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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 03/18/2021Thursday, March 18, 2021, 2021 at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Zoom Access via City Hall, 300 LaPorte Avenue 3/18/2021 – MINUTES Page 1 DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD (formerly Commission on Disability) REGULAR MEETING – Contact: Carol Thomas, Equal Opportunity & Compliance Manager – 416-4254 1. CALL TO ORDER Terry Schlicting called to order at 5:35pm 2. ROLL CALL Present: Terry Schlicting, Anna Fuller, Davina Lau, Marilee Boylan, Sami Peterson, Linda Drees, Rachel Knox-Stutsman, Joe Tiner, Mandy Morgan Board Members Absent: none Staff Members Present: Carol Thomas Guests: none 3. AGENDA REVIEW 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Corrections: in Guests, “ARC” should read “Arc” and pg 6 under SAMI, remove duplicate “the” b. Motion to approve as corrected by Linda, Second by Marilee, Unanimously Approved 5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION a. None 6. PRESENTATION a. Outreach RE: The City’s Principles of Community i. We Are Fort Collins ii. Strategic Alignment throughout city, in regards to community member voices 1. Advance equity for all 2. Attract, retain, engage, develop and reward a diverse and competitive workforce 3. Foster a culture of safety, well-being, resilience and sustainability iii. Similar to Columbus, Missouri as a municipality 1. Also built from CSU’s and PSD’s equity programming 2. We want principles and take them into beliefs and actions, this is a growing document, not a static thing that hangs on the wall. iv. Why-How-What framing 1. Are these for internal use or imposed on the community? Thursday, March 18, 2021, 2021 at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Zoom Access via City Hall, 300 LaPorte Avenue 3/18/2021 – MINUTES Page 2 DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD (formerly Commission on Disability) REGULAR MEETING – Contact: Carol Thomas, Equal Opportunity & Compliance Manager – 416-4254 2. These provide an internal focus, and through excellent customer service radiates and organizations values, we hope the same principles will spread. 3. How are these Principles different than Organizational Values? 4. Principles are HOW we put our Values into action v. FEEDBACK FOR CAROL: 1. ANNA: What does the PSD curriculum include in regards to the values that they are putting out there? How does the regular student population put out inclusion of students with disabilities? 2. DAVINA: connection clubs, unified sports, and integrated classrooms at Rocky Mtn High School 3. SAMI: many inclusion practices came from her son’s own networking, prior to some inclusion pieces that PSD had put in place. Ensuring participation in community at large opportunities for intimacy and support. After high school, ARO (adaptive rec opportunities) are a large part as an adult. 4. RACHEL: ARO is a big part of her life, while in school supports were offered to allow her to stay in general education classrooms. Most support comes from friendships that she built with people in the community and at school. 5. DAVINA: some parents argue between students with special needs being in general classrooms, versus special education rooms. 6. LINDA: there are limited resources for students with more significant students with disabilities, no boxes, should be up to some choice with families. 7. ANNA: Documentary Crip Camp is really good vi. SUMMARY FOR CITY: 1. MARILEE: All Means All, to eliminate people rationalizing why all people do not deserve services from general services, for example: DVR verses Workforce Center. The state of Colorado is just now look at this. Can everyone enjoy all city programs 2. What is the City doing to make sure All Means All, includes that people with disabilities are included in every single place/program/service the city provides/employs for. 3. MANDY: Taking Action, often feels unheard after seeking changes through City Council. “Just because you didn’t see the outcome…” Thursday, March 18, 2021, 2021 at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Zoom Access via City Hall, 300 LaPorte Avenue 3/18/2021 – MINUTES Page 3 DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD (formerly Commission on Disability) REGULAR MEETING – Contact: Carol Thomas, Equal Opportunity & Compliance Manager – 416-4254 no changes are actually made. A previous presentation was voted down and there was no continued conversation, as she was told there was at least value in their presentation, but no action. 4. LINDA: Our (DAB’s) advice to City Council must include actual action steps to address things that are not inclusive. 5. City Council may need additional Accountability on topics that surround equity and inclusion. 6. LINDA: Disability Law is a Civil Rights issue, and changes take time. 7. MANDY: the issue began 5-6 years ago on this specific topic of the Harmony Corridor sidewalk that has been held up due to contracts with developers. Median décor has been built, but there is still no sidewalk. Unsure what it is going to take to get a sidewalk in on this main street. 8. SAMI: reprioritizing what it is important to spend money on, and how when we say “Diversity” that disability must be included in the ongoing conversations in all spaces. 9. CAROL: a lot of this 10. MARILEE: Where is the city in its budget process? 11. CAROL: it is in the middle of the process, it will travel through a “budget equity team” and should be finalized by May. The community can look at and provide feedback on the city budget, by viewing it on the website. 12. SAMI: does the City consider the percentage of demographics to provide funds to certain areas? 13. CAROL: it is more about what services/resources are needed in certain areas based on those demographics. 14. SAMI: Choices, Access. If the same conversation happen for second-language learners, replaced with people in wheelchairs, then greater understanding may be possible. Listening to personal stories. Willingness to be curious and adjust assumptions on what disability is, is a key piece in understanding. 15. Please email additional thoughts to Carol via email. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Future topics and presentations Thursday, March 18, 2021, 2021 at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Zoom Access via City Hall, 300 LaPorte Avenue 3/18/2021 – MINUTES Page 4 DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD (formerly Commission on Disability) REGULAR MEETING – Contact: Carol Thomas, Equal Opportunity & Compliance Manager – 416-4254 i. Larry Schneider? ii. Linda would like the DAB to be a part of implementing a plan for the city during natural events like heavy snowplow and how people with disabilities require public accommodations more aligned with their necessary modes of transportation. iii. Having this conversation can help the Streets department develop these accommodations as their BEST PRACTICES. iv. Anna wonders how other citizens know that this board exists, that they can come to, to share their concerns. v. Terry: 5-6 years ago there was a lot of public participation, but it became more of a “complaint department” rather than an advocacy space that addresses systemic issues to create long term solutions throughout the City. vi. Carol: Primary purpose is that this board is an advisory board to hear through to council and city management. Members on this board reflect many of the perspectives of community members. When the city plows snow, the arterials have a level of priority because that is where essential services are located (hospitals and grocery stores). Residential is plowed as possible over following days. vii. Marilee: back east they plow everywhere, including residential viii. Terry: growing up in Chicago, the plows were out over night during the storms. ix. Linda: this impacts everyone, including seniors. x. Carol: this DAB can use their voice to make recommendations to City Council, asking for a determination of priorities; Ken Summers is the Council Liaison for the DAB. xi. Sami: Texas had similar problems with the power outages and she sees the issue in perspective regarding gather data of how often and what ways these snow issues impact folks with disabilities (and others). Would like to provide solutions/recommendations when this topic is taken to Council. xii. Terry: previous feedback from the streets department was that they get just as many complaints when they do plow (creating snow banks) as when they don’t. Timing also plays a part in this. xiii. Sami: that sounds like why we need to be concrete with our suggestions so we can be seen as different that just complaining. Thursday, March 18, 2021, 2021 at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Zoom Access via City Hall, 300 LaPorte Avenue 3/18/2021 – MINUTES Page 5 DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD (formerly Commission on Disability) REGULAR MEETING – Contact: Carol Thomas, Equal Opportunity & Compliance Manager – 416-4254 xiv. Mandy: agrees that there needs to be a level of understanding that people with mobility issues are denied access to essential needs in the community xv. Linda: What does the City look at? How do you choose and what type of information you need, when choosing the routes. xvi. Terry: this DAB gathers questions for next month and take 15 minutes to prioritize questions. xvii. Mandy: Afraid that if we put it off too long, the City will not continue to be concerned since it will be past snow season xviii. Terry: would like to go deeper to create/change policy, so it can happen the right way before the next big season xix. Ken Summers is outgoing as council, Carol will request the new Council Liaison to attend as soon as possible after elections xx. Terry, Rachel: Believes May will give time for Streets, Council elections, and DAB to prepare for the conversation 8. OLD BUSINESS a. Work Plan with Goals i. Neighborhood Livability, Transportation, and Safety from work plan all are part of the snow removal conversation ii. Carol will request Housing present at a near-future meeting (possibly June) iii. Request to meet with Police Chief this summer (Carol with put this on their radar) iv. Emergency Situations will be on for April v. Bus stop improvements needs to be revisited, since it hasn’t been discussed since the previous budget cycle vi. Sami: Employability awareness, what can be done with employers to connect support organizations to collaborate with City (and County) efforts to address employability at large? How can we impact that base of knowledge 1. Rachel: October is Disability Employment Month 2. Marilee: maybe invite the Director of HR for the City of Fort Collins 3. Sami: map out collaborative efforts that exist, so forward thinkers can create more collaborations. Advising City on components of Thursday, March 18, 2021, 2021 at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Zoom Access via City Hall, 300 LaPorte Avenue 3/18/2021 – MINUTES Page 6 DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD (formerly Commission on Disability) REGULAR MEETING – Contact: Carol Thomas, Equal Opportunity & Compliance Manager – 416-4254 employment and how people with disabilities fit in, and then connecting them to the resources that are already doing that work. 4. Linda: Good to give City Council some awareness of what employment for people with disabilities really does look like. 5. Carol is the EEOC manager, works with HR and talent acquisition manager, and they work with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. 6. Can bring all of these departments to a future meeting, hopefully August, prior to October for sure. 7. Davina: The City could do some outreach, there are nonprofits that ask autistic individuals to add themselves to directory that allows them to be found by employers. 8. Foothills, Colorado Employment First 9. Look at a City Proclamation to begin awareness and education 10. Written communication is shared with all Council Members, so this is a good way to begin gaining awareness and providing education, eventually making a broader impact through the County, etc. 11. Sami: we start with the data, is there data? 12. Joe: does Affirmative Action apply to City governments? 13. Carol: that does really apply under the University guidance 14. Linda: can we add a checklist to the work plan table, as we review our goals for the year, to show progress on each part? 15. Work Plan will be revisited every other month. b. Monthly Update: Status of Equity Office Development i. City has finalized the job description and are working with a third-party recruiter to describe how the job search will begin. ii. This individual will oversee an executive level office, as a “Director” who will then put all of the needs, strategies, and plans into place. That Director will then dictate who they will need in the office to make action take place iii. Timeline: hoping to hire mid-late summer (recruitment and selection process) iv. Notes from listening sessions will be sent to the Employee Resource Groups c. Next Meeting: Emergency Operations office and ____ with MPO. Will take limited time to prioritize questions for the May meeting and snow removal conversation with streets department. Thursday, March 18, 2021, 2021 at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Zoom Access via City Hall, 300 LaPorte Avenue 3/18/2021 – MINUTES Page 7 DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD (formerly Commission on Disability) REGULAR MEETING – Contact: Carol Thomas, Equal Opportunity & Compliance Manager – 416-4254 DAB members should prepare questions to bring to April meeting. 9. ADJORNMENT Terry Schlicting called to adjourn at 7:25, second by Joe. Unanimous. Next meeting will be April 15th, 2021, on zoom.