MEETING minutes

Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009

Time: 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Place: 1080 Emeline, Small Auditorium, basement, Building D

1.0 Call to Order

Commissioner Heylin called the meeting to order at 12:40 p.m.

2.0 Roll Call

Present: Peter Heylin, Jeanette Cosentino, Charles Stone, Robert McGaw, Jerry MacAllister, Tom Crain

Absent: Paula Tanner

Absent Excused: John Daugherty

Staff: Mary Thuerwachter, Commission Coordinator

Guests: Claire Schwartz, EEO; Richard Salazar, Pajaro Valley Prevention; David Guarante, Hope Services; Jennifer Hagemann, Hope Services;

Jennifer Ramirez, CCCIL

3.0 Minutes - The Meeting Minutes for September were accepted. Msp MB/JC

4.0 Oral Communication

None

5.0 Scheduled Presentations

Claire Schwartz, EEO officer for the County of Santa Cruz came to discuss a September # letter containing recommendations from the Chief Administrative Officer which was adopted by the Board of Supervisors. The Board gave each department the directive to explore reducing staff costs for advisory bodies. The Personnel Director will be putting together a report on the advisory commissions under Personnel: COD, Women’s Commission, Seniors Commission, Civil Service Commission, EEO Commission and Latino Affairs. The director would like to hear from the COD on whether it can fulfill its mandate if meetings were reduced 40%. There is also discussion about recombining commissions such as Seniors, IHSS and Long Term Care. There was a suggestion of the chairs of some of these commissions meet.

Debbie Wechsler from Public Health came to address the COD on swine flu. She said that the only reported cases for Santa Cruz are for people who have been hospitalized or died. Dominican Hospital is seeing about 50-60 people a day with flue symptoms, at least 6 have to be isolated. Only a certain % if people with fever over 100 and sore throat or cough are tested. The hardest hit group consists of individuals who are 6 mos. to 25 years of age. Those over 65 are less impacted. Those between 25-65 with underlying medical conditions are also considered to be at risk. The largest numbers reported were last week. It is possible that the disease is peaking.

Richard Salazar from Pajaro Valley Prevention came to speak on the free resources for tobacco prevention and the impact of second hand smoke. The outreach effort is focusing on seniors and persons with disabilities. The group is also concerned that the community for drug and alcohol treatment does not address tobacco use. The hope for more restrictions on outside smoking so that “no smoking” areas become the norm.

6.0 On-Going Business

Items from the Retreat – Commissioner Cosentino will put together a survey via e-mail for circulation. She calls it “Shark Bait”. It is put out there with the intention of being torn apart.

Commissioner Crain will speak to Foster Anderson about newsletter ideas.

At the next commission meeting, there will be a discussion of a work plan generated from ideas raised at the retreat.

Chair Heylin and Doug Patrick will meet on ways to expand the use of the Accessible Design brochure.

Staff will find out about the Public Hearings on the Housing Element and forward the information to commissioners.

Coordinators Report

Retreat is scheduled for October 8, 9 am to 2 pm at Chair Heylin’s house. Commissioners should submit ideas for the retreat to the coordinator to put on the agenda.

The Accessible Design brochure needs to be circulated again for better usage. Staff will meet with former commissioner Patrick.

Kiosks are available for “Blue” (accessible) construction. However, the County does not want to include anything that mentions specific products.

Commissioner Reports

Commissioner McGaw reported that Cabrillo will not be funding the Stroke Center after next summer. Staff will contact Deborah Bone about someone to speak at The COD meeting in January.

Meeting adjourned 2:10 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mary Thuerwachter

Commission Coordinator