County of Santa Cruz

Commission on Disabilities
2007 Annual Report

 

I.                    Roles of the Commission

 

The Commission on Disabilities is an advisory body to the Board of Supervisors on issues concerning persons with disabilities. The Commission  was established to:

 

(a) Review existing County policies that affect persons with disabilities and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding proposed changes;

(b) Review Sections 503 and 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and its implementing regulations and advise the Board of Supervisors on any actions necessary to bring the county into compliance with the federal requirements and to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities;

(c) Review the provision of access for persons with disabilities to public places within the County and recommend improvements where needed;

(d) Review the County’s Affirmative Action Plan and policies and recommend to the Board of Supervisors and Affirmative Action Commission any revisions which may be necessary to eliminate employment discrimination against persons with disabilities;

(e) Review the County’s Personnel rules and job descriptions and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and to the Civil Service Commission, as necessary, to assure that any unnecessary barriers to employment opportunities for persons with disabilities are removed;

(f) Advise the Board of Supervisors on any other appropriate programs and actions which would increase employment opportunities for persons with disabilities;

(g) Evaluate services provided to persons with disabilities in the County  and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors based on their conclusions;

(h) Review requests by persons with disabilities or organizations for County assistance and advise the Board of Supervisors;

(i) Investigate citizen complaints related to concerns of persons with disabilities and make appropriate recommendations for action to the Board of Supervisors;

(j) Review Federal and State Legislation of interest to persons with disabilities and advise the Board of Supervisors of their recommendations; and

(k) Exercise other responsibilities related to the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities in the County.

 

II.                  Meetings Dates, Time, and Location

The Commission met the second Thursday of each month from 12:30 until 1:30 P.M. at 1400 Emeline Street, Room 206 with the exception of the following months: November and December when the Commission did not meet hold regular meetings. The mailing address is 701 Ocean Street, Room 30, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.

 

III.                Commission Structure

The Commission on Disabilities is comprised of ten members representing five districts. The Board of Supervisors appoints two Commissioners for each district. The Chair or Vice-Chair who are elected every January to facilitate commission meetings. This year the Chair was Charles Stone (2nd District)

 

 

 

 

and the Vice-Chair was Joseph Quigg (5th District). The Commission members, as of December 31, 2007 are:

 

 

District

Commissioners

1st District

Doug Patrick, Robert McGaw

2nd District

Aaron Spencer, Charles Stone

3rd District

Michael Bush, Arnecia Dynes

4th District

Jeanette Cosentino, Paul Ticknor

5th District

Joseph Quigg, Peter Heylin

 

The Commissioner(s) that completed their terms, resigned, or were replaced in the last year was Jessie Schecter.

 

IV.                Commission Staff

The Commission is supported by a ten hour per week staff person – the Commission Coordinator. The Coordinator takes minutes, prepares correspondence, and represents the Commission in some of the Commission activities. Mary Thuerwachter was hired in April 2007 as the Commission Coordinator.  Between January and March,  the Commission was temporarily staffed by Claire Schwartz (EEO officer) and Andrea Smith (retired coordinator).

 

 

V.                  Attendance

 

Name

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Aaron Spencer

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

*

°

Charles Stone

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

A

X

X

*

°

Doug Patrick

X

X

X

X

X

A

X

X

A

X

 

°

Jeanette Cosentino

X

A

X

A

X

A

X

A

X

A

*

°

Jessie Schecter

A

A

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

°

Joseph Quigg

A

A

X

X

A

A

X

X

X

X

*

°

Michael Bush

A

A

A

A

X

A

A

A

X

A

 

°

Peter Heylin

X

X

X

X

A

A

X

X

A

X

*

°

Robert McGaw

X

A

X

X

X

A

X

X

X

X

*

°

Paul Ticknor

-

-

-

-

A

X

X

X

A

X

*

°

Arnecia Dynes

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

A

X

X

 

°

 

X= present      A= excused absence       dash (-) =not on commission        L= Leave of absence

 

The Commission did not vote on Commission business at meetings in the following months: February and June - due to lack of a quorum. The Commission strictly adhered to a requirement of six members present to achieve a quorum.   *In November, the Commission held a planning retreat for priorities to be placed on the agenda of the first meeting in 2008.  °There was no meeting in December.

 

VI.                Annual Goals and Accomplishments

The Commissions’ activities and priorities are determined by the Commission mandate, and emerging needs as expressed by the community and identified by Commissioners.  Our Mission Statement is as follows:

 

 

The Santa Cruz County Commission on Disabilities is a pro-active advisory board that serves to insure that children and adults with disabilities have opportunities to reach their maximum potential in independence, human development, productivity and self-sufficiency as well as to insure equity and access within the community.

 

 

Summary of Objectives

The Commission on Disabilities’ objective is to be the eyes, ears, voice, and conscience in assuring equal access to persons with disabilities of Santa Cruz County and to advise the Board of Supervisors and serve persons with disabilities in our community in the following ways:

 

  1. Provide an accessible, inclusive forum for persons with disabilities to express community concerns.
  2. Identify and address visible and invisible barriers for persons with disabilities that disrupt the ability to exercise the right to live full and productive lives.
  3. Encourage community action through education, referral, collaboration and integration of resource utilization to remove barriers for persons with disabilities that disrupt the ability to live full and productive lives.
  4. Influence public policy by advising and working with the Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors and the                              County to affect Local, State, and Federal legislation to optimize the functional potential of those persons with disabilities in the County of Santa Cruz.

 

Objective 1 -Provide an accessible, inclusive, and appropriate place for persons with disabilities to express community concerns.

 

·         Meetings are open for citizens to express individual concerns.  Twenty-nine people representing nineteen organizations attended meetings of the Commission.  A list of attendees is attached as Appendix A

·         Meeting time is allocated for presentation on topics relating to persons with disabilities.  Two speakers were invited to educate the Commission.  See Appendix A

·         The Commission Coordinator is available as a contact and information and referral resource between meetings.

·         The Commission bulletin board is maintained outside of Commission office.

 

 

Objective 2 - Identify and address visible and invisible barriers preventing children and adults with disabilities from exercising their rights to live a full and productive life

 

·         Accessible home design

·         Accessible parking enforcement

·         Accessible sidewalks

·         Review accessibility of County courtrooms.

 

o        Accessible home design – The Commission worked with the Santa Cruz County Planning Department to educate the public on accessible design issues that should be considered when building or remodeling to assure access to persons with disabilities.  In addition to improving accessibility to persons with disabilities, Accessible Design provides a way for our aging population to remain in their homes to the end of their lives. The 2000 Census shows that over 33% of the population in Santa Cruz was 45 years and older in the year 2000 and today those same people are now 51 years and older.  Brochures will be available both on the Planning Department website and on the kiosk the lobby.  See Appendix B attached. 

 

o        Accessible Parking Enforcement - updated a parking information card to be distributed throughout the community to alert people to the penalties for illegal parking in handicapped spots and tell persons how to report instances of illegal parking.  See Appendix C attached.

 

o        Accessible Sidewalks – Invited speaker from Watsonville Public Works to educate on sidewalk enforcement issues.  Surveyed local jurisdictions on programs.

 

o        Court Accessibility - Commissioners reviewed accessibility of County Courtrooms.  The Commission provided information on accessibility issues and disability etiquette for court personnel at the request of a Superior Court Judge.

 

Objective 3 - Encourage community action through education, referral, collaboration and integration of resource utilization to remove barriers for persons with disabilities that disrupt the ability to live full and productive lives.

 

·         Regional Transportation Commission - participated in public hearing on emergency preparedness for persons with disabilities

·         IHSS and Long-Term Care – liaison Commission member

·         Central Coast Alliance for Health – liaison Commission member

·         Contacted County and city officials regarding accessible sidewalk enforcement.

·         Explored ways to continue funding the Terry Brickley scholarship program for persons with disabilities that was created in collaboration with Cabrillo College Foundation.

·         Approved collaboration with Seniors Council and other disability groups to coordinate services

·         United Way Community Assessment Project – Commissioner Steering Committee Member

·         Attended Day on the Beach for persons with disabilities sponsored by Shared Adventures

 

Objective 4 - Influence public policy by advising and working with the Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors and the County to affect Local, State, and Federal legislation to optimize the functional potential of those persons with disabilities in the County of Santa Cruz.

 

·         Accessible home design collaboration on County Planning brochure.  See Appendix B

·         Citizen initiated accessible parking violation notification cards.  See Appendix C

·         Participation in annual Access Job Faire at the Coconut Grove

·         Brochure on reasonable accommodation at the worksite.  See Appendix D

·         Co-promoted the October 2007 disAbility Awareness Month 

·         Recommended to the Board of Supervisors support of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

 

VII.              Future Goals and Recommendations

 

HIGH PRIORITY

1.    Invite Specialists to report to the Commission
2.    Evaluation of Community Resources for PWDs
3.    Accessible Design issues
4.    Blue Zone enforcement
5.    Public policy and education of the public regarding the needs of persons with disabilities

 

MEDIUM PRIORITY

1.    Mental Health Issues
2.    Recreational Opportunities
3.    County ADA compliance – annual report from EEO
4.    Demographics
5.    Sidewalk accessibility
6.    Inter-Commission communication and cooperation
7.    History of COD and Disability Community in Santa Cruz County


 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

Mary Thuerwachter

Commission Coordinator

 

 

Approved by the Commission on Disabilities on 1/10/2008

 

§         APPENDIX A

§          

§          

§         Guest Speakers invited to educate the Commission and the community in 2007:

Maria Rodriguez, Watsonville Public Works, sidewalk enforcement

Claire Schwartz, EEO officer, County of Santa Cruz, outreach and accommodation for persons with disabilities

 

§         Guests welcomed to the meetings of the Commission on Disabilities in 2007

 

Anji Buckner – Central Coast Center for Independent Living (CCCIL)

John Daughtery  - Santa Cruz Metro

Jeff Roth - Housing Choices Coalition

Sylvia Caras, Community Member

Alene Smith, Community Member

Paul Ticknor – Advocates for Nisene Marks

Catherine Patterson Valdez – Division Director for LiftLine Paratransit (non-paracruz)

Judith Ain – community member

Pam Smith – ED Housing Authority

Jim Straubinger – County Mental Health

George Carballo – Patient Rights Advocate for County of Santa Cruz

Craig Rothhammer – Social Worker, County Mental Health

Mary Thuerwachter – Future Commission Coordinator

Virginia Butz, Foster Grandparents

Julie Menezes - CCCIL Youth and Leadership Advisory Group (CCCIL Youth)

Lakshmane Cody – CCCIL Youth

Luis Jimenez - CCCIL Youth

Gabriel Pantoja - CCCIL Youth

Sean McCready - CCCIL Youth

Maria Salas, CCCIL ILS team coordinator

Barbara Flynn, RN, Director of Health Services, Central Coast Alliance for Health (CCAH)

Jack Solomon, MV Transportation

Suzy Hunt, Community Memeber

Angel Millhouse – CCAH

Anthony Walton – Community Member

Ricardo – Community Member

Mike Molesky – CCAH

Dawn Peckavick – Community member

Patty Talbot – Seniors Council