[Workforce-Education and Equity on May 8, 2023.]
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THANK YOU, FOR THOSE WHO ARE ONLINE AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE IN PERSON.WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 10TH MEETING MINUTES.
THANK YOU. ANY CORRECTIONS? ANYTHING? IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL, SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ACTION ITEM PRESENTATION THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO GET.
THIS IS THE COLLEGE ADVISORY COMMISSION OVERVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION, AND THE ACTION THAT'S GOING TO BE REQUESTED IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR ADOPTION OF THE COLLEGE ADVISORY COMMISSION BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
BEFORE WE BEGIN THE PRESENTATION, I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL WELCOME CHANDLER AND KIM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND I WANT TO ALSO SAY THAT THIS IDEA CAME ABOUT FROM AN INTERN, A DALLAS INTERN WHO WAS WORKING HERE AND WHO NOW IS IN KOREA ON A FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME NEWS FOR HIM THAT WE CAN TELL HIM THAT HIS IDEA PASSED.
THIS MAN HIS NAME IS AUSTIN HICKLE.
HE WAS THE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT AT SMU, AND IN SPEAKING WITH OTHER STUDENT BODY LEADERS, HE REALIZED THAT IT WAS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT STUDENTS THAT ARE IN COLLEGE IN DALLAS HAVE A VOICE AT CITY HALL AS WELL, JUST LIKE OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND SO WE ASKED STAFF TO DO THIS, AND THEY'VE DONE THIS FANTASTIC JOB, AND WITH THAT, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION.
GOOD MORNING, KIMBERLY BIZOR TOLBERT, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
BEFORE I GO INTO MY TALKING POINTS, I WANTED TO ECHO WHAT THE CHAIR HAS STATED IS THAT IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A CITY AS WE BEGIN TO BRING YOUNG STUDENTS INTO THIS BODY, PREPARING THEM FOR THAT NEXT STEP, AND SO I AM VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THIS YOUNG LADY SITTING HERE TO MY RIGHT WHO HAS WORKED WITH ME OVER THE LAST YEAR IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND THIS WILL BE HER FIRST PRESENTATION TODAY, BUT WE'RE SO EXCITED TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE SHINING STARS THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THE WAY THAT WE'VE DESIGNED THE COMMISSION WITH A LOT OF THE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE FROM COUNCILWOMAN SCHULTZ IS REALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REACHING OUR COLLEGIATE YOUTH ACROSS NOT ONLY THE CITY OF DALLAS, BUT THE ENTIRE DALLAS COUNTY.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BECOME ADVOCATES.
WE WANT THEM TO BE ENGAGED IN ALL THE CIVIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY HAVE TO REPRESENT THEIR PEERS AND ENSURE THAT THE IDEAS AND A LOT OF THE I WOULD SAY A LOT OF THE CREATIVITY AROUND HOW WE APPROACH CITY SERVICES AND POLICIES ARE BEING DONE WITH THEM IN MIND TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEKING YOUR FEEDBACK.
WE WANT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET YOUR COMMENTS THAT WE CAN THEN TAKE AND THEN WE WILL FINISH WORKING ON THE MECHANICS AND ALL OF THE FINAL DETAILS, INCLUDING THE PROPOSED BUDGET DURING THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET DEVELOPMENT THIS SUMMER.
SO THE GOAL WOULD BE TO BRING BACK FOR APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSION IN AUGUST OF 2023.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A PRESENTATION OVERVIEW TO WALK YOU THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE GIVING YOU FIRST AN OVERVIEW OF THE YOUTH COMMISSION, FOLLOWED BY THE COLLEGE ADVISORY COMMISSION, AS WELL AS INTRODUCING YOU TO OUR DALLAS COUNTY HIGHER EDUCATION, EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS, THE PROPOSED GOVERNANCE AND FOLLOW WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND NEXT STEPS.
THEY'RE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH YOUR INDIVIDUAL OFFICES, WITH OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE CITY, TO BE ABLE TO CREATE AND PROMOTE THEIR INITIATIVES, WHETHER IT BE ENVIRONMENTALLY OR CIVICALLY, AND EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF THE YOUTH COMMISSION, THEY ARE APPOINTED BY YOUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS AND THEY SERVE A TWO YEAR TERM.
NOW WE'LL TRANSITION INTO THE COLLEGE ADVISORY COMMISSION.
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THAT IMPACT THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CITY.SO THESE COLLEGE ADVISORY COMMISSIONERS, THEY WILL BE SERVING THROUGHOUT DALLAS COUNTY AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO USE THEIR REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES THAT THEY'RE GAINING IN THE CLASSROOM AND APPLYING THAT TO THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE CITY.
SO THINKING ABOUT OUR PURPOSE, THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMISSION IS TO PROMOTE REGULAR AND ACTIVE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AMONG THE COLLEGE-AGED RESIDENTS OF THE CITY BY GIVING THEM A FORMAL ROLE IN LOCAL DECISION MAKING, OFFERING REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES WITH ELECTED BODIES, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL, OUR CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND OFFERING AN AVENUE TO ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION WITH OTHER COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE CITY AND THROUGHOUT DALLAS COUNTY. THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE INSTITUTION IN ADDITION TO BEING ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR INDIVIDUAL OFFICES.
THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF 17 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WITHIN DALLAS COUNTY THAT HAVE CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROPOSED COLLEGE ADVISORY COMMISSION.
REGARDING OUR PROPOSED GOVERNANCE.
THE ADVISORY WILL BE CHOOSING ITS OWN CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR AT THE START OF THE NEW TERM, AND THESE INDIVIDUALS MUST BE A FULL TIME STUDENT, 18 YEARS OLD, NO OLDER THAN 24 AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT.
IN ADDITION TO BEING RESIDENTS OF DALLAS COUNTY FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS AND NOT BE IN ARREARS ON ANY OBLIGATIONS OWED TO THE CITY. OUR GOAL IS GOING TO BE TO WELCOME THIS FOUNDING COMMISSION EFFECTIVE MONDAY, OCTOBER 2ND.
WE'LL NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST 13 OF THE 17 MEMBERS PRESENT.
THE COMMISSION WILL BE MEETING ONCE A QUARTER HERE IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND EACH MEETING WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN AGENDA AND MINUTES THAT WILL BE POSTED TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR CURRENT LEGISLATION GUIDELINES.
NOW, AS WE START TO DIVE INTO OUR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, THE COLLEGE ADVISORY COMMISSION WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE TO CITY COUNCIL, TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE ON DIFFERENT AREAS THAT ARE IMPACTING THEIR WAY OF LIFE, WHETHER IT BE TRANSPORTATION OR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
THEY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW AND PROPOSE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES AS WELL AS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY OF THE STUDENTS THAT THEY REPRESENT, AND SOME POTENTIAL EXAMPLES OF ACTIVITIES THAT THEY COULD BEGIN WOULD BE TO DO A POTENTIAL RIDE ALONG AND THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICT MEMBERS AS WELL COULD BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE SUMMER PLANNING OF ACTIVITIES AT DALLAS PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES.
SO WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO CRAFT THEIR OWN AGENDA, BUT THESE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF AREAS IN WHICH THEY COULD BEGIN , AND I'LL HAND IT OVER NOW TO DEPUTY CITY MANAGER TOLBERT TO OFFER OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION BEFORE WE CLOSE.
THANK YOU, CHANDLER, AND SO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO TODAY IS TO MAKE OUR RECOMMENDATION.
THAT WOULD BE TO FORM THE ACTUAL CREATION OF THE COMMISSION.
AGAIN, CHANDLER HAS GONE OVER THE PROPOSED MISSION AND THE PURPOSE OF WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING AND AGAIN, WE WANT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY GET ALL FEEDBACK FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, DEVELOP A DRAFT BUDGET, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WHEN WE PUT THESE TYPES OF GROUPS TOGETHER, THEY NEED TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE AND HAVE A BUDGET TO WHERE THEY CAN HAVE ACTIVITIES.
SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AS PART OF THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET PROCESS, AND THEN THE COMMISSION ITSELF WOULD THEN BECOME EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, WHICH WOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
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THAT WILL REQUIRE A LOT OF WORK BETWEEN THOSE VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS.SO WE WOULD WANT TO BEGIN TO DO THAT WORK AND BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE THAT WE DON'T ALREADY WORK WITH AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO HEAR THE PRESENTATION, GET THEM ENGAGED AND GET THEM TO SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
SO WITH THAT, WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME FROM THE COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO I'LL BEGIN WITH VICE CHAIR THOMAS, PLEASE.
PROBABLY SOMETHING LONG OVERDUE.
OFTENTIMES WE ENGAGE, WE'VE BEEN ENGAGING OUR TEAMS TO GET OUR YOUTH INVOLVED, BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT WE ENGAGE OUR YOUNG ADULTS.
WE TALK ABOUT OUR YOUTH BEING OUR FUTURE LEADERS BUT IF MANY PEOPLE THAT MAY SERVE ON THIS ADVISORY COMMISSION COULD BE, YOU KNOW, REALLY, REALLY OUR NEXT LEADERS, ONCE THEY TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DO AS A COUNCIL, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON AS FAR AS THE CITY, A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST REALLY DON'T KNOW ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT THE CITY IS DOING.
I THOUGHT ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT WAS DONE WAS THE VIDEO AT THE TIME THAT WE WERE REALLY BEING IMPACTED BY COVID-19, THE VIDEO THAT WE RECORDED AND WE WERE ABLE TO SHARE WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD NO IDEA HOW BUSY THE CITY WAS AT WORK, AND SO I THINK HAVING THIS COLLEGE ADVISORY COMMISSION, WHO CAN BE INFORMED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING, MAKE SUGGESTIONS TO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOUNG ADULTS, YOU KNOW, THOSE WHO WILL SOON BE, YOU KNOW, HOMEOWNERS OR THOSE WHO WILL BE RENTERS AND THE FUTURE, TRUE FUTURE, IMMEDIATE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT, GREAT FIRST STEP IN THAT.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR GETTING US THIS FAR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO INTERVIEWING AND SELECTING OUR ADVISORY COMMISSIONERS.
OH, WE'RE NOT SELECTING. WE'RE JUST GIVING THE GOT IT PERFECT.
OKAY, AND WITH THAT, THOUGH, TO ME, IT'S SO IMPORTANT JUST COMING OFF AN ELECTION, WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR NUMBERS AND MAKING SURE THAT YOUTH GET INVOLVED AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE AND SO I'M REALLY HOPEFUL THAT WE SEE OUR YOUTH ENERGIZED AND THAT WE GET THEM INVOLVED IN OUR CITY GOVERNANCE, AND THE ONLY RECOMMENDATION I WOULD GIVE IS WHEN THESE MEETINGS ARE BEING HELD THAT WE PERHAPS GO THROUGH THE DIFFERENT CAMPUSES THAT ARE IN THE SYSTEM PARTICIPATING SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER, LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT CAMPUSES, AND FOR ME, THE BIG OUTCOME IS FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ATTENDING UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES THROUGHOUT DALLAS THAT THEY SELECT DALLAS TO BE THEIR FOREVER HOME.
I CAN ALREADY SEE WHERE I CAN PUT PEOPLE TO WORK, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, WITH THIS COMMITTEE, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE GOVERNANCE ON NINE, AND IT SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE 13 OF THE 17 TO MAINTAIN A QUORUM, AND I THINK THAT'S LIKE ABOUT LIKE THREE QUARTERS OF THE BODY, BUT OUR BODY IS NINE OF 15, WHICH IS ABOUT YOU KNOW, I'M JUST WONDERING, YOU YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING A PROBLEM KEEPING QUORUM SOMETIMES, TO BE QUITE HONEST, AND SO I WAS KIND OF DOING THE BACK OF THE MATH, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT WANT TO COME TO DOWN TO 12 OR 11 JUST SO THAT WAY YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN MAINTAIN A QUORUM WITH THE, AND THAT'S JUST A THOUGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT, AND WE ACTUALLY KIND OF WENT BACK AND FORTH ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD BE MONTHLY BECAUSE LIVING THE LIFE OF A COLLEGE STUDENT, WE KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THAT CAN BE. SO WE WENT TO A QUARTERLY AND THEN IF THEY WANTED TO DO MORE MEETINGS, WE WOULD LET THAT BE KIND OF THEIR DECISION.
SO WE WERE THINKING IF IT'S JUST ONCE A QUARTER, WE WOULD HOPEFULLY GET THE MAJORITY OF THEM THERE, BUT DEFINITELY WE'LL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND THEN ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE SUBCOMMITTEES AS WELL? WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF FORM WHAT THEY DO SINCE THEY'RE GOING TO SELECT THEIR OWN CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.
WE'RE GOING TO HELP SUPPORT SOME OF THEIR IDEAS, AND WE CAN RECOMMEND AS THEY GO THROUGH.
I STARTED THINKING ABOUT EVEN SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING NOW WITH THE YOUTH COMMISSION.
THERE COULD BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO DO PROJECTS TOGETHER.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO NEED THAT MUCH GUIDANCE, BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY BE THERE FOR THEM BECAUSE I COULD ALSO SEE THIS AS KIND OF LIKE THE FARM LEAGUE FOR WHEN WE NEED BOARDS AND COMMISSIONERS MOVING FORWARD.
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THAT WE GIVE THEM ALL THE TOOLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. ANYONE OUT THERE? COMMENTS FROM MR RESENDEZ.
YES, SIR. MR. RESENDEZ. REALLY QUICKLY.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, I WAS, I MEAN, I WANT IT TO BE AS OPEN AS POSSIBLE, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I'M ALSO WONDERING ABOUT SEEING IF THERE'S SOME SORT OF PREFERENCE OR PRIORITY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS JUST WANT TO THROW THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE I KNOW IT MENTIONS THAT EACH INSTITUTION WOULD CHOOSE SOMEONE FROM DALLAS COUNTY.
THANK YOU. THAT'S THE KIND OF GUIDANCE AND FEEDBACK THAT I THINK WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE INSTITUTIONS IN DALLAS COUNTY COULD PARTICIPATE , BUT IF YOU WANTED IT TO BE WHERE, THEN THE SELECTED STUDENTS WOULD BE THE CITY OF DALLAS.
WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HEAR FROM THE COUNCIL ON THAT BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE IT BASED ON AS LONG AS THEY LIVE WITHIN DALLAS COUNTY, AND I WOULD ALSO ADD THIS, I THINK ONCE WE GET UP AND RUNNING, THERE WOULD BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO ENGAGE OTHERS IN MAYBE PROVIDING SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO HELP WITH RESOURCES FOR THE COMMISSION, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD DEFINITELY PUSH FOR AND ASK FOR, AND SO I DO BELIEVE THAT GOING FORWARD, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AND GET ADDITIONAL TYPES OF FUNDING, THERE ALSO COULD BE GRANT FUNDING.
OKAY, YEAH, AND THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT IS BECAUSE, I MEAN, I JUST THINK IT'S CRUCIAL FOR NOT JUST THIS, YOU KNOW, UPCOMING COMMISSION, BUT ANY BOARD OR COMMISSION OF THE CITY AND, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENTAL BODY.
I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT FOR THERE TO BE PEOPLE IN THOSE ROLES THAT HAVE THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOMEONE THAT HAS GROWN UP IN THESE COMMUNITIES. SO THAT'S THE REASON I WANTED TO MENTION THAT.
FIRST, CHANDLER, AWESOME JOB SINCE THEY SAID IT WAS YOUR SINCE [INAUDIBLE] MS. TOLBERT SAID IT WAS YOUR FIRST PRESENTATION WITH US.
YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOURSELF.
THIS IS WONDERFUL. THIS IS EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU. I WILL ECHO WHAT CHAIR BLACKMON SAID ABOUT THE MAYBE LOWERING THE THRESHOLD JUST A LITTLE BIT SIMPLY BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GO THE OTHER ROUTE ONCE A QUARTER.
YOU MIGHT LOSE MORE PEOPLE VERSUS ONCE A MONTH.
I'M NOT SAYING GO ONCE A MONTH.
I'M JUST SAYING SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T PLAN THEIR SCHEDULES OUT THREE MONTHS IN ADVANCE AND THEY FORGET OR, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN BECAUSE WE WANT THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND THEN WHAT MR. RESENDEZ SAID AS WELL, I THINK IS IMPORTANT JUST TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE HOW THAT CAN BE INCORPORATED, BUT THIS IS WONDERFUL.
THIS IS VERY EXCITING AND I THINK THIS TAKES YOUTH COMMISSION TO THAT NEXT LEVEL, AND YOU KNOW, WHERE A LOT OF THEM, IF THEY STAY IN TOWN, YOU KNOW, THEY STILL WANT TO SERVE, BUT THEY'RE USUALLY MAYBE JUST A LITTLE TOO YOUNG OR THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE CITY IN THAT RESPECT.
SO I LOVE THAT ANALOGY THAT YOU USED.
CHAIR BLACKMON ABOUT THE FARM TEAM.
I CAN'T SAY MORE POSITIVE THINGS.
SO I'M GOING TO BE CALLING FOR A MOTION.
ON SLIDE TEN WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT THE REPORTING.
WILL THIS GROUP THEN FOR THEIR, YOU KNOW, ADVISING ON THE TOPICS AND REVIEWING AND PROPOSING PROGRAMS AND POLICIES, WILL THEY GO THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE FIRST? WHAT IS THEIR REPORTING OR THEY GO DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL? NO, WE WOULD KEEP THE STRUCTURE TO WHERE AS WE DO WITH EVEN THE YOUTH COMMISSION, WE BRING THEIR ACTIVITY.
WE BROUGHT THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THIS YEAR TO THIS BODY FIRST.
SO WE WOULD DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS KIND OF THEIR IN-BETWEEN BEFORE IT ACTUALLY GOES TO CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, I'M ASKING FOR A MOTION.
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I'VE GOT A MOTION FOR APPROVAL AND A SECOND MORENO AND THEN NARVAEZ.YEAH, TO MOVE THIS TO COUNCIL.
OKAY, WOULD YOU PLEASE, IF YOU GO TO SLIDE, PLEASE, WOULD YOU PLEASE GO TO SLIDE 11? I BELIEVE IT IS, AND SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING.
NO, BUT WHERE IS THE ACTUAL MOTION? SO THAT IT CAN GO TO COUNCIL TO BE APPROVED AS A COMMISSION, CORRECT? YES. SO WHAT WE WILL DO IN AUGUST WE'LL BRING BACK TO THIS BODY WITH THE BUDGET PIECE INCLUDED, BUT DOESN'T THE CREATION OF THE COUNT OF THE COMMISSION NEED TO GO TO COUNCIL FIRST BEFORE IT'S BUDGETED? WE'RE GOING TO DO IT IN A ONE STEP.
THIS THIS COMMISSION MAY OR MAY NOT THIS COMMITTEE MAY OR MAY NOT BE MEETING IN AUGUST.
LET'S MAKE A MOTION THAT THIS MOVES FORWARD TO COUNCIL AS APPROPRIATE, WHETHER IT'S WITH THE BUDGET OR NOT, BUT THAT THE CREATION OF THE COMMISSION MOVES FORWARD TO COUNCIL AND THEN WE BRING THE BUDGET BACK AS WE WOULD ANY OTHER.
WE APPROVE THE. OKAY, YES, MA'AM.
[INAUDIBLE] SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS A MOTION TO MOVE THIS TO MOVE THE CREATION OF THE COLLEGE COUNCIL TO COLLEGE ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD TO COUNCIL FOR THE JUNE 28TH ACTION.
YOU WITH ME? I DIDN'T SAY THAT VERY ARTICULATELY, BUT SOMEBODY WILL MAKE IT BETTER.
OKAY, SO I NEED DISCUSSION ON THIS.
SO FOR CLARITY, IT'S GOING TO COME TO COUNCIL IN JUNE WITH A RESOLUTION SUGGESTING THE ADOPTION OF THIS COMMISSION, THE CREATION, AND THEN IN AUGUST WE GET THE FISCAL NOTE RELATED TO IT AND MARRY THE TWO DURING THE BUDGET SEASON.
YES, WE WERE GOING TO DO IT ALL TOGETHER, BUT I SEE I HEAR CHAIR SCHULTZ'S COMMENTS THAT WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS COMMITTEE WILL EXIST IN AUGUST, SO WE'LL BRING IT BACK IN JUNE FOR APPROVAL, AND THEN IN AUGUST, WHEN WE GET ALL THE BUDGET PIECES TOGETHER, WE'LL BRING THAT BACK.
SO THE COMMITTEE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON WHAT WE'VE COME UP WITH, AND AT THAT TIME, WE WILL BE READY BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE ALREADY APPROVED IT, HOPEFULLY, THEN OCTOBER 1ST WILL JUST GO STRAIGHT INTO IMPLEMENTATION.
ALL RIGHT, SO ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, WE'RE MOVING TO COUNCIL ON JUNE 28TH.
WHOOPS. OKAY, OUR NEXT ITEM IS AN EQUITY BRIEFING ON THE WELCOMING 2.0, A PROPOSED UPDATE TO WELCOMING DALLAS STRATEGIC PLAN. THE GOAL FOR THIS, JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW TIMING WISE, IS I'D LIKE TO BE TO BRIEFING ITEM B BEFORE 10:00 IF POSSIBLE.
SO WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO DISCUSS IT.
GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED TODAY TO HAVE DR.
LINDSEY WILSON AND CHRISTINA DASILVA FROM THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION TO GIVE A BRIEFING ON A PROPOSED UPDATE TO THE WELCOMING DALLAS STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH OF COURSE WAS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED BY COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY AND HERE WE ARE SEVERAL YEARS LATER, ADVANCING OUR FRAMEWORK IN EQUITY AND INCLUSION SO THAT ALL CITY SERVICES AND RESOURCES CAN BE OFFERED TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, INCLUDING OUR VERY DIVERSE AND ROBUST IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITY.
SO WITH THAT, I TURN IT OVER TO DR.
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WITH EACH OF YOU HOW WE PLAN TO CONTINUE THESE EFFORTS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WELCOMING DALLAS STRATEGIC PLAN 2.0 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.RELEVANT DATA THAT HAS INFORMED OUR DECISION MAKING WE'LL DISCUSS THE CURRENT STATE OF THE WELCOMING DALLAS STRATEGIC PLAN, IDENTIFY AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY AND THEN OUTLINE OUR PLAN OF ACTION FOR UPDATING THE 2.0 VERSION OF THE PLAN.
OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT THE WELCOMING DALLAS STRATEGIC PLAN REMAINS RESPONSIVE TO THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY WHILE CONTINUING TO ADVANCE DALLAS AS A WELCOMING CITY.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, AND SO AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION HAS TAKEN AN INTERSECTIONAL APPROACH TO THE WORK THAT WE DO. WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF VARIOUS IDENTITIES THAT WE ALL CARRY HERE AT THE HORSESHOE AND ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS CARRY, AND THE WAYS IN WHICH THAT WORK MUST BE INCLUSIVE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, REGARDLESS OF RACE, ETHNICITY, GENDER IDENTITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RELIGION AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS.
THUS, THROUGH THIS LENS, WE'VE ALSO INTEGRATED AN IMMIGRANT INCLUSION, SPECIFICALLY GOALS INTO THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN SIMILAR TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS. THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE OBJECTIVES OF THE WELCOMING DALLAS STRATEGIC PLAN.
SPECIFICALLY HERE SHOWN ON THE SCREEN, IS HIGHLIGHTING TWO SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT MEASURES FROM THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION THAT SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE WELCOMING PLAN.
WE ARE PROUD TO REPORT THAT MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS HAVE ALSO IDENTIFIED AND INCORPORATED SUCH MEASURES INTO THEIR OWN PROGRESS MEASURES, AND THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT HAS BECOME ESSENTIAL.
RIGHT TO THE COMMITMENT OF DALLAS TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, AND SO WITHIN THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN, YOU'LL SEE 16 DEPARTMENT PROGRESS MEASURES AND OR BAGS THAT DIRECTLY ALIGN WITH THE WELCOMING DALLAS STRATEGIC PLAN.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, AND SO BEFORE I PASS THE PRESENTATION TO CHRISTINA DASILVA, WHO IS OUR WELCOMING COMMUNITIES AND IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS OFFICER, TO DIVE INTO THE DETAILS OF THE WELCOMING DALLAS STRATEGIC PLAN.
THIS SLIDE AMPLIFIES THE WAYS IN WHICH DALLAS CONTINUES TO BUILD ON ITS CURRENT PLANS FOR THAT INTERSECTIONAL EQUITY WORK ALONGSIDE WITH THE WELCOMING DALLAS STRATEGIC PLAN.
SO YOU'LL SEE, STARTING FROM 2018 WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE RESILIENT DALLAS PLAN, WHICH IDENTIFIED A COMPREHENSIVE, A NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE WELCOMING PLAN THAT OUTLINED STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND THE WAYS IN WHICH THE DALLAS EQUITY INDICATORS REPORT, AS WELL AS THE 2020 ORIGINAL EQUITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT TOOL, WHICH PRIORITIZED RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY COVID-19 REALLY BUILT OFF OF EACH OTHER.
2021 THE CITY PARTNERED WITH DALLAS ISD TO CREATE THE BROADBAND DIGITAL STRATEGIC EQUITY OR EQUITY STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH PROMOTES INTERNET ACCESS, HARDWARE AND DIGITAL LITERACY, AND FINALLY, IN 2022, THIS BODY GUIDED AND THE CITY ADOPTED THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT, RIGHT? IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OUR EFFORTS REALLY SUPPORT IMMIGRANT INCLUSION, AND IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED INITIATIVE, BUT REALLY IS BUILT INTO THE BROADER CITY FRAMEWORK TO PROMOTE EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY ACROSS ALL SECTORS, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M HAPPY TO PASS THE MIC TO CHRISTINA AGAIN, WHO SERVES AS THE CITY'S WELCOMING COMMUNITY AND IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS OFFICER.
WILSON. GOOD MORNING AND BUENOS DIAS, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINA DASILVA AND I'M THE WELCOMING COMMUNITIES AND IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS OFFICER.
AN IMMIGRANT IS SOMEONE WHO RESIDES IN A COUNTRY OTHER THAN THEIR BIRTHPLACE.
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THEY MAKE UP 30% OF THE CITY'S WORKFORCE AND 30% OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.THE TOP SIX ARE ENGLISH, SPANISH, AMHARIC, VIETNAMESE, KOREAN AND CHINESE.
IMMIGRANTS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN OUR CITY'S GROWTH AND SUCCESS, AND BY PROMOTING INCLUSION FOR EVERYONE, WE CAN CELEBRATE AND PRESERVE OUR CULTURAL DIVERSITY WHILE FOSTERING GREATER UNDERSTANDING AMONG PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.
ULTIMATELY, BY WORKING TOWARDS BECOMING A MORE WELCOMING CITY, WE CAN ADVANCE TOWARDS OUR VISION OF ONE DALLAS A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE. NEXT SLIDE.
SO THE STORY OF THIS WORK BEGINS IN 2017.
OUR FIRST DIRECTOR, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER LIZ CEDILLO-PEREIRA, WORKED WITH A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND DIFFERENT SECTORS TO FORM THE WELCOMING TASK FORCE, WHICH, AS YOU MAY NOT KNOW, ALSO INCLUDED COUNCILMEMBER SCHULTZ, WHO IS NOW THE CHAIR OF THE WE&E COMMITTEE, FULL CIRCLE.
THIS WAS A TRANSFORMATIVE MOMENT FOR DALLAS AS IT MARKED THE FIRST TIME WHEN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT FORMALLY ACKNOWLEDGED ITS ROLE, ITS RESPONSIBILITY IN IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION, AND MOBILIZED A GROUP OF COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ENVISION HOW WE AS NEIGHBORS CAN DEFINE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE WELCOMING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
NEXT SLIDE. ONE OF THE INITIAL ACTIONS BY THE WELCOMING TAKEN BY THE WELCOMING TASK FORCE WAS TO CONDUCT SURVEYS AND LISTENING SESSIONS TO ASSESS COMMUNITY NEEDS.
THIS PROCESS HELPED US IDENTIFY SEVERAL BARRIERS THAT IMMIGRANTS FACE.
THOSE ARE INCLUDED ON THE SLIDE, AS YOU SEE.
NEXT SLIDE. BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THAT WAS COLLECTED, THE WELCOMING TASK FORCE RESEARCHED AND IDENTIFIED PRACTICES THAT COULD ADDRESS THESE BARRIERS AND LEVERAGE LOCAL ASSETS, WHICH WERE THEN ORGANIZED INTO SHORT, MID AND LONG TERM GOALS.
NEXT SLIDE. THESE GOALS WERE ALSO ORGANIZED UNDER FIVE PILLARS LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATIONS, HEALTHY, SAFE AND CONNECTED COMMUNITIES, EQUITABLE ACCESS, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND EDUCATION.
SINCE THE ADOPTION OF THE WELCOMING DALLAS STRATEGIC PLAN IN 2018, THE WELCOMING COMMUNITIES AND IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS DIVISION HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTING SEVERAL INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS TO OPERATIONALIZE THIS WORK.
A SNAPSHOT OF THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE USING THE CITY'S PLATFORM TO HIGHLIGHT WELCOMING EFFORTS PROVIDING UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION THROUGH THE DALLAS SAFE PROGRAM AND UTILIZING PROMOTORAS OR LAY COMMUNITY ADVISORS WHO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY NEEDS AND CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH RESOURCES.
EFFORTS UNDER THE EQUITABLE ACCESS INCLUDE PROVIDING CASH ASSISTANCE TO IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC AND IMPROVING LANGUAGE ACCESS UNDER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND EDUCATION. THE DIVISION IS WORKING TO CONNECT INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED IMMIGRANTS WITH EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES AND PROVIDING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR REFUGEE YOUTH.
THESE EFFORTS ARE ONLY MADE POSSIBLE BY THE NUMEROUS PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS.
NEXT SLIDE. THANKS TO THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM WELCOMING TASK FORCE MEMBERS AND PARTNERS, OUR TEAM HAS IDENTIFIED KEY AREAS FOR ENHANCING OUR WELCOMING EFFORTS, AND THAT INCLUDES EXPANDING LANGUAGE SERVICES AND SUPPORTING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY HOUSING AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. WE ARE BUILDING ON THE SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS FROM THE PANDEMIC AND THE ESPERANZA AREA TO IMPLEMENT THE COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.
IN EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, WE SEE POSSIBILITIES TO COLLABORATE WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND MINORITY CHAMBERS TO ESTABLISH DESTINATION DISTRICTS THAT SHOWCASE DALLAS GLOBAL DIVERSITY, SUCH AS THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND KOREATOWN.
[00:35:06]
WE ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS THE VENUE FOR NEXT YEAR'S WELCOMING CONFERENCE, AND NOT TO TOOT MY OWN HORN, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT OUR VICTORY CAME AFTER COMPETING AGAINST EIGHT OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE NATION.THIS HIGHLIGHTS THE EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY OF OUR WELCOMING AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES AND UNDERSCORES THE EXCITING PROSPECTS THAT THIS OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS TO OUR CITY.
THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE ATTRACTS EXPERTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES, PRACTICES AND SUCCESS STORIES IN PROMOTING IMMIGRANT INCLUSION THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS, POLICIES AND PARTNERSHIPS.
NEXT SLIDE. THE PURPOSE OF THE WELCOMING DALLAS STRATEGIC PLAN 2.0 IS TO PROVIDE A STATUS UPDATE TO THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY ON THE PROGRESS WE'VE ACHIEVED SO FAR, INVOLVE STAKEHOLDERS FROM DIVERSE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP INITIATIVES AND TO EVALUATE CITYWIDE EQUITY ENDEAVORS WITH A FOCUS ON IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION.
NEXT SLIDE. SO THIS IS A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THIS SLIDE, BUT I JUST WANT TO SUMMARIZE THAT THE TIMELINE FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING, FOR THE WELCOMING DALLAS STRATEGIC PLAN CONSISTS OF EIGHT PHASES THROUGHOUT ALL OF THESE PHASES.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT AND PLANNING IS TO INCORPORATE REPRESENTATION FROM VARIOUS IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN ALL ASPECTS OF DRAFTING AND DECISION MAKING, PRIORITIZE LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY FROM THE OUTSET AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR WELCOMING TASK FORCE AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK PRIOR TO THE FINAL DRAFT PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL.
NEXT SLIDE. IN CONCLUSION, WE HAVE EXPLORED THE HISTORY AND CONTEXT OF THE CITY'S WELCOMING AND INCLUSION EFFORTS AND SHARE DATA THAT'S INFORMED OUR DECISION MAKING.
WE HAVE ALSO DISCUSSED THE CURRENT WELCOMING DALLAS STRATEGIC PLAN AND IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT, INCLUDING EQUITABLE ACCESS, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL MEMBERS OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY ARE REPRESENTED AND HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO THRIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HEAR YOUR QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. THIS IS AN EXCITING AND COMPLETE REPORT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. QUESTIONS.
COMMENTS. YES, I'LL START AT THE END.
JUST CONGRATULATIONS AND TOOT YOUR HORN.
DON'T EVER NOT TOOT YOUR HORN, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, NOBODY ELSE WILL.
SO ALWAYS TOOT YOUR HORN AND GOOD JOB.
SO I'M PROUD OF YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. GRACIAS.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
CONGRATS ON ALL YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOLADES.
IT'S TRULY SOMETHING THAT I HOPE ALL MY COLLEAGUES STAND BY EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY AND AS YOU MENTIONED, AS WE LOOK AROUND THIS HORSESHOE AND YOU SEE THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TRULY REPRESENTS WHAT DALLAS IS.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU ALL DO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS, AND JUST SEE WHERE WE ARE COMPARED TO WHERE WE WERE, AND I WAS CHAIR OF THE HUMAN [INAUDIBLE] COMMITTEE WHEN WE FIRST STOOD UP THE WELCOMING DALLAS STRATEGIC PLAN, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT TO SEE WHERE WE ARE NOW AND TO SEE DALLAS RECOGNIZED FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT IT'S DOING, IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN BE COMPASSIONATE, AND REGARDING THE ISSUE WITH IDS, I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN A BIG DEAL, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
I'VE MET WITH SEVERAL PRIESTS AND THEY'VE HAD SOME OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT AND MOVING FORWARD, BEING MINDFUL OF OF HOW WE CAN MAKE THINGS EASIER ON INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS SO WE CAN TRULY BE THE MOST EQUITABLE CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU.
CHAIR MCGOUGH OR COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.
ANY COMMENTS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
[00:40:01]
I THINK THIS IS GREAT. I LOVE TO SEE ALL THE PROGRESS THAT'S HAPPENING ON THIS ISSUE.ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO RAISE OR, YOU KNOW, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS AND THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE CITY OF DALLAS RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT IMMIGRANT INCLUSION.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING IMMIGRANT LEADERSHIP.
I MEAN, IT'S SAFE TO ASSUME THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL IMMIGRANTS, RIGHT? NOT JUST IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE NOW CITIZENS.
ACTUALLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.
WE REALLY TRY TO LIVE OUT OUR MISSION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND ADVANCING THAT SO THAT ALL RESIDENTS CAN THRIVE, AND SO WE REALLY TRY TO INTENTIONALLY THINK THROUGH OUR WORK AND HOW WE CAN ENSURE THAT IS EMBEDDED.
GOOD, I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY FOR US MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE IT JUST REMINDS ME OF THE PROPOSITION THAT THE VOTERS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPROVE LAST TWO YEARS AGO, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, A NON-CITIZEN, AN IMMIGRANT NON-CITIZEN CANNOT SERVE ON THE CITY OF DALLAS PARK BOARD AND A NON-CITIZEN IMMIGRANT CANNOT SERVE ON THE CITY'S PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THOSE ISSUES IMPACT ALL RESIDENTS OF DALLAS, WHETHER THEY ARE CITIZENS OR NOT, AND ALL RESIDENTS OF DALLAS PAY TAXES, WHETHER THEY ARE CITIZENS OR NOT, AND, AND THE PROPOSITION TWO YEARS AGO WAS DEFEATED BY A LANDSLIDE.
NOTION IN THEIR MIND OR THIS PERCEPTION.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT COMES FROM MAYBE NATIONAL POLITICS, STATE POLITICS OR SOMETHING THAT IMMIGRANTS AND NON-CITIZENS ARE NOT BENEFICIAL TO OUR CITY OR STATE OR OUR.
COUNTRY, AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT THAT, AND I'M SURE SOME OF Y'ALL KNOW, LIKE MY BACKGROUND WITH THIS ISSUE, YOU KNOW, MY PARENTS ARE IMMIGRANTS.
I'M A FIRST GENERATION DALLASITE AND MY ARGUMENT IS ALWAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, IMMIGRANTS, EVEN NON-CITIZEN IMMIGRANTS, CONTRIBUTE TO THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE I AM THE SON OF THAT, AND I SERVED THIS COUNTRY IN THE MILITARY.
I RISKED MY LIFE FOR THIS COUNTRY, AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY PARENTS YEARS AGO, THEY'RE CITIZENS NOW, BUT YEARS AGO, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PREVIOUSLY THEY COULDN'T EVEN SERVE ON ANY BOARD OR COMMISSION, AND EVEN TO THIS DAY THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THE PARK BOARD OR CITY PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I WAS RAISED IN THE GROVE, SOUTHEAST DALLAS, AN AREA THAT'S BEEN LONG NEGLECTED, AND I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THOSE THINGS, AND MOVING FORWARD, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, I GUESS, DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN SO THAT THE MAJORITY OF OUR CITY UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND THE BENEFITS OF THESE HUMAN BEINGS IN OUR CITY.
I'VE BEEN CALLING YOU COUNCIL MEMBER AND ITS CHAIR, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I THINK YOUR POINT ABOUT ABOUT LANGUAGE AND HOW WE USE IT, WE OFTEN AND I HEAR IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND I CRINGE EVERY TIME WHEN WE HEAR AT MEETINGS PEOPLE REFERRING TO THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS WHEN WE SHOULD BE ALL SAYING THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
THE OTHER THING I THINK TO COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO'S POINT ABOUT WELCOMING, I STILL HOPE THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE AS OUR CITY SLOGAN THE CITY WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS.
I'M GOING TO KEEP SAYING IT BECAUSE THAT TO ME IS THE HEART OF WHO WE ARE.
IT'S NOT JUST OUR ECONOMY OR OTHER THINGS; IT'S HOW WE WELCOME PEOPLE.
SO THIS PRESENTATION IS HUGELY IMPORTANT, AND I SPEAK FOR EVERYONE WHEN I SAY WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS FOR THE CONFERENCE AND WHATEVER YOU NEED, AND PLEASE, IF I MAY RECOMMEND THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO THE SOONER THINGS CAN GET ON OUR SCHEDULES, THE BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WITH NO OTHER QUESTIONS, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO BRIEFING ITEM B, WHICH IS A WORKFORCE ISSUE, AND THIS IS PART OF OUR MANDATE TO MAKE THE CITY OF DALLAS THE BEST PLACE TO WORK IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THIS, IF YOU REMEMBER, FOLKS, WE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES.
[00:45:06]
THIS IS ABOUT EMPLOYEE RETENTION STRATEGIES.SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR TEAM TO GO WITH THAT.
THANK YOU. THIS IS A GREAT DAY.
KIMBERLY BIZOR-TOLBERT, FOR THE RECORD, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
WE KNOW THAT TALENT RETENTION IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES NOT JUST FOR THOSE WHO MAKE UP OUR LOCAL MARKET, BUT ALSO FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, AND SO THIS PRESENTATION IS GOING TO INCLUDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PLAN, WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON.
WE WILL TALK ABOUT OUR RETENTION PRIORITIES AND THE VARIOUS STRATEGIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY AND THEN SOME OF THOSE THAT WE WILL BE WORKING AGAIN THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
THEY WILL THEN BE PRESENTED AS PART OF THAT 2023-24 PROPOSED BUDGET.
SO YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.
SO AT THIS TIME, JOINING ME FOR THE BRIEFING IS NINA ARIAS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING.
NINA ARIAS, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
IN THIS PRESENTATION TODAY, AS KIM MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING THE OVERVIEW OF PLACES TO WORK AND EMPLOYEE RETENTION, JUST A FRAMEWORK OF WHAT IT IS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.
ALSO, DISCUSS THE CURRENT STATE AND HIGHLIGHT OUR SUCCESSES, AND FINALLY, WE WILL WE WILL END WITH AN OUTLINE OF THOSE NEXT STEPS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO ENSURE THAT OUR ORGANIZATION BECOMES A TOP EMPLOYER IN THE REGION.
CORPORATIONS OFTEN INVEST SIGNIFICANT TIME, EFFORT AND RESOURCES IN ACHIEVING THE ENVIRONMENT AND DESIGNATION OF A BEST PLACE TO WORK BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS A SMART BUSINESS MOVE.
FIRST, WHEN EMPLOYEES EMPLOYEES ARE ENGAGED IN THEIR WORK, THEY'RE MORE PRODUCTIVE, THEY'RE MORE INNOVATIVE, THEY'RE MORE LOYAL, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE JOB REQUIREMENTS, AND TO ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE ORGANIZATION'S SUCCESS.
ALSO, CREATING A BEST PLACE TO WORK CAN HELP ATTRACT TOP TALENT.
FINALLY, THE BEST PLACE TO WORK, ESPECIALLY FOR AN ORGANIZATION LIKE OURS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, CAN BENEFIT THE ORGANIZATION'S REPUTATION AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION WHEN EMPLOYEES ARE HAPPY AND ENGAGED.
THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO SPEAK POSITIVELY ABOUT THEIR ORGANIZATION TO OTHERS, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS, AND THAT CAN LEAD TO INCREASED TRUST, SUPPORT AND SATISFACTION FROM THE PUBLIC, ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTING TO ORGANIZATION'S SUCCESS IN FULFILLING ITS MISSION AND ITS GOALS.
EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE IS WHAT EMPLOYEES WANT IN THE WORKPLACE.
THAT IS A TOPIC THAT HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY RESEARCHED BY MANY EXPERTS ORGANIZATIONS.
JOHN BERSIN IS A RENOWNED ANALYST AND RESEARCHER WHO HAS EXTENSIVELY STUDIED THE MATTER.
HIS RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT EMPLOYEES WANT A WORKPLACE THAT OFFERS MEANINGFUL WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, FAIR COMPENSATION, SUPPORTIVE LEADERSHIP AND A SENSE OF BELONGING.
OKAY, THIS SLIDE SHOWS HOW EMPLOYEE TENURE ACTUALLY HOW SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATIONS MEASURE OR ACTUALLY HOW WE HAVE THE COST OF RECRUITMENT, AND FINDING TALENT IS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE PROCESS.
[00:50:07]
NEXT SLIDE. SO LET'S DO A REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL 2022 EMPLOYEE MARKET SURVEY.THIS SLIDE PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT STATE.
AS REPORTED BY ORGANIZATIONS THAT MONITOR EMPLOYMENT DATA IN THE USA.
WITH THE ADVENT OF TECHNOLOGY, SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE CHANGING DYNAMICS OF THE GLOBAL HEALTH CRISIS, EMPLOYEES HAVE MORE OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND ARE INCREASINGLY WILLING TO EXPLORE NEW ROLES, SEEKING BETTER CAREER PROSPECTS AND PURSUING HIGHER LEVELS OF JOB SATISFACTION ANYWHERE.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS SLIDE PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE 2022 DATA FOR JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, AND IT SHOWS THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE NATIONAL STATISTIC AND THE CITY OF DALLAS.
SO WHAT IS OUR CURRENT STATE? NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THIS LIGHT PROVIDES OUR TURNOVER DATA IN DETAIL FOR 2022.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, AND HERE ARE THE RESULTS OF OUR 2022 COMBINED EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT SURVEY.
OUR RESPONSE RATE FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WAS 58%.
HOWEVER, THE COMBINED INCLUDING UNIFORM, WAS SLIGHTLY LOWER.
LEADERS, WE ARE EACH DEPARTMENT RECEIVES A SIMILAR REPORT HIGHLIGHTING THE AREAS IN NEEDS OF ATTENTION, AND THEN LEADERS WORK WITH EMPLOYEES TO CREATE ACTION PLANS TO ADDRESS THE AREAS IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT FOR THAT SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT IN A COLLABORATIVE MANNER WITH ASSISTANCE FROM HR PARTNERS.
SO THE EQUATION IS VALUE PROPOSITION PLUS BRANDING EQUALS RETENTION.
THE VALUE PROPOSITION IS WHY SHOULD EMPLOYEES CHOOSE TO WORK FOR US VERSUS OTHER COMPANIES? THE BRANDING IS THE PROCESS OF CREATING A UNIQUE IDENTITY SO THAT IN THE MINDS OF POTENTIAL AND CURRENT EMPLOYEES, THEY KNOW IF THEY ALIGN WITH WHAT WE OFFER.
SO THIS SLIDE PROVIDES DETAILS ON THE RETENTION STRATEGIES WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED IN THE AREAS OF COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS, BALANCE AND FLEXIBILITY AND UPSKILLING AND DEVELOPMENT.
I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE IMPLEMENTED WITH YOUR SUPPORT, INCLUDING THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE, WHICH PUT THE COD ON PAR WITH MARKET AND AHEAD OF GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION.
THIS SLIDE PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE RETENTION STRATEGIES THAT ARE UNDERWAY IN 2023 AND IN THE WORKS FOR '24, AGAIN, ALIGNED TO THE THREE PILLARS OF COMPENSATION OR BENEFITS, BALANCE AND FLEXIBILITY AND UPSKILLING AND DEVELOPMENT.
SOME OF THESE INITIATIVES WILL COME TO YOU FOR APPROVAL AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS IN 2023-24, AND THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
INCLUDES ADDITIONAL AREAS OF FOCUS, SUCH AS STRENGTHENING THE EMPLOYEE BRAND.
CONDUCTING AN EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT SURVEY IN 2023, INVESTING IN SUPERVISOR TRAINING AND RESOURCES AS SUPERVISORS ARE KEY TO THE EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE AND LEVERAGING DATA AND TECHNOLOGY.
OUR NEXT STEPS INCLUDE GATHERING INPUT.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, AND FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMITTEE.
[00:55:02]
SALARIES ARE ALIGNED WITH MARKET TRENDS.ADDITIONALLY, WE PRIORITIZE COMPLETING OUR BRANDING STRATEGY AND MARKETING CAMPAIGN.
THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND EQUITY COMMITTEE IN JUNE.
THANK YOU AND I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
I'M SO SORRY. WE ARE DEALING WITH AN IT ISSUE OVER HERE.
I'M GOING TO START WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE VIRTUAL WORLD.
CHAIR MCGOUGH, CHAIR RESENDEZ.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION. CHAIR MCGOUGH I BELIEVE THAT IN PUBLIC SAFETY YOU ALL ARE DEALING WITH RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF OUR UNIFORM EMPLOYEES.
IS THAT CORRECT? I'M SORRY? YES, MA'AM. OKAY, SO WE'LL FIGURE THAT OUT, BUT I THINK IN TERMS OF IF YOU'LL SHARE AGAIN, NINA, WOULD YOU PLEASE, IN TERMS OF THE EMPLOYEE SURVEY AND ITS IMPACT, CAN YOU JUST TALK ABOUT THOSE NUMBERS FOR ONE MINUTE SO THAT WE CAN PUT A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON IT SINCE THEY'RE DEALING WITH IT IN PUBLIC SAFETY? ABSOLUTELY, ALL EMPLOYEE SURVEY WE SURVEYED 12,552 EMPLOYEES.
OF THOSE, ONLY 15% OF A UNIFORM EMPLOYEES RESPONDED.
SO IT PROVIDES ACTUALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK WITH LEADERS IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY EMPLOYEE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND, AND PART OF THE REASON THAT MAY BE IS THAT THERE ARE OTHER SURVEYS THAT THE DEPARTMENTS DO INTERNALLY, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY ALSO RESPOND TO THE OVERALL EMPLOYEE SURVEY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A PERSPECTIVE OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE AREAS IN WHICH WE CAN IMPROVE THAT EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE FOR UNIFORM EMPLOYEES.
SO WOULD YOU SAY, THEN, ON SLIDE 11, WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT THE COMBINED EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT SURVEY, THE SUMMARY, THOUGH THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE RESPONSES SINCE THEY ARE NON UNIFORM CIVILIAN, THAT THIS REFLECTS PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY ELSE WITH THE CITY AND YOU WOULD SAY IT ACCURATELY.
ABSOLUTELY. OKAY, SO BEFORE I GO TO MY QUESTIONS, I WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S QUESTIONS HERE.
NONE? ALL RIGHT, THEN I'LL ASK A FEW.
FIRST OF ALL, ON THE LET'S GO TO THAT ON SLIDE 11, PLEASE.
WHAT WOULD BE THE HIGHEST SCORE IF EVERYONE SAID IT? WOULD THAT BE A FOUR? THE HIGHEST SCORE IS FIVE.
SO THERE WAS NOTHING THAT GOT A FOUR.
SO I THINK IN TERMS OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY LOOK AT, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SEE WHERE WE, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR GOALS ARE AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND PARTICULARLY ON THOSE THAT GOT THE BOTTOM FIVE AND HOW WE CAN TAKE, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT SOME OF THE AS YOU BEGIN TO REALLY DIG INTO THE DATA AND WHO RESPONDED WHAT I WOULD GUESS THAT YOU KNOW CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS HAVE MUCH HIGHER STRESS LOADS THAN OTHERS.
PROBABLY THOSE THAT WORK WITH MCC HAVE THE HIGHEST STRESS LOADS, BUT I THINK THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE SEE THAT STRESS AND WORKLOAD NUMBER GOING DOWN. THAT'S NOT GOOD.
IT'S THE WRONG TREND THAT WE WANT TO GET TO, AND I DON'T KNOW.
I KNOW 2020 WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF COVID.
SO THINGS ARE IT WAS A DIFFERENT KIND OF STRESS, RIGHT? YES, EXACTLY, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THE SURVEY ALLOWS FOR US TO DO, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT NOT EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE TAKE THE SURVEY, OF COURSE, BUT THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY LOOK AT THE UNIQUENESS OF EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT.
SO THIS GIVES US KIND OF THAT BENCHMARK WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT IT YEAR OVER YEAR, AND WHEN WE SEE AREAS THAT ARE GOING DOWN VERSUS AREAS THAT WE BELIEVE SHOULD BE GOING UP, THEN WE'RE REALLY WORKING TO IDENTIFY THE UNIQUENESS OF THOSE DEPARTMENTAL ISSUES, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE ARE SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, 24 HOURS A DAY.
I THINK ABOUT DALLAS WATER UTILITIES AND THE WORKLOAD THAT THEY TAKE ON.
THEY'RE NOT ON-CALL. THEY'RE NOT WORKING 24 HOURS A DAY.
SO BUT WE DO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THIS DATA TO HELP US BUILD UPON AND IDENTIFY OTHER RESOURCES THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO HAVE IN THE DEPARTMENT IF IT'S TRAINING, IF IT'S HAVING ADDITIONAL OPTIONS FOR OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, THEN IT CAN'T BE ONE SIZE FITS ALL BECAUSE NOT EVERY SINGLE
[01:00:02]
DEPARTMENT IS THE SAME, AND DO YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THESE DEEP DIVES INTO EVERY DEPARTMENT AND ARE YOU USING OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS? HOW ARE YOU REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO SO THAT THERE'S A CUSTOMIZED APPROACH TO DEPARTMENT RETENTION? YES, WE USE A THIRD PARTY.SO EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS ACCESS TO THEIR DATA IN AGGREGATE, AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT SPECIFICS ABOUT WHAT EMPLOYEES SAID, BUT JUST WHAT ARE THE TOPICS THEY NEED TO FOCUS ON AND THEY CREATE THOSE PLANS AND THEY UPLOAD THEM INTO THE SYSTEM, AND THERE IS VISIBILITY INTO WHAT DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING ON AT WHAT TIME AND WHAT PROGRESS THEY'RE MAKING.
SO WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST PLATFORM THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2020 AND USED IN 2022, AND WE'RE READY TO USE THAT BENCHMARK DATA AGAIN FOR 2023, AND DO WE HAVE IN ADDITION TO THE PENSION, WHAT DO WE DO TO REWARD YEARS OF SERVICE? AND I GUESS I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT KIND OF SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION IS A RETENTION STRATEGY.
ARE THERE ARE WE LOOKING AT REALLY CREATIVE THINGS, TYING THINGS MAYBE TO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SOLVE SOME OF OUR HOUSING ISSUES? YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
YOU KNOW, SERIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, IN THE SENSE OF AMI AND SO ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE COULD LOOK AT CREATIVE SOLUTIONS WITHIN OUR HOUSING FOR OUR OWN EMPLOYEES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
CHAIR SCHULTZ, I WILL TELL YOU THAT AS WE GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR OWN WORKFORCE, OFTENTIMES BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF JUST WHAT IT IS, WHETHER IT'S EMPLOYEES CHOOSE TO LIVE IN THE CITY OR OUTSIDE THE CITY.
WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE PROVIDE, THAT IT'S GOOD FOR THE BODY AND WE TRY TO DO IT TO WHERE THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE. THAT'S NOT ALWAYS BEEN HOW WE'VE OPERATED AS A CITY, AND SO NOW I THINK BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT OF THIS COUNCIL AND THIS COMMITTEE AND THE TYPE OF WORK THAT WE'VE GOT TO DO TO NOT ONLY ATTRACT GOOD EMPLOYEES BUT RETAIN THEM, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE COULD BRING BACK FOR POLICY DISCUSSIONS WITH THIS BODY TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.
I WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE RESOURCES QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED EARLIER.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK YOU'LL SEE IN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES, THERE'S A LOT THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, WHETHER IT'S THE, YOU KNOW, THE BIENNIAL COMPENSATION STUDY THAT'S REALLY ALLOWED US TO KIND OF SLICE AND DICE MARKET DATA AND BE ABLE TO REALLY GO TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND MANY OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
ARE WE GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE? IS THERE UPSKILLING OPPORTUNITIES? SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT'S GOING ON THAT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS GOING TO BE ROBUST AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A ONE THING OR A TWO THING.
IT'S GOING TO BE MULTIPLE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO RETAIN AS WELL AS TO ATTRACT, AND SO THOSE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE NOW, WE'RE FULLY UTILIZING THOSE, AND IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE DON'T HAVE NOW, WE WILL BRING THOSE BACK THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
I HAVE TWO LAST QUESTIONS AND THEN I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I LOOKED AT ANY. FIRST OF ALL, IF WE REPORT ON THIS TWICE A YEAR, I THINK ON RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, MAYBE TWICE A YEAR, CHECK IN, AND THEN IF WE COULD INCLUDE SINCE OUR MANDATE FROM THE MAYOR IS TO BE THE BEST PLACE CITY TO WORK IN THE STATE, IF WE COULD HAVE SOME COMPARATIVE DATA, WHATEVER IS AVAILABLE, I KNOW IT'S HARD TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE WHAT ARE THE VACANCY RATES IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO? I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT IS TRANSPARENT OR NOT, BUT THINGS LIKE THAT I THINK WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.
ONE IS YOU MENTIONED THE ON THE BENEFIT ENHANCEMENTS FOR RETENTION, THE ROLE COMEBACK PROVISION FOR RETIREES, AND I WAS WONDERING HOW SUCCESSFUL THAT HAS BEEN. YES, I REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED TO US EARLIER.
YES. ACTUALLY, WE HAVE NOT HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE UTILIZE THE PROGRAM RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE VERY, VERY FEW, AND I DO HAVE THE NUMBERS.
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DO NOT FIND A CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE OR A BETTER ALTERNATIVE.MAYBE THEY FIND AN ALTERNATIVE THAT IS LESS COSTLY, BUT IT IS NOT AS ROBUST.
SO WE HAVE VERY FEW PEOPLE AT THIS POINT, AND WE ARE GOING TO BE GOING INTO OPEN ENROLLMENT AGAIN IN AUGUST AND OUR PLAN IS TO AGAIN GO OUT THERE AND REALLY TELL EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, IF THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT THEY WANT TO USE, AND WE KNEW EVEN WHEN IT WAS PUT IN PLACE THAT IT WAS AN ALTERNATIVE.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT WE'RE STEERING EMPLOYEES IN THAT DIRECTION.
SO THE MAJORITY OF RETIREES THAT ARE WITH US DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE OUR PROGRAM, BASICALLY.
SO JUST TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE IT WAS A PILOT PROGRAM.
SO I THINK ON THAT PILOT PROGRAM, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER ONES THAT WE DID, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE WORTH IT FOR US TO GET A REPORT ON THIS AND REALLY UNDERSTAND WHEN LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, EVEN THE CHILD CARE THING, I KNOW WE HAD SOME THINGS THAT WE LEARNED AS BEING PART OF A PILOT.
IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE WILDLY SUCCESSFUL.
IT WAS MEANT TO LEARN, AND SO WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED AND HOW ARE WE TWEAKING THINGS LIKE THAT? I THINK ALL OF THOSE EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION TOOLS THAT WE'RE TRYING, WE NEED TO REALLY TAKE A STEP BACK AND SAY, OKAY, WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T, WHY AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO WITH IT? EITHER YOU KNOW, DUMP IT, ADAPT IT, WHATEVER.
SO I THINK THAT WOULD ALSO BE VERY HELPFUL FOR THE NEXT REPORT.
CHAIR SCHULTZ, IF I COULD JUST IF I COULD JUST MAKE A POINT, MAYBE WHAT WE DO SINCE WE ARE GOING TO BE GOING INTO OUR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, ACTUALLY, IT'S ALREADY UNDERWAY. WE COULD COME BACK TO THE JUNE COMMITTEE AND GIVE YOU THE UPDATE ON PARENTAL LEAVE, CHILD CARE SUBSIDY, THE COMEBACK.
ANYTHING THAT WAS PUT IN FOR THIS LAST YEAR AS SOMETHING NEW.
LET US BRING THAT BACK TO KIND OF SHOW YOU WHERE WE ARE.
SO WHEN WE GET INTO THE BUDGET CONVERSATIONS AROUND IT, YOU'LL HAVE ENOUGH DATA TO WHERE YOU CAN HELP US WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT ENHANCEMENTS OR IF WE NEED TO TAKE SOME DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS ON THE WAY THE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN ROLLED OUT AND MAKE SOME CHANGES BEFORE WE GO INTO OPEN ENROLLMENT.
PERFECT. OKAY, AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS ON SLIDE.
IT'S ACTUALLY IN THE APPENDIX ON SLIDE 36 ON THE REASONS EMPLOYEES ARE LEAVING AND WHAT TO DO.
RIGHT, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT PERCENTAGE FOR EMPLOYERS, AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOR US, AS WE DO AND THEN ALSO COMPARING THAT TO THE WHAT IS OUR ORGANIZATION DOING OR PLANNING TO ADDRESS TURNOVER, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF OFFERING MORE FLEXIBILITY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS OUTSIDE RESEARCH, WHICH IS INVALUABLE AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU HAVE SUCH ACCESS TO IT.
THAT WE'RE REFLECTING WHAT IT IS THAT IF THIS IS, IN FACT WHAT THE MARKET IS SAYING AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO LAYER OVER IT OUR VALUE PROPOSITION, RIGHT.
I WOULD BEG TO DIFFER, BUT I WANT TO BE ABLE TO ADD EVEN MORE SO BECAUSE YOU HAVE MEANING AND PURPOSE AND HELPING PEOPLE'S LIVES, AND SO I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE BUILT INTO IT AND UNDERSTAND, AS WE DO OUR THE SALARY SURVEYS, REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE ARE UNDERPAYING COMPARED TO THE MARKET AND BY HOW MUCH, AND HOPEFULLY SOME PLACES WE'RE MATCHING IT.
THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL IN MY OPINION.
SO ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THOSE REPORTS IN JUNE.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE TWO BRIEFING MEMORANDA.
ONE IS THEY'RE COMING UP TO THE COUNCIL MEETING NEXT WEEK.
CHAIRS IN THE VIRTUAL WORLD, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, THANK YOU ALL.
IT'S 10:14 AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.