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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDisMinutes_2009_01_231 Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities January 23, 2009 A meeting of the Brookings Committee for People who Have Disabilities was held at 2:00p.m. on Friday, January 23, 2009 in the Brookings City Hall with the following members present: Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks, Dave Bertelson, Lonnie Bayer, Jessie Kuechenmeister, Dave Miller, Kim Wells , Jeff Vostad and Alan Davis. Members not present: Kurt Cogswell, Lisa Sonnenburg, and Dona Kornbaum. Chair Dave Miller called the meeting to order. Next meeting of the committee is scheduled for Friday, February 27, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. The agenda was adopted as printed. The minutes were approved. Action to approve 2008 Annual Report. A motion was made by Vostad, seconded by Kuechenmeister, to approve the 2008 Annual Report. All present voted yes; motion carried. Annual Goal Setting. The Committee members reviewed their 2009 budget narrative and overall statement of goals and projects and discussed each item’s effectiveness and if each should be continued, changed or a new item be initiated. The following topics were discussed, but the final goals were not set and this item will be discussed again in February.  Durable Medical Equipment Drive – This project was first done in 2007 in place of the ADA Anniversary Ice Cream social during the last band concert of the summer in Pioneer Park. The idea was to have an event commemorating the signing of the ADA that had a more direct benefit to people with disabilities. It was a huge success, but members felt it shouldn’t be done every year. There was consensus to hold another drive in 2009.  Hospitality Accessibility Survey – Local motels were surveyed in 2008 to assess accessibility. The project will expand in 2009 to include restaurants, recreation site and other hospitality sites and the information will be published in print and on-line as a service planning to visit or relocate in the Brookings area.  ABLE Award – The Committee agreed to continue with the annual ABLE Award program to recognize businesses and public entities provide improved accessibility to goods and services. (Nancy arrived @ 2:20 pm)  Governor’s Awards. There was a lengthy discussion regarding the Committee’s continued participation in the Governor’s Awards program. In past years the Committee solicited nominations in the various categories in early fall (September) and the local nominees were recognized at the second Council meeting in October to commemorate National Employment of People with Disabilities Month. The Mayor read a proclamation and no funds were expended. More detailed nomination forms were completed and submitted to the State in mid December and the Governor’s Office would announce and recognize the statewide winners in January of the next year. In recent years the local Vocational 2 Rehabilitation Office sponsored a luncheon in October to celebrate the Month and the Committee had provided partial funding for the luncheon speaker. Then local nominees were recognized at the luncheon rather than the Council meeting and the Committee began to pay for plaques for the nominees. As time as gone on, the Committee has not been involved in the local nomination process or the final submittal to the State. The intent of the luncheon was to inform and educate local employers about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. However, the attendees have been primarily service providers, the nominees and their families. The Committee discussed if this program was an effective use of its limited resources and if it continued in the program more active involvement would be needed. There was also concern that money was spent on plaques for businesses and individuals who had not won an award, but rather were being nominated for statewide competition. Nancy said she heard a presentation at the Fall Voc Rehab Conference from the Walgreens Corporation about a distribution center they had created designed to be accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities. In that design they reviewed and simplified all processes and machines. The end result is that the new design did not lower the profitability for the distribution center. The presenter is available come if her travel costs are covered. Nancy suggested bringing this speaker in for a regional conference to promote hiring people with disabilities. Tailoring her presentation for shorter service club opportunities (Optimist, Rotary, Kiwanis) was also suggested. There was further discussion regarding the issuance of plaques to local nominees. Alan cautioned the members to not completely discount the value and effectiveness of plaques. Business and employees often proudly display these types of accolades. Others suggested there may be less expensive ways to provide the plaque such as a framed certificate. Nancy said it was important to periodically review the Committee’s projects and activities in relation to the Committee’s mission to make sure the committee spends its limited resources in the most effective ways and uses. She asked if there was a more effective way to honor and promote the hiring of people with disabilities. She recommended the Committee get more involved or not fund it. The annual funding has been around $500. Thornes noted that she no longer gets a copy of the final nominations. She also noted that at the 2008 event the Voc Rehab had incorrectly named the local nominees as “Mayor’s Awards” which was inaccurate. A motion was made by Bayer, seconded by Bertelson, to table discussion on funding this project until the next meeting. At that time the Committee requested an estimate on expenses to bring in the Walgreen’s speaker. They also requested that Jerry Raabe, Director of Voc Rehab, be invited to the meeting to discuss the Governor’s Awards program. All present voted yes; motion carried.  Parking Brochure - Another new project and goal for 2009 in the creation of an accessible parking brochure. 3 SDSU Frost Arena Accessibility Report. Bayer said this issue is on hold until SDSU hires its new athletic director. Post Office Accessibility. Miller has taken over the project as Chair and will be in contact with the Access Board. Thornes noted that this is a committee activity and all actions need to be initiated by the Committee and its members. Accessible Parking Requirements Brochure. Miller updated the Committee that the brochure has been laid out but final design is on hold until spring when a local picture can be taken for the cover. City ADA Coordinator’s Report.  Update from Curb Ramp Subcommittee - The City has completed a city-wide survey of all its intersections & curb ramps which as been summarized into a report and corresponding map. The subcommittee of Nancy, Jeff and Shari has been assigned with reviewing the survey and making recommendations for future ramp installations in a prioritized manner. Thornes contacted the ADA Assistance Center asking if there were any documents or other guidance they would suggest in making these decisions. Their response was that before the City of Brookings creates any more curb ramps they make sure they create design standards that are truly accessible. To create those design standards they suggested reviewing the following documents. As far as priorities in general, DBTAC staff recommended cuts be placed in areas that don’t currently have them or replace those that are dangerous before replacing those without detectable warnings. Additionally, the fourth document below by the DOJ has suggestions based on program access – as in the intersections around city hall, schools, bus stops, polling places, public housing, and other city own facilities. The committee is in the process of reviewing the following documents: o Accessible Public Rights-of-Way Planning and Design for Alterations http://www.access- board.gov/prowac/alterations/guide.htm o Designing Sidewalks and Trails, Part II, Best Practices Design Guide http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sidewalk2/index.htm o Update on Detectable Warning Requirements – Access Board http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/dws/update.htm o Chapter 6 Curb Ramps and Pedestrian Crossings Under Title II of the ADA - DOJ http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap6toolkit.htm o ADA Standards for Accessible Design – DOJ http://www.ada.gov/reg3a.html#Anchor-Appendix-52467 o ADAAG Manual – a guide to the ADA Standards – Access Board http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/about/guide.htm  Streetscape Compliance Review o Sidewalk conditions – After the December meeting, Thornes contacted city officials with the following concern: “The Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities had a meeting last Friday and one of the issues they discussed was the Downtown Streetscape project. An immediate issue is the condition of the sidewalks due to the ice build-up. Because the business owners can’t use ice melt they are using sand provided by the City, which isn’t effective in removing the ice. During the meeting there was a discussion about a liquid ice melt product that could be used on newly poured sidewalks. The Committee asked that the City looked into this product and consider it for immediate use. After the meeting the Committee’s newly elected incoming Chair, Dave Miller, contacted Rounds Construction and they indicated a 4 product is available and would be safe on the new sidewalks. Please provide comments on this idea as soon as possible. Another issue discussed regarding downtown was the placement of accessible spaces and corresponding signage and access aisles. The Committee and I will be conducting a compliance review sometime early next year on a “dry” day so we can see the curb cuts, etc. to verify all spaces and access aisles were installed according to the approved work plan.” Allyn Frerichs, Park/Recreation/Forestry Superintendent had the following two responses on the sidewalk condition and the ice melt idea: 12/16/08: “My observation regarding ice build-up after snow is that it’s pretty much directly related to the effort and timing of removing snow from the sidewalk. The couple of times when rain or sleet froze directly on the sidewalk, the special sand definitely provides grip until the sidewalks melted due to warmer temperatures or sun. I checked sidewalks yesterday afternoon and most were clear. A few had a slight snow buildup, b ut weren’t particularly icy. A perfectly clear sidewalk at all times during winter is probably not a reasonable expectation. If there was a safe and effective ice melt product, it should be considered. I am certainly not an expert in this, but did spend considerable time researching possible alternates last fall. My most credible information came from a chemicals specialist with the S.D. Dept. of Transportation. He said he knows of no chemical that does not have detrimental effects on all concrete, but especially new. He did recommend using the sealer we purchased late in the fall, but unfortunately due to weather, plus the fact most of our concrete hadn’t cured the minimum time (30-60 days) it wasn’t applied. The plan is still to apply next summer to provide long-term protection against salt.. He also stated that all chloride based chemicals are corrosive. They include calcium chloride, magnesium chloride and of course sodium chloride (just plain salt, which is most common and what the city uses). He said sodium chloride is actually least corrosive of those mentioned, in most cases. The product Rounds Construction uses is based on magnesium chloride, but is supposedly buffered by a corn starch product (by-product of ethanol?) which renders the chloride harmless. I find this hard to believe, but have asked Keith Rounds for product information to verify the claim. He has some literature I will get, but also referred me to a website which I will look for and research. The DOT employee said he was not aware of any chloride or chloride-based product that was not corrosive and damaging, but will share with you what I find. I do know that Rounds Construction has many accounts where he uses the product. It is a brine solution applied as a spray. Among them are First Bank, Lowes, Wal-mart and Larsons. I have seen it in use, it can get quite messy and sometimes a little slick; somewhat dark in color. Wells-Fargo is also using the product, since their management decided they wouldn’t risk just using sand. It doesn’t seem messy there, but I think it was put on when sidewalks were quite clean already and not a lot of ice/snow to melt. Where I have seen it messy, they were melting a couple inches of packed snow and of course in that case even salt can cause a mess.” 12/17/08: “Continuing the discussion on ice melt vs. sand, I just drove by Wells Fargo Bank. Rounds Construction had applied some of their liquid product about 8:00 am this morning. Some of you might want to take a look today at how it works. So far, it is beginning to melt some snow pack on the driveways, but of course its applied by a spray bar at about 10 inch nozzle spacing, so it will take awhile to remove everything. If you’re down there, then walk down to Flowers on Main. They ha ve put out sand this morning and it really provides good traction. Again, as a whole, the downtown sidewalks are really in quite good shape and mostly clear, only three days after the snowfall.” 5 Thornes said the City will probably be the one responsible to clear the access aisles next to the accessible parking spaces downtown. Bayer said it appeared the City didn’t anticipate this issue or have a plan to deal with it and is very concerned. As for clearing the snow ridges that occur in curb cuts after the plow has gone by is also a citywide problem and members sensed there was public misperception that the city would clear those areas. Thornes suggested the Committee Chair along with either the city manager or mayor cut a public service announcement regarding this issue. o Accessible Space Placement & Design – This project is on hold until the streets and sidewalks are clear enough to see the markings.  Wellness Center Review. Thornes said the final compliance review of the Wellness Center will be scheduled for the first week in February and members will be contacted regarding their availability.  Larson Ice Center – Parking Lot. City officials are meeting with the architect on Tuesday, January 27th, at 9:00 a.m. to review the parking lot plans. Dave and Jessie volunteered to attend with Thornes.  Medary Elementary Parking Lot. Brian Lueders from the School District contacted Thornes asking for assistance in reviewing the Medary Elementary parking lot. Dave and Jessie volunteered to assist.  Park and Recreation Center Lift Access. Jessie mentioned that she attended a Special Olympics event at the Park and Recreation Center on Main Avenue two weeks ago and portable lift key wasn’t available and no one knew where it was. Leaving the lift in the on- mode was suggested. Thornes will follow-up with city officials and report back at the next meeting. Announcements /Correspondence. None Calendar. o January 28th ADA Leadership Network Conference Call @ 2 pm o June 8-10 ADA Symposium, Kansas City February Agenda Items. Electronic/Paperless Agenda Packets, Goal Setting continued, Governor’s Awards Participation, Barrier Awareness, Walgreen’s speaker, Larson Ice Center, sidewalk/curb ramp conditions, Medary Elementary. Meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m. Submitted by Shari Thornes