City of Santa Fe Mayor's Committee on Disability met Dec. 16.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
1. CALL TO ORDER
10:05 AM
2. ROLL CALL
Members Present:
Member Aurore Bleck
Member Hope Reed
Member Kendra Garcia
Member Kathlyne Gish
Member Pam Parfitt
Member Meriam Jawhar
Member Jose "Eli" Fresquez
Members Excused:
Member Victor Hughes
Member Angelique Montoya-Chavez
Others Attending:
Jeff Norris, Assistant Legislative Liaison
Tom Graham, ADA Coordinator
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Member Reed moved, seconded by Member Bleck, to approve the agenda as presented. VOTE: The motion was approved on the following Roll Call vote:
For: Member Bleck, Member Reed, Member Garcia, Member Gish, Member Parfitt, Member Jawhar, Member Fresquez
Against: None
Abstain: None
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: Member Garcia moved, seconded by Member Reed, to approve the minutes as amended (corrected 1 letter of 1 word in Section 7b, 2nd paragraph).
VOTE: The motion was approved on the following Roll Call vote:
For: Member Bleck, Member Reed, Member Garcia, Member Gish, Member Parfitt, Member Jawhar, Member Fresquez
Against: None
Abstain: None
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS (15 MINUTES TOTAL)
a. Public Comments from Website
No Public Comments were received on the website.
b. All Public Attendees should sign in on chat for the record to be able to reflect their attendance at this meeting and if you wish to speak, please raise your virtual hand and you will be recognized and allowed to speak.
Public Attendees for this meeting were:
Gina Marie Opalescent
Kristy Brusso
Gina Maria Opalescent of 6332 Entrada De Milagro #311 in Santa Fe stated that she is a wheelchair user and finds it difficult to pump gas at gas stations. She said that in Santa Fe, there are no phone numbers listed at the pumps for a person with a mobility disability to call for assistance.
While this is not a Title II issue where the City has jurisdiction, Member Reed mentioned that she thought the Governor’s Commission on Disability (GCD) had enacted some sort of statute or ordinance requiring that gas stations provide this service. She suggested that Mr. Graham reach out to the GCD about this. Mr. Graham contacted the GCD to ask about this and informed them of the need voiced by Ms. Opalescent.
Member Fresquez mentioned that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) provides technical assistance for this Title III issue. He provided the website www.ada.gov/gasserve.htm, which states:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires self-serve gas stations to provide equal access to their customers with disabilities. If necessary to provide access, gas stations must: • Provide refueling assistance upon the request of an individual with a disability. A service station or convenience store is not required to provide such service at any time that it is operating on a remote control basis with a single employee, but is encouraged to do so, if feasible. • Let patrons know (e.g., through appropriate signs) that customers with disabilities can obtain refueling assistance by either honking or otherwise signaling an employee.
• Provide the refueling assistance without any charge beyond the self-serve price.
6. PRESENTATIONS
a. None
7. ACTION ITEMS: DISCUSSION
a. Continuation reviewing 2019-2020 MCD Priorities and beginning process to update priorities for 2022 - (Kathlyne Gish)
Chair Gish presented a list of subcommittees for identification of name and purpose as well as who is responsible as the Chair of each subcommittee. Then the MCD priorities list can be associated with the subcommittee in order to organize who would be focusing on the items and ultimately make them actionable as a subcommittee. The 2020 Action list was determined to be included in the 2020 Priorities list and thus in determining the current priorities, revisions were discussed and made to this list during the meeting (which is included attached to these minutes). Chair Gish requested any new items wished to be added or removed to the 2022-2023 MCD Priorities list should be Emailed to her for the next meeting discussion. Mr. Graham will send the revised list as discussed during the meeting to the MCD members in advance of the next meeting, so they have ample time to review and suggest desired changes for the next meeting discussion in January.
b. Mayor’s Committee on Disability (MCD) webpage - review and update content - (Kathlyne Gish)
Chair Gish and the MCD discussed the need to update the webpage with new people friendly language and better explanation of what the MCD really does. Member Fresquez discussed the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines that should be included with the update. Chair Gish requested the members to think about the webpage and bring their suggestions to the next meeting for what to add and how to make the page and the MCD more inviting and accessible to the public. This item will be added to the January agenda for further discussion and finalization.
c. Discussion for best method to request representation for the Open Meetings Act (OMA) needs of the MCD not being addressed by the current situation without legal attendance - (Kathlyne Gish)
Chair Gish reached out to the State’s Attorney General’s (AG) Office to see if they would be interested in providing a training to the MCD, but she received no response, yet. Member Fresquez volunteered to reach out the the AG Office to follow up on their availability and willingness to train the MCD.
Chair Gish expressed the need for a stenographer to provide detailed minutes or a transcript of the meetings for them to be accessible. Member Fresquez suggested requesting a reasonable accommodation to the ADA Coordinator (Mr. Graham). Chair Gish will put together the request based on the language provided by Member Fresquez during the meeting.
8. OLD BUSINESS
a. MCD Sub-Committee Reports
Member Parfitt expressed the urgency of making herself accessible to the community as the Chair of her subcommittee to address the common need to speak about concerns over the Noise Ordinance not being enforced and the damage produced and needs to the community. She requested adding an item to the January agenda for discussing Noise Ordinance issues in certain parts of town. Chair Gish mentioned the effect on Behavioral Health impacts.Member Parfitt to include Ordinance language and suggestions for solutions with the packet for next month.
Member Reed discussed the plan review and the construction update of the New Public Restrooms on Water Street. Also mentioned was the sidewalk review of Harrison Street project and some obstacles that may be encountered during construction.
Chair Gish discussed the dissemination of updates and information pertaining to subcommittee projects. She or Mr. Graham will only be able to pass information along to the subcommittee Chair in order to avoid a rolling quorum.
Mr. Graham provided update to letter sent regarding AFN Communication Kits, stating that he was contacted by Brian Williams, Director of Emergency Management and Safety, who discussed the value and needs for the City. He was currently in process of determining how many kits were needed and where they would be housed if purchased. Mr. Graham also provided Mr. Williams with the contact information of Mr. DeAzevedo from the State Department of Health for any further questions. Member Fresquez expressed his frustration with a delayed response from the Mayor or City officials who should be addressing the MCD on such an important issue. Mr. Graham suggested that Member Fresquez reach out to the parties on behalf of the subcommittee that he chairs to follow up in official capacity for the MCD.
Chair Gish shared positive reply Email from the Police Chief, Paul Joye stating:
I think Chief Moya would be better apt to answer this regarding an EMS response preference. As far as placement though, my thought would be either on the top or bottom left (driver’s side) corner of the rear windshield, or bottom left (driver’s side) corner of the front windshield, near the area of the VIN number of the vehicle. This should ideally allow for the placement not to be obstructive for the driver’s view of the roadway.
· Once a standardized placement decision has been made, I think roll call training needs to be conducted for all first responders, so they can be aware of what to look for, and what it means.”
9. MATTERS FROM STAFF
a. A link to the video recording of this meeting will be added to the Meeting Minutes for this meeting.
A video recording of this meeting is available at: https://santafenm-gov.zoom.us/rec/share/8HN7uWkN0JaCH3lDo4740JLp4esr5Z_OnE7cY5pZ1anfRXUXiWbCNA3ZSNRJcR0g.lzExTM5l88Kok9Zo Passcode: gX5=%S9V
10. MATTERS FROM THE COMMITTEE
Member Bleck and Chair Gish announced that they received her COVID-19 booster shot from the Drive-through at the County Fairgrounds. The process was very well organized. Mr. Graham got his from Albertsons and Member Fresquez got his from Walmart. They both experienced quick in and out with their experiences.
Member Fresquez announced that Desert Sage is providing vaccines for children ages 5-12 and is mostly accessible. A very good experience and “hats off to the City of Santa Fe for hosting it for our kids”.
Member Fresquez also provided a “heads up” that the New Mexico Children’s, Youth and Families Department and the Department of Health and a few other State and non-profit agencies are considering doing another Town Hall specific to children with disabilities and vaccines, providing information and dispelling misinformation. Updates will be forthcoming concerning the timing.
11. NEXT MEETING: January 20 2022
12. ADJOURN
https://santafe.primegov.com/public/portal
