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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 07/11/1983• • M I N U T E S • COMMISSION ON DISABILITY JULY 11, 1983 The regular meeting of the Commission On Disability was called to order by chairperson Bobbie Guys at 6:45 P.M. on Monday, July 11, 1983, in the Old Fire Station, 232 Walnut Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524. MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Crist, Eldon Decker, Bobbie Guye, Nancy Jackson, Tim Kientz, Dorothy Lasley, Betty Pidcock, Betty Shuey, Rosalie Smith. MEMBERS ABSENT: Charlotte Kanode, Rosemary Kreston. CITY STAFF: Diana Royval (CDBG Office), Kelly Olsen (City Council Liaison) GUESTS: Rita Davis, Ken Sylvester (Transfort), Peggy Walker, (Parks and Recreation). APPROVAL OF MINUTES Dorothy Lasley made a motion that the reading of last month's minutes be dispensed with and accepted as written. The motion was seconded and carried. • LIAISON REPORTS The COD received a letter from Thomas L. Frazier, Director of Gen- eral Services, stating that the modifications for restrooms in the Old City Hall plus the appropriate signage are being developed by an archi- tect and the work should be completed by early fall. Changes in the signage of New City Hall will be underway -by then, also. The bid package for the two handicapped doors at Lincoln Center are still in the formative stage, but results may be forthcoming during Aug - ust. Funds for purchasing a chairli£t to be installed at the Community Building are being sought from service clubs by the Loveland Handicapped Advisory Commission. Additionally, their efforts have prompted the Parks and Recreation Department to consider placing a portable chairlift at entrances and exits of all their inaccessible buildings.` Loveland City Council has taken under advisement designating 8' wide reserved handicapped parking spaces with 5' access aisles, and the meas- ure is expected to pass. 16,000 senior citizens are being contacted by the Office on Aging to determine what types of housing would be most compatible with their needs. Efforts are also being made to partner young people seeking room and board with a senior citizen who needs assistance to remain in their own home. Other opinion polls in progress concern preferred church pro- grams and public works. • Denver Mayor Federico Pena was contacted by the Coalition for Persons with Disabilities to inquire whether he intended to fulfill his promise -1- COD JULY MEETING MWTES - Page 2 • to appoint disabled citizens to his administrative staff. Mr. Pena reaffirmed the pledge and invited those handicapped workers seeking • employment to submit an application. The annual meeting of the American Public Transit Association is scheduled in Denver on October 23-26. A National Action Group has been formed to identify accessibility issues, and their findings will be pre- sented during the meeting. For added information, contact Wade Blank at 393-0630. A report is being compiled by the Coalition concerning the various .work disincentives existing within federal programs. Revisions in the 1982 Uniform Building. Code are still being consid- ered by the review committee and the final draft of recommendations will probably be presented to the Building Board of Appeals as well as the City Council sometime next month. The passage of House Bill 1477 is facing strong opposition of enforcement from local architects and build- ing contractors. Nancy Jackson distributed copies of the summary sug- gestions compiled by herself, Rosemary Kreston, and Bobbie Guye which will be forwarded to City Council and Felix Lee, Chief Building Inspec- tor. ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION Rita Davis and Ken Sylvester, guest representatives of Transfort, reported that a grant proposal will be presented to City Council reques- ting funding to purchase two lift equipped Bluebird buses for service to handicapped users. Following a ridership evaluation of these on two different routes, more might be feasible. Transfort officials are also •appraising requests for expanding the system to include extended hours and weekend service. Members of the COD were invited to implement their recommendation to form a task force comprised of handicapped and elderly citizens. After extended discussion concerning which factions should be represented, Pat Crist volunteered to draft some suggestions to be presented to Transfort, and be discussed at the next COD meeting on August 8. Betty Shuey agreed to be the COD liaison on the task force, and Dorothy Lasley will serve in that capacity for the Handicapped Information Office and the Larimer County Association of the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Ken and Rita were invited to attend the August 8 COD meeting. Mean- time any questions may be directed to either of them at 484-4220, Ext. 349 or Ext. 331. MUNICIPAL SWIMMING POOL Peggy Walker of the Parks and Recreation Department described the needs at the Municipal Swimming Pool to successfully facilitate the handi- capped swimming program. Even though a Hoyer lift is currently in place, it is so difficult to maneuver that manual lifting of participants is necessary. A shower chair and enlarged dressing rooms are high priority items, too. Eldon Decker, Bobbie Guye, Charlotte Kanode, and Betty Pid- cock were appointed as a sub -committee to visit the pool and formulate some recommendations to present to Thomas L. Frazier so a cost estimate could be made and funding appropriated from the CDBG-monies. An update will be given at the August COD meeting. • 504 LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE The Section 504 Legislative Campaign Committee has held no meetings -2- COD JULY MEETING MINUTES - Page 3. • during the past month, but Rosemary Kreston compiled an editorial update which she has submitted to local newspapers. A letter from DREDF informed the group that the amicus brief concerning the LaStrange case has been delayed until July 15. Nancy Jackson and Rosemary Kreston are composing a packet describing the main elements of Section 504 which can be utilized as a public information tool. Form letters supporting Senate Bill 444 and House Resolution 1250 were distributed for signatures of COD members. The legislation en- courages accessible voting polls to accommodate handicapped voters. Lett- ers will be forwarded to Congressman Hank Brown, and Senators William Armstrong and Gary Hart. Nancy Jackson received a copy of the Colorado statutes for legal voting procedures from Steve Johnson of the Larimer County Clerk's office, and she will present a brief review of them at the next COD meeting. • MAYOR'S AWARDS BREAKFAST The 1983 annual Mayor's Awards Breakfast will be held on Wednesday, October 5, from 7:00 to 9:00 A.M. in the CIC room of the new Municipal Building, 300 W. LaPorte Avenue. At 4:00 P.M., participants will re- turn for a video taped wrap-up session. Members who will be working on the various committees are: Awards: Dorothy Lasley, chairperson; Dr. Gerald Benson; Pat Crist. Invitat f Bobbie Guye, chairperson; Smith. Program: Rosemary Kreston,chairperson; Nancy Jackson; Bobbie Guye. Posters Betty Pidcock, chairperson; Eldon Decker; Charlotte Ka - node; Tim Kientz. Refreshments and Room Facilities: Diana Royval Other areas to be addressed include a theme for the poster contest, and sufficient publicity, both for the poster contest and the awards ap- plications. Chairperson,Bobbie Guye requested that all committee chairpersons call at least one meeting of their group before the August 8 COD meeting, in order to facilitate necessary arrangements for the event. RESOURCE DIRECTORY The Resource Directory has been typed on a large print machine, and as soon as it is proofed, it will be ready for copying. Betty Pidcock mentioned that the Fort Collins Noon Lions Club is in the process of compiling a Community Reference Guide and suggested that they be contacted to include COD, HIO, and LCA. Bobbie Guye is attempting to confirm the listings. ABRF APPLICATIONS UPDATE Diana Royval revealed that the TTY requested by Wanda Waugh has • been ordered. After a survey of the residence of Maxine Jensen, it was determined there was a need for grab bars and a tub lift in the bath- -3- COD JULY MEETING MI*ES - Page 4 • room plus a ramp at both the front and back doors. The total cost would be between $5000 and $6000. Though there is already a second lien on the property, the city agreed to accept a third one, so the modifications can proceed. A representative of the Larimer County Visiting Nurses Association had inquired whether architectural barrier removal funds could be utilized to purchase a chair seat lift for a client with rheumatoid arthritis who has difficulty in getting out of a chair. It was the consensus of opin- ion that the situation would be comparable to any other portable chair lift which can be transported by the owner. Diana was given permission to expend the necessary funds. Nancy Jackson extended the invitation to have all ABRF applications for residence modifications located outside the Fort Collins city limits referred to the Handicapped Information Office. In addition to the special needs fund maintained by the office, George Kent, owner of the Cow Palace Restaurant, has indicated interest to hold fundraiser events to help meet immediate needs of the handicapped community. It was reported that the COD accessibility team will convene in August'to ascertain the most crucial accessibility problems for tenants of Oakbrook 1 Apartments. ELECTION OF OFFICERS The results of the election of officers for 1983-84 were Bobbie Guye, chairperson; Pat Crist, vice chairperson; Rosalie Smith, secre- tary; and Nancy Jackson, member -at -large. CDBG REPRESENTATIVE In response to a June 8 letter received from Ken Waido, Chief Plan- ner for the City of Fort Collins, which requested that all organizations appoint a member to serve on the Citizen's Steering Committee, Dorothy Lasley made a motion that Bobbie Guye be reappointed to the position. The motion was seconded and carried. 141SCELLANEOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS Bobbie Guye presented a bill for $25 covering the cash deposit she had made for the bulk rate mailing of the June monthly newsletter. Nancy Jackson made a motion that Bobbie be reimbursed. The motion was seconded and carried. FAD • ]C7ra-D IZ There being no further business, Dorothy Lasley made a motion that the meeting be adjourned at 9:20 P.M. The motion was seconded and carried. Respectfully submitted, 42421- 6 Eldon Decker, Secre ary Bobbie Guye, Cha' person i -4-