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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 12/12/1983LA 4 Cc' IZ/n1 Cce �TY OF FORT COLLINS P.O. BOX 580 FORT COLLINS. COLORAD080522y� PHONE COMMISSION ON DISABILITY M I N U T E S COMMISSION ON DISABILITY December 12, 1983 The regular meeting of the Commission on Disability was called to order by Chairperson Bobbie Guye, at 6:38 p.m. on Monday, December 12, 1983, in the Old Firehouse Building, 232 Walnut Street, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524. Members Present: Eldon Decker, Bobbie Guye, Betty Shuey, Tim Kientz, Betty Pidcock, Rosalie Smith, Pat Crist Members Absent: Nancy Jackson, Rose Kreston, Charlotte Kanode City Staff: Diana Royval Guests: Jim Woods, Executive Director.,of the Housing Authority ACCESSIBLE HOUSING Jim Woods of the Housing Authority led a discussion on accessible housing in Fort Collins. At an October retreat the Housing Authority Board brought attention to the problem of available accessible housing. Larry Estrada of E1 Centro Chicano at CSU and Rose Kreston of Handicapped Services at CSU provided some input. The Board decided to make one of their 1984 goals the assessment of how well they are serving the handicapped community; what needs are present; and how they could expand Board activities to help fill those needs. In view of the current trend toward a reduced federal role in housing, City Council has designated $100,000 from Revenue Sharing funds as seed money to develop a locally funded pilot project working jointly with private developers. The stress is on local planning, funding and development. Seattle, Washington is currently the best model available, with some similar action in Boulder. Current programs of the Housing Authority include: - Public Housing: 154 units for which the H.A. is the landlord - Rent Subsidy: 170 units owned by private landlords with H.A. managing the rent subsidy program for HUD. Commission on Dis36ility • Page 2 _ At present there are 250 persons on the waiting list with approximately one and one-half year wait involved. As far as H.A. is aware only 10 of those on the waiting list require accessible housing. - The Council of Churches pays for a few H.A. units which Neighbor -to - Neighbor administers for short-term (3-6 wks.) emergency housing. There is no other temporary housing available. The Housing Authority sees 1984 as an important time of transition to local action to meet housing needs. They are anxious to stay informed about the needs for accessible housing. Some of the current information in this re- gard includes: - Housing at 2155 W. Plum includes two barrier -free units for low-income elderly. Additionally there are 3 units with ramps and one more in prospect. - There is a possible local project pending under Section 202. These would be low-income rental units with private non-profit sponsor- ship of the project and Federal money for new construction. - The Oakbrook provisions for accessible housing are inadequate and COD has been pursuing this matter for some time. Mr. Woods was apprised of our concerns and actions. - Rose Kreston (not in attendance) had previously indicated the problems encountered by handicapped CSU students in finding appropriate rental housing. - HID maintains a list of people who are in need of accessible housing. Diana Royval said that it may be possible that the projected Rental Rehabilitation Program of CDBG could include a certain percentage of accessible units. - The Senior Board is looking into possibilities of the "shared housing" concept for seniors. - In June, 1983, COD met with Felix Lee and strongly endorsed the ANSI guidelines that 15% (1 in 7) of multiple units be accessible. These recommendations are a part of the Building Code revisions which are still pending action by City Council. Even if passed, there is still a major problem of enforcement. COD expressed appreciation to Mr. Woods for meeting with us and for keeping us informed of the present situation. We will maintain ongoing contact with him with any further information we may have, especially hard data regarding the level of need for accessible housing in Fort Collins. Commission on Disability Page 3 APPROVAL OF MINUTES On page 1 of the November 14, 1983, minutes "Barbara Schellenberaer" should read "Barbara Schoenberger"; on paae 6, Tom Smith is not a CSU student, but the supervisor of the solar greenhouse in Cheyenne. Eldon Decker made a motion that the minutes be accepted as corrected. The motion was seconded and carried. LIAISON REPORTS Bobbie Guye reported from the Mountain Bell Consumer panel which met November 14th. Mountain Bell has given a typewriter to the HID in Dorothy Lasley's memory. The divestiture on 1/1/84 will create seven independent holding companies in 14 states; the new name is "USWest". Bill payments can now be made at Toddy's or at NIER Banc. Hearings will be coming up soon on a request for a 46% rate increase. There is not current possibility for subsidy of service similar to that given by Public Service. • • • • • • • • Senior Board's new transportation program, "SAINT" is in operation. More drivers are needed. Senior Board is looking into a program called "Carrier Alert" in which postal carriers, especially rural, would make a contact with the sponsoring agency in the event of two or more days accumulation of mail in a box. • • • • • • • • The Loveland Handicapped Board has recently reviewed plans for a major grocery store, an office building, and a restaurant in Loveland. Somehow they gain access to plans early in the processing; we do not seem to be able to do so in Fort Collins. The Loveland Board is working at obtaining State Lottery money for installation of a lift in the community building. Thompson Valley High School is undergoing revision to provide a wheelchair seating area and improved handicapped parking. • • • • • • • • Bobbie Guye received a communication from Barbara Schoenberger regarding the proposed revisions on the swimming pool. (Copy on file with these minutes.) Included were the contractor's estimates for various items in the revision which were submitted to the City. All items were costly and involved major changes. There was no attention paid to our request for priority to small, low-cost chances. It was felt that the best action was to revisit the pool so that a very explicit memo could be sent in res- ponse which would stress low-cost and immediately serviceable changes. Betty Pidcock, Eldon Decker, Charlotte and Bill Kanode, Tim Kientz, and Bobbie Guye will visit the pool together on the afternoon of Dec. 15th for this purpose. Commission on Divility Page 4 504 LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Copies of Rose Kreston's letter to the Dept. of Transportation regarding 504 interpretation were sent out from the HID with the Handicapped Newsletter so that they would be individually sent to the DOT. Rose Kreston submitted an editorial to the Loveland Reporter -Herald which was printed. It was also sent to the Coloradoan but has not yet been published. CITIZEN'S TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD Betty Shuey contacted Susie Danford for suggestions for a person who would represent the interests of developmentally disabled (DD) persons on the advisory board. Susie suggested Jessie Stract of RME -- group homes for DO persons. Betty contacted him and he agreed to be on the Board. Betty Shuey would like to serve on the Board. Bobbie Guye will contact DAV for a representative from that group.. It would be preferable for the fourth person to use a wheelchair and to not be a member of COD. Tim Kientz will contact Jim Gardner and see if he is interested. Tim will report back to Bobbie. UPDATE ON ABRF APPLICATIONS Diana Royval reported that policy has now been determined that all equipment will fall under the Public Service category. This will include tub lifts, chair lifts, voc-aids, etc. Items which cost over $1,000 will be depreciated over a 2-3 year period to a $1,000 valuation. During that time they will belong to the City and maintenance will be the responsibility of the City. After they reach the depreciated value of under $1,000 they become the property of the homeowner who is then responsible for all mavntenance. Items of initial cost of under $1,000 are an outright gift to the homeowner and maintenance is the homeowner's responsibility from the beginning. At the November 14, 1983 COD meeting, $10,000 was placed into the "Public Service" account. This amount is adequate for the present and further funds could be designated for that line item as needed. A Housing Authority unit at 311 N. Whitcomb has been approved for an ABR grant, $4,850 estimate, to make it accessible. It is not designated for any specific client at this time but should be available for handicapped use for at least 40 years. Revisions include: ramp, adjusted height of light switches and closet shelves, change of floor coverings, widening doorways, adjustable toilet seat and installation of shower grab bars. Commission on Distility • Page 5 Loretta Muniz on Rocky Mountain Road lives in a Public Housing unit with her 12-year-old son. Tom has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair. The request is for a non-skid surface for an existing ramp. The surfacing is available from Hawthorne Supply for approximately $90. Betty Pidcock made a motion that we approve the amount as a grant. The motion was seconded and passed. NEW BUSINESS The Commission on Disability is deeply saddened and will greatly miss the contributions of commission member, Dorothy Lasley, who died on November 21, 1983. Her commitment to the service of the Handicapped community was exemplary to us all and we can pay tribute by continuing our activities in the spirit of her work. Diana Royval has received thank you notes from the family for flowers she sent on behalf of COD and CDBG. Dorothy served as representative to the Community Action Board, as the Liaison for the City and County to the National Organization on Disabilities, and on the Mountain Bell Consumer Panel, as well as her membership in COD. Bobbie Guye will contact the various organizations, including the City, as to procedures to be followed in designating replacements. Lynn Boyer of Human Development Dept. has proposed that the projected new Community Services Center be named in Dorothy's honor. Monies which were given in memorial for Jack Schaefer, who was very involved in the International Year of the Disabled, have not been utilized to date. Eldon Decker moved that these funds be put into operating funds for the Mayor's Breakfast. He further moved that a Dorothy Lasley memorial award be established at the next Breakfast. The motion was seconded and passed. MISCELLANEOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS Pat Crist announ&d that Karen Spencer is beginning plans to,reestablish the "College for Living" this spring. This program for developmentally disabled individuals was shut down 2 or 3 years ago. It will begin again with student body involvement under close supervision and run indirectly through Continuing Education at CSU. Diana Royval said that the City Steering Committee for CDBG needs good, consistent representation from COD. Notification before absences is impor- tant. Bobbie Guye serves as representative, with Betty Pidcock as alternate. Jerry Benson will soon attend a COD meeting regarding a project on voter registration. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Pat Crist made a motion that the meeting be adjourned at 8:42 p.m. The motion was seconded and carried. Respectfully Submitted, /�as Gk-LLf IJ I �'L, u