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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-DAC-2016-07-06Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes July 6, 2016 Present: Chair Roberts Vice Chair Scriber DAC Members: David McElrath Erin Sember-Chase Andrew Rappaport Lisa Monroe Others Present: Information Management Specialist – Myers Transportation Engineer – Hathaway Director of Planning, Building, Zoning & Economic Development – Cornish Senior Planner - Kusznir Erin Vallely, Community Member Intern from Tompkins County Office for the Aging Excused: DAC Member: Anderson Approval of Minutes: Approval of the June 1, 2016 Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes - Resolution By DAC Member McElrath: Seconded by Vice Chair Scriber RESOLVED, That the minutes of the June 1, 2016 Disability Advisory Council meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously A Conversation with Planning Department Staff Regarding the Capital Project Request for the Commons Playground: Director of Planning, Building, Zoning and Economic Development Cornish and Senior Planner Kusznir provided an update on the progress of work towards writing the capital project request for the accessibility improvements needed on the playground. In the meantime, they had work done to make the platform accessible; however what was removed were the stairs and the platform is still there so it is not easily accessible for any children now. There was obviously a miscommunication of what work they wanted to have done. They are working to re-install the steps for now. The safety surface underneath the structure needed repair so it was removed and replaced at the same time. Their goal is to have the structure completely level with the underneath surface so that access is improved for everyone. They met with the designer of the structure to present ideas of how to improve access and add some new features such as activity panels. The designer has a list of all the changes that the City would like to see made to the structure as discussed in previous meetings with the DAC. Now, the City is waiting for their proposal with costs to come back because once the costs are known, they will be able to complete the capital project request. They will come back to the DAC with the request in order to obtain assistance and feedback on the features included and to help them prioritize them. DAC Member Rappaport asked whether any further things could be done at grade level to help a wheelchair use the features on the structure. Senior Planner Kusznir responded that there options that could be considered to improving access - other than reinstalling the steps; however, they are very expensive. She further noted, that a merry-go-round feature would be very expensive to incorporate into the structure. She also noted that they are very limited by the confined space allotted for the structure and the requirement to keep and maintain clear access to the fire lane. She encouraged DAC members to please continue to provide suggestions to them in the meantime for ideas of possible changes that might work. Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes July 6,2016 2 Chair Roberts explained that the DAC’s input to the capital project request is a first step in the process. He is really interested in the merry-go-round feature, in which children in wheelchairs would be able to ride. He would also like to have some kids go in and look at the space and to see how they access different parts of the play structure and which features seem more popular than others. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the new surface, a new very accessible playground recently built in Binghamton (designed and built by the same designer for the Commons Playground), and the confined space of the Commons playground which really limits any type of improvement or change to the structure. Also, some, at today’s meeting, did watch the Commons Playground during the Ithaca Festival to get an idea of what the kids play with how they play on the structure. There were a lot of kids using the structure and they seemed to be using everything - including the abacus. Director of Planning, Building, Zoning and Economic Development Cornish asked DAC members whether the plan that was presented today sounds good to them. She noted that once she gets more cost numbers for activity panels and the estimate they will put all the ideas, which they will need assistance from the DAC in prioritizing, into the capital project request. However, that does not necessarily mean that Common Council will approve all of them. Chair Roberts stated that if the access could be improved and the activity panels installed sooner that would be great. He further stated that DAC members should think of this as the minimum that needs to happen right now. DAC Member Rappaport asked whether the plans for the interactive fountain feature are still progressing. Director of Planning, Building, Zoning and Economic Development Cornish responded that the fountain will not be interactive due to cost and requirements which make that option too prohibitive. An interactive fountain feature triggers a lot of different requirements, including health department requirements, a life guard would need to be hired, the water tested hourly, and changing stations and rest rooms would have to be provided. The fountain will use recirculating water which will need to be tested once a day. Chair Roberts stated that he did have some questions about the Commons that he would like to ask Director of Planning, Building, Zoning and Economic Development Cornish as long as she was at the meeting. He noted that it would seem that the area around the Bernie Milton needs to have some type of indication of the change in grade and the slope down to the stage area. Right now, there is nothing and if people aren’t paying attention, they can trip and fall on the concrete and risk physical injury to themselves. Director of Planning, Building, Zoning and Economic Development Cornish responded that staff are aware of this issue and it is being discussed to see what can be done to make the area safer. Chair Roberts stated that there should be some visual signage; in addition, there seem to be small divots in and about the Commons that cause immediate tripping hazards and if one is in a wheel chair they can cause them to tip over. Director of Planning, Building, Zoning and Economic Development Cornish stated that the divots were on the checklist for the contractor to fix and it was not done. Chair Roberts noted that once the fence is gone from around Simeon's, the Commons will be complete, and he feels that with the new design of the Commons that things are going much smoother and everything seems to run much better. Director of Planning, Building, Zoning and Economic Development Cornish asked DAC members for suggestions on how to alert pedestrians to the change in grade near the stage area. Should the City consider some type of visual cues about the change in grade and slope of the area to the stage? Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes July 6,2016 3 DAC Member Rappaport responded that he will review the code for the sign requirements for outside areas where the grade changes in slope. He knows that the code for interior areas where there is a change in slope requires a contrasting color to separate the two levels, but he is not sure about exterior requirements. He believes that the designer for the Commons, Sasaki, met code; however, there are additional things that should be done to alert the public about the area. Maybe sandpaper like strips in different colors – it would be an inexpensive and fairly quick solution even though they won’t last forever, just something to consider for now. It is, though, a significant drop-off at the stage area that people need to be aware of. Chair Roberts noted that in addition to vision impaired pedestrians, many of the nation’s baby boomers are becoming senior citizens, which means that there are more and more people that have vision problems. Are there any experts in the aging field that might be able to provide guidance and recommendations to the City as to the best way to alert the public about the change in grade in this area where all the concerts and special events are held? Perhaps someone from Tompkins County Office for the Aging might be a resource for information. Vice Chair Scriber noted that BOCES also works with visually impaired people all the time, and might be a resource to provide recommendations. She stated that City staff should contact Cheryl Button who is the Director of Special Education at BOCES. Senior Planner Kusznir asked DAC Member Rappaport to send her information about the sand paper type adhesive that could be used to transition from the even grade of the Commons to the slope in grade as one approaches the Bernie Milton Pavilion. DAC Member McElrath encouraged the City to increase public information and education about paying attention to where you’re walking and texting and the dangers people expose themselves to when they’re not paying attention to where they are walking. Chair Roberts asked when discussions about the City’s budget and Capital Project Requests begin. Director of Planning, Building, Zoning and Economic Development Cornish responded that those meetings will begin soon. As they get information from the playground designer they will share it with the DAC. They will also make sure that DAC members are informed when a city committee will be meeting to consider the proposal, so that they can participate and provide input as needed. DAC members thanked Director of Planning, Building, Zoning and Economic Development Cornish and Senior Planner Kusznir for attending the meeting and providing the update. Discussion About the 2017 Sidewalk Program with Transportation Engineer Hathaway: Transportation Engineer Hathaway and members of the DAC held a brief discussion about the signage regarding accessible parking spaces and the lollipop meters that have been left on the streets for those spaces. DAC Member Rappaport noted that it would be great, at the accessible spaces around the City, to have some sort of signage at the back of the spot so that other cars that park on the street near them do not take up the space that is meant to be the accessible space. With all the new pay stations around the City and the removal of most of the meters it is not so clear where the designated parking spaces are specifically, and people tend to not leave room for someone to park in the accessible space. He noted this is especially true for the spot on West Seneca Street near Geneva Street. Chair Roberts reported that the traffic signal voice at East Green Street and South Cayuga does not start at the beginning when it is safe for pedestrians to cross the street, it only comes on at the end to warn pedestrians not to cross the street. He would like to request that it either be repaired or replaced with a better signal. He is also not concerned about any noise complaints that the City might receive when the voice signal is repaired from residents or businesses that are located at that intersection. It is a very busy intersection with lots of pedestrians and the voice activated signal needs to work it the manner it was meant to. DAC Member Rappaport asked about the work to install/create additional accessible spaces around the City. He noted that four spaces were lost during the recent construction at the Carey Building on East State/Martin Luther King, Jr. Street. In addition, he wondered when the new standards for on-street accessible parking would be available. When that information is Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes July 6,2016 4 considered, he would recommend a more holistic approach be taken about where those spots be located because right now it seems like they are placed in a hodge podge manner. Transportation Engineer Hathaway responded that they are trying to evaluate different things around the City like that. For example, creation of more accessible parking, increased signage, and pavement markings. There needs to be a plan to locate the spaces in areas where they are really needed. They are also considering to what extent work to paint the pavement markings and bike lanes should be contracted out where contractors use the more durable type paint and then keep in-house the work that can be done with water based paint. The Department of Public Works will review all this information so that it can consider bigger projects for street work that will include curbs/ramps, sidewalks, and signage since it makes more sense all the way around to do all the work in a particular area at once. He further noted that the guidelines are actually contained in a national document rather than a New York State document. They provide guidance for public right-of-way accessibility. The previous guidelines were geared towards interior accessibility. He noted that some states have adopted the guidelines, and the Department of Justice has not adopted it yet. He is using it as the City's guideline for doing sidewalks because it is the best standard out there and he is choosing to follow it for the City. Transportation Engineer Hathaway Eric reported that there was a meeting held at Titus Towers last week just to discuss and receive input on sidewalks and accessibility issues. The residents there completed a survey that was created and developed by Ithaca College students on barriers to accessibility in the City of Ithaca. Residents at McGraw House also completed the survey. That information is now being sorted through and will be used throughout the City for age related input where there may be barriers to accessibility. He felt it was a very good meeting with residents of Titus Towers with good feedback that is being sorted out right now. A brief discussion followed on the floor regarding the timing of the traffic signal at the intersection of Route 13 and Wood Street not being long enough for pedestrians to safely cross the road. There is also a dip in the road to the curb there that can trap wheelchair users. Transportation Engineer Hathaway responded that the traffic signal there is owned by New York State and they are aware of the situation. Chair Roberts stated that he does not understand the State’s resistance to making this needed change since it is a major thoroughfare that is used by so many people. DAC Member Sember-Chase left the meeting at 1 p.m. Transportation Engineer Hathaway stated that the sidewalk at the intersection of Route 13 and Fair Street is getting replaced this year, along with that work they are also redesigning the intersection. He would really like it if Titus Towers would do some work to install sidewalk for people to come and go from Titus Towers II to Fair Street. He noted that it would be really nice if the City could collaborate with them on such a project. He further reported that the City of Ithaca is working on a transition plan for curb ramps and sidewalks. He distributed that information to DAC members and encouraged them to review it (it will be attached to the minutes). He explained that the City of Ithaca has 78 miles of sidewalks and curb ramps that need to be addressed in an organized way. With the new Sidewalk Program, when someone has requested a sidewalk, the City will survey and evaluate the whole block. Since the program started, 25 miles of sidewalk have been constructed and the new methodology and GIS tools have assisted that effort greatly (the work also includes curb ramps). If someone requests a sidewalk, they try to proactively prioritize them. In addition, when roads are milled and repaved, the sidewalks and curbs are also done. The methodology and prioritization are based upon the location of the sidewalk. For example, is it close to a school, government office, or a church, etc., and then by condition. This document will get updated on an ongoing and yearly basis and will list work done, work to be done and what percentage of the City has become accessible through the program. He asked DAC members to look through it and provide feedback to him on the document, and then he will attend the next DAC meeting to review and discuss it further with them. Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes July 6,2016 5 Chair Roberts reported that there are now six curb ramps that he used to be able to use but because of milling and repaving of those streets, he can’t use now. There has to be some acknowledgement by city crews when road work is being done that for pedestrians it doesn’t matter that another division of the Department of Public Works did the work. They need to make sure the curb and curb ramp there is left so that they are completely accessible to everyone. Right now, it appears that because sidewalk and curb work is being done by the Sidewalk Program division that other divisions think that they aren’t responsible for them. The communication between divisions within the Department of Public Works needs to improve so that when any road work is done that will affect the curbs and ramps that they be included in the project. The Department of Public Works really needs to figure this out because right now as they currently operate, they are creating problems that didn’t exist prior to the work. He gets tired of hearing its’ someone else’s job because at the end of the day everyone needs to be able to access the sidewalk and curb. When street projects are done, it should be the responsibility of the contractor or city crew to also repair the curb and ramp area to make sure it’s accessible; not leave it because it’s not their job. Transportation Engineer Hathaway agreed and explained that part of the problem is the need to educate city staff about the importance of maintaining accessible curbs and ramps. When Melissa Anderson was here, from the Department of Justice, he took her to where the crew from Streets and Facilities was working. She told them just what they needed to do as far as making sure curbs and ramps are accessible whenever they do any type of road work; he thinks the crews now understand. A better methodology and beginning to be more proactive when staff are aware of mill and repave projects to let crews know from the beginning of the project that curbs need to be included in the work is going to be very important. Chair Roberts stated that the reason why he is making this appeal to Transportation Engineer Hathaway, is because he is the new Transportation Engineer. He should make every effort possible to ensure that people are able to access anywhere in the City that they may need to go. Although, compared to other comparable size cities, Ithaca is way ahead in that area. Transportation Engineer Hathaway responded that when Ithaca is compared to other cities similar in size, for example, Binghamton who completed 800’ of sidewalk last year; the City did nearly two miles of sidewalks. Everyone needs to understand that sidewalks in the City of Ithaca are an expensive and long-term problem. He hopes, within the next couple of years, when its sidewalk inventory is complete that he will be able to better tell how the City should be overseeing the creation and maintenance of accessible sidewalks and curb ramps. DAC Member Rappaport questioned whether the curbs at West Clinton and Fayette Street and South Cayuga and State Streets have been repaired. Transportation Engineer Hathaway responded that it would be better to ask Director of Engineering Logue that question because he oversaw those projects. However, relatively speaking, those intersections are more accessible than other areas around the City and so he would be reluctant to tear them up at this point. The City is aware that the transition between asphalt and curbs needs to be smoothed out better, and they do plan to take care of the intersection at West Clinton and Fayette Street this year. DAC Member Rappaport stated that during the meeting he pulled up the links for information about the number of required on-street accessible spaces when there are metered spaces. The regulations indicate that there should be one accessible meter for every twenty-five metered spaces, which seems pretty straight forward rules, and every perimeter of a block should have a certain number of accessible spaces. If there are businesses, the spaces should be near them, and if a block has more than 100 parking spaces then the rules change. He noted that there are accessible parking spaces going up East Buffalo and East Seneca Streets, but they are not near businesses. Transportation Engineer Hathaway responded that he would be evaluating all of them to make sure they are in the right space. He will also follow up with New York State about the intersections at Route 13 and Wood Street as well as West Clinton and Fayette Streets and ensure that the signs are put up at the back of parking spaces designated as accessible. Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes July 6,2016 6 DAC member McElrath, as liaison to the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Council (BPAC), reported that he received an e-mail from one of the members of BPAC. It concerns 101 Linn Street where the sidewalk is being obstructed by vegetation. The BPAC member has talked repeatedly to the Exterior Maintenance Inspector about it, and has been informed that the foot traffic there isn’t high enough to warrant a ticket for the obstruction. The BPAC member wanted the DAC to know to see if they might be able to provide input to the inspector about the importance of maintaining clear access for everyone on the sidewalks. Transportation Engineer Hathaway responded that it is a civil right for everyone to have at least a 4’ wide accessible space on the sidewalk. He stated that he would talk with the Exterior Maintenance Inspector about the situation. Adjournment: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. __________________________________ ________________________________ Sarah L. Myers, Larry Roberts, Information Management Specialist Chair of Disability Advisory Council