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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 02/28/2002COMMISSION ON DISABILITY Regular Meeting Minutes February 28,2002 Council Information Center, City Hall West Members present: Mark Beck, Jerry Patterson, Romola and Rob Fritz, Ruth Bell Skogerbce, Susan Williams, Jill Lancaster City staff: Tracy Ochsner, Rachel Palmer Guests: Steve Sutter, Roger van Leishout, Business Leadership Network, and Marry Tharp, Council liaison Mark welcomed our guests at 12:15 pm. There were not enough members present for a quorum at this time. COD/BLN Parmership: Mark opened the table for discussion regarding the partnership between the COD and the BLN. Thoughts/Concems: • The word "partnership" makes some hesitant because of possible legal implications. • The proposal does not require a financial commitment from the COD. • The COD Employment subcommittee is waning and a relationship with the BLN would be beneficial to this subcommittee. • BLN has relationship with other cities that are formal sponsors of the BLN (grants, office space, staff liaisons, phone lines are examples of sponsorship responsibilities.) • Marty recommended that we give the city legal staff the "initiative of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (US Department of Labor) in conjunction with the US Chamber of Commerce" as noted in the partnership proposal so they can look at the legal ramifications of a relationship between the COD and the BLN. This would provide them the basis on which the parent organization was created and how the local organization is operated. • Question arose regarding how the COD can assist the BLN as it is not stated in the proposal (i.e. using the COD name as a supporter.) • Having the BLN participating in the Employment sub -committee would be fine, but becoming the COD Employment subcommittee would go too tar. Action: Roger will get information together for Tracy to get to the city attorney's office. Tracy will report back as soon as the attorney's office can get to it. Action: Roger will send out an advance packet of information to the COD via email. Mark officially called the meeting to order at 12:40 pm as enough members showed for a quorum! Motion to accept the minutes, made by Romola and seconded by Ruth. Video: This video, developed by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Recreation was created to provide businesses with information on how to provide good customer service to people with disabilities. It will be shown at the BLN kick-off breakfast at the chamber of commerce on March 28. Smoking Ordinance There is a smoking ordinance circulating for board and commission comment to have all restaurants and public places be smoke free. The general feeling of the commission is that smoke has a detrimental affect on those with disabilities, including hidden disabilities. More specific information is needed for the commission to support the ordinance. Action: Marty Tharp will let COD know when ordinance comes up for discussion. Letter to council and appearance at the council meeting garners the best results. Annual Report: The report looks good and has been turned in to the city clerk's office. Action: If anyone has comments on annual report they should get them to Tracy ASAP with a copy to Mark and Jill. Art Work in Senior Center: This year's senior citizen art show at the senior center will be May 1. They are accepting all entries and will not be juried. That may be something the COD would want to consider for a COD Art Show. No other new information to report at this time. Discussion ensued regarding alternate places to hold the art show such as the Lincoln Center, Foothills Mall, etc. Perhaps have a display year-round at the senior center and a special art show somewhere else — is this feasible? The Art Show subcommittee will consider these ideas. Action: Tracy will find out if COD could hold an art show at the Lincoln Center and if so, when and how to go about it. Heavy Doors: Rob has gone through all the ADA guideline materials that he has received and selected the material needed for a handout. He will develop a rough draft. He talked to Tracy about analyzing the doors in city hall building to draw up the mechanisms to learn how to explain adjustments in the handout. Tracy indicated he has a digital camera Rob can use. Once draft is complete, Rob will gather his committee. PHA: Next meeting March 7, 10:30 am. Mayor's Awards: Marty thought it would be OK to charge for the Mayor's Award meal, but wanted our staff liaison to check it out. Action: Tracy will confirm if it is OK to charge. Other Business: Budget: Tracy wondered if the COD has a budget? No, since Mark has been on the Commission. The needs have always been met by filling out a requisition. Kathryn has resigned from commission. Action: Tracy will check and see if the city will automatically fill the position. Don Maroni from Disabled Resource Services alerted Mark about election reform nationally happening in Congress regarding accessible voting equipment in all polling places. To support this legislation contact your representatives as soon as possible and reference the Harkin Amendment and the Dodd -McConnell Election Reform Bill. Don Metsger on the Loveland Commission for Disability is working on a service called Audio Description: a program to allow sight impaired individuals to "hear' what is happening during visual performances. They would get an earphone with a description of the action happening in the performance (as well as actual audio.) On April 24 at the Lincoln Center, there will be a program called ART where a pilot of this type of program will occur. If interested in attending or learning how to provide description for sight impaired, call Don at 663-7353. Motion to adjourn at 1:50 pm. Made by Ruth and seconded by Jerry. The next meeting date is Thursday, March 14. Respectfully submitted, Jill Lancaster, COD Secretary FORT COLLINS BUSINESS LEADERSHIP NETWORK 2724 Willow Fern Way, Fort Collins, CO 80526 Ph: (970) 204-9409, E-mail: rogervanAaol.com February 25, 2002 TO: MAYOR'S COMISSION ON DISABILITY FM: FORT COLLINS BUSINESS LEADERSHIP NETWORK Roger J. Van Lieshout, Director' RE: FC-BLN:COD PARTNERSHIP PROPOSAL RECOMMENDATION: That the Mayor's Commission on Disability (COD) partner with the Fort Collins Business Leadership Network (FC-BLN) to work together to promote the employment of people with disabilities in the City of Fort Collins. PERIOD: The proposed partnership would be for the period of calendar year 2001, with an Annual Report to be submitted to COD by FC-BLN highlighting the results of the partnership. WHAT IS THE BLN? The BLN is an employer -led coalition dedicated to promoting opportunities that benefit both businesses and people with disabilities. Created as a national initiative of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (US Department of Labor) in conjunction with the US Chamber of Commerce (1994), the BLN exists in 33 states. Visit www.USBLN.com to learn more about the national BLN. Each BLN operates as an independent entity designed to meet the unique needs and interests of their local community. The new FC-BLN is being launched by Synergy HRD Associates, a small training/consulting firm that specializes in working with businesses to access under-utilized labor sources. The FC-BLN will operate as a non-profit coalition that provides high impact, low cost solutions to enable businesses to improve their hiring results towards people with disabilities — by developing business leaders to champion the employment of people with disabilities both in their own companies and the business community throughout Fort Collins. WHY PARTNER? Partnering means working together to get more done. The BLN can help bring more employers to the table, and will work with the COD to increase the quality & variety of opportunities that motivate employers to become more involved in an area traditionally dominated by government agencies and community organizations. Increased employer participation means improved disAbility awareness and appreciation by businesses, better access and customer services, and ultimately more jobs and career opportunities for people with disabilities in our community. The BLN has a proven track record for helping to make this happen. The FC-BLN is motivated to partner with COD for several reasons. Affiliation with COD would provide FC-BLN with a powerful connection to an established disability group with a strong, positive reputation — lending credibility to the new FC-BLN's efforts. Secondly, the two organizations have complimentary missions. Lastly, collaboration would help avoid duplication of efforts and enhance the effectiveness of each group's activities. -page 1 — - page 2 - WHAT WILL THE BLN DO? The FC-BLN will develop new activities and services for employers that include: 1. Internet Recruiting: The FC-BLN will develop and operate a job & resume posting service for employers and job seekers with disabilities, to be called "Access2Ability" (A2Ajobs.com). Through the FC-BLN membership program, local employers will be able to post jobs and search resumes to recruit new employees with disabilities. 2. Education: FC-BLN web site, e-newsletter, and training workshops/seminars will be developed for employers and BLN partners — to share information, provide networking opportunities, and promote disability employment best practices. 3. Career Fair: The FC-BLN will produce an annual career and resource fair for employers and job seekers with disabilities. (This event maybe held in conjunction with the COD October Mayor's Awards Luncheon). 4. On -Site Support: The FC-BLN will help employers get better access to disability resources and organizations (and vice versa). On -site support with be provided to individual businesses, and the BLN will work to make it quicker and easier for employers to get what they need to hire more people with disabilities. 5. Disability Mentoring Day: In partnership with the National Organization on Disability (NOD) and local educational institutions and community groups, the FC-BLN will coordinate annual (October) National Disability Mentoring Day activities to connect youth with disabilities to employer mentors. HOW CAN THE BLN ASSIST THE COD? In addition to its core activities, the FC-BLN may assist the COD by. • Marketing the October Mayor's Awards Luncheon, and getting more employers to attend • Participating in, or perhaps becoming the COD Employment Sub -Committee • Promoting COD and other disability news to employers through the FC-BLN e-newsletter • Sharing the FC-BLN employer database with the COD • Representing COD interests through FC-BLN participation with the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce and Northern Colorado Human Resources Association NEXT STEPS: The FC-BLN requests that COD consider the partnership proposal at its next meeting, and formally endorse the FC-BLN as a partner organization (or as alternative, provide letter of support to FC-BLN). Should partnering organization status be approved, the COD may then designate a representative to the FC-BLN employer advisory committee, who will serve as a liaison and work to maximize collaborative opportunities between the partners. Thank you for your consideration!