MINUTES
Meeting:
December 4, 2006
1. Call
to Order
Chair Knauf called the meeting to order at 6:37 pm
2. Roll
Call
Present: Commissioners Agate, Berg, Boersma, Bogen, Genensky, Hilton, Knauf, Parker and Weller
Absent: Commissioners Arroyo and
Also
present: Julia Brown, Staff Liaison;
3. Approval
of minutes of the October 9, 2006 and November 6, 2006 meetings
Commissioner Genensky moved and
Commissioner Parker seconded to accept the minutes of the October 9, 2006 meeting and November
2006 meeting as amended. The motion passed 6-0-3 on a voice and hand
vote.
4. Westside Center for Independent Living (WCIL)
update: Discussion of and possible
action on items presented by Julie West, WCIL
Julie West reported that there had been five referrals during the month. She again reported that there were increased numbers of homeless walks ins and stated that the SMPD were conducting sweeps of the beaches and Promenade, incarcerating and then releasing homeless individuals into other cities. She reported that the Winter Shelter Program began December 1 at two locations, Community Corporation has opened its marketing list for 2007 and that a large pet care chain is giving gifts of pet care for people with Service/Companion Animals. She stated that WCIL is still actively working with merchant associations regarding accessibility for holiday shopping.
Staff Liaison Brown clarified that the SMPD activity with the homeless was a normal part of an ongoing policy to enforce ordinances and that there is no “dumping” of people into other cities. Discussion ensued.
5. Announcements
and Correspondence
Commissioner
Bogen announced that she had attended the Ethics
Training at
Commissioner
Hilton said community mental health is being expanded under the Mental Health
Services Act. This is a 1% state tax on
personal income.
Chair Knauf reported that the Step Up project had been denied by the City due to a technicality in terms of the property itself that prevented the City from approving it.
Staff
Liaison Brown requested that each Commissioner update their Fax Numbers as
there had been some difficulty distributing information. She reported that there will be a Youth
Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities in
Commissioner Parker announced that UCLA Extension now has a certificate program on Disability Studies.
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 Louisa Fish reported that the BBB shopper shuttle does not accept her access card and she proposed that the Commission consider the issue of CityTV being provided for free to low-income people.
Member
of the public Mark Stern feels his rights under the
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
Chair Knauf proposed that substantive changes
be discussed and that language and punctuation changes be made at another
time. Discussion ensued. Commissioner Agate moved and
Commissioner Weller seconded to create a By-Laws subcommittee to review the
By-Laws. The vote passed on a 8-1-0 on a voice and hand vote.
Commissioners Agate, Bogen, Hilton and Weller
will serve on the subcommittee.
Changes that had been submitted were discussed and a consensus of opinion
noted.
B. Request of Commissioner Agate for discussion of and possible action on City sidewalk repairs
Staff Liaison Brown gave a
summary of the information she had received from EPWM regarding priority of
sidewalk repair when a complaint is made.
Discussion ensued. She will
research the additional questions raised by the Commissioners. Commissioner Agate gave a report on the
- Request of
Commissioner Parker for discussion of and possible action on requesting
additional disability accommodation information in the City’s
Accessibility Guidelines for events
Postponed.
Member of the public Louisa Fish recommends that the disability
accommodation wording on City meeting documents be more specific as to what
accommodations are available.
D. Request of Commissioner Genensky for discussion of and possible action on talking traffic signal installation
The Commission voted 8-1-0 to approve a
draft letter recommending Council support the continued installation of talking
traffic signals.
E. Request of Vice Chair
Arroyo for discussion of and possible action on City response to Commission’s
request for staff sensitivity trainings.
Postponed.
F. Request of Commissioner Parker for discussion of and possible action on recommendations to the City Council on the FY 07-08 City budget
Chair Knauf
asked the Commissioners for recommendations.
Discussion ensued. Chair
Knauf moved and Commissioner Bogen
seconded that Chair Knauf be authorized to write a
letter to City Council expressing the Disabilities Commission’s budget
priorities. The motion passed
unanimously on a voice vote.
G. Request of City staff for discussion of and possible action on Commission involvement in FY2007-2010 Community Development Grant Request For Proposals process
Staff Liaison Brown gave background for
Human Services Manager
9. New Business
A.
Discussion
of and possible action on the January meeting schedule
Staff Liaison Brown gave several options for a Special Meeting date in January. Discussion ensued. Chair Knauf moved and Commissioner Hilton seconded that the January meeting be moved to January 9th at the Library at 5:30 p.m if possible with January 8 and January 2 as possible alternatives. The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
B.
Future
Agenda Items
Chair Knauf requested that any requests for agenda items be
emailed to him or Staff Liaison Brown.
10. Meeting was adjourned at 9:08 p.m. by Chair Knauf.
Approved: Attest:
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