Tacoma Area Commission on Disabilities Committee Minutes Zoom Remote Meeting Hosted in Tacoma, WA 98402 Friday, February 12, 2021 Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 4:06 p.m. Commissioners Present Luke Byram, Krystal Monteros, Lukas Barfield, James Williams, Richard Smaby Todd Holloway, Dylan O’Catherine Anthony Caldwell, Tony Amin Hester, Aimee Sidhu, Kristin Lynette and Rebecca Parson Commissioners Absent None City Staff Present Lucas Smiraldo Guests Present Julian Wheeler, PCAC Jamie Stout Laura from Rebuilding the South Sound Together Adoption of Agenda A motion was made by commissioner Byram and seconded by Commissioner Sidhu and carried to accept the COD meeting agenda of January 8, 2021. Acceptance of Minutes A motion was made by and seconded with one change and carried to accept the COD meeting minutes of January 8, 2021 Commissioners took turns checking in sharing their favorite thing that keeps them warm in the winter. Public Comment Jaimie Stout discussed the programs including virtual training and integrative services for people with disabilities. Julian Wheeler asked for a moment of silence to honor the recent death of Kris Brannon who was both comedian and community advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics. Laura shared aspects of the program she runs including promoting safe and healthy housing for people with disabilities including building ramps, guide bars and other modifications. Elections for Chair and Vice Chair Guest Presenter Guest Presentation Reports Chair Liaison Commissioner Reports PCAC Good of the Order Adjournment Todd Holloway nominated Krystal Monteros for the Chair of TACOD in 2021. Commissioner Hester and Commissioner Williams seconded. The vote was unanimous and Commissioner Monteros assumed her new role as Chair of the Commission. Todd Holloway nominated Luke Byram for the Vice Chair of TACOD in 2021 and Commissioner Williams seconded. The vote was unanimous and Commissioner Byram assumed his new role as Vice Chair of the Commission. Tacoma Police Chief Michael Ake Chief Ake expressed interest in a full dialogue rather than presenting and began to respond to the questions posed by commissioners in advance of the meeting. Topics Discussed * Mental Health Crisis Responders * Following NAMI guidelines to have one officer in every response team with mental health training. Being practiced with Lakewood Police Ake: * Some Officers are going to a 40 hour course around these topics * Had three mental health responders that are no longer active due to admin changes and transferred to TFD * Williams discussed CAHOOTS program to develop officers who are trained in mental health engagements that are dressed in street clothes to reduce defensive civilian responses. * Sidhu: Is training a requirement? Want officers to be able to be certified as trainer of trainers. * Byram: what about refreshers for existing training? Can this be recurring? * Hester: Are there other disability sensitivity trainings? Officers don’t know in general how to interact with the blind * Autism is another issue that PD needs to be aware of to engage effectively. Ake * State minimum is 24 hours but officers should do more,. Just hard to build all of this in to full schedule of policing. * O”Catherine: Person with disability is not in the position to be the best mentor in the moment of an engagement with TPD. Can TPD work with subgroups on this? * Smaby: Think about how overt vs hidden bias play in to police responses. Hold officers accountable. * Byram: Years ago Sean Gustafson spoke about working more closely with TACOD, Would like to re-start those efforts. Ake: * Recommends a subgroup that will work with TPD as advisory group and also recommend trainings to better prepare police for encounters with police. Commissioners Interested in Being on That Advisory Group: 1. Monteros 2. Williams 3. Smaby 4. Sidhu 5. Amin Hester 6. Byram * Barfield discussed the history of criminalization of marijuana dispensaries and the many folks with disabilities that use cannabis for palliative reasons. Recommends de-escalation of these offenses and that police have often taken a stand, sometimes through their unions, against that position. * Monteros has seen encounters improve when police has extended engagement with a community. * Hester expressed issues of trust with police after so many encounters as a blind black man. Is wary and will take time to change that for many POC in Tacoma. Chair Monteros discussed redlining and the disability mobility initiative Need for public transportation and public works to coordinate Vice Chair Byram discussed linking with Barfield and Hearing Speech and Deaf around language access strategies. Mr. Smiraldo gave update on Accessible Taxi Contract which OEHR is trying to move to finish line. Moving slower than expected. Discussed nominations for City of Destiny Awards from TACOD, naming outstanding commissioners. No other reports Julian Wheeler gave short report from PCAC Motion made by Holloway and seconded by Hester to adjourn. Passed. The meeting ended at 6:05 PM The next meeting will be held at its regular time on Friday, March 12th.