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2024-03-27 - Commission for Residents with Disabilities - Minutesui °uYr RICK KAHEN COMMISSION FOR RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES March 27, 2024 7:00pm call to order Lower Level EOC Conference Room Buffalo Grove Village Hal l 0044: a wm 50 Raupp Road, Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089 I. Welcome & Call to Order at 7:00pm II. Roll Call A. Members Present: Chair Judy Samuels, Vice Chair Marty Sussman, Commissioners Mark Weiner, Donna Garfield, Avi Samuels, Lexi Robinson, Dean Klassman, Amy Parker, Gowri Magati, Matthew Dragon B. Members Not Present: Commissioners Allie Zalay, Debbie Verson, Beth Shapiro, Jack Shapiro, Leo Njongmeta C. Staff Liaison Present: TylerAnkney D. Trustee Liaison Present: Trustee Andy Stein E. Guest(s) Present: Mollie Gillespie, Director of Communications and Community Engagement at Village of Buffalo Grove, to present the new Village branding initiative to RKCRD Approval of Minutes: February 28, 2024 A. Motion: Commissioner Matthew Dragon B. Second: Commissioner Lexi Robinson C. In Favor: All present D. Oppose: None E. Abstain: None F. Motion passes IV. Chair report (Judy Samuels) A. The next meeting for the RK-CRD will be held on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. V. Trustee(s) report (Andy Stein / David Weidenfeld) A. The majority of a quorum is 5 or more commissioners. VI. Staff Liaison Report (Tyler Ankney) A. Guest Mollie Gillespie attended the RK-CRD meeting to present the Village's new branding initiative. 1. The brand is more than a logo; it is a tangible identity that represents and stands for who we are as a Village. The goal was to uncover who we are as a Village and amplify that brand for the community. 2. The process included: stakeholder & community education, insight gathering & research, DNA & Strategy formation, creative brand & message development, and brand action ideas. 3. The RK-CRD logo will be updated to match the new branding initiative. The logo will incorporate the Village logo with the words Rick Kahen Commission for Residents with Disabilities written underneath where the snapline exists in some of the branding samples shared at the meeting. B. Staff Liaison Ankney shared the itemized budgets from 2019 through 2023 as requested at the February 28, 2024 RK-CRD meeting. An update was also shared on the Community Fund Account for the RK-CRD which includes funds of $8349.65 that are specifically earmarked for the RK-CRD. C. Staff Liaison Ankney shared the Northwest Municipal Conference training opportunities to learn how to improve accessibility in the area. D. Staff Liaison Ankney reminded all Commissioners to complete the required online trainings (local Conflict of Interest [COI] and Open Meetings Act [OMA] training) by May 1, 2024. The Village Communication Department sent an email to all commissioners on March 15, 2024 with links to the required trainings. VII. Working Groups report A. Ensuring Opportunities for Hands-on Fun 1. Leads: Commissioners Mark Weiner and Amy Parker 2. Commissioners Jack Shapiro, Beth Shapiro, Lexi Robinson, Debbie Verson, Dean Klassman, Mark Weiner, Amy Parker 3. The working group has determined not to host a spring dance event this year due to the short timeframe for planning and the venue not being available on the requested dates. The hope would be for the event to occur on Saturday, May 10, 2025. 4. The working group would like to host the event as a Spring Fling in May 2025 preferably with a timeframe of 3-5pm or 4-6pm. 5. The working group would like to partner again with the Rotary Club of Buffalo Grove to host the event. The volunteers from the Rotary Club would help as dancing buddies and help support in the sensory or break room. Commissioner Mark Weiner will reach out to the Rotary Club to discuss with them. 6. Staff Liaison Ankney is going to reach out to the Park District to see if the room rental fee could potentially be waived. B. Advocating for Inclusion and Access 1. Lead: Vice Chair Sussman 2. Commissioners Leo Njongmeta, Matthew Dragon, Chair Judy Samuels, Vice Chair Sussman 3. The working group has started conversations with Village staff and has begun to build the relationship between the Village and the RK-CRD for working together to support the needs and access of residents with disabilities, particularly in terms of parking lots and handicap parking spots. 4. Members of the working group met with Mike Skibe and Nicole Woods from the Village to discuss the problems that exist currently around the Village to provide insight around what issues exist - particularly with the parking lots and necessary updates (location, striping updates, curb cuts, etc.). A 5-year plan was recommended to review parking lots and determine a plan for businesses to pay to update and fix the issues noted. 5. The working group is working to have another meeting with Mike Skibe and Nicole Woods to discuss the suggestions presented from Chair Samuels and Vice Chair Sussman. Mike Skibe recommended the Commission create a presentation to share with the Village Board about the needs and potential solutions, this will be discussed at the next meeting between the working group from the RK-CRD and the Village staff. C. Trusted Resource for Accommodations and Services (i.e. Sharing of Best Practices and Developing a Resource Guide (Education)) 1. Lead: Commissioner Allie Zalay 2. Commissioners Donna Garfield, Avi Samuels, Allie Zalay 3. The working group will meet again soon to discuss with the administration of the high schools and gather information from their databases. 4. Commissioner Amy Parker shared two online websites from local non-profit organizations that provide information and directories for families with individuals with special needs or disabilities to connect to local supports or resources. Those websites include Connect The Community and C.I.T.Y. of Support. 5. Commissioner Matthew Dragon recommended the creation of an expectation document to share with incoming or new businesses that outline what the expectations and requirements to be an inclusive business in the Village of Buffalo Grove. Vill. Unfinished Business A. Continue working on the goals of our strategic plan by continuing to meet, in working groups, outside of the regular monthly RK-CRD meeting, to brainstorm and develop an action plan to support one or more objectives within the identified goals. The Commission will present the strategic plan and goals to the Village Board for review and approval. IX. New Business X. Good and Welfare A. Congratulations to Staff Liaison Tyler Ankney for being the Village's Employee of the Year for 2023! XI. Comments from the Audience XII. Adjournment at 8:41 pm A. Motion: Commissioner Donna Garfield B. Second: Vice Chair Marty Sussman C. In Favor: All present D. Oppose: None E. Abstain: None F. Motion passes RICK KAHEN COMMISSION FOR RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Next Meeting: Wednesday April 17, 2024 The Village of Buffalo Grove, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requests that persons with disabilities, who require certain accommodations to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting or have questions about the accessibility of the meeting or facilities, contact the ADA Coordinator at (847) - 459-2525 to allow the Village to make reasonable accommodations for those persons.