2600 Fresno Street  
Fresno, CA 93721  
www.fresno.gov  
City of Fresno  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Disability Advisory Commission  
Chair – Chenier Derrick  
Vice Chair – Frances Reyes Acosta  
Board Member – Susan Coulter  
Board Member – Birdevinder Rickie Dhillon  
Board Member – Reynaldo Villarreal  
Board Member – Ronald Sheppard  
Board Member - Vacant  
ADA Coordinator – Joe Hinojosa  
DAC Secretary – Diane Longoria  
10:30 AM  
Tuesday, October 8, 2024  
In Person and/or Electronic,  
Fresno City Hall, Room  
2165N  
1. CALL TO ORDER  
Chair Derrick called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. Of the 6 members 4  
were present.  
Present 4 -  
Susan Coulter, Vice Chair Frances Reyes Acosta, Chair  
Chenier Derrick, and Birdevinder Rickie Dhillon  
Excused 2 - Reynaldo Villarreal, and Ronald Sheppard  
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
On motion of Vice Chair Reyes Acosta, seconded by Dhillon, the  
above Agenda was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following  
vote:  
Aye: 4 - Coulter, Vice Chair Reyes Acosta, Chair Derrick and Dhillon  
Excused: 2 - Villarreal and Sheppard  
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
ID 24-1359  
Approval of the Disability Advisory  
Commission Minutes from September 10,  
2024  
On motion of Vice Chair Reyes Acosta, seconded by Dhillon, the  
above Minutes were APPROVED. The motion carried by the following  
vote:  
Aye: 4 - Coulter, Vice Chair Reyes Acosta, Chair Derrick and Dhillon  
Excused: 2 - Villarreal and Sheppard  
4. MEMBER REPORTS AND COMMENTS  
Vice Chair Reyes Acosta updated the commission regarding new company  
locations for California Connect. They have set up new service centers in  
Stockton and Sacramento. Vice Chair Reyes Acosta would like to advocate  
for a location here in Fresno. California Connect, also called the Deaf and  
Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP), is funded by the California  
Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and is a public purpose program that  
allows consumers to connect with the world using functional equivalent  
equipment and services. The program’s accessible products and services  
are fully subsidized. They provide communication access for Californians  
with hearing, vision, cognitive, mobility, and speech-related disabilities.  
Chair Derrick made the following announcements:  
- Disability Awareness Day at Fresno City College - University Mall,  
Wednesday, 10/23 from 9am-1pm.  
- Valley Center for the Blind is having an event - Fresno White Cane Day  
on Saturday, 10/19 from 9am-3pm at Inspiration Park.  
5. DAC SECRETARY AND ADA COORDINATOR REPORT  
DAC Secretary Diane Longoria had nothing to report.  
ADA Coordinator Joe Hinojosa announced the Department of Transportation  
will formerly adopt the Public Right-Away Guidelines (PROWAG).  
6. UNSCHEDULED COMMUNICATION / PUBLIC COMMENTS  
Upon call no public comments were received.  
This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons desiring to address the subcommittee  
on matters not on this agenda. Your presentations are limited to three minutes per  
person. Please be aware that the subcommittee is generally legally prohibited from  
taking any action on information presented in unscheduled communication until  
subsequent meetings.  
7. ACTION ITEM  
ID 24-1360  
Approve DAC 2025 Meeting Dates/Times  
ADA Coordinator Joe Hinojosa reviewed with the Commission the proposed  
2025 DAC Commission and Subcommittee meeting dates and times. Joe  
Hinojosa stated that the Housing Subcommittee members spoke at length  
and decided to disband the committee. However, the members agreed that  
any concerns that should arise about housing should still be addressed and  
merging this group with the DAC Regular Commission would be beneficial.  
The DAC Commission agreed to have this as a standing topic on the DAC  
Commission agenda.  
On motion of Dhillon, seconded by Coulter to approve disbanding the  
Housing Sub-committee and have it merge with the DAC Regular  
Commission. All approved.  
On motion of Dhillon, seconded by Vice Chair Reyes Acosta, the  
above Action Item was APPROVED. The motion carried by the  
following vote:  
Aye: 4 - Coulter, Vice Chair Reyes Acosta, Chair Derrick and Dhillon  
Excused: 2 - Villarreal and Sheppard  
ID 24-1361  
Review DAC 2024 Achievement Award  
Nominations  
The DAC Awards Task Force received a total of 2 nominations.  
(1) City of Fresno employee  
(1) Individual  
ADA Coordinator read the letters of support for the two that were nominated.  
On motion of Dhillon, seconded by Derrick, the above Action Item  
(Individual Award) was APPROVED.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
All approved except Coulter who abstained.  
On motion of Dhillon, seconded by Coulter, the above Action Item (City of  
Fresno employee) was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following  
vote:  
All approved except Chair Derrick who abstained.  
Since a nomination was not made for an organization, the DAC Commission  
made a nomination for DHHSC for the 2024 Achievement Award.  
On motion of Derrick, seconded by Dhillon, the above Action Item (Deaf &  
Hard of Hearing Service Center (DHHSC) organization) award was  
APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:  
All approved the motion.  
The 2024 Achievement Award recipients will be announced at the October  
31 Council meeting.  
On motion of Dhillon, seconded by Chair Derrick, the above Action  
Item was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 3 - Vice Chair Reyes Acosta, Chair Derrick and Dhillon  
Excused: 2 - Villarreal and Sheppard  
Abstain: 1 - Coulter  
8. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS  
a. TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE  
Chair Derrick spoke briefly about a bus stop project. A customer service  
survey is now available and accessible online.  
b. HOUSING SUBCOMMITTEE  
Marla Williams thanked all the members of the Housing committee and  
looks forward to future discussions at the DAC Regular meetings.  
9. ADJOURNMENT  
Meeting adjourned at 11:49 a.m.  
The above minutes were approved by unanimous vote of the Disability  
Advisory Commission during the November 12, 2024 regular meeting.