MINUTES
Meeting: November
6, 2006
1. Call
to Order
Chair Knauf called the meeting to order at 6:40 pm
2. Roll
Call
Present: Commissioners Agate, Berg, Genensky, Knauf, Parker and
Absent: Commissioners Arroyo, Boersma, Bogen, Hilton and Weller
Also
present: Julia Brown, Staff Liaison;
6. 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 Barbara Palilis from Circle of Friends thanked the Disabilities Commission for its recognition of Circle of Friends at the Disability Awareness Month event. She also told the Commission about a summer program that has branched out from the school year program.
Member of the public Nancy Holland spoke of how Circle of Friends has benefited her daughter and other non disabled and disabled students at SAMOHI.
4. Westside Center for Independent Living (WCIL)
update: Discussion of and possible
action on items presented by Julie West, WCIL
Julie
West reported that Thanksgiving dinner will be available for homeless and
elderly on November 22 at the Saint Monica Church and for seniors at Back On Broadway for $2.00.
The American Red Cross is distributing flu shots to eligible
individuals. The
3. Approval
of minutes of the October 9, 2006 Meeting
Chair Knauf moved
and Commissioner Richardson seconded to accept the minutes of the October 9,
2006 meeting as written. The motion passed unanimously on a voice
and hand vote.
5. Announcements
and Correspondence
Chair Knauf announced that the Disability Awareness Month event was a great success. Discussion ensued. Staff Liaison Brown will create a press packet about the event.
7. Report from Commission Liaisons
None to Report.
8. Old Business
A. Request of Chair Knauf
for discussion of and possible action on amendments to the By-Laws for the Santa
Monica Disabilities Commission
Postponed.
B. Request of Commissioner Agate for discussion of and possible action on City sidewalk repairs
Commissioner Agate gave the history of
this item and why the Disabilities Commission became involved in the issue of
accessible sidewalks. Discussion ensued.
Staff Liaison Brown gave a
summary of the information she had received from City departments answering
questions which had been asked at the last meeting. She displayed a chart showing all curb cuts
in the City. Discussion ensued. She will research the additional questions
raised by the Commissioners.
Postponed.
D. Request of Commissioner Parker for discussion of and possible action on recommendations to the City Council on the FY 07-08 City budget
Staff Liaison Brown reminded the
Commission that the City’s budget will be discussed at the January Council
meeting ant that the Disabilities Commission should have a letter or
presentation with its budget priorities complete by that time. Discussion ensued.
9. New Business
A.
Request
of Vice Chair Arroyo for discussion of and possible action on City response to
Commission’s request for staff sensitivity trainings
Staff Liaison Brown read a letter to the Disabilities Commission from Jill Jones, Assistant Director of Human Resources stating that the City Manager supports sensitivity training for staff and that it will be included in customer service trainings for all employees. Discussion ensued.
B.
Request
of City staff for discussion of and possible action on Commission involvement
in FY2007-2010 RFP process
Staff Liaison
Brown presented a memo from Human Services Manager Julie Rusk explaining the
various options for Commissioners to be involved in the upcoming RFP
process. Discussion ensued.
C.
Request
of Commissioner Genensky for discussion of and
possible action on talking traffic signal installation
Commissioner Genensky expressed positive reaction to the new type of
traffic signal installed at
Member of the
public Jerry Rubin spoke against the chirping traffic signals and advocated for
a computerized talking system that would let a person know how many seconds
were left to cross an intersection.
D.
Request
of Commissioner Parker for discussion of and possible action on accessible
playgrounds
Commissioner
Parker distributed an article about an accessible playground which was built in
Calabasas and introduced the concept for something similar to be built in
E.
Future
agenda items
Postponed.
10. Meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. by Chair Knauf.
Approved: Attest:
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