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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-DAC-2011-09-07DISABILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 12:15 p.m. September 7, 2011 PRESENT: DAC Chair — Roberts DAC Vice Chair - Gizewski DAC Members: David McElrath Otis Jackson Jason Anderson Allen Walters Andrew Rappaport Alderperson Rooker Courtney Glenn Information Management Specialist — Myers EXCUSED: George Eberhardt Erin Sember Jocelyn Scriber APPROVAL OF MINUTES: By DAC Member Gizewski: Seconded by DAC Member Walters RESOLVED, That the minutes of the July 6, 2011 Disability Advisory Council meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously Chair Roberts expressed his thanks and appreciation to Vice Chair Gizewski for chairing the July 6, 2011 Disability Advisory Council meeting. Discussion with Tim Logue, Traffic Systems Engineer- Audible Signalized Cross Walks Traffic Systems Engineer, Tim Logue, joined the Council to discuss audible, signalized crosswalks, and related items. He explained that there are two types of traffic signals in the City — one is owned by the City of Ithaca, who is responsible for the maintenance /repair of such signals; and the other is owned by New York State Department of Transportation, who is responsible for the maintenance /repair of such signals. He explained the location of the State owned signals are as follows: Meadow /Fulton Streets; Green /Seneca Street; Cayuga /Green Streets. City owned traffic signals are scattered throughout the City and include Buffalo St, Court St., Collegetown, Thurston Avenue, Elmira /Spencer Rds, West State, Clinton Street. He stated that all of these signals fall within the full range of accessibility — from not being accessible at all to being fully accessible — with Thurston Avenue being the most accessible. He further stated that Cornell University helped to pay for the signal at Thurston Avenue, and that is the direction the City would like to take in the future when it upgrades signals. He explained the options that a fully accessible traffic signal can include from different sounds to countdown timers. The cost for these types of traffic signals can range between $7,000 and $10,000 per signal /per intersection. Chair Roberts asked what other cities do; or, what is the best practice to follow for upgrading traffic signals. He noted that as cars become quieter, signals need to be especially sensitive. He offered to provide Traffic Systems Engineer Logue with a contact name for the person who coordinates orientation for blind people so as to be informed as to the current practice or needs of the vision impaired. September 7, 2011 Traffic Systems Engineer Logue stated that the City should establish a policy whereby all traffic signals need to be as fully accessible as possible. DAC Member Rappaport noted that some intersections still do not have curb ramps, which should be addressed as well. He wondered how the City would prioritize both the installation of accessible traffic signals and the installation of curb ramps. Traffic Systems Engineer Logue responded that the City is actually working on a traffic signal upgrade project for signals at Cayuga St., Court St., and either end of the Commons that will be funded by Federal money as well as by City funds. He stated that the use of Federal funds requires accessible signals which include curb ramps as well. Chair Roberts stated that the Board of Public Works recently entered into a new maintenance agreement with New York State Department of Transportation regarding their maintenance of State owned streets and signals. The new agreement designates the State as the responsible party rather than the City. Traffic Systems Engineer Logue responded that this new arrangement will save a lot of work for the City's two electricians; however, response time to problems will be longer since crews will be coming from Syracuse. Traffic Systems Engineer Logue further stated that problems can still be reported to him, and he will forward them on to the State for their response. Discussion followed on the traffic signal at the intersection at Meadow /Wood Streets, and the short length of time pedestrians are given to cross the roadway. Traffic Systems Engineer Logue responded that at this intersection pedestrians have a head start before traffic begins to move. He stated that it is a tough balance to determine how much time traffic should be held up to allow pedestrians to cross a roadway. Chair Roberts stated that this is a major highway, and the City didn't really consider some of the impacts all the development in the area would have on the length of time given for pedestrians to cross the road. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the confusion some of the traffic signals cause as well. Chair Roberts asked whether it would be helpful, at some point, for the Disability Advisory Council to make a recommendation about how much technology to install when installing traffic signals and putting together a letter in response to the need to replace any signals that are not accessible. Traffic Systems Engineer Logue responded that it would be helpful to have something like that to refer to when signals are replaced, which would require that they should be upgraded so that they are fully accessible. Chair Roberts asked Traffic Systems Engineer Logue to look at other cities to see what they're doing; and Traffic Systems Engineer Logue requested feedback from DAC members about current traffic signals as to whether they are intuitive, whether the voice can be understood, etc. He said that type of feed back would be great. He provided his contact information for DAC members to use to provide feedback, questions, or concerns to him. Update on Public Service Announcements: Chair Roberts reported that Marcia Lynch is in the process of setting up a time for Vice Chair Gizewski to voice the public service announcement regarding handicap parking education. The announcements will be recorded at Cayuga Radio Group offices. He further requested that Vice Chair Gizewski and DAC Member Sember (who previously volunteered to work with Vice Chair Gizewski) to work on drafting language for future public service announcements, which will then need to be reviewed from a City representative (City Clerk Holcomb ?) before they can be recorded for use. Alderperson Rooker suggested that City Clerk Holcomb be contacted to do a press release about the upcoming public service announcements that will be heard on the local radio stations. 61 September 7, 2011 Jungle Update: Chair Roberts explained the location of the "jungle" area which is by the railroad tracks /Cayuga Inlet. He explained that it is a place for the homeless to live and he noted that some of the residents there have set up more permanent type shelters. There is a lot of tension in the community about this area (which is owned by the railroad) because of people living there with no water /sewer service, living on land they don't own, and the potential for dangerous situations to develop (a lot of the residents have mental health and /or substance abuse problems). He stated that the Ithaca Journal printed a story about the "jungle" and it stated that the City of Ithaca would be evicting the residents of the "jungle" on September 15th. That article was not accurate, the City will not be evicting any residents any time soon. He stated that there is a meeting scheduled today between the City of Ithaca, and the Homeless and Housing Task Force to discuss the issue and concerns. He will follow up on that meeting and provide additional information to DAC members at that time. He also is concerned about the residents of the "jungle" having serious mental health or substance abuse problems and being considered disabled. He wants to make sure that they receive the necessary care and attention they deserve as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Extensive discussion followed on the floor regarding this issue, what plans may or may not be in place to assist residents of the "jungle ", and how information can be shared about what assistance is needed or to address questions and concerns. Chair Roberts will try to have an update for the DAC for the October meeting. Suicide Means Restrictions Chair Roberts reported that the City of Ithaca requested Cornell University provide information as to what kind of financial assistance they could give the City in regards to maintenance of the proposed netting underneath the bridges. He stated that there were also questions regarding liability issues that needed to be addressed as well. Common Council needs to decide whether or not to install netting underneath city -owned bridges and is currently in negotiations with Cornell about the situation. Chair Roberts noted that he has been encouraging people to write to their Common Council representative to express their opinion about what the City should do with its bridges. He will keep DAC members informed as to what if anything they need to do, and noted that there is ambiguity about the studies surrounding the use of netting, but it has shown to reduce or prevent suicide. Vice Chair Gizewski reported that he attend a meeting regarding the bridge barriers, and at that meeting Susan Murphy, a representative from Cornell University, noted that attendance at Cornell University is at an almost record high as a result of the installation of bridge barriers. Parents are expressing their support for this initiative, since barriers have been an effective strategy in preventing suicide from bridges. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. Sarah L. Myers Larry Roberts Information Management Specialist Chair, DAC 0