HomeMy WebLinkAboutDisMinutes_2010_05_28Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities
May 28, 2010
A meeting of the Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities was held at 2:00 p.m. on
Friday, May 28, 2010 in the Brookings City Hall with the following members present: Dave
Miller, Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks, Lonnie Bayer, Kim Lindell, Alan Davis, and Jessie
Kuechenmeister. Absent: Kathy Heylens, Jeff Vostad, Dave Bertelson, Dona Kornbaum and Kurt
Cogswell. Shari Thornes was also present
Miller called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m.
The next meeting of the committee was scheduled for Friday, June 25, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.
The agenda was adopted as printed.
The April minutes were approved as printed.
NEW BUSINESS:
EEOC Training Opportunity. Maria Flores from the EEOC will be traveling in the Sioux Falls area
June 8-11, 2010 representing the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC), which is the key federal civil rights agency responsible for enforcing anti-discrimination
employment laws as well as investigating and litigating related violations. The topic(s) and
length of the free EEOC presentation(s) would be tailored to the needs and interests of specific
constituents groups. Listed below are some popular EEO topics that she would be able to
present on:
• Race & Color Discrimination Issues
• Sexual Harassment
• Hostile Work Environment - e.g., race & ethnicity harassment
• EEOC Grab Bag of Hot Employment Topics
• National Origin & Immigrant Worker Discrimination Issues
• The EEOC Charge & Investigative Process
• Americans with Disabilities Act & Reasonable Accommodation
• ADA Amendments Act
• Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)
• Overview of EEOC & federal anti-discrimination Laws
• Sexual Harassment & Immigrant Women
• Conducting & Surviving the Internal EEO Investigation
• Caregiving Issues Related to Workplace Discrimination
• Religious Discrimination & Accommodation
Thornes had already visited with Flores and she would be available to conduct one session the
evening of Thursday, June 10th and another the morning of Friday, June 11th. The Human Rights
Committee wants to book her for at least one of the sessions and has selected their preferred
topics (underlined above).
The Disability Committee agreed to co-sponsor the training event with the Human Rights
Committee, but asked that the morning session also include a segment on the ADA and
Reasonable Accommodation. The sessions will be promoted via email, flyers, website,
government channel, Chamber organizations, paid print media, direct mailing and in
coordination with the local Brookings Area Human Resources Association.
ABLE Awards. The Committee had a preliminary discussion regarding possible 2010 ABLE Award
nominations. The A.B.L.E. Award (Ability, Belief, Leadership and Equality to Achieve Access For
All) is an annual award program designed to recognize the outstanding commitment of a
business or public entity in fulfilling the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Highlighting
the efforts of an outstanding business or e ntity may motivate others to provide improved
accessibility to goods and services. It is presented each year in conjunction with the celebration
of the anniversary of the signing of the ADA on July 26 th 1991.
Categories: Business (retail, commercial, professional office -- any business setting), Public
(government related, school, SDSU), Religious
Criteria: Access to the goods and services (Accessible parking close to entrance, accessible
entrance, path of travel, accessible counter--a portion 36" high); Other amenities; Bathroom (lever
handles, mounting heights, path of travel, etc.); Drinking fountain; automatic doors . (can be new
construction or remodeled -- no time limit on when the work was done)
Tentative schedule: May - Review process/discuss nominations; June - Onsite visits and select
winner(s), July - Presentation during City Council meeting (typically 2nd Council Meeting.
Members were asked to email ideas to Thornes and she will make the onsite touring
arrangements.
Project & Issue Updates:
Review ADA 20th Anniversary Public Education Campaign. Lindell and Bayer have selected 20
public service announcements to run in the local newspaper for 20 days up until July 26th (20th
anniversary date). Thornes will ask the Mayor if he’d be willing to record radio psa’s.
City Funding Request for 2011 Fiscal Year. The Committee approved the staff’s proposed budget
narrative and level funding request of $3177 for 2011 .
Emergency Preparedness Special Needs Population Meeting Report. Kuechenmeister attended a
recent meeting and reported that it is a slow moving group. The group has not seen SDSU’s plan
yet. Members suggested contacting Doug Wermedahl for that information. The group’s focus has
been on transportation and communication. Bayer recommended the group contact Todd Struwe
for ideas. The next meeting is June 22nd.
Transportation Board Report. Hartenhoff-Crooks reported the focus of the May meeting
pertained to taxi service.
Website Committee Report. Lindell distributed website information and link ideas for
consideration.
Monthly Reports Reminder
Correspondence/Announcements/Calendar
May 26th – 2 pm – ADA Leadership Network Conference Call
June 7 – 11 am – Nature Park Review
June 18th – Budget Narrative Deadline
June 21-23 - National ADA Symposium
July 12th – 11 am – Nature Park Review
July 26th – 20th Anniversary of ADA
City ADA Coordinator’s Report
Nature Park Update – The Committee is scheduled to review preliminary plans on June 7th and
final plans on July 12th.
Meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
Submitted by Shari Thornes