Mayor & Commission Meetings

GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Monday, April 17, 2023 Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent: Commissioner Patrick Davenport, Committee Chair Commissioner Mike Hamby Commissioner Dexter Fisher Commissioner Melissa Link Commissioner Tiffany Taylor Staff: Josh Edwards, Assistant Manager Todd Miller, Park Planning Coordinator Austin Jackson, Assistant Attorney Beth Smith, Facilities Management Administrator Remy Epps, Inclusion Officer Alphonso Daniel, Fire Marshal Kent Kilpatrick, Leisure Services Director Doug Hansford, Building Inspection Dept. Director Emilie Castillo, Park Planner II Cynthia Lambright, Recorder Committee Chair Davenport called the meeting to order at 1:03 p.m. A. Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Taylor made the motion to approve the Minutes of the March 20, 2023 meeting. Commissioner Fisher seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. B. Commission Identified Items of Interest: Evaluate opportunities for Inclusive Athens-Clarke County Facilities (Mayor Girtz assigned to GOC on May 4, 2021) Austin Jackson gave an overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) focusing on Title II: Public Services and Title III: Public Accommodations. Josh Edwards reviewed the 2019 Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan. Commissioner Davenport made a motion for the GOC to update the 2019 Transition Plan. Commissioner Fisher seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. Dr. Remy Epps reviewed a summary of ADA Language, Definitions, and Terms. Kent Kilpatrick presented an Inclusive Facility Survey spreadsheet that he and staff developed of every park, trail and facility in Leisure Services. Emily Castillo gave an overview of the spreadsheet. Kent said there are National Recreational Park Standards that go over and above ADA requirements and that Leisure Services is measuring themselves against those standards. Josh Edwards said that as the Committee discusses this topic it should consider not necessarily meeting all obligations under ADA, but what the level of service the Mayor and Commission want to provide. Beth Smith presented an Inclusive Facility Survey spreadsheet of facilities that the public might access. Discussion was held regarding bathrooms and the possibility for single use bathrooms in all facilities.  Doug Hansford said that the Plumbing Code states how many fixtures are required not the number of bathrooms. He said that the Committee needs to be cognizant of the fact that if you put a lock on the door of a restroom with multiple fixtures to make it a single use restroom, you are reducing the number of available fixtures. Josh Edwards said the Committee might want to consider a recommendation for all new buildings and look at current buildings to see if there is a potential to add a single use bathroom. Commissioner Fisher said the Committee should look at the buildings with the most activity first. The Committee requested that staff present at the next GOC meeting the seven areas of the National Park Services universal design, the potential of single use restrooms in all facilities, if feasible, the current number of stalls in bathrooms and signage for access to buildings for persons with disabilities. Commissioner Fisher made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Taylor seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 2:04 p.m. Government Operations Committee Meeting Minutes Page 2 04172023