Thread by @hollyshansen

Happening now: Harris County Commissioners Court meeting: Governing body for the most populous county in Texas, home to Houston, 4th most populous city in the U.S.

Today's agenda includes 430 items and may be viewed here: agenda.harriscountytx.gov

The livestream is available here (the site is a bit antiquated- scroll down to "Watch Live" to open the correct window.) harriscountytx.gov/Government/Cou…

Commissioners are taking up resolutions, so far on Vietnam Veterans Association of Houston, Retirees from County, Women's History Month, and now declaring "Public Defense Day" in Harris County.

Public Defense Day resolution:

Now court is listening to speakers. First up is addressing agenda item #1, a resolution from Commissioner Ellis in opposition to state intervention in #Houston ISD.

Background: thetexan.news/mayor-turner-w…

More here: thetexan.news/rep-dutton-don…

Another speaker (@RichardWelchTX I think?) asking why county is spending $ on EVs rather than criminal court case backlog. Says some are waiting 2 years or more for trial.

Speaker is asking why county is not completing flood mitigation projects in northeast Harris County. Another is asking what Harris County Flood Control District is doing to complete projects.

Several are mentioning the 2018 Flood bond. At that time the county presented a list of projects to voters and voters approved by 88 percent. Some though here are asking for more shift to areas with low-to-moderate income.

In 2019, commissioners began applying a "social vulnerability index" to the project prioritization framework. It has since been revised a few times, but commissioners, county judge have repeatedly stated that all projects promised to voters in 2018 would be completed.

Prior to creating the 2018 list, Harris County Flood Control assessed damage from 2017 Hurricane Harvey and used the assessments to craft the list of projects. For example, Kingwood in northeast/San Jacinto watershed saw water 20' above flood level...

There's consternation now though that flood mitigation projects in that sector are being de-prioritized since the average income is higher than the average income in some other portions of the county.

The county announced 2 years ago a shortfall in funding to complete the 2018 voter approved projects, and has been shifting funds from the toll road authority to the county purportedly to help cover flood mitigation.
thetexan.news/harris-county-…

A speaker now is calling for an end to the "Shot-Spotter" program she says disproportionately surveils minority communities and is ineffective.

Item 340, "Request for approval of payment of fees for legal services in the amount of $244,533.08 to Locke, Lord, LLP for representation of a county employee in
connection with certain legal proceedings" & others to be taken in executive session.

This passes 4-1 on partisan vote:
Request for approval of commercial paper funding for Universal Services for
the Electric Vehicle Pilot project in the additional amount of $1,200,000 for a
total CP funding of $1,760,000.

Now up: Commissioner Ramsey on items 18 & 420. Notes last meetings votes on applying SVI.

Ramsey is talking about the formula, whether 50% or 75% SVI will be applied.

Item 18 relates to allocation of Metro funds while item 410 relates to most recent bond. Ramsey says we need to bring all SVI neighborhoods to the table regardless of which precinct they're located in.

No action on 18 and 420 today.

Discussion now on item 143: Request for approval of two positions effective March 25, 2023 to support
the Inclusive Procurements Division.

Unanimous approval on this one.

Now up: "Request for approval...to submit the final MOD document reviewed by GLO, an acknowledgement to GLO that Harris County does have projects for CDBG-MIT funding, & policy
for prioritization of projects and allocation of funding related to the 2017 CDBG-MIT program."

Commissioners court going to a lunch break and scheduled to return at 2:30.

Court is back in session. Commissioner Ellis is proposing further changes to the prioritization framework for flood mitigation projects approved in the 2018 bond.

Briones is suggesting a reallocation of the "buckets" for spending the $750 million coming through TX GLO.

Next up, Budget Director Daniel Ramos presenting a 5 year projection, says that there will be a surplus of about $10 million.

Presentation includes these key assumptions, projected revenue

Commissioners are questioning what has been funded with expiring federal ARPA funds. Ramos has not provided an exact number but says some are for the emergency response docket to address the criminal court case backlog.

County Administrator David Berry says with a "Voter Approved Rate" tax rate then the county will have a surplus of about $9 M, with the no-new-revenue rate the county would see a $50M deficit.

Back from a break, commissioners are now hearing from Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez about jail issues.

Gonzalez says average length of stay at Harris County jail is about 200 days.

Gonzalez notes the county does not have a detox center and that some of the deaths in custody have been related to detained persons coming down from drugs such as fentanyl and cocaine.

Gonzalez says they have seen some movement on the emergency docket courts (to address criminal case backlog). Adds that many categories of crime have come down in unincorporated Harris County except for murder.

Briones asks for 3 key things that would help reduce stay times. Gonzalez says evidence processing, dockets are moved forward, and maybe some focus on non-violent offenders who might be reconsidered.
Jail population is about 10k, mostly pretrial.

County Judge Hidalgo says while she doesn't think the $5M requested from the Sheriff for personnel is financially responsible, but a matter of life and death. Takes a swipe at the DA's office for giving raises...

Hidalgo says sheriff has worked with the budget office "instead of giving them the middle finger."

Among items Harris Health would like to add to the jail are a CT scan device and mammography machine, more infirmary beds, more exam rooms. All would reduce the need to take inmates offsite, which requires detention officer escort.

Judge Latosha Lewis Payne of 55th Civil District Court addressing commissioners about court case backlog.

To note: earlier this month DA Ogg told a #txlege senate committee there were 1,875 murder/capital murder cases waiting trial in Harris County.
More here:
thetexan.news/texas-lawmaker…

Judge Lewis Payne says backlog is impacting not just criminal but family courts, slowing down child support for example, and civil cases such as those over wrongful death.

Lewis Payne says judges in 2013 might have 1,000 cases, but now have as many as 3,000.

Agenda item requests resolution asking #txlege to create 16 additional state district courts.

Lewis Payne says she knows 16 is a lot, asks for at least 10, or at minimum, 6 general jurisdiction courts.

Briones asks to discuss along w/items 334, 335, 336: expanding Holistic Assistance Response Team program, implementation of best practices, & expand public defender system's capacity to up to 50% of indigent defense cases.

Briones says private attorneys are getting way too many appointments, want public defenders office to handle more.

Agenda item 4 from Commissioner Garcia is in support of Rep Ann Johnson's HB 130 creating 6 new district courts. Estimated costs are at least $37M.

To clarify, annual costs are estimated at $16.9, with at least $30M to renovate existing property for use.

Hidalgo says we just don't have $17M for these courts, says while they've reduced the backlog there's still too many at the jail.

Also blames GOP commissioners for blocking tax increases for this year.

Hidalgo again takes aim at the district attorney for giving raises, says you know she's going to come ask for staff for these & everyone "votes for her stuff"

Item 4, Garcia's resolution supporting Rep. Ann Johnson's HB 130 to create 6 courts, passes 4-0 with Judge Hidalgo abstaining because she says she opposes.

Commissioner Briones' proposal to expand Holistic Response Team passes 4-1, Ramsey opposed.

To clarify, the item is to create a plan which will then be considered with Budget/Management for FY 2024.

Request for plan to expand Public Defender's office also passes 4-1.

Commissioners court taking a short break.

Also, earlier the court approved the use of $6 million in ARPA funds to create a Reproductive Healthcare Access Fund.

Commissioners are now considering employee raises.

Three options have been presented.

1: 1-time retention payment of $500 for 7/1/2023 - 9/30/2023 for eligible employees making $75k & under;
2: increase to employee’s annual base salary in amount of $500 for eligible employees
making $120,640 & under;
3: 1% increase to annual base salary for all eligible employees.

Option 2 approved in a 4-0 vote, with Hidalgo abstaining she says to remain consistent.

Discussion now is over all the expenditures covered with federal ARPA funds.

And creating "equity" in pay for women working for the county.

Commissioner Garcia's proposal to support #txlege Sen. Alvarado's bill renaming portion of Highway 59 after slain sheriff deputy Darren Almendarez passes unanimously.

Now a presentation from the Public Health Department on nuisance abatements.

Public Health will work on creating a nuisance abatement dashboard.

4-0 vote with Hidalgo abstaining for resolution supporting creating a 5th probate court in Harris County.

Commissioner Briones is proposing the creation of a philanthropy liaison.

Related to the earlier 4-0 vote supporting #txlege creation of new district courts for the county:
(Hidalgo abstained)

https://twitter.com/VoteAnnJohnson/status/1635801811297742849?s=20

Commissioners court has gone to executive session to discuss 3 agenda items covering legal expenses for unnamed county employees "related to Grand Jury proceedings," and totaling $671,383.

Commissioners court returns from executive session, the legal fees approved 3-1 with Ramsey voting no and County Judge Lina Hidalgo abstaining.

And they're done...