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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes City of Ithaca Disability Advisory Council Minutes March 1994 Meeting open: 12:10 Attendees: Farruggio, Champion, Ives, Kuhn, Skintges, Stern 1) Approval of minutes 2) Brief discussion of the new "snow & ice" policy. Richard will pursue getting a copy of exactly what was agreed to, in writing. 3) Membership: Le Moyne Farrell will be leaving the DAC. Dr. Richard (Max) Maxwell will be leaving the DAC. Richard will verify the current status of membership (number of city residents, etc.) 4) Jessica briefed the DAC on her work regarding a proposal in development to create a map and pamphlet showing accessible paths, buildings and accommodations for possible use by residents and visitors with disabilities. The DAC provided feedback and comment. 5) The next County ADA Coordinator's and Resources meeting is scheduled for 3/16/94 at 9:30 AM in the 2nd floor conference room at City Hall. 6) Brenda reminded the DAC that the public hearing on accessible public transportation including the Parallel Transit Plan is scheduled for 3/3/94 at 4:30 in City Hall. 7) Brenda briefed the DAC on the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and it's work to secure federal funding. Meeting closed at 1:1OPM. A.A.S. 3/94. City of Ithaca Disability Advisory Council Minutes May 1994 Meeting open: 12:15 Attendees: Farruggio, Champion, Kuhn, Samms, Skintges, Stern 1) Approval of minutes 2) Dianpe Samry�s is officially the new liaison to Common Council. 3) Jessica will contact the Clerk's office to secure copies of the minutes of Common Council and D.P.W. meetings to allow the DAC to see the specific wording that had been agreed to in regards to the "nuisance ordinance". 4) Discussion on the Wildflower Greenway and Jessica will follow up with John Meigs and possibly draft a letter of support from DAC if appropriate. 5) Discussion of the City's ADA Self Evaluation "Outline of Corrective Actions" provided by Leslie Chatterton. DAC tabled this item and deferred comments to the June meeting due to Richard Farruggio's inability to participate fully because of the manner in which these materials were provided to DAC. 6) Discussion of the "News Media Release" forwarded to Richard Farruggio by Lynne Yost from the City Engineer's Office regarding sidewalk ramps. This release dated 4/18/94 was to have had responses back to the City Engineer's Office by 4/25/94. The DAC's first opportunity to discuss this was at the monthly May meeting. Members raised concerns about the inability of DAC to provide input and a response because of the inappropriately short time frame in light of the DAC's once monthly meeting schedule, to the Engineer's Office on this issue that is so important to the DAC. Art Stern will draft and forward a letter to the Engineer's Office voicing the DAC's concerns and disappointment in not being provided with adequate time to provide input. 7) Discussion about proposed work to install "bricks" or "pavers" at some specific crosswalks in the City. DAC was advised that there are currently installations of the proposed materials nearby that the DAC could take a good look at. Jessica will follow up to verify where these locations are and the DAC will try and coordinate a site visit to assess these materials in use. Meeting closed at 1:15 PM. A.A.S. 5/94. c►�q,.,,�.. �`� ►TEO CITY OF ITHACA 108 EAST GREEN STREET ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 DEPARTMENT OF CODE:607 PLANNING&DEVELOPMENT TELEPHONE:274-6550 H.MATTHYS VAN CORT,DIRECTOR FAX NO.:272-7348 TO: Lie Jessica Skintges FROM: H. Matthys Van Cort 41�, k` SUBJECT: Decorative Paving DATE: May 12 1994 This is written to follow-up conversations I've had with Leslie Chatterton,Brenda Kuhn and Richie Farruggio concerning the problems caused by decorative brick paving for people with disabilities. Concern has been expressed by the Disability Advisory Council that brick and similar paving materials make it more difficult for people in wheelchairs and, at tunes,for people with visibility impairments. As I have discussed with Leslie,we will be conducting a survey,in the next two months, of various paving materials in cooperation with the DAC. Our intent is to do field investigations of various paving materials in use throughout the Ithaca area with people in wheel chairs and a person with a visibility impairment who uses a cane. It is my hope that Brenda will be able to arrange transportation so that these visits can be made as a group. We will be photographing the various pavement types, gathering specifications and drawings,and then actually field testing the materials. The different surface materials that I have identified to date are as follows: • The bricks on the Commons. • The bricks at the cross roads in the Commons which is of a different type from the normal decorative brick paving on the Commons. • The bricks in the sidewalk south of the Green Street parking structure which are original State Street bricks. • The concrete pavers in Collegetown,which are not fired, and are set in sand rather that in asphalt,cement or an epoxy mix. • The brick crosswalks at Cornell on East Ave. • The decorative concrete pavement on the drive in front of the Statler Hotel. 40 Printed on Recycled Paper "An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program" These are all different materials or different applications and we should attempt to find out if some are better or worse than others. If you know of any other materials which we should be taking a look at,please let me know and we will add them to the list. /jhp cc: Brenda Kuhn C:Dec-Pave.doc a CITY OF ITHACA 108 EAST GREEN STREET ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 DEPARTMENT OF TELEPHONE:607/274-6550 PLANNING&DEVELOPMENT FAX:6071274-6558 H.MATTHYS VAN CORT,DIRECTOR 607/272"7348 To: Disability Advisory Council Commons Advisory Board Shade Tree Advisory Committee Downtown Ithaca,Inc. From: H.Matthys Van Cort,Director,Planning and Development Subject: Green and Seneca Streets resurfacing Date: April 12, 1994 The State Department of Transportation will be resurfacing Green and Seneca Streets,from Meadow Street to East State Street at the `Tuning Fork%this summer.We have received copies of the plans for this project,and feel they may be of interest to you. They are available for your inspection in our office,and arrangement may be made to borrow them. Features of the project that may be of particular interest are: • Construction of numerous sidewalk curb ramps at pedestrian street crossings • Construction of a sidewalk on the south side of Green Street, between South Tioga Street and the Tuning Fork • Removal of some sidewalk from the north and south `islands'at the Tuning Fork • Numerous new street and traffic signs • Procedure for maintaining access during the work when traffic will be channeled to one side of the street The actual schedule for the work will not be known until late May,when DoT will schedule a project meeting with City officials. -over- Printed on Recycled Paper "An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program" If you have questions or comments about this project,please don't hesitate to contact me. /mc cc: Mayor Ben Nichols Aldermen Efroymson,Sams,Schroeder Superintendent of Public Works W.Gray -L Chlnwbao Historic Plaeffudon PhMrAw C:JM/Resurfac.doc City of Ithaca Disability Advisory Council Minutes July 7, 1994 Present: T. Champion, J. Skintgess, B. Kuhn, i N 16kul 055 1. The minutes of the DAC's June meeting were approved. 2. Bricks used for City Crosswalks - Jessica reported on the survey being done on the present usage of brick for paving purposes. Tina, Brenda, Richie, Jessica and councilman John Schroeder participated. The review was basically negative. The survey will be completed on August 15, 1994. Participants will meet at the Nines in Collegetown. 3. Accessible transportation - Brenda updated DAC members on the present status of accessible transportation under the ADA guidelines. She announced the joint purchase of an accessible van by the three Paratransit Plan entities: CU Transit, Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca. 4. City Survey - The discussion of the City Survey was tabled until Leslie Chatterton could be present. 5. Accessible Materials - Jessica reiterated that all Materials need to be presented in accessible formats for those individuals with vision impairments. She has written memos to all city department heads. 6. New Business _ The DAC needs to designate a secretary. Jessica is beginning her downtown accessibility project. She is looking for more grant money. Meeting was adjourned at 1:45. Disability Advisory Council Minutes from September 1, 1994 In attendance: Tina Champain, Art Stem, Jessica Skintges Guest: John Marrit 1) Talked about researching Audible Crosswalks and Traffic Signals. Art and Tina said would help Jessica and Richie call other cities (Burlington, Taladagua, Al, Berkeley, Denver, Madison, Seattle, DOT) to gather information about what they use and their success. 2) Jessica reported on the Accessibility Guide to Downtown Ithaca. She presented the survey instrument and the letter to businesses. 3) Jessica presented the preliminary brick survey report and people made comments on more exact language. 4) Jessica presented the notice to department heads about DAC's new procedure for presenting material.