The Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities

City of Fountain Valley Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities MINUTES March 7, 2019 CALL TO ORDER Lawrence Judson, Vice-Chairperson, called the Regular Meeting of the Advisory Committee for the Disabled to order at 6pm. ROLL CALL Members Present: Herman Ajamian, John Borack, Terry Coakley, John Collins, Ramón Gálvez-Arango, Lawrence Judson, Tom Nguyen, Philip Nisco, Leonard Santoro, Susanne Seiden, and Jan Werts. Others Present: Visiting; Bob Pegg and Debbie Paul. Also present; Councilmember Kim Constantine and City Staff Member, Yolanda Rios Markey. Members Absent: Anna Nagmay, and Gary Osterbach. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Committee Member John Borack moved to approve the minutes of the January 3, 2019 meeting. Second by Committee Member Tom Nguyen. Motion carried 10-0 in favor of approving the minutes, with John Collins, and Leonard Santoro abstaining. ONGOING BUSINESS A. Report from Subcommittee on Recreation Programs Committee Member Jan Werts reported that a dance was not held in December. Additionally, the space plan for Snack Time worked out great. She also reported to the Committee that the prizes for the attendees was reaching a low status and requested donations. The number of attendees for the February dance was about 140. A change request for the set-up of tables is to move them further back from the dance floor so it would give the attendees a bigger dance floor. Committee Members Werts and Seiden will bring goodies for the April Dance. B. Disability Friendly Business Awards Committee Member Philip Nisco plans to keep the same procedures as 2018, as it worked well and will update the Committee at the next meeting, as well as, bring forms with a date change. He did call on the Members to keep their eyes open to make sure we nominate “new” people for the award. A question was asked if Committee Members were able to nominate people or businesses. It was suggested that Committee Member Nisco continue to lead the Sub-Committee for the awards since he was so successful with the 2018 awards program. Committee Member Philip Nisco agreed asking everyone on the Committee to continue to assist with finding award recipients. C. Updating Name of Committee to “City of Fountain Valley Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities.” Kim Constantine informed the Committee that the first reading of the proposed name change was held on March 5. There is one more reading for the name change approval on March 19, and after this reading and subsequent approval, the name can officially be change. D. Assist City Departments in implementation of guidelines for accessible facilities Chairperson Ramón Gálvez-Arango informed the Committee that currently there was no report, however, as a Committee we will continue to monitor and assist the departments when needed. E. Facilitate development of recreational programs useable by persons with disabilities No report or discussion. F. Information concerning special recreation equipment No report or discussion. G. Facilitation of development of barrier free buildings and facilities within the city No report or discussion. H. Work with various levels of education on the development and implementation of programs to assure maximum integration for students with disabilities No report or discussion.  I. Development of community awareness of employment potentials of persons with disabilities J. No report or discussion. NEW BUSINESS A. Honoring students with Special Needs (John Borack) Committee Member John Borack reported that he met with Chris Young from the school district to promote the idea of honoring students with special needs. He would like to work with the teachers to get their input. A bare bones form was submitted and requested input from the Committee on what the criteria should be. A suggestion was made by Committee Member Seiden to consider honoring the parents as well for their hard work. The Committee overwhelmingly supported the program with the honorees being recognized at a City Council meeting. Committee Member John Borack will check with other schools if such a program exists and report back to the Committee. A motion by Tom Nguyen to move forward with the Honoring students with Special Needs was made. Second by Committee Member Terry Coakley. Motion passed with a 10-0 B. Election of Officers Committee Member Tom Nguyen nominated Ramón Gálvez-Arango to continue as Chairperson and Gary Osterbach to serve as Vice-Chairperson. Second by Philip Nisco. Motion carried 10-0. Public Comments N/A Committee Comments Committee Member Terry Coakley reported that the previously identified accessibility issue of the overgrown tree near her home has been resolved. Committee Member John Borack reported that PCTA won 1st place for a video excellence award for a program featuring a young man with autism named Julen; the name of the program is “Julen’s Ausome Sauce” and is about this young man who has created a local salad dressing and basting sauce business. Adjournment With no further business before the Advisory Committee for the Disabled, Committee Member Lawrence Judson adjourned the meeting at 6:49pm. Minutes Submitted by Yolanda Rios Markey