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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982 02-10 HRRMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION. FEBRUARY 10, 1982 CITY HALL CALL,TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Human Rights Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairperson Kuhar at 7:45 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Kuhar, Commissioners Lemke, Mayleben, Trautwein, and Rabine. Also present were Councilmember Gene Lhotka and Administrative Assistant Tom Bublitz. Also in attendance at the meeting was Julee Quarve-Peterson, the consultant conducting the Handicap Accessibility Survey. Chairperson Kuhar noted that Commissioner Reichgott would be absent from this evenings meeting and was excused. She also noted that Commissioners Paulos, Yencho and coop were absent from this evenings meeting and were unexcused. REPORT FROM CONSULTANT ON HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY SURVEY Julee Quarve-Peterson, from the National Handicap Housing Insitute presented her report to the Human Rights Commission for their review. She noted that she views the report as a working document and that the Commission should feel free to make suggestions regarding-the survey as they review.it. She briefly outlined the survey procedure she used noting that every City facility was reviewed through the use of a check list form which described existing conditions and the extent of accessibility to handicapped individuals. She explained that recommendations were written to modify each facility to bring it into compliance with the State and Federal building codes. She explained that the check marks on the survey forms indicate violations of specific items with regard to the accessibility and usability. by handicapped.individuals.. She noted that the City's parks generally have good access for handicapped individuals and have been designed to accomodate handicapped people through the use of curb cuts and hard surface walkways. With regard to the City Hall and Civic Center area Ms. Peterson explained that signage is needed in both areas to identify handicap entrances and to give general directions to various parts of the Civic Center and City Hall complex. She then reviewed the general access in the Civic Center area noting that a new entrance is now being installed to allow handicapped individuals access to the lower facility in the Civic Center area without the need to enter through the upstairs area. In general, she pointed out that her survey is designed to serve as a working document when repairs and renovations are needed for various facilities. She explained that it is not expected that all buildings be immediately brought • into compliance rather over time during remodeling or upgrading that specific recommendations in the report be implemented. 2-10-82 -1- Chairperson Kuhar inquired of Ms. Peterson whether any items exist that would be a major hazard or would need to be changed immediately. Ms. Peterson stated that there are no hazards or items that are in need of immediate renovation but she did note that some of the polling places are in need of w_changes with regard to accessibility but did paint out that this can be resolved in other ways such as allowing handicapped individuals to vote out of their precinct at a polling site that is more accessible. She added that one of the most. immediate needs in her opinion was to change the signing in the City Hall and Civic Center area to provide a clear indication of handi- cap entranoes and to provide a guide to-various City departments and facilities- Commissioner Lemke inquired whether the City now was using a TTY machine. Administrative Assistant Bublitz explianed that the City had the use of a TTY machine on an experimental basis but that during the period-it was in use there were no calls received on the machine even though the TTY was publicized in the City Manager's Newsletter, the Brookl~rn Center Post, and persons in the community who owned TTY machines were contacted. He added that according to the directory published by Northwestern Bell, which listed owners of TTY machines in the metro area, there were very few TTY machines located in Brooklyn Center. He did note that with respect to emergency calls the 911 system which will be in place at the end of 1982 will have the capability to respond to and interpret calls made by handicapped callers. He explained that when a call'is made-from a handicap residence a code will appear on the viewing screen and the code can be designed to indicate to the emergency agency whether it be Police, Fire etc. exactly what the callers need is such as Fire, Police, medical, etc. Ms. Peterson also commented that TTY's are now in place at Regional Department of Public Welfare Centers and are available on a 24 hour service basis for emergency calls, counseling needs, information etc. Chairperson Kuhar recommended that the Commission review the Handicap Accessi- bility Survey and pass their report on to the City Council along with the Commission's recommendations. Councilmember Lhotka commented that the general review procedure is to have the Commission pass the report along to the City Council and that the staff and-Council will then review the survey. He specu- lated that the Council and staff will prioritize the recommendations which will be accomplished over a period of time. Chairperson Kuhar suggested expanding the Commission's review of the 504 program into a review of program and employment accessibility in the City. She indicated that before the Commission's March meeting it should review the accessibility survey and formulate a statement and recommendation to pass along to the City Council. She also appointed two subcommittees of the Commission, one working on employment accessibility and the other on program accessibility. She appointed Commissioner Trautwein as Chairman of the sub.- committee on employment accessibility and Commissioners Rabine and Reichgott to serve on that subcommittee. Chairperson Kuhar appointed Commissioner -Mayleben as Chairman of the subcommittee on program accessibility. and appointed) Commissioner Lemke and herself to serve on that subcommittee. She noted that the subcommittees will report on their progress at the March 10th Commission meeting. Chairperson Kuhar noted the absence of several Commissioners this evening and stated that some of the Commissioners have been absent from a number of • Commission meetings and requested dicussion by the Commission as to how this situation should be handled. Councilmember Lhotka commented that in consider- ation of the extended p*eriod of absence of Commissioner Coop he recommended 2-10-82 -2- that the Commission take some action. It was noted that Commissioner Coop had not attended Commission meetings for approximately one year and that efforts to contact her either by phone or in writing with regard to her intents as a Commission member were not successful. There was a motion by Commissioner Mayleben and seconded by Commissioner Lemke to request the Mayor to remove Commissioner Coop from the Human Rights Commission due to the great number of unexcused absences. The motion passed unanimously. FUTURE COMMISSION PROJECTS Chairperson Kuhar asked Cission members whether they had any suggestions for new Commission projects. Councilmember Lhotka suggested that Commission members begin by suggesting various projects noting that Commissioners should suggest anything that comes to them and that often this type.of exercise is useful in developing new ideas. Chairperson Kuhar suggested that a possible project could be an update of the handicap accessibility survey of Brooklyn Center Businesses and, along with this, making the local businessmen aware that the City has conducted a handi- cap accessibility survey. Commissioner Trautwein suggested that a possible project might be to explore mans to determine the number of handicapped persons in Brooklyn Center and their specific needs. Chairperson Kuhar noted that Commissioner Reichgott has been interested in projects dealing with battered women and child abuse and that these might be areas the Commission could pursue as a project. Commissioner Lemke noted that one area she would be interested in pursuing is accessibility on City Streets, especially access into the Brookdale area. After continued disucssion by the Commission, Chairperson Kuhar suggested that the discussion on future Commission projects should be continued to the next Commission meeting in March. Chairperson Kuhar stated that she was pleased to welcome Mary Ellen Rabine as a new Commission member and invited Mrs. Rabine to make any comments she had as a new member to the Commission. Mrs. Rabin explained that she has lived on both the east and west coasts and has lived in Minnesota since 1970. She explained that she has taught school at the 5th grade level, has four children and feels that the work the Human Rights Commission is doing is important. She added that she is pleased to be on the Commission at this time and is interested in the Commission's current project dealing with handicap accessi- bility. Chairperson Kuhar noted that Commissioner Lemke has received a very prestigious award and had been voted on the the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans by the Jaycees organization. Chairperson Kuhar and the Commission congratulated Diane on her achievement-. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Trautwein and seconded by Commissioner Lemke to adjourn the meting. The motion passed unanimously. The Brooklyn Center Human Rights Commission adjourned at 9:40 p.m. Chairperson 2-10-81 -3-