Meeting Summary

 

 

Date:               Thursday, June 14, 2007   Approved August 9, 2007

Time:               12:30 – 2:00 p.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 12:30pm.

 

2.0              Roll Call

 

Present:          Charles Stone, Aaron Spencer, Paul Tichnor

Excused:         Joseph Quigg, Bob McGaw, Doug Patrick, Peter Heylin

Absent:            Jeanette Cosentino, Michael Bush

Guest(s):         David Lee, Planning Dept; Virginia Butz, Foster Grandparent; Sylvia Caras, community member; Michael Molesky, IHSS; John Daughtery, Metro; Donna Jacobs, Not This Time Vets (NTTV); Suzette Crow, NTTV; Terry McKinney, community member

Staff:                Mary Thuerwachter, Commission Coordinator

 

3.0 Announcements

 

Sylvia Caras announced that Saturday December 8 is Annual Human Rights Day.  The United Nations Association, Santa Cruz Chapter, will be having Pat Arnold, a disability rights advocate, speak.

 

Voter registration will be doing an outreach to disabled and senior facilities.  Contact Ingar 454-2060 for more information.

 

There will be a conference, Fulfilling the Promise of Human and Civil Rights for PWDs, on July 19 at the San Francisco Hilton, sponsored by DREDF and Center for Independent Living.  (415) 563-8117 for more information.

 

John Daughtery announced that new bus schedules were in effect.

 

Lenz Arts has removed its ramp.  The angle was too steep.  Commissioner Bush looked into the matter and determined that it could not be remedied.

 

4.0 Minutes

5.0 Additions/Deletions

6.0 Oral Communications.

 

Michael Molesky discussed co-hosting a community retreat with the Senior Advisory Council to discuss coordinating advocacy on behalf of seniors and PWDs.  They want representatives from each commission, plus IHSS, Emergency Preparedness, Housing, Meals on Wheel and Mental Health.  He will keep the Commission informed.

 

Donna Jacobs from Not This Time Vets, spoke about the problems facing returning vets, poly-trauma, especially brain injury and PTSD.  The V.A. is overburdened.  Needed services are available at the county or state level but vets are being turned away and told to go to the V.A.  Expertise is needed to figure out how to help Vets.  Meetings including Mental Health, Sheriff and other County Agencies were discussed.  Vets Hall is available for meeting space.  Chair Stone commented that the Commission sees returning vets as part of its purview to support PWDs.  Contact information: scvetsadvo@yahoo.com, 454-0434, home 338-7695.

 

Virginia Butz, foster grandparent, said that she talked with Bud Winslow about the ramps on street corners and un-maintained sidewalks.  She spoke about the Watsonville program that forces property owners to fix sidewalks.  They send a letter and give the property owner 60-90 days to fix.  If not the City of Watsonville will fix and request repayment from the Owner.  The Watsonville program is working well.  Staff will get a copy of their ordinance.  Maria Esther Rodriguez is the contact person at Watsonville Planning Department.

 

Terry McKinney, formerly on the Mental Health Board, spoke about a problem between the County and San Andreas Regional Center.  When there are problems with a client of the regional center, the County does not want to admit them as an emergency to the hospital.   Under the Lanterman Act an MOU between County Mental Health and the Regional Center is reviewed on an annually.  The MOU is currently up for review.  He wants to form an ad hoc committee and requests that the commissioners and the public participate in this process.  Santa Clara County has joint trainings and meets quarterly.

 

7.0 Reports

 

7.1 Commissioner Reports

 

7.2 Coordinator report

Website has not been updated.  However new software has been received.  Commissioner Tichnor agreed to provide support.

 

8.0 Ongoing Business

 

Inclusive Home Design/Universal Access: David Lee, Asst Planning Director, reported on a meeting with Commissioner Patrick, Commissioner Spencer, Mark Demming, Jennifer, John Schlag and himself regarding efforts to educated the public on accessible building design at the planning level   David Lee reported that there was a good exchange of ideas and that Tom Burns, Planning Director, is excited by the approach.  He said that Commissioner Patrick was looking to see if other Wedsites have already set up links for universal and accessible design information.

 

Accessible Parking Enforcement: Staff worked on some ideas for discussion at the next meeting.

 

9.0 New Business

 

Meeting adjourned 1:50 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Mary Thuerwachter, Commission Coordinator