[Approval of Minutes ]
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>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WONDERFUL. THE FIRST ITEM WE HAVE FOR CONSIDERATION IS THE MINUTES FROM THE MUNICIPAL COURT MEETING ON DECEMBER 1, 2025.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. >> VIAGRAN: I MAKE A
MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WE
HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >>
[Briefing and Possible Action on the following items ]
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: MOTION PASSES. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS TODAY.
ONE IS A MUNICIPAL COURT BRIEFING ON THE COURT AND JUDICIAL PERFORMANCE AND CURRENT AND UPCOMING COURT ENGAGEMENTS. SOME OF THE EVENTS THEY DO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THEN WE HAVE A SECOND ITEM, WHICH IS GOING TO BE OVERVIEW OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE APPOINTMENT PROCESS, WHICH WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE JOB POSTED AND WE'LL BE PREPARING FAIRLY SOON FOR OUR INTERVIEWS.
THIS FIRST ITEM, WHICH I'LL INVITE JUDGE OBLEDO -- OR FRED TO COME UP.
IS LARGELY IN RESPONSE TO THIS PERCEPTION THAT THE MUNICIPAL COURT IS PRETTY FLIPPANT ABOUT DISMISSALS AND IS OVERLY LENIENT. WHAT I ASKED AND WHAT I WANTED IS ANY DATA THAT EITHER AFFIRMS THAT CLAIM OR REFUTES IT.
AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA HERE TODAY AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT DIALOGUE AND BACK AND FORTH. BUT I KNOW SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE EXPRESSED SOME OF THAT CONCERN AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION HERE.
TAKE IT AWAY. >> FRED GARCIA WITH THE MUNICIPAL COURT.
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I HAD SOME CONFUSION WITH THE ACTUAL POWERPOINT.
THIS IS UPDATED FROM THE PREVIOUS ONE THAT WE SUBMITTED AT THE FIRST MEETING. OKAY. SO THE DATA SHOWS JUDICIAL ACTIVITY FOR THE TIME PERIOD OF MAY 1, 2024 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2025.
WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO GIVE YOU THE DATA DURING THE CURRENT JUDICIAL TERM WHEN THE FULL-TIME JUDGES ARE PERFORMING THEIR JUDICIAL DUTIES. WE CUT IT OFF AT DECEMBER 31ST JUST TO HELP WITH DATA COLLECTION. IT'S AT A MACRO LEVEL, HOLISTIC, HIGH-LEVEL LOOK AT THE DATA. NOT EVERYTHING IS CAPTURED ON THE PRESENTATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW WE JUST HAD A PRESENTATION ON JUVENILE COURT MATTERS.
SO MANY THINGS LIKE JUVENILE COURT, NUMBER OF TRIAL SETTINGS, PRETRIAL HEARING SETS, THAT DATA IS NOT THERE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COMMITTEE WANTS TO, AT FUTURE COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS, TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL COURTROOM PERFORMANCE. I SUSPECT THAT THOSE WILL HAPPEN THEN BECAUSE EACH COURTROOM, YOU'LL TAKE A WHOLE PRESENTATION TO DIG THROUGH ALL THE ACTUAL WORK THEY DO IN EACH COURT. THIS IS HIGH LEVEL. THIS FIRST SLIDE, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO CAPTURE OVERALL WORK VOLUME THAT WE DEAL WITH DURING THAT TERM. YOU NOTICE WE BREAK THINGS UP INTO CRIMINAL CASES AND CIVIL CASES. THAT'S OUR JURISDICTION. THE LION'S SHARE OF CASES ARE TRAFFIC, 199249. IN A NON-TRAFFIC VIOLATION, WE HIHLIGHTED SOME OF THE NON-TRAFFIC TYPES ON THE RIGHT . THOSE SEEM TO BE THE TYPES OF CASES THAT THE COMMITTEE IS INTERESTED IN. WE PULLED THOSE THREE OUT TO KIND OF LOOK AT. ON THE CIVIL SIDE YOU'LL SEE CIVIL CODE VIOLATIONS, 14,397. AND CIVIL PARKING VIOLATIONS, 11,503.
FOR A TOTAL OF 369,694. ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE THE ANIMAL CASES ARE HIGH.
AS YOU RECALL WITH THE WORK THAT ACS, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES HAS BEEN DOING THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE AMOUNT OF CASES THEY ACTUALLY FILED, THAT HAS JUMPED TREMENDOUSLY FROM PRIOR YEARS. IN PRIOR YEARS IT WAS MAINLY HEAVY ON THE CIVIL VIOLATIONS AS OPPOSED TO CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS.
AND SO THAT'S WITH THE LAST FISCAL YEAR WHERE THEY'RE FOCUSING ON ISSUING CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS. THIS NEXT SLIDE HERE IS CRIMINAL CASE OUTCOMES AND RESOLUTIONS. AT A HIGH LEVEL WE LOOK AT WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING DURING THAT TERM. YOU'LL SEE THESE ARE JUDICIAL ORDERS IN DECISION-MAKING OUTCOMES BY THE JUDGES DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.
THE LARGEST NUMBER IS 91,979. THAT'S CONVICTIONS WITH A
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PAYMENT OF SOME SORT. THAT'S REALLY -- IT COULD HAVE BEEN A PAYMENT PLAN.IT COULD HAVE BEEN STRAIGHT PAY WHERE THEY'RE ASSESSED A DOLLAR AMOUNT AND THEY PAY IT. OR IT COULD BE SOME OTHER MATTER THAT ENDS UP IN A PAYMENT, MAYBE AFTER PROBATION. THAT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER .
NEXT YOU'LL SEE THE CONVICTIONS FOR NON-CASH. 52,654.
KEEP IN MIND THOSE CONVICTIONS ARE EITHER A CASE THAT GOT TIME SERVED, THE INDIVIDUAL GOT A CREDIT FOR TIME SERVED. THE INDIVIDUAL MAY HAVE GOTTEN THE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDER THAT EQUATES TO THESE DOLLAR AMOUNTS, OR CASES BEING PROCESSED AS COMMUNITY SERVICE, NON-CASH. AND ALSO WAIVER.
SO IF THE JUDGE FINDS AN UNDUE HARDSHIP ON THE INDIVIDUAL, THAT THEY'RE UNABLE TO PERFORM EITHER EXTENDED OVERPAYMENT PLAN TO ASSESS THE VIOLATION TO HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE, THE JUDGE CAN ORDER COMMUNITY SERVICE. BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHERE THE STATUTE ALLOWS JUDGES A LOT OF OPTIONS TO EITHER GIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE, MAYBE THEY ASSIGN THEM TO A MENTORING CLASS. IF THEY CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION, THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED COMMUNITY SERVICE.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THE JUDGE DOES. IF THOSE THINGS AREN'T AVAILABLE OR CAN'T WORK, THE JUDGE CAN DECIDE UNDUE HARDSHIP AND WAIVE THE FINE AND COURT COST. THAT 52,000 REFLECTS THAT EFFORT.
THE OTHER ONES ARE DISMISSLES. THE HIGHEST NUMBER IS GOING TO BE THE DEFERRED DISPOSITION DISMISSAL. ALSO THE THE PROSECUTOR RECOMMENDS DISMISSAL, DRIVER SAFETY DISMISSALS AND COMPLIANCE DISMISSALS.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: CAN YOU -- BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.
CAN YOU SAY THE NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES ONE MORE TIME? JUST BECAUSE THE COLOR TABLE IS CHALLENGING.
>> ALL RIGHT. MAYBE, COUNCILMAN, THE NEXT SLIDE MAY HELP YOU THERE.
THE FIRST TWO ARE OBVIOUSLY THE 91,979. THAT'S CONVICTION WITH PAYMENTS. THE 52,654 IS CONVICTION NON-CASH.
IF WE JUMP OVER TO THE FOLLOWING SLIDE, THIS IS THE ACTUAL NUMBERS THAT'S REFLECTED IN THAT PIE CHART. BUT THESE ARE THE DISMISSAL ONES.
IF THAT HELPS. DOES THAT HELP OR DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK?
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IT'S FINE. I CAN FIGURE OUT THE REST.
>> THIS ONE HERE, AGAIN, THE LION'S SHARE IS DEFERRED DISPOSITION.
IN MUNICIPAL COURT ARTICLE A ALLOWS THE JUDGE , AT THE JUDGE'S DISCRETION, TO GRANT ON AIRPLAY OF GUILTY OR NO CONTEST, NOT TO FIND THE INDIVIDUAL GUILTY BUT TO SUSPEND THAT FINDING OF GUILT FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO 180 DAYS.
IF THEY DO THAT, THE JUDGE CAN SET CONDITIONS OF THAT PROBATION.
MANY TIMES THE JUDGE WILL SET CONDITIONS. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE CONDITIONS BUT BASICALLY WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE IS A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR OF THAT INDIVIDUAL. SOME TYPE OF CLASS. MAYBE IN REGARDS TO ANIMAL CASES, LIKE A PET OWNERSHIP CLASS. AS LONG AS THEY SATISFY THESE CONDITIONS, THE JUDGE CAN DISMISS THOSE CASES. THE DRIVER SAFETY DISMISSAL.
45A352, AGAIN, THAT'S NOT ONLY ALLOWED BY LAW BUT IT'S ALSO REQUIRED AND ON MOVING VIOLATIONS, IF THE INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS DEFENSIVE DRIVING, THE JUDGE SHALL ORDER THAT, ASSUMING THE INDIVIDUAL HAS CURRENT EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, INSURANCE. AND A CURRENT TEXAS DRIVER'S LICENSE.
SO THE INDIVIDUAL WILL HAVE SOME TIME TO TAKE THAT DEFENSIVE DRIVING CLASS AND GET THAT CASE DISMISSED. THE PROSECUTOR RECOMMENDS DISMISSALS, 29,000.
THERE ARE MANY REASONS. I KNOW THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IS HERE AND CAN GIVE YOU SOME MORE REASONS WHY BUT THERE'S MANY REASONS WHY THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.
FOR INSTANCE, THERE MAY BE MISSING WITNESSES. IT MAY BE AIRPLAY BARGAIN WHERE A PERSON HAS A NUMBER OF CITATIONS AND IF THEY AGREE IN FULL ON THIS CITATION, THEY AGREE TO DISMISS THE OTHERS. TRIAL SETTING, SOMETIMES THE
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OFFICER DOESN'T SHOW UP. SOMETIMES THE OFFICER SHOWS UP, DOES NOT REMEMBER THE CASE, AND THEN THE STATE WILL FILE A MOTION TO DISMISS.IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE. SOMETIMES THE OFFICER RETIRES.
THIS PAST YEAR -- AND I THINK WE'LL EXPECT THIS FOR THE NEXT COMING YEARS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STALE CASES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR DATA BANK OF FILED CASES THAT ARE 15, 20 YEARS OLD. THERE'S NO ACTIVITY. THERE'S A -- IT COST MORE MONEY TO SEEK THOSE OUT TO GET SOME RESOLUTION. SO THE STATE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE WORKED WITH THE COURT TO DO A MOTION TO DISMISS AND CLOSE THOSE OUT.
THEY'RE NOT REALLY COLLECTIBLE. THAT NUMBER WAS HIGH THIS FISCAL YEAR '25. COMPLIANCE DISMISSAL IS AGAIN A THING THAT THE LAW ALLOWS MULTIPLE DIFFERENT STATUTES THAT ADDRESS THIS. BUT IN ESSENCE, IT'S TO -- WITH REGARDS TO CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT VIOLATIONS OR DRIVER'S LICENSE RESTRICTION VIOLATIONS, IF THE INDIVIDUAL CORRECTS THOSE DEFECTS BEFORE THEIR APPEARANCE DATE, THE LAW ALLOWS THE JUDGE TO DISMISS THAT CITATION WITH THE DISMISSAL FEE PAID ON THAT. OF COURSE, WHAT WE WANT IS VEHICLES TO BE OPERATING CORRECTLY WITH PROPER HEADLIGHTS, LICENSE PLATES, REGISTRATION CURRENT. MAYBE A DRIVER'S LICENSE RESTRICTION WHERE THEY FAILED TO CHANGE THEIR ADDRESS. WE'LL GET THE CURRENT ADDRESS FIXED. THOSE ARE GOOD THINGS. ALL IN ALL, THIS SLIDE HERE SHOWS DISMISSALS. I KNOW THE COMMITTEE WAS INTERESTED IN WHAT CAUSES THOSE DISMISSALS BUT I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THESE ARE A GOOD THING.
THESE CHANGE BEHAVIOR. THE FIRST TWO ARE KEEPING THESE THINGS OFF OF A PERSON'S DRIVING RECORD, WHICH WILL HELP THEM. AGAIN, THERE'S MANY REASONS WHY A PROSECUTOR RECOMMENDS DISMISSAL. COMPLIANCE, WE DEFINITELY WANT GOOD-OPERATING VEHICLES ON THE ROADWAY OR INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE GOOD DRIVER'S LICENSE WHEN THEY OPERATE THEIR MOTOR VEHICLE. ALL RIGHT.
DRILLING DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN TO THE ANIMAL DOCKET.
WE HAVE HERE THE TOP THREE VIOLATIONS THAT WE HAD DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.
IT'S NO SURPRISE, FREE RESTRAINT IS THE HIGHEST. FAILURE TO VACCINATE THEIR ANIMAL. AND THEN THE ANIMAL NUISANCE BITE CASES.
ON THE BOTTOM LEFT SHOWS OUTCOMES, CONVICTIONS, DEFERRED DISPOSITION.
WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT THIS COURT, WITH REGARDS TO PROBATION REQUIREMENTS, THAT JUDGE REQUIRES INDIVIDUALS, WHO SHE PLACES ON PROBATION, TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR.
AND MAY ORDER THEM TO ATTEND A PET OWNERSHIP CLASS OR MAINTAIN THE PROPER WELLNESS FOR THEIR ANIMAL, LIKE GETTING THEIR SHOTS, GETTING THEIR HEARTWORM MEDICATION AS A CONDITION TO KEEP THEM ON PROBATION. KIND OF TIED TO THE PROSECUTOR DISMISSALS THERE, SHE ALSO REQUIRES THAT THEY HAVE MULTIPLE CASES -- BECAUSE MANY OF THESE CASES IN ANIMAL COURT, THEY ARE CITED WITH MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL, ONE OCCURRENCE. AND SO THE PROSECUTOR LOOKS AT THOSE CASES AND SAYS, OKAY. IF YOU DO THESE GOOD THINGS, THEN WE'LL AGREE TO DISMISS THESE CASES. BUT IF YOU DON'T, THEN ALL THESE CASES ARE CONVICTIONS AND YOU HAVE TO COME BACK TO COURT.
THE LAST ITEM THERE IS WARRANTS. 3,967.
IT'S A HIGH NUMBER IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE TOTAL COUNT IN THE SENSE I THINK THAT JUST SHOWS PEOPLE WILL IGNORE IT. WE DO CERTAIN THINGS TO TRY TO GET COMPLIANCE AND HAVE PEOPLE SHOW UP. BUT JUST THE STATUS OF WHERE THOSE CASES ARE RIGHT THERE. AND THEN ON FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS, THOSE CASES ARE BEING PAID AND THAT'S THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WAS COLLECTED DURING THAT TIME PERIOD. WE SEE THAT BUMP UP FOR LIKE THE BITE CASES AND DOGS RUNNING LOOSE. THE BITE CASES, GENERALLY SPEAKING, IF YOU DRILL INTO THE DATA -- AND WE COULD DO THAT AT ANOTHER MEETING -- TYPICALLY, ARE THE HIGHER FINES THAT ARE ASSESSED BY THE JUDGE. AND THEN, FINALLY, SOME ADDITIONAL STUFF THAT ON DISMISSALS HERE, IT MAY BE, AGAIN, THE DEFENDANT NO LONGER OWNS THE DOG. THEY'LL DISMISS IT IF THEY PAID IN FULL FOR OTHER
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VIOLATIONS. OR MAYBE THERE WAS A TYPE OF COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENT.THEY ACHIEVED THAT AND THE PROSECUTOR AGREED TO DISMISS IT.
WE DO HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE THE DOG IS DECEASED OR EUTHANIZED SO THOSE CASES ARE DISMISSED ON A MOTION BY THE STATE. WHAT I DON'T HAVE HERE -- AND WHAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT IS -- THAT COURT ALSO DOES CIVIL HEARINGS FOR DANGEROUS DOGS, SERIOUS BODILY INJURIES, CRUELTY TREATED DOGS.
SO THAT'S A REGULAR THING. AS YOU KNOW, THAT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE PREVALENT AND IS BEING ADDRESSED BY THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND THE COURT AND THE STATE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN PROSECUTING THESE CASES. FOR THAT SAME TIME PERIOD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE JUDGE HEARD OVER 123 HEARINGS.
THERE'S MULTIPLE WITNESSES. IT'S VERY TIME INTENSIVE FOR THE JUDGE, THE PROSECUTOR, OF COURSE ACS STAFF. IN FACT, YESTERDAY AFTERNOON THEY STARTED A HEARING AT 1:00. THEY DIDN'T FINISH UNTIL 7:00 LAST NIGHT.
SO THAT'S ALL ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, AND THE JUDGE AND STAFF STAYING THERE UNTIL 7:00 AT NIGHT TO HEAR THESE TYPES OF HEARINGS.
VERY SIGNIFICANT TIME-WISE BUT THE COURT IS GETTING THOSE THINGS DONE.
CITY CODE VIOLATIONS. AGAIN, THESE ARE THE TOP VIOLATIONS FOR THAT TIME PERIOD. THEY'RE NOT AS NUMEROUS AS, SAY, SOME OF THESE OTHER TYPES OF CASES. THE PROBATION CASE, AGAIN, THE JUDGE IS SEEKING COMPLIANCE OR A CHANGE OF BEHAVIOR IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY CODE LAWS.
THE JUDGE WILL SET CONDITIONS TO TRY TO GET THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
AGAIN, THE PROSECUTOR MAY DISMISS, BASED ON SEEING COMPLIANCE AND FIXING THOSE CITY CODE VIOLATIONS AS A REASON FOR DISMISSAL OR THEY PAY IN FULL ON ANOTHER TYPE OF CASE. OR SOMETIMES OFFICERS ARE NO LONGER WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND IT'S HARD TO PROSECUTE THOSE CASES WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A WITNESS.
THE FAMILY VIOLENCE DOCKET. I KNOW WE SPOKE ABOUT THAT IN THE PAST.
AGAIN, THE COURT HAS JURISDICTIONS FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE CASES.
ASSAULT BY OFFENSIVE CONTACT AND ASSAULT BY THREAT. THESE CASES ARE UNIQUE IN THE FACT THAT THEY MUST HAVE AN APPEARANCE BY AN INDIVIDUAL.
YOU CANNOT PAY THESE ONLINE. YOU CANNOT PAY THESE BY MAIL.
YOU MUST MAKE A PERSONAL APPEARANCE. THE COURT ALSO -- THE LAW ALSO REQUIRES FINGERPRINTS ON THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THAT'S REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE OUTCOME OF THAT CASE LEADING UP TO A CONVICTION OR DISMISSAL. BUT AS YOU WELL KNOW, IT HAS SOME SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES SO THESE ARE VERY TIME-CONSUMING CASES. THE JUDGE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS. THE STATE'S ATTORNEY SPENDS A LOT OF TIME WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS TALKING -- ESPECIALLY THE PRO SE INDIVIDUALS, TALKING TO THEM, EXPLAINING THEIR OPTIONS, AND ALSO THE CONSEQUENCES.
BECAUSE IT MAY AFFECT WHETHER YOU OWN OR POSSESS A FIREARM.
IT MAY AFFECT YOU OWING ALIMONY. CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE A CONVICTION, INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE MILITARY. A CLASS C COULD BE USED TO ENHANCE A FUTURE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE. AND ALSO IT COULD AFFECT IMMIGRATION STATUS. SO THE JUDGE AND THE PROSECUTORS, THEIR INTENT HERE IS TO STOP THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE AND GIVE THEM CLASSES THAT WILL HELP EDUCATE THOSE AS THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE AND CHANGE BEHAVIOR. THAT IS A TIME-INTENSIVE COMMITMENT BY THE INDIVIDUAL AND THOSE ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO COMPLETE SUCCESSFULLY. AND I THINK THAT'S MAYBE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE CONVICTIONS ARE AS HIGH AS THEY ARE IN THOSE TYPE OF VIOLATIONS. AGAIN, THE JUDGE THAT HANDLES THAT COURT CAN ALSO TALK MORE FREELY ABOUT WHAT SHE SEES IN HER COURT WITH REGARDS TO THAT DOCKET.
ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO JUMP OVER TO CIVIL VIOLATIONS.
THESE AREN'T HANDLED BY THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES THAT YOU APPOINT.
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THESE ARE HANDLED BY ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICERS AND THEY'RE CIVIL IN NATURE. THE REASON THEY WERE CIVIL IN NATURE, FOR THE MOST PART, IS THE SAME CITY CODE VIOLATIONS APPLY WHETHER IT'S CRIMINAL OR CIVIL.IN THESE INSTANCES THAT WE'RE GIVEN POWER FOR, AND THAT'S FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES, HE HEALTH AND SAFETY. SO IT'S USUALLY QUICKER TO DISPOSE OF.
SO WE HAVE TWO ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICERS THAT HEAR THESE CASES. THIS SHOWS CASES THAT THEY WERE FOUND LIABLE.
8,442. AMOUNTS PAID ON THOSE AND THEN WHAT'S OUTSTANDING, $2,864,000. MOST OF THESE CASES ARE DEFAULTED.
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE CITED. THE CODE OFFICER WILL CITE THE INDIVIDUAL. THEY'RE SET FOR A HEARING, THEY FAIL TO SHOW UP, AND WE HAVE A CONVICTION ON THAT CASE. THE 4,689 ARE RESOLVED, PAID. $627,000. DISMISS/NOT LIABLE OR SOME TYPE OF COMPLIANCE, THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OR MAYBE THEY DID THOSE THINGS THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO BUT IT MISSED IT.
THEY DID THOSE AND THEY SATISFIED THAT WITH THE CODE OFFICER BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO THEM WHEN THEY CITED THE CASE. SO THEY SHOW THAT AT THE HEARING AND THE JUDGE DISMISSES THAT AND FINDS THEM NOT LIABLE.
REGARDING PARKING TOO, THIS SHOWS THE AMOUNT OF CASES THAT WERE IN DEFAULT AND ARE OPEN. 3,571. AND THE AMOUNT OWED THERE.
AND THEN THE 72,143 ARE THE CASES PAID AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY PAID ON THOSE PARKING CITATIONS. DISMISS/NOT LIABLE. MANY TIMES EITHER THE HANDWRITING ON THE TICKET IS NOT LEGIBLE AND THE DATA ENTRY CLERK WILL PUT THE WRONG LICENSE PLATE NUMBER SO IT GOES TO THE WRONG INDIVIDUAL.
THEY'RE NOT AT FAULT. OR THE INDIVIDUAL MAY HAVE PAID THE PARKING AND HAS A RECEIPT. MAYBE THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT WITH THEM SO THEY SHOWED THE JUDGE -- THE HEARING OFFICER THE RECEIPT AND THEY WERE NOT IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW.
THEY WERE, IN FACT, IN COMPLIANCE. MAGISTRATIONS AND WRITS.
THESE NUMBERS, OF COURSE AS YOU KNOW, THE ARRESTEES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY ON-SITE ARRESTS. IF AN INDIVIDUAL HAS A WARRANT, OUTSTANDING COUNTY WARRANT, THEY'LL GO STRAIGHT TO THE COUNTY FACILITY. THESE ARE ON-SITE ARRESTS BY THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE 39,315 SHOWS THESE ARE JUST HIGHER OFFENSES, CLASS B, CLASS A OR FAMILY CASES WHERE IT COULD BE A DWI, IT COULD BE A FAMILY VIOLENCE ASSAULT CASE, A MURDER CASE. THOSE ARE ARRESTED FOR COUNTY ONLY. CITY-ONLY INTAKES, THEY'RE ARRESTED ON A CLASS C WARRANT THAT THEY DID NOT APPEAR ON OR THEY FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE ORDER.
AND THEY GET ARRESTED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THAT. THE 23,000, THAT SHOWS THEY HAD BOTH, A BRAND-NEW ON-SITE ARREST AND THE POLICE OFFICER DISCOVERED THEY ALSO HAD CITY WARRANTS, AND SO THEY ARRESTED THEM FOR THOSE THINGS TOO.
AND ON THE RIGHT IT SHOWS THE WRITS THAT WERE ISSUED. 26 ARREST WARRANTS.
3,412 BLOOD DRAW WARRANTS WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A BREATHALYZER TEST AND THEY REFUSED IT SO THE OFFICER BRINGS A BLOOD DRAW WARRANT TO AN INDEPENDENT MAGISTRATE TO REVIEW. DETERMINES THAT OFFENSE WAS COMMITTED, HAD PROBABLE CAUSE. THEN THEY WILL ISSUE THAT WARRANT TO DRAW THE BLOOD. THAT HAPPENS AT OUR FACILITY WHERE THEY ACTUALLY DRAW THE BLOOD. EMERGENCY DETENTION, 712. IS WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL IS DISPLAYING EITHER SOME HARM TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS OR MAYBE BECAUSE OF THEIR MENTAL ILLNESS, THEY DEGRADED ENOUGH WHERE THEY'RE A DANGER.
THE POLICE OFFICER OR NURSE WILL PRESENT AN AFFIDAVIT TO THE MAGISTRATE.
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MAGISTRATE'S ORDER OF EMERGENCY PROTECTION, 1690. THESE ARE THE ASSAULTIVE OFFENSES WHERE THE VICTIM, COMPLAINANT IS BEING THREATENED, HARMED, OR INJURED. THIS IS A PROTECTIVE ORDER BY THE JUDGE TO KEEP THEM AWAY FROM THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT GETS SERVED THERE AT OUR FACILITY UNTIL THEY'RE ABLE TO GET A MORE PERMANENT PROTECTIVE ORDER SIGNED. THE MENTAL HEALTH ORDER, THE 14,170, THAT NUMBER REFLECTS THE NUMBER OF TIMES A JUDGE -- A MAGISTRATE MAY HAVE BEEN AWARE OR BEEN ADVISED BY THE ARRESTING OFFICER OR THE PERSON AT THE FACILITY THAT SHOWS THIS INDIVIDUAL DISPLAYS EITHER A HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS OR MAYBE HAS TRIED TO COMMIT SUICIDE IN THE PAST. THE JUDGE CAN ORDER AN ASSESSMENT DONE AND THAT'S ALSO PART OF THEIR MAGISTRATION PAPERWORK THAT GETS SENT OVER TO THE COUNTY. OF COURSE, THE 628 IS THE NUMBER OF SEARCH WARRANTS FOR ILLEGAL EVIDENCE THAT THE MAGISTRATE SIGNED FOR THE POLICE OFFICER. AGAIN, WE OPERATE 24/7, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, NONSTOP.WE ALWAYS HAVE A MAGISTRATE PRESENT AND STAFF THERE TO HANDLE THOSE CASES.
THIS LAST SLIDE IS A PICTURE OF THE ACTUAL MONEY THAT'S COLLECTED BY THE COURT.
SO IT SHOWS $24 MILLION COLLECTED ONLINE DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.
AND $10,080,000 COLLECTED IN PERSON, THE 29%. SO ON THE RIGHT IS THE SAME INFORMATION BUT IT'S BY TRANSACTIONS. 173,828 TRANSACTIONS ONLINE AND 76,619 TRANSACTIONS IN PERSON. WHAT WE ARE SEEING, THE YEAR BEFORE COVID, 2019, 35% OF RESOLUTION AND PAYMENTS WERE ONLINE.
AND NOW WE'RE BUMPING IT UP TO 71%, 69% ONLINE. SO WE, THE JUDGE, JUDGE OBLEDO AND MYSELF HAVE ADJUSTED THE JUDGE'S WORK SCHEDULES AND STAFFING TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THAT BECAUSE IT REQUIRES A LOT OF BACK-ROOM EFFORT TO RESOLVE THOSE CASES ONLINE. BUT WE SEE THAT TREND HAPPENING AND CONTINUING.
IT JUST MAKES IT EASIER FOR INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CASES, TO SET THINGS FOR TRIAL, TO REQUEST A PAYMENT PLAN, TO REQUEST A DISMISSAL, COMPLIANCE DISMISSALS. ALL OF THOSE ARE AVAILABLE FOR THEM ONLINE.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE IN-PERSON ACTIVITY IS REQUIRED WHEN YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED TO HAVE TRIALS, NEED TO HAVE HEARINGS.
I INDICATED SOME OF THOSE ONES YESTERDAY, 7:00, THOSE ARE IN-PERSON HEARINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE HAD IN PERSON. WE HAVE JUDGES, STAFF, AND PROSECUTORS AVAILABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS. THAT CONCLUDES MY PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION AND I'LL LET JUDGE OBLEDO FINISH THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. >> OBLEDO: GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY. SO EACH CALENDAR YEAR THE COURT APPLIES FOR THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL TRAFFIC SAFETY INITIATIVES AWARD .
I AM PROUD TO TELL Y'ALL THAT WE JUST FOUND OUT LATE LAST WEEK THAT WE WON AGAIN FOR HIGH-VOLUME CITIES. SO THIS IS THE SEVENTH TIME -- THANK YOU.
I WILL BE SENDING Y'ALL AN E-MAIL LATER TODAY. THIS IS THE SEVENTH TIME SINCE 2019 THAT THE COURT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR OUR COMMITMENT TO TRAFFIC SAFETY. THIS AWARD REFLECTS THE DEDICATION OF OUR JUDGES AND STAFF TO KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. TO ACHIEVE THIS LEVEL OF RECOGNITION, THE COURT HAS NUMEROUS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS AND PARTICIPATES IN COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WHILE I CAN'T COVER EVERYTHING IN DETAIL TODAY, YOU DID RECEIVE AN FY24 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BOOKLET HIGHLIGHTING THE COURT'S OUTREACH EFFORTS. THE FY25 BOOKLET HAS BEEN PLACED ON PAUSE DUE TO OTHER COURT PRIORITIES, BUT I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY, SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE COURT'S ACTIVITIES. THIS MONTH WE RECOGNIZE SPAY AND NEUTER AWARENESS MONTH
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AND WE ALSO BEGAN OUR WARRANT RESOLUTION CAMPAIGN ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH.INDIVIDUALS WITH OUTSTANDING CITATIONS ARE CONTACTED THROUGH MULTIPLE METHODS AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO VISIT THE COURT AND THEY WILL NOT GET ARRESTED.
THEY WILL NOT BE ARRESTED. THIS YEAR, WE WORKED WITH COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT TO SECURE AN ELECTRONIC BILLBOARD AT THE CORNER OF I-35 AND EISENHOWER AND THAT BILLBOARD WENT LIVE ON FEBRUARY 9.
THAT IS IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH. ALSO TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY, THE COURT WAS OPEN THIS PAST SATURDAY AND WE WILL OPEN AGAIN THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH, FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 3:00 P.M. LAST YEAR THIS CAMPAIGN HELPED RESOLVE APPROXIMATELY 14,000 WARRANTS. AGAIN THIS YEAR, THE COURT PARTNERED WITH ACS TO HOST A VACCINATION AND MICROCHIP CLINIC.
THE CLINIC WAS HELD LAST SATURDAY AND WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO SERVE 100 RESIDENTS BUT BECAUSE OF OVERWHELMING RESPONSE, THE CLINIC ADDED AN ADDITIONAL 75 SLOTS AND THOSE WERE VERY QUICKLY FILLED. THIS PARTNERSHIP ENFORCES THE COURT'S BROADER COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING.
IN ADDITION TO THE MONTHLY CAMPAIGNS LISTED ON THIS SLIDE, SOME NOTABLE INITIATIVES INCLUDE OUR REALITY EDUCATION FOR DRIVERS.
THE RED PROGRAM. FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS THE COURT PARTNERED WITH TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION. THIS IS A FREE PROGRAM THAT TARGETS YOUNG DRIVERS AGES 15 TO 25, WHETHER THEY HAVE RECEIVED A CITATION OR NOT. THE GOAL IS TO GUIDE PARTICIPANTS TOWARDS SAFER DRIVING BEHAVIORS THROUGH REAL-LIFE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES. TO DATE, WE HAVE HOSTED SIX CLASSES AT THE COURT, AVERAGING 60 PARTICIPANTS PER CLASS AND HAVE TWO MORE SCHEDULED LATER THIS YEAR.
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, OUR JUDGES ALSO PARTICIPATE IN CAREER DAY EVENTS AT LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THE COURT ALSO PROVIDES RESOURCES AT SAFE DRIVING EVENTS HOSTEDLY AREA HIGH SCHOOLS. DURING THESE VISITS, JUDGES DISCUSS SAFE DRIVING HABITS, THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, THE DANGERS OF VAPING, AND INFORMATION ABOUT OUR TEEN COURT PROGRAM.
THESE CONVERSATIONS ALLOW THE JUDGES TO POSITIVELY INFLUENCE STUDENTS, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE COURTROOM. THE COURT IS ALSO SCHEDULED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL SAFE DRIVING EVENT IN MARCH.
THEY ATTEND CITY COUNCIL-SPONSORED RESOURCE FAIRS.
THIS PAST SUMMER THE COURT PARTICIPATED IN FOUR BACKPACK EVENTS, IN ADDITION TO OUR OWN BACKPACK GIVEAWAY, TO STUDENTS AT ANTONIO AND SAISD.
CURRENTLY THE COURT IS HOSTING LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH NEWLY-CREATED INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS. JUDGE BELL IS WORKING WITH STUDENTS FROM THE EXPLORER'S CLUB AT HARLANDALE HIGH SCHOOL.
12 STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ROTATING THROUGH THE COURT EVERY MONDAY SINCE LAST OCTOBER AND HAVE EXPERIENCED JUST ABOUT EVERY AREA OF THE COURT.
JUDGE LISA GONZALES IS MENTORING STUDENTS FROM PROVIDENCE HIGH SCHOOL.
THE STUDENTS COME TO COURT TWICE A WEEK AND THEY ARE HELPING US CRAFT OUR SAFE DRIVING MESSAGES TO TEEN DRIVERS . EACH OF THEM UPDATED SLIDES FOR THE 100 DEADLIEST DAYS OF SUMMER. I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SHARE THOSE SLIDES WITH A WIDER AUDIENCE. BOTH JUDGES ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE A POSITIVE, MEANINGFUL, AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE COURT SYSTEM.
THE COURT HAS ALSO PROVIDED TOURS FOR STUDENTS FROM JUBILEE ACADEMY, PROVIDENCE, AND THE TEEN COURT VOLUNTEERS . I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT JUDGE BELL AND CASTILLO ARE WORKING TO HOST THE FIRST-EVER SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL COURT MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION. THAT TOURNAMENT WILL BE HELD LATER THIS YEAR AND IT WILL BE TIED TO MUNICIPAL COURT WEEK IN NOVEMBER.
I WILL SHARE MORE DETAILS WITH YOU AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.
ON OUR NEXT SLIDE, AS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER IS RECOGNIZED AS MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK . THIS IS A WEEK THAT HONORS THE VITAL ROLE MUNICIPAL COURTS PLAY IN PROMOTING PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. MORE PEOPLE VISIT MUNICIPAL COURTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAN ALL OTHER TEXAS COURTS COMBINED, SO THEIR EXPERIENCE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS REALLY INFLUENCED BY WHAT THEY EXPERIENCE IN A LOCAL COURT.
EACH YEAR, WE INVITE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT COURT
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OPERATIONS, EXPLORE CAREERS IN THE LEGAL FIELD, PARTICIPATE IN MOCK TRIALS, ENGAGE WITH GUEST SPEAKERS, AND TAKE PART IN INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.A NEW DECISI ADDITION WAS THE SE CITY EXPERIENCE. IT WAS CREATED AND DESIGNED BY COURT STAFF AND THIS PROGRAM ENHANCED PUBLIC SAFETY AWARENESS FOR ADULTS, TEENS, AND ALSO FOR CHILDREN. PARTICIPANTS DRIVE THROUGH THE STREETS OF SAFE CITY WHILE ENCOUNTERING REAL-LIFE CHALLENGES.
THE PROGRAM TEACHES CRITICAL LESSONS ABOUT TRAFFIC SAFETY, RESPONSIBLE DECISION MAKING, AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF IMPAIRED OR DISTRACTED DRIVING.
THIS HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE MAKES SAFETY, EDUCATION ENGAGING, MEMORABLE, AND IMPACTFUL. WHILE THE STUDENTS WERE DRIVING THROUGH SAFE CITY, SAPD OFFICERS WERE THERE ENFORCING TRAFFIC LAWS AND HANDING OUT CITATIONS FOR OFFENSES SUCH AS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT, SPEEDING, FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY, NOT STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, AND EVEN DISTRACTED DRIVING. THESE TRAFFIC SAFETY LESSONS WERE REINFORCED BY DETECTIVES FROM THE HOMICIDE TRAFFIC INVESTIGATION DETAIL. THEIR PRESENTATIONS INCLUDED REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS SUCH AS AUDIO, VIDEO, AND FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE. THEIR PRESENTATION WAS DIFFICULT TO HEAR AND SEE BUT I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE IMPORTANT LESSONS, NOT ONLY FOR DRIVERS BUT THEIR PASSENGERS AS WELL. THE COURT WAS ALSO GRATEFUL TO HOLD KAREN ZALTSMAN THIS YEAR. HER WILLINGNESS TO SHARE HER FAMILY'S EXPERIENCE REMINDS US OF THE PROFOUND IMPACT THAT DISTRACTED DRIVING CAN HAVE ON INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. MS. ZALTSMAN INSISTS ON SPEAKING TO EVERY STUDENT WHO ATTENDS MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK.
I HAVE HEARD HER PRESENTATION MANY TIMES AND EACH TIME IT IS DIFFICULT NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL. I INVITE YOU TO WATCH HER FAMILY'S STORY.
IT'S CALLED MEET EMILY AND IT IS ON THE COURT WEBSITE. I THINK, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, YOU REMEMBER WE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE IN THIS VERY ROOM FOR THAT. THE VIDEO IS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF WHY OUR EFFORTS TO COMBAT DISTRACTED DRIVING ARE VITAL. IN CLOSING, OUR JUDGES AND STAFF CONSISTENTLY RISE TO THE CHALLENGE OF TRYING NEW AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY, PROMOTING SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY, AND SUPPORTING SAFE AND CLEAN NEIGHBORHOODS. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO PROACTIVE OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP.
NOT JUST IN ENFORCING THE LAW BUT HELPING PREVENT VIOLATIONS BEFORE THEY
OCCUR. THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR THE UPDATES.
I'LL SAY I REQUESTED THIS ITEM WITH COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO IN MIND.
WE'RE GOING TO BE CONSIDERING JUDGES FOR APPOINTMENT AND REAPPOINTMENT FAIRLY SOON AND I WOULD LIKE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE ROOTED IN DATA. AND HERE WE HAVE DATA, ROUGHLY BY DOCKET, THAT CAN INFORM SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE ASK AND PRIORITIES WE CONVEY TO APPLICANTS.
SO WE'LL START WITH A DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM AND THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO A PRESENTATION WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT PROCESS AND WE'LL HAVE A QUICK EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR SOME PERSONNEL MATTERS. STARTING WITH COUNCILMEMBER
ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
YEAH. I KNOW I MENTIONED BEFORE WHEN IT COMES TO THESE CASES, ESPECIALLY ANIMAL-RELATED CASES YOU KNOW RESIDENTS WANT TO SEE THEIR NEIGHBORS HELD ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE THE IMPACT OF THESE OFFENSES CAN SEEM SMALL BUT THEY DO IMPACT PEOPLE'S DAILY LIVES. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES MY PUSHBACK HAS BEEN WE NEED TO KEEP THE VICTIMS IN MIND WHEN MAKING THE DECISION ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THESE CASES. BUT I DO APPRECIATE Y'ALL SHARING THE NUMBERS AND ALSO SHARING WHAT THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE DISMISSALS LOOK LIKE. IT'S NOT JUST WAIVED OFF OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO REINFORCE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS, REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION. ONE OF THE THINGS I HAD A QUESTION ON, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS IS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE CAUGHT IN THE ACT WHEN TICKETED. AND SO VIDEOS FROM NEIGHBORS --S FROM NEIGHBORS OF THE OFFENSE OCCURRING CAN'T BE USED TO TICKET SOMEONE.
[00:40:04]
BUT TO US, IN MANY CASES, STAFF CATCHING SOMEONE IN THE ACT WOULD BE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS A REQUIREMENTFOR EVIDENCE AND WHEN IT DOES AND DOESN'T APPLY? >> IF I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION -- I GUESS THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE CAN IDENTIFY THE DEFENDANT.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO ANY CRIMINAL CASE, THE MAIN GOAL OF COURSE IS YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE DEFENDANT. YOU CAN HAVE A VIDEO, A PICTURE BUT IF I CAN'T IDENTIFY WHO YOU ARE, THEN WE CANNOT FILE A CASE.
>> GAVITO: SO IF AGGRESSIVELY AT PEOPLE WALKING ON THE STREET. AND THEY SEE THIS DOG, YOU KNOW, A RESIDENT SEES THIS DOG AND THEY TAKE A VIDEO OF THOSE DOGS ACTING THAT WAY, FOR INSTANCE. WOULD THAT BE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE?
>> WELL, IT'S SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO PROVE THE OFFENSE.
HOWEVER, WE STILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE OWNER OF THE DOG.
OF COURSE, IN THAT SITUATION, THEY WOULD CONTACT ACS AND HOPEFULLY ACS WOULD CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION TO TRY TO DETERMINE, HEY, THE VIDEO SHOWS THAT DOG WENT TO THIS RESIDENCE. AT WHICH POINT ACS WOULD BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE AND DETERMINE WHO OWNS THAT DOG AND POSSIBLY GIVE A CITATION
OFF OF THAT VIDEO, BASED ON THE IDENTITY OF THE OWNER. >> GAVITO: SO THEN I GUESS -- AG TO FIGURE OUT WHAT FEEDBACK WE GIVE TO RESIDENTS. WE GET THIS A LOT.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LIKE I HAVE IT ON VIDEO. IT'S GOING TO BE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE FOR STAFF TO CATCH IT. SO REALLY I GUESS THE FEEDBACK IS TRY AND CATCH IT ON VIDEO BUT YOU ALSO NEED TO IDENTIFY THE OWNER OR THE
PERSON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. >> YES, MA'AM. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CITE SOMEBODY. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO CITE THE PROPER PERSON. LET'S SAY WE DO CITE SOMEBODY AND IT'S NOT THE RIGHT PERSON AND A WARRANT IS ISSUED. OF COURSE, NOW WE'RE
ARRESTING THE WRONG PERSON. >> GAVITO: ONE OF THE TIMES THIS QUESTION CAME UP WAS A NEIGHBOR KEPT BLOWING LEAVES INTO THE STREET AND THEY WON'T TICKET THEM BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T CAUGHT IN THE ACT. THEY SAID THEY CAN'T USE THE VOTES FROM THE NEIGHBOR BUT WE KNOW SAWS DOESN'T HAVE THE STAFFING TO CATCH THEM IN THE ACT. IT CREATES RIFTS BETWEEN RESIDENTS.
SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO -- >> YEAH.
ALL THAT EVIDENCE IS GREAT. AND OF COURSE THAT'S SOME OF THE BEST EVIDENCE, HAVING ANY KIND OF VIDEO EVIDENCE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE STILL NEED TO GET THAT CASE INVESTIGATED BY EITHER SAWS, ACS, OR CODE, DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF
CASE IT IS, AND THEY'LL MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR THAT. REALLY QUICK ON SLIDE 6 WE KNOW THAT CITATIONS FOR ANIMAL-RELATED CASES HAVE GONE UP. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
HOW HAVE THE CONVICTION RATES BEEN IMPACTED? DO WE KNOW?
>> OBLEDO: WELL, THE CONVICTION RATES ARE HIGHER. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE JUDGE THAT OVERSEES THE ANIMAL DOCKET IS REALLY HOPING THAT WHEN DEFENDANTS COME IN THERE'S MORE COMPLIANCE THAN CONVICTIONS. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE NEXT DOOR TO SOMEBODY AND KNOW THAT THEY'VE PAID THE COURT $500. I WANT THE PROBLEM FIXED. SO SHE'S WORKING TOWARDS COMPLIANCE BUT THOSE CONVICTIONS HAVE INCREASED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST MORE ZERO TOLERANCE WITH REGARDS TO SOME OF THOSE CASES.
>> GAVITO: YEAH. AND IS THIS SLIDE 6? OKAY.
YEAH. I WAS JUST ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT THE -- WHAT MUNICIPAL
COURTS IS DOING TO COLLECT THE OWED FINES. >> OBLEDO: SO, IF SOMEBODY DOES NOT APPEAR ON A FIRST APPEARANCE, WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO GIVE THEM A RESET.
IF THEY DO NOT APPEAR AT THEIR SECOND APPEARANCE, THEN WE ISSUE A WARRANT FOR THEIR ARREST. IN BETWEEN ALL THOSE, WE'RE SENDING EITHER POSTCARDS OR LETTERS. IF WE HAVE A GOOD E-MAIL ADDRESS, WE'RE SENDING THEM E-MAILS. IF WE HAVE A GOOD CELL NUMBER, WE'RE ALSO SENDING TEXT MESSAGES TO APPEAR IN COURT, REMINDING PEOPLE TO APPEAR IN COURT.
IF THERE'S ALREADY A CONVICTION, REMINDING THEM THEY HAVE OUTSTANDING BALANCES. LETTING THEM KNOW IF THEY DON'T APPEAR IN COURT, THEY
WILL HAVE A WARRANT FOR THEIR ARREST ISSUED. >> GAVITO: JUST KIND OF A GENERAL QUESTION ON SLIDE 11. IN WHAT AREA ARE WE HAVING THE MOST TROUBLE COLLECTING FEES? ANIMAL CITATIONS, CODE, TRAFFIC? I'M ASKING WHAT AREA IS MUNICIPAL COURTS HAVING THE MOST TROUBLE COLLECTING FEES. I'M ASKING BECAUSE I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE COULD BE DOING DIFFERENT TO COLLECT THOSE
FEES. >> IT'S USUALLY CIVIL. CIVIL VIOLATIONS, WE CAN'T
[00:45:02]
EVEN ISSUE A WARRANT ON THOSE CASES SO THERE'S NO TEETH.SO THOSE ARE PROBLEMATIC. AND THEN WE DO HAVE A HIGH FAILURE TO PAY RATE FOR
NON-TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS TOO, FOR WHATEVER REASON. >> GAVITO: I'M REALLY ASKING SO WE CAN THINK CREATIVELY ON HOW WE GET PEOPLE TO PAY UP.
THERE'S NO SOLUTION OR ANYTHING THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW, BUT JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANKS, CHAIR.
>> OBLEDO: COUNCILWOMAN, JUST RECENTLY WE STARTED WORKING WITH A THIRD-PARTY VENDOR TO CONTACT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NOT APPEARED IN COURT WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. SO THAT IS PART OF OUR CAMPAIGN.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH THIS THIRD-PARTY VENDOR IS BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF SKIP TRACING THAT THE COURT DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO. WE ARE ALREADY SEEING PEOPLE APPEAR IN COURT FOR OLDER VIOLATIONS BUT THEY ARE TARGETING INDIVIDUALS WHO DID NOT APPEAR FOR
ADJUDICATED AND UNADJUDICATED CASES. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: THANKS, CHAIR. JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR THIS AND ALL OF THE WORK.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS BEGIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN MEET THE REQUIRED DATE. LET ME ASK YOU THIS: BECAUSE THE MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, WHAT SORT OF QUALITIES ARE
WE LOOKING FOR? PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WE'RE GOING TO GET THE PRESENTATION IN A SECOND FOR THAT ONE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? >> WHYTE: OKAY.
WELL, I WAS JUMPING AHEAD. I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DO THEM BOTH TOGETHER.
ALL RIGHT. BIGGEST OPERATIONAL CHALLENGE IN THE VOLUME OF
CASES THAT YOU'RE HANDLING. >> OBLEDO: OPERATIONAL CHALLENGE?
>> WHYTE: IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF CASES. ARE WE HANDLING THEM
EFFICIENTLY OR ARE THERE THINGS WE CAN DO BETTER? >> OBLEDO: ACTUALLY, COUNCILMAN, WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE CBR PROCESS RIGHT NOW SO WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR PROCESSES RIGHT NOW TO SEE WHERE WE CAN MAKE ANY TYPE OF IMPROVEMENTS. LOOKING FOR INEFFICIENCIES, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE NOT DUPLICATING ANY DUTIES. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE HAVE AUDIO] PEOPLE TO COME TO COURT. THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN US MORE TOOLS TO WORK WITH INDIGENT DEFENDANTS THAN TO ENFORCE OUR ORDERS.
THAT'S JUST ACROSS THE STATE. SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ISSUE A WARRANT FOR SOMEBODY'S ARREST BUT THE COURT DOESN'T ACTUALLY GO OUT AND ARREST
PEOPLE. >> WHYTE: RIGHT. >> OBLEDO: SO THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IS ENFORCING OUR ORDERS BECAUSE WE'RE OF COURSE COMPLYING WITH THE LAW AND THERE'S JUST MORE TOOLS TO WORK WITH INDIGENT
DEFENDANTS THAN TO ENFORCE OUR ORDERS. >> WHYTE: ARE WE TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS THERE ON HOW WE GET THESE PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY RESPOND?
>> OBLEDO: ACTUALLY, WE ARE. WE HAVE WARRANT RESOLUTION.
THAT'S WHY WE ENGAGE IN SO MANY COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE AFRAID TO COME TO COURT. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE ONLINE RESOLUTION. IF THEY ARE AFRAID TO COME TO COURT, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT AS CONVENIENT AS POSSIBLE FOR THEM. WE DO HAVE ONE KIOSK RIGHT NOW WHERE IF INDIVIDUALS WANT TO ACTUALLY SEE A JUDGE BY VIDEO, IT'S AT THE IGO LIBRARY. WE'RE WORKING TO GET MORE KIOSKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
>> WHYTE: WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BE AFRAID TO COME TO COURT BUT WE ALSO DON'T WANT THEM TO -- OR I GUESS WE WANT TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY DO NEED TO SHOW UP TO
COURT. >> OBLEDO: ABSOLUTELY. >> WHYTE: AND THERE COULD
BE PENALTIES FOR NOT SHOWING UP TO COURT. >> OBLEDO: ABSOLUTELY.
IF THEY'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND THEY HAVE A WARRANT FOR THEIR ARREST AND THEY GET PULLED OVER, THEY'RE GOING TO GET TAKEN IN.
>> WHYTE: DO WE USE TEXT MESSAGING? >> OBLEDO: ABSOLUTELY.
>> WHYTE: ONE ISSUE THAT REALLY I THINK WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT, AT LEAST A YEAR OR TWO AGO FROM THE CENTRO FOLKS AND OTHERS ARE ABOUT ALL THESE PROPERTY CRIMES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE DOWNTOWN A LOT. PEOPLE THROWING ROCKS THROUGH WINDOWS AND BUSINESSES THAT HAVE THIS DAMAGE WE WEREN'T BEING ABLE TO ENFORCE SOME OF THESE. I MEAN, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THAT. >> OBLEDO: DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT, SOME OF THEM ARE CLASS C MISDEMEANORS. AND SO WE DO HAVE A COMMUNITY COURT AS WELL THAT WORKS SPECIFICALLY WITH UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS. THE JUDGE, JUDGE GUERRERO, HE WORKS WITH SOME OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS TO COME IN VOLUNTARILY.
WE'RE WORKING SPECIFICALLY WITH THESE NONPROFITS INSTEAD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS HAVE A FEAR OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
[00:50:07]
WE WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE IT'S THEIR CHOICE TO COME TO COURT INSTEAD OF BEING FORCED TO COME TO COURT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WHILE IT'S DIFFICULT TO -- WE CAN'T EXACTLY CHARGE MONEY TO UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS. SO THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. BUT, AGAIN, THERE'S NOT A MAILBOX WHERE WE CAN SEND THEM A POSTCARD TO COME TO COURT. THERE'S NOT A PHONE OR AN E-MAIL WHERE WE CAN SEND THEM A TEXT MESSAGE TO COME TO COURT.LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, THOUGH, IF THEY DO NOT APPEAR IN COURT, WE WILL ISSUE A
WARRANT FOR THEIR ARREST. >> WHYTE: OKAY. >> OBLEDO: WE'RE TRYING TO NOT CREATE A REVOLVING DOOR. I HAVE BEEN A CITY JUDGE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
I WORKED MAGISTRATE FOR A LOT OF THOSE YEARS AND IT WAS JUST A REVOLVING DOOR.
INDIVIDUALS WOULD GET ARRESTED. WE'D RELEASE THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER THEY'RE REARRESTED.
>> WHYTE: YEP. >> OBLEDO: WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION TO THAT BUT IT TAKES TIME. WE ARE WORKING WITH DHS AND THEY ARE THERE, THEY ARE AT COURT WHENEVER WE HAVE A DOCKET. SO THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF WHO WAS APPEARING IN COURT AND, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY SHARE
SOME SUCCESS STORIES. >> WHYTE: YEAH. WELL, I APOLOGIZE IF I MISSED IT. WHAT'S THE OVERALL COST TO RUN THE MUNICIPAL COURTS?
>> THAT'S A FRED QUESTION. >> I THINK IT'S -- COUNCILMAN, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER. I THINK THE GENERAL FUND IS ABOUT $14 MILLION AND THEN THERE'S SPECIALTY FUNDS. TECHNOLOGY FUND. JUVENILE CASE MANAGER FUND.
SECURITY FUND IS ANOTHER $3 MILLION. SO THAT'S 16, 17.
>> WHYTE: LAST QUESTION. PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS.
ANYTHING -- I KNOW THERE'S A LOT THAT WE DO. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO EXPAND, PERHAPS, THAT YOU THINK MAY BE BENEFICIAL IN WAYS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
GET INVOLVED THERE? >> OBLEDO: WELL, AS FRED BRIEFLY MENTIONED, WE DIDN'T EVEN GET INTO OUR JUVENILE SERVICES BECAUSE WE HAD JUST PRESENTED TO THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE. BUT WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS IN OUR JUVENILE DEPARTMENT, OUR SENIOR SUMMIT WHERE WE FOCUS ON SENIORS WHO ARE AT RISK AT NOT GRADUATING. WE'VE BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL WITH THE SENIORS THAT HAVE ATTENDED. WE WILL START THAT UP AGAIN IN THE FALL.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PARTNERSHIPS. WE HAVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE ACTUALLY AT THE SUMMIT THAT WILL NOT ONLY ENGAGE WITH THE STUDENTS BUT ALSO THEIR PARENTS. SO OUR MESSAGE -- IT'S A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.
SO OUR MESSAGE IS WE ARE INVESTED IN YOUR ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
YOU ARE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. YOU ARE MAKING SAN ANTONIO STRONGER. I KNOW THAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN HAS BEEN THERE SO WE INVITE -- DEPENDING ON WHAT SCHOOLS WILL BE THERE -- WE WILL EXTEND AN INVITATION TO SEE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME OUT AND ADDRESS THE FAMILIES.
IT'S SOMETHING VERY QUICK BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO BE WASTING ANYBODY'S TIME, BUT IT IS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE. THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS ARE WORKING ON A REENGAGEMENT DOCKET. THOSE ARE STUDENTS THAT HAVE NOT REENROLLED IN SCHOOL THAT ARE -- THEY CALL THEM LEAVERS. THEY WILL FIND THOSE INDIVIDUALS. SOMETHING ELSE THEY ARE WORKING ON IS TRANSITION DOCKETS. KIDS GOING TO FIFTH TO SIXTH AND EIGHTH TO NINTH, A LOT OF TIMES YOU LOSE THEM. THEY ARE WORKING SPECIFICALLY WITH THOSE STUDENTS TO TRY TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED IN SCHOOL. YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAM,
JUST A NUMBER OF THINGS. >> WHYTE: TH THANK YOU, JUDGE.
THANKS, CHAIR. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: YEAH, I'LL BE BRIEF.
SLIDE NO. 7, FAMILY VIOLENCE DOCKET. I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THAT AND I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH MORE INFORMATION. THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IS LOOKING TO DO ANOTHER REPORT ON WOMEN AND GIRLS.
AND SO THIS INFORMATION IS GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING IN TERMS OF GETTING THE FACTS OF THE CONVICTIONS AND THE DEFERRED DISPOSITION. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK. I KNOW ■A LOT OFTHESE CASES&-ÚK, AND PUT ON THAT NEWSLETTER,
[00:55:31]
THE INFORMATION THEY CAN USE. YEAH.LET US KNOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WONDERFUL. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE SECOND ITEM.
I WOULD REQUEST Y'ALL GO AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. MY SECOND REQUEST WOULD BE
WE START OFF WITH SLIDE 4. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
SLIDE 4. PERFECT. YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN, LET ME START REAL QUICKLY, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TEN FULL-TIME POSITIONS AND 12 PART-TIME POSITIONS. ALTHOUGH THERE'S NO STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THE PROCESS ITSELF, WE DO WORK WITH HR. HR GOES AHEAD AND POSTS THOSE POSITIONS ON THE COSA WEBSITE. WE GO THROUGH OUR LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATIONS. WE ALSO POST IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER.
OF COURSE AT THE END OF THE DAY THE APPLICATION ENDS ON FEBRUARY 15 WAS THE LAST DAY OF THE APPLICATIONS. WE DO HAVE 25 APPLICANTS THAT APPLIED.
14 FOR THE FULL-TIME POSITIONS AND 11 FOR THE PART-TIME POSITIONS.
NOW, DURING THIS APPLICATION PROCESS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FORMS THAT EACH APPLICANT NEEDS TO DO. OF COURSE, THIS INCLUDES THE APPLICATION AUTHORIZATION, WHICH ALLOWS US TO GET THEIR CODE HISTORY, THEIR TAX HISTORY, THEIR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY THAT THEY MAY HAVE WITH THE STATE BAR. WE ALSO DO A SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE, WHICH IS KIND OF A Q&A OF THEIR BACKGROUND.
WE ALSO GET A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK. WE ASK FOR A RESUME, BASED ON THEIR RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND CREDENTIALS. OF COURSE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS ARE THE FACT THAT THEY NEED TO BE A RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, LICENSED ATTORNEY IN GOOD STANDING, AND TWO-PLUS YEARS OF LAW PRACTICE. OF COURSE, BE A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. YOU KNOW, YOUR ROLE AS THE MUNICIPAL COURT ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS PRETTY SIMPLE. IT'S BASICALLY CONSIDERING ALL THE FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME JUDICIAL POSITIONS THAT'S OPEN. CONSIDER ALL THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS. CONDUCT INTERVIEWS. IN THE PAST, INTERVIEWS WOULD BE DONE IN EXEC AND, OF COURSE, MAKE THE DELIBERATIONS, ANNOUNCE THE SELECTED CANDIDATES IN OPEN COURT, IN OPEN SESSION. AND THEN MAKE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL. RIGHT NOW MY OFFICE HAS BASICALLY GATHERED ALL THE MATERIALS SO FAR ON THE 25 APPLICANTS.
WE'RE DOING ALL THE LOCAL AUTHORIZATION FORMS. WE'RE GOING THROUGH EACH ONE, VETTING EACH ONE TO MAKE SURE THEY QUALIFY. THAT'S A PROCESS THAT JUST CLOSED SO IT'S CREATING THOSE BINDERS Y'ALL WILL NEED.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE ALL THOSE BINDERS BY THE NEXT MEETING OR WHEN THE NEXT INTERVIEW PROCESS GETS STARTED. THAT'S BRIEFLY -- A NUMBER OF YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS BEFORE. IT'S STRAIGHTFORWARD, FOR THE MOST PART, IN WHAT THE PROCESS ENTAILS. HOWEVER, IT IS UP TO YOU TO DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO CONDUCT THOSE INTERVIEWS ALL AT ONE SITTING, AT TWO DIFFERENT SITTINGS AND WHETHER YOU WANT TO INTERVIEW ALL THE APPLICANTS OR JUST THE NEW ONES. THAT'S THE PROCESS IN A NUTSHELL.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU FOR SUMMARIZING THAT QUICKLY IN THE THREE SLIDES.
SO WE HAVE TEN FULL-TIME AND 12 PART-TIME POSITIONS AND 25 APPLICANTS.
BECAUSE OF THAT NARROW -- I DON'T WANT EVERYONE TO ASSUME THAT ALMOST ALL OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE HIRED. IF IT'S POSSIBLE, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND THE APPLICATION WINDOW JUST A LITTLE BIT. IF WE CAN EVEN JUST HAVE THE POSTING OPEN AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE FOLK MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED, AS THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED. IF WE DECIDE WE WANT TO HIRE, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A POOL WE CAN PULL FROM, IF THAT'S FEASIBLE. JUST CONSIDER THAT.
AND IF POSSIBLE, I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT. WE'LL HAVE -- WE'LL GO OVER -- I GUESS I'LL PROBABLY -- WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHAT THE INTERVIEW SCHEDULE WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. I PREFER ONE SITTING BUT THAT'S A LOT OF CANDIDATES SO WE MAY LOOK AT TWO. ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? OKAY. SO WE'LL GO INTO A REALLY BRIEF EXECUTIVE SESSION JUST
[01:00:02]
TO COVER SOME PERSONNEL MATTERS WITH -- >> SEGOVIA: BEFORE WE DO THAT, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES. WE CAN EXTEND THE POSTING
PERIOD. >> YES. WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH HR.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXTEND IT FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING IN
MIND? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: YEAH, LET'S GO TWO WEEKS.
SO THE TIME IS NOW 3:07 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2026.
THE MUNICIPAL COURT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THE TIME IS NOW 3:20 P.M. NO OFFICIAL AK SMUN WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THE TIME IS NOW
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.