MINUTES
Meeting: June 4, 2007
1. Call
to Order
Chair Knauf called the meeting to order at 6:38 pm
2. Roll
Call
Present: Commissioners Agate, Arroyo, Berg, Boersma (arrived 6:47), Bogen, Genensky, Hilton, Knauf, Parker, Richardson (arrived 6:43) and Weller
Absent: None
Also
present: Janet Hand, Staff Liaison;
3. 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.
Commission for the Senior Community liaison Louisa Fish stated that it would benefit many members of the public if paratransit buses could drop of passengers at Bubba Gump’s Restaurant at the Santa Monica Pier to take the elevator up to the top. The buses used by Dial-A-Ride are not allowed on the ramp because of weight restrictions.
4. Approval
of minutes of the May 7, 2007 meeting
The Commission agreed by
consensus to delay considering approval of the May 7 meeting minutes because
several commissioners reported that they either did not remember having seen
them in their packet, or had not reviewed them.
5. Westside Center for Independent Living (WCIL)
update: presentation by Julie West, WCIL
Julie West reported that:
o
SM Services Specialist Lalie Alvarez received
five referrals during May, with an additional six from
o WCIL had a group of nine clients who viewed “It’s Your Call: Homeless in the Community” on CityTV and reported that they enjoyed it and thought it was interesting. WCIL provided popcorn;
o The Westside Shelter and Hunger Coalition will hold its annual recognition breakfast soon; tickets can be purchased at www.wshc.org and are $30.00;
o WCIL’s community action specialist, Fidel wants WCIL to be involved in planning for accessibility as this is often a problem in homeless shelters;
o
She has been actively pursuing providing
sensitivity trainings to private businesses;
o explained the Got-7 Campaign sponsored by the Red Cross to educate people with disabilities how to be prepared for natural disasters.
6. Announcements
and Correspondence
Staff Liaison Hand:
o Distributed copies of the latest LUCE newsletter.
o
Distributed passes for free admission to the
Abilities Expo in in
o Announced that the Accessibility Appeals Board heard the Building Officer’s recommendations for proposed City policies on visitability and that the issue is scheduled to go before the City Council in October as part of the adoption of the new building code.
Commissioner Arroyo announced that he has now finished his training that allows him to educate parents on the best ways to advocate for their children when requesting services from regional centers and school districts. He is ready to provide that training to parent and provider groups.
Commissioner
Bogen told the commission that she will be leaving for
Commissioner
Richardson shared information on a new web-based operation in
7. Report
from Commission Liaisons
There were no commission liaison reports.
8. Old Business
A. Request
of Commissioner Parker for discussion of and possible action on City guidelines
for accessibility of public events
Commissioner
Parker reported that she and Staff Liaison Hand met and have
decided to develop different information for different events and
organizations, including City Staff who set up and run events. Each group will receive information specific
to its situation.
B. Request of Commissioner Agate for
discussion of and possible action on City sidewalk repairs
Commissioner Agate reported that she had not had the opportunity to review and revise the draft of the letter; she will do so and return in July with a revised draft. She asked that other commissioners provide input.
Staff Liaison Hand reported that the issue is not on the agenda for the Recreation and Parks Commission’s meeting for June 21, because they are waiting to get the results of a public input campaign on the preferred design. She relayed that Community and Cultural Services Department Assistant Director Karen Ginsburg asked that commissioners attend a meeting on June 23, 2:30-3:00, at the park at which residents and other park users will give input on the redesign or send a letter because the public input they get at the meeting and through other means will be a significant influence in the choice of the design that’s chosen. Discussion followed.
Chair Knauf moved to allow any
commissioner attending the
D. Request
of City staff to develop funding recommendations to submit to the City Council
for the 2007-08 fiscal year
After discussion, the Commissioners reached consensus that there was no additional input they wished to give.
E. Request of Chair Knauf to develop recommendations for the Pier renovation plans to submit to the Planning and Community Development Department
Chair Knauf stated that the subcommittee has not met yet. Staff Liaison Hand stated that the item is currently scheduled to go to the City Council in late July, but will likely be pushed back to August.
New Business:
A. Request of City staff to consider moving the
date of the July meeting.
After discussion, Chair Knauf moved
and Vice Chair Arroyo seconded to have the July meeting on the 9th
at
B. Request of Chair Knauf for discussion of
and possible action on Disabilities Awareness Month activities
The
Commissioners discussed ideas for observing
Disabilities Awareness Month. Chair Knauf moved and Commissioner Agate seconded
to create a subcommittee to plan DAM activities. The motion passed unanimously. Subcommittee
members are Commissioners
C. Request
of City Staff to review draft guidelines for use of the accessible plots in the
Staff Liaison Hand asked the commission for ideas for advertising the accessible plots in the community garden. Discussion ensued and Chair Knauf asked everyone to send any additional ideas to Staff Liaison Hand.
D. Request
of City Staff to consider recommendations to the City Council for appointments
to two Commission seats opening July 1
Staff
Liaison Hand explained that the openings are Commissioner Hilton’s and
Commissioner Berg’s and that both can be automatically reappointed if the
Commission takes no action. The openings
are because their current terms are up, not because they are termed out. After discussion, Commissioner Weller moved
and Commissioner
10. Adjournment
Chair Knauf adjourned the meeting at 8:40 pm.
Approved: Attest:
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