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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-09-07 Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Friday, September 7, 2007, 10:30 a.m. Department of Liquor Control Conference Room PRESENT: Lawrence Scadden, Vice-Chair; Laura Tobosa, Secretary; Denise Cowdrey, Jack Matsui, Ronald Wagner-Wright, Ted Yamanaka EXCUSED: Michael Gleason, Chair ABSENT: Jean Navarro, James Souza GUESTS: Marianne Hodapp, Martin Hodapp, Leonard McGhee, Office of Aging; Ofelia Pertubal, CNA; Sonia Scadden, Teri-Spinola-Campbell, ADA Coordinator (Equal Opportunity Officer) CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 10:35 a.m. An introduction of committee members, staff, and guests wasmade. APPROVAL OF MINUTES L. Tobosa made a motion to accept the minutes of August 3, 2007. T. Yamanaka seconded the motion. The motion was passed. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ISSUES None. TREASURERS REPORT The treasurers report was reviewed. T. Yamanaka made a motion to accept the treasurers report assubmitted. R. Wagner- Wright seconded the motion. The motion was passed. CORRESPONDENCE A. Letter from MCPD to Mayor Harry Kim regarding three issues relating to improved accessibility for people in wheelchairs B. Letter from Mayor Harry Kim to MCPD in response to the three issues relating to improved accessibility for people in wheelchairs C.LetterfromTomBrown,TransitAdministrator,toMCPDinresponsetobusstop concerns COMMUNITY LIAISON REPORTS A.EDUCATION/PUBLICAWARENESSLIAISION€M.GLEASON No report. Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer B. RECREATION LIAISON € L. SCADDEN No report. C.TRANSPORTATION LIAISON € D. COWDREY T. Spinola-Campbell reported that she attended the Hawaii Disability Rights Meeting at the Hawaii Community College and Karen Kane raised concerns about public transportation on the island. T. Spinola-Campbell said she brought K. Kanes questions to T. Brown and she received a response from him. Response from T. Brown is attached. D. Cowdrey reported that she has represented MCPD at the Interagency Action Plan Work Group for disaster preparedness. This group worked on preparing the 2007 Interagency Action Plan on Emergency Preparedness. Part of what came up in the workinggroupis the transportation needs and how to identify and make sure people with disabilities wouldbeable toaccess the emergency evacuation centers. At the meeting held last week, transportation agencies were contacted on the various islands to find out what transportation things are in place on the various islands. A grant was secured in order to put on a workshop on each island. The DD Council on eachislandwasgiventhetaskofinvitingpeopletothesefreeworkshops. L. Scadden said that there will be an EmergencyPreparedness of Persons with Disabilities and Special Health Needs Workshop to be held on October 16, 2007 at the King Kamehameha Hotel in Kona and another workshop to be held on October 18, 2007 at the State Office Building in Hilo. Due to limited space, this is an invitation only event and limited to 60 registrants in Kona and in Hilo. An electronic copy will be forwarded to interested MCPD members. T. Spinola-Campbell reported that T. Brown invited her to attend a meeting. The county has made arrangements with all the private transportation providers and bus companies to utilize their vehicles to evacuate in an emergency. R. Wagner-Wright said that he is interested in actual transportation and availability for people in Hilo. T. Brown told him that there was a handi-van service, but it was only to take people from their home to doctors appointments. There is a program with federal monies that you can buy tickets from the transportation office that can be redeemed with participating taxi companies. He has no problem catching the bus if the bus would come near where he lives. But, the bus does not even come to his home. He requested for assistance from T. Spinola-Campbell or MCPD to get a handi-van service that can take disabled people to their appointments or meetings. What can we do to get decent transportation? T. Spinola-Campbell responded that because we do not have a fixed route transit system in the county on the island, there is no legal requirement under the ADA for a paratransit system. She suggested that MCPD members attend the Transportation Commission meeting in October to express their concerns about the bus service. If 2 there are problems with the bus being late, call the Mass Transit Agency to let them know about any concerns. L. McGhee reported that Coordinated Services for the Elderly (CSE) focus for transportation is to provide transportation for seniors 60 and over to medical appointments and for essential shopping. CSE also provides additional transportation when their schedule affords them the flexibility to be able to provide transportation to other destinations. The Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council provides transportation to those individuals who are 60 and under. They also have wheelchair accessibility. D. Cowdrey mentioned that it will be a wonderful service once the buses from the Mass Transit Agency arrive to provide door-to-door service. L.ScaddensaidtransportationisanationalproblemandMCPDwillcontinuetocall attention to the Mayor. In addition, he would like to commend T. Brown for always responding to MCPD. D. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS LIAISON € L. SCADDEN Discussed under Transportation Liaison. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. VOLUNTEER PARKING VIOLATION ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE € SGT. D. VERIATO No report. B. UPDATEFROM DCAB € C. FLEMING/N. OLESEN/C. TOWNSEND The September report from C. Townsend, Program and Policy Unit Coordinator of DCAB, was distributed to MCPD members. C. ADA COORDINATORS REPORT € T. SPINOLA-CAMPBELL T. Spinola-Campbell provided her report as the ADA Coordinator for August 2007. ADA Coordinators report attached. D. PARKS AND RECREATION REPORT € A. MITCHENER No report. D. Cowdrey reported that A. Mitchener showed a new video on Adapted Aquatics with the staff and participants at Goodwill Industries. NEWBUSINESS A. UNEXPENDED FUNDS AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR L.ScaddenaskedifthecountywouldallowMCPDtouseleftoverfundstoimprove accessibility for people with disabilities. MCPD need some ideas in mind before the committeeapproachesthecounty.A.Mitchenerhassuggestedusingtheleftover 3 funds in MCPDs budget to improve accessibility at the beach parks by purchasing adaptive equipment (beach wheelchairs, beach mats). R. Wagner-Wright suggested using theleftover funds for transportation such as reallocating funds to a taxi company to be there on time fordisabled people or depositing the funds into an account and buy a vehicle and donate itto T. Brown to be used solely for people in Hilo. T. Spinola-Campbell mentioned that T. Brown has funds from the federal government and he has strict guidelines to follow regarding the bus routes. He cannot deviate from the routes or he would lose funding. T. Spinola-Campbell suggested that T. Brown purchase an accessible bus with county funds for county use and T. Brown indicated that he will put it into the budget cycle now for the fiscal year 2008-09 budget. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON NON-AGENDA ISSUES None. ANNOUNCEMENTS D. Cowdrey suggested that another committee member replace her on the Interagency Action Plan Work Group. L. Scadden will refer it to M. Gleason for action. L. Scadden thanked D. Cowdrey for her contributions to MCPD for the last four years. R. Wagner-Wright thanked D. Cowdrey for her professionalism, charm, efficiency, and grace with MCPD. D. Cowdrey said she appreciates the opportunity to work with MCPD and she felt very honored to have had this opportunity. The next meeting will be held on Friday, October 5, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. in the Kona Mayors Office conference room. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:31 a.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, _______________________________ JEAN VIERNES, STAFF SECRETARY 4