Commission on Disabilities

Minutes –Approved 2/11/02

Date: 1/14/02

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 2:40pm.

2.0 Roll Call

Present: James Lewis, Michael Bush, Rebecca Northcutt, Tom Ferr, Jenny Sarmiento

Excused: Peter McLean, Bob McGaw

Absent:

Guest(s): Edie Rhoades, Cassandra Fox, Alberta Crimshaw, Krista O’Connor

Staff: Andrea Smith

3.0 Announcements

4.0 Minutes

ACTION: Meeting minutes from 12/10/01 were approved.

m/s/p Bush/Sarmiento Ferr abstained

5.0 Additions/Deletions

Action: Delete Item 8.2 Redevelopment funds for SLV parking lot accessibility update

msp Bush/Ferr

6.0 Oral Communications

Edy Rhoades of CCCIL distributed job announcements for New Options Director and information regarding the impact of the Utility Tax Repeal. She also announced that as of January 2002 the penalty for violating the ADA in California Civil Code 52 has increased from $1000 to $4000. And finally she announced that Visalia has approved a “voluntary standard” that all new building will incorporate wheelchair accessible entrances.

7.0 Reports

7.1 Commissioners

Commissioner Northcutt reported that she is working on resolving problems with services for Developmentally Disabled children in Santa Cruz Schools.

7.2 Coordinator’s Report

· Cabrillo College Disabled Student’s Services requested a Commission representative attend the Emergency Response Training on 1/24/02. Commissioner Bush will attend.

· The County Human Resources Agency requested Commission representation at the Cultural Competency Standards Project Planning meeting on 1/17/02. Commissioner Sarmiento made a tentative commitment.

· A draft of the Commission’s Annual Report will be available at the next meeting.

8.0 Old or On-Going Business

8.1 Updates:

· Accessibility

Commissioner Lewis reported for Accessibility:

} He reported 4 out of compliance parking lots in the County to the code compliance officer.

} Status of courthouse accessibility

1. Bids for automatic doors for the front restrooms are being collected.

2. The ramp from the atrium to the jury assembly building will be installed in the spring.

3. A consulting contractor is reviewing the entire parking lot for recommendations.

Community member Cassandra Fox alerted the Commission that the sidewalk on the Water Street side of the Courthouse was not fully accessible. Commissioner Bush volunteered to email the Director Of General Services to alert him of the problems.

· Disability Awareness

· Accessible Parking Enforcement

Commissioner Lewis reported that the program accepted applications for training to start in February.

· MAP Services

The commission will follow up to find out what outreach is being done to CCAH employees and clients.

· Children with Disabilities-no report

· Resource Directory – no report

8.2 deleted

8.3 Non-Compliant Businesses On Mission Street

ACTION: The Commission will send a letter to the Mission Street Widening Project to express our concern that accessibility requirements be met.

msp Bush/Northcutt

8.4 Lift line services

The Commission will invite Patricia Spence to attend a meeting to report on County Paratransit issues.

8.5 Affordable accessible housing – defer

Edy Rhoades of CCCIL reported that CCCIL is working with the Housing Authority to develop a registry of accessible housing.

8.6 Meeting date and time evaluation –defer

9.0 New Business

9.1 Chair and Vice Chair Election

ACTION: Commissioner Tom Ferr was nominated and elected as the new Commission Chair.

msp Lewis/Northcutt

ACTION: Commissioner Jim Lewis was nominated and re-elected as the Commission’s Vice Chair.

msp Bush/Northcutt

9.2 Access Santa Cruz County Educational Flyer

ACTION: The Access Santa Cruz County Flyer fo accessible parking was approved with corrections/suggestions.

msp Bush/Sarmiento

9.3 Disability Awareness – defer

The meeting adjourned at 4:30p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Andrea Smith

Commission Coordinator