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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-DAC-2016-03-02Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes March 2, 2016 Present: Chair Roberts Vice Chair Jody Scriber DAC Members: David McElrath Heath Dragovich Andrew Rappaport CC Liaison Brock Others Present: Information Management Specialist – Myers Executive Assistant for the Supt. of Public Works - Servoss Tompkins Office for the Aging Representative - Monroe Director of Engineering – Logue Excused: DAC Members: Sember-Chase, Anderson Approval of Minutes: Approval of the January 6 and February 3, 2016 Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes - Resolution By Vice Chair Scriber: Seconded by DAC Member Rappaport RESOLVED, That the minutes of the January 6 and February 3, 2016 Disability Advisory Council Meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously Commons Playground: Vice Chair Scriber reported that she met with city staff, the Mayor and a therapist from the Racker Center to discuss materials sent by “Play-By-Design” related to what changes might be made to make the playground more accessible to everyone. One of the suggestions was to install a merry-go-round, at a cost of around $50,000; however they’re not sure where any additional funding for it might be obtained. Play-By-Design’s suggestion was to try to improve what’s already there. Vice Chair Scriber stated that she did ask whether a ramp could be installed which would allow a child in a wheelchair to get up to the transfer station, as well as some type of handle that a child might be able to use to play on the structure. They discussed the abacus which is aesthetically pleasing but not used, and whether that could that be changed to a car or train which kids could move. Racker Center staff will also check with the family who attended a DAC meeting to see if there was a ramp to transfer and then higher items to do pretend play if that would be something that they feel would be used by children in wheelchairs. Vice Chair Scriber stated that the intent for the Commons Playground was for it to be accessible; the people who designed it are disappointed that it isn’t able to be used by everyone. Staff indicated that there would be follow up done after the meeting to that family who attended the DAC meeting to discuss these ideas and get their input. Everyone wanted the Commons Playground to be something that everyone could use. This is an example that just because something is ADA compliant doesn’t mean that it will work for everyone. Vice Chair Scriber further reported that the new Stewart Park playground is going to be really creative and imaginative. Racker Center staff spent a lot of time providing input so that the playground will be able to be used by everyone; changes were made as a result of that input. She stated that she could ask if the plans for the new Stewart Park playground could be shared with the DAC, and they thought that would be a good idea. She noted that she has attended three meetings and the designers have been very responsive to changes suggested by Racker Center staff. Chair Roberts stated that as long as people feel they are doing the best they can that’s what the DAC wants. Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes                                                                                  March 2, 2016    2    Upcoming Pedestrian Enhancements: Chair Roberts explained that former Transportation Engineer, Tim Logue, was recently promoted to the position of Director of Engineering. He asked him to attend today’s meeting so that the DAC might be able to provide input about the new Pedestrian Enhancements proposed around the City, and offer its assistance in an effort to support him in his new position. Chair Roberts further reported that Sidewalk Program Manager, Eric Hathaway, has also been promoted into the position of Transportation Engineer; which means that a new Sidewalk Program Manager will need to be hired. He stated that the DAC would be very sad to see him leave that position since he has been great about attending meetings to provide reports of the sidewalk program and obtain input from the DAC. He has been very open to making changes as a result of that input. Director of Engineering Logue stated that he would be doing a lot of transitional work as he leaves his former position and transitions into his new one. Construction projects for this year going out to bid so there will be some overlap between new Transportation Engineer Hathaway and himself as those projects move forward. Transportation Engineer Hathaway will have more information from New York State Department of Transportation related to design elements for new projects that he can share with the DAC in the near future. He understands that Mr. Hathaway has been great about reaching out to the DAC for input, as well as to New York State which has resulted in a good response related to funding for ADA designs and new projects. Director of Engineering Logue asked whether the DAC had specific projects they were interested in and would like more information about today or if they would just like an overview of all the upcoming projects. CC Liaison Brock responded that it would be good for the DAC to hear about the new pedestrian amenities/improvements proposed for Spencer Road and the area on West State/Martin Luther King, Jr. Street which are getting a lot of attention and redesign of some difficult intersections so that they could provide their perspectives on both projects. Director of Engineering Logue provided information on the following upcoming projects: 300-400 blocks of North Tioga Street repaving - not a lot of sidewalk work planned. Chair Roberts requested that staff make sure aprons are adequate at intersections NYS Route 13 Crossings – from the railroad to the Farmers Market - should be completed in 2016 200 block of College Avenue - looking to rebuild the entire street including utilities and bump outs at College Avenue/Dryden Road and Dryden Road/Linden Avenue – not sure if that work will be completed in 2016 or 2017. Replacement of 16 traffic signals with traffic counters, some of which will include completely new upgrades including some with count down buttons to replace the old walk/don’t walk signals, as well as audio, and tactile (vibrates when time to walk) signals. Chair Roberts noted that he is excited to hear about all the new audible signals, and that 4 or 5 of the 16 will be completely accessible. Projects in the Design Phase: Director of Engineering Logue reported that there will be a Spencer Road traffic study conducted as a result of the Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services project; the City is interested in connecting the new sidewalk there into the rest of sidewalk system. There are also some proposed changes for the intersection at Stone Quarry Road, the triangle, and the intersection at South Meadow Street Extension/Old Elmira Road. He Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes                                                                                  March 2, 2016    3    further reported that public meetings have been held on the proposals. One proposal would be to dead end Spencer Road from Stone Quarry Road, and have vehicles proceed to the traffic circle, another is the removal of the triangle at the intersection with South Meadow Street Extension, another would have no right turns onto Stone Quarry Road from Spencer Road as well as some interest in traffic calming because of the many residences on the road. Staff is not sure, at this point, what will be done in the area. There is strong interest in getting sidewalks constructed on Spencer Road; however, there are concerns about the removal of mailboxes and/or taking of some yards in order to construct them. One option would result in skinnier traffic lanes so that mailboxes/yards would not be too affected by construction of new sidewalks. People seem comfortable with sidewalks on the same side as the new apartments that would take pedestrians to the traffic circle. They are also looking at alternative placement of the sidewalks on South Meadow Street Extension but there are concerns about needing to take back some property for them at Wilcox Tire and the house on the corner/triangle. He can bring those proposed designs, when they’re ready, to the DAC if they would like to see them and provide input before they are constructed. In addition, a budget has to be established for the project; there is some money from the Sidewalk Program but more will be needed. CC Liaison Brock noted that two of the proposals will impact driving on Spencer Road from Stone Quarry Road to the traffic circle. One concern that has been raised is that Spencer Road has no pedestrian amenities so it makes it very difficult to see people walking – and a lot of people walk on that road so that is something to keep in mind as well. Director of Engineering Logue responded that there is an informal path that goes through by Pudgie’s pizza, and there has been some interest in the City taking the right- of-way there and creating a path from Spencer Road to Old Elmira Road. He will bring drawings for these proposals to the April DAC meeting in order to obtain additional input. He noted that there will need to be another public meeting and then the proposal will go to the Board of Public Works. Director of Engineering Logue reported that the West State/Martin Luther King, Jr. Street improvements will be taking place from Taughannock Boulevard to Floral Avenue. There are many people that traverse the area from Elm Street to West State/Martin Luther King, Jr. Street across the bridge and then do all sorts of things at those intersections. There is no tree lawn, the intersection at Brindley Street is very difficult, and there are no sidewalks on one side of the street. He stated that the basic premise is that the City has federal money to improve the walking conditions along West State/Martin Luther King, Jr. Street as well as to improve the crossing of the street either at Floral Avenue or Taughannock Boulevard. They are proposing improvements similar to the pedestrian signal at Home Dairy Alley and East Green Street. A grant was written for a budget based on a certain scope of the project; staff stepped back to get public input on the scope and it was proposed to collapse a traffic lane to make the street narrower which would help pedestrians crossing the street. He is not sure of the traffic impacts so more scoping of the project will be needed. They’ve conducted a neighborhood meeting, an online survey and a focus group (businesses) survey, and there is a strong concern about interfering with the traffic flow here, even to address pedestrian safety concerns. It is unsafe for bikers as well, and it’s next to another project – the Brindley Street Bridge replacement. The Brindley Street Bridge has to be rebuilt; it is very deficient and does not serve the industrial park in the area nor the heavy vehicles traveling to and from the various businesses there. The City also needs to replace the Cecil A. Malone Bridge, but can’t do that until the Brindley Street bridge is done. As the project for the Brindley Street Bridge was reviewed, another viable alternative was proposed; which was not to rebuild the bridge but to move it so that it would connect to and from Taughannock Boulevard. This would be better for traffic because there is a traffic signal at the intersection; it will also impact how the rest of West State/Martin Luther King, Jr. Street will be redesigned. Not so much for traffic as to provide for pedestrian enhancements by widening sidewalks or buffering them, adding bike lanes, and some improvement to the current sidewalk conditions. Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes                                                                                  March 2, 2016    4    CC Liaison Brock noted that one idea raised by residents was to put in a “jersey type” barrier like the one on the West Buffalo Street Bridge where the Cayuga Waterfront trail is located. Director of Engineering Logue responded that because of the federal funding for the project, the barrier must be crash proof; a “jersey type” barrier would meet that requirement. He stated that staff can take look at that idea, in this instance they would like the area widened enough for both pedestrians and bicyclists. They are also hoping to make the old Brindley Street Bridge into a pedestrian/bike bridge which would make it easier to connect to the pathway that goes under the West State/Martin Luther King, Jr. Street Bridge. Chair Roberts stated that it would be helpful for the new Director of Engineering to have input from the DAC on various projects before they are approved. Director of Engineering Logue responded that the monthly DAC meeting would be a great time to do that; he would love to have their input and have them make statements which can then go to the Board of Public Works and Common Council as they review and approve projects. Director of Engineering Logue responded that it will be fairly easy for staff to bring projects to the DAC for their review and input. His only hesitation would be that there is a fairly high volume of work, and because the City of Ithaca has to comply ADA requirements it might it might be very overwhelming to try to bring every project before the DAC. He noted that clearly ramps with new sidewalks are a big priority, as well as having DAC input on various stretches of sidewalk that need to be accessible. The former Sidewalk Program Manager was very good about getting that input from the DAC. He would value that input on sidewalks continuing and will make sure the new Sidewalk Program Manager attends DAC meetings regularly to continue to obtain input. Chair Roberts stated that maybe the DAC could have a general discussion with Director of Engineering Logue and his staff to provide general guidelines for when to bring projects to them for review and input. DAC Member Rappaport stated that it was great to have Sidewalk Program Manager Hathaway attend DAC meetings to discuss areas of concern for him and to get input from the DAC on the various sidewalk projects around the City; he would like that kind of working relationship between staff and the DAC to continue. Chair Roberts noted that it seems that there needs to be more of a connection between staff that do engineering/design and those that do the operational/construction of those projects. For example, if there are aprons missing at intersections but the sidewalk is new then that intersection cannot be used by someone in a wheelchair. One such situation, is on the south side of the intersection of Fayette Street and West Clinton Street. Director of Engineering Logue responded that intersection was related to a DPW project and the engineers were not involved with it. Chair Roberts stated that that kind of compartmentalization of duties and lack of communication between staff does not always result in a project that is accessible for everyone. Director of Engineering Logue explained that staff resources and accountability are issues that need to be addressed in some cases. Some strategies that might be used would be when the City uses CHIPS funding to make sure all ramps are upgraded that projects do not just end with the asphalt. Crews don’t necessarily think about those things as they are constructing things. Vice Chair Scriber asked if the DAC might be able to review the guidelines for those types of projects and he responded that they would be provided to the DAC. Director of Engineering Logue stated that he would plan to attend the April DAC meeting and bring the drawings for the proposals on Spencer Road and West State/Martin Luther King, Jr. Street improvements as well as the guidelines for use of CHIPs funding. He will ask staff to provide them so that they can go out with the agenda for the DAC meeting. CC Liaison Brock suggested that Streets Supervisor, Cliff Murphy - who oversees the construction crews, be invited to a DAC meeting because she feels that a direct conversation with him would be great in educating staff on what the DAC is looking for with various projects. Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes                                                                                  March 2, 2016    5    Accessible Parking: Executive Asst. Servoss, on behalf of Director of Parking Nagy, joined the DAC for discussion of this topic and to show a video related to Portland, Oregon’s scratch-off parking payment card program. She explained that with Portland’s old policy, anyone with a handicap parking placard could park for free on the street. As a result, people were parking on the street all day and visitors to their downtown could not find a place to park on the street. This scratch-off card system was created to assist with the collection of revenue. People who have a handicap parking placard that shows they use a wheelchair may still park on the street for free; anyone else has to pay for parking. This new system has really opened up the available parking spaces on the street for visitors, which is what Portland wanted to encourage. This scratch-off card system provides people with the option to pay at the meter or purchase and use the scratch-off cards. There are different kinds of scratch-off cards and associated fees based upon what zone in the city the person wants to park in and the length of stay (typically, 4 hours, 6 hours, or all day). When a person decides to use the scratch-off card they scratch off the appropriate month and day of the week. When the cards are purchased city staff hole punch out the hours and zone being purchased, then the person parking will scratch off the month and day of the week they parking as well as what time they start parking (i.e. 8 a.m. or 10 a.m.). The scratch off cards can be purchased at City of Portland offices or they can be mailed after purchase. Executive Assistant Servoss stated that Director of Parking Nagy has worked to make many upgrades to the City’s parking system in order to automate and modernize it; implementing the use of scratch-off cards to pay for on street parking would be a step backwards. The Community Service Officers have to physically verify that the card is appropriately displayed to pay for parking and will not be able to use their automated license plate readers as with other parking all around the City. She stated that the Community Service Offices support the proposal and don’t think it’s a big deal to have to visually inspect the dashboard for the scratch off card. The advantages to the scratch-off card system include the fact that they are for a prepaid dollar amount, which everyone likes, no accessibility issues and there is no need to use a pay station or cell phone. Director of Parking Nagy believes the scratch off card system would force the City to open a parking office on The Commons or elsewhere in order to sell them. It also resolves the issue for senior drivers who don’t want to use the pay stations because they can be purchased with cash or credit card, and the City would sell to anyone and set time limits. Currently, the City of Ithaca parking meters have a time limit of 2 hours of parking so the cards could be set up for 15 minutes, 2 hours, or even customized. Chair Roberts noted that this new system would take away the need for the public to provide medical information, which he really supports. Vice Chair Scriber stated that this system would definitely help seniors and give the City of Ithaca time to educate the public on how to use the pay stations. Executive Assistant Servoss reported that the City of Ithaca has been talking to people about this proposal, and they are happy with it. It provides a way for people to buy the cards as gifts to their relatives. She confirmed that the cards can only be used once, but people can purchase as many as they want and chooses when to use them. It has also been suggested that they be sold at different stores in the area, similar to garbage tags; which might mean that a separate office to sell them on the Commons would not be needed, which is not practical. DAC Member Rappaport noted that it would be nice to have the two-hour on street parking limit changed with the use of the new scratch-off card. Executive Assistant Servoss responded that to change the two-hour parking limit would require a change to the City of Ithaca code – which is not impossible, but will take time. Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes                                                                                  March 2, 2016    6    DAC Member Dragovich stated that it seems like to set up this type of system would take a while as well as be a step backward for the City, which is trying to automate parking as much as it can. He also wondered whether Director of Parking Nagy would try to phase it out after a while so that everything is kept automated. The City has already spent a lot of money to purchase the new pay stations and work towards automating parking completely so that should be considered as well. Executive Assistant Servoss responded that once the details were taken care of that the new scratch off card system probably could be in place by next year. She agreed that the City would probably want to review the program in a year or two depending on community acceptance and how much technology improves in future. The City is waiting for the manufacturer of the pay stations to develop a system that can read the bar codes on the key tags that the City has been giving to the public. Right now, the key tags are only being used to write down a person’s license plate number so when they get to the pay station they can enter their license plate number easily and not have to remember it. Once the technology is in place, people would just need to swipe the key tags with the bar code by the pay station to pay for parking (once they have set up that license plate on the pay station system). DAC Members thanked Ms. Servoss for the presentation; she requested that anyone with questions to contact her or Director of Parking Nagy for additional information. North Tioga Street Repaving Project: CC Liaison Brock reported that North Tioga Street will be repaved this year and when that is done the bike boulevard will be extended from Buffalo Street to the Commons. The current proposal is to remove on street parking completely, or on one side, or do some sort of traffic calming. This will have an impact on the public’s ability to access the Post Office, Town Hall, and the County Courthouse. DAC Members expressed their opposition to the removal of on-street parking in this area; Chair Roberts will send a written recommendation to Director of Engineering West about not removing the parking. Adjournment: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m. ___________________________________ ________________________________ Sarah L. Myers, Larry Roberts, Chair Information Management Specialist