Meeting Minutes – Approved August 9, 2007

Date: Thursday, July 12, 2007

Time: 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.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 12:35 p.m.

2.0 Roll Call

Present: Charles Stone, Doug Patrick, Aaron Spencer, Robert McGaw, Jeanette Cosentino, Paul Ticknor, Joseph Quigg, Peter Heylin

Excused: Michael Bush

Guest(s): Maria Rodriguez, City of Watsonville, Virginia Butz, Foster Grandparents, Anji Buckner*, Julie Menezes*, Sean McCready* (* CCCIL Youth and Leadership Advisory Group)

Staff: Mary Thuerwachter, Commission Coordinator

3.0 Announcements

October is Disability Awareness month and National Disability Employment Awareness month.

4.0 Minutes

There was no quorum for the June meeting. Therefore, only a meeting summary was produced and corrected to show Commissioner Heylin as excused. He was conducting an accessibility analysis of trailer parks in Michigan.

5.0 Additions/Deletions

6.0 Oral Communications

Angie Buckner, CCCIL, facilitates the Young Adult Leadership and Advocacy Group. They are interested in accessibility surveys and sidewalk safety. The group is working on a panel discussion on youth with disabilities in conjunction with Special Parents Information Network. The project is titled EVERYTHING IS GONA BE OK.

7.0 Reports

At the request of the Commission, Maria Rodriguez, from the Public Works at the City of Watsonville, made a presentation on their sidewalk repair program. Residents can call into Public Works about sidewalk problems. Public Works will ascertain the problems and send letters to property owners advising them of the duty to repair. If the property owner refuses to repair or cannot afford the repair, the City will hire a contractor. The property owner can repay the city within 12-24 months. If the property owner refuses to repay, the City of Watsonville will put a lien on the property for the cost of the repair plus an administrative charge. The tripping hazard must be in the public right of way to be covered by this program. This service is reported in the Public Works Quarterly Newsletter, which is sent to all City residents and the Board of Realtors. Other jurisdictions do not have this program. City of Santa Cruz sends the letter but there is no follow-up. Curb cuts are generally the responsibility of the Department of Transportation.

ACTION: The Commission will contact other jurisdictions to educate and promote this type of program.

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7.1 Commissioner Reports

Commissioner Cosentino posed the idea of a swap meet for disability related equipment.

Commissioner Quigg reported that he is working with Roger McKowan and Mike Molesky on an equipment repair shop. They are currently working out the details for space. Ricardo is coordinating. Once this is established, it may be a gateway for a swap meet. He also reported that ground was broken on his housing project, which will include36 accessible units, 10 for extremely low income people.

7.2 Coordinator Report

Commissioner Ticknor is assisting the coordinator in updating the website. She also reported that Superior Court Judge Denine Guy requested information that would be helpful to train court staff on how to treat people with disabilities who come to the Court. Staff researched the COD’s materials and internet information from the Department of Justice for the Court’s use. The EEO officer for Santa Cruz County will be coming to the August meeting to report to the Commission.

8.0 Ongoing Business

Accessible Parking Enforcement

There is a new draft of the Parking Enforcement card. The change was in response to reports that law enforcement often could not get out to ticket offenders in time. Commissioner Heylin reported that in Scotts Valley there were three vehicles in disabled spaces at the park. However, the drivers all were disabled and forgot to put their placards out. Hayward has a parking enforcement program, which raised $180,000 in fines. The corps is primarily retired police and other retirees. The Commissioners thought that it was important to have the new cards available at Day on the Beach on July 21. Staff will contact County duplicating to see if the printing can be done in time. Commissioners Cosentino and Spencer will be attending Day on the Beach. Commissioner Heylin said he is also may be there. Staff will assure that COD information and Parking Enforcement Cards are available.

ACTION: The Commission approved the current draft of the Parking Enforcement Cards for printing.

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ACTION: The Commission will send a letter to the Board of Supervisors requesting that a week in October be designated as Disability Awareness Week. Msp AS/PT

Inclusive Home Design/Universal Access:

Commissioner Patrick said that there has been a shift away from the title Universal Design to Accessible Design as it conveys the process better and is less confusing. He reported that there is a plan to add accessible design materials to the Planning Department’s website. He and Commissioner Spencer will be meeting again with the Planning Dept on July 24.

Legislation:

Disability Awareness/Cultural Competency:

Commissioner Quigg reported that he was not able to attend the Salinas workshop on Universal Design. However, he knew that it was well attended and would contact attendees to report at the next meeting. It was apparent that the COD would be unable to hold a Universal/Accessible Design workshop in September or October as originally planned.

Terry Brickley Scholarship:

8.2 Commission vacancy update

Commissioner Quigg reported that he wants to be appointed as a Commissioner from the third district rather than the fifth district. He intends to resign and reapply for the current vacancy.

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

Meeting adjourned 2:00 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mary Thuerwachter

Commission Coordinator