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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 08/18/1997COMMISSION ON DISABILITY MEETING MINUTES August 18,1997 2:00 pm Council Liaison: Michael Byrne Staff Liaison: Nancy Stirling Chairperson: Kathy Lassen Phone: (H) 204-0614 (W) 491-5930 Members Present: Members Absent: City Staff Present: Laura Burnett Don Fish Amy Rosenberg Initha Stuckey Kathy Lassen Nancy Baker Alan Apt MMMIS T1P.37 Clark Mapes, Advance Planning Department Nancy Stirling, City Staff Liaison to COD Chairperson Kathy Lassen called the meeting to order at 2:06 pm. Ray Sanderson Stacey Abate Mark Cummings I. Approval of July Meeting Minutes Chairperson Lassen asked if there were any comments or changes to the July meeting minutes. No one had any comments or changes. Ray Sanderson motioned to vote to accept the meeting minutes as they were; Laura Burnett seconded the motion. The vote to accept the meeting minutes as they were was unanimous. II. Introduction of New Members Don Fish was appointed to the Commission on August 5. He is a psychologist with his own private practice. His interest is in issues concerning people with disabilities — especially in the areas of disability awareness and of educating the community of the needs and issues of people with disabilities. Alan Apt was also appointed to the Commission on August 5. He is a publisher for Prentice - Hall. Alan had previously served as a member of the Fort Collins City Council and as the Council Liaison to the Commission on Disability. He said that he has always been very Commission on Disability Meeting Minutes Page 1 August 18, 1997 interested in issues relating to individuals with disabilities and wanted to continue to be involved with the Commission and the community. A warm welcome to both Don and Alan. On behalf of the whole Commission, we are delighted to have you participate in the Commission and look forward to working with you in educating the community and promoting disability awareness. III. Discussion: Repaving of Access Ramps at Oak Street and College Avenue Clark Mapes, of the City of Fort Collins Advance Planning Department, asked to attend this Commission meeting to discuss with the Commission members planning ideas for access ramps — specifically the ones located at Oak Street and College Avenue. Clark explained that as part of the General Improvement District project (GID), the City will be re -doing most (if not all) of the street comers — making repairs as well as giving them a more uniformed look and design. This project effects all of the Downtown Business Area. What they (Planning) decide to do at this particular location will be the blueprint for how all the corners and ramps throughout the downtown area will be done. Planning is considering putting the ramps back in place as they look and are constructed now. Clark provided blueprints of the current ramp structures and of how the corners would look when re -done. Clark explained to the Commission members some of the difficulties that may be encountered if try to construct more updated ramps with the `flared -out' sides — i.e., immovable structures such as lamp posts, street lights, grassy plots, etc — as well as design inconsistencies if try to do this at every corner in the Downtown area. Clark approached the Commission to get their input or direction: Does the Commission see any `problems' with putting back/re-constructing the ramps as they appear now [versus trying to construct the ramps with the `flared -out' sides]? Commission Comments: The members present seemed to be in agreement that since most of them are considered "able-bodied" they felt they could not give helpful direction or answers to Planning's request. [The members, on behalf of person with disabilities, are interested more in the functionality and ease of use of the ramps than possibly the design of the ramps.] The members did, however, offer names of individuals who could probably provide assistance and answers: Dane Talmage of the City's Facility Services Department and Mr. Alan Beatty of the American Council of the Blind. Dane uses a could offer input and suggestions based on his personal experiences. Mr. Beatty could offer information based on his experience as an individual with a vision impairment. IV. Nomination of Officers Since three of the Commission members were absent today, Chairperson Kathy Lassen proposed that the Commission postpone the nomination of officers until the next (September) Commission meeting. The other Commission members were in agreement to this proposal. Therefore, both the nomination and election of officers will be held at the next meeting. Commission on Disability Meeting Minutes Page 2 August 18, 1997 V. Disability Awareness Activities - Update Since "the Flood", disability awareness activities have been put on hold. Plans are to resume planning activities for 1998 after October. VI. Mayor's Awards Members of the Commission are encouraged to get the nomination forms out and to encourage others to submit nominations. Nancy will send copies of the nomination forms to the members with the meeting minutes. The date and location of the awards presentation is still unconfirmed. There have been problems in securing a location on the days the Mayor is available to attend. Kathy will continue to try to get a location. If no location is found that can hold a luncheon, Plan "B" is to do the awards presentation as has been done in the past — at the beginning of a City Council meeting. Nancy is working on getting an advertisement in the Coloradoan to advertise the Mayor's Awards and hopefully encourage more nominations. This ad should go out twice — once in August and once in September. Also, Nancy will work with the City Clerk's Office to put together a Proclamation to be read in City Council to declare October "Disability Awareness Month." VII. NewWest Fest Recap For the most part, the Commission on Disability's booth at the NewWest Fest was `okay.' There was some concern that the Commission was not well represented at the booth and that the volunteers were left to fend for themselves. Ray and Nancy took on the responsibility of looking after the booth and for setting up and taking down the booth each day. There was discussion among the Commission members present of whether the Commission should continue to have a booth at the NewWest Fest. Was/Is the booth achieving what the Commission wants to accomplish? Could efforts and money that are going towards the NewWest Fest be used better elsewhere? Members shared their opinions: The booth has been good for networking and meeting the needs of families who otherwise were not aware of specific services; although these opportunities are few. Perhaps the booth is not the way to go. Is there something else the Commission could do other than a booth and still be involved in the NWF? What did the Commission want to accomplish by having a booth? What did the Commission want people who visited the booth to know/do? The Commission decided to put to a vote on whether to continue to participate in the NWF as is (with the booth) or to think of other ways to participate that could achieve what they want to accomplish. The members voted to form a sub -committee to research other venues for getting information out about the COD. Note: Alan commented that sometimes people and groups can get "committee bum -out" and that sometimes committees are not a good idea. Commission on Disability Meeting Minutes Page 3 August 18, 1997 Some Suggestions: - get the "Kids on the Block" puppet show - Speaker: Roger Crawford — tennis player with one leg, no hands - recognize Special Olympics winners Action Item: Members were asked to think about what they would like to do/see for disability awareness events; what contacts/support do they have that may be utilized that could assist in disability awareness events. VIII. Other Business A. Ray announced that the next Dial -a -Ride Advisory Committee meeting is August 21 at 8:30 am in the CIC Room. Mayor Ann Azari is to be in attendance. B. At the last Commission meeting Ray was volunteered to participate in the Building Code Review Committee meetings. He explained to the Commission that between his other commitments and physical therapy needs he did not feel that he would be able to commit the needed time and responsibilities required to participate on this committee. Alan Apt volunteered to take Ray's place on the committee. Alan also asked if there was anyone who would be an alternate who could attend meetings in Alan's place when he is unable to attend. If you are interested in being an alternate, please let Alan or Kathy know. [Nancy is to call Felix Lee in Building & Zoning and let him know that Alan is now the representative from the COD and will be participating in the committee review meetings.] Meeting adjourned at 4:00 pm. Commission on Disability Meeting Minutes Page 4 August 18, 1997