[Dallas Commission on Disabilities Meeting on January 23, 2024.]
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WELCOME TO THE COMMISSIONER ON DISABILITIES FIRST MEETING FOR THIS YEAR.
TODAY'S DATE IS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23RD, 2024, AND THE CURRENT TIME IS 2:02 PM WE HAVE REACHED QUORUM AND I NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
THERE'S SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2024, AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT TOGETHER WE WILL CONTINUE ACHIEVING THE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN SET FORTH BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE DALLAS A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE CITY FOR ALL.
I ALSO WISH TO, I ALSO WISH TO, UH, SHARE HOW DEEPLY HONORED AND HUMBLED I AM BY THE TRUST THAT HAS BEEN PLACED IN ME AS THE APPOINTED CHAIR OF THIS COMMISSION.
AND SINCERELY WISH TO APPRECIATE OUR PREDECESSOR, CHAIRWOMAN CHRISTINA PIA, FOR HER PAST SERVICE, HER VALUES, HER AND INSIGHTS ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED AND VALUED.
WE ALSO WISH TO WELCOME NEW COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE RECENTLY BEEN APPOINTED COMMISSIONER H****R AND COMMISSIONER BLU.
OKAY, I NOW, I'M GOING TO MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT ITEM OF THE AGENDA, WHICH IS ROLL CALL.
PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND THE DISTRICT YOU ARE FROM.
I AM CHAIRMAN CAL CONLEY, DISTRICT 15, COMMISSIONER GAY REVY, DISTRICT ONE COMMISSIONER CHRISTINA POE, DISTRICT EIGHT COMMISSIONER BALLOU, DISTRICT 10.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN RAMIREZ, DISTRICT SIX.
I'M SORRY, I DID NOT HEAR YOU.
CAN YOU PLEASE REPEAT YOUR NAME? COMMISSIONER RAMIREZ.
IS THAT ALL THE COMMISSIONERS WE HAVE? YES.
THIS CONCLUDES THE SECOND PART OF THE AGENDA.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, OR COMMENTS THEY WISH TO MAKE ABOUT THE MINUTES? ANY CORRECTIONS EDITS? COMMISSIONER REVY, DISTRICT ONE? I HAVE A SMALL EDIT ON THE MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 28TH.
PAGE SIX, PARAGRAPH FOUR, LINE TWO.
IT READS COMMISSIONER SHELLEY, IT SHOULD READ COMMISSIONER SHELLEY OLSON.
UM, THIS IS COMMISSIONER POWAY, DISTRICT EIGHT.
UNFORTUNATELY FROM THE MINUTES DATED NOVEMBER 28TH, 2023, UM, I DON'T EVEN HAVE THAT PAGE.
I DID PICK UP THE MINUTES FROM STAFF.
UM, THERE ARE MORE THAN A FEW EDITS.
FOR EXAMPLE, ON PAGE TWO, AGAIN, DATED NOVEMBER 28TH.
UM, WE DO LIST WHO'S PRESENT AND WHO'S ABSENT.
UM, COMMISSIONER NANCY IMMERMAN WITH DISTRICT 11.
SHE'S UNDER A TECHNICAL RESOURCE PANEL.
IT SHOULD BE MOVED UP TO HER ABSENCE UNDER, UM, THE COMMISSIONERS.
UM, AND THEN ALSO, UM, IN OUR MEETING SUMMARY ON PAGE THREE, UM, THERE WERE JUST SOME TYPOS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH, THE LAST SENTENCE, IT READS, CHAIRWOMAN POEY THANK THE TRANSFORMATION SUBCOMMITTEE.
IT'S THE TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE.
UM, IN PARAGRAPH TWO, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, INDICATE THAT VERY SPECIFICALLY, UM, ROB H****R, ROBERT H****R, UH, THE APPOINTED COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRICT THREE.
SO IT NEEDS TO READ NEWLY APPOINTED COMMISSIONER, UH, ROB AND OR ROBERT H****R BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, VERIFY AND CONFIRM HIS PREFERENCE OF HIS NAME.
AND HE ALSO INQUIRED ABOUT PAST MEETING INFORMATION THAT'S NOT INCLUDED.
UM, AND THEN ALSO ON PAGE TWO FOR THE, IT READS OCTOBER, 2023, COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MEETING, UH, MINUTES.
UM, AT THE TIME, WHO IS NOW, AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWLY APPOINTED CHAIR.
UH, JOHN CON CONNIE, AT THE TIME HE WAS VICE, UM, HE WANTED TO JUST REITERATE THAT THAT WAS ALSO BLIND AWARENESS MONTH.
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THE MINUTES, BUT WHEN THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR COMMISSIONERS TO SPEAK, HE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT WE CAPTURED THAT IN THE, UM, THE MINUTES FOR THAT PARTICULAR MEETING.THANK YOU COMMISSIONER PIA, FOR THE EDITS.
DOES ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER WISH TO OFFER ANY CORRECTIONS OR EDITS TO THE MINUTES BEFORE WE APPROVE THEM? I'LL COMMISSIONER REEVE, I'LL, UH, MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS CORRECTED.
ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
SO THE MINUTES WILL BE ACCEPTED AS READ AND THE MOTION PASSES.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
ARE THERE ANY, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME? OKAY.
APPARENTLY WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
I DO ENCOURAGE ALL COMMISSIONERS TO INVITE ANYONE THEY MAY KNOW IN THEIR CIRCLES TO SPEAK ABOUT ANY ISSUES THAT ARE PERTINENT TO DISABILITIES.
AND AS A REMINDER, EACH PERSON WILL BE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES TO COMMENT.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS OFFICER REPORTS.
I WILL BEGIN AS A CHAIR'S REPORT.
SO ON JANUARY THE 19TH, I CONTACTED CONGRESSMAN COLIN ALLRED'S OFFICE TO INTRODUCE OUR COMMISSION, SHARE WITH THEM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK WE DO, AND THEY GLADLY OFFERED TO SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR US.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF CONGRESSMAN ALLRED, IT HAS A BILL IN CONGRESS THAT IS ABOUT TO BE PASSED AND IT'S RELATED TO DISABILITIES, THEY ARE WILLING TO, UM, SEEK OUR INPUT AND ASSISTANCE, UM, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT THEY, THAT WE WISH TO ADDRESS WITH THEM.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE PRIORITIES FOR 2024 IS, UH, COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS.
SO WE WISH TO, UM, NOT ONLY SERVE OUR CITY AS A COMMISSION, BUT ALSO TO PARTNER WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WISH TO, UM, WORK WITH US COLLABORATIVELY ON ISSUES AS IT RELATES TO DISABILITIES.
ON JANUARY 20TH, I ATTENDED THE PLANNING RETREAT MEETING FOR THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF THE USA DALLAS CHAPTER.
THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION, OR U-N-A-U-S-A IS A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES THE WORK OF THE UNITED NATIONS AT A GRASSROOTS LEVEL, MAKING SURE THAT THE UN IS IN FACT ACHIEVING ITS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THAT AMONG THEM ARE GENDER EQUALITY, EDUCATION, ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER, HUMAN RIGHTS, AMONG MANY OTHERS.
THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT WE MIGHT PARTNER WITH THEM.
THEY MIGHT BE COMING TO SPEAK AT ONE OF OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS ABOUT THE U-N-A-U-S-A AND WAYS WE CAN PARTNER, UM, WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE UN, IN FACT, IS WORKING TOWARDS ACHIEVING DISABILITY JUSTICE FOR ALL CITIZENS, NOT ONLY IN THIS CITY, BUT IN THE WORLD.
THERE'S ALSO A VOLUNTEER GUIDE TO REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES.
AND SO WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT IN THE POPULATION OF REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS, THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES AND THEY MAY WANT TO KNOW WHICH RESOURCES TO SEEK IF THEY WISH TO GET ASSISTANCE.
ON DECEMBER 12TH, I CONTACTED THE MANAGER OF THE, THE CONTENT MANAGER OF NFB NEWSLINE, UM, THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND.
NEWSLINE IS A MAGAZINE, I WOULD CALL IT THE FLAGSHIP PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLICATION IS TO OFFER FREE SERVICE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR OTHERWISE HAVE PRINT READING DISABILITIES.
THIS PUBLICATION ENTAILS OVER 500 PUBLICATIONS IN ADDITION TO OTHER FEATURES SUCH AS JOB LISTINGS, WHETHER FORECASTS, UM, PAPERS, ACADEMIC PAPERS, AMONG MANY OTHERS.
ONE SUGGESTION I MADE TO THE CONTENT MANAGER WHO IS THE, THE MANAGER OF DALLAS, SHE LIVES IN THE DALLAS AREA, IS I SHARE WITH HER ABOUT THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES AND WHAT WE DO.
AND I AM TRYING TO GET THEM TO ADD THIS INFORMATION TO THEIR PAGE SO THAT TEXANS, ESPECIALLY WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS, ARE AWARE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO.
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CONCLUDES MY REPORT AS CHAIRMAN.I NOW WISH TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY WISH TO REPORT ON ACTIVITIES.
AGAIN, THIS IS COMMISSIONER CHRISTINA POE, DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT REAL QUICKLY, UM, TWO PIVOTAL INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE PIONEERS, NOT JUST IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN OUR CITY, BUT ALSO IN THIS COUNTRY.
UM, WE DID LOSE, UH, FORMER DISTRICT ATTORNEY CRAIG WATKINS AND, UM, FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON.
UM, SO MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW WHO THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE, AND IF NOT, UM, JUST KNOW DUE TO, UM, THEIR CONTINUED WORK FOR JUSTICE AND CIVIL SERVICE, UM, MANY BILLS WERE PASSED IN REFERENCE TO EQUITY INCLUSION, UM, AND DIVERSITY, ESPECIALLY FOR EVEN INDIVIDUALS IN, IN HEALTHCARE FOR A DENISE JOHNSON AND IN WRONGLY CONVICTED INDIVIDUALS, UM, HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UM, FOR JANUARY, I DID ATTEND THE EQUITY SYMPOSIUM WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS OVER AT PAUL QUINN COLLEGE, WHICH IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, IT WAS VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER.
THERE WAS ALSO A Q AND A SEGMENT.
THERE WAS ALSO, UM, WHAT THEY WOULD CALL LIKE A BRAINSTORMER GAME.
UM, AND, AND THEY DISCUSSED REDLINING AND FINANCE MANAGEMENT.
I ALSO, UM, ATTENDED THE MARTIN, EXCUSE ME, REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING CELEBRATION AT THE MORRISON SYMPHONY CENTER, UM, HOSTED BY, UM, ROBBIE OWENS AND STEVE PICKETT WITH CBS 11 TO CELEBRATE, UM, MLK AND TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT, UM, AGAIN, CIVIL, UM, UNREST, UM, SOME OF OUR GROWTH, BUT WE'RE STILL OVERCOMING, UM, IN OUR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AS AS BLACK AND BROWN, WHETHER YOU'RE WHITE, HISPANIC, WE ALL, UNFORTUNATELY HAVE DEALT AT TIMES OF DISPARITY.
UM, THAT CONCLUDES, UM, FOR JANUARY, 2024 FROM MY REPORT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PU FOR YOUR REPORT.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO WISH TO REPORT ON RECENT ACTIVITIES? COMMISSIONER HUSKA FOR DISTRICT 13.
I JUST WANTED TO ENCOURAGE THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY THAT THE TEXAS COUNCIL FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IS CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR, UH, THEIR TEXAS PARTNERS IN PUBLIC POLICY MAKING, WHICH IS, UH, A, UH, THERE'S NO FEE TO JOIN.
AND IT'S AIMED AT EMPOWERING AND EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS WHO WANNA BECOME ADVOCATES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES FOR DISABILITIES AND, UH, DISABILITY RIGHTS.
AND SO THE APPLICATION IS CURRENTLY LIVE AND THERE'S NO FEE TO JOIN.
AND THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS IS TO, LIKE I SAID, EDUCATE AND EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO UNDERSTAND THE WAY THE STATE OF TEXAS LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT WORKS, UH, EDUCATE THEM ON DISABILITY ISSUES THAT THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE FACING AND GIVING THEM THE TOOLS TO BECOME EFFECTIVE.
OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER HUSHKA.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABILITIES, AS WELL AS TO EMPOWER THEM TO LIVE THE LIVES THEY WANT INDEPENDENTLY AND PRODUCTIVELY.
UM, OUR AIM IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET AS MANY ALLIES AS POSSIBLE AS THIS CAUSE IS DEFINITELY WORTH EACH EFFORT OF EVERYONE'S TIME.
UM, COMMISSIONER WHITE, I'M HERE TO LISTEN.
THAT CONCLUDES, UM, THE OFFICER REPORTS.
WE'RE NOW MOVING TO INTRODUCTION OF COMMISSIONERS.
UM, I THINK IT'S WORTH THE TIME NOW.
I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW EACH OF YOU AS COMMISSIONERS.
JUST TELL US BRIEFLY ABOUT WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU DO, AND WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE FOR THIS COMMISSION.
I WILL BEGIN BY INTRODUCING MYSELF.
I AM CHAIRMAN JOHN CAL CONLEY.
I'M ALSO A COMMISSIONER, UH, FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS COMMISSIONER ON COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES.
IT'S TRULY AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AMONG DISABILITY, AND THERE ARE MANY ISSUES THAT I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT.
DISABILITY RIGHTS IS ONE AREA, BUT I'M ALSO PASSIONATE ABOUT IMMIGRANT RIGHTS, CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, AS WELL AS, UH, SURVIVORS OF TRAUMA AND GENOCIDE STUDIES.
I AM EARNING A DOCTORATE, A PHD IN HUMANITIES, SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING ON HUMAN RIGHTS STUDIES, AND I'M ALSO A TEACHING ASSISTANT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I AM HEAVILY INVOLVED IN OTHER COMMUNITY
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ACTIVITIES, WHICH INCLUDE SERVING AS A DOCENT AT THE GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CENTER, AND THE DALLAS HOLOCAUST AND HUMAN RIGHTS MUSEUM, AND THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF THE USA DALLAS CHAPTER.I'M COMMISSIONER GAY REVY, DISTRICT ONE.
I LIVE IN THE BISHOP ARTS DISTRICT.
I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY.
I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT OTHER THINGS, BUT RIGHT NOW I'M JUST REALLY WORKING ON ACCESSIBILITY.
I HAVE LIVED IN OTHER COUNTRIES FOR 15 YEARS, AND I KNOW WHAT SOMETHING THAT ISN'T BEING DONE RIGHT LOOKS LIKE.
AND I BELIEVE DALLAS CAN DO BETTER FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS.
THAT'S MY PURPOSE, THAT'S MY MISSION, THAT'S MY PASSION.
I'M HONORED TO BE APPOINTED TO THE, UH, COMMISSION, AND THIS IS BEING MY FIRST MEETING.
I'VE BEEN LIVING IN DALLAS SINCE, UH, 1990.
I HAVE THREE KIDS, TWO OF WHICH ARE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED.
ONE IS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AND THE OTHER HAS DOWN SYNDROME.
SO WHILE I BELIEVE ACCESSIBILITY IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE IMPROVE ALL ACCESSIBILITY IN THE CITY OF DALLAS AND NOT JUST PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY, WHICH I, I KNOW YOU GUYS DO A LOT FOR ALL OF THAT, BUT MY, MY PASSION AND MY, UM, DESIRE IS HOW DO WE HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK DIFFERENTLY, THINK DIFFERENTLY, BE ABLE TO BE FULL PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THE DALLAS, UM, COMMUNITY? SO AS I COME INTO THIS, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING, LOOKING FOR, FOR, TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE COMMISSION WORKS AND HOPING I CAN HELP STEER US IN DIRECTIONS THAT WILL IMPROVE ALL, ALL RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UH, MY WORK BACKGROUND, I WORK FOR, UH, COMPANY COMMERCIAL METALS.
WE ACTUALLY WERE FOUNDED IN DALLAS, TEXAS IN, UH, 1915, UH, DOWN ON GOOD BERG.
WE'RE A METALS RECYCLING, FABRICATION AND STEEL PRODUCER, PRIMARILY THE PRODUCT REBAR.
UM, I, I'M A SENIOR LEADER WITH THE IT DEPARTMENT AND, UM, BEEN THERE FOR ALMOST 14 YEARS.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER CHRISTINA POE.
UM, I AM A DIRECTOR FOR THE INTERCEPTED PROGRAM AT FRANK CROWLEY COURTS CRIMINAL COURT 11 SIDING, JUDGE SHAQUITA KELLY.
I AM A NAS BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT SIX IN DALLAS, ISD FORMER PRESIDENT FOR THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR DALLAS, ISD.
UM, WHILE WE ALL, UM, HERE EITHER LIVE DAILY WITH CHALLENGES OF EITHER HAVING A CHILD OR A SPOUSE OR A FAMILY MEMBER OR EVEN A FRIEND, CHURCH MEMBER NEIGHBOR WHO HAS DISABILITIES, UM, I DO HAVE A SON WHO HAS AUTISM IS NONVERBAL AND IS EPILEPTIC.
UH, NEUROLOGICALLY, HE'S 18 MONTHS.
AND I DO HAVE AN 18-YEAR-OLD WHO HAS ASPERGER'S, AND HE'S A GOLFER.
SO TO COMMISSIONER, I WANNA MAKE SURE I SAY YOUR LAST NAME CORRECTLY, BELOW BLUE.
UM, MAKING SURE THAT IN, IN THEIR CAPACITY, WHAT CHILDREN AND ADULTS ARE ABLE TO DO AT THEIR LEVEL, THAT THEY ARE LIVING THEIR FULL LIVES.
UM, MY MISSION AND OBJECTIVE HERE, NOT JUST IN MY DISTRICT, BUT ALSO, UM, AT THE CITY OF DALLAS, WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY ALL THE TIME, BUT WE'RE NOT DISCUSSING DISABILITY EQUITY.
SO WE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COLLABORATE, UM, AS A BODY, UM, AND AS INDIVIDUALS TO NOT JUST BRAINSTORM AND JUST HAVE CONVERSATIONS, BUT TO ENSURE THAT THE TRAJECTORY OF IMPLEMENTING THESE PLANS AND, AND, AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE NEEDED, UM, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ADVISE, UM, OUR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO ENSURE THESE THINGS HAPPENED.
FIRST, WE START WITH US REFLECTING DIVERSITY ON OUR COMMISSION, UM, SO THAT WE ALSO, IT'S NOTED IN OUR CITY AND IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN OUR PROSPECTIVE DISTRICTS, UM, AND, AND AGAIN, NOT JUST PHYSICAL, BUT WE LOOK AT DEVELOPMENTAL, WE LOOK AT SENSORY, WE LOOK AT PHYSICAL AS WELL, BECAUSE WE, WE TEND TO ALWAYS TALK ABOUT PEOPLE IN THE WHEELCHAIR OR WITH A CANE, BUT A A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE HAVE NEUROLOGICAL AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.
AND I DO WANNA MAKE A NOTE THAT THIS SUMMER, THIS SPRING RATHER, I MAY HAVE THE, UM, TIMELINE INCORRECT.
UM, I NOTICED AT THE SYMPOSIUM AT PAUL QUINN, WE DID HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL, CANDACE WICKS, SHE IS IN A WHEELCHAIR.
THERE WAS NO ACCESSIBILITY FOR HER TO GET BETWEEN OWLS AND TABLES.
SO WHEN WE HOST, UM, EVENTS HERE IN OUR CITY, UM, DISABILITY OR NOT, WE
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WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE IN PLACE BECAUSE THERE IS A SORORITY, A ALPHA KAPPA APPLE SORORITY INCORPORATED THAT IS HAVING THEIR BOULE HERE.AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THESE LADIES AND OUR, THE GUESTS IN OUR CITY HAVE THAT ACCESSIBILITY SO THAT WE ENSURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING WHAT WE'RE SEEING WE'RE DOING.
NEXT, COMMISSIONER, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR US? SURE.
UM, BEVERLY WHITE, UM, COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRICT NINE.
UM, I SPENT THREE AND A HALF YEARS ON SENIOR AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER COMMISSION BEFORE BEING ASKED BY MY COUNCILWOMAN TO MOVE HERE.
UM, BECAUSE I HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, I SPENT 10 YEARS IN A CHAIR.
UM, I RAISED TWO KIDS THAT WERE MEDICALLY COMPLEX.
ALONG WITH THAT, UH, I PARTNERED WITH THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION TO CHANGE THE LAWS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR TYPE ONE DIABETIC KIDS IN SCHOOLS.
UM, I DO WORK FULL-TIME FOR A CPA FIRM.
I'M ALSO A PRODUCING PROFESSIONAL ARTIST.
UH, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE HERE AT SENIOR AFFAIRS, WE HAD A LIST OF REFERRALS, SO THAT IF ANY RESIDENT ASKED US THEY HAD A NEED, WE HAD A LIST THAT WE COULD LOOK OVER AND REFER THEM TO WHERE THEY NEEDED TO GO.
AND I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE THE SAME THING DEVELOPED HERE.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WHITE FOR THAT INTRODUCTION.
UH, MY NAME IS, UH, COMMISSIONER H****R, ROD H****R, UH, DISTRICT THREE.
UM, JUST JOINED THE COMMISSION NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
UM, SO STILL LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, JUST BEING ON A COMMISSION AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO DISTRICT THREE.
UH, BORN AND RAISED IN DALLAS, TEXAS.
LIVED MY WHOLE LIFE IN, UH, DISTRICT THREE.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA.
UM, FAMILY BACKGROUND, HAVE MULTIPLE FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE THAT, UH, HAVE DISABILITIES.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY MY MAIN GOAL IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO HELP THOSE INDIVIDUALS, UH, WITH ACCESSIBILITY AS WELL AS THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM AROUND THEM.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A WHOLE BODY, A WHOLE EFFORT, UM, OF TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE WORKING WITH FAMILY, PEOPLE WITH, WITH DISABIL DISABILITIES.
UM, SO YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT'S ALSO SUPPORTING THEM AS WELL AS, UM, UM, UH, THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
SO, UM, YEP, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
MAY I ASK WHO'S NEXT? UH, THIS IS COMMISSIONER AFF OR DISTRICT 13.
UH, YEAH, MY NAME IS NICOLE MOZ HUSHKA.
UH, I'VE BEEN ON THIS COMMISSION FOR ALMOST A YEAR.
UH, I AM THE CURRENT IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE DALLAS ASSOCIATION OF YOUNG LAWYERS.
UH, I'M A LAWYER HERE IN DALLAS, UH, NOT FROM DALLAS.
I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT 10 YEARS.
UH, I DO, UH, LITIGATION INCLUDING A LOT OF HEALTH INSURANCE AND DISABILITY LITIGATION.
UM, I HAD A DAUGHTER WHO WAS 15 MONTHS OLD WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, UH, WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES, UH, AND A VERY RARE, UH, GENETIC DISORDER THAT POINTED HER DEAF BLIND AND, UH, PHYSICALLY AND INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED.
SO THIS, UH, COMMISSION AND THE INITIATIVES ARE VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
AS A PARENT, UM, OF A CHILD WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES AND NAVIGATING THAT SYSTEM, UM, I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT, UM, THE SYSTEM AND HOW IT'S NOT NECESSARILY COMPATIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES.
AND, UH, ONE OF MY BIG INITIATIVES IS WORKING ON TEXAS MEDICAID AND SUPPORTING, UH, FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH SEVERE INTELLECTUAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, UH, AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES THAT THEY CAN GET.
MY PERSONAL JOURNEY WITH TRYING TO GET, UH, TEXAS MEDICAID FOR MY DAUGHTER INTRODUCED ME TO HOW MANY ISSUES OUR STATE HAS WITH THIS, AND HOW IT IS NOT, UM, EASY TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM.
SO I HAVE BEEN OFFERING SERVICES PRO BONO TO FAMILIES.
SO IF YOU KNOW FAMILIES LOOKING TO GET THESE
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SERVICES, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REFER THEM TO ME.UM, BUT I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE AND, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I CARE ABOUT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HUSHKA, AND WE'RE VERY HONORED TO HAVE YOU, UH, TO SERVE US AS, AS ONE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS.
AND WE ARE DEEPLY SADDENED TO HEAR OF YOUR LOSS AND SEND OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
WE DO HOPE THAT DURING THIS TIME THAT YOU'LL RECEIVE THE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT NEEDED.
AND MANY THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS, ADVOCACY, AND JUSTICE.
ARE THERE ANY COMMISSIONERS WHO WISH TO PROVIDE AN INTRODUCTION? IT SEEMS LIKE THOSE ARE ALL THE COMMISSIONERS WE HAVE WITH US TODAY.
SO WE'RE NOW MOVING FORWARD TO THE SECOND ITEM, WHICH IS THE FY 2024 COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES ANNUAL REPORT.
HAS ANYONE HAD THE CHANCE TO REVIEW THIS REPORT? AND ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THAT YOU WISH TO ADDRESS WHILE WE'RE HERE? YES, THIS IS COMMISSIONER UM,
IT'S LISTED ANNUAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.
IT SHOULD BE FISCAL YEAR 2023.
THESE ARE TYPOS THAT CAN, UH, BE FIXED.
WE WOULD JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT, UM, INDICATES ACCURATE INFORMATION ON PAGE FOUR.
THE QUESTION IS, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THERE'S A QUESTION IN OR A SUGGESTION, AGAIN, FOR ACCURACY.
UM, DISTRICT 12 AND WE MISS HER.
UH, COMMISSIONER SHAW IS, UH, ALSO A FORMER COMMISSIONER, SO THAT SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE IN PARENTHESES, UH, FORMER COMMISSIONER OF 2023.
UM, THERE IS ON PAGE, AND I'M SURE SINCE WE ALL DID RECENTLY RECEIVE IT, MANY OF US PROBABLY HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF FILTER THROUGH THIS.
SO WE HAVE TIME ON PAGE SIX UNDER OUR BRIEFINGS.
UM, TO QUANTIFY OUR PROGRESSION AND PRODUCTIVITY, THERE SHOULD BE DATES INCLUDED THERE TO INDICATE WHEN THE PRESENTATIONS HAPPENED, UM, IN 2023 INSTEAD OF JUST A, A PARAGRAPH.
SO THAT IT IS NOTED THAT IN EACH ONE OF OUR MEETINGS, THESE, UH, PRESENTERS WERE HERE TO A, DEBRIEF US ON THAT INFORMATION.
UM, AND THEN AGAIN, JUST FOR CONSISTENCY, IF WE'RE GOING TO SAY TICKET OR CITATIONS, BECAUSE COMMISSIONER, UH, RE AND SHE'S ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR TRANSPORTATION, AND SHE INDICATED, UM, VOLUNTEERS TO BE TRAINED TO ISSUE CITATIONS IN REFERENCE TO WHEN THEY VIOLATE, EXCUSE ME, VIOLATE, UM, PARKING AND HANDICAP SPACES.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PIA FOR THOSE, UM, SUGGESTIONS AND CORRECTIONS.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER REVY ON PAGE 15, PLEASE.
AND I'M SURE THIS IS, UM, A CORRECTION THAT WAS AUTOMATICALLY MADE.
LINE FIVE, IT SHOULD BE SITE SITE, NOT THE VERB, NOT THE MOUND SITE.
S-I-G-H-T-I THINK THAT WAS AUTO CORRECT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAVI, FOR THE CORRECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WISH TO PROVIDE COMMENT ON THE FY 2024 REPORT? YES.
REALLY QUICKLY, OUR ANNUAL REPORT ONLY HAS 11 PAGES.
I JUST CONFIRMED WITH, UH, MS. MEEKS, WHAT PAGE ARE YOU REFERRING TO? PAGE 15.
DO WE WANNA THE DRAFT ON THE ANNUAL REPORT? WE HAVE 11 PAGES.
COMMISSIONERS, IT'S PAGE EIGHT.
I'M LIKE, ARE WE MISSING FOUR PAGES? LET'S GET THE FOUR PAGES.
THAT'S MY FIRST MISTAKE THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, FOR THE CORRECTION.
UM, IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER CORRECTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS, I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE REPORT BE ACCEPTED AS READ.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ALL OPPOSED? APPARENTLY THERE IS NONE.
OKAY, SO THE MOTION PASSES AND WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE TO THE BRIEFING SECTION.
AND UNDER THAT, WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THE, THE BYLAWS RULES AND POLICIES FOR CITY OF DALLAS COMMISSION ON ON DISABILITIES.
AND HERE TO GIVE A PRESENTATION TO US IS GOING TO BE MR. STEVEN MCFADDEN, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY, AND VERONICA BARBOSA, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY.
THEY ARE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, IT IS MY HONOR TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO THEM.
[00:30:10]
OKAY.SO, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING, UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
UM, I'M HERE AS MY COLLEAGUE IS, UM, SICK TODAY.
SO I'M GOING TO BE PRESENTING.
SO TODAY WE'RE GONNA COVER A PROCEDURE AND CODE OF CONDUCT.
UM, AGAIN, AS MENTIONED, I'M VERONICA BARBOSA, I'M ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY IN OUR GENERAL COUNSEL DIVISION FOR THE ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SECTION.
SO, I DON'T, UH, MS. MEETS, ARE YOU ABLE TO, UH, PULL UP THE PRESENTATION? OKAY, SO WE'LL WAIT.
SO, AS A GENERAL OVERVIEW, WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS THE COMMISSION'S MISSION AND PURPOSE, THE ROLE OF A CHAIR, CODE OF CONDUCT AND DECORUM.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE QUESTIONS.
UH, SLIDE NUMBER THREE, PLEASE.
SO, NEXT, WE'LL GO TO THE MISSION AND PURPOSE BY NUMBER FOUR.
OKAY, SO THE COMMISSION'S MISSION.
SO THIS COMMISSION IS AN ADVISORY BODY, AND IT MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS PERTAINING TO THE FULL SPECTRUM OF NEEDS, RIGHTS, AND PRIVILEGES FOR PEOPLES WITH DISABILITIES.
UM, FOR THIS COMMISSION IN PARTICULAR, ON DECEMBER THE SEVENTH, 2021, IT WAS FORMED AND AUTHORIZED BY CITY COUNCIL BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 3 2 0 7 0.
AND IF YOU WANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, YOU CAN GO TO THE DALLAS C DALLAS CITY CODE IN CHAPTER TWO, ARTICLE 21, AND IT'S ON THE, UM, PRESENTATION SO THAT YOU CAN GO AND LOOK FURTHER INTO THAT.
SO, THE COMMISSION'S PURPOSE SLIDE, UM, SORRY, SLIDE FIVE.
THE COMMISSION'S PURPOSE HERE IS TO ADVISE THE CITY COUNCIL ON CITY RELATED ISSUES AND PROVIDE A FORUM FOR VOICING THE CONCERNS AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE CITY'S DIVERSE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.
SO HERE, OF COURSE, AS MANY OF YOU, UM, PRIOR COMMISSIONERS AND NEW COMMISSIONERS NOW, UM, HAVE MENTIONED YOUR ROLE HERE IS TO BE A VOICE, UM, TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CONNECTED TO INDIVIDUALS WITH, UM, DISABILITIES.
WHY FIX DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES? SO HERE, YOU'LL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL ABOUT NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF ISSUES TO INCLUDE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ACCESSIBILITY, QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES RELATED TO A ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, HOUSING AVAILABILITY, AND ADEQUACY, AS WELL AS ACCESSIBILITY AS IT RELATES TO COMMUNICATIONS.
NOW, WHILE THIS COMMISSION IS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, SO YOU'LL, YOU'LL ADVISE ON PUBLIC POLICY, BUT YOU, WHAT YOU WON'T DO IS ENFORCE.
SO YOU WON'T ENFORCE LAWS, YOU WON'T LEGISLATE, YOU WON'T MAKE PUBLIC POLICY NOR BIND THE CITY.
AND, UM, THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG THING.
SO YOU WON'T, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE, LET'S SAY, IN YOUR COMMUNITY, UM, AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE, MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WITH PARKING, UM, IN HANDICAP, UH, SPOTS, YOU WON'T GO OUT IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND SAY, I'M GONNA ISSUE A CITATION BECAUSE YOU PARKED IN A HANDICAPPED SPOT.
NO, THAT'S NOT THE WAY THAT YOU WOULD DO IT.
AS AN ADVISORY COMMISSION, WHAT YOU WOULD DO IS YOU WOULD HAVE, AS WE'VE SEEN DONE HERE, YOU WOULD HAVE PRESENTATIONS ON DIFFERENT MANNERS AND MECHANISMS THAT, THAT YOU CAN, UM, THEN DELIVER TO CITY COUNCIL AS RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO IT'S A BODY THAT RECOMMENDS NOT A BODY THAT ESSENTIALLY ENFORCES.
CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? FIVE EIGHT.
SO, UM, THE REASON YOU'RE DOING THIS IS ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT PRESENT.
WE'RE NOT, UM, PUTTING OUR OURSELF IN A POSITION WHERE WE'LL HAVE ANY LEGAL LIABILITIES.
SO MEMBERS CAN SUBJECT THE CITY OR INDIVIDUAL ME MEMBERS TO LIABILITY
[00:35:01]
IF THEY'RE ACTING OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF AUTHORITY OR DENYING A PERSON A RIGHT SECURED BY LAW OR THE STATE OR THE US CONSTITUTION.SO, AGAIN, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STAYING WITHIN OUR RIM.
WE, UH, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OF COURSE, YOU CAN ALWAYS CONTACT YOUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR THE CITY STAFF SO THAT YOU CAN BE ADVISED ON IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE RIM, OR IF YOU, YOU NOTICE SOMETHING ELSE.
MAYBE IT'S ANOTHER PERSON OR INDIVIDUAL.
YOU CAN COME TO YOUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO REPORT THAT AND GET FURTHER INFORMATION.
SO NOW WE'LL GO AND FURTHER DEB AND DISCUSS THE ROLE OF THE CHAIR.
SO HERE, THE ROLE OF A CHAIR IS GOING TO BE TO SET THE AGENDA, AND THEY'RE GONNA COORDINATE WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE CITY STAFF.
UM, AS WE SEEN IN THE FIRST MEETING AS IT RELATES TO TOMA COMPLIANCES WITH THE, UM, OPEN MEETINGS ACT, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AGENDA STATE WITH SPECIFIC, THAT THE AGENDA IS SPECIFIC AS TO WHAT WILL BE DISCUSSED.
AND, UM, IT PUTS THE PUBLIC ON NOTICE SO THAT IF THEY WANT TO COME, THEY CAN TELL BY THE AGENDA.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, WITH THAT, UM, YOU'LL ALSO ENSURE THAT THE AGENDA IS PROVIDED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND DUE TIME SO THAT IT CAN BE POSTED WITHIN 72 HOURS.
UM, ALSO THE ROLE OF THE CHAIR IS GENERALLY TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP, ENSURE THAT THE RIGHTS OF THE MEMBERS ARE MAINTAINED, ENSURE THE MOVE MEETINGS RUN SMOOTHLY.
AND AGAIN, TO ENSURE YOU'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH CITY CODE, TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT, ALSO REFERRED TO TOMA AND OTHER LAWS AS APPLICABLE.
SO, AS I, ME, AS I MENTIONED, UM, THE AGENDA IS GOING TO SET FORTH THE BUSINESS OF THE COMMISSION.
YOU'RE GONNA MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS, INCLUDING TOMA.
UM, MAKE SURE THAT EVERY MEETING IS POSTED WITHIN THE 72 HOUR PERIOD.
AND GENERALLY, AS YOU DID TODAY IN CONDUCTING YOUR MEETING, THE MEETING ORDER WILL BE THAT YOU GENERALLY DISCUSS THE, WELL, I WOULD PUT AN ASTERISK HERE AND SAY, IT'S GOOD IF YOU START WITH ROLL CALL SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE FORUM.
BUT GENERALLY YOU'LL HAVE THE LAST MINUTES.
THEN AFTER YOU HAVE THE LAST MINUTES, YOU'LL HAVE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
AND THEN FROM THERE YOU'LL GO ON TO STAFF REPORTS OR COMMITTEE REPORTS.
UM, 5 11, 5 12 SHOULD BE QUORUM.
SO, UH, WE HAD THIS QUESTION ACTUALLY EARLIER TODAY THAT CAME UP ABOUT QUORUM.
SO A QUORUM IS A MINIMUM NUMBER OF MEMBERS NEEDED TO OFFICIALLY CONDUCT BUSINESS.
UM, QUORUM MAY BE SET BY ORDINANCE RESOLUTION, YOUR BYLAWS, UM, FOR INSTRUMENTALITIES.
AND IF THERE'S NO STATEMENT ON QUORUM, IT'S THE MAJORITY OF THE APPOINTED MEMBERS CURRENTLY SERVING.
SO HERE WE HAVE NINE MEMBERS CURRENTLY APPOINTED, AND SO THE MAJORITY THEN WOULD BE FIVE.
SO, UM, I KNOW THAT WAS, THAT CAME UP AND I WAS GONNA SAY IT OF COURSE, IN THE, IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO, UM, ADDRESS, THAT'S HOW THE FORUM IS DETERMINED.
MOVING ON TO SLIDE NUMBER 13, UM, AND WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AN EFFECTIVE CHAIR.
SO IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE CHAIR, THEY HAVE TO WEAR MANY HATS.
UM, THE EFFECTIVE CHAIR WILL BE SOMEONE WHO'S ON TIME AND PREPARE FOR MEETINGS TO ENSURE THAT QUORUM IS PRESENT.
THE CHAIR IS ORGANIZED, SO THEY ENSURE THAT THE AGENDA IS PREPARED AND ADEQUATE.
UM, THE CHAIR ALSO SERVES AS A MENTOR TO EXPLAIN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THIS, THE CHAIR MAKES SURE THAT THEY'RE IN CONTROL OF THE FLOOR.
SO THE CARE, THE CHAIR IS KIND, UM, AND THEY MAKE SURE THEY MAINTAIN ORDER.
AND ALSO THE CHAIR IS IMPARTIAL, CALM AND OBJECTIVE.
UM, AND THEY HAVE TO BE THIS WAY, OF COURSE, TO ENSURE THAT BUSINESS CAN BE, UM, CONDUCTED AND THEY CAN BE INFECTED.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THIS, THEY'RE PRECISE AND THEY MAKE SURE THEY BUILD CONSENSUS WITHIN THE BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BOARD IS SERVING IN ITS ADVISORY ROLE.
NOW WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT A CODE OF CONDUCT AND DECORUM FIVE 15.
SO NOW WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE DUTIES OF THE MEMBERS.
WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE CHAIR, THE CHAIR'S,
[00:40:01]
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.AND NOW WE WANNA FOCUS AND HONE IN ON THE MEMBERS.
SO HERE, THE MEMBERS AS WELL HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE AUTHORIZING ORDINANCE THAT WE MENTIONED EARLIER.
THEY ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE FOLLOWING THEIR RULES AND RULES, UM, RULES OF PROCEDURE AND DECORUM.
UM, MEMBERS MUST LIMIT COMMENTS TO FIVE MINUTES UNLESS IT'S PERMITTED BY A TWO THIRDS VOTE, OR THE RULES HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED FOR THAT MEETING.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE JUST CONSCIOUS OF THAT.
UM, ALSO, UM, MEMBERS MUST CONFINE REMARKS TO MOTIONS THAT ARE BEING DEBATED.
SO IF IT'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, UM, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKING, WE CAN'T DEVIATE THEN AND TALK ABOUT, UM, AND TALK ABOUT, UM, HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, RIGHT? WE NEED TO SAY ON SUBJECT.
ALSO, MEMBERS SHOULD NOT MAKE PERSONAL ATTACKS QUESTION THE MEMBER'S MOTIVES OF INTEGRITY OR MAKE SLANDEROUS OR DISCOURTEOUS REMARKS ABOUT ANOTHER MEMBER.
WE ALWAYS HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT, UH, HERE, IT'S, IF IT'S A DECISION IS MADE, FOR ONE, IT'S A DECISION OF THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE.
AND WHILE YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH A PERSON'S POSITION, YOU CAN STATE SOMETHING ABOUT THE POSITION WITHOUT ATTACKING THE INDIVIDUAL, RIGHT? SO WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING COURTEOUS.
BUT STILL, IF YOU HAVE A POINT TO GET ACROSS, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ON THIS BOARD TO DO TO ADDRESS THAT.
RIGHT? IF WE CAN MOVE TO, UH, SLIDE 16.
SO HERE, UM, MEMBERS SHOULD ALSO BE COURTEOUS TO CITY STAFF AND THE PUBLIC, RIGHT? BECAUSE IN THIS ROLE, YOU'RE REPRESENTING, UM, AS A, AS A COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, RIGHT? YOU'RE REPRESENTING THE CITY OF DALLAS, YOU'RE REPRESENTING, UM, AND BEING A VOICE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
AND WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALWAYS ON OUR, BE IN OUR EXEMPLIFYING OUR BEST BEHAVIORS, RIGHT? UM, ALSO THE MEMBERS SHALL REFRAIN FROM DISOBEYING THE CHAIR'S, ORDERS, OR CITY RULES.
HOWEVER, THEY MAY ASK THE CHAIR TO ENFORCE DIFFERENT PROCEDURAL RULES, RIGHT? UM, SO YOU CAN'T JUST, IF THE CHAIR IS A RULE SET FOR THIS MEETING, UM, THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO X, Y, AND Z, YOU CAN'T JUST SAY, OH, I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
THAT'S JUST NOT, UM, HOW IT, HOW IT WORKS OR, AND JUST, UM, OUTRIGHT DISOBEY.
UM, MEMBERS ALSO SHALL ABIDE BY THE OPINION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING THE COMMISSION'S, POWERS AND DUTIES, UNLESS IT CONFLICTS WITH THE COURT DECISION.
SO BASICALLY, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UM, OFFICE, IF THEY COME DOWN WITH AN OPINION OF HOW THINGS SHOULD BE RAN OR CONDUCTED, THEN THAT'S LIKE THE, THE END ALL BE ALL, UNLESS THERE'S SOME COURT DECISION OUT THERE.
AND THEN IN THAT INSTANCE, AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, IF THAT'S A INSTANCE WHERE YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY SEEK CITY ATTORNEY OR STAFF APPROVAL, IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE AN INSTANCE THAT, UM, WHERE A COURT DECISION DIFFERS, RIGHT? AND WE'RE ALWAYS HERE AVAILABLE, UH, AS A RESOURCE.
UM, MOVING ON TO SLIDE 17, AN EFFECTIVE MEMBER.
SO AN EFFECTIVE MEMBER, UH, WE'VE KIND OF HONED ON THIS, BUT EFFECTIVE MEMBER IS SOMEBODY WHO IS COMMITTED TO THE MISSION FOLLOWING THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS.
THEY ATTEND AS MANY MEETINGS AS POSSIBLE.
THEY PULL THEIR OWN WORK, THEY WORK DILIGENTLY WITH STAFF AND THE COMMISSION.
UM, THEY MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
AND IF SO, THEY COMPLY WITH GUIDELINES.
UM, THEY ASK QUESTIONS, RAISE CONCERNS, KEEPS AN OPEN MIND AND, AND PREPARED FOR MEETINGS IF YOU CAN MOVE ON TO FIVE 18.
ALSO, IT'S NOT JUST THE CHAIR, IT'S NOT JUST THE COMMISSIONERS.
UM, AS WELL, WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE SAME, UM, RULES AND PROCEDURES.
CITY STAFF MUST FOLLOW THE SAME RULES AND PROCEDURES AS MEMBERS.
UM, WHEN CITY STAFF, THEY MUST ADDRESS COMMENTS TO THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE AND NOT TO INDIVIDUALS.
UM, ALSO, UM, WHEN IT RELATES TO MEDIA, MEDIA MAY NOT INTERVIEW PEOPLE INSIDE THE MEETING ROOM DURING THE MEETING, AND THE PUBLIC ALSO MUST FOLLOW THE SAME RULES AND PROCEDURES.
SO JUST BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, OR JUST BECAUSE IT'S A STAFF FROM THE DEPARTMENT, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE ALSO GET TO, UM, COME IN AND JUST DO ANYTHING.
RIGHT? UM, WE CAN'T BE DISRESPECTFUL.
WE HAVE TO SHOW THE SAME, UM, RESPECT THAT WE REQUIRE OF YOU, AND THAT'S REQUIRED VIA THE CITY CODE, UM, AS WELL.
SO, UM, I KNOW, UM, THE NEXT SLIDE IS QUESTION.
[00:45:02]
I DID GET ONE QUESTION, UM, THAT WAS ASKED OF US TO ANSWER, AND THAT QUESTION WAS PERTAINING TO, UM, ADDITIONAL TIME ALLOTMENTS WHEN YOU HAVE AN ISSUE SUCH AS A TECHNOLOGY ISSUE.UM, AND IT RELATES TO QUORUM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING OR AT THE, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MEETING.
AND THAT QUESTION WAS ASKED, UM, BASICALLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE DISABILITY COMMISSIONS, YOU MAY NEED TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL TO, UM, MAYBE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY.
AND SO, UM, THE ANSWER TO THAT IS, ONE, I ONE, ONE WAY I I WOULD SAY TO TRY TO AVOID IT IF YOU CAN, AT THE BE, AT LEAST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, IS IF WE COME, ALL CAN COME EARLIER, UM, MAYBE 30 MINUTES OR SO TO JUST TO, OR DO A MIC CHECK, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS WORKING, UM, AND ADEQUATE.
AND THAT CAN ALSO ALLEVIATE THAT.
BUT ALSO IF YOU WANT TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING, LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A 20 MINUTE LEADWAY, I'M JUST GONNA PUT THAT OUT THERE.
THAT 20 MINUTES MAY BE A LONG TIME, BUT WHATEVER YOU IMPLEMENT, IT JUST NEEDS TO BE THE SAME THROUGHOUT, RIGHT? SO YOU CAN'T, UM, SAY, OKAY, THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA GIVE 20 MINUTES, AND THIS TIME WE'LL GIVE FIVE MINUTES.
OR YOU CAN'T SAY, IT CAN'T LOOK LIKE FAVORITISM.
OH, I DON'T LIKE THIS PERSON AND THEY CAN'T GET ON, SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU TWO MINUTES.
LIKE, OR I'M GONNA GIVE THIS PERSON ONE MINUTE.
SO JUST KIND OF, IT'S, IT'S LIKE IN THE SPIRIT OF THE, OF WHEN YOU SAY THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE GRAY.
LIKE OF COURSE WE WANNA ACCOMMODATE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT, UH, MOVING FORWARD WHEN WE SAY, OH, OKAY, WE HAVE SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THE, THE REASON WHY THEY CAN'T GET ON, RIGHT? AND SO WE'RE GONNA ALLOT THIS AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE CAN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S CONSISTENT, BASICALLY.
AND THEN IF YOU NEED MORE INSIGHT ON THAT, OF COURSE WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK FURTHER INTO IT.
BUT, UM, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT'S OFF THE TABLE.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY, UM, ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM ANY, UM, COMMISSIONERS OR CHAIR.
UM, MS. BARZA, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR INFORMATIVE AND ENGAGING PRESENTATION.
I, IT'S, UH, VERY IMPORTANT TO REFRESH OUR MINDS ABOUT THE RULES AND EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE RECENTLY APPOINTED NEW COMMISSIONERS TO JOIN US.
I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND IT'S REALLY TO CLARIFY THE EXPECTATIONS FOR MEETING QUORUM.
SO WHEN YOU STATED THAT IT'S NOT, UM, LIKE WE CAN'T SAY THIS FOR THIS MEETING, YOU'RE ALLOWED THIS AMOUNT OF TIME, YOU'RE ALLOWED THIS AMOUNT, SO IT HAS TO BE CONSISTENT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WHAT MY QUESTION IS, IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE SET THE TIME LIMIT THAT WE SET AS A COMMISSION, OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT, UH, THAT IS SET BY THE, THE CITY ATTORNEY? I MEAN, HOW DOES THAT WORK? I THINK THE, IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS SET BY THE COMMISSION.
UM, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS, I WOULD SAY MAYBE SET AT THE START OF THE MEETING OR SOMETHING THAT YOU, UM, SET WITHIN YOUR, I WANNA SAY SOMETHING THAT YOU SET WITHIN YOUR RULES.
'CAUSE YOU CAN VOTE AS A COMMISSION ON WHAT, UM, RULES THAT YOU'LL HAVE THAT APPLY FOR THAT MEETING.
BUT I CAN GO AND GET FURTHER CLARIFICATION ON HOW TO SPECIFICALLY DO IT AND WHAT'S THE BEST ROUTE TO DO IT.
WE JUST KIND OF HAD A DIALOGUE ABOUT IT TODAY.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE.
WE WOULD KINDLY APPRECIATE YOU CLARIFYING ON THIS.
MM-HMM,
AND IN ORDER, THAT IS ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOW TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COMMISSIONERS WHO WISH TO SHARE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THEY MAY HAVE.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER CHRISTINA POWAY.
UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, MANY OF US WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE FIRST TERM, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION, BUT WE DID NOT GET, UM, A NEW FOR THE, A NEWLY APPOINTED, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT PRESENTATION.
TYPICALLY WHEN WE HAVE PRESENTERS, THEY SEND IN THEIR PRESENTATION TO STAFF AND THEN STAFF SENDS IT TO THE COMMISSIONER.
SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO FOLLOW.
UM, JUST AS A, JUST AS A NOTE.
AND TO PIGGYBACK ON CHAIR, UH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE OUR MEETINGS ARE TYPICALLY FROM 2:00 PM TO 3:30 PM MM-HMM.
SO IF WE DO HAVE, UH, COMMISSIONERS WHO, AGAIN, ARE DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGE OF A DISABILITY, YEAH, THEY MAY NOT
[00:50:01]
LOG IN WITHIN THAT FIRST 10 MINUTES, BUT THEN IF WE WE'RE GIVING SO MUCH TIME IN BETWEEN, WE'RE GONNA RUN OVER OUR THREE 30 TIMELINE, WHICH WE DID DO THAT IN THE FIRST TERM, AND A LOT OF TIMES WE DIDN'T MEET QUORUM WAITING FOR THAT.SO WE DO NEED SOMETHING SUBSTANTIATED SO THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
'CAUSE WE WOULD LIKE FOR EVERYONE THAT IS HERE, UM, TO BE ABLE TO SERVE IN, IN, IN OUR CAPACITY AS COMMISSIONERS.
UM, I THINK COMMISSIONER BALLOU, YOU HAD A QUESTION? YES.
SO JUST A CLARIFICATION ON THE QUORUM.
SO A LOT OF TECH, OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF OUR REMOTE, UM, USE HERE.
SO LET'S SAY WE HAVE THE SICK OR THE FIVE YOU MENTIONED.
SO SOMEONE HIT THE TECHNICAL ISSUE, THEY FALL OFF, BUT ARE ABLE TO REJOIN.
IS THERE A TIME LIMIT OR DOES THE MEETING HAVE TO STOP WHILE THAT PERSON IS OFF THE LINE? I THINK THERE'S A, AND I'M, I THINK THERE'S A WINDOW OF LIKE 15 MINUTES.
UM, AND THAT'S UNDER ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
UM, AND SO THEY HAVE LIKE THAT TIME PERIOD TO REJOIN THE MEETING.
UM, BUT I CAN DOUBLE CHECK, BUT I THINK IT'S 15 MINUTES.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE THAT YOU DON'T GET ANY, ANY TIME TO TRY TO JOIN THE MEETING.
IF, IF IT IS NOT LIKE, OKAY, THIS, NORMALLY IT IS LIKE YOU JUST LOSE QUORUM.
BUT IN THE INSTANCE WHERE YOU LOST QUORUM BECAUSE OF A TECHNOLOGY ISSUE, IT HAS ALLOTMENTS FOR THAT.
AND I THINK IT'S 15 MINUTES, BUT I CAN GIVE YOU A DEFINITE ANSWER.
AND CAN I FOLLOW ON THAT WITH, SO, UM, COMMISSIONER, UH, H****R, I'M PRONOUNCING THAT CORRECTLY.
HE JOINED AND HE COULDN'T DO CAMERA AT THE VERY BEGINNING.
HE HAD TO GO HOME AND GET ON CAMERA.
IF IN THE SAY I AM AT MY DESK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAMERA FAILS.
DOES THAT REMOVE ME FROM THE MEETING? AS FAR AS HAVING A, A VOTE OR ACCOUNTING TOWARD QUORUM, YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE YOUR CAMERA ON TO COUNT TOWARDS QUORUM.
SO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY WOULD TAKE THAT OUT IF THE CAMERA, UH, AND, AND I GUESS I'M AN IT GUY, SO I KNOW THESE THINGS HAPPEN, SO YEAH.
YOU DO HAVE TO, IN ORDER TO BE COUNTED, YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE YOUR CAMERA ON.
WE DO HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN HEAR YOU AND YOU CAN HEAR US IN ORDER TO BE COUNTED.
SO IN AN INSTANCE WHERE, UM, JUST PIGGYBACKING OFF YOUR FIRST QUESTION, WHERE YOU WERE THAT ONE PERSON MADE QUORUM AND THEIR, THEY HAD TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, I MEAN, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CONTINUE UNTIL THAT PERSON WAS ABLE TO GET BACK ON.
UM, COMMISSIONER WHITE, YOU ARE WELCOME TO ASK YOUR QUESTION.
UM, I CAN APPRECIATE FLEXIBILITY, UH, WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR YOUR, YOUR ANSWERS TO ALL THIS, BUT SOME OF US DO WORK AND SO THEREFORE THE TWO TO THREE 30, LIKE IN MY CASE, IS THE TIME THAT MY ORGANIZATION UNDERSTANDS THAT I'LL BE IN COMMISSION.
UM, IT CAN RUN OVER FIVE MINUTES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT CAN'T RUN OVER 20 BECAUSE WE DIDN'T MAKE QUORUM FOR 20 MINUTES.
UM, WOULD LIKE THAT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU, UM, HAVE YOUR DISCUSSIONS? MM-HMM.
I THINK THAT THIS IS A VERY VALID POINT THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
DOES ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? REAL QUICK COMMENT.
COMMISSIONER WHITE, THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.
UM, I DO HOPE WE DID GET A QUICK RESOLVE ON THAT BECAUSE THAT HAPPENED VERY MUCH SO IN OUR FIRST TERM, AND WE WERE OVERLAPPING TIME DUE TO NOT MEETING QUORUM DUE TO THE EXTENDED FLEXIBILITY OF 20 MINUTES.
AND, AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER PIA FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
IT'S A VERY VALID CONCERN THAT DOES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
DOES ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THEY'D LIKE TO ADDRESS? OKAY.
UH, WE WANT TO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, MS. MAR ROSA, FOR YOUR INFORMATIVE AND ENGAGING PRESENTATION, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, A, A GREAT NEW YEAR AND WORKING COLLABORATIVELY.
AND, UM, AGAIN, I'LL GO AND CIRCLE BACK ON THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE WITH QUORUM AND, UH, GET THAT BACK TO, UH, STAFF TO DISSEMINATE.
OKAY, THE NEXT ITEM IS ADJOURNMENT.
PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?
[00:55:03]
I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT JANUARY IS NATIONAL BRAILLE LITERACY MONTH.UM, THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE JANUARY 4TH WAS WORLD BRAILLE DAY, AND IT WAS 215 YEARS AGO THAT THE SYSTEM OF BRAILLE WAS CREATED BY LOUIS BRAILLE.
AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MODE OF COMMUNICATION FOR PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS.
AS THROUGH A SENSE OF TOUCH, WE'RE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE WORLD AROUND US.
THAT IS THE ANNOUNCEMENT I HAVE FOR THIS MONTH.
I NOW TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO ANY COMMISSIONERS WHO WISH TO SHARE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER CONCERNS OR COMMENTS, I CALL A MOTION THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED.
ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ALL OPPOSED? THAT CONCLUDES THE MEETING FOR THIS MONTH.
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR DEDICATED TIME AND ATTENTION.