ADA Advisory Board

CITY OF DERBY ADA ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES April 14, 2014 4:00p.m. City Hall Vitality Room In Attendance: Thomas Muskus, ADA Board Member Tim Davidson, ADA Board Member Polly Jones, ADA Board Member Jim Sweeney, ADA Board Member Absent: Judy Morris, ADA Board Chairperson City Staff: Jenny Turner, Director of Human Resources MacKensie Cornell, Admin. Asst. to Human Resources Ted Austin, Director of Operations Dale Wasinger, Project Inspector Tom called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and welcomed everyone. MacKensie took roll call. Jenny shared with committee members a follow-up to Chamber opportunities discussed at the previous meeting. Chamber staff did not think ADA issues would fill an entire session, but encouraged Jenny to speak overall regarding HR topics and have ADA be one of the topics included in her presentation. Jenny then shared a draft version of an ADAAA information brochure. Jenny asked committee members to think about what our target is, if it is businesses we need to include business oriented information. Tim asked if the City had any incentives for businesses. Dale stated there are programs available that the City as a whole could enter into and the City pays for part of it as well as money being received from the government. Tom stated that the City came into its ADA practices at a good time and most businesses comply. He did mention he had visited the Antique Mall recently and the aisles were exactly 4 tiles apart, although items were hanging on the outside of booths. Jenny stated that when a complaint is received the City will send a letter to the business, advising of the complaint and ADA compliances. The committee decided to move forward with creating an informational brochure. Jenny asked members to bring their ideas and suggestions to the next meeting. Jim moved to approve, Polly seconded, and all were in favor. Jenny then passed out copies of the ADA Board mission statement. She thought it was a good time to review and make sure this is still where we want to be. No changes were suggested. The next item of discussion was the ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition plan. Jenny stated that a lot of changes and updates have been made in the last couple of months to the plan to reflect the updates the City has made. She is still planning to take the plan to the Council in the near future. Jenny shared the updated plan with committee members and went over a few items in the plan that served as examples of where the City is in the transition plan. For example, there is a walkway that really needs two railings, but adding a second rail would cause the walkway to be too narrow. Tim did ask if most items were in compliance when they were built, and Jenny responded, we were told they were. Dale did mention that the city of Wichita requires documentation from the architects that they have attended ADA classes. Another example was several items that needed updating in the Library. When the new Library was built, it eliminated the need for updates. Also, the consultant who prepared the plan recommended we pick a park in each quadrant and work on compliance. Also, as long as every item is accessible somewhere, we are in compliance. Polly then mentioned a few items she had noticed as she walks at High Park: the shelter by the bridge has a steep slope on the side, and on west side, north of the amphitheater, the concrete is eroding. Tim mentioned that this might be a good idea for the brochure: show what we have repaired or added such as fishing docks and accessible park features. He also gave big compliments to the Parks department as well as Dale and Ted for doing so much to make these improvements happen. Jenny let members know she would let them know what Council meeting the plan would be taken to. Polly then stated that she wondered what the City is doing to employ people with disabilities. Jenny let the committee know she has become involved with Project Search, a group designed to help special needs high school students become successful at employment. Jenny went on to state we had multiple employees with cognitive issues and she would not be able to create a position that is not meaningful or needed. Jim made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Tim seconded, and all were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 4:57 p.m.