[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:15]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. IT IS 3:07.
AND WE ARE GOING TO START THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND WE HAD A PRETTY FULL AGENDA TODAY.
IF WE COULD START WITH MAKING SURE -- WANTED TO MAKE SURE IF ANYONE IS HERE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT OUR AGENDA TODAY, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO THAT. IF NOT, THEN WE WILL GO ON
[1. Approval of Minutes from September Meeting (Discussion, Public Hearing and Action)]
DOWN TO AGENDA ITEM NO. ONE, WHICH APPROVAL OF MINUTESFROM SEPTEMBER'S MEETING. >> MAKE A MOTION.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER'S MEETING. IS IS THERE A SECOND?
>> I WILL SECOND. >> WE HAVE FIRST AND SECOND.
SECONDED THE AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER'S MEETING.
CAN I JUST SAY I LOVE THAT WE ARE STARTING TO BECOME CONSISTENT WITH OUR MEETINGS.
EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE EVERY OTHER, EVERY OTHER MONTH, AT LEAST WE'RE STARTING TO PICK BACK UP WHERE WE STARTED BEFORE COVID. I HOPE EVERYONE IS EXCITED ABOUT THAT AS I AM. TODAY WE ARE GOING TO
[2. Joseph Thomas Foundation - Meagan Kirk (Presentation & Discussion)]
HAVE -- TODAY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE MEGAN BOLTY FROM JOSEPH THOMAS FOUNDATION TO GIVE US DISCUSSION AND HELP US AS A CITY KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO WHEN IT COMES TO ASSIST THE ABILENE COMMUNITY AND THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.MEAGAN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP.
>> THANK YOU. >> HELLO MY NAME THE MEAGAN BOLTY. IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.
AND I AM THE CASE MANAGER FOR THE JOSEPH THOMAS FOUNDATION. I AM NOT SURE IF ANY OF YOU ARE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH OUR FOUNDATION.
WE ARE A NONPROFIT HERE. OUR OFFICES ARE LOCATED IN ABILENE. BUT WE COVER A VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF TEXAS AND THROUGH ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS, WE IN FACT COVER THE ENTIRE WORLD. AND SO A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, WE HAVE BEEN HERE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR 15 YEARS. AND FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, WE HAVE HAD A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHICH HAS ASSISTED FAMILIES WITH DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND IN CASES WHICH MEDICAID AND OTHER INSURANCES DON'T COME THROUGH, AND SO LET'S SAY YOUR CHILD NEEDS A WHEELCHAIR AND MEDICAID HAS SAID, YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY COVERED WHEELCHAIR THREE YEARS AGO, IN THAT CASE YOU WOULD BE APPLY TO BE US.
GIVE US YOUR INSURANCE DENIAL AND LETTER OF NECESSITY FROM YOUR PHYSICIAN, ALONG WITH THE APPLICATION AND WE CAN DIRECTLY PAY THE VENDOR FOR THAT PARTICULAR ITEM. THAT'S ONE CASE WHERE YOU COULD HELP YOUR FAMILY. THAT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR PEDIATRICS PATIENT. I WILL TALK MUCH MORE ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED OUR CLOSET PROGRAM, WHICH IS FOR ANYONE ANYWHERE ANYTIME, REALLY. AND IT'S CALLED OUR CLOSET PROGRAM. WE HAVE SIX MEDICAL CLOSETS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS.
IN ABILENE, LUBBOCK, WEATHERFORD, ROCKWALL IN THE DFW. SAINT ANGELO AND OUR NEWEST ONE IS IN SWEETWATER. AND THESE MEDICAL CLOSETS THEY ARE DONATION DEPENDENT AND FOR GENTLY USED
[00:05:04]
EQUIPMENT. WE SERVE ALL AGES.THERE ARE NO LOCATIONS OR INCOME RESTRICTIONS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE US ANY TYPE OF PROOF YOU ARE A LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUAL; YOU COULD MAKE 100,000 AND BE IN NEED OF CRUSHES AND THAT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU NEVER PLANNED FOR. WE WON'T ASK YOU ANYTHING ABOUT WHY YOU NEED THIS ITEM IF YOU TELL US YOU NEED AND YOU CAN GET IT. YOU CAN HAVE IT.
OUR CLOSETS ARE LOCATED IN VARIOUS CITIES THROUGHOUT TEXAS AS I SAID. RUN BY A TEAM OF VOLUNTEER CLOSET COORDINATORS ALONG WITH THE CASE MANAGER.
WE CARRY SUCH ITEMS AS DEPENDS, BED PADS, DIABETIC SUPPLIES. WALKER, WHEELCHAIRS, MEDICAL CAR SEATS. CATHETERS AND BAGS.
SHOWER CHAIRS BEDSIDE COMODES.
FORMULAS, STROLLER, ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF AS FAR AS MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT ACCEPTING MEDICATION. WE DON'T CARE MEDICATION DUE TO LIABILITY. WE CAN ACCEPT AS FAR AS DONATIONS GO AND THEN WE CAN GIVE IT BACK UP.
THE WAY THAT WE ACCEPT IN THE DONATION AND THE WAY WE GIVE THEM BACK OUT IS VERY SIMPLE.
WE HAVE A FORM. YOU JUST FILL IT OUT AND THEN THE CLOSET COORDINATOR WOULD CHECK THE LIST THAT, THAT GOES ON TO ONCE A WEEK. FOR MOST OF OUR CASE MANAGERS ARE CHECKING THEIR FORMS ONCE A DAY.
THEY ARE ALL VERY DEDICATED. WE GET BACK TO YOU.
WE DO SEE IF THE PERSON HAS BETWEEN 5 AND 7 DAYS ONCE WE GET THE REQUEST IN. THERE'S A WAY TO INDICATE IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY NEED. WE ALSO PUTS EVENTS ON THE JOSEPH THOMAS FOUND DOGS. WE HAVE A LOT OF EVENTS THAT ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY AND INCLUSIVE.
ANYONE WITH ANY ABILITY CAN ATTEND AND HAVE A GOOD TIME AND FEEL INCLUDED. WE HAVE OUR BIATHALON AND TRIATHALON. THINGS SUCH AS MINI GOLF AND BOWLING AND PUT, PUT. IT WOULD BE SKI BALL.
WE HAVE EXCLUSIVE CAMPS WE PUT ON WITH TLCA.
WE HAVE EXCEPTIONAL KIDS RODEO THAT IS IN SWEETWATER THAT WE PUT ON. EVENTS LIKE THIS WE PUT -- WE HELP OUR CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO MAY HAVE A DISABILITY OR FAMILY MEMBERS OF THEM OR JUST ANYONE WHO WANTS TO COME TO THOSE EVENTS AND INTERACT WITH ANYONE OF ALL ABILITY TO FEEL INCLUDED.
I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN UP THIS TIME NOW TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. >> YES, MA'AM.
>> I WAS WONDERING IF YOU PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH HEARING AIDS OR COCHLEAR IMPLANT.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD COVER.
AS FAR AS THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GOES.
WHENEVER IT'S SOMETHING THEY WOULD NEED LIKE CONTINUAL CARE FOR, LIKE LET'S SAY A THERAPY, I DON'T KNOW THE LIMITATION WHEN IT WOULD COME TO THAT.
BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING -- LIKE A HEARING AIDE THAT WOULD BE LIKE A ONE-TIME TYPE ITEM.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE COVERED SOMETHING THROUGH THAT IN THE PAST. IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> THANK YOU. >> YES, IT DOES.
THANK YOU. >> THE FORM -- THERE ARE A FEW WAYS TO ACCESS THE FORM TO REQUEST AN ITEM FOR THE CLOSET PROGRAM. THE EASIEST WAY I THINK IS TO GO ON TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND TO SEND US A MESSAGE. AND THERE ARE -- THERE'S A QUICK LINK THAT JUST SAID HOW DO I REQUEST AN ITEM FROM THE CLOSET OR HOW DO I DONATE AN ITEM FROM -- TO THE CLOSET. IT AUTOMATICALLY SENDS YOU THE LINK. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SOCIAL MEDIA YOU CAN GO STRAIGHT TO THE WEB SITE AND CLICK ON PROGRAMS. AND THEN THOSE LINKS ARE THERE. HOW CAN THE CITY HELP THE
JOSEPH FOUNDATION. >> I THINK SPREADING THE WORD THAT WE ARE HERE. I HAVE RECENTLY STARTED VOLUNTEERING AT A THRIFT SHOP.
ONE OF THE LADIES TOLD ME I'VE JUST PAID $100 LAST WEEK FOR A NEBULIZER. I COULD HAVE GOTTEN YOU WON.
IF PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT IT, WE COULD CONTINUE TO HELP SO
[00:10:01]
MANY PEOPLE. HOW DO YOU HOW MANY OFFICESIN TEXAS. >> WE HAVE ONE OFFICE AND SIX CLOSETS. AND THE CLOSETS ARE MOSTLY LIKE STORAGE. WE TRY TO GET CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE. THINGS THAT ARE CLOTH SUCH AS CAR SEATS AND STROLLERS, WE DON'T WANT THOSE TO MILDEW. AND ALSO FORMULA YOU WANT TO
BE CLIMATE CONTROLLED. >> TRYING TO THINK HOW THE CITY CAN HELP YOU GET THE WORD OUT MORE.
WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR EVENTS, ARE THEY FUND-RAISERS.
>> THE ONLY FUND-RAISER EVENT THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY HADS OUR JOURNEY OF HOPE NIGHT THAT TOOK PLACE IN LATE OCTOBER AND I HAVEN'T SHARED ABOUT THAT YET.
THAT ONE WAS SPECIFICALLY A FUND-RAISER EVENT.
THE OTHER ONES I MENTIONED EARLIER ARE NOT.
THOSE ARE PUT ON SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE A GOOD TIME.
WE ACTUALLY DID ONE THAT -- WELL ATTEMPTED TO DO ONE WHERE WE KIND OF PARTNERED UP WITH THE CITY AND ITS SUPPOSED TO BE AN ADVENTURE COVE.
ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE POWER BLEW AND -- BUT I THINK YOU KNOW MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE WORKS AGAIN. AND SO I THINK -- IN SPECIFIC CASES WHERE IT'S A FUND-RAISER.
I DON'T THINK WE WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
BUT IN OTHER CASES IT WOULD REALLY JUST BE GETTING THE WORD OUT. I KNOW WE WILL DO THE DODGE JONES CENTER IS HAVING AN EVENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US. AND IT'S GOING TO BE AN ADAPTIVE, I THINK, CAMP OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
WITH VOLLEYBALL. AND SO ANYTHING ESPECIALLY WHENEVER IT'S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A CITY FACILITY, WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE FOR IT TO BE SHARED LIKE WILDFIRE.
>> YES, MA'AM. CAN THE COUNCIL.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE HERE.
CAN THE COUNCIL DO AN ENDORSEMENT OR PRESENT A CERTIFICATE OR SOMETHING? I'VE SEEN THEM DO THAT FOR
SOME ORGANIZATIONS BEFORE. >> I THINK WE WOULD LOVE
THAT. >> I THINK THAT HAS TO BE -- WE WILL PRESENT THAT TO THE CITY MANAGER.
>> OKAY. YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THE
CITY'S MANAGER'SES OF. >> I THINK THAT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA. I APPRECIATE THAT IDEA.
THANK YOU. >> DO YOU WANT TO SHARE ABOUT THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM?
>> OH, SURE. I MEAN YOUR CHILD IS AN AMBASSADOR. DO YOU WANT TO SHARE ABOUT
IT? >> I FIGURED YOU COULD GIVE
WE DO HAVE WHAT'S CALLED AN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.
THAT'S PROBABLY OUR LAST PROGRAM I HAVEN'T TOUCHED ON. AND WE ARE JUST ABOUT TO ANNOUNCE OUR 2023 AMBASSADORS.
I ACTUALLY HAVE A CHILD WHO IS 2022 AMBASSADOR ALONG WITH JAMIE, AND WE HAVE 12 CHILDREN WHO ARE SELECTED.
THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR. AND THESE CHILDREN ARE BASICALLY SELECTED REPRESENT THE JOSEPH THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR THE YEAR. AND THEY ARE TASKED WITH RAISING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND IN EXCHANGE FOR NOT ONLY HELPING TO RAISE THE FUNDS BUT ALSO MAKING MEDIA APPEARANCES.
AND KIND OF BEING THE FACE FOR THE ORGANIZATION.
THEY GET SEVERAL PERKS. WE DO A TRIP TO MORGANS WONDERLAND. THAT'S COMPLETELY FREE FOR THE CHILDREN. ACCEPT THEY DO HAVE TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO SAN ANTONIO. THEY ALSO GET TO DO -- WE DID A DAY AT THE ABILENE ZOO.
THIS YEAR A LOT OF THEM ARE GOING TO MAVERICKS GAMES, WHICH WHICH I'M REALLY JEALOUS OF.
I THINK HUNTER ALREADY WENT TO ONE.
THERE'S LOTS OF -- THEY PUT ON THIS JOURNEY OF HOPE NIGHT, WHICH WE HAD. AND IT WAS CALLED THE AMBASSADOR BALL. AND SO WE HAVE THIS NIGHT TO CELEBRATE THEM. THEY ALL GOT DRESSED UP.
I THINK MEN'S WAREHOUSE DONATED TEXT TUXES FOR THE BOY. ANOTHER BUSINESS DONATED HAIRCUTS. ONE OF THE LOCAL SALONS DID ALL THE GIRLS HAIR AND MAKEUP.
AND SO ALL THE KIDS GOT TO BE DRESSED UP AND THEY HAD CATERED DINNER. AND IT WAS REALLY, REALLY COOL FOR THEM. THEY GOT TO BE JUST CELEBRATED. THEY ALL GOT TO WALK DOWN THE RED CARPET. AND THAT WAS REALLY COOL FOR THEM. AND IT'S REALLY NICE BECAUSE
[00:15:02]
I THINK NOT EVERY KID WANTS TO BE OUT IN FRONT AND BE YOU KNOW HAVE THE LIGHTS SHONE ON THEM.ALL THESE KIDS TOOK OWNERSHIP AND I WANT TO SHARE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND GET THE WORD OUT AND HELP OTHER KIDS AND FAMILIES.
THAT'S WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY FOR.
>> I'M NOT SURE IF I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN THINK OF JAMIE SINCE YOU ARE CLOSELY LINKED TO OUR ORGANIZATION.
>> I THINK YOU PRETTY MUCH COVERED EVERYTHING.
>> I DO AGREE, MARY. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL LOOK INTO. I THINK IF THERE'S ONE THING LIKE AS THE BOARD THAT WE NEED -- WE NEED TO HIGHLIGHT MORE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WITHIN THE CITY SO PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THEY CAN GET THE RESOURCES.
>> YEAH. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT US. AND SPREAD THE WORD AND WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE CITY TOO. AND ANYTIME THAT WE GET AN ABUNDANCE OF ADULT DEPENDS. WE CALL MEALS ON WHEELS.
DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THESE SO YOU KNOW YOU ARE WELL-KNOWN AND WILL BE ABLE TO DISBURSE THOSE MORE QUICKLY.
AND THEY ARE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM US.
>> I KNOW THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION HELPED THE CITY DURING THE HUGE SNOWSTORM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
>> I THINK THAT'S THE CASE. I WASN'T ONBOARD YET.
FROM WHAT I KNOW, YEAH, THAT WAS DEFINITELY THE CASE.
>> WE HAD SOME ADULTS THAT NEEDED SOME ASSISTANCE.
THEY WERE ABLE TO BECAUSE OF YORKI YOR YOR YORKING WITH -- WORKING WITH T
JOSEPH THOMAS. >> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVED MOST ABOUT MY LAST SIX YEARS IN ABILENE.
>> BOARD, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF THINGS COME UP, LIKE YOUR EVENTS AND STUFF THAT COME UP, LET US KNOW. BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT LIKE, BECAUSE YOU CAN PUT THAT ON THE CITY EVENTS CALENDAR.
>> OKAY. THAT IS SOMETHING I BELIEVE LIKE IT'S A COMMUNITY THING. YEAH.
>> THAT COULD BE PUT ON. >> OKAY THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME. THIS IS VERY LAST MINUTE FOR ME. I JUST SAID OKAY.
I WILL DO MY BEST. >> YOU DID GREAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GOOD JOB.
[3. CityLink Update (Discussion)]
>> WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON DOWN TO ITEM AGENDA ITEM NO.
3 WHICH IS CITYLINK UPDATE. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A NEW FACE. GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M A NEW SUPERVISOR AND CITYLINK.
I HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS FOR ALL OF OUR ON DEMAND AND PARA TRANSIT TRIPS AND EVERYTHING IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS. I ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DISCUSS.
I WANTED TO MENTION TO YOU ALL WE DID FINALLY GET OUR VOICE ANNOUNCEMENTS INSTALLED ON THE SYSTEM.
THEY ARE ANNOUNCING AS WE GET TO OUR DESIGNATED TIME POINT AS WE GO AROUND THE CITY.
WE HAVE HAD A FEW HICCUPS ON GETTING THEM IN FOR NORTH INSTEAD -- WE ARE GETTING THOSE HANDLED AND STUFF.
AND SOMETIMES THE VOICE DOESN'T ANNOUNCE THE STREET NAME DIRECTLY. THEY SAY IN A DIFFERENT ONE.
WE HAVE ONE SPOT WHERE THE -- FOR SOME REASON IT CHANGES FROM A MALE VOICE TO FEMALE VOICE HALFWAY THROUGH. WE HAVEN'T QUITE FIGURED THAT OUT. OTHER THAN THAT, THEY ARE COMING THROUGH VERY WELL. AND THEY ARE SEEMING TO WORK. WE ARE LEARNING THE SOFTWARE. ON ANOTHER NOTE NEXT MONDAY AND TUESDAY WE'RE DOING OUR FOOD FOR FARE PROGRAM.
IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT; THAT'S WHERE WE ALLOW PEOPLE ON BOTH THE FIXED ROUTE AND THE PARA TRANSIT
[00:20:02]
SERVICE AND THE EVENING SERVICE TO PAY WITH A CAN OF FOOD FOR THEIR TRIP TO OR FROM WHERE THEIR DESTINATION IS AND BACK HOME AND WE TAKE THAT AND COLLECT THOSE CANS AND NONPARISHABLE ITEMS. AND WE GIVE THAT AND DONATE TO THAT THE ABILENE FOOD BANK.THAT'S A YEARLY THING WE CO. WE DO IT TWICE A YEAR.
BEFORE THANKSGIVING AND ALSO BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
WE WERE PLANNING ON DOING THAT THIS WEEK.
AND WE REALIZED WE HAD NOT GIVEN THE PASSENGERS ENOUGH NOTICE AND WE WERE AFRAID WE WOULDN'T GET A VERY GOOD TURNOUT. AND SO WE PUSHED IT BACK AND WE HAVE EXTENDED IT. WE PUT NEW NOTICES ON THE BUSES SO PEOPLE WILL HAVE MORE TIME AND WE CAN GET A BIGGER DONATION. WE'RE GOING TO PUSH THAT BACK A WEEK. OUR NUMBERS ARE UP ON -- IN BOTH OUR IN AREAS -- IN SERVICE AREAS.
WE HAD MORE TRIPS ON BOTH OF THOSE.
ON OUR NIGHT SERVICE WE'VE HAD INCREASE, TOO.
WE'VE HAD MORE DRIVERS ON BOTH OF THOSE.
WE DID HAVE A -- QUITE A SECTION OF LAST MONTH WHEN WE DID NOT HAVE A LINK UP DRIVER.
OUR CONTRACTED SERVICES WENT DOWN.
BUT WE ARE BACK WITHING WILL UP DRIVER NOW.
WE OF COURSE IF YOU DON'T KNOW IS OUR PASSENGER CAR SERVICE THAT WE HIRED OUT FOR JUST AMBULATORY CUSTOMERS, NO WHEELCHAIRS AND IT'S A SERVICE.
IT'S HELPFUL. WE HAVE SOMEONE ON THERE.
THEY ARE WORKING FULL-TIME DURING THE WEEK.
NO WEEKENDS. THAT'S A VERY HELPFUL SERVICE. AND WE -- BECAUSE OF THAT AND BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE THAT WE'VE HAD IN OUR TRIPS, AND A SHORTAGE OF DRIVERS BUT WITH THE PAY INCREASE THAT WE'VE HAD, WE'VE HAD INCREASED INTEREST.
WE WILL GO WITH THAT WORD IN EMPLOYMENT.
WE HAVE HAD ALREADY HAVE FOUR NEW DRIVERS APPLY.
AND ONE COMPLETING TRAINING THIS WEEK.
THREE MORE STARTING THE MONDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING.
AND TWO OF THEM WITH FULL BLOWN CDL AND PASSENGER ENDORSEMENT AND WHAT WHO DOESN'T WHO HAS EXPERIENCE IN THE DELIVERY FIELD BUT JUST PAST EXPERIENCE DELIVERING PACKAGES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
HE'S BEEN IN THAT KIND OF INDUSTRY.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE AND WE TELL THEM ABOUT THE NEW PAY SCALE. EVERYONE WAS VERY EXCITED AND EVERYONE LIKES IT. WE DO APPRECIATE THE BUDGET INCREASE. AND IT IS MAKING A LOT EASIER THAN IN THE PAST. I'VE BEEN ON SOME INTERVIEWS. BUT THE NEW NUMBERS MAKE IT EASIER TO HIRE. VERY THANKFUL ON THAT.
IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING ABOUT ANY OF OUR NUMBERS OR ANYTHING THAT I MIGHT BE
ABLE TO EXPLAIN. >> I'M LOOKING AT BE B-2.
AND THE NUMBERS THE BA-2 LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE GONE DOWN
JUST A LITTLE BIT. >> YES, MA'AM.
>> IS THAT PARTLY ALSO -- I MEAN, IF YOU DON'T HAVE DRIVERS, THAT'S A CHALLENGE. AND IT IMPACTS.
>> I'M NOT POSITIVE EXACTLY WHY WE HAVE HAD A LOWER IMPACT. WE DID IN THE END OF AUGUST AND THE FIRST PART OF SEPTEMBER, WE DID I BELIEVE WE DID -- WE DID COME TO THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAD DRAWN ONE OF OUR POLYGONS WRONG IN OUR SOFTWARE.
WE HAD TO REFIGURE THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT.
WE HAD NOT ACTUALLY -- WERE -- HAD SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE -- WE HAD SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IN BA-2 THAT WERE ACTUALLY BA-3. THAT'S A SOFTWARE PUTTING IN BA-3 AND HAD TO RECONFIGURE THAT.
THEY MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY EFFECTED.
BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE. I JUST NOTICED THAT I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT WE HAD A GLITCH AND HOW THEY HAD DRAWN THE POLYGONS. WE WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. WE JUST TOLD THEM THE ADDRESSES AND I GUESS THERE WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION ON
[00:25:01]
HOW THE THREE-QUARTER MILE CIRCLES WERE DRAWN OUTSIDE OF WHERE OUR BUS SERVICE GOES.AND THERE WAS A MISTAKE OR MISCOMMUNICATION IS WHAT I UNDERSTOOD. I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. I CAN LOOK INTO SEE WHY OUR BA-2 NUMBERS ARE GONE DOWN. BUT I'M NOT REALLY SURE.
I COULD BE SEASONAL. I KNOW THAT --
>> IT'S GETTING COLDER. THE WEATHER --
>> THE OTHER THING THAT I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO TOUCH
ON THE LATE TRIPS. >> YES, MA'AM.
>> ARE THOSE GOING UP BECAUSE OF THE CUSTOMER OR JUST BECAUSE OF LIKE DRIVERS AND THE LACK OF?
>> PROBABLY THE BIGGEST REASON THAT WE'VE HAD THE NUMBER OF LATE TRIPS GO UP FOR THIS LAST MONTH WAS THAT PROBABLY TWO OF THE NEW DRIVERS WE HIRE READY NOT FAMILIAR WITH AB ABLAEN -- ABILENE AT ALL.
EN THOUGH WE TRAINED THEM ON THE NAVIGATIONAL SOFTWARE THEY GET LOST AND RUN BEHIND.
AND EVEN THOUGH WE TRY TO GET THEM THE FIVE MINUTES GETTING LOST, CAN SNOWBALL DOWN THE WAY.
AND IT MAKES IT A BIG DIFFERENCE.
FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM OUR FEEDBACK ON THE CUSTOMERS, AS I DRIVE AND TALK TO THEM.
THERE ARE LIKE YOU KNOW THOSE DRIVERS THAT YOU'VE HIRED WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED, THEY WERE ALWAYS GETTING ALSO. AND THEY WERE BEHIND.
BUT NOW THEY KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING AND THEY ARE MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE SOFTWARE.
AND THEY ARE MUCH BETTER DRIVERS NOW THAN WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED. THAT'S HOW WITH ALL NEW DRIVERS THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE TOWN.
LUCKILY, NOW WE HAVE DRIVERS THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TOWN. THE ONE WE HAVE DRIVEN WERE LIVING HERE TO THE LAST TEN YEARS AND WORKING IN THE CITY. AND EMPLOYED HERE.
THEY'VE BEEN EITHER -- FOR INSTANCE ONE OF THE DRIVERS WE HAD WAS A PARTS DELIVERY GUY HERE IN TOWN.
HE WORKED WITH PARTS DELIVERY FOR FIVE YEARS.
HE KNOWS THE TOWN WELL. WE HAVE ANOTHER GUY WHO WORKED FOR THE PRISON SYSTEM.
HE LIVED HERE FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS.
HE'S FAMILIAR WITH THE TOWN ALSO.
BOTH OF THEM WE DON'T EXPECT THE SAME PROBLEMS. WE DO HAVE ONE DRIVER THAT JUST GOT HIRED.
SHE'S FROM CALIFORNIA. BUT SHE WAS -- SHE HAS LIVED HERE FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AND RAISED HER FAMILY HERE FOR THE LAST BIT. SHE IS SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR.
BUT SHE'S NOT AS FAMILIAR AS WE LIKE.
BUT -- SHE DOES HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOOGLE MAP SYSTEM AND SHE SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY -- SEEMS TO BE OKAY WITH THE ECO LANE SYSTEM TOO.
SHE'S SEEMS TO BE DOING OKAY FROM WHAT I HEAR WITH THE TRAINERS. WHEN WE GET DRIVERS THAT ARE UNFAMILIAR, THE NUMBERS GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
>> ON A POSITIVE NOTE YOUR PERCENT ON TIME.
YES, IT WENT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
BUT NOT TREMENDOUSLY. YOU KNOW, DURING THE ADDING IN THE CHANGING OF NEW DRIVERS.
>> WE DID HAVE A -- DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS HERE.
I DO KNOW THAT WE HAD A NUMBER OF SICK DAYS WITH DRIVERS CALLING IN SICK. I WAS OUT FOR TWO DAYS MYSELF. WITH AN UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION. SO WAS THE PERSON, WAYNE, THAT HAD THE JOB BEFORE ME. HE WAS OUT FOR TWO DAYS ALSO WITH AN UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION.
IT WENT THROUGH THE OFFICE GOOD.
THOSE ALSO EFFECT THE NUMBERS.
THE FLU, SEASON, OF COURSE, EVEN IF YOU GET THE FLU SHOT SOMETIMES YOU GET THE ONE IT DIDN'T COVER.
BUT HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT OVER.
WITH THE OTHER DRIVERS COMING IN.
WE'LL HAVE MORE COVERAGE AND MORE STUFF.
WE -- I HAVE IMPLEMENTED A NEW SYSTEM WHERE WE PUT IN THE RIGHT NUMBER OF DRIVERS FOR THE DAY.
ALL THE SHIFTS ARE COVERED. EVERYBODY HAS GOT A GOOD PERFORMANCE. WE HAVE OUR UTILIZATION.
EVERYBODY'S UTILIZATION SUPPOSED TO BE IN 80%.
SO THEY HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET EVERYWHERE AND NO ONE IS PILED UP. WE DON'T WANT THE UTILIZATION OVER 90%. IF SOMEONE OUTDATION OVER 90% ON 8, 9 OR 10-HOUR SHIFT THAT USUALLY MEANS THEY HAVE LESS THAN 30 MINUTES IN BETWEEN -- TOTAL IN BETWEEN ALL PICKUPS AND DROP OFFS. NOT COUNTING LUNCH.
ONCE YOU ARE DOWN TO 82 OR 83 OR 84% UTILIZATION.
THEY HAVE ABOUT AN HOUR AND 15 MINUTES.
BETWEEN ALL THEIR SHIFTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
THEY GET AN HOUR BREAK. THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO TAKE A 10-7. THAT'S WHAT WE USE FOR OUR
[00:30:03]
PERSONAL TIME WHEN YOU HAVE TO GET OFF AND DO OTHER STUFF. ONCE WE GET INTO THAT POINT.WE SCHEDULE ONE MORE DRIVER. TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE LOAD OF EVERYBODY ELSE BECAUSE IN CASE SOMEONE GETS SICK, OR CALLS IN, WE HAVE THAT PERSON AVAILABLE SO THAT EVERYBODY ELSE CAN GET RIGHT BACK UP TO ABOUT 82 OR 83%. AND WE'RE NOT MAKING EVERYBODY OVERWORKED. AND THAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING IN MY DRIVERS SEEM TO BE A LOT MORE HAPPY AND LESS STRESSED OUT. IT DOES MEAN A LITTLE BIT MORE FUNDING BECAUSE WE DO HAVE AN EXTRA DRIVER.
BUT IT MEANS THAT MY DRIVERS BURNT OUT AT THE END OF THE DAY AND COMPLAINING TO ME A LOT MORE THAN THEY USED TO.
IT'S A TRADE OFF. >> DEBORAH, I'M SURE YOU CAN ATTEST TO THAT. HAPPY DRIVER, HAPPY
CUSTOMER; RIGHT? >> MOST DEFINITELY.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW I LOOK TO YOU WHEN IT COMES TO CITYLINK.
I KNOW YOU USE THEM QUITE A BIT AS TRANSPORTATION?
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AND THAT THEY ARE WORKED IT OUT REAL GOOD AS FAR AS YOU KNOW. I THINK THINGS WILL GET BETTER. IT'S GOOD.
>> JUST A BUNCH OF GOOD DRIVERS.
>> THEY LIKE TO HEAR THAT. DOES ANYBODY ELSE ON THE BOARD HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
CITYLINK DEFINITELY KEEPS US MOVING.
SO I DON'T KNOW WE WOULD DO WITHOUT YOU GUYS.
I KNOW THAT YOU ARE DOWN TO ONLY ONE; CORRECT, ONE CONTRACT WITHIN THE LIKE DISABILITY COMMUNITY FOR RIDES; IS THAT RIGHT? YOU HAVE LINK-UP?
>> WE HAVE LINK-UP. >> AND THAT'S IT.
>> THAT'S IT. I DO THOUGH THAT WE -- KNOW THAT WE MIGHT HAVE MORE INCREASE IN OUR RIDERSHIP.
I UNDERSTAND THE DISABILITY IN ACTION HAS LOST THEIR CONTRACT. AND SO WHOEVER THEY WERE TRANSPORTING IS PROBABLY GOING TO FALL BACK ON US OR WHOEVER THEY WERE TRANSPORTING THEY CAN'T USE ONE OF THEIR PROVIDERS, THEY CAN USE.
AND I ALSO AM UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT I BELIEVE NORTHERN OAKS NURSING HOME HAS HIT A HICCUP ON ONE OF THEIR DAYS A WEEK. WE MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HICCUP ON CERTAIN DAYS. WE BEEN INFORMED ON THAT.
WE'VE BEEN TAKING STEPS TO HANDLE THAT.
AS LONG AS WE'RE INFORMED. WE TRY TO MANAGE OUR STAFFING ISSUE AND EVERYTHING.
BY THE WAY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY OUR EVENING NUMBERS ARE TIPPED UP. BUT WE'VE GOTTEN TWO DRIVERS. WE'VE HIRED TWO DRIVERS WITH THE INTENT OF HAVING THEM DURING THE DAY AND NIGHT TO ALLEVIATE THAT PROBLEM SO THAT WE ARE -- CONTINUING TO KEEP OUR NUMBERS UP ON THE EVENING SERVICES.
THE SITUATIONS COME UP, THIS HELPS US AND JUST TO LET YOU ALL KNOW. IT KIND OF TIES IN TO THE PURPOSE OF THE BOARD, PART OF THE REASON WHY WE WITH HAVE REQUESTED CITY LINK TO BE PART OF OUR MONTHLY EVERY OTHER MONTH MEETING IS WE CAN HELP FUNDINGWISE AS THE CITY TOO. BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS TO KEEP THE TRANSPORTATION GOING.
>> SURE. >> AND SO I JUST THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER FOR US.
>> NO, PROBLEM. >> IT'S VERY NICE TO COME OVER HERE. AND BE A PART OF THE INTERACTION AND THE COMMUNICATION.
BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU ALL HELPING US OUT, WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR LETTING US COME OVER AND LETTING YOU KNOW HOW WE ARE DOING.
AND GET FEEDBACK. >> I FEEL LIKE THAT WITHIN CITYLINK, AND DEBORAH, YOU CAN ADD IF I'M WRONG.
I FEEL LIKE YOU ARE TRYING AND SUCCEEDING IN A LOT OF WAYS TO MAKE THE TRANSPORTATION ASPECT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL. EN LEVEN LIKE THREE YEARS TE VOICE ACTIVATION ON THE BUS SAYING WHERE WE WHERE, THAT WASN'T AROUND. I KNOW YOU HAD USED AN APP
[00:35:02]
TO HELP BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS AND I KNOW THAT, THAT'S HELPED. JUST KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING. AND LIKE I SAID.IF WE NEED TO HELP, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR.
[4. American Sign Language (ASL) Mixer (Discussion)]
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO ON DOWN TO THE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE MIXER DISCUSSION. HI.
MY NAME IS SAM MYTH MELCHEH. I'M THE MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST FOR PARKS AND REC.
WE STARTED A SERIES OF SIGN LADIES AND GENTLEMEN GAGE EVENTS STARTING WITH THE ASL MIXER THAT WE ARE HAVING TONIGHT AT COG RECREATION CENTER AT 6:00.
AND IT WILL END AT 7:30. OUR JANUARY CLASS FOR ASL WILL BE TAUGHT BY CATHERINE BALLARD.
I KNOW WE HAVE PEOPLE ALREADY INTERESTED IN THAT.
IN ASL MIXER TONIGHT. I KNOW WE HAVE INVITED AND WILL BE JOINED BY DISABILITY REPRESENTATIVES FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND POSSIBLY DISABILITIES INCORPORATED FOR ABILENE. NOT A CLEAR RESPONSE FROM THEM. I KNOW MCMURRAY AND CISCO AND OTHER COLLEGES WILL BE ATTENDING.
WE HAD A GOOD RESPONSE FROM THE PUBLIC ONNED PEOPLE THAT CITIZENS THAT WILL BE ATTENDING THAT ARE PART OF THE DEAF COMMUNITY. WE WANTED TO START THIS AS A WAY FOR PEOPLE IN THE DEAF COMMUNITY OR FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS THAT WANT TO CONVERSE WITH THEIR LOVED ONE IN THE DEAF COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PRACTICALLY APPLY ASL. I'VE SEEN THAT AS A NEED MYSELF TRYING TO LEARN ASL WHEN I WORKED FOR PARKS AND REC ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO AS A PLAYGROUND AIDE.
AND I HAD A STUDENT OR CAMP MEMBER THAT WAS WITH COCHLEAR IMPLANT. NO ONE COULD CONVERSE WITH HIM. I'VE LOT A LOSS OF MY APPLICATIONS AND UNDERSTANDING OF IT BECAUSE I HAD NO PRACTICE. I THINK THE APPLICATION IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE WILL BE HAVING REFRESHMENTS TO NIGHT. AND WE HOPE THAT THIS ONE WILL BE SORT OF A MEET AND GREET SO WE CAN ALL GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. AND OTHERS IN THE DEAF COMMUNITY. AND THEN BUILDUP TO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT FUTURE MIXERS.
WE'RE STARTING OUT WITH TWICE A MONTH.
DEPENDING ON HOW THE COMMUNITY TAKES THIS.
AND HOW MUCH THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED.
WE'LL LOOK AT TWICE A MONTH AND MAYBE GOING ON FROM THERE TO DIFFERENT EVENTS. I KNOW FOR ONE EXAMPLE SLASH AND SIGN BECAUSE YOU CAN'T WEAR COCHLEAR IN THE WATER.
THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO ME.
I HOPE OTHERS IN THE FUTURE AS WELL.
WE'RE HOPING TO ROTATE THIS EVENT BETWEEN DIFFERENT FACILITIES THAT WE OWN AS PARKS AND REC BETWEEN ROSEPARK AND THE NEW ALL INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND SO THEY CAN LEARN TO PLAY AND SIGN OR HAVE DIFFERENT THEMES THE ASL MIXERS SO IT STIMULATING DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS.
AND IT'S NOT JUST US SITTING IN ROOM.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS OF ALL DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS AND PEOPLE JUST LIKE THEM.
WHATEVER THE AGE. THAT'S JUST A VERY BIG THING FOR ME. I'M VERY HAPPY.
AND EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND I WELCOME YOU ALL TO BE THERE.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED, YES. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS? >> SEE THIS BIG SMILE ON MY FACE. I THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS ON. AND I'M SURE YOU PROBABLY HAVE WORKED WITH CAT SOME. AND I LIKE AM SO EXCITED TO HEAR THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT BIG PICTURE.
AND HOW PARKS AND REC IS REALIZING.
HEY, THERE'S THIS COMMUNITY THAT ISN'T GETTING WHAT OTHER COMMUNITY -- PART OF THE COMMUNITY COULD GET.
AND YOU GUYS ARE GOING AFTER IT.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT I -- I'M -- THIS BOARD IS VERY MUCH ABOUT ALL DISABILITIES.
I WILL TELL YOU PERSONALLY, COMMUNICATION IS HUGE AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WITHIN THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING COMMUNITY. IS COMMUNICATION.
IT BECOMES ONE OF THE CHALLENGING -- MORE CHALLENGING PARTS OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE THE COMMUNICATION. I JUST WANT TO SAY ANYWAY THAT WE CAN HELP, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU BECAUSE IT IS
[00:40:04]
A CITY EVENT. I WOULD GET IT AS MUCH ON THE CALENDAR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.ANY EVENT THAT YOU HAVE IN YOU'VE GOT A GOOD PARTNER IN CRIME WITH CAT. GETTING THE WORD OUT.
DEFINITELY IF ANYTHING COMES UP, THAT YOU WANT FROM US, WE WILL DO THE BEST TO OUR ABILITY TO HELP.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS I'M ALL ABOUT EVERYONE.
AND SO ONE OF THE BIG THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN TIME IS ALL ABILITIES COMING TOGETHER.
ONE STEP AT THE TIME. AND YOU'RE TAKING THAT BIG FIRST STEP. SO THANK YOU.
>> YES, MA'AM. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO START THIS.
AND I KNOW THAT WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE AT THE EVENT TONIGHT THAT DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH SIGN LANGUAGE.
BUT MAYBE THEY ARE COMING BECAUSE THEIR SON IS GETTING COCHLEAR OR THEY ARE SOON TO GET THEM THEMSELVES.
SPEAKING OF -- DISCOURAGE WILL BE A PART OF IT AS THEY LEARN TO CONVERSE BETTER. THAT'S THE POINT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME PRACTICE.
EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT GOOD AT IT YET.
DOING DIFFERENT EVENTS WHERE WE CAN HAVE ALL KIND OF PEOPLE I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I HOPE TO KEEP GOING WITH THIS EVENT.
AND EXPAND IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
>> I KNOW THAT YOU ALL STARTED -- LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT. BEAT BALL.
WHICH IS LIKE -- THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ALL CAN LOOK INTO. JUST TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE IS TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS. IT'S HUGE.
IF YOU GET DISCOURAGED, PLEASE COME TO THIS BOARD.
WE WILL ENCOURAGE YOU. BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS DROP. IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT.
>> I HAVE SOMETHING. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING OVER THERE. AND MAKING SURE THIS EVENT IS VERY EXCITING. AND ONE THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO. I'M VERY HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THIS TOO. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
YOU TONIGHT AS WELL. >> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE JANUARY 5TH CLASSES. IS THIS FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO LEARN OR ALREADY KNOW TO KIND OF BRUSH UP MORE?
>> THIS IS PRETTY OPEN. IT'S FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO LEARN. IT'S A CLASS VERSES WHERE THE ASL MIXER A MEET AND GREET AND HANG OUT KIND OF THING. THIS WILL BE A CLASS.
CAT WILL BE TEACHINGIT. THERE WILL ALSO BE A BOOK THAT YOU NEED TO BUY SEPARATELY.
MOST OF THIS INFORMATION IS ALREADY ON OUR WEB SITE.
AND ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA. I WILL BE GETTING IT ON THE CALENDAR TODAY. THE OUT MIGHT HAVE A SMALL KNOWLEDGE OF ASL, BUT I BELIEVE THIS WILL FURTHER ANYONE'S KNOWLEDGE OF ASL. BECAUSE I WON'T JUST BE TEACHING YOU HOW TO SPEAK. I BELIEVE CAT WILL BE ABLE TO DEFINITELY HELP ALSO TEACH ABOUT THE DEAF COMMUNITY AND CULTURES AND CUSTOMS, BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM SPEAKING PEOPLE CUSTOMS. EASY EXAMPLE IS HOW YOU GET YOUR NAME.
YOU DON'T JUST PICK YOUR NAME.
YOU ARE GIVEN YOUR NAME BY SOMEONE IN THE DEAF COMMUNITY AND MOST SPEAKING PEOPLE WOULDN'T KNOW THAT.
THINGS THROUGH THAT, I'M EXCITED FOR THEM TO LEARN IN
THIS CLASS. >> WHAT IS THE COST?
>> THE CLASS WILL BE $60. AND IF YOU FOLLOW THE LINK WE HAVE QR CODES TOWN FLIERS FOR BOTH SIGNING UNDER AND PURCHASES THE BOOK THAT CAT HAS COLLECTED FOR HER COURSE BOOK. THAT BOOK IS ABOUT $10 ON AMAZON. AND IT RANGES BETWEEN NEW AND USED. ABOUT $70 TOTAL FOR A S
SEVEN-WEEK COURSE. >> IF IT GOES WELL --
>> WE HAVE AN EXTREMELY HIGH INTEREST IN THE CLASS SPECIFICALLY. JUST FROM THE EVENT I POSTED ON FACEBOOK. WE HAVE 158 PEOPLE THAT HAVE RESPONDED AS OF YESTERDAY THAT WERE INTERESTED IN TAKING THE CLASS I'VE HAD PERSONAL E-MAILS ONE PERSON WANTED TO SIGN FOUR PEOPLE UP AT ONCE.
SHE'S A LOCAL RN AT ONE OF THE HOSPITALS.
THAT JUST IN ITSELF IS AMAZING.
BECAUSE PEOPLE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD BEING ABLE TO CONVERSE IS VERY IMPORTANT. YOU CANNOT ALWAYS HAVE YOUR INTERPRETER THERE IN AN EMERGENCY.
I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
AND WE HAVE OPEN REGISTRATION FOR THAT TOMORROW. WE WANTED TO TAKE THE CHANCE TO PROMOTE IT AT THE ASL MIXER TONIGHT.
REGISTRATION WILL OPEN FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.
>> WELL, AND YOU MAY START SEEING OTHER COMPANIES JUST ASKING IF YOU WOULD -- THAT'S SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. CONNECTING WITH HENDRIX AND
[00:45:01]
ONCE AGAIN THAT'S THE CITY AND HENDRIX WORKING TOGETHER. THAT NETWORK.GOOD JOB. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON?
[5. Purpose of the Board (Discussion)]
>> WELL, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO ON DOWN NOW TO AGENDA ITEM NO. FIVE.
WHICH IS THE PURPOSE OF THE BOARD.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS LIKE I FEEL LIKE WE ALWAYS DO THIS.
WE GET TO NOVEMBER, WE'RE LIKE THIS IS WHAT WE WILL DO NEXT YEAR. AND THEN LIFE HAPPENS.
AND IT DOESN'T -- WE DON'T GET TO FOLLOW THROUGH.
AND SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE AS A BOARD.
YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE I'M THE CHAIR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL THE TEAM HERE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FEEL VERY HIGHLY STRONG ABOUT IS I FEEL LIKE FOR THE CITY FOR THIS BOARD TO BE ABLE TO HELP THE CITY EVEN MORE, IS WE NEED TO GET SOME NUMBERS.
STATISTICWISE. BECAUSE IF YOU ALL HAVE WORKED WITHIN ANY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, WE WHEN YOU CAN SHOW FACTS, OF THE COMMUNITY THE BETTER.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT TO BE OUR TOP PRIORITY NEXT YEAR. I WOULD LIKE SOME FEEDBACK BEFORE WE PUT THAT DOWN IN THE NOTES.
ARE WE MOVING THE NEXT AGENDA SIMILAR GOALS FOR
>> NO. I JUST WENT STRAIGHT TO THAT. SORRY, CHRIS.
>> I GUESS WE DID KIND OF DO THAT.
I KIND OF LIKE ADDED THEM. PUT THEM PUT THEM OUGHT TOGETHER. LET'S GO BACK UP TO AGENDA ITEM NO. FIVE. PURPOSE OF THE BOARD.
FORGET WHAT I JUST SAID. WE'LL GO BACK.
FIRST THING THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOARD AND THERE IS THE RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD IN OUR PACKET TODAY.
BUT JUST SO WE'RE ALL -- WE GO THROUGH THIS AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR. JUST SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. EVERYTHING REALLY THIS BOARD IS FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE. CITY OF ABILENE.
NOT AISC. NOT PROPERTY OWNERS, THE CITY. EXAMPLE IS, IF WE'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH ACCESSIBLE PARKING IN A STORE.
WELL, IF THAT'S THEIR PROPERTY, WE AS THE BOARD OR CITY CAN'T GO TO THEM AND SAY THIS IS WRONG.
AS THE CITY. BUT AS A MEMBER I MEAN AS A PERSON, YOU CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ON YOUR OWN.
BUT NOT AS THE BOARD. THE OTHER THING IS I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT LIKE SCHOOL.
EDUCATION. WE ARE NOT THE ABILENE SCHOOL BOARD. WE DO NOT -- THAT'S THEIR WORLD. BUT AS A CITY LIKE WE'VE DONE FOR THE LAST ALMOST SIX YEARS, AS THE CITY WE CAN GO INTO CITY BUILDINGS AND DO A AACCOMMODATION RECOMMENDATION. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE SEEN.
WE'VE DONE THAT WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER.
I KNOW THAT THE CITY IS STARTING TO WORK ON CITY
[00:50:02]
HALL. OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE A PART OF THAT. THE PARK.THE ALL ACCESSIBLE PARK. THAT'S A CITY AGENDA ITEM.
WE CAN DO THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
LIKE I SAID JUST KNOW -- THAT'S A LOT.
I KNOW WE WANT TO ADD MORE TO OUR PLATE; BUT JUST AS A CITY, IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT THAT'S A LOT.
>> WITH THAT BEING SAID, DO ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS? >> I BROUGHT UP TO LESLIE BECAUSE I SERVE ON THE TEXAS COUNCIL FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AND THEY HAD HOUSTON REPRESENTATIVES FROM THEIR DISABILITY COUNCIL COME.
AND KIND OF SHARE AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH LESLIE, I THINK IT MAY BE A GOOD IDEA TO KIND OF TALK TO THEM AND KIND OF SEE YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY, HOW THEY CONTINUE TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITY JUST TO GIVE US SOME IDEAS AND KEEP US MOTIVATED IN GOING AND LOOKING FURTHER INTO HELPING OUR OWN CITY.
OBVIOUSLY HOUSTON IS MUCH BIGGER THAN US.
I FEEL THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THEY ARE DOING.
THAT WE COULD PROBABLY LEARN FROM TO EVEN IMPROVE HOW WE ARE MOVING RIGHT NOW. AND SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I KIND OF WANTED TO LOOK AT, POSSIBLY, JUST CONFERRING WITH THEM AND SEEING HOW WE CAN EXPAND UPON THE WORK WE'VE DONE TO KEEP IT FRESH.
TO KEEP US MOTIVATED AND ENGAGED IN WHAT WE ARE
DOING. >> I DO KNOW THAT AND CHRIS I'M LOOKING AT YOU FOR THIS QUESTION TO BE ANSWERED.
ISN'T THERE SEVERAL CITIES LIKE AS ABILENE WE LOOK AT AND -- NOT PARTNER WITH, BUT HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH LIKE DENTON, AND ISN'T THERE LIKE FIVE?
>> THERE'S QUITE A FEW MORE. THERE'S QUITE A FEW LISTED.
BUT WE PROBABLY USE THAT AS THE WAY TO COMPARISON OF INFORMATION OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THOSE CITIES AND COMPARISON TO OUR SIDES AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS WE HAVE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN LOOK INTO THOSE CITIES MORE TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITHIN THEIR DISABILITY COMMUNITY. TO JUST KIND OF HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. I KNOW A YEAR AGO LAST JANUARY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE RON LUCCI, WHO IS THE HEAD ON THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY IN TEXAS WE HAD A ZOOM MEETING AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT I MEAN THE BIG CITIES. BUT YOU KNOW, WE PRIDE OURSELVES AS ABILENE HAVING THAT HOMETOWN FEEL BUT WE ALSO HAVE THOSE BIG, YOU KNOW -- BIGGER FEEL AT TIMES CITY, TOO. IF WE CAN MAYBE FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT THOSE CITIES, LEER WE'RE ALREADY HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH.
MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE LOOK INTO NEXT YEAR SO SEE WHAT KIND OF CONVERSATIONS WE CAN HAVE WITH THEM.
>> DOES THAT SOUND GOOD. >> I THINK THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
>> I LIKE THE IDEA. THE AGENDA ITEM I HAVE
BEFORE US RIGHT NOW. >> IT'S THE BOARD.
ACTUALLY IN YOUR RESOLUTION THAT YOU HAD AS THE PACKET.
IF YOU WANT TO READ PART 2 OF THE RESOLUTION AND THIS IS AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE THAT WANTS TO GET AHOLD OF THE RESOLUTION. I DOES A GREAT JOB OF EXPLAINING THE REFERENCE IN THE FRAMING FOR WHAT THE BOARD IS HERE TO DO. IT'S PRIMARILY BREAKS DOWN THE SERVING AS VOICE FOR THE CITIZENS AND RESIDENT OF ABILENE TO HAVE CONDUIT FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND TO BE ABLE TO BRING THINGS FORWARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
IT DOES A GREAT KIND OF REFERENCING OF THAT, THAT BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITIES AND WHAT WE ARE DOING.
GIVES A GOOD FRAMEWORK. MAKING GOOD CHOICES IN WHAT OUR CITIZENS WANT TO SEE. NOT JUST THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE. BUT THE CONCERNS THEY MAY HAVE. I THINK IT'S A GOOD JOB OF
FRAMING THE PURPOSE. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT
THE PURPOSE? >> LET'S GO BACK -- GO
[00:55:09]
FORWARD NOW. I KIND OF PUT FIVE AND SIX[6. Goals for 2023 (Discussion)]
TOGETHER. LET'S GO TO AGENDA ITEM NO.JAMIE, I HEAR YOU SAYING LIKE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE DISCUSSIONS WITH SIMILAR CITIES OF ABILENE AND OTHER COMMUNITY DISABILITY COMMUNITIES WITHIN TEXAS I WOULD DEFINITELY SEE IF MAYBE YOU CAN GET SOME OF THAT INFORMATION FOR US TO LOOK INTO. IF WE LOOK AT THE CITIES THAT THE LIST OF CITIES OF ABILENE -- I HAVE ONE SOMEWHERE TOO. IT'S LIKE DENTON AND WICHITA
FALLS. >> BUT OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE?
IN 2023. >> WELL TO FOLLOW UP, AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S STILL ACCESSIBILITY HAPPENING. I THINK WE SHOULD FOLLOW UP
ON THOSE AREAS. >> THE BUILDINGS THAT WE
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S BEEN OVER SIX MONTHS.
IT'S BEEN OVER SIX YEARS. OUR BOARD GS ESTABLISHED IN 2017. OUR FIRST MEETING WAS IN APRIL OF THAT FOLLOWING YEAR.
IT'S CLOSE TO SIX YEARS. I KNOW THE FIRST PLACE WE WENT TOS THE CONVENTION CENTER.
I KNOW THEY ARE -- THEY HAVE STARTED WORKING ON THAT -- SIT A SLOW PROCESS. ESPECIALLY BETWEEN ALL THAT GOOD OLD COVID. I DO KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID LOOK AT. THEY WENT -- THEY HAVE TAKEN OUR RECOMMENDATIONS. I MEAN, ALL ACCESSIBLE PARK LIKE THAT HAD BEEN ON A -- ON A WALL AT THE PARKS AND REC FOR A LONG WHILE I'VE HEARD.
THAT JUST DIDN'T COME ABOUT. THERE'S BEEN A PROCESS WITH THAT. WE GOT TO SEE THE END RESULT. THAT CONVERSATION HAD BEEN GOING FOR PROBABLY ABOUT THE TIME THIS BOARD STARTED OR EVEN BEFORE. I AGREE, CAT.
WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GO BACK AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT ACCOUNTABILITY THING.
MARY -- >> ARE WE STILL PLANNING TO
MEET EVERY MONTH NEXT YEAR? >> OR STICK WITH THE EVERY
OTHER MONTH. >> WHAT'S THE BOARD FEEL
LIKE? >> I'M JUST WONDERING WITH
THE PLAN IS. >> THE REASON WE WENT TO EVERY OTHER MONTHS BECAUSE WE COULDN'T GET A QUORUM.
AND SO WHEN WE WENT TO EVERY OTHER MONTH, NOW WE ARE STARTING TO GET A QUORUM. AS A BOARD I'M OKAY WITH THAT. IN OUR RESOLUTION, WE ONLY HAVE TO MEET I BELIEVE ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR.
WE'RE GOING WAY BEYOND WHAT OUR RESOLUTION SAYS.
THAT'S BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT TO GET DONE.
AS A BOARD MEMBER, IF WE SAY ONCE A MONTH, AND THE OTHER
[01:00:04]
REASON WHY WE ALSO SAID ONCE A MONTH IS THERE'S A PROCESS. AND THAT PROCESS IS SO LET'S START WITH THE PROCESS AS A MEETING.WE HAVE OUR MEETING. AND THEN WE HAVE ABOUT MAYBE TWO WEEKS. THEN WE HAVE TO START LOOKING AT GETTING AN ACADEMY READY.
WE HAVE TWO WEEKS TO GET STUFF DONE TO BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL. WE JUST WEREN'T GETTING ANYTHING DONE IN THOSE TWO WEEKS.
THAT'S WHY WE MOVED TO EVERY OTHER MONTH.
I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THEY ARE SPREAD OUT AND WE ARE NOT GETTING ANYTHING DONE BECAUSE THEY ARE SO SPREAD OUT. IT'S A DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD. AS THE BOARD MEMBER, WHAT DO
YOU ALL THING? >> WE COULD BE PRODUCTIVE AND CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM OF HAVING CONSISTENT QUORUMS. I KNOW THAT THE TIME ISN'T. ISN'T A WHOLE LOT.
>> IT'S REALLY -- IT IS CHALLENGING WITH JUST THOSE TWO WEEKS. TWO AND A HALF WEEKS.
MAYBE IF WE MAINTAIN WITH OUR QUORUM, IT MAY BE EASIER TO DIVIDE AND CONQUER. AND BE ABLE TO YOU KNOW, IT MAY TAKE SOME TRIAL AND ERROR.
I MEAN, BUT, YEAH. IT KIND OF IS ONE OF THOSE EVERY MONTH. DO WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME EVERY TWO MONTHS ARE WE KEEPING THE MOMENTUM TOGETHER.
IT WOULD BE WILLING TO GO BACK AND TRY AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON A MONTHLY BASIS IF THAT WAS YOU KNOW --
>> DO WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT FORWARD?
>> NO. THE RESOLUTION IS GENERAL.
TWO TIMES A YEAR, AND THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE DISGUSTING WHETHER MEETING MONTHLY OR EVERY OTHER MONTH IS A GOAL YOU SHOULD HAVE. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S SUPPOSED TO UNDER GOAL. I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO TAKE ACTION. YOU CAN GIVE STAFF DIRECTION AS TO HOW OFTEN YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET.
YEAH. THAT'S HOW IT WAS LAST TIME.
>> THAT'S WHY I WAS READING BEFORE I SPOKE.
I WANTED TO SEE LIKE THE VERBIAGE.
BASICALLY IF REQUEST OF COUNCIL OR CITY MANAGER.
BUT AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR. I WANT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT EVERYBODY'S SCHEDULE, TOO. I THINK THAT'S A HARD PART.
IF IT'S -- WHAT EVERYONE WANTS, WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE THAT THE PRIORITY. I'M WILLING TO GO AT IT AGAIN AND SEE IF EVERY MONTH IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE NOW.
BECAUSE WE'RE A BIT FULLER. >> THE ONLY TWO THAT WE'RE
MISSING TWO -- >> CAT, I'M ACTUALLY VERY FLEXIBLE CONCERNING THAT. IT WAS JUST SOMETHING I WAS
TO BE HONEST, I THINK THAT IF WE DID EVERY MONTH RIGHT NOW, I THINK THAT WE WOULD BE OKAY.
I KNOW THE ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS THAT ISN'T HERE TODAY HE WOULD BE A CONSISTENT ONE.
THE OTHER ONE I HAVE NOT SEEN FOR A WHILE.
CAT, YOU'RE OKAY WITH WHATEVER.
>> I'M PRETTY FLEXIBLE. YOU KNOW, SINCE WE'VE DONE -- ABOUT TO SAY EVERY MONTH.
SINCE WE STARTED YOU KNOW GOING TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, BEFORE WE HAD THIS ROOM OPEN FOR US TO UTILIZE, NOW THAT WE HAVE IT ALL SET UP, YOU KNOW IT JUST SEEMS PERFECT JUST TO NOW HAVE THE CONSISTENCY OF EVERY MONTH COMING. BECAUSE WE'VE GOT OUR LOCATION NOW. JUST SEEMS MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND MAYBE EVEN MORE PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP FROM THE PUBLIC TO GIVE US THEIR FEEDBACKS AND INPUTS AS WELL BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THAT.
[01:05:02]
>> DEBORAH, WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT?
>> I'M FLEXIBLE. >> YOU ARE FLEXIBLE.
>> I'M FLEXIBLE. >> I WILL DO ANYTHING.
>> SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD THICK TO ME.
FOR US TO DO. I'VE ONLY BEEN TO ONE OTHER MEETING, THEN I HAD TO MISS ONE.
BECAUSE OF A FAMILY SITUATION.
BUT I'M JUST KIND OF GETTING THE GIST OF EVERYTHING OF
>> I THINK WITH MONTHLY MEETINGS, THAT WOULD BE EASIER. AND AS LONG AS THEY STAY IN THE SAME PLACE, PRETTY WELL, I CAN PUT IT ON MY CALENDAR WHICH IS HARDER TO KEEP, NOW THAT I'M NOT WORKING.
[LAUGHTER] >> IS THIS SOMETHING WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT LIKE FOR THE FIRST OF THE YEAR?
>> I THINK -- I WOULD THINK IF WE WILL DO IT.
WE START IN JANUARY. >> I THINK BY THE RESOLUTION, TOO, WE NEED TO TAKE THAT FORWARD TO THE CITY MANAGER. IT SAYS CITY MANAGER'S SUGGESTION. THE BOARD SHALL MEET AS THE CITY MANAGER OR COUNCIL IN ANY EVENT SHALL MEET IN
JANUARY AND JULY. >> THAT COULD BE DIRECTOR
FOR STAFF TO TAKE -- YEAH. >> WHAT I'M HEARING THE BOARD SAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO ONCE A MONTH.
IS THAT CORRECT? >> AS ONE OF THE GOALS FOR
2023. >> IS TO GO BACK TO ONCE A MONTH. THAT'S ONE OF THE GOALS.
>> I DO HAVE ANOTHER SUGGESTION.
>> OKAY. >> SINCE WE'RE PUTTING THIS INFORMATION ON THE WEB SITE, DO WE HAVE TO USE -- CAN WE PUT THIS INFORMATION ON THE CITY WEB SITE LIKE THE CLENDAR EVENTS AND MAKING THAT A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT? OR IS THAT CONSIDERED LIKE OFF LIMITS BECAUSE IT'S
CITY? >> THERE'S A CITY MEETING
CALENDAR ANYWAY. >> THERE IS A CALENDAR ON THE WEB SITE THAT LISTS WHEN CITY MEETINGS ARE.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> NO. WHAT I MEAN IS WHO IS REPRESENTING US ON FROM THE CITY OF ABILENE CONCERNING THIS CITIZENS OF ADVISORY BOARD, LIKE WHO WE ARE AS PEOPLE. I'M CAT BALLARD AND I'M WITH CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD OR WHAT NOT.
WHO IS LIKE REPRESENTING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA WISE FOR THE
CITY OF ABILENE? >> OR IS THIS -- AM I WRONG?
>> CAT, WHAT I AM HEARING YOU SAY AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AS PART OF THAT MULTIMEDIA THING.
MAYBE HAVING A PAGE ABOUT THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND THERE BEING A LITTLE BIO ABOUT EACH PERSON ON THE BOARD. THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE TALKING
>> EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
>> YES. WE BRIEFLY TALKED ABOUT THAT ABOUT THE YEAR OR TWO AGO. AND SO IF THAT'S A GOAL YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE, THEN THAT --
>> IT DEFINITELY IS A GOAL I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
>> OKAY. >> THAT'S THE KIND OF
THINGS. >> THAT'S THE ONLY GOAL WE CAN THINK OF WHEN DISCUSSING WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IN 2023.
I REMEMBER THERE WAS SO MANY REVIEWS, I NOTICED, AND FOLLOW UPS THAT WE NEEDED HAPPEN TO TAKE PLACE THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I
WANTED TO DISCUSS WITH US. >> WHAT I'M HEARING, THEN, AS THE GOALS IS THE STATISTICS GOING BACK IF THE CITY APPROVES BACK TO MONTHLY MEETING, WORK ON A CITY PAGE THAT WOULD REPRESENT THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND THEN GO BACK AND FOLLOW UP WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST SIX
[01:10:01]
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. >> SOUNDS GOOD.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD LIST TO START WITH.
>> I DO TOO. >> I GUESS AS WE MOVE FURTHER INTO NEXT YEAR, WE CAN --
>> WE CAN ADD TO. ESPECIALLY ONCE WE CONVERSE WITH THE OTHER COUNCILS AND KIND OF SEE.
BECAUSE THAT CAN BRING UP THINGS THAT WE MAY HAVE OVERLOOKED OR WE MAYBE NEED TO GO BACK TO.
I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S KIND OF A GOOD HEALTHY CHUNK TO KICK OFF THE '23 YEAR FOR US.
I WISH I HAD MORE IDEA. I'M DEFINITELY INTERESTED
AND WANT TO SEE THINGS. >> IN THE PAST, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT LIKE WHEN LIKE IF THERE'S LIKE A PARKS AND REC DOES A FAIR, HAVING A TABLE FOR THE DISABILITY -- THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD, SO INFORMATION COULD BE OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. BECAUSE THAT IS ONE THING THAT WE FEEL LIKE AS THE BOARD, LIKE THERE ARE CHALLENGES. LIKE, HOW MANY PEOPLE WITHIN ABILENE KNOW ABOUT THE DISABILITY -- THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD? AND SO YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A GOAL. BUT I THINK IF WE START WITH WHAT WE GOT RIGHT NOW, AND LOOK ON HOW TO GET THAT INFORMATION MORE, OUT THERE. I THINK EVEN WITH THAT PAGE AND MORE EVENTS GOING ON, I MEAN, EVEN WITH PARKS AND REC. I THINK WITHIN TIME, WE WILL NEED TO GET THAT INFORMATION ABOUT OUR BOARD OUT MORE.
BUT I THINK DOING THIS STUFF, THE GOALS THAT WE JUST MENTIONED WILL HELP US DO THAT.
>> SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. >> YES, MA'AM.
[7. Upcoming Board Topics (Discussion)]
>> ARE WE GOOD TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NO. 7, WHICH IS UPCOMING BOARD TOPICS? I WOULD SAY IF WE'RE STARTING THIS BACK UP IN JANUARY.
IF THE CITY APPROVES IT, THEN IF WE GO BACK TO THE 2ND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH IN JANUARY, I WOULD SAY WHAT SHOULD WE LOOK AT IN JANUARY.
>> COMMUNITY AGENCIES THAT FOCUS ON THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO BROADEN AND EXPAND OUR KNOWLEDGE AS GOOD IDEA SO YOU CAN HIGHLIGHT THEM AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE.
I KNOW THERE'S PLENTY BUT WE'RE NOT CASTING OUR NET I SAY FAR ENOUGH LIKE HAVING THE JOSEPH THOMAS FOUNDATION HERE. WHAT KIND OF EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.
THAT'S A BIG ONE. AND HOUSING AND STUFF.
OH, LOOK LESLIE ANDREWS DIRECTOR OF RECREATION.
[LAUGHTER] >> SORRY I MISSED THE FIRST HALF OF THE MEETING. I HAD A MANDATORY MEETING, I WANTED TO ATTEND TO. I KNOW YOU PROBABLY DISCUSSED THIS WHILE I WAS GONE.
REMINDER OF THIS BOARD IS THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE OVERSEEING CITY FACILITIES AND THE RECOMMENDATION FOR CITY FACILITIES. THIS RECOMMENDATION FOR HAVING SPEAKERS COME IN STARTS GOING OUTSIDE OF THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS I GUESS AND I CAN'T SAY WHETHER CITY COUNCIL WILL DO THIS OR NOT.
I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THIS TO MANAGEMENT AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY QUESTION IS, IS, WE KEEP RUNNING INTO WHAT IS THE COPE OF THE CITY. SHOULD MAYBE IN JANUARY WE WORK ON MAYBE HAVING A BETTER DEFINITION OF WHAT THAT IS, BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL SOMEWHAT STRUGGLED WHAT FALLS INTO THE CATEGORY AND WHAT DOES NOT.
I THINK HAVING ALMOST KIND OF A WORKSHOP TYPE MEETING IN JANUARY TO REALLY DIG INTO THAT AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, I THINK WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE BOARD.
IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE BENEFICIAL FOR STAFF.
AND I THINK IT WOULD -- AS WE'RE TRYING TO GO INTO
[01:15:01]
BEING MORE PUBLIC, HAVING A PRESENCE TOWN WEB SITE, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO NEED TO DEFINE THAT TOCOMMUNITY AS WELL. >> THAT'S MY SUGGESTION.
>> I LIKE THAT SUGGESTION. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT
SUGGESTION. >> THANK YOU, LESLIE,
QUESTION. >> THAT'S WHY SHE'S THE
>> AND I THINK FROM THAT MEETING, I THINK THOSE OTHER
>> FROM THAT. HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL?
>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GO THAT ROUTE.
GET THE UNDERSTANDING -- >> CAT IS IN SUPPORT.
>> AND PICK UP FROM THERE WHAT WE WANT TO KIND OF ADD TO THE AGENDA FOR FUTURE MEETINGS.
WELL, WE WILL START DOWN THAT PATH THEN.
YOU ALL KNOW ME. I FEEL LIKE I SAY THIS EVERY TIME. WE DON'T NEED TO SAY JUST BECAUSE IT SAYS 3:00 TO 5:00.
SOMETIMES WE GET STUFF DONE QUICK.
AND THIS IS THE END OF THE YEAR.
I KNOW THAT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, UNLESS WE HAVE A LOT TO FINALIZE AND WE DON'T.
WE'VE BEEN ON A LULL FOR A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF LIFE.
I WILL SAY IF YOU ALL DON'T HAVE ANYTHING, WE ARE OKAY
WITH ADJOURNING EARLY. >> YES?
>> GOOD? >> I SAY LET'S DO IT.
>> CAN I HAVE A MOTION -- >> MOTION.
>> AND IS IT SECONDED. >> I WILL SECOND IT.
>> AWESOME. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAS ADJOURNED AT 4:23 P.M.
ON NOVEMBER 15TH. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND COOPERATION. AND WE WILL SEE YOU
IN -- NEXT YEAR. >> SOUNDS GOOD.
>> MERRY CHRISTMAS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.