[00:00:03]
[CALL TO ORDER]
OF LOVE, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.I'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 5 41.
I'M THE VICE CHAIR AND I'M FILLING IN FOR CHAIR FRANKS TONIGHT.
SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL ROLL.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE MET CORA, SO WE CAN HAVE A MEETING TODAY.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
UM, I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF FOLKS REGISTERED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.LET'S GO AHEAD AND START WITH OUR, UH, VIRTUAL COMMENTS.
IS THAT, DO WE WANNA SAY IT ON OUR MICROPHONE? EVERYBODY? CAN YOU HEAR ME? PERFECT.
THE QUESTION IN THE ROOM WAS, CAN WE SET UP CAPTIONS FOR THIS MEETING? UM, WE WILL REQUEST THAT FOR FUTURE MEETINGS FOR TODAY.
AND THEN LINDSEY, UM, WE WILL ALSO GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE YOU WHEN YOU'RE READY, UM, TO SPEAK.
I, UM, I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS, BUT, UM, THANK YOU FOR JUST GIVING ME A SECOND TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.
MY NAME IS LINDSAY SOUTHARD AND I AM WITH THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT.
I AM A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST WITH THE OFFICE.
UM, AND REALLY JUST JOIN THE MEETING TODAY JUST TO, UM, HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY DOING, UM, WHAT ISSUES ARE CURRENTLY IMPORTANT, UM, FOR THE COMMITTEE.
AND, UM, YEAH, JUST WANTED TO STAY ABREAST OF WHAT IS, UM, GOING ON.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO JOIN TODAY.
I BELIEVE WE WILL HAVE ONE MORE, GIMME ONE SECOND.
THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT.
THEY HAVE A WRITTEN, SO THOSE WE HAVE REGISTERED IN PERSON HAVE A WRITTEN TESTIMONY.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ONE OF US CAN READ? YOU CAN.
SO I WILL BE READING, UM, THIS, UH, WRITTEN COMMENT.
THANK YOU COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE PROPOSAL TO ADD DISABILITY BUSINESS OWNERS TO THE ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS CERTIFICATION LISTING, JOINING OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS TO OFFER THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I AM JASON, JASON SHAW, PRESIDENT OF TEXAS DEAF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND OTIS SIZEMORE BOARD AT LARGE AND CHAIRPERSON OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF TEXAS DEAF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TEXAS DEF CHAMBER HAS BEEN WORKING BEHIND SCENES TO ENCOURAGE ADDING THE DISABLED BUSINESS
[00:05:01]
ENTERPRISE CERTIFICATION WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.AS MANY IN THE DISABLED COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE DEAF AND HEART OF HEARING, HAVE CHALLENGES TO GETTING THEIR BUSINESSES TO BE SUCCESSFUL ON EQUAL FOOTING WITH THEIR NON-DISABLED PEERS.
THERE ARE STUDIES THAT DOES SHOW THIS IS TO BE A FACT WITH NATIONAL DEAF CENTER ON POST-SECONDARY OUTCOME, FINDING THAT DEAF INDIVIDUALS ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN THEIR HEARING PEERS TO BE SELF-EMPLOYED.
PASSING THIS PROPOSAL WILL GO A LONG WAY AND HELP BUILD RAPPORT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE DISABLED BUSINESS COMMUNITY A WIN-WIN.
DOES THAT CONCLUDE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TODAY? ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE JOINED TO BOTH LISTEN AND TO, UM, SHARE COMMENTS WITH US.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT.
[1. Approval of the minutes from the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities June 10, 2022, Regular meeting.]
ALL RIGHT.SO OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, TWO MEETINGS WORTH OF MINUTES TO APPROVE, UM, FROM THE JUNE 10TH, 2022 REGULAR MEETING, AS WELL AS THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON AUGUST 19TH, 2022.
UM, SO I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
ARE WE ABLE TO BUNDLE THOSE AND APPROVE THOSE AS ONE ITEM, OR DO THOSE NEED TO BE VOTED ON SEPARATELY? ALL RIGHT.
THOSE DO NEED TO BE VOTED ON SEPARATELY.
SO I WILL, UM, ACCEPT A MOTION TO APPROVE, UM, THE JUNE MEETING MINUTES.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE JUNE MINUTES.
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM CURRENT, UH, COMMISSIONER K WHILE, DO I HAVE A SECOND? DO I HAVE A SECOND TO APPROVE THE JUNE MEETING? I SECOND.
COMMISSIONER ORLOWSKI IS OUR SECOND ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING, UM, THE JUNE MEETING MINUTES.
AND DO WE HAVE TO, UH, DO WE HAVE TO GO NAME BY NAME? NO.
UM, AS A REMINDER, YOUR CAMERA DOES NEED TO BE ON, UM, IN ORDER FOR YOU TO VOTE.
UM, ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE JUNE MEETING MINUTES.
IN ANY OPPOSE, ANY ABSTAIN? ALL RIGHT.
[2. Approval of the minutes from the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities August 19, 2022, Special meeting.]
AGAIN FOR OUR AUGUST MEETING MINUTES.UM, I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AUGUST MEETING MINUTES.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER SE WHO I MOVE TO APPROVE THE AUGUST MEETING MINUTES.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, DO I HAVE A SECOND? THIS IS COMMISSIONER ORLOWSKI.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ORLOWSKI.
UH, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE IN SECONDED.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AUGUST MEETING MINUTES.
AGAIN, CAMERAS MUST BE ON TO VOTE.
ANY OPPOSE? ANY ABSTAIN? ALL RIGHT.
[3. Staff briefing regard an update on Office of Civil Rights Support (Pantoja/Alexander) (Part 1 of 2)]
MOVE INTO OUR STAFF BRIEFINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.UM, I WANT THANK ALL OF YOU FOR TONIGHT.
I AM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST FOR THE OFFICE CIVIL RIGHTS.
AND I'M ALSO YOUR, UM, UP UNTIL THIS MONTH, YOUR LIAISON.
I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE'RE GONNA BE BRINGING IN JACQUELINE ALEXANDER, WHO WILL BE NOW THE LIAISON FOR THE COMMISSION.
I'M STILL HERE TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSION, UM, BUT I DEFINITELY WANTED TO, AT LEAST FORMALLY TO ALL, EVERYONE ON THE COMMISSION, THERE HAS BEEN A SWITCH.
SO HAVE YOU SEEN EMAILS FROM TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITHIN OUR OFFICE? IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S, WE DID AN INTERNAL SWITCH, HOWEVER, WE HAD NOT SHARED IT WITH THE COMMISSION.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE BOTH HERE.
UM, I WILL START PHASING OUT, BUT STILL SUPPORTING, BUT JACQUELINE WILL BE TAKING OVER.
DO YOU WANNA CHOOSE YOURSELF? HELLO, JACK PULLIN ALEXANDER, IT'S GREAT TO MEET YOU ALL FORMALLY.
I KNOW I SPOKE TO SOME OF YOU VIA EMAIL.
I'M ALWAYS OPEN WITH MY EMAIL AND PHONE NUMBER, MY OFFICE LINE (512) 978-1592, IF YOU EVER NEED TO REACH ME.
AND I'M HERE FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, GIMME ONE SECOND.
AND THEN I DO WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE MINUTES.
UM, I'M, WE HAVEN'T HAD THE FORMAL CONVERSATION
[00:10:01]
OF THE MINUTES, THE CONDUCTION OF THE CONDUCTION OF THE MINUTES, AND THE AGENDA HAS CHANGED QUITE A BIT.I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL NOTICED, UM, I, THERE WEREN'T ANY QUESTIONS FROM THIS COMMISSION SPECIFICALLY, BUT I DO JUST WANNA PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON HOW THE, THE FRAMEWORK OF THE AGENDA AND THE MINUTES ARE NOW BEING DONE? SOME OF THE CHANGES WERE LIKE, OLD BUSINESS, NEW BUSINESS DIVE VERBIAGE IS NO LONGER BEING USED.
UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO HAVE AN OP GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THE COMMISSION TODAY IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS.
AND THEN THE, I SEE NO QUESTIONS.
[5. Staff briefing on internal and external communication within the Commission (OCR)]
TO THE FIFTH ITEM.UM, I KNOW THERE'S SOME, UM, QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW ABOUT EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS.
I WANNA REVIEW ALL, REVIEW THAT WITH EVERYONE.
WE DO NEED A, I DO NEED TO ENFORCE THAT WE CAN ONLY USE CITY EMAILS, UM, CON TO CONDUCT BUSINESSES.
I CAN'T AND WILL REACH OUT TO YOU WHEN NEEDED VIA PHONE FOR WHATEVER REASON.
UM, LIKE VICE CHAIR, YOU EXPERIENCED THAT TODAY.
UM, AND IF WE WILL, OUR OFFICE WILL SEND OUT, UH, A FORM FOR EVERYONE JUST TO REACH OUT FOR YOUR, TO UNDERSTAND YOUR UNDERSTAND, TO KNOW YOUR PHONE NUMBER.
UM, AND THIS IS AGAIN, JUST FOR OUR OFFICE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU SHOULD A LAST MINUTE CHANGE OCCUR.
UM, AND THEN WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO ANY ITEMS BEING SHARED WITH THE COMMISSION, FOR, FOR RIGHT NOW, WE ARE, WE WANT TO STICK TO ITEMS THAT ARE SOLELY BASED ON THE AGENDA.
UM, OR ANY ITEMS FROM LIKE THE MINUTES WE'RE FOLLOWING UP, HEY, WE APPROVE MINUTES, BUT WE NEED TO FOLLOW X, Y, Z.
WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND PROVIDE THAT.
UM, AND BEFORE I MOVE ON TO, BACK TO NUMBER THREE, I WANNA STAY AT FIVE REAL QUICK.
DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS ON NUMBER FIVE? NO.
AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT FOR NO QUESTIONS IN THE ROOM OR TINI ONLINE.
[3. Staff briefing regard an update on Office of Civil Rights Support (Pantoja/Alexander) (Part 2 of 2)]
FOR NUMBER THREE, I ALSO WANT TO INTRODUCE WE TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE OFFICE CIVIL RIGHTS SUPPORT.TAMA SALK, SHE IS OUR ACTING DIRECTOR.
I DON'T BELIEVE SHE'S FORMALLY INTRODUCED HERSELF TO THIS COMMISSION.
NIA, HAVE YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE COMMISSION? OKAY.
I THINK I KNOW I WAS ON, UM, LAST ONE OF THE TIMES.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A QUORUM, BUT I DO WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LET YOU KNOW, UM, NO, I'M DR.
TA, SO I'M SERVING AS THE ACTING, UH, CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICER FOR THE CITY.
AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, WORKING WITH YOU ALL AS I AM IN THIS POSITION.
AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME.
SO I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[6. Discussion and possible presentation from Jeremy Garza about Joint Inclusion Committee.]
UM, OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS. UM, SO THE FIRST DISCUSSION ITEM IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE PRESENTATION FROM JEREMY GARMA ABOUT THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE.UM, IT LOOKS LIKE WE DO HAVE JEREMY ONLINE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
UM, HOW DO YOU EVERYBODY, MY NAME'S JEREMY GARZA.
I USE VEIN HE PRONOUNS, AND I WORK IN THE EQUITY OFFICE AS THE COMMISSIONS AND NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON.
UM, AT Y'ALL'S LAST MEETING, I BELIEVE, OR MAYBE THE MEETING BEFORE THAT, I WAS THERE AND KIND OF GIVE A PRESENTATION, UM, ABOUT THE HISTORY, A LITTLE BIT OF THE EQUITY OFFICE AND A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY OF THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE, OF WHICH, UM, ROBIN ORLOWSKI, COMMISSIONER ROBIN ORI IS Y'ALL REPRESENTATIVE TO.
UM, AND AS YOU KNOW, THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE IS ALL ABOUT TRYING TO FACILITATE COLLABORATION, UM, ACROSS THE DIFFERENT QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSIONS.
UM, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TOO IS HELPING, UM, FACILITATE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES AROUND THE BUDGET, UH, AND THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION PROCESS.
UM, AS MANY OF YOU OF COURSE KNOW, THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION PRO PROCESS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND POWERFUL, UM, COMPONENTS OF COMMISSION WORK, AND Y'ALL'S ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO PASS RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL.
UM, REGARDING, UM, THE NEEDS, UH, THAT NEED TO BE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET IN ORDER TO UPLIFT THE COMMUNITIES THAT Y'ALL REPRESENT.
UM, IN THE PAST, UM, THIS PROCESS, UM, HAS BEEN REALLY, IT'S BEEN ALWAYS BEEN A RUSHED PROCESS.
UM, LAST YEAR, AS YOU MAY, THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION DEADLINE WAS MARCH 30TH.
UH, AND THAT'S GONNA BE THE SAME CASE FOR THIS UPCOMING RECOMMENDATION FOR THE FY 2324 FIFTH FISCAL YEAR, WHICH
[00:15:01]
MEANS THAT FOR THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT, UH, THOSE ARE DUE ON MARCH 30TH, 2023.SO IT WILL LAST SINCE SIX MONTHS AWAY.
UM, AND IN THE PAST, THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE HAS ORGANIZED A COMMUNITY TOWN HALL, UM, COLLABORATIVELY WITH ALL 10 COMMISSION MEMBERS IN ORDER TO HELP ORGANIZE, UM, A COMMUNITY INPUT ON THE THINGS THAT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES NEED, UH, TO, TO IMPROVE, IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
UM, AND WE'RE HOPING TO HOST, UM, SOME OF THOSE TOWN HALLS.
AGAIN, THERE AREN'T DATES THAT HAVE BEEN SOLIDIFIED.
UM, AT THE NEXT ONE INCLUSION COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, NEXT WEEK, UM, THERE WILL BE DISCUSSING THIS AND HOPEFULLY PUTTING THOSE ON THE CALENDAR.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THE HOPE IS TO HOST ONE IN NOVEMBER, ANOTHER ONE IN DECEMBER, AND A FINAL ONE IN JANUARY, SO THAT Y'ALL HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO PROCESS THAT COMMUNITY INPUT AND THEN HOPEFULLY MAKE SOME GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON IT BY THE DEADLINE ON MARCH 30TH.
UM, FURTHERMORE, UM, THERE'S A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT BOTH THE EQUITY OFFICE AND THE BUDGET OFFICE TOGETHER ARE TWO OFFICES ARE ORGANIZING A WORKSHOP, UM, SOLELY FOR THE BUDGET WORK GROUPS OF EVERY COMMISSION ON THE JIC.
UM, WE'VE HELPED A SIMILAR WORKSHOP SUCH AS THIS FOR THE PAST, UH, TWO OR THREE YEARS NOW.
AND WE'RE DOING IT AGAIN THIS YEAR, UH, IN THE PAST, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE CALENDAR YEAR.
AND, UH, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT, UM, NOT A LOT OF COMMISSIONS ARE ARTICULATED THAT THERE'S JUST WASN'T ENOUGH TIME, UM, TO REALLY CREATE GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE PROCESS STARTING IN DECEMBER SLASH JANUARY.
AND SO WE'VE MOVED UP THE PROCESS, UM, TO START THIS, UH, THIS WORKSHOP IN NOVEMBER.
UM, WE'LL BE HOSTING IT ON, UM, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH AT 10:00 AM UM, UH, AT THE PLANT, AT THE PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, THE PDC.
UM, IT'S GONNA BE AN IN PERSON EVENT WITH HOPEFULLY SOME HYBRID OPTIONS FOR ATTENDANCE, BUT IT'S FOR THE BUDGET WORK GROUPS ONLY.
SO BUDGET WORK GROUP MEMBERS OR INDIVIDUALS THAT YOUR COMMISSION MAY WANNA AUTHORIZE TO ATTEND.
UM, AND IT'S A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS, UM, I KNOW COMMISSIONER ROBERT ORLOWSKI HAS ARTICULATED MUCH AND HAS BEEN A GREAT ADVOCATE ON THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE REGARDING, UH, GETTING ADDITIONAL TRAINING, UM, AROUND THE BUDGET PROCESS.
UM, BECAUSE, UH, THE ONBOARDING THAT, UH, COMMISSIONERS EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU START ONTO THE COMMISSION, A LOT OF FOLKS SAY THAT YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT, UM, THE BUDGET PROCESS, WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS, ALSO, WHAT THE, IS THE JIC AND WHY IS IT, AND WHY IS IT, UM, IMPORTANT TO, UM, TO WORK WITH THE JIC.
ALSO, UM, SO KIND OF REITERATE TOO, THAT ALL OF THIS WORK IS JUST OPTIONAL.
UM, IF THE MCD, IF THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE THEN CHOOSES THAT THEY DO NOT WANNA WORK AT THE JAC OR CHOOSES THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO, UM, PARTICIPATE IN THESE OPPORTUNITY, YOU HAVE EVERY SINGLE ONE ON YOU, RIGHT? UH, TO NOT PARTICIPATE.
HOWEVER, WE ARE ORGANIZING THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND THESE EVENTS IN ORDER TO ENRICH, UM, Y'ALL KNOWLEDGE, UM, AND HOPEFULLY TO, UM, CREATE THE SUBSTANCE OF, OF Y'ALL'S RECOMMENDATIONS, ESPECIALLY REGARDING BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS BETTER.
SO AT THIS SPECIAL EVENT ON NUMBER NOVEMBER 5TH, UM, IT'S GONNA BE VIA A TWO PART OF, UM, TWO PURPOSES FOR THE, THE FIRST ONE, UM, IS TO GET A Q AND A SESSION.
SO THAT'S A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES.
ED VAN NINO IS GONNA BE AVAILABLE FOR COMMISSIONERS TO BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET.
I KNOW THE JIC, UM, IS COLLECTIVELY CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF QUESTIONS, UH, TO HELP CLEAR UP, UM, MANY COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HOW THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S BUDGET WORKS, UM, AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET ALLOCATIONS FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'VE BE COMMITTING IN THIS CASE PUTS FORTH.
UM, FURTHERMORE, THE Q AND A WILL ALSO HELP SERVE, UM, TO HELP INFORM THE COMMISSIONS ABOUT HOW TO CREATE BOTH THE PROCESS OF THE RECOMMENDATION AS A WHOLE AND THE SUBSTANCE OF Y'ALL'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT, TO MAKE IT BETTER, TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
UM, EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, OR FOUR YEARS SINCE THE EQUITY OFFICE HAS GOTTEN INVOLVED, WE'VE JUST BEEN WANTING TO MAKE Y'ALL'S VOICES MORE POWERFUL, UH, AND MORE EFFECTIVE.
UM, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR THIS WORKSHOP IS HOPEFULLY TO MAKE THESE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS MORE EFFECTIVE.
UH, THE SECOND PART, UM, AND THE SECOND PURPOSE, UM, OF THIS BUDGET WORKSHOP, UM, IS FOR COMMISSIONERS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO HAVE FACE TO FACE CONTACT, UM, WITH THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, EVERY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR THAT YOU, THE COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER JIC COMMISSIONS, UM, HAVE SUBMITTED A BUDGET RECOMMENDATION TO.
UM, SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY YOU TO SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH THE STAFF AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS IN WHICH YOU SUBMITTED RECOMMENDATIONS TO, IN ORDER TO HEAR UPDATES, TO SEE HOW EFFECTIVE AND HOW, WHAT THE PROCESS IS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, AS WELL AS TO GET FEEDBACK ON HOW, UM, WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF THE DEPARTMENT IN ORDER FOR Y'ALL TO HOPEFULLY CRAFT SOME RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON SOME OF THOSE NEEDS THAT HOPEFULLY WORK TO UPLIFT THE COMMUNITIES THAT Y'ALL REPRESENT.
UM, SO I KNOW ON, UM, NUMBER NINE OF Y'ALL'S AGENDA TODAY IS, UH, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION, UM, ON CREATING A BUDGET WORK, UH, WORK, WORK GROUP FOR THE, I
[00:20:01]
SEE IF YOU SO CHOOSE, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO CREATE A WORK GROUP THAT'S TOTALLY OKAY, YOU CAN AT LEAST AUTHORIZE, UH, A FEW MEMBERS, UM, OF YOUR COMMISSION TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND TO PARTICIPATE, UH, IN THIS SPECIAL EVENT ON NOVEMBER 5TH, WHICH AGAIN, IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BUDGET AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW, UM, WE CAN MAKE THE, UM, THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE DISABILITIES, AS WELL AS THE OTHER QUALITY OF BLACK COMMISSIONS TO MAKE Y'ALL'S VOICE, UH, IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, UM, MORE PROMINENT AND MORE EFFECTIVE.UM, SO THAT'S JUST MY LITTLE, UM, UH, SHARE, UM, ABOUT THAT BUDGET PROCESS.
AND I'M GONNA STAY ON THIS MEETING.
SO WHEN Y'ALL GET TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER NINE, I CAN A, UH, BE HERE TO MOST HAPPILY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT THE PROCESS.
UM, I HAVE SOME DRAFT LANGUAGE, UM, ABOUT THE MOTION IF YOU SO CHOOSE TO CREATE A, CHOOSE TO CREATE A WORKSHOP, UM, THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE CLERK, UM, THAT I WILL SHARE WITH YOUR STAFF LIAISON SHORTLY.
UM, SO AGAIN, I'M ALWAYS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND I'D LOVE TO CONTINUE COMING, UM, TO MCPD MEETINGS IN THE FUTURE.
UM, IN ORDER TO, AGAIN, JUST TO HELP THAT, UM, UH, HELP EXPLAIN AND, UM, UH, BE A PRESENCE ABOUT THE COLLABORATION EFFORT, UM, THAT THE JIC, UM, IS, IS ALWAYS ORGANIZING, UM, NOT ONLY TO HELP MAKE, MAKE Y'ALLS WORK MORE EFFECTIVE, BUT TO MAKE THE WORK ACROSS ALL OF THE INTERNATIONALITIES OF OUR, OF OUR COMMUNITIES, UH, TO WORK COHESIVELY TOGETHER AS WELL.
UM, CUZ I THINK WE REALLY ARE MORE POWERFUL WHEN WE, UH, ARE ABLE TO COLLABORATE.
APPRECIATE MAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE WITH US.
UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT? COMMISSIONER K DOK FOR THE EVENT ON NOVEMBER 5TH, WHAT WERE THE HOURS? IT'S GOING, UH, IT'S GONNA BE A MORNING EVENT.
UH, WE ON THE CALENDAR, WHICH I WILL BE SENDING TO THE MEMBERS WHO ARE AUTHORIZED TODAY THIS EVENING.
I'LL SEND YOU A CALENDAR INVITE FOR IT.
UM, BUT IT WILL START AT 9:45 AM SO HOPEFULLY BY THE TIME EVERYONE GETS IN, IT WILL BE A CATERED EVENT.
SO THERE WILL BE FOOD, UM, WITH THE BULK OF THE MEETINGS STARTING AT 10:00 AM AND WE'RE HOPING TO BE OUT BY 12, 12:15 PM SO ONLY NOT TOO MUCH OF A COMMITMENT ON YOUR SATURDAY, UM, BUT AT LEAST SOMETIME FOR Y'ALL TO HAVE, UH, ENGAGEMENT WITH THOSE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AS WELL.
SO, 10:00 AM TO FOLIUM IS MORE OR LESS, BUT WE'RE STARTING AT 9 45 SO PEOPLE HAVE TIME TO AND GET FOOD.
AND CAN PRESENTATIONS OR RECORDING OF THE SESSION, UH, BE DONE? SO FOLKS THAT CAN'T COME FROM THE VARIOUS, UM, WORK GROUPS AT THE COMMISSIONS HAVE ACCESS TO LOOK AT IT, THAT'S A, I KNOW FOR MY FAMILY THAT SATURDAY'S A BAD DAY.
I KNOW IT'S A BAD TIME FOR, UH, A LOT OF THEM THE WHOLE, WHOLE NOVEMBER MONTH, REALLY THE BAD TIME FOR LOTS OF THINGS.
WE'RE GONNA TRY OUR BEST TO RECORD.
I KNOW THAT WILL DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO RECORD, UM, THE Q AND A SESSION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE ED AT VAN NINO.
HOWEVER, UM, THE DISCUSSION WITH THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS THAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING IN BREAKOUT ROOMS, UM, IN THE BUILDING SO THAT THERE'S, UH, MORE TIME FOR INTIMATE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONERS.
UM, IT'S NOT GUARANTEED THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO RECORD THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPENS WITH, UH, THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE EQUIPMENT CUZ PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE FILING IN DIFFERENT ROOMS AND SO WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT RECORDING DEVICES.
SO I'M GONNA TRY MY BEST TO ORGANIZE THAT.
HOWEVER, IT'S NOT GUARANTEED AND THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN TELLING OTHER COMMISSIONERS AS WELL.
UM, THE SAME TOO WITH THE VIRTUAL OPTION.
AND WE'RE HIGHLY ENCOURAGING IN PERSON PARTICIPATION FOR, FOR HOPEFULLY ONE OF, AT LEAST ONE OF YOUR COMMISSIONERS WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT DATE TIME.
UM, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO COMMUNICATE.
UM, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE BREAKOUT ROOMS WITH THE DIRECTORS, IT'S STILL UNCLEAR.
WE'LL HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY IN ORDER TO BROADCAST, UM, A WEBEX OR LINK, UM, FOR, UM, THOSE BREAKOUT SESSIONS.
WE WILL FOR SURE FOR THE BIG Q AND A SESSION.
BUT AGAIN, THE BREAKOUTS ARE REALLY MEANT FOR REALLY, UM, THAT FACE TO FACE CONTACT IN ORDER TO REALLY STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP, UM, BETWEEN COMMISSIONERS AND DEPARTMENT LEADERS.
BUT LIKE I SAID, I WANNA TRY MY BEST TO JUST NOT GET GUARANTEE FOR THOSE BREAKOUT CONVERSATIONS.
UH, THIS IS COMMISSIONER ORLOWSKI.
UM, SINCE CAPITAL METRO IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WEEKEND SERVICE, UH, STILL, UH, I WOULD EN ENCOURAGE A, UH, ONLINE, UM, OPTION.
UM, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT IN PERSON, UM, EVENTS ARE IMPORTANT, UH, SUCH AS NOW, BUT, UH, I WOULD WOULD ENCOURAGE OFFERING AN ONLINE OPTION FOR WEEKEND.
UH, ABSOLUTELY COMMISSIONER ALASKA.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA HAVE THAT OPTION FOR THE Q AND A SESSION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE.
IT'S JUST THE BREAKOUT D DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.
IT'S PROBABLY GONNA TAKE PLACE IN SIX OR SEVEN DIFFERENT ROOMS AND IT'S JUST ABOUT THE LOGISTICS OF HAVING A WEBEX.
IT'S SIX OR SEVEN DIFFERENT WEBEX LINKS AND DIFFERENT WEBEX
[00:25:01]
VIRTUAL BREAKOUT ROOM.THAT'S JUST THE COMPLICATED PART.
AND I'M THE ONLY STAFF MEMBER HELPING TO COM UH, OKAY.
I'M GONNA TRY MY BEST TO DO IT, BUT IT WOULD BE LIKE JUGGLING QUITE LITERALLY THAT SEVEN DIFFERENT, UH, WEBEX ROOM I'M GONNA TRY.
AND I, I DO, I DO APPRECIATE, UH, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT ON OUR END TOO, UH, UH, WITHOUT THAT.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'LL MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION
[7. Presentation by Small & Minority Business Resources to discuss the Certification, Compliance, Resources Overview and 2022 Disparity Study]
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UM, WHICH IS A PRESENTATION BY SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCES TO DISCUSS CERTIFICATION, COMPLIANCE, RESOURCE OVERVIEW, AND THE 2022 DISPARITY STUDY.THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? YES.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY'S SMALL MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
UM, WE WERE HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF OUR DEPARTMENT AND ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, UH, REGARDING THE RESOURCES AND SERVICES OR DEPARTMENT, UH, UH, UM, PUTS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS GIVE YOU A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR DISPARITY STUDY INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, UH, ALMOST TWO AND A HALF YEARS NOW.
UH, SO I THINK WE HAVE A PRESENTATION OF SOMEONE HAS IT AND CAN BRING IT UP.
AND YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, OUR DEPARTMENT, WHAT IS SBR, UH, AN OVERVIEW OF OUR CERTIFICATION PROCESS, UH, OUR COMPLIANCE PROCESS, OUR RESOURCES, WHAT WE PROVIDE OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THOSE BUSINESSES THAT DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AGAIN, TOUCHING ON A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DISPARITY STUDY, AND THEN I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS, UH, AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.
SO WHAT IS S MBR R UH, OUR MISSION IS TO ASSIST SMALL, MINORITY AND WOMEN OWN BUSINESSES, UH, WHO WISH TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON.
WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH, UH, OUR, OUR PROCUREMENT OFFICE, UH, THE PURCHASING OFFICE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, UH, OR MORE SIMPLISTIC TERM.
UH, WE REVIEW ALL PROCUREMENTS THAT HAVE A VALUE OF AT LEAST $50,000 OR GREATER, SO THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF, UH, OF, UH, PROCUREMENTS EVERY YEAR THAT, THAT OUR STAFF REVIEWS FOR, UM, SCOPES OF WORK AND THE ABILITY TO PLACE MINORITY AND OR WOMEN OWN BUSINESS GOALS ON THOSE PARTICULAR PROCUREMENTS.
UH, WE ARE, WE RUN A GENDER AND RACE BASED PROGRAM, SO WE ARE KIND OF, UH, VERY MUCH SCRUTINIZED ABOUT HOW WE APPLY A, A PROGRAM LIKE OURS THAT IS RACE AND GENDER BASED.
AND SO WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROCESSES AT A STANDARD CITY OF AUSTIN PROGRAM WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS IS A VERY SIMPLISTIC AND HIGH OVERVIEW OF THE, UM, ORGANIZATION, THE DEPARTMENT, UH, ME AS THE DIRECTOR.
UH, WE HAVE OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, PAMELA SALIA, DR.
SHE'S ACTUALLY PERFORMING DOUBLE DUTY AS THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF CIVIL RIGHTS, AS WELL AS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR SMB R AND OUR POINT PERSON FOR THE DISPARITY STUDY THAT WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES.
UH, IN THIS PRESENTATION, WE HAVE THREE, UH, LARGE DIVISIONS.
ONE IS OUR CERTIFICATION DIVISION, UH, LED BY MR. ELTON PRICE.
AND THAT CERTIFICATION DIVISION LOOKS AT THE REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OUR, UH, ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE, UM, TO CERTIFY VENDORS AS MINORITY AND OR WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.
UH, WE ALSO RUN TWO FEDERAL PROGRAMS, THE DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS THE AIRPORT CONCESSION DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM.
THOSE ARE FEDERALLY, UH, BASED PROGRAMS. SO AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT OF SCRUTINY ON THOSE.
UH, BUT ELTON CERTIFIES FOR ALL THREE OF THOSE PROGRAMS, UH, COMPLIANCE IS LED BY FELICIA SHAW.
FELICIA IS O OVERSEES THE LARGEST DIVISION IN OUR DEPARTMENT, AND THIS IS THE DIVISION THAT ACTUALLY HAS THE, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF REVIEWING ALL OF THOSE PROCUREMENTS OVER $50,000 FOR, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN APPLY THE PROGRAM WHERE APPROPRIATE.
SO IT'S A LOT OF WORK FOR, FOR THESE STAFF MEMBERS.
AND LASTLY, WE HAVE OUR RESOURCES DIVISION, UH, LED BY MR. THOMAS OWENS.
UH, AND THIS IS WHERE WE OFFER SERVICES TO OUR MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, WHETHER IT BE TRAINING PROGRAMS, UH, ASSISTANCE, UH, WITH, UH, UH, OTHER
[00:30:01]
ENTITIES AROUND THE CITY, UH, MAKING PARTNERSHIPS.WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH, UH, THREE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE, WE CALL THE MINORITY TRADE ALLIANCE MEMBERS.
UH, IT IS WITH THE US HISPANIC CONTRACTORS, UH, THAT AUSTIN, THE AUSTIN AREA BLACK CONTRACTORS, AND THE ASIAN CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION.
SO WE, THOSE ARE OUR PRIMARY STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL AS THE VARIOUS, UH, DECADE CHAMBERS, UH, AND THAT WE WORK WITH VERY CLOSELY TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, ANY INITIATIVE WITH THE CITY MAJOR PROJECTS WITH THE CITY, SUCH AS THINGS LIKE THE AIRPORT EXPANSION PROJECT THAT IS, UH, CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, WE MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S GOING ON, HOW THEY CAN PARTICIPATE ON THOSE MAJOR CONTRACTS, AND HOW WE CAN ASSIST THEM IN IN DOING SO.
SO I TOUCHED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CERTIFICATION AND, AND THE WORK THAT MR. PRICE AND HIS TEAM, UH, DOES.
AS WE MENTIONED, WE, UH, HAVE DIFFERENT CERTIFICATIONS, UH, CLASSIFICATIONS.
ONE IS THE MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE OR MBE FOR SHORT WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE WBE.
WE RUN, AGAIN, A, UH, TWO FEDERAL PROGRAMS, THE DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS THE AIRPORT CONCESSION DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, UH, CERTIFICATION DESIGNATION.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF SMALL, UH, FIRMS THAT ACTIVELY SEEK THIS CERTIFICATION.
UH, BUT TYPICALLY WE HAVE THE FIRMS THAT ARE CERTIFIED AS EITHER MINORITY OR WOMEN OWN BUSINESSES CERTIFIED IN THAT CATEGORY AS WELL.
SO THAT'S A, THAT'S NOT RACE OR GENDER BASED.
IT IS BASED ON, UH, THE WORK THAT YOU DO, UH, FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
SO, WHAT IS THE CRITERIA THAT ELTON AND HIS TEAM WILL USE? THE, THE PRIMARY ONE IS THAT THE, THE BUSINESS THAT APPLIES TO BE, UH, CERTIFIED AS A MINORITY OR WOMAN OWN BUSINESS MUST BE OWNED AT LEAST 51% MANAGED, CONTROLLED BY AN ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUAL.
AND WHEN WE SAY SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE PRESUMED GROUPS THAT WE HAVE HERE, ASIAN AMERICAN, AFRICAN AMERICAN, NATIVE AMERICAN, AND HISPANIC.
UH, WE ALSO IDENTIFY, UH, FEMALES, UH, IN THAT CATEGORY AS WELL.
SO IN TERMS OF ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A THRESHOLD, UH, FOR PERSONAL NETWORK.
WE WANT THESE TO REALLY, WE WANT THIS PROGRAM REALLY TO BENEFIT THOSE SMALLER, UH, MINORITY OWNED AND WOMEN OWN COMPANIES.
SO WE HAVE A THRESHOLD THAT GETS CHANGED ANNUALLY.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE ABOUT, I THINK, 1.6 MILLION, UH, FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT IS APPLYING AS A MINORITY BUSINESS.
UH, THEY MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE IN RUNNING THE FIRM, AND THEY HAVE TO SHOW THAT THEY MANAGE AND CONTROL THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS.
WE ARE REALLY LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ARE TRULY, IN FACT, MINORITY AND OR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES.
SO, AS I MENTIONED, WE ALSO HAVE A COMPLIANCE DIVISION, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S MADE UP OF ABOUT 16 INDIVIDUALS AT, AT THIS POINT.
AND, AND THEY REVIEW SOLICITATIONS OUT OF OUR CENTRAL PROCUREMENT OFFICE, UH, WITH A $50,000 OR GREATER VALUE.
UM, WE REVIEW THOSE SOLICITATIONS FOR SUBCONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES.
UH, WE, IF WE IDENTIFY SCOPES OF WORK THAT ARE, UM, THAT ARE ESSENTIAL PART OF THE JOB, AND IF WE HAVE AVAILABLE MINORITY AND OR WOMEN OWN BUSINESSES TO, UH, PARTICIPATE IN THOSE SCOPES OF WORK, THEN WE WILL SET AN APPROPRIATE NBE AND WBE GOAL, UH, FOR THAT SOLICITATION.
AND WE FOLLOW THAT FROM CRADLE TO GRADE.
SO FROM THE TIME THAT THIS SOLICITATION GETS RELEASED TO THE TIME THAT WE CLOSE OUT THAT CONTRACT, UH, IT COULD BE SEVERAL YEARS, UH, WE MONITOR THAT AND MONITOR THE, THE, THE WORK THAT GOES ON IN THAT PROJECT TO ENSURE THAT OUR MINORITY WOMEN OWN BUSINESSES ARE GETTING PAID, UH, THAT THEY'RE TREATED APPROPRIATELY ON THE JOB.
AND WE ARE THERE AS A FUNNEL AND A FACILIT, UH, FACILITATION, UH, UM, TO HELP THOSE FIRMS IF THERE'S ANY PROBLEMS WITH, UH, PROJECT MANAGERS AROUND THE CITY, OR PROBLEMS WITH ANY OF THE PRIME CONTRACTORS THAT HAVE, UH, RECEIVED A CONTRACT, UH, THROUGH OUR CITY COUNCIL.
SO WE HAVE SOME GOOD FAITH EFFORTS, AND I'LL GO THROUGH THIS FAIRLY QUICKLY.
AS I MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE GOALS, UH, THAT WE APPLY TO SOME OF OUR SOLICITATIONS IF THEY NEED THE CRITERIA OF HAVING, UH, CARVABLE SCOPES.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, AVAILABLE MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES WITHIN THOSE SCOPES OF WORK.
UM, BUT THIS IS NOT A QUOTA SYSTEM.
SO IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO MEET THE GOALS THAT WE HAVE PLACED ON THE SOLICITATION, YOU HAVE TO SHOW US THAT YOU AT LEAST MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT,
[00:35:01]
UM, AND PROVIDERS WITH DOCUMENTATION SHOWING THAT YOU MEET THAT EFFORT.SO THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, SENDING OUT A NOTIFICATION VIA TWO METHODS, FAX, UM, EMAIL, UH, MAKING A A A A STATEMENT IN YOUR WEBSITE, UH, PUTTING OUT A, A NOTIFICATION IN THE NEWSPAPER, ALTHOUGH THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OLD FASHIONED.
UM, PEOPLE TYPICALLY DO THINGS LIKE PUTTING IT ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE OR THEIR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT, OR THEIR LINKEDIN ACCOUNT, AND WE COUNT THAT AS WELL.
UH, WORKING WITH OTHER MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED CHAMBERS AND MINORITY TRADE ALLIANCE MEMBERS.
UH, OVERALL, OUR STAFF IS LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THOSE FIRMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE MINORITY AND OR WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS PARTICIPATION GOALS ON CONTRACTS, UH, THAT THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS, UM, THESE, UH, ITEMIZED LIST OF REQUIREMENTS.
AND THEY, THEY ENSURE THAT WHEN IT GOES TO COUNCIL, THAT WE EITHER ARE SAYING THAT THE GOALS HAVE BEEN MET ON THAT PROJECT OR THAT THAT PRIME CONTRACTOR HAS SUBMITTED ALL THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FOR US AT BID TIME.
SO THIS IS THE, THE RESOURCES DIVISION.
AND, AND, AND IT'S, IT'S THE ONE THAT I GET THE MOST EXCITED ABOUT BECAUSE WE, THIS IS THE ONE THAT I THINK HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH AND THE POTENTIAL TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE NEW, UH, ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
UH, OUR CITY COUNCIL AND THEIR WISDOM, UH, PROVIDED US WITH SOME ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBERS, UH, AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
UM, WE RECEIVED A PROGRAM MANAGER TO HELP US IN ASSISTING AND SETTING UP SOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, UH, FOR OUR, UH, MINORITY AND WOMEN OWN BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM, UH, BE BETTER PREPARED TO, UH, WORK ON CITI PROJECTS AND, AND, AND, AND WORK WELL ON THOSE CITY PROJECTS.
SO, UH, WE'RE WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH, UH, VARIOUS CONSULTANTS AS WELL AS OUR INTERNAL STAFF TO TRY TO SEE WHAT ARE THE NEEDS, UH, WHAT CAN WE DO TO SHORE UP THOSE NEEDS.
AND, UM, AND, AND, AND WORKING ON JUST VARIOUS INITIATIVES THAT WE CAN TO ASSIST OUR MINORITY AND WOMEN OWN BUSINESSES AND OUR RESOURCES DIVISION IS REALLY GONNA TAKE THE LEAD IN TRYING TO HELP US DO THAT.
SO, LOTS OF GOOD WORK ON AT THIS LEVEL.
SO, SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, UH, IS OUR DISPARITY STUDY BECAUSE WE RUN A RACE AND GENDER BASED PROGRAM, PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS, UH, TO HAVE A PROGRAM LIKE OURS IS TO SHOW THAT THERE IS A DISPARITY IN YOUR MARKETPLACE.
SO WE HIRED A DISPARITY STUDY CONSULTANT.
SHE'S A NATIONAL EXPERT CHIEF, QUITE LITERALLY, WROTE THE BOOK ON HOW TO CONDUCT DISPARITY STUDIES.
AND HER NAME IS, UH, COLLECT PO.
AND SHE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR OVER 20 YEARS ON OUR N B W B E PROGRAM.
UM, AND REALLY THE, THE DISPARITY STUDY WILL, WILL LOOK TO SEE IF WE MEET TWO TESTS.
THE FIRST IS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROVES IT HAS A COMPELLING INTEREST BASED ON STRONG STATISTICAL AND ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE OF CURRENT DISCRIMINATION OR THE EFFECTS OF PAST DISCRIMINATION IN USING RACE OR GENDER IN DECISION MAKING.
AND THEN ANY REMEDIES THAT WE HAVE, SUCH AS OUR PROGRAM AND SUCH AS OUR RESOURCES, UH, TO THESE FIRMS MUST BE NARROWLY TAILORED TO THE EVIDENCE RELIED UPON AND REVIEWED IN THE DISPARITY STUDY.
WE DO THESE ABOUT FIVE, EVERY FIVE OR SIX YEARS.
AND WE LOOK AT A PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME FOR THIS 2022 STUDY.
WE'RE LOOKED AND WE PROVIDE IT TO THE CONSULTANT, OVER 4,000 CONTRACTS, UH, COVERING THE FISCAL YEAR'S 2013 THROUGH 2018.
AND THEN THE DISPARITY STUDY CONSULTANT DID A SAMPLE, UM, A SAMPLE OF THOSE 4,000 CONTRACTS TO COME UP WITH, UH, THE DISPARITY STUDY, UM, QUALITATIVE DATA AND QUANTITATIVE DATA.
SO, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, SOME OF THE OBJECTIVES THAT WE HAVE WITH THIS STUDY WERE TO PROVIDE A LEGAL DEFENSE.
BECAUSE WE ARE A RACE AND GENDER PROGRAM, UH, WE HAVE TO SHOW THAT, UH, THE PROGRAM IS A, IS A NEED OUT IN, UH, FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO IT PROVIDES A LEGAL DEFENSE IF WE WERE EVER, EVER TO BE CHALLENGED IN THE COURTS.
THE COURTS HAVE PREVIOUSLY RULED, UH, THROUGH THE SUPREME COURT.
AND SO THERE ARE, THERE ARE, UH, CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO MEET.
UH, IT ALSO PROVIDES, UM, POLICY AND PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, WE ARE NOT A PERFECT PROGRAM BY ANY MEANS, UM, BUT, AND SO WE ALWAYS LOOK TO OUR CONSULTANT TO PROVIDE US WITH, UH, BEST PRACTICES, UH, WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAM.
AND SO SHE HAS PROVIDED THAT TO US AS WELL AS PART OF A CHAPTER IN OUR DISPARITY STUDY.
AND LASTLY, IT'S USED TO EDUCATE POLICY MAKERS AND STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE LEGAL
[00:40:01]
AND ECONOMIC ISSUES, UM, THAT HELPS US BUILD CONSENSUS.AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A ROBUST STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITY.
THEY, THEY ARE VERY, UH, PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR PROGRAM.
UH, THEY FIGHT VERY HARD, UH, FOR THE PROGRAM, AND THEN WE APPRECIATE THEM AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE DISPARITY STUDY IS TRYING TO DO, UH, AND WHAT IT ISN'T TRYING TO DO AT THE SAME TIME.
SO, SOME OF THE KEY FINDINGS IN THE STUDY, UH, WERE THAT THE B WBE PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL.
UM, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
UH, WE ARE SEEN AS A NATIONAL MODEL, UH, FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND HOW TO IMPLEMENT AN N B W B E PROGRAM, A RACE AND GENDER BASED PROGRAM.
UH, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, UH, WE LOOKED AT OVER A THOUSAND CONTRACTS.
AND WHAT THAT SHOWED WAS THAT, UH, 90% OF ALL THE CONTRACT DOLLARS, UH, FELL INTO THE, THE AUSTIN MSA, THE SAN ANTONIO MSA, UH, OR THE DALLAS AND HOUSTON MSA.
AND THAT WAS OVER 90% OF THOSE CONTRACT DOLLARS.
UM, SO THE, THE, THE MARKETPLACE, IF YOU WILL, WAS, WAS TRULY THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THOSE LARGER URBAN AREAS.
AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT SHOWS US, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE HAVE TO APPLY THE PROGRAM.
UH, AS THIS BEING A CITY OF AUSTIN PROGRAM, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO KNOW WHERE YOUR DOLLARS ARE GOING, UM, OVER THAT STUDY PERIOD.
UH, IN TERMS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED FIRMS, OUR MBE, UH, AVAILABILITY IS AT 8.0%.
AND OUR WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS, UH, AVAILABILITY IS AT 6.5%.
AGAIN, THIS IS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE READY, WILLING, AND ABLE CONTRACTORS, SUBCONTRACTORS WHO RESIDE IN OR HAVE A LOCATION IN AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS, FORT WORTH IN HOUSTON, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE, UH, SEE OURSELVES AS A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, UH, THERE ARE STILL DISPARITIES IN THE MARKETPLACE, UH, WHICH LEAD TO THE CONTINUATION OF OUR PROGRAM.
AND THINGS LIKE ACCESS TO CAPITAL, UH, THINGS LIKE DISCRIMIN DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES ON WITH PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, UM, THE INABILITY TO SECURE LINES OF CREDIT.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT, THAT, UH, STILL HINDER, UH, THE FULL PARTICIPATION OF OUR MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, UH, WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WE TALK ABOUT, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT AVAILABILITY.
UH, WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT UTILIZATION, BUT THAT'S ALSO A CRITICAL PIECE OF THIS.
AND WHAT UTILIZATION IS LOOKING AT AS PART OF THE STUDY IS, SO YOU HAVE, UH, ALL THESE CONTRACTS THAT YOU, UH, THAT YOU LEFT DURING A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD.
AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 2013 TO 2018, ARE UTILIZATION.
HOW WELL WE UTILIZED MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, UH, WAS REALLY HIGH.
WE USED THEM AT, AT A VERY HIGH RATE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NATIVE AMERICANS.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF NATIVE AMERICANS CERTIFIED AS MINORITY OR WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, BUT FOR THE OTHER CATEGORIES, THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, HISPANIC, ASIAN AMERICANS, AND, AND WOMEN OWN BUSINESSES, WE USED THEM AT A HIGHER RATE THAN WHAT WAS AVAILABLE IN THE MARKETPLACE.
SO THAT, THOSE ARE DISPARITY STUDY RATIOS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
AND AGAIN, THE ONLY, THE ONLY RACIAL GROUP THAT WAS NEGATIVE TO NEGATIVELY IMPACTED, UH, WERE NATIVE AMERICANS.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO ASSIST THOSE FIRMS. UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO SOME OF THE STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, ARE TO USE WHAT WE CALL RACE NEUTRAL MEASURES.
SO, AS I MENTIONED, UH, MY TEAM REVIEWS, UH, ALL THE SOLICITATIONS WITH A VALUE OF $50,000 OR GREATER, AND WE LOOK TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN APPLY THE PROGRAM.
UH, AND WHEN I SAY APPLY THE PROGRAM, TALKING ABOUT APPLYING THE N B W B E GOALS, UH, THAT WOULD BE, UH, ATTACHED TO THAT PARTICULAR SOLICITATION OR CONTRACT.
THOSE ARE, UM, RACE CONSCIOUS MEASURES.
BRACE NEUTRAL MEANS THINGS THAT DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE APPLICATION OF EITHER THE PROGRAM, UH, OR, UM, OR GOALS.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING NOW FOR RACE NEUTRAL MEASURES AND SEEING IF WE CAN SHORE THOSE UP OR ADD ADDITIONAL STEPS TO OUR RACE NEUTRAL MEASURES.
UH, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ANNUAL PROCUREMENT FORECAST.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEW TO US.
UH, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES THROUGH OUR CENTRAL PROCUREMENT OFFICE, SO WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY OR WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM TO DEVELOP WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
UM, WE HAVE A NEW SYSTEM IN PLACE, UH, CALLED B2 G.
UH, IT'S A SOFTWARE SYSTEM OUT OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA, AND IT IS USED, UH, NATIONWIDE ON DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING FOR, UH, MINORITY AND WOMEN OWN BUSINESS PROGRAMS SUCH AS OURS.
AND SO WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY TO IMPLEMENT, UM, SEVERAL MODULES WITHIN THAT SOFTWARE SYSTEM,
[00:45:01]
UH, TO BE A BENEFIT TO OUR VENDORS, TO BE A BENEFIT TO OUR STAFF.UH, AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REPORTING AND COLLECTING DATA, UH, THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED TO ENHANCE OUR STRATEGIES ON PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, CONTRACTING AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
IN THIS CONTEXT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONTRACTS THAT DEAL WITH, UH, ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES AND ENGINEERING SERVICES.
SO WE'LL WORK REALLY CLOSELY TO SEE, UH, WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY IF YOU ARE A, UH, AN ARCHITECT OR AN ENGINEER.
AND THEN THE STUDY DATA WILL BE USED TO HELP US SET THOSE MB B GOALS THAT WE ATTACH TO SOLICITATIONS.
SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT WORK.
AND, AND WE'VE ALREADY STARTED IN BABY STEPS THAT PROCESS, UH, TO SEE HOW THAT WOULD WORK UNDER THE NEW SOFTWARE SYSTEM THAT I MENTIONED.
UM, AND THE LAST TWO WERE KIND OF DOVETAIL INTO EACH OTHER.
THE FIRST IS TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM.
AGAIN, WE FOUND THROUGH THE STUDY AS WELL AS JUST TALKING TO OUR VENDORS THAT THEY REALLY NEED HELP WITH, YOU KNOW, HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY.
THEY, THEY NEED HELP IN, UH, HOW TO, YOU KNOW, PUT TOGETHER A BID OR A PROPOSAL, UH, HOW TO GAIN ACCESS TO CAPITAL.
AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO PUT A, A SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM, UH, ON OUR DOCKET, UH, TO HELP THOSE FIRMS AND ASSIST THOSE FIRMS WHO WISH TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY.
AND THEN LASTLY, UM, THE, THE CONSULTANT RECOMMENDED THAT WE ADOPT A IN PROTEGE PROGRAM.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS LONG RANGE IN MY OPINION.
UH, IT TENDS TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE.
UM, AND WE RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST KIND OF TIP TOEING INTO, INTO THIS FIELD.
SO I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
UH, I DO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, FOR HAVING ME HERE.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR CONCERNS, I AM AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP IN OUR COMMISSION BEFORE, SO IT WAS HELPFUL TO HAVE A BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S CURRENTLY HAPPENING.
UM, I KNOW FROM, BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID, THAT YOU ARE PRIMARILY RACE AND GENDER FOCUSED AT THIS POINT.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
UM, AND THERE IS GROWING RECOGNITION, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE, THE COUNTRY AND EVEN AT THEIR FEDERAL LEVEL, UM, THAT DISABLED PEOPLE ARE A MINORITY GROUP WHO HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED AND DISADVANTAGED.
UM, SO I'M CURIOUS IF THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS OR IF THERE IS CURRENTLY A PATHWAY, UM, FOR DISABILITY TO BE INCLUDED AS, UM, A MINORITY GROUP UNDER THIS PROGRAM.
AND IF THERE IS NOT CURRENTLY A PATHWAY, UM, WHAT, WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE TO START THOSE CONVERSATIONS? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND WE, AND WE GET IT QUITE OFTEN, UH, VARIOUS GROUPS.
UM, SO WHAT WE DO IS WE TAKE THE LEAD FROM THE FEDERAL, UM, UH, US, D O T, WHO RUNS THE, UH, DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM.
AND THEY REALLY OUTLINE WHAT ARE THE QUOTE UNQUOTE PRESUMED GROUPS THAT FACE DISCRIMINATION.
AND THAT'S THE LIST OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN, NATIVE AMERICAN, HISPANIC, AND FEMALES.
UM, THEY HAVE NOT, EXCUSE ME, THEY HAVE NOT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ADDED THIS DISABLED INDIVIDUALS, BUT IF THEY DID, WE WOULD FOLLOW THE LEAD AND INCLUDE THOSE AS WELL.
AND SO, JUST TO CLARIFY, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THE LEGAL PARAMETERS TO ADD THAT UNTIL THAT CHANGE IS MADE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS? UH, POINT OF CLARIFICATION, THIS IS COMMISSIONER ORLOWSKI.
UH, I DID FIND THAT THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DOES ENCOURAGE DISABILITY TO BE PUBLICLY RECOGNIZED AS A CATEGORY CURRENTLY.
UM, I, UH, WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT REQUIRED A COMMENT? CUZ I DO WANNA MAKE A COMMENT, I'LL HOLD THE ROBIN HAD MORE.
UH, I DO FEEL THAT THAT'S THE CRITERIA THAT SHOULD BE USED, UH, FOR, UH, THE, FOR, UH, THIS PROGRAM AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
UH, SINCE THIS IS THE LOCAL VERSION OF, UH, THIS, THAT FEDERAL, UM, PROGRAM, JUST AS, JUST AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, THE, THE, THE PROGRAM THAT WE MODEL OURSELVES UNDER, UH, AND THAT REALLY HAS THE, THE ONUS OF, OF THOSE, UM, CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS IS THE FEDERAL DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM, RIGHT? SO WHILE WE DO USE THE THE SMALL BUSINESS, UM, UH,
[00:50:01]
ADMINISTRATION SIZE STANDARDS TO DETERMINE A A SMALL BUSINESS SIZE, WE DON'T NECESSARILY FALL UNDER THOSE SAME, UM, REQUIREMENTS.WE FALL UNDER A HIGHER LEVEL OF SCRUTINY.
BUT THEY DO USE, THEY DO USE DISABILITY CURRENTLY.
THEY DO INCLUDE DISABILITY, THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.
I I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UH, WITH VARIOUS GROUPS, UM, THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE CAPTURED IN SOME FORM OR FASHION WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S PROCUREMENT PROCESS, IS TO TRY TO CAPTURE THE INFORMATION WITHIN A SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE THAT, THAT'S CALLED, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH AUSTIN FINANCE ONLINE, BUT ANY VENDOR WHO WISHES TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY HAS TO REGISTER WITH, UH, THAT AUSTIN FINANCE ONLINE, UH, WEB PORTAL.
AND WE CAPTURE VARIOUS DATA POINTS ABOUT THOSE BUSINESSES SUCH AS WHAT ARE THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE, UH, WHO'S THE OWNER, UM, UH, THE RACE OF THE OWNER, THEY SELF REPORT THAT.
UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE ONE OF THE CHAMBERS HAS, HAS WORKED ON IS TRYING TO GET AN ADDITIONAL FIELD TO CAPTURE, UH, WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS, HOW DOES THE OWNER IDENTIFY AS GAY, LESBIAN, TRANSGENDER, UM, AND SO I, I'M THINKING, AND THE REASON WHY THEY DO THAT IS BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BE INCLUDED IN A FUTURE DISPARITY STUDY, UH, TO SHOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE WERE ANY DISPARITIES.
UM, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE FIRST STEP.
ARE THERE ANY DISPARITIES THAT THE CITY IS A, UH, AN ACTIVE OR INACTIVE PARTICIPANT, A PASSIVE PARTICIPANT IN? UH, BUT THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO CAPTURE WHAT ARE THE FIRMS OUT THERE THAT ACTUALLY WOULD IDENTIFY AS BEING OWNED BY A DISABLED PERSON, QUOTE UNQUOTE.
SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT WOULD, WOULD PROBABLY WORK IN, IN YOUR FAVOR IS TO PROBABLY REACH OUT TO OUR, UH, CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER, UH, THAT GENTLEMAN IS NAMED JAMES SCARBOROUGH, AND WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH MR. SCARBOROUGH ABOUT THE, THE, THE POSSIBILITY OF INCLUDING A FIELD THAT CAPTURES THAT DATA SET.
AND, AND THEN WHAT THAT ALLOWS US TO DO IS TO THEN BUILD UP THOSE DATA POINTS AND IF THERE'S ENOUGH DATA POINTS, THEN WE CAN INCLUDE THEM IN A FUTURE STUDY.
AND THEN BASED ON ANY, UM, DISEN DISENFRANCHISEMENT,
UH, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT SHOWS A DISPARITY WITHIN THAT GROUP, THEN WE CAN USE THAT AS FURTHER PROOF THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO ACTIVELY, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE PROGRAMS, UM, CARVE OUT INITIATIVES.
BUT UNTIL WE HAVE THOSE DATA POINTS, IT'S HARD FOR US TO, TO CRAFT PROGRAMS OUTSIDE OF WHAT'S ALREADY EXISTING.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? DISABILITY INCLUDED IN PROGRAMS, UM, IT'S ALREADY FEDERALLY INCLUDED IN PROGRAMS, UH, IN SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS, UH, SINCE IT'S FEDERALLY INCLUDED, I'M NOT SURE WHY THE CITY WOULD NEED ADDITIONAL DATA IF IT'S INCLUDED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND, AND THE REASON WHY, AND THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE WHENEVER YOU HAVE A PROGRAM THAT IS SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TOWARDS A GROUP, THE FEDERAL COURTS HAVE, HAVE SAID THAT YOU NEED TO PROVIDE YOUR EVIDENCE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO DO THESE DISPARITY STUDIES EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS TO, TO MAINTAIN THE PROGRAMS. UM, SO IF WE WERE TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL GROUP, EVEN IF IT WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO SHOW THAT THERE WAS A DISPARITY FOR ANY, ANY NEW GROUP THAT WE WANTED TO INCLUDE AS PART OF, OF THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
THAT'S THE STANDARD WAY THAT THE, THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE ADMINISTERED.
WELL, ONE MORE COMMENT AND THEN WE WILL NEED TO MOVE ON.
COMMISSIONER TREJO, ONE THING IS DISPARITY STUDIES.
SO I WORK ON CIVIL RIGHTS, LEGAL ISSUES AND DISPARITY STUDIES ARE REQUIRED FOR GROUPS THAT ARE SUSPECT CLASSES BECAUSE YOU'RE DISCRIMINATING IF YOU'RE REFERENCING ONE RACIAL GROUP OVER OTHERS, IN OTHER WORDS, MINORITY GROUPS OVER WHITES.
YOU NEED TO HAVE A, A, YOU NEED TO MEET STRICT SCRUTINY UNDER CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW.
IF YOU'RE REFERENCING A GROUP THAT IS NOT CONSIDERED A PROTECTED CLASS, AND YOU HAVE ALREADY INDICATED THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE NOT CONSIDERED A PROTECTED CLASS FOR PURPOSES OF PROCUREMENT, YOU DO NOT NEED TO MEET THE SAME BURDEN OF PROOF.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU JUST NEED TO SHOW A RATIONAL BASIS FOR INCLUDING THE GROUP.
SO IT ISN'T TRUE THAT YOU HAVE TO SHOW THE SAME PROOF TO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT PEOPLE BASED ON RACE AS TO
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HAVE PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT PEOPLE BASED ON ABILITY IN ADDITION ONE BUT SUB.SO THAT'S MY REBUTTAL TO THAT COMMENT CUZ IT REALLY WASN'T ACCURATE.
UM, THE, THE OTHER THING THOUGH IS THAT I THINK WHAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN, AND THE REASON WE, ONE OF THE REASONS WE ASKED FOR DISPARITY STUDY WAS TO SHOW SOME OF THE DISPARITY AROUND ISSUES THAT THE CITY'S INVOLVED WITH.
UM, IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT OUR DISPARITY STUDY CAPTURED THAT KIND OF INFORMATION.
AND THAT WAS THE CONCERN I HAD WHEN THE DISPARITY STUDY WAS PRESENTED TO US.
IT WAS VERY VAGUE AND BIG PICTURE, UM, AND NOT VERY PRECISE.
UM, HOWEVER, THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOES HAVE A EXPERIMENT PROGRAM OR THEY DID THAT WE LOOKED AT A FEW YEARS AGO, AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT.
UM, I MEAN, IT'S, IT IS A POLICY MATTER FOR THE CITY TO DECIDE THAT THEY'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE, YOU KNOW, THE LACK OF EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND WE HAVE LOTS OF NATIONAL EVIDENCE OF THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
I'M SURELY THAT THERE'S NOT SOME SPECIAL MAGIC IN AUSTIN WHERE, WHERE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE WAY MORE EMPLOYED.
UM, SO ANYWAY, IF YOU, I WONDERED IF YOU HAD ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON OR ANY OTHER CITY'S PROGRAM OR IF YOU WERE FAMILIAR WITH, WITH THERE ARE CITY I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
I'D, I'D LOVE TO, TO GET AHOLD OF THOSE PROGRAMS. SO IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU LOVE TO SHARE WITH, WITH US, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.
I'M HAPPY TO LOOK INTO THAT AND, AND SHARE THAT.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR TIME IN PRESENTING AND HELPING US UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE KIND OF THE CURRENT FRAMEWORK AND GIVING US SOME IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR, UM, MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.
I APPRECIATE IT AND THANKS AGAIN.
I'M JUST AWARE OF THE TIME, UM, GIVEN THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS LEFT ON OUR AGENDA.
UM, SO IT LOOKS LIKE OUR NEXT AGENDA
[8. Discussion on the services that Danny G. McBeth Recreation Center provides to the Austin community and how they can serve the commission's mission and goals. (Trejo/Franks)]
ITEM IS THE DISCUSSION ON THE SERVICES THAT DANNY G MC BACK RECREATION CENTER PROVIDES TO THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY AND HOW THEY CAN SERVE THE COMMISSION'S, MISSIONS AND GOALS.UM, TRA COMMISSIONER TRIO, I BELIEVE YOU WERE PRESENTING THIS ONE WELL.
OKAY, LET'S SEE MY VIDEO COME ON.
I, UM, I ASKED FOR SOMEONE FROM FROM PARKS TO BE BE PRESENT AT A MEETING TO TALK ABOUT THIS TOPIC.
UM, THERE WASN'T ANY FOLLOW UP WITH ME ABOUT GETTING THIS ON THE AGENDA.
I JUST SAW THAT IT WAS LISTED WHEN THE AGENDA WENT OUT YESTERDAY OR WHATEVER.
BUT, UM, SO IS THERE ANYONE FROM PARKS PRESENT OR NOT RIGHT NOW? AND I, AND I CAN TALK WITHOUT THEM HERE, BUT I WOULD, I DO STILL WOULD LIKE SOMEONE FROM PARKS TO COME AND TALK WITH US.
I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY, UH, PART REPRESENTATIVES HERE TONIGHT.
WELL LET ME, LET ME, UM, SORT OF STEP FORTH THE, THE ISSUE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT, GOT SOME DETAILS TODAY AND YESTERDAY MAYBE FROM, FROM THE FOLKS IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT ABOUT SOME NUMBERS AND, AND PROGRAM QUALIFIERS FOR PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.
UM, AND, AND IT, IT, IT'S, UM, WELL THERE'S, UM, A, A REAL LACK OF FUNDING AND AVAILABLE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
OUR, WE HAVE THE, AND NOW SINCE WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS OVER THE YEARS.
UM, I, I I CAN TELL YOU MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER'S TERM IS EXPIRING ON CITY COUNCIL.
UM, I WILL IMAGINE I'LL BE ROLLING OFF AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
BUT, UH, WHOEVER MY NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBER IS, I WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO WORK ON, UM, THIS ISSUE.
THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL AND IT REALLY SUCKS, BUT I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU GUYS A LITTLE UPDATE.
I'VE EXPLAINED THAT THERE'S A LACK OF PROGRAMMING AND THAT THERE'S WAITING LIST AT THE, UM, THERE'S TWO PROGRAMS IN THE CITY THAT SERVE PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.
ONE OF THEM IS UNDER, UH, WELL, ONE OF, OKAY, THERE WERE TWO NOW THERE'S STILL TWO, BUT ONE IS TEMPING BECAUSE ONE IS TEMPORARY.
SO MCBETH HAS LONG BEEN THE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES CAN BE SERVED IN RECREATIONAL SERVICES THROUGH THE CITY.
UH, I THINK IN, I THINK IN LARGE PART TO OUR ADVOCACY ON THIS COMMITTEE, THE CITY EXPANDED A LITTLE BIT AND OPENED SOME LIMITED PROGRAMMING AT THE, UM, DOTTY JORDAN CENTER.
HOWEVER, DOTTY JORDAN IS CURRENTLY UNDER RENOVATION, AND SO IT'S NOT SERVING ANYONE RIGHT NOW.
IT'S CLOSED, I THINK ENTIRELY, OR IT'S CERTAINLY CLOSED TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
SO THERE'S SOME PROGRAMMING NOW RUNNING OUT OF THE ALAMO RECREATION CENTER, AND I'M TOLD THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE WHEN DOTTY JORDAN, UH, EVENTUALLY OPENS, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN 2023.
UM, WHAT THE CITY PROVIDES IS SOME LIMITED DAY REHABILITATION THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS. BUT THE BIG THING THAT I WANT YOU TO ALL KNOW IS THAT THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE VERY POOR STAFFING RATIOS.
SO THERE'S HIGH STAFF TO, UH, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITY, MEANING THEY
[01:00:01]
WON'T ACCOMMODATE YOU IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN ATTENDANT IN MANY CASES.