MINUTES
FLORIDA KEYS COUNCIL FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (FKCFPWD)
THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2006
MARATHON EOC
PRESENT: Michelle Wisniewski, Jim Malcolm, Gary Lowe, Sandy Molina, Secretary/Treasurer, Elaine Higgins, Sheila Barker, County Liaison, Cindy McKnight
ABSENT: Christy Knowles
GUESTS: John King, Calvin Allen, ADA Coord. Belinda Brown, Clark Martin, Jimmy Schmidt,
Meeting called to order at 11:00 AM.
Opening Ceremonies
Michelle advised that the new Alternate Member, Christy Knowles, was not present.
Approval of Minutes and Agenda
Minutes of the last meeting were approved. The agenda was also approved.
Report of the Chairperson
Michelle mentioned that she was going to need some help with the Seminar.
Financial Report
Balance in account is $24,753.00.
Report of the Committee on Awards
Gary has reported that there has been no response from Home Depot regarding the Awards. It was decided to give them 60 days to respond back to Gary. He has not heard anything back from Island Chevron, Summerland Key. Motion made and passed to abandon the Chevron from getting an award from the Disability Council.
Jim Malcolm still has the award to the City of Key West, Utilities Department pending. He is still trying find out who will receive the award.
Reports of the Committee on Monroe County ADA Upgrades
John King – Monroe County Public Works
They are also working on the installation of temporary ramps for the polling places. They have been delivered and are on site.
Veterans Park was destroyed during the storm and has been down for a while. They are currently working with an Architect who has sent John the plans. They are in the permitting process now. He advised that there was one pavilion left that maintained structural integrity that had a slab. He advised that Public Works will build a sidewalk to make it accessible from the adjacent disabled parking area.
Higgs Beach will have pavers from the bike path that will allow accessible routes into each area of the dog parks.
Currently planning the installation of some new ADA accessible playground equipment and have $50,000 in the budget to spend this year.
John advised that the County is now going to do a “self evaluation”. He advised that he has received the latest check list from the Department of Justice. Calvin Allen, the County Attorney, and Code Enforcement are also involved in the evaluation. There will be three (3) teams who will access all the County Buildings, and will document everything with photos.
Watson Field, a project in conjunction with the Road Department and Engineering, now has off street parking and will be making the concession stands and restrooms monolithic with a staging area that over looks the ball fields for viewing the game next to the bleachers, which will all meet with a sidewalk to go to the entrance gate. The sidewalk will begin within the next two weeks. After that, the fencing contractor will come in.
Michelle asked John about the restrooms at the Marathon Airport. John reported that that issue will be in the self evaluation transition plan when it is done. He will have to get with Peter Horton on when and what will be done. Michelle will talk to Commissioner Rice about the issue.
Belinda Brown – Monroe County Elections
Belinda reported that there were three elections, all of which were accessible. They also implemented the use of “touch screen” machine in each of the polling places. They have a few more modular ramps on order for the County elections, and should be in within a couple of months. They are also planning on a self-evaluation of the polling places on a regular basis. She advised that they use the State of Florida checklist to go by. Public Works Department is continuing to work with the Supervisor of Elections office to ensure that each precinct has accessibility.
Jim Malcolm – City of Key West
Jim Malcolm reported that storm water injection project is moving forward. There are plans in the works and contracts being let for concrete repairs at Rest Beach. There is a “draft JPA” agreement with the State for the repair to the North Roosevelt Blvd. promenade and the construction of the inland (business side) sidewalk on North Roosevelt.
Michelle Wisniewski – Assn. for Disabled Americans Actions
Michelle mentioned that they are in the process of converting to a tax exempt 501©3 organization.
Unfinished Business
1. Development of seminar “Disaster and Disability: Surviving the Florida Keys”
Michelle passed out the outline for the ADA Seminar. This outline shows the times each presenter will be speaking. Sheila suggested that each council member introduce a speaker. The following is that lineup.
MICHELLE WISNIEWSKI – Presenter, Matt Strahan
GARY LOWE – Presenter, Mike Weston
CYNTHIA McKNIGHT – Presenter, Hilary Styron
JIM MALCOLM – Presenters, Craig Fugate/Sheree Fugate
ELAINE HIGGINS – Presenter, Marc Dubin
SHEILA BARKER – Presenter, Jack Humberg
The facilitators will introduce the panals.
As of this date, there are 21 people who have signed up to attend the Seminar. Sixteen (16) of those 21 are the presenters and council members.
Michelle stated that we should provide the water, coffee, and donuts. She advised that the Association will reimburse up to $250.00 toward that purchase, and they will become a sponsor. Jim will get the water, coffee, creamer, sugar and donuts. Gary will check with Home Depot to see if they would be willing to donate the water, and will get back to Jim. He still has the gift card from GFS he will use toward that purchase. Jim will also get the coffee makers from the Restaurant Store, who usually donates them for the use. We will need to get about 8 doz. Donuts. John King will get the coolers and ice.
Michelle has requested all speakers to give us up to 10 pages of notes, each, for the program. She will send another reminder. It was decided that the Florida Accessibility Code is not appropriate for this particular seminar, so will not be included as part of the program. It was suggested that things that are Hurricane related should go into the program. Since Billy Wagner agreed months ago to become a sponsor for this Seminar, Michelle advised Clark Martin that we needed the Emergency Management Logo. Clark will send Sandy the logo. Elaine suggested that we put a list of accessible hotels in the program. She also suggested that a list of what to bring with you to the shelters should also be included.
Sheila advised that we will not be able to televise the seminar live since an Interlocal Agreement would be needed. It would be recorded, sent away for post-production captioning, and then shown after the fact, once the BOCC approves the broadcast. Michelle was concerned about not having subtitling live of the seminar, if someone who needs it was in attendance. Gary advised that he will speak to a teacher at the High School to see if she would be interested in signing the seminar.
2. Special Needs Registry and mentally disabled persons – Monroe County Emergency Management
Sheila passed out copies of a letter addressed to Clark Martin regarding a legal opinion of the special needs registry participants. The County Attorney researched the issue and the final determination was the County’s responsibility to insure that these agencies have a plan for their own evacuation. The County can insist that they have this plan, and that it is not the County’s responsibility for various sited in the opinion. The County Attorney has come up with 4 suggestions at the end of the opinion, which is as follows:
“First, of course, is to inform the County Commissioners and the affected organizations that the County has no legal responsibility to include the clients of those organizations in the Special Needs Registry. The BOCC should further be advised that there are significant policy reasons for not assuming any such responsibility which the State has already delegated elsewhere”.
“Second, Emergency Management should, especially in light of issues raised glaringly by Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma, review every CEMP required of any local agencies, to insure that there is evidence that the agencies have the vehicles to transport their clients (or contracts for transportation) and agreements for facilities to which to evacuate them”.
“Third, the County or State agencies which work together regarding evacuation and sheltering should ensure that AHCA receives a report of any licensed organization which does not abide by its evacuation and sheltering plan”.
“Fourth, the County should contemplate incorporating into their requirements for not-for-profit organizations receiving funding or rental space from the County that such organizations shall forfeit their funding or rental space if they do not abide by their own CEMP. Their contracts and leases should be amended to specifically require compliance with CEMP’s. The County should make it very clear the safety of its citizens is a significant issue and that anything other than strict compliance with CEMP will not be tolerated”.
New Business
1. Voice to text real time systems for subtitling televised public meetings – Sheila Barker
Sheila advised that there are a few options. We can get ASL signers out of Ft. Lauderdale. We can get “real-time” by spending approximately $7,000.00 per location, and $150.00 per hour for captioning. At this time, Michelle handed Calvin Allen a grievance. She advised that there are approximately 8,500 persons with a hearing impairment residing in Monroe County (11% of the population have some degree of hearing impairment). She also advised that the Title II of the ADA requires Government to provide access to hearing impaired citizens at public meetings. She mentioned that real time technology televised voice to text subtitles is readily available and is now being used in Miami-Dade County. This technology alone gives access to all levels of hearing impairment for
both people who are physically present and as television viewers. She said that the signers only work for people who understand ASL, which is a very small percentage.
Sheila then advised that there is no funding for this. She said that she would not mind taking this as a budget issue. She also advised that there has been no request for this service in the past 9 years. Sheila thinks that if we show the Commissioners what they will get with an example of the “post-production” closed captioning, we can make a pretty good case. At this same time, give them the other options and see where they want to go with it. Sheila has no problem with presenting the issue as a budget item.
Announcements
1. Michelle mentioned that the meeting scheduled for Islamorada on July 27, 2006 is one day after the 16th ADA Anniversary. It was noted that Cindy and Gary put in a lot time and work to put an ADA Celebration together last year for the Marathon area. Michelle would like to have a celebration this year at the Marathon Airport, as long they can get an accessible “port-a-potty” on site. John King will have one or two delivered. Gary will be out of town but can participate in the preparation. This will also become our July meeting. The tentative date for the 16th ADA Anniversary is July 15, 2006 with the tentative location being the Marathon Airport. Gary will confirm the date and send an e-mail to Sandy. John King advised that
he will need prior notification to arrange for the Marathon Airport.
2. Elaine Higgins will e-mail information to Sandy regarding visual fire alarms, so that she can put it on the website.
3. Sheila will get with Jonathan about putting the ADA Seminar on the website, and inviting him to the seminar for publicity.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 11:45.
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