Tacoma Area Commission on Disabilities Committee Minutes Zoom Remote Meeting Hosted in Tacoma, WA 98402 Friday, April 9, 2021 Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 4:04 p.m. Commissioners Present Luke Byram, Krystal Monteros, Lukas Barfield, James Williams, Richard Smaby Todd Holloway, Dylan O’Catherine Anthony Caldwell, Amin Tony Hester, Aimee Sidhu and Rebecca Parson Commissioners Absent None City Staff Present Lucas Smiraldo, Samantha Kaauamo Guests Present Julie Harlow, Katie Drewel (Sound Transit), Zac Eskenazi (Sound Transit), Melanie Mayock (Sound Transit), Tabitha Dominguez (BIAWA), Gerrit Nyland (Homeless Coalition), Julian Wheeler Adoption of Agenda A motion was made by Commissioner Holloway and seconded by Commissioner Smaby and carried to accept the COD meeting agenda of April 9, 2021. Acceptance of Minutes A motion was made by Commissioner Byram and seconded by Commissioner Holloway and carried to accept the COD meeting minutes of March 12, 2021. Public Comment Gerrit Nyland (Guest) shared contact information for rent and utility assistance for Pierce County residents https://www.piercecountywa.gov/7142/Rental-Assistance or call 211 to apply. 1st Guest Presenter 1st Guest Presentation Reports Chair and Vice Chair Liaison Commissioner Reports PCAC Invitation for Community Input Good of the Order Adjournment Katie Drewel of Sound Transit (ST) Sound Transit’s South Tacoma Station Access Improvements Project located at South 56th near the STAR Center. ST is looking for input regarding access needs and improvements. Commissioners Smaby, Barfield, Caldwell, Hester, Holloway, Byram and Wheeler shared various comments: gave kudos to wheelchair access from platform to train, would like more blind wayfinding signs and barriers and shared the need to be more pedestrian friendly due to speeding, the need for Braille signage, pay stations need braille, audio and lighting improvements. The ST Team shared the website for the online community input at https://soundersouth.participate.online/ Review and Vote for TACOD Statements, 2 Letters of Support * Temporary Shelter Concerns (Gerrit Nyland of Homeless Coalition Presenter) A motion was made by Commissioner Smaby and seconded by Commissioner Holloway and carried to support this letter and include counties providing access and to add language that the commission is against all forms of discrimination. * Statement of Support for Asian American and Pacific Island Communities A motion was made by Commissioner Hester and seconded by Commissioner Monteros and carried to support this letter. Chair Monteros: Attended a Senate Meeting on April 12th regarding sidewalks, curb cuts, push buttons, public transportation. Continues to set up press conferences across the state. Is looking to get involved in prison disabilities. Vice Chair Byram: Continues to attend the UWT Language Access Meeting. Attended the West End Neighborhood Council. Mr. Smiraldo : City of Destiny awards scheduled for June 26th and Commissioners Caldwell, Hester and O’Catherine will be recognized. There will also be a TV Tacoma interview. March meeting with Lt. Darlington: Discussed book “Tangled Up In Blue” Accessible Taxi: One more week until contractor can begin work. Public Works reports: Updates on James Center design and a follow up presentation will be given in May. June live ribbon cutting with TACOD and PW attending. Education video in the works and the Tacoma Special Needs PTA will be engaged. Julian Wheeler shared in the meeting chat: Let's commit together to make Pierce County more accessible for everyone, including, but not limited to, people with disabilities. And not only for PWD's as customers and constituents, but also as potential leaders, managers, department heads, and even elected officials. All are invited to our next regular session of the Pierce County Accessible Communities Advisory Committee (PC-ACAC) is on-line on Tuesday, May 11th, at 9 am. Email your interest to attend to Julianfwheeler@aol.com We operate under the Accessible Communities Act of 2010, and can help fund accessibility projects. We're looking for new members, new ideas, and speakers from the community or even from agencies and departmental staff for our upcoming meetings (2nd Tues/odd-numbered months). We are staffed by PC Human Services. Thank you for your work. In service, Julian F. Wheeler (He/Him/His), Chair, PC ACAC. Tabitha Dominguez shared a comment in the meeting chat: Thank you all for the good work you are putting forward. If you have knowledge of anyone who has had a brain injury that would benefit from advocacy, please pass on the BIAWA Resource line www.biawa.org or www.facebook.com/braininjurywa Toll Free Resource Line: (877) 982-4292 (877) 824-1766. Mailing Address is PO Box 3044 Seattle, WA 98114. Office Address is 316 Broadway, 3rd Floor, Ste 305 Seattle None reported. Motion made by Commissioner Holloway and seconded by Commissioner Sidhu to adjourn. Passed. The meeting ended at 6:13 PM The next meeting will be held at its regular time on Friday, May 14th