EL PASO COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS COURT

CARLOS LEON
Commissioner, Pct.1

ILIANA HOLGUIN
Commissioner, Pct.3

DAVID STOUT
Commissioner, Pct.2

CARL L. ROBINSON
Commissioner, Pct.4

RICARDO A. SAMANIEGO
County Judge

In accordance with section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code, Governor Abbott has suspended various provisions that require government officials and members of the public to be physically present at a specified meeting location. As a result, all or some government officials may participate via telephone or videoconference. Additionally, members of the public are encouraged to watch the meetings online, at the links provided below. Members of the public are also encouraged to participate in public comment by calling the telephone number below. This temporary suspension will leave important open-meeting protections in place:


  • Members of the public will be entitled to participate and address the governmental body during any telephonic or videoconference meeting.




If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact us at (915) 546-2215

Commissioners Court Chambers, El Paso County Courthouse 
500 East San Antonio Room 303 El Paso, Texas 79901
Website address: http://www.epcounty.com
View live video webcast: http://epcounty.com/video

Please place all electronic devices on silent mode to reduce disruption of the meeting.


AGENDA
Regular Meeting, August 2, 2021  - 9:30 AM


Strategic Plan Priority

1.OPEN MEETING
2.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3.INVOCATION
A.Receive an invocation.
4.CONSENT AGENDA

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

All matters listed under the Consent Agenda will be considered by the Commissioners Court to be routine and will be enacted by one motion in the form listed below. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless members of the Court or persons in the audience request that specific items be moved from the Consent Agenda to the Regular Agenda for discussion prior to the time the Commissioners Court votes on the motion to adopt the Consent Agenda.

All matters listed on the Consent Agenda and Regular Agenda may be discussed in Executive Session at the discretion of the El Paso County Commissioners Court and following verbal announcement, if an appropriate exception to the open meeting requirement of the Texas Open Meetings Act is applicable.

A.Pursuant to the Texas Local Government Code, Section 115.021, audit and settle all accounts against the County shown on the attached listing and direct the payment of those accounts.
Edward A. Dion, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office (915) 546-2040
B.Approve amendment No. 39 to the County of El Paso’s 2020-2021 operating budget. This budgetary amendment will increase Special Revenue by $117,825, increase Grants by $830,823.04, thus increasing the overall budget of $592,924,950.53 to $593,873,598.57.
Wallace Hardgrove, Executive Director, Budget and Fiscal Policy Department (915) 546-2262
C.Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between El Paso County and the Texas Department of Family Protective Services for the use of shower facilities for youth in CPS care who are pending placement for a one year period at the Family Youth Services Center during nontraditional hours. (Contract No. 2021-0517)
Irene G. Valenzuela, Executive Director, Community Services Department (915) 775-2708
D.Approve and authorize the transfer of funds in the amount of $7,600 from GF-CCRIMC2-CONTRACT SVC-GEN for the purchase of security cameras, drug testing kits, ETG dip sticks, and office supplies needed in County Criminal Court at Law Two.
Amy Lechuga, County Court Administrator (915) 546-2000
E.Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Second Exercise of Option to Renew Agreement for Court ordered supervised visitation and exchange services with Project Amistad in an amount up to $25,500 from October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022, with one additional options to renew. Funding is available in GF-DRO-CONTR SVC-GEN. (Contract No. 2021-0508)
Brian Stanley, Executive Director, Domestic Relations Office (915) 834-8292
F.Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Agreement between El Paso County Juvenile Probation Department and PyroCom Systems, Inc., Phase II for Fire and Security installation, maintenance, monitoring, and inspections, including equipment, materials, and labor for the project in the amount of $64,841.74. Funding is available in CIP21-JPD-RENOVATIONS. (Contract No. 2021-0479)
Roger Martinez, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, Juvenile Probation Department (915) 849-2500
G.Pursuant to Texas Local Government Sections 232.028 and 232.029, approve and authorize the issuance of certification regarding compliance with applicable plat requirements as provided on the attached listing.
Jose M. Landeros, Director, Planning & Development Department (915) 546-2015
H.Approve and authorize the transfer and removal of surplus assets from the respective departments to the Purchasing Department in compliance with Texas Local Government Code Section 262.011(j).  See attachment.
Joe Lopez, Jr., Interim Purchasing Agent, Purchasing Department (915) 546-2048
I.Approve and authorize the Interim Purchasing Agent to solicit proposals for PACT Assessment Case Management Software for the Juvenile Probation Department. In accordance with Local Government Code 262.030, the Interim Purchasing Agent has reviewed use of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
Jose Lopez, Jr., Interim Purchasing Agent, Purchasing Department (915) 546-2048
J.Approve and authorize the Interim Purchasing Agent to solicit proposals for Life, Voluntary Life, and Vision Insurance for the County of El Paso. In accordance with Local Government Code 262.030, the Interim Purchasing Agent has reviewed use of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
Jose Lopez, Jr., Interim Purchasing Agent, Purchasing Department (915) 546-2048
K.Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Overtime Agreement for reimbursement in the amount of $20,000 for One (1) Detention Officer through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program from February 28, 2021, through September 30, 2021. (Contract No. 2021-0559)
Sheriff Richard D. Wiles, El Paso County Sheriff's Office (915) 538-2234
L.Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the First Amendment to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) FY21 STEP Comprehensive grant for the El Paso County Sheriff's Office to reduce and return awarded funds to TxDOT, in the amount of $25,421. (Contract No. 2021-0570)
Sheriff Richard D. Wiles, El Paso County Sheriff's Office (915) 546-2262
5.RESOLUTIONS
A.Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing Make-A-Wish® and further recognize August 2021 as Sunshine Month in El Paso County, Texas. 
David C. Stout, Commissioner, Pct. 2 (915) 546-2111
B.Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing August 2, 2021, as “Olympians of El Paso” in El Paso County, Texas.
Carl L. Robinson, Commissioner, Pct. 4 (915) 546-2044
C.

Approve and adopt a resolution in support of the Texas State Teachers Association's plea to Governor Greg Abbott to withdraw his prohibition on mask mandates and allow individual school districts the opportunity to require masks in their facilities.

Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, Commissioners Court (915) 546-2098
6.PUBLIC COMMENT
COMMISSIONERS COURT
7.Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 81.032, accept a donation by Centro Cultural Mexicano of a player piano to be displayed and used to commemorate the renaming of the courthouse to the Enrique Moreno Courthouse.
Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, Commissioners Court (915) 546-2098
COUNTY ADMINISTRATION
8.Receive a report and discuss and take appropriate action regarding the CARES Act Grant and the Coronavirus Response and Relief, Supplemental Appropriations Act 2021, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Wallace Hardgrove, Executive Director, Budget and Fiscal Policy Department (915) 546-2262
9.Discuss and take appropriate action regarding El Paso County’s preparation and response for COVID-19.
Betsy C. Keller, CM, Chief Administrator, County Administration Department (915) 546-2215
AUDITOR
10.Pursuant to the Texas Government Code, Title 10, § 2256.003, please accept the attached investment reports for the third quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2021.
Edward A. Dion, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office (915) 546-2040
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
11.Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the HOT Event Award Agreement in support of the first annual Binational History Conference: The History that Connects Us, in the amount of $12,000. Funding is available in SR-TOURPROM-HISTORICAL EVENTS. (Contract No. 2021-0569)
Michael Hernandez, Director, Economic Development Department (915) 546-2177
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
12.

Discuss and take appropriate action on reconsidering the Emergency Rental Assistance policy approved by the Commissioners Court on February 8, 2021, expanding the months of assistance allowed from 6 months of rental and/or utility assistance to 12 months of assistance to include retroactive assistance as permitted under the U.S. Treasury regulations.  

Irene G. Valenzuela, Executive Director, Community Services Department (915) 775-2708
PUBLIC WORKS
13. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Agreement to Contribute Right of Way Funds (Fixed Price) with the Texas Department of Transportation for the acquisition of right-of-way to make certain highway improvements on Highway US 62/180 Montana from Tierra Este to FM 659, Zaragoza Rd. (CCSJ 0375-02-100) in the amount of $762,240.41. Further, authorize the County Judge to sign the required resolution.  (Contract No. 2021-0407)
Jose M. Landeros, Director, Planning & Development Department (915) 546-2015
14.EXECUTIVE SESSION

Only the members of the Commissioners Court have a right to attend an executive session, except that legal counsel must be present if the executive session is held pursuant to Government Code section 551.071. In addition to legal counsel, Commissioners Court may include in executive session certain officers and employees if it finds that (1) their participation is necessary to the matter under consideration; (2) their interests are not adverse to the county, and (3) their presence will not waive the attorney client privilege. Generally, the Chief Administrator, Budget Executive Director, County Clerk's representatives, and County Auditor's Office representatives attend the closed session items based on the enumerated criteria, and certain other persons may attend based on the above-listed criteria or as otherwise provided by law.

A.Discuss findings regarding persons necessary in Executive Session.
County Attorney's Office (915) 546-2050
B.Discuss El Paso County’s potential litigation in relation to Governor Abbott’s Executive Order No. 37, pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071.
Ana Schumacher, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney’s Office (915) 546-2050
C.Discuss financial information and economic development negotiations received regarding a Chapter 381 Agreement with Mission View, a private business prospect, pursuant to Texas Government Code section 551.087.
Michael Hernandez, Economic Development Department (915) 546-2177
ADDENDUM TO THE AGENDA
15.Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Governor Abbott’s Executive Order No. 37.
Christina Sanchez, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office (915) 546-2050
Regular Session, Posted Friday, July 30, 2021 at 9:10 A.M.
16.Executive Session: Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071, receive legal advice and consultation regarding Executive Order GA-38.
Christina Sanchez, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office (915) 546-2050
Executive Session, Posted Friday, July 30, 2021 at 10:20 A.M
17.Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Executive Order GA-38.
Christina Sanchez, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office (915) 546-2050
Regular Session, Posted Friday, July 30 2021 at 10:20 A.M.