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[Commission on Disabilities on June 25, 2025.]
CONCISE AS POSSIBLE.THIS IS IN ORDER TO GIVE OTHERS IN THE ROOM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS AND, AND ASK THEIR QUESTIONS.
WE ARE NOW BEGINNING WITH ITEM NUMBER TWO ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS ROLL CALL.
PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING, PRESENT, WHEN YOUR NAME AND RESPECTIVE DISTRICT ARE CALLED, STARTING WITH VICE CHAIR REVY, DISTRICT ONE, VICE CHAIR, REVY PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER MELANIE TOWNSVILLE, DISTRICT TWO.
COMMISSIONER BEVERLY WHITE, DISTRICT NINE.
COMMISSIONER CHRISTOPHER BALLOU, DISTRICT 10 PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER BRYCE BANKS, DISTRICT 11 PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER STEVEN SKA, DISTRICT 13 PRESENT.
AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, COMMISSIONER ASHLEY LINDSEY, DISTRICT 14 PRESENT.
AND THIS IS CHAIRMAN AND JOHN CAL CONLEY, MAYOR APPOINTEE PRESENT.
I ONCE AGAIN WISH TO SINCERELY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES AND ITS ONGOING EFFORTS.
I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR HAVING THIS BODY AND VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO ADVANCING ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION TOGETHER IN OUR CITY.
OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL START WITH MARY WITHERSPOON FROM THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF TEXAS, DALLAS CHAPTER, WHO WILL BE PROVIDING COMMENT ABOUT AN UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING DART PARATRANSIT.
MARY WITHERSPOON, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO PROVIDE YOUR TESTIMONY.
WE'RE NOT HEARING ANY AUDIO ON THE PHONE.
I AM A MEMBER OF DISTRICT SIX, AND I'M A VISUALLY IMPAIRED RIDER OF DART PARATRANSIT.
I KNOW THAT THAT'S A DIFFERENT JURISDICTION, BUT AS THE COMMISSION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, YOU REPRESENT A LARGE NUMBER OF DALLAS SITES WHO DO PARTICIPATE IN PARATRANSIT SERVICES.
THERE IS CURRENTLY COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT ARE BEING HELD TO ANNOUNCE BOTH SERVICE REDUCTIONS AS WELL AS FAIR INCREASES.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU AND EVEN YOUR CITY COUNCIL PERSON ATTEND SOME OF THESE COMMUNITY MEETINGS BECAUSE THERE IS 220,000 PEOPLE WHO RIDE DART EVERY DAY.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE RIDE PARATRANSIT, BUT EVEN IF IT'S 1% OF THAT 220,000 RIDERS PER DAY, THEY'RE LOOKING AT REDUCING $50 MILLION IN THE PARA IN THE DARK BUDGET.
THEY'RE LOOKING TO REDUCE $10 MILLION OF THAT 50 FOR JUST THE PAIR OF TRANSIT PROGRAM.
SO LESS THAN 1% OF THE RIDERS PERHAPS ARE GONNA BEAR 20% OF THE COST OF THE CHANGES THAT THEY'RE MAKING.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A PRE COMMUNITY MEETING ON JUNE THE 27TH AT NOON VIA TELEPHONE JUNE THE 28TH, WHICH IS A SATURDAY AT 10:00 AM IN THE DARK BOARDROOM, JULY ONE.
THERE'S A VIRTUAL MEETING AT SIX 30.
ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS ON DARK.ORG/ 2026 PROPOSAL.
SO NOT ONLY ARE THEY LOOKING AT INCREASING PARATRANSIT RIDES FROM $3 AND 50 CENTS TO $6, THEY'RE LOOKING AT REDUCING THE PARATRANSIT SERVICE AREA BY 17%.
SOME OF THAT 17% INCLUDES MEDICAL FACILITIES.
THESE ARE CONCERNS THAT YOU, AS PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE DISABLED, I WISH
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TO ASK YOU TO INDIVIDUALLY ATTEND AND GIVE YOUR VOICE, GIVE YOUR STORIES OF HOW THIS IMPACT WOULD GO ABOUT, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS SMALL POPULATION IS BEARING 20% OF THE BURDEN OF WHAT DART IS LOOKING AT TO REDUCE THEIR OVERALL BUDGET.AND AS ONE DART MEMBER SAID AT ONE OF THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HELD SO FAR, WELL, PARATRANSIT IS SO EXPENSIVE AND IT ONLY AFFECTS A FEW PEOPLE, BUT WHAT A POPULATION IT'S AFFECTING.
I HOPE THAT YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
THE DART BOARD WILL VOTE IN AUGUST ON THESE CHANGES, AND THEY'LL BECOME EFFECTIVE IN 2026 IF THEY GO THROUGH AS WRITTEN TODAY.
THANK YOU, MS. WEATHERSPOON, FOR PROVIDING YOUR TESTIMONY.
ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION IS ONE OF THE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES OF A COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES, AND WE CAN DO OUR PART BY MA MAKING SURE THAT ALL COMMISSIONERS IN THIS ROOM HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPENLY VOICE THEIR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
OUR NEXT TWO PUBLIC COMMENT, SPEAKERS COME FROM A VERY VIBRANT ORGANIZATION HERE IN THE DALLAS AREA WHOSE WORK CANNOT BE MORE RELEVANT AND VITAL THAN EVER BEFORE, GIVEN WHAT WE ARE SEEING.
DALLAS FOUNDED LAUNCHED IN JULY, 2024 WITH THE MISSION OF BUILDING A CULTURE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN DALLAS, USING EDUCATION AND THE ARTS IS COMMITTED TO, UH, IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING AND DEFENDING THE DIGNITY AND FULFILLING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL RESIDENTS LIVING IN DALLAS THROUGH PANEL DISCUSSIONS, ART, PHOTOGRAPHY, COMMEMORATION OF HISTORICAL EVENTS.
IN ADDITION TO RECEIVING HELP AND AND ENGAGEMENT FROM CITY GOVERNMENT, MEMBERS OF CIVIL SOCIETY, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
RICK HALPRIN AND HAIE JAWAD, CO-FOUNDERS OF HUMAN RIGHTS DALLAS, WHO BOTH WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO PROVIDE COMMENT ABOUT THE VITAL WORK THIS ORGANIZATION DOES TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF INCLUSION AND THE PEDAGOGY OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ALL AREAS OF PUBLIC LIFE.
HALPRIN TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND SHARE HIS TESTIMONY.
UH, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? MY APOLOGIES.
UM, YOU HAVE SEEN, OR THERE HAVE BEEN IN, IN THE PAPERS RECENTLY SOME, UH, PRETTY DISTURBING ARTICLES.
ONE FROM, UH, JUNE 18TH DART FAILED TO PROTECT PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT.
AND ONE, JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, JUDGE RULES TEXAS HAS BEEN ILLEGALLY PLACING PEOPLE WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES IN NURSING HOMES FOR DECADES.
OUR GOAL, AS YOU JUST STATED, IS TO BRING THESE ISSUES INTO PUBLIC AWARENESS.
SO I JUST WANNA MENTION TWO QUICK THINGS.
THIS IS A PERSONAL ISSUE FOR ME.
UH, I AM, UH, VISUALLY IMPAIRED.
TO THE DEGREE THAT I DON'T SEE ACCURATE COLOR, ALL I SEE IS WHITE, BROWN, AND BLACK.
AND IN A COLOR-LED WORLD, UH, IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING WHEN THINGS ARE SO DEPENDENT ON COLOR.
JUST, UH, COMING HERE TODAY, THE GUARD, AS WE CAME THROUGH THE, UH, THE METAL DETECTOR, THE POLICE OFFICER POINTED US AND SAID, GO TAKE THE RED ELEVATORS.
SO, UH, IT, IT DOESN'T HELP IF YOU DON'T SEE RED, BUT I'M NOT, I'M NOT ACCUSING HIM.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT THIS IS A COMMON THING.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN EVENT LATER THIS FALL, A PANEL DISCUSSION TO HELP PEOPLE STOP SAYING, I DIDN'T KNOW.
AND THE GOAL IS TO HAVE ON THIS PANEL MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT, UH, COMMUNITIES OF DISABILITY, WHETHER IT'S VISUAL, HEARING, MOBILITY ISSUES, AND WE HOPE TO HAVE A DISABILITY RIGHTS LAWYER
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TO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS PLAYS OUT IN THE LAW, AND ESPECIALLY THE BACKGROUND TO WHAT, WHAT CAME TO KNOW, BE KNOWN AS THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, ONE OF THE TRULY GREAT PIECES OF CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS LEGISLATION IN THIS COUNTRY THAT AFFECTS EVERYBODY, WHETHER THEY HAVE A DISABILITY OR WHETHER THEY DON'T.UH, AND WE HOPE TO HAVE SOMEBODY TALK ABOUT THE HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF THE LAW, UH, THAT USED TO BE IN AMERICA, WHERE THESE WERE NOT ACCEPTED NORMS AND PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT FORMS OF DISABILITY.
UH, WERE AT A SERIOUS DISADVANTAGE IN THIS, IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS CITY.
BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE, AT LEAST NOT LEGALLY.
SO, UH, THE GOAL WILL BE TO HAVE, UH, AN EVENT LIKELY, LIKELY TO BE EITHER AT SMU OR AT THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY TO THAT LOCATION AND DATE TO BE DETERMINED.
AND WE'LL CERTAINLY KEEP YOU APPRISED AS TO THAT.
BUT THIS WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE, UH, TO HELP EDUCATE PEOPLE, ALL PEOPLE ABOUT THE IDEA THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A LESSER PERSON.
UH, AND THAT CERTAINLY APPLIES TO PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO FALL UNDER ANY FORM OF DISABILITY.
MY COLLEAGUE, HADDI GERARD WILL TALK ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS DALLAS, UH, MORE SPECIFICALLY THAN THIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PROVIDING YOUR COMMENTS, DR.
I SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMISSION TO COLLABORATE TOGETHER ON THIS EVENT THAT HUMAN RIGHTS DALLAS WILL BE HOLDING IN THE FALL.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT DISABILITY RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT TAKING A HUMAN CENTERED APPROACH WHEN ADDRESSING ACCESSIBILITY CHALLENGES AND ADVANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE CAN ALLOW DIALOGUE AMONG MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO TAKE PLACE.
AND IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE STRUGGLE FOR DIGNITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES MUST AND SHOULD BE AT THE CENTER OF EACH CONVERSATION.
I NOW INVITE MR. HATTI JAWAD TO THE PODIUM TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS.
DALLAS, THANK YOU, CHAIR CAL KALEY.
IT'S, UH, REALLY AN HONOR TO BE HERE AND ADDRESS THIS, UH, AUGUST, UH, UH, COMMISSION.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL WHO ARE ONLINE ATTENDING AND LISTENING, UH, TO THIS CONVERSATION.
HALPIN ALLUDED TO, THE BEST MEASURE OF A HEALTHY AND JUST SOCIETY MUST ALWAYS BE THE WELLBEING AND SAFETY OF THE MOST VULNERABLE SEGMENTS, UH, OF THAT SOCIETY.
IT HAS BEEN HEARTBREAKING AND VERY DISTRESSING, HONESTLY, TO HEAR ABOUT THE ABUSE THAT SOME OF OUR YOUNG DISABLED WOMEN HAVE BEEN SUFFERING AT THE HANDS OF CONTRACTORS.
UM, THAT WORK THAT THE DART, UH, FOR, FOR TRANSPORTING, UH, FOR TRANSPORTATION PURPOSES AND THE GENERAL PROBLEM OF THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE IN OUR NURSING HOMES, UH, AT THE STATE LEVEL.
UM, IT TRULY IS A BLIGHT UPON OUR COMMUNITY THAT THESE TYPE OF ABUSES AND INJUSTICES CONTINUE, UH, TO BE, TO, TO PERVADE OUR SOCIETY.
HUMAN RIGHTS DALLAS IS A NASCENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
UH, WE LAUNCHED, LIKE, UH, CHAIR UNKINDLY JUST POINTED OUT, UH, LAST JULY.
WE HAVE A MISSION TO BUILD A CULTURE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN DALLAS.
DIGNITY FOR ALL Y'ALL IS OUR TAGLINE.
THE SECOND HALF OF OUR MISSION STATES THAT COOPERATION BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEMBERS OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS CRUCIAL TO THE DEFENSE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN DIGNITY AND RIGHTS OF ALL WHO CALL DALLAS HOME.
UM, I WILL CONTEND AND CONFESS THAT THIS IS A, UM, AMBITIOUS, UH, UH, JOURNEY THAT WE HAVE EMBARKED UPON, UM, UH, LAST YEAR.
BUT I ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE NOT LACKING IN PASSION AND DETERMINATION AND PLANNING.
UH, JUST IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, WE ORGANIZED 15 PUBLIC EVENTS.
UH, WE ARE, UH, DEEPLY INTERESTED IN PEOPLE LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE CITY.
UH, THE CITY OF DALLAS, LIKE MANY OTHER CITIES OF THE GREAT AMERICAN SOUTH, UM, HAS, UH, MANY DARK, UH, SPOTS IN IT.
UH, IT IS ACTUALLY A, A, A SORDID HISTORY, UH, OF RACISM AND BIGOTRY, UH, SEGREGATION
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AND SLAVERY.UH, THE, THE EFFECTS OF IT, THE MARKS OF IT, ARE STILL VISIBLE, UH, IN THE CITY.
UH, WE BELIEVE THAT DALLAS IS A GOOD CITY, THAT DALLAS HAS COME A LONG WAY TO ADDRESS THE INJUSTICES THAT ARE PART OF OUR PAST.
BUT WE STILL NOT A GREAT CITY.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT FOR DALLAS TO BECOME A GREAT CITY, IT MUST PICK UP THE LENS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY FOR ALL OF ITS CITIZENS.
THOSE WHO MIGHT BE JUST VISITING OR THOSE WHO ARE JUST PASSING THROUGH.
IT MUST BE UNIVERSAL, AND IT MUST BE EXTENDED TO ALL WHO LIVE IN THIS AREA.
UM, THE MISSION STATEMENT THAT I JUST RECITED, UM, INCLUDES, UM, COOPERATION, COLLABORATION BETWEEN CITY HALL MEMBERS OF CIVIL SOCIETY THAT SOUGHT DR.
I DID WANT TO MAKE NOTE THAT, THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO REACH THE, THE MINUTE, IN FACT, YOU HAVE GONE OVER.
SO I DID WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO PROVIDE.
UM, YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO WRAP UP AND SAY A FEW MORE COMMENTS BEFORE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
UH, I WILL WRAP UP REAL QUICK.
SO WE ARE RELYING UPON, UM, UH, LO CITY AGENCIES.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, UM, UH, MR. CHRISTOPHER GRAVES, WHO THE NEW HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER.
UH, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE, AND WE ARE REALLY EXCITED, UH, THAT WE, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE, UH, DISABILITY COMMISSION, UH, IN THE FUTURE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO COOPERATING, WORKING WITH YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PROVIDING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. JAWAD AND CERTAINLY THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES VERY MUCH LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS DALLAS TO ENSURE THAT DALLAS DOES IN FACT, BECOME A UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE CITY.
OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MAY 27TH, 2025 MINUTES.
ARE THERE ANY EDITS THAT COMMISSIONERS WISH TO MAKE AT THIS TIME PRIOR TO THEM BEING APPROVED? STARTING WITH VICE CHAIR, THE DISTRICT ONE? I HAVE A QUESTION, PLEASE.
ON PAGE TWO, UNDER COMMISSIONER'S REPORTS, IT SAID, CHAIRMAN CAL CONLEY PROVIDED THE OFFICER REPORTS.
SHOULD THAT BE OFFICER'S REPORTS OR COMMISSIONER'S REPORTS? IF IT SAYS CHAIR CAL CONLEY, IT SHOULD SAY OFFICER'S REPORT.
VICE CHAIR REED FOR YOUR, YOUR ATTENTION.
NEXT WE GO ON TO COMMISSIONER TOWNSVILLE, DISTRICT TWO.
COMMISSIONER WHITE DISTRICT NINE.
COMMISSIONER BLUE, DISTRICT 10.
COMMISSIONER BANKS, DISTRICT 11, NO ADDITIONS OR AMENDMENTS.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, COMMISSIONER LINDSAY DISTRICT, UH, OH, SORRY.
COMMISSIONER ISHKA, DISTRICT 13.
AND NOW, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, COMMISSIONER LINDSAY, DISTRICT 14.
AND THIS IS CHAIRMAN CARL CONLEY.
I WISH TO NOT MAKE ANY EDITS AT THIS TIME.
THAT BEING SAID, I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE MINUTES BE ACCEPTED AS READ.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES.
ALL OPPOSED THE MOTION? APPARENTLY THERE IS NONE.
THEREFORE, THE MOTION PASSES AND THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AS READ.
OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE BRIEFING ITEMS, STARTING WITH THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.
I WILL BEGIN BY PROVIDING THE OFFICER'S REPORT FOR JUNE, 2025.
ON JUNE THE 16TH, I HAD THE HONOR OF ATTENDING THE 2025 DALLAS CITY COUNCIL INAUGURATION CEREMONY.
AND I'M GRATEFUL TO MAYOR JOHNSON FOR EXTENDING THIS GENEROUS INVITATION AND ALLOWING THE OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS THIS SIGNIFICANT DAY IN OUR CITY.
THIS WAS A TIME WHERE WE REFLECTED UPON THE MILESTONES.
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RECOGNIZED THE AREAS FOR GROWTH, AND REAFFIRMED THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE.WE SINCERELY WISH OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THE VERY BEST AS THEY CONTINUE EXECUTING THE DUTIES OF EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP.
WE WISH TO SINCERELY APPRECIATE HUMAN RIGHTS, DALLAS, ONCE AGAIN FOR COMING TO OUR MEETING.
THE EFFORTS THEY'RE UNDERTAKING TO PROMOTE AND DEFEND.
THE DIGNITY OF ALL RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY ARE EXTREMELY COMMENDABLE.
WE ARE ESPECIALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE EVENT BEING PLANNED ON THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PIECES OF HUMAN RIGHTS LEGISLATION THAT FOREVER CHANGE THE LIVES OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.
THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES VERY MUCH LOOKS FORWARD TO COLLABORATING TOGETHER ON THIS EVENT AS DISABILITY RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS.
TAKING A HUMAN CENTERED APPROACH WHEN ADDRESSING ACCESSIBILITY CHALLENGES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO DALLAS, MOVING CLOSER TO BECOMING A CITY THAT IS UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE AND EQUITABLE FOR ALL.
THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT FOR THE MONTH.
AND I WILL NOW TURN THE FLOOR TO COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY WISH TO PROVIDE REPORTS OF THEIR OWN.
WHEN YOUR NAME AND RESPECTIVE DISTRICT ARE CALLED, THAT IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO SPEAK.
IF YOU WISH NOT TO PROVIDE A REPORT AT THIS TIME, YOU MAY CERTAINLY INDICATE SO.
SO, WHEN YOUR NAME AND DISTRICT ARE CALLED, STARTING WITH COMMISSIONER OR VICE CHAIR REBE, DISTRICT ONE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
YOU SPOKE ELOQUENTLY TO THE SUBJECT I'M BRINGING TO THE COMMISSION'S ATTENTION TODAY.
AND THAT'S THE CHANGES IN DART'S SERVICE.
NOW I COMMISSIONER, UH, CHAIR.
ON THE SCREEN, WE SEE A SCHEDULE OF THE MEETINGS, WHICH HAVE BEEN BEING HELD ALL OVER THE DARK DISTRICT.
SO PLEASE, THERE IS ONLY ONE OR TWO CHANCES LEFT FOR YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS.
YES, THERE WILL BE FAIR INCREASES.
I AM TOLD THEY'RE ANTICIPATING INCREASING FARE FOR PARATRANSIT TO $6 A RIDE.
THAT'S A HEFTY INCREASE, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH SMALL INCOMES.
ANOTHER PROVISION IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE SERVICE AREA.
RIGHT NOW, DART EXCEEDS FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR A SERVICE AREA, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO BE CUTTING BACK THEIR SERVICE AREA.
AND LASTLY, THIS HAS ALREADY AFFECTED ME.
FOR YEARS, I HAVE BEEN USING A DART SERVICE CALLED DART RIDE ASSIST.
THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OVER THE AGE OF 65 WHO DON'T DRIVE OR CAN'T DRIVE, AND WHO DON'T NEED PARATRANSIT.
IT'S BEEN ELIMINATED COMPLETELY, NOT REDUCED HOURS, NOT MORE AFFAIRS.
IT'S JUST BEEN CUT COMPLETELY.
AND THIS IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY ABILITY TO GET AROUND.
AND, UM, I'M KIND OF SORRY ABOUT THAT.
BUT I WANNA THANK YOU MS. WITHERSPOON, FOR BRINGING THIS TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION.
PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD, SHOW UP OR CALL IN OR GO ONLINE FOR ONE OF THE DART HEARINGS.
VICE CHAIR REVY FOR COMMENTING ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC AND, AND ISSUE AS A COMMISSION.
WE BELIEVE THAT ALL RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES SHOULD HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION.
AND THE CURRENT PRACTICES THAT DART IS ENGAGED IS VERY DISTURBING AND CONCERNING AND CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS OUTCOMES OR MEMBERS OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.
REST ASSURED THAT WE WILL DO OUR PART.
I, IN FACT, WILL DO MY PART BY MAKING MY VER MY VOICE HEARD AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.
NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER TOWNSEL, DISTRICT TWO.
DO YOU WISH TO PROVIDE A REPORT FOR THIS MONTH? NO, NO REPORT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RE, COMMISSIONER WHITE DISTRICT NINE.
I, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE PRIDE AWARDS FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
A VERY DEAR FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS EXTREMELY DISABLED, RECEIVED THE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY.
UM, I APOLOGIZE, COMMISSIONER WHITE, BUT WE DO ASK THAT YOU PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON.
MY CAMERA IS ON, RIGHT? YOU JUST WENT ON.
I'M, I'M HAVING CONNECTION PROBLEMS. SORRY.
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I'M IN A TEMPORARY OFFICE.ANYWAY, UM, I THOUGHT IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE SOMEONE, UH, DISABLED RE RECEIVE AN AWARD THAT HIGH.
AND, UH, HE WAS EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I ALSO ATTENDED A COFFEE WITH COPS, AND I MET A WOMAN THAT, UM, IS WITH THE BORN STRONG FOUNDATION.
UH, WHAT THEY DO IS MARTIAL ARTS, AND THEY HAVE FOUND IT PARTICULARLY HELPFUL TO KIDS AND OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THEY HAVE FOUND IN THE AUTISTIC COMMUNITY, UH, TO LEARN MARTIAL ARTS.
THAT HELPS 'EM HAVE CONFIDENCE AND, UM, JUST FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES.
THEY ARE OPEN TO, UM, STARTING CLASSES, UH, FOR PEOPLE WITHIN WHEELCHAIRS OR ANYTHING ELSE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE THEM PRESENT TO THE COMMISSION.
AND I TOO ATTENDED THE COUNCIL INAUGURATION AS A GUEST OF MY COUNCIL MEMBER.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL INAUGURATION.
UH, MY ONLY PROBLEM IS THEY WOULDN'T LET ME VALET PARK, AND THERE WAS NO A DA PARKING AROUND, SO I HAD TO HO IT, WHICH IS NOT REALLY GOOD FOR SOMEONE WITH MS IN THE HEAT.
BUT, UH, OTHER THAN THAT, I HAD A GOOD TIME.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR REPORT WITH US.
NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER BLUE, DISTRICT 10.
COMMISSIONER BANKS, DISTRICT 11, THANK YOUR REPORT AT THIS TIME.
NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER PUSHKA, DISTRICT 13.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, COMMISSIONER LINDSAY, DISTRICT 14.
THIS CONCLUDES THE FIRST BRIEFING ITEM.
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR ALL YOU DO THE COMMISSION.
OUR NEXT BRIEFING ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS REGARDING CHAPTER 12 A OF THE DALLAS CODE OF ETHICS.
WE WE'RE VERY DELIGHTED TO HAVE MR. BARON SEN, CHIEF INTEGRITY OFFICER, WHO WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE CITY OF DALLAS CODE OF ETHICS.
MR. ELIA EL MR. ELIASON, THE FLOOR IS NOW YOURS.
YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, AND I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THIS TIME WITH YOU.
AND, UH, HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP, UH, BE A GOOD REFRESHER.
I AM WHAT'S CALLED THE CHIEF INTEGRITY OFFICER, AND WHAT THAT AMOUNTS TO IS, UM, THAT I DO COMPLIANCE SUPPORT.
AND A LOT OF THAT IS TRAINING.
AND, AND, UH, I'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT SOME OF THE RESOURCES ARE, UH, FOR YOU AS WE GO ALONG.
BUT, UH, LET'S, LET'S GET GOING.
I'M GONNA DO AN OVERVIEW OF THE, THE CODE SO THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T POSSIBLY TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THERE, BUT I, I CAN GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT'S IN THERE AND HOW TO FIND IT, UH, AND A AND A SENSE OF ITS STRUCTURE.
AND SO THOSE ARE MY GOALS FOR US TODAY.
SO I'M GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
I'VE GOT A PICTURE OF A FENCE ON IT, IF I CAN GET IT TO, UH, GO THERE.
I LIKE TO USE THE ANALOGY OF A FENCE, LIKE AN OLD WOODEN FENCE, UH, TO HELP CHARACTERIZE THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CODE OF ETHICS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND SO, IF YOU'RE BUILDING A FENCE, THE FIRST PART YOU WANNA WORRY ABOUT IS WHERE YOU'RE GONNA PUT IT.
AND SO, UH, THE OTHER, OTHER WAY TO PUT THAT IS, WHERE OR TO WHOM DOES THE CODE OF ETHICS APPLY? AND IT APPLIES TO, UH, PEOPLE LIKE ME, CITY STAFF.
IT APPLIES TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU OR CITY OFFICIALS, PEOPLE THAT THINK ABOUT AND MAKE POLICY.
IT ALSO APPLIES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY, PEOPLE WHO ARE, OR COMPANIES AND PEOPLE WHO ARE NEGOTIATING TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY.
SO THAT IS THE, THE SCOPE OF THE RANGE OF PEOPLE THAT IT APPLIES TO.
THERE ARE SOME, UH, DISCUSSIONS GOING ON ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT EVEN STRENGTHEN THAT A BIT.
BUT FOR NOW, THAT'S, THAT'S, UH, THE LAY OF THE LAND.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, SHOWING THE SAME FENCE.
UH, HERE I'M DESCRIBING, UH, BY WAY OF ANALOGY, THE POSTS OF THE FENCE, OF COURSE, WITH A FENCE, THE, IF YOU LOOK AT A FENCE AND YOU LOOK AT THE POSTS, THE POSTS WILL SHOW YOU WHAT THE FENCE ENCOMPASSES.
AND SO TO ME, IN THE CODE OF ETHICS, THOSE FENCE POSTS ARE LIKE THE CHAPTERS, WHICH ARE CALLED ARTICLES IN THE CODE.
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OF ETHICS HAS 11 ARTICLES, AND IT'S ABOUT 90 PAGES LONG, AND IT'S WRITTEN BY LAWYERS.AND, YOU KNOW, I APOLOGIZE FOR ALL US LAWYERS, IT'S JUST NO FUN TO READ, RIGHT? BUT, UM, THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE'S ONLY FOUR CHAPTERS OR ARTICLES THAT REALLY, UH, AFFECT MOST PEOPLE.
AND REALLY THE FIRST THREE ARTICLES, ONE, TWO, AND THREE IS WHERE YOU'RE GONNA FIND 95% OF THE RULES IN THE CODE THAT YOU'RE EVER GONNA NEED TO WORRY ABOUT.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE YOU GET THE, THE BROAD STATEMENTS ABOUT, UH, OUR, OUR POLICY AND PROCEDURE AND WHY THE CODE IS HERE AND WHY WE HAVE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL DIVISION, AND HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BEHAVE AND WHAT CIVILITY LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT CONFLICTS LOOK LIKE.
NOW, THE FOURTH, UH, CHAPTER IS ACTUALLY ARTICLE SIX.
SO IT'S ARTICLES 1, 2, 3, AND SIX.
AND THAT SIXTH ARTICLE HAS TO DO WITH REPORTING, AND THAT'S THEIR REQUIREMENTS FOR REPORTING WHEN GIFTS ARE RECEIVED FOR DONATIONS, OR YOU TRAVEL MORE THAN 50 MILES FROM THE CITY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR DUTIES.
SO THAT'S WHY I SAY, I MEAN, 95% OF THE RULES ARE, ARE GONNA BE IN THOSE FIRST THREE ARTICLES.
UH, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS NEXT SLIDE THAT I'M PUTTING UP SHOWS YOU.
IT ALSO ADDRESSES WHAT IS IN THE REST.
AND, UM, I'LL RUN THROUGH THEM QUICKLY.
UH, ARTICLE FIVE TALKS ABOUT THE ISSUES OF LOBBYING.
ARTICLE SEVEN TALKS ABOUT, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE AND, AND WHAT THEIR ROLES ARE.
THE NEXT CHAPTER EIGHT ADDRESSES THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION, AND THEY, THEY HOLD HEARINGS, UH, WHEN A COMPLAINT HAS BEEN MADE.
AND WE TRY AND SUBSTANTIATE, UH, THE COMPLAINT IF, IF WE THINK WE CAN.
AND THEN, UH, THEY MAKE A RULING ON THAT, UH, CHAPTER OR ARTICLE NINE ADDRESSES THE PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOW FOR COMPLAINTS IN INVESTIGATIONS.
AND ARTICLE 10 ADDRESSES WHAT ENFORCEMENT, IN OTHER WORDS, SANCTIONS AND DISCIPLINE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO YOU CAN SEE MOST OF THE RULES THAT YOU'RE GONNA WANNA BE, UH, UH, WORRIED ABOUT ARE IN THOSE FIRST THREE ARTICLES.
AND THESE OTHER THINGS CAN BE INTERESTING, BUT PROBABLY, UH, YOU'LL NEVER, NEVER NEED TO KNOW 'EM.
UM, SO I'M GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, TALKING ABOUT THE BACKERS NOW.
AND, UM, ON A FENCE, BACKERS ARE THOSE HORIZONTAL BOARDS THAT, UH, EVERYTHING GETS ATTACHED TO.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO IN A REAL FENCE IS THEY GIVE IT STRENGTH AND STRUCTURE.
THEY'RE LIKE THE BACKBONE OF THE FENCE.
AND TO ME, THIS IS LIKE A CERTAIN TYPE OF RULE IN THE CODE OF ETHICS THAT I CALL AN ALL THE TIME RULE.
UH, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE IF THIS, THEN THAT RULE.
SO IF SOMETHING HAPPENS SOME OF THE TIME, THEN, THEN THIS IS IT.
BUT THESE ARE ALL THE TIME RULES.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE COVER THEM.
THE FIRST ONE, UH, IS A SURPRISE TO PEOPLE FROM TIME TO TIME.
UH, IT IS THE LEVEL OF OUR DUTY.
SO WE OWE A DUTY IN THE, AS OFFICIALS AND STAFF.
WE OWE A DUTY IN THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR OFFICIAL WORK TO THE CITY.
IT'S THE HIGHEST DUTY UNDER THE LAW.
SO ON THE SLIDE THERE, I'VE GOT A, A PICTURE OF A GUY.
HE'S LOOKING AT HIMSELF IN THE MIRROR.
UH, NICK, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU, RIGHT? SO IF YOU UNDERSTAND THAT, THEN YOU UNDERSTAND FIDUCIARY DUTY.
IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, UH, OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE FIDUCIARY DUTY DOCTORS.
SO YOU DOCTOR, PATIENT, THAT'S A FIDUCIARY DUTY LAWYERS TO CLIENTS, THAT'S A FIDUCIARY DUTY.
SO THAT GIVES YOU SOME IDEA ABOUT HOW HIGH THAT STANDARD IS, AND WE SEE THAT IN THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, KIND OF FUNNELING THROUGH.
UH, IT REALLY FUNNELS THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE CODE PROVISIONS, ESPECIALLY IN THESE FIRST THREE ARTICLES.
BUT, UH, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY DEAL WITH, UH, RIGHT OFF THE BAT, UH, AFTER FIDUCIARY DUTY IS BEHAVIOR.
SO I JUST PUT UP THE ARTICLE TWO BEHAVIOR SLIDE.
IT'S SLIDE NUMBER SEVEN, BY THE WAY.
UM, AND ONE THING I WANNA MENTION AS WE START GOING THROUGH THESE SLIDES THAT HAVE MORE RULES ON 'EM, UH, THESE, THESE RULES ARE ALL ABOUT ETHICS.
THE TRUTH ABOUT ETHICS IS IT'S JUST PERVASIVE.
JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE DO CAN BE CONNECTED IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM WITH, UH, ETHICS.
HOWEVER, UH, WE CAN'T PUT ALL OF THAT IN THE CODE.
[00:35:01]
WE'RE GONNA BUMP INTO THINGS AND IT'S NOT GONNA FEEL VERY ETHICAL.BUT FOR PURPOSES OF ETHICS, THAT THE CITY, UM, THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC RULES THAT ARE IN THERE WHERE, WHERE THE CITY COUNCIL HAS FINALLY SAID, OKAY, THIS HAS HAPPENED ENOUGH TIMES THAT WE'RE GONNA WRITE IT DOWN, AND THIS IS GONNA BE A LINE NOT TO CROSS AT THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UM, BUT THAT SAID, SOME OF THOSE BROADER PRINCIPLES OF ETHICS THAT AREN'T COVERED IN A SPECIFIC RULE, I THINK DO GET PICKED UP, UH, HERE IN ARTICLE TWO ON BEHAVIOR.
SO, SO I'LL JUST READ THESE THROUGH, UH, OPERATE WITH INTEGRITY IN A MANNER THAT MERITS TRUST AND, UH, AND SUPPORTS OUR LAWS UPHOLD, UH, EXCUSE ME, AND SUPPORTS THE CITY, UPHOLD THE LAWS, TREAT PEOPLE WITH RESPECT, MANAGE TAXPAYER RESOURCES RESPONSIBLY, UH, AVOID ACTIONS THAT WOULD BENEFIT YOU OR YOUR RELATIVE.
I'M, I'M WRITING A NEWSLETTER ARTICLE THIS MONTH CALLED RELATIVE ETHICS.
AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT ALL THE PLACES WHERE RELATIVES ARE IN THE CODE OF ETHICS, UH, THAT, UH, SO, UH, LOOK FOR THAT.
AVOID THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? UH, AVOID, UH, ACTIONS THAT LOOK LIKE, MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOUR HAND'S IN THE COOKIE JAR, RIGHT? UM, IS IF, IF IT LOOKS LIKE THAT YOU NEED TO, UH, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, TALK TO YOUR COMMISSION, LET THEM KNOW, HEY, THERE'S NO CONFLICT OF VIOLATION, BUT THIS LOOKS BAD.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THE SITUATION THAT USUALLY ISN'T IS ALL YOU NEED TO DO.
UH, THE FINAL ONE, UH, IS, IS ABOUT APPEARANCES AS WELL.
CAREFULLY CONSIDER, LOOK AT THIS, THE PUBLIC AND, UH, EXCUSE ME, THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL.
SO PEOPLE KNOW YOU'RE A COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, YOU'VE BECOME THE FACE OF DALLAS.
AND SO NOW YOUR PERSONAL ACTIONS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED AS WELL, AND THE EFFECT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE ON THE CITY'S REPUTATION, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY AND ELSEWHERE.
SO THAT IS PART A OF, UH, CIVILITY IN THE CODE OF ETHICS.
I'LL JUST TELL YOU, WE GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS.
AND THERE'S REALLY THREE TYPES.
UH, ONE TYPE OF COMPLAINT ON CIVILITY IS, UH, SOMEBODY REALLY IS BEING UNCIVIL.
I MEAN, JUST BASIC UN EVERYBODY WOULD LOOK AT IT AND SAY THEY'RE BEING UNCIVIL.
LOOK AT THIS NEXT SLIDE WHERE IT SAYS, ACCORD, RESPECT AND COURTESY, PRESERVE HONOR AND DECORUM IN MEETINGS AND AVOID ABUSIVE, BELLIGERENT, CRUDE, DEROGATORY AND PERTINENT PROFANE, SLANDEROUS THREATENING.
THAT'S NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST, THAT'S AN EXEMPLARY LIST.
IT'S LIKE, DON'T, DON'T BE THAT PERSON THAT IS, YOU KNOW, RUDE, CRUDE, BELLIGERENT, ABUSIVE, AVOID PERSONAL ATTACKS OF CHARACTER INTEGRITY, MOTIVES OF OTHERS.
SO THAT'S ONE KIND OF COMPLAINT WE GET WHERE THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON.
THE SECOND KIND OF COMPLAINT WE GET IS, UH, SOMEBODY WILL, UH, LIKE GET THESE A LOT FROM EMPLOYEES WHERE AN THE, UH, THE SUPERVISOR WILL, WILL BE ASKING THEM TO, HEY, DO YOUR JOB.
HERE'S YOUR JOB, HERE'S YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION.
UM, THIS IS A PART OF YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION.
AND YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYEE THAT, THAT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND SOMEHOW.
I DON'T KNOW HOW, HOW ELSE TO DESCRIBE IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH A SUPERVISOR POINTING OUT IF THEY DO IT, UH, IN, IN, IN A RIGHT WAY, POSITIVE WAY, THAT, HEY, YOU GOT A JOB DESCRIPTION, YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THERE.
SO THAT'S THE OTHER KIND OF COMPLAINT WE GET.
AND WE HAVE TO KIND OF HELP EMPLOYEES SOMETIMES TO UNDERSTAND, WE LET HR DO THAT, THAT, HEY, YOU, YOU GOTTA DO YOUR JOB.
BUT THE SECOND PART, THIS IS THE MORE INTEREST OR THE, THE, THE THIRD ONE REALLY IS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE MORE INTERESTING ONE.
AND THIS IS WHEN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING, SOMEBODY LIKE, SAY A, A SUPERVISOR IN YOUR CASE, YOU KNOW, CITY OFFICIAL, SOMEBODY ON A COMMISSION IS, UH, IS DOING SOMETHING THAT ON PAPER IS BETWEEN THE LINES, BUT THEY'RE DOING IT.
THEY'RE CARRYING THEMSELVES IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT'S JUST OFFPUTTING AND IT'S SORT OF PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE, ABUSIVE, BELLIGERENT, CR DEROGATORY.
AND THAT THOSE ARE THE, THAT THOSE ARE REALLY TOUGH BECAUSE THE PERSON, THE, THE SUPERVISOR OR CITY OFFICIALS SAYS, WELL, I'M JUST ASKING THEM TO, TO DO THEIR JOB.
WELL, THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THAT, RIGHT? SO BE CAREFUL.
UH, THERE ARE, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE OVERLY SENSITIVE, BUT THEN THERE ARE ALSO SOMETIMES SUPERVISOR AND OFFICIALS THAT JUST DON'T SEEM TO CARE HOW, HOW THE WAY THEY GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS IS GOING TO AFFECT SOMEONE IN TERMS OF CIVILITY.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S PART A OF CIVILITY.
[00:40:01]
IS THE INTERACTION BETWEEN OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES.AND THIS IS SOMETHING YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DEALS WHERE IT GOT TO A POINT THAT CITY COUNCIL DECIDED TO MAKE RULES BECAUSE THESE TYPES OF THINGS WERE HAPPENING TOO MUCH.
SO JUST, UH, CITY OFFICIAL AND STAFF 1 0 1, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? UH, PEOPLE LIKE ME, STAFF MEMBER, I MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
UH, PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO, OR CITY OFFICIALS MAKE POLICY OR AT LEAST ADVISE ON POLICY.
UM, SOMETIMES CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES OR STAFF LIKE ME, WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE, UH, SOMETIMES YOU GET PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW HOW TO, HOW TO INTERACT.
WELL, CITY COUNCIL FINALLY SAID, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
WE'RE GONNA PUT DOWN SOME RULES.
UH, CITY OFFICIALS AVOID INTERFERING WITH WORK OF EMPLOYEES OR IMPAIRING THEIR ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT POLICY OR INFLUENCING THEM IN THE MAKING OF RECOMMENDATIONS OR DECISIONS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING AND, AND DON'T BERATE THEM.
UH, THAT'S COME OUT OF HISTORY, RIGHT? SO IN ORDER TO GET AT THAT, HOW DO YOU CONTROL THAT? CITY COUNCIL MADE THIS SORT OF, UH, TWO STEP TEXAS TWO STEP RULE.
UH, WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO, AS CITY OFFICIALS, YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DIRECTLY GO TO EMPLOYEES.
YOU'RE INSTEAD, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WORK THROUGH TWO PEOPLE.
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WAY AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT CITY COUNCIL'S, UH, IDEA HERE WAS, WE GET SOME PEOPLE WAY AT THE TOP KIND OF OVER WATCHING THIS INTERACTION.
MAYBE WE CAN CUT DOWN ON SOME OF THE ABUSES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
SO THE FIRST PERSON ON YOUR LIST WOULD BE SOMEONE WITH THE WORD CITY IN FRONT OF THEIR NAME, CITY, UH, CITY AUDITOR.
HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU PICK? WELL, IT KIND OF DEPENDS ON WHERE THE EMPLOYEE IS THAT YOU NEED TO WORK WITH, RIGHT? SO JUST PICK THE, THAT PERSON, THAT CITY PERSON THAT'S IN THE RIGHT AREA, AND THEN THE SECOND PERSON IS THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE, UH, EMPLOYEE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK.
AND THEN THEY'LL, THEY'LL FIND YOU AN EMPLOYEE.
THEY'LL, THEY'LL HELP YOU, UH, GET YOUR PROJECT DONE.
SO THAT'S THE SECOND TYPE OF CIVILITY.
UM, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE REAL IMPORTANT.
WE'RE, UH, JUST COMING UP ON HALFWAY.
DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS? AND THEN IF NOT, I'LL CONTINUE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. ELIASON, FOR THIS.
UM, I PERSONALLY DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK IT'D BE BEST FOR YOU TO FINISH ENTIRELY YOUR PRESENTATION.
THEN WE CAN OPEN THE FLOOR FOR QUESTION AND ANSWER.
UM, NOW HERE'S SOME RULES THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO BE IN ANY CODE OF ETHICS.
UM, AND THEY ARE, LIKE I SAID, BACKER RULES THAT APPLY ALL THE TIME.
NEXT SLIDE, WHICH IS SLIDE 10.
UM, DISCRIMINATION IS NEVER OKAY, AND THERE'S A LIST IN THE CODE OF ETHICS OF ALL THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES THAT QUALIFY UNDER THAT, BUT IT'S NEVER, OKAY.
IT'S, IT HAS A TECHNICAL MEANING IN THE CODE, WHICH IS IF SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING THE CODE, MAKING A COMPLAINT, COOPERATING WITH AN INVESTIGATION, UH, YOU CAN'T COME AT THEM FOR DOING THAT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S A VERY SPECIFIC TYPE OF RETALIATION, AND IT'S BARRED IN THE CODE, UH, USING OTHERS TO VIOLATE THE CODE, UH, FOR YOU, TRICKING 'EM, INFLUENCING 'EM, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU JUST, THAT'S A VIOLATION ALL BY ITSELF.
SO IF I TRIED TO TRICK YOU INTO DOING SOMETHING, UH, EVEN IF YOU NEVER DO IT, ME JUST TRYING TO TRICK YOU IS, IS A VIOLATION.
OTHER ALL THE TIME RULES THOUGH, IF THERE'S A KNOWN VIOLATION OF THE CODE YOU'RE REQUIRED TO REPORT, IT'S NOT AN OPTION.
NOW, IF YOU JUST THINK THE CODE HAS BEEN VIOLATED, IT'S UP TO YOU.
BUT IF YOU KNOW, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE LATER, YOU GOTTA REPORT IT.
UM, AND THEN CITY OFFICIALS, IF THERE ARE ANY NEW OFFICIALS, UH, ON THIS BOARD, YOU, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SIGN AND FILE AN ETHICS PLEDGE WITHIN 30 DAYS, AND YOU CAN FIND IT IN, UH, 12 A 11, AND YOU JUST FILE IT WITH THE CITY SECRETARY.
AND THEN THE FINAL ONE IS THIS.
UM, I CALL IT, OH, SHOOT, I WONDER IF I SKIPPED ONE.
LEMME GET PAST THIS SLIDE, HUH? ONE SLIDE THAT DIDN'T COME UP.
SOMEHOW I SAW IT FLASH, BUT I'M NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND TRY AND FIGURE IT OUT.
BUT THE MAIN, THE MAIN, UH, IS A GREAT
[00:45:01]
STORY IN IT.BUT THE THRUST OF THE SLIDE IS THIS, UH, YOU HAVE A CODE OF ETHICS, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO READ IT, KNOW IT, AND FOLLOW IT.
UH, AND SO IN ADDITION TO THIS PRESENTATION, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT.
GET YOURSELF A COPY OF THE CODE, UM, AND READ THROUGH.
BUT REMEMBER, YOU PROBABLY ONLY, UH, UNLESS YOU'RE JUST INTERESTED, YOU CAN GET BY WITH READING THOSE FIRST THREE ARTICLES.
AND THERE'S ONLY 25 RULES THERE.
UH, THAT IS THE GIST OF THE SLIDE THAT GOT AWAY FROM ME.
I'M ON 13, THE PICKETS OF OUR FENCE.
AND NOW, ALONG WITH GETTING INTO THE RULES, I'M GONNA START COACHING YOU UP ON HOW TO, UH, HOW TO FIND IT.
SO THE NEXT SLIDE HERE, AND I, I PUT THE LINK IN THE CHAT FOR THIS WEBINAR IS A POCKET REFERENCE GUY.
THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE BUILT TO HELP EVERYONE, UH, NAVIGATE THE CODE BECAUSE THE CODE DOESN'T HAVE A TABLE OF CONTENTS OR ANYTHING.
SO IF YOU, IF YOU PRINT THIS OFF, STICK IT IN YOUR DESK DRAWER, IT'LL, IT'S GONNA HELP YOU FIND THE RULE IN THE CODE.
AND SO YOU, YOU, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU GET ITCHY AND YOU THINK THERE'S A CODE VIOLATION.
YOU GO TO THE POCKET REFERENCE GUIDE THAT'LL TELL YOU WHAT RULE TO GO TO, AND THEN YOU, YOU READ THE CODE.
UM, ONE OF THE RULES THAT ARE IN THERE THAT, UH, AFFECTS COMMISSIONERS FROM TIME TO TIME IS A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST RULE.
AND IT JUST SAYS, IF YOU HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN PROPERTY OR A BUSINESS, AND YOU'RE MAKING SOME DECISION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THAT BUSINESS OR PROPERTY, YOU HAVE A CONFLICT AND NEED TO DO SOMETHING CALLED RECUSAL.
AND WHAT I ALWAYS POINT OUT ON THESE SLIDES IS, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THE TRIGGERS, IT'S A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST.
AND SO THAT'S GENERALLY 10% OR MORE OF THE BUSINESS, OR 10% OR MORE OF WHAT YOUR GROSS INCOME WAS FOR THE PRIOR YEAR OR PROPERTY THAT'S WORTH $2,500 OR MORE.
SO JUST BE AWARE OF THOSE TRIGGERS.
GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST TO GO OVER SOME MISCELLANEOUS CONFLICTS, THIS IS SLIDE 17 IN YOUR DECK.
UM, AS A CITY OFFICIAL, IF YOU BECOME AWARE THAT THE CITY IS MAKING A DECISION TO INVEST OR DIVEST YOU, YOU CAN'T TRADE ON THAT.
YOU CAN'T INVEST OR DIVEST ON THAT.
YOU GOTTA WAIT 12 MONTHS UNTIL AFTER THE CITY'S MADE ITS DECISION.
UH, SAME THING WITH DECIDED MATTERS.
IF SOMEBODY OFFERS, UH, YOU KNOW, YOUR BUDDY OR A RELATIVE, UH, UH, A FAVOR IN RETURN FOR ACTION BY YOU, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A CONFLICT.
UM, IF IN YOUR FIRST 12 MONTHS OF BEING A CITY OFFICIAL, SOMEONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A DECISION YOU'RE MAKING IS SOMEONE WHO WANTS EMPLOYED YOU, YOU NEED TO RECUSE YOURSELF FROM THAT.
UH, AND THEN IF YOU HAVE ANY, THIS WON'T APPLY TO YOU ALL BECAUSE OF THE COMMISSION YOU, YOU ARE ON.
BUT IF YOU HAVE AN OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN PROPERTY OF ANY SIZE, AND YOU'RE ON THE ZONING COMMISSION, YOU NEED TO RECUSE YOURSELF, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, NOW THIS ONE MAY COME UP FOR YOU.
UH, IF YOU EVER DECIDE YOU WANT TO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY, UM, YOU CAN'T DO THAT WHILE YOU'RE SERVING THE CITY.
UH, NOW THERE IS, UM, UH, AN EXCEPTION THAT APPLIES TO YOU.
UH, THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A NOMINEE OR MEMBER OF A CITY BOARD OF COMMISSION.
SO YOU'RE OFF THE HOOK ON THIS, BUT I, BUT IF YOU WERE LOOKING AT THE SLIDE, YOU'D SEE A DUCK ON THERE FROM MY APPEARANCE SLIDE.
AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IT MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU, BUT REMEMBER, APPEARANCES MATTER, SO IT MAY LOOK BAD.
SO AT LEAST WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE DOING THIS, IT'D BE A, A GOOD IDEA TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE PERCEPTION AND MAYBE EVEN TELL PEOPLE, HEY, UH, JUST, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW I SIT ON THIS BOARD BUT DIDN'T, DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW I HAVE A ROLE AT THE CITY.
WHAT'S THAT? WELL, IT'S STUFF THAT'S SECRETIVE.
AND, AND FOR INSTANCE, WHEN YOU GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MADE PUBLIC, IT'S A SECRET.
AND SO YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.
UM, MAYBE BECAUSE OF YOUR POSITION THERE, YOU CAN ACCESS SOME OFFICIAL INFORMATION.
UH, ONLY DO IT FOR OFFICIAL REASONS.
DON'T DISCLOSE THAT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN GAINED BECAUSE OF YOUR POSITION AS OPPOSED TO INFORMATION GAINED OTHERWISE.
UH, AND DON'T TELL THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ABOUT AGENDAS OR RECORDINGS OR DISCUSSIONS IN CLOSED MEETINGS.
SO YOU CAN SEE THIS STUFF IS PRETTY EASY.
UH, REPRESENTATION OF PRIVATE INTEREST.
UH, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW HERE,
[00:50:02]
I ACCIDENTALLY THREW IN A SLIDE FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, AS OPPOSED TO, UH, GENERAL OFFICIALS.BUT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW HERE IS, UH, IT MATTERS WHETHER YOU'RE COMPENSATED OR NOT.
YOU NEED TO KNOW THERE'S A RULE AND GO READ IT, BECAUSE THERE ARE LOTS OF EXCEPTIONS.
BUT, UH, THE FIRST FORK IS GONNA BE, ARE YOU COMPENSATED OR NOT? AND GENERALLY SPEAKING, YOU CAN'T BE RULING ON, ON SOMETHING.
UH, YOU CAN'T BE REPRESENTING SOMEONE IN FRONT OF YOUR, YOUR COMMISSION IF YOU'RE, YOU'RE RULING ON SOMETHING THAT WILL AFFECT THEM.
AND IT'S THE SAME, SAME TYPE OF REASONING WITH OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT.
YOU, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT THAT COULD IMPAIR THE INDEPENDENCE OF YOUR JUDGMENT.
'CAUSE REMEMBER, YOU HAVE A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO DO THINGS, UH, FOR THE CITY.
YOU CAN'T PROVIDE SERVICES FOR COMPENSATION TO A PERSON THAT'S SEEKING, UH, TO DO BUSINESS OR REQUESTING AN APPROVAL FROM YOUR COMMISSION.
UH, WE'VE GONE OVER THESE, WHEN'S THE BEST TO KEEP QUIET? I'M ON SLIDE 23 ALWAYS.
THAT'S JUST, UH, REITERATING CONFIDENTIALITY STUFF, UH, POLITICAL ACTIVITY.
CAN YOU BE INVOLVED IN IT? YES, YOU CAN, BUT YOU GOTTA BE CAREFUL.
SO IF YOU WENT TO THE POCKET REFERENCE GUIDE, IT WOULD TELL YOU THAT THE CODE PROVISION THAT GOVERNS, UH, POLITICAL ACTIVITY IN THE CODE OF ETHICS, THERE'S OTHER PLACES THAT GOVERN IT AS WELL.
FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU'RE RUNNING FOR, FOR OFFICE, BUT IT WOULD DIRECT YOU TO 12 A 21, YOU READ ALL THESE RULES, YOU FOLLOW THE RULES, AND YOU'RE OKAY.
OKAY, NOW WE'RE GONNA WRAP IT UP AND THEN LEAVE TIME FOR SOME QUESTIONS.
UH, LET'S GO THROUGH SOME SCENARIOS.
YOU OPEN YOUR POCKET REFERENCE GUIDE, YOU FIND THE RULE, YOU READ THE RULE, AND YOU'RE STILL NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.
THEN WHAT YOU ASK FOR AN ADVISORY OPINION? WHAT'S THAT? WELL, THAT'S A, AN EMAIL YOU WRITE, IT'S CONFIDENTIAL TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
YOU GIVE 'EM ALL THE FACTS ABOUT A FUTURE DECISION YOU WANNA MAKE.
THEY'LL GIVE YOU, UH, SOME DIRECTION.
IF YOU GAVE 'EM ALL THE FACTS AND YOU FOLLOW THE DIRECTION, NOW YOU HAVE A SAFE HARBOR.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY TOLD YOU IT'S OKAY.
NEXT SITUATION, YOU READ THE CODE OF ETHICS AND YOU REALIZE YOU HAVE A CONFLICT.
WHAT THEN? WELL, AT THAT POINT, YOU RECUSE YOURSELF ON THIS SLIDE, SLIDE NUMBER 27, I GOT A PICTURE OF MC HAMMER.
IT SAYS, YOU CAN'T TOUCH THIS, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT RECUSAL IS.
SO THE MOMENT THAT YOU, HERE'S HOW IT WORKS.
THE MOMENT YOU FIGURE OUT YOU'VE GOT, UH, CONFLICTS, PENCILS DOWN, YOU STOP WORKING ON IT.
YOU DON'T SUMMARIZE YOUR NOTES AND ALL THAT STUFF.
YOU DO RAISE YOUR HAND, YOU TELL THE CITY SECRETARY AND YOU TELL YOUR COMMISSION, AND THEN YOU ARE DONE WITH THAT, UH, WITH WHATEVER THAT MATTER IS.
FINAL SITUATION IS YOU READ THE POCKET GUIDE, IT SENDS YOU TO A RULE, YOU REALIZE THERE'S A VIOLATION.
THEN WHAT WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, THE FIRST PART, IF YOU KNOW THERE'S A VIOLATION, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO? REPORT.
UH, WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW YOU REPORT IT IN A MINUTE.
WHEN THAT WILL TRIGGER OFF, THAT COMPLAINT WILL TRIGGER OFF AN INVESTIGATION.
AND, AND BY THE WAY, THAT COMPLAINT IS ANONYMOUS CAN BE AND CONFIDENTIAL.
DON'T COPY OTHER PEOPLE OR ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S INVESTIGATIONS ARE CONFIDENTIAL.
SO THAT COMPLAINT SHOULD KICK OFF AN INVESTIGATION.
SO YOU WANNA COOPERATE, KEEP IT A SECRET.
DON'T INTERFERE, DON'T RETALIATE.
ALL THE STUFF WE COULD, WE COULD HAVE WRITTEN THE CODE TODAY, RIGHT? THIS IS THIS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
HOW DO YOU MAKE THE COMPLAINT? WE CALL IT BLOWING THE WHISTLE.
YOU BLOW THE WHISTLE THROUGH OUR COMPLAINT, UH, SYSTEM.
WE HAVE AN, UH, PHONE HOTLINE, OR YOU CAN DO IT ONLINE.
UH, YOU CAN FIND THAT INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT ON OUR WEBSITE, WHICH JUST LAUNCHED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
AND HERE ARE THE RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE OR GUIDES TO USE.
THERE'S A PICTURE OF THE POCKET REFERENCE GUIDE.
I ALSO PUT THE LINK IN THE CHAT.
WE'VE GOT THE ETHICS MATTER NEWSLETTER.
I DIG DEEPER INTO INDIVIDUAL RULES.
WE HAVE A SHAREPOINT SITE CALLED THE ETHICAL WAY.
WE HAVE OUR WEBSITE, UH, AND THERE'S MY CONTACT INFORMATION ON THE SCREEN.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND FOR INVITING ME TO COME.
CAN I TAKE ANY QUESTIONS? I'M GONNA TRY AND EXPAND MY WEBEX SO I CAN SEE YOU RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. ELIASON, FOR THIS INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION.
UM, I THINK THAT ONE MAJOR TAKEAWAY FROM THIS PRESENTATION IS TO LEAD WITH HONESTY, INTEGRITY, AND TRANSPARENCY.
AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A CORE VALUE THAT WE HOLD AS A COMMISSION.
AND FOR THAT MATTER, I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE
[00:55:01]
THE CORE VALUE THAT ANY COMMISSION IN THE CITY AND ANY PUBLIC OFFICIAL SERVING OUR CITY SHOULD HOLD.I DO NOT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, BUT JUST WANT TO ONCE AGAIN, SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOU FOR COMING TO OUR MEETING.
AND I WILL NOW TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY HAVE QUESTIONS OF THEIR OWN, STARTING WITH VICE CHAIR REBE, DISTRICT ONE.
JUST THANK YOU FOR AN EXCELLENT REFRESHER COURSE.
NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER TOWNSEL, DISTRICT TWO.
COMMISSIONER H****R, DISTRICT THREE, NO QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WHITE DISTRICT NINE.
NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER BLUE DISTRICT 10.
NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER BANKS, DISTRICT 11, NO QUESTIONS, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
AND NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER HUKA, DISTRICT 13.
NO, I THINK WE'VE GOT SOMEONE FROM DISTRICT 14.
WE'LL, WE'LL GO TO THAT PERSON, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE JUST CONFIRMING TO SEE IF HE'S PRESENT.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT COMMISSIONER HUSHKA? I, I SAID NO QUESTIONS.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, COMMISSIONER LINDSAY, DISTRICT 14.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THIS CONCLUDES THE BRIEFING SEGMENT OF OUR AGENDA, AND I WISH TO SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOU, MR. ELIASON, FOR COMING TO OUR MEETING.
WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT TIME.
AND I'LL, I'LL JUST SAY THIS IS THE, UH, THE MOST CIVIL AND THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF POLITENESS OF ANY COMMISSIONER BOARD THAT I MEET WITH.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY.
WE, WE TRY, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT, SO THANK YOU,
ALRIGHT, OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE ANNOUNCEMENTS I WISH TO MAKE BEFORE MOVING TO THE COMMISSIONERS TOMORROW.
THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HOLDING ITS MEETING BEFORE GOING OFF TO RECESS IN JULY.
IT WILL BE AT, IT WILL BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IT COMMISSIONERS ARE, OR ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN ATTENDING ARE ENCOURAGED TO ARRIVE HERE BY EIGHT 30 IN THE MORNING TO ALLOW SOME TIME FOR PARKING AND GETTING SETTLED.
THIS COUNCIL MEMBER, THIS COUNCIL MEETING IS GOING TO BE EVEN MORE SPECIAL GIVEN THAT OUR COMMISSION, THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES, WILL BE RECOGNIZED FOR ITS LEADERSHIP EFFORTS.
AND ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM BASIL DUA WILL BE READING THE PROCLAMATION, WHICH RECOGNIZES JULY AS DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH.
AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD FROM PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS FROM OUR STAFF DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH EACH YEAR, JULY IS RECOGNIZED AS DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH TO COMMEMORATE THE SIGNING OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, A FUNDAMENTAL PIECE OF CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION THAT FOREVER CHANGED THE LIVES AND IMPACTED MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS, IN ADDITION TO GIVING THEM THEIR FREEDOMS, VOICES, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO LIVE PRODUCTIVE LIVES.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOWEVER, DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH IS MEANT TO HONOR THE HISTORY, LIVED EXPERIENCES, CONTRIBUTIONS, STRUGGLES, AND THE SHARED DIGNITY AND HUMANITY OF INDIVIDUALS OF ALL ABILITIES.
WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO YOU JOINING THIS MEETING AS IT WILL BE A WONDERFUL TIME FOR THE COMMISSION TO BE RECOGNIZED.
ALSO, STAFF FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION WILL BE PRESENT DURING THE READING OF THE PROCLAMATION.
THE NEXT ANNOUNCEMENT I WISH TO MAKE IS ON JULY THE 27TH, THE DALLAS HOLOCAUST AND HUMAN RIGHTS MUSEUM FOR THE FIRST TIME WILL BE HOSTING AN EVENT RELATED TO DISABILITY JUSTICE.
THE EVENT IS ENTITLED NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US ADVANCING DISABILITY RIGHTS IN DALLAS.
THIS, THIS EVENT IS BEING HOSTED IN RECOGNITION OF DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH AND THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES HAS BEEN ASKED TO BE A COMMUNITY PARTNER IN HELPING THE MUSEUM IN COORDINATING THIS EVENT.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ASKED TO HAVE
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A RESOURCE TABLE AT THE RESOURCE FAIR ONCE THE EVENT CONCLUDES.ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION COM WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING ARE ENCOURAGED TO COME.
BUT NOTE THAT THIS IS COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY.
IT WILL NOT COUNT AGAINST YOU.
THIS CONCLUDES MY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR JUNE, AND I NOW WISH TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY WANT TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THEIR OWN, BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER REY OR VICE CHAIR REY DISTRICT ONE.
COMMISSIONER TOWNSVILLE, DISTRICT TWO, NOTHING.
COMMISSIONER WHITE, DISTRICT NINE.
COMMISSIONER BALLOU, DISTRICT 10.
UM, COMMISSIONER BANKS, DISTRICT 11.
COMMISSIONER HUSKA, DISTRICT 13.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, COMMISSIONER LINDSAY DISTRICT 14.
THIS CONCLUDES THE ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION OF OUR MEETING, AND I NOW MAKE A MOTION THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED IF COMMISSIONERS HAVE NO ADDITIONAL ITEMS THEY WISH TO DISCUSS.
I HAVE A QUESTION OR CLARIFICATION.
IT IS, IS IT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A MEETING THE MONTH OF JULY? CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT? THAT IS EXACTLY CORRECT, SIR.
THE NEXT TIME WE WILL MEET IS IN AUGUST.
I WILL ONCE AGAIN MAKE THE MOTION IF ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE NO OTHER ITEM THEY WISH TO DISCUSS, THAT WE MAKE AN, THAT WE BE ADJOURNED.
UM, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO GET AN EMAIL WITH THE DETAILS OF THE MEETING THAT WE WERE, THAT THAT WAS JUST, THAT WAS ANNOUNCED FOR TOMORROW? YES.
UH, WE, WE'D CERTAINLY BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU.
ANY, ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY WANT TO WISH AN, UH, MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE ADJOURNMENT? I WOULD JUST, UH, TAG ON THAT.
IF YOU COULD SEND INFORMATION ON THE HOLOCAUST, INFORMA HOLOCAUST MUSEUM.
THERE'S NO, UM, THERE'S WITHOUT AGENDA ANNOUNCING THAT, BUT WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, TO ATTEND, WE WOULD NEED THE DETAILS.
SO CAN YOU SEND DETAILS TO THE COMMISSION ON THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM EVENT AS OUT OF ITS, I DON'T SEE THE ACTUAL DETAILS OF DATE AND TIME AND PLACE.
I MEAN, WE'D CERTAINLY BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR ITEMS OF CLARIFICATION FOR ADJOURNMENT IN THAT CASE? I WILL MAKE THE MOTION ONCE AGAIN THAT THIS MEETING BE ADJOURNED.
ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ALL OPPOSED, APPARENTLY THERE'S NONE.
THE MOTION, THE MOTION PASSES.
THE MEETING HAS BEEN ADJOURNED.
AND FOR THE RECORDS, THE TIME THE MEETING ADJOURNED IS 3:04 PM I WANT TO THANK EACH ONE OF YOU FOR ATTENDING THIS MEETING.
IT WAS DEFINITELY A PRODUCTIVE, INFORMATIVE, AND ENGAGING ONE.
KINDLY BE ADVISED THAT WE WILL NOT BE HAVING A MEETING IN JULY.
SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOU BACK HERE AGAIN IN AUGUST.
UNTIL THEN, BE WELL AND ALL BLESSINGS.