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[Workforce-Education and Equity on June 10, 2024. ]
FIRST, LET ME START THIS.I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE JUNE 10TH MEETING OF THE WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND EQUITY COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH, I APPRECIATE THAT.
GREAT. IF YOU PUT YOUR CAMERA ON, YOU'RE ON.
OTHERWISE YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO JUST LISTEN.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, OKAY? WE HAVE A QUORUM. SO KEEP YOUR CAMERA OFF FOR SAFETY REASONS, OKAY? YEAH. OKAY.
I'M GOING TO BEGIN WITH I'M LOOKING FOR AN APPROVAL OF THE MAY 13TH MINUTES, SO MOVED.
SECOND, ANY CORRECTIONS? IF NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
GREAT. SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS MOVE THE BRIEFING ITEM B BECAUSE WE HAVE GUESTS AND WE HAVE A ROBUST CONVERSATION, I HOPE, ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT DOWN TO ITEM AFTER ITEM, AFTER THE MEMOS, WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE RIGHT AT THE END WITH THAT.
SO I APOLOGIZE, AND I APOLOGIZE TO STAFF WHO ARE HERE.
AND PLEASE PLAN ON COMING BACK.
OKAY. LET'S BEGIN WITH THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE BUDGET REVIEW.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS.
DIRECTOR GALLISHAW, WHENEVER YOU ARE READY.
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M JESSICA GALLISHAW, THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE.
I AM JOINED VIRTUALLY BY HOLLY HOLT, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE.
AND SO SHE'S ONLINE TO CHIME IN IF NEEDED.
BUT I'LL BE TAKING ON THE MAJORITY OF THE PRESENTATION FROM HERE SINCE I'M HERE IN PERSON.
SO TO GO AHEAD AND GET US STARTED I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD THIS SLIDE BEFORE, BUT WANT TO REITERATE THAT THIS IS A PRESENTATION THAT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF OUR BUDGET FOR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR FY 24.
TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES WITHIN OUR OFFICE AND THAT A LOT OF THE PROJECTIONS THAT ARE INCLUDED HERE, INCLUDING ANYTHING RELATED TO THE BUDGET OF 2025, IS ACTUALLY BASED ON THE PLANNED BUDGET THAT WAS ESTABLISHED LAST SUMMER IN 2023, AND NOT ANYTHING THAT IS BEING PLANNED AS OF NOW.
ADDITIONALLY, PROJECTIONS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR ARE BASED ON JANUARY 2024 DATA.
SO MOVING FORWARD, THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE HAS A MISSION THAT WAS ESTABLISHED WITH OUR OFFICE IN 2018 WHEREBY A VARIETY OF SERVICES WERE PULLED FROM SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS, PRIMARILY THE HOUSING OR COMMUNITY SERVICES SECTION OF HOUSING, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER AREAS, TO CREATE OUR OFFICE TO PROVIDE SOCIAL AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO HELP CREATE EQUITY FOR SENIORS, CHILDREN AND OTHER PEOPLE IN FINANCIAL NEED TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY AND STANDARD OF LIVING. THAT HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2018, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT IS STILL LARGELY A VERY ACCURATE MISSION THAT DRIVES OUR WORK.
AND YOU'LL NOTICE THE EQUITY REFERENCE DOES PREDATE OUR RACIAL EQUITY PLAN ADOPTION.
SO WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT IN MIND THROUGHOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR OFFICE AND PROGRAMS. WE DO HAVE AN UNDERGIRDING PRINCIPLE IN OUR OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE TO STRIVE TO ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY IN ALL OF THE DECISIONS AND ALLOCATIONS OF RESOURCES THAT WE MAKE.
WE CONSIDER IT IN PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT.
WE LOOK BACK TO OUR RACIAL EQUITY PLAN GOALS AND STRATEGIES, AND WE MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING LINES UP WITH THAT RACIAL EQUITY PLAN, AS WELL AS OUR DRIVERS OF POVERTY STRATEGIES AND OTHER WORK THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS PRIORITIES HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
SO I'LL GET US STARTED WITH SOME DEPARTMENT GOALS.
SO THE FIRST TWO SET OF GOALS IS RELATED TO OUR BUDGET OR ADMINISTRATION KIND OF SECTION.
SO UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO READ THROUGH THEM DIRECTLY, I'LL JUST KIND OF SPEED THROUGH THIS SECTION.
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BUT OF COURSE EVALUATION OF OUR PROGRAMS, PRACTICES AND EFFECTIVENESS IS CRITICAL.YOU'LL SEE OUR DEPARTMENT GOALS.
NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR WIC PROGRAM.
BUT WE'RE NOT JUST TRYING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE SERVE.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT BY INCREASING THE ACCESSIBILITY, QUALITY, AND INDIVIDUALIZATION OF OUR SERVICE SO THAT WE'RE SERVING PEOPLE BETTER THROUGH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT AVENUES.
MOVING ON, OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS OUR PRIMARY GOAL THERE THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED, THOUGH, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT HAPPENS IN THOSE CENTERS, IT'S HARD TO SET A SINGLE GOAL. BUT WE SET A GOAL AGAINST THE MANY FOOD PROGRAMS AND MEAL PROGRAMS THAT TAKE PLACE ON SITE AT THOSE CENTERS.
OUR GOAL HAS BEEN 4500, BUT WE FOUND THAT THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT AGGRESSIVE.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 4100 IS OUR GOAL.
WE DO SERVE ABOUT 4000 PEOPLE MONTHLY BETWEEN THE TWO CENTERS ON DIFFERENT MEAL INITIATIVE PROGRAMS. WE ALSO THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, ARE ALWAYS STRIVING TO HAVE AN INCREASE IN PARTNERSHIPS AND NEW PARTNERS COMING TO AND USING THOSE FACILITIES.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE SOCIAL SERVICES.
YOU'RE GETTING A PREVIEW OF OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE HERE AS I GO THROUGH THIS AS WELL.
THE HELP THEY NEED FROM US OR FROM SOMEBODY.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD, I WOULD SAY, STILL, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST POINTS OF PRIDE THROUGH THAT TEAM IS THAT OUR TEAM WAS ABLE TO DELIVER IN EXCESS OF $100 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE OVER A FEW YEARS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO RENTAL ASSISTANCE SERVICE DELIVERY THROUGH AVAILABLE FUNDS THAT WE STILL HAVE FROM SOME REPROGRAMED CDBG DOLLARS CDBG COVID DOLLARS.
I SHOULD CLARIFY, THE NEXT AREA OF FOCUS THAT WE HAVE IS FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT.
ONE POINT OF PRIDE THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS IS THAT THE CLIENTS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THOSE COACHING SESSIONS HAVE SAVED IN EXCESS OF $117,000 THIS FISCAL YEAR.
AND SO THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT IN HELPING TO DRIVE AND SUPPORT PEOPLE IN MAKING THE FINANCIAL DECISIONS THAT THEY NEED SO THAT THEY CAN GET A LITTLE BIT MORE STABLE IN THAT AREA.
FOR SENIORS OUR GOAL IS TO EXPAND THE REACH OF OUR SENIOR PROGRAM.
WE HAVE SERVED OVER 2500 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS THROUGH OUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THIS YEAR SO FAR.
SO THAT'S THROUGH THE END OF APRIL, ACTUALLY NOT MAY.
AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THAT.
AND THEN FINALLY OUR VITAL STATISTICS.
WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE TO DO THAT.
WE'D INCREASE THAT FROM 90% IN PRIOR YEARS.
BUT WE ARE CRUSHING THAT GOAL THIS YEAR AT OVER 98%, SO WE MAY NEED TO INCREASE IT AGAIN, BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, OUR TEAM IS SO EFFECTIVE THAT IT'S ALMOST EASY BECAUSE THEY ARE SO GOOD.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO HERE'S OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.
WE KIND OF WENT THROUGH THIS IN THIS ORDER YOU'LL SEE THAT THE WAY THAT WE'VE PRESENTED THIS, IT'S KIND OF SHOWING THAT THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE CAN REALLY SERVE SOMEBODY THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE.
SO OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION TEAM, WHICH IS CRITICAL.
THEN WE HAVE OUR WIC TEAM, WHICH SERVES PREGNANT NURSING MOMS, INFANTS, CHILDREN, BABIES.
WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS WHERE THERE'S PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.
THERE'S YOUTH PROGRAMS, THERE'S CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, THERE'S PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES.
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HOWEVER, SOCIAL SERVICES AND CONTRACTS COMPLIANCE TEAM, WHERE WE'RE PROVIDING RENTAL ASSISTANCE, WE'RE PROVIDING OR ADMINISTERING SOME OF THE PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE ECOS EARLY CHILDHOOD AND OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM AND A VARIETY OF OTHER PROGRAMS. THROUGH THAT TEAM, WE HAVE OUR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, WHICH IS REALLY AIMED AT HELPING TO STABILIZE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FOR THE LONG TERM.PEOPLE WILL OFTEN NEED THOSE THINGS.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THIS EXTRA LITTLE AREA, WHICH IS KIND OF TEMPORARY FOR US RIGHT NOW.
BUT OUR ARPA PROGRAMS, WE HAVE A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT ALLOCATION OF ARPA FUNDS.
SO WE DO HAVE A TEAM THAT'S DEDICATED TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THEM MOVING FORWARD.
SO YOU'LL SEE THAT OUR DEPARTMENT HAD AN FY 24 BUDGET OF ABOUT $10.1 MILLION.
AND FOR 25, THE PLANNED BUDGET IS SLIGHTLY UNDER THAT.
THE DIFFERENCE IS AN OVERALL REDUCTION OF $26,000.
THAT REDUCTION COMES FROM THE EXCLUSION OF OUR ONE TIME FUNDING FOR A SENIOR SERVICES CONSULTANT, WHICH WAS ADDED IN LAST YEAR, AND THEN IT'S PARTIALLY KIND OF MADE UP FOR MORE, OFFSET BY THE INCREASES TO THE STAFF SALARIES AND THOSE KIND OF PLANNED GROWTHS FOR THOSE 1000, 1000 AREA CATEGORIES IS WHAT WE CALL IT IN THE BUDGET AREA.
SO YOU'LL SEE THAT THE ADJUSTMENT OF SALARIES AND BENEFITS IS ALSO LISTED DOWN HERE.
WE HAD A LOT OF FURNITURE AND STUFF THAT WAS BREAKING DOWN AND KIND OF ALMOST PROBABLY DANGEROUS.
I SAY THAT, BUT WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN THE CITY THERE WAS ACTUALLY A DAY WHERE THERE WAS A REALLY OLD DESK THAT I CAME INTO, AND I WAS JUST GOING TO DEAL WITH IT FOR A LONG TIME, LIKE, I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND MONEY TO BUY A NEW DESK.
AND THEN ONE DAY I RUBBED UP AGAINST IT IN A WAY, AND I GOT LIKE A STRIPE OF SPLINTERS.
AND I WAS LIKE, YEAH, I NEED TO BUY A NEW DESK.
AND SO IF I COULD BUY MYSELF A NEW DESK, WE HAVE TO BUY A DESK FOR EVERYONE WHO NEEDS IT, OBVIOUSLY.
THEN THERE'S THE SACRED CODE ADJUSTMENTS.
WE DON'T CONTROL THE LEVEL OF THEM, BUT WE DO HAVE TO BUDGET AND PLAN FOR THEM.
AND THERE'S NO ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDED FOR FY 25.
SO YOU'LL SEE THAT OUR POSITIONS ARE ACTUALLY REMAINING LEVEL AS PLANNED FROM 24 TO 25.
SO WE HAVE 52 GENERAL FUND POSITIONS, 214 GRANT POSITIONS, AND A TOTAL OF 266 FOR BOTH 2024 AND 2025. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE.
SO NOW THIS IS OUR BUDGET SUMMARY BY SERVICE.
SO I WANT TO POINT SOMETHING OUT HERE THAT'S GOING TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT WONKY.
SO IN 2022 WE HAD GOTTEN SOME NEW PROGRAM FUNDS THAT HAD COME DURING COVID.
A LOT OF THOSE WERE TWO YEAR CONTRACTS.
AND SO AS WE'RE PLANNING AHEAD INTO 2024, WE HAD KIND OF IDENTIFIED A GAP OR A DISTINCTION BETWEEN OUR FISCAL YEARS ENCUMBERED AND THE TRUE FISCAL YEARS.
AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE MADE A FISCAL ADJUSTMENT TO TRUE UP OUR BUDGET.
AND SO YOU MIGHT NOTICE THAT THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURES IN FY 23 DO LOOK LOWER THAN YOU WOULD EXPECT.
COMPARED TO THE BUDGET FOR 23 AND 24.
AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME TRUE UP FISCAL CORRECTIONS THAT WERE DONE, BUT THE ACTUALITY IS THAT THE SERVICES WERE DELIVERED DURING THAT PERIOD, AND THEY ACTUALLY DID COST MUCH CLOSER TO THAT AMOUNT.
AND AS OF NOW, WE ARE FORECAST TO BE VERY CLOSE TO OUR FY 24 BUDGET AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
THE OTHER THING I WILL NOTE OH, NO, THAT'S THE WRONG SLIDE.
I'LL NOTE IT ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
FOR REVENUE. WHAT I DO WANT TO NOTE IS THAT WE'RE SEEING THAT OUR VITAL STATISTICS TEAM.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY BRINGING IN MORE REVENUE THAT WE HAD PLANNED OR BUDGETED.
WE'VE BUDGETED TRADITIONALLY ABOUT $1.4 MILLION.
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WE'VE KIND OF INCREASED THAT OVER THE YEARS AS WE'VE SEEN THE REVENUE THERE GROW.THIS YEAR ALONE, THEY'VE ALREADY SURPASSED THAT REVENUE TARGET.
WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT THAT REVENUE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO SEED 11.
SO I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
BUT WE DO EXPECT TO EXCEED OUR REVENUE FORECAST.
VITAL STATISTICS IS OUR PRIMARY REVENUE DRIVER.
WE DO ALSO HAVE SOME REVENUE THAT COMES FROM OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS.
BUT PRIMARILY IT'S VITAL STATISTICS.
MOVING ON, I REALLY ALREADY COVERED THIS, BUT IT'S JUST HIGHLIGHTING THE ANTICIPATED REVENUE.
AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE YOU'LL SEE OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
SO WE HAVE SEVERAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
YOU CAN SEE THE CHECK MARKS WERE LARGELY ON TARGET TO MEET MOST OF THOSE PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR 2025.
SO WE DON'T HAVE DATA ON THOSE OF COURSE, AND THEN I MENTIONED EARLIER, BUT OUR GOAL OF 4500 CLIENTS ACCESSING MEAL INITIATIVES THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS. THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE SHOWN THAT THAT GOAL MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT TOO AGGRESSIVE.
SO WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SET A LITTLE BIT OF A LOWER GOAL FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
SO THAT ONE WE HAVE MARKED AS BEING AT RISK, BECAUSE WE DO NOT EXPECT WE'RE GOING TO REACH 4500.
WE EXPECT WE'RE GOING TO REACH CLOSER TO 4000 OR 4000, 4100.
SO AGAIN, I HAVE THESE IN ORDER OF A OF A LIFE CYCLE HERE.
WE'VE SERVED OVER 77,000 CLIENTS ALONE IN MAY.
OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMUNITY CENTERS, OFFER ALL KINDS OF PROGRAMING, EVENTS, ACTIVITIES.
OF COURSE, THEY HOST THE MLK PARADE EVENTS.
THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL JUNETEENTH EVENT NEXT WEEK.
WONDERFUL. GREAT EVENTS OVER THERE.
OVER 5200 CLIENTS RECEIVE MONTHLY SERVICES THERE.
WE'VE HOSTED 36 EVENTS AND A YEAR BY BOTH COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE EVENTS THAT ARE HOSTED BY OTHER ENTITIES AT THE COMMUNITY CENTERS, SOCIAL SERVICES.
SO THE SOCIAL SERVICES TEAM INCLUDES OUR HOPWA PROGRAM.
IT INCLUDES OUR RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
IT INCLUDES OUR CONTRACTS COMPLIANCE.
AND WHILE THAT FIT MIGHT SEEM ODD, THE REASON IS BECAUSE MOST OF OUR CONTRACTS, OF COURSE, ARE BEING MANAGED IN A WAY TO BE COMPLIANT WITH VARIOUS FEDERAL FUNDS, AS IS OUR DIRECT SERVICE DELIVERY.
AND SO WHEN WE DO OUR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION, WE'LL PAIR KIND OF A PROGRAM STAFF MEMBER WITH A CONTRACTS COMPLIANCE TEAM MEMBER TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT AND SUPPORT FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT CONTRACTS OR PROGRAMS THAT WE ADMINISTER.
OUR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT TEAM IS IS KIND OF GROWING IN TERMS OF THE SCOPE OF THEIR WORK.
I ALREADY HIGHLIGHTED THE INCREASE IN SAVINGS.
OH, APPARENTLY IT'S ACTUALLY $133,000 INCREASE SAVINGS AND ALSO A $96,000 IN DEBT REDUCTION.
SO THAT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW.
THEY COMPLETED ALMOST 11,000 TAX RETURNS FOR FREE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LOWER INCOME.
ALMOST 7000 PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED FOOD ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE MAKING FOOD ACCESSIBLE ARM, 500 POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SERVICES NEARLY 900 WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH DRIVERS OF POVERTY, AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL ALMOST 300 RECEIVING RECEIVING ADDITIONAL FORMS OF CLIENT ASSISTANCE.
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AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW TO STRATEGICALLY ALIGN THAT WORK EVEN MORE IN THE FUTURE AROUND BENEFITS, ACCESS AND HELPING TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE PULLING DOWN THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF WHAT THEY COULD BE.SO AS MENTIONED EARLIER, OVER 1500 SERVICES SENIORS SERVED THROUGH OUR SENIOR SERVICES HELP LINE, WHICH IS THE FOLKS THAT A LOT OF TIMES OUR RESIDENTS WILL CALL IN FOR JUST A WHOLE HOST OF NEEDS, AND WE'LL REFER THEM TO WHATEVER IT IS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
SOMETIMES IT'S INTERNAL, OFTENTIMES IT'S EXTERNAL.
SOMETIMES IT'S HELP WITH GETTING THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS FOR AN INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL PROGRAM.
WE KEEP A LOT OF DATA ON THAT.
WE KEEP UP WITH THE TYPES OF REQUESTS WE'RE GETTING, AND OF COURSE WE'RE COLLECTING THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE USING THAT IN THE FUTURE AS WE DEVELOP OUR SENIOR SERVICES STRATEGIC PLAN.
FROM THE DENTAL PROGRAM, OVER 1000 SENIORS RECEIVED ALMOST 3300 DENTAL PROCEDURES THROUGH THAT PROGRAM THIS YEAR, AND THEN FROM OUR OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM, WHICH I THINK IS A REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM AS WELL THAT HELPS TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR RESIDENTS OF NURSING HOME AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.
WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF OF SENIOR SOURCE TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND PROACTIVELY MAKE VISITS, AS WELL AS MAKE BEYOND THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF VISITS IN RESPONSE TO VARIOUS TYPES OF COMPLAINTS.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE OVER 4000 RESIDENTS VISITED IN NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES THROUGH ALMOST 700 VISITS BY THOSE THAT PROGRAM. MOVING OVER TO VITAL STATISTICS I MENTIONED, THIS TEAM IS ALMOST SO PERFECT THAT IT'S LIKE, HARD TO SAY MUCH MORE.
THEY HAVE OVER 98% OF CLIENTS THAT GET THEIR OVER THE COUNTER REQUESTS DONE IN 15 MINUTES OR LESS.
AND SO THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF WORK.
THEY'RE DOING IT AT A BIG LEVEL, AND THEY'RE DOING IT REALLY WELL.
SO THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS, BUT THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY HITTING THE CLIENTS DIRECTLY.
AND THAT'S AS OF A REPORT PULLED LAST WEEK.
THEY ALSO ADMINISTER, ADMINISTER, INTERNALLY DELIVER PROGRAMS SUCH AS OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD AND OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM THAT WE CALL COST UNDER CDBG OR WHATEVER CDBG DRIVERS PROGRAMS MIGHT MOVE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.
AND THEN FINALLY, OUR ADMINISTRATION AND BUDGET AND FINANCE.
IT REALLY EQUATES TO OVER $68 MILLION ANNUALLY RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU SEE OUR BUDGET PAGES, YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE A GENERAL FUND BUDGET OF ABOUT $10 MILLION, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE ABOUT ALMOST $30 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDS THE NEXT, EACH OF THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
AND THAT IS NOT EVEN INCLUDING MULTI YEAR FUNDS SUCH AS ARPA OR COVID.
THAT'S CRITICAL FOR OUR OPERATIONS TO GET DONE.
GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO OUR OFFICE FOR FY 24 HAD ONE MAJOR BUDGET INITIATIVE, AND THAT WAS TO SUPPORT THE AWARENESS OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND CROSS DEPARTMENTAL ALIGNMENT OF EXISTING SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAMS THROUGH THE APPOINTMENT OF AN AGE FRIENDLY OFFICER AND AWARDING A CONTRACT FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SENIOR NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGIC PLAN.
I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT WE ARE ON TARGET FOR BOTH OF THOSE.
WE HAVE HIRED OUR AGE FRIENDLY OFFICER.
SHE'LL PROBABLY BE WITH US IN OUR NEXT WEE MEETING, SO YOU MIGHT GET A CHANCE TO MEET HER.
WE ARE ALSO IN THE STAGES OF THE MID STAGES.
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THAT IS GOING TO BE THOUGHTFULLY DRIVEN BY THIS ENGAGEMENT, BY THE SENIOR LISTENING CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH EACH OF YOUR OFFICES.AND SO THAT ACTUALLY WRAPS UP OUR PRESENTATION FOR THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE.
AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
FANTASTIC WORK, GREAT PRESENTATION, AND I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS.
SO I'M GOING TO START WITH, I GUESS, CHAIR RIDLEY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, MISS GALLISHAW.
I'M INTERESTED IN A COUPLE OF ISSUES.
ISN'T THAT TYPICALLY A COUNTY FUNCTION.
SO THEY THE COUNTY HAS A VITAL STATISTICS OFFICE AS WELL.
AND THE STATE ALSO HAS A VITAL STATISTICS OFFICE.
WE HAVE ACCESS TO SOME OVERLAPPING RECORDS AND SOME DIFFERENT RECORDS.
AND WE HAVE RECORDS, I BELIEVE WE HAVE EVERYTHING SINCE 1984, AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING OUR RECORDS BACKWARDS WITH SOME FILES WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND IN THE LIBRARY TO EXPAND UPON THAT.
HOWEVER, THIS PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY COST US MAYBE A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION A YEAR. AND THE REVENUE THE REVENUE MODEL IS ESTABLISHED BY OUR CONTRACT WITH THE STATE.
THEY TELL US HOW MUCH WE CAN CHARGE FOR A RECORD FOR WHATEVER THE TYPE OF RECORD IS.
WE'RE CHARGED WITH MAINTAINING FUNERAL HOME RELATIONSHIPS.
WE HAVE TO ISSUE TRANSMITTALS TO ALLOW WHEN THERE'S A DEATH THAT HAPPENS, WE HAVE TO ISSUE A TRANSMITTAL TO ALLOW SOMETHING TO HAPPEN ACROSS STATE LINES, WE HAVE TO CONTRACT WITH..
OKAY, LET ME STOP YOU THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE LIMITED TIME.
SO I'M CURIOUS, DO YOUR SERVICES NOT DUPLICATE THOSE THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDES? NO, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY DO.
BUT THEY KEEP A DATABASE OF VITAL STATISTICS ALSO? THE STATE KEEPS THE DATABASE, WE PUT THE RECORDS INTO THE DATABASE.
WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING RECORDS IN AND TAKING RECORDS OUT.
SO OKAY SO THE COUNTY DOES THE SAME THING.
THEY YOU WORK WITH THE SAME DATABASE AS YOU DO.
I'M ACTUALLY NOT SURE IF THEY DO THE SAME RECORDS MAINTENANCE THAT WE DO.
HOW DID THE CITY GET INTO THE BUSINESS OF VITAL STATISTICS? I COULDN'T SAY WE'VE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS OF VITAL STATISTICS FOR DECADES.
AND IS YOUR WHAT PERCENTAGE IS YOUR COST RECOVERY? YOU SAID THAT WAS YOUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF REVENUE.
OH, REALLY? BUT THE PROJECTED REVENUE IS 1.8.
YEAH. SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE DO A GOOD JOB OF IT AND THAT WE'RE REALLY EFFICIENT.
SURE. SO COMMUNITY CENTERS TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM.
HOW MANY ARE THERE? WHAT KINDS OF FACILITIES ARE THEY.
AND WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE COMMUNITY CENTERS IN TERMS OF PROVIDING SERVICES? SURE. SO WE HAVE TWO PRIMARY COMMUNITY CENTERS, OUR MLK CENTER IN SOUTHERN DALLAS, NEAR FAIR PARK ON MLK BOULEVARD, AND OUR WEST DALLAS MULTI-PURPOSE CENTER, WHICH IS OVER OFF OF SINGLETON IN WEST DALLAS.
THE CENTERS HAVE SOME SIMILARITIES IN TERMS OF OPERATIONS.
BOTH OF THEM HAVE SOME CORE STAFF THAT DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT HOST AND WORK WITH COMMUNITY NONPROFITS THAT FACILITATE SCHEDULING OF EVENTS. WE HAVE SOCIAL SERVICES STAFF ON SITE AT EACH OF THOSE CENTERS, AS WELL AS FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT SERVICES ON SITE AT EACH OF THOSE CENTERS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET ACCESS TO THEM.
AND THEN BOTH SERVICES, BOTH CENTERS ALSO HAVE AGREEMENTS OR SPACE USE AGREEMENTS WITH VARIOUS NONPROFITS TO BRING ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO THOSE RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES. I WOULD LOVE TO HOST YOU ON A VISIT TO EITHER CENTER.
IF YOU GO IN THERE. I MEAN, IT'S JUST ALWAYS BUSY.
THERE'S ALWAYS STUFF GOING ON.
IT'S ALWAYS FUN. IT'S ENGAGING.
THERE ARE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN JUST RELAX AND WATCH THE TV AND HAVE A COLD BEVERAGE AND EAT A LITTLE GRANOLA BAR AND REST WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE IF THEY NEED TO. BUT BOTH OF OUR CENTERS ARE INCREDIBLY ENGAGING AND ACTIVE.
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THERE'S A LIBRARY ON SITE AS WELL.THERE IS A CLINIC FACILITY, AND WE HAVE A LONG TERM AGREEMENT WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED FOREMOST FAMILY HEALTH, WHICH IS AN FQHC TO DELIVER, OF COURSE, LOW COST HEALTH SERVICES TO PEOPLE THROUGH THAT BUILDING.
SO THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE BUILDINGS.
THERE'S ACTUALLY FIVE BUILDINGS ON THAT CAMPUS, AND THERE'S A RECREATION CENTER ON SITE AS WELL.
SO WE DO MOST OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE DELIVERY THROUGH THE CORE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.
BUT WE ALSO KIND OF MANAGE THE OPERATIONS OF THE CAMPUS OVERALL.
SO ALL OF THESE FACILITIES ARE CITY OWNED? YEAH, THE WHOLE THE WHOLE CAMPUS AND ALL THE BUILDINGS ARE CITY OWNED.
SO AT MLK, WE HAVE THE TWO EXTERNAL PARTNERS ON LEASES AT WEST DALLAS.
IT'S ONE CORE BUILDING, BUT IT IS ADJACENT TO A LIBRARY THAT'S ALSO NEARBY.
OKAY, GREAT. SO JUST ONE FINAL COMMENT.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT YOUR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS. I CONTRIBUTED SIX FIGURES FROM MY ARPA DISCRETIONARY FUNDING FOR ONE OF THE FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS.
AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF YOUR CRITICAL FUNCTIONS, BECAUSE IT TEACHES HOW TO LIFT PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY, TO SAVE MONEY, AND TO REDUCE THEIR DEBT SO THAT THEY CAN BE ABLE TO START BUILDING WEALTH.
THAT PROGRAM, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
IS THE, IT'S IF I READ THIS CORRECTLY, THERE WAS AN EXTRA $400,000 FROM THAT.
SO DOES THAT GO INTO THE GENERAL REVENUE FUND? YES. THE VITAL STATISTICS REVENUE JUST GOES INTO THE GENERAL REVENUE FUND, THAT'S..
I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS GRANT, YOU KNOW.
THANK YOU, AND MISS GALLISHAW, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS LATE LAST NIGHT.
WHEN IT COMES, I SEE THESE NUMBERS, AND I KNOW SO MUCH WORK IS BEING DONE AROUND THIS, BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE GAP IDENTIFIED OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN NEED VERSUS HOW MANY WERE SERVING.
I THINK YOU'RE SAYING A MONTH.
AND SO DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON LOOKING FORWARD HOW WE CAN GET CLOSE THAT GAP MORE? I HOPE THAT THE SENIOR, THE AGE FRIENDLY OFFICER AND THE WORK WE'RE DOING IN SENIOR STRATEGIC PLANNING IS GOING TO BE REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN GUIDING THAT FUTURE WORK.
I THINK THAT WHAT YOU'VE IDENTIFIED IS A TRUE ISSUE AND A TRUE GAP.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR HELP LINE.
SO THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, THE 1500 NUMBER WAS THE HELP LINE ALONE.
I, I HAVE A LIST OF THE NUMBER OF EVENTS THAT THEY DID, LIKE JUST LAST MONTH, BUT SOMETIMES MY TEAM IS GOING OUT TO LIKE FIVE, TEN EVENTS EVERY MONTH JUST TO SHARE WITH MORE SENIORS ABOUT THE TYPES OF SERVICES THAT WE HAVE.
I THINK THAT THAT FEEDBACK IS GOING TO HELP US GUIDE BUT I THINK THAT THE CHALLENGE IS, AS MUCH AS ANYTHING, IS FIGURING OUT HOW TO REACH THE HOMEBOUND SENIORS, THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE NO OTHER WAY TO REACH.
AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME REALLY STRATEGIC THINKING AROUND, REALLY LOOKING AT THIS NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT WE'RE GETTING DONE AND REALLY, REALLY WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR TEAM AND WITH SENIOR SERVICE ORGANIZATION EXPERTS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO COMMUNICATE IT.
AND I'M ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIVING ARRANGEMENTS AND WHAT INFLATION TODAY IS DOING.
AND WE'VE GOT SO MANY LIVING ALONE WHO ARE JUST BEING PRICED OUT OF THEIR HOMES.
BUT I ALSO SENT A NOTE TO OUR FRIENDS AT DART ON THE BOARD ABOUT THAT DART SENIOR RIDES PROGRAM, BECAUSE WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO FREE UP THOSE FUNDS AND BE ABLE TO PUT THEM TOWARDS SERVING MORE SENIORS? MY OTHER QUESTION IS AROUND THE FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS, BECAUSE I THINK I RECALL, AT LEAST IN YEAR BEFORE LAST BUDGET, IT WAS A $1.7 MILLION EXPENSE.
AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THEM ARE SPONSORED TO A DEGREE, AND THESE JUST SEEM LIKE THEY ARE PERFECTLY TAILORED FOR COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT FULFILLMENT THE FINANCIAL LITERACY, THE DEMOGRAPHIC SERVED.
AND SO DOES YOUR OFFICE SECURE THOSE SPONSORSHIPS?
[00:35:05]
NO, NOT NECESSARILY.SO WE DO FUND CENTERS TO AN EXTENT.
AND IN FACT, I'LL SAY THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING REALLY CLOSELY AT THE EXPENDITURES HERE.
AND WE'RE NOT REALLY SUPPOSED TO GIVE A PREVIEW TO FY 25 BEYOND THE PLANNED BUDGET.
WHEN WE MOVE INTO PLANNING AROUND 2025, THERE'S NO QUESTION THEY WORK.
I WOULD JUST LOVE TO SEE THEM UNDERWRITTEN IN EXCESS OF 100%.
AND THERE IS THEY THEY DO EACH HAVE, YOU KNOW, OTHER SPONSORSHIPS THAT MAY COME IN AND SUPPORT COMPONENTS OR SOME OF THE OTHER SERVICES THAT ARE ALIGNED, BECAUSE WE REQUIRE EACH CENTER TO HAVE THESE CORE ALIGNED SERVICES ALSO AVAILABLE TO THE RESIDENTS.
WHILE WE PRIMARILY FUND THE COST OF THE FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT ITSELF.
SO WE BUILD IN SOME REQUIRED LEVERAGING FROM THE GET GO.
BUT NOW WE'RE IN OUR SECOND OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRACT.
SO WE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, KIND OF MOST OF OUR CONTRACTS ARE TWO YEARS.
SO NOW FOR FY 24 IS WHEN WE'RE MOVING INTO THE NEXT SET.
SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET EVEN MORE THOUGHTFUL AND STRATEGIC.
ONE MORE QUESTION IS, ARE ANY IS ANY OF THIS PORTABLE FROM THE FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS, LIKE IF YOU WERE TO GO OUT AND DO LIKE A ONE DAY TYPE OF EVENT AT SOME OF OUR OTHER REC CENTERS WHERE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY GEOGRAPHICALLY CONCENTRATED, WHERE THESE TWO ARE, IS THAT SOMETHING ON THE RADAR OR.
SO WE HAVE FOUND THAT FINANCIAL LITERACY EVENTS LIKE THAT CAN BE CRITICAL FOR ENGAGEMENT.
OF COURSE, THAT'S ONE OF OUR CITY'S BIG GOALS.
NOW, THEY CAN BE A GREAT WAY TO GET PEOPLE LINKED INTO THE FINANCIAL COACHING AS AN OPPORTUNITY.
BUT I THINK THAT THE COACHING ITSELF IS REALLY VALUABLE BECAUSE IT IS 1 TO 1, AND THOSE COACHES ARE TRAINED AND THEY'LL SIT DOWN AND THEY'LL GO THROUGH THAT PERSON'S INDIVIDUAL SITUATION AND HELP THEM MAKE A PLAN.
THE MORE SESSIONS, THE MORE IMPACT.
OF COURSE, WE WANT MULTIPLE SESSIONS, BUT FROM THE PORTABLE STANDPOINT DURING THE PANDEMIC, OF COURSE, WE WERE FORCED TO DO A LOT VIRTUALLY, AND WE'VE KEPT THAT OPTION AVAILABLE. SO THERE ARE STILL SERVICES FROM FINANCIAL COACHING THAT ARE OFFERED, MAYBE FROM A SITE, BUT VIRTUALLY FOR RESIDENTS TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE AVAILABLE BEYOND THOSE CORE SITES.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M GOING TO MOVE TO DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ARNOLD.
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JUST QUICKLY ON YOUR BUDGET REVIEW AND NEXT STEPS, I NEED TO KNOW, I HEARD A MENTION OF, A MATTER OF FACT, LET ME BRING BRING IT BACK TOGETHER.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU, ARE YOU KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THIS GROUP? I AM KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE GROUP, BUT IT'S NOT OUR DEPARTMENT THAT THEY'RE CONTRACTING WITH, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT MIGHT BE INTEGRATED PUBLIC SAFETY POTENTIALLY.
THEY JUST MENTIONED WORKFORCE, SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS SOMETHING.
WE DON'T THROUGH OCC HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THEM, BUT I AM FAMILIAR WITH THEM AND I'M NOT SURE IF SMALL BUSINESS CENTER DOES, BUT IF THEY DO, THEN THEY CAN SURELY BRING THAT UP, BUT NOT EVEN CONTRACTING.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL PARTNER WITH DO TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, EVEN ANY OF THEIR EVENTS? HAVE YOU BEEN HAVE YOUR GROUP BEEN A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION? THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO..
NOT YET, BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO.
AND I WAS SO GLAD THAT MISTER RIDLEY MENTIONED THAT FINANCIAL PLANNING PIECE.
SO THAT WOULD BE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO IN MY OFFICE.
BUT I WILL SIMPLY SAY ALL OF THE AREAS THAT YOU FOCUS ON, I WILL BE HONING IN ON WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO SOME OF THE VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO MORE WORK AND THERE ARE OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT WORK, THAT ARE WORKING.
[00:40:05]
MURDERS IN LESS THAN ABOUT SIX WEEKS.AND MOST OF THOSE INCLUDED THESE YOUNG FOLKS THAT ARE OUR TARGETS.
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE A CHANCE.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT AND YOU AND YOU, IF YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, LET ME KNOW.
BUT I'M LOOKING AT MAYBE STACKING DOLLARS THAT COME FROM THOSE GRANTS.
I THINK YOU MENTIONED GRANTS, POSSIBLY THAT WE COULD STACK DOLLARS BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TO, TO TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE, TO WORK WITH SOME OF THESE NONPROFITS.
AND THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING RIGHT NOW.
SO DOES THAT SOUND SOMETHING THAT LEGALLY WE POSSIBLY COULD DO TO THE PROCESS? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK THAT THE DIRECTION YOU'RE HEADED IS THE DIRECTION WE'RE HEADED TO OUR NEW CITY MANAGER.
OF COURSE REALLY IS EMPHASIZING COLLABORATION.
ESPECIALLY AMONG IN BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT.
WE HAVE NOW LED BY ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER LICINIO PEREIRA MULTI-DEPARTMENTAL MEETINGS REGULARLY AMONGST DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN REENTRY INITIATIVES AND ANY KIND OF WAY OURSELVES FROM THE SOCIAL SERVICES SIDE, SMALL BUSINESS CENTER OFFICE OF INTEGRATED PUBLIC SAFETY, DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE GET MORE STRATEGIC AND ALIGNED THERE.
AND THAT'S JUST KIND OF A DEMONSTRATION, I THINK, OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO WE CAN CERTAINLY AND WILL BE CERTAINLY LOOKING AT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE MONEY.
MOST DEFINITELY. I MADE A NOTE OF THAT AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THAT.
AND IT'S CALLED DALLAS 365 SAFE.
BUT IT ALSO ENTAILS THESE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE NEED.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I GAVE A SHOUT OUT TO CANDACE FLEMING AND TABITHA REAGAN.
SO FOR THE PUBLIC THAT'S LISTENING AND OF COURSE, THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I CONTINUE TO SAY THANK YOU TO JESSICA GALLISHAW FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING QUITE SOME TIME NOW.
I MEAN, IT WAS REALLY, REALLY ROUGH AS MRS. COUNCILWOMAN. WILLIS TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE BEING PUSHED OUT AND HAVING TO FIND PLACES.
IT WAS IT WAS AND THOSE LONG STAY HOTELS.
SO WITH THIS COMMITTEE AND THIS FOCUS AND HIS LEADERSHIP OF OUR CHAIR.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND BUT JUST KNOW AND ALL THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE ON THIS LIST TODAY, WE WILL BE REACHING OUT BECAUSE I'M BEING TOUCHED TO WORK MORE WITH THOSE NONPROFITS THAT WANT TO IMPACT THESE AGES.
AND, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THOSE 14 YEARS BETWEEN 14 AND 17 IS JUST JUST PAINFUL.
SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU THIS MORNING.
AND CHAIR AND COMMITTEE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO MISTER RESENDEZ, CHAIR RESENDEZ.
EVERYONE'S A CHAIR THIS MORNING.
JESSICA, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND AND THE INFORMATION.
I THINK YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING ASKED.
I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT.
PIECE. YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE'S BEEN 117,000 SAVED BY CLIENTS.
HOW WAS THAT? 117,000 CALCULATED.
SO THAT IS ACTUALLY KIND OF GOING BACK TO PART OF THE QUESTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY.
BUT WITH OUR COACHES, THEY'RE ALL PROFESSIONAL AND CERTIFIED.
AND SO ONE OF THE INITIAL THINGS THAT THEY DO ON INTAKE IS THEY ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE INDIVIDUAL'S FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS, KIND OF TO START OFF WITH, THEY SOME OF THEM MIGHT NOT EVEN HAVE BANK ACCOUNTS.
THAT'S ANOTHER METRIC THAT WE TRACK.
HOW MANY SAFE BANK ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN OPENED, FOR EXAMPLE.
BUT THEY'LL ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THOSE RECORDS.
[00:45:01]
THEY'LL SEE WHERE THE FOLKS STAND AND THEN THEY'LL HELP THEM ESTABLISH GOALS.THEY'LL GO THROUGH AND KIND OF CHECK IN EVERY SO OFTEN AND SEE WHERE THEY STAND.
AND BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THEIR FINANCES IT'S BOTH SELF REPORTED, BUT IT'S ALSO FROM THE DOCUMENTS THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE PROVIDING SO THEY CAN SEE THAT THEY HAVE A NEW SAVINGS ACCOUNT THAT HAS MAYBE GROWN BY $2,000, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS RESIDENT.
GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT INFORMATION.
I THINK THAT'S AMAZING THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING.
THAT'S. THOSE ARE THE ONLY COMMENTS I HAVE, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO AS YOU MOVE FORWARD IN THE BUDGET PLANNING FOR US, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY ARTICULATE VERY CLEARLY IS HOW YOU COULD LEVERAGE AND EXPAND THE AREAS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE ARE UNIQUE IN THE SERVICES, IN THE SENSE THAT IT'S THE SUCCESS AS WELL AS HOW WE CAN GROW THOSE, BECAUSE IT COULD BE THAT IT'S A SCALE ISSUE THAT CAN THAT GIVES US THOSE ECONOMIES OF SCALE, NOT JUST BY GROWTH SCALE.
SO I'M GOING TO MOVE ON NOW TO CHAIR BAZALDUA.
AND THANK YOU, JESSICA, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THIS IS I KNOW NO OFFENSE TO THE OTHERS, BUT I THINK THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE DEPARTMENTS OVERALL.
AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO ARE IS VERY TANGIBLE.
I THINK EVERYONE HAS THEIR ROLE, OF COURSE, IN THE DEPARTMENTS AND WHAT IT OFFERS OUR RESIDENTS.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S WHAT I CALL LIFELINE IN MANY IN MANY RESPECTS.
SO ONE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS ABOUT FTES.
AND IF WE'RE LOOKING AT WHERE I'M GOING TO GO WITH MY NEXT QUESTIONS WHICH IS GOING TO BE A PRETTY FUN BUDGET SEASON TO SAY THE LEAST, I AM CURIOUS WHY THERE THERE ISN'T.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE OUR ABILITY FOR GRANTS AND TRUSTS AND OTHER FUNDS GOING INTO WHAT'S GOING TO START GETTING IT TIGHTER FINANCIAL YEAR? WOULD WOULD IT NOT BE MORE PRUDENT TO DEVOTE MORE RESOURCES TO SEEKING THOSE? YES, I THINK THAT THERE PROBABLY ARE OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
SO THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT EXPLORING THINGS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'VE MENTIONED.
BUT AT THIS TIME, OF COURSE, FY 25 PLANNING IS STILL UNDERWAY.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR WHERE IS IT, I GUESS SLIDE NINE.
THE HIGH LEVEL OF THE BUDGETS.
BUT WE HAVE WE HAVE ALMOST EXACTLY OF A DELTA WITH SENIOR SERVICES TO AN INCREASE IN COMMUNITY CENTERS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN, LIKE, THE GRANULAR OF THE $400,000 THAT YOU'RE ANTICIPATING TO SPEND LESS IN THE SENIOR SERVICES LINE ITEM VERSUS THAT OF THE WHAT LOOKS TO BE ABOUT $400,000 INCREASE IN COMMUNITY CENTERS.
OKAY. SO FOR THE SENIOR SERVICES ALIGNMENT ITEM, I THINK YOU'RE SAYING FROM 24 FORECAST TO 25.
CORRECT. I THINK A LARGE PORTION OF THAT IS RELATED TO THE $250,000 OF ONE TIME FUNDING, WHICH IS THE BULK OF THAT AMOUNT.
THERE WAS SOME THERE WAS KIND OF A FISCAL ISSUE WHEN THEY TRANSITIONED SENIORS TO FROM CDBG TO THE GENERAL FUND, SOME KIND OF UNASSIGNED FUNDING MOVED THAT WASN'T ATTRIBUTED TO ANYTHING SPECIFIC.
AND THEN THERE WAS SOME FUNDING THAT WAS RECOMMENDED TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSION THAT THEY HADN'T
[00:50:06]
KIND OF UTILIZED SPECIFICALLY FOR ANYTHING.THIS PLAN FOR FY 25 IS ATTRIBUTING FOR THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE $250,000 AND THE OTHER ASPECT STILL KIND OF ARE REMAINING TRUE IN TERMS OF PROGRAMING MOVING FORWARD.
BUT OF COURSE, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND.
BUT WITH $400,000 LESS IN A IN A FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, WHAT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR THE FOR THE SERVICES AND RESOURCES? AND WITH METRICS THAT YOU'VE OFFERED AND WHAT YOU'RE FORECASTING TO COME IN AT, AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE DIFFERENT GOING FORWARD IN THE NEXT YEAR WITH $400,000 LESS ALLOCATED TO THAT LINE ITEM? THE AGAIN, 250 OF IT IS THE ONE TIME MONEY.
THE ABSENCE OF THAT PLAN DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHAT'S BEING SERVED.
THE REASON I'M ASKING, JUST I GUESS FOR SOME CONTEXT, MAYBE IT WASN'T CLEAR, IS THAT THE.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS IT'S BEEN PUT INTO ANOTHER LINE ITEM VERSUS THAT OF THE SENIOR SERVICES.
SO I'M WANTING YOU TO BE ABLE TO TO AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER RIGHT THIS SECOND BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS VERY HIGH LEVEL, I JUST WAS CURIOUS ON HOW WE'RE ESSENTIALLY SWAPPING WHAT LOOKS LIKE TO BE FORECASTED $400,000 LESS IN SENIOR SERVICES, BUT THAT LOOKS TO BE MADE UP AT COMMUNITY CENTERS.
I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S A SWAP.
I DON'T KNOW, HOLLY, CAN YOU ADD ANYTHING ADDITIONAL TO THE CONTEXT OF THE INCREASE FROM 24 TO 25 IN THE COMMUNITY CENTERS OR THE DECREASE BEYOND THE ONE TIME FUNDING IN THE SENIOR SERVICES SIDE? WAS THAT A POSITION MOVEMENT OR IS THAT SOMETHING ELSE? JUST AS YOU SAID, JESSICA.
THE BULK OF IT, AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, IS THE 250,000 TO DIG IN A MORE GRANULAR, TO PROVIDE MORE GRANULAR DETAILS, WE'D HAVE TO BRING THAT FORWARD TO YOU AT A LATER TIME. BUT CERTAINLY WE CAN LOOK AT THAT.
THANK YOU. WE CAN TRY TO PROVIDE A RESPONSE.
I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S NECESSARILY THE A MOVEMENT.
I GET THAT AND WE CAN TALK OFFLINE MORE.
WHAT I, WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO IS HONE IN ON THE METRICS THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE.
AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SEE SUSTAINED IS THE AMOUNT OF RESIDENTS SERVED.
AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT BROKEN DOWN BY WHAT THE DECREASE OF FUNDING IN ONE YEAR EQUATES TO ON RESIDENTS BEING SERVED.
AND FOR US FOR FOR CONVERSATION PURPOSES DURING BUDGET DISCUSSION, AND IN IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WOULD REALLY LOVE FOR Y'ALL TO HAVE SOME SORT OF LIKE, FINANCIAL ANALYSIS IN THE LEVERAGING POINT THAT YOU HAVE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT YOU BREAK IT DOWN REALLY WELL WITH THIS GENERAL FUND, AND IT SHOWS HOW CRITICAL THE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES ARE THAT YOU'VE LEVERAGED.
SO IF YOU COULD IF YOU COULD JUST SHOW US I GUESS IN SOME WAY WHERE YOU HAVE APPLIED FOR THESE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND HOW THEY'RE NEEDED TO BE MATCHED.
AND WHAT THAT WOULD DO TO YOU IF WE WERE TO TAKE THAT AWAY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO JUST GET A BREAKDOWN OF THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE YOU'RE SERVING WITH THESE LINE ITEMS, BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, IS AND WHAT I'VE KIND OF HINTED AT IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO THIS IS GOING TO BE THE CHOPPING BLOCK.
AND SO I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO PAINT PICTURES WHEN, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SERVICES LIKE THIS ON A CUT WOULD EQUATE TO THIS MANY RESIDENTS NOT BEING SERVED THAT WE ARE. AND SO WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO INCREASE, BUT AT LEAST TO MAINTAIN WHAT YOU'RE ALREADY PRESENTING TO US NOW, I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE BROKEN DOWN TO THE AMOUNT OF RESIDENTS AND NOT JUST HIGH LEVEL AND DOLLAR AMOUNTS, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS IMPACTFUL DURING THAT CONVERSATION.
SURE, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT, AND WE'RE WORKING ON DOING THAT ALREADY.
[00:55:04]
I THINK THAT I MENTIONED THIS UNDER THE FIX, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN BECOME A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFICIENT IF THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR SERVICE DELIVERY IN A MORE COST EFFECTIVE WAY.AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON COLLECTING INFORMATION FROM OUR PARTNERS ABOUT WHAT OTHER TYPES OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY MAY HAVE UNLOCKED BECAUSE OF HAVING RECEIVED CITY FUNDS. OF COURSE, AS WELL AS GRANTS THAT WILL BE PROACTIVELY PURSUING AND LOOKING FOR AS WELL.
PERFECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
YEAH, I THINK THOSE THOSE LEVERAGE CALCULUS WILL BE MOST IMPORTANT.
AND GREAT PRESENTATION AND KIND OF PIGGYBACKING ON WHAT MR. BAZALDUA SAID.
YES, THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT'S GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON.
AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE 29 MILLION OR ALMOST THE 30 MILLION, WE CAN'T TOUCH THAT.
IS THAT CORRECT? THE GRANT FUNDS, WE CAN ONLY REALLY TOUCH THE 10 MILLION OF THE GENERAL FUNDS.
RIGHT. I MEAN, IT'S 25 MILLION IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S WICK, IT'S CDBG OR HUD.
IT'S CULMINATION OF OTHER GRANTS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM EXTERNAL FUNDERS.
OKAY. AND SO IF WE WENT IN AND TOUCH THOSE GRANT FUNDS, WE COULD BE A JEOPARDY FOR LOSING THEM.
WELL, WE WOULD BE. AND WE PROBABLY NEED THE 10 MILLION TO HELP WITH ADMINISTERING THOSE 29 OR THERE'S A WHAT AM I TRYING TO SAY A WHEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE MONEY TO GET THE MONEY.
AND A LARGELY A LOT OF THAT IS TRUE.
AND OF COURSE EVEN WITHOUT A DIRECT LEVERAGE REQUIREMENT, THERE'S ALSO CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS.
YOU HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR CAPACITY TO DELIVER SERVICES.
AND SO ABSENT A CORE, WE WOULDN'T BE AS COMPETITIVE FOR FUNDING.
SO EVEN WITHOUT LEVERAGE REQUIREMENTS OKAY.
SO IF WE DIDN'T PROVIDE THESE SERVICES THROUGH EITHER GRANT OR GENERAL FUND, WHO WOULD IN THE COMMUNITY OR WOULD IT JUST GO WITHOUT? WOULD PEOPLE JUST GO WITHOUT WITH ALL OF THE SERVICES, ANY OF THEM? IT'S JUST A GENERAL QUESTION.
SO I THINK IF NOT US, THEN WHO? I THINK THAT OUR FUNDING ALLOWS FOR MORE THINGS TO HAPPEN THAT WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAPPEN.
IF WE WEREN'T DOING FOOD, THEN THE PEOPLE WERE SERVING PROBABLY WOULDN'T GET SERVED.
INCLUDING OURSELVES, AND THAT'S TRUE FOR A LOT OF OUR PROGRAMS. SO ARE WE LEAVING MORE MONEY ON THE TABLE LIKE GRANT MONEY? I THINK THAT WELL, I THINK THAT WE COULD GET MORE STRATEGIC IN APPLYING FOR GRANTS.
SO THERE'S DEFINITELY ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES TO DO BETTER AT SEEKING MORE GRANT FUNDS.
I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME AREAS WHERE JUST BECAUSE OF HOW OVERWHELMING COVID AND ARPA AND ALL OF THAT HAVE BEEN, THAT MAYBE WE MIGHT HAVE MISSED OUT ON OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE WE BETTER EQUIPPED TO APPLY FOR BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE'RE REALLY BEING PROACTIVE IN SEEKING MORE GRANT FUNDS.
THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST GOALS IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
FOR THE NEXT YEAR IS TO BRING MORE MONEY IN FOR MORE SERVICES.
WELL, BUT THAT BEING SAID, SO THAT WOULD BE UNDER PARTNERSHIPS AND SPONSORSHIPS TOO.
RIGHT? RIGHT. AND I WOULD SAY ALSO SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT VITAL STATISTICS, OF COURSE, LIKE THE MORE EFFICIENT WE DO IT, THE MORE REVENUE IS BETTER AND OUR COSTS ARE LOWER.
THAT CREATES A LITTLE BIT OF AN OPPORTUNITY THERE.
IT'S NOT HUGE, BUT IT'S A CONTRIBUTION.
AND THEN OF COURSE, MORE MONEY GOING INTO THOSE RESIDENTS POCKETS THAT THEY CAN THEN SPEND AT THE GROCERY STORES, THAT THEN GO TO THE GROCERY STORES SO THEY CAN PAY THEIR STAFF AND ALL OF THAT. RIGHT? SO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO AND IF YOU'LL RECALL OUR BRIEFING LAST MONTH AROUND DRIVERS OF POVERTY AND THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC OUTREACH AROUND BENEFITS, THOSE MAY NOT BE FUNDS THAT WE'RE LEAVING ON THE TABLE AS THE CITY, BUT THEY MAY BE FUNDS THAT ARE RESIDENTS ARE LEAVING ON THE TABLE THAT WE CAN HELP THEM TO ACCESS, WHICH IS ALSO VERY, VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THOSE COME INTO COMMUNITY DOLLARS BY BUYING POWER.
IT'S GOT TO SHOW WHAT IS THE ROI, RIGHT.
WHAT ARE WE BUYING WITH THIS? NOT JUST WHO WE'RE SERVING, BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN BACK IN OUR COMMUNITY? LIKE THERE'S THAT ONE WHERE YOU DID THE THE TAX REFUND OR THE TAX BROUGHT BACK $10 MILLION INTO A COMMUNITY.
SO I MEAN, THE WAY I SEE THIS, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NEED THEIR HIERARCHY NEEDS MET.
[01:00:03]
THAT'S JUST THE BASIS OF IT.WE EITHER SHOULD GIVE WE ACTUALLY SHOULD GIVE THEM THE TOOLS TO DO THAT.
AND THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER CONVERSATION.
SO I MEAN, I'M NOT BIG ON I THINK I'M BIG ON MORE EFFICIENCY AND WHAT ARE SOMEBODY ELSE DOING AND LET THEM DO IT VERSUS US JUST REPLICATING ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT'S ELSEWHERE.
SO AND THEN MAXIMIZING THINGS THAT ARE WORKING, SUCH AS THE FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT HELPING MORE FOLKS ACCESS THROUGH THEIR INCOME TAX RETURNS, ETC., WHICH I THINK IS ALSO THEN A STRATEGIC DECISION FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT.
BECAUSE LET'S TEACH A MAN TO FISH NOT GIVE THEM A FISH.
SO ANYWAY, THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT.
SO I THINK YOUR NARRATIVE YOU DON'T HAVE YOU'RE YOU'VE GOT SOME REALLY GOOD DATA.
BUT I DO THINK SHOWING A, AN INVESTMENT, IF SOMEBODY'S GOING TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT INTO THIS PROGRAM, SUCH AS A GRANT OR EVEN THE STATE FUNDING OR EVEN NATIONAL OR FEDERAL FUNDING, THIS IS WHAT IT DOES.
I'M GOING TO ASK YEAH. GO AHEAD AND I'M GOING TO ASK A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
THEN WE'LL MOVE ON. I'M SORRY.
JUST REAL QUICK I WOULD LIKE TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MISS BLACKMON JUST SAID.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT CHAIR BLACKMON IN ADDITION TO THAT THE SAME ALONG THE SAME LINES, I'M CURIOUS TO SEE IF Y'ALL COULD ALSO PROVIDE US WITH IN THEORY, IF WE, FOR INSTANCE, AND THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE, IF WE'RE NOT INVESTING IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE, WHAT ARE WE? WHAT IS THE RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR OUTREACH TO HOME, HOW'S SOMEONE WHO IS UNSHELTERED? AND IF WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE THAT LIKE KIND OF COMPARATIVE DATA THAT I THINK IT'D BE IT WOULD BE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BREAK THIS DOWN WITH WHO WE'RE SERVING TO, ESSENTIALLY THE INVESTMENT PER RESIDENT AND WHAT WE'RE TOUCHING.
AND I AND I WOULD SAY THAT IT JUST ON THE SURFACE THAT, YOU KNOW CUTTING DOWN ON THIS AND OPENING OURSELVES UP TO HAVING TO PICK UP ON THE OTHER END, FOR INSTANCE, COULD VERY EASILY COST THE CITY MUCH MORE DOWN THE ROAD, NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT, OF COURSE, DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.
YEAH. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO DO A BETTER STORYTELLING AROUND LEVERAGING OPPORTUNITIES AND HOW THAT COMES INTO PLAY ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THEIR YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK.
AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT PANELIST.
GREAT. SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS OUR HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
AND AS THEY COME UP, I WANT TO START WITH AN OPENING STATEMENT, IF I MAY.
THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT OUR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE OF THE VETERANS COMMISSION AND THE DISABILITIES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK AT THIS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T NOTICE IT FOR PUBLIC INPUT.
SO COMMITTEE, BEFORE THEY BEGIN TO GIVE THEIR PRESENTATION ON THIS COMMISSION AND THE FOLLOW UP, WHICH YOU MAY REMEMBER, WE ASKED THEM TO DO THIS ITEM HAS BEEN UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR A WHILE, AND I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR THE EXTENSIVE WORK IN POLLING OTHER GOVERNMENTS WHO HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS OR TASK FORCES, BECAUSE HUMAN RIGHTS IS SUCH A BROAD CONCEPT, ALBEIT EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
JUST AS IN OUR INDIVIDUAL MINDS, THERE'S A MULTIPLICITY OF DEFINITIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
SO ARE THERE MULTIPLE MODELS THAT VARY BY JURISDICTION? WE BEGAN THIS WORK THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSIONS DEDICATED TO SPECIFIC GROUP OF RESIDENTS AND ESTABLISHING THE VETERANS, SENIORS AND DISABILITIES
[01:05:04]
COMMISSIONS WERE VERY PROUD OF THEIR WORK.OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER GROUPS, SUCH AS LGBTQ, PLUS WOMEN AND OTHER POPULATIONS, THAT WOULD LIKE A VOICE FOR THEIR UNIQUE CONCERNS AT THE CITY'S TABLE. WE BEGAN BY ASKING STAFF TO POLL OUR VETERANS AND DISABILITY COMMISSIONS.
THEY FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT THOSE TWO COMMISSIONS, WHEN POLLED, FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THEY REMAIN INDEPENDENT AS UNIQUE VOICES FOR THEIR WORK AS YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE STAFF PRESENTATION.
SO HOW WE ENGAGE IN OUR VARIOUS COMMUNITIES IS CRITICAL IN DEVELOPING A HUMAN RIGHTS BODY.
SHOULD IT BE ONE THAT COMBINES ALREADY EXISTING GROUPS? SHOULD IT BE ONE THAT'S FORMAL OR INFORMAL? SHOULD WE BE ENGAGING ALL COMMISSIONS AND ASKING THEM FOR DELEGATES TO A NEW BODY, PERHAPS AN AD HOC COMMITTEE? THERE ARE MANY, MANY OPTIONS.
AND THE QUESTION YOU HAVE ASKED US AS DALLAS SEEKS TO ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS, IS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
WE SHOULD NOT LIMIT THE DISCUSSION, BUT USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING MORE VOICES TO THE TABLE AND HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ADVANCEMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS LOOKS LIKE IN DALLAS.
THAT MEANS THAT WE ASK STAFF TO HELP US ORGANIZE A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP FOR ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS IN HUMAN RIGHTS, TO SEE HOW THEY WOULD LIKE US TO ADVANCE IN THIS WORK. WHEN WE COMPLETE THE INITIAL ENGAGEMENT, WE CAN RETURN TO THIS GROUP TO DETERMINE THE NEXT BEST STEP REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A POTENTIAL COMMISSION.
SO WHY IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE PREPARED TO TAKE ON WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS COMMITTEE? AND WHAT DOES THAT TIMELINE LOOK LIKE FOR A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP? THOSE ARE NOT QUESTIONS THAT YOU WERE PREPARED.
I FIRMLY SUPPORT THE NOTION THAT INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE AND HUMAN RIGHTS IS AN IMPERATIVE THAT WE, AS A CITY AND OUR VARIOUS COMMUNITIES SHOULD ADVANCE IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR ASPIRATIONS TO BECOME MORE EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE, WELCOMING, AND A CITY OF BELONGING.
NOW I HAVE SET THE TABLE, BUT BY NO MEANS ARE THE IS WHAT IS GOING TO COME OFF OF THIS TABLE DETERMINED? I'M JUST LETTING IT OUT.
I'M JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO HAVE A GOOD DISCUSSION FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION FROM STAFF, A BRIEF PRESENTATION SINCE WE'VE HEARD IT BEFORE, SOME OF THIS ON WHAT WE SHOULD GO DO MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS COMMISSION.
SO WITH THAT PLEASE GO RIGHT AHEAD.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
FIRST, THANKS, CHAIR SCHULTZ, FOR SETTING THE CONVERSATION AND PROVIDING A ROBUST CONTEXT.
THAT BEING SAID, I WILL BREEZE THROUGH THE FIRST FIVE SLIDES THERE.
AGAIN, I THINK WE WE JUST GOT A PRETTY ROBUST RECAP, AND SO IF WE GO TO THE NEXT, NEXT SLIDE.
I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT TWO REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS, AND ONE IS IT'S IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT OUR RESIDENTS, INDIVIDUALS HAVE MULTIPLE IDENTITIES THAT REALLY INTERSECT WHICH AFFECTS THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS.
AND THAT'S THE IDEA OF INTERSECTIONALITY.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FROM A HIGH LEVEL IS MUCH OF THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE USE FOR THE CURRENT ENGAGEMENT THAT YOU'LL HEAR THAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH FIFA'S HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK, WHICH REALLY LOOKS AT THE THREE PILLARS THAT ARE THERE ON THE SLIDE.
SO SOME GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND QUESTIONS THAT REALLY SET THE PATH OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS FOR US REALLY CAME FROM THE MEMO THAT WE PRESENTED IN FEBRUARY, WHICH INQUIRED ABOUT THE STRUCTURE, WANTING TO CLARIFY FUNCTIONS, ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND POTENTIAL MEMBERSHIP GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING TO JUMP RIGHT INTO THE SECOND SECTION AND PASS IT OVER TO OUR HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER, CHRIS GRAVES, TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
[01:10:01]
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR WILSON.CHAIR SCHULTZ, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
CAN YOU TALK LOUDER, PLEASE? I'M PARTICULARLY EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT OUR ENGAGEMENT, BOTH LOCALLY AS WELL AS NATIONALLY, AS WE BROACH THE IDEA OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
BEYOND GOING LOCAL, WE WANTED TO GO NATIONAL.
I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAVE CHAIR CONLEY WITH US.
HE'S THE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITY.
AND WE ALSO HAVE COMMISSIONER CHASE FROM OUR VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION THAT IS CORRECT.
OH, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE CHAIR OF OUR VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION WITH US AS WELL.
WE DISCUSSED A RANGE OF DIFFERENT TOPICS WITH THE EXISTING COMMISSIONS.
FIRST, WE WANTED FEEDBACK ON THE CURRENT STRUCTURE, WHETHER IT WAS WORKING FOR THEM.
IF THERE WAS THIS IDEA OF MERGING COMMISSIONS.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE ABLE TO DILUTE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS AT ALL.
ON THE ONE HAND, WITH OUR COMMISSION ON DISABILITY, THEY DID SEE THE IDEA OF A MERGER AS SOMETHING POSITIVE THAT COULD REALLY INCREASE THE VISIBILITY OF THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. BECAUSE OF THIS MULTIPLE IDENTITIES APPROACH, WE DO WANT TO STRESS THAT THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION SUPPORTS THE INITIATIVE, BUT THEY AGREED ON A RECOMMENDATION TO STAY INDEPENDENT, AND THIS WAS IN LIGHT OF PRESERVING THEIR EFFECTIVENESS.
AND THEN FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY, WE'VE INCLUDED THE RECOMMENDATION IN THE APPENDIX OF THE POWERPOINT.
WE DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AT THE SAME TIME WITH OUR COMMISSION ON DISABILITY.
THEY SAW IT AS A WAY TO INCREASE EFFECTIVENESS ON KEY ISSUES, BECAUSE YOU'RE BRINGING DIFFERENT HUMAN RIGHTS HOLDERS TOGETHER AND THEN FOCUSING, FOR EXAMPLE, ON LGBTQIA ISSUES.
IF THERE WAS THE IDEA OF THIS MERGING FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER.
THE CITIES WERE VERY, VERY BROAD.
WE WENT EAST COAST TO WEST COAST.
WE WENT BIG CITY TO SMALL CITY.
IN TERMS OF THE TOP TEN, WE ENGAGED THREE TOP TEN US CITIES IN TERMS OF POPULATION.
OUR STRUCTURE FOR ENGAGEMENT FOCUSED ON THREE CORE PILLARS.
THAT WAS WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND HOW WERE THEY STRUCTURING THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, WHAT WERE THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS? WE ALSO WANTED TO HEAR FROM THEM AS FAR AS THEIR KEY PRACTICES, AS WELL, AS WE WANTED AN HONEST DISCUSSION OF CHALLENGES THEY WERE FACING.
AND THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE A TABLE OF ALL THE CITIES WE ENGAGED.
WE DID START FROM A BROADER LIST OF 40 US CITIES.
FROM THAT 25, WE MORE OR LESS GOT 18 POSITIVE RESPONSES.
AND THEN WE HAD MEETINGS WITH THOSE CITIES.
SO WE HAVE TWO PEER CITIES IN TEXAS, FORT WORTH, AS WELL AS AUSTIN AND THEN 16 OTHER US CITIES.
AND THEN WE HIGHLIGHTED IN BOLD THE TOP TEN, OF COURSE, NEW YORK CITY, PHILADELPHIA, CHICAGO.
BUT OF COURSE, AUSTIN, FORT WORTH.
IT WAS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT THAT A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION REALLY HAS STRONG COMMUNITY BUY IN, AND THAT THEY'RE TAPPING INTO THE COMMUNITY AT THE SAME TIME MAINTAINING DIRECTION WITH CITY GOVERNMENT.
TO PRESERVE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY HAVE TO STAGGER TERM.
SO THAT WAY YOU PRESERVE THAT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE WITH NEW MEMBERS COMING IN.
FINALLY, SOME COMMISSIONS DID PURSUE HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS. NEXT. YES.
IN TERMS OF STRUCTURE AND KEY FUNCTIONS, REALLY, IT DID RUN THE GAMUT IN TERMS OF SIZE AND SCOPE.
[01:15:01]
WE HEARD FROM SOME COMMISSIONS THAT THEY SAW HAVING DIFFERENT SUBCOMMITTEES WAS A WAY TO INCREASE CAPACITY, REALLY FOR THEIR EFFECTIVENESS.BY AND LARGE, IN TERMS OF STRUCTURE, MOST HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS HAVE A COMMUNITY FACING PROGRAMING AND THEN SUBCOMMISSIONS DID PURSUE HOUSING ENFORCEMENT THROUGH HUD, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY FACING PROGRAMING, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS HOSTED KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AWARENESS EFFORTS, AS WELL AS CO-ORGANIZED FORUMS ON KEY BUTTON ISSUES.
THIS COULD BE FOR LGBTQIA ISSUES.
AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT, WE HAD A REALLY HONEST DISCUSSION OF CHALLENGES.
SOME COMMISSIONS WERE VERY HONEST AND SAYING THAT THEY HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN BUILDING TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT THE COMMUNITY BELIEVES THAT THE COMMISSION WAS SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR THEM.
FOR THOSE CITIES WHO DID PURSUE VARIOUS ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS, THERE WAS THE ISSUE OF JURISDICTION, AND SOME COMMISSIONS DID HAVE TO REFER CASES OUT IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE PURVIEW OVER IT. FOR SOME COMMISSIONS, IF THEY WANTED TO TAKE ON A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE, OFTENTIMES THE ORDINANCE KIND OF PRESCRIBE THEIR SCOPE, AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO TAKE ON AN ISSUE THAT MAYBE THE COMMUNITY WANTED THEM TO.
IN TERMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS, THESE ARE VOLUNTEER COMMISSIONERS.
WE ALSO HEARD ABOUT EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES.
ONE WAS TO REALLY DO A LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT AND THEN CONSIDER ADDRESSING THOSE GAPS.
THIS COULD BE FOR EXAMPLE, DO WE KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AWARENESS EFFORTS AROUND HATE CRIMES ACROSS PROTECTED CATEGORIES? IF THERE ARE HUMAN RIGHTS RELATED COMMISSIONS AT THE CITY, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE A BROADER MEETING BETWEEN COMMISSIONS SO THAT WE HAVE COLLABORATION AMONG EXISTING COMMISSIONS. IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MEMBERSHIP, ONE KEY PRACTICE WAS ENSURING EQUAL REPRESENTATION FOR INDIVIDUALS ACROSS PROTECTED CATEGORIES.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALWAYS A CONCERN.
THIS COULD BE THROUGH COMMUNITY CANVASING, FOR EXAMPLE.
A FEW COMMISSIONS ALSO HAD REALLY INNOVATIVE PRACTICES TO ADDRESS HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND THIS IS LARGELY TO SUPPORT YOU AND T VISA'S CERTIFICATIONS FOR VICTIMS. OF COURSE, U VISA FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME, T-VISA FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING.
THERE'S ALSO THE POTENTIAL TO ADOPT A REALLY INNOVATIVE FOCUS AREA FOR THE WEE THAT REALLY BRINGS TOGETHER THE DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT THIS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN CONSIDERING, EVERYTHING FROM PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO ALSO ADDRESSING HATE CRIMES.
IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT THAT IF THERE IS THIS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION THAT WE HAVE STRONG COMMUNITY BUY IN, THAT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY RELATION STRUCTURE WITH A COMMUNITY THAT HAS FAITH IN THE COMMISSION.
FINALLY, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALIGN THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION WITH THE PRIORITIES OF THIS COMMITTEE AND THE BROADER CITY AS A WHOLE, SO THAT WE WERE BRINGING THE WHOLE CITY FORWARD.
NEXT SLIDE. AND THEN FINALLY KEYING INTO WHAT CHAIR SCHULTZ HAS SAID AT THE START OF THE MEETING.
AND, OF COURSE, THE QUESTION THAT CHAIR SCHULTZ HAD BROUGHT UP WAS WHO ELSE SHOULD BE AT THE TABLE? YOU KNOW, WE'VE LEARNED THAT HUMAN RIGHTS HOLDERS HAVE MULTIPLE IDENTITIES.
AND AS CHAIR SCHULTZ SAID, THERE'S NOT REALLY ONE RIGHT WAY TO HAVE A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS FROM HERE AT THE TABLE? YES. THIS TIME WE'LL GO.
I WILL JUST SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT I SUPPORT.
AND IT'S NOT JUST DUPLICATIVE.
I THINK THAT THERE, YOU KNOW, ARE OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS.
[01:20:04]
I THINK THAT I HATE TO SAY IT IN THIS MANNER.I THINK THAT WE ARE USED TO A NORMAL STRUCTURE WHERE WE EACH GET AN APPOINTEE IN ALL REALITY, EVEN THOUGH I'M, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE ALL TRY TO GET SOMEONE IN THERE THAT'S GOING TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE RESPECTIVE SUBJECT THAT MAY BE, YOU KNOW, A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN THAT FIELD, BUT THEY ALSO BECOME SOMEWHAT POLITICAL AND EVERYONE GETS THEIR PICK.
I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT'S THE APPROACH FOR, FOR FOR THIS.
AND I THINK THAT WE'VE ALREADY GOT PICKS AND WE'VE ALREADY GOT SOME KIND OF INTERSECTIONALITY, IF YOU WILL, TO OTHER PLACES THAT WE HAVE APPOINTEES THAT THAT DID FALL INTO THAT SAME CATEGORY THAT I JUST, I MENTIONED.
SO THE REASON I SAY THAT IS THAT I THINK THERE'S A WAY FOR US TO MAYBE LEVERAGE THIS MORE LIKE A TASK FORCE THAT IS GETTING BUY IN FROM OTHERS WHO WE ALREADY HAVE APPOINTED.
BUT ALSO THAT IS IS TAKING UP ISSUES BROUGHT THROUGH HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OR TASK FORCE, HOWEVER, THAT IS, AND NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENTING THEIR BOARD OR COMMISSION, BUT BEING ABLE TO RELAY WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING AND VICE VERSA, BRINGING THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS TASK FORCE TO SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE TO PREVENT THE DUPLICATIVE NATURE OF SOME OF THE WORK, I.E.
HOWEVER, THERE'S PROBABLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE DISCUSSIONS TO BE HAD.
BUT I THINK THAT JUST HAVING APPOINTMENTS, MADAM CHAIR, THAT IS JUST EACH PERSON GETS ONE TO ME WILL MISS THE MARK UNLESS WE HAVE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH OF THE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE TO FILL.
WE HAVE A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS THAT NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS.
I THINK VISIT DALLAS SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
THEY'RE SELLING OUR CITY AND THEY NEED TO BE THERE.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE LIKE THE LGBT TASK FORCE, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE INTERFAITH COALITION WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD, WE HAVE OUR VETERANS AFFAIRS.
AND SO WE'VE ALREADY GOT A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS IN PLACE.
WE'VE GOT OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE, FOR INSTANCE, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS THAT THAT TO ME, THIS SEEMS MORE ABOUT GETTING A VOICE FROM ALL OF THE RESPECTIVE AVENUES AND PUT TO THE TABLE AND SEEING HOW WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS COME UP ALMOST IN AN AD HOC MANNER, WHEN IT COMES TO THE WORLD CUP WHEN IT COMES TO THE NRA THAT WAS HERE YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THAT WAS ENOUGH OF A DEGREE, SEPARATION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE DIDN'T MAKE ANY OF THOSE DECISIONS.
DON'T SLAP THE NAME COMMISSION ON IT.
AND EVERYBODY PUT AN APPOINTMENT OUT AND IT JUST BECOMES ANOTHER POLITICAL BOARD.
I THINK THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE VERY, VERY THOUGHTFUL.
AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PLAYERS ALREADY THAT WE CAN TAP INTO TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THAT'S GREAT.
I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY GO OVER TO MR. NARVAEZ BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN CHAMPIONING THIS TOPIC FOR A LONG TIME.
SO I'D LIKE HIM TO SPEAK TO THIS AND THEN WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, WELL, I'LL MOVE TO EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO SPEAK, BUT I WANT TO BEGIN TO GET A SENSE OF I WE HEARD ALREADY KIND OF AN OPENING STRUCTURE.
SO I WANT TO GET STRUCTURE IDEAS FROM EVERYONE.
THANK YOU. PLEASE, MR. NARVAEZ. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK, NOT BEING A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE AND, YES YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE, AND THAT I'VE BEEN CHAMPIONING THIS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME EVEN BEFORE I GOT ON THE COUNCIL.
SO, COLLEAGUES, JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID.
WELL, THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON SAID SOMETHING SO FAR, MR. BAZALDUA, AND I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID THERE.
THE WORD COMMISSION IS JUST A WORD TO HOLD A HOLDING PLACE FOR THIS BECAUSE IT'S OUR TYPICAL IT'S WHAT WE NORMALLY DO FOR IN OUR WORLD, RIGHT?
[01:25:01]
AS A COUNCIL, HOWEVER, IT CAN BE CALLED WHATEVER IT NEEDS TO BE CALLED.I'M NOT COMMITTED THAT IT HAS TO BE SUPER FORMAL.
YOU HEARD SOME IDEAS FROM MR. BAZALDUA THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS ALREADY THAT DO A LOT OF THE WORK THAT MIGHT BE IN HERE AND BUT THERE'S ALSO OTHER THINGS THAT YOU JUST HEARD IN THE PRESENTATION, AND ABSOLUTELY, THIS CANNOT BECOME A POLITICAL A POLITICAL GROUP THAT NEEDS TO BE WHAT IT IS, WHICH IS ADVANCING OF HUMAN RIGHTS WHEN THOSE ISSUES COME UP THE, THE TABLE THAT MADAM CHAIR SET AT THE BEGINNING, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH, I AM WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN FAVOR OF DOING A WORKSHOP HEARING BACK FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS. YOU KNOW, I AGREE THAT THE DISABILITY, THE VETERANS YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD STAY INDEPENDENT.
THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR OWN COMMISSION BECAUSE THOSE ARE VERY, VERY HUGE ISSUES THAT FALL WITHIN THOSE CATEGORIES THAT THEY NEED TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AND NOT GET LUMPED IN I AND MERGING EVERYBODY TOGETHER.
WE ALSO HAVE LIKE THE LGBT TASK FORCE, THE LGBT TASK FORCE.
THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY WANT TO STAY AS WELL AS INDEPENDENT.
BECAUSE IF WE HAVE A COMMISSION WHERE WE'RE POINT, WE'RE SAYING, OH, YOU NEED AN LGBT MEMBER, YOU NEED A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES, YOU NEED A PERSON WHO'S BEEN YOU KNOW, HOMELESS, YOU NEED DIFFERENT RACES, THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER, IT COULD END UP BECOMING VERY TOKENIZED.
AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT, WE NEED PEOPLE THAT ARE CONTENT EXPERTS AS FAR AS THEY THE WORK THAT THEY DO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY OR SERVING ON A COMMISSION OR WHAT HAVE YOU, BECAUSE JUST TO SAY, OH, WE NEED AN LGBT PERSON ON THERE.
SO I'M, I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY TO SEE US AT LEAST HAVE THIS PRESENTATION SO FAR.
WHAT I'LL SAY FOR NOW WOULD LOOK LIKE TO THEM.
WHAT IS IT? WHAT WHAT DOES THE CITY OF DALLAS RESIDENTS SAY IS HUMAN RIGHTS? YOU KNOW IT'S LIKE WE DON'T DEAL WITH IMMIGRATION AS A CITY, BUT WE DO DEAL WITH IMMIGRATION AS A CITY, RIGHT? SO IT'S THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB ADVANCING, BUT HOW DO WE MAKE IT BETTER? SO I'M FULLY IN FAVOR OF SLOWING DOWN.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABOUT THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING FOR STAFF TO ACTUALLY HAVE STARTED LOOKING AT THIS AND PROBABLY VERY, VERY DEVOTED IN THE LAST, I'D SAY, YEAR AND INTO RESEARCHING IT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT THING GOING.
AND I APPLAUD STAFF FOR THE PRESENTATION FOR WHAT THEY'VE PUT TOGETHER, ALL THE RESEARCH.
AND I THINK IT'S THE NEXT STEP IS US TAKING IT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND FINDING OUT WHAT THEY WANT.
MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE THE SYSTEM IN PLACE THAT WE HAVE WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS THAT EXIST IS IS OKAY, AND THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE GET THE DEFINITIONS OF WHAT THEY EXPECT TO SEE THERE.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, AS MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY JUST LIKE WE DID WITH THE ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION AND OTHER COMMISSIONS THAT THERE'S A CHECK IN WHETHER IT'S IN TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS, FOUR YEARS, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, THE BODY THINKS IS BEST SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND SEE, DO WE NEED A MASSAGE HERE? DO WE NEED A MASSAGE THERE? DID WE LEAVE SOMETHING OUT THAT WE NEED TO ALLOW THIS GROUP OR THIS BODY TO WORK ON IN THE EVENT THAT WE DO GO TO A POINT WHERE WE WANT TO HAVE THIS HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP.
MISS BLACKMON. HI, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
YOU HAVE BOLD AND I MAY HAVE MISSED IT, BUT ON THAT LIST OF 18 CITIES YOU HAVE SOME THAT ARE BOLD.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? YES. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER.
OKAY, SO IT WASN'T ANYTHING ELSE, BUT JUST THAT THOSE THOSE TWO THINGS.
[01:30:01]
WHAT DO WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS MISSION? BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GETTING INTO THE THE DETAILS OF SOMETHING, AND I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE'RE GOING, LIKE, WHAT DO WE WANT TO ACHIEVE BY THE END? SO I GUESS, WHAT IS OUR VISION STATEMENT? IN TERMS OF THE VISION STATEMENT, I THINK IT'LL BE REALLY VALUABLE TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP SO THAT WE ARE IN TOUCH WITH THE COMMITTEE.SO THAT WAY WE KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.
AS DOCTOR WILSON HAD SAID AT THE BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED THIS PROCESS LOOKING AT THE FIFA HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK, AND THAT INCLUDES ABOUT EIGHT DIFFERENT HUMAN RIGHTS HOLDERS ACROSS DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST A FRAMEWORK.
IT'S NOT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY REFLECTIVE OF THE GROUPS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.
AND SO I THINK IF WE START FROM THE COMMUNITY PROCESS, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DRAFT OUT.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE VISION OF THE TASK FORCE.
THESE ARE GOING TO BE THE DELIVERABLES THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE.
BUT I THINK IT'LL START FROM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND I DO AGREE WITH THAT.
SO I GUESS WE'RE KIND OF PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE BEFORE THE CART.
I MEAN, THAT'S HOW I START WITH THE VISION.
AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR MISSION AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR STRATEGIES AND TACTICS.
AND SO I GUESS WE DO HAVE A GOOD, I THINK, A, AN INVENTORY OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD COME IN WITH A NOTION OF THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITHOUT HAVING A VISION STATEMENT, BECAUSE I THINK YOU MAY HEAR SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WE MAY HAVE TO CHANGE.
AND THAT'S FINE, BECAUSE THIS IS SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.
BUT I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT WE SHOULD COME IN WITH, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AND THIS.
I THINK THAT NORTH STAR MAY LEAD US TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHTS, BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT IN A GRAND SCHEME AND THEN YOU GO INVERTED VERSUS STARTING INVERTED AND GOING GRAND, AND I JUST ALWAYS START WITH WHAT IS A NORTH STAR AND THEN MOVE FROM THERE.
AND I GUESS THAT IS LIKE, DO WE WANT TO BE THE I MEAN, THE VISION STATEMENT IS THE VISION STATEMENT.
AND THEN YOU BASICALLY CREATE THE FRAMEWORK AND WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO ACCOMPLISH THAT AND IF IT'S COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY, THEN I THINK THEN THEN AND IT SHOULD COME FROM THE COMMUNITY, IT SHOULD BE ORGANIC.
BUT I DO THINK THAT HAVING A PRE NOTION OF THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS OTHER STUFF I THINK, DON'T I THINK YOU NEED TO GO TO THE COMMUNITY FIRST. AND I THINK ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY, EVERY GROUP, ANY GROUP MINISTERS FAITH BASED, THEY SHOULD BE HERE LISTENING AND TALKING. I GUESS THEY SHOULD PROBABLY BE MORE TALKING.
I MEAN, WE SHOULD BE LISTENING BECAUSE I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS CREATE BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, OUR POLICE INVESTIGATION UNIT THAT NEEDS TO BE IN THIS AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT IS A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE AS WELL IN SOME CASES.
SO I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO START WE'RE GETTING REALLY INTO THE DETAILS, AND I THINK WE NEED TO START WITH MORE OF A VISION STATEMENT THAT IS, LIKE YOU SAID, PERCOLATED FROM THE COMMUNITY.
NOW I'M GOING TO JUST INTERJECT BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE WHAT WE'RE HERE.
WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM EVERYONE IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME IN DIFFERENT WAYS OF SHARING THAT INSIGHT.
AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN ALREADY IN THE SUCCESS OF THE WITH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND OTHERS, WHERE WE BEGIN WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE RACIAL EQUITY WORK, WHEN WE BEGIN BY LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITIES, WHEN WE GET THE BEST PRODUCT.
SO WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THAT IS THAT.
SO WHAT I WILL SUGGEST IS THAT WE MEET AFTERWARDS AND THAT THERE'S SOME FOLKS HERE WHO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE AT THE TABLE IS INTERESTED IN WORKING ON THIS.
IF YOU ARE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
ABSOLUTELY. AND WE'LL WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL IF THERE'S COUNCIL MEMBERS, PARTICULARLY IF MR.
[01:35:02]
NARVAEZ, OF COURSE, WANTS TO BE INVOLVED.BUT IF THERE'S ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE LISTENING AND I'LL MENTION IT AGAIN INDIVIDUALLY ON WEDNESDAY WHO WANT TO BE INVOLVED, AS WELL AS ANY OF OUR FANTASTIC LEADERS FROM OUR COMMISSIONS WHO WANT TO BE INVOLVED.
THE NEXT STEP, I THINK, WILL BE TO CREATE A STAFF.
THERE'S A COUPLE PEOPLE WE WANT TO BE INVOLVED.
SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, STAFF, IS ASK YOU ALL TO SCHEDULE A TIME IN THIS SUMMER TO WORK ON THAT WITH US, SO THAT HOPEFULLY IN THE FALL WE CAN HOST THAT WORKSHOP AND BEGIN TO DO SOME REAL WORK IN THIS EFFORT.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT TO OUR NEXT BRIEFING, WHICH IS OUR STATE AND LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET THAT DONE TO MR. SPARKS, THANK YOU, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND COMING DOWN HERE TODAY.
WE DEFINITELY WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS.
I BELIEVE THAT'S THE FIRST SLIDE.
YES. SO MY NAME IS CLIFFORD SPARKS.
I'M YOUR STATE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR HERE AT THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION FOR YOU TODAY.
IF WE COULD GO, I BELIEVE THE SLIDE DECK WAS UP.
YEAH. WELL, WHILE SHE'S PULLING THAT UP, THE POINT OF TODAY'S MEETING IS TO GATHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.
BACK IN DECEMBER THE COMMITTEE HAD ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, DISCUSSED AND SENT UP A MEMO TO THE LEGISLATIVE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON THEIR STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. AND SO TODAY, WE'RE JUST WE'VE BEEN DIRECTED TO COME BACK TO THE COMMITTEES TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY ADDITIONAL ANY ADDITIONS OR SUBTRACTIONS TO THAT LIST.
I KNOW A NUMBER OF YOU HAD ADDITIONS TO THOSE LISTS AT THE DECEMBER COMMITTEE THAT WOULD BE FOLDED INTO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT GO UP TO THE GO BACK UP TO THE LEGISLATIVE AD HOC.
AND SO BUT THERE'S ONE ITEM IN PARTICULAR I WANTED TO TOUCH BASE WITH EVERYONE ABOUT THAT I KNOW WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ON IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT CHILD CARE FACILITIES AND THE NEED TO TRY TO LOOK AT SOME DIFFERENT REVENUE STREAMS. WELL, THERE'S ACTUALLY BEEN SOME INITIATIVE BY THE STATE AND THE FEDS, ACTUALLY, TO PULL DOWN OVER ABOUT $3 BILLION TO ACTUALLY CREATE NEW CHILD CARE FACILITIES OR DEFRAY COSTS.
AS OF 2023, THE STATE RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL 75 MILLION OR RECOMMITTED 75 MILLION TO ALSO HELP WITH INCREASING THE NUMBER OF FACILITIES AROUND THE STATE.
SO WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING INTO GOING TO GET WITH THE CHAIR AND ALSO THE DEPARTMENTS TO SEE WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN DO, SEE HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT WITH TWC, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WAS A PRIORITY FOR A LOT OF THE MEMBERS HERE AND IN OTHER COMMITTEE.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, AT THIS TIME, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE CHAIR AND TO THE COMMITTEE TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADD OR SUBTRACT FROM THE LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE WORKFORCE EDUCATION EQUITY COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND FOR THE SAKE OF THIS DISCUSSION, CAN YOU PUT THE SLIDE THAT HAD THE PRIORITIES BACK UP? THERE WE GO.
THERE THEY ARE. AND CAN, I KNOW, SORRY.
FORGET THAT IDEA, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS JUST READ THESE AND MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT TO YOU, MISS BLACKMON.
OR SOMEBODY ELSE. CAN YOU JUST READ THESE OUT ALOUD? FOR THOSE OF US WHO CAN'T SEE THESE, IF SOMEBODY WOULD READ THEM AND THEN LET'S JUST SEE WHAT'S MISSING OR THINGS THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO OMIT, BECAUSE THIS IS OUR OUR ROUND AT THIS. SURE.
SO THE FIRST ITEM WE HAVE IS GOING TO BE PROTECT IMMUNIZATION RECORDS FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
AND I KNOW THERE WAS A REQUEST TO ADD IN MIGRANTS TO THAT LIST.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE DOING.
[01:40:01]
AND ADDING THE NEXT ITEM IS INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES.THE NEXT ITEM IS EXPANDING FUNDING AND ELIGIBILITY FOR THE SNAP PROGRAM.
THE NEXT ITEM IS SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT EXPANDS RESOURCES FOR FOSTER AND POST FOSTER CHILDREN.
NEXT, SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO ELIMINATE CRIMINAL HISTORY INQUIRIES DURING THE HIRING PROCESS.
NEXT IS SUPPORT POST-INCARCERATION PROGRAMS AND REENTRY SERVICES.
NEXT IS SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT PROTECTS WORKPLACE SAFETY ETHICS.
SO I'M GOING TO GO UP AND DOWN THE CIRCLE, BUT I'LL MR. RESENDEZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? I'LL START WITH YOU.
NONE AT THIS TIME, MISS ARNOLD.
SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOU, MR. RIDLEY. THANK YOU.
YES. ONE THING I THINK IS MISSING FROM THIS LIST IS SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING.
WE KNOW THAT'S COMING UP IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO TAKE A POSITION ON THAT ISSUE THAT WE SUPPORT THAT PUBLIC FUNDS BE USED ONLY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
IS THIS WHAT WOULD COVER NDAS AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AROUND THAT? THAT'S CORRECT.
I HAVE THAT LANGUAGE FROM THE CONVERSATION THAT YOU HAD THAT WILL ALSO BE ROLLED INTO THAT.
THANK YOU. CLIFFORD. I WOULD WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD I FIRST, I, I WILL SECOND WHAT MR. RIDLEY SAID. I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW GRANULAR WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET WITH THIS.
BUT ONE IN PARTICULAR WAS I'D LOVE TO WORK WITH OUR DELEGATION TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO OR SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SUPPORT AND HELP PROMOTE TO, TO ACTUALLY GET TO THE FUNDING FROM OUR TEXAS LOTTERY AND, AND BEING MORE OF AN ASSET TOWARDS EDUCATION AS IT WAS INTENDED ORIGINALLY.
WE'RE GETTING SOME HARD TIMES AND THERE'S SOME FUNDING SITTING THERE.
SO THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT SB FOUR IS SOMETHING THAT I'D LOVE TO SEE US FIGHT AGAINST EQUITABLY BECAUSE OF ITS IMPACT IN OUR CITY HIGHER EDUCATION.
I JUST WENT DOWN AND TESTIFIED AGAINST THE DEI BAN, ESPECIALLY NOW, I BELIEVE THAT HIGHER EDUCATION ISN'T NECESSARILY IN OUR JURISDICTION, BUT WE ARE PUTTING A POLICE ACADEMY ON AN HIGHER EDUCATION CAMPUS WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS.
SO I'M, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THOSE TWO AND THEN AND I WOULD JUST SAY FOR THE EDUCATION PIECE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH COLLABORATION WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT ALSO FOR THAT TO NOT BE DONE IN SILOS.
WE CAN GO DOWN AND ADVOCATE ALL WE WANT, BUT I'D LOVE TO SEE US IN LOCKSTEP WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE PARTNERS AND SEE THAT THOSE EFFORTS ARE DONE COLLABORATIVELY DOWN IN AUSTIN INSTEAD OF IT BEING DONE LIKE, OH, COOL.
THE CITY OF DALLAS WAS HERE ALSO.
I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
YES. AND AGAIN, ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING, I MEAN, THIS IS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ISSUE.
IF WE DON'T HAVE A EDUCATED WORKFORCE, COMPANIES AREN'T GOING TO MOVE HERE.
AND IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO TRAIN INDIVIDUALS AND IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO IMPORT YOUR, YOUR WORKERS.
SO I'M HOPING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN HARMED FOR COMING OUT AGAINST, YOU KNOW, FUNDING OF BEING DIVERTED. AND WHEN YOU SIT HERE IN THIS SEAT AND WE JUST TALKED ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IT'S NOT CHEAP.
AND YOU HAVE THEM FOR FIVE YEARS TO 18 YEARS K THROUGH 12 IN SOME CASES PRE-K.
AND THEY AND WE NEED AN EDUCATED WORKFORCE.
I MEAN IT HELPS WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR CRIME STATS.
IT INCREASES OUR SALES TAX REVENUE.
A EDUCATED WORKFORCE IS KEY TO OUR STATE SURVIVING.
MY TWO KIDS WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL AND GRADUATED.
[01:45:01]
WE ALSO HAD PRIVATE SCHOOL.AND SO TO TO TAKE ONE FROM THE OTHER IS NOT FAIR.
BECAUSE IT WAS A DRIVERS OF POVERTY.
AND I THINK ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH WILL HELP WITH ADDICTIONS.
AND THEN ALSO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT GO WITH IT.
SO JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE COVER THAT.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO COVER IT IN YOUR COMMITTEE, MR. BAZALDUA, AND THEN, OF COURSE, FENTANYL TESTING STRIPS.
I'M ALSO GOING TO REINFORCE THAT I WANT FEDERAL AND STATE TO COME TOGETHER.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE THEM LISTED HERE.
SO I'M GOING TO REINFORCE THAT.
I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ON WEDNESDAY.
AND I THINK GIVEN THE WHOLE THE LACK OF CLARITY AROUND ALL THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, I THINK BRINGING THEM BOTH IN THE FALL IS WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE PAST, AND I THINK IT SHOULD CONTINUE ON AND HAVE A ROBUST CONVERSATION OF HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER.
AND WITH THAT, I THINK THE LIST IS LOOKS FINE TO ME, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS RELATED TO FENTANYL THROUGH QUALITY OF LIFE. THANK YOU.
GREAT. THANK YOU, MISS ARNOLD.
JUST ONE QUICK CLARIFICATION IN THE I THINK IT WAS PARKS WE TALKED ABOUT COMMUNICATION TO, I GUESS TO YOUR OFFICE OR TO AUSTIN REGARDING OUR POSITION ON LEGISLATION.
WOULD YOU CLARIFY THAT FOR US THE THE CONCERN WAS THAT ONE MEMBER.
WAS SUBMITTING POSITIONS ON LEGISLATION THAT HAD NOT SECURED SUPPORT FROM THE COUNCIL.
SO HOW ARE WE IN TERMS OF AND I THINK THAT'S CLEAR.
HOW ARE WE IN TERMS OF SUBMITTING INDIVIDUAL CONCERNS ON LEGISLATIONS AS INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS? HOW DOES THAT WORK FOR OURSELVES? CORRECT. SO TYPICALLY THOSE WOULD GO TO THE AD HOC LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AS WE'RE STILL FORMING OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AT THIS POINT.
ONCE THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM IS FINALIZED, WHICH I REALLY DON'T LIKE TO USE THAT TERM, BECAUSE IT'S IT'S OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN FLUID IN THE PAST, BUT TYPICALLY ANY IDEAS OR ANY ADDITIONAL IDEAS AS THEY COME ALONG SHOULD FLOW THROUGH THE CHAIR OF LEGISLATIVE AD HOC SO THAT A CONSENSUS CAN BE BUILT SO THAT THAT WAY IT'S NOT A ONE OFF HERE OR JUST ONE COUNCIL MEMBER PUSHING ANYTHING.
BUT A CONSENSUS IS BUILT IN THAT IN THAT SPACE.
SO YOU'RE TELLING I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE YOU HAVE YOU'RE BASICALLY BECOME A WILD CARD AND YOU WANT TO EXERCISE YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS EVEN IN YOUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY.
DOES THAT HOW DOES THAT WORK OUTSIDE? IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT'S ON THIS LIST THAT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER I DIDN'T ADD IT DIDN'T GET YOU ON.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT BECAUSE MY COMMUNITY HAS STATED THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT.
YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, I'M GONNA THROW SOMETHING OUT TO YOU AROUND SLUMLORDS AND THE LACK OF POWER THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY TO, TO TO TAKE THEIR PROPERTY WHEN THEY HAVE IT, HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS.
SO WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? AGAIN, THE PROCESS IS TO GET IT TO THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AND OR YOU TALK ABOUT IT IN A PUBLIC FORUM LIKE THIS TO GET IT TO THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
THE BODY AS A WHOLE DECIDES IF IT'S GOING TO BE A PRIORITY FOR THE CITY, AND THEN ONCE THE BODY AS A WHOLE DECIDES ON THAT, THEN ME AND THE LOBBY TEAM TAKE THAT DOWN TO AUSTIN. ALL RIGHT.
SO IS THERE AN AVENUE FOR WORKING WITH YOUR WITH WITH YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES, FOR EXAMPLE, MY SENATOR, MY REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE REPRESENTING THOSE COMMUNITIES TO, TO GO THROUGH THEM? OH MOST DEFINITELY. YEAH.
AND THEY EITHER TAKE THAT AND RUN WITH IT.
AND IF THEY DO, WE MAKE SURE WE CONNECT THEM WITH APPROPRIATE COUNCIL MEMBERS DEPARTMENTS SO THAT AS THE LEGISLATION MOVES THROUGH THE PROCESS, THAT INPUT IS STILL CONTINUING TO BE FED, BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU GET TO AUSTIN, NO BILL EVER COMES OUT 100% THE WAY YOU WANT, RIGHT? THERE'S CONSTANT NEGOTIATION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
SO ANY NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAPPEN, YOU'LL BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT.
OKAY. SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO.
[01:50:08]
AT A HIGH LEVEL IN A DISTRICT, FOR EXAMPLE, I'VE COMMUNICATED MY CONCERNS FROM MY CONSTITUENTS TO MY STATE REPRESENTATIVES WHO REPRESENT THE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE APARTMENTS THAT ARE BEING MANAGED BY SLUMLORDS.AND THEN THAT KIND OF TAKES THEM OFF THE HOOK AND WE DON'T GET TO GO TO COURT.
AND SO OUR PEOPLE CONTINUE TO LIVE IN SLUM.
I HAVE ONE OF THOSE NOW WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM TO COURT.
SO I HAVE A NUMBER OF THOSE APARTMENTS OWNED BY THE SAME APARTMENT OWNER.
AND SO IT PERPETUATES POVERTY, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE SAYING WE'RE TRYING TO ERADICATE.
SO MY GOAL WOULD PROBABLY BE TO WORK THROUGH THE STATE REPRESENTATIVES SO THEY CAN KNOW WHAT WHAT WHAT OUR CONCERN IS FROM THE FROM THE FOLKS WHO SENT US TO AUSTIN, BECAUSE IT MAY NOT MAKE IT AROUND THIS CONVERSATION, BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE SAME INTENSE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE IN MY DISTRICT.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THAT.
SO I'LL BE WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT ABOUT ME BEING RECOGNIZED AS THE PERSON WHO DIDN'T WORK WITH.
I'M NOT GOING TO EVER SUBMIT ANYTHING ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL ANYWAY WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD.
I THAT IS SOMETHING I'M VERY, VERY CONSCIOUS.
BUT BECAUSE OF OUR SYSTEM, WE ALLOW THESE SLUM LORDS TO CONTINUE THEIR LUCRATIVE BUSINESS OFF THE BACKS OF POOR PEOPLE EVERY DAY. AND SO I WILL BE WORKING AGGRESSIVELY IF WE CAN'T GET THAT AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, WORKING WITH MY MY REPRESENTATIVES, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE THAT SENT ME HERE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS ARNOLD.
I THINK IF YOU WERE TO PULL YOUR FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE, YOU WILL FIND THAT MANY OF US ARE FIGHTING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH POCKETS OF POVERTY IN OUR DISTRICTS, AND I, FOR ONE, WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIGN ON TO THAT WITH YOU.
SO THAT ISSUE THOUGH OF SLUMLORDS JUST I KNOW SHE WAS ASKING WRIT LARGE ABOUT INDIVIDUALS OF US SPEAKING, BUT THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE, I THINK, IS SOMETHING THAT THAT THAT WE SHOULD ACTUALLY LOOK AT.
SO I'M VERY GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER QUESTIONS.
ONE IS MR. SPARKS, COULD YOU TALK ABOUT HOW DOES IT WORK IF MORE THAN ONE COMMITTEE WANTS SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA? SURE. SO REALLY ALL IT DOES IS THAT IT ROLLS UP INTO THE BROADER AGENDA.
SO THAT'S REALLY MORE FOR OUR OWN INTERNAL CONSUMPTION.
SO YES, IT JUST STRESSES THE LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE.
THANK YOU. WELL, I THINK THAT MISS BLACKMAN'S REMARKS ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WOULD ALSO BECOME INEQUALITY OF LIFE, AND UNLESS THERE'S AN OBJECTION FROM ANYONE HERE, YOU COULD ADD THAT TO OURS.
THAT'S THAT MISS GALLISHAW MENTIONED IN CHILD CARE AS WELL AS THE ISSUES THAT WE AS A COUNCIL HAVE ADDRESSED IN SUPPORTING CHILD CARE ISSUES, BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY ONE OF THE DRIVERS OF POVERTY.
JUST TAKING ANOTHER CURSORY GLANCE THROUGH THIS, I WOULD SAY THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH AN OVERARCHING THEME, WHICH IS SOMETHING VERY COMMON IN OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM THAT CAPTURES THAT, AND THE REASON WHY I THE REASON WHY WE'VE DONE THAT IN THE PAST AND WHY I'M SUGGESTING THAT NOW, IS THAT IT KEEPS IT BROAD ENOUGH TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU GO DOWN TO AUSTIN, YOU ASK FOR SOMETHING.
THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE LOOKING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS YOU.
SO YOU MIGHT GET A PIECE OF IT NOW AND A PIECE OF IT THE FOLLOWING SESSION.
[01:55:05]
SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE IN YOU NOW HAVE THE LIST FROM EVERYONE.SO IF I HEARD I HEARD THE PUBLIC SCHOOL, WHICH WAS A VERY BRILLIANT STATEMENT.
ON THE LOTTERY, WHERE'S THE MONEY FOR EDUCATION FIGHTING SB 4, THE HIGHER ED, AS WELL AS ALL THE ISSUES REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH, FENTANYL AND ALL THE THINGS THAT MISS BLACKMON WE'RE GOING TO GO VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE I LIKE TO END THESE MEETINGS ON TIME, AND WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.
I'D LIKE FOR IT TO NOT JUST BE LEGISLATION, BUT ALSO FUNDING.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S SPECIFIED IN OTHER PARTS.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT, SAY, FUNDING, BUT I'D ALSO WITH NO OBJECTION IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT INSTEAD OF ALSO LEAVING THE PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL.
AS BROAD AS IT IS, I DON'T WANT THE ARGUMENT WHEN IT COMES UP.
BUT IF THERE ARE BILLS INTRODUCED TO EXPAND MEDICAID, I'D LIKE FOR US TO TO TO HAVE SUPPORT FOR THAT SPECIFICALLY INSTEAD OF COMING BACK TO THE TABLE AND HAVING TO DISCUSS THAT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO, AS A CITY, SUPPORT EXPANSION OF MEDICAID.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE HAVE A SENSE OF THE FINANCIAL IMPACT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I KNOW THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD DO NECESSARILY.
IN FACT, I THINK THAT MAY BE PART OF THE $400 MILLION THAT MISS GALLISHAW MENTIONED THAT WERE IN ANOTHER SESSION THAT WE'RE LEAVING ON THE TABLE IN BENEFITS, BUT THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THIS WORK. SO, MR. SPARKS, WHAT I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS WITH IS COULD YOU SEND US BACK A MEMO OF WHAT YOU THINK YOU HEARD TODAY, SO THAT WE CAN REVIEW THAT WITH EVERYONE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AS WE SIGN OFF ON THAT? OF COURSE. AND THEN WHAT I'M GOING TO.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS.
WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, IF I COULD JUST HAVE YOUR INDULGENCE FOR FIVE MORE MINUTES.
AND I SO APOLOGIZE TO YOU, MISS WILLIAMS. I'VE DONE THIS TO YOU TWICE.
AND AND THEN IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.
ALSO, AS YOU'RE COMING UP ON THE TWO MEMOS, THE TWO BRIEFING MEMOS THAT WE HAVE.
SO OKAY, SO I APOLOGIZE AGAIN, PLEASE FORGIVE US IF FOR THAT, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THE MEMOS OR ALSO TO MISS WILLIAMS SMALL BUSINESS CENTER BUDGET.
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE OFF THE HOOK, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT GIVING YOU THE CHANCE TO GIVE THE FULL PRESENTATION, YOU DID A GOOD JOB IN THE BRIEFING, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND I'M SO SORRY TO HAVE DONE THIS TO YOU TWICE.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE.
SO IN THAT CASE, I'M GOING TO END THIS MEETING AT 11:04 ON JUNE 10TH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.