HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Committee For Persons With Disabilities - 08/05/2009Committee For Persons With Disabilities
Summary of Minutes for August 5, 2009 [REC-EivED
1. CALL TO ORDER EP 1 0 2009Chairperson Abel Alonzo called the meeting to order at 3:38 p.m.
ECRETARY'S OFFICE
A. ROLL CALL
Committee Members Present:
Abel Alonzo Herman Lee Jones Thomas Dreyer
Harvey Salinas Carlos Vargas
Committee Members Absent:
Will Hinojosa (Excused) Dr. Candelario Huerta (Excused) Irene Martinez (Excused)
Rosa Valdez (Excused)
Staff Members Present:
Leon Bazar (Human Relations) Wanese Butler (Human Relations) Stacie Talbert (Parks & Recreation)
Grace Gonzalez (Development services) Jamie Pyle (Engineering) Deborah Brown (Legal)
Staff Members Absent:
Patsy Garcia (Human Relations)
REQUESTS FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES
MOTION Motion to excuse Rosa Valdez, Will Hinojosa and Irene Martinez for the August 5, 2009
meeting made by Harvey Salinas and seconded in unison. Motion passed.
2. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF 07/01/09
Item # 2. was skipped.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS (LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES)
• Gloria Smith — Chief of Operations, Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority
(RTA). Ms. Smith attended the meeting to observe and to provide her contact information
to the Committee. Ms. Smith stated the RTA is available to assist the Committee with
initiatives and training. Contact information: Office: 903-3570 or gsmith(�ccrta.orq.
• Darren Bates — Disability Program Navigator, Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend.
Mr. Bates also attended the meeting to observe and to provide his contact information to the
Committee. Contact information: Office: 855-3021 or darrin.bates(cbcoastalworksource.com.
[Mr. Alonzo continued with Item # 2.]
2. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF 07/01/09
MOTION Motion to approve the July 1, 2009 meeting minutes made by Harvey Salinas and
seconded by Carlos Vargas. Motion passed.
[Mr. Alonzo continued with Item # 4.]
4. PRESENTATIONS — NONE
SCANNED
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5. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT
Mr. Alonzo began the Chairperson's Report by thanking the Vice -Chairman for filling in
during Mr. Alonzo's absence during the July Committee Meeting. Mr. Alonzo also thanked
Dr. Huerta, Rosa Valdez and Carlos Vargas for presenting awards to MHMR, South Texas
Lighthouse for the Blind and Leadership Corpus Christi during the ADA Proclamation at the
City Council Meeting. Mr. Alonzo also congratulated Lee Jones for his position as the new
Chair of the Regional Transportation Authority Committee (RTAC). Mr. Alonzo apologized
to the Committee members for not being at the monthly meetings due to serving on the
Appraisal Board.
A. City Council Captioning
Mr. Alonzo commented he was very disappointed with the City's Finance Department
and especially Oscar Martinez. Mr. Alonzo stated the Finance Department
recommended the Human Relations Department eliminate $25,000 for Closed
Captioning for the hearing impaired during City Council meetings. Mr. Bazar added all
the departments took substantial cuts. The Human Relations Department's budget was
cut 33% in operations (from 72,000 to approximately $47,000). Mr. Bazar stated the
Airport, Water and Gas Departments have agreed to sponsor $2,500 each to assist
with the Closed Captioning of the City Council meetings. In return, there will be a
departmental logo from each department incorporated into the captioning to
acknowledge the departments.
6. STAFF REPO RTS/COM MENTS
A. Human Relations Department
1. Department Monthly Performance Report
Leon Bazar provided the Committee members with copies of the July 2009
Monthly Performance Report. (A copy of the report isattached tothe back ofthe minutes.)Mr. Bazar
reviewed the monthly statistics. Mr. Bazar stated the Committee members need
to discuss the possibility of another weekend retreat during the September
meeting. Award considerations were made to the Governor's Committee. The
winners and the runners up have been notified. This year's ceremony will be
held in Beaumont, Texas. Mr. Bazar stated there will be a lot of construction
(over 500 ramps) by TXDOT on Leopard from McKinzie to Downtown and on I-
37 on the access road.
B. Development Services Department
1. Development Projects Update
Grace Gonzalez reported projects are slow due to the economy. Mall renovations are
still in progress. C.C.I.S.D. improvements are underway for the upcoming school year.
Development Services, Engineering and Corpus Christi Regional Transportation
Authority continue to meet.
C. Engineering Services Department
1. Bond 2004; Bond 2008 Project Status; RTA Stimulus Bus Stop Landing Pad Project
Jamie Pyle provided Committee members with an Engineering Services Staff Report
and reviewed the following: North Port Avenue (Bond 2004), Staples Street ADA
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Project (Bond 2004), Staples Street (and Downtown) ADA Project Phase II (Bond
2004), Other Bond 2004 Projects Under Construction, ADA Improvements (Bond
2008), ADA Transition and Master Plan (Bond 2008), Other Bond 2008 Projects
Under Design, Other Bond 2008 Projects and RTA Stimulus Bus Stop Landing Pads
Project Update. (A copy of the handout is attached to the back of the minutes.)
D. Parks and Recreation Department
1. Impact of Budget Reductions on Programs and Services
Stacie Talbert reported the department took a little less than a million dollar cut. The
department moved nine employees out of Park Maintenance and moved them into
the 2008 Bond Program. The Summer Youth Program will be eliminated next
summer. The program is housed in the elementary schools and recreation centers
and runs from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The program will be reevaluated after the first
quarter to see if there will be a possibility funds being available next year.
7. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
A. ADA Title I/Employment Comprehensive Subcommittee — No Report
B. Engineering Subcommittee
1. Facilities Recognition Recommendation and Approval
Dr. Huerta was absent at the meeting. No Report.
8. IDENTIFY ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON NEXT AGENDA
• Closed Captioning
• Channel 3 News segment on the parking monitor program
• CFPWD Retreat
MOTION 9. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Harvey Salinas and seconded by Carlos Vargas. Motion
passed. The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:00 p.m.
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