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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes Human Relations Commission - 12/01/2005 tink-- -- A��Q11727�� A, ,fit $$ City Of Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission /43- `' (5, Summary COrpUS Minutes for December 1, 2005 (1/:;,'''t. JAN_;,,�** 2006??^yy el = I iLECEI C ED Cf1Y SECRETARY'S e , OFFICE 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER: s�8zzzsze-07Z The Chairperson called the meeting to order at 5:07 PM. 2. ROLL CALL: Present Commissioners: Crystal Lyons, Linda Fallwell-Stover, Robert Adler, Dr. Clifton Baldwin, Dr. Stuart Elovitz, Lucy Reta, Jennifer Starr, Thomas Lopez, Albert Santoya Post Roll Call Arrivals: Errol Summerlin Absent Commissioners: Gilbert Fuentes, Dr. Carol Ledbetter, 0. K. Smith, Sam Watson, Tony(JR) Bonilla Staff in Attendance: Mr. Leon Bazar, Ms. April Moffett 3. EXCUSED ABSENCES: Albert Santoya: MOTION was made to excuse Albert Santoya's October 6, 2005 absence. The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MOTION: Robert Adler moved to accept the minutes as written with a second by Dr. Elovitz. The motion passed. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS/ INTRODUCTIONS/PRESENTATIONS: Announcements: none Introductions: Aaron McCullough—Disabilities Law Resource Project, Houston, TX Leon Bazar introduced Aaron McCullough to the Commission. He works for the Disabilities Law Resource Project in Houston, TX and is a specialist on the American with Disabilities ACT. Aaron McCullough thanked the City of Corpus Christi for inviting him here. He then informed the Commission that the ADA Act of 1964 is a civil rights law and it is important that the City of Corpus Christi embrace this law in that manner. He stated that the company he works with teaches people about the law and he commended the City for complying with the ADA law. However, he feels that there is still a great amount of work to be done in this city. The Disabilities Law Resource Project is a private, non-profit agency that services five states. This includes Texas and the surrounding states. Mr. McCullough also stated that he and the Disabilities Law Resource Project have also provided services to the Regional Transit Authority and the State of Texas' Workforce Centers. The Disabilities Law Resource Project has no enforcement rights. The company acts on demand and therefore responds when CCHRC 1211/05 1 t ^ - Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission Summary Minutes for December 1, 2005 asked. Leon Bazar informed the Commission that Mr. McCullough has been on a site visit of Whataburger Field and he has also met with the City's Regional Transit Authority. The nationwide toll free number for the Disabilities Law Resource Project is 1.800.949.4232 and the intemet web address is www.dlrp.org . Mr. McCullough asked the Commissioners if they had any questions or knew of an agency that may need their assistance; please ask that agency to contact the Disabilities Law Resource Project. He then informed the Commission that questions can be submitted anonymously and confidentially, Mr. Bazar informed the Commissioners that the Disabilities Law Resource Project will sponsor a National Conference for ADA. The Conference will be held in St. Louis, Missouri during mid April 2006. Due to the City's and RTA's response to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, Mr. McCullough will be sending information to the City and asking the City of Corpus Christi and the Corpus Christi RTA to attend and participate in this conference. Mr. Summerlin then recommended that the United Way and the Council of Governments facilities be reviewed for ADA compliance. [Aaron McCullough left at 5:21 PM] Presentations: Irma Meru—Nueces County Voting Machine Demonstration The name of the new voting machine is called the eSlate. It derived as a result of the HAVA 2002, (Help America to Vote Act). The eSlate will help those individuals with disabilities to vote. Ms. Mem then provided a demonstration and informed the Commissioners of some of the eSlate's capabilities: • Braille • English • Spanish • Equipped for the hearing impaired • Equipped for those who cannot use their hands • Portable • Equipped to be used by mouth The requirements to use the eSlate are: • 18 years of age • American citizen • No Felony charges Irma Meru reminded the Commissioners that their vote is their voice. [Irma Meru left at 5:25 PM] 6. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT: The Chairperson issued a handout informing the Commissioners about the 6th Annual Rosa Parks Celebration on Saturday, December 3, 2005 at 1:00 PM and also informing the CCHRC 12/1/05 2 • # Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission Summary Minutes for December 1, 2005 Commissioners that it is being sponsored by the Corpus Christi RTA and the Leta-Phi-Beta Sorority, Inc. 7. COMMISSION SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: (Discussion with Possible Action) A. Housing Subcommittee—0. K. Smith 1. Fair Housing Brochure: Leon Bazar Leon Bazar informed the Commission that the City has finalized the contract for the distribution of the Housing Brochures. Distribution is to take place in March 2006 and it will be distributed to 89,000 people. 2. Rental Dwellings: none B. Committee for Persons with Disabilities—Linda Fallwell-Stover Linda Fallwell-Stover informed the Commission of the following from the November 2005 meeting: ■ Mr. George K. Noe, City Manager was a guest speaker at the November meeting and spoke on emergency preparedness. Mr. Noe did inform the Committee of the fact that the City of Corpus Christi did not have an evacuation plan for the transportation disadvantage; therefore, the City's evacuation of citizens during Hurricane Rita was an unprecedented effort. Linda Fallwell-Stover informed the Commission that Judy Telge of Accessible Communities Inc, (ACI), has received a grant to assist citizens in emergency situations and the Committee for Persons with Disabilities did pass a resolution of support to support and become apart of the Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee that is being formed as a result of the grant that Judy Telge has received. • There were other guest speakers at the November 2005 meeting. C. Education Subcommittee—Dr. Carol Ledbetter Thomas Lopez on behalf of Dr. Carol Ledbetter Mr. Lopez informed the Commission that the Education Subcommittee cancelled their Youth at Work Program until this spring. Mr. Bazar stated that the Youth Commissioners have been very active in school. A spring kickoff will help prepare students for summer employment 8. OLD BUSINESS: (Discussion with Possible Action): Emergency Preparedness The State of Texas is going to be getting involved in making special needs planning and evacuations a priority. There will be a local meeting on December 13, 2005 at 3:00 PM, at the City's EOC Center. People will be assigned to work in groups so that citizens can be assisted in emergency situations. The Chairperson asked for Commissioners to inform her if they are interested. 9. NEW BUSINESS: (Discussion with Possible Action): Mission 911 Commission CCHRC 12/1105 3 - Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission Summary Minutes for December 1, 2005 Dr. Elovitz stated that it has been brought to his attention that the Mission 911 Commission is requiring the people it serves to attend their church and receive religious instruction in order to receive their help. He has asked the Chairperson to look into this issue. The Chairperson asked Mr. Bazar to look into this issue in light of CBDG Funding being used. 10.ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: Leon Bazar • Apartment Association Representation Mr. Bazar has left two messages requesting a replacement person to sit on the Human Relation Commission and has not received a response. He will now send a letter to the Apartment Association in an effort to reach them. • Employment Discrimination The Human Relations Department has closed 6 cases in October and 7 in November and the department is seeing a lot of group filing. • ADA Discrimination Leon Bazar and Wanese Buller have been meeting with a citizen who has filed , to date, 650 accessibility grievances. The Committee for Persons with Disabilities is aware of these complaints. Mr. Bazar will be recommending the Committee to invite this citizen to a Committee for Persons with Disabilities meeting. • Leon Bazar informed the Commission that the Human Relations Department has been meeting the time deadlines on closing Employment and Housing cases. 11.PUBLIC COMMENTS I CONCERNS/ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA: • Mr.Adler requested the bylaws regarding a quorum be changed. Mr. Bazar stated that he would look into that possibility. • The Commission members asked for April Moffett to call everyone and remind them of the meetings. • Diversity Recognition Calendar April Moffett will be bringing a calendar of events at the next meeting. The Commission has requested to be contacted on each proclamation so that they canbe involved. [6:18 PM Mr. Baldwin left] 12.ADJOURNMENT: With nothing further, the Chairperson asked for a motioned to adjourn the meeting. Commissioners moved and second in unison. The meeting adjourned at 6:19 PM. CCHRC 12/1/05 4