Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns

PUBLIC MEETING
JULY 18, 2002
MINUTES

COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONERS
ATTENDING:                                               ABSENT:

M. Cathy McAdam                                       Christian L. Mageli
Claudia Damian                                          Jad K. Jadallah
Kim Bretton Hetrick                                     Ryan McGraw
Gary B. Filiak
Mary Hodak
Jane Thomas
Dale Swanson
Dr. Cheryl Kreger (arrived at 2:30)

STAFF ATTENDING:                              GUESTS:

Kurt Giberson, City Liaison                       Denise Toepfer
Susan Fitzmaurice, ADA Coordinator     Peg Watson
Julie LaBenne, Recording Secretary       Ray Roberson (arrived at 3:20)


Call to order
Vice Chair McAdam called the meeting to order at 2:05 pm. Ms. LaBenne took roll call.

Approval of the Agenda
Motion to accept by K. Hetrick and seconded by D. Swanson. Vote: Unanimous

Approval of May & June Minutes
The meeting minutes for May 16, 2002 were approved as corrected and motioned by D. Swanson and seconded by J. Thomas. Vote: Unanimous
The meeting minutes for June 13, 2002 were approved and motioned by K. Hetrick and seconded by D. Swanson. Vote: Unanimous

Executive City update
Kurt Giberson welcomed Susan Fitzmaurice our new ADA Coordinator. She thanked the Commission and gave a brief background.
Business card update; a blank template was distributed to commissioners with out cards. Braille cards will be folding to accommodate the required space needed for their format.

Homecoming update
Kurt Giberson confirmed that pens and magnets have been ordered in time for Homecoming. Booth placement will be next to the old stone bridge. We will share a 10x15 foot tent with the Parks Division. This location will offer high visibility and accessibility. Commissioner Hetrick asked about signage? Kurt has poster boards that were used by us previously. Commissioner Hodak has two banners from last year. Commissioner Damian asked about the location of Handicap Port-a-Jon? Commissioner Filiak responded, within 100 yards of the main Comfort Station. She also asked about brochures in alternative formats? Commissioners McAdam and Swanson have designed Braille & large print versions. These brochures will be available upon request at our booth.
A survey form will be used in place of a sign in sheet. The questionnaire/form will be the same one used as an insert in the Community Back fence newsletter. A revised/updated resource list will also be available.
Commissioner Damian questioned the accessibility of the Food tent and tables? Kurt Giberson responded, the food area is on asphalt and the fixed tables should accommodate. Commissioner Filiak thanked Tony Filllips by letter, for the wheelchair lift on loan for Stage B. He confirmed (thru Paul Klink) that a TTY phone would be available at the police trailer. Also golf carts and eight (8) lift-van parking spaces.
Commission Damian still has time slots open for the booth. Vice Chair McAdam asked everyone to review the schedule during the break.

Kurt Giberson alerted the Commission that, regarding item #10 TTY phone recommendations, Paul Klink was not able to attend and that he would be leaving for another meeting.

Chair Report via Vice Chair McAdam
Chairman Mageli had a phone conversation with Erick Candella of Congressman John Dingells office, who is working to restore funding to Adaptive Recreation programs. Also discussed the Special education mileage. The Chairman now suggests we support the Mileage as individuals not as a Commission.
A discussion with the Mayor regarding our Visitablity Task Force was well received. The Mayor asked for a Commissioner to visit city construction sites where bump-outs for planting are being installed. He wants to be advised of any barrier or line of sight problems.

Vice Chair Report
Vice Chair McAdam will be promoting the Commission during her interview on the radio show Remarkable Woman, July 19th at WNIC.
Audio description update; improving, yet Turner Movie Classics is not coming through.
Chamber of Commerce update; joined the Education sub-committee and their springtime project to do mock job interviews with High School students. She hopes this sub-committee appointment will give her an opportunity to educate the Chamber about disability issues and the Commission.
Commission introduction update; Vice Chair McAdam and Commissioner Hetrick are planning a five (5) minute introduction to the City Council on August 6, 2002. The Mayor will be present to give personal support to the Commission.
Vice Chair McAdam announced that she will not be available for the August & September meetings. Commissioner Hetrick will stand in during her absence.

Accessible Recreation Outings
Peg Watson, Director of Senior Programs, addressed outing accessibility concerns of the Commission per Greg Orner. Vice Chair McAdam asked the age requirement for senior program service? 55 years & older. The Commission finds lack of accessibility on trips through the Dearborn Travel Club for seniors and would like to work towards making that possible. Peg Watson confirmed that only two trips a year are accessible. They are willing to take seniors who can board buses normally and store their wheelchair in the rear of the bus. Also some of the outings go to older facilities that are not accessible (E.I.D.S.O.). Vice Chair McAdam suggested that future trip schedules could note accessibility or possibly using tag-along vans. Peg Watson responded that the contract with SMART buses with lifts is limited to travel within the city. Commissioner Hodak asked why the monthly SMART bus activities have stopped? Due to lack of need in trip enrollment. The new van service has been allocated to other pressing needs including; banking, grocery shopping, and pharmacy pick up for seniors. This service runs two (2) afternoons a week and is not wheelchair accessible. Vice Chair McAdam questioned about gaining accessible service for the same needs? The SMART bus with lift would be available upon request. Commissioner Hetrick expressed concern that, twelve (12) years after the ADA is signed into law, Dearborn/State of Michigan supports only a few services that offer accessibility. He feels segregated because participation is so limited. Peg Watson explained that it is not only the lack of accessible buses but also the need for drivers trained to use the tie down equipment for wheelchairs. Vice Chair McAdam would like the Access Committee to continue looking into these issues. She would like to see the City of Dearborn address accessibility of trips and their destinations. Peg Watson responded that two (2) staff members handle trip schedules local and extended. She feels they would be willing to work with our Commission to determine accessibility. Commissioner Hetrick says that is the point and we should not give our business to non-accessible locations. That 100s of sites are available for trips that are accessible. Also the City of Dearborn programs should make a positive effort to support places that are ADA complaint. Vice Chair McAdam, in behalf of the Commission, asked that printed materials and future trips are more conscious of accessibility. Peg Watson announced that through her acquaintance with our new ADA Coordinator, sign language courses would be available this fall in effort to accommodate all citizens. Commissioner Hodak asked how many trips are offered each year? Not as many this year due to the September 11, 2001 attack travel levels are down. A discussion followed involving the previous and current number of trips scheduled. Only two (2) accessible trips a year are offered and both are subsidized by the City of Dearborn.

Commissioner Hetrick motioned that the City of Dearborn's Commission on Disability Concerns take whatever actions necessary to encourage the City of Dearborn Recreational Departments to make choices that include all citizens in their activities regardless of physical, mental, or developmental ability, and/or specifically designate which activities will be accessible to all, seconded by D. Swanson.
Commissioner Hodak was then appointed liaison to the Dearborn Travel Club. Vote Unanimous.

TTY Recommendation update
Commissioner Damian received via E-mail from Paul Klink a list of six (6) City departments with various TTY equipment. He recommended an upgrade to the Super Print 4425 model for five (5) departments with older phones and designated lines for each phone.
Commissioner Damian motioned to encourage the City of Dearborn to upgrade its TTY equipment and train City employees on the one (1) model used throughout its departments, seconded by C. Kreger. Vote Unanimous.

SMART Transportation Mileage Report
Ray Roberson who served on the SMART Elderly & Handicap Advisory Committee, distributed information packets and reported on how SMART serves people;
SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation) is the suburban bus system serving Macomb County and potions Wayne and Oakland Counties. Since 1993 SMART has dedicated and directed its routes and services to serve the needs of senior citizens, people with disabilities and individuals who have no other means of getting to work.
In 1995 and 1998 the voters approved a .33-mil SMART tax to support the regional system. Three promises were made and kept and continue to be SMARTs mission. First, SMART revamped all of its fixed route service (large bus) to go to job growth areas and get people to jobs. Over 63,000 businesses are now served by SMART giving access to over 1.4 million jobs. Second, SMART developed a Community Transit (small bus) program that provides local communities with funding and assistance from SMART to develop and operate transit within their community. Since the start of the Community Partnership Program (CPP), 83 communities are participating using 136 vehicles to take senior citizens and people with disabilities to doctor appointments, shopping centers and to work. Third, SMART has maintained a balanced budget and paid off its $20 million dollar debt in 2000.
On August 6, 2002 the SMART mileage question will be on the ballot. SMART is requesting an increase in funding from .33 mil to .60 mills. The owner of a $200,000 home will pay $5.oo per month. The need for the increase is primarily because the State of Michigan funding has been flat since 1998. As a stopgap measure, federal capital funds were used to pay for operations to offset the difference in state funding. SMART is unable to continue using federal capital funds as operating funds at the same dollar level. Also, standard business costs such as medical, dental, and general liability have increased. Without the additional mileage, SMART will no longer exist.

Video clip on State Meeting
Commissioner Swanson obtained the video tape, being played on our local government channel 12, made at the April meeting which included the State of Michigan Commission visitors and Mayor Guido.

Public Comments
Denise Toepfer was contacted by Congressman Dingells office regarding the Adaptive Recreation funding in jeopardy. Erick Candella confirmed support from their office.
The new Freemotion Fitness machine has arrived and will be available to the public for the month of August. Wheelchair and non-wheelchair users will be able to exercise chest muscles and fill out comment cards to evaluate their experience during its demo period. Also a lap pull machine is forthcoming. Commissioners Swanson & Hetrick volunteered to test both machines.
Information distributed and Dearborn Specials updates include;
The Diamond Jacks River Boat Tour
Lets Go Bowling program
Movie Night in the Dome Room
Annual Picnic 2 (replacing dances during the summer)
Summer Day Camp
Commissioner Damian asked if an interpetor is available at any event? Denise responded that one is available through the theater, but no request has been made to date.
Commissioner Hodak asked which accessible bus service is used by the Recreation Dept.? Trinity & Co. which is local.

Sub-Committee & Task Force Reports
Visitability Task Force Kim Hetrick Still in the information gathering stage. Hopefully they will be meeting with the Building and Safety Department & the Mayor to do a presentation. The Mayor may put together a City Task Force to look into Visitablity as well.

Independent Living/accessibility Committee Claudia Damian The July 1st meeting focused on Homecoming. Schedule spots are still open for the booth. Please help cover timeslots available.

Public relations/Awards Committee Dale Swanson. K. Hetrick has drafted a Homecoming press release for the Times Herald/Dearborn Press & Guide. D. Swanson will be contacting Jackie Kaiser at Comcast Cable and CDTV with the information also.
K. Hetrick has contacted Doc Andrews of WOMC about having a role at our Awards Expo. D. Swanson contacted Robin Jones about participating and she is very interested. Copies of her E-mail response were distributed. Possible dates for the Expo include October 21st, 22nd or 23rd.

Education/Employment Committee Cathy McAdam. If anyone would like to make calls for support of the Special Education Mileage, contact C. Kreger at her office #730-0483. C. Kreger explained, the calls are made the night before the August 6th Poll.
A meeting with the President of the Chamber of Commerce on July 24th will explore ways of working together including Employment/Educational info for their newsletter, Awards program, and ways to introduce the Commission to the Business community.
M. Hodak will continue to follow up with the AAUW at their September meeting.
R. McGraw has agreed to help with training for School Bus Drivers on August 22nd, in effort to increase disability awareness.
A discussion of possibly having a booth at the 2003 Job Expo/Fair in March.

Commissioner Reports
Kim Bretton Hetrick None

Dale Swanson None.

Jane Thomas Following up on an E-mail regarding a man with Down syndrome whose mother passed away and left him their home. The brother is requesting help with his care.
This is another case forwarded through our website.
C. McAdam was also contacted through the Chamber of Commerce by ARC regarding Internet service for their members. S. Fitzmaurice suggested www.match.org.

Dr. Cheryl Kreger Possibly doing a presentation on school issues that she has discussed with Chairman Mageli in the August meeting.

Gary Filiak He attended the opening of the new playground playscape as a representative of our Commission, in June. The playscape is 50% wheelchair accessible. CDTV and the Times Herald covered the opening.

Claudia Damian 911 TTY calls update; three (3) out of seven (7) calls placed failed. She contacted Paul Klink by E-mail to alert him.
MRC training update; The Ambassador Team of the MRC has agreed to do training presentations at each of the sessions that will be offered to City Employees. A half-hour presentation will be given twice on August 21st, 27th, and September 17th. A publication titled How do I call someone who is deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired and how can they call me? will be given to each participant to keep. Wolf & Assoc. (telephone training vendor) will be setting up logistics for possibly two (2) presentations at each sessions.

Mary Hodak The Senior Day Conference held last month with a Commission booth included;
State Representative speakers
Utility Co., Legal, & Pharmacy speakers
Breakfast & luncheon
Dale Hall an associate to Gary Warcheck, informed her of eight (8) projects around the state that would supply a needy person with a wheelchair ramp. One of these will be placed in Dearborn this year.
AAUW update: the next meeting will be in September.

Vice Chair McAdam announced a Photo opportunity with the Mayor on Tuesday. United AutoWorkers (UAW) has installed a ramp for a 93-year-old resident. She asked if a Commissioner would like to be present.

Susan Fitzmaurice mentioned her attendance at the upcoming Executive Committee meeting should clarify her job description. She felt that coming to this Commission meeting has helped her understand our mission.

Adjournment
Commissioner Hetrick moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:35pm, seconded by D. Swanson.