Tacoma Area Commission on Disabilities DRAFT AGENDA Thursday, May 6, 2010 4:00-6:00 PM TACID Center - 6315 South 19th Street, Tacoma WA 4:00 Call to Order 4:05 Adoption of Agenda 4:05 Acceptance of Minutes Presentation 4:10 Pierce Transit- Lind Simonsen and Tim Renfro 4:40 Hearing, Speech, and Deafness Center- Christine Seymour Reports 4:50 TACID Report (Chris) Open Forum 5:00 Committee Reports 5:05 Parking Enforcement- Transportation (Nan) COD Members: Nan 2010 Goals: Improve enforcement of accessible parking laws; ensure adequate number of accessible parking spaces are provided; educate private businesses about accessible parking requirements 5:10 Public Right-of-Way Committee (Stan) COD Members: Stan 2010 Goals: Complete Curb Ramp Assessment Matrix to provide guidance regarding when curb ramps are needed; Continue assessing accessible routes to/from state/local government buildings; coordinate with implementation of City’s Complete Streets Program 5:15 Emergency Management and Public Safety (Stan) COD Members: Stan, Dan, Chuck 2010 Goals: Update Emergency Management plans for all City-owned facilities; resolve issues related to wide-spread emergency management (i.e. secure accessible sites, notify PWD) 5:20 City Managed Parks (Lois) COD Members: Lois 2010 Goals: Continue assessments and coordination between City and Metro Parks 5:25 Effective Communication and COD Website (Debbie) COD Members: Debbie, Hayley, Joanne, Esther 2010 Goals: Improve City website and COD webpage; inform and get feedback from people with disabilities 5:30 Employment, Contracting, and Licensing (Gail) COD Members: None - Gail 2010 Goals: Analyze survey results; develop work plan based on results 5:35 Building Retrofits (Gail) COD Members: Ron, Esther, Chuck 2010 Goals: Get COD members more involved; develop checklist to assist during inspections; complete ADA upgrades at 18 City facilities; improve coordination between Permitting and Inspection sections 5:40 New Business 20-Year Celebration of the ADA Discussion 5:50 Recruiting New COD Commissioners- Strategy and Skill Set 6:00 Good of the Order/Announcements Next meeting, June 10, 2010 4-6 p.m. COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES April 1, 2010 MINUTES Commissioners Present: Lois Stark, Chuck Porret, JoAnn Fritsche, Esther Bennett, Michel Raymond, Dan Eberle, Ron Stone, Stan Smith, and Debbie Walker. Staff Present: Gail Himes, Chris Ensor, and Ben Hulscher Guests Present: Lyn Messenger (Belay Architecture), Rick Melvin (City of Tacoma), Terry Builds (Belay Architecture), Matt Nolan (Belay Architecture), Gary Olson (Mortinson Construction), and Spencer Norby (Everthrive) Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. by Chair Stark. The agenda was adopted as written. Minutes: Minutes from the March meeting were accepted as written. Cheney Stadium Overview (Belay Architecture, City of Tacoma, Mortinson Construction) Lyn Messenger introduced staff involved with the Cheney project. Lyn showed the overall plan and aerial photo. He talked about budget constraints, since most monies will be put towards the building itself, and not surrounding areas. The group is halfway done with drawings, to be submitted for permitting in May. Gary talked briefly about what they are doing with the project, providing ramps and access to the 3rd base side, parking adjustments, painted pathway for pedestrian access. 3 lifts to the party deck, and the dugouts will be accessible through team areas. Bathrooms are all designed to be accessible. Everything on the main concourse will be removed and replaced. All concession stands will be at 34 inches high. The ticket office and team store will be accessible. One of the options they are looking into is a grass berm. Gary said that other than actual seating, it will be basically a new stadium. Rick talked about City related issues. “In regards to accessibility, we are committed to the most successful stadium possible.” Lyn assured Stan that there will be accessible seating on each seating level. Dan talked about being able to move around the entire stadium. He doesn't see that here in the new plans for Cheney. Dan also talked about getting Pierce Transit direct access to the stadium. Lyn answered that nearly every area of the Stadium will be accessible. Unfortunately, the current seating in the bowl will remain which poses challenges. There will be accessible seating at every ticket price. Roof coverage will be 60% of current coverage. Suite level has accessible seating. Each floor has areas of refuge. Stan talked about how, according to the ADA Transition Plan, the committee must include input from the community and have at least one citizen with a disability who understands the code. Lois talked about Cheyenne Street and making sure it is upgraded. Not only is this street used by pedestrians, but there needs to be a light for traffic turning left onto 19th Street after leaving the game. Lyn mentioned that the plan that is being submitted to the City includes traffic control, lighting upgrades, crosswalk safety upgrades, other things that may not be included in the final project. Rick and Gary described the timeline: Complete paperwork package finished before July 4th, construction begins once the season is over. Reports: TACID Report (Ron) • The Use Agreement with the City was approved on March 26th. • TACID’s HELP Program depends on funding from a variety of sources, including the Community Development Block Grant which the City administers. This year, the Human Services Commission did not recommend any funding for the HELP Program, which usually receives $12,000 each year. There will be a hearing regarding the HSC recommendations on April 20th in front of the City Council. The COD discussed speaking up during this meeting as a representative of the Commission versus as a citizen. ADA Coordinator Report and Update (Gail Himes): • Urban Waters is almost complete; the building received the temporary occupancy permit. They will be making a few changes regarding accessibility before staff begin moving in on April 20th. • Parking Enforcement has been placing tickets on windshields. This was difficult for individuals in wheelchairs to reach. Gail worked with staff to come up with a solution. Tickets will now be moved to the top of the driver’s side window. • We filmed a portion of the parking video being produced by DBTEC, starring Linda from Parking Enforcement, Chuck and Ben. The video will show how • Off-site improvements- we are revising parts of the Tacoma Municipal Code. Gail has met with staff from Building and Land Use and Construction; goals is to provide clarity and proportionality to this portion of the Code. Open Forum: Spencer Norby from Everthrive talked about the disability of hearing. Being hard of hearing is often an invisible disability. Spencer talked about the limitations of current assisted listening devices here in the United States. A better solution is an induction loop coil. Any hearing aid with a T-coil can use induction loop coils, which is a universal system. Spencer said that he would like to see the COD paying more attention to hearing disabilities. Committee Reports:(( Accessible Parking (Lois): Lois received an email from Nan; she continues to present at Neighborhood Council meetings. Public Right-of-Way (Stan): No meeting last month. Emergency Management and Public Safety (Stan): Sent notes to the Convention Center after their plan submission. Also discussing at what point the committee's work will be complete. Effective Communication (Debbie): The committee is asking the Commission to recommend to Mayor Marilyn Strickland that a Community Advocacy Recognition award be created. The Committee will draft a letter and submit to the Commission in May. Employment, Contracting and Licensing (Gail): Gail met with Kurt Andres, Manager of Graphics. She shared with him the alternative format and reasonable accommodation taglines. Kurt will make sure that all printed material that goes through Graphics contains these taglines. Building Retrofits (Gail): • TACID is done, except for bathroom hinges, and a sign up front. • Pt. Defiance and Lighthouse Senior Centers internal retrofits are complete. • Moore Library internal retrofits are almost done. • Tacoma Learning Center internal retrofits are complete. • Wheelock and Main Library- work is in progress. Old Business Revision of Committee Goals The goals we see on the agenda is what we agreed to during the COD retreat, October 2009. Emergency Management Committee's 1st goal should be removed (not a goal). Stan and Dan feel the goal should be removed because they feel the committee is doing other staffs’ work. Stan feels a goal is moving from self evaluation to a transition plan for Emergency Management. Gail, Stan, and Dan are not in agreement and will discuss at their next committee meeting. Overall goal should be to make sure the City has an Emergency Plan for each facility. Parking Enforcement Suggestion was to not take off goals that have been completed; show progress. Continue education projects. Good of the Order/Announcements • Dan passed around flyers during the meeting: o Washington State Independent Living Council Public Forum, April 21st 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. o Rebuilding Together South Sound, Takeover at the Varsity Grill, April 19th 4:00 - 8 p.m. o Governor Gregoire signed House Bill #1509, which increases the fine for violators of accessible parking from $250 to $450. • Lois had handouts for Pierce Transit survey, which can be mailed in (no postage required). Pierce Transit will be present at the COD's May meeting. o Lois also passed out the MetroParks Activity Guides. • Michel is going to Washington D.C. next week. • Commissioner Hayley Edick plans to resign; there will be an opening on the Commission. The meeting was concluded at 5:54 p.m.