Disability Awareness Starts Here (DASH)

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Present: Julie Duke, Pat Teal, Kaheya Cunningham, Lynn Gressley, Nancy Obert, Bonnie Bolster, Liz Rocha, Marion Huxtable

Bonnie Bolster informed the Board about her current campaign to make the Port Townsend Post Office building and services accessible to everyone. She is in the process of contacting local, State and Federal officials regarding this issue. Also a petition campaign is under way. Discussion focused on how DASH can assist. We agreed to offer copying support and the time and energy of Board members to reach the goal of 1,000 signatures on petitions.

Marion Huxtable requested that DASH draw up a list of high-priority projects to be submitted to the Port Townsend Non-Motorized Transportation Board to be included in its Non-Motorized Plan Update. She identified the following areas on which DASH could have input.

1. Priority projects for:

Sidewalk construction

Sidewalk repair

Curb cuts and wheelchair ramps

Traffic calming - what kind of traffic calming is needed?

2. Whether a multi-use trail should connect through Kah Tai Lagoon Park on the Northeast side. This would join with the Sims Way multi-use trail and ultimately
could be part of the proposed multi-use loop that would go all the way to the Fort on level ground separated from traffic. The controversy is that some
people feel that the park should remain as it is for the benefit of wildlife and that a multi-use trail would interfere with the birds.

3. Think about reasons for prioritizing your projects, eg Do you have gaps in accessibility that need to be filled, connections to public facilities, connection
with transit?

4. Is there policy that is lacking in the NM Plan relating to universal design and/or access for people with disabilities.

Treasurers Report
Julie reported that the current DASH fund balance is $638.83.

Fundraising

Lynn reported that he will complete and submit the Norcliffe Foundation no later that the end of October.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 pm

Next meeting Tuesday, November 13, 2007