Remarks by Vicki L. Lopez
190 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 3 of 8
- Play at 9:10:23
“Are we asking for a declaratory, I mean, what are you asking us to seek a- To have the county attorneys explore the options of declaratory judgment or a challenge of sorts.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 9:29:06
“It was. I will rephrase it. To direct the county attorney to research the county's ability to challenge the validity of Senate Bill 1134 or alternatively ask a court to clarify how it applies to the county and then brief each commissioner individually regarding the results of their research.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 9:29:32
“I just want them to research it and then get back to us individually to let us know what our options are.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 9:30:38
“Okay, then I'll restate it to explore the options available to us of the impacts of Senate Bill 1134 and get back to us individually.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 9:30:49
“With options including- All options, all options. All options. I would say all options. All options.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 14:25
“Thank you, Madam Chair. So I guess this speaks to, thank you for your line of questioning, Commissioner Cohen-Higgins. I think it continues to speak to how we don't know what a project should look like from the get-go. This happens all the time here, I see. You go out for a bid, and you say this is the project, and then all of a sudden the commission is asked to approve further scopes of services without money, which I find even crazier. So back in November, the commission prior to my joining approved an additional scope of services without knowing what it would cost. I don't know anyone who…”
Infrastructure, Innovation & Technology Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 37:31
“Thank you, Madam Chair. So Director, bringing it in-house, would you be able to identify the savings? In other words, we now currently have an external vendor doing it, so Because I'm always looking to see whether we can achieve savings and sometimes it's the exact opposite, right? We privatize because we think we'll get better, better, better costs. But if you're you feel like it's in the best interest of the county to move it internally, could you identify savings?”
Infrastructure, Innovation & Technology Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 38:37
“I think that'll be helpful for us when you bring it back. We also made an investment in equipment, I'm assuming, right? So that would have to be factored in. I mean, we made a capital... We purchased equipment to do the services in-house, and so the 75 accounts that you've been running your pilot on should give us what were those 75 accounts costing us with the vendor that was picking up the garbage and then what you're proposing. That's one.”
Infrastructure, Innovation & Technology Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 39:26
“But I'm going to also do that analysis as well. Okay, because I think we would be very happy to hear that we made progress in saving money by bringing it in-house. Okay, and then the other thing is, I'm unclear. This analysis that we've asked for, do companies normally tell you what they would charge? Is it the same as if we put out an RFP on the street? What I see the exact same, because if you come to me and you tell me, well, what I can do the services for, right? But I don't see the full scope of services. I don't see an RFP. How is it that you're going to tell me that it's cheaper…”
Infrastructure, Innovation & Technology Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 40:28
“was going to be my recommendation. I don't trust that someone just tells me this is the price because it never really is that price. I think a formal RFP is where you really know, one, who's willing to bid on the job to Commissioner Cohen-Higgins' point. Is there anyone else other than these two vendors that are willing to do it. And I have to believe that there may be others that have come into the market in the last three years. Again, we owe it to the taxpayer to do the more fiscally conservative thing, which is to put everything to bid and see what comes back. Because if in fact it shows…”
Infrastructure, Innovation & Technology Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 41:26
“Perfect. Thank you so much. Thank you, Madam Chair.”
Infrastructure, Innovation & Technology Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 49:05
“Madam Chair, I just have a quick comment to make. So the three of us that serve on this committee were also on the committee this morning where we had so many questions based on the presentations, which really didn't help us drill down on anything. Although I appreciate very much, Deputy Mayor, your explanation, which we were given this morning as well. It's really kind of like a perfunctory exercise we're going through here. You're going to tell us about all of this, which we could read ourselves. But it's not going to help us determine what decisions we need to make or what the plan is. So,…”
Infrastructure, Innovation & Technology Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 54:42
“Our committee decided that we would not recess in August. That as soon as the mayor releases her budget, our committee will take as long as it takes to go through every budget. Because what we discovered was that we did not find during our discussions that anyone was asked to reduce their budget. Actually, the budgets grew. They were just asked to grow their budgets by 3%. And we've said, we're pretty sure if we work with the administration, we will find ways in which we can walk away and say, we actually saved money. We didn't grow government. So that was the decision in this morning's…”
Infrastructure, Innovation & Technology Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 57:24
“Yes, Madam Chair, I also want to remind everyone that I've asked all the department directors, and I'll do it again here. I would like a schedule of your vacancies with the aging reports. And I would further like, what occurred this morning was a discussion around telling me that you got rid of 50 staff members. But in fact, what happened was some left the county and because of their employment rights were actually transferred into another department. So that's not a savings. We're going to be really clear about what every step we're taking. We want the public to understand exactly what we're…”
Infrastructure, Innovation & Technology Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 0:40
“Would everyone please take their seats? We're going to begin now. Thank you. I'm going to ask my dear colleague Commissioner Gonzalez to lead us in prayer and then Commissioner Cohen-Higgins to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 1:23
“Amen. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 1:42
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:01
“Okay, I don't have any cards for non-public hearing items. So is there anyone who wishes to address the commission for the non-public hearing item? Seeing none, then we will entertain a motion to set the agenda.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:48
“I believe you filled out a public hearing card. I don't know if you're, do you know the item number that you are speaking on?”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 3:04
“No, no, you may. You have two minutes. Thank you so much.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 5:11
“Thank you so much, Jose. So seeing no further public input, we're ready to set the agenda, correct, attorney?”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 5:37
“Thank you. Second. I have a motion by Commissioner Cohen-Higgins, seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Okay, so are there any matters? Just so that everyone knows, I'm going to take up the discussion items at the end of the meeting. So we're going to move towards the public hearing item 1G1. Would it be appropriate to move to public hearing item 1G1 now?”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 6:29
“Perfect. So public hearing is now open if anyone wishes to speak on Item 1G1. Seeing none, so the public hearing is now closed. Do I have a motion on 1G1 and any discussion?”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 6:46
“Second. So I have a motion by Commissioner Cohen-Higgins, seconded by Commissioner Gonzales. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll?”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 7:03
“Motion passes unanimously. Thank you. So colleagues, now would you like to bifurcate any of the items on the agenda for discussion? No? So do I have a motion to approve the agenda?”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Jul 15, 2026