Meeting Minutes- Approved 6/8/06

Date: Thursday, May 11, 2006

Time: Noon-1: 30p.m.

Place: 1400 Emeline Avenue, Bldg K, Room 206, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

1.0 Call to Order

Vice Chair Stone called the meeting to order at 12:10pm.

2.0 Roll Call

Present: Jeanette Cosentino, Michael Bush, Jessie Schecter, Doug Patrick, Robert McGaw, Charles Stone, Peter Heylin

Excused: Joseph Quigg

Guest(s): Mark Deming – County Planning, Manuel Diaz – County Personnel, Krista Pelikan – Volunteer Initiative Program (VIP)

Staff: Andrea Smith

3.0 Announcements

Krista Pelikan, VIP Coordinator announced that there would be an Emergency Preparedness Fair on Saturday, June 10, 2006 at the Felton Community Hall.

4.0 Minutes

No minutes to approve.

5.0 Additions/Deletions

6.0 Oral Communications

Krista Pelikan, VIP Coordinator reported that she is the disaster/emergency preparedness liaison for the Volunteer Center. She helps to coordinate all volunteer efforts during an emergency or disaster. She asked that Commissioners alert her of special needs the disability community may have that can be met by volunteers. Commissioners agreed to forward that information to her.

7.0 Reports

7.1 Commissioners Reports

Chair Stone reported on the following:

} The Shared Adventures Art Show is scheduled for May 13, 2006 at the Art League featuring young artists with disabilities.

} A judge in Los Angeles ruled that homeless persons could not be arrested until more beds at Homeless Shelters were made available.

} IHSS Quality Assurance is being defined. There are currently 1700 – 1850 persons on IHSS in Santa Cruz County. The IHSS forum is scheduled for September 20 at Simpkins Swim Center for providers and agencies, and clients.

} The Cabrillo Stroke Center seeking funding for customizing classes for stroke centers to better meet the needs of clients.

} The exit ramp at Emeline will be closed for repairs until 2008.

Commissioner Schecter reported that HSA staff was informed that they would be trained to be emergency disaster service workers.

Commissioner Bush reported that Shared Adventure’s Day in the Sky event was a success.

Commissioner Cosentino reported that the first meeting of her group to establish a local system to recycle and reuse Durable Medical Equipment (DME). She also reported that there is an increase in persons with new disabilities returning to the streets. She is working with County Mental Health to establish criteria to prevent persons from being discharged prematurely to the streets before they are able to safely.

7.2 Coordinator’s Report:

} The Commission’s first year participating in the Reel Work Labor Film Festival was successful. The event was attended by approximately 39 people and was held at the Attic. A discussion panel featuring Commissioners’ Bush and Stone followed the film, Weirded Out and Blown Away by Sharon Greytak.

} On May 19, 2006 the Cabrillo College Foundation will award the Third Annual Terry Brickley Educational Scholarship.

8.0 Ongoing business

8.1 Updates

Inclusive Home Design/Universal Access: The Commission continued discussions with Mark Deming and Jennifer Hutchinson of the County Planning Department on the Universal Design ordinance criteria from the State. The Commission agreed that the criteria were extremely limited and ineffective especially as it related to Santa Cruz County. They discussed other more creative methods to promote Universal Design such as imposing an in-lieu of fee.

ACTION: The Commission agrees that in order to insure accessibility to the aging population (change in functional abilities) the County needs to implement more effective measures than as proposed by current State legislation.

Msp Heylin/Patrick

Accessible Parking Enforcement: Commissioner Heylin reported that the Sheriff’s Department has requested a list of the areas in the County (unincorporated) that experience the most accessible parking violations. He asked that Commissioners email him with a list of those areas.

Legislation:

Disability Awareness/Cultural Competency: See Coordinator’s Report

Terry Brickley Educational Enhancement Scholarship: See Coordinator’s Report

8.2 Commission vacancy update

9.0 New Business

Next meeting’s agenda:

Meeting adjourned 1:35p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Andrea Smith, Commission Coordinator