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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 09/10/2009COMMISSION ON DISABILITY Fort Collins City Hall: Council Information Center: 12:15 p.m. Thursday, September 10, 2009 Present: Michael Devereaux, Mare Franklin-Gaumer, Beverly Hageseth, Michelle Miller, Terry Schlicting. Absent: Sam Cavallaro, Kalin Logan, Karen Perry, Carrie Rogers, Lydia Wiatrowski CITY LIAISON: Present: Bruce Byrne, Jenna Stieben GUESTS: Cheryl Distaso – Center for Justice, Peace, and Environment Deb, Pat and Patrick Ham – Public Comment/Larimer ARC Member/Transfort and Dial A Ride Consumer Joe Olson – COFC Traffic Engineer Carrie Daggett - COFC Kurt Ravenschlag – Transfort Craig Dubin - Transfort Kyle Lambrecht – COFC Mary Warring – NFRMPO Yvonne Longacre – Barrier Busters Jen Patrik – Transportation Planning Lonnie Murphy - Visitor 1. Call to Order: 12:20 by Terry Schlicting 2. Introductions: (10 minutes) Sign in sheet made rounds. 3. Approval of Minutes: August 13 (15 minutes) It was noted that Dial A Ride is $2.50 one way, not $1.50. 4. Open Discussion General Public & Community News: (20 minutes) 5. New Business Last meeting- Kurt received the previously mentioned letter and in response, he and Marlys attended last meeting. Kurt stated that slopes and inclines were studied and reiterated that Patrick was eligible to use the paratransit Dial A Ride. Mr. Ham brought up the expense and the affect it would have on Patrick’s fixed income. Marlys explained that the fee used to be sliding scale, but in 2007 the $2.50 per ride was set in place by the City Council, as the City could no longer financially sustain the full expense. Marlys and Kurt will have the Hams meet with Craig Dubin to complete the paperwork for Medicaid Logisticare. If Patrick qualifies, he can have the fare waived. This information was news to some of the present users of the paratransit system and Terry asked how could the public gain access to this information. Kurt and Marlys will look at the Transfort website to see how accessible the information is and should it be easier to locate. Terry asked the Hams to report back to the Commission on outcomes and thanked them for coming. Compliments were made on behalf of Transfort drivers and their customer service and disability sensitivity. Kurt and Marlys were thanked for their presence and participation. Update- Craig Dubin and Kurt Ravenschlag stated that it is possible that some individuals may be conditionally eligible for Medicaid waivers to use paratransit, but the funding in this program is limited and only allows for 2 rides per day. These options can be accessed by calling (970) 679-4470 or at www.larimer.org/seniors. Terry received an e-mail from Craig listing programs that are managed outside of the City that could provide other sources of funding for these rides. Terry will share that information. Pat Ham felt that Transfort is unyielding in their decision to add the Epic Center stop back to their schedule and wondered if they should just drop the issue or find some other way to address it. He feels that a major recreation center may be losing customers because of the route change. Kurt reiterated that there was not enough activity/ridership to keep that particular stop. There is just not enough demand to support it. Pat wondered if they decide to pursue this can they get the numbers and statistics that Transfort used in making this decision and possibly see if there have been recent changes of ridership due to the route omission. Craig provided a revised DAR application to Terry and a User’s Guide. Terry will forward Craigs e-mail, with possible funding options to the Hams. Kurt hopes the Hams will consider some of the option ideas Transfort has provided them. Thanks to Transfort and the Hams for attending. 6. Old Business Mayor’s Awards Subcommittee – Bruce gave an update on nominations and asked that we remind others that nominations are still being accepted. Bike Lane Subcommittee – Joe Olson shared the most recent revisions to the bike lane policy. Cheryl was still uncomfortable with the word “substantially” in the last line in section a., and asked if it could be deleted. Joe will take this request back to the County Attorney with Cheryl’s request. COD voted 3 yeas and none opposed to adopt the draft, preferably without the word “substantially”, but yea if the word cannot be dropped. North College Corridor Project – Kyle reported that this project is in the design phase and it appears that the 8 foot multi- use path with an on-street bike lane and a landscape buffer, is the preferred and safest design. Kyle and/or Jennifer will come back to the COD when the design is more solidified. Possibly in December. The first stages of work should begin by the end of 2011, until then there will be open houses to address the project. Thanks Kyle and Jen for coming. 7. Presentation North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Office – Mary Warring shared a slide presentation of how her office is addressing the mobility needs of the Northern Front Range. She oversees a Mobility Commission that has subcommittees addressing the mobility needs of the economically disadvantaged and individuals with disabilities as their focal point. Craig Dubin chairs this commission and Michelle Miller co-chairs. 8. Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 2:08pm