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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-DAC-2009-10-07DISABILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 12:15 p.m. October 7, 2009 PRESENT: DAC Chair — Roberts DAC Vice Chair - Gizewski DAC Members: David McElrath George Eberhardt Erin Sember Otis Jackson Jason Anderson Andrew Rappaport EXCUSED: Wendy Skinner OTHERS PRESENT: Information Management Specialist — Myers Director of Information Technology — Twardokus Traffic Engineer — Logue Waterfront Trail Organizer - Rick Manning APPROVAL OF MINUTES: By DAC Member Jackson: Seconded by DAC Member Sember RESOLVED, That the minutes of the September 2, 2009 Disability Advisory Council meeting be approved with noted corrections. Carried Unanimously ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: DAC Member Eberhardt requested the addition of a discussion concerning a recent decision from New York State Department of Transportation /TCAT to not allow passengers to place packages in racks on the TCAT buses. No DAC Member objected. NEW BUSINESS: Presentation /Overview by Director of Information Technology Duane Twardokus of the Information Technology Department on current technology and planned technologv to meet the needs of the disabled Director of Information Technology Twardokus thanked the Council for the opportunity to meet with them and provide information on the IT Department. He stated that the Information Technology Department (IT) is looking to the Disability Advisory Council for input on how to make the City of Ithaca website more accessible for people with disabilities. He explained that the IT Department provides technology support for the entire workforce of the City of Ithaca which is approximately 500 users in 17 different facilities located throughout the City. The IT Dept. operates on a 24 hour /7 days a week /365 days a year schedule. The City uses Microsoft Office software as well as GroupWise scheduling software, and provides internet service support for the entire workforce. The IT Department is comprised of three technical staff members and one support staff member. The IT Department provides support for the City's entire phone system, including all cell phones; for projectors in different meeting rooms, and cameras in the City Hall building. He explained that cameras are currently located at the side door entrance to City Hall and in all the stairwells. This allows the City to know exactly who enters and exits the building at anytime. He stated that the IT Dept. provides accessibility services on a case -by -case basis after meeting individually with staff. Some of the tools that have been provided are larger monitors, adaptive technology, and voice recognition software. He explained that the cost of these services is covered by the IT Dept. budget, as much as possible. Chair Roberts stated that the Disability Advisory Council wants to make sure that people with disabilities in the community can easily interact with the City for services they may need. October 7, 2009 Director of Information Technology Twardokus responded that the IT Dept. is working with the workforce to develop a new city website, which hopefully will be up and running by February 2010. The IT Dept. has contacted the Federal government to determine what their guidelines are relating to accessibility requirements for websites as well. He stated that with the development of the new website people will be able to use e- government services to make on -line payments for taxes, water bills, and parking tickets, apply for subscription services depending on areas of interest, on -line application forms, minutes, agendas, information about City initiatives, and a program that people could use to report problems with sidewalks, potholes, etc. that they could then track the response progress. He further stated that they would be interested in having members of the Disability Advisory Council "try -out" the new software and provide feedback to the IT Dept. if they were interested. He explained that they also hope to provide video streaming of Common Council and Standing Committee meetings and then in the future perhaps all of the city meetings, including boards and committees. He noted that they have looked into the possibility of providing close- captioned services, but at this point the cost of that service is very prohibitive. He stated that the IT Dept. will also try to work in the future on the accessibility map that the DAC has been working on in conjunction with other departments. Discussion followed on the floor regarding suggestions and comments various DAC members had to improve accessibility of the City and its services to a diverse community with many different needs. DAC Member Sember will check with another co- worker in her office at Cornell (Employment and Disability Institute) regarding what the university does to provide online services to meet the needs of the disabled in the community as well. She will e- mail IT Director Twardokus with that information to help assist the IT Dept. in its efforts. DAC Member Rappaport asked when Wi Fi connections for "guests" at City Hall would be available. IT Director Twardokus responded that currently the IT Dept. is working to get city staff set up for that service. He stated that once that has been completed they would work to meet the public's need and would advertise the availability of that service to the public. Further discussion followed on the floor regarding suggestions on how to make meeting rooms at City Hall more accessible and what services the DAC members would like to see offered. A few suggestions included the installation of a flat screen televisionin the lobby of City Hall that would advertise to visitors the services offered by the City, and the need for some sort of "call button" in the bathrooms, especially the handicap stalls in case of en emergency. IT Director Twardokus responded that budget constraints do not allow for the television at this point in the lobby; and that he would pass the request for a "call button" onto the City's safety committee to follow up on. He left his business card with Chair Roberts to get in touch with him for any additional questions, suggestions, etc. that the DAC might have. He further stated that once the new website is ready he would present it to the DAC for their input. Chair Roberts and the DAC thanked IT Director Twardokus for the useful information and his time to meet with them. Handicap Parking Policy — Update: Traffic Engineer Logue updated the DAC on the changes that had been made, as a result of discussion at the last DAC meeting, to the policy. He stated that the following section of the policy had been revised regarding how someone would prove their disability, the policy for on- street requests for handicap parking, the appeal process, and requirements for obtaining signage on the street for handicap parking in residential neighborhoods. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the need to make it clear that once a sign has been installed on the street that it does not mean that space is specifically reserved for the applicant, that anyone with a legitimate hang tag for handicap parking could use that space, on odd /even parking requirements, the recognition that Cornell and Ithaca College have their own handicap permit system, and whether they should be October 7, 2009 recognized or accepted as proof of someone's disability, the application process, and the appeal process. Further discussion followed on the need for all residents to be aware of all the various parking requirements in the city and whether or not the DAC was comfortable sending on the draft policy to the Board of Public Works for review and final approval. Chair Roberts stated that he felt that the issue of odd /even parking should be addressed in a separate policy and offered to work with Traffic Engineer Logue on developing the revised application form. The DAC supported the policy being forwarded to the Board of Public Works for final review and adoption. Update on the Waterfront Trail, Stewart Park and Other Trail Issues: Rick Manning distributed the latest trail guide and waterfront trail newsletter to DAC members. He stated that Chair Roberts invited him to the meeting to update the DAC on resources that are available in the community for people with disabilities. He stated that the waterfront trail is pretty flat and that future trails would be constructed with accessibility needs in mind. He explained what work had been completed so far on the waterfront trail and what the next phase would involve. Phase III of the trail will connect the Ithaca Farmers' Market to Stewart Park and the Visitor's Center. He noted that Stewart Park has challenging buildings to maintain and that the community is very interested in making repairs and improvements, including accessibility needs, to them. Discussion followed on the floor regarding DAC members' experience with current trails, suggestions and ideas for plans for future work on the trails. Further discussion followed on the floor regarding the need for trail markers for use in emergencies to help emergency responders locate the person in need. It was suggested that someone from the DAC attend the next and future client committee meetings to provide input. Reports: DAC Member Eberhardt brought to the attention of the DAC new rules that are being implemented by TCAT and the Department of Transportation on buses that will not allow passengers to use the package racks on them. He stated that would cause great difficulties to users of the buses and wanted the DAC to know about that and perhaps be able to propose a change to that rule. Chair Roberts stated that the next accessible transportation committee meeting is October 13th and that he would attend and invited others to attend in order to bring this concern to their attention. DAC Member McElrath reported that there is a proposal to construct a six story building where the Women's Community Building is located and wanted to make sure that any new building does not have the same sidewalk plan as the Hilton Garden Inn. DAC Roberts responded that would be considered in the site plan review and approval of the proposed project. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m. Sarah L. Myers Larry Roberts Information Management Specialist Chair, DAC