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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Commission on Persons with Disabilities - Meeting Date: 2/16/2016 City of Glendale Commission on Persons with Disabilities Glendale Main Library — First Floor Large Meeting Room 5959 West Brown Street Glendale, AZ 85302 Tuesday, February 16, 2016 6:00 p.m. MINUTES I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at approximately 6:04 p.m. by Chairperson Lesser. II. Roll Call Commissioners Hoerner, LeGendre, Pirooz, Vice Chairperson Kumar, and Chairperson Lesser were present. Commissioners Cox and Steiger were absent. Erik Strunk, Community Services Director, and Stephanie Miller, Senior Management Assistant, were present. III. Approval of Minutes — January 19, 2016 — Chairperson Lesser called for approval of the January 19, 2016 minutes. A few commission members indicated they had not had the opportunity to review the minutes. The Commission agreed to place this set of minutes on next month's agenda. IV. Oath of Office Chairperson Lesser called for this item. Mr. Strunk asked the Chairperson and Commissioner Pirooz to take their Oath of Office and congratulated them for another term. V. Business From The Floor Chairperson Lesser called for any Business From The Floor. There was none. VI. Presentation and Discussion of Parks and Recreation Services for Disabled Persons Chairperson Lesser called for this item. Mr. Erik Strunk presented this item and distributed information to the Commission. He stated the Glendale Parks and Recreation Division is responsible for providing various services and programs at 119 different facilities. He displayed an organizational chart for the Community Services Department. Mr. Strunk said although jurisdictions must comply with ADA requirements, they are also interested in providing programs for those with special needs. He referred to the next slide regarding the Adaptive Needs Program "With the goal of enhancing programs for citizens with disabilities, the City of Glendale partners with the City of Peoria in the Glendale/Peoria Special Recreation Alliance program, which offers cooperative programs between the two cities". Minutes — Commission on Persons with Disabilities February 16, 2016 Page - 2 He continued to say the general minimum age for participating is 8 years old. He said the program includes adaptive bowling and Theater Kids. Also, there are Special Interest Classes offered as the belief is a special needs child should have the opportunity to participate in any activity, within reason, in which an able bodied child participates. In response to a question from Chairperson Lesser, Mr. Strunk indicated all participants are charged the same amount for a class. Any extra fees charged to allow a special needs child to participate are absorbed by the city. Mr. Strunk asked the Commission what they wished to see in the future regarding the Adaptive Needs Programming. Chairperson Lesser said she would like to see Commissioners visit an activity and share their experience with the Commission. Commissioner LeGendre stated the bowling program has expanded greatly. He would like to speak with Special Olympics and begin their own bowling team, which would be competitive. Commissioner Hoerner would like to see programs offered more often. Commissioner Pirooz said he would provide comments and ideas to Mr. Strunk in an email. Mr. Strunk said he would provide these comments to the Parks Division for consideration in future programming. These will also be added to the Master Plan Objectives. Commissioner Pirooz asked Mr. Strunk to check with the Fire and Police Departments to see if they have any input. He is asking Mr. Strunk and his staff to provide him with some ideas. This item was for review and discussion only. VII. Update on Commission Special Event Chairperson Lesser called for this item. Mr. Strunk introduced Ms. Stephanie Miller, who presented this item. She stated at its last meeting, the Commission agreed to sponsor a special, community wide event on Saturday, April 23, 2016, at the Glendale Civic Center. She said the event has been renamed to the Glendale Empowerment Expo. She said she has reached out to 39 agencies with 7 confirming they will attend. Chairperson Lesser said nomination forms were distributed to the Commission. These forms were award nominations for an individual and the other for a disability service provider. Chairperson Lesser asked if there would be sponsors. Ms. Miller said this year they would not solicit sponsors. Minutes — Commission on Persons with Disabilities February 16, 2016 Page - 3 Commissioner LeGendre asked if Ms. Miller could check with Special Olympics to see if they would participate. She said yes. Chairperson Lesser said she has posted information on Facebook and other social media to promote this event. Ms. Miller said from 9to 10am the Resource and Information Fair would take place. From 10 to 11am the opening remarks, award presentation, and keynote speaker will take place. She asked the Commission if they had any suggestions for a keynote speaker. From 11 to 11:30am the town hall meeting would be held. Commissioner LeGendre added his son, who has Autism, plays the piano and asked if he could play the National Anthem at the opening of the event. Mr. Strunk said that might be possible. This item was for review and to provide staff direction. VIII. Updates of ADA Audit Chairperson Lesser called for this item. Mr. Strunk provided a brief update regarding the recent ADA audit. He indicated that there was a comprehensive American with Disabilities Act audit in 2011. He said he would like to provide a six-month update on the progress made by the Department to address the findings and recommendations in the audit. He indicated there are 92 sites including recreation centers, skate courts, golf courses, linear, regional, community, and neighborhood parks within the city of Glendale. He reminded that the Audit did find more than 50,000 items in compliance or items being done correctly. To date, the city has resealed/striped asphalt parking spaces; installed new van parking and fine signs; filled gaps along accessible routes in all parks; raised current parking signs to new standard height; successfully secured $192,846 in FY16 CDBG funding almost 100 scope items; and submitted for $59,295 in FY17 CDBG funding to eliminate transition scope in the 85301 zip code eligible for this funding. CDBG will vote as to whether it will receive an additional $50,000. Mr. Strunk displayed information indicating that 135 items have been completed with 88 underway and there are 38 pending grants. This was for information only. IX. Staff Updates Chairperson Lesser called for staff updates. There were none. X. Commission Comments Chairperson Lesser called for this item. Minutes - Commission on Persons with Disabilities February 16, 2016 Page - 4 Commissioner Pirooz suggested a vegetable garden be available to those with disabilities who might be interested. Mr. Strunk said there are areas designated for parks but are still vacant and community farmers have expressed interest in those areas. A portion of those areas may be dedicated to community gardens and make them accessible to the disabled community. Chairperson Lesser expressed her concern regarding the Spring 2016 Glendale @ Play stating it is not clear that every activity in this book is or can be attended by members of the disabled community. She referred to page 2 stating a small paragraph indicated a person needing special accommodations should contact the staff person. However, it doesn't clearly state that every activity is available to the special needs community. XL Adjournment With no further business, Chairperson Lesser asked for a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Pirooz made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Hoerner seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m.