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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Committee For Persons With Disabilities - 05/03/2006 - i✓ til CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI-COMMITTEE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Summary Minutes for the Meeting of May 3, 2006 I. Call to Order / Roll Call / Requests for Excused Absences The Vice Chairperson called the meeting to order at 3:32 PM. A. Roll call: Present Committee Members: David Walker, Abel Alonzo, James Duerr, Toni Padilla, Eloy Soza, Brian Watson Post Roll Call Arrivals: Mary Saenz, Robert Flores Absent Committee Members: Linda Fallwell-Stover Present Staff Members: Leon Bazar, April Moffett, Maureen Mahoney for Sally Gavlik, Sylvia Wilson for Ruthie Caraway, Richard Martinez for Lupe Rocha, Doyle Curtis Public: Michelle Jones, David Swartz, Moses Rayes, John Lee, John Taylor B. Excused Absences: Leon Bazar informed the Committee members that Linda Faliweil-Stover requested for this absence, (May 3, 2006), to be excused. MOTION: Toni Padilla moved to excused Linda Fallwell-Stover's absence for today's, (April 5, 2006) meeting with a second by James Duerr. The motion passed. Discussion: Brian Watson, Abel Alonzo and James Duerr voiced their concerns regarding the habitual absences of a few City Staff members and a few Committee members. They all voiced the importance of all members of City staff members being present so that the Committee's questions on different issued may be addressed. II. Approval of Minutes: MOTION: Eloy Soza moved to approve the minutes of April 5, 2006 as written with a second by James Duerr. The motion passed. Ill. Presentation and Public Comments: Presentation: Corpus Christi Sail AWAY (Adaptive Water sports for Adults and Youth)— Danny Meredith Mr. Meredith informed the Committee that the vision for the project is to provide access to recreational activities for individuals with disabilities, take advantage of our location on the Corpus Christi Bay, and emulate a first class adaptive sailing program in Florida. He also informed the Committee that the organization is a nonprofit organization that relies on volunteers and staff to SCANNED CFPWD 050306 vatsupport the programs that are being offered. The principal donor is Christus Sphon and there are also other donors in the area. The organization serves individuals with a variety of disabilities; the accepted age group is 10 years old to adulthood. He further informed the Committee that the boats that will be used are Access Dinghy's. The Dinghy's are designed for use by those with physical impairments and adapted to be easily sailed with controls in front of the sailor. The Dinghy does also have the capabilities for electronics to facilitate steering and sail control with a joystick. The Dinghy's are safe and virtually impossible to capsize due to a heavy "keel" that sits deep in the water. Danny Meredith hopes that this program will get support from the community, access potential clients, provide greater access to citizens with physical impairments, and educate the public. Public Comments: IV. Mr. John Taylor spoke to the Committee and stated that the members of the Accessibility Coalition of the Coastal Bend, (ACCB), would like to be placed on next month's agenda to speak about volunteers for Accessible Parking Patrol. He stated that there is support for this task force from the ACCB. Michelle Jones also spoke to the Committee and stated that the ACCB has already approached the City regarding this issue and they would just like to be apart of the decision making in regards to the task force to aid people with disabilities. V. Chairperson's Report: (Discussion, with possible action): Mr. Walker stated that he had no report and he was glad to be able to fill in for Ms. Linda Fallwell-Stover. VI. Subcommittee Reports: (Discussion, with possible action): A. ADA Title I I Employment Comprehensive: Sylvia Wilson Human Resource Department Sylvia Wilson informed the Committee that the Human Resource Department has started to conduct training in order to formulate job descriptions. She further informed the Committee that Ruthie Caraway is currently reviewing all applications to make sure they are compliant. Upon completion of the review, Ms. Caraway will contact the Committee. The Committee members voiced their concern regarding the Human Resource's inability to track how many people with a preexisting disability have come to work for the City of Corpus Christi. Ms. Wilson responded by informing the Committee that the City of Corpus Christi does not track that information and she further informed the Committee that once a person has been hired, that person's needs are met on an individual basis by the department that he/she will be assigned to. She stated that the Human Resource Department does not keep the type of data that the Committee is requesting. Leon Bazar stated that he would request CFPWD 050306 2 V the information from the Director of the Human Resource Department. Engineering Subcommittee - Richard Martinez David Walker introduced Mr. Martinez, Engineering Department with the City of Corpus Christi. (Handout and Map) Project 1 Mary Grett/Cunningham School Area between Home Road and Gollihar. There are a number of streets and curbs that the City of Corpus Christi is focusing on. On the map provided, red triangle represents a curb ramp that is in planning with a total of 31 curb ramps. The Green circles represent an existing curb ramp. Leon Bazar reminded the Committee that CDBG funding only pays for new curb ramps; however, they will not pay for the repair or maintenance to an existing sidewalk. If a sidewalk does not exist and we can justify creating a new one by the CDBG population of that area, then we can request CDBG money for a new sidewalk. If a sidewalk already exists, the repair of that sidewalk will have to come from another fund. Leon Bazar also asked them to be mindful of the fact that the maintenance and repair of a sidewalk, under the City ordinance, is the property owner's responsibility. The only time the City will repair a sidewalk is when it is a result of work done by the City on that property. The City will not repair a sidewalk that has deteriorated due to normal wear and tear or age of that sidewalk. (Handout and Map) Project 2 Spohn Memorial Hospital Area There are some non-compliant curb ramps on the south side of Morgan Avenue and those are apart of the accessible route and some of these may be replaced. Leon Bazar stated that on ramps 104, 105, 106, 107, there needs to be a receiving curb ramp. On ramp 108, there is a series of steps. Those steps will be reconstructed into a ramp. Mr. Duerr stated there is an existing similar problem with Santa Fe and the Lamar Park area as with the area being discussed in the map. The sidewalks are not passable. He requested that the Mr. Martinez and the City's Engineering Department check on that area also. Abel Alonzo did voice his concem to Doyle Curtis about the City installing a new curb ramp when the existing sidewalk still needs repairing. He also inquired about the City's liability because we have just exposed a person to injury by pulling curb cuts? Doyle Curtis responded that he would obtain that information regarding that issue and get back to the Committee. (Handout and May) Project 3 Staples Street CPPWID 050306 3 10 The Vice Chairperson stated that another meeting was to take place in the room where this meeting was being held. He asked the Committee members were there any urgent business that needed to be taken cam of now. MOTION: Toni Padilla moved to table the remainder of the meeting agenda until next month's meeting with a second by Abel Alonzo. The motion passed. • Robed Flores stated the seating at the American Bank Center. Graduation Ceremonies will be taking place in May. James Duerr stated that he and Robed Flores could go and speak to Mark Soliz at the American Bank Center. • Able Alonzo stated that City Staff needs to be present at the meetings. • Maureen Mahoney passed out Parks and Recreation Brochures. • Leon Bazar stated that he would e-mail his report to the Committee members. • Leon Bazar stated that there will be a presentation on the North Beach Project at next month's meeting. VI. Staff Reports / Comments: (Discussion, with possible action): A. Non-Discrimination Ordinance: B. Other Items: Curb Ramp Projects — Individual Curb Ramp Guidelines and 1. Park and Recreation Outreach Marketing Effort: 2. Development Services Key Projects - Initiatives Update: VII. Old Business: VIII. New Business: IX. Committee Concerns / Request for Agenda Items: Concern: Agenda Items: X. Announcements: XI. Adjournment: MOTION: Mary Saenz moved to adjourn the meeting with a second by all of the Committee members in unison. The motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 5:26 PM. t V j Gla Chairperson Date CFPWD050306 4