Committee on Citizens with Disabilities

City of Joliet 150 West Jefferson Street Joliet, IL 60432 Meeting Minutes - Final Tuesday, April 18, 2023 1:00 PM City Hall, Council Chambers Committee on Citizens with Disabilities Committee Members Tony Arellano Pam Heavens Billie Jo Adams Kevin Huckfeldt Kim Hudgens Gary Jones Veronica Pollard Sherry Voight Steven Voight Committee on Citizens with Disabilities Meeting Minutes - Final April 18, 2023 Page 1 of 1 Committee on Citizens with Disabilities Meeting Minutes - Final April 18, 2023 Citizens who are unable to attend the meeting can email comments in advance of the meeting to publiccomment@joliet.gov. ROLL CALL Present Gary Jones, Kim Hudgens, Chairperson Pam Heavens, Steven Voight, Kevin Huckfeldt and Veronica Pollard Absent Sherry Voight, Billie Jo Adams and Chairperson Tony Arellano APPROVAL OF MINUTES TMP-5611 Attachments: Minutes - 2023-04-11T145145.672 3.21.23 A motion was made by Steven Voight, seconded by Kim Hudgens, to approve the Committee on Citizens with Disabilities Minutes from March 21, 2023. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Jones, Hudgens, Chairperson Heavens, Voight, Huckfeldt and Pollard Absent: Voight, Adams and Chairperson Arellano CITIZENS TO BE HEARD ON AGENDA ITEMS This section is for anyone wanting to speak regarding agenda items and are allowed a maximum of 4 minutes. It is not a question and answer period and staff, and the Committee members do not generally respond to public comments. The City Clerk has a copy of the public speaking procedures; please note, speakers who engage in conduct injurious to the harmony of the meeting shall be called to order by the Presiding Officer and may forfeit the opportunity to speak. None. HOUSING NEEDS: PRESENTATION SAM KNIGHT, DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER. Mr. Sam Knight, independent living advocate for the Disability Resource Center, appeared before the Committee and gave a presentation regarding increasing affordable and accessible public and private housing for people with disabilities in Will County. Mr. Knight asked if anyone works in organizations that are also working to try and improve housing for people with disabilities. Ms. Hudgens responded that they do utilize the list at times. Ms. Pollard asked what the percentage is of people that need housing right now. Mr. Knight responded. Mr. Voight asked if there is an apartment or a house that is not accessible, do they work with someone to make it accessible. Mr. Knight responded. Page 1 of 3 Committee on Citizens with Disabilities Meeting Minutes - Final April 18, 2023 UPDATE COJ ADA PLAN: EVA-MARIE TROPPER, CITY OF JOLIET COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. Ms. Eva-Marie Tropper, Director of Community Development, gave the Committee an update about the City of Joliet ADA Plan. Ms. Hudgens feels that technology needs to be addressed as well as education and housing . Ms. Hudgens went into further detail about what the technology should be. Mr. Huckfeldt also addressed the topic. Mr. Voight asked if the CIty has a plan that would help a landlord that does not have an accessible unit to make it more accessible. Ms. McNichol responded. Ms. Pollard made a few suggestions to Staff about other ways to assist people with disabilities. Ms. Tropper said she will work with Ms. McNichol on what the next steps will be and she will come back to the Committee with more updates in the future. NEW OR OLD BUSINESS, NOT FOR FINAL ACTION OR RECOMMENDATION a. CITIZEN VUE UPDATE Ms. McNichol gave an update on the Citizen VUE app pertaining to an ADA category. Ms. Pollard asked when the app will be live. Ms. McNichol responded. Mr. Huckfeldt said he still needs some training on what the app can do. Ms. Heavens asked if the City will put out a press release about the feature. Ms. McNichol said she will work on that. b. UPDATE ON JJC ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION Ms. Hudgens said she is working with another employee from Disability Resource Center and they are working on doing some focus groups with high school students to see what their interests are for after high school. c. ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND GRANT Ms. McNichol gave an update on a grant for accessible playground equipment. PUBLIC COMMENT Ms. Heavens handed out copies of an article from Chairman Arellano regarding traffic lights. Ms. Hudgens had new business information and read an email into the record that she Page 2 of 3 Committee on Citizens with Disabilities Meeting Minutes - Final April 18, 2023 received from Janette Tamayo, Associate Vice President of the Office of the Vice President, for Economic Development and Innovation from the University of Illinois systems. They are working on a project and they are looking for some help. Ms. McNichol responded she can assist with that. This section is for anyone wanting to speak regarding non-agenda items and are allowed a maximum of 4 minutes. It is not a question and answer period and staff, and the Committee members do not generally respond to public comments. The City Clerk has a copy of the public speaking procedures; please note, speakers who engage in conduct injurious to the harmony of the meeting shall be called to order by the Presiding Officer and may forfeit the opportunity to speak. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Gary Jones, seconded by Steven Voight, to adjourn. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Jones, Hudgens, Chairperson Heavens, Voight, Huckfeldt and Pollard Absent: Voight, Adams and Chairperson Arellano This meeting will be held in an accessible location. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact Christa M. Desiderio, City Clerk, 150 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, Illinois 60432 at (815) 724-3780. Page 3 of 3