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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Committee For Persons With Disabilities - 04/04/2007Committee for Persons with Disabilities (CFPWD) Page t of Summary Minutes — April 4, 2007 A. Call to Order was at 3:30 PM by the Chair, Ms. Fallwell-Stover. B. Roll Call was taken and the quorum was established. 4_ In Attendance Absent a Linda Fallwell-Stover David Walker o6' Clifford Bost Abel Alonzo ���` 9Zsz Lee Jones Toni Padilla David Ramos Harvey Salinas Rosa Valdez Leon Bazar Guadalupe "Lupe" Rocha Wanese Butler Billy Delgado (for Sally Gavlik) Alonzo Garza Wendy Ogden (for retired Doyle Curtis) C. Requests for Excused Absences — None II. Approval of Minutes — Upon review by Committee Members, the Summary Minutes for the Committee Meeting on April 4, 2007 were approved, with clarification. MOTION To approve the Minutes as written was made by Cliff Bost, with a Second by Harvey Salinas. There was by the Chair regarding Page 2 of 5 that there were 290 instead of 250 attendees at the past 2004 Barbara Jordan Media Awards. The motion was passed by vote. III. A. Public Comments — Two in attendance: 1. Stephen Presley of Corpus Christi - No comments at this time due to this being his first meeting and wanted to observe and indicated that he would let the Committee know if he had any questions, and/or provide input later if necessary. 2. Judy Telge of Corpus Christi and CBCIL — Provided comments later during the meeting. B. Presentations — "Survey of Volunteer ADA Parking Monitor Programs" by Human Relations Intern, Ashley Carroll: [HANDOUT — Copy of PowerPoint presentation] Committee for Persons with Disabilities (CFPWD) Page 2 of Summary Minutes — April 4, 2007 Ms. Carroll provided an overview of her recent surveying of other Texas cities regarding volunteer ADA parking monitoring programs. Ms. Carroll indicated: • She utilized the Texas Governor's Committee's website for some information. • There are approximately 28 different programs across Texas that monitor ADA parking spaces. • Of the 28, 15 are similar to the City of Corpus Christi's current monitoring program, yet only 9 cities provided responses during the surveying process • In response to Ms. Padilla's question, that yes most of the cities listed on the Governor's website are active. Ms. Carroll began discussing findings on the training requirements the survey cities use for their volunteers: • An apparent inconsistent interpretation regarding any minimum number of training hours that volunteers are required to meet in the State of Texas in order to write ADA parking citations. After Ms. Carroll and Committee Members went through each presentation slide of findings and recommendations, Ms. Carroll indicated the recommendations were being forwarded to CCPD Chief Bryan Smith. Questions, answers and Member comments ensued: • Fines - ADA parking fines area defined by the State. • Program changes - Since this program was rolled -out fairly quickly and the committee has concerns, Chief Smith is willing to interrupt it to reevaluate and redo, yet the Chair suggested that no drastic action to the program, but increase public awareness such as public service announcements. Ms. Padilla and Mr. Ramos concurred. Discussion ensued about citations being issued to persons with disabilities due to no placard in/on the vehicle at the time, who then have to go to court to present their proof or their placard that was in effect at time of citation. There was also brief discussion of possible placard abuse by persons other than who the placard is intended for use. • PUBLIC - Mr. Presley asked to be recognized by the Chair. He commented that when individuals obtain a placard, they also receive paper documentation. Committee for Persons with Disabilities (CFPWD) Page 3 of Summary Minutes — April 4, 2007 • PUBLIC — The Chair recognized Ms. Telge who commented and distributed Fair and Affordable Housing Seminar brochures to the Committee for April 12-13, 2007 at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, free except for lunch and that scholarships are available. Ms. Telge also commented on the volunteer parking project, and added that projects affecting persons with disabilities are traditionally forwarded to Human Relations, to include accessibility. IV. Chair's Report by Linda Fallwell-Stover • ARC Meeting: The Chair commended Member Harvey Salinas for building support for cross -disabilities. Mr. Salinas mentioned that ARC is now incorporated and waiting on approval of 510c3 status. Their first event function is scheduled for April 25, 2007 at the Education Service Center in Corpus Christi. • Committee Concerns/Questions on Barbara Jordan Media Awards: 1. The Chair reported that although Mr. Alonzo was not present today, the two had discussed concerns regarding Committee role, involvement and proceeds from the event, as raised last month. The Chair indicated that the BJA Awards is a program of the Texas Governor's Committee for People with Disabilities; hosted by a local Committee for Persons with Disabilities; the benefit of having such a program is increased awareness and involvement of the community through good representation and portrayal of people with disabilities; handling of the event sponsorships and funds is being done in working with the Accessibility Coalition of the Coastal Bend, that a post office box has been set up, and that the finances would be reported to the committee; and that nice sponsorships have been coming in. 2. There was brief discussion on training of area high school journalism students, in which Mr. Bost provided Ms. Padilla another contact person, John Lennon, for assistance. 3. The Chair reminded that the Committee may also make nominations for future BJA events, the next being in 2008. V. Subcommittee Reports: A. Title I ADA Employment — No meeting this month; No report at this time. Committee for Persons with Disabilities (CFPWD) Page 4 of Summary Minutes — April 4, 2007 B. Engineering — No meeting this month; No report at this time. C. 2007 Barbara Jordan Media Awards — The Chair provided an update of plans: 1. 6,000-$6,500 in sponsorship pledges from ten sponsors, including the City. 2. KIII-TV Channel 3's Katia Uriarte is the host and the station is currently airing public service announcements on the event. 3. Planning includes participation beyond this Committee and includes TX A&M Corpus Christi staff and student volunteers, as well as Crystal Lyons — the Human Relations Commission Chairperson. 4. Planning meetings are at lunchtime - "brown bag" lunches. 5. Post event report would be provided to the Committee. • Mr. Bazar reminded: 1. As a City Committee sponsored event, copies of the reports, minutes, sponsorship and correspondence, etc. should be forwarded to the Human Relations Department. 2. The sponsorship table by the Department seats eight persons but that the Department is willing to purchase tickets for any Committee Member not attending under another agency or company. VI. Staff Reports/Comments: A. Non -Discrimination — Leon Bazar provided: • Update on staff vacancies of the Intake/Investigative Specialist and Staff Assistant are caught in the City's job position "freeze" requiring justification of filling the position at this time, but that the Department is following the required process in hopes of these positions getting released for advertisement and hiring. In addition, the Staff Assistant position is being considered for an upgrade to a Management Assistant in restructuring the staff assignments to allow the Human Relations Analyst to work in the Fair Housing area fulltime instead of part-time. • Overview of monthly report on casework, activities, and upcoming events. Staff Reports/Comments - Continued: B. Park and Recreation — Billy Delgado attended for Ms. Gavlik and reported that: Committee for Persons with Disabilities (CFPWD) Page s of Summary Minutes — April 4, 2007 • Summer Program in being finalized. • Assessment of parks is being done for Bond Projects. • In response the to Chair's question of any further staff inclusion conferences and training, i.e.: inclusive leagues, soccer, baseball, etc., Mr. Delgado indicated that Park and Recreation does not own all of the local youth leagues, but can contact to encourage their participation and to get league representatives here to attend. The Chair indicated that it would be beneficial to hear from league authorities, possibly for next month. 2. Development Services Key Projects: Alonzo Garza provided an update on: • Unified Development Code Subcommittees — Ongoing • Follow-up discussion on whether new Wal-Mart project is addressing public transportation issues. Mr. Garza indicated regarding the Wal-Mart at Staples and Timbergate, the plans include bus routes and public access. Mr. Garza also informed the Committee of plans for a Public Meeting have tentatively been set a target date of May 2nd or 3rd, 2007 • HEB Plus project — Has new sidewalks • Proposed Development — 212 acres are proposed for development off of Crosstown and Greenwood (behind the Super Wal-Mart and movie theater) for large retail and multi- family dwellings. PUBLIC — Mr. Presley commented that he believes the local HEB Plus Store is unfriendly for people with disabilities regarding an accessible route causing lengthy delays in walking or navigating around the existing route. [Approximately 5:10 PM - Non -Human Relations staff excused for other meetings/work/commitments after 5:00 PM.] VII. Old Business — A. Volunteer ADA Parking Monitoring Program — Tabled due to time. B. Sail Corpus Christi's Accessibility Needs — There was general brief discussion regarding ownership and maintenance if an accessible lift is purchased by the City. After discussion the Committee for Persons with Disabilities (CFPWD) Page 6 of Summary Minutes — April 4, 2007 item with the City's Purchasing Director, Mr. Bazar presented an alternate option of the City purchasing the lift and that it be maintained and checked out for use through the City's Marina, instead of making a life purchase or in-kind to an outside organization's program, especially since it is housed at the Marina. The Chair and Members concurred and added that the sailing program could use more outreach and marketing to inform people with disabilities. VIII. New Business — None. IX. Committee Concerns/Agenda Item Requests A. Presentation by the Regional Transportation Authority's accessibility study. B. Contact sport league representatives for possible inclusion awareness meeting/training. X. Announcements — None made. XI. Adjournment — With nothing further, the meeting adjourned in unison at approximately 5:19 PM.