Minutes of September 16, 2010 

Access Benton County

 

Present:  Marlene Massey, Tony Albert, Edith Yang, Judy Heath, Pat Shermer,

Mary Marsh King, Jeffrey Evans, Dana Marie, Linda Wagner, Esmeralda Allen, 

Todd Allen, Ronald Naasko, Hugh White, Jim Smith.

 

ABC Minutes are intended to describe the discussions, decisions, and

actions that occur during ABC’s monthly meeting.  The minutes are 

to be considered only a draft until they are approved at the following

monthly meeting.  Persons who receive the draft of the minutes and

see inaccuracies or omissions in them are asked to please inform ABC.

 

Meeting called to order at 12:00 Noon.  Introductions.  We are honored to have Mr.

Evans join us for our meeting today.  He is the President of the Able Student Alliance,

(AIC) for Oregon State University.

 

A.  Minutes of July 15, 2010 Meeting approved as amended:  Item 3 under Continuing

          Business, second line, the word "removed" is changed to "moved them".  The

          furniture at the establishment was not removed but was moved in order to make

          a clear path to the store's entrance.

 

B.  Treasurer's Report.  Balance of $302.00 in petty cash fund.  Expenses for Ability

          Awareness Day were $100.00 for volunteer shirts and $53.00 for postage related

          to mailing invitations for the event to guests.  It was recommended that ABC

          contact Umpqua Bank to inquire about special accounts for non-profit organizations.

          ABC does not currently have a bank account due to the monthly charges many

          banks require to secure an account.

 

C.  Correspondence:  E-mail to Representative Sara Gelser requesting a visit to one

          of our regular meetings.  Sara has responded and arranged to meet with us

          at our next meeting, October 21, 2010 at Noon!  

 

D.  Continuing Business:

 

          1.  Ability Awareness Day Wrap-up.  ABC will be sending Thank You cards to

                   the many volunteers who helped us at our AAD event!  We discussed opinions

                   about the success of the event and ways to improve it.  The general feeling

                   expressed by those present is that ABC might look to new activities to 

                   serve our communities and Benton County with respect to our goals and

                   objectives to improve accessibility.  

 

          2.  Access improvement at Corvallis Restaurant.  We are pleased to report that

                   the Burger King Restaurant will be installing a "buzzer" at the front entrance

                    so that persons who require assistance to enter the restaurant can notify staff.  

                   Thanks to one of our members for the story of his experience (waiting at the 

                   door for a long time) before someone saw him and let him in!!  This led

                   to our request for access improvement.  We will add this store to our list

                   of "honor roll businesses" along with the Dairy Queen on 3rd Street.

 

          3.  Future Guests to ABC Meetings.  Sara Gelser is joining us on October 21st!!

 

          4.  Curb cut at 4th and Monroe Streets in downtown Corvallis.  We do not have

                        specific information to discuss this today.  If any ABCers give us details

                   such as which corner and the concern we can address this with Public

                   Works.

 

          New Business:

 

          1.  Discussion about Text Amendment proposal to Corvallis City Code 

                   concerning historic preservation provisions.   Mr. Evans presented the

                   concern of the Able Student Alliance about the time-line for the City

                   Council to make a decision concerning changing of the City Code Text

                   with respect to historic preservation in Corvallis, much of which

                   involves land on the OSU Campus.  ABCers who want to inform

                   themselves of the Text Proposal can visit the "Case"  concerning the

                   Land Development Text Proposal (LDT10-00003) at the City Council's

                   website or contact Bob Richardson, Associate Planner for Corvallis at

                   (541) 766-6908 or  robert.richardson@ci.corvallis.or.us  for more information.

 

                   Mr. Evans has asked ABC to consider the ADA aspects of the lack

                   of input solicited from persons with disabilities as well as the too brief

                   time line before the City Council makes a decision on this case.  Any

                   decision by the Council would still be subject to appeals to the State Land

                   Use Board of Appeals (LUBA).

 

                   ABCers who wish to weigh-in on their opinions of this issue are

                   asked to contact the ABC Secretary.  If there is a consensus of opinion,

                   ABC may poll active members about any action that ABC may decide

                   to take in this matter.

 

                   Pending New Business:  Keith E. Billings Award for 2010, STAC Update

                   by Mary Marsh King, and Dial-a-bus (Edith).

 

          Meeting Adjourned at 1:30 p.m.  Next Meeting:  Thursday, October 21st, Noon to

          1:00 p.m., Benton Plaza, Commissioner's Meeting Room.  All are welcome to

          join us.