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Home My WebLink AboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 06/13/1983• M I N U T E S• COMMSSION ON DISABILITY JUNE 13, 1983 The regular meeting of the Commission On Disability was called to order by Member -At -Large Rosemary Kreston at 6:40 P.M. on Monday, June 139 1983, in the Old Fire Station, 232 Walnut Street, Fort Collins, CO ROLL CALL: MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Crist, Eldon Decker, Nancy Jackson, Char- lotte Kanode, Tim Kienetz, Rosemary Kreston, Dorothy Lasley, Betty Pidcock, Betty Shuey, Rosalie Smith. MEMBERS ABSENT: CITY STAFF: GUESTS: Bobbie Guye Diana Royval Princess Cooper, George Pidcock, Way, DAV. Felix Lee, Laird McCubbin, Susie Robeck of VITA, and Bill NEW MEMBER Tim Kienetz was introduced as a new member of the COD. He is a nurse in the neurological unit of Poudre Valley Hospital, and a student at CSU, majoring in outdoor recreation administration. Rosalie Smith and Nancy Jackson were reappointed to COD by the City Council. FORT COLLINS BUILDING CODE Felix Lee, Director of Building Inspection for the city of Fort Collins, is responsible for administering the building code for the city. Every three years, the codes are reviewed and amended, and Bobbie Guye has been representing the COD on the Code Review Committee. Mr. Lee asked that COD formally draft some recommendations regarding what members feel is a reasonable number of accessible housing units for a code amendment. The suggestions will be presented to the Build- ing Board of Appeals for their review before they are forwarded in their final form to the City Council. In an overview, Mr. Lee explained the building code follows the Federal and American National Standards Institute ANSI) criterion closely. According to state regulations, 15% or 1 out of 7 units must be accessible, plus have accessible bathroom facilities. Unfortunately, the state doesn't enforce the code and it is left to the discretion of local officials to do so. The 1982 Uniform Building Code requires only 1% accessibility: In complexes of 20 or less dwelling units, no access- ible unit is mandatory; 20 .thru 99, one accessible unit; and 100 or over, one plus one for each additional 100 units or fraction thereof. The code also states that exceptions are permitted if accessibility require- ments are impractical or create a hardship for contractors. This loop- hole makes it easy to avoid building accessible housing because "hard- ship" is not clearly defined. Commission members stressed to Mr. Lee that accessible housing bene- fits not only handicapped people, but other individuals as well. Mr. -1- COD JUNN MEETING MINUTES - Page 2 Lee was also informed that 15 to 18/ of our population is comprised of handicapped people. Nancy Jackson submitted letters from individuals stating that obtaining accessible housing in Fort Collins is a severe problem. Commission members agreed that the Fort Collins Building Code should have at least a 15°o ratio and be strictly enforced. Rosemary Kreston volunteered to draft the recommendations on behalf of the COD. A copy will be sent to City Council and one to Mr. Lee. Commission members plan to attend the public hearings to further stress the need for accessible housing. HOUSING MODIFICATIONS Princess Cooper, a resident of the Oakbrook 1 Apartments on Stanford Road, reported that efforts to prompt the management to make the accessible units barrier free have been futile. She recited numerous barriers in the units to people using wheelchairs, including no turn around space on the balcony; windows open and close upwards and downwards instead of sideways; stove controls are located in back, necessitating reaching over the burners to adjust them; kitchen shelves are too high; kitchen has no turn around space; no knee guards on heaters; shower ramp in the bathroom is too steep; and in case of fire, there is not proper egress from the building. Commission members feel the responsibility to advocate for the residents of Oakbrook 1 inasmuch as the Handicapped Advisory Committee illuminated the inadequacies found during construction of the complex to the Federal Housing Administrator John Endres in a written report. It was concurred that the Commission reassess the situation by conducting a follow up to the 1977 survey by the HAC. The COD Access- iblilty Team comprised of Nancy Jackson, Rosemary Kreston, Diana Royval, and Betty Shuey will review the report, then interview disabled resi- dents of Oakbrookt 1. Following this, members will consult with Oakbrook 1 manager Bill Butler to learn why changes weren't made initially. Based on these findings, a follow up report can be sent to the FHA and local Congressmen. MINUTES Pat Crist made a motion that the reading of.last month's minutes be dispensed with and accepted as written. The motion was seconded and carried. I LIAISON REPORTS Diana Royval reported that two applications had been received for ABRF. Wanda Waugh requested a TTY, and Maxine Jensen applied for a grant to install a bathtub lift and possible installation of a back door ramp to the patio area, and tightening of the front door ramp. Mrs. Jensen's two sons have muscular dystrophy. It was moved and seconded that Diana purchase a TTY for Ms. Waugh, and that she investigate the situation at the Jensen residence to de- termine whether other modifications are necessary. Commission members gave approval for Diana to proceed for plans to put the bathlift and ramp in place if that is all that is needed. -2- COD JUNE MLETINGIINUTES - Page 3 • Betty Shuey stated she didn't think Transfort had an advisory group of lay people to give input on the city's mass transit system. It was mentioned that the transportation report submitted to City Council recommended the establishment of a Task, Force comprised of lay people, specifically elderly and handicapped people. Further discussion was tabled until the next COD meeting at which time Bob Lee and Rita Davis will be guests. 504 LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Though no regular meetings of the 504 Legislative Campaign Com- mittee have been held during the past month, letters were drafted and submitted opposing some of the recent int,rpretation of 504. The Larimer County Association of the Blind and Physically Han- dicapped donated :">50 towards printing costs in the filing of the Amicus Brief for the Le Strange case. Recent information in a DREDF memo alerted the 504 committee that the Amicus Brief won't be filed until July. Rosemary Kreston read the draft of her editorial which will be submitted to local newspapers updating the public on the status of 504. Nancy Jackson read a thank -you letter to the 504 Committee from Betsy Groom, Director of Social Services at Poudre Valley Hospital, applauding participants for attending their in-service training meetT ing to review the hospital's 504 survey and determine what changes are necessary for compliance purposes. Some of the suggestions high- lighted were TDDsjlighted fire signals, amplified and hands -free telephones, volunteers to read menus to visually impaired and blind patients, etc. Nancy Jackson was charged with relaying to Betsy Groom that special discharge orders should be routed through the Social Services Department at Poudre Valley Hospital. RESOURCE DIRECTORY Rosemary Kreston is arranging for the large print typing of the Resource Directory to be done through the Office of Resources for Dis- abled Students at CSU. NOMINATING COMMITTEE ' Nancy Jackson and Betty Pidcock reviewed the list of members who are interested in running for positions on the COD Executive Committee. Bobbie Guye,and Rosemary Kreston are nominees for chairperson; Pat Crist, Bobbie Guye, Rosemary Kreston, and Dorothy Lasley as vice - chairperson; and Pat Crist and Rosalie Smith are willing to serve as secretary. Member at large nominees are Nancy Jackson and Dorothy Lasley. Nominations will be open to the floor during the formal election of officers at the July meeting. MAYOR'S AWARDS BRF,AKFAST The Mayor's Awards Breakfast sub -committee has outlined plans for the event to be held in October. They have identified four areas -3- COD JUN1� MEETING MINUTES - Page 4 • in which sub -committees need to be organized to prepare for this major activity: 1). Awards Committee - screens applications, reponsible for all ad- vertising, and writing awards presentation speeches. 2). Poster Committee - conduct outreach to schools in the Poudre R-1 School District, develop contest rules, review posters and select the winning entry. 3). Invitation Committee - draft invitation, reserve facilities, and schedule video tape wrap-up session. 4). Program Committee - develop agenda, arrange speaker presenta- tions, and host during breakfast activities. Each COD member is expected to serve on one committee, and selec- tions will be made at the July meeting. ABRF GRANT PROPOSAL Diana Royval reported the ABRF grant proposal was approved in its entirety by the City Council at its June 7, 1983 meeting. Community Development Block Grant funds in the amount of $20,000 will be allo- cated in October 1983. Pat Crist remarked that Lory State Park is accessible according to its signs. A park crew is constructing a new restroom with ramp to further the park's accessibility. Steve Johnson of the Larimer County Clerk Office is implementing mobile voter registration, and would like input from COD members on how he can best outreach to handicapped citizens. Suggestions can be forwarded to the Handicapped Information Office at 482-2700. Diana Royval revealed that Tom Frazier, Director of General Ser- vices for the city of Fort Collins, is investigating the COD recommen- dations to install a lift at the city's Municipal Pool. More infor- mation will be forthcoming at a later date. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded that the meeting be adjourned at 9:05 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Nancy Jackson (for Eldon Decker) Secretary .__..._....... ... .............._ _ 0 0 COMMISSION ON DISABILITY MEMBERS Patricia Crist Betty Pidcock 2606 Flintridge P1. 2839 Wakonda Dr. Fort Collins, CO 80521 Fort Collins, CO 80521 H: 482-6754 H: 493-1721 W: 484-6125 Eldon Decker Betty Shuey 511 E. Prospect 1618 Mathews Fort Collins, Co 80525 Fort Collins, CO 80525 H: 482-6378 H: 482-1832 W: 493-5800 Rosalie Smith 2213 Shawnee Ct. Barbara Guye Fort Collins, CO 80525 221 W. Douglas Rd., # 19 H: 484-2496 Fort Collins, CO 80524 W: 226-3529 H: 484-5417 ----------------------------- W: 482-2700 Minutes also forwarded to: Loveland Handicapped Advisory Nancy Jackson Committee 3249 Silverthorne Dr. c/o Victor Beebe Fort Collins, CO 80526 1213 57th Street H: 223-3594 Loveland, CO 80537 W: 482-2700 Charlotte L. Kanode Bill Way 519 Edwards Fort Collins Chapter #5 Fort Collins, CO 80524 Commander -Disabled American H: 484-0178 Veterans W: 484-4220 Ext. 338 P.O. Box 1895 Fort Collins, CO 80522 Tim Kientz City of Fort Collins 1111 Baker Street Diana Royval, CDBG Office, Fort Collins, CO 80524 484-4220, X 687 H: 224-5303 City Council W: 482-4111 Ext. 3400 City Clerk Library (Anne Moran) Rosemary Kreston 112 Student Services Bldg. Colorado State University H: 663-1987 W: 491-6384 Dorothy Lasley 1712 Remington Fort Collins, CO 80525 H: 482-4706 W 482-2700