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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Commission on Persons with Disabilities - Meeting Date: 1/17/2012 CITY OF GLENDALE COMMISSION ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES PUBLIC MEETING Glendale Main Library - Board Room, 2nd Floor 5959 West Brown Street MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, January 17, 2012 6:00PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Gary Charlson. Laura Hirsch Robert Steiger John Fallucca Joan Brainard Pinson Karin Kellas (arrived at 7:06pm) Raymond Yaeggi Terry Aramian Adonis Deniz, Sr. Shirley Galvez, Vice Chair Mounib Shaaban, Chairperson STAFF PRESENT: Matt Cohrs, Neighborhood Revitalization Justine Cornelius, Building Safety Manager Diana Figueroa, Recording Secretary I. Call to.Order and Introductions Chairperson Shaaban called the meeting to order at approximately 6:02pm. II. Roll Call Chairperson Shaaban took roll call and noted members who were present and absent. III. Approval of the Minutes for November 15, 2011 Chairperson Shaaban called for a motion on the minutes. Commissioner Aramian made a motion to approve the minutes from the November 15, as written. Commissioner Yaeggi seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously. IV. Business from the Floor Chairperson Shaaban called for Business from the Floor. There was none. V. Commission.Discussion_about Goal Setting and Work Plan Development The Chair called for discussion regarding this item. Mr. Cohrs introduced himself and stated he is the newly appointed liaison. He said he also serves as the liaison Commission on Persons with Disabilities January 17, 2012 Page 2 of 4 for the Commission on Neighborhoods. He stated that he has met with the Chair and Vice Chair to discuss where this Commission would like to go forward. He said he had the chance to meet with a few other Commissioners and intends to meet with each individually all as soon as time allows. He said the Commission is in need of a guide or a work plan to determine the direction of the Commission. The Chair indicated there was a work plan in place two years ago. The Chair felt they had completed the most recent work plan at less than 50%. Mr. Cohrs asked what the Commission's most important goal is. The Chair felt continuous development of the website is important. He said they would like the Commission to participate and assist by providing information in order to keep the website up to date. Chair Shaaban explained previously the webpage would receive questions or comments from the public. Those inquiries were assigned to a commissioner and a reply was sent. However, Chair Shaaban stated, there have been no inquiries in quite some time. Commissioner Hirsch suggested the listing of hotels and the number of disabled rooms available should be updated. She felt this was especially important with the upcoming Superbowl. Chair Shaaban said every aspect of the webpage should be reviewed and updated. Again, this will require everyone's participation. Vice Chair Galvez wanted to be sure citizens of Glendale know this Commission exists. Previously the Commission suggests that each Commissioner attend his or her neighborhood district meeting. Each Commissioner was to speak to his or her Council member about attending and distributing information regarding the Commission on Persons with Disabilities. She felt this should also be a goal. Chair Shaaban also noted an item on the work plan was to develop a brochure for distribution. This goal was never met. Commissioner Yaeggi mentioned an item of concern was the handicapped parking issues at Westgate. Also, he would like to discuss enforcement. Chair Shaaban felt not much was accomplished last year and he wishes not to see that repeated. He said in 2009 one of the Commission's concerns was potentially increasing the fine for disabled parking violations. He said they met with the Government Services Commission and developed an annual report communicating their recommendation. He said a lot of effort was placed into this issue; however, no action was ever taken. Commissioner Fallucca mirrored the concerns of the Commission stating that public outreach is one of his main concerns. Chair Shaaban stated in 2010 there was an effort to communicate with the HOAs located in Glendale. The contact persons were contacted and invited to the meetings to make them aware of the resources available to their residents. Commission on Persons with Disabilities January 17, 2012 Page 3 of 4 He said the Commission would also have a guest speaker at every other meeting. Mr. Cohrs asked if the speakers better educate the Commissioners so therefore they may better educate the public. The Chair agreed. Commissioner Fallucca asked about the information that is available to the public for resources. Mr. Cohrs stated the Commission needs to get out into the public to educate them about the resources available to them through different resources. Commissioner Deniz suggested to the Commissioners they should get out to local fairs, or health fairs, to distribute information about the Commission. He said the Commission needs to create a brochure to distribute. He said hard copies of information are helpful because not all the population has access to the Internet. Commissioner Deniz asked for a banner which had been used in previous years. Mr. Cohrs stated he would contact the previous liaison regarding the banner. VI. Commission Discussion about Community Awareness and Outreach Chairperson Shaaban introduced this item. Commissioner Hirsch stated her concerns were the inspection of the voting areas which are done by the Commission. She was unsure if any new sites had been added. Also, she felt it is important to update the webpage with hotel information. Also, she felt it is important for the Commission to get out into the public. Commissioner Aramian stated he is excited to hear that a strategic plan will be developed. He felt the Commission at times appears to do nothing and he would like to use his time wisely and be helpful. Commissioner Pinson agreed and said a brochure needs to be developed and a complaint number should be included. Commissioner Steiger agreed with the Commission needing to develop a brochure and also suggested information regarding the Commission could be placed onto bookmarks. VII. Commission Updates Chairperson Shaaban called for Commission Updates. Chair Shaaban reminded the Commission how important it is to inspect the polling sites to ensure they accommodate the disabled. Commissioner Hirsch also thought the number of Commissioners appointed should be discussed. There are currently 11 positions whereas other Commissions and Boards have only seven. Also, she thought the frequency of meetings may be a topic for discussion. Chair Shaaban felt that a record of attendance should be kept. Each Commissioner should contact the staff liasion prior to a meeting and if he or she is unable to attend. Otherwise, it is assumed that he or she will be in attendance. Commission on Persons with Disabilities January 17, 2012 Page 4 of 4 Commissioner Falluca shared that his understanding from the Boards and Commissions trainings was that attendance was not an issue as they are "volunteers." Mr. Cohrs shared information about attendance that applies to all boards and commissions. Mr. Cohrs invited the Commissioners to form a work group with him in order to discuss each concern. Chair Shaaban indicated this would be similar to a brainstorming session. To recap, Mr. Cohrs felt that reaching the disabled population was important to.the Commission as well as creating a brochure for distribution to the public was very important. In response to a question from Commissioner Deniz, Chair Shaaban stated in the past the Commission tried to work with KGLN in order to reach the public. He said this never materialized. Mr. Cohrs asked for volunteers for a work group in order to begin working on the important issues to the Commission. Commissioner Fallucca, Hirsch, Pinson, and Aramian volunteered. Commissioner Deniz questioned when the ABIL Fair would take place. Commissioner Kellas stated she believes it is in April. VIII. Community Development Staff Updates Chairperson Shaaban called for this item. Mr. Cohrs explained the Loop System at the Civic Center, which was discussed at the November meeting, did receive grant funding. He said it would be installed over the spring/summer. Commissioner Yaeggi asked for a tour of the facility once the System has been completed. The Commission discussed the possibility of a tour and the meeting occurring in the same evening. Chair Shaaban reminded the Commission this System should definitely be marketed on the Disabilities webpage. Commissioner Hirsch would like to add information to the "Did You Know" once the System is installed. IX. Adjournment With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:24pm. Respectfully submitted, �Iar LF / Diana Figue o