[00:00:03]
[I. Welcome, Roll Call, & Call to Order ]
MR. THREE IS HERE.PRESENT, UH, MR. AT DISTRICT 14.
UH, CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WILL BE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
EVERYONE HERE PRESENT WILL STAND, UH, PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE THROUGH THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TWO, THE REPUBLIC OF WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE LAW, PLAY BALL.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY.
[IV. Approval of the September 10, 2026, Meeting Minutes ]
APPROVAL OF THE, FROM THE SEPTEMBER MEETING, DO I DO A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES? SEPTEMBER MEETING? I PROVIDE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MEETING.MEETING NOTES FROM THE LAST MEETING.
ALL IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING THE MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER MEMBER, UH, MEETINGS, PLEASE SAY AYE.
THE, UH, MEETING MINUTES FOR THE SEPTEMBER MEETING HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
[V. Discuss and vote on edits to the approved 2027 Meeting Dates]
ITEM SECTION FIVE, DISCUSS AND VOTE ON EDITS TO THE APPROVED 2027 MEETING DATES.ONE OF THE CHANGES HAS BEEN THE CANCELLATION OF THE JULY MEETING, UH, BECAUSE OUR ARMS WERE TWISTED BY THE PEOPLE DOWNSTAIRS.
UH, A SPECIAL MEETING WILL BE HELD IN NOVEMBER, UH, TO MAKE UP FOR OUR MISSED MEETING.
UH, DO I HAVE ANY, ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO DISCUSS THE SCHEDULE FOR NEXT YEAR? IF NOT, DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE APPROVED LEADING DATES FOR 2020 SECOND? SO MOVED.
MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO, TO ACCEPT THE MEETING DATES FOR 2027.
THE, UH, 2027 MEETING DATES HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED.
ALRIGHT, NUMBER, IT SEEMS KINDA REDUNDANT NOW, BUT WE, UH, JUST ACCEPTED THE MEETING DATES FOR 2027 JULY.
ASSUME WE'VE ACCEPTED SECTION SEVEN OR SIXTH.
SO CHAIR, UH, AGENDA ITEM SIX IS
[VI, Vote to hold Special Called Meeting ]
TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THE COMMISSION WANTS TO HOLD A MEETING NEXT MONTH.NEXT MONTH, SINCE, UH, ACCORDING TO WHAT WAS ACCEPTED ORIGINALLY FOR THE
[00:05:01]
2026 CALENDAR, WAS THAT THERE IS NO MEETING IN NOVEMBER, BUT, OKAY.ALRIGHT, NEXT MONTH IS WE HAVE VETERANS AND NORMALLY WE TRY TO GET AS MANY OF US AS POSSIBLE TO ATTEND VETERAN DAY, UH, FESTIVITIES.
UH, BUT, UH, WE ALSO NEED TO PROBABLY HAVE A, A MEETING LIKE THIS, UH, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER THE FIFTH.
DO I HEAR ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT? DO I HEAR A MOTION THAT WE HAVE OUR MEETING ON NOVEMBER THE FIFTH? I WOULD, I WOULD HAVE DISCUSSION.
COMMISSIONER PO WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP SOME KIND OF CONTINUITY.
WE DON'T LEAVE IT UP MOST LIKELY AS IT IS THAT THE LOOK, SO THIS IS THE TIME FOR NOVEMBER, RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAY.
FIND OUT EXACTLY ELSE TO DO OR ELSE DO, DO YOU IN FAVOR? SOMEBODY YOU I'M IN FAVOR OF HAVING.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ANYBODY ELSE HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT, I THINK A MEETING IN NOVEMBER? IF NOT, DO I HEAR A MOTION TO SET? IS, IS THE, IS THE PROPOSED DATE THE FIFTH? I'M SORRY.
UH, VETERAN'S DAY'S, THE 11TH.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT DAY EXACTLY THE PARADE WILL BE.
DID YOU KNOW WILL BE RIGHT? VETERANS DAY IS A WEDNESDAY, BUT IS THE PROPOSED ALTERNATE DATE THE FIFTH? IS THAT WHAT I HEARD? YES.
HEAR I KNOW I HAVE A CONFLICT.
I WAS JUST SAYING, I KNOW I HAVE A CONFLICT THAT DAY, BUT PLEASE PROCEED FOR THE GROUP.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MEETING ON THE FIFTH NEXT MONTH? I SO MOVE.
DO I HEAR A SECOND DISTRICT SEVEN SECOND MOTION BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING ON THE 5TH OF NOVEMBER OF NEXT MONTH.
WE WILL HAVE A MEETING, UH, HERE, UH, ON NOVEMBER THE FIFTH, UH, OF NEXT MONTH.
THAT TAKES US TO, UM, SECTION SEVEN,
[VII. Americans for Ibogaine Presentation]
A PRESENTATION BY CHASE ROWLAND, AMBASSADOR FOR AMERICANS FOR I GAME HYPO GANG IGA.HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? SO, OKAY.
MY, MY NAME IS, UH, CHASE ROWAN.
I SERVED FROM, UH, 2003 TO 2006, DEPLOYED TO NORTHERN IRAQ IN 2005.
I GOT HURT JUMPING OUT OF A PERFECTLY GOOD AIRPLANE.
MY CHUTE DIDN'T FULLY DEPLOY, HIT THE RUNWAY, GOING ABOUT 60 MILES AN HOUR, SUFFERED A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.
UM, IT WAS SHORTLY AFTER THAT I WAS MED BOARDED OUTTA THE MILITARY AND THEY IMMEDIATELY PUT ME ON OPIATES.
SO, LONG STORY SHORT, I SPENT THE NEXT 20 YEARS, UM, DOWN THE PATH OF ADDICTION.
UM, AT ONE POINT THE VA WAS MELANIE, ME 60 OXYCONTIN 60 ADDERALL 45 KLONOPIN.
IT WAS JUST, IT WAS LIKE A PHARMACY, YOU KNOW, AND A GREAT DRUG DEALER.
SO I SPENT, UM, 20 YEARS GOING UP AND DOWN THROUGH ADDICTION, ATTENDED TWO INPATIENT REHAB CENTERS, UM, WAS REALLY STRUGGLING.
UM, I HAVE A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN.
I LIVE IN FORT WORTH NOW, AND IT WAS IN 2023 WHEN A LOT OF OUR VETERANS HAVE THIS SAME SITUATION THAT COMES UP WHERE I WAS GONNA TAKE MY OWN LIFE.
UM, FOR THE FIRST TIME I'D WRITTEN MY SUICIDE NOTES, EVERYTHING.
AND THEN I HEARD ON A JOE ROGAN PODCAST THAT NIGHT.
AND I HEARD THEM TALK ABOUT IBOGAINE.
IT WAS DAKOTA MEYER WHO'S A MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT.
AND HE BROUGHT UP IBOGAINE AND HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING REALLY.
HE WASN'T SPEAKING REALLY HIGHLY OF IT, BUT I KNEW FOR SOME REASON, RIGHT.
THEN I HEARD IT AND I PLAYED IT AGAIN, AND I PLAYED IT AGAIN.
AND I JUST STARTED CRYING IN MY LIVING ROOM.
I WAS LIKE, THIS IS GONNA SAVE MY LIFE.
SO SIX MONTHS LATER I ENDED UP GETTING TO MEXICO, WHICH IS THE ONLY PLACE YOU COULD REALLY DO IT, OR YOU CAN'T GO TO THE US 'CAUSE IT'S A SCHEDULE ONE DRUG.
AND I BEGAN AS A PLANT THAT COMES FROM AFRICA,
[00:10:01]
YOU KNOW, IT'S A ROOT BARK.IT COMES FROM THE BARK OF A, UH, THE ROOT OF A SHRUB.
AND I TOOK IT IN AUGUST, AUGUST 4TH, 2023.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY I'M THREE AND A HALF YEARS SOBER.
AND AFTER MY EXPERIENCE WITH IBOGAINE, IT WAS ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS LATER, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM GOVERNOR RICK PERRY AND MARCUS LATRELL, AND THEY ASKED ME TO BE A PART OF A VIDEO WITH THEM, WHICH I DID.
AND THEN I STARTED TRAVELING AROUND, SPEAKING WITH THEM.
AND THEN I TESTIFIED AT THE TEXAS STATE CAPITOL FOR THE TEXAS IBOGA INITIATIVE, WHERE WE GOT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
WE GOT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS BILL PASSED TO START STUDYING IBOGA.
AND THEN IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, UM, OUR GROUP, UNFORTUNATELY I WASN'T ABLE TO BE THERE, BUT OUR GROUP WAS IN, UH, THE OVAL OFFICE PASSING WHERE TRUMP PASSED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER WHERE WE CAN START STUDYING SOME OF THESE COMPOUNDS.
AND THE REASON I'M HERE IS BECAUSE I'M AN AMBASSADOR FOR AMERICANS FOR IBOGA, AND I'VE WORKED FOR TEXANS FOR GREATER MENTAL HEALTH.
AND THIS IS KIND OF ALL I DO NOW IS TOUR AROUND.
AND, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THE MIRACULOUS IMPACT IT'S HAVING, NOT ONLY ON VETERANS, BUT YOU KNOW, ANYBODY WHO SUFFERS FROM ADDICTION OR MENTAL HEALTH, OR WE'RE SEEING A HELP WITH PARKINSON'S, YOU KNOW, ALZHEIMER'S.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S REMARKABLE.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS A PLANT, YOU KNOW, AND YOU TAKE IT ONE TIME.
SO THE REASON I'M HERE IS FOR VETERANS THAT COME BACK TO THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE GUYS, FIRST OFF ARE LOOKING FOR RESOURCES AND WHATEVER.
WELL, THIS IS ONE THAT GUYS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT.
THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THESE MEDICINES BECAUSE WHEN THEY COME BACK AFTER BEING EXPOSED TO SO MUCH BLAST TRAUMA AND SO MANY THINGS IN THE MILITARY, YOU KNOW, THESE MEDICINES ARE HELPING, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE SEEN JUST MYSELF PERSONALLY, I'VE SEEN AT LEAST A HUNDRED, YOU KNOW, GO AND COME BACK AND JUST HAVE MIRACULOUS, MIRACULOUS EFFECTS.
SO I FEEL THAT GUYS AND GIRLS THAT ARE COMING BACK TO DALLAS-FORT WORTH NEED TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES AND THAT THERE ARE MEDICINES OUT THERE OTHER THAN THE VA.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET ON PRESCRIPTIONS.
YOU KNOW, I'VE LOST NINE BUDDIES TO SUICIDE SINCE 2006.
ALL ARMY RANGERS AND EVERY ONE OF THEM WAS ON ANTIDEPRESSANTS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T DEPRESSED.
THEY WERE JUST, THEY WERE GIVEN THE WRONG MEDICATIONS.
SO I SAY THAT TO SAY, KNOWING THAT THERE ARE THESE PLANT MEDICINES OUT THERE THAT ARE WORKING AND ARE, ARE SOON TO BE AVAILABLE, BUT NOT AVAILABLE IN THE STATES, I WANT TO MAKE SURE VETERANS HAVE THESE RESOURCES AND KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS THAN JUST GETTING ON PHARMACEUTICALS THROUGH THE VA.
AND THERE'S ACTUALLY AN ORGANIZATION RIGHT HERE IN DALLAS-FORT WORTH CALLED FORD INTENT.
AND THEY ARE, UH, A, A COUPLE THAT HAS, THEY'RE PRETTY STINKING WEALTHY, BUT THEY HAVE NOW SENT I THINK OVER 200 VETERANS.
SO WHAT THEY DO IS THEY FUND GRANTS FOR VETERANS.
'CAUSE A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD THIS 'CAUSE IT CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM EIGHT TO $15,000.
UM, SO YEAH, BUT I GUESS THAT'S WHY I'M HERE IS TO KIND OF SAY, HEY, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS OTHER THAN JUST GETTING ON PILLS.
AND THIS IS ONE THAT'S WORKING
SO, UM, THERE'S ACTUALLY A MOVIE ON NETFLIX JUST TO GIVE EVERYBODY KIND OF A REFERENCE.
AND IT'S A STORY ABOUT THREE OF MY SEAL BUDDIES THAT IT FOLLOWS THEM THROUGH IT ALL AND FOLLOW FOLLOWS THEM TO MEXICO WHERE THEY SIT WITH THIS MEDICINE.
SO, UM, YEAH, I GUESS I'M HERE JUST TO KIND OF TELL PEOPLE, MAKE SURE THAT VETERANS KNOW THEY HAVE OPTIONS.
AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE'RE SEEING.
I MEAN, RIGHT NOW GUYS, THE TOP CLINIC IN MEXICO IS AMBIA LIFE SCIENCES.
THE WAITING LIST, IT'S NINE MONTHS.
SO IT'S A NINE MONTH WAITING LIST.
WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GOING SOUTH OF THE BORDER TO ACCESS THESE MEDICINES BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING, YOU KNOW, SO FOR MY DALLAS-FORT WORTH VETERANS THAT COME BACK AND, YOU KNOW, END UP, I DON'T KNOW, BEFORE THEY PUT A GUN IN THEIR MOUTH, THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THESE OPTIONS, IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
SO, UM, I WILL PASS ON ANY RESOURCES AND ANY, UH, OTHER THINGS NEEDED.
BUT THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH I THINK, WHY I WAS HERE.
KIND OF JUST TO SAY THAT THIS MEDICINE SAVED MY LIFE AND I'M SEEING IT SAVE SO MANY OTHER LIVES.
AND AMERICANS FOR I BEGAN, EXISTS FOR THE SOLE REASON OF MAKING THIS, BRINGING THIS MEDICINE AND MAKING IT AVAILABLE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IS GONNA BE A PROCESS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST NOW OPENING UP FOR CLINICAL TRIALS.
SO, BUT YEAH, IT'S A LONG ROAD AHEAD AND I WANT VETERANS TO KNOW THAT, HEY, JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT LEGAL HERE, YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY AND SIT WITH THESE MEDICINES.
SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, LEMME KNOW.
DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, OF OUR GUEST? CHASE? WE HAVE GO AHEAD.
WELL, MY QUESTION, DID I HEAR YOU CORRECTLY THAT THE DRUG IS IN A TESTING PHASE IN THE US FBA OR WHATEVER?
[00:15:01]
YES, SIR.IT JUST, UM, THEY JUST, SO TRUMP SIGNED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IN APRIL AND, UM, FOR THE NEXT 45 DAYS, I BELIEVE THEY'RE TAKEN PUBLIC INPUT.
BUT YES, CLINICAL TRIALS WILL BE STARTING HERE IN, IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL YEARS AWAY FROM THIS BEING AVAILABLE.
AND WHAT'S WILD, THE FACT THAT IT'S A SCHEDULE ONE DRUG LIKE COCAINE AND HEROIN, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO TWICE.
LIKE IT'S A 12 TO 14 HOUR EXPERIENCE, A PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCE THAT IS DONE IN A MEDICAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU ARE HOOKED UP TO EKGS, YOU KNOW, THEY DRUG TEST YOU BEFORE.
IT'S A REAL SERIOUS MEDICAL PROCEDURE.
SO, BUT YES, WE ARE WORKING TO GET IT LEGAL IN THE STATES, BUT IT'LL BE A WHILE BEFORE THAT HAPPENS.
THIS IS SERGIO, AKA COMMISSIONER.
ORTEGA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING AVAILABLE.
UM, AND TALKING ABOUT YOUR STORY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TALKED TO YOU OFFLINE AND, AND IT STILL RESONATES IN ME 'CAUSE I WAS THERE WHEN I MET YOU IN NOVEMBER OF 2026, ALMOST A YEAR AGO.
WHEN I FIRST MET YOU AND HEARD YOUR STORY FOR THE FIRST TIME.
WOULD YOU MIND TELLING EVERYBODY HERE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND THAT SPECIAL STORY ABOUT YOUR FAMILY NOT RECOGNIZING YOU AND NOW RECOGNIZING YOU IN YOUR, OBVIOUSLY IN YOUR OWN WORDS? YES.
THAT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT STILL KIND OF MAKES ME EMOTIONAL.
IT'S JUST, IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL STORY.
SO WHEN I, WHEN I LEFT TO MEXICO, LIKE IF YOU LOOKED AT ME, YOU COULD NOT SEE ANY LIFE IN ME.
AND I'M SEEING THIS WITH TONS OF OTHER GUYS AND GIRLS.
UM, AGAIN, I WAS AT THE END OF MY LIFE, LIKE I WAS READY TO GO.
AND OF COURSE I SIT WITH THIS MEDICINE, I'M THERE FOR FIVE DAYS AND I RETURNED, WELL, FIRST OFF, THE DAY I TOOK THE MEDICINE, THE DAY AFTER IT, I WALKED IN THE BATHROOM AND I LOOKED IN THE MIRROR
AND THEN I LOOKED AND I STARTED WALKING TOWARDS THE MIRROR AND I GET UP CLOSE AND I PARDON MY FRENCH, BUT I GO, OH MY GOSH, I'M F*****G BACK.
THEN I GET HOME AND I WALK IN.
I WAS KIND OF NERVOUS ABOUT SEEING, I'VE GOT A WIFE AND THEN A, MY DAUGHTER WAS 13 AT THE TIME AND MY SON WAS NINE AT THE TIME.
AND I WALK IN THE HOUSE AND OF COURSE I SAY OUTTA MY SON, MY WIFE, MY WIFE LOOKS AT ME AND STARTS CRYING 'CAUSE SHE COULD IMMEDIATELY SEE IT.
BUT THEN MY DAUGHTER WAS KIND OF KEEPING A DISTANCE FROM ME, AND THEN SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SHE WALKS UP AND SHE GETS CLOSE TO ME AND SHE JUST LOOKS ME IN THE EYES AND SHE STARTS CRYING.
STARTS CRYING AND SAYS, I'VE NEVER MET THIS DAD BEFORE.
YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING OVER AND OVER AND OVER WITH THESE MEDICINES.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S BRINGING LIFE BACK INTO PEOPLE BECAUSE WHAT IT'S DOING IS, IT'S ALMOST RESETTING THE BRAIN.
THIS IS THE FIRST COMPOUND THEY'VE EVER DISCOVERED THAT IS ACTUALLY HEALING THE BRAIN.
AND WE'RE TALKING AFTER ONE USE, YOU KNOW, STANFORD'S STUDYING IT, HARVARD'S STUDYING IT.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND IF ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE NOT HEARD OF IT, IT'S BEEN A WHILE BECAUSE IT'S ALL OVER THE NEWS.
JOE ROGAN'S BIG INTO THIS, SEAN RYAN.
UM, IT'S BECOMING A VERY BIG DEAL.
AND JUST HERE IN DALLAS-FORT WORTH, I'VE GOT SIX PARKINSON'S PATIENTS THAT HAVE ALL SAT WITH THIS MEDICINE, AND THE RESULTS ARE STUPID, YOU KNOW, BUT WE JUST CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT YET BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA GO THROUGH THE CLINICAL TRIALS AND ALL THAT CRAZY STUFF.
BUT THIS IS A MIRACULOUS PLANT THAT THE BOI TRIBE IN AFRICA HAVE BEEN USING IT FOR CENTURIES.
SO, BIG PHARMA DID A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING THIS OUT OF OUR HANDS, MAKING SURE WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THIS IS HEALING.
AND BIG PHARMA DOESN'T WANT TO HEAL.
THEY WANNA, THEY WANNA MANAGE AND TREAT.
SO, BUT YEAH, SO IT'S, AND Y'ALL, I'M SEEING THIS OVER AND OVER.
I'VE GOT A NEIGHBOR DOWN THE STREET THAT'S A MARINE WHO, UM, HE WENT TWO WEEKS AGO AND I TOLD HIS WIFE AND KIDS, I SAID, MAKE SURE YOU LOOK AT HIM BEFORE Y'ALL LEAVE, BEFORE HE LEAVES.
MATT AND I WENT DOWN THE STREET, SAW HIM BEFORE HE LEFT, TOOK A PICTURE WITH HIM, AND WHEN HE CAME BACK, I TOLD HIS WIFE, I SAID, WHEN HE GETS BACK FIRST, LOOK AT HIM BEFORE HE LEAVES.
BUT WHEN HE GETS BACK, I WANT YOU TO, FIRST THING YOU DO IS LOOK AT HIM IN THE EYES.
IT WAS EXACTLY, IT'S THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
LIKE, LIFE WE TURN, OR LIGHTS ARE TURNED BACK ON FROM THIS PLANT, YOU KNOW? SO IT'S A DAMN CRIME THAT THIS ISN'T AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR VETERANS.
I KNOW VETERANS, WE ARE THE ONES THAT BROUGHT THIS TO THE SURFACE AND ARE PUSHING THIS, BUT THIS IS FOR EVERYBODY.
YOU KNOW, I'M SEEING RAPE, FORMER RAPE VICTIMS. I'M SEEING PEOPLE THAT WERE MOLESTED AS CHILDREN WHO'VE BEEN DOING THERAPY FOR 20 YEARS NOW.
THEY GO SIT WITH THIS MEDICINE ONE TIME AND, BUT NOW THEIR LIFE IS BACK LIKE THEY HAVE.
AND I GET A LITTLE EXCITED ABOUT IT, AS YOU CAN TELL.
[00:20:02]
UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE LINK TO THAT ORGANIZATION WHERE WE CAN PUT IT IN OUR HUB AND LET VETERANS KNOW THAT, THAT, THAT EXISTS.WE, YOU EXIST, YOU WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UH, AND WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF VETERANS AND OTHERS ARE THAT PROBABLY NEED THAT TREATMENT, UH, THAT ARE OUT THERE.
AND SO WE'D LIKE TO SPREAD THE WORD AS MUCH AS WE CAN THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND OTHER THINGS.
AND LAST THING, LAST THING I WANNA SAY IS I'M NOW PRETTY INVOLVED WITH FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
WE'RE SEEING INCREDIBLE BECAUSE YOU THINK OF THE TRAUMA THAT FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS SEE ON A DAILY BASIS.
THEY'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS IN THEIR CAREER OF TRAUMATIC EVENTS WHEN THE AVERAGE HUMAN BEING IS SEEING ONE TO THREE.
YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE ALSO SEEING INCREDIBLE RESULTS WITH THEM AS WELL.
BUT YES, I WILL SEND, I WILL SEND THE LINKS OF A FEW PLACES, UH, THAT WE CAN PASS ON TO ANY VETERANS THAT ARE CURIOUS.
UH, AGAIN, CHASE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR STORY, FOR BEING BRUTALLY HONEST.
UM, THAT'S THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT BEING ENLISTED.
WE DON'T HOLD ANYTHING BACK AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE AND, AND, AND YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE AS, AS A VETERAN.
NOW, UH, WE HAVE YOUR INFORMATION AND WE WILL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO BEAT THIS, UH, BEAT THIS DRUM DOWN THE ROAD.
OKAY, NEXT WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION ON NON-DISCRIMINATION IN CITY SERVICES.
COULD WE JUST FOR A SECOND, TAKE A PAUSE? UH, WE HAVE DAVID ZAPETA, WHO'S WITH, UH, THE CITY'S AV, JUST TO KIND OF MAYBE TEST THE SOUND, 'CAUSE THAT DISTORTION THAT WAS COMING THROUGH DURING THE PRESENTATION.
SO IF THERE'S A VOLUNTEER FROM ANY OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO'S ONLINE, IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO HAVE YOU SPEAK, JUST SO WE CAN SEE WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S ANY DIFFERENCE OF, OF, UH, SOUND QUALITY.
SO I, I GUESS I'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
I'M THE HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS COURSEWORK, WITH SPENDING TO SUPPORT THE GREAT WORK OF THE VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION.
AND FOR THIS PRESENTATION, WE WANTED TO TAKE YOU THROUGH THE CITY'S TITLE SIX PLAN.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, TITLE VI IS, OF COURSE, FEDERAL LAW, THE SUBSTANCE OF TITLE VI.
MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS CAN ACCESS CITY SERVICES WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION.
THE REASON WHY WE WANTED TO PRESENT TO THE VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION IS THAT TITLE VI ALSO APPLIES TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
SO OF COURSE, THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS THAT RESIDENTS INTERACT WITH THE COMMISSION, RIGHT? THEY COME AS, UH, PUBLIC SPEAKERS, THEY COME AS PRESENTERS.
YOU AS APPOINTED OFFICIALS ALSO INTERACT WITH THE PUBLIC DURING MEETINGS.
YOU MAY ALSO GO TO EVENTS, AND THEN YOU INTERACT WITH THE PUBLIC AS WELL.
AND IN ALL THOSE SITUATIONS, TITLE SIX APPLIES.
AND SO THERE'S REALLY AN OBLIGATION NOT ONLY, ONLY FOR US AS EMPLOYEES AND I, BUT ALSO AS APPOINTED OFFICIALS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TREATING RESIDENTS FAIRLY AND WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION.
AND SO, IN ADDITION TO PRESENTING TO VETERAN AFFAIRS, WE'RE ALSO PRESENTING TO OTHER OHCE COMMISSIONS AS WELL.
AND THEN I KNOW IF I'M GONNA TRY TO STICK TO 10 MINUTES, I KNOW YOU'LL HAVE A LOT OF OTHER WORK YOU NEED TO DO FOR YOUR MEETING.
SO, WITH SOME OF THESE SLIDES, I'M JUST GONNA SKIP OVER, BUT I'M GONNA TRY TO MAKE IT AS RELEVANT AS POSSIBLE TO YOUR WORK AT THE VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION.
SO FOR THIS PRESENTATION, WE'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE CITY'S TITLE SIX PLAN.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT KINDS OF DISCRIMINATION.
WE'LL ALSO GO THROUGH THE TITLE SIX POLICY.
SO THE CITY HAS A TITLE SIX NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY THAT OF COURSE, APPLIES TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW TO PREVENT DISCRIMINATION.
WE'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH HOW WE HANDLE COMPLAINTS THAT COME IN.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND SKIP THE KNOWLEDGE CHECK.
BUT AT THE END OF COURSE, WE'LL HAVE Q AND A AT END.
NEXT SLIDE, SCHINE, WE'RE GONNA SKIP THE SURVEY NEXT SLIDE.
AND TO KIND OF SET THE STAGE, WE DO HAVE A VIDEO.
AND THEN SCHINE, IF, IF YOU CAN PLAY THE VIDEO, BUT THEN PAUSE IT AT ONE 50 IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
SO, CHRIS, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE THAT THERE'S A PLAY BUTTON WITH THE, UH,
[00:25:01]
WITH THE SLIDE, WITH THE VIDEO.THEN WE'LL JUST, WE'LL JUST GO AHEAD.
SO ESSENTIALLY, THE, THE VIDEO JUST TOOK YOU THROUGH THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THE SIGNING OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT IN 1964, WHICH TITLE SIX IS A PART OF.
AND IT ALSO, THEY TOOK YOU THROUGH DIFFERENT KINDS OF DISCRIMINATION, BUT WE'RE GOING TO COVER THAT IN THE SLIDES AS WELL.
SO WE UPDATE THE TITLE SIX PLAN ANNUALLY.
SO ACTUALLY, THE CITY TELLS, FIRST OF ALL, PLAN IN 2024.
WE UPDATED IT IN 2026, AND IT IS AUTHORIZED AND SIGNED BY THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
SO KIMBERLY ADVISOR, OUR TOLD BOARD AS OUR CITY MANAGER, I AM THE CITY'S TITLE SIX COORDINATOR, IN ADDITION TO BEING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
SO I'M ESSENTIALLY THE POINT PERSON FOR THE CITY ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS.
WHEN IT COMES TO TITLE SIX, IF YOU EVER LOOK AT THE TITLE SIX PLAN, NOT THAT YOU HAVE TO READ THROUGH ALL OF IT, CERTAIN ELEMENTS ARE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY OF DALLAS RECEIVES TRANSPORTATION GRANTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
THERE ARE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT THEN COME DOWN TO THE CITY OF DALLAS THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IN THE TITLE SIX PLAN.
SO ESSENTIALLY THERE ARE 11 CORE ELEMENTS.
YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO KNOW THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, BUT WE TRY TO HAVE THE PLAN BE MULTIMODAL BECAUSE DEPENDING ON THE FEDERAL AGENCY, IF IT'S, UM, IF IT'S AVIATION, IF IT'S DOT, IF IT'S HELPING HUMAN SERVICES, DIFFERENT KINDS OF REQUIREMENTS COME ABOUT.
SO WE TRY TO BE PROACTIVE SO THAT WAY THE TITLE SIX PLAN MEETS ALL THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY ABOUT 40 OR 50 PAGES.
THAT'S WHY WE, UH, HAVE THE LINK THERE.
AND IT'S REALLY TO ENSURE THAT NO MATTER THE PARTICULAR FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCE, WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS IS PROACTIVELY COMPLIANT.
SO, THE CITY OF DALLAS'S TITLE VI POLICY STATEMENT.
SO THIS IS SIGNED BY THE CITY MANAGER, AND IT SAYS THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS IS COMMITTED TO NON-DISCRIMINATION AND TO COMPLYING WITH TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
NOW, OF COURSE, AS WE SAID AT THE BEGINNING, TITLE SIX IS REALLY ABOUT ENSURING THAT RESIDENTS CAN ACCESS CITY SERVICES, INCLUDING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION.
AND SO, WHETHER IT'S A PROGRAM, IF IT'S AN ACTIVITY, A SERVICE, AN INITIATIVE, THERE'S A RESPONSIBILITY TO OFFER IT WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION TO A RESIDENT.
I DO ALSO WANNA MENTION THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN PROTECTED CLASSES WHEN IT COMES TO DISCRIMINATION.
IF A RESIDENT FOLLOWS A COMPLAINT AND THEY'RE THEN RETALIATED AGAINST, THAT'S ALSO COVERED BY TITLE VI.
SO WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT SERVICES ARE OFFERED EQUALLY.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT A RESIDENT IS NOT RETALIATED AGAINST, BECAUSE THEN THE CITY BECOMES OF COURSE, LIABLE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MY ROLE AS TITLE SIX COORDINATOR.
I DO WANNA STRESS THAT THE POLICY IS REGARDLESS OF FUNDING SOURCE.
SO YOU MAY SAY, YOU KNOW, THE VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION, WE DON'T RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING.
SO THE QUESTION MAY COME ABOUT, DOES TITLE SIX APPLY? AND OF COURSE, THE ANSWER IS YES, IT DOES APPLY, ESSENTIALLY, BECAUSE CONGRESS ENACTED A LAW IN 1987 THAT SAID, REGARDLESS OF FUNDING SOURCE TITLE SIX APPLIES.
SO, IF ONE DIVISION AT THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS A FEDERAL GRANT, THE WHOLE OF CITY OF DALLAS HAS TO COMPLY WITH TITLE SIX.
THESE ARE THE PROTECTED CLASSES UNDER TITLE VI.
I WILL SAY WITH THE CURRENT, UH, ADMINISTRATION, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES TO THE PROTECTED CLASSES.
SO ESSENTIALLY TWO CLASSES HAVE FALLEN AWAY, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THESE SIX PROTECTED CLASSES UNDER TITLE VI.
SO WE HAVE, OF COURSE, RACE COLOR COULD BE ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED COLOR.
IT COULD BE ALSO PERCEIVED ANCESTRY.
WE HAVE NATIONAL ORIGIN WITHIN NATIONAL ORIGIN THAT ALSO ENCOMPASSES LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR THOSE WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.
WE HAVE SEX, MEANING BIOLOGICAL SEX, OF COURSE, AGE.
AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE DISABILITY.
NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO DEFINING DISCRIMINATION, WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE HERE IS CODIFIED IN FEDERAL LAW.
SO FEDERAL LAW MAKES IT VERY CLEAR WHAT IS MEANT WHEN IT, WHEN THEY ESSENTIALLY SAY, DISCRIMINATION COULD MEAN THAT OUR RESIDENT WAS DENIED A CITY SERVICE.
IT COULD BE THAT THEY WERE TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN SOMEONE ELSE.
IT COULD MEAN THAT THEY WERE OR RECEIVED SEPARATE TREATMENT BASED UPON THE PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICS.
IT COULD MEAN THEY WERE UNDULY RESTRICTED WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
COULD MEAN THAT THEY HAD DIFFERENT ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS THEY HAD TO ADHERE TO.
THAT DIDN'T APPLY TO ANYONE ELSE IN THE PROGRAM.
WE TALKED ABOUT KIND OF DENIAL OF PARTICIPATION OR RESTRICTIONS.
AND I'LL SAY THAT VERY LAST ONE, VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY FOCUSED ON EMPLOYEES.
AND IT ESSENTIALLY SAYS IF THERE
[00:30:01]
IS A FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM WHOSE PRIMARY GOAL IS EMPLOYMENT, AND THEN AN EMPLOYEE IS DENIED PARTICIPATION IN THAT PROGRAM, IT COULD BE A TITLE VI ISSUE THAT COULD COME UP.BUT I WOULD SAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT LAST ONE.
SINCE WE CAN'T PLAY THE VIDEO, WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO I KIND OF WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR WITH SOME EXAMPLES.
AND THEN AT THE END, ALSO TRY TO SHOW A FEW EXAMPLES OF WHAT DISCRIMINATION COULD LOOK LIKE IN A HYPOTHETICAL BOARDING COMMISSION MEETING.
SO WE KNOW DIFFERENT ELIGIBILITY IS A KIND OF DISCRIMINATION.
WE ALSO KNOW IT CAN BE BASED ON RACE.
FOR EXAMPLE, A CASE MANAGER WORKING FOR LOCAL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT HELPS RESIDENTS APPLY FOR SNAP AND OTHER PUBLIC BENEFITS.
FOR SOME RESIDENTS WHO TEND TO BE BLACK, THE CASE MANAGER REQUIRES DOCUMENTATION ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT IS REQUIRED.
AND OF COURSE, THAT WOULD BE DISCRIMINATION.
WE HAVE ANOTHER EXAMPLE, WHICH IS SEPARATE TREATMENT BASED ON NATIONAL ORIGIN.
THE EXAMPLE, SEVERAL CHINESE AMERICANS WANT TO ATTEND A COMMUNITY MEETING ABOUT PLANNED STREET AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS BY THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
THEY HAD EARLIER REQUESTED INTERPRETATION SERVICES, BUT WERE TOLD THE DEPARTMENT HAD ALREADY EXPENDED ALL FUNDS FOR THE YEAR WHEN IT COMES TO INTERPRETATION, THEY STILL ATTENDED, BUT WERE TOLD TO WAIT IN A SEPARATE ROOM WHERE A SIMPLIFIED VERSION OF THE PRESENTATION WAS GIVEN WITH NO Q AND A.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY DON'T HAVE AN EQUAL CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN A MEETING AS OTHER INDIVIDUALS BASED UPON THEIR PROTECTED CHARACTERISTIC AS A, UH, A PERSON OF A DIFFERENT NATIONAL ORIGIN.
FOR THIS EXAMPLE, I'LL KIND OF SWITCH IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
WE'LL SAY HYPOTHETICALLY THAT, UH, YOU HAVE A BOARDING COMMISSION AND THEY'RE MEETING, UH, AT A NEW, UH, MEETING LOCATION.
AND LET'S SAY THERE WAS A RESIDENT WHO SIGNED UP TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, THAT INDIVIDUAL ALSO HAD A IS IN, IS IN A WHEELCHAIR, SO THEY HAVE A DISABILITY.
IT TURNED OUT WHEN THEY TRIED TO ACCESS THE CITY BUILDING TO ATTEND THE PUBLIC MEETING, GIVE THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT, IT TURNED OUT THERE WAS NO ACCESSIBLE PATH.
WELL SAY THEY WERE ABLE TO PARK, BUT THERE WAS NO CURB CUT, SO THEY COULDN'T ACTUALLY ENTER THE BUILDING.
AND SO IN THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE, IT WOULD BE AN ISSUE BECAUSE THEY WERE DENIED A SERVICE BEING ABLE TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT BASED ON THEIR DISABILITY.
NOW, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, UH, THERE, THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S A ROLE FOR CITY, CITY STAFF AND MAKING SURE THAT, UH, THAT A MEETING ROOM IS ACCESSIBLE.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THAT EXAMPLE JUST SO ALSO, YOU KNOW, THAT, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO BOARDING COMMISSION MEETINGS, THERE ARE DIFFERENT CONSIDERATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S EQUAL ACCESS.
ON THE ONE HAND, IT'S AN ACCESSIBLE PATHWAY FOR RESIDENTS.
SO IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD JUST TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.
BUT OF COURSE, AND I, UH, WE CAN ALSO PROACTIVELY LOOK AND ADDRESS THAT, IF EVER THE MEETING LOCATION CHANGES FOR Y'ALL'S COMMISSION.
THE CITY OF DALLAS ALSO HAS A PROGRAM ASSURANCE DOCUMENT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO NOTE, OR I, I WON'T GO INTO THIS TOO MUCH.
IT'S JUST THAT THE CITY HAS TO SIGN A DOCUMENT THAT THEY COMPLY WITH ALL STATUTORY AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES.
WHEN IT COMES TO TITLE VI, THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S, UH, THE TITLE SIX WITHIN THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
AND THEN THERE ARE RELATED AUTHORITIES LIKE THE A DA LAW, LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO AGE DISCRIMINATION.
SO IT'S JUST PART OF A BIG PROGRAM WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NON-DISCRIMINATION.
AND OF COURSE, OUR COMPLIANCE WITH TITLE SIX MAKES SURE THAT WE RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING.
WE MAINTAIN ELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL GRANTS.
AND SO THIS ASSURANCE, UH, IS PART OF SEVERAL CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY'S, UH, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN IT'S ALSO EMBEDDED IN SOLICITATIONS BECAUSE TITLE SIX REQUIREMENTS FLOW DOWN TO CONTRACTOR SUBCONTRACTORS.
UH, THE ONLY THING I'LL MENTION ON THIS SLIDE IS THAT WE'VE ALREADY TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, BUT ULTIMATELY, IF THERE'S A TITLE VI VIOLATION, WHETHER THAT'S IN THE CONTEXT OF A BOARDING COMMISSION, WHETHER THAT'S IN THE CONTEXT OF AN EMPLOYEE, UM, IT, IT'S AN, IT'S AN, IT'S AN ISSUE FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
OF COURSE, ON THE ONE HAND, FEDERAL FUNDING COULD BE JEOPARDIZED, PARTICULARLY IF THE TITLE SIX INVESTIGATION AND COMPLAINT RESOLUTION PROCESS.
UM, BUT OF COURSE, IT'S ALSO AN, AN ISSUE IN TERMS OF THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE WITH RESIDENTS.
IF, IF YOU, IF YOU'VE NOTICED, IF YOU LOOK AT THE VETERAN AFFAIRS AGENDA, YOU'LL NOTICE TOWARDS THE END OF THE AGENDA WE'VE STARTED TO INCLUDE THE TITLE SIX LANGUAGE.
SO IF YOU FLIP TO THE END OF THE AGENDA, YOU'LL SEE AT THE TITLE SIX PUBLIC NOTICE.
IN ADDITION TO THOSE STANDARD NOTICES.
UM, THIS IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS, WHEN THEY INTERACT WITH THE BOARD AND COMMISSION, MAYBE THEY WANT TO GIVE PUBLIC
[00:35:01]
COMMENT.THEY ALSO KNOW THEIR RIGHTS AS A RESIDENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN INTERACT WITH THE BOARD AND COMMISSION FREELY WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION.
OF COURSE, IF AN ISSUE COMES UP, THAT'S WHEN THEY CAN THEN CALL MYSELF.
SO THIS PUBLIC NOTICE IS PART OF ALL OHCE AGENDAS.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
SO THROUGH THIS PUBLIC NOTICE, THEY KNOW THEIR RIGHTS, THEY KNOW THE PROTECTED CLASSES, AND THEY KNOW WHERE TO GO TO FOR COMPLAINTS.
WE ALSO PROVIDE THIS IN SPANISH.
AND IF THEY EVER NEED AN ALTERNATIVE FORMAT, UM, PERHAPS THEY HAVE A DISABILITY, PERHAPS THEY'RE LOW VISION, PERHAPS THEY'RE BLIND, WE THEN PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE FORMATS FOR THEM AS WELL.
I'LL SAY FOR THIS SLIDE, THAT LANGUAGE ACCESS.
YOU, YOU, YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT DESIGNATES, UH, ENGLISH AS THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE.
WHAT I'LL SAY IS THAT UNDER CIVIL RIGHTS LAW AND SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT LANGUAGE ACCESS IS STILL PROTECTED.
SO THAT'S DEFINITELY KIND OF A CONSIDERATION.
SCHWINN, AND I ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO BE AWARE OF, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT LANGUAGE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY WITH THE BOARDING COMMISSION.
UM, BUT IT'S ALSO GOOD AS APPOINTED OFFICIALS FOR YOU TO KNOW AS WELL, THAT IF A, IF A RESIDENT NEEDS LANGUAGE ACCESS SUPPORT, IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE THAT.
SO IF THEY'RE, THEY WANT TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEY'RE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT, AND I HAVE TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO A, TO AN INTERPRETER, SO THAT WAY THEY CAN GIVE Y'ALL PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING DISCRIMINATION, REALLY THE CORE OF IT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE FOLLOW THE CITY OF DALLAS'S VALUE VALUES OF SERVICE.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EMPATHY WITH OUR RESIDENTS.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HOLD OURSELVES TO A HIGH ETHICAL STANDARD.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE EXCELLENCE IN TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RESIDENTS, THAT WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO SEEK INTENTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR RESIDENTS, AND THAT WE'RE ALSO EMPOWERING THEM WITH INFORMATION.
SO THERE ARE A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THIS CAN COME UP.
UM, SO FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL USE IT AS AN AS AN EXAMPLE.
YOU KNOW, UNDER CHAPTER EIGHT OF THE CITY CODE, A RESIDENT HAS UP TO THREE MINUTES TO GIVE A PUBLIC COMMENT.
LET'S SAY, HYPOTHETICALLY THAT A RESIDENT, UH, COMES TO Y'ALL TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, BUT THEY HAVE A, A, A, A SPEECH IMPEDIMENT THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO VOCALIZE.
AND SO AS A COMMISSION, YOU MAY NOTICE THEM STRUGGLING DURING THE THEM GETTING PUBLIC COMMENT.
YOU KNOW, THEY CAN VOCALIZE WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, BUT THEY MAY NEED A LITTLE BIT ADDITIONAL TIME WHEN IT COMES TO REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS.
THERE'S NO MAGIC WORD A RESIDENT HAS TO SAY FOR AN ACCOMMODATION TO BE GRANTED.
IT'S REALLY KIND OF INCUMBENT ON US AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS TO KIND OF RECOGNIZE THAT NEED AND SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, I, I, I NOTICED IF YOU NEED MORE TIME, YOU CAN HAVE MORE TIME.
AND THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IN TERMS OF THEIR DISABILITY.
SO IF THAT EVER HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS KIND OF KNOW THAT, UM, YOU WANNA PROACTIVELY RECOGNIZE IT, OFFER THEM A FEW ADDITIONAL MINUTES SO THEY CAN ADEQUATELY EXPRESS THEMSELVES.
SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF ONE EXAMPLE THAT, UH, MAY COME UP IN A BOARDING COMMISSION MEETING.
UH, WE'LL SKIP THIS NEXT SLIDE.
SO AS THE TITLE AS THE CITY'S TITLE SIX COORDINATOR, I RECEIVE ALL TITLE SIX COMPLAINTS.
UH, UH, THEY CAN FILE IT, THE REPRESENTATIVE CAN FILE IT.
UM, A GROUP OF PEOPLE CAN FILE IT, FILE, IT CAN BE ON A PROGRAM, SERVICE OR ACTIVITY.
COMPLAINTS CAN COME IN IN TERMS OF A BOARDING COMMISSION MEETING.
THEY HAVE 180 DAYS TO FILE THE COMPLAINT AND IT MUST BE IN WRITING.
AND ESSENTIALLY, I SEE'S BUSY, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE NEXT SLIDE SAYS THAT I HAVE, UH, SEVEN DAYS TO RESPOND TO THE COMPLAINTS OF BUSINESS DAYS.
THAT ESSENTIALLY JUST MEANS I HAVE TO SAY THAT I HAVE RECEIVED YOUR COMPLAINT AND INVESTIGATING THE COMPLAINT.
I THEN GO ON A FACT FINDING MISSION.
OF COURSE, I TRY TO BE IMPARTIAL.
WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS I'M, I'M NOT A LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE.
I DON'T REPRESENT THE RESIDENT.
I'M KIND OF A NEUTRAL ARBITER WHEN IT COMES TO TITLE VI.
SO I, UH, INTERVIEW, OF COURSE THE RESIDENT.
I INTERVIEW THE DEPARTMENT, WE'LL SAY A BOARD COMMISSION AS WELL, TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED.
I MAY ALSO HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH THE CITY'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK.
AND THEN I HAVE 30 BUSINESS DAYS TO COME TO A OUTCOME FOR THE CASE.
IT COULD BE THAT THE COMPLAINT WAS ACCEPTED AND MAYBE A CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS TO BE TAKEN.
FOR EXAMPLE, TRAINING HAS TO BE PROVIDED TO A BOARD OR COMMISSIONER TO A CITY DEPARTMENT.
IT COULD BE THAT THE COMPLAINT WAS OUTSIDE THE CITY'S JURISDICTION, BUT I MAY TRY TO OFFER ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
'CAUSE WE ALWAYS WANNA TRY TO HELP AN INDIVIDUAL, EVEN IF WE'LL SAY THAT THE COMPLAINT WAS OUT OF THE CITY'S JURISDICTION.
THEY FILED IT 181 DAYS AFTER IT
[00:40:01]
HAPPENED, WHAT HAVE YOU.WE'LL SKIP THE SURVEY 'CAUSE I, I KNOW YOU'LL HAVE OTHER WORK TO DO IN THE MEETING.
SO I'M HAPPY TO TAKE, UH, ANY QUESTIONS Y'ALL HAVE.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADD MORE OF A DISCUSSION? YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, UH, REGARDING THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE.
UM, YOU SAID THAT'S NOT AFFECTING THE CITY OF DALLAS WITH WHOEVER.
UH, IT DID CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF A COMPLICATION.
'CAUSE IF YOU NOTICE ON OUR PUBLIC NOTICE, WE DON'T SAY SPECIFICALLY LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.
UM, WE WERE TOLD BY OUR FEDERAL CONTACT THAT WE CAN'T NAME IT AS SUCH AS A, AS A CLASS BY ITSELF.
BUT THERE WAS A SUPREME COURT CASE IN THE 80 WHERE, UH, UH, LANGUAGE ACCESS WAS COVERED UNDER NATIONAL ORIGIN DISCRIMINATION.
SO IT IS, IT IS STILL COVERED.
I WILL SAY THOUGH, THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS FINALIZING SOME ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES IN RESPONSE TO THAT EO.
SO THE SITUATION MAY CHANGE, BUT FOR NOW, LANGUAGE ACCESS IS PROTECTED.
UM, YOU SAID THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION TOOK AWAY SOME OF THE PROTECTED CLASSES.
WHAT, WHAT ONE, THERE WAS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER BY, UH, BILL CLINTON.
IT WAS MORE OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE EXECUTIVE ORDER, BUT IT ALSO ENCOMPASSED SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AS A PROTECTED CLASS.
UM, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TI TITLE VI, WHICH IS FEDERAL LAW, BUT THEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF RELATED AUTHORITIES.
SOME OF THOSE COULD ALSO BE EOS.
AND SO THE, IN THIS EXAMPLE IT EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT BILL CLINTON HAD SIGNED, SO IN 2024, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS WAS COVERED.
UM, IF SOMEONE FELT THEY WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BASED UPON THEIR, UH, MAYBE THEY WERE LOW INCOME, FOR EXAMPLE, TO TRY TO ACCESS THE CITY SERVICE AND WERE DENIED BASED ON THAT BACKGROUND, UH, THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAD RESCINDED THAT EO.
SO ESSENTIALLY WE HAD TO REMOVE SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS FROM THE TITLE SIX PLAN.
UM, SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF, UH, ONE EXAMPLE.
AND THEN THE OTHER EXAMPLE IS OF COURSE, UH, UH, LIMITED INTER PROFICIENCY.
UH, IT JUST MADE IT, UH, WE, WE JUST HAD TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T NAME IT AS SUCH, BUT THAT IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT IT WAS WITHIN NATIONAL ORIGIN.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTION? WELL, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
ALRIGHT, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE, WORKING GROUP REPORTS.
WE WILL HAVE TO TRANSITION ASSISTANCE.
UH, MR. ORTEGA BEGIN WITH THE ENGAGEMENT.
TODAY'S PRESENTATION WAS, WAS PART OF THAT AS WELL.
AND THEN WE HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE LINED UP THAT WE'RE GONNA, I DISCUSS OFFLINE FIRST BEFORE WE CAN, UH, UM, GET 'EM TO PRESENT WHETHER THEY'RE IN PERSON OR, OR, OR VIRTUAL.
BUT, UH, WE DID REACH OUT TO THE CEO MR. RYAN.
UM, THAT'S ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN THAT I MET LAST YEAR IN NOVEMBER WHEN THEY DID THE PRIVATE FUNDING.
UH, GOVERNOR RICK PERRY WAS THERE AS WELL.
UM, THE LONE SURVIVOR, THE, THE, THE NAVY CO, THE LONE SURVIVOR BOOK.
AND, AND, AND THERE WOULD BE OFFICER RELL WAS THERE.
UM, I MEAN THIS IS A BIG, BIG IMPACT WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.
UM, I DID REACH OUT TO DALLAS COUNTY TO SEE IF THEY HAVE A BENCHMARK OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND A FULL TRANSPARENCY.
UM, THEY HAVE NOT REPLIED TO ME, SO I'M GUESSING I'M GONNA BENCHMARK AS THAT, AS OTHER VETERANS STRUGGLING.
AND, UM, I DID CC AS WELL AND COMMISSIONER PRESDO DID REACH OUT TO THAT INDIVIDUAL.
SO IT'S BASED ON WHO THEY KNOW AND HOW THEY RESPOND.
SO MAYBE JOE SCHMO WITH A GMAIL LIKE MYSELF, YOU KNOW, ISN'T, ISN'T GETTING THROUGH.
AND I KIND OF DID THAT ON PURPOSE.
UM, I DIDN'T USE MY DALLAS EMAIL FOR THAT REASON 'CAUSE I WANTED TO, TO SEE WHAT THE ACTUAL RESPONSE WAS.
UM, AND I DID TWO AVENUES, SAME THING.
UH, THE GENERAL INFO, NO RESPONSE.
AND THEN I DIRECTLY CONTACTED THE DIRECTOR AND STILL NO REPLIES.
SO IT'S, IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE, BUT AS VETERANS AND WE'RE ALL KIND OF NODDING THE SAME WAY AS IT'S EXPECTED, AND IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT THESE GUYS DO PLAY THE ROLE THAT THEY'RE SERVING VETERANS, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY'RE SERVING AND HOW THEY'RE SERVING THEM.
[00:45:01]
SO, UM, THAT'S GONNA BE A PERSONAL, UM, TASK FOR ME TOUM, AND I'M LAUGHING 'CAUSE THAT'S ALL I CAN DO.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY 15 MINUTES THAT I HAVE.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. ORTEGA? YES.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER HOUSTON FROM DISTRICT THREE.
UM, SO DALLAS, YOU SAID DALLAS COUNTY TO MY VETERAN SERVICES, YES, MA'AM.
UM, I DON'T HAVE THE EMAIL IN FRONT OF ME, BUT YES, I REACHED OUT TO, UH, INDIVIDUALS AND I ALSO DO WISH THAT MR. UH, ROSADO WAS HERE AS WELL.
'CAUSE HE'S THE ONE THAT DIRECTED ME, UH, DIRECT DIRECTLY DIRECTED ME TO THAT INDIVIDUAL.
UM, YOU THE ONLY, THEY'RE NOT ANSWERING PHONE CALLS AT ALL.
YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO UP THERE.
UM, WHICH IS SAD, BUT, UM, EVERY TIME I GO, THEY'RE NOT THERE EITHER.
UM, THE ONLY THING I NOTICED NOTICED THAT THEY DO ARE, UM, HELPING WITH, UM, VA DISABILITY CLAIMS. THAT'S THE ONLY THING THEY ACTUALLY DO, UM, FROM MY EXPERIENCE WITH THEM.
SO, AND I KNOW THEY HAVE A CHANGEOVER RIGHT NOW.
UM, YEAH, SO IT'S, IT'S CRAZY RIGHT NOW.
BUT, UM, YEAH, I'LL BE UP THERE GOING BACK UP THERE REALLY SOON TOO.
I SEE THAT YOU ALSO SHARE THAT SMILE
THAT THAT ENLISTED YOU WERE ENLISTED RIGHT NOW, SUSAN? YES SIR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THIS WORKING GROUP, UH, MS. HUDSON, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON TRANSITION ASSISTANCE? IS THAT ME? HOUSTON? YES.
SO, UM, FOR TRANSITION ASSISTANCE, UM, I'VE REACHED OUT TO A FEW ORGANIZATIONS.
I DON'T KNOW IF I TOLD YOU BACK IN AUGUST, I WENT TO CAMP SOUTHERN GROUND.
THEY HAVE, UM, TRANSITION ASSISTANCE TOO THROUGH WARRIOR WEEK.
UM, A LOT OF THE INFORMATION I HAVE FROM THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, THEY'RE ALREADY IN THE HUB.
UM, SO ONCE WE GET THAT UP AND RUNNING, THAT'S GONNA HAVE ALL THE CONTACTS FOR THAT.
BUT I'VE REACHED OUT TO A LOT OF GROUPS AND YEAH, THEY'RE LISTED IN THERE AS WELL.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. HOUSTON ABOUT TRANSITION ASSISTANCE? OKAY, THANK YOU.
UH, MR. HUNTER, YOU HAVE, UH, A REPORT ON EMPLOYMENT SERVICES? UH, YES.
UH, I MADE CONTACT, UH, THROUGH ONE OF THESE JOB FAIRS WITH A, A NAVY VETERAN WHO WORKS NOW IN IT HERE IN DALLAS.
AND I ASKED HIM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT'S THE BIGGEST STUMBLING BLOCK FOR VETERANS SEEKING EMPLOYMENT? AND HE SAID, FRAGMENTATION, JUST LIKE THAT SMU STUDY.
AND HE SAID, UM, HE EMAILED ME AND HE SAID, THERE ARE MANY ORGANIZATIONS, PROGRAMS, JOB BOARDS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE, BUT VETERANS ARE OFTEN LEFT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GO, WHAT THEY QUALIFY FOR AND WHAT TO DO NEXT FOR EMPLOYMENT.
I THINK WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB CONNECTING VETERANS EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS TO THE ACTUAL EMPLOYER NEEDS AND, AND MEASURING OUTCOMES, NOT JUST REFERRALS OR PROGRAM PARTICIPATION.
AND HE'S, HE'S INVOLVED WITH THIS DALLAS GROUP CALLED AHEAD JOBS.COM THAT'S TRYING TO DO EXACTLY THAT AND MATCH THE SKILLS BETTER.
AND HE SAID HE'D BE HAPPY TO COME HERE AND TALK ABOUT IT SOMETIME IF YOU WANT.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. HUNTER? OUR HOUSING? MR. COLEMAN, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT ON HOUSING? YES SIR.
MR. CHAIR, I BELIEVE THIS MAY HAVE ALREADY, UH, BEEN REPORTED OUT, UH, UH, SPEND AT SOME POINT, BUT IF NOT, UH, WE HAVE GREAT NEWS THERE ACROSS THE STREET, UH, AT PATRIOT CROSSING ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE VA HOSPITAL, THERE'S A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT SPECIFICALLY FOR VETERANS, UH, UH, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE, THAT WILL BE, UH, UH, HAVING A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY VERY SOON.
UM, AT THE, UH, ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE VA HOSPITAL FOR VETERANS.
UH, I'VE WORKING WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER OF MAX JOHNSON ON THAT INITIATIVE, SO GLAD TO TO REPORT IT.
YEAH, I WENT TO THE LAST GROUNDBREAKING BREAKING AND, UH, THERE WAS NOBODY THERE AT THAT SITE, SO I HOPE THEY ACCOMPLISHED THAT THIS TIME.
DO YOU KNOW WHEN THAT WILL BE? I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATE, BUT I CAN REPORT BACK WITH YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. COLEMAN? REAL QUICK? COMMISSIONER COLEMAN? THIS IS COMMISSIONER COLE.
UH, AND THIS IS ALSO INVOLVING WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER HOUSTON.
[00:50:01]
HOUSES THAT ARE GONNA BE BUILT, THEY'RE ALSO BUILDING WITHIN, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ALSO BUILDING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY CENTER WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY.AND SO ARE THERE PLANS OR ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT, THAT WE HAVE A PRESENCE WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY CENTER AS A COMMISSION OR AS A CITY OR AS A SOMETHING? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER HOUSTON, HE KNOWS EVERYBODY AND EVERY POSITION OF THE PLAYER, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S A PHYSICAL LOCATION THAT I THINK COMPLIMENTS OUR, OUR DIGITAL HUB.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AN EXCELLENT POINT.
UH, THAT'S MY HOPE AND INTENTION THAT WE WILL HAVE A PRESENCE THERE.
UH, BUT I CAN ALSO FOLLOW UP ON THAT AND, AND LET YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY? ANY MORE COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MR. MR. COLEMAN.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE DOWN TO HEALTHCARE.
[IX. Veteran Affairs Commission Working Group Reports]
UH, MR. WESTRUM OR MR. SMITH? YES.SO, UM, I'M PENDING, UM, CONFIRMATION OF A MEETING WITH A, UM, VA OFFICIAL TO DISCUSS HEALTHCARE.
WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE, UM, HOPEFULLY NEXT MONTH.
UM, JOE DARLE, UH, COMMISSIONER OF DISTRICT 11.
I DID RESEARCH THE LEGAL SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED, UM, OR, OR VETERANS.
UM, IT TURNED OUT TO BE, THERE WAS ONE THAT WAS PROMINENT THROUGH THE, THEY'RE CALLED A DALLAS VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM.
TALKED TO ONE OF THE ASSISTANT MANAGING ATTORNEYS TO CONFIRM THAT THEY DO SUPPORT, UH, VETERANS, UH, THEIR WEBSITE, ET CETERA.
AND I PROVIDED THE INFORMATION TO COMMISSIONER HOUSTON, UM, GOT A NOTE BACK FROM HER THAT IT'S ALREADY ON THE HUB, SO WE'RE IN BUSINESS.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? LEGAL SERVICES? I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
SO THERE'S ALSO, WITHIN THE COUNTY ITSELF, A WHOLE VETERANS LEGAL SYSTEM WHERE THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY FELL BACK DOWN.
CAN WE FIND OUT WHAT THOSE CONTACT POINTS ARE? POSSIBLY? I, I, I HAVE FORGOTTEN THE NAME OF THE SIDE OF THE JUDGE.
MAYBE THAT'D BE A GREAT PROGRAM.
YEAH, I DID NOT RUN ACROSS ANYTHING AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
THERE WAS THREE OTHERS THAT WERE EITHER BROADLY ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, NORTH, UM, NORTH TEXAS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
BUT THERE WAS ONLY THE ONE THAT IDENTIFIED THAT WAS REALLY A LOCAL DALLAS THAT PROVIDED SUPPORT TO THE LOCAL DALLAS.
I, I'M THINKING, AND WHAT I'M THINKING OF IS THE, IS THE NORTH TEXAS REGION THAT HAS A WHOLE LEGAL SYSTEM TO WHERE THE VETERANS GET, YOU KNOW, CROSS LIES WITH THE LEGAL SYSTEM.
THEY, THEY TRY TO TAKE 'EM BACK OUT THE LEGAL SYSTEM BUT KEEP THEM IN IT SO THAT THEY CAN GET IT RESOLVED.
THIS IS OR
YEAH, SO WE HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE VET COURT SYSTEM, RIGHT? AND THEY'RE CHANGE MAKING SOME THINGS AROUND WITH JUDGE COLLINS WHO IS A, UH, I THINK SHE'S AN ARMY VETERAN.
UM, WE DO HAVE A MEETING WITH HER, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO IMPLEMENT SOME THINGS WITH MENTAL HEALTH, UM, TO ENSURE THAT VETERANS ARE GETTING THOSE SERVICES AS WELL.
UM, SO THAT IS DEFINITELY IN DALLAS COUNTY.
I CAN'T THINK OF THE OTHER JUDGE'S NAME, BUT, UM, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MEET WITH THEM SOON AND I WILL TRANSFER THAT INFORMATION OVER TO YOU, UH, PERTAINING TO THE, THAT COURT AND THE CHANGES THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S PERFECT BECAUSE I THINK THAT AT SOME POINT THE ORGANIZATION YOU FOUND, WHICH GOES FOR DALLAS FILE FOR ATTORNEYS AND THAT'S A, THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT THAT PARTICULAR LEGAL SYSTEM SHOULD BE REACHING OUT TO.
WHEN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SHOW UP AND SAY, HEY, I'M GONNA REPRESENT MYSELF YOU, THAT'S A BAD IDEA.
BUT WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPEN TO A LOT OF VETERANS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? FINALLY WE HAVE THE HUB.
MS. HOUSTON, DO YOU HAVE A REPORT FOR US? SO UNFORTUNATELY I'M NOT THERE.
I'M SICK AND I DON'T WANNA GET Y'ALL SICK.
UM, UH, INE, I KNOW HE GAVE ME SOME UPDATES ON THE HUB, SO HE'S GONNA BRIEF THAT REALLY QUICK SINCE I CAN'T, UM, REALLY BE THERE TO HELP.
I WILL SAY WE DID GET A BUILDING LAST TUESDAY,
[00:55:01]
UM, DONATED TO MYSELF AND ANOTHER ORGANIZATION.UM, I DID A PROPOSAL TO DO, UH, MILITARY AND FAMILY, UM, EVENTS THERE AND THEY AGREED AND THEY GAVE ME A HUNDRED PERCENT GOOD TO GO.
UM, SO I HAVE A LIST OF THINGS I WILL BE DOING AND THEY'RE ALL BASED OFF OF THE 10 THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
UM, SO RIGHT NOW I'M GETTING PARTNERS TOGETHER TO DO FREE, UM, RESOURCES.
WE WILL BE PROVIDING FOOD, UM, UH, HOUSING.
WE WILL BE DOING TRAINING THERE AND GETTING VETERAN CERTIFIED ON THE SPOT.
UM, AND WE ALSO WILL BE, HAVE A COMPUTER ROOM AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST GETTING THE FACILITY CLEANED UP.
UM, IT'S IN PLEASANT GROVE, UM, ON MILLER.
IT'S BASICALLY THE URBANDALE AREA, SO IT'S PLEASANT GROVE.
IT'S ON MILLER AND MILITARY PARKWAY.
UM, I WILL SEND Y'ALL THE INFORMATION WHEN WE HAVE THE GROUNDBREAKING AND HAVE Y'ALL COME OUT, LOOK AT IT AND KIND OF SHARE ANY IDEAS THAT YOU WANT TO SUPPORT THE VETERAN.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE.
WE HAVE A, A PHYSICAL LOCATION SEMI, UM, DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.
UH, SO YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THAT ONE.
IF IT'S OKAY, I WOULD'VE LIKE TO SHARE THE UPDATE THAT WE ALSO HAVE WITH REGARDS TO THE WEBSITE AS PERFECT
SO, UH, OKAY, SO THE WEB GROUP, UH, WAS ABLE TO IMPLEMENT WHAT WE HAD GIVEN THEM BACK OF WHAT WE HAD GIVEN THEM A FEEDBACK.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS STILL THE MOCK WEBSITE.
AND THE GOAL IS TO STILL REARRANGE THESE IN A WAY THAT'S GONNA WORK BASED ON WHAT THEY WERE SAYING, THE PIXELS.
SO WHAT WE HAD INITIALLY ASKED WAS TO HAVE TWO ROWS OF FIVE AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK.
SO WHAT WILL WORK IS BASICALLY TWO COLUMNS OF FIVE, BUT THOSE ARE JUST, I GUESS, UH, VISUAL THINGS.
BUT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS FOR EACH OF THESE, THEY HAVE LINKED THEM TO THE FAVORITES FOLDERS THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER HOUSTON BASICALLY WAS ABLE TO TO ALLOCATE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS INTO.
AND SO WE HAVE THIS BASICALLY SET UP ANY ONE OF THESE THAT YOU CLICK, WE'LL LEAD TO THAT FAVORITES FOLDER AND I WILL SEND THIS OUT TO YOU AS EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT YET LIVE, BECAUSE PART OF WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE IS FOR YOU, ESPECIALLY WITHIN YOUR OWN WORKING GROUP, TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO THOSE FOLDERS, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S THERE, AND HOPEFULLY PROVIDE SOME FURTHER FEEDBACK IN A WAY THAT'S GONNA HELP MAKE IT, UH, ALL THE MORE MEANINGFUL.
AND YOU'LL SEE HERE THAT AT THE BOTTOM THAT THEY ALSO PLACE THIS, UH, SEARCH BAR HERE SO THAT IF ANY OF THE UH, UH, THINGS THAT A VETERAN OR OR SUPPORTER MAY BE LOOKING FOR THAT'S NOT WITHIN THESE 10 CATEGORIES, THEY CAN EASILY BEGIN HERE WITH PUTTING IN THEIR ZIP CODE AND WHATEVER THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND IT WILL WORK, IT WILL TAKE 'EM TO THAT LOCATION OF WHATEVER IT IS OF SERVICES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED OR RESOURCES.
SO THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMS TO BE LEFT IS BASICALLY JUST THE ARRANGING OF THESE TILES.
SO HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY THAT IS SOMETHING WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET DONE THIS MONTH OF OCTOBER.
AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN HOPEFULLY IN NOVEMBER WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO LIVE.
THE NEXT STEP WOULD THEN BE IS TO WORK ON MARKETING.
SO WE DO HAVE, WE DO HAVE WITHIN THE CITY THE THE CCX, WHICH IS OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE AND THEY HANDLE A LOT OF THAT SORT OF STUFF.
AND SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND HAVE THEM HOPEFULLY, UM, TOGETHER SOMETHING OF A COMPREHENSIVE MARKETING PLAN.
BUT I THINK WHAT WOULD ALSO BE GREAT AND OUR, MY DISCUSSION WITH COMMISSIONER HOUSTON IS TO HAVE YOUR FEEDBACK ON WHAT YOU WOULD THINK WOULD BE ESSENTIAL IN THE MARKETING SO THAT THIS WAY WE CAN PREEMPTIVELY MAYBE FILL ANY GAPS THAT MAY BE THERE WITH WHAT THEY MAY OFFER US.
BUT THEY'LL, THEY'LL BE, THAT'LL BE AN ONGOING CONVERSATION OR HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE ABLE TO COME PRESENT, WHATEVER THAT MARKETING PLAN WILL BE TO THE COMMISSION AND THEN NEXT STEPS AS WE LOOK TO MOVE FORWARD.
BUT IDEALLY WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS HUB IS GOING TO BE, THIS NAVIGATION HUB IS GOING TO BE AS WELL KNOWN AS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE VALUABLE SERVICES THAT WE HOPE ARE GOING TO BE, UH, FACILITATED THROUGH IT.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NOT ABOUT THE HUB.
IT'S DIFFICULT FOR NAVIGATE THROUGH THE CITY, BE THEIR IT GROUP, GET THINGS DONE.
REAL QUICK, UH, COMMISSIONER, UM, HOUSTON, UH, SO THE BUILDING THAT WAS DONATED TO YOU GUYS, IS THAT THE OLD FIRST BAPTIST BUILDING? YES.
YEAH, SO WE'RE, UM, THE CHURCH WILL STILL BELONG TO A CHURCH, BUT WE'LL HAVE THE TWO OUTSIDE.
ONE IS GONNA BE ACTIVITY CENTER, UH, WHERE WE'LL DO THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND THEN SENIORS WILL BE DOING WORKOUT FOR SENIORS THERE.
AND THEN THE OTHER BUILDING WILL BE OUR OFFICES, UM, THAT WE'RE, WE WILL HAVE THERE.
ARE YOU GONNA HAVE ANY NEED FOR ANY KIND OF CHANGES
[01:00:01]
OR FINISH OUT WORK? UM, I WILL LET YOU KNOW 'CAUSE I NEED TO TALK TO YOU OFFLINE, SO I WOULD DEFINITELY LET Y'ALL KNOW RIGHT.THE CHANGES NEED AND, AND YOU CAN YOU LET ME KNOW SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I MIGHT KNOW PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THAT BUSINESS THAT HAVE COME DO IT AND DONATE THEIR TIME AND MATERIAL THIS WELL.
YES, WE DEFINITELY WOULD NEED THAT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BOTH OF YOU FOR THE HARD WORK YOU'VE DONE.
I JUST WANNA MAKE A, A OVERALL COMMENT TO EVERYBODY, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US HERE, EITHER PRESENT OR ONLINE.
YOU, THERE'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK WE'VE DONE THE LAST, WHAT, SIX, NINE MONTHS SOLID WORK, UH, WE'RE SEEING SOME FRUIT, UM, AND PHYSICAL BUILDING IS
YOU KNOW, IT'S UH, IT'S REALLY, REALLY HEARTWARMING MOMENT FOR, FOR ME PERSONALLY, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE VISION IS HAPPENING SO IT'S UH, IT'S NOT THROTTLED BACK.
LET'S CONTINUE AT A GOOD PACE AND LET'S, UH, MOVE FORWARD.
[X. Discussion Item: The Annual Report Update ]
UH, NUMBER 10, ANNUAL REPORT UPDATE.SO THE MOST RECENT UPDATE WAS SHARED WITH YOU, UH, VIA THE EMAIL AND WE INCORPORATED FEEDBACK THAT WAS PROVIDED BY, UM, I BELIEVE IT WAS TWO OF OUR COMMISSIONERS.
SO THAT OPPORTUNITY, THAT WINDOW IS STILL THERE FOR WHAT YOU CAN SEE OF THE MOST UPDATED, UH, DRAFT.
SO WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING OF YOUR FEEDBACK, YOUR COMMENTS, ANYTHING TO HELP COMPLETE THE REPORT AND TO REFINE IT.
AND SO YOU CAN SHARE THAT WITH ME BY, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY A WEEK BEFORE NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS GONNA BE NOVEMBER 5TH.
AND I'LL DO MY BEST TO INCORPORATE THAT WITHIN THE ANNUAL REPORT.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, WE'LL GO TO NUMBER
[XI. Announcements]
11.THE ANNUAL VA STANDOUT IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29TH AT 9:00 AM TO 2:00 PM UH, AT THE VA HOSPITAL ON ER ROAD IN DANCE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? NOT COVERED.
WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE TWO BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENTS JUST TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING ON THE VETERAN'S DAY PROCLAMATION.
IN ADDITION, WE WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE CITY IS ABOUT TO RECEIVE IN THE AREA OF A $300,000 GRANT FROM THE TEXAS UH, VETERANS COMMISSION.
THAT'S GOING TO THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDICIARY, AND THEN IT'S FUNDING THREE PARTICULAR PROGRAMS, THE SOUTH OAK OAK CLIFF VETERANS TREATMENT COURT.
THERE'S ALSO A GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO SUPPORT VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
AND THEN THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL, UH, HOUSING GRANT.
AND SO WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE OF INTEREST TO Y SO WE'RE REACHING OUT TO SEE IF WE CAN COORDINATE A BRIEFING PRESENTATION IN THE FUTURE.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU IF, UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING ELSE WE'VE KIND OF RUN OVER.
UM, DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I SO MOVE DISTRICT SEVEN SECONDS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT WILL YOU DEIFY BY SAYING AYE.