HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Human Relations Commission - 03/06/2008 Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission
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Summary of Minutes for March 6, 2008 41/,::1,'
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER 'r ;`'; a )J
Chairman Ramiro Gamboa, called the meeting to order at approXirnattely 5:05•01-n
with a quorum of 11. LE OS
ROLL CALL
Roll Call was deferred until later in the meeting.
MOTION REQUESTS FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES
Motion to excuse Patricia Mattocks, Jared Cummings, Johnny Meisner and Lauren
McAdams made by Sam Watson and seconded by Richard Pulido. Motion passed.
MOTION 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion to approve December 5th and February 7th minutes made by Robert Adler and
seconded by Sam Watson. Motion passed.
Motion to excuse Errol Summerlin, Kelley Knight, Richard Pulido, Pastor Derrick
MOTION Reaves, Lucy Reta, Sam Watson and Jared Cummings (Youth) for the February 7th
meeting made by Errol Summerlin and seconded by Richard Pulido. Motion passed.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
No public comments.
4. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT
Mr. Gamboa introduced himself to the Committee members who were absent during
the February 7th meeting. Mr. Gamboa then asked for Roll Call.
Present Commissioners:
Ramiro Gamboa Errol Summerlin Abel Alonzo (CFPWD)
Robert Adler Marta Del Angel Kelley Knight
Margie Myers Richard Pulido Pastor Derrick Reaves
Lucy Reta Rene Saenz Sam Watson
Staff 1 Legal:.
Leon Bazar (HReI) Patsy Garcia (HReI) Yvette Aguilar (Legal)
Absent Commissioners:
Patricia Mattocks Jared Cummings (Youth) Johnny Meisner (Youth)
Lauren McAdams (Youth)
SCANNED
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5. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Housing Subcommittee — Margie Myers distributed a handout to the
Committee members and spoke regarding The Nehemiah Program. Ms.
Myers provided the Commissioners with The Nehemiah Program website
address (getdownpayment.com) and asked Commissioners to visit the site for
more information.
Committee for Persons with Disabilities (CFPWD) - Abel Alonzo provided a
brief overview of the March 5th CFPWD meeting:
• Linda Fallwell-Stover and Toni Padilla's term ended in February and the
Committee filled the vacancies.
• Michele Thomas, Parks and Recreation Beach/Bayfront Event Manager,
spoke regarding the Catch a Special Thrill (CAST) Youth Fishing Program
held on Saturday, March 1, 2008. CAST is a National Youth Fishing Program
which encourages children with disabilities to participate and enjoy fishing.
For more information on CAST, visit www.cctexas.com/pr and/or
www.castforkids.org.
• Leon Bazar briefed the Committee on the Human Relations Department
monthly report.
C. Education Subcommittee — Richard Pulido reported that the Youth
Commissioners continue to finalize the EEOC PowerPoint presentation for
the Regional Student Council Convention which will be held on Saturday,
March 8, 2008. There will be four sessions and twenty-six high schools are
expected to attend the convention. A Youth at Work message/advertisement
on discrimination protection and employment rights in the workplace will be
placed on RTA bus benches near the Corpus Christi and Tuloso-Midway high
schools.
D. Disparity Subcommittee — Errol Summerlin reported the Disparity
Subcommittee did not meet this month. No report.
E. Emergency Preparedness— No report.
[Rene Saenz arrived at 5:23 pm]
6. HUMAN RELATIONS ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
• The EEOC National Director's Conference was held during the week of March
25th in Los Angeles, CA. Mr. Bazar was unable to attend the conference due to
a death in the family. Wanese Butler attended and represented Mr. Bazar at the
conference. The Commission Chair, Naomi Earp, presented three Nationwide
Community Outreach Awards. Mr. Bazar was one of the three nationwide
recipients of the award.
• The Fair Housing Conference (funded by HUD) will be held on April 8th — 11th in
Atlanta, GA. Mr. Bazar, Wanese Butler, Yvette Aguilar and Margie Myers will
attend the conference.
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• The City completed a Fair Housing Impediment Study through CDBG in 2003.
Impediments were identified in lending, real estate and social economic
structures. Daniel Gallegos, with CDBG, defined an action plan. One
requirement in the plan was to have a five year update. A consultant met with
lenders, real estate, Neighborhood Services Department, Development
Services Department, Human Relations Department and the Housing Authority
and developed a plan. They focused on credit education and defined that
affordable housing is still a target especially involving persons with disabilities.
Mr. Gallegos will continue to gather information on the needs of affordable
housing, find objectives and then he will present the information to the
Commission and ask for support in presenting it to the City Council.
• Mr. Bazar thanked the Commissioners for their support and representing the
City and the Human Relations Commission at the NAACP and LULAC
banquets.
• RTA is developing a Transition Plan to address serving the population in the
community. Human Relations Department, Committee for Persons With
Disabilities, Engineering Services Department, Development Services is going
to support the RTA in the transition plan. RTA will define a process, funding,
ensure that bus stops, landings at bus stops, sidewalks, ramps are available.
The Committee for Disabilities will be hosting a forum on March 20th in the
Council Chambers. The RTA will present their plan and will be asking for input
from the Committee for Persons With Disabilities.
• The Human Relations Department continues to work on the budget process.
• Mr. Bazar will be contacting new members of the CFPWD and CCHRC within
the next couple of weeks to schedule a one hour Open Meetings Training. New
members are required to attend the training within 90 days of appointment.
Mr. Bazar provided the Commission with a copy of the Human Relations
Department Case Closures /Activities Summary for Month of February 2008 and
provided an overview highlighting the following:
Summary of Cases:
• EEOC Contract Year Closures — Closed 5, Year-to-Date 33
• Intake Goal (Referred to EEOC) - Year-to-Date 34
• HUD Complaint Resolution — Closed 1, Year-to-Date 16
• EEOC Charge Write-Ups completed and sent to SAFO in 8 or less days —
Closed 17 out of 18, Year-to-Date 72 out of 75
• EEOC Charges Closed within 180 Days — Closed 2 out of 5, Year-to-Date 18
out of 33
• HUD Fair Housing Complaints completed within 100 days — Year-to-Date 7
out of 16
• Number of training sessions, community meetings —Year-to-Date 33
• ADA Citizen's Complaints (Accessibility) —7
• Public Accommodation Requests (Including ADA Trash) —4
• ADA Technical Assistance—2
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7. COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS
• Human Relations Budget
• Scholarship Bond Use presentation by Rene Saenz
[Robert Adler left at 6:04 pm]
MOTION 8. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Sam Watson and seconded by Errol Summerlin.
Motion passed. With no further business, the presiding Chair adjourned the
meeting at approximately 6:09 pm.
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