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HAAB Backup 06/06/1995 Backup Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Meeting June 6, 1995 NOTICE OF MEETING BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS/HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD WORRING LUNCH IN OPEN SESSION TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1995 12:00 NOON - 1:30 P.M. COLLIER COUNTY GOVERNMENT COMPLEX ADMINISTRATION BUILDING THIRD FLOOR, BCC CONFERENCE ROOM 3301 EAST TAMIAMI TRAIL NAPLES, FLORIDA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AGENDA I. MISSION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COLLIER COUNTY HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD PURSUANT TO COLLIER COUNTY ORDINANCES #91-37 AND #91-78. M E M 0 RAN DUM TO: Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Members FROM: Ramiro Manalich, Assistant County Attorney DATE: June 1, 1995 RE: Cuban Issues Forum before Board of county Commissioners This is to advise you that on the Board of County Commissioners Agenda of Tuesday, June 6, 1995, the proposal for a Cuban Issues Forum will be discussed before the Board. This information is provided for your continuing information on the subject. Respectfully submitted. RM/cs/5749 M E M 0 RAN DUM TO: Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Members FROM: Ramiro Manalich, Assistant County Attorney DATE: May 31, 1995 RE: Board of County Commissioners/HAAB Lunch This is to inform you that I have been advised by the County Manager that a working lunch for you and the Board of County Commissioners has been set for Tuesday, June 6, 1995. The lunch will commence at approximately 12: 00 p.m., depending upon the Board's agenda on that date. I will be coordinating with the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board chairman, Anna Rodriguez, and the County Manager's off ice in regard to an agenda for the topics that may be covered at the lunch. Please mark your calendars to assure full attendance at this very important meeting. Respectfully submitted. ./.--) C./L:">Y~'D c: Board of County Commissioners W. Neil Dorrill, County Manager Kenneth B. Cuyler, County Attorney RM/cs/5734 ,hn C. Norris Jistrict 1 Timothy L Hancock, AICP District 2 Timothy j. Constantine District 3 Pamela S. MacKie District 4 Bettye J. Matthews District 5 ~tXY'd' o/Cj/o//k, Cj/tltUt~ Cj/tJHVJ'ti.fjUvze;'j 3301 East Tamiami Trail' Naples, Florida 33962-4977 (813) 774-8097 . Fax (813) 774-3602 June 7, 1995 (') \0 .:.,11 ,,,,,,,'1 -~ """1 " "1:;'0" ~>r~ Mr. David Correa 11257 Longshore Way West Naples, FL 33999 Subject: Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Dear Mr. Correa: While convened in regular session on June 6, 1995, the Board of County Commissioners voted to appoint you as a regular rllembcr on the above-referenced advisory committee. Your appointment will expire on June 25, 1998, or at such time as the Board reappoints you or appoints your successor. As with any advisory group, the primary purpose is to assist and advise the Board of County Commissioners. By law, however, the ultimate decisions rest with the Commission. At times, the Commission's decisions may not reflect the recommendation of the advisory group because many facts must be taken into consideration. By copy of this letter, we are requesting Ramiro Manalich to provide you with any additional information you will need as a member of this committee. On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, I wish to extend our appreciation to you for your willingness to serve the residents of Collier County as a member of this advisory board. Bettye Jo. Matthews, airman Commissioner, District 5 BJM:sf cc: Ramiro Manalich, Assistant County Attorney ~ lhn C. Norris Oistrict 1 Timothy L Hancock, AICP District 2 Timothy J. Constantine District 3 Pamela S. MacKie District 4 Bettye J. Matthews District 5 ~tXY'd' o/Cj?o//k, Cj?tltUt~ Cj?cwzmt'jjt0m;r:J 3301 East Tamiami Trail. Naples, Florida 33962-4977 (813) 774-8097 . Fax (813) 774-3602 ~. June 7, 1995 Ms. Agnes Vega-Bocock 2469 Kings Lake Boulevard Naples, FL 33962 Subject: Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Dear Ms. Vega-Bocock: While convened in regular session on June 6, 1995, the Board of County Commissioners regretfully accepted your resignation and appointed your replacement to the subject advisory committee. On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the fine work you have done as a member of the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board. Enclosed is a Certificate of Appreciation to represent our gratitude for your valuable assistance. Best wishes for success in your future endeavors. Very truly yours, etty J' Me~eirme" Commissi ner, District 5 BJM:sf Enclosure cc: Ramiro Manalich = Q 'lA :: , .... ~ ;.. Q - ~ '- Q te :: ....... Q ~ ;.. <l' , .... -- '" c..I -- ~ ~ '" 'lA ~ ,:::) ~ cw 'lA ~ ;.. 5 -- J:j ~ 0 ;..; 5 ~ ~ '8 C") -- R< ;.. ~ 5 <tl C, 5 Q S ~ - ~ R< Q ~ ;.. ~ >. <ll ~ .><: c, > st. ~ u 'lA 0 0 ~ 0 III Z ... :: u ~ .... ~ 0 > ~ -- <!l '0 . . ....... - - 'lA I ~ <C C :: <tl ~ ~ :: Q 0> ~ III - :: :: 'lA - <ll -- c, Q ....... > .Q .... Q Q <tl -- III ;.. .... ~ ~ 'lA <ll ~ .... c: <C 0> 'lA cw ~ <C U <l' - ;.. 'lA .... '" ~ Q J:j c: '" ~ 'lA <tl ~ te -- ~ ~ n. J:j - ....... III - ;.. ~ .... '" c..I ;.. Q ~ :c ~ ...... ~ ~ ~ >. X -- ~ Q J:j ~ ~ :l ...... ~ ~ .., ~ ~ J:j ;..; ,:::) . . ~ ~ ;.. 5 CW ~ ;.. Q t::) ~ - c ~ ;.. ~ - June 6, 1995 CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Okay. Thank you. We're approaching the noon hour. I'm going to break for lunch. We will reconvene -- I believe it's published at 1:30? Do you have a quick item you want to -- COMMISSIONER NORRIS: Well, I was just going to say that the pier, I think, is going to go real quick but what about -- CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Well, we're going to have to change out court reporters anyway, because this young lady needs to leave at noon. COMMISSIONER NORRIS: Okay. How about if we come back as soon as possible and try to finish up. I really need to leave around three o'clock. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Okay. I think we probably will be finished by then. But, yes, we'll return I would think our lunch will at least be an hour and we'll try to return somewhere between 1:15 and 1:30 then. COMMISSIONER NORRIS: Okay. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Okay? Lunch. (The proceedings recessed at 12:00 p.m.) (The Board of County Commissioners reconvened at 12:15 p.m. in open session in the Board of County Commissioner's conference room with the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board, with the following members present: CHAIRPERSON: Bettye J. Matthews VICE-CHAIRMAN: John C. Norris Timothy J. Constantine Pamela S. Mac'Kie Timothy L. Hancock ALSO PRESENT: Ramiro Manalich, Assistant County Attorney HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD: Ana Rodriguez Frank Rodriguez Pedro Sevacha Neil Morales Yolanda Dustin Angel Gutierrez CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: For the benefit of the court introductions, starting with table. COMMISSIONER NORRIS: John Norris, District 1. MS. DUSTIN: Yolanda Dustin. MR. MORALES: Neil Morales. I am on the board. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Pam Mac'Kie, member of a board. MR. SEVACHA: Pedro Sevacha (phonetic). CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Do you want to spell your last name for the court reporter? I'm going to call this to order. reporter, let's go around the room with commissioner Norris and moving around the Page 51 June 6, 1995 MR. SEVACHA: No. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: No? Well, she is going to do the best she can. MR. RODRIGUEZ: Frank Rodriguez. MS. RODRIGUEZ: Ana Rodriguez. COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: I'm Tim Constantine. MR. GUTIERREZ: Angel Gutierrez, Hispanic board. COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Tim Hancock, Commissioner from District 2. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Bettye Matthews, District 5. MR. MANALICH: Ramiro Manalich, assistant county attorney and liaison to the Hispanic board. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Okay. We can get started. The purpose for this meeting is as a result of our January workshop and our review of advisory boards. There was a suggestion at that time in fact, there was a directive at that time that the board asked me to contact the Black Advisory Board and the Hispanic Advisory Board to try to determine why there was an appearance of forum problems in getting your boards together and coming up with meeting agendas and products of your meetings. In response to that letter that was made to Ms. Rodriguez as well as Mr. Tribbel, it was indicated that part of the problem was a lack of direction when you were created. The boards were created three years ago, three and a half years ago, whatever it was, and there was no clear direction given to you at that time, and it has not up until this time. So the suggestion was that we meet for a working lunch and see if we could discuss the issues and help prioritize what we thought would be productive work. And that is where we are. So, Ana, why don't you start us off by telling what you've been doing, what you would like to get done and then we can join in the discussion. MS. RODRIGUEZ: What we have been doing is -- we have decided, and the board in the last meeting decided, to put aside the Human Rights Commission. And, yes, we do support the concept that we are not in the position at this time to spend more hours in the creation of this proposal and to look into the needs of the Hispanic community because we want to be more in touch with the community. We want to learn more about what is really happening out in the community. I felt -- the board felt that we could expend more than enough hours and time in this proposal. We kind of left our main purpose, which was to go into the community and find more information and to be more aware of where were the needs of the community. So the board in our last meeting we took a vote and decided to come back into what we were created for, to promote more communications within the community and the county. One of the things that we started by doing, and it is going to be bought up in the afternoon meeting, was to sponsor a forum -- cosponsor a forum in reference to the Cuban-American crisis that is happening here with the different cultures. We have Cubans, Salvadorans, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Guatemalans, so many things. They're throughout Naples Manor, Immokalee. Everglades city is starting to have a community of Hispanic. North Naples is growing with Hispanic. Golden Gate -- it's a growing culture everywhere. So one of the things that we decided was that we wanted to bring this board into the community, not to put the boards or Hispanic board in Page 52 June 6, 1995 the position to make a resolution about the Cuban crisis or to take action. It is completely out of our jurisdiction. But we want to bring information to the community and educate within the communities of Collier County about what is really happening with this crisis and how Collier County is going to be affected. What are the true numbers? All you hear is rumors that there is 4,000, 5,000, 3,000 people coming in, and they are just rumors that are coming back and forth. So what we want with this forum is we want to bring the true people that are really involved in this situation. We were in the process of bringing members of the Cuban-American Foundation from Miami and Collier County. We want to bring member representatives from immigration, and we will have a representative from the Miami Herald in Miami, and this representative I felt that it was very important to bring him because he is there. So he sees the views and the extremes that there is. He can tell us what is happening or how they are doing or how they're reacting about this problem. So it's good to have coverage also on the other side. The intention of the Hispanic board is mostly to bring information through us to the community about what is really happening out in the community, the Cuban-American community, to educate, to prepare us, probably, as to how this can be effective, through employment, education, through so many things that we have that are new and can turn around for people just coming and how to prepare ourselves and, you know, how to really get the input. So we kind of felt that this was one of our first steps where we could start communicating more with the community and bringing also to the community of Collier County some type of information about Hispanic issues so that we -- the community would feel that we were not here to just gather the input of the Hispanic community. We are created to seek communications and interest, but we are also trying to promote and educate both communities and integrate and work together as a community as a whole. We want to see the Hispanic community not to be a group -- to work as a group. We want the Hispanic community to be part of this community, to become some type of an asset to the best interest of Collier County. So this is what the board at this time is promoting. The other thing that we are promoting, I was just told by Mr. Gutierrez, is about the Hispanic hotline. The county provided us with a number, a telephone number. We have created a Hispanic hotline. We are in the process of advertising this hotline; press releases will be going out. And it's to serve the Hispanic community information and referrals into different programs or information about the Chamber of Commerce or housing or employment or any type of information that we can provide to people that are in need, that don't know where they have to go in case of a problem. We can refer them to either a professional advisor or different ways that we can kind of approach them and at the same time obtain data as to what are the needs of those people that are calling. One of the things this Hispanic hotline can do is that we are going to provide the Board of County Commissioners with quarterly reports as to how many calls were received, what kind of calls. We're going to report to the county with the names and telephone numbers and addresses of the people that called and what were their concerns and what were our referrals -- how we work this Page 53 June 6, 1995 referral information. So we have very strong, high hopes about this Hispanic hotline. We just had our first telephone call about someone wanting to find out how to get a license to sell watermelons. It is something that I feel that in Collier County there is a need for them to come and to sometimes speak their own language because a lot of them don't speak English. So this is something that is going to serve as a type of a communications between the county and the community. These are things at this time we are working on, and it is something that I hope that the board stays working on. I know that it's going to be a success. This is what we are doing right now. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Commissioner Hancock. COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: You mentioned two things that I support. The first is moving on from the Human Rights Commission. The issue should be -- and the Black Affairs Advisory Board couldn't identify with that. That seemed to be the only product or the only media product. And when it didn't work, a lot of them were frustrated when they left at that time. And I think we don't have any advisory committee that tends to operate on one front only, without three or four main topics. So I think that is a real positive step. The other thing I like is, I mentioned to you at the last civil rights or human rights forum -- is that civil rights? That was an eye-opening experience. It was actually enjoyable to attend. There were people talking who had been pointing fingers for months and all of a sudden they are talking and becoming a part of each other's discussion and thoughts. And I liked that. Those are the two positives. I'd like to share something recent that I also shared with the Black Affairs Advisory Board. My experience growing up in the Tampa area was that we had a very strong community, particularly in the Hispanic community. The area was settled by Cubans and it became a part of the city celebration of life in the community. I challenged the Black Affairs Advisory Board, and I challenge you also to help us find a way to integrate the Hispanic community by way of celebration. I think there are a lot things that could be promoted with some imagination. Are they aware of the contributions and influence of the Hispanics of Collier County? So by celebrating the community, I think it is something I like and, frankly, I would love for you to help us find out how. And just as you mentioned, I think, is to continue to act as a liaison in that sense. The feelings of the community to be funneled through you to the county government is probably the primary reason why this board was requested and why it exists. I think that is the most important function you can fulfill for us. In a nutshell, that is the approach that we would like to see, for you to act as a liaison between the board and members of the community. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Commissioner Constantine. COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: Several thoughts. One of the things about human nature regardless of your ethnic background is that people tend to fear what they don't know, what they don't understand. I think your suggestion of the forum is a strong approach to start helping you communicate. I think communication is a logical first step, and people don't understand that there is a natural separation that is hard to comprehend. You commented on the issues Page 54 June 6, 1995 and some of the goings on, and as you said, separate the fact from rumor. I think that fits the whole one. The other thing that I heard that I like a lot was I'm paraphrasing -- that while maintaining your identify you want to do that as part of the whole of the community. There where two ways to approach it. One is divisive, and we want to chisel out our own corner, but it is much more beneficial when we take your community as part of the whole. And that's very encouraging. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Commissioner Norris. COMMISSIONER NORRIS: Ms. Rodriguez, you were talking about two items; having this forum and also having the hotline, establishing the hotline. Did I understand you correctly that this would be done as a board, the advisory board? MS. RODRIGUEZ: The forum is going to be -- the Hispanic board will become cosponsors. We felt in order to be more productive was to be out in the community as the Hispanic board is doing this I approached the Latin-American Business and Professional Association, and I explained to them about this forum and what our intentions were. And we have their support and they are willing to cosponsor this event with the Hispanic board. COMMISSIONER NORRIS: Okay. That's great. It is a very minor point. I think both of those programs are excellent ideas, the minor point being that it is not in the scope of the powers to be within this board to actually do these things. The suggestion is fine, but I think, technically under the law, you are going to need to have some other organization to be the official sponsor. It is a very minor point. MS. DUSTIN: We brought this up with Mr. Manalich as our liaison. That was the first thing that we immediately asked for was the legal -- COMMISSIONER NORRIS: Well, I am more than happy to give Mr. Manalich legal advice. The other thing is I -- picking up on the points of Commissioner Constantine, I think it is very important that the Hispanic community keep its identity and its pride, as one's identify is very important. There's a line, however, between pride and identity and isolation and the refusal to assimilate into the community is not what you said. You said that your intent is to have the assimilation into the community. I think one of the biggest concerns has always been the Hispanic community would take a similar approach as they have done over in Miami, which I think is a tremendous shame. You can't go to a Miami airport unless you speak Spanish anymore; you can't get along. Nobody will speak EngliSh to you. That is just not the way it should be. So I'm very encouraged to hear you say that your intent is just the opposite, to make sure that there is actually no boundary of community, and it seems to be working that way in Collier. You mentioned that you have a scattering allover, a wide representation -- that seems to be a better phrase -- allover the county. That is absolutely encouraging that it is working out that way. So I'm very encouraged by what I hear today. I think it is very positive. MS. DUSTIN: You speak SpaniSh. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: He couldn't talk to his wife if he didn't. COMMISSIONER NORRIS: Lucky for me. Page 55 June 6, 1995 CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Commissioner Mac'Kie. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: I'd just like to hear more. I think that is helpful. Ana, you don't plan to stay on the board? MS. RODRIGUEZ: I'm not staying on the board. I am in a lot of things. I have offered this board three years, and my husband, once he is elected, will take over. But I will keep working and keep supporting this board and keep doing what I was doing behind the scenes. I'll be here always. I mean, I've been with this board almost four years already since 1991. I have attended every single meeting, even when I wasn't a member. It is very, very hard to completely go and forget about it. So I am very committed. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: I think you bring such a positive approach. I know you are not the only one in the room to do that, but I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful job. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: I've got two comments to make. First is a draft resolution for the Cuban-American celebration. We did find it necessary to make a couple -- I don't want to say minor changes. They were really significant changes. There what a clause in it asking Collier County to support the resistance of another foreign government. I don't think that is our place to do that, so we did send it to our attorney's office and he reworded that. But we do support your ideas and ideals. We are not going to support the overthrow of the government. So that came out. MS. RODRIGUEZ: Of course not. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: I just want to let you know that we did address that comment so that we will not get in trouble in Washington D.C. by having caused a third world war. MS. RODRIGUEZ: We don't want to be in that position of making any type of -- CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: The other thing that I'd like to do is pick up on Commissioner Hancock's concept of celebrating the ethnicity of our diversity. I know in Immokalee I go to Cinco de Mayo each year, and it's a lovely festival. I know it is for Mexicans as opposed to being Guatemalan or Cuban or anything like that, but when I am out there, I sure see a lot of Cubans and Guatemalans and Mexicans. And that may be a good focal point to begin to celebrate the diversity that we are and maybe pickup on other celebrations in the other Hispanic countries and again to talk about those. Most Americans, at least most the people in Collier County, understand Cinco de Mayo and what it is and enjoy it as well. So that provides a nice focal point to begin with to get you interested in it. MS. RODRIGUEZ: One thing is not only am I the chairperson here, I'm also the president-elect for next year for the Latin-American Business Association. Every year since our inception -- this is our fourth year -- we have created, and we celebrated Hispanic heritage month in October. And what we do is that we hold a banquet and this banquet -- all the funds are to promote scholarships for Hispanics. This year we awarded more than $4,200 in scholarships. And it is not only for one year. We grant scholarships and their renewal up to four years. One thing that we do at this banquet is that we try to have a performance and dance where we are bringing folkloric groups from different countries. We had them over from Mexico for a few years; last year we had Spain. We had a Flamenco group that were Page 56 June 6, 1995 professionals, and this year we are having a Brazilian carnival. They are the Brazilian carnival that performed for President Clinton that will be performing for us. Ford Motor Company will be sponsoring. So what we are trying to do with this -- and this is great for the board -- what we are trying to promote the culture and the different ethnic groups that are here in Collier County. We're committed not only to promote scholarships for our young kids when they come out of school and want to go on to higher education and become another attorney or medical or commissioner, you know, but also the Latin culture. I think the first time we had only 86 in attendance and last year we had close to 250. This year we are expecting close to 400 in attendance. So that is a way that we celebrate this through the association of our Hispanic heritage to the commission and ask to commemorate by designating a week to celebrate our Hispanic heritage culture. COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: I don't mean to dwell on that too long. I don't know if we want to celebrate a murderous pirate in Collier County. But just as you have a celebration at a certain time each year that is consistent, maybe we can get a thread of commonality from year to year of at least one type of event that the Latin-American Business Association -- make a request for Category C funds (Laughter) MS. RODRIGUEZ: At this time what we are planning is to bring all the performers that have already performed for the association and create a Hispanic folkloric festival in Collier County, and we're going to have some performers from Lee County. So, anyway, our plans are very positive and can be integrated into Collier County. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Are there other members of the Hispanic board that have comments or input? So far we're hearing from only Ana. Guess not. MS. DUSTIN: Regarding the celebration that Ana has been talking about, we go back to history. You remember that we celebrate the discovery of the New World before the colonization of the united States. Actually, we also have communities of Hispanic celebrations that is involved in this celebration of discovery in history of this continent. You know, that is the October celebration. That is the October celebration in the technology and the day of the people, too. But, basically, it is the discovery of this continent that is why we celebrate. I just wanted to bring to your attention -- and we are here talking as to what we are doing as a board. What I am interested in here was to know eventually from you is to get an expression of what kind of direction you want from us. We are an advisory capacity to you. But in three years it is my understanding we were not requested with any words or comments. Other than your meeting, you're not hearing -- we need input from the commission. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: I just want to say about that that is a real important fundamental clarification that we need. From my perspective -- and I am new to the board, but I get just the opposite impression. My impression is that you're the advisory board to tell, give us advice. Please tell us what we need to know. You Page 57 June 6, 1995 tell us bunch of Anglos that are ignorant of what the Hispanic community needs, to inform us of what we should be doing, instead of us saying we want this from you and we want this from you. So my perspective is that you are going to give us information flowing from the opposite direction. MS. DUSTIN: Yes. You are talking about communication from us or the Latin community about communications with the board of commissioners about the community of Cubans that were coming. I understand one of you was very concerned about when they were coming, how many. One of the issues that perhaps is helpful would have been some communication with this board in some -- I don't know what capacity, but perhaps at that point there should have been some communication what you want from us. This is what I am talking about. We need to establish some standards to communicate from you what you want from us and what direction you want us to go. We had a lot of concerns. When we were working on the human rights projects, some of us worked apparently -- I have tons of data regarding education. I know what other problems that we face in dealing with other minorities in Collier County. And we have had a tremendous advantage with the public school system. So for the Hispanic minorities in general-- so we would like to see the same type of what we have had with the public school system to happen in the commission. We just don't know how to go about it. This is a bigger region for us to get into. We have done it with the school system. We need help from you, communications from you to tell us, to help us. We are supposed to work together, and we like to work together. You're the big guys, and you need to tell us. We are happy to point you with our teachers. This is what we need to do to solve this. This is what we need to address. One of the positions of the community concerns housing, and we need to address that problem. I don't know what can be done. I don't know what solutions. Certainly we have a problem and we need to find out what we are going to do. Then we have the health problem. You know, through the changes in the federal government, there are going to be a certain membership class in the county is going to be affected by the loss of benefits. It is a problem of the services not just for minorities but for the older section of the community who can not afford health care. We are concerned how the Hispanic community is going to be affected at the local level in what health care provides. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: One thing is, and you have been here longer than me -- would it be an appropriate public communication for the board to ask to be put on the agenda for, you know, to direct your attention to this issue, and sort of like treat it like a public petition -- whether to have it like a public petition, but simply have it as a status that is more specific than that? Like one of the things that I would wish would come out of this board would be some attention-getting, a wake-up call to the county commission of the housing needs in Collier County. Because when we get those petitions in front of the developers who what to make money, if what we had was a public interest group saying you have a need to wake up, what are you doing. You need to make some proposals. We are already talking about very low-income housing and what we ought to be doing about it in Collier County. But I would think we need to recognize the problem to the issue and have some Page 58 June 6, 1995 information specific to it and call Neil Dorrill and say we have some information and we want to share with the board, the advisory board. MR. RODRIGUEZ: The human issues, for example, put it under you, on our Board of County Commissioners instead of your advisory board. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Same place that this could go. Maybe that is an information sharing and what is the procedure for you to tell us, here is a problem, we would like you to advise us. COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: By the same token, we had a similar discussion with the Black Affairs Advisory Board. There needs also to be a recognition as to what falls under the powers of the Board of County Commissioners. It is not within our power to solve the federal problem of health care or the state problem of health care. So as much as this issue needs to be addressed, when you look at it closely, there is an empowerment decision that needs to be made. And it is not within the power of the Board of County Commissioners to handle certain issues, that we are not empowered to handle certain items. That needs to be recognized too. MS. DUSTIN: We also recognize that there is a level of control that goes beyond that point that there is available to you at an administrative level as a County Commission that is going to be involved in housing to a point. And then you say you have no jurisdiction because this is a federal problem. But certainly it is a problem in the county, and you must address this problem. So you're not going to do anything about that? COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: No, that is not what I am saying. MS. DUSTIN: No. I'm not saying that you -- I'm just saying that we need to address the problem. We need to find out what you are going to do for us, whether it is you or I -- what you are going to do for us. We need to address the problem. COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: I think that is fine. That is exactly what we can address. MR. GUTIERREZ: One of the things that we were addressing are the issues in the community, and I still have copies of the reports that were put together. I was in charge of law enforcement and so I got a lot of information on the housing in Immokalee. And one of the issues brought up was the terrible housing conditions in Immokalee. One of our concerns was how much they rent for, $270 a week for a trailer. I have seen even a small shack for $1,000 a month. I mean it's terrible. The living conditions are so terrible. You can see 10, 12, 15, people in the trailer, children sleeping on the floor. It's terrible. It is not a healthy environment. That needs to be investigated. But we decided to hold it, because we didn't want to open a can of worms. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Every time we approve another housing project in Immokalee environment I tell myself good, we have 200 units going up and can get rid of the shacks. But I never see the shacks come down. Every time I go out there the shacks are still there and never get torn down. Once we get into the migrant cycle in the fall, and they come back, they are occupied, and you can't tear them down. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Evidently, we're not building at a rate in Immokalee that matches the needs. Page 59 June 6, 1995 CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Oh, no. Never. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: We need to readdress our development standards so that we can be more sensitive of the needs and target a specific area and see what we can do. MS. DUSTIN: That would be helpful. We recognize in Collier County as to the existence of illegal immigration. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: We are not going to sit here and talk about that. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: We're not going to resolve that problem. MS. DUSTIN: No. The problem is housing. How can the county help us with affordable housing in Immokalee. One of the requirements is that people have to have valid identification, so that the other places remain occupied by a portion of the illegal immigration we are dealing with. We don't know what to do about that. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: That is the way the housing has been for the three and a half years. Every time we approve another development of several hundred dwelling units, that we should see that something is done about the shacks and at least eliminate that as a housing option. We don't see anything happening. COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: That could be involving a sweep program. There is an obvious cycle that those units are built for about five to seven months out of the year. The units are not just approved, they have to be constructed. It may be the next off-season for this time to get a code enforcement sweep of those areas that are not just placing roofs over their heads -- this is an emotional part. That is what is the problem, is code enforcement necessary. Yes, it is unsafe. Is a park bench any better? The answer is sometimes, yes, but many times, no. So I think that can be embodied in a joint effort in off-season. COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: Correct, we haven't done that since '92. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: A sweep there? It has been at least that long. We're not finished yet. And I know when Richard was still here and heading code enforcement, every time I would go out and cut a ribbon for a new project, I'd walk over and say now is the time, and he would say, yes, Ma'am. But they are still there. And I know that we have had staffing problems and so forth to find the people to physically go and do it. Maybe we have legal problems of going onto somebody's property to tear it down. There may be some problems. Here is the attorney. (Indicating Mr. Manalich) MS. RODRIGUEZ: I found some houses with no windows. The floors are falling apart. There are holes in the wall where the window is supposed to be is boarded. So there are children, in case of a fire, they are all going to die, because they have no way to get out of there in case of a fire. COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: And that's where our efforts should be too. When I was on the code enforcement board, that is what we did, we condemned them and tore them down. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Perhaps we need to give direction to the code enforcement group that we can sit down and tell them what we want. Perhaps we need to do that before October. We need to do that before the seasonal people come back. MS. RODRIGUEZ: Right now if you go to Immokalee, I Page 60 June 6, 1995 would say that more than 70 percent of those ones that need to be addressed are empty. What is happening is that there are no windows or anything, so the crack addicts or the prostitutes are using them to do whatever. So there are negatives. There is a lot of things. I know, because one of the things that I deal with is, you know, I go home -- is that I volunteer time with the sheriff's office, and I arrive in Immokalee about four in the morning until 2:30 in the evening to serve as a translator, and I have been doing that for three years. I mean I have heard a lot. I have gone to places that I never thought were in Immokalee, and I have big concerns about the way that they are living, especially when there are children involved. My heart goes out to them when there are small children, and their lives are really important in case of a fire or anything. Anything can happen to them. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Houses can cave in on them. MS. RODRIGUEZ: Yes. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Some are held up with loose boards. COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: We can put this as an agenda item with directions to staff, to code enforcement of the sweep of Immokalee. I think that is something we can easily do. COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: It's either on that or do we have anything else from the other members? MR. MORALES: I just want to say that it is a pleasure to be here. I'm pretty much the new guy so I can't really jump in and say what is exactly on my mind. COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: with that comment, you are invited back. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Mr. Rodriguez, do you have something to say at this time? MR. SEVACHA: I told Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. Morales that we, this board look at the big help with our people, because we don't have any center in which all the complaints or all the situations, do you know, will be here and try to solve the problems. I believe the whole line to be increased with some personnel would be good, do you know, for the county, not just for the Hispanics but for all the minorities of the county. It's my opinion, do you know, I have been involved in Maryland for many years. I have been in the Hispanic community of Maryland and a member of the Commission of Hispanic Affairs and the Commission of -- we have offices in Illinois, Hawaii and New York. We have satellite offices in Boston. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: What was that name again? MR. SEVACHA: The Maryland Hispanic Community. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Maryland? COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: The State of Maryland. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: The State of Maryland. They have had them in Montgomery County and Prince Georges County and satellite offices in Baltimore. That is where I grew up. MR. SEVACHA: No, I speak very strong. People not understand sometime. It's my fault. It is true. I believe it is the commissioner for the county, you know, this board, to create some office, do you know, in which we can organize, you know, all the complaints of the community, all the businesses in the community. I believe Mrs. ROdriguez would be good for that office. The office Page 61 June 6, 1995 would be fine. Commissioners, I don't know how you are thinking about that. COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Let's call it a Human Rights commission. You may not know of the history of the proposal of the Human Rights Commission, and I'll try to put it into a nutshell for you. But the proposal given to the board was quite extensive and quite broad, quite expensive. It has not been approved on either venues. So even though we have entertained discussions of a scaled-down situation, that was what Mrs. Rodriguez referred to when she said we needed to get past that particular discussion and move on to other community issues, because that one in itself did not pan out. So looking back, I don't think it has been tabled forever. I think it will come back. COMMISSIONER NORRIS: Maybe I'm operating under a mistaken perception, but I thought it was the job of the advisory committee to bring these complaints and the nature of the complaints and concerns forward to the counsel; is that not correct? MS. RODRIGUEZ: Yes. COMMISSIONER NORRIS: It would seem to me that this body is the appropriate forum for the type of complaints to get transported onto the county commission. And if there is a pattern of complaints in the Hispanic community that shows that there is an area -- obviously you're not going to find some of them, an individual complaint, that it may be the only one of its nature, but if there is a pattern of concerns out there, isn't it your job to bring it to us? MS. RODRIGUEZ: Yes. And that is one thing we are going to do with the Hispanic hotline, that we're going to get more feedback from the community. And also it might be good to pick up someone in the public affairs office who is bilingual to be here as someone in the county to serve on it. I walk into the county -- talk to anyone, the reception, that lady in reception, wonderful lady. She was talking to someone once, and they said, lady, can you please translate or help me with this problem? You have a lot of people. And when they are looking for a license tag agency or something, the first place they come is to this building. So they're going to see someone sitting there, and a lot of them don't speak English. MS. DUSTIN: She sends them to me. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: I remember seeing a list of the employees and their languages. MS. DUSTIN: It is a directory. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: And how is that information? MS. DUSTIN: It doesn't seem to work. COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: It looks like we've got one item on the agenda to work on already. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: It sounds like we have one item you all can work on. Find out why that is not working and what we can do about that. MS. RODRIGUEZ: We need to do that. The Hispanic community is increasing so much it is incredible. I mean, now going to Immokalee before you had Mexicans and Guatemalans. Now I'm seeing a great deal of people from El Salvador and from Honduras. And then I'm thinking that a lot of the people who are coming into these fields don't speak Spanish. They speak their dialects which is another different language. For me to understand what they are saying, I have Page 62 June 6, 1995 to ask them to speak real slow and then I have to pick words out. It's not really -- there is real increase in another language, even though we're Hispanic but the dialect is difficult. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: We are having an increase in the fields as well. MS. RODRIGUEZ: So it is growing a lot more. There is a lot of diversity in Collier County and throughout the united States. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Frank had something to say. I know you are not a member of the board but -- MR. RODRIGUEZ: I would like to bring some input to this table that you are talking about. Regarding the board, we are very much alarmed when the comments started going around merging the Hispanic boards with the other board. There is a basic reason for this. There are basic and underlying different needs and problems with the Latin-American community as compared to the other communities. COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: That was never a board direction. That was a comment that a writer picked up and experimented on without the board giving a specific direction, that was why. The board never took that position. MR. RODRIGUEZ: Well, that was one of the things that put all of us on alert, and, actually, I wrote something about that. Anyway, there are basic differences from the two communities, not a different way but such in a respective manner to each one that I think the idea of the hotline -- I think that is an excellent first step to start gathering information from the community. I agree with commissioner Norris. The board should only be a vehicle through which complaints or needs or whatever comes to you; however, that hasn't happened. The only think that took place was that the HRC. Has it's own plus or minuses, but no other complaints or anything came through this board basically because of the lack of identification of the community. One of this things which is critical is that the people that this board should be getting in touch with, most of them don't speak English. I believe the board needs an open line of communication with the Hispanic community and that is why the hotline has been established. It is mandatory for the Hispanic board to keep open those lines so that these people can feel that they have been listened to when they come to the meetings and bring their problems, comments, needs, and suggestions to get them to listen. Probably the ordinance is too tight as far as how the board itself may direct itself to getting in touch with the community and how that may happen. Like we are talking about this forum and there might be an issue with being on this board, an advisory board to the County Commission, not how is this going to be provided. The commission is good. I think it is an excellent idea, and we agree on that. But then the basic principle of the legal issues may not work. If this board is going to bring you information and educate the community out there, how is the board legally within the scope of the ordinance going to do that? We need to work together on that. As I say, I am not a member of the board. I hope to be one. I am looking at the Latin community in getting in touch with the community, that is how I see these boards. There is good intentions. But like something that he said, (Indicating to Mr. Sevacha) we need Page 63 June 6, 1995 to do something about that and work together on that. We need to all pull together and come together and that makes sense for everyone. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Commissioner Mac'Kie. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Surely people speak Spanish in the meetings of this board if they need to. MS. RODRIGUEZ: No, we translate. We carry the meetings in English, but then if there is a member of the public -- we do translate to the public, and they will speak to us in Spanish and then we will translate it into English. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: So really there is no way to collect the information you need to share with us if you have some rule that you only speak English. And the other thing is, help me to understand something about this, I'm looking at that language problem. You need to find ways to insure open communications. It seems to me that if they have to speak English there's something -- that is another thing if you feel this is limiting you in some way, then we need to propose changes. MR. RODRIGUEZ: If we have a situation like it took place in Naples with tenants that were abused by the landlords taking away their deposits, and the landlords just laugh at them. What prevents that? What resources are there? What influence does this government provide to protect these consumers? CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: I think that is a question Mr. Norris said, is that when we see problems that has a common thread like that, those are the things we need to know about so we can address it. MR. RODRIGUEZ: Okay. Then the boards -- this Hispanic board -- that issue has come before the Hispanic board, before the commission and we can't do anything with it. That is why the commission -- MS. DUSTIN: It was told to the code enforcement. MR. RODRIGUEZ: The perception of the community of the people with the problem is that they come to the board with their problems and that the board may be not interested at that time, but they want to say something, see some communications come together to do something and do whatever and then something happens. Then there isn't a wrong message sent out to the community as to where the source of solutions are. This is where the board can help. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Commissioner Norris. COMMISSIONER NORRIS: Mr. Rodriguez, that was not a very good example to make your point with, because I don't know what in the world the group would do if somebody didn't give a renter back his money. That is not our job. That is the not the group -- the commission's domain at all. You have got civil courts and the sheriff's office and the criminal courts, not the county commission. I understand your point. MR. RODRIGUEZ: We don't have a consumer protection or advisory -- COMMISSIONER NORRIS: We build parks and libraries. MR. RODRIGUEZ: consumer's affairs office -- COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Frank, this is similar to something that is a negative idea, nothing personal. victor Valdez (phonetic) came to us with problems with the sheriff's office, police brutality and expected us to do something about that, if we could look Page 64 June 6, 1995 into that. Every significant complaint that goes out there -- other communities may do that, but with the sheriff -- this is a civil matter, the rent, and may have to be resolved through litigation. We can't be an advocate giving that direction. You need a consumer advocate to help them get their rent back safely -- their deposits back. This is for another branch of the government. There has to be other solutions out there. That is the first step. MR. RODRIGUEZ: There is an official in the state. MS. DUSTIN: I have to go back to the -- MR. RODRIGUEZ: The problem of the rents of the people is how to govern themselves. They don't know anything. Where are they supposed to go? COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Well, two things. Please don't prejudge. Don't say that the county commission isn't going to Please -- as problems come to you, please present them. There something that the board can do. I mean, you never know. But worst thing that could happen is if you stop telling us things you don't think we care about that one. I would like you to communicate about the problems in the community. We do other things other than government. I would like to know what the problems are across the board. MR. RODRIGUEZ: I believe the hotline will be an opening to line communications to that kind of information so that you can see and we all can see what the problems are, what we can do. MR. GUTIERREZ: I, too, am new in Naples, because last May I came from California. Since I have been here, I have been involved in the board. I kind of heard not too positive comments, not necessarily from the board, but from the community itself of what type of reaction it is receiving from the board. I am happy to see all that is hogwash and you seem to be professionals. The celebration in the community is a good idea, because we are currently having more Hispanics come here. It seems to me to be almost two families per months. These Hispanics are coming from New Jersey or New York or the west coast of Miami. A lot of the individuals are speaking different dialects of Spanish. No, I don't think there should be another Miami and have all signs in Spanish and what have you. There is going to be a time period where individuals who don't speak English at that time will lose a load of the needs and services and a lot of the service of a county. I recall at one of the meetings -- the one publicized in the T.V. I forget her name. One of the issues -- COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: The issue was about the hazardous cleanup in Immokalee. MR. GUTIERREZ: -- was a bilingual person. bilingual person to address the needs in Spanish. needed. Thank you. COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Let's look at the numbers. I see people coming over all the time. I don't know what direct responsibilities we all are having. COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: with regards to that -- and it is very simple. I don't doubt there is a need for that particular individual. Before we go and hire someone, we ought to have a plan for how we tend to implement that. Your staff could not answer what those concerns were. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: care. may be the because We need a I think is what is They were ill-prepared. They Page 65 June 6, 1995 couldn't answer those basic questions. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: It came back and was a problem. MR. GUTIERREZ: I think that we need more individuals that speak different languages that work for the county government, that is a person with the skills to offer Spanish to the different minorities that are coming in here. I know someone stated that we have one person here, so why don't we call them to translate. Well, that could be good, but I look at it this way. I didn't know how to speak Spanish even though my grandfather did. This was a skill that I had to develop and it is the same way I had to go out and get a degree, that is the same way they have to get a skill. I think that is a bona fide skill and should be compensated as opposed to saying they already speak Spanish, let's just use them, let's pull them out. That is the way I feel. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: To wrap this up and summarize what we think you are working on is, number one, is the forum. Generally, I think you're hearing that is a good idea. The hotline is a excellent idea for information gathering especially where the problems are. The third item is the celebration of the multifaceted communities. I don't know what the cohesive point is, but celebrations sounded good, a multi-American type celebration. The last thing that we discussed, having a report before the county commission from code enforcement on the housing occupation in Immokalee and what we might be able to do in October when the winter visitors are coming. MS. RODRIGUEZ: We need code enforcement from driving through the streets now with vans groceries from. They buy a van and fill it up as stores parked in front of the houses. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: I have noticed MS. RODRIGUEZ: Right in front of the I'm telling you they sell everything to keep them that they sell with groceries and act lawn. shoes. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: problem. COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: There is one item not on your list. Further helping someone coming into the county such as having a system where they can communicate. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Bilingual service. COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: And we have asked you to look at recommendations. MS. RODRIGUEZ: We need a middle ground where someone that could be helpful, an individual downstairs that we could call, special employees who speak Spanish. Maybe she can make the phone calls and hand the phone to the receiving person. COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Maybe you should look at that to see if you can make a recommendation. MS. RODRIGUEZ: I left in '87. I am Hispanic. I feel terrible about the way Miami is. I wouldn't drive there. CHAIRPERSON MATTHEWS: Call this workshop to a close. (The Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board workshop concluded at 1:25 p.m.) that. house, on from rice the to clothing, At three times the value. That is a code enforcement Page 66