Apr 24, 2024 Board of Directors Meeting

GETTING ONE.

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[1. Meeting called to Order The AACOG Board of Directors is meeting in accordance with Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code (Open Meetings Act). As such, the Board of Directors reserves the right to retire into executive session concerning any of the items listed on this Agenda whenever it is considered necessary and legally justified under the Texas Open Meetings Act.]

IT IS WEDNESDAY, THE APRIL THE 24TH, 2024, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

AND THE ALAMO AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT IS NOW IN SESSION.

UH, CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND WE'LL START WITH THE ROLL CALL.

SUSIE? YES, SIR.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

GOOD MORNING.

MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE KELLY.

HERE.

MAYOR DENNIS.

HERE.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

ANY PUTNEY FOR COMMISSIONER CALVERT? JUDGE CAMACHO.

HERE.

COMMISSIONER CARPENTER.

COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES.

MARCUS SPRING FOR COMMISSIONER K FLORES.

JUDGE K.

COMMISSIONER GILLESPIE FOR JUDGE K.

MAYOR DA HERE.

MAYOR DODGEN IS EXCUSED.

JUDGE EVANS.

HERE.

JUDGE EER.

I'M SORRY.

MAYOR EER.

HERE.

OR DEMOTED.

I REMEMBER THAT HERE.

COUNCILWOMAN GATO.

LAGA.

NAMES FOR COUNCILWOMAN GATO.

MR. HASLAUER? HERE.

JUDGE .

JUDGE JONES.

HERE, JUDGE RAEY.

MS. LEWIS.

ANGELA RODRIGUEZ.

FOR LISA LEWIS.

JUDGE LUTZ.

HERE.

SENATOR MENENDEZ.

SERGEANT GONZALEZ.

FOR SENATOR MENENDEZ.

COMMISSIONER MOODY, MISTY SPEARS FOR COMMISSIONER MOODY.

REPRESENTATIVE MURR.

COUNCILMAN AYA.

MAYOR SCHROEDER.

COUNCILMAN BRADLEY.

HERE.

JUDGE LAR.

JUDGE TEAL.

HERE.

MR. VALDIVIA IS, EXCUSE MR. QUEZ.

HERE.

JUDGE WHITMAN.

HERE.

MAYOR WILLIAMS IS EXCUSED LIGHT WITH A BIG REPRESENTATIVE DA VERONICA, AKA FOR REPRESENTATIVE MR. HOFFMAN.

JOHN ANDERSON.

FOR MR. HOFFMAN, REPRESENTATIVE HEEL.

SENATOR ZINI, WE HAVE A QUORUM AND IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RISE THE PLEDGE PLEDGES TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, IN LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.

FOR ALL HONOR, HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG FLAG ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER ONE.

PLEASE BE SEATED.

BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION OUT OF ORDER IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE DAVID JOHNSON, WHO'S OUT OF TOWN, TAKE THAT UP IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SO WE GOT PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO LEAVE EARLY, MAKE SURE WE GET SO WITH THAT, ANY DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT? THERE BEING NONE.

WE'LL MOVE ON

[6. Mr. Joe Gonzales - Bexar County Criminal District Attorney]

I WANT TO INTRODUCE JOE GONZALEZ, BEAR COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

UM, AND I THINK JOE AND CLIFF, UH, CUT THEIR TEETH TOGETHER AT THE DA'S OFFICE A LONG TIME AGO.

AND THAT IS, THAT IS BLONDE HAIR, BY THE WAY.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW PLATINUM BLONDE OR ONCE WAS A TIME WHEN I HAD HAIR LIKE JOE'S, BUT LONG GONE.

YEAH.

I STILL WANNA KNOW WHY YOU LOOK YOUNGER THAN I DID .

WELL, GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

UH, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE AND, UH, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE LAWYERS, I'D LOVE TO TALK.

SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ONLY A FIVE MINUTE PRESENTATION AND, AND I WILL TRY MY BEST TO STICK TO IT.

THE REASON I'M HERE FIRST, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, FOR INVITING ME TO SPEAK.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, THAT EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY AND SPECIFICALLY THIS GROUP, NO.

AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DO IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

I'LL TELL YOU THAT, UH, AND I APOLOGIZE IF I SPEAK FASTER THAN I USUALLY DO, TRY TO GET EVERYTHING IN WITHIN THE FIVE MINUTES.

ONE OF THE REASONS I ASK, UH, MR. HERBERT, UH, TO, UH, ALLOW ME TO SPEAK IS BECAUSE, UH, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION, UH, MISUNDERSTANDING, OF COURSE, FRUSTRATION, UH, AFTER THE, THE STATE OF SHOOTINGS THAT WE SPOKE.

WELL, LATE IN SUMMER AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, UH, THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT OUR, WHAT ROLE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS PLAYED SOME CONFUSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, UH, RUNNING THE STREETS AND HAC AS THEY WERE.

AND, AND OF COURSE, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT SOME OF THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED IN OFFICERS BEING HEARD.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO NOT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ENFORCEMENT TO GO HOME EVERY DAY TO FAMILIES.

AND SO, I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT OFF THE BAT THAT ONE OF THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT RESULTED FROM THAT INCIDENT, THOSE INCIDENCES, IS THAT WE CREATED A PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN, UM, WHICH IS COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

WE HAVE NOW COME TOGETHER AND IDENTIFIED AREAS THAT

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CERTAINLY, UH, THAT'S THE CASE IN THE DA'S OFFICE THAT WE, WE COULD, UH, MOVE THINGS ALONG MORE, MORE EFFICIENTLY.

ONE OF THE, THE GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT I'M PROUD OF IS THAT WE IDENTIFIED, IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A BACKLOG OF CASES INVOLVING VIOLENT OFFENDERS.

UH, SOME OF THEM REPEATED OFFENDERS, AND SO WE HAVE IDENTIFIED, IDENTIFIED THEM.

WE HAVE CREATED A HIGH RISK INTAKE TEAM TO TARGET THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

NOW, WE ALWAYS, PUBLIC SAFETY IS, IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, AND WE ALWAYS HAVE KNOWN THAT WE HAVE, UH, A GROUP OF VIOLENT OFFENDERS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.

UH, THE PROBLEM IS, YOU KNOW, OUR ROLE IS, IS, IS TO REVIEW CASES AND MAKE PROSECUTION DECISIONS, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE EVIDENCE AND ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND SOMETIMES, UH, CASES ARE DELAYED BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE EVIDENCE THAT WE NEED.

UH, IN ANY EVENT, WE HAVE, UH, IDENTIFIED THESE CASES THAT WE CAN MOVE QUICKER ON.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, I, I'VE GOT SOME NUMBERS WITH ME.

UM, WE HAVE NOW REDUCED OUR BACKLOG, UH, 20 BY 22%.

FIRST STARTED IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, WE HAD A BACKLOG OF 6,300.

WE'RE NOW DOWN TO 4,900 BECAUSE SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING EXTRA.

THEY'RE WORKING, UH, OVERTIME AFTER WORK AND ON THE WEEK WEEKENDS TO REDUCE, UH, THIS MASSIVE BACK BACKLOG.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT HAS RESULTED OUT OF THAT.

BUT BACK TO THE CONFUSION, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND, AND I DON'T MEAN TO INSULT ANYBODY KNOWS THE PROCESS, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT WHEN AN ARREST IS MADE AND A PRISONER, UH, WILL USE THAT TERM'S BROUGHT TO THE MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE, THEN THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE HAS TO MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S E ENOUGH EVIDENCE WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S PROBABLE CAUSE TO HOLD THAT INDIVIDUAL IN CHARGE THAT INDIVIDUAL.

BUT THAT MAGISTRATE JUDGE ALSO HAS A RESPONSIBILITY OF SETTING THE BOND.

THAT'S NOT THE DA'S OFFICE.

WE DON'T SET BONDS, BUT WE RECOMMEND BONDS.

UM, AND, AND THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE JUDGES HAVE.

AND THEY DO A VERY GOOD JOB AT IT.

IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT, UH, DECISION TO MAKE BECAUSE ALL THEY HAVE IS WHAT'S IN FRONT OF THEM.

THE, WHAT I'VE SAID ALL THE TIME IS WE CANNOT, WE DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL.

WE CAN'T PREDICT WHETHER OR NOT, IF WE, IF THE JUDGE HITS A BOND AT 50,000 OR 5,000, THAT PERSON IS GONNA COMMIT A MURDER A YEAR FROM NOW.

AND ALL WE, ALL WE CAN DO IS, IS USE THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US, BUT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY AND, AND IMPROVE THAT, THAT SYSTEM.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WHEN THAT PERSON IS CHARGED, WE, UH, INDICT THAT PERSON.

IF IT'S A FELONY, THEN WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING TO TRY AND GET 'EM TO TRIAL.

BUT THEY HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL, THEY HAVE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING A RIGHT TO TRIAL.

SO OFTENTIMES WHAT YOU SAY, WHAT YOU SEE IS DELAYS BECAUSE THEY INSIST ON, ON THEIR DAY IN COURT.

THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE TO HAVE THE EVIDENCE TO GO FORWARD.

WE HAVE TO HAVE WITNESSES, WE HAVE TO HAVE VICTIMS COME IN.

THI THIS IS ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES.

WE SEE A LOT, UM, OF SITUATIONS WHERE THE VICTIM, UH, TELLS US AFTER AN ARREST, I DON'T WANT MY HUSBAND OR BOYFRIEND TO GO TO JAIL 'CAUSE WE'LL LOSE HER HOUSE.

UH, KIDS WON'T BE ABLE TO, TO EAT, UH, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO THOSE ARE CHALLENGING CASES, UH, FOR US.

BUT, BUT I, LET ME FINISH BY SAYING, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESSES IN, IN THE CASES THAT WE DO HANDLE, WHEN WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE, WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO GO FORWARD, WHEN WE HAVE EVERYBODY DO WHAT, WHAT WE ASK 'EM TO DO THAT IS TO SHOW UP, TO TESTIFY, TO, TO COOPERATE WITH US, UM, AND TO GO FORWARD.

WE, WE HAVE SEEN, UH, A, A LARGE AMOUNT OF, UM, OF IMPROVEMENT.

I'LL TELL YOU, I'M PROUD OF THIS.

UM, WE NOW HAVE THE HIGHEST MURDER CONVICTION, UM, UH, THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST 13 YEARS, INCLUDING THE ADMINISTRATION THAT, THAT CLIFF, I'M SORRY, CLIFF, I'M GONNA HAVE TO BE YOU ON THIS ONE.

HE WAS A FIRST ASSISTANT UNDER, UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE BETTER THAN THAT.

WE, UH, HAVE AN 86% CONVICTION RATE ON MURDERS, WHICH AGAIN, IS UNHEARD OF.

WE ALSO HAVE HUGE SUCCESS IN OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES, 75% ON AGGRAVATED ROBBERIES, UM, FE UH, FELONY DWIS, BETTER THAN 95%.

SO WE'RE MO MOVING FORWARD WHEN WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE.

AGAIN, WE'VE, UH, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF SUCCESSES WITH THE, UM, WITH THE, THE BACKLOG.

WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

I JUST WANNA, WANTED TO COME DOWN HERE, UH, AND, AND VISIT WITH YOU ALL AND LET YOU KNOW THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

HOPEFULLY, WE'LL, UH, WE'LL GET BETTER AND BETTER AT IT.

UM, AS I SAY, AND, AND CLIFF KNOWS THIS ALL THE TIME, THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED THE PRACTICE OF LAW.

EVEN THOUGH I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 35 YEARS, THERE'S STILL A LOT THAT I CAN LEARN.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

WE'LL, HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY, WONDERFUL DAY.

YES, SIR.

WE DIDN'T EVEN UNDER SIX MINUTES, COURSE.

YES.

THANK DO.

THANK, THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR COMING TO, UH, SPEAK WITH US THIS MORNING.

WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO, AND I THINK ALL OF US AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORK IS HARD.

HOWEVER, MY QUESTION TO YOU, AND YOU DON'T NEED TO ANSWER NOW, BUT JUST SOMETHING I'VE NOT HEARD, HOW ARE, HOW

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UM, AND I WAS LIKE, WE HEAR THESE, YOU KNOW, 10 YEAR OLDS AND 12 YEAR OLDS.

SO HOW ARE YOU, HOW IS YOUR OFFICE APPROACHING OR LETTING THAT BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION? BECAUSE IF THEY ARE OUT OF THE SYSTEM, THEN THEY DON'T GET TO YOU.

SO JUST A THOUGHT.

OKAY.

FIRST OF ALL, AND IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

FIRST OF ALL, I MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO VISIT AS MANY SCHOOLS AS I CAN, UH, TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY.

BECAUSE OF AGE, THE AGE OF, UH, CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY BEGINS AT THE AGE OF 10 TO THE DAY BEFORE THEY TURN 17.

SO IN THAT SCENARIO, YOU SAID A 15 AND A 17-YEAR-OLD.

THE 17-YEAR-OLD IS AN ADULT IN THE EYES OF THE LAW.

WE'LL CHARGE 'EM LIKE AN ADULT FOR ANYBODY.

THAT'S BETWEEN 10 TO THE DAY BEFORE THEY'RE 17.

UH, WE HAVE A JUVENILE DIVISION.

IN FACT, THE MAJORITY OF MY PRACTICE I HAVE FOCUSED ON, ON JUVENILE LAW, EITHER ON THE DEFENSE SIDE OR ON THE PROSECUTION SIDE.

UH, WE HAVE A RE ROBUST DIVISION, UH, WITH SOMEONE WHO'S A VETERAN, UH, LAWYER AT JUVENILE LAW.

AND, UH, WE, WE OFTEN WILL CERTIFY OR SEEK TO CERTIFY, UH, A JUVENILE WHO COMMITS A SERIOUS CRIME.

SO ON THE, ON THE PROSECUTION SIDE, WE ARE FOCUSING ON HOLDING, UH, JUVENILE OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE.

UH, THE, THE SYSTEM WORKS IN THIS WAY, UH, WITH AN HEIR, UH, OR AN EYE, I SHOULD SAY, AN EYE TOWARD REHABILITATION IF, IF POSSIBLE.

BUT WHEN SOMEBODY COMMITS AN AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT OR A MURDER OR AN AGGRAVATED ROBBERY, AND THEY HAPPEN TO BE 15, 16, UH, THEN WE'RE GONNA HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

AND THERE, THERE ARE, THERE ARE WAYS TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

SO, BUT I CONTINUED TO GO OUT TO THE SCHOOLS AND I'LL, ANYBODY THAT INVITES ME, I, I'D LOVE TO GO AND, AND TALK WITH THEM, BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT TIME, THE KIDS DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU'RE 12 YEARS OLD AND YOU, YOU TAKE A GUN TO SCHOOL, WE'RE GONNA HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE.

ANYBODY ELSE? MAY I ASK A QUICK QUESTION, JOE, JUST, JUST FOR OUR, OUR BOARD'S EDIFICATION.

HOW MANY, HOW MANY PROSECUTORS HAVE YOU GOT IN THE OFFICE NOW? WE, WHEN WE'RE FULLY STAFFED, 250, WE ARE DOWN, ARE DOWN ABOUT, ABOUT BETWEEN 15 TO TO 17 PROSECUTORS AT THE HEIGHT OF WHEN WE SAW PEOPLE LEAVING, UH, ABOUT A YEAR.

AND, UH, A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, WE HAD LOST 30 PROSECUTORS.

BUT AS A RESULT OF THE COMMISSION, COMMISSIONER'S, COURT'S WILLINGNESS TO, UH, UM, TO GIVE US, UH, UH, PAY RAISES, PAID, UH, WAGE, UH, ADJUSTMENTS, I THINK THEY CALL 'EM, UH, WE'VE HELD ON TO, UH, TO OUR PEOPLE SO WE HAVE A GREATER RATE OF RETENTION.

BUT THAT'S, THAT'S A CONSTANT CHALLENGE.

YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN A LAWYER, AS YOU KNOW, UH, CLIFF FIVE, SIX YEARS, CAN MAKE TWO, SOMETIMES THREE TIMES ON THE PRIVATE SIDE THAN YOU CAN MAKE AS A, AS A PROSECUTOR.

SO PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE OFFICE ARE, ARE DOING IT BECAUSE THEY LOVE WHAT THEY DO.

THEY LOVE FIGHTING FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME, NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA GET, UH, WEALTHY DOING IT.

SO IT IS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE.

AND, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S UNIQUE TO SAN ANTONIO.

WE'RE SEEING THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE PROSECUTORS OFFICES HAVE A HARD TIME, UH, ATTRACTING AND KEEPING THEIR PROSECUTORS, UH, IN THE OFFICE.

AND THAT'S WHAT SB 22 IS ABOUT.

UH, GAVE GAVE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO RURAL COUNTY.

YEAH.

YES.

THAT LAW THAT, UH, UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T AFFECT US BECAUSE WE'VE GOT, UH, TOO HIGH.

IT AFFECTED US, AND WE DID, WE DID THE, UH, RECRUIT AND RETENTION BONUS TOO.

MM-HMM.

.

WE'LL GET A FEW.

YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU.

UM, THANK YOU.

UH, DA, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.

I WANTED TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, OVER THE SUMMER, UM, THE DA MET WITH CHIEF MCMANUS IN A, UH, FORUM IN MY DISTRICT.

HE AGREED TO IT, AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK HIM PUBLICLY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

HE, HE WAS GONNA GET A LOT OF ARROWS THROWN AT HIM.

AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, I'M SO HAPPY THAT THERE'S SO MUCH PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN DONE.

AND THEN I JUST ALSO WANNA REMIND US, I HAD A MEETING A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO WITH MARCELLA WHO OVERSEES THE, THE BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER.

AND THE WORST WEEK FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS TO OCCUR IN SAN ANTONIO IS THE WEEK AFTER FIESTA.

SO, AS WE'RE, UNFORTUNATELY, AS WE CELEBRATE AND WE ARE HAPPY, AND JUST TAKING IT ALL IN THE WEEK AFTER, SHE SAID, IS THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME FOR A LOT OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

SO, PLEASE, UM, KEEP THAT IN MIND AND, AND JUDGE WHATEVER YOU CAN DO THERE TO HELP US FIGURE OUT WHY THAT HAPPENED.

BUT THAT, THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER TASK.

SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH FOR I'M SORRY, D SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO.

THANK YOU.

WONDERFUL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, JOE.

WELL, I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE INVITATION.

EVERYBODY HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK.

AND AGAIN, HAPPY FIESTA.

BYE-BYE.

AND YOU DID KEEP IT SHORT.

JOE, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, IF YOU GOTTA TAKE SOME GUESS ABOUT FOR YOUR TEAM THERE, WE MUST HAVE A PUNCH QUESTION, ANYWAY, TAKE

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NO, NOT THE BOWL THAT'S BORROWED.

MAY PUNCH.

OKAY.

[7. Executive Director’s Monthly Report - Cliff Herberg A. Staffing Updates: B. Program Status and Operational Updates: Agency Contract Performance Report (CPR) Aging Services Alamo Regional Transit (ART) Public Affairs & Communications Intellectual & Developmental Disability Services (IDDS) Natural Resources Public Safety Regional Services Environmental Conservation Military & Veterans Affairs Weatherization Assistance Program C. Organizational and General Administration Updates: Building Update Administration Policy Review Chief Financial Officer General Counsel]

IT'S, THAT'S, I LOWER THIS CHAIR ON YOU, JOE , EXCUSE ME, IN A, A LITTLE TALLER.

ALL GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THIS IS, UH, MY, MY APRIL REPORT.

I WANT TO START OFF WITH OFF WITH OUR STAFFING UPDATES.

UM, OUR FLEX SCHEDULE THAT WE IMPLEMENTED RECENTLY, THERE ARE NOW 54 PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE WORK FROM HOME HYBRID SCHEDULE, EITHER TAKING ONE OR TWO REMOTE REMOTE DAYS, UM, OFF FROM THE, FROM THE OFFICE.

AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS GRADUALLY AS EACH OF THE PROGRAMS ARE EVALUATING WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND THE SCHEDULING SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF LOSS IN PRODUCTIVITY.

SO, UH, WE EXPECT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FLEX SCHEDULE ONCE WE GO THROUGH EACH OF THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS. UM, ON ANOTHER MATTER, ON APRIL THE 12TH, JOHN TORRES, DEBBIE UGARTE, LYLE HUFFSTETLER, AND CRYSTAL CAMPOS ROSALES COMPLETED A 12 WEEK ONLINE HIGH PERFORMANCE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.

AND THIS PROGRAM IS HOSTED AND PUT ON BY THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, UH, DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY.

AND IT CONTAINS TRAINING ON BEST PRACTICES AND LEADERSHIP, ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CHANGE MANAGEMENT, AND HOW TO DELIVER INCREASED VALUE FROM HIGH PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT.

AND, UH, I WANT TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION.

THIS PROGRAM WAS HIGHLY TOUTED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL COUNCIL'S, UM, ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

AND THEY HAD VARIOUS MEMBERS OF COGS TALKING ABOUT WHAT, UM, A GREAT PROGRAM IT WAS.

AND A PARTICULAR INTEREST TO ME WAS THE HOUSTON GALVESTON COG HAS THOUGHT SO MUCH OF THIS PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE SENT 79 OF THEIR MANAGERS THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

AND SO WE WENT AHEAD AND SIGNED UP AND, AND, UH, I USE THESE FOUR INDIVIDUALS AS OUR TEST, OUR TEST PILOTS TO SEE ABOUT THE PROGRAM, AND THEY REPORT VERY FAVORABLY ON IT.

SO I, WITH WITH A LITTLE BIT OF FUNDING IN THE BUDGET, I INTEND TO SEND MORE OF THE MANAGERS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

IT COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I FOUND ABOUT IT, AND I I RECOMMEND IT TO YOU, IS IT'S VERY AFFORDABLE.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET A DISCOUNT FOR SENDING FOUR PEOPLE.

IT WAS 1500 A PERSON COMPARED TO, I BELIEVE 2000 IS THEIR NORMAL FEE.

BUT THAT'S A VERY AFFORDABLE AND MANAGEABLE, UH, ASK TO, UH, SEND THESE PEOPLE TO, UH, VERY CONSTRUCTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE TRAINING.

SO I WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOU, AND AS I SAY, IT'S FROM THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, WE CAN CERTAINLY GIVE YOU ALL OF THE INFORMATION, UH, REGARDING OUR PROGRAM STATUS AND OPERATIONAL UPDATES.

OUR ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT, I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE, HAS RECEIVED THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR OUR 2022 REPORT.

AND ACCORDING TO THIS ORGANIZATION, IT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF RECOGNITION IN GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING.

AND IT SEEKS TO PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY AND FULL DISCLOSURE IN GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL REPORTING, UH, IN AGING SERVICES.

WE WERE VERY PLEASED TO HOST ON APRIL THE 12TH, SENATOR JOSE MENENDEZ, WHO ATTENDED OUR BEARER COUNTY, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, OUR BEARER SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING.

AND THE SENATOR PROVIDED A SNAPSHOT OF THE LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FACING OLDER TEXANS.

UH, ART, AS YOU REMEMBER, DURING OUR VERY, VERY BUSY FIRST WEEK OF APRIL, UH, PULLED OFF A YEOMAN'S TASK, AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THEM AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR EFFORT.

AS YOU REMEMBER, WE HAD BOTH THE GREAT, UH, AMERICAN AIR SHOW AND THE ECLIPSE, UH, ART PROVIDED SERVICE SUPPORT TO THE GREAT TEXAS AIR SHOW FROM, UH, ON APRIL WITH, UH, BY PERFORMING 3,858 TRIPS.

AND IN KERRVILLE ART PROVIDED 250 TRIPS RELATED TO THE ECLIPSE.

UH, IT ALSO, IN THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL, ART HOSTED TWO TRANSIT FOCUS GROUPS AT THE DIETER CENTER IN KERRVILLE.

AND THE PLANNING MEETING SOUGHT PUBLIC INPUT AND FEEDBACK FOR ROUTES AND MICRO TRANSIT TRANSPORTATION.

ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO EXTEND MY THANKS TO THEM, UH, FOR SUCH A VERY, VERY BUSY APRIL IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.

THE NAT, THE NEXT RESOURCE RECOVERY MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON MAY THE EIGHTH AT 2:00 PM HERE AT ACOG IN OUR IDD SERVICES, THE IDD SERVICES, TRANSITION SUPPORT TEAM AND SUPPORT AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM STAFF PARTICIPATED IN THE ATASCOSA MULLEN SPECIAL EDUCATION COOPERATIVE COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR IN POTE.

ON APRIL THE FIFTH, THE TEAM WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED BY A-D-I-D-D IN THE COMM COMMUNAL RIAL COMMUNITY, UH, LANCER WORLDWIDE, WHICH IS OUR, UH, HOST ENTITY THAT

[00:20:01]

UH, WELCOME THEIR THIRD COHORT OF APPRENTICES IN LATE MARCH.

THIS GROUP OF MEN AND WOMEN RECEIVING SERVICES THROUGH ACOG WILL COMPLETE THEIR PAID EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE IN AUGUST OF 2024.

AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH LANCER WORLDWIDE, BUT THEY'RE A LOCAL COMPANY THAT WAS FOUNDED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND YOU PROBABLY USE THEIR MACHINES ALL THE TIME.

WHEN YOU GO TO GET A DRINK, UH, AT SOME VARIOUS GAS STATIONS, YOU'LL SEE THE LANCER LOGO.

SO THEY MAKE BEVERAGE DISPENSING EQUIPMENT, AND THEY ARE, THEY SIGNED ON TO, TO WORK WITH US IN THE IDD PROGRAM, UH, AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

ACOG IS HOSTING THE FINAL STOP ON THE SOUTH TEXAS EV ROAD SHOW, WHICH IS TODAY, APRIL THE 24TH AT TWO THIRD OR APRIL 24TH IN THE, UH, BOARDROOM AT TWO 30.

THE SOUTH TEXAS EV ROADSHOW IS A TOUR THAT AIMS TO INFORM SOUTH TEXAS LEADERS AND STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES AND ENCOURAGE APPLICATIONS FOR AVAILABLE GRANTS AND INCENTIVES.

TDOT WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE TEXAS EV PLAN IN SAN ANTONIO.

T-C-Q-T-C-E-Q WILL PRESENT, UH, TO ANSWERS AND QUESTIONS ON AVAILABLE STATE INCENTIVES.

AND FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU MAY VISIT ELECTRIFY TEXAS ROADSHOW.COM.

UH, THIS IS A SAVE THE DATE ANNOUNCEMENT.

THE ALAMO AREA CLEAN CITIES COALITION IS PLANNING FOR RENEW RENEWABLE NATURAL NATURAL GAS WORKSHOP THE WEEK OF JUNE THE 17TH.

THE WORKSHOP WILL EDUCATE FLEET MANAGERS AND TECHNICIANS ABOUT RNG AS A TRANSPORTATION FUEL SOURCE, AND BRING AWARENESS TO THE THREE DIFFERENT RNG PRODUCTION FACILITIES THAT ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED TO PRODUCE TRANSPORTATION FUEL.

UH, ALSO THIS MONTH ON A, ON APRIL THE 16TH, OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND, AND REGIONAL SERVICES PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS MET WITH GO MEDINA, WHICH IS THE MEDINA COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION IN LACOSTE.

UH, ACOG'S FOCUS WAS TO ENGAGE THE REPRESENTATIVES AND PROGRAMS SERVICES ALONG WITH IDEAS FOR GRANT PROPOSALS IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS.

A ROADSHOW IS PLANNED FOR MAY THE NINTH FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM AT THE WILSON COUNTY EXPO AND COMMUNITY CENTER, UH, REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY.

UH, JUSTIN REZ, OUR HOMELAND SECURITY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING COORDINATOR WILL HOST A STOP THE BLEED TRAINING AT ACOG ON APRIL THE 30TH, WHICH IS A TUESDAY FROM NINE TO 11:00 AM IN OUR BOARDROOM.

THE TRAINING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF YOUR STAFF WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND, PLEASE CONTACT JUSTIN AT HIS EMAIL ADDRESS, WHICH IS IN YOUR PACKET.

UH, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE EVER ATTENDED THAT.

STOP THE BLEED TRAINING.

IT IS VERY, VERY, UH, EDUCATIONAL AND IT'S VERY INFORMATIVE AND IT'S VERY, UM, UH, SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN CONVERT TO A REAL LIFE SCENARIO.

YOU CAN, YOU CAN REALLY, UH, PUT THIS TRAINING INTO EFFECT.

I WENT THROUGH IT, AND IF YOU SEE SOMEONE IN A STAB WOUND OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, HANDLING THOSE TYPES OF INJURIES IS NOT LIKE YOU SEE ON TV.

AND THE TRAINING IS REALLY WORTH, WELL WORTH GOING THROUGH.

AND THEY ALSO PROVIDE, WHEN YOU GO TO THE TRAINING FOR A FEE, YOU CAN BUY THE KIT.

I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE IN MY CAR NOW, UH, THAT CONTAINS ALL OF THE VARIOUS, UH, BANDAGES AND TOURNIQUETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT HAS A, UH, SERIOUS, UH, BLEEDING INJURY.

SO THE TRAINING'S VERY, VERY INFORMATIVE AND WELL WORTH YOUR TIME.

UM, AND REGIONAL SERVICES REGISTRATION TO ATTEND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WORKSHOP IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY THE 31ST AND OUR BOARDROOM, AND WILL OPEN ON APRIL THE 30TH.

REGIONAL SERVICES WILL CO-HOST THE WORKSHOP IN COLLABORATION WITH DENTON NAVARRO RODRIGUEZ, BERNAL, SAN, AND ZACH.

UH, THE WORKSHOP WILL FEATURE OPEN RECORDS AND OPEN MEETINGS TRAINING, AND IT DOES REQUIRE REGISTRATION.

AND PLEASE CONTACT CLAUDIA MORA TO REGISTER.

AND I THINK YOU'LL RECALL FROM MY LAST MEETING, I URGED YOU ALL THE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PLEASE GO TO THAT.

IT KEEPS YOU OUT OF TROUBLE.

REGARDING THOSE OPEN MEETINGS AND OPEN RECORDS REQUIREMENTS.

UH, THE EDA PARTNERSHIP PLANNING GRANT MATCH IS A GRANT THAT IS RENEWED EVERY THREE YEARS.

THE GRANT IS USED TO CONDUCT ACTIVITIES RELATED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE REGION WITH THE GRANT, ACOG PROVIDES TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STAFF, SUCH AS WORKSHOPS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING AND ZONING ELECTED ELECTED OFFICIALS.

IN ADDITION, ACOG ASSISTS WITH GRANT RESEARCH, APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING DEVELOPMENT FOR THE 24 TO 26.

BY AND M, ACOG MUST PROVIDE A 40% MATCH TO THE EDA PARTNERSHIP PLANNING GRADE GRANT.

ACOG IS PROPOSING TO PROVIDE A 37% MATCH AND A 67 60 3% INKIND MATCH, UH, OVER THE NEXT THREE YEAR PERIOD.

WE ASK FOR YOUR DOCUMENTATION OF TIME SPENT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RELATED ACTIVITIES IN YOUR COUNTIES, AND TO RENEW THE GRANT, WE MUST ALSO PROVIDE YOUR COMMITMENT LETTER TO PROVIDING THE INKIND MATCH.

STAFF WILL BE SENDING OUT A

[00:25:01]

AND YOU MAY SEND SUMMARIES OF YOUR ACTIVITIES FOR JANUARY THROUGH MARCH OR COPIES OF YOUR CALENDARS TO CLAUDIA MORA AT HER EMAIL ADDRESS, WHICH IS IN YOUR PACKET.

OR, UH, OF COURSE YOU CAN EMAIL ME AND I WILL FORWARD THEM TO CLAUDIA AS WELL, UH, AS WELL.

UH, ON OUR, FINALLY ON OUR BUILDING UPDATE, AS YOU WILL RECALL, ON APRIL THE SIXTH, WE INSTALLED THE NEW CHILLER ON THE BUILDING, AND THAT WAS SUCCESSFULLY DONE.

AND I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF PICTURES SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT WAS DONE ON THE SCREEN THERE.

THAT'S OUR BRAND NEW CHILLER.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT ROUGHLY 500,000 BUCKS, UH, FOR INSTALLATION.

AND THAT CHILLER INTERESTING.

I, I HAD A PICTURE OF THE OLDER ONE, BUT IT, I, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, DIDN'T INCLUDE IT HERE, BUT IT'S ABOUT TWO THIRDS THE SIZE OF THE OLDER ONE.

THAT CHILLER WEIGHS 6,200 POUNDS COMPARED TO THE 8,200 POUND CHILLER AND IS MUCH MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT THAN THE ONE THAT WE REPLACED THAT WAS PAST ITS USEFUL SERVICE LIFE.

CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT PICTURE? IT WAS QUITE AN EVENT TO SEE IT.

THIS WAS ON THE WEEKEND, SO THERE IT IS WITH THE CRANE.

GO ON.

KEEP, JUST SCAN THROUGH THOSE PICTURES.

THERE WE ARE.

THAT'S A 250 TON CRANE THAT'S PUTTING THAT UP, UH, ON OUR BUILDING.

NEXT SLIDE.

THERE YOU ARE.

THAT'S A PICTURE FROM THE HIGHWAY.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE CURIOUS ABOUT USELESS INFORMATION LIKE THAT, IT COSTS $25,000 FOR THAT CRANE TO SET UP FOR FOUR HOURS.

SO YOU'RE SEEING YOUR 25,000 BUCKS AT WORK THERE.

UH, AND THERE IT IS, UH, WHEN THEY SLIDE THAT INTO THE, TO THE PENTHOUSE UP THERE OR THE DOGHOUSE AND, UH, THEY'RE GETTING IT STATIONARY AND IT'S NOW BEING INSTALLED AND PIPED IN AS WE SPEAK, IT'LL BE IN HOPEFULLY OPERATIONAL IN THE NEXT MONTH.

UH, AND THEN ON THE, UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THIS IS A BEFORE PICTURE OF WHAT ONE OF OUR HALLWAYS LIKE, UH, LIGHTING LOOKED LIKE BEFORE THE INSTALLATION OF OUR NEW LED LIGHTS.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE NOTICED WHEN YOU COME IN ON THE FIRST FLOOR, IT'S A LOT BRIGHTER THAN IT USED TO BE.

UH, AND SO HERE'S THE SECOND PICTURE AND THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE NEW LIGHTING.

AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE CCO, UH, $1.7 MILLION LOAN WE OBTAINED.

AND OF COURSE THOSE LIGHTS ARE ENERGY EFFICIENT PAY FOR THEMSELVES AND, UH, UH, WE GET THE BENEFIT, OF COURSE, BETTER LIGHTING AND AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

AND SO WITH THAT, THAT COMPLETES, UH, MY, UH, REPORT.

ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT

[ Consent Agenda The consent agenda consists of items considered being of a routine nature and contains items recommended for approval by the Executive Committee or by the Board Chair and the minutes from previous Board of Directors meetings. These items will be enacted in one motion, or any member of the Board may request that items be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately for purposes of discussion and voting.]

I MOTION TO APPROVE.

I'LL SECOND IT.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ANY DISCUSSION? THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

A AYE.

OPPOSED? ADOPTED.

OKAY.

SO

[ Executive Session]

I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S SALARY INCREASE BY $35,000, UM, BASED ON CRITERIA THAT'S BEEN PUT BEFORE US.

AND THAT NEW TOTAL FOR MR. CLIFF HERBERG WOULD BE $271,140 AND 32 CENTS.

SECOND.

GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND DISCUSSION.

WHO WAS THE SECOND? THANKS.

HE BEEP ME.

OKAY.

.

HE WAS THIS CLOSER.

IT EITHER LUKE OR WHITMAN, I DON'T KNOW.

YEAH, NO, I GOT IT.

OKAY.

ANY DISCUSSION? CO SECOND? DID ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE.

OPPOSED? THERE BEING NONE UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

SO WITH THAT, WE'RE GONNA GO, I APPRECIATE THERE WAS NO OPPOSITION, BY THE WAY.

, WE SQUELCHED THAT.

YEAH.

LITTLE TIME.

THANK YOU FOR DOING A GREAT JOB, .

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MOVING

[10. Consider and act upon the recommendation to approve the 1st Quarter 2024 financial report. - Julio Elizondo A. Dashboard B. Balance Sheet C. Revenue and Expenditures D. Administrative Budgets E. Quarterly Investment Report]

HERE WE GO.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, MR. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBER, LEMME ADJUST THE MIC, ADJUST MIC HERE.

UH, MY NAME IS YOUR CHIEF FINANCIAL, SIR, AND TODAY I'LL BE GIVING YOU AN UPDATE ON THE FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

HERE'S A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE, WE, WE WILL BE COVERING TODAY.

WE'LL GO OVER OUR FINANCIAL DASHBOARD, WHICH I JUST WANT TO UPDATE YOU ALL.

WE'VE ADDED A COUPLE NEW METRICS AT THE REQUEST OF MAYOR DENNIS.

WE WILL ALSO BE GOING OVER OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, BOTH THE BALANCE SHEET, THE STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, AND EVERYTHING WITHIN THOSE DOCUMENTS, AS WELL AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGETS.

HERE'S OUR FINANCIAL DASHBOARD.

AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER, THE TWO NEW METRICS THAT WE DID ADD, OR COUPLE PIE GRAPHS, PIE GRAPHS DOWN AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT

[00:30:01]

UH, WE DID, THOSE ARE EXPENDITURE VARIANCES BY PROGRAM.

ONE OF 'EM IS A MONTH TO DATE AND THE OTHER IS A YEAR TO DATE.

YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT MATCHES THE WATERFALL METRIC RIGHT ABOVE THAT.

THOSE NUMBERS SHOULD REALLY TIE EXACTLY TO THAT.

JUST A DIFFERENT VIEW OF HOW TO, HOW TO, HOW TO READ THOSE FINANCIALS, UH, UM, IN THAT PIE GRAPH.

SO THE OTHER METRICS THAT I DO WANNA POINT OUT ARE THE PERCENTAGE EARNED IN SPENT UP AT THE TOP LEFT CORNER.

YOU CAN SEE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER, WE'RE AT ABOUT 24%, WHICH IS AROUND WHERE YOU WANT TO, WHERE YOU WANNA BE AT THE END OF A QUARTER.

UH, AND THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS THAT ARE DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN OTHERS, AND I WILL COVER THOSE WHEN WE GET TO THOSE SLIDES IN A FEW MINUTES.

THE OTHER AGE, THE OTHER METRIC THAT I WANNA POINT OUT IS THE AGED ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.

UH, YEAR TO DATE, YOU CAN SEE WE'RE AT $10.6 MILLION.

IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE LEVEL WHERE WE'VE BEEN AT THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AND ARE OVER 90.

I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE IS ABOUT 8% LAST YEAR WE'RE AROUND 20%.

SO, UM, THE TEAM REALLY HAS HONED IN ON MAKING SURE, UH, THAT WE, UM, STAY VIGILANT WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE OPEN RECEIVABLES, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE MEET ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO DISCUSS ANY OPEN RECEIVABLES AND SEE IF WE CAN COLLECT THOSE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

OUR COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS AT THE END OF MARCH, OUR TOTAL ASSETS WERE ABOUT $48.2 MILLION, A FEW MILLION UP WHERE WE WERE A, A YEAR AGO.

THE BIGGEST REASON FOR THAT IS OUR AR AND AGAIN, I'LL COVER THAT WHEN WE GET TO OUR ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SLIDE AND SHOW YOU WHICH, UH, CUSTOMERS MAKE UP THAT, THOSE BIGGER BALANCES.

AND AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER, WE ARE SITTING AT 552,000 REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURES FOR THE FIRST QUARTER.

HERE WE HAVE OUR SUMMARY OF OUR FUND BALANCE, BOTH UNRESTRICTED AND RESTRICTED.

AT THE END OF MARCH, WE ARE AT $10 MILLION.

UH, THAT'S UP ABOUT, UH, FROM THE 7.3 MARKER WHERE WE WERE A YEAR AGO.

THE BIGGEST REASON FOR THAT IS MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS.

THE VETERANS DIRECTED PROGRAM HAS DONE REALLY WELL.

AND SO A LOT OF THAT, OF THAT FUNDING THAT THEY HAVE, UM, ADDED TO FUND BALANCE WILL BE USED AT A LATER TIME FOR TO, TO PUT BACK RIGHT INTO SERVICES AND AND WHATNOT.

OUR CASH AND INVESTMENTS, VERY IMPORTANT SLIDE.

UH, YOU CAN SEE HERE AT THE END OF MARCH, WE ARE AT $7.7 MILLION, A LITTLE INCREASE FROM WHERE WE WERE A YEAR AGO AND, UM, A A COUPLE MILLION, UH, BETTER THAN WE WERE LAST, LAST MONTH.

AND JUST TO KIND OF, UH, GO INTO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON THAT, UH, WE HAVE OUR INVESTMENT SUMMARY.

THIS IS, UM, BROUGHT TO YOU ALL BY THE PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT ACT.

YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE OUR, OUR MONEY MARKETS AS WELL AS OUR INVESTMENT POOLS LISTED OUT HERE.

AND OUR CDS AT THE END OF MARCH OR DURING MARCH, WE DID ADD A NEW CD AT 5% WITH SHIRTS MAGNET TRUST.

UH, THEY'RE CONTINUING TO GIVE US, UH, GREAT RATES AND SO WE OPENED UP A NEW CD IN MARCH.

BUT THE MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDS, WE DO LIVE LEAVE IN OUR INVESTMENT POOLS BECAUSE WE ARE EARNING AT PRETTY GOOD RATE OF 5.5, 5.4%.

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE ACTIVITY WITH THE DEPOSITS AND THE WITHDRAWALS.

UM, JOHN HAS, HAS MAXIMIZED THAT ON A WEEK, ON A DAILY BASIS PRETTY MUCH EVERY WEEK.

UH, SO WE CAN, WE CAN MAXIMIZE THOSE, DO THAT INTEREST EARNED ON THOSE DOLLARS.

AND AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER, WE HAVE EARNED 86,000 IN INTEREST.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, OUR ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SLIDE, UH, VERY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE MAJORITY OF OUR AR IS CURRENT.

THERE ARE A COUPLE UP AT THE VERY TOP.

THE BIGGEST, UH, CUSTOMERS THAT WE HAVE OPEN RIGHT NOW ARE WITH THE VA AND TXDOT.

UH, THAT'S NORMAL OPERATIONS.

WE DID HAVE A HICCUP EARLIER IN THE MONTH OR AT BACK IN MARCH, UH, WHERE THE VA PORTAL WAS DOWN AND WE WERE HAVING TO SUBMIT PAPER CLAIMS, UH, THAT HAS SINCE BEEN RESOLVED AND THAT THAT 4.5 MILLION HAS BEEN PAID OUT AS OF A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

UH, VERY SIMILAR IN, UH, ISSUE WITH TEXT DOTS.

WE WERE WAITING ON SOME FINAL DOCUMENTATION THAT HAS BEEN BILLED AND THAT FULL MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN RECEIVED AS WELL.

OUR STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.

THE ONLY THING I WANNA HIGHLIGHT HERE IS AGAIN, IS IS THAT 552,000 REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES? AND I WILL GO INTO DETAIL ON THESE PROGRAMS. SO THE FIRST ONE IS BEAR AGING.

YEAR TO DATE EXPENDITURES ARE CURRENTLY 250,000 BELOW BUDGET.

IT'S DUE TO SEVERAL GRANTS.

UH, THE MAJORITY OF THIS IS A TIMING ISSUE AND WE'LL CORRECT OVER THE NEXT QUARTER OR SO.

IN ARTS, WE ARE CURRENTLY SITTING AT 436,000 OVER BUDGET.

UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT, THAT THE, THE REASON FOR THAT IS THE, THE BUS IS THAT WE DID HAVE PLANNED TO PURCHASE IN 23.

THE REMAINDER OF THOSE BUSES DID COME IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

SO WE WILL NEED A BUDGET MODIFICATION TO INCREASE THAT BUDGET.

IDD IS CURRENTLY SITTING AT 367,000 BELOW BUDGET.

THAT'S DUE TO VACANCIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

WE'VE SAID, UH, YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE SAID FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE YEAR AND EVEN LAST YEAR, UH, STAFFING HAS REALLY BEEN AN ISSUE.

BUT I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT IN MARCH, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF MARCH, THEY WERE NEARLY, UH, FULLY STAFFED.

BUT TO ADDRESS THAT VARIANCE, THEY ARE GONNA

[00:35:01]

THEY ARE 11 K BELOW BUDGET.

ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, THIS IS A TIMING ISSUE AND WE'LL CORRECT OVER THE NEXT, UH, QUARTER OR SO.

THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE, UH, THE AGENCY ORGANIZATIONAL RESTRUCTURING THAT WE DID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

UH, THESE FUNDS WILL BE SPENT, UH, WHETHER IT BE IN, IN OTHER AREAS LIKE SERVICES, UH, OVER THE NEXT QUARTER OR SO.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGETS.

WE ARE CURRENTLY AT 7%, 7% BELOW BUDGETS A GREAT POSITION TO BE IN.

THE ONE THAT I DID WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS OUR IT, BECAUSE CURRENTLY WE'RE SEEING THAT 12% BELOW BUDGET, BUT THOSE, THERE'S SOME PURCHASE, THERE'S PURCHASES OF LAPTOPS COMING UP IN THIS NEXT MONTH, UH, THAT WILL DECREASE THAT VARIANCE OVER THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, MONTH.

SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ASK, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE.

THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE JUST SET A RECORD.

I'M SORRY.

I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE JUST SET A RECORD.

YEAH, , IT WASN'T THE GOAL, BUT THAT WAS, THAT WAS GOOD.

EXECUTIVE SESSION EVERY TIME.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.

MOTION AND A SECOND.

UM, ANY DISCUSSION? THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

A.

AYE.

OPPOSED BE NONE UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 12.

CONSIDER AND ACT UPON THE RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE QUALITY ASSURANCE UPDATE.

OH, 11.

[11. Consider and act upon upon the recommendation to approve the Internal Audit update on completed 2024 activities and projects. – Jaye Wells]

WE'VE GOT 11.

CONSIDER AN ACT ON THE, THE RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE INTERNAL AUDIT UPDATE.

2024 ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS J WELLS.

GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MY NAME IS JAY WELLS AND I'M YOUR INTERNAL AUDITOR.

THE INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTION PROVIDES ASSURANCE TO ACOG BY REVIEWING ITS OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND INTERNAL CONTROLS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS.

AND I'M HERE TO PROVIDE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE STATUS OF THE PROGRAM SO FAR THIS YEAR SINCE I LAST PRESENTED TO YOU, I HAVE COMPLETED THE AUDIT OVER INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY SERVICES, OR IDDS PROGRAM, AND I'M IN THE PROCESS OF FINALIZING THE REPORT OF THE ALAMO AREA REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY.

I HAVE ALSO STARTED TWO OF THE PLANNED AUDITS FOR 2024 WITH FIVE MORE PLANNED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR, AND I DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY DELAYS IN THEIR COMPLETION.

IN ADDITION TO THE AUDITS AND REVIEWS I'VE WORKED ON, I'VE HELPED THE AGENCY REVISE REPORTING FOR THE GS B 87 PRONOUNCEMENT, WHICH TO REMIND YOU IS THE FINANCIAL REPORTING, UH, OF LEASES, WHICH IS REQUIRED STARTING IN 2022.

I'VE ALSO HELPED PREPARE THE REPORTING FOR THE GSB 96 PRONOUNCEMENT, WHICH IS THE FINANCIAL REPORTING OF SUBSCRIPTIONS THAT THE AGENCY HAS IS NEWLY REQUIRED STARTING IN 2023.

I HAVE ALSO ATTENDED FRAUD EXAMINATION TRAINING AND PROVIDED FRAUD TRAINING TO STAFF AND AM WORKING ON PREPARING FOR UPCOMING SCHEDULED TRAININGS TO ENSURE THAT I'M UP TO DATE ON INDUSTRY STANDARDS TO, TO ENSURE THAT THE AGENCY IS PROGRESSING THROUGH THE COMMITTEE OF SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS OR CSOS INTERNAL CONTROL PROGRAM FOR THE AUDIT OVER THE INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY SERVICES.

I DISCOVERED NO ISSUES THAT WERE DEEMED SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO WARRANT BEING A FINDING OR OBSERVATION IN.

THE FULL REPORT IS ATTACHED IN YOUR PACKETS FOR YOUR REVIEW.

I DID, HOWEVER, HAVE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT THE PROGRAM AND ACCOUNTING PERSONNEL UTILIZE THE PROPER ACCOUNTING CODE WHEN POSTING AN EXPENDITURE.

THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH BOTH ACCOUNTING AND PROGRAM PROGRAM STAFF ALREADY.

THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT WHILE THE AGENCY IS IN COMPLIANCE, THE IDDS DEPARTMENT SHOULD REVIEW AND UPDATE SERVICES SERVICE AUTHORIZATION PROCESS TO SEND WRITTEN DETERMINATION LETTERS AT THE SAME TIME AS VERBAL AUTHORIZATIONS TO BE IN LINE WITH BEST PRACTICES AND ELIMINATE THE APPEARANCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE.

THIS, UH, WAS DISCUSSED AND TRAINING WAS HELD WITH PROGRAM STAFF ON DECEMBER 15TH.

IN SUMMARY, I HAVE NOT NOTED ANY SIGNIFICANT OR PRO ACCOUNTING OR PRO PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES AND AM NOT AWARE OF ANY INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE DISCLOSED AT THIS TIME.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

[00:40:05]

UH, THANK YOU.

UH, MR. WELS, JUST, I THINK I'VE MENTIONED IT, BUT I LIKE TO SAY IT IN THIS SETTING ALSO ON THE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU HAD.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE COME BACK TO US ONCE THOSE ARE COMPLETED, ONCE THEY'RE IN PROGRESS.

SO THEY HAVE ACTUALLY BOTH BEEN IN, COMPLETED, THEY HAVE AND AS OF TODAY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

GOOD.

OKAY.

DOES THE BOARD HAVE, AND I DON'T RECALL WHETHER WE DID OR NOT WHEN I WAS CHAIR, BUT, UM, DO WE HAVE AN AUDIT COMMITTEE MADE UP OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WHERE THEY REPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE? I DON'T THINK SO.

NO.

ABOUT TWICE A YEAR? NO.

WE HAVE JUST THE, THIS, THE, UH, DIRECT REPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IN ITS ENTIRETY, UH, ON THE QUARTERLY BASIS.

MM-HMM.

, THAT'S IT.

AND YOU REVIEW IT FIRST? YES.

AND YOU, AND YOU DO, YES.

YOU REVIEW IT.

OKAY.

OKAY.

WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT I HAVE, AS I HAVE TO TELL ALL OF YOU, I AM NOT A BUDGET, AN ACCOUNTING PERSON.

I NEED HELP WITH THE ACCOUNTING.

I RELY HEAVILY ON JULIO AND JOHN, BUT YES, THEY WALKED ME THROUGH IT.

IT DOES COME BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

YES, MA'AM.

YOU'RE PERFECT.

OKAY.

DO WE HAVE A QUESTION? MS. EVANS A SECOND? AND MAYOR DENNIS? YES.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE, UH, THE AUDIT UPDATE.

THE INTERNAL AUDIT.

ANY DISCUSSION? THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? THERE BEING NONE UNANIMOUS.

NOW