* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. INTRODUCE MYSELF. YEAH. [00:00:02] OKAY. MEETING WILL [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.] COME TO ORDER. IT IS WEDNESDAY, MAY THE 22ND, 2024, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING IN THE ALAMO AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS IS NOW IN SESSION. UH, WE'RE GONNA BEGIN THE MEETING WITH A ROLL CALL. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE KELLY. HERE. MAYOR DENNIS. HERE. COMMISSIONER CALVERT. AMY PUTNEY FOR COMMISSIONER CALVERT. JUDGE CAMACHO. JUDGE CALLO FOR JUDGE CAMACHO. COMMISSIONER CARPENTER? YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES, JUDGE CO. COMMISSIONER GILLESPIE FOR JUDGE CO. MAYOR DODGEN. HERE, JUDGE EVANS. HERE. COUNCILMAN GARCIA? HERE. COUNCILMAN GOTO. LAKA STANDS FOR COUNCILMAN GOTO. MR. HASLAUER? HERE, JUDGE HEAD PETE. HERE. JUDGE JONES. JUDGE. HERE. MS. LEWIS CARLA DELLA CHOPPA. FOR LISA LEWIS, JUDGE LEWIS. SENATOR MENENDEZ S GONZALEZ. FOR SENATOR MENENDEZ. COMMISSIONER MOODY, MISTY SPEARS FOR COMMISSIONER MOODY. REPRESENTATIVE MURR. COUNCILMAN ELAS HARRIS SCHROEDER. COUNCILMAN BRADLEY. HERE, JUDGE LAR. MS. JUAREZ HERE, JUDGE TEAL IS ACCUSED. MR. VALDIVIA? MR. VASQUEZ. HERE. JUDGE WHITMAN. HERE. REPRESENTATIVE GUILLEN. MR. HOFFMAN JOHN ANDERSON. FOR MR. HOFFMAN, REPRESENTATIVE KEEL. AND SENATOR ZINI, WE HAVE A QUORUM. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGES. A PLEDGE OF ALL MAYOR GOD, INDIVIDUAL HONOR ONE STATE, PLEASE BE SEATED. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS TODAY? NO. NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. NOT. THANK YOU. MOVING ON. WHAT ABOUT, UH, DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST? NO DECLARATIONS. VERY WELL. WE'LL MOVE ON TO [6. Recognition of Outgoing Board Members - Chairman Rob Kelly Mayor Suzanne de Leon - City of Balcones Heights, Representing Suburban Cities (GBCCC) Board of Directors Member - June 2018 through May 2024 Board of Directors Vice Chair – 2020 Board of Directors Chair – 2021 Mayor Judy Eychner - City of Kerrville, Representing Area Cities, Group C Board of Directors Member - June 2022 through May 2024 Mayor John Williams - City of Universal City, Representing Suburban Cities (GBCCC) Board of Directors Member - July 2009 through May 2024 Board of Directors Vice Chair – 2015 Board of Directors Chair – 2016 Air Quality Committee Chair – 2018 through Present Recognition of Incoming Board Member: Mayor Alfred "Al" Suarez - City of Converse, Representing Suburban Cities (GBCCC) Board of Directors Member - May 2024 -through May 2026 (repalcing Mayor Williams)] THE ANNOUNCEMENTS PART WITH THE RECOGNITION OF OUR OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS. THIS IS A BITTERSWEET EXPERIENCE. UH, I MEAN, IT REALLY IS. I MEAN, ONE OF MY, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS, THE MAYOR CARVILLE, IS ROTATING OFF. I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW MISS, UH, DELEON, UH, KIND OF LIKE A SISTER. UH, AND MR. WILLIAMS, YOU'VE BEEN WONDERFUL. UH, THIS IS REALLY, UH, AS I SAID, IT'S BITTERSWEET. HAPPY, HAPPY FOR YOU. UH, BUT WE'LL MISS YOU. UH, NOW WITH THAT, WE ARE GONNA HAVE PHOTO OPS AND WE DO HAVE, UH, PRESENTATIONS FOR YOU. AND WE'LL DO 'EM ONE AT A TIME. THAT'S WHY WE DO THAT. AND, OKAY. OKAY. MR. MR. WILLIAMS, I NEED YOU. WHO'S GOT THE CAMERA? CLIFF, CAN WE HAVE YOU COME UP AS WAY? YOU WANT ME UP THERE AS WELL? ALL RIGHT. WERE YOU LOOKING THIS WAY? YEAH. YOU CAN STAND OFF TO THE, LET ME DROP THIS. IT'S GLASS FRONT. OKAY. LET'S GET THREE OF US. KIND OF ANGLE. YOU, YOU, YOU FACE. OKAY. I'LL LOOK AT, SHAKE YOUR HAND. OKAY. I GOT YOUR PLAQUE FOR YOU. HERE WE GO. 3, 2, 1. HERE'S THE BOX PLAY. HERE'S YOUR NAME. PUT YOUR HAND PLATE ON YOUR DASH IN YOUR CAR. AN OFFENDER. ONE UP, JUDY. AND I GUESS THIS WILL BE OUR ACTUAL LAST, UH, OFFICIAL . BELIEVE IT OR NOT, CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS SOMETIMES GET ALONG [00:05:01] , SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. BUT WE DID. AND, AND WHAT I WANT TO BRAG ABOUT JUDY, IS WE DID, AND WE, WE STEPPED TOGETHER ON EVERYTHING. UH, E EVEN WHEN THEY WERE LIVE ROUNDS, FLYING OVERHEAD. WANNA THANK YOU FOR IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. YOU GONNA TURN IT AROUND FOR THE NEXT, I MIGHT FORGET. ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO. 3, 2, 1. GOT IT. OKAY. THIS ONE MAY BE THE TOUGHEST ONE. I DON'T KNOW. , UH, SUZANNE DEON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HEIGHTS. YOU BETTER NOT MAKE ME CRY. . BEST OF LUCK. SHE'S ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT TOOK ME UNDER HER WING WHEN I CAME ON THE, ON ACOG BOARD, UH, AND SHOWED ME THE ROPES AND HELPED ME RECOVER FROM MY MISTAKES. , HE MISTAKES . AND IT HAS BECOME A DEAR FRIEND. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. HERE WE GO. 3, 2, 1. GOOD. OKAY. THANK YOU. I MISS YOU ALL, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR WELCOMING TO ME AND, UH, EVERYTHING THAT YOU THINK OF YOUR CITIES. SO GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND I WISH THEY TALKED WELL. AND I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT LATER. . LET ME GET BACK TO MY NOTES. NOW THAT WE'VE READ PARTING OF OUR COMRADES, WE NEED TO WELCOME THE NEW MEMBERS, UH, THAT COME ON THE BOARD. AND I THINK WE'VE GOT MR. AL SCHWA HERE, WHO'S THE MAYOR OF CONVERSE. YES, SIR. AND, UH, IS A NEW MEMBER. AND WE THERE WILL BE OTHER SELECTED IN FUTURE YES. TO BE TWO MORE. YES. SO WELCOME MAYOR. AND SO THAT THOSE ON THIS SIDE OF THE ROOM KNOW I WARNED HIM ABOUT SITTING AT THIS TABLE OVER HERE. , REMEMBER THAT EXACTLY WHAT I SAID. HE SAID. YOU ASKED. OKAY. THEN THE NEXT WE [7. Domestic Violent Extremism Presentation - Marcela Medina] HAVE ITEM IS THE PRESENTATION ON DOMESTIC, UH, VIOLENCE, EX EXTREME PRESENTATION. MARCELA MEDINA. GOOD MORNING. BOARD CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARC MEDINA AND I'M THE PUBLIC SAFETY MANAGER. AND IT IS MY HONOR, JUST TO GIVE A BRIEF, UH, INTRO TO THIS PRESENTATION. I'M NOT THE PRESENTER PRESENT, BUT I WILL GIVE A BRIEF INTRO. UH, THIS PROJECT PROJECT BASICALLY CAME ABOUT IN FY 22. WE APPLIED FOR, FOR THE FIRST EVER AC COP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EXTREMISM PROJECT. AND THAT'S NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE TOPIC OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WHICH YOU'LL LEARN IN THE PRESENTATION. UM, WE APPLIED FOR IT IN 22. WE GOT AWARDED FOR TWO YEARS, $150,000. UM, IT RANKED NUMBER ONE AT THE STATE AT THAT TIME. AND IT'S BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN THE NEARING THE END OF THAT SECOND YEAR. AND SO IT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL. LIKE I STATED, THAT WE APPLIED FOR A CONTINUATION GRANT WITH THIS BOARD'S, UM, APPROVAL AND SUPPORT. WE ASKED FOR 250,000 FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO CONTINUE THIS WORK. AND IT ALSO RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE. SO WE'RE VERY PROUD AND WE'RE, WE'RE PROUD AT THIS POINT TO HAVE THE WHOLE, UH, DVE TEAM AS WE CALL THEM. AND, UM, WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO COME BACK TO THE GOVERNING BOARD AND LET Y'ALL KNOW THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. AND REALLY TO SEE AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE TO YOUR AGENCIES. UH, YOU'LL FIND THAT IT'S NOT JUST TO TRAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT'S TO TRAIN EVERYBODY. AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THIS. UH, SO WITH THAT, I WILL INTRODUCE THE SPEAKER IS MIKE DAVIS, WHO IS OUR CONTRACT CONSULTANT, BUT HE ALSO, UH, IS THE RECENT, UH, CHIEF FOR, UH, I'M SORRY, ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF FOR U VALDI. UH, WE REFER TO HIM AS, UH, CHIEF MIKE DAVIS. THANK YOU. THINK YOU GOT A WHOLE TEAM WITH YOU. I DO HAVE THE TEAM, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, Y'ALL CAN HEAR US OKAY ON THE AUDIO IF I, IF YOU DON'T MIND IF I STAND. THAT'S FINE. UM, HERE WE GO. SO, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR PROJECT, [00:10:01] UH, AS MS. MEDINA MENTIONED. AND, AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, GOOD MORNING, UH, MR. CHAIR AND, AND ALL OF THE BOARD. WE, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND GIVE OUR REPORT. UM, THIS PROJECT CAME ABOUT, UH, IN TWO YEARS AGO. THERE WAS A POSITION POSTED FOR ONE PERSON TO TAKE ON THIS PROJECT. AND THE POSITION WAS POSTED AND NOBODY APPLIED FOR IT. IT WAS, YOU KNOW, NO BENEFITS. HE WAS OUT THERE AND WE'RE WONDERING, WHY ISN'T ANYBODY WORKING ON THIS? AND SO I APPROACHED, UH, JUSTIN, UM, TI AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW CAN WE GET OUT THERE BECAUSE I, WE WERE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING THIS PROGRAM EFFECTIVE. AND I ASKED, YOU KNOW, WHAT, IF WE DO THIS AS A CONTRACT AND WE PUT TOGETHER A TEAM, I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY BE MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE BY REACHING 13 COUNTIES AS A TEAM VERSUS ONE INDIVIDUAL TRYING TO GO OUT TO ALL THE AREAS. AND SO THAT WAS APPROVED, AND WE PUT TOGETHER THE TEAM THAT'S BEFORE YOU. AND WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO SHARE THE RESULTS OF THIS APPROACH. UM, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS, AND WE THINK THAT BY CONTINUING THIS PROJECT AND THIS APPROACH, WE HAVE, UH, WE ACTUALLY KIND OF SURPRISED OURSELVES AT, AT THE, THE RESULTS. SO I KNOW IT WAS MENTIONED, THE TERMINOLOGY IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN YOU HEAR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, YOU THINK OF FAMILY VIOLENCE. BUT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT DOMESTIC VIOLENT EXTREMISM, I WANT YOU TO THINK OF RADICALIZATION. QUITE OFTEN YOU'LL HEAR TERRORISM ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, UM, OR EXTREME IDEOLOGY WHERE YOU'VE, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS FEEL THAT VIOLENCE IS THE ONLY MEANS TO RESOLVE THEIR GRIEVANCE, RIGHT? WHETHER IT'S, UM, POLITICAL OR, UH, RACISM OR TARGETED VIOLENCE. AND THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF. UM, HOW MANY OF Y'ALL HAVE TAKEN AN AIRPLANE SINCE NINE 11? WE ALL HAVE, RIGHT? AND SO IT'S, WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU SEE A PIECE OF LUGGAGE THERE THAT'S LEFT BEHIND? WE HEAR THAT RECORDING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, DON'T WE THAT SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. SO THAT'S BEEN INDOCTRINATED IN JUST ABOUT EVERY ONE OF US. WE HEAR THAT MESSAGE CONSISTENTLY, BUT WE OFTEN THINK OF TERRORISM, RIGHT? NINE 11, WE SEE THE, THE IMAGES OF WHERE WE WERE, SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001. BUT WE'RE FACING A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF THREATS IN THE TRENDS AND THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY. UNFORTUNATELY, TARGETED VIOLENCE IS REALLY, IT'S HITTING OUR SCHOOLS, OUR PLACES OF WORSHIP. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE MORE COGNIZANT OF. THE WHOLE SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING HAS TO EVOLVE. AND SO OUR TEAM IS HERE TO HELP SPREAD EDUCATION PREVENTION AND TO START SOME ACTIONABLE TASKS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE SEEK TO CONNECT PUBLIC SAFETY JURISDICTIONS AND IDENTIFIED STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE THEIR MOST IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS. IT'S THE COMMUNITY. IT'S THE PUBLIC SAFETY SERVANTS FROM POLICE, FIRE, EMS THAT ARE OUT THERE ON THE STREETS. THEY'RE DEALING WITH CALLS FOR SERVICE. WE'RE TRYING TO EDUCATE THEM. AND WE'RE TRYING TO CONNECT RESOURCES BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME AMAZING RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY IN THIS COG. WE'RE BLESSED THAT WE HAVE, UH, ONE OF THE MAJOR FUSION CENTERS FROM THE UNITED STATES. WE HAVE THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS FUSION CENTER THAT SERVES A 42 COUNTY REGIONS AT 42. YES. 42. AND SO, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THERE WE GO. I WANNA INTRODUCE OUR TEAM. SO WE HAVE, UH, JUSTIN, WHO'S BACK HERE. EVERYBODY'S FAMILIAR WITH JUSTIN ADES. HE IS THE PROJECT COORDINATOR ON THIS. UM, HE NEEDED A LEAD CONSULTANT. SO I, UH, FILL THAT ROLE. I'M A MASTER TRAINER WITH, UH, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY NATIONAL THREAT EVALUATION AND REPORTING, UM, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE BRING TO THE COMMUNITY TO TRAIN AND EDUCATE INDIVIDUALS, NOT ONLY, AS YOU HEARD, NOT ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY IN IDENTIFYING TARGETED VIOLENCE PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR, AND DOING THREAT ASSESSMENTS. SO WITH THAT, MY BACKGROUND, WHICH I WEAR A LOT OF HATS, AND YES, I'M, I'M, I'M IN WEEK THREE AS ASSISTANT CHIEF IN UEL, BECAUSE AGAIN, I DON'T WANT ANYTHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. RIGHT. UM, BUT I WAS ASSIGNED TO THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS FUSION CENTER WORKING WITH THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY. AND MY ROLE WAS TO SIT ON A BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAM. WE HAVE A MODEL PROGRAM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT HAS SINCE GROWN THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. SO WHEN I WAS PUTTING TOGETHER A TEAM, I FIGURED WHY NOT BRING THE HEAD OF THAT TEAM ON OUR PROJECT? AND I'VE GOT SERGEANT MATTHEW PORTER HERE, WHO IS ALSO A DHS ENTER MASTER TRAINER, AND HE'S ALSO THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS FUSION CENTER'S BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT GROUP, UM, SUPERVISOR. SO, MATT, TELL HIM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT [00:15:01] YOURSELF, IF YOU DON'T MIND. YEAH. MY NAME'S MATT PORTER. UH, AS MIKE SAID, I'M A PART OF THIS TEAM. UH, I HAVE 23 YEARS, UH, WITH SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT. UH, THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN WITH THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS FUSION CENTER. UM, WE'RE ALL THREATS, ALL HAZARD, UM, UNITS. UM, A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO IS THE BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT GROUP. AND WHAT WE DO IS WE GET, UH, REPORTS TO US OF ANY THREATS OF MASS TARGETED VIOLENCE. UH, ONCE WE RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION, OUR TEAM STANDS UP. UH, WE ASSESS, UH, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. UM, IS IT CRITICAL? UH, DO WE NEED TO GO OUT RIGHT, RIGHT HERE AND NOW. UM, WE PUT MITIGATION STRATEGIES IN PLACE. WE HAVE OUR MENTAL HEALTH UNIT THAT IS A PART OF OUR TEAM THAT HAVE CLINICIANS. WE HAVE THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. UH, WE HAVE, UH, A MAJORITY OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS. SO WHEN THEY HAVE A THREAT, THEY BRING IT TO US. THEY'RE TAKING PART OF THIS, THEY'RE TAKING PART OF THE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE. UM, SO WE HAVE A ROBUST TEAM, AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS, YOU CAN'T QUANTIFY WHAT WE DO, OUR SUCCESSES, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU'D BE ABLE TO QUANTIFY OUR FAILURES. AND AS OF NOW, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY. AND, AND WE INTEND TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. UM, BUT IT'S JUST BUILDING, BUILDING TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY, UH, GIVING THEM THOSE REPORTING OUTLETS, BUILDING UH, RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL THE AGENCIES THAT MIKE SAID. EVERYONE IN THE, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE ? I'VE GOT A SLIDE FOR YOU, . OH, OKAY. OKAY. I'VE GOT A SLIDE FOR, WE'RE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS. I ALSO HAVE, UH, RECENTLY RETIRED DEPUTY THERESA OCHOA, UH, WHO IS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. TERRY, TELL HIM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. AS A FUTURE LIAISON OFFICER THROUGH THE BEAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, I WAS ABLE TO, UM, PUT A, TO USE MY MENTAL HEALTH, UH, OFFICER EXPERIENCES. UM, FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE FUSION CENTER THREAT TEAM. UH, MY ROLE WAS TO CONTACT THE PERSON OF CONCERN, EVALUATE HIM, DECIDE IF HE WAS THINKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING CRIMINAL OR IF HE JUST NEEDED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. SO I WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE BOTH. IF I THOUGHT THAT HE NEEDED TO, OR THE PERSON NEEDED TO BE, UH, TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL AND BE EMERGENCY DETAINED IMMEDIATELY, I, I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT. IF NOT, I WOULD JUST STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE FAMILY, CONTINUE, YOU KNOW, THE MANAGEMENT, MAKING SURE THAT HE WAS, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE TREATMENT AND RESOURCES THAT HE OR SHE NEEDED. UH, FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, I STILL HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS CALLING ME. HE'S DOING WELL. OR THE SAME PERSON, THE PERSON OF CONCERN SAYING, I'M DOING GOOD. THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, UH, CARING FOR US. AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE, THE THINGS THAT I DID WITH THE FUSION CENTER. UH, AND THEN ASSISTING ALL THE OTHER, UH, DETECTIVES WITH, WITH, UH, FOLLOW UPS AND WELFARE CHECKS, WHICH WE HAD PLENTY OF DOES. AND, UM, ALSO AS WE STARTED APPROACHING THIS PROJECT, WE FELT THAT PHYSICAL SITE SECURITY ASSESSMENTS AND UNDERSTANDING OF, YOU KNOW, LARGE EVENTS AND PUBLIC EVENTS AND SOME OF THE SPECIALIZED NEEDS OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WOULD BE IMPORTANT. SO I JUST HAPPENED TO BE, JUST HAPPENED TO BE TALKING TO KENNETH SCHMIDLIN, WHO'S DECIDED HE WAS GONNA RETIRE AS WELL FROM ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY. HE WAS ALSO THE COORDINATOR FOR A RATHER SMALL EVENT THAT THEY HAVE OVER THERE DURING APRIL , THE FIESTA OYSTER BANK. HE WAS A SECURITY, HE WAS A SECURITY COORDINATOR FOR THAT. UM, AND SO I FELT THAT BY BRINGING ALL OF THEM IN, YOU CAN TELL 'EM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE IN YOUR MILITARY AS WELL. COME ON TO, UH, LIKE YOU SAID, KEN SCHMIDLIN. UH, I ACTUALLY STARTED MY CAREER IN THE ARMY. I SERVED EIGHT YEARS IN THE ARMY, AND THEN I TRANSITIONED WHERE I FINISHED UP ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. I DID 28 YEARS TOTAL IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. UH, MY FIRST DEPARTMENT WAS BEXAR COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT. WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST OFFICERS SWORN IN. AND THEN I TRANSITIONED TO ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY AND WHERE I ENDED UP RETIRING AS A SERGEANT. AND I HAD BUDDIES OVER THERE, AND I KNEW LIKE, HEY, YOU WORK AT ST. MARY'S, YOUR KIDS GO TO COLLEGE FOR FREE. I'M LIKE, I'M IN . YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO SEND TWO BOYS TO COLLEGE. SO, UH, SO I WAS LUCKY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. MY, UH, LIKE HE SAID, I, I, UH, WAS THE, UH, I COORDINATED OYSTER BAKE FOR PROBABLY 15 YEARS. SO, UH, IT'S A GOOD EXPERIENCE. BUT I'M, I'M GLAD NOW THAT I'M RETIRED, I'M STILL BE ABLE TO BE INVOLVED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IT KEEPS ME ACTIVE. SO THIS IS OUR TEAM. UM, SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GOALS. I'M NOT GONNA, I DON'T [00:20:01] LIKE DOING DEATH BY POWERPOINT, BUT, UM, WE, WE DID TASK OUR TEAM TO GO OUT AND DO OUTREACH, EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON PATHWAY TO VIOLENCE. AND THAT PATHWAY TO VIOLENCE IS EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH ON TARGETED VIOLENCE PREVENTION. WE FELT THAT THIS WAS THE BEST APPROACH TO, UM, GETTING INDIVIDUALS FROM BECOMING BYSTANDERS TO BECOMING UPSTANDERS. AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THERE ARE EVIDENCE-BASED, UM, PUBLICATIONS THAT WILL SHOW THAT PRIOR ATTACKS HAVE BEEN RESEARCHED. AND THERE WAS PLANNING INVOLVED. THERE WAS SOME DEGREE OF PLANNING INVOLVED IN JUST ABOUT EVERY MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT THAT HAS OCCURRED. UM, ANYTHING FROM PRESIDENTIAL ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS TO SCHOOL SHOOTINGS TO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING. AND SO THE MORE WE EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON THOSE INDICATORS OF PATHWAY, WE CAN MITIGATE THAT. AND I THINK YOU HEARD MATT MENTION THAT EARLIER, BUT WE ALSO ARE TRYING TO PLACE RESOURCES AND BUILD TEAMS, THESE SIMILAR TEAMS THROUGHOUT THIS ACOG REGION. AND TO CONNECT THE STATE. UH, OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM ARE PLACES OF WORSHIP WITH ALL THOSE RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN SHARE INTELLIGENCE. SO IT'S NOT JUST THE AIRPORT THAT EVERYONE'S A AVAIL, THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF. IT'S THEIR COMMUNITY AS WELL. WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE PREPARED BECAUSE THIS IS JUST A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE'LL SHOW THIS VIDEO HERE AT THE SCENE OF TOMORROW'S SHOOTING, WHERE A 15-YEAR-OLD WILL KILL FOUR CHILDREN, TWO ADULTS, AND THEN TURN THE GUN ON HIMSELF WHEN THE SHOOTING STARTS HAPPENING. TOMORROW FIRST, I'LL PROBABLY JUST THINK IT'S FIRECRACKERS OR CAR BACKFIRING OR SOMETHING. HE TOLD SOME OF US THAT HIS DAD KEPT A GUN IN HIS CLOSET AND HE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT USING IT ON, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT BULLY HIM. TOMORROW I'LL PROBABLY SAY THAT I WISH I TOLD SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE SHOOTING, WE'RE GONNA FEEL PRETTY BAD ABOUT PICKING ON HIM, BUT UNTIL THEN, WE'LL PROBABLY JUST KEEP DOING IT. 'CAUSE HE'S PRETTY WEIRD. UH, TOMORROW I'LL PROBABLY POINT OUT THAT SOMETHING HAS SEEMED OFF WITH HIM SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND I'M NOW JOINED BY THE OFFICERS WHO WILL BE THE FIRST RESPONDERS TOMORROW. WHAT ADDITIONAL DETAILS CAN YOU SHARE WITH US? WELL, SOMEONE IS EXPECTED TO TELL US AFTER THE SHOOTING THAT THE SHOOTER HAS BEEN POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT DOING THIS FOR WEEKS. SO HOW WILL YOU EXPLAIN THE SHOOTING TO YOUR DAUGHTER? ACTUALLY, I WON'T GET TO EXPLAIN IT TO HER BECAUSE YOU WON'T MAKE IT. THIS IS CHRISTINE LIN REPORTING FROM THE SCENE OF ANOTHER SHOOTING. WE'LL SAY WE NEVER SAW COMING. I'M HERE. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S A POWERFUL VIDEO, BUT IT'S ONE THAT WE DO SHOW IN OUR PRESENTATION BECAUSE WE ARE PREVENTION BASED. THAT IS OUR FOCUS AS PREVENTION. NOW, WE'RE NOT PREDICTORS. WE DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT WE'VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND ON OUR TEAM HERE LOCALLY. AND WE CAN GIVE YOU, AND I MEAN, WE COULD STAND HERE AND TELL YOU STORIES OF ALL KINDS OF HORRENDOUS THINGS YOU, YOU WILL NEVER SEE ON THE NEWS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAPPEN. BUT OUR TEAM, THEY DIDN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE OUR TEAM INTERVENED, OUR TEAMS, OUR AWARENESS, UM, THE TRAINING THAT WE'RE DOING, WE DO HAVE DOCUMENTED SUCCESS STORIES. THE APPROACH THAT WE TOOK IS, UM, MULTI, MULTI BASED. WE, ONE OF THE STRATEGIES WE ARE DOING IS TRAINING FREE, TRAINING COMPLETELY FREE TRAINING, UM, AT DIFFERENT TIERS. WE'VE DONE TRAINING AT SCHOOLS. WE'VE DONE TRAINING IN JUST ABOUT EVERY REGION OF OUR, OF OUR 13 COUNTIES. AND SECONDLY, OUTREACH. WE WANT TO CONTACT. AND WE'VE ACTUALLY, HOW MANY, OVER 300. WE'VE MADE OVER 300 PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS. WE'VE, WE VISITED JUST ABOUT EVERY SINGLE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THIS 13 COUNTY REGION DOING DIRECT OUTREACH TO THEM, RAISING AWARENESS, GIVING THEM INFORMATION, TELLING THEM, WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU GET SOMEBODY THAT REPORTS SOMETHING CONCERNING? DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT PIECE OF INTELLIGENCE? SO WE'RE DOING DIRECT, UH, TRAINING ONE-ON-ONE. AND WE'RE ALSO DOING COURSES THROUGH THE, UH, ENTER PROGRAM, WHICH IS A, UH, NOW BECOMING AN INTERNATIONAL MODEL IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION. ONE OF THE BIGGEST RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN A LARGER REGION THAN JUST OUR 13 COUNTIES, IS DIRECT ACCESS TO THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS FUSION CENTER. THE FUSION CENTERS, UM, ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. CAN I, YOU WANT TO TALK JUST A QUICK ONE ABOUT THAT? YEAH. AGAIN, UM, THE FUSION CENTER, WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS BUILD THOSE PARTNERSHIPS. WE OFFER A THING CALLED THE FUSION LIAISON OFFICER AND A PRIMARILY, UH, WHEN WE STARTED IT, WE KIND OF TARGETED, UH, POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS. UH, AND AS WE LEARNED AS, UH, THE PROGRAM PROGRESSED THAT PLACES OF WORSHIP, UM, SCHOOLS, UH, BUSINESSES, LARGE SCALE BUSINESSES, BANKS, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, ANYTHING THAT WOULD PERTAIN TO, UM, TERRORISM, WE BROUGHT THOSE PEOPLE IN. AND SO NOW WE OFFER [00:25:01] A ONE DAY, UH, IT'S FREE CLASS. ONCE YOU GET, UH, ONCE YOU GO TO THE CLASS, YOU BECOME A LIAISON OFFICER, UH, YOU'RE PRETTY TO OUR PRODUCTS THAT WE PUT OUT, UH, WE GIVE YOU THAT DIRECT REPORTING MECHANISM. AND THE MORE PEOPLE THAT WE CAN TOUCH, THE BETTER. BECAUSE THE MORE REPORTS WE GET IS MORE BENEFICIAL FOR US IN THE COMMUNITY. YEAH. OH, OKAY. SO RIGHT NOW, LIKE WE HAVE 24 IN-HOUSE FLOWS. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE AGENCIES THAT ACTUALLY SIT, UM, 'CAUSE WE LEARNED, UH, THROUGH NINE 11 THAT ALL THESE DIFFERENT AGENCIES HAD A LOT OF INFORMATION, BUT THEY DID NOT SHARE THAT INFORMATION. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A BORDER PATROL AGENT IN OUR OFFICE. SO IF I NEED SOMETHING THROUGH THE BORDER PATROL, I CAN WALK 30 FEET, TAP ON HIS SHOULDER AND GET THAT INFORMATION. WE HAVE JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO IN THERE. WE HAVE BEAR COUNTY, UH, WE HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. UH, SASD BRINGS, UH, AN OFFICER TWO TO THREE DAYS A WEEK THAT SIT IN HOUSE. UH, SO WE'RE ABLE TO, UH, BUILD THAT COMMUNICATION PROCESS AND THAT REPORTING PROCESS. UM, THERE ARE THREE TIERS TO THE THREAT TEAM, WHICH, UH, SERGEANT PORTER IS A SUPERVISOR OF. UM, WE HAVE, UH, MEETINGS MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY. YOU WANT TO, I'LL JUST, I'LL LET HIM KEEP GOING. SO WE USE A A THREE TIER APPROACH. SO THE PAG IS, UH, IT'S NOW BIMONTHLY, AND THAT'S ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS. THAT'S, UM, WHERE EVERYONE CAN PUT A, A NAME TO A FACE. UH, IF YOU NEED SOMETHING, UH, IF WE CAN'T GIVE IT TO YOU, WE KNOW WHO CAN GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION OR CAN GIVE YOU, PROVIDE THAT RESOURCE. SO NORMALLY WE LIKE TO HAVE, UH, THESE BUSINESSES HOST LIKE WHATABURGER AND HEB, UH, ARE ALWAYS, UM, EAGER TO HOST. WE DO A THREAT ASSESSMENT, WHAT WE'RE SEEING, UH, WITH OUR AREA THREAT PICTURE, ALONG WITH ANY TRENDS, WE MAY SEE WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR. UH, AND THEN WE ENCOURAGE, UH, OUR PARTNERS TO COME UP AND PROVIDE SUCCESS STORIES. SO THAT'S KIND OF A NETWORKING, UM, GROUP THAT MEETS BIMONTHLY AND OUR BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT GROUP, THAT'S WHERE THE MEAT AND POTATOES, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE DOING THE WORK. THAT'S WHERE, HEY, WE HAVE A THREAT TO A SCHOOL. WE HAVE PEOPLE SITTING AT THE TABLE, CLINICIANS, DOCTORS, UM, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE THERE. AND WE PRESENT, UH, THE FACTS OF WHAT WE HAVE. WE PUT AN ASSESSMENT ON IT. UM, HOW CRITICAL IS, HOW CRITICAL OF A THREAT IS THIS? DO WE NEED TO GO OUT RIGHT NOW? DO WE HAVE TIME TO BUILD RAPPORT WITH FAMILY, WITH FRIENDS? WE'RE COLLECTING DATA. UH, DO THEY HAVE ACCESS TO WEAPONS? UH, ONCE WE DO OUR ASSESSMENT, WE PUT A PLAN OF ACTION INTO PLACE, WHICH TYPICALLY IS GOING OUT AND MAKING FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT WITH EITHER FAMILY OR THAT INDIVIDUAL. UM, DO THEY NEED TO BE PUT IN JAIL? UH, WE DON'T WANT TO ARREST AWAY THE PROBLEM. DO THEY NEED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES? WHAT STRESSORS DO THEY HAVE IN THEIR LIFE? WHAT ANCHORS DO THEY HAVE IN THEIR LIFE? WE'RE TAKING ALL OF THAT INTO ACCOUNT, AND THEN WE'RE PUTTING OUR PLAN IN PLACE. AND THEN, UM, OUR, THE, THE FINAL STEP IS THE TAP TEAM. AND THAT IS, HEY, WE HAVE A THREAT AND IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND WE NEED TO GO OUT. AND TYPICALLY, WE'LL, WE WILL HAVE A SUPERVISOR, I'LL GO OUT WITH, UH, TWO DETECTIVES, A MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER, AND WE HAVE A LIAISON WITH, UH, CHCS. WE'LL GO OUT AND IF WE NEED TO BRING PATROL RESOURCES IN, WE WILL. BUT THAT'S, WE, WE HAVE AN IMMEDIATE THREAT THAT WE'RE GONNA STOP RIGHT NOW. THANKS, MARK. UM, ONE OF THE OTHER STRATEGIES THAT WE BECAME AWARE OF THAT WAS IMPORTANT, UH, AS A RESOURCE IS THROUGH CISA. AND THAT'S THE CYBERSECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AGENCY. THEY DO HAVE ONE LIAISON, IF YOU'VE EVER MET LOU DOE. HE'S AN AMAZING GUY, BUT HE IS A ONE EMPLOYEE AND HE'S GOT, UH, I THINK A STATE AND A HALF IN HIS REGION. AND, UM, THROUGH THE COG, WE ARE ALSO ONE OF THE FUNNELS FOR THE NONPROFIT SECURITY GRANT. ONE OF THE, UH, KEY COMPONENTS IS INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY. SO WE'VE BEEN CROSS TRAINED IN HOW TO ASSIST PLACES OF WORSHIP TO CONDUCT THEIR IN-HOUSE SECURITY ASSESSMENTS. SO WE FIGURED SINCE WE'RE GONNA BE DOING OUTREACH AND CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES, WHY NOT ALSO DO A PHYSICAL SITE SECURITY ASSESSMENT THERE? SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND OUR PROJECT, GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES, THE FUSION CENTER, AND ALSO ASSIST THEM. THAT'S PART OF WHAT, UH, KEN SCHMIDLIN AND THERES OCHO HAVE BEEN DOING, IS GOING TO CHURCHES, GOING OVER WHAT'S FENCING, LIGHTING, UH, PERIMETER, SECURITY DOOR LOCKS, CAMERAS, DOOR LOCKS, CAMERAS. IT, IT'S A VERY THOROUGH ASSESSMENT. AND AGAIN, THAT'S PART OF OUR PROJECT, SOMETHING THAT WE'RE OUT THERE IN THE FIELD. WE THOUGHT IT'D BE SIGNIFICANT FOR UT SEE YOUR AREA AGENCIES AND WHO'S PARTICIPATED BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT THESE RESOURCES, BUT THE OVERALL BIG PROJECT IS TO GET THEM TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN. SO WE PROVIDED A LOT OF TRAINING AND I THINK TAKING THE TEAM APPROACH, I THINK WHEN WE TURNED IN THE REPORTS FOR THE GRANT, THEY WERE BLOWN AWAY BY WHAT WE WERE PROJECTED TO DO. WE, I THINK WE WENT OVER LIKE 800% ON THE GOALS BECAUSE AS A TEAM, WE WERE ABLE TO DO A LOT MORE OUT OUTREACH THAN MAYBE ONE INDIVIDUAL. SO I THINK THAT GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO WHY WE GOT FUNDED AGAIN. UM, [00:30:01] BECAUSE WE'VE TRAINED 454 PEOPLE IN HOW TO DO A BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT. WE'VE DONE, UH, 79, UH, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE BEEN TRAINED IN MANAGING THEIR OWN BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAM. WE'LL DO A THREE DAY INCENTIVE PROGRAM, FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK, SHOW YOU HOW WE'LL EVEN DO SCENARIO BASED LEARNING AND SHOW THEM HOW TO, HOW TO GET THINGS O OPERATIONAL. WE'VE DONE, UH, WE JUST STARTED THE PHYSICAL SITE SECURITY ASSESSMENT, UH, PROJECT OF THIS GRANT. WE'RE HOPING TO EXPAND THAT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS AS WE GOT FUNDED AGAIN. UH, WE'VE DONE, UH, FOUR, UM, SIDE SECURITY ASSESSMENTS. ONE THAT WAS A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND A LARGE CHURCH, UM, AND A CHURCH ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. THEY'D HAD SOME TARGETED VIOLENCE AND THREATS AT THEIR FACILITY. UM, WE'VE PUBLISHED, OR WE'VE, WE'VE PUSHED OUT OVER 3,200, UH, OF OUR RESOURCE PAMPHLETS, AND WE'RE LEAVING SOME UP HERE, SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN TAKE 'EM BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A WEBSITE ON OUR, UH, ACOG SITE WITH LOADS OF GREAT INFORMATION, UM, THAT REALLY YOU CAN TAKE THAT, COPY THAT INFORMATION, PUT IT ON YOUR CITY, COUNTY OR EDUCATIONAL FACILITY, YOU KNOW, OUT THERE, GET OUT THERE WHEN YOU'RE HAVING A COMMUNITY MEETING, AND WE'D LOVE TO GO AND DO SOME OUTREACH AND DO PRESENTATIONS IN YOUR AREAS AS WELL. THIS IS A QR CODE, IT'S THE SAME ONE THAT IS ON THE BACK OF THE PAMPHLET, WHICH GIVES YOU DIRECT ACCESS TO ALL OF THE RESOURCES. WE'VE PARTNERED UP WITH THE FBI JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE AS WELL. THEY REACHED, WHEN THEY HEARD ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING, THEY DROPPED OFF A BOX OF MATERIALS AND SAID, HEY, WHILE YOU'RE OUT, COULD YOU HAND THIS OUT AS WELL? SO WE ARE AVAILABLE TO PUSH OUT INFORMATION. WE'RE ALREADY OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S RELATED TO TARGETED VIOLENCE PREVENTION, WE'RE HAPPY TO SEND THAT OUT. WE DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE WITHOUT GIVING YOU SOME INFORMATION. WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU DIRECT NAMES JUST FOR THE PROTECTION AND PRIVACY, BUT, UM, SARGE, YOU WANT TO MENTION AT LEAST ONE SUCCESS STORY? I THINK THE CONSTRUCTION WHEN THIS COMES TO LINE. YEAH. SO RECENTLY WE HAD A, UH, REPUTABLE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, HAD AN EMPLOYEE, UH, DID, UH, 23 YEARS IN THE MILITARY, UH, HONORABLE DISCHARGE. UH, THEY HIRED HIM ON, UM, VERY PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYEE, NO ISSUES, UH, UP UNTIL A CERTAIN POINT WHERE THEY STARTED SEEING DETERIORATION. HE WAS MAKING THESE, UM, COMMENTS TO OTHER EMPLOYEES SHOWING ODD BEHAVIOR. UH, WHAT WE LEARNED IN OUR CLASS IS THE BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS. THERE WAS, UH, LEAKAGE ONLINE. UM, THEY ENDED UP SUSPENDING 'EM. WELL, IT ESCALATED, IT GOT BROUGHT TO OUR TEAM'S ATTENTION. AND AS WE WERE PUTTING THE PLAN OF ACTION TOGETHER, MIKE ACTUALLY RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND SAID, HEY, HE'S HERE. UM, HE WAS IN THE PARKING LOT WITH WEAPONS, UH, DUE TO THE, DUE TO THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE, WE WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY GET OUT THERE. WE GOT HIM IN CUSTODY. UM, HE DID GO TO JAIL. UH, HE IS WORKING WITH US. UH, HE NEEDED, UH, MENTAL, HE WAS DETERIORATING MENTALLY. SO WE WERE ABLE TO, ONE, PREVENT UH, MASS TARGETED VIOLENCE. UH, AND TWO, WE'RE ABLE TO GET THIS INDIVIDUAL, UH, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT HE NEEDED AND HOPEFULLY GET HIM BACK ON THE PATHWAY TO, UH, YOU KNOW, GET HIM BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY AND, AND NOT RUIN HIS LIFE IF, I DON'T WANNA SAY RUIN HIS LIFE, BUT GET NOT, NOT PUT HIM IN JAIL. THAT MAY NOT BE THE ANSWER. IT MAY BE HE NEEDS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE STRIVING TO DO. BUT THAT'S JUST ONE OF MANY THAT I'M, I COULD SHARE WITH YOU. AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AGAIN. UM, WE ARE APPROACHING THE END OF THE GRANT SEASON. WE WILL BE, UM, WE'RE WORKING ON COORDINATING TRAINING IN WILSON COUNTY. I THINK THEY'RE OUR LAST TARGET AREA. AND THEN AS AN EXTENSION, UM, JUSTIN MON HAD ALREADY COORDINATED THAT. WE DO ONE OF OUR CLASSES IN UVALDE, UM, JUST AS A PARTNERING AGENCY, UM, SO THAT WE CAN SHOW THEM WHAT WE'RE DOING OVER THERE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WE'LL BE DOING THAT AT THE END OF THE GRANT SEASON. BUT WE APPRECIATE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER. WE'LL STICK AROUND IF YOU NEED ANYTHING FOR US. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. OH, YES. HI. YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE ENDING THE NEARING THE END OF THE, THE GRANT SEASON. UH, ARE YOU LOOKING TO RE-UP SO THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE THESE SERVICES? CAN WE GET THAT OVER FAST? IT'S CONDITIONALLY APPROVED FOR 250,000 FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. SO, SO THE NEXT GRANT, UH, ONCE WE RECEIVE THE GRANT AWARD, IT WILL START OCTOBER 1ST. UM, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO UTILIZE THE STRATEGICALLY, IT'S BEEN SO POPULAR, THE, THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF FUNDING IS KIND OF NEARING THE END, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE AVAILABLE BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER RESOURCES WE COULD DO TO, TO PUT IT IN. WE THINK THE TOPIC IS SO IMPORTANT AND WE WANNA KEEP THE MOMENTUM, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE ASK FOR MORE MONEY THIS NEXT TIME. SO WE WANT TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, DON'T LET THE TAIL END OF THIS GRANT, UH, PREVENT YOU FROM CONTACTING US. WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE REGIONAL BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT [00:35:01] TEAMS. THE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. WHO IS MANAGING OUR FIRST OF CONCERN IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A TEAM AT THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS VISION CENTER, BUT WITH THIS PROJECT HAS ACTUALLY GENERATED SO MUCH MORE TIPS THAT ARE COMING IN THAT WE NEED TO CREATE REGIONAL TEAMS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN MANAGE THEIR PERSONS OF CONCERN IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND WE'RE HERE TO, TO HELP TRAIN THEM TO DO THAT. THERE'S A PROVEN MODEL, SO THE FOLLOW ON QUESTION TO THAT IS HOW CAN WE GET INVOLVED? I SAW THAT IN, IN, SO I'M IN MEDINA COUNTY. YES. UH, SEE THAT THERE WAS, I THINK HON WAS THE ONLY ONE IN MEDINA COUNTY. WELL, AGAIN, THESE, THEY WERE, THEY WERE, UH, UNDER INVITED THE REGION, UH, THEIR, THEIR IMMEDIATE REGION. AND WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE JUVENILE, RIGHT? YES, YES. UH, LYNETTE. LYNETTE, UH, FROM, UH, SHE'S A CHIEF JUVENILE PROBATION, AND, UH, SHE'S A CHIEF OF JUVENILE PROBATION, AND SHE'S, UH, IS COORDINATING THE HOST ONE, A REGIONAL ONE. OKAY. IN YOUR AREA. AND WE WILL INVITE EVERYONE AND ANYONE, AND AGAIN, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO ANY OF THE PROGRAMS. UH, WE DO ADVERTISE THEM ON THE, UH, ACCO CALENDAR AS WELL, IF YOU LOOK FOR B-T-E-R-C OR BEHAVIORAL DRUG ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION. BUT B TUR IS THE ACRONYM AND, UH, WE ADVERTISE THEM. SO WE WANT EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT, ANYONE THAT HAS, UH, POTENTIALLY A STAKEHOLDER PREVENTION. THAT'D BE REALLY GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE. I THINK IT'S, IT'S GREAT GETTING IN FRONT OF THIS. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. YES, MA'AM. UM, EARLIER YOU MENTIONED YOU USE THE EXAMPLE OF LIKE AIRPORTS HAVING THE, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, THINGS LIKE THAT. USUALLY THERE'S SIGNAGE OR STICKERS, STUFF LIKE THAT AROUND. DO YOU GUYS HAVE, OR HAVE YOU CONSIDERED KIND OF CREATING A TOOLKIT TO MAKE ASSESS? OKAY. OKAY. I'LL LET YOU SPEAK TO THAT. YES. SO WE DO HAVE, UM, THERE, THERE'S A FIRST RESPONDER TOOLKIT, UH, AND, AND THERE'S ALSO PLACES OF WORSHIP SECURITY. ALL OF IT IS ON OUR, ON OUR WEBSITE. UM, THERE'S ALSO, UH, MOB INDICATORS, WHICH, UM, THIS IS, IS A, A TRIAG AGENCY SEALED. SO THIS IS FBI AND TECH AND DHS PRODUCT. UM, USUALLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS WE WILL COME OUT AND WE WILL DO A CLASS AND THEN THE FBI JOINT S AND TASK FORCE WILL COME INTO THE COMMUNITY AND SATURATE, UM, WITH SPECIFIC INFORMATION, MORE DETAILED, UH, FOR THOSE STAKEHOLDERS THAT USUALLY WHEN WE HAVE A CLASS, WELL, SOMEBODY WILL SAY, OH, I WE TO BRING SOMEONE ELSE IN AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP A WARRANT TEST ONE-ON-ONE, WORK WITH THEM TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT. YEAH, SO THE SUPERINTENDENTS, SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, THOSE TYPES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? AGAIN, WE'LL BE AROUND, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR US, UM, ANY ONE OF US CAN SCHEDULE. I'VE LEFT MY CARD HERE WITH THE GENERAL EMAIL ADDRESS THAT COMES TO ALL OF US. IT IS HLS, IT'S HL S A.COM. SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A SPECIFIC PROGRAM OR PRESENTATION, WE, WE'D BE HAPPY TO COME OUT. REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL. WE WANNA REALLY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR WHOLE TEAM FOR SUCH A TIMELY AND SALIENT TOPIC. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE. OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON [8. 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 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] TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT. PARDON ME. ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. UH, I'LL START MY REPORT THIS MONTH WITH OUR STAFFING UP UPDATES ON THE, UH, LIKE SCHEDULE. I KNOW THE BOARD WAS, HAS WANTED TO SEE HOW THAT IS MOVING ALONG. AND ALL OF OUR DEPART DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE FLEX SCHEDULE. AND TO DATE, WE HAVE 59 PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE WORK FROM HOME, EITHER TAKING ONE OR TWO REMOTE DAYS. UM, I ALSO WANT TO REPORT THAT A COUPLE OF OUR AGING STAFF HAVE BOTH OBTAINED THEIR CERTIFICATIONS AND BENEFITS COUNSELING MS. LAURA ESQUIVEL AND VANESSA MIRANDA. UH, MS. ESQUIVEL IS A BENEFITS COUNSELOR, AND MS. MIRANDA IS A BENEFITS COUNSELING COORDINATOR. AND, UH, WE HAVE ALWAYS STRESSED THAT OUR STAFF OBTAIN THE CERTIFICATIONS, UH, AND WORK TO GET THESE CERTIFICATIONS THAT ASSIST THEM IN THEIR JOB. AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS PLEASED TO SEE WHEN THESE PEOPLE HIT THESE BENCHMARKS, UM, IN OUR AGING SERVICES AND OUR PROGRAM AND OPERATIONAL UPDATES. I'LL START WITH AGING SERVICES. I'M VERY PLEASED TO REPORT THAT, UH, HHSC CONDUCTED A DESK REVIEW AND WE HAD EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS WITH NO PROGRAMMATIC OR FISCAL FINDINGS THAT WERE REPORTED. UM, ALONG THE LINE OF CERTIFICATIONS OR, AND, UH, TRAINING ARE MS. TONY WILLIAMS, A VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR IN AGING, WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE US AGING, STARTING A KIN [00:40:01] CAREGIVER SUPPORT SERVICE. AND THIS IS A TRAINING THAT ALLOWS HER TO COME BACK TO OUR AGENCY AND HELP US DEVELOP PLANS TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A CARE A KIN CAREGIVER SUPPORT SERVICE WITHIN ACOG. UH, REGARDING ALAMO REGIONAL TRANSIT ART BEGAN ITS FIRST OF SEVERAL FOCUS GROUPS IN WILSON COUNTY ON MAY THE NINTH AT THE WILSON COUNTY EXPO CENTER IN FLORESVILLE. AND THE PURPOSE OF THOSE MEETINGS IS TO SOLICIT, IS TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK FOR MODIFICATIONS TO THE SERVICE AREA. UH, AN ENVIRONMENTAL CON CONSERVATION. A RESOURCE RECOVERY MEETING WILL BE HELD WEDNESDAY, JUNE THE FIFTH, UH, FROM TWO TO 3:00 PM IN THE ACOG BOARDROOM. OUR IDD SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UH, HAS ALSO RECENTLY HOSTED ANOTHER IDD RECOGNITION FOR ID, UH, FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND APPROXIMATELY 70 OFFICERS FROM THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, HARDIN, ISD AND JUDSON ISD RECEIVED THE TRAINING THAT AIMS TO EDUCATE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ON HOW TO EFFECTIVELY IDENTIFY AND INTERACT WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SUFFER FROM IDD CONDITIONS. UH, ALONG THE LINE OF ANOTHER, UH, PERFORMANCE REVIEW FROM IDD SERVICES, OUR FUNDING AGENCY AUDIT CONDUCTED ONE ON APRIL THE 29TH THROUGH MAY THE SECOND. VERY PLEASED TO REPORT THESE RESULTS. I THINK THEY'RE OUTSTANDING. UH, THERE WERE FIVE AREAS THAT WERE GRADED. I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE TOP ONE IN OUR QUALITY ASSURANCE AND LOCAL IDD AUTHORITY FUNCTIONS. WE RECEIVED A 99.69% COMPLIANCE RATE. I'D SAY THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. UM, AND OUR LOWEST WAS THE TEXAS HOME LIVING WAS 99, UH, PARDON ME, 94.41%. SO WE'RE RUNNING RIGHT AT 95 TO 99% COMPLIANCE. UM, ALSO IN IDD LANCER WORLDWIDE, WHICH IS THE HOST INDUSTRY OF OUR OR HOST BUSINESS FOR OUR IDD VOCATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. WELCOME HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION LEADERS, UH, ON MAY THE NINTH. AND THE PURPOSE OF THAT VISIT WAS FOR HHSC, TO SEE THAT PROGRAM AND AN OPERATION. AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING, UH, REMARKABLE FOR US TO, UH, TO NOTE THAT WE'VE GAINED THE ATTENTION OF STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP ON THE SUCCESS OF THAT, UH, APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR, UH, TRAINING PEOPLE WITH IDD AND PUTTING THEM AND MAKING THEM PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS IN OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, UH, IN NATURAL RESOURCES. AND I WILL SAY OUR NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT'S BEEN VERY BUSY LATELY. UM, THE ALAMO CLEAN CITIES COALITION HELD A MEETING YESTERDAY FOR STAKEHOLDERS TO DISCUSS THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ACTIVITIES FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION INCLUDED GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO INCENTIVIZE ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE AND INFRASTRUCTURE PURPOSES AND INITIATIVES TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. AND THERE IS GOING TO BE A RECORDING AND SLIDES, SO PRESENTATION AVAILABLE ON ACOG'S WEBSITE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT, IN THAT, UM, BY THE END OF THE WEEK, THAT SHOULD BE POSTED, UH, ON MAY THE 28TH. ACOG WILL BE PRESENTING INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PACE, WHICH IS THE PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM TO WILSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT. AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE HEARD US TALK ABOUT PACE BEFORE, BUT THIS IS REALLY A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS LONG-TERM FINANCING, UH, AT RATES THAT ARE, ALLOW BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY BUSINESSES, COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES TO, UM, TO, UM, WHAT AM I TRYING TO SAY? UM, NOT AGGREGATE, BUT TO AMORTIZE. THANK YOU. TO AMORTIZE OVER THE LONG TERM EXTENSIVE REPAIRS. IT'S VERY SENSITIVE SENSI, UH, SIMILAR TO OUR CCO PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE HERE AT ACOG. YOU GET LONG-TERM FINANCING TO A, TO UPGRADE YOUR BUILDINGS AS LONG AS THE UPGRADES THAT ARE MADE ARE ENERGY EFFICIENT AND OFFSET THE COST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. AND THESE ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS. IT HAS TO BE ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT OR THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY IN WHICH THE PROJECT IS TAKING PLACE. AND SO, UM, IF YOU, UM, ARE INTERESTED IN THE PACE PROGRAM, LYLE HUFFSTETLER HERE AT ACOG WOULD BE GLAD TO WALK YOU THROUGH IT. AND AS I SAID, THERE IS A PRESENTATION ON MAY THE 28TH IN WILSON COUNTY. BY THE WAY, THE LARGEST PROGRAM IN THE STATE AT THE TIME, UH, WAS THE HEMISPHERE PROJECT THAT'S BEING REFURBISHED THERE AT HEMISPHERE PLAZA. THE HOTEL'S GOING ON, THAT'S A PACE PROGRAM THAT WAS DONE BY, UH, ACOG AS THE ADMINISTRATOR. UH, SINCE THEN, A NEW PROGRAM THAT'S LARGER HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN INITIATED, BUT, UH, WE WERE THE LARGEST AT THE TIME. UH, ALSO, ACOG'S CLEAN CITY COALITION IS CO-HOSTING A WEBINAR ABOUT RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION IN TEXAS, JUNE THE 18TH AT 1:00 PM. AND THAT WORKSHOP IS INTENDED FOR A STATEWIDE AUDIENCE, INCLUDING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE WASTE HANDLERS AND PROCESSORS, UH, WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN CONVERTING TO COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT. AND ONCE I SAID THAT, ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S JUNE THE 18TH AT 1:00 PM ON [00:45:01] JUNE THE 20TH. NATURAL REHO RESOURCES, WE'LL CO-HOST A WEBINAR WITH TWO OTHER COGS, THE WEST TEXAS, I MEAN, PARDON ME, WEST CENTRAL TEXAS COG, AND NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COG TO DISCUSS THE ENERGY STAR PORTFOLIO MANAGER. AND THIS IS A, UM, VIRTUAL WORKSHOP THAT INTRODUCES YOU TO THIS SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT IS A TOOL THAT IS USED TO TRACK ENERGY USAGE BY BUILDING, UH, SO YOU MIGHT FIND THAT INTERESTING AS FAR AS YOUR EFFORTS IN YOUR FACILITIES, UM, IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS. A ROAD SHOW IS PLANNED FOR JUNE THE 18TH, UH, FROM 10 TO TWO IN REO COUNTY AT THE A AGRILIFE EXTENSION OFFICE. ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S IN REO, UH, JUNE THE 18TH FROM 10 TO TWO IN PUBLIC SAFETY. OUR HOMELAND SECURITY SECTION HOSTED THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES AND HOSTING DISASTER PREPAREDNESS FOR HOSPITAL TRAINING BY THE TEXAS A AND M ENGINEERING AND EXTENSION SERVICE. UM, THE HOMELAND SECURITY SECTION WILL ALSO HOST THE ALAMO REGIONAL INFORMATION INTELLIGENCE SHARING MEETING ON MAY THE 29TH. THIS MEETING, WHICH IS SPEARHEADED BY ACOG, ALLOWS A PLATFORM FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS TO SHARE INTELLIGENCE, INFORMATION AND CRIME TRENDS IMPACTING OUR REGION. ALL OF YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND, UH, ACOG, ALONG WITH THE OFFICER OF THE GOVERNOR AND, AND SINE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL HOST A MASS CASUALTY EXERCISE IN SINE ON JUNE THE 12TH. THE EXERCISES WILL BE HELD FOR REGIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS, HOSPITAL AND EMERGENT EMERGENCY SERVICES MANAGERS IN REGIONAL SERVICES. UH, I KNOW I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, BUT ON MAY THE 31ST FROM 10 TO 3:00 PM ACOG WILL BE, UH, HOSTING ELECTED OFFICIALS WORKSHOP, WHICH IS FREE AS A FREE ONE DAY WORKSHOP, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DENTON NAVARRO, RODRIGUEZ, BERNAL, SANTI, AND ZACH. AND THE WORKSHOP WILL COVER TOPICS AS THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, INTRODUCTION TO CITY GOVERNMENT, ROLES OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND BUDGETING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. UH, SO WE URGE ALL OF OUR NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS, PARTICULARLY TO ATTEND THAT WORKSHOP. UM, ON ANOTHER NOTE I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING I THINK IS VERY EXCITING FOR US, AND IT GOES BACK TO OUR, UH, NATURAL RESOURCES. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR TWO MAJOR GRANTS FROM EPA. AND THESE GRANTS ARE IN THE AMOUNT OF 20 MILLION EACH THAT WOULD GREATLY IMPACT OUR REGION. AND IT'S, THEY ARE FOCUSED ON UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, UH, AND FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE LOOKING TO, UM, GAIN ENERGY EFFICIENCY. SO IT'S ALL ENERGY EFFICIENCY, GREEN EV TYPE INFRASTRUCTURE STUFF. UH, EVERYTHING FROM HOME INSULATION. LET ME LOOK AT SOME OF THE TOPICS HERE. UH, EVERYTHING FROM HOME INSULATION, UM, TREES AND GREEN SPACES SO THAT WE CAN INCREASE, UM, UH, CARBON OFFSETS AND CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS, MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS SUCH AS BIKE LANES, SIDEWALKS, EV CHARGING, ENERGY EFFICIENT AND RE AND RESILIENT HOUSING AND BUILDINGS. SO RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, UH, UPGRADES ARE SUBJECT TO THE GRANT. SO INSTALLATION, WEATHERIZATION, APPLIANCE UPGRADES, MICROGRID INSTALLATION FOR COMMUNITY ENERGY RESILIENCE. AND I'VE ASKED LYLE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT MICROGRID INSTALLATION IS, AND I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, BUT IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT MICROGRID INSTALLATION, UM, OR YOU NEED ONE, UH, THIS GRANT IS, IS AVAILABLE, UH, COMMUNITY RESILIENCE HUBS, SO WE CAN, UH, APPLY FOR SHELTER AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES DURING EXTREME WEATHER OR OTHER EMERGENCIES, UH, BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT. SO, UM, THIS IS FOR PROJECT BROWNFIELD PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN REMEDIATED AND READY FOR DEVELOPMENT, WASTE REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT, UH, TO SUPPORT A CIRCULAR ECONOMY. SO WASTEWATER TREATMENT UPGRADES, LANDFILL UPGRADES AND RECYCLING PROGRAMS. AND FINALLY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR PROGRAMS FOR OCCUPATIONS THAT REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND AIR POLLUTANTS. AND SO LATER TODAY WE ARE GONNA BE SENDING YOU A SURVEY. IT'S A 13 QUESTION SURVEY, AND WE WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK ON HOW TO PRIORITY PRIORITIZE THESE PROJECTS. UM, WE WILL BE GLAD TO SPEARHEAD THE PROJECT. ACOG CAN TAKE THE LEAD. WE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THESE GRANTS. UM, AS I SAID, THERE ARE TWO $20 MILLION GRANTS. THERE'S ONLY GONNA BE A FEW ALLOCATED ACROSS THE STATE BASED ON ALL OF THE FUNDING THAT'S BEEN RELEASED BY EPA, BUT WE EXPECT THAT WE OUGHT TO BE IN THE RUNNING FOR AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE 20 MILLION GRANTS. 20 MILLION GRANTS, AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO APPLY FOR TWO. THE DEADLINE IS, UH, IN NOVEMBER, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO, WE'RE GONNA BRING THIS TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL, UH, FOR YOUR APPROVAL AT THE NEXT MEETING. AND WE WANT TO GET THE GRANT SUBMITTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT EPA WILL HAVE TIME TO REVIEW [00:50:01] THEM, PARSE THROUGH THEM, AND THEN SEND THEM BACK FOR ANY KIND OF TWEAKING THAT THEY THINK WE NEED TO DO. AND SO, AS I SAID, THIS IS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, TO BRING $40 MILLION TO THE REGION IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL AND, AND ACHIEVE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES THAT WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR IN OUR COMMUNITIES. UH, SO LIKE I SAY, WE'RE GONNA BE SENDING THIS OUT TO YOU IN A, IN A FORM OF A SURVEY MONKEY, UH, EMAIL OR LIKE I SAY THAT 13 QUESTION QUESTION SURVEY. WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD LET US KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES JUST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN START WORKING ON THIS PROJECT. AND WE ALSO, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, WE NEED A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO TEAM WITH US ON THIS. ACOG IS GLAD TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS PROJECT, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING FOR A PARTNER AS WELL. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR ANY INTEREST ON A NONPROFIT IN YOUR REGION THAT MIGHT WANT TO PARTNER WITH US ON THIS, WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL. UH, ON A RELATED SUBJECT, I WANT TO STRESS OR OR INTRODUCE YOU OR REMIND YOU ABOUT OUR REGIONAL SERVICES IN THAT WE OFFER GRANT WRITING SERVICES. WE OFFER ADMINISTRATION OF THOSE GRANTS AND THE, AND THE FISCAL SERVICES OF THOSE GRANTS FOR A NEGOTIATED FEE. WE'RE GLAD TO, UH, WE WANT OUR COURSE RECOVER OUR COSTS IN THE PROJECT, BUT WE WANT TO, AND AS I'VE MENTIONED TIME AND AGAIN, WE ARE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME OF FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL HERE IN REDEVELOPMENT IN OUR REGION. AND SO WE WANT TO GO AFTER SOME OF THESE GRANTS THAT ARE OUT THERE. AND IF YOU'RE LACKING THE STAFF, ACOG OFFERS THE STAFF THAT'S AVAILABLE AND WE'RE GLAD TO WORK WITH YOU ON AN ARRANGEMENT TO, UH, PAY FOR OUR SERVICES AND WORK WITH YOU TO, UH, TO INITIATE THOSE GRANTS AND FULLY ADMINISTER THEM. SO WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE SENDING OUT A FLYER ON THAT THAT WILL EXPLAIN OUR SERVICES. AND WE'RE OPEN TO ANYTHING, UH, THAT WILL, UH, ASSIST YOU AND OUR MEMBER GOVERNMENTS IN GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT THESE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND HELPING US SUCCESSFULLY APPLY FOR THEM. AND SO WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. NEXT [ 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.] ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. DO I HAVE A MOTION ALL THAT? YOU MEAN NUMBER NINE? NUMBER NINE. NO MINUTES. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THAT CORRECT? RIGHT. JUDGE, HAVE A SECOND OVER HERE. MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY, ANY DISCUSSION? THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? GOOD. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS CONSIDER AND ACT UPON THE RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE APRIL 24 24, 20 24 BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THAT'S ALL IN MISS, THAT'S A CONSUMPTION. THAT'S CONSENT. ALL CONSENT. SO WE MOVE DOWN TO 15? 15? YES. [15. Consider and act upon the recommendation to release a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Professional Audit Services. – Jhoan Torres] ITEM 15 IS TO CONSIDER AND ACT UPON THE RECOMMENDATION TO RELEASE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR PROFESSIONAL AUDIT SERVICES, JOHN TORRES. ALRIGHT, MORNING CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS JOHN TORRES. I'M AND DAN. OH, WHOOPS. . I'M HERE TO REQUEST APPROVAL TO RELEASE AN RFP FOR PROFESSIONAL AUDIT AND TAX SERVICES. UH, THE RFP THAT WILL BE RELEASED BE FOR A THREE YEAR AGREEMENT IS TWO ONE YEAR OPTIONS. UM, THIS CONTRACT WILL BEGIN ON JANUARY 1ST, 2025 FOR THE 2024 AUDIT YEAR. OUR CURRENT ORDERS FOR US, UH, HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 2021. THAT BEING SAID, DUE TO INCREASING COSTS, UM, WE WANT TO GO OUT TO THE MARKET AND MAKE SURE THAT THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE GETTING IN THE PRICE THAT WE'RE PAYING ARE ALIGNING WITH THE CURRENT MARKET RATES. UM, THIS COST IS BUDGETED IN OUR INDIRECT COST RATE, SO WE DON'T, THERE'S NO COST IN THE NO CHANGES TO THE 2024 BUDGET. UM, AND WE ALWAYS CARRY INTO THE 2025 BUDGET. SO STAFF REQUEST APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE AN RFP FOR PROFESSIONAL AUDIT SERVICES? YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. UM, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. HOW DO WE SELECT OUR AUDITOR? DO WE HAVE AN AUDIT COMMITTEE? THAT, OKAY, SO I CAN, I CAN REMEMBER. YES MA'AM. SO, UM, I WAS ON LAST COMMITTEE COMMITTEE BACK IN 2020 WHEN I WAS DOING INTERNAL AUDIT. SO THERE'S GENERALLY ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE OF US AND WE GRADE 'EM. UH, I THINK LAST TIME WE HAD ABOUT SEVEN OH, REALLY GOOD HONORS AND FOR THIS WAS THE BEST ONE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR. SO IS THERE A MOTION THAT WE SUBMIT AN RFP? SO MOVED HERE. OBJECTION. JUDGE HICKEY? YES. AND MS. . OKAY WITH THAT, ANY DISCUSSION? FAVOR SAY AYE. A AYE. OPPOSED? NONE. MOTION CARRIES. UH, ITEM 16. [16. Consider and act upon the recommendation to authorize the Executive Director to apply for Opioid Settlement Funds from Bexar County in the amount of $375,000. This item will require a budget amendment. - Virginia Charles] CONSIDER AND ACT UPON THE RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO APPLY FOR OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS FROM BEXAR COUNTY IN THE AMOUNT OF $375,000. [00:55:02] THIS ITEM WILL NOT, WILL REQUIRE A BUDGET AMENDMENT. MS CHARTS. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M VIRGINIA CHART SENIOR DIRECT SELECT AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY SERVICES. THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS A REQUEST TO APPLY FOR OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS FROM BEXAR COUNTY TO PROVIDE PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, EVALUATION AND LINKAGES TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE, UH, DISORDER, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. ACOG SEEKS TO DEVELOP AN IMPLEMENT AN INTENSIVE SERVICE COORDINATION TEAM THAT SUPPORTS PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES THAT ARE AT RISK OR ARE EXPERIENCING SUBSTANCE USE, UH, DISORDERS AND OR RELATED CONDITIONS FOR, UH, THAT AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE. HISTORICALLY, ACOG AS THE LOCAL INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AUTHORITY HAS ADDRESSED SUBSTANCE USE IN PERSONS WITH IDD ONLY WHEN THE PERSON PRESENTS WITH, UH, GENERALLY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR USE. HOWEVER, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE PREVALENCE OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS IN PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IS PARTICULARLY HIGH FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE MILD INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY, AND IT IS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY COMORBID BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MENTAL DISORDERS. SO THIS TARGET GROUP IS LARGELY HIDDEN AND HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE BLIND SPOT IN OUR SERVICE SYSTEM. THIS PROGRAM WILL ALLOW ACOG TO ACTIVELY SCREEN PERSONS FOR, UM, SUBSTANCE USE, THOSE WHO COULD, COULD POTENTIALLY BE AT RISK, AND ALSO THOSE WHO ARE ACTIVELY USING AND, UH, WHO HAVE A HISTORY OF PROVIDING, UH, SUBSTANCE USE, UM, UM, INFORMATION TO THEIR SERVICE COORDINATOR. I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT AND SORRY ABOUT THAT. AND, UM, WE SEEK TO IMPLEMENT OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES SUCH AS MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING, UH, COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY TO DEVELOP PREVENTATIVE, UH, PERSONALIZED INTERVENTIONS THAT AIM AT IMPROVING COPING SKILLS, REFUSAL SKILLS, EMOTION REGULATION SKILLS, AND TO PROVIDE, UH, LINKAGES TO TREATMENT OPTIONS THAT CAN PROVIDE LONG-TERM SUPPORT IF AWARDED. THIS WILL REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT TO THE ACOG 2024 BUDGET AND WILL BE INCORPORATED TO THE FY 2025 BUDGET. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT FUNDING IF AWARDED FROM BEXAR COUNTY FOR OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $375,000. SO, GOT A MOTION FROM, UH, JUDGE EVANS. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND, UH, COMMISSIONER GILLESPIE. UM, ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. AND THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. A AYE. OPPOSED? THERE BEING NONE CARRIES. [17. Consider and act upon the recommendation to adopt a Resolution to recognize the month of June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month in the AACOG Region. - Brittney Smith] MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 17. CONSIDER AND ACT UPON THE RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE THE MONTH OF JUNE AS ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH IN THE ACOG REGION SMITH. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I AM BRITTANY SMITH, THE AAA MANAGER, ACOG THROUGH THE ALAMO AND BEAR AREA AGENCIES ON AGING. OUR PARTNERS WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES. AND WE WANT TO COMMEMORATE JUNE AS THE ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS. AWARENESS MONTH. ELDER ABUSE IS A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THAT LAST YEAR AFFECTED MORE THAN 120,000 OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN TEXAS. ADDITIONALLY, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS ISSUE IS UNDER-REPORTED. WITH THIS RESOLUTION, WE URGE ALL RESIDENTS IN THE ACOG REGION TO RECOGNIZE THAT ELDER ABUSE IS EVERYONE'S BUSINESS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE AND TO STRENGTHEN OUR EFFORTS TO PREVENT REPORT AND ADDRESS ELDER ABUSE IN ACOG IN THE ACOG REGION. THIS REQUEST REQUIRES NO BUDGET AMENDMENT AS THERE IS ZERO FISCAL IMPACT. AS SUCH, ACOG STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? GOT A MOTION. AND THE SECOND ONES, JUDGE HICKEY. ANY DISCUSSION? THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. A. AYE. OPPOSED? OCEAN CARRIES. THANK YOU. AND BRITTANY'S NEW. YOU'RE NEW, RIGHT, BRITTANY? WE WELCOME YOU. THANK YOU. WELCOME. TA CO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, MOVING [18. Next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 26, at 10:00 a.m. at AACOG.] ON TO ITEM 18. UH, THE NEXT MEETING I'LL BE SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE THE 26TH AT 10 O'CLOCK. BUT I DO [01:00:01] WANNA REMIND PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE ALAMO AREA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD GOING STRAIGHT INTO THAT MEETING, UH, FOLLOWING THIS. SO IF THERE BEING, THERE'S BEING NOTHING ELSE. AND ADJOURN. CHAIRMAN, CHAIRMAN, REAL QUICK. YES. THAT JUNE 26TH, THERE'S A SOUTH TEXAS JUDGES AND COMMISSIONER'S CONFERENCE THAT SAME WEEK. THAT'S RIGHT. SO IT MAY BE A CONFLICT OF TRYING TO GET YOUR, UH, QUORUM MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU WANNA CONSIDER LOOKING AT. TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LETTING US KNOW. YES. WE'LL SEE WHAT OUR AGENDA LOOKS LIKE. WE MAY HAVE TO EITHER CALL A DIFFERENT MEETING OR POSTPONE. SO WE'LL SEE. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW. YES, SIR. OKAY. SO THIS MEETING OF ACOG IS NOW ADJOURNED. IT WAS IN THE BACK THAT ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.