HomeMy WebLinkAboutM2007_07_25Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities
July 25, 2007
A meeting for the Brookings Committee for People who Have Disabilities was held at
3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 in the Brookings City Hall with the following
members present: Kurt Cogswell, Emily Bennett, Dona Kornbaum, Dave Bertelson,
Victoria Riggs, Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks, Dave Miller, and Jeff Vostad. Lisa
Sonnenburg, Erin Brubakken, and Tom Schaffer were absent.
Agenda - Discussion regarding accessibility at the 2007 Summer Arts Festival was
added to the agenda. The amended agenda was adopted.
Minutes - The June minutes were not available.
Schedule next meeting - Next meeting of the committee is scheduled for Friday,
September 14, 2007 at 2:00 p.m.
Summer Arts Festival Accessibility - Thornes said she heard from other city
management personnel that the aisles in the antique section of the festival were too
narrow and impassable by a wheelchair. She also questioned if wheelchairs were
provided at this year's event.
The accessible parking plan implemented years ago seems to be working well. There
are shuttles, but are not accessible.
The Disability Committee used to have a representative (Cogswell) that attended the
Festival Committee meetings. Cogswell will check with a Committee contact and
report back in September.
Facility reviews of Chamber of Commerce £t Brookings Biospace - Thornes was
contacted by Al Heuton, Brookings Economic Development Director, to conduct an
independent third party review of.the Chamber facility and Brookings Bio -space
facility as terms for compliance with a Federal grant application. Cogswell,
Hartenhoff -Crooks and Thornes reviewed both buildings on July 2nd and prepared and
distributed reports on both facilities.
Thornes had done a facility review of the Chamber building in 1998 and found most of
the inaccessible features noted in 1998 were still a problem in 2007, most notably the
primary entrance and the public restrooms. She expressed concern to the City
Manager about the Chamber, BEDC and Convention Visitor's Bureau receiving
substantial annual subsidies from the city yet not making any attempts to correct
these issues. He agreed that this was a problem and that it should be addressed.
She recently learned that the BEDC may be selling the building.
The Brookings Biospace facility is located at 1010 32nd Avenue north of the Brookings
Ice Arena. It is a new building that houses four wet labs for lease. The parking tot
was not marked with accessible spots and the restrooms in the common hallway had
showers, but they weren't accessible. Thornes checked with other colleagues and
there was agreement that in new construction, even if this is privately leased space,
at least one of the bathroom showers must be accessible.
Project Updates/Reviews:
ABLE Awards - The ABLE Awards were presented to the two 2007 winners, Lowes
Et Capital Card Services, by Kurt Cogswell and the Mayor at the July 24, 2007 city
council meeting. Representatives of both winning companies were present to
accept the award. Dave Miller took pictures and Cogswell will send them to the
Brookings Register. Approximately 40 people were in attendance at the meeting.
The press was also present.
Durable Medical Equipment Drive - Cogswell reported that the equipment drive
was a wonderful success with over 100 items collected. He prepared and sent
the following letter to the Brookings Register. It ran in the July 24th issue.
"On behalf of the Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities, I'd like to thank
Brookings and the surrounding communities for their great response to our durable
medical equipment drive. Nearly 100 items have been collected, ranging from walkers
and wheelchairs to lift chairs and hospital beds. This equipment will be donated to
Easter Seals of South Dakota, whose distribution system will see to it that it is delivered
to people in need. Special thanks go to Kendall's Home Medical Services who were
particularly generous in their donation of equipment, and to the members of the
Brookings City Council who contributed their time to help publicize the drive. If you
have additional items you would like to donate, please call 605-695-1958 to arrange for
free pick up during the next week. "
He noted that the Brookings Hospital donated to c-pac (sp?) machines that are
used to assist breathing.
The equipment drive subcommittee was Vostad, Miller and Cogswell.
The equipment is in storage in space donated by Mills Property Management.
Cogswell will contact Easter Seals to coordinate a pickup time in the next week or
two.
There was discussion if this drive should be done every year or wait a couple years
for items to accumulate. The Committee will discuss this again when planning
for next year.
Update on the Transportation Study Committee. Bertelson and Thornes
attended the second meeting of the study committee on July 23`d
The study is being conducted by Dave Ripplinger, Small Urban ft Rural Transit
Center from NDSU in North Dakota. Ripplinger summarized the findings from the
groups first meeting. They identified all the different types of "trip needs" area
citizens might have and they also identified the current service providers.
From the data collected, Ripplinger identified gaps in service which he calls
"transportation disadvantaged." He included people with disabilities, people
with income disadvantages and age (younger and older) as having gaps in service.
Potential service opportunities he has identified are:
1) coordinated same-day transportation
2) expanded fixed -route transportation
3) job access/van pool
His preliminary recommendations are as follows:
1) Establish a coordinated transportation board
2) Build support for new coordinated transportation effort
3) Consider expanded fixed -route service
4) Consider role of transportation in large event planning
5) Consider feasibility of van pool service
6) Incorporate transportation into emergency planning
BATA (Brookings Area Transit Authority) has already implemented a fixed -route
service and some at the meeting were unaware of this including Dean Katteleman,
SDSU representative. He suggested that the route incorporate a stop at the
Student Union.
Kattelman noted that SDSU will have several lots unavailable for parking due to
construction projects and that those spaces may be permanently removed as
commuter spots.
The draft report will be emailed to the group for review. The final report will be
presented to the City Council and County Commission sometime in September.
Update on City Budget - Thornes reported that the city budget requests were
submitted by the July 18"' deadline. The proposed budget will be provided to the
City Council on August 15t. The Committee's request for level funding appears
fairly solid.
Report on ADA Leadership Network Conference - Sonnenburg Ft Bennett
attended an ADA Leadership Network Conference in Colorado Springs on April 12th
Ft 13th. All travel funds were covered by the Network. Bennett reviewed the list
of attendees and various handouts from the conference. They both found the
workshop extremely beneficial and strongly recommend the Committee continue
to send representatives to the training.
3
ADA Coordinator's Report:
Update on new City ADA related Policies (lifts Et doors) - The City Council
adopted the following ADA related policies at their July 24th meeting.
Use of Platform Lifts Prohibited in New Construction, Remodels, and Retrofits
of City Owned or City Funded Facilities
Although the ADAAG, Section 1109.7 Lifts, states that platform (wheelchair) lifts are
permitted to be a part of a required accessible route in new construction in some
circumstances, the City of Brookings recognizes that platform lifts typically result in a
separate, stigmatizing experience for people who use them, a situation that violates the
spirit of the ADA as well as the principles of universal design.
Therefore, platform lifts (also referred to as mechanical lifts or wheelchair lifts) will not
be allowed in the new construction, remodel, or retrofit of city owned or city funded
facilities, except under special exemptions cited below. Elevators or ramps must be
provided as a means of access.
Lifts will only be considered where it is infeasible to install a ramp or elevator. To
exempt a project, the department head or funding applicant must submit a written
request identifying specific reasons for the exemption to the ADA Compliance Officer.
The Officer will provide a written recommendation to the appropriate department head
and City Manager. The City Manager will make a decision in the matter. The City Council
will be advised of any exemptions and provided the opportunity to override the City
Manager's decision.
Automatic Door Openers Required in New Construction, Remodels, and Retrofits
of City Owned or City Funded Facilities
The City of Brookings recognizes automatic door openers can provide improved access to
its services for all citizens, including those with disabilities. Therefore, automatic and/or
manual (push-button) door openers will be required in all new construction, remodel, or
retrofit of city owned or city funded facilities. Automatic door opening devices, in
compliance with ADAAG requirements, must be installed in primary entrances closest to
the accessible parking.
To exempt a project, the department head or funding applicant must submit a written
request identifying specific reasons for the exemption to the ADA Compliance Officer.
The Officer will provide a written recommendation to the appropriate department head
and City Manager. The City Manager will make a decision in the matter. The City Council
will be advised of any exemptions and provided the opportunity to override the City
Manager's decision.
Update on Pioneer Park Band Shell project - The City has hired Architecture
Incorporated, a firm from Sioux Falls, to conduct an architectural and engineering
study of the historic city band shell located in Pioneer Park. The report will be
completed by August 23rd. Thornes will report back the findings at the September
meeting. A grant from the National Park Service is paying for the study. She
noted that the firm is experienced in historic structures and they are also working
on the former Central Elementary Museum project.
Internal City ADA Compliance Procedures - Thornes distributed draft revised
internal procedures. She asked for input from committee members. Anyone
having suggestions were asked to email her.
• Accessible parking request (downtown) - Thornes was contacted by Arthur
Shelton, owner of Okay Barber at 319 4t Street, asking how he could get
accessible parking spaces installed on 4th Street near his business. A number of
his customers are elderly and people with mobility problems that need closer
access to his front door. The closest space in on Main in the middle of the block.
Unfortunately for him he is located next to Ray's and all the regular parking
spaces are always taken. He was told about the streetscape project planned for
next year and that it would include a redesign of the parking. Thornes noted that
the Committee will want to be sure that we all meet early in the design process to
review the design, number, and location of the spaces and that side streets are
included.
Thornes and Cogswell met with the City Engineer regarding this request and asked
that a temporary space be added until the streetscape project is done.
• Report on Fair Housing Workshop - Thornes, Bertelson and Hartenhoff -Crooks
attended a Fair Housing workshop in Sioux Falls on June 21, 2007, sponsored by
the Fair Housing of the Dakotas based out of Fargo.
Thornes said she found the workshop extremely beneficial providing baseline
information on the topic. She contacted the presenter Amy Schauer the
following day regarding a workshop in Brookings. Schauer, the group's executive
director, said they will do a workshop in any size setting to meet our needs.
Thornes also pitched the idea to the Human Rights Committee and they are
interested in cosponsoring a workshop with the Disability Committee sometime in
the future.
• Downtown Streetscape Project - Thornes reported that Doris Roden from
Downtown Brookings Inc. had shared that some business owners have expressed
concerns about one proposed design feature of the proposed streetscape plan.
The City is proposing to install 4 -way stops instead of street lights at the Main
Avenue intersections. Their primary reason is to slow down traffic. There is
concern how difficult it would be for a child, an elderly person, PWD, or especially
someone with a sight impairment to get across the street safely without timed
access ft audible signals. No comments were made by the Committee at this
time. They will review this issue along with the rest of the design in September
when the Streetscape meetings start.
Aquatic Center - The City received a thank you card from a young man and his
family that recently used the water wheelchair at the Aquatic Center. The note
was also shared with the City Council and City Management Team.
E
Accessible Swing - The City also received a letter from a parent thanking the city
for installing an accessible swing in Pioneer Park. Thornes said the city is also
installing the same swing in Hillcrest Park this year.
Tentative August Agenda Items:
✓ October Employment Awareness Month
✓ Governor's Awards
✓ Emergency Response Project
Announcements /Correspondence/Calendar.
- July 18-21 Durable Medical Equipment Drive
- July 24 Presentation of ABLE awards, City Council Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
Submitted by Shari Thornes, Brookings City Clerk
6