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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 08/14/2008Commission on Disability 300 LaPorte Avenue PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6610 970,221.6534 - fax fcgov com Commission on Disability Minutes August 14, 2008 Members Present: Mary Elizabeth Lenahan, Mare Franklin-Gaumer, Bev Hageseth, Alva Vineyard, Vivian Armendariz, Lydia Wiatrowski, Jason Holland, Harry Meyer (arrived immediately after meeting called to order). Terry Schlicting arrived at 12:41pm. Absent: Kimberlee Imig (has withdrawn from Commission) City Liaisons: Bruce Byrne, Jenna Stieben Guests: David Kemp, FC Bike Coordinator; Cheryl Distaso, CPJE & Barrier Busters; Nancy York, PTAG & Barrier Busters; Kalin Logan 1. Introductions COD members and guests introduced themselves. 2. Call to Order 12:25 by Jason Holland 3. Approval of Minutes Mare moved to approve the July minutes. Jason seconded the motion. Discussion: Vivian did not volunteer to check Loveland's sensitivity policy. Vivian is checking Loveland's COD & is waiting to hear back from Loveland. Jason moved to approve the minutes as amended. Bev seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 4.Open Discussion General Public Topics included: Streets: Kalin met with Erika Keeton from Engineering regarding curb cuts and budgeting. Terry was unable to join him. Ms. Keeton will keep his photos of areas of concern for review for the repair budget for 2010. Bruce asked if that budget goes to council for decision. Council has input but engineering has the final say. Kalin requests that COD members attend the council meeting when they review the repair budget and requested the COD endorsement for improvements. For clarification, DK suggested COD recommend what they support or endorse. Mare asked if there is grant money could be sought and if we should ask permission to get money to fix the problem. Cheryl suggested we ask the city grant writers to write the grant proposal and DK suggested we do a joint effort with the city with the city as a fiscal sponsor. Potentially if this is a health and safety issue, there might be means for getting approval sooner than 2010 or an exception could be made. Jason questioned about the plan for street changes. He wants the COD to prioritize recommendations, have a look at the physical plan that engineering is using, do a cost analysis, and offer a tangible, specific plan of what we want. Jason would be interested to visit with Kalin and Erika and investigate how we interface with her department and the City Council. Nancy York Public Transit Action Group (PTAG), suggested talking with individual Council members each year. The COD could make a formal motion and send a memo. Bruce suggested finding an easier, more direct method for dealing with this issue rather than wait for a work session. Public transportation: Nancy, Public Transit Action Group (PTAG), is proposing public forums to get citizen input about transportation needs and how best to identify needs and execute the plan. She believes the Library (Main & Harmony) will be a sponsor along with PTAG. The dates: Sept. I O'h & Sept. 17". Bruce asked if the Mason Street corridor is going to be a topic of discussion. Mary Elizabeth asked if Dial -a -Ride would be participating. Nancy said they would be invited. There is a strategic transportation plan that Transfort is following. Jason will attend the Sept_ 17a' meeting. Terry will attend September 1 Oa`. Lydia moved to co-sponsor (add our name to list of sponsors and our executives will be available for the discussion) the forum with the Library & PTAG. Terry seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Harry is still concerned that there is not adequate public transportation to Denver. He passed out cards for individuals to consider taking a one -hour tour the Disabled Resources Services to familiarize themselves with their agency. Harry will also be leaving early because he has a 2:00 p.m. meeting. He may not be attending the September COD meeting. Harry noticed people in golf carts on sidewalks and wanted to know what the city policy was on motorized golf carts. Jenna explained the Parks Dept. uses golf carts to maintain the parks. Mare noted that the police chief informed us that this depends on the size of the motor. Vivian was concerned that carts park at curb cuts, thus reducing access for those in wheelchairs. A regional transportation meeting was held at CSU by Transfort. Terry attended. Progress on the Mason Street Corridor and Maxx were discussed. The buses will be lower with mounting ramps and bus rumps; there is the option of being strapped down or just riding. Buses will travel in a separate lane. Kahn was able to get on the bus easily and make a full-scale turnaround with ease. Each bus can fit three smaller wheelchairs or two larger models. 5. New Business Access in Bike Lanes: Terry invited David Kemo (DK) to address the issue of sharing the bike lanes with persons in wheelchairs. In particular, what is the bike community's opinion and how do cyclists feel about people in wheelchairs using the bike lanes? Kalin interjected that there is far less wear and tear on the wheelchairs than the sidewalks. David asked if users in wheelchairs want to use the bike lanes. Yes. David Kemp wants 2 to know what areas of town we would like to use the bike lanes, since there are currently no bike lanes on Mountain, Mason, or in Old Town. Vivian said it is easier for her neck and wrists using the bike lane and mentioned difficulty with curb cuts on sidewalks. David doesn't think it's a hindrance to share the lane. Are there particular areas we are more interested in using? David Kemp shared information regarding the Coexist campaign for cyclists and motorists. He believes that bicyclists are generally courteous when passing and was interested to note that people in wheelchairs prefer the bike lanes. He noted the enforcement from the police perspective. Lydia recalled the COD suggestion about signage for shared lanes. DK informed us that signs need to be in compliance with MUTCD; currently traffic will not put up signs, but he would need to check what types of sign are available. Terry noted that wheelchair -crossing signs already exist and we could possibly take advantage of these. Vivian feels there is still a need for education on sidewalk etiquette with bicycles and skateboards in Old Town. David explained that bikes and skateboards are illegal in Old Town and this is enforced by the DDA. Citations are given to offenders. Vivian is interested in giving out personal reminders, such as is done with warnings in handicapped parking. Harry would like bicyclists to be more in tune with their position relative to car traffic. DK clarified that the Coexist Campaign stresses Awareness, Patience, and Courtesy. Nancy raised the question of motor scooters in bike lanes. Apparently this is okay with motors below 50 cc and for motorized wheelchairs. Alva sees scooters and motor bikes using bike lanes for cutting pass traffic. Lydia noted that in driver's education, they teach using the bike lane for right turns. DK responded that it is illegal to be on a motorized vehicle on the sidewalks unless you have a variance. On bike lanes, you can ride an electric -assist bike or moped that has a motor under 50cc, but not on the bike trails. You can be on the bike trails in a motorized wheelchair. Terry asked if wheelchairs could be included in the Coexist and Bike Plan. David said he would check with his colleagues to see how they can be more inclusive and will include educating all users in the Bike Plan for October. DK suggested COD clarify with the City Attorney for the ordinance wording as to whether wheelchairs can be in the bike lanes. He will also check the Bike Plan. In any case in these lanes/trails, whoever is approaching from behind must yield. Harry questioned who has the right-of-way in a right turn situation. DK shared the BIKE BOX solution/safe zone concept, since the person in the wheelchair, bicyclist, or mo-ped has the right of way in these situations. Terry suggested we have the City Attorney explain the laws. Jason questioned whether tickets or warnings are being given to persons in wheelchairs. Cheryl and Terry noted none on record. Marc commented that the issue of wheelchairs in the bike lanes is being ignored and that there is a need to use "specific" disability language. DK felt that was possible. Terry, Jason, Vivian volunteered to meet with the City Attorney to discuss the laws regarding wheelchairs in the bike lanes. Mary Elizabeth moved a small executive committee (Terry, Vivian, and Jason) meet with the City Attorney and Police to discuss the issue of wheelchairs in the bike lanes, to get a firm vision of the code, and to share the information with DK in a timely manner. Bev seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Jason will schedule the meeting. Bruce told Jason to contact Ingrid. Thank you, DK! DK would like clarification of our findings once it has been cleared with Council. He also noted that there is a link on the web -site for getting debris cleared from the bike lanes. Jenna will get the link. Kalin left. Thank you for your participation. Barrier Busters: Vivian explained that Barrier Busters wants to conduct a survey and wanted to know if COD would be in favor of that and also provide sponsorship on the web -site. Mare found that the COD has had surveys repeatedly since 1989 and that she has found no results posted. Terry has the Historian's box and Vivian as the current Historian might be able to research these, however, would like a new survey since the last one was in 2000. Lydia suggested we need our own benchmark. Bev moved the COD support the Barrier Busters survey including 10 questions for persons without disabilities and 10 questions for persons with disabilities. Terry seconded. Motion passed unanimously. COD will see the survey prior to publishing. Vivian will share this with COD for approval. Nancy and Cheryl left. Thank you, Nancy & Cheryl. Jenna asked if we had all read Kimberlee's message. We now have two vacancies on the COD. Jenna will check with Karla about whether the openings will be filled before January. 6. Old Business/Sub-Committee/Lu' isons Work plan: Terry explained that Tess Heffernan, from the City Manager's office, suggested we narrow the scope of our work plan. Jason requested that for our next meeting, we invite not guests so that we can discuss the work plan. Bruce noted that it would be a good idea to abbreviate the work plan and clarify roles and responsibilities as members of the COD. Mary Elizabeth suggested we have a closed meeting in September to discuss the commission's roles and responsibilities and how best to complete our work plan. (Later, City Clerk Karla informed COD that there are strict guidelines for conducting a closed meeting and that we could not.) Jason moved we meet with Tess in September and it be a closed meeting and everyone come with ideas on what we should focus on. Mary Elizabeth seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Marc asked what happened with the Emergency Preparedness Plan. EPP is in a "soft launch" until August 15s'to review the plan and will be completed in October. Vivian is attending the United Way meetings and shared that they are working with the Coloradoan and the Fire Department. People can register on-line, but can also register without internet. The simplified form is done and in use. People can check with Nancy Jackson at Disabled Resource Services. Terry will send the link. Welcome Packets: We were going to put together the work plan, bylaws, member list, commission manual, commission orientation DVD. Packets will be available in October. Mayor's Awards: Jason has the postcards designed (Thank you, Holly & Jason). Mare is compiling addresses and posting to PVH weblink. Jenna has the nomination forms on the website and will have a notice in the September utility billing statement. Mary Elizabeth is releasing information to local media (Coloradoan, Fort Collins Now, Fort Collins Forum, KRFC, Clear Channel, North Forty, CSU, FC TV, and FC Pan). Deb is contacting the Coloradoan for a series. Bruce & Michelle are getting samples of plaques Community Access: Terry and Vivian will be presenting the PowerPoint presentation on a CD to City Council in October. Vivian shared the updated brochure. Mary Elizabeth noted some typographical errors on the Community Access pamphlet to be corrected prior to publishing ("emendable to amendable", omitted phone number). Vivian will check with Tess Heffernan about possible help from a graphic artist. Liaison updates: Mary Elizabeth contacted the Youth Advisory Board and the Planning and Zoning Commissions for which she is the delegated liaison from the COD. She will attend the Youth Advisory meeting in September and the Planning and Zoning Work Session in either September or November. The P&Z chair would like the commission to view the COD Community Access information Meeting Adjourned at 2:05 p.m.