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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 - Commission On Disability - Annual ReportCOD 2005 ANNUAL REPORT One of the responsibilities of this commission is to educate the public concerning issues on disability. So saying we spent the year not just doing but hearing so we can learn how to be able to reach our community in a more knowledgeable way. The annual retreat in November to develop our work plan for 2006 was attended by commission members Peggy Graff, Steve Rierson, (Vice Chair) Susan Williams, (Chair) Mark Beck, Jerry Patterson, (Secretary) Melinda Suits, (Historian) Joan Cook, Laura Bumette, and Paul Ostro£ Steve White and Annie Houston were present as our city liaisons. Terry Schlicting and Dawn Scott were present as our guests. Laura Burnett, Mark Beck, Jerry Patterson, completed their terms so we had a recognition lunch for them in December along with the once city liaison, Rachel Palmer. Terry Schlicting, a regular guest, became a new member in December and brings with him knowledge of the issues within the college. Dawn Scott came onboard in December. She, too, was a consistent community guest before she became a COD member. She brings a lot of enthusiasm. Jeff Harris resigned the commission in June due to health reasons. The beginning of 2006 has eight members and one vacancy. Throughout the year we heard from several guests that includes Lisa Schnell from Call 411, Darin Attebury, City Manager, Mayor Hutchinson (Counsel liaison), Julie Brewen (Ft. Collins Housing Authority), Patrick Going (State ADA Coordinator), Brownie McGraw and Janie Cramer (Inspirational Park), Wendy Williams (Assisstant City Manager and local ADA contact), Michael Gitter and Jeff Koska (Channel24). PHA (Practical Housing for all) Mark Beck has led the way for where PHA is today. I ask you to please read the attached PHA Annual Report. Mark says it all quite adequately. CREATIVE ABILITIES ART SHOW The committee for the art show comprised of Steve Rierson, Susan Williams, Laura Bumette, and Jeff Harris. It is sad for us to report a not -so -good show in 2005. The committee, however, did some rethinking for future events to get more participation. There will be an art show in Old Town, in the courtyard the last Saturday of July, 2006. We are so very grateful for Norlarco Credit Union doing the banner for free and the use of the plaza by the DBA at no cost. HEAVY DOORS This project sat dormant in 2005 with the promise it will rise up in 2006. This is a project that access's and encourage businesses to make all their doors so they meet ADA standards. A non -threatening pamphlet is given to the business suggesting how to fix heavy doors along with a phone number should they need assistance or have questions. MAYOR'S AWARDS This year would have marked twenty-five years for these awards. This is an annual event where the COD recognizes individuals or businesses that go beyond to help those with disabilities. The specific awards are: Business of the Year, Service Provider of the Year, Volunteer of the year, Dorothy Lasley Award, and Spirit of Ft. Collins Award. However, with Steve Sutter having to move out of Colorado due to family, we found having a large reception impossible with City finances in a lull. We saw it as a time to step back, take a look at where we are and where we want to go with this special recognition. We did have Mayor Hutchinson read a proclamation in October before a City Counsel meeting marking October as National Disability month. NOD -NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ON DISABILITY NOD asks for cities around the nation to answer some very pertinent questions on how their city makes accessibility easy. The winning city receives $25,000. Joan Cook, Melinda Suits and Susan Williams filled out the form because we believe Ft. Collins does a superb job in meeting accessible needs. One question was concerning easy access to the COD on the city web site. In checking this out we found accessing this commission was quite a horror! Mentioning this to the person in charge of Ft. Collins' web site resulted in prompt action. The Commission on Disability was put on the front page of the web site. We are now one click away. We will find out sometime this month the results of the applications. GROCERY TAX The COD felt strongly in taking a public stand against the grocery tax. LINCOLN CENTER The Lincoln Center always charged wheelchair patrons and one guest the higher cost even though they have no choice where they sat. Bringing this to the attention of the Lincoln Center brought a wonderful change for their wheelchair patrons. They are now charged the lower price and is noted on their web site. HANDICAP `HOW-TO' FLIER The Department of Motor Vehicles agreed to hand out a flier with every disability placard explaining how to use the placard and parking spaces. CERTIFICATES When a business goes above and beyond ADA regulations in anyway, a certificate is sent to them by the COD noting our thanks. I believe five have been sent out. DIAL -A -RIDE The COD sent a letter to City Counsel in support of keeping the DAR night service. CAPTIONIST We are very pleased a woman wanted to visit a COD meeting. She needed a captionist and one was provided. Unfortunately, she forgot the meeting. MEDIA Several Soap Boxes were written concerning main aspects in the Commission. The Commission on Disability is made up of volunteers who truly want to make a quality life in the lives of the disabled citizens of Ft. Collins. A couple goals in 2006 for us is to have a monthly column in the Coloradoan concerning disabilities plus posting jobs available and having a barrier awareness day. Respectfully, Susan Williams, Chair Commission on Disability Practical Housing for All 2OO5 Annual Report 2005 was a consistent and active year for the Practical Housing for All (PHA) sub -committee. Mark Beck continued to chair the committee with Dana McBride, Kimberly Steinberg and Paul Ostrof as consistent members for our monthly meetings held the second Thursday of the month at 10:30 AM, in the CIC Room at City Hall. In keeping with our mission to educate the public and encourage the inclusion of PHA features in new home construction, several presentations were given in support of building homes with practical features that provide basic access and functionality for people of all ages and widely varying mobility and ambulatory abilities. As PHA Chair, Mark Beck was asked again to participate in the 2nd Sensible Housing Summit Panel discussion held June 2 at the Lincoln Center. As a panel member Mark was able to state the importance of including PHA features in affordable housing. Members of the PHA committee presented a breakout seminar at the Colorado Housing Now conference in Brekenridge, October 18. Mark explained the basic provisions of PHA. Dana McBride discussed particular building practices used to incorporate the PHA features in new homes. Kimberly Stenberg updated the PowerPoint presentation, video taped the presentation and provided technical support. The seminar was well received. Kimberly Stenberg designed a recognition certificate to present to builders for homes built with PHA features. The certificate includes the PHA logo and places for the signatures of the mayor and PHA committee chair. The Committee invited local builders to put a home that included the PHA features on the 2005 Parade of Homes Tour. Of the 65 invitations sent, only one builder responded. Stoner Homes built a beautiful home at 841 Noriker Dr. in the Clydesdale Development just east of I-25 off of Highway 14 that specifically included the five PHA building features. The Committee designated the home as a PHA home and Mayor Doug Hutchenson presented Jay Stoner of Stoner Homes a certificate and provided a PHA Logo and PHA brochures to be available at the home during the Tour. The PHA committee conducted a survey at the Stoner home during the Parade of Homes asking participants several questions regarding the importance of including PHA features in a new home. After seeing the PHA features in the home, 92 to 97% of the respondents considered the features as either somewhat important or very important to include in a future home. Before seeing the features, 49% of the respondents had considered including at least one of the features in a home. After seeing the features, 98% of the respondents indicated they would like to have PHA features included in a future home. This is a very clear indication that if Practical Housing for All 2005 Annual Report Page 4 of 2 builders would make these features available in new homes, consumers would choose them and more homes would be built with basic accessibility. The word is getting out. There are at least four builders now in Fort Collins who are regularly including PHA features in the homes they design and build. In related legislative activity; the city of Arvada considered an ordinance that would require a certain number of new homes built to be visitable. After a strong opposition by the local HBA, the ordinance was dropped. The Colorado state legislature considered a pilot program (HB05-1241) that would require certain homes built that received state, Federal or local funding to include visitable features. Both the house and the senate passed the bill that was eventually vetoed by the governor. In California, legislation was adopted in October that provides a model for local building departments to require builders to provide a list of universal design features to prospective new home buyers so they may choose what features to include in their new home. The buyer is made aware of the extra expense of the universal design features they choose and are responsible for the added cost of including those features in the construction. In December, Cable 14 produced a video to be used for their feature Showcase Fort Collins to be aired during the months of January and February, 2006. After the six to seven minute video's TV run, it will be available to the PHA Committee for promotional purposes. Funding for the video was provided by the city, through Cable 14 and by a grant from the Bohemian Foundation in support of Showcase Fort Collins. The PHA sub -committee will continue to work locally, educating builders and consumers about the benefits of PHA homes and encouraging builders to include PHA features. Our goal again this year is to feature at least one home on the Parade of Homes and use those homes to further educate the public of the wisdom and forethought of including PHA features. The Committee also plans to look beyond the City to cooperate with others with similar goals and expand the reach of the effort possibly to the county, Northern Colorado, and beyond. Project PHA is beginning its sixth year. At times it seem progress has been slow, but looking back, an enormous change is happening, not just locally, but state wide and nationally as the public begins to shift its way of thinking to see that building homes that are welcoming to all and built for a lifetime make sense. Now if we can just get the builders to get on board. Looking forward to a year of progress. Respectfully submitted December 2005 Practical Housing for All 2005 Annual Report Page 5 of 2 Mark F. Beck, Chair Practical Housing for All Practical Housing for All 2005 Annual Report Page 6 of 2