HomeMy WebLinkAboutDisMinutes_2015_05_22
Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities
May 22, 2015 Minutes
A meeting of the Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities was held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday,
May 22, 2015 in the Brookings City & County Government Center with the following members present:
Jessie Kuechenmeister, Nadine Gjerde, Nancy Hartenhoff‐Crooks, Lonnie Bayer, Shawn Minor, Sylvia
Buboltz, Kathy Heylens, Dave Miller and Alan Davis were present. Matt Simet were absent. Shari
Thornes was also present.
Kuechenmeister called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. The Street shop plan review was moved to first
on the agenda. The agenda was adopted as amended. The April minutes were approved. Next meeting
to be determined.
Street Shop Plan Review. Rick Salonen and Beth Niemeyer, Banner Associates Inc., were present to answer
questions regarding the plans. The following questions or concerns were noted:
Automatic door openers at entrance and interior door? Yes.
Bathrooms:
o Are the toilets wall or floor mounted? The size of the accessible stall is different depending on
toilet mounting. Wall.
o What is the style of toilet paper dispenser and location? Not part of bid package. Thornes will
contact owner.
o Are the toilets automatic flush? If not, the flush handle must be located on the transfer side of
the toilet. Automatic.
Drinking Fountain: Is this a kick‐wall or are the fountains recessed? No. This will be fixed.
Signage package details – Not part of bid package.
Showers:
o More detailed plans are needed for the transfer showers that show mounting heights and
location of all items.
o Bench dimensions? 18” deep, 18” high
o There was concern that the “Woman’s shower room” didn’t provide the same “programming”
as the men’s because there is no privacy in the stalls or the shower. It was clarified that the
woman’s shower room has a deadbolt and is considered a single user room.
Kitchen:
o One microwave must be relocated to be within reach range requirements. Recommended
locating below lowered cupboard space for a more integrated design.
o More detailed dimensions are needed regarding the reach range to the sink faucet.
o The stove and frig/freezer are an owner purchase. The stove must have front controls and the
frig/freezer must meet reach range requirements.
Details are needed on the eye wash station.
Details were requested on the following furniture items that are not part of bid package:
o Computer terminals
o Break room tables
ADA 25th Anniversary Celebration Events – July 26th
Myths & Facts – The public education committee has developed 25 myths and facts to be featured in the
Brookings Register.
Ice Cream Social & Presentation at Pioneer Park – Heylens will be in charge of this year’s event.
Durable Medical Equipment Drive – There was consensus to hold a medical equipment drive during the
July 26th event. Miller has been in touch with representatives of the Brookings Hospital about cross‐
promotion opportunities. More wheelchairs, shower chairs and the nicer walkers are greatly needed.
A subcommittee of Dave and Nancy will work on the promotion plan.
Avera Medical Clinic Parking Lot. The Avera Medical Clinic is seeking input on improving their accessible
parking. The Clinic hasn’t decided if they are building a new facility or remodeling the existing. Miller and
Thornes met with the facility maintenance manager to discuss possible improvements that could be done in
the short term.
City Volunteer Leadership Coffee with the Mayor. Mayor Tim Reed is hosting informal coffees on June
18th & 30th with city volunteer board, committee, council and commission Chairpersons and Vice
Chairpersons. His goal is to provide information on city issues and projects and seek input. This will also
be an opportunity for the Commission to bring forward an issue or concern pertaining to the committee.
Each group is asked to provide a brief overview of the projects and activities over the past year and what
is planned for 2015.
Updates/Reports:
ABLE Awards. A subcommittee toured Trendz and found the store very accessible with wide aisles,
accessible dressing room, and easy access at the west door with a staffed check‐out counter. The
Pheasant Restaurant and Bar will be recognized for its customer service and exemplary disability
etiquette. Kuechenmeister and Gjerde are preparing the press releases and photos. The event will
be held on Thursday, October 29th at the SDSU Performing Arts Center.
Public Education Subcommittee Report.
o Myths and Facts promotion is ready for publication the 26 days leading up to the July 26th
anniversary.
o Service animal information was published in the Chamber of Commerce online newsletter
on April 21st.
o They are working on a business accessibility checklist and a temporary events checklist for
the Arts Festival and Downtown Brookings Inc.
o Service animal information will be published in the Brookings School District quarterly
newsletter.
o The committee brochure has been reprinted and is ready for distribution.
o A 10‐15 minute presentation at “Million Cups,” which is held every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.,
was suggested.
Governor’s Awards. Simet prepared and submitted a nomination for Aramark.
Durable Medical Equipment Promotion. A design is needed for the sticker. The subcommittee will
work on it and submit a recommendation in June.
City ADA Coordinator
Swiftel Center Vestibule remodel design has been completed and approved. This project goes to bid
on June 16th.
Brookings Hospital Expansion – No plans have been received yet on the project.
HRC Ordinance – The proposed ordinance is scheduled for City Council action on May 26th.
ADA Symposium Report: Thornes attended the National ADA Symposium in Atlanta, GA, and
provided the following highlights:
o Access Board has serious concerns regarding new rules for folding grab bars. They are
currently researching stability which should yield data that will be helpful to the access
board.
o Architects will have a duty to prove safety when they evoke equivalent facilitation. They are
taking a lot of risk with these folding bars.
o Bariatric rooms don’t count as accessible rooms.
o PROWAG (Public Rights of Way) will be finished in 2015 or early 2016. It’s currently under
review by OMB.
o Title II entities built only to comply with IBC might not be accessible.
o Must coordinate with ADA staff to determine programming use.
o Who is the ADA Coordinator and have they been involved?
o Architects who don’t evaluate the operational functions of the space end up with
inaccessible areas.
o They are having problems with people making up “tolerances.”
There are no tolerances for ramps, asphalt, concrete
Encourage industries to establish tolerances
If unstable material, don’t build to the max
o People aren’t reading the new standards and still putting items in that aren’t required
anymore (12” extension, truncated domes).
o Toilet paper dispensers – “cheese wheels” – are a constant obstruction and clearance
problem in new bathrooms (12” above grab bar or 1” below).
Don’t try to memorize the Standards. They are searchable for a reason.
There are no rules on Point of sale devices yet. A recent lawsuit with Lucky Stores found that
customers with visual disabilities couldn’t enter their pin number without telling a clerk.
Companies cannot deploy new technology without considering people with disabilities.
The Standards are a “kit of parts.”
o Everything isn’t in one location. A reviewer must search all sections to piece
together an interpretation. Example: Emergency call stations – must look at route,
clear floor, communication, reach ranges
o Civil rights laws that are applied differently. That’s why it’s critical to know the
programming and functions that will take place in the space.
o Follow whichever one that requires the most accessibility – element by element
Restriping is an alteration which effects usability. They are still seeing restriping done
without bringing the lots up to compliance.
8’ access aisle is an invitation for a Honda.
Dysen dryer aren’t accessible because users have to reach down from the top, which exceeds
reach range requirements.
Department of Justice is cracking down on new bars and restaurants that don’t have a
lowered bar and seating.
The Standards don’t provide much guidance on equipment and furnishing that aren’t fixed or
built‐in. It’s important to review those items. DOJ noted problems with some table
style/base because a wheelchair can’t get the foot rest around the base.
DOJ is seeing a lot of problems with inaccessible security portals and kiosks.
The “safety defense” for locked bathrooms and elevators doesn’t work. They have to be open
and available.
Access Board encourages architects to design bathrooms for the big scooters. The Standards
were based on mobility device dimensions from the 1960s.
Elevated bleachers must have one entry point and 2 exits. Even though the seating doesn’t
have to be dispersed, the entry point into bleachers must be high enough for comparable line
of sight.
Box seats and suites must provide equal access to all functions in the space and not just for
the ticketed seating. The DOJ has several settlement agreements with big stadiums
including the Mets and Yankees.
The EEOC expects a landmark case soon regarding googling prospective employees.
Employers are searching for answers about things you can’t ask at an interview. It puts a
picture and face on a resume.
Uber (independent driving/taxi services) is being sued because some drivers wouldn’t take
service animals and because individuals with visual disabilities can’t use the app.
Correspondence/Announcements/ Calendar
Brooklyn Pratt will be filling in at the City Clerk’s Office while staff is on leave.
June 11, City Volunteer Reception, McCrory Gardens Visitor Center, 5‐7 p.m.
July 13, Sioux Falls 25th ADA Anniversary Celebration, Hilton Garden Inn Downtown
July 26, ADA 25th Anniversary Ice Cream Social, Band Concert, Pioneer Park
Sept. 28‐29, Great Plains Regional ADA Conference, Omaha, NE
December 11, Mayor’s Holiday Party, McCrory Gardens Visitor Center, 5‐7 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
Submitted by Shari Thornes