HomeMy WebLinkAboutDisMinutes_2017_05_18
Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities
May 18, 2017
A meeting of the Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities was held at 10:00 a.m. on
Thursday, May 18, 2017 in the Brookings City & County Government Center with the following members
present: Ruth Harper, Jessie Kuechenmeister, Dave Miller, Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks, Lonnie Bayer, Sylvia
Buboltz, and Matt Simet. Nadine Gjerde and Shawn Minor were absent. City ADA Coordinator Shari
Thornes was also present.
Kuechenmeister called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. The agenda was adopted as printed. A motion
was made by Bayer, seconded by Miller, to approve the April minutes. All present voted yes; motion
carried.
Next meetings: Thursday, June 22nd at 10 a.m. and Thursday, July 27th at 10:00 a.m.
Buboltz announced that Gjerde and her husband had a baby boy, Henry Maurice, on May 7th!
ABLE Awards. The ABLE Award event will be held on Wednesday, July 19th, from 5-7 p.m. at the McCrory
Gardens Visitor Center. This year’s winners are Brian Gatzke, Sixth Street Center & Condominiums /1300 6th
Street and Brookings HyVee Food Store Human Resources Department. Buboltz will interview the winner
and write the press release/poster, but she requested assistance from someone else to take the pictures.
Hartenhoff-Crooks and Minor are interviewing Gatzke. Kuechenmeister will present and Buboltz will be
back-up if Gjerde isn’t available. The press releases and photos are due May 31st.
Decision regarding ADA July 26th Anniversary Celebration Event. The Committee annually recognizes the
ADA Anniversary by hosting an ice cream social for the 600+ concert attendees at the Brookings Summer
Band Concert in Pioneer Park. The Mayor has also spoken at the event regarding the importance of the
ADA and the Committee’s efforts. Former member Kathy Heylens always coordinated this project. She
coordinated with Kathy Larson from the band. No one at last month’s meeting volunteered to take the
lead on the 2017 event. The group discussed the importance of the event and agreed to do it again this
year. They also suggested inviting Council members to participate. Kuechenmeister will contact Kathy
Larson about hosting the social at either the July 16 or 23 concert. Another issue has been that the ice
cream is too hard to scoop. The group needs to find a different freezer to store the ice cream.
Leading up to the event the committee also sponsors a public education campaign with common
misconceptions about disability in the Brookings Register and on Brookings Radio during the month of July.
Background: First introduced in the 100th Congress, the ADA bans discrimination in the areas of
employment, public accommodation, public services, transportation and telecommunications. President
Bush signed the ADA into law on July 26, 1990. Final regulations for Title I, the employment provisions of
ADA, were issued on July 26, 1991 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The Department of
Justice, on the same day issued final regulations, for Titles II (public services) and III (public
accommodations).
Durable Medical Equipment Drive. The Committee collects and redistributes used medical equipment in
Brookings. Miller, Simet, and Bayer handle the logistics and the equipment is housed in a Brookings storage
garage. The Committee publicizes the medical equipment drive at the annual anniversary event and plans to
do it again this year. Miller said more scooters and shower chairs are needed. Thornes will contact Gjerde
to promote specific equipment needs on facebook. Past promotion has included flyers, business cards, and
posters in locations where people are likely to need assistance (assisted living, medical facilities, nursing
homes). Miller said he needed more business cards. Thornes will check the supply and will also bring cards in
case members need more.
Technical assistance for local hotel. Minor was contacted by Comfort Suites hotel management asking for
accessibility advice. He has arranged for the Committee members to tour hotel on Tuesday, May 22 at 11
a.m.
Coffee with the Mayor update by Chair. Kuechenmeister attended the annual City Volunteer Leadership
Coffee with the Mayor on May 17 and provided an update on the Committee’s 2017 initiatives including
the emergency management workshop and 2018 “504 Exhibit.” She said it was an excellent opportunity
to share information and hear what other groups are doing. The Mayor plans to host more coffees on a
periodic basis.
Public Education Subcommittee
Emergency Management & Accessible Design Workshop - The Committee will host a workshop on
emergency management regarding people with disabilities and accessible design on September
28th. Rich Sternadori, Education Coordinator, Great Plains ADA Center, is developing the draft
agenda and learning objectives for the workshop. Thornes said it will be important to publicize
the event immediately by sending a “save the date” mailer to key organizations.
Flash drives – Last month the Committee discussed the potential uses for educational flash drives.
Gjerde and Thornes reviewed the 2017 budget and recommends waiting until fourth quarter to
determine if there are sufficient funds for the purchase.
2017 distribution plan for parking brochures and windshield flyers - The Committee discussed a
distribution and marketing plan for the remaining accessible parking brochures and windshield
flyers for illegible cars parked in accessible spaces. Thornes will bring materials to each meeting
so members can take as needed.
City ADA Coordinator
City Project & Issues Updates
o Sexauer Park Bathroom – The Park and Recreation Director is reconsidering the building
project and may opt to remodel the existing structure. He suggested not installing a family
restroom. Thornes noted that a formal exemption from the City’s Family Restroom Policy
would be required which involves approval by the city manager, notification to the City
Council, and the Council has the ability to override the decision. She will be recommending
against an exemption because of the specialized nature of the campground and that it’s the
only one in Brookings.
o Personal Mobility Device – Thornes thanked Simet for his research on this issue. She will be
drafting a new city policy regarding Wheelchairs, Mobility Aides, and Other Power-Driven
Mobility Devices for review by the Committee and formal adoption by the City. She needs
policy examples from other cities. Simet volunteered to help.
o Library parking lot – Thornes is working with the library director and city engineer to design
improved accessible parking for the library.
o SDSU Diversity Officer – The University just hired a Diversity Officer. This position has been
vacant for some time. The SDSU Diversity Officer is an official liaison to the City Human
Rights Commission and the Disability Committee should also consider establishing a formal
relationship.
o Service Animals & Transit Authorities - Thornes was contacted by a representative of the
Brookings Area Transit Authority, our local demand-response bus service, stating all animals
can be service animals including birds, snakes, etc. This individual had seen the Committee’s
informational flyer about service animals on the Chamber’s e-newsletter. Thornes contacted
Geoff Ames at the ADA Technical Assistance Center asking if the DOT/Transportation had
different rules. Ames said Federal laws and enforcement of them are very inconsistent. FHA
allows even broader interpretation – students in (public and private) dorms can have
therapets, companion animals, etc… on a campus where they probably can’t bring them to
classes or the library, unless they can make a convincing argument that the animal is
reasonable accommodation in education. Under title I of the ADA, there is no definition of
service animal. The presence of any animal that assists a qualified individual with a disability
in the performance of her essential job functions could be a reasonable accommodation. He
noted that this is why, after 27 years post ADA, their Center still gets more questions about
service animals than any other topic (https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/civil-rights-
ada/doj-rule-service-animals-and-mobility-devices-note). DOJ enforces titles II and III – state & local
government programs and places of public accommodation. DOT writes and enforces
regulations for ADA & transportation services.
o Inquiry - Thornes received a call from Will Harold asking for information regarding
accessible bathrooms.
Membership – The student position and Rowland’s vacancy are currently being advertised.
Several individuals have already applied. The Executive Committee will request an opportunity to
provide input to the Chair. The group noted that someone with interest in marketing,
construction management, or architecture would be helpful.
Correspondence/Announcements/ Calendar
May 14-17 National ADA Symposium
July 23 ADA Anniversary Ice Cream Social, Band Concert, Pioneer Park
Sept 10-12 Center for Disabilities Symposium 2017, Sioux Falls
Sept 28 Emergency Management & people with disabilities workshop
Dec 7, 2017 – Mayor’s Holiday Party
May 3, 2018 – City Volunteer Appreciation Event
Meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m.
Submitted by Shari Thornes