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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-DAC-2017-07-12Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes July 12, 2017 Present: Chair Roberts Vice Chair Scriber DAC Members: David McElrath Erin Sember-Chase Andrew Rappaport Others Present: Information Management Specialist – Myers Anisa Mendizabal, IURA Community Development Planner Excused: DAC Members Anderson, Monroe CC Liaison Brock Approval of Minutes: Approval of the June 14, 2017 Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes - Resolution By DAC Member Sember-Chase: Seconded by DAC Member McElrath RESOLVED, That the minutes of the June 14, 2017 Disability Advisory Council meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously Discussion Items: Ms. Mendizabal introduced herself and then each DAC member introduced themselves and provided a shared their background and interest in serving on the DAC. They also shared topics that had come to the DAC to discuss and provide recommendations. For example, the current proposal to consolidate the City’s boards and committees and the dissolving of the DAC into one of the new commissions beginning January 18th, mental health issues, website access, sidewalk and parking accessibility, and responding to concerns brought to their attention by the public – such as the Commons Playground. They noted that, unfortunately, the input on city projects that they have been given an opportunity to provide is typically an after-thought by staff because the project has been completed and accessibility concerns raised. The goal they have been working towards is to have the DAC play a more active role in the planning of projects in order to be proactive rather than reactive to addressing accessibility concerns. As a result of that effort, a lot of input is being solicited from the public who specialize in working with children with physical and developmentally disabilities on the plans for the new playground that will be constructed at Stewart Park. This is to ensure there is a ramp to access the playground and the Fuertes Bird Sanctuary. DAC Members shared that in addition to what has been mentioned, the DAC provides a forum for the public to provide input on various issues or concerns, one way to do that was by the DAC hosting a public hearing at City Hall to solicit feedback. The DAC also conducted a survey for community members to complete about disabilities and accessibility in the City of Ithaca. The results of that survey was shared with Common Council. They also heard a lot of input from the public about the recent changes in parking and the installation of the new pay stations. Because the DAC exists, it has provided a natural place for people to bring concerns to, and includes not only community members, but staff members to use the DAC as a sounding board and provide input on the various topics. Ms. Mendizabal explained that she is very interested in the activities of the DAC and felt it was important to connect, personally, with members of the DAC. Her position with the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency is in administering the community development block grant funding and HOME grant funding in the City of Ithaca. This funding has been available for at least the past 15 years, it provides funding for community businesses that submit requests to the IURA for consideration spending the money for various projects in the community. She staff’s the committee that evaluates the proposals. She also provides outreach into the community to provide information on these two funding resources for the public. Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes July 12, 2017 2 The project she is currently working on relates to fair housing and fairly furthering fair housing by addressing impediments in the community. A study was done in 2015 by the Tompkins County Human Rights Division; however a specific analysis of the results was not done and there was no requirement to submit information for the Housing and Urban Development to review. However, now, HUD wants to become more proactive and it will be reviewing various analyses and making decisions based upon that feedback and information. She is really interested in the housing needs in the community especially related to accessibility. Once this information is compiled, it will be shared with HUD to review, the City may or may not hear back from HUD. The guidelines will provide strategies for addressing specific needs in the community. Information will be obtained through surveys, focus groups and individual meetings. If DAC members have any suggestions for different organizations that she should be in contact with, she would appreciate that input. She understands difficulties in living in the city of Ithaca because of the high cost. She would like information on any type of problem with housing that people might want to share. So far, she has reached out to Tompkins County Office for the Aging, FLIC, the W omen’s Opportunity Center, Loaves and Fishes, Lifelong, GIAC seniors. If any DAC member would be interested in talking with her more, she’d be happy to meet with them individual – she distributed her business cards to each member at the meeting. Vice Chair Scriber stated that she knows someone who lives in Newfield now, but wanted to live in the City; however, they could not afford it because it’s too expensive - she will reach out to Ms. Mendizabal to provide further information. Chair Roberts arrived at 12:37 p.m. DAC Member Sember-Chase explained that Alderperson Nguyen e-mailed her information from Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Council member, David Nutter, it explained BPAC’s thoughts on the proposed consolidation of boards and committees. It also contained information that the plan is not final until it’s approved by the voters of the City of Ithaca at referendum in November during the General Election. She stated that both BPAC and the DAC have expressed compelling arguments to members of the Working Group, the Mayor and Chief of Staff for why they feel their committee should not be disbanded. Extensive discussion followed on the floor regarding the proposal, what might be done between now and the November election, and ideas for ways to share information about the proposal in the meantime between committee members, the public, and Common Council members. It was noted that at least one member of the Board of Fire Commissioners sent an e-mail to the DAC about the proposal which also includes the disbanding of that Board and suggested – which they, also, do not support. They suggested that perhaps a broad group of committee members meet to discuss the proposal and any action that they might take. Chair Roberts asked DAC members what their thoughts were, strategically, about what should happen between now and November. He feels that information should be shared with the public that the proposal will eliminate a lot of specific knowledge and ability to address specific needs by combining so many topics under one commission. The commission might not be made up of the subject experts as may be currently serving on the city’s boards and committees, in which case it will cause there to be a loss of attention to particular subjects because commission members may not be aware of them. He is not sure what information has been made available to the public at this point. There was a general sense that it might be helpful to have a meeting with other members of boards and committees proposed to be disbanded to share information and perhaps come up suggestions on the best way to ensure that there remains specificity on topics instead of the generality that will be provided by the new commissions. There was also discussion on the way to brainstorm solutions about how the new commission structure could be set up so that the subject matter experts and the specificity that they provide is not lost. Members expressed disappointment, especially those that attended the open forum in May, about the draft recommendation not being presented to the members of boards and committees for input before distribution to the public and the Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes July 12, 2017 3 vote by Common Council; instead, there was absolutely no sharing of any information with any board members. DAC Members shared that since they have attended the forums, provided input to the Working Group and Common Council members, and done as much as they can to share all of their concerns about the proposal and what they feel will happen when the boards and committees are disbanded, that it’s hard not to have an attitude that they’ve done all that they can and if this is the decision by Common Council members then so be it and what happens, happens. They will have done all they can so when complaints and concerns start coming before the various commissions that could have been handled had their input and participati on been allowed in a more active way, then maybe the City will realize the value resource that has been lost. It would be nice to have someone from the working group, the group itself or Common Council members reaching out to the members of the boards and committees during this time of transition in order to discuss whether any compromises might be reached as well to discuss viable solutions to concerns that have been raised. It would be good to provide information to the public so it has the time to review it, discuss it, and be prepared to vote on it at the General Election in November. Chair Roberts stated that if the voters approve the proposal, then the new commission structure will begin January 1, 2018. He encouraged DAC members interested in serving on the new commissions to make application and pursue appointment to ensure continuity. He further noted that Common Council members received the draft minutes from the June DAC meeting where members met with Chief of Staff Cogan and expressed their concerns about the proposal, and no one by Alderperson Kerslick has reached out to any member of the DAC to discuss those concerns. The DAC has until January to try to make sure that its voice and these issues continue to be addressed in an effective way. Perhaps a good way to do that would be to invite some members of Common Council to a DAC meeting, specifically Deb Mohlenhoff, who was the Chair of the Working Group, and others on the committee to present to them, for example, ten things that DAC members feel need to happen in order for some of their concerns to be addressed in the new commission structure. He would suggest that list includ e the following:  Self-assessment  Accessible on street parking  A way for all projects to be reviewed by the DAC (or somebody) to ensure they will meet the public’s needs for accessibility Plus, whatever other issues that the DAC may come up with between now and then for keeping on the agenda for the new commissions to discuss and oversee. He is also not sure why some committees were left untouched, such as the Workforce Diversity Advisory Committee and the Community Police Board. He further suggested that the DAC provide some sort of statement of mission for each of the new commissions that states they will have accessibility built it to them – it can’t just fall under one commission because accessibility is a very broad topic and covers a lot of different aspects of everyone’s life and just about every project or activity that the City of Ithaca is involved in. He would like to see a mission statement put into writing for each of the commissions to adhere to as part of their charge. Chair Roberts suggested that for the August meeting DAC members come with lists about the issues they want to make sure are carried forward to the new commission, and why it is important that disability and accessibility topics be built into each of them. DAC Member Rappaport expressed his opinion that the DAC should come up with at least 4 ideas for each commission to have written into their mission statement related to disability and accessibility issues. Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes July 12, 2017 4 Chair Roberts agreed, and that in addition to that list, suggestions for why the topics should fall under the purview of each particular commission. Having this information in writing is important, as a record that the DAC provided it to the City prior to it being disbanded. Vice Chair Scriber stated that she really values the input from her other peers on the DAC because of their knowledge and wisdom, so having the August meeting to share ideas amongst each other will be a great way to ensure any information or list is as complete as it can be for presentation to Common Council. DAC Member Sember-Chase stated that there are probably valid reasons for the change and that some processes will improve because they need to through the new structure. The August DAC meeting will also be a good time for members to problem solve and share information about all that will be lost and how members of the DAC can help between now and January 1, 2018. Chair Roberts noted that no matter the status of the DAC, there has to be the willingness and to desire keep in mind that the decisions of each of the commission will affect people with disabilities. The written list from the DAC could provide the leadership of the commissions with a reference of questions that should always be asked. At least it will provide some thought for them to keep in mind and ensure everyone’s needs are met in the community. There has been difficulty with the current board/committee structure, some may be resolved through the new structure, but he would encourage some form of training to remind leadership of the commissions that the same way that disability is built into their mission statement, that the leadership of the city/commission is trained in this area as well. DAC Member Rappaport noted that if the City had on staff an ADA Coordinator that some of the concerns of the DAC might go away because the coordinator could be the link between each of the commissions. There should be one and he is very surprised that there isn’t. Chair Roberts agreed that the DAC needs to ensure that there is someone on staff with the City who is thinking about disability issues/accessibility and strategizing for it in all aspects of involvement by the City in any type of project. He will reach out to members of the Working Group to invite them to the DAC’s September meeting. Update – Commons Playground Vice Chair Scriber reported that the changes to the new playground on the Commons are almost done, but it’s taken more than a year to get to this point. She is n ot sure why or where projects like this get stuck in the city to make it take so long. Adjournment: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. _________________________________ _____________________________ Sarah L. Myers, Larry Roberts, Information Management Specialist Chair