Meeting Summary

Date: Thursday, February 14, 2008

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

Place: 1400 Emeline Avenue, Bldg K, Room 207, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

1.0 Call to Order

Chair Stone called the meeting to order at 12:35 p.m.

2.0 Roll Call

Present: Charles Stone, Aaron Spencer, Doug Patrick, Peter Heylin, Jeanette Cosentino,

Absent: Michael Bush, Joseph Quigg

Excused: Arnecia Dynes, Paul Ticknor, Robert McGaw

Staff: Mary Thuerwachter, Commission Coordinator

Guests: Virginia Butz – Foster Grandparents; Ricardo Dalessandro; Dan Garr; John Daugherty, Metro; Patty Talbott -Seniors Council: Rene Kliger

3.0 Announcements

The Solutions Summit sponsored by Seniors Council will be March 19 @ 10 am. Chair Stone and Commissioners Spencer and Patrick will attend.

6.0 Oral Communications

Virginia Butz provided information on a Senate bill on Crosswalk, Curb and Sidewalk improvement. This bill is also being examined by the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Advisory Committee. One of the provisions requires enough sidewalk space so that two wheelchairs can pass each other.

John Daugherty said that the Board of Directors at Metro will consider revision of the no changes on the day of services policy. A consumer was taken to the dentist’s office. When he arrived the discovered that the dentist had moved .3 mile away, the driver refused to take the consumer to the other office. He was forced to get off the vehicle without transportation. Meto recognizes that driver should have had a way to revise the schedule and that the action was inappropriate.

Dan Garr came to the commission because he had received tickets in the City of Santa Cruz four times because of parking in a blue space. He uses a wheel chair and had a disabled permit visible. He had to angle his van in the space to use his ramp. One wheel was in the striped section. Commissioners acknowledged that they had heard of other such incidents from reliable sources. The Commission instructed staff to write a letter to the City of Santa Cruz about the incident and inquiring regarding the standards and design of the spaces which appear to cause problems for persons using ramps or lifts. Commissioner Patrick agreed to research this issue on the Internet for the next meeting.

Ricardo Dalessandro raised concerns about Website Accessibility issues and lack of uniformity of the County Websites.

Rene Kliger came to the commission about shopping carts being left regularly in the striped areas of parking lots. They block access for disabled persons to and from their vehicles. She said there needed to be an education campaign on this issue and repainting these areas to state wheelchair access and/or improved signage.

7.0 Reports

7.1 Commissioner Reports

Chair Stone, Commissioner Spencer and Mary Thuerwachter met with CCCIL to discuss services. They reported that CCCIL staff positions in Capitola had shrunk from seven to four. Currently there were 2 vacancies in staff. Recruitment has been difficult. Limited services are tied to specific grants. $25,000 annual funding comes from the County of Santa Cruz. The Commission will continue to follow up on service issues.

Chair Stone reported on a Disaster Preparedness meeting on January 16. The new Director of Office of Emergency Services is Paul Holvak. Capitola had shown the most interest in planning for a disaster. April 30 there will be a practice exercise. There are new rules on wires on playgrounds so that there is a place for helicopters to land. Red Cross will handle intake, however, persons must self identify for disability assistance. In this area (unlike Katrina) the County owns the school buses. However, there are no provisions for drivers. SPCA has a contract for assisting with pets and guide-dogs during an emergency. No one knows if UCSC has a plan. HAS does not have an integrated disaster plan. Red Cross cots are 6” off the floor. There needs to be accessible cots. Dominican is also involved in the planning. Fueling is a problem during emergencies because of electricity to operate pumps. Todd Meyer is the Capitola PD liaison. Joshua Lichterman is also a contact (530) 268-3640.

Commisioner Spencer reported that it was too late to have a selection in the Reel Work Festival as the schedule was finalized this week.

Meeting adjourned 2:00 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mary Thuerwachter

Commission Coordinator