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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 11/09/19870 CITY OF FORT COLLINS COMMISSION ON DISABILITY MINUTES COMMISSION ON DISABILITY NOVEMBER 9, 1987 The regular meeting of the Commission on Disability was called to order by Chairperson Arne Andersen at 6:35 p.m., in the CIC Room, City Hall West, 300 LaPorte Avenue. Members Present: Members Absent Staff: Guests: APPROVAL OF MINUTES Charlotte Kanode, Judy Siefke, Arne Andersen, Nancy Jackson, Marilyn Maxwell, Helen Barr, Dianne Radford, Heather Heafer Bobbie Guye, Carol Rice Jackie Davis, Carmen Hollowell Felix Lee - Building Inspection John Daggett - Section 504 Update Nancy Cisar Minutes from the October 5, 1987 meeting were approved as written. NEW BUSINESS a. Felix Lee - Building Inspection Several months ago, the COD's Building Plans Review Committee became aware that various handicapped accessible items originally listed on site plans and approved by the Zoning Department, were not showing up at final review of the project. To address this concern, the COD invited Felix Lee, Administrator for the Division of Permits and Inspections, to explain the City's development review process. Felix explained the Building Inspection Department reviews site plans eight or nine months after being approved by the Zoning Department, and sometimes certain items get lost in the translation. He reported the Building Inspection Department is responsible for enforcement of accessibility requirements and is trying to track those items. Building COMMISSION ON DISABILITY T P.O. Box 580 . Fort Collins, Colorado 80522 . (303) 221-6758 Minutes - November 9, 1987 Page 2 Inspection is more aware of the requirements and is making an effort to maintain the continuum between the review of the different departments. COD members expressed their satisfaction with Building Inspection's enforcement of handicapped accessibility requirements. Felix advised better scrutiny would be given at final reviews. Other items of discussion included Parkwood East Estates, where there is handicapped parking close to the apartments, and then some distance away from them. Felix explained parking was designed based on the number of people living there who have vehicles, and it was split up for use by the church nearby the apartments. Felix reported plans for new construction are dropping and building inspectors are discovering plans seem to be more in compliance over the last couple of years due to increased awareness in the community. COD members expressed a concern that the new access ramp to Michael's, located at 106 E. Foothills Parkway, is very steep. They asked Felix if Michael's must comply with the ANSI Standards since they just resurfaced their parking lot and added the access ramp. Felix stated the building is probably over 12 years old and would not be required to comply with the 1:12 flared sides regulation. Other buildings with steep slopes that were discussed included Western Sizzler, located at 1100 W. Drake Rd., and the 4th Floor Tower of the Rehab Department at Poudre Valley Hospital where the new addition connects to the hospital. Western Sizzler is not as steep as the one at Michael's and is easier to use. The Hospital has installed rails and nonskid strips to facilitate going up the ramp. b. John Daggett - Section 504 Update John Daggett, Director of SAINT, reported the Section 504 Plan has been approved by the City of Fort Collins City Council and the City is now awaiting approval by the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA). John reported that through a contractual relationship with Care -A -Van and other providers, the City should be in full compliance by January 1, 1989, at which time the City will have purchased three new mini -buses and be able to provide the required 24-hour response time. The Plan outlines how the City will meet other requirements. John emphasized the need for more local monies for a para-transit system and urged Commission members to support the matching of federal funds with local funds. He reported a task force recently completed a study on transportation in Larimer County and one of the recommendations the study will make is the need for more local sources of funds to be 0 Minutes - November 9, 1987 Page 3 dedicated to Transfort and Care -a -Van. The tentative date for the study to be presented to the City Council is December 22, although there is the possibility it could be delayed until January, 1988. As of January 1, 1988, SAINT will be under the auspices of Care -A -Van, in order to provide a better level of service to the disabled and senior populations. A dispatcher will be housed at the Care -A -Van facility with a coordinator staying in the downtown area. Transfort will be installing a computerized "Bus Locator Program" to facilitate getting bus route information. The Transfort brochure will also be redesigned. Nancy Jackson had questions concerning the Plan, but due to the lack of time, she advised John she would be contacting him for clarification. John advised he could attend the January meeting to further update the COD. OLD BUSINESS COD members reviewed the 1987 Mayor's Awards Breakfast. It was decided to begin preparing for next year's breakfast. It was suggested that a skit or a play be performed, perhaps by a disabled actor, instead of the annual simulations. Guidelines for the Breakfast committees will be drawn up and put into a small binder for future Breakfasts. MISCELLANEOUS Concerning handicapped signage to City facilities, Steve White, Project Manager, provided different lettering styles for COD to review. Steve will then order several letters of the styles selected by the COD and present them to COD for their review. The COD chose Helvetic and HM Styles. The following concerns will be forwarded to Mr. White: 1.' When ordering the letters, will they be mixed to provide wording? 2. What are the options for spacing between letters? 3. Are there different spacing for different styles of letters? 4. Ensure letters are raised. 5. Style 3 is too stylized and stretched out; might be difficult to read. 6. Colors should be in absolute contrast, i.e., white on brown. Reds, blues and greens are hard to read. 7. Suggest: Helvetica and Style HM. ABRF UPDATE Disabled Equipment Program Jackie reported this program was no longer in existence, and that all projects had been completed. 0 ! Minutes - November 9, 1987 Page 4 Architectural Barrier Removal Program Jackie reported Neighbor -to -Neighbor received two applications. One is from the Housing Authority which is on hold until an "okay" is received from the Director David Herrera to go ahead with the project. The other application is for a bathtub for a woman who lives on Peterson Street. Neighbor -to -Neighbor is working with her because they feel she needs a whole new bathroom but she doesn't want to get involved with new construction. Jackie will report further on these applications at the next COD meeting. Jackie reported on the Community Rehab Service for Larimer County, a loan closet for neurologically impaired persons funded by CDBG in 1984. It was brought up at the October meeting that the equipment was not being made readily available to the public due to the lack of people to administer the program. Jackie promised to look into it and report at this meeting. Jackie contacted Dr. Bennett who is one of the boardmembers of the Community Rehab Service for Larimer County. He advised her it was no longer a working board and there is still approximately $1,000 left in the checking account. Barry Nichols, from Poudre Valley Hospital, distributes the equipment which runs on an appointment -only basis. Jackie will be meeting with Mr. Nichols on Tuesday, November 10, at 4:30 p.m. to go through what equipment is in stock and check on the type of system being used to monitor the equipment. City staff is concerned with the inaccessibility of the loan closet. It was suggested to merge the board with a working board like the Head Injury Group, or to get a head injury or disabled person to work on an hourly basis to man the disbursement of the equipment. Jackie will report further at the December 14 meeting. Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. NOTE: A potluck dinner has been scheduled for the December 14 meeting. Bring anything you like!