Date: Thursday, April 10, 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, Joseph Quigg, Doug Patrick, Paul Ticknor, Michael Bush ,Jeanette Cosentino, Aaron Spencer

Absent: Peter Heylin, Robert McGaw

Staff: Mary Thuerwachter, Commission Coordinator

Guests: Patty Talbot, Seniors Council; John Daugherty, Metro Santa Cruz

Invited Speakers: Randy Chelsea, Vista Center for the Bind and Visually Impaired, Ricardo Dalessandro, Internet Accessibility

3.0 Approval of Minutes

Action Msp MB/DP Minutes for March 13, 2008 were approved as amended.

5.0 Community Presentations

5.1 Oral Communications from the Public

John Daugherty announced that there are no proposed cuts to Metro Paracruz. Service will be provided within ¾ mile of the existing bus route.

Patty Talbot, Senior’s Council, reported on the Solutions Summit that was attended by Chair Stone and Commissioners Patrick Quigg, Heylin Ticknor and Spencer. There was a good turn-out for the Summit and good feedback on the events. She reported that the Aging in Place Committee, which has nine members, has already met. Commissioner Patrick wants to attend this meeting to discuss accessible design issues. Other groups are forming. The e-mail address for the Solutions Summit is Solution@SeniorsCouncil.org.

5.2 Scheduled Presentations

Randy Chelsea from the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired said that they had offices in Palo Alto and Santa Cruz, (serving Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito Counties). There are 2 staff persons in the Santa Cruz office. The Low Vision Clinic is the most popular. They work with an optometrist that will assess usable vision and help enhance what works. There are 50 styles of magnifiers. For example, persons with Parkinsons have magnifiers that are like swim goggles. There are also stand magnifiers and hand magnifiers. The exams are covered by MediCal with a copay on the magnifiers. MediCare covers the exam but not the magnifier. Health Net covers the cost of most exams. There are grants for persons in financial need. All staff persons have masters degrees. Staff teach orientation, mobility independence and safety. They can also provide raised dots for kitchen appliances, knives and power tools. There is also a lighting evaluation to maximize vision.

There are counseling services for adjustment to vision loss and a low vision class every four months provided on a sliding scale. A Low Vision Expo is held every fall at Louden Nelson with vendors showing assistive equipment and doctors speaking on macular degeneration.

The Vista Center’s fundraiser, Woof to Woof, is being held at Scots Valley Sky Park on June 7. Vista Center has an instructor that can work with people to access the internet and serves about 250 adults per year. They have a store with large print items, talking clocks, etc…The School District provides services to persons under 21 years old. COD staff has been asked to add this link to the Commission’s website.

Ricardo Dalessandro followed up on last month’s presentation on website accessibility and spoke about a screen reader program called JAWS which is free. Commissioner Tichnor will get this program for possible use on the Commission website. Wiki-system also has some free programs. In reviewing the website in its current state, Dalessandro felt that there were too many wheelchairs in the pictures and no photos of other disabilities. He commented that no one is taking the lead on accessibility. The County’s website is not accessible. The divide between those with and those without web access is becoming greater and greater. Without the proper technology, there is no access for many low income people. Msp: DP/AS that a working group be formed to work on recommendations for the Commission web page and for accessibility on the County website. Dalessandro will work with Commissioner Ticknor, Chair Stone and commission staff.

6.1 Coordinator Report

Chair Ellen Pirie requested that the Commission comment on the State budget proposals. Staff prepared comments which were approved. Msp DP/AS Commissioner Ticknor tried to update the website to fix broken links etc. but got Vista-ed. His CD updates will have to be made compatible. He will continue to work with staff to fix problems on the website. Staff reported that Commissioner McGaw said there was no response from the Disabled Students Union at Cabrillo. Dalessandro felt it was better to start over in creating the website for better accessibility.

6.2 Follow-up Items

Parking- City of Santa Cruz – Staff reported that there had been no formal response to the letter sent by the Commission to the City of Santa Cruz. Commissioner Patrick reported that Mr. Garr’s problem was resolved and that the City would get back to the Commission about the policy issues raised. Commissioner Cosentino-Workman wants to let the City know that the situation is being monitored.

Accessible Design – Commissioner Patrick will discuss the title on the Planning website with Mark Demming. Commissioners Patrick and Heylin will talk to all local jurisdictions to encourage use of brochure, web-links and promotion of accessible design. Brochure is on line. Staff will add a link to the Commission website. Staff reported that the Community Wall was available if the Commission wanted to create an accessible design display. This will be added to new business for the next meeting.

Parking Enforcement – At the request of Commissioner Heylin, this item is put over to the next meeting.

Evaluation of Community Resources – Commissioner Patrick would like to build support from key commissions and organizations. Commissioner Cosentino-Workman expressed the opinion that many of the commissions had overlapping missions. With budget cuts it may be time to restructure. This will discussion will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.

Meeting Process Commissioner Cosentino-Workman brought up the fact that a lot of work had gone into the strategic planning process and that there should be some meeting mechanisms which keep the commission on track. Commissioner Patrick again voiced his support for creating a project management component to the agenda. After the May meeting, a subcommittee will meet to discuss holding a retreat to develop meeting structure which will meet these goals. Commissioner Heylin will be asked to see if his place is available.

Meeting adjourned 2:15 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mary Thuerwachter

Commission Coordinator