HomeMy WebLinkAboutDisMinutes_2011_01_14Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities
January 14, 2011
A meeting of the Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities was held at 2:00 p.m. on
Friday, January 14, 2011 in the Brookings City Hall with the following members present: Nancy
Hartenhoff-Crooks, Dave Miller, Kim Lindell, Jeff Vostad, Lonnie Bayer, Matt Simet, Jessie
Kuechenmeister and Dona Kornbaum. Absent: Kathy Heylens and Alan Davis. Shari Thornes
was also present
Miller called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. Agenda: The agenda was approved as printed.
The December minutes were approved.
Welcome new member & introductions! Matt Simet was welcomed to the Committee. Matt was
appointed to fill Dave Bertelson’s vacancy. Miller also announced Kurt Cogswell had resigned. Kim
Lindell was moved from student position into Kurt’s vacancy and the City is currently advertising
the student position.
Meeting Schedules:
Special Plan Review Meeting – January 21st @ 8 a.m.
Next Regular Meeting – February 18th @ 2 p.m.
New Business:
City City/County Administrative Building
The Committee spoke with project architect Brent Koch via conference call to establish a schedule
for the remaining reviews and discuss pending questions.
Bid-package 1 (site work, foundations, structural steel) is to be completed on Jan. 27, 2011. He
plans to send a site plan and details for review soon since this deadline is approaching.
Bid-package 2 (remainder of the project) is to be completed by the end of March. Scheduling a
final review of the drawings would work well at the beginning of March. That would give time
for review and to incorporate any changes.
Koch provided the following responses to questions previously raised:
1) It appears some of the first floor reception counters are at an accessible height while others
are not.
A. They might be right next to each other or a continuation of the same counter; therefore,
it might be a non-issue. However, one needs to look at this a bit closer.
B. In general, I believe ANSI A117.1-2003 requires all counters to be at an accessible height.
C. The current 1991 ADA Standards have three alternatives to an accessible counter.
RESPONSE: A portion of all reception counters are at 30” high.
2) The upper cabinets in the conference rooms are 52 inches hig h (first, second, & third).
A. ANSI A117.1-2003 requires storage elements to be within reach ranges (see drawing
below for guidance).
B. The 1991 ADA Standards requires one of each type to be at an accessible height;
therefore, in this case the bottom of the shelf could be no higher than 46 inches (see
drawing to the right below).
1. A side reach up to 54 inches is allowed – if one doesn’t have to reach over a
counter.
RESPONSE: We have lowered some of these upper cabinets to the reach height. I would
like to discuss some of the locations with committee members to get their input on the
guidelines, and why some were designed the way there were.
3) The upper cabinets in the third floor kitchen are 52 inches high.
A. ANSI A117.1-2003 requires at least 50 percent of shelf space to be within reach
range; therefore, in this case the bottom of the shelf could be no higher than 46
inches (see drawing below).
1. Or to meet this ANSI requirement – one might provide additional
accessible shelf space in a pantry or lower cabinets.
B. The 1991 ADA Standards requires one of each type to be at an accessible height;
therefore, in this case the bottom of the shelf could be no higher than 46 inches (see
drawing to the right below).
a. A side reach up to 54 inches is allowed – if one doesn’t have to reach over a
counter.
RESPONSE: We have lowered some of the upper cabinets to within the reach range.
4) The third floor drawings don’t say how high the ante room counter tops or upper cabinets
are.
A. This is a common use area; therefore, the counter top could be no higher than 34
inches.
B. See above for requirements and solutions for the upper cabinets.
RESPONSE: The countertop is at 34”, and we have revised the upper cabinets so a
portion of them are within the reach range.
5) Drinking fountains throughout the building might be a tripping hazard for those who are
blind or have low vision – would prefer to see drinking fountains that are recessed into an
alcove. If the drinking fountains remain as drawn the architects must show/create a way to
make the drinking fountains cane detectable.
RESPONSE: We have added wing walls on the sides of the fountains for cane detection.
Front Street Redesign Plan Review. City Engineering staff along with engineering consultant,
Civil Design, Inc., examined the options of leaving Front Street in its current alignment,
signalizing the existing intersection of Front Street and Main Avenue, different alignment
options for Front Street between 3rd Avenue and Main Avenue, making Front Street east bound
one way, closing Front Street, and different intersection radii layouts for the Front Street and
Main Avenue intersection.
The Committee reviewed the proposed plans and had the following questions/concerns that
need to be addressed:
1) Plans didn’t include all proposed accessible spaces. Please update plans to include the
additional spaces on Main Avenue in front of the Park & Recreation building.
2) The new bump out on Main Avenue & Front Street adjacent to P&R needs a curb ramp
on east side and crosswalk connecting pedestrians to opposite corner.
3) Are more detailed plans available to show curb ramp designs, particularly the two main
intersections?
4) Is there a way to “square off” the two curb ramps that cross Front Street to achieve a
straight or straighter path of travel?
Albuquerque Conference Report. Miller, Hartenhoff-Crooks and Thornes had a last moment
opportunity to attend an “ADA Train-the-Trainer” session in Albuquerque, NM on December 14-16.
DBTAC covered all the registration costs and most of the travel expenses. Class size was limited to
50 participants. The Rocky Mountain DBTAC partnered with two other DBTACS and Cornell
University in providing the training. There is an expectation of DBTAC to be able to call upon
attendees for possible assistance for events that the DBTAC offices are unable to cover.
Each participant could choose three modules and the Brookings group divided and
covered all of them.
Program 1 - Disability in America—Overview ADA
Program 2 - Getting Hired & Moving Ahead in a Job
Program 3 - Tapping into Talent—Best practices in hiring, retaining..
Program 4 - Serving Customers
Program 5 - Hidden disabilities
Program 6 - Reaching Out: Accessibility in Federal, State, Municipal Entities
Program 7 - Reaching Out: Accessibility in Private or Commercial Business
Program 8 - Accessible IT in the Workplace
Program 9 - Accessible Web-pages: Everyone Benefits
Committee Membership (student position vacancy). Miller suggested Committee involvement in
appointment process with respect to committee composition and needs.
2011 ADA Symposium – May 8-11. This year’s symposium will be held in Las Vegas from May 8-
11. Miller expressed interest. Members were reminded to complete the online certification in
order to qualify for the DBTAC funding stipend. DBTAC typically provides funding for two members
to attend. City manager approval is required for all travel.
Discussion regarding the Barrier Awareness Program. The Committee has sponsored “Barrier
Awareness Days” with Brookings area third graders for a number of years. The concept is for the
children to experience some of the limitations faced by people who live with disabilities during
Barrier Awareness Days. During that week high school students from the Family, Career and
Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) group, led by Joline Dunbar, bring to each of the
elementary schools activities, which are designated to sensitize children to the barriers that exist in
everyday life for people who have disabilities. The Committee’s goal is to sensitize youngsters to
the experience of people who live with physical, mental, or emotional differences. The hope is to
help children notice that it is the job of everyone to be respectful and helpful to people who live
with differences, and that all citizens need to be alert to making life activities accessible to
everyone.
Discussion about this program came up at the Albuquerque conference and Thornes received many
negative comments about any type of simulation activity. Everyone she spoke with were greatly
opposed to the program because it elicits a reaction of pity rather than a message of
empowerment. Simulation programs are often set up wrong or done poorly and don’t give the
right sensibility and can be condescending. Suggestion was made to replace the program with a
speaker with a disability that sends a strong, powerful message of empowerment to the audience.
There was consensus to discontinue co-sponsorship of Barrier Awareness Days, share the concerns
cited above with FCCLA representatives and suggest redefining the activity. Jessie offered to visit
with Joline Dunbar, FCCLA coordinator, about the Committee’s concerns.
Review of 2011 Goals & Objectives. This item was tabled.
Project & Issue Updates:
University Mall Parking Plan. On November 22, 2010, Miller and Thornes met with the Craig
Kregyer, owner of the University Mall in Brookings, to discuss accessible parking improvements .
In the end, all agreed on a preferred plan that we feel meets ADA requirements. Mr. Kreyger
followed that meeting with a written plan; however, there were still problems with a couple
proposed spaces. Miller made additional suggestions to which the owners verbally agreed prior
to this meeting. The Committee concurred with the final p lan. Staff will forward to the South
Dakota Advocacy representative assigned to the case.
Review Draft 2010 Annual Report. Kuechenmeister prepared a draft report for Committee
review. The Commission approved the report for submission to the City Manager.
Governor’s Awards Nomination Deadline – February 4th. Simet is taking care of final submission.
City ADA Coordinator’s Report
Wellness Center. Thornes reported a final decision had been made regarding what the City
would require for accessibility. She noted that Mayor Reed was given the committee’s
recommendations on levels of accessibility for this specific project. In order for SDSU to receive
the $500,000 subsidy, the City will require reconstruction of the exterior north ramp and
renovation of the second floor locker rooms.
Meeting with Mayor Reed. Mayor Reed said he’d be happy to meet with committee
representatives. Thornes will coordinate a meeting with the subcommittee.
2011 City Projects. For planning and scheduling purposes, Thornes provided a brief overview of
the city’s planned 2011 projects. Plan review is anticipated for the underlined projects.
o Joint City-County Government Center
o Nature Park phase I
o New firearms range
o Main Avenue Railroad Crossing Arms/Front Street re-alignment
o Pheasant Nest storm drainage project (S.D. #3)
o Underpass warning system storm drainage project (S.D. #12)
o Camelot Square drainage project (S.D. #4) [if funding permits]
o Edgebrook golf course cart path extensions
o Park system parking lot repairs
o Bob Sheldon Field restroom/concession building replacement
o Sixth Street entryway corridor features [will require CIP amendment]
o Forestry Shop addition
o Fire training building misc. repairs
o 25th Av./10th St. Improvement project [developer-driven]
o South Main Avenue sewer extension [developer-driven]
o 15th St./7th Av. street system connections/storm drainage [developer-driven]
o Airport Layout Plan and preliminary runway design
o Transportation Plan; 34/20 advocacy program
o Update of 2020 Comprehensive Plan
o Nature Park phase II
o Bike trail extension phase II
o Re-location planning & property acquisition of south fire station
o 32th Avenue extension through Foster Industrial Park
o City Hall remodeling project for police department
o Railroad safety crossing arms for 22nd Avenue
o 20th Street improvement project (Main to Cumberland)
City Website Redesign Update. Thornes has hired Civic Plus from Manhattan, KS, to conduct a
complete redesign of the city’s website. All content will be due in May. Go live date is July 22nd.
Committee’s Paperless Agenda Packet. There was consensus to continue with the paperless
packets.
Correspondence/Announcements
Snow Removal Reminders (completed & enclosed)
Feb 4th Governor’s Award Deadline
Feb 15th Annual Report Deadline
May 8-11 ADA Symposium – Las Vegas
February Agenda: Front Street Realignment, Annual Report Approval, City/County Bldg
Meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
Submitted by Shari Thornes