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 – Birdevinder Rickie Dhillon

Board Member – Reynaldo Villarreal

Board Member – Susan Coulter

Board Member – Vacant

ADA Coordinator – Joe Hinojosa

DAC Secretary – Diane Longoria

10:30 AM

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

In Person and/or Electronic,

Fresno City Hall, Room

2165N

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chair Derrick called the meeting the order at 10:35 a.m. All five members

were in attendance.

Present 5 -

Susan Coulter, Vice Chair Frances Reyes Acosta, Chair

Chenier Derrick, Birdevinder Rickie Dhillon, and Board

Member Reynaldo Villarreal

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

There was a brief discussion regarding the selection of a new chair and vice

chair for FY25/26 for the DAC Commission. This will be voted on at the next

meeting and to allow for public comment.

On motion of Villarreal, seconded by Chair Derrick, the above Agenda

was APPROVED AS AMENDED to defer the DAC Mission

Statement/Goals update and to add the selection of a Chair and Vice

Chair to the next DAC Commission meeting. The motion carried by

the following vote:

Aye: 5 -

Coulter, Vice Chair Reyes Acosta, Chair Derrick, Dhillon and

Board Member Villarreal

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

ID 25-682

Approval of the Disability Advisory

Commission Minutes from April 8, 2025

On motion of Villarreal, seconded by Vice Chair Reyes Acosta, the

above Minutes were APPROVED. The motion carried by the following

vote:

Aye: 5 -

Coulter, Vice Chair Reyes Acosta, Chair Derrick, Dhillon and

Board Member Villarreal

4. MEMBER REPORTS AND COMMENTS

Board Member Villarreal stated employees at the agency that were initially

impacted by budget cuts were not displaced. These employees were able to

retain employment in another department. Also, the agency was able to get

additional funding for one of their programs.

Next week he will be visiting the Capital to discuss funding opportunities.

They recently had an open house for one of their facilities in Bakersfield.

This makes two additional Valley Center for the Blind facilities in Tulare and

Kern County.

There is an upcoming event on September 11 at 6pm at 10272 N. Millbrook

Ave in Fresno called "Dining in the Dark" this event will feature a blind

wine-tasting, a four-course meal, excellent entertainment. Guests will enjoy

four courses (two under blindfold) as they experience a meal using

non-sighted techniques. Alongside friends, family, and colleagues, they will

share a remarkable journey relying on only taste, touch, smell, and sound

and learn about what it means to be blind in Fresno County. Proceeds from

"Dining in the Dark" in Fresno will ensure that anyone who is blind or has

low vision in Fresno County has a professional team of caring people who

can help overcome vision-loss related barriers.

Vice Chair Reyes Acosta asked if there have been any discussions at the

local level regarding recent changes impacting the federal government.

Board Member Villarreal stated there was some discussion from staff

regarding Medicaid concerns. Vice Chair Reyes Acosta is concerned how

these changes will impact those agencies in support of the disabled

community.

Board Member Dhillon announced that she will be resigning from the DAC

Commission effective today 5/13/25. She thanked everyone for their

support and enjoyed serving on the DAC Commission.

5. DAC SECRETARY AND ADA COORDINATOR REPORT

DAC Secretary Diane Longoria thanked Board Member Coulter and Board

Member Dhillon for their support on the DAC Commission. We wish them

well in their next endeavor.

ADA Coordinator Joe Hinojosa received some names of potential

candidates to serve on the DAC Commission.

6. UNSCHEDULED COMMUNICATION / PUBLIC COMMENTS

This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons desiring to address the committee on

matters not on this agenda. Your presentations are limited to three minutes per person.

Please be aware that the committee is generally legally prohibited from taking any action

on information presented in unscheduled communication until subsequent meetings.

Upon call 1 public comment was received. Kelly Griner who is new to

Fresno has applied to be on the DAC Commission. She is the new director

for Disability Services at Clovis Community College.

7. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEM

ID 25-683

DAC Mission Statement/Goals Update

This item will be deferred to the July DAC Commission meeting.

ID 25-684

DAC Awards Update

ADA Coordinator Joe Hinojosa prepared a Survey Monkey for the DAC

Awards. He briefly reviewed a sample of the Survey Monkey. The survey

will include three categories along with a description of the qualifications.

The Taskforce will review the survey for fine tuning.

ID 25-685

Farewell Wishes

ADA Coordinator Joe Hinojosa shared his thoughts and farewell wishes to

Board Member Coulter. We all wish her the best in her endeavors.

Board Member Dhillon will be resigning from the DAC Commission. She

will be missed by all. We appreciate the time she has spent with the

commission. We all wish her well.

Each of the DAC Commission members shared their thoughts and wished

both board members all the best.

8. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

a. TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE

DAC Coordinator Joe Hinojosa reported out on the Transportation

subcommittee meeting from April. The subcommittee had a lengthy

discussion regarding Microtransit. Microtransit is becoming increasingly

popular in California, with many transit agencies implementing or

expanding these services. Agencies are also exploring ways to integrate

microtransit with other modes of transportation, such as paratransit and

fixed-route buses. Some cities are also launching microtransit programs

using electric vehicles to promote sustainability.

The following announcements were made at the meeting:

1. Sarah Harris who served on the Transportation Subcommittee has

resigned. She will be leaving Fresno. She has accepted a position in

Sacramento.

2. Kristopher Grey has resigned from the subcommittee. He will not be

working for the City of Fresno, he has accepted a position elsewhere.

Sarah Harris and Kris Grey will be missed. We appreciated their

contributions to the subcommittee.