MEETING MINUTES- approved 11/6/03

Date: October 2, 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 10:07 am.

2.0 Roll Call

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

Excused: Peter Mclean

Guest(s): Michael Bradshaw – CCCIL (Central Coast Center for Independent Living), Barbara Flynn and Angel Millhouse - CCAH, Susan Hogue – Epilepsy Network

Staff: Andrea Smith

3.0 Announcements

Commissioner McGaw announced that television series “This Old House” sent out information on universal design.

Vice Chair Bush announced that local activist, Terry Brickley, passed away. There will be a public memorial on November 1, 2003 at the Memorial Chapel and Cayuga Vault on Soquel.

Michael Bradshaw announced that CCCIL will be conducting a Disability Awareness Fair at Ramsey Park on November 1, 2003. To reserve a table, please contact Maria Rodriquez. He also announced that the television series, “Monster Garage”, featured a show where a BMW SUV was altered to be accessible.

Commissioner Calloway distributed Gubernatorial candidate questions and answers. She also announced that she will be going to Washington DC as a delegate for Easter Seals.

4.0 Minutes

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

msp Bush/Mcgaw

5.0 Additions/Deletions

· Add Respite Care to November agenda – Use it or lose it

· Add Watsonville meeting location to November agenda

6.0 Oral Communications

7.0 Reports

7.1 Commissioners Reports

Commissioner Calloway reported that the San Andreas Regional Center is discussing a policy change that would no longer allow parents to accumulate respite care hours but would lose them if not used within the month. There are many parents that accumulate their hours to use during the summer to take advantage of Camp Harmon attendance. This would end this practice and create a hardship for parents. This item will be put on the November Agenda and the Coordinator will call to invite a representative from the San Andreas Regional Center.

Commissioner Stone reported that the Addis bid for IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) was significantly over budget so they will be out-phased for IHSS services. The County is now providing the services themselves. The Public Authority is overseeing and integrating former Addis workers into the County system. The possibility that benefits could increase for workers at no extra cost was discovered in the transition. Consumer surveys are being collected and respite and night care are being worked out. The Public Authority is also saving money by training workers in-house. Training includes CPR, lifting, and other job related areas. UC Davis is providing training in infection control.

7.2 Coordinators Report

· The Women’s Commission is sponsoring a Memorial Photo Exhibit for Domestic Violence Awareness month. The photos displayed are those of photojournalist Lucille Williams Houston, who was murdered by her husband in 2001.

· The annual Job Fair is scheduled for October 1, 2003 at the Coconut Grove. The Commission will sponsor a table with Commission and community information.

8.0 Ongoing business

8.1 Updates

• Inclusive Home Design – Chair Ferr reported that AB 1400 was amended, passed, and has gone to the governor for his signature. This bill will allow Inclusive Home Design Ordinances to be passed locally as of January 1, 2005.
• Accessible Parking Enforcement: no report
• Legislation: no report
• Cultural Competency- Commissioner Sarmiento reported that the County standards are almost completed. Forms are being revised and lots of technical assistance will be provided to the agencies.

8.2 Goals – tabled

9.0 New Business

9.1 Terry Brickley

Chair Ferr reported on the proposal to develop a Terry Brickley Memorial Education Advancement Scholarship.

ACTION: The Commission approved establishing a Terry Brickley Memorial Education Advancement Scholarship Fund.

msp Bush/stone

9.2 Commission vacancies

9.3 MASTF Paratransit Issues- Vice Chair Bush reported that the Metro Board declined Edith Steward’s request because she lives outside of Santa Cruz County.

9.4 CCAH Policy On Non-Emergency Transportation and Interpreter Services

Barbara Flynn reported that Language Services would be cut and approval of services more narrowly defined. They have renegotiated rates to make it more affordable and conditions will now apply for what is and is not approved. Services will be culturally and linguistically approved.

An audit revealed that over 3 million dollars was being spent on transportation. From now on only medically related transportation requests will be authorized. All Medi-Cal covered services will be authorized and course of treatment transportation will be approved ahead of time.

All benefits are guaranteed, however they just will be delivered differently to insure that CCAH remains solvent. To reduce costs, upper management positions are not being replaced.

CCAH is also working with the foster care system and the San Andreas Regional Center to insure that development assessments are provided for children with disabilities.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Andrea Smith

Commission Coordinator