MEETING MINUTES- approved 12/4/03

Date: November 6, 2003

Time: 10:00am-11: 30am

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 10:05 am.

2.0 Roll Call

Present: Bob McGaw, Jenny Sarmiento, Charles Stone, Michael Bush, Deborah Calloway, Thomas Ferr

Excused:

Guest(s): Michael Bradshaw – CCCIL (Central Coast Center for Independent Living)

Staff: Andrea Smith

3.0 Announcements

Chair Ferr announced that an Alameda judge ruled that Mervyns is not required to widen their aisles since they average at 32”. Mervyns claims that if required to widen their isles, they would lose money.

Commissioner Stone announced that the Nob Hill/Raleys area is being rebuilt to accommodate an expanded shopping center, which will initiate ADA compliance.

Commissioner Sarmiento invited Commissioners to attend an open house at Family Services of Pajaro Valley on December 11, 2003 at 4-6 pm at 233 East Lake Avenue in Watsonville.

Commissioner Calloway announced that Easter Seals hosts a monthly community meeting to learn about their programs and services. Call 684-2166 to find out the schedule.

4.0 Minutes

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

msp Bush/Stone

5.0 Additions/Deletions

6.0 Oral Communications

Michael Bradshaw distributed CCCIL’s Annual Report and reported on the following activities:

· CCCIL is looking into an incident where a vehicle was towed from an accessible space in a private lot. Evidently, they violated a 2-hour limit, which does permit towing.

· CCCIL is working with community leaders to refocus Paratransit efforts and services under one organization to provide the best service for the most economical cost.

· CCCIL hosted a very successful Disability Awareness Fair from 9-2pm on November 1, 2003 in Watsonville. See MASTF report below.

7.0 Reports

7.1 Commissioners Reports

Commissioner Calloway reported that she went to Washington DC as an Easter Seals delegate. There was a unified message from over a 140 representatives from all over the United States to support disability issues, fully fund IDEA, and incorporate health care principles as listed in the Easter Seals brochure.

Legislators responded that they support disability issues but there are also other issues needing funding.

Commissioner Calloway met with Congressman Mineta on specific issues regarding accessible airline travel. He offered to look into the airline’s refusal to transport those who need special wheelchairs that keep a person sitting upright.

Commissioner Stone reported on In Home Support Services Advisory Commission meeting. The Central Coast Alliance for Health is fighting to stay open. They are waiting to see if the new governor will maintain their funding. The transition from Addis is progressing. The transition has revealed some unethical practices on the part of some caregiver. It has been reported that a few caregivers have been demanding mileage reimbursement from clients to run errands. The Public Authority does not pay mileage like Addis did.

Also regulations have changed and adaptive equipment will no longer count as an asset for SSD.

Finally, the Public Authority Director wants to host a disability workshop in Santa Cruz modeled after one recently held in San Francisco. The workshop would be targeted toward community-based organizations.

7.2 Coordinators Report

· The Coordinator will work with Commissioner Sarmiento on securing a Watsonville location for the May 2004 meeting.

· There are 3 openings on the Commission.

8.0 Ongoing business

8.1 Updates

Inclusive Home Design : Chair Ferr reported that AB 1400 (Department of Housing and Community Development) will be putting together model Inclusive Home Design /Universal codes by 2004 for counties to use and implement in January of 2005. Ninety (90) days after the model code is developed, a list of universal design features will be provided to developers to pass on to their clients prior to code implementation.

John de Courcy, County Building Official, raised the question on whether more restrictive requirements could be implemented as is done in other areas of the building code.

Accessible Parking Enforcement: The Coordinator reported that courtesy notices are being distributed to violators. There is a current shortage of volunteers in certain districts so it is not being done county-wide. Ticketing violators is suspended until funds for liability insurance and a willing insurer is secured.

Legislation: see IHD update above.

Cultural Competency: Commissioner Sarmiento reported that the standards and guidelines have been finalized. Orientation for non-profit organizations has been held in both North and South County. The first year the agencies will asked to focus on where they are at using geographic information from the census. The next step will be to identify where they need improvement at every level – staff through board.

8.2 Goals

The Commission reviewed the goals and assigned timelines.

9.0 New Business

9.1 Terry Brickley Educational Enhancement Scholarship

Chair Ferr reported that he sent out over 60 donation letters and has met with all County Supervisors informing them of the establishment of the scholarship.

The Coordinator reported that scholarship information has been added to the Commission web page and that the Cabrillo College Foundation has agreed to house and distribute the scholarship.

9.2 Circuit City and Rancho Del Mar

The Coordinator reported on issues regarding accessibility that were reported to the Commission by community member.

· The Circuit City parking lot was out of compliance. John de Courcy added that the Planning Department had approved the original plans in error. However, due to a customer complaint, Circuit City rectified the error.

· The Rancho Del Mar Parking lot was resurfaced which triggered access regulations. Additional accessible parking spaces were added and some were moved. An accessible space located in front of the Coffee Roasting was moved due to the grade.

In addition, to the parking lot resurfacing, the Safeway remodel triggered full accessibility regulations. John de Courcy reported that the initial plans did not contain accessibility requirements, therefore the remodel permit was denied until plans reflected accessibility requirements. Safeway placed their accessible parking spaces closest to the entrance, however they do require that customers cross traffic to get to the entrance. John de Courcy added that the County does not have authority to change the traffic pattern.

Rancho Del Mar spent 20% of the project budget to improve the lower parking lot even though it is not completely in compliance – it met the exemption requirements.

9.3 MASTF

Michael Bradshaw of CCCIL reported that as of now MASTF still exists but has been restructured. They have lost their funding which means no staff and no more free passes for members. They will remain as an advisory committee.

The meeting adjourned at 11:40a.m. (msp McGaw/Stone)

Respectfully submitted,

Andrea Smith

Commission Coordinator