SR-106-040
f:hsd/share/strepts/dtfrec-draft 3.doc
City Council Meeting: June 12, 2001 Santa Monica, CA
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Implementation of Disabilities Task Force Recommendations and
Alternatives
INTRODUCTION
This staff report responds to City Council’s direction to analyze the final report of the
Santa Monica Disabilities Task Force and to return with recommendations.
BACKGROUND
For over two decades, the City of Santa Monica has recognized that the issues facing
its residents with disabilities are significant ones and has responded accordingly. For
example, in 1978, the City began requiring that City-owned buildings and privately
owned buildings designed for public access have wheelchair ramps. The City’s Office
on Disabilities was created by the City Council in 1982. Curb ramp construction began
in 1983, and the City celebrated Disability Awareness Week for the first time that
October. The City continues to celebrate Disability Awareness Month annually.
These activities continued in the 1990’s and were accompanied by an increase in City
funding to non-profit service providers. Currently, the City provides an estimated
$2,256,169 of annual operating and capital grants to programs serving people with
disabilities, including grants to Westside Center for Independent Living (WCIL),
Computer Access Center, Center for the Partially Sighted, Common Ground, Step Up
On Second, WISE Senior Services, and Santa Monica/Malibu Meals on Wheels through
the FY2000-01 Community Development Grants Program (see Attachment II - Excerpt
from the FY2000-03 Community Development Plan).
When the ADA was passed in 1990, City staff analyzed the new requirements,
designated the Coordinator of the Office on Disabilities as the ADA Coordinator, and
began the job of evaluating the City’s programmatic and physical accessibility. Curb
ramp construction continued, and an ongoing program of modifications to City buildings
to remove physical and programmatic barriers to access was initiated.
In early 2000, the Coalition for a Santa Monica Disabilities Commission formed to
request that the City Council approve a Santa Monica Commission on Disabilities.
Human Services Division staff met several times with the Coalition to hear input from
members of the disability community on the issues facing them and suggestions for
actions to help resolve those issues.
On May 23, 2000, the City Council requested that staff consider how best to involve
community members with disabilities by exploring the creation of a City commission or
other models and approaches. Staff researched various approaches used to enhance
community involvement and recommended that a community-based task force be
convened to assist the City in determining the best long-term approach.
On October 3, 2000, Council authorized the establishment of a Disabilities Task Force
and appointed 17 Santa Monica residents and service provider representatives as
members. The Task Force met for the first time on November 7, 2000 and at least
biweekly thereafter until February 22, 2001.
Task Force members were strongly committed to a high level of public input while
crafting a set of recommendations to the City Council. A public hearing was held on
December 6, 2000 and the regular meetings were advertised broadly. The meetings
were well attended, averaging more than 20 members of the public at each, frequently
with public comment on every item on the agenda.
On February 13, 2001, the Task Force met to hear public input on the final draft of the
report that included its proposed recommendations to Council. The draft report was
disseminated by mail to more than 300 individuals and organizations and feedback was
solicited. On February 22, 2001, the Task Force approved the final content and form of
the report to Council (see Attachment I - Final Report, Disabilities Task Force).
On March 27, 2001, the Santa Monica Disabilities Task Force presented its
recommendations to the City Council. In response, Council requested that staff analyze
the Disabilities Task Force’s report and return with recommendations.
DISCUSSION
In response to City Council’s direction, staff considered the report’s specific
recommendations as well as the priority issues identified by the Task Force. Staff
analyzed the feasibility of implementing new initiatives to serve and/or represent people
with disabilities and evaluated potential departmental approaches to addressing issues
identified by the Task Force. The table below summarizes proposed strategies to
address Task Force recommendations and priority issues.
Staff Recommended
Task Force Strategies to
Recommendations Priority Issues Address Issues
1. Establish a Santa Monica Need to increase opportunities See discussion below on models
Disabilities Commission and involvement of people with of community involvement and
disabilities in local government input.
Need to increase sensitivity and
public awareness about disability
issues
?
2. Establish a Resource Action Need to increase availability of
Collaborate with WCIL to
Center information and resources
provide disability-related
information and referral and
direct services at a Santa
Monica location on a part-time
basis
?
Train City web authors to
program web pages to be
accessible
?
Add accessible software and
computers in the libraries, Ken
Edwards Center, the senior
centers and City Hall
?
Consider need for additional
programs in planning for FY
2003-06 Community
Development Program funding
Staff Recommended
Task Force Strategies to
Recommendations Priority Issues Address Issues
?
3. Hire additional Human Need to remove physical and
Provide on-going training for
Services staff and increase programmatic barriers to access
staff and grantees
funding for programs,
?
Train commissions and boards
services and activities Need to increase availability of
?
Institute educational
information and resources
campaigns for local
businesses
?
Plan disability awareness
activities sponsored by the City
?
Hold an annual public hearing
on disability issues
?
Review the ADA Transition
Plan Self-Evaluation annually
?
Expand City accessibility CIP
projects currently underway or
planned for FY 2001-02
(crosswalk call buttons and
parking structure
improvements)
?
Implement closed captioning of
City Council meetings
?
Add additional staff
?
4. Institute improvements to Need to remove physical and
Work with City Attorney’s
City contract and grant programmatic barriers to access
Office to incorporate language
processes
in City contracts
?
With the City Attorney’s Office,
analyze feasibility of enforcing
sanctions for discrimination
?
Assess the feasibility of
reaching and contracting with
businesses owned by persons
with a disability
Background and Research on Models of Community Involvement and Input: In
response to recommendation #1, staff reviewed information on models of organizations
representing the concerns and status of persons with disabilities in other cities of similar
size, in cities of all sizes in Los Angeles County and also other citizen advisory bodies in
Santa Monica. Representative bodies at the county, state and federal level were also
examined.
As a result, staff identified a range of models that could serve the residents and City.
These include:
?
Commission on Disabilities
?
Task Force on Disability Issues
?
Community Access Committee
?
Committee of Social Services Commission; and/or
?
Appointment of members of the disability community to each existing Commission
and Board
Commission on Disabilities
: Of the 88 cities in the County of Los Angeles, five have a
separate commission addressing the needs of persons with a disability, while several
others have identified subcommittees of Social or Human Services Commissions
devoted to disability/accessibility issues. The County of Los Angeles also has a
Commission on Disabilities, which serves residents of unincorporated areas as well as
acting in an advisory capacity to the County Board of Supervisors. The County
Commission on Disabilities does not act in a unifying or facilitating capacity for the city
commissions, and generally refers residents of municipalities in the County back to the
appropriate municipal body or department.
Task Force on Disability Issues
: A task force on disability issues, appointed for a
limited time and specified purpose, is an approach that has been used by the City over
the last 17 years (e.g. the Homeless Task Force and the Community Advisory
Committee). These ad hoc groups have authored work plans that serve as guides to
policy and services that are updated as issues evolve or new issues appear.
Community Access Committee
: A Community Access Committee of the Social
Services Commission, appointed and convened annually, would serve the express
purpose of providing input for the annual ADA Transition Plan Self Evaluation.
Composed of members of the disability community, it would serve as a vehicle for
identifying issues and potential courses of action. Annual constitution of the committee
could give a larger number of members of the disability community a chance to
participate.
Committee of Social Services Commission
: Residents with disabilities are currently
represented by the City’s Social Services Commission. A committee of that
Commission could be formed, headed by a member of the Commission and composed
of representatives of the disability community. The committee would meet
independently of the Commission, but report directly to it. Precedent for this model is
found in the Virginia Avenue Park Advisory Board (a committee of the Recreation and
Parks Commission), and the 1992 Community Access Committee (of the Social
Services Commission).
Appointment of members of the disability community to each existing
Commission and Board
: Diversity of representation on each commission or board
broadens the perspective of the body and ensures sensitivity to a range of issues.
Appointment of qualified persons with a disability to open commission positions as they
become available for the next several years would ensure that input of persons with
disabilities reaches the broadest range of municipal functions.
The City Council may wish to consider one or more of these options in determining how
best to achieve involvement and input from individuals with disabilities.
COMMISSION ACTIONS
On March 21, 2001, the Commission on Older Americans voted to recommend Council
support of a Disabilities Commission. (The Commission on the Status of Women and
Social Services Commission had supported this action in 2000.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
An estimated $150,00-$200,000 is necessary to implement the staff recommendations
outlined above. (The budget for a Commission is estimated at $23,922 annually; the
budget for a committee of the Social Services Commission is estimated at $8,000
annually; an appointment of persons with disabilities to all Boards and Commissions
should have little financial impact.) All budget estimates include disability-related
accommodations. Should the Council direct implementation of these efforts, specific
budget appropriations will be added to the FY 2001-02 budget for final Council approval.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council: 1) determine the model for input and
involvement of people with disabilities in local government; 2) approve other staff
recommended strategies as described in the report above; and 3) direct staff to include
necessary budget appropriations to implement these strategies in the FY 2001-02
budget.
Prepared by: Barbara Stinchfield, Director
Julie Rusk, Human Services Manager
Tracy Scruggs, Human Services Supervisor
Janet Hand, Sr. Administrative Analyst/Disability and Senior Services
Community and Cultural Services Department
Attachments: I - Final Report, Disabilities Task Force
II - Excerpt from the FY2000-03 Community Development Plan
ATTACHMENT I
Report from the
Santa Monica Disabilities Task Force
To the Santa Monica City Council
For presentation to the City Council March 27, 2001
CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................3
II. BACKGROUND..........................................................................................3
III. DISCUSSION.............................................................................................4
A. ISSUES & PROBLEMS FACING THE SANTA MONICA
DISABILITY COMMUNITY..............................................................4
1. Universal Issues and Needs
2. Specific Issues and Needs
B. RECOMMENDATIONS....................................................................9
1. That the City Council immediately establish a Santa
Monica Disabilities Commission............................................9
2. That the City Council immediately establish a resource
action center for residents with disabilities..........................13
3. That the City hire additional Human Services staff,
including persons with disabilities, and increase funding
for programs, services, and activities for residents with
disabilities as soon as practicable.......................................14
4. That the City institute improvements to City contract and
grant processes as soon as practicable..............................15
ATTACHMENT A: Outreach Contacts
ATTACHMENT B: Members of the Santa Monica Disabilities Task Force
I. INTRODUCTION
The City Council established a Disabilities Task Force, which was charged with making
recommendations to the City Council regarding:
?
Identification of the priority needs and issues for persons with disabilities in Santa
Monica.
?
How the City can better address the needs and issues of people with disabilities.
?
A long-term strategy for enhancing civic involvement by persons with disabilities.
II. BACKGROUND
On May 23, 2000 the Santa Monica City Council requested that staff consider how to
best involve community members with disabilities in civic activities by exploring the
creation of a City Commission or other models and approaches. Staff conducted
preliminary research on various approaches used in other communities and met with
community representatives including members of the Coalition for the Santa Monica
Disabilities Commission. Staff recommended that a Task Force be convened to help
the City develop a long-term strategy.
The City Council established the Disabilities Task Force at its meeting of October 3,
2000. The Task Force, comprised of 17 members, began meeting November 7, 2000.
The Task Force reviewed a variety of documents including the Community Voices Final
Report (March 2000), the City’s ADA Transition Plan (1993), ADA Self-Evaluation
(1992), and other City ADA documents. The Task Force also reviewed City staff reports
regarding City structure and services available to the disabled community, issues and
needs identified in various City processes by people with disabilities, outreach efforts to
the disabilities community, disabilities commissions or alternative public bodies in other
communities, and information concerning how commissions work in the City of Santa
Monica.
The Task Force received a significant amount of public input at all of its meetings. It
held a Public Hearing on December 6, 2000, which was cablecast on Santa Monica City
TV four times.
In attempting to answer the three main questions posed by the City Council, the Task
Force established two ad hoc subcommittees, one to work on developing a list of issues
and needs and the other to work on answering the questions of how to best meet those
needs and how to best enhance civic involvement by people with disabilities.
III. DISCUSSION
A. ISSUES & PROBLEMSFACING THE SANTA MONICA DISABILITY
COMMUNITY
The list below is composed of issues and problems raised during Task Force meetings
and other community meetings, complaints received by City staff, and problems raised
during City sponsored surveys, such as Community Voices. The issues and problems
appear in no particular order of importance.
The Task Force understands that the City is obligated to address many of these issues.
The Task Force also understands that while the City may not be obligated to address
some of the concerns, it has the capability to do so and is strongly encouraged to do so.
The remaining issues may not be addressable by the City but remain of concern to the
disabilities community.
Universal Issues and Needs
1.
Increase accessible employment opportunities.
?
Increase affordable, accessible housing.
?
Increase accessible, affordable, and reliable transportation.
?
Increase sensitivity by City employees, businesses, and the community as a
?
whole.
Increase availability of auxiliary aids and services to people with various
?
disabilities.
Increase physical accessibility to certain City buildings and public areas.
?
Develop a central source for information, complaints, programs and services for
?
persons with disabilities, as well as family, friends, and personal assistants.
Increase continuing oversight and training of City staff, programs, and grantees.
?
Develop safety programs, evacuation plans, and emergency preparedness
?
Specific Issues and Needs
2.
Increase affordable and accessible housing
?
1. Increase availability of information and referrals available to disabled
2. Improve accessibility code enforcement
3. Increase landlord sensitivity to disability issues
4. Increase landlord awareness of disability rights laws, discrimination
continues to be a problem
5. Increase funding for access alterations
6. Dominance of housing corporations decreases availability of housing
7. Increase incentives to landlords to improve accessibility
8. Increase awareness of environmental and other safety issues
Increase accessible, affordable, and reliable transportation
?
1. Improve paratransit (such as WISE, Access Services, Inc., and other “dial-
a-ride” programs)
?
Late rides
?
Difficult to schedule
?
Lack of available rides
2. Address problems with Big Blue Bus
?
Wheelchair lifts frequently inoperable (10-25% of time)
?
Overcrowding denies access to wheelchair users et al
?
Drivers need training:
-Increase sensitivity to apparent and non-apparent
disabilities
-Training in securing passengers, including those who use a
wheelchair
-Calling out stops
Increase accessible employment opportunities and resources
?
1. Increase job training and placement opportunities
2. Increase affirmative action
3. Improve awareness by employers
4. Improve child care
5. Increase City implementation of state work incentives law
6. Increase awareness of state and federal employment programs, tax
credits, and funding sources.
Increase sensitivity to all disabilities, apparent and non-apparent as defined by
?
federal and state law.
1. By city staff
-City Hall
-police
-public meetings
2. By private businesses
-to customers
-to applicants for employment
3. By the community as a whole
-need for education programs, materials
4. By City grantees
5. For families and friends of disabled
Address Communication Barriers – Increase availability of auxiliary
?
aids, accommodations and services
1. Increase effective communication for people with visual impairments by
providing all City printed publications and information in Braille, large print,
audiotape and other alternate formats when requested.
2. Increase effective communication for people with hearing impairments
by providing microphones, assistive listening devices (ALDs) at all City
public meetings, providing real time captioning at City public meetings
when requested, increasing availability of TTY/TDDs in City facilities,
installing public pay TTY/TTD machines in major public areas, and
providing TTY/TDD access to all recorded City information.
3. Provide accurate captioning for City TV programming with special
emphasis on City Council meetings as well as other key public meetings
and public hearings.
4. Research new technologies and implement those that provide optimum
communication access.
Improve physical accessibility in certain areas.
?
1. City owned facilities
entrances to buildings
sidewalks
-curbcuts
-time to cross crosswalks
-uneven pavement
-poor lighting
restrooms
parking
-parking structures can't accommodate modified vans
-lack of parking spots
-spots are blocked by trees or other impediments for side-loading
vans
e. provide alternative seating options for people with arthritis
2. Private businesses
movie theater seating
restrooms at restaurants
medical offices
shelter shower facilities
3. Affordable housing units
4. Public meetings, events, programs
5. City-funded grantees’ facilities
-Culver City shelter
Increase participation in city activities and programs
?
1. Increase awareness of programs
2. Increase outreach to disability community and their families
3. Increase accessible recreation and entertainment programs
4. Increase voice, advocacy within City government
- develop a City agency, department, or commission dedicated to
disability issues
- increase representation in city agencies, departments, and
commissions
- increase collaboration with existing agencies
5. Provide auxiliary aids at public meetings
- effective communication for hearing impaired
- alternate formats for visually impaired
6. Increase ongoing oversight and monitoring of grantees
7. Increase grants and funding for disability related programs and services
Increase availability of information and resources
?
1. Increase awareness of resources
2. Develop central source for information
3. Provide full-time City ADA coordinator and/or additional staff
-lack of responsiveness to complaints
4. Increase availability of materials provided in alternate formats (ie, Braille,
large print, audiotape)
5. Increase presence and information on City website
6. Provide central complaint processing unit
7. Increase availability of information for families, friends, and personal
assistants
Improve access to health care
?
1. Improve physical access to facilities, certain areas
2. Need for wheelchairs
3. Need for sensitivity training for staff
4. Need for emergency grants for health care
Increase resources for special education
?
1. Need for enforcement of Individual Education Plans (IEP) and
Individual Family Services Plans (IFSP- ages 0-3 years) for students with
disabilities.
2. Provide auxiliary aids and services
3. Improve inclusion of students with disabilities
Expand independent living programs
?
Expand opportunities for grassroots organizations
?
Develop safety programs, evacuation plans, and emergency
?
preparedness
1. Streets and sidewalks are unsafe for wheelchair users, others with
mobility impairments
?
Lack of curbcuts in high traffic areas
?
Inadequate time to cross street
?
Crowding of sidewalks in heavy traffic areas
?
Uneven pavement
?
Poor lighting
2. Promenade
?
Unsafe inner sidewalks on Promenade
3. Develop evacuation plans and emergency preparedness
?
Need for safety education and programs
B. RECOMMENDATIONS
The community and the City can work together to meet the needs of people with
disabilities. It is the strong opinion of the Task Force that a Commission on Disabilities
will provide an advocacy focus for the disability community and City to work together on
the many disability related issues facing Santa Monica. Toward that end, the
Disabilities Task Force makes the following recommendations:
1. That the City Council immediately establish a Santa Monica Disabilities
Commission with the following Mission Statement:
“The Santa Monica Disabilities Commission (1) advises the City Council and staff
on how to best address the issues and needs of people with disabilities; (2)
works to increase opportunities and involvement of people with disabilities in all
facets of City life; and (3) educates and makes the community at large aware of
the issues, concerns, rights, and capabilities of people with disabilities.”
And that the Commission have the following duties, responsibilities,
composition, operating guidelines and budget:
A. Number of Members: The Commission shall ideally be composed of
11 members, with no fewer than 9 and no more than 15;
B. Alternates: There shall be three (3) alternates appointed to the
Commission. In the event a Commission member has a medical/health
problem and must take a leave of absence, an alternate will be appointed by
the Commission to take the member’s place during the leave of absence.
Alternates will be required to attend all Commission meetings, but will not
vote until they are appointed to fill the seat of an existing member who takes a
leave of absence, or in order to create a quorum for a given meeting.
C. Member Requirements:
1. Disability: At least two-thirds (2/3) of the commission shall have a
verifiable disability. Two-thirds of the Alternates shall also be persons with
disabilities. The remaining one-third (1/3) of Commission members need
not have a disability, but must have a "working knowledge of disability
issues.”
2. Residency: Commission Members must be Santa Monica residents.
3. Age: Commission Members must be 18 years of age or older.
4. Conflicts of Interest: Candidates for Commissioner shall disclose any
conflicts of interest (such as affiliation with an agency, business, or
government entity) that could affect the Member's votes.
D. Member Selection Process: Members will be selected as per standard, typical City
procedures from applications and interviews after a widely-publicized
application period and based upon City staff recommendations. Members
shall be selected for as many of the following attributes as possible:
-working knowledge of disability issues.
-demonstrated experience in working with the disability community.
-problem solving skills
-communication skills
-cooperation and teamwork in group settings
-leadership skills
E. Term of Office: The term of office for Commission Members shall be two (2)
years, with half of the first year’s commissioners appointed for one (1) year.
All Commissioners shall be eligible for re-appointment to additional terms
F. Operating Guidelines:
1. Meetings shall be held monthly and shall be two (2) hours in length.
2. Subcommittees:
-Every commissioner must serve on at least one subcommittee.
-Shall meet regularly, between Commission meetings.
-Shall be a limited number (for example, no more than )
3. Members shall not be compensated per City policy.
4. There shall be liaisons from the Disability Commission appointed to each
of the other Santa Monica commissions and a liaison from each
Commission shall be appointed to the Disability Commission.
5. The Disability Commission and the other Santa Monica Commissions shall
hold joint meetings periodically.
6. The Commission shall hold an Annual Retreat to create goals and re-
energize Members.
7. Members shall be permitted to attend meetings by telephone conferencing
if medically necessary.
8. Grounds for Removal of a Member:
-75% of Members must vote to request that Council remove a
Member.
-No hard and fast rules shall be used (such as missing a certain
number of meetings), but "excessive absenteeism" shall be
grounds for removal.
-A leave of absence shall be granted for medical/health problems of
a member, rather than removal.
G. Budget and Initial Work of the Commission
At a minimum, the Disabilities Commission anticipates the following costs and
programs for its first year:
1. Start-up costs:
a. development of materials re the operation of the Commission
b. training for Commission members:
- City government structure and operations
- parliamentary procedure
- team building, communication and other skills training
- applicable disability rights laws
c. publicity and advertising of Commission meetings and programs:
- newsletter/e-letter
- video
- newspaper advertising
d. website construction
development of disability-related resources booklet
development of database and mailing list of residents with disabilities
office supplies (stationery, pens, paper, markerboard)
2. Ongoing fixed costs for each meeting:
a. auxiliary aids and services at meetings:
- sign language interpreter
- real-time captioning (preferred)
- alternate formats for persons with a visual impairment
b. mailing, copying, postage
c. broadcasting of meetings on radio and/or City TV
d. speakerphone and teleconferencing
e. bottled water
f. publicity and advertising
g. website maintenance
office supplies
voicemail or other message service
guest speakers
travel to conferences, legislative advocacy
tape recording of meetings
sound person and equipment
3. Costs for first-year programs
a. Education & Awareness Campaign
(1) Anticipated activities
?
outreach to agencies listed in Attachment A
?
develop disability rights brochure and video for distribution
throughout the community
?
community rally; public forums
?
joint meetings with other commissions
?
essay and/or poster contest for local schools
?
Disabilities Awareness Month program
(2) Anticipated costs
?
printing and copying
?
mailing and postage costs to agencies, residents, and
businesses
?
advertising
?
rental of space
?
recruitment of volunteers
?
video production
b. Additional surveying and polling of residents’ needs and issues
?
printing of survey
?
copying and mailing costs
?
survey of accessibility to businesses
c. Monitoring of City staff training
?
printing, copying, postage
?
hire consultant to review current plan, make recommendations
d. Emergency/Disaster Preparedness Plan
?
hire consultant to prepare plan
?
mailing, printing, copying
4. Given the scope of work anticipated for the commission, the Task Force
envisions a Santa Monica Disabilities Commission in line with that of the
City of Berkeley, which had a 1997-98 budget of $17,000. The Task
Force recognizes that Santa Monica commission budgets range between
$2,000 and $9,500 annually; however, the Disabilities Commission intends
to conduct educational and community education and other activities that
require additional funding.
H. The new Commission shall begin its work by prioritizing, discussing and
analyzing those issues outlined above.
I. The new commission shall utilize Attachment A: Outreach Contacts for Santa
Monica Disability Task Force in developing an outreach plan to enhance
involvement of people with disabilities in all facets of City business.
2. That the City Council immediately establish a resource action center for
residents with disabilities.
The existing resources and services for residents with disabilities are inadequate.
There is an urgent need for a central location in Santa Monica where residents
with disabilities can obtain effective referrals or other assistance for a host of
issues, including, but not limited to
?
housing
?
employment
?
education and training
?
counseling and health care
?
transportation
The Disabilities Task Force strongly recommends that the City Council
immediately establish a process to begin developing a resource action center
with the following guidelines:
A. The resource action center shall be provided with sufficient
staff and resources to provide the above assistance as well as address
complaints in a timely manner regarding:
1. accessibility problems
2. lack of sensitivity by City staff and businesses
3. City programs, services, and activities
B. The resource action center shall be provided with the following resources:
1. Adequate funding
2. Sufficient staff to provide assistance and counseling during the week and
on weekends
3. Toll-free hotline telephone number
4. Telephones, TDD, computers and Internet access
5. Photocopier
6. Books and resources in alternate formats
3. That the City hire additional Human Services staff, including persons with
disabilities, and increase funding for programs, services, and activities for
residents with disabilities as soon as practicable.
Through all of the Task Force’s meetings and hearings, it became very clear that
it is essential for the City to hire additional staff and increase funding for
programs, services, and activities for residents with disabilities. It is in the best
interest of the City’s future to work with and increase services for residents with
disabilities. There are pervasive feelings of discontent within the disability
community, and there is a strong sense of inadequacy of City programs and
services.
As the list of Issues and Needs shows, residents with disabilities face a daunting
list of problems and needs, including but not limited to accessibility issues,
employment, affordable/accessible housing needs, and special education
services, each of which on their own will require substantial financial and human
resources. Exacerbating the problems is the ongoing ignorance of City staff and
the community at large as to the rights and capabilities of residents with various
physical, mental, cognitive, sensory and environmental impairments.
The public repeatedly raised the numerous issues listed above during the Task
Force’s public meetings. Failure to address the problems and needs of residents
with disabilities will simply perpetuate needless suffering and
disenfranchisement.
4. That the City institute improvements to City contract and grant
processes.
Public testimony and the experiences of Task Force members
spoke of fraud, refusal of services (with no legal basis), and outright
discriminatory acts faced by residents with disabilities when
seeking assistance from agencies that receive City funds.
Accordingly, the Task Force recommends each of the following:
A. That the City incorporate a clause in all City contracts and Community
Development Program grants stating that discrimination against persons with
disabilities may result in a substantial monetary fine and/or termination of the
contract or grant;
B. That, upon the filing of a disability-related discrimination complaint or
grievance, all City contractors and grantees must be required to engage in
alternative dispute resolution (i.e., mediation) with the complainant;
C. That the City monitor and improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and
performance of City grantees serving residents with disabilities; and
D. That, when contracting for services, the City should strive to reach and
contract with businesses and other entities owned and operated by persons
with a disability.
F:disability:finalreport last rev.doc 3/15/01
Attachment A
Outreach Contacts for Santa Monica Disabilities Task Force
Mailing List:
1) City of Santa Monica Community Development Grantees (35 local nonprofits)
2) Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce
3) Disability Issues Mailing List: Residents and others who have expressed interest in
disability issues ( approx 220)
4) Westside Weekly Community Calendar and 4 paid ads
5) Santa Monica Mirror
6) Surfsantamonica.com – The Lookout
7) CityTV- public service announcements and news programs
8) City Council
9) Accessibility Appeals Board
10) Commission on Older Americans
11) Housing Commission
12) Recreation and Parks Commission
13) Planning Commission
14) Building and Safety Commission
15) Social Services Commission
16) Commission on the Status of Women
17) Santa Monica College (Center for Students with Disabilities)
18) SMMUSD Office of Special Education
19) Church Mailing List
19) Santa Monica Civic Auditorium marquee
20) WISE Paratransit buses
21) Media mailing list (including TV, radio and print media)
22) Local government and non-profit agencies serving persons with disabilities (appr.
20)
Posting Locations:
1) City of Santa Monica Web Page (www.santa-monica.org)
2) City of Santa Monica Information Desk, City Hall
3) Virginia Avenue Park Thelma Terry Center
4) Ken Edwards Center
5) Police Activities League
6) Main Library – Reference Desk
7) Fairview Branch Library
8) Montana Avenue Branch Library
9) Ocean Park Branch Library
F:/disabil/dtfoutreach.doc
ATTACHMENT B
Santa Monica Disabilities Task Force Members:
Amy Boersma
Fran Chasen
A. Mark Christiansen
B. Kimberly Clapp
Barbara Harrison
Christopher Knauf
Derek Lantzsch
Marc Lerner
Joseph Paolucci
Audrey Parker
Terry Schiller
Jamar Schoessow
Pro Se
Carol Snider
Kecia Weller
F:attachment B:member roster.doc
ATTACHMENT II
Excerpt from the FY 2000-03 Community Development Plan
Human Services Division
City of Santa Monica
Services to Persons with Disabilities
Overview
The term “disabilities services” describes programs provided people living with physical,
learning, health, or psychiatric challenges. Included in this category are persons living
with AIDS. A variety of such services are offered to Santa Monica residents, although
services providers vary widely in their awareness of disability issues and their degree of
accessibility. Santa Monica’s support for people with disabilities is consistent with the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which provides anti-discrimination
protection for people with disabilities.
Based on input from people with disabilities and their advocates, the following have
been identified as top priorities:
1. Increase the availability of affordable, accessible housing, the lack of
which represents the primary obstacle to fostering independence
2. Expand public education and advocacy efforts including a
campaign that addresses issues of access and the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), targeting both Santa Monica business and the
general public
3. Develop an ADA compliance checklist or some kind of score card
for agencies, boards, committee and City commissions
4. Increase accountability and ensure compliance through
enforcement of federal, state, and local laws
5. Improve access to services for people with disabilities by
eliminating physical barriers, many of which are inherent in the structure of
some facilities; offering convenient, alternative modes of transportation;
and accommodating people with special needs who seek health or human
services
6. Provide in-service training to social services staff about people with
both hidden and visible disabilities
7. Make appointments available for people with disabilities that
coincide with the availability of transportation
What We’ve Been Supporting
Santa Monica provides funds for the following programs and services for residents with
disabilities:
1. Information and referral services for housing, government benefits,
employment and other disability issues
2. Independent living skills, including vision evaluation, mobility
training, assistive technology training and home accessibility modifications
3. Case management and advocacy services, including assistance to
persons with HIV/AIDS
4. Para-transit services
5. Social and recreational programs for persons with development
disabilities
6. Public facility and infrastructure improvements, such as curb cuts,
barriers removal, and improved signage
7. Westside Special Olympics offering training and competition
opportunities in fourteen sports year-round, for ages 8 and up with
developmental disabilities
DISABILITY SERVICES:
A total of $390,800, including $130,000 in capital funds and
$260,800 in operating funds, is provided for the programs and activities highlighted
1
below. (Other programs for persons with disabilities, not reflected below, are
administered through the Community and Senior Programs Division.)
? Continued grant funding to five programs providing independent living
assistance, adaptive technology, money management, advocacy, education,
training, counseling, transportation, health services, and related supportive
services Santa Monica residents with disabilities.
? Increased community education and outreach, and improved service delivery
through the development and implementation of ADA transition plans and
architectural surveys and a series of ADA trainings for businesses, employers,
community agencies and consumers
? Construction of 100 curb cuts City-wide annually
1
Disability services are also funded through an estimated $1,865,369 of operating
grants within other funding categories. Approximately 55% of persons served by
homeless services have one or more disabilities. Of the total budgeted for “homeless”
services, approximately $1,177,209 will support persons with disabilities. Approximately
80% of persons served by senior services have one or more disabilities, and an
estimated $568,720 will support them. Approximately 5% of persons served by
children, teens and family services have one or more disabilities, and an estimated
$119,440 will support them.
V. Improved access and ADA compliance through the renovation of American Red
Cross Headquarters
TARGETED DISABILITY SERVICES AND PROJECTS
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM- FY 2000-01
AMERICAN RED CROSS
The American Red Cross of Santa Monica is an independent chapter of The American National
.
Red Cross serving the City of Santa MonicaProvides life saving training and disaster relief
services.
Project Description: Headquarters ADA Upgrade:
Capital Improvement Project to upgrade
Grant Award: $30,000.
the Red Cross Headquarters building to meet ADA standards.
CENTER FOR THE PARTIALLY SIGHTED
The Center provides low vision rehabilitation programs to help maximize remaining sight.
Comprehensive services include optometric evaluations and prescriptions, counseling and
rehabilitation programs to promote independent living.
Program Description:Comprehensive Low Vision Services:
Provides optometric and
rehabilitative services to 70 Santa Monica residents with vision impairments including
independent living skills and assistance, information and referral, parent education and support,
HIV/AIDS awareness, diabetes education, assistive technology and education, psychological
Grant Award: $10,000.
counseling and transportation.
COMMON GROUND - WESTSIDE HIV COMMUNITY CENTER (Santa Monica AIDS Project)
The Center provides comprehensive HIV services to Westside residents: case management,
links to medical services, emergency motel and food vouchers and independent living skill-
building for people with HIV/AIDS. Education and prevention programs target youth, the
homeless, IV drug users and gay men.
Program Description:
Provides comprehensive
HIV/AIDS services to Santa Monica residents including case management for approximately 80
Santa Monica residents and teen peer education training to over 100 Santa Monica youth.
Grant Award: $118,600.
COMPUTER ACCESS CENTER
This organization provides services for people with disabilities in Santa Monica and the greater
Los Angeles area. Its mission is to provide easy access to assistive technology and to support
people implementing their daily lives.
Program Description:Youth and Senior Program:
Provides assistive technology services
and education to 60 children with disabilities, 35 families and/or teachers, and 35 seniors with
Grant Award: $28,200.
disabilities.
SANTA MONICA/MALIBU MEALS ON WHEELS
This organization is committed to enhancing wellness by delivering nutritious meals to
homebound clients.
Program Description:Home Delivered Meals/Telephone Reassurance:
Provides two
home-delivered meals each day, totaling over 90,000 meals per year, to approximately 440
Grant Award: $114,200.
Santa Monica individuals who are homebound and/or isolated.
WESTSIDE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING (WCIL)
Assists people with disabilities and seniors to achieve and maintain independence. Services
are provided in a non-residential environment and include advocacy, peer counseling,
independent living skills, case management, information and referral, and personal assistance
services. Services are provided by staff primarily comprised of people with disabilities.
Program Description:
Home Access Program :
Provides home modifications and adaptive and safety equipment to
Grant Award: $17,000.
36 Santa Monica low-income residents with disabilities.
Independent Living Service :
Provides comprehensive support services to 150 Santa Monica
residents with disabilities including case management, independent living skills, personal
assistant registry, benefits, housing and community advocacy, and information referral services.
Grant Award: $87,000.
STEP UP ON SECOND
*****
Provides housing, case management and advocacy services to adults diagnosed with severe
and persistent mental illness, as well as those dually diagnosed with substance dependency. *
(Step up on Second grants are currently categorized as homeless service grants.)
Program Description:
Case Management for Adults with Mental Disabilities :
Provides case management to 30
adults with mental disabilities to help participants: 1) develop social skills to function
appropriately in their community; 2) obtain and/or retain affordable housing; 3) improve
vocational skills and employability; 4) reduce reliance on government subsidies; and 5) attain
Grant Award: $50,700.
the highest level of functioning and quality of life possible.
Job Training and Meals Program :
Provides daily dinners to 50 adults with mental disabilities
Grant Award: $21,100.
and job training associated with the provision and clean up of meals.
HUD Supportive Housing Program (SHP) :
Provides case management, money
management and vocational assistance to 60 mentally ill or dually diagnosed homeless
Grant Award: $92,126.
individuals annually.
Shelter Plus Care Program :
Provides on-going case management to 24 homeless and
formerly homeless adults with mental disabilities to help them obtain and/or retain permanent
Grant Award: $32,100.
affordable housing and increase their independent living skills.
f:hsd/share/strpts/dtfsupplemental
June 12, 2001
32
Santa Monica, California
SUPPLEMENTAL STAFF REPORT
To:
Mayor and Council
From:
City Staff
Subject:
Additional Information Regarding Options for Community Involvement and
Input For Persons with Disabilities
Introduction
This supplemental report further details characteristics of the alternatives for community
involvement and input outlined in the staff report on implementation of Disabilities Task
Force recommendations and alternatives.
Background
The staff report on the above topic identifies a range of alternatives regarding
community involvement and input for persons with disabilities. No staff
recommendation was made because each option offers advantages and, depending on
policy objectives, one or more of the options could serve the Council and community
interests. Initial comment on the report suggests that additional information regarding
distinctions between and characteristics of the alternatives would be helpful to the City
Council and the community.
Discussion
Further discussion of the various options appears below:
Commission
33
Non-regulatory Boards and Commissions are created to advise the City Council and
staff on policy matters relating to their individual missions or charges. Commissions can
take input, deliberate and formulate recommendations for Council and staff. A
Commission will be more or less productive depending on the clarity of its mission, the
relevancy of the mission to the work of the City, the attributes of appointees, the
leadership and parliamentary ability of the chair and the skill of staff liaisons assigned.
An effective Commission works with staff and the community to define a work program
well in advance of City budget decisions so that the work of the Commission contributes
to and dovetails with budget priorities and resources.
As a standing body, a Commission is active throughout the year and can respond to
time sensitive issues. This standing nature also carries certain disadvantages since
issues directly relevant to the Commission’s mission may arise intermittently.
Maintaining interest and attendance levels can be a challenge during periods of lower
activity.
Communities and their political leaders struggle with whether to organize advisory
bodies around discrete interest groups (persons with disabilities, older persons, women,
youth, etc.) or around program areas (recreation, social services, arts, housing, etc.)
that cut across and can encompass the concerns of interest groups. The result in many
communities is a mix of the two. This mix challenges Commissioners, the Council and
staff to coordinate the work of the Commissions in ways that avoid duplication of effort,
conflict and role confusion.
34
Committee of the Social Services Commission
In Santa Monica, it is not uncommon for the standing committee of a Board or
Commission to include persons who do not serve on that Board or Commission. Such
committees become a means to broaden and focus community participation in aspects
of the work of the Commission. This is true of committees of the Arts, Recreation and
Parks and Social Services Commissions.
This option has both the advantages and challenges of a standing body, as noted
above. It represents one method for addressing the “interest group versus program
area” dichotomy in that the concerns of an interest group are regularly considered by a
Commission with a program area charge. It is the broad focus of the Social Services
Commission that makes it the most likely Board or Commission to encompass a
committee addressing issues of persons with disabilities.
Task Force
A task force generally enjoys advantages of focus because it is constituted to
accomplish something specific within a designated time frame. Santa Monica’s
experience with task forces includes Charter review committees and the Homeless Task
Force. Our Task Force on the Environment is not aptly named, operating more like a
Board or Commission in that it is a standing body that advises on a program area.
The skills and abilities of task force members and staff are important to achievement of
the task assigned. A mix of perspectives among appointees is usually sought when a
35
task force is formed to address a divisive issue. In those cases, the task force can bring
together opposing viewpoints and define a work plan that addresses aspects of those
viewpoints.
The City is obligated to evaluate and update its ADA Transition Plan annually. The Plan
itself examines all City functions for sensitivity to and compliance with the ADA, cutting
across program and departmental responsibilities. A task force addressing the needs of
the disabilities community could provide needed community feedback on this plan.
(See attachment for further description of the ADA Transition Plan.)
Community Access Committee
This option combines aspects of both task force and Board/Commission structures.
The Social Services Commission could annually constitute a committee (in point of fact
a time-limited and specifically charged task force) representing persons with disabilities
and the service community. The Committee would work with staff on the ADA
Transition Plan Self Evaluation Update, convening public meetings and deliberating
over a period of two to three months. The Committee would submit its report to the
Commission and hence to the Council for action and consideration for incorporation in
the City’s work plan for the coming fiscal year.
This approach capitalizes on the perspective and standing nature of the Social Services
Commission and augments it with a regular and focused examination of systemic
change to City programs by persons uniquely qualified to do so.
36
Appointment of Persons with Disabilities to Boards and Commissions
This option might be said to exemplify the concept of integration. It communicates that
persons with disabilities are valued members of the community, interested in a wide
variety of community issues and programs and capable of adding value to the
deliberative work of the Boards and Commissions. If persons with disabilities are
included in all advisory and regulatory Boards and Commissions, those bodies are likely
to approach their work with greater sensitivity. The willingness of persons with
disabilities to take up service on bodies with broader missions and their commitment to
representing the viewpoints of persons with disabilities that may differ from their own
can affect the success of this strategy.
Conclusion
Each of the options first outlined in the staff report and discussed in greater detail above
represents an advance in involving persons with disabilities in the life of the Santa
Monica community. None is purely symbolic and all entail the dedication of work effort
and resources. The options are not necessarily discrete. Some combination of the
above may best serve the policy objectives of the City and the interests of persons with
disabilities.
Prepared by: Barbara Stinchfield, Director
Julie Rusk, Human Services Manager
Tracy Scruggs, Human Services Supervisor
Janet Hand, Sr. Administrative Analyst/Disability and Senior Services
Community and Cultural Services Department
37
Attachment: The ADA Transition Plan
38
ATTACHMENT
The ADA Transition Plan
The ADA Transition Plan is a document required of all entities falling under Title II of the
ADA that identifies the actions requested to bring that entity (in this case the City of
Santa Monica) into full compliance with the ADA. This Transition Plan is based on a
comprehensive self-evaluation that examined every department in the City and the
feedback of persons with disabilities on prioritizing necessary changes. Included in the
evaluation of each department is personnel training, outreach to the disability
community, and identification of programmatic and physical barriers to access.
Originally completed in 1992, the Transition Plan must be updated annually and input
from the disability community is required.
The ADA requires the City to evaluate and update the Transition Plan annually for three
basic reasons. The first is that the original plan called for certain changes to be made
over the span of several years, so the update serves to ensure that the changes are
occurring as planned. The second reason is that the City initiates new programs,
policies and facilities annually, and these must be evaluated to make sure they are in
compliance with the ADA. Lastly, the plan should be updated because priorities in the
disability community may shift from year to year.
A key philosophical element of the ADA is the inclusion and participation of persons with
disabilities. The form of the public input for the Transition Plan Self Evaluation Update
varies. Most years, it has been informal, with the City’s ADA Coordinator gathering
information throughout the year on the public’s priorities. Staff has begun conducting
the ADA Transition Plan Self Evaluation for the current year and plans to present a
comprehensive update to the Council in October 2001.
A task force or Community Access Committee of the Social Services Commission could
be convened over the summer to guide and inform this effort, with culminating
recommendations presented to the Council in October.
An annual update will be presented each October to coincide with Disability Awareness
Month. Every department will review each of its programs, policies and facilities to
identify barriers to access that must still be addressed. A timeline for addressing these
39
barriers will be included in the update, as well as information on the progress toward
completion on each project previously identified.
40