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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015, 10-21, Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes William P. Kenoi C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Mayor Executive on Aging 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  Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes October 21, 2015 The County of Hawai‘i Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities met at 10:05 a.m. at the Aging and Disability Resource Center at 1055 Kino‘ole Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i. The meeting was chaired by Laura Tobosa. MEMBERS PRESENT: Pauline Aughe, Janice Mancini, Sam Nagasawa, and Laura Tobosa. ABSENT: Gena Avilla and James Souza. OTHERS PRESENT AND GUESTS: Dr. Kimo Alameda, Aging;Teri Spinola-Campbell, HR; Alisa Mitchener, P&R; J Yoshimoto, Corporation Counsel; Jesse Floyd, Program Specialist for the State DD Council; Sandy Arriola and Luana Ancheta-Kauwe, Aging; Karin Riedel, Paul Pascua and Jessie MacDonald, Kauila Haumea and Gail Yoshishige; J. Ching, Richard Dinges. CALL TO ORDER Laura Tobosa called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 19, 2015, MEETING L. Tobosa P. Aughe called for motion to approve the minutes for August 19, 2015. J. Mancini made a motion to approve the minutes. It was seconded by . All were in Motion passed favor. . STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC (Agenda Items) No statements from the public. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Report on the Recreation Ad Hoc Committee . S. Nagasawa stated that the purpose of the ad hoc committee was to gather input from the community and to provide information and recommendations to the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities and best practices for increasing recreation services and programming. The ad hoc committee questions and suggestions were: 1. Covered shade over playground equipment. 2. Support safe access from parking lot to ocean at Richardson’s. 3. Brainstorm solutions to provide beach wheelchair and mats on a regular basis. 4. Involve people with disabilities and station that make this service available to the public via vocational rehab agencies, volunteers. 5. Announce tram service on new access web page because a lot of people are not aware that if they are disabled there is a tram available that can take them through the zoo. The only way you find out is if you call their number. So that’s not really accessible knowledge. A letter to the Mayor was drafted for his support to beach access to the ocean for people with disabilities especially at Richardson’s. The committee went over the letter and a few changes were made. It would be signed by Laura and sent out to the Mayor. L. TobosaP. Aughe called for a motion to approve the letter with changes. made a S. Nagasawa motion to approve and seconded the motion. All were in favor, none Motion passed opposed. . Status on New Committee Members L. Tobosa stated that the two candidates from West Hawai‘i are tentatively scheduled to be sworn in November 4 at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center and they’ll be able to drive in to Hilo for the December meeting. Another person interested in being a member of the committee is Susan Shirachi who is the Disability Service Director at the University of Hawai‘i. She will be submitting her application soon. NEW BUSINESS K. Alameida stated that Pamela Punihaole and Joshua Pratt, the Kona members, were very enthusiastic about being on the committee and didn’t mind driving in to Hilo. Wally Lau will probably swear the two of them in REPORT OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFICER AND ADA COORDINATOR, TERI SPINOLA-CAMPBELL “I was away for about three weeks so it was pretty quiet at home when I was away. I’m working now on some issues brought to my attention regarding parking at the Bayfront accessible parking. So, I’ve been in touch with Public Works and Parks and Recreation. And so the lots mauka where I think we do have the number, we have six accessible spaces. But the Makai side of the parking lot, it had been reviewed where the spaces are, there are two accessible spaces that are on the Hamakua side of the bus terminal. And at this review, that summer transition plan, the other lot, the lot has a number of spaces, over 140. And it’s a little complicated because I understand it is owned by the state. So, I’m kind of working on that with Public Works, trying to get some resolution of that issue. So those are the things that I’ve been working on currently.” 2 Richard Dinges wanted to report that there are only two disabled parking spots and 137 regular spots in the Downtown area by the bandstand. ADA requires at least five spots for that number of parking spaces. There are at least 25 parking stalls so you have to have at least one disabled stall. A lot of the time the seniors have to park across the street to get another disabled parking stall, and then hustle across the street to get to the bandstand area. J. Floyd stated that at the forum he had last month, a concern was about the sidewalks – why are things like fire hydrants, poles, signs put on the sidewalks? The wheelchair has barely enough space to pass. He just wondered if that is an ADA requirement too. It is Teri’s understanding that the sidewalk doesn’t have to be straight, but it has to be 32” to 36” on the passage strip. K. Riedel stated that a wheelchair is about 32”. In front of the Keaau Post Office, there is a pole on the sidewalk and the wheelchair cannot go on the path walk. Paul has to go on the street. His wheelchair is 32” but it does not fit. Sometimes when you say the measurement is 32”, you have to also have a little leeway. She stated that it needs to be a little more than 32” for safety issues. K. Alameida For Blind was at the Civic and on the sidewalk there was a sign that said Pedestrians . (It was a little confusing.) According to Teri, it was based on a request by a blind person who lived in that area. After the County paved the shoulder at the Hoolulu Complex, she requested the blind awareness signs because the law says if you put your white cane in the street, cars are supposed to stop. Hers got run over. So we put those signs to “create disability and awareness for motorists that there is a blind pedestrian in the route. Please exercise caution and drive cautiously.” It doesn’t mean only blind people can walk on that sidewalk. It was decided to write a letter to Public Work extending an invitation to the committee’s December meeting to discuss sidewalks. J Yoshimoto suggested doing an e-mail for documentation purposes. REPORT FROM COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I RECREATION SPECIALIST, ALISA MITCHENER See attached report. After Alisa’s report, there was discussion about having wheelchair basketball. Alisa stated that years ago there was an interest but the county didn’t have wheelchairs and the individuals would have to use their own. So for now, the goal would be to identify people who would like to play, get them started and maybe be able to justify buying their wheelchairs. There would have to an interest first. R. Dinges wanted to continue discussion about the parking at the bandstand area. According to Teri, that facility was not in the transition plan which were reviewed by the Disability and Communication Access Board under Hawai‘i Statute HRS 3-50. The bandstand and bus terminal are County owned and the only property that was reviewed. 3 The rest is State, which includes the parking lot. The lot was old and predated ADA and they probably didn’t have a plan for improving it. Jesse brought up contacting DCAB and Pauline said to just write a letter to DCAB. They are very diligent about addressing letters from people. ANNOUNCEMENTS K. Alameida stated that he spoke to Farah Gomes with the University of Hawai‘i regarding disaster preparedness for people with disabilities and said that there is an opportunity for a one day training by Carl Kings, the Executive Director of the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center. It is targeted for senior citizens with disabilities, but mostly for their caregivers, and it’s for anybody who is vulnerable to natural disasters, have factors like physical limitations, mental illness, medications management, diabetes, insulin shots, keeping it refrigerated. She’s asking if we can get 25 participants then it’s on and it’s for free here at the ADRC Training Room. It will be the beginning of December (4, 5, 7 or 8.) Kimo will keep the committee informed. J. Floyd attended the meeting for Affordable Housing on Friday at the County Office of Housing and a group from the Hawai‘i Economic Development Finance Corporation. They are in charge of dispersing a Holton grant and there are other funds that businesses or private individuals can access for funding. Kimo stated that he was at a Workforce Solution meeting where employers spoke about people with disabilities and vocational rehab. The Office of Aging is mentoring Gail Wung who is with ARC. Kimo wanted to send a message to all the employers that people with disabilities make good workers for several reasons - they have empathy because they know what it is like to be marginalized so they’re always paying attention to the underdog. And that’s great for customer service. And they have perseverance, they work hard. So just give them a chance. Jesse gave an update on the legislative forum that he had. The number one concern with them was education. The second most pressing by far was housing and then transportation. Employment for whatever reason was not too much their concern. I think it had to do with people’s fear of losing benefits for family members. Laura informed everybody that the statewide independent living council is having a forum on November 30 at the ADRC Training Room from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon. The purpose of this forum is to gather information from people receiving services and agencies regarding independent living needs and services. So if I get any more information, I will shoot it out to the committee members and let you know. But it is scheduled to November 30. Jesse stated that the next five year plan meeting here for the State DD Council is going to be on November 19, Thursday at 3:00 – 5:00. It’s going to be people’s input about what goals, accessibility, transportation, housing, employment, types of services, objectives and activities, in order to maximize the work for people that are independent. 4 NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be on November 18, 2015. There was discussion about quorum and the amount of absences allowed. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned 11:05. Respectfully submitted, Sandra Arriola Transcriber 5 Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities October 21, 2015 Parks and Recreation Report, Alisa Mitchener, Recreation Specialist RECREATION October 20, 2015 Yano Hall Open House: 20 attended for crafts, photo booth fun, and fitness activities November Open House Programs: Nov 12 Pahoa Community Center, 9:30 to 11:30 Nov 17 Yano Hall, 11:00 to 1:15 Puueo Open House has been cancelled due to construction. October 23, 2015 I will conduct training for the Recreation Division on ADA Compliance Procedures, inclusion case scenarios, talking with parents, service dogs, and adapting Halloween activities. The floors in the Edith Kanaka’ole Stadium were renovated. Anyone interested in participating in a winter wheelchair tennis program in December, please call Alisa @ 961-8681. AQUATICS Pahala Pool has new therapeutic entry stairs Pahoa Pool chair lift was down but repaired in a timely manner BEACH ACCESS Renewed modification requests for beach access to Richardson’s Mobi Mat Project September 4, 2015 Cancelled due to storm surf September 11, 2015 32 attended September 18, 2015 Cancelled due to post tsunami effects: High waves, rip currents, and rain September 25, 2015 Assisted Snorkel Day Last Mobi Day approx. 45 people attended 6 Mahalo to volunteers from Hope Services and the Lion’s Club COMMUNITY SUPPORT September 15, 2015- Assisted with the first Recreation Ad-Hoc Committee meeting: 8 attended. Identified goals, discussed priorities and interests, recorded notes for Ad hoc Committee report. Oct 14, 2015 - Assisted with Ad-Hoc Committee meeting: 7 attended Accepting input on what to include on a new Recreation access webpage 7 Highlights of MCPD Recreation Ad-Hoc Committee Planning Meeting September 15, 2015 Parks and Recreation Divisions Elderly Activities Division, Muni Golf, Panaewa Zoo, Culture and Education Division, Recreation/Aquatics Division, County Band, Parks Maintenance, and P&R Administration. Purpose of Recreation Ad-Hoc Committee To gather input from the community and to provide information and recommendations to the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities on best practices for inclusive recreation services and programming. Attendance: MCPD Members Janice Mancini and Sam Nagasawa. Members of the public Kauila Haumea, Gail Yoshishige, Paul Pascua, Michele Grace, Gail _______, and Karin Riedel. Alisa Mitchener, Recreation Specialist, assisted. Ideas for Goals Provide input towards creation of a P&R Access page for the County Website What to include o Make the info accessible; possible audio description o Create a quarterly or seasonal online newsletter o Beach Access: Review history, discuss goals, review statewide beach access issues, review 2014 accessibility standards for Federal outdoor developed areas, and review Rule 10: Rules Relating to Richardson Ocean Park. Possible Mayor’s Awareness Event: One Day in a Wheelchair (film or post photos?) Organize a petting zoo event for people with disabilities Ad Hoc Meeting Notes Wednesday Oct 14, 2015 Attendance: Guest: Valerie Poindexter. MCPD Member Sam Nagasawa. Members of the public Kauila Haumea, Gail Yoshishige, Paul Pascua, and Jessie MacDonald. Alisa Mitchener, Recreation Specialist, assisted. We met for an information exchange and to share disability issues with Valerie Poindexter, Chair of the County Council Public Works/Parks and Recreation Committee. She explained this committee deals with streets, P&R facilities, and codes. Creation of positions and contract information is handled by the finance committee. She described ADA renovations for the Honoka’a rodeo. She asked to be kept informed of what’s working and not working. Possible solutions are welcome, too. Ad-hoc committee questions and suggestions:  Covered shade over playground equipment  Support safe access from parking lot to ocean at Richardson’s  Brainstorm solutions to providing beach wheelchairs and mats on a regular basis  Involve people with disabilities in stations that make this service available to the public (via Voc Rehab, agencies, volunteers?)  Announce zoo tram service on new access webpage AD Hoc Recommendations to the MCPD for action: Approve letter to the Mayor for his support of beach access to the ocean for people with disabilities, especially at Richardson’s. 8