MINUTES
Meeting: May
2, 2005
1. Call
to Order
Chair Arroyo called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m.
2.
Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by
Chair Arroyo
3. Roll Call
Present: Commissioners Agate, Arroyo, Berg, Boersma, Bogen, Genensky, Hilton, Parker and Weller
Absent: Commissioners Knauf and Richardson
Also
present:
4. Approval
of minutes of April 4, 2005 meeting
Chair Arroyo moved and Commissioner Parker seconded to
accept the minutes of the April 4, 2005 meeting as written. The motion passed on a voice and hand vote
with no dissent and Commissioner Boersma abstaining.
5. Report from WCIL’s SM Outreach Coordinator
Julie West reported that WCIL has
seen an increase in the number of teenage consumers and referrals during April,
that their Roommate Registry is very active and that they will be giving
presentations at Community Corporation and Santa Monica High School regarding
service animals and reasonable accommodations.
6. Announcements and Correspondence
Staff Liaison Hand shared the thank
you card received from Connections for Children for the books that the
Disabilities Commission had donated during Disabilities Awareness Month. She distributed a survey from the Cultural
Affairs Department for the Commissioners to complete and announced that Step Up On Second is again hosting a series of lectures on mental
illness in May.
Commissioner Hilton reported
that Western Law and Disability Rights Center has requested that their name be
removed from a flyer distributed by Community Corporation of Santa Monica.
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, Larry Skuce, Maxine Hayden and Anita Philips spoke.
8. Old Business: Discussion of and possible (further) action on:
A. Report from Ad Hoc subcommittee on housing information
Chair Arroyo
presented the question of dissolving this subcommittee at this time. Discussion ensued.
Member of the
public Pro Se spoke.
Chair Arroyo moved and
Commissioner Weller seconded that the subcommittee on housing information be
dissolved. The motion passed unanimously
on a voice and hand vote.
B. Report from
Ad Hoc Subcommittee for developing and disseminating a Housing Rights Brochure
Chair Arroyo presented a
draft copy of a brochure and requested that comments/suggestions be returned to
him within two weeks. Discussion ensued.
Member of the public
Maxine Hayden spoke.
Commissioner Parker moved
and Commissioner Bogen seconded that a low cost, 500 copies version of the
Housing Rights Brochure be printed. The
motion passed 8-0-1 on a voice and hand vote with Commissioner Agate abstaining.
C. Advocacy on Gov. Schwarzenegger’s 05-06 budget proposal, including the Medi-Cal redesign
Staff Liaison Hand summarized some of the impact of the Medi-Cal
redesign. Discussion ensued.
Member of the
public Pro Se spoke.
Commissioner Agate moved
and Commissioner Genensky seconded that the Disabilities Commission authorize
its Chair and Vice Chair to compose a letter to advocate on behalf of people
with disabilities including a possible solution to Medi-Cal
fraud by sending a statement back to the beneficiary, in case some action has
to be taken before their next meeting. The
motion passed on a voice and hand vote with no dissent.
D. Additional support for Circle of Friends program at Santa Monica High School
Staff Liaison Hand reported
that the Disabilities Commission’s contribution to Circle of Friends had been
hand delivered today, invited the Commissioners to the Circle of Friends annual
dinner and presented a list of additional needs. Discussion ensued. Consensus was that the Disabilities
Commission will not give further monetary support to the Circle of Friends this
fiscal year.
E. Update on Non-Profit Profiles taping for CityTV
Chair Arroyo described
the taping and several of the topics that were discussed. Discussion ensued.
9. New Business: Discussion of and possible action on:
A. Report from Commissioner Hilton on the Housing Rights Summit
Commissioner
Hilton reported on the conference and distributed a written summary. Discussion ensued.
Member of the
public Maxine Hayden spoke.
B. Year-end budget recommendations to City
Council
Staff Liaison
Hand summarized the City’s budget process and the Disabilities Commission’s
part in the budget process. Discussion
ensued.
Member of the
public Pro Se spoke.
C. Mental health awareness event planned for
August
Staff
Liaison Hand reported on the event proposed by an independent promoter to
happen during the summer. Discussion
ensued.
D. Change of date for July meeting to avoid
conflict with the Independence Day holiday
Chair
Arroyo explained the need to change the July meeting due to the conflict with a
holiday and Staff Liaison Hand offered alternative dates in July. Discussion ensued.
Chair Arroyo moved and Commissioner
Genensky seconded that the Disabilities Commission move its July meeting to
July 7th with July 11th as an alternate. The motion passed on a voice and hand vote
with no dissent.
E.
Change
of location for June, July or August meeting
Staff Liaison
Hand presented the possibility of a one time meeting in an alternate location,
if the location can meet all the requirements of the Disabilities
Commission. Discussion ensued. Staff Liaison Hand will look into the
possibility of meeting at the WISE Adult Day Care Center on Pico.
Member of
the public Pro Se spoke.
F.
Date
for annual retreat
Chair Arroyo
recommended that the date of the retreat be kept in September. By a show of hands, September 17th
was chosen as the best date for all Commissioners and the date was tentatively
set.
G. Nominations for Chair and Vice Chair of the
Commission
Member of the public Pro Se spoke.
Chair Arroyo requested nominations for the position of Chair. Commissioner Genensky nominated and Commissioner Boersma seconded the nomination of Commissioner Arroyo for Chair. As there were no other nominations, nominations were closed.
Chair Arroyo requested nominations for Vice Chair. Commissioner Hilton nominated and Commissioner Weller seconded the nomination of Commissioner Parker for Vice Chair. As there were no other nominations, nominations were closed
H. Planning for Disability Awareness Month
Activities
Chair Arroyo requested input regarding
possible activities for this year.
Discussion ensued.
Member of the public Pro Se spoke.
Chair Arroyo moved and Commissioner Weller
seconded to establish a subcommittee for Disability Awareness Month. The motion passed unanimously on a voice and
hand vote. Commissioners Boersma, Parker, Weller and
Bogen will serve on the subcommittee.
I. Reports from Commission Liaisons
Commissioner
Genensky reported on the Commission for the Senior Community meeting, and that
there were no issues related to the Disabilities Commission.
Commission for
the Senior Community Vice Chair and member of the
public LaVern Ross spoke on the current Commission for the Senior Community
activities.
J. Future agenda items
Member of the public Pro Se spoke
Commissioner Agate requested: 1. The issue of public input in meeting
minutes, 2. the issue of elevators in Community Corps buildings, 3. accessible
sidewalks and the City’s schedule for sidewalk repair, and 4. dealing with the
sign at the door to the City Council Chambers making it clear that it is OK to
bring water into the City Council Chambers.
Commissioner Parker requested:
1. Information about the meeting the Arts Commission is holding this
month and 2. have someone from Arts Commission come and speak to Disabilities
Commission regarding their questionnaire.
10. Meeting was adjourned at 9:16 p.m. by Chair Arroyo.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
__________________________ ______________________
Chris
Arroyo, Chair