May 12, 2026 BUDGET WORKSHOP

[1. Call to Order.]

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GOOD MORNING. TODAY IS TUESDAY, MAY 12TH, 2026 AND THE TIME IS NOW 9:00 A.M. I HEREBY CALL TO ORDER THIS SPECIAL MEETING AND WORKSHOP OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

WELCOME TO THE COURTROOM. WE DO HAVE THE PRESENCE AND THE

[3. Conduct Budget Workshops.]

>> BEFORE WE BEGIN, JUST ONE MINUTE.

THERE WERE SOME ITEMS THAT YOU ARE REQUESTED YESTERDAY INCLUDING THE PRESENTATION THAT I SHOWED, THE PRESENTATION THAT JORDAN GAVE, SOME STATISTICS FOR CONSTABLES.

I ADDED ALL OF THOSE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET OFFICE WHICH YOU CAN ACCESS THROUGH YOUR DASHBOARD SO THAT IS THERE FOR YOU WHEN YOU NEED THEM LATER. THE FIRST DEPARTMENT IS

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. >> DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS TODAY? HEARING NONE.

PLEASE GO FORWARD. APPRECIATE IT.

>> HOW DO WE ACCESS IT? >> IF YOU GO INTO THE BUDGET SOFTWARE UNIT AND THE BUDGET OFFICE.

>> GOOD MORNING. [INAUDIBLE]

>> WELCOME. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND I'M ALSO THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. WE STARTED THIS DEPARTMENT IN 2010. I THINK IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE STARTED AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL GUIDE WHERE WE GO. I HAVE A VERY BRIEF POWERPOINT.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES IS A LITTLE BACKGROUND AND WAS REALLY STARTED BY THE COUNCIL OF JUDGES ALONG WITH OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO REALLY HELP ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THOSE THAT COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

SO 15 YEARS AGO WE REALLY DID NOT HAVE ANY SERVICES IN OUR JAIL, NO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE COURTS.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM AND SO OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP SOME REALLY KEY COMPONENTS TO THE SYSTEM. I AM VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE DO AT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES.

I ALSO HAVE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. TODAY IS ACTUALLY A DAY OF GRATITUDE SO IT'S ACTUALLY RECOGNIZED AS A DAY OF GRATITUDE AND THERE IS SOME SCIENCE AND DATA THAT GRATITUDE AND HAVING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE ACTUALLY IMPROVES OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND OUR FISCAL HEALTH. I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR BEING ABLE TO DO THIS WORK. AND OFTEN JUST REMINDING PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO COUNT OUR BLESSINGS.

YOU WILL BE GETTING AN EMAIL FROM HR AND RISK MANAGEMENT ABOUT REMINDING FOLKS OF THAT. SO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, AGAIN I APOLOGIZE FOR THE REDUNDANCY BUT WE PROVIDE COURT ORDERED EVALUATIONS TO THE COURTS WHICH ARE MANDATED BY STATUTE SO I THINK EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT IN ORDER FOR SOMEONE TO BE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND TO BE CONVICTED OF A CRIME OR EVEN TO ENTER INTO A PLEA, IT NEEDS TO BE COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL SO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES DOES THAT FOR THE COURTS. WE DO APPROXIMATELY 500 COURT ORDERED EVALUATIONS PER YEAR, MOST OF THEM COMPETENCY TO STAND TRIAL. WE ALSO DO SANITY EVALUATIONS.

WE ACTUALLY DETERMINE IS SOMEONE IS NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY. WE ALSO DO CONDITIONS AND BONDS, PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS. WE STAY BUSY.

THAT'S OUR FORENSIC TEAM. WE CONSTANTLY STRIVE TO BE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE. IT'S A VERY COMPETITIVE FIELD SO OFTEN WE ARE SHORT-STAFFED. BUT WE REALLY FOCUS ON OUR RESPONSE TIME. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MENTION IS THAT I THINK RIGHT NOW OUR MEDIAN FOR THIS YEAR IS 28 DAYS FOR PEOPLE IN JAIL.

THAT'S CRITICAL. TO GET THOSE EVALUATIONS DONE

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THAT MEANS PEOPLE STAY IN JAIL WAITING FOR THOSE EVALUATIONS BECAUSE YOU CANNOT PROVE WITH THE LEGAL PROCESS UNLESS YOU DETERMINE IF THE PERSON IS COMPETENT OR NOT COMPETENT AND GETS RESTORED AND SO ON. A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS AND I THINK YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE SYSTEM THAT ARE WORKING TOWARDS THAT SO WE PROVIDE THOSE COURT ORDERED EVALUATIONS AND WE PROVIDE A LOT OF SERVICES TO THE MENTAL HEALTH COURTS BOTH ON THE ADULT SIDE, TO THE DRUG COURTS, TO THE SPECIALTY COURTS AND THE JUVENILE COURTS SO THAT IS REALLY WHAT WE DO. OUR SERVICES FOCUS ON THIS INTERSECTION BETWEEN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

I'VE HAD TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION MANY TIMES.

WHY DO WE EXIST? AND I THINK WE RECOGNIZE THAT HALF OF THE JAIL POPULATION, ABOUT HALF, 45 PERCENT, I HAVE THE DATA. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE TODAY BUT IF WE HAVE 900 PEOPLE IN THE JAIL, PROBABLY ABOUT 45 PERCENT, 49% HAVE A CONFIRMED MENTAL ILLNESS.

WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT ABOUT TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE JAIL THAT IT TAKES A WHOLE SYSTEM SO THAT IS A VERY QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE DO. IN YOUR VERY BRIEF POWERPOINT YOU HAVE THE FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS WHICH I ALREADY TALKED ABOUT. AND HOW THOSE CONTINUE TO INCREASE. AS WE HAVE MORE COURTS, WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAT COME INTO OUR SYSTEM.

THERE'S MORE MENTAL ILLNESS. OUR NUMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP. I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PROGRAM BECAUSE THAT IS ACTUALLY ONE THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO OUR VARIANTS OF $612,000 WHICH WILL IT EXPLAIN. FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS PROGRAM STARTED THREE YEARS AGO. WE FUNDED THAT POSITION, AS MANY OF YOU RECALL. WE HAD A PATROL OFFICER THAT WORKED AS -- IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR 13 YEARS.

SHE BECAME A LICENSED CLINICIAN. WE FUNDED AND WE SHIFTED THAT POSITION AND THAT HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE VENTURE BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE PROVIDE CLINICAL SERVICES TO FIRST RESPONDERS, COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT HAVE COMPLEX TRAUMA, THAT OFTEN CAN'T GET INTO OUR EAP OR GET A PROVIDER, CAN'T AFFORD THE FEES TO SEE SOMEBODY.

THESE ARE NOT EASY CASES. THIS IS COMPLEX TRAUMA.

SO WE PROVIDE THOSE BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ARE RESPONSIVE TO CRITICAL INCIDENTS IN THE COUNTY AND SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WHEN THERE IS A CRITICAL INCIDENT. SO WHEN THERE IS A DEATH OF AN OFFICER, WE HAVE SO MANY OF THOSE.

BUT MORE SO, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE STARTED PULLING TOGETHER FIRST RESPONDER ADVISORY GROUP WITH REPRESENTATION BEYOND COUNTY EMPLOYEES. WE NOW HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS. WE HAVE MULTIPLE POLICE DEPARTMENTS BUT WHAT IS AMAZING WITH THAT IS WE HAVE A GROUP OF ABOUT 25 ENTITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT MEET MONTHLY AND COME TOGETHER AND DEVELOP THIS PEER SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. LAST YEAR WE HAD OUR FIRST RESPONDER, ARE VERY FIRST FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS EVENT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS. IN HONOR OF FIRST RESPONDER DAY AND IT WAS AMAZING. WE HAD ABOUT 62 ORGANIZATIONS THAT ATTENDED AND 171ST RESPONDERS THAT ATTENDED.

THAT IS A PROGRAM THAT WE HOPE TO EXPAND AND OBVIOUSLY THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO OUR VARIANTS. BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND I AM DELIGHTED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE OUR ADULT AND YOUTH DIVERSION AND THEN WE ALWAYS ALSO HAVE OUR ALWAYS PARENTING PROGRAM WHICH IS A PROGRAM CURRENTLY FUNDED BY A GRANT BY THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE

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WE HAVE APPLIED FOR CONTI CONTINUATION.

NOT SURE. SINCE THEY ONLY AWARD FIVE IN THE COUNTRY AND WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN AWARDED IN THE PAST.

AND THEN COMMISSIONERS AND JU JUDGE, ON THE LAST PAGE OF YOUR HAND OUT THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED MAGISTRATE COURT.

AND TEXAS CRIMINAL CODE, 1622. I WANT TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THAT BECAUSE WE STARTED HELPING OUT MAGISTRATE COURTS IN JAIL BACK IN 2018. SO THERE WAS THIS SANDRA BLAND ACT, 17 CRIMINAL CODE, 17032. THE 16TH 22, THESE ARE ALL CRIMINAL TEXAS CRIMINAL CODES AND STATUTES.

THEY ALL HAVE TO DO WITH THIS EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS WHEN THEY COME INTO THE JAIL AND GETTING THAT INFORMATION TO MAGISTRATE COURT.

MAGISTRATE COURT IS YOUR FIRST COURT APPEARANCE.

THAT IS WHEN THE JUDGE, THAT MAGISTRATE JUDGE DETERMINES YOUR BOND AND SO THERE IS LEGISLATION AROUND THAT.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PERSON HAS MENTAL ILLNESS AND HAS NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF A VIOLENT OFFENSE AND THEY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

THERE IS THIS WHOLE PROCESS. BUT WHAT THIS DOES IS THE JUDGE ISSUES ORDERS AND THE JAIL IDENTIFIES THESE ASSESSMENTS.

WE PULL IT TOGETHER SO WHEN WE STARTED DOING THIS, IN THE INTERIM, WE WERE GOING TO HELP BE THE LINK BETWEEN THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE, THE JAIL, AND THEN OUR COURT SYSTEM.

WE HAVE THE JAIL WHO DOES THESE ASSESSMENTS, THESE ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE COURT ORDER. WE HAVE MAGISTRATE THAT ORDERS THESE AND THEN YOU HAVE US THAT PULLS ALL OF THIS TOGETHER AND HAS TO FILE THIS WITH THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

WE HAVE TO FILE IT WITHIN 96 HOURS OF WHEN THE ORDER WAS SIGNED. SO I AM JUST -- CLEARLY I AM WORKING WITH THE JAIL, THE MAGISTRATE COURTS, HOPEFULLY WE CAN STREAMLINE THIS PROCESS BUT RIGHT NOW WHEN I LOOKED AT THE MARCH DATA, WE HAD 346 ORDERS. WHAT THAT ALSO MEANS IS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL CAN HAVE MULTIPLE CHARGES.

AN INDIVIDUAL CAN BE BOOKED AND HAVE A CASE IN DISTRICT COURT, TWO IN COUNTY COURTS, WE HAVE TO FIND THE COST NUMBERS AND THEN FILE ACCORDINGLY AND THEN ALSO NOTIFY VARIOUS PARTIES THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT D.A., THE ATTORNEY OF RECORD, PUBLIC DEFENDER, WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WITH NO EXTRA HELP.

IT HAS REALLY BECOME A VERY COMPLICATED TASK, ALMOST TAKING THE FULL TIME STAFF PERSON. CAN WE STREAMLINE THIS? MAKE IT MORE ELECTRONIC? YES.

BUT WE ARE NOT THERE YET. IF YOU TAKE THOSE 346 ORDERS, 346 INDIVIDUALS, THAT IS ABOUT 600, 700 FILINGS PER MONTH.

SO WHEN WE STARTED IT WAS 100. NOW WE'RE UP TO ABOUT 700 FILINGS. I HAD NOT LOOKED AT THE DATA PER MONTH BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT THE MARCH DATA THAT WAS ALARMING.

AND THAT REALLY PROMPTED MY ADDITIONAL REQUEST FOR THE PART TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT, LIKE A CLERICAL PERSON TO HELP WITH THAT. JUST BRIEFLY, SOME OF OUR OTHER INITIATIVES, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, WE HAVE A HISTORY OF BEING DATA DRIVEN, WE HAVE A HISTORY OF PULLING TOGETHER ARE JUST AS PARTNERS AND HEALTH PROVIDERS. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY SECURE THREE FEDERAL MULTI-YEAR GRANTS AS WELL AS SEVERAL STATE GOVERNORS GRANTS.

OUR GOAL IS TO BE DATA DRIVEN, TO HAVE DATA THAT IS ACCURATE, ACCESSIBLE AND CAN BE SHARED WITH OTHERS TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS. WITH THAT, VARIANCE.

LAST YEAR WE WERE UNDER. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT.

[LAUGHTER] 1.5% UNDER OUR BUDGET SO JUST REMINDING EVERYBODY OF THAT. BUT THIS YEAR, ONE OF THE THINGS

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IT HAS TO DO WITH A CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE HAD.

THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE AGREEMENT THAT THE COUNTY HAS IN GENERAL TEXANA. IN 2022, THERE WAS A BILL THAT CAME OUT OF THE LEGISLATION AND IT PROVIDED THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY TO ACCESS FUNDS TO DEVELOP INTENSIVE PROGRAMS BASED ON THE NEEDS THAT THE COUNTY HAD SO JAIL DIVERSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR BIG NEED FOR PEOPLE WITH COMPLEX NEEDS SO JUST IN SUMMARY, WHAT THAT MEANS IS IN ORDER FOR TEXANA TO GET $600,000 -- IN ORDER FOR TEXANA TO GET $300,000 FROM THE STATE FOR THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE TO PUT UP THE MATCH. WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT.

WE STARTED WITH A $250,000 MATCH.

IT HAS INCREASED BECAUSE THE COST OF EVERYTHING HAS INCR INCREASED. AND THE WAY WE HAVE FUNDED THAT, HAS BEEN THROUGH OUR PAY AND WAIVER AND MULTIPLE FUNDS, THE WAIVER HAS BEEN REMARKABLE. JUDGE, THE WAIVER, THE 1115 WAIVER WAS FEDERAL MONEY WE WERE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN.

ACTUALLY IT WAS THE CENTER FOR MEDICAID SERVICES AND THAT ACTUALLY PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS AND SEVERAL OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONE. IT'S GONE.

SO WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. THAT IS THE REQUEST FOR THAT AND THAT IS FOR THE MATCH SO $312,000 IS ACTUALLY FOR ONE YEAR. I WAS ABLE TO -- I HAD LEVERAGE SOME OF THE REMAINING DOLLARS AND ENTERED INTO A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT WHICH CARRIES US THROUGH THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. THAT IS THE 312.

AND I CAN TALK MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHAT THAT PROGRAM DOES.

IF YOU NEED THAT INFORMATION. I COULD ALSO SEND SOME FURTHER DATA. THE OTHER AMOUNT, THE OTHER $300,000 ARE REQUESTED POSITIONS.

ONE IS AN ADDITIONAL CLINICIAN FOR THE FIRST RESPONDER PROGRAM WHICH WE THINK IS CRITICAL. RIGHT NOW I HAVE 2 CLINICAL PEOPLE AND ONE TRAINER ON CONTRACT THAT ARE ALSO FUNDED THROUGH ARPA. BUT WE NEED TO ADD A CLINICAL SUPPORT. KAYLA ELWOOD WHO IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY PERSON ON THAT TEAM, WE HAVE REQUESTED AND HR APPROVED MOVING HER INTO A PROGRAM ROLE IN BRINGING IN ANOTHER CLINICIAN. AGAIN, THE VALUE OF THIS IS THAT FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS IS LOCATED WITHIN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES WHICH ALLOWS US TO RESPOND TO ALL OF COUNTY RESPONDERS AND ALLOWS US TO PIVOT.

WE SHOULD NOT ONLY SERVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BUT WE SERVE EMS, CONSTABLE'S OFFICE. THAT IS THE VALUE OF HAVING IT CENTRALIZED. THE OTHER POSITION IS OF COURSE A POSITION THAT IS CURRENTLY GRANT FUNDED AS A PROJECT SPECIALIST AND THE FUNDING TO WORK WITH ALWAYS PARENTING, THAT IS THE PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH INCARCERATED PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN. AND I CAN TALK OURS ABOUT WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT. WE ARE REQUESTING THE COUNTY TO PICK UP THAT POSITION. I RECOGNIZE WHEN WE GO AFTER GRANTS HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 15 AND A HALF FTES IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND WE ONLY HAVE ONE GRANT FUNDED POSITION. AND THEN THE OTHER POSITION IS THAT PART-TIME POSITION TO HELP WITH THE MAGISTRATE COURT ORDER PROCESS. WE ALSO HAVE I THINK ON THE I.T.

SIDE, USUALLY WE DON'T REQUEST MUCH BUT WE ARE REQUESTING SOME SECURITY CAMERAS FOR OUR BUILDING.

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BUT THAT IS THE REQUEST FOR IAT THAT IS A LITTLE BIT UNUSUAL.

I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT BUT I HOPE THAT GIVES EVERYBODY A GOOD OVERVIEW OF WHY AND WHAT WE DO. YES.

>> THE CLINICAL CARE COORDINATOR IS THE ONE CURRENTLY GRANT

FUNDED? >> YES.

WE ARE SHIFTING IT FROM A PROJECT SPECIALIST BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROJECT TO MANAGE SO THEY WILL SHIFT MORE TO A SERVICE DELIVERY. YES.

>> QUESTIONS? >> IF YOU HAD TO WRITE THESE,

HOW WOULD YOU RATE? >> THESE ARE ALWAYS THE HARD QUESTIONS. [LAUGHTER]

THE FIRST RESPONDER. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

I KNOW I HAVE GONE THE CHANCE TO ENGAGE WITH ALL OF THESE PARENTING PROGRAMS WHICH FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH INCARCERATED PARENTS, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS SO THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND THE COLLABORATIVE YOU HAVE BUILT AROUND THAT. I WAS AT AN EVENT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND SOMEONE WHO WAS AT THE CONFERENCE YOU DID ON ALWAYS PARENTING CAME UP AND TALKED ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS COMMUNITY THAT YOU ARE CREATING IS FOR ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO DELIVER SERVICES TO OUR FOLKS INCARCERATED IN OUR JAILS SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. MY QUESTION IS, I KNOW TYPICALLY A LOT OF YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS FUNDED MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS THROUGH GRANT FUNDING AND I'M JUST ASSUMING FROM WHAT YOU HAVE SHARED WITH US TODAY THAT YOU ARE SEEING THAT LANDSCAPE CHANGE IN TERMS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF GRANT FUNDS.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND YOUR SUPPORT. I DO SEE THE LANDSCAPE CHANGING.

HOWEVER, WE ALSO HAD A VACANT POSITION.

JUST RECENTLY, KEVIN BARKER JOINED US ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO AS OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND ABOUT A MONTH AGO WE FINALLY HIRED THE GRANTS COORDINATOR WHO IS AMAZING.

AND WE ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING GRANTS.

COMMISSIONER, I AM STILL HOPEFUL THAT -- AND WE ACTUALLY DID SUBMIT FOR A OTHER VERSION OF ALWAYS PARENTING BUT GIVEN THAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD A THREE YEAR FEDERAL GRANT AND THERE ARE ONLY FIVE AWARDED IN THE NEXT ROUND, I WOULD BE SHOCKED BUT WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED ALL OF THE GOG GRANTS THAT WE HAVE APPLIED FOR WHICH IS GREAT. IT ALSO MEANS A LOT OF WORK T THEN. I REALLY THINK THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES. I THINK WITH HAVING OUR GRANT COORDINATOR ONBOARD WHO IS VERY DATA DRIVEN, WE WILL BE IN A GREAT POSITION IN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS TO APPLY BOTH FOR GOVERNORS GRANTS, NONPROFITS AND FOR FEDERAL FUNDING, WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE BUT WE JUST NEED TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN TERMS OF THE DATA BECAUSE THAT IS CRITICAL TO APPLY FOR THE GRANTS. SO I AM HOPEFUL.

I AM ACTUALLY VERY OPTIMISTIC. BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY IN A LOT OF OUR WORK AND IT HAS TO DO WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, IT HAS TO DO WITH DIVERSION AND REDUCING CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT, I THINK WE ARE IN A STRONG POSITION.

THANK YOU. >> I THINK WITH THE 1115 WAIVER YOU ARE ABLE TO STRETCH THAT OVER FOR A LOT LONGER THAN WE

HAD ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED. >> THANK YOU.

I THINK THAT WAS PRETTY REMARKABLE.

IT TOOK TEN, 15 YEARS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND WE WERE ABLE TO MEET OUR DELIVERABLES AT 100% OF THAT.

AND MAKE IT WORK. THAT WAS A REMARKABLE INITIATIVE. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL BE ANOTHER BUT BASICALLY YOU WERE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN YOUR DOLLARS NOT ON HOW MUCH YOU SPEND BUT AS LONG AS YOU MET YOUR

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DELIVERABLES. >> YOU DID, EVERY YEAR.

>> IT WAS REMARKABLE. I AM CONFIDENT THAT WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, WE WILL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL GRANTS AND START

BUILDING THAT UP, YES. >> ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU FOR SUCH GREAT WORK.

THANK YOU IN YOUR OPENING REMARKS THAT YOU REMINDED US THAT WE NEED TO HAVE GRATITUDE TO KEEP OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT REMINDS ME THAT I AM GRATEFUL AND ALIVE AND LIVING IN THIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GREAT WORK.

>> THANK YOU. AND ITS RESEARCH-BASED TOO.

[LAUGHTER] >> I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT WE DO HAVE A LUNCH AND LEARN. I WILL LEAVE THEM UP HERE.

NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU.

>> PERFECT, THANK YOU. >> JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> CAN SHE APPROACHED?

>> PLEASE. GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU. >> I WON'T BE LONG BUT I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT AFTER THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE NEW PARAMETERS ON EVICTIONS AND OF COURSE THE REDISTRICTING, WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR DEBT CLIENTS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED EXPONENTIALLY. NUMBER 1 IN THE COUNTY, CASES THAT ARE BEING FILED AND UPWARDS OF 50, 60 PER DAY, SOMETIMES MORE. WITH THAT COMES A LOT OF ACTIVITY AT THE WINDOWS. WE ARE RUNNING BACK AND FORTH TO THE WINDOWS AND LOOKING FOR OUR BIGGEST ASK, TWO POSITIONS AS CASE MANAGERS TO NOT ONLY HANDLE WHAT WE ARE ALREADY RECEIVING AND SEEING AN INCREASE IN BUT ALSO WHAT WE ANTICIPATE IN THE GROWTH OF THE COUNTY AND THE PRECINCT IN PARTICULAR.

SO IF YOU GO TO THE STATISTICAL DATA, DEBT CLAIMS CLOSE TO ABOUT 5000 AND I BELIEVE THE CLOSEST PRECINCT WOULD BE PRECINCT ONE, PLACE ONE WHICH IS ABOUT 1800 SO THAT IS WHERE WE ARE GETTING INUNDATED AND BOMBARDED WITH THE DEBT CLAIMS AND ALSO SMALL CLAIMS WE ARE UP ON SMALL CLAIMS AS WELL, EVICTIONS, WE ARE AT THE TOP. WE ARE NOT AT THE TOP BUT VERY CLOSE IN THE TRAFFIC BUT THOSE ARE PRETTY QUICK CASES SO THEY AREN'T THAT THE FOUCAULT UNLESS ASK FOR JURY TRIALS BUT WE ARE STILL GETTING QUITE A FEW OF THOSE AS WELL.

PRECINCT 2, PLACE TWO IS JUST GETTING ROLLING AND AS SUCH I BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL BE IN NEED OF A FULL STAFF AS WELL BUT PRECINCT 2, PLACE ONE, WE ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF THAT AREA AND WE ARE RIGHT THERE. ALTHOUGH OUR BUILDING IS NOT NECESSARILY THE NEWEST, BUT WE GET THE WORK DONE AND WE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB OVER THERE SO WE ARE ASKING IF WE CAN GET TWO MORE CASE MANAGERS TO BETTER SERVE OUR PUBLIC AND TO GET THINGS DONE MORE EFFICIENTLY ESPECIALLY WITH THE EVICTION

PROCESS. >> WONDERFUL.

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? >> ALL RIGHT.

THE DATA IS IN EVERYTHING I JUST GAVE YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOU. >> THE REQUEST IS FOR --

>> TWO ADDITIONAL CASE MANAGERS. >> NO QUESTIONS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. NEXT.

>> EXTENSION SERVICES. >> GOOD MORNING.

I AM AMY RESSLER, THE DIRECTOR WITH TEXAS A&M EXTENSION SERVICE. THIS IS CHERYL, ARE ADMINISTERED OF MANAGER. OR VARIANCE IN OUR BUDGET REQUEST FALLS INTO 2 CATEGORIES OUR FEES ACCOUNTS WHICH HAVE TO DO WITH OUR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WHICH IS OUR STAFF, PART OF THE SALARIES FOR THAT STAFF WHICH WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THIS PAST

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WE WILL HAVE A MORE SOLID FIGURE BY JULY, AUGUST, THAT WE GET FROM AGRO LIFE ACCOUNTING OFFICE AND THE OTHER HAS TO DO WITH OUR TRAVEL, ASKING FOR MORE AND TRAVEL RELATED TO BEING FULLY STAFFED. NEWER STAFF MEMBERS REQUIRE ADDITIONAL TRAINING SO THE TRAINING AND TRAVEL FEES ARE INCREASING AND SO WE ASKED FOR AN EXTRA 2000 THERE.

>> THAT'S WONDERFUL. >> FOR YOUR AGENTS, ANY ADDITIONAL FTES OR JUST THAT THEIR POSITIONS ARE FILLED NOW?

>> NO ADDITIONAL FTES. POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FILLED PRETTY CONSISTENTLY FOR THIS PAST YEAR.

>> QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.

GOOD JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> ENGINEERING. >> I DON'T SEE STACY HERE.

>> COUNTY TREASURER. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNTY JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. RECOVERING FROM A COLD SO PARDON ME IF I HAVE TO PAUSE AND CALL FOR SOMETHING.

WE HAVE THREE ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED.

THE FIRST ITEM IS MORE OF A PHILOSOPHICAL WAY THAT WE HANDLE RETIREES. WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO RETIRE DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. NOT A GIVEN BUT ANTICIPATED AS IT HAS BEEN WHEN I CAME IN I HAD FOUR OUT OF MY 12 STAFF ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE AND WE HAVE HAD THREE RETIRE.

COMING INTO THE NEXT YEAR, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT ODDS ARE I WILL HAVE ONE MORE RETIRING SO IN THE PAST, WHEN THAT OCCURS THERE IS PAYOUT MONEY. IT SHOWS AS A NEGATIVE ON THE BUDGET WHEN IT OCCURS UNTIL ON THE BACK END WHEN IT IS FILLED IN SO I PLUGGED IT INTO THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

336,000 RELATED TO RETIREMENT AD I DON'T KNOW IF THE NEW BUDGETING SOFTWARE OR IF WE WANT TO LOOK AT HOW WE MIGHT HANDLE IT, MY OPINION SHOULD EITHER BE IN DEPARTMENT OR IT SHOULD BE EXTRAORDINARY OUTSIDE DEPARTMENT TOTALLY.

ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BUT ANYWAY. JUST IDENTIFYING THE LIKELY COST COMING UP. WE ALSO HAVE IN LINE WITH THAT, A PAY ADJUSTMENT FOR A STAR EMPLOYEE WHO IS TAKING ON MORE RESPONSIBILITIES. IT'S A SEVEN-YEAR COUNTY EMPLOYEE, FOUR YEARS IN THE TREASURY OFFICE SO AS PEOPLE RETIRE AND WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD A SUCCESSION PLAN, WE WANT TO KEEP GOOD PEOPLE AROUND SO TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PAY APPROPRIATELY THERE. I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY EMPLOYEE ADJUSTMENT. AND THE OTHER ITEM, A2017 PRINTER. TRIED TO DO A LITTLE RESEARCH ON WHAT WE ARE PAYING ON MAINTENANCE, I HAVE NOT GONE THOSE NUMBERS YET BUT I SUSPECT THIS THING MAY BE COSTING US MORE TO KEEP AROUND THEN IF WE WERE TO REPLACE IT.

WE HAVE KIND OF ELIMINATED MOST PRINTING BUT THERE ARE STILL LOTS OF REQUIREMENTS LIKE W-2S, A BIG PUSH AT THE END OF THE YEAR. I THINK WE DID 4300 W-2S LAST YEAR. THOSE ARE THE THREE ITEMS THAT

ARE ON THERE. >> AND YOU ARE PRINTING W-2S IN-HOUSE? IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU'VE DONE

ELSEWHERE? >> CORRECT.

WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT BEFORE AND AS WE TRANSITION TO OUR NEW SOFTWARE, WE MAY BE ABLE TO REVISIT THOSE OPTIONS BUT THE INTEGRATION PART OF THAT WAS GOING TO BE A NIGHTMARE IN THE

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2025 WE WERE UNDER BUDGET AND -- >> LET ME ASK THIS.

IS THERE NOT A WORLD IN WHICH WE COULD COMPLETELY ELIMINATE THE

NEED TO PRINT W-2S? >> YOU WOULD HOPE BUT AS THE LAW

IS NOW WE HAVE TO MAIL THEM. >> THAT'S THE LAW?

>> YEAH, IT'S ONE OF THOSE FEW THINGS.

I ALWAYS SAY WHEN SOMEONE TELLS ME I HAVE TO SIGN SOMETHING WITH A PEN OR I HAVE TO PRINT IT, IT HAS TO BE PRINTED, I ALWAYS SAY SHOW ME THE LAW. BECAUSE MOST CASES IT'S FOLKLORE AND NOT LAW BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE STILL LAW THAT

WE HAVE TO -- >> THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING FOR US TO VISIT AS A WAY OF COST-SAVING AND THAT MIGHT BE A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC FOR SOME FOLKS BUT NOT HAVING THAT ACCESSIBLE ONLINE IS A CHALLENGE, ESPECIALLY AS PEOPLE MIGHT LOSE IT IN THE SHUFFLE OF THEIR MAIL.

>> THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONICALLY TOO.

>> SINCE WHEN? >> W-2S?

YOU LOG ONTO THE LAWSON. >> REALLY? OKAY. [INAUDIBLE] I GUESS SO. I RECALL HAVING TO CALL KELLY

FOR MINE A COUPLE YEARS BACK. >> WE TRY TO BE VERY SERVICE ORIENTED. IF SOMEONE CALLS AND ASKS FOR

SOMETHING, WE GET IT. >> ALL RIGHT.

THERE WE GO. NEWS FLASH.

>> ANY QUESTIONS? >> LEARNING SOMETHING EVERY DAY.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >> WE WON'T BUY THAT PRINTER UNLESS WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO BUT THAT IS JUST THE WAY.

I BELIEVE IN BUDGETING FOR WHAT IS HIGHLY LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

IF IT FAILS, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE IT IN THE BUDGET AND PLAN

FOR IT. >> PERFECT.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

NEXT. >> ENGINEERING IS HERE NOW.

>> ENGINEERING. SHOW ME YOUR LICENSE FIRST.

JUST KIDDING. >> GOOD MORNING.

ENGINEERING WAS ABLE TO KEEP OUR BUDGET FLAT THIS YEAR EXCEPT WE ARE REQUESTING A FEW NEW POSITIONS.

WE HAVE BEEN TAKING A LOOK AT OUR NUMBERS AS FAR AS HOW MANY PLANS THAT WE HAVE COMING IN FOR REVIEW AND WE HAVE SEEN NEARLY A 20% INCREASE IN THE PLAN REVIEWS FROM 24 INTO 25.

WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR 2026 YET BUT THINGS HAVE NOT SLOWED DOWN. WITH THAT 20% INCREASE AND THE FEW PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE REVIEWING THOSE PLANS WHICH IS ACTUALLY THREE INDIVIDUALS, WE REALLY NEED ONE OTHER PERSON IN THAT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THE CLAIM REVIEWS. FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, WE HAVE HAD ABOUT A TWO TO THREE WEEK TURNAROUND ON OUR PLANNED REVIEWS. THAT HAS INCREASED UP TO EIGHT WEEKS AT TIMES WHEN THE PLANS HAVE REALLY COME IN QUICKLY.

UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS RIGHT AROUND THE HOLIDAYS FROM OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER WE SAW A HUGE INFLUX OF PLANS.

MAYBE THE DEVELOPERS WERE TRYING TO PUSH OUT THEIR DEVELOPMENTS BY THE END OF THE YEAR BUT IN DECEMBER, WHEN PEOPLE WOULD PREFER TO ENJOY THE HOLIDAY'S HEAD AND USE SOME OF THEIR VACATION TIME, WE HAD A HUGE AMOUNT OF PLANS COMING IN FOR REVIEW. WE HAVE MANAGED TO GET THAT REVIEW TIME DOWN TO SIX WEEKS, AS IT IS NOW.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THE TWO TO THREE WEEK TURNAROUND THAT OUR DEVELOPERS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO.

SO WITHOUT ANY SIGNS OF SLOW DOWN FROM THE DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE REQUESTING ONE NEW POSITION FOR THAT DEVELOPMENT GROUP.

RIGHT NOW THAT IS MY TOP PRIORITY THAT I AM PRESENTING TO COURT. THERE ARE A FEW OTHER POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE ASKED FOR. THE SECOND ONE ON MY PRIORITY LIST IS AN ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC ENGINEER.

YOU GUYS HAVE ALL SENT IN A REQUEST FROM THE COMMUNITY ON STOP SIGNS, NO PARKING SIGNS, A SPEED STUDY AND OTHER TRAFFIC RELATED QUESTIONS COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE ALL GO TO MY ONE ASSISTANT COUNTY ENGINEER OVER TRAFFIC, CHRIS.

[00:40:01]

THE OTHER TWO POSITIONS ARE RELATED TO OUR ENFORCEMENT.

WE HAVE ONE PERSON THAT EVALUATES THE ENFORCEMENT CASES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. WHAT SHE DOES IS WHEN WE RECEIVE A COMPLAINT FROM A NEIGHBOR, SHE WILL GO OUT THERE AND VISIT THE SITE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY TYPE OF PERMIT VIOLATION AND IF SHE IDENTIFIES A VIOLATION SHE WILL COORDINATE WITH THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ISSUE A VIOLATION NOTICE AND THEN SHE HAS TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. AGAIN THE VIOLATIONS HAVE INCREASED WITH THE POPULATION OF THE COUNTY AND WE ARE NOT ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THOSE VIOLATIONS AT THE TIME.

WE CAN EITHER DO ONE OF TWO THINGS, WE COULD GET HER AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE PAPERWORK WHICH IS MY NUMBER 3 REQUEST. AT SOME POINT WE WOULD NEED TO ADD ANOTHER ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO HELP HER OUT TO DO THIS SITE VISITS AND COORDINATE WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL SO THAT WAS MY FOURTH POSITION REQUEST, ANOTHER ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. SO RIGHT NOW THOSE ARE MY 4 ASKS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND I AM OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY. [INAUDIBLE]

>> THE TOP PRIORITY WAS A SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR AND DEVELOPMENT. NUMBER 2 WAS THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ENGINEER FOR TRAFFIC. MY THIRD ONE, A SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR PERMITS AND THE FOURTH WOULD BE THE SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR FOR PERMITS AND CONSTRUCTION.

>> QUESTIONS? >> THAT WOULD MAKE 2 ASSISTANT

COUNTY ENGINEER'S FOR TRAFFIC? >> YES.

WE HAVE ONE NOW AND WE WOULD ADD ANOTHER ONE.

>> YOU DON'T THINK THAT IS A PROJECT MANAGER TO ASSIST CHRIS?

>> WE COULD GET MAY BE AN EIT BUT WE REALLY NEED SOMEONE WAS SOME TECHNICAL BACKGROUND AND PREFERABLY AN ENGINEERING DEGREE IN ORDER TO EVALUATE THOSE. [INAUDIBLE]

>> THAT IS THE TITLE WE HAVE FOR EVERYONE.

EXACTLY. EXACTLY.

>> IS IT POSSIBLE TO USE OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS FOR THAT?

>> WE COULD HAVE A CONSULTANT ASSIST CHRIS.

THEY WOULD JUST NEED TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE PREFERENCE THAT WE SEE IN EACH OF THE PRECINCTS SO --

>> WHICH IS MORE ECONOMICAL? >> IT WOULD BE MORE ECONOMICAL TO HIRE ANOTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEE THAN TO HAVE ANOTHER CONSULTANT.

>> GO AHEAD. >> TO THE COMMISSIONERS POINT, I WOULD THINK HAVING AN ON-CALL CONTRACTOR OF SOME POINT BECAUSE THIS IS EVERY DAY SORT OF WORK BUT YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT PURVIEW THAN I DO WHEN WE GET A REQUEST INTO HAVE SOME SORT OF ON-CALL CONTRACTOR WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO OUT AND EXPLORE.

BUT YOU DON'T BELIEVE -- >> AS FAR AS THE TRAFFIC REQUESTS, WE COULD TRY HAVING A CONSULTANT ON CALL AND WE COULD FORWARD THOSE REQUESTS TO THAT CONSULTANT.

IT WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE CHRIS WOULD HAVE TO COORDINATE AND SUPERVISE THAT CONSULTANT SO THAT WOULD TAKE MORE OF HIS TIME FOR THEM TO EVALUATE THOSE REQUESTS.

BUT THAT IS AN OPTION. WE COULD TRY THAT OUT.

I JUST FEEL THAT THE CITIZENS PREFER TO HEAR FROM A COUNTY EMPLOYEE AS OPPOSED TO A CONSULTANT.

I'M AFRAID IF WE DO GET A CONSULTANT ON BOARD, THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD STILL HAVE TO PASS THROUGH CHRIS FOR REVIEW AND THEN HE WOULD HAVE TO BE FORWARDING THEM TO THAT

CONSTITUENT. >> JUST A QUESTION TO PICK YOUR BRAIN. MY ORGANIZATION IS USING A LOT OF AI TOOLS. NOT TO ELIMINATE EMPLOYEES BUT TO MAKE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT. I KNOW THAT THERE IS AN AI TOOL OF THERE FOR PERMITTING, A LOT OF AI TOOLS.

[00:45:01]

COMPLEMENT YOUR OPERATION? >> NOT YET.

WE HAVE ALL DABBLED IN AIA BIT WITH CHATGPT.

I KNOW THAT THE I.T. DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON AN AI PROCEDURE AND POLICY. WE HAVE NOT REALLY DELVED INTO ANY TYPE OF ENGINEERING AVAILABLE AI FEATURES OUT THERE.

>> THERE IS LOT OF TOOLS OUT THERE TO ASSIST NOT ONLY PRIVATE INDUSTRY BUT SOME THAT I KNOW OF AND IT'S INEVITABLE IN THE FUTURE WE WILL TAP INTO SOME SORT OF AI ASSISTANT IN A DIFFERENT FASHION BUT MAYBE YOU GUYS IN ENGINEERING MAY START OUT BY LOOKING INTO THAT TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT BASICALLY.

I AM NOT LOOKING TO ILLUMINATE ANY EMPLOYEES, THAT IS NOT THE GOAL BUT THE HELP TO REALLY SPEED UP OUR PROCESS.

ONE THING IS PERMITTING. THERE ARE ONE OR 2 OUT THERE ALREADY INVOLVED IN THE CITY ALREADY.

AND TRYING OUT FIRST OF COURSE BUT I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF HELP OUT THERE IN AI TO HELP US MORE EFFICIENTLY THAT WAY.

>> OKAY. WE WILL CONSIDER THAT.

>> I APPRECIATED. >> I THINK PROBABLY PRECINCT ONE, MORE THAN ANYTHING. KATIE WILL DISAGREE WITH YOU COMMISSIONER. THAT ISSUE IS NOT AN EVERYDAY

THING. >> GOOD.

>> EVERY DAY SHE HAS SOME COMPLAINT AS PROJECT MANAGER, I CAN TELL YOU THAT SHE SPENDS EVERY DAY DEALING WITH THAT.

CROSSWALKS, STOP SIGNS, NO PARKING SIGNS, NO CHILDREN PLAY, WHATEVER. JUST CONSTANT REQUESTS IN PRECINCT ONE. I HAVE GONE REQUESTS FROM YOUR OFFICE AND REQUESTS FROM HIS OFFICE.

AS FAR AS NOT KNOWING NOW, WE ARE PROBABLY THE WORST ON CHRIS.

[LAUGHTER] >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR

COMMENTS? >> YES.

PART OF WHAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN HELPING US DO AS WELL AND I THINK IT'S WORTH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF COURT HEARING TOO IS THE TURNAROUND TIME FOR GETTING TRAFFIC SIGNALS.

IT TAKES AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET THOSE AND THE LONGER THAT THOSE TRAFFIC SIGNALS ARE NOT AT DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS IT INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD THAT SOMEONE WILL BE IN A CRASH OR POSSIBLE FATALITIES. I KNOW WE ARE WORKING ON A STOCKPILE PROGRAM AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH THE COURT WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT.

>> WHAT WE DID WITH COMMISSIONER MCCOY IS WE LAID OUT A SCHEDULE FOR A TYPICAL TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT IT TAKES NEARLY TWO YEARS FROM THE TIME THAT WE IDENTIFY FUNDING AND BEGIN THE DESIGN UNTIL THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL IS ACTUALLY OPEN TO TRAFFIC.

ONE OF THE LARGEST ITEMS ON THE SCHEDULE WAS THE DELIVERY OF THE SIGNAL POLLS. THAT IS OFTEN TIMES TAKING UP TO SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS TO GET THEM AND THE ISSUE WAS THEY WERE NOT BEING ORDERED UNTIL THE CONTRACTOR DID THE PROJECT AND HAD THE PURCHASE ORDER. WE WOULD SPEND ALMOST A YEAR FOR THE DESIGN, A FEW MONTHS TO LET THE PROJECT AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO PAUSE EVERYTHING FOR SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS WHILE THE POLLS WERE BEING MANUFACTURED AND DELIVERED SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS IDENTIFIED THE MOST -- THE SIZE OF THEM THAT WE ARE MOST LIKELY TO NEED ON OUR FUTURE SIGNAL PROJECTS AND WE ARE GOING TO LET A PROJECT TO JUST ORDER THEM AND HAVE A STOCKPILE OF THOSE POLLS. WE HAVE ALSO TALK TO THE ENGINEERING COMMUNITY TO SEE HOW WE CAN EXPEDITE THE DESIGN OF A PARTICULAR TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND ONE THING WE CAN DO IS ACTUALLY HAVE AN ON-CALL SIGNAL ENGINEER SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO GET AN ENGINEER ON BOARD.

THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO ONCE WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR A SIGNAL, TO NOTIFY AN ENGINEER ALREADY UNDER CONTRACT TO BEGIN THE DESIGN AND THEN POTENTIALLY WITHIN ABOUT THREE TO FOUR MONTHS WE COULD ACTUALLY BID OUR PROJECT AND HAVE A CONTRACTORS SHOW UP ON SITE AND BEGIN INSTALLATION AND INSTEAD OF TAKING HIM A YEAR TO BUILD THAT SIGNAL, INCLUDING THOSE PULL

[00:50:03]

THREE MONTHS. >> A COMMENT ON THAT.

I APPRECIATE THE CREATIVITY BUT I WOULD HATE FOR ALL TO GO TO ONE CONSULTANT ONE THERE IS A PRETTY ROBUST CONSULTING COMMUNITY. INSTEAD OF DOING THAT, WHY DON'T YOU DO IT LIKE SOME OF THE STATE CONTRACTS WHERE YOU BID THE COMMODITY AND HAVE A FIXED PRICE AND THEN YOU SELECT ANY QUALIFIED CONSULTANT WHO IS WILLING TO WORK UNDER THOSE TERMS AND CONDITIONS THAT WAY YOU DON'T HAVE -- YOU SPREAD THE WORK AROUND AND LOTS OF LOCAL FIRMS TO DO THIS WORK.

WE GIVE IT ALL TO ONE VENDOR AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS FAIR AND I THINK THAT WILL PROBABLY RUN INTO A CAPACITY PROBLEM WITH THEM. AND SO I LIKE THE STANDARDIZATION OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS BUT GETTING THE SPECIFICATIONS STANDARDIZED AND THE PRICE STANDARDIZED AND LET THERE BE ANOTHER PROCESS TO SELECT QUALIFIED CONSULTANTS WHO ARE WILLING TO OPERATE UNDER THOSE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

>> WE COULD DEFINITELY WORK WITH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT TO

IDENTIFY A PROCEDURE FOR THAT. >> WHAT WE DO WITH THE VARIOUS PERSON CO-OPTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US, COPIERS, EQUIPMENT, CERTAIN MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE GO STRAIGHT TO DIR OR ALL OF THEM.

THERE'S A WHOLE LAUNDRY LIST OF VENDORS THAT HAVE AGREED TO -- VEHICLES, ALL KINDS OF STUFF. THIS IS JUST MY OPINION.

EVERYBODY ELSE HAS ONE BUT AS YOU PROCEED THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND TRY TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND CUTTING DOWN THE TWO-YEAR WAIT FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, LET'S LOOK AT NOT PICKING ONE VENDOR.

>> WE WILL JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

>> I THINK JUST LIKE THE OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT WE AWARD THAT THERE IS A PROCESS WERE YOU DEEM THEM QUALIFIED.

>> CORRECT. >> AND NOBODY WANTS TO -- I HAVE A LICENSE, INVITED THAT, I COULD LOSE MY LICENSE AND I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT EITHER BUT FOR THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT AND WE CAN DO SOME PRICING BECAUSE THAT IS NOT PROFESSIONAL SERVICE.

THE PRICING OF THE EQUIPMENT IS NOT PROFESSIONAL SERVICE.

THERE CAN BE SOME ENGINEERING DONE AT THAT POINT TO DETERMINE THE PRODUCT THAT BEST SUITS OUR NEEDS LIKE YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW WITH THE POLES AND THE EXTENSIONS.

BUT I WANT TO LEAVE IT OPEN SO THAT YOU CAN USE MULTIPLE

CONSULTANTS. >> OKAY.

UNDERSTOOD. >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?

>> I KNOW THIS IS PERTINENT TO CHRIS'S ROLE BECAUSE HE'S BEEN ACTIVE IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN SO I KNOW HE DOES A LOT OF REALLY GOOD WORK FOR US SO THANK YOU TO YOU ALL. THEY HAVE BEEN ACTIVE AND INVOLVED IN THAT CONVERSATION SO REALLY APPRECIATE OF Y'ALL

HELPING US. >> GREAT, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR ALL THE DISCUSSION.

>> THE RECYCLE CENTER IS UP N NEXT.

IS THAT OKAY, PAM. >> THE RECYCLE CENTER IS GOING GREAT. WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF GUYS WHO ARE KEEPING THE FACILITY NICE AND NEAT AND ORDERLY.

HOWEVER, THE FORKLIFT HAS GONE OUT ON THEM A NUMBER OF TIMES AND HAS REQUIRED SOME EXTENSIVE REPAIRS THIS PAST YEAR.

IN THE PAST, WE HAVE HAD A BACKUP FORKLIFT.

OUR CURRENT FORKLIFT IS ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD AND OUR BACKUP FORKLIFT IS WELL OVER 20 YEARS OLD AND IT HARDLY EVER RUNS.

I CAN'T REALLY EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR A FORKLIFT.

IT'S A VERY CRITICAL PART OF THAT RECYCLE CENTER, AS SOON AS A BIN FULL'S UP WITH PLASTIC OR CARDBOARD, IT NEEDS TO BE DUMPED INTO THE COMPACTOR. HE'S BEEN HIS WAY HUNDREDS IF

[00:55:02]

WHEN THE FORKLIFT HAS BEEN DOWN THIS PAST YEAR, THERE HAS BEEN TIMES WHERE WE'VE HAD TO TELL CUSTOMERS THAT WE CAN NO LONGER ACCEPT ANY TYPE OF MATERIAL THAT THEY NEED TO DROP OFF BECAUSE ALL OF OUR BINS ARE FULL. WITHOUT THAT FORKLIFT RUNNING THERE IS NO WAY FOR US TO EMPTY THE BINS AND COMPACTOR THE MATERIAL. IT'S A CRITICAL PART OF THE RECYCLE CENTER AND ITS OPERATIONS SO WE HAVE INCLUDED A FUNDING REQUEST TO REPLACE THAT FORKLIFT THIS YEAR.

>> I SEE THAT YOU ALSO REQUESTED SOME NEW SOFTWARE?

OR NEW CAMERAS? >> THOSE DID NOT MAKE IT PAST I.T. SO WE WENT AHEAD AND PUT THOSE OFF THE SCHEDULE.

WE WILL REVISIT THAT MAYBE NEXT YEAR.

>> IS THERE A CHALLENGE? >> WE HAVE HAD SOME MATERIALS SHOW UP THROUGH THE BACK GATE AFTER HOURS AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY CAMERAS ON THE BACK PART OF THE RECYCLE CENTER SO WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THOSE MATERIALS ARE COMING FROM.

IF IT'S THE PUBLIC THAT'S ACCESSING THE SITE? ON A WEDNESDAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE CLOSED AND THE FRONT GATE IS CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS BUT YOU COULD DRIVE AROUND ANOTHER COUNTY FACILITY TO GET TO THE BACK OF THE RECYCLE CENTER.

THERE IS A SECOND ITEM ON OUR REQUEST FOR A FENCE.

I FORGOT HOW MUCH THAT WAS. HOW MUCH?

>> 1000. >> OKAY.

WE WERE ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL GATE TO BE PLACED IN THE BACK IN ORDER TO PREVENT THOSE DROP-OFFS THAT HAPPEN AFTER HOURS.

BUT THE CAMERA SYSTEM WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE 24-HOUR PER DAY EYES ON THE ENTIRE FACILITY INSTEAD OF JUST THE FRONT GATE.

>> SOUNDS GREAT. ANY FURTHER QUESTION OR COMMENT? THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT.

NEXT. >> TAX ASSESSOR AND COLLECTOR.

>> I AM JUST LOOKING AT THE TIME AND HOW EFFICIENTLY WE ARE MOVING THROUGH THIS. DO WE WANT TO CALL THE PEOPLE

FROM THE AFTERNOON. >> ABSOLUTELY.

WES HAS ALREADY VOLUNTEERED. WE CAN CALL YOUR DEPARTMENTS AND

SEE IF THEY CAN COME. >> GOOD MORNING.

>> THANK YOU. >> RIGHT NOW WE ARE BACK TO ASKING FOR JOBS. I WILL JUST ASK FOR 14.

ONE OF THE POSITIONS THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS THE CLERK A SPECIALIST, WE HAVE ASKED FOR THE LAST FOUR OR 55 YEARS BUT NOT RECEIVED ONE YET. WE JUST NEED MORE CLERKS.

WE ARE BUSY AND WE NEED MORE CLERKS.

WE ASKED FOR THREE AND ONE CLERK SPECIALIST.

THE NUMBERS IN OUR OFFICE RIGHT NOW -- WENT DOWN TREMENDOUSLY BECAUSE OF KEEPING UP THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING.

RIGHT NOW ABOUT 42 PIECES OF MAIL THAT'S IN THERE WHICH LAST YEAR WE WERE UP IN THE HUNDREDS. WE HAVE ABOUT -- IN FACT IT'S 112 WHICH LAST YEAR WE WERE IN THE FIVE AND SIX HUNDREDS.

THANK YOU. SINCE WE MADE A LOT OF CHANGES WE WERE UP TO ABOUT 1500 LAST YEAR.

NOW WE ARE DOWN TO 542. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT DEALERSHIPS ARE STILL THE SAME ACROSS THE BOARD IT'S JUST THAT MY TEAM IS WORKING A LOT HARDER THAN THEY HAVE AND WE ARE TRYING TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING THINGS.

THAT IS ALL IN THAT FOUR NEW EMPLOYEES.

ANY QUESTIONS? THE NEXT THING WE ARE ASKING FOR

[01:00:07]

WE ARE ASKING FOR A PART-TIME INVESTIGATOR AND A FULL-TIME INVESTIGATOR. ONE WOULD BE A LICENSED INVESTIGATOR AND THE OTHER WOULD BE ASSISTANT TO THAT INVESTIGATOR. WE HAVE HAD 25 CARS STOLEN IN THE COUNTY WHERE VIN NUMBERS ARE CHANGED AND A WHOLE OTHERS' STUFF THAT HAVE GONE ON WITH THAT.

WE NEED INVESTIGATORS IN OUR OFFICE.

ONE SECOND HERE. THEN WE ASKED THEM FOR THREE NEW KIOSKS. WE GOT OUR KIOSKS IN NOVEMBER AND WE OPENED UP IN NOVEMBER WITH THE KIOSKS.

IT WAS RIGHT IN TIME FOR PROPERTY SEASON.

WE ONLY GOT 2 LAST YEAR. THEY COLLECTED AND WE COLLECTED OVER $7 MILLION IN MISSOURI MISY WE HAD 3 MILLION.

THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AND HELPING US WITH THE MANPOWER AND IT SLOWED A LOT OF THE WORK DOWN THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE STILL TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO USE THE MACHINES BUT IT IS DEFINITELY NEEDED SO WE ARE ASKING FOR A KIOSK IN EVERY LOCATION. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW OF COURSE PEOPLE HAVE PICKED UP A LOT BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY. WE ARE NEEDING A CASH MACHINE BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH AND HOW THEY ARE PICKING UP.

WE CAN NO LONGER COUNT WOULD JUST HER HANDS ANYMORE.

WE NEED CASH MACHINES. WE HAVE A CASH MACHINE IN EACH LOCATION EXCEPT THIS ONE AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE THERE BECAUSE THERE WERE ONLY 2 PEOPLE IN THERE BUT WITH THEM TAKING IN MORE MONEY, THERE'S A DESPERATE NEED FOR IT NOW.

AND THE LAST THING THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS THE TEMPS.

WE NORMALLY HAVE FIVE EVERY PROPERTY SEASON TIME AND WE WANT THOSE IN PLACE AGAIN. THEY BEEN PRETTY GOOD ABOUT MAKING SURE WE HAD THEM THIS LAST SEASON.

BUT WE DID NOT INCLUDE FOR THE TEMPS AND WE NEED TO AROUND PROPERTY SEASON. TO SUM IT ALL UP, IN OUR OFFICES NOW, YOU CAN ACTUALLY COME TO THE OFFICE AND THERE IS ACTUALLY A ONE HOUR WAIT WHICH IN THE PAST IF ANYONE HAS VISITED OUR OFFICE IT WOULD BE A ONE-HOUR TWO HOUR WAIT AND I CAN ACTUALLY SAY IT'S ALMOST DOWN TO 45 MINUTES ON MONDAYS AND AT THE END OF THE MONTH IS WHEN WE GET OUR BUSINESS CROWD AND ITS CONSISTENT EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE MORE HELP TO MAKE IT EASIER ON OUR PEOPLE.

WE KEEP OUR OVERTIME DOWN TO 37 OR LESS THAN 37 AND WE MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY DO COME IN, THEY COME IN BASICALLY TO CATCH UP WORK THAT WE NEED TO CATCH UP AND THAT IS WHERE I AM AT RIGHT NOW. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.

>> QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? GREAT.

THANK YOU. >> I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER.

>> IT HAS BEEN A FOUR-WEEK PROCESS.

>> SAIT. >> WE HAVE A PART-TIME AS I.T.

PERSON. A PART-TIME AS I.T. PERSON WHICH THE SALARY COMES OUT OF OUR PAYROLL AND IT ALSO COMES OUT OF SAIT MONEY. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE HER FULL TIME BECAUSE AS EVERYONE HAS COME APPEARANCE SAID, THE COUNTY IS GROWING AND THERE IS NO WAY AROUND IT AND THESE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING AND PUTTING IN PLACE RIGHT NOW IS TO BETTER THE COUNTY. WHEN WE FIRST CAME AND IT WAS A TWO-HOUR WAIT SO THE S I.T. ALSO COLLECTS MONEY FOR US TO USE ON THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO IN THE COUNTY, TRAVEL, A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE TRY TO DO, TRYING TO GO THROUGH S I.T. MONEY BUT IF IT DOESN'T TOUCH IT WE CANNOT MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH THAT WHICH IS WHY SOME OF THESE MACHINES THAT WE CAN'T GET WE ARE TRYING TO GET NOW. ALSO WE UPGRADED ALL OUR COMPUTERS, EVERY COMPUTER IN OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN UPGRADED BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN SIX YEARS OR LONGER AND THAT SPED UP THE PROCESS AND OUR OFFICE. WE ALSO WENT TO EVERY STATION WHICH NOW HAS A SCANNER SO WE COME IN AND YOU CAN SCAN THE BILL AND IT WILL TYPE IT IN AUTOMATICALLY WHICH CUTS DOWN ON PEOPLE STANDING AROUND AND WAITING ON US TO TYPE EVERYTHING IN SO WE WERE ABLE TO BUY THAT THROUGH S I.T. MONEY I THINK.

THAT IS WHERE WE ARE. PAM, ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED? OKAY. AND I THINK THAT IS IT FOR ME.

THANK YOU, GUYS. >> THANK YOU.

>> WHAT DOES SAIT STAND FOR? >> SPECIAL INTEREST --

[01:05:01]

>> I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT DID KNOW THAT.

>> YOU ARE NOT. YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE BRAVE ENOUGH TO ASK. [LAUGHTER]

NEXT, PLEASE. >> NEXT IS PUBLIC TRANSP

TRANSPORTATION. >> GOOD MORNING.

I WILL PUSH THIS UP A LITTLE BIT FOR YOU GUYS.

AS YOU KNOW. THE COUNTY IS GROWING, THE NEED IS GREATER AND ALL THOSE GOOD THINGS, IT'S ALL THE SAME UNFORTUNATELY FOR EACH OF OUR DEPARTMENTS.

WE ARE ADD A LITTLE BIT OF A HIGHER AMOUNT, WE WERE FLAT LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR WE ARE ASKING FOR MONEY.

MOST OF OUR COVID FUNDS HAVE ALL BEEN USED, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT LEFT THAT WILL SEE US THROUGH THE REST OF THIS YEAR AND THEN IT GETS FUN. JUST TO GIVE YOU A BIT OF AN IDEA OF WHERE WE ARE, CURRENTLY OUR BUDGET INCLUDES BOTH COMMUTER ROUTES AND OUR DEMAND RESPONSE.

COMMUTER ROUTES IN 2025 WE DELIVERED ALMOST 300,000 RIDES, DEMAND RESPONSE, 123,000 RIDES SO A LITTLE OVER 400,000 TOTAL, 414. AND I WANT TO MAKE NOTE OF OUR RESPONSE, 30% IS OUR SENIORS. , THE FOLKS THAT WE ARE TAKING TO THEIR PLACES WHERE THEY NEED TO GO DURING THE DAY.

WE HAVE ALSO HAD A 54% INCREASE IN NEW REGISTRATIONS FOR DEMAND RESPONSE SO AS WE LOOK OUT, WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE THAT WILL NEED OUR ASSISTANCE. THE SAME WITH THE COMMUTER RESPONSES. SO WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVE ADDED OUR ROUTES TO DOWNTOWN. THE PARK AND RIDE HAS COME ONLINE IN THE PAST YEAR AND WE ARE LOOKING TO PROVIDE COMMUTER SERVICE FROM THERE UP TO THE ENERGY CORRIDOR, POSSIBLY DO SOMETHING BACK AND FORTH ALL THE WAY TO SUGARLAND IN RESPONSE TO REQUEST FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON WHO HAVE CAMPUSES AT BOTH END OF THAT AND WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE TRYING TO GO BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THOSE TWO AND THEN ALSO OF COURSE MORE ASSISTANCE FOR THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AND TO THE DOWNTOWN HOUSTON WHICH IS RIGHT NOW AVERAGING OVER 13,000 RIDES PER MONTH AND WE'VE ONLY BEEN IN THERE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS NOW SO REALLY GOOD STUFF THERE.

FAIR REVENUES LAST YEAR TOTALED 1.9 MILLION.

PART OF THAT IS USING OUR MOBILE TICKETING APP WHICH HAS $85,000 LAST YEAR IN FEES SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT GOING UP, THAT IS ANOTHER PLACE WHERE WE WILL SEE EXTENSION AND EXPANSION.

ONE THING WE ARE DOING TO TRY TO MITIGATE SOME OF THIS, AS YOU KNOW, WE GOT A GRANT FOR ABOUT $465,000, A CONGRESSIONAL DESIGNATION GRANT, WE APPLIED FOR THROUGH CONGRESSMAN FLETCHER'S OFFICE AND IT IS NOW THROUGH PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACT AND IN THE SUMMER WE WILL GO THROUGH A 90 DAY IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT AND WE ARE HOPING THAT THAT WILL HELP US BECOME EVEN MORE EFFICIENT AND BE ABLE TO MOVE MORE RIDERS THAN WE HAVE.

VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. BUT TO GET THAT DOWN TO THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE ARE REQUESTING, THIS IS ALL ABOUT SERVICE. WE HAVE MOVED, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE AND WE HAVE MOVED ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES TO THE COUNTY IS WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED.

THAT TAKES THEM OUT OF THE GRANT MONEY AND PUTS THEM IN COUNTY.

WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD DIFFERENT SOURCES OF FUNDING, FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND IT'S ALL ABOUT WHO CAN USE THE MONEY THE MOST APPROPRIATELY AND THE MOST EFFICIENTLY.

SO BY MOVING THOSE OVER INTO THE COUNTY, THAT ALLOWS US TO USE OUR GRANT MONEY FOR ACTUAL SERVICE AND FOR THE THINGS THAT CAN BE USED. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO EVEN OUT THOSE BUCKETS SOME. ALL OF THAT IS DEPENDENT UPON -- AND I SHOULD OF COURSE MENTION THAT LA LABOR COSTS AND FUEL COS AND ALL THOSE THINGS. THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE WOULD NEED THOUGH AND ALL BE PUT DOWN TO HOW DO WE PAY FOR OUR EXPANSION AND COMMUTER ROUTES AND OUR EXPANSION AND DEMAND RESPONSE. SOME OF THOSE THINGS WE CAN BASICALLY TEMPER THEM OUT AND WE CAN MOVE THEM BACK INSTEAD OF FUNDING THEM FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH OR AN ENTIRE YEAR, WE CAN PUSH THEM BACK TO FISCAL 28. SOME OF THEM DEPENDING ON -- AS THE BUSSES COME IN AND WE'VE ALL HAD THE DELAYS THERE AND GETTING THINGS DELIVERED, THE CNG BUSSES WHICH IS ANOTHER GRANT THAT WE GOT THIS PAST YEAR, $13.7 MILLION AND THAT IS FOR CNG BUSSES AND CNG FIELD DEPOT. THAT WILL ALLOW US TO OPERATE EVEN MORE EFFICIENTLY AND CLEANER WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE ALL SAID YOU WANT TO SEE. AND BY DOING THAT, THE BUSSES WILL BE HERE UNTIL JULY OF NEXT YEAR SO IF WE PUSH THAT BACK A

[01:10:07]

AND THE OTHER THING WE CAN DO IS PUSH THE CNG BUSSES BACK, THE ONES THAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE MOVING.

THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION IN TOTAL REDUCTION FROM THE 3 MILLION YOU ARE SEEING THEIR SO I KNOW WE CAN DO THAT RIGHT THERE. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO. I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET IT DOWN TO ZERO BY ANY MEANS BUT SOME OF IT IS A MATTER OF JUST WHEN WE ACTUALLY DEPLOY SOME OF THESE THINGS AND WE CAN PUSH THEM BACK. THAT IS KIND OF WHERE WE ARE.

WE THREW IT OUT THERE AND I WANTED YOU TO SEE THE FULL EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM AND WHERE WE ARE.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS THAT THERE WOULD COME A POINT IN TIME WHEN WE JUST COULD NOT SHUFFLE THE FUNDING AROUND OFTEN ENOUGH AND NOW THAT WE ARE ALMOST ENTIRELY DONE WITH OUR MONEY AND COVID MONEY, WE ARE BACK DOWN TO IT.

I AM OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

>> FOR THE POSITIONS, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS THE TOTAL 31 POSITIONS ARE ABOUT A LITTLE OVER $3 MILLION IN WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WHAT PERRY WAS EXPLAINING, WE ARE SHIFTING.

IT SHOULD BE A NET ZERO, THE POSITIONS AND WE ARE WORKING ON THAT TO MAKE SURE IT IS A NET ZERO.

THEY HAVE BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE TRYING TO MOVE THINGS AROUND, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WITH THESE POSITIONS, WITH THIS ORGANIZATION, WITH TRANSPORTATION, WE KNOW IT'S NOT GOING AWAY SO THEREFORE AS THOSE FUNDING SOURCES ARE DWINDLING, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE POSITIONS ARE ABLE TO BE FUNDED SO WE ARE DOING IT A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME.

WE ARE DOING POSITIONS. WE WILL TAKE A SWAP ON THE POSITIONS AND THEN TAKE THE OTHER OPERATING COSTS AND SHIFT THEM OVER INTO GRANTS. BUT BECAUSE OF THE DWINDLING SOURCES, WE ARE HAVING TO MOVE A LITTLE BIT OVER AT A TIME.

MAYBE NOT THIS MUCH, BUT, YES. >> THERE HAD BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT PICKING UP THE LOCAL SHARE IN THE COUNTY SYSTEM DISTRICT FUNDS ST. JOSEPH YOU TIMES ABOUT MAYBE 1% OF ALL OF THE BUDGETS AS A MEANS TO CREATE A LOCAL SHARE AND THAT MONEY WOULD BE FROM SALES TAX WHICH IS THE SAME FUND THAT EVERY TRANSIT AGENCY IN THE COUNTRY SURVIVES ON.

HOUSTON SURVIVES ON. HOUSTON METRO SURVIVES ON AND TO GET AS MUCH AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON GETS.

IT IS NOT A TRANSIT AGENCY IN THE COUNTRY THAT CAN OPERATE, NOT EVEN NEW YORK CITY. [INAUDIBLE] I KNOW YOU ARE DOING SOME TYPE OF TRANSITION RIGHT NOW.

IT MIGHT BE GOOD FOR US TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE TRANSITION.

>> I LIKE THAT IDEA. >> I DON'T THINK 1% OF THE DISTRICTS IS GOING TO BREAK THAT BUDGET OR WHATEVER YOU ARE

DOING. >> THOSE ONES THAT WERE STAGNANT ARE STARTING TO GROW. EVEN ONE IN OUR PRECINCT THAT IS STARTING TO -- FROM NOW. BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

>> I THINK THE CASE COULD BE MADE THAT THIS IS A SERVICE THAT AFFECTS ALL FOUR CORNERS OF THE COUNTY AND THERE IS SOME BENEFIT THAT CAN BE DERIVED FOR EVERYONE WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICE AND SO I KNOW THAT WHEN TALKING TO PERRY AND PAMELA, THE OTHER PAMELA, ABOUT IT. THE NUMBERS RUN ON WHAT THAT WOULD COST. THAT THAT WOULD GENERATE.

DO YOU HAVE THAT? YOU DON'T HAVE THAT?

OKAY. >> THE ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT ACTUALLY GREW OUT OF A TRANSPORTATION DEAL.

THAT WAS THE INITIAL EFFORT AND THAT LEGISLATION WAS MODIFIED TO COME UP WITH THE ATCO ASSISTANT DISTRICT.

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY. >> WHEN I WAS TALKING, I DIDN'T

[01:15:02]

>> IT'S HOW IT WAS INITIATED. >> DOES THAT MEAN HE WOULD BE IN

SUPPORT OF THOSE? >> I THINK THAT ONE OF THE

INITIAL PURPOSES OF THE DEAL. >> IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE IF WE

WALKED BACK ON THIS PROGRAM. >> WE ARE PRETTY DEEP INTO IT.

[LAUGHTER] >> WE ARE 20 YEARS INTO IT.

I DON'T THINK WE ARE BACKING OUT OF IT.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.

>> THIS IS AN URBAN COUNTY AND NOT A RURAL COUNTY ANYMORE SO THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST TIME TO ESTABLISH THAT AS A REVENUE SOURCE AND NOT AFFECT WHATEVER OTHER WORK IS BEING DONE.

>> DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF THE COST PER PASSENGER ON AVERAGE?

>> GOOD QUESTION. DO WE HAVE A COST PER PASSENGER?

>> IT WOULD DEPEND ON WHICH ONE, WHICH WAY THEY ARE GOING.

>> WHAT WOULD BE THE AVERAGE. >> I WILL FIND IT.

DO WE HAVE THAT? I DON'T THINK WE'VE LOOKED AT IT THAT WAY. WE WILL GET IT FOR YOU.

WE WILL GET IT FOR YOU BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE SOME MANAGING TO FIGURE IT OUT DEPENDING ON IF THERE ARE DIFFERENT ROUTES AND TIMES AND OUR CONTRACT WITH OUR SERVICE HOURS BASED ON SERVICE HOURS AND SO IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY ARE RIDING AT ANY GIVEN TIME. BUT WE WILL GET THAT FOR YOU.

>> THE REASON I ASK IS BECAUSE WHITMIRE IS LOOKING AT POSSIBLY HAVING AN BRA LIKE A SERVICE WITHOUT THE DRIVERS.

WE CAN BUY A BUNCH OF WAY MO AND EVERYONE CAN DRIVE AROUND.

[LAUGHTER] >> SUGARLAND HAS STARTED THEIR OWN A MICRO TRANSIT PROGRAM. IT'S IN THE SECOND YEAR.

THEY HAVE THREE VEHICLES THAT ARE MOVING AROUND THE ZONE AREA THAT THEY HAVE. I BELIEVE THEY OPENED IT UP TO THE ENTIRE CITY LIMITS. AT FIRST IT WAS JUST A ZONE AND I PERSONALLY COMPLAINED BECAUSE I LIVE IN SUGARLAND AND I WAS NOT IN THE ZONE. WAIT.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO IT FOR THE CITY THEN WE ALL GET IT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT IT. THEY ARE LOOKING AT EXPANDING IT BUT IT WILL PUT THEM ON THE HOOK FOR MORE MONEY TO PAY THE

BALANCE AS WELL. >> AND THEY HAD DRIVERS?

>> YES, IT'S PART OF THE CONTRACT THEY HAVE BUT WE ARE TALKING THREE VEHICLES AND 2 OR 3 DRIVERS PER VEHICLE SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT OVER 50 VEHICLES. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW TOO --

>> LAST TIME I WAS IN AUSTIN I WOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A WAYMO. I WILL DO IT AGAIN BECAUSE IT WORKED REALLY WELL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS HUMOUROUS IS ANDREW AND I, FROM MY MEETING THAT WE HAD WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND SO WE WERE DRIVING FROM THAT MEETING TO THE OTHER AND TOOK A WAYMO OVER THERE.

IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING. WE CAME UP ON A RED LIGHT AND WE HAD LITTLE BLUE CORN FLOWERS AND THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. I SAID WHAT DO WE DO NOW? AND ABOUT THE TIME THE WAYMO HONKED AT THE CAR IN FRONT AND IT TOOK OFF. I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO VERY INTERESTING. IT RECOGNIZED THAT THE LIGHT IS GREEN IN THE CAR IS NOT MOVING SO IT HONKED AT IT.

THE FIRST TIME WE HAD A MECHANICAL DEVICE INSTRUCT A

INDIVIDUAL OF WHAT TO DO. >> TOO FUNNY.

I WAS GOING TO MENTION THAT THE MONEY THAT WE SPEND HERE, OUR STATE MATCH -- TOTAL IT'S $13.85 MILLION IS WHAT IS IN THE COUNTY BEING USED AND ALMOST 12,000 OF THAT IS FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING. WE ARE LEVERAGING A RELATIVELY SMALL PART. WE ARE LEVERAGING A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF OUR FUNDING WITH THE FEDERAL DOLLARS AND I HAD ONE PERSON ONE TIME AT A PUBLIC MEETING ASKED ME, YOU ARE JUST WASTING MONEY AND THIS IS ALL TAX MONEY.

OUR TAX MONEY, ESPECIALLY OUR FEDERAL MONEY WILL GO TO WASHINGTON NO MATTER WHAT SO MY JOB IS TO BRING BACK AS MUCH OF THAT TO MY COUNTY AS I CAN AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. LEVERAGE A LITTLE BIT AND GET A

WHOLE LOT MORE. >> EITHER DO THAT OR BUILD A WHOLE LOT MORE LANE ROADS OUT THERE.

WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE. >> YES, IT IS.

>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION TO EDUCATE MYSELF.

IS A POSSIBLE -- YOU MENTION TO FUND THIS OPERATION, THE GRAND

[01:20:05]

>> LOOKING OUT THE POSSIBILITY. >> PULLING IT OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND AND THE GRANTS. THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL.

THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC. >> YES.

>> I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BUT I WAS JUST ON AN EVENT LAST NIGHT WHERE IT WAS A BUNCH OF SENIORS AND THEY WERE TAKING ISSUE WITH THE RELIABILITY OF OUR DEMAND RESPONSE SERVICE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A PRESSING PROBLEM.

I KNOW WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS MEETINGS ABOUT THIS.

STILL I ARRIVED BACK AT THE ONE WHERE WE NEED TO WORK VERY INTENTLY ON OUR OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

DRIVER AVAILABILITY IS A HUGE PART OF THAT ISSUE, BUT THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS GETTING SOME FIXED WROTE SYSTEMS HERE IN THE COUNTY. WE HAVE -- AGAIN STARTING WAS SENIORS, WE HAVE HUGE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE SENIORS RESIDE. IF WE COULD LOOK AT HOW WE MIGHT GET STARTED WITH THAT SORT OF SERVICE.

I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY DOING IT WITHIN ONE OF THE CABS IN MY PRECINCT BUT REALLY, REALLY WANT TO TRY TO PURSUE THAT FEROCIOUSLY BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN POINTS WERE SENIORS REGULARLY GO GROCERY STORE SHOPPING, THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND THEY ARE IN A CERTAIN RADIUS AND IF WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO GET THAT AND TO GET PEOPLE TO TRUST OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT MORE AND FIND WAYS TO RELY ON IT, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL BUT I KNOW THAT YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT THE MICRO TRANSIT SYSTEM AND I KNOW THE MAYOR HAS BROUGHT UP THE FUNDING THAT THEY RECEIVED. WE SUPPORTED IT WITH THE MOBILITY BOND IN 2023 BUT THEY WERE ALSO ABLE TO GET FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THAT THAT ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT IS THE VIABILITY OF THAT PROGRAM?

>> THERE FEDERAL FUNDING WAS CONGESTION MITIGATION AIR FUNDING WHICH HAS TO BE USED TOWARDS REDUCING CONGESTION.

PRETTY MUCH WHAT THE NAME SAYS. I BELIEVE IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT THE FUNDING IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

THERE IS ALWAYS FUNDING AVAILABLE BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOCAL MATCH AND THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE THE LOCAL MATCH SO THEY WILL HAVE TO KICK IN MORE. THAT IS MORE OF WHERE I BELIEVE THE RUB IS RIGHT NOW FOR THEM BUT THEY CAN CERTAINLY -- IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU PUT IN AND THAT'S HOW MUCH YOU WILL GET

BACK. >> IS THAT FUNDING AVAILABLE TO

US? >> YES.

AND WE USE IT ALL THE TIME. >> ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> YES. AND, YOU KNOW, THE THING IS TOO.

I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT FIRST SOMETHING THERE.

WITH THAT FUNDING, IT'S USED FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND THEN YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT YOU ARE USING IT AND GROWING AND NOW YOU DON'T NEED IT SO THEY NEED SOME TIME TO DO THAT. AND THEY WILL HAVE TO PUT THEIR PENNY IN IN ORDER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN BUT THE OTHER THING FOR US, FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY IS THE NEW DISPATCH SYSTEM THAT WE WILL BE PUTTING IN OVER THE SUMMER IS TALKING ABOUT AI EARLIER AND THE THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO FOR YOU, WAYMO AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THIS SYSTEM WILL BE -- KNOCK ON WOOD, IT WILL BE GREAT BECAUSE NOT ONLY WILL WE BE ABLE TO PROVIDE BETTER TIMES AND WHERE IS MY BUS? PEOPLE CAN FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE WAITING FOR AND THEY WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO REMATCH THROUGHOUT THE DAY AUTOMATICALLY SO THEY ARE NOT LOSING TIME CALLING BACK TO DISPATCH SAYING MY PERSON IS NOT HERE, THERE IS NOBODY FOR ME TO PICK UP.

WHERE YOU WANT ME TO GO NEXT BECAUSE NOW I'M OFF TRACK? IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY DO ALL OF THAT AND KEEP THEM MOVING.

IT WILL GET RID OF SO MANY OF THOSE DELAYS AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO MUCH MORE. WE ARE VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND THE SAME SYSTEM DOING THE MICRO TRANSIT PROGRAM, THAT

WAS MY TIE. >> MY LAST QUESTION, HOW ARE WE DOING AT WESTPARK PARK AND RIDE? I KNOW I PASSED BY THERE ALL THE

TIME. >> AND THERE IS NOBODY THERE.

[LAUGHTER] YES, IT HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKED, I MENTIONED THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HAS A CAMPUS IN SUGARLAND AND ALSO WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE SOME OF OUR BUSSES THERE AND KEEP THEM THERE SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DEADHEAD ALL THE WAY FROM ROSENBERG AND WE COULD MOVE PEOPLE FROM U OF H CAMPUS BUT ALSO TALKING ABOUT

[01:25:03]

THAT WOULD PROVIDE A SMALL AREA FOR THEM TO PARK, THOSE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE, ALSO LOOKING AT EXPANDING THE COMMUTER WROTE TO THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AND DOWNTOWN BECAUSE WE'VE GONE FEEDBACK FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THERE, THAT IS WHERE THEY WANT TO GO AND OUR QUESTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN, PUTTING A BUS ON THE TOLLROAD THAT IS ALREADY HEAVILY CONGESTED, IS THAT A GOOD IDEA OR NOT? WE ARE RUNNING SOME NUMBERS THERE TO SEE WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

I'VE BEEN WORKING AT THE HARRIS AUTHORITY ABOUT THAT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO THEIR BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THAT ROAD TO ADD A DEDICATED LANE. IT'S JUST TOO NARROW AND THERE IS NO WAY BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT.

THE OTHER THING IS SIMPLY IF PEOPLE NEED THAT WESTPARK RIDE TO GO TO OTHER PLACES AND SO MY TEAM HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THAT AS WELL AS TO HOW WE MIGHT BETTER USE IT BUT THE MAIN THING RIGHT NOW HAS BEEN WHERE WE WILL GET THE USAGE IS IF WE COULD DO ONE TO DOWNTOWN OR THE MEDICAL CENTER AND IF WE COULD DO THAT WITH THE U OF H, THE U OF H IS A PARTNER WITH US.

THEY'RE HELPING TO PAY FOR -- THEY PAY THE EXTRA SERVICE HOURS FOR THE EXTRA LOOP THAT WE ADDED AT DOWNTOWN TO GO TO THE CAMPUS THERE. SO WE HAVE THE FIXED WROTE THAT GOES FROM AMC ALL THE WAY INTO DOWNTOWN AND THEN AROUND THE CIRCULATORY WROTE. I THINK IT'S AN EXTRA TAGLINE AT THE BEGINNING AND AT THE END, THEY HAVE STUDENTS THAT NEED TO GO BACK AND FORTH AND THEY CAN DO THAT.

IT'S LIMITED AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MIDDAY, YEAH, BUT WE ARE WAITING TO SEE HOW THEY DO THEIR SCHEDULES BUT THE NICE THING I THINK IS I HAVE THIS ONE LITTLE STORY.

THERE IS A MOM AND HER DAUGHTER THAT GO EVERY DAY.

MOM IS GOING TO WORK IN DOWNTOWN AND HER DAUGHTER IS GOING TO CAMPUS AND IT MADE THEM WAY MORE COMFORTABLE TO KNOW WHERE THEIR STUDENTS WERE GOING EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE COLLEGE KIDS.

THEY ARE STILL EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

BUT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT IT AND ANY IDEAS THAT ANY OF YOU EVER HAVE, PLEASE LET US KNOW. THE STAFF ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR IDEAS AND WAYS TO HELP. SOMETHING I DIDN'T MENTION BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, FOR THE CITY OF NEED VILLE, WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME STATE MONEY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

THE STATE PROVIDED FUNDING AND WE WERE ABLE TO ADD ON AN EXTRA SERVICE FOR THEM FOR ONE MORE BUS FOR DEMAND RESPONSE INTO THE RICHMOND, ROSENBERG AREA BECAUSE THAT IS THE PRIMARY PLACE THEY WANT TO GO FOR DIALYSIS AND MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND GROCERIES AND YOU NAME IT. I HAVE TO SAY, ERIC WHO IS THE HEAD OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DIVISION CALLED US A FEW WEEKS AGO TO TELL US THAT WE ARE ROCK STARS.

WE DID REALLY GREAT ADDING MORE PEOPLE THAN MOST OF THE OTHER EXPERIMENTAL GROUPS THAT DID IT FOR THIS PAST YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS LIMITED FUNDING BUT ALL WE DID WAS ADD ANOTHER WROTE, A DEMAND RESPONSE WROTE ADDED SO WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE RIDES. IT'S NOT A HUGE AMOUNT.

MAYBE 20 RIDES PER MONTH BUT THAT WAS BETTER THAN THE THREE RIDES WE WERE GETTING BEFORE. SO YES, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING

FOR ANYTHING WE CAN DO. >> FANTASTIC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ROOSEVELT I'M THE PROUD DIRECTOR OF THE FORT BEND COUNTY SYSTEM AND WITH ME I HAVE MY FABULOUS TEAM WITH ME THE BEST LEADERSHIP TEAM IN THE COUNTY, STAND UP GUYS. YOU WILL NOT LEAVE ME HERE BY MYSELF. THAT'S THE BEST TEAM IN THE COUNTY. WHAT I WANT TO DO IS WE HAD A SLIDING BUDGET FROM LAST YEAR AND I WANT TO GO OVER A COUPLE OF THOSE ITEMS FOR YOU AND OUR FEES WE'VE ADDED BACK IN, IT USED TO BE IN THE COUNTY BUDGET BUT WE'VE ADDED BACK IN THE CELL PHONE AND HOT SPOTS AND TO GIVE YOU A BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOT SPOTS, THIS IS A PROGRAM WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND USE THE HOT SPOTS WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE INTERNET AT HOME.

THIS IS A VERY NEEDED PROGRAM, WE USED TO CIRCULATE THEM EVERY 14 DAYS AND GOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS A LOT OF WAIT TIME SO WE HAD TO MOVE THAT DOWN TO SEVEN DAYS SO WE'RE LOOKING TO INCREASE THAT PROGRAM TO GET MORE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE HOT SPOTS AT HOME AND HAVE INTERNET ACCESS PEER INTERNET ACCESS IS NOT -- IT IS A NECESSITY IT IS NOT A WANT TO NECESSITY TODAY IN OUR COUNTRY. WE HAD AN INCREASE IN THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM BY 10,000 PROGRAMS, INCREASED IN PROGRAMS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A DECLINE IN THE FRENCH FUNDS BUT WE MAINLY

[01:30:01]

WE'RE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAMING FUNDS FROM THERE.

AND ALSO WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT WE'RE LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL GRANT AND OPPORTUNITIES, WE RECENTLY GOT A $75,000 GRANT TO HELP WITH SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS WE HAVE ANOTHER $10,000 GRANT THAT I'M PROUD OF IT'S A FAMILY PRICE GRANT WHERE WE ARE BEING TRAINED TO TEACH PARENTS HOW TO BECOME THEIR FIRST TEACHERS FOR OUR STUDENTS TO LEARN AND SO WE ARE PROUD OF THOSE GRANTS. WE CONTINUE TO GO AFTER ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THAT. WE'VE ADDED OUTREACH PROGRAM WE HAVE AN OUTREACH PROGRAM AND PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IT'S A NEW PROGRAM REPURPOSED A LOT OF OUR POSITIONS TO CREATE THIS TEAM TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO SERVE THE UNSWERVING -- THE UNDERSERVED. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A COUNTY OF 910,000, WE HAVE ABOUT 300,000 CARDHOLDERS AND SO WE KNOW WE ARE NOT SERVING EVERYBODY AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT OUR PROGRAM DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE SERVICES WE OFFER AND SO WE CREATED THIS OUTREACH TEAM FROM REPURPOSED POSITION DID NOT INCLUDE THE ADDITIONAL POSITION TO DO THAT.

AND THEN FINALLY WE'VE INCREASED OUR BUDGET AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET AND THIS BUDGET IS ABOUT $20,000 IN THESE REPAIRS WHEN OUR STAFF GET HERE WE BRING FOLKS FROM THE OUTSIDE TO DO SOME WORK FOR US. AND THEN FINALLY IN BUDGET ITEM 63600, SUPPLIES AND MAINTENANCE THIS IS MAINLY OUR BOOK BUDGET FOR A LOT OF YOU WHO MAY NOT KNOW IT, OUR EBOOKS COST SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN OUR PRINT BOOKS RIGHT NOW WE CAN GET A PRINT BOOK FOR $12 THE E-BOOK FROM PUBLISHER WILL CALL -- COST US $40. THAT IS CONTINUOUSLY GROWING OUR E-BOOK IS GROWING, MORE PEOPLE ARE USING IT AND SO IF WE DON'T INCREASE THIS WE'RE GOING TO BE BEHIND.

ON OUR POPULAR BOOKS, THERE IS A WAIT-LIST FOR MONTHS AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BUY THAT AND HOW EBOOKS WORK IS WE DON'T OWN THOSE BOOKS, WE ARE THE -- WE LEASE THEM, LEASE THEM FOR SEVEN TIMES AND THEN WE HAVE TO REBUY THOSE ITEMS AGAIN.

IT EITHER CONTINUES TO GROW OR WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE THAT'S HAVING TO WAIT A LONG TIME TO GIVE IT TO YOU.

AND THOSE ARE THE ITEMS THAT I HAVE.

WE DO HAVE THREE POSITIONS, THEY ARE BUDGET NEUTRAL I THINK TWO POSITIONS FOR THE TEACHERS IN OUR LIBRARY, WE WANT TO EXTEND IT. WE HAVE IT AT THREE BRANCHES MISSION, MISSOURI CITY AND JOSH MEMORIAL.

A TREMENDOUS PROGRAM AND ONE OF OUR BRANCHES WE HAD TO REPURPOSE ANOTHER ROOM TO ACCOMMODATE THE KIDS THAT ARE COMING IN AND SO THERE IS A NEED. WE DO KNOW THAT WHERE PARENTS BRING THEIR KIDS IN AFTER SCHOOL TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TEACHERS HAVING THEIR STUDENTS TO BE BETTER IN SCHOOL.

AND THEN THE OTHER POSITION IS FACILITY AND MAINTENANCE TEAM IS DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB IN TAKING CARE OF OUR BUILDINGS, WE'RE ASKING FOR THE MAINTENANCE IN THE POSITION TO HELP US TO KEEP UP WITH THAT AND LIKE I SAID I THINK ALL THESE POSITIONS ARE BUDGET NEUTRAL. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> YES, I THINK YOU ARE DOING TREMENDOUS WORK IN THE LIBRARIES, THE COMMUNITY IS OVERJOYED ABOUT IT I HAD SOME FOLKS BRING IN A BIG TRIFOLD BOARD FROM THE MISSION BIN LIBRARY WHERE THEY HAD PATRONS ASK WHAT THEY LOVE ABOUT THE LIBRARIES AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING READ SEEING WHAT PEOPLE HAD TO SAY. I CAN SAY FROM BEING AROUND IN THAT COMMUNITY ON THE WEEKENDS THAT PEOPLE REALLY LOVE AND APPRECIATE THE TEACHING LIBRARY PROGRAM SO KUDOS TO THE TEAM ON GETTING THAT GOING. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE INTERNET PART FIRST PURE COMEDY HOT SPOTS DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE?

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 40 TO 50 DEPENDING ON WHETHER SOME ARE WORKING, THEY BECOME NOT AVAILABLE SOMETIMES AND SO WE HAVE ABOUT 50, 40 TO 50 IN CIRCULATION RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE

LOOKING TO PUT 128 IN IF WE CAN. >> YOU ARE SEEING THAT THOSE THAT ARE AVAILABLE ARE CONSISTENTLY CHECKED OUT.

>> MOST DEFINITELY. >> WE ARE GETTING COMPLAINTS BECAUSE WE USED TO HAVE TWO WEEKS NOW IT'S DOWN TO SEVEN -- TWO WEEKS NOW IT'S DOWN TO ONE WEEK WHERE THEY CAN HAVE THEM,

[01:35:02]

SEVEN DAYS. >> THAT THEN MEANS THAT THERE'S A HUGE ECONOMIC FACTOR TO THAT AS WELL.

DO WE HAVE ANY DATA ON THE FOLKS WHO ARE MAKING USE OF THIS

CHARACTER WE COLLECT THAT? >> WE DO NOT COLLECT THAT --

THAT DATA. >> I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN

WHERE THEY ARE IN THE COMMUNITY. >> WE CAN GET THAT DATA FOR YOU BUT WE DON'T LIKE TO TRACK WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING.

>> IF THERE'S MORE FREQUENT USE IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES THAT MIGHT SUGGEST THAT YOU ARE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS LIKE THE COMCAST AND SOME OTHER INTERNET ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND MAKING PEOPLE AWARE OF THAT AND WHERE THERE MIGHT BE POSSIBLE I WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THAT. SO THAT IS A BIG DEAL SO I FULLY SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF YOUR HOT SPOT PROGRAM.

ON THE E BOOK MATTER I KNOW A COUPLE OF FOLKS IN MY OFFICE REGULARLY USE THAT SERVICE FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY'S. WHY IS IT SO EXPENSIVE? $40 FOR A BOOK VERSUS $12 FOR A PHYSICAL BOOK?

>> BECAUSE THE PUBLISHER, THEY KNOW LIBRARIES ARE GOING TO PAY IT. WE ARE THE ONLY ONE, WE'RE THE ONLY ENTITY WHERE THEY DO THAT. YOU CAN GO TO AMAZON AND GET THAT SAME BOOK FOR LESS THAN THAT, SEVEN BUCKS.

BUT THE PUBLISHERS CHOOSE TO CHARGE THE LIBRARIES AND THERE IS LEGISLATION GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN SOME STATES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS GETTING OUT OF HAND.

WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO FOOT A BILL LIKE THAT AND SO WE ARE WORKING WITH OTHER LIBRARY SYSTEMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TO GET THAT ADDRESSED.

>> DO YOU KNOW OF ANY LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS HERE IN

TEXAS TO ADDRESS THAT? >> I WANTED TO BRING IT UP, THE REASON I BROUGHT IT UP IS SO WE COULD HAVE THAT.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD SUGGEST TO MY COLLEAGUES, IT'S A BIG PART OF OUR PRIORITIES GOING INTO 2027 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IT'S COSTING TAXPAYERS MONEY AND WE ARE THE ONLY PUBLIC ENTITIES ARE THE ONLY ONES BEING CHARGED THAT TO ME, THAT'S A FORM OF PRICE GOUGING, THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT TERM BUT THAT IS MESSED

UP. >> THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

>> IT'S LIKE THEY FIND OUT WE'RE TRYING TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY THEN THE PRICE SOMEHOW GOES UP ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY.

IT'S NOT RIGHT. THAT IS ALL I HAVE,.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. THE SALARY LINE FOR TARGET BUDGET AND QUESTION BUDGET IS THE SAME.

THEY DO TARGET ONE PERSON INCREASE?

>> THE SALARY LINE FOR WHICH? >> THE SALARY LINE SHOWS 1,099,406.4 '04 OVER TARGET AND 11,000,406.404 OVER BUDGET.

>> IT'S THE SAME? >> IT IS THE SAME, THAT'S THE REASON I'M ASKING THE QUESTION THERE'S ONE NEW POSITION FOR

$59,000. >> IF I MAY.

WHAT WE'VE DONE ON OUR TEAM ON THE EXECUTIVE TEAM, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF LONG TIME EMPLOYEES TO LEAVE OUR ORGANIZATION AND THEY WERE MAKING A HIGH SALARY AND WE'VE CONSUMED SOME OF THOSE

RESPONSIBILITIES. >> YOU ADJUSTED YOUR REQUEST

DOWN TO WHAT IT CURRENTLY IS. >> WE WORK WITH OUR PEOPLE TO

HELP DO THAT. >> THANK YOU FOR THE

EXPLANATION. >> BECAUSE THE VACANCIES.

>> I WILL ADD ONE MORE THING, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AND THIS HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION ON THE FACILITY SIDE AS WELL. GEORGE MEMORIAL LIBRARY BEING OUR FLAGSHIP IS PAST ITS PRIME AND I'M JUST GOING TO ADD FOR MY COLLEAGUES EDIFICATION THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK AT WAYS OF MODERNIZING THAT FACILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS TODAY. LEAKING ROOFS, ALL THAT STUFF REALLY MAJOR ISSUES SO I'M JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE IN THE ETHER THAT IF WE DO A FUTURE FACILITIES BOND SOMETHING THAT I

WOULD LOVE TO BE PART OF THAT. >> I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT AND JUST SO YOU KNOW THE LAKE IS GOING TO GET ADDRESSED THIS YEAR HOPEFULLY WE'VE GOT THE WORK IN PLACE WHERE WE HAVE THE PEOPLE TO COST OUT WHAT THAT ROOF WILL COST AND HOPEFULLY THAT WORK WILL START IN TWO TO THREE MONTHS.

>> DO WE KNOW WHEN THE LEAK AT UNIVERSITY BRANCH WILL BE FIXED?

>> FOR DOING THAT AS WELL. >> I THINK I BROUGHT THAT UP IN 2023 WHEN I WAS OVER THERE AND I KNOW IT'S UNSIGHTLY.

>> WE ARE WORKING ON IT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

[01:40:02]

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> WE HAVE CALLED ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS, THEY ARE COMING THIS AFTERNOON, WERE ABLE TO GET AHOLD OF SHERIFF NT A, THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY UNTIL THEN I CAN DO

THE BUDGET OFFICE IF YOU WISH. >> I WAS GOING TO HAVE ALL KINDS

OF DATA FOR YOU BUT. >> THE BUDGET OFFICE IS $72,464 OVER TARGET AND THAT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO TWO ITEMS. THE FIRST IS IN FEES. IN FEES I HAVE ADDED $5300 FOR A STRATEGIC PLAN IF YOU -- I TALKED TO YOU ALL OF THIS LAST YEAR, WE ADDED 200 TO $250,000 IN NON-- DEPARTMENTAL -- STRATEGIC PLAN. WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS, WE ARE CURRENTLY JUST FINISHED CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS MY PROJECT MANAGER, ALICIA JUST SENT THAT ALL OVER TO PURCHASING AND TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO GET THAT CONTRACT WRITTEN UP. ALL THAT BEING SAID IS THAT IT IS A NINE MONTH PROCESS TO DO THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND IT WILL NOT BE FINISHED THIS FISCAL YEAR SO I'VE HAD TO BUDGET FOR THE REMAINDER OF IT IT MAY BE DEPENDING ON WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS BY THE TIME WE ADOPT THE BUDGET, I WILL HAVE TO BUDGET THE REMAINDER OF THAT STRATEGIC PLAN IN 2027 AND I WANT TO PUT IT IN MY BUDGET RATHER THAN NON-DEPARTMENTAL BECAUSE WE WILL ALREADY BE MID THROUGH THEIR PROCESS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY PROJECT MANAGER IS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MANAGE THAT PROGRAM. THERE IS GOING TO BE A TRANSFER ON THE AGENDA NOT THIS MEETING BUT THE NEXT MEETING TO MOVE THAT FUNDING FROM NON-DEPARTMENTAL INTO THE BUDGET OFFICE SO THAT MY PROJECT MANAGER CAN BETTER MANAGE THAT PROJECT AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THAT IS TAKEN CARE OF.

SO THAT IS THAT PORTION. THE SECOND PORTION OF THE FEES THAT HAVE INCREASED, I'VE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL $24,000 IN FEES FOR MY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT.

I CURRENTLY HAVE 200 AND RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT $250,000 FOR THE CONSULTANT AND US BANK WHICH IS OUR SECURITY -- CUSTODIAL BANK.

WE PAY A PERCENTAGE OF OUR PORTFOLIO AND WITH THAT OUR PORTFOLIO IS INCREASING BUT OUR INTEREST YIELD IS ALSO INCREASING FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

SO AS THOSE -- AS THE YIELD INCREASES THEN OUR FEES ALSO INCREASED AND SO THEREFORE THAT IS THAT EXTRA $24,000.

I HOPE I DON'T HAVE TO REQUEST MONEY FROM CONTINGENCY THIS YEAR BUT IT IS A POSSIBILITY BECAUSE OUR INTEREST EARNINGS ARE INCREASING AND WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

THE THIRD ITEM THAT I AM REQUESTING ARE SOME CONFERENCE ROOM CHAIRS. WE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE THAT ALL OF YOU ARE HAVING WITH THE CHAIRS IN HERE, THE HYDRAULICS ARE OUT. PEOPLE ARE SITTING IN THE CHAIRS AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY NOT SLOWLY GOING DOWN THEY ARE FAST AND THEY DROP. SO WE NEED TO REPLACE THE CHAIRS AND EVERQUEST AT $3000 IN MY BUDGET TO REPLACE TEN CHAIRS IN

THE CONFERENCE ROOM. >> QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT A STRATEGIC PLAN, FOR THE LAST TWO BUDGET CYCLES THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM TAKING ON THAT EFFORT AND I THINK THIS WILL BE A REALLY BIG DEAL, THIS WAS ANOTHER TOPIC OF CONVERSATION AT THE CONFERENCE OF URBAN COUNTIES CONFERENCE ROOM THIS PAST WEEK AND WE GOT TO GET SOME REALLY GOOD INSIGHT TO HOW SOME OTHER COUNTIES ARE DOING IT ACROSS THE NATION AND SO I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU ALL ON SOME OF THIS.

SO I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE IN THIS COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE NUMBER OF ELECTED

OFFICIALS WE HAVE AND. >> 82 DEPARTMENT HEADS --

[01:45:05]

THIS CONSULTANT WILL BE WORKING WITH ALL OF THEM AND OF COURSE.

>> 82? >> 82.

AND WORKING WITH THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC HAVING PUBLIC MEETINGS, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A NINE MONTH PROCESS AND OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT YET, THAT HAS NOT COME TO COURT, IS JUST GOING OUT TO COUNTY ATTORNEY AND TO PROCUREMENT THIS WEEK.

YOU WILL BE SEEING IT HOPEFULLY SOON AND THEN WE CAN GET

STARTED. >> MY LAST POINT IS EVEN, I THINK IT WILL IMPROVE THIS BUDGET PROCESS AS WE ARE GOING THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS. SO ENSURING THAT WE HAVE SOME GOALS THAT HAVE A SHARED VISION THAT ALL OF US HAVE COME TO CONSENSUS ON AND THAT EVERY REQUEST, DON'T HAVE TO DEFEND HOW IT WILL HELP US WITH THOSE KEY GOALS.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> AND MY GOAL THERE IS TO BRING -- TO USE THOSE GOALS THAT ARE DETERMINED BY ALL OF YOU AND THE COMMUNITY IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN TO THEN MOVE TOWARDS A PERFORMANCE BASED BUDGET TO WHERE EACH OF THE BUDGET REQUESTS ARE MAPPED TO A SPECIFIC COUNTY GOAL.

>> I AM DONE, THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS

OR COMMENTS? >> I WAS GOING TO SAY IF THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS WE CAN MOVE ON BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE HERE.

>> WE CAN GO TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

>> IS HE HERE? >> OKAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR ADJUSTING YOUR SCHEDULE.

>> ANYTHING I CAN DO. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE NICE TO MEET YOU. WE ARE OF OUR TARGET THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE REQUESTED NEW POSITIONS WHEN THE ADVICE WAS NO GROWTH. THIS IS DUE IN LARGE PART TO THE CREATION OF TWO NEW DISTRICT COURTS LAST YEAR.

ONE THAT HEARS CRIMINAL MATTERS AND ONE THAT HEARS FAMILY LAW MATTERS. THE COURT APPROVED LAST YEAR ONLY THE BARE MINIMUM TO STAFF THIS COURT WHICH WAS TWO ATTORNEYS AND ONE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.

WE WERE NOT EVEN FUNDED FOR A DESK OR A CHAIR COMPUTER, PEN OR PAPER FOR THOSE THREE POSITIONS. WE ALSO HAVE MANY SPECIALIZED CASELOADS THAT ARE HANDLED BY EXPERTS IN THEIR OWN DISCIPLINES. THOSE WERE NOT PROVIDED FOR LAST YEAR. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOR EXAMPLE IS ALREADY UNDERSTAFFED, ONE OF OUR REQUEST IS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ATTORNEYS. IT REQUIRES OUR DEPUTY CHIEF PROSECUTOR TO CARRY A FULL COURT -- CASELOAD PLUS DOING HIS LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING AND OVERSIGHT DUTIES.

ADDITIONALLY THIS DIVISION ALSO REPRESENTS VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE FAMILY COURTS WHERE WE ALSO GOT THEM TO COURT WHEN APPLYING FOR PROTECTIVE ORDERS.

WE CURRENTLY ONLY HAVE ONE PROTECTIVE ORDER ATTORNEY AND NOW HAVE FOUR FAMILY COURTS IN THREE ASSOCIATE JUDGES THERE SO SEVEN COURTS, ONE PERSON. IT JUST PHYSICALLY IS NOT POSSIBLE TO BE MORE THAN ONE PLACE AT A TIME.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS OUR ECONOMIC CRIMES DIVISION, THAT DIVISION PROSECUTES WHITE COLLAR CRIME, COMPLEX FINANCIAL THEFT, FRAUD, ARSON AND EXPLOITATION OF THE ELDERLY WHICH UNFORTUNATELY IS A GROWING CASELOAD. THERE'S ONLY TWO LAWYERS THAT ARE IN THAT DIVISION. WITH THE ADDITION OF THE NEW COURT THOSE TWO PEOPLE NOW COVER SIX DISTRICT COURTS AND FIVE ASSOCIATE COURTS. SO OUR NEEDS ARE BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE PLACES TO BE AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE STAFF TO BE THERE.

ALSO, AS A WAY OF SUPPORT, THAT TEXAS INDIGENOUS DEFENSE COMMISSION, BACK IN 2015 LONG TIME AGO, DID A STUDY THAT RECOMMENDED THE MAXIMUM CASELOAD THAT A PUBLIC DEFENDER SHOULD HAVE TO ENSURE MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY AND PROTECTION OF THE ACCUSED RIGHTS. AND THAT NUMBER WAS 128 FELONY CASES ANNUALLY OR 226 MISDEMEANOR CASES ANNUALLY.

I ANALYZED TEN OF OUR MISDEMEANOR AND MISDEMEANOR LEVEL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROSECUTOR CASELOADS AND THEY AVERAGE 234 CASES EACH. TODAY.

IN MAY OVER THE ANNUAL NUMBER. I ALSO ANALYZED 12 FELONY PROSECUTORS AND FOUND THEM ALMOST AS HIGH.

[01:50:03]

WE ARE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE TO PROTECT THE ACCUSED RIGHTS.

I AM ALSO HERE FOR THE EXPOSED EXCELLENCE YOUTH PROGRAM TALKING ABOUT POSITIONS, IT'S OFFERED WITH THREE EMPLOYEES SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2021, IT IS NOW IN HIGH DEMAND PROVIDING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC SAFETY AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMING UNIQUE TO FORT BEND. NO ONE ELSE IS DOING WHAT WE DO.

WE ARE STRUGGLING TO PROVIDE THE PROGRAMING TO ALL THE STUDENTS THAT ASK, WE HAVE WAITLISTS AND SCHOOLS THAT WANT OUR PROGRAMS THAT WE SIMPLY CANNOT STAFF. THE COUNTY CUT THE PROGRAMING FUNDS LAST YEAR AND THE ONLY INVESTMENT THAT REMAINS IS SALARIES. WE ARE ASKING FOR ONE ADDITIONAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR TO DELIVER WHAT HAS BECOME THIS COUNTY'S PREMIER YOUTH PROGRAM. THAT IS MY ARGUMENT FOR POSITIONS, I DO HAVE A POINT TO MAKE ON SALARIES, IS NOT IN OUR BUDGET PACKAGE BUT IT'S SOMETHING YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF. THE SALARY SALARIES THAT MIDLINE WITH COMPARISON COUNTIES. CONSIDERING OUR PROXIMITY TO HARRIS COUNTY. MANY OF OUR STAFF DO NOT EARN A LIVABLE WAGE, SINCE OUR LAST STUDY IN 2022, WE HAVE NOT PAID A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT AT 5% WHICH WAS NEEDED FOR ATTORNEY SPECIFICALLY TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE WITH THEIR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES. MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN WATER COUNTY NOW BOTH START ENTRY LEVEL ATTORNEYS AT 94,095,000 ANNUALLY RESPECTIVELY. THE OTHER COUNTY, WHICH IS NOT A COMPARISON COUNTY STARTS THEM AT 90,000, WE START AT 84.

SO SIX TO $10,000 STARTING IN OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES NOW.

THE BOARD OF JUDGES RECENTLY INCREASED PAY FOR A POINT ATTORNEYS TO A MINIMUM OF $200 AN HOUR, NOBODY IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OUR MAKES $200 AN HOUR.

NO TRIAL ATTORNEY EVEN MAKES $100 AN HOUR.

I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER WHAT WOULD BE EQUITABLE TO GET OUR STARTING PAY BACK WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE TO COMPETE WITH THOSE COUNTIES AROUND US. WE DON'T KNOW THE OUTSTANDING CANDIDATES WE ARE MISSING OUT ON BECAUSE THEY WON'T EVEN APPLY.

THESE POINTS REFLECT COMMON SENSE SPENDING ON PUBLIC SAFETY TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS ALWAYS BUDGETED RESPONSIBLY AND EFFICIENTLY AND SECURES MILLIONS IN GRANT FUNDING TO PROVIDE THE BEST TO OUR RESIDENTS WHILE MINIMIZING THE COST TO OUR TAXPAYERS.

IF THERE IS WASTEFUL SPENDING IN THIS COUNTY YOU WILL NOT FIND IT IN OUR OFFICE. OUR BUDGET REQUEST REFLECTS PUBLIC SAFETY AS A PRIORITY, THE VALUE OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THE FINANCIAL REALITY OF LIVING IN TODAY'S ECONOMY IN A COUNTY WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST COST OF LIVING.

THIS YEAR, IF YOU WILL INVEST IN ANYTHING INVEST IN OUR PEOPLE

PLEASE PICK. >> QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ANY. >> I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, HR DID ANNOUNCE YESTERDAY THAT SHE'S ASKING IN HER BUDGET FOR

COMPENSATION STUDY. >> I HAVE LET NICOLE KNOW, EVERY TIME I SAW IT GO UP I WILL LET HER KNOW JUST SO SHE WAS AWARE.

>> NOT FOR ANYTHING ELSE BUT WHEN I SAW THEM GARRETT, I LOST MY MIND. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.

>> I KNOW YOUR OFFICE HAS DONE A LOT AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVEN MORE WITH NOT A LOT. AND SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTORNEYS AND ALL THE TEAM THAT WORKS HARD EVERY DAY.

I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF ENGAGING WITH EXPOSED EXCELLENCY PROGRAM A FEW TIMES AND I KNOW HOW INCREDIBLY REWARDING IT IS FOR THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE IN IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS THERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO AT SOME POINT IN YOUR TRIP TAGGING ALONG FOR THE UPCOMING FREEDOM TOUR YOU ARE DOING WITH THE STUDENTS. WITH REGARD TO THE ADDITIONAL ATTORNEYS, WITH OUR NEW COURT, WHAT IS THE IDEAL RATIO IN A PERFECT WORLD OF ATTORNEY TO COURT RATIO OR DO YOU DO IT BY

CASELOAD? >> IT DEPENDS.

[01:55:02]

BUT SPECIALIZED CASELOADS, THAT IS MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK WHERE YOU HAVE SPECIALIST SCENARIOS AND SO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR ECONOMIC CRIMES. RIGHT NOW IT'S TWO PEOPLE CANNOT COVER TEN COURTS. THE CASELOAD HAS NOT NECESSARILY INCREASED IT'S JUST THAT THERE ARE MORE PLACES TO BE AND WE HAVE NOT INCREASED THAT DIVISION IN DECADES.

MAYBE NOT DECADES. SO IT IS DIFFERENT IF THERE'S A SPECIALIZED CASELOAD, THERE WILL BE A DIFFERENT CASE COUNT PER PERSON OR PER -- PER COURT. CHILD YOUTH, WE ASSIGNED ONE PROSECUTOR, THERE WILL BE FEWER OF THOSE CASES THAN BURGLARIES.

WHICH ARE MORE COMMON. IF YOU WANT A WEIGHT, HOW MANY CHILD ABUSE CASES EQUAL HOW MANY BURGLARY -- CASES OR FELONY DRUG CASES WHERE FOLKS WILL ARGUE THERE WAS NO VICTIM OTHER THAN SOCIETY AS OUR VICTIM IN THAT SENSE.

AND SO YOU CAN MOVE THROUGH A DRUG -- DRUG CASE, IT DEPENDS IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY CASES YOU HAVE, YOU CAN'T SACRIFICE THE ATTENTION THEY NEED AND THAT WAS MY POINT ABOUT THE DEFENSE STUDY IS THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND HAVING THOSE CASE LIMITS AND IT'S A BEST PRACTICE IT IS NOT A WALL, IT SO THE RIGHT THINGS GET DONE, DON'T GET OVERLOOKED, MISTAKES DON'T GET MADE AND IF WE ARE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE, IF WE ARE THE ONES MAKING THE DECISIONS TO NOT EVEN FILE AT, WE DON'T EVEN NEED OFFENDER, YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO COME TO COURT AND MISS YOUR JOB OR WHATEVER ELSE.

THAT IS IDEAL. THE NUMBERS CHANGE BASED ON THE DIVISIONS. I DID NOT EVEN GIVE YOU CASE COUNTS FOR THE INTAKE DIVISION WHERE EVERYTHING STARTS BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT THE STUDY WAS AND IT WOULD NOT BE A FAIR

COMPARISON. >> HAVE YOU RUN AN ANALYSIS, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SALARY AND DON'T WANT US TO BE BELOW OUR MUCH SMALLER NEIGHBORS, BUT HAVE YOU -- WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE MAKE, IS THAT FIGURE, THAT HOURLY RATE OR TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, THE FRINGE AS WELL OR JUST THE RAW SALARY?

>> JUST RAW SALARY, THAT'S THE NUMBER BEING OFFERED BY OTHER COUNTIES WHICH WOULD BE RAW SALARY ALSO.

>> A DAY TWO DIFFERENT THINGS IN MY HEAD AND THERE'S NO WAY YOU COULD TRACK THAT. I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID AND THE $200 AN HOUR, HAVE YOU -- IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO

KNOW -- THAT IS IN OUR COUNTY. >> I WAS NOT ARGUING, IF YOU WILL ENTERTAIN AN ARGUMENT FOR 200 AN HOUR, I KNOW FREE WORLD IS DIFFERENT AND THEY HAVE TO DO THEIR OWN INSURANCE, THEIR OWN THINGS LIKE THAT I'M THANKFUL FOR THE COUNTY AND ALL THAT THEY PROVIDE THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE COUNTY IS PAYING FOR PEOPLE TO WORK IN THE COURTHOUSE AND WORK THOSE CASES.

WAS NOT MAKING A DIRECT COMPARISON.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT I THINK WE DO TO FIX THIS RIGHT AWAY, NOT A DAY BUT RIGHT AWAY, WE HAVE AN ID LAWYERS, 10,000 IN THE HOLE ON STARTING. IF YOU INCREASE YOUR STARTING BY TEN GRAND YOU HAVE TO INCREASE EVERYBODY ELSE.

THAT'S ONE COOL MILLION. >> QUESTIONS, COMMENTS,.

>> THANK YOU GENTLEMEN,. >> EVERYONE LEFT.

>> WE WANT TO TAKE A TEN-MINUTE BREAK?

>> REALLY QUICK I HAVE -- I. WANT TO MAKE A CORRECTION TO SOMETHING I SAID YESTERDAY ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN, I WAS INFORMED BY MY STAFF THAT THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS GOING TO PURCHASING IS NOT IN THE ACCOUNTING OFFICE YET.

>> LET'S >> LET'S RECONVENE THE MEETING

THE TIME IS 11:13. >> WE HAVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

WE WILL DO SHERIFF, DETENTION THEN BAILIFF AND ENFORCEMENT.

>> GOOD MORNING. WHAT YOU WILL HEAR FROM ME IS

[02:00:06]

AND IF I WANT TO START THIS I DO WANT TO REITERATE THE FIRST RESPONSIBILITY OF ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL IS THE SAFETY OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS. THAT SHOULD BE FIRST AND FOREMOST ANY ELECTED OFFICIALS MIND.

FOR THE COUNTY IS GROWING AT A REMARKABLE PACE BUT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PATROL STAFF HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH THAT PACE.

THE COUNTY IS APPROACHING 1 MILLION RESIDENTS WITH APPROXIMATELY 975,000 RESIDENTS BASED ALONG THE MOST RECENT ESTIMATES. DESPITE THIS RAPID GROWTH, THE CONTROL DIVISION IS CURRENTLY STAFFED WITH ONLY 211 DEPUTIES.

THIS EQUATES TO APPROXIMATELY ONE PATROL DEPUTY FOR EVERY 4600 RESIDENTS HERE IN FORT BEND. WHEN ACCOUNTING FOR SHIFTS STAFFING, LEAVE, TRAINING AND OTHER OPERATIONAL FACTORS, THE REALTIME RATIO IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE RATIO OF POLICE OFFICERS TO THE POPULATION IN THE U.S. IS GENERALLY ROUND 2.1 TO 2.4 SWORN OFFICERS PER 1000 RESIDENTS. THAT MAKES US FOUR TIMES AGAIN, FOUR TIMES BEHIND THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

FORT BEND COUNTY LAND AREA IS 885 SQUARE MILES.

WITH A GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF UNINCORPORATED MUNICIPALITIES IN FORT BEND CITY'S, AND PD'S APPROXIMATELY 129 SQUARE MILES.

SUBTRACTING THAT OUR DEPUTIES ON EACH SHIFT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PATROLLING 756 SQUARE MILES. SEVERAL OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE CURRENTLY AFFECTED BY THIS LIMITED OR INCONSISTENT PATROL PRESENCE DUE TO SOMETIMES THE DISTANCE OR STAFFING CONSTRAINTS. THESE AREAS INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO JORDAN RANCH, BEASLEY, SOUTHERN COLONIES, BROOKSHIRE, FRESNO AND CALDWELL RANCH.

THE GEOGRAPHIC SPREAD AND CALL VOLUME IN THESE LOCATIONS OFTEN EXCEED WHAT CAN REASONABLY BE COVERED WITH THE EXISTING PERSONNEL RESULTING IN DELAYED RESPONSE TIMES AND REDUCED PROACTIVE POLICE EFFORT. WHILE FORT BEND IS EXPERIENCING A MASSIVE WAVE OF DEVELOPMENT WITH SEVERAL THOUSAND ACRES OF PLANNED COMMUNITIES CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, OR RECENTLY OPENED, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PLANS COMMUNITIES IS AUSTIN POINT. A 4700-ACRE COMMUNITY THAT OPENED ITS FIRST PHASE IN THIS PAST MARCH OF THIS YEAR.

THE COMMUNITY WILL HAVE 14000 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND A FUTURE ESTIMATE OF A POPULATION OF 50,000 RESIDENTS PER IF THESE COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO GROW, THE GAP BETWEEN SERVICE DEMAND AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES WILL ONLY WIDEN.

WITHOUT STRATEGIC PROACTIVE INVESTMENT IN ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL, THE 10.2 MILLION INVESTMENT TO MAINTAIN THE PACE OF OUR REGION SINCE 2025 WAS PAID BY FREEZING 58 POSITIONS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. NO OTHER POLICE AGENCY RECEIVING THE RAISE IN PAY WERE ASKED TO FREEZE ANY POSITIONS OR BEAR ANY BURDEN FOR THIS ACROSS THE COUNTY INCREASE.

THUS, MY EMPLOYEES RECEIVED THE PAY INCREASE BUT NOW IT IS A VERY HEAVY BURDEN TO THE PUBLIC AND EVEN HEAVIER BURDEN TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THE BURDEN LIES WITH RESPECT TO FEWER DEPUTIES ON PATROL, FEWER INVESTIGATORS, FEWER JAILERS AND FEWER DISPATCHERS. WHEN I CAME BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS IN 2023, AND NEGOTIATED FOR PAY INCREASE IT WAS AGREED THAT WHEN WE HAD THE BODIES TO FILL THE OPENINGS THE FROZEN POSITIONS WOULD BE RELEASED.

WE HAVE MET THAT GOAL AND NOW ASKING FOR THE REMAINDER TO BE RELEASED. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR. WE HAVE THE PEOPLE, I HAVE A GRADUATING CLASS THAT'S ABOUT TO GRADUATE RIGHT NOW.

I NEED THIS DONE NOW, THIS CLASS IS GOING TO GRADUATE I BELIEVE

[02:05:01]

I HAVE 12 THAT ARE COMING, ANOTHER 12 WANT TO COME TO US.

THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE IN FORT BEND HISTORY WHERE WE HAVE ACADEMY CLASSES THAT THEY WANT TO GO TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. THAT HAS CHANGED.

THEY WANT TO COME HERE. BUT WE NEED THE POSITIONS TO GIVE THEM. SO, I AM NOT ONLY ASKING FOR THOSE POSITIONS BUT ALSO I WANT TO ADDRESS THE VEHICLES BECAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL MY ASSISTANT CHIEF UP TO TELL YOU HOW CRITICAL THIS ISSUE IS ABOUT THE VEHICLES, WE HAVE A WAY OF DOING THIS IF YOU'D BE OPEN MINDED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. CHIEF?

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, WE NEED SPARE VEHICLES, VEHICLES ARE ALLOCATED WHEN WE GET NEW POSITIONS BUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPARE VEHICLES, THAT'S WHEN VEHICLES GO DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE, THAT'S MAINLY ON ACCIDENTS, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS AND THE VEHICLES WERE TURNED IN AND THEY ARE KEPT AT FLEET MAINTENANCE FOR A NUMBER OF REASON, ONE, THEY HAVE TO GET THE REPAIRS DONE, AND THEN WE HAVE VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY A LOT OF THE VEHICLES WE HAVE GOTTEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE COVID 19, YOU KNOW THAT THE SUPPLY CHAIN HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN AND THEN WHEN IT OPENED UP WE WERE BACKED UP OUR VEHICLES GOT OLD NOW WE ARE GETTING WARRANTY WORK DONE ON THEM BECAUSE WE HAD NOT HAD WARRANTY WORK DONE ON THEM IN THE PAST BECAUSE THE CYCLE WAS INTERRUPTED. SO WE ARE IN A QUAGMIRE BECAUSE WE CANNOT PUT DEPUTIES OUT ON THE STREET BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE VEHICLES TO REPLACE THEM. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL VEHICLES TO SPARE PIERRE COULD NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE FLEET BUT FOR THE SPARE PART OF THE FLEET.

>> WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WHEN WE GET A VEHICLE WE USUALLY HAVE TO TURN IN WE'RE ASKING TO KEEP THOSE VEHICLES.

INSTEAD OF TURNING THEM IN TO KEEP THEM.

THAT WOULD BE OUR SPARE VEHICLES AND THAT WAY WE CAN KEEP OFFICERS ON THE STREET. LIKE I SAID FORT BEND IS GROWING AT A RAPID RATE. WE HAVE TO HAVE POLICE OFFICERS OUT THERE, OFFICERS OUT THERE TO PROTECT AND THEY NEED A VEHICLE TO DO THAT. SO WE'RE ASKING THAT WHEN WE GET A NEW VEHICLE WE DON'T HAVE TO TURN IN.

WE JUST KEEP IT. IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE ASKING FOR ANOTHER BRAND NEW VEHICLE WE ARE JUST KEEPING THE STUFF INSTEAD OF TURNING ONE IN FOR THE NEW ONE KEEP THAT ONE FOR A SPARE.

>> ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER?

>> FIRST OFF, THANK YOU, YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN DOING INCREDIBLE WORK, I KNOW YOU HAVE WORKED WITH HR AND ARE CONTINUING TO FIND WAYS TO FILL THE VACANT POSITIONS, I THINK WE'RE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION TODAY THAN WE WERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THOSE EFFORTS SO KUDOS AND HATS OFF TO YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, REALLY GOOD WORK.

YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU NEED ALL OF THE PROS IN POSITIONS, UNFROZEN BUT I'M LOOKING AND IT LOOKS LIKE ACROSS YOUR ENTIRE DEPARTMENT YOU HAVE 53 VACANCIES.

>> YES, WE HAVE THOSE -- THOSE VACANCIES, EVERY VACANCY WE HAVE WE HAVE PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS.

>> WHY AREN'T THEY FILLED TODAY? >> BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THIS

SPEW IN THE VACANT POSITIONS. >> SORRY.

>> UP TO THE MIC. >> WE HAVE A NUMBER OF POSITIONS IN PATROL THAT'S OPENING, WE ARE HOLDING THOSE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE GRADUATING CLASS. IF WE DID NOT WE COULD FILL THEM BUT WE'VE BEEN -- BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE TO FILL WHEN JULY COMES THAT PUTS US IN A POSITION WHERE WE CAN'T FILL THEM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE HOLDING THEM.

IF WE WERE GUARANTEED THAT WE WOULD HAVE A DOZEN POSITIONS IN JULY THEN WE COULD GO AHEAD AND MOVE AND FILL THESE POSITIONS RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE APPLICANTS IN HOLDING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THAT. YES, THE COUNTY AS YOU KNOW IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS INCREASED THE PAY AND THAT HAS STABILIZED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT THAT HELPED US BUT AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW, IN OTHER COUNTIES IN THE CITIES AROUND US CONTINUE TO RAISE THEIR RATES, THEIR PAY SCALE THEN WE NEED TO KEEP UP WITH THEM. THAT'S WHY WE BECAME LOW, WE WERE SO UNDERPAID THAT NO ONE WAS COMING HERE EVERYONE WAS LEAVING. NOW THAT WE HAVE THE PAY ADJUSTMENT IN 23 I STARTED IN 24 WE WERE ABLE TO START HIRING AND BRINGING PEOPLE ON BOARD. MOST POSITIONS ARE THERE.

[02:10:04]

SO THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT. OUR MAIN POSITIONS ARE FILLED.

THESE ARE SOME OTHER SECRETARIAL OR THE LOWER IN PATROL.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT ARE ON CONTRACT.

WE ARE NOT FINISHED -- FILLING THOSE BECAUSE WE NEED TO PUT PEOPLE ON THE STREET VERSUS CONTRACT.

YOU WILL SEE, IF YOU SUFFER THAT NUMBER OUT, THERE IS ABOUT HALF A DOZEN OR SO THAT ARE ON CONTRACT AND WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO HIRE CONTRACTS BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T GIVE US THE FLEET -- THE FLEXIBILITY AND LEEWAY AS A REGULAR PATROL DEPUTY DOES.

>> ALSO, THE COMMISSIONERS TO KNOW THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR QUALITY INDIVIDUALS. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME TO US NOW THAT WE COULD FILL THE POSITION BUT WE REFUSE BECAUSE WE WANT TO TRAIN THOSE OFFICERS, WE DON'T WANT THEM COMING FROM THE WHARTON JUNIOR COLLEGE, THE A CC.

IN THE PAST WE'VE ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT TRAINED THE SAME WAY, THEY ARE TRAINED HERE IN FORT BEND COUNTY. AT THAT JAIL.

AT THAT JAIL WE HAVE ONE AT THE TOP JAILS NOT JUST IN THE STATE BUT IN THE NATION. I DON'T WANT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HARRIS COUNTY, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN NEW ORLEANS TO HAPPEN HERE IN FORT BEND COUNTY. I'M VERY SELECTIVE ON THE PEOPLE THAT WE HIRE. I WANT THE PEOPLE THAT WE TRAIN THAT WE TRAIN THAT WE KNOW WHAT THEY WILL DO WHEN THEY GET HERE THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE FILL THOSE POSITIONS.

YES, WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING TO US BUT SOME OF THEM WE ARE NOT

HIRING. >> WE WANT THE PIPELINE FROM THE

ACADEMY DIRECTLY. >> FROM THE PIPELINE.

>> AT FORT BEND NOW IS AT, AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE IT'S A TRUTH, FORT BEND NOW IS LIKE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET THE CHARACTER AND THE QUALITY.

THEY TRAIN THE PEOPLE THE WAY THAT THEY POLICE THERE AND THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THEY GET HIRED YOU STILL HAVE TO GO I WANT THAT HERE IN FORT BEND COUNTY. SO WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE GETTING.

THAT WOULD HELP IN FUTURE AND WE SAVE MONEY DOING THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING. HARRIS COUNTY IS JUST NEXT DOOR, I'M GOOD FRIENDS WITH THE SHERIFF THERE BUT HIS JAIL, ARE NOT WANTED HERE AT FORT BEND. I KNOW THE SHERIFF IN NEW ORLEANS, I DON'T WANT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN NEW ORLEANS TO HAPPEN HERE. WE ARE THE STANDARD, FORT BEND WE ARE SETTING THE STANDARD AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

WE GOT TO THE PLACE NOW WE ARE SETTING THE STANDARDS.

>> I KNOW I WAS TALKING TO SUGARLAND I THINK THEY HAVE ANOTHER ITEM COMING UP FOR US THIS THURSDAY, BUT THEY ARE PREPARING FOR FIFA AND THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO RECRUIT OFFICERS, THEY HAD TO CANCEL EVENTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS TO COVER ALL OF THEIR SECURITY NEEDS BECAUSE EVERYONE IS COMPETING WITH HARRIS COUNTY, AND HOUSTON DOING THE CRAZY THINGS THAT THEY HAVE DONE AND THE DRAMATIC INCREASES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, I'M GOING TO ARGUE THAT ALL FOR IT IF YOU HAD THE ABILITY TO DO THAT AND I BELIEVE OUR OFFICERS AND TEACHERS SHOULD BE AMONG THE HIGHEST PAID PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY BUT WHERE DO YOU THINK -- DO YOU THINK WE HAVE A RISK OF LOSING SOME OF THESE FOLKS, THESE CADETS AFTER THEY COME OUT OF THE ACADEMY AND GO IN TO TAKE THESE MUCH HIGHER PAYING JOBS IN

HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY? >> YES, WE DO HAVE THAT BUT WE SLOWED IT DOWN. TO THAT LAST RACE BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP UP. AND I WANT TO THANK NICOLE FOR THAT FOR WORKING WITH US TO CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE WE SAID WE'RE LOOKING OUT OF THE BOX TO KEEP THE PAY UP AND RIGHT NOW AND I THANK YOU AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS HAD A HAND IN THAT WITH DIFFERENTIAL PAY.

BILINGUAL PAY, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE.

ARE DOING THOSE TYPES OF THING. THAT'S ATTRACTING PEOPLE TO STAY WITH US. FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS PREMIER AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

PEOPLE WANT A WORKFORCE BUT IT IS THE PAY.

IT IS THE PAY THAT IS STOPPING. WE DID SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, WE'RE STARTING TO GO BACK DOWN. I'M A PROACTIVE PERSON AND I UNDERSTAND, WE DON'T HAVE A VAST AMOUNT OF MONEY, WE ARE LIMITED, I UNDERSTAND THAT'S. LIKE THE DA SAYS, THE D.A. AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS

[02:15:06]

COMMUNITY. >> SHERIFF, THIS IS A QUESTION NOT SO MUCH TO YOU BUT TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND STAFF, WHEN WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE NEED TO NOT BUDGET AND ACTUALLY BUDGET FTES THAT WERE ALREADY ESTABLISHED, WE MADE AN AGREEMENT, A DEAL THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS GO BACK ON A DEAL. AND YOU WERE GIVEN ASSURANCE THAT WHEN YOU WERE ABLE TO HIRE THE STAFF THAT THOSE POSITIONS WOULD BE THERE, WE LOOKED YOU IN THE EYE AND SAID WE WILL DO THAT. I AM CONCERNED IF WE ARE NOT HONORING THAT DEAL. I AM CONCERNED.

YOU EXPRESSED CONCERN WE WILL UNFREEZE THE POSITIONS WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO HIRE. IF YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE ABLE TO HIRE YOU GOT THE TRUST THAT WE WILL HONOR OUR WORD.

YOU'RE ABLE TO MEET YOUR END OF THE DEAL WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HONOR OUR END OF THE DEAL. I'M ASKING, ARE WE ABLE TO HONOR

THIS END OF THE DEAL. >> WE UNFROZE 23 POSITIONS LAST YEAR, AND IN THE 2027 BUDGET I AGREE WITH YOU, WE DID AGREE, I MADE THE SHERIFF I PROMISED HIM, I LOOKED HIM IN THE EYE AND SAID YES, I WILL UNFREEZE YOUR POSITIONS AND I HAVE EVERY EFFORT TO DO THAT THIS YEAR IS TO UNFREEZE THOSE POSITIONS AS LONG AS WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT AND AS LONG AS HE CONTINUES TO

FILL THE POSITIONS COURTEOUS. >> WE ARE NOT VOTING ON ANYTHING RIGHT NOW BUT TO A PERSON ARE WE PREPARED TO HONOR THIS DEAL?

>> IF YOU ARE TAKEN FROM ANY OF MY QUESTIONING.

>> IS NOT ABOUT YOUR QUESTION -- IT IS NOT EITHER ONE OF US, EVERY TIME I SEE THE SHERIFF, I SAW YOU LAST NIGHT, YOU SAID YOU WILL STILL HONOR THE DEAL, WE SAID YES, WE WILL.

IF THERE'S SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THERE'S OFTENTIMES STUFF I DON'T KNOW ABOUT, IF THERE'S SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW ABOUT TELL ME. IF NOT, WE COULD CHECK THIS BOX

AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT CRISIS. >> THESE POSITIONS HE'S REQUESTED ARE NOT JUST THE UNFROZEN POSITIONS.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT UNFROZEN POSITIONS.

>> THAT'S ALL I'M TALKING ABOUT AS WELL NOT THE OTHERS, NOT THE ADDITIONAL BECAUSE THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 33 -- THERE'S STILL

33 POSITIONS. >> LET IT BE KNOWN THAT WHATEVER PAYS IT TAKES FOR YOU TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS THAT WERE FROZEN, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO RIGHT AND HAVE IT.

>> BY JULY 23RD. >> WE HAVE -- WE HAVE INSURANCE FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT, IT'S GOING TO BE DURING THE BUDGET

PROCESS. >> AND THOSE 24 PEOPLE, --

>> YOU HAVE 18 IN CONTRACT YOU HAVE 18 PATROL DEPUTIES IN

CONTRACT. >> I'M GREEDY, I WANTED ALL.

>> WHAT I'M SAYING IS FOR THOSE DEPUTIES OR THE CADETS THAT ARE

ABOUT TO GRADUATE, THERE ARE 18. >> CAN WE OR CAN WE NOT MEET

THIS SCHEDULE? >> WE CANNOT MEET IT BECAUSE OF THE JULY DEADLINE, WE CAN OFFER THE CADETS IN THE ACADEMY POSITIONS IF WE ARE GUARANTEED, BUT WE WILL NOT MAKE AN OFFER TO THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE POSITIONS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE SAVING A DOZEN POSITIONS FOR THOSE THAT WE HIRE AS CADETS. THERE IS A DOZEN PEOPLE IN THERE AS CADETS THAT WE HIRE. THERE IS ADDITIONAL DOZEN PEOPLE THAT PAID FOR THEMSELVES TO BE CADETS.

SO THERE'S OVER 20 -- THERE'S ABOUT 30 PEOPLE IN THE ACADEMY RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE TRAINING THEM ALL THE SAME WAY WHETHER WE HIRE THEM OR WE DON'T HIRE THEM. MANY OF THEM WANTED TO COME WITH US BUT WE CAN'T. AND THEY ARE READY TO SIGN AGREEMENTS THAT ONCE THEY GRADUATE THEY WILL COME TO US BECAUSE IT COSTS US A LOT AS WELL.

WE HAVE TO DO A BACKGROUND CHECK WITH EM, WE HAVE TO DO ALL THE

[02:20:03]

IT TAKES MANPOWER AWAY FROM ADDITIONAL HIRING.

WE HAVE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL IN THE BACKGROUND WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE THEM CASES THEY MAY NOT EVENTUALLY HAPPEN, WE'RE WORKING

ON CASES -- >> I DON'T REMEMBER ALL THE FINE PRINT ON THIS. WE TOLD YOU THAT -- WE NEED TO FREE THESE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THE BUDGET MONEY THAT YOU WILL NOT USE. AND THAT WHEN YOU ARE READY YOU

WILL UNTREATED. >> THERE MAY BE A WAY AND WE

WILL TALK ABOUT IT OFFLINE. >> DO WE HAVE THE MONEY RIGHT

NOW TO UNFREEZE THE POSITIONS? >> I'M SORRY?

>> DO WE HAVE THE MONEY RIGHT NOW TO FUND THE POSITIONS?

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY.

WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT IT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY EXTRA RESIDUAL SALARIES RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THESE VACANCIES.

>> HE MAY HAVE IT. >> HE MAY HAVE MONEY IN HIS

BUDGET RIGHT NOW. >> BUT IF HE DOESN'T WHERE WILL

YOU GET THE MONEY? >> WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET THAT MONEY? WITH ALL DUE RESPECT WE CAN'T ADJUST THE BUDGET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUDGET YEAR?

>> WE MADE THE ADJUSTMENT TO NOT FUND THOSE FTES.

>> IF WE -- ANOTHER QUESTION I WAS GOING TO HAVE IS CAN WE GET AN ANALYSIS OF THIS YEAR -- THIS IS BROKEN INTO THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT AREAS AND THERE ARE SOME AREAS WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW TARGET AND THEY HAVE SOME WIGGLE ROOM. I AGREE, IF THEY HAVE CADETS THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO HIRE OR WOULD LIKE TO HIRE AND THEY CAN FILL THOSE VACANCIES THAT WE NEED TO BE MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT IS THE WHOLE SCOPE OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, DETENTION, PATROL, ALL THE DIFFERENT BUDGET AREAS AND SEE IF THERE IS A WAY TO MAKE THAT WORK SO THAT THEY CAN DO WITHOUT AMENDING THE BUDGET TO THE COMMISSIONER'S POINT. TO UNFREEZE THOSE ROLES.

>> SHE JUST SAID SHE WOULD DO THAT.

>> SHE SAID SALARIES. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE

BUDGET. >> WE ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER

FUNDS. >> I TOOK IT THAT SHE WOULD LOOK

AT EVERYTHING. >> THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

>> REVENUE REPLACEMENT,. >> THAT WOULD BE A HELPFUL ANALYSIS TO SEE BECAUSE WE MIGHT ALREADY HAVE IT.

I KNOW WE'VE DONE THAT EXERCISE BEFORE, THEY MIGHT HAVE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. BUT WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR MY UNDERSTANDING IS THOSE POSITIONS THAT WERE FROZEN WERE THEY ALL

JUST PATROL? >> NO, MOST OF THEM WERE

DETENTION OFFICERS. >> AND IS THAT WHERE YOU HAVE THE NEED WITH THESE CADETS? IS FOR DETENTION OFFICERS?

>> WE HAVE BOTH MAINLY PATROL AND WE DO HAVE DETENTION OFFICERS WE ARE IT'S A DIFFERENT AREA BUT DETENTION IS BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING WITH PEOPLE OVER TIME BECAUSE OF THE STAFFING, WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF SO WE'RE MANDATING OVERTIME AND WE'VE BEEN MANDATING IT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND IT'S JUST WEARING ON PEOPLE WHEN YOU TELL THEM THEY HAVE TO WORK OVERTIME

EVERY WEEK. >> HOW MANY IN PATROL AND HOW MANY IN DETENTION YOU ARE LOOKING AT?

>> RIGHT NOW THE FROZEN PART WE HAVE TEN PEOPLE AND THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DETENTION SIDE. BUT WITH THE AGREEMENT WITH EVERYBODY AND AT THE TIME WITH MISS GOEBBELS ONCE SHE RELEASES THE POSITIONS SHE ALLOWS US TO MOVE IT TO WHEREVER IT NEEDS, WHETHER IT IS DETENTION OR PATROL.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT. >> THAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE

WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. >> YES, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT CONSTANTLY WITH HER BUT WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY NEW RELEASE, WE GOT THE LAST RELEASE WAS OCTOBER FIRST THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET CYCLE AND WE GOT 23 POSITIONS AT THAT TIME AND WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THEM WHERE WE NEEDED THEM.

BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY UNFROZEN SINCE THAT TIME.

>> DETENTION DEPUTIES AND THE PATROL DEPUTIES ARE THE SAME SALARY. IS JUST THE CIVILIAN OFFICERS THAT ARE LOWER. AND SO THERE WERE SOME OF THOSE INCLUDED IN THOSE POSITIONS FOR THE CIVILIANS.

>> WHEN CAN WE TELL THEM. >> WE WILL WORK WITH THEM CARCASSON AS WE FINISH THE BUDGET HEARINGS.

>> WHY DON'T WE DO THAT, LET THEM TAKE SOME TIME WITH IT SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND COME BACK WITH MORE DEFINITIVE

ANSWERS FOR US, IS THAT OKAY? >> I WILL JUST SAY, SO EVERYONE

[02:25:02]

THAT'S ALL FOR ME. >> ONE MORE THING ON THE MANDATORY OVERTIME, IS NOT PRE-PLANNED, A LOT OF IT IS PRE-PLANNED A LOT OF IT IS WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE STAFFED.

BY NOW YOU HAVE TO STAY OVER. WHETHER YOU HAVE TO PICK UP KIDS OR NOT YOU HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

A COUPLE OF HOURS OF NOTICE IS WHEN A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT YOU WERE HAVING TO STAY OVER BECAUSE WE HAVE A MANDATE BY THE STATE OF HOW MANY DEPUTIES AND EMPLOYEES WE NEED IN THE JAIL FOR POPULATION AND THE POPULATION HAS GROWN AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE NUMBERS.

IT HAS GROWN AND THAT SOME OF THE NUMBERS NOT BECAUSE OF STAFFING BUT THE BUDGET HAS INCREASED BECAUSE OF HEALTH CARE

AND FOOD. >> THAT'S HEARTBREAKING.

>> LET IT BE KNOWN THAT WE WILL HONOR THIS DEAL.

IS THAT SAFE TO SAY? >> WE WORKED IT OUT.

>> COMMISSIONER. >> WE WANT TO HONOR IT BUT.

>> IF THE ANSWER IS NOT YES, IT IS NO.

>> CAN WE HONOR THIS DEAL? >> THAT YOU HAVE THE MONEY?

WE DON'T KNOW THAT ANSWER YET. >> WHY DID WE MAKE A DEAL WE CAN'T HONOR? IF THE ANSWER IS NOT YES, IT IS NO. WHAT IS THE ANSWER CAN WE HONOR

THIS? >> SHE DOESN'T KNOW YET.

>> THAT IS NO. >> IT IS NOT A NO.

IT'S AN I DON'T KNOW. >> IS NOT YES.

>> HOW ABOUT THIS. I KNOW WE WILL END A LITTLE BIT EARLY TODAY BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE SCHEDULE, MAYBE YOU AND YOUR TEAM THIS AFTERNOON CAN GO DO AN ANALYSIS AND THEN BRING US SOME DATA POINTS TOMORROW END.

>> SURE. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW LIBRARIAN WE HAVE, WE HAVE A NEW ONE FOR THE TEN DEPUTIES AND WE CAN GET THAT MONEY RIGHT AWAY.

I KNOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET YEAR AND TRYING TO WAIT FOR US, MAYBE WE CAN LONG FROM THAT TO HIRE THOSE NEW CADETS IN JULY. BECAUSE THEY WOULD MEET THAT REQUIREMENT BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO BE TRAINED BEFORE THEY CAN GO

THERE. >> I DON'T KNOW WHO TOLD ME BUT THERE WERE SOME SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT.

>> THEY HAVE TO BE HIRED BETWEEN OCTOBER FIRST OF LAST YEAR TO CURRENT. IN ORDER TO GO INTO THOSE POSITIONS. I'M JUST THINKING THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY USE THOSE POSITIONS UNTIL WE CAN GET THE OTHER

POSITIONS RELEASED. >> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION WE CAN -- YES, WE CAN UNFREEZE THE POSITIONS IT IS THE TIMING, WHETHER IT IS RIGHT NOW OR IT IS IN OCTOBER.

IT COULD BE DONE BY OCTOBER, IT IS THE RIGHT NOW THAT IS IN

QUESTION. >> WHERE THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE

OF THAT. >> AND WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.

>> SO THAT PANEL WILL BRING BACK INFORMATION AS SOON AS IT'S AVAILABLE AND THEN WE WILL DISCUSS IT AGAIN ON THIS ONE.

SHERIFF,. >> ONE LAST NOTE FOR YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHO OVERSEES THIS, I KNOW ROAD AND BRIDGE CACTUS MIGHT BE IN THEIR BUDGET AS WELL BUT TRASH I'VE COME TO LEARN IS A CHALLENGE AND WHERE WE ARE DUMPING STUFF I DON'T KNOW ALL THE PARTICULARS BUT I KNOW THAT'S COME UP IN MY LAST TWO MEETINGS THAT THEY WERE PROVIDING IT A SERVICE TO THE JAIL TO PICK UP THEIR DUMPSTER CARCASSONNE A. CONTRACT SERVICE WE HAVE BUT ROAD AND BRIDGE IS PROVIDING THAT AND NOW THEY HAVE -- I. THINK THEY WERE DROPPING OFF AT BLUE RIDGE LANDFILL OR SOMETHING AND NOW WE'VE GONE OVER EVERY CAPACITY SO THEY'RE GETTING A HIGHER BILL. THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE ADDRESS WHETHER WE NEED TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH SOMEONE TO PERFORM THAT SERVICE AND WHOSE BUDGET

THAT LIVES IN. >> WE ARE WORKING ON WHERE THAT IS GOING TO BE ALLOCATED. IT HAS NOT BEEN IRONED OUT YET.

>> THAT NEEDS TO BE IRONED OUT BECAUSE THAT ALMOST JEOPARDIZES THE WHOLE AGREEMENT. WHICH IS TWO AND HALF,

[02:30:02]

THEY WANTED TO RENEGOTIATE THE ENTIRE ARRANGEMENT FROM 1989 OVER THAT. SO IT DOES NOT JUST THAT SIMPLE.

IT HAD SOME DIRE CONSEQUENCES IF THEY KEPT EXCEEDING THAT AMOUNT.

>> AND ALSO, LIKE I SAID THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT FUND THAT WE ARE BRINGING INTO THE COUNTY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN THERE BE BEFORE, THE ALARM DETAILS, THAT WAS NEVER HERE, THEY WERE NOT PAYING FOR THAT.

UNTIL I BECAME SHERIFF AND WE SAW THAT.

THOSE TAGS, THEY WERE AT $25,000 THAT IS COMING IN AND YOU CAN USE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS FOR THE TRASH THAT THE COMMISSIONER WAS TALKING ABOUT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE FUNDS THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY BRINGING IN FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THAT IS GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND, IF YOU USE THOSE FUNDS.

>> GOING BACK INTO YOUR BUDGET SHERIFF.

>> ALWAYS SAY GOING BACK INTO MY BUDGET I REALLY DON'T SEE IT.

OKAY. >> YES.

[LAUGHTER] >> ALL RIGHT, FURTHER QUESTIONS? ONE MORE THING SHERIFF, THANK YOU.

I WANT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT AND ASK YOU ONE QUESTION.

FIRST OF ALL WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU'RE KEEPING US ALL SAFE SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I ENJOY WORKING WITH YOUR TEAM AND THE COMMUNITY, I HAVE KNOWN THE CHIEF FOR A LONG TIME KHACHATUROV I. ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU IN THE COMMUNITY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT TEAM THAT I ENJOY WORKING WITH.

JUST ONE QUESTION YOU AND I TALK ABOUT IN A PERFECT WORLD YOU HAVE ALL YOUR POSITIONS FILLED IN A PERFECT WORLD.

WHAT YOU CONSIDER WE INITIATE THE PROGRAM?

>> SAY IT ONE MORE TIME. >> FURTHER INMATE PROGRAM.

>> FEDERAL INMATE PROGRAM. >> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO FIND SOME WAY.

>> WE COVER PERSONNEL BUT THOSE KIND OF OTHER ITEMS ON THERE.

>> I JUST ASKED THEM THE QUESTION.

>> WE DID NOT DISCUSS THAT AT ALL.

>> I'M NOT SAYING HE WILL DO IT NOW.

JUST SAYING CONSIDERING IT. >> IN A PERFECT WORLD.

>> THAT WENT OVER MY HEAD, INMATE PROGRAM?

WHAT'S THAT? >> THEY PAY YOU TO HOLD THE INMATE BUT I DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO DO THAT IF IN A PERFECT WORLD I HAD THE MANPOWER LIKE 100 MORE I COULD DO IT.

BUT NO. >> WE HAVE MATTRESSES FOR INMATES, WE HAVE T SHIRTS FOR INMATES OR T SHIRTS DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, RADIOS, ASSORTED ITEMS ET CETERA, WE DID NOT COVER ANY OF THOSE, CAN YOU BRIEFLY THE NEED FOR THAT?

>> MATTRESSES I'M ASSUMING THEY'RE OUT OF MATTRESSES.

>> THE NEED FOR THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH, WHEN I TOOK OFFICE IT WAS AROUND 450 TO 500 INMATES, NOW WE'RE AVERAGING ANYWHERE FROM 875 TO 900 INMATES.

>> WE CAN'T HAVE THEM SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR.

>> I CAN'T HAVE THEM SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR, YES.

>> ALL RIGHT,. >> I'M STUCK STUCK ON THE

FEDERAL INMATE PROGRAM. >> DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT, IS IT

LIKE HOUSING? >> IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING

ABOUT? >> ANY FEDERAL INMATE IT CAN BE FROM ICE, IT COULD BE ANY FEDERAL INMATE THEY HAVE OVERFLOW THEY WANT STATE AGENCIES TO HOLD THEM.

>> IT GENERATE REVENUE FROM T THAT.

>> THEY USED TO DO THAT IN THE PAST.

>> IN THE TOTEM POLE OF THINGS I DON'T THINK THAT'S EVEN REMOTELY A PRIORITY RIGHT NOW BUT THANK YOU.

>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? >> ONE MORE.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE SHERIFF?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. >> CONSTABLE, PRECINCT THREE.

>> SHERIFF, ONE QUESTION FOR YOU.

WE COULD BE HERE ALL DAY, I APOLOGIZE.

YOU MENTIONED THE GROWTH IN THE POPULATION AT THE JAIL, WHERE ARE WE IN COMPARISON TO OUR OVERALL CAPACITY? HOW MUCH MORE CAPACITY DO WE HAVE?

[02:35:03]

>> 1500. >> 1500 AND WE HAVE 975.

>> 875 TO 900. >> WE HIT 900 ON THE WEEKEND

BECAUSE THE WEEKENDS COME IN. >> MOVING ALONG.

>> HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD MORNING.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE ANY MORE WHAT TIME IT IS.

I HAVE A SUGGESTION, WE WILL TAKE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CONTRACTS THAT ARE IN PRECINCT THREE, WE DON'T MIND.

WE WILL TAKE THEM GLADLY. THIS IS LOUD.

SO WE ARE REQUESTING THREE ADDITIONAL DEPUTY POSITIONS AND ONE SUPERVISOR TO MEET THE CALL VOLUME AND OPERATIONAL DEMANDS CREATED BY THE NEWLY EXPANDED DISTRICT.

THE DISTRICT AND INCREASE OUR GEOGRAPHIC RESPONSIBILITIES SIGNIFICANTLY IN THERE THEREFORE WE BELIEVE THE STAFFING SHOULD BE IN LINE WITH THE AREAS THAT WE ARE NOW REQUIRED TO SERVE.

THE CIVIL SERVICE ACTIVITY HAS -- INCREASED BY 23% LAST YEAR'S QUARTER, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL 367 PAPERS JUST IN THE FIRST QUARTER AND I KNOW THAT WE CONCENTRATE A LOT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICES WITH ITS CIVIL PART OF OUR JOB AND HOWEVER WE DO DO THE PATROL AND WE DO SET -- WE DO GET CALLS FOR PATROL BECAUSE WE ARE THE ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE SAME AS ANY PATROL OFFICER IS WE HAVE THAT ADDED CIVIL DIVISION. HOWEVER OUR PATROL WE DO HAVE SOME -- WE HAVE THREE DEDICATED PATROL OFFICERS WHICH WE'VE KIND OF SACRIFICED OUR DIVISION TO RESPOND TO THE CALLS FOR SERVICE WE GET COMING FROM COMMISSIONER'S OFFICES OR EVEN FROM US IF THEY COME DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICES.

WITH THAT BEING SAID WE DO HAVE SOME PATROL CONTRACTS WITHIN OUR UNINCORPORATED AREA. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CONTRACTS IN THE INCORPORATED AREA SINCE NOW WE HAVE THAT NEWLY EXPANDED DISTRICT THOMPSON, PLEAK, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID ABBOTT REPORTING SYSTEM FROM LAST YEAR IN THE FIRST QUARTER HAS INCREASED BY 231%. THAT'S IN THE OFFICE REPORT THAT'S NOT INCLUDING CALLS FOR SERVICE.

THIS IS IN 2025 WE HAD 33 OFFICE REPORTS, SECOND QUARTER WE HAVE 116 AND THAT IS A 231% INCREASE. ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO CRASHES WE INCREASE FROM THE FIRST QUARTER OF LAST YEAR TO THIS QUARTER OF 2026330% WE HAD TEN AND 2025 AND NOW WE HAVE 40 AGAIN JUST IN THE FIRST QUARTER. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR.

I AM VERY PROUD AND I WILL SAY THIS OUT THERE ABOUT OUR CITATIONS IN 2025 WE HAD 2300 CITATIONS AND IN 2020 -- 20202024 WE HAD 24. WE'VE INCREASED LAST YEAR WE HAD 8500 CITATIONS SOME 2300 TO FIRST YEAR 2500 LAST YEAR AGAIN, WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THE PATROLLING, WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN CONTRACTS WE ARE GOING AFTER CONTRACTS TO FILL APPLICATIONS SO WITH THAT DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING MY REQUEST ON THE THREE POSITIONS AND THE ONE SUPERVISOR POSITION JUST TO SUPPLEMENT AND TO ECHO THE SHERIFF WAS SAYING, WE DO HAVE THE EXPANDED AREA WITH A NEW REDISTRICTING.

>> YOU SAID THREE POSITIONS,. >> THREE POSITIONS, THREE DEPUTY POSITIONS AND ONE SUPERVISOR POSITION.

SO TECHNICALLY FOUR MY APOLOGIES.

>> JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. THEREFORE, MOVING ON THEN REQUESTING SIX COUNTY VEHICLES, ONE IS FOR THAT NEWLY CREATED BAILIFF POSITION WITH JP 32. WE HAVE THAT COURT ALREADY FULLY FUNCTIONING AND WORKING HOWEVER THAT POSITION WHEN IT WAS CREATED DID NOT COME WITH A VEHICLE I WAS ASKED TO GO AHEAD AND PUT IT IN OUR BUDGET FOR THAT POSITION SO THAT IS THAT AND OF COURSE THE OTHER FOUR. THE SIXTH POSITION IS FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE FOR A CONTRACT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S REALLY -- I. DO WHAT WE NEED, WE WILL ASK FOR AN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE WOULD BE THE DEPUTY'S OR PATROL OR MAYBE THE DIVISION TO HELP THEM WITH THE 23% INCREASE AND ALSO THE VEHICLE FOR THE BAILIFF WHICH WE NEED.

I ALSO PUT IN THERE ON ITI THINK THERE'S A $5000 INCREASE.

THERE IS A PROGRAM THAT THEY CURRENTLY USE, IT IS VERY CONSTRUCTIVE AND ITS EFFICACY IN OUR OFFICE WOULD IMPROVE AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT'S A ONE SHOP STOP FOR COMPLIANCE, OPERATIONS, PROFESSIONAL STANDARD NEEDS INCLUDING POLICY MANAGEMENT,

[02:40:01]

THEY SAY THEY HAVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL RATE SO WE'RE INTERESTED IN THAT. I BELIEVE I GOT SOMETHING FROM IT THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT. THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE PUT ON THERE. ANOTHER INCREASE IS IN FEES WHENEVER WE HIRE THE PERSON THEY HAVE TO GET A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM FOR POLICE OFFICERS I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OTHER CONSTABLE'S OFFICE BROUGHT THIS UP. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE EVERY PERSON THAT COMES THROUGH THE DOOR GETS A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM OURS DON'T. WE DON'T GET EVERYBODY BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE 180 DAY BREAK IN SERVICE THAT IS WHEN THE LAW IS REQUIRED FOR YOU TO GET ANOTHER PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM.

RIGHT NOW WHENEVER WE HIRE A NEW RECRUIT OR SOMEBODY WHO HAS 180 DAY BREAK IN SERVICE WE MAKE THEM PAY FOR THEIR OWN.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS FAIR I THINK THAT HELPS OUR RECRUITMENT AGAIN THEY CAN GO TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PROBABLY FOR THE SAME PAY AND THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM GETS PAID FOR. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I ALSO PUT IN WAS A FIT FOR DUTY EXAM. WE HAVE CRISIS WITH SOME OF OUR DEPUTIES THAT COME TO WORK AND SAY, HEY, I'M NOT MENTALLY CAPABLE OF WORKING TODAY, THEY HAVE A GUN ON THEIR SIDE THEY'RE CARRYING A RIFLE ON THEIR BACK AND THEY COME TO WORK AND TELL US I'M NOT MENTALLY ABLE TO WORK TODAY I JUST CAN'T DO IT.

WHAT DO WE DO? WE'LL GET YOU FIT FOR DUTY IT COST US ABOUT $800, WE WERE NOT PREPARED FOR THAT, I'M TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF IT NOW BECAUSE MENTAL ILLNESS IS A REAL THING WHICH I CAN SEE THAT MORE AND MORE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PEOPLE ARE COMING UP MORE AND MORE.

AND WE DO NEED IT. WE REACHED OUT TO THE TEAM, TO THE CRITICAL MANAGEMENT TEAM THAT KAYLA ELWOOD HAS CREATED HERE WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THEY HELPED A LITTLE BIT BUT I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF THIS FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMS. THE 90TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION THEY'RE PROPOSING THAT EVERY OFFICER WILL HAVE TO HAVE A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM EVERY FIVE YEARS REGARDLESS, EVERYONE WILL GET A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM. FUN FACT, FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR THE FUTURE, REGARDING PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMS AND HOW WE WILL APPROACH THEM IN THE FUTURE.

>> ARE ALL THE CONSTABLE'S AWARE OF THIS?

>> I GOT WITH CONSTABLE QUINCY YESTERDAY, SAID WE NEED TO GET

TOGETHER AND DISCUSS THIS ALSO. >> 250.

>> WE HAVE ALL AGENCIES THAT NEED TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

>> IS THERE ANY BUDGET IMPLICATION FOR THIS YEAR?

>> FOR THIS YEAR PROBABLY, SOME OTHER DEPARTMENTS MAY BE ABLE TO TAKE IT FROM OTHER PLACES WE HAVE TO TAKE IT FROM CONTINGENCY

MAYBE. >> THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AREN'T ABLE TO HANDLE THAT INTERNALLY.

>> IS MORE DIFFICULT TO CHANGE THE BUDGET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE

YEAR. >> BUT ALSO WE NEED TO LOOK OUTSIDE OF THE CONSTABLE'S AND ALL THE OTHER PEACE OFFICERS THE

COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,. >> IF THEY HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE HOLISTIC APPROACH FOR ALL OF

THEM. >> IN THE BUDGET YEAR, JUST

MAKING. >> WE'VE ALREADY REFERENCED, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING AT LEGISLATIVE LAW AND I'M GOING TO THE TRAININGS AND STUFF SO THAT'S ONE THING I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT ESPECIALLY THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT OF IT.

>> WE KNOW IT'S COMING, LET'S TRY TO BUDGET FOR IT, AND THE CONTINGENCY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT CONTINGENT.

YOU KNOW IT IS COMING, WE HAVE TO BUDGET FOR THAT.

>> FOR 27. I THOUGHT YOU MEANT RIGHT NOW IN

26. >> RIGHT NOW IT'S 27, THIS IS A

BUDGET FOR THE 27 BUDGET. >> WHAT REALLY STRUCK ME WAS THE FACT THAT WE WERE NOT PREPARED FOR THAT FIT FOR DUTY WHEN THE DEPUTY SAID I CAN'T WORK TODAY, I THEN I'M HAVING TROUBLE, WE DID NOT PUT A PURCHASE ORDER, THAT'S THE LAST THING ON MY MIND IS A PURCHASE ORDER, I'M WORRIED ABOUT THREATS TO US OR HIMSELF WHICH IS A COMMUNITY WE CAN'T LET THIS DEPUTY BE OUT THERE SO I'M STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH THAT, THAT'S A HURDLE I WILL

TAKE CARE OF. >> I FIRST WENT TO PHYSICALLY

FIT FOR DUTY,. >> MENTALLY.

>> ANY CONCERN ABOUT PHYSICALLY FIT FOR DUTY.

[02:45:02]

>> NOT AT THE MOMENT. >> WE HAVE SOME DEPUTIES THAT PROBABLY CAN'T CHASE ANYBODY DOWN.

>> YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. NO IT'S FAIR, IT'S VERY FAIR AND VERY VALID. WE DO RECOMMEND PEOPLE GO TO THE

GYM. >> A LOT OF THEM.

[LAUGHTER] >> IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS A

CONCERN? >> IT IS CONCERN AROUND ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THERE ARE SOME THAT HAVE A PETTY AND PHYSICAL TEST REQUIREMENT PRIOR TO THE COUNTY REALLY DOESN'T

STEP IN FOR SOME REASON. >> ONCE YOU GET IN.

>> DOES HER DEPARTMENT HELP YOU? >> IT IS DOCTOR REED, I BELIEVE HE MIGHT HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY.

DR. JAMES REED. >> I KNOW THEY MIGHT HAVE BROUGHT IT UP THIS MORNING ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS.

THE NEED FOR MORE MENTAL HEALTH. >> IT IS REAL.

>> THAT'S ALL? >> QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?

HOW ABOUT FITNESS. >> THAT IS ANOTHER ISSUE, WE'D HAVE TO GET A CONSULTANT TO COME IN AND TELL US WHAT TO DO LIKE

SUGARLAND. >> THEY HAVE A FITNESS?

>> THEY ALLOW THEIR DEPUTIES TO WORK OUT AN HOUR DURING THEIR SHIFT A LOT OF AGENCIES DO THAT, COUNTY HAS NOT GOTTEN THAT YET WE DO OFFER THE LITTLE WORKOUT ROOMS THAT WE HAVE WE JUST NEED TO GET THEM TO GET IN THERE OURS ARE BRAND NEW.

>> YOU GO TO LUNCH THEN EAT FIRST ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS

COMMENTS ONE. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING,.

>> PLEASURE MEETING YOU CHIEF -- I. MEAN JUDGE.

>> WE WILL BREAK. >> LUNCHES HERE, LUNCHES HERE LET'S BREAK FOR AN HOUR AND COME BACK 1:00.

>> DO WE WANT TO MAYBE ASK SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW MORNING IF THEY CAN COME AND SEE?

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING. >> YESTERDAY THE BRIDGE.

>> IT HAS ALREADY VOLUNTEERED TO

>> DPS LICENCE AND WEIGHT. THANKS, YES.

YES.

>> SO SIR, WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WE ARE DISCUSSING THE OVERAVERAGES OF YOUR BUDGET. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THAT YOU ARE 5,025 OVERBUDGET AND SO WE ARE MOSTLY TALKING ABOUT THOSE ITEMS AND IT'S YOUR YEAR LICENCE AND WEIGHT BUDGET.

>> COMMISSIONER: OKAY. I DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE OUR OUTLINE OF OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR RIGHT NOW.

I AM NOT SURE WHY WE ARE OVERBUDGET AT THIS TIME BUT WE WERE WITHOUT AMIN FOR FOR SOME TIME.

SHE RETIRED OR LEFT US AGAIN AFTER SHE CAME BACK PART TIME.

THAT WAS IN 2025 AND THEN THIS YEAR WE HIRED A NEW ADMIN, MISS NORMA, WHO CAME OVER FROM ANOTHER OFFICE.

>> I GOT $3,000 OVER. >> I LIKE THAT NUMBER BETTER.

[INDISCERNIBLE]. >> 213-9899S HAVE 216809.

THAT'S 3 GRAND. >> LICENCE AND WEIGHT --

>> I AM SORRY? >> WE ARE LOOKING AT LICENCE AND

WEIGHT. >> OH, I AM SORRY.

>> LICENCE AND WEIGHT. >> I THOUGHT SHE SAID -- REQUESTING TO INCREASE A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE FROM 20 HOURS A WEEK TO 25 HOURS A WEEK. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

>> YES. AND THE REASON WE ARE ASKING THAT IS MISS NORMA HAS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR US TO GET DONE THAT AM OF TIME IN THOSE 20 HOURS.

OFTENTIMES SHE HAS TO FLEX HER TIME DURING THE WEEK TO COVER ON

[02:50:01]

EVERY WEEK, EVERY MONDAY SHE HAS TO DO OUR STATS, MAKE SURE THOSE ARE UP TO DATE. THAT GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO OUR CAPTAIN AND OUR MAJOR AND OUR REGIONAL CHIEF.

SHE DOES A LOT OF STUFF FOR OUR TROOPSERS, MAILS OUTSIDE CITATIONS, MAKES COPIES OF OUR VIDEOS.

EVERYTHING SHE DOES IS VERY HARD FOR HER TO DO WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME. WE ARE ASKING FOR THAT ADDITIONAL FIVE HOURS A WEEK AT THIS TIME FOR HER TO GET THOSE THINGS DONE. ON OUR SIDE, THE CV ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF FORT BEND COUNTY I PULLED SOME NUMBERS FOR US.

WE HAVE SEEN A HUGE INCREASE IN ENFORCEMENT IN THE COUNTY FOR YOU GUYS. 2024 WE HAD 694 INSPECTIONS.

LAST YEAR WE HAD A 39% INCREASE. WE WENT TO A THOUSAND 38.

AND TO MAY 12 OF 2025 WE HAD 328 INSPECTIONS.

AND AS OF TODAY FROM JANUARY 1ST WE HAD 410.

SO 22% INCREASE. WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR STRICKLAND PARTNERS WITH THEM THEY ARE ASSISTING WITH US THIS ALSO.

WE FOUND A GOOD LOCATION TO PULL TRUCKS IN, BUILD THEM AWAY SAFELY AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, SO A LOT OF OUR VIOLATIONS NOW ARE COMING FROM WEIGHT WHICH ALSO PRODUCE BIGGER FINES AND WORKING WITH AUDITOR'S OFFICE ALSO SO WE CAN -- TALKING WITH THEM LAST WEEK ABOUT I GUESS THE SYSTEM WAS NOT ASSESSING THE FUNDS CORRECTLY SO THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THAT ADDRESSED -- THAT WAY EVERYTHING'S GOOD AND LEGAL -- FINES -- AND NO BACKFIRE ON ANYBODY'S IN ON THAT.

OF SO -- ANYBODY'S END. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING TO INCREASE OUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

AND PRODUCE AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT FOR YOU GUYS.

>> COMMISSIONER: QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? IF YOU COULD JUST REMIND US AND THE PUBLIC WHY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE LOCAL COUNTY BUDGET AND WHAT OUR PARTNERSHIP

LOOKS LIKE WITH DPS? >> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU GUYS. I BELIEVE AT ONE TIME FORT BEND COUNTY DID HAVE A WEIGHT ENFORCEMENT AREA.

I DON'T BELIEVE THEY DO AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW.

THE PARTNERSHIP WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THEIR CRASH TEAM SERGEANT RAIDER.

HE CALLS ME A LOT. WE GO OUT AND DO POST CRASH INSPECTIONS FOR HIM ON 18 WHEELERS.

WE HELP THEM OUT WITH THAT. WE GET THEIR WEIGHTS FOR THEM.

NOT JUST FOR THE WEIGHT ASPECT BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCKS. SO WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM. ANY LOCAL AGENCIES THAT NODE THAT AND THEN THE TOTAL ASPECT OF THE WHOLE FINES AND BRINGING

IN REVENUE TO THE COUNTY. >> COMMISSIONER: THANK YOU FOR

YOUR SERVICE. >> WE USED TO HAVE A WEIGHT AREA

BUT WE GOT RID OF THAT SO. >> YES.

>> WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP.

>> YES, SIR. WE LOVE IT.

I HAVE BEEN STATIONED HERE FOR 12 YEARS.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY FOR US SO WE HAVE ENJOYED IT SO.

>> APPRECIATE IT. >> THE D PS BUDGET IS A FAIRLY SMALL BUDGET CONSIDERING AND WE SUPPORT -- WE BUDGET FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE OFFICE HERE IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY STAFF BESIDES -- WELL, TAKE THAT BACK.

WE HAVE THREE STAFF, TWO FULL-TIME AND ONE PART TIME BETWEEN BOTH DPS IS THE LICENCE AND WEIGHT.

ALL OF THE OFFICERS ARE OF COURSE FUNDED THROUGH THE STATE.

SO FORT BEND COUNTY COVERS THE OFFICE, OFFICE OPERATIONS.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT. >> COMMISSIONER: FURTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER: APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU. >> THE CLERK: MAGISTRATE COURT

IS JUDGE BECKETT HERE? >> COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE.

>> COMMISSIONER: GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> I AM HERE. MY QUESTION Q. IS TO REASSESS OR REASSIGN MY PART TIME COURT CO-ORDINATOR AND MAKE HER FULL-TIME. IN SUPPORT OF THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SEVERAL NUMBERS.

THE FIRST ONE IS NUMBER ONE. MAGISTRATE COURT IS CURRENTLY

[02:55:04]

MAGISTRATE COURT IS THE ONLY COURT IN FORT BEND COUNTY THAT HOLDS COURT SEVEN DAYS A WEEK 365 DAYS A YEAR IRRESPECTIVE OF WEATHER EVENTS. IF THERE IS A HURRICANE OR THE AFTERMATH EMERGENCY SERVICES IS SET UP TO SUPPLY ME WITH POWER AND WI-FI AND THE SAME FOR MY CO-ORDINATOR SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE WITH MAGISTRATE COURT IRRESPECTIVE OF THE SITUATION WE JUST HAD THAT EVENT TO OCCUR THIS YEAR WITH THE FREEZE.

IT DID NOT DELAY OR PREVENT FROM US HOLDING COURT.

BECAUSE AS MAGISTRATE COURT WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND WITH THE JAIL TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE COUNTY.

JUDGE I READ YOUR FOUR PILLARS AND I THINK THAT WOULD FALL IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE DECLARED TO BE IMPORTANT DURING THIS BUDGET SESSION. MY COURT CO-ORDINATOR PERFORMS ALL THE FUNCTIONS OF ALL THE OTHER COURT CO-ORDINATORS IN THE COUNTY AND SHE HAS A FEW OTHER ASSIGNMENTS OR RESPONSIBILITIES THAT SHE HAS. WE ARE -- WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO MONITOR AND TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH A CRIMINAL CODE OF PROCEDURES 17.5.1 WHICH INDICATES THAT A PERSON WHO IS INCARCERATED IN OUR JAIL AND HIS CASE HAS BEEN ON FILE IF IT IS A MISDEMEANOR CLASS B THEY CAN ONLY BE HELD THERE FOR 15 DAYS AT WHICH TIME THEY MUST BE RELEASED EITHER ON A PERSONAL RECOGNIZANCE BOND OR THEIR BOND MUST BE LOWERED SO THAT THEY CAN AFFORD IT.

ON A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR IS 30 DAYS AND ON ALL FELONIES IT IS 90 DAYS SO EACH MONDAY WE RECEIVE A REPORT TELLING US THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT A PERSON HAS BEEN IN THE FORT BEND COUNTY JAIL. THE REPORT THAT WE RECEIVED ON YESTERDAY INDICATE THAT WE HAVE 904 PEOPLE IN THE FORT BEND COUNTY JAIL. MY COURT CO-ORDINATOR HAS THE CURRENT FUNCTION TO REVIEW THIS REPORT AND GO THROUGH IT TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM AWARE OF WHO IS ON THAT REPORT AND WHERE THEY ARE FOR US KNOB COMPLIANCE. IF A PERSON IS APPROACHING THAT 1,530 OR 90-DAY DATE THEY COME TO MY DOCKET ON WEDNESDAY AND TOGETHER WITH THE DA'S OFFICE AND WITH THE DEFENCE ATTORNEY IF THEY HAVE ONE AND WE GET ESTABLISHED REPORT WHERE ARE YOU WITH THE CASE. AND IF THE STATE HAS NOT OR IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO OR HAVE NOT YET FILED THEN I WOULD ISSUE AN APPEAL OR LOWER THEIR BOND SO THAT THEY CAN BE RELEASED FROM JAIL. THIS OCCURS ON EVERY WEEK.

SO THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENT THAT MY COURT CO-ORDINATOR HAS. SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT SO THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF WHY I HAVE THE NEED FOR A FULL-TIME COURT CO-ORDINATOR. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> COMMISSIONER: QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? HEARING NONE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

THEY WERE ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW MORNING.

TOMORROW MORNING'S SESSION. >> COMMISSIONER: OKAY.

EITHER DASHBOARD OR YOU ARE USING EXCEL IN THE NEXT SECTION

OF COLORS. >> COMMISSIONER: WHAT COLOR,

BLUE? >> WHAT IS IT?

>> BLUE. >> COMMISSIONER: THAT'S A GOOD COLOR FOR EMS. MATCHES THE TRUCKS.

>> ALSO I WAS ASKED IF I COULD VOLUNTEER TO GO EARLY AND I AM HERE SO REMEMBER THAT WHEN IT COMES TIME TO MAKE DECISIONS.

[LAUGHTER] >> TOMORROW YOU ARE GETTING OUT EARLY BECAUSE I AM HERE TODAY SO.

HOWDY, EVERYBODY. COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE.

IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO START OFF WITH A JOKE. MY STAFF COULDN'T HELP ME DECIDE ON ONE SO I AM JUST GOING TO PICK.

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU DO NOT NEED A PARACHUTE TO GO SKYDIVING? YOU NEED A PARACHUTE TO GO SKYDIVING TWICE. SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT --

>> I GOT ONE. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A

BAD SKYDIVER AND A BAD GOLFER? >> WHAT'S THAT.

>> A BAD GOLFER GOES DAMN. A BAD SKYDIVER GOES DAMN WHOMP.

[03:00:11]

>> OKAY, I AM WRITING THAT ONE DOWN.

THAT'S GOOD. SO I WANT START OFF TALKING ABOUT REVENUE WITH EMS. MOST EVERYBODY KNOWS WE CHARGE FOR THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE THE CITIZENS AND THAT USUALLY GOES TO THEIR INSURANCE IF THEY ARE INSURED AND THAT GETS PAID AT SOME LEVEL. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE IN TEXAS THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL A FEW YEARS AGO THAT SAYS IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE CONTROLLED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS WHICH IS A NONARISSA PLAN THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY OUR FEE SCHEDULE THAT YOU GUYS ADOPT EVERY YEAR. WE ADDED TO THAT BECAUSE WE INCREASED IT TOO MUCH LAST YEAR. BUT THAT'S WHAT THE INSURANCE HAS TO PAY WHICH HELPS OUR REVENUE.

BUT WE MAKE MORE REVENUE, THE ONLY WAY WE MAKE MORE REVENUE IS BY TAKING MORE PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL.

AND I DON'T KNOW, I AM SURE -- I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE ME BUT I AM SURE EVERYBODY HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS LIKE IT'S A NEW STORY BUT THE COUNTY IS GROWING VERY, VERY QUICKLY AND THAT CAUSES OUR CALL VOLUME TO INCREASE, RIGHT.

THERE IS A PROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF MORE RUNS WE DO BASED UPON HOW THE POPULATION CHANGES. AND THEN THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THAT POPULATION. SO WE LIKE TO LOOK AT OUR BUDGET IN TWO PIECES. ONE IS WHAT WE CALL THE COST TO READINESS. THE COST TO READINESS FOR A 9-1-1 EMS AGENCY IS TO HAVE PARAMEDICS IN AMBULANCES AT STATIONS FULLY STOCKED AND READY TO GO, RIGHT.

AND WE NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH OF THOSE TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE COVERAGE TO ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTY SO THAT NO MATTER WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE IN FORT BEND COUNTY YOUR RESPONSE TIME IS SOMEWHAT THE SAME. THERE WILL BE A TIMES A CALL GOES OUT YOU ARE THE SECOND CALL IN AND THAT MAY BE A LITTLE EXTENDED BUT ACROSS BOARD EVERY COUNTY IS SERVED BY PARAMEDIC LEVEL SERVICES AT THE SAME L THAT'S THE COST OF READINESS.

PRETTY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW HOW BUSY THOSE CREWS ARE GOING TO BE, RIGHT. THEY ARE SITTING IN THE STATION WAITING FOR A CALL TO COME IN. BUT WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE THEM THERE. WE CAN'T -- WHEN THE 9-1-1 CALL COMES INSPECT AND SOMEBODY SAYS I AM HAVING CHEST PAIN OR MY GRANDMOTHER JUST PASSED OUT WE CAN'T BE LOOKING AROUND TO FIND AN AMBULANCE, CREW. RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO BE READY TO GO. >>> THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT IS THE SUSTAINED COST OF OPERATIONS AND THAT IS REALLY DIRECTLY TIED TO THE NUMBER OF 9-1-1 CALLS WE GET.

SO LAST YEAR WE RESPONDED TO APPROXIMATELY 43,000 AMBULANCE CALLS LAST YEAR AND WE TOOK THE MID-20,000S PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL. AND WE EXPECT THAT TO GO UP 8 TO 10% A YEAR. OVER THE LAST TWO OR THREE MONTHS JANUARY THROUGH MARCH REALLY WE SAW A LITTLE BIT OF A LULL, NOT LIKE THE CALL VOLUME WENT DOWN.

WE WERE STILL RUNNING MORE EVERY MONTH THAN WHAT WE HAD RUN IN THE PREVIOUS MONTHS AND YEARS PAST BUT IT WAS LIKE SOMEBODY HAD EASED OFF THE GAS PEDAL BECAUSE THEY ARE MOVING OVER TO THE LEFT HAND LANE TO PASS AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BUMP INTO THE PERSON IN FRONT. WE AVERAGE 120 TO 130 EMS CALLS A DAY 9-1-1 CALLS FOR EMS. AND YESTERDAY BANNER DAY FOR US.

WE RAN 171 CALLS. WE TOOK 112 PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL YESTERDAY. WE DID IT WITH THE TRUCKS WE HAD ON THE STREET. THEY WERE EXTREMELY BUSY BUT THEY GOT THE TASK DONE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AS WE GO FORWARD IS THAT COST IS GOING TO -- THOSE RUNS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

AND I HAVE BEEN HERE NOW THREE YEARS AND I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS AND I HAVE TALKED TO I THINK EVERYBODY EXCEPT YOU, JUDGE. BE HAPPY TO COME BY AND TALK MORE BUT WE -- WE -- WHERE WAS I GOING.

THAT WE SEE THAT INCREASE. WE WANT TO GET IN FRONT OF IT BUT WE ALSO KNOW IN OUR CLIMATE TODAY THAT IT'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT SO A CONCEPT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH BUDGET LAST YEAR AND WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THEM AND I WANT TO REMIND YOU GUYS ABOUT IS THAT WE HAVE A PORTION OF OUR BUDGET THAT COMES FROM THE GENERAL FUND JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY. THE OTHER PORTION OF OUR BUDGET COMES FROM THE REVENUE THAT WE MAKE.

NOW THE COUNTY HOLDS THE RISK IN THAT, RIGHT.

BECAUSE IF WE DON'T MAKE THAT REVENUE WE GET A BAD ECONOMIC DOWNTURN OR SOMETHING AND MEDICAL BILLS ARE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT FALL OFF THE TABLE FOR FOLKS.

THEN THE COUNTY STILL HOLDS THE RISK BECAUSE WE HAVE STILL GOT TO PAY THE BILLS, WE STILL HAVE TO PAY THE PARAMEDICS AND 9-1-1 CALLS ARE STILL COMING IN. LAST YEAR WE TALKED ABOUT IF WE COULD MOVE EMS TO A PLAN WHERE WE, THE GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION TO THE EMS BUDGET STAYS THE SAME WHETHER THAT'S A FLAT DOLLAR AMOUNT OR WHETHER THAT'S A PERCENTAGE, RIGHT AS A PERCENTAGE IT WOULD ACTUALLY DRAW SOME MONEY OUT OF OUR AMBULANCE REVENUE TO KEEP THAT PERCENTAGE THE SAME AS OUR

[03:05:02]

AND WERE ABLE TO GET THAT IT BUDGET READJUSTED AND WE GOT SOME PEOPLE ADDED TO OUR BUDGET LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THAT CHANGE OF PHILOSOPHY IS LET'S KEEP THAT GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION THE SAME AND THEN LET'S -- IF WE EXPECT OUR REVENUE TO GO UP $2 MILLION DON'T CUT OUR GENERAL FUND OBLIGATION DOWN BY 2 MILLION. ALLOW US TO USE THAT 2 MILLION TO GROW THE SYSTEM. THE COST TO THE COUNTY IS ROUGHLY THE SAME EVERY YEAR, RIGHT.

WHATEVER IT'S GOING UP OUR GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION WILL GO UP BUT THEN THE PEOPLE WE USE TO KIND OF LIKE A WATER DEPARTMENT, THE PEOPLE THAT WE USE OR THAT WE TAKE TO THE HOSPITAL THAT NEED OUR SERVICES PAY FOR THE EXPENSES OF THE SYSTEM. SO WITH THAT IN MIND WE CAME FORWARD WITH A FEW REQUESTS THAT ARE A COUPLE OF THEM ARE PRETTY LARGE. WE TALKED ALSO EARLIER IN THE YEAR ABOUT TRANSITIONING OVER THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS OUR MED FRICTION A 56 HOUR WORK WEEK TO 42 HOUR WORK WEEK.

THAT TAKES TWO ADDITIONAL PARAMEDICS PER AMBULANCE TO DO THAT. AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT TAKING US THREE TO FIVE YEARS. WE NEED ROUGHLY 45 PEOPLE I BELIEVE IT IS. I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO REVIEW MY NOTES REAL GOOD BEFORE I CAME UP HERE BUT I BELIEVE IT'S 45 PEOPLE TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION WHERE EVERYBODY WILL BE 42 HOURS A WORK WEEK. THAT MEANS IS THEY WILL WORK 24 HOURS AND GET THREE DAYS OFF. DIFFERENT MEDICS CAN SET THAT UP DIFFERENTLY FOR THEMSELVES BUT BASICALLY RIGHT NOW OUR MEDICS ARE WORKING 48 HOURS IN A ROW AND OUR CALL VOLUME IS DETRIMENTAL TO THAT. IT'S DETRIMENTAL THAT TO THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, TO THEIR FATIGUE AND FAMILY LIFE.

WE ARE BATTLING ALL THESE OTHER ISSUES ON THE SIDE.

OUR DESIRE IS TO GET THAT CONVERTED OVER.

OUR ASK FOR THIS YEAR IS 20 ADDITIONAL PARAMEDICS.

TWO OR FOUR OF THOSE WILL BE USED TO PUT A COUPLE OF PEAK HOUR TRUCKS ON. I WILL EXPLAIN THAT.

THEN THE REST WOULD BE USED TO CONVERT IF IF WE HAD 16 WE WOULD CONVERT EIGHT OF OUR 17, 48-HOUR TRUCKS TO A 56-HOUR TRUCKS PARDON ME WORKING A 48-HOUR WORK WEEK.

OTHER WAY AROUND. WE CONVERT THOSE TO A 42 HOUR WORK WEEK WORK THAT 24 ON THREE DAYS OFF.

IT'S A MUCH BETTER SCHEDULE FOR THEM.

IT ALLOWS THEM PLENTY OF TIME TO RECOVER FROM THEIR SHIFT AND STILL HAVE A FAMILY LIFE OR LIFE OUTSIDE OF WORK BEFORE THEY HAVE TO COME BACK IT'S ALSO WHAT SEVERAL OF OUR LABOR POOL COMPETITORS MONTGOMERY COUNTY, OTHER AGENCIES LIKE THAT ARE MOVING TO AS WELL. BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED GROWTH IN OUR AREA. INCREASED CALL VOLUME.

THAT'S THE 20 ADDITIONAL MEDICS. THERE IS SOME LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THERE AND SOME ADMIN IN THERE AS WELL TO HELP BALANCE THAT OUT BECAUSE WE ARE REALLY, REALLY THIN.

LAST YEAR YOU GUYS GAVE US TWO EXTRA PEOPLE IN OUR BILLING OFFICE AND THAT WAS FANTASTIC. THEY ARE PROCESSING LIKE WE HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE. WE ARE ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO KEEP UP EVEN WHEN WE HAVE A KAY OFF OR A WEEKEND.

THEY ARE NOT HAVING TO COME IN ON THE WEEKENDS TO KEEP UP WITH THAT. BECAUSE THAT BILLING IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT AND THE TIMELINESS OF IT IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. THE QUICKER WE GET THAT BILL IN THE BETTER OFF WE ARE IN GETTING THAT PAID AND SO THAT GROUP DOWN THERE AT SIENNA DOES YEOMAN'S WORK IN GETTING THAT DONE EVERY DAY. AND I MENTIONED THE PEAK HOUR TRUCKS. GOT PEAK HOUR TRUCKS ON THE ROAD THIS YEAR WITH THE PERSONNEL YOU ALL GAVE US LAST YEAR.

IT DEPENDS ON THE DAY OF WEEK. WE HAVE ANYWHERE FROM TWO ON SUNDAYS TO THREE -- PARDON ME -- FOUR ON MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AND FIVE ON -- FIVE ON FRIDAYS. SO THAT HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. WE PUT THOSE TRUCKS IN FRONT OF OUR BUSY TRUCKS SO THAT THEY RUN THE CALLS FIRST WHICH ALLOWS OUR BUSY TRUCKS WHO ARE HERE OVERNIGHT AND HERE FOR 48 HOURS IN A ROW THEY GET A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF WHILE THOSE TRUCKS ARE ON. OUR PEAK HOUR TRUCKS WORK EITHER 12 OR 14 HOURS A DAY AND WHEN WE START THAT HAD A LOT OF MY MEDICS WERE REALLY SKEPTICAL. THEY ARE LIKE OH, MAN IT'S GOING TO GO TO THE LEAST SENIOR PEOPLE WE HAVE AND THEY WILL GET SHIFTS THAT THEY DON'T WANT AND I AM LIKE WELL, THE LEAST SENIOR PEOPLE USUALLY GET SHIFTS THEY DON'T WANT THAT KIND OF GOES WITH THE TERRITORY. BUT WHEN WE DID THE SHIFT BID WITH THOSE PEAK HOUR TRUCKS AND BY THE TIME WE GOT THROUGH OUR

[03:10:01]

PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BE SAYING THAT OUT LOUD BECAUSE THEY WILL ARGUE WITH ME AND TELL THEIR PEERS.

OH, NO, NO, IT'S MADE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE.

WE NEED TO GET ALL OF OUR PERSONNEL OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS OFF OF THAT 48-HOUR WORK CYCLE.

AND OFF OF THAT 56 HOUR WORK CYCLE SO THEY HAVE PLENTY OF TIME WHEN THEY GET DONE. THEY DO THINGS AND THEY SEE THINGS YOU ALWAYS HEAR THIS ABOUT EMS. I HAVE SAIT A H ALLOWED TO SEE OR BE A PART OF.

AND THEY ND THE TIME TO RECUPERATE FROM THAT SO THAT THEY CAN REMAIN A HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE MOTIVATED CLINICIAN FOR US FOR AS LONG AS THEY CHOOSE TO STAY WITH US.

10 YEARS 20 YEARS, 30 YEARS WHATEVER THAT IS.

THE OTHER COSTS IN THERE THERE IS SOME FLEET COSTS.

WE ARE STILL TRYING TO GET ON A FLEET REPLACEMENT PLAN.

WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE THREE YEARS AGO WE REPLACED 28 OF OUR AMBULANCES IN ONE FELL SWOOP. THAT'S A SHOT.

THAT'S A 14 MILLION-DOLLAR SHOT I DON'T WANT US TO HAVE TO TAKE AGAIN. WE ARE TRYING TO GET IN A CYCLE OF REPLACING EIGHT AMBULANCES A YEAR SO WE PUT THAT IN THE BUDGET. WE HAVE GOT SOME STAFF VEHICLES WE NEED TO GET REPLACED AND OR GROWING AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW IN THE CALL VOLUME WE ARE ANSWERING AND THEN JUST ABOUT THE REST OF THE COSTS YOU SEE OVER THE TOP ARE ALL RELATED TO OUR ANTICIPATION OF THE CALL VOLUME NEXT YEAR AND WHAT THAT WILL DO TO THE EXPENSE WHETHER IT'S FOR BAND-AIDS OR TRAINING OR SUPPLIES, FEES IT'S ALL RELATED TO OUR INCREASED CALL

INVOLVEMENT THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> COMMISSIONER: QUESTIONS,

COMMENTS? >> YES.

I NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE QUITE A NUMBER OF VACANCIES ABOUT 16 IN YOUR DEPARTMENT AT PRESENT. HOW DOES THAT IT LINE UP WITH THE -- I KNOW YOU ARE ALSO REQUESTING SOME NEW BATTALION CHIEFS. OF THE ONES THAT ARE VACANT IN THOSE THAT YOU ARE REQUESTING -- I UNDERSTAND YOU'VE HAD A PLAN FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BUT WOULD FILLING THOSE POSITIONS FIRST BE A GOOD START IN HELPING TO RELIEVE SOME OF THE CAPACITY OR ALL OF THESE BATTALION CHIEFS TRIED TO THE NEW TRUCKS YOU ARE

TRYING TO PUT OUT? >> THE BATTALION CHIEF OPENINGS THAT WE HAVE NOW AND WE HAVE A LIEUTENANT POSITION OPENING WE ARE HOLDING OFF ON FILLING THOSE SHOW THAT THEY REMAIN IN THE FIELD. ALL OF THOSE WILL LIKELY BE INTERNAL PROMOTIONS. AND SO WE DON'T WANT TO SAY HEY, YOU ARE A NEW BATTALION CHIEF BUT STAY ON THE AMBULANCE UNTIL WE CAN GET THE PEOPLE HIGHERED. WE HAVE HAD SOME TURNOVER.

WE HAVE HAD A FEW PEOPLE LEE. IT'S NOT BIG NUMBERS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT A PARAMEDIC FORCE OF BEFORE 130 SOME ODD.

BUT IT'S STILL WE HAVE HAD SOME TURNOVER.

TO BECOME A PARAMEDIC FOR FORT BEND COUNTY WE HIRE YOU AND THERE IS A FOUR WEEK ACADEMY WHERE WE PUT YOU THROUGH YOUR PACES TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN PERFORM AT THE LEVEL THAT WE BELIEVE IS REQUIRED IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

OUR LEVEL OF ACUITY IS HIGHER THAN MOST OF THE COUNTIES AROUND US. MOST OF THE EMS IN TEXAS SEES 10 TO 12% OF REALLY SICK PATIENTS. OUR NUMBER IS 22% OF OUR PATIENTS ARE REALLY, REALLY SICK.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE MED RICKS REALLY PREPARED BEFORE THEY GO IN THE FIELD. THEY KNOW THE FORT BEND COUNTY WAY. THEY KNOW HOW WE OPERATE.

WE PUT THEM IN THE FIELD. THEY HAVE TO RIDE FOR A A COUPLE OF MONTHS SO OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR AS A THIRD SO OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR CAN SIGN OFF ON THEM.

WE TRY TO HIRE RIGHT UP TO THAT LEVEL BECAUSE WE CAN'T OVERHIRE IN THE PARAMEDIC ROLE AND WE GET TO THAT AND BEFORE WE GET THEM OUT OF THAT FIELD TRAINING AS WE CALL IT THEN WE END UP HAVING ANOTHER PERSON SAYING, HEY, I AM MOVING BACK TO FORT WORTH OR I AM GOING TO THIS OTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT'S PAYING $5,000 MORE OR WHATEVER THAT IS. WE ARE CONSTANTLY FIGHTING THAT BECAUSE WE CAN'T FIND A PARAMEDIC OFF THE STREET AND PUT THEM ON THE TRUCK TOMORROW. IT'S REALLY A THREE-MONTH PROCESS TO DO THAT. WE HAVE A CLASS OF THREE RIGHT NOW. WE HAD FIVE.

ONE USED TO US GET MORE PAY FROM THEIR CURRENT EMPLOYER AND THE OTHER ONE BACKED OUT RIGHT AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE.

SO WE HAVE THREE WE ARE PUTTING THROUGH THE ACADEMY AND WE START TAKING APPLICATIONS AGAIN NEXT MONDAY.

WE WILL TAKE THOSE FOR TWO WEEKS, HAVE AN ASSESSMENT CENTER AND HOPEFULLY HAVE THE NEXT ACADEMY IN TO TAKE US BACK TO THAT FULL STAFFING LEVEL STARTING THE END OF JULY.

AND THEN THAT'LL PUSH US THERE. WE ARE GOING THROUGH AND STARTING TO DO A SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE BCS WE ASKED FOR LAST YEAR. BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE GOT

[03:15:02]

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE OPENINGS. WE HAVEN'T FELT LIKE WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF A FILL-IN IN THE STREET WITH THE PEOPLE -- WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE OUT ON LEAVE.

WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT NUMBER WHERE WE FELT LIKE YEAH, LET'S PROMOTE THOSE FIVE PEOPLE AND COME BACK AND REFILL THOSE.

WE ARE TRYING TO DO IT LIKE THIS BUT IT'S SOMETIMES IT'S TOUGH TO

MAKE THAT BALANCE. >> COMMISSIONER: GOT IT.

OKAY. >> THIS IS KIND OF RELATED BUT I DON'T KNOW THIS HAS COME UP IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CITY OF RICHMOND FOR THEIR FIRE SERVICES CONTRACT AND PART OF WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THE ASSISTANCE THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES TO CALLS, EMS CALLS.

HAVE YOU BEEN CONTACTED BY ANYONE FROM THE CITY OF RICHMOND TO HAVE CONVERSATION BC WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE?

>> THE ONLY CONVERSATIONS I HAVE HAD WITH THE CITY OF RICHMOND HAVE BEEN RELATED TO CALLS TO MEDICAL FACILITIES.

THE PRISONS, THE JAIL. DOCTORS' OFFICES.

THE URGENT CARE CLINICS HAD A KIND OF THING WHERE THEY REQUESTED NOT TO GO TO THOSE UNLESS WE ARE REALLY FAR OUT OF POCKET OR UNLESS THE PATIENT NEIGH CARDIAC ARREST BASICALLY.

WHERE THEY CAN BE HANDS BECAUSE THEY FILL -- IT TAKES A UNIT OUT OF SERVICE FOR THEM AND THEY FEEL I DON'T WANT TO SAY USELESS BUT THERE IS MEDICAL STAFF ALREADY THERE.

SO THEY ARE LIKE WHAT ARE WE FIRST RESPONDING FOR? THERE ARE ALREADY FIRST RESPONDERS THERE.

THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THAT FACILITY.

WE HAVE HONORED THAT. WE WON'T CALL YOU TO THOSE FACILITIES UNLESS WE ARE COMING FROM FAR AWAY OR UNLESS IT'S A CARDIAC ARREST WHERE THE PATIENT IS DOESN'T HAVE A PULSE AND ISN'T BREATHING AND THEN WE WILL CALL THEM THERE JUST IN CASE THEY CAN BEAT TELUS TO MAKE SURE THAT CARE IS GETTING STARTED APPROPRIATELY. THAT'S THE ONLY CONVERSATION WE

HAVE HAD WITH RICHMOND. >> GOT IT.

FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE THAT'S MORE OF A MUTUAL SAID SORT OF DEAL OR REALLY IT'S NOT EVEN MUTUAL AID BECAUSE THEY ARE THERE TO THERE TO STABILIZE THE PATIENT UNTIL YOU GET ON THE

SCENE? >> OUR RESPONDERS DO REALLY GOOD WORK FOR US. THE SICKEST OF THE SICK NEED LIFE SUPPORT AREA. CARDIAC ARREST STOPPING THE BLEEDING IF THEY ARE BLEEDING THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

WE NEED THAT DONE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN POSSIBLY DO IT.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET A CAMPAIGN GOING OF TEACHING THE COMMUNITY THAT SO IT HAPPENS BEFORE ANYBODY GETS THERE.

IF THEY CAN GET THAT PATIENT STABILIZED BEFORE THE MEDICS GET THERE THEN IT ALLOWS US TO CONCENTRATE ON THE RESUSCITATION PIECE AND EVERYTHING THAT THAT ENTAILS THAT OUR PARAMEDICS CAN DO OUT THERE IN THE FIELD. SO WE LOVE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO GO WITH US. WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY THAT DON'T GO TO EVERY EMS CALL AND THAT'S USUALLY A DISCUSSION BETWEEN US AND THEM.

WE HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THOSE BY THE STATE.

AND WE ARE CURRENTLY UPGRADING OR UPDATING SOME OF THEM TO MAKE THEM MORE MODERN. AS SOME OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE TRYING TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF RESPONSE THEY PROVIDE SO.

>> OKAY. THIS WILL BE A BIG TOPIC MOVING FORWARD AND I KNOW NOW COMMISSIONER MEIERS IS THE ONE HEADING UP NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CITY OF RICHMOND ON THAT.

I WANT US TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THAT BECAUSE THEY CONTINUE TO PUSH BEING COMPENSATED FOR THESE CALLS AND WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO THAT FROM OUR FIRE SERVICES CONTRACT AND IT'S JUST A TOPIC

OF CONVERSATION. >> I AGREE.

>> THERE'S BEEN NO REQUEST. >> I HAVE HAD CONVERSATION WITH COMMISSIONER MEIERS' AND THE FIRE MARSHAL.

>> ON THE STOP THE BLEED POINT THAT REALLY BIG DEAL AND I HAD OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRAINING AT THE FAIRGROUNDS THIS WEEKEND AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DEFICIT OF TRAINING IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.

PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW A LOT OF OUR KIDS HAVE NEVER SEEN A TOURNIQUET BEFORE. THEY ARE TEACHING IT ON THE CAMPUSES. KUDOS TO YOU ALL.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU OUT WHEREVER WE CAN AND GETTING THE EDUCATION OUT THERE. IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL.

THAT AND THE CONVERSATION WE WERE HAVING ON ADS TO CRITICAL

POINTS TO STABILIZING FOLKS -- >> WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN ASKED TO BE A PART OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION PROGRAM CALLED THE 4 MINUTE COMMUNITY AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE AHA TO PICK A SUBDIVISION OR TWO TO DEPLOY AEDS INTO IN THE SUBDIVISION.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SUBDIVISION WHERE WE HAVE A HIGH PREVALENCE OF THOSE WHERE THEY HAVE CONTRACT DEPUTIES OR CONTRACT POSSIBLE DEPTHIES AND THEN WE WILL MEET WHEN WE DECIDE ON WHERE THOSE ARE WE WILL MEET WITH THOSE AGENCIES TO IT SEE IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PUT AN AED IN THOSE VEHICLES.

THEY ARE IN THE SUBDIVISION ALL THE TIME.

SOMETHING COMES IN THERE IS LIKE FIVE CRITERIA THAT WE SAY THAT COULD BE A CARDIAC ARREST. WE WILL SEND THEM THERE SO THAT AED GETS THERE WITHIN TWO TO THREE MINUTES OF THE 9-1-1 CALL

[03:20:03]

>> IS THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION OFFERING GRANTS TO

SUPPORT THIS? >> NOT YET.

THEY ARE OFFERING US SOME GRANTS TO TIE SOME PIECE THAT IS WOULD MAKE THIS EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE INTO THE DISPATCH CAD BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE JUST TALKING ABOUT WHERE SHOULD WE TRY THIS TRIAL AND OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE DONE IT WITH GROUPS IN THE SUBDIVISION. WE WANT TO START WITH OUR CONTRACT DEPUTIES BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY OF THOSE OUT THERE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS. SO WE WANT TO TRY TO FOCUS ON THAT AND HEN COME BACK AND SAY WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP.

>> THAT'S GOOD. BRILLIANT IDEA.

>> OH, YEAH. >> BRILLIANT IDEA.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK HERE. >> COMMISSIONER: QUESTIONS COMMENTS ANYONE THANK YOU SO MUCH.

FEEL FREE TO VISIT MY OFFICE. YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO TELL

A JOKE FIRST, GOT IT? >> I GOT IT.

>> COMMISSIONER: ALL RIGHT THANK YOU.

>> WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHERS THIS AFTERNOON.

WE ARE WORKING TO MOVE AS MANY FROM THE AFTERNOON INTO THE MORNING TOMORROW. WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.

I AM NOT POSITIVE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE ALL OF THE

AFTERNOON ONES. >> COMMISSIONER: SO ANY MOTION? ADJOURN THIS MEETING?

SECOND. >> ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AND SEE YOU TOMORROW.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.