HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Human Relations Commission - 09/02/1999 eo
SUMMARY MINUTES `'
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING co ivor 199,'
September 2,1999 "- { ( ° ',
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Commissioners Present Commissioners Absent ;:•-\ Fit:l *�
Rev.Willie Davila Rabbi Paul Joseph ` V
Ms.Lena Coleman Dr.Sylvester Peterson
Mr.Oscar Hinojosa Ms.Olga Tamar ---- -
Ms.Anna Mercado Ms.Laura Rios
Ms.Jeanette Stevens
Mr.Errol Summerlin Staff Present
Ms.Toni Tamez Dr.Helen Gurley (Absent)
Ms.Sandra Terrell-Davis June Shultz
Mr.Daniel Carmona(Youth Commissioner) Attorney
Ms.Kelly Garza(Youth Commissioner) Mr.Alex Lopez (Absent)
Ms.Blaire Pittman(Youth Commissioner)
NOTE: The Council Chambers were under renovation. There were some unresolved electronic issues, and the tape
recorder did not work for this meeting. There is not a tape of this meeting. These minutes are a summary of the meeting
events.
Reverend Davila,Chairperson,called the regular monthly meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. A quorum was present. Rabbi Paul
Joseph,Laura Rios,Olga Tamar and Dr.Helen Gurley indicated they were unable to attend this month's meeting. Dr.
Peterson had indicated his intent to attend but was not present. Mr. Lopez had requested Joseph Harney attend in his
absence,however Mr.Harney had a Jury Trial at 5:30 p.m.and was unable to attend. Reverend Davila then introduced a
new Commissioner,JoAnn Kernick,who provided a brief background history.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
The July 2, 1999 minutes were approved. The August Meeting was not held in lieu of the Annual Conference,therefore
there were no formal minutes for the Commissioners review and file.
CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT—Rev.Willie Davila
Reverend Davila discussed the success of this year's conference. There were 204 persons registered for the conference.
The Commissioners were encouraged to make recommendations for next year's conference,and Reverend Davila discussed
the plans to extend the conference time length to one and a half days. The Commissioners were invited to review some of
the comments from the Post Conference Survey.
There was discussion regarding the recent occurrence of Hate Crimes,even within the City structure. Reverend Davila
indicated that this is the type of community concern to be addressed by the Commission and Human Relations Department.
A meeting has been scheduled for September 10,1999,for Reverend Davila and Dr.Gurley to meet with the City Manager,
regarding the concerns of the Commission.
COMMISSIONERS/COMMITTEE REPORTS
Housing Committee/.Revision of City Ordinance—Commissioner Olga Tamar
Ms. Tamar wasn't present to provide a report. Summary of current status: The Housing Committee is waiting for
information,from Dr.Gurley,Commissioner Summerlin and Alex Lopez,Legal Advisor on proposed modifications. The
revisions will need to be approved by HUD and the City Council. HUD will review to ensure they are substantially
equivalent. Once we have their approval,the Commission and Department have three years to complete. The Housing
Committee won't meet again until they have drafted some information for the Committee's review.
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Mayor's Task Force for Persons with Disabilities-Commissioner appointment pending
No report for current month.
NEW BUSINESS
No new business discussed.
OLD BUSINESS
Training for the Commissioners has been scheduled for Thursday,September 23, 1999,at 2:00 p.m. All interested and/or
new Commissioners are invited to attend. A follow-up letter from the department will be sent to the Commissioners to
confirm date,time and location.
There was general discussion regarding the topic of the proposed name change of Agnes Blvd. Reverend Davila expressed
his surprise at some of the comments he received regarding this issue,but it is part of the responsibility of the Commission
to keep a pulse of the community. Commissioner Hinojosa indicated the Council should listen to the Community. The
majority of those present were against it,although the outcome of the issue was all right with the compromise. Reverend
Davila indicated he had received comments that it was racism. Commissioner Mercado-Flores held a conversation with the
Superintendent of CCISD and had mixed emotions. She had heard the same type of comments and suggested giving it time
to settle. As a member of the Westside Business Association,it caught a lot of people's attention,who joined in expressing
their concerns and awakened the local businesses. Commissioner Summerlin indicated that the Coastal Bend Legal Services
main office providing service is located on Agnes and they were in support of the change. They aren't certain of the
compromise,what the impact will be. There are factors to consider—the Post Office,delivery, letterhead. He raised a
question of"Can this be done voluntarily?" What is the outcome of the polls? It is hard to say if the compromise was good.
Most owners had legitimate concerns,who would be willing to change—is it worth pursuing using the change? He will
contact the Post Office regarding the questions on address,delivery and letterhead. Commissioner Coleman agreed with
the owners,giving the example of the recent change of the area code. There were expenses involved to modify a variety
of things,and now this issue of the proposed change would be another additional expense. She expressed her belief that it
was not an issue of not wanting to honor an honorable man,rather it was a question like the one that was raised by a lady
from the audience, why not name a building or establish a memorial to him. She indicated she understood and could
sympathize with the business owners,but was it worth it? There was no disrespect for him,in her opinion it was not enough,
there were other alternatives. Commissioner Hinojosa indicated he had heard that the County Park in Robstown had wanted
to name it for him,because that was the site where some labor camps were located in the past. Toni Tamez asked about
the compromise,the transition time,suggested 3-5 years and still possibly make the change in the future,allowing time to
replenish and eventually change everything. Reverend Davila indicated his concern was the anger and the comments,there
will be on going changes and transitions and he hopes it won't be an issue of race. Commissioner Mercado-Flores also
brought up the point of there having been additional policemen present for this issue. Was this done because of the fear of
a racism issue? Who ordered the extra police and why? There was further discussion on transitions,RTA was given as an
example,such as conflict over persons of color,over communication that occurs. The Commission has to maintain a larger
overview of the community concerns and observe what is happening.
Commissioner Hinojosa raised questions regarding comments the City Manager made regarding City Employees that left
town due to Hurricane Bret. He asked if any employees had come before the Commission. Reverend Davila wasn't aware
of any at this point. There was discussion that the City Manager indicated as many as possibly 50 termination,however this
was after the employees had signed a Bad Weather Policy statement. After the termination notices are issued,he will be
allowing those employees an opportunity to come before then and give a legitimate reason for their non-compliance. They.
may then experience a reprimand,demotion or other corrective discipline,rather than termination.
Commissioner Coleman raised the issue of adequate housing and shelter for the community in this type of event. She
suggested the Commission look into this. She received complaints from LULAC Hacienda that there were no shelters and
that it was embarrassing that the City of San Antonio had been willing to send transportation to Corpus Christi for those who
couldn't get out,yet the City didn't even open any shelters. The elderly should have somewhere to go. Ms. Shultz
mentioned that there had been a hotline number established for elderly and disabled persons requesting assistance,through
the emergency operations center.
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ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
Ms.Shultz indicated that there was no monthly report,as the staff had left for out of state training prior to the end of the
month.A monthly report will be provided through the mail or with next month's agenda. Dr.Gurley attended a Council
of Government Planning forum on August 12th,she will discuss the meeting at the next Commission Meeting. Dr.Gurley
was a Speaker at the Corpus Christi EAP Networking Group on August 27, 1999,and discussed ADA guidelines. She and
the Compliance Officers are in Portland,Oregon,attending a Fair Housing/HUD Training Conference. Dr.Gurley has
been invited to go to Washington,D.C.on Thursday,September 16, 1999,to attend a National Race Relations Symposium
entitled`Building Peaceful Communities". Dr.Gurley is presently working on the preparation of the EEOC Contract for
the Year 2000. She has also been assisting with the Planning Committee for the Statewide TEA Conference to be held
October 7-9, 1999. (Commissioner Mercado-Flores briefly discussed the conference.) Lists of the City's Boards and
Commissions were provided to each of the Commissioners in the packets mailed out to them with this month's Agenda and
information.
Commissioner Summerlin asked for a few moments to extend an apology to the Commission and Chair regarding his recent
absences. He has had several family tragedies and other issues arose. He has encountered a great deal of bureaucratic
paperwork over the summer that has been required from Washington, D.C. and Austin on changes in the process. He
indicated that he had just lost a paralegal who he worked with from 1984, he passed away 2 weeks ago. There is an
announcement of a new initiative for a 13 city area—an outreach project for elderly persons who are receiving Medicare
—aged and disabled(Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program or"QMB"and Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary
"SLMB"). You can call the Department of Human Services,this initiative was enacted in 1996,but the State of Texas has
the lowest number participating.
"QMB"and"SLMB"—has a simple application,utilizing a means test,pays Medicare A&B premiums and deductibles,
doesn't cost the person a penny. In additional,supplemental policies will pay if meet criteria. Anticipate the economic
benefit to those in poverty—possibly savings of$1,000.00-$3,000.00 per year to those individuals.
PUBLIC COMMENTS-Limited to two(2)Minutes
There were no public comments at this meeting.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:10 p.m.
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Rev.Willie Davila,Chairman Date Minutes Approved
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