Border Security Council Report - Office of the Governor - Rick Perry

Appendix C: Public Hearing and Open Meeting Minutes
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Southbound operations – as a product of the October public hearings, the Office of Homeland
Security has been looking at southbound operations; by providing the additional resources,
they have been able to impact on stolen vehicles, bulk cash seizures, etc.
Question from the Border Security Council: What sort of metrics are the LBB looking for?
Due to SB 11, it seems that the LBB will be looking toward the Council to drive those metrics.
In the past, we have measured the activities, not the outcomes. We need to ensure that we
include the outcomes as well.
Question from the Border Security Council: If the statistics continue to show a decrease in
crime, will that imply that we do not need any additional funds along the border? No, just
because the numbers are shrinking, doesn’t mean the border is secure. It means that the
plan of deterrence due to increase law enforcement presence has succeeded.
B. Presentation by Louri O’Leary, Office of Economic Development
Various Economic Development measures currently calculated by the office:
Economic Impact – annually;
Hotel database;
Airline database;
Business and industry center resource categories; and
Other data: taxes, utilities.
Ms. O’Leary indicated that she would be willing to present at future border hearings to explain this
data collection process.
VIII. Chairman Cascos adjourned hearing at 1:45 pm (Motion by Holt, 2nd by Burton)
Border Security Council
November 12, 2007 - Austin, Texas
Executive Session – Certified Agenda
Members Present: Chairman Carlos Cascos, Vice Chairman Robert Holt, Secretary of State Wilson, Judge Val
Beard, Sheriff T. Michael O’Connor, Fred Burton, Buddy Garcia, Scott McLaughlin, Allan Polunsky. Additional
persons present: Amanda Arriaga, Jim Harrison, Scott Haywood, Steve McCraw and Jack Colley.
Members Absent: Judge Becky Dean Walker, Sheriff Tomas Herrera
I. Chairman Cascos convened executive session at 10:04 am.
II. Presentation by Steve McCraw and Jack Colley regarding border threat.
A. Steve McCraw, Director, Office of Homeland Security, Governor Rick Perry
Outlined purpose of the Governor’s Homeland Security Office and State Operations Center
B. Jack Colley, Director, State Operations Center
discussed Operation Border Star
III. No action taken in executive session.
IV. Chairman Cascos adjourned executive session at 1:04 pm.