Disabilities Commission

Contents

Meeting Materials

Duties include holding public hearings to consider the concerns of residents with disabilities, advising the City Council as necessary and reviewing or monitoring accessibility of public and private facilities and educating the business community, civic groups and the public as to the concerns of residents with disabilities. This twelve member commission must include seven persons with significant disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act; two owners or operators of businesses in the Columbia area; and three members with particular knowledge or experience in providing services to individuals with disabilities or an interest in the welfare of City residents with disabilities. All members must be residents of the City. The length of terms is three years, with openings occurring in June.

Contact

Email: [email protected]

Members & terms

  • Ann Marie Gortmaker – Term Ending June 15, 2024
  • Danessa Clay – Term Ending June 15, 2025
  • Cathy Dolles – Term Ending June 15, 2024
  • Vera Elwood – Term Ending June 15, 2024
  • Patrika Brown – Term Ending June 15, 2025
  • Jacquelyn Sample – Term Ending June 15, 2025
  • Dawn Zeterberg – Term Ending June 15, 2025
  • Hazel Fields – Term Ending June 15, 2026
  • Rene Powell – Term Ending June 15, 2026
  • Sonya Johnson – Term Ending June 15, 2024
  • John Bowders – Term Ending June 15, 2026
  • Jonathan Asher – Term Ending June 15, 2026
  • Adam Kruse (ADA Coordinator)

Establishing legislation

Sec. 2-346. Disabilities commission; establishment, composition, terms.

  1. An advisory commission to be known as the Columbia Disabilities Commission is hereby established. The commission shall be composed of the city’s ADA coordinator and twelve (12) members appointed by the mayor and approved by the city council. Seven (7) members shall be persons with significant disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Two (2) members shall own or operate businesses in the Columbia area. Three (3) members shall have particular knowledge or experience in providing services to individuals with disabilities or an interest in the welfare of the city residents with disabilities. All appointed members shall be residents of the city. 
  2. Members shall serve three-year staggered terms. In order to establish staggered terms, four (4) members of the initial board shall be appointed to one-year terms, four (4) shall be appointed to two-year terms and four (4) shall be appointed to three-year terms. After the initial appointment, all members shall be appointed for three-year terms, except that appointments to fill vacancies shall be for unexpired terms only. Members shall serve until their replacements are appointed.
    (Ord. No. 15229, § 1, 5-19-97; Ord. No. 21571, § 1, 1-7-13)

Sec. 2-347. Duties, meetings.

  1. The commission shall meet at least quarterly. Seven (7) members shall constitute a quorum to do business. The commission shall elect a chair, a vice-chair and a secretary from its members. Each officer shall hold office for a term of one (1) year. The chair of the commission is authorized to excuse any member from attendance at a commission meeting; provided, that the member requested to be excused before the meeting. Any member who is absent, without being excused, from twenty-five (25) per cent of the regular commission meetings held in a calendar year shall automatically forfeit the office. Any member who is absent, without being excused, from three (3) consecutive regular meetings shall automatically forfeit the office. It shall be the duty of the chair to promptly notify the city council of the vacancy.
  2. The commission shall hold public meetings to consider the concerns of residents of the city with disabilities and advise the city council as necessary.
  3. The commission shall review or monitor accessibility of public and private facilities and shall educate the business community, civic groups and the public as to the concerns of residents with disabilities.
  4. The commission shall act as liaison between the city and other organizations working with persons with disabilities and shall encourage communication and cooperate among them. 
    (Ord. No. 15229, § 1, 5-19-97; Ord. No. 17658, § 1, 4-21-03; Ord. No. 21571, § 1, 1-7-13)

Additional information