Katie had extra agendas here.

No, I put it one up.

Did you?

Oh, perfect.

Good.

Ready?

Are you called this I don't think?

Okay, we can.

So because there's no chairperson currently, um, we can call the meeting to order.

Um we have a gavel.

There we go.

Um and we can do roll call.

He uh natural.

Riley Spearberry?

Here.

Pam Havent?

Yeah.

Kim Hudgins?

Here.

John Jamon Jamontis?

Here.

Gary Jones?

Here.

And then Travis Brown, which we need to get the contact information for and reach out to.

So he's absent.

Okay.

So the next item on our agenda today is the approval of the minutes from the August 19th meeting of 2025.

Did all of you uh read over those?

Yes, I did.

Okay.

Motion to approve.

Motion.

Do we have a second?

Okay.

And then I'm gonna call the role again.

Riley?

Here.

Uh Pam Heaven's?

Yeah.

Kim Hutchins?

Here.

This is for approval of the Yes.

Okay.

John Germantis?

Here.

Okay.

Gary Jones?

Here, yes.

All right.

And then Travis Brown is not here.

All right.

And then the next item we have on the agenda is citizens to be heard on agenda items.

Do we have any citizens to be heard on agenda items?

I know we have a full house, so do you have any public comment on the agenda items?

Sounds good to me.

All right.

I'll try and do better on the next day.

Okay.

So our agenda item, our first item on the agenda tonight is election of a chairperson.

Um so would anyone like to make a motion to elect someone as a chairperson?

I'll nominate Riley.

Exactly.

But I mean I don't know if you guys and I'll sign up the nomination.

Okay.

I will accept the nomination.

And then we are going to unless there's any other call the roll for that.

We vote written by acclimation.

All right.

Thank you, Gary.

It's not official without the gavel.

It's not, it's not.

Uh Biley Spearberry?

That's Baby by me.

You can vote for yourself.

Pam Heavens.

I Kim Hudgens?

John Jimantis?

Hi.

Gary Jones?

Hi.

And then Travis is next.

Okay.

So Riley, you have been elected to chairperson.

Okay.

Congratulations.

All right.

The there are no more agenda items.

We're going to now move on to newer old business, not for final action or recommendation.

And the first item we have is discussion on new committee members, departures, and potential new members.

Yeah, so first uh you were telling us that there is someone that wasn't elected in October, you said.

Yes.

What did you say their name was?

Travis Brown.

Travis Brown.

Okay.

So we're gonna we're gonna find out who he is eventually.

Um but that's cool, so we have one number.

Does anybody know him here?

Like anyone know the name?

No.

Does he work with the city?

I believe and I was just uh there's a citizens with disabilities email that I was also just granted access to today that I had no knowledge of either.

Um he submitted an application because you can submit applications to be on committees and was approved that way.

So that was so I do have his email, so we can get that to you.

Okay.

And email him and let him but I just received that today.

So I wasn't gonna email him at four o'clock in the afternoon.

Are you gonna make it?

Can you make the meeting tonight sir?

So um we will reach out to him and you know okay.

You know um so I guess just uh ask questions of about that.

So um so there is like uh an email is it and then you just specifically have access to it right myself and I believe a couple other people in the city like the clerk and like Dustin and you know stuff like that have access to that email.

I thought it was no it's it's yeah it's just a city email address yeah yeah so the liaison would have access to it as well as you know higher ups within the city um I know in our uh emails we were talking about we had a few people that have showed a little bit of interest in joining um the committee I know if you said something Kim you might have right am I crazy well I don't think so but I was wondering um since we changed the time with the meeting Veronica I was wondering that as well um yeah because I know that originally it was just a time issue for her so that can be something that we want to maybe reach out to her and see if she's interested.

That's a good idea.

Yeah um I know that there uh someone came into um like my office the other it was like a few weeks ago who had previously showed interest when um at the disability pride fair about being involved um her name is Maryam um and she I'm trying to remember her last name but I could get it for you but the the only reason she hadn't previously applied was the time um because she's a paraprofessional at a school so it just didn't work out to have it at one so I could reach out to her and let her know that the time has changed so if she's interested in applying I could get her that information um but yeah so that would be to go some more do we have a number that we camp the committee out yet so the committee ha is supposed to have a minimum of nine members a maximum of thirteen.

Okay.

Which is great.

Yes.

Well and these are things I found out you know in my research of learning about the committee.

So yeah yeah we definitely again we're getting our footing.

Yes.

Yeah.

Yeah so um I can I can reach out to both Veronica and Miriam and then if you guys know anybody who you think is interested who has sort of um you know a knack for activism or just being interested in Juliette and I think I'm sure we'll find other people can we get the requirements again I mean it's either a you a resident of Juliet or you represent an agency that votes in Julian yes.

Yeah.

Is that the only two retirements okay okay yeah and then I think I'm assuming an age bank 18 probably yeah I mean under 18 I don't think I don't believe you can be on a committee.

Yeah.

Yeah.

But okay yeah um but yeah so I'll reach out to those two individuals.

I also um I know like John you've discussed about the idea of sort of getting the word out about the existence of this committee because I think the big thing is just people don't know it exists.

You know I didn't know it exists until I kind of like randomly fell into it just because of where I work but if I didn't have the job that I do I would never know.

Yeah yeah about social media or somewhere to get this out what would be the right format for that Facebook or something I mean I don't know that we actually post openings I can find out though about I know the city has a website or has a yeah we do have website and we do have a Facebook page.

I don't know that they could piggyback on that a little bit more get our messages through through that website.

And I mean I know like another thing is like um like a handful of us are from organizations that specifically serve people with disabilities and so doing our own like you know sort of in-house posting like and I'm not talking about just like employees but like you know the actual um participants or members consumers whatever term you use um is kind of the I mean that's how I kind of met Mary almost she originally was a consumer and that's why she came to the disability pride fair so maybe um kind of working on some sort of like in in agency um way to post it yeah do you think like UCP would post it or something yeah yeah I asked first the notice of this meeting on our Facebook.

I don't know if it ended up there enough sending up yesterday but yeah I intend to do that to at least put it out on our Facebook when we're having these meetings when we're looking to these meetings.

Okay.

Okay.

And any um people that you re reach out to that are interested if you give those names to me and their contact information I will so the mayor is the one that appoints people.

Yeah.

So then those names would go to the to meet to and then to the mayor's office.

So that's how that kind of works.

So I would give so like we would give the contact information to you is that how okay and then I would supply them to the mayor's office.

People that were interested in being on the committee.

No it's good.

And then obviously um Tony uh is no longer gonna be on the committee so that's part of it is committee member departures I don't think anyone else is leaving right all right.

Well that's good.

Okay.

So then all set with that one.

All right so then the next item on the agenda is the discussion of the new meeting time which is yeah so this is the what is it the second the second Tuesday the second Tuesday yes.

Second Tuesday of the month um 5 30.

I know um originally when I was speaking to um Lauren she was saying about having it be like a quarterly thing and I know like right now especially because there was like a lot of staff shifting um I I'm assuming that's sort of why it was being moved to that um my only concern is like having it be quarterly is that I think there's a lot of like items that like we want to discuss and like go through it and kind of work toward like even just like the disability pride fair alone is quite an undertaking to having it only be quarterly my concern is just like those things don't get done.

So there's all there's always a possibility of doing special meetings as well.

So having the set quarterly meetings as like published like these are your set meetings and then doing if we have to have a special meeting we have a special meeting.

You can always do that as well.

Can I ask why there were cut back from mostly to quarterly I don't but quarterly gives us four hours a year to actually work on I it's really I don't know.

It's hard to do yeah no I would I was not privy to that conversation.

How do we adjust that then what do we go through to try to get back on track with these things.

That would yeah I the if the this is just what I was told that they were quarterly meetings that when they told me about the committee yeah so like if we if if we had like um an interest in to changing that then like who do we like speak to talk to after it would be the clerk's office that would have to make that decision.

Yeah yeah so um but yeah I do think the the 530 time I think um obviously right now is a not a great res representative of it but I do think also it's really rainy today in Gross so I don't think a lot of people want to leave the housing way.

But I think that time will allow for people who are interested in doing it who maybe work like a standard nine to five um to be able to come here and and say like their piece and everything.

Hello Tony Hi but yeah I do think that that uh that time eventually I think that we will actually find some good in that even if right now it's sort of but it's not it's not much different than how it was so the next item on the agenda is um new outreach efforts.

Um so I think obviously part of that would be that so like that whole interagency thing of of kind of utilizing our own resources to be able to let people know when the meetings are.

Like I know one thing, like um, so I work at the disability resource center, and I don't think we've ever posted when a meeting even is.

We have a Facebook page.

Um so like making sure that we do that um and all other people who kind of have access to a more public Facebook page, I think that could be something.

I was wondering um if I were to like make a flyer or something that like is postable, um, is that something that then like does that have to be like where the city has to do it, or can I do it?

I wasn't sure like what the rules were with that.

If you want to post that w when the meetings are, that's totally allowed.

Okay.

Yeah.

Yeah, they're public meetings.

It's um there are certain requirements for us where we have to post um for the open meetings act.

Like it, you know, has we have to post the agenda within 48 hours before the meeting, things like that, like um the it has to be open and accessible things.

There are certain requirements per the open meetings act that we have to follow, but as far as if you want to publicize when the meeting is and things like that, there are no yeah restrictions on that.

Okay, good I just wanted to make sure that something that like each thing had to be included or something like that.

Um but yeah, so then I can definitely like make something where you guys can easily share it so that it's sort of the message is consistent, it looks the same everywhere, it shows the same time and everything like that.

I think that can be um maybe a little bit more easy easily done.

I can have like both text and um like a little flyer thing as well.

Um we have like a lobby at our place posted in the lobby.

Just trying to get people to come to be aware of it.

I I was thinking of something like with the Loverhood on here, and then just we changed the content of the uh posts from month to month or quarter to quarter whenever we have a meetings.

Wait, like with what do you mean?

Well, I I'm thinking like uh for example that next door website, it's it's local people that are looking at this thing.

So just to post like you know, City of Juliet Committee on Citizens with Disabilities tonight when we're discussing blah blah blah.

I see what you mean.

Like it's just talking about like the main agenda items.

Right, yeah, yeah, that means that works.

Um anything else with like new outreach um items specifically to like getting people either a aware of these meetings or B aware that we have vacancies um for it.

Anyone have anything and then uh discussion on the 2026 disability pride fair discussion and update.

Um do you have an update from Brian at all, Pam?

Okay.

We are not at the DQA.

Yeah, you've got uh will be the end thing.

Yeah.

Okay.

Okay, and I mean I think right now the main thing is just knowing the actual date.

Um yeah, so and I mean the only reason we don't have the date is just because we want to make sure that the location is okay with the date.

Um, but I know most right now I get the trying to remember, I know it's 17th.

17th, October 17th.

Um so October 20th or October 17th, 2026, um is when we are aiming to have the um to have the disability pride fair.

Um so we're just sort of um waiting.

Uh UCP is talking with um a few people for location because we're trying to do something that is inside just so we don't have sort of the mess that we had last year with weather and stuff.

Um just to have something really consistent, we don't have to worry about anything.

It's just was it what happened it was delayed because of the weather.

Yeah, and then we were worried about it raining.

Right.

Ended up not even raining that much.

Right.

Um but uh so then we moved it to uh October.

Okay.

Um and then and then we just decided to keep it consistent just to keep it in October.

Right.

Um I also think that that might be easier just because originally like the reason it was in July is because July's disability pride month.

Um that being said, uh there are a lot of competing events in Chicago that happen on weekends in July or just the disability pride like uh month.

And um October technically is a disability month, it's like disability employment month, which is like not exactly what we're doing, but you know, still good class.

It's a disability, you know, adjacent sort of thing.

Um and you know, there's not we can we don't have to pick one specific month to celebrate in or um you know, and it I think the idea of getting schools aware and involved is a lot more easily done if it's in October instead of July.

Um but yeah, so October 17th is the goal.

Um, and then we were thinking was it 11 to 3?

Was that the time?

Okay, 11 to 3, October 17th, location to be determined, somewhere in Doliat.

Yeah.

Okay in interior.

That's sort of where we're at right now.

What size space?

Um where was the location that Brian was talking about?

What was it called?

Um was it yeah, but what was like the field house or something?

Yeah, like the JJC's field house.

Oh, okay.

Yeah, oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, okay.

Because I mean we did have last year, I wanna say I want to say it was 24 vendors, like that came to like to have tables or yeah, I'm I had something that weekend and I wasn't at working that event.

So yeah.

No, it I mean honestly for a first time event run by like basically like a few people, like it really I thought pretty well.

Six weeks to put it together.

And then um we did have uh I think three legislators come, um, and then the 24 uh vendors, we had a food truck, um you know, we had music provided provided by my Spotify playlist, but it worked well.

Um, vendors show up that didn't RSVP they just show up.

Oh yeah, that is true.

We just had like random vendors that just got word of mouth, so that was cool.

Um we didn't like we had to like find out where to put them.

Kim was like she was the one in charge of like where to put everything like more tables.

Yeah, yeah.

To more than Marion.

Yeah, no, that was you know, so I guess uh we'll know this year maybe to have like a few like little extra spaces and be like somebody random shows up, like we'll be ready.

Um but yeah, I think that honestly in terms of that, like it went really well.

I think it was more so the the attendees.

Um which I mean it wasn't terrible, like we had people come, but uh I think definitely like advertising to the schools I think would be really good because I think a lot of parents when they hear like resources and information, yeah.

I think that's a big thing that um parents would probably want to go to.

I I think we could build up some excitement too, like posting on um uh next door or Facebook whatever too, like looking for resources, looking for entertainers, yeah, things like that too.

Yeah, definitely.

Volunteers, things like that.

Yeah, because I and yeah, I do think getting maybe some volunteers for like the the setting up of tables and things of that nature.

Um I have I have access to some through like uh like CERD that can be.

Oh my god.

Emergency response team.

Yeah.

You got it.

I was like the one important word is emerging that I can remember it.

But you got it.

Um but yeah, so I mean they they came last year and provided some volunteer help, which is awesome.

Um and you can always reach out to Don and John and we'll show up we'll always be there.

Yeah, no, absolutely.

No, we love that.

Awesome.

Um, but yeah, so I think honestly it's just the the waiting then because we really just can't, we don't want to advertise, we don't want to reach out to vendors, we don't want to really do anything until we are a hundred percent certain of where and when it's taking place.

Um so I mean Pam if you want to kind of get an update from Brian at some point and then we kind of go from there.

But I think we have a meeting, like a Zoom meeting.

When is that?

Next written next week.

I'm like, do I even put that in?

Oh, the 21st.

On the 21st?

Oh, okay.

That's what I've got.

Alright, well, I'm free.

I was just like I I didn't write it down though.

Um yeah, okay, so um we can kind of maybe touch base more on there and have more information.

And then the second we have that, I can reach out to the vendors.

I have like an email like group with all of the vendors that participated last year, um, as well as a few people that reached out to me after the event asking if they can be involved next year, so I can reach out to everyone there.

I just don't want to do it until I have more information.

Yeah, it's kind of important, but um does anyone have any other things like they want to talk about or update with um I I wanted to see since it's been a while since we had a meeting.

Can can we get a review of the city's uh progress on how the ADA transition is coming along, where there's standard things about that?

So we typically would get a a speaker for that, right?

So it's that would be and that's not so that's not on the agenda.

Um but and I don't have an update for that, but that can be on like next agenda.

That would definitely be something that I can put on the next agenda for you.

Could that be a standing item on the agenda?

It could be, yes.

Since we're meeting a recorder, if we have a good point.

We might as well have that be discussed then each time.

Yep.

Um anything else with the disability pride fair.

I think we should start calling it the second annual.

Second annual.

Anything else?

Okay.

The next thing is public comment.

Anything?

Crickets can share.

Public.

I just want to say I'm I'm grabbing committee started meeting again.

Uh there's so many important things that they have to do.

Uh and so many people think they were working on behalf of a certain group of people disclosed.

We want the public to know we're working on all people.

And a lot of our work impacts the citizen control here.

Because uh work not realized in the 80% of the people in prison have disabilities.

And uh we need to scare them away from the police department to understand the needs of people with disabilities.

The bottom line is we need to work together.

And I'm happy to see it start.

Um what was your name, sir?

Sorry.

Uh Tony.

Tony.

Um previously on the commission.

Okay.

Um, and when you guys were talking about reaching out, um, I was saying that we've got a neighborhood watch meeting tomorrow.

And I'm sure there are a lot more of them just to say it, or we have like the watch meetings.

That might be something we'll look at to everybody.

It would be great to have something to hand out.

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

Yeah, I will I'm gonna work on like a flyer thing, and I will send it to all of you, and then we can kind of have something physical to show people and everything.

We did have a handwritten describing what we got.

I don't know what happened to those bandwidths.

I have a stick of them.

Oh yeah, I have a stack of them.

So I'll bring them to either those out or yeah, I also have a I do, they're on my desk.

Yeah, yeah.

Update when and where the meeting is.

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

Yeah.

Yeah, if someone can give me a copy of it, I can update it.

Yeah.

Okay.

Do we have anything else?

Um I was just the only thing I was gonna say is our next meeting.

Can we make sure we're talking into the microphone?

Yeah.

I was like, I I probably should have said it earlier, but I didn't.

So my bad.

But yeah, I was like, I can't.

It was hard to hear everyone.

So if we can maybe I'm like very loud and obnoxious, so most people can hear me.

Um but um yeah, that would be my only request.

Anyone else have anything to say?

Okay, so the last item on the agenda would be adjournment.

All right.

Um do I ask for someone to So you would ask for someone to make a motion.

Okay.

Um then I have a motion to adjourn.

Oh motion.

I'll suck it.

All right.

All right, Riley?

Uh I, or whatever one chooses to say.

Pam.

I Kim?

Hi.

John?

Hi.

Gary?

Here.

And then Travis is missing.

All right.

And we are adjourned.

All right.

So August.

What?

Oh, the So