HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011_ 0118_ MeetingMinutes_APPROVED Meeting Minutes — Approved as circulated 3/15/11
Mayor's Advisory Committee For Equal Access (MACFEA)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Mo'ikeha Meeting Room 2A & 213
4444 Rice Street, Uhu'e, HI 96766
Members present: Rita Manriquez — State Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board
(STBIAB); Dr. Lucy Miller — DCAB (Disability and Communication Access Board) Board
member; Betty Bell (12:14 pm) — Kaua'i Federation for the Blind; Linda Nuland-Ames —
Director RSVP, Elderly Affairs; El Doi — Kaua'i Developmental Disabilities Council
(DDC); Roberta Eiben — Consumer; Kathy English — Hawai'i Disability Rights Center;
Elena Costales — Consumer, KCIL Volunteer; Laura Burman (12:37 pm), Director
Hawai'i Red Cross. Staff members also present: Christiana Pilkington — ADA
Coordinator; Marc Guyot — Deputy County Attorney; Barbara Davis — Staff Secretary;
Paula Morikami — Boards & Commissions Administrative Aide. Captioner: Heather
Theriaque - Caption First.
Members absent or excused: Sharry Glass — Advocate, Teacher/Trainer; Rhoda Rojas
— Hawai'i Center for Independent Living-Kaua'i (HCIL); Ana Valdez — Family Advocate;
Dawn Cummings — Family Advocate
Guests: Celia Mahikoa, Kaleo Carvalho and Jeannie "Missy" Caminos — County
Transportation Agency
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Chair El Doi at 12:10 pm in the Mo'ikeha Building
Meeting Room 2A & 2B at 4444 Rice Street in LThu'e with 7 members present; the 8h
member joined the meeting prior to the approval of the minutes.
Approval of Agenda
Dr. Lucy moved to approve the agenda as circulated. Ms. English seconded the
motion. Motion carried 7:0
Approval of November 16, 2010 Minutes
Ms. Eiben moved to approve the minutes as circulated. Ms. Bell seconded the motion.
Motion carried 8:0
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Business
o Discussion with the Kaua'i Transportation Agency regarding transportation
initiatives
Celia Mahikoa, the new Executive on Transportation, Kaleo Carvalho, the Operations
Manager, and Jeanie "Missy" Caminos the new departmental transportation coordinator
for the Kaua'i Bus introduced themselves to the MACFEA members. A question and
answer format followed with Chair Doi presenting questions that had been generated
from the members.
Q: Has there been any discussion regarding free bus passes for adults who have
disabilities and who are on a fixed income?" For instance a person with developmental
disabilities receives only $50 a month allowance and the bus pass is $20 making it hard
to afford hygiene products or entertainment on the remaining $30 a month. Would the
transportation office consider lowering or waiving the bus pass fee for riders on fixed
incomes?
A: While that question has come up before, it would take a legislative change in the bus
fare ordinance to restructure the fare rates and to administratively set up a system to
manage that additional feature but it is definitely something that the Transportation
Agency would consider if given the proper direction. Asked how someone would show
they were on a fixed income, Chair Doi explained that for a client with DD
(Developmental Disabilities) a case manager initiates the application for a bus pass
which has to be renewed annually. Mr. Carvalho clarified that bus passes were $25 a
month. Also, how would you qualify people on a fixed income or Social Security
disability and what proof would be needed of a disability without being discriminatory if
that person is outside the assistance of the DD Council. The County of KauaTs Elderly
Affairs has an assisted transit program for those citizens who are over 60; it is not a free
program but rather on a donation basis for those who qualify. If Kaua'i should
implement a transit program for people on a fixed income or Social Security disability,
the monies would have to be supplemented from the County's general fund so the
County's taxpayers would be carrying the base for that kind of a program.
Q: As the baby boomers get older, paratransit ridership will undoubtedly increase. Is
Transportation preparing for an increase in paratransit ridership? Are there any special
programs for seniors now and how do they work?
A: Paratransit ridership is basically demand driven so as the demand grows for this
service, Transportation will do everything in its power to provide the increase in service
as the needs are presented. The seniors programs have Kupuna Care which is run
through the Office of Elderly Affairs and various other senior center programs whom we
partner with to do transports on a referral basis. There is no charge to the senior at the
time they get on the bus but they do make a donation at the end of the month.
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Q: What are the eligibility criteria for paratransit?
A: Basically if you are 60 years or older, you qualify for door-to-door service but we
have to do a location assessment zone to make sure the bus can get to the home.
Applications are available through the Transportation Agency Office as well as on the
County's Website which asks for basic information such as name, age, phone number,
address, location, emergency contact and if a mobility aid or device is required. Clients
less than 60 years of age that fall under the ADA portion need to qualify by getting a
physician or professional verification. Another way to qualify is through Elderly Affairs'
Kupuna Care or other agency participants such as Easter Seals.
Q: Why is the cost of a paratransit bus so much more expensive to run than the cost of
a fixed route run?
A: The paratransit service requires registration of the individual who will be using it.
Also the Agency has to have schedulers on staff to take phone calls and make the
reservations and there is a software program that manages the reservation system that
we pay an annual maintenance fee for. While a fixed route system picks up and drops
off at specific bus stops, the paratransit is door-to-door and the amount of time it takes
the drivers to provide the two different services is quite drastically different as is fuel
consumption and other things that may be involved. Asked if there is a break-even
point for paratransit, it was noted that the cost of one trip typically averages about $20
per trip and would probably not break-even which is why it is a subsidized system.
Q: We hear about the need for bus shelters often and we know they must be on an
accessible route and comply with ADA so they can be used by everyone in the public.
What is the plan for bus shelters on Kaua'i and are there priority locations for new
accessible bus stops?
A: This ties in to Mayor Carvalho's inaugural speech; in the Holo Holo 2020 plan we are
looking to get shelters at every stop and to have every stop be completely ADA
compliant by 2020. Currently we are working with a contractor on getting platforms at
each stop; we know there are challenges with that and we will be working to do our best
to make each stop completely compliant and very usable for everyone on Kaua'i. Is
there was any way MACFEA could work with Transportation to prioritize a couple of bus
stops that prove to be really challenging each year and bring them into compliance
quicker? Attorney Guyot pointed out that there are competing interests as to what
would be a priority but thought that with the federal funds that come into the
Transportation Department there would be a certain mandate that would allow for
expediting two or three locations a year that had been identified in the transition plan.
Q: How long does it take to make one shelter?
A: Some of the shelters are put up through contractors or service organizations such as
the Lions Clubs who in many instances design, build and put the shelter up. When the
County is blessed to have federal money to provide the materials for a shelter this can
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help make the teaming up happen more quickly. Part of KauaTs challenge is with its
rural setting and the attempt to make everything connected; unfortunately the money
and the needs don't meet up all the time. Under ADA if there is not an existing
sidewalk, one does not have to be put in. However if a bus pad is put in, people need a
way on and off the bus pad so there needs to be an accessible route that feeds that bus
stop and who pays for that? Transportation pays for the bus stop, the shelter and the
accessible pad to deploy on; the disconnect is who pays for connecting that pad to the
area it serves?
Q: Is there a plan other than our transition plan?
A: The County is looking at initiating a contract with a consultant or planner who will
assist us with developing the multimodal land transportation plan for the island. There
will be community meeting held in five general areas on the island to get community
input on priorities that is more specific to each area and yet can be tied together for all
of Kaua'i. We will also be taking all of the compliance requirements into consideration.
Q: Why do paratransit riders with permanent qualifying disabilities have to reapply for
paratransit services? If you have a permanent disability, why can't you have permanent
paratransit status?
A: ADA paratransit riders need only to recertify themselves prior to their expiration date
to verify if there have been any changes in their rider status such as a change in their
mobility status, do they require an aide to ride with them or was there a change with
their phone number. They do not need to reapply for paratransit services, only recertify
their needs.
Q: What happens to those people whose paratransit certification has expired?
A: Recertification is sent out in the mail. If they don't respond, Transportation tries to
contact the rider but once it hits a certain time beyond the expiration date, the rider will
have to reapply. Depending on the situation, Transportation would try not to refuse
service to the rider but would let them know they have to either reapply or recertify for
paratransit services.
Q: Will Transportation provide assistance to people filling out an application or
recertification if they are unable to complete the process on their own?
A: Yes. Someone from the staff will get on the phone with the rider and go through all
the questions on the application and complete the answers.
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Q: Would an increase in bus shelters assist in a decrease for paratransit ridership when
people have a place to sit, rest and are protected from the sun or rain while they wait?
A. It is not known if it would have a large impact because it is hard to beat door-to-door
service but increasing the number of shelters should encourage overall use of the fixed-
route systems quite a bit more. Ms. Pilkington shared that at a conference a couple of
years ago they said that shelters cut paratransit ridership in half for those that did not
always require door-to-door service because people could operate with more flexibility
without having to plan their lives 24-hours in advance or worry about the weather.
Q: How can dispatch make it easier with scheduling for paratransit riders since the rider
is required to call 24-hours in advance and often have to leave meetings or
appointments earlier than they should to catch the bus?
A: It is not dispatch, it is the reservation system. All paratransit drivers have a
scheduled start and end time (an 8-hour shift) and as many people as possible are
accommodated within the time frame that the particular driver has. Another
consideration is where the rider lives and the size of the vehicle required to make that
accommodation whether it is a 20-seater, a van or a minivan. We try as much as
possible to adjust our time but the client also needs to try to adjust as well.
Q: For some people, it's hard to understand the bus schedule. Who can a person go to
if they are intellectually disabled to better understand how to interpret bus schedules;
are the schedules available in large print or Braille? Are the schedules accessible on
the website?
A: Schedules are available on the website and people are welcome to call the
Transportation Office to ask specific questions about the schedule. We are always
looking for ways to make it easier to read but it is rather difficult when you are dealing
with so many times and so many locations. We would be more than happy to guide
people through the schedules.
Q: Do the drivers and dispatchers receive training on how to interact with people who
have disabilities and how often do they receive training? What is the training, who does
the training and when was the last training they received?
A: The dispatchers and drivers do receive training on how to interact with people who
have disabilities and they are given a handbook. When drivers initially start they are
given training on dealing one-on-one with persons with disabilities and instructed on
how to securely strap wheelchairs, scooters and other mobility aids in the vehicle so
that people are transported safely; they also go through a refresher course at least once
a year. We also have training on DVD programs which the dispatchers go through once
a year as well. Ms. Pilkington said that she along with some of the MACFEA members
such as Dr. Lucy and Sharry Glass also offer great awareness trainings and would be
happy to extend their services to the Transportation Agency if they should want them.
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Q: Are there plans for the current bus schedule to increase in frequency on some
routes and if so, when and which routes?
A: The priority is not so much in frequency as in later schedules as well as Sunday
service. If demand dictates it, we will look at increasing frequency at certain high-
demand times during the day to encourage the use of service.
Q: When will the Sunday service start?
A: If approved by the County Council, the implementation date could be the middle of
February.
Q: Is the County planning for the buses to run later into the evening and if so, when and
how late?
A: We are looking at just about every route right now. They would leave LThu'e at 9:30
pm heading to Kekaha and Hanalei and this would get the buses back around midnight
which means the dispatchers would also need to stay on until midnight. Paratransit will
still be on demand as needed but if somebody calls and needs a later pickup we can
probably schedule that as well. If a rider calls the office in advance we may also be
able to accommodate them on an out-of-service bus either on their first run of a morning
or the last run of an evening.
Q: When a person calls to make a paratransit reservation for a Saturday why am I not
able to get one?
A: There are not as many paratransit buses on Saturday as there are Monday through
Friday and the drivers finish work at 7:00 pm in the evening which means you would
have to adjust your time schedule. For instance, you would not be able to go to a movie
in the evening.
Q: What are the bus schedules for holidays?
A: The bus runs on a holiday schedule, which is the same as the Saturday schedule,
for every holiday except Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.
Q: Sometimes we hear about a bad experience with a bus driver but more often we
hear about how great the bus drivers are and how lucky we are to have such a
wonderful bus system. Is there a way for riders to report on good experiences? Can a
rider share a bad experience without filing a formal complaint?
A: The same procedure would apply whether you are making a complaint or a
compliment. If a person calls into complain or compliment a driver for whatever
reason, we like to get a name and phone number so we can follow up with that person.
When the dispatchers take the information they give it to the office manager and if it is a
compliment, a letter is sent to the employee with a copy to the Mayor. Complaints are
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handled in the same manner but the office manager does a check with the driver to see
what happened and what went wrong and we also get back to the client with our
findings. People do not have to leave their name and phone number but it helps us to
follow up with them to let them know the process of how we handled the situation.
Q: Does Transportation have a suggestion box so people can make suggestions
anonymously?
A: No, there is no actual suggestion box. Sometime people have written little notes,
folded them up and dropped them in the fare boxes when they want to remain
anonymous. There is also the "Aloha Begins with Me" card (available in all County
locations including on each bus) where people can write their comments and it goes
back to the Mayor's Office for follow up.
Q: It is easy to say to call Transportation and talk in private about a complaint but it
doesn't work out that way. Being a small island, the drivers may guess who the
complainant is or they may be related in some way to the person or they may just not
want issues with their family. How do you suggest a person talk to someone in
Transportation?
A: Yes, we may know who we are speaking with but we keep it confidential. Through
deduction, a driver might figure it out but the driver is not allowed to retaliate; if there is
any retaliation they are disciplined.
Q: Do the drivers get drug tested and how often?
A: There is a random drug test system in place where O'ahu pulls the numbers, sends
it to us and we have to order the drug test. All new employees always go through a
drug test. Dispatchers and mechanics also have to be drug and alcohol tested because
they work in sensitive positions as well.
Q: If a rider feels or maybe smells something on a driver, could they contact someone
and then would that person be tested?
A: It would be good to call it in immediately and let us know what you suspected so we
can follow up with the employee at that time. To report it on another day would be too
late and we would not be able to follow up.
o Goals and Objectives for 2011/12 Fiscal Year
Action: Ms. Pilkington suggested deferring Goals and Objectives to the March
meeting; this item was placed on the agenda to allow committee members to bring up a
specific goal or objective they might want to work on during the year.
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o Reminder: Applications for appointment to the MACFEA are due to the Office of
Boards and Commissions
Most MACFEA committee members' applications have been received in the Office of
Boards and Commissions. Those few that are still outstanding should be completed
and sent in as soon as possible.
Reports
o County of Kaua'i ADA Coordinator's report
Ms. Pilkington reminded the MACFEA members about the training on Thursday
(January 20th) presented by Mona Higa from the Facility Access Unit of DCAB regarding
the new access guidelines. The County's Public Works will receive training in the
morning and engineers and architects from the private sector will go through the training
in the afternoon. MACFEA members are welcome to attend either session.
o DCAB report for January 2011 — Dr. Lucy
Dr. Lucy said that most of what DCAB is doing right now is refining guidelines and rules
to show all of the changes in technology since everything was first put into place 20
years ago. 20 years ago, everyone was fighting to get TTY's but no one uses TTY
anymore. Now it is computers, pagers, BlackBerries and iPod's and DCAB needs to
update their guidelines and rules to bring all of that into alignment. Dr. Lucy also said
the Communication Access Conference is scheduled in March and will focus on how to
empower individuals in the community to discuss what is needed to be more responsive
to the community.
MACFEA lost quorum at 1 :30 pm ending the meeting without further discussion of
business.
Next MACFEA meeting: Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Respectfully submitted by:
Barbara Davis, Staff Support
( ) Approved as is
( ) Approved with amendments.
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