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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Committee For Persons With Disabilities - 09/05/2001 MINUTES - QUORUM MEETING COMMITTEE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES September 5, 2001 Commissioners - Present Commissioners -Absent Chairperson: Ms. Crystal Lyons Ms. Frances Garza Ms. Sandra Cabazos Ms. Mary J. Saenz Mr. Roberto M. Flores Ms. Toni Padilla Mr. Eloy Soza Ms. Linda Fallwell-Stover Mr. Glen Ray Tomo CITY STAFF: (ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT) Building Official: Park & Recreation Director: Mr. Art Sosa Mr. Tony Cisneros Human Relations Administrator: Legal Advisor: Mr. L. David Ramos, Interim Director Mr. Joseph Harney Human Relations Management Assistant: Ms. June Shultz ATTENDANCE — Roll Call — Absences: Mary Saenz, Frances Garza, Ray Tomo (came late), Tony Cisneros (came late), and Joseph Harney (came late). Audience: Judy Telge, Abel Alonzo, and Margaret Trevino APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Minutes of August 1, 2001 were reviewed. Corrections noted: David Ramos was not absent; the Health Fair was August 15th (Eloy Soza attended and made contact with other agencies). Motion to approve minutes made by Eloy Soza, and seconded by Toni Padilla. Vote taken and the minutes were approved as corrected. SCANNED CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT: Since the last meeting, the Chair has been very active within the community. She attended: • Sea Bay Special Needs Focus Group meeting. They are working on a Survey to assess the needs of families with children with special needs. (i.e.: Need to allow Park & Recreation participation.) • Summit - discussion of a goal to develop accessibility to the community and address long term care needs. • Housing Coalition Meeting (she reviewed their Mission Statement with Committee). During the meeting, she provided Committee input, lengthy testimony with clarification. • Interview with the Corpus Christi Caller Times Editorial Staff regarding "People First" language. • FBISD —working with them regarding ADA Transition Plan. PUBLIC COMMENTS/PRESENTATIONS: Art Sosa provided a presentation regarding the upcoming Building Code Revision. There was discussion and a broad overview of Texas Accessibility Standards information, 9102 Vernon Texas Standards, the City currently utilizes 1997 Building Code Standards, but does not go beyond what is required. SB 484 requires plans to be submitted prior to issuance of building permits. Possibly provide verification by using E.A.B. Project Number. The proposed revision would address accessibility needs for persons with disabilities. Mr. Sosa indicated the recommendation would be made to the City Council at the end of September (approximately September 25th). This has been a very heavy legislative year. Ms. Lyons requested use of"People First" language. Basically, losing legal jargon, it will require all must show a project number (public or commercial operations $50,000.00 may over-ride it), no TDLR requirement. ANSI standards don't apply where State standards exist. Since TDLR administers the program, we don't address it, because it is addressed at the State level. Projects comply with the law — must submit standards. Ms. Lyons indicated the Mayor wants to see accessibility on all commercial buildings. Mr. Sosa indicated that nothing is locked in at this point. The City is complying with SB 484. Ms. Lyons questioned - so no change really, only going to adopt the language of SB 484? Mr. Sosa indicated the recommendation could be made applicable to all buildings, but there is no requirement to do so. We can't reduce 2 standards, but we can enhance them. Ms. Fallwell-Stover questioned, so the City could adopt language to require that all commercial buildings submit plans? Ms. Lyons questioned — the City won't inspect, just TDLR? What are other options? Mr. Tomo indicated it isn't so much the architects, but the mom and pop organizations, City Building Division verify that all that should be reviewed, then go further. There was further general discussion. Ms. Lyons indicated that accessibility issues have not been adhered to in the past. Judy Telge, regarding ICP (Independent Contract Provider), the biggest hold up is there aren't sufficient local ICPs, only 1. Mr. Tomo indicated there are 2 now. Mr. Sosa mentioned delays — 1 year or more. To withhold certificates of occupancy would be a loss of money. Ms. Lyons indicated the City's not submitting contracts to TDLR. We need accessibility for employment issues — forget public accommodation accessibility. We need to open employment opportunities. There is a high amount of mom and pop locations in Corpus Christi, and that results in a high amount of inaccessibility. Mr. Sosa indicated he would put forward any recommendation from the Committee. Ms. Lyons reviewed the Charge of the Committee from the Ordinance, they are to provide recommendations to the City Council. Mr. Sosa indicated he could recommend registration on all commercial buildings. Mr. Cisneros indicated that the City could choose to have a stricter standard, not less - $50,000.00 or consider $25,000.00 rather than $50,000.00. The City can choose to enforce a lesser standard. Mr. Sosa indicated he would have the Legal Department look at the language of the law and see how broad we can address it, such as like Mr. Cisneros discussed or all permits. Mr. Sosa indicated there would be a minimum. Ms. Cabazos asked how the inspection process worked and when it applies? Mr. Sosa explained the City would be looking at the inspection, planning review and certification process at a later date. To implement a more comprehensive revision, it would require at least 4 Plan Reviewers and 3 Inspectors to address every building. On an average, there are 16-18 inspections performed per day — the City has 15 Inspectors. Houston has 150. Mr. Tomo asked if work could be fanned out? Ms. Sosa indicated yes, the City could take a fee and farm it out to an ICP, but it is cheaper to go directly to an ICP. Ms. Lyons discussed how there has been a problem with ICP's — a City will train and certify an employee, who will then quit and go elsewhere to work. Ms. Fallwell-Stover indicated that this is still a problem unfortunately. Mr. Sosa indicated he would proceed forward with the revision recommendation, and ask Legal for a review. Ms. Padilla indicated for clarification, what was going forward - they have six months to work on it through the Committee. 3 Judy Telge, from ACI, asked about the accessibility standards handout being discussed, suggested that he bold only the paragraph being recommended. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Policy Development Sub-Committee Report: Ms. Padilla indicated that at this time there were no forms. The Board Composition policy is in draft form, but not ready for vote by the Committee at this time. Outreach Sub-Committee Report: Ms. Cabazos indicated that the Sub- Committee members got together at Eloy Soza's house (Roberto Flores, Sandra Cabazos, and Crystal Lyons). They drafted sample language for a brochure (a tri or quad-fold brochure). Ms. Fallwell-Stover asked about the font size — 14pt.? Additionally, we need to include TDD information. Mr. Cisneros mentioned that the language should reflect that the Committee is comprised of appointments from the Mayor and City Council. There was discussion and it was decided to table the brochure until next month's meeting. There was discussion on alternate methods of distribution. Ad Hoc Committee — Legislative Issues: Ms. Fallwell-Stover indicated she met at Mr. Soza's house (with Mr. Soza and Ms. Cabazos) and they focused on a few initially: SB484, HB1378, HB1621, HB966; 5B1986. There was discussion on types of action to take, appropriate to the legislation. This was inclusive of education and outreach, letters, etc. Letters would be cycled through the Human Relations Office. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: Mr. Ramos distributed a draft monthly report in the proposed new format. He reviewed the information with the Committee. He indicated that next month the report would be provided in the same type format. Mr. Ramos discussed the tentative calendar for the Transition Plan Project. There was general discussion about the components of the Transition Plan. NEW BUSINESS: Appointment of a new Vice Chair: 4 Mr. Roberto Flores was nominated by Eloy Soza and seconded by . Mr. Tomo nominated Sandra Cabazos, seconded by Eloy Soza. Ms. Cabazos declined the nomination. Ms. Toni Padilla was nominated by Sandra Cabazos, but she declined. A vote was taken and Mr. Flores was appointed as the new Vice Chair. Committee Concems/Items for Next Agenda: • Presentation by Susan Cable and follow-up report on possibility of Del Mar Class helping with development of Web site update. • Presentation by Mary Frances Teniente regarding curb cuts. • Transition Plan— Timeline update. • Building Code Ordinance update. • Ad Hoc Committee Reports • Sub-Committee Reports Adjournment The eeting adjourned at approximately 6:30 p.m. SA. // !1 - /O 70 51c) ! Cry. al Lyons, ti airperson Date Minutes Approved 5