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UH, IT'S 1203.[Veteran Affairs Commission on October 10, 2024.]
BEEN NOTIFIED THAT IF WE HAVE A QUORUM, SO WE'RE GONNA CALL TO ORDER, UM, OCTOBER THE 10TH.EXCUSE ME, I, I A LITTLE BIT DOWN AND OUT, SO A LITTLE SLOW.
BUT, UH, BEFORE WE START, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR GUESTS FOR COMING IN AND, UH, TAKING THEIR PRESENTATION TODAY.
SO AGAIN, IT'S 1203 MILES, OH 4 0 3, ALL LEGION FLAG FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND ON BEHALF.
JUSTICE FOR THE FIRST, FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS A APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM LAST MONTH'S, UH, MEETING, UH, SEPTEMBER THE 12TH, 2024.
HAVE, UH, ALL THE COMMISSIONERS, UM, HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO READ THEM OKAY.
WITH THEM? UH, LIKE TO TAKE A VOTE OR A MOTION? SOMEBODY MAKE A MOTION.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
THERE'S BEEN A MOTION, THERE'S BEEN A SECOND.
SO, MR. FODDER, GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN.
CAN YOU HEAR US? YEAH, I CAN HEAR.
I, I GOT, I HAD A CHANCE TO GO OVER AND, UH, I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND, AND WHAT HE'S DOING OVER THERE.
AND, UH, IN THE AREA TOO, UH, WITH A DIFFERENT, UH, VETERANS AND CIVILIAN.
SO IT IS A COMBINATION OF BOTH.
SO YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND, UH, TELL US ABOUT YOUR EVENTS AND YOUR ORGANIZATION.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US OUT TODAY.
UH, I'M A NAVY DISABLED VETERAN.
UM, OUR PROGRAM IS CALLED UNI, VETERAN EMPLOYMENT SERVICES.
WE HAVE TWO PROGRAMS. WE HAVE THE TVC AND MS. LAKI WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE HVRP PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE HOMELESS PROGRAM.
I'M GONNA EXPLAIN TO YOU ABOUT THE TVC.
WE HAVE A GRANT THROUGH THE TEXAS VETERAN COMMISSION, AND THROUGH THAT GRANT, OUR GRANT GOES OUT AND WE GET REFERRALS FOR VETERANS TO FIND THEM JOBS.
WE ALSO SUPPORT THEM WITH BUS PASSES, FREE FORKLIFT TRAINING, FOOD HANDLING TRAINING, UH, RESOURCES THAT WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE.
WE GET A LOT OF REFERRALS FROM THE VA.
WE GET A LOT OF REFERRALS FROM THE SALVATION ARMY.
UH, ANY KINDA SHELTER WITH VETERANS OR ANYBODY, TEXAS WORKFORCE, WE DON'T TURN AWAY ANYBODY.
AND WE WORK WITH ALL ERAS FROM VIETNAM, THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, TO, YOU KNOW, TO THE GULF, TO AFGHANISTAN.
IT'S NO, IF YOU ARE A VETERAN, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU NO MATTER WHAT ERA YOU COME OUT OF.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE, UH, PEOPLE SAY, WELL, VIETNAM VETERANS ARE STILL WORKING.
YES, BECAUSE THE ECONOMY IS BAD.
THEY CAN'T LIVE OFF OF SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK AND A DISABILITY CHECK.
SO A LOT OF OUR GUYS COME IN JUST TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT THEY NEED TO GET, PAY THEIR RENT TO GET A PART-TIME JOB.
SO THAT'S WHAT OUR JOB IS HERE.
I JUST GOT A 71-YEAR-OLD VIETNAM VETERAN, A JOB, UH, FORKLIFT PART-TIME.
'CAUSE HE HAD, UM, JUST COULDN'T AFFORD TO KEEP HIS CAR.
AND HE'S ABOUT TO LOSE HIS CAR.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S BAD THAT WE HAVE THAT.
BUT IT'S GOOD THAT WE HAVE THESE PROGRAMS THAT WE DO.
AND WE HAVE A CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WHERE WE FOLLOW UP WITH THEM.
AS LONG AS THEY'RE IN THE PROGRAM, WE'RE FOLLOWING UP WITH THEM.
WE CALL, CHECK ON THEM ABOUT THE JOBS.
WE ALSO SUPPORT THEM IF THEY NEED BOOTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, LIKE JOB EQUIPMENT STUFF, WE'LL PAY FOR 'EM.
UH, WE DO A FORKLIFT TRAINING TWICE A MONTH.
WE HAVE A CERTIFIED OSHA TRAINING THAT COMES OUT, TEACHES A CLASS AND THE, AND THE, UH, UH, CERTIFICATE IS GOOD FOR THREE YEARS AND IF THEY WANNA COME BACK AND RENEW IT, THEN COME BACK AND RENEW IT.
AND WE ALSO DO FREE FOOD HANDLING.
UM, BUT WE JUST HERE TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE, I GOT OUT, I HAD PTSD AND MY DAD WAS A VIETNAM VETERAN.
IF IT WASN'T FOR HIM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD'VE WENT THROUGH BECAUSE THE BEST PERSON TO WORK, UH, HELP YOU OUT IS ANOTHER VETERAN.
'CAUSE WE SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE AND WE KNOW WHAT WE, OUR NEEDS ARE.
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SO THAT'S OUR JOB AS A, AS A, AS A AGENCY, IS TO PULL OUR VETERANS UP AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THAT THEY ARE MEN AND WOMEN.AND, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE LOOK DOWN ON OUR VETERANS BECAUSE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH, THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
AND WE CAME TO THE VA, WE'LL LET 'EM KNOW, HEY, I CAN FIND YOU A JOB, BUT RIGHT NOW YOU NEED TO GET SOME SUBSTANCE ABUSE HELP.
AND WE'LL CALL OVER TO THE VA.
AND ANOTHER THING WE'RE HAVING, WE'RE ALSO HAVING A JOB FAIR.
THIS IS OUR FOURTH YEAR FOR THE JOB FAIR.
WE HAVE A LOT OF VENDORS, DART, MARRIOTT, HILTON, FEDEX, EVERYTHING WE'RE GONNA DO, UH, GIVEAWAYS, WE'LL DO FREE GIVEAWAYS.
WE'RE GONNA FEED 'EM BREAKFAST FOR FREE.
WE'RE GONNA FEED 'EM LUNCH FOR FREE.
AND THIS IS BASICALLY TO HELP OUR VETERANS OUT THAT NEED JOBS, YOU KNOW, SO WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR.
SO THIS IS OUR FOURTH YEAR DOING THE JOB FAIR.
SO WE'D LOVE FOR YOU GUYS TO COME OUT, SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANNA COME OUT OR IF YOU KNOW ANY VETERANS THAT NEED JOBS, WE'RE HERE.
UH, THE DATE OF THE JOB FAIR, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE DATE OF THE NOVEMBER 13TH? 13TH? YEAH.
AND IT STARTED AT, UH, THE BREAKFAST IS SEVEN 30 TO NINE.
THAT'S FOR THE VETS WANNA COME IN EARLY AND THEN THE JOB FIRST A START FROM ABOUT 9:00 AM TO LIKE 1230.
AND WHICH WAS THAT AT YOUR FACILITY? YES, OUR FACILITY.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN I TOOK YOU IN THE WAREHOUSE YES, SIR.
ALL THE, ALL THOSE CLIENTS WANTED TO BE HERE.
WE'RE LETTING THEM OFF THAT DAY.
AND WE'LL HAVE IT SET UP JUST LIKE THAT IN THE WAREHOUSE.
ANY QUESTIONS? UH, I DON'T, MAYBE MR. CHASE, IS HE, IS HE ON COMMISSIONER CHASE? I KNOW YOU ALWAYS HAVE A QUESTION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR ANY QUESTIONS? I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS MUTED.
YEAH, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK HE, I DON'T THINK HE CAN HEAR.
BUT YEAH, I, I, UH, RECOMMEND THAT ANYBODY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE, THE FACILITY AND JUST, JUST, UH, TAKE A LITTLE WALK AROUND.
I, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THERE, UH, VETERANS, CIVILIANS, UH, LIKE YOU SAID.
UM, SO HOMELESS, UM, OR ASSISTANCE.
BUT IT'S ASSISTANCE THROUGH EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW.
SO WE JUST STARTED A CLOSING CLOSET TOO.
SO A LOT OF OUR VETS COME IN, DON'T HAVE CLOTHES, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN EVICTED.
THEY GOT JUST A CLOTHES ON THEIR BACK.
SOMETIMES WE'LL JUST GO OUT AND PURCHASE 'EM CLOTHES TOO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE A LOT OF 'EM DON'T HAVE IT.
AND WE'LL JUST PURCHASE SOME CLOTHES 'CAUSE WE GOT A LOT OF VETERANS THAT'S GOING TO THE SHELTER, DON'T HAVE ANY CLOTHES, JUST CLOTHES.
THEY IN THE BACK 'CAUSE THEY'VE BEEN EVICTED AND ALL THIS STUFF IS JUST THROWN ON THE GROUND.
SO I'LL LET LARA TALK TO NEXT.
I'M LAKIRA HOUSTON, UM, 20 YEAR AIR FORCE VETERAN, UH, COMBAT VETERAN AIR FORCE
SO, UM, MY FOCUS IS I HELP WITH THE LEAD.
UH, I'M THE LEAD OF THE HOMELESS VETERAN REINTEGRATION PROGRAM.
IT'S UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
IT'S A GRANT UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
SO, UM, MY FOCUS IS TO FIND HOMELESS VETERANS AND WE ENSURE THAT WE GET THEM STABILITY, UM, SERVICES TO INCLUDE EMPLOYMENT, UH, SIMILAR TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MR. VOER SAID ABOUT THE TRAINING, BUT ALSO WITH OUR GRANT, UM, WE'RE ABLE TO PAY FOR THEM TO GO TO SCHOOL.
SO IF THEY WANNA GO TO CDL SCHOOL, IF THEY DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDING, UM, AS FAR AS THE UM, GI BILL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE'RE ABLE TO PAY.
UM, SO CL SCHOOL, BARBER SCHOOL, UH, ANYTHING THEY WANT OR NEED, WE CAN HELP THEM, UM, GET INTO THOSE CLASSES.
ONCE THEY ENTER THOSE CLASSES, WE'RE ABLE TO HELP THEM FIND EMPLOYMENT INTO THE CAREER THAT THEY, OF THEIR CHOOSING.
UM, SO WE HELP THEM WITH RESUME WRITING, UM, CAREER SERVICES, UH, YOU KNOW, BOOTS AND CLOTHING, EVERYTHING.
SOMETIMES WE DO GIVE THEM GAS CARDS, UM, IF WE HAVE THEM, IF WE GET 'EM DONATED.
BUT THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE HELP THEM WITH.
SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY PROGRAM.
OH, AND ALSO TO, UH, BE A PART OF OUR PROGRAMS, YOU CAN HAVE A DISCHARGE EVERY, YOU CAN HAVE A HONORABLE, UM, OTHER THAN HONORABLE, BUT YOU CANNOT HAVE A DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE AND A GENERAL, BUT YOU CANNOT HAVE A DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE TO BE IN OUR PROGRAM.
AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE A TEXAS STATE.
HOW LONG HAS YOUR PROGRAM BEEN FULLY COME? SO WE STARTED THE PROGRAM IN JULY, 2023.
AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HOLLY? HOW MANY ARE ENROLLED? RIGHT NOW? CURRENTLY ON OUR CASE'S, ABOUT 87 WE HAVE ENROLLED.
UM, BUT WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE DISCHARGED.
BUT WITH THE D UH, PE THE TOTAL WOULD BE PROBABLY 117 THAT WE HAVE HELPED TOTAL SINCE JULY, 2020 THIRD.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A COMPUTER LAB.
RONNIE SAW OUR COMPUTER LAB IS, IS REAL NICE.
AND, UH, THE GUYS CAN COME IN AND THEY GO DO JOB SEARCHING.
WE HELP 'EM WITH THEIR RESUME.
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WE DO HAVE A COMPUTER LAB, SO IF OUR VETS WANT TO COME IN, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, UH, WHEN YOU GO TO THE LIBRARY, YOU ONLY ON A TIME LIMIT, YOU CAN COME OVER THERE FOR FREE AND YOU CAN JUST TAKE OUT, YOU KNOW, TAKE YOUR TIME.YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUSH TO GET OUTTA THERE.
ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION.
UH, COMMISSIONER PRECIADO FROM DISTRICT TWO, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU GUYS COULD PROVIDE GREAT SERVICES FOR VETERANS IN THE DFW AREA.
UH, MY QUESTION IS, HOW WOULD VETERANS FIND YOU OR HOW WOULD YOU FIND THE VETERANS? WHAT KIND OF MARKETING GOES INTO THAT TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION WITH VETERANS THAT, UH, COULD KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU PROVIDE FOR THEM? MAJORITY OF OUR VETERANS COME OUT OF THE SOCIAL WORKERS FROM THE VA.
IF THEY GO IN THERE AND SAY THEY NEED EMPLOYMENT, THEY'LL REFER TO US.
AND LIKE WHEN THEY GO INTO THE SHELTERS, LIKE THE SALVATION ARMY, WE, WE DEAL WITH THE CASEWORKERS THERE.
UGM DALLAS LIFE, THEY HAVE TWO SIDES.
I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE SHELTER.
THEY HAVE A REGULAR SIDE AND THEY HAVE THE BEDSIDE.
THE, UH, THE VA PAYS FOR THEM TO, TO LIVE THERE.
SO THEY HAVE, THEY'RE ASSIGNED CASEWORKERS THROUGH THE VA AND SO THEY HELP THEM GET HUD VS GET THEIR APARTMENTS, WHATEVER.
BUT IN THE PROCESS, THEY ALSO HAD TO BE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT TO KEEP THAT APARTMENT.
SO THEY REFER US TO US IN LIKE, TEXAS WORKFORCE, TVC, THAT'S WHICH IN ALL THE TEXAS WORKFORCE CENTERS.
WE'VE BUILT A RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL THE DALLAS FORWARD AREAS.
SO REFERRALS, IT'S EITHER WORD OF MOUTH OR BOB BET OR EITHER WE GET IT FROM A SOCIAL WORKER, CASE WORKER, UH, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST.
AND THEN FOR ME, UM, I ACTUALLY HAND OUT FLYERS.
I WORK, UH, WITH THE DALLAS HOMELESS, UM, PROGRAM HERE.
UM, ALSO THE YOUNGER GENERATION, LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO WE'LL PUT THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEN WE'LL GO OUT AND HAND FLYERS TO WHEREVER JUST TO KNOW WHERE VETERANS ARE.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU GET OUT.
THE COMMUNITY OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE TO BE IN COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SEE, BE SEEN.
UH, WE JUST DON'T GO OUT AND JUST PUT SOME ON THE WEBSITE.
NO, WE GO AND TALK TO THEM AND WE SIT DOWN THERE AND BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AND I'LL SHOW THEM THAT THEY'RE PEOPLE, NOT THINGS, YOU KNOW.
ANYBODY ELSE? ANY QUESTIONS? UH, COMMISSIONER WALKER, BISHOP, BEFORE, UH, I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT THE FACILITY AND I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ALL THE COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE TO GO OUT THERE AND SEE THE FACILITY.
THEY ARE DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB WITH THIS FACILITY.
THEY ONLY, THEY DON'T ONLY WORK WITH THE VETERANS, THEY WORK WITH THE SPECIAL NEED.
SO IT'S A, IT'S A SIGHT TO SEE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO BEGIN WITH MR. VANDER AND, UH, MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO GO OUT THERE AND VISIT THE FACILITY AND SEE IT FIRSTHAND YOURSELF.
I DON'T BELIEVE ANYBODY HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
AND, UH, I'LL PROBABLY STOP BACK BY THERE 'CAUSE I'M GONNA INVITE YOU TO MY, MY, UH, OUR, UH, VETERAN'S DAY, UH, LITTLE PICNIC AND YEAH.
UM, NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
UM, THE VETERANS, UH, WELLBEING ASSESSMENT, REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.
YEAH, I'LL SIT OVER HERE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO TURN YOUR CHAIRS AROUND.
UM, MY NAME'S CHRISTINA DESILVA.
I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
AND JUST WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE VETERANS WELLBEING ASSESSMENT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
SO, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT WAS POSTED ON BONFIRE AND IT'S BEEN PUBLIC.
UM, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL, UH, FOR HELPING US SHARE THE LINK OUT TO ANY OF YOUR CONTACTS THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN APPLYING.
UM, ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4TH, OUR, UH, PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST NOTICED THAT WE HADN'T RECEIVED ANY, UM, SUBMISSIONS YET.
WE HAD, SHE COULD SEE THAT THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAD STARTED THEIR APPLICATION, BUT THEY HADN'T FINISHED IT.
SO THE APPLIC, SO WE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE TO OCTOBER THE 18TH.
SO THAT WILL BE HOPEFULLY THE FINAL EXTENSION THAT WE'LL BE MAKING.
AND THEN, UM, ONCE WE CLOSE IT, THEN THE PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST WILL BE, UM, UH, PREPARING THE SUBMISSIONS FOR EVALUATION.
CHRISTINA, THIS IS, UH, SCOTT CHASE.
UH, DOES THE PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT FOLLOW UP WITH THE PEOPLE THAT,
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THAT WERE STARTING THE PROCESS? YEAH, ACTUALLY, UM, SHE DID, UM, JUST TO KIND OF, I THINK, SEE WHERE THEY WERE IN, UM, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WERE PLANNING TO COMPLETE, THERE WAS ONE THAT I THINK DECIDED TO NOT COMPLETE.UM, I GUESS THEY, THEY REALIZED THEY WOULDN'T BE A GOOD FIT.
UM, BUT THAT WAS THE ONLY, UM, FEEDBACK THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S NOT THE SUBMISSION? WELL, WE CAN, UM, I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT OPTIONS WE CAN CONTINUE TO EXTEND.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S NO RESTRICTION ON HOW LONG WE EXTEND THE RFP.
UM, I THINK WE WOULD ALL, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD ALSO PROBABLY WANNA CONSIDER LIKE MAYBE WE MIGHT NEED TO, UH, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT THE RIGHT VENDORS HAVE THE INFORMATION.
AND, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S, UH, I KNOW THAT THAT'S HAPPENED IN MY EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GIVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, MADE SURE THAT VENDORS THAT WE'RE HOPING WILL APPLY WILL, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T THINK THAT THEY KNOW WHERE TO APPLY AND THAT THEY HAVE THE LINK AND THE INFORMATION.
UH, CHRISTINA, SCOTT CHASE, AGAIN, IS IT POSSIBLE IF WE HAVE TO EXTEND AGAIN TO, UH, SURVEY THE PEOPLE WHO STARTED TO FIND OUT WHY THEY DIDN'T COMPLETE? UH, IT'S POSSIBLE.
I GUESS OUR, OUR QU OUR CONDITIONS, OUR TERMS ARE TOO ONEROUS.
I DON'T THINK THEY ARE, BUT IT'D BE INTERESTING TO FIND OUT IF THEY'RE, IF SOMEONE THINKS THEY ARE, YEAH, I THINK THAT THE PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST IS ABLE TO, UM, I THINK COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THE VENDORS AND ASK THAT INFORMATION.
BUT I, I'D HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK SO I, WE CAN EXPLORE THAT OPTION IF AFTER THE 18TH WE STILL DON'T HAVE ANY RESPONSES.
AND THEN IF YOU EXTEND AND THERE'S STILL, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S NOT NO INTEREST, AND I THINK I'LL FOLLOW UP ON, UH, COMMISSIONER CHASE IS, UH, MAYBE THE, THE REQUIREMENTS OR, OR THE CONDITIONS ARE A LITTLE BIT STIFF OR, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, UM, SOMETIMES WORKING WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS CAN BE KIND OF DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, NOT TO BE NEGATIVE, BUT IT MAY NOT BE AN INTEREST IN IT, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
UM, I MEAN, IT, IT'S POSSIBLE.
UM, AND, UH, I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS IS DOING THIS KIND OF ASSESSMENT TOO.
SO THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING TO CONSIDER IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TESTING THIS OUT AND, UM, I THINK WE HAVE HAD GREAT GUIDANCE FROM YOU ALL TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT COULD BE POSSIBLE.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS THE OPPORTUNITY WHERE IF, IF FOR WHATEVER REASON, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO CLOSE THIS, UM, RFP AND MAYBE BREAK IT UP INTO SMALLER PIECES OR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE REFORMAT IT IN A WAY SO THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT, I GUESS AS A BIG OF A PROJECT, UM, THERE'S ALWAYS THAT OPTION FOR SURE.
UM, THANKFULLY THE FUNDS ARE IN A MULTI-YEAR FUND, UH, PROGRAM.
SO, UM, WE DON'T HAVE A RESTRICTION ON TIME.
UM, SO WE, WE HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY, AT LEAST CHRISTINA, UH, IF WE HAD TO RE, UM, SOLICIT, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THE PROCUREMENT PERSON TO COME TO US AND, AND GIVE US HIS OR HER THOUGHTS ON WHETHER OR NOT WE OUGHT TO DIVIDE IT UP INTO SMALLER PIECES? UM, IT DIDN'T STRIKE ME THAT IT WAS OVER, OVER BROAD, BUT, UM, A PROCUREMENT, UH, PERSON MIGHT, MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION.
UM, CAN THEY COME TALK TO US ABOUT THAT? UM, WE CAN ASK AND SEE IF IT'S POSSIBLE.
I KNOW THEY DON'T LIKE INTERFERENCE, BUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S A WAY FOR US TO COOPERATE A LITTLE BIT MORE.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A COUPLE OTHER DEPARTMENTS NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, THAT HAVE DONE MAYBE SIMILAR NEEDS ASSESSMENTS.
UM, THINKING OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE, UM, THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO DIFFERENT POPULATIONS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALSO REACH OUT TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS WELL TO SEE WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN IN, IN CONDUCTING THESE KINDS OF NEEDS ASSESSMENTS.
AND MAYBE THERE'S, THERE'S SOME, UH, SHIFTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, WITH, I DON'T KNOW.
I'M SORT OF THINKING OF LIKE THE MARKET OR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVING THE CAPACITY TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED.
YEAH, I THINK, I THINK THAT'D BE A GOOD IDEA IF WE, YOU COULD FIND SOMEBODY ELSE THAT, UH, DID SOMETHING LIKE WHAT WE WANNA DO.
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YES, DEFINITELY.UM, CHRISTINA, ANYTHING ELSE? NOTHING ON THIS POINT, I GUESS, UM, THAT, THAT THEN THERE'S NOTHING MORE FOR THE, FOR THE RFP THAT I HAVE.
I WENT OUT OF, OUT OF ORDER 'CAUSE I SHOULD HAVE DID THE ROLL CALL BEFORE WE STARTED.
SO WE'RE GONNA DO A LITTLE ROLL CALL RIGHT QUICK BEFORE WE GO ON TO THE NEXT, IF THAT'S, IS THAT LEGAL? ALRIGHT.
DISTRICT ONE, COMMISSIONER AYERS PRESENT.
COMM COMMISSIONER PRESIDIO PRESENT.
IS IT, I I THOUGHT I, I THOUGHT I SAW HIM.
UM, CAN YOU SEE, HEAR ME? OKAY? UM, UH, COMMISSIONER ROBEL.
COMMISSIONER COLE, COMMISSIONER COLE, COMMISSIONER SMITH, RAY A PRESENT COMMISSIONER SMITH, PETER G, COMMISSIONER SMITH, PETER, PETER, G.
UH, WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
IT'S, UH, AND A FOLLOW UP ON DR.
KATINA'S, UH, ROBERSON'S, UH, PROCLAMATION.
YEAH, I, I'M, YEAH, I'M HAPPY TO HELP PROVIDE A, A UPDATE.
SO, UM, THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER PRECIADO FOR HELPING US, UM, MOVE THIS ISSUE FORWARD.
UM, WE HAD, AS YOU REMEMBER, UM, THE LANGUAGE APPROVED, UM, AND SOINE SUBMITTED A REQUEST WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
UM, THEY DID EXPLAIN TO US THAT, UM, FOR SOMEONE WHO IS DECEASED, UM, THEY DON'T PROVIDE A PROCLAMATION.
IT'S ACTUALLY A SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
SO IT'S A, JUST A REALLY A TECHNICAL DIFFERENCE.
UM, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE LEARNED AND WE'RE GOING TO BE, UM, MAKING THAT ADJUSTMENT ON THE LANGUAGE SO THAT, UM, WE CAN, UM, HAVE THE, UH, PRESENTATION COMPLETED FOR, UH, FOR NOVEMBER, THE SIXTH WEDNESDAY.
UM, WE'VE ALSO COM COMMUNICATED WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GRACIE'S STAFF, AND, UM, THEY, UH, I THINK ARE VERY, UH, PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THE SPECIAL RECOGNITION, UM, ON THE, THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION'S BEHALF.
SO, UM, I THINK WE'RE STILL SOLIDIFYING SOME OF THE LOGISTICS OF, UM, UH, I GUESS WHAT TIME EXACTLY? I KNOW THAT USUALLY THEY'RE PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, BUT ONCE WE HAVE THOSE DETAILS CONFIRMED, WE'LL BE SHARING THAT WITH YOU ALL.
AND, UM, AND THEN THAT WAY, UH, YOU ALL CAN ATTEMPT TO BE PART OF THE RECOGNITION.
I SUGGESTION, UH, COULD WE DO IT AT THE, AT THE CITY'S, UH, VETERANS PARADE? IS THAT, IS THAT OUT WATER OR THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY MAY,
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MAYBE THAT'S, THAT COULD BE MAYBE SOMETHING WE EXPLORE AND, AND, UM, LOOK INTO.UH, I THINK IT, WE'D HAVE TO PROBABLY GET WITH THE ORGANIZERS AND SEE IF IT CAN BE FIT ON THE AGENDA, PROBABLY.
IS THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE ON OR MAKE A I OUR RECOGNITION.
RECOGNITION OF PERMISSION TO DO IT AT THE RECORD AS THE COMMISSION RECOGNIZE HER.
I I IS IT A COMMISSIONER OR SHOULD YOU KNOW, HE'S RECOGNIZED OR SHE, YEAH, I THINK MAYBE IT WOULD BE BE, WE CAN MAYBE GET SOME MORE INFORMATION AND, UM, IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY, AND THEN, UM, WE CAN COMMUNICATE THAT ALL TO YOU.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD REQUIRE A VOTE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, WOULD BE OF INTEREST.
UM, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET CONFIRMATION FROM THE ORGANIZERS IF, IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO PRESENT THE SPECIAL RECOGNITION AT THE PARADE.
I, I THINK WE SHOULD, UH, AS A COMMISSION, WE SHOULD, UH, WE, WE HAVE VOTED TO AND, AND ASKED PERMISSION TO DO IT ON THE
AS YOU KNOW, THIS COMMISSION VOTED IN FAVOR OF DOING THAT.
SO IS THAT SOMETHING WE SHOULD TAKE A MOTION OR A VOTE OR DISCUSSION ON? YEAH, JUST WE SHOULD TAKE A DISCUSSION ON, TAKE A MOTION THAT WE DO THAT AND OR DISCUSS IT.
FIRST CAN WE DO THAT? CAN WE DISCUSS IT? IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM, UH, THOSE ONLINE? NO.
DID Y'ALL HEAR THE QUESTION? YEAH.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY SUGGESTIONS? WELL, I WOULD SAY WE JUST MAKE THE MOTION TO THE EFFECT THE COMMISSION MOVES THE, THE PRESENTATION AND HOWEVER WE WANT WORD IT AT THE, AT THE, AT THE VETERAN STATE PARADE.
DOES SOMEBODY WANNA MAKE A MOTION OR MOTION? I MAKE MOTION SECOND.
OPPOSED? OKAY, SO THAT'S THE, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE.
UH, THE, THE MOTION WAS TO HAVE, UH, RECOGNITION PRESENTED AT THE VETERAN STATE PARADE FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UH, CHRISTINA, UH, COMMISSIONER ADA.
SO, UM, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE WAS TWO, UH, DRAFTS OF THE REC SPECIAL RECOGNITION SUBMITTED TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
UM, DO YOU KNOW IF, IF, IF IT'S GONNA BE OUR, UH, RECOGNITION THAT'S BEING PROCESSED OR IS IT GONNA BE FROM, UH, THE OTHER? THERE WAS ONE SPECIAL RECOGNITION, I THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER GRACIE'S, UM, STAFF HAD PRESENTED AT DR.
KATINA ROBERTSON'S FUNERAL IN JULY.
SO THAT HAD DIFFERENT LANGUAGE AND THAT WAS WHAT WAS PRESENTED AT OUR FUNERAL.
SO THIS IS GONNA BE DIFFERENT, UM, LANGUAGE.
UM, SO I THINK IT WOULD JUST BE A MATTER OF UPDATING BECAUSE I THINK ON THE CURRENT PROCLAMATION, YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF REFERENCES THAT IT'S A, IT'S A SPECIAL DAY.
SO THIS WOULD, IT WOULD JUST BE CHANGING THE LANGUAGE SO THAT IT'S SAYING A SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
AND THEN DO YOU KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH, UH, DR.
KATINA'S FAMILY ABOUT THIS? YEAH, I THINK WE WERE GONNA BE, UH, REACHING OUT TO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER GRACIE'S STAFF TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP US WITH THAT.
SO I THINK THEY HAVE THE DIRECT CONTACT.
UM, OH, I GUESS WE COULD DO THE, UH, MORE FOLLOW UP ON THE VETERANS DAY PARADE FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS ON THE ANNOUNCEMENTS, BECAUSE WE, WE NEED TO PASS, PASS OUT MORE INFORMATION ON THAT, LIKE REALLY QUICK.
SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO, TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, MY FAVORITE, THE ANNUAL REPORT, UH, THE FISCAL YEAR 2023.
[00:30:03]
YEAH, SO IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHERE WE START THE DRAFT FOR OUR ANNUAL REPORT.AND AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, OUR ANNUAL REPORT IS BASICALLY LIKE A PUBLIC SUMMARY OF THE CONVERSATIONS AND, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE HELPED THE CITY WITH.
UM, AND I THINK THIS PAST YEAR WE'VE DONE A LOT.
UM, SO, UM, I THINK EDDI HAS SENT AN EMAIL OF THE DRAFT, UH, OF THE, UH, OF WHAT, I GUESS AN OUTLINE.
AND WHAT THIS HELPS US WITH IS, UM, GETTING AN IDEA OF WHAT TOPICS OR THEMES YOU WANT TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE REPORT.
AND REMEMBER, THIS IS BASICALLY LIKE YOU ALL SHARING, NOT ONLY WITH THE PUBLIC, BUT YOU KNOW, OUR CITY COUNCIL, OUR CITY MANAGER, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT, THAT WE'VE FOUND TO BE IMPORTANT.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE WE GET INTO THE WEEDS OF DRAFTING TOO MUCH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE CAPTURING LIKE THE HIGH LEVEL IMPORTANT TOPICS.
UM, AND SO I THINK IT'S BEEN SENT WITH YOU ALL AND, UM, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IF WE COULD GET SOME CONFIRMATION IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT'S MISSING OR IF YOU GUYS ARE, UM, GOOD WITH IT.
UM, I THINK THE PLAN IS THAT WE CONTINUE RECEIVING YOUR FEEDBACK VIA EMAIL AND THEN IN NOVEMBER THAT WE, UM, ARE ALREADY ABLE TO PROVIDE A DRAFT FOR YOU ALL TO REVIEW.
AND THEN IN DECEMBER, HOPEFULLY WE CAN BE ABLE TO APPROVE IT BECAUSE THIS REPORT HAS TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY.
AND AS YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY FALLS BEFORE WE MEET IN FEBRUARY.
SO WE REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE AHEAD OF THAT DEADLINE AND, UM, AND YEAH, THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DISCUSS WHAT'S GONNA BE IN THE REPORT.
SO I GUESS THAT'S ALL TO SAY IN TERMS OF, UM, SUPPORT WE CAN RECEIVE FROM YOU IS IF YOU RE YOU SEE THE, THE GENERAL OUTLINE, IF YOU, IF THERE'S ANY IMPORTANT TOPICS OR ANYTHING IN LIKE, REALLY KEY THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT TO PLEASE EMAIL SPENDING, UM, BEFORE THE NEXT NOVEMBER MEETING.
ANY QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS? ALRIGHT, WE'LL JUST MOVE ON TO, UH, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
THAT'S, UH, ITEM NUMBER EIGHT ON THE 2025 MEETING CALENDAR IS AN APPROVAL AND VOTE.
AND AS YOU READ, UH, IT'S JUST A, A SCHEDULE OF THE UPCOMING YEARS OF MEETINGS AND HAS THE DATE AND THAT, UH, THE BLURB ON THE, ON THE APPROVAL WORK IS THAT IF IT CONTINUES ON THE SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, THAT'S OKAY WITH EVERYONE.
ANY SUGGESTIONS, QUESTIONS ON DISCONTINUING ON THE SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH? I HAVE A QUESTION.
WHY, WHO SELECTED 12 TO ONE? UM, AS I RECALL, I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT'S, UM, AS PART OF THE, UM, THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS, UM, THAT WAS PASSED BY CITY COUNCIL.
BUT I THINK IN THE RESOLUTION, UM, IT GIVES YOU ALL THE AUTHORITY TO CHANGE IT IF, IF YOU, IF THAT'S WHAT THE COMMISSION WANTS.
SO, UH, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY, UH, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A COUPLE THAT HAVE STILL WORK SO THAT THAT AFFECTS OUR, OUR, OUR QUORUM.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BETTER TO DO IN THE EVENINGS THAN THE BATTERY MEANS, BUT I JUST SO DOES ANY PREFERENCE ANYBODY? SO SHOULD WE LEAVE IT AS, AS IS I'M NOT SUGGESTING YOU CHANGE IT.
NO, NO, BUT I KNOW THAT PEOPLE WORK.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS LAST MINUTE KIND OF WORRYING ABOUT THE QUORUM IS IS THERE A WAY TO DO SEND OUT A SURVEY MONKEY TO, TO, OR, OR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT TO FIND OUT PREFERENCES? YOU KNOW, EARLY MORNING, NOON AND LATE AFTERNOON? I, I'M NOT PARTICULARLY IN FAVOR OF AN EVENING MEETING.
[00:35:04]
OKAY.WELL MAKE A MOTION THEN WE'LL LEAVE IT AS IS OR VOTE ON IT.
UH, COMMISSIONER PER WHAT MR. SAID, IF WE DO IT THAT WAY, TURN SURVEY, WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST TIME? OH, OKAY.
IS THAT, I DIDN'T KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW IF THE CITY COULD DO THAT FOR US OR NOT.
THERE ARE SOME RESTRICTIONS ON SURVEYS THAT WE'VE, UM, RECEIVED GUIDANCE ON.
UM, WHAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY DO IS THAT PEOPLE EMAIL EM IF THERE ARE OTHER TIMES THAT WOULD WORK BETTER OR IF THERE'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, A BIG SCHEDULING CONFLICT WITH NOON TO ONE.
UM, AND THEN THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN COLLECT THE RESPONSES THAT WAY.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO DO IT SO THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
UM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, WE COULD EXPLORE FOR SURE.
AND JUST, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS STILL A TIME THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
AND, UM, AND IF THERE IS ANOTHER TIME THAT WORKS BETTER, THEN WE, UM, WE ASK THAT YOU PROVIDE THAT TO.