HomeMy WebLinkAboutResponse To Constituent Letter - Mail Packet - 9/29/2020 - Letter From Mayor Wade Troxell To Commission On Disability Re: Temporary Dining And Accessibility
Mayor
City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2154
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
September 22, 2020
Commission on Disability
C/O Terry Schlicting, Chairperson
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Dear Commissioners,
Thank you for your September 18, 2020 letter regarding the temporary dining areas set up in
public right of way to accommodate social distancing and comply with recent COVID-19
requirements.
Thank you for pointing out that businesses are often struggling to find ways to remain open, yet
the impacts of their seating arrangements have created difficulties for patrons with disabilities to
navigate. You make good points that ramps to temporary dining areas, maintaining navigable
sidewalks and setting up lower tables for those with mobility impairments is essential to allow all
members of our community to support local businesses.
I will share this letter with our Economic Health Office so they may remind businesses of these
important considerations.
Thank you for writing and for your continued support of our local businesses.
Sincerely,
Wade Troxell
Mayor
/sek
Cc: City Councilmembers
Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Josh Birks, Director of Economic Sustainability
Shannon Hein, Economic Health Manager
September 18, 2020
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
The Fort Collins Commission on Disability would like to recognize the ongoing efforts
that local businesses have made in order to keep the health and safety of their customers a top
priority during this unprecedented time. We also want to acknowledge that COVID-19 has
caused numerous negative implications in how businesses conduct their daily operations.
Community members with disabilities recognize that supporting local and small businesses in
Fort Collins is essential to the growth and prosperity of our local economy.
It is for these reasons that we would like to respectfully remind businesses that as they
implement temporary accommodations for patrons, to please keep in mind the importance of
inclusivity and access for individuals with disabilities. This includes providing ramps to
temporary dining areas, maintaining navigable sidewalks and having lower tables for those with
mobility impairments.
We want to reiterate that the Commission on Disability recognizes the difficult
challenges that businesses have encountered in recent months and we respectfully ask that
you, as City leaders, support us in reminding businesses to maintain accessible spaces so that
Fort Collins residents with disabilities can continue to support these businesses and allow Fort
Collins to continue to be the thriving and vibrant city we have become known for.
Sincerely,
Terry Schlicting, COD Chairperson
On Behalf of the Commission on Disability