Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Human Relations Commission - 08/02/2007 • City of Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission c _ C r Summary Minutes for August 2, 2007 Vs." 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER: The Chair, Ms. Lyons, called the meeting to order at approximately 5:00 PM with a quorum. 2. ROLL CALL: Present Commissioners: Crystal Lyons, Errol Summerlin, Robert Adler, Jared Cummings, Jack English, Kelley A. Knight, Johnny Meisner, Margie Meyers, Leah Patterson, Mr. Richard Pulido, Pastor Derrick Reaves, Sam Watson, Marta Del Angel. Absent Commissioners: Lauren McAdams, Lucy Reta. Staff in Attendance: Human Relations: Leon Bazar, Wanese Butler City Attorney's Office: Joseph Harney Engineering Services: Angel Escobar Public: Juan Torres, Student; Lamont Taylor 3. EXCUSED ABSENCES—None; no action taken. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES—July 5, 2007. The minutes were reviewed by the Commission. 1OTION To approve the minutes as written was made by Crystal Lyons, with a Second by Robert Adler. The Motion passed. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS/ INTRODUCTIONS/PRESENTATIONS: A. Announcements—None made at this time. B. Introductions—The Chair recognized and welcomed the Commissioners just appointed by the City Council. She gave each new Commissioner the opportunity to introduce themselves to the Commission. C. Presentations — City Minority Business Program/Disparity Study by Director of Engineering Services Department. Mr. Bazar prefaced this presentation by informing the new Commissioners that the Commission had requested an update on the City's disparity study, which consists of several components to each be addressed over the next few Commission meetings. Mr. Escobar provided a slide show presentation. He also conducted an overview of handouts provided to the Commission regarding minority and women owned businesses for construction contracts from fiscal year 1994-1995 to fiscal year 2006-2007. This contract data was categorized by contracts less than $25,000 and then those contracts $25,000 and over. Mr. Escobar also explained the process and forms for doing business with the City of Corpus Christi and how staff takes interested persons through 10 steps in order to get on the City's bidder Page 1 of 4 Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission Summary Minutes for August 2, 2007 list. He also informed the Commission that this information is also available through the City's website and that pubic legal notices for bidding on engineering projects is available every Monday, with bids published on Wednesdays. Also discussed was the website's information on City Bond Program projects, such as project status, schedules, upcoming bid dates, and forecasted projects. Mr.Escobar also indicated that the City's minority business policy includes a listing of under utilized businesses for City contracts. Regarding women-owned businesses, Mr. Escobar explained that they are doing business consistently in Corpus with no defaults in the past five years.And,in spite of Engineering's concerns of the increasing cost of materials (i.e.: PVC pipe, cement, asphalt, the projects), the Bond 2004 projects have been staying within budget. At the end of Mr. Escobar's overview,the Chair thanked him for a thorough and good education for the Commission. The Vice Chair, Mr. Summerlin,thanked Mr. Escobar for a detailed presentation. During the question and answer portion, Mr. Escobar indicated the following in response to Commissioners questions: • Outreach to contractors is conducted three times per year and also coordinated with Del Mar College's Small Business Center. Two bond seminars have also been held within the past5 years and are available upon request. • Today's handouts separated City contracts at the amount of$25,000 because the State of Texas allows contracts to be awarded up to $25,000, else go through the City Council. However,the State will increase this limit in to$50,000 in September 2007. The category of $25,000 and above can be detailed further through the department's database at different intervals such as $50,000, $100,000, etc. • Professional services contracts/consultants that are not included in today's construction contract data, but 75% of professional services contracts are to be local. And to see the demographics in this 75 percentile of the professional services type of contracts, the City could start tracking the suggested demographics of race, gender, etc. • Minority's national origin on contracts is done when the project/job is complete. • Regarding the City's disparity study, there was no disparity found in 1999. Mr. Summerlin suggested that the Commission may encourage the City Council to look at this 75 percent of professional contracts. In the interest of time, the Chair suggested that the Commission could possibly have an ad hoc committee on minority and women business initiatives, in which the ad hoc could review questions and assist in preparing the next departmental presentations to come before the Commission. Mr. Bazar offered to collect Commissioner questions, even electronically, and Page 2 of 4 Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission Summary Minutes for August 2, 2007 forward to Mr. Escobar for responses. With nothing further,the Chair thanked Mr. Escobar once again and invited Corpus Christi resident/student, Mr. Juan Torres, to speak. • Juan Torres gave his remarks in poetry format on people being all as one,so create a better community for, addressing racial profiling and promoting love and respect all the time. 6. COMMISSION SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: (Discussion with Possible Action) A. Housing Subcommittee The Commission will revisit filling the vacant Subcommittee Chair position Mr.Smith. No meeting or report at this time. B. Committee for Persons with Disabilities (CFPWD) Subcommittee Chair,Ms. Fallwell-Stover, reported that the CFPWD met on 8/1/07 and she provided an update on: • Engineering projects relative to ADA compliance and mobility improvements. • ADA parking monitoring program and possible education process through public service announcements on the impact people with disabilities face due to illegal parking in ADA spaces and on sidewalks; and expanding the program's scope for more flexibility and compliance. • City parks in that 15 of 190 parks receiving improvements. • Establishing a subcommittee relative to opportunities for more inclusion of kids with disabilities in Park and Recreation programs, and possible discussions with the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC) which had issued a statement of support on inclusion. C. Education Subcommittee— No meeting or report at this time. Mr. Pulido expressed an interest in serving as this Subcommittee Chair; more Commissioners could be added to this subcommittee. 7. OLD BUSINESS: (Discussion with Possible Action): A. Emergency Preparedness—Tabled. B. City Plans for Southside Housing—Status: Development Services Department is working on a dual report for the City Council and Commission. Mr. Summerlin reminded that this item is for citywide information not just the Southside in looking at city as a whole on where development happens. Ms. Patterson indicated that there used to be a spreadsheet with citywide information on citywide permits issued, and that she would follow-up on a contact person for this data. The Chair suggested that maybe some of this information and review could go through the Housing Subcommittee. C. Public Housing Authority Update—Martha De Angle informed the Commission that there have been no more meetings on housing projects. Page 3 of 4 Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission Summary Minutes for August 2, 2007 8. NEW BUSINESS: (Discussion with Possible Action): None 9. ADMINISTRATORS REPORT: Leon Bazar, Human Relations Director provided copies of his report and: • Overview of the monthly report distributed on case work, activities, and target days for processing cases. ▪ Comments on receiving the EEOC National Special Accommodations Award for outreach efforts. Mr. Bazar was applauded for his leadership. 10. PUBLIC COMMENTS/ CONCERNS /ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA: None 11.ADJOURNMENT: With no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 6:15 PM. Page 4 of 4