PORTLAND CITIZENS DISABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

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

Meeting Minutes November 13, 2007

The Portland Citizens Disability Advisory Committee meeting was held on November 13, 2007 at Portland City Hall, 1221 SW 4^th Ave., Portland, OR 97204 in the Rose Room.

Members Present: Jan Campbell, Mike Levine, David Halseth, Joan Hansen, Trish Baker, Nancy Hesselman (by conference call), Hank Bennett, Anne O’malley, Martha Simpson, Beth Omansky, Ann Balzell, Beth Omansky and Steve Weiss.

Excused Member: Anne O’Malley

Un-excused Members: Mike Delman

Associate Members: Mike Malinowski, Sue Rhoads, Christine Turner and Dan Pierce

Staff Present: Nickole Cheron and Jaclyn Richards

Guests: Joe and Pam VanderVeer (Contact e-mail – support@theunderrepresented.com, Phone (503) 246-6526, Web: www.theunderrepresented.com)

Agenda: Agenda approved

Minutes: October Minutes approved with one abstention (Trish Baker)

Public

Comment: Pam discussed the start up of the Oregon chapter of ADAPT (American Disabled for Accessible Public Transit).

Transportation: Michael discussed the SB716 a bill related to parking for people with disabilities. The committee is working with city officials and recommending that the city not enact the new provisions in SB 716 which will reduce the current (on street) available street parking and also limit the time that current placard holders can stay at these metered spaces. The bill will require two different placards, one specific for mobility devices and the regular placard would be for all others. Benefits for non-mobility devise placard holders would have their rights limited considerably under the new legislation that goes into effect in January 2008. The city has the ability to not implement the new law.

In addition the committee will be looking to partner with other state groups to get the law overturned. There is another meeting with the PDOT on November 27^th at the Portland Building at 1:00 PM in the 7^th floor Lombard room.

Motion (Michael/Second David) for Michael to speak with the city and any city council member to recommend that the city not implement this legislation and consider other alternatives that would be more fair for all people with disabilities. Approved unanimously.

Housing: Reported on the FY 2008 HUD Appropriations bill. It is due to pass but needs to pass “veto proof”. Committee recommends phoning Gordon Smith (877 210-5351) to not only vote for this bill but vote to override any veto should it come.

Discussed the lack of response from the State of Oregon to our LIHEAP discussion paper sent several months ago. David is looking into this and will report back next month. The program is declining and has been flat funded for some time. There are new guidelines being initiated that will make if difficult for some people with disabilities to obtain assistance from this source.

New

Member

Report: The nominating committee met with potential new member and recommends to the committee two applicants for full committee membership: Joe VanderVeer and Jean M. McClellan. New members approved.

Nickole introduced new Associate Members and they briefly discussed their involvement in the community and desire to work with PCDAC to further its goals and agenda.

Education: Nancy reported on the City and County Diversity Conference that she and Jan attended. They sat on a panel participated in two presentations to this group of people. They shared information on disability awareness and accommodation.

Beth requested that Nancy take over responsibilities as chair of the education committee as she is moving to work on the new advocacy effort with Portland Online. Nancy will let the committee know her decision.

Communications

And Outreach:    No report

Event: Nickole reported that the event went off quite well and it is already time to start on next years event. Ollie Cantos (olliecantos@aol.com), our key note speaker from the Justice Department, indicated it was one of the best events he had ever attended. Many committee members reported on the success of this event.

Ollie was also present at City Council when the city made a resolution (drafted in part by the PCDAC) on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Budget

Review: The executive committee met with Brian Hoop with ONI on our desire to request funding next year for the PCDAC. We will be drafting this budget and presenting it during the hearings with the city. Committees are requested to present any financial needs to Jan or Michael ASAP. Ann Balzell reported that she presented to the budget committee an overview of the things the PCDAC has accomplished this year.

The PCDAC is connecting and engaging with many other city community advocates and groups at all levels to provide awareness and accommodation information on people with disabilities. People with disabilities are still not included in many areas of the community even though they are discussed as part of many programs.

ADA

Subcommittee: Discussion was held on the issue of the PCDAC being involved within the city on ADA compliance issues. The committee is asked to consider adding this subcommittee (ADA) as a formal standing group. Nickole mentioned that the city is looking at hiring a Title II coordinator hired within the next two months. The PCDAC will be lobbying for this position to be filled ASAP. Jan will draft a letter to the Mayor and Commissioners to support the hiring decision. There was a formal Motion and Second for Jan to draft the letter with unanimous support. Beth suggested the name of the subcommittee be named to reflect the fact that there are several disability laws that would be covered by this group e.g. 508 Rehabilitation Act.

Committee decided to have a meeting in December and the date will be December 11^th same time and location.

Meeting was adjourned at 3:30 PM.

Submitted by David Halseth