MINUTES
Special Meeting: July 9, 2007
1. Call
to Order
Chair Knauf called the meeting to order at 6:45 pm
2. Roll
Call
Present: Commissioners Arroyo, Berg, Boersma, Genensky, Hilton, Knauf, Parker, and Weller (arrived 7:40 pm)
Absent: Commissioners Agate, Bogen and
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 reported that while attending a
Planning Commission meeting she heard a discussion about a convalescent home on
4. Approval
of minutes of the May 7, 2007 meeting and the June 4, 2007 meeting
Chair Knauf moved and Commissioner Arroyo seconded to accept
the minutes of the May 7, 2007 meeting as written. The motion carried unanimously on a voice and hand vote.
Commissioner Knauf
moved and Commissioner Genensky seconded to accept the minutes of the June 4,
2007 meeting as amended. The motion
carried unanimously on a voice and hand vote.
5. Westside Center for Independent Living (WCIL)
update: presentation by Julie West, WCIL
Julie West reported that:
o SM Services Specialist Lalie Alvarez received four referrals during June, Julie also received four referrals and two renewals for further services;
o WCIL is not accepting new consumers needing assistance only with housing and nothing else temporarily while they are in training;
o
They are sponsoring a women’s group at their
o
WCIL’s HAP funds have been expended for the
year. Their grant from the City of
o She is working with Janet Hand on sensitivity trainings within the City and to private businesses;
o WCIL will again participate in the NBC4 Health Expo in August; and
o Aliza Barzilay is the Interim Executive Director while Mary Ann Jones is on leave.
Discussion ensued.
6. Announcements
and Correspondence
Staff Liaison Hand:
o Sent to City Council a copy of Disabilities Commission’s recommendation for the reappointment of Commissioners Hilton and Berg.
o Announced that she has been appointed the Staff Liaison to the Commission for the Senior Community.
Discussion ensued.
Commissioner Arroyo:
o Reported that there is a HUD funded program called HOMES that is similar to the HAP program which assists agencies to provide housing for people with developmental disabilities;
o Reported on a study done by Protection and Advocacy, Inc. about “Restraint and Seclusion in California Schools”.
7. Report
from Commission Liaisons
Commissioner
Hilton said the Housing Commission forwarded its approval of CD proposals for
FY 2007-10. The City Council concurred
and on April 24th, allocated about $1M for housing costs and for
fair housing. The funding recipients
are: Step Up on Second
($140,418/$169,354), CCSM ($145,000), OPCC ($238,118) and
8. Old Business
A. Request
of Commissioner Parker for discussion of and possible action on recommendations
for revision of City guidelines for accessibility of public events
Nothing
to Report
B. Request of Commissioner Agate for further
discussion of and possible action on letter to Environmental and Public Works
Department regarding street and sidewalk repairs
Nothing to Report
Commissioners
Berg, Boersma, Genensky and Knauf attended the
D. 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 had been unable to meet with Ben Franz-Knight and Sarah LeJeune as Ms. LeJeune had been on vacation. Staff Liaison Hand reported on the options available to the Disabilities Commission to give input to the Planning Department. Discussion ensued. Chair Knauf stated that the subcommittee will meet and bring back recommendations to the Commission.
Commissioner Weller joined the meeting. She announced that she has been elected Chair of the Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities.
E. Request of the Disabilities Awareness Month
Subcommittee for Discussion of and possible action on Disabilities Awareness
Month activities
Chair Knauf stated that the subcommittee had not met and no correspondence had been received from any of the Commissioners. He requested suggestions for venue, entertainment and nominees for the annual award. Staff Liaison Hand requested that a name for the annual award be confirmed. Discussion ensued. Suggestions included an art/performance show at a park, showing a disability related film and/or a poster or essay contest.
Nominees for the annual award were discussed. The DAM subcommittee will bring recommendations to the Commission.
F. Request
of City Staff for discussion of and possible action on the Commission’s annual
retreat
Chair Knauf led
a discussion of when and where the Disabilities Commission’s annual retreat should
happen. Commissioner Genensky moved and Chair Knauf seconded that the
Disabilities Commission’s annual retreat should be held at the
Discussion of topics to be covered at the retreat and food preference were postponed to the next meeting.
New Business:
A. Request of City staff for election of Chair
and Vice Chair for the July 2007-June 2008 year
Election of the Chair. Commissioner Weller nominated and Commissioner Parker seconded the nomination of Commissioner Knauf for the position. There being no other nominations, Commissioner Knauf was elected to the position of Chair 7-0-1 on a voice and hand vote.
Election of the Vice Chair. Commissioner Genensky nominated and Chair Knauf seconded the nomination of Commissioner Arroyo for the position. There being no other nominations, Commissioner Arroyo was elected to the position of Vice Chair 7-0-1 on a voice and hand vote.
B. Request of City staff for discussion of
and possible action on appointment of new/reappointment of existing liaisons to
other commissions and bodies
Chair Knauf explained the importance of the liaisons to the other City Commissions. Discussion ensued. The following liaisons were appointed/reappointed:
Commissioner Hilton -- Housing Commission
Commissioner Genensky -- Commission for the Senior Community
Commissioner Parker – Commission on the Status of Women
Chair Knauf – Recreation and Parks Commission
Chair Knauf -- Accessibility Appeals Board
Chair Knauf --Social Services Commission
Chair Knauf -- Pier Restoration Committee
Commissioner Richardson -- 415 PCH Committee
Commissioner
Parker -- Convention and Vistors Bureau
C. Request
of City staff for discussion of and possible action on adding a standing staff
liaison report item to the agenda
Staff Liaison Hand explained the purpose adding this item to the regular agenda. Discussion ensued. Commissioner Hilton moved and Commissioner Weller seconded that a monthly standing Staff Liaison Report be added to the agenda as item 8. The motion passed unanimously on a voice and hand vote. A vote to change the Rules was postponed as there were not 9 Commissioners present.
D. Request
of City staff for discussion of and possible action on preliminary plan for
disability sensitivity training for City staff
Staff Liaison Hand reported on the preliminary content, timing and presenters of the training. Discussion ensued and recommendations made.
E. Request
of City staff for discussion of and possible action on proposed visitability
policy
Staff Liaison Hand gave an update on the proposed visitability policy and the Building & Safety Commission and Accessibility Appeals Boards’ recommendations. Discussion ensued, but additional discussion was postponed to the next meeting as it was time to adjourn the meeting.
10. Adjournment
Chair Knauf adjourned the meeting at 9:25 pm.
Approved: Attest:
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