HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 07/10/2008Commission on Disability
July 10, 2008
Members Present: Terry Schlicting, Mary Elizabeth Lenahan, Harry
Meyer, Mare Franklin-Gaumer, Bev Hageseth, Kimberlee Imig, Alva
Vineyard, Vivian Armendariz
Absent: Lydia Wiatrowski, Jason Holland
City Liaison: Bruce Byme, Jenna Stieben
Guests: Kalin Logan
1. Call to Order 12:25 by Terry_ Schlicting_.
2. Approval of Minutes
Terry moved to approve June minutes; Alva seconded; minutes approved
unanimously with edits (Harry not researching Cambridge for sensitivity
issues).
3. Introductions
Kimberlee requested that Tom Gordon be invited as a guest to the August
meeting. DK Kemp, Jeff Morell, and Jill Stillwell were unable to attend
today's meeting. Kalin still has a strong interest in being a part of the COD.
4. Open Discussion General Public ( exceeded 55 minutes)
Topics included:
Streets: engineering (Erika) follow-up letter addressing Mare's concern
about removing the brick wall at Drake and Taft Hill; Terry's continued
concern about the curb cut at City Park (he will e-mail Erika with specific
con_cerms); Terry & Kalin meeting with. i�twnecrin-g Monday. July 10 and
outline concerns and questions.
Medicaid Changes: Kimberlee informed COD that there have been
Medicaid cuts that may impact services to persons with developmental
disabilities, such as Special plympics and host home services. COD would
like more information.
Openings on COD: applications for COD closed on June 13s', 2008
Protocol for COD meetings: Vivian questioned procedures for conducting
meetings and guest participation. Harry suggested setting time limits for
presentations. By-laws may have some information about guest policy.
5. New Business
Bev moved that the COD revise the meeting plans with time limits, such
that the meeting will convene at 12:15, introductions will be made, at 12:30
the official meeting will be called to order and all items of business will
have pre-set specific time limits. Mary Elizabeth seconded. All approved.
Jenne volunteered to be the time keeper for future meetings.
Access in Bike Lanes: Neither DK Kemp from City Bike Planning Office
nor Jeff Morrell from Bike Fort Collins were able to attend the July COD
meeting. Terry has DK tentatively scheduled for August.
Mare researched community access and sensitivity in other communities
(Boston, Seattle, San Francisco). She found that Fort Collins is advanced
and/or comparable in its sensitivity to persons with disabilities.
During the months of June and July, I reviewed the Disability Commissions for the
following cities: Boston, New York, Seattle and San Francisco. I focused on disability
regulations, how progress compared to Fort Collins's progress and how the police
force was involved with the disability sensitivity training. " I made the following
observations: 1) Fort Collins has progressed as well as the major cities with their
sensitivity issues. 2) All of the cities are experiencing an influx of people taking the
transit systems (bus and train) due to the gas price increase. This has created new
problems for people with disabilities because of overcrowding of the facilities. 3)
Police forces are now categorizing people who are arrested or otherwise using their
facility that do not speak,English as "disabled". 4) These cities are actively using
money to create ramps and sidewalk transitions, accessible housing codes and
grievance procedures and implementation of mission statements that ensure that
every program, service, benefit, activity, and facility operated by the dties are
fully accessible and usable by people with disabilities. I also noticed that a number of
these cities (San Francisco and Seattle required all new police dept employees to
participate in sensitivity training prior to starting a new job and that they are
required to periodically take additional sensitivity training with their employment.)"
Vivian is checking with Loveland's COD and awaiting a response. There
was a short discussion about using "people fast" language, for 4ample,
rather than "handicapped", using a person with a handicap.
From here, Mare questions where does the COD want to go and what do
we want to do with the information. Terry wants the COD to be consulted
about accessibility with new, construction. Alva believes the COD should
serve as a liaison with police, streets, and construction interests. Mare wants
to be sure to include all people with disabilities in our sensitivity research
(persons in wheelchairs, with developmental delays, with visual and/or
auditory impairments, with traumatic brain injury, etc.). Terry would like all
people to feel empowered to talk about their concerns. Mare recognized that
sensitivity is a transit issue; Transfort does announce stops.
6.Old Business
Letter for Dial -a -Ride: Terry called Frances Wilson and she did not want
him to compose a support letter yet. She will personally contact him when
she would like the letter.
Work Plan: Bruce & Jenna met with Tess Heffernan of the City Manager's
office about COD's Work Plan. With many of the tasks assigned to "frill
commission", accountability is difficult to maintain. Mary Elizabeth noted
that carlicr this ycar, whcn the COD wantcd to updatc the Work Plan, Karla
in the Clerk's office informed us that we would need to make informal
assignments since the Work Plan for 2008 had already been approved by
Council. Bruce & Jenna think that changing assignments informally is the
best strategy for now. After a brief discussion of responsibilities (Alva
interested in NOD, Mary Elizabeth to check on Planning & Zoning re
parking permits/tickets), Harry proposed that COD members review the
Work Plan and bring ideas in August and set aside time in the August
agenda for this discussion. Mary Elizabeth seconded. Mare was interested
in reviewing minutes from previous years to see what progress each sub-
committee made and the historical significance of each.
Welcome packet for new board members:
Jason has talked with Jenna and the 5 welcome packets will be made as
notebooks with web sites, by-laws, Work Plan, Commission Manual, and
any other material added as needed. There is the possibility of including the
general Commission Orientation on a CD.
SUB -COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Mayor's Awards will be held Thursday, October le. 11:30 to 1:30.
COMMUNITY NEWS AND UPDATES: Harry saw the article in the &loradoan with
Vivian and Helen; Mare read Vivian's soapbox.
Suggestions for August agenda:
Visit from Bike Fort Collins. Terry will invite DK &
Welcome packets.
Work plan tasks.
Terry moved to adjourn and Bev seconded.
Meeting Adjourned at 1:58 p.m.
Jeff. , r,