Meeting Minutes- Approved 10/12/06

Date: Thursday, September 14, 2006

Time: Noon -1: 30p.m.

Place: 1400 Emeline Avenue, Bldg K, Room 206, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

1.0 Call to Order

Acting Chair Bush called the meeting to order at 12:30pm.

2.0 Roll Call

Present: Jeanette Cosentino, Michael Bush, Doug Patrick, Robert McGaw, Peter Heylin, Aaron Spencer

Excused: Jessie Schecter, Charles Stone, Joseph Quigg

Guest(s): Gail Pellerin, County Clerk

Staff: Claire Schwartz, Personnel Department

3.0 Announcements

Commissioner Spencer introduced himself as Supervisor Pirie’s new District 2 appointee. The Commissioners welcomed him to the Commission. Commissioner Stone and each of the other Commissioners present provided a brief description of their backgrounds and areas of interest on the Commission.

4.0 Minutes

As the Commission did not meet in August there were no minutes to approve.

5.0 Additions/Deletions

6.0 Oral Communications

County Clerk Gail Pellerin demonstrated the new Sequoia Voting System, a Direct Recording Electronic device that the County has purchased in order to comply with the mandate of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) to allow any voter with any disability to vote privately and independently. Each polling site in the upcoming November election will have at least one Sequoia machine, as well as paper ballots. The Sequoia machines have Braille, audio voting and large screen enhancement for the visually impaired, Spanish language ballots, connections for sip and puff mouthsticks and special leg assemblies that meet the requirements of the ADA and Title 24. The machines permit overvoting (also known as second chance voting) and provide a vote verification paper audit trail.

Commissioner Cosentino suggested that the machines would benefit from the addition of an upper arm support mechanism, such as a clip-on arm support. Ms. Pellerin assured the Commissioners that the machines would continue to be refined in order to ensure maximum accessibility.

The Commissioners agreed to send a thank you letter to the County Elections Department for its commitment to improving access to voters with disabilities.

7.0 Reports

7.1 Commissioners’ Reports

Commissioner Spencer reported that he recently spoke with Jim Davies from the Planning Department about the poor accessibility in the courtroom in the basement of the County building, and Mr. Davies agreed to investigate this situation.

Commissioner Cosentino reported that she is working with a Beriatric Task Force at Dominican Hospital to design a self-paced learning module for Dominican employees on beriatrics (persons of very large weight)

Commissioner Patrick reported that Monterey County recently conducted a housing survey on persons with disabilities and is now exploring Universal Design.

7.2 Coordinator’s Report

The Coordinator resigned effective September 8, 2006 but has agreed to stay on as extra help from 6-8 hours/week until a new Coordinator is hired. The Personnel Department is currently revising the Coordinator job description and job bulletin, and will submit these documents to the Commission for review prior to opening the recruitment. A member of the Commission will be invited to participate in the selection process.

8.0 Ongoing business

8.1 Updates

Inclusive Home Design/Universal Access: Commissioner Heylin reported that the Task Force on Universal Design met prior to the full Commission meeting to discuss strategy for promoting Universal Design. The Task Force plans to request a meeting with Planning Director Tom Burns regarding Universal Design, and depending on Mr. Burns’ response, to follow up with their appointing supervisors for further direction. The Task Force is working on developing a plan to build in incentives in the Planning Department’s fee schedule for builders who utilize Universal Design, and to allow those who do not wish to use Universal Design to pay in-lieu fees instead.

Accessible Parking Enforcement: No Report

Legislation: No Report

Disability Awareness/Cultural Competency: No Report

Terry Brickley Educational Enhancement Scholarship: No Report

8.2 Commission vacancy update

Supervisor Pirie has appointed Aaron Spencer as the second District 2 Commissioner. One vacancy remains in District 4.

9.0 New Business

Next meeting’s agenda:

Commissioner Spencer requested that the Commission change its meeting time to 12:30 rather than 12:00 in order to coincide with the bus schedule. The Commissioners present all stated that they would not object to this change, and agreed to place the proposed change on the agenda for the next meeting.

Commissioner Spencer also requested that an item be placed on the next agenda regarding the creation of a stronger and more cohesive disability community with improved social networks.

Meeting adjourned 1:00p.m.