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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015, 02-18, Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes William P. Kenoi William H. Farr, III Mayor Acting Executive on Aging MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES c/o HAWAI‘I COUNTY OFFICE OF AGING Aging and Disability Resource Center, 1055 Kino‘ole Street, Suite 101, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720-3872 Phone (808) 961-8600 Fax (808) 961-8603 Email: hcoa@hawaiiantel.net  West Hawai‘i Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi 96740 Phone (808) 323-4390 Fax (808) 323-4398  MINUTES Wednesday, February 18, 2015 The County of Hawai‘i Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities met at 10:10 a.m. at the Aging and Disability Resource Center at 1055 Kino‘ole Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i. MEMBERS PRESENT: Paige De Lima, Chair; James Souza, Laura Tobosa. ABSENT: Pauline Aughe and Janice Mancini. OTHERS PRESENT AND GUESTS: Teri Spinola-Campbell, HR; Alisa Mitchener, P&R; J Yoshimoto, Corporation Counsel; Jesse Floyd, DD Council; W. Horace Farr, Aging; Sandra Arriola, Aging; Polly Brooks, Interpreter; Kauila Haumea, Sam Nagasawa, Gena Avila, Lynise Tarring. CALL TO ORDER P. De Lima called the meeting to order at 10:10. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 21, 2014, MEETING P. De LimaL. Tobosa called for approval for the January 21 minutes. moved to accept J. SouzaMotion passed minutes. It was seconded by . All were in favor. . STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC (Agenda Items) Lynise Tarring read a note she wrote commending County employees and which she wanted to be sent to the Mayor. J YoshimotoWilliam BrilhanteTiffany introduced Deputy Corporation Counsel and KaiW. Brilhante with Mass Transit. stated that they were here today to address the pertinent issues that were raised regarding better servicing the disabled community. T. Kai spoke about moving forward with the ADA complementary para transit services Details are still being worked on regarding the eligibility and certification process and they hope to start services next fiscal year (July) and these services will be contracted out. There will be a central dispatch service which will take the user’s calls and Hawai`i County is an equal opportunity provider and employer. schedule services. The plan is to contract with an agency or entity that will be able to provide the vehicles. This will be inclusive of the Hilo and Kona area only. W. Brilhante announced that Transit is looking to incorporate a vehicle (van) for the disabled to participate in the County shared-ride taxi program on the east side of the island. Unfortunately there is no participants on the west side of the island for shared-ride taxi. Even services to non-disabled passengers is not offered. But they will continue looking around to see if anybody will want to get involved and start some type of service on the west side of the island. The final issue was concerns regarding the initiation of bus service to the airport, which Mr. Brilhante is currently in the works. stated that Transit is looking at a rollout date sometime in March. There has already been discussion with the Mayor and the administration, and he is 100% onboard with that. If there are any other additional J. Floyd items, we’d be happy to address any questions at this time. inquired if there Mr. Brilhante would be a temporary stop at the airport post office. responded that the County operates an islandwide flag stop system and could have a flag stop at the post office. Gena Avilla inquired if there was any discounted rate for an escort if a person cannot travel alone. She was told there was none for shared-ride coupons. Sam Nagasawa wanted an explanation on what the complementary para transit would W. Brilhante entail. stated that under ADA, the general requirement is that the County provide transportation for people with disabilities. The para transit service is for someone who has a disability so unique that they cannot use the bus services that are being offered and require specialized services. They have to go through the eligibility and qualification system and that has a lot to do with the recommendation of their physician. It will only be available to start out with Hilo and Kona. So we’re looking to set the base, get a better idea where the needs are, what areas, what type of numbers, and then just go from there. We want to make it as accommodating as possible. And if anybody is denied, pursuant to the statute, we have to afford them the opportunity for a hearing. J. Floyd stated that Parks and Recreation provides some transportation services for the elderly. According to Mr. Brilhante, Transit is not looking to replace anything that is currently being utilized, but just supplementing it. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Review Letter to the Mayor Regarding Hawai‘i Office of Housing and Community Development P. De Lima inquired if there was any discussion regarding the letter. J. Floyd spoke about a joint hearing held with the County Office on Housing and the Hawai‘i Economic Housing and Finance Corporation. Every year approximately $4 million is portioned out to the neighbor islands for development in low income housing and next year is going to be Hawai‘i County’s opportunity. If the County worked -2- closer with the development, there would be more housing development for people to apply for. L. TobosaP. De Lima moved to approve the letter. It was seconded by . All in favor. Motion passed None opposed. . Letter of Recommendation for Public Transportation to the Mayor J Yoshimoto stated that the Mass Transit director as well as their Corporation Counsel addressed the issues that were discussed at the last meeting as far as getting a timeline of what’s going to be provided. I think the letter is not necessary unless of course you want to change it in some way. I think they addressed the issues. S. Nagasawa feels it would still be really good to have a forum. This way the people can be there and give their own testimony on what’s wrong with the system, and what A. Mitchener needs to be fixed. agreed and feels that it would allow for an exchange of ideas. L. Tobosa moved to amend the letter regarding a transportation forum. It was J. SouzaMotion passed. seconded by . All were in favor. None opposed. NEW BUSINESS Discussion of Additional Recommendations to the Mayor Regarding Public Transportation (This item was just discussed.) REPORT OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘IEQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFICER AND ADA COORDINATOR, TERI SPINOLA-CAMPBELL See attached report. P. De Lima After Teri’s report had a question about sign language interpreting services. She shared the fact that in Massachusetts, they have a law that an interpreter is needed when the Governor would come out to speak for press conferences. She would like to see something like that for Hilo for the Mayor. James agreed. He feels that there should be a law here because often times there will be governmental meetings at the last minute and it’s too late for deaf people to be able to request interpreting services. He thinks establishing a law would be a good idea. Alisa inquired what James uses when he calls in a request. He said he used video telephone which is much easier. REVIEW FROM COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I ADA RECREATION SPECIALIST, ALISA MITCHENER See attached report. -3- ANNOUNCEMENTS J. Floyd announced that the State Council on Developmental Disabilities is going to have its annual day at the Capitol in March. That’s an annual event where they meet with Legislators for Hawai‘i Island. Second thing is they are in the planning stages with the University of Hilo and the Department of Health for a legislative forum for persons with disabilities. It will be held after the Primary Election in August and you meet with the legislators and discuss issues relevant to Hawai‘i Island. Third thing is October is National Disability Employment Month. Posters of persons with disabilities that are employed are displayed at the Capitol. It’s very rewarding. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be on March 18, 10:00 a.m. here at the ADRC Training Room. Paige spoke about what the committee can accomplish this year, about new members and meetings in Kona. Sam and Gena will be sworn in. Meetings in Kona was brought up. Besides going to Kona, maybe doing video conferencing. Problems with that would be with sign interpretation and technical problems. Telephone conferencing was mentioned. But it would have to be a public place not their homes. There is no representation from Kona. Most of the time it was hard for them to come to Hilo and to get the time off from employment. James won’t be able to make the next meeting. Jesse would like to have discussion about the lava flow, the County response on what went well, what they see were the barriers, what were the issues that they discovered, what are the averages that they permitted to help with disabilities. Alisa would like someone from Research and Development come in and speak about grant writing. Gena would like discussion regarding the difference between service animals and comfort animals. It was decided that these were some of the things the committee would discuss and revisit at various meetings. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m. Transcribed by: Sandra Arriola -4-