Travis County Commissioners Court
November 20, 2007
Item A1
Then let's call up a 1. A1. Consider and take appropriate action regarding the logistics of the November 29, 2007 work session on the civil courts building and related issues. By the way, what I have in mind is us spending two hours or so on this item, another hour and a half or so on workforce development issues that we promised to get to and -- in October or November. You think two hours will be enough even if we slip it to two and a half hours, we're still in good shape time-wise.
>> I believe we were scheduled to start and do lunch --
>> 12:00.
>> 12:00. And so if we started the two hours say at 12:30, does that -- does that fit in your time schedule, judge?
>> I was going to give us one hour thinking that we could eat slowly, peacefully and converse harmoniously and if we start at 1:00, that's 30 minutes before we normally do. I had like 1:00 to 3:00 or 3:30.
>> that works. And I believe the way we've got it structured per your approval, we were going to spend about probably 30 minutes in a presentation, I would open, we would have a panel of what we call experts from finance, p.b.o. And from facilities and then judge shepherd would close and then it sort of free form from there with you all's discussion and questions and -- and wherever we go. For the -- for that two hours.
>> sounds good to me. Like I say, if we don't -- if we don't finish in two hours, but seem to be having a meaningful discussion, we can continue as long as we need to. Probably up to 3:30. I worry about us if we spend more than 2.5 hours on an item.
>> we thought -- I really do think that two hours will be sufficient.
>> okay.
>> we also wanted to address, if there were any lingering concerns about the open meetings aspect of it. I believe that it's correct that alicia is arranging to have that work session videotaped. Then we can air it, y'all can air it on your channel 17 at pleasure.
>> -- at your pleasure.
>> accessible also on the internet.
>> plus it will be an open meeting and posted, anybody who wants to come is welcome and I recall it being big enough to accommodate probably as many people in here as we can get chairs in. The public may not be entitled to the free lunch that we are having catheterred by judge dietz and company, but --
>> we had also planned, I think for about 20 of staff to be there. And still have act accommodations for the public if they do show up. Commissioner Davis I wanted to answer any questions. We came up with this idea back in August. It was really my understand hoping that -- my idea hoping that we could get away from the distractions that exist here. Because we really have put a lot of time into sort of thinking through what we call plan b. And we just wanted an unfettered time where we could discuss it without interruptions or that type of thing. But it -- it really wasn't any -- it wasn't by design or anything to circumvent any type of discussion about the capital view corridors. Honestly, what plan b is, is a way that we're not really going to disturb the capital view corridors very much. And so -- so given that this is a good alternative, we just wanted unfettered time to discuss it.
>> my concern was not only that, but my concern really was since this is seat of government, where we conduct our work sessions, anything else, my concern was continuing to have it here, anybody want to walk up the street can walk off the street when they see this item posted. That was being the seat of government was my concern and having it somewhere else other than the seat of government was my concern. So I brought that up because it was getting away from the seat of government as far as how we take care of business and all of our work session basically items that we discussed in the past and it had just kind of broke away from what we have done in the past.
>> yes, sir, I appreciate --
>> I want you to understand that.
>> I do. I hope you understand what our concerns were and we'll try to keep that at a minimum in the future. Any other questions about this work session? I believe that you all will receive the materials that we were going to do during the work session. They are being produced today and I think will be available to you on Monday of next week.
>> yes. That's correct.
>> and of course the other concern was the -- was having been absent as far as the video, the media having access as far as video and taping but of course after that particular portion of my concern was addressed by what -- what facilities are going to do, that is to have this actual meeting actually recorded and of course -- but it will be a delayed telecast of it. It wouldn't be -- you know, as live -- as we are live right now, it wouldn't be that type of situation. So there was two concerns basically that I had to address that, that was the second one.
>> I appreciate it.
>> all right.
>> I would also just like to -- to hammer home, you have already said it, but I want to say it again. That -- that the public is invited to this. The other departments are invited to this. Any staff who wants to come and -- and is interested in what's happening with the courthouse is invited to this. I understand the concerns of taking it out of the county seat, giving a false impression of -- of removing this issue from the public debate. And I -- I want to make sure that no one has that impression that we keep it as open as possible. And above board.
>> I have both of those posted on this week's agenda, also. So we are posted this week and next week. As separate items. I posted for lunch at 12:00 noon, said a quorum of the Commissioners court may attend which is how we normally post the other outside gatherings. There are committees like campo on which three members of the court serve so typically we post that just like we would a Commissioners court agenda, a quorum may attend. Then I have posted separately to begin at 1:00. The civil court's discussion and the workforce development discussion to follow.
>> all right, judge.
>> our goal is to -- to discuss option b, plus any other options that come up during the discussion. And probably will have on a Tuesday session after that a posting to give directions to -- to follow-up different --
>> yes.
>> aspects of the discussion.
>> yes, sir. It's -- it's -- the way we envisioned it, we have been working on this I believe since July and August. But there are a number of -- I would call them policy directives that we're seeking from the court. On a number of issues that -- that concern both the civil courthouse, but also any type of administration and/or other office buildings for the county in the cbd, then also -- then also some direction or policy direction regarding future expansion of the criminal courts. And we have touched base with the criminal judges, but again this really wasn't intended to be necessarily a microdetailed type of discussion. But looking three to 10 years and obtaining policy direction from the court on a variety of issues. Including financing, parking, a number of types of things. So -- so we think that it will be fairly comprehensive. And sort of jump start some planning that -- that's recommended for the county.
>> okay. John, we'll have -- we'll have the county attorney's office represented? Just in case we -- we accidentally stray off course.
>> I couldn't imagine that happening the straying, but the attorney will be there.
>> let's make sure we add an extra sandwich for the county attorney, judge dietz. I want to keep them happy.
>> she may want a salad the representative coming. Is the -- you're not expecting decisions.
>> that's correct.
>> that's right. It's really a work session and I believe that what we'll do is we'll hand out some areas that we suggest that the Commissioners court needs to decide. Then I think the idea was to obtain from the court feedback as to when we might put this on either a further working session or the agenda of the court for decisions, but no decisions were to be discussed at that. It's more of a policy discussion.
>>
>> [indiscernible] any other comments, questions? We'll be there to make sure sure we stay the course. We will self police. We have the county attorney there to -- what do you all call it when you police us.
>> don't call it that. Just monitoring.
>> monitor.
>> police plus be monitored. Anything further? Thank you, judge dietz, we eagerly look forward to the discussion next Thursday.
>> thank you, judge.
>> thank you.
>> thank you, judge.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, November 21, 2007, 18:30 AM