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Home My WebLink AboutNovember 3, 2023 Minutes William H. Farr Mitchell D. Roth Executive on Aging Mayor County of Hawai’i OFFICE OF AGING Aging and Disability Resource Center, 1055 Kino‘ole Street, Suite 101, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720-3872 Phone (808) 961-8600  Fax (808) 961-8603  Email: hcoa@hawaiiantel.net West Hawai‘i Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway, Kailua-Kona 96740 Phone (808) 323-4390  Fax (808) 323-4398 MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES Minutes Friday, November 3, 2023 Hawaii County Building Council Chambers and via Zoom 25 Aupuni Street, Room 1401, Hilo Hawai’i 96720 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair, Michelle Hiraishi at 12:31 P.M. at the Hawaii County Building Council Chambers and via Zoom, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 1401, Hilo, Hawai’i 96720. 2. ROLL CALL Members Present: Michelle Hiraishi, Sandra Schuffler, Tiffany Dela Cruz, Robert Efford, Christen Zulli Members Attending by Zoom: Zahava Zaidoff, Julia Althoff Members Excused: ReBecca Bennett Hawaii County Staff: Suzanna Tiapula (Deputy Corporation Counsel), Meredith Catalini (Office of Aging), Lori Enomoto (Office of Aging) Interpreting Services (ASL) Present: Kaufmann Interpreting Services, Mary R Love Incorporated 3. WELCOME; INTRODUCTIONS AS NECESSARY Roll call conducted, members acknowledged by Chair, Michelle Hiraishi. A quorum was present. An Area Agency on Aging Hawai`i County is an equal opportunity provider and employer. MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES Friday, November 3, 2023 4. APPROVAL OF THE October 13, 2023 MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES MEETING MINUTES Motion made by Secretary, Sandra Schuffler to accept the October 13, 2023 meeting minutes. Chair, Michelle Hiraishi asked if there was any discussion. No discussion. Committee Member, Tiffany Dela Cruz seconded the motion (5 ayes, 0 nays). 5. PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS Public Member and entrepreneur, Tiare Dela Cruz mentioned the difficulties and challenges of accessibility on the Big Island with State and County Departments, and private businesses. Chair, Michelle Hiraishi asked if any Committee Members had any questions or comments on the public testifier. Committee Member, Julia Althoff asked Public Member, Tiare Dela Cruz about instances where she had sought interpretation and communication support from the County. Public Member, Tiare Dela Cruz described instances where she attended a meeting hosted by the County where there was no interpreter, but instances where she attended a meeting sponsored by a private business, where there was an interpreter. Committee Member, Robert Efford explained that the County Mass Transit Agency offers MTM point-to-point paratransit services for individuals with disabilities. Vice Chair, Christen Zulli joined the meeting at 12:52 P.M. 6. FORMING A SUBCOMMITEE FOR BY-LAW REVIEW Chair, Michelle Hiraishi asked the Committee if they would like to form a subcommittee for by-law review. Committee Member, Zahava Zaidoff made a motion to form a subcommittee for by-law review. Committee Member, Julia Althoff seconded the motion. Committee Member, Zahava Zaidoff offered to take the lead in forming the subcommittee for by-law review. Committee Member, Zahava Zaidoff made an amended motion to create a Permitted Interaction Group, for the purpose of reviewing the by-laws. Committee Member, Julia Althoff and Vice Chair, Christen Zulli also volunteered to be a part of the Permitted Interaction Group. Chair, Michelle Hiraishi called for a vote for all those in favor of moving the motion forward. (6 ayes, 0 nays) 2 MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES Friday, November 3, 2023 . 7. PRESENTATION BY CORPORATION COUNSEL REGARDING ESTABLISHING A PERMITTED INTERACTION GROUP Motion made by Secretary, Sandra Schuffler, to accept a presentation by Deputy Corporation Counsel regarding establishing a Permitted Interaction Group. Committee Member, Tiffany Dela Cruz seconded the motion. Deputy Corporation Counsel, Suzanna Tiapula provided a handout, Quick Review: Who Board Members Can Talk to and When (Part 3), which was distributed to all Committee members. Deputy Corporation Counsel, Sandra Tiapula, explained how members of the Committee may form a Permitted Interaction Group “PIG”, to investigate or review a matter relating to official business that has a very specific focus. In order for the Committee to take action on a matter investigated by a Permitted Interaction Group, three separate Committee meetings must occur in the order described below. At the first Committee meeting, the Permitted Interaction Group is formed. At the second Committee meeting, the findings and recommendations of the Permitted Interaction Group is presented, but the Committee cannot discuss or act on the report at this meeting. After the Permitted Interaction Group makes its report to the Committee at the second meeting, the Permitted Interaction Group is automatically dissolved. At the third meeting, the Committee can discuss, deliberate, or make any decisions regarding the Permitted Interaction Group’s report. 8. COMMITTEE APPROACH TO INITIATIVES: BY VECTOR OR BY DISABILITY OR A COMBINATION OF THE TWO Committee Member, Zahava Zaidoff suggested the Committee approach the initiatives to allow for both by vector and by disability. Committee Member, Julia Althoff suggested the Committee approach the initiatives by vector. Chair, Michelle Hiraishi, suggested the Committee take a hybrid approach to the initiatives as both by vector and by disability. Secretary, Sandra Shuffler suggested that the Committee approach the initiatives as both by vector and by disability. Committee Chair, Zahava Zaidoff made a motion for the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities to take on issues related to the disabled community both by vector and by disability, based upon the capacity of the current Committee members. Vice Chair, Christen Zulli seconded the motion. (6 ayes, 0 nays) 3 MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES Friday, November 3, 2023 9. FINAL DRAFT REVIEW OF THE ANNUAL REPORT TO MAYOR Committee Member, Julia Althoff made a motion to accept to review the draft annual report to the Mayor. Secretary, Sandra Schuffler, seconded the motion. Deputy Corporation Counsel, Suzanna Tiapula explained that there is currently no final draft of the annual report to review, but does have a page and a half of summary recommendations. These recommendations can either be read out to the Committee to vote on today, or the recommendations can be added to the previously provided reports, and emailed to the Committee members 6 days prior to the next meeting. Chair, Michelle Hiraishi explained Article VIII in the By Laws of the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities: 1. AN ANNUAL REPORT SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE MAYOR DESCRIBING MCPD ACTIVITIES OF THE PAST YEAR OR FISCAL YEAR AND BE REVIEWED BY THE FULL COMMITTEE. FINAL ANNUAL REPORT, AS APPROVED BY THE MCPD, WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE MAYOR. Secretary, Sandra Schuffler left the meeting at 1:33 P.M. Chair, Michelle Hiraishi indicated that Committee Member, Julia Althoff will consolidate the recommendations and previously provided reports, to be presented at the next meeting. Chair, Michelle Hiraishi indicated the motion will be tabled and remain open until the next Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities meeting in January. 10. ANNOUNCEMENTS The next Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities meeting will be on Friday, January 5, 2024 at 12:30 P.M. at the Hawaii County Building, Council Chambers, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 1401, Hilo, Hawaii 96720. Chair, Michelle Hiraishi discussed the planned agenda items for the next meeting: Presentation by Corporation Counsel regarding Roberts Rules of Order Report from the By-Laws Committee Final Review of the Annual Report to the Mayor Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities meeting schedule for 2024 Public Member, Tiare Dela Cruz, expressed having difficulties of accessibility while volunteering at County hosted events and privately hosted events. 4 MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES Friday, November 3, 2023 11. ADJOURNMENT Committee Member, Zahava Zaidoff made a motion to adjourn. Committee Member, Robert Efford seconded the motion. (5 ayes, 0 nays) Chair, Michelle Hiraishi adjourned the meeting at 1:48 PM. 5