HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Human Relations Commission - 08/05/2010 Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission
Summary of Minutes for August 5, 2010 RECEIVED
1. CALL TO ORDER SEP 2 3 2010
Chairperson Ramiro Gamboa called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
A. ROLL CALL CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE
Present Commissioners:
Ramiro Gamboa Abel Alonzo Robert Adler
Edna Arredondo Kathleen Cooper Toni Davis
Margie Myers Lucy Reta Elias Valverde
Denise Villagran Jacob Sendejar
Present Staff:
Leon Bazar(Human Relations) Wanese Butler (HumanRelalians) Alison Logan (Legal)
Absent Commissioners:
Robert Garza (Excused) Pastor Reaves(Excused)
B. REQUESTS FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES
MOTION Motion to excuse Robert Garza and Pastor Reaves for the August 5, 2010 meeting
made by Robert Adler and seconded by Toni Davis. Motion passed.
[Mr. Gamboa asked Mr. Bias Valverde to introduce himself to the Commissioners. Mr.
Valverde stated his is originally from Kingsville, Texas, was raised in Houston, Texas
and has resided in Corpus Christi, Texas since 1997.]
[Mr. Gamboa asked Ms. Denise Villagran to introduce herself to the Commissioners. Ms.
Valverde stated she has resided in Corpus Christi, Texas since 1979.]
[Mr. Gamboa skipped to Item#3.]
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS (LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES]
None
[Mr. Gamboa returned to Item #2.]
2. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF 07101110
MOTION The Regular Meeting scheduled on Thursday, July 1, 2010 was canceled due to
weather. No formal discussions or actions were taken.
[Kathleen Cooper arrived at 5:02 p.m.]
[Lucy Reta arrived at 5:03 p.m.]
[Mr. Gamboa continued the meeting with Item #4.]
4. PRESENTATIONS
A. Monument Project— Larry "Running Turtle" Salazar; South Texas Alliance of
Indigenous People
Mr. Larry "Running Turtle" Salazar stated he was born in San Antonio, Texas,
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however, was raised and has resided in Corpus Christi, Texas since 1962. Mr.
Salazar also stated he is an advocate for native people, the voice of our ancestors
and has traveled in Texas and other areas of the United States to attend Pow Wows.
Mr. Salazar asked the Commission for their support for a 30 foot bronze American
Indian Monument honoring a sacred burial ground which will be located at the Pat
Suter Park on Ennis Joslin Road along Oso Creek. The South Texas Alliance of
Indigenous People will need to raise $300,000 to have the monument built. Mr.
Salazar handed out additional information regarding the project to each
Commissioner. (ncoryaeriwnnail+Edermm&rothe Commissioners sattached rothe baa of the mhules.)
B. LULAC Council No. 1 — Dia De La Raza Celebration Sponsor Request;
Roland Gaona— LULAC Council No. 1
Mr. Roland Gaona stated in North America people celebrate Columbus Day.
However, South of the border to South America people celebrate Dia De La Raza.
Mr. Gaona requested the Commission's assistance and partnership regarding the
celebration which will be held at Heritage Park on October 23rd and 24th and cost
approximately $18,000 to $20,000.
[Jacob Sendejar arrived at 5:15 p.m.]
5. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT
A. Feria De Las Flores Pageant
Chairperson Mr. Gamboa reported the 50th Annual Feria De Las Flores will be held
on Saturday, August Th, 2010 at the Del Mar Richardson Auditorium. Mr. Gamboa
stated the event is free and encouraged everyone to attend.
B. Discussion and Approval of LULAC Council No. 1 - Dia De La Raza Celebration
Mr. Gamboa stated he is a member of LULAC Council No. 1 and asked Mr. Adler to
take over any discussion and approval regarding Item # 5.6. Mr. Adler asked if there
was any discussions regarding the Dia De La Raza Celebration. There were none.
Motion for the Human Relations Commission to support the Dia De La Raza
MOTION Celebration with $185.00 and any other promotional assistance made by Robert
Adler and seconded by Margie Myers. Motion passed.
C. Appointment of Sub-Committee for Vacancy Replacement to City Council
Motion to form a Sub-Committee for Vacancy Replacement to City Council made by
MOTION Lucy Reta and seconded by Margie Myers. Motion passed. Sub-Committee: Robert
Adler, Toni Davis and Ramiro Gamboa.
6. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Housing Subcommittee
1. Summary Comments of HUD Policy Conference • Robert Garza,
June Martinez&Alison Logan
Leon Bazar stated the HUD 2010 National Fair Housing Policy Conference was
held on July 19th - 23", 2010 in New Orleans, LA. Mr. Garza was absent at the
meeting, therefore, was unable to comment. June Martinez reported the
conference was fantastic and covered diverse topics including how to make the
investigative process work more efficiently, legal updates, reasonable
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accommodations and accessibility, etc. Alison Logan thanked Leon Bazar, June
Martinez and the Commission for inviting her to attend the conference. Ms. Logan
reported the conference was an amazing experience and was very positive. She
stated the message that jumped out at all of them was that the current
administration in Washington put the "Fair" back into Fair Housing.
B. Committee for Persons With Disabilities-07104110 Meeting
Abel Alonzo did not provide a report.
C. Education Subcommittee- No Report
D. Disparity Subcommittee- No Report
E. Health Disparity Subcommittee- No Report
7. HUMAN RELATIONS ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
A. Department Monthly Performance Report Review
Leon Bazar provided the Commissionersqwith copies of the July 2010 Monthly
Performance Report. ar L1,.i�''itIOthednebald the minutes Highlights included:
EEOC Employment Discrimination:
• One $16,000 settlement for Female termination based on different standards than
males
• One $3,000 settlement for Female termination based on pregnancy related issues
• One $2,000 settlement for African American male termination based on race
HUD Fair Housing Discrimination:
• Two companion cases alleging discrimination of child with disability and service
animal settled as "withdrawn with benefits" ($300,000) as this was a dual filed with
us and in federal court
• Completed and submitted pre-audit package for HUD Audit on August 25th and 26th
• Have received approval from HUD to utilize excess Policy Conference funds for
outreach event and will focus on Fair and Affordable Housing event with LULAC
and NAACP in partnership with Texas Housing Development Corporation-
targeting for November 2010
ADA Accessibility and Accommodations:
• Presented ADA 20th Anniversary Proclamation before City Council through
Committee For Persons With Disabilities (CFPWD)
• Partnered with IRAN in successful "Walk 'N Roll" event with 350+ participants-
recognized by Governor's Committee for People With Disabilities
• Completed first review of engineering plans for ADA curb ramps (-176 pages) for
Bond and Litigation resolution
• Added 10 new residents to ADA Trash Service Program-over 300 participants now
• Participated in MPO/FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) Pedestrian Safety
Engineering Design Workshop
• Assisted GLO (General Land Office) at ceremony at Veterans' Cemetery event
with accessibility using mobi-mat material and ADA parking designations
• Beginning pre-planning for an Accessibility Elements Workshop with TDLR (Texas
Dept. of Licensing and Regulation) in December focusing on ADA design elements
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B. Budget Process
Leon Bazar stated the Human Relations Department was not on the list at the
August 1st Council Meeting to be cut. Already for next year, is it expected there will
be a twelve to eighteen million dollar shortfall.
C. Veterans' Cemetery Event
Mr. Bazar reported on this in Item #7.A.
D. HUD Audit—August 25th and 26th, 2010
Mr. Bazar reported on this in Item #7.A.
8. IDENTIFY ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON NEXT AGENDA
• South Texas Alliance of Indigenous People Letter of Support
9. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION Motion to adjourn the meeting made by Margie Myers and seconded by Lucy Reta.
Motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 5:48 p.m.
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