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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCONSENT Letter of Assurance re ACAC JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONSENT AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners FROM: Bonnie Obremski,Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Coordinator DATE: {-t bvubt yam, I7 -102(e SUBJECT: LETTER OF ASSURANCE re: Existence of a Jefferson County Accessible Community Advisory Committee(ACAC) STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Every two years, Jefferson County must provide the state with a letter assuring the existence of a Jefferson County Accessible Advisory Committee (ACAC). That letter enables residents to apply for a specific grant that must be managed by a county ACAC. ANALYSIS: The Jefferson County ACAC membership includes people with a diverse range of disabilities and/or people who work in the field, volunteer or are a family member of a person with a disability. The following people are members of the ACAC: John Frasca; Sarah Grossman; Patrick Johnson; Debbie Linner; Pat Teal; Richard Tucker;Nancy Villagran. The ACAC meets at 1 PM on the fourth Monday of the months of January, April, July, and October. The hybrid meeting happens in-person at Jefferson County Public Health and virtually via Microsoft Teams. This biennial task has been ongoing for some years. As a result of good standing, the ACAC has helped thousands of state dollars to flow into the county to support public projects that improve the accessibility of Jefferson County. FISCAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: I recommend the Commissioners sign this Letter of Assurance. REVIEWED BY: (a. it alitct , Joy. Peters, County Administrator Date Cossf Board of County Commissioners coGs 1, 1820 Jefferson Street 0 PO Box 1220 Port Townsend, WA 98368 9SN1 NGeC9 Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3 February 9, 2026 Ms. Elaine Stefanowicz/Program Coordinator Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment PO Box 9046 Olympia, WA 98507 Re: Renewal of Jefferson County's Letter of Assurance for the Accessible Communities Act Dear Ms. Stefanowicz: In accordance with the Accessible Communities Act(Chapter 215, Laws of 2010), Jefferson County assures the Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment that it has established an active cross-disability Accessible Community Advisory Committee (ACAC). The Jefferson County ACAC membership includes people with a diverse range of disabilities and/or people who work in the field, volunteer or are a family member of a person with a disability. The following people are members of the ACAC: John Frasca; Sarah Grossman; Patrick Johnson; Debbie Linner; Pat Teal; Richard Tucker;Nancy Villagran. We pride ourselves that membership includes people who are knowledgeable in identifying and eliminating attitudinal,programmatic, communication and physical barriers encountered by and for persons who experience disabilities. It further assures that this Committee is actively involved in the following activities: • Advising the County and other local governments within the County on access to programs, services, and activities, new construction or renovation projects, sidewalks, other pedestrian routes of travel, and disability parking enforcement. • Develop local initiatives, services and projects to promote greater awareness of disability issues that encourage acceptance, involvement and access for persons with disabilities within our community. Phone (360) 385-9100 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us The Jefferson County ACAC is grateful for past funds granted through the Governor's Committee on Disability. Those grants supported projects that significantly improved accessibly for residents throughout our community. The county is hopeful for the opportunity to steward more grant dollars in the future to continue that important work. When people who experience disabilities are welcomed and included in all aspects of our communities, everyone benefits. Having an ACAC in Jefferson County has created positive opportunities and we look forward to continuing this partnership. Included with this letter is a current list of ACAC members and their affiliations. The undersigned certifies the above assurances concerning the ACAC membership have been met. Sincerely, Heather Dudley-Nollette, Dist. 1 Heidi Eisenhour, Dist.2 Greg Brotherton, Dist. 3 -Chair Jefferson County ACAC Members John Frasca Accessible Public Transportation Advocate Treasurer of Disability Awareness Starts Here(DASH) Sarah Grossman (Chairperson) Physical Therapist One of the founders of Jefferson Universal Movement Playground(JUMP) Patrick Johnson President of National Alliance on Mental Illness(NAMI)Jefferson County Debbie Linner Low-Vision Advocate Sexual Assault Advocate for Dove House Pat Teal President of Disability Awareness Starts Here(DASH) Richard Tucker Blind Advocate Executive Director of Jefferson Land Trust Nancy Villagran Past President of the Jefferson County Council of the Blind