[00:00:04]
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE COMMUNITY HEALTH ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING FOR THURSDAY, JUNE THE 29TH.
UH, CAN YOU TAKE ROLE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER VILLAGRA.
[Approval of Minutes]
ITEM OF BUSINESS, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MAY 25TH OF OUR, OUR CHECK MEETING.UH, IS THERE ANY MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED.
UH, THERE'S NOBODY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THEY'VE TOOK, TAKEN THE SUMMER OFF.
[Briefing and Possible Action on]
ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, CREATION OF A CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT ALONG WARBUCK ROAD IN DISTRICT EIGHT.UM, AND THERE'S A PRESENTATION TODAY BY CRYSTAL JONES.
SO, CRYSTAL, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE, AND I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT A SILK ROAD CULTURAL CORRIDOR.
SO TODAY I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE BACKGROUND OF THIS REQUEST, WHICH STARTED WITH A C C R, THEN TALK ABOUT THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION'S CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT PROGRAM, AND HOW OUR DEPARTMENT WILL PARTNER WITH O H P, UM, FOR A RECOMMENDATION ON MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SILK ROAD CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT.
SO ON SEPTEMBER 6TH, COUNCILMAN PALAIS SUBMITTED A C C R TO LOOK AT A CULTURAL CORRIDOR PROGRAM AND PILOT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE WACH ROAD AREA IN DISTRICT EIGHT BETWEEN FREDERICKSBURG ROAD AND NORTHWEST MILITARY HIGHWAY, WITH THE INTENT TO CALL THIS THE SILK ROAD CULTURAL CORRIDOR, WHICH MANY RESIDENTS DO, UH, CALL THAT AREA.
ON MARCH 24TH, 2023, WE DID GO TO THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT THE C C R, WHICH THEN REFERRED THIS ITEM HERE TO THE CHECK COMMITTEE AND, UH, WITH THE INTENT TO NAME WBA ROAD AS A CULTURAL CORRIDOR.
SO WE'RE HERE TODAY BASED ON THAT INTENT TO BRING IT TO CHECK, AND AS WE WERE DOING RESEARCH ABOUT THIS AREA, MAKING IT A CULTURAL CORRIDOR, WE, UH, TALKED TO MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT OF COURSE, OUR PARTNERS AND OUR WONDERFUL PARTNERS AT, UH, THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
AND IN 2005, THERE WAS A POLICY CREATED FOR A CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT.
AND THIS PROGRAM IS AN HONORARY RECOGNITION, AND IT LOOKS AT, UH, DESIGNATING A CORRIDOR FOR ITS HERITAGE, UM, AND, AND THE CULTURAL STORIES THAT ARE TOLD THERE.
AND SO THIS IS AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE HISTORIC DESIGN AND REVIEW COMMISSION, AND THERE ARE NO DESIGN REVIEW REQUIREMENTS.
BUT WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS YOU MIGHT ASK? UH, THIS IS REALLY IDENTIFYING THE CULTURAL IDENTITY OF AN AREA.
UH, IT ALSO INSTILLS NEIGHBORHOOD PRIDE PROMOTES ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND WELLBEING OF THE COMMUNITY, AND IT ALSO IDENTIFIES POTENTIALLY HISTORIC LOCATIONS IN THE AREA THROUGH CULTURAL MAPPING, AND THEN DISCOURAGES, DEMOLITION, DEMOLITION, UM, OF THOSE PROPERTIES.
UH, THE ANOTHER BENEFIT IS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IDENTIFYING CULTURAL IDENTITY AND INSTILLING NEIGHBORHOOD PRIDE, IS THIS, THIS DESIGNATION CAN ALSO BE LEVERAGED WHEN IT COMES TO ADDITIONAL DESIGNATIONS.
SO THE E E W D C COMMITTEE YESTERDAY, UH, WAS BRIEFED ON THE MAIN STREET AMERICA PROGRAM AND THE PILOT TO HELP, UH, BRING, UH, CORRIDORS AND, AND MENTOR CORRIDORS INTO BECOMING A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.
THIS DESIGNATION COULD HELP BRING COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO THEN BRING THEM INTO OTHER PROGRAMS, UH, EITHER AT THE LOCAL OR STATE LEVEL, UH, THAT WILL HELP ELEVATE THEIR CORRIDORS.
THERE ARE THREE EXISTING CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT.
UH, JEFFERSON HEIGHTS WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2005 WHEN THE POLICY WAS CREATED, HISTORIC HIGHWAY 90 CORRIDOR IN 2018, AND THE HOCKEY CLAY CEMETERY IN 2022.
MOVING TO OUR RECOMMENDATION, UH, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO, UH, RECOMMEND IS THAT THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, ALONG WITH, UH, A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE, GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS TO HAPPEN THIS SUMMER, TO LOOK AT MAKING THIS A CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT.
WE WOULD WORK WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS AS THERE'S BEEN STAKEHOLDERS FROM THIS AREA THAT HAVE CONTACTED THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE, OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, UH, AND ALSO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THEIR MAIN STREET AMERICA PROGRAM.
WE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE PARTNERS ARE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS DESIGNATION.
AND THE KEY GOAL IS TO DO CULTURAL MAPPING AND ALSO STORYTELLING.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CULTURES THAT LIVE IN THIS AREA.
IT'S THE MOST, UH, DIVERSE DISTRICT, UH, IN, IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO THERE'S MANY STORIES TO BE COLLECTED.
THEN IN FALL, THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO BRING THIS DESIGNATION TO H G R C, TO MEET, TO DESIGNATE THE AREA, AND THEN WE WOULD FINALLY LIKE TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL TO RECOGNIZE, HONOR, AND CELEBRATE THIS DESIGNATION.
ONE OTHER THING I DO WANNA MENTION AS A BENEFIT IS, AGAIN, THIS IS VERY MUCH COMMUNITY
[00:05:01]
BUILDING, UM, AND THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PARTNERS IN THIS AREA WHO'VE APPLIED FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS LIKE THE MAIN STREET AMERICA PROGRAM.SO THIS WILL BE BRINGING THEM ALL TOGETHER TO HAVE ONE COLLECTIVE VISION SO THAT WHEN IT COMES TO A STATE CULTURAL DISTRICT PROGRAM OR A MAIN STREET AMERICA, UH, APPLICATION, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS COMING TOGETHER TO THE TABLE FOR THAT APPLICATION PROCESS AND, AND WORKING TOGETHER TO ADVANCE THEIR CORRIDOR.
SO THAT IS THE VERY BRIEF BRIEFING, UH,
YOU HAVE A RECORD LIKE FIVE MINUTE BRIEFING? YES.
UM, I, I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT PROJECT AND WE GET TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE DIVERSE BUSINESSES ON WORST BUCK.
UM, THE OTHER DAY I WAS DRIVING BY IT AND I WAS THINKING, OKAY, LIKE WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE VISION FOR IT IN PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING? AND SO I'M GLAD THAT THE D E I A OFFICE AND OUR OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION ARE ALSO INVOLVED, UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT, UH, THEY, THEY HELP US THINK OF ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND, AND JUST THIS ALSO TELLS OUR RESIDENTS THAT THERE'S ROOM FOR EVERYONE.
UM, I KNOW THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM, UM, AND WE HAVE SOME OTHER LANGUAGE INITIATIVES AS WELL, BUT HOPEFULLY WE ALSO HELP PEOPLE BRING, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE TIE INTO CITY GOVERNMENT, RIGHT? AND SO THAT THEY SEE THAT WE'RE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.
UM, AND SO I'M, I'M JUST EXCITED ABOUT THE, THE ABILITY, LIKE AS I WAS DRIVING THE CUISINE IN THE AREA, LIKE IT WAS LIKE, OKAY, SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, VERY, UM, VERY NEAT.
BUT THERE'S OTHER, I THINK, ASPECTS THAT WE SHOULD ALSO HIGHLIGHT.
UM, UM, BUT YEAH, SO, SO JUST, UH, IN PARTICULAR, THE FACT THAT WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A, A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE.
THEY FEEL, UM, WELCOME AND APPRECIATED AND RESPECTED.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
I'M GONNA START WITH MY COLLEAGUES WITH, UM, ANY FEEDBACK AND COUNCILMAN VIA GRANT? YES.
UM, I AM, I'M ALL FOR A CULTURAL CORRIDOR.
I HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE NAME SILK ROAD CORRIDOR.
UM, AND I, UH, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CALL IT.
UM, IT'S VERY, UH, I, AND I, I WANNA BRIEF THIS WITH, I, MY, UM, UNDERGRADUATE WAS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE WITH, UM, WITH SOME STUDIES IN MIDDLE EASTERN.
UM, AND FOR ME, HISTORICALLY, THE SILK ROAD THEN LED TO THE COLONIZATION OF, UH, CHINA AND JAPAN.
AND SO I REALLY, I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S WHAT WE CALL IT, THAT'S WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CALLS IT.
BUT I THINK HISTORICALLY WHAT IT IS, AND THAT THIS ISN'T, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOMETHING IN THEIR LANGUAGE THAT MAYBE THEY COULD AGREE ON, UH, SOMETHING THAT ENCOMPASSES MORE OF, UM, INCLUSIVITY AND NOT, THAT TALKS ABOUT A HISTORY THAT WAS VERY HARMFUL.
AND WE STILL SEE THE EFFECTS OF IT TODAY.
SO THAT I, I REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, AND I KNOW THAT'S WHAT THEY CALL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND SOMETIMES WE CALL THINGS IN OUR, IN OUR DISTRICT.
BUT I JUST DON'T FEEL IN THIS DAY AND AGE WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD AND BE INCLUSIVE AND TELL THE WHOLE STORY THAT WE WOULD NAME IT THIS, AND WITHOUT TELLING THE WHOLE STORY OF WHERE THE NAME CAME FROM AND WHAT IT LED TO, SO THAT THE, I, I'M ALL FOR A CULTURAL CORRIDOR, UH, AND MAYBE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE, ARE FINE WITH IT.
I, I HAVE A HARD TIME WITH PUTTING, I HAVE A HARD TIME MATCHING THIS WITH WHAT, WITH THE DIRECTION WE WANNA TAKE THE CITY IN.
COUNCILMAN VI, VERAN, COUNCILMAN MAKI RODRIGUEZ.
UM, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, UH, OR I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LARGE POPULATION OF FOLK, UH, IN THIS CORRIDOR WITH BACKGROUND THAT TRACE BACK TO THE SILK ROAD NETWORK.
UM, BUT I WONDER A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT DRIVES THIS PARTICULAR DEMOGRAPHIC HERE, UM, IN THE CONTEXT OF SAN ANTONIO, AND IS IT RELATED TO SAN ANTONIO HISTORY, UM, OR IS IT JUST BY COINCIDENCE? AND THERE JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE A LARGE POPULATION RIGHT THERE.
AND, UM, PARDON MY, UM, I'LL, I'LL SAY THIS.
MY BACKGROUND IS IN MATH AND COMMUNICATION, NOT NECESSARILY HISTORY, BUT I BELIEVE KOREA WAS A PART OF THE SILK ROAD, AND I HAVE A REALLY LARGE, UH, KOREAN POPULATION IN THE NORTHEAST SECTOR OF MY DISTRICT.
AND SO I GUESS I'M WONDERING AT THE ROOT OF THIS REQUEST, RIGHT AT THE ROOT OF DESIGNATING THIS CULTURAL CORRIDOR, IS IT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING, UH, I'LL GO BACK TO THE QUESTION OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE CONTEXT OF SAN ANTONIO HISTORY THERE? LIKE WE CAN TIE THE EAST SIDE AND THE, THE LARGE BLACK POPULATION THERE TO A HISTORY OF SEGREGATION.
[00:10:01]
CORRIDOR THAT IS TIED TOGETHER? I GUESS I'M WONDERING, DO YOU KNOW THAT OR WOULD SOMEBODY BE ABLE TO YES.UH, SO, UH, IT IS THE DIVERSITY OF THE AREA THAT IT IS THE MOST DIVERSE, BUT THE EXCITING THING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS THAT WILL HAPPEN THIS SUMMER IS TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE HISTORY AND THOSE STORIES ARE SO THAT THE RECOMMENDATION CAN BE BROUGHT TO, UH, H D R C WITH THAT BACKGROUND, WITH THAT CULTURAL HISTORY.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE WANNA REALLY UNCOVER THOSE STORIES.
AND THEN TO COUNCILMAN VITA GRAND'S POINT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DISCUSSES EVEN IN THESE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS, TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UM, MEMBERS TO SAY, IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT TO NAME THE CORRIDOR? OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE WE CAN NAME IT? SO THAT IS UP FOR DISCUSSION AS WELL.
AND I GUESS MAYBE THAT'S THE POINT.
SO IF WE GO THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, RIGHT, IS THERE A POINT WHERE IT'S DECIDED, OKAY, THERE'S NOT REALLY A HISTORICAL CONTEXT THAT, BECAUSE I, MY IMAGINING, ESPECIALLY THERE BEING ONLY THREE OF THESE PARTICULAR CORRIDORS RIGHT NOW, IS THAT THERE'S A, A HUGE SIGNIFICANCE TO THEM.
AND SO I WOULDN'T WANT TO, UM, I GUESS AT THE ROOT OF MY CONCERN IS I WOULDN'T WANT TO JUST SAY, OH, LOOK, THERE'S A VERY LARGE ASIAN POPULATION RIGHT HERE.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT.
UM, UM, I DO, I DO BELIEVE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT, UH, NOT ONLY DESIRE FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO MAKE THIS A, A HERITAGE DISTRICT, BUT THERE IS, THERE IS JUST ON THE FOREFRONT OF HEARING FROM MULTIPLE NONPROFITS AND INDIVIDUALS IN THIS AREA THAT THERE, THERE ARE ENOUGH CULTURAL HERITAGE STORIES AND HISTORY BEHIND THAT.
BUT OF COURSE, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN THIS SUMMER IS GOING TO FURTHER INFORM IT WITH A RECOMMENDATION BROUGHT, UH, FORTH, UH, TO THE H G R C, WHETHER OR NOT TO DESIGNATE.
SO I KNOW THAT MIGHT BE A NON-ANSWER, THAT THERE'S MORE TO UNCOVER, BUT THERE, BUT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT HERITAGE IN THAT AREA, WHETHER IT BE, YOU KNOW, CULINARY, THE HISTORY OF ALL CULTURES IN THAT AREA, COMING TOGETHER WITH CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS, UM, TO AT LEAST WARRANT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR FURTHER RECOMMENDATION TO H D R C.
NO, IT DOES ANSWER MY QUESTION, AND IT SOUNDS VERY EXCITING.
UM, DOES THIS REQUIRE AN ACTION OR IS IT JUST GOING TO I HAVE BRIEF.
COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.
AND THANK YOU CRYSTAL FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WHEN THE COUNCILMAN, UH, WAS CIRCULATING THE C C R I WAS REALLY INTRIGUED, UH, AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT, AND THAT I CALLED ONE OF MY, UH, WORLD HISTORY PROFESSORS TO TALK ABOUT IT.
UH, AND I, I THINK IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO DESIGNATE THIS PLACE AS CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT, RIGHT? BECAUSE, UM, THERE IS A MULTITUDE OF, UH, UH, WEALTH OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO, TO, UH, PLACES TO WORSHIP, RIGHT? UH, HAS A LARGE POPULATION OF MIDDLE EASTERN, AFRICAN, AND ASIAN CULTURAL TRADITIONS.
UH, AND I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE WHOLE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS DIVERSE, BUT THERE'S, UH, ONE CORRIDOR WHERE YOU SEE THE FUSION AND SO MANY PLACES TO WORSHIP IN ONE CONCENTRATED AREA.
UH, AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO LEADERSHIP AT CULTURAL LINGO, AND THEY'VE MENTIONED RIGHT WITHIN DISTRICT FIVE, WE HAVE AN INCREASED, UH, MIDDLE EASTERN POPULATION, UM, AND WE DO HAVE AN INCREASE OF REFUGEES LIVING IN THE CASTANO HOMES, RIGHT? AND HOW, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO HIGHLIGHT, RIGHT, THE DIFFERENT CULTURES AND, AND TO, TO NOTE THAT.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATIONS AND THE PUBLIC OUTREACH, UH, MEETINGS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO FACILITATE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO, TO RECEIVE A BRIEFING ON, LIKE A SUMMARY ON WHAT YOU'RE LEARNING FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THERE AND WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT TO THEM.
UM, BUT I, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CORRIDOR, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF IT.
UM, BUT, BUT OVERALL, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT AND SUPPORTED TO SEE MOVE FORWARD.
SO, UM, CRYSTAL, IT LOOKS LIKE IF YOU CAN JUST FILL US BACK IN AND TAKE SOME OF THOSE CONSIDERATIONS, DEFINITELY THE FEEDBACK FROM, FROM THE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY WILL BE IMPORTANT, BUT ANY OTHER, UM, THOUGHTS COME? ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THAT WAS A RECORD BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY 13 MINUTES IN, AND WE'RE MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS THE CITY'S PARTNERSHIP AND THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, UM, INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM.
UM, AND I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I HEARD ABOUT THIS AT AN N L C MEETING, AND I, UM, BROUGHT IT FORTH TO MR. MCCARRY AND THE TEAM, AND I SAID, I THINK SAN ANTONIO SHOULD PARTICIPATE.
AND, UH, HERE WE ARE SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, AND I WILL TURN OVER THE, THE PRESENTATION THAT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING BEFORE MR. MCCURY, BUT NO, WE'RE READY TO GO.
I'M THE CIVIL RIGHTS MANAGER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION, ACCESSIBILITY, D E I A.
UH, I SERVE AS THE DEPARTMENT LIAISON FOR A FEW BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
UM, SO I'M GONNA TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE INITIATIVE TO INCREASE DIVERSITY IN THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF SUNNY CITIES, N L C.
[00:15:03]
SO THE BACKGROUND FOR THE PROJECT, UM, OF COURSE, AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, CHAIRPERSON, UM, DR.ROCHA GARCIA BROUGHT THIS INITIATIVE TO THE CITY'S ATTENTION AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS REPRESENTATION DISPARITIES IN THE CITY'S BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
SO THIS PARTICIPATION, UH, WILL BE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN D E I A AND THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, AND WE'LL WORK ON EXPANDING THAT PARTICIPATION IN THESE DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
SO, UM, THE PROJECT IS PART OF A LARGER PROJECT CALLED THE CITY INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROJECT.
UM, THIS IS A COALITION OF CITIES ENTREPRENEURIAL ORGANIZATIONS, NATIONAL NONPROFITS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURIALSHIP LED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND PART OF THIS INITIATIVE, UM, IS THAT PARTICIPANTS HAVE ACCESS TO PEER NETWORKS.
UM, THERE'S ALSO OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING AVAILABLE.
AND, UM, THERE'S A COHORT-BASED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
SO, UM, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLABORATION.
UH, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING, OR WHAT THE C I E IS LOOKING AT DOING IS COMMITTING, UH, TO INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED ENTREPRENEURS.
SO PART OF THE C I E, THERE'S, UM, 13 TRACKS ALTOGETHER.
AND, UH, WE HAVE ELECTED TO BE PART OF THE LEADERSHIP DIVERSITY TRACT.
SO, UM, THE LEADERSHIP DIVERSITY TRACT IS A COMMITMENT TO IDENTIFY FEMALE AND OR NON-BINARY ECOSYSTEM LEADERS AND FACILITATE THEIR APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
THIS IS BEING DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH UNITED WES APPOINTMENTS PROJECT UNITED, WE IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, AND THIS APPOINTMENTS PROJECT IS SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT, UM, UH, TACKLING INEQUITY AND, UH, LACK OF DIVERSITY ON CIVIC BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM THAT, UM, IS PERCEIVED THAT WOMEN EITHER DON'T WANT TO SERVE ON BOARDS, CAN'T SERVE ON BOARDS, THAT SORT OF THING.
SO UNITED, WE, UM, WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2014 WITH A GOAL TO TACKLE THAT GENDER INEQUITY ON THOSE CIVIC BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
OUR, UH, PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM, THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING RESOURCES, UM, TO, TO US, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
THEY ALSO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO, UH, THE LARGER NATION ON HOW A DIFFERENT APPOINTMENT PROCESS WORKS AND KIND OF DISPELLING THE MYTH BETWEEN BEHIND WHAT IT IS TO SERVE ON A BORDER COMMISSION.
SO, SO, UM, AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, D E I A AND THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE IS LOOKING AT HOSTING A, UH, DINNER OR PANEL DISCUSSION WHERE WE ARE GOING TO INVITE POTENTIAL BOARDS AND COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVES FROM ACROSS THE CITY, UH, TO LISTEN TO A GROUP OF SPEAKERS WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, WITH THE HOPE OF PROVIDING MORE INFORMATION ON SERVING BO ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY SERVING ON THOSE.
OUR PANELISTS ARE GONNA BE IDENTIFIED BY THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
UM, THE GOAL OF THIS IDENTIFICATION IS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A DIVERSITY OF BACKGROUNDS AND LIVED EXPERIENCES FOR EACH OF THE PANEL MEMBERS.
WE WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO DISCUSS, UM, WHAT IT TAKES TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES TO SERVICE, AND WHAT ARE THOSE SPECIFIC BENEFITS TO SERVICE, SO THAT WAY THEY CAN BE THAT VOICE TO POTENTIAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO LET THEM KNOW HOW THEY CAN DO THIS.
UM, THE LOCATION THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING, UH, FREE CHILDCARE FOR THOSE THAT NEED IT.
AND, UH, THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE IS GONNA TALK SHORTLY ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE WITH FREE CHILDCARE.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT FINDING A LOCATION THAT'S GONNA BE NEAR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND WE WILL BE COORDINATING WITH, UM, THE DIVERSITY ACCESS OFFICE AND THE LANGUAGE ACCESS OFFICE, SO THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THIS PRESENTATION IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WITH DIVERSE ABILITIES AND, UM, AND, UH, LANGUAGES.
AND THEN FINALLY, WITH THE MARKETING, UM, WE'LL BE, UH, LOOKING AT TARGETING SPECIFIC AREAS IN THE CITY.
WE'LL DO A BROAD TARGET, AND THEN WE'LL REALLY BE FOCUSING ON AREAS WHERE THERE IS LESS REPRESENTATION ON THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SPEAKING TO THOSE PEOPLE AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE IT, UH, LIVE STREAMED AND RECORDED FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE AT THE ACTUAL, UM, AT THE PANEL, GIVEN EVERYBODY'S, YOU KNOW, BUSY SCHEDULES AND EVERYTHING.
SO THE COORDINATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH, UH, UNITED, WE, UM, WE'VE ALREADY STARTED THIS PROCESS.
UH, WE'RE IN THE PLANNING PHASE RIGHT NOW.
SO, UH, WE'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE APPOINTMENTS PROJECT, AND THIS HAS INCLUDED D E I A AND THEN ALSO REPRESENTATIVES FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
SO THAT WAY WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT IDEAS ARE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
THEY HAVE PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH TIME, DATE, AND
[00:20:01]
LOCATION ITEMS. UM, AND THEY'VE ALSO PROVIDED SOME GOOD INSIGHT ABOUT HOW EFFORTS HAVE WORKED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHAT, UM, DAYS AND TIMES AND THAT SORT OF THING WORK SUCCESSFUL FOR PARTICIPATION IN OTHER AREAS.AND THEN FINALLY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING RESOURCES TO US, UM, IN THE FORM OF ASSISTANCE WITH, UH, MARKETING MATERIALS.
SO THAT GRANT FUNDING THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING IN THE, IN THE FORM OF THAT.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO JAMIE NIETO AT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT STRATEGIES THAT THE CITY IS DOING TO ADDRESS THE BOARDS.
AS SAMANTHA MENTIONED, MY NAME IS JAMIE ETTO.
I'M THE ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, AND I OVERSEE THE BOARD AND COMMISSIONS AND THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
I WILL BE ADDRESSING SOME OF THE STRATEGIES OUR OFFICE HAS IMPLEMENTED, UH, REGARDING GENDER IN INEQUALITY ON THE CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
ON APRIL 10TH OF THIS YEAR, THE OFFICE OF CITY CLERK MET WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND SHARED WITH THEM THE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES THAT WE HAVE USED TO INCREASE BOARD PARTICIPATION.
THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK HAS INCREASED OUTREACH FOR BOARD AND COMMISSION VACANCIES BY COLLABORATING WITH THE COM, WITH THE COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, OTHER MANAGING CITY DEPARTMENTS AND COUNCIL DISTRICTS IN DEVELOPING PRESS RELEASES AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.
CURRENTLY, THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK PROVIDES BOARDING COMMISSION VACANCY ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, WHO THEN POST THE INFORMATION ON THE COASTAL WEBSITE.
IN ADDITION, THE COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY CLERK STAFF HAVE DEVELOPED SOCIAL MEDIA AND STAKEHOLDER PRESS RELEASES TO EXPAND COMMUNICATIONS OF BOARD AND COMMUNICATION VACANCIES.
BOARD LIAISONS ARE PROVIDED THE PRESS RELEASE ALONG WITH THE SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHIC TO DISTRIBUTE WITH ANY LOCAL INDUSTRY NETWORKS, PARTNERS OR STAKEHOLDERS.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS ALSO RECEIVE THE INFORMATION FOR THEM TO SHARE THROUGH THEIR COMMUNICATION OUTLETS BASED ON FEEDBACK SUBSIDIES FOR CHILDCARE AND PARKING WERE DEVELOPED.
BOARD MEMBERS CAN REQUEST CHILDCARE SUBSIDY ASSISTANCE THROUGH THEIR BOARD LIAISON.
THE BOARD MEMBER MUST COMPLETE A REIMBURSEMENT FORM TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT BOARD LIAISON WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S FISCAL STAFF FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS.
PRIOR TO NOVEMBER, 2022, THE BOARD MANAGING DEPARTMENTS WOULD VALIDATE PARKING FOR BOARD MEMBERS.
BOARD MEMBERS ATTENDING MEETINGS AT CITY TOWER CAN VALIDATE THEIR PARKING TICKET AT THE INFORMATION DESK.
LOADED LO LOCATED ON THE CONCOURSE LEVEL.
BOARD MEETINGS ARE HOSTED IN AN A D A COMPLIANT LOCATION.
BOARD MEMBERS NEEDING AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE, BUT MUST BE REQUESTED THROUGH THEIR BOARD LIAISON 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK HAS REVAMPED THE MUNICIPAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, KNOWN AS THE M L I, WHICH NOW ALLOWS THE BOARD MEMBERS TO COMPLETE THE TRAINING ONLINE.
THE M L I TRAINING PROVIDES ORIENTATION TO ALL NEWLY APPOINTED BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS.
THE TRAINING IS COMPOSED OF SEVEN SHORT VIDEOS, WHICH COVERS BOARD AND COMMISSION RULES AND AUTHORIZATION, RUNNING EFFECTIVE MEETINGS, ETHICS, THE TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT, THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, LIABILITY AND EQUITY.
THE M L I TRAINING HELPS BOARD MEMBERS STRENGTHEN THEIR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORTS TO BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE DIVERSITY, E EQUITY, INCLUSION ACCESSIBILITY DEPARTMENT TO HELP IMPROVE DIVERSITY AND EQUITY WITHIN THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THROUGH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES COHORT, AND COLLABORATING WITH UNITED WOMEN AND EMPOWERMENT.
THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.
SAMANTHA AND MYSELF ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU, JAMIE, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND THANK YOU SAMANTHA AS WELL.
UM, I ASKED FOR TO COME TO THIS, UH, THIS PARTICULAR COMMITTEE BECAUSE WE WORK ON THE DIVERSITY, UM, IN GENERAL, AND SPECIFICALLY THE FACT THAT WE NOW HAVE ANOTHER MAJORITY ELECTED CITY COUNCIL.
SO I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS, UM, CRITICAL TO BRING FORTH TO, TO A COMMITTEE.
JUDGE VERONICA VASQUEZ THE OTHER DAY SPOKE TO A GROUP AND SHE SHARED THAT WOMEN OFTEN THINK OF THEIR FAMILY OBLIGATIONS, UM, BEFORE THEY RUN FOR OFFICE OR BEFORE THEY GET A NEW JOB OR EVEN BEFORE THEY APPLY FOR A BOARD, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
AND SO, UM, I FIGURED THAT, UH, WE ARE DOING SOME GOOD THINGS LIKE WITH THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, LIKE THE CHILDCARE AND THE PARKING.
WE'RE DEFINITELY MAKING IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR WOMEN TO SERVE IN THESE BOARDS.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO IMPROVE THAT.
UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCE, UH, IS KEY.
AND AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT, THAT THEY RECOMMENDED THAT, THAT WE BRING.
AND SO WE NEED MOMS AND WE NEED, UM, GRANDMAS AND WE JUST NEED, UM, PEOPLE
[00:25:01]
WHO WORK AND PEOPLE WHO STAY AT HOME AND, UM, STAY AT HOME.MOMS IS A, A BIG POPULATION THAT EVERY TIME THAT I GO OUT AND SOMEONE IS NOT, UH, ENROLLED IN A SCHOOL AND SAYS, SAYS THAT THEY HOME TEACH THEIR CHILD, THEY SAY, WELL, I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS, LIKE, WE DON'T GET TO PARTICIPATE IN THEM.
AND SO, LIKE, INCLUSION OF, OF THAT, UM, UH, THAT WOMAN, RIGHT? LIKE A, A WOMAN LIKE THAT WOULD BE CRITICAL AS WELL.
UM, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY STILL TO, UH, CONTINUE, I GUESS, UM, LOOKING AT, DO WE HAVE LIKE BREAKDOWNS OF HOW MANY WOMEN ARE ON BOARDS, LIKE ACROSS THE CITY? DO Y'ALL HAVE THAT BREAKDOWN SOMEWHERE? LIKE JUST IN GENERAL? I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT AND GET BACK TO IT.
RIGHT? I'D LOVE TO SEE LIKE HOW, WHAT PERCENTAGES.
AND SO I'D PROBABLY ALSO, UH, VENTURE TO GUESS AT SOME OF LIKE THE FAMILY AND WELLBEING COMMITTEES OR SOMETHING.
THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE MORE WOMEN, UM, ON IT, RIGHT? BUT HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT WE, THAT WE'RE LOOKING ACROSS OTHER SECTORS? BUT, UM, SO, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SOME MORE WORK.
I'M GRATEFUL TO N L C AND THE UNITED WE GROUP THAT THAT HAS, UM, BROUGHT, BROUGHT THIS TOGETHER TO US.
SO I'LL ASK IF THERE'S ANY COMMENTS FOR MY COLLEAGUES.
UM, NOW I, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
THE FOCUS IS TO GET WOMEN ON CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, OR IS IT ALSO TO, UM, HAVE THEM APPLY FOR SAWS AND C P SS AND, UM, SCHOOL BOARD AND OTHER COMMITTEES.
SO THE FOCUS OF THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT WE'RE DOING IS JUST GOING TO BE THOSE, UH, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AT THE CITY.
UM, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT REALLY INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE APPLYING FOR THOSE BOARDS.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW WHAT KIND OF APPLICATIONS YOU RECEIVE, AND WE'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU DIVERSE APPLICATIONS TO REVIEW FOR THOSE KINDS OF APPOINTMENTS.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.
UM, YOU KNOW, I I I, WE DO DEFINITELY NEED MORE WOMEN AT THE TABLE.
MY, UM, AND THIS ISN'T EITHER, WELL, MAYBE FOR THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, SO, AND I, I THINK I'VE SHARED THIS BEFORE, MY FRUSTRATION WITH SOME OF THE COMMITTEES IS, UM, I HEAR THAT THEY FEEL LIKE, OH, WE DON'T GET ANYTHING OR SAY, DOESN'T GET HEARD, OR, YOU KNOW, WE GIVE SUGGESTIONS TO CITY STAFF.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANT IS THESE WOMEN TO GIVE OF THEIR TIME AND, UM, HAVE THEIR KIDS IN CHILDCARE, AND THEN THEY'RE ON A COMMITTEE WHERE THEY SEND A SUGGESTION, IT COMES TO, IT COMES TO ONE OF OUR GROUPS, AND THEN WE'RE LIKE, AH, NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO FEEL SUCCESS TOO.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT SETTING THE EXPECTATIONS, WHETHER THEY'RE AN ADVISORY BOARD, UM, WHETHER THEY'RE, UH, A COMMITTEE LIKE S BETA SBA IS ONE OF THOSE COMMITTEES THAT'S ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT HOW FRUSTRATED THEY ARE.
UH, SOME OF THEM DON'T MAKE QUORUM.
H D R C IS ANOTHER ONE WHERE THAT'S LIKE FOUR HOURS.
LIKE, I THINK WE NEED TO, AS A COUNCIL, LOOK AT OUR UNIFORMITY, UM, FOR SOME OF THE COMMITTEES WE HAVE AND REALLY SET THOSE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE WOMEN IN TERMS OF WHAT CAN YOU, UM, WHAT TIME CAN YOU COMMIT? AND THIS IS THE ACTUAL TIME COMMITMENT BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS.
I THINK THEY WERE THERE FOR, FOR HOURS THE OTHER DAY.
SO IT, IT, IT IS, SOME OF THEM ARE MORE TIME COMMITMENTS ARE THAN OTHERS.
SOME HAVE MORE WEIGHT THAN OTHERS.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT AND COMMUNICATE TO THEM AS WE PUT IT FORWARD.
UM, BECAUSE IT, IT, IT COULD TURN THEM OFF FROM CONTINUING TO SERVE.
AND I DON'T WANT, I WANT THEM TO, TO, TO WANT TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AND, AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO GROW.
SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONSIDER.
AND THEN WE AS A COUNCIL, GO BACK AND WE'LL HOPEFULLY ALL BE CHAIRING A COMMITTEE THIS YEAR, UH, GO BACK AND SAY, HOW ARE WE GONNA LOOK AT OUR COMMITTEES AND WHAT, WHAT INPUT ARE WE GONNA ASK FOR THEM SO THAT THEY FEEL SUCCESSFUL AND LIKE IT WAS A GOOD USE OF THEIR TIME.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
BUT, UH, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
I, I THINK YOU GUYS WILL DO A GOOD JOB.
YOU, YOU GUYS ARE WOMEN, SO WE'RE GONNA GET IT DONE.
COUNCILMAN
AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE ALL THE BARRIERS THAT HAVE BEEN REDUCED, BUT OF COURSE WE KNOW THERE'S PLENTY MORE WORK AHEAD.
UM, ARE ALL OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION MEETINGS RECORDED? NO.
AND, AND I'M ASKING BECAUSE I, I WONDER IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE SOME OF THE MEETINGS INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, AND AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS I WAS RECENTLY AT, UH, A COMMUNITY LIKE, ESSENTIALLY LIKE A P T A MEETING OVER AT THE ZA MEETING ROOM.
[00:30:01]
I HAD EVER SEEN AT ANY OF LIKE OUR D FIVE OR ANY OTHER CITY MEETING, RIGHT.BUT IT WAS JUST ACCESSIBLE WALKING, AND OF COURSE IT WAS LUC
SO, UH, THERE WERE A, A, LIKE A, A TON OF PEOPLE THERE TO, TO GIVE INPUT AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.
SO, UH, I KNOW AT ONE POINT, UH, PRIOR TO BEING IN OFFICE, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF BUDGET TRAVELING BUDGET MEETINGS, RIGHT, THAT CITY COUNCIL WOULD HAVE.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS GREAT BECAUSE YOU ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UM, THE PUBLIC IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS THAT AREN'T AS CLOSE TO CITY HALL.
IT PROVIDES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE INPUT AND WE GET TO LEARN, UM, FROM EACH OTHER'S CONSTITUENCY.
SO, UM, I THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION LEVEL WOULD ALSO BE BENEFICIAL.
UM, I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE, UM, TRAINING ON ETHICS AND THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
UM, WHAT I HEAR FROM SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS THAT I TRY TO ENCOURAGE TO APPLY FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IS THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE, RIGHT? THEY DON'T, THEY, THEY THINK THEY DON'T HAVE THE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE TO FACILITATE A MEETING OR PARTICIPATE IN A MEETING.
AND SEEING ALL THOSE ITEMS LIST OUT, UM, I, I KNOW IF THEY KNOW IT'S AVAILABLE, WE'LL GIVE THEM THE CONFIDENCE TO WANNA PARTICIPATE.
UM, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THANKS, I APPRECIATE IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD BE INTERESTED, I KNOW COUNCILMAN, UH, ADRIANA ROCHA GARCIA HAD ALREADY MENTIONED THIS, BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN, UM, OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND EVEN BY COUNCIL DISTRICT.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL SO THAT WE CAN EVALUATE OUR OWN.
I THINK I WAS, ME AND MY TEAM WERE JUST LOOKING AT OUR, UH, WERE YOU ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING? I'M SORRY.
CAN YOU YOURSELF? I WAS, I'LL KEEP GOING.
BUT, UM, MY TEAM AND I WERE GOING OVER OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND TRYING TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE FILL THEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, UM, AND REAPPOINT AS MANY OF THEM AS POSSIBLE.
AND I THINK ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF MY APPOINTEES ARE WOMEN.
AND SO I'D BE INTERESTED, AND I KNOW MANY OF THEM HAVE EXPRESSED THAT THEY'RE THE ONLY WOMEN IN THE ROOM OR THAT THEY'RE IN THE MINORITY.
AND SO I KNOW IT'S A TRUE EXPERIENCE CITYWIDE, BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE BY DISTRICT? AND THEN FROM THERE, YOU KNOW, ARE WE MEETING, UH, DIVERSITY STANDARDS IN TERMS OF RACE, DISABILITY STATUS, UM, UH, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS? I THINK THOSE ARE ALL INTERESTING.
AND THEN I THINK SPECIFICALLY MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A BREAKDOWN OF, UM, AND I THINK THIS GETS TO COUNCILMAN VIA GRANT'S POINT OF THOSE THAT ARE MORE THAN ADVISORY IN NATURE AND HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE, YOU KNOW, WOMEN.
AND I HAVE TO GO THROUGH MY LIST AND SEE IS THERE AN EQUITABLE BREAKDOWN THERE AS WELL.
AND I, TO COUNCILMAN CASTILLO'S POINT, I THINK, UM, MY VETERANS AFFAIR, MY VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER, UH, HAD REACHED OUT TO ME.
'CAUSE I THINK THEY ROTATE BETWEEN COUNCIL, BETWEEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR MEETINGS.
AND SO I THINK IF THAT'S A MODEL THAT'S BEING USED AT AT LEAST ONE COMMISSION, IT'D BE INTERESTED TO SEE, UM, HOW IT MIGHT YIELD, UH, RESULTS IN TERMS OF QUORUM ELSEWHERE.
UM, BUT THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS.
IT LOOKS LIKE, UM, WE STILL HAVE SOME WORK AHEAD, BUT THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK.
AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING FOR TODAY.