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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 04/11/1988CITY OF FORT COLLINS COMMISSION ON DISABILITY MINUTES COMMISSION ON DISABILITY April 11, 1988 Chairperson Judy Siefke called the meeting of the Commission on Disability to order at 6:35 p.m., in the CIC Room, City Hall West, 300 LaPorte Avenue. Members Present: Judy Siefke, Arne Andersen, Dianne Radford, Helen Barr, Shirley Reichenbach, Carol Rice, Bobbie Guye, Heather Heafer Members Absent: Charlotte Kanode, Nancy Jackson, Marilyn Max- well Staff: Jackie Davis Guests: Rose Kreston, CSU Nancy Cisar Marsha James Beth Parlick Roy Beauchamp Flo Schulte APPROVAL OF MINUTES COD members unanimously approved the minutes from the March 14 meeting as written. NEW BUSINESS Curb cuts at CSU's Parameter Boundaries The COD would like to see curb cuts at CSU's parameter areas be improved or installed. They asked Ms. Kreston how the COD could make a recommendation to CSU. Ms. Kreston, Director of Office of Resources for Disabled Students at CSU, said the COD could contact CSU's Facilities Department or the Com- mittee for Disabled Students for Accessibility. She was not aware of the availability of funds but suggested that the COD contact the group soon with a list of prioritized sites. COMMISSION ON DISABILITY P.O. Box 580 . Fort Collins, Colorado B0522 . 1303) 221-6758 Minutes - April 11, 1988 Page 2 COD members asked when the City would be widening Shields Street and installing curb cuts. They also asked who was responsible for the east and west sides of Shields. Jackie said she would contact Dick Valdez and report to Judy. Commission members felt Shields and Laurel, Shields and Elizabeth, Shields and Lake, and the route from the Bull Farm housing pro- ject to CSU were priority sites. The Commission expressed their desire to Ms. Kreston to become more involved in CSU's Handicapped Awareness Days. Ms. Kreston suggested par- ticipating in a program or sponsoring a workshop. The COD will continue to discuss their involvement and contact Ms. Kreston in August. Boards and Commission Review Commission members discussed the City Council's recommendation to consoli- date the COD, the Human Relations Commission, the Senior Advisory Board, and the CDBG Citizens Steering Committee into a single advisory board. The board would be called the Human Rights Advisory Board. The COD discussed the following concerns: 1. The Commission's interests, issues and projects are distinctive from the other boards and commissions. 2. The COD used to be a subcommittee of the Human Relations Committee. They would hate to go back to that. 3. How would a nine -member board effectively address CDBG, senior citi- zen, disabled and equal opportunity issues? 4. How much money will the City Council save? The COD's activities are relatively inexpensive. 5. Unlike the Human Rights Commission, the COD has plenty to do. 6. To those COD members who have disabilities, their disabilities are their challenges. They are volunteering not only to better the lives of other people with disabilities but their own lives as well. 7. With fewer boards and commissions, would City Council be more acces- sible to them? Judy suggested the COD draft a letter opposing the consolidation. Carol said she wouldn't mind reading the letter at the City Council May 3 meet- ing. COD members will also write their own personal letters and give them to Jackie by April 22. Jackie will forward the letters to the City Coun- cil. Commission members agreed that the COD has not begun to finish what they set out to do. There are specific things that, the COD needs to be con- Minutes - April 11, 1988 Page 3 cerned with that would not be high priority to other members. The COD deals with issues like accessibility in the community. They feel that spe- cialization and expertise would be lost. The Commission will put together a letter stating why they are opposed to the consolidation and distribute it to the public, other organizations and special groups to sign and forward to the City Council. The COD feels that representation, specialization, awareness, and opportunities for participa- tion would be lost if the COD is combined with the three boards and commis- sions. This move would be detrimental to the COD's ability to provide quality service to the community. OLD BUSINESS National Barrier Awareness Day National Barrier Awareness Day, scheduled for May 7, enhances opportunities for the disabled community in the areas of employment, education, housing and transportation. Commission members reviewed the Planning Guide devel- oped to help communities in planning for Barrier Awareness Day. The COD discussed doing a proclamation for the City Council's May 3 meeting. Jackie will make sure that the proclamation gets on the May 3 agenda. Revised Goals and Objectives for 1988 The Commission unanimously approved the Revised Goals and Objectives for 1988. ABRF UPDATE Jackie reported that the cost for a bathroom rehab was still unknown. Bathroom grab bars were completed for $90. Bids had not come in yet for replacement of an exterior walkway and for a bathroom rehab. Bathroom grab bars were completed for $86. The application for an exterior wheelchair ramp was still pending. Grab bars were installed for $23.95. ANNOUNCEMENTS Judy announced that the COD had received a letter from the Disabled Ameri- can Veterans (DAV) asking for support of the DAV Annual Convention on May 18 - 21. COD members agreed they couldn't contribute money at this time but agreed to let the public know about the DAV and its activities. Carol reported she hadn't received the information from the Colorado Springs Police Department on the volunteer group they put together to issue handicapped parking tickets. Meeting Adjourned at 8:30 p.m.