Chair, staff is ready when you are.

Good evening and welcome to the meeting for the City of Sacramento

Disability Advisory Commission for Wednesday, September 4th at 530.

We're following a regular meeting agenda.

The meeting is now called to order.

Will the clerk please call the role to establish a quorum?

Thank you, Chair, commissioners.

Please unmute for roll call.

Commissioner Ellis.

Here.

Commissioner Greenbaum.

Here.

Commissioner Carr.

Here.

Commissioner Kramer.

Here.

Commissioner Mercer.

Present.

Commissioner Smith.

Absent tonight.

Commissioner Tucson Void.

Present.

And Chair Crowley.

Present.

Thank you, we have quorum.

At this time, I'd like to acknowledge the land acknowledgement and the pledge of allegiance.

Please rise for the opening acknowledgments.

Commissioner Mercer.

To the original people of this land, the Nesanun people, the southern Maidu, Valley and

Plains Mewok, Potwin, Wintun people, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's

only Fred federally recognized tribe.

May we acknowledge and honor the native peoples who came before us and still walk them beside

us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather together to get day in active practice

of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous peoples history, contributions,

and lives.

Thank you.

And if you're able, please rise.

Commissioner Ellis.

Thank you.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which

it stands, one nation under God, individual liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Before I move to begin our agenda, I'd like to request that in the discussion calendar,

we reverse the order for Sacramento River Parkway Project to be item three and the review

of the draft city of Sacramento Disability Advisory Commission annual report as number four.

Is there, is that fine for me to just acknowledge that with you?

Yes, Chair, that is fine.

Thank you.

Okay.

So our first business today is approval of the consent calendar.

Clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on the consent calendar?

Thank you, Chair.

There are no speakers for this item.

Thank you.

Is there any discussion regarding the consent calendar?

Motion to approve the consent calendar.

I have a motion to approve by Commissioner Ellis.

A second.

Second.

Commissioner Tucson-Void.

Will the clerk please call the roll for vote?

Thank you, Chair.

Commissioner's please unmute.

Commissioner Ellis?

Yes.

Aye.

Commissioner Greenbaum?

Aye.

Commissioner Carr?

Aye.

Commissioner Cramer?

Aye.

Commissioner Mercer?

Aye.

Commissioner Smith?

It's absent.

And Commissioner Tucson-Void?

Aye.

And Chair Crowley?

Aye.

Thank you, motion passes.

Item two.

Chair Goethan, did you want to make comment on the follow-up vlog?

No comment on the follow-up vlog.

Are there any commissioners who wish to discuss the follow-up vlog?

I make a motion to approve the follow-up vlog.

Second.

Clerk, please acknowledge Tucson-Void as the motion.

And second by Commissioner Ellis.

Maybe we have a vote.

Thank you, Chair.

And just to clarify, we will be splitting the consent calendar

into two motions.

The first vote that we just took was for the minutes only.

Is that correct?

Yes.

Yes.

That's the one who made it.

The second one.

And then the commissioner Tucson-Void and Commissioner Ellis have moved in second

and item two, which is the follow-up vlog.

Yes.

Perfect.

We will take that vote now.

Commissioner Ellis?

Aye.

Commissioner Greenbaum?

Aye.

Commissioner Carr?

Aye.

Commissioner Kramer?

Aye.

Commissioner Mercer?

Aye.

And Commissioner Smith is still absent.

Commissioner Tucson-Void?

Aye.

And Chair Crowley?

Aye.

Thank you, motion passes.

Thank you.

Moving on to the discussion calendar.

Item number three is the Sacramento River Parkway Project.

I believe we have Ms. Megan Johnson, senior engineer.

Is that correct?

That is me.

That's correct.

We're looking forward to your presentation.

I'm looking forward to giving it.

Let's see.

Although I think we have the wrong presentation up.

I'm not able to speak to that topic.

I would be winging it the entire time.

Def, can we please get the presentation for item three, or I'm sorry, item four please?

Ms. Johnson, all you have the floor.

I don't know.

Did you want to share a little bit about how long you've been with the city and your position,

any hobbies?

How was your Labor Day?

We think to get to know you.

Absolutely.

So my name is Megan Johnson, and I'm a senior engineer with our Public Works Department

in our engineering services division.

I have been with the city of Sacramento since 2016.

I'd started off in the private sector and made the jump to the public sector, and I love

working for the people of Sacramento.

And then in my spare time, I have this really cute golden retriever.

And so she gets three walks a day, lots of fetch with the ball.

She's awesome.

Thank you for sharing.

There's a lot of dog lovers on the commission.

You guys ready to hear about the Sacramento River Parkway project?

All right.

So good evening commissioners.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to come and share information about the Sacramento

River Parkway project.

I've already told you who I am, so we will skip that part and move on.

So this project is located in the Pocket Green Haven neighborhood, and it's on the levy

of the Sacramento River between Zacharias Park to the North and Garsha Bend Park to the

south.

It's about four miles in length.

So the Sacramento River Parkway project has been on the books since 1975.

So this has been around for a very, very long time.

The Sacramento River Parkway project master plan was the first element that identified an

official vision for a trail along the levy that would connect between free port to the

south and the American River confluence at the North.

Then a little over 20 years later, the Sacramento River Parkway plan update was approved by

City Council in 1997, and that confirmed the vision and intention to complete a levy

top trail along the Sacramento River.

And more time passed in 2012, City Council adopted the American and Sacramento River Parkway

plan's implementation program.

And so that identified actions and steps that would ultimately create a 25 mile interconnected

river trail system.

So this map here is from that implementation program, and it just shows the ultimate vision

in black.

Those are segments along the American River and the Sacramento River that have been completed.

And then in the little dotted dashes, those are segments that still needed to be done

at the time this map was created in 2012.

And so this project, which is highlighted on the map in yellow in the pocket area, is

the largest outstanding segment to be completed along the Sacramento portion of the vision.

So as an overview, as I said, this is project is in the Pocket Green Haven neighborhood,

and it will be putting a bicycle and pedestrian path on top of the levy, and it goes between

Garshab and Park and Zacharias Park.

This project will connect to existing trails to the south along the levy top.

There's an existing bike path that goes towards the, towards free port.

And then continuing to the north from Zacharias Park, it will connect to existing levy top

trail there.

And then it will also connect to the pocket canal trail that runs through the heart of

the pocket green haven neighborhood.

And so it will connect in two locations to that trail system.

And then the project will also include ways for people to get up to the new trail.

So we'll be constructing new neighborhood access ramps.

So there are a couple ways that people get up to the top of the levy now.

The top left picture here shows an example of a maintenance driveway.

There are a number of locations along the levy where there are informal or formalized

ramps that are used by flood control agencies to get to the top of the levy.

And so typically these are gravel or dirt.

They often are steeper than what can be comfortable for people.

Sometimes they have pipe gates that cross over the path.

And so people use them to get up to the top of the levy, but it's certainly not accessible.

Other ways there are existing stairs at some locations that are built into the side

of the levy, but those are clearly not acceptable for, are accessible for everyone to use.

And then there are other locations where just over time people have worn footpaths up

the side of the levy.

So what our project is going to do is we're going to be installing paved ADA compliant access

ramps to get to the new trail.

So one of the big tasks that we're working through is identifying where those new access

points will be located.

There are a lot of candidate spots along the levy.

The map to the left shows yellow dots where there are existing access points for the flood

control access or maintenance, not shown there are all of the many footpaths and stairs.

And so our goal is to provide ADA accessible ramps for neighborhood access.

So we started off by looking at all the many, I won't say all, but many of the many, many

options out there.

And we just did an initial assessment for right of way impacts and overall feasibility

and tree impacts and visibility and a number of different factors to take into account.

And then from there we selected some ramps, some recommended ramp locations based to achieve

a couple of things.

First thing we wanted to do was beyond just providing the connection from the adjacent

street to the top of the levy, we also wanted to situate them so that it maximizes the

number of residents who could get there using low stress comfortable street networks to

get to that spot.

And we wanted to take into account providing a uniform spread of access points to the pocket.

We don't want to cluster them all together and then have long gaps without access.

And then we also took into account public feedback.

So based on public feedback, actually let me just walk you guys through where we're proposing

and then I'll get to that point.

So our proposed neighborhood access points along the new trail segment starting from the

north is Zacharias Park, then North Point Way, Autobahn Circle, which is about at the

midpoint of the project.

And then we have two options to make the connection to the pocket canal trail.

So it's either going to be Country River Way or Sump 132.

And then the yellow star that's shown at Garshabend Park, which is the southernmost terminus

of the project, it denotes that there's already an

existing accessible path to get up to the trail at that location.

So our project won't be making any changes, but there is a way to get up there.

And then going back to the public request, one thing that we heard a lot of is requests

to improve access at Sleepy River Way, which is south of our project.

It's along where there's an existing bike trail on top of the levee, but the way that

people get to the levee is along one of those maintenance roads that isn't accessible.

And so we've added that to our project to bring that up and make it accessible for everybody.

Okay, so as we were evaluating how to get people to the trail and to the access points

on a low stress network, we looked at a couple things.

We looked at where existing street network had existing traffic controls to help people

get there.

So we identified routes that had stop signs or traffic signals or rapid flashing beacons

or pedestrian bridges over the major streets.

And the reason why we looked into this is because by and large, you know, you have a lot

of residents who live on the interior of the pocket.

And the pocket road and where it transitions to Riverside Boulevard, this is a big barrier

for people to cross the street to get to the levee.

There's a long segment where there's no stop controls, traffic controls at all.

And so that's a real challenge.

So what we've incorporated into the project is where we're looking at putting a new neighborhood

access ramp and there isn't a comfortable way for people to cross pocket canal.

We are looking at constructing elements at the roadway at pocket canal, at pocket road

so that people can get across the street.

So that will include things like bullbouts and pedestrian signals and rapid flashing beacons.

Another thing to highlight is what we're doing up at Zacharias Park, which is the northern terminus

of the project at Zacharias Park on the west part of the park.

There's an existing concrete path that goes from the street at Clipperway up through the park

and up to the bike trail on top of the levee.

And then there's a separate concrete path that connects from Clipperway on the east side.

And it connects to the existing pedestrian overcrossing over Riverside Boulevard that leads

on to the pocket canal trail system.

And so what our project is planning on doing is basically connecting the two paths within

the park itself so that people don't need to go onto Clipperway in order to transition

between the two trails.

OK, so now I'll walk you through how we are phasing this project.

I mentioned that this project is about four miles long.

It's a very expensive project and it's a big project.

And so we've segmented it to give us more flexibility for funding it and constructing it.

And so segment one is the southernmost half of the project.

It starts at Garsha Men Park to the south and goes up to Audubon Circle.

And this segment is fully funded through design, right of way, and construction.

And then the second segment is from Audubon Circle going north to Zacharias Park.

And this segment is fully funded through design.

And then we have some funding set aside to get us started on the right of way process.

And then we are going to be applying for grant funds to get the rest of the funding that

we need for right of way and construction.

And this is an overview of our process and our timeline.

So currently we are working through the environmental clearance and the preliminary engineering.

And so we are planning on wrapping this phase up later this year.

And then we'll move into the final design and permitting phase and the right of way

phase concurrently.

So the final design and the permitting is likely to take between 12 to 18 months.

And then the right of way depending on how it goes between 18 and 24 months.

And so we're hoping that everything kind of works together nicely and we're targeting

to get to construction in 2026 slash 27.

So with that, I'm happy to take any questions.

Commissioner Kramer.

Hi.

Thank you so very much for your presentation, Ms. Johnson.

I just had a question about how steep are the access ramps?

So we'll be working through the grading of that as we move more into the final design.

Our target is to keep it under 5%.

But the grades will be, you know, we'll work within the footprint of space that we have

available to us and then try to keep it as flat as possible.

Okay.

And then one more thing.

I know along the river there is a hotel slash restaurant.

And I don't know if there were any plans or if there is an access point for that area

since it is, it can get busy there.

Is that the, where there's Scott Seafoods in the Weston?

Yes.

So that's in the little pocket neighborhood.

So that is a potential future project that I'll go through there.

But that's not part of this project limits.

Hey.

Thank you so very much.

Commissioner Ellis.

Thank you.

You kind of touched on this a little bit when you were talking about looking at access

point further south of the project.

I was just kind of curious what kind of given all the different segments of this overall

larger parkway project or grouping of projects.

Like what kind of learnings have you gained, you know, kind of looking back at those prior

projects and what could be applied here.

You know, when you go in and put in an access point and then, you know, people come and

start using it.

We kind of learn, you know, those different habits and, you know, sometimes accessibility

issues can pop up, you know, after the fact.

So are there any kind of learnings that might have come up that we could apply in this

going forward in this next phase?

So that's a really good question.

And some of the things that we are taking to account and this has been through discussions

like with the council office and with community members about what was important.

You know, there's certainly things like I mentioned, making sure that there's low stress

ways for people to get to the location and making sure that the grading is nice.

But part of what we're also working through is making sure that it feels safe and comfortable

to use.

So there's the SeptED principles, the I lost crime prevention through environmental

design.

Yes.

So, you know, making sure that, you know, it's well lit at the entrances and that there's

clear like lines of sight so that people don't feel like they are in a, you know, spot

where nefarious activities can happen and they aren't being seen.

And so, you know, we want to make sure that it's accessible, comfortable, people feel

safe using it.

It's at locations that are convenient for them.

There's a ton of different factors.

Great.

Thank you so much.

Commissioner Greenbo.

Well, I was going to ask the same question as Commissioner Kramer regarding the grade.

So I just wanted to add, well, thank you very much for your presentation.

Well, someone that's grown up, you know, on the Sacramento and American rivers.

And it's really, I'm thrilled, really, to hear a project like this as my, my brain injury

or disability came later in life.

And with peripheral issues, I've had trouble personally going down, you know, some of the,

people going down to the bike trail as there are but mitzs and, you know, gravel that's

loose and whatnot.

So I'm really excited for this project.

And I'm wondering, are there other areas along that I maybe just don't know of that have

the similar accessibility already in place or is this kind of a first or initial?

Well, down at Garsha Bend Park, I believe that the ramp that was constructed there is probably

fairly recent.

Although I can't say that with 100% certainty.

But you know, that's kind of a good example of a immediately adjacent accessible ramp that

was constructed.

That's the one that's kind of closest to my head.

And I'm sure this is the pedestrian only correct.

It'll be for bicyclists and pedestrians.

And bicyclists.

And it'll be designed in a way so that, you know, emergency vehicles can get up there.

There's a need.

And then our, I mean, I know this is a great step forward for accessibility along our

rivers because we do live on three rivers.

Are there plans in the future for, you know, initiating these projects, maybe perhaps

along the American or other areas?

So there's been quite a bit of work along the American River.

There's our two rivers trail that I think the third phase is being kicked off.

And so there's been substantial progress on the American River trail.

And so yeah, these little projects are just kind of chugging along and I think that the

vision will come to fruition in coming years.

That's great to hear.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Clerk, I forgot to ask, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on this item?

Thank you, Chair.

There are no speakers for this item.

Are there any other commissioners or staff that had a curiosity as to what was presented

today?

I had three things if that's okay.

One is, Commissioner Ellis kind of alluded to it.

What made Garcia bend a prime location back when it was decided upon?

And the follow-up to that for my first question is, and how has that changed or how is that

the same now?

So the project has evolved a number of times over the years.

That has always been the starting point for the project and that's because there's an

existing trail that extends south of Garcia bend.

So basically this is a continuation or an extension of the existing bike trail.

And so originally we had started off doing this project in smaller segments.

So we had started off doing a locally funded project that would start from Garcia bend

park and then go to some station 132 to connect to the pocket canal trail.

And so that was a pretty short segment.

And then as staff got started on that effort, there was interest in us extending it a bit

further as a separate effort.

But with these types of projects, especially given in mind the bigger vision that we're

working towards, when you tackle things in a bunch of small efforts, it can be a little

bit disjointed, especially like with the messaging and the resources and things like that.

And so we took a step back and we decided to combine all the segments, just knock out the

full limits of the gap within the pocket.

And then apply for federal funds to do the design right of way in construction.

And that lets us leverage our relatively small amount of local funds and stretch a lot farther.

And then that lets us have a coherent and consistent design process and planning process

and engagement with the community.

So it's evolved a lot.

But thank you for answering this first question.

What I hear in summary is that by having a larger scope, then the community doesn't get

lost in the details.

And then you have this federal funding where the disability community is actually enforcing

a safer, the funding from this sort of project with the focus of ADA accommodations, then becomes

the center of the topic which benefits everyone.

That's how I perceive what you just said on that first one.

The first question that I asked.

I'm excited for that because I always think that my position is always to think that in

a big picture, if the person that has the most challenges or the most accommodations needed

can be served, then it benefits everyone.

So on the second question, it was, I think you mentioned it, but forgive me if you didn't.

As these projects are evolving, the community seems to have positive feedback in general.

Anytime there's a reawakening of a community or things are cleaned up and as Commissioner

Greenbaum was saying, it's a smooth doubt so that it's not only convenient but safe and

pleasant to be in company of others and by yourself when you're traveling around.

There are the most interesting conversations here have been about the wheels, bicycle versus

an adaptive wheel of some kind versus a motorized adaptive wheel versus a motorized recreational

vehicle type of thing.

Has there been any discussions in this level of project design on speed control?

So that's a good question.

I know that anytime you have a trail project, especially when you have kind of straight

or segments, that's something that can be a concern.

At this level of the planning process and the design process, we haven't had detailed

conversations about that.

We are working through a safety plan that identifies kind of our policies and mechanisms

to reinforce safety as best we can from both like a public safety perspective, crime prevention,

but also use of the trail.

And so we don't have answers on that.

I know that that's something that I'm not sure that any jurisdiction has nailed the

perfect way to do speed control.

Well, and it wasn't loaded.

As you were talking, I was just realizing that whenever we're discussing in this commission

about speed signals and the pathway, there are those inherent alerts and signals that do

form some sort of ancillary speed control.

And so as a commission, as we go back to our districts, it means that we have more engagement

opportunities with these new projects so that we can come back as a commission and identify

those neighborhood conversations on how that can be improved because it is very, it will

be, what I'm hearing is it will be segmented by neighborhood experience, but not in terms

of the bigger project that the city got funded.

So if there's an area along this greater project, it will come from citizens' comments,

but at least from the engineering side, it's checking off all of the points that we typically

hear in this commission.

Would that be an accurate summary?

I think so.

And then the last thing was sometimes in projects like these, especially because of the way

things are talked about in the working groups that we're a part of, there's a lot of

feedback whenever a commissioner from any of the commissions interacts with the public

on these working groups, and it always becomes the safety items that you mentioned.

But there is a desire sometimes for the community to look at the city on these projects as making

sure that there's enforcement.

So sometimes when there are these, if it's a pedestrian walkway and everyone's just walking

on some level, but again, going back to this way that the recreational path is used

and the time, what would be the advice from your perspective at this broad presentation?

How us as commissioners can help to keep track, not only of the progress, but of how we

should encourage a reduction of a reliance on fines, for example, speeding fines, injury

fines.

What would be the narrative that you would have us, what would be the desire from your

department that aside from looking at punitive and penalty-oriented ways, which is not, it's

counterintuitive, but it comes when disruption happens of any kind.

And the connotation I mean is positive because there's a change, but disruption to a way

of life and a quality of life.

So in 1975, those people who are living in those communities are now seniors who have different

challenges, and their comments of what they thought the project would be different, especially

in this, particularly in the Greenhaven Pocket, as you see, I think it's Commissioner Vang

and the Greenhaven Pocket Area trying to reinsert some community outreach.

I just wanted you to, if you wouldn't mind, giving either your professional or personal

opinion on how the commission can better serve keeping track of this project and what communication

would be important for us as the developments happen to avoid, as the working groups suggest,

less punitive measures and having the city fine each other, but having a more quality

of life in the communities that can start the narrative.

So with regards to how the commission and commissioners can stay engaged, we're early on in the

process.

I think it's certainly very appropriate for, as we start to develop the plans and have

more detailed information to share, to come back and present with you so you have an

opportunity to review the plans and weigh in on things.

And then also, as we are doing our public outreach, I am happy to add commissioners to our

outreach notifications so that you're able to join as part of that public conversation.

And then with regards to shifting towards, away from punitive measures to promote, you

know, safe uses, usage of the trail, you know, I think that our best mechanism of things

that we can control is making sure that it's designed in a way as best possible to preclude

bad activity that we don't want.

Making sure that there's good sight lines and visibility and, you know, typically a trail

that has lots of uses that people feel safe using is one that people don't really feel

comfortable doing reckless behavior on.

So, you know, it's one of the things that we would certainly strive for.

Another thing that we are exploring is the American River Parkway has the American River

Bike Patrol, which has folks who are trained in, you know, servicing people who have issues

with their bikes and helping people who might be having problems along the trail.

They mainly serve, they largely serve as eyes on the trail, you know, kind of figures of

some authority, you know, they're not police officers, but they're people who have some

authority who ride up and down and just kind of keep an eye on how things are going.

And so I can't say for certain that, I don't have the power to establish a Sacramento bike

patrol, but we're planning on talking with county folks who were involved in the establishment

of the American River bike patrol to see if that is something that could be implemented

along the Sacramento River.

Thank you, Ms. Johnson.

I appreciate that you thoughtfully responded to those last three.

The commission looks forward to getting invitations to be a part of those working groups and

conversations so we can be more effective as a group.

Are there any other final comments that commissioners would like to share that's while we have

her attention?

Any staff?

Have anything to add?

Okay.

This item is for, oh, thank you.

Commissioner Greenbaum, thank you, clerk.

Yeah, I was late on not pushing that and I was just to confirm, to get those notifications,

to go to staff and then to us or just how does that work?

So maybe Jesse could take notes of who would like to be put on our projects notification

list and then I'll send it to our outreach person to make sure that they're added to the

list.

Awesome, thank you.

Thanks, Commissioner Greenbaum and I'll make sure that after the meeting we'll have time

and Commissioner comments for that.

Was there anything else, Ms. Johnson?

Because we appreciate you being here.

I appreciate your time.

Thank you.

The next item is for receive and discussion.

Discussion is now ended and we can move on to the next item.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Ms. Johnson.

The next item is for selection or I'm sorry, review of the annual report in 2025 work plan.

The draft is being presented by Mr. Gothen, our staff for the DAG.

So thank you, Chair Crowley.

So it's that time of year when we begin work on the annual report.

So you can celebrate some of the accomplishments this year and also look forward to 2025

and what we can focus on in 2025.

And I also wanted to use this as an opportunity.

I know we have some new commissioners and I want to do maybe a one-on-one, little orientation

but also use this opportunity to kind of go over the roles of the commission and my role

and kind of public works involvement, particularly engineering services involvement in running

the DAC.

So I hope you'll find that interesting.

And so we'll also be discussing the message from the chair and the message from the commission.

So this is where I would really look to you to, you know, if it's Chair Crowley for me

to work with to craft that message, that would be great but probably good to discuss if

how we want to do that because it's really incumbent upon me at the dias to edit and refine

that message.

So I have one commissioner to work with to come up with that message that you want to send

to the City Council and I know last year I worked with Commissioner Tucson Boyd on that

and that process worked well.

And then we'll get into some of the celebrating our successes and then look into 2025 and

what it is we could focus on.

I'll have some ideas to share and then I'll look to you for ideas.

So just going over the purpose of the commission, this is taken just from the City Code, it

just establishes the purpose of the commission is to, as for advice and recommendations to

the City.

To serve as an advisory body regarding compliance with federal and state disability laws, to review

policies, programs and activities within the City as they affect persons with disabilities.

To recommend procedures for City employees with disabilities to request and receive reasonable

accommodations, provide information, referral and technical assistance to the City and matters

pertaining to disability issues and to assist with policies, procedures and programs as

they relate to federal and state disability law.

So any item that comes before the DAC, it's really incumbent upon me to screen it and

make sure it's meeting this criteria.

For example, constructing a parkway is an activity within the City so it certainly falls within

the duties.

And some of the background on the Barton settlement.

So particularly why public works is so involved with the Disability Advisory Commission is to

provide access to compliance with state federal standards to all portions of the pedestrian

rights of way that constitute new construction or alteration.

So I look at the DAC's role as monitoring engineering services on the projects we deliver

and you see that the projects we bring before you, such as the Sacramento Parkway, have accessibility

built in.

So it's really accessibility is implicit to all the projects that we do and we get projects

that have a lot of different origins.

So why public works, we manage the lane miles, the sidewalk, the signals and the off-street

bikeways.

So provide access and compliance with state and federal standards to all portions of the

pedestrian right away.

Preserve and enhance the quality of life.

Provide innovative and sustainable public infrastructure and services.

So accessibility is a theme that permeates all these facilities.

So types of projects provides access to destinations, improve safety, fixing and maintaining the

system, improve air quality climate health, benefits, equitable investment.

The weather, funding or scopes for projects come from these five different areas.

Accessibility is a theme that's within all of them.

So I think one of the roles is the commission.

You may review these projects and think, well, I don't have a lot of comments on them.

But in a sense you do, just by your presence there, knowing that staff knowing you're reviewing

the projects.

If you're not making a lot of comments, don't think you're not making a big difference.

I don't know how to maybe phrase that.

But I think it's just a good reminder to staff, hey, are the cross slopes at 5 percent?

Are there landings?

Are there detection strips?

So engineering services is a section within public works.

Our mission is to deliver the highest quality infrastructure projects by providing exceptional

engineering and project management services.

So I think Broadway is an amazing project, also managed by Megan, glad she stuck around,

that went to construction this year.

And the council has a lot of approved plans, but we only have a very, very small limited

amount of funding.

So when you see a project as transformative as Broadway, move forward, I think I'm proud

to say as the staff for the DAC, that accessibility was at the forefront of the scoping of this

project.

If you talk about this project, you'll quickly learn that it has buffered bike lanes,

right, that it's good for the economic development of the Broadway district.

But also implicit to all that is the accessibility.

And so I have in my notes, it's in the report, the Broadway included 68 new curb ramps on all

of those round corners.

And it also included APS, so oddball pedestrian signals on all of those corners.

So that just is an example of how accessibility is built into all of our projects.

So what would you as a commissioner review, what is staff reviewing for, what are the design

challenges that staff is overcoming?

Well, when you're doing a project such as Broadway, it's difficult because it's a built environment.

It's not what they call a green field development, right?

It's existing environment.

It's existing cross-slopes, existing property, existing developed property.

It's in fill situations, old utilities, everything.

So the challenges, can we make those curb ramps compliant?

The crosswalk, can we include it or not?

Obstacles in the pedestrian rights away.

Where are those utility poll boxes and the utility polls?

Are they creating an obstruction?

A brub changes to the level, you know, to achieve drainage.

Are there overhanging obstacles that tend to come up with some of our businesses that

have zero lot lines?

Are there excessive cross-slopes?

So these are some of the things that staff and the engineers that are delivering these

projects are looking for and there are things that you can watch for as a commission to ask

staff about.

So examples, you know, for many years, this is an intersection I grew up by on, this

is on fruit ridge by the Hollywood Park neighborhood.

My whole life, this crosswalk looked like this, you know, wasn't a big challenge for me,

but for someone in a wheelchair, very challenging.

And we got H-SIT funds to improve the signals.

But one issue with H-SIT funding that comes from CalTrans is it does not pay for accessibility.

So the concrete, the city has to find other funds for.

So it took us a lot longer to deliver the project because we had to line up those other funds,

but I'm happy to say that this particular engineer was able to design more accessible

and include the curb ramps.

So though this was a project that was established for safety benefits, it included the accessibility

component that was not funded by CalTrans.

So then the city had to find other discretionary funds to include to make it accessible.

And I was thinking of this example when Commissioner Greenbaum was speaking about the previous

item.

This is two of his trail phase two.

So this is along the American River Parkway.

And in the above picture, it shows the old condition where you see a mom with a stroller

going up the gravel path there.

So this trail went in and achieved the accessibility compliance slopes.

So there was a, you know, what slopes are they?

It needs to be 5% or less.

So it has the switchbacks to achieve that level grade.

So that's designed for all abilities and users.

Another example of what we're looking for on plants is these cross slopes.

This was R Street, one of our project managers who recently retired.

He delivered the whole R Street corridor.

And some of the cross slopes there were very excessive.

In fact, it was at 14% as we told me, which is really steep, especially if you're using

a wheelchair.

But the after condition was able to get that down to 3.5%.

So Broadway, as I mentioned, 68 new compliant curb ramps, 22 new APS units are fees for

audible detection.

So I think the DAX should take a lot of credit for that because it's really part of our

culture here at engineering services to build in accessibility to all of our projects,

whether they're, you know, bikeway projects or safety projects or just roadway maintenance

projects.

Another example is the Downtown Mobility Project.

Install 209 curb ramps and included 38 new APS units.

And this was also led by Megan Johnson.

And how many blocks does it make?

Is it 88?

I think all in all, like over 100?

It's like, oh, it's over 100 downtown blocks.

That really transformed downtown for a whole future generation.

And it's making it more accessible.

And so I brought these up in terms of, you know, these are some successes I would like

to include in the annual report.

And when I came to the commission around this time last year, this was the item.

This was one of the hot topics.

And so I think through the leadership of this commission and commissioner Mercer and

commissioner Tucson Boyd, wow, what a difference.

It's made.

And so, you know, I know I'm not sure where we are in basketball season and everything,

but it'll be great to hear feedback, you know, as in future meetings.

But, you know, what four different zones for pickup and drop off were done by, these

were by public works crews.

So discussion items, accomplishments.

I think if we can just put it on the record, if there's anything that you want to make

sure is noted in the report, and I'll just go back over this meeting and include that

in the next draft.

So, yeah, the goal for the report, introduce the draft today, bring it back at the next

meeting with your comments and then a subsequent meeting for maybe refinement and then approval.

So if there's accomplishments, I think maybe now's the time to pause.

And if you, if there's nothing you want to share now, that's fine.

You can, you can bring it up at a future meeting.

And also, I think appointing someone to really craft that message from the DAC, working

with Chair Crowley to craft that message, that'll be in the report to the City Council.

And so maybe we'll stop there and I'll open it up and then let's talk about the work

plans for the next year.

Okay.

And so, Clerk, we're going to continue on item four for review and feedback of the first

part, which is the annual report and then we'll revisit after the feedback, discussion

and feedback on the work plan.

Now that the presentation from Mr. Goathen is over, Clerk, do you have any speaker, public speakers?

Thank you, Chair.

There are no speakers for this item.

Okay, thank you.

I just wanted to let the commissioners know, typically I should have been leading after

the presentation with if there was any public speaker before we got into it.

So I just want to apologize for that confusion with the last speaker.

That way we can be free to know here if there were any speaker comments from the public

as well as what the presentation was.

So I'll start with Commissioner Ellis.

Thank you.

Jesse, I think you've really outlined a really fantastic draft for us and like you were

highlighting a lot of the accomplishments.

Just the curb, but it's over 100, you know, curbs that you were talking about are intersections.

Over the last year, 18 months plus I feel like it's been a little over a year.

I mean, just the navigability around downtown has approved immensely and it's, you know,

I think that's like a confluence of things of.

Some of what was done maybe 20 years ago to do the initial curb cuts to make things ADA

compliant have worn out.

You know, the bumpies, the yellow domes that sometimes are always yellow.

That doesn't last forever like the concrete around it might last substantial longer than

that.

Those kinds of things need to be replaced over time.

But, you know, even it wasn't just that they popped that out and put a new one in.

They looked at the whole thing and realized parts that needed to be redesigned or reconfigured

to make more ease of access because there are a number of intersections that really all

of those curb cuts have been, you know, completely redone in a lot of ways to make them more

accessible, not just to meet the minimum standard of what ADA might be.

It's like, what could we do to ensure access?

So I think a lot of these projects have embodied that.

So I really appreciate that.

So I think this is really a success of what the Commission has accomplished like you said.

And I would just say, I think given the leadership of the chair, I think they are the perfect

person to kind of be our point person on the finalizing of this draft and the commission

of the message from the Commission.

So I would say the chair and maybe whomever is selected as vice chair would we are point

people to finish this out with you.

So that would be, I would just say.

Thank you.

Commissioner Tucson-Boyd.

Thank you.

Thank you, Jesse, for your presentation.

I have some notes and I want to start with the Barton settlement for our newer commissioners

who may not be familiar with that reference during the staff presentation.

So the Barton settlement was a lawsuit that was filed against the city and the settlement

is just what it sounds like for Alexis and Attorney.

So that stipulated a certain amount of projects every year should address accessibility issues.

So whenever we're talking about the Barton settlement we're referring to our work which

that settlement also created the Disabilities Advisory Commission.

So that was part of the outcome.

I am just amazed at how many curb cuts you guys are talking about.

And you know your one reference was to those using mobility assistance devices but that

accessibility is also helpful for individuals who don't use devices are visually impaired,

might have cerebral palsy, just navigating that extra step in traffic, trying to cross

the street.

We use the word accessibility to mean meeting those federal and state guidelines.

But for us here on the dius I know that also means inclusion and feeling like a part of

this community and not an afterthought.

And so these whole projects that really just give a facelift to an area I feel has a lot

of meaning to those in the community who are traversing these paths of travel.

So I think Kudos goes to our city staff for making that all happen.

In addition to those accomplishments that were mentioned we want to make sure that we're

including our Tim Haley awards that was one of our accomplishments that we had in our

two year annual report that we presented in February of this year.

And that recognizes those in the community that go above and beyond to serve individuals

who have disabilities.

I am wondering and so this is just talking, right, this is us having our first conversation

about this annual report.

There were several recommendations in our report that we presented in February and then

was accepted by City Council in March and both the PMPE and the City Council did end up

discussing our recommendations.

And so I know you maybe don't have the answers now but maybe you do.

Some of those things like the training equity plan and the DAC presentation to the racial

equity committee, you know, we're in September and we're not meeting in October, will we

be doing those things?

Well those things happen and will we have updates on those for the Council?

Yeah, that.

So I contacted Ami Barnes earlier this year and so she agreed to coming to the October

meeting and so I contacted her and I said about the scheduling and so right now we're planning

for her to come on the November, the following Wednesday is November 6th, November 4th.

Let me see.

Let me see.

Look that up the day after election day.

We should all know that day.

Oh, yeah, so yeah, she, yeah, I'm still working on that.

Okay, so I do think an update on our recommendations should also be part of our plan, that's my opinion.

We do know we have some successes out of that but hopefully by new year we'll have some

improved accessibility here in Chambers as well if that comes through.

And if not, you know, that's our opportunity as the commission to make sure that the Council

is aware of the progress of these recommendations that they supported on the Dias themselves.

One of the recommendations was also advocating for the accommodation of public, accepting

public comment of items not on the agenda at the beginning of meetings.

And I know that we have done that here ourselves at the discretion of the chair but curious

if that has been adopted or communicated to other commissions and if that's something

that we would want to, our members would want to visit other commissions and just pitch

it as a suggestion.

Something that has come up since our last report is other ways to submit speaker slips.

So we know here in Chambers that when we have members of the public who are visually impaired,

they do need assistance from staff, they do support them and provide that assistance

in filling out their speaker slips but the process would be more inclusive and more streamlined

if there was a way to do that even on your phone during the meeting so that they can be

not just staff but also the people from the public that want to be a participant in this

proceeding, they can be paying attention to what's happening and not messing with this

piece of paper that may not be accessible to them.

So there's different options, there's assistive technology that maybe we could investigate

and or just allow people to do it online through an ADA accessible form, emphasis on accessible

form, online form.

So that is a suggestion that I have in addition to the public comment is a recommendation to

our council for other ways to submit speaker slips just in, again, improving that access

to the public process.

And then I know I've mentioned this in the past but one of my recommendations would be

as we are continuing to add per federal guidelines these audible pedestrian signals that we support

and advocate an audit of existing audible signals and when they were last serviced and

or replaced, it has been staff's presentation to us or in answering questions about this

that there's nothing in place for that.

Cal transfer example when they have audible signals, when they are installed, there is a service

and maintenance plan as part of that project.

So I know that might be a daunting effort, maybe we don't necessarily go back but I think

how does a member of the public know that a signal is supposed to be audible that's no

longer working to even report that to 311 for example.

So even if we knew where they were supposed to be and there was perhaps a map or a database

available to the public or they can go is that supposed to be audible and then they can

submit a 311 request for a repair.

So I might, yes, suggest that as an item for next year.

Right, exactly.

So I think that's a good presentation for the next, for the work plan or the next year

to hear about that.

And I think that is all.

I do believe that the Brown Act allows less than a quorum of us to say, hey, I wouldn't

be talking to you about this work plan on our own and sharing ideas to bring back to

our next meeting.

So we just have to informally make that connection and make sure that we're not having a serial

meeting or meeting with more than a quorum on the dius.

Thank you.

Commissioner Mercer.

I'm going to concur with Commissioner Tusson Bois' suggestions about plans going forward,

especially around the issue of participation and comment over at the meetings.

I will say that the staff has always been exceedingly helpful when my husband's been here

to do comment both here and at council and other commission meetings.

And I appreciate that.

I just want us to be more deliberate and unintentional about how we're doing this.

So that would be my first point.

My second point would be that looking through this, my suggestion would be more non-hardscape

visuals.

You've done a beautiful job of photographically documenting engineering's work.

I'm just gorgeous.

I might have been because I'm like following your report here and what you were doing up

there.

And I notice over in this you do have Tim Haley award winners and I think that's very

important to include those pictures in there.

I might have missed it when you did it over on your slide presentation.

And so that would be really important to go over and include that and let's see review

policies.

And then I'm just going to say really quickly while I'm reading this.

Most of the work over on Golden Dawn quite frankly goes to Commissioner Toos on Boyd.

I just squawked a lot.

Which I'm willing to go over and do.

So yeah, trying to get some of those other visuals, especially it's mentioning the ADA

list of the city website.

If you have some visuals that could go along with that, that would be a really good idea.

Or if it's like, if it's an example, even if we're like part way through this process

and it's a counter example of why we need to do something, I think that's a good idea.

And that's because I would really like the commission.

You guys are brilliant at doing your engineering stuff, but that's not our full purview and

I want to make sure that we're visually representing the other parts of our purview as well.

Commissioner Carr?

I'd like to thank you for a quick overview and I look over to one-on-one to understand

how public works with the commission.

And I would also like to congratulate and applaud all of you for all the efforts to emphasize

accessibility and in and around the city.

I know these projects take a long time and a lot of efforts put in and a lot of moving pieces

and so many pieces to put together.

So thank you so much and you did a great job to make your presentation.

And it's just good to know about all the accomplishments that this commission has achieved

and a quick overview in the year.

Thank you so much.

Commissioner Greenbaum?

Thank you.

Definitely second to Commissioner Carr's.

I'm applaud to your successes.

For me, it's exciting to be among a group that's accomplished so much.

And I am just in terms of I'm visualizing a work plan for the upcoming year.

I was hoping just from Commissioner Tucson Boyd you talked about that settlement.

Is there a scope in terms of the amount of projects and a period of time?

And that can be something maybe I research on my own if it's unavailable for.

I mean, in general, the settlement states that 20% of discretionary transportation funds

should go towards accessibility improvements.

And there is a duration on it.

It's maybe out of the city attorney office.

I believe it's 20 to 30 years total.

I don't know off the top of my head but there is.

It's not 50.

I know that.

But it may be another 10 years.

What was it?

2002?

Yeah.

Could we summarize the question and then this response again?

I think maybe a report out just on the history of the Barton settlement.

Maybe could be an item for the work plan next year.

And you know, it's something that is built in because as part of the settlement, we bring

forward a prospective plan.

And the prospective plan shows the projects that we're planning to do and the estimated

evaluation of the accessibility component of those projects.

And then we do the Barton report, which is the documentation of what was actually constructed.

So like Broadway, down to mobility, Del Rio Trail, go in the Barton report.

And those are filed annually.

But if maybe just for educational purposes, if maybe a report out on that process, and

maybe it could happen in conjunction when we bring the prospective plan forward to give

some background because it's included there.

So that's probably the best place for it.

And the prospective plan is kind of built.

It's always on the work plan.

So.

I just wanted to clarify our discussion.

So we've been talking about the annual report and what Mr. Gothen was asking for is, and

what our purpose is is to give feedback on the accomplishments, the messaging from the

DAC, and then we're going to defer our work plan discussion as a second part of this item.

That's right.

I was going to like that.

So I just wanted to clarify, as Mr. Gothen was talking about, perspectives and the conversation

seems to be veering just a little bit.

So I wanted to get us back on track and just say, we don't know how we're veering until

we have the conversation.

So I wanted to just have this opportunity because we're talking about how to give feedback

to Mr. Gothen right now on the items that he presented and then his request on who

should help him to present.

So before I have some final comments, is there anyone else in the commission?

There were no previous speaker comments from the public.

Is there any other commissioner comments?

Because I did want to call on Mr. Gale.

Okay.

Mr. Gale, can you, because you were just referred to, and one of our goals as a advisory

body involves the law?

Can you share a little bit?

I'm jumping ahead only because it's relevant to the presentation.

What is in a quick summary, how is it that you support the DAC when it comes to legalities?

Short of just questions because we're novices and we may not know the answer from the city

perspective.

I think our office's role is to assist if we see anything that looks like it may be going

a foul of the law or the Brown Act to maybe notify the board of situations like that.

If there may be any specific legal questions that any of the board members have, sometimes

there's questions, maybe not so much with this board, but there's conflict questions that

come up with other boards that are taking, especially they're taking action and comes

up with the council.

So I think generally that's probably how I would say our office supports the boards.

Thank you very much.

So I had a couple of comments, but before I do, I thought all of us should know, when does

this do?

The annual report?

The annual report.

I would like to have it approved by January.

So may I'll defer the clerk's office?

Is there a goal?

I think it's the end of the year, right?

Or early March?

Because it goes to P.P.

and it goes to the city council.

And while I give the clerk a chance to look that up, I wanted to give the new commissioners

a bit, a background.

This commission through Mr. Gothen's leadership finally became current on submitting our annual

reports to something that is recognizable by council.

There was a very big drag of content.

So we want to make sure, as a commission, that there is a chair and a vice chair that

by default is a support to the staff.

But my hope would be in terms of the modernization of what we're doing is that we relate our comments

directly to the staff, which would be Mr. Gothen's email.

And then we would have at least one, if not two, support.

Because Mr. Gothen and I, and whoever the vice chair is, will always have to regularly

meet.

But this is important enough where we need to have more voices to ensure that the messaging

is clear.

That's my comment and feedback so far.

Clerk?

Any luck to zero in?

I have made a note and I'm reaching out to the clerk's office for clarification for you.

I hope to have an answer by the end of the meeting.

But if not, they can get back to you with that information.

Thank you.

Okay, so seeing no other comments, I wanted to summarize while we're here, the best of

what I've heard everyone say and what is like an outline.

Because I've been around for a little while under the leadership of Tucson Void and the

two previous chairs, McMillan and Kennedy, yes.

So all of these changes, I believe, are part of a modernization that I'd like to, first

I'd like to cast a quick vision to kind of reset how I believe we exist right now.

And then identifying the five points that should help address the presentation so that all

of us as commissioners can address those points that was presented.

Can we have Mr. Gothen's initial slide up that had the purpose of the body that we serve?

Oh, and the clerk has something while we're waiting for that.

Yes, please clerk.

Thank you for being patient with us.

The work plan would be best, we can work with you, but we would like it towards the end

of the year.

This year you went before PPE on February 13, 2024.

So I think that would be a good pattern is if we, as the commission can approve the annual

report recommended to the PPE February March.

Oh, I heard it differently, Mr. Gothen.

I was, what I heard is if the clerk's office needs it by the end of this year, that means

the December meeting is when we should, as a commission, have given you input and have

agreed on the messaging, is that right?

That's a technical, yeah.

So I would pose to the commissioners that are November meeting, so this is the September

meeting, right?

We have a meeting in between and we have a November meeting.

At the November meeting, we all need to be ready.

We should have emailed him, so I'm going to outline some comments briefly.

It'll take about four to five minutes, my points, that we, as the work, if you will,

that I'm assigning is that we take on.

So these are the five duties.

What we haven't done in the past is we have not, can everyone hear me?

Sorry.

One in the past is address all of the items.

They've only been addressed for, in my opinion, as you've noticed here, get the lawyer involved,

get the city attorney involved, talk about it.

Why do we exist?

Okay, let's start.

I would propose the pandemic is over.

It's been years.

Let's start with we exist, right?

I think in the disability world and the accessibility world, we're always starting with

an apology.

So what I'm proposing is that we start with how we've been designed.

And this is prior to any sort of modernization.

So this is the five, and if we could just leave this up for a moment.

So here's the overarching idea that I believe that between now and the end of the year, as

long as I'm chair, this is the feedback and the posturing that I would like our commission

to take, that we are modernizing our presence in the community and as a voice to city council.

And the reason is because what I heard in the two presentations today, which were very

synonymous, there are so many accomplishments and that's how Mr. Goathin started his presentation.

Public works is tied to the DAC and we were formed in order to support the engineering,

or as he said, monitoring the engineering and none of us are engineers.

But what we do bring is the community level eyes on the projects, which is what we call

it in healthcare is that check in balance, right?

The pilot is responsible for the automation of everything.

However, if the equipment fails, the pilot knows how to run it.

That's how I view the engineers.

They know how to prevent the accident.

But if the passengers are acting out, the attendance have got to keep everyone in line.

And we by no means are policing the situation.

So you'll notice what I mentioned to Ms. Johnson was, what is the feedback that we're giving

the community?

And as a commission, as we serve our constituents, we are that voice after the accident.

And after speaker comments from the public of what got lost that somebody else didn't say.

So in that way, what we've heard is that this commission, when it talks about accessibility

and how we have an accessible city, we are critical to the economic development of the

city moving forward.

That is not discussed anywhere in any commission.

It is bread and butter meetings and we are very dynamic.

We have to be every single accommodation and individualization of a person's need in

the city starts with their initiating a request.

That's how we operate based on the request.

And I would even say that based on the personality of the chair, we've moved all of these things

forward because based on whatever the commission is composed of, something comes up and then

that chair moves forward with it.

So for the short amount of time that I'm the chair right now, I would say that my biggest

accomplishment would be to address every single one of these points.

First by starting the economic impact of accessibility as tied to the public works project, not

leading in with the legalities of it.

We have a city attorney as he just expressed.

He's here and assigned everyone including the council knows why there's an attorney.

We have a safety net here where we can explore all of the needs of those who are needing

something from the city that aren't part of the regular conversation.

And the city said, hey, we're going to have an attorney always there to help the commissioners

who are volunteers to bring something forward.

So this is our spotlight and this is the spotlight in a very good time.

It's enough time after the pandemic and it's with a bunch of accomplishments where we

can identify five things minimally.

And this is what I think this is what I heard.

So we'll see how I go.

Number one in terms of the advisory body to law.

We identify and we highlight how we had very good relationships with Mr. Hicks, Miss Logan

and Miss Gail and moving forward the agenda.

We don't want to lose the attorney's spot here because once we lose that sort of safety

net, we then become freelance.

And when I freelance means it becomes opinion.

One part of the community is going to say something.

Another district is going to say something.

And then we only focus on one sort of disability or ability and that's not fair.

So the attorney presence needs to be highlighted.

But simply by saying those relationships with the city attorney helped to keep the momentum

of our progress of this body in order to address compliance standards in what Mr.

Goathen would present.

So I think that number one is just simply saying that we have that relationship with the city

attorney.

As he just said, there haven't been issues.

This is not a conflicted sort of commission.

That's important to highlight that we are a unified body and what we're presenting has

not led to any conflicts and has been able to be reconciled.

Number two when we're talking about programs and activities within the city, our entire annual

report, our previous work plans and all the discussions have all been about programs

and activities because we were novices and we didn't know what to do.

So I believe that what I heard is the Tim Haley award is something that was an accomplishment

and I would propose again as I've done in previous meetings when this has come up that

we also give the council a projection.

We want our $50 or $80 or whatever the increase is in order to do the certificates and being

able to set up a table and have balloons and go and be part of state wide representation

of disability programs at our discretion when it's agreed upon based on our body rules.

If we don't bring up that money in front of the council, I don't think they realize how

important that $20 copy and how much pride a person receiving the award feels.

It's been very scrappy for the person who's the staff.

So to make that proposal formalized because we have not to minimize it but that's what

we knew to do as citizen volunteers.

How can we do outreach?

How can we change the perspective?

How do we get into chambers?

How do we draw in representation?

So that's the second thing I heard.

I added the budget piece.

That's something that I didn't hear but I wanted to remind the new commissioners that

we do have to have like $100 budget, not just the $50 for our parking and all of that,

which is greatly appreciated.

So I think also when we talk about money, Mr. Gothen, is that there is an attendance topic

and a validating parking that we need to acknowledge.

So I wanted to jump to policy procedures and programs for number five while we're talking

about money.

That we want to be grateful for the allotted money already because it allows for our attendance

and we appreciate the spin on this conversation would be, we appreciate that that helps ease

the ability for us to minimize the sacrifice that we make.

Most of us in the commission have something of passion.

It's in the P&P letters and how we interviewed.

There's something that drew us here and we're already a disenfranchised community.

We're less than 2% of the population, not that we have to get into statistics.

But what I am saying is when it comes to assisting with policy procedures and programs,

our attendance and the use of the policy and procedures that give us that money need

to be highlighted and our attendance is what allows us to move these projects forward.

There's something in that language that says how do we show up because what we talk internally

about is why is the seat empty and why are people gone when they're not empty.

We don't need to, in my opinion, we don't need to bring that up to council.

That's not what we're talking about.

We're talking about accomplishments.

So our accomplishments is to shine on the attendance and I believe that will come from

the clerk and therefore what I would like to highlight is that considering our current

attendance is an example of what we can traditionally expect with only two seats to fill, then

the modernization of the onboarding then highlights the clerk because we are very grateful

for the staff in the clerk.

So we can, for number five, identify how regardless of who is helping us facilitate the meetings,

our attendance, the way that the other items that were talked about, the speaker slips

and such.

We don't have to get into the nitty-gritty on that section but to highlight that as a

bullet point of how policies, procedures and programs are implemented by our attendance,

implemented by the use of our parking passes or something to that effect that ties the

money.

So that council realizes that $50 of a parking pass is not enough.

There's been inflation.

So we have to adjust our budget for that.

That's another area is what I'm saying where the money can get involved and also identify

at the same time where number five identifies the clerk, number one identifies the relationship

with legal council.

Then when it comes to programs, I'm going to take activities, I already talked about that

with the Tim Haley Award.

There is something that was mentioned in the comments about Golden One and I want to say

that that seems to be the common thread but somehow I think your idea Mr. Gothen was

to highlight the public works project.

I think this is how you said it.

Highlight the engineering projects that were successful and I'm saying identify based on

three and four, I'm sorry, item two, the programs and activities within the city going to basketball

games is within the city.

You see what I mean.

So that would be an appropriate place to highlight how the commission implemented its constituents

to get to functions within the city.

That would fall under the same sort of, how does it affect the people with disability?

That at Nazim has been like a topic.

And then the information referral and technician for number four, that's where I'm hearing

the speaker slips being able to show that there are participation in the working groups.

Ms. Johnson's example would be, she's not a formal working group but there's requests

now coming in to the commission on how to participate and that's a direct shift in the

way that we were approached before.

The city has made it more tangible for commissions to be involved and also what the commission

is saying is that we want to visit other commissions and influence the way that their

lens may be.

Some sort of construction meeting may have inherent engineering principles on disability,

but if we go to the youth commission, the youth are not necessarily thinking about, not

necessarily thinking about the level of detail.

So even though it sounds like a perspective plan, what we're talking about is an update

of what we've mentioned, the current state, and what I'm saying is for the technical assistance

and providing information pertaining to issues, the issues and the technical assistance

would be things like in this meeting, speaker slips, out of this meeting participation with

working groups.

And I believe the clerk's office should have where we have from the last annual report

till now been invited to and be present.

I believe if they don't, I will look at my notes in general from the previous staff

person, but there's at least three working groups and then we have the invitations that

come through the meeting.

So that's like number four.

Yeah, it's like maybe Chair Crowley were getting into kind of the work plan for 2025 and there

are some items I want to propose to the commission, but just to sum up some of the things that

you were saying, such as Sacrific Parkway, all of our projects are when we host a public

meeting, that meeting is, should be in a facility that is accessible, maybe Shelby.

And also the staff there are available to assist anyone that may need assistance at a

meeting.

That is also standard operating procedure for when we're hosting a public meeting for a public

works project, whether it's the two rivers trail project or a Broadway project or any

of the projects that come before you, that is our standard practice.

And that should, and my point is is that we should highlight it.

We shouldn't assume, we should say the words to the city council to highlight that as

an accomplishment that wasn't easily spoken before.

It was very much like if somebody needs it, let us know instead being proactive.

So I appreciate that summary.

And then last, when it comes to the recommendation procedures for city employees, that's been

something that we've always mentioned and it wasn't necessarily addressed.

But one thought I had to address it to keep it as a relevant topic for what our body does

is when we had the discussion about the doors, it would fall under that category.

Because it's again a very private matter.

So and it's not the attorneys job during meetings to bring something to us.

It would have to be coming from HR.

And the last thing I would say is the overall arching theme, if I remember correctly, this

council last meeting did agree for either the conversation or the need for ADA coordinators.

It's muddled.

It's muddled what that, the history of that is no longer relevant in my opinion.

It's that we have this body, we're active.

And I would suggest that since we're trying to shoot for approval or agreement at the

December meeting, that after this meeting, all of us are looking for a copy of what was

presented last session.

And then based on that letter and the comments that I've made today.

And this will be on the video for us to review if you were to, I see there's two more speakers,

thank you.

And whatever we have before the next meeting, we have then given Mr. Goathen.

We can always give it towards the end.

I'm not saying that there's a limit.

But we come to the November, sorry, October meeting, having given him a first round of feedback.

And I use the time, the extensive amount of time at this meeting to direct our comments

to one of these five categories.

I've shared a little bit in the short amount of time as quickly as I could.

But that feedback means that we're all giving that input so that when Mr. Goathen and

myself and the vice chair and anyone else who's available to go in front of council, he

obviously and I will be there to speak and along with the vice chair if that's the format

he would like to take.

But at least by the October meeting, he can conscientiously say we've talked about these

five points we gave time during this meeting to talk about it.

There was an opportunity to give email feedback for a month directly to staff.

And if there's anything else, we can talk about it at the next meeting as we're guided

to do.

And other than that, I didn't have any further comments that I believe that qualifies all

the things that were mentioned by the various council members.

I see that there's two more commissioner comments, Commissioner Mercer.

Yeah.

One of the things that I was kind of a stickler about last time and I think we've got

this in mind by going over and having, looking at delegating somebody from the commission

itself is that the voice ever on this, Jessie, you are a civil servant and you are an

engineer and you are used to a certain tone in your writing and it's appropriate for

that.

I think it's very important that we try and go over and make the words live over in this.

I'm not opposed to any of the things you talked about at how to organize it.

But language choice is going to be very important in making sure.

And you know, former Chair McMillan and I went around a little bit about this but I think

we came to appreciate each other's point of view.

I kind of like still like to put advocacy language over in there.

Even though we're in advisory commission and an official body, I think it will make things

a little bit more and I'll leave it at that.

Commissioner, to you, Sunboy?

So a couple of follow-up comments on what you guys just discussed.

I think this, not I think, the speaker slips would be in accommodation that would be available

to all public meetings.

It would not just be disability advisory commission meetings.

So it's something that would be implemented citywide.

So you mentioned at this meeting and I just want to make sure that we are in agreement

that's something that should be made available for all meetings because we've had folks who've

come to this meeting attend the PMP meetings and city council meetings actually to support

our annual report and work plan and that was I believe a barrier to their full participation.

Probably the description of our commission if you look at it with these five points basically

applies to everything that the city of Sacramento does.

So I know we're trying to narrow it down and highlight one of each five but a project,

a policy, a program, an activity.

I mean that could apply to every single thing.

So and obviously we meet once a month and we are not and maybe this is something for

future consideration but we're not like the planning commission that meets multiple times

a month that has staff resources to support analyzing every single thing that the city does.

But that is the argument for an ADA coordinator or somebody who is not assigned to a specific

department but has that overarching view and perspective of what is happening in the

city of Sacramento who can help discern for us and our staff what would be appropriate

to come before us.

Right now we're relying on those who participate in meetings I don't know if they're still

happening but were to bring an HR policy to us that really has been the result of advocacy

on the part of our staff including Jesse and his predecessor.

And I think the you know I believe Jesse has a has a job in addition to supporting this

commission and you know we have talked about this in the past the desire to participate

and lend our voice and perspective to more diverse topics that aren't just hard skate

projects which we appreciate and we know are valuable and that's not to minimize the

impact and importance of those but if you read the duties you know if there's proposed

budget cuts to recreational programming that specifically serves individuals with disabilities

you know perhaps the commission has some this commission has something to say about that

and can you know make a comment to council or whatever but is Jesse going to be dialed

into all of those individual things in those different departments I don't expect him

to be you know so that's one thing and then I just think you know we visiting other

commissions could be part I know that's the next part could be part of our work plan

to share that perspective of inclusion and you know if we have volunteers on the

dies that are willing to do that I think that would be great.

Thank you so as we conclude the first annual report piece and providing feedback the conclusion

I have is that in the October meeting we're all going to provide at least with some semblance

of an outline comments that might help gather data and wording and ideas based on whatever

individually we feel from our districts and from our own experience and our own research

so that it reduces the pressure on Mr. Gothen and then at the November meeting I would

propose then what we would do Mr. Gothen is that we would then address now that the feedback

is there and feedback can continue based on our regular process but then we identify at

least one person outside of the chair and vice chair because we still have to vote on

the vice chair and in the meantime I think it's just because I'm the chair and whoever

the vice chair would be it would be the three of us to support however the writing should

be.

Yeah I think that's exactly what I'd hope for.

I am planning to cancel the October meeting because they're back to back there's the

October 30th but then keep our Wednesday our first Wednesday time slot the November 6th

I believe it is but October 30th it's just not going to work for me.

So can you repeat the October meeting is going to be what day?

It's scheduled for October 30th but I'm going to cancel it.

Okay so if October 30th is canceled and that means that the November so if there's no

meeting in October then when is the November meeting?

It's the very next Wednesday.

So we are having a November meeting?

Yes.

Clerk could you look up the calendar while I just ask this question?

What's out of sync is the October meeting is proposed on the last Wednesday of the month

and then it's followed up by the November meeting on the first Wednesday of the month so

I don't want to do both.

Sure understandable.

So the November meeting as soon as the clerk gets that date for me thank you.

So October 30th is going to be canceled so that gives the commissioners.

So what that does is it gives us ability to reach out so you're still working as you're

not taking a vacation as our staff or somebody else isn't coming in as a staff I didn't

mean to get into your personal schedule.

Do we have a staff person that we're sending emails to between now and the November meeting?

Absolutely.

Yes that's what I meant.

I'm sorry that came out different.

So the November meeting then is November 6th.

And the December meeting is December 4th.

I'll look at my calendar.

No I mean I'm confirming that December 4th, 2024 is the first Wednesday in December.

So if there's changes for purposes of what we're talking about.

So then so as of today's meeting then just myself the newly elected vice chair and then

all of us give our comments to Jesse so that the chair and the vice chair can summarize.

That means that the December, at the November 6th meeting, we're going to be reviewing and

we need ample amount of time to review the feedback so that the vice chair and chair and

staff can divvy up that work and present on however we did divvy up that work so that

the commission can come up with the second draft and then share that with you.

Sounds good.

And then whoever the vice chair is.

Right.

I think that's a great comment and then that's what will be the discussion item for the

6th of November.

Okay.

That sounds like and clerk and Mr. Gale all is in order for that planning.

I believe so.

You do want to make sure and avoid any serial meetings.

So I think if information goes directly to him and he works on it and then he comes back

and with maybe assistance of one or two, that should be okay.

But you wouldn't want from him going back and back and forth to.

Well, yeah, and let me clarify the word serial.

So that's one of the reasons October 30th and November 6th being back to back would be

a serial meeting.

Is that what you mean?

No, I mean, serial in the sense of violating the Brown Act where you have meetings that

aren't public like this because basically let's say two commissioners send him information and he sends

that same information to two other commissioners to get their comments and you start going back and forth.

That's considered a meeting for the Brown Act purposes and it's not a notice public meeting.

Yes.

And what I'm understanding is that we're in good form there because the chair and vice chair and

Mr. Gothen regularly meet to discuss about what the agenda would be.

But what he just summarized is that he's receiving all the information between now and our next chair and

vice chair meeting with him, which will be sometime as regularly scheduled.

It's not meant to be a public meeting and then at the public meeting, we will be presenting on or

he rather would be summarizing what was received and then we all give comment here.

Is that in good form?

Yes.

Okay.

So with that said, I would like to hold just for a moment the 2025 work plan because we need to

clerk, we need to take a vote to extend time.

Commissioner Boyd will get to your comment.

Thank you, chair.

Per council rules of procedure chapter eight section D six city established legislative bodies

shall automatically adjourn after two hours unless extended by a two thirds vote of the members present.

But in no case shall in shall an advisory body meeting exceed three hours.

We will need to take a vote to extend the meeting past seven thirty for an additional hour.

Is there a motion to extend the meeting?

So moved.

Seconded.

Moved by Commissioner Ellis second by commissioner Tucson Boyd.

Thank you.

And commissioners, please unmute for a vote.

Commissioner Ellis.

Aye.

Commissioner Greenbomb.

Aye.

Commissioner Carr.

Aye.

Commissioner Kramer.

Aye.

Commissioner Mercer.

Aye.

Commissioner Smith.

It's absent.

Commissioner Tucson Boyd.

Aye.

And Commissioner Crowley.

Aye.

Thank you.

Motion passes.

The meeting will continue until 830 at which point it will adjourn.

Thank you.

Commissioner Boyd.

What was my question?

Oh, Jesse has a time frame by which he needs to have whatever feedback to prep our report for the clerk's office for posting to the website.

If you do not have that date handy right now, could you send that out to us?

Yes.

Yeah, and I think, yeah, we should have ample time, but I'll send that out to you.

Just to clarify, the reason I was emphasizing the December 4th meeting as our final feedback to you, what Commissioner Boyd is referring to is what you need to post publicly as a different date.

Well, yeah, and what she's being sensitive to is it's I need my draft report done about 16 days before the meeting.

I think it's actually 19 days now.

16 days before the DAC meeting or six.

Yeah, before the meeting.

So I'll work with you and I'll share that date so that I can get the draft.

And the date that we're talking about November 4th is the next meeting where all of us are going to be seeing each other again.

And so you have a hard deadline for 16 days before November 4th.

Yeah, so you'll have all of September and a couple weeks in October to send me your comments on the on the second draft.

Okay, on the first with the first draft being this slide presentation.

Yeah, yes, excellent.

So thank you for clarifying.

So my my understanding is that we're just looking at the calendar from November 6th counting back 16 days to be sensitive to our staff's deadline.

And that's our thank you commissioner boyd for that.

Okay, so if we with no other commissioner comments in the queue if we could move on to the next part of your presentation.

Do you need a break or drink a water or anything?

No, I'm good.

Yeah, I'm and I think this is this is a tick-tack or a haul.

This is what I can tell I like it.

We look look back like look back over accomplishments.

Talk about the president and I look towards the future.

So I did want to bring up a couple ideas for your work plan just from my perspective.

Granted, it's a public works perspective of things I've heard.

And this comment we get quite a bit on utility poll conflicts.

And so why is it so difficult to move those utility polls?

So I thought that might be a fun one to have a special presentation on of what issues that staff encounters when there's a utility poll that's in a sidewalk.

And some of our major arterials right have these utility polls.

And anyway, we have a lot of stories and examples of successes in areas where we just couldn't move it.

So if that's of interest, that could be one.

We could do a workshop on plan review.

Just what to pay attention to.

I know I gave an example there on this presentation, but if that would be something of interest of reviewing these reports and when staff comes up before you or the project, what are the key things to look for.

We have a citizen request program.

This program has done some pretty amazing things that don't get talked about often, like I mentioned, the curb ramps on Broadway.

And that sort of thing.

Well, there's the citizen request program that has implemented APS, audible pedestrian signals on some some corridors where there was a documented request for APS.

There's want to bring forward a transition plan update next year for sure.

And then the last one I wanted to mention as an idea is we have this situation that I explained with CalTrans that when we get HCIP funds, which there was a staff item last Tuesday about HCIP, we're going after it.

It's an annual program, or I think every two years that CalTrans gives us or no makes us compete for funding to implement safety.

And we encounter this issue where they don't allow those funds to go towards accessibility improvements, which creates a big hole in our budgets because we don't want to just implement half a project.

We want to include the accessibility.

So one idea was what if the commission wrote a letter or draft a letter to CalTrans, you know, Office of Safety regarding that policy stance and say can cities such as Sacramento use HCIP funds to do ADA improvements and not have that count against our cost benefit.

As what they'll say is they'll say, oh, well, we'll pay for accessibility. But then if we include that in the budget, well, then they'll say, oh, you didn't reach the cost benefit ratio that you need to.

So you have to find other money for this. So anyway, that could be something for you to consider. So those are just a couple ideas.

And then I'll take notes on what else other things we can do for 25.

And just as a reference point, the 2025 work plan needs to be submitted. Those dates and this is part of the commission's regular documentation that needs to be submitted by staff.

It's part of the standard format for the annual report to have the 25 work plan. So those are like items to consider issues to consider for 25.

And so as we were mentioning before the 2024 work plan and the 2024 annual report copies will be sent out after the meeting to all the commissioners so that they have a reference point.

Correct.

Oh, yeah.

And so that way for those that have never seen one, you now know what and you could review the click to this part of the video online and be like, okay, this was what was there that last year.

And so we're taking commission clerk, is there any members from the public who wish to speak on this item?

Thank you. Chair, there are no speakers for this item.

And now we'll turn to Commissioner Cummins. Commissioner Mercer.

I'm glad you brought up that issue because frankly accessibility is safety because when I go over and I look at that picture of what that.

With that sidewalk look like that crossing that you grew up by look like before and after that's a safety issue because they have to go out over into traffic.

And that's something that's certainly in my wheelhouse and I think the wheelhouse have a lot of commissioners to go over and do.

So I would support that.

Commissioner Tucson boy.

I thought of something also to include in our work plan.

I think commissioner Mercer alluded to it.

But why not?

We list all the commissioners and last last report was like a two year report and we had so many people come and go.

So there were like all these names on there.

What about including bios of your commissioners and our why for serving on this commission?

So I think that's a suggestion. Let Jesse know what you think about that.

I also wanted to mention that you know.

Jesse you mentioned regards to the public meetings.

It's always in accessible space.

It wasn't until we started chatting about.

Council chambers that is like actually sure the doors wide enough sure there's you know.

A grade but the fact that somebody.

May not be able to navigate that door and open that door.

Came out of this commission.

So I know we are always planning to be accessible.

I was I have a family member who is a project manager for Cal Transit and I texted him and I said how does HZIP not cover accessibility.

So I think what I am hearing us say is support for making an argument or stating our support for accessibility being considered a safety issues last measure part of a project.

And then I did want to ask you because I'm looking at this description of HZIP funding where it says non safety related construction items may be included in a project but are considered incidental to the overall project and must not exceed 10% of the project.

Is that something you are aware of and is that that cost benefit thing because I'm curious about that.

So it's not easy to follow right so what what happens is we scope a safety improvement project and there's very specific prescribed safety measures that count towards the benefit.

There's a big table in fact if you the commission wants to take it on we would drop the letter and we can explain it to you.

But the concrete work is expensive but you don't get the benefit.

So when you actually show the benefit to cost ratio it gets too low and it's the concrete cost and the grading and the drainage that tends to drive those costs up.

And so then you're stuck just doing signal arm replacements and striping improvements and things things that don't because the accessibility components can in some cases be more costly right obviously there's things like maybe the APS you're already signalizing so maybe it's just a you know a marginal cost increase to include the APS but things like curb ramps where there's these vertical curves.

They very quickly make the project not competitive for each of the funds so our argument would be why not included why can't we use the federal funds for that to because obviously that's a goal right and like there's there's there's a good argument to be made.

So well and if these are safety improvement program funds what is the cost of a life with that the cost benefit of saving lives by making an intersection or roadway accessible anyway I mean that could be part of our letter.

Thank you.

The timing of that catchphrase was seven 27 on your video as a catchphrase for those of us commissioners who are going to take notes and give feedback commissioner Ellis.

Thank you.

Just want to echo everything that has been set thus far for the work plan had I wanted to kind of compartmentalize my comments first just talking about the overall plan that you'd presented now kind of give some tangible things to be added to the work plan going forward.

And I agree with what you just I would sign that letter no question.

I think it's it's when you're pulling from different funding sources you're you're constrained sometimes you can do certain things with this that you can't do with that and you got a cobble it all together to make the project make sense because like you said in the project the example.

You could make those improvements and then everybody's going to be like what about the curves and the curb cuts and all that other stuff well we didn't have the money for it so I appreciate that the city did the due diligence and did right by everyone who lives here and visits here to make it you know the to make the project a whole project so I agree.

So whatever we need to do as a commission I'm down for the cause and echo commissioner Mercer about I think that lands in that bucket of advocacy you know the city council is who were under but you know we need to be responsive also to the state and federal government to in these spaces but also some other items I agree with the comments about the speaker slips you know that to me that's a no brainer we got to have while

while yes we are accommodating but we could design it use use use universal design and make it so that you don't have to accommodate you don't have to make a special ask and you can have things in multiple formats so that way it is accessible and inclusive you can have a paper copy for those who want to do it that way you can have a digital way of asking to raise your hand and sign up I know other governing bodies and it's not going to be a real thing.

So I think that's a good idea to have a digital way of asking to raise your hand and to tease allow for those kind of processes so that way those who you know you can't just have one of the other you know we saw that with COVID you know when it was only you could sign up for for a COVID shot with with the digital form well that left people out who for various reasons weren't either digital incline or

the one that came up today that I didn't realize was you know assisting the city in terms of employees and human resources and reasonable accommodations and I know that can kind of get tricky because now we're entering you know a confidentiality space but I would be interested to kind of see how the city is dealing with those issues you know how has it historically and then has that process evolved our you know we are not going to get that.

So I mean the big the question do employees with disabilities who work for the city feel like they're receiving their reasonable accommodations and that's kind of an overarching question and that I would want to add into the work plan in some way don't quite know since it just kind of entered my my scope so that thought is not fully formed I will admit but you know being a state employee myself and I'm in procurement and I'm not going to be a state employee.

And I do reasonable accommodation procurements so I you know I work for you know so I kind of see that side of things too and there's even disparate treatment there from one state department to another you know in that as well so I would like to see you know is that happening here at the city too you know one department reasonable accommodations are treated one way versus another just given the leadership or what have you so that shouldn't be a

state employee. So I think that's not going to happen but it can and my last item is more around because I would agree that this commission has at least when I served on it previously it was more public works facing because that's I think part of the bigger part of why it exists and I don't even though our purpose is more expansive than that I think it's been that's been kind of the I guess the gravitational pull.

Is towards those things and I think trying to make sure we have a good balance across all the items that the chair outline for us and one in particular is just general events and activities that are happening throughout the city.

You know there were several this past weekend and to in particular come to mind rainbow fest that happened in lavender heights when that event is going to be a

very important event when up on Facebook and social media they put what I would constitute as kind of an offensive post of sorts with regard they called it quote unquote service pets and requiring documentation in order to enter the venue in the event.

provided in terms of accessibility and can we add to that as well I know that's a lot but even another event like I is chalk it up in Fremont Park I love this event go to it every year as well but I just you know now sitting here again and when I attended this time you know my that hat kind of comes on and I'm looking at it.

They're blocking sidewalks number one which the artwork is amazing you know and it's for an amazing cause but then I was like but also now.

They let they still let people park along those sidewalks I was like well if these cars weren't here could this still be could this have been an accessible event you know where others who might want to attend could then also then.

You know have a way of participating in seeing the artwork as it's being done you know in a different way you know what are those kinds of resources when we're having these awesome community events and they're using the city spaces and the public spaces are we ensuring accessibility to the fullest extent we can and still have these really rich events and activities back to the chairs comment all of these things I think are.

So I think that's what I think is really important is that the economic drivers as well you know the the cause for for chalk it up you know supports the arts but also it those the folks who attend that then we'll go to the various businesses around that area that they might not what it might not have if they hadn't gone to that event and so on you know there are these other ripple effects you know that that definitely have have a positive impact to the city so I you know accessibility inclusion or definitely.

I think that's a positive economic drivers as well so those are kind of my three things definitely the speaker slips what can we do to better support our city employees and then how are we in trying accessibility in these public.

Community events throughout the city thank you.

Commissioner Crembe.

Thank you Commissioner Alice because you and prompted me to think about in terms of support of city employees on that identify with having you know limitations or disabilities.

Although I'm not a city attorney as an employment attorney is and maybe this is something that can be implemented or it already is on.

Providing in city employees with the knowledge that we are a resource in terms of coming for public comment I mean is there.

Is there that education and whether that's in a handbook or you know I think I'm just you know in terms of our engagement and outreach I'm ensuring that we are a resource you know to come to.

Certainly on the city employee side there is the ADA coordinator Catherine Bandy is her name and I have she did come and introduce herself when she was first hired with the city a couple months ago forget what you

meeting that was but maybe having her come and do a report out is kind of what I was thinking as I was hearing these comments on those types of questions yeah.

Commissioner to some point.

As follow up to commissioner Alice there was Mr. Mendoza who used to attend our meetings in person he did raise similar issue around a public event pride parade I don't believe it was this past year but the year before where there were.

Displays set up on the mediums down capital which as an individual in a motorized chair we're not accessible to him so maybe it could be something as simple as like a.

Inclusion checklist for for the city permit office to have or something like that that's really really great and then.

I think one of the things that we're hyper aware of it are the laws and the regulations and you know we must provide accommodations we must be ADA accessible but what we're always striving to for and I believe the city of Sacramento is as well as a whole is that you know that mantra of diversity equity inclusion which is going beyond that and you know going as far as best practices and maybe.

The extra mile so maybe part of that conversation around our city employees is is the city of Sacramento seen as a place of employment that individuals with disabilities would consider you know is there a way to say that we are and how you know how we.

You are ourselves as a city not just in line with the law but in line with our practices.

Commissioner Car.

I was just wondering if there's a need for disability advice to commission to be on social media to maybe get some you know some of our.

Important issues out and maybe get more public involvement.

And and their comments etc just just I was just thinking about those his comment just brought that to my mind.

Any other commissioners wish to speak.

Commissioner Creedball.

I've been thinking about outreach and engaging with our community.

One event that I think draws a lot of people is the midtown farmers market and I'm wondering if perhaps they're not every week but.

And away from us and you know to have a presence there and I wouldn't my volunteer myself in terms of you know educating our our city you know you know face to face as I as I do think there's probably a great need a lot of individuals out there.

And I think that's a that's a that's a thought of in terms of big events that draw people quite you know regularly weekly.

Any other commissioner comments.

I think I'm going to summarize the first part of item four in the review of the annual report draft and the work plan draft the first part was I believe the empowerment of monetizing our position in the works that have been done.

The reflection of those things the current status is what will be part of our feedback over the next several weeks and then the current discussion is about leverage that's what I believe is what I've heard in the theme that there's

utility polls which is a fun anecdote everyone's complaining about them why does the tree look that way I just saw a cartoon this morning where it's two trees along a sidewalk and then you have the one tree with that was.

Cut down for power lines and the trees are talking to each other saying don't talk to them about the power line cut that happened so it's it's a it's a it's a very.

Accessible is the wrong word common it's common place for everyone regardless of who you are to understand like which is which is more important the beautification the shade or the fact that the tree might go on fire especially

for you and then what it looks like right so that is a fun topic so if I find the cartoon I will send it to let you decide other bullet points was the citizen request program the cows trans H.

S. and how to with so so much talent what came across here is that that idea for the bios or the why it's going to be powerful with this current commission that we I would propose if you are so inclined to give the one or two liner to him because we all have that I could Google everybody right now and see what the picture was that was submitted but it's an idea of capturing

the snapshot now because it's presentation is going to be where we are from the past report to what we've done and the whole idea is who are we now which I believe is a brilliant anecdote that we're fun that this is serious stuff but it benefits everyone the other topics were the speaker slips how to engage our role with the employees

having a more interactive role with the ADA coordinator since that last introduction that they exist which means frankly that and I forgot until you mentioned it Mr. Gothen that that's the council acting on our behalf and we didn't mention that that was that that is a byproduct of our pursuing that letter and it may or may not be part of it meaning what I mean is there what the new people may not be aware of is that there was a lot of advocacy

with our council members individually as the public within the city clerk's office to be able to identify the value of what an ADA coordinator is despite it being an employee resident of the city what we discussed was an overarching theme and I was mentioning during the annual report is that and what I had in my notes earlier was the ADA coordinator for what our intended letter was is very different than the ADA coordinator that is currently hired

however highlighting that person as a presence in our beatings then leans into the limitations of that program and the scope of which we serve so that's the part where I'm trying to summarize that it's a different role but if they're not here except to introduce themselves then to Mr. commissioner Ellis's and commissioner Greenboss point and commissioner

and commissioner Ellis's point all of us are saying wait a minute do people know we exist and how do we leverage that we exist in a better way and then our comments concluded with commissioners report in general or are encouraged to to report their community events but what's missing is the DAX presence or being able to be present on social media but we've said is that we can always be somewhere as a public

person I mean we can always be in public as our private citizen we are attending but what the general comment towards the end was is how do we unify our presence so that I believe that ties into what I mentioned earlier is the budget needs to increase inflation has gone up and $50 for certificates is one thing but that's from references and perhaps being present where we are there in public and not to deter the comments that Mr. Gail had said is that we can't

have stacked meetings but if there are ways in which in the work plan to encourage events that we can have a presence so that whether it's council members are in their district we we also are part of that district we're assigned to that seat how do we assign to those events that are more a way to meet not only council member but us I mean PNP has its

role of of endorsing us to this position but what I'm summarizing is that that doesn't necessarily mean that anyone outside of that meeting when we got elected to this role knows what who we are or what we're about it could be in the work plan for that

what I might look into is ask the public information office the PIO and you may have you probably follow the city express which is the city social media and so maybe there's a maybe there's a message from the DAC that you could craft for the PIO to put out that could be maybe something for the work plan.

And in terms of that feedback it could be part of an annual as the commission changes there's a regular update to something like that it would be it's a wise way to approach that perceived limitation which is not perceived anymore it's just that we don't have an outlet that's approved so we feel limited as a commission on how we can express them ourselves especially when the majority is so new.

Okay so this item unless there's anything else mr. Goathen did you have any closing comments no no okay so with that this item is received in file so I mean receive in feedback feedback has been provided yes commissioner to son boy so in regards to the city express with the support of the city manager's office since we have been on the dius the PIO's office has been provided.

So we've done a couple of articles in the past perhaps establishing a relationship through this process those articles were our first to mealy awards and then also recruiting when we like had five open seats so that is that was through the support of specifically the city manager's office advocating for us to be part of the city manager's office.

It's not just a couple of other things that are in included in in in some sort of communication but we did generate the topics and I think I think this group is capable of generating topics so it's been done in the past but but creating that connection would be great.

Okay yeah and I think what we're talking about mr. Goathen is the strength of how our programs and activities that are generated organically in the commission have had a history of being put in the city express so now it's just again if it's an annual item.

On the work plan then anyone following along will say oh well what about city express instead of always having to go through the organizational department manager and is this done if proof if proof of commissioner to son boy wasn't here to remind us of that.

We would not know and it would be like reinventing the wheel so that's the emphasis.

Yeah it could be something is it could be something like you know the improvements around the golden one center the Tim Haley award recipients you know.

Yeah just as a so I think that was addressed any any final it's a receive and feedback feedback given and so there's no fault on this matter.

Thank you so much mr. Goathen for taking to the podium so we can formalize our ideas.

The last item on the discussion calendar is selection of the vice chair this is a mandatory item it is seven approximately oh it's 747 so I just wanted to identify that clerk when does this meeting officially come to an end.

Chair the meeting will officially end at 830 okay so with that in mind on this item there is no presentation that I have.

Mr. Goathen is there a presentation regarding selection of vice chair.

Clerk has some items and also.

Mr. Gale did you have any items last meeting the city attorney and the clerk did had some comments about the way in which the vice chair is elected is there anything we need to know about before the clerk.

I don't think there's anything in addition to what was said at the last meeting so which was done for the chair so I don't have anything to add unless there's any question.

Thank you and just as a reference the only thing was that the chair was nominated and voted for and that's why we're having this election now so I hope everyone had a chance to think about who they were going to nominate and how you're going to self nominate as well for the vice chair and full disclosure that my position.

I'm going to have a discussion ends in December so there at the next at the January meeting Mr. Goathen is going to and the clerk is going to have that as a discussion topic because we have to have a chair and vice chair in order to move forward with our meetings which is very important so with that.

I open the discussion for nominations self promotion comments for others and clerk is it okay oh pardon me the clerk has some comments and then we'll get to commissioner comments so you guys have a reprieve because I will call everyone individually to make sure that everyone had a chance to speak.

Go ahead thank you.

Good evening my name is Heather Brantley from the office of the city clerk there is no staff presentation on this item all information is detailed in your staff report however I would like to remind members of a few things.

Members may nominate another member or themselves for vice chair a member may serve as the vice chair person for no more than two calendar years the newly elected vice chair will start their terms at the next regular meeting.

Of the current roster commissioner to son boy and commissioner Crowley are not eligible to serve as vice chair as they have served two calendar years in this position all other members are eligible to serve as vice chair we may now begin with the nominations for vice chair.

And in part of the nominations clerk I wanted there to be just a chance for commissioners to either self describe or the nomination process involves that discussion correct.

Before we accept nominations.

I would defer to the attorney's office.

I don't believe there is any specific set rules about how that goes you're in an open meeting so it could be as simple as one nominating somebody else and everybody voting or.

Great.

However you want to do it.

Thank you so as chair I want to make sure everyone is acknowledged to speak so if you don't put yourself as a speaker just no alcohol and everyone individually I just think that's fair.

I would like to have the opportunity to say something as your thoughts percolate and I'll start with commissioner to son boy.

I'm going to call on you whether you want to.

That's right.

Okay. So in addition to what the clerk mentioned in regards to the current chair and myself not being eligible to be vice chair I do believe that it was stated at our last meeting that.

And this these positions do not count towards your two calendar years so after December meeting commissioner Crowley and or whoever is elected to vice chair are eligible to serve to calendar years in that same position because this is filling in as an interim.

I would like to nominate commission or Kramer for the position of vice chair commissioner Kramer was recently reappointed to her post here on the dius so this is she's starting her second term and she comes to almost every meeting I think that in my memory she's only just one but.

I'll often shares comments regarding presentations on items that don't come to my mind and I think this would be a great opportunity for her to shine as backup to whoever sitting in the chair seat.

And because you were nominated commissioner Kramer did you have any comments that you wanted to share.

Thank you.

First off thank you so much for the nomination.

While I have missed a few meetings I try to stay on topic or at least try to consider things from at least a civilians perspective perspective I'm I'm not knowledgeable that I'm sorry I'm not that knowledgeable in law or any of the more.

I'm not a technical technical stuff but I want to thank you again for the nomination and I'll I'm still trying to think about who I would like to nominate I'm trying to remember if Miss Alice Mercer has already already served in that position if if not she I would recommend her because she is very compassionate and she is very on topic about what about what we discuss and what.

And I want to thank you for our visitors and viewers coming and want to talk about.

Thank you and because you were mentioned and nominated again I wanted to again popcorn this conversation so that you all have a chance to think digest because I didn't say intentionally do you accept the nomination we're just talking we're just feeling each other out feeling yourself you know on how this goes so commissioner sir.

Thank commissioner Kramer for I'm going over nominating me you were not at the last meeting and at that meeting I indicated that I would not be interested in this position just because of some current health concerns that are going on but I would like to whole heartedly support the nomination that commissioner to some board is put forward with your name and I do appreciate the consideration that you're giving me but I think as she does that you would really shine.

I wanted to make this blanket statement as well as I did about two meetings ago every single person sitting here except for commissioner to son boy and myself are eligible but it's also a great position as I mentioned at this meeting if you just look at the dynamics I'm supported on either side and I have every opportunity to look right at Mr. Guest.

I'm going to look right at Mr. Gale and I've illustrated that hopefully in my way because there's no way to do this wrong as we said today there's money involved there's leverage involved and there's just feedback that staff get and not every meeting has to be long and detailed but also what we do and your ideas don't always have to be at every meeting you can simmer and know that the staff is there so anybody would be great to be vice chair.

And also without a vice chair we cannot move forward to the next meeting so there will be a vote and then lastly there's two meetings so this is the great way to test the waters November 6th and December 4th and then we're done and then we go on vacation and then we come back so the hardest part is going to be it's not hard but it is that time of year so we want I'm going to take as much responsibility as I can to take the burden off of Mr. Gothen the vice chair position

is for two months worth simply to participate as you are and to get familiar and however much or however little you want to interact and we can't talk personally anyway so it's all going to be here and an email to Mr. Gothen so it's low risk and so not to be shy so I'll move down my list commissioner

I think you have any comments nominations or self reflection on your own skills.

Since I'm not familiar with the commissioner's I'd like to trust both commissioner Mercer and commissioner Tuzon Boyd and piggyback on their suggestion and their nomination I nominated commissioner Cramer as well.

Commissioner Greenboe?

Yes, hearing what commissioner Tuzon Boyd has had to say as well as commissioner Mercer and you know your experience on the commission I support and nominate commissioner Cramer as well and I wanted to add that you know I see myself in the future in this position and I and I

I endeavour that however at this point I think it's a bit early in my in my service and I want more time to learn from all of you and including commissioner Cramer you know should you and hopefully you know be be elected into that role.

Thank you.

Commissioner Ellis?

Thank you.

I just put echo everything that's already been said.

You know I guess at this point it could self nominate just to make it interesting and would a 30 but I'll refrain from that and I'll just say if I'll preface and and just say if

commissioner Cramer does not accept then I will self nominate myself as a backup.

But at this discussion point.

At this discussion point now.

But yes I echo everything that's been said so thank you.

Okay.

Is there any staff that has anything to add about the role about how you can support the vice chair Mr. Goethan did you have anything to add anything about meetings or expectations?

No. Mr. Kale?

No I don't have anything to add.

No I don't have anything to add.

Clerk?

I do not and for the record there are no public speakers for the item.

Thank you.

So there's overwhelmingly a nomination presently for Miss Sylvia Cramer.

Commissioner Cramer do you accept this nomination?

I accept.

Excellent.

Clerk with that may we please have a vote?

Thank you chair and just to confirm do we have a motion and a second for that?

I so love.

Motion by Commissioner Greenbaum second by Commissioner Ellis.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Commissioner's please unmute for votes.

Commissioner Ellis.

All right.

Commissioner Greenbaum.

I.

Commissioner Carr.

The sounding eye.

Commissioner Cramer.

I.

Commissioner Mercer.

I.

Commissioner Smith.

Is absent.

Commissioner Tucson-Boyne.

Of course I.

And Commissioner Chair Crowley.

Thank you motion passes.

Motion passes unanimously I might add.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

At this point we are done with the discussion calendar.

Are there any staff reports?

Mr. Govon.

I would think not.

No.

There was a whole segment.

I'm sorry.

The one I just just be clear is discussed we are going to cancel October 30th meeting and

we will have November 4th meeting.

Everyone is clear.

November 6th.

November 6th is the next meeting where Commissioner Cramer will serve for the first time in vice chair.

Commissioner Cramer.

Commissioner Cramer.

I.

Commissioner Cramer.

I.

Commissioner Cramer.

I.

Commissioner Cramer.

Commissioner Cramer.

I.

Commissioner Cramer.

I.

I.

Just want to acknowledge my dad who is 80 years old and sitting there and waiting for me to finish.

And he is not paying attention.

Hi dad.

Thank you for attending sir.

Yeah.

Commissioner Tucson-Boyne.

Thank you.

Congratulations, Sylvia.

Looking forward to being vice chair for the commission.

I want to also acknowledge Gabriel Corey.

He is the newest staff member for City Council member, Karina Tala Montez.

I guess she is Vice Mayor Pro Tem.

Karina Tala Montez of District 3 and he is in the audience.

I want to give us a wave.

Thank you for joining us today.

I wanted to share some events happening in our community this coming Monday.

There is the closing reception for the one I can exhibit which is actually out there

in the foyer.

It is an exhibit of multimedia art made by caregivers which I thought might resonate with those sitting

here on the dius.

I'm planning to attend.

The all-in festival, the all-in, the festival of accessible theater is being held at the

25 Arts Center, our friends Regina and oh my gosh, I'm forgetting the other individuals

named who comes to our meetings is being held September 13th through the 15th at the

Arts Center that it's intended for all abilities.

And our former chair, Mr. Mcmillan, asked that I share that the I am able disability job

fair is going to be occurring on October 9th.

It was so popular last year it is going to be held this year at the Safe Credit Union

Convention Center.

And I also wanted to mention that we have at least one open seat here on the dius and

the applications are being accepted until September 15th.

So please share with your networks.

And then finally I attended the special meeting of the PNPE earlier this month, I guess

it was late last month.

And they were discussing four different topics and I just want to highlight them briefly.

One is reinstating the ability for commissions committees and advisory boards to have ad

hawks.

The PNPE members have directed city staff and city attorney to work on a way for commissions

to utilize ad hawks to do their work in compliance with the Brown Act.

So that is something that we had used in the past which sounds like once approved by the

Council might again be an option for us.

Another item that was discussed is what constitutes a quorum.

The practice has been that the clerk's office is counting the number of seats filled slash

appointed towards quorum and clarification from the city attorney staff is that it is

the total number of seats.

So we have if we have a total number of seats of eight or nine we can no longer use appointed

seats as a measure of quorum.

It is total number of seats that are on this commission.

One of terms was another item of discussion and that is the practice of commissioners or

volunteers on these advisory groups continuing to serve until their seat is filled that had

been the practice that is how the ordinance is written.

However city staff has as we know in the last year we lost three.

Four different commissioners that were willing to continue to serve until their seats were

filled and they were told that summarily that their service was no longer needed.

And so the council members on the PMP are saying that that should go should be applied

as written in the code.

And then the final item that was discussed was attendance.

Class of discussion around what is an excuse absence, unexcused absence and the PMP members

directed staff to work on policy whereby three absences constitutes a conversation with

the appointing party.

So if you were appointed by the PMP then that commissioner seat that would be brought

the clerk's office would bring that to the PMP's attention and then conversations would

be had about whether or not that individual continue to serve.

If you are appointed, if you are one of those commissions that is appointed by a sitting

council member then it would that conversation would be had with that council member.

So it was a special meeting, it was more of a workshop.

Myself and several other individuals from different, representing different commissions

and committees were present to give our feedback.

And if you are interested in attending the next one I believe that's when they will be

discussing and approving language that would then go on to the full council for approval.

Thank you.

Commissioner Greenbaum.

Commissioner Greenbaum.

So this was a special meeting and I believe was it, I don't have that, wait I do have it

up hold on.

And I know it's personnel and what's the act, act, act, act, act, act, act, act, act,

personnel and policy and policy.

I don't know.

I always just say, oh yeah, personnel and public employee committee.

I don't, this meeting was held that I attended was held on August 27th at this special meeting.

I don't know when their regularly scheduled meetings are, perhaps the staff does, but

I think that is also relevant to our discussion about our annual report.

And I wanted to congratulate Commissioner Kramer and then for clarifications and in between

now and November in terms of, we should feel free or able to send you, Mr. Gotham, or

the feedback or what issues that we've discussed, then that's okay to do.

Thank you.

Anytime, correct.

At any time, but specifically since the next meeting is canceled and we want to make

a decision on not a decision, but help, help narrow between now and when we're going

to meet.

So in the chair of vice chair and Mr. Gotham meet, that's the, that's the time he will

say I've gotten feedback or I haven't gotten feedback and we'll have some sort of preliminary.

I will definitely have something to say.

I think what will work well for the annual report is I'll prepare a second draft and I'll

send it out to the commission to make track change edits.

And then I will go over those edits with you.

And then bring that back as the second draft to discuss the edits.

Just you may, may want to, may want to think about that because it, it sounds like you're

getting into the area of having a serial meeting.

If you're going to send out to everybody, they're all going to make track changes that,

that in and of itself, might be considered a serial meeting.

Okay.

So what changes would happen on whatever's considered track changes is for November 6th at

the meeting.

That's when we're allowing.

If it's open, yeah, if it's in, yes, if it's in open forum, that's probably the better

place to have a discussion.

That's why your discussion about outhawks.

Yeah.

Okay.

Okay.

So one way of communication right now, okay.

Well I believe the way it was handled last year.

So the email goes out.

We're blind copied so we can't reply all.

And it's a blind copy, not a group discussion.

Not a group discussion and it, he's sending us an actual document that we're doing track

changes on and sending that individually back.

We cannot, it's not a virtual document.

So we're not able to see.

Right.

What each other is putting.

So does that satisfy your concern?

That's the same method.

Is that the same method you used last year, Jesse?

Then that would be fine.

Well what I hear is that the draft of the previous year annual report, the draft of the

last year work plan and his current draft, our current second draft based on today's

comments are all going to be blind copied to us in order to give comment back to him.

So there is no discussion.

That should satisfy what we discussed today.

Yes, that should be fine.

Okay.

Great.

Commissioner Chuseau-Boyne?

Nothing further.

Commissioner Mercer.

Any, thank you everyone.

Any public comments, clerk or for Mattel or not on the agenda?

Thank you, Chair.

There are no speakers for this item.

Thank you.

I just wanted to echo what we talked about today.

Thank you to the public for attending for the family members and the staff who are

getting to know us and the support people and security and clerk in general.

There is something about advocacy and having a living, breathing process that we are part

of.

Hopefully we will be able to take the pressure off of everybody by just being a little

bit more organized and ahead of step.

I thank you for everyone and congratulations for being here.

Congratulations.

Commissioner Kramer for taking on the two months.

And it's my pleasure and on behalf of Commissioner Kramer and I, I call this meeting adjourned.

Thank you.