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[Commission on Disabilities on September 9, 2024]
AND THE CURRENT TIME IS 2:06 PM WE HAVE MET QUORUM, AND THIS MEETING HAS NOW BEEN CALLED TO ORDER A COUPLE OF HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS TO BE MINDFUL OF PRIOR TO PROCEEDING WITH THE AGENDA.FIRST, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE JOINING US REMOTELY, WE KINDLY REQUEST THAT YOU KEEP YOUR CAMERAS ON AT ALL TIMES IN ORDER FOR US TO COUNT YOU PRESENT.
SECOND, IF YOU WISH TO ASK A QUESTION OR MAKE A COMMENT, WE REQUEST THAT YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND DISTRICT IN ORDER TO AVOID CONFUSION.
AND FINALLY, WE ARE FULLY AWARE THAT COMMISSIONERS IN THIS ROOM HAVE MANY CONCERNS THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.
KINDLY BE ADVISED THAT WE HEAR YOU, BUT REQUEST THAT YOU KEEP YOUR COMMENTS AS BRIEF AND CONCISE AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO GIVE OTHERS IN THE ROOM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THEIR QUESTIONS AND VOICE THEIR CONCERNS.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO THE ROLL CALL, ROLL CALL PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
PLEASE SIGNIFY YOUR ATTENDANCE BY STATING YOUR NAME AND DISTRICT COMMISSIONER GAY REVY, DISTRICT ONE.
THIS IS CHAIRMAN JOHN CAL CONLEY, DISTRICT 15, COMMISSIONER CHRISTINA PUE, DISTRICT EIGHT COMMISSIONER CHRIS BLUE, DISTRICT 10.
COMMISSIONER ROD H****R, DISTRICT THREE, COMMISSIONER STARLET RAMIREZ, DISTRICT SIX.
I'M ASSUMING WE HAVE COUNTED ALL THE ATTENDEES.
UM, THIS IS AMBER RICHARDSON, A COMMUNITY MEMBER.
OH, MS. RICHARDSON, WELCOME TO OUR MEETING.
THIS CONCLUDES THE ROLL CALL PORTION OF OUR AGENDA.
I ONCE AGAIN WANT TO SINCERELY APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENDANCE AS WE WORK TOGETHER FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
WE'RE NOW MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER THREE OF THE AGENDA.
THIS IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
KEEP IN MIND THAT THE MINUTES WE WILL BE WORKING ON ARE FROM THE MARCH 26TH MEETING.
WE DO NOT HAVE MINUTES FROM APRIL DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE COULD NOT ESTABLISH QUORUM.
THERE ARE SEVERAL EDITS I WISH TO MAKE TO THE MINUTES PRIOR TO THEIR APPROVAL.
STARTING WITH THE REPORTS SECTION, THERE ARE SEVERAL EDITS I WISH TO MAKE.
IN THIS SECTION IN THE PARAGRAPH WHERE IT'S TALKING ABOUT HANDICAPPED PARKING VIOLATIONS, THERE'S A STATEMENT THAT READS, COMMISSIONER PUI EXPRESSED HER FRUSTRATION ABOUT THE SITUATION AND AND RECOMMENDED A MEETING BE SET UP WITH THE DALLAS POLICE, TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER REY, AND THE CHAIR FOR A SOLUTION.
FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, A NICER WAY TO WRITE THAT STATEMENT WOULD BE, COMMISSIONER PUI VOICED HER CONCERNS REGARDING THIS SITUATION AND RECOMMENDED THAT A MEETING BE SET UP WITH THE DALLAS POLICE, TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER REVY, AND THE CHAIR TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.
ADDITIONALLY, IN THE STATEMENT WHERE IT READS, COMMISSIONER REEVE, OR PARDON, EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER PEY ATTENDED, UH, A WOMAN'S HISTORY MONTH ON MARCH 23RD.
THAT WORD READS AS WOMEN'S HERSTORY MONTH.
UM, IF THAT COULD BE CORRECTED TO WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AS, AS THE EVENT IMPLIES ALSO IN THE BRIEF BRIEFING SECTION, UM, UNDER THE PARAGRAPH WHERE IT IS TALKING ABOUT THE PRESENTATION MADE BY MR. CHRISTOPHER GRAVES, OUR NEWLY APPOINTED HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER.
THERE ARE A COUPLE STATEMENTS THERE, ONE OF THEM BEING COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONER PUE, UM, EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO COMMISSIONS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BEING OVERLOOKED.
AND ANOTHER STATEMENT READING COMMISSIONER BALLOU SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF THIS COMMISSION AS LONG AS ITS STAYS IN FOCUS.
I THINK ANOTHER STATEMENT COULD BE ADDED, AND IT SHOULD BE, IT SHOULD READ.
CHAIRMAN CAL CONLEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE CONCERNS BROUGHT UPON BY SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS, BUT EMPHASIZE THE NECESSITY AND IMPORTANCE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO MORE EFFECTIVELY ACHIEVE OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
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AND QUICKLY BRING SOLUTIONS TO THE EVERYDAY CHALLENGES FACED BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.AND FINALLY, UNDERNEATH THE ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION, THERE'S A STATEMENT THAT READS, CHAIRMAN CAL CONLEY CONCLUDED WITH THE INFORMATION ABOUT NFP NEWSLINE.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE LAST LETTER IS B AS IN BRAVO.
SO IT IS NFB BECAUSE IT, THIS IS THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND.
UM, THIS CONCLUDES MY EDITS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE FOR THE MINUTES.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO ANY COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY WISH TO PROVIDE EDITS OF THEIR OWN.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER CHRISTINA POE, DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, BEFORE THE EDITS, I DON'T HAVE THAT PRINTOUT.
I, I ALWAYS REQUEST FOR DOCUMENTATION TO BE PRINTED FROM MY REVIEW.
I DO, UH, AGREE WITH CHAIR IN REFERENCE TO ALL THOSE EDITS THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE BECAUSE FRUSTRATION MAKES ME LOOK LIKE AN ANGRY BLACK WOMAN.
SO WE, WE, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IN OUR, UH, COLORISM WHEN WE USE ADJECTIVES.
UM, AND I QUOTE IT FOR MYSELF PERSONALLY WHEN I SAY WOMEN'S HERSTORY MONTH BECAUSE WE'RE WOMEN.
BUT IN HISTORIC, IN HISTORIC, UH, MEANS IT IS, UH, HISTORY.
SO THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED.
BUT BASED ON THE MINUTES THAT I DO HAVE, UM, FROM MARCH OF 26TH, WHEN IT READS MINUTES, SHOULD READ REVEREND DR.
FREDDIE HAYNES WITH IE AND NOT Y.
HOWEVER, UM, THERE IS WHERE IT MENTIONS SHE AS IN PRONOUN ALL THE, SHE'S SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH COMMISSIONER POEY TO IDENTIFY THAT I'M THE COMMISSIONER THAT IS REQUESTING THESE EDITS.
ALSO, ON FEBRUARY THE 15TH, IT READS, SHE ATTENDED THE NETFLIX BLACK BEAUTY EFFECT DOCUMENTARY RED CARPET PREMIER.
IT ALSO SHOULD INCLUDE INVITED BY THREE.
THINK THREE IS IN THE NUMBER MEDIA PR, LEAH FRAZIER.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER POI FOR POINTING OUT THOSE CORRECTIONS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WISH TO MAKE EDITS AT THIS TIME? COMMISSIONER REVY.
I'LL MOVE THE MINUTES AS AMENDED.
SO THIS MEANS THAT WE HAVE ALL THE EDITS WE NEED FOR THE MINUTES.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ALL OPPOSED? APPARENTLY THERE IS NONE.
SO THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AS READ.
WE'RE NOW MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON THE AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS THAT WISH TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME? WE DO KNOW THERE'S A COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT IS JOINING US.
HER NAME IS MS. AMBER RICHARDSON.
YOU MAY WISH TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT IF YOU DESIRE TO DO SO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT MS. RICHARDSON.
UM, SO IN THAT CASE, WE DO NOT HAVE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
AT THIS TIME, I DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL COMMISSIONERS TO INVITE ANY INDIVIDUALS THEY MAY KNOW IN THEIR CIRCLES WHO MAY WISH TO PROVIDE COMMENT ABOUT DISABILITY RELATED ISSUES.
AND AS A FRIENDLY REMINDER, EACH PUBLIC SPEAKER HAS THREE MINUTES TO PROVIDE THEIR COMMENT.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE TO THE OFFICER REPORTS.
THIS IS THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.
SO ON APRIL 10TH, COMMISSIONER REVY AND MYSELF CONDUCTED A FACT FINDING MEETING WITH MOSEY INCORPORATED.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF WHAT MOSEY IS, THIS IS A COMPANY THAT PRODUCES SELF-DRIVING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES THAT ARE FULLY A DA COMPLIANT.
THE VEHICLES THAT MOSEY PRODUCES HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
HOWEVER, IN 2021, MOSEY CAME TO DALLAS IN 2017.
IN FACT, THE LEADERS OF MOSEY, UM, PROVIDED A, A DEMO AND SHOWCASED THEIR EXHIBIT OF THE VEHICLES AT THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW, WHICH WAS HELD IN LAS VEGAS.
IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES WILL ADOPT THE OLLIE AND OTHER VEHICLES PRODUCED BY MOSEY, AS THESE VEHICLES ARE STRONGLY TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL REGARDLESS OF ABILITY.
THAT WAY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DO NOT NECESSARILY
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HAVE TO RELY EXCLUSIVELY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT OR RIDE SHARE SERVICES OR SOMEONE TO TRANSPORT THEM WHEN THE NEED ARISES.IN FACT, COMMISSIONER REEVE WILL HAVE MORE TO REPORT ON THE RESEARCH THAT MOSEY IS DOING IN ADDITION TO THE DISCUSSIONS THAT THIS COMPANY IS INVOLVED IN WITH DART AND OTHER DALLAS CITY DEPARTMENTS ON MM-HMM,
SO, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, THERE ARE TWO IMAGES OF THE MEETING THAT COMMISSIONER REVY AND I ATTENDED.
ONE OF THEM IS AN IMAGE OF THE THE VEHICLES THEMSELVES.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS COMMISSIONER REVY, MYSELF AND DEPUTY ALL STANDING TOGETHER, CHEERFULLY SMILING.
ON APRIL 17TH, I ATTENDED AN EVENT HOSTED BY CITY OF DALLAS OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
UM, THIS WAS AN EVENT REGARDING AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH.
I WAS TRULY HONORED TO BE ONE OF THE SPEAKERS THERE AND SINCERELY WISH TO APPRECIATE THE STAFF FOR INVITING ME TO SHARE MY POINTS.
MY PRESENTATION WAS UNIQUE IN THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS ABOUT AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, DISCUSS THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF DISABILITY RIGHTS, AUTISM ACCEPTANCE, AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE, THAT THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION CONTINUE TO HOST EVENTS NOT JUST ON AUTISM, BUT OTHER DISABILITY, UM, EVENTS WHERE THE DISCUSSION CAN CERTAINLY GET GOING WITH REGARDS TO THIS MATTER.
THIS CONCLUDES MY OFFICER'S REPORT FOR THIS MONTH.
HOWEVER, THERE IS A MOTION I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IN THE OFFICER'S REPORT.
THERE IS AN ITEM THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONER H****R.
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE PROPOSED TRAINING THAT IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TEXAS COUNCIL FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND METROCARE.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DESIGNATE COMMISSIONER H****R TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS TRAINING AS HE SPECIFICALLY WISHED TO PROVIDE THIS OVERVIEW HIMSELF.
I WILL JUST GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW.
BASICALLY WHAT THIS IS, IS THESE TRAININGS ARE MEANT TO EDUCATE ELECTED OFFICIALS ABOUT INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, OR IDD, UM, IN ORDER FOR MISCONCEPTIONS AND STEREOTYPES TO BE REDUCED.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION, PLEASE DO SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
APPARENTLY WE HAVE ALL THE AYES.
SO IN THAT CASE, THE MOTION PASSES AND I'M GOING TO LET, WE ARE GOING TO DESIGNATE COMMISSIONER H****R TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED BY HIM, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE OFFICER'S REPORTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
I AM NOW GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY WISH TO PROVIDE REPORTS OF THEIR OWN.
COMMISSIONER REVY, DISTRICT ONE.
I REPRESENT THE TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE OF THIS GROUP.
I HAVE HAD, UH, CONTACTS WITH SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS.
YOU KNOW, THOSE BIG UGLY GREEN SCOOTERS THAT ARE ON THE SIDEWALKS EVERYWHERE? WELL, GUESS WHAT? THEY PROVIDE A TRICYCLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AS WELL AS SOME OTHER VEHICLES.
NOW, THE TRICYCLE LOOKS TO ME LIKE A BIG WHEEL ON STEROIDS, BUT HERE'S THE THING, IT'S FREE.
YOU CONTACT THEM AND THEY WILL DELIVER TO YOUR HOUSE AND COME AND PICK IT UP.
WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH IT, I'M IN CONTACT WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL IRONING OUT SOME OF THE DETAILS OF THE SERVICE IN DALLAS.
I'LL BE BACK WITH SOME MORE INFORMATION SOON.
ANOTHER ONE I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH, AND YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD OF THESE PEOPLE TOO, CRUISE SELF-DRIVING CARS.
THEY'RE VERY POPULAR ON THE WEST COAST AND THEY'RE DRIVING OUT THERE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY'VE HAD SOME COLLISIONS IN CALIFORNIA.
BUT I'VE BEEN ASKED TO MEET WITH THEIR, UH, MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS LATER THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS HOW CRUISE SELF-DRIVING CARS MIGHT BE USED BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN DALLAS.
UM, THEY'RE OUT RIGHT NOW DRIVING THE
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STREETS OF DALLAS AND MAPPING THE STREETS FOR THESE AUTOMATIC CARS.THE NEXT GROUP I MET WITH WAS CALLED PHOENIX MOBILITY RISING.
THIS IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT DOES HAVE AN OFFICE HERE IN DALLAS.
THEIR SOLE AIM IS TO PROVIDE FREE OR LOW COST TRANSPORTATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND THEY'RE ALREADY HAVING SOME, UH, SUCCESS HERE IN DALLAS.
THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED IN MOSEY THE AUTO AND OLLIE THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE.
THE COMMISSIONER AND I, THE COMMISSION CHAIR, AND I MET WITH MOSEY, AS HE SAID.
UM, MOSEY HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.
THEY CHOSE DALLAS AS THEIR HEADQUARTERS, AND THEY'RE LOCATED ON HOWELL STREET, WHICH IS IN THE DESIGN DISTRICT JUST DOWN BY LARGE MARGE.
SO IF YOU EVER WANT TO, UH, GO IN AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE, LET ME KNOW AND I'LL PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH THEM.
THEY CAN BE READY TO GO WITHIN A YEAR HERE IN DALLAS.
THE HINS ARE ASSEMBLED HERE IN DALLAS.
THIS ISN'T STRICTLY A MANUFACTURING PROCESS.
THE TECHNOLOGY ON THESE MACHINES IS JUST AMAZING.
THEY HAVE SENSORS THAT CAN DO ALL KINDS OF JOBS FOR THE CITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE SENSORS CAN MEASURE POTHOLES AND THEN SEND THE INFORMATION TO THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
THEY CAN SENSE THE AIR QUALITY IN DALLAS AND SEND THAT INFORMATION TO THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
AND INDEED, THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY HAS ALREADY BEEN TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE THAT YOU SAW EARLIER.
AND THEY HAVE ASKED FOR A PILOT PROGRAM WITH MOSEY TO START RUNNING THESE VEHICLES AROUND THE CITY.
IT WOULD ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR A LOT OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS TO BE OUT GATHERING MEASUREMENTS FOR THE CITY.
MOSEY IS ALSO IN TALKS WITH DALLAS COUNTY.
THE COUNTY WANTS TO USE MOSEYS VEHICLES, OLLIE, TO GO BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN BUILDINGS.
SO EMPLOYEES NO LONGER HAVE TO TAKE A CAR.
THEY CAN SUMMON THIS VEHICLE WHEN THEY NEED IT, GO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO, AND THEN THE VEHICLE GOES ON WITH THE NEXT JOURNEY.
I SHOULD MENTION TO YOU THAT WHEN THESE VEHICLES START OPERATING HERE IN DALLAS, THEY WILL HAVE A COURTESY STEWARD ON BOARD.
THIS IS TO, UH, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING REALLY GOES WRONG AND ALSO TO, UH, MAKE PASSENGERS A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE.
THE SEATING ON THIS VEHICLE IS A HORSESHOE SHAPE, SO YOU NEVER HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT WHO'S SITTING BEHIND YOU AND WHAT MAY BE GOING ON.
THERE'S SPACE FOR BAGGAGE UNDER YOUR SEAT AND ALSO SPACE FOR SERVICE ANIMALS.
THE CITY OF ARLINGTON HAS ALREADY BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MOSEY.
THEY WANT THESE VEHICLES FOR WORLD CUP.
THESE VEHICLES CAN BE PROGRAMMED IN ANY ONE OF THE 35 INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES THAT SUITS THE A DA.
SO THIS COVERS EVERY LANGUAGE OF PLAYERS AND FANS AND OFFICIALS WHO MIGHT BE COMING IN HERE FOR THE WORLD CUP.
NOW, THESE VEHICLES ARE GOING TO BE ASSEMBLED IN ARLINGTON, AND FRANKLY, I WOULD PREFER TO HAVE THOSE JOBS HERE IN DALLAS.
SO I REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN GET MOVING ON THIS IN LINE.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING MOTION.
I MOVE THAT THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITIES OF ADOPTING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES FOR USED BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN DALLAS.
THIS STUDY WILL INCLUDE ALL AFFECTED CITY DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS DART WITH THE GOAL OF RECOMMENDING THE USE OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES TO A CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE.
IN OTHER WORDS, I WANT US TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING WITH THIS, WITH THE GOAL OF EVENTUALLY REPORTING TO A CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE.
AND CERTAINLY MOSEY IS IN CONVERSATIONS WITH DART AS WELL.
SO MY MOTION IS JUST TO CLARIFY, TO GET US MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER REVY, FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS WITH REGARDS TO TRANSPORTATION AND BRINGING A, A HUMAN FACE TO THE EVERYDAY CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE FACING ON A REGULAR BASIS.
YOU ALL HAVE HEARD COMMISSIONER REY'S MOTION THAT WE AS A COMMISSION MOVE FORWARD WITH ADOPTING THE AUTONOMOUS SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES.
CAN I HAVE A CLARIFICATION? SECOND.
COMMISSIONER BALU, DISTRICT 10.
I'D LIKE A CLARIFICATION OF WHAT WE MEAN BY ADOPTING THIS.
SORRY, CAN YOU PLEASE REPEAT? YES.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER BALU, DISTRICT 10.
I'D LIKE A CLARIFICATION OF WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY ADOPTING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES.
ARE WE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO, UM, JUST KIND OF HAVE A LITTLE MORE CLARIFICATION? THAT SEEMS VERY VAGUE AND JUST LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.
I BELIEVE WE NEED TO STUDY THIS
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ISSUE MORE.I THINK MORE COMMISSION MEMBERS NEED TO BE INVOLVED.
I THINK MORE OF US NEED TO GO DOWN THERE AND HAVE A LOOK AT IT.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD STUDY THE POSSIBILITY OF ADOPTING THESE VEHICLES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
IS THAT ANY CLEAR? SO WAS THE, WELL, SO THERE THAT WERE YOU SORT OF A NOT SO YOU, ARE YOU, ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION TO STUDY IT MORE OR? YES.
IT, IN YOUR EXPLANATION THERE, YOU SAID.
SO THE, THE MOTION WAS TO ADOPT IT.
SO DO YOU WANT TO AMEND THE MOTION TO SAY, TO STUDY THE USE OF THESE VEHICLES MORE? I HAVE THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITIES OF ADOPTING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES.
I I MISSED THE WORD POSSIBILITY THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MISSED IN, UH, CHAIR RESTATE OF IT.
THANK FOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
THANK YOU AGAIN, COMMISSIONER RAVI FOR CLARIFYING THE MOTION.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION, PLEASE DO SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ALL OPPOSED? APPARENTLY THERE ARE NO OPPOSITIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER RAVI, FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS.
I'M NOW GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY WISH TO REPORT GOOD AFTERNOON.
AGAIN, THIS IS COMMISSIONER CHRISTINA POEY, DISTRICT EIGHT.
SO, BECAUSE WE DID MEET QUORUM IN APRIL, THERE WERE A FEW, I'M JUST GONNA GO OVER A FEW, UM, DISABILITY, UM, EVENTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UM, THE KENNEDY KRUGER INSTITUTE IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, THEY HAD FOUR DIFFERENT ZOOM CALLS.
ONE WAS RETHINKING RESEARCH, UM, AND POLICY IMPACTING AND ADDRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF AUTISM RESEARCH.
UH, ANOTHER ONE OF THE ZOOM CALLS WAS EXPERIENCE IN ADULT LIFE PLANNING FOR AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS.
AND, UH, THE THIRD ONE WAS MAKING SENSE OF SENSORY PROCESSING.
AND THE FINAL AND FOURTH, UH, ZOOM CALL WAS SUPPORTING BEHAVIOR AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AND ALSO INCLUDING WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
ON APRIL THE SIXTH, I ATTENDED THE DALLAS MAVERICKS ERG FOR THE EMPLOYEE RESEARCH GROUP SYMPOSIUM AT THE AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER, WHERE ONE OF THEIR TOPICS ON THE PANEL WAS INCLUSION OF INDIVIDUALS AND EMPLOYMENT WITH DISABILITIES.
ON THE 17TH, WE DID HAVE OUR CHAIR, UH, CHAIRMAN CONNIE, WHO SPOKE ON AUTISM ON OUR FIRST AUTISM AWARENESS EVENT.
WHEREAS LAST YEAR FOR 2023, MAYOR JOHNSON DID SIGN A PROCLAMATION, UM, IDENTIFYING, UM, APRIL FOR AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH ON APRIL THE 19TH AT THE DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WAS DIVERSITY NIGHT, UM, WHERE THEY TALKED ABOUT INCLUSION OF ALL DISABILITIES.
THERE WERE DIFFERENT CHAMBERS THERE.
UM, THE INDIAN CHAMBER WERE THERE.
I SAW A LOT OF VENDORS THERE FOR, UM, INCLUSION FOR DISABILITIES.
UM, DYLAN RAP, WHO'S ON OUR TECHNICAL PANEL, WAS ALSO THERE WITH THE NORTH TEXAS DISABILITY CHAMBER.
I ALSO WANNA MENTION, I'M NOT SURE MANY OF YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THERE IS A RESPITE PROGRAM, A RAISE OF LIGHT AT THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
THEY HAD A, UM, RAISE OF LIGHT GALA, UM, FOR THEIR RESPITE PROGRAM FOR ALL CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
THEY HAVE, UM, THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD FRIDAY FROM 6:00 PM TO 10:00 PM FOR PARENTS AND EVEN GUARDIANS WHO NEED SOME SELF-CARE.
SO THAT FOUR HOURS GIVES YOU SOME PEACE AND GIVES THE KIDS SOME JOY.
WE WERE, UH, THE FAMILY HIGHLIGHTED THIS YEAR, MYSELF AND MY TWO YOUNG GENTLEMEN.
I MAY ADD ALSO, WE KNOW THAT MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
SO ON MAY THE FOURTH, WE HAD A MENTAL WELLNESS WALKIN FAIR, WHICH WAS FREE AT OUR SENIOR HILLS RECREATION CENTER, FORMER DALLAS COWBOY.
GREG ELLIS WAS THERE TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS.
UH, MAYOR PROTE ATKINS WAS THERE AS WELL AS TEXAS STATE REP DISTRICT ONE 10 TONY ROSE.
I ATTENDED ON MAY THE SIXTH, VISTA BANK, THIRD GRANT OPENING IN RIBBON CUTTING AND SOUTH DALLAS ON MARTIN LUTHER KING, UH, LUBBOCK SMITH, I THIRD, WHO IS A SENIOR VP AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UM, WELCOMED EVERYONE, NOT JUST IN SOUTH DALLAS, BUT CITY OF DALLAS.
AND THEY HAVE A DA ACCOMMODATIONS.
THAT WAS MY REASON FOR BEING THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND OR DEAF OR IN A WHEELCHAIR OR PAIN OR ANY TYPE OF SENSORY PROCESSING, THAT THEY HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON MAY THE 10TH.
I MET WITH DISABILITY RIGHTS OF TEXAS COURTNEY WALKER AND WE DISCUSSED, UM, THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE HERE IN DALLAS.
THEY ONLY HAVE ONE REPRESENTATIVE HERE AND ONE IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO THEY ARE TRYING TO BUILD, BECAUSE I'VE MET ABOUT 10 PEOPLE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF DISABILITY RIGHTS OF TEXAS.
UM, I HAD MY FIRST DISABILITY DISCUSSION ON MAY THE 15TH IN MY DISTRICT AT SENIOR HILLS RECREATION CENTER, WHERE I COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF DISABILITY
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RESOURCES ADVOCATING FOR THE DISABILITY RIGHTS AND HOW TO FIND RESOURCES AND INFORMATION ON THEIR WELLNESS AND THEIR WELLBEING.MAY THE 18TH, UM, HOLLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL, EVERY YEAR THEY HAVE WHAT THEY CALL THE BUDDY BOWL AND GINGER GER WITH CBS 11 AND ONE OF THE SPONSORS AND SO IS KANE'S CHICKEN.
AND SO THE VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM HAS A FOOTBALL GAME WITH CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER POI FOR PROVIDING YOUR COMMISSIONER REPORT FOR THIS MONTH.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WISH TO PROVIDE REPORTS? YES, THIS IS C COMMISSIONER H****R.
UM, GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL COMMISSIONERS AS AS WELL AS CHAIR.
UH, REALLY QUICK, UM, I ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE RAISE OF LIGHT, UH, GALA.
HAD OPPORTUNITY TO SEE COMMISSIONER PIER THERE WITH HER WONDERFUL, LOVELY FAMILY.
UM, THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME ATTENDING THAT EVENT AND, UH, DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE.
UM, ALSO ON MAY THE FOURTH, I PARTICIPATED IN THE BIKE MS. ROUNDUP FOR THE NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS UH, SOCIETY.
UH, THIS IS A, UM, ANNUAL BIKE RIDE THAT THEY HAVE TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR THOSE IMPACTED, UH, BY MOST MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, SAY TWO DAY BIKE RIDE EVENT.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, THIS YEAR WE ONLY WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE FOR ONE DAY, UH, 65 MILES FROM MANSFIELD TO GLENROSE, TEXAS, UH, DUE TO THE, UH, WEATHER ON DAY TWO, UM, UH, WHICH IS MAY 5TH.
UH, BUT, UH, WE WERE ABLE, MY TEAM WAS ABLE TO RAISE OVER, UH, $8,000, UM, IN FUNDS, UM, TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL MULTIPLE, UH, SCLEROSIS SOCIETY.
AND, UH, AS CHAIR, CHAIR CONCURRENTLY MENTIONED, UM, I'VE BEEN MEETING OR SPEAKING WITH METRO CARE CARE SERVICES, UH, HAD A LUNCH WITH THEIR CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER, UH, TATE RINGER ON MAY THE 10TH, UH, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY TRAINING, UM, THAT THEY HAVE SENT TO, UM, ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, IN ORDER TO CREATE AWARENESS ABOUT, UM, UH, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, UM, AS WELL AS TO GAIN THEIR SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY ON THE STATE LEVEL, UM, FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS TO INCREASE MORE FUNDS, UM, FOR THOSE IMPACTED WITH IDD.
SO, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE INFORMATION, UH, ABOUT THIS IN THE FUTURE.
UH, BUT, UH, WE'LL CAN DEFINITELY SHARE SOME INFORMATION AHEAD OF TIME.
UM, THAT WAY YOU CAN START TO, UM, CIRCULATE AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH, UM, YOUR COUNCIL, UH, MEMBERS, UH, FROM YOUR DISTRICT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER H****R FOR PROVIDING THAT REPORT.
UM, IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS WILL CERTAINLY INCREASE MORE FUNDING FOR SUPPORT SERVICES, UH, FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH IDD.
UM, IT IS ALWAYS APPRECIATED, UH, FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND BRINGING IN YOU ALSO BRINGING A HUMAN FACE TO ANOTHER ISSUE THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED AT THIS TIME.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WISH TO PROVIDE A REPORT CURRENTLY? OKAY.
ONCE AGAIN, I WISH TO SINCERELY APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS, WHICH ARE BRIEFINGS.
WE ARE TRULY HONORED TO HAVE TWO PRESENTERS WITH US TODAY.
OUR FIRST PRESENTER IS MR. BARON SEN.
HE IS THE CHIEF INTEGRITY OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
HIS PRESENTATION WILL COVER ETHICS, SPECIFICALLY CODE OF CONDUCT, CIVILITY AND DECORUM IN MEETINGS.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I NOW WELCOME MR. ELIASSON TO COME UP TO THE STAGE AND SHARE HIS PRESENTATION WITH US.
UH, IT SAYS PROUD GRANDPA ON IT, AND IT'S NOT 'CAUSE ANY OF MY KIDS JUST HAD, BUT I JUST HAD A MEDICAL PROCEDURE A COUPLE HOURS AGO ON MY HEAD AND I CAN'T HAVE LIGHT ON MY HEAD, SO I DON'T MEAN ANY, I'M NOT JUST CASUALLY WEARING A HAT.
I HAVE, UH, CORDUROY, LIGHT, CORDUROY, UH, SHIRT ON, KINDA LIKE JAMES GARNER AND, UH, ROCKFORD VILES, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
AND I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE.
ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW IS THE FIRST SLIDE.
IT'S GOT THE CITY SEAL IN MY NAME.
AND WE'RE GONNA GO, UH, IN A MINUTE TO THE SECOND SLIDE.
BUT FIRST, UH, I WANNA TELL YOU SOMETHING INTERESTING THAT HAPPENED TO ME.
[00:30:01]
WAS AT BAYLOR SCOTT AND WHITE, UH, MANY OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN THIS EXHIBIT.I'D NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE, BUT IT'S A HANDS EXHIBIT.
AND SO WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS THEY'VE TAKEN CASTINGS OF HANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE AMAZING THINGS IN THIS WORLD.
LIKE THE WHOLE APOLLO 11 TEAM OF ASTRONAUTS.
UH, ANDRE THE GIANT, WILT CHAMBERLAIN, NOLAN RYAN, YOU JUST, UH, UH, ARNOLD PALMER AND ABOUT A HUNDRED, 150 OTHER SETS OF HANDS.
AND IT WAS SO INTERESTING TO SEE BECAUSE IT WAS, IT IS THROUGH THEIR HANDS THAT THESE AMAZING PEOPLE PRODUCED ALL THESE AMAZING THINGS THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE FAMOUS FOR.
AND WHEN I WAS SITTING HERE, UH, GETTING PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT ETHICS, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE MAKE THE SAME KIND OF MARKS.
UH, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT ETHICS IS ALL ABOUT.
IT'S WHAT ARE WE LEAVING BEHIND AND WHAT ARE WE PRODUCING AROUND US, UH, BY THE WAY, WE TREAT ONE ANOTHER.
AND THAT TO ME IS REALLY WHAT ETHICS IS.
I THINK ABOUT IT LIKE, UH, OFTEN I'LL SPEAK WITH NEW EMPLOYEES AND I'LL SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, YOU, IT IS LIKE YOU GOT YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR THE CITY.
YOU WORK AT THE CITY NOW, BUT JUST LIKE WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING ON THE STREETS OF DALLAS, IF SOMEBODY'S NOT DRIVING WELL AND NOT DRIVING RIGHT, OR THEY'RE BEING AGGRESSIVE, IT'S A PROBLEM IN SO MANY WAYS.
IT CAN LITERALLY CHANGE LIVES.
AT THE VERY LEAST, IT CAN MAKE PEOPLE REALLY GRUMPY.
SO, UH, AS I THINK ABOUT THOSE HANDS, AND I'VE, IF ANY OF YOU ALL, UH, ARE INTERESTED, I CAN SHOW YOU SOME PICTURES LATER OR JUST DESCRIBE THESE THINGS TO YOU.
I WANT TO TELL YOU, WILT CHAMBERLAIN'S HANDS WOULD PROBABLY WRAP AROUND MY FACE TWO TIMES.
THEY'RE THE BIGGEST HANDS I'VE EVER SEEN.
OKAY, WELL, WITH THAT IN MIND, LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW WE USE NOT OUR HANDS SO TO SPEAK, BUT THE WAY WE DEAL WITH ONE ANOTHER.
AT SLIDE TWO, I'VE GOT, UH, THREE GOALS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND ON THE SLIDE THERE'S A PICTURE OF, UH, SPIDER-MAN.
SO IF YOU CLICK ONE MORE TIME, YOU WILL SEE THAT.
AND, UH, SOMEBODY, EXCUSE ME FOR THAT HESITATION, SOMEBODY WAS JUST CHECKING ON SOMETHING.
AND THE REASON I PUT SPIDER-MAN ON THERE IS BECAUSE WHAT I WANNA DO TODAY IS, UH, SINCE I CAN'T POSSIBLY UNWIND AND UNPACK EVERY SINGLE RULE IN THE CODE OF ETHICS, UH, IT'S JUST TOO MUCH.
I WANNA GIVE EVERYBODY A SPIDER SENSE.
ALL YOU NEED IS JUST TO GET THAT TINGLY FEELING, UH, THAT, HEY, SOMEBODY'S TALKED TO ME ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND THERE'S SOMETHING HERE.
AND THEN YOU NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO GO.
AND THOSE ARE MY GOALS FOR TODAY.
I WANNA GIVE YOU SPIDER SENSE.
I'M GONNA DO THAT IN TWO WAYS.
AGAIN, THE TOOLS ARE REALLY CONCEPTS, UH, LIKE THE HANDS, UH, LIKE SPIDER-MAN.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH SOME OF THE RULES AS WELL.
SO LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND, ALRIGHT, LET ME ASK YOU ALL THIS QUESTION.
UH, TURN ON YOUR MICS IF YOU KNOW THE ANSWER.
GOOD FENCES MAKE ANYBODY GOOD NEIGHBORS, GOOD NEIGHBORS.
HEY, I WANT TO HAND IT TO YOU ALL.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT ANYMORE, BUT GOOD FENCES MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO MY DOG.
UH, NOW COMING UP ON THE SCREEN IS A PICTURE OF MY DOG, PROFESSOR FRITZ.
HE'S A GERMAN SHORT-HAIRED POINTER.
HE'S SITTING UP LIKE A HUMAN IN A GREEN WING BACK CHAIR.
AND IF YOU LOOK ON THE RIGHT SIDE, HE'S GOT HIS ARM UP ON THE CHAIR WITH HIS ELBOW AND HIS CLAWS ARE OUT.
UH, THE POINT OF THAT IS TO SHOW YOU WHAT A NUTTY DOG I HAVE, NUMBER ONE, BUT ALSO TO POINT OUT HIS CLAWS BECAUSE I LIVE IN A DUPLEX.
AND IN THE BACKYARD OF THE DUPLEX, UH, GO AHEAD AND CLICK AND IT'LL BRING UP THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO NOW YOU SEE A PICTURE OF A GARDEN.
NOW, WHY DO YOU THINK IF I'VE GOT A DOG WITH BIG CLAWS AND A NEIGHBOR WITH A GARDEN, I GOT A FENCE AROUND THE GARDEN.
ANYBODY TO KEEP YOUR DOG PROFESSOR FRITZ FROM DIGGING IN THEIR GARDEN SET BOUNDARIES.
IF YOU PRESS THE BUTTON AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE SOMETHING ON THE BOTTOM THERE.
OUR COMMITMENT TO ETHICAL BEHAVIOR.
IT'S LIKE PUTTING A FENCE AROUND A GARDEN.
IT KEEPS THE, THE PROFESSOR FRITZ'S IN THE WORLD FOR DIGGING UP STUFF THAT WE WANT TO KEEP.
NOW, I'LL TELL YOU, UH, A SECRET ABOUT THIS AT THE END.
BUT THERE IS ANOTHER DOG IN THIS STORY,
SO WHY WE WANNA DO THIS, WHY WE WANNA BUILD AN ETHICAL FENCE HERE, HERE YOU HAVE, UH, A PICTURE OF SOME CITY OF DALLAS EMPLOYEES AND SOME CITY OF DALLAS RESIDENCE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE A PICTURE OF MY, MY DOG, FRITZ.
AND HE'S SITTING THERE WITH A OPEN JAR OF PEANUT BUTTER THAT HE STOLE FROM THE KITCHEN.
AND THE POINT OF THIS IS TO SAY, LOOK, WE, WE, WE WANT THIS FENCE.
IT MATTERS TO US TO ACT IN RESPONSIBLE, ETHICAL WAYS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO GET HURT, TO SEE, IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
[00:35:01]
DISPARAGED.AND I'M NOT EVEN GETTING TO THE PHYSICAL PART, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT JUST THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, UH, EVEN WITH OUR MOUTHS.
UH, THERE'S POWERFUL OR MAYBE PERHAPS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE HANDS I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE ARE DOING THIS NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO NOW SOME PEOPLE SAY THIS AND YOU CAN'T HEAR IT, SO I'LL, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT REPLAYING IT, I'LL DO IT FOR YOU.
UH, THIS WAS A VIDEO FROM A MOVIE CALLED PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN.
AND THERE WAS A PIRATE IN THERE AND, UH, SOMEBODY HAD BROKEN THE PIRATE'S CODE AND EVERYBODY KNOWS PIRATES HAVE CODES.
AND UH, WHAT HE SAID WAS, THE CODE IS MORE LIKE GUIDELINES THAN ACTUAL RULES.
HE SAYS IT'S SORT OF LIKE THAT.
AND THE REASON I PUT THAT SLIDE ON THERE IS BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING THAT THEY OFTEN THINK ABOUT THE CODE OF ETHICS, WHICH IS THAT IT'S JUST GUIDELINES.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE NEED TO REALLY PAY THAT MUCH ATTENTION TO.
IT SORT OF POINTS YOU IN THE DIRECTION, BUT IT ISN'T NECESSARILY THE DIRECTION.
IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE A PICTURE OF SOME PIRATES ON THERE, AND YOU'LL ALSO SEE FOUR OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IN OUR CODE OF ETHICS.
GO AHEAD AND CLICK ONE MORE TIME FOR THE ANIMATION.
IT SETS OUR EXPECTATIONS, WHAT'S EXPECTED OF US.
IN OTHER WORDS, HOW FAR IS TOO FAR SETS OUR SAFEGUARDS.
OR IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE DRIVING ANALOGY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LIKE GUARDRAILS, WHAT KEEPS US IN CHECK? AND THOSE ARE PRIMARILY THINGS LIKE REPORTS AND UH, JUST WAYS WHERE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER.
AND THEN FINALLY, ENFORCEMENT, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THINGS GO WRONG? SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE CODE IS.
SO LET'S SKIP DOWN TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
OKAY, SO HERE YOU HAVE, UH, WHAT'S CALLED CRESSEY'S TRIANGLE OR THE FRAUD TRIANGLE.
AND ON IT YOU HAVE A PICTURE OF MY DOG, FRITZ.
AND HE IS IN MY DINING ROOM AND HE'S STARING AT ME WITH A JAR OF PEANUT BUTTER IN HIS MOUTH.
NOW, I LEFT FOR THE DAY AND UNLIKE DEPUTY DOG, THE CHAIR'S DOG, WHO'S PROBABLY A GOOD DOG THAT WOULDN'T EVER STEAL PEANUT BUTTER LEFT OUT, UH, FRITZ DID.
AND ALTHOUGH HE DOESN'T HAVE OPPOSABLE THUMBS, HE MANAGED TO GET THE LID OFF THE PEANUT BUTTER AND HE LOOKED IT DRY AND HE'S JUST STARING AT ME LIKE, WHATCHA GONNA DO ABOUT IT? AND NOTHING BECAUSE THE PEANUT BUTTER WAS GONE.
NOW THE REASON I HAVE THIS SLIDE IS TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT THAT PEOPLE IN BAD DOGS THINK THE SAME.
IT NOT THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.
WE MAY BE MORE COMPLICATED IN WHAT WE THINK, WE MAY BE ABLE TO ARTICULATE WHAT WE'RE THINKING, BUT IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.
IT'S THIS CRESS OR THE FRAUD TRIANGLE, AND IT'S MADE UP OF THREE PARTS, UH, PRESSURE, WHICH IS BASICALLY JUST NEED OR GREED THAT WE FEEL.
THE THIRD ONE IS OPPORTUNITY, AS IN LIKE FRITZ HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT PEANUT BUTTER.
AND THE SECOND ONE MIGHT, THERE WE GO, IS RATIONALIZATION.
AND THIS IS WHAT RATIONALIZATION STANDS.
STANDS, UH, SOUNDS LIKE EVERYBODY DOES IT.
NO ONE'S GONNA NOTICE I'M JUST TRYING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THESE PEOPLE IN LINE.
I, IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT IS, IS AN EXCUSE.
THERE'S NEED AGREED, THERE'S SOMETHING STANDING IN THE WAY THAT, UH, OF ATTAINING THAT.
AND ONE OF THE BIG, UH, THINGS I TRY TO EMPHASIZE WHEN I'M TEACHING THIS IS THAT I WANNA DEPUTIZE EVERYBODY BECAUSE AS WE'LL SEE IN A MINUTE, ETHICS AND OUR LIVING UP TO THE CODE OF ETHICS IS ONLY AS STRONG AS WE ARE, AS AS ALL OF US ARE.
AND YOU CAN SAVE SOMEBODY'S LIFE.
WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WHEN SOMEBODY STARTS GOING DOWN, UH, THE FRAUD TRIANGLE, CRESSEY'S TRIANGLE, AND THEY BEGIN TO VIOLATE THE CODE OF ETHICS, IT HAS CONSEQUENCES.
IT WILL SOMEWHERE, IF NOT RIGHT AWAY, AT LEAST EVENTUALLY PEOPLE LOSE POSITION, THEY LOSE REPUTATION, THEY LOSE JOBS, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
YOU'LL CATCH THEM BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE PREDICTABLE AND THEY'LL USUALLY TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO BEFORE THEY'RE GONNA DO IT.
AND, AND WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE RATIONALIZING, THEY'RE RAISING A FLAG FOR YOU AND THEY ARE SAYING, I'M ABOUT TO GO SOMEWHERE WHERE NO ONE OUGHT TO GO.
AND THAT'S WHERE AS YOU WHO ARE DEPUTIZED, MEMBERS OF THE ETHICAL CREW WITH ME ARE GONNA STEP IN AND SAY, NOT HERE.
IT'S NOT THE WAY WE DO THINGS HERE.
SO PEOPLE IN BAD DOGS, THEY RESPOND TO THE OVERWHELMING LOGIC OF THE BOMBING.
OH, CHAIR, YOU MISSED THAT ONE.
I, I DIDN'T DESCRIBE IT, BUT THAT, AND THAT ONE, YOU SAW A PICTURE OF MY DOG, FRITZ, AND HE'S STARING AT MY BREAKFAST ON THE OVEN AND HE'S LOOKING BACK AT ME
AND HE, BECAUSE AS SOON AS I LEAVE, THE OPPORTUNITY WILL ARISE.
OKAY? SO I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT EVERYTHING TO DO WITH ETHICS, WE LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN.
UH, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS WE'RE, WE'RE BIGGER, WE'RE MORE COMPLICATED, BUT THE SAME RULES STILL APPLY.
AND TO PROVE THAT, HERE'S THE BIG PICTURE.
IF YOU UNDERSTAND THIS, WE COULD
[00:40:01]
SIT DOWN WITH PAT AND PENCIL TODAY, THROW OUT SOME ETHICAL, UH, SITUATIONS, AND YOU COULD WRITE THE CODE AND YOU WOULD GET VERY CLOSE, IF NOT DIRECTLY ON TARGET TO WHAT'S IN THE CODE.AND HERE'S THE BIG PICTURE OF ETHICS.
WE HAVE ACCESS BECAUSE WE'RE HERE, WE HAVE ACCESS TO MONEY, POWER, AUTHORITY, INFORMATION, RESOURCES THAT A, THE PUBLIC DOESN'T HAVE.
AND B, THE PUBLIC IS PAYING FOR.
THEY'RE PAYING FOR ALL THE FUN STUFF THAT WE GET TO DO HERE.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAVE A CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITY.
AND THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ACT WITH INDEPENDENCE AND IMPARTIALITY.
IN OTHER WORDS, TO BE FAIR AND TO BE KIND AND TO BE, UH, ON TOP OF YOUR ETHICS.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE DON'T CUT IN LINE, WE DON'T, UH, CALL NAMES AND WE DON'T DO ALL THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE LEARNED ABOUT IN KINDERGARTEN AT THE GROWNUP LEVEL, UH, OF, UH, BEING PEOPLE WHO WORK AND SERVE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND IT IS A DUPLICATE OF THE SLIDE WE JUST DID EXCEPT FOR IT'S GOT A GUY ON THE, ON THE CORNER DOG, THE BOUNTY HUNTER.
AND THIS IS WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO SAY, I'M GONNA MAKE YOU ALL BOUNTY HUNTERS NOW.
SO
HE MOSTLY HANGS OUT IN UH, HAWAII.
HE'S GOT BLEACH, LONG, LONG HAIR AND HE LOOKS LIKE A GIANT WRESTLER.
AND HE GOES AROUND AND HE, UH, BOUNTY HUNTS AND HE MAKES HIS LIVING ON A TV SHOW.
AND THE POINT OF THAT IS WE GOTTA GO AFTER IT.
WHEN WE SEE, UH, BREACHES AND ETHICS, THERE'S SO MUCH ON THE LINE, WE'VE GOT TO STAND UP AND BE LIKE, DOG THE BOUNTY.
YOU ARE DONE WITH ALL OF THE CONCEPTS.
NOW WE'RE GONNA GET INTO THE SPECIFIC RULES.
NOW, TO DO THAT, I'M GONNA STICK, STICK WITH THIS ANALOGY OF OFFENSE.
'CAUSE FOR ME, AS A LEARNER, IT HELPS TO HAVE SOME ANALOGIES SO THAT WHEN I'M GETTING ALL THESE RULES THROWN AT ME, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO, UH, I HAVE A PLACE MENTALLY TO, TO PUT 'EM AND FILE 'EM AWAY.
SO ON THE SCREEN IS A PICTURE OF A PICKET FENCE.
IT'S GOT A MAP OF DALLAS AND A PICTURE OF CITY HALL AND A A STATEMENT QUESTION, LOCATION FOR THE FENCE.
SO WHAT IS THE LOCATION FOR THE FENCE? THE CODE OF ETHICS.
IF YOU CLICK, YOU WILL SEE THAT IT IS THE CITY OF DALLAS, WHICH MEANS CITY OFFICIALS.
AND WHAT ARE CITY OFFICIALS? CITY OFFICIALS ARE PEOPLE THAT MAKE POLICIES.
THAT'S WHAT OFFICIALS DO IS THIS ALSO APPLIES TO CITY EMPLOYEES.
NOW WHAT IS, WHAT DO CITY EMPLOYEES DO? THEY IMPLEMENT POLICY.
SO YOU GOT OFFICIALS THAT MAKE IT, EMPLOYEES THAT IMPLEMENT IT.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY AND UH, THEY MAKE MONEY, YOU KNOW, SELLING US STUFF AND SERVICES AND THOSE KINDS OF STUFF.
GO AHEAD AND CLICK ON THAT SLIDE ONCE MORE.
ANOTHER REMINDER, CLICK IT AGAIN.
AND THERE'S A PICTURE OF FRITZ AND HE'S SPINNING AROUND.
AND THAT'S TO SAY REMINDER, REMINDER, YOU ARE THE FENCE.
AND THE MORE PEOPLE THAT PLAY, THE BETTER THE FENCE IS.
WHEREVER YOU'LL BE WORKING, THE FENCE WILL ONLY BE AS STRONG AS YOU ARE.
AND THE ONLY THING THAT PROFESSOR FRITZ NEEDS TO GET AWAY WITH, WHAT HE IS DOING IS FOR ETHICAL PEOPLE TO STAND BY AND DO WHAT? NOTHING.
YEAH, SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN IN THIS CASE.
UH, SILENCE LITERALLY CAN, UH, KILL AND DESTROY.
NOW WE'RE ONTO THE POST OF THE FENCE.
NOW WHAT ARE POSTS? YOU GOT THE SAME PICTURE, THAT SAME FENCE, BUT NOW THE POST, THE VERTICAL PIECES OF OFFENSE ARE, ARE NUMBERED 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE GOOD NEWS, GOOD NEWS.
ALTHOUGH THE CODE HAS 11 ARTICLES OR CHAPTERS, THERE'S ONLY THREE REALLY FOUR AT MAX THAT WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA, UNLESS YOU'RE A LOBBYIST, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GONNA COVER 95 PLUS PERCENT OF WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
AND IT'S ARTICLES 1, 2, 3 AND SIX, SIX APPLIES.
IF YOU'RE SOMEONE THAT HAS TO FILE A REPORT BECAUSE YOU RECEIVED A GIFT, A DONATION BECAUSE YOU TRAVELED OR YOU HAVE TO FILE A FINANCIAL REPORT.
THAT'S SOME OF THOSE GUARDRAILS OR SAFEGUARDS THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE.
THAT'S THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF THE CODE OF ETHICS.
AND THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 30 RULES IN THERE.
SO IF YOU, UH, WANNA SAVE SOME MONEY ON RELAXING SLEEP BEFORE YOU GO TO BED TONIGHT, READ ONE RULE FOR THE NEXT MONTH.
BY THE END OF THE MONTH, YOU HAVE READ, UH, HAVE, UH, READ MOST OF THE RULES THAT MATTER IN THE CODE OF ETHICS, 95% OF THE TIME ARTICLES ONE, TWO, AND THREE.
SO THOSE ARE THE POSTS OF THE FENCE.
I THINK IT'S BACKERS OF THE FENCE.
SO NOW WE HAVE A CLOSEUP OF THE FENCE AND YOU CAN SEE THE HORIZONTAL BOARDS.
[00:45:01]
BUILD FENCES, THOSE ARE CALLED BACKERS.AS SOMEBODY WHO LIVED IN WEST TEXAS FOR A WHILE, I CAN TELL YOU BACKERS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE WIND BLOWS OUT THERE LIKE IT DID THIS MORNING ALL THE TIME.
I MEAN, IT JUST IS ALWAYS BLOWING IN WEST TEXAS.
SO OUR FENCES ARE REALLY STRONG.
UH, AND THAT'S WHAT BACKERS DO FOR FENCES.
THEY GIVE IT STRENGTH AND STRUCTURE.
AND SO TO ME THE ANALOGY IS THESE ARE THE RULES THAT APPLY ALL THE TIME.
THIS DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER, UH, WHAT THE PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCE IS, WHAT THE, WHAT THE REALLY THE DETAILS ARE.
THESE ARE RULES THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE DETAILS ARE, THEY'RE GONNA APPLY.
SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE.
DID YOU KNOW YOU OWE THAT TO THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS? NOW HOW MANY PEOPLE, UH, KNOW WHAT THAT IS? ANYBODY? FIDUCIARY DUTY.
I BET, I BET A BUNCH OF YOU GUYS TOO.
I'M GETTING A LOT OF HEADS NODDING.
GOOD THEN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS THE DUTY.
LIKE TODAY WHEN I WENT TO SEE THE DOCTOR, THIS IS WHAT I EXPECT FROM MY DOCTOR.
SHE'S LOOKING OUT FOR ME, SHE'S MAKING ME WEAR THIS HAT.
SHE'S TELLING ME WHAT MEDICINE TO PUT ON.
SHE'S, SHE'S LOOKING OUT FOR ME.
THE STANDARD DUTY THAT WE HAVE IN THE WORLD IS MORE LIKE, UH, WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT GOING TO BUY A USED CAR AND NOTHING ABOUT BUY, UH, NOTHING ABOUT USED CAR SALESMAN.
BUT YOU KNOW, ONE THING ABOUT 'EM, WHETHER THEY'RE GOOD OR BAD, THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THE BEST DEAL THAT THEY CAN FROM YOU, RIGHT? AND YOU'RE TRYING TO GET THE BEST CAR YOU CAN FOR THE LEAST MONEY.
AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT GOING INTO IT.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND FIDUCIARY DUTY IS IT'S NOT FIDUCIARY DUTY.
IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU, IT'S ABOUT, IN THIS CASE THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND AS PEOPLE THAT WORK AND SERVE IN THE GOVERNMENT, THAT IS THE DUTY THAT WE OWE.
I'VE GOT A PICTURE ON THERE OF A GUY THAT I GOOGLED.
HE'S, UH, LOVINGLY LOOKING AT HIMSELF IN THE MIRROR AND SORT OF GIVING HIMSELF A FIST POUND IN THE MIRROR.
I SAY, NICK, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.
RIGHT? IF YOU REMEMBER THAT, YOU GOT FIDUCIARY DUTY.
BIG WORD, ALERT, PRODUCER DUTY, THE UTMOST DUTY OF LOYALTY, CARE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO THAT IS WHAT WE OWE, UH, IN OUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.
STANDARDS OF CONDUCT SUB ABILITY.
NOW, UH, IF SHE CLICKS, IT'S, WHAT IT'S GOT ON IT RIGHT NOW IS IT'S GOT A PICTURE OF A GUY AND HE'S TIPPING A HAT.
AND THAT TO ME JUST LOOKED LIKE A REALLY POLITE GESTURE.
AND THAT'S WHY I PUT IT ON THERE BECAUSE THAT'S MOSTLY WHAT WE THINK ABOUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT CIVILITY, UH, TREATING ONE ANOTHER THE WAY WE WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.
THAT'S THE WAY YOU SEE IT IN THE BIBLE.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE AUDIO, BUT IF WE DID AN OLD SONG THAT MANY OF YOU MIGHT REMEMBER WOULD PLAY, DON'T BRING ME DOWN.
WE DON'T WANT OTHER PEOPLE BRINGING OTHER PEOPLE DOWN IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
SO WE TREAT ONE ANOTHER WITH RESPECT, UTMOST RESPECT AND COURTESY IN ALL TIMES AND PLACES.
WE DON'T TAKE ACTIONS THAT ARE ABUSIVE, BELLIGERENT, CRUDE, DEROGATORY, IMPERTINENT.
IF YOU WOULD'VE GOTTEN, AND I GOT IN TROUBLE A LOT, MAN, WHEN I WAS IN KINDERGARTEN, FIRST GRADE, SECOND GRADE, I WAS THE GUY AT THE BLACKBOARD WRITING STUFF A HUNDRED TIMES.
AND I CAN TELL YOU HOW TO DO IT FAST, BUT I LEARNED MY LESSON.
SOME PEOPLE HAVEN'T, BUT THIS IS BASIC STUFF.
BUT IN THE CODE, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT'S NOT EVERYTHING THAT CIVILITY MEANS.
UH, AND ACTUALLY IN THE CITY CHARTER, THIS COMES UP AS AS WELL.
SO LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND SEE WHAT ELSE CODE MEANS BY CIVILITY.
OH MAN, I DIDN'T PUT THE SLIDE ON THERE.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A TIMEOUT AND GO INTO SOMETHING ELSE.
AND THEN I'M PRETTY SURE THIS, THIS PRESENTATION WILL COME BACK TO CIVILITY.
UH, THIS IS ABOUT APPEARANCES.
THIS HAS A PICTURE OF A DUCK AND THE DUCK'S LOOKING IN THE MIRROR.
AND IF YOU CLICK ON THE ANIMATION, WHAT'S GONNA COME UP ON THE SCREEN IS THIS OLD PHRASE WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH.
IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUCK, QUACKS LIKE A DUCK, SWIMS LIKE A DUCK.
WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS IT? IT'S A DUCK.
I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TALKING BACK TO ME.
I'M AN OLD PASTOR, RIGHT? SO I NEED THAT.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU DON'T WANNA BE, YOU DON'T WANNA BE A DEAD DUCK.
WHAT'S A DEAD DUCK? DEAD DUCK.
SOMEBODY ON THE TOP FOLD OF THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS THAT'S BEEN BLAMED FOR SOMETHING.
IT SAYS IN YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIONS, WHICH HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOU BETTER BE CIVIL.
UH, BUT IN ANY CASE, NO MATTER WHAT IN YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIONS, WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE WAY WE DO THINGS AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
DOES IT LOOK LIKE OUR HANDS IN THE COOKIE JAR? DOES IT LOOK LIKE WE ARE BEING UNKIND? DOES IT LOOK LIKE WE'RE NOT DOING THINGS IN THE RIGHT WAY? IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE GOTTA FIND A DIFFERENT WAY TO DO IT.
[00:50:01]
SO SAYS THE CODE.OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND HERE'S THE OTHER HALF OF CIVILITY IN THE CODE.
I CALL THIS STAYING IN YOUR LANE.
UH, I WAS A SWIMMER AND A BASKETBALL PLAYER.
AND UH, IN BOTH CASES, IF YOU'RE NOT LOOKING WHERE YOU'RE GOING, UH, YOU'RE GONNA BUMP HEADS WITH SOMEBODY.
NOW HERE, HERE IS A SHOT FROM THE TOP OF A POOL LOOKING DOWN.
AND WHEN YOU'RE SWIMMING ON A SWIM TEAM, YOU'LL HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE GOING BACK AND FORTH IN THE SAME LANE.
AND IT'S JUST LIKE DRIVING ON THE STREET.
YOU SWIM ON THE RIGHT, GOING IN ONE DIRECTION, YOU SWIM ON THE RIGHT, COMING THE OTHER DIRECTIONS, YOU DON'T BUMP INTO ONE.
WHAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH IS CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES, AND THIS IS UNDER THE, UH, SECTION OF THE CODE OF ETHICS MARKED FOR S AND WHAT IT'S SAYING IS, CITY OFFICIALS WHO DO WHAT YOU GUYS REMEMBER MAKE POLICY.
THE CITY EMPLOYEE, THEY DO, THEY IMPLEMENT POLICY AND SOMETIMES THEY NEED TO TOUCH.
SOMETIMES CITY OFFICIALS NEED INFORMATION FROM AN EMPLOYEE, SOMETIMES THEY NEED HELP WITH A PROJECT.
UH, BUT I CAN TELL YOU FROM A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THAT WE GET IN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S DIVISION FROM ACROSS THE CITY, UH, IT IS A NOT SO COMFORTABLE PLACE WHEN CITY OFFICIALS ARE GETTING RIGHT UP IN, UH, THE WORK THAT EMPLOYEES ARE DOING.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.
BECAUSE EVEN NO MATTER HOW GRACIOUS YOU ARE, UH, YOU CARRY WEIGHT AND YOU CARRY AUTHORITY AS A CITY OFFICIAL AND IT, THEY'RE JUST AT A DISADVANTAGE.
AND THAT'S WHY THE CODE SAYS IF YOU NEED TO DO THAT, THAT'S FINE, BUT THERE'S A PROCESS AND HERE'S THE PROCESS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU JUST LISTENING TO DIFFERENT MEETINGS THAT FUSION ABOUT THAT.
BUT I CAN AT LEAST BE STRAIGHT WITH YOU.
HERE'S WHAT THE CODE SAYS BEFORE A CITY OFFICIALS STARTS DEALING DIRECTLY WITH AN EMPLOYEE.
THE FIRST PERSON HAS THE WORD GENERALLY HAS THE WORD CITY IN FRONT OF THEIR NAME.
SO WHO WOULD THAT BE? CITY AUDITOR, CITY MANAGER, CITY SECRETARY, INSPECTOR GENERAL CITY ATTORNEY.
SECOND PERSON WOULD BE THE EMPLOYEE'S DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.
AND I THINK THAT'S ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
OFFICIALS OBTAIN INFORMATION OR REQUEST ASSISTANCE WITH PROJECTS WORKING THROUGH PEOPLE WITH THE WORD CITY IN FRONT OF THEIR NAMES.
AND THE APPLICABLE, UH, DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, THERE IS AN EXCEPTION TO THAT, UH, THAT HAS TO DO WITH EMPLOYEES THAT ARE WORKING FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
OBVIOUSLY YOU NEED SOME WIGGLE ROOM THERE, BUT UH, IT JUST COMES DOWN TO LEARNING HOW TO SWIM WELL IN YOUR LANE.
JUST STAY IN YOUR LANE AND ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS THOSE, THOSE, THOSE TWO THINGS THAT RAISES A LOT OF QUESTIONS I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER AT THE END, BUT THAT'S INCLUDED IN CIVILITY.
WHAT DO WE DO AT THE CITY OF DALLAS? WE PROTECT PEOPLE THAT, THAT'S BEEN THE THEME ALL ALONG, HADN'T IT? BUT WE PROTECT PEOPLE HERE.
THE ONE ON THE LEFT HAS, UH, A BUNCH OF PEOPLE STANDING IN THE RAIN, BUT SOME OF THEM DO NOT HAVE UMBRELLAS AND SOME OF 'EM DO.
AND THEN I'VE GOT A PICTURE ON THE RIDE AND EVERYBODY'S GOT AN UMBRELLA AND THAT'S THE WAY WE LIKE IT.
UH, IF I WAS STANDING OUT IN THE RAIN, I SURE WOULD LIKE IT IF SOMEBODY HANDED ME AN UMBRELLA.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO IN THE CITY.
WE PROTECT ONE ANOTHER, WE DON'T THROW PEOPLE UNDER THE BUS, THAT KIND OF THING.
AND HERE ARE SOME OF THE SECTIONS LISTED ON THERE THAT WE PROTECT OTHER, UH, PEOPLE FROM.
UH, DISCRIMINATION, UH, RETALIATION, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT TECHNICAL THAT HAS TO DO WITH, UH, RETALIATING AGAINST SOMEONE, NOT JUST FOR ANYTHING, BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE COOPERATING, THEY'RE BEING THAT DEPUTY THAT I'M ASKING YOU TO BE FOR THE CODE OF ETHICS.
SOMEBODY RETALIATES BECAUSE YOU'RE COOPERATING IN AN INVESTIGATION, YOU'RE MAKING A COMPLAINT, THAT KIND OF THING THAT IS, UH, RETALIATION IS GETTING AT THERE.
AND THEN FINALLY, YOU CAN'T USE OTHER PEOPLE TO VIOLATE THE CODE FOR YOU.
PEOPLE WHO INTENTIONALLY GO AND VIOLATE THE CODE, THEY'LL OFTEN TRY AND, UH, GET OTHER PEOPLE TO DO IT FOR 'EM.
AND THAT'S SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED IN THE CODE.
NOT FOR THE PRESENTATION, DON'T GET YOUR HOPES UP YET, BUT FINAL SLIDE HERE ON THIS SECTION OF BACKER RULES, THE TITANIC LESSON.
UH, IT'S GOT A BUNCH OF PICTURES ON IT.
SO FROM THE TOP LEFT TO RIGHT, IT'S GOT A PICTURE OF A GUY IN A SUIT, NORMAL LOOKING GUY, HIS NAME IS MR. FLEET.
UH, NEXT TO HIM IS A PAIR OF OLD BINOCULARS.
NEXT TO HIM IS A, AN OLD FASHIONED KEY.
IT SAYS, IF YOU COULD READ THAT, IT SAYS PROSE NEST KEY.
THEN BELOW THAT IS A PICTURE FROM THE MOVIE TITANIC OF, WHAT WAS THAT GUY'S NAME? ROSE WAS THE GIRL, JACK AND ROSE.
JACK AND ROSE ON THE BOW OF THE TITANIC.
AND THEN NEXT TO THEM ON TO THE LEFT OF THEIR PICTURE IS AN ACTUAL PICTURE OF THE TITANIC WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE FRONT AND AN THERE'S A, A MAST AT THE FRONT OF THE TITANIC.
IT HAS A BIG, UH, PLACE TO STAND CALLED THE CROW'S
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NEST.OKAY? SO THOSE ARE ALL THE PICTURES.
WELL, IT TURNS OUT MR. FLEET WAS IN THE CROW'S NEST THE NIGHT THAT THE ICEBERG WAS STRUCK.
WHAT HE DIDN'T HAVE WAS THAT PAIR OF BINOCULARS.
NOW, NOT THOSE BINOCULARS, THAT'S JUST A, A PICTURE OF OLD BINOCULARS, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY BINOCULARS.
WHY? BECAUSE THE KEY, AND THAT IS THE ACTUAL KEY TO THE CROW'S NEST CABINET.
WHY IS IT NOT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN? WELL THAT'S BECAUSE THE PERSON THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE THAT KEY THAT HELD THE BINOCULARS TO LOOK OUT FOR ICEBERGS WAS REPLACED.
AND BECAUSE THAT PERSON WAS REPLACED, THAT KEY STAYED IN HIS POCKET.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, BAD THINGS HAPPENED.
SO THEY ASKED MR. FLEET, WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED IF YOU'D HAVE HAD SOME BINOCULARS THAT NIGHT? WHAT DO YOU THINK MR. FLEET SAID? WE MIGHT'VE SEEN THE ICEBERG A LITTLE BIT SOONER.
SO WHAT'S THE POINT OF THIS? POINT OF THIS IS THERE'S A PROVISION IN THE CODE THAT SAYS WHETHER YOU PAID ATTENTION TO BARON TODAY OR NOT, WHETHER YOU'VE EVER PICKED UP A CODE OF ETHICS OR NOT, IT APPLIES TO YOU AND YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE TO KNOW IT AND TO FOLLOW IT.
AND I'M ASKING YOU TO BE A DEPUTY TO STAND FOR IT.
'CAUSE IF YOU DON'T, GO AHEAD AND CLICK THE NEXT BUTTON.
AND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS JACK AND ROSE ARE GONNA DISAPPEAR AND THEY'RE NOW COVERED WITH AN ANIMATION THAT IS AN ACTUAL NEW YORK TIMES FRONT PAGE, TOP AND BOTTOM FOLD, TALKING ABOUT THE LIVES LOST AND A PICTURE OF THE BOW OF THE TITANIC WHERE JACK AND ROSE STOOD IN THE MOVIE.
BUT THIS IS THE ONE THAT'S AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN.
BAD THINGS HAPPEN AND IT'S LITTLE, LITTLE DECISIONS, LITTLE STEPS, LITTLE THINGS.
WE KEEP LETTING GO AND THE FLOOR KEEPS MOVING AND GETTING LOWER AND LOWER AND LOWER AND LOWER UNTIL, UH, WE'RE ALL VERY SORRY, BUT THE TITANIC'S SAYING, OKAY, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO NOW WE'RE GONNA GET INTO AND WE'RE GONNA, UH, WE'RE GONNA GO A LITTLE BIT FASTER.
'CAUSE THE WHOLE IDEA HERE NOW IS JUST GET THESE RULES IN YOUR HEAD.
BUT THE PICKETS OF THE FENCE, WE ALL KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE.
AND THERE'S A PICTURE OF THE FENCE ON THE SCREEN.
THOSE ARE THE BOARDS THAT MAKE UP THE FENCE.
THAT'S WHAT KEEPS OTHER PEOPLE OUT.
AND IN THIS CASE, THE, THESE ARE THE, THE RULES THAT APPLY IN PARTICULAR SITUATIONS.
UH, THEY HAVE DEFINITIONS AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS A LEGAL DOCUMENT.
THE BRICK AND MORTAR FOR LAWYERS IS WORDS.
AND SO THEY REALLY DO MEAN SOMETHING.
SO DON'T ASSUME WHEN YOU'RE READING THE CODE FOR YOURSELF THAT YOU, THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORD IN ALL ITS DIMENSIONS IN THE CODE.
SO FOR INSTANCE, RELATIVE GOES SO FAR OUT IN YOUR FAMILY TREE AND THEN IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES CODE IT ACTUALLY GOES OUT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT? IS THAT CONFUSING? NO, THAT'S NOT CONFUSING.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS FOR PURPOSES OF THE CODE OF ETHICS, YOU GOTTA KNOW THAT DEFINITION.
AND I PUT SOME OTHER WORDS UP THERE THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO KNOW.
OKAY, THIS ONE SLIDE HAS A PICTURE OF A REFEREE WITH THE WHISTLE.
AND THIS ONE SLIDE REPRESENTS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 BULLET POINTS.
I SHOULD HAVE USED NUMBERS INSTEAD OF BULLET POINTS, UH, THAT ARE ALL FINANCIAL CONFLICTS.
AND WHEN YOU HEAR ME READ THIS, YOU'LL THINK I'M WASTING YOUR TIME BECAUSE WE'RE HONESTLY, ETHICS IS NOT COMPLICATED.
UH, SO LISTEN TO THIS WHERE YOU HAVE AUTHORITY.
SO HERE YOU ARE ON THIS COMMISSION, THERE MAY BE A CONFLICT IF ON THE OTHER SIDE, SAY SOMEBODY DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITIES RELATED TO YOU, OR YOU OWN THAT BUSINESS OR YOU REPRESENT THE BUSINESS, WORK FOR THE BUSINESS, DO BUSINESS WITH THEM, GET GIFTS FROM THEM, HAVE A JOB LINED UP OR A PERSON THERE IS IS OFFERING YOU A JOB OR, UH, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WHAT I MEAN, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THE ANSWER TO BE? AND FILL IN THE BLANK YOU HAVE, IF THAT'S THE CASE, YOU HAVE WHAT A CONFLICT.
YEAH, SEE THIS, IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
SO DON'T, DON'T MAKE THIS, UH, DON'T LET THE CODE OF ETHICS SCARE YOU AWAY.
I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD HAPPEN.
BUT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, OH, THAT'S ALL LEGAL GOBBLEDY G**K AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO GET INTO IT.
UM, AND THIS IS PART OF MY JOB IS TO WRITE THESE THINGS.
SO SOMETIMES YOU LOOK AT THE CODE AND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
SO WHAT DO YOU DO? EMAIL ME, GIVE ME ALL THE FACTS.
UM, AND I WILL WRITE YOU AN ADVISORY OPINION.
IT'S CONFIDENTIAL THAT YOU EVEN ASKED.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE THIS, YOU HAVE A SAFE HARBOR.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, UH, PEOPLE ASK QUESTIONS AND YOU THINK ON THE FACE OF IT, WELL, THIS IS THE SIMPLEST QUESTION.
AND IT, AND WHEN YOU GET IN THOSE CRACKS IN THOSE GRAY AREAS, IT REALLY TAKES A LOT OF THOUGHT.
UH, NORMALLY AFTER I WRITE, UH, AN ADVISORY OPINION, TWO, POSSIBLY THREE, SOMETIMES FOUR ATTORNEYS, WE'LL LOOK AT IT AND THEY WILL EDIT IT AND KICK IT BACK, AND I GOT THREE OR FOUR OF THOSE GOING
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ON RIGHT NOW.THERE'S SOME ANIMATIONS ON THERE, BUT THIS IS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR YOU.
IF YOU CAN'T, IF YOU READ THE CODE OF ETHICS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THE FUTURE, I CAN'T HELP YOU WITH THE PAST.
SO DON'T SAY, HEY, I ROBBED A BANK LAST WEEK, BUT IT WAS MY FRIEND.
IS THAT OKAY? YOU KNOW, I CAN'T HELP YOU.
THERE GOTTA BE PERSPECTIVE IN THE FUTURE, BUT THAT'S CALLED AN ADVISORY OPINION AND IT'S FREE.
THIS ONE IS WHEN YOU BUMP INTO A CONFLICT.
OH, AND BY THE WAY, ON THAT SLIDE, THERE WAS A PICTURE OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN DALLAS, WHICH IS, UH, CORINTHIAN SAILING CLUB ON WHITELOCK, WHITE ROCK LAKE, AND A BUNCH OF SAILBOATS.
THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL FIND ME MOST WEEKENDS.
OKAY? BUMPING INTO A CONFLICT.
NOW YOU'VE GOT A PICTURE OF A GUY, HE'S A RAPPER.
AND YOU CAN TELL HOW OLD I AM BECAUSE THIS IS PROBABLY THE LAST RAPPER'S NAME THAT I KNOW, ED, HIS GUY'S NAME IS MC HAMMER, FAMOUS FOR A SONG.
AND THAT DESCRIBES PRECISELY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BUMP INTO A CONFLICT AND YOU KNOW IT.
SO IF YOU HIT THE ANIMATION, YOU'LL SEE HIM SPINNING AROUND.
AND IF THE AUDIO WAS WORKING, YOU'D HEAR THE MUSIC CAN'T TOUCH THIS.
IF A CONFLICT ARISES, YOU GOTTA RECUSE YOURSELF.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS YOU RAISE YOUR HAND.
HOW DO YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? YOU RAISE YOUR HAND BY GOING TO THE CITY SECRETARY.
YOU GET A FORM, YOU FILL IT OUT.
BY THE WAY, AN APPEARANCE IS NOT A CONFLICT, BUT IT'S A PROBLEM YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A CONFLICT, YOU RAISE YOUR HAND AND YOU TALK TO TWO PEOPLE, CITY SECRETARY AND YOUR SUPERVISOR, THE CHAIR OF YOUR COMMITTEE.
THIS IS MOSTLY, UH, YOU TALK TO THE SUPERVISOR IF YOU'RE AN EMPLOYEE AND YOU ALL ARE, ARE CITY OFFICIALS.
SO IN THAT CASE, UH, YOU NEED TO TALK TO YOUR ASK ME LATER.
I'M NOT GONNA, I'M NOT GONNA JUST GUESS.
THERE IS ANOTHER PERSON AND IT'S IN THE CODE AT 12 A 24.
AND IT'S ESCAPING MY MIND RIGHT NOW.
YOU, AND WHAT RECUSAL MEANS IS YOU CAN'T WORK ON IT ANYMORE.
FROM THE MOMENT YOU RECOGNIZE THERE'S A PROBLEM AND YOU RAISE YOUR HAND, YOU STOP WORKING ON THAT.
NOW, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? UH, THAT DOES NOT MEAN, HEY, I HAD THIS PROJECT AND I, I, I'VE GOT A CONFLICT.
UM, I TALKED TO SO AND SO I DID IT.
I MEAN, YOU LITERALLY, YOU STOP WORKING ON IT.
WHY? BECAUSE YOU HAVE A, HAVE A CONFLICT, OKAY? DON'T EXCUSE IT.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS SOMETHING MC HAMMER MIGHT COME UP WITH.
HE WAS DOING A WRAP ABOUT THIS.
NOW, HERE WE HAVE A PICTURE OF DARTH VADER IN STAR WARS, AND HE'S TALKING TO SOME YOUNG COMMANDER, AND IT'S ALWAYS A SCARY MOMENT.
AND IF THE AUDIO WORKED, YOU'D HEAR THE, AND WHY IS THAT? 'CAUSE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS AND WHAT'S REQUIRED OF US WHEN THE CODE OF ETHICS IS VIOLATED, NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE A DUTY TO REPORT.
NOW, WHO DO YOU REPORT TO? WHO DO YOU THINK MOST PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY EMPLOYEES, WOULD SAY, OH, MY SUPERVISOR.
CITY OFFICIALS MIGHT SAY, OH, THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE OR, UH, MY COUNCIL MEMBER OR, AND ALL THAT IS, IS FINE IN A WAY.
UH, BUT THE CODE SAYS YOU HAVE TO REPORT A VIOLATION TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.
WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS IN A MINUTE.
IF THERE'S AN INVESTIGATION, YOU HAVE TO COOPERATE, RIGHT? REMEMBER, THIS IS STUFF WE LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN.
WE HAVE A DUTY TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY.
WHAT'S THAT MEAN? WELL, INVESTIGATIONS ARE SECRET AND THERE'S A GOOD REASON FOR THAT.
'CAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE BLAMED AND THEY REALLY DIDN'T DO IT.
AND THAT'S WHAT OUR INVESTIGATORS WERE FOR.
AND WE'VE GOT GOOGLE AND WE GOT SOMEBODY THAT WAS WITH, UH, SECRET SERVICE.
WE GOT A TREASURY, WE GOT FORMER DETECTIVES.
OUR INVESTIGATORS ARE REALLY SECOND CAREER PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT.
AND THEY'RE GONNA FIGURE OUT WHETHER SOMETHING WENT WRONG OR NOT.
IF YOU GIVE A SWORN STATEMENT, BETTER BE TRUTHFUL.
IF THERE'S AN INVESTIGATION, DON'T INTERFERE AND DON'T RETALIATE.
THOSE ARE LIKE BACKER RULES, REALLY FOR CODE VIOLATIONS, OKAY? THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE A COMPLAINT.
IT'S A WHISTLE WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS SKYLINE IN THE BACK.
UH, AND A SONG THAT SOME PEOPLE SNICKER AT 'CAUSE THEY KNOW THE REST OF THE SONG, BUT WOULD BE PLAYING BLOW THE WHISTLE.
NOW, SOME PEOPLE KNOW THAT SONG.
THERE IT IS, AND THAT WHISTLE SHAKES.
BUT THE POINT IS, THERE'S A QR CODE, A PHONE NUMBER, AND A WEBSITE.
ANY ONE OF THOSE WILL GET YOU THERE.
IT DOESN'T GO TO ANYBODY IN THE CITY, OKAY? UH, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S REP REPUTATION AND, AND PROTECT PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA BE DEPUTIES AND, AND STAND FOR ETHICS IN THE CITY.
SO IT GOES OFF TO A THIRD PARTY.
IT LOOKS THE SAME FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, IF YOU WANNA REMAIN ANONYMOUS, YOU CAN.
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SO THE WHISTLE, NOW WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON OUR WEBSITE, UH, SO THAT THIS WILL BE EASIER TO FIND, BUT YOU'LL HAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION.UH, CALL ME IF YOU CAN'T FIND IT.
NOW WE'RE REALLY, WE'RE REALLY AT THE END.
THERE'S MC HAMMER AGAIN, SPINNING AROUND.
BENEFITS TO PREVIOUS EMPLOYERS, WE DON'T NEED THIS ONE.
IF YOU SEE AN EMPLOYEE FOR THE FIRST YEAR, THEY WORK HERE.
THEY CAN'T WORK ON ANYTHING WITH ANYBODY THEY EVER WORKED FOR BEFORE.
SO THEY CAN'T DO THAT JUST FOR 12 MONTHS.
I GOT A PICTURE OF A FIRE TRUCK AND THEY'RE SPRAYING WATER FOR SOME KIDS.
SO I SAY THE FIREFIGHTERS GUYS, YOU CAN'T TAKE THE FIREFIGHTER TRUCK HOME.
YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, TRIM YOUR TREES WITH THE LADDER TRUCK.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A WATERPARK FOR YOUR KIDS.
AND THAT GOES FOR EVERYTHING FROM FURNITURE TO COMPUTERS, TO EMAILS TO THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, BECAUSE WE WORK AT THE CITY.
WHEN WORK BECOMES A FAMILY REUNION, GOT A PICTURE THERE OF A GAZEBO WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN MATCHING SHIRTS.
WHAT'S THE DEAL HERE? UH, THE DEAL HERE IS YOU CAN'T INFLUENCE THE APPOINTMENT OF A RELATIVE.
REMEMBER, RELATIVE HAS A DEFINITION IN CODE.
UM, YOU CAN'T INFLUENCE THEIR EMPLOYMENT.
AND HERE I LISTED SOMETHING IN THE PERSONNEL CODE FOR EMPLOYEES.
EMPLOYEES CAN'T EVEN BE IN THE LINE OF SUPERVISION.
THEY CAN'T BE ANYWHERE IN THE LINE.
NOW, UH, OFFICIALS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
YOU CAN'T BE THE DIRECT SUPERVISOR, BUT THAT'S PRETTY RARE.
BUT WHEN WORK BECOMES A FAMILY RE REUNION, LET THAT SPIDER SENSE GO OFF AND JUST START LOOKING IN THE CODE.
OKAY, WHEN'S IT BEST TO KEEP QUIET? I GOT A PICTURE OF A MAFIA GUY FROM AN OLD TV SHOW.
I FORGOT WHICH ONE IT IS, BUT I DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT NOTHING.
WHAT, WHAT IS IT? THE SOPRANOS? YEAH.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT NOTHING.
THAT'S HOW YOU STAY ALIVE IN THE MAFIA.
AND THAT'S HOW WE TREAT, UH, CONFIDENTIALITY IN THE CITY.
WE, WE KEEP SECRETS OF SECRET.
SO IF, UH, YOU, YOU EVER DECIDE YOU'RE GONNA CALL, UH, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL DIVISION AND MAKE A COMPLAINT, THEN DON'T GO TELLING ALL YOUR FRIENDS, BECAUSE THAT'S A SECRET THAT YOU DID THAT.
THIS IS A SCENE FROM A MOVIE CALLED CADDYSHACK.
AND, UH, RODNEY DANGERFIELD WALKS UP TO THE GUY THAT'S GONNA BE THE JUDGE AND SAYS, LOOK, KEEP IT FIT.
AND THE JUDGE SAYS, OH, I CAN'T, I CAN'T DO THAT.
AND HE SLIPS HIM A HUNDRED DOLLARS BILL, AND HE CHECKS IT OUT, STICKS IT IN HIS POCKET.
IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS, OR YOU KNOW ABOUT IT, UH, THERE'S A RULE.
YOU CAN'T TRADE FAVORS FOR OFFICIAL ACTION.
BUT YOU ALSO GET MATCHING SILVER BRACELETS WHEN YOU DO THAT.
AND YOU GO DOWNTOWN AND YOU SPEND THE NIGHT AND IT'S NO FUN.
SO DON'T DO ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE TO THAT.
YOU MAY HAVE TO HIT IT TO GET THE ANIMATION TO WORK.
THIS, THE CITY IS A POLITICAL PLACE.
UH, HOW DO YOU GET YOUR SPIDER SENSE GOING HERE? WELL, I'VE GOT A A, A THING HERE.
WHEN YOU CLICK, IT'S GONNA ANIMATE.
THE POINT IS, YOU CAN BE INVOLVED IN POLITICS, BUT THERE ARE RULES.
WAY TOO MANY TO TALK ABOUT HERE.
UM, BUT JUST KNOW SPIDER SENSE.
CONSULT CODE, CALL ME, UH, CALL YOUR LAWYER.
YOU KNOW, BUT JUST, YOU GOTTA FIGURE THAT OUT.
CAN YOU DO IT? YEAH, BUT IT CAN INTERFERE WITH YOUR WORK IN THE CITY.
AND YOU CAN'T PERSONALLY PROVIDE SERVICES FOR, UH, ANYBODY THAT YOU ARE WORKING WITH AS A, UH, OFFICIAL OR EMPLOYEE IN THE CITY.
SO THE, THE CLASSIC EXAMPLE IS THE INSPECTOR THAT COMES IN AND SAYS, BOY, BET YOU CAN'T WAIT TO GET THIS RESTAURANT GOING.
YEAH, WELL, UH, I THINK I CAN SIGN YOUR TICKET, BUT I NOTICED SOME OF THESE, UH, DETECTORS ARE OUT OF DATE.
I JUST HAPPEN TO HAVE SOME IN MY TRUCK.
WE'LL SIGN OFF ON YOUR INSPECTION.
YOU GET YOUR RESTAURANT OPEN, OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT? THAT'S A PROBLEM.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE KIND OF WAYS YOU CAN'T DO OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT.
I CALL THIS THE INSIDER TRADING RULE.
YOU KNOW ABOUT THINGS BEFORE THEY HAPPEN.
A GREAT EXAMPLE TODAY, WE TALKED ABOUT MOSEY ALONG.
UH, NOW YOU ALL KNOW THINGS THAT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN A PUBLIC MEETING, YOU JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S MOVING IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU? YOU CAN'T INVEST IN IT.
LIKE, OH, THEY'RE ABOUT TO TEAR THAT DOWN.
WELL, THAT MIGHT PULL MY MONEY OUT OF THAT INSIDER TRADING.
AND ONCE THE CITY MAKES A DECISION, IT'S LIKE A TIMEOUT FOR 12 MONTHS.
ANOTHER WAY TO PUT THAT IS, UH, UH, BRIBERY, RIGHT? YOU CAN'T
AND THIS IS NOT FOR YOU ALL, BUT IF YOU EVER SEE THIS, YOU KNOW IT'S WRONG.
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OFFICIAL ACTION FOR FAVORS TO CREDITORS AND DEBTOR DEBTORS AND OTHER PEOPLE, RELATIVES, THAT KIND OF THING.IF YOU DO THAT, UH, YOU'RE IN, YOU'RE IN DEEP, DEEP TROUBLE.
FINANCIAL INTERESTS OF EMPLOYER OFFICER PROHIBITED, NO SOUP FOR YOU.
THIS IS THE NO SOUP FOR YOU RULE.
THIS IS A, A PICTURE OF A GUY FROM SEINFELD THAT IF YOU, UH, IF YOU MESS WITH HIM AT ALL, HE WOULDN'T GIVE YOU HIS SUIT THAT EVERYBODY WANTED.
THIS IS A A, UH, VERY HARSH RULE.
UH, AND WHAT IT SAYS IS, IF YOU HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST IN A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OR SELL STUFF TO THE CITY, YOU'LL, YOU'RE TERMINATED THERE.
THERE'S NO RANGE OF PUNISHMENT FOR THIS ONE.
AND CITY COUNCIL CAN UNTIE THE KNOT ON WHATEVER CONTRACT UNDERLIES THAT.
UM, NOW THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A NOMINEE OR MEMBER OF A CITY BOARD OR COMMISSION, BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS RULE.
IF NOTHING ELSE, WHEN YOU SEE IT TO WARN PEOPLE, HEY, YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS RIGHT AWAY, OR, OR DON'T BE DOING WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT DOING.
UH, PEOPLE DECIDE THEY WANNA START UP A PARTY SUPPLY COMPANY 'CAUSE THEIR DEPARTMENT OF DIVISION HAS PARTIES ALL THE TIME SO THEY CAN SELL STUFF TO THEIR DEPARTMENT, COULD LOSE THEIR JOB.
SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN A BUSINESS.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW HERE IS IF YOU, IF IF REMEMBER IF IT'S A BUSINESS OR PROPERTY, IF YOU OWN IT AND IT GETS ENTANGLED IN BUSINESS WITH THE CITY, SPIDER SENSE GOES OFF, GO LOOK UP WHAT COUNTS AS A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST.
NOW, THE ONE THAT HOOKS PEOPLE THE MOST, UM, WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THINGS IS THAT THIRD BULLET POINT FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE BUSINESS EXCEED 10% OF YOUR GROSS INCOME.
AND, AND SO YOU, YOU'VE GOT A SIDE HUSTLE, LET'S SAY, AND THEN THAT SIDE HUSTLE BUSINESS STARTS DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY.
YOU MIGHT FIND OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE NOT AN INVESTOR, YOU HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN THE BUSINESS.
THE CODE DESCRIBES, UH, THERE WHAT SUBSTANTIAL MEANS FOR BUSINESSES.
THE NEXT SLIDE, IT DESCRIBES IT FOR PROPERTY OR HIT THE NEXT SLIDE.
I MEAN, THAT'S NOT A LOT OF PROPERTY.
THERE'S MY CONTACT INFORMATION.
UH, HIS EMAIL ADDRESS IS KELLY.
HIS, UH, REAL NAME THAT HE GOES BY IS BART.
HE'S THE INSPECTOR GENERAL ON BARON.
HI, TRAN WORKS ON THE CITY MANAGER SIDE.
AND THERE'S THE SPEAK UP LINE, 8 7 7 8 6 0 1 0 6 1.
THAT IS THE LINE TO THE WHISTLE.
I THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING, UH, FOR THE CITY AND FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD.
UM, MR. ELLIE LAWSON SEN, WE SINCERELY, ONCE AGAIN, WISH TO APPRECIATE YOU FOR THIS INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION.
IT CERTAINLY IS VERY RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO LEARN.
UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE POINT YOU MADE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION WHEN YOU STATED THAT ETHICS, UM, IS ALL ABOUT PRODUCING OUTCOMES THAT RELATE TO HOW YOU TREAT PEOPLE.
AND OFTENTIMES WE DO TAKE IT FOR GRANTED AND FORGET THAT RESPECT IS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE, INCLUDING FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, WHETHER WE ARE COMMISSIONERS OR, YOU KNOW, CITY EMPLOYERS OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
UM, BUT ONE POINT THAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TOUCH ON IS WORKING WITH COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY IN MEETINGS.
UM, LET'S SAY THAT, UH, DISAGREEMENTS COME ABOUT AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO AGREE WITH EVERYBODY, BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, UM, WE, WE CAN'T NECESSARILY DO, UH, OR WE CAN'T BE FORCED TO AGREE WITH PEOPLE, BUT WE HAVE TO BE RESPECTFUL.
SO FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW, WHAT STRATEGY WOULD YOU SAY IS BEST, UM, FOR SAY THAT THERE'S A, A DISAGREEMENT THEN COMES, COMES UP, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT EVENTUALLY GETS TO THE POINT WHERE IT DOES BECOME CONFRONTATIONAL.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION, UH, TO A POINT WHERE YOU ARE BEING RESPECTFUL WHILE ALSO BEING ASSERTIVE AT THE SAME TIME? OOH, I LIKE THAT WORD ASSERTIVE.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, UH, BECAUSE I THINK WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATION, NOT AGGRESSIVE COMMUNICATION AND NOT, UM, HOW WAS THE OPPOSITE OF AGGRESSIVE WITH, UH, HOW IT STARTS WITH A P PASSIVE? PASSIVE, PASSIVE.
WHAT DOES ASSERTIVE LOOK LIKE? WELL, UM, AND BEFORE I ANSWER THAT, LET ME, LET ME JUST SAY ONE THING I FORGOT TO MENTION, BUT IT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS.
STUDIES SHOW THAT WHEN WE DON'T PLAY NICELY, UH, BAD THINGS HAPPEN.
WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? PRODUCTIVITY DROPS, UH, STANDING UP AND WITH, AND FOR OTHER PEOPLE DROPS,
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ISOLATION INCREASES.SO LIKE THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, ALL THE GOOD THINGS ARE GOING DOWN AND ALL THE BAD THINGS ARE GOING UP.
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DON'T DO THIS.
AND AS SOMEBODY WITH SOME GRAY HAIR AND THE REST IS BALD.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I HAD TO GET MY HEAD WORKED ON.
BUT AS SOMEBODY WITH SOME GRAY HAIR, THAT'S WORKED IN A LOT OF PLACES, WELL, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF IT, AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT DOWN THE LINE THAT WHAT THE STUDY SHOW IS TRUE.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, UH, IS ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATION.
AND AND WHAT IS THAT? WELL, NUMBER ONE, IT'S NOT GETTING PERSONAL.
LIKE OUR FRIENDS AT CONGRESS DID, UH, THE OTHER WEEK, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
IT WAS AT SOME HEARING FOR SOMEBODY AND ONE REPUBLICAN SAID SOMETHING ABOUT EYELASHES, AND THEN THE PERSON WITH THE EYELASHES SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THAT OTHER PERSON'S BODY, AND IT GOT REAL PERSONAL, REAL QUICK.
AND, UH, I HEARD A, A COMMISSIONER SAY IT, IT SHOULD HAVE, AND, AND
AND, AND I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND THE POINT, BUT THE REAL SHOULD HAVE, AND TO ADDRESS THE CHAIR'S QUESTION IS IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THERE.
ONCE IT GOT THERE, IF IT JUST HAD NEVER GONE THERE, UH, IT, IT WOULD'VE SOLVED A LOT OF PROBLEMS. NOW THAT'S, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD FROM OURS, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
UH, IF WE DON'T STICK TO BUSINESS, IF WE DON'T STICK TO BEING, UH, PROFESSIONAL, IF BASICALLY WE DON'T ACT LIKE GOOD, AND I DON'T WANNA, I'M NOT GONNA OFFEND ANYBODY HERE, BUT YOU KNOW, KINDERGARTNERS, THAT KINDERGARTNERS THAT FOLLOW THE RULES, YOU KNOW, DON'T END UP IN THE CORNER LIKE I USED TO WHEN I WAS IN KINDERGARTEN.
UH, YOU GO, WE'RE GONNA BE FINE.
THERE'S NO NEED FOR IT TO BE PERSONAL.
THE CITY DEMANDS MORE FROM US THAN THAT.
AND, BUT YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE QUESTION WAS, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT, SO SERVE COMMUNICATION GENERALLY MEANS, UH, YOU, YOU STAND UP FOR YOURSELF, YOU'RE EMPATHETIC WITH THE OTHER PERSON, BUT YOU SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT I HEAR.
YOU'RE SAYING, THIS IS WHAT I WANT, THIS IS WHAT I NEED.
UH, AND YOU STAY AWAY FROM THE PERSONAL THINGS.
THERE'S, THERE'S NO NEED, WHICH I, AS A CASUAL OBSERVER OF POLITICS ALL OVER THE WORLD, UH, THERE'S NO NEED FOR INNUENDO, THERE'S NO NEED FOR ANY OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
JUST DO YOUR BUSINESS AND BE KIND ABOUT IT.
AND EVEN IF YOU LOSE THE BATTLE YOU'RE GAINING AND YOU'RE GAINING BECAUSE YOU'RE BUILDING TRUST.
IF, IF, IF I'M SOMEWHERE LIKE I, I WAS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I WAS A PASTOR FOR 25 YEARS.
AND THIS, I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS.
THIS WAS THE ONE THAT WAS, UH, MY COLLEAGUE SITTING TO THE LEFT.
WE, WE LIVED NEARBY ONE ANOTHER IN OUR DISTANT PAST.
UH, AND THIS GUY DECIDED HE WOULD TARGET A STAFF MEMBER FOR ABOUT A MONTH THAT HE THOUGHT WASN'T PRODUCING.
AND I'M, I AM NOT KIDDING YOU, THERE WOULD BE A STAFF MEMBER IN A LARGE CITY LEADING CHURCH CRIME AT STAFF MEETING EVERY TUESDAY, EVERY WEEK.
AND THEN AFTER A WHILE IT, FOR WHATEVER REASON, UH, THIS PERSON WOULD JUST KIND OF MOVE ON.
WHAT THAT DID TO THE STAFF, UH, WELL, TO COIN A PHRASE, IT WAS DIS REHABILITATE THIS OF ALL PLACES.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A COMMISSION ON DISABILITY THAT IS, IT IS DIS REHABILITATE TO A STAFF AND TO EMPLOYEE HAVE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.
AND SO I WOULD SAY TWO THINGS.
YOU LEARN TO COMMUNICATE ASSERTIVELY, NOT AGGRESSIVELY OR PASSIVELY PASSIVE AGGRESSIVELY.
AND YOU LEARN WHAT A COST IS PAID.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
YES, THAT INFORMATION WAS ABSOLUTELY HELPFUL AND WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE A LOT AWAY FROM IT.
COULD WE TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK? YES.
COMMISSIONER, UM, RUDY, YOU MAY DO.
SO WE ARE FIVE MINUTES TILL THE END OF THE SCHEDULED MEETING.
ARE WE, ARE WE GO ON TODAY? WHAT'S THE QUESTION AGAIN? CHAIRMAN S COMMISSIONER BALLOU? YES.
COMMISSIONER BALLOU, HOW MAY I HELP YOU? YES, SO WE'RE FIVE MINUTES FROM THE END OF THE MEETING.
WILL WE BE GOING MUCH LONGER? UM, 10 MINUTES.
UH, CHAIR, IF I MAY INTERRUPT.
I, MY COLLEAGUE HERE, AND I APOLOGIZE IF I WENT TOO LONG, HIS PRESENTATION.
[01:20:01]
I HAVE TO DROP RIGHT AT THREE 30.I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GONNA RUIN OUR QUORUM OR NOT, BUT, UM, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND PAST THREE 30.
AND WE HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS TOO.
YES, I'D LIKE TO, UM, APPRE I DO APPRECIATE THAT COMMENT.
BUT, UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT COMMISSIONERS WISH TO ASK? EXCUSE ME, CHAIR.
I'M SORRY, BUT WE ARE OFFICIALLY OUT OF FORUM, SO, BECAUSE, BECAUSE WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT, SO WE'RE OUT OF FORUM RIGHT NOW.
SO ARE WE AT A QUORUM FOR SOMEONE TO ADOPT THEIR CAMERA OR 'CAUSE COMMISSIONER REEDY AS WE'RE A FIVE MINUTE YEAH, WE ARE OUT OF QUORUM, SO WE CAN'T BE SPEAKING OR CONDUCTING.
SO THAT PART CHAIRMAN K COLONY, THIS IS, IS COMMISSIONER AGAIN.
I DON'T THINK YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION ABOUT HOW MUCH LONGER PAST OUR ALLOTTED TIME WE'RE GOING TO GO.
[01:25:25]
I AM SORRY, I'M BACK.CAN Y'ALL SEE ME? I CAN SEE YOU.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY THEY HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE.
WE ONLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES
JUST OFF THE CUFF HERE, SOUNDS TO ME THAT YOU'RE DEALING MORE WITH ISSUES OF TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT.
THOSE, THOSE KIND OF YOU JUST HEARING YOU.
NO, I'M, I'M BEING, BEING VERY SPECIFIC IN COMMUNICATION CORRESPONDENCE.
SO WHEN SOMEONE EMAILS AND HAS A QUESTION OR A MOTION OR A GRIEVANCE, WE, WE NO CHAIRMAN.
THE 24 TO 48, THEY, I'M SORRY, I'M, WE ONLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO FINISH THIS QUESTION.
SHOULD THEY NOT? Y'ALL WERE DOING BUSINESS WHILE WE DID NOT HAVE QUORUM.
MS. MEEKS, UM, IDENTIFIED THAT WE HAD QUORUM.
WELL, WE CAME INTO HALFWAY THROUGH THIS CONVERSATION.
SO YOU GUYS WERE ON MUTE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
OH, I DON'T, I DON'T HANDLE THE TECHNOLOGY.
DO YOU WANT ME TO START OVER WITH THE QUESTION? WELL, NO, I MEAN, WE ARE AT A TIME AND I'M GONNA HAVE TO DROP, BUT IT JUST, I WAS TRYING TO ASK QUESTIONS AND NO ONE WAS LISTENING TO ME, SO I BEGAN TO THINK YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE ROOM TO BE ANSWERED.
UM, I BELIEVE OUTTA RESPECT FOR THE CHAIR, I OPENED UP THE FLOOR.
I STARTED WASN'T TO EXCLUDE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER.
I YEAH, I I NOW WE'RE GOING PAST, I HAD ASKED THE QUESTION BEFORE AND THE CHAIR IGNORED MY QUESTION, SO I WAS JUST TRYING TO NO, YOU ANSWERED IT.
GET THE QUESTION ANSWERED FOR THE LAST 10 MINUTES.
I DID NOT IGNORE YOUR QUESTION.
AND THE GENERAL RULE OF THUMB IS BECAUSE YOU'RE DROPPING OUT, WE HAVE TO, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE MEETING, WE HAVE TO HAVE FORM YOU DROP OUT ON, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONCLUDE.
THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING HOW MUCH MORE TIME TO SEE IF I COULD MOVE MY MEETING OFF.
UM, AGAIN, GOING TO, I'M ALLOWING FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS FOR THIS PRESENTER AND THEN 10 MINUTES FOR THE OTHER PRESENTER.
I'LL STAY ON AS LONG AS I CAN.
TO JUMP BACK, THE QUESTION IS, UM, WHEN YOU SAY PASSED OVER AND AGAIN, THAT THAT COMES WITH DIFFERENT VARIABLES AND FACTORS, WOULD THAT NOT ALSO INCLUDE COMMUNICATION AND CORRESPONDENCE? I UNDERSTAND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S SOME, THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON, BUT WHEN I WROTE THAT, BUT THIS IS, AGAIN, REMEMBER THAT'S NOT, THIS ISN'T TECHNICAL LANGUAGE FOR THE CODE, BUT WHEN I WROTE THAT, I WAS TALKING ABOUT GETTING PASSED OVER FOR A, A RAISE OR A POSITION OR SOMETHING LIKE RIGHT.
BUT WE CAN'T EXCLUDE THAT, RIGHT? RIGHT.
SO IF I EMAIL YOU, UM, WHETHER YOU LIKE ME OR NOT, WE HAVE TO COLLABORATE TOGETHER, RIGHT? SO RESPONDING TO ME IN THE EMAIL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE ME, BUT IN BEST PRACTICE, IS IT NOT TO
[01:30:01]
IDENTIFY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU CAN HAVE A SOLUTION? YEAH, I REALLY FEEL LIKE I'M STEPPING INTO A LONG CONVERSATION.NO, BECAUSE IF YOU WERE NO, NO, NO, BUT LET ME ASK YOUR QUESTION.
THAT'S THE POINT OF COMMUNICATING WITH EMAIL AND TO RIGHT, TO THE CHAIR'S QUESTION ABOUT WHAT'S BEST PRACTICE WHEN YOU KNOW THERE'S SOME ENERGY TO IT.
I PERSONALLY FOUND EMAIL IS NOT A GOOD WAY TO DO IT.
BUT EMAIL'S GOOD FOR DATES, TIMES, PLACES, FACTS, BUT, BUT IF THERE'S ANY ENERGY, I, A LOT IS LEFT ON THE TABLE ABOUT WHAT'S BEING COMMUNICATED IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, THIS ISN'T THE CODE OF EVIDENCE WITH EMAILS AND, AND I'VE SEEN THAT START FIRES THAT DIDN'T NEED TO START.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GETTING CLOSE TO WHAT YOU'RE OH, YOU ARE.
BECAUSE LIKE I'M SAYING, THAT'S WHY I GAVE EXAMPLES.
THIS ISN'T IDENTIFIED WITH JUST ONE PERSON.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE A CITY OFFICIAL, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE A CITY EMPLOYEE IN HR OR WHATEVER THE DEPARTMENT IS WHEN YOU EMAIL BECAUSE YOU HAVE A QUESTION AND OF CONCERN OR SOLUTION 24 48 72, IT WOULDN'T BE THREE MONTHS OR NOT AT ALL.
THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF, TO ME, AND SINCE YOU KEEP MENTIONING PERSONAL OPINION IN PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENTS, BEST PRACTICES TO RESPOND, IS IT NOT? YEAH.
AND IF SOMEONE WASN'T RESPONDING TO ME, I'D, I'D TALKED TO PERSONALLY AND HAVE AN ASSERTIVE CONVERSATION.
JUST SAY, HEY, I I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE NOT ANSWERING MY EMAILS RIGHT.
IF I NEED YOU TO, WHAT'S GOING ON, ASSERT AND NOT AGGRESSIVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR QUESTION.
UH, COMMISSIONER POI AT THIS TIME, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT COMMISSIONERS WISH TO ASK? NO.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, MR. SEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO BEING IN COLLABORATION WITH YOU.
OUR NEXT PRESENTER IS MICHAEL SMITH.
HE IS THE PUBLIC INFORMATION COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
HIS PRESENTATION TODAY WILL COVER INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO DALLAS RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I NOW WELCOME MR. SMITH TO THE STAGE.
UM, MR. SMITH, UM, WE ONLY HAVE SEVEN MINUTES REMAINING FOR OUR MEETING.
UH, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO FINISH IN SEVEN MINUTES OR WOULD YOU PREFER COMING BACK NEXT TIME? YOU CAN COME BACK.
MR. SMITH, UM, WE DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE CONVENIENCE INCONVENIENCE BECAUSE THE MEETING HAS BEEN, UH, WE ARE RUNNING OVER TIME, BUT WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU BACK IN, IN PERHAPS IN JUNE IF YOU'RE ABLE TO COME.
SO NOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD TO THE ANNOUNCEMENTS SECTION OF THE AGENDA.
UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS I WISH TO MAKE.
APRIL WAS AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE MEETING, UM, AUTISM IS A SPECTRUM WHICH MEANS THAT NOT EVERY PERSON LIVING WITH AUTISM IS IMPACTED THE SAME WAY.
SOME INDIVIDUALS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE NOT ABLE TO RESPOND TO THEIR NAMES IN ADDITION TO OTHER, UM, DIFFICULTIES THAT THEY MAY BE FACING ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL.
AND ONE IN 36 CHILDREN IN THE US ARE DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM.
AND IT IS ALSO ESTIMATED THAT O OVER 5.5 MILLION ADULTS, UH, LIVE WITH THE, THIS SPECTRUM MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN ONE IN FIVE AMERICAN ADULTS LIVE WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS.
AND EACH YEAR IN MAY, MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IS OBSERVED, UM, WITH VIA DIFFERENT FORMS, WHETHER THAT WOULD BE EVENTS, FILM SCREENINGS, OR JUST CONVERSATIONS IN GENERAL.
UM, ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS LAST MONTH I WAS IN CONVERSATION WITH A, AN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AT UT DALLAS.
UH, SHE IS HOPING TO GRADUATE NEXT YEAR MAJORING IN, UM, COMPUTER SCIENCE.
AND SHE DESIGNED A PRODUCT CALLED APOLLO, WHICH I'M SURE SOME OF YOU HAVE, MAY, MAY HAVE HEARD OF.
BUT IT IS ULTIMATELY, UM, GLASSES, UM, THAT ARE, UM, THEY CAN BE USED WITH AN APP.
AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY USEFUL FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VISUALLY
[01:35:01]
IMPAIRED, BUT PERHAPS OTHERS AS WELL, WHO MAY HAVE OTHER DISABILITIES.UM, SHE IS VERY INTERESTED IN OUR COMMISSION AND THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT I MIGHT INVITE HER TO COME AND PRESENT ABOUT THE PRODUCT THAT SHE'S DOING, UM, TO ONE OF OUR MEETINGS.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, FOR THE MONTH OF JULY IN HONOR OF DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH, I WAS PROPOSING THAT WE DO A RETREAT.
INSTEAD OF HAVING A MEETING IN JULY, WE HAVE A RETREAT WHERE WE GET TOGETHER AND, UM, AS THE CHAIR, I DISCUSS WITH MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS ABOUT THE WORK WE'RE DOING, UM, THE PROGRESS, UH, I SHALL SAY, AND WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER TO ACHIEVE THE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN SET FORTH BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
SO ONE OF THE IDEAS I HAVE IN MIND IS THAT, UM, AS TIME GETS CLOSER, I WANT TO DO SOMETHING AROUND JULY 26TH, BECAUSE JULY 26TH IS WHEN THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT GEORGE HW BUSH, AND CURRENTLY AT THE GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL MUSEUM LOCATED IN THE SMU CAMPUS.
THERE IS A SPECIAL EXHIBIT, WHICH WILL BE IN THE MUSEUM UNTIL THE SPRING OF NEXT YEAR, 2025.
AND FREEDOM MATTERS IS A ONE OF A KIND EXHIBIT IN THAT THE VISITOR WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT HOW FREEDOM EVOLVED IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE VISITOR IS ALSO ABLE TO SEE ORIGINAL COPIES OF THIS COUNTRY'S FOUNDING DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING THE MAGNA CARTA, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND THE US CONSTITUTION.
AND THERE'S A SECTION IN THE EXHIBIT THAT WILL RESONATE WITH ALL OF US, AND THIS IS TALKING ABOUT THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, WHICH IS IN A SECTION OF THE EXHIBIT CALLED THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EXHIBIT, WHEN THE VISITOR WALKS THROUGH, THEY WILL LEARN ABOUT WHAT FREEDOM IS, HOW IT CAME ABOUT.
THEY WILL LEARN ABOUT THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, BUT THEN THEY WILL GO LATER ON INTO ANOTHER SECTION WHERE THEY LEARN ABOUT HOW FREEDOMS HAVE EVOLVED IN THIS COUNTRY AS IT RELATES TO THE DENIAL OF SOME FREEDOMS FOR SOME GROUPS WHO HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED.
UM, AND IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SIGNING OF SOME LEGISLATION, INCLUDING THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
UM, SO IN, IN, UM, SUMMARY LEARNING ABOUT HOW FREEDOM EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS IN THIS COUNTRY AND HOW WE ARE STILL EVOLVING.
AND THEN AFTER OUR TOUR IN THE MUSEUM, WE COULD HAVE LUNCH AT CAFE 43, WHICH IS THE RESTAURANT NAMED IN HONOR OF OUR 43RD PRESIDENT.
AND THE FOOD THERE IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
ALL DISHES ARE, UH, MADE WITH, UM, THEY'RE ALL HOMEMADE DISHES WITH LOCAL, LOCALLY SOURCED INGREDIENTS AND, AND A TEXAS INFLUENCE.
EVERYTHING IS, UM, ALL THE DISHES ARE MADE, UM, BASED ON THE TASTES AND PREFERENCES OF THE BUSHES.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M PROPOSING THAT WE DO FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE.
IF ALL OF YOU COMMISSIONERS AND IF THE STAFF ARE IN JULY, I MEAN, IF THEY'RE IN AGREEMENT.
UM, THIS CONCLUDES MY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THIS MONTH.
I NOW TURN THE FLOOR TO ALL THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT MAY WISH TO PROVIDE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING? YES, COMMISSIONER H****R? OH, YES.
I WAS JUST, UM, WANNA SHARE THAT THE NORTH TEXAS DIS DISABILITY CHAMBER IS HOSTING ITS FIRST, UH, DEIA SUMMIT, UM, THIS COMING SATURDAY, UH, JUNE 1ST FROM 8:00 AM TO 12:00 PM UM, I PUT THE LINK INTO THE CHAT, SO I'LL BE THERE.
UM, AND HOPEFULLY I CAN SEE SOME OTHERS THERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.
UM, I WILL ALSO BE IN ATTENDANCE THAT DAY, AND IN FACT, WE'LL BE ONE OF THE PRESENTERS AND IT WILL BE AN HONOR TO SEE YOU THERE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WISH TO PROVIDE ANNOUNCEMENTS? NO, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE BEEN THERE.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, I HOPE TO, UH, CATCH THE NEXT ONE.
I HAVE, UH, CITY OF DALLAS SEARCH TRAINING THIS SATURDAY, SO I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY IT.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER POWAY FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND HOPE THAT YOUR TRAINING GOES WELL.
IN THAT CASE, IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER AJO ANNOUNCEMENTS, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CALL THE MEETING
[01:40:01]
TO ADJOURNMENT.ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ALL OPPOSED? APPARENTLY THERE IS NONE.
SO THE MEETING HAS BEEN ADJOURNED.
TOM SECOND AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE TIME THIS MEETING WAS ADJOURNED IS 3:46 PM THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE.