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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-DAC-2012-03-07DISABILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 12:15 p.m. March 7, 2012 PRESENT: DAC Chair — Roberts DAC Vice Chair - Gizewski DAC Members: David McElrath Erin Sember -Chase Andrew Rappaport Alderperson Rooker Jocelyn Scriber Jaime Freilich Information Management Specialist — Myers Danielle Conte, Tompkins County Office for the Aging Civil Engineer —Yost Transportation Engineer — Logue Acting Streets Supervisor - Murphy EXCUSED: Jason Anderson George Eberhardt Allen Walters APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of the December 7, 2011 and February 1, 2012 Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes — Resolution By DAC Member McElrath; Seconded by DAC Member Sember -Chase RESOLVED, That the minutes of the December 7, 2011 and February 1, 2012 Disability Advisory Council be approved as published. Carried Unanimously Discussion about 'Complete Streets' Danielle Conte, Tompkins County Office for the Aging, Civil Engineer — Yost, Transportation Engineer — Logue, and Acting Streets Supervisor — Murphy provided information to the DAC on the new complete streets law. The new law went into effect on February 11, 2012 and the text from the law is as follows: * & 331. Consideration of complete street design. (a) For all state, county and local transportation projects that are undertaken by the department or receive both federal and state funding and are subject to department of transportation oversight, the department or agency with jurisdiction over such projects shall consider the convenient access and mobility on the road network by all users of all ages, including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation users through the use of complete street design features in the planning, design, construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation, but not including resurfacing, maintenance, or pavement recycling of such projects. (b) Complete street design features are roadway design features that accommodate and facilitate convenient access and mobility by all users, including current and projected users, particularly pedestrians, bicyclists and individuals of all ages and abilities. These features may include, but need not be limited to: sidewalks, paved shoulders suitable for use by bicyclists, lane striping, bicycle lanes, share the road signage, crosswalks, road diets, pedestrian control signalization, bus pull outs, curb cuts, raised crosswalks and ramps and traffic calming measures; and recognize that the needs of users of the road network vary according to a rural, urban and suburban context. (c) This section shall not apply if it has been determined and set forth in publicly available documents that one of the following exists: March 7, 2012 (i) use by bicyclists and pedestrians is prohibited by law, such as within interstate highway corridors; or (ii) the cost would be disproportionate to the need as determined by factors including, but not limited to, the following: land use context; current and projected traffic volumes; and population density; or (iii) demonstrated lack of need as determined by factors, including, but not limited to, land use, current and projected traffic volumes, including population density, or demonstrates lack of community support; or (iv) use of the design features would have an adverse impact on, or be contrary to, public safety. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the department or agency with jurisdiction over a project to expend monies in accordance with subdivision (a) of this section that exceed the amount of state and federal funding for complete street design features. Transportation Engineer Logue distributed copies of the law to DAC members and stated that this requirement applies to all types of users of the streets, and the accommodations that need to be made for them. DAC Member Rappaport asked whether there were any minimum requirements to the law. Transportation Engineer Logue responded that municipalities can choose only what they want to do, for example, just a sign that says "Share the Road ". The law also does not apply to projects where the roads are just being repaved or having general maintenance done on them. He further noted that the law does not indicate when a cost is too much for a municipality to provide and the policy itself is very broad. Civil Engineer Yost stated that since the 1980's the City's Engineering Department has taken this approach (recommendations in the complete streets law) in making improvements to its streets. She stated that the City could always use input as to ways to prioritize and approach this work in the future. Acting Streets Supervisor Murphy stated that crews from Streets and Facilities try to follow these recommendations as well in any project they undertake. Chair Roberts asked if it would be helpful to staff to have a more confirmed policy to follow regarding what the city would do, at a minimum, to comply with the law, and that confirms this is the approach that the City will take for all street projects. Transportation Engineer Logue responded that he would not recommend going through the effort of writing a policy that would need review and approval of staff, BPW, Planning Department, and Common Council if the City already takes this approach with all of its street projects. He thinks it would be a good idea to include a complete streets policy with the revised Comprehensive Plan for the City of Ithaca. DAC Member Rappaport asked whether the City should start documenting what it has already done with various projects to demonstrate its commitment to this policy or documentation as to why some aspects could not be incorporated into the project — i.e. due to cost or time, etc. Chair Roberts asked whether the DAC should be involved going forward to review, and provide input into these projects i.e. on traffic signal upgrades at various intersections. Tompkins County Office for the Aging representative Conte stated that the County has not done a follow -up study since it completed its "Complete Streets Survey ". She provided the attached information from their study which was conducted in 2010. 61 March 7, 2012 Transportation Engineer Logue stated that he is not sure what happens now; other than it is important for the City to continue to comply with the law going forward with all of its projects. Chair Roberts stated that he would bring up the topic of "Complete Streets" up at the next Comprehensive Planning Committee meeting. He requested that staff review the intersections of Wood Street /Route 13 and Third Street /Route 13 to see if noted deficiencies have been corrected. DAC Member Rappaport questioned how many linear feet of sidewalk are planned to be replaced during the upcoming construction season versus the list of sidewalks that need replacement. Civil Engineer Yost responded that 70 sidewalks were replaced in 2011 and that there are 679 on the list. Chair Roberts thanked staff for the information and their time in coming to the meeting today. Presentation by Tomo Shibato of Problems She's Encountered in Ithaca: Ms. Shibato stated that law enforcement personnel are not aware of how people with disabilities are dealing with hate crimes due to perceived disabilities be they physical, mental or emotional in nature. She also feels that these people are also being put under surveillance by law enforcement without their knowledge. She has not received much support from the Ithaca Police Department when she has brought theses concerns to their attention. Chair Roberts responded that one area that the DAC has not explored is people with mental or perceived mental illness and their interaction with police. He is not sure how the DAC should or could respond. He thinks that it would be good for a representative from the Ithaca Police Department to attend a DAC meeting to get a sense of what their experience has been in dealing with this issue and get a sense of what their capacity is to respond to these incidents; as well as how they are perceived by law enforcement personnel. Vice Chair Gizewski requested that Ms. Shibato put her concerns into writing for the DAC members to help them understand her concerns and issues that she would like the DAC's assistance with. Chair Roberts stated that he would invite a representative from the Ithaca Police Department to a future DAC meeting to discuss how the department responds to and interacts with people who have mental health issues. Common Council Liaison Rooker stated that it would be helpful for Ms. Shibato to provide specific documentation with bulleted items of concerns in her written explanation to the DAC of the problems she's encountered or would like addressed. He suggested that perhaps the Community Police Board might be another resource to provide assistance in this area. DAC Member Sember -Chase concurred with CC Liaison Rooker's suggestion that it would be helpful for Ms. Shibato to write down specific incidents she has encountered to use as a reason for the DAC to meet with representatives from IPD. A list of the facts with no names would be very helpful as well in an effort for the DAC to provide assistance. Chair Roberts stated that he would invite IPD Chief Vallely to a future DAC meeting. He stated that it might be helpful if DAC members had other topics for the police department to bring those to his attention so that they can be included as topics in addition to Ms. Shibato's concerns for that agenda. DAC Member Freilich left the meeting at 1:10 p.m. Q March 7, 2012 Discussion with Frost Travis, Owner of Center Ithaca, About Access Issues at Center Ithaca, Particularly Entry Doors Mr. Travis joined the DAC for this discussion of this topic. He stated that he and several others tried to navigate Center Ithaca in wheelchairs recently, and it really brought home to him the importance of responding to concerns for access to Center Ithaca. He stated that he obtained information and pricing for handicap door buttons for the front and rear doors of Center Ithaca, and it will be around $8,600 to replace them. He further stated that due to vacancies at Center Ithaca their capital improvement funds have been depleted somewhat, making it difficult to replace everything at once. He noted that the Center Ithaca building is the only building with public restrooms on the Commons and that it is a big, but very inefficiently set up building. He asked for any input or information that DAC members might have about grant funding that he could look into to assist him in efforts to make the necessary changes to improve accessibility to Center Ithaca. He is also concerned about ongoing maintenance costs for any accessibility improvements that are made. He noted that the leasing of commercial space in Center Ithaca is expanding, which will help them financially as well. Vice Chair Gizewski noted that it might be good to see if the Downtown Ithaca Alliance or downtown merchants might be willing to contribute to the work that is needed at Center Ithaca. He also recommended that Mr. Travis contact John Ives, architectural barrier design consultant at Finger Lakes Independence Center for advice on improving accessibility at Center Ithaca, possible funding sources, and vendors. He also noted that there might be funding available from the State and County agencies that lease space in Center Ithaca and have offices there that the public need complete access to. Chair Roberts stated the Commons Re- Design Committee is discussing ways to improve access to stores on The Commons. He encouraged Mr. Travis to speak with Director of Planning and Development Cornish regarding design solutions and costs as there might be funding available through community development block grants offered through the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency. DAC Member Sember -Chase questioned whether or not this might be considered a small business because if it is there might be tax exemptions available. She and Mr. Travis exchanged business cards. Mr. Travis stated that he wants to do any renovation the right way and therefore the cost may be required in some instances. He hopes by the end of the year to at least have some of the necessary work done. He noted that a phased approach to the work is a good idea as well. DAC Member Rappaport suggested the benefits of doing at least one main door entrance if both can't be done due to costs. Discussion followed on the floor regarding which door should be replaced first, and all agreed that they would prefer to see the Green Street door replaced first (or, the rear door to Center Ithaca). Further discussion followed on the floor to see if funding might be found through New York State Department of Labor or the FBI who have offices in Center Ithaca, as well as incorporating costs into the rent. Updates and David McElrath has an issue he'd like to discuss DAC Member McElrath will meet with Transportation Engineer Logue to discuss the traffic lights at the Wood Street /Route 13 intersection. Cl March 7, 2012 NEW BUSINESS: A brief discussion followed on the floor regarding work being done on public service announcements. Vice Chair Gizewski met with City Clerk Holcomb regarding them, and she was going to try to prepare some that he would then read as the psa. He noted that City Clerk Holcomb thought it would be useful to have a list of topics that the DAC members would like to have done as public service announcements. Some suggestions at the meeting were: handicap parking meter waiver, snow removal requirements, and service animals. Chair Roberts asked DAC members to e -mail him other thoughts and suggestions. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. Sarah L. Myers Larry Roberts Information Management Specialist Chair, DAC '61