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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-DAC-2012-11-07DISABILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 12:15 p.m. PRESENT: DAC Chair — Roberts DAC Members: David McElrath Erin Sember -Chase Andrew Rappaport Jocelyn Scriber Information Management Specialist — Myers Lisa Lunas, Tompkins County Office for the Aging Acting Police Chief — Barber EXCUSED: DAC Vice Chair - Gizewski Alderperson Smith Jason Anderson Jaime Freilich INTRODUCTIONS: DAC Members introduced themselves to Acting Chief Barber November 7, 2012 Ms. Lunas, from Tompkins County Office for the Aging ( TCOFA), explained that Ms. Holmes, Director of TCOFA, would do a presentation on Friday, November 9, 2012 from 12 pm to 1 pm at Longview on the results of a recent survey conducted by their office entitled "2012 Needs Assessment of Tompkins County Residents ". She further explained that The Tompkins County Office for the Aging ( TCOFA) makes ongoing efforts to assess the needs of County residents age 60 and older, as mandated under the Older Americans Act. Furthermore, TCOFA attempts to determine the extent to which those needs are being met, and to the extent possible and appropriate, to develop systems and resources to meet unmet needs. She stated that the summary could be found on the agency's website at the following link: httD: / /www.tOMDkins- co.ora /cofa /documents /2012 Assessment Final 9- 24 -12. Chair Roberts asked Ms. Lunas if she would be willing to provide an overview of the assessment at a future DAC meeting. She indicated that she would be happy to. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of the October 3, 2012 Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes — Resolution By DAC Member Sember- Chase: Seconded by DAC Member McElrath RESOLVED, That the minutes of the October 3, 2012 Disability Advisory Council meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously PRESENTATION /DISCUSSION WITH ITHACA POLICE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE Acting Chief Barber provided the following overview of the Ithaca Police Department and what it does: The City of Ithaca Police Department is responsible for public safety of the entire city. November 7, 2012 • The Department, in the past, has employed 78 police officers. Currently, that level is at 64 with 59 police officers actually working. There are 4 officers who are out with injuries, and 1 officer who is suspended. They are understaffed. There are 3 platoons (one works 7 am to 3 pm; one works 3 pm to 11 pm, and the third works 11 pm to 7 am) that provide public safety coverage for the City 24/7. There are 12 officers assigned to each platoon, along with 2 Sergeants, and 1 Lieutenant. There are 8 officers in the Investigation Unit that do a great job in solving crime in the City. There is 1 officer in the Traffic Division. The Warrant Division and Fleet Manager Division are not staffed at this time. The City of Ithaca was recently recognized as being the safest City in Cities of less than 100,000 people. The officers of the department work to promote peace in the community. Chair Roberts thanked Acting Chief Barber for the explanation of what the Ithaca Police Department does, and opened the floor up for a time of questions and answers. Question: how many calls do the officers of the department respond to each year? Answer: last year the department responded to 21,000 calls for service (this number does not include interactions between police officers and the public on the street). Question: What is the Ithaca Police Department's experience in interacting with people with disabilities? Answer: The officers of the Ithaca Police Department do an excellent job interacting with them, and at times are really social workers that provide for responses 24/7. The officers have a lot of interaction with people who are mentally ill or under the influence of different chemicals. It takes a great deal of tact on the part of the officers to respond to the individual needs. It is hoped that all this interaction is done with a caring and compassionate approach; the department has not received any complaints to indicate otherwise. Question: Have there been any times after an interaction where an officer expressed feelings that they could have handled the situation differently? Answer: No. Acting Chief Barber stated that he had an experience with someone who used sign language. He noted that the City of Ithaca is very fortunate to have a lot of resources in the community to assist the department in these situations. Question: Could the Disability Advisory Council provide any input or provide resource information that might help the department? Answer: Yes, that would be good. Question: Does the Ithaca Police Department have a contract with an interpreter service? Answer: No. Chair Roberts suggested that the Police Department check with other departments to see how they handle similar situations. He stated that the Finger Lakes Independence Center stresses the importance of the use of interpreters in certain situations especially where there is concern about abuse and neglect. 61 November 7, 2012 Question: How does the Ithaca Police Department keep up with ADA requirements? People with disabilities are protected by the ADA and are not subject to the requirements of the local jurisdiction in some situations. An example was given of someone using a segway on the Commons for mobility and being stopped by an IPD Officer. There are a number of mobility devices that are available, and officers will need to be aware of them and to know what questions can be asked of those persons using the devices. Answer: The Ithaca Police Department can always do better and use continuing education, especially now that it has been brought to his attention. He will put it on the agenda for an upcoming staff meeting. Currently, the Ithaca Police Department building is not handicap accessible. It was noted that the ADA is really specific in what questions can be asked of people with disabilities, and that there are some really good websites that can provide up -to- date information on the latest changes in ADA requirements and so forth (such as www.ada.gov ) It was suggested that the DAC could work to put together some resources for the Ithaca Police Department to use as a reference for certain situations. Acting Chief Barber provided his e -mail to DAC members: "barber cityofithaca.org Question: What is the relationship between the Ithaca Police Department and the Tompkins County Mental Health Department as far as crisis situations? Currently, there are many young people with autism (1 in 75 people are diagnosed with autism), which is different from developmental disabilities, or psychological disabilities. In general, people with disabilities are more likely to be victims of crime (especially by their care givers). Answer: The Tompkins County Mental Health Department is currently part of the critical incident command (SWAT) of the Ithaca Police Department, and the relationship between the two departments is very good, especially with the follow -up needed after certain incidents. Personally, he has not had a lot of experience in these types of situations. He hopes that he, as well as other police officers, responds in a compassionate way, with the ability to encourage the parties involved in the incident to go to the hospital, if needed. He also realizes that in these circumstances it is very important that the officers take the time needed to listen, understand, and try to gain some control of the situation. DAC Member Scriber stated that the Director of the Franciscka Racker Center (where she works) has met with fire department personnel in different municipalities on how to deal in an emergency situation with people with disabilities, particularly autism. She suggested that the Ithaca Police Department might be able to set up a similar meeting. Chair Roberts noted that strategies as well as basic information on what autism is might be helpful to the Ithaca Police Department as well to help officers get a sense or understanding of how to relate to people with autism. Acting Chief Barber stated that officers are trained at the police academy on how to deal with mental health issues, and IPD has trainers on mental health issues. He noted that most calls to the department for involuntary transport to the hospital can be turned into voluntary transport by spending some time with the person and that is done fairly regularly by all Ithaca Police officers. Question: What about evaluation of potential mental health situations? Answer: Officers normally talk to the person who makes the call, they check on any history information on the person that might be available, etc. He noted that individual situations are handled on an individual basis. Officers are able to determine if treatment is needed, and when it is not the best answer. V November 7, 2012 Question: How do IPD officers respond to calls on people with whom they act on a regular basis (and to which some other members of the public would refer to the person as crazy), does it affect how they respond to the situation, especially over time. Answer: IPD Officers try very hard to build a certain rapport with those individuals, they try to build bridges with all of them. Question: What is the correct telephone number to use in a situation where it is not an emergency? Answer: IPD Non - Emergency # is 607 - 272 -3245; Tompkins County Sheriff's Office Non - Emergency # is 607 - 272 -2444. Question: Is there a long term plan for making the Ithaca Police Department building handicap accessible? Answer: No, not that he is aware of. The DAC expressed their thanks and appreciation to Acting Chief Barber for his time and the good discussion back and forth on certain areas of concern. Acting Chief Barber expressed his thanks for the invitation to the meeting. DAC Member Rappaport requested that, if possible, that Acting Chief Barber let the DAC know whether anything that was discussed today made a difference to IPD officers interactions in the future with people with disabilities — either by e -mail or through Chair Roberts. DAC Members Scriber and Sember -Chase offered to provide training to IPD officers as well. NEW BUSINESS: Chair Roberts that the Finger Lakes Independence Center is working with Tompkins County on an emergency preparedness training for people with disabilities. He noted that there are different categories for special needs that the public needs to be aware of as emergency planning is done. This is a topic that needs to be developed and training provided. He will update the DAC as information becomes available. PROJECT UPDATES: Chair Roberts reported on the following items: 1. The Superintendent of Public Works, William Gray, is retiring. He will speak with the Mayor about including a member from the DAC on the interview process. 2. The Chief of the Ithaca Police Department retired at the end of October. DAC Member Sember -Chase reported that she is waiting to hear back from the City of Ithaca Human Resources Department on the possibility of a DAC member sitting in on the interview process. 3. There is now a new wheelchair accessibility taxi service. It should be operating soon, there has been some difficulty in training and obtaining drivers. They're hoping to have everything in place by Thanksgiving. 4. Not much new information on the Commons Redesign Project or the City's Comprehensive Plan. 5. No new information from Vice Chair Gizewski on public service announcements. 6. There has been no response from Vicki Taylor, from the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, regarding the accessibility map. CI November 7, 2012 7. The Board of Public Works will be discussing a new sidewalk policy proposal and Chair Roberts will plan to attend those meetings, and provide updates to the DAC. 8. The current policy for creating on- street handicap parking is being revised so that it can be handled completely administratively by staff. 9. Proposed changes to membership requirements for the DAC is going before Common Council for approval at tonight's meeting. 10. A call has been placed to the Mayor regarding the need to assign a staff liaison to the DAC. 11. DAC Member Sember -Chase stated that she e- mailed a list of possible marketing ideas for the DAC for their review and input. This item will be placed on the agenda for the December DAC meeting for further discussion. Chair Roberts will re- send the list to everyone so they can review it before the next meeting. 12. It is important to continue to invite different department heads to the DAC meetings. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 1:27 p.m. Sarah L. Myers Larry Roberts Information Management Specialist Chair, DAC `1