Commission on Disabilities

Minutes –Approved 3/11/02

Date: 2/11/02

Time: 2:30pm-4:30pm

Place: 1080 Emeline Avenue, Bldg D, Small Auditorium

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

1.0 Call to Order

Vice Chair Lewis called the meeting to order at 2:30pm.

2.0 Roll Call

Present: James Lewis, Michael Bush, Bob McGaw, Jenny Sarmiento, Peter McLean

Excused: Tom Ferr, Rebecca Northcutt

Absent:

Guest(s): Mark Demming, Frank Baron – County Planning Department, Foster Anderson – Shared Adventures, Anna Maynard, Sandra Seeger, Krista OConnor – Easter Seals, Megan Baker

Staff: Andrea Smith

3.0 Announcements

Commissioner Bush announced that funding for Life Designs for Peace And Health did not materialize and they currently looking for other sources. Also the newly renovated Del Mar Theatre is now open. The restrooms are still in progress.

4.0 Minutes

ACTION: The Commission approved minutes from the January 2002 meeting with revisions.

msp Bush/Sarmiento Mcgaw abstained

5.0 Additions/Deletions

Move item 8 .5 to 8.1.

Move 8.4

Defer 8.3

6.0 Oral Communications

Sandra Seeger, community member and member of the In-Home Support Advisory Commission reported on an incident she experienced at Dominican hospital where her rights were allegedly violated.

ACTION: The Commission will send a letter to Ombudsman and Dominican Hospital requesting information on the hospital’s 51/50 policy (72-hour psychiatric hold) and to be present at any future in-services if they occur.

msp Bush/Mcgaw

In accordance with the Brown Act, this item will be on the April or May agenda for approval.

Krista O’Connor of Easter Seals announced that they are hosting a Strategic Planning meeting on March 27, 2002 and requested Commission participation.

Anna Bagta, Community Coordinator for HiCAP invited the Commissions input in their three- year Strategic Planning process. They are specifically looking for input from persons on Medicare.

7.0 Reports

7.1 Commissioners

Vice Chair Lewis reported on his volunteer service with the parking enforcement team. He attended the first three-hour training of a series of eight.

Commissioner Bush attended the Emergency Response Training at Cabrillo College. A comprehensive plan was discussed in case of an emergency and further meetings will occur to discuss unresolved issues.

7.2 Coordinator’s Report

} Reported that in his absence, Commissioner Ferr is researching the Santa Monica’s exploration of the feasibility of a “visitability” ordinance.

} Informed Commission that Cultural Competency Packet from the County’s Planning meeting was available in the Commission office.

8.0 Old or On-Going Business

8.1 Updates:

· Accessibility

Commissioner Bush reported that the Access Santa Cruz County Educational Brochure is in its final stages of approval before being distributed.

· Disability Awareness

· Accessible Parking Enforcement

· MAP Services

· Children with Disabilities

Commission McLean reported on his service on the CAC (community advisory committee). There is concern funding cuts may result in cuts to service to students with disabilities.

ACTION: The Commission will write a letter requesting copies of minutes for the past year from the CAC, attention to Eileen Bunch.

msp Mcgaw/Bush

· Resource Directory

8.2 Affordable accessible housing-delete

ACTION: Delete item 8.2

msp Bush/Mclean

8.3 Meeting Date and Time Evaluation

Commissioners agreed to defer this item until more Commissioners were present.

8.4 Goals Planning

The March meeting will be dedicated to goals planning.

8.5 Reasonable Accommodations Ordinance

Frank Baron and Mark Demming from the Planning Department presented the latest edition of the Counties draft for an ordinance on Reasonable Accommodation and asked for the Commission’s recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. The ordinance will go for a public hearing at the planning commission then to the Board of Supervisors in April.

ACTION: The Commission approved to sign a resolution recommending the proposed Reasonable Accommodation ordinance with amendments.

msp Mclean/Bush

9.1 Shared Adventures Access Guide

Foster Anderson Proposing to put together an access guide for locals and travelers to Santa Cruz. Using San Diego. Requested a letter of recommendation from the Commission on Disabilities to seek funding for this project.

ACTION: The commission will write a letter recommending funding for Shared Adventures’ Access Guide.

msp Bush/Mcgaw

9.2 Annual Report

ACTION: The Commission approved the Annual Report for submission to the Board of Supervisors.

msp Mclean/Bush

The meeting adjourned at 4:25p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Andrea Smith