THE GREATER TULSA AREA HISPANIC AFFAIRS COMMISSION ...

THE GREATER TULSA AREA HISPANIC AFFAIRS COMMISSION
MONTHLY MEETING
MINUTES
November 13, 2008
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Sally Cordova Sebastian Lantos Marvin Lizama
Joseph Flores Lydia Dross Ace Cuervo
Ernesto Mondragon Maria Gomez Aurora Helton
HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT STAFF MEMBERS:
Willene Leffall Terri Gateward
EXCUSED ABSENCES:
Nilda Reyes Teresa Pena Lou Lissonnet Ofie Seymore
I. CALL TO ORDER
Commissioner Flores called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m.
II. APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER MINUTES
The two versions of the October minutes are to be consolidated and amended
as suggested during discussion. A quorum was met and a motion was made to
approve September and October minutes with corrections. The vote was
called. Motion carried.
III. REPORT & RECOMMENDATIONS OF COMMITTEES
1. Bylaws Committee - The new version of the updated Bylaws was handed
out to commissioners for review and approval. The minutes for the Bylaws
committee minutes were also provided to the commissioners for their
review. Changes to the minutes were made were necessary for accuracy.
2. Community Response Committee - The Mayor’s Police and Community
committee met and Mr. Mondragon has been asked to compile a list of all
active Hispanic Organizations in Tulsa. This report will be provided to
law enforcement.
3. Ad Hoc Committee - Commissioner Lizama shared details about his
research into data he obtained from the Sheriff’s Office with regard to the
number of Hispanics arrested and booked into the County Jail since the
passage of HB1804 a year ago. The figures presented by Lizama show a
clear pattern of an increase in the number of Hispanics booked into the jail
beginning in September 2007 through the present. The data presented by
Lizama shows that most Hispanics arrested over the past year involved
traffic violations for the most part. The majority of Hispanics arrested for

minor traffic violations were place in ICE holds once booked into the
County Jail. Most are deported by ICE soon thereafter.
4. Governor’s Advisory Council Report - The Governor’s Advisory
Council will meet in December. Discussion was had regarding City
Council’s comment to Commissioner Gomez that the Council doesn’t hear
from this Commission. Discussion was had as to the best way to keep City
Council informed about the work that the Commission does. The
Commission approved to have the previous month’s approved minutes to
be forwarded directly to the Council. Although approved minutes are
already a public record and accessible by City Council. In addition, it was
agreed by the Commission to have the Secretary, Commissioner Lizama,
to attend the City Council meeting scheduled for the week following the
Commission’s monthly meeting. Commissioner Lizama is to get on the
City Council Agenda and present relevant information to the Council. In
addition, the Commission will submit a report to City Council as to the
state of affairs of the Commission and its work. The Reports will be
created in the spring and the fall of each calendar year.
5. Education Committee - Commissioner Guardiola reported the launching
of the new Citizens Police Academy scheduled to begin in February 2009.
Citizens are encouraged to join and learn more about police work and how
to improve police-community relations in Tulsa. Classes meet once a
month, for four months from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Tulsa’s Police
Academy.
IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Commissioner Lizama announced the Second Annual Hispanic Heritage
Run will take place on Saturday, December 6, 2008.
• Commissioner Mondragon announced he has two cases of Driver’s
Manual in Spanish available for distribution. Casa Guanajuato will launch
its grand opening in Tulsa by hosting a reception with dignitaries and
government officials from the Mexican State of Guanajuato as well as
Oklahoma State officials. The reception is scheduled for Friday,
December 5, at 5:30 p.m. at the OU-Tulsa Schusterman Campus. In
addition to this reception, Casa Guanajuato has scheduled an array of
community events during the weekend of December 6th.
V. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Flores entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Commissioner Mondragon so moved and Commissioner Helton seconded the
motion. Motion carried.
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