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Minutes
16 October 2009
1 WELCOME
The meeting was called to order by Co-Chair Jul Lyn Parsons. Councilmember Chiu Chan gave the welcome and introduction to the meeting.
2 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Clerk Martinez read the agenda. The agenda was approved as read.
3 ROLL CALL
Present: Raphaella Bennin, Harriet Chiu Chan, Tatiana Kostanian, Sarah Estes Merrell, Denise Senhaux, Jul Lyn Parsons, and F. Ross Woodall.
Excused: Benito Casados, Joseph Fong, Elizabeth Grigsby, and Vincent Webster.
Mayor’s Office on Disability: Susan Mizner, Director of MOD; John Paul Scott, Deputy Director for Physical Access; Ken Stein, Program Administrator; Carla Johnson, and Mabel Martinez, Council Clerk.
4 APPROVAL OF THE 2009 MINUTES
The Council approved the minutes from the September 2009 meeting.
5 PUBLIC COMMENT: Items not on today’s agenda.
Bob Planthold expressed concern that the City’s Historic Preservation Commission is stymieing efforts to make needed accessibility improvements to the North Beach Branch Library by declaring it a historic structure. He also expressed concern that the Commission is looking to declare areas of the City “historic districts.”
William Farrell expressed his concern that many passengers on MUNI do not give up their seats for seniors or persons with disabilities.
Bred Starr commented on a parking problem in his/her neighborhood whereby a band’s vehicle was blocking a driveway and band members were being rowdy and causing noise disturbance.
6 INFORMATION ITEM: Report from the Co-Chair
Co-Chair Woodall encouraged all members of the disability community in San Francisco to be advocates for themselves and others and to report violations or barriers to the Mayor’s Office on Disability.
7 INFORMATION ITEM: Report from the Director of the Mayor’s Office on Disability.
Director Mizner gave an update on several new things occurring in city departments:
- There is a new series of MUNI training videos on disability accessibility for both MUNI drivers and employees and also for the general public.
- Funds allocated for curb ramps last year, but held up by the financial crisis, are now available. So, the curb ramp program is up and running.
- The Eureka/Harvey Milk library branch has been renovated to be fully accessible. There will be an opening ceremony for the branch on Saturday, October 24, 2009.
- MOD is working to make the city’s car share program accessible to people with disabilities, and would be eager to hear from drivers who use hand controls to on their vehicles.
- The MDC and the Small Business Commission are looking into a joint meeting to address Bill 1608 regarding ADA compliance in small businesses and concerns the disability community has in accessing them.
- The artwork of the Lighthouse’s InSight artists is on display in the basement of City Hall.
- The Mental Health Association of San Francisco will have its annual hoarding and cluttering conference at St. Mary’s Cathedral on November 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
8 INFORMATION ITEM: In Home Support Services (IHSS) Budget Cuts – What’s Coming, What to Do, How to Respond? Presentation by CCSF Dept of Human Services and Marie Jobling, Community Living Campaign. Tony Nicco from the City’s Dept. of Human Services announced that a federal court issues a temporary injunction against the IHSS cuts. Arguments will be heard October 19. Eight thousand people in San Francisco would be affected by the cuts, with 1,500 losing services entirely. The local IHSS office sent advance notices to IHSS recipients who would be affected by the cuts.
Director Mizner reminded the public that from the Mayor’s Office on Disability perspective the IHSS cuts are not a service issue but rather a civil rights issue that would deny people with disabilities the right to live independently in the community. The office encourages anyone who receives a cut in services to send in their appeals.
Mr. Nicco reminded everyone that appeals may be submitted at the Human Services Agency on 160 South Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. He encouraged people with IHSS to have their social workers help them with appeals.
Marie Jobling, the Director of the Community Living Campaign explained the appeals request form and the process of filling it out for consumers. If IHSS recipients appeal within 10 days of getting the notice, their benefits will continue until a hearing is held. (But appeals are worth doing even if the 10 days has passed!) She urged people to state their reasons for appeal as disagreeing with the functional index number and ranking that the State assigned, not discussing the hours of aid needed. If those appealing want to have an advocate or buddy help with the appeal, they can ask anyone for help. Several organizations have also prepared many advocates to assist including: Disability Rights California, Planning for Elders in the Central City and Asian-Pacific Islander Legal Outreach..
There will be a rally on October 22 at noon on the steps of City Hall to protest the cuts.
A member of the audience asked if it would be possible to voice opinions and share stories regarding IHSS cuts at the rally. Ms. Jobling encouraged people to do so.
Council member Chan announced a meeting regarding the cuts that will take place at the Golden Gate Regional Center at 875 Stevenson Street in San Francisco.
9 INFORMATION ITEM: Loma Prieta 20th Anniversary Events and MOD Disability Disaster Preparedness Initiatives. Presentation by Carla Johnson, Mayor’s Office on Disability.
Carla Johnson gave a Power Point presentation titled "Disaster Planning, Disaster Practice, and Disaster Party". The planning component was an overview of MOD's joint project with the Department of Emergency Management. The project has three parts. In the first part, MOD has developed a G.I.S. map of the city which identifies vulnerable soils, vulnerable buildings, and vulnerable people who are most at risk from an earthquake or other disaster. For the second part of the project, Carla is continuing the good work on evacuation chairs started by Joanna Fraguli and John Paul Scott who initiated the installation of 66 evacuation chairs in 16 City owned office buildings. Carla has developed a training program for City employees in those buildings so they can assist their co-workers, if needed, for a safe evacuation when elevators are unavailable. The third part of the project includes an investigation into audible exit information options for people in the blind and low-vision community in the event of emergency.
The Disaster Practice reference was to the October 15th state-wide earthquake drill. The Mayor’s Office on Disability devoted an entire day to the exercise. MOD practiced “drop, cover, and hold on” as well as a full office evacuation. We visited the Human Services Agency Department Operations Center, and sent e-mail messages requesting resources from different disability service providers. Last of all, the physical access team mobilized to perform a post disaster safety assessment of a shelter facility.
The Disaster Party will be on October 17 which is the twentieth anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. There will be four resource fairs in the community, including the Marina Green where a simulation of a hospital and first aid area will be located.
10 INFORMATION ITEM: The November Election – Access to Information, Polling Places, and Voting Machines. Presentation by Charles MacNulty, Department of Elections.
There is a municipal election on November 2, 2009. Ninety-six per cent of the polling places are accessible to people with disabilities. Ballots are available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Voters may choose to use a paper ballot or the electronic screen, which was programmed to use large print so as to be accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. He assured the Council that polling place staff has been trained to help people with disabilities and gave the Department of Elections office number in the event that something should go wrong. Mr. MacNulty then demonstrated how the voting machines worked for the Council. Mr. McNulty said that the machine could speak more slowly for people with cognitive impairments. Finally, write-in candidates could be added for a position by using a QWERTY keyboard.
Councilmember Bennin asked if the machine could provide simultaneous visual and audio output. Mr. MacNulty said this may be possible but may first require recertification of the machines by the Secretary of State, as might also be required for other modifications, including contrast, color changes, or white print on a black background.
11 INFORMATION ITEM: KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) – Providing one-to-one recreational opportunities for children and young adults with developmental disabilities. Presentation by Jennifer Senecal, Executive Director.
Ms. Senecal introduced KEEN to the Council, giving its history and background. She explained how KEEN reaches out to the community to pair children with disabilities with members from the community so they have the opportunity to participate in sports. It is a volunteer organization and relies on the generosity of the community for facilities and equipment.
12 INFORMATION ITEM: Report by the Physical Access Committee.
Committee Chair Howard Chabner reported that the October 9, 2009 meeting focused on the Better Streets Plan in San Francisco. Adam Varat, City Planning Department made a presentation on the plan, which is a blueprint for future design and development of San Francisco's streetscape and public rights of way. Mr Varat expressed appreciation for the Mayor's Office on Disability’s contribution to the project in providing advice on accessibility and Universal Design.
Jorge Garcia, San Francisco International Airport, reported on the reconstruction of Terminal 2. The project contains state-of-the-art accessibility features, particularly in way-finding, security area design and rest-room facilities. The next MDC Physical access Committee meeting is on Friday, November 13, 2009, 1:30 pm Room 421 at City Hall.
13 PUBLIC COMMENT: Items not on today’s agenda, but within the jurisdiction of the MDC.
Walter Paulson encouraged members of the disability community to carry $2.00 bus fare with them at all times in the event a MUNI official does not believe a person has a disability and is eligible for the discount fare.
14 DISCUSSION ITEM: Correspondence.
There was no correspondence.
15 DISCUSSION ITEM: Councilmembers’ Comments and Announcements.
- Councilmember Bennin reported that there was a correction to the scheduled Executive Committee meeting, now to be held October 20th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Additionally, she reminded everyone to visit the MDC page on Facebook.
- Chair Woodall reminded the Council and public that Insight for the blind and vision-impaired is open in City Hall through December 10, 2009. He added that the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus would be hosting a cabaret in which he was to perform and issued an invitation to the public.
- Councilmember Chan made a public inquiry as to the possibility of shorter lines at public restroom facilities for people with disabilities and seniors.
16 ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 PM.