Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Committee For Persons With Disabilities - 03/05/2003 SUMMARY MINUTES MONTHLY MEETING COMMITTEE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES March 5, 2003 Committee Members - Present Committee Members - Absent Chairperson: Ms. Crystal Lyons Ms. Linda Fallwell-Stover Vice Chair: Mr. Roberto M. Flores Ms. Debra Valenzuela Ms. Toni Padilla Ms. Mary J. Saenz Mr. Billy R. Sayles Mr. Eloy Soza Mr. Glen Ray Tomo CITY STAFF: (ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT) Building Official: Park & Recreation Director: Mr. Kendall /Mr. Art Sosa - absent Mr. Dan Whitworth Human Relations Administrator: Legal Advisor: Mr. L. David Ramos, Director Mr. Joseph Harney Human Relations Analyst: Wanese Taylor Butler Human Relations Management Assistant: Ms. June Shultz CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Lyons ATTENDANCE — Roll Call — Crystal Lyons — P; Robert Flores — P; Linda Fallwell-Stover — A; Toni Padilla — P; Mary Saenz — P; Billy Sayles — P; Eloy Soza — P; Ray Tomo — P; Debra Valenzuela - A. City Staff: Mr. Kendall / Mr. Sosa - A; Mr. Whitworth - P; Joseph Harney - P; David Ramos - P; Wanese Butler - P; June Shultz - P. We had a quorum. (Other persons present: Sgt. Whatley and wife, CCPD representatives, Judy Telge, and Abel Alonzo. SCANNED EXCUSED ABSENCES: Absences to be excused — No excused absences requested. Debra Valenzuela was absent and still needs to sign form. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Monthly Minutes from February 5, 2003 Meeting - Mr. Soza made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Ms. Padilla. Vote was taken and the motion passed. Ms. Saenz mentioned that Mr. Flores telephone number needs to be corrected. CFPWD members were asked to provide any changes or updates to addresses and telephone numbers to the Human Relations Office so Member Lists can be updated in a timely manner. PRESENTATIONS /PUBLIC COMMENTS: a. NOTE: This was held out of Agenda order. It was the first action of the date. First Annual Sweetheart Awards (Follow-up): The CFPWD was pleased to recognize Sgt. Whatley with one of the First Annual Sweetheart Awards. The Chair gave a brief introduction of the event to the public and introduced one of this year's recipients — Sgt. Whatley. The recipient received a letter of commendation and certificate of appreciation. Sgt. Whatley gave a few brief words about his commitment to ADA and Accessible Parking enforcement. b. Mr. Noe was suppose to come and provide a presentation, but was delayed. c. Presentation from Park and Recreation has been postponed until next month. CHAIR'S REPORT: Report regarding HCD — the Chair had follow-up discussion with a consultant from Dallas. They discussed information for federal documents and information that would be beneficial for the City's advantage. The Chair e-mailed the consultant the local statistics pages provided at last month's meeting. The Chair provided a handout — information and a brief overview regarding information provided to the City Manager and Mayor on the Non-Discrimination Ordinance. The Chair indicated that she had invited the Human Relations Commission Chair to attend the meeting, but he must have had a conflict. The Ordinance Draft dated January 8, 2003 is the item being used. The Chair indicated her 2 intention to begin meeting with Council Members tomorrow, to familiarize them with information pertaining to the Non-Discrimination Ordinance. The Chair provided a handout of a House Bill pertaining to a proposed $1.00 Utility Fee that has been re-filed. There are two versions - HB 1089 or HB 1098. If anyone is interested in helping promote it, please let the Chair know. It came close to passing last time. We hope it will go through this time. There was general discussion about why the previous bill didn't pass. If one of the new House Bills pass, it would still need local approval local approval. There was discussion about how well received the "Library" language was by large cities. Anyone interested in on how to file a bill, the Chair will send an e-mail with details. (Ms. Shultz, Ms. Telge and Mr. Soza will be sent the e-mail.) COMMITTEE REPORTS: (Discussion, with possible action.) Outreach/Awareness Sub-committee: No report. Legislative Updates: Non-Discrimination Ordinance Final Draft — Ms. Lyons had a meeting with the City Manager. He shared his thoughts. Part of the mission is to stress the impact of the ordinance. He is preparing a statement of impact on areas that would be impacted. It is time that the City Council takes this up. The Chair mentioned anything we can do to help provide information to the City Manager. We have a good representation of cross disabilities here. We want it to be a fair and objective investigation and they would appreciate the background information. Public Comments: (Out of Agenda Order) Judy Telge of ACI and the Coastal Bend Center for Independent Living. She came to make the CFPWD aware of classes that are on going. There is a movement underway through the Center for Independent Living to assist with impact on up-coming legislation and budget concerns. She asked if the CFPWD could present a resolution of support to the City Council, County Commissioners, and Council of Governments (COG) to go to State Legislation — solicit support for efforts on individual level. Ask for elderly to join us, MHMR providers; Association affiliated (i.e.: TX Rehabilitation Commission). She passed out a sample of a Houston Resolution — they will rework it for this area. Cuts will eliminate approximately 70,000 people with disabilities, Medicaid and CHIPS recipients, and Medicaid reimbursements and the elderly. Bottom line is that it is devastating. She is 3 asking for CFPWD Members to participate. She will be going before the City Council on the 25th. She distributed a handout of a position statement and letter. There was general questions and discussion. If we were to lose the funding, local levels would need to pick it up, and there is nothing available at the local level. We need to spell out the impact on what would happen if this passed. She would like to roll in information on the House Bill the Chair mentioned earlier in this as well. The Coastal Bend is one of the lowest socio-economic areas. Ms. Lyons indicated that the CFPWD can't take action on this matter today, as it was not on the Agenda, but they can show support individually. There was discussion about the option of holding a Special Meeting. Ms. Padilla asked if Ms. Telge has contacted AAA? Ms. Telge indicated not yet. On the 15th there will be a CBAD meeting. This is a very serious situation. Mr. Alonzo is an example of an individual who might be one of the 70,000 impacted. If the program is cut, it could cut him and he'd have to go to a nursing home. This could segregate groups and disabilities again. There is no waiting at nursing homes. There was discussion if the CFPWD members would be able to attend a Special Meeting on the 15th. Ms. Telge discussed the option of e- mailing information after the 15th, for a Special Meeting with an Agenda Item with possible action. The meeting on the 15th will be held from 10:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m., Room 1009 (NCR) at TAMU-CC. The CFPWD could hold a Special Meeting from 11:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. General discussion on input. OLD BUSINESS: (Discussion, with possible action.) ]. Transition Plan —has been adopted by the City Council. Mr. Ramos held a meeting with Departmental Coordinators and reviewed the information. City staff are currently reviewing policies and solutions for problems encountered. City staff are also preparing budgets. City staff are preparing first "Wish Lists" and then supplemental budgets. We are headed in the right direction. We will continue to hold public meetings. We will prepare quarterly reports and monthly updates. We will have input from the CFPWD and share public awareness. The Mayor asked for quarterly reports. Originally we had planned for annual reports, but the Mayor wants quarterly reports. The Guide reflects annual, but we will do the 1s` Quarter Report in November 2003. August 2003 is the start of the process. Ms Butler has a new file for updates. 4 2. Accessible Parking Brochure: We have prepared a draft brochure, but wanted Mr. Flores to review it first. We will e-mail it to everyone for his or her review. Ms. Lyons asked who the CCPD Representatives were that were present. Commander Tones and Commander Garcia were present with Sgt. Whatley. Once we finalize the brochure, we should share it with them. NEW BUSINESS: (Discussion, with possible action.) 1. Training Schedule: Need to organize it for new member(s) who have come on board since the original training. Tentatively Ms. Valenzuela; Mr. Sayles; Ms. Saenz. If these members could contact Mr. Ramos to coordinate a convenient date for their schedules. Ms. Lyons asked if we should take some time now also for the hard stuff — strategic planning? Ms. Butler questioned — maybe a retreat? Ms. Lyons mentioned that soon the Accessible Building Code, Transition Plan and Non-Discrimination Ordinance would be accomplished. It might be a nice time to regroup. Mr. Ramos indicated we could combine the new members' orientation training with this. We could do an overview and share policy information. Mr. Soza asked the timeline for the ordinance? He asked if we could be kept informed about dates. Ms. Lyons indicated that Mr. Ramos attends the City Manager's Agenda meetings, and that he could keep the CFPWD informed. Ms. Soza indicated that we need to arrange for support and people to come to the Council meetings when these items come up. Mr. Ramos indicated that he will probably need to do the Agenda Items. He will talk with Ms. Rose. He will share information when he knows it. We'll discuss the topic of training next month— so it will be tabled for now. Administrator's Report — Mr. Ramos handed out monthly report (February 2003 Information). Mr. Ramos proceeded to give an overview of the month of February ADA and EEOC statistical data and general information on housing and capacity building. Questions were asked about the one stop shop — new facility. Calls are coming to us for TAS specifications. However, we are planning for the full academy and coordinating it with Mr. Sosa. Mr. Ramos will talk with Mr. Sosa about it. There was further general discussion. 5 Committee Concerns/Request For Agenda Items / Announcements: 1. Follow-up item: Las Vegas Park and Recreation Conference. 2. New Member Orientation Training and possible retreat for strategic planning. 3. Update on Ordinance. 4. Information from Ms. Telge and Special Meeting (open to all members — 11:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. on the 15th)— e-mail draft document. If there is a quorum, then a vote will be taken, if no quorum, we can schedule another meeting. 5. Announcement of Diversity Rally to be held on March 8, 2003 at Cole Park. 6. Mr. Soza mentioned a training opportunity in Dallas, Advanced Advocacy Training. 7. Ms. Padilla mentioned applying for a grant to focus on promoting higher education. She didn't receive the grant, but did receive material and training, with an incredible notebook. It focused on parents with children with disabilities or parents with disabilities. She went last week. It might be beneficial to groups you know. If so, let her know and she'd be glad to give a presentation. Adjourn - meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m. Minu, s Approved: 4/6/fin tte 42a /O� Crys Lyons, o ittee Chairperson Date 6