MINUTES
Meeting: April
3, 2006
1. Call
to Order
Vice Chair Parker called the meeting to order at 7:23 pm
2. Pledge
of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vice
Chair Parker
3. Roll Call
Present: Commissioners Agate, Boersma, Genensky, Hilton, Parker and Weller.
Absent: Commissioners: Arroyo, Berg, Bogen,
Knauf and
Also present: Julia Brown, Staff Liaison; Denise Weddle, Staff Assistant, Human Services Division
4. Approval
of minutes of March 6, 2006
Commissioner Hilton moved and Commissioner Weller seconded
to accept the minutes of the March 6, 2006 meeting as written. The motion passed on a voice and hand vote
with no dissent.
5. Announcements
and Correspondence
Vice Chair Parker expressed appreciation to Commissioner Berg for representing the Disabilities Commission on the annual Commission Dinner video.
Commissioner Genensky thanked everyone for their good thoughts and wishes while he was ill.
6.
Julie West reported that WCIL received 7 referrals. She announced that there will be a New Housing Workshop in April and a roommate mixer held every Friday. She announced that WCIL is out of emergency funds until June, but they are looking for alternative sources. Julie expressed appreciation to Commissioner Agate for her suggestion to keep a list of residences with modifications which might be useful to others looking for homes with those modifications. She said that WCIL will be participating in the Santa Monica Festival, the Older Adult Task Force and the Disabilities Commission Mental Health Month activities.
Member of the public Pro Se urged the Disabilities Commission to write a letter to City Council supporting increased funding for WCIL.
Vice Chair Parker moved and Commissioner Agate seconded to hear Items 10A and 10D next and then return to the regular order of the agenda. The motion passed on a voice and hand vote with no dissent.
10 A. Discussion of and possible action on: Pier Accessibility Update
Ben Franz-Knight, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Pier
Restoration Corporation gave an update of changes and current projects that will
improve accessibility including a tram to improve the parking problem. Discussion ensued.
Member of the public John Whitbread spoke about the inadequate
handicap parking at City Hall and the beach lots and the need for improvement
of the signage at the Pier.
Member of the public Pro Se spoke about 60 handicap parking
spaces that were removed by the City and also stated that the angle of the curb
cut at the beginning of the Pier is too steep for wheelchairs. He proposed a shuttle to assist the disabled in
getting to the Pier.
10 D. Discussion of and possible action on: Smoke-Free Air for Everyone
Marlene Gomez, Project Director of S.A.F.E. (Smoke-Free Air for
Everyone), Esther Schiller, a member of S.A.F.E., and Sharon Miller and Willow
Evans, members of Alliance for Protection from Second Hand Smoke spoke about
the health hazards of second hand smoke and the ordinance they are initiating
to protecting individuals and families from drifting second hand tobacco smoke
in multi-unit housing.
Discussion
ensued. Commissioner Agate
moved and Commissioner Weller seconded to adopt the resolution supporting the
concept of protecting individuals and family from drifting second hand tobacco
smoke from multi-unit housing. The
motion passed on a hand and voice vote 5-0-1 with Commissioner Hilton
abstaining.
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 Pro Se requested that the Disabilities Commission support the
establishment of commissions for older Americans and disabled in other cities
and specifically in the City of
8. Report from Commission Liaisons
Commissioner Hilton announced that the Housing Commission and the
City Council have unanimously forwarded approval of amendments to the
Affordable Housing Production Program.
Public input will be taken at the April 25 City Council meeting.
9. Old Business: Discussion of and possible (further) action on:
A. Collaboration with other commissions on common goals, including appointing liaisons
Tabled.
B. Distribution of housing rights and responsibilities brochure- progress update
Staff Liaison
Brown reported on her research into the distribution of the brochure. Discussion ensued. Vice Chair Parker moved and Commissioner Weller seconded that the
Commission spend up to $700 on the printing and distribution of the
brochure. The motion passed on a voice
and hand vote with no dissent.
C. Visitability
ordinance-update from staff
Staff Liaison Brown
reported on the current status of the ordinance as inactive due to City staff
illness. The item was tabled until the
item is again active.
Member of the
public Pro Se stated his opposition to the Visitability
ordinance.
D. Educational event(s) for Mental Health Month
(May)
Commissioner
Hilton summarized ideas that had been discussed for the May Disabilities
Commission meeting. Discussion
ensued. Commissioner Agate moved and Vice Chair
Parker seconded that not more than $100 be allocated to send out the brochure,
including additional costs for postage and the larger mailing envelopes. The motion passed on a voice and hand vote
with Commissioner Genensky abstaining.
E. Disabilities Awareness Month (October) activity: Programs at the Main Library Auditorium
Tabled.
F.
Review
of the Disabilities Commission website
Tabled.
G.
Disaster
Preparedness Month Presentation
Tabled until June.
H. Support for disabilities commission in
Beverly Hills
Member of the public Pro Se spoke in support of a disabilities
commission in Beverly Hills and requested the Santa Monica Disabilities
Commission write a letter of support for a commission to be established in that
city.
Member of the public Jerry Rubin urged the Disabilities
Commission to write a letter to the City of
10. New Business:
Discussion of and possible action on:
B. 415 PCH information
Staff Liaison Brown
clarified information regarding a possible shuttle to this location.
C. Captioning at City Council Meetings
Commissioner
Agate requested that City Council Meetings have captioning. Discussion ensued.
Member of the
public Pro Se spoke in favor of Closed Captioning being visible inside the City
Council Meetings on a big screen.
E.
Future
agenda items
Vice Chair
Parker requested that any items be emailed to Chair Arroyo or Staff Liaison
Brown.
11. Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m. by Vice Chair Parker.
Approved: Attest:
_______________________________ ________________________________
Chris Arroyo, Chair