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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-04-07 Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Friday, April 7, 2006, 10:30 a.m. Kona Mayors Office Conference Room PRESENT: Lawrence Scadden, Chair; Ted Yamanaka, Vice-Chair; James Souza, Julia Staten, Laura Tobosa EXCUSED: Betsy Whitney,Secretary; Denise Cowdrey, Michael Gleason, Jack Matsui GUESTS: Malina Dravis-Tucker, Interpreter; Susan Golden, John Hartman, H.A.W.K.; Marichu Paz, CNA; Sonia Scadden, Teri Spinola-Campbell, ADA Coordinator (Equal Opportunity Officer) CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 10:32 a.m. An introduction of committee members, staff, and guests wasmade. APPROVAL OF MINUTES L. Scadden made a correction to the minutes: The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m. not 10:30 a.m. T. Yamanaka made a motion to accept the minutes of March 3, 2006 as corrected. L. Tobosa seconded the motion. The motion was passed. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ISSUES J. Hartman reported that it is a little discouraging to see €no report under the team reports in the minutes. L. Scadden agreed and said he was responsible for two of the committees. TREASURERS REPORT The treasurers report was reviewed. T. Yamanaka made a motion to accept the treasurers report assubmitted. L. Tobosa seconded the motion. The motion was passed. CORRESPONDENCE A. Two invitation letters from Francine Wai, Executive Director of DCAB to L. Scadden regarding attending the 2006 Disability Access Conference on June 8-9, 2006 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu L.Scadden,T.YamanakaandhisCNAexpressedinterestinattendingthe conference. The registration form needs to be completed and submitted to DCAB as soonaspossible. Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer B. Memorandum from Lincoln Ashida, Corporation Counsel to All County Boardand Commission Members regarding a Sunshine Law Workshop UIPA/Public Records Law Training Notice to be held on April 18, 2006 in East Hawaii and on May 10, 2006 in West Hawaii L. Scadden recommended that committee members who did not attend to make an effort to participate because its worthwhile. TEAM REPORTS A. EDUCATION/PUBLIC AWARENESS TEAM ‚ M. GLEASON No report. B. RECREATIONTEAM ‚L. SCADDEN No report. C.TRANSPORTATION TEAM ‚B. WHITNEY No report. S. Golden asked if there is any update on the addition of the new bus service. J. Hartman reported that T. Brown provided an update at the Transportation Commission meeting held several weeks ago at the King Kamehameha Hotel. T. Brown is planning on having the new buses retrofitted and cleaned up. He is also planning to increase the numbers of buses on the routes by starting in the middle of this year and going to the end of the year. The bus will be running longer than they have now. The para transit operations are expected to be operational by the end of the year with a nominal fee of $1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. VOLUNTEER PARKING VIOLATION ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE ‚ SGT. D. VERIATO J. Hartman raised the following concerns about the comments that Sergeant D. Veriato mentioned at the last meeting: Sergeant D. Veriato indicated that the volunteers are the force to issuetickets. When this programwas set up as a volunteer program years ago, it was not indicated that they would be the only source that would be issuing citations. J. Hartman said he finds it discouraging because the volunteers do a great job and they are dedicated people. However, the volunteers are unable to cover areas that should be covered all the time. He does not feel that he is able to call the police because it sounds like they dont want to be bothered. T.Yamanakasaidthatthisprogramwassetupasaconjunctiontothepolice department. He suggested that MCPD draft a letter to the Mayor. J. Hartman said he contacted R. Amundson and asked him why Hilo is not getting anyvolunteersfromDisabilityRightsHawaii.R.Amundsonindicatedthattheydont have parking problems in Hilo that Kona has. T. Yamanaka and L. Tobosa said they 2 have not heard of any parking problems in Hilo. T. Spinola-Campbell noted that anybody who sees a person parking illegally should call the police non emergency number to report it. J. Hartman mentioned that he heard from the volunteers that there is some confusion about the parking stalls in commercial areas are not upto standard. If the stalls are not up to standard, the volunteers dont issue a citation. J. Hartman reported that he is trying to determine who the judge is for dismissing the case against a lady for having a disabled parking placard forher 11-year old disabled son who was at home while she was using the placard to park in the disabled stall to run an errand. The judge is breaking the state, city, county, and federal law. He spoke to DCAB to see whether they are going to do anything about it. He suggested that MCPD send a letter to the Mayor and have the Mayor run it throughthechainofcommand.HehastriedtocontactSergeantD.Veriatoby phone and he will not return J. Hartmans call. J. Hartman said he wondered if moving the location of the accessible parking at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will be a disservice to the parking stalls. The tour buses who drive through the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park usually slow down and stop for a few minutes and they let the people look out the window to view the volcano and the bus is parked covering the accessible parking. Secondly, the three universal parking spaces that the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park installed are not a universal stall. L. Scadden offered to draft a letter to the Mayor addressing some of J. Hartmans concerns. B. UPDATE FROM DCAB ‚ C. FLEMING/N. OLESEN/K. SHAW The April report from K. Shaw, DCAB was distributed to MCPD members. C. ADA COORDINATORS REPORT ‚ T. SPINOLA-CAMPBELL T. Spinola-Campbell provided her report as the ADA Coordinator for March 2006. ADA Coordinators report attached. D. PARKS AND RECREATION REPORT ‚ A. MITCHENER No report. E. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ‚ L. SCADDEN L. Scadden reported that there is good material coming out from the federal and nationallevelsincethedisastersinLouisiana.Itisamatterofourcountygetting fully updated. NEW BUSINESS None. 3 STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON NON-AGENDA ISSUES J. Hartman reported that he was given the privilege of being pushed the length of the Kuakini Highway renovation by Allan Simeon from the county to offer suggestions. He was shocked by the inaccessibility of some sidewalks along Kuakini Highway. Most of the sidewalks are not five feet wide and there is no real turn outs for an oncoming wheelchair. There suppose to be a turn out for every 200 feet. The sidewalks are roughly four feet, six inches to four feet, nine inches wide on both sides of the street. Where the sidewalk crosses a driveway, there is a curb ramp at eight percent which is within certain guidelines, but its not in the guidelines for the project that they were doing. The county is looking at it as an ADA issue and it is really more of a 504 issue. On the sidewalk, there are telephone poles with guy wires hanging down. All of these poles are supposed to be removed by Helco and Hawaiian Telcom. The waiting period to get these poles removed from the sidewalk can go until the end of the year. The guy wires are an absolute hindrance for a visually impaired person who does not have an assistant. On the makai corner of Palani Road and Kuakini Highway, there is a telephone pole and electrical control boxes which makes the sidewalk impassible in a wheelchair. On the opposite corner where the Shell Service Station is located, there is a button-controlled signal. The lowest part of the curb cut is beneath the drainage. When there is water present, a person standing there to access the light will be standing in water, dirt, or mud. J. Hartman said that he will file a complaint with the federal highways administration in Washington, D.C. on this issue. J. Souza asked if the construction companies are required to follow the ADA law. J. Hartman responded that they dont know what rules to use. ADA is different from 504. The city, state, or county comes under 504, but they design everything under ADA. J. Hartman thanked T. Spinola-Campbell for doing a marvelous job as the ADA Coordinator. ANNOUNCEMENTS The next meeting will be held on Friday, May 5, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. in the Aupuni Center Conference Room. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m. RESPECTFULLYSUBMITTED, _______________________________ JEAN VIERNES, STAFF SECRETARY 4