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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 07/08/19850 0 CITY OF FORT COLLINS COMMISSION ON DISABILITY M I N U T E S COMMISSION ON DISABILITY Monday, July 8, 1985 The regular meeting of the Fort Collins Commission on Disability was called to order by Chairperson Ted May at 6:40 p.m. on Monday, April 8, 1985 at the Old Fire Station, 232 Walnut Street, Fort Collins, Colorado. Members Present: Charlotte Kanode, Judy Siefke, Nancy Jackson, Ted May, Marilyn Maxwell, Betty Pidcock, Rosalie Smith Members Absent: Bill Bertschy, Bobbie Guye, Betty Shuey, Penne Powers Thomas City Staff: Diana Royval Guests: Kelly Ohlson, Linda Hopkins, Lyn Boyer, Gladys Russell, George Pidcock Ted began the meeting by asking if anyone had any questions for Kelly Ohlson. Nancy Jackson asked if any action had been taken on proposed cuts for the pool —ice rink. Ohlson said that he believed Council was determined that any cuts would not be from the handicapped accessibility portion of the project. Kelly asked for an update on the special meeting with developers to discuss the 1:7 proposal, HB1477. Members of the Commission who had attended said that the main concern was that there were no numbers from a survey which the developers believed adequately showed demand and marketability in the local area which would prove that 1:7 was a viable number. Ted also told Kelly that Felix Lee, Chief Building Official, had agreed to enforce the 1:7 ratio and that the developers had not had a more viable number to put forward. Kelly said he doesn't believe it is the Commission's responsibility to provide that kind of survey. Linda Hopkins said that the Planning Department has a lot of resources that could be available to those who wanted to know about demand that have been put together by the department. COMMISSION ON DISABILITY P.O. Box 580 9 Fort Collins, Colorado 80522 . (303) 221-6758 Commission on Disability Minutes - July 8, 1985 Page-2 Kelly said it would be important to come to the Council meeting armed with statistics because some members of Council will want to see the case proved. Linda Hopkins said that it is important to be able to prove the case to Council because, although it doesn't require an action by the Council to enforce state law, the action will be precedent setting. They believed the Council meeting will be scheduled for August 20, 1985. She would make any information that the city has available to those who request it. Lyn Boyer, Gladys Russell and Hopkins brought up a concern of the City and the County Human Development Department about enforcing the federal requirements of handicapped accessibility for human service agencies in the area that receive Revenue -Sharing funds. Many of the agencies have some problem with compliance. Because there is the possibility that the money will not be available in a year, other funding sources are being considered for all of those agencies presently being funded by Revenue Sharing funds. In the meantime, while the search for more money is continuing, several of the agencies are making efforts to reach compliance by the deadline of October 1, 1985. However, because they have budget problems, they may not be in compliance by the deadline. The Human Development Department, which administers the money for both City and County, asked the COD'S direction. Should they recommend not to fund those agencies or should they try to work with the agencies and see that they are moving in the right direction even though they aren't in compliance? The worst case is Larico Youth Home on Mathews Street which has a disabled staff member who must be carried up and down the stairs. Other agencies have made reciprocal agreements with sister agencies to provide their services at a handicapped accessible building. Sunshine School and the Safehouse are looking for other buildings. There is a risk of losing the money if total compliance isn't achieved but the money will probably be gone next year anyway. Ted May was concerned that some agencies are providing services to handicapped individuals but aren't in compliance, causing legal problems if a person is injured. Gladys Russell said there is only one agency where that is occurring. Most agencies have never been asked to provide services to a handicapped person. The Commission agreed to support the Human Development Department in their efforts to move the agencies toward more handicapped accessibility while not requiring total compliance by the deadline if it seemed to be impossible. Those agencies who were moving in a positive direction should receive funding. The Commission asked for periodic updates on the agencies' progress. 0 0 Commission on Disability Minutes - July 8, 1985 Page-3 MINUTES APPROVED AS WRITTEN LIAISON AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS Senior Board Nancy reported that the Senior Board has not met but that she has drafted a letter under its name informing King Soopers about the problem with moving handicapped parking spaces, making them a long distance for elderly to people to walk. Buildinq Review Committee There was no meeting of the Building Review Committee due to the Fourth of July holiday. ABRF Request Robert Cooper has requested $554 for a modem for a computer so that he and his wife, Princess, can participate in the city's Computer Intern Program. Their only income is Social Security Disability. The modem would enable the Coopers to work and earn some additional income. Because they do meet the guidelines, the Commission voted to recommend the Coopers' request be approved. Section 504 Nancy Jackson and Rose Kreston visited Loveland's Planning Department, Human Development and Housing Departments in support of a plan to establish an Architectural Barrier Removal Program. Although they found some interest, there was not a great deal of enthusiasm for the project because officials there had programs of their own they wanted to fund. However, Nancy said since money is available through CDBG and since the Loveland Handicapped Advisory Committee has shown a desire to have such a program, she is hopeful that a program may be started in Loveland. Rose and Nancy attended the June 18 City Council meeting where cuts on the Pool and Ice Rink were to be considered. Some cuts that they had read about in the newspaper involved omitting the elevator and therapeutic wading pool. Council members assured Nancy and Rose that those cuts weren't being being considered; however, some architectural proposals were, which might make problems. City staff asked for recommendations on the City Hall ramp. A special meeting was held June 20, 1985 with Don McClelland, Project Manager and Dave Lingle, Glazer & Associates Architects to discuss the options available. The choices given were to provide grab bars on the north and south ramps on both sides or to install a designated rest area on the south ramp. The staff made it clear that major changes were not looked upon favorably, however, COD felt it was important to make the ramp truly Commission on Disability Minutes - July 8, 1895 Page-4 accessible and provide the necessary rest area. A memo Was sent to Don McClelland so informing him of the group's recommendations. Nancy and Ted met with John Maynes, coordinator of National Organization on Disability. He told them that he could share a great deal of information with COD on what other communities are doing to encourage handicapped accessibility. For example, one city in Florida has required that every new unit built -- including homes -- be accessible. Rose and Nancy spoke to the Board of Realtors on using their Multiple Listing book to provide identification of accessible housing units. Their computer program already has a classification but it hasn't been used so the Realtors thought that might be possible, although they couldn't issue the book to agencies. The agencies would have to refer any requests to the Realtors. Nancy mentioned that the Realtors were open and that there was a good turnout at the meeting. TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Transportation Advisory Committee has been asked to advise the City of Fort Collins Department of Transportation on where best to locate the three accessible buses. Some discussion was on running the buses on a consistent route or running them on certain routes for a set period of time and then changing them. The consistent route was thought best because changing the routes would provide problems of scheduling for people who had depended on them for getting to work or therapy. Charlotte Kanode noted that the best way to deal with the problem was to have every route with an accessible bus. The HID is working on a housing survey which may help determine the bus routes. A copy will be sent to COD. NEW BUSINESS The Commission discussed the upcoming Mayor's Awards Breakfast which is scheduled for October 10. They decided that the simulation program should take place on October 9 so that people's experiences could be presented at the breakfast program. Also discussed was the possibility of making the simulation half -day rather than full -day. The Commission asked the Executive Committee (Ted, Nancy, Marilyn, Diana) to meet and determine committee assignments. Notice of assignments will be sent out immediately following the Executive Committee meeting scheduled for Friday, July 12, 1985 with the suggestion that the Committees meet prior to the August COD meeting. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Ma ell Secretary