: Susan Mizner, Director; Joanna Fraguli, Deputy Director for Programmatic Access; JohnPaul Scott, Deputy Director for Physical Access; Ken Stein, Program Administrator; Karma M. Quick, Programmatic Access Specialist; and Mabel Martinez, Council Clerk.
2 ACTION ITEM: APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was read and approved.
3 ACTION ITEM: Approval of the October, November, December, and December MDC / Small Business Commission (SBC) Joint Meeting Minutes.
The Council approved the October, November and December Minutes but has not yet received minutes from the SBC for the Joint Meeting. December Minutes Correction: Councilmember Chan noted she was in fact absent for the vote on the Resolution regarding the Ordinance Prohibiting Smoking in Enclosed Areas.
4 PUBLIC COMMENT: ITEMS NOT ON TODAY’S AGENDA, BUT WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE MDC. Each speaker is limited TO THREE MINUTES.
There was no public comment.
5 INFORMATION ITEM: Report from the Chair
Co-Chair Woodall reported there are openings on the Council. Anyone interested should contact the Mayor’s Office on Disability. Co-Chair Woodall recognized former Councilmembers Sarah Estes Merrell and Joseph Fong, who are no longer with the council. Co-Chair Woodall gave a public thank you for their time of service along with certificates of appreciation.
Co-Chair Parsons reported there will be a committee hearing on February 1st at the Land Use Committee on the second-hand smoke ordinance.
6 INFORMATION ITEM: Report from the Director of the Mayor’s Office on Disability.
Director Mizner reported on the following items:
Updates on the North Beach Library renovation - The Mayor’s Office on Disability has worked with the library to put out information to the public to let them know that programs that are not offered in accessible locations nearby cannot be offered at that library. Most programs are going to be continued to be offered at nearby accessible locations. A notice is going to be posted at the library letting its patrons know that services must be accessible to everyone. MOD is pleased that all of the other libraries have been renovated and accessible or are currently in design and construction for their renovation and will also be accessible.
Update on Litigation - Information on the King case settlement is on our Web site under "What's New.” Members of the disability community who use walkers, wheelchairs or scooters, should know that the proposed settlement commits the city to spend at least $4 million a year on curb ramp construction. That is less than what is being spent now and less than what we intend to spend in the future. But given the fairly significant financial crisis we are in, MOD felt it was important not to over commit general fund dollars to curb ramp construction. Nonetheless, MOD is working on the request this year for curb ramp dollars and working with the department of public works to find as many sources of funding for curb ramp construction as possible.
Deputy Director Scott Provided an Update on the 10 Year Capitol Plan - In this year's capital plan, MOD is continuing with ADA transition plan projects, primarily targeted for San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) for accessible toilet rooms in clinic areas and the psychiatric ward.
MOD is requesting one million dollars for the SFGH Building 80/90 elevator replacement.
ADA curb ramp funding is requested at $6.456 million. This is in addition to state and prop K funding which adds another $933,000 and curb ramp funding through street repaving and other programs. There is also a line item for the SFUSD passenger loading zones and curb ramps for $950,000, and there will be another request next year to complete that project for $950,000.
These are requests that have to go through a vetting process through the capital committee. The main hearing is going to be on February 25th, people are welcome to come to that meeting and make public comment.
Council members agreed that health facilities continue to be a top priority for the ADA Transition Plan.
7 PUBLIC COMMENT:
Bob Planthold commented on the lack of discussion surrounding the funding of sidewalks while the funding of street repaving is at the center of discussion by the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, and the Media.
Director Mizner responded that there is a sidewalk repair program which has been in effect for two years. The City is surveying the sidewalks and the City has contracted with an outside firm to repair problems that were found. There is a $1.4 million pool of money to fund that.
90% of the sidewalks in this city are the responsibility of the adjoining property owners.
Ms. Sue Coffen suggested a location to provide a ramp in the North Beach Library; Director Mizner responded that a ramp in that location would be technically infeasible.
8 INFORMATION ITEM: The Interplay of Historic Preservation and Disability Rights. Presentation by Charles Chase and Courtney Damkroger, Co-Chairs, Historic Preservation Commission.
Mr. Charles Chase opened the presentation by introducing himself and the members of the Historic Preservation Commission.
Ms. Courtney Damkroger described the role of the Historic Preservation Commission in the building preservation process with the City, and emphasized that the HPC wants to continue to work with and strengthen its relationship with the MDC. Ms. Damkroger also stated that the Commission has jurisdiction over a small number of buildings and gave a local example with the Millwright Cottage in Golden Gate Park and discussed the Commission’s role in making it more accessible by working with Department of Public Works.
Co-Chair Woodall asked HPC to have a dialogue with the Council about setting up a policy about accessible issues as they relate to historic buildings. He asked that accessibility and compliance with the ADA be a paramount consideration in all historic buildings in the City.
Mr. Chase addressed Co-Chair Woodall’s question and stated that the two groups and goals are not mutually exclusive. Preservation does not necessarily mean a lack of access.
The Historic Preservation Commission website can be found through the planning department segment of the City's website at the historic preservation section.
Councilmember Bennin mentioned the North Beach Library and Mr. Chase mentioned the process of identifying impediments in the building and determining how to make the building more accessible without altering the historic fabric of the building.
9 PUBLIC COMMENT:
Peggy Coster discussed her accessibility issues with the North Beach Library.
Bob Planthold commented on the lack of accessibility at North Beach Library and called the Council to action on this matter.
Sue Coffen commented that that North Beach Library could be preserved and become more accessible. Sue Coffen gave examples of library renovations that made the library more accessible while the building was able to retain its historic fabric.
Mr. Chase provided his email address, C.chase@ARGSF.com. Meetings are in room 400 of City Hall on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 12:30 PM.
10 INFORMATION ITEM: Van Ness Avenue Rapid Transit Project – Design Options and Disability Impacts. Presentation by Rachel Hiatt, S.F. County Transportation Authority
Rachel Hiatt presented an overview of the Van Ness Avenue Rapid Transit Project. The project would dedicate a lane of traffic to rapid buses in both directions on Van Ness Avenue. There are three proposed alternatives.
Alternative One is a no project scenario which would include low cost easily funded improvements to Van Ness Avenue.
Alternative Two would dedicate the right lanes in each direction to buses only unless a car must make a right turn. The parallel parking would stay as it is, the landscape median would stay as it is.
Alternative Three would reconstruct the street to provide central lanes for buses only, with boarding platforms along two smaller medians on either side of the dedicated bus lanes.
Alternative Four would leave the median as it is today, and the buses would operate on either side of the median, also in the center. This would mean that passengers would get on and off the bus on the left-hand side. This alternative would involve buses that have doors on both sides.
The main trade offs between the methods are travel time and reliability benefits versus the necessity of crossing the street to board the bus.
The Van Ness Avenue Rapid Transit Project will have an environmental impact survey evaluating each alternative on pedestrian access, access for all pedestrians, to those station platforms and to assess how the different alternatives compare in terms of their safety and pedestrian access. The evaluation is underway and will be included in the environmental impact report.
11 PUBLIC COMMENT:
Peggy Koster commented on the fact that the inches from the platform to the bus may affect a wheelchair user.
Wendy Yu commented on the loading station at the Mission Bay stop which is in the middle of the street. She would prefer that the loading station be at the end, to accommodate elderly individuals and individuals with canes.
Councilmembers took a straw poll on the preferred alternative. There was no consensus and the issue will be further discussed at a future meeting.
[Note: The following items were taken out of order. There was no presentation on Item Number 9: San Francisco State University]
12 INFORMATION ITEM: Report from the Physical Access Committee.
Deputy Director John Paul Scott explained that the elevators in Buildings 80 and 90 at San Francisco General Hospital are at the end of their life cycle. Building 90 serves about 80,000 visitors a year and building 80 serves 50,000. MOD has looked at the possibility of moving the clinics. Those options turned out to be not feasible nor could they be done in a timely fashion.
PhAC is working with San Francisco General to immediately address the problem and have a backup procedure if an elevator goes out and a person is showing up for appointment, so that they can be treated on the ground floor.
PhAC is requesting $1 million next year to start the design and renovation process for the elevators. Even if the funding is granted, with funding cycles, engineering time, permits going out to public bid, and then building the elevators, we have working elevators until 2012. The alternative is to try to do an emergency authorization to immediately first do Building 80 which houses the family health clinic, resource clinic upstairs and children's psychology programs. The money could be borrowed from MOD but there is always the risk, in a budget crisis of a half billion dollar deficit, we might not get all the money needed.
13 INFORMATION ITEM: California Telephone Access Program (CTAP). Presentation by Casey Kho CTAP Outreach Specialist.
Casey Kho is from the California Telephone Access Program which is a state-mandated program. Ms. Kho and her co-worker Sherrie Frank placed on display a variety of home phones available at no cost, which meet the needs of individuals with a variety of disabilities.
Individuals who get a phone from CTAP and have difficulty with how the phone functions, how to operate the phone, can call their 800 number, 800 806-1191 (Voice), 800 806-4474 (TTY).
A field advisor can also be requested for in home service.
14 INFORMATION ITEM: Report from the Disability Disaster Preparedness Committee.
Deputy Director Fraguli reported that at the last Disability Disaster Preparedness Committee meeting the group reviewed 2010 goals, including partnering with community-based organizations like the American Red Cross to ensure the best service to individuals with disabilities in the event of a disaster.
She said that a provider’s survey was created to identify community groups likely to be useful after a disaster, and to invite them to work with MOD to develop a Statement of Understanding to outline a collaborative relationship between the group and the City in responding to a disaster. An outreach event is scheduled for March 2, 2010 in Hearing Room 400 at City Hall. Anyone who has a personal contact with disability service provider or organization that should be involved should contact Joanna Fraguli or Carla Johnson at 554-6789.
15 DISCUSSION ITEM: Items not on today’s agenda, but within the jurisdiction of the MDC. Each speaker is limited to three minutes.
Mr. Michael DeCarlo Wright discussed concerns about the lack of wheelchair spaces on buses and proposed having wheelchair-only buses.
16 DISCUSSION ITEM: Correspondence
There was no correspondence.
17 DISCUSSION ITEM: Council Members’ Comments and Announcements.
There were no comments or announcements.
18 ADJOURNMENT In Memory of those in Haiti
Co-Chair Parsons thanked everyone for their participation and invited everyone to join the Council in sending our prayers and best wishes to those in Haiti and hoping that the situation will improve and that we can be of guidance to them in the future.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.