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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 03/11/19910 r MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT STAFF PRESENT: COMMISSION ON DISABILITY MINUTES March 11, 1991 Shirley Reichenbach Arne Anderson Greg Funk Roy Beauchamp Lori Gerhicke Craig Kitzman - Guest Russ Jones - Guest Jeanne Morris Heather Heafe Angela Byrnes Mike Wilson - Mark Fetter - Nancy Jackson Felix Lee Ann Reichert - unexcused r - unexcused - unexcused unexcused unexcused - excused The minutes of the February meeting were discussed. There were some corrections. Greg Funk moved to .approve the minutes with corrections, Roy Beauchamp seconded, the motion passed. OLD BUSINESS Shirley attended a meeting of the Commissions and Boards Chairpersons. One of the items discussed was the improvements that Fort Collins is anticipating for the next few years. Shirley Reichenbach presented each of them with a copy of the Americans with Disability Act. Last month the COD board discussed accessibility to public schools. Boardmember Roy Beachamp contacted Jay Holeman at the Poudre R-1 Facilities Department. Jay Holeman indicated that for the most part handicap accessibility was up to the individual principals. Jay Holeman would like to accompany members from the COD to the schools. Shirley Reichenbach did mention that it would be a good idea to have handicap parking at the older schools. Shirley suggested that the Architectural Committee, Lori Gerhicke, Greg Funk and Shirley Reichenbach, look at the list of schools and assign each member to visit a couple schools. Felix stated that the school district is exempt from city regulations. Arne Anderson suggested that this process could be an educational one and get the student councils and PTOs involved. It was decided that Felix Lee and Shirley Reichenbach would put together a cover letter along with the ADA list and send to Student Councils and PTOs. Commission on Disability March 11, 1991 Page 2 Shirley Reichenbach mentioned that everyone should have received their invitations to the Chieftains on the 24th of March. Craig Kitzman reported he got one response from Rob Gilderson for a ramp location, the continuation of the ramp on Shields adjacent from CSU. Craig will be in contact with Ron Mills, the City's Right of Way agent, to see what is CSU's and what is the City Is. Craig mentioned that the Concrete Improvement program had dropped over the last five -six years and that money will be used to build new ramps. The plan is to construct approximately 100 ramps. It was mentioned that the bus stops were in bad shape, Craig checked into that and the finances come out of the Transfort budget and they are short on funds. Shirley stated that two officials from Transfort will be riding the buses to see where there aren't any curb cuts. One West Art Gallery - Felix Lee and Shirley Reichenbach took a walking tour Friday, March 8, 1991. The major issue was the accessibility on the main floor. There is no operating elevator at this time and it would cost $15,000.00 to bring the elevator up to operating conditions. They cannot incur any more loans from the bank to fix the elevator at this time. The lower level is accessed through the long ramp. The main level is only accessible through a chair lift device. It needs a barrier to prevent the user from falling off. There will be a parking space designated for handicap parking in the south west corner. Shirley offered some suggestions for improvement. The women's bathrooms on the main floor is not accessible because of the size and it was suggested that the men's restroom be made into a unisex restroom because it was bigger. It was also noted that signs need to be posted indicating there is a handicap entrance on the south side. NEW BUSINESS Felix Lee mentioned that the Accessible Housing Exceptions Ordinance will go to City Council April 16, 1991. Felix commended the members of the committee and felt it was a very educational process for all. Shirley Reichenbach received a letter from the city clerk's office stating they are reviewing the Review Process to appeal to City Council. The only concern Shirley had was that when another commission or member of city government wants to appeal a decision of another board the fee should be waived. As it stands only a City Council member can delete the $100.00 fee. It was also stated that the paperwork for an appeal is extreme and could be streamlined. Russ Jones appeared before the board. He is a member of the ADA task force from the Community Resource Center in Denver. Russ has been asked to assemble disabled people in order to educate the community of their needs. The next meeting of this committee will Commission on Disability March 11, 1991 Page 3 be held Monday, March 18, 1991 at 7:00pm at the Public Library in the Ben Delator room. Russ solicited suggestions from the COD asking members to call Russ at 482=3086 between the hours of 5:00- 6:00 pm. Shirley stated that the Commission on Disability was established as an advisory body to the City Council. Russ stated that his committee is working with the DRS and the DRS is advising them. Roy stated that what is needed is to consolidate all the different disability organizations and form one voice. The Commission on Disability will identify needs and Roy will be the liaison to Russ's task force. PLAN REVIEW Greg Funk, Shirley Reichenbach and Mike Gebo reviewed plans on March 7, 1991. Walmart has no hand rail in the lower level down to the little shops. Foothills Motors - need to change bathroom doors to swing out and insulate water pipes under sinks. Collindale Golf Course - putting in new restroom. Need to move drinking fountain lower and bathroom doors need to swing out. Elementary School and Day care - made multiple changes and made note that they cannot have "pits" because they are not accessible to people in wheelchairs whether it be a handicap child, teacher or parent. Precision Tune - need to move handicap parking place. The memo from the mayor requesting input from Commissions on the 1992 budget was discussed. Some concerns were: printing costs, mailings, postage, Mayor's Award reception, certificates, and refreshments. Felix brought up that two board members have not been attending. He sent letters to each of them and has not received a response. It was assumed two new members will be appointed. Shirley suggested chairs of commissions should be involved in the selection of new members. Shirley received a call regarding a portable ramp and didn't know to whom to refer the call. Felix stated it was facilities who coordinated that. Commission on Disability March 11, 1991 Page 4 There was a discussion on the meeting time for COD. It was decided that the time and date would remain the same, the second Monday of each month from 1:00-3:OOPM. It was motioned to adjourn, seconded and passed. Next meeting Apri 8, 1991, 1:OOpm at 281 North College - Conference Room. 0 M E M O R A N D U M DATE: March 5, 1991 TO: %.- CT:Buuilding Review Board and Commission on Disability FROMo��lix Lee, Building Permits Division Administrator SUBJEcessible Housing Exceptions Status The Joint Committee on Accessible Housing, represented by Shirley Reichenbach and Arne Andersen of the COD; Harry Cornell and Charles Cotterman of the BRB, developed criteria for providing guidance when granting "exceptions" to the State accessible housing law. Using several assumptions about the law, local authority, and some basic guidelines, the group completed the job in just two meetings! The City Attorney's office, in turn, did a great job transforming their work into concise, understandable legislation, retaining the essence of the original language. The next step is to obtain a final consensus by both advisory bodies and then make a formal recommendation to Council for consideration at their meeting on April 16. The Committee's original draft is included below with the City Attorney's subsequent draft ordinance attached. The Committee's draft: "Group R, Division 1 Occupancies shall be provided with dwelling units or guest rooms accessible to physically disabled persons as specified in Section 9-5-101, C.R.S, et seq.. Such accessible units shall be a representative ratio of the types of all units provided in any particular regulated building or project with respect to the number of bedrooms and features available. For the purposes of granting exceptions under Section 9-5-102(1), C.R.S., the governmental unit considering such exceptions shall require the applicant desiring the exception, demonstrate an extraordinary hardship will be imposed on the affected property due to peculiar conditions resulting from any of the following existing elements: terrain, topography, geology, or other factors unique to such property that impose additional restrictions on such property not typically encountered in the City. Compliance with the above standards or creating designs that pose obstacles to compliance with the standards shall not be construed as a hardship." Hats off to all for a great effort. L 0 ZA 9 ft*,:WWW M�dhl I ORDINANCE NO. --, 1991 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS CLARIFYING THE FUNCTIONS OF THE BUILDING REVIEW BOARD IN RELATION TO THE HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE STATUTE AND PROVIDING CRITERIA FOR THE GRANTING OF EXCEPTIONS TO THE STATUTORY HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE REQUIREMENTS WHEREAS, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That Section 2-103 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby amended to read as follows: Seca 2-103. Functions. The board shall determine the suitability of alternate materials or alternate methods of construction, provide for reasonable interpretations of the provisions of the city building code, city mechanical code, city pluvia -- eeds, city electrical code, and city fire code, and hear all appeals made to it related to such codes. in addition te said dut -- 8dd1t1onallY, .the, board. rsha�.l bear. 411.requests .fQz vaz AnAe.s, XXPA. the. requirements. of 8rticle.5,.Title.9,.C.8,S.,.�hich.establishes.standards aud..specifications..govarndM..the..accessibility..of buildings.. and.. tA01.14tiea...githin ..the ..Qity ..to .. the PbY5iC411Y.b40dicapped, The board shall also review all applicatio s for any contractor license or certificate as outlinggin $$ 15-154, 15-155, in order to determine whether such applicants are qualified by experience and training to perform building construction or supervision of such in the city, and hear all matters related to the suspension or revocation of any said certificate or license or registration of any plumber or electrician as specified in this Code. Section 2. That Section 5-27(26) of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 5-27. Amendments and deletions to code. (26) Section 1214 is amended by revising the first paragraph to read as follows: "Group R, Division 1 occupancies shall be provided with dwelling units or guestrooms accessible to [the] physically handicapped as specified in Section 9-5-101 et seq., C.R.S. Such..acceaaib1% . unfits.. shall ..name . tba. , same ratio. of. bedrooms.aad.other.features. as. other uaits ..PrQ'9icled . in.. the..suhlect binding.. or facility. .. The. .$wilding.Remi4 ..board..shall coasider..and ..grant . exaaptiana . pursuant.. to Sectioa..9.5-102(1)0..C.A.S.,..aad,..for. .the purpose. . of. .grautiog..sucb..esceptioas,..the Suildiag..Raview. Avaxtl shall.. require.. the OPPlicaat... FiesixiA%... the... AXC*QAtiAn, . .to demonstrate... that.. the ... a&glication... of ..a particular..at4ndarci. = .speciticatien..vQjld impose.. an.. ...hardshiR ..on .. the affected. property. ciis..tq .gQculiar.COIIdltlOIIs resultiag.trc�a.terraln,. tABpgxapiW.,. geology.or other. factors .nat t�ygi 41.Ly ancpintaxed in. the city. ..Rther .. jux- ppl�.. related ... to comDliaace, With .the . etatutory..standards . for handlcaD.accessibility.shall.aot.be.coastrued as.a.hardshiD..' Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this day of , A.D. 1991, and to be presented for f n-al passage on the day of , A. D. 1991. ATTEST: City Clerk Passed and adopted , A.D. 1991. ATTEST: City Clerk Mayor on final reading this day of Mayor 2