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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes Human Relations Commission - 02/05/2009 Corpus Christi Human Relations Corn r i stcEnie eo Summary of Minutes for February 5, 2009 APR 21 2009 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Coy u op Chairperson Ramiro Gamboa, called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. with a q i .F!if of 8. A. ROLL CALL Present Commissioners: Ramiro Gamboa Errol Summerlin Robert Adler Marta Del Angel Edna Arredondo Dr. Chon-Kyun Kim Lucy Reta Staci Alaniz (Youth) Robert Bonner(Youth) Jacob Sendejar (Youth) Staff I Legal: Leon Bazar(HReI) Wanese Butler (HRel) Deborah Brown (Legal) Absent Commissioners: Abel Alonzo (CFPWD) (Excused) Margie Myers (Excused) Pastor Derrick Reaves (Excused) Patricia Mattocks Richard Pulido MOTION B. REQUESTS FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES Chairperson Mr. Gamboa stated there were two requests for excused absences for the January 8, 2009 meeting. Motion to excuse Errol Summerlin and Patricia Mattocks for the January 8, 2009 meeting made by Robert Adler and seconded by Marta Del Angel. Motion passed. Chairperson Mr. Gamboa stated there were three requests for excused absences for the February 5, 2009 meeting. Motion to excuse Abel Alonzo, Margie Myers and Pastor Derrick Reaves for the February 5, 2009 meeting made by Robert Adler and seconded by Marta Del Angel. Motion passed. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairperson Mr. Gamboa called for Approval of January 8, 2009 Meeting Minutes. [Ms. Butler stated, for the record, Edna Arredondo arrived at 5:03 p.m.] Motion to approve the January 8, 2009 meeting minutes made by Jacob Sendejar and seconded by Robert Bonner. Motion passed. 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS (LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES) None 4. PRESENTATIONS A. Discrimination and the Hostile Work Environment— Leon Bazar Leon Bazar presented a PowerPoint presentation "Discrimination and the Hostile Work Environment." Mr. Bazar provided a copy of the PowerPoint handout to the Commissioners. (A copy of the handout is attached to 0e bae, of the minutes) The presentation included SCANNED Page 1of4 information obOiscriminatory Practices - Employn , defined harassment, sexual harassment, hostile work environment, examples of discrimination charge resolutions, employee pro-active affirmative efforts, employer pro-active affirmative efforts, key studies highlights, statistics on charges and contact information. Mr. Bazar noted the presentation has been submitted to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and once it is approved can be applied as credit for certification. Mr. Bazar also noted the presentation will be utilized in Dr. Kim's graduate class in the next couple of weeks. 5. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT A. Appointment of Nominating Committee Mr. Gamboa stated the Commission currently has vacancy (Posiroon previously held by Renesaenz). Mr. Gamboa appointed Dr. Kim, Lucy Reta and Marta Del Angel to the Nominating Committee. B. LULAC Week Activities Ramiro Gamboa reminded the Commission: The LULAC Leadership Banquet is going to take place on Wednesday, February 18, 2009. The reception is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. and the dinner is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Omni Hotel. Community leaders, educators and business persons will be honored at the event. Geraldo Rivera, Senior Correspondent and Host of Geraldo at Large, will be the Keynote Speaker at the event. The Human Relations Department will be sponsoring a table for the event. Mr. Bazar stated the Human Relations Department currently has five tickets available for the event. Mr. Bazar asked if any of the Commissioners were interested in attending the event to contact him. 6. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS A. Housing Subcommittee— Review of HUD Fair Housing Case: Halprin v. The Prairie Single Family Homes of Dearborn Park Association Margie Myers was unable to attend the meeting. Leon Bazar spoke regarding the Halprin v. The Prairie Single Family Homes of Dearborn Park Association case. He stated it is a landmark case which is being challenged in the Supreme Court. Mr. Bazar stated the case involves a Jewish couple. The couple's home was damaged and vandalized with graffiti. The culprit was the President of the Homeowner's Association who then used the association to threaten the couple with legal sanctions, fines and the foreclosure of their home, The couple proceeded to file a Fair Housing Discrimination action. The court then ruled that Fair Housing only protects the entrance into Fair Housing (Pnor to Rental or Lease). Any discrimination acts which occur after the initial rental or lease are not protected under Fair Housing. Mr. Bazar will keep the Commission informed on any developments of the case. B. Committee For Persons with Disabilities— Recap of 02104109 Meeting Highlights Abel Alonzo was unable to attend the meeting. Leon Bazar reported the following: • ADA Parking Update—There are eight volunteer parking monitors who attended Page 2 of 4 ten hours Ailing through the Police DepartmenSd are certified to issue citations to people illegally parked in ADA parking. In 2006, the parking monitors averaged eighty citations per month. In 2008, the parking monitors averaged fifty citations per month. Mr. Bazar stated there is a new class with twenty five volunteers attending the training course to become certified to issue citations. • House Bill No. 400. — Mr. Bazar stated the bill will allow dismissal of expired placards for persons with a disability.The bill was initiated by Mr. Bazar and has been presented to the House of Representatives by Abel Herrero. Mr. Bazar also noted Senator Judith Zaffirini has also presented a bill regarding ADA parking violations. Current fines are $250 (first offense), $450 (second offense),and $700 (third offense). Under Ms. Zaffirini's proposed bill, fines would increase to $450 (firstoffense, $800 (second offense), and $1,100 (third offense). C. Education Subcommittee— Presentation Preparation Summary Leon Bazar informed the Commission Richard Pulido has begun a new job and has been unable to meet with the Youth Commissioners. Mr. Bazar and Ms. Reta will take over the Subcommittee and have scheduled a meeting with the Youth Commissioners for February 16, 2009. D. Disparity Subcommittee— Summary of Issues for Resolution with Staff Leon Bazar provided a handout and updated the Commissioners on the Good Faith Effort Plan. (A copy of the handouts attached to the bad of the minutes) Mr. Bazar reported the Subcommittee met with the Engineering, Finance and Purchasing Departments twice in the past month. Another meeting with the departments will be scheduled with the Human Relations Disparity Subcommittee prior to the next Commission meeting. 7. HUMAN RELATIONS ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT A. Department Monthly Performance Report Review Leon Bazar provided the Commissioners with copies of the January 2009 Monthly Performance Report. Mr. Bazar briefly highlighted EEOC, Fair Housing and ADA Accessibility cases and grievances. (A copy of the reports attached to the hack of the minutes.) • Closed 31 EEOC cases to date • Completed 19 EEOC intakes; 10 were transferred to San Antonio (Due to age.government office,etc.) • Closed 5 HUD cases • Outreach training sessions: 1 • ADA Accessibility Citizen's Complaints: 3 Mr. Bazar thanked everyone who attended the Martin Luther King Banquet sponsored by the NAACP. He also informed the Commissioners the Human Relations Department has begun the budget process and will keep the Commission posted. 8. IDENTIFY ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON THE NEXT AGENDA • Good Faith Effort Plan Page 3 of 4 MOTION 9. ADJOURNMEN4 Motion to adjourn made by Robert Adler and seconded by Lucy Reta. Motion passed. The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:07 p.m. Page 4 of 4