MINUTES
Special Meeting:
February 7, 2005
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 Agate, Arroyo, Boersma, Bogen, Genensky, Hilton, Knauf (arrived 7:00 pm) and Parker
Absent: Commissioners Richardson and Weller
Also
present: Councilmember Katz, Council
Liaison;
4.
Approval of minutes of January 3, 2005 meeting
Chair Arroyo moved and Commissioner Genensky seconded to
accept the minutes of the January 3, 2005 meeting as written. The motion passed on a voice and hand vote
with no dissent and Commissioner Boersma abstaining.
Staff Liaison
Hand introduced LaVerne Ross, Commissioner from the
Commission for the Senior Community and their liaison to the Disabilities
Commission.
5. Report from WCIL’s SM Outreach Coordinator
Julie West reported on the
referrals that WCIL had received during January and their expanded outreach
efforts to young adults in the
6. Announcements and Correspondence
Commissioner Bogen announced that she has earned two
stripes for her green belt.
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 Linda Armstrong spoke.
Commissioner Agate moved and Chair Arroyo seconded to change the order of the agenda to hear Item 9F after item 7 and then return to the original order of the agenda. The motion passed unanimously on a voice and hand vote.
9.
F. Review of the City’s proposed action plan to
address homelessness
Staff Liaison Hand introduced Tod Lipka, Executive
Director of Step Up On Second who presented their new
housing project to benefit people with mental illness. Discussion ensued. Commissioner Parker moved and
Commissioner Bogen seconded that the Disabilities Commission support, in
concept, the housing efforts of Step Up On Second to
provide permanent housing. The motion
passed on a voice and hand vote 6-2-0 with Commissioners Boersma and Hilton
voting against. Commissioner Boersma stated she wants to wait until after the public
hearings. Commissioner Hilton voted
against the motion because he believes the commission should approve the
project, not just the concept.
Staff Liaison Hand explained the three staff reports presented to City Council in January relating to homelessness in the City and how these community projects affect the Disabilities Commission. Discussion ensued. It was decided that as a large proportion of the homeless also have a disability, the Disabilities Commission would like to be made aware of the progress on these items, but will take no direct action at this time.
8. Old Business: Discussion of and possible (further) action on:
A. Report from Ad Hoc subcommittee on housing brochure
Commissioner
Hilton reported on the progress made on the brochure and the information
collected to include in the brochure.
Discussion ensued.
Member
of the public Pro Se spoke.
Chair Arroyo moved and
Commissioner Bogen seconded to create a Housing Subcommittee which will create
a leaflet and a plan for the dissemination of information for tenants with
disabilities and landlords. The motion
passed on a voice and hand vote 7-0-1 with Commissioner Agate abstaining. Chair Arroyo and Commissioners Bogen, Hilton,
Knauf and
9. New Business: Discussion of and possible action on:
A. Advocacy on Gov. Schwarzenegger’s 05-06 budget proposal, including the Medi-Cal redesign
Staff Liaison
Hand summarized the information sent to the Commissioners regarding the
Governor’s budget proposal. Discussion
ensued.
Members of the
public Pro Se and Ann McHugh spoke.
Chair
Arroyo moved and Commissioner Hilton seconded that Commissioners Arroyo and
Parker and Staff Liaison Hand write a letter from the Disabilities Commission to
the Governor’s Office opposing the proposed budget cuts in Medi-Cal. The motion carried on a hand and voice vote
with no dissent.
B. Report on accessible men’s restroom in City Hall
Staff Liaison
Hand reported on the history and problems with making the men’s restrooms in
City Hall accessible and her current efforts to again bring the problem to City
staff. Discussion ensued. Commissioner
Knauf moved and Commissioner Boersma seconded that a letter be drafted from the
Disabilities Commission to the City Council in support of retrofitting the City
Hall bathroom so it’s accessible, and providing a public toilet until that time
it’s done, for public use. The motion
carried on a hand and voice vote with no dissent.
Commissioner Knauf moved and Commissioner Agate seconded that the remainder of the agenda be tabled and the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried on a hand and voice vote with no dissent.
10. Meeting
was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. by Chair Arroyo.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
__________________________ ______________________
Chris Arroyo, Chair