MR. THOMPSON. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. [00:00:04] I'M DEPUTY THOMPSON, FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU 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. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ANY DISRUPTION IN THIS COURTROOM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. AS STATED IN TEXAS PENAL CODE 38.13, I DO HAVE A QUESTION. AT WHAT AGE IS THIS APPROPRIATE FOR A STREET SIGN TO SAY THAT HE'S BEEN ADOPTED? OKAY. I NEED TO GET MORE INFORMATION. YEAH, YEAH. SO. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. [1. Call to Order.] IT IS A TIME 1 P.M.. I CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF FORT BEND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. TODAY IS TUESDAY, AUGUST 26TH, 2025. AND WELCOME TO OUR COURTROOM. AND THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US VIA LIVE STREAM. PLEASE BE ADVISED WE HAVE A PRESENCE OF A QUORUM. ADDITIONALLY, THIS MEETING OF COMMISSIONERS COURT THIS NOTICE OF COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED ONLINE UNDER LEGAL NOTICES OF AT LEAST 72 HOURS, WHICH IS GOING TO CHANGE SOON PURSUANT TO TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT. TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 551. PLEASE STAND AS COMMISSIONER GRADY PRESTIGE, LEAD US IN PRAYER AND FOLLOWED BY INVOCATION TO OUR FLAGS. THANK YOU, JUDGE, AND WELCOME TO THE WORLD FAMOUS FORT BEND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. THIS COURT OF 254 COUNTIES IN THIS STATE. YOU BOW YOUR HEADS WITH ME IN PRAYER. THANK YOU LORD, ON THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY. WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THIS BODY POLITIC AND BLESS ALL THE PEOPLE ASSEMBLED HERE. AS WE DELIBERATE ON ITEMS TODAY, WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE US THE WISDOM AND THE COURAGE AND DISCERNMENT, THE JUDGMENT TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE RIGHT AND JUST IN YOUR SIGHT AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF FORT BEND COUNTY. WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS ALL THE PEOPLE OF THIS WONDERFUL COUNTY IN RACE, CREED, COLOR, COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. LET US CONTINUE TO LIVE TOGETHER IN PEACE AND HARMONY AND DO YOUR WILL. IN OUR NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN OUR PLEDGE TO OUR FLAG. I PLEDGE. 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. INDIVISIBLE. INDIVISIBLE. AND, JUDGE, I'M GOING TO COMMISSION SOMEONE TO WRITE A PLEDGE TO THE FORT BEND COUNTY FLAG ONE DAY. YOU NEED TO WRITE ONE, I GUESS. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I ALSO WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER MYERS CALLED ME. AND HE'S FEELING A LITTLE BIT UNDER THE WEATHER. SO HE WILL NOT BE JOINING FOR THIS MEETING. AND WE WILL MOVE ON. ITEM NUMBER THREE, APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETINGS HELD OR MEETINGS [3. Approve minutes of the following meetings held as presented: 1. Special Meeting / Budget Workshop: August 4, 2025, through August 5, 2025; 2. Regular Meeting: August 12, 2025; 3. Special Meeting: August 13, 2025; 4. Special Meeting: August 15, 2025; and 5. Special Meeting: August 20, 2025.] HELD ON AS PRESENTED. SPECIAL MEETING BUDGET WORKSHOP HELD ON AUGUST 4TH THROUGH AUGUST 5TH, 2022. SPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 12TH, 2025 THREE. SPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 13TH, 2025 FOUR. SPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 15TH, 2025 FIVE SPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 20TH, 2025. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOVE FOR APPROVAL. SECOND. YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES. FOUR ZERO. ITEM NUMBER FOUR. PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA AND ANNOUNCEMENT. [4. Public Comments regarding the Agenda and Announcements.] THE FIRST ITEM IS OF COURSE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, FORT BEND COUNTY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2025, IN OBSERVANCE OF LABOR DAY. NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS WILL RESUME ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2025. I WISH EVERYBODY HAVE A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY TIME. AND NOW WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROCLAMATIONS, AND DANIEL, PLEASE COME. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. WE HAVE TWO PROCLAMATIONS. AND ONCE WE'VE COMPLETED, WE'LL INVITE YOU AND THE RECIPIENTS TO JOIN US FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY JUDGE, FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. THE PROCLAMATION READS AS FOLLOWS. WHEREAS THE LAMAR EDUCATIONAL AWARDS FOUNDATION LEAF WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2000 WITH A CLEAR MISSION TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL RESOURCES AND LASTING SUPPORT TO THE STUDENTS AND STAFF OF LAMAR CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. [00:05:03] LAMAR CISD. AND WHEREAS, OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS, LAMAR CISD HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY, EXPANDING ITS CAMPUSES, PROGRAMS, AND STUDENT BODY TO SERVE ONE OF THE MOST VIBRANT AND DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION. AND WHEREAS LEAF HAS BECOME A CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY PARTNER, FORGING LASTING COLLABORATIONS WITH BUSINESSES, INDIVIDUALS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO MEET EVOLVING NEEDS AND ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE DISTRICT. AND WHEREAS LEAF WILL CELEBRATE ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2025, COMMEMORATING A LEGACY OF IMPACT AND REAFFIRMING ITS COMMITMENT TO STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND EDUCATOR SUPPORT. AND WHEREAS FORT BEND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, RECOGNIZES LEAF'S EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ITS ENDURING DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE, EQUITY, AND INNOVATION IN LAMAR CISD. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT KP GEORGE, FORT BEND COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT, FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE YEAR 2025 AS A 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF LAMAR EDUCATIONAL AWARDS FOUNDATION. LEAF AND COMMENDS LEAF FOR 25 YEARS OF UNWAVERING SERVICE, COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, AND LIFE CHANGING INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE OF LAMAR'S STUDENTS AND STAFF. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT. HELLO. I WILL BE READING THE LABOR DAY PROCLAMATION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY JUDGE, FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. THE PROCLAMATION READS AS FOLLOWS. WHEREAS THE PROSPERITY, STRENGTH, AND WELL-BEING OF FORT BEND COUNTY, THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ARE ROOTED IN THE DEDICATION, RESILIENCE, AND HARD WORK OF GENERATIONS OF WORKING PEOPLE. AND WHEREAS THE LABOR MOVEMENT HAS PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN SHAPING OUR MODERN WORKFORCE, SECURING ESSENTIAL PROTECTIONS SUCH AS SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS, FAIR WAGES, THE 40 HOUR WORK WEEK, CHILD LABOR LAWS, AND ACCESS TO HEALTH AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS. AND WHEREAS, WORKING PEOPLE ACROSS EVERY INDUSTRY INCLUDING EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, CONSTRUCTION, PUBLIC SERVICE, TECHNOLOGY, ENERGY AND AGRICULTURE FROM FORM THE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY AND REMAIN VITAL TO THE FORT BEND COUNTY'S CONTINUOUS GROWTH, GROWTH AND SUCCESS. AND WHEREAS LABOR DAY, OBSERVED ANNUALLY ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF SEPTEMBER, SERVES AS A TIME TO REFLECT ON THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF WORKERS, PAST AND PRESENT, AND TO CELEBRATE THE ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS OF WORKING FAMILIES TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE WAY OF LIFE. AND WHEREAS, THE FORT BEND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT REAFFIRMS ITS SUPPORT FOR ALL WORKERS AND THE CONTINUED ADVANCEMENT OF DIGNITY, EQUITY AND RESPECT IN EVERY WORKPLACE ACROSS THE COUNTY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT KP GEORGE, FORT BEND COUNTY JUDGE AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS PROUDLY CELEBRATE LABOR DAY AND HONOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE WORK, SACRIFICE AND DETERMINATION POWER THE PROGRESS OF FORT BEND COUNTY AND OUR NATION. THANK YOU. AND ANY MORE? NOPE. JUST THESE TWO. AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD THIS PROCLAMATION IS BASED ON THE REQUEST FROM COMMISSIONER DEXTER MCCOY. AND SO ARE ANYBODY HERE TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATIONS? I BELIEVE SO. I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO GENTLEMEN TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION. OKAY. SO CAN CAN YOU CALL THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THAT PROCLAMATION? AND THEN WE COULD TAKE A PICTURE. YEAH. LABOR DAY ONE. OH, YES. COME ON DOWN TO TAKE A PICTURE. YES. YEP. RIGHT IN THE CENTER. OH. AND JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, WE HAVE WITH US SERGEANT MICHAEL ALEXANDER REPRESENTING OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE WORKERS THERE, AND MR. JEFF LEBOWSKI FROM LOCAL PLUMBERS, 68. HOW'S EVERYONE? COMMISSIONER MORALES ASKED FOR THE LEAVE, SO WE'LL HAVE COMMISSIONER HOLD IT. [00:10:05] COMMISSIONER. SMILES, GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS ONE PUBLIC SPEAKER. IS THAT RIGHT? TWO. TWO PUBLIC SPEAKERS. AND PLEASE CALL THEIR NAMES. AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COURT. AND PLEASE RECOGNIZE WHO YOU ARE FIRST. BEFORE WE START, THE FIRST PUBLIC SPEAKER IS MR. BRUCE LEMMY SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM 25. HELLO COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS BRUCE LEMMY. I'M A 30 PLUS YEAR RESIDENT OF FORT BEND COUNTY. I SPENT MOST OF MY RESIDENCY IN SUGARLAND FOR THREE YEARS AGO. I MOVED TO MISSOURI CITY. I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE NAACP, AND I WANTED TO GO ON RECORD AS SAYING THAT WE ARE OPPOSED TO ANY REDISTRICTING. HOWEVER, IF THE PROCESS CONTINUES, WE'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THE DECISION MAKERS BE AS DIVERSE AS THE COUNTY ITSELF. AND WHEN I SAY DIVERSITY, I'M ALSO MENTIONING DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT QUESTION. THE NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER IS MISS ERICA CHRISTIAN. ALSO SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM 25. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE GEORGE, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN, AND I'M THE VOTING RIGHTS OUTREACH COORDINATOR AT THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS BODY'S PROPOSAL TO UNDERTAKE AN UNPRECEDENTED MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING, INCLUDING THE CREATION OF THIS REDISTRICTING ADVISORY COMMITTEE. MY TESTIMONY TODAY SEEKS TO RESPOND TO AND CORRECT INFORMATION IN A MEMORANDUM PROVIDED TO COMMISSIONER MYERS BY THE LAW OFFICES OF TONI MCDONALD OR THE MCDONALD MEMO ON MAY 24TH, 2025, SO THAT YOU MAY FULLY UNDERSTAND YOUR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS AND THE RISK OF THE CURRENT REDISTRICTING PLAN, WHICH BEARS CERTAIN HALLMARKS OF INTENTIONAL RACIAL DISCRIMINATION. IN 2021, IT WAS LAWFUL FOR FORT BEND TO RELY ON RACE TO THE EXTENT IT WAS NECESSARY TO CREATE LEGALLY REQUIRED COALITION DISTRICTS, BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, FIFTH CIRCUIT CASE LAW RECOGNIZED THAT COALITION DISTRICTS WERE PROTECTED BY THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, CONTRARY TO THE ASSERTIONS IN THE MCDONALD MEMO. ANY SUBSEQUENT CHANGES IN THE LAW DO NOT RETROACTIVELY MAKE THE MAP DRAWN IN 2021 UNLAWFUL. THEREFORE, FORT BEND CANNOT RELY ON THIS JUSTIFICATION TO INITIATE THIS MID-DECADE MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING. FURTHER, BOTH THE SUPREME COURT AND THE FIFTH CIRCUIT HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT COMPLYING WITH THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IS A COMPELLING REASON FOR GOVERNMENTS TO RELY ON RACE AND REDISTRICTING PROCESS AND THUS, WHEN NARROWLY TAILORED, DOES NOT CONSTITUTE UNCONSTITUTIONAL RACIAL GERRYMANDERING. THE MCDONALD MEMO POINTS TO THE PETIT WAVY GALVESTON COUNTY DECISION FROM THE FIFTH CIRCUIT TO SUGGEST THAT GOVERNMENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO USE RACE TO PREVENT DILUTION TO PREVENT VOTE DILUTION OF A SO-CALLED RACIAL COALITION, AND THUS ARGUES THAT PETTY WAY REQUIRES THE COALITION DISTRICTS BE REDRAWN. THIS ANALYSIS IS IS FATALLY FLAWED FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, PETTY WAY WAS NOT DECIDED UNTIL 2024, A FULL THREE YEARS AFTER THE CURRENT MAPS WERE DRAWN. EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, THOUGH, PETTY WAY NEITHER SANCTIONS NOR DIRECTS THE INTENTIONAL DISMANTLING OF EXISTING MINORITY COALITION DISTRICTS AND ASSERTIONS TO THE CONTRARY MISCHARACTERIZED THE FIFTH CIRCUIT'S DECISION. INSTEAD, THE INTENTIONAL DISMANTLING OF EXISTING MINORITY COALITION DISTRICTS RAISED GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT INTENTIONAL RACIAL DISCRIMINATION UNDER BOTH THE 14TH AND 15TH AMENDMENTS. FOR THESE REASONS, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT SHOULD NOT RELY ON THE LEGAL ANALYSIS PROVIDED BY THE MCDONALD MEMO AND SHOULD INSTEAD RETAIN THE CURRENT COMMISSIONER PRECINCT LINES. THANK YOU. AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO SECTION TWO OF THE AGENDA ITEM TODAY. ITEM NUMBER FIVE, PUBLIC HEARING. CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING AND TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING MATTERS. SORRY, I DID HAVE TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS. OH PLEASE GO AHEAD. SO FIRST I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME AND JOINED US LAST MONDAY [00:15:01] AS WE SIGNED AMONG THE LAST PANELS THAT ARE GOING UP ON THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONUMENT OUT IN ALLEN PARK. IT WAS A VERY REVERENT MOMENT VERY SPECIAL. AND YOU FELT THE PRESENCE OF THE HISTORY AND THE LEGACY OF THE ANCESTORS WHO ARE BURIED OUT THERE. WE ARE ON TRACK. WE HAD SOME INCIDENTS. ONE OF THE PANELS FELL OFF A TRUCK WHILE BEING DELIVERED. AND SO THE TEAM IS HAVING TO TO REFORM THOSE PANELS. BUT WE ARE ON TRACK AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A MONUMENT DEDICATION OCTOBER 25TH. SO PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS. IF THAT CHANGES, AS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS SOMETIMES DO, WE'LL DEFINITELY LET YOU KNOW. THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE STARTING, AND I'LL ANNOUNCE THIS AGAIN NEXT. COMMISSIONERS COURT, A ROAD SHOW. THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT FOLKS HAVE ABOUT SOME OF OUR MOBILITY PROJECTS AROUND THE PRECINCT, AND WE WANT FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT, MEET WITH THE CONSTRUCTION TEAMS, AND ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. AND SO WE'RE STARTING THAT NEXT NEXT MONTH, WE'LL START WITH RANSOM ROAD AND FRONT STREET. ON SEPTEMBER 10TH AT 5:30 P.M., WE WILL MEET OVER AT THE TAX OFFICE PARKING LOT TO TALK ABOUT THE FRONT STREET PROJECT, AND THEN HEAD OVER TO THE MEMORIAL HERMANN SUGAR LAND TO TALK ABOUT RANSOM ROAD. AND THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK ON WEDNESDAY, WE WILL BE WEDNESDAY THE 17TH AT 6:00, WE'LL BE OUT IN NORTH RICHMOND TO TALK ABOUT 10TH STREET AND IMPROVEMENTS COMING THERE. WE'RE GOING TO BE HITTING ALL OF THE MAJOR MOBILITY PROJECTS THAT ARE IN ACTION RIGHT NOW. AND SO WE WILL PUBLISH THE FULL TOUR DATES AND LIST. ENLIST, BUT WE'RE HITTING THE ROAD AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME OUT AND JOIN US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE, [5. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1:00 p.m.: Conduct Public Hearings and take all appropriate action on the following matters:] PUBLIC HEARING CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING AND TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING MATTERS. A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE DOCTOR BUYOUT GUIDELINE AMENDMENTS B COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM AND UPDATES TO THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. IF WE HAVE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THIS ITEM, THIS IS THE TIME TO STEP FORWARD AND SPEAK ON ANY OF THESE TWO ITEMS. SEEING NO ONE HAVE HAS COME FORWARD AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUEST TO COMMENT ON THESE ITEMS. I WILL NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING ITEM. I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT AGENDA ITEM FIVE, A AND B ARE READY FOR ACTION. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOVE FOR APPROVAL. SECOND. AND WE HAVE A MOTION. AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW I WILL PRESENT IT TO THE COURT. [ CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS: (6-23) ] THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM SIX THROUGH 23 WITH A COUPLE OF CHANGES. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT PRECINCT FOUR. THERE IS A SMALL CORRECTION AT THE END. SEE, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO READ THAT? IT'S BETTER TO FOR THE RECORD. YES. THE CORRECTION READS AS FOLLOWS. APPROVE THE REAPPOINTMENT OF DOCTOR ASIM SHAH TO THE TEXARKANA CENTER BOARD FOR THE PERIOD OF SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH AUGUST 31ST, 20 2727 EITHER ACCIDENTALLY PUT 25. SO THAT'S WITH THAT CORRECTION. AND ALSO WE WILL MOVE ON TO ONE MORE ITEM, WHICH IS 22 B. 22 B IS BEING PULLED WITH THESE TWO CHANGES I PRESENTED TO THE COURT. CONSENT AGENDA ITEM. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEMS SIX THROUGH 26 THROUGH 22. AS PRESENTED 2323 AS PRESENTED TWO WITH THE TWO NOTED CORRECTIONS. SECOND AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. AND ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM. HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM SECTION THREE. [24. COUNTY JUDGE:] PRESENT TO THE COURT. WE ARE STARTING WITH 24 A. AND BEFORE I GO INTO THIS AND I'M SURE WE ALL ARE AWARE OF THERE ARE CHANGES HAPPENED LAST SESSION. LEGISLATIVE SESSION. HOUSE BILL 1522 IS ASKING US INSTEAD OF 72 HOURS PRIOR NOTICE, THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY SAYING YOU CAN'T HAVE THREE BUSINESS DAYS NOTICE. THAT MEANS YOU CANNOT COUNT WEEKENDS. SO WE ARE FORCED TO MAKE THESE CHANGES. [00:20:02] AND EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN, IN STATE OF TEXAS ARE MAKING THESE CHANGES. AND I TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THAT. I PRESENT TO THE COURT ITEM NUMBER 24 A AND B FOR COURT CONSIDERATION. LET ME ASK A QUESTION FIRST. WE WILL TAKE ONE AT A TIME, ONE AT A TIME. 24 QUESTION. YEAH. GET CLOSE TO IT. SPEAK LIKE RIGHT INTO IT. OKAY. THERE YOU GO. IT'S HANDHELD SO YOU CAN TAKE IT OFF. SO. SO? SO. YEAH. YEAH. BEING HERE SO LONG. WE'VE HAD A VARIETY OF MEETING DATES AND TIMES. I THINK IN JANUARY 1991 WHEN I CAME IN, WE MET ON MONDAYS AT 9 A.M.. OKAY. AND THAT WASN'T FUN. I DON'T KNOW WHY I EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT THAT. IT RUINED YOUR WHOLE WEEKEND. EVERY TIME. AND WE MET. WE MET EVERY WEEK. OKAY, THEN THEN WE WE DECIDED TO MOVE TO TUESDAYS AT 9 A.M., AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WORKED FINE FOR A WHILE, BUT THERE WAS ALWAYS A COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEMBER WHO WAS ACTIVE WITH HCRC. AND SO ON THE THIRD TUESDAYS THEY MEET. AND SO WE DECIDED TO CHANGE IT FROM 10 A.M. ON TUESDAYS TO 1 A.M., 1 P.M.. EXCUSE ME. YEAH, OKAY. 1 P.M. ON TUESDAYS. WE'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE RADAR SCREEN, AND NOW YOU KNOW, THIS ACTUALLY JUST. I'M JUST. I'M JUST ASKING FOR AS I SAW ON A RECENT FACEBOOK POST, I'M ASKING FOR A FRIEND. OKAY. IS IS 1:00 ON THURSDAY BETTER THAN 10:00 ON THURSDAY? I DON'T HAVE PERSONALLY, I PRESENTED TO THE COURT. I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC MOST. THE ONLY REASON WE SAID 10:00, A NUMBER OF COUNTIES ARE DOING THEIR MEETING. 10:00 I JUST PRESENTED COLLECTIVELY. IF YOU THINK ANY ANY OTHER TIME IS OKAY, I'M FINE WITH THAT. IT'S JUST I'M JUST PRESENTING TO THE COURT. BE IT THAT OUR MEETINGS OFTENTIMES RUN FOR 2 OR 3 HOURS, 10:00 MEETING TAKES US WELL PAST LUNCHTIME. 01:00 ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE LUNCH BEFORE YOU COME HERE. OKAY. AND I DON'T HAVE ANY. I JUST WANTED TO SEE BEFORE WE MAKE THIS DECISION THAT WE CONSIDER THURSDAYS AT ONE. OKAY. INSTEAD OF THURSDAYS AT TEN. OKAY. ANY ANY OTHER WELL, I GUESS IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT'S THE RATIONALE BEHIND MOVING. SO ONE IS THE CHANGING IN THE NOTICE DATES. BUT THE OTHER, I KNOW I'D HEARD SOME SOME TALK ABOUT CONVERSATION AROUND PREPARATION STAFF MAKE FOR COURT. AND IF ANYONE COULD SPEAK TO THAT. YES. YES. WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT THE BILL THAT MANDATES WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK IT IS. THAT IS STRICTLY A COURT DECISION. I WILL SAY AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE, WHICH IS A VERY, VERY LONG TIME, IT'S BEEN TUESDAY. THE PUBLIC DOES KNOW WHAT TO BE TUESDAY, BUT THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT THE LAW THAT REQUIRES YOU TO MOVE IT FROM TUESDAY. YEAH, YEAH. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THIS. THE REASON WE ARE TRYING TO DO THIS WAY, BECAUSE IF WE KEEP IT ON TUESDAY, WE HAVE TO FILE. WEDNESDAY, WE HAVE TO GO BACK. SO I THOUGHT IT IS WE OUR CONVERSATION WAS BETTER. WE COULD USE THIS REQUIREMENT OF THREE BUSINESS DAYS BY DOING THIS WAY. THAT'S ALL IT IS. AND IF SOMEBODY FEELS LIKE WE WANTED TO DO IT, WE WANTED TO GO BACK TO FILING IT SO MANY TIMES. COMMISSIONER YOU KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK ON THE FILING IS I'M ALWAYS LAST MINUTE, I KNOW THAT, OKAY. AND SO GO AHEAD AND SAY IT. THIS MAY BE THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS IT, I THINK. I MEAN, I KNOW MICHELLE IS CORRECT, BUT I THINK WHERE IT REALLY AFFECTS IS ENGINEERING AND PURCHASING BECAUSE THEY KIND OF HAVE SET DEADLINES FOR FOLKS. YEAH, TRUE. I WILL TELL YOU, BY MOVING IT AS PROPOSED IN THE RESOLUTION, YOU'RE ACTUALLY ADDING MORE TIME THAN IS REQUIRED FOR THE POSTING BECAUSE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU'RE TRYING TO KEEP YOUR INTERNAL DEADLINES FOR AGENDA. AND SO THE CUT, THE CUT OFF IS ACTUALLY ADDING TIME THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADD. THE JUDGE'S OFFICE CAN EXPLAIN THAT BETTER THAN ME BECAUSE THEY CONTROL THOSE DEADLINES. BUT AND ENGINEERING AND PURCHASING COULD THEN DESCRIBE THE IMPACT ON THEIR OFFICES. BUT YOU WOULD THEN BE COMPLYING WITH MORE THAN THREE BUSINESS DAYS REQUIREMENT UNDER THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION OR ORDER, I SHOULD SAY. BUT WE COULD ALSO IF SOMETHING WOULD CHANGE OVER THE WEEKEND. AND AGAIN, I DON'T CARE EITHER WAY. [00:25:01] BUT AS FAR AS WE COULD CHANGE IT AS LATE AS WHATEVER TIME 10:00 OR 1:00 MONDAY. SO AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THREE BUSINESS DAYS. YES. I WOULD TELL YOU, AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, THE MORE YOU START CHANGING AGENDAS, THE MORE CONFUSING IT IS TO THE PUBLIC. AND WE DON'T HAVE A CONSISTENT PRACTICE OF DOING THAT, YOU PROBABLY WANT TO LOCK IN YOUR AGENDA. AND KEEP IT THAT WAY. BUT YEAH, THAT DOES GIVE YOU MORE FLEXIBILITY. BUT IT ALSO MEANS EVERY AGENDA. YOU'RE ALSO COOKING IN MORE TIME THAN YOU NEED, WHICH IS FINE BY ME. BUT IT ALSO, IF YOUR CONCERN IS DELAY, YOU'RE YOU'RE ARTIFICIALLY INCLUDING MORE DELAY BY THAT PROPOSAL. HOW IS THAT? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO ME? HOW ARTIFICIALLY WE INCLUDE MORE SO FOR THURSDAY IF I, IF I AND OLGA CAN HELP ME OUT TOO, BECAUSE SHE HELPED SHE CALCULATED IT WITH ME. IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, FOR A THURSDAY MEETING, WE WERE STILL GOING TO KEEP THE POSTING FRIDAY. THAT'S THAT EXCEEDS THREE BUSINESS DAYS. GO AHEAD IF IF IF I MAY. SO YES YOU'RE CORRECT. HOWEVER, THE REASON THAT WE DECIDED TO FILE ON A TO KEEP OUR FILING DATE OF A FRIDAY IS TO ASSIST OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT WOULD BE OTHERWISE AFFECTED. NOW WE CAN FILE ON A MONDAY. THAT'S NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IF THERE'S TECHNICAL ISSUES OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT. WE'RE REALLY LIKE SHOOTING OURSELVES ON THE FOOT IF SOMETHING SHOULD GO WRONG AND THEN YOU CAN'T HOLD COURT AS YOU ARE PUBLICLY, I MEAN PUBLICLY MAKING IT SEEM LIKE YOU ARE. SO THAT'S THE ONLY CAUTION. AS THE COURT SERVICES MANAGER I WOULD GIVE IS ALLOW US DEPARTMENTS, MY COLLEAGUES, TO HAVE THE NECESSARY TIME TO MAKE SURE WE CUSHION THAT. AND YES, IT IS POSSIBLY ONE MORE DAY. BUT THEN AGAIN, I LEAN ON THE SAFER THAN SORRY. THAT'S THAT'S THE LOGIC BEHIND THAT I WANTED TO ADD. ALSO, IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY HAPPEN, IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE AMEND. IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT STILL KEEP AN ORDER. AND ALSO ONE OF THE THINGS IS WHEN YOU MOVE IT TO MONDAY, THE FILING IS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THAT IS ESPECIALLY OLGA AND OTHERS HAVE TO WORK OVER THE WEEKEND TO ACCOMMODATE, WHICH IS NOT THEIR WORKING HOURS TO BEGIN WITH. AND SO I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT FRIDAY EVENING. AND IF THERE IS SOME EMERGENCY HAPPEN, WE CAN ALWAYS MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT. MR. MCCOY, YOU WANT TO FINISH YOUR. YEAH. I WAS GOING TO SAY I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THE IDEA OF MOVING. I DO HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL QUESTION, THOUGH. THE LAW SAYS OTHER BUSINESS DAYS. SO THEY COUNT THAT AS 9 TO 5 OR BECAUSE EVEN IF WE MOVE IT TO 1:00, THAT DOESN'T WE DON'T THEN POST BY 1:00 ON THE THREE BUSINESS DAYS. RIGHT? IT STILL HAS TO BE POSTED A FULL BUSINESS DAY. IT DOESN'T SAY. SO IT'S IT HAS BEEN STRICKEN OUT. IT USED TO BE 72 HOURS, WHICH WAS THAT. NOW IT IS BUSINESS DAYS. BUT I'LL DEFER TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO GIVE YOU LEGAL ADVICE ON THAT. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS WE PROBABLY WOULD STICK TO THE PRACTICE OF HAVING IT BE AT THAT TIME AT LEAST. SO IF IT'S 1:00, 01:00, WE CAN FURTHER LOOK INTO THAT BECAUSE THE RECOMMENDATION IS NOT UNTIL OCTOBER. BUT OBVIOUSLY WE WOULDN'T WANT IT ANY EARLIER. SECONDLY, I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE ANY CONFUSION. REGARDLESS OF THIS, YOU ALWAYS HAVE A PROVISION FOR AN EMERGENCY MEETING, AND THAT HAS NOT CHANGED. AND THIRD OF ALL, I MEAN, WE WE DO WORK ON THE WEEKENDS, BUT WE'LL BE GLAD NOT TO HAVE TO COUNT THOSE HOURS FOR YOUR NOTICE, BUT I DON'T WANT THERE ANY CONFUSION ABOUT THERE BEING NO WAY TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY MEETING. YEAH, AND THAT ALWAYS REMAINS. AND I DON'T THINK THEY WERE SAYING THAT, BUT IT GIVES I THINK WHAT I HEARD IS IT GIVES US THE FLEXIBILITY TO ADD SOME THINGS IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN TO POP UP LAST MINUTE. I DID CALL SOME OF OUR FRIENDS IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT RECENTLY DID THE SAME THING, AND THEY SAID FOR MEMBERS OF COURT, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEN YOU CAN'T REVIEW STUFF OVER THE WEEKEND. BUT IF WE'RE STILL PUBLISHING ON FRIDAY, THEN WE DO HAVE THAT ABILITY TO STILL REVIEW DOCUMENTS OVER THE WEEKEND, BUT IT IS OF GREAT BENEFIT TO THE STAFF IN PREPARING FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT, BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY HAVING PEOPLE WORK OVER THE WEEKEND TO GET READY FOR COURT AND THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO POST AND DO ALL THIS AND THAT, BUT RATHER THEY CAN DO THAT DURING THE WORK WEEK. SO I'M WHETHER IT'S 10:00 OR ONE, I DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT HELPS ME WITH HAVING TO PICK MY GIRLS UP EVERY EVENING TO DO IT AT 10:00, THE WAY WE'VE BEEN GOING LATELY, BUT I WILL DEFER TO THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY OF COURT AND WORK IT OUT WITH MY WIFE. COMMISSIONER I THINK I HAVE NO PROBLEM. MAYBE WE COULD TRY AT 1:00 AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. YEAH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET CONSENSUS ON IT. THAT'S WHY I PUT IT OUT THERE. AND IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME EITHER WAY. YEAH. SO SO SO LET'S MAKE I'M VOTING AND PROXY. [00:30:01] IT DOESN'T MATTER TO HIM EITHER. HE SHOULDN'T HAVE MISSED A MEETING. HE SHOULDN'T HAVE MISSED. SO WE WILL. SO LET ME MAKE THE MOTION. SO I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM 24, A BUT AMENDED TO REFLECT, THE MEETINGS TAKING PLACE THURSDAY AT 1 P.M. BEGINNING OCTOBER 9TH, 2025. SECOND, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO 24. AGENDA ITEM 24 B, WHICH IS BASICALLY SAYING WHY WE ARE NOT DOING IT IN SEPTEMBER. MOVING IT TO OCTOBER, BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF NOTICES IS BEING SCHEDULED TO GO. SO THIS IS THE REASON WHY WE ARE WE ARE TAKING THIS ACTION FROM OCTOBER OCTOBER. SO SO MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM 24 B REFLECTING COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETINGS IN FISCAL YEAR 2026, HAPPENING EVERY SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 1 P.M. 1 P.M. SECOND, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA. I'M SORRY. I'M SO SORRY. I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT THIS FOR PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. SINCE THIS WAS POSTED AS AN ITEM AT 10 A.M., DO WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT FIRST AND THEN VOTE ON THE ACTION? YES. I'M SORRY I MADE YOU ALREADY AMENDED. SO IF IT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S POSTED AND WHAT WAS THE MOTION DO SO DO WE HAVE TO DO ONE MOTION TO AMEND THE ITEM AND THEN A SEPARATE MOTION TO TO ADOPT THAT AMENDMENT. SO WHOEVER MADE THE MOTION CAN VACATE THE MOTION. OKAY OKAY. BUT SO WE DID. IT'S FINE. YES. OKAY. GOT IT. YES. OKAY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 25. [25. COMMISSIONER, PCT. 2:] PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT TWO. MOVE APPROVAL OF 25 AS PRESENTED. SECOND, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. YEP. I JUST WANT TO NOTE HERE FOR THIS ITEM AND THE NEXT ONE YOU KNOW, SINCE THE I AND I THINK WE HEARD FROM A SPEAKER TODAY WHO I WOULD LOVE TO CONNECT WITH AFTER COURT IF YOU WOULD STAY AROUND, BUT THE FACT STILL REMAINS THAT THE ENTIRE BASIS FOR THIS REDISTRICTING EFFORT IS IS IS FLAWED. IT IS IS AN AFFRONT TO WHAT HAS BEEN STANDARD COURSE OF ACTION AND PRACTICE OF REDISTRICTING. EVERY TEN YEARS AFTER WE HAVE RELIABLE CENSUS DATA TO CONDUCT REDISTRICTING. AND THE ENTIRE EFFORT IS INHERENTLY FLAWED BASED ON THE RATIONALE THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED. BUT SINCE THE CREATION OF THIS THIS CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE WE HAVE RECEIVED NO MEETING MINUTES. WE'VE RECEIVED NO UPDATES ON THE WORK, ASIDE FROM BYLAWS AND IN ORDER DRAFTED BY A LAWYER. AND FOR ALL OF THE TRANSPARENCY THAT WAS REQUESTED BY RESIDENTS, WHAT WAS PURPORTED TO BE THE INTENT FROM MEMBERS OF THE COURT. THAT HASN'T HAPPENED, AND IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE IS A FIGHT THAT'S HAPPENING, AND WE'VE GOT TO GO TO THE ROOMS WHERE THE FIGHT IS ACTUALLY TAKING PLACE. AND SO I SUPPORT THIS EFFORT PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER PRESTAGE. AND AND THE NEXT ONE THAT WE'LL VOTE ON TO ACTUALLY GET RESIDENTS IN THE ROOM TO SHINE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS TO BE THE FOLKS WHO REPORT OUT ON WHAT ARE THE NATURE OF THE DISCUSSIONS OF THIS BODY. WHAT ARE THEY DECIDING? WHAT ARE THEY PLANNING? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THIS MUCH INFORMATION AND THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND IT'S VERY DISINGENUOUS. SO I SUPPORT THE APPOINTMENT OF THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO I KNOW HAVE DEEP. BACKGROUNDS IN DEALING WITH ELECTIONS. ONE SERVING ON THE ELECTIONS ON THE BALLOT BOARD AT ONE POINT AND ELECTIONS REVIEW BOARD AND THE OTHER A OTHER FORMER COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHO HAS DEEP EXPERIENCE IN THIS EFFORT AND HAS BEEN A PART OF A REDISTRICTING EFFORT. AND SO I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THAT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. AND ITEM NUMBER 26, PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT FOUR. [26. COMMISSIONER, PCT. 4:] MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 26 AS PRESENTED. COMMISSIONER, THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. IN TERMS OF THE ROLES THAT IT'S PLAYING NOW THAT IT'S FULLY SEATED. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT ADDRESSES THEIR MINUTE KEEPING OR THE PROCEDURES THAT THEY HAVE THAT THEY'RE CONDUCTING? WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S BEEN MEETING IN FACT, AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY, NOW THAT IT'S FULLY SEATED. I RECALL THE RESOLUTION SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THEM FOLLOWING PROCEDURES. AND SO THERE'S A QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN HAD ABOUT THAT. WOULD YOU KNOW THAT WOULD ANY I DON'T KNOW THAT. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THERE WAS A [00:35:01] MEETING YESTERDAY. SO THAT'S NEWS TO ME. WE ONLY KNOW BECAUSE WE WERE WALKING IN THE HALL IN OUR BUILDING. YEAH, YEAH. SO I DON'T KNOW, BUT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR SOMEONE TO INFORM US OF. I SECOND HIS MOTION. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? WELL. HOLD ON. AND SO DITTO TO THE POINTS THAT COMMISSIONER MCCOY. THAT'S ME JUST MADE ON THE LAST ITEM. BUT THE OTHER NOTE I'LL MAKE HERE IS THAT THE BODY? THAT AS IT EXISTS TODAY, FROM WHAT THIS COURT VOTED ON I THINK A MONTH AGO, THE FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE COMMITTEE AREN'T AS DIVERSE AS OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE. AND ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MOST DIVERSE COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY AND A DIVERSITY IN ETHNICITY, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND THOUGHT. AND SO HERE WE ARE MAKING AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE THAT BODY MORE DIVERSE IN TERMS OF GENDER AND IN TERMS OF ETHNICITY. ONE ONE OF MY APPOINTEES IS A DIRECTOR FOR ONE OF OUR LOCAL MUD BOARDS AND AN ATTORNEY. THE OTHER IS A FORMER STATE REP AND JUSTICE OF THE PEACE IN THIS COMMUNITY WITH A LONG HISTORY OF ADVOCACY IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I KNOW THAT THESE WILL BE FIERCE FIGHTERS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRNESS. AND I WOULD ALSO, AGAIN, I THINK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE RAISED A GOOD QUESTION ON WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURES THAT THEY'RE FOLLOWING IN TERMS OF MINUTE AND NOTE KEEPING? I DON'T KNOW THAT I SAW THAT REFLECTED IN THE BYLAWS THAT I CAN RECALL THAT THEY SUBMITTED TO THIS COURT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MCCRARY. I WOULD ADD THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE REDISTRICTING ADVISORY COMMITTEES ARE ATTEMPTING TO CONDUCT OFFICIAL COUNTY BUSINESS, THAT THERE SHOULD BE PROPER NOTES, TAKEN DOCUMENTATION OF ATTENDEES DISCUSSIONS PURSUANT TO OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT. THIS IS NOT A SECRETIVE COMMITTEE, AND THEY HAVE NO PRIVILEGE. SO THERE SHOULD BE SOME COMMUNICATIONS MEMORIALIZING THE DISCUSSIONS AND FULL TRANSPARENCY TO ALL THE RESIDENTS OF FORT BEND COUNTY. THANK YOU. 551 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE DEFINES A BOARD AS A GOVERNMENT BODY SUBJECT TO OPEN MEETINGS. SO THEN POSTING MEETINGS, POSTING MINUTES OKAY, OKAY. EVERY MEETING THAT IS HEARD, ALL ATTENDEES, ALL DISCUSSIONS, EVEN IF THERE'S A LAWYER PRESENT, TO THE EXTENT THAT THAT LAWYER DOES NOT HAVE AN ATTORNEY CLIENT RELATIONSHIP THAT'S DEPUTIZED BY THE AUTHORITY OF MY OFFICE, THERE IS NO PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO I DON'T KNOW IF. JUDGE, I KNOW YOU APPOINTED THE CHAIR. IF YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT INTO WHAT'S OCCURRED, THIS INFORMATION. AND I BELIEVE YOUR APPOINTEES WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS ALL THAT. WE DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A MEETING YESTERDAY UNTIL WE WALKED PAST A MEMBER OF COURT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY. FIRST OF ALL, LET WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT ONCE YOUR APPOINTEES GO ATTEND THE MEETING IF THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING OR IF THAT INFORMATION OR THE PROCEDURE JUST MENTIONED. IF IT'S NOT TAKING PLACE, IT IS TAKING PLACE AS FAR AS I KNOW. AND SO LET THEM GO AND SEE WHAT WHAT WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE. BECAUSE I DON'T ENGAGE IN THAT. I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW. I HAVEN'T ATTENDED THE MEETING AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. UNDERSTOOD. WELL, THAT'S MY PETITION. AND THAT OF MANY RESIDENTS WHO'VE WHO'VE REACHED OUT TO US, IS THAT ONE THAT INFORMATION SHOULD BE SHARED WITH MEMBERS OF THE COURT PRIOR TO A MEETING OCCURRING WHEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO OCCUR, WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE APPOINTEES ON THIS BOARD, BUT ALSO THE NATURE OR MINUTES FROM THESE MEETINGS TO SHARE THE NATURE OF THE DELIBERATIONS. THAT'S JUST BASIC COMMISSIONERS OF THE PART OF YOUR MOTION FOR APPROPRIATE ACTION. THAT IS NOT A PART OF MY MOTION, BUT THAT IS A NOTE THAT I AM ADDING AS PART OF THAT. OH, I CAN MAKE IT A APPROPRIATE ACTION. IT'S POSTED BROADLY. OKAY, SO CAN I RETRACT MY MOTION? COMMISSIONER PRESSES. WOULD YOU AGREE TO RETRACTING? SO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE, I THINK WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THE SAME THING WITH MY APPOINTEES, WHO I ONLY WHO I COMMUNICATE WITH. THE CHAIR WILL PROBABLY REACH OUT TO YOUR APPOINTEES TO BRING THEM UP TO. NOT PROBABLY. THAT IS THE PROCEDURE. I MEAN, HE JUST NEEDS THEIR INFORMATION BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BEGINNING, IS THAT I WAS APPROACHED TO GIVE THE INFORMATION TO THE CHAIR, AND HE REACHED OUT TO THE APPOINTEES AND COMMUNICATE WITH THEM FROM THAT POINT. ALL COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN THROUGH THE APPOINTEES I'VE GIVEN. I'VE GIVEN THE INFORMATION FOR THE INDIVIDUALS APPROVED IN ITEM 25 TO OLGA. SO SHE SHE'S GONE. OKAY. SHE HAD TO LEAVE. I KNOW, BUT SHE. SO SHE HAS IT, I THINK. AND AS SOON AS WE FINISH THIS MEETING, THEY WILL GET COMMUNICATION. [00:40:03] THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND. YEAH, I'M SURE THAT OLGA HAS ALL OF THE CONTACT INFORMATION, PHONE NUMBERS AND ALL EMAILS AND AND I WOULD THINK JUDGE. YEAH. AND ACTUALLY, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE A NOTE AND I BELIEVE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN SHARED BUT I DON'T KNOW. AND SO WE HAVE TO FIND OUT. AND SO I THIS MEETINGS THESE MEETINGS AS FAR AS I KNOW IT IS CONDUCTED BASED ON ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS WE JUST MENTIONED AND THE MINUTES AND ALL THAT STUFF IS AVAILABLE. BUT I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WORDINGS AND HOW IT IS DONE BECAUSE I WILL MAKE A SUGGESTION. I, I'M LIKE COMMISSIONER MCCOY, I BOYCOTTED THIS PROCESS. BUT IF THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE ON SOMETHING, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME REPRESENTATION. WITH ALL THIS AT STAKE, IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US NOT TO AUTHORIZE APPROPRIATE GUIDANCE FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO THIS COMMITTEE TO LET THEM WING IT OR LET THEM DO WHAT THEY THINK THAT YOU KNOW, IT FURTHER DISCREDITS THE PROCESS. SO I WOULD SUGGEST, COMMISSIONER MCCOY, IF YOU MAKE A MOTION THAT YOU INCLUDE SOMETHING THAT SAYS WITH PROPER GUIDANCE FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, THEY GOT TO DO OPEN IF IT'S OPEN MEETINGS, JUDGE, IF THEY HAD NO OPEN MEETINGS TRAINING, THEY DON'T KNOW. OKAY. BUT WE ARE ASSUMING THAT WE ARE ASSUMING THAT. AND SO IF YOU YEAH YOU'RE ASSUMING IT. IF TOMORROW IF SOMEBODY THE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR MAKING AN ERRONEOUS ASSUMPTION ARE NOT WORTH IT. WHY DON'T WE JUST HAVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE STAFF THAT COMMITTEE. NO, NO, THERE IS NO STAFF NEED TO BE PART OF THE COMMITTEE. THIS IS AN OPEN MEETING. THEY ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND FOR THE GOOD OF THIS COUNTY. PLEASE STOP. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, COMMISSIONER. THIS IS ALL WE ARE MEETING IS A LAW. YEAH. COMPLICATING IT. WHAT'S COMPLICATED WITH HAVING SOME LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS? IT'S A LAW. OPEN MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION IS A LAW. WE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHERRY PICK IT AND NOT MAKE IT APPLICABLE FOR THIS REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE CONDUCTING COUNTY BUSINESS, THEY NEED TO ABIDE BY THE LAW. IF WE CAN ATTEND THE MEETINGS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE COURT HAS DECIDED THREE TWO TO TAKE THIS ACTION. OF COURSE, MY OFFICE OBJECTS TO THE ACTION, BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE ARE ON THIS COURSE, PLEASE LET'S NOT HAVE ADDITIONAL ILLEGAL ACTIVITY TACKED TO THIS UNDERTAKING. LET ME SAY THIS. I KNOW YOU WANT TO SHAKE YOUR HEAD, JUDGE GEORGE, BUT AS THE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE COUNTY, PLEASE LET ME ADVISE THIS BODY POLITIC AS TO WHAT IT SHOULD BE, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IN THIS MATTER. AND SO THANK YOU. AND I WHAT I ALL I SAID, JUST ALL I SUGGEST IS THIS IF YOU SEE IF ANYTHING YOUR ATTENDEES GO AND FIND ANYTHING WRONG HAPPENING THERE, BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T APPOINTED THESE PEOPLE AND YOU CAME BACK AND APPOINTED AND LET THEM GO ATTEND THE MEETING. AND IF SEE THERE IS THAT'S WHY THEY REPRESENT TO YOU. AND SO WE DON'T NEED TO ADD ANYTHING TO THIS CONVERSATION. WE APPROVE IT. WE DO NEED TO ADD SOMETHING TO THE CONVERSATION. OKAY. THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT LAW HAS AN OPEN MEETING. THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT LAW HAS ALREADY BEEN BROKEN. SO THAT'S WHERE THEIR MINUTES WERE. THEIR MINUTES? THERE ARE MINUTES AS FAR AS I AM. HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT? THERE WAS A COLLABORATION OF A QUORUM OF THOSE MEMBERS OUTSIDE OF THAT MEETING? DO YOU KNOW THAT? SO DO YOU KNOW THAT? YOU DON'T KNOW THAT? I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN THE PROPER GUIDANCE. OKAY. SO I THINK RIGHT NOW JUST JUST LET'S JUST SIT PUT EGOS AND EVERYTHING ASIDE, UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE ASKING OUR CITIZENS TO GO IN NOT KNOWING THE RULES AND REGULATIONS, THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, OR WAYS THAT THEY CAN BE HELD CRIMINALLY LIABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO DO IT EITHER. OKAY. IT'S SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS HAVING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OFFER GUIDANCE TO THE OPEN MEETINGS OPEN RECORDS ACT, AND HAVE THAT COMMITTEE FUNCTION ALL ABOVE BOARD WITHOUT QUESTION. IT'S JUST THAT EASY. IT'S JUST THAT EASY. JUST RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES WHEN THE MOTION COMES. AND IT'S JUST THAT EASY. IT'S DONE. IT'S OVER. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO ROLL THE DICE, WHICH IS UNNECESSARY AND RECKLESS. IT'S RECKLESS. IT'S RECKLESS. SAYING IS THEY ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. THESE MEETINGS ARE CONDUCTED IN THIS BUILDING AND ANYONE COULD ATTEND THAT MEETING. AND IF THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANYTHING, NEED TO BE. THAT'S NOT THE POINT. DID YOU NOTICE SOME THIS THIS PROVISION WAS PART OF 2011 REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE. WELL WE HAD GUIDANCE FROM LEGAL COUNSEL COUNCIL IN PAST PREDICTION, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. THAT'S WHY WE HIRED AN OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL TO ATTEND THAT MEETING WE HAD FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. NO, [00:45:01] BUT THERE IS, THERE IS. WE HAVE A LEGAL ATTORNEY PART OF THAT. AND IF ANYTHING HAPPENED, THAT IS THAT HE'S THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. HE'S NOT RESPONSIBLE. A PRIVATE LAWYER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE. OKAY. SO WE COULD WE COULD ARGUE, SIT HERE AND ARGUE ALL I, ALL YOU WANT, BUT I, I ASK YOU TO APPOINT THESE PEOPLE AND LET THEM GO AND FIND WHAT IS GOING ON. AND IF THEY COME BACK AND SAY, IF A LAW IS BROKEN AND EVERYTHING IS, THEY'RE NOT PROVIDING ANYTHING, WE COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION. BUT NOW WE ARE GETTING AHEAD OF THIS CONVERSATION FOR NO REASON. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED THERE. I LIKE WHERE THIS CONVERSATION IS GOING BECAUSE IT POINTS OUT THAT WE HAVE A CRISIS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, THAT THAT'S AN OPINION, RIGHT? IT IS AN OPINION, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. WE HAVE WE ALL ARE MEMBERS OF THIS COURT AND WE ARE ENTITLED TO OUR OPINION. AND THAT'S GOOD. BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THIS APPOINT THESE PEOPLE AND LET THEM COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT IT, AND WE WILL TAKE IT FROM THERE. THAT'S MY STAND. WELL, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO RECONSIDER ITEM NUMBER 25. I'M NOT GOING TO SEND, YOU KNOW, INNOCENT LAMBS TO THE LION'S DEN. THEY DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE WHATSOEVER. SO WE COULD GO BACK. WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON ON 26 AT ALL. AND SO WE COULD GO BACK AND RESEND THAT VOTE IF YOU CHOOSE TO. WELL, I'M. I'M GOING TO RESCIND MY, MY MY SECOND. OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A NEW MOTION. MOVE TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 26 AS PRESENTED. BUT INCLUDE THAT GUIDANCE, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE CHECKS BE GIVEN BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ADVISE THE COMMITTEE. I THINK THEY I THINK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY NEEDS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE ATTORNEY THAT'S REPRESENTING THE COMMITTEE. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, COMMISSIONER MORALES, I'M DULY ELECTED. I'M NOT RESPONSIVE TO HIM. NO, I DON'T THINK SO. MY AUTHORITY IS SEPARATE AND APART, AND I DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT LAWYER FOR PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE FOR ACTIONS THAT ARE CONDUCTING OFFICIAL COUNTY BUSINESS. SO NO, THAT'S THAT'S NOT HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK. TO THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT, I WOULD JUST ADVISE. THANK YOU. BUT TO THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT, I WOULD JUST ADVISE YOU ALL THAT THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT AND OPEN MEETINGS ACT IS A REAL THING, AND THIS COMMITTEE NEEDS TO ABIDE BY THAT. I'M MORE THAN HAPPY, ME AND MY STAFF TO PROVIDE WHATEVER NOTES AND GUIDANCE TO ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS SO THAT THEY DON'T RUN AFOUL OF THOSE LAWS. I'M NOT HERE TO PICK A MAP. AND I WANT TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR. BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE CONDUCTING OFFICIAL COUNTY BUSINESS, THEY NEED TO ABIDE BY THE LAW ON THAT. AND I WILL PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO THE COMMITTEE. SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LAWYER, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP ON THAT IN THAT REGARD. THANK YOU. I GET THAT YOU COULD ALSO, BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT THERE WAS AN EMAIL THAT WENT OUT TO THE TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT EXIST TODAY THAT EXPLAINED EVERYTHING ABOUT OPEN MEETINGS AND ALL THAT. SO. AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. YES, MA'AM. CAN THAT BE FORWARDED TO ME, PLEASE? YOU NEED TO TALK TO THE ATTORNEY. SHE IS THE ATTORNEY, AND I ASKED THE ATTORNEY, COMMISSIONER MORALES. I WILL ASK THE ATTORNEY TO TALK WITH YOU. PLEASE. COMMISSIONER MORALES, THE AUTHORITY OF THIS OFFICE DOES NOT HANG ON ANY OF YOU ALL. I AM DULY ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE AND MY AUTHORITY TO GET INFORMATION AND PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE TO THE COUNTY IS NOT CONTINGENT UPON ANY VOTE OF THIS BODY. ONLY THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE, AND CERTAINLY NOT CONTINGENT UPON MR. MORRIS AND HIS FIRM. I WILL FILE MY OWN PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST IF I NEED TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT I GET ALL OF THE MEETING NOTES AND ALL OF THE INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMMITTEE, BUT SHORT OF THAT, PLEASE PROVIDE THAT TO US. BECAUSE IF YOU ALL GET SUED, WE WILL HAVE TO DEFEND YOU ALL. THANK YOU. AND THEN I ALSO WILL NOTE COMMISSIONER MORALES. I'VE ASKED. I'VE OF COURSE, SENT CORRESPONDENCE TO THAT LAWYER AND HAVE GOTTEN NO RESPONSE. SO THAT IS MY CONCERN, IS THAT I DON'T KNOW WHO HE'S WORKING FOR, BUT IT'S CLEAR HE'S NOT RESPONDING TO ME. AND I'VE EMAILED AND THAT'S JUST HONEST. IT'S NOT TRYING TO GET A GOTCHA MOMENT. AND SO I DON'T I THINK WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS PRETTY SIMPLE, IS THAT WE ENSURE THAT WE EMPLOY SOME CYA HERE AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN DULY ADVISED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ON WHAT IS THEIR OBLIGATION AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS BODY. THAT'S IT. I DON'T THINK IT'S NOTHING UNTOWARD OR DISASTROUS. IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. WHEN WE STARTED THE TRS BOARD FOR TOURS FOR I HAD THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE COME IN AND DO A TRAINING ON OPEN MEETINGS ON PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT. MICHELLE WAS THE ONE WHO CAME AND DELIVERED THAT. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT, TO ME, SHOULD BE PRETTY BENIGN. [00:50:03] AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT SIMPLE REQUEST AS A PART OF THIS ACTION. YOU'VE GOT THE PEOPLE, WE'VE DELIVERED THE PEOPLE. AND SO THE ASK IS, ALL RIGHT, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE COVER OUR BEHINDS AND THAT THEY'VE BEEN DULY ADVISED. NOWHERE IN THIS MOTION HAS BEEN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO GET INVOLVED AND KILL THE THIS, THAT OR THE OTHER THAT'S NOT THERE. AND HEAR ME ON THE RECORD IN SAYING THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO ASK ESPECIALLY GIVEN WHERE WE ARE NOW IN THIS PROCESS AND WHERE WE'VE BEEN NOT GETTING THAT SORT OF INFORMATION TO ENSURE THAT THESE APPOINTEES ARE YOU KNOW, KEEPING THEMSELVES OUT OF TROUBLE BY BEING ADVISED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO HOLD ON ONE SECOND. I JUST WANT IT VERY CLEAR. YOU GUYS PUT YOUR COMMITTEE APPOINTEES, AND IF YOU WANTED TO VOTE ON IT. AND I WILL SUPPORT IT. OTHERWISE, NO CHANGES TO THIS. I AM NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT TO YOUR LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT THAT YOU ALL HAD BEFORE. THIS COURT DOES NOT INCLUDE SERVICES FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT. THAT THAT LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT IS VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE SERVICES. AND I THINK THAT LAWYER HAS MADE THAT CLEAR. YOU COULD EASILY HAVE THE CLERK IN THERE TO TAKE THE MINUTES. SHE'S VERY SKILLED. AND WE'RE VERY SKILLED AT OPEN GOVERNMENT. WE COME IN HERE EVERY TUESDAY. WELL, NOT EVERY OTHER TUESDAY NOW. BUT I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT IN REVIEWING THE LEGAL DOCUMENT. IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THAT SERVICE. ANYWAY. THANK YOU. AND SO DO WE NEED TO VOTE? DO WE WANT TO VOTE ON THIS OR WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON YOU SAID YOU WITHDRAW THE MOTION. NO. ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION, HE HE HE THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR A NEW MOTION ON THE FLOOR. OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND WITH I DON'T LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THE MOTION WAS, SO I MOVED TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 26 AS PRESENTED, BUT TO INCLUDE GUIDANCE TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE CHECKS BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. OKAY. AND MY SECOND WAS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THAT IS PRETTY BENIGN AND IT JUST MAKES SENSE. ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT IS RECKLESS. OKAY, I, I WILL CALL FOR I THINK WHAT THEY'RE ASKING IS THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE OPEN MEETINGS, TRAINING. IS THAT CORRECT? AND PUBLIC INFORMATION TRAINING. YES. AND COMPLIANCE CHECK. MAKE SURE IF THEY HAVE AN AGENDA THAT NEEDS TO BE POSTED. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS A MEETING IN THE BUILDING YESTERDAY. WE DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL WE WALKED PAST IT. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS AN AGENDA POSTED. YEAH. AND WE'RE IN THIS BUILDING AND WE DIDN'T KNOW. YEAH OKAY. FAIR ENOUGH. SO I, I UNDERSTAND I KNOW WHERE THIS IS ALL GOING. IT. IT'S PRETTY. IT'S OKAY. OKAY. IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL. NO, YOU'RE MAKING MORE OUT OF IT. OKAY. THERE. FROM WHAT I HEAR IT, THEY'RE NOT GETTING INVOLVED. IT'S JUST THEY WANT TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THE RIGHT THING. I'M NOT AGAINST ANY OF THAT STUFF. OKAY? YEAH. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET INVOLVED ON THAT. ONLY GOVERNMENTS, OPEN MEETINGS, ACT PUBLIC INFORMATION. THAT'S IT. GOT IT. OKAY. AND WITH THAT, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT. WHICH DOESN'T MEAN I'M ABOUT TO DISRESPECT YOU. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU NEED TO VOTE FOR THIS. IT'S FOR THE GREATER GOOD. SO YOU SAID. YOU SAID YOU DON'T DISRESPECT ME. BUT, COMMISSIONER, I'M SO DISAPPOINTED TO SAY THAT YOU DID ALREADY. SO I'M SORRY, BUT. BUT I TELL YOU, I DIDN'T INTEND TO, BUT I WANTED. I WANT TO MAKE. I WAS SURPRISED. I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU MAKE SURE. I'M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A BENIGN DEAL. THIS. THIS IS NOT A BAD DEAL TO VOTE FOR. AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE UNANIMOUS ON THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT. YOU KNOW WHAT? SEE, I'M NOW GOING TO I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, JUDGE, I THINK THERE'S REALLY NO HARM HERE AS FAR AS IT'S NOT INTERFERING. AND YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE FOLLOWING. OKAY. WHAT THEY'RE ASKING. OKAY. WITH THAT, I WILL ASK FOR A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? OKAY. MOTION PASSES, FOUR ZERO. WE WILL MOVE ON. ITEM NUMBER 27, PRESENTED BY FORT BEND COUNTY AUDITOR. [27. AUDITOR:] MOVE APPROVAL 27 AS PRESENTED. SECOND. YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER 27. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM 28. [28. BUDGET & FINANCE:] A, B, AND C PRESENTED BY BUDGET AND FINANCE. AND I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THESE ITEMS ARE. RECORD VOTE. RIGHT. CORRECT. IS THERE A MOTION? PAMELA WRIGHT WE WILL TAKE. [00:55:04] OKAY. GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD. I, I EMAILED THEM LAST WEEK. LAST WEEK. YEAH. SO PROBABLY PAMELA, WE WILL TAKE ONE AT A TIME. SO IT IS MORE CLEAR WHAT WE ARE DOING. ONE IS ACTUALLY PUBLIC HEARING. OKAY. WELL, 28 SEEMS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. OKAY. OH, I GOT IT. 28 A MOVE APPROVAL OF 28 A AS PRESENTED. OKAY. SECOND DISCUSSION. HEARING. NONE. ALL IN FAVOR FOR 28. AYE. MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 28 B AND WHICH IS A RECORD VOTE. OKAY. I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE DECREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.00.278000 FOR THE GENERAL FUND, AND $0.0240 FOR THE ROAD AND BRIDGE FUND, AND $0.110 FOR THE INTEREST AND SINKING FUND, FOR A TOTAL FORT BEND COUNTY TAX RATE OF $0.4120, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 1.58% DECREASE IN THE TAX RATE. SECOND, YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IF THERE IS ANY DISCUSSION. OTHERWISE WE WILL MOVE ON TO PLEASE GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE RECORD. COMMISSIONER MORALES, HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES. COMMISSIONER. PRESTIDGE. YES. HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MCCOY. HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES. AND JUDGE GEORGE, HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES. MOTION PASSES. OKAY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 20 8CI MOVE APPROVE ITEM 28 C AS PRESENTED, WHICH REFLECTS A 3% INCREASE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, JUST AS THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES RECEIVE, WITH SPECIAL NOTATION OF INCREASE IN THE COMPENSATION FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGES AND COUNTY COURT LAW JUDGES FOR STATE SUPPLEMENT. RIGHT. THAT'S IN ACCORDANCE WITH SENATE BILL 293 THAT INCREASED THE STATE SALARY FROM 140, THE BASE SALARY FROM 140,000 UP TO 175,000. OKAY. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? YEAH. AND YOU PROBABLY GET THE INFORMATION FROM HER AFTER MY MOTION. ANY DISCUSSION OTHERWISE? YEAH. YEAH. JUST ONE THING. I WILL SAY THAT THIS MORNING I RECEIVED A AN EMAIL FROM A COUNTY EMPLOYEE THAT IS NEXT YEAR GOING TO CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF SERVICE TO FORT BEND COUNTY. AND IN HIS EMAIL, HE SAID THAT HE WOULD HAVE HE WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME SORT OF MEANINGFUL ADDITIONAL AWARD IN THE FORM OF ADDITIONAL VACATION TIME OR LONGEVITY PAY FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO REACH THAT MILESTONE OF 20 OR 30. AND WE HAVE A FEW THAT HAVE YOU KNOW, 30 PLUS 40 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COUNTY. WE OFFER AND I BRING THIS UP ON THIS ONE ON ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES BECAUSE WE HAVE LONGEVITY PAY FOR MEMBERS OF COURT. AFTER YOU HEAR FOR CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS, YOU GET LONGEVITY PAY. AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. NO. NO LONGER. NOT ANY LONGER. OKAY. SO HAD LONGEVITY PAY. IT WAS GRANDFATHERED IN. GOT IT. SO THAT'S WHY ONLY TWO MEMBERS OF COURT THAT GOT IT. HIM AND HIM. BUT, BUT BUT THE POINT STILL REMAINS THAT AND THIS IS SOMETHING I WOULD LOVE TO DIRECT AT OUR OUR BUDGET AND FINANCE DIRECTOR AND OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR TO SEE WHAT SORTS OF WAYS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO REWARD LONGEVITY WITH THE COUNTY BEYOND THE PROMISE OF THE LIFETIME RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR HEALTH CARE AND ALL THAT STUFF. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REASONABLE WAYS WE CAN AWARD A REWARD THAT DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE COUNTY? BECAUSE IT'S GETTING HARDER TO GET PEOPLE TO STAY, ESPECIALLY AS DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC GETS MORE INTENSE FOR OUR STAFF. AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO DEDICATE THAT TIME AND SERVICE. WE NEED TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO REWARD THEM. AND EVEN IF IT'S NOT MONETARY, LIKE YOU GET A STIPEND ON TOP OF WE CAN ALSO FIND WAYS THAT DON'T HAVE THE MATERIAL IMPACT OF RAW DOLLARS BY OFFERING BENEFITS LIKE ADDITIONAL VACATION TIME ACCRUAL BASED ON YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE. [01:00:03] SO THAT'S JUST MY PETITION HERE. I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT EMPLOYEE WHO REACHED OUT TO ME, THESE ARE THE SORTS OF IDEAS WE NEED TO HEAR ABOUT AND THAT THIS BODY NEEDS TO CONSIDER TO IMPROVE MORALE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WITH THAT ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 29, PRESENTED BY FORT BEND COUNTY ATTORNEY. [29. COUNTY ATTORNEY:] AND ALSO IT IS THE RECORD VOTE. YEP. I MOVE THAT FORT BEND COUNTY BY RECORD VOTE. AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE ALL NEEDED RIGHT OF WAY FOR THE COPELAND ROAD SEGMENT ONE PROJECT NUMBER 20107 PRECINCT FOUR, IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, BY ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION AND ORDER DECREEING THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY TO BE A PUBLIC NECESSITY AND AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION AND PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSE OF LOCATION IMPROVEMENT, ALIGNMENT, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE FOR THE COPELAND ROAD SEGMENT ONE, PROJECT NUMBER 20107, INCLUDING APPURTENANT, DRAINAGE AND DETENTION REQUIRED FOR SAID PROJECT. THIS MOTION APPLIES TO ANY AND ALL PARCELS OF LAND AND OR ASSOCIATED IMPROVEMENTS THAT MUST BE CONDEMNED ALONG THE COPELAND ROAD SEGMENT. SEGMENT ONE, PROJECT NUMBER 20107. SECOND, YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION HEARING NONE. STEPHANIE, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE RECORD. BOTH. COMMISSIONER MORALES, HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES, COMMISSIONER PRESTIDGE. HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES. COMMISSIONER MCCOY. HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES. JUDGE GEORGE, HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES. MOTION PASSES. OKAY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 30, PRESENTED BY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION. [30. ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION:] WE APPROVE ITEM 30 AS PRESENTED. SECOND. YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? YEP. I SEE YOU'RE HERE, SO WHY NOT COME ON UP? I JUST NOTHING REGARDING NECESSARILY THE SCHEDULE, PER SE, BUT CAN YOU JUST LET THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT ELECTIONS WE HAVE COMING UP? WE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELECTION IN WHICH I BELIEVE THERE ARE 17 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION, TEXAS CONSTITUTION. THIS IS A SPECIAL ELECTION BY BY BY NATURE. WE ALSO HAVE A ELECTION. WE THANK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND FOR CITY OF MISSOURI. CITY FOR THREE ESDS. FOR HALF A DOZEN OR SO MUDS FOR TWO CADS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT. WHAT IS THAT FIVE OR IS THAT FOR THAT FIVE, THREE AND FIVE, THREE AND FIVE. YEAH. NEW THREE. BUT I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. WE HAVE 20 POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS THAT WE'RE DOING ELECTIONS FOR. FOUND OUT ABOUT ONE LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME, AND I SAW A SIGN VOTE FOR AMAR BOND, AND I DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE HAVING A BOND ELECTION. THEY HADN'T TOLD ME. SO. YEAH. SO JUST A REMINDER, ELECTIONS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. THIS MIGHT NOT BE A PRESIDENTIAL. WE HAD NINE LAST YEAR. SO. RIGHT. AND SO VERY IMPORTANT I WILL ALSO SAY THIS IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS IS PUBLISHED. THE PUBLIC KNOWS ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT THERE WERE, I THINK, TWO ELECTIONS THAT HAPPENED WITH SOME EMERGENCY SERVICES. DISTRICT ONE THAT I LIVE IN AND I HAD IN MOST RESIDENTS HAD NO FREAKING IDEA ABOUT IT. AND IT'S ADDITIONAL TAXES ON OUR RESIDENTS, BUT THEY DIDN'T CONTRACT WITH THE ELECTIONS OFFICE OR THE COUNTY. AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO HOLD ELECTIONS. SOME OTHER SORT OF, I WOULD SAY NEFARIOUS WAY. BUT I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT IN THAT RESIDENTS PAY ATTENTION TO THE SCHEDULE THE LOCATIONS, AND FIND ONE NEAREST YOU WITH OUR COUNTYWIDE VOTING PROGRAM. THANK YOU. WITH THAT, ASSUMING NO OTHER DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 31 A THROUGH E PRESENTED BY ENGINEERING [31. ENGINEERING:] DEPARTMENT. MOVE APPROVAL OF 31 A THROUGH E AS PRESENTED. SECOND, YOUR MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION. HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 32 A, B, C, [32. HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES:] AND D PRESENTED BY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT. MOVE APPROVE ITEM 32, A, B, C AND D AS PRESENTED. SECOND. YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? YEP. IS DOCTOR GAYLE LOWE HERE OR SOME REPRESENTATIVE? OKAY, GREAT. CAN YOU COME AND TALK ABOUT THE TOBACCO AND VAPING CESSATION PROGRAM OR YOUR EFFORTS THERE? I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A HOT TOPIC. THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION IN AUSTIN ABOUT IT AND AND OF COURSE, NATIONALLY ABOUT THE HEALTH IMPACTS, PARTICULARLY TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE VAPING AT ASTRONOMICALLY HIGH RATES. IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR EFFORTS WILL INCLUDE. YES. THIS IS OUR REQUEST TO HAVE THE TOBACCO QUITLINE ADDED TO THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE IN HEALTH AND HUMAN [01:05:02] SERVICES. IT ALLOWS US WHEN CLIENTS COME IN, IT ALLOWS US TO REFER THEM TO HAVE COUNSELING, TO GET TOBACCO CESSATION COUNSELING. OF COURSE, THERE ARE MEDICATIONS FOR TOBACCO CESSATION. WE DON'T DO THE MEDICATION PORTION OF TOBACCO CESSATION, BUT CERTAINLY WE ENGAGE THE TOBACCO QUITLINE, WHICH IS USED ACROSS THE NATION OF HIGHLY VETTED ORGANIZATION THAT WE'VE USED IN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE KNOW PROVES TO WORK WELL. SOMETIMES FOLKS JUST NEED A LITTLE HELP AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO KIND OF WALK ALONGSIDE THEM TO GET THROUGH THE TOBACCO ISSUE. AND WE KNOW THAT TOBACCO USE ALSO EXACERBATES HEART DISEASE, LUNG DISEASE, AND THOSE ARE CERTAINLY PARTS OF OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PRIORITY AREAS IN IMPACTING THE CHRONIC DISEASES OF FOLKS HERE IN FORT BEND COUNTY. SLAM DUNK. SO I'M GOING TO BE LIKE A PREACHER, NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN THE DOORS AND BRING SOMEONE TO SALVATION. RIGHT? FOR SOMEONE WHO MAY BE LISTENING AND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY WHERE THEY'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT QUITTING. WHERE DO THEY GO TO ACCESS THIS INFORMATION TO GET SUPPORT? SO THE QUITLINE FOR WHAT WE'RE VOTING FOR TODAY, THIS IS THROUGH OUR CLINICS. SO YOU WOULD COME TO ONE OF OUR CLINICS, THAT IS EITHER THE ROSENBERG LOCATION, WHICH IS 4520 READING ROAD IN ROSENBERG, OR THE MISSOURI CITY LOCATION, WHICH IS AT THE CORNER OF HIGHWAY 90 AND FM 2234 OR TEXAS PARKWAY AT EITHER OF THOSE SITES. ONCE WE GET THIS IMPLEMENTED, YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE TEXAS QUITLINE IN OUR STAFF. SLAM DUNK, THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY PLEASURE. AT THIS TIME, LET'S VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 33. [33. HOMELAND SECURITY & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:] MOVE. APPROVE. ITEM 33 A AND B AS PRESENTED. SECOND, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM 33 A AND B PRESENTED BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING. NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 34. [34. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:] 84. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA. ITEM 34. AS PRESENTED. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM 34. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 35, PRESENTED BY LIBRARY DEPARTMENT. [35. LIBRARY:] MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM 35 AS PRESENTED. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING. NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 36, PRESENTED BY PARKS AND RECREATION. [36. PARKS & RECREATION:] MOVE FOR AGENDA. MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM 36 A AND B AS PRESENTED. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM 36 A AND B. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING. NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR FOR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 37 A THROUGH G, [37. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:] PRESENTED BY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM 37 A THROUGH G AS PRESENTED. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. OH, SORRY. JUST ONE. WE HAVE FARE FREE FRIDAYS COMING IN SEPTEMBER AS A PART OF OZONE ACTION MONTH. CAN YOU JUST GIVE US A HIGHLIGHT OF WHAT THAT IS? MR. CHAIRMAN? GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. YES, I'D BE HAPPY TO. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE LIVE IN AN AREA THAT HAS AN OZONE QUALITY CONCERN. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO HELP CREATE A BETTER OZONE IS TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO WRITE PUBLIC TRANSIT AND GET OUT OF THEIR OWN CARS. WE CAN TAKE HELP WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT A LOT THAT WAY. SO EVERY SEPTEMBER WE WORK WITH THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL TO PROVIDE FREE FARES ON FRIDAYS TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO RIDE OUR SERVICE, WHETHER IT IS OUR DEMAND RESPONSE OR OUR COMMUTER ROUTES. SO IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST AND WE HOPE YOU SPREAD THE WORD. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOUR, YOUR FOLKS COME RIDE WITH US. I KNOW MY GIRLS LOVE RIDING BUSSES. WE DO IT EVERY TIME WE GO TO CHURCH AND WE'RE RUNNING LATE AND HAVE TO BE IN OVERFLOW, OVERFLOW PARKING. BUT THEY ALSO LOVE THE ZOO. SO IF FOLKS ARE CONSIDERING TAKING THEIR LITTLE ONES TO THE ZOO ON FRIDAYS IN [01:10:01] SEPTEMBER, THEY CAN COME TO SUGARLAND AND GET OUT THERE, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEM. AND I WOULD ALSO JUST STRESS, TOO, THAT OUR DOWNTOWN SERVICE ALSO RUNS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HERE IN SUGARLAND AND FORT BEND COUNTY ALL THE WAY TO THEIR MAIN CAMPUS SO OUR STUDENTS CAN RIDE FOR FREE ON FRIDAY IF THEY'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN CLASSES THAT DAY. AND ALSO WE HAVE WE ARE HAVE ACCESS TO THE VA HOSPITAL, SPECIFICALLY ON OUR TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER ROUTES. SO IF YOU HAVE APPOINTMENTS, YOU CAN GET THERE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PARKING, WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE IN THE MEDICAL CENTER AND DOWNTOWN. AND YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO COME BACK DURING THE DAY. WE HAVE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THAT SCHEDULE THEIR APPOINTMENTS AROUND OUR TIMES, SO THEY CAN PAY A COUPLE OF DOLLARS TO GET THERE. THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PARKING OR VALETS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AND IT SAVES THEM QUITE A BIT OF MONEY AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH ANYONE THAT IS HAS A QUESTION ABOUT THAT. JUST CALL IN AND WE'VE GOT PEOPLE STANDING BY TO HELP YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 38 A THROUGH C PRESENTED BY PURCHASING DEPARTMENT. [38. PURCHASING:] MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM 38 A THROUGH Z AS PRESENTED. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING. NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 39 [39. RISK MANAGEMENT:] PRESENTED BY RISK MANAGEMENT. MOVE FOR APPROVAL. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING. NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 40, [40. ROAD & BRIDGE:] PRESENTED BY ROAD AND BRIDGE DEPARTMENT. MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM 40 AS PRESENTED. SECOND, YOUR MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM 40. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 31 A, B, C, [41. SHERIFF'S OFFICE:] AND D PRESENTED BY FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. MOVE FOR APPROVAL. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER 41 A THROUGH D. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 42 A AND B PRESENTED BY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR. [42. TAX ASSESSOR/COLLECTOR:] MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM 42 A AND B AS PRESENTED. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER. AGENDA ITEM 42 A AND B. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 43, 44 AND 45. [43. Approve Bills.] [44. Ratify the release of time-sensitive disbursements made on August 21, 2025.] [45. Ratify the release of time-sensitive disbursements made on September 4, 2025, to be ratified by Commissioners Court on September 9, 2025. ] APPROVAL OF BILLS. SO ON AND SO FORTH. DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM 43, 44 AND 45. ANY DISCUSSION? JUDGE. JUDGE I PROBABLY NEED TO READ THE. OH, YOU NEED TO READ. IT'S OKAY, IT'S OKAY. THIS IS COMMENT SECTION. ALONG WITH THE TIME SENSITIVE BILLS TOTALING 27,021,786 AND 35 PRESENT FOR COURT APPROVAL BILLS TOTALING 20,762,599 AND 20. ROUTINE DISBURSEMENTS OF 13,000,742, 974 AND 33. A MOTION. I GOT A MOTION. GOT A SECOND MOTION. I'M SORRY, WHO WAS THE SECOND ON THAT? THANK YOU. OKAY. MOTION. AND A SECOND ON ITEM 43, 44 AND 45. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CLOSED SESSION ITEM. [46. Meet in Closed Session to deliberate the following matters as authorized by the Texas Government Code:] STEPHANIE, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND READ THE ITEMS. 46 A SECTION 551.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY ONE FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, VERSUS SERGIO T AND GUADALUPE O EL TALL EVERGREEN STREET SEGMENT ONE, PROJECT NUMBER 1 TO 2. PARCEL 30. PRECINCT TWO. TWO CAUSE. NUMBER 25. DASH CSV DASH 077344 FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS VERSUS SPIRIT REALTY, L.P., ET AL. STATE HIGHWAY 99 FRONTAGE ROAD NORTHBOUND PROJECT NUMBER 20303B PARCEL FIVE, PRECINCT ONE THREE FORT BEND COUNTY. EMPLOYEE INFORMATION MANUAL POLICY NUMBER 707.014 ELECTIONS PREPARATIONS FIVE. ADMIRABLE, ADMIRAL TLC, LLC 46 B SECTION 551.072 DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY, COUNTY FACILITY PRECINCT FOUR. [01:15:02] OKAY, AT THIS TIME, FORT BEND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, A GENERAL SESSION WILL STAND IN RECESS AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. MEETING TIME IS 214. I CALL TO ORDER THE FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING. TODAY IS TUESDAY, AUGUST 26TH, 2025. MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO. MOVE FOR APPROVAL. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. MOVE ON TO AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER THREE. APPROVE ITEM NUMBER THREE. AS PRESENTED. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND ON DRAINAGE DISTRICT AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER THREE. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR. MOVE APPROVAL NUMBER FOUR AS PRESENTED. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE TAX RATE ITEM. AND I WILL ASK STEPHANIE, PLEASE GO AHEAD. AND I HAVE A MOTION FIRST. OH. YOU HAVE. SO I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE DECREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF $0.0080 FOR THE DRAINAGE, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION FUND AND $0.0020 FOR THE DRAINAGE INTEREST AND SINKING FUND, FOR A TOTAL DRAINAGE TAX RATE OF $0.0100, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 1.2% DECREASE IN THE TAX RATE. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AT THIS TIME ASSUMING THERE IS NO DISCUSSION, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE RECORD. COMMISSIONER MORALES, HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES, COMMISSIONER PRESTIDGE, HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES, COMMISSIONER MCCOY. HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES, JUDGE GEORGE, HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES. MOTION PASSES. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM SIX, PRESENTED BY DRAINAGE DISTRICT. MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM SIX AS PRESENTED. SECOND, YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM SIX. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. WITH THAT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOVE TO ADJOURN. OKAY. WITH NO OBJECTION, THIS FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. AND NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO MOVE OUR ATTENTION TO FORT BEND COUNTY ASSISTANT DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS. MEETING TIME IS 217. I CALL TO ORDER FORT BEND COUNTY ASSISTANT DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR. BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING TODAY IS TUESDAY, AUGUST 26TH, 2025. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO. APPROVE. MINUTES. MOVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE. I MOVE, WE TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE ACTION. AND I'M READING IT OUT TO APPROVE FUNDING FOR DEBT SERVICE RELATED TO CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION BONDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,405,561.50 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION OF THE MUSTANG PARK COMMUNITY CENTER PRECINCT TWO. SECOND, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? YEAH, JUST ONE LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION. THERE IS ANOTHER PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO BE FUNDED IN THE SAME FASHION. AND I GUESS THE PRACTICE AND I WILL BE FOR EVERY ONE OF THEM TO COME AND GET THIS TYPE OF DESIGNATION, JUST SO IT'S CLEAR ON THE RECORD. RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. WITH THAT ASSUMING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. WITH THAT, DO I. MOTION TO ADJOURN. ADJOURNMENT WITH NO OBJECTION. THIS FORT BEND COUNTY ASSISTANT DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO FORT BEND COUNTY. ASSISTANT DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS TODAY. OUR TIME IS 218. TODAY IS TUESDAY, AUGUST 26TH, 2025. MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO. APPROVE MINUTES. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AS PRESENTED. SECOND, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE, A MOVE THAT WOULD CREATE ONE POSITION AS URBAN PLANNER GRADE 109 TO SUPPORT PROJECT PLANNING WITHIN THE FRESNO DISTRICT, FUNDED FROM CD FIVE SALES TAXES. AND I'LL PUT THE ANDY MYERS CAVEAT ON THERE. WHEN THE FUNDING IS PULLED AWAY, THE POSITION GOES AWAY. OKAY. SECOND. OKAY, SO WITH THAT WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. [01:20:02] ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. WITH THAT. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOVE. ADJOURNMENT WITH NO OBJECTION. THIS FORT BEND COUNTY ASSISTANT DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. NOW, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL STAND IN RECESS FOR THE CLOSED SESSION. AND I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE ARE PLANS TO SIGN. THANK YOU. CHECK. IT'S TIME. [47. Reconvene Open Session and consider taking action on the following matters:] 321. WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION. STEPHANIE, GO AHEAD AND READ THE ITEMS. RECONVENE, OPEN SESSION AND CONSIDER TAKING ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING MATTERS 47 A SECTION 551.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY ONE FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, VERSUS SERGIO T AND GUADALUPE O EL ET AL. EVERGREEN STREET SEGMENT ONE, PROJECT NUMBER 20122. PARCEL 30, PRECINCT TWO. I MOVE THAT IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, VERSUS SERGIO AND GUADALUPE ALMAGUER ET AL. EVERGREEN STREET, SEGMENT ONE, PROJECT NUMBER 20122X PARCEL R78094. UNDERSCORE THREE ZERO. PRECINCT TWO, REGION. SMITH, LAWSON, COUNTY ATTORNEY, FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, BE AUTHORIZED TO ACCEPT THE LANDOWNER'S OFFER TO SELL THE PARCEL AND ALL APPURTENANCES IN THE ACQUISITION, IF ANY, FOR A TOTAL SUM OF $170,000 AND NO SENSE. AND TO ENTER INTO A SAD AGREEMENT DETAILING ALL OTHER ITEMS AND CONDITIONS, AND THAT MOBILITY BONDS BE DESIGNATED AS A FUNDING SOURCE. SECOND, YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS ITEM. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING? NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 402 CAUSE. NUMBER 25 KV DASH 07734 FOR FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS VERSUS SPIRIT REALTY LP, ET AL. STATE HIGHWAY 99 FRONTAGE ROAD NORTHBOUND PROJECT NUMBER 20303. B PARCEL FIVE, PRECINCT ONE. YES, I MOVE THAT IN 25. DASH. DASH 077344 FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS VERSUS SPIRIT REALTY, ET AL. SOUTH 99 FRONTAGE ROAD NORTHBOUND PROJECT NUMBER 2033 B, PARCEL R 195 785. UNDERSCORE OH FIVE PRECINCT ONE. BRIDGET SMITH, LAWSON COUNTY ATTORNEY, FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, BE AUTHORIZED TO INCUR LITIGATION EXPENSES FOR ANY AND ALL COSTS OF PRETRIAL TRIAL, APPEAL AND INCIDENTAL COSTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $15,000, AND THAT MOBILITY BONDS BE DESIGNATED AS THE FUNDING SOURCE. SECOND, IF YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM TWO, ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO. THREE FORT BEND COUNTY EMPLOYEE INFORMATION MANUAL POLICY NUMBER 707.01. THAT IS NO ACTION. IT WAS ONLY FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES FOR ELECTIONS PREPARATIONS. YES, I MOVE THAT WE TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE ACTION TO GIVE THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR THE AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE THE POTENTIAL ACQUISITION AND SETTLEMENT OF ALL OUTSTANDING CONTRACT DELIVERABLES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN RESOLVED WITH VO TECH THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED WITH VO TECH, AND TO PROCURE NECESSARY SERVICES RELATED AND NEED TO FACILITATE UPCOMING ELECTIONS. THE COURT HEREBY AUTHORIZES ANY AVAILABLE AND APPLICABLE EXEMPTIONS REQUIRED BY THE COUNTY PERSON ACT THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE REQUIRED FOR ANY SAID PURCHASE. IN ADDITION TO GRANT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AUTHORITY TO TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE ACTION TO FACILITATE LEGAL CLAIMS AND OR SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS THAT THE COUNTY MAY HAVE AGAINST VOTEC FOR SERVICES NOT DELIVERED, INCLUDING ANY POTENTIAL PURCHASES OF ITEMS OR SERVICES, AND GRANT THE COUNTY JUDGE THE AUTHORITY TO ASSIGN ALL APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY LEGAL DOCUMENTS TO TOTALLY RESOLVE OR DISPOSE OF THIS MATTER. SECOND, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AGENDA ITEM? ITEM NUMBER FOUR. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 405 ADMIRAL TLC, LLC. NO ACTION. IT WAS ONLY FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES. B SECTION 551.072 DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY. COUNTY FACILITY PRECINCT FOUR NO ACTION. IT WAS ONLY FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES. WITH THAT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? WITH NO OBJECTION. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, REGULAR MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. IT IS TIME. 325. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.