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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-DAC-2012-07-10DISABILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 12:15 p.m. July 10, 2012 PRESENT: DAC Chair — Roberts DAC Members: David McElrath Erin Sember -Chase Jason Anderson Andrew Rappaport Information Management Specialist — Myers EXCUSED: DAC Vice Chair - Gizewski Allen Walters Alderperson Rooker Jocelyn Scriber Jaime Freilich APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of the May 2, 2012 Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes - Resolution By DAC Member Sember- Chase: Seconded by DAC Member DAC Member Anderson RESOLVED, That the minutes of the May 2, 2012 Disability Advisory Council meeting be approved as published, and be it further Approval of the June 6, 2012 Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes - Resolution RESOLVED, That the minutes of the June 6, 2012 Disability Advisory Council meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously Approval of the 2009 -2012 Disability Advisory Council Annual Report — Resolution By DAC Member Rappaport: Seconded by DAC Member Sember -Chase RESOLVED, That the 2009 -2012 Disability Advisory Council Annual Report be approved with noted corrections. Carried Unanimously Chair Roberts will plan to present the 2009 -2012 Disability Advisory Council Annual report to Common Council at their August 1, 2012 meeting. Brain Storming Ideas by Priority: Members present reviewed the list of "brainstorming ideas" that was developed at the June 6, 2012 DAC. Today's meeting focused on grouping and prioritizing them as shown below the following list of ideas: Brainstorming Ideas from Disability Advisory Council Meeting June 6, 2012 Create a DAC liaison to the Ithaca Police Department related to information sharing /education about hate crimes committed against people with disabilities. 2. Increased input from community members beyond the disabled community. Need to "market" or develop a process for community input to the DAC, and in an effort to increase membership of DAC; advertise more for membership to DAC. 3. Increase online presence for DAC on city's website — increased surveys for needs in the community for the DAC to focus on; look into televising DAC meetings. July 10, 2012 4. Hold monthly meetings at various locations in the city — perhaps host an open forum during the evening at a local meeting place. 5. Develop /increase membership of DAC with a broader representation of the many types of disabilities — i.e. mental, developmental, and physical. 6. Develop goal for each year regarding progress made for each identified area of focus or discussion of the DAC. 7. Broad representation of public at DAC meetings. Provide information about what the DAC is and what it does at local gathering areas. 8. Invite department heads to meetings — possible topic of interest — the City's budget. 9. Invite Ithaca Fire Department staff to explain DAC role to them and offer assistance to the department as needed. 10. Increased communication with the Mayor. 11. Need for a staff liaison to the DAC since Leslie Chatterton's retirement there has been no one to take her place. 12. Structure DAC meeting in a way to educate DAC members about how city government works. 13. Workshop at IFD regarding item #1 14. DAC member liaison to the Board of Public Works for better communication back and forth between both boards. Chair Roberts does not have to be the liaison and would encourage a member of the DAC to take on this role, if they're interested. 15. Update DAC agenda template that is distributed to the public that provides information about what the DAC is, how to provide input or to participate in meetings, so the public has a quick reference as to what the DAC does. 16. Work on delegation of tasks to DAC members to work on goals; create sub- committees as needed. 17. Utilize community service opportunities provided by local colleges and universities with students and faculty for special projects. 18. Engage content experts as needed for various projects — tasks, and goals of the DAC. 19. Be realistic in setting achievable goals — better to have smaller number of goals and complete them well then take on too many goals and not be able to complete them or to complete them poorly. 20. A. Invite staff from Ithaca Youth Bureau to provide overview of what the youth bureau does, its facilities, etc. Invite Allen Green and /or Joanie Groome. B. Invite representative members or staff liaison to the Ithaca Youth Council to a DAC meeting to provide input as to needs of youth with disabilities in the community. 21. Update DAC on progress of Stewart Park Renovation — Friends of Stewart Park renovation /revitalization project at Stewart Park — invite a representative to do a presentation at a DAC meeting. July 10, 2012 People to Invite to a Disability Advisory Council Meeting: Include items: Create a DAC liaison to the Ithaca Police Department related to information sharing /education about hate crimes committed against people with disabilities. 8. Invite department heads to meetings — possible topic of interest — the City's budget. 9. Invite Ithaca Fire Department staff to explain DAC role to them and offer assistance to the department as needed. 18. Engage content experts as needed for various projects — tasks, and goals of the DAC. 20. A. Invite staff from Ithaca Youth Bureau to provide overview of what the youth bureau does, its facilities, etc. Invite Allen Green and /or Joanie Groome. B. Invite representative members or staff liaison to the Ithaca Youth Council to a DAC meeting to provide input as to needs of youth with disabilities in the community. 21. Update DAC on progress of Stewart Park Renovation — Friends of Stewart Park renovation /revitalization project at Stewart Park — invite a representative to do a presentation at a DAC meeting. Things to Do: Include items: 3. Increase online presence for DAC on city's website — increased surveys for needs in the community for the DAC to focus on; look into televising DAC meetings. 6. Develop goal for each year regarding progress made for each identified area of focus or discussion of the DAC. 7. Broad representation of public at DAC meetings. Provide information about what the DAC is and what it does at local gathering areas. 10. Increased communication with the Mayor. 11. Need for a staff liaison to the DAC since Leslie Chatterton's retirement there has been no one to take her place. 15. Update DAC agenda template that is distributed to the public that provides information about what the DAC is, how to provide input or to participate in meetings, so the public has a quick reference as to what the DAC does. 16. Work on delegation of tasks to DAC members to work on goals; create sub- committees as needed. III. Future Items — Long Term: Include items Create a DAC liaison to the Ithaca Police Department related to information sharing /education about hate crimes committed against people with disabilities. Q July 10, 2012 2. Increased input from community members beyond the disabled community. Need to "market" or develop a process for community input to the DAC, and in an effort to increase membership of DAC; advertise more for membership to DAC. 4. Hold monthly meetings at various locations in the city — perhaps host an open forum during the evening at a local meeting place. 5. Develop /increase membership of DAC with a broader representation of the many types of disabilities — i.e. mental, developmental, and physical. 12. Structure DAC meeting in a way to educate DAC members about how city government works. 13. Workshop at IFD regarding item #1 14. DAC member liaison to the Board of Public Works for better communication back and forth between both boards. Chair Roberts does not have to be the liaison and would encourage a member of the DAC to take on this role, if they're interested. 17. Utilize community service opportunities provided by local colleges and universities with students and faculty for special projects. 19. Be realistic in setting achievable goals — better to have smaller number of goals and complete them well then take on too many goals and not be able to complete them or to complete them poorly. NEW BUSINESS: DAC Member Sember- Chase, DAC liaison to the Workforce Diversity Advisory Committee, requested permission to share the list of "brainstorming" ideas at their next meeting, which is July 23, 2012. Chair Roberts and the rest of the DAC members present fully supported the sharing of ideas with that committee. Chair Roberts provided an update on the progress of the Stewart Park Rehabilitation Action Plan. He reported that plans for the park include, the "sprucing up" of the large pavilion, a proposed silent movie museum, repair of the boathouse so that the first and second floors can be utilized, the small tea pavilion is in the process of being reconstructed, work has been done on the Flag Pole memorial garden, and the play ground area will be redesigned by "Parkatechs ". Chair Roberts provided an update on the van situation at Titus Towers. He spoke with Doreen Osterman, Executive Assistant, who informed him that they were unable to obtain funding from HUD to purchase an accessible van. When Ms. Osterman spoke with staff from the Ithaca Youth Bureau regarding the possible sharing of the city's accessible van, she ran into some obstacles; one being that the driver of the accessible van needs special certification. Chair Roberts stated that he will speak to the City's fleet manager to see if there might be a possibility of ordering an accessible van when the next vehicle is ordered that could be shared. He is also going to see if there is any other funding source that might be able to assist Titus Towers in purchasing an accessible van. DAC Member McElrath, and Titus Tower resident, wondered whether multiple agencies could combine resources for the purchase of an accessible van. Chair Roberts responded that would be something to research. DAC Member Rappaport requested an update on the handicap parking public service announcements. He also questioned whether funding from handicap parking tickets is still used to fund this program. Chair Roberts confirmed that fines from handicap CI July 10, 2012 parking tickets is still used to provide funding for the handicap educational program, and creation of the public service announcements. He reported that Vice Chair Gizewski met with City Clerk Julie Holcomb and Marsha Lynch on developing the public service announcements. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m. Sarah L. Myers Larry Roberts Information Management Specialist Chair, DAC `1