Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Committee For Persons With Disabilities - 10/05/2005 CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI-COMMITTEE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Summary Minutes for the Meeting of October 5, 2005 I. The Chairperson called the meeting to order at 3:38 PM A. Roll call: Present Committee Members: Linda Fallwell-Stover, Toni Padilla, Mary Saenz, Abel Alonzo, James, Duerr, Eloy Soza, David Walker, Brian Watson Post Roll Call Arrivals: Roberto Flores Absent Committee Members: none Present Staff Members: Leon Bazar, Wanese Butler, Linda Hodge for Sally Gavlik, Naomi Ramirez for Alonzo Garza, April Moffett Public: Judy Telge, Mr. Hawkins, Crystal Lyons B. Excused Absences: MOTION: James Duerr moved to excuse Brian Watson's September 7, 2005 absence with a second from David Walker. The motion passed. II. Approval of Minutes: Meeting of September 7.2005 Motion: Mary Saenz moved to approve the minutes as amended with a second by Eloy Soza. After some discussion, the motion passed as amended. III. Presentation and Public Comments: Public Comments: Judy Telge-ACI Center for Independent Living: Judy Telge spoke on the education regarding getting people in and out of the city during an evacuation and better planning for getting people in and out of city, poor people, elderly etc... She said we did an amazing job to get people out of the city(people with disabilities) and need a voluntary registry to get to people from their homes etc... She knew of one person who requested ambulance service. He did not get evacuated. This man is on a ventilator, 55 years old, and post polo. Ms. Telge has applied for a supplemental grant award from for the Coastal Evacuation Assistance Project. There are forty-five people still here from New Orleans in nursing homes. There will be a meeting to assist with this project. She welcomed the assistance of the Committee and the Human Relations Department. Mr. Alonzo thanked all of the guests that were at the meeting and stated that he feels that there was a lack of communication CFPWD 100505 1 SCANNED 4118+ during the evacuation process. Mr. Alonzo has requested that the City Manager attend the next meeting so that the Committee can ask him what he would do different and better. (3:57 PM Naomi Ramirez for Alonzo Garza arrived) Mr. Hawkins: He was one of the citizens evacuated to San Antonio. He thanked everyone for their help including the RTA. (3:59 PM Mr. Flores arrived) Brian Watson suggested developing a thank you letter to the police and fire departments. Diane Staley—MHMR Fundraiser Diane Staley thanked everyone for attending the meeting. She said that there were things that could have been done better but she was glad to see the awareness in the Committee and we need to build on that. MHMR can also do things to help. She mentioned that she had spoken to Linda Hodge and she thought that the evacuation was well organized. Ms. Staley stated that the Katrina evacuees received eight hours of service from MHMR. She also informed the Committee that on November 101h, MHMR will be having a fundraiser. The title of the Fundraiser will be "Flavors of Generosity". This is the second year for this fundraiser. Katherine Childress will be the spokesperson at the fundraiser. Diane Staley also mentioned that barriers and stigmas prevent people from talking about mental illnesses. The Sheriff of Nueces County will also be speaking at the fundraiser. The Chairperson thanked Diane Staley and MHMR for all of their efforts. Presentation: Diane Barrera—County Clerk of Nueces County New Accessible Voting Equipment By January 2006 this new accessible voting equipment must be in place. After the Florida 2000 Election, the County decided to revamp the voting equipment. The machine has buttons for Braille for the vision impaired, and English and Spanish capabilities. Each polling place is required to have one of these devices. A person with limited use can also use this device. (There was a small demonstration of the device.) All of the devices have their own battery packs. She stated that Abel Alonzo has been assisting in the demonstration and training of the device. Diane Barrera informed the Committee that there will be someone there at the polls to assist with the use of the machine and there is a light indicator on the device to indicate help is needed. She also informed the Committee that there are 25 different types of ballots in the device. The citizen will key in a code and the appropriate ballot will be given to the citizen. The device is durable and can withstand a CFPWD 100505 2 N possible drop. Election poll managers will be trained on the device. The next training session will be 17th of Oct. The device can be taken to the person's car. The device will be used for the first time during the November election. If we can think of any places in the community where the county can take this voting device, the county office is open for suggestions. Please call 888- 0580. Ms. Barrera also informed the Committee that votes cast on the device are recorded. Each device has a record Ram and there will be a minimum of one at each polling place. IV. Chairperson's Report: (Discussion, with possible action): • The Chairperson read the Committee for Person's with Disabilities Purpose Statement to the Committee. • October is National Disabilities Employment Awareness Month • Janice Shoe is with Informationline. There will be a job fair in Ft. Worth, TX sponsored by the CFPWD there in Ft. Worth. • Corporation for National and Community Services announced 4 million dollars in change grants disaster relieve. See Linda Fallwell-Stover for more information. V. Sub-Committee Reports:(Discussion, with possible action): ADA Title I—Toni Padilla (Handout) Toni Padilla spoke to Ruthie Caraway and informed her that the Committee is concerned that there is no affirmative action plan with the City and the Committee is requesting that other things be done to see where affirmative action is taking place within the City. Some of the concerns are as follows: • How many people with disabilities are being hired? • What types of services are being provided? The City's departments are handling their own issues but they have asked each department to report on what is being done and keep a record. The Human Resources Department has a designated person to keep track of that information. This is still a work in progress. There was some discussion among Committee members on this issue. VI. Staff Reports / Comments (Discussion, with possible action): A. Non-Discrimination Ordinance: B. ADA Title I Employment Comprehensive Study: (Toni Padilla gave this update under Subcommittee Reports) C. Other Items: 1. Follow-up on Curb Ramp Projects' Summary—Leon Bazar An outside firm will view the transition plan. Mr. Bazar requested that the subcommittee to meet in the next weeks. After some CFPWD 100505 3 the discussion, the Committee agreed that David Walker, Abel Alonzo, and Linda Fallwell-Stover met with the Engineering Department. 2. Park and Recreation Outreach/Marketing Effort—Linda Hodge Linda Hodge issued the Parks and Rec. flyers with the Committee. 3. Accessible Polling Places— Leon Bazar There were no complaints. The Human Relations Department has the accessible ramps and signs in storage. Leon Bazar: • Parking and Volunteer Program: The Chief of Police is supportive. More planning is needed. • Municipal Court Accessible Parking Violation Report Leon Bazar issued a handout regarding the City's unresolved accessible parking violations for the last three months. Mr. Bazar reviewed that handout with the Committee. The Chairperson has requested that Chief Bung and Judge Tamez come to next month's meeting for further discussion. • Disability Employment Awareness Month is in October. The Mayor will read a proclamation on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 11:45 AM • The Boards, Committees, Commission Reception will be November 3, 2005 • The Human Relations Department is trying to reschedule Aaron McCullough to conduct further ADA training which was postponed due to Hurricane Rita. • Senate Bill 279 has made changes in TDLR. • Issued handout featuring young people with disabilities who are in sports. • American Bank Center seating manifest. Wanese Butler stated there were improvements made to the web manifest. Regarding American Bank Center's policies and accessible seating for leases, she indicated that the Human Relations Department is waiting to see the American Bank Center's lease agreement. There was some discussion among the Committee members. Ms. Fallwell-Stover and the Committee would like to see the seating managed. Roberto Flores mentioned that it has been a year that the Committee has been speaking on this issue and Mr. Flores also mentioned that parking is still an issue at the Center. [5:17 PM Ms. Ramirez left] The Chairperson requested that Russ Myers from the American Bank Center speak at next month's meeting. [5:22 PM Ms. Talge and Ms. Hodge left] VII. Old Business: none VIII. New Business: CFPWD 100505 4 160 V Emergency Preparedness Plan The Chairperson stated that a lot of facilities do not have evacuation plans in place. She would like the Committee to work with other entities in the community to get a plan. MOTION: Toni Padilla moved to recommend that the Mayor and City Council adopt an ordinance requiring assisted living facilities and nursing homes to file an evacuation plan with the City and provide annual updates to the City with a seconded by Abel Alonzo. After some discussion and questions by Eloy Soza, the motion passed. Linda Fallwell-Stover, Diane Staley, Abel Alonzo, Crystal Lyons, James Duerr, and Eloy Soza are proposed new subcommittee members. (No name for that new subcommittee as of yet) The Committee members suggested sponsoring a special public meeting. [5:36 PM Ms. Padilla left] [5:36PM Ms. Butler left] IX. Committee Concerns / Request for Agenda Items: • Mr. Alonzo requested that the City Manager attend next month's meeting. • The Chairperson requested Chief Bung and Judge Tamez to attend next month's meeting. • The Chairperson requested Russ Myers to attend next month's meeting. • Request to have Ted Nelson to attend a meeting in the future and speak on publicity for this Committee. X. Announcements: • Eloy Soza announced that National White Cane Day will be held at Corpus Christi Academy. Xl. Adjournment: MOTION: David Walker moved for the meeting to be adjourned with a second by Mary Saenz. The Motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 5:38 PM. CFPWD 100505 5