MINUTES
Special Meeting:
1. Call
to Order
Chair
Knauf called the meeting to order at
2. Roll
Call
The Oath of Office was administered to Commissioners
Berg and Hilton.
Present: Commissioners Agate, Arroyo, Berg, Bogen, Boersma
(arrived
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.
Nothing to report
4. Approval
of minutes of the August 6, 2007 meeting
Chair Knauf moved and Commissioner Richardson seconded to
accept the minutes of the
5. Westside Center for Independent Living (WCIL)
update: Discussion of and possible
action on items presented by Julie West, WCIL
Julie
West reported that she had received six referrals and SM Services Specialist
Lalie Alvarez received four referrals during August. She also summarized a “case study” of a
6. Announcements
and Correspondence
Commission for the Senior Community Liaison Fish announced that there is a website called Insight Cinema with information regarding hearing impairment. She reported that Dial a Ride does go the elevator by Bubba Gump on the pier but it only runs to 1:30 pm on Sundays.
Staff Liaison Hand announced that the Disabilities Commission will pay for any commissioner who wishes to attend the “Celebrating Success” breakfast sponsored by the Westside Hunger Coalition. The deadline to RSVP is September 24. Commissioners Knauf and Bogen said they will go and Commissioner Parker said she will tentatively attend.
Commissioner Hilton announced that the Santa Monica Police Department has a unique program to register seniors and individuals with disabilities with a cognitive problem, individuals who have a tendency to get lost, stray or who need to be located. The SMPD takes the individual’s photograph and the police keep the information on file for emergency response. The program is voluntary.
Commissioner
Arroyo gave an update on the federal legislation introduced that would revise the
Americans with Disabilities Act. He will
distribute a copy of the act next month.
He also announced that the annual COPA conference will be held
Chair Knauf announced
that “Respect-Ability”, a disability advocacy conference, will be held October 12-13
at the LAX Marriott, 5855 W. Century Blvd.
He gave an update to the article regarding the homeless gentleman in a
wheelchair who is working with WCIL and homeless service agencies. Discussion ensued. Consensus was that the commission might
consider a subcommittee to look at disabled homeless issues. He also announced that the
Interpreter
Hope announced that “Deaf Festival Los Angeles” would be held September 16 at
7. Report
from Commission Liaisons
Commissioner
Hilton announced that the city’s Housing Division has approved a +$2 million
loan for Step Up on Second to purchase an 8 unit motel. The property is located near
Commission for the Senior Community Liaison Fish reiterated that she would like to see a joint meeting of the two commissions to address the issues of transportation, such as Dial-A-Ride and Big Blue Bus and visitability.
Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities Chair Weller reported that its annual Access Awards Luncheon will be held October 15 at the New Otani Hotel.
Chair Knauf moved and Commissioner Arroyo seconded that Item 9A be heard next and then return to the order of the agenda. The motion carried unanimously on a voice and hand vote.
9. New Business:
A. Request of Chair Knauf to discuss and take action on setting goals and objectives for FY 07-08
Chair Knauf requested input from the commissioners as to how the Disabilities Commission had done over the past year. Discussion ensued with the following opinions expressed:
1. Frustration that they often take months to finish a project;
2. Things get bogged down in subcommittees;
3. Some goals are too ambitious and need to be narrowed;
4. Prioritizing issues and focusing on the top priorities while still leaving room for issues that come up is needed.
5. Commissioners need more advance notice to review materials;
6. Adding a timeline to agenda items might help speed up completion;
7. Increase outreach to the community; and
8. Look at what other commissions are doing to see if there is an issue that the DC can work on with them.
Ideas to help the commission address these issues:
1. Making goals realistic and specific
2. Increasing advance notice for looking at drafts and communicating with the Chair and the Staff Liaison the week before the meeting.
3. Continue to use subcommittees and try to take advantage of the talents of individual commissioners more, even if that commissioner is not on the subcommittee.
Commissioners felt the best outcomes of the past year were:
1. The DAM event;
2. Addition of captioning in the City Council Chambers
3. Approval of sensitivity training for staff; and
4. Working with the BBB on the wheelchair tie down issue.
Possible future projects:
1. Lobbying for additional talking traffic signals
2. Looking at a specific part of the homeless issue (to be determined)
3. Co-sponsoring the Step Up on Second May is Mental Health Month events
4. Co-sponsoring the MLK Day celebration
5. Increasing outreach and awareness
6. Collaborating with another commission on a specific topic of interest to both
7. Working with the Planning Commission to identify and recognize in some way a builder or builders who are accessibility/visitability/universal design friendly
8. Design and produce a brochure for tourists/visitors with disabilities, preferably in conjunction with the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Commissioner Genensky moved and
Commissioner Arroyo seconded that Item 8H be heard next. The motion passed unanimously on a voice and
hand vote.
8. Old Business
H. Request of City Staff to amend the Commission Rules to add a standing agenda item: Report from Commission Staff Liaison
Chair Knauf explained that the purpose of this request and the necessity of voting on it as it changed the Commission Rules. Discussion ensued. Commissioner Agate moved and Commissioner Arroyo seconded that the Commission Rules be amended to include a standing agenda item “Report from Commission Staff Liaison” as item 8 with “Old Business” becoming Item 9 and “New Business” becoming Item 10. The motion passed unanimously on a voice and hand vote.
Chair Knauf moved and Commissioner
Arroyo seconded that Item 8E be heard next.
The motion passed unanimously on a voice and hand vote.
E. Request of Disabilities Awareness Month
Subcommittee for discussion of and possible action on Disabilities Awareness
Month activities
Staff
Liaison Hand confirmed that the Disabilities Awareness Month activity was
scheduled for October 20 at the Martin Luther King Auditorium at the Main
Library, from
1. Screening “The Seeker”, a documentary of the
cross country trip of Evan Somers, a
2. Popcorn for the movie.
3. Displays from local agencies serving people with disabilities and City departments such as BBB, Rent Control and CAO Fair Housing Unit.
4. Writing an article for each week highlighting
some aspect of disability awareness for publication in the
After discussion and deciding on 6 nominees, a vote was taken. Consensus was to present the Second Annual DC Community Service Award to Step Up On Second for their commitment to developing housing for people with disabilities and to present certificates of appreciation to Pro Se and Jerry Rubin for their work in helping found the Disabilities Commission. Chair Knauf moved and Commissioner Weller seconded to present the second Annual Community Service Award to Step Up On Second and present Pro Se and Jerry Rubin with a certificate of appreciation. The motion passed unanimously on a voice and hand vote.
A.
Request
of Commissioner Parker for discussion of and possible action on recommendations
for revision of City guidelines for accessibility of public events
Not Heard
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
Not Heard
C. Request of Commissioner Parker for further
discussion of and possible action on recommendations to the City on inclusion
of accessible playgrounds in park planning and development
Not Heard
D. Request of Chair Knauf
to develop recommendations for the Pier renovation plans to submit to the
Planning and Community Development Department
Not
Heard
F. Update from City staff on disability
sensitivity training for City staff; this item may result in action
Not Heard
G.
Request of City staff for discussion of and possible action
on proposed visitability policy
Not Heard
10. Future Agenda Items
Not Heard
11. Adjournment
Chair Knauf adjourned the meeting at 9:25 pm.
Approved: Attest:
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