May 13, 2026 BUDGET WORKSHOP

[1. Call to Order.]

[00:00:07]

>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. TODAY'S WEDNESDAY MAY 13, 2026.

TIME BEING NOW, 9:00 A.M. I HEREBY CALL TO ORDER THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FORT BEND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT.

WELCOME AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

[3. Conduct Budget Workshops.]

DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? >> NO

>> LET'S GO STRAIGHT TO THE WORK SHOP.

GOOD MORNING >> GOOD MORNING.

WE'RE ON OUR LAST DAY OF BUDGET WORK SHOPS.

TOMORROW WE HAVE -- >> GOOD NEWS

>> WELL ALMOST LAST. TOMORROW WE HAVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, TOMORROW MORNING.

BUT THIS MORNING THE FIRST DEPARTMENT WE ARE GOING TO SEE

IS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES >> FANTASTIC.

>> GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE JUDGE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

>> GOOD MORNING >> I'M A DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR HHS FINANCE OPERATION AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AT YOUR REQUEST TODAY. AS YOU ALL ARE WELL AWARE, FORT BEND COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECENTLY HAD A BOARD CREATION. THIS WAS MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND REFLECTS THE COUNTY'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING A QUALITY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES TO RESIDENTS. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS HHS HAS WORKED TO MAXIMIZE FUNDING TO SUPPORT SERVICES WHILE MINIMIZING IMPACT TO OUR COUNTY FUNDS.

IN ADDITION TO MAINTAINING A DAILY PUBLIC HEALTH OPERATION, HHS MUST ALSO REMAIN PREPARED TO RESPOND TO ANY NATURAL DISASTERS, DISEASE OUTBREAKS AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES THAT IMPACT OUR RAPIDLY GROWING POPULATION.

SO WHY YOU ARE HERE TODAY, AS PART OF FY27 BUDGET PROCESS, WE ARE REQUESTING YOUR SUPPORT FOR TWO PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIVISION WITH A TENTATIVE TRANSITION DATE FROM THE GRANT FUNDING TO THE SKOUPBTY FUNDING EFFECTIVE 1/20/27. AS THE GRANT ENTERS THE FINAL YEAR AND IS SCHEDULED TO END ON NOVEMBER 30, 2027.

THIS PHASE APPROACH ALLOW HHS TO CONTINUE MAXIMIZING OUR GRANT FUNDING WHILE HELPING REDUCE THE PHYSICAL IMPACT TO THE COUNTY DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD. THE FIFTH GRANT WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED IN 2023 TO HELP STRENGTHEN PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE BY SUPPORTING HIRING, RETENTION AND TRAINING OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORK FORCE. THIS INVESTMENT HELPS LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS BUILD LONG TIME CAPACITY, IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND MAINTAIN READINESS TO RESPOND TO BOTH ON GOING AND EMERGING PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS. TWO REQUESTED POSITIONS IN FY27 BUDGET ARE THE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGER AND THE COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION SPECIALIST.

THESE POSITIONS SUPPORT CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND HEALTH EDUCATION INITIATIVE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. SO LET ME GIVE YOU LITTLE BIT HIGHLIGHTS OF THESE TWO POSITIONS TO MAKE YOU MORE AWARE. THE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGER IS DIRECTLY SUPPORTS ONE OF THE COUNTY'S TOP COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT AT THE FORT BEND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BY BEING CRISIS COORDINATION, PREVENTION EFFORT, ACCESS TO CARE INITIATIVES AND NOT TO MENTION MENTAL HEALTH.

FROM FY23 TO FY26 THIS POSITION HAS SERVED APPROXIMATELY 700 TIMES EITHER REFERRING OR PROCESSING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. MORE THAN 25 COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS ATTENDED. WE SUPPORTED BY THIS POSITION MULTIPLE OUTREACH EVENTS, ASSESSMENT REFERRALS, COORDINATED ON GOING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR COMMUNITY DEPENDING ON OUR SERVICES. FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION SPECIALIST, IT HELPS DIRECTLY COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT

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WE HAVE CONDUCTED AND ATTENDED SEVERAL OUTREACH IN EDUCATION EVENTS EDUCATING COMMUNITY ON HOW TO PREPARE HEALTHY MEAL, A1C SCREENINGS, HEART DISEASE AND SUCH.

WE ALSO HAVE EXPANDED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ORGANIZERS SUCH AS INSTITUTE OF SPIRITUALITY AND HEALTH, FORT BEND COUNTY LIBRARIES AND ALL THE MAYORS ASSOCIATION.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS OF HAVING THOSE POSITIONS ON FORT BEND COUNTY. BASED ON CDC DATA AVAILABLE OUT THERE, I BELIEVE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION CAN SAVE AN ESTIMATED 600 TO $2,200 ANNUALLY PER PARTICIPATION IN OUR PROGRAM WITH PARTICIPATION EXPERIENCING 34% LOWER HOSPITALIZATION RATE.

INCREASE IN EDUCATION AND CHRONIC BUSINESS PREVENTION PROGRAM DEMONSTRATE A STRONG RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

STUDIES SHOWING APPROXIMATELY $10 RETURN FOR EVERY DOLLAR ENLISTED. AND CHRONIC BUSINESS SELF-MANAGEMENT PROGRAM CAN REDUCE THE HEALTH CARE COST BY AN ESTIMATED $390 TO $520 FOR PARTICIPATION OVER TWO YEARS.

CONTINUING THIS POSITION WOULD ALLOW THE COUNTY TO MAINTAIN THE PROGRAM AND SERVICES ALREADY ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE FUNDING WHILE MINIMIZING DISRUPTION TO THE SERVICES CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED TO OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. QUESTIONS?

COMMENTS? >> BOTH OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE

THE CHP, THE GRANT >> PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT. PHI.

>> YOU JUST DID ALL -- PRESENTED FOR ALL OF THEM ALL IN ONE?

>> NO, THIS IS ONE. THIS IS ADMINISTRATION

>> OH, OKAY. OKAY.

GOT IT >> IT LOOKS LIKE HIS BUDGET INCREASED BY ONE POSITION IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE NOTES BECAUSE WE ADDED THE TWO GRANT POSITIONS, BUT THEN MOVED ONE OF YOUR POSITIONS TO A DIFFERENT AREA.

IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING WHERE THAT OTHER POSITION WENT.

>> GOT IT. GOT IT.

GOT IT. AND I KNOW WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE END OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT, AND WE HAVE THESE ROLES TIED TO IT THAT ARE REALLY PROVIDING SOME CRITICAL SERVICES THAT I'VE BECOME ENGAGED WITH AS WELL.

I JUST THINK WE, AGAIN, NEED TO PUT IT OUT THERE.

SOME OF THESE POSITIONS HAD TO END ABRUPTLY LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE VERY ABRUPT ENDING OF THE GRANT FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SOME OF THEM WE WERE AN TEUS PAEUGT TO COME TO AN END, IS IT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR OR

NEXT YEAR? >> NOVEMBER '27.

NEXT YEAR >> NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

OKAY. ARE ALL OF THESE POSITIONS NEEDING TO COME OVER TO GENERAL FUND THIS YEAR?

>> THAT'S WHY WE ARE USING THE PHASED APPROACH.

WE WANT TO HAVE THESE TWO POSITIONS THIS YEAR AND REMAINING POSITION WILL COME BACK NEXT YEAR.

SO THERE WILL BE A CHANCE TO USE ALL GRANT FUNDING AND WE WON'T

HAVE TO RETURN FUNDING >> OKAY, GOT IT.

UNDERSTOOD. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS,

COMMENTS? >> THAT'S FOR THE ADMINISTRATION PART. I WILL BE HERE FOR THE NEXT PART. THE NEXT BUDGET WE ARE HERE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

THIS BUDGET REQUEST INCLUDE A SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR HEALTH PREPAREDNESS, MANAGER POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDED BY THE COUNTY'S HR. THIS POSITION HAS TREMENDOUS WORK LOAD OVER THE YEARS, WEEKENDS, NIGHTS.

SO I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO ASK FOR THIS RAISE.

AND ALSO, THIS REQUEST ALSO INCLUDES A LOGISTIC COORDINATOR POSITION FROM THE HHS ADMINISTRATION TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS BUDGET TO BETTER ALIGN THE POSITION IN ITS DAY TO DAY DUTIES SUPPORTING PREPAREDNESS OPERATIONS AND LOGISTICS AND RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL ASK ON COUNTY DOLLARS. WE ARE JUST MOVING FROM ONE BUDGET UNIT TO THE OTHER UNIT. THAT'S WHAT MISS PAMELA WAS

EXPLAINING EARLIER. >> ALL RIGHT.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS?

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>> I'M STILL HERE >> I'M LOOKING DOWN.

CONTINUE. WE HAVE ALL DAY LONG, SO PLEASE

>> THANK YOU >> THE MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET REQUEST REFLECTS NOT BECAUSE WE WANT TO ASK FOR MORE MONEY.

IT'S BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING ON OUT IN THE BUSINESS WORLD.

INFLATION, COST OF DOING THE BUSINESS.

SO CLINICAL BUDGET REQUEST IS OPERATIONAL AND COMPLIANCE SERVICES NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN SAFE, EFFECTIVE AND TIMELY PATIENT CARE ACROSS OUR COUNTY CLINICS.

SO WHAT THE INCREASE YOU SEE IS WHAT BASICALLY IS A COST SUCH AS -- WE USE THAT COMPANY FOR BIOWASTE DISPOSAL SERVICE.

WE ARE CONTRACTED LEVEL OF SERVICE WITH CPL.

WE USE THAT LABORATORY SERVICES IN THE EVENT THAT THE STATE LAB IS CLOSED AND WE HAVE TO DO SOME EMERGENCY TESTING.

WE ALSO USE THE SANTI GRADE SERVICES FOR THE FIVE CENTRIFUGE ACROSS CLINICAL PATIENTS. THE BLOOD SPECIMENS PRIOR TO THE SUBMISSION OF THE RESULTS AND EQUIPMENT HAS TO BE CALIBRATED WITHIN STANDARDS FOR THE SERVICES.

WE ALSO USE TB CLINIC SERVICES. WHAT THEY DO IS RADIOLOGY AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES FOR THE CHEST X-RAY FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE EXPOSED TB TO FAMILY MEMBERS.

SO THE INCREASE ASK ON THE BUDGET WHAT YOU SEE WAS REFLECTED THOSE COSTS HAVE INCREASED, FOR THE CLINICAL HEALTH. THERE IS NO OTHER ASK FOR THE

CLINICAL HEALTH SERVICES >> THERE IS ONE POSITION THAT THE ALLOCATION FOR THE GRANT CHANGED.

WAS THAT THE PHI GRANT? >> WHICH POSITION?

>> I JUST HAVE POSITION NUMBER 54.

INCREASE OUTPATIENT MAYBE >> IT'S A SMALL INCREASE

>> OH, OKAY >> NEVER MIND

>> THANK YOU >> QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANYONE? HOW ARE WE DOING ON IMMUNIZATION?

>> OKAY >> I'M COMING BACK.

THE BUDGET REQUEST INCLUDES FOR THE CLINICAL HEALTH IMMUNIZATION IS A SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR DUTIES OF THE MANAGER FOR IMMUNIZATION. WHEN WE TOOK THIS POSITION FROM THE GRANT FUNDING TO THE COUNTY FUNDING, IT WASN'T CONSIDERED AT THAT TIME. SO WE WORKED WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE THIS POSITION TOOK ALSO ADDITIONAL DUTY FOR NURSING AND IMPLEMENTATION.

THAT'S THE REASON YOU SEE THE ASK ON A BUDGET.

OTHER ASK ON IMMUNIZATION IS ASKING FOR THE FULL TOUCH SCREEN DEVICE UTILIZING THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS AND VACCINATION CLINICS BECAUSE WHAT WE FIND OUT WHEN THE IT UP DATED WINDOWS 11, THOSE UNITS, WE CAN'T USE IT. IN ORDER TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER WE NEED FOUR LAP TOPS OR ANY TOUCH SCREEN DEVICES SO WE CAN GO AND HELP COMMUNITY FOR REGISTRATION.

THAT'S THE REASON YOU'LL SEE THOSE INCREASED ASKS.

WE'VE COMPLIED WITH THE IT RECOMMENDATION TO BUY FOUR NEW

EQUIPMENTS. >> OVERALL IMMUNIZATION, ARE WE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE USE -- OUR IMMUNIZATION OR A DECREASE?

>> I BELIEVE IT'S INCREASING. I HAVE A CONSTANT PROGRAM MANAGER. HE CAN PROVIDE MORE INSIGHT FOR

YOU ON IMMUNIZATION ACTIVITY >> PERFECT.

>> MORNING >> HOW CAN I HELP YOU, SIR?

>> WHAT ARE WE SEEING IN THE TRENDS FOR USE OF IMMUNIZATION

PROGRAM? >> SO, OUR TB AND ASN PROGRAM THAT'S FUNDED THROUGH THE STATE. THERE'S AN INCREASE IN THAT PROGRAM. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IN OUR OUTREACHES, WE HAVE SEEN A LITTLE DECREASE -- SORRY.

NOW CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES

>> OKAY. SO AGAIN, LIKE OUR TB AND ASN PROGRAMS WHICH ARE STATE FUNDED THAT IS A STEADY FLOW AND IT IS INCREASING BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT SCHOOL VACCINES.

AND WITH OUR OUTREACHES WE HAVE BEEN SEEING A SMALL DECREASE BECAUSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH DIFFERENT ENTITIES IN THE GOVERNMENT. BUT WE DO HAVE NUMBERS FROM '24

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BEAR WITH ME. SO IN 2024 OUR IMMUNIZATIONS WERE 3583 NUMB. 2025 THEY WERE 3,526 AND SO FAR IN 2026 WE HAVE 1,474. SO WITH OUR PROGRAM, IT IS A CONSTANT FLOW OF IMMUNIZATIONS BEING GIVEN OUT TO CLINICAL

HEALTH SERVICES >> WE'RE GIVING THESE OUT FOR

FREE? >> YES.

TB AND ASN THERE IS A FEE IF THEY DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM. OUR OUTREACHES WE TRY TO PROVIDE VACCINES TO THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS 1964/65.

THEY HAVE AN ADMIN FEATURE TO IT BUT IF THEY QUALIFY FOR OUR SERVICES THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY THE ADMIN FEE.

DOING A GREAT JOB WITH FLU VACCINES, MENINGITIS FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENTS THAT GO TO COLLEGE.

AND ALSO HPV TALKING TO THE COLLEGE STUDENTS ABOUT THAT.

OUR PROGRAM IS A STEADY FLOW >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

>> ANYTHING ELSE? >> THANK YOU.

>> EPIDEMIOLOGY. WHAT YOU SEE ON A BUDGET REQUEST THAT INCLUDES A SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR ONE EPIDEMIOLOGIST POSITION WHICH HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY HUMAN RESOURCES. ALSO THE REQUEST INCLUDES CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR FY26 BUDGET.

WE WERE UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD DUE TO DELAYS IN FINDING THE RIGHT VENDORS. THAT'S ALSO IN THE MOVE MONEY INTO FY27. HEALTH ASSESSMENT IS A FOUNDATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIVITY.

ASSESSMENT PROVIDE CLEAR DATA, INSIGHT INTO THE COMMUNITY'S MOST URGENT HEALTH NEEDS AND HELP GUIDES STRATEGIC PLANNING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO THAT'S A REASON YOU WILL SEE THAT INCREASE IN A BUDGET ASK.

>> ALL RIGHT. QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?

>> SO WITH EPIDEMIOLOGY, IS ANYONE HERE FROM THAT

DEPARTMENT? >> YES, RIGHT.

I BROUGHT EVERYBODY. >> HI, GOOD MORNING

>> I KNOW THAT Y'ALL WERE VERY, VERY ACTIVE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND ARE DOING TRACING, TRACKING AND ALL OF THAT.

AS WE'VE SEEN THIS LAST FLU SEASON WAS VERY ACTIVE.

WERE Y'ALL ACTIVE AND ENGAGED IN ANY OF THOSE ACTIVITYS? WHEN ARE Y'ALL TYPICALLY ACTIVATED, IF YOU WOULD?

>> YEAH. WE'RE ACTIVATED YEAR ROUND.

I MEAN, THIS YEAR WE'VE SEEN QUITE AN INCREASE IN VACCINE PREVENTIBLE DISEASES, UNFORTUNATELY.

WE ARE SEEING A LITTLE BIT MORE EXEMPTION RATES WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR SOME OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ESPECIALLY THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS. BUT, YEAH.

SO WE'RE SEEING SOME MORE VACCINE PREVENTIBLE DISEASES.

AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING SOME EMERGING DISEASES AS WELL.

SO WE'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PREPARING FOR MONITORING OF THOSE TRAVELLERS, IF YOU WILL, ESPECIALLY AS WE PREPARE FOR FLU

SEASON >> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS YOU ARE BECOMING AWARE OF, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT VACCINE PREVENTIBLE DISEASES. WHEN WE'RE SEEING TRANSMISSION AMONG CHILDREN. WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES THERE? WHAT ARE YOUR REPORTING

REQUIREMENTS? >> YEAH.

SO WHAT WE DO IS WE'LL INVESTIGATE WHO TESTED POSITIVE AND WE'LL DO TRACE BACK ON ANYONE WHO WAS EXPOSEDED TO THE DISEASE SO THAT LOOKS DIFFERENT BASED ON THE DISEASE, RIGHT? AND HOW INFECTIOUS IT IS. SO WHAT WE'LL DO, WE WORK WITH -- LOT OF TIMES AROUND HERE IT'S NOT JUST COUNTY, IT'S MULTIPLE OTHER COUNTIES INVOLVED. LOT OF PEOPLE TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH FROM HOUSTON TO FORT BEND AND VICE VERSA, MONTGOMERY COUNTIES. SO IT'S WORKING WITH MULTIPLE AGENCIES AND THE STATE TO DO TRACE BACK ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. WHEN THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO

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TRYING TO NOTIFY ALL THOSE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE AT RISK. LOT OF TIMES YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO RECEIVE VACCINES.

THOSE ARE GONNA BE THE HIGHEST RISK POPULATION, OR THOSE THAT ARE IMMUNOSUPRESSANT. SOMETIMES A VACCINE DOESN'T ALWAYS, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET VACCINES FOR MEDICAL REASONS, THINGS LIKE THAT. FOR SOME OF THE MORE INFECTIOUS DISEASES LIKE MEASLES, THAT'S VERY VERY INFECTIOUS.

AND CAN EASILY SPREAD TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

SO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS, OF COURSE, KEEP IT OUT OF POPULATION SUCH AS DAY CARES AND SCHOOLS WHERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS THERE. SO IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON THE DISEASE. WE ALSO, I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL HAVE SEEN, OR MAYBE HAVE SEEN, NEWS ON HANTAVIRUS.

THAT'S OUR NEXT THING THAT WE ARE WATCHING.

THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS BEING MONITORED WITHIN THE HOUSTON AREA. SO WE JUST NEED TO BE AWARE THAT THAT IS ON THE RADAR. AS WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, WE'RE JUST PREPARING FOR ANYTHING. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED DOING SURVEILLANCE REPORTS FOR THESE EVENTS.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS MONITORING EMERGENCY MEDICAL DATA SO THAT KIND OF GIVES US AN EARLY WARNING OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND PREPARE US FOR WHAT MIGHT BE COMING, WHICH IS THE CASE INFORMATION. FIRST IT WILL GO TO THE ER.

THEN WE LOOK AT CHIEF COMPLAINTS AND DIAGNOSIS WITHIN THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM. AND THEN THEY'LL BE TESTED AND

WE'LL GET LABS LATER >> GOT IT.

THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY AS WE SEE MORE FOLKS OPTING OUT OF VACCINATIONS. WHAT YOUR TEAM EXISTS TO DO IS REALLY TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE RISK TO THE PUBLIC, AND PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH INFORMATION. AND THOSE FOLKS WHO MAY BE CARRIERS OF ANY SORT OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES, TO ARM THEM WITH INFORMATION TO MAKE DECISIONS SO THEY DON'T IMPACT THE BROADER COMMUNITY. THANKFUL FOR YOUR TEAM.

DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE YOU ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS YOUR ROLE AND VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITY

>> YEAH, NO PROBLEM. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

>> I THINK THAT'S ALL FROM ME. FOR NOW

>> FOR NOW. OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? PAM, DO YOU HAVE ANY? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING >> GOOD MORNING.

HOW ARE YOU GUYS? >> GOOD MORNING

>> I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN A COUPLE YEARS SO WE'VE HAD OUR BUDGET KIND OF HELPING AND EVERYTHING'S BEEN OKAY WITH US.

BUT HERE IN THIS PAST YEAR, A LOT OF THE PRICES ON OUR VACCINES AND DEWORMER AND EVERYTHING THAT WE BASICALLY USE TO GIVE CATS AND DOGS AT THE SHELTER HAS INCREASED A LOT, DRAMATICALLY, ALMOST SAY A TRAY OF VACCINES HAS GONE UP FROM $10 TO $12 EACH WHICH WE USE A BUNCH BECAUSE IF WE HAVE A LOT OF PUPPIES, THOSE ANIMALS ARE GETTING VACCINATED AT LEAST THREE TIMES WHILE THEY'RE AT THEIR SHELTER.

OUR OPERATING SUPPLIES WENT UP AROUND $10,000, AN INCREASE OF $10,000 FROM WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR.

AND OUR, ALSO OUR FEES. WE HAVE OUR BIG TRAP NEUTER RETURN PROGRAM THERE. THAT'S ALSO A LOT OF MEDICAL.

LOT OF OUR INCREASES HAVE TO DO WITH ALL MEDICAL.

THOSE ARE THINGS WE PROVIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THOSE ARE FROM THE SURGERY STUFF TO THE VACCINES TO EVERYTHING THAT OUR VETERINARIAN USES INSIDE THE VET ROOM HAS INCREASED A LOT. WE ALSO HAD A SMALL INCREASE IN THAT PART. I THINK OUR BIGGEST ONE IS I'M ASKING FOR A POSITION. I'M ASKING FOR A VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN. AT THIS TIME WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO THAT ASSIST OUR VETERINARIAN.

WHETHER THAT'S IN SURGERIES, TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE

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AS EVERYONE KNOWS, WE DON'T JUST PICK UP FAMILY PETS.

WE'RE PICKING UP ANIMALS THAT ARE EITHER EXTREMELY SKINNY, ANIMALS THAT ARE ILL. PEOPLE CALL US ALL THE TIME.

YESTERDAY WE PICKED UP 14 BABY KITTENS THAT WERE DUMPED IN A KENNEL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. OF COURSE, THEY'RE ALL EXTREMELY HOT. SOME ARE SICK.

SOME MAY NOT MAKE IT. BUT NOT HAVING A TEAM TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT MEDICAL ATTENTION THAT THE ANIMALS NEED HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE FOR US. WE HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SOME THINGS ARE COMPLETELY FALSE. IT'S JUST THE ANIMALS THAT COME IN, THERE'S TIMES WHERE THEY CAN'T US THEIR STORY SO UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO GO BY WHAT WE SEE AND WHAT THE VETERINARIAN SEES. THIS NEW VET TECH WOULD BE SOMEONE THAT WOULD HELP CLEAN INSTRUMENTS QUICKER, BE ABLE TO -- RIGHT NOW WE ONLY HAVE TWO. ONE TAKES OFF, WE'RE DOWN TO ONE PERSON AND THE VET. DOESN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING SURGERIES. THERE'S NO RECOVERY, THERE'S NO PREP. THE VET TECHES NORMALLY DO EVERYTHING. THE VETERINARIAN JUST USES THEIR HANDS TO DO THE SURGERY, SO ON SO FORTH.

IT HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE. SHE WANTED TO BE HERE TODAY, BUT TODAY'S OUR TRAP NEUTER RETURN PROGRAM THAT WE DO FOR THE COMMUNITY WEDNESDAY SO SHE HAS AROUND 45 SURGERISURGERIES.

WEDNESDAYS ARE CRAZY, CRAZY FOR US.

BUT, YEAH. OTHER THAN THAT, WE'VE KIND OF MAINTAINED, LIKE I MENTIONED, THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WE'VE BEEN DOING GOOD. JUST TRYING TO HOLD THE LINE ON WHAT WE CAN DO.

>> I'M DONE >> YOU HAVE YOUR VET POSITION

FILLED? >> YES, MA'AM

>> GREAT. AWESOME

>> AS OF NOW, EVERYTHING IS GOOD.

BUT IT IS HARD. OBVIOUSLY IT'S HARD TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY. BUT I DO UNDERSTAND WHEN THERE'S STRUGGLES, IT'S HARD TO KEEP UP WITH THE ANIMALS THAT COME IN.

WE HAVE AN ANIMAL CRUELTY OFFICER.

WE DO WORK WITH THE SPCA AND HOUSTON HUMANE.

WHEN THE ANIMALS COME TO THE SHELTER AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY CRUELTY, THEN WE HAVE TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR THEM.

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING DISTINCTION.

WHEN THERE IS CRUELTY INVOLVED, IT GOES TO THE HS -- HOUSTON

HUMANE SOCIETY? >> YES.

YEAH, 'CAUSE IF IT'S -- IF THEY NEED FURTHER MEDICATION, WE CAN'T PROVIDE THEM. WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE X-RAYS. WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY OF DOING BLOOD WORK. IF IT'S A CRIMINAL CASE THEN OF COURSE WE NEED ALL THAT DRAWN UP TO BE ABLE TO GO TO COURT.

WE DO EVERYTHING OTHER THAN THE CRIMINAL PART OF IT

>> THAT'S A HELPFUL DISTINCTION. THIS IS A MAJOR TOPIC.

IT SEEMS TO BE CONSTANTLY IN THE COMMUNITY.

CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHAT YOU EXIST TO DO AND WHAT SAY HUMANE SOCIETY DOES? I THINK THERE'S A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT

DISTINCTION IS >> YES.

WE USED TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS, I ALWAYS USED TO SAY WE DID MINOR MEDICAL. I THOUGHT WE WERE DOING A LOT MORE THAN OTHER SHELTERS DO. I THINK WE DO.

BUT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE KIND OF RETRACTING A LITTLE BIT.

TRYING TO SAVE MINOR MEDICAL IS PRETTY DIFFICULT WHEN WE DON'T HAVE CERTAIN THINGS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL THE MEDICAL ATTENTION, LIKE I MENTIONED. MINOR MEDICAL MAY INCLUDE, LET'S DO AN X-RAY AND SEE IF THIS ANIMAL HAS A BROKEN PELVIS OR BROKEN FEMUR. WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

THE ANIMAL COMES IN AND THE COMMUNITY EXPECTS FOR US FRO VIED THAT MEDICAL CARE FOR THAT ANIMAL.

IT IS HARD WHEN AN ANIMAL COMES IN AND IT'S STILL WAGGING ITS TAIL. IT'S STILL HAPPY.

BUT YET THEY CAN'T WALK BECAUSE IT HAS A BROKEN BACK.

HOW CAN WE PROVIDE THAT MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR IT? IT'S DIFFICULT ON OUR END. WE JUST MAKE THEM COMFORTABLE, PAIN MED, SO ON SO FORTH. OF COURSE, OUR VET.

SHE'S A VETERINARIAN, BUT SHE ALSO HAS HER HANDS TIED TO CERTAIN THINGS. ON THE OTHER SIDE, OF COURSE, WE DO REACH OUT TO OUTSIDE VETS. WE DO HAVE, NOT CONTRACTS BUT OUR 5013C PARTNERS, THEY HELP US.

IF AN ANIMAL NEEDS X-RAYS OR SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT, WE REACH OUT TO THEM. THEY CHARGE US A DISCOUNTED PRICE AND WE TAKE THE ANIMALS OURSELVES TO GET THE X-RAYS.

OUR VETERINARIAN READS THOSE X-RAYS.

THEN WE MOVE FORWARD ON WHAT WE CAN DO.

KIND OF, WE DON'T WANT TO HOLD ANIMALS THAT LONG IF THEY ARE, WE CALL THEM BROKEN. WE STILL TRY TO PROVIDE THAT WE

CAN FOR THEM HUMANELY >> ON THE OTHER SIDE THE HUMANE SOCIETY ACTUALLY DOES MORE EXTENSIVE SURGERIES IF NEEDED

>> YES, YEAH. THEY CAN DO ALL ORTHOPEDIC.

OUR VETERINARIAN DOES DO AMPUTATIONS BUT TO PUT A BONE IN

[00:30:05]

I KNOW SHE MENTIONED LIKE YOU NEED THE X-RAY BEFORE AND NEED THE X-RAYS AFTER. THEN YOU NEED ANOTHER -- WE DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY. NOW IF WE MAYBE GET A NEW SHELTER IN THE UPCOMING YEARS, THEN WE WILL HAVE THAT.

AT LEAST TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT PART OF IT FOR AN ANIMAL IS NOT TECHNICALLY SITTING IN OUR SHELTER BROKEN WAITING ON A RESCUE OR FOSTER TO COME AND PULL THAT ANIMAL OUT FOR US.

>> THAT'S THEN WHERE WE RELY HEAVILY ON OUR OTHER NONPROFIT PARTNERS TO BE ABLE TO HELP WHEN THERE'S THAT GAP.

GETTING THEM FURTHER ATTENTION AND CARE THAT THEY NEED

>> YES, SIR. THAT'S THE PROCESS.

SOON AS THE ANIMAL COMES IN, WE TRY TO ASSESS IT AND, IF IT'S A RESCUE THING, WE START REACHING OUT TO EVERY RESCUE WE CAN.

UNFORTUNATELY, NOT WHAT I USED TO BE FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO.

EVERY ANIMAL WAS LEAVING. EVEN RESCUES STRUGGLE WITH FOSTERS. NORMALLY RESCUES DON'T HAVE A FACILITY. JUST A RESCUE 501C3.

THEY DON'T HAVE A SHELTER >> GOT IT.

I KNOW WE SAW AN INCREASE IN PET OWNERSHIP DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND THEN AN INCREASE IN ABANDONMENT AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

SO I THINK IN OUR CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD, I'VE TALKED TO OTHER NONPROFIT PARTNERS WHO ARE OPERATING IN THIS SPACE.

I THINK EVERYONE IS KIND OF IN CRISIS MODE BECAUSE OF THE HUGE GROWTH IN PARTICULARLY OUR DOG POPULATION AS A RESULT OF PEOPLE NO LONGER BEING AT HOME TO BE ABLE TO CARE FOR THEIR ANIMALS OR NO LONGER DESIRING TO HAVE THEM.

AND WHAT WE SEE ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES EXPERIENCING THIS.

I TALKED TO SOME OF OUR PARTNERS WHEN I WAS AT URBAN COUNTY THIS PAST WEEKEND. I THINK I SAW SOME OTHER STUFF, CONVERSATIONS PEOPLE ARE HAVING ONLINE IN SUBJECT MATTER.

EVERYONE IS STRUGGLING WITH THIS RIGHT NOW.

DO YOU THINK THIS IS A RESOURCE ISSUE? ARE WE NOT PROVIDING YOU THE RESOURCES YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO

MEET THE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY? >> I DON'T THINK SO.

WE BUILD ANOTHER SHELTER, ANOTHER 100 RUNS, I'M SURE WE'D FILL THEM TOMORROW. DURING THE PANDEMIC, I DON'T KNOW, VETERINARIANS WERE ALL CLOSED.

ANIMALS WEREN'T HAVING SURGERY. THE ANIMALS ON THE STREETS WERE HAVING BABIES. NOW THOSE BABIES ARE HAVING BABIES. IT'S A CATCHUP.

ON TOP OF PEOPLE THAT ADOPTED ANIMALS AND PROBABLY DIDN'T REALIZE THEY WERE GONNA BE -- OH, I'M GONNA GET A 25 POUND DOG BUT NOW IT'S A 65 POUND DOG. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE AT THE SHELTER. WE HAVE SOME PUPPIES.

WE NEVER HAVE YOUR CUTE POODLES OR FLUFFIES THAT EVERYONE LOOKS FOR AS A HOUSE PET. IT'S ALWAYS BIG DOGS THAT WE STRUGGLE WITH. WHEN WE GO TO OUR CONFERENCES, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU'RE AT.

PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT REALLY ADOPTING.

EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE OUR FANTASTIC MOBILE UNIT.

WE'RE OUT EVERY WEEKEND. SOMETIMES THERE'S CREWS AT TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. IT'S A STRUGGLE JUST TRYING TO

GET ANIMALS ADOPTED OUT >> HOW ARE WE DOING WITH THE

MOBILE? >> GOOD.

EVERYTHING IS SMOOTH. PEOPLE ENJOY IT.

THAT'S NOW WHAT WE TAKE TO OUR SCHOOLS.

WE DO A LOT OF SPEAKING TO THE CHILDREN.

WE DO OUR BEING A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER.

WE TAKE THE MOBILE UNIT WHICH THEY CAN TOUR, SO ON SO FORTH.

SO FAR SO GOOD. EVERYBODY IS ENJOYING IT

>> ONE LAST POINT. I KNOW WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT TRYING TO STAND UP SOME SORT OF OPERATION AT PLACES WHERE THERE'S HEAVY TRAFFIC, FOOT TRAFFIC.

AND I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER MORALES IS TRYING TO WORK ON SOME STUFF UP IN HIS AREA. WE'VE ALSO DISCUSSED POSSIBLY PARTNERSHIPS WITH SOME OVER HERE IN BRADLEY TOWN CENTER AS WELL.

I KNOW I TALKED TO THE DEVELOPER ABOUT THAT, AND THE CITY.

THEY WERE BOTH INTERESTED. JUST THINGS I KNOW YOUR TEAM IS CONTINUING TO WORK ON TO INCREASE OUR ADOPTION RATE, HOWEVER POSSIBLE, AND MAKING GREAT USE OF THIS MOBILE UNIT.

THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORTS. I AM SO SORRY YOUR TEAM CONTINUES TO GET ATTACKED THE WAY THAT YOU DO.

I KNOW THAT THAT IMPACTS OUR RETENTION BECAUSE OF THE SORT OF NEGATIVE AND REALLY UNFAIR AND UNJUSTIFIED ATTACKS Y'ALL HAVE BEEN RECEIVING. I HOPE YOU FEEL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE FROM THIS BODY AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO BE PARTNERS AND INCREASING EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUR EFFORTS.

[00:35:01]

I KNOW THAT I'M UP FOR IT >> I HAVE YOUR SUPPORT, SO THANK

YOU >> THANK YOU FOR ALSO EXPLAINING RECENTLY --

>> SO THIS WEEK WE'VE NOTICED, I CAN'T EXPLAIN TO YOU HOW MANY PHONE CALLS WE ARE GETTING FOR STRAYS AND PUPPIES AND JUST PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY BRINGING ANIMALS IN, SO WE'VE HIT OUR LIMIT. WE'RE OVERCAPACITY.

SO WE PUT A LIST OUT OF OUR TEN LONGEST RESIDENTS TRYING TO SEE IF MAYBE THE COMMUNITY CAN STEP UP.

THESE ANIMALS HAVE BEEN THERE FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE REACHED OUT TO SEE IF WE CAN HAVE INCENTIVES TO TRY AND BRING, FOR THEM AT LEAST, IS RESCUE.

SO WE'RE OFFERING RESCUES BASICALLY MONEY IN ORDER TO TAKE THESE ANIMALS. I THINK -- I DON'T REMEMBER.

I BELIEVE IT WAS 200, 400 AND $500 AT GIVE LEVELS OF THE ANIMALS THAT ARE AT THE SHELTER. PAWS WOULD BE THE ONES THAT BASICALLY WRITE A RESCUER A CHECK IN ORDER TO COME AND HELP.

IT'S NOT FOR ADOPTERS. ONLY FOR NONPROFIT TO NONPROFIT.

WE JUST POSTED IT. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET THESE ANIMALS OUT. PEOPLE GO TO A PANIC BECAUSE THEY THINK WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING TO THOSE TEN ANIMALS.

JUST TRYING TO BRING AWARENESS, LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE NEED HELP. WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THE ANIMALS

OUT ON THE STREET >> WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS COURT, PAWS HAS BRIDGED THAT GAP.

JUST AS YOU MENTIONED, EMERGENCY.

WE CAN'T BUDGET FOR EMERGENCIES. THE 501C3 THAT WAS STARTED IN 18 FIRST FUNDING PROBABLY WAS IN 19 -- SUMMER OF 19.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRIDGE THAT GAP AS FAR AS TO OFF SET THE BUDGET FOR THE TAXPAYER. THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL EMERGENCIES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY PAWS, THEIR NONPROFIT AND WE WOULD STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF IT.

WHEN THERE'S BEEN A FOOD SHORTAGE OR WHATEVER, PAWS WOULD STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF IT. DIDN'T HAVE TO COME TO THE COURT AND ASK FOR MONEY FROM THE TAXPAYERS TO DO THAT.

THAT IS ALL BECAUSE OF THE GENEROUS DONORS THAT WE'VE HAD.

IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS THE GOOD THINGS THAT THEY'VE DONE, I THINK THAT PEOPLE HAVE STEPPED UP TO BE VERY GENEROUS TO SUPPORT IT BECAUSE OF THE GOOD THINGS IT'S DONE.

SO ANYWAY, THE COURT JUST NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A VEHICLE WE ARE ABLE TO USE TO OFFSET THIS BUDGET GOING FORWARD WHEN THERE IS EMERGENCY OR A LACK OF SUPPLIES OR NEEDED SUPPLIES THAT WE NEED TO OPERATE WITH.

WHAT HE'S ASKING FOR IS VERY MINIMAL.

THE COMMISSIONER'S RIGHT. YOU ARE ATTACKED, AND I KNOW YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE.

I KNOW YOU'VE TRIED TO BE CREATIVE.

WE ALL HAVE. TO TRY TO GET ADOPTIONS OUT THE DOOR. WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU. I THINK KEU SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS COURT. AND JUST WE'RE THERE FOR YOU AND YOUR 501C3 IS THERE TO HELP YOU AND TO HELP THE COMMUNITY

>> THANK YOU >> ALL RIGHT.

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ANYONE?

THANK YOU SO MUCH >> THANK YOU

>> WHO'S NEXT? >> ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE.

MY NAME IS MICHAEL SCHAFFER I'M DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT POSITIONS TODAY FOR BOTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND DISEASE CONTROL AS

[00:40:02]

FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH BUDGET THE REQUEST BEYOND THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS TO ADD ONE ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES UNIT OFFICER. THE ENVIRONMENTAL UNIT HAS NOT ADDED A NEW OFFICER POSITION IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS WITH THE LAST ADDITION BEING IN 2021. DURING THAT SAME PERIOD FORT BEND COUNTY HAS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT POPULATION GROWTH, AS POPULATION INCREASES, THE COUNTY ALSO SEES A CORRESPONDING RISE IN ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS.

AND NUISANCE RELATED OFFENSES. INCLUDING ILLEGAL DUMPING, JUNK VEHICLES, UNAUTHORIZED DEBRIS DISPOSAL AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES IMPACTING NEIGHBORHOODS AND PUBLIC SPACES.

OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS ALONE, COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES INCREASED BY 20%.

THIS HAS CREATED ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL DEMANDS ON AN EXISTING PERSONNEL WHICH IS CURRENTLY AT THESE.

THE ADDITION OF ONE OFFICER WOULD PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORT IN RESPONDING TO INCREASED COMPLAINT VOLUME, MANAGING AND DEPLOYING MOBILE CAMERA SYSTEMS, COORDINATING JUNK VEHICLE ABATEMENT EFFORTS, ENHANCING ENFORCEMENT OF VIOLATIONS AND PROVIDING COMMUNITY OUTREACH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH THROUGHOUT FORT BEND, COUNTY. HAVING THIS POSITION WILL STRENGTHEN ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS AND HELP MAINTAIN QUALITY OF LIFE EXPECTED IN FORT BEND COUNTY RESIDENT. I ALSO HAVE FOUR RECLASSES THAT YOU SEE. THOSE ARE FOR SOME POSITIONS CURRENTLY IN TRAINING. WE EXPECT THEM TO MOVE UP IN THEIR CATEGORY GOING FROM A 1 TO 2 OR 2 TO SENIOR.

THOSE ARE WHAT THOSE RECLASSIFY. ANY QUESTIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL

HEALTH? >> YEAH.

SO ONE -- THANKS TO YOUR TEAM. Y'ALL'S BEEN HELPFUL.

WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT Y'ALL HAVE GOTTEN ON

VEHICLES PARKED IN PLACES >> YEP

>> Y'ALL JUST HELPED US LAST WEEK WITH VEHICLES THAT WERE PARKED IN PLACES THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN.

THEY WERE BECOMING A NUISANCE TO THE COMMUNITY.

TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO GET FIRE WORK STANDS REMOVED THAT WERE A NUISANCE. IN GENERAL SOME PROPERTIES PEOPLE AREN'T TAKING CARE OF THAT ARE BRINGING RODENTS AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS. YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN DOING A LOT.

I KNOW THERE'S A NEED FOR THIS POSITION BECAUSE OF HOW ACTIVE I'VE SEEN YOU JUST IN MY PRECINCT.

WHAT ARE WE SEEING AS IN THE TREND FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING THOUGH? I KNOW WE HAVE MORE COMMUNITIES BEING DEVELOPED. BUT WHAT IS THAT LOOKING LIKE?

>> SO THE TREND IS INCREASING. I WOULD SAY ABOUT THE SAME, 20%.

THEY'RE JUST GETTING MORE CREATIVE.

WE HAVE MOBILE CAMERAS. WE TRY TO CATCH THESE FOLKS OUT THERE SO WE CAN SEE NOT ONLY SHERIFF OFFICE CAMERAS.

WE MOVE THESE MOBILE CAMERAS AROUND TO TRY TO CATCH THE FOLKS WHO ARE ILLEGAL DUMPING. LAST WEEK THE TEAM PICKED UP 258 TIRES. BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A HOT BED FOR THAT PARTICULAR SPOT SO WE TRY TO PUT MOBILE CAMERAS IN THERE TO CATCH THEM. ANYTHING OVER 200 POUNDS IS A FELONY. THAT'S DISTRICT COURT.

NOT JUST A LITTLE SLAP ON THE HAND.

YOU GET TO GO TO THE BIG COURT. WITH THE SMALL TEAM THAT I HAVE, WE'VE BEEN DOING QUITE A BIT. LAST YEAR WE REMOVED 13,000 -- 13 MILLION POUNDS OF, WHETHER IT BE STRUCTURAL OR JUST DEBRIS

ALONE WHICH IS A LARGE AMOUNT >> I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU ALL WERE USING THE FLOCK SYSTEM. THAT'S GOOD INFO.

I KNOW WE HAVE MY UNCLE LIVES IN BRIARGATE AND BLUE RIDGE ROAD.

SEEMS LIKE SINCE I HAVE BEEN A KID IS JUST A PLACE THAT DUMPING HAS ALWAYS BEEN RAMPANT. I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO ROAD AND BRIDGE ABOUT THAT AREA, TOO. I KNOW COMMISSIONER PRESTAGE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT NUMEROUS TIMES.

CITY OF HUES MONTH, I DON'T THINK YOU EVEN HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO ANYTHING IN THAT AREA. RIGHT, COMMISSIONER? ON OUR END.

>> I KNOW ALSO MY TEAM WENT OUT WITH DRAINAGE AND RODE ALONG THE BRADFORD RIVER TO LOOK AT SOME EROSION.

WE DISCOVERED THERE WAS A LOT OF OLD TIRES AND THINGS THAT WERE DUMPED EN MASSE ALONG THE RIVER. DO Y'ALL MONITOR ANY OF THAT AT

[00:45:03]

ALL? >> WE DO NOT, BUT I CAN GET WITH YOUR OFFICE AND COORDINATE IT ALSO WITH ROAD AND BRIDGE.

SURE. AND THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THOSE SPOTS WHERE, NO, THAT CURVE WAS SORT OF RIFF RAF AND IT HELPS.

SO OTHER AREAS, I THINK AT ONE POINT THEY SAID SAY THIS SAW A CAR IN THERE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON

WITH SOME OF THAT STUFF >> YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK WITH MARK WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL >> WILL DO.

GOOD POINT. YEAH.

THAT'S ALL FOR ME >> ANYTHING ELSE ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH? OKAY

>> QUESTION, COMMENTS FROM ANYONE?

>> ALL RIGHT. MOVE ON TO SPEED CONTROL.

WHEN I PRESENTED THE SPEED CONTROL PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 THE PLAN WAS TO ROLL OUT A THREE YEAR PROGRAM THAT WOULD MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY WHICH CONSISTED OF 18FTE'S.

I WAS TOLD THE THREE YEAR PLAN WOULD NEED TO BE EXTENDED, WHICH COURT HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO CONTINUE TO ADD ADDITIONAL RESOURCES EACH YEAR. CURRENTLY I HAVE TEN FTE'S TO RUN THE STATE OF CONTROL PROGRAM WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH TO RUN THE PROGRAM. THERE ARE MANY OPERATIONAL ASPECTS THAT ARE LABOR INTENSIVE.

SOME OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE SETTING AND RETRIEVING TRAPS, DOING MOSQUITO IDENTIFICATION, LAB TESTING FOR WEST NILE VIRUS, APPLY LARVAECIDE TO AREAS OF CONCERN AND STORM DRAINS, GETTING RESPONSIBLE TEST RESULTS, PICK UP ILLEGALLY DISPOSED TIRES, WORK WITH CITIES AND NEIGHBORING COUNTIES ON DISEASE RELATED RESPONSES. LASTLY, FROM A GRANT THAT WE JUST RECEIVED FROM THE AMERICAN CONTROL ASSOCIATION, WE NOW ARE ABLE TO CAPTURE A BITING MIDGE AND TREAT FOR THE DISEASE.

REQUESTING IN THE BUDGET TO MEET THE PLAN OUT LINED IN 2024 WOULD BE ADDITIONAL FTE'S. IT ALLOWS FOR THE LEVELS OF SURVEILLANCE NEEDED, NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES TO SPRAY LARVAECIDE AND ALLOW FOR PROPER OUTREACH FOR THE COMMUNITY WHICH IS NEEDED. AS A REMINDER WE GET A GREAT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, ESPECIALLY STARTING THIS TIME OF KWHRAOER.

IN THE THOUSANDS. CONTINUE TO DO OUR BEST TO RESPOND WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.

AS ALWAYS I CONTINUE TO BALANCE THE NEEDS WITH AVAILABLE RESOURCES. WITHOUT THOSE RESOURCES WE WILL BE LIMITED TO SOME OF OUR RESPONSE EFFORTS.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT MOSQUITO CONTROL?

>> I WOULD HAVE ASKED GRANT AVAILABILITY BUT I THINK THAT'S POINTLESS IN THIS ENVIRONMENT. ESPECIALLY TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS.

I WOULD ASK ABOUT GRANT AVAILABILITY FOR SOME OF THIS PLAN, BUT I THINK THAT'S POINTLESS IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

YOU KIND OF SAID IT AT THE END THERE, BUT IF YOU COULD JUST EXPRESS WHAT IS THE -- WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT OF DELAYING

FUNDING SOME OF THESE POSITIONS? >> WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SPRAY AS MUCH AS WE REALLY NEED TO. SO OBVIOUSLY WHEN IT COMES TO DISEASE, THAT'S OUR FIRST PRIORITY.

WE'RE SEEING TRAP COUNTS GETTING INTO ALMOST 1,000.

LIKE EACH TRAP HAS 1,000 MOSQUITOS.

WE LITERALLY COUNT EACH MOSQUITO IN A TRAP AND WE IDENTIFY EACH MOSQUITO. CURRENTLY WE TRAPPED 40 SPECIES OUT OF THE 56 KNOWN SPECIES IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

THOSE ARE EFFORTS TO DO SURVEILLANCE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO DISEASE. IT'S VERY HARD TO RESPOND TO THE COMPLAINTS AND GET OUT TO WHERE THE POPULATION OF MOSQUITO ARE SO BAD THAT WE REALLY DO NEED TO BE OUT THERE SPRAYING.

THAT'S WHERE THE COMPLAINTS START TO COME IN WITH YOU ALL.

WE GET REQUESTS NONSTOP, YOU SHOULD COME OUT AND SPRAY US.

WITH THE LACK OF RESOURCES, WE'RE JUST NOT ABLE TO DO THAT.

WE CAN ONLY PRIORITIZE SO MUCH >> IF YOU WERE TO RANK THESE POSITIONS IN ORDER OF PRIORITY, WHAT WOULD THAT RANKING LOOK

LIKE? >> SO THAT RANKING WOULD BE, I WOULD DEFINITELY NEED A MANAGER. I HAVE ONE MANAGER WHO IS MANAGING ULV AND SURVEILLANCE. TWO TEAMS, ONE SURVEILLANCE AND ONE THAT SPRAYS AND DOES LARVACIDE.

I HAVE ONE MANAGER DOING THAT. I WOULD PROBABLY RANK SURVEILLANCE THE SAME. WE CAN CROSS THEM.

SURVEILLANCE WOULD BE, EXCUSE ME, ULB WOULD BE THE MORE PRIORITY SO WE CAN BE OUT THERE SPRAYING MORE BASED ON SURVEILLANCE DATA WE HAVE. WE HAVE HEAT MAPS ON THE COMPLAINTS THAT COME IN. WE HAVE A GREAT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT COME IN. WE FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT'S THE CAUSE.

WE HAD A WEST NILE VIRUS TEST, FIRST WEST NILE VIRUS THAT WENT

[00:50:05]

IT WAS CAUSING A GREAT DEAL OF MOSQUITO ACTIVITY.

PICKED THE ZIPPER UP AND THERE WAS TONS OF LARVA IN IT.

WE TRIED TO LARVACIDE THE AREA. THAT ONE AREA CAN PRODUCE 35,000 MOSQUITO IN A ONE MILE RADIUS EVERY DAY.

THIS IS A BIG COUNTY. I'M TALKING ABOUT A SMALL PART.

THERE'S THE MISSOURI SUGAR LAND. THOSE ARE WHAT MY SURVEILLANCE GUYS DO. THEY GO OUT AND LOOK AT THE PROPERTY, THE LARVA, SEE HOW MANY ARE THERE, TALK TO PROPERTY OWNER. WE TRY TO APPLY IT AS WELL AS TEACH THEM, HEY, YOU CAN DO THIS AS WELL

>> OKAY >> DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR

QUESTION, I HOPE? >> HAD A COUPLE OTHERS.

LOWER PRIORITIES, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS.

HAD A COUPLE OTHERS I'M GUESSING LOWER PRIORITY.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, MECHANIC.

THOSE ARE NOT AS HIGH A PRIORITY?

>> SO WE HAVE A LOT OF VEHICLES. THAT JUST TAKES THE BURDEN OFF THE FLEET. IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT WE CONTINUE TO TAKE THEM FROM DOWN HERE.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WOULD BE A LOWER PRIORITY.

WE HAVE ONE ADMIN. IT'S THE ULV AND THE FIELD

PEOPLE THAT IS THE PRIORITY >> ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL MECHANIC SO THAT MAY HELP. WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT

>> I DON'T HAVE A MECHANIC NOW. IF WE CONTINUE TO USE FLEET.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. WHEN WE GET THE NEW BUILDING, WHICH WE JUST GOT THE E-MAIL TODAY, THAT IT'S GOING OUT FOR BID. WE WILL HAVE A SHOT TO DO OUR OWN MECHANICAL WORK. WE CAN PUT THAT OFF A YEAR

>> I FORGOT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE FACILITY?

YOUR LOCATION >> WE CURRENTLY ARE IN MEADVILLE WITH ROAD AND BRIDGE. WE HAVE OUR OWN MODULAR OUT THERE. WE'RE GOING TO BE ON BLOOM IS WHERE THE LOCATION WILL BE. NOT TOO FAR FROM ANIMAL SERVICES. WE JUST GOT NOTIFIED TODAY THAT ALL THE PLOTTING WAS DONE. THAT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET DONE. THEY'LL BE GOING OUT TO BID.

GONNA BREAK GROUND IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR BUT THAT'S BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE OF PLOTTING. I WOULD THINK IT WILL BE DONE FROM A YEAR ABOUT NOW. WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I AGREE WITH THAT >> HOW BIG IS THE BUILDING?

>> 10,600 SQUARE FEET. OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK. APPRECIATE IT.

MOVING ALONG, PAM? >> ROAD AND BRIDGE.

>> GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE Y'ALL TODAY? ROAD AND BRIDGE WE'RE JUST ASKING BASICALLY EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO DO WITH THE COSTS HAVE GONE UP.

ALL OF THE WORK ALONG WITH OUR CONTRACTORS, MATERIALS HAVE GONE UP. EVERYTHING HAS -- TAKE IT FOR GRANTED WE TAKE IN PROBABLY -- LAST YEAR WE TOOK IN 100 PLUS MILES OF NEW ROAD WAY IS WHAT WE TOOK IN WITH ALL THE NEW SUBDIVISIONS AND DEVELOPMENT THAT'S COMING IN TO THE COUNTY.

WE'RE CURRENTLY UP TO 113 TRAFFIC SIGNALS THAT WE MAINTAIN AND TAKE CARE OF, WHICH IS ANOTHER CONTRACTOR THAT HELPS US MAINTAIN THE SIGNALS. WE'RE JUST -- IN ORDER TO DO IT, LAST YEAR JUST FOR EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR WE DID ONE MILE ROAD WAY WITH A CONTRACTOR TO HELP US BUILD REHAB AND ASPHALT ROAD WAY. IT WAS $850,000.

I GOT A BID TO DO A MILE OF ROAD WAY, ALMOST TWO MILES OF ROAD WAY. CURRENT BID ON THAT WAS $1.5 MILLION FOR ROAD WAY. CURRENTLY FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE TO BUILD REHAB ROAD WAY, WE'RE LOOKING AT ANYWHERE FROM 320 TO $380,000. WE WERE DOWN TO $200,000 AND WE COULD DO THAT ROAD WAY. THERE'S JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAVE GONE UP, THAT HAVE HAPPENED.

WE'RE DOING SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE WENT OUT FOR NEW BID ON ALL OF OUR ROAD MATERIALS, ASPHALT LAST YEAR WAS $75 A TON. NOW THIS YEAR IT WENT UP.

CURRENT PRICES ARE $88 A TON. IT'S JUST THE INCREASE OF

[00:55:02]

WE'RE TRYING TO STAY AS COMPETITIVE AS WE CAN, BUT A LOT KOFPB TRACTORS, LOT OF THE PEOPLE ARE NOT BIDDING ON THE PROJECT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT THE HASSLE OF TRYING TO WORK WITH US. THEY KNOW IT WILL BE A LOWER PRICE THAN THEY CAN GET FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

I KNOW OUR NUMBERS LOOK HIGHER. ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS I'M LOOKING AT TRYING TO DO, AND I THINK I'M MAKING IT TO MOST OF THE COMMISSIONERS IS, CAPITAL ACQUISITION.

I WAS LOOKING AT PURCHASING A GRINDER TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THE LIMBS AND OTHER STUFF THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT IN.

ONE THING THAT WE ARE WORKING ON, I'M WORKING WITH GREG BABS AT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. HE DID APPLY FOR A GRANT TO TRY TO GET THAT. IF THAT WOULD GO THROUGH THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. SOUNDS GOOD BUT HASN'T BEEN APPROVED YET TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I'M LOOKING AT TRYING TO GET.

LIKE I SAID, IT'S JUST AN INCREASE OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE. WE'VE BEEN, WITH ALL THE DEVELOPMENT GOING ON, WE HAVE SO MANY ROADS THAT WERE NEVER EVEN ON THE SCHEDULE TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY GET TOTALLY DAMAGED AND

THEY HAVE TO BE REBUILT >> NOT REALLY A NEW ROAD YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT. IT'S YOUR AGING 60 AND

70-YEAR-OLD ROADS >> YES, SIR.

LOT OF THE ROADS THAT ARE OUT THERE, THEY WERE BUILT FOR THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS, UTILIZED FOR A SMALL COMMUNITY.

NOW ALL THAT PROPERTY'S BEING SOLD AND THERE'S DEVELOPMENT GOING ON THERE, YOU GO FROM VERY FEW VEHICLES BEING ON IT TO 300, 400 DUMP AND CON TREAT TRUCKS A DAY.

IT'S NOT MADE FOR THAT TYPE OF WEIGHT.

THE OTHER BIG THING IS GOING ON, LOT OF THE DUMP TRUCKS, 20 YARD DUMP TRUCKS WHERE THEY USED TO BE 15 YARD DUMP TRUCKS.

THEY'RE A LOT HEAVIER THAN THEY WERE BEFORE.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S GONE ON THIS PAST YEAR.

I'VE GOT A LOT OF NEW BRIDGES THAT WILL BE BUILT THROUGH THE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. I GOT FOUR OF THEM, GOT A PRECONSTRUCTION MEETING FRIDAY. COUNTY HAS BUILT TWO BRIDGES 20% MATCHING FUNDS ON THE PROGRAM. WHEN THAT PROGRAM IS SAID AND DONE WE'LL HAVE 18 NEW BRIDGES DONE WITH CONCRETE.

THIS PAST YEAR I HAD THREE BRIDGES I WAS FORCED TO CLOSE BECAUSE TEXAS BRIDGES CAME THROUGH AND FORCED ME TO CLOSE THOSE BRIDGES. I ENDED UP REBUILDING TWO OF THOSE BACK TO WOODEN BRIDGES BECAUSE I COULDN'T LEAVE THEM CLOSED FOR THAT LONG. SO WE SPENT A LOT MORE MONEY ON BRIDGE MATERIAL. I SAY I BUILT THEM.

WE BUILT THEM. IT'S MORE SITUATIONS LIKE THAT THAT ARE COMING TO A RISE WITH ALL THE NEW DEVELOPMENT COMING

UP IN FORT BEND >> WE KEEP TRYING TO GET LEGISLATORS TO GIVE US A LITTLE ASSISTANT ON OUR ROADS.

UNFORTUNATELY -- >> YES, SIR

>> THEY DON'T HELP US OUT VERY MUCH

>> WE SAID IT WOULD BE NICE IF SOME OF THE DEVELOPERS WOULD HELP US WITH ROAD WAYS IF THEY DO THEM.

WE HAVE AGREEMENTS LIKE WITH THE SOLAR PANEL FARMS. WE HAVE A ROAD USE AGREEMENT WE SET UP WITH THEM.

WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST TO GET THEM TO REIMBURSE OR FIX THE ROADS THAT THEY DAMAGE THAEUZ AS THEY COME ALONG.

IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD GET SOMETHING IN PLACE WITH THE

DEVELOPERS >> WE'LL TRY

>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN DO IT, BUT WE'LL TRY.

>> DO YOU TYPICALLY SEE AN UPTICK IN EXPENDITURES LIKE DURING A PARTICULAR SEASON? IS IT DURING THE SUMMER? WHEN YOU GET TO HAVE I GUESS MORE WORK DONE

>> YES. THAT'S WHEN WE DO MAJORITY OF OUR WORK STARTING IN THE SPRING UP TO SEPTEMBER IS WHEN WE REALLY DO HEAVY CONSTRUCTION DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

WE'RE USING MORE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE BID SYSTEM, THE PRICE SHOULDN'T FLUCTUATE TOO MUCH. THE ONLY THING THAT'S GONNA FLUCTUATE ON US IS FUEL. WE'VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH THIS YEAR SO FAR WE'VE HAD A WORK AROUND THE FUEL SITUATION

>> THAT WAS GONNA BE MY NEXT QUESTION WITH FUEL.

WE BUDGET A CERTAIN AMOUNT. WE ALWAYS HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTINGENCY IN FUEL. DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE OKAY THIS

SUMMER? >> RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS OKAY.

IF IT CONTINUES TO STAY AT THE PRICE IT'S AT, IT'S GONNA AFFECT US. CLOSER TO THE END WE WILL BE

WORKING ON THAT >> I WAS JUST LOOKING AT LIKE ACTUAL COST. IT SEEMS A BIT LOWER RIGHT NOW.

WE JUST CAME OUT OF WINTER >> YES, MA'AM.

YES. SOMETHING ELSE THAT I WAS GONNA SAY. WE HAVE FOR, IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, SINCE THE BUDGET HAS STARTED IN TWO MONTHS ON OUR REPAIRS. WE'VE COME THROUGH WITH ALL OF OUR CONCRETE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE UTILIZED $866,000 JUST ON CONCRETE REPAIRS.

BEFORE WE WOULD STOP AT A CERTAIN AMOUNT.

IF WE GET TO A POINT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO MOVE, WE'LL HAVE TO SHUT THEM DOWN AND CAN'T DO ANY MORE REPAIRS.

YEARS AGO WE'D DO THAT, WE HAD $400,000 FOR CONCRETE REPAIR AND

[01:00:03]

IT' GETTING TO WHERE WE HAVE MORE AND MORE CONSTANT REPAIRS

WE'RE TRYING TO DO. >> BECAUSE OF THE AGING STREETS?

>> BECAUSE OF THE AGING STREETS. HONESTLY, LOT OF THEM, LOT OF BIRD BATHS AND STUFF ON THE NEW SUBDIVISIONS WE'VE TAKEN IN.

HAVEN'T HAD THEM FOR A YEAR AND YEAR.

GETTING BIRD BATHS IN THEM. THAT'S A LOWER AREA THAT HOLDS WATER. CONTRACTOR HAS TO GO.

WE NEED A LIFTING PROCESS TO LIFT THAT.

MOWING. MOWING ON THE MEDIANS, BETWEEN MOBILITY PROJECTS, WE PICK UP THE MOWING ON THE MEDIAN.

WE HAVE A CONTRACTOR THAT KNOWS ALL THAT.

THAT'S JUST MORE ACHE ACREAGE THEY HAVE TO MOW FOR US.

STRIPING. STRIPING IS ANOTHER BIG THING.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE VENDORS WE USE FOR STRIPING THAT WE USE ON THE ROAD WAY. I TRIED THE KITCHEN ON THE THERMAL FLASHING ON THE CROSSWALKS BUT I DIDN'T CATCH IT. STILL DOWN TO ONE VENDOR.

HE CAN'T KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

WE HAVE A LONG LIST FOR BOTH OF THEM.

STRIPING VENDORS ARE JUST -- THEY CAN'T KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE GOING ON OUT THERE

>> QUESTION, COMMENTS? >> I THINK ALL OF US APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU AND YOUR TEAM DOES. I KNOW THAT Y'ALL RECENTLY HAD TO GO THROUGH ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AND REPLACE ALL OF THE STOP SIGNS BECAUSE THEY WERE OLD. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

NOW WITH ALL OF OUR CONCRETE AND ROAD WAYS, WE REALLY ARE GONNA HAVE TO CONTEND WITH HOW WE AFFORD TO KEEP UP WITH, AS COMMISSIONER MEYERS SAID, LOT OF THEM RAGING AND FAILING AND ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT A MOBILITY BOND INITIATIVE COULD REALLY COVER BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING CARE OF ROADS THAT NEED TO BE EXPAND OR CONVERTED TO CONCRETE ROAD WAYS FROM ASPHALT ROAD WAYS.

JUST SOMETHING WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONTEND WITH OUTSIDE LEGISLATIVE ACTION. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE FIND THAT SORT OF REVENUE. I KNOW COMMISSIONER PRESTAGE HAS TALKED ABOUT SOME IDEAS IN THE PAST.

JUST A REALLY, REALLY BIG ISSUE >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID, I PUT FUNDS IN A MOBILITY PROGRAM TO MATCH BECAUSE PREVIOUS MONTHS THAT DID NOT HAVE ROAD POWERS COULD NOT REPAIR, BUILD, ETC. WE GOT LEGISLATION CHANGED THAT IF IT'S AT LEAST TEN YEARS OLD AND MOST THAT HAVE FAILING ROADS ARE 50 YEARS OLD. THEY CAN NOW ISSUE DEBT AND SPEND MONEY TO REPAIR THE ROADS. YOU'RE CORRECT.

WE'VE GOT SOME FAILING ROADS OUT THERE.

MR. PRESTAGE IS CORRECT. YOU GOT LOUSY ROADS OUT THERE, PEOPLE SINK STUFF ON THEM. IMPROVING THE ROADS HELP EVERYTHING, ALL THE WAY AROUND. MOST OF ALL THE SAFETY OF OUR ROADS. MORE OF THAT AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITIES IN TRYING TO REPAIR AT LEAST THE WORST OF OUR ROADS OUT THERE I THINK IS THE INTENTION

>> YES, SIR. WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS TO UTILIZE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE MOBILITY BOND PROJECT, FROM THAT OVER THERE.

ALSO, IF WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE IT, WE'LL USE SOME CAD

FUNDS AND UTILIZE THAT ALSO >> I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING TO GET MUD TO AGREE TO GO 50/50 ON SIDEWALK REPAIRS

>> WE ARE WORKING ON IT. OBVIOUSLY, I GOT WHOLE NEW AREA THAT I'M WORKING WITH. WE KIND OF START FROM GROUND ZERO. BUT WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.

THEIR CHALLENGE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, THEY'RE REVENUE CAPPED, ALSO. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH. PEOPLE DON'T -- THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE THEIR TAXES INCREASE, OBVIOUSLY.

NO ONE LIKES THAT. IT IS DEFINITELY GONNA BE A CHALLENGE. TIMES ARE TOUGH FOR EVERYBODY

>> THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF THE VOTERS IN VOTING FOR THAT MOBILITY BOND. THAT GAVE YOU QUITE A BIT OF

MONEY FROM EACH PRECINCT >> YES, SIR

>> TO ADDRESS THESE OLDER ROADS. PRECINCT 1 USED THE MONEY ON 50-YEAR-OLD ROADS BACK THEN. THAT WAS OVER $4 MILLION?

>> YES, SIR. I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. YOU GUYS WENT OUT THERE AND RODE

[01:05:01]

NOT REALLY NICE WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING TO YOUR HOME AND YOU GOT BROKEN CONCRETE BARRIERS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

NOT VERY ATTRACTIVE >> YES, SIR.

WE TRIED TO UTILIZE SOME OF THE OLDER SUBDIVISIONS IN EACH PRECINCT. WORKED OUT GREAT.

BEEN A GOOD PROGRAM >> THANK YOU

>> YEP >> WONDERFUL.

WE HAVE MORE ROADS TO COME. WE HAVE MORE ROADS TO REPAIR.

IT'S NOT HELPING, BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GREAT WORK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT

>> THANK YOU >> MOVING ALONG, PAM

>> WE HAVE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY NEXT.

>> GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU GUYS?

>> GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU?

>> OKAY. I E-MAILED OVER YESTERDAY JUST A CONSOLIDATED DOCUMENT FROM OUR MEETINGS LAST WEEK.

BUT TO START WITH 63,000. WE ARE UNABLE TO REMAIN FLAT DUE TO CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND FLUCTUATING COSTS IN TECHNOLOGY.

IF WE WERE TO REMAIN FLAT AT 12,700,058 ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO DO THAT. WE ARE OVER TARGET BY $3 MILLION. WE ARE CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED FOR $11,146,270. THE BULK OF OUR -- EXCUSE ME.

BULK OF OUR REQUEST COMES FROM NEW SOFTWARE.

WITH THE NEW SOFTWARE, BUDGET PLANNING SOFTWARE, EACH DEPARTMENT ALSO SUBMITTED THEIR BUDGET REQUEST.

WE HAD OVER 200 THAT WERE SUBMITTED.

52 WERE RECOMMENDED BY I.T. 52 WERE RECOMMENDED AT 191,239,641. THEN IT WE ALSO HAD INTERNAL DEPARTMENT REQUEST AT 1,346,988. THE PACKET I SENT YOU GUYS, IT HAS A LISTING OF ALL OF THOSE BROKEN OUT BY EACH DEPARTMENT AND THOSE THAT ARE INTERNAL TO I.T. SO YOU CAN KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHERE THE REQUEST IS COMING FROM.

I DO WANT TO NOTE WHEN WE RECEIVE THOSE REQUESTS, I EVALUATE THOSE TO APPROVE OR RECHECK ON A FEW FACTORS.

PROCESS IN PLACE, PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN, LEGISLATIVE MANDATE, PRODUCTION DOWN OR IS THERE AN APPROVED POLICY IN PLACE? KNOWING THAT -- AT THE TIME I DIDN'T KNOW WE NEEDED TO REDUCE THE REQUEST BY $80 MILLION. UNDERSTANDING WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO REMAIN FLAT. I DID NOT APPROVE EVERY ITEM THAT CAME ACROSS. I EVALUATED THOSE FEATURES.

THERE WERE SOME SOFTWARE THAT I DID NOT APPROVE AS WELL BECAUSE THE BUDGET OFFICE ALLOCATES FUNDING FOR SOFTWARE REQUESTS AND I.T. EACH YEAR. THAT WAS 40,000 OR 4,000, THE SOFTWARE ALLOCATION THAT YOU PROVIDE.

DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER? OKAY.

WE DON'T REMEMBER. BUT WITH THAT, THERE WERE SOME FY27 REQUESTS FOR ADOBE SOFTWARE OR MICROSOFT VIDEO OR SOME OTHER SOFTWARE THAT WAS UNDER A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT, THEN WE APPROVED IT AND PROCURED IT THIS FISCAL YEAR.

THAT'S WHY I REQUESTED IT FOR FY27.

MOVING ON -- I WILL STOP THERE. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT

OUR 63,000 ACCOUNT? >> SO THE -- I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WHEN WE MET. THE INCREASE IN SUBSCRIPTION COSTS. ARE YOU -- YESTERDAY, MR. WEEKS SHARED WITH US LIBRARIES GET A DIFFERENT RATE ON E-BOOKS THAN ANYBODY ELSE. # GENERAL CONSUMER CAN GO BUY IT FOR WAY CHEAPER. HAVE Y'ALL LOOKED AT SIMILARLY WHAT A PRIVATE CONSUMER MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A SUBSCRIPTION FOR VERSUS US? OR IS THAT EVEN AN ISSUE FOR US?

>> NOT NECESSARILY AN ISSUE FOR US.

BEING LABELED AS A GOVERNMENT ENTITY.

WE DON'T PAY TAXES ON IT AS WELL, SO SOMETIMES OUR PRICES ARE CHEAPER THAN OTHER PLACES. GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, WHEN YOU

[01:10:05]

POCKETBOOK >> GOT IT.

I'M JUST LIKE, LET'S COLLECT FOR DATA FOR ANY SORT OF LEGISLATION WE ASKED THE STATE TO PUT IN PLACE TO HELP US OUT.

I HATE HEARING THAT. BUT IT'S ALSO INTERESTING TO ME.

WE'RE SEEING SOMETHING LIKE A 5% INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR IN SUBSCRIPTION FROM WHAT YOU SHARED WITH ME, YET WE ARE SUBJECT TO 3.5% REVENUE CAP. THAT DOESN'T EVEN KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH NOW. THIS IS ONE SMALLER AREA OF THE WHOLE BUDGET OF THE COUNTY, BUT IF WE'RE CONTINUING TO SEE THIS SORT OF TREND, THAT JUST GETS A BIT MORE CHALLENGING FOR US TO KEEP UP WITH WITH THE STATE IMPOSED CAPS ON REVENUE.

THAT'S NOT A QUESTION TO YOU. THAT'S MORE A COMMENT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE >> JUST TO EXPAND FURTHER ON THAT, PRICING MODELS FOR TECHNOLOGY VENDORS, THEY GET CREATIVE EVERY YEAR. IT DOES GO UP.

SO WE CAN SEE A PRICE INCREASE FROM 3% TO 5%.

THAT'S IF WE'RE IN A CONTRACTED AGREEMENT.

IF NOT, IT CAN GO UP A LOT. JUST WITH ADDED COSTS SUCH AS TARIFFS OR JUST ANYTHING THAT CAN BE ADDED ON WE HAVE TO PAY

FOR THOSE COSTS IF WE WANT IT >> YEP

>> MOVING ON TO THE NEXT COUNT 63600, 6400.

WE PURCHASED DESKS, WORK STATIONS AND OFFICE EQUIPMENT.

WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE THAT. 65,000, WE INCREASED THAT ONE DUE TO DELAY IN THE NEW I.T. BUILDING.

WE'RE ESTIMATED TO MOVE IN -- WE DON'T HAVE A REAL DATE.

LOT OF THE EQUIPMENT MAY BE IN BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

WE'RE ANTICIPATING NEXT FISCAL YEAR TO BE ABLE TO MOVE IN AND SOME OF THE SERVICES, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT WE'RE ANTICIPATING PROCURING AND BRINGING IT IN.

DURING OUR MEETING SOMEONE ASKED ABOUT -- I DON'T RECALL WHO BUT SOMEONE ASKED ABOUT THE COMPUTER REFRESH.

TOMORROW YOU WILL SEE WE HAVE A CIP FOR 650,000 TO REPLACE THIS PHASE OF COMPUTERS. WE REFRESH PROBABLY EVERY FIVE TO SIX YEARS. ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE TO WORK FORCE? OKAY.

ON WORK FORCE -- >> IT WAS ME WHO ASKED ABOUT COMPUTER REFRESH. I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR EVERYONE TO HEAR WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT TO REFRESH THESE AS OPPOSED TO PROLONGING. I THINK WE HEARD PART OF IT FROM HHS. BUT IF YOU COULD JUST COMPOUND

ON IT >> LARGE PART OF THAT IS JUST SUPPORT AND SECURITY RISK AND HRAOEURPLT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

VERY SIMILAR TO IF YOU LOOK AT A CELL PHONE.

AFTER A WHILE IT STOPS WORKING AS EFFECTIVELY AS IT DID ON DAY ONE. OR YOU CAN EVEN COMPARE IT TO DEPRECIATION OF CAR. MINUTE YOU DRIVE IT OFF A LOT IT DEPRECIATED BY X DOLLAR AMOUNT. SO THERE'S JUST LIABILITY IN THE RISK ESPECIALLY FROM A SECURITY PERSPECTIVE IN SOME VENDORS.

MICROSOFT. I THINK THEY DO NOT SUPPORT DEVICES, OR EXCUSE ME, THEY DO NOT SUPPORT SOFTWARE PAST A CERTAIN AGE. SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO STAY FRESH AND STAY CURRENT ON ALL OF THAT JUST TO REDUCE THE LIABILITY AND RISK TO THE COUNTY.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. ON WORK FORCE.

I WANT TO RESET. YOU GUYS ARE AWARE WE USE GARDENERS FOR TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH.

ACROSS SEVERAL INDUSTRIES WHAT GARDNER HAS DONE, THEY'VE LOOKED AT THE COMPARISON OF I.T., INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL EMPLOYEES.

FOR THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THAT RATE IS 4%.

IN FORT BEND COUNTY WE HAVE 101 IN I.T.

IF YOU TAKE THAT IN COMPARISON TO 3,500 EMPLOYEES, WE ARE AT RATE OF 2.89% WHICH IS WELL BELOW THAT AVERAGE OF 4% THAT WE ARE SEEING. I HAVE A REQUEST FOR TWO NEW POSITIONS. TRYING TO SEE WHERE I'M AT.

SENIOR PROGRAM ANALYST AND PROJECT MANAGER.

FURTHER WITH THAT, THE ENTERPRISE COURT SUPPORT TEAM.

THEY HAVE FOUR PROGRAMMERS ON THAT TEAM.

WANT TO READ YOU GUYS WHAT THAT TEAM SUPPORT.

[01:15:01]

40 OFFICES THAT I PRESENT TO YOU NOT EVEN HAVE FOUR PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THAT. WE RECEIVE AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 38,000 TICKETS. I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER WRITTEN DOWN. OH, I DO.

38,844 SUPPORT TICKETS WERE RECEIVED OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS. FOR ENTER PRICE CORE SUPPORT TEAM THAT HAS FOUR PEOPLE, THEY RECEIVED 4,079 REQUESTS.

SO IF YOU TAKE EACH INDIVIDUAL MANAGING 1,000 TICKETS, 365 DAYS IN A YEAR, NOT QUITE SUSTAINABLE FOR FOUR PEOPLE TO SUPPORT AT LEAST 40 DEPARTMENTS. AND SO MY REQUEST IS TO ADD ANOTHER SENIOR PROGRAMMER ANALYST.

I DO HAVE A VACANT POSITION, UNDERSTANDING THAT POSITION REQUESTS ARE DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW.

AND SO MY REQUEST OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS WILL BE TO COME TO COURT AND ASK TO RECLASSIFY A VACANT POSITION TO PUT THAT SENIOR PROGRAMMER ANALYST IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.

MY OTHER REQUEST WAS FOR A PROJECT MANAGER.

AGAIN, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO ASK FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS, SO I AM HOPING YOU GUYS GIVE IT TO ME. IF NOT I CAN USE MY CONTRACTOR POSITION FOR ANOTHER YEAR. IT'S NOT IDEAL BECAUSE THERE'S CERTAIN AREAS WHERE I WOULD NOT LIKE TO USE THE CONTRACTOR IF WE HAVE AN RT OR SOME OTHER LONG-TERM TYPE PROJECT CONTRACTOR IS TYPICALLY SHORT TERM AND TEMPORARY AND WE'RE NOT ABLE TO KEEP THEM INVOLVED. WE HAVE THAT OPTION AS WELL WITH A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE, BUT THERE'S SOME LONGEVITY WITH THAT FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POSITION REQUEST? TICKETS?

>> THESE ARE 4,000 UNIQUE TICKETS?

>> YES >> NOT LIKE ME WHERE I JUST ASK YOU THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT EVERY TIME YOU PUT IN A SUPPORT TICKET, OR EVERY TIME YOU CONTACT ME, I'LL LET YOU KNOW, I JUST PUT IN A TICKET FOR THAT REQUEST.

IT IS -- I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SAY IT IS UNIQUE, BUT EACH TOUCH POINT. SO IF YOU HAVE A REQUEST FOR A PASSWORD RESET, THAT'S ONE TICKET.

CALL IN NEXT WEEK PASSWORD RESET, ANOTHER TICKET.

TO JUST REITERATE THAT, THAT IS 38,844 SUPPORT TICKETS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS. FOR THAT GROUP OF FOUR IT IS 4,079. OKAY.

MY CYBER TEAM IS GONNA CALL YOU. YES, SIR? ALLOCATION I BELIEVE IS 1 MILLION.

THAT SHOULD LAST US -- I THINK LAST YEAR WE REDUCED THAT TO ABOUT $500,000. ALSO REQUESTED TWO POSITIONS OUT OF THAT. TWO FTE'S IF WE REDUCED IT TO 500,000. THIS YEAR MOVING IT BACK UP TO 1 MILLION SO THAT WE CAN HELP WITH THE WORKLOAD AS WELL.

OTHERWISE I MENTIONED THE 4,079. I KEEP REITERATING THAT AS A REMAINING PORTION OF THAT IT GOES TO THE OTHER 101 EMPLOYEES

THAT ARE IN THE OFFICE. >> I HAVE A QUESTION

>> YES, SIR >> I PROBABLY KNOW THE ANSWER TO IT. BUT WITH THIS CYBER SECURITY ISSUE AND THE STATE FOCUSING IN ON THAT AS WELL, IS THERE ANY FUNDING OUT THERE FOR CYBER SECURITY?

>> THERE IS. THERE'S YES AND NO.

WE HAVE GRANTS THAT WE ARE APPLYING FOR, BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO A MATCH. SO WE MAY GET $100,000 GRANT BUT THEN WE'VE GOT TO DO A MATCH OF $20,000 AS WELL.

SO WE STILL HAVE TO FUND THAT IN THE BUDGET.

ADDITIONALLY, THE AUDITORS OFFICE HAS A CONTRACTOR.

I'VE FORGOTTEN THEIR NAME. BUT WE MEET EVERY MONTH WITH THEM TO EXPLORE ANY OTHER CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES.

AND GRANTS THAT ARE OUT THERE. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE A FINANCE AND ADMIN SUPERVISOR. IT'S HER RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK FOR GRANTS. MY BROADBAND ALSO AND THE CYBER SECURITY TEAM AS WELL. WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT ARE KIND OF LOOKING, TRYING TO SEE HOW WE CAN OFFSET THE COSTS

>> SO DO WE HAVE THE BUDGET? WE HAVE TO BUDGET THE WHOLE

[01:20:01]

$100,000 OR JUST $20,000? >> WE BUDGET THE $20,000 GRANT

MATCH >> OKAY.

>> THERE ARE SOME STIPULATIONS WITH SOME GRANTS I HAVE SEEN WHERE IF YOU BUDGET FOR IT AND YOU DON'T GET IT.

IF I BUDGET FOR THE WHOLE $100,000 THEN NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE IT, THAT'S ANOTHER GRANT.

ONE OF THE GRANTS THAT WE RECENTLY USED, WE WERE SPECIFIC IN SOME OF THE TOOLS WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

WE COULD ONLY USE IT FOR THOSE TYPE OF TOOLS.

>> IF WE COULD LEVERAGE DOLLARS, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT

>> THANK YOU. MY LAST POINT, YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE TOWERS STUDY AND OTHER OFFICES BROUGHT IN.

SO FOR ME, I'D ASK HR AS WELL IF WE CAN HAVE A SALARY INCREASE FOR I.T. SALARY. IT'S BEEN A LITTLE DIFFICULT FOR US TO GET QUALIFIED TALENT, EXPERIENCED TALENT, BECAUSE I AM COMPETING WITH OTHER ENTITIES, OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.

AND DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO TRY AN ENSURE THAT, THE VACANT POSITIONS HAVE SECURITY MANAGER POSITION.

WE'VE INTERVIEWED FOR THAT BUT I'M NOT ABLE TO FILL IT.

IT'S BEEN OPEN FOR ABOUT 123 DAYS.

WE JUST DO NOT HAVE THE SALARY, HR SALARY RECOMMENDATION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE CANDIDATES. WE'RE PRETTY TRANSPARENT WITH IT AS WELL ALTHOUGH WE DON'T NECESSARILY PUT THE SALARY RANGE ON THE POSITION. BUT WHEN WE CALL THAT CANDIDATE AND WE LET THEM KNOW SALARY, SOMETIMES THEY COME IN FOR AN INTERVIEW. OTHER TIMES THEY TELL US, NO, SORRY, GOOD LUCK. HAD TWO REALLY GREAT CANDIDATES THAT I PRESENTED. I SELL THEM ON EVERYTHING.

FROM OUR RETIREMENT, CERTAIN SYSTEM WE HAVE HERE AT THE COUNTY, BUT ULTIMATELY PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO LIVE.

THEY'RE LIVING AT A RATE THAT MANAGEABLE IN THE HOUSTON AREA.

HOPEFULLY, IF WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY THAT THE I.T.

SALARIES CAN ALSO BE INDUSTRY. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> QUESTION, COMMENTS? ANYONE?

>> ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOVE?

>> SOMEONE CAN MOVE ANY TIME THEY WANT.

>> ANYWAY, THAT IS IT? >> THAT IS IT

>> NO QUESTIONS, COMMENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. APPRECIATE IT

>> MEDICAL EXAMINER.

>> MORNING, COURT. I AM HERE.

WE HAVE NO CAPITAL REQUESTS BECAUSE WE HAVE FEDERAL GRANT COMING FOR THAT. SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR FULL BODY X-RAY AND PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.

WE ARE STARTING, WE HAVE TODAY, STARTING MONDAY WE HAVE OUR FIRST PHOTOGRAPHY INTERN. WE ARE THE ONLY MEDICAL EXAMINER OFFICE IN THE COUNTRY THAT OFFERS A FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINER PHOTOGRAPHY TRAINING PROGRAM.

SINCE MY ALMA MATER, DADE COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER OFFICE, WENT BELLY UP. BECAUSE OF OUR PREDICATION STATUS AND OUR AFFILIATION WITH UC HOUSTON, WE ARE BEGINNING THE EFFORT TO START A FORENSIC PATHOLOGY FELLOWSHIP HERE IN FORT BEND COUNTY. WE'RE WORKING ON ACADEMIC AFFILIATIONS WITH BAYLOR AS WELL.

WE JUST GOT ONE OF THE BT NURSES.

MY REQUEST, I REQUEST FIVE POSITIONS.

OUR ACCREDITATION WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS. WE ARE A HAIRS BREATH AWAY FROM GETTING FULL ACCREDITATION. WHAT GETS US OVER THAT LITTLE HUMP IS ONE MORE DOCTOR TO GET US THE NUMBERS PER DOCTOR DOWN -- WHAT IS APPROVED BY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS. WE HAVE FULL ACCREDITATION BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CORONERS AND MEDICAL EXAMINERS.

WE ARE THE -- I TOUT THIS ALL THE TIME.

WE ARE THE ONLY MEDICAL EXAMINER IN THE STATE THAT IS DUALLY, DOUBLY ACCREDITED. TRAVIS IS NOT, HARRIS IS NOT, SAN ANTONIO IS NOT, EL PASO IS NOT.

WE USE THAT AS A SELLING POINT FOR OTHER COUNTIES TO WANT TO COME TO US. I AM COURTING A COUPLE OF OTHER COUNTIES TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR THAT AND THIS OTHER

[01:25:01]

-- >> IS THAT MORE OR LESS WITH THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, ETC -- CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS SINCE YOU'RE DOUBLY ACCREDITED WITH OTHER COUNTIES THAT THEY WOULD WANT SOMEBODY THAT WOULD HAVE THE ACCREDITATION THAT GIVES YOU A BIT MORE STATUS, SO TO SPEAK, IN TRIALS?

>> YES. NUMBER ONE, THAT IS BIG SELLING POINT. THEY DO LIKE THAT, WHEN YOU GO IN FRONT OF A JURY. NUMBER TWO, ALL OF THE STAFF HAVE AT LEAST THREE ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS TO UNIVERSITIES AND MEDICAL SCHOOLS. THAT ALSO IS AN ADDITIONAL FEATHER IN OUR CAP WHEN THEY PRESENT US IN COURT FOR THE JURIES AS WELL. SO, YES, DUAL ACCREDITATION IS A BONUS TO SOME OF OUR COUNTIES TO STAY WITH US, AS WELL AS TO RECRUIT OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL THAT HAVE ISSUES WITH THEIR CURRENT FORENSIC PATHOLOGY SUPPLIERS.

SO FOR THAT MATTER, WE ARE REQUESTING ONE ADDITIONAL PATHOLOGIST TO GET FULL ACCREDITATION.

AND THAT'S JUST FOR FORT BEND COUNTY.

OKAY? THIS WILL ALLOW US TO BRING IN OUTSIDE COUNTIES. NUMBER TWO, WE HAVE REQUESTS FOR TWO ADDITIONAL MORGUE TECHES. WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT OUR MORGUE TECH CADRE OFTENTIMES SOMEBODY IS ON VACATION, SOMEBODY GETS SICK, ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF, AND WE'RE DOWN MAYBE SOMETIMES TWO FULL-TIME WORK TECHES ON A DAILY WORK LOAD WHERE WE MAY HAVE 10, 12 CASES. THE BODIES, GETTING THEM OUT DONE, POLICED, VIEWING STUFF, GETTING THEM OUT TO THE FAMILIES, CAN BE DELAYED. WE HAVE LOT OF PICKUPS.

MORE BODIES IN, MORE BODIES OUT. A MORGUE TECH HAS TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE DUTIES OF WORKING IN THE MORGUE TO RELEASE BODIES, CHECK THE BODIES, MAKE SURE THE PROPERTY IS GIVEN OUT, ALL THAT STUFF SO THAT WE DON'T GIVE OUT THE WRONG BODY.

THAT WOULD BE A LAWSUIT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

THAT'S WHY WE NEED TWO ADDITIONAL.

WE HAVE NO REDUNDANCY IF PEOPLE ARE OUT.

WE HAD ONE OF OUR MORGUE TECHS IS MILITARY SO THEY ARE FREQUENTLY CALLED UP TO THEIR EXERCISES AND WHATEVER.

WE HAVE -- THEY ARE PENDING A FIVE MONTH DEPLOYMENT.

SOMETIMES STARTING I THINK IN AUGUST.

THEY GO GOD KNOWS WHERE, BUT WE'RE DOWN ONE PERSON.

IF WE GET ANOTHER LARGE COUNTY, WHICH WILL BRING IN SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND, MAYBE A MILLION EXTRA IN REVENUE, SO TWO MORE TECHES WILL TURN INTO ONE MORE TECH THIS FISCAL YEAR, MAYBE ONE FOR NEXT YEAR. IF NOT WE'LL NEED TWO FOR NEXT YEAR. OUR REQUEST ALSO INCLUDES ANOTHER INVESTIGATIVE POSITION, SUPERVISOR POSITION.

WE DO NOT HAVE A SUPERVISOR SO LAST YEAR WE HAD TWO REQUESTS THOSE FOUR INVESTIGATORS THAT DIDN'T REALL DROP OUR OVERTIME COST AND WE HAD COVERAGE IN TERMS OF INVESTIGATIVE STUFF THAT WE WER STILL SHORT IN SOMEONE'S GOT TO COVER AND THAT MAY BE LEAVES ON PERSON ALONE ON A SHIFT IF SOMEBODY IS OUT OR SICK OR WHATEVER SO WE NEED ONE EXTRA PERSON AS A SUPERVISOR FOR THE NIGHT SHIFT AND WILL FILL OUT OUR INVESTIGATOR CONTRACT THAT WE STARTED SIX YEARS AGO.

AND OUR LAST REQUEST IS FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO HEL OUR OPERATIONS MANAGER. KELLY IS DOING ALL THE GRANDSON SHE'S DOING ALL THE CONTRACTS FOR OUR 16 COUNTIES BOO SHE'S DOING ALL THE HR STUFF SHE'S DOING THE BILLING.

SHE'S DOING ALL THE ACCOUNTING AND INTERACTING WITH THE AUDITOR 'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THE COMPANY COMES IN AND KEEPS FLOWING IN AND GOES OUT IN A TIMELY FASHION.

SHE KEEPS UP WITH ALL THE IT REQUESTS AND ALL THE SERVICE REQUESTS FOR OUR REPAIRS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SHE KEEPS UP ALL THE CONTRACTS. THE MCKISSICK CONTRACT WAS A CONTRACT THAT WE STRUGGLED WITH REVIEW URGED US ALL THE TIME FO THE EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATING THEM AND WE HAVE OUR TRANSCRIPTIONISTS ANSWERING PHONES AND DOING MAIL OUTS AND

[01:30:07]

THE TRANSCRIPTIONIST WHEN THEY'RE HELPING FAMILIES TRANSLATING AS WELL, DURING MEETINGS AND ALL THAT SORTS OF STUFF, THEY ARE NOT TRANSCRIBIN SO WE CAN ONLY GET PAID WHEN WE SEND OUT AN AUTOPSY REPORT SO THIS TRANSCRIPTIONISTS ARE KEEPING THE REVENUES COMING IN. SHE'S ALSO IMPORTANT IN THE STUDENT AGREEMENTS. IF WE DON'T HAVE A STANDING AGREEMENT WITH UNIVERSITY, WHIC WE ARE WORKING ON, EACH STUDENT HAS TO ASSIGN THEIR OWN DECLARATION IN THEIR OWN CONTRACT, STUDENT APPROVALS COM THROUGH AS WELL SO SHE'S GOT TO HANDLE THAT ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AS WE TRY TO GET MORE AGREEMENTS WITH THE UNIVERSITIE THAT WANT TO SEND THOSE PEOPLE TO ROTATE WITH US SO SHE REALLY NEED SOME HELP TO SHE'S DOING YEOMAN'S WORK DOING MORE THAN WHAT HER JOB DESCRIPTION IS.

WE'RE DOING CREMATION, 20 CREMATION REQUESTS A DAY THAT HAVE TO BE REVIEWED AND ALL SORTS OF STUFF.

PEOPLE CLAIMING TO BE COMMON-LA AND ART AND MYSTERY OF ASSISTAN HAS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT LYING TO US.

SO-AND-SO IS NEXT OF KIN AND CA THEY COME AND GET THE BODY AND SOME PEOPLE LEAVE IF WE GET THE BODY AND REPAIR THEM AND WE PAY FOR THEM, WE GET THE KEYS TO THEIR HOUSE AND THE KEYS TO THEIR APARTMENT WE CAN GET THEI ESTATE BUT THEY MAY NOT BE ENTITLED TO ITS SO HAVE TO CHEC ON THAT.

SO THE DOING THAT INSTEAD OF BILLING AND 19 THE CONTRACT AND THINGS LIKE THAT PARENT'S OWN AMENDED STRATA PERSON IS VERY VALUABLE TO KEEP EVERYBODY STRAIGHT AND NARROW.

IF WE GIVE THE BODY TO THE WRON PERSON, THAT IS A LAWSUIT AND I

WANT TO MINIMIZE THE LIABILITY. >> IF YOU HAD TO PRIORITIZE THEM

, THOUGH. >> DR. , MORGUE ATTACK, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. THE DOCTOR GETS US THE BUSINESS IN THE MORGUE TECHNICIAN KEEPS THE BODIES FLOWING THROUGH.

>> QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANYONE? >> WE ARE PROJECTING 850 BODIES.

PROJECTING OVER 900 THIS YEAR, SO THE WORK IS GOING UP.

OUT A NO IF YOU REMEMBER THIS FROM FIVE YEARS AGO BUT THE JP' WERE GETTING 900 CALLS A YEAR. THAT WAS 2100 BODIES MISSING AN WE ARE NOW UP TO THE APPROPRIAT MOP AMOUNT COME ABOUT SIX OR CALLS IN HERE AND OF THOSE WE BRING IN ABOUT 900, WHICH I STILL THINK IS LOW BECAUSE OF THE HUNDRED PER 100,000 RIGHT-

>> 975. WE ARE PROJECTING NINE OR TEN S SOMEONE IS HIDING 50 BODIES ON US BUT WE JUST GOT TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO. SO WE ARE IMPLEMENTING, WE'VE IMPLEMENTED CREMATION USE AND FIND THE EXTRA BODIES BUT REFINING NATURAL CAUSES OF DEPT FOR THE DOCTOR PUTS DOWN DRUG OVERDOSE OR HANGING BUT THEY LEFT THE HOSPITAL SO IT'S PNEUMONIA. SO WE ARE TRYING TO CAPTURE WER ALL THAT THE SCENES THAT SHOULD BE COMING TO US ARE BEING

BYPASSED BY US. >> OKAY.

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANYONE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATED. >> THE LAST ONE WE HAVE FOR THI MORNING IS JP, HOWEVER, SHE CAN'T GET HERE UNTIL A LITTLE BIT LATER. SHE HAS A CASE TRIAL GOING ON RIGHT NOW. YOU WANT TO PRESENT?

>> I HAD ONE ITEM I WANTED TO PRESENT.

[01:35:16]

>> WE KNOW THAT THE COST OF CHILDCARE CONTINUES TO RISE AND AS WE LIKE TO ADDRESS THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN OUR COMMUNITY, ONE OF THOSE AREAS I ADDRESSING THE COST OF CHILDCAR AND BACK IN 2023, VOTERS APPROVED PROPOSITION TWO IN RESPONSE TO SB 1145 WHICH ALLOWED A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIO TO BE INSTITUTED FOR CHILDCARE FACILITIES AND IN THAT TIME THI EXEMPTION, ALLOWS LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO EXEMPT 50 TO 100% OF PROPERTY'S VALUE WHERE CHILDCARE FACILITY IS ACTUALLY LOCATED. BASICALLY THE FACILITY MUST BE LICENSED AND PARTICIPATED IN TH TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM AND HAVE 50% OF THEIR CHILDREN RECEIVING STATE SUBSIDIES SO TH BENEFITS, IF THIS IS A LEASED PROPERTY, THOSE BENEFITS AND SAVINGS MUST BE PASSED ALONG TO THE LESS EP THE OWNER HAS TO GIVE THAT FULLTEXT SAVINGS DIRECTLY TO THE PROVIDER AND THIS OVERALL PRODUCES OPERATIONAL COST FOR PROVIDERS POTENTIALLY LEADING TO MORE CHILDCARE AND SUPPORTING WORKIN FAMILIES. SOME OF THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS FOR THE COUNTY IS ONE THAT PROVIDES FINANCIAL RELIEF.

AND IT WILL ENHANCE AFFORDABLE HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE BEFORE THE GROWING POPULATION IN SUPPORT OF BENEFITING WORKING PERIODS AND STRENGTHENING THE COUNTY'S OVERALL ECONOMY.

WE ALSO MIGHT SEE THE ENCOURAGEMENT FOR NEW FACILITY DEVELOPMENT THIS WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT TO OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. AND THERE'S ROUGHLY 180 LICENSE CARE FACILITIES IN FORT BEND COUNTY NO SIZED VALUE OF ABOUT $750,000 AND THE TOTAL EXEMPTIO UP TO BUT HOW TO PRESET UP THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION. FROM ABOUT 60 MILLION IN PROPERTY VALUE IN THE CURRENT TAX RATE.

IN THE COUNTY COME UP THAT WOUL BE AN IMPACT ABOUT PUT $5 MILLION A YEAR. SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION IT'S ABOUT OTHER OTHER COUNTIES DALLAS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS DONE THIS IN SEMITON EURO HAS INSTITUTED THEY WERE NOT A% PROJECTION. SO PUTTING THIS ON THE TABLE FO DISCUSSION. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NOW WE NOT ONLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO BUT SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, ESPECIALLY A WE ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIE TO PASS ON SAVINGS TO OUR PRESIDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.

THE OTHER POINT FOR US IS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR US FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AND I THINK OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE THI BUT THE OTHER PART OF THAT OUT OF EXEMPTIONS TO OUR PRESIDENTS RESIDENTS. EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS IN THAT PROCESS BUT SO I WANTED THIS UP FOR DISCUSSION.

I KNOW WE ARE NOT TAKING ANY ACTION ON THIS BUT I WANTED TO

GET MY COLLEAGUES FEEDBACK. >> DO YOU KNOW THE SAVINGS, WHITE TYPE OF CHILDCARE IS ACTUALLY PASSED ALONG TO THE PARENTS PAY OR DO THEY HAVE A REJECTION-REDUCTION?

>> THAT, BY LAW, THE SAVINGS IS A RENTED FACILITY IN THE SAVING HAS TO BE PASSED ALONG IN WIDTH THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THESE ARE 20% OF THE CHILDREN ENROLLED ARE PART OF THE SUBSIDIES INSULT THOSE HAVE CONTROLS FOR WHAT THE RATE IS THAT THE CHILDCARE PROVIDER CAN CHARGE TO FAMILIES.

[01:40:01]

>> YOU VISITED WITH TIM KAMINSKI .

HE'S BEEN GINGERBREAD CHILDCARE AND HE'S BEEN GOING TO AUSTIN AND WASHINGTON AND GETTING MORE SUPPORT TO HELP CHILDCARE CENTERS MOST OF THEM ARE GOING BROKE BECAUSE THERE'S JUST REALLY NOT THE DEMAND LIKE THER WAS.

PEOPLE DECIDED AFTER COVID -- >> A LOT ARE HOMESCHOOLED.

>> SOME STAY-AT-HOME WORKING OR IT COULD BE.

IT COULD BE. HE'S DONE SOME EXTENSIVE

RESEARCH ON THIS. >> I LOVE THE CONNECTION ANOTHE THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF OUR LOCAL CHILDCARE CENTERS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING UP TO AUSTIN DURING THIS INTERIM PERIOD ADVOCATING AND HAVING THEM BEIN PART OF THE TEXAS RISING STARS PROGRAM AND SO I THINK THEY JUS RECENTLY CHANGED WHO QUALIFIES FOR THAT THROUGH THE COMPTROLLER 'S OFFICE AND SO THERE IS A HUGE NEED IN A WHOLE COALITION OF CHILDCARE PROVIDERS . SOME OF THOSE SMALLER MOM-AND-POP CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ARE THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE GREATEST BENEFIT THOSE WHO ARE PART OF THEM BIG CHAIN OF PROGRAMS, THE FRANCHISES. AND SO WE SEE A LOT OF THEM CLOSING AND I MET WITH A FEW OF THEM AT A COMMUNITY EVENT A FEW MONTHS BACK AND FOLKS ARE STRUGGLING AND THAT JUST MEANS THAT THE KIDS HAVE -- FAMILIES HAVE FEWER CHOICES AND WHERE THEY GO TO GET THEIR EDUCATION.

>> THAT IS MY PRESENTATION. >> QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANYONE.

>> THAT'S ALL WE HAVE. >> WE'VE GOT ONE MORE PERSON WE

ARE WAITING ON. >> SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO BE HERE UNTIL ABOUT 11:30. WE CAN MOVE HER TO THE AFTERNOON

. >> WE TRIED MOVING ALL THE AFTERNOON ONES AND EITHER THEY ARE IN TRIAL OR THEY HAVE OTHER

THINGS GOING ON. >> AND WE CAN'T DO CIP NOW?

>> THAT WILL MISS UP ARRANGEMENTS.

>> I DON'T HAVE ANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS HERE.

>> WE WILL JUST CALL A RECESS UNTIL 1:00 P.M.

>> THEN THERE IS THAT. >> SO LET'S RECESS TO 1:00 P.M.

>> DO WE HAVE FOOD TODAY? >> YES, WE HAVE FOOD.

>> CAN WE MOVE IT UP? CAN YOU SEE? WE ARE HUNGRY RIGHT HERE NOW, YOU NOPE YOU THINK YOU SO.

WE'LL START OFF WITH PRECINCT FOUR.

>> THANK YOU. >> I AM IN BETWEEN COURT DOCKETS, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR $0.7,308,076 TO KEEP IT SIMPLE, THE EXPENSES FROM 63,063,200 -- YOU HAVE IT THERE ON THE INFORMATION. I'M ASKING FOR $1791.60 OVER THE REQUESTED AMOUNTS, THE TARGET AMOUNTS.

THE $5517.16 IS FOR INCREASE IN SALARIES FOR EMPLOYEES.

THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR. IF YOU WANT ME TO BREAK DOWN THE DETAIL, LET'S GO TO TRIBAL LINE, IT SEEMS TO BE A HOT TOPIC HERE

[01:45:03]

>> QUESTIONS GOT COMMISSIONERS? >> I AM LOOKING AT YOUR STAFF PER CASE RATIO -- IF I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY YOU HAVE A NUMBER

OF CLOSED CASES IN 2026? >> YES, SO PRECINCT FOUR, WHICH IS ONLY JP COURT THAT HAS ONE COURT PRECINCT, EVEN BEFORE THAT HAS THE -- HAD THE HIGHEST CASELOAD IN THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW I DID THE BREAKDOWN -- HELPS UNDERSTANDING WHY I'M ALSO ASKING FOR SALARY INCREASES FOR THE STAFF CORRECT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW FULL TIME EMPLOYEES ARE AVERAGING 2400 CASES PER STAFF MEMBER. THIS YEAR I CLOSED 8000 CASES.

I REPORT ABOUT 24,000 CASES AND JP FOUR.

THE NEXT CLOSEST COURT, HAS 14,000 CASES.

THAT'S 2025 PENDING, 2026 PENDING IN ADDITION TO WHAT'S BEEN CLOSED. THESE ARE ACCURATE NUMBERS, YOU CAN VERIFY THAT. THIS DATA IS CORRECT.

THAT'S WHY I PROVIDED A BREAKDOWN.

YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AND SINCE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC I'LL GO AHEAD AND PUT IN PRECINCT FOUR, PRECINCT TWO.

YOU CAN SEE THAT DATA IS OFF COMPARED TO EMPLOYEES IN THE NUMBER OF CASES. 22 IS PROJECTED TO HAVE MORE CASES THAN THEY HAD -- IT WAS NOT MY COURT BUT I'M A DATA PERSON AND THE INFORMATION IS THERE WHICH IS WHY I INCLUDED IT SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE I GOT IT FROM.

>> THE EVICTION CASES YOU ALL SEE AND -- IS THERE ANY WAY OF GETTING A COMPARISON BREAKDOWN BY PRECINCT OF MULTIFAMILY -- I. GUESS YOU CAN GET THAT FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT -- THERE'S NO WAY OF GETTING RENTAL PROPERTY -- SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL.

>> JUST ALONE ON MY WAY HOME FROM THIS COURT TO MY HOUSE, THERE WAS FOUR MORE APARTMENT COMPLEX COMING UP AND THEY'RE NOT SMALL. SO ALL THE THAT HAPPENED AND THEY THOUGHT MAYBE THE CASES WILL GO DOWN, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. WE MAY HAVE CONDENSED AND THEN SIZED I THINK BUT IT'S STILL DENSE IN THE AREA.

SO ALL CASES ACROSS THE BOARD HAVE INCREASED.

>> UNDERSTOOD, I THINK WE NEED TO REVISIT THE TOPIC OF PRECINCT OR JP 42 POSITION, BUT ALSO GIVEN THAT WE HAVE EQUAL POPULATION -- NOT THE ONLY PRECINCT WITH ONLY ONE JP --

>> WHICH IS WHY IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO GET HERE BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING QUICKLY, I HAVE TO GET TO COURT I HAVE COURT AT 1:00 SO

THEY'RE WAITING FOR ME. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ANYONE? HEARING NONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. >> ALL RIGHT.

>> DISTRICT CLERK. >> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.

I WAS LISTENING TO THE BUDGET TALKS ON LINE EARLIER AND I HEARD JUDGE WONG SAID HE WANTS A BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY AND THAT YOU WANT A BUDGET THAT MAKES SENSE.

ONE THAT IS RESPONSIBLY EFFICIENT AND ONE THAT DELIVERS ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO FORT BEND COUNTY.

THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE IN THE BUDGET THAT I PRESENTED TO YOU

[01:50:01]

THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR WE HAVE PROCESSED 8133 PASSPORTS AND SO IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY FOUR, YOU WILL GET FORECASTED 32,532 PASSPORTS IN 2026. AND YOU ALREADY BROUGHT IN $52,156 IN CASH, THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR IN PASSPORTS. SO IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY FOUR YOU'LL GET $1,480,624 FORECASTED.

SO LOOKING AT THE TWO POSITIONS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, WITH FRIENDS BENEFITS AND TAILORING COSTS IF YOU CAN FOLLOW ME IN YOUR OUTLINE, $0.69,833 TO BRING ON ONE EMPLOYEE.

SO IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY TWO, THE COST WOULD BE $139,607.66 TO GIVE US TWO NEW POSITIONS IN PASSPORTS.

THEN WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HAVE A POSITION RESEARCH AND COLLECTION. AS YOU KNOW YOU VOTED FOR LEARN TO COLLECT FOR US AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB BUT WE ARE GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 1990S TO COLLECT MONEY FOR FORT BEND THAT WAS COLLECTED EVEN BEFORE I GOT HERE.

SO WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS SOMEONE ON THE INSIDE HAS TO RESEARCH ALL THIS INFORMATION MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PAPERWORK THAT JUSTIFIED THESE PEOPLE REALLY OWED MONEY BEFORE WE CAN SEND IT OUT. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR ONE POSITION IN RESEARCH AND COLLECTIONS IF YOU LOOK UNDER B THREE, YOU SEE HOW MUCH MONEY IS COLLECTED AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN GONE ALL THE WAY BACK HERE THESE ARE JUST A FEW YEARS -- FAMILY CASES OWED TO US AS FAR AS WE HAVE GONE BACK TO DATE.

IF YOU LOOK ON YOUR HANDOUT THAT I GAVE YOU THAT SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN BETWEEN THE CIVIL CASES AND FAMILY CASES AND CRIMINAL CASES, YOU CAN SEE WHICH YEARS ARE INCLUDED IN HOW MUCH EACH CATEGORY SHOULD BRING IN FOR THE FAMILY CASES WILL BE $1,475,694.86. THE CIVIL CASES WE HAVE RESEARCHED AND HAVE PAPERWORK TO SUBSTANTIATE IS $82,271.16 THEN CRIMINAL CASES $666,289.02 FOR A TOTAL THAT WE NOW OWE TO DATE, HAVING DONE ALL OF THE MONEY OWED IS $2,214,255.14 IF WE COULD GET AN EMPLOYEE WHO WORKS ON THIS 8-5 EVERYDAY, WE COULD GO FASTER AND COLLECT MORE. SO THEN WE ALSO WANT ONE POSITION IN CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE NUMBER OF CALLS HAS INCREASED. I GAVE YOU A HANDOUT FROM FINESSE, WHICH IS OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE PROVIDER, THAT SHOWS THE NUMBER OF CALLS WE ANSWER ALL THE TIME.

IF YOU LOOK LIKE WE ARE NUMBER 1 IN THE CALL ROTATION IN OTHER WORDS WHEN YOU CALL FORT BEND COUNTY, IT SAYS PRESS ONE FOR THE DISTRICT CLERK WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF CALL, ASKING FOR INFORMATION AND EVERYTHING AND WE TRY TO HELP THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE PEOPLE THAT TRY TO SEND THEM ON THEIR WAY TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

SO WE ARE NEEDING CLERKS TO ANSWER THESE CALLS.

WE ANSWERED YOUR CALLS WHERE PEOPLE ARE CALLING IN AHEAD OF TIME WITH EXCUSES THAT HAVE TO BE PRESENTED TO A JUDGE.

WE HAVE PASSPORT CALLS CASE MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS AND THESE ARE NOT SIMPLE YES OR NO QUESTIONS THEY REQUIRE AN IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE OFFICE SO THAT'S THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE FOUR NEW POSITIONS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR. MOVING ALONG, WE'RE ALSO ASKING TO RECLASSIFY A DIVISION SUPERVISOR TO A CHIEF OF COURTS.

[01:55:05]

THEN NUMBER 3, WE'RE ASKING COMMISSIONERS COURT TO APPROVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AUTO ACCEPT.

IT'S A TECHNOLOGY PRODUCT THAT WILL PULL CASE FILES, PUT IT IN THE PROPER ORDER, READ OUT SENSITIVE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY LAW AND PUT IT IN OUR SYSTEM. PRESENTLY PEOPLE ARE DOING THIS AND THIS IS TAKING A LOT OF TIME FOR PEOPLE WHO JUST MAKE $20 AN HOUR. IT'S A WASTE OF HUMAN RESOURCES WHEN WE CAN GET SOFTWARE THAT DOES THAT.

IT'S A MILLION DOLLARS, I'M NOT ASKING FOR IT FROM YOUR BUDGET I'M ASKING YOU TO GIVE ME PERMISSION TO TAKE IT FROM THE DISTRICT CLERK'S MANAGEMENT BUDGET BECAUSE WE COULD GO FORWARD AT ONE POINT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE COUNTY CLERK -- WE'VE DECIDED TO PURCHASE IT TOGETHER FOR $500,000 EACH FROM EACH ONE OF OUR CLERK BUDGETS. YES COMMISSIONER --

>> I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT -- HAVE TO WORK WITH I.T.L

BECAUSE -- >> WE ARE BECAUSE I DON'T SAY WE CAN'T HAVE IT PICK WHAT'S HOLDING US UP IS AN AI POLICY AND IT'S CAUSING US CLERKS A LOT OF GRIEF BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK CASES AND THEY'RE INCREASING AND WE REALLY NEED

SOME AUTOMATED ASSISTANCE. >> WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE

THAT WE ARE PROTECTED. >> AS FAR AS I KNOW IT HASN'T SAID NO. THEY'VE TOLD US WE NEED TO WAIT FOR AN IT POLICY PICK SOME SAY IF I COULD GET YOU APPROVAL FROM THE IT POLICY WE COULD MOVE FASTER, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET THE POLICY FIRST IS THAT

CORRECT? >> WHY? WHY CAN'T YOU APPROVE IT WHEN THE POLICY COMES THEY GO GET IT? BECAUSE WE'VE HAD ISSUES THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DISCUSS AND WE

NEED TO FOLLOW -- >> PLEASE KNOW THAT WE ARE SUFFERING AND I'M NOT ABLE TO -- PEOPLE HAVE ELECTED ME TO DO.

>> WE'RE NOT TAKING ACTION ON ANYTHING TODAY ANYWAY.

SO THIS ISN'T -- WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

>> THANK YOU. >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> THANK YOU. THE OTHER THING WE ARE ASKING FOR IS SOME KIND OF CAREER LADDER.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT I STILL HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING $20 AN HOUR TO DO WHAT I CONSIDER IS A VERY COMPLEX JOB AND PEOPLE -- WE HAVE A SWINGING DOOR. PEOPLE COME IN AND THEY LEAVE.

AS SOON AS THEY GET INTO THE COUNTY THEY WANT TO GO ELSEWHERE. LAST WEEK TO A EMPLOYEES -- THEY MAKE $24 WORKING FOR HER AND THEY MAKE $20 WITH US SO I WOULD GO TO. I'M ALREADY TRYING -- I. CAN MAKE MORE MONEY SO THEY MOVE ON TO OTHER PLACES IN THE COUNTY WHERE THEY CAN MAKE MORE. SO WE STILL HAVE ABOUT 20 EMPLOYEES WHO ARE MAKING LESS THAN $20 AN HOUR.

I WOULD LIKE YOUR PERMISSION TO BRING THOSE PEOPLE UP TO $20.

THEN WE HAVE A COUPLE OF EMPLOYEES WHO ARE MAKING 1950 AND SO BRINGING THEM TO 20 WOULD JUST BE A COUPLE OF PENNIES, SILVER SAYING CAN WE TAKE THOSE PEOPLE TO $21 RATHER THAN 20 BECAUSE THE RACE WOULD NOT SEEM ADEQUATE.

THEN ONE LONG TIME EMPLOYEE WHO'S MAKING 1999, IF YOU MOVED THEM UP TO $20 HE'S ONLY GOING TO GET A 1 CENT RAISE BRINGS OVER ASKING PERHAPS WE COULD MOVE THAT PERSON UP TO 22 CHARACTERS TO STOP THE BLEED OF PEOPLE COMING IN -- WE'RE CONSTANTLY IN A TRAINING MODE BECAUSE AS SOON AS PEOPLE GET EXPERIENCE AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING THEY WANT TO MOVE ELSEWHERE SO I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO STOP.

BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS TRAINING TRAINING, TRAINING PEOPLE COMING AND GOING. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, ANYONE?

>> I HAVE A COMMENT I AGREE WITH YOU ON THE EMPLOYEES AS FAR AS MAKING UNDER $20 AN HOUR WILL WORK WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE.

I HAD SOME INFORMATION PULLED AND WE HAVE 363 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES MAKING UNDER $20 AN HOUR AND 193 PART TIME.

I AGREE WITH YOU WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

[02:00:02]

>> THANK YOU. >> WELL TALK ABOUT THAT AND I AM

WITH YOU ON THAT ONE. >> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT LIKE MAKING LITTLE WAGES IS CRITICAL, BUT I WONDER IF WE WERE TO RUN AN ANALYSIS ON WHAT WE'RE SPENDING IN TRAINING PEOPLE, WHAT THAT MIGHT YIELD, BECAUSE IT'S A COST TO WHEN YOU'RE HAVING TO TAKE EMPLOYEES TIME TO DO THAT SO I THINK THAT'S GREAT PICK SO I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SIMPLIFIED THE PROCESS FOR OBTAINING A PASSPORT AND THEIR TURNAROUND TIME I'VE HEARD FROM SOME PEOPLE SAY IT'S LIKE RECORD

TIME NOW. >> WHEN WE WERE BACK THERE IN COVID AND NUMEROUS PASSPORTS HAD EXPIRED, SINCE WE'VE BEEN ALSO TALKING ABOUT PASSPORTS EVERYWHERE, PEOPLE REALISE THEY NEED ONE AND SO, EXPEDITE IT IS ABOUT 23 WEEKS NOW.

AND ROUTINE SERVICE IS ABOUT 46 WEEKS.

YOU PAY FOR EXPEDITED SERVICES. >> I HEARD SOMEONE SAY THEY GOT

THEIRS BACK IN LIKE A WEEK. >> THEY TOLD ME SOME PEOPLE GOT

IT BACK IN TWO WEEKS, YES. >> ARE WE SEEING AN INCREASE USE IN OUR PASSPORT OFFICE TODAY AS COMPARED TO YEARS PRIOR?

>> WE HAVE. AS I SAID, 31,000, 31,000 PEOPLE, 77 PEOPLE APPLIED FOR PASSPORT IN FISCAL YEAR 2025.

ALREADY THIS YEAR, 8133 PASSPORT APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN

PROCESSED. >> SO ON TRACK TO BEAT LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS SO PEOPLE ARE STILL TRAVELING.

>> THEY'RE STILL TRAVELING. >> OKAY, THAT WAS MY ONLY THING

-- >> OR THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE

THEY GET A PASSPORT THESE DAYS. >> GOT IT.

THAT WAS MY ONLY REAL THING. YOU PUT TOGETHER A PRETTY GOOD PRESENTATION TO SHOW HOW YOU BRING IN REVENUE TO COVER THESE REQUESTS TO MEET -- TO ME IT SEEMS ALMOST LIKE A NO BRAINER.

>> THE POST OFFICE IN ROSENBERG, -- DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT? PASSPORTS IN YOUR MARKETING --

>> I WANT TO TELL ALL THOSE PEOPLE WAITING LINE CAN I GO SEE

HER. >> THE POST OFFICE DOESN'T

REALLY WANT TO DO PASSPORTS. >> I DON'T THINK THEY DO BECAUSE THOSE POOR PEOPLE ARE SITTING THERE FOR HOW MANY -- IT'S --

PEOPLE ARE WAITING IN LINE -- >> YOU ALL HAVE PROVIDED US WITH A NICE OFFICE WHERE PEOPLE WAIT AND ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND

DIGNITY. >> I SEE PEOPLE SITTING ON THE

FLOOR AND THE POST OFFICE. >> THERE'S NOWHERE TO SIT AND IT'S NOT JUST -- ADULTS, IT'S CHILDREN.

>> IT'S EVERYWHERE, WE WERE IN YOUR PRECINCT FOR THE LIKES PASS A LITTLE BIT AND WE HAD PEOPLE -- THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULDN'T BE

ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING BY 2:00. >> FANTASTIC, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> YOUR REPAYMENTS AS WELL? >> I FORGOT ABOUT THAT THE ONLY THING I'M TOLD BY MY PEOPLE BACK THERE WITH ALL THE INTELLIGENCE IS THAT THE ONLY THING WE'RE ADDING TO REPAYMENTS IS COFFEE FOR JURY APPRECIATION WEEK WHICH WE JUST HAD LAST TUESDAY.

COFFEE EVERY WEEK, I AM SORRY COFFEE FOR OUR PEOPLE EVERY WEEK BECAUSE THEY COME IN ASKING US, DO YOU HAVE WATER OR COFFEE OR WHATEVER. WE TRY TO MAKE IT CONVENIENT BUT THEY'RE SACRIFICING THEIR TIME TO COME HERE.

>> I FEEL LIKE I BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE AND I THINK I GOT A HISTORY LESSON FROM THE COMMISSIONER AT WEST POINT BUT IT'S ESCAPING ME NOW. WHY DON'T WE HAVE SOME SORT OF CAFETERIA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT INSIDE THE JUSTICE CENTER?

OR A CAFE? >> WHEN THE BUILDING WAS BUILT -- [LAUGHING]

>> WHEN IT WAS BUILT, THE PLAN WAS THERE WOULD BE SOME HIGH END

MACHINES. >> THEY ARE NOT HIGH END

COMMISSIONER. >> WE DID HAVE -- FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, WE HAD A CAFE -- AT ONE POINT IN THIS BUILDING, DEFINITELY -- WHAT IS NOW A FLEX SPACE WHERE -- IT'S RIGHT BY THE ELEVATOR AND THAT WAS A POPULAR JOINT.

[02:05:02]

WE HAD TO GO DO THAT. >> I CAN REMEMBER THE GOOD FOOD ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THAT BUILDING.

>> I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH TRAFFIC TO AT LEAST LOOK AT OFFERING FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE ON AS AN ENTERPRISE LIKE SOME KIND

OF -- >> I'LL TELL YOU --

>> SPECIFY WHAT YOU WANT AND SEE WHAT THE MARKETPLACE SAYS.

>> PEOPLE ASK TO BRING -- >> COULD ALWAYS SEND THEM TO

JAIL AND -- >> PEOPLE ASKED US TO BRING FOOD TRUCKS BUT I'M TOLD IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE SPACE IS SO SMALL. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BRING FOOD TRUCKS AT JURY DAY. SO THAT IS SOMETHING -- I. DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS COULD APPROVE, THAT WOULD REALLY HELP OUT.

>> LET'S FOLLOW UP, WE'RE ABOUT TO DO THE SCULPTURE GARDEN THERE AT HOMESTEAD PARK AND THAT INCLUDES UPGRADES TO THAT PLAZA IN FRONT OF THE LEVY. MAYBE THERE IS SOME WAY OF INCORPORATING SOME SPACE FOR FOOD TRUCK SET UP AND PEOPLE TO RECREATE AT THEIR PICKETS ALSO PROBABLY WORTH THINKING ABOUT -- THIS IS A SERVICE TO THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE COMING WHO MAY HAVE COURT SERVICE OR -- THEIR JURY SERVICE OR THEY MAY HAVE COURT THEMSELVES. EVEN IF WE SUBSIDISE IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM A SMALL PART OF IT TO MAKE MEMBER IN THERE VIABLE -- BECAUSE AGAIN LIKE JURY DUTY THERE BEFORE COMING TO THIS ROLE AND IT'S LIKE IT'S DEAD IN THERE.

THEY'RE JUST PRAYING FOR WHEN YOU GET TO GO ACROSS THE STREET OR SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT LESS PLEASANT.

SO IT'S A THOUGHT. >> THANK YOU.

>> EXCITING TALK THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP I APPRECIATE THAT. NEXT.

>> THE JUDGES HERE SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO 387.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE, PRESENTING 387 AND I COME TO YOU TODAY, WE HAVE A COUPLE VARIANCES IN THE BUDGET FROM LAST YEAR.

FIRST OF ALL I'LL DEAL WITH -- WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN OUR SUPPLIES, AND THAT'S RELATED TO -- WE STARTED WHEN I CAME IN JANUARY 2025, 3 NEW INITIATIVES TO MOVE THE COURT FORWARD.

THE FIRST IS FOR THE BAND'S FIRST ONLINE SCHEDULING SYSTEM WHERE RETURNEES ARE ABLE TO GO ONLINE, GO TO OUR WEBSITE CLICK SET UP THEIR HEARING AND IT'S ALREADY IN THE COURT SYSTEM.

WE GET AN EMAIL -- WHAT THAT LEADS TO IS INCREASED COST IN TERMS OF SUPPLIES BUT I'LL GO TO THE THIRD ONE, WHICH WAS IMPLEMENTED TODAY THROUGH IT AND ALL THESE HAVE BEEN -- WE HAVE BEEN ASSISTED TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL BY IT, IT'S THE INTEGRATION OF THE SCHEDULE WITH OUR CURRENT SYSTEM.

BEFORE THE SCHEDULE AND THE OTHER COURTS, WHAT THEY HAD TO DO TO SET UP HEARINGS IS THAT THE ATTORNEYS WOULD HAVE TO EMAIL THE COORDINATOR. SO THE COORDINATORS WOULD HAVE TO SIT AT THEIR DESK 75% OF THE TIME AND TAKE EMAILS, THAT'S ANTIQUATED. WHERE ACCOUNT OF A MILLION PEOPLE AND I THINK FOR COORDINATOR TO SPEND 75% OF HER TIME ANSWERING EMAILS, IT'S JUST OUT OF THE QUESTION SO WHAT WE HAVE TODAY, THE INTEGRATION OF THOSE SYSTEMS, THE ODYSSEY AND SCHEDULE -- I. WAS TOLD LAST YEAR WHEN WE GOT SCHEDULE ON BOARD MARCH FIRST, THAT SOFTWARE COMPANIES DON'T INTEGRATE THEIR SYSTEMS. THEY TOLD ME NO, I'VE BEEN USED TO GETTING NO BEFORE. SO I WENT INTO A CONFERENCE IN SEPTEMBER AND I MET WITH THE FOLKS -- I TOLD HIM WHAT WE WERE DOING THEY SAID WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT SO COME BACK -- I WENT BACK OUT ON A BREAK THEY SAID GIVE ME A NUMBER TO TWO INDIVIDUALS AND THEY TOLD US WE COULD DO IT SO TODAY -- NOW, THE COORDINATOR DOESN'T HAVE TO SIT THERE AND LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE

[02:10:02]

WHEN YOU GET YOUR HEARING SCHEDULE, IT GOES RIGHT INTO OUR SYSTEM WHICH GOES ON TO DOCKET SYSTEM.

SO THE ATTORNEYS ARE ABLE TO SEE THEIR CASES IN THE SYSTEM.

ANOTHER ONE IS OUR DOCKET CONTROL ORDERS FOR CASES IN FORT BEND, FORT FAMILY COURT, THEY SIT AROUND TOO LONG I GOT HERE JANUARY 2025. I HAD DIVORCES AND THINGS SITTING AROUND FOR FIVE YEARS. IT MAKES NO SENSE.

SO WHAT WE DID, WE GOT OUT AGAIN AND WE INSTITUTED A DOCKET CONTROL SYSTEM. SO WHEN THE CASE IS FILED, IT AUTOMATICALLY GETS -- A DIVORCE WITH NO CHILDREN, TRIAL DATE, OTHER CHILD OR DISMISSED DIVORCE FOR CHILDREN, NINE MONTHS AND DIVORCE WITH -- AND MADE MODIFICATIONS FOR NINE MONTHS.

NOW I'LL SAY GO INTO CONFERENCES BECAUSE THAT INCREASED OUR TRAVEL, BECAUSE WHAT I LEARNED IS CONFERENCES, I GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH FOLKS, WITH VENDORS AND WITH OTHER COURSES TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THAT HELPED US DEVELOP THESE SYSTEMS. THE JUDGE WAS ASSOCIATED AT THAT TIME AND WHEN I CALLED BACK AND TOLD HIM WE'RE ABLE TO INTEGRATE THESE TWO SYSTEMS, MY WHOLE STAFF THEY WERE EXCITED.

SO THAT'S PART OF OUR INCREASED COST FOR TRAVEL.

WE HAD FOUR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE TRAVELING, SO WE ASKED FOR A MODEST INCREASE OF ABOUT $3000. THEN OUR FEES HAVE INCREASED.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN'T CONTROL, A POINT IF WE DON'T KNOW WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TO ASK FOR COUNSEL TO BE APPOINTED. IN MANY CASES, OR REQUIRED TO READ WRITE AND TELL THEM THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO COUNSEL BECAUSE THEY COULD BE FACING JAIL TIME SO THAT'S OUR INCREASED COST.

SUPPLIES THE DOCKET CONTROL ORDER IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO EVERY QUARTER, WE HAVE TO DO MAIL UPS SO THAT'S INCREASED COST FOR THE MAIL UPS BECAUSE WE HAVE ALSO GIVEN THEM NOTICE OF

THE TRIAL DATE. >> SO WHAT THIS HAS LED TO, THESE THREE INITIATIVES, THE DOCKET CONTROL ORDERS AND INTEGRATION IS, WERE ABLE TO DECREASE OUR CASELOAD.

WE CAME IN JANUARY OF 2025 WE HAD 2548 CASES ON OUR DOCKET AT THE END OF 2025 THAT NUMBER WAS 9972.

IT'S ALSO HAD THE JUDGE COURT -- WERE STILL DECREASING THOSE DOCKET. WE FOUND IT YESTERDAY, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME EVER DOCKET CONTROL ORDERS WENT INTO EFFECT.

SO EITHER SHOW UP AND TRY YOUR CASE OR IT'S BEING DISMISSED.

WE FOUND 15 CASES THAT WERE ON THE DOCKET PROBABLY ABOUT EIGHT OF THOSE FOLKS KNEW THEIR CASE WAS GOING TO GET DISMISSED AND THEY WENT AHEAD AND GOT THOSE -- SO INCREASED SUPPLIES, INCREASED TRAVEL LEAD TO RESULTS I THINK ULTIMATELY THIS SAVES OUR TAXPAYERS MONEY, WHETHER TAX MONEY OR OTHERWISE WHEN THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO GO 'ROUND AND 'ROUND.

>> RIGHT. >> IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.

>> BECAUSE THAT EMAIL SYSTEM, THEY WOULD -- ATTORNEYS AND THE COORDINATOR, THEY WOULD EXCHANGE SOMETIMES FIVE EMAILS, OK? AND I THINK OUR OTHER COURTS ARE ON TOP OF THE TWO OTHER FAMILY COURTS.

THEY ARE WAITING FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE WE GET ALL THE KINKS OUT. WE GET ALL THE KINKS OUT AND THE SCHEDULE LEADS TO THE INTENT RAIG SYSTEM SO I THINK THEY'LL COME ON BOARD WHICH WILL LEAD TO BETTER USE OF OUR MAN HOURS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> DISTRICT COURT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

WE HAVE TWO REQUESTS IN THE DISTRICT COURT.

THE FIRST ONE IS A ONETIME EXPENSE AND THAT WOULD BE FOR $2,000 IN OUR TRAVEL AND TRAINING BUDGET.

THE PURPOSE FOR THAT EXPENDITURE IS EVERY COURT IN OORTMAN COUNTY, THE COURT COORDINATOR DOESN'T JUST SCHEDULE HEARINGS. THEY DO PAYROLL.

THEY DO PURCHASING. THEY DO CASE FLOW

[02:15:01]

THAT'S A ONETIME TRAINING THING.

BUT IT REQUIRES A TOTAL OF SIX CLASSES.

TWO OF THOSE ARE VIRTUALLY, WHICH MY COORDINATOR IS GOING TO DO VIRTUALLY. THE ONE THAT IS IN PERSON IS IN AUSTIN, SO IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S AN EXTRAVAGANT TRIP BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR HER TO HAVE THE SAME TRAINING THAT EVERY OTHER COORDINATOR HAS IN OUR COUNTY AND BECOME A COURT MANAGER, AND THIS IS MS. NEE.

SHE IS MY COURT KIRD NATOR AND SHE IS INCREDIBLE.

IT BENEFITS OUR COUNTY JUST AS JUDGE TELFER WAS SAYING.

IT MAKES THEM MORE EFFICIENT AND TEACHES THEM HOW TO MAKE US MORE EFFICIENT AS A COURT.

I THINK THAT ONETIME EXPENSE WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR FIRST DISTRICT COURT. THE SECOND REQUEST I HAVE AND I UNDERSTAND THIS IS THE HOT TOPIC PROBABLY, BECAUSE I RECALL ALL THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD LAST YEAR.

BUT I WANT TO -- I WOULD FEEL LIKE I WAS NOT DOING MY JOB IF I DIDN'T COME ASK FOR THIS.

WE'RE REQUESTING ASSOCIATE JUDGE FOR THE 501ST DISTRICT COURT. THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE TO THIS COUNTY BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT FAMILY COURTS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY DIRN THAN GENERAL JURISDICTION COURTS. DIFFERENT.

MONTGOMERY, HARRISON COUNTY, ALL THESE COUNTIES AROUND US I DON'T KNOW IF ANY COUNTY OUR SIZE WHERE THE FAMILY COURT DOESN'T HAVE AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE.

BECAUSE THEY'RE ALLOWED TO HEAR FINAL TRIALS.

ASSOCIATE JUDGES IN GENERAL JURISDICTION COURTS, THEY CANNOT PRESIDE OVER A CRIMINAL CASE.

SO I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY THAT THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES IN THE CRIMINAL COURTS AND GENERAL JURISDICTION COURTS AREN'T BUSY BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT THAN IT IS IN A FAMILY COURT.

EVERY DAY THAT I'M IN COURT, I HAVE TYPICALLY TWO TO THREE PROTECTIVE ORDER HEARINGS.

THAT'S SOMEBODY THAT'S COMING INTO MY COURT SAYING I'M BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED OR I'M BEING PHYSICALLY ABUSED AND I NEED PROTECTION FROM MY ABUSER.

EVERY DAY, I HAVE TWO OR THREE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER HEARINGS WHERE SOMEONE HAS FILED A RESTRAINING ORDER SAYING SOMEONE'S CUT ME OFF OF MY FINANCES.

I HAVE NO ACCESS TO MONEY. THESE ARE NOT THINGS THAT YOU CAN JUST SAY YOU KNOW WHAT? COME BACK IN A FEW WEEKS. I CAN'T GET TO YOU TODAY.

THEY HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH. AND HAVING AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE IN A FAMILY COURT ALLOWS THE PRESIDING JUDGE TO HEAR TRIALS. IT ALLOWS THEM TO DIVVY UP THOSE CASES, TYPICALLY IN FAMILY COURT THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE IS DOING ABOUT 50% OF THE WORK OF THE PRESIDING JUDGE. NOT IN EVERY COURT BUT IN A LOT OF COURTS, THAT IS THE CASE.

SO I CAN TELL YOU I'M A WORKAHOLIC.

LAST MONTH, AND ALL THREE OTHER FAMILY COURTS HAVE AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE IN PORTLAND COUNTY BUT I DISPOSED OF AS MANY CASES AS ONE OF THE OTHER COURTS THAT HAS TWO JUDGES JUST LAST MONTH. I'M WORKING MY BUTT OFF TO HANDLE THE CASES THAT ARE COMING IN FRONT OF ME AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. AND IF THIS COURT DECIDES I DON'T NEED AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY RECEIVE THE BEST SERVICE THAT THEY CAN RECEIVE AND I'M COMMITTED TO DO THAT AND I'M GOING TO DO THAT. BUT LONG TERM, IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR THIS COUNTY, IN MY OPINION, FOR A PRESIDING JUDGE IN A FAMILY COURT TO NOT HAVE THE ASSISTANCE OF AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE TURNING AWAY PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP IMMEDIATELY, AND THAT'S JUST A REALITY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF ME ABOUT THE TWO REQUESTS THAT WE HAVE?

>> QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING. >> THANK YOU.

>> COURTS ADMINISTRATION. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS SARAH HERNANDEZ.

I'M THE COURTS ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. MY SUPERVISOR STEPHANIE COLLIER, COURTS ADMINISTRATOR, PREPARED A STATEMENT FOR ME TO READ ON HER BEHALF.

SHE IS CURRENTLY OUT OF THE OFFICE AND WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND TODAY'S BUDGET WORKSHOP.

THE COURTS ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT IS COMPOSED OF TWO DIVISIONS, COURTS ADMINISTRATION AND THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAM. STAFF INCLUDES THE COURTS ADMINISTRATOR, THE LANGUAGE ACCESS DIRECTOR, ONE COURT INTERPRETER AND ONE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WHO SUPPORTS BOTH DIVISIONS. ALL EMPLOYEES REPORT UP TO THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE AND THE COUNCIL OF JUDGES. TODAY'S REQUEST RELATE TO THE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE COURTS ADMINISTRATOR AND THE LANGUAGE ACCESS DIRECTOR.

THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS COURTS ADMINISTRATIVE STRAIRT RECLASSIFICATION AND SALARY ADJUSTMENT FROM $45.46 TO $50.359 PER HOUR SEEN IN ATTACHMENT "A." A POSITION OVERVIEW OF THE COURTS ADMINISTRATOR, THE SCOPE OF SERVICES TO THE JUSTICE CENTER MAGISTRATE COURSE ENCOMPASSES A WIDE

[02:20:03]

A NEEDED -- IT IS A NEEDED POSITION IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS REGARDING INTERPRETING AND TRANSLATION SERVICES IN MAINTENANCE OF THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAM.

A SUMMARY OUTLINING THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOTH POSITIONS IS INCLUDED FOR YOUR REVIEW AND ATTACHMENT "B." IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE INFORMATION PRESENTED, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL HER DIRECTLY AND SHE WILL RESPOND BY TODAY.

THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT.

ANY COMMENTS ANYONE? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. APPRECIATE THAT.

>> THAT WRAPS UP THIS AFTERNOON, UNLESS ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER TOPICS THEY WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS.

>> GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER MCCOY PROVIDED US WITH ANALYSIS ON OUR CHILD CARE FACILITIES.

A NUMBERS GUY DECIDED A LOOK AT WHAT THE SAVINGS WOULD BE. THE AVERAGE -- AND THIS IS A STATE AVERAGE OF CHILD CARE, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN A CHILD CARE WOULD BE AN AVERAGE OF 122.

SO TAKING THE $750,000 CALCULATED WITH THE SAVINGS ON ANNUAL BASIS WOULD BE ABOUT 3,500 BUCKS DIVIDED ABOUT 122 PER KID, YOU KNOW, OVER 12 MONTHS, THAT WORKS OUT TO $2, A LITTLE OVER $2 A MONTH IN SAVINGS, ABOUT 10 CENTS A DAY PER KID. SO QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT

THAT'S MUCH OF AN IMPACT. >> SO WHAT WAS 122?

>> THE NUMBER OF KIDS ON AVERAGE IN A CHILD CARE

CENTER. >> 122?

>> THAT'S WHAT THE STATISTICS TOLD ME.

>> SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT. ABOUT MY KID'S DAY CARE.

>> 100. THAT'S AN AVERAGE.

>> A LONG TIME. MY KIDS ARE IN THEIR 40S.

SO I DON'T KNOW. >> I KNOW WHEN I SENT MY KIDS TO CHILD CARE, THEY HAD LIKE 12.

[CHUCKLES] >> MINE WAS IN SOMEONE'S HOME, OK, AND HAD A DOZEN KIDS MAYBE, 15 KIDS.

THIS IS AN INSTITUTION -- THIS IS A SERIOUS --

>> $750,000 FACILITY IS WHAT THE ESTIMATE'S BASED ON.

>> 75 TO 100 DEPENDING UPON THE FACILITY.

>> ANYWAYS, A NUMBERS GUY AND WORKED THE NUMBERS.

>> SO I COULDN'T TELL WHETHER YOUR COMMENT WAS

SUPPORTIVE OR NOT. >> PROVIDING NEW INFORMATION. SAVES YOU 10 CENTS A DAY.

>> AGAIN, I CAN'T TELL THAT.

YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND. IT'S THE INFORMATION ONLY.

>> THAT WOULD SAVE THE FAMILY OF THE CHILD.

>> FAMILY PER CHILD. IF YOU HAD TWO KIDS YOU

WOULD SAVE 20 CENTS. >> 20 CENTS EACH DAY.

IT'S WORTH. THAT'S WITH A HE SAYS.

>> MORE KIDS, MORE SAVINGS YOU GET SO.

>> I'LL REVIEW. >> YES.

>> REVIEW THE TAKE. >> OK.

[CHUCKLES] NOT DIFFICULT.

>> STRAIGHT NUMBERS. >> LET ME ASK THIS.

ARE WE NOW VOTING HERE? >> ARE YOU FOR IT OR AGAINST

IT? >> I DON'T SEE WHERE 10

CENTS MAKES A DIFFERENCE. >> ARE YOU FOR IT?

>> I THINK YOU GOT YOUR ANSWER.

>> WENT OVER MY HEAD. I'M SORRY.

>> OK. ALL RIGHT.

GREAT DEAL. >> I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW -- AGAIN, IT IMPACTS SOME FACILITIES MORE THAN OTHERS.

[02:25:01]

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. >> I GUESS I THOUGHT THE POINT OF YOUR DISCUSSION WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT THE LACK -- THE LOSS OF REVENUE TO THE COUNTY.

>> LOSS OF REVENUE'S $1.5 MILLION.

>> OK. SO THAT'S THE SAME

REGARDLESS, RIGHT? >> RIGHT.

>> OK. >> THAT DOESN'T CHANGE.

I'M JUST LOOKING AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WHAT THE AVERAGE SAVINGS WILL BE. HONESTLY, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE, ETC., IT VARIES BUT TO START OFF AT 10 CENTS, IT'S

NOT GOING TO BE MUCH. >> SO THE OWNER OR THE LESSOR WILL -- LESSEE WILL -- WON'T PASS MUCH

SAVINGS ON TO THE -- >> I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO PASS MUCH SAVINGS ONTO THEM.

NOT MUCH SAVINGS THERE ON AN INDIVIDUAL, YOU KNOW, BASIS.

>> AND WE HAD SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS DURING THE BREAK, BACK IN MY OFFICE.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT IS IS WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T SEE SAVINGS GOING DIRECTLY TO THE ACTUAL PERSON ON A, YOU KNOW, MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS. I THINK WE PAY EVERY TWO WEEKS AT MY CHILD'S SCHOOL, BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT FROM SITTING DOWN WITH A COUPLE OF THE FOLKS WHO CAME TO VISIT WITH ME ABOUT THIS ITEM IS THERE ARE OTHER OPERATIONAL COSTS THAT THEY'RE SEEING INCREASES IN, COSTS TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR CHILDREN, COSTS TO, YOU KNOW, JUST ALSO PROPERTY TAXES BUT ALSO IT COSTS THEM MORE TO HAVE TEACHERS TO PROVIDE CARE FOR INFANTS THAT THEY MAKE ZERO MONEY ON THAT.

WHERE THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY ARE THOSE KIDS THAT ARE IN PRE-K PROGRAMS IN THEIR FACILITIES.

SO THOSE KIDS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, FOUR AND FIVE, IT WAS WHERE CHILD CARE FACILITIES REALLY MAKE THEIR MONEY AND THEY'RE SEEING A SMALLER NUMBER OF KIDS WHO ARE -- ALSO BECAUSE OF THE STATE RATIOS FOR HOW MANY TEACHERS YOU HAVE TO HAVE PER CHILD PER INFANT VERSUS HOW MANY TEACHERS YOU GET PER CHILD FOR THE ACTUAL -- THE PRE-K KIDS, PRE-K 3, PRE-K 4. AND SO THAT IS WHERE THE SAVINGS FROM TAX EXEMPTION OFFER THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN BECAUSE SIMILAR TO WHAT COMMISSIONER MYERS SAID, THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN NOW AND IF WE'RE -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CAME WITH, WHAT NUMBER YOU CAME UP WITH THE AVERAGE RETURN TO THE PROPERTY OWNER, BUT THAT COULD BE HELPFUL IN

PAYING SOMEONE'S SALARY. >> IT WORKS OUT TO A LITTLE OVER $3,100 A YEAR ON THE BASIS OF THE $750,000.

>> RIGHT. >> 42 CENTS, CALCULATE IT DIRECTLY. YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT TOTAL CHICKEN FEED, I AGREE WITH THAT, BUT IT'S NOT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT IF YOU HAVE A FACILITY OF THAT NATURE. OBVIOUSLY THE SMALLER FACILITY, THE LOWER THE $3,000 BECOMES.

I'M JUST LOOKING AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT, WOULD IT REALLY MAKE THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE SMALLER FACILITIES WITH THE SMALLER NUMBER, 2,000 -- YOU KNOW $1,500 A YEAR, $1,000 A YEAR? IS THAT GOING TO MAKE OR BREAK THE FACILITY? I DON'T THINK SO. AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE COUNTY LOSES $1.5 MILLION OF REVENUE.

AGGREGATE, IT WORKS OUT TO A LOT.

I MEAN THEY HAVE 200-AND-SOMETHING --

>> NUMBER OF FACILITIES? >> YEAH.

>> 480. >> SOME OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE VERY SMALL, NOT MUCH OF A SAVINGS FROM A TAX STANDPOINT. OTHERS, AS YOU POINT OUT, YOU KNOW, THE CHAINS ARE GOING TO BE -- THE LARGER ONES WILL SAVE ABOUT 3 GRAND A YEAR.

>> CAN I ASK THE QUESTION? YOU DON'T HAVE TO -- THIS IS DIRECTLY TO COMMISSIONER MCCOY.

WHAT'S THE GOING RATE FOR CHILD CARE?

>> ABOUT $1,100 A MONTH. >> 1,100 A MONTH?

>> YEAH. THAT'S AN AVERAGE ACROSS

TEXAS. >> I SEE SOME PEOPLE IN THE

BACK SAYING -- >> WE'RE DEFINITELY PAYING A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

>> THAT'S AN AVERAGE. >> I CAN REMEMBER $186 A

MONTH FOR -- >> 1,100 BUCKS.

>> MY FIRST ONE. >> THAT'S -- AND IF YOU PAY MORE THAN THAT, THAT'S A STRETCH.

>> IT'S WAY MORE THAN THAT. >> ALL RIGHT.

[02:30:01]

ADJOURN THIS MEETING? >> DO ADJOURN.

>> MEETING ADJOURNED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.