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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 18, 2024 Minutes Deanna S. Sako Managing Director Mitchell D. Roth Mayor Robert H. Command Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai‘i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  (808) 961-8211  Fax (808) 961-6553 MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2024 MINUTES 1. Call to Order The meeting of the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities was called to order at 12:04 P.M. in the Hawai’i County Building, Puna Conference Room and via Zoom, Hilo, Hawai’i 96720, by Michelle Hiraishi, Chairperson. 2. Roll Call, Quorum Committee members present: Michelle Hiraishi, Chairperson Sandra Schuffler, Secretary/Treasurer Robert Efford, Committee Member ReBecca Bennett, Committee Member Committee members attending by Zoom: Christen Zulli, Vice-chairperson Zahava Zaidoff, Committee Member Julia Althoff, Committee Member Committee members unexcused: Tiffany Dela Cruz, Committee Member Hawaii County staff present: Inha Kandatsu Kang, Deputy Corporation Counsel William Horace Farr, Executive on Aging Alika Kost, Equal Opportunity Officer/ADA Coordinator Lori Enomoto, Office of Aging Interpreting services (ASL) attending by Zoom: Kaufmann Interpreting Services Roll call conducted; Committee members acknowledged by Chair Michelle Hiraishi. A quorum was present. County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. DRAFT MINUTES – Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Page 2 Friday, October 18, 2024 3. Approval of the September 13, 2024, Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Meeting Minutes Motion made by Committee Member Julia Althoff to approve the September 13, 2024, meeting minutes as written. Committee Member ReBecca Bennett seconded the motion. No discussion. 7 votes Aye, 0 votes No. 4. Public Testimony on Agenda Items Susan Shirachi explained that in regards to the minutes that passed, she wanted to clarify to Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff in her response regarding the University and access to Zoom. Susan Shirachi explained that there is Zoom and quite a bit of Zoom capabilities, but it’s the formatting like how we are having the meeting now where there is committee members presence as well as visual capabilities from participants in Zoom. Susan Shirachi stated that is the only thing for clarity that they do not have that functionality right now, and noticed the minutes were a little different from what she wanted to explain. Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff asked Susan Shirachi if what she was responding to was that we couldn’t necessarily have a meeting on UH Hilo campus because they couldn’t provide Zoom the way we have it right now. Committee Member Zaidoff explained that based on the MCPD bylaws, having the meeting there wouldn’t be something we could do, but possibly an event could be. 5. Annual Report (draft) to the Mayor Chair Michelle Hiraishi thanked Committee member Julia Althoff for putting together such a professional draft Annual Report to the Mayor, and asked the Committee members to review the draft format of the report. Committee Member Julia Althoff explained that Committee Member ReBecca Bennett has submitted information to make some adjustments to the draft report and Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff asked for clarification on dates on the report. Committee Member Althoff asked the committee members if they saw any specific items they would like changed or added to the report. Chair Michelle Hiraishi had one comment on a typo on page 4, section prior to public testimony from 2024 meetings, third bullet, the word disabled is misspelled. Committee Member Robert Efford asked if there was a follow-up on the public th testimony from January 5, where two individuals gave testimony about accessibility with our lagoons. Committee Member Efford asked if there should be a letter or email written on behalf of the Committee, saying we received public testimony twice regarding accessibility to our lagoons as well as Hilo Medical Center and that be submitted as part of our accomplishments. Committee Member Julia Althoff responded that it’s not the Committee’s responsibility to refer the information to the various County departments because we are an advisory committee to the Mayor, and it would be up to the Mayor’s County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. DRAFT MINUTES – Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Page 3 Friday, October 18, 2024 Office on how they want to handle the Committee’s recommendations to the Mayor. Committee Member Robert Efford asked if accessibility can be listed on the report th as an 8 Key Recommendations for 2024. Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff stated that the key recommendations are from the reports that came in, and without more information is not comfortable as a Committee adding that we need more accessibility at these beaches. These issues were covered by the fact that Committee Member Althoff included the public testimony and included the testifier’s names, so that the Mayor’s Office can reach out to these individuals specifically or send the information to the appropriate County Departments. Chair Michelle Hiraishi suggested that accessibility as item number 8 in the report should be a voting component. Secretary Sandra Schuffler asked if accessibility included in the report will be based on the public testimony that was received, or if it will be specific. Committee Member Robert Efford stated that where there are two individuals that give testimony, he would imagine that the Committee would want include that as a follow-up recommendation. Chair Michelle Hiraishi suggested that the Committee could invite Parks and Recreation and Mass Transit for an update or do a short presentation. Vice Chair Christen Zulli asked if the Committee could broaden the recommendation to say that the Committee suggests that the Mayor’s Office consider clearer, more direct, and more consistent communication to the disability community around accessibility, so the Mayor’s Office will understand the recommendation the Committee is making, is around their direct communication instead of putting the Committee as a middleman and inviting people to come to meetings when the meetings are geared toward making recommendations. Vice Chair Zulli stated that it will be more around the communication, and the Mayor’s Office opening up lines to the public. Committee Member Julia Althoff explained that there is a section in the larger report that has recommendations based on public testimony, so we can add that for them to review the accessibility at those locations. Chair Michelle Hiraishi explained the request from the Committee is for Committee Member Althoff to add to page 5, under Recommendations Based on Public Testimony, about public testifiers concerned with accessibility. Committee Member Julia Althoff will add, review accessibility at beaches and bus stops. Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff spoke about the section in the report which states Collaboration with UH Hilo, and how that reads is that the Committee is actively coordinating with UH Hilo to plan an event because it is listed as an County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. DRAFT MINUTES – Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Page 4 Friday, October 18, 2024 accomplishment. Committee Member Zaidoff suggested changing it from Collaboration with UH Hilo to making plans to go out into the community. Committee Member Julia Althoff explained that based on the conversation during the last meeting where Committee Member Althoff had informed the Committee that she would be in touch with Susan Shirachi about collaboration with UH Hilo, Susan Shirachi has suggested that some students with disabilities be involved in the planning. Committee Member Julia explained that it could be expanded to say working to coordinate with community organizations and students at UH Hilo. Chair Michelle Hiraishi asked about the connection with the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities and section 3 of the report which is Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff explained that part of the stigma that we’re trying to work through the disability community is precisely the fact that substance use and mental illnesses aren’t seen by the disabled community as a disability, however mental health and substance abuse is combined in a category, and about a decade ago was changed to be called behavioral health. Committee Member Zaidoff explained that mental illness is a disability as categorized by the Federal Government and the State, and that invisible disabilities aren’t seen as disabilities in a lot of cases and specifically those that are related to the brain. Committee Member Zaidoff expressed that the Committee has a unique ability to help rid the stigma around mental health and substance use not being a disability by specifically including it in the report. Committee Member Robert Efford explained working in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities and according to the waiver, the definition of intellectual developmental disability is that it had to occur before the age of 22, so if we're talking about definitions, it really depends on whose definition we want to look at. Committee Member Efford stated that if it occurred after the age of 22, it could be a traumatic brain injury or mental health issues, and then there's dual diagnosis. Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff explained that the bylaws for this committee does not specifically define a disability in a narrowed viewpoint, and made it a point not to make any changes in the bylaws around where it talked about disability, because they want to be inclusive of all disabilities. Committee Member Sandra Shuffler stated that she is agreement with both Committee Member Efford and Committee Member Zaidoff in that mental health/behavioral health can occur before and after age 22. Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff explained fighting stigma as people with disabilities, where substance use disorders can be considered disabled by Federal and State regulations. Committee Member Zaidoff stated that she can ask Committee Member Althoff to change the heading of section 3 of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders to say Behavioral Health Disorders because behavioral health is specifically substance use disorders and mental illness, although substance use disorders are illnesses because people can quality as disabled as a result. County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. DRAFT MINUTES – Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Page 5 Friday, October 18, 2024 Vice Chair Christen Zulli pointed out the more appropriate question within an advisory committee to a governing body that sits below the State and Federal is to look at what the Federal Government says and work down from there. Vice Chair Zulli explained that if it’s already listed at the federal level, our jurisdiction on our perception of disability whether we see that as individual committee members is irrelevant. Vice Chair Zulli explained being cautious as to getting into that conversation and doesn’t think that would be our position as an advisory committee, but is on board if someone wants to change the terminology to better match what is accessible via Federal and State. Equal Opportunity Officer/ADA Coordinator Alika Kost acknowledged that there are disabilities due to substance abuse but it’s not a disability if they’re actively using, but after that fact when they’re going through recovery and the rest of their lives. Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff stated that she can write a couple of sentences to state the medical community has determined mental illnesses and substance use disorders are illnesses, and therefore people can be disabled from either of those things, and here are recommendations with regards to people with disabilities with mental illness and substance use disorders. Secretary Sandra Shuffler left the meeting at 12:45 P.M. Committee Member Julia Althoff suggested that Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff write a couple of sentences which can be listed at the beginning section of her individual part of the report for the purposes of formatting. Committee Member Julia Althoff asked Corporation Counsel if it would be acceptable for the Committee to provide some educational materials to all Committee members, so individuals who don’t understand about substance abuse being a disability could educate themselves. Deputy Corporation Counsel Inha Kandatsu-Kang expressed that it would be entirely up to the Committee, but any topic of discussion must be about people with disabilities, so it’s important to know the Federal, State, and County definition of disabilities. Committee Member Julia Althoff proposed, putting together a document which gives the Federal, State, and County definition, along with information about substance abuse disorders, so the Committee can educate themselves, and address those adequately going forward. Deputy Corporation Counsel Inha Kandatsu-Kang explained that the Committee members will have to vote on approving portions or the entire report, so it would be helpful if everyone were on the same page about topics that were discussed. Committee Member ReBecca Bennett expressed that the Committee has had discussion about the communication access card with the transit system. Committee Member Robert Efford suggested that if these are our smart goals, they should be on our agenda. County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. DRAFT MINUTES – Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Page 6 Friday, October 18, 2024 Chair Michelle Hiraishi suggested that the Committee invite Mass Transit to come to a meeting and give an update. Committee Member Julia Althoff asked Committee Member Robert Efford and Chair Michelle Hiraishi to bring this up at the beginning of next year. 6. Election of Officers Chair Michelle Hiraishi informed the Committee that the secretary/treasurer position is still open. Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff asked Corporation Counsel why the elections the Committee already did are not void, and why the Committee is continuing elections because from the perspective of process, once there is a new Committee appointed, elections should happen again to allow for any members to have the opportunity to run for office. Chair Michelle Hiraishi explained the reason this is still on the agenda is because it has been tabled for several meetings, but when the new Committee starts, whether under current administration or new administration, all positions will be open for election. Motion made by Committee Member Julia Althoff to not fill the secretary/treasurer position until the new terms have started. Deputy Corporation Counsel Inha Kandatsu-Kang informed the Committee that the bylaws state that officers will be elected during fiscal year and will be appointed for the fiscal year, which has caused this awkward transitional period. This issue will be raised for the next committee who may want to amend the bylaws. Chair Michelle Hiraishi asked for a vote to not fill the secretary/treasurer position for the remainder of the administration. 6 votes Aye, 0 votes No. Office of Aging Lori Enomoto asked if Secretary Sandra Shuffler will remain the current secretary/treasurer until a new secretary/treasurer is voted in. Chair Michelle Hiraishi stated “yes, because she is currently the one in our records as filling this position”. 7. Next Meeting Agenda Items Chair Michelle Hiraishi listed the next meeting agenda topics: Annual Report to Mayor (Final) Inviting Mass Transit for an update Short wrap-up for the Committee 8. Announcements Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff announced that the Disability Legislative Forum for the East side is happening on October 26, 2024 at 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM at Imiloa. There was an event on the West side on October 5, 2024, and on County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. DRAFT MINUTES – Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Page 7 Friday, October 18, 2024 October 26, 2024 our State and County legislators will be doing the Ledge Forum between 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, in conjunction with LDAH and their mini conference. Chair Michelle Hiraishi announced the next Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities meeting will be: Friday, November 22, 2024 at 12:00 P.M. Hawaii County Building, Council Chambers 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo Hawai’i 96720 9. Adjournment Motion made by Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff to adjourn the meeting. Committee Member Julia Althoff seconded the motion. 6 votes Aye, 0 votes No. The meeting was adjourned by Chair Michelle Hiraishi at 1:17 P.M. Reviewed by: Chair Michelle Hiraishi County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.