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Mayor’s
Disability Council
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Mayor’s
Disability Council
Draft
Minutes
Monday, October
19, 1998
401 Van Ness, Room 207
PRIVATE
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Members present:
Chair Walter Park (elected
chair during meeting), Co-chair Grayce Regan, (also elected during meeting),
Sergio Alunan (newly appointed by Mayor), Vincent Behan (newly appointed by
Mayor), Ed Evans, Michael Kwok (newly appointed by Mayor), Viola Jackson, August
Longo, Susan Mizner (newly appointed by Mayor), Frank Marone (newly appointed
by Mayor), Damien Pickering (newly appointed by Mayor).
Staff present:
Steve Nelson, Council Secretary
and Director, Department of Administrative Services
Richard Skaff, Disability
Access Coordinator, Department of Public works
Paul Imperiale, Citywide
Disability Coordinator
Jose Caedo, Deputy Citywide
Disability coordinator
Members of the public:
Anne DuFrane, Charles Levinson,
Bruce Allison, Bruce Oka
The meeting was called to
order at 3:30 p.m., with director Steve Nelson as temporary presiding officer.
Introductions of the new members of the Mayor’s Disability council, visitors,
and staff, were made. Director Nelson stated that to the extent possible, the
staff members who were present during the meeting would be the persons who would
assist the Council on any future staff reports or issues.
I. Election of Mayor’s Disability
Council Officers:
Director Nelson stated that
the Chair and co-chair would be nominated and opened the floor for nominations.
Grace Regan nominated Walter Park for Chairperson. Vince Behan nominated Grace
Regan for co-chairperson. Both nominations were seconded. The nominees gave
brief remarks on why they wished to be elected to these positions. Damien Pickering
sought clarification of the position titles. Director Nelson stated that there
would be a need for a primary chairperson and a co-chairperson who would act
in the absence of the primary chairperson. No other nominations were made. Walter
Park and Grace Regan were elected unanimously. New Council Chair Walter Park
conducted the balance of the meeting.
II: Proposed By-laws and
Procedures:
Walter Park suggested that
this agenda item be broken into two parts. The first part would be discussion
of the draft by-laws, and the second would be a discussion on procedures. He
added that by and large, the draft document would help the Council in accomplishing
its purposes, but that there were some fairly small things that needed to be
changed.
By-laws:
Walter Park suggested changes
in the number of membership, terminology, quorum, Council staff, and the appointing
power for committee chairpersons for the members’ consideration. Frank Marone
inquired about the effective date of amendments. The members decided to delete
this provision. Susan Mizner made a proposed a revision of the terms of office
for the members. After discussion, she modified her proposal to state that each
Council member shall serve one-year terms to be reviewed annually by the Mayor.
Frank Marone said that an annual review made sense so that the members would
consider whether they still wished to continue serving on the Council. Steve
Nelson said that there could be any other language used for the provision regarding
terms of office, but the line relating to the fact that service on the Council
was at the pleasure of the Mayor should stay.
Walter Park requested a
motion that would contain all the proposed modifications, excluding the issue
on committee appointments. It was moved by Grace Regan that all the modifications
discussed be accepted. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. See by-laws,
as adopted.
Susan Mizner had a question
on the provision referring to employees or representatives of disability service
provider agencies serving on the Council. She gave an example of one council
member who was a member of several organizations. Frank Marone made some suggestions
to the effect that there would be no more than two people from one disability
provider or service agency on the Council. The members agreed with this suggestion.
Procedures:
Walter Park opened the floor
for suggestions on the committees under the Mayor’s Disability Council. Several
Council members made comments on how the chairpersons of these committees and
membership therein should be appointed. Ed Evans proposed that the Council co-chairs
appoint the committee chairpersons subject to the approval of the council members.
Susan Mizner expressed her views on the needs for process, comfort level of
the members in the appointments, and the need for setting up the committees
quickly. She suggested that the appointments be made by the co-chairs to be
approved by the Council members. Damien Pickering supported the model that Susan
had just proposed, and added that whenever possible, consensus should be reached
on issues. Ed Evan modified his proposal to state that the Council co-chairs
appoint an interim committee chairperson to be approved by the Council members
at the next regular meeting. This proposal was moved, seconded, and adopted
unanimously
A discussion on meeting
days, times, and venues followed. Suggestions on the early mailing of meeting
notices and agendas, along with the creation of these in alternative format
were made. Walter Park proposed holding off further discussion on meeting notices
and other technical matters until the next Mayor’s Disability Council meeting.
Council committees and work:
Walter Park began discussion
with a statement on the future of the Council. He stated that today’s `new’
MDC is the result of months of discussions with the Mayor and the community.
The context in which the Council begins its new work includes a one-year framework,
based on elections next November; a scheduled meeting between the Council and
the Mayor in February; and the ongoing work of a new ADA Self-evaluation consultant,
which will use the Council as a sounding board. More specifically, the work
of the Council will be done in committees that may include such areas as transportation,
housing, physical accessibility, mental health, employment, and public services.
Walter added that time should be allotted on a regular basis during Council
meetings for City staff to present issues or make reports.
He then asked the members
present to start recruiting people to join the various committees, and to begin
a discussion on issues that the committees should address. Staff Richard Skaff
proposed the review of the access issues and historical features of the newly
retrofitted City Hall. Damien Pickering said that he thought that a major part
of the Council’s work would be to focus on the ADA Self-evaluation plans of
the various City Departments since this forms the core of all the access issues
that may arise. He proposed the creation of an `accessible information and telecommunications’
committee that will include electronic information and alternative format material
issues. Frank Marone proposed the creation of a committee to deal with issues
related to children. Susan Mizner stated that she was interested in programmatic
access issues and policies or procedures in agencies or programs that serve
disabled persons. She was most interested in the programs under the Department
of Human Services and the Department of Public Health. Grace Regan wanted a
transportation committee and stated some of her concerns regarding current MUNI
issues. Ed Evans added that pedestrian issues should be added to this committee’s
work as well. He also stated that the Council should undertake housing and code
enforcement issues. Damien Pickering suggested that the co-chairs draft a slate
of committees with proposed chairpersons to shorten the discussion on this item,
and to make the discussion of committee issues an ongoing task. Walter agreed
and suggested that sharing of telephone, fax and email numbers.
Council Secretary Steve
Nelson added that he believed that the Council fell under the Brown and Sunshine
Act requirements. In this regard, he advised the Council members that the members
outside of a formal meeting not discuss any item on the agenda. Further, that
when Council members get together in a number that constitutes a quorum, such
agenda items should not be discussed since this would constitute a potential
Brown Act or Sunshine ordinance violation.
Susan Mizner said that the
Council members also consider issues of disabled persons who were unable to
attend the Council meetings to speak on their own behalf. Walter added that
he wished to have the consultants on the City’s Self-evaluation plans be present
at the next Council meeting, among other potential agenda items. Grace Regan
requested that public comment be made available during the course of each meeting,
rather than holding them all to the end. There was general agreement that that
is how the Council will proceed. Some questions on broadcast and print media
relative to Council business were entertained.
Adjournment:
The meeting adjourned at
5:00 p.m.
Submitted for adoption,
Steve Nelson,
Council Secretary