Meeting Minutes- Approved 3/8/07

 

Date:               Thursday, January 11, 2007

Time:               Noon -1: 30p.m.

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 12:30pm.

 

2.0       Roll Call

Present:          Charles Stone,  Doug Patrick, Robert McGaw, Peter Heylin, Aaron Spencer, Jeanette Cosentino,

Excused:         Jessie Schecter, Michael Bush, Joseph Quigg

Guest(s):         Sylvia Caras – community member, Suzy Hunt – community member

Staff:                Andrea Smith, Interim Commission Coordinator

 

3.0 Announcements

4.0 Minutes

ACTION: The Commission approved the November Meeting minutes.

Msp Patrick/Mcgaw

 

5.0 Additions/Deletions

The Commission agreed to address all action items first.

 

6.0 Oral Communications.

 

Sylvia Caras announced that on December 13th the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This landmark treaty requires ratifying nations “to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity”.  Ms. Caras requested that the Commission request a resolution from the Board of Supervisors endorsing the treaty and ratification by the United States. The Coordinator will work with Sylvia Caras to prepare a resolution for the Commission to approve.

 

Commissioner Heylin reported that the Disability Rights Legal Center reached a settlement with the San Diego Zoological Society for alleged discriminatory practices against people with mobility disabilities. As a result of the settlement, the Zoological Society will permanently discontinue its policy of asking people who use motorized mobility aids, such as motorized scooters and wheelchairs, to sign liability waivers or any document regarding their use of such aids in the Zoo or Wild Animal Park. As for previously signed waivers already on file under its prior entrance policy, the Zoological Society has agreed to void all such waivers and never enforce them. In addition, it will notify those who have signed or been deemed to have signed the waivers by putting a notice on its website, its maps, its accessibility guide, and via letters to those who had been subject to the previous policy.   He also reported that local business,  Mission Tile has reached a settlement for their access violations.

 

7.0 Reports

7.1 Commissioner Reports

Commissioner Cosentino reported that it was suggested that the Universal Design (UD) conference be scheduled in the Fall to accommodate Architects and other building industry.  She also reported that she would contact Mark Mendelson, a California-based UD speaker for the conference.

 

Commissioner Spencer reported that Anji Buckner of CCCIL (Central Coast Center for Independent Living) held a meeting of the Youth and Young Adult Advisory Group on disability issues. There were two working groups: Disability Awareness and Community Resources. The groups discussed ways to develop a community awareness program and develop a plan to for sharing resources. There were also two Advocacy groups: Public Policy (identify issues impacting young women) and Accessibility (transportation and healthcare).

 

 

7.2 Coordinator report

·         Update on Coordinator hire: The final interviews will take place at the end of this month.

 

8.0 Ongoing Business

Inclusive Home Design/Universal Access: Commissioner Heylin reported that the Inclusive Home Design/Universal Access Taskforce met in December at the Attic (Minutes for this meeting are attached.) The taskforce is working on a two-prong approach: education through articles in the Sentinel (reporter Roger Sideman) and the second to work with the Planning Department to make information available to architects, building industry and homeowners. A suggestion for the first Sentinel article would be to highlight an example of an accessible home such as Commissioner Bush’s home to show that it doesn’t have to look “institutional”. It was also suggested that any of Commissioner Quigg’s accessible buildings would also be a positive example.

 

Accessible Parking Enforcement: Commissioner Heylin reported that the County patches blue zone violation calls directly to the Highway Patrol.

 

Legislation: no report

 

Disability Awareness/Cultural Competency:

·         CAP Update: See 9.2

 

Terry Brickley Scholarship: No report

 

8.2 Commission vacancy update

The Coordinator will contact Commissioners who have not attended recently to determine commitment.

 

8.3 Emergency Response Protocol for PWD’s

8.4 Creating a stronger and more cohesive disability community in Santa Cruz

 

9.0 New Business

9.1 Chair and Vice Chair Election – tabled to February

9.2 Partnering with the United Way Assessment Project

 

Commissioner Patrick reported on the progress of the CAP (Community Assessment Project) working group to include information on persons with disabilities in the CAP Report. United Way is encouraging groups within each demographic to participate in encouraging awareness of the needs of their group. In addition to the needs - how they are being addressed, is it working, and what else needs to be done.

 

The working group is approaching local organizations to support them in this effort. They are hoping to build an advisory body to help gather the above information. The goal is to create a collaborative educational effort among local organizations such as the San Andreas Regional Center, Community Mental Health, and Central Coast Center for Independent Living (CCCIL) and others.

 

 

 

9.3 Annual Report

Action: The Commission approved the Annual Report with suggested changes.

Msp : Cosentino/Heylin Spencer abstained

 

 

Next meeting’s agenda:

 

Meeting adjourned 2:05 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Andrea Smith, Interim Commission Coordinator

 
 
Universal Design Taskforce Meeting

 

In attendance: Peter Heylin, Doug Patrick, Aaron Spencer

 

Summary Todate:

The Taskforce members reviewed minutes from the last meeting. Commissioner Heylin suggested acquiring a kiosk for an informational display in the lobby of County Planning. Commissioner Patrick suggested that there be a step in the permit process that acknowledges the client (architect, builder, homeowner, etc) has received UD (Universal Design) information.

 

Taskforce members discussed what it would take to for UD to thrive: The market will drive changes and as the population ages these issues will gain the political will.

 

Commissioners’ Heylin and Patrick will set up meeting with Planning Department for the next step. They will also try to find out when and where the next Abilities Expo will be held.

 

Next taskforce meeting will be on Thursday, February 8th after the Commission meeting.