HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 02/08/2001COMMISSION ON DISABILITY
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 8, 2001
Council -Information Center, City Hall West
Members present- Alan Apt, Nancy Baker, Kathryn Johnson, Mark Beck, Laura Burnett, Romola Fritz,
Bob Palmer, Steve Seefeld.
The meeting was called to order at 12:30 p.m. by Nancy Baker, Chair. Minutes were approved as read.
The members approved the draft of the Disability Employment Survey letter to the mayor. Nancy will
also send copies to Mike Byme and Karla Smith.
Nancy suggested that we honor former members of the COD in some manner. After a discussion the
members decided to present them with certificates of appreciation at the beginning of a city council
meeting. Steve and Bob will make the certificates with a special machine in their office. Steve will E-
mail Mayor Martinez (cc to Mike Byrne) with a request that this be done at an upcoming council meeting
on a date that would be convenient to him and the council. Members to be honored will include all those
who ended their terms during the year 2000, including Nathan Montgomery, David Marckres, Initha
Stuckey, Mark Kramer, Lila Vizzard, and Don Fish.
On the topic of pedestrian safety, Kathryn passed around a copy of a Pedestrian Safety Handbook,
published by the Federation for the Blind. There is an advocacy group in Fort Collins that is working on
the topic, and she is making efforts to find out about that group's activities. Steve and Bob suggested that
Transportation Services or the Neighborhood Resources Office might have staff working in this area as
well. We will brainstorm about this topic at our February 22 meeting and will invite Cam McNair from
Transportation to join us at our March 22 meeting so we can share our suggestions with him. Kathryn
will also contact former COD member David Marckres to come to the February 22 and/or the March 22
meetings to share his concerns in this area.
Nancy reported that she had had a meeting with our council liaison, Mike Byrne, concerning Dial -A -Ride
funding. Mike has set up a meeting for both Nancy and him with City Manager John Fischbach.
Members suggested doing some advance research as to the extent of services provided by other cities of
comparable size, and how they fund those services. Fort Collins residents pride themselves in our city
being `the best', and this is one area in which we do not measure up.
Nancy also told of a phone conversation she had with Brenda Cams following Brenda's visit to our last
meeting. Brenda assured Nancy that the position of Outreach Services Coordinator will not be cut as a
result of the loss of county funding for the library. However, the library will have to cut other areas to
fund this position, which creates hardships in those other areas.
Planning for a class in sensitivity training (related to employment of the handicapped) will be put on hold
for now so that Kathryn and Rob can focus their energies to their current work in the areas of pedestrian
safety and disabled parking.
Mark reported that the visitability subcommittee is now meeting on the first Monday of each month, at 2
p.m., in the Council Information Center. Six members attended the first meeting last Monday. Mark is
looking for more volunteers to help with the committee and will be seeking funding sources. Mark will
make a report on the subcommittee's activities at the first COD meeting of each month.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:35 p.m
Respectfully submitted
Romola Fritz
Secretary