HomeMy WebLinkAboutDisMinutes_2018_01_26
Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities
January 26, 2018
A meeting of the Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities was held at 2:00 p.m. on
Friday, January 26, 2018 in the Brookings City & County Government Center with the following members
present: Shawn Minor, Jessie Kuechenmeister, Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks, Lonnie Bayer, Sylvia Buboltz,
Matt Simet, Ruth Harper, Taylor Wold and Nadine Gjerde. Laura Crooks and Dave Miller were absent.
Kuechenmeister called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. The following items were added to the agenda:
ABLE Award Schedule, City Comp Master Plan comments, Symposium attendance, Durable Medical
Equipment needs, and citizen inquiries. The agenda was adopted as amended. A motion was made by
Bayer, seconded by Gjerde, to approve the September minutes. All present voted yes; motion carried.
rd
Next meeting was scheduled for Friday, February 23 at 2:00 p.m.
Mayor Corbett thanked the members for volunteering to serve on the committee.
Nominating Committee Report and Election of Officers. The nominating committee of Buboltz and Bayer
contacted all members regarding their interest in serving. Kuechenmeister noted that she wished to step
down from the chair role. Based on members’ responses, the committee presented the proposed 2018 slate
of officers for consideration: Gjerde as chair and Buboltz as vice chair. A motion was made by Bayer,
seconded by Harper, that nominations cease and cast unanimous ballot for the slate. All present voted yes;
motion carried. Kuechenmeister was thanked for her many years of service as chair.
ADA Project Review: Swiftel Center County Resource Room
Jeremy Linstad, Associate Executive Director, Swiftel Center, provided an overview of the project.
Background: The city has purchased the County Resource Office area located on the east side of the building.
That area includes two large meeting rooms, smaller conference room space, and offices. The current Swiftel
Center ticket office will be reconfigured with partitions to provide more work space and a more secure space
for cash counting. The former staff offices located on the second floor mezzanine will be returned back to
their original design as two conference rooms, two offices, and storage.
The offices will be moved to the new area, which includes a separate entrance on the south side. They plan
to try it out as the primary entrance to the facility when no events are scheduled. Both entrances will be kept
open until people figure it out.
There is one unisex/family restroom in the new space, which will be remodeled with new fixtures, solid
surface counter, automated flushers, soap, dryers, and a changing table. The plans are not available yet.
The offices will be painted and new carpet. The three smaller conference rooms will have technology updates
including audio and video. The cabinetry will not be altered.
The large resource/meeting rooms C and D will only have cosmetic updates. The existing prep kitchens in
both spaces are not included in the scope of the remodel.
The employee entrance will be located on the northeast side with parking in the east gravel lot. Employees
will use a card swipe to access the building. Anyone requiring accommodations will be able to park and enter
on the south side.
The main entrance into the new office space will be modified with a larger window to increase visibility into
the main lobby.
Technology and office furniture and partitions will be owner-provided.
ADA Items of Note:
Interior Door Opening Force – Several doors required too much force to open (10-15 lbs). Maximum
amount is 5 lb. Some interior doors will be replaced.
Interior Door Levers – The current interior doors have lever style handles, which are compliant. If the
doors are replaced, compliant handles must be installed.
Southeast Entrance:
o Accessibility Required - The ADA requires a minimum of 60% of public entrances be accessible.
However, since this entrance could potentially be the sole entrance for the offices, it must be
accessible. The path of travel from the parking lot and sidewalk were level and without
obstruction. However, the door had settled and was impossible to open.
o Automatic Door Opener – An automatic door opener would be required for this entrance,
pursuant to City policy. Automatic and/or manual (push-button) door openers are required in
all new construction, remodel, or retrofit of city owned or city funded facilities. Automatic
door opening devices must be installed in primary entrances closest to the accessible parking.
Northeast Entrance:
o No accessible parking space noted
o Path of travel concern with displaced asphalt
Technology – Linstad asked for advice on any new or suggested ADA compliant technology.
Bathroom – The detailed plans were not yet available from the architect.
Room Signage – None of the rooms are currently signed. This has been added to the scope of the
project.
Rooms C & D Kitchens – Thornes did not conduct a detailed ADA review of the kitchens; however, they
were not ADA compliant at the time they were built due to reach ranges, aisle width and turning ranges.
Members expressed concern about how the kitchen spaces would be used in the future for any
programming, particularly 4H Achievement Days. Linstad said they don’t plan to use the kitchens. They
wanted to remove one, but funding did not allow for it at this time. Members cautioned that if 4H or
another other entity utilized the kitchens for “program,” they would be in violation of the ADA for
discriminating against people with disabilities. The spaces can not be used for programming,
demonstrations, etc., because someone with a disability would not be able to participate. Linstad said
they have discussed having 4H utilize the Main Concession kitchens.
rd
Linstad will present final plans for review at the February 23 meeting.
2018 Calendar and Goal Setting Discussion
The Committee reviewed the draft goals and calendar.
Buboltz said the Employer-Led Disability Alliance is now expanding their goal to market to other public
entities. The local Alliance supports local businesses in the hiring of people with disabilities. It’s a networking
committee to help businesses connect with the right entities to be supported in hiring practices. They formed
in 2016 and the first year focused on training opportunities and development of the committee. The
committee is composed of representatives from the Chamber, Brookings Economic Development, Vocational
Rehabilitation, Department of Labor, and Brookings Area Human Resources Association (BAHRA).
Hartenhoff-Crooks asked for a history of the work of the committee has done in order to have a better
understanding of their work two years prior. It began with a panel with employers in November 2016 and
discussing the reasonable accommodations that businesses have done. In 2017 the group worked on
development of partnerships with local human resources groups.
Representatives will be invited to the February meeting to discuss partnership opportunities.
The 2018 goals and calendar were approved.
Protecting People with Disabilities from Sexual Assault. Harper was contacted by a citizen expressing concern
how people with disabilities are protected from sexual assault. These concerns were based on a recent radio
series highlighting how individuals with developmental disabilities are more vulnerable to assault. The
Committee discussed the issue and where this fits within the goals and mission of the committee. Gjerde will
contact the ADA Center regarding potential educational resource materials that could be included on the
Committee’s website. Collaborating with the Human Rights Commission and other organizations to bring in
a speaker was suggested.
(Taylor left at 2:50 p.m. Simet arrived at 2:51 p.m. Harper left at 2:54 p.m.)
Durable Medical Equipment – Bayer said the Committee needs to do something immediately because we’re in
dire need of equipment. The space also needs to be cleaned out and throw away broken and junk items.
Promotion ideas: Church bulletins, public display screens, assisted living, hospital departmental coordination,
social media/facebook post, year-round marketing campaign, small flyers, public service announcements,
feature article, funeral homes, street clean-up promotion (call us first), and town and country shopper.
The newspapers and radio station will be contacted to see if they’d run a public service announcement.
Kuechenmeister will work with Crooks on the promotion.
Public Education Subcommittee
o Emergency Preparedness Workshop – The planned speaker has backed out citing budget cuts and
administrative changes. Gjerde will contact the Rocky Mountain Center regarding training option;
however, it was noted that the last speaker from their Center on this topic was not optimal. She will
require a curriculum and outline of the presentation before committing to a program. Members
suggested asking the original speaker how much it would cost to bring him in.
o “Patient No More” Traveling Exhibit, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - Hartenhoff-Crooks said
the remaining 2018 were in the summer or over the holidays, so the Committee opted for a January-
March 2019 time slot. Formal commitment will require a signed contract and 25% deposit. The exhibit
rental is $2000 plus shipping, which is estimated at $962. The Committee will see funding partners for
this project.
ABLE Award Schedule – Thornes asked the Committee for input on which month to hold the award. They
really liked last year’s July event and suggested trying it again. The Historic Preservation Commission agrees
and suggested either July or September. Thornes will get input from the Human Rights Commission and then
finalize the date. The committee will start thinking about potential nominees.
City Comp Master Plan – The Committee received the draft new City of Brookings Comprehensive Master Plan
th
on January 24. Deadline for input is February 13.
Symposium – This year’s National ADA Symposium is June 17-20 in Pittsburgh. No members are available to
attend. Thornes is undecided. They asked if there were any regional training opportunities. Thornes will
check with Lisa Tucker at the Great Plains Center.
Citizen Inquiry – A citizen contacted Kuechenmeister and Hartenhoff-Crooks regarding the creation of a
disability preference hiring policy for the City of Brookings. The State of South Dakota has a policy. Brookings
County does not. The Committee didn’t recommend any action and noted they’ve had great success working
with the city of Brookings on anything disability-related.
City ADA Coordinator
Bob Sheldon Field is under redesign and will be reviewed later this year.
th
Jeff Weldon, City Manager, announced his retirement today effective June 30.
Thornes would like to get the intern started on the accessible housing list project next week and will work
with Gjerde to identify the format.
st
The student position is up for reappointment on May 1.
Thornes will be in contact with organizers of Downtown @ Sundown to finalize the improved accessible
parking plan including the two new temporary parking signs.
Thornes will be in contact with organizers of the Farmer’s Market to provide them with one temporary
accessible parking sign to be used for the 2018 season.
Sharon Telkamp called regarding one of her units, which is wheelchair accessible, is coming available
st
March 1. She’s like to offer it to someone who needs it before opening it up to the general
public. She also asked if there was a listing of accessible apartments that she could post this
opportunity. She asked the Committee to spread the word.
Correspondence/Announcements/ Calendar
th
February 14 – Disability Day in the SD Legislature
th
May 24 – volunteer event
th
June 7 – coffee with Mayor
th
June 30 – City Manager retirement
Meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.
Submitted by Shari Thornes