Council asked to create permanent disabled committee
For the second year in a row, the Santa Monica City Council is being asked to create a permanent commission for residents with disabilities.
The council-appointed Disability Community Accessibility Committee will deliver the results of their six-month examination of city programs and facilities at tonight’s council meeting.
The report recommends ways the municipality can make itself more accessible for persons with disabilities. Also, it asks the council to create a permanent commission representing disabled residents instead of reappointing one every year.
Senior city staff members agreed with the results of the report and asked the council to create a commission of nine members that would work with the city on how best to implement federal and state laws that require equal access to public spaces and resources for the disabled.
Santa Monica is also waiting for the results from an independent consultant looking at ways developers who use public funds to build facilities, especially affordable housing, can make them accessible for the disabled.
Last year, the city council denied creating a permanent disabilities commission after it was recommended by both senior city staff and a similar appointed committee because the majority of council members thought it was unnecessary.
Last year’s commission wanted a broad role, but members of this year’s commission narrowed the focus to the municipal level, said Santa Monica Mayor Mike Feinstein.
“Now they have it focused to what isn’t being done by other city agencies and by the county,” he said.
In this year’s report, senior city staff members said the disadvantage of creating a standing disability commission is that its narrow focus may omit possibilities for collaborating with related groups with similar missions and issues.
For example, both the Social Services Commission and the Commission on Older Americans have addressed disability issues within their communities.
The committee recommended Santa Monica create a database tracking how all municipal-owned buildings comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including tracking all required equipment and features on city property -- like wheelchair ramps and restroom facilities.
The committee also recommended all city employees go through annual sensitivity training to improve their relationships and customer service with persons with disabilities in order to break down the "second class" citizen barrier disabled people face.
Another recommendation by the committee asks the city to reach out to landlords and businesses regarding upgrades of their privately-owned buildings so they are better suited for persons with disabilities.
However, city staff members said the time and funding needed for such an outreach program currently is not available. They recommended making the priority a long-term goal.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 9, 2002. Read the original PDF.