3/23/2023 - Meeting Minutes Accessibility and Disability Commission Pending Minutes
March 23, 2023
Commissioner Attendance
• Everette Bacon, In Person
• Scott Browning, Absent
• Amy Carmen, In Person
• Kristy Chambers, In Person
• Todd Claflin, In Person
• Nate Crippes, In Person
• Jan Ferre, In Person
• Rich Foster, In Person
• Jeff Kenyon, In Person
• Leah Lobato, In Person
• Kayci Lynam, In Person
• Pamela Mower, In Person
• Ivana Powell, In Person
• Damon Talbot, In Person
• Margo Thurman, In Person
Other Guests in Attendance
• Ashley Lichtle,ADA Coordinator, Board Manager
• Damian Choi, Chief Equity Officer
• Maria Romero, Executive Assistant
• Ruedigar Matthes, Community and Neighborhoods Dept.
Minute Revisions
No Revisions
Motion to Approve Minutes By
Amy Carmen
Second to Approve Minutes By
Todd Claflin
Open Dialogue
• Commissioner Talbot announced the Alliance House Clubhouse International Conference will be
held in Salt Lake City.
• Commissioner Bacon announced the National Federation of the Blind of Utah will be hosting
their annual conference in Provo this year.
• Commissioner Chambers shared information about the Neuro-Inclusive Housing Utah survey.
They are Hoping for at least 200 participants to respond to the survey. More information at
https://www.neuroinclusiveutah.org/.
• Commissioner Crippes shared that there is a new museum being built near the Capitol and the
Director should consider accessibility feedback. It was suggested that the Director come to
discuss at a Commission meeting.
Public Comment
No members of the public were present at this meeting.
Agenda Item 1: New Chief Equity Officer Introduction, Damian Choi
• Damian Choi, Chief Equity Officer introduced himself to the Commission and discussed his
professional background prior to joining the Mayor's Office. He identified Emergency
Management as a priority for him and his work in this role.
• Commissioner Mower has commented she is thankful of all the work Ashley Lichtle has
completed.
• Commissioner Lobato recommended that the City work to increase employment opportunities
for people with disabilities.
• Commissioner Talbot mentioned the importance of focusing on housing affordability.
Agenda Item 2: SLC Housing Plan Update, Ruedigar Matthes
• Rudi gave an overview of the SLC Housing Plan and its goals.The plan is currently available for
public comment at www.slc.gov/housingSLC.
• Commissioner Powell inquired about the scope of the plan.
• Commissioner Bacon inquired about how many of the 5,500 units will be accessible.
• Commissioner Crippes inquired about the Deeply Affordable housing support services are part
of the plan and what supportive services will be available according to the current plan. He also
mentioned the lack of accessibility planning within the plan.
• Commissioner Claflin inquired on city incentives that are available for private developers in Salt
Lake to build affordable housing.
• Commissioner Carmen commented on the transportation issues and inquired on whether the
plan includes green spaces.
Agenda Item 3: Legislative Update, Commissioner Crippes
Commissioner Crippes gave an update on the 2023 General Session including:
• Deeply Affordable housing received $50M in funding, less than the $100M the Governor
requested but a start.
• Caregiver Compensation for parents received ongoing funding, the dedicated funding for the
DSPD waiting list was not funded. However, approximately 250 individuals could be funded this
year to receive services.
• 190 additional individuals could receive services from the Medically Complex Children's Waiver.
• Assertive Community Treatment teams got funding of$1M.This should add 2 ACT teams in the
state.
• HB 162 and HB 37 passed,which allow voters to let election officials know their signature
doesn't match due to their disability, so they don't have to correct it every year. Some voting
bills that would have made voting less accessible did not pass.
• A few bills that will increase law enforcement in schools passed, which the Disability Law Center
believes will disproportionately impact kids with disabilities and lead them into the criminal
justice system.
• A few bills that did not pass are things the Disability Law Center will continue to work on in the
Interim, including:
o a bill to codify supported decision-making agreements,
o a bill to create a comprehensive study of the state's mental health system, particularly
for those with serious and persistent mental illness
■ The Disability Law Center will work to pull together a group of stakeholders to
look at this and other MH legislation this summer,
o a bill/proposal to allow those on DSPD waiting list to access Medicaid/expansion of the
Technology Dependent Waiver, and
o a bill that would have ended subminimum wage for people with disabilities.
Agenda Item 4: City Updates
• Ashley gave an update on the Closed Captioning ordinance. It was signed on March 151n
Educational materials for businesses and a website dedicated to the ordinance are being
created.They will be distributed once the letter is translated into Spanish.
• Commissioner Carmen gave an Emergency Management Update and reviewed the Be Ready
Utah handout. She recommended that each Commissioner do one of the tasks listed on the
handout before April's meeting.
• Commissioner Bacon announced that there would be no meeting in May for a Summer recess.
Current Events in Accessibility and Disability, Commissioner Bacon
• Commissioner Bacon discussed Utah voting laws and a bill regarding Non-Visual Medical Device
and access to that technology.
• Commissioner Chambers mentioned that Columbus House raised their wages to the state's
minimum wage.
Tentative Closed Session
Item not held.
Time Adjourned
4:30 PM