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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes Human Relations Commission - 06/01/2006 •• Cityof C�,i�.� Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission C�ll7S s Summary Minutes for June 1, 2006 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER: The Chairperson called the meeting to order at 5:05 PM. 2. ROLL CALL: Present Commissioners: Crystal Lyons, Robert Adler, Gilbert Fuentes, 0. K. Smith, Linda Fallwell-Stover, Dr. Stuart Elovitz, Thomas Lopez Post Roll Call Arrivals: none Absent Commissioners: Errol Summerlin, Lucy Reta, Sam Watson, Tony Bonilla, Albert Santoya Staff in Attendance: Leon Bazar, April Moffett Public: none 3. EXCUSED ABSENCES: Errol Summerlin: The Chairperson informed the Commission that Errol Summerlin would not be present at today's (June 1, 2006) meeting and requested for an excuse. She further stated that he also requested for last month's (May 4, 2006) absence to be excused. MOTION: Dr. Elovitz moved to excuse Errol Summerlin's absences for May 4, 2006 and June 1, 2006 with a second by Gilbert Fuentes. The motion passed. Lucy Reta: The Chairperson informed the Commission that Lucy Reta has requested for an excused absence for today's (June 1, 2006) meeting. MOTION: Dr. Elovitz moved to excuse Lucy Reta's absence for June 1, 2006 with a second by Gilbert Fuentes. The motion passed. Tommy Lopez: Tommy Lopez requested for his May 4, 2006 absence to be excused. MOTION: Linda Fallwell-Stover moved to excuse Tommy Lopez's absence for May 4, 2006 with a second by Robert Adler. The motion passed. Dr. Stuart Elovitz: Dr. Elovitz requested for his May 4, 2006 absence to be excused. MOTION: Linda Fallwell-Stover moved to excuse Dr. Elovitz's absence for May 4, 2006 with a second by Robert Adler. The motion passed. CCHRC 06/01/06 1 N t . Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission A ,, Summary Minutes for June 1, 2006 (, NOVlin ('{,3� 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: „7;rr77"'f`7 Minutes of May 4, 2006 ' C-1 ZG`r�g •;�:; E di i Y MOTION: Robert Adler moved to accept the minutes of May 4, 2006 as written ‘sa second bytic:, Linda Fallwell-Stover. The motion .assed P 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS/INTRODUCTIONS/PRESENTATIONS: Introductions: none Presentation: none 6. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT: none 7. COMMISSION SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: (Discussion with Possible Action) A. Housing Subcommittee—0. K. Smith 1. Fair Housing Brochure: none 2. Rental Dwellings: Leon Bazar informed the Commission there is a nomination from the Corpus Christi Housing Authority for the vacant Commission position. He stated that the Commission should have an appointment for this position by July. Leon Bazar: The National HUD Fair Housing Conference will be the 26th,27th, 28th and 29th of June. HUD will pay for one Commission member to attend the national conference. The Chairperson stated that it would be a good idea for 0. K. Smith to attend so that the Human Relation Commission's Housing Subcommittee would be strong. Leon Bazar stated that Doyle Curtis, City Attorney would also be attending the national conference. B. Committee for Persons with Disabilities—Linda Fallwell-Stover Linda Fallwell-Stover stated that the Committee for Persons with Disabilities has not met for this month. The meeting will be June 7, 2006. Leon Bazar stated that the Corpus Christi Police Department introduced its Volunteer Parking Program to the City. Linda Fallwell-Stover stated that there was discussion at the Committee for Persons with Disabilities' previous meeting regarding the Volunteer Parking Program. She also stated that the Committee would continue to work with the Corpus Christi Police Department on the effort of accessibility parking. She further stated that she would like to see some involvement between the people who spearheaded the concept of the Volunteer Parking Program and Corpus Christi Police Department. The Chairperson stated that there are some concerns that persons with disabilities may not qualify to be able to volunteer for patrol. The Chairperson also stated that the qualifications, for the parking program, need to be clear and should not discriminate against any group of persons. Therefore, the qualifications for this program need to be clear. We do not want anything that will prevent people with disabilities for volunteering for this program. Linda Fallwell-Stover then requested for information on "How to volunteer for the Citizen's Police Academy" be presented at the upcoming Committee for Persons'with Disabilities meeting. CCHRC06/01/06 2 Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission Summary Minutes for June 1, 2006 C. Education Subcommittee— Gilbert Fuentes Gilbert Fuentes stated that he had nothing to report to the Commission and that he would be willing to continue to chair the Education Subcommittee. Leon Bazar informed the Commission that the City's Secretary's Office did send out applications to the high school principals so that students can submit for a place on this Commission. 8. OLD BUSINESS: (Discussion with Possible Action): Emergency Preparedness The Chairperson stated that when the words "Special Needs" is referenced to a person, it is referencing senior citizens, people without transportation, people who are economically challenged and persons with disabilities. Go!Coastal needs as much help as possible to get as many people as possible on the registration list. This needs to be done so that when a hurricane evacuation notice comes, the City will be prepared. The Chairperson also informed the Commission that consideration would be taken for people's pets. 9. NEW BUSINESS: (Discussion with Possible Action): none 10.ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: Leon Bazar, Director of Human Relations • Leon stated that the Human Relations Department has completed its interviewing process for its vacancy of Compliance Officer. • • Leon reported that EEOC nation-wide is looking at systemic discrimination by a group or groups of people and he asked to Commission members to log onto and test themselves for their personal biasness. A Harvard • professor shared this test at the EEOC Conference. • Leon informed the Commission that the Corpus Christi Youth at Work Project was recognized at the National Conference from the National Commission's Chairperson. • Human Relations Commission vacancy—Leon requested that recommendations for the vacant position be made to the City's Secretary's Office by the 13th of June. Robert Adler and Lucy Retahave indicated that they are seeking reappointment, • The Human Relations Department has nothing to report regarding the response that was sent back to the United States Department of Justice Federal Highway and Administration. • Emergency Preparedness—At the EEOC Conference, the New Orleans EEOC Office shared that all of their records have been destroyed. Leon Bazar then stated that the Human Relations Department would be returning back to a central filing system.The New Orleans EEOC Office also shared that although their cell phones did not work, • they were able to communicate via text message. Leon Bazar stated that he has shared this information with the City's administrators. • Handout—Leon Bazar informed the Commission that the Human Relations Departments present contract year started October 1,2005 and ends September 30, 2006. (The handout is a report from October 1, 2005 to May 31, 2006) Leon Bazar CCHRC 06/01/06 3 Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission Summary Minutes for June 1, 2006 informed the Commission the Human Relations Department has closed a total of 94 cases. He also stated that 22.2.percent of the Human Relations cases are related to Race. Hispanic Males have the largest percentage Race cases, which is comprised of 33 percent of total cases closed. Leon furtherinformed the Commission that the Human Relations Department receives $540.00 for each closed EEOC cases. When the Human Relations Department intakes and closes a San Antonio, the Human Relations Department receives $50.00. The Human Relations Department will have closed 103 by end of June and will have preformed 147 intakes. For Cause Cases, it receives an additional $500.00. The Human Relations Department receives $2,500.00 for HUD case closures. HUD does not have a ceiling limit on the amount of cases the Human Relations Department may close. 11.PUBLIC COMMENTS/CONCERNS/ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA: • Leon Bazar stated that representatives from the American Council of the Blind of Texas have met with him. He further informed the Commission this organization would host a convention in September 2006 here in Corpus Christi, Texas. There will be a meeting with the American Council of the Blind of Texas and other City organizations on June 2, 2006. The purpose of the meeting would be to see what needs to been done in order to prepare for a successful convention. • Tommy Lopez thanked everyone for the learning experience that he had this year on the Commission. 12.ADJOURNMENT: With nothing further, the Chairperson asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. The Commissioners moved and second in unison. The meeting adjourned at 5:50 P.M. // ,[l . 7-' 7- 0,6 Chal f.erson Date CCHRC 06/01/06 4