Minutes
City of
Monday May 5, 2008
1.
Call to Order
Chair Knauf called the meeting to order at 6:37 pm
Staff Liaison Hand administered the
Oath of Office to Commissioner Hill.
2.
Roll Call
Present: Commissioners
Agate, Arroyo, Boersma, Bogen, Genensky, Hill, Hilton, Knauf, Parker and Weller
Absent: Commissioner
Berg
Also present: Janet
Hand, Staff Liaison and 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.
Member of the public Louisa Fish spoke about recent
problems she had encountered with Dial-A-Ride regarding seat height and a
discrepancy as to if it will run on Special City Council Meeting nights.
4.
Approval of minutes of the April 7, 2008 meeting
Commissioner
Arroyo moved and Commissioner Weller seconded to accept the minutes of the April
7. 2008 meeting as amended. The motion passed 6-0-4 on a voice and hand
vote.
5.
Westside Center for Independent Living (WCIL) update: Discussion of and possible action on items
presented by
Ms. West reported that there had been 4 referrals in March
consisting of independent living services, benefits advocacy, home access
program and mental health services. She
also referred 2 mobility related issues to Rancho Los Amigos. Ms. West reported on the success of the NBC4
Health Expo on April 12th & 13th.
6.
Announcements and Correspondence
Staff Liaison Hand distributed the latest confidential
commissioner contact list and received corrections from the commissioners. She will update and send out to
commissioners.
Commissioner Arroyo announced a national call in day
and urged commissioners to call their local Representatives about HR4188, “The
IDF Fairness Restoration Act”. He
reminded commissioners of the “Inclusive Life” conference that his agency is
presenting.
Commissioner Weller reported that she has been elected
Vice-President of the board of directors of People First.
Commissioner Hilton said he attended meetings with a
group of Section 8 tenants who are disabled.
He said he went as an individual.
The tenants described same or similar problems: withholding or errors in repairs; questions
about renewal lease terms; refusing to deliver; and retaliatory behavior. The tenants expressed their concerns to
Council on April 29. Two of the
properties identified are inclusionary unit buildings, with 55 year restricted
deed agreements.
Commissioner Hill reported that the Disability Rights
Legal Center had won a preliminary injunction in a housing case involving the
Alexandria Hotel.
Member of the public Louisa Fish reported on an
article in the Daily Breeze about a
book dealing with travel ideas for disabled persons.
7.
Report from Commission Liaisons
Commissioner
Hilton, liaison to the Housing Commission, reported that effective April 21,
Ms. Barbara Collins is the new Manager for Housing and Redevelopment. Separately, HUD announced the availability of
enhanced Section 8 vouchers for people with disabilities. The new HUD rules
allow current voucher payment standards to be increased 110%, even 120%, if the
HA applies for the increase. Approval is
determined on a case-by-case basis.
Commissioner
Arroyo reported that SMMUSD Assistant Superintendant Tim Walker has resigned
from the District and that the audit requested by the City of Santa Monica has been
finished.
Commissioner Weller reported that that the L.A. County
Commission on Disabilities had a presentation from the Los Angeles County Fire
Department about a 2 day emergency training which can be for people with
disabilities.
8.
Report from Commission Staff Liaison
Nothing to report.
9.
Old Business
A.
Update on recommendations to the City on inclusion of
accessible playgrounds in park planning and development- Commissioner Parker
Commissioner Parker reported that she and Chair Knauf will
attend the Recreation and Parks Commission meeting in July to present the universally
accessible playground concept. Staff
Liaison Hand has taken pictures of accessible playgrounds and will prepare a
power point presentation. Discussion
ensued. Staff Liaison Hand will invite
Brad Thornton, designer of universally designed playgrounds to the June Disabilities
Commission meeting.
B.
Update on disability sensitivity training
for City staff- Staff Liaison Hand
Commissioner Hill announced that Disability
Legal Rights Center will be providing the training and he will be conducting
the trainings. Staff Liaison Hand
reported on the training schedule. Discussion
ensued.
C. Disability Awareness Month activities- Chair Knauf
Staff Liaison Hand updated the commission
on entertainment possibilities. The names
of Dr. Ghurabi, Ishara Bailis, Mary Ann Jones, WCIL, Center
for the Partially Sighted and Common Ground were offered as possible award
recipients. Discussion ensued. Chair Knauf confirmed that the members of the
subcommittee for this activity are Commissioners Berg, Bogen, Hill, Knauf and
Weller.
D.
Mental Health Awareness Month activities-
Chair Knauf
Staff Liaison Hand presented alternatives developed
by Commissioner Hilton for the half page ad to be run in the Santa Monica Daily Press. Discussion ensued. She also explained that City Council would be
presenting the proclamation at the May 13th meeting.
E.
Discussion of the City’s Housing Element-
Staff Liaison Hand
Staff Liaison Hand gave an update on the
Housing Element since going to City Council.
Discussion ensued.
F.
Library accessibility- Commissioner Agate
Commissioner Agate reported on the Library Board meeting
that she and Staff Liaison Hand attended.
They presented several accessibility issues at the main library. Discussion ensued with additional
accessibility examples being given.
Staff Liaison Hand will find out if there are assistive listening
devices at the other libraries.
Commissioner Agate will draft a letter to the Library Board thanking
them for their time and listing the accessibility concerns of the Disabilities
Commission.
G. Seating for
persons with disabilities waiting for transportation at frequent pickup
locations- Commissioner Agate
Commissioner Agate reported a need for seating at
locations other than bus stops for disabled persons waiting for ride services
such as Access and Dial-A-Ride.
Member of the public Louisa Fish reminded the
commission that she had first brought up the issue as there is no place to sit
at City Hall that is near the pickup place for Access. She pointed out that this is also a problem
at the local markets.
Discussion ensued.
Chair Knauf moved and
Commissioner Arroyo seconded a motion to create a subcommittee to develop a
list of places that need seating for disabled persons waiting for ride services
and then write a letter to give to City Council and the City Manager asking
them to look at this issue. The motion
passed unanimously on a voice and hand vote. Commissioners Agate and Weller will be on the
subcommittee
10.
New Business
11.
Future agenda items
Member of the public Pala spoke on several
issues she would like addressed such as the lack of places to take used needles
and medication; water exercise classes for people with disabilities and a
discounted admission price for them; the SMMUSD audit as it applies to kids with
special needs; a liaison to the parking office for navigating the system and
parking permits for parents who are volunteering at their kid’s classroom at
elementary schools located in permitted parking only areas.
1. Annual
Disabilities Commission elections- Commissioner Arroyo
2. The
SMMUSD audit- Commissioner Arroyo
3. Look
into what recreation programs are available in the City for disabled persons-
Commissioner Parker
12.
Adjournment
Chair
Knauf adjourned the meeting at 9:03 pm
Approved: Attest:
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