MEETING MINUTES-Approved 3/6/03

Date: 1/13/03

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, Jenny Sarmiento, Bob McGaw, James Lewis, Thomas Ferr

Excused:

Absent: Peter Mclean

Guest(s): John deCourcy – County Planning, Shad Williams, Scott Beesley, Michael Bradshaw – CCCIL, Edith Steward, Jolly Bilstad

Staff: Andrea Smith

3.0 Announcements

Michael Bradshaw of CCCIL announced that the City of Sacramento is requesting that the Supreme Court appeal the ADA mandate that sidewalks be made accessible. He distributed a list of cities (Hall of Shame) that have supported Sacramento’s request and asked that if anyone lived in any of the named cities that the contact the appropriate authority to protest this action.

4.0 Minutes

ACTION: Meeting minutes from December 2002 were approved with corrections.

msp Bush/Stone Abstained: Ferr, Sarmiento, Lewis

5.0 Additions/Deletions

} Add 9.5 Letters to elected officials

} Add 9.6 Annual Report

6.0 Oral Communications

Scott Beesley of the Progressive Housing Taskforce and the Housing Choices Coalition, announced that a 25-page report on housing in Santa Cruz would soon be available. His work includes exploring better housing options for persons with disabilities on Section 8, creating a centralized list, promoting visitability (aka Inclusive Home Design), and increasing incentives for more accessible housing. He will forward the 25-page report and other communications to the Commission.

7.0 Reports

7.1 Commissioners Reports

Commissioner Sarmiento reported on the progress of the Cultural Competency Standards Project. The committee collected feedback from an array of non-profit agencies that conducted self-assessments. They were required to recruit clients to help participate in the self-assessment. Persons with disabilities and language differences experienced the most accessibility problems. They are now formulating recommendations to the Board of Supervisors to address the inconsistencies.

Commissioner Stone reported on highlights from the IHSS committee meeting. IHSS minutes are sent to the Commission office every month.

Commissioner Lewis reported on his first attempt to get the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center to comply with accessibility requirements. The shopping center resurfaced (slurry sealed) their parking lot again and still is not in compliance even though resurfacing triggered accessibility requirements.

Commissioner Chrisman reported that she is still working on initiating an exercise program for persons with vision disabilities. She is also still working with developers on the senior complex in Watsonville.

7.2 coordinators report

} Coordinator highlighted the Commission correspondence folders

} Announced the invitation from SPIN to participate in the planning for the 8^th annual Community Assessment Project Report.

8.0 Ongoing business

8.1 Updates

§ Children with Disabilities- Commissioner O’Connor reported that the San Andreas Regional Center sent out requests to clients to reduce respite care by 10%.

§ Accessible Parking Enforcement- The Coordinator will contact Jackie Rubin, Sheriff’s Volunteer Coordinator for official status on the program. Based on the response, the Coordinator will draft a Board letter for the February meeting recommending liability insurance be acquired to continue the program.

8.2 IHD Update

Commission Chair Ferr reported that Alvin James, Planning Department Director has been invited to attend the February meeting for an update on the IHD. Building Official, John deCourcy reviewed the process on building code changes and enlightened the Commission on why changes at the local level are difficult. He stated that changes at the State Level would include all municipalities.

ACTION: The Commission will send a letter to the board clarifying that the revised IHD Ordinance applies new housing only.

msp Bush/O’Connor

8.3 Goals Planning Follow Up

The Coordinator suggested removing currently inactive items from the proposed work plan to a “Back Burner” list to be re-evaluated each year. The Commission will finish the work plan process at the February meeting.

8.4 Meeting Date and Time Evaluation Follow Up

The Commission discussed meeting at an alternative meeting site every quarter. The Coordinator will prepare meeting schedule to incorporate the new time and alternative meeting location for the next six months.

9.0 New Business

9.1 Chair /Vice Chair Elections

ACTION: Commissioner Bush was elected as the new Vice Chair for 2003.

msp Ferr/O’Connor Lewis abstained

ACTION: Commissioner Ferr was elected as the new Chair for 2003.

msp Bush/Chrisman Lewis abstained

9.2 Metro Base Support

Commissioner Bush agreed to write a letter to the Sentinel and Commissioner Chrisman a letter to the Register-Pajaronian. The Coordinator will draft a letter and resolution for the February meeting.

9.3 HRA Support

The Commission will respond when a particular request is made from HRA.

9.4 License Waivers for Service Animals

Commissioner Stone reported that Supervisor Pirie had requested information and the Commission’s recommendation on license waivers for assistance puppies in training. The Commission discussed the information Commissioner Stone researched and it was decided that he would forward it to Supervisor Pirie.

9.5 Annual Report

ACTION: The Commission approved the draft Annual Report 2002 with any corrections to be sent to the Coordinator.

msp Bush/Stone

9.6 Acknowledging new elected officials

ACTION: The Commission will send letters acknowledging newly elected officials.

msp Stone/Sarmiento

Next Month’s Agenda:

The meeting adjourned at 4:45pm

msp O’Connor/Chrisman

Respectfully submitted,

Andrea Smith

Commission Coordinator