* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. THIS CONCLUDES [00:00:01] OUR ADMINISTRATIVE AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS BUDGET WORKSHOP. WE WILL NOW BEGIN [FY2023 Budget Workshop: Municipal Courts ] OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURTS. AND AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME JUDGE ELAINE MARSHALL AND CFO NELLY SANTOS TO PROVIDE THE MUNICIPAL COURTS BUDGET PRESENTATION. TINA PUT THE CHAIR UP TOO HIGH. WELCOME, YOUR HONOR. AND THAT FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, AND GOOD AFTERNOON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HERE AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT TODAY THE MUNICIPAL COURT DEPARTMENT'S FY 23 BUDGET. ATTENDING WITH ME TODAY IS MC D'S, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR NELLY SANTOS, AND SHE'S SEATED WITH ME TODAY AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF MY EXECUTIVE TEAM WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE. THIS PRESENTATION IS REFLECTIVE OF OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE COURT SERVICES IN AN EQUITABLE AND SAFE MANNER. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OUR GENERAL FUND CONSISTS OF SEVEN COST CENTERS, EACH OF THEM HAVING BUDGETS ASSIGNED, STAFFED, AND SPECIFIC CORE SERVICES. THIS SLIDE INCLUDES FOUR OF THE SEVEN COST CENTERS. THE SYSTEM SUPPORT COST CENTER HAS NO ASSIGNED FTES. NEXT SLIDE. THIS SLIDE INCLUDES THE REMAINING THREE GENERAL FUND COST CENTERS. NEXT SLIDE. MUNICIPAL COURT ALSO MANAGES FOUR SPECIAL FUNDS THAT PROVIDE SPECIFIC SERVICES INCLUDING SECURITY, TECHNOLOGY AND TRUANCY PREVENTION. THE MUNICIPAL JURY FUND IS OUR FOURTH SPECIAL FUND AND IS CURRENTLY HAS NO ASSIGNED FTES OR EXPENDITURE BUDGET. THIS IS A NEWLY CREATED FUND, AND EXPENDITURES WILL BE BUDGETED ONCE THE FUND BALANCE INCREASES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. LISTED ON THIS SLIDE ARE MCDS MAJOR SERVICES. THESE SERVICES HELP US TO ACHIEVE OUR OVERALL GOALS AND OUR MISSION. NEXT SLIDE. OUR COURTS ARE MANDATED BY LAW TO PROVIDE A LEGAL FORUM FOR THE INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL OFFENSES. INCLUDED IN THESE MANDATES ARE THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL, EQUAL ACCESS TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM, AND ADHERENCE TO OUR STATE AND LOCAL LAWS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SORRY. OH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. MCD HAS MANY INTERNAL REVENUE GENERATING INITIATIVES THAT PROVIDE ENHANCED COURT SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC AND ASSIST MUNICIPAL COURTS IN ACHIEVING ITS OVERALL REVENUE TARGET. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE PASSPORTS, WEDDINGS, NOTARY, AND THE PRINTING OF DRIVING RECORDS TO BETTER SERVE TARGET AREAS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE VARIOUS SPECIALIZED DOCKETS THAT PROVIDE MEANINGFUL AND SAFE METHODS FOR CASE RESOLUTION, INCLUDING THE VETERANS COURT AND THE SAFE HARBOR COURT JUDGES ASSIGNED TO THESE DOCKETS HAVE THE ABILITY TO REDUCE FINES, OFFER PAYMENT PLANS, OR OTHER METHODS OF CASE RESOLUTION TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HARDSHIPS, BUT WHO STILL WANT TO FULFILL THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO THE COURT. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT TEEN COURT WAS ABLE TO RESUME THEIR IN-PERSON MONTHLY ACTIVITIES AND FY 22. THIS PROGRAM HAS MADE LONG LASTING IMPRESSIONS ON THE LIVES OF OUR YOUTH BY PROVIDING A GLIMPSE AT THE LEGAL SYSTEM THROUGH FIRSTHAND PARTICIPATION AND THROUGH MENTORSHIP PROVIDED BY OUR PROFESSIONAL VOLUNTEERS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OBJECTION. I THINK WE'RE ONE SLIDE AHEAD OF ME NOW. THERE WE GO. MCD BEGAN DECENTRALIZING COURT SERVICES MANY YEARS AGO, ANTICIPATING THE FUTURE GROWTH IN THE POPULATION WE SERVE. OUR FULL SERVICE COURTS CAN BE FOUND IN KEY AREAS OF THE CITY, AND THEY INCLUDE OUR CENTRAL LOCATION, MACAU, WEST SIDE, AND NORTH COMMAND. WE ALSO HAVE ANNEX COURTS THAT ARE OPEN AND LOCATED IN KINGWOOD AND THE CLEAR LAKE AREAS, WHICH ARE OPEN ONE DAY PER WEEK AND A COURT AT THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER, WHICH WE PERFORM, AND THEY HANDLE JAIL DOCKETS AND MAGISTRATE COURT SERVICES, AND WE DO THOSE. UH, THAT COURT IS IN OPERATION SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 22 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR. WE ALSO ANTICIPATED THE GREATER USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND HAVE IMPLEMENTED MANY WEB-BASED PROCESSES. OUR SHORT-TERM MESSAGING SERVICE PROVIDES TEXT MESSAGES AND EMAIL REMINDERS TO OUR CUSTOMERS ABOUT UPCOMING SCHEDULED COURT DATES, AS WELL AS IMPORTANT EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND TO ALLOW FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE LEGAL SERVICE. WE HAVE FULL-TIME CERTIFIED SPANISH INTERPRETERS AS [00:05:01] WELL AS ACCESS TO OTHER LANGUAGES THROUGH CONTRACT SERVICES AND THE LANGUAGE LINE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS A COMPARISON OF REVENUE FOR FY 21, FY 22, AND FY 23 FOR ALL MCD FUNDS AND THE PERCENTAGE CHANGE BETWEEN THE FY 23 PROPOSED AND THE FY 22 ESTIMATES AS REFLECTED. THERE IS AN OVERALL 3% DECREASE IN REVENUE ACROSS ALL FUNDS FOR FY 23. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. DESPITE THE COVID CHALLENGES AND THE LOWER RATE OF CITATION ISSUANCE, WE EXPECT FY 22 GENERAL FUND REVENUES TO EXCEED THE BUDGET TARGET. THIS INCREASES ATTRIBUTED TO THE RESUMPTION OF ALL THE DOCKETS, INCLUDING CASES THAT WERE DELAYED DURING THE SUSPENSION PERIOD. THIS INCREASE IS ALSO DUE TO THE HIGH LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE FROM OUR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COLLECTION TEAMS, MCDS REVENUE GENERATED INITIATIVES AND THE DEFERRED PAYMENT PROGRAM. FOR FY 23, WE PROJECT A SLIGHT DECREASE IN GENERAL FUND REVENUE FROM THE FY 22 PROJECTION DUE TO A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF BACKLOG CASES AND A CONTINUED LOWER CITATION RATES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS SLIDE INCLUDES REVENUE HIGHLIGHTS FOR OUR FOUR MCD SPECIAL FUNDS. THE ANNUAL VARIANCES IN THE, IN THE REVENUE BUDGETS FOR THE FUNDS REMAIN IN LINE WITH THE GENERAL FUND. FOR FY 23, WE ANTICIPATE A REDUCTION IN THE GRANT FUNDING FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR FOR OUR JUVENILE CASE MANAGER TRUANCY PREVENTION INITIATIVE. THROUGH THIS GRANT, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAM TO ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS, HOWEVER, THIS REDUCTION MAY NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO OUR PARTNER SCHOOL DISTRICTS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS A COMPARISON OF EXPENDITURES FOR FY 21, FY 22, AND FY 23 FOR ALL MCD FUNDS AND THE PERCENTAGE CHANGE BETWEEN FY 23 PROPOSED AND FY 22 BUDGETS. THERE IS A 2.3 OVERALL INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES ACROSS ALL MCD FUNDS FOR FY 23. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. 80% OF THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE BUDGET CONSISTS OF PERSONNEL COST. THE REMAINING 20% IS NON-PERSONNEL COSTS THAT INCLUDE INTER FUND ACCOUNTS, CS SMART SUPPORT, SUPPLIES, AND SERVICES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. 99% OF THE BUILDING SECURITY FUND EXPENDITURE BUDGET IS NON-PERSONNEL, AND IT INCLUDES CONTRACT SECURITY SERVICES. THE REMAINING 1% OF THE BUDGET IS PERSONNEL AND IS RELATED TO THE RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS COST. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE MAJORITY OF THE COURT TECHNOLOGY FUND EXPENDITURE BUDGET IS NON-PERSONNEL. IT INCLUDES SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE, HARDWARE, LICENSING, MAINTENANCE COSTS, CS SMART SUPPORT, AND OTHER PLAN TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS. THE REMAINING 18% IS PERSONNEL COST. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. 90% OF THE LOCAL TRUANCY PREVENTION AND DIVERSION EXPEND FUND EXP EXPENDITURE BUDGET IS PERSONNEL COST. THE REMAINING 10% IS NON-PERSONNEL COST, INCLUDING EDUCATION AND TRAINING SUPPLIES, AS WELL AS TEEN COURT AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. NEXT SLIDE. THIS WORKSHEET PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE EXPENDITURE NET CHANGE BETWEEN THE FY 22 AND THE FY 23 GENERAL FUND BUDGETS. FY 23 REFLECTS A 2.2% INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES. THIS INCREASE IS DUE TO THE RESUMPTION OF DOCKETS AND THE RELATED INCREASES IN COURT SERVICES, NOTICING JURY COSTS POSTAGE LANGUAGE SERVICES, VARIANCES IN THE INTER FUND ACCOUNTS PENSION AND HEALTH BENEFIT RATES, AND THE TWO HOPE 3% INCREASES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS SLIDE PROVIDES OUR FY 23 EXPENDITURE HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE GENERAL FUND. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE COURT CS SMART SYSTEM FUND CONTRACTUAL INCREASES IN THE SECURITY AND ARMORED CAR SERVICE, LANGUAGE SERVICES, PASSPORT PROGRAM COSTS, AND CITATION BOOK PRINTING. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS SLIDE PROVIDES EXPENDITURE HIGHLIGHTS FOR OUR FOUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS. EXPENDITURES IN THESE FUNDS INCLUDE CONTRACT SECURITY SERVICES, TECHNOLOGY, MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT COST, AND TRUANCY PREVENTION SERVICES. TWO OF THESE FOUR FUNDS INCLUDE PERSONNEL COST. NEXT SLIDE. THIS CONCLUDES THE BUDGET PORTION. NOW WE'LL PROCEED TO THE NEXT SECTION OF THIS PRESENTATION. THE NEXT SECTION OF THE PRESENTATION WILL HIGHLIGHT OTHER DEPARTMENT LEVEL INFORMATION. [00:10:01] NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS LIST PROVIDES MORE DETAIL REGARDING OUR CITYWIDE INNER FUND, OUR CITYWIDE RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS. SORRY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE MCD ORGANIZATIONAL CHART ON THIS SLIDE INCLUDES OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND LINES OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT REPORTING. NEXT SLIDE. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR MUNICIPAL COURT TEAM. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I'M PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF OUR MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM THIS PAST YEAR. ON THE NEXT TWO SLIDES, WHILE WE REMAINED OPERATIONAL THROUGHOUT COVID PANDEMIC, WE SUSPENDED REGULAR DOCKETS AND JURY SERVICE FOR OVER A YEAR. THIS RESULTED IN A LARGE NUMBER OF OUR CASES THAT NEEDED TO BE RESET AND RESCHEDULED. WE HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY SINCE THEN. RESUMING DOCKETS FROM LAST APRIL TO RESCHEDULE THESE CASES, HANDLE THE VOLUME OF NEW CASES AND MAINTAIN LOWER DOCKET LEVELS TO MEET SAFE DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS. WE ALSO SUMMON JURORS AT A REDUCED LEVEL AND FOUND A SOLUTION FOR MASKING BY IMPLEMENTING A CLEAR MASK OPTION FOR THE JURORS SELECTED FOR TRIALS. OUR PASSPORT PROGRAM IS CELEBRATING ITS FIRST YEAR, UH, ANNIVERSARY. TO DATE, OUR PASSPORT PROGRAM HAS ASSISTED ALMOST 3000 INDIVIDUALS TO OBTAIN THEIR PASSPORTS AND HAS GENERATED $115,000 IN THAT YEAR. I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF OUR STAFF WHO HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO OBTAIN THEIR CERTIFICATION AS PASSPORT AGENTS AND THEIR DEDICATION TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR PROGRAM. OUR PROGRAM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FOR INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS PUBLIC SERVICE. NEXT SLIDE. IN ORDER TO BETTER SERVE OUR, OUR OTHER AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGER PROGRAM EXPANDED ITS TRUANCY PREVENTION SERVICES TO INCLUDE THE ALDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS PAST YEAR, OUR DEFERRED PAYMENT PROGRAM WAS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT COLLECTIONS ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS AS BEING THE MOST INNOVATIVE COLLECTION PROGRAM FOR 2021. THIS PROGRAM HAS A GREAT TEAM OF DEDICATED STAFF WHO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED TIME TO PAY THEIR FINES AND WHO TRACK CASES THROUGH THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLIANCE COURT. SECURITY REMAINS AT THE FOREFRONT IN OUR TODAY'S CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT. MCDS COURT COM SECURITY COMMITTEE INCLUDES BROAD RANGE OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PARTICIPANTS, AND WE MEET MU MONTHLY TO DISCUSS SECURITY RELATED ISSUES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE MAJOR UNMET NEED FOR MCD IS THE REPLACEMENT OF OUR CENTRAL FACILITY. WE SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE HARVEY ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO. OUR COURT STAFF HAS BEEN EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE AND SEVERAL WORKAROUNDS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED, INCLUDING DOUBLING UP IN COURTS, DOUBLING UP IN OFFICES, SHARING WORKSPACES, AND DEALING WITH ADDITIONAL FLOODING AND INFRASTRUCTURES FAILURES AS THEY ARISE AND OCCUR THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING. WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE MAYOR, GSD, FINANCE AND FEMA TO FIND A PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR THIS ONGOING FACILITY REPLACEMENT PROJECT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION OF OUR FY 23 BUDGET. JUST WANT TO THANK MY ENTIRE COURT TEAM. THEY HAVE BEEN RESILIENT AND POSITIVE THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE FIVE YEARS, DOING THE THINGS THAT WERE NECESSARY TO KEEP THE COURTS UP, TO KEEP THE COURTS RUNNING, TO KEEP THE COURTS OPERATIONAL, AND THEY HAVE BEEN DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR, ALL OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND MY PARTNER DEPARTMENTS AS GSD, SOMETIMES THEY LET ME KNOCK OUT A WALL. SOMETIMES THEY WON'T. UM, BUT WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP THE COURTS AT THE CENTRAL LOCATION UP AND RUNNING FOR OUR CITIZENS OF HOUSTON. AND AT THIS TIME, I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. THANK YOU, JUDGE. UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT ON OUR SITE AND RELEASE INITIATIVE? HOW MANY CASES, UH, COME TO COURTS BASED ON THE SITE AND RELEASE PROGRAM, SITE AND RELEASE? YES. THEY NEVER COME TO, UH, MUNICIPAL COURT FOR NO CLASS C MISDEMEANORS? NO, SIR. OKAY. UM, ALL RIGHT. WHAT ABOUT THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES' POSITIONS? HAVE WE FILLED THOSE OR HOW ARE WE LOOKING FOR THE, THE, THE ASSOCIATE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES? WE ARE STILL, UH, GOING THROUGH THE BOARDS OF COMMISSION TO SEE WHO IS APPLYING TO DATE. WE REALLY DON'T HAVE VERY MANY APPLICANTS BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING FOR MORE APPLICANTS FOR THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE POSITION. UM, I THINK I HAVE CONTACTED, UM, JACKIE AND, AND THE NEWEST PERSON THERE WHO TOOK MARIA'S PLACE, AND WE ARE STILL TRYING TO GET APPLICANTS [00:15:01] IN. IF YOU COULD SEND, UH, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO MY OFFICE AGAIN, LIKE YOU ALL DID, UH, EARLIER IN THE YEAR. OKAY. SO WE CAN REACH OUT TO OUR NETWORKS TO SEE IF WE CAN, UM, GET SOME PEOPLE TO APPLY. WILL DO. GREAT. COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR, JUDGE. UM, I MEAN, I THINK YOU'VE SPOTLIGHTED ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE MUNICIPAL COURTS CONTINUE TO FACE. AGAIN, DISTINCT FROM CRIMINAL AND CIVIL. UM, BUT GOING BACK TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS YOU LISTED, UM, I KNOW WE, WHEN WE'VE BEEN TALKING AT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, NIGHT COURT, TEAM COURT, UM, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT EFFORTS TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, MAKE SURE THEY AREN'T UNDULY PENALIZED, UM, AND DO RIGHT BY THEM AND DO RIGHT BY THE CITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. RIGHT. SO I I JUST WANNA GIVE YOU ALL CREDIT FOR THAT. UM, REALLY QUICKLY ON THE BUILDING, BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED THAT, TALK TO US ABOUT SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES, IF YOU CAN. AGAIN, WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH THE IMPACTS OF HARVEY, COVID, THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, BUT WHAT IS THAT DOING TO THE COURT PROCESS, THE ABILITY TO FUNCTION DAY TO DAY WHEN, UM, WHEN HARVEY HIT, IT WIPED OUT THE ENTIRE BASEMENT AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, AND WE HAD SIX COURTS, I THINK IN OPERATION. WE HAD A BONDING SECTION, PARKING SECTION, THE BAILIFFS, WE HAD DIFFERENT OFFICES THERE. SO ALL OF THOSE OFFICES HAD TO MOVE, UH, SOMEWHERE. AND THE ONLY COURT WE HAD ON THE FIRST FLOOR WAS ONE COURT, AND WE HAVE ALL OF THE CASHIERS AND, AND THEIR DEPARTMENTS THERE. THE SECOND FLOOR HAD COURTROOMS. AND SO WE, I MEAN, WE HAVE STAFF THAT WE HAVE RENOVATED CLOSETS TO PUT SU SUPERVISORS IN. UM, WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE JUDGES THAT ARE DOUBLING UP WITH COURTS AND COURT DOCKETS. WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE COULD TO MAINTAIN THE, THE, THE ATMOSPHERE OF A COURT THAT'S FRIENDLY AND SAFE FOR EVERYONE. AND THEN CAME COVID. AND WITH COVID IT CAME, YOU CAN'T STAND CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. SO IT TOOK THE, THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF SPACE WE HAD IN THE COURTROOM AND CUT IT IN HALF. AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S HOW WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING NOW, BUT WE'RE OPENING BACK UP INTO, SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER. BUT I, I HAVE BEEN MANDATED BY THE SUPREME COURT AND I'VE GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO HAVE, UH, EVERYONE WEAR A MASK BECAUSE WE SEE TWO TO 3000 PEOPLE A DAY. I JUST THINK IT'S SAFER THAT WAY FOR THE EMPLOYEES. AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. 'CAUSE MORE SHUTDOWNS ARE GONNA CREATE A FURTHER BACKLOG. MM-HMM . SO I, I COMPLETELY GET THAT. UM, REALLY QUICKLY, IN TERMS OF OTHER NEEDS, CONCERNS FOR THE FUTURE, UM, TALK TO ME ABOUT TRUANCY PREVENTION AND HOW THAT'S GOING. AND OUR TRUANCY, UM, PREVENTION IS BASICALLY, WE HAVE A FUND FROM, WE HAVE GRANT FUNDING AND WE STARTED OUT WITH, UM, GRANT FUNDING THAT WAS AROUND THE $700,000 RANGE. WE HAVE SEVEN JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS THAT OPERATE UNDER THAT GRANT. UM, WE HAVE NOW SUBMITTED A, A, UH, REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL GRANTS, AND RIGHT NOW IT'S PENDING APPROVAL. UM, TEMPORARILY THEY'RE SAYING THAT WE MAY GET A HUNDRED THOUSAND. IF WE JUST GET A HUNDRED THOUSAND, THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER OPTIONS WE HAVE TO HAVE TO GO TO DO. SO THAT IS AN UNMET NEED BECAUSE FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HAVE, UM, JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS IN THERE WHO KNOW THE KIDS, IF THEY COME TO TEEN COURT, THE DEFENDANTS WHO COME TO KING COURT, CHANCES ARE A JUVENILE CASE MANAGER KNOWS THAT KID. AND IF WE HAVE TO CUT IT, UM, IT'S GONNA BE A DISSERVICE, I THINK, TO OUR, TO OUR YOUTH. UM, I'M JUST RECEIVED WORD ON THE, ON THE WAY YESTERDAY THAT TO TEEN COURT'S. FINAL THING THAT I DO BELIEVE HE, I DON'T KNOW IF HE IS MY FIRST, BUT ONE OF THE FIRST, UH, JUVENILES THAT, UH, STUDENT VOLUNTEERS THAT CAME THROUGH TEEN COURT IS ABOUT TO GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON'S LAW SCHOOL. SO I WAS VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT. UM, BUT IF THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS ARE, ARE, IF WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO, TO KEEP WHO, WHAT WE HAVE, WE CAN WORK. BUT I'M NOT REALLY SURE WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO, TO KEEP WHAT WE HAVE WITH JUST THAT AMOUNT OF GRANT FUNDING. SO IT, ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE MAY LOSE THE 700,000 THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE? 700,000 IS, IS WHAT THEY STARTED OFF GIVING US. THEN WE WENT DOWN TO 500 AND, AND NOW THE PROPOSED IS 1 25. AND CAN THE TRU, WHAT YOU'RE, I THINK YOU'RE SAYING IS THE TRUANCY PROGRAM AS IS CANNOT CONTINUE. WE, WE HAVE SEVEN JCMS THAT ARE FUNDED THERE. WE MAY BE ABLE TO FUND THREE, BUT FOUR MAY, WE MAY LOSE. OKAY. IF YOU COULD KEEP [00:20:01] US APPRISED OF THAT, UM, THAT I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. THANK YOU CHAIR. UM, JUDGE MARSHALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IN YOUR FINAL PAGE OF YOUR FINAL, YOUR FINAL SLIDE OF YOUR APPENDIX AND YOUR FINAL BULLET ON THAT FINAL PAGE, YOU ASKED A MOUTHFUL OF, UM, STATING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FINANCE GSD AND FEMA, WE CONTINUE TO SEEK AN AGREEABLE OPTION FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CENTRAL COURT FACILITY. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT? PLEASE? UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CAN WE GET YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL? YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT. YOU HAVE MY, UM, WE, I THINK OUR HANDS ARE, ARE, ARE BASICALLY TIED BY FEMA RIGHT NOW. RIGHT? FOR THEM TO SAY, YES, YOU CAN, WE'LL GIVE YOU THIS FUNDING, OR NO, WE WON'T GIVE YOU THIS FUNDING. UHHUH , OR, YES, WE'RE GIVING YOU SOME. AND IT HAS BEEN LIKE, UM, SO THERE'S SOME PLANS OUT THERE, JUDGE, AS YOU KNOW. AND, UH, I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING YOU IS IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING MORE TO ADD AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE IN A PATTERN. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, JUDGE. AND MS. SANTOS, UH, FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS, AND YOU ARE DISMISSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND ALSO THANK YOU TO YOUR ENTIRE STAFF, YOUR WHOLE TEAM BACK THERE, EVERYONE WHO'S IN THE CHAMBERS AND NOT HERE. THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO AS WELL. THANK WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. UH, WE'LL START WITH THE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS. PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME. THE FIRST SPEAKER IS MS. SABA BLANDING. HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN. UM, I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS. THE FIRST IS, IS THERE A PLAN TO EXTEND AND EXPAND THE SAFE HARBOR COURT FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY PRESENTATION? LAST YEAR, WE HAD PROCESSED AROUND, UM, 1000 WITH 500,000 CASES OUTSTANDING. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SERVED IN COMPARISON TO THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION? AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, UM, IN REGARDS TO THE TRUANCY PREVENTION INITIATIVES, UM, I'M CURIOUS WHAT ORGANIZATIONS AND DEPARTMENTS ARE COLLABORATING IN TRUANCY PREVENTION INITIATIVES? ARE THERE OTHERS IN THE HOUSTON ECOSYSTEM TO ENGAGE FOR COMPASSIONATE APPROACHES TO TRUANCY PREVENTION? SO FOR GREAT QUESTIONS. THE FIRST ONE, WE'RE GONNA, UM, TAKE THAT QUESTION AND GET A RESPONSE FROM YOU REGARD REGARDING THE SAFE HARBOR COURTS. UH, SO PLEASE SUBMIT THAT IN, IN WRITING OVER TO DISTRICT E AT HOUSTON TX, DISTRICT E@HOUSTONTX.GOV. AND WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU SHORTLY. UH, YOUR SECOND QUESTION ON THE TRUANCY. UM, I KNOW THAT MY BROTHER'S KEEPER, AS WELL AS THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER PROGRAM THAT WE INITIATED LAST YEAR, ARE WORKING IN COLLABORATION, UH, WITH THE MUNICIPAL COURTS AND ON THE TRUANCY ISSUES. UM, THEY DO COLLABORATIONS WITH THE WRAPAROUND SERVICE AND COLLEGE COUNSELORS, UH, AT SOME OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS. UM, SO THEY ARE WORKING IN, UH, TANDEM WITH DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ON ENHANCING THAT PROGRAM AND, UH, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BENEFICIAL FOR THE YOUTH. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME, AMANDA. SHE, HI. THANK YOU. UM, IT FEELS LIKE A THEME ACROSS A LOT OF THESE, UM, UH, BUDGET PRESENTATIONS LIKE FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOODS, THINGS LIKE THAT IS WE'RE, WE'RE LOSING A LOT OF, UM, UH, BUDGET IN TERMS OF, UH, SUPPORT FOR THE YOUTH. AND I, I THINK THIS IS JUST A STATEMENT REALLY IS JUST, UM, FEELS LIKE A REALLY GREAT LOSS IN A TIME, UH, WHEN THERE'S ALREADY SO MUCH FOR, FOR THE KIDS TO OVERCOME. UM, YOU KNOW WHAT, WITH HAVING LOST A LOT OF SUPPORT, UH, WITH THE, THE SCHOOLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, UM, YEAH, I JUST JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT. AND ALSO BE MINDFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF JUST THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, THERE ARE MANY, UM, NONPROFITS IN DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WITH YOUTH EMPHASIS, UH, THAT WE COLLABORATE WITH. ALL OF OUR OFFICES KIND OF WORK WITH SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOOD AND, UM, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM GROUPS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON YOUTH ENGAGEMENT. AND SO, ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE FUNDING MAY NOT BE THERE THROUGH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THERE ARE STILL WAYS IN WHICH WE PARTNER WITH A LOT OF GREAT AGENCIES THAT ARE STILL DOING SIMILAR, [00:25:01] SIMILAR, WONDERFUL WORK FOR THE, UM, FOR THE YOUTH AS WELL. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON OLIVER. I WANNA PICK UP WHERE AMANDA LEFT OFF. I HAVE, HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH MY BROTHER'S KEEPER ON, ON INITIATIVES, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE WE'RE SET TO LOSE IT FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. UH, AND I, I REMEMBER LIKE LOOKING AT ALL THOSE THAT WERE GREEN, RIGHT? THAT WERE FUNDED FROM THE, UH, GENERAL FUND, WHICH WAS A SMALL PORTION OF, UH, IN COMPARISON TO THE RED THAT WERE NOT FUNDED. SO YES, THERE ARE A LOT OF PROGRAMS IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY IN RIGHT, AND LIKE PRIVATE PROGRAMS AND SUCH. BUT ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT SOMEBODY HAS BROUGHT UP BEFORE DURING THESE WORKSHOPS IS LIKE THE CONSISTENCY WHEN YOU HAVE A CITY ENTITY OR, OR A CITY AGENCY THAT'S, THAT'S PUTTING THESE, THESE THINGS FORWARD. SO I JUST REALLY THINK, THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, LIKE FOCUSING ON CRIME, RIGHT? AND, AND A LOT OF THIS DEALS WITH YOUTH AND TOUCHES YOUTH, AND IT'S HARD TO FIND PROGRAMS AND CONSISTENT PROGRAMMING FOR, UM, FOR YOUTH IN, IN MANY SPACES AND AREAS AROUND THE CITY THAT'S IN NO WAY EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED. SO I JUST WANT TO WANT TO LIKE FLAG THAT. AND THEN I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT LIKE, WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH SITE AND RELEASE. SHE HAD SAID THAT IT DOESN'T TOUCH THE MUNICIPAL COURTS. I, I'M NOT A LAWYER, SO I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT, UM, WHY THAT IS. BUT I, I WAS HOPING THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AS A, UH, RESULT, UM, OF, OF SITE AND RELEASE ADOPTION THAT WE COULD SEE HERE IN THE MUNICIPAL COURTS. GREAT QUESTION. UM, I TOO AM YOU KNOW, INVOLVED WITH THE MY BROTHER'S KEEPER PROGRAM. I CAN TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT AS YOU KNOW, WAS STARTED THROUGH THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. SO MANY OF THE FUNDS THAT CAME THROUGH FOR THAT INITIATIVE, NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY WERE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT WE FIND, UH, MATCHING GRANTS AND THEN CAN ALSO PROVIDE DOLLARS THROUGH OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS FOR SPECIFIC INITIATIVES IN OUR DISTRICT. UM, SO THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PROGRAM THAT WE RELIED ON FOR, FOR OUTSIDE DOLLARS. UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, PROGRAMS AND NONPROFITS REGARDING THE YOUTH, MANY TIMES, UH, THROUGH MY EXPERIENCE, THEY ACTUALLY DO A MUCH BETTER JOB OF, UM, BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE YOUTH THAT THEY SEE. UM, THEY'RE RIGHT THERE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, IN THOSE SCHOOLS. SO THEY UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF OF, OF EACH OF THOSE COMMUNITIES. AND MANY TIMES FOR THE CITY, WE RELY ON PARTNERING WITH THEM, UH, BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE OF A BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND WIDER PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC NEEDS FOR THOSE KIDS AND THOSE PROGRAMS. AND SO, ALTHOUGH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, MAY NOT PUT FORTH SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS, WE DEFINITELY TRY TO SUPPORT IN AS MANY WAYS AS POSSIBLE. UH, MANY OF OUR OFFICES, UH, ALLOCATE DOLLARS TOWARDS THE CASE FOR KIDS PROGRAM WITH THE, WITH HARRIS COUNTY, UH, WHICH DO THIS TREMENDOUS WORK FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING, UH, AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FOR THE YOUTH. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. BUT IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC, UH, PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAVE HIGHLIGHTED OR IDENTIFIED IN THE PRESENTATIONS THAT YOU THINK WE NEED TO, UM, ALLOCATE MORE RESOURCES TOWARDS, THEN OF COURSE, UH, PLEASE LET US KNOW THAT AS WELL. AND THEN WE'LL GET AN ANSWER TO YOU ON THE SITE AND RELEASE. 'CAUSE I HAVE SIMILAR QUESTIONS. I WAS TO THE IMPRESSION THAT SINCE IT WAS A CITABLE OFFENSE, UH, THAT IT WOULD BE AT THE MUNICIPAL COURT LEVEL, BUT, UH, I MAY BE WRONG ON THAT. SO, UH, WE'RE GONNA GET SOME CLARIFICATION AND THEN WE'LL PROVIDE THAT FEEDBACK AS WELL. SO TO ENSURE WE GET IT TO YOU IN A, A PROMPT FASHION, IF YOU WOULD EMAIL THAT DIRECTLY TO DISTRICT E@HOUSTONTX.GOV AND WE'LL GET A RESPONSE. AND THAT WILL COMPLETE OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURT'S BUDGET PRESENTATION. BEFORE WE ADJOURN, PLEASE NOTE THAT BUDGET WORKSHOPS HAVE CONCLUDED FOR ALL CITY OF HOUSTON DEPARTMENTS. WE WILL HAVE OUR NEXT BFA COMMITTEE MEETING ON TUESDAY, MAY 31ST AT 10:00 AM I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO TOOK TIME, UH, TO COME IN PERSON AND SPEAK VIRTUALLY, UH, ON THESE TOPICS. UH, YOUR ENGAGEMENT WAS BENEFICIAL. IT WAS OF VALUE TO US. WE LEARNED FROM YOU AND, UH, WE WILL GET ANY ANSWERS THAT HAVE BEEN UNANSWERED TO YOU SHORTLY. A REMINDER TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, TO BE CHECKING SHAREPOINT FOR UPLOADED PRESENTATIONS, AS WELL AS RESPONSES FOR ANY QUESTIONS SUBMITTED. THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.