Lake County Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Meeting - August 25, 2026

The Lake County Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee met on August 25, 2026, at 1:00 PM with a physical quorum present. The meeting was called to order by Chair Complex, and members participated in the Pledge of Allegiance. No public comments were received. The committee approved the consent agenda and discussed two major agenda items: the adoption of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, and a presentation on inclusive safety and emergency preparedness.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved unanimously via a motion by Vice Chair Hewitt, seconded by Member Ewing, with no opposition.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• 8.2 Joint Resolution Adopting Lake County's ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan: Assistant County Administrator Ruth Ann Hall and Risk Manager Erica Ozinski presented the plan. The county contracted with Kimley Horn in October 2024 to develop a comprehensive ADA transition plan, building on previous work from 2016 and 2018. The plan includes a self-evaluation of programs, services, facilities, and public rights-of-way, and a transition plan to remove barriers. Key statistics: 28 departmental representatives completed 29 surveys, identifying 195 findings, with 53% already addressed. For facilities, 43 buildings were assessed (39 with prior evaluations, 9 new or re-evaluated), yielding 1,900 findings, many already addressed. Public rights-of-way evaluation covered 889 intersections, 95 miles of sidewalk corridors, and 11 blocks of on-street accessible parking, identifying 978 findings. Public outreach included a survey with 178 responses and a digital map identifying 21 locations of concern. The plan also updates grievance procedures and designates ADA coordinators (Elizabeth Bogie for the courts and a county coordinator). The resolution will be forwarded to the Finance and Administrative Committee for budget approval. Chair Complex asked about legal exposure before the April 2027 deadline for web content accessibility guidelines; staff responded that the county already provides closed captioning and a contact for assistance, and the adoption of the implementation plan demonstrates proactive compliance.
• 8.3 Presentation and Discussion on Inclusive Safety and Emergency Preparedness: Risk Manager Erica Ozinski presented on behalf of Loss Control Specialist Brian Udeny, who was unable to attend. The presentation highlighted the connection between DEI and emergency preparedness, focusing on four pillars: risk reduction, accessible communication, enterprise coordination, and community recovery. Lake County's strategic plan values equity, accessibility, inclusion, responsiveness, and respect. Tools include access checks for mobility, hearing, vision, language, cognitive, and caregiving needs before drills and emergencies. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Public Health, Medical Reserve Corps, and Family Assistance Center were cited as examples of inclusive practices. Next steps include making inclusive practices more consistent across sheltering, communication, recovery, training, and after-action planning. Chair Hart asked about signage; staff confirmed improvements are underway. Vice Chair Hewitt thanked the presenter. No questions from other members.

Key Outcomes

• The committee voted by roll call to approve the joint resolution adopting the ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan (Item 8.2). The motion passed unanimously. No vote was taken on Item 8.3, as it was a presentation and discussion only.
• The next meeting is scheduled for October 27, 2026.