Tacoma Area Commission on Disabilities Committee Minutes Zoom Remote Meeting Hosted in Tacoma, WA 98402 Friday, November 13, 2020 Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 4:02 p.m. Commissioners Present Luke Byram, Krystal Monteros, Lukas Barfield, James Williams, Richard Smaby Todd Holloway and, Dylan. O’Catherine and Anthony Caldwell Commissioners Absent Rebecca Parson City Staff Present Lucas Smiraldo Guests Present Julian Wheeler, PCAC, Councilmember Walker, Councilmember Hines, Tony Amin Hester, PCAC Adoption of Agenda A motion was made by commissioner Smaby and seconded by Commissioner Byram and carried to accept the COD meeting agenda of November 13, 2020. Acceptance of Minutes A motion was made by commissioner Smaby and seconded by Commissioner Parson and carried to accept the COD meeting minutes of October 9, 2020. Commissioners took turns checking in sharing their favorite memory “on wheels” Public Comment There was no public comment. New Business Guest Presenter Guest Presentation Reports Chair Liaison PCAC Good of the Order Adjournment None. Councilmembers Walker and Hines held an extended discussion to understand the priorities and concerns of the commission. Councilmember Walker is on the Pierce Transit Board and concerned about more accessible services for residents including those with disabilities. She is particularly interested in the accessible taxi work the commission is championing at the moment. Councilmember Hines works in the Tacoma School District and is concerned for access for students including those with disabilities. He believes that upgrades in instructional design will help every student. Both councilmembers have children. Several commissioners spoke about their priorities. * O’Catherine: Would like to change the way we interact with youth with disabilities so as to invite less singling out and more belonging. Can we change the way these youth are initially viewed and can open whole new ideas in the workplace. * Monteros: Went through childhood in wheelchair and had significant emotional impacts based on the way she was treated. These emotional impacts definitely affected her academic progress. Students need to be listened to more. * Williams: Accessible taxi is a top priority. Also more work needs to be done to provide childcare at work places for women. * Councilmembers shared that work is being done in this area by the city in affiliation with anchor institutions including the University and Health Care industries. Jessica Knickerbocker is leading a pilot program for the city. * Byram: Shared concerns around the intersection near Jefferson Elementary and the need to create a signal for those with disabilities at the intersections of 13th and Stevens. Can we partner with Tacoma Schools on this? Councilmember Hines would like to follow up on that issue. * Holloway: Billions of CARES money available. Can we use some of those federal dollars for the community? * Caldwell: Want to schedule a public works celebration event, a ribbon ceremony. Also is working to build partnerships with Associated Ministries, and NCS and CED in the city and several staff have joined in subcommittee meetings. * Monteros and Barfield: Interested in issues that intersect race and disability with criminal justice. Encourage that we receive input from people who speak different languages other than English in our city. * Smaby: Promote greater outreach sp that people with disabilities are heard. * Hines: Developing neighborhood planning and a mixed use center. * Barfield: Brought up issues of access for medical cannibas and wants city to weigh in. Look at things from perspective of harm reduction. II 81: decriminalizing of hallucagens Initiative 109: Harm reduction. Chair Holloway will submit a written report to commissioners Vice Chair Monteros is joining up with Disability Rights Washington in a consulting role. Lucas Smiraldo offered his report: 1. Accessible Taxi Feasibility study will be under contract and that contract is in process currently. 2. Interviews for new candidates and existing commissioners was completed and our existing commissioners all responded in ways that impressed the council panel. We will also be welcoming new commission members at the next meeting and each candidate moving forward had a personal stake and interest in moving the needs of people with disabilities forward. 3. Mr. Smiraldo invited Commissioner O’Catherine to share more from the joint TACOD/TPS meeting. This body will be working on an instructional video for a broad cross section and also include specific “asks” to move forward the needs of youth who have disabilities and learning differences. 4. Lucas invited Commissioner Caldwell to share an update from the Public Works subcommittee. Areas of current focus: * S. 38th and J and Pacific Ave. * Pacific Ave to McKinley, * 19th and Union * Commissioner Caldwell suggested that our ribbon ceremony focus on J. Street to Pacific Ave and McKinley. Both Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Hester invited commissioners to next PCAC meeting Commissioner Caldwell implored members to wear a mask. The meeting concluded at 6:03 PM The next meeting will be held at its regular time on Friday, December 11th.