HomeMy WebLinkAboutM2000_05_12Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities May 12, 2000
A meeting of the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities was held on Friday, May 12,
2000 at 9:30 a.m. in Brookings City Hall. Present: Kurt Cogswell, Lynda Muller, Kay Cutler,
Emily Bennett, Marla Muxen, Dave Bertelson, Roger Seas, Nancy Hartenhoff. Hoyt and Fry
were absent.
1. Chairperson Cogswell called the meeting to order.
2. The agenda was adopted as printed.
3. The minutes of April 14, 2000 were approved.
4. Next Meeting - Friday, June 9th at 9:30 a.m.
5. Announcements - None.
b. Correspondence:
Enforcing the ADA Status Report - Members noted the ADA suits in South Dakota.
A suit regarding election accessibility for people with visual impairments was
specifically noted.
7. Evaluation Discussion on Completed Projects:
Workshop for Multi -District Students. Hartenhoff said a total of 30 students over three
sessions participated in the workshop. She recommended that the format be reduced from a 2 -
hour presentation to one hour. Thank you's were sent to the presenters and the host
instructor with a questionnaire asking for his input. The overall challenge is to make the
material interesting and pertinent to high school students. Examples of Brookings sites was
used to make it easier for the kids to relate to. The video, "All Ways Welcome", was shown and
the kids needed to be given permission to find it humorous. The "ADAAG" material was
"chewy" and need to simplify the information in the future. The Contractor's Book was
marginally utilized. More hands-on experiences are better. The walk-through evaluation of
the school facility was a good experience. The School Director was present and listened to the
comments. The Host Instructor is retiring and the next step will be to meet with his
replacement. With the current budget reductions in the schools it might be a good idea to
speak with schools with building trades classes. Will try to pursue making the next house
accessible.
Status and Follow-up Reports.
Summer Arts Festival. Cogswell provided the Festival Committee ADA contract language to
include the food booth vendors and artists. Next year will push harder on the language.
Cogswell asked if the Committee wanted to provide the Wheelchair Booth again at the Festival?
The committee would need to provide volunteers to staff the booth. (Muxen/Cutler) Motion
to participate in the Wheelchair Booth and take turns staffing the booth. All present voted yes;
motion carried.
Performing Arts Center. Cogswell sent a letter to President Elliott regarding the Center and
offered assistance. A copy was distributed to the members.
Accessible Van. Cogswell has been meeting with representatives of the Brookings Area
Transportation Association (BATA) and the Volunteer Service Bank on the project. BATA has
Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities May 12, 2000
agreed to provide the servicing and location for the van. The VSB will provide drivers. He is
working with a state representative on securing a van.
9. ABLE Awards. The Committee reviewed the press release and guidelines from the
1999 award program. The Committee agreed to include "special services" as a category (i.e.
Fergen's Mens Wear). Deadline to nominate a facility will be June 2nd . The members will visit
each nominated site at the June 9th meeting and select winner(s).
10. ADA Anniversary. Cogswell will contact the Brookings Register about a feature article.
The ABLE Awards will be presented on July 24th. There is a Torch Run that will be in Pierre
during the Annual Conference. A local event with runners or bicyclists was discussed. loth
ADA Anniversary on marquee signs was suggested.
II. Wheelchair Clinic Participation. The Easter Seals has decided to hold the event in
conjunction with a medical equipment driver when the SDSU Students are in school. They will
form a committee sometime in May or June that will be called the "Recycle for Life Advisory
Committee for Brookings". Lynda Muller volunteered to be the Committee's representative on
the committee and Cogswell will serve as alternate.
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12. ADA Coordinator's Report. Dunn submitted the following report:
There was discussion regarding SDSU's long-term accessibility plan. A letter to Eugene Butler
requesting a copy of the plan was discussed.
(Seas left)
Ice Rink Plans. Dunn spoke with Allyn Frerichs regarding the Ice Rink construction schedule
and review of plans. He indicated that they hope to let bids early July and hope to finalize the
plans within 8 weeks. Dunn will need to schedule a review of the plans with the assistance of the
ADA Task Force sometime in the next two weeks. Kurt and Nancy have participated in this
process in the past.
ADA Facility Compliance Reviews. Dunn is currently conducting ADA Facility Accessibility
Compliance Reviews of all city general departments. The purpose of the reviews is to monitor
compliance efforts, record any new modifications and prioritize remaining non-compliant items.
This information will added to the City's Transition Plan and will be provided to the City's
Management Team for planning purposes during this budget process. The Committee will be
provided with a copy of my report at next month's meeting.
City Budget Process for 2001. Dunn enclosed in member packets the City Manager's City Budget
Calcndarfor2001. Please note that the process will begin much sooner this year. We will receive the
instructions and forms on May 16th and our deadline to submit the proposed budget and narrative
to the Manager is July 14th. Also enclosed is an example of the format that we can expect to see
that will include a mission statement for the committee, description of programs and services,
goals, objectives, etc. The Committee fanned a subcommittee of Cogswell, Hartenhoff and Cutler
to work, with Dunn on this year's budget.
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Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities May 12, 2000
Websites. Dunn said she was gathering ideas to submit to the Manager on what the City would
put on a website. Suggestions: Links to national and local disability organizations, guidelines for
the ABLE and Governor's Awards, agenda, mission statement, committee member list.
- - City Manager Visit -Mr. Williams has been touring city departments and holding orientation
meetings with our management team. Dunn suggested it important for Mr. Williams to meet the
Committee as soon as possible. She recommended inviting hien to the committee's next meeting
and make the same presentation that was done for the City Council. A special orientation could
be held at 9:00 a.m. and the regular meeting at 9:30 or start at 9:30 and go later. The Committee
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tentatively scheduled a 9:00 a.m. meeting on June 9.
Student Representative Vacancy. The City has advertised the Conunittee's one-year student
position twice and has not received a response. Muxen indicated that she knows of one student
that might be interested. Contacting Eugene Butler was suggested.
Distribution of Contractor's Books. We still have a large quantity of the Contractor Books in
storage. Dunn said she would like to do a direct mailing to area contractors inviting them to stop
my office next time there are in City Hall and would rather try this approach first before resorting
to mailing the books. The Committee agreed.
ADA Transportation Series. Enclosed in the committee packet were a series of bulletins entitled
ADA Transportation Series. These were produced by the ADA Technical Assistance Center and are
intended solely for informal guidance. Bulletin #2 on City Bus Service and Bulletin #5 on Taxi
Service could be useful information for our local providers. There was discussion about
distribution.
Common ADA Problems in Newly Constructed Lodging Facilities. Also enclosed in the packet
were two bulletins produced by the Dept. of Justice for lodging facilities. Dunn recommended the
Committee consider distribution to all existing hotel/motel facilities in the Brookings area. Even
though the material references "new facilities", she believed the information is helpful now and in
the future when they are considering a remodel. A letter inviting inquiries will accompany the
materials.
Update on Facilitated Meeting Arrangements. At the March Committee meeting Dunn was
asked to facilitate a meeting regarding a recent employment issue. Dunn reported that a meeting
did occur on April 3, 2000 with Jane Williams, Kurt Cogswell, Marla Muxen, Lynda Muller and
Tom Cougl-din present. Those in attendance felt the meeting was beneficial and additional follow-
up can be expected. Coughlin suggested the Committee sponsor a column in the Chamber
newsletter. '*Sensitivity information for front-line employees was suggested as a possible
workshop topic.
Meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
Submitted by Shari Dunn
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