Agenda - View Meetings (9678505378)

1.

Call to Order

Chair Randall called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m.

2.

ROLL CALL

PRESENT:

CHAIRPERSON RANDALL
VICE CHAIRPERSON SIMUKONDA
COMMISSIONER BECKER
COMMISSIONER DORMAN
COMMISSIONER EISENBERG
COMMISSIONER PURRINGTON

ABSENT:

Others present: Human Resources Analyst Lisa Keita, City Clerk Stacy Saltzburg, Deputy City Clerk Stacy Fobar, Joseph Spence - Youth Liaison, LaReina Reyes – Mountain Line Representative, Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Events Director Rebecca Sayers, Chief of Staff Shawn Johnson, Multi-Model Planner Martin Ince, and Estella Hollander - Mountain Line

3.

Public Participation

The Commission cannot act upon items presented during the Public Participation portion of the Agenda. Individual Commission members may ask questions of the public but are prohibited by the Open Meeting Law from discussion or considering the item among themselves until the item is officially placed on the Agenda. Each public comment or presentation will be limited to five (5) minutes.

None.

4.

ACTION ITEMS

A.

Discussion and Approval of a letter to the Council asking them to declare April "Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month"

Chair Randall discussed the potential letter and read it to the commission.

Vice-chair Simukonda stated that she would like to have the portion of the letter that addresses preventable amputations and that she would like to have removed from the letter. Strike “whereas more than half of all limb loss is preventable...”

City Clerk Stacy Saltzburg added that there is a 400-word limit on proclamations and stated that there might be some revisions by the Mayor’s office. Ms. Saltzburg stated she would work with Chief of Staff Shawn Johnson to get the proclamation on the working calendar. Ms. Satlzburg stated that the proclamation could be put on the April 2 or April 9 meeting.

5.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

A.

Therapeutic Recreation

Commissioner Purrington and Commissioner Dorman led the discussion. Commissioner Purrington stated that she is a certified recreational therapist and one of two certified therapeutic recreation specialists in Flagstaff. She gave a background on therapeutic recreation programming.
Vice-Chair Simukonda suggested talking to former commissioner Jeremy Musgrove regarding Therapeutic Recreation in Flagstaff.

Commissioner Purrington stated that the commission needs to decide if they are making a recommendation to Council to consider hiring certified therapeutic recreation specialists and or recreation therapists and adaptive equipment at different facilities available.

Commissioner Dorman suggested that the Commission form partnerships with other commissions like the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Vice-Chair Simukonda suggested working with the 360 Ability Conference.

Commissioner Dorman stated that she needed to shore up knowledge and history of therapeutic recreation in Flagstaff.

Commissioner Randall suggested partnering with the Special Olympics.

PROSE Director Rebecca Sayers added that she would love to meet with anyone who would like to bring this forward and recommends working with the P&R Commission.

Chair Randall asked how best to coordinate with the Parks & Rec Commission. Ms. Sayers stated she could come to a future meeting and that she will work with the P&R Commission.

Vice-Chair Simukonda stated that she would like to involve the Commission on Diversity Awareness Carol Kidd in the discussion.

Commissioner Purrington suggested creating a working group on Therapeutic Recreation and Commissioner Dorman agreed.

The Commission decided to form a Working Group consisting of Commissioner Purrington, Commissioner Dorman, Ms. Sayers, a representative from the P&R Commission, a representative from CODA, and some other interested parties.

Staff Liaison Fobar suggested giving the working group at least a month to meet and give a report.

Commissioner Purrington stated she would take the lead on forming the working group.

6.

Liaison Reports

A.

Council Liaison Report - Mayor Becky Daggett

Mayor Daggett was unavailable and Mr. Johnson did not have an update.

B.

Sidewalk Liaison Report - Rachael Simukonda (10 minutes)

Vice-chair Simukonda asked for the Sidewalk liaison and Parking liaison presentation to be postponed until a future meeting.

Chair Randall stated he received a phone call from Equipment Operater Donold Jones and Solid Waste Leadwork Zach Haws from Waste Disposal. He stated that he learned that the training staff receives has changed for the drivers to have trashcans returned to the curb rather than where they found the can.

Commissioner Dorman stated that she noticed a change in her neighborhood.

Chair Randall thanked Vice-Chair Simukonda for representing the commission on the Police Chief interview panel.

C.

Parking Liaison Report - Jamie Martinez (10 mintues)

Mr. Martinez was not in attendance at the meeting.

D.

Transportation Liaison Report - Estella Hollander, Mountain Line

Ms. Reyes spoke about the comprehensive Community Outreach Initiative and the Wheelchair accessible committee (WAVE committee). She added that there is an interested taxi provider named Turquoise Taxi that would provide on-demand, same-day services for people in wheelchairs. She added that Mountain Line is launching a comprehensive community outreach initiative aimed at planning the future of transit in Flagstaff. https://virtualeventroom.com/flagstaff-mountain-line/

Chair Randall asked if Mountain Line is still trying to set up WAVE meeting. Ms. Reyes will forward the information to Chair Randall.

Vice-Chair Simukonda asked if Turquoise has a current taxi for wheelchairs. Ms. Reyes stated that they are trying to find funding and could be ready to purchase by later this summer.

E.

Youth Liasion Report - Joseph Spence, NACoPTT

Joseph Spence and Chair Randall spoke about the NACoPTT Job Fair.

Commissioner Eisenberg added that she attended the meeting last week for NACOG.

7.

Information Items To/From Inclusion and Adaptive Living Commission Members

Vice-chair Simukonda spoke about the update on the Lone Tree corridor. She added that construction will start in May and there is an in-person April 4, 2024, meeting at City Hall. She encouraged commission members to go to the meeting.

Commissioner Becker gave a shout out to FUSD regarding the Coconino High School construction. He stated that they are replacing the wheelchair ramp and adding another ramp which would make evacuations from the auditorium wheelchair accessible.

Vice-chair Simukonda gave a recap of the police chief interviews. She stated that she was really impressed with four of the candidates and she is looking forward to working with the new chief.

8.

Staff Participation

None.

9.

Date of Next Meeting - Work Session: April 17, 2024 and Regular Meeting: April 24, 2024

10.

AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING

Vice-chair Simukonda stated she would have an update on "police stuff" and that there will be a report from the Sidewalk Working Group.

Commissioner Purrington stated that there could be an update from the Therapeutic Recreation work group.

11.

ADJOURNMENT

Chair Randall adjourned the meeting at 1:03 p.m.