MEETING MINUTES- Approved 10/2/03

Date:               September 4, 2003

Time:               10:00am-11: 30am

Place:              1080 Emeline Avenue, Bldg D, Small Auditorium

                        Santa Cruz, CA 95060

 

1.0       Call to Order

Vice Chair Bush called the meeting to order at 10:07 am.

 

2.0       Roll Call

Present:          Bob McGaw, Jenny Sarmiento, Charles Stone, Michael Bush

Excused:         Deborah Calloway, Peter Mclean, Thomas Ferr,

Guest(s):         Bruce LeClerque- County Flood Control Program Manager, Irma Marquez – Aide for Supervisor Campos, Michael Bradshaw – CCCIL (Central Coast Center for Independent Living), Edith Steward

Staff:                Andrea Smith

 

3.0 Announcements

Commissioner Stone circulated a brochure with tips on lobbying the State Legislature.

 

Michael Bradshaw of CCCIL announced that Disability Awareness Day was coming up.

 

The Commission Coordinator announced that  Elsa Quesada, Executive Director of CCCIL was celebrating her 15-year anniversary with a surprise luncheon in Watsonville. She also announced that the Women’s Commission was sponsoring a memorial photo exhibit of the work of Pulitzer-nominated photojournalist Lucille S. Houston Williams. The exhibit will be held in Watsonville and Santa Cruz in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

 

4.0 Minutes 

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

msp     Mcgaw/Stone      

 

5.0 Additions/Deletions

 

6.0 Oral Communications

Michael Bradshaw of CCCIL reported that the City of Santa Cruz is now charging for parking in accessible parking places in some of the downtown garages and at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. The first 1.5 hours are free.

 

Edith Steward gave an update on her progress addressing Para transit issues at MASTF.  After attending 4 to 5 meetings there has been no progress. The Divisional Director has refused to meet with her and every creative solution has been denied. Michael Bradshaw of CCCIL has volunteered to serve as an intermediary to assist in a resolution. The Commission asked that this item be put on the October agenda.

 

Irma Marquez, Aid for Supervisor Campos, reported on a community member who was denied Para transit services due to criteria which uses functional ability. Throughout all the literature, the eligibility criterion reads as if disability equals eligibility. Over a year ago, the transit district implemented a re-certification process requiring assessment of functional ability of all Para transit consumers. However, the information provided in their literature is confusing. Michael Bradshaw of CCCIL volunteered to work with Supervisor Campos’ office to further investigate this issue. The Commission requested that this item be on the October agenda.

 

7.0 Reports

            7.1 Commissioners Reports

Commissioner Stone reported on the IHSS meeting. Building F, which had been closed due to a mold problem, is now in use again.

 

7.2 Coordinators Report

 

8.0 Ongoing business

8.1 Updates

Accessible Parking Enforcement: volunteers are issuing warning citations.

 

 

8.2 Goals-tabled

 

9.0 New Business

9.1 Housing Element- Add Inclusive Housing Design

9.2 Commission Vacancies

9.3 Levy

Bruce Laclerque, County Flood Control Program Manager, has been working for both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties for past 23 years. He operates and manages the evacuation system for the Pajaro levy. Recently, County Council found County Code that would relieve the County of ownership of a Federal project if they could not afford the cost of maintenance. So on February 25, 2003, the County relinquished control of the Pajaro Valley Levy to the State to resume responsibility for maintenance and liability.

 

There were many factors that contributed to this decision – primarily financial and permit issues. The cost to the counties (both Monterey and Santa Cruz) would be prohibitive. Federal responsibility is at 75%, which leaves a 25% local match. This would be approximately 50-60 million dollars, where Santa Cruz would bear the larger portion due to geographic boundaries. Current estimates are at 35 million dollars.

 

Another contributing factor is that County taxpayers ultimately bear the financial liability of claims when flooding occurs. The State has better resources to deal with this and with permits for repair and maintenance.

 

The transfer of responsibility to the State will entail the following: a resolution, a report on the proposed cost of work to be done, and a determination on who would be assessed to pay levy fees. It has been suggested that those located in the 100-year flood plane area would be taxed. There would be different percentages assessed based on criteria such as single family, agriculture, commercial, etc. It is currently projected that the cost for those in the flood area would double. For this reason, this issue is very controversial.

 

A public hearing has been scheduled and there are various alternatives being explored by community groups such as Action Pajaro. On September 23, 2003 Bruce will present an update on cost estimates and alternatives to the Board of Supervisors.

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

 

Respectfully submitted,

Andrea Smith

Commission Coordinator