Meeting Minutes- approved 2/10/05

Date: January 13, 2005

Time: Noon-1:30

Place: 1400 Emeline Avenue, Bldg K, Room 206, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

1.0 Call to Order

Chair Stone called the meeting to order at 10:44 am.

2.0 Roll Call

Present: Bob McGaw , Charles Stone, Peter Heylin, Erik Edmonds, Joseph Quigg, Michael Bush

Excused:

Guest(s): Tim Ahearn, Pres. SEIU Homecare Providers Chapter, Jennifer Hutchinson - County Building Official

Staff: Andrea Smith

Chair Stone called the meeting to order at 12:08 p.m.

3.0 Announcements

4.0 Minutes

ACTION: The Commission approved minutes for the October meeting.

msp McGaw/Edmonds

5.0 Additions/Deletions

6.0 Oral Communications

Tim Ahearn of the SEIU Homecare Providers Chapter reported that they are working on coalition building.

Jennifer Hutchinson reported that the Building and Fire Code Appeals Board needs members. They meet when an issue arises since most issues are resolved before it is necessary.

7.0 Reports

7.1 Commissioners Reports

Chair Stone reported the following:

n Medi-Cal re-design is available online and it appears that nothing will change in Santa Cruz. Dental will be limited to a $1000 and a co-pay of between $5-$25 will be instituted. This will take effect in 2007.

n Social Security Now has started in Berkeley to protest cuts to Social Security. The group is writing letters to stop Social Security (SS) reform by the administration. According to the Administration’s plan - SS benefits would be cut by 10-25%. Social Security.org has 12 reasons why cutting SS is bad.

n Shared list of what the money that has been spent in Iraq on what it could buy.

n Suggested a useful web site: Disabilityinfo.gov

Vice Chair Bush reported that after 4 months is healthy again.

Commissioner Heylin, Quigg, and Bush discussed the difference between ADA compliance between City and County Planning. They brainstormed ideas on how City could be influenced to be more flexible, similar to County.

Commissioner Quigg also reported that he has experienced challenges in pursuing accessible housing in Santa Cruz.

Commissioner Heylin reported that he would pursue City accessibility compliance. He also shared an article that a judge has restricted the man who had filed 450 lawsuits within a three-month period.

Commissioner Edmonds reported that he worked to remedy accessibility problems in the new CSUMB science complex.

7.2 Coordinator’s Report

n Coordinator reported that Lt. Hemingway passed away in early January. He was tremendous supporter of the Commission’s work and played an integral part in creating the Volunteer Accessible Parking Enforcement Team. A web site in his honor can be viewed at www.three-amigos.com/hemingway

n The Coordinator will be on vacation beginning 1/17/05 and will return to the office on 1/27/05.

8.0 Ongoing business

8.1 Updates

Inclusive Home Design: Vice Chair Bush reported that Inclusive Home Design would come into effect in February 2005 in State Code.

Accessible Parking Enforcement: Volunteer team still not able to ticket due to liability insurance. The Coordinator will put together talking points to lobby a resolution.

Legislation: Chair Stone reported that Assembly member Laird attended the IHSS meeting and offered to establish a channel of communication between the IHSS Advisory Commission and Laird’s expanded office to closely monitor legislation.

Cultural Competency Standards: No report.

Terry Brickley Education Enhancement Scholarship (Cabrillo College Foundation): The Commission discussed ways to raise money to meet goal.

8.2 Commission vacancy update

8.3 Movie Theatres: Adaptive Listening Devices – tabled.

9.0 New Business

9.1 Review and Revise Update Items

The Commission decided to maintain the current Update Items.

9.2 Chair and vice Chair

ACTION: The Commission elected Commissioner Stone for Chair

msp Bush/Mcgaw

ACTION: The Commission elected Commissioner Quigg for Vice Chair

msp Bush/Edmonds

9.3 Annual Report

ACTION: The Commission approved the Annual Report 2004 for submission to the Board of Supervisors.

msp Bush/Mcgaw

The meeting adjourned at 1:30p.m.

Next meeting’s agenda:

The meeting adjourned at Noon

Respectfully Submitted,

Andrea Smith

Commission Coordinator