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OKAY, WHAT TIME IS THIS? OKAY.
[Dallas Commission on Disabilities on June 25, 2024.]
AFTERNOON EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MEETING.TODAY'S DATE IS TUESDAY, JUNE 25TH, 2024, AND THE CURRENT TIME IS 3:25 PM WE HAVE MET QUORUM AND THIS MEETING IS NOW BEING CALLED TO ORDER PRIOR TO PROCEEDING WITH ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
A COUPLE OF HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS TO BE MINDFUL OF.
FIRST, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE JOINING US REMOTELY, WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP YOUR CAMERAS ON AT ALL TIMES IN ORDER FOR US TO COUNT YOU PRESENT.
SECOND, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION OR MAKE A COMMENT, PLEASE SIGNIFY YOUR NAME AND DISTRICT IN ORDER TO AVOID CONFUSION.
AND THIRD, FINALLY, WE ARE AWARE THAT MANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE CONCERNS THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.
WE HEAR YOU, BUT KINDLY REQUEST THAT YOU KEEP YOUR COMMENTS AS 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 ROLL CALL.
PLEASE SIGNIFY YOUR ATTENDANCE BY STATING YOUR NAME AND DISTRICT.
THIS IS CHAIRMAN JOHN CAL CONLEY, DISTRICT 15, COMMISSIONER GAY REVY, DISTRICT ONE COMMISSIONER ROD H****R, DISTRICT THREE, COMMISSIONER RAMIREZ, DISTRICT SIX, COMMISSIONER WHITE, DISTRICT NINE, COMMISSIONER POWAY, DISTRICT EIGHT.
OKAY, I THINK WE DID HEAR COMMISSIONER RAMIREZ.
THAT MEANS WE HAVE GOTTEN EVERYONE I ONCE AGAIN WISH TO SINCERELY APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR ATTENDANCE.
AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND DEDICATION TO THE EFFORTS OF OUR COMMISSION.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER THREE ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
THERE ARE A COUPLE MINOR EDITS I WISH TO MAKE FOR THE MAY 28TH MEETING.
MINUTES UNDERNEATH OFFICER'S REPORT, THERE'S A STATEMENT THAT READS, CHAIRMAN CAL CONLEY EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES WILL ADOPT THE SELF-DRIVING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES OF MOSEY.
I THINK A NICER WAY THE STATEMENT COULD READ IS, CHAIRMAN CAL CONLEY EXPRESSED HIS HOPE THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS WILL ADOPT THE SELF-DRIVING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES BY MOSEY.
AND THEN UNDERNEATH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT, THERE IS A STATEMENT WHICH READS THAT COMMISSIONER PUI, UH, SHARED THAT MAY WAS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
UM, THE STATEMENT SHOULD READ SOMETHING IN THE LINES OF COMMISSIONER POEY MADE A REFERENCE TO MAY BEING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH DURING HER REPORT, GIVEN THAT THE CHAIRMAN ALSO ANNOUNCED IT HIMSELF.
THESE ARE THE ONLY EDITS I HAVE TO THE MINUTES.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY WISH TO MAKE EDITS.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER POE DISTRICT A.
I WANNA FIRST PIGGYBACK ON WHAT THE CHAIR SAID ABOUT COMMISSIONER SPEAKING AND BEING CONCISE.
UM, WHEN IN MISSIONING CODE OF CONDUCT AND RESPECT.
UM, WE DO HAVE A NEW COORDINATOR NOW, SO IF THERE IS A COMMISSIONER WHO'S ONLINE, IT RAISES HER HAND.
SO TO INTERRUPT SOMEONE WHEN THEY'RE SPEAKING IS NOT ONLY DISTASTEFUL AND DISRESPECTFUL, IT, IT PUTS A PAUSE IN OUR TIME.
LIKE IN OUR LAST MEETING, WE HAD FIVE MINUTES, BUT I KEPT GETTING INTERRUPTED.
SO I, I AGREE TO DISAGREE THAT WHEN WE'RE SPEAKING ON THAT WITHOUT INTERRUPTIONS, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD SO THAT WE COMPLETE OUR STATEMENTS.
ALSO, UM, MOVING FORWARD, IF I DON'T HAVE INFORMATION THAT I NEED TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK, UM, FOR MYSELF, UM, WHEREAS WHEN WE HAD, UH, MENTIONED IN OUR LAST MEETING, MYSELF AND COMMISSIONER, UH, H****R, UH, A TENANT, THE RAISE OF LIGHT GALA, WE CAN BOTH SIMON ACY SPEAK ON THE SAME THING.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY WERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF SOMEONE ELSE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE, AS A COMMISSIONER, SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND RENDER WHAT I, WHAT I FEEL SHOULD BE ADDED IN THE NOTES.
BUT UNDER THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES, UM, THERE ARE SOME EDITS THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
'CAUSE I SPECIFICALLY HAD MENTIONED THIS BEFORE.
UM, UNDER COMMISSIONER POEY MENTIONED THE FOLLOWING EDITS TO BE MADE
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ON FEBRUARY THE 15TH.COMMISSIONER POEY ATTENDED NETFLIX BLACK BEAUTY EFFECT DOCUMENTARY RED CARPET PREMIER SHOULD INCLUDE INVITED BY IS THINK THREE.
THEY HAVE THE NUMBER THREE THINK.
SO IT'S THINK THREE AND THREE IS SPELLED OUT.
AND HER NAME IS LEAH, LEAH, LEAH FRAZIER.
SO IF THOSE CORRECTIONS CAN BE MADE, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT.
ALSO, UM, IT'S MENTIONED ON MAY THE 18TH OF 2024, COMMISSIONER POEY ATTENDED THE HIGHLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL BUDDY BOWL SPONSORED IN PART BY RAISING CANES AND AS CBS 11 GINGER SKR.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE INCLUDE HER NAME, UH, WHERE THE VARSITY FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES PLAYED WITH THE ED TOGETHER.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER POEY FOR THOSE EDITS.
UM, AND GOING BACK TO YOUR NOTES ON, UM, FOR THE COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE PRESENT ONLINE, UM, YOU DO MAKE A VERY VALID POINT ABOUT NOT BEING INTERRUPTED, UM, BECAUSE IT IS A SIGN OF DISRESPECT.
AND I CERTAINLY, THAT IS WHY, UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH MEETING, WHEN I GO OVER HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS, I DO MAKE SURE TO RELAY THE INFORMATION THAT IF THE COMMISSIONER WISHES TO ASK A QUESTION OR MAKE A COMMENT THAT THEY SAY THEIR NAME AND DISTRICT IN ORDER TO AVOID CONFUSION AND ALSO, UM, PREVENT THE ISSUE OF INTERRUPTIONS.
UM, AND I DO WANT TO ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EDITS.
I DO WANT TO NOW ASK ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT MAY WISH TO MAKE EDITS TO THE MINUTES.
COMMISSIONER REEVE, I WILL MOVE THE MINUTES AS AMENDED.
CHAIR, DO YOU NEED TO SPEAK? UM, NO, I THINK YOU HAD SOMETHING.
I DID LEAVE OUT ONE MORE EDIT AND MY APOLOGIES.
UM, AND THIS IS A MISTAKE ON MY BEHALF, UM, MAY THE SIXTH OF 2024 WHEN I ATTENDED THE GRANT OPENING FOR VISTA BANK, UH, LUBBOCK D SMITH II, HE'S THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, NOT JUST THE VICE PRESIDENT.
SO WE CAN ALSO MAKE THAT EDIT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER PUI FOR THAT EDIT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WISH TO MAKE EDITS AT THIS TIME? PRIOR TO THE, I'M SORRY.
MY NETWORK CONNECTION IS GLITCHING.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO OVERTALK IT OUT.
I I JUST HAVE ONE, UH, QUICK EDIT WHENEVER YOU HAVE THE CHANCE.
UH, UM, IT'S EIGHT 10TH COMMISSIONER H****R MET WITH THE CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER TATE RINGER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL AND DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES.
IT SHOULD BE INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER H****R FOR THAT EDIT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WISH TO MAKE EDITS AT THIS TIME? OKAY.
IF THERE'S NONE, THEN I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE MINUTES MADE WITH THE EDITS BE READ AS ACCEPTED.
ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY STATING AYE.
ALL OPPOSED? APPARENTLY THERE IS NONE.
SO THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AS READ.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
AT THIS TIME, ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS THAT WISH TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT? APPARENTLY THERE IS NONE.
THIS CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT SEGMENT OF OUR AGENDA.
I ONCE AGAIN WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ALL COMMISSIONERS TO INVITE INDIVIDUALS FROM THEIR CIRCLES THAT THEY MAY KNOW.
THEY ARE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO COMMENT ON A VARIETY OF DISABILITY RELATED ISSUES.
AND WE ALSO NEED TO BE MINDFUL THAT THE TIME FOR EACH PUBLIC COMMENTER TO SPEAK IS THREE MINUTES.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS OFFICER REPORTS.
I WILL BEGIN BY PROVIDING THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE.
IN APRIL, 2024, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OR DOJ ISSUED A FINAL RULE UPDATING ITS REGULATIONS FOR TITLE II OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
THE RULE CLARIFIES THE REQUIREMENTS STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING CITIES MUST FOLLOW TO ENSURE THEIR WEBSITES AND MOBILE APPLICATIONS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
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DATE BY WHICH CITIES MUST COMPLY WITH THE WEB CONTENT ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES STANDARDS DEPENDS ON POPULATION.CITIES UNDER 50,000 IN POPULATION HAVE UNTIL APRIL 26TH, 2027 TO COMPLY WHILE CITIES WITH A POPULATION OF 50,000 OR MORE MUST COMPLY BY APRIL 26TH, 2026.
THE DOJS FINAL RULE CAN BE ACCESSED ON THEIR WEBSITE.
HOWEVER, HERE ARE THE KEY TAKEAWAYS BELOW.
THE DOJ HAS ADOPTED THE WCAG VERSION 2.1, LEVEL AA AS THE TECHNICAL STANDARD FOR WEB CONTENT AND MOBILE APPS.
THESE STANDARDS DEVELOPED BY THE WORLDWIDE WEB CONSORTIUM OUTLINE WHAT MUST BE DONE TO OPTIMIZE ACCESSIBILITY, IE CAPTIONS FOR VIDEOS, COMPATIBILITY WITH SCREEN READERS AND OTHER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, KEYBOARD ONLY NAVIGATION, ET CETERA.
IN ADDITION, THE RULE APPLIES THESE STANDARDS TO ALL WEB CONTENT AND MOBILE APPS.
A CITY PROVIDES OR MAKES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING ANY THAT ARE DEVELOPED OR RUN BY A THIRD PARTY EXCEPTIONS.
IN LIMITED INSTANCES, SOME TYPES OF CITI WEBSITE AND MOBILE APP CONTENT MAY NOT HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE WCAG, WHILE EACH EXCEPTION INCLUDES STRICT CRITERIA THAT MUST APPLY.
THE EXCEPTIONS GENERALLY INCLUDE ONE ARCHIVE WEB CONTENT TO PREEXISTING CONVENTIONAL ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS.
THREE CONTENT POSTED BY A THIRD PARTY WHERE THE THIRD PARTY IS NOT POSTING DUE TO CONTRACTUAL LICENSING OR OTHER ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE CITY.
FOUR INDIVIDUALIZED DOCUMENTS THAT ARE PASSWORD PROTECTED AND FIVE PREEXISTING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.
AND THESE ARE TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLIANCE.
TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL COMPLIANCE WITH THE NEW RULE, THERE ARE A FEW THINGS CITIES SHOULD CONSIDER.
FIRST, IF A CITY CONTRACTS WITH VENDORS WHO DEVELOP THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND OR MOBILE APPS, THE CITY SHOULD REACH OUT TO THOSE VENDORS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY MEET THE ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS UNDER THE WCAG.
SECOND, CITIES SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER ADOPTING POLICIES ADDRESSING HOW THEY WILL ENSURE ALL WEB AND MOBILE APP CONTENT IS ACCESSIBLE MOVING FORWARD.
THE DOG IN ITS SMALL ENTITY, UH, COMPLIANCE GUIDE INCLUDES SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR THOSE THOSE POLICIES.
AND THIRD, THE DOG ALSO SUGGESTS THAT CITIES CREATE A PROCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO SUBMIT ACCESSIBILITY REQUESTS AND REPORT ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES.
THIS COULD INCLUDE POSTING INFORMATION IN PROMINENT PLACES ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND PROVIDING AN EMAIL ADDRESS, ACCESSIBLE LINKS OR WEBPAGE FOR PEOPLE TO LET THE CITY KNOW IF THERE ARE ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES WITH THE WEB CONTENT OR MOBILE APPS.
LASTLY, TRAINING CITY STAFF IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT MEASURE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE FINAL RULES REQUIREMENTS AND MAY NEED TO BE TAILORED DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS ASSIGNED TO EACH STAFF MEMBER.
A CITY THAT CONTRACTS WITH VENDORS TO DEVELOP THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND OR APPS SHOULD CHECK WITH THOSE VENDOR VENDORS ON WEATHER.
THEY OFFER TRAINING FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.
AND ON JUNE 1ST, I WAS TRULY HONORED TO ATTEND AND SPEAK AT THE D DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY SUMMIT HOSTED BY THE NORTH TEXAS DISABILITY CHAMBER.
THIS WAS THE FIRST SUMMIT EVER HELD IN NORTH TEXAS.
IT WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH ADVOCATES, COMMUNITY LEADERS, ENTREPRENEURS AND PROFESSIONALS TO DISCUSS DISABILITY AND ANALYZE WHAT TRUE DISABILITY INCLUSION LOOKS LIKE.
I ALSO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SHARE MY STORY AS A PERSON LIVING WITH A VISUAL
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IMPAIRMENT AND HIGHLIGHT WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM THOSE LIFE EXPERIENCES.I ALSO APPRECIATED HOW DISABILITY WAS DISCUSSED WITHIN AN INTERSECTIONALITY APPROACH BECAUSE AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK ABOUT DISABILITY IN RELATION TO OTHER IDENTITIES THAT MAKE US WHO WE ARE.
I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST SUMMIT EVER HELD IN NORTH TEXAS, AND THAT IN THE COMING YEARS, WE WILL KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING ABOUT PROMOTING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE FOR ALL RESIDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.
AND LASTLY, I HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE STAFF OF THE CITY OF DALLAS OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION FOR PLANS DURING THE MONTH OF JULY.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THAT JULY IS DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH, IT ALSO IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, THE LANDMARK CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION, WHICH WAS SIGNED BY PRESIDENT GEORGE HW BUSH ON JULY 26TH, 1990.
THIS YEAR, WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THE 34TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS LANDMARK LEGISLATION WE HAD ORIGINALLY DISCUSSED ABOUT HOSTING A RETREAT AT THE GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CENTER, WHICH INCLUDES THE MUSEUM IN HONOR OF CELEBRATING THE A DA.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE DECIDED TO SHIFT GEARS AS CHAIRMAN.
I WISH TO SUGGEST AN IDEA TO THE COMMISSION.
AND UPON APPROVAL THIS WOULD BE SO VALUABLE RATHER THAN CONDUCTING A A FORMAL BUSINESS MEETING IN THE MONTH OF JULY, I PROPOSE THAT WE HOST A PUBLIC EVENT ON FRIDAY, JULY THE 26TH WHEN THE A DA WAS SIGNED.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST A DA CELEBRATION OF ITS KIND EVER HELD IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL HAVE THE MISSION OF SAFEGUARDING THE DIGNITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS EVENT IS FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF DALLAS TO COME TOGETHER AND REFLECT UPON THE RELEVANCE THIS CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION HAS ON OUR LIVES TODAY.
I THEREFORE WOULD LIKE TO NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
WHERE WOULD IT BE HELD? BECAUSE WHAT I HAVE NOTICED, UM, AND I'M GONNA SPEAK FOR MYSELF, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE HAVE PUBLIC EVENTS, UM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AREN'T INFORMED, UM, IN A TIMELY MANNER TO ATTEND.
LIKE WHEN WE HAD OUR AUTISM AWARENESS EVENT, EVERYONE WHO WAS THERE, OR CITY OF DALLAS EMPLOYEES OR COMMISSIONERS.
SO WE, TO YOUR POINT CHAIR, WE'RE WANTING TO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BE A PART OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION BECAUSE MANY KNOW AND SOME DON'T.
SO WHERE WILL WE HAVE THIS EVENT? WOULD IT BE SOMEWHERE LARGE LIKE THE STATE FAIR, OR WHERE WILL WE HAVE IT? THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS UP.
SO MY HOPE IS THAT WE WILL HAVE THIS EVENT HERE AT DALLAS CITY HALL MAIN LOBBY WHERE WE HAD THE AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH EVENT, UM, WHICH YOU WERE ALSO PRESENT AT.
UM, AND THIS IS NOT ONLY AN EVENT FOR, UM, OUR CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS TO COME, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS TO ALSO COME AND IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN THIS MOMENTOUS DAY.
COMMISSIONER, UM, SORRY, CHAIR.
UH, THIS IS COMMISSIONER BALLOU.
ABOUT BEING ABLE TO PULL THIS TOGETHER IN ONE MONTH'S TIME AND GET THE NECESSARY COORDINATION.
THIS IS, UH, CAO AND THE DEPARTMENT.
IF WE COULD PLEASE BE RECOGNIZED FOR A BRIEF MOMENT.
UH, THIS IS, UH, ATTORNEY VERONICA ZO WITH CAO AND THE DEPARTMENT.
AND WE JUST WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, UM, ON THIS TOPIC.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. VERONICA FOR THIS.
WE ALSO ARE VERY, UH, VERY PLEASED AND HONORED TO HAVE THE CITY OF ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PRESENT WITH US, AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO OFFER SOME OF THEIR COMMENTS.
UH, WE JUST WANNA PROVIDE ADVISEMENT, UM, THAT IF THERE IS ANY, UM, RETREAT OR EVENT THAT'S HELD BY THE COMMISSION, THAT THAT
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WOULD NEED TO BE, UH, POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, UH, TOMA GUIDELINES, UM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY OTHER MEETING THAT WOULD BE HOSTED, UM, BY THE CITY OF DALLAS.SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT AND TO MAKE IT CLEAR, UM, ALSO WE WANTED THE CAO'S ANNOUNCEMENT AND WE ALSO WANTED TO, UM, ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT, IF YOU ALLOW IT, UH, MR. CHAIR, TO, UH, MAKE A STATEMENT THAT THEY HAD AT THIS TIME.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN, CHAIR FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK.
SO OF COURSE, MY NAME IS, UH, CHRIS GRAVES, HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER WITH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
FIRST, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO SHOWCASE THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION IS SOMETHING POSITIVE, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, SHOWCASING THE LANDMARK LEGISLATION KNOWN AS THE A DA.
SO ANY WORD WE CAN DO THAT FROM O I'S PERSPECTIVE IS POSITIVE.
WE DID WANNA MAKE SURE TO CONVEY, UM, IF WE CAN PLEASE MAKE THE SUGGESTION OR RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE COME TOGETHER AS A BODY TO A VOTE ON THIS MOTION.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD WANNA STRESS TO ENSURE PROPER PROTOCOL.
AND, UH, AND THEN IF, IF AN EVENT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD PROCEED WITH COMING FROM THE COMMISSION, OE, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT IN MAKING THE ROOM RESERVATION, DEVELOPING THE FLYER, AS WELL AS PROVIDING INTERPRETATION.
AND WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE COMMISSION AND ALL THOSE REMAINING DETAILS AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COLLABORATION.
BUT WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THE FOCUS IS ON THE COMMISSION COMING TOGETHER AS A BODY TO PASS THIS RECOMMENDATION.
I DO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS UP.
ONE THING THAT I DO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE'RE ON IT, IS THIS, THE FACT THAT THE COMMISSIONER COMING TOGETHER AS A BODY TO VOTE, IS THIS A RECOMMENDATION OR IS IT A REQUIREMENT? THIS, THIS IS A REQUIREMENT THAT WE'VE UNDERSTOOD FROM BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT WE'D LIKE TO CONVEY TO YOU.
IF THIS IS A REQUIREMENT, THEN, UH, ENFORCED BY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND THE CITY OF DALLAS POLICIES, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND AND I WILL DO WHAT IT TAKES TO COMPLY.
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I AM DISCUSSING IT NOW WITH THE COMMISSION.
AND MY HOPE, MY AIM HERE IN TERMS OF TALKING ABOUT THE PLANNING STAGES, IS TO BRING THE COMMISSION TOGETHER AS A BODY AND, AND WE CAN VOTE ON IT GIVEN THE FACT THAT IT IS A REQUIREMENT THAT IS ENFORCED UPON US.
AND COMMISSIONER BLUE, YOU HAD A COMMENT.
UH, JUST MY QUESTION WAS, GIVEN THE BASICALLY ONE MONTH TIMELINE, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE PUT TOGETHER NOW THAT WE'VE HEARD THAT WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER A BODY AS A BODY, SO I ASSUME THAT MEANS ALL IN THE SAME ROOM, OR WE CAN WE BE VIRTUAL WITH THAT? BUT, UH, IS THIS SOMETHING WE CAN PULL OFF BY THE JULY 26TH? AND I FORGOT TO SAY I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, UH, BUT I JUST WOULD WONDER ABOUT LOGISTICS OF IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER BLU, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WHILE WE DO HAVE 30 DAYS, AND WHICH MEANS WE HAVE OVER A MONTH TO, UM, MAKE THE LOGISTICS AND PULL ALL THE DETAILS TOGETHER, THIS IS DOABLE.
SO I WOULD LIKE YOU TO, UM, BE RELAXED THERE, THAT THIS IS CERTAINLY DOABLE AND ACHIEVABLE, PROVIDED THAT WE GET THE NECESSARY SUPPORT, UM, IN, IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND WHAT I INTEND FOR THIS EVENT TO BE IS AN IN-PERSON EVENT RATHER THAN A VIRTUAL ONE.
SO IT'S ABOUT THE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH WAS IN PERSON HERE AT DALLAS CITY HALL'S MAIN LOBBY.
UM, AND WHERE IT WAS, WE SPENT AN HOUR AND WE GOT TO HEAR FROM VARIOUS SPEAKERS.
I WAS ONE OF THEM, UM, WHO TALKED ABOUT THE COMMISSION.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE, THIS WHOLE THING IS ABOUT.
CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION REAL QUICK? YES, YOU MAY.
SO WHEN THE, UH, CAO JUST SPOKE, I THOUGHT THEY WERE SAYING WE HAD TO MEET AS A BODY IN PERSON TO VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT WE DO THIS.
MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT THEY WERE THE ATTORNEYS WERE SAYING.
AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING.
COMMISSIONER BALLOU, UM, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO MEET AS A BODY AND VOTE, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, OR DO WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER PHYSICALLY AS A BODY? THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING CONFUSED ABOUT.
WELL, PHYSICALLY MEANS IN PERSON OR VIRTUAL, IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AS LONG AS WE'RE TOGETHER AS A COMMISSION VOTING, THAT'S ALL COUNTS.
COMMISSIONER WHITE? YES, COMMISSIONER WHITE.
IT'S GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE THAT'S WELL AIR CONDITIONED, SO IT IS GOING TO BE QUITE WELL AIR CONDITIONED HERE, SO, OKAY.
YOU CAN ASSURE THAT MY, MY MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PREFERS AIR CONDITIONING.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER WHITE FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, AGAIN, UH, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST OF ITS
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KIND A DA CELEBRATION EVER HELD IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.UH, AS COMMISSIONERS, AS A BODY, OUR AIM REALLY IS TO SAFEGUARD THE DIGNITY AND RIGHTS OF RESIDENTS LIVING WITH DEC WITH DISABILITIES.
AND THAT IS THE MAIN REASON WHY I AM WANTING TO PLAN THIS EVENT ON FRIDAY, THE 26TH, THE DAY THAT THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WISH TO ADDRESS CONCERNS OR ASK QUESTIONS PRIOR TO MAKING A MOTION? YES.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER POE HERE, DISTRICT EIGHT.
CAN WE GET, AND, AND AGAIN, I I'M GOING TO, UM, VOTE TO APPROVE IT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION BECAUSE SINCE, UM, AND IT SHOULD BE TO YOUR POINT, OPEN TO ALL, UM, CITY AND, AND COUNTY, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND CONSTITUENTS.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH OF WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE ROOM SPACE WOULD BE IN THE MAIN LOBBY, BUT CAN WE GET MORE INFORMATION OF WHAT'S GONNA BE INCLUDED, WHAT TIME, AND FOR THOSE COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND OR ATTEND PHYSICALLY, WHETHER THERE BE INFORMATION FOR THEM TO ATTEND ONLINE.
UM, JUST MORE INFORMATION SO THAT WE'RE, WE DON'T JUST HAVE A TITLE, BUT MORE OF A SUMMARY OF THE EVENTS.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, COMMISSIONER POEY.
SO, AS I HAVE INFORMED, UM, THE COMMISSION, UH, PREVIOUSLY THIS EVENT IS, IT IS NOT A, A FORMAL BUSINESS MEETING WHERE WE CONDUCT CITY BUSINESS.
THIS IS A PUBLIC EVENT WHERE ALL MEMBERS OF THE DALLAS COMMUNITY, INCLUDING, UM, CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND OTHER MEMBERS CAN ATTEND.
SO EVEN IF A COMMISSIONER, FOR EXAMPLE, IS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE EVENT, IT IS NOT GOING TO COUNT AGAINST THEM.
UM, AND, AND IF POSSIBLE, WE CERTAINLY CAN'T, FOR THOSE COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE EVENT THAT DAY DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICTS, THEN WE COULD PERHAPS PROVIDE A VIRTUAL OPTION, UM, OPTION IF, IF ALLOWED.
DO WE HAVE A TIME OF THE EVENT? UM, WELL, I'M REALLY FLEXIBLE WITH TIME.
I MEAN, IT COULD BE, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM 12:00 PM TO 1:00 PM OR, OR IT COULD EVEN BE LATER DURING THE DAY.
THIS IS THE TIME WE STILL HAVE TO DISCUSS, UM, WITH THE STAFF TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY THINK IS THE TIME.
BUT I WANNA TRY TO MAKE IT TO THE POINT WHERE IT DOESN'T CONFLICT WITH THE SCHEDULE, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME COMMISSIONERS DO HAVE DAYTIME JOBS AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T GET IN THEIR WAY.
SO PERHAPS MAYBE LIKE LATE AFTERNOON, SO AROUND THREE O'CLOCK, THAT WOULDN'T HELP.
WHAT, UM, WHAT, WHAT'S, WHAT? SOUNDS GOOD TO YOU.
I'M, I'M COMPLETELY OUT OF POCKET THAT DAY.
I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO ATTEND AT ALL.
I'M HAVING A MEDICAL PROCEDURE, SO I WON'T BE ATTENDING.
COMMISSIONER UH, REY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING US KNOW AND WE DO WISH YOU WELL.
UM, AND IT'S NOT, AGAIN, UM, WE UNDERSTAND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND AND THIS WILL NOT COUNT AGAINST YOU.
WE WILL MAKE SURE TO HAVE A, SOMEHOW A, A REPORTED OPTION SO THAT THIS IS LIVE STREAMED.
COMMISSIONER OU, CAN I SPEAK PLEASE? OF COURSE, SIR.
UM, F FIRST OF ALL, I, I DEFINITELY WANNA VOTE FOR THIS.
UM, YOU MENTIONED YOUR DAYTIME JOBS FOR, I DID NOT NOTICE THAT THIS MEETING GOT MOVED TO THREE.
I HAVE A CONFLICT COMING UP HERE IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES, SO I'M GONNA HAVE TO DROP OFF.
IT APPEARS WE DO HAVE QUORUM, WE, IF I LEAVE.
SO I THINK YOU WILL PASS WITHOUT MY VOTE, BUT, UM, IF WE'RE GONNA GO TO VOTE IN THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES, I'LL STAY ON AND VOTE.
BUT, UM, I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THIS IDEA AND I THINK IT'LL BE GREAT FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
COMMISSIONER BALU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, NOW WE DO UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TO LEAVE, BUT KEEP IN MIND IF YOU DO DROP OUT OF THE, THE, THE CALL, THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ADJOURN BECAUSE NO, NO, WE STILL HAVE QUORUM.
GO, GO AHEAD QUORUM BEFORE I GO ON COMMISSIONER.
OKAY, COMMISSIONER H****R, WE TOTALLY UNDERSTAND AND WE DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE AND SUPPORT AND WE HOPE THAT GOES WELL FOR YOU.
IS THIS A THE NEW TIME GOING FORWARD FOR THIS MEETING? 'CAUSE I HAD IT SET UP AS A RECURRING FROM TWO TO THREE 30 AND I DID NOT SEE THE THREE O'CLOCK CHANGE.
IT JUST WAS A LITTLE BLIP ON THE EMAILS.
SO, UM, WE JUST WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT THE THREE O'CLOCK TIME CHANGE IS ONLY FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE.
AFTER THAT, WE WILL, WILL REVERT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL TIME, WHICH WAS 2:00 PM YES SIR.
AND I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE SEND AN EMAIL SPECIFICALLY THROUGH TIME CHANGES IN THE FUTURE TO MAKE SURE WE ALL SEE IT.
AND, UH, SORRY, I HAVE TO DROP OFF.
WE'LL WE WILL MAKE NOTE OF IT.
AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR YOU DUTIES AND HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT MONTH.
[00:30:01]
YES.WAIT,
UH, WE, WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE STILL IN DELIBERATION ON THIS ITEM.
UM, BUT, UH, WE WERE GOING TO SAY THAT THE LAST ITEM, IF, IF YOU WANTED TO, OR IF ANY, DEPENDING ON, UM, IF ANY, UM, COMMISSIONER WANTED TO CALL FOR A VOTE ON ITEM, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY DO WANT TO APPROVE UP OR DOWN, UM, THEY COULD DO THAT, UM, BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER UM, HAS TO LEAVE.
IF WE JUST WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THAT IS OPTION.
COMMISSIONER BALLOU, DID YOU SAY YOU CALL FOR A VOTE? YES, I CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF HAVING AN A DA CELEBRATION EVENT HERE AT DALLAS CITY HALL ON JULY 26TH.
ALL OPPOSED? APPARENTLY THERE IS NONE.
SO THE MOTION PASSES AND WE WILL DO, UH, OUR FURTHER, UM, TASKS OF FIGURING OUT NOW THE LOGISTICS AND DETAILS OF HOW THIS IS GOING TO RUN.
MM-HMM,
THIS CONCLUDES THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT FOR THIS MONTH.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER POI DISTRICT EIGHT.
I'M GONNA MAKE YOUR, I'M GONNA HAVE TO SPEED READ IT 'CAUSE IT'S A MATTER OF TIME.
SO JUNE THE FIFTH, PRIDE ESSENCE AWARD RECEPTION HERE AT CITY HALL IN THE MAIN LOBBY.
MAYOR PRO ATKINS, THE MAJORITY OF DALLAS CITY COUNCIL READ THE PROCLAMATION FOR PRIDE MONTH IN L-G-B-T-Q-I-A COMMUNITY, UH, BRING TO BRING AWARENESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PILLARS IN THAT COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO DISCUSS, UM, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE AND ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS.
IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE ALL PEOPLE, UM, BECAUSE, AGAIN, INDIVIDUALS AND IT IS PRIME MONTH THAT, UM, OR L-G-B-T-Q-I-A HAVE DISABILITIES.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CHAD WEST DISTRICT ONE, UH, INDICATED THAT HE SERVED IN THE MILITARY DURING THE DO DON'T ASK DON'T TELL ERA.
UH, FORMER MAYOR PRO TEM ADAM MADINO WELCOMED EVERYONE WHO WAS IN ATTENDANCE.
UM, ALSO STATE REP VINCENT JONES WAS IN ATTENDANCE JUNE 11TH.
UM, DISTRICT THREE HAD A RIBBON CUTTING, UM, FOR THEIR GROCERY STORE.
JOVI SMART SHOP, AND THAT'D BE COUNCIL MEMBERS AARON GRACIE FRESH PRODUCE QUALITY FOOD ITEMS. I KNOW A FEW MONTHS AGO, COMMISSIONER WHITE HAD MENTIONED HOW, UM, AND, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT, HOW SOUTH DALLAS ALSO WAS A FOOD DESERT.
SO WE'RE GREAT FOR THAT 'CAUSE THEY ALSO DISCUSSED DISABILITIES AND HAVING THE ACCESSIBILITY AND MOBILITY TO SHOP AND HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE WITHOUT THE ADDED CHALLENGE.
I ALSO WANNA THANK, UM, INDIVIDUALS WHO ATTENDED THIS EVENT ASIDE FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS AARON GRACIE, BECAUSE IT IS HIS DISTRICT MAYOR PRO TE ATKINS, PASTOR RUSH WITH THE INSPIRING BODY OF CHRIST COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM, UH, BAULA, WHO IS NOW DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.
SHE, BROWN SERGEANT PRENTICE, RICHMOND AND OTHER CITY OF DALLAS AND DALLAS COUNTY OFFICIALS.
JUNE THE 12TH, DALLAS REGIONAL CHAMBER.
THE DRC INCLUSION CONFERENCE THAT WAS HELD AT UNT DALLAS.
THE BREAKOUT SESSIONS WERE ADVANCED IN DDEI WELLNESS IN MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE, LEVERAGING TALENT, THE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF DISABILITY INCLUSION.
CYNTHIA MARSHALL, C OF THE DALLAS MAS MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, DYLAN RAP NORTH TEXAS DISABILITY CHAMBER.
NOW, UM, HE HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO CEO, UM, INVITED, WHO IS THE NUMBER ONE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF THE PRIVATE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUBS IN THE UNITED STATES, WAS ONE OF THE SPONSORS.
AND TO SEE THAT ORGANIZATION THERE AND SUPPORTIVE DISABILITY INCLUSION AS MY SON IS DISABLED AND HE'S A GOLFER.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR THE INVITATION TO ATTEND.
HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A CAVEAT TO THAT.
UM, IF WE COULD BE MORE INFORMED IN THE EARLIER ADVANCE SO THAT OTHER COMMISSIONERS, I WOULD'VE LIKED TO SEE OTHER COMMISSIONERS THERE AS WELL, BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT AWARENESS, INFORMATION EDUCATION ON JUNE THE 18TH.
AS WE KNOW, JUNE 19TH IS, UM, JUNETEENTH.
HOWEVER, UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS IS CLOSED FEDERAL HOLIDAY.
WE DID COMMEMORATE, CELEBRATE AND EDUCATE HERE IN THE MAIN LOBBY, UM, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS DURING GRACIE DISTRICT THREE, WHERE THE PROCLAMATION, UM, AGAIN, ALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE HERE.
BUT THE GOAL, UM, IS TO ALSO HAVE A PORTRAIT TO COMMEMORATE THE LEADERSHIP AND ACKNOWLEDGE AND ALWAYS RECOGNIZE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS ABOUT BLACK LEADERS.
COACH GREG ELLIS WITH THE DALLAS COWBOYS
[00:35:01]
WAS CELEBRATING AND RECOGNIZING, GIVING HIS OWN PERSONAL STREET SIGN OF HIS, BECAUSE OF HIS LEADERSHIP AND HIS COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ACTIVISM AS IT RELATES TO JUNETEENTH AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE.I WANNA SAY THIS, I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY OF US HAVE KIDS OR ARE KIDS CURRENTLY IN OUR DALLAS ISD SCHOOLS, BUT I MET WITH MCKISSICK, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS REGION AND CONVENTION CENTER, WHO WAS AN EXECUTIVE.
AND WE DISCUSSED DISABILITY ACCESSIBILITY AND DISABILITY INCLUSIVITY IN OUR SCHOOLS.
DISCUSSION OF CONSTRUCTION FOR OUR SCHOOL, NO ONE EVER DISCUSSES THE PLANS OF CONSTRUCTION, WHICH INDICATES A DA ACCOMMODATION.
AND IN THESE BUILDINGS WHERE WE HAVE SPACES, INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES, THEY NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE SPACES, WHETHER IT'S THE BATHROOM, A CLASSROOM FOR THEIR MOBILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY.
SO WHETHER IT'S A CHURCH, SCHOOL BUILDING, CITY BUILDING, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS, UM, BECAUSE IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT US AND EVERYONE ELSE AND DEVELOPERS, UM, HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A DA IN THEIR DESIGN.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER POI FOR OFFERING YOUR REPORTS.
I THINK THAT THESE ARE SOME VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS THAT DO NEED TO TAKE PLACE, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE GOING TO THESE SPACES TO LEARN.
BUT THEN WHEN THEY HAVE THESE ACCOMMODATIONS, IT'S CERTAINLY, UM, DIFFICULT WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE THEM.
AND AS A RESULT, THEY HAVE TO ENCOUNTER MORE BARRIERS.
SO HOPEFULLY WITH YOUR DISCUSSIONS THAT YOU'VE HAD, THEY ARE MORE INFORMED.
UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WISH TO PROVIDE REPORTS AT THIS TIME? YES.
COMMISSIONER WHITES, COMMISSIONER WHITE DISTRICT NINE.
WE'VE HAD IN, IN MY DISTRICT, WE'VE HAD AN AWFUL LOT OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND SOMEONE BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THEY DIDN'T GET NOTIFICATION AND ALL THAT.
I WANTED TO SAY THAT I, I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND NOW IT IS INCLUDED ON THE HANDOUT THAT THEY GIVE TO EVERY, EVERY HOUSE WHERE THEY'RE DOING ROAD CONSTRUCTION.
IT IS INCLUDED WHO TO CALL IF THEY NEED ANY ACCOMMODATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
COMMISSIONER WHITE, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT NOW WISH TO PROVIDE A REPORT? COMMISSIONER REVY.
I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE A LIST OF EVENTS I ATTENDED, BUT HERE ARE THE ACTION ITEMS FOR ME THIS MONTH I WAS CONTACTED BY A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO ASKED ME IF I HAD ANY IDEA WHERE SHE COULD FIND A CARPENTER THAT WOULD BUILD A RAMP FOR HER TO GET HER WHEELCHAIR INTO HER HOUSE.
I WAS DELIGHTED TO CONNECT HER WITH A TEXAS RAMP PROJECT.
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT ANY PERSON WHO HAS A DISABILITY IN TEXAS WHO NEEDS A RAMP WILL GET ONE FREE FROM THE TEXAS RAMP PROJECT.
AND YOU CAN FIND ALL THE DETAILS AT THERE.
I HAD A MEETING WITH THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF CRUISE SELF-DRIVING CARS.
THIS WAS A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING.
AS YOU KNOW, THEY ARE REENTERING THE DALLAS MARKET AFTER BEING FORCED OUT OF THE MARKET DUE TO SOME ACCIDENTS IN SAN FRANCISCO.
I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT ALTHOUGH I GOT A FULL BRIEFING ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH CREW SELF-DRIVING CARS, THEY ARE NOT A DA COMPLIANT.
THERE IS NO WAY FOR A PERSON WHO USES A WHEELCHAIR TO GET A RAMP TO GET INTO THEIR VEHICLES.
IN ADDITION, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DON'T USE BRAIL BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T USE BRAILLE MUCH ANYMORE.
SO I WILL NOT BE HAVING ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC.
THIRDLY, I MET WITH THE DALLAS BICYCLE COALITION AND I'M DELIGHTED TO SAY THAT I AM GOING TO CONTINUE MEETING WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES ARE INCLUDED IN BICYCLING AND BI BICYCLING EVENTS.
AND YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN IN FRONT OF YOU, THREE EXAMPLES OF BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH LIME VEHICLES.
THESE ARE THOSE TERRIBLE SCOOTERS THAT ARE BLOCKING THE SIDEWALKS EVERYWHERE, BUT LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAVE IF YOU ARE DISABLED AND IT'S FREE.
ONE IS A TRICYCLE WITH A, A BASKET MOUNTED ON THE BACK.
ANOTHER ONE IS FOR TWO PEOPLE.
FOR EXAMPLE, A BLIND PERSON AND THAT PERSON'S DRIVER.
AND THEN THE THIRD IS A TRICYCLE FOR A PERSON WHO USES A WHEELCHAIR.
THESE VEHICLES ARE FREE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR RESIDENTS THE DAY BEFORE YOU NEED THEM.
I AM GOING THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS RIGHT NOW, AND I'M GOING TO TRY ONE OF THESE OUT AND I HOPE TO REPORT BACK TO YOU AT A FUTURE MEETING ON EXACTLY HOW THIS IS DONE.
AND I WANT THIS TO BE KNOWN TO THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY HERE IN DALLAS.
AND I SAY BRAVO TO THE DALLAS BICYCLE COALITION AND LIME SCOOTERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER REVY FOR YOUR REPORT.
[00:40:01]
SINCERELY COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS WITH REGARDS TO TRANSPORTATION AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DO IN FACT HAVE THE NECESSARY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.UM, I AM CERTAINLY ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE LIME SCOOTERS COMING TO YOUR DOOR AND HOPEFULLY WHEN YOU TRY IT OUT, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK TO US ON HOW IT GOES.
AND AS FAR AS THE OTHER, UM, ISSUE THAT YOU DISCUSSED ABOUT THE RAMP PROVIDERS SAYING THEY DON'T PROVIDE BRAILLE, 'CAUSE NOBODY USES IT, THAT IS JUST A LACK OF IGNORANCE.
PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUALS ARE AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND A DA NO, THEY DON'T.
AND, AND BRAILLE IS PART OF THAT REQUIREMENT.
SO JUST BECAUSE WE'RE GOING INTO A DIGITAL AGE DOES NOT MEAN BRAILLE IS GOING AWAY.
IT IS STILL WITH US NO MATTER WHAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WISH TO PROVIDE REPORTS AT THIS TIME? NO.
REALLY QUICKLY, I WANNA PIGGYBACK ON WHAT CHAIR CON CONNIE SAID ABOUT BRAILLE AND COMMISSIONER REBE.
I TOTALLY AGREE BECAUSE I'M GONNA CALL IT OUT.
Y'ALL KNOW I CALL IT OUT, RIGHT? STARBUCKS, LET'S DO BETTER.
SO EVEN IN MY DISTRICT, LET'S BE CLEAR, I REQUESTED A BRAILLE MENU AND I GOT KIND OF THE RUN AROUND ABOUT, WELL WE'RE WE'RE DOING A NEW MENU BECAUSE WE HAVE SEASONAL OPTIONS.
BUT THEN TO YOUR POINT, THEY SAID TO ME, AND I'M GONNA SAY IT ON THE RECORD, AND I'M SAYING WHAT I SAID, THAT WE'VE GONE AWAY WITH BRAILLE.
TO YOUR POINT, IT IS IGNORANT.
IT'S BEING UNEDUCATED AND IT'S TAKEN AWAY THE DISABILITY, RIGHT? FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EITHER BLIND AND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED, THAT THEY NEED THE BRAILLE TO PLACE THEIR ORDERS.
UM, I ALSO HAVE, THERE ARE SOME RESTAURANTS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THEY JUST GIVE YOU ME A PRINT MENU AND I TELL THEM, DO YOU HAVE A BROWN MENU? AND THEY SAY, NO, WE DON'T.
SO THEN I SAY, I, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I RECOMMEND YOU MAKE TO YOUR MANAGER.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WISH TO PROVIDE REPORTS PRIOR TO MOVING TO THE NEXT ORDER BUSINESS? NO.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR REPORTS.
THIS HAS BEEN VERY INSIGHTFUL AND A PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH ARE BRIEFINGS.
IT IS OUR HONOR TO HAVE THE MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER AND SENIOR STAFF ANALYST MS. MELANIE CURRY, WHO IS, WHO WORKS WITH THE PARK HOUSTON.
SHE WILL PRESENT ON A DA PARKING ENFORCEMENT AND VOLUNTEER TRAINING AND ENGAGEMENT.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I NOW WELCOME MS. CURRY TO THE FLOOR.
I I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERISM IN HELPING TO KEEP YOUR CITY ACCESSIBLE.
OUR, OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE, ARE VITAL HOUSTON ACCESSIBLE.
THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES AS WHERE THEY ISSUED AS MUCH AS 80% OF THE P
AND WE, WE COULD MAKE THE IMPACT ON MAKE ADAPTED.
UM, PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER, THEY HAVE A PASSION AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONNECT TO THEIR PASSION.
I I WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE A VOLUNTEER TO PROTECT THE PARKING RIGHTS OF MEMBERS OF THE DISABLED COMMUNITY.
UM, SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE MOTIVATED 'CAUSE THEY HAVE LOVED ONES OR FRIENDS WHO REQUIRE A DA PARKING OR THEY MAY REQUIRE A DA PARKING THEMSELVES.
AND THEY WANNA PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF MEMBERS OF THE DISABLED COMMUNITY TO WORK AND LIVE AND PLAY.
UM, TOO OFTEN PEOPLE SEE A DA PARKING SPACES AS CONVENIENT.
YOU KNOW, NOW THAT CURBSIDE PICKUP ZONE, THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE MODEL NEED THAT IS REQUIRED FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED THAT DUE TO MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS.
SO OUR VOLUNTEERS REALLY HELP US TO ADDRESS THOSE TYPES OF VIOLATIONS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
UM, THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE STATUTE 6 81 0.0 0.101 EMPOWERS TO START A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.
UM, YOUR VOLUNTEERS MUST BE CERTIFY EVERY THREE YEARS, AND IT REQUIRES A FOUR HOUR TRAINING.
YOU MUST TEACH YOUR VOLUNTEERS HOW TO IDENTIFY A VALID 88 MARKET SPACE, HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE PARKING REGULATIONS.
LIKE WE WILL ISSUE CITATIONS FOR A CAR THAT'S ILLEGALLY PARKED.
[00:45:01]
A PARKING SPACE THAT'S DESIGNATED VAN PARKING, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A PARKING, PARKING VIOLATION.SO WE CAN'T ISSUE AN A DA PARKING VIOLATION.
MAYBE YOUR CODE MAY ALLOW YOU TO ISSUE ANOTHER TYPE OF VIOLATION, BUT YOU CAN'T ISSUE AN A DA VIOLATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE PROPER CREDENTIALS TO USE THAT PARKING SPACE.
AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND FUTURE VOLUNTEERS, UM, HOW TO HANDLE CONFLICT BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE GONNA RUN INTO SOME TENSE SITUATIONS OF THE MINIMUM FINE FOR THIS TYPE OF VIOLATION IS $500 AND IT CAN GO AS HIGH AS $1,300.
SO IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR, UH, DALLAS HAS ESTABLISHED.
SO PEOPLE GETTING THIS TYPE OF CI CITATION, IT COULD BE A VERY TENSE SITUATION.
SO SUPPORT TO TRAIN YOUR VOLUNTEERS HOW TO AVOID CONFLICT AND HOW TO LOOK OUT FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL SAFETY.
WE EMPHASIZE OUR VOLUNTEERS TO FOCUS ON THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY.
WE TELL THEM TO AVOID CONFRONTATION.
UM, ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO DO NOT WALK UP AN OCCUPIED CAR.
YOU NEVER KNOW THE STATE OF THE PERSON IN THAT CAR AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT KIND OF ACTION THEY WILL TAKE.
UM, WAIT TILL THE CAR IS NOT OCCUPIED AND THEN YOU CAN SAFELY ISSUE THE CITATION.
AND THAT THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE WE PRIORITIZE YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY OVER THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS THAT ARE ISSUED.
AND ONE THING WE, BEFORE OUR PEOPLE ARE ABLE, UM, TO BECOME A VOUCHER, YOU HAVE TO DO A FOUR HOUR TRAINING.
SO WE, WE EDUCATE ALL THE REGULATIONS, HOW TO HANDLE CONFLICT, REMIND THEM THAT THEY ARE PUBLIC SERVICES.
THEY'RE AN EXTENSION OF A MUNICIPALITY, UH, DEPARTMENT.
SO THEY ARE REQUIRED TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.
THEY DO NOT LOAD OVER THE PUBLIC.
THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THE ARM OF THE LAW WITH THE PUBLIC.
THEY'RE HERE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.
AND OF COURSE, AS I SAID EARLIER, EMPHASIZING THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY BEFORE OUR ATTORNEYS MUST OCCUR EVERY, UM, YES, MS. CURRY, I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE INTERRUPTION, BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND GETTING A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC, WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING YOU.
IS THIS BETTER? UM, YES MA'AM.
UM, THE VOLUNTEERS MUST BE RECERTIFIED EVERY THREE YEARS.
UH, THEY, THEY TAKE AN ASSESSMENT, THEY REVIEW THE, THE, UM, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE BACKGROUND CHECK FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS.
IF SOMEONE HAS A FELONY OR A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR, WE COPY WHAT THE POLICE, UH, DO FOR THEIR VOLUNTEERS AND THEY WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM.
BUT YOU MAY LOOK AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
MAYBE THEY CAN HELP YOU ADMINISTRATIVE, MAYBE THEY CAN BE, UM, IF YOU DO OUTREACH BUSINESS, MAYBE THEY CAN HELP SPREAD THE NEWS, BUT THEY, THEY CAN'T BE, THEY, THEY WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE TO BE EMPOWERED TO ISSUES LIKE THAT.
AS I MENTIONED, IT'S IMPORTANT TO LET YOUR VOLUNTEERS KNOW WHAT IS A VALID A DAP LIST IN ORDER TO ISSUE A CITATION IN TEXAS AND FOR IT TO BE VALID.
THE CITATION, THE, THE PARKING SPACE MUST HAVE A, A SIGN IN FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE WITH THE IN INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL OF ACCESS OR THE WHEELCHAIR ENVELOPE.
THAT THAT'S ALL THAT'S REQUIRED TO ISSUE A CITATION.
NOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ARCHITECTURAL CODE AND ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS, THERE ARE OTHER RANGE OF SPECIFICS.
LIKE THE SIGN MUST BE SIX FEET UP THE GROUND.
UH, THE ACCESS AISLE, IF IT'S NEW, A SIGNAL, PARKING CAR, CAR SPACES.
THERE'S DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE WIS FOR A CAR AND A AND A VAN.
WE CAN'T ISSUE CITATIONS FOR THAT, BUT THAT'S PART OF THE ARCHITECTURAL CODE.
BUT JUST FOR IT FOR CHECKING VIOLATIONS, THEY HAVE TO HAVE THAT SIGN POSTED IN FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE.
AND ALSO THE EMBLEM ON THE GROUND IS NOT REQUIRED TO ISSUE A CITATION BECAUSE YOUR CAR, MOST CARS AND TRUCKS ARE GONNA COVER THAT UP WHEN THEY PARKED.
AND PEOPLE MAY NOT EVEN SEE THAT WHEN THEY PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE.
AND WE ALSO GIVE OUR FLYER, OUR, OUR, UH, VOLUNTEERS IS FLYER TO PASS OUT TO PEOPLE SAYING IF THEY HAVE A VALID FLAG FOR THEY'RE PARKING IN THE ACCESS AISLE.
SO WE WANNA EDUCATE THEM THE PROPER WAY TO PARK.
'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL PARK IN THE
[00:50:01]
LEGISLATOR PASSED THE REGULATION THAT THEY HAVE TO NOW SAY NO PARKING, BUT THAT'S ONLY FOR NEW, NEW, UH, CONSTRUCTIVE.SO IT'S GONNA BE A MINUTE FOR THE MAJORITY OF ADA, A PARKING SPACES ARE MARKED, NO PARKING IN THE ACCESS.
OKAY, YOU WANNA TRAIN YOUR VOLUNTEERS TO UNDERSTAND THE PROPER CREDENTIALS.
UH, SOMETHING THAT WAS NEW IN 2022 IS THAT ALL, UM, VEHICLES PARKED IN A A DA PARKING SPACE, THEIR LICENSE PLATE MUST HAVE THE INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL OF ACCESS OR THE WHEELCHAIR EMBLEM, OR THEY MUST HAVE A VALID PLACARD.
UM, A BLUE PLACARD IS, IS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE AN PERMANENT DISABILITY, AND IT MUST BE RENEWED EVERY FOUR YEARS.
AND A RED PLACARD IS FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS A TEMPORARY DISABILITY.
SAY THEY HAD SURGERY OR THERE'S SOMETHING CURRENTLY IMPAIRING THEIR MOBILITY.
UM, THOSE ARE ONLY VALID FOR SIX MONTHS.
SO THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO TELL WHEN PEOPLE ARE USING, UM, FAKE PLA FAKE PLACARDS OR THEY'RE ALTERING THEIR PLAQUE.
IF YOU SEE A RED PLACARD AND IT'S GOOD FOR TWO YEARS, YOU KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN ALTERED.
OR EITHER IT'S A FAKE PLACARD.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY SELL THESE ON FACEBOOK.
AND OF COURSE IT'S HARD FOR THE POLICE TO TRACK THEM DOWN.
BUT IF YOU TRAIN YOUR VOLUNTEERS TO BE ABLE TO SPOT IT, THEY CAN HELP, UH, HELP TO ELIMINATE THIS TYPE OF FRAUD IN THE, IN THE, UH, FOR THE ACCESSIBLE PEOPLE WHO NEED ACCESSIBILITY.
IN 2022, WHEN THE LEGISLATOR PASSED A NEW LAW REQUEST, ALL LICENSE PLATES HAVE THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF ACCESS, EVEN DISABLED VETERAN PLATES.
UM, WE CREATED THIS FLYER TO HELP EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.
UH, THE LAW WAS PASSED TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAD MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS WERE USING, UH, THE A DA PARKING SPACES.
'CAUSE A LOT OF, OF VETERANS HAVING A LOT OF CHALLENGES FINDING PARKING SPACES BECAUSE THEY WERE USED FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD NON MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS.
UM, UM, SO THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION ACTUALLY SUPPORTED THE CHANGE IN THE LAW.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NOT A GOOD PR CAMPAIGN TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE CHANGE.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO, EVEN TO THIS DAY, ALMOST THREE YEARS LATER, YOU'RE GONNA RUN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EVEN AWARE.
SO WE, WE TRY TO GET SOME PEOPLE ONE WARNING, GIVE THEM THIS FLYER AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO SPREAD THE WORD TO LET THEM KNOW IF YOU HAVE A DV PLATE, YOUR PLATE MUST HAVE THE INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL OF ACCESS, OR YOU MUST HAVE A BALLOT FLAG IN ORDER TO LIVELY PARK IN A MARKED DISABLED PARKING PLACE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE CAN YOU'VE TEACH THEM THE INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED FOR A ADA, A PARKING SPACE, AND, UM, AND THEY'RE OUT IN THE FIELD.
YOU WANNA BE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC CAN CLEARLY IDENTIFY THEM.
'CAUSE YOU CAN IMAGINE IF YOU'RE A SHOP OWNER OR YOU, YOU HAVE A, A BUSINESS AND YOU SEE SOMEBODY WALKING THROUGH YOUR PARKING LOT LOOKING AT, AT DASHBOARDS AND LOOKING THROUGH SHIELDS, YOU'RE GONNA BE PRETTY SUSPICIOUS OF, OF THIS PERSON AND YOU PROBABLY WILL CALL THE POLICE.
THAT'S WHY YOUR, YOUR VOLUNTEER HAS SOME CLEAR IDENTIFICATION ON THEM.
WE GIVE OUR, OUR, OUR, IT MAY NOT BE AS FORMAL AS A UNIFORM.
WE GIVE OUR VOLUNTEER BADGES AND SAFETY VESTS AND SOME, SOME CHOOSE TO WORK TASKS.
SO IT, IT GIVES THEM A MORE OFFICIAL APPEARANCE.
UM, WE HAVE SOME VOLUNTEERS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME THEY VOLUNTEER AND THE AMOUNT OF CITATIONS THEY ISSUE, THEY ACTUALLY USE ANY OTHER DEVICES.
THEY USE THEIR PERSONAL PHONE AND EVERYTHING IS DIGITAL FOR THEM.
BUT WE STILL HAVE MOST OF OUR VOLUNTEERS USE, UH, THE PAPER CITATION BILLS.
AND, UH, WE GIVE THEM A CERTAIN AMOUNT AT, AT A TIME.
WE, WE KNOW WHO, WHO HAS WHAT CITATION BOOK, AND THEY HAVE TO, UM, EMAIL US PHOTOS OF CITATIONS THAT THEY'VE ISSUED.
AND SO WE CAN DO THE DATA ENTRY AND THEN THEY CAN MAIL IT AFTER THEY'VE DONE THAT.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GALVESTON RECENTLY, UH, LAUNCHED A PROGRAM WHERE THEY ARE DOING, UM, CITATIONS BY MAIL.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW THAT GOES.
AND THEN MAYBE ONE DAY ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PLACING THE CITATION ON THE SHIELD.
WE CAN DO EVERYTHING BY, BY MAIL, WHICH RECREATE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM AND WILL BASICALLY HELP US TO GET OUR ENTIRE PROGRAM DIGITAL.
UM, AND WHAT THING WE ENCOURAGE OUR VOLUNTEERS IS TO, UM, MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING, NOT JUST IN
[00:55:01]
A MATTER OF HEALTH, BUT ALSO FOR A MATTER OF PERSONAL SAFETY.WE'VE HAD PEOPLE WALK UP AND SNATCH OUT THE, THE TICKET BOOK FROM PEOPLE OR, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANNA BE IN, IN ARMS WITH, OF SOMEBODY WHO'S, UM, VERY IRATE ABOUT GETTING A $500 AWARD MARKET, I GUESS.
ONE OF THE THINGS IMPORTANT IN THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY IS TO KEEP THAT DISTANCE, UH, BETWEEN THEM AND, AND THE PUBLIC WHILE THEY'RE OUT DOING THEIR VOLUNTEER WORK.
AND MAKE SURE IT'S VERY CLEAR TO YOUR VOLUNTEERS THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE THERE TO, UH, EMPOWER THEM TO ISSUE SOMETIMES.
BUT YOU'RE ALSO HERE TO TAKE THESE, SO YOU MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A WAY TO PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.
IT MAY BE ON THE BACK OF A CITATION, YOU MAY GIVE THEM BUSINESS CARDS TO HAND OUT, BUT, YOU KNOW, TAKE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY.
SO MUCH WILL HAVE TO DO WITH CONFLICT OUT IN THE FIELD.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING TO CONSIDER AS YOU EXPLAIN THE VOLUNTEERS IS THAT YOU WANT MORE ADVOCATES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS AND NOT OF DANGERS.
WE'VE OFTEN COME ACROSS PEOPLE WHO TAKE THIS PACK BADGE TO, TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
YOU KNOW, THEY BECOME, UH, JOHNNY OUTLAW AND THEY WANT TO DROP A HAMMER ON EVERYBODY THAT, THAT THEY SEE, YOU KNOW, HIDE IN BUSHES AND, AND GIVE PEOPLE TICKETS, UM, UH, TALK, UH, DISRESPECTFULLY TO THE PUBLIC, UH, REALLY TALK, TALK DOWN.
THEY JUST WANNA SEE PEOPLE PENALIZED AND INFLICT PAIN.
UM, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO ISSUE WHO, WHO TEND TO GET, UH, THESE CITATIONS, A LOT OF THEM FORGOT TO JUST HANG THEIR PLATE.
AND SO WE DON'T REALLY, EVEN HOUSTON DOESN'T EVEN PUNISH PEOPLE LIKE THAT.
BUT YOU CAN PROVIDE YOUR VALID CREDENTIALS.
OUR HEARING OFFICERS WOULD DISMISS THAT TICKET.
BUT YOU HAVE, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE THREATEN PEOPLE WITH GUNS AND THAT PERSON GOT ARRESTED BECAUSE THERE WERE VIDEO CAMERAS IN THE SHOPPING CENTER WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY DID THAT.
THAT'S ONE THING WE TRAIN 'EM TO.
THERE ARE CAMERAS, SECURITY CAMERAS, CELL PHONE CAMERAS EVERYWHERE.
YOUR BAD BEHAVIOR IS GONNA BE CAUGHT.
SO MAKE SURE YOU ARE ACTING AS A PUBLIC SERVANT AND YOU'RE OUT HERE TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, NOT LIVING SOME PERSONAL FANTASY AS YOU ARE THE, THE STRONG ARM OF THE LAW.
THEY HAVE A PASSION TO VOLUNTEER.
THEY HAVE A PASSION TO MEET A MEET.
THEY WANT TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HELP INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY IN, IN YOUR CITY.
AND, UH, AVENGERS COULD GET YOUR WHOLE PROGRAM SHUT DOWN IF THEY GET THE TICKET TO THE WRONG PERSON.
AND THIS PERSON HAS THE RIGHT CONNECTIONS.
SO MAKE SURE YOU, WHEN YOU SCREEN PEOPLE, THAT THEIR HEART IS A PASSION TO SERVE AND THEY REALLY WANNA BE A, AN ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE MOBILITY.
NOW THAT YOU HAVE YOUR VOLUNTEERS TRAINED, YOU WANNA DEVELOP METHODS TO, TO KIND OF MEASURE YOUR, UH, PROGRAM PERFORMANCE.
WE LIKE TO LOOK AT HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS ARE ACTIVE, HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME BACK TO THE PROGRAM, AND PEOPLE WHO ARE ARE INACTIVE ACTIVE LETS US KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING A, A SUCCESSFUL OPPORTUNITY IN VOLUNTEERING AND, AND FULFILLING THEIR OWN PERSONAL PASSION.
PEOPLE WHO RE-CERTIFY, THAT MEANS THEY ENJOY WHAT THEY DO AND THEY WANNA CONTINUE TO DO IT.
WE JUST CAN'T MAKE THE SYSTEM THE ASSUMPTION THAT THEY LOST INTEREST.
YOU WANNA FIND OUT, OKAY, WHAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD TO DO WHAT'S, YOU KNOW, EXIT INTERVIEWS PER SE AND FIND OUT WHY THEY'RE NOT VOLUNTEERING.
NORMALLY, THEY, IT ENDS UP THAT THEY DIDN'T FEEL AS COMFORTABLE AS THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD, UH, ISSUE CITATIONS BECAUSE IT, IT CAN BE A VERY, IT CAN BE UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC.
AND SOME PEOPLE AREN'T NECESSARILY BUILT, BUILT FOR THAT, AND THAT'S COMPLETELY UN UNDERSTANDABLE.
BUT YOU COULD DO EVALUATIONS TO SEE HOW YOUR PROGRAM'S DOING.
WE REALLY DO NOT FOCUS ON, UM, CITATION COUNT BECAUSE OUR, OUR GOAL IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO REQUIRE A PA PARKING SPACES.
UM, AND IF YOU, IF YOU'RE FOCUSING ON THAT, THEN YOU HAVE ENOUGH GREAT IMPACT BECAUSE AS I SAID, PEOPLE WHO HAVE VALID CREDENTIALS, YOUR CITATIONS ARE GONNA BE DISMISSED BY, BY OUR, BY OUR HEARING OFFICERS.
[01:00:01]
WE DON'T PUT A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON THE NUMBER OF CITATION ISSUES.WE LOOK AT WHO'S, WHO'S ACTIVE AND ARE, ARE THEY WRITING GOOD CITATIONS? ARE THEY GETTING A GOOD PICTURE OF THAT LICENSE LICENSE PLATE? ARE THEY PUTTING CORRECT ADDRESSES WHEN YOU'RE ISSUED CITATIONS? CAN YOU READ THE CITATIONS WHEN, WHEN THEY WRITE IT? SO WE, WE FOCUS ON THOSE AND HELP EVALUATE OUR, OUR OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE.
AND, AND THEN YOU WANNA STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR VOLUNTEERS.
YOU CAN DO NEWSLETTERS, YOU CAN SEND OUT EMAILS, UM, UH, CERTIFICATES OF, UH, YEARS OF SERVICE.
UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE VOLUNTEER CELEBRATIONS TWICE A YEAR.
IT'S A TIME FOR US TO GET TOGETHER AND SEE EACH OTHER PER DAY FACE TO FACE NECESSARILY, UM, SEE EACH OTHER THAT OFTEN.
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO COME BY THE OFFICE THAT FREQUENTLY.
SO WE HAVE LITTLE EVENTS SO WE CAN, YOU KNOW, HAVE A PERSON TO PERSON TOUCH WITH OUR VOLUNTEERS AND REALLY SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND KEEPING YOU SUCCESSFUL.
UH, THIS SLIDE, THIS IS OUR CELEBRATION THIS YEAR.
WE GET, WE HAD LUNCH, UM, AND, AND JUST GET TIME TO TALK AND CONNECT, PUT FACES AND NAMES TOGETHER.
UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 200 VOLUNTEERS, YOU KNOW, UH, BEFORE ABLE TO ISSUE CITATIONS AND PROBABLY BETWEEN 25 TO 40 BASIS CITATIONS A MONTH BECAUSE WE DON'T ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO OUT ON CONTROLS.
WE SAY AS YOU GET YOUR DAY-TO-DAY ERRANDS AND YOU OBSERVE VIOLATIONS HANDLE IT LIKE, LIKE, LIKE THAT WE DON'T, 'CAUSE WE DON'T WANNA, UM, PEOPLE TO BECOME, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, JOHNNY, THE, THE LAW AND THEY GET THEIR PATROL AND THEY'RE, THEY KNOW THE HOTPOT AND THEY'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH, BACK FORTH TO THE, THE SAME HOTPOT AND PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD STARTED MAY START TO START TO COMPLAIN THAT WERE TARGETING CERTAIN, CERTAIN PEOPLE, CERTAIN PEOPLE OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ONLY.
UM, BUT YOU WANTED TO, WE LIKE TO SAY WE WANT THEM TO REALLY FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, MOST OF OUR ENFORCEMENT TEAMS, THEY ARE FOCUSED ON THE PUBLIC RIVALRY.
SO WE RARELY GO ONTO DRIVER AND RECOGNIZE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AND KEEP YOUR PROGRAM FOCUSED ON ACCESSIBILITY AND NOT JUST NUMBER YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT ON ACCEPTABILITY IN YOUR CITY.
ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. CURRY FOR THIS INFORMATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION.
I'M SURE THAT FROM THE INFORMATION YOU SHARED WITH US TODAY, WE WILL AT LEAST DELIBERATE AND THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN INCORPORATE SOME OF THOSE PRACTICES HERE IN OUR CITY.
THIS IS WITH REGARDS TO PROVIDING ACCOMMODATIONS TO VOLUNTEERS YOU WORK WITH WHO MAY HAVE DIFFERENT ABILITIES.
SOME OF THEM MAY BE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, OTHERS MAY BE USING WHEELCHAIRS.
IN THAT CASE, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO ELABORATE A BIT ON WHAT KIND OF ACCOMMODATIONS YOU PROVIDE TO YOUR VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE, UM, DIFFERENT ABILITIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, DO YOU PROVIDE AUXILIARY AIDS? DO YOU PROVIDE MATERIAL AND RAIL AND, AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS? THANK YOU.
UM, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF VOUCHERS WHO ARE IN WHEELCHAIRS AND WE'LL GIVE THEM, UH, SOMETHING LIKE A SAFETY VEST.
THEY HANG ON THE BACK OF THEIR CHAIR SO PEOPLE WILL, WILL KNOW, UM, UH, WHO, WHO THEY ARE.
UM, PEOPLE WHO HAVE VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS, IT WOULD, TAKING THE PHOTOS AND LOOKING AT THE LICENSE PLATE AND THE PLACARDS, UM, WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S REQUIRED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD CITATION.
SO MAYBE THEY COULD, THEY COULD HELP US IN OTHER AREAS OF THE PROGRAM, BUT ACTUALLY OUT IN THE FIELD, THESE CITATIONS WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE A, UM, A POSSIBILITY FOR THEM.
NO, THE REASON I ASKED IS BECAUSE EVEN TAKING PHOTOS IS NOT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS QUITE, IT DOES REQUIRE SIGHTED ASSISTANCE.
SO I WAS WONDERING IF IN THOSE SCENARIOS, IF YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP OUT IN OTHER AREAS OF THE PROGRAM? YEAH, THEY HAVE ADMINISTRATOR.
[01:05:01]
FOR THAT INFORMATION.I'M NOW GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
MS. CURRY, THIS IS COMMISSIONER REVY FROM DISTRICT ONE.
I WANT TO SAY BRAVO AND THANK YOU.
YOU HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH COMING UP WITH A TRAINING PROGRAM.
I TOOK THE TRAINING PROGRAM ONLINE AND COMPLETED IT.
SO I'M IN LINE FOR A CERTIFICATE, I THINK.
AND I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR THE EMPHASIS THAT YOU PLACE ON AVOIDING CONFRONTATION.
JUST CONTEST, DO YOUR JOB AND WALK AWAY.
I APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
YEAH, BECAUSE USUALLY PEOPLE WHO ARE VIOLATORS, IT, IT, THEY, THEY VIOLATE.
ONCE THEY VIOLATE AGAIN, YOU, YOU RUN INTO 'EM AGAIN.
SO DON'T RISK YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH ONCE AGAIN FOR THAT INFORMATION.
UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT MAY WISH TO ASK A QUESTION OR MAKE A COMMENT REAL QUICKLY? COMMISSIONER WAI, DISTRICT EIGHT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I, UM, COMMISSIONER REVY HAS BEEN A PILLAR AND A STAR ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR TRANSPORTATION.
AND IN REFERENCE TO VIOLATIONS OF DISABILITY RIGHTS FOR PARKING AND ENFORCEMENT.
WHAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY RECOMMEND AND OR ADVISE US WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER TO EITHER ADAPT OR HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN IN PLACE? UM, IN REFERENCE TO ALL THE VIOLATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN CITY? 'CAUSE I'M BE, I'M BE CLEAR WITH YOU, IN ANY MUNICIPALITY, YES, MONEY MATTERS AND WE ALL WANNA MAKE MONEY.
BUT TO YOUR POINT, ENSURING THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO VOLUNTEER THAT THEY'RE ALSO SAFE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE A HUGE ISSUE HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, NO MATTER THE DISTRICT, MY DISTRICT, ALL 15 DISTRICTS WHERE PEOPLE JUST, OH, I'M JUST PARKING HERE FOR A MINUTE TO GET COFFEE OR EVEN DELIVERY TRUCKS, RIGHT? OR BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION OF OUR DEVELOPERS WHO PARK THEIR VEHICLES THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE DROPPING OFF PLYWOOD.
WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE US THAT WE SHOULD IMPLEMENT OR COULD IMPLEMENT TO, UM, GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS INITIATED? BECAUSE YOU COULD PROBABLY START OFF WITH, UM, A, A BIG A MEDIA CAMPAIGN SAYING YOUR OFFERING, UH, TO BEGIN TO TRAIN PEOPLE, UH, TO, UH, ISSUE THE CITATION AND, UM, USE THAT AS AN IMPROVEMENT TOOL.
YOU PROBABLY MAY GET AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE.
I KNOW WE DID THE FIRST TIME WE, WE GOT A NEWS STORE, WE HAD LIKE 400 PEOPLE COME, COME OUT FOR TRAINING.
UM, BUT THAT NOT, THAT ONLY HELPS YOU RECRUIT, BUT IT ALSO HELPS YOU NOTIFY THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS COMING BECAUSE AS I SAID, MOST WOMEN FAMILIES FOCUS ON PARKING VIOLATIONS ON THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
SO WE DON'T DO A LOT OF PATROLLING OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.
AND VOLUNTEERS ARE YOUR EYES AND YOUR EARS ARE PRIVATE PROPERTY.
SO AS THEY KNOW AS THIS IS PUBLICIZED, MAYBE SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SHARED ON OTHER FORMS OF MEDIA, IT HELPS, IT HELPS TO GET THE WORD OUT.
AND THEN YOU NOT ONLY, LIKE I SAID, IT'S A RECRUITMENT TOOL, BUT IT ALSO IS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE, THE NECESSITY OF NOT VIOLATING THESE MARKET SPACES, BUT ALSO THE ABILITY THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO.
ONE THING THAT HOUSTON DID, UH, ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, WE MADE IT A BOOTABLE OFFENSE TOO.
SO IF YOU GET AN A DA PARKING CITATION AND YOU DON'T ADD, ALL YOUR CAR GOES ON THE BOOT LIST.
AND WE GET A LOT, AND A LOT OF VEHICLES ARE BOOTED EVERY DAY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T PAY THOSE A D EIGHT PARKING.
SO WE REALLY MADE IT A VERY STRINGENT, UH, PENALTY FOR, UH, VIOLATING THE
I JUST HEARD A, A SIDEBAR COMMENT.
COMMISSIONER REBE SAID YOU HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT, AND I AGREE.
YOU HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT AND YOU HAVE TO BE COMMITTED TO THIS PURPOSE.
AND I'M, I'M ALL IN FAVOR FOR IF WE CAN JUST GET THIS DONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENCE.
UM, I THINK COMMISSIONER REVY AND COMMISSIONER POI MADE VERY VALID POINTS.
IT'S NOT ONLY IMPORTANT TO BE CONSISTENT, BUT YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE COMMITTED TO THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT THE LIFE OF A PERSON.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WISH TO ASK A QUESTION OR MAKE A COMMENT? COMMISSIONER WHITE.
COMMISSIONER WHITE DISTRICT NINE.
AS A PERSON THAT HAS HAD A HANDICAP TAG FOR, GOSH, 20 YEARS, UM, IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GO TO PULL IN AND YOU CAN'T GET IN AND OUTTA YOUR VAN BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S PARKED IN THE RAMP.
[01:10:01]
THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT THAT I CAN'T WAIT TO BE A PART OF.'CAUSE I KNOW I PERSONALLY, I WENT TO HIP SURGERY IN 2020.
I EXPERIENCED IT MYSELF FIRST FIRSTHAND DRIVING UP TO A PLACE.
AND YOU CAN'T FIND ANYWHERE TO PARK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER WHITE.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT TODAY'S PRESENTATION SERVES AS A REMINDER THAT ALL OF US ARE CANDIDATES FOR DISABILITIES.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT LIFE WILL BRING.
UH, ONE OF ONE DAY SOMEONE MIGHT GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT AND, AND BE CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WISH TO ASK A A FINAL QUESTION? IN THAT CASE, WE SINCERELY WANT TO, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU MS. CURRY FOR DEVOTING YOUR TIME TO COME AND PRESENT TO US ABOUT THIS LIFE CHANGING PROGRAM.
AND DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT IF WE CAN BE FURTHER ASSISTANCE AS YOU DEVELOP YOUR PROGRAM.
WE WERE, WE WERE SO HONORED AND DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU WITH US TODAY.
WE ARE NOW MOVING FORWARD TO THE LAST ITEM PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT, AND THAT IS ANNOUNCEMENTS.
SO ON JUNE THE 11TH, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THIS LADY NAMED DEBBIE BARTLES, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE COMMISSIONER WHITE'S FRIEND.
UM, SHE EMAILED ME ABOUT HER BROTHER WHO LIVES IN THE DALLAS AREA.
HE IS VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND IS HAVING SOME DIFFICULTIES NAVIGATING AROUND THE CITY BY HIMSELF.
HE HAS ALSO BEEN GIVEN A LOT OF EQUIPMENT.
HOWEVER, HE HAS, HE HAS NOT RECEIVED THE ADEQUATE TRAINING NEEDED TO USE THIS EQUIPMENT IN A TIMELY MANNER.
UM, I SINCERELY, I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK COMMISSIONER REY ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL BECAUSE, UM, SHE TOLD MS. BARTLES THAT SHE KNOWS A PERSON, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO RESIDES IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, WHO IS ALSO BLIND AND IS FAMILIAR WITH, UH, WITH NAVIGATING THE CITY AND ACCESSING RESOURCES.
SO AFTER THAT EMAIL, I DID CONTACT MS. BARTLES.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH HER AND HER BROTHER.
UM, I DID, UM, I WAS ABLE TO, UM, PRO REFER THEM THEM TO APPROPRIATE RESOURCES WHERE THEY MAY BE ABLE TO RECEIVE TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, UM, THAT, THAT THEY MAY NEED.
UM, APPARENTLY THIS, THIS FAMILY IS NOT IN AN EASY SITUATION BECAUSE THE BROTHER DOESN'T HAVE ANYONE TO TALK TO BECAUSE HER SISTER MS. BARTLES LIVES IN GEORGETOWN.
UH, SO SHE DOES NOT RESIDE IN DALLAS.
SO I DID MY BEST TO REFER THEM TO APPROPRIATE RESOURCES.
I ALSO, UM, SHARED SOME INFORMATION ABOUT OUR COMMISSION AND SHARED WITH THEM THAT BECAUSE WE ARE A RELATIVELY NEW COMMISSION, THAT WE DO NOT YET HAVE RESOURCES.
HOWEVER, I DID ADVISE HER BROTHER, UM, JOHN, TO ATTEND ONE OF OUR MEETINGS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE DO FOR OUR CITY.
SO, UM, I, I FEEL LIKE THEY LEARNED A LOT FROM OUR CONVERSATION AND, AND HOPEFULLY, UM, HE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE INFORMATION THAT I SHARED WITH THEM.
THAT IS ALL THE ANNOUNCEMENTS I HAD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
I AM NOW GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER THAT MAY WISH TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
COMMISSIONER WHITE DISTRICT NINE.
UH, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH DEBBIE.
UM, I ALSO, UH, I KNEW YOU COULD TAKE CARE OF ALL THE ISSUES, UH, REGARDING HIS PROBLEMS WITH SITE.
I FURTHER REFERRED THEM TO THE SENIOR SOURCE BECAUSE HE JUST TURNED 65 AND, UH, FOR A LOT OF THE OTHER ISSUES, UM, WE, WE DO VERY MUCH NEED A LIST OF RESOURCES HERE.
YOU KNOW, I'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
UM, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
SHE WAS THRILLED, SHE WAS COMFORTABLE LEAVING HIM, UH, WHICH SHE HAD BEEN THERE FOR LIKE TWO WEEKS.
THANK YOU AGAIN, COMMISSIONER WHITE.
AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVE DONE MY PART, UH, ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL BY MAKING THE BEST REFERENCES POSSIBLE.
I DID, UM, REFER, UM, THEM TO THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF TEXAS VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES, AMONG MANY OTHER GROUPS THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH, UM, WHO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED GAIN ACCESS TO RESOURCES.
SO HOPEFULLY THEY'RE IN GOOD HANDS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT MAY WISH TO PROVIDE ANNOUNCEMENTS? IF THERE ARE NO ANNOUNCEMENTS,
[01:15:01]
THEN I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADJOURN THE MEETING.ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THE MEETING, TODAY'S MEETING HAS BEEN ADJOURNED.
AND FOR THE RECORDS, THE TIME WE ADJOURNED, THIS MEETING IS 4:40 PM THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND DEDICATION.