Meeting Summary

Date: Thursday, December 11, 2008

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

Place: 701 Ocean Street, ROOM 310, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

1.0 Call to Order

Chair Stone called the meeting to order at 12:45 p.m.

2.0 Roll Call

Present: Charles Stone, Doug Patrick, Robert McGaw, Paul Ticknor, Peter Heylin

Absent: Joseph Quigg, Jeannette Cosentino Workman, Michael Bush

Excused: Aaron Spencer

Guest(s): John Dougherty, Metro

Staff: Mary Thuerwachter, Commission Coordinator

The Commission did not have a quorum of six Commissioners.

The issue of excused and unexcused absences will be discussed at the January meeting.

Elections for Chair and Vice Chair will be on the agenda for the January meeting.

Commissioner Patrick led the Commission through a review of a draft of the 2008 Annual Report. An edited version will be proposed as a final draft for review at the January meeting. The report is due for submission to the Board of Supervisors at the end of January.

Commissioner Patrick distributed a copy of a survey letter that has been sent to a number of organizations that serve county residents with disabilities. The intent is to obtain information for responding to our charter mandate to advise the Board regarding services received by persons with disabilities. A significant number of agencies have responded to date. The intent is to include the information as an attachment to the Annual Report.

A presentation to the Board of Supervisors regarding the needs of county residents with disabilities, and the impact of anticipated reductions in program funding is being considered. Commissioner Patrick is contacting organizations that have potential to be co-sponsors. The project will be discussed at the January Commission meeting.

The Central Coast Center for Independent Living responded to the survey with quality information that included responses to the questions posed earlier by the Commission.

Commissioners Stone and Heylin will discuss the public service programming component of the Commission’s public service initiative. Bruce Bratton was recommended as a resource to consult in determining what types of programs will be will be accepted by the media.

Commissioner Heylin met with Susan Willits, UCSC ADA compliance officer, the Performing Arts Center manager and two construction people to discuss accessibility problems of the theater. They were interested in the suggested but had budget concerns.

The Coastal Commission will be reviewing the appeal of the RV parking ban at Twin Lakes Beach in January or February.

Commissioner Patrick made a presentation to a meeting of Santa Cruz and Monterey County building officials regarding the accessible design brochure. The Commission has offered to make brochure CDs available to each jurisdiction that features a customized cover with the agency’s name and information. Most jurisdictions expressed interest in adopting the brochure.

Kiwanis will be approached about forming a work project to construct an access ramp for the Porter Library. Michael Bush provided guidance on construction standards and the permit process.

Commissioner Patrick suggested the Commission encourage the formation of a consortium of civil service employers, within the county, that would train employment counselors of referral agencies in the nuances of their recruitment and testing processes. Unless these processes are understood, counselors will have limited effectiveness in referring persons with disabilities for employment.

Commissioner Heylin expressed dissent regarding the Commission’s nomination of the movie “Murderball” for the Reel Works film festival, Murderball.

Meeting adjourned 1:40 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mary Thuerwachter

Commission Coordinator