HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-08-01 Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes
COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Friday, August 1, 2008, 10:30 a.m.
Kona Mayor’s Office Center Conference Room
PRESENT: Michael Gleason, Chair; Lawrence Scadden, Vice-Chair; Laura Tobosa,
Secretary; Jean Navarro, James Souza
EXCUSED: Judith Kirkendall, Jack Matsui, Ronald Wagner-Wright, Ted Yamanaka
GUESTS: Yvonne Gilbert, The Arc of Kona; Susan Golden, Sonia Scadden, Teri Spinola-
Campbell, ADA Coordinator (Equal Opportunity Officer); Tara Trujillo, Interpreter;
Bob Ward
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m. An introduction of committee members,
staff, and guests was made.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
L. Tobosa made a motion to accept the minutes of July 3, 2008. J. Souza seconded the
motion. L. Scadden abstained from voting. The motion was passed.
STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ISSUES
None.
TREASURER’S REPORT
The treasurer’s report was reviewed.
L. Scadden made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report as submitted. J. Souza
seconded the motion. The motion was passed.
CORRESPONDENCE
A. Letter from MCPD to Mayor Harry Kim regarding county buses at the Hilo pier
B. Letter from Mayor Harry Kim to MCPD in response to the county buses at the Hilo pier
M. Gleason offered to contact Tom Brown to discuss this issue further and ask if he can
attend a MCPD meeting to provide a report. J. Navarro suggested that MCPD also
invite June Conent to attend the meeting to provide an explanation of the situation.
C. Thank you letter from Alisa Mitchener to MCPD regarding funding support for education
training videos and shipping costs for a mobi mat
COMMUNITY LIAISON REPORTS
A. EDUCATION/PUBLIC AWARENESS LIAISON – M. GLEASON/J. NAVARRO/
R. WAGNER-WRIGHT
Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
J. Navarro reported that she is still trying to get an answer from somebody about the $2
million that came to the Big Island through Workforce Development due to layoffs. The
layoff situation has laid off a lot of people with disabilities and the Department of
Vocational Rehabilitation is flooded. In addition, the Hilo side cannot take anybody for
intake until November because they are backed up. M. Gleason offered to get
information from Blayne Hanagami from the Workforce Development Division.
B. RECREATION LIAISON – L. SCADDEN
No report.
C. TRANSPORTATION LIAISON – R. WAGNER-WRIGHT
No report.
D. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS LIAISON
No report.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. VOLUNTEER PARKING VIOLATION ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE – SGT.
K. KAAUMOANA-MATSUMOTO
No report.
B. UPDATE FROM DCAB – C. FLEMING/N. OLESEN/F. WAI
The August report and Staff Summary for DCAB’s General Meeting held on
July 17, 2008 from F. Wai, Executive Director of DCAB, was distributed to MCPD
members.
T. Spinola-Campbell suggested that MCPD members who wish to comment on the
proposed rules to amend the American with Disabilities Act Titles II and III can submit it
to the Department of Justice by August 18, 2008. She will be submitting comments as
the ADA Coordinator on service animals and on other issues as well. MCPD members
decided to submit comments as individuals due to the upcoming deadline.
C. ADA COORDINATOR’S REPORT – T. SPINOLA-CAMPBELL
T. Spinola-Campbell provided her report as the ADA Coordinator for July 2008. ADA
Coordinator’s report attached.
M. Gleason requested for an update and status on the transition plans. T. Spinola-
Campbell suggested that MCPD request an update from the Department of Parks and
Recreation on where they are on their consent decree in the transition plan.
D. PARKS AND RECREATION REPORT – A. MITCHENER
No report.
E. ADA TRAINING FOR EMPLOYERS – M. GLEASON
No report.
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NEW BUSINESS
None.
STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON NON-AGENDA ISSUES
Y. Gilbert reported that the Arc of Kona received a donation of two new homes in Hawaiian
Ocean View. They are making one of the homes available to any adult with any disability
who can live independently. The rent will be reasonable ranging from $300 to $450.
Furthermore, they are expanding through all of their regular services to anybody with
developmental disability issues in Kau.The Arc of Kona will be having a grand opening
and blessing for the new Kau Service Center on September 20, 2008, at noon at 92-1800 -
92-1804 Keaka Parkway located in Ocean View.
T. Spinola-Campbell reported that there is a large Micronesian population in the Kau and
Hawaiian Ocean View area. She suggested that Y. Gilbert have a language access plan.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
J. Navarro announced that she attended the AHA Arts! Festival held on Saturday, July 26,
2008 at the Hawaii Community College campus. Artists and performers with disabilities
have a unique opportunity to showcase their talents and sell their artwork at the event.
L. Scadden announced his book called “Surpassing Expectations: My Life without Sight”
which was released last week by his publisher.
T. Spinola-Campbell announced that the next surf day for people with disabilities will be
held on September 26, 2008 at Kahaluu Beach Park.
M. Gleason mentioned that he received an email from one of his employees that contains
a video of a father and son who participated in the Ironman Triathlon. He will be happy to
forward the email to interested people because it’s a remarkable story of a father who
assists his quadriplegic son through the Ironman Triathlon.
The next meeting will be held on Friday, September 5, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. in the Aupuni
Center conference room.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:14 a.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
_______________________________
JEAN VIERNES, STAFF SECRETARY
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