MINUTES
Special Meeting: September 16, 2006
Main Library
1. Call
to Order
Chair Knauf called the meeting to order at 10:28 am
2. Administration
of Oath of Office for recently reappointed Commissioners Richardson and Bogen and
Roll Call
The Oath of Office was administered to
Commissioners Richardson and Bogen.
Present: Commissioners Agate, Arroyo, Berg, Boersma,
Bogen, Genensky, Hilton, Knauf and
Absent: Commissioners Parker and Weller
Julia
Brown, Staff Liaison;
3. Approval
of minutes of the August 7, 2006 Meeting
Tabled
4. Westside Center for Independent Living (WCIL)
update: Discussion of and possible
action on items presented by Julie West, WCIL
Julie
West reported that WCIL will be participating in the Westside Shelter and
Hunger Coalition Breakfast and the City of
5. Announcements
and Correspondence
Commissioner
Arroyo announced that he will soon be working in
Commissioner Genensky announced that the new talking traffic signal at Wilshire and 23rd will be installed and urged Disabilities Commissioners to attend the ceremony. He will let Commissioners know the date and time.
Commissioner
Richardson announced that the 415 PCH lawsuit has been dropped. She will be attending a meeting with the
Civil Engineering Architect in
Staff Liaison Brown announced that the LA County Commission on Disabilities is seeking support for a scholarship and that the UCLA Center on Aging is sponsoring a lecture entitled “American Mania: When More is Not Enough” at the Skirball Cultural Center on October 17 at 2 pm.
Commissioner
Hilton said he attended a Friends of Sunset Park—sponsored discussion about a
plan to house the mentally ill. At the
September 7 meeting, Tod Lipka of Step Up on Second, clients, staff and family
members explained Step Up’s program and its goal to purchase a triplex at
Chair Knauf announced that his law firm is part of a lawsuit against a local Boy Scout Troop on behalf of a family of a child with autism.
6. Public Input: Public comment is permitted only on items listed on this agenda. No other business is permitted. Each speaker is limited to two (2) minutes.
None to Report
7. Old Business
A. Report from Disabilities Awareness Month subcommittee
Chair Knauf gave a summary of the activities planned for the Disabilities Awareness Month event which will be held at the Santa Monica Main Library on Saturday, October 28 at 1:00 pm. Staff Liaison Brown stated that the City Council will be proclaiming October as Disabilities Awareness Month. Discussion ensued.
Chair Knauf moved and Commissioner
Arroyo seconded that the Disabilities Commission establish the
Commissioner Genensky moved and
Commissioner Arroyo seconded that the first annual
Staff Liaison Brown reported on articles which have been prepared to
submit to the Daily Press during the month of October. Discussion ensued. Commissioner Agate moved and
Commissioner Richardson seconded that that the four articles written be
approved in concept with the subcommittee making final edits through the end of
the weekend for Staff Liaison Brown to submit to the Daily Press on
Monday. The motion passed unanimously on
a voice and hand vote.
Staff Liaison Brown requested a budget be set for the Disability
Awareness Month activities. She summarized
expected expenses and suggested an amount of $1,200. Discussion ensued. Commissioner Genensky moved and
Chair Knauf seconded that $1,500 be budgeted to pay expenses for the Disability
Awareness Month event. The motion passed
unanimously on a voice and hand vote.
B. Request of
Commissioner Agate for discussion of and possible action on City sidewalk
repairs
Tabled.
C. Request of Commissioner Agate for discussion
of and possible action on recommendations for the City’s standard disability
accommodations at public meetings
Tabled.
D. Request of Chair Knauf for discussion of and possible action on amendments to the By-Laws for the Santa Monica Disabilities Commission
Tabled.
8. New Business: Discussion of and possible
action on:
A. Review
of Accomplishments
Chair Knauf read aloud the list of Disabilities Commission accomplishments for the year 2005-2006, pointing out the Commission’s budget recommendations to City Council. Discussion ensued. Chair Knauf presented a draft of a letter from the Disabilities Commission to City Manager Ewell regarding customer services standards for people with disabilities. Discussion ensued. Chair Knauf moved and Commissioner Bogen seconded that the letter from the Disabilities Commission to City Manager Ewell be approved with final edits to be made by Staff Liaison Brown, Chair Knauf and any other Commissioner that would like to give input. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
Chair Knauf then requested input from each Commissioner regarding how they feel the Commission is doing. Discussion ensued.
B. Goal and priority setting for FY 06-07
Chair Knauf
led a discussion with each Commissioner listing their priorities for the coming
year. All items were listed in one of
three categories. Discussion ensued. Each Commissioner then ranked his/her top
five priorities on the list.
(Final list is
appended to these Minutes)
C. Preliminary workplan and budget for FY 06-07
Tabled.
D.
Commission
recommendations to the City Council on the FY 07-08 City budget
Tabled.
E.
Future
agenda items
Tabled.
10. Meeting was adjourned at 2:07 p.m. by Chair Knauf.
Approved: Attest:
_______________________________ ________________________________
Addendum to the Minutes of the September 16, 2006
Meeting:
Disabilities Commission
Priority Issues, FY 2006-07
Projects:
Public Outreach (getting more
people to come to
meetings)
(6)
Handout listing various
disabilities and information about sensitivity to each (1)
Honoring the founders of the
Commission and/or WCIL
(1)
Accessibility
Guide for the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (0)
Advocacy (with
larger-than-City entities):
Visitability
(State)
(3)
Improving teacher sensitivity
(SMMUSD)
(3)
Wheelchair
access on beach bike path (esp. w/ 415 PCH dev.) (State) (2)
Polling Accessibility
(County)
(2)
Improving IEP process
(SMMUSD)
(1)
Advocacy (with City
entities):
Mobility issues
(9)
(including improving
street/sidewalk quality, BBB sensitivity/stroller policy, installing car
seat mechanism in taxis/dial-a-ride vehicles,
and crosswalk signals)
Homeless
issues
(4)
Affordable
housing
(3)
The City as an employer of
persons with
disabilities
(3)
Providing input on City parks
(as they
develop)
(2)
Awarding contracts based on
disability-friendly design (among other factors) (1)
Getting the sign outside
Council Chambers to specify that, even though
food/drink
are not allowed, water is
OK
(1)
Landlord
education
(1)
The following will also
require some City-level advocacy, even though the City isn’t the deciding body:
Visitability
Wheelchair access on beach
bike path (esp. in 415 PCH development)
Improve teacher
sensitivity/Improve IEP process
Mandatory Items/Already in
Progress:
Disability Awareness Month
Board and Commission Dinner
Video
Sensitivity Trainings
Closed captioning on CityTV
415 PCH input