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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-04-04 Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes MAYOR'S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Friday, April 4, 2003, 10:30 a.m. Kona Mayor's Office Conference Room PRESENT: Michael Gleason, Chair; Betsy Whitney, Secretary; Elizabeth Mason, Lisa Onorato, James Souza, Laura Tobosa, Ted Yamanaka EXCUSED: Alisa Mitchener GUESTS: Susan Golden, John Hartman, H.A.W.K.; Andy Levin, Mayor Norman Olesen, DCAB Board Member; Malina Thorpe, Interpreter 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 B. Whitney made a motion to accept the minutes of March 7, 2003 as submitted. L. Tobosa seconded the motion. The motion was passed. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ISSUES J. Hartman expressed concerns about the job description for the ADA Coordinator. Last year, he distributed a job description for the ADA/504 Coordinator which was written by attorneys in Washington, D.C. They are attorneys that litigate ADA issues. The county is not paying too much attention to 504 requirements and yet the county is required to follow it. He would like to encourage whomever to review this job description and maybe incorporate some of the issues into the new job description of the ADA Coordinator. He suggested that the Mayor and Mike Ben, Director of Personnel, have copies of this job description for review. Copies of the job description for the ADA/504 Coordinator were distributed to MCPD members. Secondly, J. Hartman reported that he has not seen one volunteer enforcement officer in Kona. He sees people parking illegally, but he does not see any volunteer officers enforcing the law. He passes three county parks everyday and he sees violators in at least one of the parks. He is concerned that nothing is being done to address this issue. J. Souza stated that he always sees the volunteer enforcement officers when he comes to Kona for the MCPD meetings. He went to Wal Mart this morning and saw the officers issuing citations. L. Onorato suggested that MCPD obtain a schedule of when the volunteer enforcement officers are working. Perhaps the committee could also receive the monthly report showing how many citations have been issued and the location where they were issued. TREASURER'S REPORT The treasurer's report was reviewed. M. Gleason asked if the balance of MCPD's budget will cover the next two meetings. B. Whitney felt that MCPD would be okay because MCPD will not incur airfare expenses or pay as much travel time for the interpreter. L. Tobosa made a motion to accept the treasurer's report as submitted. L. Onorato seconded the motion. The motion was passed. CORRESPONDENCE A. Fax from L. Rink, DCAB, regarding the relay service SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS A. EDUCATION/PUBLIC AWARENESS SUBCOMMITTEE Î M. GLEASON M. Gleason reported that they contacted all of the nominees for the community access awards. The subcommittee recommended that all of the nominees being nominated be awarded an access award. The nominees will be presented a certificate, lei, and lunch. Five people from Kona and four people from Hilo will be recognized. The Kona recognition luncheon will be held in June after the MCPD meeting. The Hilo recognition luncheon will be held in May. It recommended that the Mayor be invited to the awards luncheon. M. Gleason offered to make contact and invite the Mayor. In addition, he invited the people who made the nominations, even though MCPD has not done this in past L. Tobosa asked if MCPD should schedule the recognition luncheon after the new fiscal year since the committee was worried about not having eno remainder of the fiscal year. B. Whitney suggested having the Kona luncheon in June and the Hilo luncheon in July. MCPD agreed. L. Onorato made a motion to accept the subcommittee's recommendation. L. Tobosa seconded the motion. The motion was passed. B. RECREATION SUBCOMMITTEE Î A. MITCHENER No report. C. TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE Î B. WHITNEY B. Whitney reported that this subcommittee did not meet. They need some guidance because the subcommittee is unsure what they need to do. E. Mason mentioned that there will be a April 15 Council Meeting to discuss the purchase of three new vans. B. Whitney added that the County Council will be awarding non-profit and county grants. They would like to know where the buses will be assigned. 2 UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. VOLUNTEER PARKING VIOLATION ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE Î A. LEVIN A. Levin reported that he tried to make contact with Sergeant Apele over the past week and was unable to. Therefore, he does not have any new inf A. Levin stated that he would like to respond to J. Hartman that the number of volunteers is extremely limited. If you see someone parking illegally in an accessible stall, please notify the police department and they are supposed to do the enforcement anytime, anywhere, and any place. The police officers are not limited by districts that the volunteers are assigned to, but they will not be able to respond at all times. J. Hartman asked if the police department will send a letter or issue a ticket? He thought the police department would send a letter to the offender when a person reports the violation over the phone. E. Mason asked if it would be possible to take a photograph show plate of a car parked illegally and the sign. Would this photograph be sufficient to have a ticket issued by the police department? L. Onorato asked if a monthly report could be submitted as to how many citations were issued and the location that they were issued. A. Levin will inquire with Sergeant Apele on these questions. B. UPDATE FROM DCAB Î C. FLEMING/N. OLESEN N. Olesen reported that DCAB is finalizing the Parking Notification Form. The form will be provided to MCPD members by e-mail. The Department of Health (DOH) has proposed administrative rules on residential care homes which is creating a discussion. The DOH wants to mak alteration and DCAB wanted to make comments. There are two unfilled positions at DCAB. A proposal was made from the Executive Director to have funding from one of the positions transferred t The other position salary will be diverted to materials and supplies. N. Olesen objected to this idea and abstained on voting on both of these t issue did not pass since there were not enough votes for a quoru There will be a public hearing on Oahu on April 23 on the final parking manual. It does not seem like the county will be receiving any funding from the Legislature this year. Verizon has several million dollars sitting in a fund appropriated to communication equipment/services for hearing impaired people. There is no accountability for this 3 money and funding is not going to a specific purpose. N. Olesen said that DCAB is going to try and work with the PUC to make sure the contractors are accountable for the funding and that it is targeted for a specific purpose. DCAB will follow up on this issue. C. ADA COORDINATOR'S REPORT Î A. LEVIN A. Levin reported that M. Gleason was the only chairperson from the four counties who attended the quarterly ADA Coordinators' meeting on Oahu. A. Levin mentioned that S. Burns' authorization for the use of his golf cart on the public highway will expire in May. His mother has requested an extension. A. Levin said he does not anticipate any problems. The Mayor has to decide whether to extend the authorization for another period of time. There are 24 Transition Plan, Schedule 1, projects which are supposed to be completed by June 30, 2003. Of the 24 projects, four have been completed, two closing documents are being processed, nine more will be completed by June 30, and two each will be completed in July, August, and September. Park in Puna will be advertised this month. The Prosecutor's Office and Isaac Hale Park have been deferred. A. Levin shared an article and photo of E. Mason in West Hawaii Today at the Kona Chocolate Festival. A. Levin mentioned that Dr. Lawrence Scadden from Kona has submitted an application to serve on MCPD. He was highly recommended by E. M Mayor has approved the appointment unless MCPD has any objection vacancy will occur since L. Onorato will be resigning. A. Levin suggested that MCPD submit names of interested applicants to him. Currently, there are seven members from East Hawaii and two members from West Hawaii. MCPD had no objections with the appointment of Dr. L. Scadden. E. Mason suggested that MCPD send out a letter of appreciation for outgoing members. A. Levin reported that an offer has been made for a person to fill the Therapeutic Recreation Specialist position. D. PARK PROJECT VISITATIONS M. Gleason reported that he spoke to G. Miyao about projects on the Kona side that had been completed or almost completed. G. Miyao said the only project that is close to being completed is Hale Halawai. M. Gleason suggested contact with G. Miyao and A. Levin after June 30 when the projects are completed and bring it up for discussion. MCPD could then schedule a site visitation with N. Olesen and J. Beimborn input. 4 NEW BUSINESS A. PROJECT IMPACT Tabled. J. Souza reported that he went to Oahu and received a yellow identification card which says "I am deaf." He wondered if the County of Hawaii could have the same identification card issued by the police department for hearing impaired people. In addition, our police officers on the Big Island work well with the deaf community. Every year when the police recruits graduate, a deaf person is hired to explain what to do with deaf people. N. Olesen offered to bring this issue up at the next DCAB meeting. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON NON-AGENDA ISSUES J. Hartman raised concerns about 504 and ADA requirements. He is learning that many of our curb cuts come under 504. Builder's Express in Kona and Mamalahoa Highway in Waimea are under some form of litigation right now. He received a telephone call yesterday that the people who sign off on curb cuts in Hilo are using at times R. Amundson to say they are okay. However, J. Hartman is finding out that some of the curb cuts that R. Amundson is surveying are not okay. R. Amundson is a person who is an advocate and uses a wheelchair, but a person cannot tell if a curb cut is correct just by going up and down a slope in a wheelchair. Therefore, J. Har person over to Hilo to review several curb cuts in question. He encouraged MCPD to review the job description for ADA/504 Coordinator because 504 is mentioned prominently in the document. The county is not paying any attention to program access which is totally 504. ANNOUNCEMENTS The next meeting will be held on Friday, May 2, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. in Hilo. Location to be announced. The July meeting will be held on Thursday, July 3, 2003 instead of Friday because of the July 4 holiday. L. Onorato expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve on MCPD, and thanked her fellow committee members. She will be moving to Maui becaus employment. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, _______________________________ JEAN VIERNES, STAFF SECRETARY 5