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TEAM.SO IF YOU, YOU PEOPLE HOPEFULLY ARE WATCHING ON HTV, THAT'S STILL GOING ON.
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS NOW WE'RE UNABLE TO ACCEPT COMMENT.
I THINK SOMEBODY WANTED TO COMMENT ONLINE IF YOU'RE SOMEHOW OUT THERE LISTENING, AND WE'LL CONTACT THE PERSON, UM, WHO WANTED TO COMMENT AND MAKE SURE THEY KNOW.
BUT IF ANYONE ELSE IS LISTENING ON HTV, THE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A NEW LINK FOR THIS AFTERNOON'S WORKSHOPS.
BUT FOR THIS WORKSHOP, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION AND YOU'RE WATCHING ONLINE, IF YOU COULD EMAIL AT LARGE5@HOUSTONTX.GOV, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE AND GET THAT, THAT QUESTION ANSWERED.
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE AN ABILITY TO CALL IN ON THIS, ON THIS PARTICULAR, UM, PRE UH, WORKSHOP.
BUT WELCOME BACK EVERYONE, AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE PRESIDING JUDGE NELLY TREVINOS SANTOS, AND NESSA BROUSSARD TO PRESENT THE MUNICIPAL COURT'S DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET 2027 BUDGET PRESENTATION.
SO WITH THAT, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR WAITING SO LONG.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND, UH, GOOD MORNING, UH, COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF.
UH, I AM VERY, VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT THE MUNICIPAL COURT'S, UH, FY 27 BUDGET.
I PROMISED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN THAT MY, UH, PRESENTATION, MY STAFF IS, UH, TIMED ME ON IT, AND THEY KNOW THAT I CAN, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M THE YOUNGEST OF NINE KIDS, SO I CAN TALK.
UH, BUT IT'S ABOUT 13 MINUTES, SO I'M GONNA LEAVE SOME TIME FOR YOU GUYS TO ASK QUESTIONS.
AND, UH, BUT I DO WANNA, UH, RECOGNIZE, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER MENTIONED HER, BUT THIS IS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SHEA ARD.
SHE'S THE ONE THAT'S BEEN TIMING ME AND CRACKING, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE.
AND THEN MY WONDERFUL EXECUTIVE TEAM, UH, THAT IS HERE TO SUPPORT ME.
I ALSO HAVE STAFF MEMBERS FROM MUNICIPAL COURTS, UH, WATCHING ONLINE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AND MANY OF THEM ARE DISPENSING JUSTICE RIGHT NOW.
UM, WANT TO, UH, GET STARTED WITH THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? UM, THE NEXT SEVERAL SLIDES ARE GONNA PROVIDE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT'S BUDGET, INCLUDING BY FUND AND BY PROGRAM.
THIS SLIDE REFLECTS HOW THE MUNICIPAL COURT PROGRAMS ALIGN WITH THE MAYOR'S KEY INITIATIVES.
UH, OUR COURTS PRIMARILY, UM, WORK UNDER THE CATEGORIES OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND OF COURSE, GOVERNMENT.
THIS CHART INCLUDES A COMPARISON OF EXPENDITURES FOR ALL THE MUNICIPAL COURT FUNDS BY FISCAL YEAR.
OUR BUDGET IS MADE UP OF THE GENERAL FUND, AND WE HAVE FOUR SPECIAL FUNDS WHICH ARE LISTED ON THIS CHART.
THE GENERAL FUND REFLECTS A 5% INCREASE FOR FY 27 WHEN COMPARED WITH FY 26 BUDGET.
THE MAJORITY OF THIS INCREASE IS DUE TO THE HOPE PENSION AND HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASES.
THIS SLIDE INCLUDES A COMPARISON OF EXPENDITURES BY FISCAL YEAR FOR FY 27.
OUR PROPOSED EXPENDITURE BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND IS APPROXIMATELY 26,913,000, AND THE TOTAL FOR THE SPECIAL FUNDS IS APPROXIMATELY 2,756,000.
THIS SLIDE REFLECTS A COMPARISON BETWEEN PERSONNEL AND NON-PERSONNEL COSTS.
THE FY 27 GENERAL FUND IS COMPOSED PRIMARILY OF 77% PERSONNEL AND 23% NON-PERSONNEL COSTS.
THE NON-PERSONNEL COSTS INCLUDE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, COURT INTERPRETERS.
THE MAILING OF COURT NOTICES, CITATION BOOKS, AND CONTRACT SECURITY GUARDS.
IN OUR SPECIAL FUNDS, 3% OF THE BUILDING SECURITY FUND IS PERSONNEL, AND 97% NON-PERSONNEL.
92% OF THE LOCAL YOUTH DIVERSION FUND IS PERSONNEL, AND 8% IS NON-PERSONNEL.
AND ON THE TECH FUND, IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT NON-PERSONNEL COSTS.
AS REFLECTED IN THIS SLIDE, THE MUNICIPAL COURTS IS COMPRISED OF EIGHT PROGRAMS FOR FY 27 4 PER.
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INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES ACROSS ALL MUNICIPAL COURT PROGRAMS. WE HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH FINANCE AND THE ERNST AND YOUNG TEAM TO REFINE OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND CREATE NEW, MORE MEANINGFUL MEASURES THAT REFLECT THE HARD WORK THAT WE DO AT THE COURTS.SO, AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, I WILL HIGHLIGHT THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE NEW PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES PROGRAM INCLUDES THE OVERSIGHT OF BUDGETING, PROCUREMENT, AUDIT, COMPLIANCE, CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION, AND SAFETY AND SECURITY.
THE PROGRAM'S PERFORMANCE MEASURES INCLUDE MONITORING OF EXPENDITURES AND REVENUE FOR BOTH THE GENERAL FUND AND THE SPECIAL FUNDS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THEIR SPECIAL AND SPECIFIC STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.
THE CASH MANAGEMENT SERVICES HAS OVERSIGHT OF CASHIERING SERVICES AT SERVICES AT ALL COURT LOCATIONS, AND THEY HANDLE OTHER CRITICAL CASH RELATED FUNCTIONS.
THEY HAVE TWO NEW PROGRAMS, UH, PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR THIS YEAR.
THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOURS TO PROCESS A DROP OFF SURETY BOND, AND THE PERCENTAGE OF COURT CASE RESETS PROCESSED WITHIN 72 HOURS.
THE COLLECTIONS AND COMPLIANCE PROGRAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COLLECTION EFFORTS, AND OVERSEES OUR DEFERRED PAYMENT PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO COMPLY WITH COURT ORDERS THROUGH A UH, PAYMENT PLAN.
I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AN INITIATIVE WHICH WE BEGAN IN AUGUST OF 2025 THAT ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO HANDLE CERTAIN COURT RELATED REQUESTS BY EMAIL INSTEAD OF HAVING TO COME TO THE COURT.
SINCE AUGUST 1ST, 2025 THROUGH APRIL 30TH, 2026, OUR TEAM HAS PROCESSED 7,963 EMAIL REQUESTS, WHICH IS AN AVERAGE OF 884 PER MONTH.
WE ALSO HAVE A NEW PERFORMANCE MEASURE FOR THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO TRACK THE MAIL AND EMAIL REQUESTS THAT WE PROCESS TO ENSURE COURT COMPLIANCE.
THE COURT OPERATIONS PROGRAM HAS OVERSIGHT OF VARIOUS RESPONSIBILITIES, WHICH INCLUDE PRE-COURT, COURTROOM SERVICES, AND POST COURT SERVICES.
THIS PROGRAM HAS TWO NEW PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR FY 27, AND THE FIRST IS THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS TO PROCESS AN EXPUNGEMENT, AND THAT'S AN EXPUNGEMENT OF THEIR COURT RECORDS FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THEY DON'T HAVE THIS RECORD, UH, LATER ON FOR LIFE IF THEY WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE OR FOR VARIOUS, UH, MILITARY REASONS.
THE SECOND NEW PERFORMANCE MEASURE IS THE NUMBER OF COURSE COURT CASE RECORDS SECURELY DELETED FROM THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO PROTECT PERSONAL PRIVACY AND COMPLY WITH LEGAL RECORD RETENTION REQUIREMENTS.
THE JUDICIAL OPERATIONS PROGRAM PROVIDES THE PUBLIC OVERSIGHT WITH REGULAR AND SPECIAL DOCKETS, WEDDING SERVICE AND PARKING AND ORDINANCE ADJUDICATION HEARINGS.
WE HAVE TWO NEW PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR FY 27.
THE FIRST IS THE PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL COURT CASES ADJUDICATED THROUGH OUR SPECIALIZED COURT DOCKETS, AND THOSE ARE DOCKETS, SUCH AS LIKE OUR HOMELESS COURT, OUR VETERANS COURT.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE, UH, UH, THE YOUTH DIVERSION, AND WE HAVE A PROSTITUTION DIVERSION DOCKET AS WELL.
THE NUMBER OF COURT CASES PROVIDED WITH INTERPRETER SERVICES IS OUR SECOND NEW, UH, PERFORMANCE MEASURE.
THE PUBLIC INFORMATION SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES OVERSIGHT OF CLEARANCE LETTERS REQUESTS, WHICH ARE REQUESTS FOR EMPLOYMENT AND FOR MILITARY PURPOSES.
THE TIMELY RESPONSE TO OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS, MEDIA INQUIRIES, COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES SUCH AS COURT TOURS AND OTHER OUTREACH PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEY ALSO SERVE AS THE CITY COUNCIL AND LEGISLATIVE LIAISON.
WE HAVE TWO NEW PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR FY 27, THE PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS REQUESTING OPEN RECORDS WHO REPORT A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH IN-PERSON SERVICE BASED ON SURVEY RESPONSES.
AND THE SECOND IS THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS REVIEWED AND PROCESSED.
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PREVENTION AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES YOUTH SERVICES AND SUPPORT AT PARTNER, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS CAMPUSES.THEY ASSIST WITH TEEN COURT AND PROVIDE MEANINGFUL YOUTH ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES DURING SCHOOL BREAKS.
WE'RE SUPER PROUD OF ALL OUR PROGRAMS, RIGHT? BUT TEEN COURT AND ALL THE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT, UH, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES ARE JUST SPECIAL TO US AS WELL.
UM, OUR, OUR GROUP IS AMAZING AND SOME OF THE WORK THEY DO WITH THE STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY AROUND, LIKE DURING THE BREAKS WHEN KIDS DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO, WE PROVIDE, UM, ACTIVITIES.
WE HAVE A HOLIDAY, UH, ACTIVITIES WHERE ALL OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT EMPLOYEES DONATE AND THEY ADOPT FAMILIES.
AND, UM, I JUST CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW WONDERFUL THIS PAST CHRISTMAS WAS TO BE ABLE TO SEE, UH, THE LOOK ON THESE KIDS' FACE WITH ALL THE PRESENTS THAT MY TEAM GOT FOR THEM.
SO WE HAVE TWO NEW PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR THIS PROGRAM THIS YEAR, THE PERCENTAGE OF PARTICIPANTS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAM.
AND THE SECOND IS THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF STUDENT CASES MANAGED BY EACH JUVENILE CASE MANAGER MANAGER DURING THE YEAR.
UH, THE FY BUDGET FY 27 BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE A BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR THE DEBT SERVICES AND INTER FUND PROGRAM.
THIS IS PROBABLY A PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO DROP OFF, UM, BY THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, HIGHLIGHTING REVENUE.
UM, THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE BUDGET FOR FY 27 REFLECTS A 2% INCREASE FROM BOTH THE FY 26 REVENUE BUDGET AND THE ESTIMATE.
AND COURTS WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE VARIOUS INTERNAL INITIATIVES TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE REVENUE.
AND WE DON'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY OFF OF THE WEDDING AND THE PASSPORT SERVICES, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, IT IS SUCH A FANTASTIC WAY TO BRING IN THE PUBLIC TO OUR COURTHOUSE AND ALLOW THEM TO EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH JUDGES AND THE STAFF, YOU KNOW, FOR A MORE HAPPY TIME, RIGHT? A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE ARE COMING TO COURT, UH, BUT THEY ARE GETTING TO KNOW OUR COURTHOUSE, AND IT'S JUST, UM, A GREAT, I SAY, A PUBLIC RELATIONS OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COURT, UH, TO SEE THESE SERVICES.
THIS BAR GRAPH REFLECTS REVENUE FOR BOTH THE GENERAL FUND AND THE SPECIAL FUNDS BY FISCAL YEAR.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE FY 27 REVENUE BUDGET FOR ALL FOUR MUNICIPAL COURT SPECIAL FUNDS REFLECTS A 13% INCREASE FROM FY 26 ESTIMATE.
AS REFLECTED IN THIS CHART, THE FY 27 PROPOSED REVENUE REFLECTS A 3% INCREASE FROM THE FY 26 ESTIMATE ACROSS ALL FUNDS.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS A COMPARISON OF REVENUE BY PROGRAM.
BY FISCAL YEAR, THE MAJORITY OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT REVENUE CAN BE FOUND IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAM.
THIS CONCLUDES THE BUDGET PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION.
I WILL GO QUICKLY THROUGH THE NEXT FEW SLIDES AND THEN SHARE A FEW IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT OUR ACHIEVEMENTS.
THIS SLIDE REFLECTS OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.
THIS SLIDE, UM, IS SHOWS THE MUNICIPAL COURT DEPARTMENT DEMOGRAPHICS, UM, AND OF COURSE, WE CONTINUE TO REFLECT THE DIVERSITY THAT CAN BE FOUND IN HOUSTON.
AND SO HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FY 26 ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM.
I'VE HIGHLIGHTED FOUR THAT I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, OUR SPECIAL DOCKETS CONTINUE TO OFFER EQUITABLE CASE RESOLUTION OPTIONS TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION.
THE HOMELESS DOCKET IS HELD THREE TIMES PER MONTH AND THROUGH MARCH, 2026, IT HAS ASSISTED 524 INDIVIDUALS AND RESOLVED 2,284 CASES.
TEEN COURT CONTINUES TO GROW AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR YOUTH.
THIS PAST YEAR, WE'VE HAD OVER 150 STUDENT PARTICIPANTS.
LAST NIGHT, WE HELD OUR TEEN COURT GRADUATION WHERE 46 SENIORS WERE RECOGNIZED.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, WHO SERVED AS OUR GUEST SPEAKER AT THIS VERY
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EXCITING EVENT.I'M ALSO PLEASED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE HAVE A NEW JURY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN FY 26.
IT PROVIDES A MORE EFFICIENT PROCESS, INCLUDING A PAPERLESS SYSTEM AND A DEBIT CARD PAYMENT THAT WE UTILIZE INSTEAD OF A CHECK PAYMENT, WHICH WE HANDLE THROUGH THE MAIL.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE CONTINUE TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, PARTNER DEPARTMENTS, AND ARCHITECTS ON THE SITE SELECTION, DESIGN AND CORE SPACE NEEDS FOR OUR NEW MUNICIPAL COURT BUILDING.
I AM VERY, VERY EXCITED THAT WE HAVE MADE SO MUCH PROGRESS IN WHAT WILL BE AN ICONIC MUNICIPAL COURT BUILDING THAT ALL HOUSTONIANS WILL BE PROUD OF.
I HOPE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE CAN COME TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND PRESENT AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE'RE AT ON THAT PROGRESS.
AND THIS IS ANOTHER EXCITING THING THAT WE RECENTLY, UM, UH, HAD DONE AT OUR COURT.
WE PERFORMED OUR, UH, ANNUAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY, AND I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT WE HAD A 99.6% FAVORABLE RATING.
THIS IS A SURVEY THAT WE CONDUCT NOT ONLY AT THE MAIN COURTHOUSE, BUT AT ALL THE SATELLITE COURTS AS WELL, BECAUSE OUR MUNICIPAL COURT IS OFTEN THE VERY FIRST POINT OF CONTACT AS FAR AS A COURTHOUSE FOR MOST HOUSTONIANS.
I STRESS AND, AND I DON'T EVEN THINK I NEED TO STRESS IT.
MY TEAM UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TO ALL OF US, AND WE WANT THAT EXPERIENCE TO BE A POSITIVE AND PLEASANT EXPERIENCE FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS.
SO I REALLY WANNA COMMEND MY TEAM FOR THESE, UH, EXCITING SURVEY RESPONSES.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION FOR THE FY 27 BUDGET.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LITTLE POINT OF PRIVILEGE TO THANK MY TEAM.
UM, THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR THAT I COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY, AND I CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU GUYS HOW MUCH THIS EXECUTIVE TEAM, UM, JANESSA HERE AND ALL 230 SOMETHING EMPLOYEES, UM, HAVE SUPPORTED ME AND WHO HAVE STEPPED UP TO DO AN AMAZING JOB AT THE MUNICIPAL COURT, THE JUDGES, ALL OF THE STAFF.
I CONTINUE TO ASK A LOT OF THEM, AND THEY CONTINUE TO DELIVER.
SO ALL OF THIS BUDGET, I CAN SIT HERE AND PRESENT IT TO YOU, BUT IT'S ONLY BECAUSE OF THE EMPLOYEES AT THE MUNICIPAL COURTS THAT ALL OF THIS IS POSSIBLE.
ANY QUESTIONS? I'M READY TO ANSWER.
SPOKEN LIKE A TRUE LEADER, THANKS TO YOU AND TO YOUR AMAZING TEAM.
UH, WE REALLY ARE SO GRATEFUL YOU ARE AT THE HELM AND ALL THE GOOD WORK YOU'RE DOING.
AND SHE REMINDED ME, I I SPED HER ALONG LAST YEAR.
SO SHE, SHE REALLY GOT NAILED DOWN THAT, THAT, UH, THAT PRESENTATION.
UM, I'LL GO FIRST TO VICE CHAIR CASTILLO.
AND THANK YOU JUDGE SANTOS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
UM, ON THE SUCCESSES, PARTICULARLY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SATISFACTION SURVEY, THAT WAS GREAT TO LEARN THAT THE COURT IS SCORING SO HIGH, UH, FROM FOLKS WHO ARE, ARE THERE TO, YOU KNOW, UH, USUALLY DEAL WITH THE TICKET OR, OR WHATNOT.
BUT, UH, YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT'S THE COURT MOST FOLKS HAVE AN INTERACTION WITH.
AND SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO, TO LEAVE THAT POSITIVE IMP IMPRESSION.
AND, UM, I APPRECIATED ALL YOUR HIGHLIGHTS AROUND THE YOUTH PROGRAMS, UH, MENTIONING THE HOMELESS DOCKET AS WELL.
THOSE PROGRAMS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPACTFUL.
UM, AND I LEARNED ABOUT, ABOUT SOME NEW ONES THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING AS WELL.
MY QUESTION IS AROUND THE REVENUE BY FUND.
WHAT IS DRIVING THE INCREASE? THE 29% INCREASE IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT TECHNOLOGY FUND? UM, THAT'S, THAT'S A UNIQUE FUND, UM, IN THE SENSE THAT, UM, WE, WE ALSO GET SOME, UM, FROM THE VENDORS.
UH, WE HAVE A COLLECTIONS VENDOR, AND THAT'S PART OF THE CONTRACT WHERE THEY PROVIDE FUNDING TO ENHANCE THE TECHNOLOGY SO THAT WE CAN, UH, FOCUS ON SOME OF THE COLLECTION EFFORTS.
SO WE DO GET SOME FUNDING FROM, UH, VENDORS AND, UM, IT'S JUST ALSO SOME REALIGNMENT OF SOME COSTS SO THAT THEREFORE THE REVENUE LOOKS LIKE IT'S A LITTLE HIGHER, BUT THERE, BUT ALL OF THE COURT COSTS ARE THE, THE SAME.
SO IT, UM, THIS ONE IS JUST MORE OF A REALIGNMENT OF SOME OF THE COSTS.
SO IT ISN'T, UM, FROM AN INCREASE IN COLLECTIONS? NO,
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NO, IT'S, 'CAUSE IT'S THE, THE, ALL OF THESE SPECIAL FUNDS ARE COURT COSTS THAT ARE IN, UH, THE CITIZENS PAY WHEN THEY PAY A CITATION, AND THERE'S CERTAIN AMOUNTS THAT GO INTO EACH FUND.THIS ONE JUST LOOKS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER BECAUSE OF THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT IT GETS THROUGH THE COLLECTION VENDORS.
THANK YOU, UH, JUDGE FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
AND THANK YOU TO, UH, STAFF AS WELL.
I WANNA SHARE AN EXPERIENCE I HAD SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
I GOT SUBPOENAED AS A WITNESS ON A CASE, AND I WAS GOING THROUGH THE LOBBY AND, YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY PEOPLE GOING THROUGH SECURITY AND, UH, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GO.
AND, UM, LO AND BEHOLD, UH, SOMEONE FROM COURTS HELPING PEOPLE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY NEED TO GO AND WHERE THE COURTS, UH, ARE, ARE LOCATED IS OUR PRESIDING JUDGE AND DOING IT CHEERFULLY.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, CLEARLY THAT STARTS AT THE TOP.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR, YOUR WORK AND YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR THE JOB.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO SEE YOU IN, IN THAT ROLE, UH, TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE.
UH, I HAD JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
YOU MENTIONED THE USE OF EMAIL TO HELP, UH, THE COURTS BE MORE EFFICIENT.
DO YOU ALL USE EMAIL TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THEIR COURT SETTINGS COMING UP OR THEIR JURY DUTY ASSIGNMENTS? GOOD QUESTION.
UH, NOT, NOT EMAIL, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT CAPTURED, UH, THROUGH THE CITATIONS WHEN AN OFFICER WRITES A CITATION.
BUT WE DO SEND TEXT MESSAGES, SO IF THE OFFICER GOT A CELL PHONE NUMBER AND IT, AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE RIGHT NUMBER, WE DO HAVE A SYSTEM THAT WILL SEND REMINDERS, UH, TO CITIZENS THAT THEY HAVE A COURT DATE.
UM, WITH REGARD TO EMAILS, EVEN OUR NEW JURY SYSTEM, WE'RE NOT YET ON THAT, UM, ABLE TO USE EMAILS, BUT AGAIN, WE CAPTURE PHONE NUMBERS AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM THROUGH TEXT MESSAGING.
SAY FOR INSTANCE, THE COURT IS CLOSED DUE TO A FREEZE OR SOME ISSUE, WE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE OPTED IN AND GIVEN US A CELL PHONE NUMBER TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.
UH, THERE WAS, WHEN WE WERE TRANSITIONING BETWEEN THE TWO VENDORS, WE KIND OF HAD AN OVERLAP AND WE KNEW WE WERE GONNA HAVE TOO MANY JURORS AND RATHER THAN MAKE, YOU KNOW, A LAR 80 JURORS COME WHEN WE REALLY ONLY NEED ABOUT 50 OR SO, WE SENT TEXT MESSAGES AND SAID, YES, THIS, THIS IS THE COURTHOUSE AND HERE'S A REGULAR PHONE NUMBER OF, YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN A LOT WITH SPAM EMAILS YOU'RE, OR TEXTS, UM, WE WERE SURE THEY WOULD BE CONCERNED, BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COME TO COURT TOMORROW.
AND THEY WERE SO GRATEFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, WHO WANTS TO GO TO JURY DUTY? RIGHT.
SO WE DO UTILIZE, NOT EMAIL AS MUCH, BUT TEXT MESSAGING.
AND, UM, ON YOUR 2026 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I MAY HAVE MISSED IT, BUT I SEE HERE THAT COURTS RECEIVED THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL COURTS EDUCATION CENTER IS, UH, TRAFFIC SAFETY AWARD.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU, UH, GO OVER THAT? YES.
I, I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF 'EM, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IN, IN, IN THE ENTRANCE OF, OF TIME SURE.
THAT IS AN EXCITING AWARD BECAUSE SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION, UH, PIO TEAM, OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS, UH, WORK ON IS THESE OUTREACH EFFORTS AND TRAFFIC SAFETY IS SO, SO IMPORTANT IN HOUSTON, RIGHT? SO WE FEEL THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A COURT, WE SHOULD BE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NO TEXTING AND DRIVING OR, YOU KNOW, JUST ANY DISTRACTED DRIVING.
SO WE HAVE INITIATIVES AT THE COURT WHERE WE'LL BRING IN THE, THE STUDENTS FOR TOURS, AND WE HAVE, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S TEXAS A AND M THAT HAS THIS MOBILE UNIT, OR YOU PUT ON THE GOGGLES AND IT SHOWS YOU HOW, IF YOU'RE DISTRACTED, HOW YOU, YOU KNOW, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO DRIVE.
I DON'T DO IT BECAUSE I KNOW I'LL GET DIZZY, BUT THE, THE KIDS DO IT.
AND SO BECAUSE OF THOSE EFFORTS, WE PUT TOGETHER AN APPLICATION EVERY YEAR WE APPLY, SOME YEARS WE GET HONORABLE MENTION.
BUT THIS YEAR, THANKS TO MY FABULOUS TEAM AND JOSE SOTO AND ERICA DEON, THEY PUT THAT TOGETHER AND WE WON.
IT'S THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL COURTS EDUCATION CENTER.
AND, UH, FOR, THEY HAVE A GROUPS, THE LARGE MUNICIPALITIES, MEDIUM AND SMALL, AND WE WON
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THE AWARD FOR THE LARGE MUNICIPALITIES.THAT'S COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ.
UM, FIRST I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR, UH, HAVING ME YESTERDAY.
I REALLY ENJOYED IT AND ENJOYED INTERACTING WITH THE YOUNG FOLKS, AND OF COURSE THEIR PARENTS AS WELL.
UM, THEY LOVED YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU SPOKE FROM THE HEART, AND THOSE KIDS WERE JUST VERY, VERY INTENSELY LISTENING TO YOU.
I REALLY, REALLY, I REALLY ENJOYED IT.
UM, BUT, AND A LITTLE BIT OF, FROM THE LAST, UH, PRESENTATION YOU HEARD US TALK ABOUT THERE'S MIGHT BE SOME OVERLAPPING, UM, AND I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED LOOKING AT THE, YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED TO, AT THE UI STUDY AND SEEING HOW WE CAN BECOME MORE EFFICIENT.
UM, I, I THINK IT'D BE, IT'D BE DEFINITELY GOOD FOR US TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW Y'ALL RECEIVED MOST OF OUR FUNDING FROM THE, UH, GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
UM, SO, BUT I, IDENTIFYING WAYS WHERE, UM, WE COULD DEFINITELY BECOME BETTER, UH, HAVE BETTER, UH, PROGRAMMING IF WE'RE OVERLAPPING SEEING WHERE I'M SURE SOME OF THE KIDS FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT COULD BENEFIT FROM WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.
AND SO JUST THINK THROUGH THOSE THINGS.
UM, AGAIN, UH, THOSE YOUNG FOLKS FROM YESTERDAY, YOUNG FOLKS THAT WE'RE ENGAGING WITH THROUGHOUT, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, JUST TO HAVE A, A WELL-ROUNDED, UH, UM, EXPERIENCE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON WOULD BE IDEAL.
UM, WELL, CAN I SPEAK TO THAT FOR A SECOND? YEAH, DEFINITELY.
WE, UH, DEFINITELY COLLABORATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY THE, WHEN WE CALLED IT THE ANTI-GANG OFFICE.
SO IF OUR JU JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS RUN INTO A SITUATION WITH A STUDENT AT THE SCHOOLS, AND THEY ARE SOMEHOW, YOU KNOW, ASSOCIATED WITH GANGS, WE DO COLLABORATE WITH, WITH THE TEAM OF EXPERTS.
UH, ALSO ANOTHER POINT OF, OF INTEREST IS THAT OUR JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS ARE PRIMARILY FUNDED THROUGH THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGER FUND.
IT'S A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND THAT, UH, UH, IS COMPOSED OF WHEN PEOPLE PAY THEIR CITATIONS.
THERE'S A COURT COST, SO WE CAN ONLY USE THAT FUND FOR JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS AND, AND TRUANCY MAKES SENSE.
SO WHILE WE LOVE COLLABORATING, UM, ALSO WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE WERE INVOLVED WITH MY BROTHER'S KEEPER FOR A WHILE, AND JUST YESTERDAY I RECEIVED AN EMAIL ASKING IF I WOULD SERVE ON, UH, UM, THEIR EXECUTIVE, UH, BOARD MM-HMM
UM, REVOLVING AROUND THE MY BROTHERS KEEPER.
SO WE ARE, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT SUGGESTION.
AND UH, YES, WE WILL DEFINITELY COLLABORATE MORE AS WELL.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE, UM, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT HOW YOU CAN CONTINUE TO BRING IN REVENUE, WHEN'S THE LAST TIME THAT Y'ALL, UH, DONE A STUDY FOR WEDDINGS? I KNOW Y'ALL WEEKDAYS IS A HUNDRED DOLLARS, WEEKENDS 150.
UM, HAVE YOU, AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY CONSISTENT MAYBE WITH THE COUNTY AS WELL AND MAYBE SURROUNDING, BUT HAS THERE BEEN A STUDY TO SAY, HEY, MIGHT NEED TO INCREASE THE FEES? WE, WE DO NEED TO INCREASE THE FEE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE, THE, WE HAVE TO JUSTIFY ANY INCREASES.
UH, I THINK, UH, ON OUR, THE FEE SCHEDULES THAT, THAT THE CITY HAS IN THE FINANCE TEAM, AND BECAUSE OF THE HOPE INCREASES OUR STAFF'S SALARY HAS GONE UP.
SO IF IT'S, IF YOU LOOK AT THE COST THAT WE CHARGE, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE, THE CO THE TIME FOR OUR STAFF.
AND SINCE THEIR, UH, SALARIES HAVE GONE UP, IT, IT IS JUSTIFIED TO INCREASE THE, THE COST FOR THE, THE FEES FOR THE WEDDING.
SO WE, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER.
UM, I, I THINK IT IS NICE FOR THOSE THAT ARE GETTING MARRIED THAT, YOU KNOW, OH, IT'S ONLY A HUNDRED DOLLARS, BUT, UM, I STILL THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT TO RECOVER THE, THE FEES.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT REMINDER.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE.
AND IS THERE ANYONE HERE IN THE, IN THE CHAMBER THAT WANTS TO SPEAK? OKAY, WELL, THERE YOU GO.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO MUNICIPAL COURTS, YOUR WONDERFUL TEAM, JOSE, AND ALL THE REST.
WE LOVE WORKING WITH YOU AND, UM, GREAT JOB.
AND COME VISIT AND WHO KNOWS, I MAY BE STANDING AT THE, IN THE LOBBY AND I'LL GREET Y'ALL THERE.
COLLEAGUES, WE WILL BE BACK AT ONE 30 TODAY.
WE WILL START WITH, UM, HITS AT ONE 30 TO BE FOLLOWED BY ADMINISTRATION, REGULATORY AFFAIRS, AND THEN HUMAN RESOURCES.