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Home My WebLink AboutJanuary 5, 2024 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, January 5, 2024 Hawai’i 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 12:30 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, Robert Efford, Christen Zulli, ReBecca Bennett, Zahava Zaidoff, Julia Althoff, Tiffany Dela Cruz Public Member Present: Toby Hazel, Hannah Hedrick, Tiare Dela Cruz Public Members Attending by Zoom: Claudia Rohr 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, January 5, 2024 4. APPROVAL OF THE November 3, 2023 MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES MEETING MINUTES Motion made by Committee Member, Zahava Zaidoff to accept the November 3, 2023 meeting minutes. Chair, Michelle Hiraishi asked if there was any discussion. Committee Member, Julia Althoff seconded the motion. No discussion. (6 ayes, 0 nays). 5. PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS Public Member, Toby Hazel solemnly attested that everything stated will be the truth. Toby Hazel requested an addition to the Annual Report to the Mayor, to have ADA accommodations for people to get in and out of the water at the beach parks in Hilo. Committee Member, Tiffany Dela Cruz joined the meeting at 12:41 PM. Public Member, Hannah Hedrick affirmed that everything stated will be the truth. Hannah Hedrick expressed concerns about the Richardson Beach Park access, and the Hilo Medical Center bus stop. Hannah Hedrick commended the report from the by-laws Committee. Public Member, Claudia Rohr affirmed that everything stated will be the truth. Claudia Rohr asked under what circumstances can you interrupt under Roberts Rules of Order, and spoke about difficulties in copying text off of a PDF document on the County’s website, as well as accessing links. Claudia Rohr spoke about the by-laws, and adding additional information into the Annual Report to the Mayor. Public Member, Tiare Dela Cruz attested that everything stated will be the truth. Tiffany Dela Cruz explained having difficulties at the doctor’s office with an interpreter which was provided through an iPad, and also that the minimum wage should be increased. 6. PRESENTATION BY CORPORATION COUNSEL REGARDING ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER Corporation Counsel, Suzanna Tiapula proposed reaching out to the Chair and Vice Chair to have a separate discussion about Roberts Rules of Order, and continuing the agenda item until the next meeting. Secretary, Sandra Schuffler made a motion to continue the presentation by Corporation Counsel regarding Roberts Rules of Order until the next meeting. Committee Member, ReBecca Bennett, seconded the motion. (7 ayes, 0 nays) 2 MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES Friday, January 5, 2024 7. REPORT FROM THE BY-LAWS COMMITTEE Committee Member, Zahava Zaidoff presented the report from the by-laws Committee, which described the proposed changes to the MCPD by-laws. Corporation Counsel, Suzanna Tiapula explained that since the by-laws Committee report was presented today, it can be taken home to be reviewed in conjunction with the existing by-laws, and then be discussed at the next Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Meeting. 8. FINAL REVIEW OF THE ANNUAL REPORT TO MAYOR Corporation Counsel, Suzanna Tiapula explained the term hearing impaired should not be used in any documents submitted by the Committee, and the appropriate term is d/Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing. Committee Member, ReBecca Bennett made a motion to discuss the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Annual Report to the Mayor. Committee Member, Zahava Zaidoff seconded the motion. Committee Member, ReBecca Bennett asked if the word in-person, can be added to certain sections where ASL Interpretation Services is listed in the Annual Report to the Mayor. Committee Member, Zahava Zaidoff made an amended motion to replace any sections with the word hearing impaired to d/Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing, and to specify in-person ASL Interpretation Services in the Annual Report to the Mayor. Committee Member, ReBecca Bennett seconded the amended motion. (7 ayes, 0 nays) 9. MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES MEETING SCHEDULE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2024 Corporation Counsel, Suzanna Tiapula presented the Committee with the proposed 2024 Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities meeting dates at the Council Chambers in Hilo and Kona. Committee Member, Zahava Zaidoff made a motion to set the 2024 Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities meeting dates, and to allow for additional meetings as needed. Committee Member, ReBecca Bennett seconded the motion. (7 ayes, 0 nays) Friday, March 15, 2024 at 12:00 P.M. at the Hawai’i County Building, Council Chambers, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 1401, Hilo, Hawai’i 96720 Friday, May 17, 2024 at 12:00 P.M. at the Hawai’i County Building, Council Chambers, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 1401, Hilo, Hawai’i 96720 3 MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES Friday, January 5, 2024 Friday, July 19, 2024 at 12:00 P.M. at the Hawai’i County Building, Council Chambers, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 1401, Hilo, Hawai’i 96720 Friday, September 13, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. at the West Hawai’i Civic Center, Council Chambers Building A, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua- Kona, Hawai’i, 96740 Friday, November 22, 2024 at 12:00 P.M. at the Hawai’i County Building, Council Chambers, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 1401, Hilo, Hawai’i 96720 10. NEXT MEETING AGENDA ITEMS DISCUSSION, APPROVAL Chair, Michelle Hiraishi discussed the agenda items for the next meeting: Presentation on Female Specific Disorders Presentation by Corporation Counsel regarding Robert Rules of Order (provided in writing) Discussion of the Goals of the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Review and discussion on the report of the By-Laws Committee 11. ANNOUNCEMENTS Corporation Counsel, Suzanna Tiapula announced that a Committee Member had asked to share information regarding a Human Trafficking Conference on February 6, 2024 in Kona, and February 7, 2024 in Hilo, with keynote speaker Rachel Fisher. 12. ADJOURNMENT Chair, Michelle Hiraishi adjourned the meeting at 2:04 PM. 4