MINUTES
Santa Monica Disabilities Commission
Meeting: November 5, 2007
Ken Edwards Center
1527 Fourth St., Santa Monica
1. Call to Order
Chair Knauf called the meeting to order at 6:40 pm
2. Roll Call
Present: Commissioners Agate, Arroyo, Berg, Bogen, Boersma, Genensky, Hilton, Knauf and Weller (arrived 7:40 pm)
Absent: Commissioners Parker and Richardson
Also present: Janet Hand, Staff Liaison; Denise Weddle, Administrative Staff Assistant, Human Services Division
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 October 1, 2007 meeting; approval of change to minutes of September 10, 2007 Special meeting
Chair Knauf moved and Commissioner Genensky seconded to accept the minutes of the September 10, 2007 meeting as amended. The motion carried unanimously on a voice and hand vote.
Chair Knauf moved and Commissioner Bogen seconded to accept the minutes of the October 1, 2007 meeting as amended. The motion carried unanimously on a voice and hand vote.
5. Westside Center for Independent Living (WCIL) update: Discussion of and possible action on items presented by Julie West, WCIL
Julie West listed the many meetings that WCIL has attended or presented at over the month and the commercial entities she has approached offering to present sensitivity trainings. She reported that there had been 9 referrals during October. She announced that WCIL is able to make refer older adults about to become homeless to Legal Aid Foundation and that flu shots that do not contain mercury are available at UCLA Hospital for $15.00. The first quarterly information report as requested by the Commission is complete, waiting approval and should be available shortly. Discussion ensued.
6. Announcements and Correspondence
Commissioner Arroyo announced that his employer has developed a free, on line, self guided tutorial for parents to learn more about Special Education law and preparation for IEP meetings.
Chair Knauf announced that he and his wife are expecting their second child.
7. Report from Commission Liaisons
Commissioner Agate has attended 2 meetings of the Library Board and reported that there was a discussion of new software that the library is purchasing, but the Board does not know if it will be accessible to people with visual impairments and learning disabilities. She expressed concern that the last 4 out of 5 books chosen for Citywide Read have been about a teenage boy. Discussion ensued.
Commissioner Berg attended the Transportation Meeting and reported on the type of information that was requested from the residents.
8. Report from Commission Staff Liaison
Staff Liaison Hand reported on the ADA Conference that she attended in Salt Lake City. She then explained the collaborative marketing and community outreach project and asked for volunteers to review the proposals. She distributed a copy of the Big Blue Bus wheelchair exemption policy. Director of Transit Services, Stephanie Negriff will be on the agenda next month.
Chair Knauf moved and Commissioner Arroyo seconded that Item 10C be heard next and then return to the order of the agenda. The motion carried unanimously on a voice and hand vote.
10. New Business
C. Request of Rich Rollins, Principal Community Services Supervisor, CCS Community Programs Division, for discussion of and possible action on their programs provided for people with disabilities and possible name change from “Therapeutic Recreation Programs”
Principal Community Services Supervisor Rollins explained the Special Olympics program, Social program and other services offered by the Community Services Division, Therapeutic Recreation Programs. He explained that they are looking for more modern name for their programs, suggesting “Santa Monica Adaptive Recreation and Sports” or “SMARS” and requested input from the Disabilities Commission. Discussion ensued.
9. Old Business
A. Continuing discussion of recommendations for revision of City guidelines for accessibility of public events-Commissioner Parker
Staff Liaison Hand reported that the City would not support an RFP as requested by the Commission. Suggestions were made to make the RFP a budget recommendation next year or establish a subcommittee to make recommendations. Discussion ensued. It was agreed to continue the discussion at the next Disabilities Commission meeting.
B. Continuing discussion regarding City street and sidewalk repairs-Commissioner Agate
Chair Knauf explained the two letters which have evolved and asked that any final suggestions be sent to him or Janet. Letters will be sent out before the next commission meeting.
C. Continuing discussion of recommendations to the City on inclusion of accessible playgrounds in park planning and development-Commissioner Parker
Staff Liaison Hand reported that a draft letter to the Rec and Parks Commission on including universally designed playgrounds has been written. Chair Knauf requested that any final suggestions be sent to him or Janet. Letter will be sent out before the next commission meeting.
D. Update on the Pier renovation plans-Staff Liaison Hand
No Report.
E. Report on Disabilities Awareness Month activities-Disabilities Awareness Month Subcommittee and Staff Liaison Hand
Staff Liaison Hand gave a summary of the day’s events, press coverage and attendance. Discussion ensued.
F. Update from City staff on disability sensitivity training for City staff
Staff Liaison Hand reported that the RFP would be sent out within a week and that mandatory training would start in January 2008. Discussion ensued.
10. New Business:
No Report
B. Discussion of the Commission’s recommendations for action on the ADA Restoration bill.
Vice Chair Arroyo gave a summary of the bill’s intent and its status. He suggested that the Disabilities Commission might ask City Council to support the bill. Discussion ensued. Vice Chair Arroyo moved and Commissioner Agate seconded that the Disabilities Commission write a letter to City Council asking them to support the ADA Restoration Bill and to write a letter to the relevant legislators expressing that support. The motion carried unanimously on a voice and hand vote.
11. Future Agenda Items
The following subjects were requested to be on the agenda in the future:
A. Write a letter to Santa Monica College Board of Trustees regarding the Physical Education Building (Commissioner Berg)
B. Nature of City’s prohibition on dispersing information regarding commercial assistance providers (Commissioner Agate)-Janet Hand will request information from the City Attorney’s Office
C. Talking Traffic Signals (Commissioner Genensky)
D. Update on captioning device in the City Council chambers (Commissioner Hilton)
11. Adjournment
Chair Knauf adjourned the meeting at 9:01 pm.
Approved: Attest:
_______________________________ ________________________________
Christopher Knauf, Chair Janet Hand, Staff Liaison
F:\HumanServices\Share\COMMISSIONS-ADVISORY BOARDS\Disabilities Commission\Minutes\2007\MINUTES 110507.doc