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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDisability Advisory Board - MINUTES - 02/15/2024 (2)Disability Advisory Board REGULAR MEETING Thursday, February 15, 2024 – 5:30 PM Zoom 1. CALL TO ORDER: 5:34 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL a. Board Members Present – Terry Schlicting, Scott Winnegrad, Jaclyn Menendez, Joseph Tiner, Rachel Knox-Stutsman, Mandy Morgan, Linda Drees, Sheila Hammons b. Board Members Absent – Evan Shockley, Jaclyn Menendez c. Staff Members Present – Melanie Clark, Staff Liaison; Jan Reece, Lead Equal Opportunity Compliance Specialist d. Guest(s) – Katlyn Kelly, Dial-a-Ride, Dashiell Bubar-Hall, Anais Campbell, Arc of Larimer County 3. AGENDA REVIEW 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. January 18, 2024 Chair Schlicting motioned to approve the January 18, 2024 meeting minutes. Co-chair Winnegrad seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0 6. GUEST PRESENTER Dashielle Bubar-Hall presented on Microtransit. He stated the service is coming in the future but is still a ways out. Microtransit is similar to Uber or Lyft where there will be a smartphone app, or one could call to schedule a ride. Wait times are expected to be around 15 minutes, but there are other parameters that could affect this timing. Transfort is anticipating vans being utilized that will carry up to 6 passengers. Microtransit would primarily be located in areas where there is little to no transportation. At minimum the microtransit route will be made available during the same hours as the fixed route service. Door to door service is anticipated. They are looking at the finances for the micro transit service and are working to make it a fare free service or as low cost as possible. Included in the scope of work is what it will look like for paratransit services and whether one would be able to utilize Microtransit to get inside of the fixed route service area. There will be a late-night flex service that may also be offered on weekends and during special events. Looking at mobility as a service. This will allow users the ability to build a trip throughout the City, based on cost, time and greenhouse gasses. This would include the fixed route, SPIN, Microtransit, and Uber/Lyft as needed. Chair Schlicting explained DAB is primarily interested in paratransit service. He asked if a person is approved for Dial a Ride, if they are able to use the Microtransit service. Dashielle stated that this is something they need to look into. Schlicting stated staff would need to think about the time it will take to get someone connected and disconnected. Dashielle stated that 50% of the vans would be wheel chair accessible which equals around 12-15 vans. Boardmember Drees inquired whether older adults living in the south part of Fort Collins, would be able to use the service. Dashielle stated that Harmony is going to have a lot of mobility with this service. She asked if a person has a direct service provider if those individuals would also be able to use the system. Dashielle, confirmed this is a possibility. Chair Schlicting asked if one would need to be approved for Dial-a-Ride to use the paratransit service. Dashielle stated that they would not. Schlicting sees this service being in high demand, especially for those who use wheelchairs as this would open some opportunities. He believes people would be willing to pay a fee if they were able to get from point A to point B in one trip. Katlyn Kelly provided a few updates including the ability to submit the Dial-a-Ride application online. She explained due to security requirements this will not be an option. She stated Transfort is moving forward with finding a HIPPA compliant vendor. Katlyn followed up on an issue with service animals that are being unruly or exhibiting aggressive behavior. She stated there is not currently a written policy, but Transfort is working with the Attorney’s office to implement one. She explained the bus drivers currently have the authority to ask for the animal to be removed. Katlyn shared that she does not yet have an update regarding the specific projects that the additional tax will fund. One of the roadblocks Transfort is experiencing with the app is that the software needs to be updated. This caused some issues in the test environment, so this is now scheduled for April/May for the cutover. The first part of the project will be the portal and is expected to be completed this year. The mobile app will be rolled into 2025. Katlyn assured the Board that this is a priority project Transfort is continuing to work on. 7. NEW BUSINESS 8. OLD BUSINESS a.Award Ceremony Debrief Boardmember Menendez was not able to join the meeting but submitted her thoughts via email. Chair Schlicting agreed that a bigger venue would be needed. He believes that the Senior Center works well as it is centrally located in town, is affordable, and offers transportation to the front door. Boardmembers agreed that the Senior Center is a good location for the event. There used to be an updated list of City businesses to invite. Part of the challenge of this was that the award ceremony had not been held since pre covid. Boardmembers agreed that more handheld food should be offered and would be better than a sit-down dinner. Folks with mobility issues had a hard time cutting food and needed help. In the future the Board would like to make sure there is time for folks to socialize. Folks were only able to socialize with those who were at their table and at the end everyone left. Melanie Clark, Executive Admin Assistant, shared the Human Relatios Commission DAB. Co-chair Winnegrad thinks this is a great idea. Boardmember Drees shared concern that the Disability community has been overshadowed so much was concerned this would dilute the DAB award ceremony. Chair Schlicting and Boardmember Morgan shared the same concerns. Co-chair reiterated that it is a way to broaden and expand their reach and more inclusion with the community. Boardmember Tiner agreed. Chair Schlicting stated there needs to be more investment from all members of the Board. The full board should volunteer for the tasks that need to be completed. Boardmembers discussed the possibility of a shorter event with a reception which could be a good way to address the time limit and financial issues. The Board would still like to see tables available. Board members discussed having the award ceremony every other year and were interested in the idea of using this year to explore the idea of collaborating with HRC and other event ideas. Chair Schlicting motioned to move the award ceremony to take place every other year. Boardmember Tiner second the motion. Motion passed 7-0. 9. OTHER BUSINESS Chair Schlicting shared that the Blind Pig is closed and the fencing in front will be removed, so he believes this is no longer an issue. Melanie Clark stated Engineering will be coming before the board in March and shared that it may be a good time to discuss downtown sidewalks in general and the sandwich board signs. Board members agreed they would like to keep them on the agenda. Melanie shared that the HRC would like to partner more with DAB. They would like to attend the DAB meetings and they would like DAB to attend their meetings. The Board discussed this would be a way to advance their cause and mission and liked the idea of having Boardmembers rotate attendance every other or third month. Chair Schlicting motioned to collaborate with the HRC and attend their meetings. Co- chair second the motion. Motion passed 5-2. Jan Reece, Lead Equal Opportunity Specialist shared that she is currently working on bringing the City’s website in compliance with ADA requirements. Chair Schlicting shared that he was contacted by Tim Kemp who used to work with him at CSU. Tim is working with Dylan Willett with the City who is developing sidewalks in midtown. They are pursuing a RAISE grant with the Department of Transportation. The purpose is to improve sidewalks along College Ave to be 12ft wide. They are seeking for support from the Board via a letter. Boardmember Drees inquired if the grant is just for the plan or who would be implementing the project. Schlicting’s understanding is that the City would be implementing the grant. Schlicting stated that it has been really difficult to improve this corridor due to it being a state highway. Schlicting motioned to support the grant by submitting a letter of support. Tiner second the motion. Motion passed 7-0. 10. FUTURE AGENDA REVIEW a.Brad Buckman – Sidewalk in front of Blind Pig 11. ADJOURNMENT a. 7:39 pm Amended minutes approved by the Chair and a vote of the Board/Commission on 06/20/24 2/15/24– MINUTES Page 1