OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Committee on Citizens with Disabilities Meeting - August 11, 2026: Pride Fest, Grants, and Accessibility

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, August 11, 2026
BodyJoliet, Illinois
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, August 11, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:00:51
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

The side that everybody is on.

0:02

So you should sit here.

0:05

I mean, honestly, I guess that would make the most sense.

0:07

But yeah, but now the audience could hear us too.

0:11

Of course, I'm the one with the loudest voice, and right now I'm speaking the closest to the microphone, so that's probably all right.

0:23

Katie, are you ready whenever?

0:25

Or I will actually know.

0:26

Okay, no, no worries.

0:28

I just I'm like, I don't know who's waiting on me.

0:31

And what?

0:32

Allegedly working with that work.

0:40

All right.

0:41

Whenever you're ready.

0:43

All right.

0:44

Um we oh, you know what?

0:48

Sorry.

0:48

I just wanted to see.

0:49

Never mind.

0:50

It's all good.

0:51

I dropped my phone.

0:51

I just remind me not to go over it.

0:54

Um, uh, so hello everyone to the Committee on Citizens with Disabilities.

1:01

I don't know what time we are starting said meeting because I don't see a clock anywhere, but I'm guessing it's about 5 35.

1:09

That's you are correct.

1:10

Um, what did I nail it?

1:12

Yeah, there's a clock above the door.

1:14

Oh, it's tiny.

2:30

No.

2:31

Okay.

2:32

Um, can I get a motion to start the meeting?

2:36

I'll motion that.

2:38

And a second.

2:40

Second.

2:41

All in favor.

2:43

Aye.

2:44

All opposed.

2:46

All right.

2:47

Um, so I believe we start with roll call, right?

2:51

So Katie, do you want to do that?

2:53

Yes.

2:54

Thank you very much.

2:55

We have Pam Hubbitz.

2:57

Yeah.

2:57

I'm here.

2:58

All right.

3:02

And Kim Hudgens.

3:04

Present.

3:05

John Germanis.

3:06

Here.

3:07

Gary Jones?

3:08

Here.

3:09

Uh and Riley Redberry.

3:13

Here.

3:13

And then Travis is gonna be absent, right?

3:16

Yes.

3:17

Okay.

3:18

Due to trees.

3:20

Due to trees.

3:22

Due to trees and their attacks.

3:26

All right.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Disability Rights█████████████████████████████████████████████53%
Grant Management██████████████17%
Public Engagement███████8%
Grant Funding███████8%
Procedural██████7%
Parking Issues██████7%
Summary of Proceedings

Committee on Citizens with Disabilities Meeting - August 11, 2026

The Committee on Citizens with Disabilities met on August 11, 2026 at approximately 5:35 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting focused on updates for the 2026 Disability Pride Fest, a presentation on grant opportunities, staff updates on accessibility issues, and public comment on audible pedestrian signals. The committee approved the minutes from the May 12, 2026 meeting.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: Minutes from the May 12, 2026 meeting were approved by motion (Pam Heavens) and second (Kim Hudgens), with all members present voting in favor.

Discussion Items

2026 Disability Pride Fest Update

  • The Fest is scheduled for September 26, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Joliet Junior College event concourse.
  • Over 30 vendors have been invited; 8–9 have responded. Reminder emails were sent three weeks after initial invites.
  • Vendor fee: $25 per booth. Sponsorship levels: Blue ($100 – logo on entrance sign), White (event announcement), Red (program logo and contact info).
  • John Jamontas reported on sponsorship outreach: casinos (no due to missing 501(c)(3) documentation), St. Joel’s Medical Center (changing management, no), Crest Hill Lions Club (no), others pending. Riley Spreadbury reached out to Critical Grind Coffee, optimistic for Blue sponsorship.
  • Planning committee meetings are held Mondays at 10:00 AM via Zoom; interested parties can join.
  • Needs identified: a food truck, sensory-friendly activities, and banners. Outdoor patio available for use. Members suggested involving EAS (veterans with disabilities) and using an advertising angle for sponsorship solicitations.

Grants Discussion

  • Bridget Rohrer, CDBG Manager, presented an overview of grants. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is an entitlement grant of approximately $1 million annually from HUD. Projects must benefit low/moderate income or have presumed benefit (e.g., ADA improvements). Applications open in spring.
  • Example: The Miracle League field was funded through a committee suggestion. Becky DeGroat (grant coordinator) searches for other federal, state, and private grants. Committee members are encouraged to bring ideas to Bridget or Katie.
  • Questions addressed: organizations must own or have owner permission for property improvements; CDBG is a recurring entitlement, not a competitive grant.

Staff Updates

  • Katie reported attending the Community Cares meetings (biweekly) which coordinate resources for residents. She also highlighted a lack of accessible parking around the courthouse – no designated accessible spots adjacent to the building. Discussion considered solutions: Will County Access dial-a-ride, a shuttle/valet service, or a golf-cart-style transport. The ADA does not require accessible parking if no parking is provided. The committee will continue exploring options.

Public Comments

  • A speaker (who identified as having walked the area with Gary Jones) praised the ADA but noted many municipalities treat it as an advisory act, leading to lawsuits. He urged Joliet to install more audible pedestrian signals (talking street lights) like Chicago. Another member noted that existing chirping lights are often turned off at night. The committee agreed to further explore this topic, possibly through a formal inventory and grant applications.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes approved.
  • Pride Fest planning continues: vendor outreach, sponsorship applications, and planning committee meetings.
  • Grants: Committee will submit ideas for CDBG and other grants to Bridget Rohrer and Katie.
  • Accessibility: Committee will consider a formal study on talking street lights and handicapped parking issues.
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

The side that everybody is on. So you should sit here. I mean, honestly, I guess that would make the most sense. But yeah, but now the audience could hear us too. Of course, I'm the one with the loudest voice, and right now I'm speaking the closest to the microphone, so that's probably all right. Katie, are you ready whenever? Or I will actually know. Okay, no, no worries. I just I'm like, I don't know who's waiting on me. And what? Allegedly working with that work. All right. Whenever you're ready. All right. Um we oh, you know what? Sorry. I just wanted to see. Never mind. It's all good. I dropped my phone. I just remind me not to go over it. Um, uh, so hello everyone to the Committee on Citizens with Disabilities. I don't know what time we are starting said meeting because I don't see a clock anywhere, but I'm guessing it's about 5 35. That's you are correct. Um, what did I nail it? Yeah, there's a clock above the door. Oh, it's tiny. No. Okay. Um, can I get a motion to start the meeting? I'll motion that. And a second. Second. All in favor. Aye. All opposed. All right. Um, so I believe we start with roll call, right? So Katie, do you want to do that? Yes. Thank you very much. We have Pam Hubbitz. Yeah. I'm here. All right. And Kim Hudgens. Present. John Germanis. Here. Gary Jones?

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