Meeting Minutes- Approved 11/9/06

Date: Thursday, October 12, 2006

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 12:15pm.

2.0 Roll Call

Present: Charles Stone, Joseph Quigg, Doug Patrick, Robert McGaw, Peter Heylin, Aaron Spencer

Excused: Jessie Schecter, Jeanette Cosentino, Michael Bush

Guest(s): Virginia Butz – Community member

Staff: Andrea Smith, Interim Commission Coordinator

3.0 Announcements

4.0 Minutes

ACTION: The Commission approved the September Meeting minutes.

Msp Heylin/Mcgaw

5.0 Additions/Deletions

6.0 Oral Communications.

Community member, Virginia Butz, reported to the Commission that she uses a motorized scooter/wheelchair and has experienced continued difficulty in navigating the streets and crosswalks in Santa Cruz. The police have stopped her several times stating that it is illegal to use a scooter in the bicycle lane. If this is true, then persons with disabilities have no recourse if they are injured while traveling in a bike lane.

Ms. Butz has reported inaccessible sidewalks and crosswalks to the City of Santa Cruz without success. Commissioners agreed to put this issue on next month’s agenda. Commissioner Heylin agreed to research the laws regarding bike lanes.

7.0 Reports

7.1 Commissioners’ Reports

Chair Stone reported that the Governor vetoed Single-Payer Healthcare. He also reported that the new operating system Microsoft VISTA is due to release in November and includes many accessible features.

Commissioner Quigg reported that he is trying to access the trust fund money for one of his accessible living units in Santa Cruz.

Commissioner Patrick reported on progress on the CAP disability report. The schools and the San Andreas Regional Center have been providing information on children and youth with various disabilities. The census covers only age related and physical disabilities. It was acknowledged that any report is only representative due to the limitations of self-reporting.

7.2 Coordinator’s Report.

The Coordinator reported that the Coordinator job description revision was approved by the Union and recruitment will begin on October 16, 2006.

8.0 Ongoing business

8.1 Updates

Inclusive Home Design/Universal Access: Commissioner Heylin reported that he and Commissioner Patrick are scheduled to meet with Tom Burns to discuss ways to address the need for accessible housing. Commissioners reviewed talking points for the meeting.

Accessible Parking Enforcement: Chair Stone reported KGO had a report on the Fremont Volunteer Accessible Parking Enforcement Team. The program generates a significant amount of revenue for the City. Commissioners discussed the lack of progress in Santa Cruz County. Commissioner Heylin reported that attempts to revisit this program have not been successful with the Sheriff’s Department.

Legislation: Commissioner Quigg reported that the City changed regulations to allow higher density housing. This will allow for more accessible low-income units.

Chair Stone reported that the Governor has proposed draft regulations that would allow persons with developmental disabilities (and their families in the case of children) more control to choose what services and supports they might need. The program is called “Self Directed Services”. More information on this program is available at www.dds.ca.gov.

Disability Awareness/Cultural Competency: See item 9.2

Terry Brickley Educational Enhancement Scholarship: No report

8.2 Commission vacancy update

Virginia Butz affirmed that she was interested in applying for appointment to the Commission.

8.3 Emergency Response Protocol for PWD’s

Chair Stone reported that there are only six ambulances available for Santa Cruz. He also reported that he is still trying to get the emergency preparedness plan for the County. There is a new software package that assists in comprehensive system communication in case of an emergency.

9.0 New Business

9.1 Meeting Time

Action: The Commission agreed to change the meeting start time to 12:30p.m.

Msp Spencer/Heylin

9.2 Creating a Stronger and More Cohesive Disability Community in Santa Cruz

Commissioners discussed ways to bring the various disability communities together and ways to facilitate better communication including forums and collaboration with various disability-related organizations. Commissioner Spencer reported that he is working on a business plan to create a network to accomplish this. This project will be a regular item every month.

Commissioner Patrick distributed an outline with steps the Commission can take to achieve a more cohesive community. See attached.

Next meeting’s agenda:

Bike Lane accessibility for motorized scooters and wheelchairs.

Meeting is adjourned at 1:35p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Andrea Smith, Interim Commission Coordinator

Universal Design Taskforce Meeting

In attendance: Peter Heylin, Doug Patrick, Joseph Quigg, Aaron Spencer

Summary To-date:

In response to the Planning Director’s email regarding Universal Design, Commissioners’ Heylin and Patrick discussed strategy for their upcoming meeting with the director of Planning. Commissioner Patrick distributed an outline with talking points including information on the growing aging population.

They discussed revisions and sending the talking points to Mr. Burns prior to their meeting.