Nov 17, 2022 Special Commissioners Court

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THAT'S EVEN WORSE. ALL RIGHT.

[Call Meeting to Order ]

EXCUSE ME. ON THE 17TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2022 AT 9 A.M..

COMMISSIONER ROLAND, WOULD YOU LEAD THE INVOCATION, PLEASE? YES, SIR. OUR FATHER.

WHICH ART IN HEAVEN? THE FATHER OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.

JESUS CHRIST.

FATHER IT'S, ONCE AGAIN THAT YOUR WEAKEN AND HUMBLE SERVANT IS STANDING HERE WITH MY MIND STEAD ON YOU.

LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE RAIN THAT YOU GAVE US.

WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING.

LORD, I JUST PRAY RIGHT NOW IN THE NAME OF JESUS, OUR DAUGHTER, YOUR DAUGHTER AND SON, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.

AMEN.

OF ALLEGIANCE] ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS MORNING? I JUST HAVE ONE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO EXTEND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF MISS ROSALITA LAUREL.

SHE PASSED AWAY HERE VERY RECENTLY.

AND SHE SERVED AS LIBRARIAN FOR THE CITY OF LOCKHART IN A IN A VERY UNIQUE MANNER.

SHE CARED ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY A GREAT DEAL, AND HER PRESENCE WILL DEFINITELY BE MISSED.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SHELTON.

I DON'T HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS.

COMMISSIONER THERIOT. NO ANNOUNCEMENTS.

COMMISSIONER ROLAND.

I KNOW WE HAVE ONE STAFF ANNOUNCEMENT, DENNIS.

TWO STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS.

GOOD MORNING. JUST A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS WEEK.

I'VE HAD TO FILE REPORTS TO CAPCOG ON OUR COMMUNITY EVENT PROJECTS THAT WE HAD THIS YEAR.

YOU MAY RECALL, I THINK ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WAS OUR TIRE ONLY COLLECTION EVENT IN WHICH WE COLLECTED 2680 TIRES, BUT WE HAD FOUR OTHER GENERAL DEBRIS CLEANUP EVENTS, ONE IN DALE, LULING, LOCKHART, IN AND OUT AT MAXWELL.

WE COLLECTED THIS YEAR 220,000 POUNDS OF DEBRIS.

THAT'S 110 TONS OF DEBRIS THAT WAS TAKEN TO A DUMP SITE.

AND RATHER THAN ENDING UP ON A ROAD OR THE RIVER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO I WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS OF CALDWELL COUNTY FOR PARTICIPATING IN OUR CLEANUP EVENTS THIS YEAR.

AND ALSO, AGAIN, WANT TO THANK UNIT ROAD AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT AND THE VOLUNTEERS THAT HELPED US WITH THOSE EVENTS.

THAT'S THAT'S QUITE AN UNDERTAKING, I THINK A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT.

ALSO THIS MORNING, I LITERALLY JUST THIS MORNING RECEIVE INFORMATION.

SOMEONE WANTS TO GIVE US SOME MONEY AND I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY TAKE IT.

I GOT A NOTE FROM GLO ARE ABOUT A GLO GRANT.

THEY HAVE SOME LEFTOVER HAZARD MITIGATION MONEY AND THEY HAVE MADE AN ALLOCATION THROUGH THE COG.

CALDWELL COUNTY IS GETTING $2,345,485.19 OF WHICH HALF OF THAT MONEY HAS TO BE USED IN AREAS OF THE COUNTY THAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS LOW TO MODERATE INCOME.

THE OTHER HALF OF THAT MONEY WE CAN USE, HOWEVER WE WISH, AS LONG AS WE FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES THAT GLO HAS NOT YET PUBLISHED.

BUT WE'RE GETTING AN ADDITIONAL $2.3 MILLION TO SPEND ON HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS, FOR EXAMPLE, WITHIN THE COUNTY.

AND THERE'S SOME LEFTOVER MONEY THAT GLO HAD.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.

DENNIS I GOT A QUICK QUESTION.

WOULD YOU ASK LANGFORD AND ASSOCIATES IF ON THE LOW TO MOD MONEY, IF THAT MONEY THAT WE ARE GOING TO USE THE ARPA FUND MONEY FOR THE 50,000 FOR EACH RURAL WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT.

YEAH. COULD COME OUT OF THAT LOW TO MOD MONEY SO THAT WE COULD REALLOCATE THAT ARPA MONEY TO SOMETHING.

YES, I'LL CHECK ON THAT.

OKAY. THE ONE OTHER PIECE OF INFORMATION, AS YOU KNOW, OUR CALDWELL COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES FOUNDATION HAS BEEN HAS HAD A RATHER ROBUST ACTIVITY IN GETTING APPLICATIONS FROM NON-PROFITS TO DATE.

WE HAVE FUNDED OVER $182,000 TO 21 DIFFERENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY.

I RECEIVED A CALL ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO FROM ST DAVID'S FOUNDATION.

MY CONTACT THERE.

[INAUDIBLE] ASANTE AND SHE ASKED ME, HE SAID, WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN AN ALLOCATION OF SOME FUNDS TO USE IN A REGRANTING FORMAT? MEANS WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME MONEY AND THEN YOU RE GRANT IT THROUGH YOUR FOUNDATION.

AND I THOUGHT, SURE, WE'D BE GLAD TO DO THAT.

I SAID, I HAVE TO ASK YOU GOT WHAT IN MIND?

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I'M ASSUMING WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT.

AND ALSO THE CAPITAL AREA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION GAVE US AN ADDITIONAL $30,000 THIS WEEK.

SO WE'RE ADDING TO OUR CORPUS IN OUR AND OUR COLLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES FOUNDATION FUNDS, WHICH WE WILL MAKE AVAILABLE AS GRANTS TO NONPROFITS WITHIN THE COUNTY.

YOUR CURRENT BALANCE IN IS WHAT WE HAVE ABOUT 100 AND WE SPENT 186.

WE PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT THAT MUCH MORE LEFT, BUT WE'RE EXPECTING AN ADDITIONAL 250,000 ALSO FROM ARPA MONEY.

THIS THAT'LL BE COMING UP.

PLUS WE JUST GOT THE THE 30,000 FROM THE HOUSING CORPORATION AND WE'LL GET THE 100,000 FROM ST DAVIDS.

SO THAT'S PRETTY MEANINGFUL WILL ALLOW US TO DO A LOT OF GOOD WORK IN THE COUNTY.

GOOD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DANNY.

YES. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO PUT A PSA OUT THERE.

YESTERDAY, WE WENT LIVE WITH ENCODE OUR PARALLEL.

SO IT'S NOW ON THE CLOUD.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF YOU.

AH, IF YOU KNOW WHAT ENCODE PARALLEL IS IF YOU DON'T, DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT I HAVE TO SAY BECAUSE IT DOESN'T PERTAIN TO YOU.

BUT IF YOU HAVE THE ENCODE PARALLEL, PLEASE GET WITH MY OFFICE BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME LOGIN REVISIONS AND THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT YOU PUTTING IN YOUR TIME AND YOUR DEPARTMENT APPROVING TIMESHEETS AND ALL THAT.

BUT WE CAN WALK YOU THROUGH THE STEPS IF YOU NEED TO.

OKAY. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE TO CITIZENS COMMENTS.

DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS COMMENTS? NO CITIZENS COMMENTS.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO RIGHT TO THE AGENDA THEN.

[1. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between Caldwell County, Caldwell County Sheriffs Office and the City of Lockhart for law enforcement services.]

AND CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF AN INTER LOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE CITY OF LOCKHART FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES.

COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE THIS IN YOUR BACK UP, BUT THERE'S AN ILA THERE THAT WE WILL PAY OUR OFFICERS AN OVERTIME RATE TO AT THE CITY'S REQUEST TO TO HELP WITH PATROL WHILE THEY GET THEIR STAFFING BACK UP IN THEIR AND THEIR DEPARTMENT.

AND THAT'S THAT'S BASICALLY THE CRUX OF IT.

AND THEN THEY WOULD REIMBURSE US FOR THE FOR THE HOURS ONCE WE DO THAT.

SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ILA.

NOW TO CONCLUDE OUR VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT.

YES, FOR NOW.

YEAH, FOR SURE. AND MAYOR WHITE, YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY APPOINTED AN INTERIM POLICE CHIEF.

I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE CHIEF KEVIN LUNSFORD.

DO YOU MIND COMING UP TO THE TO THE MICROPHONE SO WE CAN HEAR? I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR INTERIM POLICE CHIEF, KEVIN LUNSFORD COMES TO US FROM HUNTSVILLE.

HE WILL BE OVERSEEING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND HE WILL ALSO BE HELPING US IN OUR SEARCH, WHICH HAS BEGUN IMMEDIATELY FOR OUR NEW CHIEF.

CHIEF.

JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE.

I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.

IT'S AN HONOR TO BE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I APPRECIATE YOU ALL CONSIDERING THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.

IT IS NEEDED AND WE WILL MAKE GOOD USE OF IT.

AND WE ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND THE SHERIFF AND I HAVE VISITED AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO VISIT SOME MORE.

SO I JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SIR.

YES. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, THAT ARE THAT WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY, CALDWELL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE CITY OF LOCKHART FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES.

WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NOT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSE HEARING NONE.

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM TWO, DISCUSSION ACTION TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF AN INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY AND LOCKHART INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR LAW

[2. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between Caldwell County and Lockhart Independent School District for Law enforcement services. ]

BJ, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT ONE? I CAN IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO.

SURE OF.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. AS PRESENTED BEFORE YOU.

UH, COMMISSIONERS, THERE'S THIS IS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND LISD TO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES TO SPECIFIC COUNTIES.

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE RESULT OF A REQUEST BY SUPERINTENDENT ESTRADA TO BEGIN SOME CONVERSATIONS TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO INCREASE THE SECURITY PRESENCE ON CAMPUSES WITHIN LISD THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY COVERED BY A CITY OF LOCKHART STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICER COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS AN SRO THAT IS PRIMARILY THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN ADDITION TO THE EARLY EDUCATION CENTER AT CARVER, AS WELL AS PRIDE HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS

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THIS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE A PEACE OFFICER THAT IS ALLOWED TO CARRY, OBVIOUSLY, A WEAPON ON CAMPUS AND BE A SECURITY OFFICER TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES ON EACH CAMPUS.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO SERVE AS AN SRO OFFICER FOR THOSE CAMPUSES.

THE SRO PROGRAM THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE WILL STAY IN PLACE.

THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO THAT ALREADY EXISTING STAFFING LEVEL THROUGH THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH THIS PROPOSAL. PRECINCT FOUR CONSTABLE'S OFFICE HAS BEEN CHOSEN OR SELECTED TENTATIVELY AT THIS TIME AS THE OFFICE THAT IS MOST CAPABLE AT THIS MOMENT TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES.

THIS DOCUMENT IS SIMILAR TO ALL OF THE ILAS THAT WE DO, THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE FOR AMENDMENT IN THE FUTURE SHOULD THAT BE.

NECESSITY NECESSARY? EXCUSE ME, BUT AT THIS POINT, THAT'S WHERE THE PROPOSAL LIES.

CONSTABLE VILLAREAL IS HERE, AS WELL AS SUPERINTENDENT ESTRADA, AND I WOULD ASK IF EITHER ONE OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT AT THIS TIME.

GOOD MORNING. FIRST, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COURT, COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND AND JUDGE HAYDEN FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN AND TO COLLABORATE ON THIS AND FOR PUTTING IT UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND DID A GREAT JOB OF PROVIDING A GOOD SUMMARY, AND I JUST WANT TO KIND OF REINFORCE A COUPLE OF THOSE THINGS.

WE STILL HAVE THREE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS WITH.

LOCKHART POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THAT WILL CONTINUE.

THOSE THREE OFFICERS WERE VERY PLEASED WITH.

BUT THIS IS REALLY TO PROVIDE AN ARMED PEACE OFFICER.

AS WAS MENTIONED AT EVERY ONE OF OUR CAMPUSES.

SCHOOL SECURITY IS VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY COMING OFF THE TRAGEDIES THAT WE'VE HAD IN TEXAS, OBVIOUSLY, WITH UVALDE AND ALSO IN SANTA FE. WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT OUR KIDS AND OUR STAFF ARE SAFE.

THIS, WE FEEL, GIVES US THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THAT SECURITY AT ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

AND ALSO CARVER EARLY EDUCATION CENTER AND PRIDE HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS WE WE FEEL IT'S A PART OF A.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THIS IS ONE COMPONENT.

WE ALSO ARE WORKING ON OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO TECHNOLOGY AND VIDEO AND SURVEILLANCE AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

BUT THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL PART OF OUR PLAN TO BETTER SECURE OUR SCHOOLS.

AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS MORNING AND ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO COLLABORATE ON THIS PROJECT TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS SAFE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PROTECT OUR FUTURE OF THIS COUNTY.

I PROMISE YOU, WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT SECURITY IS THE WAY Y'ALL WANT IT AND THE WAY THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

AND THANK YOU, MR. ESTRADA, FOR GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY AND LOCKHART INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES? ASSUME WE HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

OKAY. GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND, IS THERE SPECIALIZED TRAINING OR ARE SUPERINTENDENT ESTRADA REQUIRED OR AS PART OF THIS ARRANGEMENT? I'LL DEFER TO MARK ON THIS.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE DISCUSSED ABOUT WHAT THE ACTUAL ROLES AND DUTIES OF THESE WOULD BE.

AND WE KIND OF FOLLOWED OUR OUR LEAD FROM WHAT THE DISTRICT WAS LOOKING FOR.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT.

THE TRAINING WILL BE VERY INTENSIVE IN TERMS OF OUR SCHOOL SAFETY PROTOCOLS, PROCEDURES, OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. IN TERMS OF CLARITY AROUND IT IS NOT A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM.

SO THAT IS A VERY SPECIFIC TRAINING THAT WE DON'T INTEND TO TO DO AT THIS TIME.

IT WOULD BE REALLY FOCUSED ON OUR CAMPUS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND PROVIDING THAT DAY TO DAY SECURITY AT EACH ONE OF OUR CAMPUSES THAT CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE AN SRO.

BUT WE DON'T INTEND THIS TO BE A STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM THAT IS MUCH MORE INTENSIVE AND MUCH MORE SPECIALIZED. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THANKS. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT THIS AFTERNOON WE HAVE A STAKEHOLDERS MEETING NOT ONLY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT WITH ALL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, ALL THE CONSTABLES

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SO WE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ABSOLUTELY LOOKING TO TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS UP TO DATE ON IT.

GREAT. GOOD DEAL.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? WE HAVE A MOTION IN THE SECOND.

OH, GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. I JUST WANT TO THANK DR.

ESTRADA, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, THE CITY, FOR EVERYBODY LOOKING INTO TAKING CARE OF THE FUTURE OF OUR KIDS WITH ALL OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. SO IT GIVES GREAT PRIDE TO SAY THIS IS A WONDERFUL THING.

GOOD DEAL. AND AND, OF COURSE, SAME ARRANGEMENT.

YOU KNOW, I'M SURE YOU'RE CURIOUS ABOUT HOW THE HOW THE PAY WORKS AND VERY SIMILAR ARRANGEMENT TO THE TO THE ILA WE JUST DISCUSSED.

I REALLY THINK THIS IS A GREAT MOVE FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO GET TOGETHER ON PROTECTING THESE KIDS.

BUT I THINK IT'S AN AWFUL THING THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND MAYBE TO KILL A LITTLE BITTY KIDS BEFORE THEY EVEN KNOW WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT.

I AGREE. IT'S PITIFUL.

OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NOT. WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

ALL IN FAVOR. SAY, I.

I OPPOSED HEARING NONE.

MOTION CARRIES.

[3. Discussion/Action to consider the approval of Constable Precinct 4 increasing the number of reserved deputies. Speaker: Commissioner]

ACTION. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF CONSTABLE PRECINCT FOUR, INCREASING THE NUMBERS OF RESERVE DEPUTIES.

WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, DURING THE COURSE OF THIS THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO INCREASE THEIR POOL OF RESERVE DEPUTIES IN ORDER TO TO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO KEEP THEM ON A PART TIME BASIS.

BUT MOST OF THOSE DEPUTIES ALSO HAVE OTHER JOBS.

SO THEY NEED A LARGER POOL TO DRAW FROM IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THESE SCHOOLS STAFFED.

SO THIS THIS ITEM IS ALLOWING US TO APPROVE.

I THINK YOU NEEDED TEN EXTRA RESERVE DEPUTIES.

SO THAT'S WHAT THIS ITEM IS.

BEFORE WE START TOO MUCH DISCUSSION, DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THIS? I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE.

WE HAVE MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND.

OKAY. NOW WE CAN HAVE SOME DISCUSSION.

SO I THINK WHEN WE HAD THIS TYPE OF DISCUSSION ON THE CONSTABLES BEFORE WE WERE AT MAX WITH OUR BONDING SERVICE FOR THOSE, ARE WE GOING TO GO IN AND GET THAT INCREASED.

WE WILL HAVE TO. YES.

YES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED HEARING NONE. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM FOUR, EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.087.

[4. EXECUTIVE SESSION ]

WE ARE ENTERING EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 9:18.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.