MEETING MINUTES-Approved 1/13/03

Date: 12/9/02

Time: 2:45pm-4:45pm

Place: 1080 Emeline Avenue, Bldg D, Small Auditorium

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

1.0 Call to Order

Commissioner Bush called the meeting to order at 2:50p.m.

2.0 Roll Call

Present: Michael Bush, E. Marie Chrisman, Krista O’Connor, Charles Stone, Bob McGaw, Thomas Ferr

Excused: James Lewis, Jenny Sarmiento, Peter Mclean

Absent:

Guest(s): John deCourcy – County Planning, Michael Bradshaw-CCCIL, Patricia Spence –Transit Commission

Staff: Andrea Smith

3.0 Announcements

Commissioner Bush announced that Joseph Quigg and is partner are in process of developing a 20-unit accessible housing complex on Frederick Street. He also acknowledged the Commission for taking an active part in lobbying to move the proposed Inclusive Home Design ordinance from the consent agenda.

4.0 Minutes

ACTION: Minutes from November were approved with corrections.

msp: Stone/O’connor

5.0 Additions/Deletions

9.2 Add HRA support for critical health issues

6.0 Oral Communications

Patricia Spence of the Transit Commission spoke about the plan to widen Highway 1. The County is looking for 3.8 million dollars to widen the stretch of highway from Morrissey Blvd to State Park Drive. She urged Commissioners to vote yes the sales tax initiative to fund the highway widening project.

7.0 Reports

7.1 Commissioners Reports

Commissioner Stone attended the IHSS(In-home Support Services) Committee meeting on behalf of the COD. There are currently 1500 community members on the IHSS program. There will be a report on the impact of budget cuts in January. The next meeting is scheduled for January 3, 2002.

Commissioner Oconnor tried to make the IHSS meeting but could not find the building. Commissioner Stone volunteered to contact Bob Watson, General Services Director regarding clearer signage on the Emeline campus.

Commissioner Chrisman reported that the Doran Institute requested that she write a letter to the editor to support fundraising their effort. The Senior Housing Project is proceedin. Soil testing has been done and the developer has been very amenable to seniors concerns.

7.2 Coordinators Report

} The annual report is due 1/31/03.

} Will be on vacation from 12/23/02 until 1/6/03.

8.0 Ongoing business

8.1 Updates

Accessibility – John deCourcy, County Building Official reported that the State Code has added language to clearly show accessibility requirements become effective parking lot resurfacing. In addition to that and the educational information sent out by the County there has been County-wide improvement regarding accessibility compliance. There currently is not a plan to add a permit requirement however, Los Angeles and San Mateo County have implemented permit requirements for parking lot resurfacing. DeCourcy also outlined the complaint process.

Accessible Parking Enforcement - there has been no action due to liability insurance issues.

Children with Disabilties- Commissioner O’Connor reported that the state budget deficit will have dire effects on services and education for children with disabilities.

Resource Directory – Commissioner Bush reported that Shared Adventures is putting together a community resource directory and is requesting help with reviewing businesses for accessibility.

8.2 IHD Update

John deCourcy, County Building Official reported that the recommendation from Planning would be coming back to the Board in March, which will be the same time that the state budget deficit will be addressed.

Michael Bradshaw of CCCIL suggested that the Housing Advisory Commission would be possible ally in supporting the IHD ordinance. The Progressive Housing Task Force is compiling a report and will be lobbying and educating local jurisdictions.

8.3 Goals Planning Follow up

8.4 meeting date and time evaluation

ACTION: The Commission approved a new meeting time to the first Thursday of the month from 10am to 11:30 am at the Aptos Public Library to begin in February. The location is tentative until confirmed.

msp O’connor/Chrisman

9.0 New Business

9.1 Support for Metro Base

Patricia Spence gave an overview on local Paratransit services. This service is tied directly to the fixed route of the metro transportation system, which means that when fixed routes are cut so are Paratransit services. Santa Cruz is required to convert to a clean burning gas by 2004 (Bus Urban Fleet Rule). Due to the lack of an adequate Metro Base to accommodate this change there will be a reduction to curbside only service. Right now the buses are stored and maintained on three separate sites: Harvey West (aka Cluster One), the existing river street site, and on golf club drive. Cluster one is up for approval and two attempts to secure an alternative metro base have failed. For Harvey West (Cluster One) to succeed, the County will need to acquire two sites by imminent domain and conduct an Environmental Impact Report.

Ms. Spence requested that the Commission make a statement highlighting the importance of maintaining fixed routes as it is linked to Paratransit Service.

ACTION: The Commission will write a letter to the editor of both local papers - Commissioner Bush to Sentinel and Commissioner Chrisman to the Pajaronian in support of securing a Metro Base.

mspStone/Ferr

The Commission will review a letter or resolution to the Board of Supervisors in January in support of the proposed Metro Base. Ms. Spence will provide the Coordinator with more information.

Next month’s agenda:

} Metro base support

} Chair and vice chair elections

} HRA support – when and where they need support

The meeting adjourned at 4:15pm

Respectfully submitted,

Andrea Smith, Commission Coordinator