MINUTES

Santa Monica Disabilities Commission

Special Meeting:  January 3, 2005

Ken Edwards Center

1527 4th St., Santa Monica

 

 

 

1.      Call to Order

 

Chair Arroyo called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.

 

2.      Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chair Arroyo.

 

3.  Roll Call

 

      Present:  Commissioners Arroyo, Bogen, Genensky, Hilton, Parker and Richardson

 

      Absent:  Commissioners Agate, Boersma, Knauf and Weller.

 

      Also present:  Janet Hand, Staff Liaison; Denise Weddle, Staff Assistant, Human Services Division

 

4.  Approval of minutes of December 6, 2004 meeting

 

Commissioner Hilton moved and Commissioner Parker seconded to accept the minutes of the December 6, 2004 meeting as written.  The motion passed on a voice and hand vote with no dissent.

 

5.      Report from WCIL’s SM Outreach Coordinator

 

Julie West reported on the referrals that WCIL had received during December and their work to find accessible cold weather shelters.  She also explained the procedure for obtaining an application for Community Corporation’s 2005 housing list and announced that Salvation Army will no longer be serving lunch to homeless individuals.

 

6.      Announcements and Correspondence

 

Staff Liaison Hand announced that Stacy Rowe, the new Human Services Administrator will start in her position on January 10.

 

Commissioner Parker requested an update on the complaint about the lack of parking places for the disabled at Supergo Bikes.  Staff Liaison Hand reported that she has turned it over to Building and Safety and she will follow up.

 

7.  Public input:  The Commission will hear from the public on topics of interest to the Commission that are not on this agenda.  Each speaker is limited to two (2) minutes.

 

      Members of the public Pro Se and Louisa Fish spoke.

 

8. Old Business:  Discussion of and possible (further) action on:

 

A.     Commission’s FY 05-06 budget recommendations to City Council

 

Chair Arroyo presented the letter that was written to City Council with the Disabilities Commission’s recommendations.  Discussion ensued and minor changes were recommended.

 

B.  Recommendation for filling Commission vacancy

 

Chair Arroyo stated that there was an additional applicant for the vacancy on the Disabilities Commission since the December meeting.  Discussion ensued.  Commissioner Parker moved and Commissioner Hilton seconded to recommend to City Council that Glenda Berg be appointed to fill the vacancy on the Disabilities Commission.  The motion passed on a voice and hand vote with no dissent.

 

9.   New Business:  Discussion of and possible action on:

 

A.     Report from Ad Hoc subcommittee on housing survey

 

Chair Arroyo presented the letter that was written to City Council requesting a visitability ordinance.  Discussion ensued.

 

Chair Arroyo explained that he has had discussions with Julie Rusk, Manager of the Human Services Division, and learned that the Disabilities Commission will not be able to conduct the survey of CCSM clients.  Discussion ensued.  Staff Liaison Hand will request Peter Mezza, Housing Authority Administrator and Joan Ling, CCSM Executive Director to attend the February Disabilities Commission meeting to discuss the type of fact finding surveys they conduct.

 

Chair Arroyo then explained the need for a brochure explaining the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords.  Commissioner Hilton presented a draft of suggested points to be included in the brochure.  Discussion ensued.

 

B.    Request from the Commission for the Senior Community for more information on captioning for City TV programming

 

Commissioner Genensky reported that the Commission for the Senior Community is willing to write a letter of support for the Disabilities Commission’s recommendation for captioning on the City TV station.  Discussion ensued.

 

C.    Reports from Commission Liaisons

 

Staff Liaison Hand gave a summary of the goals of the Commission on the Status of Women.

 

Staff Liaison Hand reported that the City of Santa Monica Planning Department is working on a project called Shape the Future 2025.  They will make a request to speak to the Disabilities Commission probably in May.  Commissioner Richardson was appointed the Disabilities Commission Liaison to the Planning Commission.

 

Chair Arroyo moved and Commissioner Bogen seconded to return to Item 8A.  The motion passed on a voice and hand vote with no dissent.

 

Commissioner Parker suggested adding to the letter a request that the lack of accessibility of the men’s restrooms in City Hall be researched.  Discussion ensued.  It was decided by consensus that the subject will be handled as a separate issue in the future.

 

D.    Future agenda items

 

Staff Liaison Hand suggested current health care legislation in California which affects people with disabilities and seniors.  The topic will be agendized for the next meeting.

 

10.    Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. by Chair Arroyo.

 

 

APPROVED:                                                             ATTEST:

 

__________________________                          ______________________

Chris Arroyo, Chair                                                   Janet Hand, Staff Liaison