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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-07-03 Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes Action Required: 1. Respond to P. Mochida Î M. MAYOR'S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Gleason 2. Follow-up call to M. Ben Î M. Gleason Thursday, July 3, 2003, 10:30 a.m. 3. Letter to Governor Î Multi Purpose Room at Aupuni Center M. Gleason PRESENT: Michael Gleason, Chair; Ted Yamanaka, Vice-Chair; Betsy Whitney, Secretary; Lawrence Scadden, James Souza, Laura Tobosa EXCUSED: Elizabeth Mason GUESTS: Grace Califea, Lurane Cornutt, Dee Cowdrey, Goodwill Industries; Bob Dunkley, ADA Coordinator Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; Andy Levin, Mayor's Office; Howard Marks, DD Council; Jack Matsui, Alisa Mitchener, Recreation Specialist- Department of Parks and Recreation; Kathleen Nielsen, Goodwill Industries; Sonia Scadden, Malina Thorpe, Interpreter CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 10:35 a.m. An introduction of committee members, staff, and guests was made. M. Gleason announced that there are two items listed on the agenda at which time the public may provide input. One is Statements from the Public on Agenda Issues near the beginning of the agenda and Statements from the Public on Non-Agenda Issues near the end of the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES B. Whitney made a motion to accept the minutes of June 6, 2003. T. Yamanaka seconded the motion. The motion was passed. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ISSUES None. TREASURER'S REPORT The treasurer's report for last fiscal year and the new fiscal year were reviewed. B. Whitney expressed concerns about whether or not MCPD will have enough funds to cover mileage since the committee will be traveling to Kona every other month. L. Tobosa felt the cost would not be any higher because MCPD will not incur that much expense for interpreting. In the past, MCPD would fly in the interpreter from Oahu. T. Yamanaka made a motion to accept the treasurer's reports as submitted. J. Souza seconded the motion. The motion was passed. CORRESPONDENCE A. Email to MCPD from A. Mitchener regarding nominations for new membership B. Memo to MCPD from A. Levin regarding Karen Kane M. Gleason felt that MCPD meetings have been set and the committee has had their meeting dates every first Friday of every month. B. Whitney felt it would be confusing for the public if the meeting date was changed. J. Souza agreed. C. Email to MCPD from A. Mitchener regarding recreation report D. Email to MCPD from A. Levin regarding Paula Mochida B. Whitney suggested that P. Mochida become involved with the Mayor's Committee on People with Disabilities on Oahu since she will not be relocating to the Big Island until 2005. M. Gleason offered to respond to P. Mochida and make that suggestion. E. Letter to M. Ben from M. Gleason regarding the ADA Coordinator's position SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS A. EDUCATION/PUBLIC AWARENESS SUBCOMMITTEE Î M. GLEASON M. Gleason reported that this subcommittee did not meet. M. Gleason reported that three people will be recognized at the Hilo recognition luncheon in September. L. Tobosa said she wanted to submit another name for recognition (Marcella Stroh, Central Pacific Bank). B. Whitney made a motion to accept another nominee. T. Yamanaka seconded the motion. The motion was passed. L. Tobosa reported that M. Stroh has done some access improvements at the bank. B. Whitney added that M. Stroh has also been very persistent in improvements correctly. B. Whitney made a motion to accept M. Stroh's nomination and include her with the award recipients for the Hilo luncheon. T. Yamanaka seconded the motion. The motion was passed. B. Whitney suggested referring the "Design an Accessible Park Po the Education/Public Awareness Subcommittee for recommendations. A. Mitchener said that the art show will be opening on July 15 and run through September 15. M. Gleason suggested addressing this issue under New Business, B. Parks and Recreation Report. B. RECREATION SUBCOMMITTEE No report. 2 C. TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE Î B. WHITNEY B. Whitney reported that this subcommittee did not meet because E. Mason is on the mainland. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. VOLUNTEER PARKING VIOLATION ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE Î A. LEVIN A. Levin reported that Sergeant Apele has agreed to attend the August meeting in Kona and the September meeting in Hilo. He had no new informati B. Whitney asked if MCPD will be receiving a quarterly report fo June 2003. A. Levin offered to remind the Police Department to submit the second quarter statistics. B. UPDATE FROM DCAB Î C. FLEMING/N. OLESEN A. Levin presented a report submitted by Charlotte Townsend, Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB). Copies of the report were circulated to MCPD members. B. Whitney announced that there will be another voting machine demonstration on August 8, at 10 a.m. in the Elections Office. It will be a different machine from the previous month. The demonstration is an opportunity to make sure that we are advocating for access for all persons with disabilities. She encouraged everyone to attend and provide input. C. ADA COORDINATOR'S REPORT Î A. LEVIN A. Levin reported that S. Golden raised an issue at the last meeting with regards to accessible portable toilets at various events that are permitted by the Department of Parks and Recreation. A. Mitchener found an ADA Compliance Procedure which is put out by the Department of Parks and Recreation. If a county facility does not have an accessible toilet facility, then portable ADA compliance unisex toilets must be rented by any permittee for the duration of the event. This is a requirement already and the Department of Parks and Recreation should be reminded to enforce this obligation. Secondly, a news release was published in the newspaper as well as a notice in the county email newsletter informing people about the two vacancies people were invited to apply. A. Levin said he received a lot o out a number of applications. He received nine applications back, and three of the applicants were in attendance (J. Matsui, D. Cowdrey, and L. Cornutt). The Mayor welcomes input on the applicants from MCPD members; however he r right to use his judgment in making the final decision. A. Levin circulated copies of the applications for MCPD to review and take action as a group at the next meeting, or as individuals. 3 B. Whitney suggested forming a subcommittee to accept the committee's recommendations and report back to the full committee at the next meeting. M. Gleason, L. Tobosa, and B. Whitney offered to serve on the subcommittee. Comments from committee members are due by July 15 to the subcommittee. The subcommittee will then send an advisory statement to the Mayor once the recommendations are compiled. A. Levin reported that the Department of Civil Service has asked the Mayor for permission to advertise the ADA Coordinator position. Approval has been given and money was available as of July 1. Therefore, the position will be advertised shortly, followed by a lengthy hiring process. Time is extremely important if the job description needs to be changed. He doubts the job description is final. The County Council approved the position, not the job description. M. Gleason offered to do a follow up call to M. Ben if MCPD receives no response from him next week. NEW BUSINESS A. PROJECT IMPACT Tabled. B. PARKS AND RECREATION REPORT Î A. MITCHENER A. Mitchener reported on the following: 1. Offered training on positive behavior support to staff for the summer fun program. Offered ADA awareness training for 125 summer hires. 2. Created a curriculum for summer fun ability awareness day for ki island. This was conducted at five sites in conjunction with monitoring the federal lunch program. Four more sites will participate. 3. A. Mitchener requested $100 from the Education/Public Awareness Subcommittee to purchase mat board, adhesive, and film for a kid Accessible Park Poster Exhibit. Selections created during the ability awareness days will be displayed in the foyer of the MayorÓs Office in Hilo, the lobby of Aupuni Center, and in the conference room of the MayorÓs Office in Kona. MCPD expressed reservations in expending funds early in the fiscal year and decided not to fund any new projects until they were sure they h cover committee expenses. 4. Several children with disabilities attend the summer fun program with skills trainers from the Institute for Family Enrichment (TIFFE). There was some concern about incorporating adults from other agencies in park programs because background checks are required of all staff who work with children. A policy is being created to help define the roles of skills trainers and recreation staff, to promote successful inclusion and support good communication. A. Mitchener would like to offer orientations by the end of the year with the skills trainers and Parks and Recreation staff. A similar effort has started with Goodwill 4 Industries, The Arc of Hilo, and Full Life to support adults wit want to attend park programs with their personal assistants. H. Marks expressed concern that he sees skills trainers as barriers to social interactions with the peer group. He wanted to make sure that the policy includes facilitation of social interaction. 5. A. Mitchener invited everyone to a special training and awareness day with guest speaker Makia Malo, a storyteller who grew up in Kalaupapa, Molokai on September 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Aunty Sally's Luau Hale. The meeting was recessed at 11:30 a.m. The meeting was reconven 11:40 a.m. C. HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK Î BOB DUNKLEY B. Dunkley reported that the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park now has TTY access. The TTY is connected to three of the information desks. The number is 985-6112. Their staff has been trained to use the TTY. The 20-minute movie in the visitor center is closed captioned. The park has modified parking stalls with curb ramps so the parking is somewhat accessible. Displays in the auditorium and visitor center have eye contrast text, however no audio is available. A hike and drive guide is available in Braille upon request at the front desk. Some of the signs they have are symbol signs at the visitor center. Some of them are in foreign language. The visitor center will be having new tactile exhibits, a new in accessible to people who use wheelchairs, and a new publication sales area this fall. Everything being built will be fully accessible. Some of the features will include audio descriptions provided through the use of a technology called sound sticks. Fifteen stations will be planned. B. Whitney asked if the sound sticks were accessible for people dexterity challenges, or would some other technology be more accessible? B. Dunkley said he would mention this to the exhibit designer. Another project to be implemented within the next two years is the renovation of the parking lot. It will correct the drainage and accessibility problems. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park now has an accessible campground. The old campground was relocated to a much dryer site and they made it largely accessible. The park has three fully accessible sites with an accessible ten 5 be five walk-in sites that are not accessible. Their policy is to integrate visitors with and without disabilities in the use of the park. The parks service has had a Keep Program for the past five years where they get to keep 80 percent of the fees collected at the gate and use it for projects in the park. However, most of it goes for facilities. A big accessible trail project is being planned for the sulfur bank which will start construction within a month. Some improvements have been made at the eruption site such as installing accessibl accessible parking spaces. Unfortunately, there will not be an accessible trail out to the lava where the ocean entry is. A customized audio tour is being planned for the future so a person can get the tour at a scientific level, a student level, or in a foreign language. J. Souza clarified that the 20-minute movie is open captioned not closed captioned. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ISSUES A. Mitchener recommended that MCPD write a letter of support to the Governor with a carbon copy to the Mayor regarding filling J. Knox's position. M. Gleason will draft the letter. ANNOUNCEMENTS The next meeting will be held on Friday, August 1, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. in Kona. Location to be announced. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, _______________________________ JEAN VIERNES, STAFF SECRETARY 6