Meeting Minutes- Approved 4/14/05

 

Date:               March 10, 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 12:04 p.m.

 

2.0       Roll Call

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

Excused:         Erik Edmonds, Chris Lewis

Guest(s):         Alexa Routson, Ron Routson, Thom Onan – CCCIL, Sam Finkelstein -Housing Choices Coalition

Staff:                Andrea Smith

 

3.0 Announcements

4.0 Minutes 

ACTION: The Commission approved minutes for the February 2005 meeting.

msp  Bush/Stone

 

5.0 Additions/Deletions

 

6.0 Oral Communications

Alexa Routson and Ron Routson reported on their concerns with land use issues in their Watsonville neighborhood that are affecting the quality of their lives.

 

7.0 Reports

            7.1 Commissioners Reports

Chair Stone reported the following:

n          This last month attended various political information sessions: Assemby member Laird at SEIU. Congresswoman Lofgren at  Santa Cruz City Hall. Fred Keeley, County Treasurer/Tax Collector, who reported that the Governor proposed to  eliminate property tax referral for elderly, blind, and disabled. Also attended the CCAH Advisory Group meeting.

n          Served on the Disability Compliance Guidelines subcommittee through IHSS advisory committee.

n          Elderday is relocating to the Harvey West Area. Watsonville location opening is being postponed.

n          TARA home – hospice services for end of life services for those who do not have family has opened.

n          The Beach St. County offices have reopened after restoration of fire damage.

n          SB 840 replacing SB 921, Kuehl’s health care plan,  which will save the State 8 billion dollars a year on medical costs, active again.

 

Commissioner Bush reported he is consulting with the Election department to assist with remedying access issues. Also  he is working with Jeanette <last name> on Universal access and will be speaking at a conference in the next couple of months.

 

Vice Chair Quigg  reported that he is working on a 3 bedroom/2 bath accessible unit. His company is putting in a lift unit to access the 2nd story.

 

Commissioner Heylin reported that he would pursue City Planning to find out about their efforts toward enforcing access requirements. He also shared an article reporting that a judge has placed a restriction on the man who has filed 450 access lawsuits within a three-month period.

 

7.2 Coordinator’s Report

The Coordinator solicited volunteers to participate in the 5310 funding review process for paratransit services. As there was no interest, the Coordinator will represent the Commission.

 

8.0 Ongoing business

8.1 Updates

Inclusive Home Design: Commissioner Bush will be reporting his work with a local group working on Universal Design.

Accessible Parking Enforcement:  Coordinator reported that this program is on hold until the Sheriff’s Volunteer Program is able to resolve liability insurance issues. They are actively working on it.

Legislation: No report

Cultural Competency Standards: Chair Stone reported that he is serving on the IHSS Disability Competency subcommittee. The IHSS Advisory  Committee is holding a town hall public hearing to find out community needs on Monday, April 18th.

Terry Brickley Education Enhancement Scholarship (Cabrillo College Foundation): No report

 

8.2 Commission vacancy update

Coordinator will call Supervisor Campos’ staff to see if there is any progress on appointments.

8.3 Movie Theatres: Adaptive Listening Devices – tabled.

 

9.0 New Business

9.1 Update on 2006 HUD budget impact – Sam Finkelstein of Housing Choices reported:

There has been an overall cut of 11.5% to the HUD budget including 80,000 vouchers. There is a proposal to cut CDBG fund clinics, community programs,  and senior centers completely and put them through the department of commerce at 1 billion dollars less. Section 811 has been cut by 50% (housing for disabled and group homes). The most disastrous is that although 50% of 2005 vouchers cut were to be restored – a cap has been imposed. Funding for HUD programs is already too low. The local effects will result in 671 families cut by 2010, 175 mainstream vouchers, and 121 elderly vouchers.

 

ACTION: The Commission approved a letter to the Board recommending that they issue a letter to Congress, the President and to urge the Governor.

 

msp: Bush/Mcgaw

 

For more information on this issue go to the websites for the Center For Budget Policies And Priorities AND

The National Low Income Housing Project

 

The meeting adjourned at 1:32p.m.

 

 

Next meeting’s agenda:

 

The meeting adjourned at Noon

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Andrea Smith, Commission Coordinator