Meeting Minutes- approved 7/1/04

Date: June 3, 2004

Time: 10:30am-Noon

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 10:42 am.

2.0 Roll Call

Present: Jenny Sarmiento, Bob McGaw , Michael Bush, Charles Stone

Excused: Tearlach Sinclair

Guest(s):

Staff: Andrea Smith

3.0 Announcements

4.0 Minutes

ACTION: The Commission approved May’s meeting minutes.

msp Bush/Sarmiento

5.0 Additions/Deletions

6.0 Oral Communications

7.0 Reports

7.1 Commissioners Reports

Chair Stone reported on presentations and activities he participated including:

· Attendance at the IHSS: Under One Roof Conference. There were 125 in attendance for presentations, a hiring hall, resource fair, discussion and Q & A session.

· A presentation before the Board of Supervisors regarding proposed cuts to the Public Authority. The County is considering covering the difference in pay cuts to IHSS workers, which would cost close to 1.2 million dollars.

· Attendance at a rally at the clock tower protesting cuts to IHSS.

· Attendance at a HICAP presentation on Medicare modernization. More information on this presentation is available through the Commission office.

Chair Stone also reported that there is a new plan to aid home purchases during the same time that retroactive section 8 cuts are being implemented.

7.2 Coordinator’s Report

Commissioner Sarmiento and the Coordinator discussed revising the Spanish version of the Commission’s brochure so that it would be more accurate and more accessible.

8.0 Ongoing business

8.1 Updates

Inclusive Home Design: Chair Stone reported that a foundation has been established to fund the building of homes for disabled veterans who served in Iraq.

Accessible Parking Enforcement: The Coordinator and intern are finishing up the parking lot survey.

Legislation: No report

Cultural Competency Standards: No report

Terry Brickley Education Enhancement Scholarship (Cabrillo College Foundation): Vice Chair Bush announced that he attended the Cabrillo College Foundation’s scholarship ceremony where 400 students were awarded with scholarships. Unfortunately the recipient of the Terry Brickley Education Enhancement Scholarship was not able to attend. He requested that the Coordinator seek contact information from the foundation so the Commission could send a letter of congratulations.

8.2 Commission vacancy update

There are five vacancies on the Commission.

Commissioner Sarmiento announced that she has a bilingual candidate for the Commission – Ernestina Saldana. She forwarded the contact information to the Coordinator.

The Coordinator reported that Gail Goudreau of Adult Services has expressed interest in serving on the Commission. Chair Stone also reported that a staff member from Access Options has also expressed interest in serving.

9.0 New Business

9.1 Budget Update

The Coordinator reported that there are no proposed budget cuts to the Commission.

9.2 Movie Theatres (assisted listening devices, other technology)

Vice Chair Bush reported on the various listening devices and their advantages and disadvantages. The Commission discussed a strategy in encouraging local theatre owners to offer and utilize the better devices. The Coordinator will research possible tax breaks available to the business owners. Vice Chair Bush will research equipment costs.

Next meeting’s agenda:

The meeting adjourned at 11:10 a.m.

Andrea Smith

Commission Coordinator