I. CALL TO ORDER

Jacque Sample called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.

(No members appeared virtually)

Staff Present: Adam Kruse

Members of the public appeared in person. No members of the public appeared virtually.

II. INTRODUCTIONS

Statement by Chair on Virtual Participation

Jacque Sample makes a statement on virtual participation, and acknowledges that there

are no virtual participants currently.

III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Patrika Brown made a motion to approve the agenda. Cathy Dolles seconded the

motion. All in favor; motion approved.

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

DRAFT September 12, 2024 Disabilities Commission Meeting Minutes

Ann Marie Gortmaker made a motion to approve the minutes. Kieta Clay

seconded the motion. Motion approved. Andrea Lisenby and Jacque Sample

abstains from voting.

V. SPECIAL ITEMS

Presentation by Brianna Lennon, Boone County Clerk, on accessibility and

voting in Boone County

Brianna Lennon presents to the commission. Brianna encourages everyone to be sure to

keep an updated address with the Clerk’s Office and to look for the sample ballots that

will be in the mail soon. One of the challenges with the sample ballots is to ensure its

electronic version is screen reader accessible. At this time, the County has a link to the

Missouri Secretary of State’s Office for the electronic version of the ballot. If voters cannot

make it to the polling place on election day, then the voter can still do absentee mail-in

balloting. If a voter requests it, it will be mailed to them and the voter can just put it back

in the envelope to send it back in. The no-excuse absentee ballot is available until

October 22. This year, there are also opportunities for early voting at various locations.

One of the locations are hospitals, this allows people with illness and healthcare workers

with better access to voting. The four central polling locations are Friendship Baptist,

Woodcrest, Memorial Union, and the Boone County Government Center. Brianna

encourages people to vote early, as they are expecting around a 70% voter turnout for the

election. When voting, voters can bring any prior research with them to help with voting.

Discussion with Christine Gardner, a member of the community with

concerns on accessibility and a West Ash Improvement Project

Christine Gardner addressed the Commission to discuss the West Ash Improvement

Project, which is from Garth to Clinkscales. Christine hopes to gather ideas and

feedback, with the aim to present them to staff for a redesign of staff’s current plan. The

Commission and Christine further discussed the plan, the timeline for the project is not

clear but plans are expected to go to City Council in January 2025. Some of Christine’s

concerns are that Christine believes it is a car-centric plan and does not put enough

priority on accessibility for pedestrians and bicycles. Christine says one example of this

is that the current plan proposes 3 roundabouts. Christine believes it is increasingly

difficult to cross Ash Street already, and this is a great opportunity for the area as this is

the only major improvement project on Ash that she can think of since 1984. Christine is

asking for the Commission to help connect her with other pedestrians who use Ash

Street. The Commission discusses the project. John Bowders provides a

recommendation that Christine contact Krista Shouse-Jones, and present to the Safe

Streets for All Working Group. Ann Marie Gortmaker encourages her to contact

Locomotion and Services for Independent Living. Patrika Brown encourages her to

contact schools in the area who will have an interest because of all the students that

walk in the area.

VI. OLD BUSINESS

VII. NEW BUSINESS

Disability Issues Candidate Forum on October 28

Jacque Sample provides an update on the candidate forum, which will be at Boone

County Family Resources on October 28.

Discussion on the University of Missouri Office of Accessibility and ADA,

its operations and future projects

Ann Marie Gortmaker presents to the Commission on MU’s ADA Office where Ann Marie

works with two others. Ann Marie says that this office primarily deals with Title I and Title

II issues for MU staff for the University of Missouri in Columbia and in each extension

campus. The Office is under the Office of Institutional Equity. In addition to this Office,

there is a campus disability center for students. Ann Marie discusses her role and

challenges in making workplace accommodations. One of the tools the University has to

assist with workplace accommodations is a central fund. This means that the employee’s

Department is not responsible for the costs of an accommodation. This is helpful for

University staff, especially for new employees who may be reluctant to ask for an

accommodation because of cost. Some of the ongoing challenges for the work includes

issues related to the physical accessibility of campus and the digital accessibility of

websites and documents. The Department of Justice is giving Higher Education a

deadline to meet their new, more stringent, digital accessibility standards.

VIII. REPORTS

Future Agenda Items

Commission members discussed inviting the consultant for Public Works to the

November meeting to discuss the Complete Streets Policy. And to host the Commission

elections for Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary. At the December meeting, the Commission

discussed inviting people to discuss housing.

Chair

Jacque Sample provided an update on Dawn Zeterberg and reminded Commissioners

about the training opportunity available later this month.

Staff

No report.

Public Transit Advisory Commission

No report.

MU Chancellor's Committee on Persons with Disabilities

Ann Marie Gortmaker says that her co-worker Ellie Stitzer is the co-chair of this

Committee and will try to receive updates.

Vision Zero Working Group

John Bowders provides an update that the group met last Tuesday, there will be a

roadway safety audit for the Business Loop in the future and all volunteers are welcome