HomeMy WebLinkAboutDisMinutes_2008_11_141
Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities
November 14, 2008
A meeting of the Brookings Committee for People who Have Disabilities was held at 2:00p.m.
on Friday, November 14, 2008 in the Brookings City Hall with the following members present:
Kurt Cogswell, Nancy Hartenhoff‐Crooks, Dave Bertelson, Jeff Vostad, Jessie
Kuechenmeister, Dave Miller, and Alan Davis. Members not present: Dona Kornbaum, Lonnie
Bayer, and Lisa Sonnenburg.
Next meeting of the committee is scheduled for Friday, December 12, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.
The agenda was adopted as printed. The minutes were approved.
“Getting It Right” DVD. The Committee watched a new DVD produced by the DBTAC Rocky
Mountain ADA Center on etiquette tips. Suggested uses:
Run all or parts on City Government Access Channel #9
Brookings High School FCCLA Chapter as background information for the high school
students before they conduct the annual barrier awareness activities
Training tool for Brookings Police Officers
Use various vignettes in speeches to community groups
Recommendation on City of Brookings Accessible Parking Ticket Fee increase. There was full
committee consensus to recommend increasing the fee from $25 to $100 for accessible parking
violations, along with an aggressive public education campaign. The Committee has offered to
assist in the public education campaign.
Miller noted that in the state of Georgia anyone with designated accessible parking
sticker/plates can issue tickets to parking space violators.
Davis asked how many accessible parking space violations are ticketed annually. Thornes
didn’t have that information.
Form Nominating Committee. Cogswell and Hartenhoff‐Crooks were appointed to the
committee and Davis offered to assist.
Accessible Parking Requirements Brochure. Miller said he was very interested in getting
brochures printed for Brookings and contacted the City of Sioux Falls to see if it was okay to
duplicate their product. Sioux Falls gave their approval. Miller also contacted a graphic
designer he knows and the designer said he would be willing to develop the product in
email/print ready editable format for $250.00. He has gotten one printer quote of 500
brochures for $1000.
ACTION: A motion was made by Bertelson, seconded by Vostad, to authorize spending $250.00
for a graphic designer to develop a print‐ready accessible parking brochure. Funding is
subject to review of available funds in 2008. If sufficient funds are not available in this budget
cycle, the work will be done in 2009 (1/1/09). All present voted yes; motion carried.
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Committee Publicity. This item was at the request of Kornbaum and was tabled until she could
be present. Thornes noted that Kornbaum was interested in efforts to increase the
Committee’s visibility in the community such as regular pieces in the paper or on the radio.
Barrier Awareness Project Assignment. This project was handled for years by former member
Emily Bennett and most recently by Victoria Riggs. Thornes reported that Dona Kornbaum has
volunteered to take this project on and will coordinate the 2009 event.
Emergency Registry Project. Tabled.
Hospitality Ratings. Cogswell has not been able to get the final report from Vicky Riggs so the
subcommittee will re‐do the Day’s Inn review to complete the report and submit it to the
Chamber.
Post Office Accessibility. Cogswell sent an additional letter to the regional post office manager
and received a verbal response on November 11th indicating that the Post Office has complied
with the Architectural Barriers Act and has a Certificate of Accessibility.
The committee discussed how to proceed with this issue. Thornes noted that Mayor
Munsterman has offered to help if needed.
Thornes will contact the representatives of Sioux Falls Paralyzed Veterans of America office for
assistance in determining if there is anyone else in the post office hierarchy to contact or the
appropriate decision‐makers at the Access Board to contact.
The key accessibility issues at the Brookings Post Office are: the front door swings the wrong
way and it sticks, an automatic opener would be very helpful, and the interior service counters
are all too high and one should be lowered.
Membership – Student Vacancy. Thornes announced that the Mayor is appointing Kim Wells to
the Committee at the November 18th Council meeting.
Brookings Transportation Board Report. Hartenhoff‐Crooks said the Board is reviewing its final
report at their November 18th meeting. She had concerns that the report didn’t include the
specifics on the SDSU mass transit drop‐off points and has resubmitted that information. Once
approved, the report will be presented to the City Council. After that, a report will be prepared
every two years.
City ADA Coordinator’s Report.
ADA Leadership Network Updates (End of Year Reporting) ‐ Thornes thanked Hartenhoff‐
Crooks for covering the 10/22 conference call. A copy of the call summary was provided to
the members. The next group call is Jan. 28th @ 2 p.m. Thornes is waiting for year‐end
reporting requirements and will update the committee when that information becomes
available.
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National ADA Symposium – June 8‐10 in Kansas City ‐ Thornes noted that the date changed
from May to the June 8‐10 date and encouraged committee members to consider attending.
She plans to attend.
Larson Ice Center – Kuechmeister, Miller, Hartenhoff‐Crooks and Thornes met with the
architects working on the project to discuss accessible seating placement. Two
accessible seating areas will be incorporated into the “blue” rink, which was built without
designated accessible seating. The “red” rink is doubling in size and additional spaces
will be designated on the north side. The parking area is also being remodeled and the
subcommittee gave input on the draft plans.
SDSU Wellness Center – Thornes has contacted SDSU officials about setting up a compliance
review and will contact the committee members when a date is selected.
General Election ‐ Davis and Thornes toured all six city voting precincts on November 4th and
found the following isssues:
o Alumni Center:
Overall lack of parking.
Doors were propped open due to the nice weather so the door weight was a
non‐issue.
All equipment was set up properly (Automark and accessible booth).
o 1st Lutheran:
Two portable accessible signs were added along the driveway to increase the
number of spaces close to the door.
All equipment was set up properly and the layout was accessible.
Moving to a new location in the building for future elections will provide
better accessible parking and other amenities.
o Ascension:
A landscape truck was backed over the sidewalk obstructing the path of
travel. Davis visited with the individual who was very gracious and moved the
vehicle.
The overgrown bushes noted in the earlier review had been trimmed.
However, the sidewalk bevel had not been fixed yet.
The voting activities were held in a larger room in the building.
Poll workers need to be instructed to leave adequate wheelchair space
around polling equipment.
o Bethel Baptist:
The accessible voting booth was improperly setup. It was placed on a table,
which was too low to roll a wheelchair under. It’s okay to have one set on a
table, but another booth must be provided with the accessible adapters.
o United Church of Christ:
The new accessible voting machine purchased by the City was set up and
looked great.
The interior door was propped open, so the pull was a non‐issue.
However, the exterior door hinges were not adjusted and still were too heavy
at 24 lbs of pressure.
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o City Hall:
There were more machines set up in the space than previously done, which
meant the path of travel to the accessible booth and automark were
inadequate. The solution is fewer machines or a bigger room for future
elections.
Two portable accessible parking signs were placed in the parking to designate
additional spaces.
o Review of County Voting Precincts. Committee review of the polling precincts in the
county will need to be done by spring. The County Election Superintendent will apply
for Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds before June 1st and will utilize the
Committee’s report and prioritization of accessibility issues in her funding request.
Announcements /Correspondence
DBTAC Fall Newsletter
Focus on Abilities, Nov/Dec Newsletter
Dave Miller attended a Fair Housing Workshop in Sioux Falls and gave Thornes copies of the
handouts for the City Hall file.
Final Governor’s Awards Nominations must be submitted to Pierre by December 12th.
Calendar:
o November 6th ADA/ABA Training, Rapid City
o December 4th Mayor’s Christmas Party
o January 28th ADA Leadership Network Conference Call @ 2 pm
o June 8‐10 ADA Symposium, Kansas City
December Agenda Items:
Annual Report
Election of Officers
Meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.
Submitted by Shari Thornes