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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-DAC-2016-06-01Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes June 1, 2016 Present: Chair Roberts Vice Chair Scriber DAC Members: David McElrath Erin Sember-Chase CC Liaison Brock Others Present: Information Management Specialist – Myers Transportation Engineer – Hathaway Sidewalk Program Manager – Lucitre Director of Planning, Building, Zoning & Economic Development – Cornish Senior Planner - Kusznir Excused: DAC Members: Rappaport, Anderson, Monroe Approval of Minutes: Approval of the May 4, 2016 Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes - Resolution By DAC Member Sember-Chase: Seconded By Vice Chair Scriber RESOLVED, That the minutes of the May 4, 2016 Disability Advisory Council Meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously Discussion Items: A. Conversation with Planning, Building, Zoning and Economic Development Director Cornish and Senior Planner Kusznir regarding the Commons Playground Senior Planner Kusznir reported that she, Vice Chair Scriber, and a therapist from the Racker Center met to review possible suggestions for changes to the playground structure from the design consultants. Some of the suggestions included: a merry-go- round, activity panels/imaginative play items, and steering wheels that would be accessible, etc. They need to determine if a ramp could be constructed out of the same material as the surface of the play structure (rubber type) that then could be used by a child in a wheelchair to access the inside of the structure Staff will follow-up with the consultants about the ramp as well as whether or not once the wheelchair has used the ramp to access the structure whether there is room for maneuvering within it. A suggestion was made to get rid of the abacus, and replace it with an activity panel. The problem facing the City right now in making any improvements to the structure is the lack of funding. The annual process for submission of capital project requests by city departments for inclusion in the annual budget will begin this month. Staff will submit an application for a capital project to fund the improvements to the structure. It would be helpful to have a resolution from the DAC expressing its support for the improvements. The estimated cost is $30,000. Director of Planning, Building, Zoning & Economic Development Cornish stated that staff would most likely include all of the proposed ideas and suggestions for improvement in the capital project application. Staff will come back to the July DAC meeting with the list so that the DAC can provide assistance in prioritizing the items to include in the project; most likely the application will be granted in part. Staff want to make sure that the elements that get included in the budget are the high priority ones. Vice Chair Scriber asked that a copy of the list be provided to her so she can share it with therapists from the Racker Center for their review and input as well. Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes June 1,2016 2 CC Liaison Brock questioned whether the estimated cost for the improvements included installation costs. Director of Planning, Building, Zoning & Economic Development Cornish responded that it did, and that it is staff’s goal to make the playground universally accessible for everyone. Chair Roberts stated that a top priority would be to actually allow access inside the structure for every child. Vice Chair Scriber noted that had been discussed at the meeting with staff and the consultants as well as the fact that the merry-go-round suggestion might also affect fire department access. Director of Planning, Building, Zoning & Economic Development Cornish noted that they had preliminary drawings of how the space could be expanded as well as costs for the various elements that might be added to the structure. Ms. Brenda Kuhn, a guest attending today’s meeting stated that a child using a wheelchair inside the play structure will use more space; she wondered how that would impact kids running around the structure. She also noted that the abacus is a great feature for someone with vision impairments because it has different textures and interesting features, it would be too bad if I was removed, and hoped that there might be a way to keep it. Vice Chair Scriber noted that this weekend would be a good time (it’s Ithaca Festival weekend) to evaluate how children are able to access and play on the structure, as well as what elements seem to attract the most attention. She would hate to see elements removed that kids are using a lot. Chair Roberts wondered whether there would be a way to take apart and re-arrange the structure so that the ramp is either not needed or easier to install. It’s just one step up into the play structure; it might be a good question to ask to ask the designers to take a look at. Director of Planning, Building, Zoning & Economic Development Cornish stated that staff would provide a menu of proposed options for changes to the elements in the play structure and the cost estimates for the July DAC meeting. Chair Roberts noted that Common Council members expressed interest and support for improvements being made to the playground structure to make it as accessible for everyone as possible. He noted that he would invite someone to attend a future DAC meeting who would be able to discuss the process for establishing the city’s budget each year, as well as how capital projects are chosen. B. Conversation with Planning, Building, Zoning and Economic Development Director Cornish and a Building Inspector Regarding Extensive Renovation Projects: Director of Planning, Building, Zoning & Economic Development Cornish and Deputy Building Commissioner Niechwiadowicz joined the Council for discussion of this topic. Chair Roberts questioned whether building inspectors discuss with property owners and contractors the importance of accessibility for their project. He is thinking particularly of the extensive renovations at Simeon's Restaurant and Lucatelli’s Restaurant since both of these restaurants were not fully accessible prior to the current renovations taking place – particularly the bathrooms. Deputy Building Commissioner Niechwiadowicz explained that the level of work occurring at Simeon's dictated that their bathrooms had to be accessible as well as the front entrance. The bathroom is in the basement so an elevator was required to access it as well as the mezzanine level. The bathrooms will be designed as accessible bathrooms. The elevator will also go to the upper story apartments, and the apartments will be adaptable, which means they could be made accessible if needed. Deputy Building Commissioner Niechwiadowicz further explained that the amount of work at Lucatelli’s restaurant did not trigger ADA changes be made since they are basically just switching out the hood system and counters – more cosmetic type work than anything; their bathrooms are not accessible and they aren’t planning on making any changes to them at this point. Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes June 1,2016 3 DAC Member Sember-Chase wondered whether or not anything was communicated to the property owners about the value of accessibility. Deputy Building Commissioner Niechwiadowicz responded that it was but because of the level of work being done, it becomes the owner’s choice whether or not to do the additional work, and they are more concerned with cost than making things accessible. Deputy Building Commissioner Niechwiadowicz explained that with the existing New York State building code, there are three levels of construction work. He also noted that the Building Department does not enforce the ADA law; the Department of Justice is the enforcer of that law. Inspectors do have conversations with property owners, contractors and designers about the need to think about accessibility needs with their projects. He expressed kudos to Cornell University as they do over and above what is required as did Simeon’s restaurant in making sure their projects are all fully accessible. Deputy Building Commissioner Niechwiadowicz explained that Level 1 work relates to upgrades, and ADA does come into play. However, for example, a door needs to meet ADA requirements even though room doesn’t meet them. Level 2 involves reconfiguring the space; for example Fraternities/Sororities have second and third floor bathrooms, he is often asked in those instances why those bathrooms needs to be accessible since no one can get up to them. Here, ADA requirements click in, where the building department staff asks them what they would do if one of them was injured and couldn’t get into the bathrooms, which occurs when injuries happen; they then realize why accessibility is so important. Businesses and contractors don’t understand necessarily why ADA requirements need to be met until they are faced with the need themselves. So, yes, building department staff do try to make sure buildings are accessible for everyone and making sure that the ADA law is enforced. Level 3 projects are where more than 50% of the building is reconfigured, in those cases more than 50% of the project has to meet all NYS Building Code requirements which include compliance with ADA requirement (although it was noted that commercial kitchens are exempt from the ADA requirements). DAC Member Sember-Chase stated that Title 1 would come into play for a commercial kitchen that is not accessible to a chef in a wheelchair. Deputy Building Commissioner Niechwiadowicz further noted that if the project is a change in use then 25% of the project needs to be accessible. He explained that with the new project at 201 College Avenue the NYS Building Code requires that if there are more than 4 units, then all the units have to be adaptable; not necessarily accessible. Ms. Kuhn questioned the requirement for adaptability to accessibility, and how that works for individuals that need the apartment to be accessible. Deputy Building Commissioner Niechwiadowicz responded that for new units it becomes the landlord’s responsibility to make the apartment accessible. In the case of an existing apartment, it could be at the renters’ expense to the make it accessible. Chair Roberts stated that it sounds to him like the Building Department is in a good place as far as explaining to property owners, contractors, and designers the requirements of the ADA law and why accessibility is important. He stated that beyond the enforcement is the need for encouragement and advocating by inspectors as to what the benefits are by providing for accessibility needs. It is especially important for the City to do with owners of buildings of public accommodation. Deputy Building Commissioner Niechwiadowicz stated that property owners want to do everything they can to minimize their cost for a project. In some instances, property owners have stepped up and made sure their projects were as accessible as possible; for others it’s just about the bottom line, and they do only the minimum requirement. Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes June 1,2016 4 CC Liaison Brock asked what the City can do, especially now with all the new development taking place, to provide outreach to residents to explain that if they move or choose to move into one of these new units that the owner is obligated to make the unit accessible - that is very useful information for the public. In addition, what can be done to compel business owners to make this investment to make things accessible which is similar to paying a living wage? Perhaps the City could highlight those property owners that do that, as a way to encourage others to follow suit. Some type of “Award for Accessibility” as a recognition to property owners for making the commitment to accessibility; she feels that education and reward go a long way in motivating change. Deputy Building Commissioner Niechwiadowicz suggested some sort of tax incentive/abatement for property owners who pursue providing buildings that are completely accessible to everyone. Director of Planning, Building, Zoning & Economic Development Cornish stated that the City has a Rental Housing Advisory Committee that is obligated to provide this type of information to renters in the City of Ithaca. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the best way to provide this information to students and renters about apartments that adaptable and how to work with the property owner to make those accommodations. Some suggestions included providing information to Cornell’s off-campus housing office so it can be provided to incoming students, such as highlighting the information in local newspapers, and other media sources. DAC Members thanked Director of Planning, Building, Zoning & Economic Development Cornish and Deputy Building Commissioner Niechwiadowicz for attending today’s meeting to talk with them about accessibility and construction/renovation projects. They felt the information provided was very helpful. C. Update on New Scratch-Off Card Parking System - Director of Parking Nagy: Director of Parking Nagy explained that the program is a little behind schedule – he had hoped to begin using the new scratch off cards by June 1st. The cards have been ordered and they are waiting for a ship date, so the program is about two weeks behind schedule. The parking scratch-off cards will be sold at the same places that sell garbage tags. He will be on the Commons for two days during the Ithaca Festival to communicate/educate the public on Park Mobile and the use of the pay stations. He reported that the City had two days where they had more than 500 transactions for the day. There have been 2,000 more transactions for the month May than any month prior. Park Mobile has been quite impressed with how fast the City has caught up with Cornell University and their numbers as far as transactions per day. He noted that by having the same parking program it provides an opportunity for the City and Cornell to talk back and forth on how they might help each other with various parking needs. They have recently extended the time that you can pay on park mobile so people can pay for more than 2 hours at a time; this change has seen an increase in revenue for the City. He further explained that the three educational videos have all been shot (one for the use of the scratch-off cards, one for the parking garages, and one for on-street parking); they are being edited right now. Once that is done there will be a screening at Cinemopolis before they are available for the public via the City’s website and the Parking Division’s new website. In addition, the theatre will run the videos prior to every movie showing. DAC Member Sember-Chase questioned whether the videos could be captioned. Director of Parking Nag responded that can be open captioned. Vice Chair Scriber wondered whether the educational information has also been targeted for distribution to those outside of the City since rural visitors will not come in to the City to park because they do not want to use the pay stations. Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes June 1,2016 5 Director of Parking Nagy responded that staff is going around to different communities to explain the Park Mobile system and how to use the new scratch-off cards. Every Thursday, on an ongoing basis, he will be in front of the DeWitt Mall with a group from Ithaca Tompkins County Transportation Council staff to provide public outreach and education on the various transportation options available in community - in addition to the use of pay stations and scratch-off cards. Chair Roberts stated that one of the things that the DAC discussed was the installation of new pay stations that were lower, he asked if those had been installed yet. Director of Parking Nagy responded that they are working on installing the lower pay stations right now. Twenty-three holes/bases have been dug, now they just need tops which hopefully will be installed and the work completed by the end of next week so that almost all of the new pay stations will be available for use by the public. The only area that will need to wait to have the additional pay stations installed will be Dryden Road due to the ongoing construction taking place there. Once construction is complete, those stations will be installed. DAC Member Sember-Chase asked whether or not the new scratch-off cards would be available for sale at the Tompkins County Visitor’s Center. Director of Parking Nagy responded that he has reached out to them and is waiting to hear back. Once the cards are in and being sold in the City locations, he hopes to reach out to other municipalities for possible locations where they could be sold – especially the Lansing Market. Vice Chair Scriber stated that she is on the Danby Town Planning Board, and people there have been asking about the new scratch-off cards since they do not want to use the pay stations when they come downtown. The Danby Town Clerk’s office might be willing to sell the cards. DAC Members expressed their thanks to Director of Parking Nagy for his work and efforts to educate the public on the new pay stations as well as responding to the public’s comments about fear of using of the pay stations, and providing the scratch-off card as an alternative option to pay for parking. Updates: A. Discussion with Transportation Engineer Hathaway about the 2017 Sidewalk Program Work Plan, and Introduction to New Side Program Manager John Lucitra: Transportation Engineer Hathaway reported that starting next week, public outreach meetings will begin to discuss the proposed 2017 sidewalk program. The meetings will all take place at the Tompkins County Public Library, the first one is on June 7, the second on June 14 and the final one on June 15 (the meeting on June 15 will take place at City Hall). Chair Roberts asked whether there could be a meeting at Titus Towers to make it easier for those residents to provide input to the City. Transportation Engineer Hathaway responded that they would try to hold a meeting at either the Tompkins County Library or Titus Towers specifically related to accessibility needs. He would like to have Asst. Supt. Benjamin attend that meeting, so a time during the day would probably be best for everyone. He had a good turn out to a similar meeting last year. He further reported that information about the meetings has been provided to the Ithaca Journal, e-mailed to Common Council members to share with list serves, and he will also provide it to Finger Lakes Independence Center to distribute to its list serve. Transportation Engineer Hathaway reported that he would like to review with the DAC in more detail the survey that IC students conducted regarding what barriers and obstacles the public encounters as they try traverse around the City. He explained the students went to McGraw House for that survey, he would like to conduct another similar survey with Titus Towers residents. It is important to also survey individual places, for example Tompkins County Office for the Aging so over time this survey can be provided to everyone who would like to participate. Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes June 1,2016 6 Chair Roberts stated that Lisa Monroe, from Tompkins County Office for the Aging was appointed as a member of the DAC at the May 4, 2016 Common Council meeting; he suggested that she might have some other community connections as well to assist in the survey process. Transportation Engineer Hathaway introduced John Lucrite who is the new Sidewalk Program Manager. Both of them, if the DAC has anytime, would like to present the 2017 sidewalk work plan to them at their July meeting. They would just need a short time. DAC Chair Roberts stated that the two topics that will be placed on the July agenda will be the continuation of the Commons Playground discussion and review of the proposed 2017 Sidewalk work plan. The next meeting will be July 6, 2016 at 12:15 p.m. in Common Council Chambers. Adjournment: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m. ______________________________ _______________________________ Sarah L. Myers, Larry Roberts, Information Management Specialist Chair