[2024 Budget Workshop: Municipal Courts]
[00:00:19]
BUDGET WORKSHOP QUESTIONS IN A WORD DOCUMENT AND UPLOADED TO THE SHAREPOINT BUDGET.
WORKSPACE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO PROVIDE RESPONSES WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE CONCLUSION OF THEIR PRESENTATION.
DEPARTMENT RESPONSES WILL ALSO BE UPLOADED TO SHAREPOINT.
I NOW WELCOME DIRECTOR AND PRESIDING JUDGE JAY ELAINE MARSHALL, WHO WILL NOW PROVIDE THE MUNICIPAL COURT'S DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I'M VERY, VERY PLEASED TO PRESENT THE MUNICIPAL COURT DEPARTMENT'S FY 24 BUDGET.
ATTENDING WITH ME TODAY IS MCDS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR NELLY SANTOS, WHO IS SEATED WITH ME, AND 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.
THE NEXT SEVERAL SLIDES WILL PROVIDE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE COURT'S BUDGET, INCLUDING INFORMATION BY PROGRAM AND BY FUND.
THE MCDS ORGANIZATIONAL CHART SHOWN HERE INCLUDES OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND LINES OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT REPORTING.
I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS AMAZING TEAM OF LEADERS WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF MY EXECUTIVE TEAM FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ME WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF SUPPORT, KNOWLEDGE, AND INSIGHT.
THIS SLIDE REFLECTS HOW MCDS PROGRAMS AND KEY INITIATIVES ALIGN WITH MAYOR TURNER'S PRIORITIES.
51% OF OUR PROGRAMS FALL UNDER PUBLIC SAFETY AND 47% FALL UNDER SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
THE REMAINING 2% ALIGN WITH COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND OTHERS.
THERE'S A 2% OVERALL INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES ACROSS ALL MCD PROGRAMS FOR FY 24.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES PROGRAM INCLUDES COST FOR CONTRACT BUILDING AT ALL COURT LOCATIONS, TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS, AND SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE.
IT ALSO INCLUDES PERSONNEL AND OPERATING COSTS FOR MCDS FINANCIAL AND BUDGETARY FUNCTIONS.
THIS PROGRAM ALSO CLOSELY MONITORS EXPENDITURES AND REVENUE FOR ALIGNED SPECIAL FUNDS DUE TO THEIR SPECIFIC STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.
THE CASH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES OVERSIGHT OF CASHIERING FUNCTIONS AT ALL COURT LOCATIONS AND JAIL BONDING SERVICES.
THIS PROGRAM MANAGES THE ARMORED CAR CONTRACT AND INCLUDE STAFF WHO WHO SERVE AS PASSPORT AGENTS AND WHO ALSO PROVIDE NOTARY AND PRINTING SERVICES TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
THE OVERSIGHT OF CASH MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS ASSURES THE PUBLIC THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON CASH HANDLING POLICIES ARE CLOSELY MONITORED AND FOLLOWED, AND THAT PAYMENTS AND CASE INFORMATION ARE ACCURATELY PROCESSED AND UPDATED.
MCDS COLLECTION AND COMPLIANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES VARIOUS KEY SERVICES, INCLUDING THE OVERSIGHT OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COLLECTIONS AND SUPPORTING THE CITY'S 3 1 1 SERVICE BY FIELDING ALL COURT RELATED CALLS.
THIS PROGRAM ALSO ENSURES COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL POLICIES AND AUDIT PROCESSES.
THE PROGRAM'S DEFERRED PAYMENT INITIATIVE PROVIDES A PAYMENT PLAN OPTION FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO COMPLY WITH THEIR COURT ORDERS, BUT NEED TIME TO PAY.
THIS KEY INITIATIVE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ASSISTING MANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS TO MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS IN A FAIR AND EQUITABLE MANNER.
OUR COURT OPERATIONS PROGRAM PROVIDES PRE COURT SERVICES THAT INCLUDE SCANNING, DATA ENTRY, AFFIANT, AND QUALITY CONTROL.
THESE FUNCTIONS PROVIDE ASSURANCES TO BOTH THE PUBLIC AND LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT CITATION INFORMATION HAS BEEN ACCURATELY RECORDED IN OUR CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES COURTROOM SUPPORT AT ALL COURT LOCATIONS AND POST COURT SERVICES, INCLUDING OUR WARRANT VERIFICATION SERVICE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH OPERATES TWENTY FOUR SEVEN THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE DAYS PER YEAR.
WARRANT VERIFICATION IS A VALUABLE TOOL FOR OFFICERS IN THE FIELD, AND IT HELPS THEM TO AVOID FALSE ARREST OF INDIVIDUALS DURING TRAFFIC STOPS.
NEXT, THE JUDICIAL OPERATIONS PROGRAM INCLUDES OVERSIGHT OF ALL REGULAR AND SPECIAL DOCKETS MANAGES THE MCDS WEDDING SERVICES, PROVIDE LANGUAGE AND TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND MAGISTRATE SERVICES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THIS PROGRAM OVERSEES THE HEARING PROCESS
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FOR PARKING AND OTHER ORDINANCE VIOLATION DISPUTES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A RA AND HAS.OUR SPECIAL DOCKETS INCLUDE THE HOMELESS, OUTREACH VETERANS, AND SAFE HARBOR COURT.
THESE DOCKETS ASSIST THE VULNERABLE POPULATION BY PROVIDING A TAILORED VENUE TO RESOLVE COURT MATTERS IN A FAIR AND EQUITABLE MANNER, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING ACCESS TO MUCH NEEDED SOCIAL SERVICES.
THE PUBLIC INFORMATION SERVICES PROGRAM INCLUDES KEY FUNCTIONS GEARED TOWARD INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF COURT SERVICES.
THEY MAINTAIN THE COURT'S WEBPAGE ISSUE, PRESS ANNOUNCEMENTS, RESPOND TO OPEN RECORDS AND MEDIA REQUESTS.
THEY SCHEDULE COURT TOURS, SCHOOL TOURS, AND PARTICIPATE IN CITYWIDE OUTREACH PROGRAMS. FINALLY, THEY SERVE AS MCDS LIAISON TO CITY COUNCIL AND TO MONITOR THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
OUR TRUANCY PREVENTION AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDE VARIOUS KEY SERVICES GEARED TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY'S YOUTH.
WE PARTNER WITH THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HISD, SPRING BRANCH AND ALDEN TO PROVIDE TRUANCY INTERVENTION SERVICES AT CAMPUSES THAT ARE CONSIDERED HIGH RISK.
THIS PROGRAM ALSO SUPPORTS TEEN COURT AND PROVIDES MEANINGFUL AND EDUCATION STUDENT ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AFTER SCHOOL AND DURING SCHOOL BREAKS.
THE DEBT SERVICE AND INTER FUND TRANSFERS PROGRAM INCLUDES MCDS ALLOCATION OF CITYWIDE DEBT SERVICE, WHICH IS CALCULATED BY FINANCE.
AS REFLECTED ON THIS SLIDE, THERE IS A 2% OVERALL INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES ACROSS ALL MCD FUNDS FOR FY 24.
NEXT SLIDE, 80% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS PERSONNEL COSTS, AND THE REMAINING 20% IS NON-PERSONNEL COSTS THAT INCLUDE INTERFUND ACCOUNTS, CS SMART SUPPORT SUPPLIES AND SERVICES.
NEXT SLIDE, 97% OF THE BUILDING SECURITY FUND BUDGET IS NON-PERSONNEL AND INCLUDES CONTRACT BUILDING SECURITY COSTS.
THE REMAINING 3% IS PERSONNEL COSTS TIED TO RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS.
82% OF THE COURT TECHNOLOGY FUND BUDGET IS NON-PERSONNEL COST, INCLUDING SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE LICENSING AND MAINTENANCE COSTS, CS SMART SUPPORT AND FUNDING FOR OTHER PLANNED TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS.
THE REMAINING 18% IS PERSONNEL.
NEXT SLIDE, 90% OF THE LOCAL TRUANCY PREVENTION AND DIVERSION FUND BUDGET IS PERSONNEL COST.
THE REMAINING 10% IS NON-PERSONNEL, INCLUDING EDUCATION AND TRAINING SUPPLIES, TEEN COURT AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY COST.
MCDS FY 24 REVENUE REMAINS RELATIVELY FLAT WITH THE FY 23 ESTIMATE ACROSS ALL MCDS PROGRAMS. THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES PROGRAM INCLUDES REVENUE FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND THREE SPECIAL FUNDS.
THIS IS A COMPARISON THAT YOU WILL SEE BY FISCAL YEAR OF TOTAL, GENERAL AND SPECIAL FUND REVENUE.
NEXT SLIDE, FY 24 REVENUE REMAINS IN LINE WITH THE FY 23 ESTIMATE ACROSS ALL MCD FUNDS.
SO THIS CONCLUDES THE BUDGET PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION, AND I'LL PROCEED TO THE NEXT SECTION.
THIS SECTION OF THE PRESENTATION WILL FEATURE ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENT LEVEL INFORMATION.
THIS SLIDE PROVIDES MORE DETAIL REGARDING THE CITYWIDE RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS.
THE GRAPH AND CHART HERE SHOWN PROVIDE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF MCDS DEMOGRAPHICS.
IT IS REFLECTIVE OF OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO SHARE THE RESULTS OF OUR MOST RECENT CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY.
WE CONTINUE TO ACHIEVE A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION FROM THE PUBLIC WE SERVE, AND THE RESULTS REFLECT OUR STRONG COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE.
I'M ALSO PLEASED TO SHARE A FEW OF OUR MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM THIS PAST YEAR.
TEEN COURT CONTINUES TO SHINE AND GROW, INCLUDING ON THIS SLIDE IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY SUCCESS STORIES RELATED TO OUR PROGRAM.
I'M SO VERY PROUD OF TO LEAD THIS INITIATIVE, WHICH HAS HAD SUCH AN IMPACT ON OUR YOUTH.
OUR PASSPORT PROGRAM IS CELEBRATING ITS SECOND YEAR.
TO DATE, THE PASSPORT PROGRAM HAS ASSISTED OVER 8,000 INDIVIDUALS TO OBTAIN THEIR PASSPORTS AND HAS GENERATED OVER $280,000.
I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF OUR STAFF WHO ARE DEDICATED TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS INITIATIVE.
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I'M KEEPING THE REPLACEMENT, UH, OF OUR CENTRAL COURTHOUSE ON THE RADAR BECAUSE SIX YEARS LATER, WE ARE STILL COPING WITH THE LOSS OF OUR BASEMENT FROM HARVEY.ALTHOUGH OUR STAFF HAS BEEN PATIENT, MANY OF OUR COURTROOMS REMAIN DOUBLED UP AND WE ARE MAKING THE MOST OF OUR VERY LIMITED OFFICE AREAS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND GSD WHO ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REPLACEMENT FACILITY.
THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION OF OUR FY 24 BUDGET.
I WANT TO THANK MY ENTIRE COURT TEAM WHO HAVE BEEN SO FLEXIBLE AND CONTINUE TO PERFORM AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR, ALL OF YOU, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PARTNER DEPARTMENTS FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS SUPPORT THIS TIME.
I WILL WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU, JUDGE, FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND THANK YOU TO YOUR ENTIRE TEAM FOR THE EFFORT THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT FORTH TO, UH, BRING FORWARD THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FIRST IN THE QUEUE.
JUDGE, AS ALWAYS, YOU MAKE SOME OF THE HARDEST AND MOST CHALLENGING THINGS LOOK EASY.
UH, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THIS.
SO, UH, I FIRST WANNA JUST RECOGNIZE THE WORK ABOVE AND BEYOND JUST THE STANDARD SERVICES THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR YOUTH, THE TRUANCY PREVENTION AND TEEN COURT.
TEEN COURTS ONE OF MY FAVORITE, FAVORITE PROGRAMS. UM, AND TO THAT END, I'M LOOKING AT YOUR BUDGET, UM, GOING ON PAGE FIVE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE THE DOLLAR REQUEST IS, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE DOWN FROM FY 23.
ARE THERE ANY UNMET NEEDS THERE? AM I READING THAT CORRECTLY? YOU? THE FY 23 BUDGET WAS, UH, 1454 AND WE'RE, THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS 1295 COUNCIL MEMBER.
THAT'S DUE TO, UM, LOWER GRANT FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED.
AND SO THEREFORE, WE WERE ABLE TO GET, UM, FUNDING FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO FUND, UH, FIVE POSITIONS.
SO THE DECLINE YOU SEE IS SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN A POSITIVE FUND BALANCE IN THAT SPECIAL REV REVENUE FUND, UM, SO THAT WE WON'T RUN OUT.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE SOME OF THE FUNDING TO THE GENERAL FUND AND BECAUSE OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN THE SERVICE LEVELS AT THE SCHOOL OR INCREASE THEM.
SO THE DECREASE YOU SEE IS ACTUALLY JUST TO MAINTAIN THE FUND LEVEL.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE, GET ENOUGH STAFF TO MAKE SURE WE'RE, WE'RE EVEN AND WE'RE LEVEL WITH IT.
SO ARE THERE ANY UNMET NEEDS, AND I'LL GET TO THE BUILDING ITSELF IN JUST A SECOND.
UM, BUT ARE THERE ANY UNMET NEEDS IN THIS BUDGET THAT AREN'T, AREN'T BEING MET RIGHT NOW FOR WHAT Y'ALL NEED? I MEAN, WE ARE STILL TRYING TO, TO, AS WE SAID, MAINTAIN THAT FOR THE, FOR THE YOUTH AND FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE SCHOOLS.
THE JCMS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART.
WE WERE AT BAY WAITING TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THE, THE TAKEOVER AND THOSE THINGS, BUT THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS, UH, WEREN'T AFFECTED.
SO THE SCHOOLS STILL WANT THEM.
OUR OUR GRANT FUNDING WENT WAY DOWN.
UM, I THINK WHEN I FIRST STARTED, THEY WERE AT LIKE EIGHT OR $900,000 OF A GRANT WE RECEIVED TO FUND THE SALARIES AND THE SCHOOLS.
AND NOW WE WERE DOWN, WE WERE CUT DOWN TO LIKE 200 AND SOMETHING THOUSAND.
SO WE'RE STILL WORKING BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING, THEY, THEY MAY OFFER US MORE.
UM, SO THAT WOULD BE A, A FUND NEED THAT WE WOULD NEED.
AND THAT WOULD BE THE, THE MONETARY THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO, TO PUT FROM ONE BUDGET TO ANOTHER AND PPGS TO GET TO THAT.
AND WHERE DID THE GRANT FUND, WHERE DID THE GRANT FUNDS NORMALLY COME FROM? FROM THE GOVERNOR.
SO THE GOV STATE OF TEXAS HAS REDUCED YES, THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS FOR OUR TEEN COURT AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING.
THEY DID FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, BUT FOR FY 24, WE'RE HOPING THAT THEY'RE, IT'S GOING TO GO UP AND WE WON'T FIND OUT TILL OCTOBER.
AND THEN, UM, LASTLY, THE, I MEAN, JUDGE, I KNOW YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO BRING AWARENESS TO THIS, UM, THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE MUNICIPAL COURTHOUSE.
UH, C DO YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS OFF OFFHAND IN TERMS OF HOW MANY COURTROOMS ARE DOUBLED UP RIGHT NOW? WELL, WE, WE LOST FIVE COURTROOMS IN THE BASEMENT AND SO OFF, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET, UM, TWO SMALL COURTS BUILT.
UH, COURT 11 IS DOUBLED UP WITH COURT 12.
COURT FOUR IS DOUBLED UP WITH COURT SIX.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE YOU'RE MAKING DUE, BUT WE'RE MAKING, AGAIN, IT'S NOT EASY.
UM, YEAH, AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE STAFF.
WE, WE'VE MADE, WE'VE LITERALLY HAD O UH, CLOSETS MADE INTO OFFICE SPACE.
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UM, CHIEF, UH, CLERK IS HERE, GREG PRYOR, HIS STAFF, WE JUST, UH, INVENTED OFF, UH, OFFICE SPACE OUT OF A CLOSET FOR SUPERVISORS SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE IN THE SAME AREA AS THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE SUPERVISING WHEN THEY HAD TIME TO TALK TO THEM.SO IT IS, IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE BECAUSE YOU TAKE AWAY THE BASEMENT FROM HARVEY AND THEN YOU FACTOR IN COVID AND COVID THREW US BACK BECAUSE WE HAD TO DO THE, THE, THE SIX FEET DISTANCING AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
SO, BUT WE'VE MADE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MAKING IT, AND I JUST DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK THAT WE'RE MAKING IT EASY.
BUT MY STAFF HAS BEEN VERY, VERY, VERY EXTREMELY JUST AGREEABLE TO, TO THE CHANGES.
I WILL SAY, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN VERY TOUGH, TOUGH.
YOU'VE, YOU'VE BEEN COURAGEOUS.
THE LASTLY, WE'LL SUBMIT IT, BUT, UM, THE COST OF THE DAMAGE, UM, I KNOW THAT'S A GSD QUESTION.
BUT I JUST WANNA KEEP IT AT THE FOREFRONT AND WHERE WE STAND WITH GETTING THAT REIMBURSEMENT, UM, SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE REPAIRS.
UM, THE, THE, WHERE WE CAN GO, I MEAN, WHERE, WHERE WE STAND WITH IT.
I AM NOT REALLY PRIVY TO THOSE TYPES OF INFORMATION.
I DO KNOW THAT WE'RE STILL WAITING ON FEMA FUNDING AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
WE'RE STILL, UH, LOOKING AT, AT, UM, TALKING TO VENDORS AND GETTING PLANS IN SIGHT.
STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ'S OFFICE.
AND THANK YOU SO KINDLY FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU AND YOUR STAFF DO.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU PUT INTO THE BUDGET REPORT, AND SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE QUESTIONS YOU JUST ANSWERED IN REFERENCE TO YOUR NIGHT COURT CAPABILITY AND THE FACILITIES, UH, ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL, ALLEGED LADY EVAN SHABAZZ.
UH, IN REFERENCE TO NIGHT COURTS IN, AS YOU SAID, THOSE COURTS ARE NOW DOUBLING UP, IF I BELIEVE SO.
NIGHT COURT, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY HELD IN YOUR BASEMENT COURTS NIGHT COURT WAS PREVIOUSLY.
BUT OUR NIGHT COURTS ARE STILL IN OPERATION.
WE STILL HAVE THREE COURTS IN OPERATION FOR KNIGHTS, AS WE DID, AND AN ANNEX COURT.
SO COURT 12, UH, DOES A LOT OF THE, THE, UH, JUVENILE CASES THAT ARE FILED THERE AND, AND DOES ARRAIGNMENTS COURT, ONE DOES ARRAIGNMENTS AND TRIALS AND COURT 10, I MEAN, COURT NINE DOES ARRAIGNMENTS IN TRIALS AT NIGHT AND COURT 10 DOES ARRAIGNMENTS IN TRIALS AT NIGHT.
AND WE HAVE AN ANNEX COURT OPEN AND ALL FOUR OF THOSE COURTS ARE OPEN TILL, UH, THE LAST DOCKET IS AT NINE.
'CAUSE THE QUESTION THE COUNCIL LADY ASKED ME TO GO TO WAS IN REFERENCE TO THE NOISE ORDINANCES MM-HMM
THAT WE'VE BEEN EFFORTING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THAT AREA.
HOWEVER, PART OF WHAT SHE WANTED TO KNOW WAS THE MAJORITY OF THOSE CALLS COME IN AT NIGHT, AND FOR THE OFFICERS TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ATTEND NIGHT COURT SO THAT THEY'RE NOT COMING IN AT THE MORNING HOURS ON ANOTHER SHIFT TO SUPPORT THAT EFFORT, WHAT IS YOUR CAPABILITY OF MOVING THAT FORWARD? IN OTHER WORDS, CAN WE WORK TO WHERE WE HAVE THOSE ON DUTY OFFICERS ATTEND NIGHT COURT? 'CAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE BULK OF THE CALLS COME IN.
IS THAT POSSIBLE? IT, IT ACTUALLY WILL DEPEND ON THE OFFICER'S ARRAIGNMENT TIME AND THE ARRAIGNMENT DATE THAT THEY'RE SET ONCE THEY COME OUT OF THE ACADEMY.
AND ONCE THEY'RE ASSIGNED A VARIOUS, UH, STATIONS SUBSTATIONS, THEY GET A COURT DATE AND TIME FOR MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES.
UM, NOW KEEP IN MIND IF A PER, IF THEY WRITE A PERSON, AN INDIVIDUAL, A TICKET AT NIGHT, THAT PERSON HAS PROBABLY 30 TO 45 DAYS TO APPEAR IN COURT.
AND THAT OFFICER DOES NOT HAVE TO APPEAR IN COURT ON THAT ARRAIGNMENT SETTING.
THAT'S THE ARRAIGNMENT SETTING IS PURPOSE.
IS, IS SET SPECIFICALLY FOR A PERSON TO COME IN AND LOOK AT A JUDGE AND SAY, I PLEAD GUILTY, OR I PLEAD NOT GUILTY, OR, I WANNA PAY THE FINE IF I PLEAD GUILTY.
IF THEY PLEAD NOT GUILTY, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE A TRIAL BY A JUDGE OR A JURY.
AND THOSE TRIALS ARE SET, NOT THAT, NOT THAT DAY, BUT AT LEAST 45 DAYS OUT.
SO IF THEY, IF THEY WANT A TRIAL BY, BY JUDGE, UM, IT USUALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT, WHAT THAT OFFICER'S ASSIGNED COURT DATE IS.
AND, AND WE WON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL, UNTIL WE START WRITING BULK OF THESE TICKETS.
AND IF THEIR NIGHT COURT OFFICERS AND THEY'RE ASSIGNED A NIGHT COURT SO THAT THEY CAN APPEAR IN COURT ON THEIR, ON THEIR SCHEDULED DUTY DATES, RIGHT.
THEN IT WILL BE 45 DAYS OUT FOR TRIAL.
KEEP IN MIND THAT IF THESE INDIVIDUALS, SAME INDIVIDUALS COME TO COURT AND SAY, I WANT TO TRIAL BY JURY, NIGHT COURT IS OFF THE TABLE, JURY TRIALS ARE ALL AT EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
AND THAT'S WHEN AN OFFICER WOULD HAVE TO, BUT THAT'S STILL, YOU STILL HAVE ABOUT A 45 TO 60 DAY PERIOD BEFORE THEY EVEN APPEAR IN COURT.
YEAH, THAT WAS A, THAT WAS A GREAT QUESTION.
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WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, UM, A OFFICER WHO WORKS THE NIGHT SHIFT, RIGHT? FOR CLUBS AND BARS, AND THEY'RE WRITING ALL THESE CITATIONS, UM, IF, IF THE COMPLAINT THEN ASKS FOR A TRIAL BY JURY AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, 4, 5 90 DAYS LATER, BUT IT'S DURING THE DAY AND THAT OFFICER WORKS AT NIGHT, THEN THAT OFFICER MAY HAVE TO COME IN DURING THE DAY JUST FOR THE TRIAL, THEN HE'S WORKING AT NIGHT.AND THE QUESTION BECOMES, HOW BURDENSOME IS THAT IF THE OFFICER DOES NOT SHOW FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEN DOES THOSE CASES MAY GET DISMISSED.
UM, AND TRYING TO FIND A STRATEGY AROUND THAT.
'CAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF US AROUND THE HORSE WHO ARE GOING REALLY HARD AT ENSURING THAT WE HAVE SAFE NIGHTLIFE AROUND OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WITH THE NOISE ORDINANCE OR WITH THE BRBS OR WHATEVER, AND PRIMARILY IT'S GONNA BE THE OFFICERS THAT MAY BE WORKING AT MIDNIGHT THAT ARE WRITING THESE CITATIONS.
SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STRATEGY WOULD BE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE OFFICERS DON'T HAVE MORE BURDEN TO HAVE TO DO COURT DURING THE DAY AND THEN WORK AT NIGHT, OR THEY'RE LEAVING THEIR SHIFT AT WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING, THEN THEY HAVE TO BE BACK FOR, UH, JURY TRIAL.
AND MY, MY THING IS I WANT THEM WRITING AS MANY TICKETS AS POSSIBLE.
SO I, I WANT THEM WRITING AS MANY TICKETS AS THEY CAN TO ENSURE THAT THESE CLUB OWNERS OR WHOEVER ARE GETTING THE POINT.
BUT THEN THAT ALSO MAKES THEM HAVE TO SHOW UP MORE TO COURT.
THAT'S, THAT'S, UH, THAT SPECIFICALLY THAT SHOW UP TIME IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, CHIEF FINNER AND HPD HAVE TO TRY TO REGULATE SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE BOUND BY THE CONSTITUTION.
IF SOMEONE ASKS FOR A JURY TRIAL TO GIVE THEM A JURY TRIAL, YOU CANNOT SUMMON JURORS AT EIGHT, NINE O'CLOCK AT NIGHT TO HAVE A JURY TRIAL.
SO IF THEY REQUEST A JURY TRIAL, IT IS THEN SET AT, AT EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
WE HAVE EIGHT JURY COURTS IN OPERATION.
NOW, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY GET, THEY GET OVERTIME IF THEY'RE OFF OF THEIR, THEIR BEATEN PATH OR THEIR COURT DATES AND TIMES.
BUT I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, CHIEF FINNER, YOU KNOW, HE, HE NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT, WHICH WAY HE WANTS THEM TO GO, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTICED AT LEAST SIX, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST TWO MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, SOMETIMES LONGER, THAT THIS IS YOUR JURY TRIAL SETTING.
SO MAYBE IT'S A SITUATION WHERE IF THOSE OFFICERS HAVE A JURY TRIAL SETTING, UM, THEY CAN MANEUVER DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHIFTS.
YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'D BE GOOD FOR US TO, TO FOLLOW UP ON.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, MR. CHAIR.
I CAN'T, I CAN'T SEEM TO GET INTO THE CHAT.
I'VE BEEN TRYING MY BEST TO GET IN.
UM, WOULD IT BE OKAY IF I SPEAK TO THAT ISSUE REGARDING THE OFFICERS? YES, MA'AM.
I, I, I DON'T SEE EVEN SEE IT ON HERE AND MY COMPUTER POWERED DOWN ALL OF THAT, SO I'VE BEEN CHALLENGED, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UH, JUDGE MARSHALL, YOU KNOW, WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PEOPLE, UH, DO REQUEST A JURY TRIAL, BUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING INTO THAT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE NOISE ORDINANCE, THE OFFICERS ARE HAVING TO STAY TWO HOURS PAST THEIR SHIFT, WHICH IS NOT GOOD IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE, UH, THE COURT DATE AND TIME.
AND OF COURSE, IT'S THE PERSON THAT ISSUES THE CITATION THAT MUST BE PRESENT.
SO AS CLOSELY OR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, WOULD YOU PLEASE TRY TO SCHEDULE THOSE PARTICULAR CASES WHERE THE CITATIONS ARE WRITTEN AT NIGHT, UH, FOR NIGHT COURT? THAT'S A REQUEST.
THAT IS, THAT IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT WE, WE REALLY CAN'T DO.
AND YOU'RE SAYING THEY HAVE TO STAY TWO HOURS PAST THEIR SHIFT? THEY'RE NOT SUBPOENAED TO THE COURT THE NEXT DAY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT, I'M SPEAKING OF GENERALLY IF YOU WORK NIGHT COURT, EXCUSE ME, IF YOU WORK THE NIGHT SHIFT, THEN WHATEVER DAY YOU HAVE COURT, IF YOU DON'T SCHEDULE IT TILL 9:00 AM AND THEY GET OFF AT 7:00 AM THEN OF COURSE THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO WAIT TWO HOURS.
NO, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT DAY.
WE JUST NEED, WE'RE ASKING FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO, IT, IT ALSO INCONVENIENCES THE PEOPLE THAT, THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED WHO, THE, THE COMPLAINANTS PERHAPS PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THESE NOISES AND THEN THEY TAKE OFF AND THEN THE, THE, UH, POLICE OFFICER'S NOT THERE BECAUSE THEY, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT OFF AT 7:00 AM AND THEY'RE NOT REPORTING BACK AT NINE.
[00:25:01]
FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY REGARDING THAT.OF COURSE, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO AND THEY ASK FOR A JURY TRIAL, WE UNDERSTAND THOSE ARE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES MM-HMM
BUT JUST MAKING A REQUEST FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR OUR OFFICERS TO WRITE TICKETS AND THEN WHEN THEY GET READY TO GO TO, THEY DON'T MAKE IT TO COURT, WHICH LOSES THE TEETH AND THE ESSENCE OF THE COMPLAINT.
SO JUST ASKING IF YOU COULD LOOK AT THAT.
SO WE WERE, WE WERE MENTIONING THAT EARLIER, COUNCIL MEMBER, AND I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS, UH, REACH OUT TO THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE FROM A STRATEGY PERSPECTIVE, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR SCHEDULING SINCE IT'S 45 DAYS OR MAYBE 90 DAYS OUT, UH, THAT THEY CAN COORDINATE WITH THE TICKETS THAT THEY WRITE, UM, IN THE EVENINGS OR THE NIGHTTIME TO ENSURE THAT WHEN THEIR COURT DATES COME, THAT, UH, THE DEPARTMENT IS AWARE OF THAT SO THAT THOSE OFFICERS AREN'T HAVING TO STAY AN ADDITIONAL TWO HOURS.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL, WELL, I'VE, I'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION, UH, WITH THE POLICE AND, AND THEY MORE OR LESS OF THE BELIEF THAT IF THE, IF THE OFFICERS ARE ON THAT SHIFT, AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING THE CITATIONS OR OPERATING AT THAT TIME, IF THE COURTS COULD LOOK AT TRYING TO SCHEDULE 'EM AT TIME, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SHORTAGE WHEN IT COMES TO PERSONNEL.
AND SO TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT PEOPLE AROUND BECAUSE OF COURTS, WHEN THE COURT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO SET THE HOUR OF THE COURT DATE AND TIME, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR THEM TO DO THAT AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO SHIFT THE SCHEDULE.
BUT CERTAINLY THAT'S JUST A REQUEST.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, EVEN REGARDING THE NOISE ORDINANCE.
ALL I CAN DO IS MAKE THE REQUEST AND HOPEFULLY, UH, THERE WILL BE SOME SENSITIVITY TO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE GET OFF AT SEVEN AND AREN'T NECESSARILY GONNA BE AVAILABLE AT NINE.
SO JUST TO REQUEST, NOT SOMETHING TO DEBATE AND CARRY ON AND ON AND ON, OF COURSE WE WILL DO, OR THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.
BUT THAT'S JUST A SUGGESTION, AS I KEEP SAYING.
UM, JUDGE MARSHALL AND, UM, FOR YOUR TEAM, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY PARTICULARLY, UM, EXCITED AND INTERESTED IN THE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND TRUANCY PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE, THE YOUTH COURT.
AND SO I, I HEARD YOU MENTION THAT, UM, YOU GUYS LOST SOME FUNDING FEDERAL DOLLARS, RIGHT? STATE DOLLARS, YES.
SO DO YOU, UM, ACTUALLY ENGAGE IN CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS OR SEEK, UM, PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH FOUNDATIONS TO KIND OF LIKE SUB NO.
YEAH, I THINK THAT, I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO.
'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF FOUNDATIONS OUT THERE THAT VERY INTERESTED IN THIS TYPE OF WORK, AND THEY'RE SEEKING, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, UM, THE PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS AND EVEN DO MATCHES IN SOME CASES.
AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OKAY.
THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHAVA AND, AND STEVEN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE ISSUE.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS CHAIR.
UH, SHE'S RIGHT, THE JURY TRIALS, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT, BUT IF IT'S NOT A JURY TRIAL, WE, I, I ATTENDED THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING FOR A NOISE ORDINANCE AND WE TALKED, WE SPOKE TO THE OFFICERS, UM, AND THEY DO GET TIME AND A HALF, UM, FOR BEING AT COURT, BUT THEY SAID THEY'D MUCH RATHER TAKE, YOU KNOW, THEY'D MUCH RATHER, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVE IT, YOU KNOW, DURING THEIR SHIFT OR AFTER, OR BEFORE THEIR SHIFT.
SO TO THE EXTENT THAT CAN BE WORKED OUT, IT IS PROBABLY A LONGER CONVERSATION WITH LEGAL AND WITH, WITH THE PROSECUTORS AND WITH, UM, WITH HPD AND, AND MUNICIPAL COURTS.
SO WE'RE, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL EXCHANGES ABOUT THIS.
I'VE TALKED TO RESIDENTS WHO, YOU KNOW, THEY APPEAR IN COURT AND THEY'RE SO EXCITED THAT IT'S THEIR BIG DAY IN COURT, AND THEN THE OFFICER CAN'T COME AND IT'S A BIG LET DOWN AND THEY DON'T GET, UH, THE, THE CASES ARE ALWAYS DISMISSED, I FEEL LIKE, AND THEN THEY'VE WAITED, THEY, AND SOME NOISE CASES, THEY'RE WAITING MONTHS AND MONTHS AND, YOU KNOW, AND THEN, SO IT'S, IT'S AN ISSUE.
JUST TO END ON A, A POSITIVE NOTE AS WELL, UM, I WAS CHECKING THROUGH, I MAY HAVE MISSED IT.
IN ADDITION TO ALL THE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT THAT YOU DO, YOUR AMNESTY PROGRAM, UM, DO WE HAVE ANY OBJECTIVES ON OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING? OR DID I MISS THAT RELATED TO THE AMNESTY PROGRAM AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE REACHING THAT WAY? WE ARE REACHING WHEN WE DO THEM, BUT WE'RE NOT, WE DIDN'T DO ONE BECAUSE WE CAME OUT OF COVID AND THEN THE COURTS OPENED BACK UP FOR JURY TRIALS AND EVERYTHING.
SO WE, WHAT WE PLAN ON DOING WITH, UH, AN AMNESTY PROGRAM IS PROBABLY GONNA BE IN NOVEMBER-ISH, BECAUSE THAT GIVES EVERYBODY TIME TO REGROUP AND, AND RECALCULATE
[00:30:01]
EVERYTHING.WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE PROGRAMS RIGHT ON TOP OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO MEET HOUSTONIANS WHERE THEY ARE.
THANK YOU, JUDGE, TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE STAFF FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND YOU ARE DISMISSED.
WE WILL NOW BEGIN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS JASON OLIVER.
I'M MOST INTERESTED IN THE SPECIAL DOCKETS, LIKE THE SAFE HARBOR COURT AND METRICS TO SHOW WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF IMPACT.
THE LAST THAT I RECALL WAS OVER A THOUSAND CASES PROCESSED, UH, AS OF NOVEMBER, 2020 THROUGH THE SAFE HARBOR COURT.
HOWEVER, WE, I ALSO HEARD THAT WE HAVE 2,500 CASES ENTERING DELINQUENCY EACH MONTH AND A BACKLOG OF ABOUT 500,000.
I KNOW THIS CAUSES A GREAT DEAL OF UNNECESSARY CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND A WASTE OF RESOURCES TO SEND POLICE OUT TO ARREST PEOPLE WITH WARRANTS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY A FINE.
UM, I, AND I'M REALLY HOPING THAT AS WE'RE STREAMLINE STREAMLINING PERFORMANCE MEASURES IN THIS FIRST YEAR, UH, LOOKING AT, AT THINGS LIKE THIS, RIGHT? THAT, UM, THESE INITIATIVES, THIS CAN BE SOMETHING THAT, THAT YOU ALL WORK ON.
BUT IN TERMS OF A QUESTION, I'M WONDERING, DOES IT NEED TO BE POLICE OFFICERS WRITING TICKETS AND DEALING WITH NU NUISANCES LIKE NOISE ORDINANCES IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE HAVE PARKING ATTENDANTS? UH, CAN WE LOOK AT CODE ENFORCEMENT OR OTHERS WRITING THESE CITATIONS? I IMAGINE THAT REVENUES FROM THESE CITATIONS ARE OFFSET, I MEAN, WHEN THEY'RE NOT DISMISSED, UM, BY THE COST OF OFFICER OVERTIME AND, AND GETTING THEM TO COURT.
DO YOU THINK SHIFTING THIS RESPONSIBILITY TO ANOTHER ENTITY COULD MAKE THE PROCESS MORE EFFICIENT AND LESS COSTLY AND ACTUALLY EFFECTIVE? I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYONE, BUT, UH, I'LL GIVE MY TAKE ON IT.
UM, MANY TIMES AT, AT THESE CLUBS AND BARS, IT, IT CAN BECOME A ROWDY SCENE.
UM, IT CAN BECOME AN UNSAFE SCENE.
SO I DO THINK THAT POLICE OFFICERS ARE BEST EQUIPPED, UM, TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE CERTAIN SITUATIONS.
UH, IT'S ALWAYS GONNA BE A CASE BY CASE BASIS, BUT USUALLY WHEN THEY ARE GOING INTO SOME OF THESE ROWDY CLUBS AND BARS, THEM BEING AN OFFICER IS REALLY THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO GET SOME LEVEL OF, UH, RECEPTIVE RESPECT, UM, FOR EVEN BEING THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO, UM, NOT TO PUT ANYONE IN DANGER, I THINK THEY WOULD BE STILL THE BEST ENTITY FOR THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, THE, THE CHAIR'S COMPLETELY RIGHT.
WE WENT DOWN THIS, BELIEVE ME, I WANT EVERYBODY IN TO BE ABLE TO GIVE OUT THE NOISE TICKETS.
AND WE WENT DOWN THIS, THAT TRACK WHEN WE WERE REVISING THE NOISE ORDINANCE, BUT LEGAL ADVISED YOU JUST, YOU JUST CAN'T PUT, UH, A CIVILIAN IN THAT POSITION, EVEN IN GOING INTO A CLUB AND ENFORCING THE NIGHT, THE NOISE ORDINANCE DUE TO JUST SAFETY.
THAT'S, THAT WAS THE REASONS WE WERE GIVEN.
I, I'LL FOLLOW UP AND TRY AND GET SOME MORE INFO ON THAT.
ALL RIGHT, SO THAT COMPLETES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
UM, NOTE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS FOR OUR FINAL DAY TOMORROW, UM, MAY 25TH, AND WE WILL BEGINNING AT 9:00 AM TOMORROW.
AND, UH, WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE.