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[Veteran Affairs Commission on October 12, 2023.]
MORNING EVERYONE, OR GOOD AFTERNOON.AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA ASK FOR EVERYONE WHO'S ATTENDING ONLINE TO PLEASE, AT THIS MOMENT, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CAMERAS ARE ON AND THAT YOUR SOUND IS ALSO WORKING.
AND, UH, WITH THAT YOU WANT TO, YOU WANT TO TEST TO THAT TO MAKE SURE IT'S WORKING.
ONCE WE'VE DONE THAT, THEN, UH, CHAIR, UH, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND PROCEED.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY? GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
UM, I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM.
SO THE FIRST THING WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'LL, WE'LL STAND AND, UM, THOSE OF YOU, I DON'T HAVE ANYONE ON THE SCREEN YET, BUT, UM, THOSE OF YOU ON THE, ON THE INTERNET.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, SO, ALL RIGHT.
IN MY PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
UM, FIRST THING WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA DO A ROLL CALL.
AND THIS IS FOR EVERYONE TO GET, UM, ACQUAINTED WITH EACH OTHER.
'CAUSE I KNOW SOMETIMES WE DON'T SEE EACH OTHER, OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, THIS ONCE A MONTH.
SO, FIRST ONE ON, ON THE, ON THIS LIST IS, UH, MR. CHARLES AYERS, AND HE'S PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER RAMOS? SIR? HERE SIR.
A SMITH PRESENT? DID I HEAR IT PRESENT? YEAH, I'M ON THE PHONE.
COMMISSIONER SMITH? UH, PETER G. SMITH? YES.
SO BOTH SMITH, RAY AND PETER ARE BOTH PRESENT, RIGHT? THAT WAS PETER.
YEAH, I THINK I, I RECOGNIZED PETER'S VOICE.
SO RAY IS THE NEW APPOINTEE, AND, UH, HE DID SAY HE WAS GOING, HE WAS TRAVELING.
HE WAS GONNA TRY TO LOG ON BY PHONE, UH, FOR AS LONG AS HE WAS ABLE TO, BEFORE HE HAD TO TURN OFF HIS COMMUNICATIONS ON THE PLEA.
WHO IS THIS? UH, THIS IS RAY SMITH.
SO THE FIR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO, UM, LOOK OVER THE LAST MONTH'S, UH, MINUTES AND, UH, GIVE YOU A MINUTE OR TWO FOR THAT.
AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A VOTE TO, TO, UH, TO APPROVE THOSE LAST MINUTES, OR, OR LAST MEETINGS, UH, MINUTES.
MOTION TO APPROVE LAST MONTH'S MINUTES.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND.
OKAY, NOW MOVE ON TO, UH, TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE FIRST, THE FIRST ITEM IS GONNA BE THE DISCUSSION ON THE, THE 2024 BOND
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TOWN HALL MEETING FOR VETERANS.AND THEN THAT'S COMING UP TUESDAY, OCTOBER THE 17TH AT 12 NOON TO ONE.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S, THAT IS A VIRTUAL MEETING, CORRECT? IT IS A VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETING, YES.
YEAH, I, I WAS UNDER IMPRESSION IT WAS A SHOW UP BECAUSE I, I, I PREFER SEEING SOMEBODY WHEN I TALK TO 'EM,
BUT, UH, IT IS A VIRTUAL MEETING MEETING, SO, UM, THAT'S FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER THE 17TH AT 12 TO 1:00 PM AND THAT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S VIRTUAL ONLY, OR IS IT ALSO BEING BROADCAST VIRTUALLY? AND THERE'S, WE CAN BE THERE IN PERSON TO THE BEST OF, TO THE BEST OF THE COMMUNICATION THAT I RECEIVED IS THAT IT'S VIRTUAL ONLY, THAT IT'S NOT A HYBRID MEETING.
UM, HOWEVER, IN THE INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN FIND ON THE CALENDAR, THE CITY'S CALENDAR, UH, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO, YOU CAN ALSO TRY IT AS WELL AS MYSELF.
I'LL FURTHER FOLLOW UP JUST TO VERIFY, AND I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH AN EMAIL TO LET YOU KNOW IF IT IS HYBRID OR IF IT IS ONLY VIRTUAL, BUT TO THE BEST OF, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S STRICTLY VIRTUAL.
WAS THAT CLEAR? DID EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT? OKAY, THEN THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING AT FIRST THAT IT WOULD BE A HYBRID, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD ATTEND IN PERSON, BUT THE FURTHER, UM, EMAILS, UM, SAYS IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S VIRTUAL.
SO ANYWAY, ON THAT DISCUSSION ON THAT, ON THAT MEETING, THERE'S GONNA BE, UH, SOME TOPICS THAT NEED TO BE COVERED.
UM, I THINK WE NEEDED TO DECIDE ON WHAT THE TOPICS WOULD BE.
UH, THE TOPICS WE'RE MEETING ON THE TOWN HALL.
SO I, I WASN'T SHOWN ANYTHING OF AN AGENDA.
WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE DID RECEIVE WAS COMMUNICATION THAT, UH, TWO OF THE DISTRICT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HOSTING A BOND 2024 TOWN HALL MEETING, AND THAT THEY'RE EX EXCLUSIVELY LOOKING TO CATER IN THAT MEETING TIME FOR VETERANS.
BUT AS FAR AS WHAT THEY'LL BE PRESENTING WITHIN THAT HOUR AND WHAT THERE'LL BE, UH, AN AGENDA, UH, IT'S, IT'S NOT HERE.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? YEAH, I THINK THAT, UM, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, MOST OF THESE TOWN HALL MEETINGS, THEY'RE GONNA FOLLOW A SIMILAR FORMAT.
THIS IS CHRISTINA DESILVA, UH, I'M CITY STAFF.
UM, AND, UH, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE WAY THAT THE BOND TOWN HALL MEETINGS HAVE BEEN FORMATTED IS THEY PROVIDE A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF WHAT IS THE BOND, WHAT DO THE FUNDS GO FOR, WHAT CAN THE BONDS BE PAID, WHAT CAN THE BONDS PAY FOR? UM, AND THEN, UM, THEY OPEN IT UP FOR FEEDBACK, AND THAT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PARTICIPANTS TO PROVIDE INPUT ON WHAT ARE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT AND WHAT, WHAT, UM, THE AUDIENCE THINKS SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED IN TERMS OF FUNDING.
SO, UM, YEAH, I THINK THAT THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE VERY, UM, UH, I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE UNIQUE MOMENTS WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY PRIORITIZING VETERANS.
I WANNA SAY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SEEN A TOWN HALL THAT IS SPECIFICALLY FOR VETERANS.
SO I THINK ANY ASSISTANCE THAT THE COMMISSION CAN PROVIDE IN PROMOTING THIS EVENT, UM, IT IS VIRTUAL, AND I THINK THEIR INTENTION WAS TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN ATTEND DURING LUNCHTIME OR, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO ATTEND, UH, WHEREVER THEY'RE AT FRONT, WHEREVER THEY'RE AT THAT TIME.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL ALL, ALL THE WAY TO DOWNTOWN.
UM, BUT I THINK THE HOPE IS THAT THE COMMISSION COULD ASSIST IN HELP SHARING THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOWN HALL AMONGST THE VETERAN NETWORKS.
CHRISTINA, UH, THIS IS SCOTT CHASE.
UH, DO YOU KNOW IF THEY HAVE HAD, UH, ANY OUTREACH TO LIKE THE VA HOSPITAL OR SOME OTHER VETERANS, UH, YOU KNOW, NONPROFIT ENTITIES THEMSELVES? 'CAUSE WE HAVE OUR, WE YOU HAVE SOME EMAILS AND, UH, WEBSITES THIS CAN GO TO, THIS COULD GO TO, BUT I'M WONDERING HOW MUCH THEY'VE DONE ALREADY, OR IF, YOU KNOW.
UM, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF THE OUTREACH AS WELL.
SO I KNOW WITH THE BOND THAT'S, THEY'VE BEEN BROADCASTING THESE, UH, NOTICES, UH, VERY BROADLY.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF, IF THEY HAVE A SPECIFIC CONTACT WITH THE VA, UM, I CAN FOLLOW UP AND, UM, CONFIRM IF THEY'VE BEEN TALKING WITH ANYBODY IN SPECIFIC, UM, TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS GETTING PROMOTED AMONGST THE VA AND, AND OTHER
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PARTNERS THAT WE'VE HAD, UM, COME IN.SO, YES, THAT CAN BE SOMETHING WE CAN DO.
WELL, UH, TO FOLLOW UP JUST A LITTLE BIT, UH, IF YOU COULD SEND THE NOTICE THAT WE, THAT, I DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THE ONE THAT WAS THE ATTACHMENT, IF YOU COULD SEND THAT SEPARATELY TO US IN A, IN, UH, P D F.
I KNOW I HAVE SOME PLACES I CAN SEND.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, A WHILE BACK WE HAD, UH, A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS BY VETERANS NONPROFITS, THEN WE JUST SEND IT TO THEM, LET THEM DISSEMINATE IT TOO.
I THINK EVEN THE MORE THAT PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT THIS EVENT, UM, I THINK EVEN IF IT'S COMING FROM MULTIPLE PEOPLE, I THINK THAT MAKES IT, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST MORE CLEAR THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE.
ON THE EMAIL THAT I GOT, UH, WHERE I RECEIVED THE, AS FAR AS THE COMMISSION, OUR COMMISSION, I THINK I WAS, UH, ASKED TO DO JUST THE INTRODUCTION, O O OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THE MEETING ITSELF, YOU KNOW, JUST TO INTRODUCE OUR, OUR COMMISSION.
BUT, UM, THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC ISSUES OR, OR ITEMS THAT WAS CALLED ON.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD DISCUSS OR, OR WE TALKED ABOUT.
NOW, UH, COMMISSIONER AYERS, UH, I THINK WAS ASKED TO DO SOME, UH, DISCUSSION ON THE HOUSING.
HE HAS A PRIOR COMMITMENT ON THAT DAY.
UH, DO YOU WANNA EXPAND ON THAT OR, UH, J JUST TO QUICKLY, UH, INTERRUPT A SECOND.
SO, ONE THING IS, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY, STEVEN, WHO'S HERE, IS SAYING THAT EACH TIME, TIME WE SPEAK TO ANNOUNCE OUR NAMES AND TO BE CLEAR AND LOUD, HOPEFULLY ON THE MICROPHONES.
UM, SECONDLY, WITH REGARDS TO THAT POINT.
SO YOU ARE ON THE AGENDA, COMMISSIONER, TO ADDRESS THAT PARTICULAR POINT, DEALING WITH THE, THE HOUSING AND THAT, THAT HOTEL THAT IS FOR TODAY, NOT FOR THE, FOR THE TOWN HALL MEETING.
THE TOWN HALL MEETING, THE HOSTS, UH, I'LL DO MY BEST TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS AN AGENDA THAT CAN BE SHARED.
OTHERWISE, IT'S THE, THE, UH, THE BOND, UH, COMMITTEE THAT'S GONNA BE BASICALLY HOSTING THAT WITH THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS IS DISTRICT ONE COMMISSIONER, AND NOW WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
THE DISTRICT ONE, WHEN THE CITY GOT THE MONEY TO BUY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IN EACH DISTRICT, THEY PURCHASED AN OLD HOTEL.
THE MIRAMAR HOTEL ON FOR WORTH AVENUE, UH, WOULD BE DISTRICT ONE.
THE IDEAL WAS TO RENOVATE THIS OLD HOTEL AND MAKE IT A TRADITIONAL HOUSING FOR, AND WE HAD OUR CHOICE.
WE COULD HAVE VETERANS, OTHER TYPES OF HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE LAST STAGE OF TRANSITIONING, UM, FROM BEING HOMELESS.
THEY WEREN'T IN THE FIRST STAGE RIGHT OFF THE STREET.
THEY'D GONE THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS BEFORE THEY CAME TO THIS HOTEL.
NOW, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SOME RENOVATIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE, BUT THE CITY HAS NOT COME UP WITH SOME AGENCY OR, UM, GROUP TO RUN THIS HOTEL, THEREFORE, EVERYTHING THAT IT STANDS TO.
UM, SO IT HAS NOT BEEN FINISHED.
IT'S NOT READY FOR OCCUPANCY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
AND THERE WERE SOME RESISTANCE ON THE PART OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE, UH, NOT NECESSARILY MADE THE PEOPLE ARE JU THIS OR PLAN, BUT BEFORE THE CITY TOOK IT OVER, IT WAS, UH, PRIME AND TESTED.
UH, POLICE WERE THERE OFTEN ON A DAILY BASIS, I WAS OF DRUGS AND OTHER THINGS.
UH, IT WOULD'VE BEEN, UH, WOULD'VE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT IF IT HAD BEEN MANAGED.
AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE WERE LIVING WITH WOULD'VE BEEN SUPERVISED.
PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY THERE, FROM INTERACTED WITH THEM AND SO FORTH.
THE, UH, VA HAS TWO HOUSES LOCATED A HAMPTON BUILDING THAT THEY USED FOR SIMILAR TYPE ACTIVITIES.
AND SO IT WOULDN'T BE LIKE SOMETHING NEW
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AND AREA.SO IT WOULD'VE BEEN AND WILL BE.
AND SOMEBODY, WHEN SOME ORGANIZATION AND MANAGE IT, THEY DO THE
AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE DISTRICT, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE SITUATION FINDING A SOLUTION.
THIS IS COMMISSION, UH, THIS IS CHAIR MR. I'M GONNA FOLLOW UP A LITTLE BIT ON THAT CONVERSATION.
WE DID FORM A SUBCOMMITTEE, A HOUSING SUBCOMMITTEE, UM, FOR THE COMMISSIONERS.
UH, WE'VE HAD ONE MEETING, AND PART OF THAT WAS PART OF THIS, UH, BOND, UH, ALLOCATION THAT, UH, THEY WERE ASKING FOR 200 MILLION MORE, UH, UH, GROUP, AND I THINK HE PRESENTED HERE IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH WAS PART OF THE LAST, LAST MONTH'S MINUTES.
UM, SO THAT'S STILL, WE DO HAVE A COMMITTEE, A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT'S WORKING, YOU KNOW, ON THAT ISSUE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL AWARE OF, THERE'S A WHOLE, THERE'S A LOT.
UM, BUT THAT COULD BE ONE ITEM THAT WE COULD BRING UP, YOU KNOW, JUST STAY ON POINT.
UM, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE ALL DECIDE WHAT WE WANNA DO ON THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MATT ONLINE? THIS IS COMMISSIONER SMITH, DISTRICT 14.
I GUESS JUST, UH, A STATEMENT ON THE TOPICS TO BE COVERED NEXT TUESDAY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE COMMISSION, AND I GUESS WHOEVER SPEAKS, I GUESS, UH, CHAIRMAN, THAT'S YOU, UH, DOES COME WITH A POINT OF VIEW ON WHAT, ON HOW THE BOND CAN BEST BE USED, UH, FOR THE VETERAN COMMUNITY.
WE HEARD FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE'VE HEARD FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING COALITION WE HEARD FROM, UH, BRIAN LAST, LAST MONTH.
AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS AROUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOMELESSNESS, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT THEY ARE, THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET PUT INTO THE BOND.
SOMETHING LIKE $275 MILLION, LIKE ABOUT HOUSING COALITION ITSELF IS ASKING FOR 200 MILLION.
AND I THINK WE JUST NEED TO PUSH THAT IN A SORT OF RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS KIND OF ARGUMENT.
UM, THERE HASN'T BEEN A HISTORIC LACK OF FUNDING IN, IN BOND PACKAGES FOR HOMELESSNESS AND HOMELESS SERVICES THAT THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AND IF THAT MONEY GOES TO PARKS AND REC OR TO STREETS AND ROADS, THOSE THINGS ARE ALSO VERY IMPORTANT.
BUT WE WILL MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN, IN HOMELESSNESS AND IN VETERAN HOMELESSNESS SPECIFICALLY.
SO I THINK WE, JUST IN YOUR INTRODUCTION OR, OR WHATEVER, UM, WE WANNA MAKE, I I, YOU KNOW, I GUESS MY ASK IS THAT WE MAKE A PRETTY CLEAR ARGUMENT FOR HOW THE BOND SHOULD BE USED TO HELP VETERANS.
UH, WE, WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED AND, UH, CONCISE AND ALSO, UH, VERY IMPERATIVE ABOUT WHAT WE THINK IS NECESSARY BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE AND BASED ON THE REPORTS WE'VE BEEN GETTING FROM ALL KINDS OF CITY STAFFERS.
I MEAN, IT, IT'S, WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE AND SO WE JUST NEED TO SAY IT TO EVERY TIME WE CAN GET A CHANCE.
AND THIS TOWN HALL GIVES US THAT CHANCE.
ANYBODY ELSE DISCUSSION? SO STAY ON POINT THEN.
AND I AGREE WITH PETER THAT, THAT, UM, WE HAVE TO PICK AN ITEM AND STAY, YOU KNOW, AND STAY FOCUSED ON THAT ITEM.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE HAVE NUMEROUS ISSUES, BUT THIS BOND ONLY COMES AROUND ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS.
AND WITH THE, WITH THE BACKGROUND AND LACK OF FUNDING FOR, YOU KNOW, GENERATIONS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S FOR VETERANS ESPECIALLY THAT, THAT, UM, WE WE'RE KIND OF, AND I THINK EVEN SOME OF THE, THE, UH,
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I WAS CONFUSED ON A COUPLE OF THE, THE DATA THAT WAS, WAS, UH, GIVEN IN SOME OF THESE MEETINGS THAT ARE, ARE PRESENTATIONS THAT, UH, THEY REALLY, THEY THROW US INTO A POPULATION.THEY, AND I SAY US THE VETERANS, INTO A POPULATION WHERE THEY EVEN DECREASE OUR HOMELESSNESS FOR VETERANS.
AND, AND I, I JUST DON'T SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, BUT AGAIN, WE'LL STAY, WE'LL STAY FOCUSED ON THE, THE, THE HOUSING ISSUE FOR, FOR, UH, VETERANS.
SO IS THAT SOMETHING WE, WE SHOULD VOTE ON, OR IS THAT, OR JUST
UM, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A, A VOTE THAT NECESSARY.
UM, I WILL SAY THAT EVERYONE HERE IN THE COMMISSION IS INVITED TO ATTEND THAT BOND TOWN HALL MEETING.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH, YOU KNOW, CHAIR MEAS OBVIOUSLY CAN MAKE HIS REMARKS.
AND THEN EVERYONE ELSE IS ALSO WELCOME TO MAKE THEIR REMARKS, UM, AND, AND WOULD BE MAKING THEIR REMARKS AS A, UH, INDIVIDUAL THAT SERVES ON THE COMMISSION.
BECAUSE EVEN WE'RE ALL THERE STILL, WE'RE ALL INVITED.
SO IT IS NOT GONNA BE A QUORUM.
IS THAT THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT? YEAH, THERE WON'T BE ANY ISSUE.
WE, WE CONFIRM THAT CITY ATTORNEY'S NO LEGAL ISSUES WITH, UH, UH, OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
SO EVEN IF THERE IS A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THERE, UH, SINCE IT'S NOT INVOLVING VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION BUSINESS SPECIFICALLY, UH, IT WON'T BE INTERFERING WITH THE OPEN MEETING ACT.
SO EVERYONE, THERE'S NO LIMIT TO HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN ATTEND FROM THE COMMISSION.
IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON, ON ITEM, UH, NUMBER THREE? OKAY.
UH, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO FIVE.
AND WE HAVE A GUEST, HONORABLE GUEST HERE, UH, DR.
ROBINSON, COMMISSIONER ROBINSON WAS GOING TO DO A PRESENTATION FOR THE UPCOMING, UH, VETERANS DAY PARADE, BUT, UH, SHE HAD A PRIOR COMMITMENT.
SO WE HAVE A GUEST HERE, HERE, UM, AT THE, UH, HERE AT THIS, UH, HORSESHOE, UH, MR. FEL, I FORGET, I I KNOW YOUR FIRST NAME, PAT, BUT
PHILLIP IN THE BIBLE, BUT MY INITIAL SPELL OF PAT, I'M THIRD GENERATION, CITY OF DALLAS EMPLOYEE, THIRD GENERATION MILITARY.
AND IF I COULD BE SO HUMBLE AS TO MAKE A SUGGESTION, YOU, YOU HAVE THE MEETING CALLED TO ORDER, AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I WOULD SUGGEST, UH, PUTTING IN A PRAYER OR A MOMENT OF SILENCE OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THEY YEAH.
GOD BEFORE A COUNTRY, OR YOU DON'T HAVE A COUNTRY THAT, I JUST WANTED TO PLANT THAT SEED.
I, I THINK THE MOMENT OF SILENCE WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE, I THINK, WELL, IT'S MY OBSERVATIONS.
SOME ORGANIZATIONS, THEY, THEY SAID THE PLEDGE FIRST AND SOMETHING ALWAYS GOES WRONG.
NO, I'M HERE ABOUT THE, UH, GREATER DALLAS VETERANS DAY PARADE.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THE GREATER DALLAS VETERANS FOUNDATION, UH, IS OVER QUITE A FEW THINGS.
AND THE FUNDRAISER, AND UNDERNEATH THAT UMBRELLA IS THE GREATER DALLAS VETERANS DAY PARADE.
YOU KNOW, VETERANS DAY IS ON THE 11TH, SO WE CHANGED THAT TO THE 10TH, AND WE STARTED TO HAVE SOME FLYERS DISTRIBUTED, AND THEN WE, UH, THE CITY OF DALLAS CHANGED OUR MINDS TO MOVE IT TO THE NINTH.
SO THIS YEAR, IT WILL BE ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER THE NINTH.
I, I TOLD THEM THE SQUIRREL, THE, THE ROAD HAS FLAT SQUIRRELS THAT COULDN'T MAKE UP THEIR MINDS.
BUT, UH, I HAVE, UH, PROGRAMS, MAPS, WE HAVE AN ACTION PLAN, UH, MAPS OF THE PARADE ROUTE, THE STAGING AREA, THE PLAZA, AND QUITE A FEW THINGS.
SO IF I, INSTEAD OF PASSING ALL THAT OUT, IF I COULD HAVE SOMEONE'S EMAIL ADDRESS, I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION ELECTRONICALLY.
UH, SO, UH, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, RIGHT OFFHAND ABOUT VETERANS DAY? FIRST OF ALL, UH, WE, UH, HAVE MOVED IT TO THE LOBBY FOR THE V I P UH, RECEPTION.
UH, WE DID HAVE IT ON THE SIXTH FLOOR,
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BUT I THINK IT'S A LOT BETTER DOWN THERE ON THE LOBBY TO WHERE, UH, DIGNITARIES, WHICH BY THE WAY, WE'RE EXPECTING DIG DIGNITARIES FROM QUITE A FEW NATIONS, UH, FRANCE, AMONG OTHERS, INCLUDING, UH, THE, OUR MAYOR IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE A, A SPEECH AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE, AND THEN THEY WILL BE ESCORTED OUT TO THE PLAZA TO WHERE, UH, THEY'LL BEGIN THE SPEECHES NOW DOWN THERE IN THE STAGING AREA, WHICH IS BY THE OLD REUNION ARENA THAT, UH, I BELIEVE WE'RE UP TO PRETTY CLOSE TO A HUNDRED PARTICIPANTS SO FAR, AND IT'S GROWING EVERY DAY.BUT IF THE TIMING IS CORRECT, OUR PARADE WILL KICK OFF DOWN THERE AT 1115 AND COME UP MAIN STREET, LORD WILLING, AND TURN AROUND RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THE LIBRARY, AND THEN PASS IN FRONT OF DALLAS CITY HALL.
AND IF WE HAVE THE TIMING CORRECT, THE PARADE SHOULD GET THERE JUST AT THE END OF THE SPEECHES.
SO, UH, WE'RE PLANNING ON THE, UH, MASSING OF THE COLORS, THE 21 GUN SALUTE, UH, MILITARY FLYOVER, UH, WHICH SHOULD PROVE INTERESTING.
AND MOST OF ALL, WE'RE PRAYING FOR, FOR GOOD WEATHER ALL DAY,
AND, UH, SO WHAT, WHAT MAY I, UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANYBODY ONLINE.
WE HOPE TO GET A LOT OF CITY OF DALLAS, UH, VOLUNTEERS ALSO, UH, WE'RE ALREADY GETTING COMMITMENTS FROM PRIVATE INDUSTRY, AND WE'RE PLANNING ON HAVING A VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION MEETING, I THINK ON OCTOBER THE SEVENTH TO BRIEF THE VOLUNTEERS.
WHAT WAS THAT DATE? UH, OCTOBER THE SEVENTH.
I NEED TO CONFIRM THAT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF RESERVING THE L ONE AUDITORIUM TO, UH, 17TH, EXCUSE ME.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO GET A YOUNGER GENERATION ON OUR COMMITTEE.
I'M 70 YEARS OLD AND I'M CONSIDERED TO BE THE KID ON THE COMMITTEE.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET A YOUNGER GENERATION INVOLVED AND, AND KIND OF FILL IN OUR FOOT FOOTSTEPS AND, AND, UH, GET SOME TRAINING OUT OF THE DEAL.
IT HE, AND THE BIG POINT ADVANTAGE FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS IS IT HELPS REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER AND THE, AND THE CITY COUNCIL'S PUSHING FOR, AND THIS SHOULD DO IT.
OH, SO ALL THAT INFORMATION'S GONNA BE ON THE FLYER OR, OR THE WHAT? YES, SIR.
CAN CAN WE, CAN WE GET HIM ALL THE EMAILS TO THE COMMISSIONERS? YEAH, HE DOES.
ANY, UH, WE'RE GOING TO, UH, PASS THE EMAIL OR THE CONTACT INFO FOR COMMISSIONERS TO, UH, MR. MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, YES, SIR.
LAST MONTH IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT, UH, ALL OF US, ALL OF US ATTEND THE PARADE.
WHERE WILL WE MEET AND WHEN WE WOULD'VE TO DECIDE THAT? YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GOOD POINT.
SO, UM, TECHNICALLY OUR MEETING FALLS ON THE SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, AND THAT ALSO COINCIDENTALLY, IS THE SAME TIME AND DATE AS THE PARADE.
SO, UM, WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE, UH, I THINK A PUBLIC, UH, POST AN AGENDA.
SO OUR NEXT AGENDA WOULD ESSENTIALLY STATE THAT THE COMMISSION IS PARTICIPATING IN THE PARADE.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I, THAT WOULD BE ESSENTIALLY OUR MEETING.
UM, I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO FOLLOWING THIS MEETING IS GET WITH DR.
ROBERTSON, UM, AND CONFIRM SOME OF THE DETAILS OF, OF WHERE IT WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE.
AND, YOU KNOW, BEST IDEAL SITUATION WHERE OUR COMMISSION MEMBERS COULD
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PARTICIPATE.UM, I KNOW WE DID, WE KIND OF BOUNCED SOME IDEAS OF GETTING A CAR OR A VAN.
UM, THERE ARE SOME CITY VANS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, BUT THERE ARE LIKE THOSE NINE, NINE PASS, NINE SEAT PASSENGER VANS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE HAD IN MIND.
UM, OR, YOU KNOW, THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DISCUSS.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE MR. PAT HAS SOME INFORMATION I COULD SHARE.
THIS IS MY 26TH YEAR OF DOING THIS, AND LORD WILL AND WILL HAVE TWO 15 PASSENGER VANS ON A CONSTANT SHUTTLE FROM THE COMMAND POST, WHICH IS RIGHT OUT FRONT ON THE CONVENTION CENTER SIDE TO THE PARADE, CHECK-IN TENT.
IT SHOULD BE A CONSTANT SHUTTLE.
AND WE'LL HAVE GOLF CARTS ALSO.
I THINK ALL THE GOLF CARTS ARE TAKEN, BUT THE, UH, 15 PASSENGER VANS ARE REALLY NICE.
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO, UH, TRANSPORT DIGNITARIES AND AFTER THE SPEECHES, THEY'LL BE SHUTTLING THEM TO, UH, UH, THEIR POSITION IN THE PARADE.
UH, COMMISSIONER SHERMAN HAS A QUESTION.
SHERMAN, UH, DISTRICT FIVE, UH, I PERSONALLY, UH, ATTENDED THE, UH, PARADE LAST YEAR.
UH, IT WAS THE FIRST PARADE WE HAD HAD SINCE THE, UH, THE CORONAVIRUS SITUATION, AND SO IT, IT WAS CANCELED, BUT SINCE THE CITY OF DALLAS HAD THIS BUILDING OPEN, UH, WE, THANKS FOR THAT.
ROBERTSON, SHE WAS ALSO, UH, VOLUNTEERING AS WELL.
SO WE WAS THERE, UH, TRYING TO, UH, SHE SAID, WE'RE GONNA MAKE A MORE PRESENCE AT THIS NEXT PARADE.
SO I WAS REALLY EAGER TO HEAR WHEN SHE HAD TO MENTION ABOUT THAT.
BUT, UH, AND I SAW THEY, LIKE, THEY DO HAVE CONSTANT, UH, FOR SURE.
SO DIFFERENT AREAS VOLUNTEER, UH, IN THE PARADE.
SO, UH, BUT SINCE THEY CANCELED IT, EVERYBODY KINDA CAME INSIDE FROM THE RAIN, UH, IN THE LIGHTNING.
UH, SO IT WOULD BE, UH, GOOD THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE IN THE FRONT AREA AND THEN WHATEVER NECESSARY WE CAN DO TO HELP AND, AND PROMOTE THIS PARADE TO MAKE IT, UH, FULLY FUNCTIONAL AS WELL AS IF THE WEATHER PERMITS.
SO IF THE WEATHER PERMITS, UH, THAT WOULD BE REALLY, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, UH, BECAUSE IT WAS CANCELED LAST YEAR AT THE END, AND EVERYBODY CAME INSIDE AND ALL THE
UH, AND, UH, THANK, UH, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON WAS MENTIONING HER RETIREMENT SITUATION, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WAS THERE FOR THAT AS WELL.
SO, SO HOPEFULLY IT'D BE A LOT MORE PRESENCE.
WELL, I, I'M SURE THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET A LOT OF, UH, SUPPORT FROM US, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW FOR ME FOR SURE.
SO WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO SUPPORT YOU.
IF COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE ONLINE, IF YOU CAN PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR CAMERA'S ON SO WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR QUORUM.
I THINK, UH, THERE'S A QUESTION FROM YES, SIR.
MY APOLOGIES IF I COULD MAKE ONE CLARIFICATION.
I HAVE INFORMED CITY OF DALLAS EMPLOYEES THAT IF YOU ARE VOLUNTEERING TO BE IN THE PARADE, YOU ARE NOT A VOLUNTEER, YOU ARE A PARADE PARTICIPANT.
VOLUNTEERS ARE THE, THE ONES THAT REALLY, UH, GET A LOT OF THE WORK DONE DOWN THERE IN THE COMMAND POST AND THE STAGING AREA.
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THANK, THANK YOU FOR, BLESS YOU.
I, I THINK THAT WOULD BE UP TO US.
WE CAN EITHER BE A PARTICIPANT OR A VOLUNTEER, BUT IN SOME FORM OR OTHER WE WOULD SUPPORT WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR'S PARADE, I THINK AS A COMMISSION, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT, IT'S NOT A MANDATORY, SO, YOU KNOW, BUT, UH, I THINK IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT, THAT MAKE US ALL FEEL GOOD.
SO YOU'RE SAYING, OKAY, SO THE TO CITY ATTORNEY JUST TOLD US THAT WE HAVE TO SUSPEND THE MEETING UNTIL MR. RAMOS TURNS ON HIS CAMERA.
MR. RAMOS, CAN YOU HEAR US? YEAH, MY, MY CAMERA'S ON, ON, ON MY END.
SO, UM, HE'S HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES AND WE EXPERIENCED THIS LAST TIME AS WELL.
THE, FOR SOME REASON, HIS, HIS CAMERA, HE SAYS HE'S ON, ON.
AND DO YOU THINK YOU CAN RESET? UH, YEAH, I CAN DO THAT.
[00:35:08]
OH, I'M SORRY.UH, WE LOST, UH, ONE OF OUR, UH, ONLINE COMMISSIONERS, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO A RECESS UNTIL WE GET THAT, THAT SITUATION TAKEN CARE OF.
SO AT THIS POINT, UM, WE'RE GONNA RECESS FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
SO, SO WE'LL GET SOME MORE COFFEE OR WHATEVER IT TAKES.
WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK AT THIS IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
OKAY, SO WE DIDN'T TAKE THE FIVE MINUTES.
UM, THAT WAS TAKEN CARE OF, I GUESS, SO IT DIDN'T EVEN TAKE THE WHOLE FIVE MINUTES, SO THAT'S GOOD.
SO WE'RE BACK AT A QUORUM, AND WE'RE GOING TO, UH, WE JUST FINISHED ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO, UH, SIX STAFF REPORTS AND BRIEFING.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A VA STAND DOWN ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER THE FIRST, 2023, UM, FROM NINE TO 1:00 PM AT THE, AT THE VA.
BUT IT DOESN'T SAY I, I'M ASSUMING THAT'S THE HOSPITAL, CORRECT? IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE, THE MAIN LOCATION OF THE VA.
SO WHAT THAT ENTAILS, I'M NOT SURE, AND I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE USUALLY, YOU KNOW, ACTIVE DUTY TIME, A STAND DOWN MEANS THAT EVERYTHING STOPS.
YOU KNOW, YOU GO INTO A SAFETY KIND OF A MODE, YOU KNOW, WHERE EVERYTHING'S CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE HAVE BEEN A ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING.
SO I'M NOT, I HAVEN'T BEEN TO A, UM, A STAND DOWN AT THE VA HOSPITAL.
SO IF ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING TO DISCUSS ABOUT THAT.
SO WHEN WE WERE, UH, CONTACTED BY A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE VA, UM, CKO, SHE HAD BASICALLY COMMUNICATED THAT THE STAND DOWN IS WHEN, UM, THERE'S VENDORS, MANY DIFFERENT VENDORS, ALL OF WHOM PROVIDE SERVICES TO V VETERANS, AND THEY HAVE BASICALLY THE WHOLE RECEPTION AREA AND HALLS AND DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ARE GONNA BE, UM, MANNED WITH ALL THESE, OR STAFFED WITH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT VENDORS.
AND THEN IT'S OPEN FOR EACH AND EVERY VETERAN WHO'S ABLE TO ATTEND TO COME AND TO BASICALLY VISIT EACH OF THOSE TABLES AND RECEIVE WHAT THERE IS OF INFORMATION AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
EVEN THE CITY OF DALLAS IS GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING OUR FAIR HOUSING, UH, PERHAPS, UH, SOME OF THE OTHER, UH, SECTIONS, OUR WELCOMING COMMUNITIES AND IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS, BUT IT'S GONNA BE FROM THAT TIME OF 9:00 AM TILL ONE, SO THAT IT'S GONNA BE A ROLLING, BASICALLY OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYONE TO COME AS THEY'RE ABLE TO, WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO AND PARTAKE IN WHATEVER, UH, LEVEL THAT IS, IS RELEVANT TO THEM.
IS THERE ANY, QUE IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, DID EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT? SO THE, THE, I GUESS IT WOULD JUST BE THE MORE,
[00:40:01]
MORE RESOURCES, MORE INFORMATION GOING OUT TO PUT RESOURCES AND, AND, UH, WHAT'S AVAILABLE, WHAT MIGHT BE NEW, WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ALREADY MIGHT KNOW.UM, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE STORY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME JUST, UH, THIS PAST WEEK, WHICH I WAS NOT AWARE OF.
UM, A WORLD WAR II VETERAN WAS BURIED, AND, UH, THE FLAG PRESENTED TO THE FAMILY.
WELL, AND THIS WAS OUT IN WEST TEXAS, SO, UH, THE HOME WAS, UH, CAUGHT IN A FIRE AND THE FLAG WAS DESTROYED.
SO I HAD THE, THE FAMILY MEMBERS ASKED ME HOW THEY GO ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GETTING A REPLACEMENT FOR THE FLAG.
AND I'M THINKING, WELL, I, I, I'VE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE, BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, I WANNA GIVE IT A SHOT.
AND SO, UH, AND I'M THINKING, YOU KNOW, PAPERWORK, MAYBE THREE OR FOUR MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, THEY MIGHT GET IT, THEY MIGHT NOT.
BUT ANYWAY, IT'S JUST A SIMPLE FORM THAT YOU FILL OUT.
YOU GO TO THE POST OFFICE AND THEY JUST GIVE YOU THE FLAG RIGHT THERE AT THE ANY POST OFFICE.
AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT, AND I, I THOUGHT I KNEW A LOT ABOUT THE VA, BUT, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S JUST SOME SIMPLE THINGS, YOU KNOW, UH, GETTING THEIR DD TWO FOURTEENS REGISTERED, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE, ARE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF THAT INFORMATION.
SO MAYBE THESE VENDORS COULD ALSO, YOU KNOW, GIVE OUT FORMS OR, YOU KNOW, INFORMATION THAT, THAT YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A WHOLE LOT OF, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, PAPERWORK, YOU KNOW, TO GET THINGS DONE.
'CAUSE I KNOW WE GET FRUSTRATED, UM, ESPECIALLY THE OLDER I GET, I, I GET FRUSTRATED VERY, VERY EASILY
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST, JUST A, A LOT, A LOT, A LOT GOING ON FOR VETERANS.
SO I'LL BE ATTENDING AND, UH, COMMISSIONER SHERMAN HAS A, UH, COMMISSIONER SHERMAN, DISTRICT FIVE.
UH, I, I DID ATTEND THE, UM, THE, THE NATIONAL VETERANS STAND DOWN LAST YEAR AT THE, UH, ACT.
ACTUALLY, IT WAS NOT AT THE VA HOSPITAL, IT WAS DOWN AT THE VA RESOURCE CENTER LAST YEAR IN THE BACK PARKING LOT AREA.
SO WITH ALL THOSE VENDORS THERE, UH, FROM LIKE SALVATION ARMY TO, UM, RED CROSS TO THE VA, MENTAL HEALTH, IT WAS GIVING OUT BACKPACKS, A LOT OF STUFF FOR HOMELESS, MOSTLY TO, UH, GEAR UP FOR THIS WINTER CONDITION.
SO MOST OF THE GEAR IS REALLY FOR THEM TO GET BACK ACQUAINTED WITH THE VA, GET THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH, JUST GET BACK ACQUAINTED WITH THE VA EMPLOYMENT OPTION.
THESE, UH, SO IT WAS A LOT OF RESOURCES THERE FOR VETERANS, UH, FOOD, UH, THEY WAS GIVING OUT HAIRCUTS, UH, JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WOULD KEEP THEM, UH, YOU KNOW, SUFFICIENT AND BACK TO NORMAL.
UM, SO THEY CAN, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THIS, UH, THIS WINTER CONDITION THAT'S COMING UP REAL MAJORLY THAT, THAT A LOT OF VETERANS, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE OF THE, UH, WEATHER AND HOUSING OR MAYBE IF THEY NEED THEIR HOUSE REMODELED OR SOME CONDITION WITH THEY EATING AIR CONDITION, ALMOST LIKE DIFFERENT AREAS, UH, WHERE WHEN ELDERLY PEOPLE ARE, WHEN IT'S TOO HOT OR TOO COLD, OR THEY NEED A HEATER, SPACE HEATER OR MAYBE AN AIR CONDITIONED TO, UH, STAY, UH, IN WARMER OR COOLER CLIMATES.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE, UH, BUT THIS TIME THEY SAY THAT IT MAY HAVE IT AT THE, UH, IN THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER, OR MAYBE IT MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WITH THE WEATHER, SAY THEY SAID ABOUT THE LIBERTY.
IF YOU GO TO THE VA, THEY GOT DIFFERENT AREAS, UH, DIFFERENT, UH, PARKING, UH, AREAS THAT, THAT THEY JUST BUILT.
SO, UH, THEY SAY IT WOULD BE IN LIBERTY, SO IT WOULD BE NEW TO ME TO SEE IT OUT THERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I GO THERE A LOT, SO, SO HOPEFULLY VETERANS CAN COME AND, UH, ALL THE COMMISSIONS CAN COME THERE AND KINDA SEE WHAT THEY DO TO HELP THE, UH, HOMELESS AND HOMELESS VETERANS AS WELL.
SO THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THIS FOR.
SO NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT.
DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO NUMBER ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, AND THAT'S ANNOUNCEMENTS.
ANYBODY ONLINE? ANYONE ONLINE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? UH, COMMISSIONER WALKER, I HAVE A CONCERN, UH, HAVING THE, UM, PARADE AND I'M MEETING ON THE SAME DAY, IT'S GONNA BE A PROBLEM.
UH, THE ROADS WILL BE BLOCKED OUT FRONT.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TO COMPENSATE THAT? I THINK CHRISTINA DISCUSSED THAT JUST A WHILE AGO.
UM, NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO, I'M SORRY, THE NEXT MONTH'S MEETING, NOVEMBER'S MEETING'S GONNA BE PART OF THAT BEING, ARE WE GONNA MEET HERE? NO.
SO YEAH, I THINK THAT, UM, WE WILL FOLLOW
[00:45:01]
UP WITH DR.ROBERTSON AND SEND NEXT STEPS IN TERMS OF WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE MEETING, WHERE YOU CAN PARK, UM, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'LL BE ALL MEETING TO, UM, EITHER IF WE'RE GOING TO VOLUNTEER OR IF WE'RE GOING TO BE A PARADE PARTICIPANT.
UM, I THINK WE'LL COORDINATE THAT WITH DR.
ROBERTSON AND LET YOU ALL KNOW IF THAT'S, IF THAT WORKS, WE'LL DEFINITELY LET YOU KNOW IN ADVANCE WHERE TO GO.
WE DON'T WANT YOU, I IT WON'T BE HERE FOR SURE.
DID, DID, UH, EVERY, EVERYONE ONLINE, UH, UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT, UH, THE NEXT MEETING IN NOVEMBER, SINCE IT, IT IS GONNA COINCIDE WITH THE, THE PARADE, THE, THE VETERAN DAY PARADE.
UH, WE, YOU CAN EITHER, YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL CAN DECIDE WHETHER YOU WANNA BE A PARTICIPANT OR YOU WANT TO BE A, A VOLUNTEER.
AND THEN, UH, WE'LL GET, UH, THAT INFORMATION OUT PRIOR TO, PRIOR TO THAT, TO THAT, UH, NOVEMBER THE NINTH.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GET WITH DR.
ROBINSON AND THEN, UH, WHOEVER WANTS TO VOLUNTEER, SHE'LL, I'M SURE SHE'LL HAVE AN AREA THAT WE CAN STAGE AT.
AND THEN, UH, YOU'LL HAVE ARIEL, UH, FOR THE PARTICIPANTS, I DO HAVE A, THIS IS SCOTT CHASE.
UH, SO IF WE, IF WE DECIDE TO PARTICIPATE, IT WON'T BE COUNTED AGAINST US FOR, FOR NOT ATTENDING A MEETING.
THANKS FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE I'M ON, I'M ON MY PROBATION.
I, I THINK A LOT, I THINK A LOT OF US ARE, IT'S A VOLUNTARY THING THAT HAPPENS MIDDAY, RIGHT? YEAH.
AND, UH, SO THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE IS THAT CONCERN.
IT JUST MAKES, WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU ARE IN THAT SITUATION, YOU'RE ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON AT THAT TIME.
THE OTHER OPTION IS TOO, THAT WE CANCEL THE MEETING AND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF LACK OF QUORUM.
UM, AND THEN THAT WAY YOU, NO ONE WILL HAVE BE PENALIZED, UM, FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO ATTEND.
UM, YOU KNOW, COMING OUT TO DOWNTOWN I KNOW CAN BE CUMBERSOME FOR SOME PEOPLE, SO THAT IS ONE OPTION AS WELL.
SO WITH THAT OPTION, SHOULD, AND THAT OPTION WOULD ALSO PROVIDE THE FLEXIBILITY OF, UM, YOU KNOW, IF IF MEMBERS WANTED TO COME AND, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD, YOU WOULDN'T RUN INTO ANY ISSUES OF THE OPEN MEETINGS.
ARE THEY? THIS IS COMMISSIONER RAMOS, DISTRICT FIVE.
UH, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING AT MY CALENDAR FOR THAT DAY AND I JUST CAN'T GET DOWNTOWN.
I DON'T, THERE WON'T BE ANY NECESSARILY A VOTE.
UM, WE, WE CAN JUST CONFIRM THAT WITH YOU CHAIR AND JUST SAY, OKAY, DUE TO LACK OF QUORUM, WE WILL CANCEL THE MEETING.
AND I THINK THAT MIGHT HELP WITH, UH, JUST PROVIDING THE FLEXIBILITY FOR EVERYONE.
UH, DO WE MAKE A, IS THIS A MOTION OR IS THIS A, JUST A DECISION? UM, THERE, THERE IS NO NEED TO MAKE A VOTE FOR IT.
IT'S, UM, IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN, OUR STAFF WOULD CONFIRM WITH THE CHAIR AND, AND WE WOULD MAKE THAT PO WE WOULD LET THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE KNOW, SO THERE WOULDN'T, THERE'S NO NEED TO MAKE A VOTE.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A CONSENSUS IN DOING THAT, CANCELING THE NEXT MEETING DUE TO LACK OF FORM.
YEAH, I, I RECOMMEND AT LEAST JUST FROM A PURE SELFISH POINT OF VIEW THAT I, I CAN'T GET DOWN THERE FOR THE PARADE.
IT COULD MAKE A MEAN, OH, NO, DON'T WORRY.
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A VOLUNTEER ROLE, AND I KNOW TRAFFICKING GETS KIND OF HAIRY, AND I KNOW IT'LL BE KIND OF COMPLICATED WITH STREETS BEING CLOSED, SO DON'T FEEL ANY OBLIGATION THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON.
SO, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S CONSENSUS IN CANCELING THE NEXT MEETING DUE TO LACK OF QUORUM.
AND THEN WE'LL LET EVERYONE KNOW, UM, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, UM, ATTENDING, YOU KNOW, ANY PART OF THE PARADE, HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN GET INVOLVED OR, UM, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, BEING, PARTICIPATING AS A VOLUNTEER OR, UM, AS A PARADE PARTICIPANT.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ANY MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS? YES, COMMISSIONER ERRS, DISTRICT ONE, UH, WE SENT THERE WAS, WE GOT A EMAIL FROM THE STAFF ABOUT THE TEXAS, UM, THE VETERANS COMMISSION.
AND OUR THOUGHT THERE WAS A, A
[00:50:01]
AND THIS IS THEIR, UH, SOME OF THE AREAS, UM, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, UM, HEALTHCARE, ADV ADVOCACY, MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY, WOMEN VETERANS PROGRAM.THESE ARE THINGS I THINK HE SHOULD ADD TO OUR LIST, NOT JUST HOMELESSNESS, BECAUSE, UH, WE COULD BE DOING A LOT MORE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR VETERANS AND JUST ADVOCATING FOR HOMELESSNESS.
I'D LIKE TO ADD THIS TO OUR LIST, OR AT LEAST SOME OF THESE THINGS.
I, I'LL, I'LL JUMP IN ONLY BECAUSE I JUST TALKED TO MY COMMISSIONER, UH, ABOUT THIS.
UM, WE DO HAVE A CHARTER SET UP WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THAT CALLS OUT THREE SPECIFIC AREAS, HOMELESSNESS BEING ONE OF THEM, UH, AND THEN ALSO EDUCATION AND JOBS.
SO THERE IS A FOCUS ON IT, I THINK RIGHT NOW, ONLY TO BE SOMEWHAT CONTRARIAN IN THAT THE, THE FOCUS IS ON HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE OF THE BOND PACKAGE.
AND THIS IS A OVER $1 BILLION BOND, UH, THAT'S GOING IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND SO THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, UH, ATTACK THE VETERAN HOMELESS ISSUE, UH, THROUGH THE BOND PACKAGE.
AND THE WAY THAT THE BONDS ARE STRUCTURED, IT IS FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, LIKE DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND THAT STUFF.
NOT NECESSARILY FOR PROGRAMS WHERE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT EDUCATION AND JOBS, THAT'S MORE ABOUT PROGRAMS THAN IT IS ABOUT CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
SO THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY A LOT OF THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE FOCUSED ON, UM, ON HOMELESSNESS SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE BOND COMMISSIONER HARRIS, I UNDERSTAND, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT LET'S TRY NOT TO LIMIT OURSELVES JUST BECAUSE WE WE'RE, WE'RE GOING AFTER A BOND PACKAGE AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME.
I THINK WE NEED TO THINK STRATEGICALLY AND THINK DOWN THE ROAD.
UH, UH, COMMISSIONER SMITH, AGAIN, I COMPLETELY AGREE.
I MEAN THIS, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS RIGHT NOW, BUT WE NEED TO AT LEAST THINK ABOUT ADDING SOME THINGS AS WE GO ALONG.
UM, LET'S, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET SOMEBODY TO, TO, UH, PRESENT HERE AT THIS, UH, THIS COMMISSION.
I, THERE'S A COMMISSIONER A SAYS, THERE'S, THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN WITH THIS BOND PACKAGE.
UH, THIS IS ONLY COMES AROUND ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS, SO I THINK WE NEED TO, TO STAY FOCUSED NOW.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I THINK THAT'S THE END OF, UH, OUR AGENDA.
AND THERE'S, UM, ANYONE TO MAKE, UH, A MOTION THAT WE ADJOURN.
WE WERE, UH, OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED.