MINUTES

Santa Monica Disabilities Commission

Special Meeting:  July 7, 2005

Wise Adult Day Care Center

1510 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica

 

 

1.      Call to Order

 

Chair Arroyo called the meeting to order at 6:39 p.m.

 

2.      Pledge of Allegiance

 

In place of the Pledge of Allegiance, Chair Arroyo requested a moment of silence for all involved in the bombings in London and in memory of Adonis Harris.

 

3.  Roll Call

 

      Present:  Commissioners Agate (arrived at 6:43 pm), Arroyo, Berg, Boersma, Bogen, Genensky, Knauf (arrived 7:00 pm), Parker, Richardson and Weller

 

      Absent:  No absences

 

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

 

4.  Approval of minutes of June 6, 2005 meeting

 

Commissioner Genensky moved and Commissioner Richardson seconded to accept the minutes of the June 6, 2005 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 that WCIL assisted seven new Santa Monica consumers, they are presenting two nominees for the Westside Shelter Awards, they will have a booth at the NBC Health & Fitness Expo in August and that WCIL is working with a group called the Steven Ministry.  Discussion ensued.

 

6.      Announcements and Correspondence

 

Commissioner Parker reported on new equipment available that combines a telephone with captioning.  Commissioner Agate clarified its uses and availability.

 

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.

 

      Member of the public Louisa Fish spoke about problems with Access Services.

 

Chair Arroyo moved and Commissioner Weller seconded to change the order of the agenda to hear Item 9D after item 7 and then return to the original order of the agenda.  The motion passed unanimously on a voice and hand vote.

 

9D.  Presentation by Cultural Affairs staff on Visioning Arts

 

      Jessica Cusick, Cultural Affairs Manager, reported on the City’s Cultural Visioning Process which was the first step in the development of a Cultural Master Plan.  Discussion ensued.

 

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

 

A.     Report from Ad Hoc subcommittee for developing and disseminating a Housing Rights Brochure

 

None to report.

 

B. Advocacy on Gov. Schwarzenegger’s 05-06 Budget proposal, including the Medi-Cal redesign

 

            Chair Arroyo and Staff Liaison Hand reported the latest information on proposed budget changes.  Discussion ensued.

 

            Chair Arroyo moved and Commissioner Weller seconded that Chair Arroyo,  Commissioner Parker and Staff Liaison Hand be empowered to compose a letter to thank local state Representatives thanking for opposing the proposed cuts in IHSS and SSP and to send a copy to relevant committees within the state Government.  The motion passed 9-0-1 on a voice and hand vote with Commissioner Agate abstaining.

 

C.  Report from Disabilities Awareness Month subcommittee

 

      Staff Liaison Hand reported that the subcommittee had discussed hosting a screening of a disability related movie titled “The Seeker”, sponsoring the Disability Awareness Month poster contest and revising a letter written by Commissioner Klein and submitting it for publication in the local newspaper.  Discussion ensued.

 

D. Review of and possible support for the proposed onsite inclusionary affordable housing ordinance

 

            Staff Liaison Hand summarized the background and past discussions of this item.  Discussion ensued. 

 

Member of the public Larry Skuce spoke against the City’s in lieu of fees, the high cost of moving expenses and in favor of more disabled people in Section 8 housing.

 

Member of the public Louisa Fish spoke about Community Corp’s new 44 unit building and questioned how many of the low income units will be accessible.

 

Chair Arroyo moved and Commissioner Bogen seconded that the Disabilities Commission empower Chair Arroyo, Commissioner Parker, Commissioner Knauf and Staff Liaison Hand to compose a letter to City Council to remind them that Housing is the Commission’s priority and that the Commission would like to see the City continue its efforts to increase affordable housing including the effect of in-lieu fees.  The motion passed unanimously on a voice and hand vote.

 

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

 

A.  Election of Chair and Vice Chair for FY 05-06

 

Election of the Chair.  Commissioner Arroyo was the only nominee for this position.  There was a voice and hand vote and Commissioner Arroyo was unanimously voted to the position of Chair.

 

Election of the Vice Chair.  Commissioner Parker was the only nominee for this position.  There was a voice and hand vote and Commissioner Parker was unanimously voted to the position of Vice Chair

 

B.  Agenda planning for September retreat

 

        Staff Liaison Hand summarized potential items for the Disabilities Commission Retreat in September and requested that the Commissioners email any new items to her, Chair Arroyo or Vice Chair Parker.  She confirmed that the date of the retreat is September 17th, 9:30 am at the Ken Edwards Center.

 

C.    Change in minutes format to reflect content of public input

 

  Chair Arroyo explained the background for this item and Staff Liaison Hand explained The City Clerk’s standards for minutes.  Discussion ensued.  Commissioner Agate moved and Commissioner Weller seconded that the minutes include a couple of lines about statements made by members of the public, what they spoke to and what their position was.  The motion carried 7-3 on a voice and hand vote.

 

E.     Commissioner vacancy

 

Chair Arroyo announced that Commissioner Hilton has submitted his resignation.  Staff Liaison Hand had distributed copies of current applications and explained the process for replacing a Commissioner.  Discussion ensued.  Consensus was that all potential candidates be invited to speak at the next Disabilities Commission meeting.

 

Members of the public Larry Skuce and Michele Christensen each spoke to their qualifications to become a Commissioner.

 

F.     Reports from Commission Liaisons

 

None to report.

 

G.  Future agenda items

 

        Staff Liaison Hand distributed a list of recommendations that had been made by Commissioners and members of the public in the past.  She explained that any Commissioner could make a motion to put an item on a future agenda.  Discussion ensued.  Chair Arroyo moved and Commissioner Weller seconded that the No Food or Drink sign outside the Council Chambers be agendized for discussion at a Disabilities Commission meeting after the retreat.  The motion passed 7-3 on a hand vote.

 

Additional items for consideration are 1) GLAD (Greater L.A Deaf) and their level of service to the hard of hearing community and 2) a survey of sidewalks in Santa Monica and a plan for remediation for accessibility.

 

10.    Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. by Chair Arroyo.

 

 

APPROVED:                                                             ATTEST:

 

__________________________                          ______________________

Chris Arroyo, Chair                                                Janet Hand, Staff Liaison