Meeting Minutes- Approved 11/10/05

Date: Thursday, October 13, 2005

Time: Noon-1: 30p.m.

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 12:05 p.m.

2.0 Roll Call

Present: Bob McGaw , Charles Stone, Peter Heylin, Jessie Schecter, Michael Bush

Excused: Joseph Quigg

Guest(s): J Cosentino - OT, Gail Pellerin – Elections Dept., Jeffrey Roth – Housing Choices, Manuel Diaz – County Personnel EEO Dept., Jennifer Hutchinson – County Building Dept.

Staff: Andrea Smith

3.0 Announcements

Jessie Schecter, new Commissioner for the Third District, introduced herself. She works for the County and is interested in invisible disability and hearing impairment issues.

Jeanette Cosentino announced that Foster Anderson is receiving the Humanitarian Award from the California Foundation for Occupational Therapists at the State Conference. The Coordinator offered to send a congratulatory letter from the Commission.

4.0 Minutes

ACTION: The Commission approved minutes for the July meeting.

Msp Mcgaw/Bush

5.0 Additions/Deletions

6.0 Oral Communications

Manuel Diaz reported that he was interested in adding a course on “hiring persons with disabilities” to the County employee Classes schedule.

7.0 Reports

7.1 Commissioners Reports

Chair Stone reported the following:

n A new Executive Director for the Public Authority has been hired. Leticia Garcia is the new IHSS Supervisor.

n Representatives from the IHSS Advisory Committee will attend a future class in Sacramento to find out the criteria for “Quality Assurance”.

n The Medicare and Me booklet is being sent out to everyone in the country has incorrect information. The site may open next week to explain what the options are for consumers. The system requires that you predict any medications you may need in the future which is virtually impossible.

n The Public Authority used to have a registry until funding was cut so now the Senior Network Services has offered to combine their registry with that of the Public Authority. The goal is to reinstate the practice of a live person answering phone calls. Only partial funding has been reinstated.

n There has not been an update on the local emergency disaster plan for persons with disabilities in 15 years. He has been meeting with several members on a committee to explore an update on the plan.

n He was on the Voice on Community TV speaking on single payer healthcare.

Commissioner Schecter reported that Hi-Cap is doing an excellent job in helping consumers to navigate the bureaucracy of Medicare.

7.2 Coordinator’s Report

Tended a table at the Annual Job Fair

8.0 Ongoing business

8.1 Updates

Inclusive Home Design/Universal Access: Commissioners discussed whether the State’s guidelines for County Inclusive Home Design ordinances had gone into effect. They were scheduled to take effect in 2005. Jennifer Hutchinson, County Building Planner, reported that she had not received anything from the State.

Accessible Parking Enforcement: Commissioner Heylin reported that in the Live Oak permit parking area - violators are ticketed throughout the summer by a seasonal paid position.

Legislation: No report

Accessible Parking Enforcement: No report

Disability Awareness/Cultural Competency: Commissioners discussed preparing a Fact Sheet on the local Disability population.

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

8.2 Commission vacancy update

Jeanette Cosentino’s appointment to the Fourth District will be finalized in October.

9.0 New Business

9.1 Gail Pellerin reported on the County Election’s Department’s commitment to accessible voting. There are two full-time employees working on this issue and have worked with a committee with representatives from the disability community. They have relocated 25 polling places with high priority changes and also work to get property owners to make changes. The Help America Vote Act provides funding to get temporary mitigation items to make places accessible – including thresholds, cones, etc. They have also doubled polling place inspectors to provide accommodations when needed. Ms. Pellerin distributed a handout with the Election Department’s plan which is also available on the County website at www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us

The County Election Department also has a very aggressive voter outreach program including in-home voting if necessary. The State Survey tool has changed nine times over the last ten years so it has been difficult to assess the County’s progress due to multiple criteria changes.

They also used a committee to review voting machine. Only two machines have been certified in California so only two could be considered. The Board will decide which machine to use based on the recommendation from the committee.

Jeanette Cosentino reported that local statistics show that by 2010 - 1 in 5 people will be over 60 yrs of age.

Commissioner Bush reported that the County is in need of support from the Commission

ACTION: The Commission approved sending a letter to the State Attorney General Office informing them that the Santa Cruz County Elections Department is doing an outstanding job in mitigating barriers to voting. They demonstrated a willingness to be both responsive and inclusive in working to address access issues in our rural community.

Msp Bush/Stone

Meeting adjourned 1:30p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Andrea Smith, Commissioner Coordinator