HomeMy WebLinkAboutDisMinutes_2017_09_21
Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities
September 21, 2017
A meeting of the Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities was held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday,
September 21, 2017 in the Brookings City & County Government Center with the following members
present: Shawn Minor, Jessie Kuechenmeister, Dave Miller, Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks, Lonnie Bayer, Sylvia
Buboltz, Matt Simet, and Nadine Gjerde. Laura Crooks, Ruth Harper and Taylor Wold were absent.
Kuechenmeister called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. The agenda was adopted as printed. A motion
was made by Bayer, seconded by Miller, to approve the August minutes. All present voted yes; motion
carried.
Next meeting: It was noted that Wold has a class on Thursdays this fall, so a new meeting time and day is
needed. The next meeting was tentatively scheduled for Friday, November 3rd at 3:00 p.m.
ADA Plan Review - Sexauer Park Restrooms. Sexauer Park is the only park in Brookings where camping is
allowed. The current restroom and shower facility has been on the city’s ADA Transition list since 1993 as
non-compliant. The campground contains 18 paved pads suitable for trailers, RV’s, and campers. There is
also a grass tent area. The east portion of the park includes a playground, sand volleyball courts, and open
green space. The project would remove the existing facility.
The new structure would be located in the same spot and would consist of four unisex restrooms. All four
restrooms would be ADA compliant and the shower plan changed from what was proposed in August. Instead
of all four restrooms having roll-in showers, only two would have showers; one roll-in and one transfer style.
The Committee and Thornes, ADA Coordinator, offered the following questions and comments:
What are the exterior door hardware for all bathrooms/shower rooms?
The toilet paper dispenser is noted as provided by owner. Please provide details on the design.
There was significant discussion regarding the floor drain opening, placement and slope. Please indicate
exact design and slope to the drain.
Verify that the shower bench in the roll-in shower folds up.
Reminder that there are no technical allowances for a transfer shower. The interior footprint must be
exactly 36” x 36” after tile (and other material) installation.
Is there a water spigot on the side of the building for campers to refill water containers, etc?
What is the exterior signage plan? Recommend exterior signage that indicates shower type so campers
know if it’s a transfer or roll-in. Also recommend noting all these accessibility features in all print and
online advertising.
There were concerns about the exterior door weight, particularly since there’s no automated opener.
How do they plan to provide access with the minimum force possible?
Thornes and the Committee said they would like to meet onsite to review the path of travel, locations for
points of entry to the ramps, ramp design and placement. Thornes will try to line up a meeting the early the
following week and will notify committee members.
Public Education Subcommittee
Emergency and Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities. Gjerde will coordinate a new date
with the speaker. September 2018 was suggested as a potential date, but Thornes suggested including
key stakeholders in the planning process including date selection to enhance participation. Stakeholders
could include first responder organizations including the PPCC, fire department, hospital, emergency
management, and police department. Suggested names for the subcommittee: Bob McGrath, Darrell
Hartmann, Bob Hill, Jan Clites and Louise Coull.
“Patient No More” Traveling Exhibit of the Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The dates and
locations need to be finalized at the next meeting. Locations under consideration include the Student
Union, Swiftel Center (during the fall conference), Library, and City/County Government Center.
Thornes noted that the group may need to obtain permission from the Joint Powers Board for an
installation in the city/county building and they only meet quarterly. She asked for specifications and
pictures to share with the city and county administration. Hartenhoff-Crooks will check with SDSU
about locations. Buboltz is double checking with the State on the Fall conference details.
Snow Removal Brochure. The brochure is scheduled as an insert in the November (late October)
Brookings Municipal Utility bill. The Committee partners with the Street Department on this project.
Laurie Carruthers is redesigning the brochure and will send to the public education committee before it
goes to print.
Etiquette Training. Kuechenmeister shared concerns regarding recent personal experiences at a local
business. Diversity training that addresses all aspects of interaction, including people with disabilities,
was suggested.
Durable Medical Equipment Drive. Miller received a hospital bed from Shelly Brandenburger. They are
currently in need of equipment and need to do a promotion push. Inserting a flyer in the church bulletins
was suggested. Thornes is working with a couple members of the Interfaith Council and will ask if they can
help, too.
Technical Assistance
Hotel - Minor said the hotel technical assistance tour is probably on hold until he hears more from the
management.
Request – Kristina Gindo, Music Therapy Empowers, LLC, contacted Bayer asking for assistance in
evaluating her business for accessibility. Miller volunteered to contact her and review the facility.
City ADA Coordinator
Temporary Accessible Parking Signs – The group reviewed product examples and made recommendations
on styles. Thornes will purchase 2-4 signs, depending on budget and costs. The signs would be checked
out when someone requests a street closure for a special event. A deposit would be required for one-
time users. Events such as the Farmers Market, Downtown at Sundown, and Arts Festival would not
require a deposit. The signs would be housed at the Street Department.
Once the signs are purchased, Thornes will contact Downtown at Sundown organizers about providing
additional accessible parking at the 2018 events.
Swiftel Center County Resource Facility – The City will be taking over the County Resource Facility located
on the east side of the Swiftel Center. An ADA initial review to assess the facility is needed. The City also
plans to remodel and ADA plan review will be needed at that time. The remodel will most likely include a
new public entrance and automated opener, new bathrooms, a ticket counter, an entrance counter.
Plans are expected by the end of 2017.
City’s Policy for Building in the Public Right-of-Way. Two businesses have inquired about providing access
into their buildings on Main Avenue. Both would require building on the public right-of-way. The City’s
current policy was written in 2004 and states “the encroachment into the PROW will not be granted for
more than 30% of the width of the sidewalk measured from the property line to the back of curb of the
adjacent street. In no case shall the encroachment into the PROW exceed a distance of 36 inches.”
Thornes will look for other examples of city PROW encroachment policies and noted she’s seen great
ramp examples on narrow sidewalks in Solon, Iowa. The Iowa MainStreet organization was suggested as
a resource.
Mobility devices policy. This is still on the list of projects to accomplish this year.
Mayor’s Volunteer Coffee – Gjerde attended the Mayor’s Volunteer Leadership Coffee earlier that day and
provided committee updates to the group.
Diversity & Inclusion Training, 11/30 – The City will host a Diversity and Inclusion training on November
30th at 8:30 a.m. (management), 11 a.m. (employees) and 4 p.m. (employees). Members are invited to
attend. Maggie Owens, Vice Chair of the Human Rights Commission, is conducting the training and asked
if a committee member wanted to speak about people with disabilities.
Intern – The Sustainability Council will have an intern again this fall and spring. The intern will be available
to work on other projects including the Disability Committee. Gjerde suggested projects that would
enhance the committee’s online presence and information resources on accessible housing.
Affordable Housing Report – The Affordable Housing Task Force is scheduled to present their report at the
October 24th City Council meeting.
Diversity Potluck – The Human Rights Commission’s Fall Diversity Potluck is Sunday, October 8th, from 5-7
p.m. and Nathan Ziegler, the SDSU Diversity & Inclusion Director, is speaking. The Committee members
were encouraged to attend. The Committee should also invite Ziegler to a future meeting.
Mayor’s Bicycle Ride – The Brookings Bicycle Advisory Committee met yesterday and discussed ways to
grow the annual event. They liked the idea of changing the name to the “Brookings Ride, Walk & Roll”
and encouraging people with disabilities participated in the event.
Letter of Support for a Grant Request. The City is applying for a SDDOT grant funding for a project
identified in the City’s Bike Master Plan that would install a shared use path on LeFerve Drive connecting
the hotels to the bike trail system. There are currently no sidewalks in that area. The Committee agreed
to write a letter of support in the grant request because the project would enhance accessibility.
Kuechenmeister will write the letter.
Transitional Housing for People with Mental Illness – A group of various health organizations and city and
state officials are meeting on October 17th to discuss the creation of a transitional house for women with
mental illnesses. This project is being led by the Brookings Empowerment Program. Thornes noted the
proposed facility would not allow emotional support animals.
Human Rights Ordinance Amendment - The proposed amendments to the definitions of discrimination
and enforcement will be on the September 26th City Council meeting.
Correspondence/Announcements/ Calendar
10/8 Diversity Potluck, McCrory Gardens Visitor Center, 5-7 pm
10/23 Religious Pluralism Panel, Community Common Read Event, City/County Government
Center, 6:30 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
Submitted by Shari Thornes