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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-DAC-2008-09-03DISABILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 12:15 p.m. September 3, 2008 PRESENT: DAC Chair — Roberts DAC Vice Chair - Gizewski DAC Members: David McElrath Charlie Dorsey Otis Jackson OTHERS PRESENT: Information Management Specialist — Myers Director of Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County. — Swayze Jason Anderson Arlene Patterson EXCUSED: DAC members Eberhardt, Sember APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of the August 6, 2008 Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes - Resolution By DAC Member Jackson: Seconded by DAC Member Gizewski RESOLVED, That the minutes of the August 6, 2008 Disability Advisory Council Meeting be approved with noted corrections. Carried Unanimously Chair Roberts distributed to members a letter from the Department of Justice that noted deficiencies in accessibility in City of Ithaca buildings including the parking garages and Stewart Park to name a couple for their information. Chair Roberts noted that the Access America grant application is on hold for now. He stated that he is trying to build support and knowledge within city staff and leadership about the grant opportunity. His presentation of this item to the city's Senior Staff has been post -poned until September 23, 2008. Chair Roberts stated that he would be meeting with Marcia Lynch, Public Information Officer for Tompkins County to set up another meeting regarding the handicap parking educational campaign to talk about possible educational pubic service announcements that could be made. He noted that he has not heard back from City Chamberlain Parsons about the possibility of increasing fines for handicap parking violations, and hopes to have the City Prosecutor attend a meeting in the near future to discuss appeals and fines for violations. September 3, 2008 Chair Roberts reported that he had talked recently with Nicole Tedesco from TCAT regarding TCAT's ten -year plan. He explained that TCAT has hired a consultant to work with them on drafting their plan of operations for the next ten years and that he would be inviting the consultant to the October meeting of the DAC. He further stated that he would like to encourage and invite disabled members of the community to this meeting to hear the recommendations and provide input as to what TCAT should be doing in the next ten years. Chair Roberts further explained that TCAT pars- transit services is required to have an advisory committee and that committee has been dormant for many years. He stated that Sherry Thurston, Peer Counselor at Finger Lakes Independence Center (FLIC), is advocating for the re- establishment of this committee. There will be a meeting to discuss this committee and provide information about it on Friday, September 5, 2008 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tompkins County Library in the Borg Warner room and he encouraged members of the DAC to attend this meeting. NEW BUSINESS: Chair Roberts asked if members had completed the Downtown Ithaca survey that he had e- mailed to them. This survey will help the Downtown Ithaca Alliance determine future plans for downtown Ithaca. He stated that FLIC would set up a forum with the Downtown Ithaca Alliance to talk about what downtown Ithaca should look like in the next ten years. He stated that it is important for people with disabilities and advocates be involved in planning the future of downtown Ithaca. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the survey and the best way for members of the DAC and members of the community to complete the survey. DAC Member Dorsey suggested that the new Tompkins County Administrator be contacted to talk about the handicap parking ticket process. Chair Roberts stated that he would try to arrange a meeting. He further stated that he would work to set up another meeting of the handicap parking committee with Marcia Lynch. Chair Roberts stated that Alderperson Korherr, CC Liaison to the DAC, has requested that if the DAC has projects that it would like to undertake next year to let her know as soon as possible as the budget for next year is being discussed right now. Discussion followed on the floor regarding current projects, future projects and how the DAC can provide input regarding accessibility concerns to appropriate departments and staff, and encourage support for staffing of the city's various boards and committees in order to have minutes taken for the record. Chair Roberts introduced special guests, Jason Anderson and Arlene Patterson, to the DAC. He explained that Jason had written a letter to Rick Manning regarding consideration to accessibility issues at Stewart Park that should be included in the further development of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. September 3, 2008 Mr. Anderson explained his experiences at Stewart Park recently that include problems with poor signage, speeding, inadequate handicap parking, inadequate paths for wheelchairs, and inadequate parking spaces. Mr. Anderson and Ms. Patterson explained their recent experiences at the park and the difficulty accessing the park. Discussion followed on the floor regarding possible solutions to problems at the park including, more and clearer signage, some sort of traffic calming to reduce speeding both in the park and on the roads coming into the park, different textures for those that are visually impaired, the need for a path from the Youth Bureau to Stewart Park, ways to do "green" paths that won't sink when the ground is wet, installing boxes that show people's speed, and possible special coverage of the park and areas near the park by the Ithaca Police Department. DAC Member Jackson volunteered to contact the Ithaca Police Department to let them know some of the concerns raised here by the DAC to see if a special patrol could be established at the park to help alleviate some of the problems that are encountered. Chair Roberts stated that it would be good if the DAC could establish some sort of commitment from the City by next Spring or Summer to install speed bumps, additional signage and so forth as the Council works with city staff to address the concerns that have been raised. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the benefits these improvements would have on the city and Stewart Park by making it more user friendly for everyone, increased tourism, and that possibly some of these improvements could be included in the Access America Grant Application as it would show the City's commitment to providing access for everyone to its facilities and parks. Discussion followed on the floor regarding complaints received about the signals at Route 13 and how quick they change, what signals are being replaced along that route by the State and how none of the signals have audible crosswalks. Further discussion followed on the status of the development in the southwest area. Chair Roberts distributed information about upcoming events at Finger Lakes Independence Center. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. Sarah L. Myers Larry Roberts Information Management Specialist Chair, DAC