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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 11/04/1991COMMISSION ON DISABILITY Minutes November 4, 1991 MEMBERS PRESENT: Arne Andersen Debbie Kalin Roy Beauchamp Judith Sayre -Grim Ray Sanderson Angela Bryne Shirley Reichenbach MEMBER ABSENT: Bob Wilmot - excused Bob Porter STAFF PRESENT: Mike Gebo Ann Reichert GUESTS:. Carolann Frisco. ADA Task Force Bill Way, D.A.V. Nancy Jackson, D.R.S. Bill Livington, ADA Task Force The amended minutes from October were approved. The Plan Review Committee Those reviewed were: 3111 South College 1415 -W Elizabeth 3000 S College 700 Center 2900 N Harvard 1600 No College 829 S College Pavilion Ctr 3801 S Mason SouthRidge Greens 126 W Hemlock OLD BUSINESS met immediately after the COD meeting. Dellenbach CB Potts Transam Title NTU Pericas Rest. Burger King Retail Store Applebee's Bar & Grill South Ft Collins Vet Clinic Mail Creek Simpson Sheetmetal Shirley Reichenbach attended a meeting regarding the re -modeling of the Lincoln Center Pool. She stated the plans are to have an elevator in the facility, a ramp into the pool, a Unisex dressing room, the facility will be wheelchair accessible, private shower facility and the benches in the locker room will be spaced far enough apart that it will be wheelchair accessible. Commission on Disability November 4, 1991 Page 2 The Proclamation for Disability Awareness Month signed by the Mayor was passed around. The curb cut and striping at Drake and Lemay was discussed. It is difficult to cross. Mike Gebo will look into that. Shirley Reichenbach attended HAC in Loveland. That commission will be sending COD their checklist of what they look for in the Building Department for permits/plans and inspections. NEW BUSINESS The notebooks and new inserts from the City Clerk were distributed. Nancy Jackson with D.R.S. read a letter from DRS directed to all architects, builders, contractors and owners. (A copy of this letter is included in these minutes. Please bring your comments to the next meeting.) One idea was to include this in the Conceptual Review stage. The Work Plan for 1991 was discussed. It was decided the executive board would finish up the rough draft established by COD. Some of the highlights discussed were: Committees to be established: Access - look at different buildings within the City Snow Removal Parking Reminders Mayor's Award Employment Transportation Telecommunicating Items to be included on the work plan: Snow Removal Program Parking Reminders - update NOD award - keeping aware of activities Mayor's Awards - make changes as identified Team Building with other commissions/offices Items.for complying with ADA are: Employment Transportation Facilities Programs It was moved and seconded to adjourn. The next meeting will be December 9, 1991. DISABLED RESOURCE 424 Pine Street, Suite 101 SERVICES Fort Collins, Colorado 80524 320 North Cleveland Avenue, Suite 10 482.2700 Voice Loveland, Colorado 80537 Advocacy • Awareness • Access 482.2723 TDD 667-0816 MEMORANDUM TO: Architects, Builders, Contractors, and Owners FROM: Disabled Resource Services SUBJECT: Compliance with Fair Housing Acts As a service to you, Disabled Resource Services (DRS), would like to make you aware of some of the provisions of the Fair Housing Acts so that accessibility features will be incorporated in future construction projects. Disabled Resource Services is an independent living center in northern Colorado and we exist to provide disabled people with a variety of services broadly covered by our motto, "advocacy, awareness, and access". One specific function involves assisting disabled clients in locating and obtaining accessible housing. Unfortunately, efforts are often unsuccessful because of the lack of accessible housing options. The Federal Fair Housing Act hopefully will help alleviate this problem by increasing construction of accessible housing units. The Federal Fair Housing Act was amended in 1988 and the Colorado Fair Housing Act in 1990 to require multi -family dwellings for first occupancy after March 13, 1991, be designed and constructed in such a manner as td provide handicapped accessibility. The two laws are applicable to "buildings consisting of four (4) or more units if such buildings have one (1) or more elevators; and ground floor units in other buildings consisting of four (4) or more units", whether publicly or privately financed. The acts provide that unlawful discrimination include a failure to design and construct multi -family dwellings as described above. The laws require the following features in these multi -family dwellings: 1. Public and common use portions of the dwellings must be accessible to and usable by handicapped persons. ,2. Doors for passage into and within dwellings must be sufficiently wide to allow passage for wheelchairs. 3. There must be an accessible route into and through the dwellings. 4. There must be light switches, electrical outlets, and other environmental controls in accessible locations. Partially funded by United Way and Larimer County Human Development Department 5. There must be reinforcement in bathroom walls to allow for installation of grab bars if needed at a later date. 6. Kitchens and bathrooms must be designed so that an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver about the space. The specific language of the Federal law may be found in 42 USC 3604 and of the State law, in CRS 24-34-502.2 (1) (c). The Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) has also issued interpretive guidelines published in the Federal Register of March 6, 1991. Questions may arise concerning which requirements must be followed Federal, State, or local. The Federal act's accessibility requirements do not supplant or replace State or local laws that impose higher accessibility standards. The governing principle to follow when Federal, State, or local codes differ is that the most stringent requirement applies. Changes for handicapped accessibility mandated by the Federal act may increase the cost of a development. The guidelines clarify who incurs the cost of making units accessible: All costs associated with incorporating the new design and construction requirements of the act are borne by the builder. Compliance with the acts will increase accessible housing options for disabled citizens in out community. Of course, compliance with the guidelines may also result in an increase in the cost of renting or purchasing homes and such costs could negatively affect families' ability to obtain housing. However, according to Federal regulations, the benefits provided to families by accessible housing outweigh the possible increased costs and this is endorsed by both HUD and DRS. If there is reasonable cause to believe that a discriminatory housing practice under the laws has occurred, or is about to occur, DRS or any person considered to be an aggrieved party may file a complaint through HUD. If a complaint is filed, the first recourse for resolution is conciliation between the parties involved. if unresolved, ultimately a court could order fines, construction could be stopped, retrofitting could be demanded, or any other remedy the court found appropriate could be implemented. Additionally, there is no limit to the amount of compensatory and punitive damages that a court could award an injured party. Due to the stiff penalties, DRS wishes to inform the building construction industry of these consequences in advance to ensure compliance at the beginning of construction projects. It is, anyway, more cost- efficient when accessibility features are incorporated in the initial design phase rather than later in the process. Disabled Resource Services appreciates your time and attention to the information presented. Your support of and compliance with these laws builds a better housing market for all members of our society. Thank you for your contribution to it, too. i City of Fort Collins May* - PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, the United States has made great strides during the last decade in improving the lives of forty-three million American citizens with physical and mental disabilities; and WHEREAS, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed by President Bush on July 26, 1990, guaranteeing equal access to employment, transportation, and other rights to disabled Americans; and WHEREAS, this Act guarantees the rights of a tremendous pool of workers who will bring to the job diversity, loyalty, and proven low turnover rate; and WHEREAS, the Fort Collins Commission on Disability serves to advise City Council on issues affecting the lives of people with disabilities; and WHEREAS, the City Council will honor those citizens who have made contributions to the community in the area of employment, increasing quality of life and awareness of persons with disabilities with an award this evening. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Susan Kirkpatrick, Mayor of the City of Fort Collins, do hereby proclaim the month of October, 1991 as DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH in the City of Fort Collins. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the City of Fort Collins this 1st day of October, A.D. 1991. Mayor U EST- City Clerk 300 LaPorte Avenue • P.O. Box 380 • Fort Collins, CO 80322-0380 • (303) 22I-63o3