MEETING MINUTES- Approved 6/5/03

Date: April 3, 2003

Time: 10:00am-11: 30pm

Place: 1080 Emeline Avenue, Bldg D, Small Auditorium

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

1.0 Call to Order

Vice Chair Bush called the meeting to order at 10:05 am.

2.0 Roll Call

Present: Michael Bush, Bob McGaw, Jenny Sarmiento, Krista O’Connor, Charles Stone, Deborah Calloway

Excused: E. Marie Chrisman, Thomas Ferr, Peter Mclean

Absent:

Guest(s): Scott Beesley – PHAT, John deCourcy-County Planning Department

Staff: Andrea Smith

3.0 Announcements

New Commissioner Deborah Calloway introduced herself to the Commission.

4.0 Minutes

ACTION: Minutes from the March meeting were approved.

msp: O’Connor/McGaw Abstentions: Calloway

5.0 Additions/Deletions

6.0 Oral Communications

Scott Beesley thanked the Commission for supporting the PHAT report on housing in Santa Cruz and offered to support the passage of the Inclusive Home Design ordinance.

7.0 Reports

7.1 Commissioners Reports

Co-chair Bush reported on the gas station remodel at Rancho Del Mar. He recommended to the developer to review and revise the driveway so that it does not impede the path of travel. He also reported on his participation on the Call-Stop committee to determine how the new procedure will be implemented to alert riders of upcoming stops and how it can be designed to best accommodate persons with disabilities.

Commissioner O’Connor reported that she has been recruited to work on the CAP (Community Assessment Project) committee for 2003. Previous assessments have not included information regarding disability. Committee members suggested adding questions to assess disability in our community. The following are draft questions that may be included:

1) Is there someone in your household with a disability? Yes No

If yes, in which category would the disability be?

Mental health, Physical, Learning, or Developmental (such as Down Syndrome), More than one.

2) What is the impact of the disability on your household? Respective of quality of life: how does the disability stress the family to accommodate the needs of the person with a disability. On a scale of 1-10, with 1=very little, and 10= a great deal, to what extent is the "normal" functioning of your family disrupted by the need to care for a family member who has a disability?

A possible secondary question could include: how has your ability to take care of a family member with a disability changed in the past year: A) gotten easier, B) gotten harder, C) no change.

The latter would assist in evaluating if things are improving or getting worse for families. Also reported on workshop on facilitated communication.

She also reported on two young people – one with downs and the other with autism who have used assitive technology to communicate. The technology incorporates the use of a second person to hold the persons arm while they punch the keys of a computer. This method has been considered controversial due to the assistance of the second person.

Finally, she reported that Susan Hogue of the Epilepsy Network has announced that she has access to classroom with computers fully accessible to persons with disabilities. The room is located at the Sesnon House and you don’t have to be a Cabrillo College student to access the computers. They are currently assessing how to best use this facility – in the meantime it is available to anyone who wishes to use it.

7.2 Coordinators Report

· Acknowledged new Commission brochure style. The web page will eventually follow the same style.

· Recruiting interns through the VIP program to assess accessibility of County parking lots. This will be a follow-up to the survey conducted in 2000 by the Commission.

· Coordinator announced opportunity for a group donation the Breast Cancer Research Project in honor of Commissioner Ferr’s mother.

8.0 Ongoing business

8.1 Updates

· Inclusive Home Design:

John deCourcy reported that current state law does not allow jurisdictions to amend building codes in the manner in which the Commission has proposed. By December 2003, the HCD (State Department of Community Housing and Development) was mandated to propose uniform standards that jurisdictions could approve. The HCD will be conducting hearings as they formulate the new regulations.

· Cultural Competency

Commissioner Sarmiento reported that the new County Cultural guidelines would be going to the Board. The Coordinator will follow up with a letter of support.

· Accessible Parking Enforcement:

The Coordinator reported that the last update reflected that purchase of Liability insurance was being considered. The Coordinator will contact the Sheriff’s Department Coordinator to see when a response to a Commission’s letter of inquiry regarding the status of the program will be forthcoming.

· Legislation: See IHD update

HR 1261 - Disability groups have expressed concern that this proposed bill regarding Workforce Investment and Adult Education programs falls short of goals and funding. This plan revises transitional services for special education students moving from school to post-school activities, and coordination of such services with those under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The Coordinator will email Commissioners with more information to assist in formulating a response.

8.2 Goals Planning Follow-up

The Commission reviewed plan and deleted items. They also set the annual retreat date and the calendar of meetings through September. In July, the Commission will participate in a 4-hour retreat with lunch from 10am-2pm. Possible locations include: the Cabrillo Stroke Center, the Sesnon House, or the Simpkins Center.

9.0 New Business

9.1 Impact of budget cuts on Cabrillo College

Commissioner McGaw reported that the Stroke Center would not be closing; however there will be changes.

9.2 Beneficial Designs – Trail Study

The Commission will send out flyers to advertise and recruit volunteers to participate in the June 14^th trail study. With assistance from the Commission Chair, a use permit has been obtained and liability insurance is being secured.

Items for Next Month’s Agenda

Beneficial Designs follow up

HR 1261

Commission work plan

Entertainment Assistive Devices

The meeting adjourned at 11:30pm. (msp McGaw/Stone)

Respectfully submitted,

Andrea Smith

Commission Coordinator