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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 12/08/2005Attendance: Steve Rierson Susan Williams Mark Beck Jerry Patterson Melinda Suits Paul Ostrof Joan Cook Commission On Disability Minutes 2005 December Regular Meeting Council Information Center, City Hall Building, 300 LaPorte Ave. December B, 2005 Approved in 2006 January Regular Afmdng City Staff Liaisons: Steve White Annie Houston Call to Order,12:14 P.M., Susan Williams, Chairperson Susan added the Appreciation Ceremony to the front of the agenda No objections Appreciation Ceremony Mark Guests: Terry Schlicting Wendy Williams Rachel Palmer Susan: Thank you for your work on PHA and COD, hope we will see you again Mark: It's been a great experience, been lucky to be a part of a really amazing group of people through the Years who I feel like has made a difference. PHA, just continue to watch what's going on with that -working on a video that will be on cable 14 with Showcase Fort Collins. Interesting over the years to become aware of the conscienceness nationwide on assessable housing. CA has passed state ordinance, requiring builders to offer a list of accessible features. Mark will continue to be involved with PHA and sometimes come in and report Jerry Jerry: It has been such a pleasure to work with you all. Overall, I think I have gotten way more than I could have given to this group. It is so eye-opening to just stop and think about barriers and disabilities and realize how much we all take for granted, Pm going to miss all of you. Rachel Susan: Thank you for everything you've done for COD, you've done a lot to help the COD Rachel: I want to thank the commission, I have met the greatest group of people that I could ever meet. The hurdles you all go through is just a amazing and someday I might be back. Laura Laura was not in attendance Introductions Gerald Weiss a physician with a practice here in Fort Collins who has applied for a position on the Commission on Disability was in attendance along with his wife Elaine Weiss Motion: to approve the Minutes from the November 2005 Regular Meeting By Joan, Second Steve Approved on voice vote Wendy Williams - ADA contact for the City and COD ADA Coordinator. If there's a concern or complaint we respond to it. We make sure that all of our facilities are accessible. Work with employees to ensure that they have what they need. Our work plan, contains several points for working with the City. I am not familiar with what role the board has played in working with the ADA coordinator in the past. I am willing to work with the COD if there are concerns or needs. I have been with city for 21 years in various areas: utilities, cable, and legislative services. Now I work in the City Manager's office as an assistant City Manager. Talked with Susan about some ideas she had For example, making sure that our ads for jobs are inclusive, and placing job notices in places where people with disabilities would look. I'm here to listen. Steve: How would they get in touch: e-mail? Wendy: I can meet with people personally, e-mail, or via phone. Susan: One of the things under our work plan is to "participate on ADA grievance committee". Is that something that we should work with the City with? Wendy: We don't have a grievance committee. I suspect at one point, they wanted to have all the mechanisms in place to handle formal complaints. We've tried to be proactive to ensure that our facilities are accessible, and when possible we retrofit. There hasn't been a need for a grievance committee - there haven't been any grievances. Steve W.: I did quite a bit of the work with facilities to bring the exterior for our City properties and some of the interior up to ADA guidelines Susan: We've had some people come with concerns, but I wouldn't say they are grievances. What would be a grievance? Wendy: A Grievence? A formal written complaint. We usually meet with people and try to be proactive to avoid the point where there is a need for that level of formality. Susan: So, we don't really need [the grievance committee]? Joan: If we hear anything we can take it and pass it along. Terry: Is there anywhere on the City's website where I can find a contact for accessibility complaints for businesses, etc? Wendy: We don't have jurisdiction over anything but actual property belonging to the City. Susan: If there was a problem with businesses, people would know. Terry: Most of the problems are probably going to be with small businesses and it's probably just small changes. Joan: I think we could do in a friendly way, not a confrontational way. Wendy: What was in your by-laws? If it is advisory to City Council you won't have authority. Jerry: It is part of the charter of the commission to educate the citizens of the City. Susan: Part of the process could be that we get some request Then should we go to council? Or, do we go to [Wendy]? Wendy: If an employee or potential employee or citizen would have a problem with a private business then it's not a part of the City manager's role. Steve W.: Is it OK for the Commission send letters to businesses? Wendy: You need to make sure that you realize that you have no authority to require changes and I would suggest that such communication is non -confrontational. Steve R.: Signage and sidewalks in disrepair. Usually I have to take that up with engineering. Wendy: I'm located right here in City Hall if you need to get a hold of me. Work plan Motion: to change the dollar amounts on some of the costs associated with the work plan. By: Jerry, Second: Paul Voice vote approved. PHA Channel 14 filmed Susan's place this morning - air on 14 in January on Showcase Fort Collins. 8:30 PM Next Wednesday they are supposed to film her neighbor's showers. Originally the unit did not have a roll in shower. So they put in a roll in shower. Mark's dream for getting the word out about PHA is coming true Mayor's awards nomination Mayor's awards event Joan: We need to get together and talk about that. Steve W: We can set up meetings if you need to. Joan: Let's wait until after the holidays Budget Employment Mention of the fact that Laura and Susan, met with Wendy and Rick De La Castro - Director of HP- He sent me a list of all the agencies that they do send employment notices out to. What were going to do is contact the agencies to see what do they do with the notices. Susan is thinking about that right now. On of the questions for the NOD application was in regard to how many positions in the City are accessible? The City does not ask that or track that. Joan: When are they going to announce the NOD award? Susan: I can'tremember Heavy Doors Susan: Pm going to really look at that this year Art Show Susan: I put together a letter for sponsorship to go to different businesses, but I don't do this kind of thing normally. The goal is to get sponsors this year, so it will cost the artists nothing. We'll have our fast meeting in February. Brochure update Susan: Brochure is done. ACTION: Every member to take brochures and distribute them. Joan volunteered to keep the brochures for the Commission. Public outreach Susan: Melinda and I are going to get together and make a list. When do you think we should get together? Steve: Can we get Peggy together with us? Susan: I'd really like to see something happen this year. Steve: Thought about doing something at the county fair. A booth at the county fair. A wheelchair and a ramp perhaps Jerry. Loveland did something last year at the fair. Steve: Fll see if can get a contact. COD web site Susan: A place on the web site inviting people to come to the meetings would be good. Media Relations Susan: Melinda and I have been putting together a list of newspapers and radio stations. One of the things this year. I'd like to see more in the paper next year about COD. Talking to Wendy - see if the paper would allow us to have an article once a month on disability issues. We were talking just about employment. But even a list of places. Laura doesn't want to do it, I'm not sure if it's something that I want to commit to. stories about people with disabilities would be good Terry: Use it to promote awareness of community programs and recreation programs. Susan: Who's willing to do it? Terry: I could try. Susan: I've got a really nice letter to the Coloradoan suggesting it. Susan: Can the Commission do something like that? Steve W: If its just awareness, I can'tsee where that would be a problem. Susan: If you [Terry] want to do that for the paper, you would have to make a commitment to do it once a month. Can you do that? Terry: Yes. But I am looking for a job, so I may not be able to in the future. Susan: So, will you [Terry] put something that you would write about, then send it to me, and III attach it to the letter to give them a sample. ACTION: Terry to write a sample to send with the letter to the Coloradoan to give them a better Idea of what the column will look like Joan: As a commission, is this something that we should discuss and then write about? Susan: Yes, Id like it to be something the commission participates with. Joan: I think everyone should give ideas Susan: Always bring it in writing, it will help a lot. Motion: to Adjorn by Jerry, second Joan Motion passed on voice vote Adjourned,1:30 P.M.