.

HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THEM THIS SUMMER.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE DONE INCLUDES IMAGING OVER 550 MACHINES.

THEY BUILT THEIR OWN AI CHATBOT.

THEY VIDEO INTERVIEWED SEVERAL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.

THEY PERFORMED SEVERAL MOBILE DEVICE DEPLOYMENTS.

THEY WORKED ON THE SERVICE DESK, ANSWERING CALLS AND RESPONDING AND FINE TUNING THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS.

AND THEN LASTLY, THEY ALSO WORKED ON CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS TRAINING AND EXERCISES. IN THE VIDEO, YOU WILL SEE A CLIP OF WHAT THEY HAVE PUT TOGETHER TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT CYBERSECURITY.

THANK YOU.

HI, MY NAME IS TIMOTHY AND I JUST GRADUATED FROM CLEMENTS HIGH SCHOOL.

I WILL BE ATTENDING UT AUSTIN IN THE FALL FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE.

FAVORITE ASSIGNMENT THIS SUMMER SO FAR I WOULD SAY HAVE TO BE CYBERSECURITY.

WE ARE DOING A CAPTURE THE FLAG KIND OF SIMULATION WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO FIND INFORMATION USING LIKE THE FIREWALL SYSTEM.

I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY PRACTICAL IN TERMS OF WHAT I WANT TO DO IN THE FUTURE, AND LEARNING ABOUT WHAT THE COUNTY ACTUALLY DOES.

HI, MY NAME IS IAN BAKER.

I GO TO WILLIAM D TRAVIS HIGH SCHOOL. I'LL BE A SENIOR THIS YEAR.

THE EXPERIENCE OF THE DAILY BUS I FEEL WAS REALLY EDUCATIONAL AND LIKE ALL THE TECHNOLOGIES THAT THEY HAD, I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. SO LEARNING NEW THINGS ABOUT THAT HELPED ME UNDERSTAND HOW THE TECHNOLOGY IS IMPROVING OVER THE YEARS.

IF YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY, DON'T BE SO QUICK TO DENY IT.

TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY AND YOU MIGHT LEARN FROM IT.

MY NAME IS ETHAN GARZA.

I'M 19 YEARS OLD. THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR HERE AND I GO TO BERLIN.

WE GRAB LAPTOPS FROM DOWNSTAIRS AND BRING THEM UP, USE PIXI BOOTH TO IMAGE THEM UP, AND DOWNLOADS EVERYTHING FOR US, AND GO IN AND MAKE SURE IT HAS BITLOCKER.

MAKE SURE IT HAS ALL THE UPDATES ON IT.

THESE ARE ALL GETTING READY TO BE DEPLOYED FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

MY NAME IS ISAIAH ANDERSON.

I'M AN UPCOMING SENIOR AT WILLIAM B TRAVIS HIGH SCHOOL.

I LEARNED ABOUT DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF IT THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW EXISTED PRIOR TO THIS. IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE OVERALL.

ONE OF THE THINGS I GAINED FROM WORKING WITH PEERS OF SIMILAR INTEREST IS REALLY JUST CONNECTIONS. MY NAME IS HANNAH AND I'M A RISING SENIOR AT CLEMENS HIGH SCHOOL, AND THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR AT THIS INTERNSHIP, AND MY TEAM CREATED AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR CYBERSECURITY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT LEAVING YOUR COMPUTER UNATTENDED.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT. HERE'S YOUR TIP.

THANK YOU FOR DOING IT. YOU HAVE A NICE DAY. ONE HOUR LATER.

WAIT. DO WE HAVE TO CLOCK IN? OH, SHOOT. WAIT, I THINK I JUST GOT HACKED.

I THINK I GOT HACKED, TOO.

OH, NO. THEY BOTH GOT HACKED.

HANNAH LEFT HER COMPUTER UNATTENDED.

NOW WE GOTTA CALL THE SUPER TEAM SERVICE DESK.

[00:15:07]

HOW CAN I HELP YOU? I THINK I JUST GOT HACKED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING. WHAT'S YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME? FIRST NAME.

HANNAH. LAST NAME. AND MY COWORKER IS RIGHT NEXT TO ME.

I THINK HIS COMPUTER ABOUT HALF TO MR. COWORKERS. FIRST AND LAST NAME.

LAST NAME, SIR. GO AHEAD AND TURN OFF BOTH COMPUTERS.

I'M GOING TO REMOVE THEM BOTH OFF THE DOMAIN AND SHUT DOWN BOTH HANDS.

AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, HAYLEY WENT INTO FLASH MODE AND SHE IS GOING TO REMOVE THE COMPUTERS OFF THE DOMAIN. THE SUPER TEAM SERVICE DESK SAVES THE DAY, AND THIS WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT PROTECTS YOURS AND THE COUNTY'S INFORMATION, SECURE AND PRIVATE.

SO THEY DID A GREAT JOB AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PROVIDED AND ALLOWING THEM TO COME OUT.

AND IT SHOULD ALL BE HERE.

THIS IS ALL OF THE IT INTERNS FROM THIS SUMMER.

YEAH. THANK YOU. I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR ALL THE INTERNS BACK THERE. HOW MANY OF YOU ARE NOW CONSIDERING JOBS IN IT? INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY? SEVERAL OF YOU. WELL, I HOPE YOU CHOOSE TO COME WORK FOR FORT BEND COUNTY SOMEDAY. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU.

THANK YOU. I WILL SAY SEVERAL OF THEM ARE IN SCHOOL FOR EITHER COMPUTER ENGINEERING, COMPUTER SCIENCE, MR, WHICH IS MY DEGREE AS WELL.

SO IT'S GREAT. THERE'S SOME THAT WEREN'T.

AND HOPEFULLY, AS COMMISSIONER MCCOY MENTIONED, WE CAN CONVINCE THEM TO COME INTO IT.

BUT EITHER WAY, IT IS NEEDED IN EVERY PROFESSION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ROBIN.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND ONE QUICK NOTE. IT SEEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING SOME AUDIO AND VIDEO ISSUES ONLINE.

SO IF YOU CAN GIVE US A MINUTE TO CHECK THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS STREAMING LIVE STREAM. OKAY. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST PAUSING FOR A FEW.

SO YOU WILL TAKING CARE OF IT RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT.

YES. OKAY. PLEASE GIVE US A MINUTE.

WE NEED TO RECESS. YOU MIGHT WANT TO RECESS.

OKAY. SO IT 116. I WILL RECESS THIS MEETING FOR MAYBE FIVE MINUTES.

YES. THANK YOU. WE WILL GET BACK.

121. OKAY. IT IS. EXCUSE ME.

OKAY. IT'S 121. WE ARE BACK FROM RECESS, AND COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL CONTINUE WITH THE NORMAL PROCEEDINGS.

OLGA, I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

YES WE DO. AND SO CALL THEIR NAME.

AND ALSO THEY HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

AND WHEN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF WHO YOU ARE.

THE FIRST SPEAKER IS VICKI KAUFMAN ON AGENDA ITEM 16 B 18 A AND 19.

OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

I'M VICKI KAUFMAN, A RESIDENT OF UNINCORPORATED FORT BEND COUNTY SINCE 1999 AND ALSO BETWEEN 1957 AND 1961.

I DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE IN DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF THESE REDISTRICTING ISSUES, ALTHOUGH I'M FINDING OUT MORE ALL THE TIME ABOUT THIS THING THAT REALLY SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. BUT I DO KNOW A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPEAR TO ME TO HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SNEAK THIS IN UNDER THE RADAR.

THAT IS THE SORT OF THING THAT GETS BOTH MY BACK AND MY SUSPICIONS UP.

TWO THERE IS NO GOOD REASON TO BE REDISTRICTING AT THIS TIME.

REDISTRICTING IS DONE AFTER THE CENSUS.

FOR ONE THING, THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE THE DATA WITH REGARD TO SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE PROPOSED BLANK CHECK OF ITEM 16 B FROM WHAT I GATHER AT THIS POINT, IT SOUNDS LIKE A PROPOSAL TO SPEND TAXPAYER MONEY FOR THINGS THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SHOULD BE DOING.

IT ALSO SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN TO GET THE ADVICE THAT SOME PEOPLE WANT, SINCE THEY WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S ADVICE.

THAT'S JUST ME. WITH REGARD TO ITEM 18 A G, IT MUST BE NICE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE YOUR OWN CUSTOM PRECINCT. CAN I GET IN ON THAT? IN THE LAST REDISTRICTING, I WAS MOVED OUT OF 107 AND INTO 207, AND MY COMMISSIONER WENT FROM CLOSE TO ME TO WAY UP IN MISSOURI CITY.

ALTHOUGH I MUST SAY I AM HAPPY TO BE REPRESENTED BY A DEMOCRAT.

BUT NOBODY'S GOING TO FIX THAT LITTLE OLD THING JUST FOR LITTLE OLD ME.

[00:20:04]

WELL, THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, WHOM I KNOW TO BE COMPETENT AND FAIR, THERE PROPOSED SOME CORRECTIONS TO RATHER THAN THIS WHOLESALE REDISTRICTING, AND THAT WAS REJECTED.

SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE. ANYONE.

WITH REGARD TO ITEM 19, ABSOLUTELY.

THAT ENGAGEMENT LETTER SHOULD BE RESCINDED.

FOR ONE THING, PER COMMISSIONER MCCOYS ATTACHMENT, THE PROPER PROCEDURE WAS NOT FOLLOWED.

ALSO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THIS, NOBODY IN PARTICULAR, THAT ACTION WAS LIKE ITEM 16 B ON TODAY'S AGENDA, AN ATTEMPT TO BUY ADVICE THAT IS AGREEABLE TO SOME MEMBERS OF THIS BODY SINCE THEY DID NOT LIKE THE ADVICE OF THE ACTUAL COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

NEXT QUESTION. EXCUSE ME.

NO, PLEASE GO AHEAD. MA'AM.

PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.

OKAY. NEXT PERSON. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DENNIS SCOTT.

ON AGENDA ITEM 16 B. 16 AND ALSO 19. HELLO. MY NAME IS DENNIS SCOTT AND I'M FROM FULSHEAR.

I'M A PRECINCT CHAIR FOR 1006.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF MY CONSTITUENTS BEFORE THE COURT.

I'M FOR AGENDA ITEM 16 B AND AGAINST AGENDA.

SPEAK CLOSE TO THE MIC.

YEAH, YEAH. OKAY. I'M FOR AGENDA ITEM 16 B AND AGAINST AGENDA ITEM 19.

IN MY OPINION, THE SENIOR OR THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE HIRING OF AN OUTSIDE LAW FIRM FOR REDISTRICTING PROCESS IS MOST NONPARTIZAN APPROACH AT CREATING DISTRICT LINES. MY PRECINCT HAS CLOSE TO 20,000 PEOPLE AND LIES WEST, NORTH AND EAST OF THE CITY OF FULSHEAR.

IF THE BOUNDARIES AREN'T CHANGED, THE SESSION IN THIS SESSION WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS THERE COULD VERY REAL REALISTICALLY BE 25,000 PEOPLE THERE.

MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE FEW VOTING LOCATIONS AND ARE OUR PRECINCT, AND THE VOTERS BALLOTS ARE NOT ALWAYS CONSISTENT WITH THEIR LOCATION.

I AM FOR AGENDA ITEM 16 B I'M CONCERNED THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS PARTIZAN AND HAS LOST CONFIDENCE. I'VE LOST CONFIDENCE IN HER ACTIONS UNDER THE DIRECT AND FULL COURT TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF PARTIZANSHIP.

I BELIEVE THE TEXT WRITTEN IN AGENDA ITEM 16 B IS A MORE NONPARTIZAN PATH FORWARD.

I'M AGAINST AGENDA ITEM 19.

I DON'T SEE ANY CORE DUTIES OF THE COURT ATTORNEY WHICH STATES THEY CAN REDISTRICT OUR COURT. OUR COUNTY AG OPINION KP 0492 STATES THE COMMISSIONER COURT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS REDISTRICTING.

THE OPINION CLEARLY REFLECTS NOT ONE OF THE PRESCRIBED LEGAL DUTIES OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO BE REDISTRICT REDISTRICTING IN ITS GENERAL COUNTY LEGAL BUSINESS.

THE VOTE OF THE LAST MEETING ON REDISTRICTING SHOULD STAND.

THE COUNTY SHOULD FOLLOW THE LAW.

WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE THE WRITTEN FOR? STAY IN COMPLIANCE FOR THE COUNTY AND VOTERS SAKE.

THE VOTERS ELECTED YOU TO REPRESENT THEM AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP.

WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONFIDENCE.

RESTATED. REINSTATED IN THE COUNTY.

THE NOTE ON REDISTRICTING.

REDISTRICTING FOR THE LAST MEETING STAND SHOULD STAND.

PLEASE VOTE FOR 16 B AND AGAINST 19.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. THANK YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MELISSA BLANCHETTE ON 16 B AND 19.

MY NAME IS MELISSA BLANCHETTE.

I'M THE GOP PRECINCT CHAIR FOR 1149 AND THE OVERALL GOP PRECINCT ONE CAPTAIN.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AS A RESIDENT AND AS A PRECINCT CHAIR TO SPEAK BEFORE THE

[00:25:04]

I WAS RELIEVED AND THANKFUL TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN THE COURT ESTABLISHED A CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE HIRING OF AN OUTSIDE LAW FIRM ON REDISTRICTING.

THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF THE VOTERS IN PRECINCT ONE ARE IN ELECTION PRECINCTS WHERE THAT ARE OVER THE 5000 POPULATION LIMIT, OR HAVE OTHER LEGAL ISSUES.

THIS INCLUDES MY OWN. VOTERS ARE UNDERSERVED BY A SHORTAGE OF PRECINCT CHAIRS, TOO FEW POLLING PLACES AND COMPLEX BALLOTS IN THE MAY 2020 ELECTION.

WE HAD CITY OF FULSHEAR VOTERS IN MY PRECINCT WHO WERE ASSIGNED WRONG BALLOTS DUE TO CONFUSION OVER THE CITY OF FULSHEAR BOUNDARIES.

THE LAW SETS OUT THAT THE ELECTION PRECINCTS MUST BE REVISITED EVERY TWO YEARS IN ODD NUMBERED YEARS. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN IN 2023.

IT MUST HAPPEN IN 2025.

I AM FOR ITEM 16 B AND I'M AGAINST ITEM 19.

TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 45 179 DOES NOT ASSIGN EXCLUSIVE OR SUPERVISORY CONTROL OVER ADMINISTRATIVE OR LEGISLATIVE PROCESSES, SUCH AS REDISTRICTING, TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

IN FACT, TEXAS ELECTION CODE 42.031 AND THREE TWO VESTS THIS RESPONSIBILITY EXCLUSIVELY TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. THESE STATUTES MAKE NO MENTION OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, NOR DO THEY ASSIGN HER ANY ROLE IN MANAGING OR AUTHORING THE REDRAWING OF PRECINCTS OR POLITICAL BOUNDARIES. AG STAFF HAS RECENTLY, AS THIS WEEK HAS CONFIRMED, THIS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE APPEARANCE OF PARTIZANSHIP AND THE AGGRESSIVE DEMEANOR BEING SHOWN BY THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ATTORNEY.

MY CONFIDENCE IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS BEEN LOST.

AN OUTSIDE LAW FIRM WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT THE FORT BEND COUNTY REDISTRICTING EFFORTS ARE NONPARTISAN, PROFESSIONAL AND COMPETENT.

WE NEED TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABLE PROCESS TO RESTORE COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW, AND THAT INCLUDES THE VOTERS, AND THAT INCLUDES VOTERS IN THE PROCESS.

PLEASE MAINTAIN THE CITIZENS REDISTRICTING ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE OUTSIDE LAW FIRM FOR LEGAL ADVICE. THIS APPROACH WILL RESTORE VOTER CONFIDENCE, ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY, LEGALITY AND FAIRNESS.

VOTERS ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO RESTORE THEIR EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE BALLOT.

THE VOTES AT THE LAST MEETING SHOULD STAND.

PLEASE APPROVE ITEM 16 B AND VOTE AGAINST ITEM 19.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARGARET DANIEL ON 16 B AND 19.

GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE MY OPINION WITH THE COURT.

MY NAME IS MARGARET DANIEL.

I'M A FORT BEND COUNTY RESIDENT.

I LIVE IN KATY PRECINCT ONE 147 AND I'M A PRECINCT CHAIR.

I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO DISCUSS AGENDA ITEMS 16 B, WHICH I'M IN FAVOR OF, AND 19 WHICH I OPPOSE.

THE NEED FOR REDISTRICTING BECAME ABUNDANTLY CLEAR LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS BLOCK WALKING PRECINCT 1006 THAT DENNIS JUST MENTIONED WITH OVER 19,000 PEOPLE.

IT'S A PRECINCT THAT NEVER ENDS.

NOT ONLY IS THE VAST NUMBER OF TOO LARGE FOR ANYONE PRECINCT CHAIR TO ACTUALLY SERVE, THE POLLING LOCATION AT JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL HAD LONG LINES AND WAS BUSY ALL NIGHT.

MY DAUGHTER. WAS A CLERK AT JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE ARRIVED HOME OVER 2.5 HOURS LATER.

AFTER I ARRIVED HOME WHERE I CLERKED IN MISSOURI CITY.

MY HUSBAND, CLARKTON ROSENBERG.

WE BELIEVE IN HELPING OUR COMMUNITY.

IT JUST COMPARING STORIES.

IT WAS QUITE BUSY. THE LOG DICTATES THE ELECTION PRECINCTS MUST BE REVISITED EVERY TWO YEARS IN ODD NUMBER YEARS.

THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN IN 2023, SO IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT IT DOES IN 2025.

REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 16 B, I'M CONVINCED WE MUST HIRE AN OUTSIDE LAW FIRM TO ENSURE THAT FORT BEND COUNTY REDISTRICTING IS NONPARTISAN AND PROFESSIONAL. AS AN OUTSIDE OBSERVER, IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS A SPECIAL WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMISSIONER MCCOY, AND I DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN NEUTRALITY AT THIS POINT.

REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 19, REDISTRICTING IS NOT A CORE DUTY OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. AG OPINION SPECIFICALLY STATES AS AS RECENTLY AS THIS WEEK THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO HIRE AN OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR MATTERS SUCH AS

[00:30:02]

ITEM 19. IT'S MY HOPE THAT THE COURT DOES NOT REVERSE ITS RECENT DECISIONS TO CREATE A CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND ENGAGE ROGERS, MORRIS AND GROVER TO ADVISE ON REDISTRICTING.

PLEASE VOTE TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM 16 B AND REJECT ITEM 19.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRAD MOON ON AGENDA ITEMS NINE A, NINE G, 16 A, 17 B, 18 B AND 19.

YEAH, SO I'LL GO IN ORDER.

I'M BRAD MOON AND LIVE IN UNINCORPORATED PART OF FORT BEND COUNTY OUTSIDE OF SUGARLAND.

SO THE NINE A, B AND C, Y'ALL ARE ASKING TO RE-ISSUE BONDS, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHY.

WHEN I READ THAT ITEM, I DIDN'T SEE THAT THE CAPITAL WAS CHANGING.

THE TERMS WERE CHANGING.

AND SO I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS, YOU KNOW, REISSUING OF BONDS. IF SOMEBODY COULD ADDRESS THAT WHEN, WHEN THE APPROPRIATE TIME COMES UP IN NINE G.

IT'S THE REDOING OF THE ROADS IN THE RIVIERA SUBDIVISION.

AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOKED AT THOSE PLATS, THEY'RE RIGHT ON ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW, BENDS OF, OF BRAZOS RIVER.

WE'RE SPENDING, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO SHORE UP SOME OF THESE AREAS.

AND THIS MAY BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US NOT TO BUILD A SUBDIVISION AND A ROAD THAT THEN WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT LAND IS IT HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE.

THAT'S WHAT THE BRAZOS RIVER IS GOING TO DO, YOU KNOW, ON THOSE BENDS. SO I'M HOPING THAT THAT'S WHAT THIS MEANS, THAT YOU'RE RECONSIDERING THAT BECAUSE YOU ALL COME TO THAT SAME CONCLUSION THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE PUTTING ROADS AND SUBDIVISIONS DIVISIONS WHERE THAT LAND IS GOING TO GO AWAY ON ITEMS 16, 17 AND 18.

YOU KNOW, AT LEAST THREE OF YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED YOUR NAMES FOR THE REDISTRICTING GROUP. AND I REALLY LIKE THE I LIKE WHO I'VE SEEN THERE.

I KNOW MOST OF THEM, AND I'M NOT SURE WHY.

YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYBODY HAS SUBMITTED THEIR NAMES FOR US TO KIND OF SEE HERE. YOU ALL ARE CONSIDERING. BUT IF, IF THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE, THEN I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE DONE, YOU KNOW, FAIRLY AND AND NOT AS PARTIZAN AS WHAT WE HAVE NOW.

AND THEN LASTLY ON ON 19, YOU KNOW, I HATE TO PILE ON, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS ALREADY ABOUT THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

BUT SINCE THIS IS GETTING MORE POLITICAL, AND I AGREE WITH SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS THAT THE THE POSITION HAS GOTTEN A LOT MORE PARTIZAN, IT APPEARS, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOES ON IN THE OFFICE ITSELF, BUT IT JUST LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOTTEN A LOT MORE PARTIZAN, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A NASTY BATTLE.

AND I WOULD RATHER SEE THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DO THEIR MAIN CHORES AND WORKING FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTY. AND IT REALLY MIGHT BE THE BEST THING IS TO HAVE AN OUTSIDE FIRM HELP US WITH THIS AS WELL. AS I LOST A LITTLE CONFIDENCE THAT THE THE PROPOSAL WAS TO HAVE THE SAME ATTORNEYS FIRM THAT, YOU KNOW, APPROVED THESE GERRYMANDERED BOUNDARIES, AND ALSO THEY DID NOT KEEP US OUT OF THE THE PROBLEM WITH THE PRECINCT VOTER NUMBERS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT FIRM IS THE BEST ONE TO, TO TAKE US GOING FORWARD SINCE THEY DIDN'T REALLY FIX THE PROBLEMS WE'RE INTO NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS FARAH AHMED ON 16 A AND SIX B.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS FARAH AHMED.

I'M A 30 YEAR RESIDENT OF THIS COUNTY AND A PRACTICING TEXAS ATTORNEY FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CONCERNS MANY OF US HAVE ABOUT THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT ACTUALLY CONSIDERING TO DIMINISH THE POWER AND DUTIES OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS BEEN DULY ELECTED AND REELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY.

YOU MAY NOT AGREE ALWAYS WITH THE LEGAL ADVICE OR OPINIONS OF THIS COUNTY ATTORNEY, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE MOST OF YOU ARE JUST SHOPPING AROUND FOR ANOTHER LEGAL OPINION THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE, AND WASTING OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

YOU ALL HAVE TAKEN AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE LAWS OF THIS STATE,

[00:35:05]

WE ARE TRULY, TRULY DISAPPOINTED AT THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP DISPLAYED IN THIS OPEN COURT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CAROLYN HOPKINS ON 16 A.

HI, MY NAME IS CAROLYN HOPKINS AND I LIVE IN MISSOURI CITY.

77459 AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE LEGAL ASPECTS AND EVERYTHING, BUT WHAT I JUST SAID ABOUT THE MONEY BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE.

THE FEDERAL DOSE CUTS TOOK A LOT OF MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND AND THEN WE'RE PLACING RESPONSIBILITIES MORE ON THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE UP THE SLACK. SO I WAS WONDERING, HOW CAN WE DO THAT WHEN WE'RE PROPOSING TO SPEND, I THINK, $20 MILLION ON THE REDISTRICTING? AND I WAS I GUESS POPULATIONS DO CHANGE.

SO IN FIVE YEARS, YOU KNOW, WE WE DO THE CENSUS EVERY FIVE YEARS.

BUT I WAS THINKING, WELL, FIVE YEARS AGO IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS APPROPRIATE. SO IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULD JUST STICK WITH THE TEN YEARS.

THE CENSUS DICTATES HOW THE MAPS ARE DRAWN, AND SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN TEN YEARS. I KNOW THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS STATED THAT HE WANTS FIVE MORE REPRESENTATIVES, AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S A SPECIAL CALLED SESSION BY GREG ABBOTT.

AND ISN'T THAT TAKING THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE TO VOTE IN THEIR RACE? THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE FREE TO CHOOSE, NOT BE DICTATED BY THE PRESIDENT BY REALIGNING THE DISTRICTS.

I'M ALSO THANKFUL THAT OUR GOOD NEIGHBORS IN MEXICO WERE SENT BY THE PRESIDENT TO STAND SIDE BY SIDE WITH OUR FELLOW TEXANS, UNIFIED BY OUR COMMON CARE FOR OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS AND OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

AND I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE JUST THE EXPENSE OF THE REDISTRICTING, THAT PROCESS IS TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM THE CUTS THAT ARE BEING MADE IN TERMS OF MEDICARE AND HEALTH CARE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT FOR ME, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME NOW SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, BECAUSE THAT LAST LINE, FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, IT HURTS MY HEART THAT I DON'T SEE THE JUSTICE FOR ALL AND THE TREATMENT OF ALL PEOPLE AS HUMAN BEINGS.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EVELYN MONTALVO ON 16 B AND 19.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS EVELYN MONTALVO, PRECINCT CHAIR, 1063. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF FORT BEND COUNTY SINCE 1990.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF 16 B AND AGAINST 19.

AFTER REVIEWING TEXAS SELECTION STATUTE 45.19179 AND THE AG OPINION KP 0942, IT APPEARS COMMISSIONERS COURT IS HAS THE RULING AUTHORITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE HIRING OF AN OUTSIDE LAW FIRM TO OVERSEE THE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE.

IN THE AG OPINION ZERO KP 0942 AND I READ THE ENTIRE OPINION.

IN THE SUMMARY, IT STATES A COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO HIRE LEGAL COUNSEL TO ASSIST WITH COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES SO LONG AS THE STATUTORY DUTIES OF OTHER COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE NOT THEREBY USURPED.

UNDER THE TEXAS ELECTION STATUTE 45.179, IT STATES IT IS THE PRIMARY DUTY OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IN FORT BEND COUNTY TO REPRESENT THE STATE, FORT BEND COUNTY AND THE OFFICIALS OF THE COUNTY, AND ALL CIVIL MATTERS PENDING BEFORE THE COURTS OF FORT BEND COUNTY AND ANY OTHER COURTS IN WHICH THE STATE, FORT BEND COUNTY, OR THE COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE MATTERS PENDING.

SO IT SEEMS COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS JURISDICTION, AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WOULD BE SUBORDINATE TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

ON JUNE 11TH, THE DOJ CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION SENT A LETTER TO TEXAS STATING FOUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS CONSTITUTED UNCONSTITUTIONAL COALITION DISTRICTS.

ONE OF THE THREE CASES CITED WAS PETTWAY VERSUS GALVESTON COUNTY, WHICH WAS ULTIMATELY HEARD BY THE FULL FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS.

THEY MADE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR IN A 12 FIVE DECISION THAT COALITION DISTRICTS WERE NOT PROTECTED UNDER SECTION TWO OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

THE ISSUE AT HAND WAS COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

PRECINCTS. FORT BEND COUNTY FINDS ITSELF IN THE SAME SITUATION TO AVOID BEING SUED AND

[00:40:01]

IT SEEMS ADVISABLE TO CORRECT THE MAPS NOW.

I WILL CLOSE BY SAYING, WHILE I'M NOT ALWAYS HERE, I DO WATCH THE MEETINGS LIVE STREAM, AND IT HAS BEEN UPSETTING TO ME TO WATCH ONE PARTICULAR COMMISSIONER AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ATTACK OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COURT AND ATTACK TEAM APPROACH.

I FIND IT VERY UNDIGNIFIED.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS PAULA HANSON ON 16.

BE.

HI, MY NAME IS PAULA HANSEN.

I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF FORT BEND COUNTY SINCE 1995, SO I'M JUST GOING TO SAY I OPPOSE 16 B.

I BELIEVE THAT OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, WHO HAS BEEN ELECTED BY FORT BEND COUNTY, CAN COVER ALL THE ITEMS NEEDED OR THE ACTIVITIES NEEDED FOR THIS REDISTRICTING, WHICH I, BY THE WAY, ALSO OPPOSE.

READING THROUGH SOME OF THE PURPOSE FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

AND I REALIZE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT SPECIFIC RULES AND LAWS, BUT I'M JUST SAYING SHE IS SUPPOSED TO ISSUE CIVIL LEGAL OPINIONS.

SHE'S SUPPOSED TO PREPARE AND REVIEW ALL CONTRACTS, CONDUCT LEGAL RESEARCH REQUIRED, AND ACTIVELY SERVE AS ADVISORS TO COUNTY OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS.

THAT SEEMS TO COVER IT.

NOW, THE THING I WANT TO REALLY POINT OUT, THOUGH, IS THAT THE PURPOSE AND THE MISSION, THE MISSION OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL, TIMELY AND COST EFFECTIVE LEGAL SERVICES.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO COMMENT ABOUT THE COST EFFECTIVE.

I WAS HERE IN YOUR LAST MEETING WHEN I TALKED ABOUT REDISTRICTING, AND I SAID THAT I LOOKED EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE EYE, AND I SAID, I WANT YOU TO ENGAGE YOUR TIME, YOUR PRIORITIES AND YOUR ENERGY INTO DOING STUFF THAT IS GOOD FOR FORT BEND COUNTY AND NOT TO WASTE MONEY ON WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE UNNECESSARILY LEGAL HELP, WHICH I'M NOT SURE IS ALSO NONPARTISAN.

SO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT TALK ABOUT OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY BEING NONPARTISAN, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT MAYBE THEY SHOULD GO CHECK OUT THE LAW FIRM.

ANYWAY, I'M JUST GOING TO END WITH NO, PLEASE VOTE NO ON 16 B AND SOMETHING THAT MY PARENTS ALWAYS TOLD ME.

JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS EAMON O'NEILL ON 16 A.

HELLO, MY NAME IS EAMON O'NEILL.

I'M 33 YEARS OLD. I LIVE IN KATY AND I'M A NEW REAL ESTATE AGENT AND I SPEAK IN FAVOR OF 16. A CONGRATS ON THE NEEDVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM.

I'M IN FAVOR OF APPOINTING MR. JACOB LEE AND MR. ROBERT BEAM AS FORT BEND COUNTY REDISTRICTING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS. CITIZENS INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY BRING LOCAL TRANSPARENCY AND COMPROMISE TO THIS COUNTY. I BELIEVE THAT THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE HEARINGS SHOULD BE RECORDED AND SEEN IN A FORT BEND GOVERNMENT WEBSITE, AND BE ABLE TO BE SHARED SO THAT CITIZENS CAN COME UP WITH THEIR OWN OPINIONS AND CONCLUSIONS.

I HOPE THAT COMPROMISE AND NOT POLITICS, DRIVES THIS COMMITTEE AND MAKES THIS PLACE A FAIR PLAYING FIELD FOR BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, WITH FREE AND FAIR REPRESENTATION THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTY, THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS ARE SEEING DIVISIONS REGARDING REDISTRICTING.

WE DON'T NEED TO SEE POLITICAL CONFLICT LIKE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND IN AUSTIN. THE PEOPLE OF MY GENERATION WANT TO SEE RESULTS, NOT ENDLESS TALK. LET'S MAKE SURE THIS COMMITTEE MEETS WITH PEOPLE IN TOWN HALL STYLE MEETINGS IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN AREAS, AND IN ALL FOUR PRECINCTS THROUGHOUT FORT BEND, AND HAVE QUESTIONS ASKED TO THEM AND FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE MANY CITIZENS IN A TRUTHFUL AND FAIR MANNER.

I INVITE ANY MEDIA AND CITIZENS TO ATTEND ANY PUBLIC MEETINGS THIS COMMITTEE WILL HOST.

WE NEED ACTION, TRANSPARENCY AND COMPROMISE.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH ROBERTS ON 16 B, 18 A AND 19.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SARAH ROBERTS AND I'VE PROUDLY LIVED IN FORT BEND COUNTY FOR 40 YEARS. I'VE SERVED THIS COMMUNITY AS A VOLUNTEER IN MANY ROLES FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES. TODAY I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO AGENDA ITEMS 16 B, 18 A AND IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 19.

ITEM 16 B AND 18 A APPEAR TO VIOLATE CLEARLY ESTABLISHED STATE LAW,

[00:45:04]

THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. VOTERS IN FORT BEND COUNTY AND ACROSS TEXAS DESERVE CLARITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF THEIR TAX DOLLARS.

THIS IS NOT HOW TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT OPERATES.

THIS IS NOT HOW DEMOCRACY IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

FRANKLY, I DON'T CARE WHAT POLITICAL PARTY SOMEONE CLAIMS. I CARE ABOUT DECENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, KINDNESS, DEFENDING THE CONSTITUTION.

WE MUST SAY NO TO POLITICAL POWER GRABS.

WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY.

NO TO CORRUPTION AND BACKROOM DEALS, AND YES TO PROTECTING THE VOICE AND VOTE OF EVERY FORT BEND COUNTY RESIDENT JUST FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY.

I'VE NEVER VOTED FOR UCP.

EXCUSE ME MA'AM. EXCUSE ME MA'AM.

THIS TIES INTO THESE AGENDA ITEMS SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT I'M NONPARTIZAN.

I SERIOUSLY QUESTION THE MOTIVES AND TIMING AND PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE OF NATURE OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS AND THE CIRCUS THIS PROCESS HAS BECOME.

MANY OF YOU ALSO RECOGNIZE ME AS THE PERSON WHOSE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS WERE IN FACT, VIOLATED FOR SPEAKING ON ISSUES DRAWN FROM PUBLIC RECORD THAT TIE INTO THESE VERY EXACT AGENDA ITEMS. THE PEOPLE OF FORT BEND COUNTY DESERVE BETTER THAN THAT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S GIVING CORRUPTION, CORRUPTION AND CRONYISM.

AND THAT'S NOT LEADERSHIP.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON MOVING THIS COUNTY FORWARD IN REAL, REAL CHANGE, NOT ON FIGHTING PEOPLE AND TRYING TO HURT THEM BECAUSE WE'RE ANGRY WITH THEM. I CHOOSE KINDNESS.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JONATHAN MARCANTEL.

ON 16 A, 16 B, AND 18 A.

GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS.

I'M JONATHAN MARCANTEL FROM MEADOWS PLACE.

I RISE TODAY TO SPEAK AGAINST 16 A AND B AND 18 A.

I SHALL TAKE EACH IN TURN.

ON 16 A THE ENABLING MOTION FROM JULY 8TH STATED QUOTE IN STATED IN PART.

QUOTE, WITH EACH MEMBER APPOINTING TWO ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHOSE MEMBERS MAY BE APPOINTED OR CHANGED AT ANY TIME, AND WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE APPOINTING THE CHAIR. PLAIN READING WOULD SUGGEST THE COMMISSIONERS APPOINT TWO MEMBERS AND THE JUDGE APPOINTS ONLY THE CHAIR.

16 A HAS THE JUDGE APPOINTING TWO PERSONS, THE CHAIR AND A MEMBER TO THE BODY.

SO THIS WOULD APPARENTLY BE A VIOLATION OF THE MOTION OF THE ENABLING MOTION, AND SO MUST BE REMEDIED.

ON 16 B, THERE'S NOTHING IN THE JUDGE'S REFERENCE TO GOVERNMENT CODE 45 179 THAT ALLOWS THE ACTIONS HE WISHES TO TAKE.

IT REEKS OF SOMEONE THROWING A SITE AND THINKING THAT'LL SHUT THEM UP, AND HOPING NO ONE READS THE ACTUAL.

SITE. WE ALL KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAY AND SHALL WHEN IT'S REPRESENTED IN LAW.

IN FACT, 45.1 79B SPEAKS DIRECTLY AGAINST THE ABILITY OF THIS BODY TO OVERRULE AND APPOINT OUTSIDE COUNSEL, WHICH READS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SHALL REPRESENT THE FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT AND ANY OTHER COUNTY ENTITY CREATED YOUR ATTEMPTS TO DO ANYTHING LESS THAN FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IN THIS MATTER ARE LAWLESS.

AND FINALLY, LET'S ADDRESS 18 A AND COMMISSIONER MYERS, WHO'S LED A SOLUTION TO THE COLOSSAL FISCAL DISASTER HE IS HELPING TO CREATE, IS TO SACRIFICE OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES TO PATCH THE GAPING HOLE LEFT BY REDISTRICTING.

ASTONISHINGLY, HE NOW SEEKS TO RESURRECT AN ITEM HE HIMSELF VOTED AGAINST BLATANTLY VIOLATING MULTIPLE RULES OF ORDER ACROSS ALL ESTABLISHED PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITIES.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING FOR A COMMISSIONER TO ENGAGE IN SUCH BEHAVIOR.

AND THIS IS NOT JUST A LAPSE IN JUDGMENT.

IT IS AN AFFRONT TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE COURT AND A DISGRACEFUL DISPLAY OF FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY. RESPONSIBILITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRIS PINO ON 16 B, 18 A AND 19.

HOWDY. GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS CHRIS PINO.

I'M THE PROUD SON OF FORT BEND COUNTY.

I JOKE THAT I WASN'T BORN HERE, BUT I GOT HERE AS FAST AS I COULD.

I'M A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT FOUR.

AND I HAVE CALLED FORT BEND COUNTY MY HOME SINCE I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD.

[00:50:01]

AND MORE BROADLY, I AM HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST WHAT I BELIEVE IS A CROOKED DIRECTION THAT THE COURT IS HEADING IN.

I AM SORRY, BUT THIS NEW MAJORITY IS SO EXPENSIVE.

ALL I HEAR FROM BEHIND THIS DAIS IS SPEND, SPEND, SPEND. FIRST, WE HAVE TO HIRE A LAW FIRM BECAUSE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR APPARENTLY CAN'T DO THEIR JOB.

THEN WE HAVE TO HIRE ANOTHER LAW FIRM BECAUSE COMMISSIONERS COURT DIDN'T DO ITS JOB CORRECTLY. AND NOW WE HAVE TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO REDRAW THOSE VERY SAME MAPS THAT THE SAME EXACT MEMBERS OF THIS BODY PASSED JUST FIVE YEARS AGO, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOW BELIEVING THAT THEY DIDN'T DO A GOOD ENOUGH JOB THE FIRST TIME.

DO YOUR DOGGONE JOB YOURSELF AND STOP TRYING TO PAY OTHER PEOPLE TO DO IT.

WITH 16 B, WE ARE ALSO OPENING UP A CAN OF WORMS TO SEVERE LEGAL LEGAL CONSEQUENCES BEYOND REDISTRICTING. THE LANGUAGE IS INNOCUOUS AT FACE VALUE, BUT WHEN YOU DO A CLOSE READ, YOU REALIZE THAT IT IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT VAGUE. IT ENABLES THIS COURT AT ANY TIME TO A POINT.

ANY SORT OF VENDOR THAT THEY WANT WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE NORMAL PURCHASING REVIEW PROCESS. AND, AND IN EFFECT ALLOWS THE COURT TO CASH BLANK CHECKS TO THEIR FRIENDS AND WHOEVER IT IS THAT THEY WANT TO GET A KICKBACK TO, WHENEVER THAT'S CONVENIENT FOR THEM. IT BYPASSES A CONSTITUTIONALLY ESTABLISHED AND LEGALLY ESTABLISHED, ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT CODE PROCESS THAT THIS COURT IS REQUIRED TO FOLLOW.

IT FLAGRANTLY VIOLATES THE CLEAR LANGUAGE OF THE LAW, AND WE ARE OPENING OURSELVES UP TO EVEN MORE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT ON LAWSUITS THAT WILL COME. YOU CANNOT CALL YOURSELF THE TAXPAYERS BEST FRIEND WHEN YOU WANT TO DROP MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR POLITICAL EXPEDIENCE TODAY, AT THE DETRIMENT OF THE TAXPAYERS TOMORROW.

LASTLY, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, WHICH ISN'T ON THE AGENDA TODAY, BUT I'VE HEARD A LOT OF FOLKS ON ONE PARTICULAR SIDE OF THE AISLE BRING UP, AND I JUST WANT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. THIS IS A SEPARATE LEGAL ISSUE.

THE REDISTRICTING IN THE PRECINCT PRECINCTS ARE SEPARATE LEGAL ISSUES, AND NOTHING THAT THE COURT IS VOTING ON TODAY HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT. IN FACT, THIS COURT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX AND CURE OUR VOTER PRECINCTS MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND DO SO IN A NONPARTISAN FASHION WITHOUT SPENDING ANY MONEY. EXCUSE ME, SIR AND THEY DECLINED TO DO THAT.

SO I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY HERE CAN GET BACK TO THE BASICS.

YOUR TIME IS UP. YOUR TIME IS UP.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS VICTOR PEREZ ON 16 B, 17 B AND 19. GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS VICTOR PEREZ.

I'M A FORT BEND COUNTY RESIDENT.

I LIVE IN KATY. I'M ALSO A FORMER KATY ISD SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF 16. BE IN OPPOSITION TO 19.

OUTSIDE COUNSEL SHOULD BE HIRED WHO CAN BE NONPARTISAN, PROFESSIONAL AND COMPETENT.

THE VOTE AT THE LAST MEETING REGARDING REDISTRICTING SHOULD STAND.

THE POSITION OF COUNTY ATTORNEY IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT ALL FORT BEND COUNTY, NOT A POLITICAL PARTY AND NOT A SINGLE COMMISSIONER.

REDISTRICTING IS NOT A CORE DUTY OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

IN THE AG OPINION. YOU KNOW THAT AS COMMISSIONERS COURT, YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS REDISTRICTING.

IT IS A PRESCRIBED. THE OPINION NOTES THAT IT IS NOT ONE OF THE PRESCRIBED LEGAL DUTIES OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY IN ITS GENERAL LEGAL BUSINESS, SUCH AS REDISTRICTING.

I AM SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 16 B OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO REJECT ITEM 19.

THE VOTE FROM THE LAST MEETING REGARDING REDISTRICTING SHOULD STAND.

I'M ALSO SPEAKING IN REJECTION OF 16 B WITH REGARD TO THE NOMINATION OF WENDY DUNCAN.

THIS IS A VERY DISAPPOINTING NOMINATION.

WENDY DUNCAN DOES NOT REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY.

SHE HAS NO EXPERIENCE IN ELECTION INTEGRITY NOR EXPERIENCE WITH REGARD TO REDISTRICTING.

HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF THE ELECTION CODE WHILE REDISTRICTING IS IMPORTANT,

[00:55:03]

THE LAST SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH WOOD ON 16 B.

I SIGNED UP. I GOT THE CONFIRMATION.

ELIZABETH WOOD. ELIZABETH WOOD.

YEAH. IS SHE HERE? SHE MIGHT BE IN THE OVERFLOW.

JUDGE. CAN YOU PLEASE CHECK? YEAH. RESPECTFULLY, MAY I APPROACH? WE DID SIGN UP AND RECEIVE CONFIRMATION.

WE TOLD THEM AT THE DOOR.

CAN YOU PLEASE STAY BACK, MA'AM? CAN YOU PLEASE SOMEBODY TAKE CARE OF THAT ISSUE? WE. WE TOOK. TAKE THAT PERSON.

TAKE THEM OUTSIDE, PLEASE.

DANIELLE, PLEASE. YEAH.

THANK YOU. SORRY. I CAN CALL FOR HER AGAIN.

FOR ELIZABETH WOOD. ELIZABETH WOOD.

OKAY. PLEASE COME. COME FORWARD.

HI. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH WOOD, AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF FORT BEND COUNTY SINCE 1990. I'M ACTUALLY SORT OF IN BETWEEN ON THESE ISSUES.

I'M NOT FOR 16 B TODAY, BUT I DO THINK THAT ULTIMATELY, WHEN WE DRAW LINES, WE SHOULD HAVE A BALANCED CITIZEN COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH LINES SO THAT THINGS AREN'T DONE IN SUCH A PARTIZAN WAY.

AT THE LAST MEETING I ACTUALLY HEARD, AND I WAS DISHEARTENED TO HEAR TWO YOUNG MEN COME UP AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY, IN FACT, HAD DRAWN THE LINES LAST TIME FOR THE VOTER PRECINCTS TO HAVE THREE DEMOCRATIC AND ONE REPUBLICAN PRECINCT.

I'M ACTUALLY PURPLE. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK I CAN'T STAND ANY OF YOU, TO BE HONEST. BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT PARTIES, BUT WHAT I DO FIND IS THAT IF WE DRAW THE LINES NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DRAW THEM AGAIN IN FIVE YEARS, AND WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY DOING IT NO MATTER WHAT.

BECAUSE IN FIVE YEARS WE GET THE NEXT CENSUS OUT.

WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A TON OF MONEY.

NOW WITHOUT THE DATA, IN FIVE YEARS, WE'LL HAVE THE DATA.

SO I THINK THAT IN FIVE YEARS WE SHOULD DRAW THE LINES WITH A CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

IT SHOULD BE A COMMITTEE WITH EQUAL NUMBERS OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

IT SHOULD BE A NONPARTISAN.

WE JUST EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW, THE WAY IT STANDS, WE'RE GOING TO END UP WITH SIX REPUBLICANS AND FOUR DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THE THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE ARE ALL GOING TO RECOMMEND.

SO THAT'S THREE REPUBLICANS AND TWO DEMOCRATS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO END UP WITH A NON BALANCED ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

THIS IS A PROBLEM. WE WANT TO GET AWAY FROM THAT.

I DON'T WANT THREE REPUBLICANS AND ONE DEMOCRAT.

I DON'T WANT NECESSARILY TWO AND TWO.

WHAT WE WANT IS FAIR, BALANCED COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

ALSO, I WANT ALL OF OUR DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THE MAPS DONE IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY.

THIS SHOULDN'T BE A SECRET.

IT SHOULDN'T BE CLOSED DOOR MEETINGS.

IT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT.

PLEASE MAKE FORT BEND AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS SO GOOD ABOUT OUR COUNTRY, AND ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE FANTASTIC, BUT WE HAVE TO ACT WITH INTEGRITY.

THANK YOU. WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.

I'M SORRY. WE HAD TWO OTHER SPEAKERS WHO SAID THAT THEY RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT THEY I DON'T HAVE THEM ON MY CHECK IN LIST, SO EITHER ONE.

YES, THEY DID SIGN UP, BUT THEY WERE NOT HERE BY THE TIME THAT WE PICKED UP OR THE DEADLINE THAT WE HAVE PURSUANT TO OUR COMMISSIONERS COURT ORDER, IS THERE. EXCUSE ME, MA'AM.

THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I HAVE COMMISSIONER JUST CLARIFYING QUESTION FOR THEM OR ANY OTHER FUTURE SPEAKERS. DOES IT PUBLISHED ONLINE THAT YOU HAVE TO BE PRESENT AND CHECKED IN BY A CERTAIN TIME? IT DOES, EVEN IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP ONLINE.

YES, SIR. BEFORE THAT TIME? YES. OKAY. OKAY. LET'S MOVE ON.

ANY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEMBERS HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENT? HEARING NONE. I WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

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

PUBLIC HEARING OF ACCEPTANCE OF TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN FOR TAMARIND WEST.

SECTION 14, PRECINCT ONE.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING ITEM?

[01:00:04]

NO. YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AND I SIGNED IN FOR THE TIME.

OKAY. THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO ADDRESS LATER. PLEASE, LET'S MOVE ON. AND SO, JUDGE.

YEAH? YOU CALLED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

YEAH. AND THEY'RE ASKING TO SPEAK THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SPEAKING ABOUT. YOU.

OKAY, IF YOU WANTED TO TALK ON THIS ITEM, YOU COULD COME FORWARD AND SPEAK.

AND OTHERWISE, IT IS NOT ALLOWED.

WELL, COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER KNOW, BUT EVERY EVERY TIME WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, YOU CALL AND ASK FOR ANYBODY ELSE.

REMEMBER THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT IS.

THIS WHOLE SIGN IN STUFF BY THE TIME THERE'S SOME NEW, NEW PROCESS. NO, NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT IN GENERAL.

I'LL LET THIS GO FOR A SECOND THERE.

BUT THAT'S NOT FAIR. THAT'S NOT FAIR.

OKAY. SO WE WE DO WE DO HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS EVERY WEEK AND WE'RE BEGGING FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND SPEAK. COMMISSIONER WE DO THIS FOR A REASON.

OKAY. AND SO THIS IS HOW WE DO IT.

EXCUSE ME FOR THE TIME.

I SIGNED IT FOR THE TIME.

AND THERE IS NO REASON TO ELIMINATE YOU FROM THE LIST OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WHY DON'T YOU LET THEM SPEAK? IT'S NINE MINUTES.

THREE PEOPLE LET THEM SPEAK.

OKAY, OKAY. WE DID THIS FOR A LIVING.

WE HEAR ALL DAY LONG. LET THEM SPEAK.

COME FORWARD. HELLO. MY NAME IS GAYE TAYLOR.

AND EXCUSE ME, PLEASE.

THIS IS A PROBLEM HERE. CAN I GET THAT TIME LOCATED BACK TO MY SPEECH? PLEASE GO AHEAD. HELLO. MY NAME IS GAYE.

TAYLOR AND I LIVE IN RICHMOND.

I'M A COMMUNITY SERVANT LEADER, AND I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THAT BECAUSE I DON'T ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT I SPEAK FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN FRONT OF ME THAT HAS GONE AGAINST THAT, AND THE PRINCIPLES AND THE BELIEF THAT I ONCE STOOD FOR YOU AND THE TRUST THAT I HAD IN YOU. AND IT HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY.

SO TODAY I SPEAK BECAUSE I'M UPSET.

I AM VERY UPSET. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

I REPRESENT A SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP THAT DEALS WITH A TIER ONE KIDS THAT DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY. PARENTS THAT DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY.

THAT THINGS ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM.

LIKE SNAP, LIKE FOOD BANKS.

WE, OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR OWN PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE BEING SUBSTANCE.

FOOD IS TAKEN AWAY. WHY? WHY NOW ARE WE DOING THIS TO ADD MORE BURDEN TO THE PEOPLE.

WE ARE THE PEOPLE. I AM BEING BURDENED PEOPLE.

YOU ARE TOO. AND THE REASON WHY? BECAUSE WE'RE SENIOR CITIZENS.

WE ARE GETTING THINGS TAKEN AWAY FROM US.

WE VOTED IN TRUST OF THE VERY OFFICIALS, OF VERY OFFICIALS THAT WE PUT IN OFFICE.

AND NOW WE ARE BEING LAMBASTED BY YOU, YOU, BECAUSE YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT I BELIEVE IN. IT'S CALLED DEMOCRACY.

WE NEED TO GAIN THAT BACK.

WE NEED TO SPEAK FOR THOSE THAT CANNOT SPEAK.

AND I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON THAT.

I WAS JUST APPROACHED LAST WEEK BY SOMEONE IN A GROCERY STORE AND HE SAYS, MA'AM, DON'T BE AFRAID, BUT I'M COMING TO YOU BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE FOOD. I NEED A HOT MEAL.

CAN YOU HELP ME? I DID, AND I REACHED OUT TO A FOOD BANK, AND I WENT TO THE FOOD BANK TO GET FOOD FOR HIM.

AND GUESS WHAT? EVEN THE FOOD BANKS DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD.

WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED TO ASSIST THE SENIORS? WE NEED TO ASSIST PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY FOOD, TO BUY MEDICATION. AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM US.

BUT YET YOU AND YOU CAN SAY, I WANT TO TAKE IT AWAY BECAUSE MY POWER.

EXCUSE ME, MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS UP.

MY POWER IS MORE AND GREATER THAN YOU.

THE CONSTITUENTS. YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. OKAY. WHO IS THE NEXT PERSON?

[01:05:06]

SHAUN. OKAY. I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THEIR NAMES.

YEAH, OKAY. JUDGE, HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE TIME. APPRECIATE IT. HONORABLE A FAVOR AND SPEAK UP. I CAN'T HEAR YOU. HEY, HOW ARE YOU, EVERYBODY? MY NAME IS SHAR HALEEM.

I'M HERE TO SAY THAT THIS IS FORT BEND COUNTY.

I LIVED HERE FOR 35 YEARS.

I GOT HERE AS SOON AS I COULD, AND I KNOW EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.

A PUBLIC SERVANT, JUST LIKE I AM.

LIKE MANY SPEAKERS STATED, YOU KNOW, THIS COUNTY IS FOR THE PEOPLE I WANT TO BE TREATED FAIRLY, JUST LIKE YOU WANT TO BE TREATED.

WE HAVE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL LIKE OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, JUST LIKE YOU WON YOUR RIGHT TO DO YOUR JOB, RIGHT? EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.

SHE HAS A RIGHT TO CARRY HER DUTIES.

SHE HAS BEEN TOTALLY IGNORED.

SO I WOULD APPRECIATE THINKING ABOUT YOUR STATUS.

GIVE HER THE RESPECT SHE DESERVES.

SHE WAS ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF FORT BEND COUNTY.

JUST LIKE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.

THREE. TWO. VOTE IN THIS COURT UNJUSTLY.

MID-YEAR GERRYMANDERING MOVE BY HIRING OUTSIDE COUNSEL, WASTING TAXPAYERS MONEY WHILE YOU ARE CONSIDERING CUTTING THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES OF THIS COUNTY WHERE WE HAVE EXPECTED GROWTH OF THE POPULATION.

THE DOCKS ARE BACKLOG.

IS THAT THE FAIR THING TO DO? WASTING MONEY ON OUTSIDE LAW FIRM WHILE ALREADY TAXPAYER FUNDED LAWYER IS HERE WHILE CUTTING THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES TO BACKLOG OUR OUR COURT PROCEEDINGS? SO I OBJECT TO THE 16 BE OBJECT TO THE 18 A, AND I SUPPORT DEXTER MCCOY'S PROPOSAL TO FIRE THE OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL, BECAUSE IN FIVE YEARS, JUDGE, WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT RIGHT WITH THE RIGHT SENSES.

WE DON'T HAVE MONEY IN OUR COUNTY.

BUDGET IS SHORT. LET'S SAVE THAT MONEY AND PUT IT TO THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEED THIS HELP. SO, YOU KNOW, END OF THE DAY, JUDGE AND ALL OF YOU, THE HIGHEST THING WE HAVE IN OUR LIFE IS OUR HONOR AND OUR SELF RESPECT AND DIGNITY, JUST LIKE EACH OF US IN THIS FORT BEND COUNTY.

AND I WANT YOU TO HAVE THAT DIGNITY CONDUCTING YOUR BUSINESS.

THAT IS WHY I VOTED FOR YOU EVERY TIME.

I WANT YOU TO REPRESENT ME ALSO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHRIS.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? ONE MORE PERSON? YES. OKAY. HI. DID YOU GET ME? HI, I'M ANNA. I'M A RESIDENT OF FORT BEND COUNTY.

PRECINCT CHAIR FOR 26, IN NEW TERRITORY.

WE, THE PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING A CONSTITUTION.

CONSTITUTION THAT STARTS FROM OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT THAT SAYS ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE. A CONSTITUTION THAT BELIEVES IN DUE PROCESS OF THE LAW.

A CONSTITUTION THAT DELEGATES AUTHORITY TO CERTAIN PEOPLE FOR CERTAIN JOBS.

SAME THING HAPPENS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

WE HAVE A TEXAS CONSTITUTION THAT SPECIFICALLY DELEGATES AUTHORITY TO PEOPLE LIKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY ATTORNEYS.

TODAY I'M HERE BECAUSE I WE ARE WITNESSING A CRIME SCENE, A CONSTITUTIONAL HIJACKING OF DULY ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND I DO NOT LIKE THE ALLEGATIONS THAT OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY IS PARTIZAN AND UNABLE TO DO HER JOB, OR SHE'S COLLUDING WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONER MCCOY AND UNABLE TO DO HER JOB.

THIS IS OFFENSIVE. AS A WOMAN, THIS IS OFFENSIVE.

AS A RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY.

AND IT IS OFFENSIVE AS A PERSON WHO BELIEVES WE ARE GUIDED BY A CONSTITUTION.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THE CONSTITUTION GAVE OUR FORT BEND COUNTY ATTORNEY, IF YOU'VE READ THE LAW SPECIFIC VESTED POWERS TO REGULATE AND OVERSEE ANY CIVIL MATTERS THAT AFFECT THE COUNTY, INCLUDING REDISTRICTING.

THIS IS HER WHEELHOUSE.

YOU DO NOT LIKE HER OPINION.

THAT'S TOUGH. GUESS WHAT? THIS COUNTY ATTORNEY RAN IN 2024 FOR THE SECOND TIME UNOPPOSED.

SO ALL THESE REPUBLICAN OPERATIVES IN THIS ROOM CLAIMING PARTIZANSHIP SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. RUN A CANDIDATE.

HAVE A DEBATE. RUN A RACE.

THIS IS DEMOCRACY. THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE.

[01:10:01]

AND THE OTHER PART OF THAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS THE RECENT, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT PARTIZANSHIP IS THE RECENT POLITICAL SWITCH BY OUR OWN COUNTY JUDGE THAT HAS NOW CHANGED THE MAJORITY ON THIS COURT.

EXCUSE ME? NO I'M NOT. I'M DONE, I'M DONE.

THE MAJORITY HAS CHANGED.

I'M SORRY. I'M ALLOWED FOR CERTAIN.

SHE'S ALLOWED TO SPEAK. THERE ARE PEOPLE.

I'M SORRY MA'AM. NO. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE AND CRITICIZED ME, AS IS THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, AND I ACCEPTED THAT.

I SAID, OKAY, GO AHEAD. CONTINUE.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT THE PARTIZANSHIP ON THIS BOARD HAS CHANGED WITH YOU SWITCHING PARTIES. IT'S NOT A SURPRISE.

IT'S NOT AN ATTACK. IT'S JUST A SIMPLE FACT.

YOU DID. SO NOW WE HAVE A32 MAJORITY THAT HAS DECIDED THAT OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE SUBJECT TO WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE.

AND I WILL TELL YOU WHY.

RIGHT NOW, AS WE'RE SITTING HERE, FORT BEND COUNTY IS ILLEGALLY VIOLATING THE RE PRESENTING REQUIREMENTS.

WE SPENT $60,000 TO HAVE OLDHAM, THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, GIVE US A MAP. THIS 3 TO 1 MAJORITY GOP MAJORITY REFUSED THAT LAST TIME.

AND I'M. AND THIS IS WHY WE'RE IN THIS MESS.

MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS UP.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION.

FOLLOW THE LAW. THANK YOU.

AND STOP WASTING OUR MONEY.

ON TO ASSUMING NO OTHER SPEAKER.

LET'S. AND ON AGENDA ITEM FIVE, PUBLIC HEARING.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? AGENDA ITEM FIVE.

MOVE FOR APPROVAL. WE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING.

WE DID, WE DID, WE DID, AND NO ONE SHOWED UP.

ALL AND DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[ CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS: (6-15) ]

AGENDA ITEM SIX THROUGH 15.

I HAVE BEEN INFORMED AGENDA ITEM NINE HAS BEEN PULLED.

APPROVAL OF ITEMS SIX THROUGH 15.

COMMISSIONER NINE, IF I MAY INTERRUPT, JUDGE.

YEAH. ALSO, THERE'S ONE MORE EXCEPTION ON TEN A WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DEFER ACTION UNTIL AFTER LATER IN THE AGENDA.

OKAY. SO ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS.

NO, SIR. ON SIX THROUGH 15.

OH, OKAY. ON THE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM.

WHICH OF THE TWO. WHICH WHICH ITEM? TEN A YEAH.

TEN A. ALL RIGHT. I'LL MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEMS SIX THROUGH 15, EXCEPTING NINE AND TEN A WHICH WILL BE TAKEN UP LATER.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION WITH THAT CHANGES? I'M SORRY, YES I DID. IS SOMEONE FROM ENGINEERING HERE? STACEY, THERE WAS A THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT BONDING.

I'M NOT SURE IF THE SPEAKER WAS MISINTERPRETING WHAT OUR, LIKE, OUR BONDS WITH WHERE WE'RE ISSUING DEBT FOR OUR MOBILITY PROJECTS VERSUS THESE BONDS FOR OUR DEVELOPMENT OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO ITEM NINE A AND NINE C WHAT HAPPENED IS THE BONDING.

THOSE ARE CONSTRUCTION BONDS FOR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THOSE BONDING COMPANY HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME.

SO WHAT WE HAD TO DO IS WE HAD TO ISSUE NEW BONDS FOR THE NEW TO SHOW THE NEW NAME OF THE COMPANY. AND THEN THE PREVIOUS COMPANY'S NAMES.

THOSE BONDS HAVE BEEN THOSE BONDS HAVE BEEN RELEASED.

OKAY. YEAH. SO MORE OF A PROCEDURAL THING BECAUSE OF A CHANGE OF A COMPANY, CORRECT? YEAH, IT'S JUST A NAME CHANGE.

SO THE BONDS WERE NO LONGER APPLICABLE.

SO WE HAD TO CANCEL THOSE BONDS AND ADD NEW BONDS.

OKAY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN I ALSO WANT NINE G WAS PULLED NOT DEFERRED FOR LATER ACTION BUT PULLED.

THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT STILL HAS NOT ACCEPTED SOME OF THE DRAINAGE PLAN THAT THIS DEVELOPER OF A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD IS PROPOSING.

AND SO WE'RE NOT SATISFIED AT THIS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

TWO EXCEPTIONS, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

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

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM SECTION OF AGENDA SECTION THREE.

[16. COUNTY JUDGE:]

I WILL TAKE ITEM EACH ITEM SEPARATELY.

16 A PRESENTED BY COUNTY JUDGE OFFICE MOVE APPROVAL OF 16 A AS PRESENTED SECOND AND ANY DISCUSSION. HEARING NONE.

WE MY OFFICE HAS REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE FOR INFORMATION ON THIS COMMITTEE, AND STILL HAS YET TO RECEIVE ANY WHEN WHEN IS IT? HOW WHEN IS THIS COMMITTEE SUPPOSED TO BE MEETING?

[01:15:02]

CAN YOU CAN YOU PLEASE GO AHEAD? AND SO I DID DEFER THAT QUESTION TO THE CHAIR, WHO IS GOING TO SET THIS WHOLE MEETING COMMITTEE.

AND. ET CETERA. I BELIEVE THEY'RE MEETING TODAY AT FOUR.

THEY'RE GOING TO DISCUSS HOW OFTEN WHERE, ETCETERA.

BUT MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THAT IS COMMUNICATION SENT OUT TO ALL THE COURT MEMBERS REGARDING THIS COMMITTEE? I DID SPEAK TO SOMEONE FROM YOUR OFFICE.

COMMISSIONER. AND SO WE'RE SETTING UP A COMMITTEE, WHICH, AGAIN, I AFFIRM OR PETITION THAT IS BASED ON US.

ILLEGITIMATE. IT HAS AN ILLEGITIMATE BASIS, BUT WE STILL DON'T HAVE THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY ON ANY OF THIS, ON HOW PEOPLE ARE BEING SELECTED.

THERE WAS NO OPEN CALL OR APPLICATION PROCESS FOR ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.

AND WE ALSO HEARD FROM SOME OF THE SPEAKERS TODAY ABOUT THE PARTIZAN NATURE OF SOME OF THESE, MOST OF THESE APPOINTEES.

AND HOW IS THAT SUPPOSED TO SOLVE ANY OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE PURPORTING TO BE THE BASIS OF THIS COMMITTEE? THAT'S WHY YOU SHOULD BE YOU SHOULD HAVE APPOINTED SOMEBODY.

SO THEN WHEN THEY MEET THIS EVENING, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ASK THIS QUESTION TO THE, THE THE GO THERE AND DISCUSS THAT ISSUE AGAIN.

WHY? HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO ASK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING AND COMMIT TO A ROLE THAT THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION ABOUT? ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE, WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT FOR THEM? WHAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE SCOPE OF THAT? DO WE HAVE WHAT SORTS OF EXPERTISE ARE REQUIRED OF THEM? OKAY. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THEY PUT TOGETHER A A NORMAL PROCEDURE THING.

IT WILL BE GIVEN TODAY OR SEND OUT TO ALL THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE FIRST MEETING, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THOSE.

I'M NOT CONTROLLING THOSE THINGS.

THAT'S THE GROUP. THE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO PUT TOGETHER CERTAIN PROCEDURES AND RULES OF HOW TO BE, YOU KNOW, HOW TO DO THINGS.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE GIVEN OUT TODAY.

SO, JUDGE, HOW WAS A MEETING SCHEDULED? YOU SAID TODAY AND WE HAVEN'T.

THAT'S WHAT I THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN APPROVED ANY ACTION ABOUT.

WE DON'T NEED ANY ACTION ON THAT CITIZENS COMMITTEE MEETING.

NO. SO THERE'S A MEETING THAT IS GOING TO BE CONDUCTED.

YEAH. BECAUSE THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PRE-SCHEDULED.

WE DIDN'T EVEN GET DID WE GET INFORMATION ON WHEN THIS MEETING WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CONDUCTED? THE CHAIR WHO HAS THE NAMES OF THE APPOINTED APPOINTEES DID GIVE INFORMATION TO THOSE NOMINEES. AND HE DID ASK IF I HAD YOUR NOMINEE.

AND I SAID, I DID NOT.

YOU WERE OUT OF TOWN. AND I TOLD THEM THAT I WILL FOLLOW UP ONCE I RECEIVE THAT FROM YOU.

SO WE'RE REFERRING. I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE REFERRING TO SOMEONE AS A CHAIR WHO HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THIS COURT. THEY'VE BEEN GIVING INVESTED WITH AN AUTHORITY THAT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THIS COURT TO SET A MEETING PRIOR TO ANYONE BEING PUT ON THIS COURT. I'M JUST GOING TO SAY AGAIN, THIS THIS DOES NOT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PARTICIPATE IN A PROCESS WHEN.

OKAY, SO LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN ANSWERED.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A PLAN PUT IN PLACE.

SO I WILL BE VOTING IN OPPOSITION OF THIS ITEM.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT ASSUMING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ABSTAIN. ABSTAIN. AND SO WE HAVE A31 AGAINST AND ONE ABSTAINED.

AND NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 16 B PRESENTED BY COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

ANY ANY. YOU HAVE A MOTION.

16 B OKAY. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? YES. I GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

AND SO AND THIS IS UNDER COUNTY JUDGE, SO I GUESS I'LL ADDRESS THEM TO YOU.

IS THAT FAIR? YES, SIR.

OKAY. AND SO, COMMISSIONER MYERS, YOU CAN BUTT IN AT ANY TIME.

YOU'RE GOING TO BUTT IN. SO.

SO SINCE YOU PUT AN ITEM ON AGENDA, COULD YOU JUST GIVE US A BACKGROUND ON WHY THIS IN YOUR OWN WORDS, PLEASE.

AND SO FIRST OF ALL, I HOPE WE COULD HAVE A, A CONVERSATION, A CONVERSATION WHICH IS I'M SPEAKING IN MY INSIDE VOICE RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ASK ME THIS QUESTION. WHAT IS HAPPENING LAST SO MANY COMMISSIONERS COURT SESSION IS IT IS VERY EVIDENT.

COUNTY ATTORNEY IS DIRECTLY WORKING WITH CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THIS COURT AND AGAINST THE MAJORITY OF THE COURT, AGAINST THE MAJORITY OF THE COURT.

[01:20:03]

THAT IS THE VERY REASON WHY I PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.

OKAY. AND SO EXPLAIN TO ME EXACTLY WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, BECAUSE I THINK I'VE SEEN AND READ SOME OF THE STATUTES THAT WERE CITED.

AND IT GIVES BROAD AUTHORITY TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO TO TO PROVIDE INPUT ON ALL CIVIL MATTERS. SO IS THIS AN EXCEPTION TO THAT? EXPLAIN THAT TO ME. WHAT EXCEPTION? WHAT ARE THE EXCEPTIONS? ABSOLUTELY. AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO A COUNSEL TO ADVISE THE COURT IS NOT CAN BE, BUT NOT THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THIS IS WHAT I AM SAYING IT BECAUSE I HAD CONVERSATION, I TALKED TO SOMEBODY FROM AG'S OFFICE REGARDING THIS MATTER AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T NEED TO PUT ANYTHING IN WRITING BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED.

AND ALSO THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES IT IS CLEARLY MENTIONED.

TEXAS CONSTITUTIONAL ARTICLE 518 COMMISSIONERS CODE GOVERNED COUNTY WHEN THEY GOVERN COUNTY BUSINESS.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 81 .032 CODE CAN HIRE AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

AND THE AG'S OPINION WE WE ARE REFERRING TO AND FORTH.

KP 0492 CODE CAN ACT WITHOUT COUNTY ATTORNEY'S CONSENT IF NOT INFRINGING ON THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S DUTIES.

AND THEN THERE IS CASES ABBOTT VERSUS BULLOCK COUNTY OFFICE.

COUNTY OFFICES CANNOT OVERRIDE THE COUNTY COURT'S AUTHORITY.

AND THEN ANOTHER CASE.

GIBBONS VERSUS GALVESTON COUNTY.

COUNTY OFFICERS. ELECTED OFFICERS CANNOT CONTROL OR OVERRIDE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AUTHORITY. SO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, WHEN IT COMES TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS, WHEN IT COMES TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS, IT IS VERY CLEARLY MENTIONED, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S AUTHORITY.

AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS OF THIS COUNTY, WHICH IS REDISTRICTING AND ALSO OTHER MATTERS.

AND THERE THE COURT IS THE SOLE AUTHORITY.

AND THIS IS CONFIRMED BY AN ATTORNEY GENERAL.

GET BACK TO THE OTHER QUESTION. COULD YOU TELL ME WHO IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE GAVE YOU THIS OPINION? I CANNOT REVEAL THAT INFORMATION.

RIGHT. YOU CAN'T DO WHAT? NO, I CANNOT TELL YOU THAT. BECAUSE THAT IS, I DID NOT TALK TO. BUT THE SOURCE ON THE RECORD, YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU TALKED TO SOMEBODY IN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE? NO. YOU CAN'T TELL US WHO IT IS. NO, I, I DID NOT TALK TO.

BUT THERE IS. YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU TALKED TO SOMEBODY. I SAID IT WRONG.

I SAID IT WRONG. OKAY, WHICH ONE IS IT? I MEAN, DID YOU TALK TO SOMEBODY PERSONALLY IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE? AND AND ACTUALLY THE THE THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE, MATT MORGAN, TALKED TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

WAIT A MINUTE. SO YOU SAID IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY THAT YOU TALKED TO SOMEBODY IN ATTORNEY. I GOT THE INFORMATION. I SHOULD SAY I COULD CORRECT IT.

I GOT THE INFORMATION AND AND ALSO I GOT.

SO YOU GOT THE INFORMATION FROM MATT MORGAN.

OKAY, SO HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND. LET ME. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. LET ME PULL THAT EMAIL.

I HAVE RECEIVED FROM. IS THAT A PUBLIC RECORD THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH EVERYONE? IT'S NOT. I MEAN, MATT MORGAN'S NOT AN ATTORNEY, SO IT SHOULDN'T BE ANY ATTORNEY.

NO, NO, NO. HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND. I GOT TO PULL THAT EMAIL.

YEAH, THE EMAIL I RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNICATION, I WILL CORRECT AGAIN THE EMAIL I RECEIVED FROM ALLEN T M E E Y DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

A-G'S OFFICE? YES. OKAY.

AND WAS THIS IN RESPONSE TO A WRITTEN REQUEST FROM YOU? THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO HIRING AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR REDISTRICTING PURPOSES.

NO, I'M SAYING BUT BUT WAS THIS A WRITTEN REQUEST FROM YOU? THIS EMAIL I SENT, I SENT THE THE THE ACTION ITEM, INCLUDING THE HIRING AN ATTORNEY.

SO YOU ASKED, IS THIS AN AG'S OPINION? IT'S NOT AN OPINION. THIS JUST CAME BACK AND SAID YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY MAY PROCEED WITHOUT THE REVIEW FROM THE COUNTY S OFFICE.

SO AG DID NOT RENDER AN OPINION ON IT.

THEY JUST SAID NO BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY HAVE ENOUGH OPINION OUT THERE.

THEY DON'T NEED TO WRITE ANOTHER ONE.

OKAY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

[01:25:01]

AND THEY'RE SOFTBALL QUESTIONS, JUDGE. OKAY.

SO OKAY, SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE GENESIS OF THIS.

SURE. SO IS THIS TO RATIFY THE ACTION TAKEN IN THE LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING? IS THIS IS THIS ONLY ABOUT THE AUTHORITY FOR US TO HIRE COUNSEL, OUTSIDE COUNSEL WITHOUT COUNTY ATTORNEY'S APPROVAL FOR REDISTRICTING, NOT REDISTRICTING IN GENERAL IN GENERAL? THAT IS CORRECT. SO THIS IS A BLANKET STATEMENT.

SO YOU ASK THE COURT TO SAY IN A MOTION, AN ACTION THAT IT'S ANYTIME YOU FEEL OR SOMEONE FEELS THAT WE DON'T NEED COUNSEL, YOU CAN HIRE YOU NEED COUNSEL.

NO NO NO NO OKAY OKAY.

SO SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW SINCE SINCE THE STATUTE GIVES BROAD POWERS TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THEY CITE FORT BEND COUNTY IN PARTICULAR.

SO I WANT TO KNOW JUST WHAT OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES DO NOT FALL UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

AND I'D LIKE TO BE REAL SPECIFIC, BECAUSE WHAT? YOU WELL KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ASKING TO GET INTO THAT DISCUSSION.

WHY? IT'S NOT MY UNDERSTANDING.

WHAT IS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY? NO, NO. NO RESPONSIBILITIES.

OKAY, SO IS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY THE ARBITER OR DETERMINE WHAT'S IN HER PURVIEW OR NOT? AND AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW.

ANSWER MY QUESTION. YEAH. SO IF YOU CAN'T GIVE ME A LIST OF CLEARLY REDISTRICTING IS ONE. YEAH. AND YOU'RE SAYING REDISTRICTING IS ONE REDISTRICTING AND GENERAL COUNSEL FOR COMMISSIONERS AND GENERAL COUNSEL FOR COMMISSIONER. YOU'RE SAYING ON THE RECORD THAT WE CAN HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR GENERAL COUNSEL FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT COMMISSIONERS YOU'RE SAYING IT ON THE RECORD IN FRONT OF GOD AND EVERYBODY IN HERE.

OKAY, NOT IN CIVIL REPRESENTING IN CIVIL MATTERS.

OKAY. THERE IS DIFFERENT. WHAT IS GENERAL COUNSEL OTHER THAN A CIVIL MATTER? IT'S NOT A CRIMINAL MATTER. AND IT'S NOT A FAMILY MATTER. IT'S A CIVIL MATTER ACTUALLY ADVISING ON COUNTY BUSINESS. THAT'S A CIVIL MATTER.

NO, IT IS NOT. IT IS A CIVIL MATTER.

ALL MATTERS THAT ARE NOT CRIMINAL ARE CIVIL.

OKAY, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

NO, I'M ASKING THE BASIC QUESTION AT THIS POINT.

AT THIS POINT, WE UNDERSTAND THIS.

HIRING A COMMISSIONERS COURT COUNCIL IS VERY SIMPLE.

I KNOW, I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THIS. YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING, A CLUE. YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHERE I'M GOING. I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING. I'M JUST SAYING. SO I'M ASKING YOU.

BUT I'M SAYING ON THE RECORD SAYING I DON'T HAVE A CLUE.

SO I'M AN IDIOT. NO, NO, YOU SAID YOU'RE AN IDIOT.

YOU USE THE I WORD, I DID NOT.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT I'M ASKING THE QUESTION.

TELL ME WHAT DUTIES ARE OUTSIDE OF THE PURVIEW OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

JUST BE SPECIFIC FOR ME.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL. YOU'RE ASKING FOR.

THAT'S WHERE I STOPPED THIS CONVERSATION.

OKAY. YOU CAN'T CUT OFF THE CONVERSATION WHERE IT DOESN'T GO YOUR WAY. THAT'S NOT FAIR. THAT IS HOW IT WORKS.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS HOW I'M GOING TO DO IT. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO, NO, NO, WE'RE NOT DONE. THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT FAIR.

HE HAS QUESTIONS AND HE'S ALLOWED TO ASK.

NO, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY. YES.

QUESTION. AND HE'S ALLOWED TO SAY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ANSWER IT. THAT'S FINE. BUT YOU CAN'T. BUT YOU CAN'T CUT OFF THE THE DISCUSSION HERE WHEN IT DOESN'T GO YOUR WAY.

SO I'M ASKING ANOTHER QUESTION. SO TRY THIS ONE.

OKAY. IF IF WE HAVE TO IF SOMEONE HAS TO DETERMINE WHETHER SOMETHING IS IN THE PURVIEW OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, WHO IS THE ARBITER OF THAT, WHO IS GOING TO DETERMINE, IS IT A COURT OF LAW? IS IT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY? IS IT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY? I DON'T KNOW. TELL ME WHO.

I'LL ASK IT AGAIN AND I'LL ASK IT SLOW.

YEAH. IF IF THE IF IF YOU HAVE AN ITEM HERE THAT SAYS WE CAN HIRE LEGAL COUNSEL TO ASSIST WITH CARRYING OUT RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT DO NOT CONFLICT WITH THE FORT BEND COUNTY ATTORNEY. OKAY.

NOW I NEED TO KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT ARE THE DUTIES THAT ARE OUTSIDE THAT PURVIEW.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE REAL SPECIFIC BECAUSE YOU'RE ASKING THIS COURT, EVERYBODY IN HERE TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO IGNORE WHAT THE STATUTE SAYS IN FAVOR OF SOMETHING THAT'S OUTSIDE THE PURVIEW. WHO DETERMINES WHAT IS OUTSIDE THE PURVIEW? FIRST OF ALL, BY TELLING ME WHAT IS OUTSIDE OF PURVIEW, OUTSIDE COUNSEL COULD COME AND ADVISE US BECAUSE WE LOST.

WE DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN WHAT KIND OF ADVICE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS DOING AS FAR AS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT BUSINESS.

SO SO SO SO SO. BUT THAT MAKES YOU DETERMINE WHETHER IT'S OUTSIDE THE PURVIEW OR NOT.

THE COURT DECIDE THE COURT.

HOW IS THE COURT GOING TO DECIDE? IT'S GOING TO BE MAJORITY, WHOEVER THAT IS. SO FOR EVERY ITEM THAT COMES UP THAT YOU FEEL OR A MEMBER COURT FEELS IS OUTSIDE THE PURVIEW, IT'S GOING TO COME TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND DECIDE IT'S OUTSIDE THE PURVIEW. IT'S NO YES OR NO? NOT NECESSARILY. IT'S YOU'RE TRYING TO QUESTION ME ON ITEMS BECAUSE I CANNOT GIVE YOU AN ANSWER BECAUSE I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY. THAT'S WHY I'M HIRING.

OH, BUT YOU'RE NOT AN ATTORNEY. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO DETERMINE WHAT IS OUTSIDE THE PURVIEW OF THE COURT. IS NOT. THAT IS NOT WHAT I'M. BUT TELL ME. GIVE ME ONE SPECIFIC POINT. I KNOW YOU CAN'T CUT IT OFF.

YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

YOU CAN'T JUST PICK ANY OTHER ANY OTHER COMMUNICATION.

[01:30:03]

TELL ME THIS. OKAY. NO, NO, NO.

TELL ME YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET INTO THIS DEBATE. I DON'T I DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFICS.

I WOULD ASSUME THAT WHAT WE COULD DO IS ASK AN ATTORNEY WHO'S KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE IT'S SPECIFICALLY STIPULATES THAT THE COUNTY YOU CAN'T VIOLATE.

YOU CAN'T. EXCUSE ME. PLEASE BE QUIET.

I HAVE TO DEBATE THE WHOLE CROWD.

I MEAN, NO, I'M LISTENING TO. YOU.

IF YOU GUYS WANT TO DISCUSS THIS, GO BACK THERE.

NO, IT'S OPEN SESSION ITEM COMMISSIONER.

YEAH, BECAUSE WE CAN'T HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

WE CAN'T HAVE A. EVERYBODY IS IN HERE CLAPPING, YELLING AND SHOUTING. JUST STOP IT SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS.

OKAY. COUNTY BUSINESS.

OKAY. YEAH I COULD. DEPUTY, WE CAN DISCUSS THIS IN CLOSED SESSION.

I TALK TO ME. I CAN'T, I CAN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS OF IT.

I WOULD ASSUME ONE OF THE THINGS YOU COULD DO IS ASK THE KNOWLEDGEABLE ATTORNEY AND HE WOULD GIVE YOU, I THINK, ACCURATE ADVICE BASED ON HIS KNOWLEDGE OF WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE VIOLATING THE AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THAT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THAT'S USURPING THE AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ITEMS THAT THE COUNTY HAS DONE OVER THE YEARS THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS HAD.

LET ME FINISH. HAS HAS DEFERRED TO COMMISSIONERS COURT.

I'LL GIVE YOU A CASE IN POINT WHEN WE SELECT BOND COUNSEL.

OKAY. YOU WERE HERE ON COMMISSIONERS COURT.

I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN HERE. I'M NOT SURE. I DON'T THINK YOU WERE HERE.

JUDGE. JUDGE. I CALL HIM JUDGE.

COURT. BUT COUNTY ATTORNEY COURTS SUGGESTED THAT THE WAY WE SELECT BOND COUNSEL NEEDS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE WAY WE SELECT ENGINEERS.

AND I REMEMBER THAT CASE BECAUSE WE HAD ONE BOND COUNSEL FOR 40 YEARS, FOR THE MOST PART. AND THERE WAS AN ITEM THAT CAME UP.

AND I WANTED TO SUGGEST THAT WE USE A DIFFERENT BOND COUNSEL.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO USE THE SAME BOND.

COUNCIL. WHY? WELL, BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH A PROCESS TO SELECT ONE, BUT WE CAN USE THE SAME ONE OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND THAT'S FINE. BUT WE CAN'T BRING ANYBODY NEW.

SO HE SUGGESTED AND HE PUT THIS OUT THERE AND HE SAID, WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A SOLICITATION AND INVITE QUALIFIED LAW FIRMS TO SUBMIT THEIR QUALIFICATIONS? YOU DID.

SO YOU WERE HERE. YOU WERE HERE BECAUSE YOU ALL REPRESENTED THE COMMITTEE THAT REVIEWED THOSE PROPOSALS, AND YOU SELECTED A FIRM THAT YOU RECOMMENDED TO THE COURT, AND WE APPROVED IT. THAT WAS SANCTIONED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

AND WE DID JUST THAT. AND THAT COUNSEL PERFORMED ADMIRABLY.

I THINK YOU MADE A WISE CHOICE, BUT THAT WAS THE PROCESS.

OKAY. BUT THAT WAS WHAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AT THE TIME DEFERRED TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. OKAY. WE ALSO HAVE DEFERRED, IN A DE FACTO SENSE, ON COUNSEL FOR A LOT OF OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS, THE TOLLWAY AUTHORITY, THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

WE'VE DONE THAT. THAT'S BECAUSE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WAS FINE WITH THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, BUT SHE OR HE MADE THAT DECISION.

NOT US, NOT US. SO I THINK CONSISTENT WITH THAT, WE NEED TO PULL THIS ITEM BECAUSE LET ME FINISH PULL THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARY. LISTEN, LET ME FINISH.

LET ME FINISH. OKAY. LET ME FINISH.

I DON'T HAVE THREE MINUTES. I WORK HERE I DO THIS ALL DAY LONG.

SO SO SO AND SO. THIS IS IMPORTANT.

THIS THIS THIS THIS IS A PIVOTAL ITEM.

I'M LISTENING. GO AHEAD OKAY.

THIS IS ITEM. NO NO NO.

LET HIM GO AHEAD, JUDGE.

LET HIM FINISH. LET HIM FINISH. FINISH. COME ON NOW I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUE IS.

YEAH. SO. SO MY SUGGESTION IS THAT IT BE PULLED AND THAT FOR EVERY ITEM THAT A MEMBER OF COURT DEEMS NECESSARY TO TAKE, GO OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT HE COME HERE ON A STANDALONE ITEM.

YOU CAN'T LIST ANY OF THE OF THE OF THE ITEMS OTHER THAN REDISTRICTING THAT FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY RIGHT NOW. AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ONE AND I'VE ASKED THREE TIMES, CAN I ONE MORE TIME. OKAY. I WANTED TO SAY THIS. IT'S CLEARLY MENTIONED THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION OBLIGATES COUNTY ATTORNEYS TO REPRESENT THE STATE IN ALL CASES IN THE DISTRICT AND INFERIOR COURTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTIES, UNLESS THE COUNTY IS INCLUDED IN A DISTRICT WITH A DISTRICT ATTORNEY, IN WHICH CASE THEIR RESPECTIVE DUTIES ARE TO BE REGULATED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

COUNTY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ARE THUS CHARGED PRIMARILY WITH THE ENFORCEMENT OF.

SO YOUR POINT ON THAT, THAT IS A COUNTY WITH A CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY, WHICH WE HAD PRIOR TO 1991.

NO, NO, THAT IS A COUNTY WITH A CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY THAT WE HAD BEFORE 1991.

SO YOU'RE WRONG ON POINT.

THAT LAW SAYS THAT FORT BEND COUNTY, ALONG WITH SIX OTHER COUNTIES,

[01:35:03]

OKAY. GO AHEAD. AND ALSO, CAN I ASK, THE LEGISLATURE HAS NOT EXCLUSIVELY ASSIGNED THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN ALL MATTERS. INSTEAD, PROVIDED THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SHALL PERFORM DUTIES, SHALL PERFORM DUTIES IMPOSED ON AND HAVE POWERS CONFERRED ON THE COUNTY ATTORNEY BY GENERAL LAW. SAME. SAME MAN.

GO AHEAD AND ANSWER. COMMISSIONER I THINK THAT WE'RE KIND OF ON THE SAME PAGE, BECAUSE I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT COMES UP, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OPINION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN HIRE AN ATTORNEY AND MAKE CERTAIN IT DOESN'T CONFLICT WITH THEIR HER AUTHORITY.

SO I DON'T SEE A CONFLICT.

THAT'S JUST MY PERSPECTIVE.

I SEE IT AS NOT NOT NECESSARILY.

WE NEED TO DETERMINE HOW THE GAME IS GOING TO BE PLAYED.

OKAY. AND IF WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE ASKING FOR A BLANKET AUTHORITY TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL WHEN THIS BODY OR A MAJORITY OF THIS BODY FEELS THAT IT'S NECESSARY OR CONVENIENT.

THAT'S MY EDITORIAL AND CONVENIENT.

THAT'S SETTING US UP FOR DISASTER.

SOMEBODY HAS TO BE THE ARBITER OF THIS THING.

IF THIS MOTION PASSES, IF YOU CAN'T GIVE ME A LIST OF SPECIFIC DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS THAT WILL BE SUBJECT TO THIS ACTION, THEN I THINK YOU EITHER DON'T EXIST OR YOU.

I THINK YOU, I THINK YOU ADDRESSED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS AT LEAST THE WAY I FEEL.

OKAY, THERE'S NOT ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED BY LAW THAT WE ACTUALLY FOLLOW THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S ADVICE. HE SIMPLY GIVES US COURTS ADVICE.

WE CAN TAKE HER ADVICE.

NORMALLY, ALMOST ALL THE TIME WE DO.

OR WE CAN REJECT HER ADVICE.

SO IT'S STILL THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO DO SO.

I THINK THAT WE'RE TALKING WE'RE SO I THINK WE'RE MORE OR LESS ON THE SAME PAGE, JUST KIND OF SINGING THIS ACTION SPECIFIC TO THE VOTE TO TAKE IN TWO WEEKS AGO TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR IT DOES NOT.

IT'S NOT. NO. SO GIVE ME ANOTHER INSTANCE.

IF YOU ASK FOR A BLANKET AUTHORITY. I DON'T HAVE IT OFFHAND.

WELL, THIS IS THIS IS A HALF BAKED CAKE.

WHY DON'T YOU PUT IT BACK IN AND RETHINK IT? BECAUSE YOU'RE ASKING US TO MAKE A BLANKET DECISION ON GIVING AUTHORITY THAT MAY NOT EVEN EXIST. AND YOU CAN'T BE SPECIFIC.

AND TELL ME WHAT IT IS. CLEARLY.

CLEARLY, THE MAJORITY OF THIS COURT VOTED ON REDISTRICTING AS ONE OF THEM.

OKAY. WHAT ARE THE OTHERS? GIVE ME ONE OTHER ONE.

I EVEN OFFERED UP BOND COUNSEL, BUT I EXPLAINED THE PROCESS WE WENT THROUGH TO GET THAT BASED ON ON OPINIONS FROM OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, GUIDANCE FROM OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY.

SO GIVE ME ONE ITEM. IF YOU CAN'T GIVE ME ANOTHER ITEM OTHER THAN REDISTRICTING, THIS IS OUT OF ORDER AND CLEARLY, CLEARLY.

WELL, IT'S MY OPINION.

CLEARLY. IF YOU STAND ON THIS, THIS LOOKS LIKE SOME RATIFICATION OF SOMETHING, IF THAT IS, AND CALL IT WHAT IT IS.

IF IT'S RATIFICATION OF WHAT WE DID LAST WEEK.

LAST MEETING. OKAY. SAY IT IS.

BUT IF IT'S FOR BLANKET AUTHORITY FOR ANYTHING INVOLVING CIVIL MATTERS, I THINK YOU NEED TO BE SPECIFIC AND TELL ME JUST WHAT THOSE MATTERS ARE.

THEN WE CAN DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY FIT THE PROFILE OR NOT.

GIVE ME ONE. OKAY. I GAVE YOU ONE BOND, COUNCIL.

GIVE ME ANOTHER. IF YOU CAN'T GIVE ME ANOTHER, I THINK IT'S OUT OF ORDER.

AND I THINK YOU OUGHT TO BE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH VOTING ON THIS. TO GIVE A BLANKET AUTHORITY. BLANKET AUTHORITY TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO OVERTURN THE ACT OF OF OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY JUST WILLY NILLY.

AND YOU HAVEN'T EVEN DETERMINED WHO'S GOING TO BE THE ARBITER OF IT. WHO IS IT GOING TO BE, A JUDGE? IS IT GOING TO BE YOUR JURY? WHO IS IT GOING TO BE THAT'S GOING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS THING FITS THE PROFILE OF SOMETHING THAT WORKS OUTSIDE THE PURVIEW OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY? GIVE ME ONE INSTANCE. ONE INSTANCE.

PLEASE GIVE ME ONE. JUST ONE.

THAT'S HOW HE'S. IF NOT, I THINK YOU OUGHT TO PULL IT DOWN. THAT'S HOW YOU'RE TRYING TO. BUT YOU CAN'T STOP THIS DISCUSSION WITH.

JUST THEN GO YOUR WAY. GO AHEAD.

I'M ASKING THE QUESTION. GIVE ME ONE OTHER INSTANCE, PLEASE.

ONE. THIS DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT USURPING HER AUTHORITY AT ALL.

IT SAYS IT DOES. IT SAYS CONFLICT WITH AUTHORITY.

THAT'S USURP. OKAY. SO I'M SAYING GIVE ME THIS DOES NOT CONFLICT.

GIVE ME AN INSTANCE WHERE.

YEAH, YOU'RE TRYING TO HE'S TRYING TO HE'S TRYING TO JUST BRING THIS WITH ON ONE ITEM SO I KNOW WHAT WHAT GAME YOU'RE PLAYING.

COMMISSIONER. IT'S VERY CLEAR.

BUT THE THING ABOUT IT IS THIS PARTICULAR BECAUSE.

BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO STOP THIS.

BECAUSE SOMEHOW YOU FEEL LIKE THIS IS THIS IS I'VE BEEN ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

IF I SEE IF I SEE A BABY ON THE STREET IN A CAR COMING, I'M GOING TO PULL HIM OUT OF THE WAY. I LOVE THIS COUNTY.

I LOVE THIS. YEAH. SO I LOVE THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT.

THAT'S WHAT SHE'S DOING RIGHT NOW, IS ASKING FOR A BLANKET AUTHORITY TO DO SOMETHING. AND YOU CAN'T BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR. IT'S A TRUST US KIND OF THING. THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

THAT'S NOT FAIR. AND THAT DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE IN THE WORLD.

GIVE ME AN INSTANCE WHERE YOU CAN WORK OUTSIDE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

OTHER THAN REDISTRICTING.

GIVE ME ONE. COMMISSIONER.

I DON'T READ THIS. WELL, WE'RE GIVING OURSELVES BLANKET AUTHORITY. I DON'T READ THE MOTION AS GIVING THIS COURT BLANKET AUTHORITY.

[01:40:03]

IT'S IN VIOLATION OF AUTHORITY.

SO WE'RE NOT GIVING THE COURT BLANKET AUTHORITY.

THAT'S NOT IN THE MOTION.

OKAY. MAY I MAY I ASK A QUESTION? THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. YES, SIR. OKAY. AND I'M ASKING FOR MY CLARITY.

AND I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL AND DON'T CUT HER OFF. OKAY.

GIVE ME YOUR INPUT ON THIS, MA'AM.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER 45.179 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE IS ALL ENCOMPASSING THE AUTHORITY OF THIS OFFICE TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS IS ABSOLUTE.

IT IS ONLY DIVVIED UP AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

HENCE MY PREDECESSOR, ROY COURTIS, ALLOWING A CERTAIN PROCESS AND PROTOCOL EVEN FOR THE EXTENSION OF BOND COUNCIL THIS MOTION, AS STATED, ALLOWS THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO SIDESTEP MY OFFICE WHENEVER THEY WOULD LIKE TO. AND LET ME SAY SOMETHING TO THE POINT THAT MY OFFICE HAS BEEN PARTIZAN.

MY OFFICE IS NOT PARTIZAN.

I HAVE REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, PEOPLE FROM ALL RELIGIONS, ALL RACES, LGBTQ. THE WHOLE UMBRELLA IS UNDER THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

EVERY BIT OF ADVICE THAT COMMISSIONER MCCRORY HAS THAT YOU HAVE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ALL FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COURT. EACH TIME WE COME TO COURT AND IT IS NOT PICKED OUT OR CHERRY PICKED OR PROVIDED IN ANY OTHER WAY BESIDES DIPLOMATICALLY AND UNILATERALLY APPLIED TO ALL OF YOU, I AM REALLY UPSET AT THE ATTEMPT TO ILLEGALLY USURP THE POWER OF THIS OFFICE.

WE WOULD NOT GO AND HIRE ANOTHER SHERIFF.

WE WOULD NOT GO AND HIRE ANOTHER COUNTY CLERK.

WE WOULD NOT GO AND HIRE ANOTHER CONSTABLE.

WE WOULD NOT GO AND HIRE OTHER JUDGES.

WE WOULD NOT GO AND HIRE ANY OTHER PERSON OVER THEIR AUTHORITY.

AND SO FOR THE STATEMENT TO BE MADE THAT MY OFFICE IS PARTIZAN, WE NEED TO GET ANOTHER LAWYER.

THAT IS SOMETHING NEW BASED ON A SWITCH OF PARTY BY ONE.

BUT EACH ONE OF YOU HAVE CALLED MY OFFICE AND HAVE GOTTEN SOUND LEGAL ADVICE ON SO MANY MATTERS. I CAN'T EVEN NAME THEM AND I WON'T NAME THEM.

BUT THE EXTENT THAT HAS GIVEN THE THE THE DEPTH AND THE REACH OF THIS MOTION, IT SAID ON ITS FACE, IT IS A CLEAR ATTEMPT TO TAKE ME OUT OF ANY EQUATION OF LEGAL ADVICE.

AND YES, I ONLY GIVE LEGAL LEGAL ADVICE.

I CAN'T MAKE Y'ALL DO ANYTHING.

I NEVER SAID I COULD, BUT I DO KNOW THE STATUTE SAYS THAT I HAVE THE DUTY TO PROVIDE THAT ADVICE, AND ALSO IT IS ILLEGAL FOR YOU TO ATTEMPT TO SIDESTEP MY ADVICE, AND THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN SHARED WITH YOU ALL AS, AS AS, AS WELL. I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME COMMENTS ABOUT COMPETENCY AND AGGRESSIVENESS, BUT WHAT HAS NOT BEEN SAID IS THE AGGRESSIVE ATTACK AGAINST MY OFFICE.

WHAT HAS NOT BEEN SAID IS THE COMPETENCE THAT MY OFFICE HAS SHOWN OVER THE YEARS TO EVERY DEPARTMENT FROM THE COUNTY.

COUNTY AUDITOR PAM GOEBBELS, THE BUDGET OFFICE FROM MS TO EVERY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT. I THINK WE HAVE OVER 3000 EMPLOYEES, AND WE HANDLE EVERYTHING FROM A TO Z IN THIS COUNTY.

AND WE'RE HERE EVERY DAY WORKING ON THE WEEKENDS, ON THE EVENINGS, EVEN ON HOLIDAYS, SOMETIMES MENTAL HEALTH.

WE FILE OVER 1600 CHILD SUPPORT, CHILD PROTECTION CASES.

EVERY TIME A DEPUTY GETS IN A CAR ACCIDENT, EVERY TIME THERE'S SOMEONE GETS TERMINATED ILLEGALLY, EVEN WHEN THE CLERK NEEDS ADVICE ON GETTING THINGS FILED CORRECTLY.

WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE A LEGAL SERVICE IN A NONPARTIZAN MANNER, AND THIS ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE AUTHORITY OF MY OFFICE.

I WILL NOT SIT HERE SILENTLY AND PEOPLE CAN CALL IT AGGRESSIVE.

I CALL IT DIRECT. I'VE BEEN ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE TO DO A JOB, AND I'VE BEEN A PUBLIC SERVANT FOR OVER 20 YEARS, EVEN BEFORE POLITICS. AND I DO NOT APPRECIATE THIS PARTIZAN ATTACK FOR LEGAL ADVICE AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION. AND WE HAVE GIVEN ALWAYS AND CONSISTENTLY IN A NONPARTIZAN MANNER. MY CHIEF, KEN CANNATA, WHO WAS A STRONG REPUBLICAN, I RELIED ON HIM DEEPLY, AND HE RELIED ON ME TOO.

AND WE WORKED IN THE TRENCHES FOR ALL OF YOU.

AND IT WASN'T PARTIZAN.

SO TODAY, I AM SHOCKED AT THIS NEW DAY AND THIS NEW EFFORT TO TAKE ME OUT OF POSITION.

I AM DULY ELECTED TWICE, AND I WILL NOT SIT HERE SILENT AND BE UNELECTED BY A MOTION FROM THE COURT NOT TO.

YEAH, AND THAT IS NOT AGGRESSIVE.

THAT IS DIRECT EMOTION.

OKAY. WELL WELL NO, NO NO, I'LL TELL YOU.

YOU CAN'T YOU CAN'T SAY THIS EMOTIONAL STUFF THAT IS SO CONDESCENDING.

OKAY. THAT'S SO CONDESCENDING. YOU HAVE INSULTED ME KP GEORGE, WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC ITEMS? THIS IS SPECIFICALLY INSULTED ME.

KP GEORGE I ASK. THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.

I ASK, YOU HAVE INSULTED ME.

KP GEORGE, YOU HAVE AN OPEN COURT, SO EXCUSE ME.

I'VE BEEN NOTHING BUT A LAWYER FOR EVERYONE.

THAT IS. THAT IS FINE. COMMISSIONERS COURT, NOT KP GEORGE COURT.

TIME TO GO. OKAY, SO I'LL ASK THIS.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE VOTING FOR.

[01:45:03]

AND I DIDN'T GET ANYTHING.

I DIDN'T GET ANY FROM YOU. I DIDN'T GET NOTHING FROM YOU EITHER. COMMISSIONER.

ACTUALLY, I COULD TELL YOU.

I ASKED YOU AND YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T KNOW. TELL ME. TELL ME ONE NOW.

TELL ME ONE NOW. ALL THIS STUFF IS.

TELL ME ONE. GIVE ME ONE SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITY.

THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, OTHER THAN REDISTRICTING THAT YOU THINK WE NEED TO GO OUTSIDE FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR.

GIVE ME ONE ADVICE. OPEN MEETING OF THE O.

YOU GET OPEN MEETING ADVICE FROM OUTSIDE ATTORNEY VERSUS YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEY.

WHO WHO'S WHO'S WHO'S GOING TO OFFEND YOU WHEN YOU GET IN TROUBLE? WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO SIT? BECAUSE I'M NOT GIVING UP THIS SEAT. RIGHT. OKAY. HOW HOW DO YOU DO THAT? I HEAR ALL WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

OKAY, SO AT THIS POINT, WE WILL MOVE ON.

OKAY. NO, NO. ANSWER THE QUESTION IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A STAB AT IT.

IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A STAB AT IT, FINE. I WANT TO KNOW. GIVE ME ANOTHER ITEM.

YOU'RE ASKING FOR A BLANKET AUTHORITY TO GO OUT.

IF YOU CAN'T GIVE ME ANYTHING ELSE, I.

IT'S MY OPINION. I SUGGEST THAT IF REDISTRICTING IS THE ONLY THING THAT YOU TAKE ISSUE WITH, THAT THIS IS OUT OF ORDER.

TAKE EVERY ITEM AS THEY COME UP.

IF IT'S IF YOU WANT TO PRESENT AN ITEM TO PUT ON THE AGENDA TO SAY, I WANT TO GET GENERAL COUNSEL SERVICES, OR I WANT TO GET OPEN MEETINGS, REQUEST FROM AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL, PUT THAT ON AGENDA AND SEE HOW IT STANDS UP, OKAY. AND AND ASK WHO'S GOING TO WHO'S GOING TO WHO'S GOING TO PROTECT YOU, WHO'S GOING TO DEFEND YOU WHEN YOU BREAK THE LAW BECAUSE IT'S NOT CONSISTENT WITH EVERYBODY IS NOW ANSWER THE QUESTION, WHO'S GOING TO DEFEND YOU? YOU'RE GOING TO HIRE YOUR OWN LEGAL DEFENSE TO DEFEND YOU ALSO.

NO. YES OR NO? ARE YOU? YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS? THAT IS AGAIN, COMMISSIONER. YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS. I'M TELLING YOU, I'M TELLING YOU THIS.

I'M TELLING YOU THIS. YOU'RE TRYING TO ASK CERTAIN QUESTIONS, WHICH IS WHAT'S MUCH MORE WIDER IN IN SCOPE.

AND SO YOU'RE JUST SPECIFICALLY ASKING ME, OKAY, WHAT IS THIS? WHAT? YOU PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, YOU PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. OKAY.

BUT YOU CAN'T DEFEND IT.

I'M SAYING I'M SAYING IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US TO TAKE THIS ACTION RIGHT NOW.

IT IS. IF IT'S ABOUT REDISTRICTING, ONLY MODIFY YOUR AGENDA TO RATIFY WHAT YOU DID TWO WEEKS AGO AND SAY FOR REDISTRICTING, THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S PALATABLE.

I'M GIVING YOU AN OUT. I'M GIVING YOU AN OUT.

TAKE IT. I'M GIVING YOU OUT TO PUT IT ON FOR REDISTRICTING ONLY BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'LL BE ABLE TO CITE. GIVE ME ANOTHER.

IT SHOULDN'T BE A LITANY OF IT OF RESPONSIBILITY.

IF YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT A BLANKET ITEM, I COULD I COULD MAKE I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY INTERJECT, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE NOW I'M CONFUSED. SO. JUDGE, YOU JUST MENTIONED GETTING OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO ADVISE ON OPEN MEETINGS. IS THIS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT? BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE VIOLATED OPEN MEETINGS AND WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING NOW? YOU NEED TO GET WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENED LAST COUPLE OR ADVISE YOU ON THAT, YOU KNOW. OKAY, CAN I ANSWER? OKAY. WHAT I SAID IS LAST FEW MEETINGS YOU GUYS WERE COMMUNICATING AGAINST.

NO NO NO. OKAY. NO. WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO NO NO NO. HOLD ON. COMMUNICATING AGAINST THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY OF THE COURT.

THAT'S THE REASON WHY I DID THIS.

NO. HOLD ON LAW TO. EXCUSE ME.

THAT IS NOT TRUE. EXCUSE ME.

DID WE EVER HAVE A MEETING TO DISCUSS ANY OF THIS REDISTRICTING OR STRATEGY ON THIS? NO, SIR. YOU PROBABLY ONLY READ THE SAME EMAILS THAT I SENT ALL FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COURT. SO WHAT WERE THE.

DID WE COORDINATE ON ANY QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED IN OPEN COURT? NO, SIR. I GUESS YOU JUST KNOW HOW TO READ.

I'M NOT SURE. SO I HAVE NOT TALKED TO YOU.

THE BASIS FOR ANY OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD HERE IN COURT, BE IT THE MAY 27TH MEETING OR THE OTHER MEETING IN JUNE OR JULY, THAT HAPPENED. DID YOU AND I DID, I WAS I READING FROM A BASIS THAT ARE SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT PROVIDED TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COURT? NO, SIR.

YOU ALL HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION, THE ACCESS TO THE SAME INFORMATION.

MY PHONE NUMBER IS THE SAME FOR ALL OF YOU.

I AM AVAILABLE EVERY DAY TO ALL FIVE OF YOU.

AND THERE IS NO CHERRY PICKING OF THE FIVE OF YOU.

SO I BELIEVE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I'VE HAD A FEW CONVERSATIONS WITH MICHELLE ABOUT PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE.

I'VE ASKED QUESTIONS CLARIFYING QUESTIONS ON THE NATURE OF THE AG OPINION THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED. BUT HAS THERE BEEN ANY SORT OF STRATEGY HERE OR SOMETHING? NO, SIR. OKAY. SO JUDGE COMMISSIONERS, THERE IS STRATEGIES FOR THE SAME QUESTIONS.

AND THIS IS JUST NOW A RECENT SHIFT BASED ON SOME RECENT OTHER SHIFTS.

I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. SO, JUDGE, YOU DON'T GET TO SIT HERE AND SAY THAT WE'VE BEEN SITTING HERE WORKING TOGETHER ON SOMETHING.

YES. WE WORK TOGETHER TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF FORT BEND THE SAME WAY EACH OF US WORK TOGETHER TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF FORT BEND.

YOU GUYS EVEN HAD AN OPEN CHAT GOING ON.

WHILE THIS CONVERSATION.

HE ASKED ME A QUESTION JUST LIKE YOU CAN WAIT, WAIT, HOLD ON. I'M GOING TO ANSWER. NO.

HOLD ON. WAIT WHAT? OPEN CHAT, I DON'T KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE COMMUNICATING WHAT TO SAY AND WHAT WHERE IN WHAT VENUE,

[01:50:02]

THE LIVE STREAM COMMISSIONER MCCOY ASKED ME QUESTIONS.

I ANSWERED THEM AND JUST LIKE ALL FIVE OTHER COMMISSIONERS CAN ASK ME QUESTIONS, I WILL ANSWER THEM. SO AGAIN, MY OFFICE AT THIS POINT.

AT THIS POINT I WILL I WILL NOT LOB ASSERTIONS LIKE THAT AND JUST SAY IT AS FACT WITH NO EVIDENCE. SHOW ME A CHAT THAT WE WERE HAVING AND COORDINATING.

COULD I SHOW WHAT YOU HAVE? BECAUSE THERE IS NO CHOICE.

YOU MAKE THAT CLAIM BECAUSE IN OPEN COURT, YOU DO NOT GET TO SIT HERE AND LIE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BECAUSE IT'S CONVENIENT FOR YOU RIGHT NOW TALKING ABOUT LYING.

BUT WE WILL NOT SIT HERE AND ACT LIKE JUST BECAUSE YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT LYING TO ME, I WILL GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD.

ALLOW FOR THE INSULT OF MY OFFICE.

COUNTY ATTORNEY, PLEASE EXCUSE ME. COUNTY ATTORNEY, PLEASE. LOOK, THIS IS THIS IS.

THIS IS DISGUSTING. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING.

THAT TIME IS TIME IS 255.

I WILL I WILL RECESS THIS MEETING FOR NEXT TEN MINUTES AND WE WILL GET BACK.

WHAT'S BEING SAID? IT IS COMMISSIONERS COURT CONFUSED? PLEASE DO NOT STOP THE LIVE STREAM.

AGAIN I AM GOING TO SAY THAT I IMPLORE COMMISSIONER MYERS.

WE WORKED TOGETHER ALMOST 30 YEARS.

OKAY, THIS IS A HALF BAKED CAKE.

IT IS. YOU GOTTA ADMIT.

OKAY. FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTY.

AND I AM FOR THE POT. LET ME FINISH.

FOR THE POCKETBOOKS OF THESE PEOPLE OUT HERE. DON'T SUBJECT.

DO NOT STOP THE RECORDING. HE CANNOT UNILATERALLY ORDER SOMETHING THAT.

THAT IS NOT LIKE THIS. THIS IS BENEATH US.

WE KNOW BETTER THAN THIS.

IF IT'S ABOUT REDISTRICTING. COUNCIL.

THAT ACTION WAS TAKEN ALREADY.

WE LIVE WITH IT. OKAY, BUT IF A BLANKET ITEM LIKE THIS THAT COVERS ALL MATTERS CIVIL IS IRRESPONSIBLE, ILLEGAL TO.

FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTY, PLEASE WITHDRAW YOUR MOTION.

OKAY. IN AN ATTEMPT TO BRING A LITTLE COMITY TO THE COURT, I'LL WITHDRAW MY MOTION.

THANK YOU SIR. APPRECIATE IT. I COULD I COULD TABLE IT FOR TIME BEING.

NO, HE. THE LAW WON'T CHANGE NEXT WEEK.

HE WITHDREW HIS MOTION. OKAY.

HE'S HE'S. I'M SAYING I'VE.

HE'S NOT. NO, HE WITHDREW THE MOTION.

I WOULD MOTION I AGREE, I NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT UP SOME GOOD POINTS.

SO I'LL WITHDRAW THE MOTION.

IT DOESN'T MEAN IT MAY NOT COME BACK.

I GOTCHA. BUT THIS IS A HALF BAKED.

OKAY. OKAY. I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU.

SO LET'S. GO BACK. LOWER THE TEMPERATURE A LITTLE BIT.

OH, NO. I'M COOL AS A CUCUMBER. USUALLY I'M THE GUY THAT'S BLOWING HIS STACK. BUT, YOU KNOW, IN THIS CASE, COMMISSIONER.

YOU SAID YOU WITHDREW THE. I'LL WITHDRAW THE MOTION.

IT IS UNDER MY OFFICE, AND I'M GOING TO TABLE IT AT THE MOMENT.

BUT HE MADE THE MOTION.

NO, NO, HE'S TABLED THE MOTION.

HE'S TABLING IT. DREW HIS MOTION. SAME THING. OKAY.

SAME THING. TABLING THE MOTION.

ALL RIGHT. MOVE ON TO NEXT ITEM.

NEXT ITEM IS 17. 17. EXCUSE ME.

[17. COMMISSIONER, PCT. 1:]

I'D LIKE TO TAKE THEM SEPARATELY.

OKAY. AYE. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE.

SECOND, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T.

A LITTLE SLOW ON THE DRAW THERE. I SECOND. I'LL SECOND IT.

I MADE THE MOTION SECOND TO APPROVE A.

YEAH. YOU HAVE A SECOND.

I SECOND IT THREE TIMES.

OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY AND I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE B SECOND.

AND IF YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM B, ANY DISCUSSION? YES. I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY THE REASON THAT WENDY DUNCAN IS ON THIS COMMITTEE. AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY FLOODED THOUSANDS OF HOMES WITHIN PRECINCT THREE AT THE TIME. NOW, PRECINCT ONE, THE COUNTY HAD NO WAY TO ISSUE EVACUATION ORDERS TO RESIDENTS EXCEPT TO REFERENCE MUD DISTRICT NUMBERS AND OTHER SPECIAL DISTRICTS.

THIS LED TO TERRIBLE CONFUSION AMONG SCARED AND DISPLACED FLOOD VICTIMS. WENDY DUNCAN PERSONALLY TOOK ON THE INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, USING THE RESOURCES OF THE WILLOW FORK DRAINAGE DISTRICT.

SHE WORKED WITH COUNTY ENGINEERS AND OUTSIDE FIRMS TO GENERATE USER FRIENDLY, PROPERLY LABELED MAPS THAT WERE DESIGNED TO BETTER INFORM THE PUBLIC IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY. I THINK SHE CAN HANDLE THIS JOB.

[01:55:02]

ALL IN FAVOR MOTION OR IN YOUR POST.

ABSTAIN. ABSTAIN. AND I WANT TO I WANT TO COMMENT.

I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR WENDY DUNCAN. I DON'T AGREE WITH THE COMMITTEE, BUT SHE'S QUALIFIED. ANYBODY IN HERE IS QUALIFIED.

IF YOU ARREST A VOTER, YOU QUALIFY.

OKAY, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M STANDING NOT BECAUSE ONE AND ONE OF YOUR TWO NOMINEES.

[18. COMMISSIONER, PCT. 3:]

YOU WANTED TO MOVE APPROVAL OF 18 A AS PRESENTED.

SECOND, YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM 18 A ANY DISCUSSION.

IS JOHN HERE? HE'S NOT HE'S NO HE'S HAD A HE'S OUT OF TOWN.

HE HAD TO LEAVE TO GO TO INDIANA.

I ASKED THE SAME THING EARLIER.

GOT IT. I THINK WE NEED MORE INFORMATION FROM JOHN HERE ON THIS.

AND ALSO, I'M A BIT CONFUSED THAT WE'RE TAKING ACTION ON THIS ITEM WHEN IT WAS STATED THAT THIS AND THE ACTUAL ITEM WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING CARE OF VOTER PRECINCTS WOULD BE TAKING UP. TAKEN TAKING UP BY THIS SUPPOSED COMMITTEE.

AND SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE TAKING THIS ACTION IF Y'ALL ARE INTENDING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE. COMMISSIONER AGAIN, IT WAS STATED IN OPEN COURT THAT ALL OF THESE MATTERS WOULD BE TAKING UP, TAKEN UP BY A SUPPOSED COMMITTEE.

SO WHY ARE WE CHERRY PICKING HERE? COMMISSIONER I BROUGHT THIS MOTION TWICE NOW TO THIS COURT AND IT WAS DENIED.

COMMISSIONER US. WE WE WE VOTED FOR COMMISSIONER.

MR. MYERS DID ASK THAT WE DO THAT.

BRING THIS FORWARD. AND THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME THAT I HAVE ADDRESSED THIS.

AND LOOK, IT WAS WRONG.

IT WAS WRONG. AND I THINK THAT THE MAN SHOULD BE PUT BACK INTO HIS HOUSE.

HE'S LOST ALL TAXABLE WAYS TO, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS HIS PROPERTY TAXES, EVERYTHING, HE'S LOST EVERYTHING AS FAR AS HE NEEDS TO BE PUT BACK IN HIS HOUSE.

SO I WILL NOT WHOLLY DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THAT, COMMISSIONER MORALES. BUT AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THAT WE THAT SOME COMMITTEE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ADDRESSING ALL OF THIS, AND NOW WE'RE INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE THING THAT WE WERE TOLD WE HAD A LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO ADDRESS EVERY TWO YEARS WE'RE DOING THIS AND NOT THAT VOTE AGAINST THE MOTION.

I WILL, BUT IT'S A QUESTION I'M ASKING OF WHY? YEAH, YEAH. I MEAN, IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BE FAIR AND HONEST AND THOROUGH WHY DON'T YOU JUST LET IT RIDE, LET THE COMMITTEE DO IT.

I'M SORRY. LET THE COMMITTEE DO IT. IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN THE COMMITTEE ACTS OR WHEN THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT ACTS. AND IN FACT, I THINK IT BRINGS DOUBT AND SKEPTICISM ABOUT THIS PROCESS IF WE DO THIS OUTSIDE OF THE COMMITTEE. SO, I MEAN, I FEEL BAD ABOUT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

OKAY. I DIDN'T AGREE WITH IT BACK THEN.

YOU VOTED FOR IT. I VOTED FOR IT.

AND YOU VOTE FOR A LOT OF STUFF.

YOU HOLD YOUR NOSE AND VOTE FOR A LOT OF STUFF TOO. OKAY, SO I'M SAYING I EMPHASIZE EMPATHIZE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

OKAY. AND I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR THIS THING THE THREE TIMES THAT IT WAS PROPOSED.

I THINK I DID FOR WE VOTED OKAY.

SO I'M TALKING I'M TALKING THE LAST FEW WEEKS. I'M SAYING, WHY DON'T YOU JUST WAIT? YOU HAVE PROMISED ME THREE TIMES, NOT ONCE, NOT TWICE, BUT THREE TIMES TO SUPPORT PUTTING ME BACK IN MY HOME.

I'M NOT PREPARED TO VOTE AGAINST IT.

I'M JUST ASKING YOU IF YOU BELIEVE IN.

I DON'T SEE IF YOU BELIEVE IN THIS PROCESS.

YOU BELIEVE IN THIS PROCESS THAT YOU ALL HAVE VOTED FOR.

IF YOU HAVE VOTED FOR. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REDISTRICTING.

THE PRECINCT LINES TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL LAW, WHICH IS THE REASON WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS, BECAUSE I HAVE SEVERAL, NOT ONE. I'VE TALKED TO STATE REPRESENTATIVES, I'VE TALKED TO LAWYERS, I'VE TALKED TO EXPERTS IN THE AREA WHO ALL TELL ME THE SAME THING THAT BASED ON ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE, INCLUDING THE COMMENTS MADE BY THE COUNTY JUDGE AT THE TIME IT WAS DONE, THIS CURRENT MAP DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL STATUTES.

THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, SO THAT WE DO COMPLY WITH ALL THE LAWS.

AND THIS THIS ACTION WILL NOT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO GET BACK IN MY HOME IF, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE REDISTRICTING OUT OF MY HOUSE IN THE FIRST PLACE. YOU DID

[02:00:02]

BUT IF YOU WANT TO VOTE AGAINST IT, GO AHEAD.

OKAY WITH THAT? WITH THAT, WE WILL CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ABSTAIN. OKAY. ABSTAIN.

ABSTAIN. AND SO THE MOTION CARRIES TO ABSTAIN.

THREE IN FAVOR. AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO 18 B.

B MOVE APPROVAL OF 18 B AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON 18 B.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR. ANY OPPOSED.

ABSTAIN. OKAY. SO SAME THREE, ONE AND ONE.

AND MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER.

[19. COMMISSIONER, PCT. 4:]

PRECINCT FOUR, MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 19 AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? YES, I WOULD LIKE TO.

AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED ON.

EACH OF US RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY MONTHS AGO ABOUT THIS WITH THE ASSOCIATED ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION THAT SPECIFICALLY NAMES FORT BEND COUNTY AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY OF OF OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

BUT WHAT'S MORE, THE REGARDING THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO REPRESENT COMMISSIONERS COURT WE WERE FURTHER PROVIDED FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, A COURT ORDER FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE 13TH DISTRICT OF TEXAS, WHICH SPECIFICALLY CITES TEXAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION 21. THEY NOTE THAT AN EMPHASIS IS ADDED ON THIS THAT CHAPTER 45 OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE PROVIDES THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS IN SEVERAL TEXAS COUNTIES HAVE DIFFERENT VESTED POWERS THAN THOSE DESCRIBED IN ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION 21 OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION, AND IT SAYS THAT, IN FACT, THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

GRIMES COUNTY. HARRIS COUNTY.

LEE COUNTY. MATAGORDA COUNTY.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY. OLDHAM COUNTY.

SWISHER COUNTY. AND WHARTON COUNTY ARE EMPOWERED WITH THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO REPRESENT THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

IT STATES THAT, AND IT ALSO GOES EVEN FURTHER IN CALLING OUT CAMERON COUNTY HERE.

BUT THE ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN IN THE LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT, THIS IS NOT AN AG OPINION.

AND I WOULD REMIND THE COURT THAT A COURT ORDER SUPERSEDES AN AG OPINION.

AND IF YOU ARE KNOWINGLY VIOLATING THE LAW, AS THIS WOULD CLEARLY LAY OUT, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SUBJECTS YOU TO ANY REPRESENTATION BY OUR COUNTY IN YOUR LEGAL MATTERS, BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE COMMITTED AN OFFENSE WHICH LASTS COMMISSIONERS COURT ACTION INDEED WAS YOU.

WE CAN HAVE ALL SORTS OF ROBUST DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO.

THERE HAVE BEEN THINGS THAT I WANTED TO DO IN THIS COURT THAT WE GOT OPINIONS ON, THAT WE COULD NOT DO. THERE HAVE BEEN THINGS THAT THE COURT PROCEEDED WITH THAT I DISAGREED WITH. THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF GOVERNING AND HOW IT GOES.

BUT WHAT WE CANNOT MAKE UP OPINIONS ON AND ACT LIKE WE ARE LAWYERS ON IS WHAT IS THE LAW. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THAT'S WHY THE PEOPLE HAVE ELECTED A COUNTY ATTORNEY, ONE TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE.

THEY'RE INDEPENDENT PEOPLE ENGAGED HERE SO THAT THEY'RE NOT BEHOLDEN TO US AND OUR WHIMS AND PUTTING OUR TAXPAYERS IN LEGAL JEOPARDY.

AND THAT IS WHAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY EXISTS TO DO.

THE COUNTY AUDITOR EXISTS AND IS NOT EVEN MANAGED BY THIS COURT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW AND MAKING SURE THAT HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY IS COMPORTS WITH WHAT THE LAW SAYS. WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE MANAGED, WHO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THIS COURT, THAT KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE.

AND IF WE ARE SUPERSEDING THAT, WE ARE INDEED BREAKING THE LAW.

AND SO, AGAIN, I WOULD ADVISE THIS COURT THAT THE ACTION THAT WE TOOK IN, IN THE LAST COURT WAS ILLEGAL.

IT WAS NOT ILLEGAL ACT.

IT DOES NOT COMPORT WITH THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.

WE HAVE SEEN THE REQUISITE THERE'S BEEN AN ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION THAT WAS CITED THAT DOES NOT APPLY TO FORT BEND COUNTY.

INDEED, THERE WAS AN AG OPINION THAT DID APPLY THAT ADDRESSED THIS THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY PROVIDED TO ALL FIVE MEMBERS OF COURT,

[02:05:03]

THIS IS WHAT LAYS OUT EXACTLY WHAT I'VE WRITTEN.

I'VE READ THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS EXCLUSIVE AUTHORITY.

NOW, I WANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK ON WHY THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION IS EVEN HAPPENING.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY EXPRESSED TO US CONCERNS ABOUT THE COUNSEL THAT HAS BEEN THE LEGAL SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN SOUGHT OUT.

SHE ASKED THEM QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE IN POLITICAL REDISTRICTING THINGS RELATED TO THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT INFORMATION.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION TO DATE.

HAVE YOU? COUNTY ATTORNEY. AND SO THE QUESTION STILL REMAINS.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS OPPOSITION TO OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO CONDUCT AND ADVISE, BECAUSE WE REGULARLY DO THAT, TO BRING IN EXPERTISE OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE HAVE IN-HOUSE. I THINK THE OPPOSITION HAS BEEN PUT ON WHO YOU HAVE SELECTED TO ENGAGE US.

WHY, OF ALL OF THE OTHER REDISTRICTING LAWYERS THAT EXIST IN THIS STATE, HAVE WE NOT ENLISTED THEIR SERVICES, THEIR ADVICE, SOMETHING THAT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY BELIEVES SHE CAN DEFEND IN COURT? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT AGAIN, THE UNDERLYING POINT HERE IS THAT THIS COURT HAS TAKEN AN ILLEGAL ACTION.

THIS ACTION IS MEANT TO RESCIND THAT.

AND THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

THANK YOU. AND ALL IN FAVOR FOR THIS ACTION, ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION FAILED. THREE, TWO.

[20. AUDITOR:]

MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM 820 A AND B SECOND I'M SORRY D SECOND THROUGH D AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM A THROUGH D.

ANY DISCUSSION HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 2020 E.

IT IS TAKEN SEPARATELY.

OH. A THROUGH D AND THE NEXT ITEM IS OKAY.

IT IS PRESENTED BY 21 2121.

BUDGET AND FINANCE. BUDGET AND FINANCE.

NO. HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

WHAT IS THAT ITEM E THERE.

IT'S BEEN PULLED. NO, 20 E IS ITS OWN INDIVIDUAL ITEM ALSO UNDER COUNTY AUDITOR. OKAY, OKAY.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. SO THERE IS A SEPARATE ITEM HERE.

AGENDA ITEM 20 E PRESENTED BY COUNTY AUDITOR.

AND CAN YOU PLEASE READ FOR THE CLARIFICATION WHAT IT IS? 20 E TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE REVISIONS TO THE EMPLOYEE INFORMATION MANUAL.

SECTIONS 202702 EXCUSE ME 703707 AND 715.

AS A RESULT OF THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S REVIEW OF EMPLOYEE LEAVE UTILIZATION FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2024 WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2025.

JUDGE. I MUST ADMIT I DIDN'T DO MY HOMEWORK ON THIS.

NO BETTER. EXCUSE ME? MY DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK.

I JUST DIDN'T SEE IT AND READ IT.

IF WE HAVE THE PATIENCE TO HAVE SOMEONE PRESENT, YOU KNOW, EXPLAIN WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED HERE.

COMMISSIONER. SO YOU CAN DO YOU WANT TO.

LET'S PULL IT. IF YOU IF YOU'RE UNCOMFORTABLE, LET'S JUST PULL THE ITEM.

YEAH, YEAH, IF THAT'S FINE, I'D LIKE.

YOU'RE SAYING I'M NOT READY TO VOTE ON IT BECAUSE I JUST PULL THE ITEM. OKAY? OKAY.

THANK YOU SIR. APPRECIATE THAT. SO THIS 20 E BASED ON THE REQUEST OF THE VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE COURT, WE ARE GOING TO TABLE IT.

AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BRING IT BACK LATER.

AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 21 PRESENTED BY BUDGET AND FINANCE.

[21. BUDGET & FINANCE:]

I'D LIKE TO GET THE BUDGET DIRECTOR TO COME AND GIVE US A LONG DISSERTATION ABOUT THIS.

FINANCE A SHORT DISSERTATION, PLEASE.

SO THIS IS THE ADDITION OF SECTION 13.

I DON'T THINK YOUR MIC IS ON. IT'S GREEN.

OKAY, OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW, THIS IS THE ADDITION OF SECTION 13.0 REGARDING BOND FUNDING.

AND THIS IS ASKING THAT ALL EXPENDITURES OR ALLOCATIONS ARE APPROVED THAT ARE VOTER APPROVED BOND FUNDING GETS APPROVED THROUGH THE COMMISSIONERS COURT SHOWING SUFFICIENT

[02:10:02]

FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT'S SOMETHING NEW FOR WE'VE ADDED POSITIONS ON MOBILITY BONDS, PARKS, BONDS THAT THAT COMES THROUGH COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH SUFFICIENT FUNDING.

ALSO, 13.2 SUGGESTS THAT THE ANY ADDITIONS FOR POSITIONS THAT ARE UTILIZING BOND FUNDING WILL GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST OF 2025.

I DID NOT GET A SECOND ON THAT.

NO. OKAY. WE DIDN'T GET A SECOND.

THERE WAS NO SECOND. I JUST ASKED THE QUESTION OUT OF TURN.

SO SO WE HAVE A MOTION.

YES. I'LL MOVE THE MOTION.

WE HAVE SOMEBODY SECOND.

YEAH. VINCENT, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. THANK YOU.

YEAH. AND SO THAT'S SATISFIED.

OKAY, THE FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

HOW IS IT? DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE DO ALREADY.

WHAT SOUNDS LIKE THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS SUGGESTED BY OUR AUDITOR AND COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, SINCE IT HAD HAD BEEN COMING UP MORE AND MORE.

AND SO THAT IT'S JUST THERE'S A POLICY THAT STATES THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IS GOING TO GOING TO APPROVE IT. JUST TO REINFORCE IT ALIGNS THE USE OF BOND FUNDS WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE.

AND THE THE CHALLENGE THAT WE'VE HAD WAS ADDING OPERATING EXPENSES THAT TRULY QUALIFY FOR EXPENDITURE IN BOND FUNDS.

IT'S CREATED CHALLENGES FOR US BECAUSE IT IT KIND OF LEAVES IT OPEN.

AND AND WE NEED TO MAKE MY OFFICES ONE OF THEM, MAKE US RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBMITTING OUR BUDGET REQUESTS TO THE BUDGET OFFICE, WHO HAS THE EXPERTISE TO CONFIRM THAT WE'VE DOCUMENTED EVERYTHING FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

AND THEN THAT COMES BEFORE THE COURT IN THE REGULAR BUDGET PROCESS.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT COST ALLOCATION.

ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. OKAY.

BECAUSE THE BONDS, ALTHOUGH IT MAY SEEM THEY'RE ENDLESS, THEY'RE NOT. AND THESE THESE ARE TAXPAYER FUNDS.

THE ONLY THING I'D LIKE TO ASK ON THAT, AND THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I HEAR COMMISSIONER MEYER SAY ALL THE TIME THAT WHEN THE PROJECT IS OVER.

THE POSITION AND THE FUNDING GOES AWAY UNLESS IT'S SUPPLANTED WITH SOME OTHER MONEY.

CORRECT. SO THIS IS A WAY TO TRACK THAT THAT BUDGET OFFICER CAN TRACK THAT AND BETTER.

OKAY. OKAY. AND THAT IS CORRECT.

AND AS FAR AS THE POSITIONS, JUST BECAUSE WE'VE KIND OF ALREADY WRAPPING UP THIS CURRENT BUDGET PROCESS.

WE'RE JUST ASKING THAT FOR POSITIONS.

IT'LL BE EFFECTIVE THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR SO THAT IF THERE ARE ANY POSITIONS ADDED THAT ARE FROM BOND FUNDING, THAT IT WOULD GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

SO I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION.

BUT FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING AND TRYING TO SHORE UP THESE PROCESSES. I THINK WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS AFTER A PREVIOUS COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING THAT KIND OF HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR MORE INFORMATION AS WE MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT OUR BOND FUNDS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE WE DISCUSSED THAT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PUT ON OPEN RECORD IS THAT WHEN WE ARE TAKING ON NEW PROJECTS THAT IMPACT OUR DEBT SERVICE, THAT WE TREAT IT LIKE OUR LIKE WE DO WHENEVER WE'RE DOING MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT OUR HELP ME HERE. NO, NO, NO ABOUT OUR CONTINGENCY FUNDS.

RIGHT. WE GET A REPORT THAT SAYS WHERE WE ARE, HOW MUCH WE'VE WE'VE SPENT.

AND WHAT IF WE MAKE THIS DECISION WILL BE LEFT IN OUR DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE AND ALL THAT SO THAT WHEN AN ITEM COMES ON COURT RELATED TO THIS.

SO A NEW PROJECT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT IS USING, YOU KNOW, CEOS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A RUNNING TRACK LIST OR A RUNNING LIST ON WHAT IS THAT DOING TO OUR DEBT CAPACITY SO THAT WE'RE MAKING A DECISION WITH THE FULL SCOPE AND NOT JUST LOOKING AT THIS ONE SINGULAR ACTION, BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED TO BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CAPACITY IN OUR DEBT SERVICE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD WHAT WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT.

SO THAT'S MY ONE REQUEST.

I KNOW I'VE ASKED IT OF YOU ALL JUST RECENTLY.

SO THIS IS NEW. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR EFFORTING THAT.

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

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO.

EXCUSE ME. OH, SORRY. IF I COULD ADD ONE MORE THING ON THAT.

YOU MENTIONED THE BUDGET PROCESS.

IF SO, NOT FOR THIS YEAR, BUT MOVING FORWARD, WE CAN EXPLORE A WAY THAT WE HAVE A FULL TALKING ABOUT PERSONNEL AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE FUNDED BY GRANT FUNDS,

[02:15:04]

YES. AND I'M WORKING WITH SAMANTHA GULLEY IN THE JUDGE'S OFFICE ON THAT, TOO, OF A FORM THAT COMES TO COURT WITH WHENEVER, EVERY TIME YOU APPROVE A GRANT, THAT IT'LL HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION ON THERE. PERFECT. THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE ALREADY TOOK ACTION.

ALREADY VOTED. ALREADY VOTED.

AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 22.

[22. DISTRICT JUDGE, 240TH COURT:]

SECOND. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? JUST WHAT IS THIS? YOU KNOW IS ANYBODY CAN ANSWER WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR THIS VARIANCE.

THIS TRAVEL WAS DONE IN FISCAL YEAR 2024.

SO THERE THE JUDGE IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO THE POLICY BECAUSE OF THE TIME THAT IT WAS SUBMITTED. OKAY OKAY OKAY OKAY.

SO THAT'S A B IS FOR CURRENT TRAVEL.

AND THEN C IS TO FUND THAT REIMBURSEMENT OKAY.

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

[23. ENGINEERING:]

A THROUGH S PRESENTED BY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEMS 23 A THROUGH S AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. 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 24, PRESENTED BY FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND

[24. FACILITIES MANAGEMENT & PLANNING:]

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

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[25. GRANTS ADMINISTRATION:]

MOVE APPROVAL OF 25, A, B AND C AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON 25, A, B AND C. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 26 PRESENTED BY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

[26. HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES:]

AGENDA ITEM 26. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

RIGHT. SECOND. OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING. NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

AND I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT AGENDA ITEM 27 HAS BEEN PULLED.

AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 28, PRESENTED BY MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE.

[28. MEDICAL EXAMINER:]

DO YOU HAVE A SECOND? I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET A SECOND.

OKAY. WHAT HAPPENED? OKAY, I THOUGHT I'LL SECOND IT.

I THOUGHT THERE WAS MONEY COMING FROM THE STATE TO FUND THE.

TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED. I DON'T THINK THAT IS EXACTLY THE CASE.

I TRIED TO CHECK INTO ALL OF THIS INFORMATION, BUT I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.

EVERYBODY IS IN SESSION RIGHT NOW, SO I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH ANYBODY JUST YET. I WITHDRAW MY MOTION.

OKAY. SO WE COULD LET'S GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT BEFORE WE TRY TO GO DOWN THIS PATH. ITEM 28 IS BEING TABLED AND SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 29.

[29. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:]

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

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 30 A THROUGH G,

[30. PURCHASING:]

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM 30 A THROUGH G.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[31. TAX ASSESSOR/COLLECTOR:]

COLLECTOR. MOVE. APPROVAL.

SECOND, YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM 31.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM I PRESENTED TO THE COURT ITEM NUMBER 32,

[32. Approve Bills.]

[33. Ratify the release of time-sensitive disbursements made on July 17, 2025.]

[34. Authorize County auditor to pay and release the time-sensitive disbursements on July 31, 2025, and August 7, 2025, to be ratified by Commissioners Court on August 12, 2025.]

[02:20:01]

MOVE FOR APPROVAL. SECOND. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM 32? 33 AND 34. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO CLOSED SESSION.

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

NON-STATUTORY CHANGES TO GRANT REQUIREMENTS TWO.

WESTPARK TOLLWAY PROJECT B, SECTION 551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS ONE.

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TWO.

EMPLOYEE MANUAL UPDATE C SECTION 551.089 DELIBERATION REGARDING SECURITY DEVICES OR SECURITY AUDITS. PROVISION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES TO SUPPORT COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES.

AND AT THIS TIME, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL STAND IN RECESS AND WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING.

IT IS TIME. 325. I CALL TO ORDER FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING. TODAY IS TUESDAY, JULY 22ND, 2025 AND MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM TWO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW I PRESENT TO THE BOARD AGENDA.

AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.

MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE AS PRESENTED.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW I WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

ITEM FOUR IS PRESENTED.

SECOND, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW I WILL PRESENT TO THE COURT A DRAINAGE DISTRICT AGENDA.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE. APPROVAL OF FIVE AS PRESENTED.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? WHAT'S A MUSCLE SURVEY? DO YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? YEAH.

HE ASKED WHAT A MUSCLE SURVEY IS.

I GUESS I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT WONDERING.

THAT WAS IT. YEAH. THERE'S, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AN ENDANGERED SPECIES IN THE BRAZOS.

AND WE HAVE TO TAKE AN ACCOUNTING LIKE A LITTLE ANIMAL.

I KNOW THEY'RE VERY TASTY, BY THE WAY.

A MUSCLE SURVEY IS JUST A SURVEY.

YOU KNOW WHAT A MUSCLE IS TO BEGIN WITH? THERE'S A LOT OF VARIETIES OF THEM. THERE'S ONE CALLED A FAWNS FOOT MUSCLE.

A TIGER STRIPE MUSCLE.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF VARIETIES.

APPARENTLY, SOME OF THEM ARE CLOSE TO EXTINCTION. I KNOW COMMISSIONER MYERS HAS CONFESSED TO EATING SOME.

WE WE PLANNED TO TO DO AN EROSION CONTROL PROJECT IN AN AREA.

IN THAT AREA, WE'RE GOING TO BE PLACING MATERIAL ON TOP OF THE EXISTING DIRT THAT'S UNDERWATER. AND IF WE COVER UP SOME OF THOSE MUSCLES, THEY'RE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES. WE'VE OBVIOUSLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE EXTINCTION OF THAT PARTICULAR SPECIES.

SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, WE HAVE TO SEND DIVERS DOWN THERE.

THEY HAVE TO GET THOSE MUSCLES AND MOVE THEM TO A DIFFERENT SITE.

WE'RE CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY HOMES AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW, BUT WE DO PLAN TO GO THROUGH AND DO A SURVEY.

AND IF WE ASK. YEAH, IF WE IF WE CAN GET THE SURVEY AND THE MOVEMENT DONE THE SAME DAY, WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY DO THAT AND WE'RE PLANNING TO TRY TO DO THAT. OKAY.

SURE. THANK YOU. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

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

NOW, OLGA, WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION FOR DRAINAGE DISTRICT SIX MEETING.

CLOSED SESSION TO DELIBERATE THE FOLLOWING MATTERS. AS AUTHORIZED BY THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE A SECTION 551.072.

DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY.

ONE. LEVEE EXPANSION TO PROPERTY FOR DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.

SLASH DETENTION USES. AND AT THIS TIME, THE FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING WILL STAND IN RECESS.

WE ARE CLOSE TO FOR CLOSED SESSION, AND I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE ARE PLANS TO SIGN. AND NOW WE ARE ON RECESS.

OKAY. IT'S TIME. 508. WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION AND WE WILL.

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

[02:25:01]

SO WE ARE GOING TO START WITH GENERAL COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING CLOSED SESSION 36. RECONVENE OPEN SESSION AND CONSIDER TAKING ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING MATTERS A SECTION 551.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY ONE NON STATUTORY CHANGES TO GRANT REQUIREMENTS. OKAY SO THERE IS AN ACTION, BUT THERE'S AN ACTION.

WE ARE TAKING ACTION ON THE ITEM NUMBER TEN.

RIGHT. THAT'S PART OF IT.

CORRECT. THAT IS THE ACTION.

WOULD YOU READ THAT? YES.

TEN A IS UNDER GRANT'S ADMINISTRATION AND IT IS UNDER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

APPROVED MASTER AGREEMENT.

GRANT AGREEMENT. EXCUSE ME.

BETWEEN FORT BEND COUNTY AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, FTA MA 333 DATED APRIL 25TH, 2025.

MOVE APPROVAL. SECOND.

AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM TEN A ANY DISCUSSION.

HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

TO WESTPARK TOLLWAY PROJECT.

THERE IS NO ACTION ON IT.

BE SECTION 551.074. PERSONNEL MATTERS ONE.

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

I MOVE THAT THAT I MOVE WE TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTION TO HIRE ANNA MARTINEZ AS A FORT BEND COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, EFFECTIVE AUGUST 18TH, 2025. SECOND. SECOND. WHAT? I DON'T HAVE GENTLEMAN, I DON'T HAVE THE THE THE GRADE NUMBER.

IT'S NOT IMPORTANT. I THINK IT IS.

IT'S NOT A GRADE IS EXECUTIVE.

OKAY. SECOND. AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM B ONE.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY TWO.

EMPLOYMENT MANUAL UPDATE.

NO ACTION. SEE SECTION 551.089.

DELIBERATION REGARDING SECURITY DEVICES OR SECURITY AUDITS.

PROVISION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES TO SUPPORT COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES.

I MOVE THAT WE TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTION TO APPROVE THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE ADDENDUM WITH NET SINK INCORPORATED TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $1,189,483.38, FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,235,206.10.

FUNDING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

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

SEE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY THAT.

WITH THAT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THIS PART OF THE MEETING? WITH NO OBJECTION. THIS FORT BEND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT REGULAR MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.

NOW WE WILL TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT.

CLOSED. SESSION ITEM. OLGA SEVEN, RECONVENE, OPEN SESSION AND CONSIDER TAKING ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING MATTERS A SECTION 551.072.

TWO DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY ONE LEVEE EXPANSION.

I MOVE THAT WE TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE ACTION TO EVALUATE, APPRAISE AND ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR FLOOD CONTROL, IMPROVEMENT AND EROSION MITIGATION FOR AN ESSENTIAL PROJECT IN RICHMOND, TEXAS, INCLUDING NEGOTIATION OF NECESSARY AGREEMENTS WITH POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS AND INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS, AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS.

FUNDING. FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT.

SECOND. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM ONE? ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

TO PROPERTY FOR DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.

SLASH DETENTION USES. THERE IS NO ACTION ON THAT ITEM.

AND WITH THAT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? WITH NO OBJECTION. THIS FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. IT IS TIME 513.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.