MEETING MINUTES- Approved 9/4/03

Date:               June 5, 2003

Time:               10:00am-11: 30pm

Place:              1080 Emeline Avenue, Bldg D, Small Auditorium

                        Santa Cruz, CA 95060

 

1.0       Call to Order

Chair Ferr called the meeting to order at 10:07 am.

 

2.0       Roll Call

Present:          Bob McGaw, Jenny Sarmiento, Charles Stone, Deborah Calloway, E. Marie Chrisman, Thomas Ferr, Peter Mclean

Excused:         Michael Bush, Krista O’Connor

Absent:           

Guest(s):         Rick Clark

Staff:                Andrea Smith

 

3.0 Announcements

Chair Ferr shared an article from the  “Aging in Place with Grace”. He requested that a copy with a short note be send to Board of Supervisors.

 

Commissioner Stone shared letter he had published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel with concerns regarding the State budget.

 

4.0 Minutes 

ACTION: The Commission approved minutes for the April meeting with corrections.

msp     McGaw/Stone       Ferr and Chrisman abstained

 

5.0 Additions/Deletions

Add Metro Paracruz Transportation Services – Eligibility Criteria Language

 

6.0 Oral Communications

Richard Clark discussed challenges to accessing healthcare due to travel limitations resulting from type of disability. It has been a specific problem for those needing referrals to specialists that may not be available locally. Mr. Clark described a specific case he was involved in and the steps taken to remedy the situation, working with the Central Coast Alliance on Health. Currently, Medi-cal has no travel limitation on how far a client must travel to seek care. Often persons with disabilities are not following with referral care due to travel limitations, which jeopardizes their well-being.

 

7.0 Reports

            7.1 Commissioners Reports

 

Commissioner Stone reported on the last IHSS(In-Home Supportive Services) meeting he attended.  Topics at the meeting included:

}         AB 1470, which calls for voters to decide what Los Angeles caregivers are paid. 

}         The Department of Health Services put out bids for County In-Home Support Care and received only one service bid. As of June 1st there is no contract as the only contractor bidding – Addis - wanted more money than was being offered. Another contractor is being sought to fill the gap. Since IHSS is an un-funded mandate, shortfalls in its funding will reduce the general fund, jeopardizing other programs in the process.

 

Commissioner Chrisman announced that the swim program for persons with visual impairments has been suspended until September to allow a children’s program to use the facility. She also reported that the County is proposing that the State take on maintenance of the levy in Salsapuedes, which could negatively impact Watsonville residents living due to assessments.

 

Commissioner Calloway reported her concerns regarding the pedestrian access on McGregor between Park Avenue and State Park Drive. She would like to look into a partnership with the State and County to install a recreation trail that would allow safe passage.

 

Commissioner McLean reported that the Grand Jury is investigating the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and Santa Cruz City Schools on services to students and children with disabilities.

 

7.2 Coordinators Report

}         Distributed a letter from a community member regarding accessible parking placement at Circuit City.

}         Retreat will be on July 11, 2003 from 10am to 2pm. Lunch will be provided.

 

8.0 Ongoing business

8.1 Updates

The Coordinator reported that volunteers had been approved to issue courtesy notices to accessible parking violators. The purchase of liability insurance to enable volunteers to issue citations is on hold due to budget constraints.

 

Commissioner Sarmiento reported that the Board of Supervisors had approved the Cultural Competency Standards committee’s recommendations and with the caveat that the language be reevaluated and revised.

 

8.2  Goals

The Commission discussed the goal planning session scheduled for July.

 

9.0 New Business

9.1 Impact of budget cuts on Cabrillo College

Commissioner McLean  reported that most of the existing services on campus will remain but will be greatly reduced. The Cabrillo College Stroke Center and the Elena Baskin Children’s Center will not be closed but will face cuts.  The Coordinator added that the Fast Track to Work and EOPS programs are scheduled for minimal cuts. This item will remain on the agenda.

 

9.2 Beneficial Designs – Trail Study

The Coordinator will provide brochures to Commission representatives for the event.

 

9.3 Entertainment Assistive Devices-tabled.

9.4 Metro Transportation Paracruz

Commissioner Sarmiento  reported that Supervisor Campos requested information from the Commission regarding eligibility criteria language. Commissioners will gather more information before the July Commission meeting.

 

The meeting adjourned at 11:30pm.   (msp McGaw/Stone)

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Andrea Smith

Commission Coordinator