PORTLAND CITIZENS DISABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

1221 SW 4^th Ave., Portland, OR 97204

Meeting Minutes December 11, 2007

The Portland Citizens Disability Advisory Committee meeting was held on December 11, 2007 at Portland City Hall, 1221 SW 4^th Ave., Portland, OR 97204 in the Rose Room.

Members Present: Hank Bennett, Jean McClellan, Mike Levine, Joe VanderVeer, Martha Simpson, Jan Campbell, Beth Omansky (Phone), Joan Hansen, Trish Baker, Anne O’malley, Ann Balzell, Steve Weiss, Mike Delman.

Absent (Excused): Nancy Hesselman

Associate Members: Dan Pierce and Christina Turner

Staff: Nickole Cheron and Jaclyn Richards

Agenda: Approved with additions of Portland Volunteer Registry update and input on PDOT coming to give a talk to full committee on summer event in the park. Mike Levine added discussion on State ADA process. Jan added discussion on city ADA position.

Minutes: Approved with Beth’s mailed corrections.

Public

Comment: None

Old Business:

Budget: Ann gave a report on our requests for funding in the ONI Budget and indicated that our request was submitted. PDCAC was included in one time funding of $40,000.00 for the next fiscal year. We will continue to lobby for permanent funding in coming years.

Accessibility for all meetings and events is still an issue for the city and will be addressed as needed.

ADA Subcommittee discussion. It was decided to start this subcommittee and Jan and David agreed to co-chair. This subcommittee will work with new city ADA coordinator and other city departments as needed for implementation of ADA, advocacy and education. Volunteers for the committee are Hank, Mike, Jean, Trish and Martha. Jaclyn will assist in setting up first meeting to discuss agenda for the committee. Motion to approve committee Mike Levine/Second Trish, motion passed.

Nancy Hesselman will chair education subcommittee.

Transportation: SB716 is an issue for us and the city. Michael and other PCDAC members have met with city to object to this bill and encouraged the city to not adapt the new law. Oregon Advocacy Center is looking at overturning the legislation is possible. Michael has also met with Sam Adams and has been asked by Sam to sit on a committee to look into the future of city participation. We are asking for a six month extension to investigate the issue. A large number of people from all sectors of the disability community have expressed their concerns with the new law. A few of the concerned partners are ILR, Elders in Action and MS Society.

An article will be out on the 12^th of December in Willamette Week addressing the bill and the challenges with it. Letters have gone out to Rick Metzger who sponsored the bill on the concerns a majority of people have. There is no other state with this kind of law on the books.

Motion by Trish for Michael to be able to speak to state and city representing committee on SB716 and/or put information on our letter head. Second by Hank. Motion failed.

Michael will put together a position paper on SB716 that will give us consistent talking points for all levels of city, county and state government.

Motion Jean to endorse Michael speaking to Rick Metzger on SB716 reiterating the issues of concern from the letter already written by Michael (approved by the committee) and question him on the history of how the legislation was arrived at. Trish second, motion approved with one abstention by Beth.

Steve brought up this issue of “fairless square”. There are lots of concerns with this program and the transportation committee will monitor this. There needs to be equality on this across the board of the fare issue and we will advocate where necessary.

Housing: A response will be coming from the state on the letter we sent to the LIEHP program on our concerns about funding for the emergency energy funding.

We have concerns on how the program is administered as it relates to the difficulty in getting appointments to apply for LIHEAP funds. Distribution of funds needs to be fair and transparent in regards to the process. There is confusion as to disability issues and changes in program parameters.

BHCD Housing Inventory program is moving forward with the acceptance of William Wilson Architects and inventory will be finished in February 2008.

Education:  No report

Communication

& Outreach:  No report

New Business: Volunteer Registry Program (VER) oversight committee will be meeting and Beth agreed to participate with committee approval.

Steve reported that there is a huge backlog on national and local Social Security disability claims. People with disabilities are suffering at all levels of their lives including loosing their homes and their literally their lives in some cases. We need to continue to advocate for services for our citizens. Steve will write a letter to submit to committee to be sent to agencies responsible for these funding issues.

Nickole discussed Sunday Parkways events being planned for this summer. PDOT is requesting to come and visit with the PCDAC about this program. Committee agreed.

Michael discussed state ADA concerns. Funding is always used as a reason for lack of state participation in accommodation laws. We are seeing enforcement of laws currently on the books. We will attempt to get someone from the state to come and speak to Title III issues.

BOLI does state ADA compliance and we will contact them to see if they can assist.

Jan discussed the city ADA position being filled shortly. PCDAC sent a letter to city in regards to our support for this position. This will be a temporary position and held through June 2008. City will then put in to next years budget for full time. We will advocate at city council for the full time position being implemented.

Meeting adjourned 3:30 PM.

Minutes submitted by David W Halseth