Meeting Information

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Leroy Moore
Damian Pickering
Co-Chairs
Vincent Behan
Norma Block
Ed Evans
Elizabeth Grigsby
Michael Kwok
August Longo

Walter Park
Council Secretary

Mayor's Disability Council
Minutes
15 November 2002

1:10 p.m.

1 ROLL CALL

Mayor's Disability Council Members Present: Vincent Behan, Norma Block, Ed Evans, Elizabeth Grigsby, Michael Kwok, Leroy Moore and Damian Pickering. Quorum present.

Absent: August Longo.

Attending: Denise Senhaux.

Mayor's Office on Disability: Walter Park, Director; Ken Stein, Program Administrator; Grace Lee, Acting Assistant to the Director, Josie J Lee, Acting Council Clerk.

Co-Chair Damian Pickering called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m.

2 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

The agenda of the November 15, 2002 Mayor's Disability Council (MDC) meeting was approved.

3 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

Approval of the minutes from the meeting of October 18, 2002 were postponed to the December MDC meeting.

4 PUBLIC COMMENT.

· Arthur Singer, visually disabled attorney from the City of Sacramento, requested the City of San Francisco to oppose Sacramento's Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision on Barden vs. Sacramento. Barden requires Sacrament to provide immediate accessibility to all parts of the city whereas the fact is that accessibility will be phased in over a reasonable period of five years based on cost and need.

· Kay Lynch, current Chair of the Paratransit Council, Muni Advisory Accessibility Committee and Sr. Action Pedestrian Safety Committee invited people to get involved in the battle of bicycles, skateboards, and roller blades, endangering the elderly, disabled, low/no vision, hearing impaired people by attending the next Police Commission Meeting scheduled on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 at the Richmond Police Station on 6^th Avenue, beginning at 6:00 P.M.

· Jessie Lorenz, Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco representing the Paratransit Team consisting of people with disabilities and their allies works to ensure that all ADA eligible consumers are to receive Paratransit services. The lift van services have many problems such as being late. People have stopped complaining due to lack of response. Experience has shown government and advisory task forces are the best methods for obtaining consumer services. She requested that the MDC members become more involved in coming up with solutions.

· Michelle Friedner, Disability Rights Advocate distributed a resource booklet of information, "Communication Access for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People". The publication offers communication access in all forms. Copies are available at MOD,

401 Van Ness Avenue, Room 300. Braille and alternative formats are also available via DRA's website: www.dralegal.org/publications.

· Mary Skyers, Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco, member of the Paratransit Coordinating Committee, and the PCC, Coordinating and Operations Subcommittee reported that training for van service is scheduled on December 4, 2002. She requested that the broker's office committee upgrade their TTY.

5 REPORT FROM THE CO-CHAIRS

Co-Chair Leroy Moore announced his resignation from the Mayor's Disability Council and thanked everyone for the experience.

Damian Pickering accepted Co-Chair Leroy Moore's resignation with regrets and thanked him on behalf of the council stating that it was an honor and a pleasure to serve on the council along side Co-Chair Moore.

Damian Pickering announced that he has also resigned from the Mayor's Disability Council after serving for five years. He stated that it was an honor and pleasure to serve and work along side with everyone and wishes the best of luck to the Council in moving forward.

Michael Kwok expressed his appreciation to both Leroy and Damian and wished them good luck in the future.

Leroy Moore noted that he is the Executive Director at Disability Advocates of Minorities Association for People of Color and Disability which engages in advocacy

and education in communities of color around disabilities. The phone number is: 510.

649-8438 and the email is: [email protected]

6 REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR

Walter Park thanked Co-Chairs Damian Pickering and Leroy Moore and gave them each certificates of appreciation.

Walter Park reported on the following:

• The City Attorney from the City and County of San Francisco has decided not to join Sacramento in regards to the Barden case.

• Richard Skaff, Deputy Director at MOD is still out of the office on leave.

• Susan Mizner, Assistant Director at MOD had her baby and will return to the office in early 2003.

• Pedro de Gouveia is a new intern at MOD for the next two months. He is a Fullbrigh scholar from Lisbon, Portugal.

• Access San Francisco, a guide to accessible San Francisco venues produced by Access Northern California is available at the MOD office.

• Ken Stein, Program Administrator at MOD has been attending meetings with the Mayor's Office of Housing that has convened on a required report by HUD called "The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing" which addresses specifically disability issues on physical construction of housing and nondiscrimination of people with disabilities on renting or selling homes.

• MOD is meeting once a month with the Community Advisory Committee on Seismic Safety to maintain the current stock of housing with a higher level of seismic strengthening.

• MOD is attending meetings with Aging and Adult Services to seek better ways of communicating available services to the aging and the adult disabled population.

• MOD has been attending meetings at the State Department of Housing to clarify and revise Chapter 11, the California Building Code containing accessibility regulations in housing. Future discussions will involve extending accessibility to currently inaccessible units. Interested persons can call (415) 554-6789.

• San Francisco has made a commitment in installing talking signs transmitters, a device in conjunction with the receivers used by persons with visual impairment. Currently, talking signs are installed at the Veteran's Memorial Building and at various locations along Market Street. A copy of a recent article published in the newspaper about talking signs is available at MOD.

• The seventh annual career and resource fair for person with disabilities offered by San Francisco Mayor's Committee on Employment of Persons with Disabilities on October 22, 2002 was well attended by people with disabilities and employers.

• Ken Stein attended the Disability Awareness Day at the San Francisco Public Library on October 26, 2002.

• Walter Park will be attending the Paratransit Coordinating Council lunch on Saturday, November 16, 2002.

• The current San Francisco budget will have a deficit if revenues continue the way they are going. This will require reviewing and possible reductions in services. MOD welcomes your input.

• Pedro de Gouveia, an intern at MOD introduced himself as is an architect from Lisbon, Portugal devoted to promoting universal design. Serving as a director and member of the National Board of Directors in the National Institute of Architect, he is interested in learning all areas of disability access and advocacy in order to help establish connections between organizations in San Francisco and Portugal.

• Denise Senhaux has not been sworn in but will be attending as a voting member at the next Mayor's Disability Council meeting.

• Walter Park presented two certificates of appreciation on behalf of Mayor Brown and the City and County of San Francisco. One certificate to Co-Chair Leroy Moore, thanking him for his years of leadership, dedication and hard work in consistently breaking new ground and representing the needs of people with disabilities.

• Co-Chair Leroy Moore thanked the MOD and stated that "its not me, it's us" and that now is the time to come together, enforce changes and assist people of color and people with disabilities

• Walter Park read and presented the other certificate to Co-Chair Damian Pickering for his active leadership and service on the council; for his many years of hard work, dedication, representing the needs of people with disabilities and for recognition of his years of outstanding service to the Rose Resnick Light House for the Blind.

• Co-Chair Damian Pickering thanked the MOD and reminded everyone that advocacy is about living the good life.

• Vincent Behan inquired if MOD would get involved in day-to-day problems such as transportation and the problems with cars parking on the sidewalks.

• Walter Park responded that MOD continues daily to respond to complaints and request for services from citizens who call. MOD has continually addressed the chronic problem of obstructions of cars on sidewalks and will be meeting next month with Department of Parking and Traffic.

7 COMMITTEE REPORTS.

Harry Mar, Programmatic Committee Access Chair reported that the next meeting of the Programmatic Access Committee will take place on December 6, 2002 at the Rose Resnick Lighthouse. The focus of the meeting will be on the accessibility of information posted to the city's website.

Harry Mar thanked Co-Chairman Leroy Moore and Co-Chairman Damian Pickering for their leadership and support.

Walter Park reported that the Employment Subcommittee met but did not have a report.

Ed Evans reported that the Physical Access Committee did not have a report. He requested Director Park to help find staff for the committee since many issues have been pending.

8 TAXI AND TAXI RAMP PARATRANSIT PROGRAMS - A DISCUSSION OF INCIDENTS IN THE CITY'S TAXI AND RAMP TAXI PARATRANSIT PROGRAMS

· Mark Soto, General Manger for ACT and Paratransit broker with San Francisco Muni reported the taxi component of San Francisco Paratransit represents about 68 percent of their ridership. The other programs consist of the lift van service and the group van program. Results of the annual survey (fiscal year ending July 30, 2002) showed a 20.6% increase of passengers going on one way trips. Generally, people liked the taxi program, offered positive comments and gave high marks on its performance with regard to paratransit services. Statistics on driving skills, driver courtesy, driver understanding, relationship assisting people with disability and cleanliness were rated high in the survey. Mixed comments were given on vehicles with side entry and rear entry but having a combination of both types of vehicles is the prudent choice among San Francisco riders. There are also taxi and ramp taxi endemic and systemic issues and problems that are addressed closely with the Paratransit Coordinating Council and Subcommittee. Resources such as the budget of the City and County affect services in the program. There is an ordinance that requires all taxis in San Francisco to participate in the San Francisco Paratransit program in accordance with Muni rules and regulations but there are a few that don't and are not participants. The large companies and many smaller ones do participate in the program.

PUBLIC COMMENT

· Inspector Suslow of the Police Taxicab stated that if there are specific complaints on specific issues for specific rights, i.e., a person calls for a taxi, whether it be a ramp or standard taxi, and a problem with service and delivery arises, one may call the San Francisco Police Taxicab Detail 24-hour complaint line at 553-1447. One may also call the San Francisco Taxi Commission Office at 554-3940 and leave a message. Depending on whether there was a specific violation of law or rule, the call will be forwarded to the Police Taxicab and would be included in the community hearing. The annual public hearing of the Taxi Commission will be held on December 10, 2002 at City Hall, Room 400 beginning at 6:30 P.M. The purpose of this hearing is to determine the level of service and the number of cabs there should be in the city for regular cabs and ramp taxicabs.

· Mary Skyer, Independent Living Resource Center stated that taxi scripts have been frozen due to budgetary constraints. As a result, people have been using the ADA Access route which causes them to pay for a portion of the scripts out of their own pocket, which is very difficult and doesn't make sense. They feel a loss.

· Sunny represented her cousin, Sonia, who has ongoing complaints regarding a Cab Company's tardiness. She has always called in advance for cab services. Usually the cab will show up one to three hours late or not show up at all.

· Robin Crop, resident of San Francisco stated her complaint on behalf of an ill friend who needed to go to chemotherapy but was unable to get through 24 hours in advance to arrange an appointment, therefore, missing some appointments. Calling 24 hours in advance is very difficult for people because they don't always know their schedules in advance.

· Alicia Duke, a member of many organizations involving elderly and disabled people expressed the need for educating the community by reminding them to report to the ATC Broker's Office and the taxi company whenever the taxi system is not serving them well. It is important to give the name of the driver, the number of the cab, the time of the pick- up, location and the destination.

· Director Soto responded to the speakers. In regards to the Script Program, there are limits in the amount of scripts one may purchase per month, however, if you anticipate using more scripts in an average month, you may request additional scripts by calling the Broker's office for necessary forms to be filled out. The access program is designed to meet the requirements of the law, not to exceed those requirements. If people want to make changes, there are provisions to do so.

· Ed Evans expressed his concern that rear loading taxis offer a rougher, bouncier ride and would not be comfortable for a person with a spinal cord injury. He has back problems and has hit his head on the overhead in the rear loading taxis. He has also had to wait three hours for a taxi and would like to see a system where all the medallions are put into a central system to be considered as employees where they would be required to pick up passengers as directed.

· Laurie Graham, Yellow Cab Medallion Holder responded that she thinks a rear loading vehicle is a good vehicle in that it holds up better. She has experimented by installing shock absorbers on the vehicle. People had mixed reviews; some people say its good and some can't tell the difference.

· Ed Evans stated that with the rear loading van, the dispatchers would let him off a half block from his residence, which would put him at risk with the traffic. Whenever he requests a side loading van, nine out ten times, a rear loading van is dispatched. In regards to the scripts, his application was turned down, whereas able-bodied people were accepted but did not deserve to be.

· Laurie responded that she understood Ed's concern about loading and unloading. In the future, she will ensure a side loader van be sent when requested.

· Leroy inquired if there is an avenue or union where the disabled community would be able to become involved to shape the policy of these taxis such as dealing with lateness.

· Naomi Little, Executive Director of The San Francisco Taxi Commission, oversees the policy making industry. Public meetings are held every six weeks with the PCC and the Taxi Subcommittee to address systemic issues. For more information, call Muni Accessible Service at 923-6142.

· Vincent Behan pointed out the inaccurate account of pick-ups while he had been waiting for a ramp taxicab. He would call and be told that the cab was on its way and would wait twenty to thirty minutes to call again would be told that the ramp was not on its way.

· Sheldon Miller responded that in order to trace these service problems, it would be necessary to contact the manager with the times and addresses.

· Inspector Suslow indicated the specific Community Access Meeting required under the charter is scheduled for December 10, 2002 at 6:30 PM in City Hall, Room 400. The public is encouraged to view their points on services of all motor vehicles including taxicabs and ramp taxicabs.

· Michael Kwok suggested the following tips when calling for a taxi:

Aside from depending on taxis, ramp taxis, lift van program for individual riders, group

van for the elderly; try to explore Muni, which can be quite pleasant.

9 ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES - PRESENTATION REGARDING ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BY DR. STEVEN SEIDMAN, PH.D., SAN FRANCISCO MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS PROGRAM, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

· Dr. Steven Seidman, Director of Mental Health Access Program with the Department of Public Health presented a walk- through of the process in which one would obtain mental health services in San Francisco. The local number is 255-3737, opened 24/7 and 365 days a year. A licensed clinician is available to answer and would want to know what you are looking for in order to direct you to the appropriate number. Next, a brief eligibility screen is given on the phone which would require one to be a San Francisco resident due to limited resources. The next step would be the funding source. If a citizen has private insurance, the clinician would request they use that first. If the private insurance does not provide a certain program that the Mental Health Access Program provides, a letter from the private program would be necessary indicating that. As a safety net, the Mental Health Access Program would then accept the client. After this initial screening, a twenty (20) minute follow-up screening is given over the phone. The clinician will look at different mental health factors of risk and stability and chief complaints in order to form a brief clinical picture and will request the types of services the person is interested in. The clinician then makes a decision based on the information given to determine which avenue this client should be routed to and will then make the connection by calling and finding providers that have capacity and space. The referral will be made and the clinical data collected will be sent to the provider and the client can negotiate an appointment in which treatment may begin.

· Norma Block inquired on whether the budget cuts would affect eligibility and how access could be saved.

· Dr. Seidman stated that there would be no budget cuts to access directly. He thanked all for the concern.

· Leroy Moore asked if the clinician deals with building trust with the consumer and if there was a separate number to call if one were to call up and was actually in a psychiatric crisis at that moment, skipping the initial twenty (20) minute screening.

· Dr Seidman explained that in a crisis situation, the call would be directly referred to the West Side Crisis. There is also a mobile crisis that would go into the homes to help people.

· Ed Evans spoke on behalf of the homeless people. They feel they are being mistreated and taken advantage of within the shelter system at the present time. Ed would like to know how one could help the Mental Health Access Program do better outreach to the homeless, as well as correct the problems of being taken advantage of in the shelter system. He also asked how all these problems are affected by Proposition N.

· Dr Seidman explained that his program is a referral source and does not cover the shelters. However, as a starting point to pass information along, or to file a complaint or grievance, one may call the main number (255-3200) or toll free in California, 1-888-245-3333 to speak to the officer of the day.

· Dr Seidman stated that the passage of Proposition N is very new and has not heard of any effects.

10 RESOLUTION REGARDING THE OPERATION OF MOTORIZED ELECTRIC PERSONAL MOBILITY DEVICES (SEGWAY SCOOTERS) ON SAN FRANCISCO SIDEWALKS

· Damian Pickering stated that this resolution came out of a hearing from October's meeting in which the representatives of Segway spoke.

· Josie Lee, Acting Clerk on the Mayor's Disability Council read the proposed resolution which urged the Mayor and Board of Supervisors to preserve and promote pedestrian safety by banning the use of Segway scooters on San Francisco sidewalks.

· Damian Pickering stated for the records that it was the general sense of this body informally that we take this kind of action. He invited members of the public to comment.

PUBLIC COMMENT

· Jerry Grace, living in Oakland asked for clarification regarding the Segway scooters.

· Damian Pickering explained that the safety of pedestrians on sidewalks are being jeopardized by the use of skateboarders, scooters, parked cars and the newly introduced Segway Electric Scooter. For that reason, the resolution to urge the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to support a ban of the scooters on San Francisco sidewalks was proposed.

· The motion was passed as amended 7-0.

11 COUNCIL NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION OF MDC CO-CHAIRS

· Ed Evans and Michael Kwok were both nominated to be MDC Co-Chairs.

· The Council vote resulted in a tie (3-3). The election was carried over to the December meeting.

12 PROPOSED MAYOR'S DISABILITY COUNCIL BY-LAWS CHANGE, TO AMEND MDC BY-LAWS TO INCLUDE THE PROVISION: "IF NO C-CHAIR IS PRESENT AT A MEETING, THHE MEETING SHALL BE CHAIRED BY ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL."

· Item passed unanimously.

13 CORRESPONDENCE

· Josie Lee reported that a letter had been received from Carl Schillenger, who could not attend last month's meeting. He would like the warm water pools at the Recreation Center for the Handicapped and at Ralph K. Davies to remain open to meet the needs of the disabled community. This correspondence is available at the Mayor's Office on Disability should anybody wish to review it.

14 PUBLIC COMMENTS

• Damian Pickering deferred approval of the October minutes to the next meeting.

• Jerry Grace welcomed the new people and expressed his appreciation for the work of the Council.

15 MEMBER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

· Ed Evans asked that the following items be addressed at future MDC meetings:

• He would like the Department of Parking and Traffic to focus on enforcement of vehicles parked on sidewalks which causes safety hazards for pedestrians and people with disabilities.

• The people with physical and psychiatric disabilities in the shelter system would like to know how Proposition N would affect them.

• He asked that the subject of evacuation chairs for the disabled be placed on the next agenda and to encourage the city to work with non profit organizations and housing in setting up these chairs in case of an emergency.

• He would like to see two situations corrected. One is that there are some people that get cable from a different local provider even though they live in the city. The other is that there are people who get satellite tv but are not able to get the San Francisco government channel.

• He would like to focus on San Francisco government and city offices that rent space, private buildings, offices and services totally accessible for the people who are disabled

• He would like to get a liaison appointed from the Mayor's Disability Council to sit on the Iscott Meetings to represent the disability community in parades and fairs.

• Landlords and property owners have prevented their tenants from obtaining communication devices, including television cable access service. Presently many people with satellite dishes are unable to view our local government channel. He hopes that the Council can change the situation so that San Francisco local government channel is made available to satellite companies.

16 COUNCILORS' COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

· Walter Park voiced his concern on whether there would be a quorum for the December meeting and whether a meeting would be held.

· Michael Kwok and Ed Evans responded that they would be in town.

· Leroy Moore ask that everyone support their local non-profit organization.

· Norma Block stated that she is impressed with the leadership and commitment of Council Member Moore and Council Member Pickering. They have created high standards within the MDC and will be missed.

· Damian Pickering quoted Hamlet "Nothing became him so much in life as the leaving of it".

17 ADJORNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m.