[00:00:01]
ON DISABILITIES[Dallas Commission on Disabilities Meeting on November 28, 2023.]
MEETING ON NOVEMBER THE 28TH, 2023 AT 2:20 PM THANK YOU TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, TECHNICAL RESOURCE PANEL GUEST AND STAFF FOR JOINING US IN TODAY'S MEETING.UM, WE HAVE COMPLETED THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, WHICH WAS ROLL CALL.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A NEW APPOINTED MEMBER TO THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES, MR. RODERICK H****R FROM DISTRICT THREE.
UM, HE IS APPOINTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, GRACIE, WE WANT TO, UH, WELCOME YOU, UM, AND THANK YOU, UH, FOR CHOOSING TO REPRESENT NOT JUST THE CITY OF DALLAS, BUT ALSO DISTRICT THREE.
UM, WE DID HAVE A RETREAT THIS SUMMER.
YOU WEREN'T HERE JUST QUITE YET.
I WAS KIND OF, UM, DETERMINING HOW MUCH TIME TO GIVE YOU, YOU GET THREE MINUTES IF YOU CHOOSE TO, IF YOU WANT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF? GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ABOUT YOU, UM, AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE ON THIS COMMISSION, UH, WITH YOU ALL.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UH, BORN AND RAISED IN, UM, DALLAS, TEXAS.
UH, DISTRICT THREE SPECIFICALLY.
UM, SO JUST REALLY LOOKING FORWARD, UH, FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY, UM, IN THIS CAPACITY.
UH, THIS IS CLOSE AND NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
UM, THIS IS MY WORK THAT I DO, UH, 24 7, UH, CURRENTLY EMPLOYED, UH, FOR GENERAL MOTORS, UM, IN A DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CAPACITY AS WELL.
SO, UM, JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS OPPORTUNITY AND, UM, LEARNING AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH EVERYONE ON THE COMMISSION, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, IN SUPPORT ROLES WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
GUESS IN SUBCOMMITTEE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
UM, I DO BELIEVE THERE WAS AN EDIT THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE WITH VICE CHAIR AFTER VICE CHAIR SPEAKS ON WHAT THAT EDIT AND CORRECTION, UM, WOULD BE.
I'LL ASK IF THERE'S ANY OTHER CORRECTIONS.
UM, YES, CHAIRWOMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ACKNOWLEDGING.
UM, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT, UM, AFTER YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT OF DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH AND BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH, UM, AND BEFORE ADJOURNMENT, I RECOGNIZED OCTOBER AS BEING BLIND, EQUALITY ACHIEVEMENT MONTH.
UM, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE THIS EDIT BEING MADE TO THE MINUTES THAT EDIT, UM, WILL BE MADE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER CORRECTIONS AND AMENDMENTS THAT NEED TO BE ADDED FOR OUR OCTOBER 24TH MINUTES? I WANNA MAKE SURE WE CAPTURE, UM, EVERYONE'S, UM, INFORMATION.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER THAT MAY HAVE AN EDIT OR CORRECTION THAT THEY SEE THAT'S BEEN EITHER, UM, MISTAKENLY OMITTED.
OF COURSE, THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER EDITS IN, UM, TO THE MINUTES AS PROVIDED.
UM, I FIRST TO APPROVE WITH THE EDIT.
IS THERE A SECOND? UM, YES, CHAIR, UH, WOMAN.
I, I THINK I DID SOMEONE SPEAK? I DID, YES.
SO WE HAVE A SECOND AND THE THIRD.
SO THE MOTION HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED.
ALL IN FAVOR OF FILING THE OCTOBER 24, 20, 23 MINUTES.
NEXT, ON THE AGENDA, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS? I KNOW WE KIND OF TALK ABOUT THIS.
SOME OF US ARE IN OUR SECOND TERM.
SOME ARE IN OUR FIRST TERM, AND SOME ARE NEWLY APPOINTED.
WE, WE REALLY ARE OPEN-MINDED TO THE COMMENTS CONCERNS.
I DON'T REALLY LIKE THE TERM COMPLAINTS, HOWEVER, SEMANTICS THAT WE CAN DISCUSS.
I, I'M, I, I DON'T CARE WHAT AREA IT'S IN.
IT COULD BE HANDICAPPED PARKING, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE JUST A STRATEGIC PRIORITY.
IT COULD BE ANYTHING AS IT RELATES TO DISABILITIES.
SO PLEASE TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR, YOUR CHURCH MEMBER, UM, TO PLEASE SIGN UP TO SPEAK.
WE WANNA HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND NOT JUST IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE DISTRICT, BUT JUST THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UM, REMIND THEM THAT THEY DO HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, UM, WHICH IS A MAX ADDED TIME.
THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BE HERE PHYSICALLY PRESENT.
SO WE WANNA ALWAYS, UM, REMIND EVERYONE OF THAT.
UM, SO FOR IF THERE ARE ANY GUEST SPEAKERS, WHICH YOU DO HAVE 24 HOURS PRIOR TO OUR MEETING TO SIGN UP, I WILL ALWAYS, UH, REITERATE THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE DO FORGET, UM, THEY DO HAVE TO HAVE THEIR CAMERAS ON.
SO, JUST AS AN FYI NOW ONTO THE COMMISSION REPORTS, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, PUBLIC SPEAKERS OR GUEST SPEAKERS.
I WILL BEGIN WITH A FEW EVENTS THAT I ATTENDED AND WE'LL MOVE ON
[00:05:01]
TO VICE CHAIR AND THEN ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER WHO MAY HAVE, UM, COMMUNITY EVENTS INFORMATION IN TERMS OF THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES.SO ON NOVEMBER THE EIGHTH, THE MAYOR IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, WELCOME THE TEXAS RANGERS 2023 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS HERE AT CITY HALL.
WANNA MAKE SURE I'M PRONOUNCING THAT CORRECTLY.
WHO IS THE RELIEF PITCHER? AND NUMBER 14, DONNY EDGAR, WHO WAS, UM, THE BENCH COACH AND THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD THE TROPHY.
NOW THIS IS ACTUALLY REALLY, REALLY HEAVY TIFFANY AND COMPANY, ACTUALLY, I GUESS WHAT MANUFACTURED AND PRODUCES LOVELY TROPHY.
SO AGAIN, WE DO BIG THINGS IN TEXAS.
UM, ON NOVEMBER THE NINTH, THERE WAS A GRAND OPENING IN RIBBON CUTTING AT THE CHICK-FIL-A AND MY DISTRICT, WHICH IS DISTRICT EIGHT.
AND WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE THIS LOCATION AT 35 0 2 WEST CAMP WISDOM, UM, WHICH IS A PART OF THE REVITALIZATION OF THE RED BIRD MAGIC NEIGHBORHOOD.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OWNER AND OPERATOR, CONSUELA JACOBS.
I ATTENDED THE FIRST TELEVISED TOURNAMENT EXCLUSIVELY FOR BLACK COLLEGIATE GOLFERS AT CEDAR CREST GOLF COURSE IN DISTRICT THREE, WHICH IS DEPUTY MAYOR CARLIN HONORS DISTRICT, UM, OF THE 42 GOLFERS.
UM, THIS WAS THE TOP 21 MALE AND THE TOP 21 FEMALE IN THE COUNTRY.
SO THEY COMPETED IN A 54 WHOLE STROKE COMPETITION.
IT WAS AMAZING TO BE THERE IN NOVEMBER, THE 13TH THROUGH THE 15TH, LOTS OF GOLF.
AND ACTUALLY ON TODAY, WE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS, ALSO DISTRICT EIGHT, UH, FOR THE 15TH ANNUAL HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
UM, THIS IS THE 15TH YEAR THAT WE, UM, WELCOMED FAMILIES, HOMELESSNESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS.
SOME OF OUR SPONSORS WERE HERE.
UM, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
IT IS ACTUALLY THIS SATURDAY, SO YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A COMMUNITY MEMBER OF DISTRICT EIGHT TO ATTEND JUST AS AN FYI THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
SO, ON NOVEMBER 2ND, I ATTENDED AN EVENT HOSTED BY THE GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CENTER, WHICH IS WHERE I ALSO SERVE AS A MUSEUM DOCENT.
WE'RE VERY HONORED TO HOST A VETERAN.
HE'S THE FOUNDER OF THIS COMPANY CALLED SIERRA DELTA, WHICH PROVIDES TRAINING TO VETERANS, UM, WHO WANT SERVICE DOGS.
AND THESE VETERANS HAVE DISABILITIES.
THEY BECAME DISABLED THROUGH SOME CONFLICT OR ANY, UH, ANY, ANY OTHER TRAUMA THAT THEY WENT THROUGH.
UM, IN FACT, SERGEANT WILLIAM J GHANIM, UM, HE'S THE FOUNDER OF SIERRA DELTA, CAME AND TALKED TO US.
HE, UM, WHILE ON, WHILE BEING DEPLOYED TO IRAQ IN 2004, HE BECAME AN, UM, AMPUTEE, WHICH MEANS HE LOST A LEG DUE TO BEING HIT BY AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE.
UH, HOWEVER, HE DID NOT LET HIS DISABILITY GET IN THE WAY OF ACHIEVING WHAT HE WANTED.
UM, SIERRA DELTA NOT ONLY PROVIDES TRAINING, BUT ALSO FACILITATES PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN VETERANS WHO NEED SERVICE DOGS, UM, THROUGH, BY OFFERING TRAINING EDUCATION GRANTS.
AND THERE ARE THREE LEVELS OF THEM.
ONE OF THEM IS BASIC TRAINING, WHICH, UH, TRAINS DOGS, UM, IN TERMS OF THEIR SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND SKILLS.
THERE'S ALSO THE CITIZEN CANINE THE SECOND PART OF THE TRAINING, WHICH IS MORE FOCUSED ON OBEDIENCE, AND THEN THE ADVANCED TRAINING, WHICH IS MAINLY FOCUSED ON THE, THE DOG AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY BECOME FULLY TRAINED.
CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 18 MILLION DOGS, UM, WAITING TO BE PARTNERED WITH VETERANS WHO MAY NEED THEM.
THIS WAS A DAY PACKED WITH INFORMATION, AND I WAS TRULY HONORED TO MEET SERGEANT GHANIM AND DISCUSS WITH HIM ABOUT THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES AND THE WORK THAT WE DO TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS, UH, WHO HAVE DISABILITIES IN DALLAS, AND AS WELL AS TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO HELP OUR WORK, AND WE CAN WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON ISSUES PERTINENT TO THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.
THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER.
WE HAVE 18 MILLION DOGS, I'M SURE.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND SOME HOMES FOR THESE FUR BABIES.
UM, BEFORE WE MOVE TO SUBCOMMITTEES, IF THERE IS A COMMISSIONER WHO HAS A REPORT OR ANY INFORMATION, UM, I DO REAL QUICKLY, UH, REMEMBER COMMISSIONER WHITE WANTING TO SPEAK, AND IF SHE DOES, VERY BRIEFLY ON ACCESSIBILITY TO BUILDINGS, BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE TITLE SIX, WHICH GETS, WHICH ACTUALLY GETS MORE INTO LIKE STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND CONGRESS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, WHICH IS ALSO WELCOMED.
[00:10:01]
BUT IT COULD BE SOMETHING AS SMALL AS THE OPENING OF A DOOR, OR IT COULD BE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT EQUITY.DO YOU WANNA BRIEFLY SPEAK ON THAT OR YOU WANNA WAIT? I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT,
SO I JUST, OH, I RECEIVED SOME INFORMATION THAT YOU WANTED TO SPEAK ON OR HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY TO BUILDINGS.
I ASKED FOR INFORMATION ON IT.
SO THAT'S STILL CONSIDERED AS A COMMISSIONER, YOU CAN ALWAYS ASK AN OPEN MIC.
AND EVEN ON THE FLOOR WHERE WE ASK IF COMMISSIONERS HAVE REPORTS, UM, THAT'S STILL GREAT INFORMATION.
SO IF YOU WANT INFORMATION ON THAT, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL COMMISSIONERS HAVE INFORMATION ON THAT, UM, TO ADD THAT SO THAT ALSO THE PUBLIC CAN BE AWARE OF THAT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY HAVE A QUESTION, COMMENT, CONCERN, OR ANY INFORMATION THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE AT THIS TIME? YES.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER REVY, DISTRICT ONE.
I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR PUTTING TOGETHER BUSINESS CARDS.
I HAVE LEFT THEM WITH MY PHYSICIANS, WITH MY EYE DOCTOR, AND, UH, I'M STARTING TO PUT THEM ON VEHICLES THAT ARE PARKED IN HANDICAPPED PARKING SPOTS.
I JUST WRITE THE WORD, PLEASE IN CAPITAL LETTERS ON THE FRONT OF THE CARD, AND I CIRCLE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES.
I'M DETERMINED TO HEIGHTEN AWARENESS OF THIS ORGANIZATION'S PRESENCE IN DALLAS BRAVO.
REALLY QUICKLY, LET ME, LET ME SPEAK TO THAT AS NOT JUST AS CHAIR, BUT AS A PARENT, AN ADVOCATE COMMUNITY MEMBER.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL AND CAREFUL THAT WHEN MAKING A DECISION TO INFORM WHO WE ARE, BECAUSE WE ONLY GET SO MANY CARDS.
UM, AND, AND SINCE AGAIN THAT WE ARE NEW, UM, A NEWLY, UM, IMPLEMENTED COMMISSION, WE WANNA KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY WITHIN GUIDELINES OF WHERE TO PUT THE CARDS, HOW TO PUT THE CARDS, WHO TO APPROACH WHEN NOT TO APPROACH.
UM, COMMISSIONER REY IS ON OUR SUBCOMMITTEE FOR TRANSPORTATION, AND THERE IS A EXCESSIVE OVERUSE AND OVERUSE OF, UH, PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A PLACE CARD OR A ACTUAL LICENSE PLATE TO PARK IN THOSE ACCESSIBILITY PARKING SPACES.
UM, WHAT I DON'T WANT US TO DO, LET ME BE VERY TRANSPARENT ON THIS, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW, UM, TO SOME PEOPLE APPROACH LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ATTACKING AND, AND OR ANTAGONIZING THEM.
COMMISSIONER REBE DOES NOT DO THAT.
BUT WE JUST WANNA JUST BE MINDFUL OF THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE THROW YOUR CARDS AWAY.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR BUSINESS CARDS, IT IS VERY INTENTIONAL AND VERY SPECIFIC.
UM, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY MAKING SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN THOSE BOUNDARIES, UM, AND TO ALSO IMPLEMENT, UM, THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM THAT HOUSTON HAS.
SO PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF YOUR CARDS.
UM, WE DON'T ALL HAVE CARDS YET.
UM, WE ARE STILL, YOU KNOW, GIVE STAFF SOME TIME.
THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE GIVE EACH OTHER GRACE, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S 42 IF NOT MORE BOARDS IN COMMISSION.
SO WE'RE NOT THE ONLY WHAT YOU WOULD CALL BABY HERE AT THE CITY OF DALLAS.
SO, UM, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR CARDS, BUT I WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE TO BE INTENTIONAL OF WHO YOU GIVE YOUR CARDS TO.
BUT THANK YOU COMMISSIONER REBE FOR THAT INFORMATION.
UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE A, AGAIN, STATEMENT, COMMENT, REQUEST INFORMATION BEFORE WE MOVE TO SUBCOMMITTEES? I HAVE A QUICK RE REQUEST AS A NEW APPOINTEE.
IS THERE ANYONE I CAN CONNECT WITH, FELLOW COMMISSIONER THAT I COULD CONNECT WITH JUST TO KIND OF GET UP TO SPEED? SURE.
YOU CAN CONNECT WITH ME AS CHAIRWOMAN.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? COMMISSIONER WHITE? YES, MA'AM.
NO, I JUST SAID I WAS AVAILABLE TOO, IF HE WANTS TO TALK TO ME.
AND YOU DON'T JUST HAVE TO TALK TO ME OR THE CHAIR, BUT REMIND, UM, WE SHOULD ALL HAVE, UM, SOME OF OUR INFORMATION IS NOT PUBLIC, BUT WE DO HAVE VICE CHAIR, WE DO HAVE, UM, THAT WAY WE LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER'S DISTRICT AS WELL AND WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE.
HENCE FOR WHILE WE DID HAVE THE RETREAT, BUT AGAIN, YOU WANNA POINT AT THAT TIME, WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT SOME, UM, NEW, UM, UPDATES IN 2024.
I THINK VICE CHAIR HAS SOMETHING HE WANTS TO SAY.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE, THE NEW COMMISSIONER'S, UH, STATEMENT THAT I'M ALSO AVAILABLE TO TALK TO HIM IF HE NEEDS ANY INFORMATION.
WE'RE ALL WELCOMING YOU TO CONTACT US.
DO WE HAVE ANY SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS? I JUST HAPPEN TO HAVE ONE.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER REVY, DISTRICT ONE.
THE TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF
[00:15:01]
THE CITY OF DALLAS ESTABLISHING ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS FOR HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACES.WE'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH IN THE LAST MONTH, AND WE HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING RELATING TO THIS TOPIC IN CITY FILES SINCE 2014.
AT THAT TIME, THE CITY OF DALLAS HAD A PROGRAM CALLED CHIPS, C-H-I-P-S, CITIZENS HELPING IN PARKING SOLUTIONS.
AND THIS WAS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND THESE WERE CITIZENS WHO WERE TRAINED BY THE POLICE TO WRITE CITATIONS FOR HANDICAPPED PARKING VIOLATIONS.
NOW, ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE, AS OF TODAY, UH, THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SAYING THAT THIS ORGANIZATION NO LONGER EXISTS.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO IT, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIND ANY MORE INFORMATION, BUT I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVEN'T DROPPED THAT.
I WANTED ALSO WANTED TO REPORT TO YOU THAT I HAVE BEEN, UH, WORKING WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WHO HAVE LOGICAL AND ESTABLISHED ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS. LAST TIME I REPORTED ON HOUSTON, THIS TIME I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH PLANO AND AUSTIN, WHICH BOTH HAVE REALLY OUTSTANDING PROGRAMS AND WE CAN LEARN A LOT FROM THEM.
UH, AUSTIN HAS AN INTERACTIVE MAP THAT THEY HAVE ALSO DEVELOPED FOR, UH, PEOPLE TO FIND HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACES IN THE CITY.
UH, I THINK THIS WOULD BE AN ENORMOUS TASK, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE WELL WORTH THE EFFORT.
AND IT GOES WITH OUR MISSION OF MAKING TRANSPORTATION MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.
NOW, I DID TELL YOU THAT THE STATE PROVIDES THE CURRICULUM FOR THESE COURSES.
THE STATE DOES NOT PROVIDE CURRICULA FOR THESE COURSES.
THAT'S UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL CITIES, UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITIES.
SO WE WOULD HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO ON THAT.
AND THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE NUMBER 6 8 1 AUTHORIZES MUNICIPALITIES TO TRAIN VOLUNTEERS FOR HANDICAPPED PARKING VIOLATIONS.
SO IT'S CLEAR WE HAVE AUTHORITY FROM THE STATE TO DO THIS.
I'M RECOMMENDING THAT WE CONTINUE INVESTIGATING THE POSSIBILITY.
UM, I'M ALSO HAPPY TO REPORT THAT HOUSTON'S TRAINING PROGRAM OF ABOUT FOUR HOURS IS ONLINE, AND I'VE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED IT.
SO THERE
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF TIME, BUT LET'S NOT GIVE UP ON IT.
UM, I GUESS THAT'S THE END OF THE REPORT.
I, I, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER ANY, BUT LET'S KEEP MOVING ON THIS.
I REALLY THINK OUR NEXT STEP, AND THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, I THINK WE NEED TO CHECK WITH THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
LET'S FIND OUT THE HISTORY OF THIS EFFORT, WHERE, WHAT HAD HAPPENED, WHERE IT'S BEEN, IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TASK.
THEY HAVE TO BE WILLING TO HELP ENFORCE THIS.
I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO TALK TO THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT IF SOMEBODY GETS A TICKET, THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROSECUTED.
SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF EFFORT AND A LOT OF COOPERATION WITH VARIOUS CITY AGENCIES.
AND I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT.
WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU SAID WHAT SHE SAID IS EVERYBODY LISTENING,
UM, SO LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS THERE.
UM, WHICH WE CAN ALL KIND OF GRASP THAT WHEN YOU MENTIONED DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IN ALL FAIRNESS, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, WE, WE HAVE A NEW CHIEF CHIEF EDDIE GARCIA.
SO, UM, NOT TO SAY THAT HE'S NOT AWARE THAT THIS EXISTED, BUT WE HAD TO REMEMBER, WE HAVE WHAT, 1.297 MILLION WITH PEOPLE THAT HAD COVID BABIES SINCE THEN.
UM, WE HAVE MORE CITIZENS IN OUR CITY.
SO, UM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN AT A FUTURE DATE DISCUSS.
UM, WE'VE HAD DPD COME IN, UM, BUT IN ANOTHER AREA THAT WAS DISCUSSED.
SO NOW WE CAN GIVE THEM SOME TIME TO RESEARCH THIS INFORMATION, SEE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE GAPS ARE, UM, AND MOVE FORWARD WITH.
UM, I LIKE THE IDEOLOGY OF HAVING A MAP SO WE CAN SEE WHAT THESE HOT SPOTS ARE AND THEN GO FROM THERE.
'CAUSE IT IS GONNA TAKE, UM, DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
YOU MENTIONED PROSECUTORS, SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT REAL QUICKLY.
NOT TO GO INTO ANYTHING THAT'S IN DEPTH THAT GIVE US A GAG ORDER.
BUT, UM, THERE'S A THIN LINE BETWEEN PROSECUTION.
SO WHEN I HEAR THAT WORD, I'M THINKING JAIL TIME, BUT IT'S A TICKET.
SO WE WANNA BE CORRECTABLE WHEN WE'RE SPEAKING TO THE PUBLIC AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BECAUSE IN SEMANTICS OR DEFINITIONS, PEOPLE VIEW THAT AS DIFFERENTLY.
SO I THINK WHAT COMMISSIONERS, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M MISTAKEN, WHAT COMMISSIONER REEVE'S, UM, INDICATING
[00:20:01]
IS IN, IN REFERENCE TO PROSECUTION BEING HELD, UM, LIABLE, UM, AND PAY THEIR TICKET OR DIDN'T HAVE ADDITIONAL FINES.UM, SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I, UM, ACTUALLY AGREE THAT WE SHOULD TAKE SOME STEPS FORWARD TO TRY TO GET THIS IMPLEMENTED.
IT IS GONNA TAKE A LOT OF WORK.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I DO BELIEVE IN OUR DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, AND PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS TO GET SOME THINGS DONE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE? AND WE'RE STILL GONNA BE FORMATTING OUR SUBCOMMITTEES BECAUSE AGAIN, WE HAVE NEW APPOINTEES, WE HAVE EIGHT DIFFERENT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES, OUR TOP THREE OR TRANSPORTATION, EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING.
UM, IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE OR ANYTHING ELSE, UM, AND IF THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT COMMISSIONER VY JUST STATED, THIS IS THE TIME THAT YOU MAY SPEAK.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON WITH THE AGENDA.
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR CITY OF DALLAS DEPARTMENTS.
FIRST WE HAVE DEREK WHITE, WHO IS THE INTERIM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UM, IF HE COULD GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO OUR PODIUM SO THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE HIM SPEAK, UM, WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
THE PODIUM TO YOUR WELL, TO YOUR LEFT, TO MY RIGHT.
AND I'M NOT CLEAR IF YOU ARE AWARE, YOU DO HAVE 10 MINUTES TO SPEAK, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR, UH, Q AND A.
UM, THANK YOU CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR INVITING PUBLIC WORKS, UH, TO THIS PARTICULAR MEETING.
WE'RE, UH, VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE AND GIVE OUR INFORMATION ON WHAT WE WE CAN AS FAR AS WHAT WE DO IN PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, SO THE TITLE OF OUR, UH, PRESENTATION IS PUBLIC, PUBLIC WORKS INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND, UM, AS I WAS INTRODUCED, I'M THE INTERIM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN PUBLIC WORKS.
I OVERSEE, UH, FOUR, UH, TEAMS, WHICH IS THE ASSET MANAGEMENT TEAM, THE PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT TEAM, RIGHT AWAY MANAGEMENT TEAM, AS WELL AS THE S WALK, UH, PROGRAM.
UH, SO, UH, BASICALLY THE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FOUR, UH, MAJOR ASSETS.
AND THIS IS ON SLIDE TWO OR SLIDE ONE.
AND, UH, ONE OF THE ASSETS THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR IS ARE STREETS, UH, THAT IS BROKEN DOWN INTO EITHER UNIMPROVED STREETS OR IN, UH, IMPROVED STREETS.
UH, BUT THAT VARIES WITHIN TYPES OF STREETS THAT WE, UH, UH, MAINTAIN, UH, WHICH COULD BE ASPHALT OR CONCRETE.
UH, THE TOTAL NETWORK THAT WE HAVE FOR STREETS IS ABOUT THE 12,000 LANE MILES.
UM, THE OTHER, UH, ASSET WE MAINTAIN IS THE, UH, OR ALLEYS, AND THAT'S ABOUT 1400 MILES THAT WE MAINTAIN.
UH, THAT CAN BE BROKEN DOWN ALSO.
WELL, AS WELL AS, UH, IMPROVING UNIMPROVED.
UH, WE MAINTAIN ABOUT CLOSE TO 5,000 SIDEWALKS.
AND THAT INCLUDING, THAT'S INCLUDING RAMPS, UH, 5,000 MILES OF SIDEWALKS AS WELL AS 650, CLOSE TO 650 BRIDGES.
UM, BUT FOR BRIDGES, WE DON'T REALLY INSPECT THOSE BRIDGES.
UH, TXDOT ACTUALLY INSPECT THOSE BRIDGES AND WE TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND INCORPORATE THAT AND, AND TRY TO PROGRAM HOW WE'RE GONNA MAINTAIN THOSE BRIDGES.
SO THAT LEADS ME INTO THIS, THIS SLIDE HERE, UH, WHICH IS FOR US FOR PUBLIC WORKS.
UH, TO MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE HAVE.
SO WE, WE, WE TRY TO, WHAT WE DO, THE FIRST THING WE DO, WE INVENTORY ALL THE ASSETS THAT WE HAVE.
AND ONCE WE KNOW WHAT WE, WE, WE, ONCE WE KNOW THAT INVENTORY AND WHERE THOSE, UM, UH, ASSETS ARE LOCATED, WE GO OUT AND INSPECT THOSE ASSETS.
AND ONCE WE COMPLETE OUR INSPECTION, WE DEVELOP A, UM, CONDITION AS ASSESSMENT.
AND THAT LEADS US INTO A CONDITION, A CONDITION, UH, A PAVEMENT CONDITION INDEX, WHICH IS A PCI.
AND THAT PCI IS BASICALLY A SIMPLE NUMBER FROM ZERO TO A 100.
AND THAT TELLS US, THAT GIVES US AN INDICATION OF THE SEVERITY OF THE ASSET WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRESS, AS WELL AS, UH, DAMAGE OR DETERIORATION OF THAT ASSET.
AND THAT COULD BE TRANSLATING INTO LIKE A CONDITION, A CONDITION RATING WHERE WE, IT IS A SIMPLE RATING, LIKE IF YOU GET A GRADE, UM, AT A PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR PARTICULAR CLASSES IS FROM A TO E.
AND WHAT WE CONSIDER A GOOD, GOOD, A GOOD PAVEMENT CONDITION IS BASICALLY FROM, FROM A A 100 ALL THE WAY TO BA FAIR CAN BE A C, UM, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO A, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, A FAIL,
[00:25:01]
UH, PAVEMENT.AND THAT'S WHERE WE ACTUALLY LIKE TO, UH, LOOK AT THOSE DIFFERENT, THOSE DIFFERENCES AND FIGURE OUT, OKAY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE, UH, AND TRY TO MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT, THAT WE, THAT, THAT WE CURRENTLY NEED TO MAINTAIN WITH THE, THE BUDGET MONEY THAT WE, THAT WE, UM, TYPICALLY GET, UH, EVERY YEAR.
BUT LET ME KIND OF EXPLAIN THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE, WHICH IS WHAT I CALL THE, TO THE LEFT IS A IMAGE OF A TYPICAL ASPHALT PAVEMENT, UM, WHAT I CALL THE ICE CREAM SANDWICH.
AND, AND IF YOU FAMILIAR WITH AN ICE CREAM SANDWICH, IS IT IS BASICALLY LAYERS OF ICE CREAM.
BUT WHAT THIS IS ILLUSTRATES IS THE TOP LAYERS ARE IS OUR ROADWAY SURFACE.
THE BOTTOM LAYER IS THE SUBGRADE, UH, THE SUB BASE AND THE, UM, UM, UH, THE BASE LAYERS.
BUT THE DETERIORATION OF THE PAVEMENT CAN ACTUALLY PROPAGATE DOWN INTO THAT, INTO THAT STRUCTURE.
AND ONCE AND, AND ONCE IT, WHEN IT DOES, THAT GIVES US AN INDICATION, OKAY, THIS IS, THIS PAVEMENT IS A A D SO WE NEED TO PROBABLY PROGRAM THIS AS A MAJOR REHAB, CLOSE TO A MAJOR REHAB OR MAY, UH, MAYBE A RECONSTRUCTION.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE WAY THAT TRANSLATES.
SO IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
UM, WITH THIS SLIDE IS A, IS A BROKE IS A TABLE THAT IS BROKEN DOWN INTO, UH, COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
AND THIS IS THE PCI PER COUNCIL DISTRICT AND IS STRATIFIED BY, UH, YEARS FROM YEAR 2022 TO 20, UH, 31.
AND THE, UM, THE, THE, THE, THE WHAT THIS TABLE IS WHAT WE CALL A HEAT MAP OF WHAT THE PCI NUMBERS ARE IN EACH DISTRICT FOR EACH YEAR AND FOR, AND FOR THE YEARS THAT'S ARE PROJECTED, THAT IS MODELED THROUGH OUR PAVING MODELS, MODELING, UH, SOFTWARE THAT TELLS US, UH, WHAT'S THE OPTIMIZATION OR WHAT'S THE, UH, UH, PROJECTED PCI WOULD BE FOR AT THAT PARTICULAR YEAR FOR THAT PARTICULAR COUNSELOR DISTRICT.
UM, UH, IF WE SPEND THE DOLLARS TODAY BASED ON HOW MUCH WE SPEND THE DOLLARS TODAY AND HOW WE SPEND THE DOLLARS IN THE FUTURE.
UH, SO THIS TABLE IS, IS IS, I BELIEVE IS, IS FROM A, A STRONG GREEN TO A, TO A STRONG RED TO WHERE STRONG GREEN INDICATES IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A FAIRLY GOOD PA MENTIONED STRONG RED INDICATES ALMOST FAILING.
SO NOW SPEAKING OF ASSETS, THIS IS, UH, SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS.
AND I JUST WANT TO KIND OF FOCUS IN ON THIS ONE IS THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE HERE SHOWS A TABLE OF 22 PROJECTS AND 22 PROJECTS WHERE IT SHOWS THE LOCATION OF, UH, SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THIS, THESE, THESE, UH, LOCATIONS ARE ACTUALLY BEING FUNDED THROUGH THE DART EXCESS EXCESS REVENUE.
SO SALES, UH, THE, THE SALES EX, THE SALES, UH, TAXES FROM THE EXCESS REVENUES FROM DART.
AND, UM, WE HAVE, AND ALL THESE PROJECTS ARE ACTUALLY FOCUSED IN THE, IN WHAT WE CALL THE FOCUS AREA, UH, THAT IS UNIDENTIFIED IN THE SIDEWALK, SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN.
AND A TOTAL AMOUNT OF, UH, PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GONNA, UM, DO IN THIS, UH, FOR THIS PARTICULAR POT OF MONEY WOULD BE ABOUT $10 MILLION.
IN ADDITION TO THE SIDEWALKS, WE'RE GONNA DO BARRIER FREE RAMPS.
SO WE PLAN TO IMPROVE CURB RAMPS, AND THIS IS JUST A LIST OF CURB RAMPS, UH, PER COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
AND IT BROKE, IT'S BROKEN DOWN INTO, UH, THE PARTICULAR FOCUS AREAS.
I MEAN, THE RAMPS ARE IN THE FOCUS AREAS, UM, HOW MANY RAMPS THAT ARE MISSING, THE PERCENTAGE OF RAMPS THAT ARE MISSING IN THAT, IN THAT, IN THAT COUNCIL DISTRICT, AND WHAT WE ESTIMATE AS THE NUMBER OF RAMPS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND ASSOCIATED COSTS FOR THOSE.
AND THAT, AND THAT IS ABOUT $50 MILLION THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET FROM DART TO IMPROVE OUR, OUR, UH, A DA RAMPS, UH, CITYWIDE.
FOR THIS SLIDE, WHICH IS, UH, ON, ON SLIDE, I BELIEVE THIS IS SLIDE SIX.
UH, IT'S, IT'S A, BRO, IT'S A, IT IS, IT'S A, UH, TABLE THAT'S BROKEN DOWN INTO WHAT PUBLIC WORKS IS RECOMMENDING FOR US TO, UM, IS, IS IS TIED TO THE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING AS A NEED FOR US TO DO AS PART OF THE BOND PROJECT.
BUT THIS TABLE HERE SHOWS THE ALLOCATION PER COUNCIL DISTRICT THAT WE WANT TO, OR THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IN THAT IN, IN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT.
AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT IS ABOUT 700, I MEAN, $375 MILLION
[00:30:02]
THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE, UH, ASKING AS BEING PART OF THIS, UH, BOND.BUT THIS IS THE LATEST, THIS IS THE LATEST ALLOCATION, UH, THAT IS, UM, THAT IS, UH, THAT, THAT HAS BEEN DECIDED BY THE TASK FORCE, UH, GIVEN TO, GIVEN BASED ON THIS PROPOSITION FOR STREETS AND ALLEYS, I MEAN FOR STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION.
AND YOU CAN SEE HERE AT THE TOP TABLE IS IT HAS THE BRO, IT HAS THE, UH, BUDGET ALLOCATION BROKEN DOWN INTO BRIDGES, SIDEWALKS, ALLEYS, AND STREETS, AS WELL AS, UH, THE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS WITH TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS ARE CONSIDERED LIKE, UH, PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS, UM, TRAFFIC SIGNAL UPGRADES, UM, AND ALSO LIKE STREET, UH, COMPLETE STREETS, UM, THOROUGHFARE EXPANSIONS, UH, WHICH, WHICH THOSE PROJECTS ARE IDENTIFIED BY THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
UM, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE BOND PROGRAM, UM, EVERY DEPARTMENT WAS REQUIRED TO PUT TOGETHER LIKE A TECHNICAL CRITERIA TO ACTUALLY RANK AND SCORE, UH, PARTICULAR PROJECTS.
AND, UH, UH, WE HAVE A TECHNICAL CRITERIA AS FAR AS PUBLIC WORKS, BUT THAT WAS ONLY ABOUT 80 POINTS, UH, FOR THE TOTAL THAT ENCOMPASSES THAT, THAT ACTUALLY INCLUDED ALL THE, UH, UH, UH, A HUNDRED POINTS.
SO 80 POINTS WAS THE TOTAL, UH, TECHNICAL CRITERIA, BUT THE OTHER 20 POINTS WERE BASED ON PRIORITY.
UH, AND THEIR PRIORITY WAS DETERMINED BY ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.
AND THAT WAS EITHER MARKET VALUE, THAT WAS WHETHER THIS AREA WAS A HIGH CRIME AREA, UM, THE NUMBER OF THREE ONE ONES RECEIVED IN A PARTICULAR FOR A PARTICULAR ITEM.
AND THE, AND THE WEIGHT OF PROJECTS.
IF, IF, IF WERE, WERE OVERLAPPED, IF PUBLIC WORKS HAD A PROJECT THAT WAS OVERLAPPED WITH DWU DALLAS WATER UTIL UTILITIES OR, OR THE, THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
UM, THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT RECEIVED MORE POINTS.
AND THOSE, AND THOSE AND, AND THAT, AND EACH OF THOSE POINTS WERE ABOUT TWO POINTS EACH.
UM, AND THE OTHER POINTS WOULD LEADS TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, UH, ENCOMPASS IT, IT CONSIDERED EQUITY.
SO THE, THE, THE REST OF THE POINTS WERE BASED ON EQUITY, WHETHER IT WAS, UH, POPULATION OR IT WAS, WHETHER IT WAS THE NUMBER OF SENIORS IN THAT AREA, THE HOUSEHOLD, THE INCOME.
SO THAT WAS ALL INCLUDED WITHIN THE SCORING OF THE BOND, UH, PROGRAM.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, THE BOND IS NOT ONLY THE, UH, SOURCE OF FUNDING THAT PUBLIC WORKS RECEIVE, WE ALSO RECEIVE GENERAL FUNDS.
UM, AND THIS IS A, A LIST THAT IS BROKEN DOWN INTO OUR PARTICULAR ASSETS THAT WE MAINTAIN USE, UM, AND THE, AND THE ANNUAL BUDGET OR ALLOCATION, UH, FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, HOW MUCH ARE WE GETTING, LIKE FOR IMPROVE ALLEYS? UM, THROUGH THE, UM, FY 20, UH, 2024, UM, UH, BOND PRO, I MEAN BUDGET PROCESS, WE RECEIVED $2 MILLION, UH, FOR STREET MAINTENANCE ABOUT 1 1 40 1 MILLION, WHICH IS KIND OF AVERAGE IS, WE NORMALLY RECEIVE 1 1 50, UM, FOR, FOR STREET MAINTENANCE.
BUT, UH, FOR SIDEWALKS, WE'RE ACTUALLY, WE ACTUALLY HAVE $4 MILLION TO, UM, TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT AND, AND DO PROJECTS AS PART OF OUR SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN.
UM, TYPICALLY WE RECEIVE, UH, $5 MILLION FOR SIDEWALKS.
UH, BUT THIS YEAR WE RECEIVED 4 MILLION.
UH, CITY COUNCIL DECIDED TO, UM, UM, TAKE 1 MILLION OF THAT.
SO WE CAN DO OUR COST SHARE PROGRAM, WHICH WE HAVE AS ANOTHER, UM, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE OUR SIDEWALKS.
UH, THE, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE CALL SHARE PROGRAM, THE CALL SHARE PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY A, UM, PROGRAM THAT WAS, UM, IN IMPLEMENTED BY THE COUNCIL DISTRICT BECAUSE IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, UM, THE, UH, SIDEWALKS ARE ACTUALLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH PROPERTY OWNER.
SO, BUT THE COUNCIL DISTRICT, I MEAN, THE COUNCIL, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZED THAT, LOOK, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY WAS IMPORTANT.
SO THEY, THEY WANTED THE CITY STAFF TO IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM THAT WOULD ACTUALLY HELP RESIDENTS.
AND THIS IS ONLY OFFERED THROUGH RES UH, RESIDENTIAL, UH, PROPERTIES.
UM, WE WILL CITY WILL PAY 50% AND THE RESIDENT WILL PAY THE OTHER 50% TO IMPROVE THEIR SIDEWALKS IN FRONT OF THEIR PROPERTY.
HOWEVER, IF YOU'RE A CI SENIOR CITIZEN OR YOU DISABLED,
[00:35:01]
YOU ARE ABLE TO, UH, RECEIVE A HUNDRED PERCENT, UM, OF YOUR, UH, OF YOUR SIDEWALK TO GET IMPROVED.UH, BUT ALSO THIS YEAR, THIS YEAR, THIS PARTICULAR YEAR, UH, THE, UH, COUNCIL, THE CITY COUNCIL DECIDED TO INCLUDE $2 MILLION INTO OUR FUNDING FOR US TO, UH, IMPROVE SIDEWALKS IN EQUITY, UM, IN QUALIFIED, UH, CENSUS TRACKS.
SO IF THERE'S AN EQUITY PRIORITY AREA AREA, UM, THEY WANT US TO USE $2 MILLION OF THAT MONEY IN ORDER TO IMPROVE, UH, SIDEWALKS AND RES AND RESIDENTIAL, UH, PROPERTIES.
SO WE HAVE 4.4 MILLION FOR BRIDGES, AND THIS IS JUST A BREAKDOWN OF LANE MILES, THE TOTAL LANE MILES WILL WE GIVE FOR THAT PARTICULAR BUDGET, BUDGET ALLOCATION, AND A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WE PLAN TO DO.
SO, CONTINUE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN.
UM, THE SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2021.
UM, WE'RE PLANNING TO UPDATE THAT MASTER PLAN, UM, THIS COMING YEAR.
THAT IS OUR GOAL TO DO THAT, UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE, UH, QUITE A BIT OF WORK SINCE THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
UH, BUT WE DO NEED OUR DATA TO BE UP TO DATE.
UH, BUT THIS SLIDE HERE SHOWS THE, THE, AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME WHEN THE MASTER PLAN WAS PUT TOGETHER, THIS ALL THE LOCATIONS OF THE FOCUS AREAS, UH, WITHIN THE CITYWIDE AND, UH, THE FOCUS AREAS, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THAT IS.
THAT IS JUST AN AREA OF A PRIORITY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALL THE COMMITTEES THAT WAS INVOLVED INTO THE SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN TO SAY THAT THIS PARTICULAR AREA NEEDS IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THAT WAS IDENTIFIED THROUGH, THROUGH THAT TIME, UM, UH, TO, TO ACTUALLY SPEND THE DOLLARS.
UM, UM, I GUESS FIRST, YOU KNOW, FIRST GOING INTO IMPLEMENTING THE SIDEWALK.
'CAUSE THE NETWORK IS VAST AROUND THE WHOLE CITY.
IT IS NOT JUST IN ONE PARTICULAR AREA.
SO, UM, IN ORDER TO, UM, TO DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL, UM, WITH THE SMALL AMOUNT OF BUDGET THAT WE HAVE, THESE, THESE AREAS WERE CONSIDERED PRIORITIES, UM, TO, UH, TO START WORKING, WORKING ON.
AND ACTUALLY WITH THE 2024 BOND AND WITH THE ALLOCATIONS, WITH THE, WITH THE DARK MONEY, UM, WE, WE PLAN TO ACTUALLY COMPLETE ALL OF THE, UH, UH, FOCUS AREAS THAT WAS IDENTIFIED IN SIDEWALK MA MASTER PLAN.
WELL, THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION, SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
FIRST, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION AND INFORMATION, UM, GIVES US SOME AWARENESS AND QUESTIONS.
I DO HAVE TWO QUESTIONS, AND THEN OF COURSE, WE'RE OPEN THE FLOOR, UM, FOR ALL OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
UM, ON PAGE FIVE, UM, TITLED BARRIER FREE RAMP CONSTRUCTION.
I KNOW THAT IT LISTS NUMBER OF MISSING RAMPS, UM, WHICH WOULD BE LIKE NEW CONSTRUCTION.
UM, IS THERE ANY TYPE OF COST ESTIMATE ON REPAIR RAMPS, PREVIOUS RAMPS THAT YOU, UH, ARE LOOKING AT? OR ARE YOU ONLY LOOKING AT THE NEW RAMPS? RIGHT, WE'RE ONLY LOOKING AT THE, THE MISSING RAMPS.
I BELIEVE IN THE DARTS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT WE DECIDED THAT WAS THE, UH, FOCUS OF THAT PARTICULAR AGREEMENT.
AND WE, WE, UM, WE WERE FOCUSED ON THE MISSING RAMPS USING THAT, USING THAT, UH, FUND FUNDED ALLOCATIONS THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM DART.
UM, HOWEVER, WE DO FOCUS ON HIGH PRIORITY MISSING AND HIGH PRIORITY, UM, EXISTING RAMPS.
SO, UH, EVERY YEAR THAT WE GET GENERAL FUNDS, THOSE, THAT THOSE DOLLARS ARE, UH, IF IT'S A HIGH PRIORITY, UM, PROJECT, WHETHER IT'S MISSING OR EXISTING, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT PROJECT USING THOSE FUNDS, USE USING THAT FUNDING.
AND ON PAGE SIX AND THEN THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM, I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES WE GET CONFUSED ABOUT BOND AND THE MONEY AND THE DOLLARS AND HOW LONG IT TAKES, AND WE GET JUST CONG COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND THAT'S A LONG CONVERSATION.
BUT, UM, WHEN YOU MENTIONED, UM, WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO, JUST, UH, CLARIFY THAT, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WELL, WHY CAN'T YOU, IS IT BECAUSE MAYBE THE LOCATION, BECAUSE OF THE STREETS AREN'T PAVED WHEN YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY, UH, BUILD A SIDEWALK? OR IS IT BOTH, LIKE, IS IT DUE TO, UM, A STREET NOT ACTUALLY BEING A STREET WHERE YOU CAN MAKE A STREET? 'CAUSE LIKE IN, I KNOW IN OUR DISTRICT WE HAVE WHAT, LIKE ALLEYS OR EVEN SIDEWALKS, YOU CAN'T PUT A SIDEWALK.
THERE IS JUST GRAVEL BASED ON THE LOCATION WHERE THE HOUSES ARE BUILT.
I THINK I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
YEAH, I THINK WHEN, WHEN WE GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN'T PULL US PUT A SIDEWALK, IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE THE,
[00:40:01]
UH, STREET, THE WAY THE EXISTING STREET, THE WAY IT IS, IS UNIMPROVED.SO WE DO NOT PUT SIDEWALKS, UM, ON UNIMPROVED STREETS.
SO IF IT HAS A BAR DITCH, IT'S JUST A PAVEMENT WITH SIDE DITCHES.
THERE'S NO ROOM TO PUT SIDEWALKS.
AND, UM, IT, IT, AND IF WE TRY TO DO THAT, NOT TO SAY WE CAN'T, BUT IF WE TRY TO DO THAT, IT JUST BECOMES A MAINTENANCE ISSUE.
AND IT COULD BE A HAZARDED, SUB-CASE IF YOU HAVE A, A DROP OFF FROM THE DITCHES.
UM, AND WE JUST GOTTA, WE JUST NOT GOING TO GO THAT ROUTE IF THAT'S THE CASE.
BUT IF IT'S A STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT, WE DO PUT, AND IF IT'S UNIMPROVED AND WE RE RECONSTRUCT A STREET, WE ARE, WE'RE GOING TO PUT CURB AND GUTTER WITH SIDEWALKS WITH THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.
SO IT'S NOT, IT WILL END UP HAVING SIDEWALKS AFTER IT'S RECONSTRUCTED.
UM, HOWEVER, I'VE RAN INTO SITUATIONS WHERE A LOT OF PROPERTY OWNERS, SOME PROPERTY OWNERS DON'T WANT SIDEWALKS ON THEIR STREET.
UM, THAT BECOMES A PETITION PROCESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT CLARITY.
UM, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I'M GONNA OPEN THE FLOOR UP FOR QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE, UH, ONE OR TWO QUESTIONS.
I SEE COMMISSIONER WHITE, UM, HAND IS UP.
WE'RE GONNA ALLOW VICE CHAIR TO ASK HIS QUESTION.
THEN WE'LL HAVE COMMISSIONER WHITE AND THEN ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER AFTER THAT WHO MAY HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. WHITE.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, WHICH I FOUND VERY INFORMATIVE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING.
UM, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING PAVEMENTS AND SIDEWALKS, DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY, UH, PLANS IN THE FUTURE TO INCORPORATE, UH, TACTILE MARKERS OR BUMPS? BECAUSE WHAT I DISCOVER IS IN SOME CITIES LIKE AUSTIN, UM, AND ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED WHEN THEY'RE WALKING USING THEIR CANES, I FIND THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO, THAT THERE ARE THESE TACTILE BUMPS THAT HELP THEM NAVIGATE, UM, UH, ON THE STREETS AND, AND PAVEMENTS AND SIDE SIDEWALKS IN A WAY THAT THOSE BUMPERS DO HELP THEM STAY ON TRACK.
SO THAT'S WHAT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE PLANS TO INCORPORATE THOSE.
UH, AND IF YOU DON'T, I DO RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONSIDER IT IN YOUR FUTURE.
I THINK WE CAN CONSIDER THAT, UH, DEFINITELY IN THE FUTURE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE ACTUALLY HEARD ABOUT IT, AND I THINK, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP.
UM, BUT I, I, I BELIEVE, JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I DON'T THINK WE ACTUALLY HAD THAT DISCUSSION, UM, TO INCLUDE THOSE, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY NOT, UM, IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO LOOK AT IT, SEE HOW, HOW POSSIBLE IT IS, UM, SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING, TALK TO OUR, UM, UH, SISTER DEPARTMENTS.
AS FAR AS TRANSPORTATION, I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD SAY MAYBE TRANSPORTATION WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO BE A COLLABORATIVE PARTNER IN THIS.
UM, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY NOT DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT PUBLIC WORKS CAN LOOK INTO, ESPECIALLY FOR, FOR NEW RECON STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
DO WE HAVE, UH, COMMISSIONER WHITE, GO AHEAD WITH YOUR QUESTION.
I SERVED ON THE, UH, CITY COMMISSION ON SIDEWALKS, AND IT'S, IT FEELS GOOD TO SEE IT, WHAT WE RECOMMENDED COMING TO REALITY, SO THANK YOU FOR THE DETAIL.
SPEAKER WASN'T ON ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR MR. WHITE.
I DON'T SEE WHAT, WHAT I CAN SEE ANY HANDS UP? NOTHING FURTHER.
THANK YOU AGAIN, UM, FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR THE PRESENTATION INFORMATION.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON, ON THE AGENDA NOW.
WE WILL HAVE MR. CHANDLER AKINS FAIR HOUSING ADMINISTRATOR AND AKA WAZO SENIOR PUBLIC INFORMATION REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE FAIR HOUSING DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
YOU DO HAVE 10 MINUTES FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
PLEASE GO TO THE MIC AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.
CHAIRWOMAN PIER, UM, AND VICE CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.
AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, MY NAME IS CHANDLER AKINS WITH THE, UH, FAIR HOUSING OFFICE, OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
CAN YOU COME EITHER CLOSER TO THE MIC OR IS THIS MIKE ON? WHILE WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE LISTENING VIRTUALLY CAN HEAR TESTING.
TESTING, CAN ANYONE HEAR? YES.
[00:45:01]
JOINING ME TODAY, HELLO, I'M CHAIR AKA ZU.I'M THE SENIOR PUBLIC INFORMATION REP WITH FAIR HOUSING DIVISION FOR THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION AS WELL.
AND THE TITLE OF OUR, OF OUR PRESENTATION, WE CAN GO BACK TO THE INTRO SLIDE PLEASE.
EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH, UH, DISABILITIES.
SLIDE TWO, PRESENTATION OVERVIEW AND TODAY'S PRESENTATION.
WE WILL DISCUSS THE MISSION OF OUR DIVISION PIVOTAL LEGISLATION, INCLUDING THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, SECTION 5 0 4 OF THE 1973 REHABILITATION ACT, AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990, AS WELL AS REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AND, UM, TRENDS WITHIN THE, UH, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC REGARDING FAIR HOUSING.
IN SLIDE THREE, OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS COMPRISED OF FOUR DIFFERENT DIVISIONS IN OUR SLIDE THREE AT THE BOTTOM, WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT COLORED BOXES THAT CONTAINS EACH OF THE DIVISION GOING LEFT TO RIGHT.
UM, THE TILL COLORED BOX REPRESENTS OUR EQUITY DIVISION.
AND THEN THE NEXT BOX, GREEN IS FAIR HOUSING, ORANGE HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION, AND RED WELCOMING COMMUNITIES AND IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS DIVISION.
SLIDE FOUR, CITY OF DALLAS'S FAIR HOUSING DIVISION A.
THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS HAD A, UM, FAIR HOUSING DIVISION SINCE APRIL OF 1989.
OUR MISSION IS TO ENSURE EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
ACHIEVING THIS MISSION INVOLVES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ENFORCEMENT OF APPLICABLE FAIR HOUSING LAWS, EDUCATION, TRAINING, COLLABORATION, AND OVERSIGHT.
SLIDE FIVE, LAWS PROTECTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OF THE 1950S AND SIXTIES IS CREDITED WITH USHERING IN PIVOTAL LEGIS LEGISLATION THAT PROTECTS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, INCLUDING THE FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1968, THE 1973 REHABILITATION ACT, AND THE 1990 AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT, ALSO KNOWN AS A DA.
WHAT WE KNOW, THE FAIR HOUSING ACT PROHIBITS DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT BASED ON DISABILITY, RACE, SEX COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION AND FAMILIAL STATUS, UM, AS IT RELATES TO HOUSING AND HOUSING RELATED SERVICES.
NOW WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS, THE CITY OF DALLAS' FAIR HOUSING ORDINANCE GOES ONE STEP FURTHER AND IT ALSO INCLUDES, UM, IN THE PROTECTED CLASS, UH, SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND SOURCE OF INCOME.
AND THEN AT THE BOTTOM OF SLIDE SIX, WE HAVE, UM, IMAGES OF, OF THE DIFFERENT PROTECTION PROTECTED CLASSES.
REAL QUICKLY, WHEN WE SAY NEXT SLIDE, AND I FAILED TO MENTION THIS WITH OUR FIRST, UM, PRESENTER TO HELP OUR VICE CHAIR BECAUSE HIS INFORMATION IS IN BRAILLE, PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOU ALWAYS STATE WHAT PAGE YOU'RE ON, AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT FOR ME.
SLIDE SEVEN, FAIR HOUSING ACT.
WHAT WE KNOW CONTINUED DISABILITY IS DEFINED UNDER THE ACT AS A PERSON HAVING A PHYSICAL OR MENTAL IMPAIRMENT THAT SUBSTANTIALLY LIMITS ONE OR MORE MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITIES.
THE DESIGNATION ALSO EXTENDS TO THOSE WHO HAVE A HISTORICAL RECORD OF SUCH LIMITATIONS OR ARE REGARDED AS HAVING SUCH LIMITATIONS.
NEXT SLIDE, SLIDE EIGHT, SECTION 5 0 4, THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973.
WHEREAS THE FAIR HOUSING ACT ONLY APPLIES TO HOUSING SECTION 5 0 4, THE REHABILITATION ACT.
UM, AS IT RELATES TO DISABILITY, IT APPLIES TO PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES OF ALL NATURE THAT RECEIVE FEDERAL, UM, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
SO THIS IS INCLUDING SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT, UM, PROVIDE SERVICES FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, UH, 1990.
THE A DA MOVES THE NEEDLE EVEN FURTHER, UM, AS IT RELATES TO DIS PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.
IT PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WITH DIS DISABILITIES IN ALL PUBLIC LIFE, INCLUDING JOBS, SCHOOLS, TRANSPORTATION, AND PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS.
[00:50:02]
MOVING ON TO SLIDE 10.SO WITH SLIDE 10, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTIONS UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT AS IT RELATES TO DISABILITY.
THE FAIR HOUSING ACT REQUIRES HOUSING PROVIDERS TO MAKE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AND ALLOW REASONABLE MODIFICATIONS AS NECESSARY TO AFFORD A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO USE AND ENJOY A DWELLING.
A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IS A CHANGE IN RULES, POLICIES, PRACTICES OR SERVICES.
THESE ACCOMMODATIONS CAN ALSO BE APPLIED TO BENEFIT A PERSON WHO IS ASSOCIATED WITH PER, WITH A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY SUCH AS A CAREGIVER OR FAMILY MEMBER.
WE DO HAVE THAT ILLUSTRATED HERE WITH ON THE BOTTOM A COUPLE IMAGES DEPICTING ACCOMMODATIONS SUCH AS BRAILLE OR VISUAL AIDS.
SLIDE 12 EXAMPLES OF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PERMITTING A TENANT TO TRANSFER TO A UNIT THAT IS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THEM, EXTENDING RENT PAYMENT DEADLINES, MAKING CHANGES TO A PET POLICY, OR PROVIDING RESERVED PARKING, WHICH WE HAVE DEPICTED IN AN IMAGE IN OUR TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER.
SLIDE 13, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS UNDER THE ACT.
AN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL IS CONSIDERED A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IF THE ANIMAL IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE COMFORT AND SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS WITH EMOTIONAL OR MENTAL CON HEALTH CONDITIONS.
NOW WITH THIS ONE, YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A LOVELY IMAGE HERE DEPICTED WITH HAVING AN ESA ANIMAL THAT COULD BE A PARROT, A RABBIT, AND WE EVEN HAVE A GREAT DANE WITH AN A CHAMELEON ON ITS TAIL.
SLIDE 14, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS.
CONTINUED HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE PROHIBITED FROM CHARGING PET FEES REGARDING CERTIFICATIONS FOR ESA, OR I SHOULD SAY, REQUIRING CERTIFICATIONS FOR E ESAS OR BLANKET RESTRICTIONS ON THE TYPE OF ANIMAL ALLOWED WITHOUT COMPELLING JUSTIFICATION.
SO BASICALLY THAT MEANS THAT YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE YOUR CAT TO DRESS IN A BLUE ESAA JA JACKET JUST IN ORDER TO HAVE THEM ON THE PREMISES, WHICH WE ILLUSTRATED WITH THEM IMAGE HERE.
SLIDE 15 WHEN REQUESTS CAN BE DENIED, AN ACCOMMODATION IS NOT REQUIRED.
IF THE HOUSING PROVIDER WOULD EXPERIENCE ALL THREE OF THE FOLLOWING, AN UNDUE FINANCIAL BURDEN AND ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN AND NOT, OR, AND THE ACCOMMODATION WOULD REPRESENT A FUNDAMENTAL ALTERATION OF THEIR BUSINESS PROGRAM, WHICH WE HAVE ONCE AGAIN ILLUSTRATED BY A GENTLEMAN HOLDING A BOX OF HIS BURDENS.
SLIDE 16, REASONABLE MODIFICATIONS.
A MODIFICATION ON THE OTHER HAND IS A STRUCTURAL CHANGE MADE TO AN EXISTING PREMISE OCCUPIED BY A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY AND CAN INCLUDE STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO THE INTERIOR, EXTERIOR, OR COMMON AREAS.
SLIDE 17 EXAMPLES OF REASONABLE MODIFICATIONS.
FOR THIS SLIDE, WE HAVE FOUR IMAGES FROM TOP LEFT TO BOTTOM RIGHT WHERE WE HAVE A CONTRACTOR WHO'S INSTALLING HARDWOOD FLOORING OVER CARPET TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO MOVE AROUND AND MANEUVER.
ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, WE HAVE GRAB BARS INSTALLED IN THE BATHROOM TO ASSIST WITH TRANSFER BALANCE AND STABILITY.
AND ON OUR BOTTOM LEFT WE HAVE DOORBELL ALARMS OR OTHER SYSTEMS THAT PROVIDE VISUAL ALERTS.
AND LASTLY, WE HAVE A GENTLEMAN IN HIS KITCHEN WITH A DRAWER THAT'S LOWER TO THE GROUND, SO IT'S MORE ACCESSIBLE TO HOLD THINGS SUCH AS BOWLS OR POT OR PANS.
SLIDE 18, FAIR HOUSING TRENDS REPORT FOR 2022.
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HOUSING ALLIANCES 2022 TRENDS REPORT, THERE WERE 31,216 FAIR HOUSING COMPLAINTS FILED NATIONWIDE IN 2021 OF THOSE COMPLAINTS, 16,758 WERE FILED BY THE INDIVIDUALS ALLEGING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON DISABILITY.
ALTHOUGH THIS NUMBER ACCOUNTS FOR OVER HALF OF ALL FAIR HOUSING
[00:55:01]
COMPLAINTS, THE NUMBER OF REPORTS BASED ON DISABILITY DECREASED BY 2.51% FROM 2020.SO YOU CAN SAY THAT WE'RE TRENDING UP.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS SLIDE.
LASTLY, WE HAVE JUST OUR CON CONTACT INFORMATION AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MS, PLEASE.
UM, CHAIRMAN PIER, THAT COMPLETES OUR PRESENTATION.
UM, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF SLIDES I DIDN'T HAVE.
AND IF THERE'S EVER AN EDIT OR AN UPDATE, JUST LIKE WHEN WE MAKE CHANGES TO THE AGENDA AND WE RESEND IT BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE BE SURE TO INCLUDE THAT EVEN IF FOR SOME REASON WE HAVE HICCUPS, THINGS HAPPEN, UH, LIFE, BE LIFE AND LIKE THEY SAY, RIGHT? SO JUST KIND OF JUST SEND THAT TO US SO IN LEAST WE HAVE A SOFT COPY SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF FOLLOW IT.
I LOVE THE NUMBERS THAT, THAT WAY PEOPLE CAN SEE AND SAY, OH, 58%, 28%.
UM, THERE MAY BE A QUESTION LATER ON, 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT QUITE DONE WITH 2023, ABOUT HOW MANY OF THOSE COMPLAINTS WERE RESOLVED.
NOT TO GET INTO ANYTHING LEGAL, BUT JUST EVEN IF IT'S 20%, AT LEAST WE HAVE WHAT, TWO PEOPLE, THREE PEOPLE, WHATEVER THE NUMBER LOOK LIKE, SHOWING THAT THERE WAS SOME RESOLUTION THERE.
UM, MY ONLY QUESTION IS ON PAGE 12, EXAMPLES OF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION.
THIS I DID NOT KNOW, SO I LEARNED SOMETHING EVERY DAY.
UM, IN THAT LAST BULLET, IT READS EXTENDING RENT PAYMENT DEADLINES PAST THE STIPULATED POLICY DEADLINE.
HOW LONG IS THAT EXTENSION THAT THEY HAVE A MONTH? THAT THEY HAVE TWO WEEKS? BECAUSE I HAVE NOTICED, AND I DON'T KNOW THOSE NUMBERS, UH, REGARDLESS OF THE DISTRICT, PEOPLE ARE BEING EVICTED THAT HAVE DISABILITIES BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR RENT FOR WHATEVER THOSE REASONS ARE.
SO DO, IS THERE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THAT EXTENSION LOOKS LIKE OR WHAT IT IS PER SE? WELL, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IS IN TERMS OF IF IT'S RELATED TO THE DISABILITY, SO FOR EXAMPLE, INDIVIDUALS THAT RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY, UM, NOT, UM, EVERYONE RECEIVES THEIR, UM, PAYMENT ON THE FIRST.
SOME PEOPLE MAY RECEIVE IT ON THE 15TH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHAT THAT ACCOMMODATION WOULD LOOK LIKE.
THANK YOU MR. ATKINS FOR THIS VERY INFORMATIVE AND ENGAGING PRESENTATION.
MY QUESTION IS REGARDING THE SLIDE WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EXAMPLES OF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS.
LET'S SAY A PERSON WITH A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT FACES DISCRIMINATION.
IN OTHER WORDS, A THE HOUSING PROVIDER, UM, DENIES THE PERSON ACCESS.
THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO LIVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A GUIDE DOG OR THEY'RE MAKING THEM CHARGE OR PAY A PET FEE.
IN TERMS OF THAT, UM, DO YOU ALL, WHO TAKES CARE OF THESE COMPLAINTS AND HOW LONG ARE THESE COMPLAINTS PROCESSED IN TERMS OF THAT? THANK YOU.
UM, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, UM, DOES APPLY IN THAT SITUATION.
AND IF THE, UM, INDIVIDUAL THAT IS EXPERIENCING THAT IS WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS CITY LIMITS, UM, OUR FAIR HOUSING OFFICE WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS, UH, WOULD, UM, INVESTIGATE THAT COMPLAINT, UM, UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, UM, AND APPLICABLE, UM, LEGIS, UM, APPLICABLE, UM, CASE LAW.
UM, WHAT AM I, GIMME A SECOND.
SO ULTIMATELY, UM, CHARGING A PET FEE WOULD BE AGAINST THE, UH, FAIR HOUSING ACT, UM, INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SERVICE ANIMALS OR A EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS.
UM, IF THAT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO THE PROPERTY OWNER, UM, IT'S UH, THEY SHOULD NOT BE ASSESSED A, A PET FEE.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE WOULD INVESTIGATE.
AND MY OTHER QUESTION IS, WHEN A PERSON EXPERIENCING, UM, DISCRIMINATION AND UM, THE DENIAL OF ACCOMMODATIONS AND IF THAT PERSON FILES A COMPLAINT, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A RESOLUTION TO BE REACHED? THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL.
UM, OUR GOAL IS TO COMPLETE AN INVESTIGATION WITHIN A HUNDRED DAYS.
UM, HOWEVER, THERE ARE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY UM, CAUSE A CASE TO BE UM, INVESTIGATED, UM, OUTSIDE OF THAT TIMEFRAME.
BUT ULTIMATELY WE, UM, WANT TO COMPLETE AN INVESTIGATION WITHIN THE A HUNDRED DAYS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR OUR EQUITY TEAM? WELL, OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION TEAM AND FAIR HOUSING
[01:00:01]
WE'RE GOOD.THANK YOU, UM, AGAIN FOR THAT INFORMATION AND THE CLARITY.
AND JUST REAL QUICKLY, I KNOW WE ALL MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE DEGREES, WE LIKE LAYMAN TERMS, SO EVEN IF WHEN YOU KIND OF STUMBLED, WE ALL DO.
WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR PERFECTION, JUST INFORMATION.
BUT I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR YOUR TIME PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
UM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
LISA RAINEY, EQUITY MANAGER AND MR. KEVIN ACOSTA, THE PARTNERSHIP ION ALSO REPRESENTING THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
PLEASE PROCEED TO, UM, OUR PODIUM AND YOU DO HAVE 10 MINUTES WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, ONE OF YOU, THE FIRST PRESENTER CAN GO TO THE MIC AT THE PODIUM, BUT THE SECOND PRESENTER CAN MAY HAVE A SEAT.
THIS WHY WE HAVE YOU ON NAME CARDS THERE, BIG AND BOW WITH THE TRIPLE D.
CAN EVERYONE HEAR VIRTUALLY? IF YOU CANNOT HEAR FOR WHATEVER REASON, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND IN THE CHAT ROOM SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR AND EVERYONE CAN HEAR.
I'M KEVIN ACOSTA, PARTNERSHIP LIAISON WITH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
UH, WE, WITH THE FOUR DIVISIONS WERE ALREADY PRESENTED, BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO ADD, UH, AMONGST THE EQUITY DIVISION, FAIR HOUSING DIVISION, HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION, AND WELCOMING COMMUNITIES AND IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS IS THIS, WE WERE PUT TOGETHER, THEY WERE SEPARATE OFFICES PREVIOUSLY AND PUT IN 2021, THEY WERE PULLED TOGETHER TO CREATE THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
PAGE, WHAT PAGE IS THIS ON? NEXT SLIDE PAGE, PAGE FOUR.
UH, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE EQUITY DIVISION DOES WITHIN THE FOUR DIVISIONS.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HELP AS A CITY GOVERNMENT, HELP THE CITY, GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE RESOURCES AND SERVICES IN ORDER TO THRIVE, RIGHT? THAT'S, THAT'S THE EQUITABLE THING TO DO.
WE WANNA ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO REDUCE THE DISPARITIES THAT ARE EXIST WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS SO THAT WE CAN IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR EVERYONE, RIGHT? SO WHAT HOW WE DO THAT IS WE DO THREE THINGS.
AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT KEY DEFINITIONS FOR, UH, WITH THE SENSE OF URGENCY TAKES PLACE.
THAT'S WHAT NORMALIZING EQUITY INTO WHAT WE DO IS WE ALSO WANT TO ORGANIZE AND ORGANIZING BOTH INTERNALLY AS WELL AS EXTERNALLY SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT ALL KEY KEY STAKEHOLDERS ARE, UH, ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING WITH EQUITY AND EMBEDDING IT INTO WHAT THEY DO, AND THEN OPERATIONALIZING EQUITY.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THROUGHOUT ALL THE CITY, THAT THROUGH POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE AND PROCEDURES, THAT THOSE ARE IN AN EQUITABLE OR LOOKED AT AS EQUITABLE.
SO SOMETIMES WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT POLICIES ARE IN PLACE, WHAT PROCEDURES ARE IN PLACE, AND MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADVANCING EQUITY.
SO AS ILLUSTRATED IN THIS GRAPH, UM, EQUALITY AND EQUITY ARE TWO SEPARATE
[01:05:01]
CONCEPTS.SO WHILE EQUALITY PROMOTES SAMENESS, EQUITY FOCUSES ON FAIRNESS IN VIEWING THE EQUALITY IMAGE, EACH RESIDENT HAS THE SAME EXACT STOOL TO SUPPORT THEIR ABILITY TO VI TO VIEW THE DALLAS SKYLINE.
YET ONLY THE RESIDENT AT THE TOP OF THE GRASSY HEEL HAS ACCESS TO VIEW THE ENTIRE SKYLINE.
WHEN LOOKING AT THE EQUITY IMAGE, IT ACCOUNTS FOR HOW THE GRASSY HEEL IMPACTS EACH PERSON'S VIEW.
THE EQUITY DIVISION CONSIDERS THE GRASSY HILL TO REPRESENT THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES AND HISTORIES AS WELL AS THE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES THAT COMMUNITIES HAVE, UH, WITH THE VARIOUS SYSTEMS AND GOVERNMENT POLICIES.
SO RATHER THAN OFFERING EACH PERSON THE SAME SOLUTION, EQUITY TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE UNEQUAL FOUNDATION AND ITS CURRENT IMPLICATIONS.
SO THIS IS CRITICAL, RIGHT? IN OFFERING FAIR AND IMPARTIAL ACCESS TO RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS DISMANTLING SYSTEMS THAT PERPETUATE INEQUITIES.
SO THIS DISTINCTION BETWEEN EQUALITY AND EQUITY, IT'S VITAL TO THE CITY'S ROLE AND TO EMPLOYEE'S ROLE IN ONE UNDERSTANDING, UM, THE VARIOUS NUANCES OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ADDRESS IT, AND THEN IN WAYS OF DISMANTLING INEQUITIES THAT ARE FACED BY OUR RESIDENTS.
SO A COUPLE OF OTHER KEY TERMS. SO THE CITY DEFINES EQUITY AS EACH PERSON HAVING THE RESOURCES AND SERVICES NECESSARY TO THRIVE IN ONE'S OWN UNIQUE IDENTITIES, CIRCUMSTANCES AND HISTORIES.
REDUCING DISPARITIES WHILE IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR ALL RACIAL EQUITY OCCURS WHEN PEOPLE ARE THRIVING, AND NEITHER RACE NOR ETHNICITY CAN BE USED TO PREDICT, UM, ONE'S OUTCOMES.
SO ON SLIDE SIX, WE HAVE AN IMAGE OF THE COVER OF THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN.
AND SO NOW THAT WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE KEY DEFINITIONS AND TERMS, LET'S MOVE INTO THE PLAN ITSELF.
SO WHAT IS THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN YOU MAY BE ASKING? SO WE THINK ABOUT THIS WORK, OR WE CAN THINK ABOUT THIS WORK FROM THREE VANTAGE POINTS AS A FRAMEWORK, AS A COLLABORATION, AND AS A GUIDE.
SO AS A FRAMEWORK, THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN IS A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO SUPPORT THE CITY IN UNDERSTANDING AND ADDRESSING DISPARITIES ACROSS DALLAS.
SECOND, THE PLAN WAS DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITIES, UH, BOTH DURING, DURING BOTH PRIOR TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN, DURING THE PLAN, AS WELL AS ONGOING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THIRD, AS A GUIDE, THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN PROVIDES CITY DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES THE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THEIR CURRENT PLANS, POLICIES AND INITIATIVES WITH MEASURABLE AS WELL AS ASPIRATIONAL GOALS THAT ADDRESS RACIAL, ETHNIC, AND SOCIOECONOMIC EQUITY.
SLIDE EIGHT IS ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
SO, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS FUNDAMENTAL AND WAS FUNDAMENTAL TO PUTTING TOGETHER THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN.
RAINEY SAID, PREVIOUS TO GETTING THE PLAN UP AND RUNNING DURING THE PLAN, UH, AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN.
AND AFTER THE PLAN, WE CONTINUE TO GET COMMUNITY INPUT.
AND HOW DID WE DO THAT? THE WAY THAT WE DID THAT IS WE MADE SURE THAT WE ENGAGED OUR EFFORTS AND FOCUSED ON REACHING AS MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS POSSIBLE.
AND WE DID THAT BY CREATING A WEBSITE WHERE THEY COULD ACCESS THAT AND HAVE, IN FACT, THE ACCESS WAS, IF YOU WERE SPEAKING A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, YOU HAD UP TO 56 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES THAT YOU COULD, UH, VIEW IT IN.
UH, WE ALSO MADE SURE THAT THERE WERE SMALL, AS WELL AS OTHER TYPES OF SURVEYS AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE INPUT ON THERE.
UH, THE, IT ALSO GAVE THE, DURING THE, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN, PEOPLE HAD THE ABILITY TO SEE A CALENDAR AND WHAT EVENTS WERE COMING UP.
THEY WOULD KNOW IT IF IT WAS IN PERSON.
THEY WOULD KNOW IF IT WAS VIRTUAL OR IF IT WAS HYBRID.
SO WE HAD ALL THOSE THINGS ON THE WEBSITE FOR THEM, AND IT ACTUALLY CONTINUES TO BE AVAILABLE.
[01:10:01]
A 2,395 NUMBER AT THE TIME OF DEVELOPMENT THAT, UH, OF PARTICIPANTS THAT, UH, WERE, THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT WE HAD, UH, 808 ONLINE PARTICIPANTS WHEN WE BREAK IT OUT.PARTNERSHIP NEWSLETTERS WERE ALSO, UH, ITEMS THAT WE USED WHEN WE WERE IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES, FOR EXAMPLE.
AND THEN WE EVEN PUT OUT COMMUNITY POSTERS FOR, IN DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WERE NEEDED THAT WE FELT AT THAT IN THAT COMMUNITY.
THEY HAD TOLD US WE POSTERS ARE SOMETHING THAT IS VALUABLE HERE.
SO WE MADE THOSE AVAILABLE AS WELL.
MY PAGE NINE IS INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS, WHICH IS NOW YOUR PAGE 10.
SO WAS THERE AN AN ADDED PAGE THAT I DIDN'T, SO THOSE NUMBERS, I, I DIDN'T RECEIVE THAT.
UM, WAS THAT AN EDIT? UM, PLEASE HOLD FOR ONE MOMENT.
UM, AND IF WE DO, DO NOT, UH, KEEP AND MEET QUORUM, WE CANNOT CONTINUE FORWARD WITH THE MEETING.
UM, JUST AS A REMINDER, AND I KNOW WE HAVE STATED THIS, UM, IN EACH MEETING, WE HAVE TO REMAIN IN QUORUM.
ALL COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE PHYSICALLY AND OR VIRTUALLY PRESENT MUST REMAIN, UM, WITH THEIR MICS MUTED UNLESS WE'RE SPEAKING AND THEIR CAMERA MUST BE ON AT ALL TIMES.
IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY OR NEEDING A RESTROOM BREAK, THAT'S WHEN YOU GIVE THE INFORMATION THE CHAT.
BUT IN ORDER FOR US TO, UM, MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE OUR MEETING, WE NEED TO, UH, MEET QUORUM.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE WE DID HAVE A COMMISSIONER WHO NEEDED TO, UM, LEAVE A LITTLE EARLY, WHETHER IT BE CONVICT OF, UM, JUST SCHEDULING, UM, REAL QUICKLY ON THE RECORD, OUR MEETING STARTED TWO O'CLOCK.
SO EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE GIVEN TIME TO COME IN WHEN WE'RE DELAYED, IT TAKES AWAY FROM OUR PRESENTERS WHO HAVE TAKEN THEIR DUE DILIGENCE TO PREPARE THESE PRESENTATIONS, WHICH TODAY HAS BEEN AMAZING.
UM, AND IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME, UM, FOR THEM TO PRESENT TO US AND EVEN OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS DIFFERENT.
I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THE FAIRNESS, UM, AND, AND ALSO RESPECT OF BEING AVAILABLE, UM, WHEN THEY COME INTO THIS BRIEFING ROOM TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH US AND GIVE US THIS INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE.
SO UNFORTUNATELY AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE QUORUM, ALTHOUGH WE WERE ALMOST AT THE END OF THIS LAST PRESENTATION, UM, AND MAYBE WE COULD COME BACK, UM, AT ANOTHER TIME TO FINISH THIS REAL QUICKLY, WE WILL NOT HAVE A MEETING IN DECEMBER.
IT IS THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.
SO MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY KWANZA, AND HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE TO CELEBRATE OR NOT.
UM, FOR DECEMBER, WE WILL PICK BACK UP IN JANUARY, THE FOURTH TUESDAY, DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER, UM, AT 2:00 PM CITY HALL, 1500 MARILLA, DALLAS, TEXAS, SIX ES.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE TO, UM, END THE MEETING AT 3:34 PM UM, WE DID NOT EVEN GET A CHANCE TO DO OUR AWARENESS MONTH.
SO I WANNA CALL TO ORDER, UH, THE END OF THIS MEETING AT 3:34 PM MAY I HAVE A SECOND? UH, CHAIRWOMAN, I SECOND BY CHAIR.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEETING FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE, PATIENCE, AND UM, REPRESENTATION FOR OUR CITY AND OUR DISTRICTS.