Citizens' Advisory Commission on Disabilities

CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 CITIZENS' ADVISORY TELECONFERENCE, 1:00 PM COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MINUTES Deaka McClain, Chair Connie Gutierrez, Member Stephen Adams, Member Chris Karadjov, Member Nubia Flores Cedeno, Member Gretchen Swanson, Member Victor A. Garate, Member Kim Vuong, Member CITIZEN'S ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES VIA TELECONFERENCE PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER N-29-20 ISSUED BY GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO HEATHER.VANWIJK@LONGBEACH.GOV CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair McClain at 1:01 pm. Commissioners Stephen Adams, Victor Garate, Chris Karadjov, Gretchen Present: Swanson, Kim Vuong and Deaka McClain Commissioners Connie Gutierrez and Nubia Flores Cedeno Absent: ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Vuong, seconded by Commissioner Swanson, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Stephen Adams, Victor Garate, Chris Karadjov, Gretchen Swanson, Kim Vuong and Deaka McClain Absent: 2 - Connie Gutierrez and Nubia Flores Cedeno Page 1 of 5 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 CITIZENS' ADVISORY TELECONFERENCE, 1:00 PM COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MINUTES 1. 20-013CA Recommendation to approve minutes from the February 13, 2020 meeting of the Citizen's Advisory Commission on Disabilities. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 2. 20-014CA Recommendation to receive and file monthly report by the Accessibility, Transportation & Services standing committee or adopt and recommendations this committee would like to make. Commissioner Adams reported that the LB Unity Festival that took place on Saturday, March 7, supported by CACoD, was a successful event. Commissioner Garate added that a lot of helpful information was distributed specific to CACoD and transportation services. A motion was made by Commissioner Garate, seconded by Commissioner Adams, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Stephen Adams, Victor Garate, Chris Karadjov, Gretchen Swanson, Kim Vuong and Deaka McClain Absent: 2 - Connie Gutierrez and Nubia Flores Cedeno 3. 20-015CA Recommendation to receive and file monthly report by the Youth, Employment & Programs standing committee or adopt any recommendations this committee would like to make. Commissioner Swanson reported that the committee continues to evaluate a sustainable resource guide for the disability community. A motion was made by Commissioner Swanson, seconded by Commissioner Garate, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Stephen Adams, Victor Garate, Chris Karadjov, Gretchen Swanson, Kim Vuong and Deaka McClain Absent: 2 - Connie Gutierrez and Nubia Flores Cedeno Page 2 of 5 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 CITIZENS' ADVISORY TELECONFERENCE, 1:00 PM COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MINUTES NEW BUSINESS 4. 20-016CA Recommendation to have a discussion on COVID-19 pandemic and its affects on the disability community in the City of Long Beach and approve any recommendations this commission would like to make to the mayor, city council or city manager. There was a very robust discussion about the affects of COVID-19 on the disability community, the resources available to support, identified gaps in services, and effective messaging. Out of this discussion came the following action items: -Heather Van Wijk, Citywide ADA Coordinator, will update the commission during the June meeting on the City's mobile testing efforts for residents who cannot leave their homes for various reasons. -Commissioner Adams will reach out to different pockets of the community to get feedback from deaf and hard-of-hearing folks on whether clear masks are an immediate need in the community and how CACoD can support that; will also survey any other immediate needs. -Recommend to the City that a compilation of resources be made available to the disability community that are accessible and easy to find. -Recommend that the City work to make food delivery services available to others in need outside of the senior population or emphasize which programs are ALREADY available with better messaging. -Recommend that food delivery services consider dietary restrictions. -Heather Van Wijk will provide an update in June on the calls the City's information hot line is receiving. A motion was made by Commissioner Vuong, seconded by Commissioner Adams, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Stephen Adams, Victor Garate, Chris Karadjov, Gretchen Swanson, Kim Vuong and Deaka McClain Absent: 2 - Connie Gutierrez and Nubia Flores Cedeno Page 3 of 5 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 CITIZENS' ADVISORY TELECONFERENCE, 1:00 PM COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MINUTES COMMUNITY EVENTS REPORT Chair McClain would like to begin discussions on CACoD events this year how that may look during COVID-19 response. AGENCY REPORTS -Chair McClain reported that Disabled Rights CA sent a letter to Governor Newsom recommending better accessibility for the disability community to grocery stores during COVID-19 response and has since seen an improvement. -Commissioner Adams reported that The Children's Clinic (TCC) is very busy on the frontlines of health and has been doing a lot of tele-medicine. He also reported that given his role in emergency management for TCC, has been primarily focused on securing personal protective equipment (PPE). -Commissioner Garate reported that he attended the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting of LA Access and shared about some of the implementations that have been made in response to COVID-19 including safety and disinfection procedures, the temporary allowance for same-day trips for essential services and meal deliveries for those in need. -Commissioner Karadjov reported that all of the California State University (CSU) system has moved to online classes through the fall of 2020. -Commissioner Swanson reported that LiBRE, a nonprofit committed to tenant protections, offers a free legal clinic each Wednesday during COVID-19 from 3-6 pm in partnership with Legal Aid Foundation. For more information, please call 323-439-5224. -Commissioner Vuong reported that Tichenor Clinic is operating via tele-health. She also announced that Tichenor would still be hosting their annual carnival (drive-through) on Saturday, June 6th. STAFF REPORT Citywide ADA Coordinator, HeatherVan Wijk, reported on the following: -Census 2020 reminder -City of Long Beach COVID-19 response efforts -City of Long Beach Equity Team would be hosting a listening session on May 21st with different representatives from the disability community to explore identified barriers during COVID-19 response efforts and identify potential barriers as the City recovers. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CLOSING REMARKS Page 4 of 5 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 CITIZENS' ADVISORY TELECONFERENCE, 1:00 PM COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MINUTES FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS -Explore options for annual CACoD events related to Disability Employment Awareness Month in October. -Continue COVID-19 discussions -Community appreciations update ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by Chair McClain at 2:55 pm. Page 5 of 5