1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:09,340 Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the City's Committee on Persons with Disabilities. It's 2 00:00:09,340 --> 00:00:17,300 Thursday, July 15th, and we'll begin at 3 o' one. Thank you for being here. Do we have 3 00:00:17,300 --> 00:00:28,300 any public comments, calls? Good afternoon, Chair. No, not today. Okay, thank you. Okay, 4 00:00:28,300 --> 00:00:37,960 welcome to items for consideration. CPD 21-022, consider the approval of the minutes for 5 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:52,760 June 18th, 2021. I move to accept the minutes as presented. I second. Thank you. And we 6 00:00:52,760 --> 00:01:04,680 will just go on down the line. John? I think you're still muted, John. Oh, I think I'm 7 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:12,320 good now. I haven't said anything yet. So. All right. My name. Oh, different one. Okay. 8 00:01:12,320 --> 00:01:27,160 Yeah, yeah, we're approving the minutes. Yes, sir. Okay, good. Sonia? Okay. Ali? Yes. And 9 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:37,160 Bao? Yes. And Sally? Approve. Okay. And Beth, you made the motion. Are you approved? Okay, 10 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:50,640 thank you, everyone. We will go down to our next item. Item B, CPD 21-023, Proclamation 11 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:58,760 Disability Justice Day. I can probably introduce that item and introduce the person who's giving 12 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:08,060 the proclamation. As everyone probably here knows, July is Disability Pride Month. And 13 00:02:08,060 --> 00:02:15,960 it's really celebrated all month in recognition of the 1990 signing of the ADA. So we have 14 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:21,280 produced a proclamation in recognition of that. The mayor was kind enough to take time 15 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:26,120 to join this meeting to deliver it, not knowing we could deliver it in person, but to deliver 16 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:33,240 it virtually to the committee. And so I'll hand it over to the mayor. Right. Thank you. 17 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:38,960 Thank you very much, Ryan. Mr. Chair, fellow committee members, it is a pleasure to be 18 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:47,480 before you today in this capacity and to continue the work that is to be done and make sure 19 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:54,240 the city steps forward best we can. So I do have a proclamation that I'd like to read. 20 00:02:54,240 --> 00:03:02,160 And I'll just get started here. It says a proclamation by the mayor of the city of Denton 21 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:08,840 to all whom these presence shall come. Greetings. July is the anniversary of the signing of 22 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:15,840 the Americans with Disabilities Act as the beginning of the modern day disability justice 23 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:23,800 and inclusion movement. And whereas we recognize the tireless efforts of the disability justice 24 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:31,380 advocates and allies who have pursued equal access for all citizens, regardless of abilities 25 00:03:31,380 --> 00:03:42,860 abroad. And whereas on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed 26 00:03:42,860 --> 00:03:49,480 as a civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all 27 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:57,480 areas of public life, including employment, transportation, education, and public and 28 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:05,840 private places that are open to the general public. And whereas members of the Denton 29 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:11,240 community, including the Denton committee on persons with disabilities, continually 30 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:17,960 champion the cause for disability awareness, inclusion, and an end to discrimination and 31 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:23,240 stigma. Now, therefore, I, Gerard Hutzpeth, mayor of the city of Denton, Texas, do hereby 32 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:32,560 proclaim July 26, 2021 as Denton Disability Justice Day and encourage the citizens of 33 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:37,560 the city of Denton to join in recognizing the 31st anniversary of the signing of the 34 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:44,840 Americans with Disabilities Act and to the work still to be done to ensure the rights 35 00:04:44,840 --> 00:04:52,560 of those with disabilities. Thank you. Thank you. 36 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:59,680 Thank you, Mayor. Now, normally we would present this to a person and what we'll do is if anyone 37 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:03,920 wants a copy of this proclamation, happy to give you one as a committee member. And we'll 38 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:09,040 also make sure that we promote this proclamation on the city's social media on that day, July 39 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:16,640 26, to make sure that we do recognize the anniversary of the signing of the ADA. 40 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:26,200 Would you mind just emailing us a copy of it? I would be happy to. 41 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:28,560 Thank you. You got it. 42 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:34,040 Great. Thank you, Mayor Hutzpeth, for that reading of the proclamation. 43 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:41,820 Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And, you know, obviously, we talk regularly, so I look forward 44 00:05:41,820 --> 00:05:47,360 to your insights. Thank you for what you do. And I'm going to hang around. I'll just turn 45 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,840 off my screen and listen to y'all work. That'll be good. 46 00:05:50,840 --> 00:05:53,280 Sounds good. Appreciate it. 47 00:05:53,280 --> 00:05:54,280 Yes. 48 00:05:54,280 --> 00:06:04,240 Great. We'll move on to Item C, CBD 20-024, Receiving Report, Hold the Discussion and 49 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:09,800 Give Staff Direction, Regarding the Status of the Industrial Street Park Revisions to 50 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:14,480 ADA Access and a New Art Installation. 51 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:22,560 Mr. Chair, this is John Whitmore. I'm the Park Planning Manager, and I am over this 52 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:27,980 particular park renovation that we're talking about at Industrial Street. I have a presentation 53 00:06:27,980 --> 00:06:39,960 that I'm going to share. Just give me a moment. 54 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:44,800 Now this particular park, it's a pocket park, and it's right, we'll have a map coming up 55 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:49,940 here in a moment. But this is also the site where the Denton Women's Interracial Fellowship 56 00:06:49,940 --> 00:06:56,120 Monument is going to be installed. And that when we were looking at the locations that 57 00:06:56,120 --> 00:07:02,640 the DWIF members would prefer it to be done, they actually chose this pocket park at Industrial 58 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:08,840 Street because they used to meet at the grocery store that used to be located on that actual 59 00:07:08,840 --> 00:07:14,000 spot. And so that's why this particular spot was chosen for it. 60 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:21,720 Let's see if I can get it moving forward. Our artist for this, and I'll give you a little 61 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:27,060 background of the art so that I can kind of show why the park was designed, what it was. 62 00:07:27,060 --> 00:07:32,880 Our artist, Dina Fischer, a multimedia artist, and she creates many things with lots of color. 63 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:41,980 And she specializes in lenticular art, which is art that changes the picture, the different 64 00:07:41,980 --> 00:07:47,760 angles that you would look at it. And we'll show some examples as we go with that. And 65 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:54,120 her inspiration is that it has every color of the rainbow. It's a beautiful piece. And 66 00:07:54,120 --> 00:08:00,320 what it does is it celebrates the visionary women, the DWIF. And she actually had a very 67 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:06,040 similar circumstance. Her mother was one of the individuals that helped to build race 68 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:12,080 relations in her community where she grew up. And so she had a special connection to this 69 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:17,160 particular one. Now her art style is this animated disk, that lenticular art, I think 70 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:23,840 I mentioned. And there's several pieces of it that will be displayed for it. And this 71 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:30,800 is what the project actually looks like. And so you'll see this screen. And I'll show you 72 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:36,720 the placement in the park itself. And then lenticular art disks. This is about four feet 73 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:41,500 in diameter. And I'll show you that there's two of those, and they will be placed at the 74 00:08:41,500 --> 00:08:46,760 entrance to the park. And when the screen's completed, it'll look more like this with 75 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:52,660 pictures and stories about all the people involved in this. But one of the really unique 76 00:08:52,660 --> 00:08:58,200 things is that you can take a look at this with your phone and using an application called 77 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:05,280 Google lens, you can show a picture at that. And what happens is it comes up with that 78 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:13,040 person's story and that involvement, and what is the meaning of that. And so using a smartphone, 79 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:17,680 people can get much more depth of what the history and the different people involved 80 00:09:17,680 --> 00:09:23,640 in this very historic group. All of these images that you see, those disks are two sided. 81 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:29,120 And so people will be able to move to the front of the display and also around the backside 82 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:34,840 to be able to get the whole story. And also part of the walkway, there are other pieces. 83 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:39,440 These are bollards that are essentially like they're art lantern type things that will 84 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:45,840 be along the way. It's a few revisions since that particular picture has been done. They're 85 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:52,400 more circular instead of rectangular or square that you see there. But each one depicts children 86 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:58,480 that are actually in our community in different events, showing the differences between things 87 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:03,900 that have happened back in the late sixties, early seventies to how things have changed 88 00:10:03,900 --> 00:10:09,840 up to this particular point as a result of the women that did this. And you can see towards 89 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:15,040 the that the bollards have actually changed more towards this. And the lenticular art, 90 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:21,640 you can see how things change through all the members of the group. And as people would 91 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:28,720 walk by these particular art pieces. This is what the park looks like today, Industrial 92 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:33,920 Street Park. And it really only has a couple of picnic tables and pads there at the current 93 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:40,720 moment. And some of the trees will come out and this will have walkways that come up from 94 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:45,920 this side of the street, which we don't have before. This park was is not really accessible 95 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:52,420 from this side at all. We have an accessibility in the park right now through a ramp that 96 00:10:52,420 --> 00:10:58,160 comes around this direction here. And that's the only bit that's accessible. So what we 97 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:05,160 wanted to do was make it accessible from both sides. This is a curb in the front, which 98 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:10,120 is difficult to maneuver. And there's no way really to have, let's say a wheelchair pop 99 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:17,000 up there very easily unless somebody is very able with the wheelchair. And what we want 100 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:22,800 to take it to is something like this. And so what we're looking at is a top down look 101 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:28,640 for it. And so this would be the area there from where we were looking. That is the street 102 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:34,960 at Industrial Street. That's across from like Fuzzy's Taco Shop and those other places. 103 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:40,760 And back in this area over here, that's the parking lot. And this was the existing parking 104 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:45,960 lot and that's Rusty Taco, the Hickory Street Rounds and Hoochies are the businesses that 105 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:53,000 are right there next to it. There's actually a very small alley in this area here too. And 106 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:58,480 so what would happen is that anybody that got a wheelchair accessible this ramp through 107 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:06,360 here and also over on this side. So the stairs can be bypassed using this gentle ramp through 108 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:12,740 here. And then walkways that we don't have now will be put in through here and they'll 109 00:12:12,740 --> 00:12:18,760 have access to this particular area. Now these are some steps that are here that make this 110 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:25,480 into more of a little amphitheater that the artwork is behind them. And so during some 111 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:30,840 of the music festivals and other things, we could have musicians performing here in this 112 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:38,160 park at that particular time. And then the walkway continues around this way to access 113 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:43,960 the art here. Also from this park, you can see that we recreated the ramp that's currently 114 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:49,720 in the park. And then we brought it down to here with a landing and then the ability to 115 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:54,840 roll a wheelchair all the way around this particular art piece so that there's no limitations 116 00:12:54,840 --> 00:13:01,960 what people would have to be able to get into this area here. And so they can participate 117 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:07,480 in this area or they can come around this area and view from the front anything that 118 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:15,480 might be going on here such as a musicians playing or that such. We expect that we will 119 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:21,400 draw people from all over the school district and this will be a destination point to be 120 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:27,120 able to teach race relations and positive things and how people can make a big difference 121 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:32,880 in their communities by joining together and doing that. And so I think that we'll see 122 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:38,120 those types of things. We have good access with the parking lot over in this area for 123 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:42,920 a bus to come. It's not as good on industrial street. If anybody's been there, the parking 124 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:50,360 is not as good in that particular area. And this lawn area, we had originally designed 125 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:55,880 it to be an artificial turf, but we had some feedback from council that they really preferred 126 00:13:55,880 --> 00:14:02,280 to have this as a still natural green. And so we're going to maintain that as a natural 127 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:09,000 green area here. We'll have built in more drainage so that if it does get super wet 128 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:15,520 in there, that'll drain quickly. Otherwise that will remain that lawn that you saw in 129 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:21,680 the earlier, currently existing pictures. Oh, that lenticular, those big disks I showed, 130 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:27,440 these are right in these areas here. So if somebody comes to experience the park and 131 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:33,000 to view the art, they have the option of rolling in if they're a wheelchair or using the ramps 132 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:39,360 this way and being able to walk to here. The existing parking over here, the handicapped 133 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:45,360 spaces are right over in this particular area here. They're currently the existing space 134 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:50,480 spaces. In order to be able to get this fully accessible, to have everybody all the way 135 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:56,120 around it, we actually had to take out a couple of places, parking places in that particular 136 00:14:56,120 --> 00:15:02,640 area. And so most of all of this is concrete in the different areas. And so it should have 137 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:11,840 good accessibility and non-slip through most conditions other than our ice storms that 138 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:20,400 we have. Let's see. And this is a little bit more detail on what you're going to see where 139 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:29,000 that ramp goes through here and the accessibility. And this is a concrete bench that is easily 140 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:35,200 if somebody wants to transfer to that bench, they can do that either end or any in the 141 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:41,720 middle here if this is where they want to be able to sit. So those are the good things. 142 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:48,160 And we also have some other general seating that will go in in various places. It's not 143 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:54,400 determined right here on this particular one, this diagram. It's more to show where most 144 00:15:54,400 --> 00:16:01,040 of the traffic and how to move around this park. It's not a very big park. It's only 145 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:10,840 .11 acres. But I think that it's been used well for this. Keep lots of greenery so that 146 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:16,160 when everybody sees in a different place and we'll have some built-in seating also in spots 147 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:22,920 to it with plenty of light. One thing I didn't mention so far is that these strings like 148 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:28,940 this, those are called catenary lights. And so these are lights that will be hanging directly 149 00:16:28,940 --> 00:16:35,560 over the area. It'll be on timers and programmed. So there's enough light in this area that 150 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:47,760 it kind of discourages any negative activity, let's say, in the park area for it. And at 151 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:59,000 that, I will see if I can take that off the screen. And we're open for questions and comments. 152 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:08,640 Yes? >> Yes. I was wondering how would a person that's blind be able to interact to get the 153 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:17,360 information about the stories behind the people? >> I don't -- we don't have that part of the 154 00:17:17,360 --> 00:17:25,280 actual art installation for it. Right now it can be audio. Some of the pieces that are 155 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:31,040 -- if they shine their phone at it or somebody does that, it'll have the audio of some of 156 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:37,320 the members that were recorded. UNT, University of North Texas, did one of those preservation 157 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:43,920 things where they had many of the women come and give testimony about what was happening 158 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:49,660 and what they thought and what they felt. And so the artist has combined that into it. 159 00:17:49,660 --> 00:17:56,920 But other than that, it's not anything there particularly that would be anyone that has 160 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:05,760 a vision disability. >> Yeah. I'm just thinking that -- I'm not sure, but I would think that 161 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:15,480 it's possible using Google Lens and directing that towards individual disks, as you were 162 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:22,280 showing in the presentation, would be problematic where it's like if there would be some way 163 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:28,760 that they could click onto a website that they could just, you know, play the audio 164 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:35,740 recording to tell about the different people that are mentioned there, that might be easier 165 00:18:35,740 --> 00:18:40,720 for people to do. >> I'm pretty sure that the phones have the 166 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:49,400 ability to be able to do the voice, you know, and read that to them in that particular case. 167 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:55,320 But they'd have to be able to locate that disk. And they can do that by feel. People 168 00:18:55,320 --> 00:19:00,800 will have the ability to actually touch these items. They're not restricted from that. There's 169 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:05,880 nothing on them right now that has Braille or that somebody could read physically that 170 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:10,640 way. >> Yeah. It was just a suggestion for there -- instead of people having to find 171 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:17,440 each disk, that there could just be the information in one stop. That would be easier, I would 172 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:21,880 think. >> Very good point. Thank you. 173 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:29,120 >> Thanks. I had a quick -- I'm sorry. I have a quick question, John. On the amphitheater 174 00:19:29,120 --> 00:19:37,640 part where there's the steps and access is kind of around the side, will there be slantage, 175 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:46,880 directional slantage to show where the accessible path is to get onto the amphitheater area? 176 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:52,680 >> If you are there, everything is easily visible when you're there from it. So if you 177 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:59,000 are from the industrial street side, and if you have a wheelchair at the industrial street 178 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:04,560 side, you can -- it goes uphill from there. So you can see easily the paths all the way 179 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:10,120 up. If you are at the very top by the parking lot, you'll be able to look down and the path 180 00:20:10,120 --> 00:20:16,880 will be noted right there for the accessibility. But I'll make sure there's signage there to 181 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:24,920 show that. >> Thank you. Somebody had a hand. John, 182 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:30,920 go ahead. >> I just want to know about -- I can't see 183 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:36,520 your pictures with -- maybe there's a gazebo or something. You mentioned musicians or people 184 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:49,120 playing music in the area, is there an actual concrete area or a small gazebo and electricity 185 00:20:49,120 --> 00:20:53,520 there? >> Yes, we have electricity. 186 00:20:53,520 --> 00:21:00,500 >> Awesome. Is there some area there for musicians like set up and play? 187 00:21:00,500 --> 00:21:06,120 >> There is. And that is if you -- toward the grass side where you saw those steps, 188 00:21:06,120 --> 00:21:11,440 that is the curtain wall, which is what's called as a backdrop. There's enough room 189 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:19,720 for musicians to set up there. >> That's great. I was just making sure. 190 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:23,520 >> Val, I have a question. >> Val, go ahead. 191 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:30,360 >> Thank you. I enjoyed your presentation and I think the vision for this park is unbelievable. 192 00:21:30,360 --> 00:21:37,640 I like the idea. And I do have a question regarding the paths for walkers and individuals 193 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:44,840 using mobility devices. How wide is this path since it's such a limited amount of land? 194 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,720 >> I think it's five feet wide. >> Okay. 195 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:54,520 >> I'll have to check exactly on it. I don't have my ability to check that right at this 196 00:21:54,520 --> 00:22:00,600 point. But what we wanted to do is make sure that it's wide enough for us two people easily 197 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:06,040 to walk side by side. Now, one of the issues that comes up is, yes, it doesn't have that 198 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:13,080 much room to be able to have people through there normally. And if we would build this 199 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:18,040 in a park, we would make this eight feet wide in a larger park for people that would go 200 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:24,440 and bicycle us and others so that there's enough separation for people in this particular area. 201 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:30,280 But you'd expect this to at least be five feet. >> And so where the benches are located, 202 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:37,400 thank you, are those the only possibilities for seating in this park? 203 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:45,800 >> We have opportunities that we can put benches in at other locations in there. You didn't see 204 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:51,240 some of the things there. But mostly what we're looking at in the park is to have like there are 205 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:58,760 like a large concrete type of bench like you saw in the back of the park that kind of is that 206 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:05,400 arc. But we'll have some of those on the sides of the park. So if somebody wanted to transfer, 207 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:11,160 let's say, from a wheelchair, they could easily do that. But most of those don't have backs, 208 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:16,600 let's say, to the benches and that. It's just really just a place to sit. 209 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:24,520 >> And so if we saw younger children in this park, what would be available for them? 210 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:31,880 >> There's no playground equipment in this particular area. There's, of course, the colors 211 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:38,760 and various things of the artwork itself. And artwork is durable. But it's not something that 212 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:43,880 the kids can -- we're having it built so that it's not easily hangable, you know, like the kids 213 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:49,960 climbing up and on that. But there's no play equipment in this particular one because of 214 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:58,280 its being downtown location. >> Okay. I would be nice if you could put 215 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:04,680 like a small piece of equipment, you know, just to help some of the younger children not be 216 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:12,120 uninterested in all that this park has to offer on some of the green space that I see around. 217 00:24:12,120 --> 00:24:16,600 >> Okay. Thank you. >> Just a recommendation. 218 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,400 >> Yes, ma'am. >> Beth? 219 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:29,000 >> I also want to commend you on the design. It's a fantastic design. And the artwork is 220 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:35,800 really amazing. And the concept of honoring these women is amazing. I love the bench seating so 221 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:42,200 that people can transfer to it easily. But I wanted to point out that a lot of people with 222 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:49,880 disabilities need some seating with a back to it. And not a picnic table. That doesn't count. 223 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:57,880 Just the regular park benches that you see in other parks that are flat and then have the back 224 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:06,840 on them. If those could be available maybe on the sides where there was some room, somewhere 225 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:12,440 where there was some seating with a back to it for people that can't sit on bench seats. 226 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:19,160 >> Yeah, we planned some of that seating along there. But we can take a look at having at least 227 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:26,200 a couple that would be able to have the backs for it. >> I think that would be helpful. Thank you. 228 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:29,720 It's a beautiful design. >> Thank you very much. 229 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:41,640 >> You mentioned the lights in the park. And I was curious just about those. Are they going 230 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:47,640 to be flashing lights? Are they just going to be on a loop? Or is it just going to be on and off? 231 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:52,200 And that's kind of how it is. >> They're dimmable. And so they're 232 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:59,160 LED lights. They shine straight down. And we are going to be dark sky compliant 233 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:06,840 so that no light actually ever shines upward to create glare. Honestly, we do have some residents 234 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:13,480 right next to that in the apartment complex or condo complex that's there. And they didn't want 235 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:19,960 that. But they also wanted to have more security. And so during events and various things and the 236 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:26,280 normal time that a park is open. And our parks are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. officially. 237 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:31,400 Even though people will walk through this particular park to get from one place to the other. 238 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:39,080 But technically it's closed after 10. But those lights will be able to be on during the darkness 239 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:45,320 hours. And then they'll dim down to a security level so that people can still go through without 240 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:52,680 having any stumbling problems with that. >> Thank you so much for that. 241 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:59,800 That's all, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. 242 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:04,280 Do we have any other questions or comments, suggestions? 243 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:15,720 >> I too like to design and understand the complex space that it sits on. So 244 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:22,840 the access that there is pretty much, you know, entry access and being able to 245 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:32,440 go through the park. My only concern is the transition from the pavement to the grass. 246 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:44,120 Sometimes I guess over time there's gaps or the drop becomes greater than what it is in the 247 00:27:44,120 --> 00:27:52,760 beginning. >> That's a very good comment, I think, for any of our parks where we have sidewalks that 248 00:27:52,760 --> 00:28:02,520 meet the turf. So we'll have to pay special attention to that. And this will be new turf 249 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:08,920 that we're putting in. We can't really preserve the old grass that's there because we're changing 250 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:19,640 the slope of that area so that it's less severe. >> Well, thank you, John, for your presentation 251 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:25,080 and for joining us today. We appreciate it. >> I thank you so much for having me here, 252 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:34,680 and I do absolutely appreciate your feedback for this. >> Thank you. We'll move on to our next 253 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:43,080 item. Item D, CPD 21-025. Receive report, hold a discussion and give staff direction 254 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:54,120 regarding committee areas of interest for fiscal year 2021-22. >> Let's see. That is me, Mr. Chair. 255 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:59,000 Let me pull up my presentation. >> Sure. >> It's been a bit since I've done this, so I'm a little 256 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:15,480 rusty. Okay. I think everybody can see what I'm looking at. So this is going to be maybe your 257 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:19,400 shortest presentation in a while, but I do want to start the conversation since we're coming into a 258 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:27,960 new fiscal year about what this committee might like to discuss. And so I'll walk through that 259 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:35,880 very briefly, and then I'll have pen in hand ready to take your comments down. So just background, 260 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:42,680 you know, of course, this committee was created in 2018 and implemented fully in 2019 to advise 261 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:50,600 the city and really a lot of areas of interest pertaining to disabilities, disability concerns, 262 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:58,040 accessibility, accommodations, and it's general, the advice and feedback is generally applicable 263 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:03,400 to city projects and activities. You know, things that we can actually take as actionable feedback 264 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:12,280 and do something about. Under the charge, it did list a number of different areas as examples that 265 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:19,480 the committee could provide input on and give staff recommendations on. That included sidewalks, 266 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:25,160 ramps, really public rights of way and pedestrian issues. Our ADA transition plan, which you have 267 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:32,920 heard a number of times before in presentation. Adaptive and accessible parks or adaptive and 268 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:38,760 accessible elements to parks, which you just heard about. Any new facilities that may be coming 269 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:43,480 online, you know, understanding how those are going to be designed and how someone with a 270 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:50,200 disability or a number of disabilities could have equal access to that facility. Signage was also 271 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:56,600 one of the examples given in the committee's charge. Everything down to improving city operations is 272 00:30:56,600 --> 00:31:03,800 just quite general. So, you know, a lot of things can fall under that umbrella. And then improving 273 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:09,720 the operations of other entities, which is something that you guys have heard about with DART a couple 274 00:31:09,720 --> 00:31:16,200 of times, most recently with the GoZone program. And then adaptive activities with parks and 275 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:22,840 recreation. So, generally, I'm going to go back to the previous slide. Generally, the charge falls 276 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:28,760 under kind of these three categories. These items were just to kind of give a little bit more meat 277 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:35,240 to the bone and more description on what the committee could discuss. So, what I'm hoping for 278 00:31:35,240 --> 00:31:42,040 this discussion as we come up on our next fiscal year, 2021 through '22, which starts in October, 279 00:31:42,040 --> 00:31:47,080 I just want to have a good understanding, a better understanding of what this committee, 280 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:54,760 either as individuals or as a committee in unison, really feel like they may want to talk about. So, 281 00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:58,920 essentially giving perhaps a little bit more description so that we can continue to bring 282 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:05,160 items that you are interested in and concerned with to you for discussion. And so, I'm going to 283 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:09,480 open it up here in a second for you to just fire at me. But really, I want it to be more of a 284 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:14,120 discussion between yourselves. So, what I'm going to do is I'm just going to take notes today. 285 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:19,080 And I'd like to come back to you at our next meeting in September to essentially say this is 286 00:32:19,080 --> 00:32:24,200 what I heard from you guys. Would you like to confirm that these may be some priority items 287 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:29,240 to bring back in the next year? And what we'll do once we get that feedback from you is to kind of 288 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:34,440 explore those items and see how we can best bring those to the committee for discussion. 289 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:39,080 I will say that these items aren't going to be your full work plan for the year. 290 00:32:39,080 --> 00:32:45,880 Obviously, things of an important nature come up sporadically through the year and may just 291 00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:50,520 kind of leap to the top of the pack. And we want to make sure that we bring things to you 292 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:55,800 while they are timely. So, whatever is discussed and whatever is prioritized, 293 00:32:55,800 --> 00:33:01,400 that may not be your next two meetings worth of items, but they very likely might be spread 294 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:05,960 over the course of the year, depending on what other things pop up that we can't anticipate just 295 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:19,160 yet. And that, I believe, is my -- oh, I'm frozen. There we go. That's my presentation. So, I'm going 296 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:25,000 to stop sharing real quick and bring it back to you guys. And if you have any questions about 297 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:28,920 the purpose of the item, I'm happy to take that. But, really, I think this can be more of a 298 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:35,080 discussion with the committee on what items you might see as a higher priority in the next fiscal 299 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:45,080 year with discussion items. >> Beth, thank you for raising your 300 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:52,760 hand. >> Something that Val and I have talked about between us, but I haven't gotten to talk 301 00:33:52,760 --> 00:34:02,280 to the rest of the committee about, is during the winter storm, it became real obvious that the 302 00:34:02,280 --> 00:34:12,600 city's plan for an area for people to go really didn't work for people with disabilities. And I 303 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:24,280 think a disability disaster plan needs to be addressed. And just as an example, they were 304 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:32,280 sending people to MLK rec center, and, you know, great, but people were on cots, and cots really 305 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:39,560 don't work well for a lot of disabled people. There were concerns about medical equipment, 306 00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:44,920 if you needed to bring medical equipment with you, would it be, you know, would you have a plug next 307 00:34:44,920 --> 00:34:51,800 to you to plug it in? You know, how much space was each person given? Things like that. And I 308 00:34:51,800 --> 00:35:00,120 think that that's something that, as a group, we really should address. >> I'm seeing a lot of 309 00:35:00,120 --> 00:35:06,120 head shaking, so there may be some support with that. Would it be, since it's emergency management, 310 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:11,080 that can be a really gnarly topic with a lot of components, would it be good to bring forward 311 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:16,520 maybe just the sheltering component first, and then just kind of leap from there to maybe another 312 00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:21,240 area of emergency operations or emergency management that might pertain to disabilities? 313 00:35:21,240 --> 00:35:26,520 It'll be difficult to discuss all aspects of emergency management, I think, in one meeting, 314 00:35:26,520 --> 00:35:34,200 in one item. >> Well, I think that's a good idea, Ryan, and if you can move it to enhance it, just 315 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:41,160 a taste on we're talking about sheltering, but then identifying and locating individuals and helping 316 00:35:41,160 --> 00:35:46,360 them get to the shelter would be another component, and I think we could put both of those together. 317 00:35:46,360 --> 00:35:53,000 It'll be intense discussion, but I think they go together. >> Yes, transportation definitely needs 318 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:58,120 to be included in that, because that was one of our concerns, was how would handicapped people get 319 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:09,560 to the location with all of their equipment? You know, that would need planning, and it might need 320 00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:18,280 maybe the cooperation of an ambulance service or the fire department or other city services. 321 00:36:18,280 --> 00:36:26,840 Another concern was when so many people were without water, and I was without water for several 322 00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:35,960 weeks, they had a facility open where you could go shower, but it was a rec center, and I didn't know 323 00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:43,320 how safe it would be. I'm used to having a shower bench and handrails, and my son flat out wouldn't 324 00:36:43,320 --> 00:36:48,520 take me because we weren't sure that it was set up for a handicapped person and that it might be a 325 00:36:48,520 --> 00:36:56,520 fall risk. So, you know, people need to feel safe with what the plan is, or they won't utilize it, 326 00:36:56,520 --> 00:37:01,560 and that's exactly what happened to me, and I know, Val, you had some issues with your water 327 00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:09,640 and your electricity, too. >> I think maybe looking at this issue in an organic way 328 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:16,760 of first seeing what is provided in an emergency situation to the general public, 329 00:37:16,760 --> 00:37:22,280 then how can that be made inclusive and accessible? So, we're looking at transportation, 330 00:37:22,280 --> 00:37:29,160 what kind of transportation is provided? Is that accessible? Are there sign language 331 00:37:29,160 --> 00:37:36,760 interpreters available at the shelter? Are there any items that need to be read that can be 332 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:44,040 put in braille or large print? I mean, it's a very big, organic, big chunk of piece that we have to 333 00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:52,360 look at element by element. >> Maybe perhaps this becomes a series of discussions that we kind of hit 334 00:37:52,360 --> 00:37:56,840 several elements. One thing that's probably good for the committee to know is that we, 335 00:37:56,840 --> 00:38:02,440 I think it's complete now, but we did have a consultant study, our emergency management 336 00:38:02,440 --> 00:38:08,360 operations, and so as I understand it, there are going to be some deliverables coming out of that, 337 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:15,880 and we will be, I believe, seeking to hire a new emergency management coordinator, and so I don't 338 00:38:15,880 --> 00:38:22,520 know the timing of that, but I think that makes this perhaps ripe for discussion. It's a good 339 00:38:22,520 --> 00:38:29,080 timing. You know, new person coming on board, new strategies, new plan, you know, why not have the 340 00:38:29,080 --> 00:38:36,920 discussion then? >> I wondered if there might be, along those same lines, if there might be some 341 00:38:36,920 --> 00:38:45,320 type of federal monies to help people that need electricity, you know, for breathing or any other 342 00:38:45,320 --> 00:38:56,360 reasons, if people, if there could be some type of way to access federal money to help buy generators, 343 00:38:56,360 --> 00:39:03,240 it could be rechargeable generators, so people could maybe stay in their houses, because, 344 00:39:04,200 --> 00:39:11,720 you know, not everybody can afford a generator. >> That may be something we could perhaps just do 345 00:39:11,720 --> 00:39:17,400 a small bit of research on and deliver in a report. I'm not sure what the committee would 346 00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:22,840 discuss for that one, but we can certainly track down some information. >> Yeah, I just thought 347 00:39:22,840 --> 00:39:28,120 maybe if there was a link that we could let people know about, it was on like the city website or 348 00:39:28,120 --> 00:39:34,680 something, and so people would be told you can go there, and if you need help purchasing a generator, 349 00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:40,680 because, you know, you would get a doctor's note or whatever to, you know, say that you fit into 350 00:39:40,680 --> 00:39:52,360 this category. >> Gotcha. That's really good, Sally. >> Thanks. >> So moving a little bit ahead of 351 00:39:52,360 --> 00:39:58,120 emergency management, because that is so large, and we do have different chunks that we can pull off, 352 00:39:58,120 --> 00:40:04,920 but I need some follow-up, and I don't know about the other group. I haven't had a chance to speak 353 00:40:04,920 --> 00:40:13,560 with them on the police department presented to us on their efforts to work with individuals with 354 00:40:13,560 --> 00:40:20,600 mental health and other disabilities, and they had a registration process. I think we had a good 355 00:40:20,600 --> 00:40:26,280 discussion on that, but I don't believe -- I don't remember follow-up. Was there any follow-up? >> I 356 00:40:26,280 --> 00:40:31,640 believe we did have a follow-up memo that came after -- I think you're talking about the Take Me 357 00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:36,440 Home program? >> Mm-hmm. >> Okay. We did have a follow-up memo after that. I'm happy to send you 358 00:40:36,440 --> 00:40:42,280 that, and if that's not what you were looking for, one thing we can do is we could probably just have 359 00:40:42,280 --> 00:40:49,880 a follow-up, just another follow-up report sent to you guys that just kind of -- it's been in effect 360 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:55,720 for a bit of time, and just almost like a -- here's where the program's at now. >> Right. It would be 361 00:40:55,720 --> 00:41:01,400 very good, because I don't remember that, so please help with the memo. >> Well, it's probably 362 00:41:01,400 --> 00:41:08,200 outdated by now. It's been a bit, so we can probably get a new one generated. >> And I was 363 00:41:08,200 --> 00:41:16,120 involved just a little taste here at the end of the year in the midst of the COVID and quarantine 364 00:41:16,920 --> 00:41:23,160 on the ADA compliance contacts. Do we have all that cleared? Everyone knows who to contact and 365 00:41:23,160 --> 00:41:30,440 when, and there was a vacancy, and what's that position feel? >> So we still have three positions 366 00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:38,040 that serve as ADA coordinators. One of them is -- I believe that position has been hired. I don't 367 00:41:38,040 --> 00:41:43,960 believe the person has started yet. That's going to be our pedestrian coordinator, bike and pedestrian 368 00:41:43,960 --> 00:41:49,160 coordinator, traffic planner. We do have two others still. The person who right now handles 369 00:41:49,160 --> 00:41:54,920 accommodations is Debbie Skowinski, and all that information can be found on our website 370 00:41:54,920 --> 00:42:03,800 at cityofdenton.com/ADA. So we can -- if there's maybe consensus on the committee to discuss that, 371 00:42:03,800 --> 00:42:08,920 we can, or if you just need the information emailed out, I'm happy to do that as well. >> An email 372 00:42:08,920 --> 00:42:15,400 sounds good. So do these individuals serve for the citizens of Denton? Do they also support 373 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:21,240 employees who have ADA concerns? >> Yes. So anyone who needs an accommodation for a program 374 00:42:21,240 --> 00:42:28,840 or for employment, just kind of all things related. >> Across the board. >> Exactly right. >> Okay. 375 00:42:28,840 --> 00:42:45,720 Thank you. >> Any other issues that the group feels like we need to -- >> One thing just to maybe -- 376 00:42:45,720 --> 00:42:50,280 oh, go ahead. My apologies. No, no, please. >> Oh, it's okay. I was just thinking off the top 377 00:42:50,280 --> 00:42:58,600 of my head. I know we've talked about different events in the city that come and go that have some 378 00:42:59,480 --> 00:43:09,640 accessibility issues. So would it be something that the committee could work on and/or with staff 379 00:43:09,640 --> 00:43:20,360 to create an accessibility checklist or an inclusion checklist? Were any city-sponsored events 380 00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:28,760 were -- have that available to them? Or does that exist already? >> We have a special events 381 00:43:28,760 --> 00:43:36,360 application process. I do not know off the top of my head in what way that speaks to accessibility, 382 00:43:36,360 --> 00:43:41,960 but if it does, great, let's walk the committee through it. If it doesn't, okay, let's walk the 383 00:43:41,960 --> 00:43:45,400 committee through that and get some feedback. So I think that's something we can definitely bring 384 00:43:45,400 --> 00:43:55,400 forward. >> Great. Thank you. Beth? >> Along with what you were talking about, special events that 385 00:43:55,400 --> 00:44:04,040 happen in the city, we talked before about the need for increased disabled parking at events, 386 00:44:04,040 --> 00:44:09,960 especially like arts and jazz fest because they tend to close down areas where a lot of the 387 00:44:09,960 --> 00:44:18,600 handicapped parking is. And one thing I think we talked about and hadn't moved forward with was 388 00:44:18,600 --> 00:44:27,400 the possibility of getting some of those signs that you could put in a parking space and then 389 00:44:27,400 --> 00:44:34,680 move it to another space, portable handicapped parking signs that the city could have available 390 00:44:34,680 --> 00:44:42,040 for events and, you know, put them out and take them down to increase the amount of handicapped 391 00:44:42,040 --> 00:44:51,560 parking for big events. >> I think accessibility and special events would be a good topic and we 392 00:44:51,560 --> 00:44:59,080 can make sure to address parking as part of that for sure. With a couple of events coming up, 393 00:44:59,080 --> 00:45:03,880 I may just go ahead and ask the question if we do have that capacity right there for the temporary 394 00:45:03,880 --> 00:45:15,160 portable signs. >> Thank you. >> You got it. Thank you. If it helps the committee get the 395 00:45:15,160 --> 00:45:21,400 thinking -- kind of get the thinking going, you know, one of the things that, you know, is, again, 396 00:45:21,400 --> 00:45:27,640 city operations. So you think about all the operations, all the services we provide. Is there 397 00:45:27,640 --> 00:45:37,640 any that you feel, whether it is how we ask you to pay for your utility bills or how people 398 00:45:37,640 --> 00:45:47,000 interact with the library or animal shelter or just kind of anything under the sun, think of all 399 00:45:47,000 --> 00:45:50,360 the services that we provide. Are there any areas where you feel like you would like to know 400 00:45:52,360 --> 00:45:58,200 if there are opportunities to improve accessibility? So I know that's kind of a broad term, 401 00:45:58,200 --> 00:46:03,080 but there's a lot that the city does. So there may be items there to discuss. 402 00:46:03,080 --> 00:46:17,880 >> I had one thing that -- I was going to say it before you just said what you did. But one thing 403 00:46:17,880 --> 00:46:26,840 I continue to be frustrated with is how difficult it is for people in wheelchairs to get from one 404 00:46:26,840 --> 00:46:33,240 location to another. Like one thing I bought up in the past and I checked it out recently and 405 00:46:33,240 --> 00:46:40,120 nothing had changed is we've got this great convention center, this fancy hotel, you know, 406 00:46:40,120 --> 00:46:47,800 welcome to Denton. We want you to come and have all your conferences here. And if you're in that 407 00:46:47,800 --> 00:46:54,360 one specific area, yeah, you can get around from one place to another. But if you're coming down 408 00:46:54,360 --> 00:47:02,440 from the hotel towards university and you want to go over to Albertsons or to the medical supply 409 00:47:02,440 --> 00:47:09,960 place or to a restaurant over by Albertsons, you have to actually go into oncoming traffic 410 00:47:10,600 --> 00:47:18,200 to get there. There's no way a person in a wheelchair can get from that area over to 411 00:47:18,200 --> 00:47:26,200 Albertsons. People walk across the grass there, but there's a curb. There's no curb cut. There's 412 00:47:26,200 --> 00:47:33,240 just no way for it to happen. I've emailed many years ago about it. And it just -- there's many 413 00:47:33,240 --> 00:47:41,400 areas in the city like this, but this in particular just really chaps me because, you know, it's like 414 00:47:41,400 --> 00:47:47,800 we're so proud. We're the city of Denton. We have this great new space. But then, yeah, you just 415 00:47:47,800 --> 00:47:55,560 got to stay here the whole time. >> Gotcha. And that's one thing that we do have planned, 416 00:47:55,560 --> 00:48:00,520 I believe. Maybe our September meeting is to at least start the discussion on sidewalks 417 00:48:00,520 --> 00:48:06,760 and pedestrian access. So I definitely -- that's a great sentiment to bring up at that meeting. But 418 00:48:06,760 --> 00:48:12,280 Sally, if you would like to email me specifically about the one route you just mentioned, I could 419 00:48:12,280 --> 00:48:19,240 get started on getting some answers on that. But I do plan to have pedestrian sidewalks 420 00:48:19,240 --> 00:48:22,840 probably multiple times next year, if I'm quite honest. >> Thank you. 421 00:48:22,840 --> 00:48:31,160 >> Allison, Addie, you had your hand up. >> Yeah. I have two things to just bring up. 422 00:48:31,160 --> 00:48:40,040 Well, in library services and all around the community, opportunities for -- volunteer 423 00:48:40,040 --> 00:48:45,960 opportunities for people with disabilities. I'd like the library to maybe revisit their 424 00:48:45,960 --> 00:48:50,600 accessibility for volunteer opportunities. Last time they were here, they told us that 425 00:48:50,600 --> 00:48:55,320 it wasn't something that commonly happened and that they weren't allowed to volunteer and I'd 426 00:48:55,320 --> 00:49:04,920 like that to be revisited. I'd also like to address children's safety for invisible 427 00:49:04,920 --> 00:49:14,760 disabilities in parks with play areas. >> So I understand that correctly. Invisible 428 00:49:14,760 --> 00:49:21,640 disabilities. >> Like autism. >> Oh, okay. Gotcha. I'm invisible. >> Yeah. >> Indeed. 429 00:49:21,640 --> 00:49:31,640 So I'm one for follow-up and evidence that communications were heard and actions were taken. 430 00:49:31,640 --> 00:49:41,160 So before the pandemic, we had discussed seating in some of the public spaces, individuals with 431 00:49:41,160 --> 00:49:47,080 disabilities, the weight of the chairs, the size of the chairs. We talked about the weight of doors 432 00:49:47,080 --> 00:49:54,920 being exceptionally heavy for some individuals to open. We also talked about the location of 433 00:49:54,920 --> 00:50:05,480 the restroom spaces, cubicles designed for individuals with wheelchairs being at the 434 00:50:06,040 --> 00:50:13,080 furthest part of the entry from the restroom. And I know those were topics some brought by 435 00:50:13,080 --> 00:50:19,880 citizens who had an opportunity to speak to us. But I'd like to know if it was heard, is there 436 00:50:19,880 --> 00:50:25,480 anything being done about it? You know, it's good to hear, but then we'd like to know it is, you 437 00:50:25,480 --> 00:50:31,480 know, financially impossible for us to do this. We have a plan to get some of these things corrected 438 00:50:31,480 --> 00:50:36,760 over time. I believe a building was being renovated. We were talking about counter height 439 00:50:36,760 --> 00:50:44,440 for individuals that, you know, can't handle the standing if they need to write and transact business 440 00:50:44,440 --> 00:50:51,320 with the seating and the heights of tables in some of the meeting rooms. 441 00:50:51,320 --> 00:50:58,920 >> When you say public spaces, do you mean like city facilities? 442 00:50:58,920 --> 00:51:04,840 >> Yes, for the city facilities when groups are meeting and some of those individuals in the group 443 00:51:04,840 --> 00:51:13,960 may need an accommodation, which leads me to the contact. Do we have that contact for our citizens 444 00:51:13,960 --> 00:51:21,000 to say I need support with ABC and D when I come to a public event on city property? 445 00:51:21,000 --> 00:51:28,440 >> We do. So that would again be that accommodations. Citydent.com/ADA is where the 446 00:51:28,440 --> 00:51:35,800 information is. You know, when we are bringing back our ADA transition plan here likely in the fall, 447 00:51:35,800 --> 00:51:41,960 and this plan, it's focusing on facilities and parks, so I'll make sure that these become 448 00:51:41,960 --> 00:51:48,360 discussion items in that discussion and that we hit on those specifically, because that plan will 449 00:51:48,360 --> 00:51:55,240 be when we look at, okay, what should be and needs to be updated to be ADA compliant. And so that's 450 00:51:55,240 --> 00:51:59,960 something that our consultant, if they're not already looking at, they should be looking at, 451 00:51:59,960 --> 00:52:07,400 and they can speak to kind of their process for reviewing doorway, counter height, restroom 452 00:52:07,400 --> 00:52:12,760 proximity, all those things. That's excellent, and we are planning on bringing that back with the ADA 453 00:52:12,760 --> 00:52:20,440 plan. >> Okay. And we used to get little updates as a committee on some of the previous topics 454 00:52:21,080 --> 00:52:27,800 and where the status for those topics happens to be. If I'm missing out, you guys just, you know, 455 00:52:27,800 --> 00:52:34,680 ring my bell and tell me. But if you could just do that, start bringing back the little checklist 456 00:52:34,680 --> 00:52:40,440 to say, okay, this is where we were, and this was what we did about it, or it's pending. 457 00:52:40,440 --> 00:52:45,880 >> So more follow-up content like in our report that we have at the end of every agenda? 458 00:52:47,000 --> 00:53:01,800 >> Yes. And I'm through talking. >> I was going to say, I think most of those 459 00:53:01,800 --> 00:53:08,440 are addressed in those staff memos. I just think the way we did it previously was more 460 00:53:09,480 --> 00:53:19,240 visual on screen with a checklist where people can see. >> So you prefer something, a report on 461 00:53:19,240 --> 00:53:25,160 screen? >> I personally am okay with the memo. I just think that's -- correct me if I'm wrong, 462 00:53:25,160 --> 00:53:32,920 Val. Maybe that's what you're alluding to. >> I don't remember a lot of memos, but I do 463 00:53:32,920 --> 00:53:38,840 remember the chart that we received. Have I been missing something? You all are getting memos and 464 00:53:38,840 --> 00:53:47,560 I'm not. >> It's at the agenda packet. It's usually the last item. >> I haven't seen that 465 00:53:47,560 --> 00:53:53,800 in a while. I guess I'll put it that way. >> So every agenda item at the bottom with the staff 466 00:53:53,800 --> 00:54:03,720 memo or report, a lot of the updates from previous are there. >> We used to go over them verbally 467 00:54:03,720 --> 00:54:09,800 at the end of the meeting. And I think that's part of what we're missing is we're maybe not 468 00:54:09,800 --> 00:54:17,640 going over it verbally and talking about it. So, you know, you might read it and it doesn't stick 469 00:54:17,640 --> 00:54:24,360 because we haven't really processed it. At least I know for me it was more helpful when we went over 470 00:54:24,360 --> 00:54:32,920 it verbally and it was on the screen or verbally and it was on the paper. >> I see your hand up. 471 00:54:33,880 --> 00:54:44,920 >> So there is an actual list of things that the committee has kind of addressed and wanted 472 00:54:44,920 --> 00:54:55,000 those things to be addressed by the city? >> I don't believe there's a list of specific 473 00:54:55,000 --> 00:54:59,480 things that we've presented and come back to the committee with. We did keep a meeting topics list 474 00:55:00,120 --> 00:55:07,400 that we would -- this is probably pre-COVID that we included with the committee packet. Of course, 475 00:55:07,400 --> 00:55:14,040 COVID kind of -- things got a little wonky. But I think if the committee's desire is to perhaps at 476 00:55:14,040 --> 00:55:19,640 the end of every discussion maybe recap any to-do items and then keep those tracked from meeting to 477 00:55:19,640 --> 00:55:26,920 meeting, I think that is certainly doable. And we can just, you know, however it ends up being 478 00:55:26,920 --> 00:55:32,040 presented, whether it's a -- you know, we keep a list in our general report of, you know, these 479 00:55:32,040 --> 00:55:36,360 things are done. They're in the report. You got these. These things are still working on. And we 480 00:55:36,360 --> 00:55:40,680 can certainly include that as part of the agenda item and that last kind of summary report that we 481 00:55:40,680 --> 00:55:48,440 give. >> Sure. I think that if we -- if we form something like that, that it should be done outside 482 00:55:48,440 --> 00:55:58,760 the meeting at least have people email you, Ryan, or whomever to list things that they feel should 483 00:55:58,760 --> 00:56:05,560 be on a list to kind of be addressed. Because if we do that in our committee meeting now, you know, 484 00:56:05,560 --> 00:56:15,000 they might get a little long-winded and crazy. It'd just be easier. You know, there's so much stuff. 485 00:56:15,000 --> 00:56:22,760 I mean, it's kind of overwhelming how many things could be addressed if we tried to address all of 486 00:56:22,760 --> 00:56:28,200 them. >> I hear what you're saying. I think we would have to get a committee consensus. 487 00:56:28,200 --> 00:56:31,160 >> Right. >> I think it might get 488 00:56:31,160 --> 00:56:34,840 >> That's what I mean. >> Difficult if we -- yeah. 489 00:56:34,840 --> 00:56:42,120 >> That's what I mean. It would just get a little nuts, you know, and I don't want anybody to get 490 00:56:42,120 --> 00:56:48,600 frustrated because we can't get this one thing done or this one thing. It's just so much stuff. 491 00:56:48,600 --> 00:56:58,120 So maybe we can pick apart a few things and possibly change one of them or a part of one 492 00:56:58,120 --> 00:57:04,520 of them or any fraction of an idea. So anyways, I just wanted to know if there was an actual list 493 00:57:04,520 --> 00:57:13,800 or not. Thanks. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> I think I might be in the minority where I prefer the memo 494 00:57:13,800 --> 00:57:23,160 and be able to read it prior to the meeting. And I think how it was executed way previously was 495 00:57:23,160 --> 00:57:32,440 very much shooting darts in the dark and really ran long. So maybe we can come to a compromise 496 00:57:32,440 --> 00:57:39,000 between the two. But I would encourage everyone to read the agenda packet before the meeting so 497 00:57:39,000 --> 00:57:47,320 that way it makes these conversations a little more effective. >> I think I can work to find 498 00:57:47,320 --> 00:57:51,960 a happy medium even if it's just an image of a checklist of what's been done and what's not 499 00:57:51,960 --> 00:57:57,400 left out that can accompany the memo. Maybe that would kind of give everyone what they're looking 500 00:57:57,400 --> 00:58:07,320 for without being terribly cumbersome one way or the other. >> Great. Any other thoughts on other 501 00:58:07,320 --> 00:58:17,320 topics? >> We had talked about back when we first started talking about the crosswalks 502 00:58:17,320 --> 00:58:26,360 around the courthouse and we just never came back around to it was a stop light feature called 503 00:58:26,360 --> 00:58:33,240 initial pedestrian delay. That was what they had around the courthouse stop lights 504 00:58:33,240 --> 00:58:40,920 initial before they upgraded to the all walk crosswalk. And we asked the traffic coordinator 505 00:58:40,920 --> 00:58:48,840 at that time when he did his presentation if that initial pedestrian delay could be used on any 506 00:58:50,120 --> 00:58:59,320 crosswalk or every crosswalk in town because that made it safer. It gave the pedestrian 507 00:58:59,320 --> 00:59:07,160 an extra three seconds to get out in front of the cars and be seen. And we never went back 508 00:59:07,160 --> 00:59:15,960 and talked about would we want to try that in other locations or maybe everywhere and see if 509 00:59:16,520 --> 00:59:25,160 it cut down on the problems people were having getting across the street in time or being seen 510 00:59:25,160 --> 00:59:31,320 when they went across the street. >> Gotcha. We can get a follow-up on that for sure. 511 00:59:31,320 --> 00:59:44,120 >> Thank you. >> Ryan, is that also something that could be addressed through the 512 00:59:44,920 --> 00:59:52,120 Engage Denton app? >> It could. I think that that's probably more of a if it's a specific 513 00:59:52,120 --> 00:59:58,120 stop light or I should say intersection. That's something someone could submit through 514 00:59:58,120 --> 01:00:03,640 Engage Denton. We could do an evaluation and respond either yes, we can do that, 515 01:00:03,640 --> 01:00:07,720 no, we shouldn't for some other traffic management or pedestrian management reason. 516 01:00:07,720 --> 01:00:13,160 But it certainly is something that anyone could submit on Engage Denton. But I think we can come 517 01:00:13,160 --> 01:00:20,600 back with a question of if the question is would this be good to apply to more or all crosswalks, 518 01:00:20,600 --> 01:00:25,800 I think that's a question we can answer. It may be something where we can't do it for all of them, 519 01:00:25,800 --> 01:00:32,680 but maybe we should do it for some because they are pedestrian heavy and there would be a safety 520 01:00:32,680 --> 01:00:39,080 benefit there and it wouldn't be disruptive to traffic flows. And that's certainly a question 521 01:00:39,080 --> 01:00:57,960 that we can answer. >> Any other thoughts? >> At some point I would like to talk to the 522 01:00:57,960 --> 01:01:04,520 people from the therapeutic recreation at Parks and Rec again and see if we can coordinate with 523 01:01:04,520 --> 01:01:15,640 them and help build their program. We met with them once early on and traded ideas back and forth, 524 01:01:15,640 --> 01:01:25,560 but we never got to follow up. >> I believe we have some new staff members with that program, 525 01:01:25,560 --> 01:01:50,120 so it would be good for everybody to be familiar with everybody. >> If there are no more additions, 526 01:01:50,120 --> 01:01:56,040 I have a really good list, so I'll bring that back in September. And if I can get any of them 527 01:01:56,040 --> 01:02:01,320 that there was a pretty clear consensus on in that September meeting, I will. But we'll know, 528 01:02:01,320 --> 01:02:07,560 you know, I have a good slate of things to draw from in the coming meetings for sure. Thank you. 529 01:02:07,560 --> 01:02:24,680 >> Thank you, Ryan. We'll go to item E, CPD 21026, staff update memo. >> That's me again. Did 530 01:02:24,680 --> 01:02:29,720 everyone get a chance to look over that memo? It was one pager, so I saved you from a lot of time 531 01:02:29,720 --> 01:02:37,080 this time around. I think the big news is that the council had previously directed that all virtual 532 01:02:37,080 --> 01:02:43,080 meetings would conclude at the end of August, and the governor recently indicated that he would 533 01:02:43,080 --> 01:02:49,160 essentially rescind the suspension of the open meetings act that allowed virtual meetings. So 534 01:02:49,160 --> 01:02:53,960 the council said that they intended to do it. The governor said, well, now you have no choice, 535 01:02:53,960 --> 01:02:58,920 essentially. So this committee will return to in-person meetings beginning with our September 536 01:02:58,920 --> 01:03:08,920 meeting, which is slated for September 16. And if you guys remember back when we first started the 537 01:03:08,920 --> 01:03:14,120 committee, we kind of packed in a little tight in the work session room. And so I'm going to 538 01:03:14,120 --> 01:03:20,200 look and see if there are not other opportunities, other spaces where we're not going to be so close 539 01:03:20,200 --> 01:03:29,160 to each other, you know, from a COVID precaution perspective, but also just an ease of access 540 01:03:29,160 --> 01:03:34,520 perspective as well. So right now we're looking for just an alternative space to house our meeting, 541 01:03:34,520 --> 01:03:42,280 but it will be in-person. What I will do as well, you know, we've been doing these 3 p.m. meetings 542 01:03:42,280 --> 01:03:52,200 for a while, and I'm going to reach out to each of you individually. I might do a quick little web 543 01:03:52,200 --> 01:03:57,080 survey. If you can't fill that out, I might just call you, or you can just email me back. But I 544 01:03:57,080 --> 01:04:03,080 want to know, Thursday seemed to work well, and I want to know everyone's individual thoughts on 545 01:04:05,160 --> 01:04:12,360 whether to keep the 3 p.m. time frame that we've been working with, which may be convenient 546 01:04:12,360 --> 01:04:20,920 virtually, but may not be convenient in person, or to revert back to the 6 p.m. time frame that 547 01:04:20,920 --> 01:04:25,720 we had when the committee originally began meeting in person. We're not posted for this discussion 548 01:04:25,720 --> 01:04:31,080 now, so we can't have it now, but I will reach out, kind of do an individual poll with everyone, 549 01:04:31,080 --> 01:04:39,880 and if there's a clear consensus, that'll help make the decision a bit easier on what works for 550 01:04:39,880 --> 01:04:43,960 the committee. But I do want to let you guys know that that's coming your way. 551 01:04:43,960 --> 01:04:50,840 And does anyone have any questions on just the return to in-person meetings at all? 552 01:04:54,680 --> 01:05:05,640 Will wearing masks be an option if we are, are we, assuming we're still going to be recorded and? 553 01:05:05,640 --> 01:05:14,600 You will be recorded. I don't believe there are any prohibitions with wearing a mask while 554 01:05:14,600 --> 01:05:18,920 being recorded, although I will check on that. So I don't think we can 555 01:05:20,280 --> 01:05:25,560 prevent you from wearing a mask due to TOMA law. So I'll verify, but I'm pretty sure if 556 01:05:25,560 --> 01:05:32,120 you want to wear a mask, you'll be free to do so. Additionally, there are no city requirements 557 01:05:32,120 --> 01:05:37,720 relating to wearing a face mask, so if you don't want to wear a face mask, you wouldn't be required 558 01:05:37,720 --> 01:05:47,480 to. So it would be completely individual choice. John? I may need somebody to, I don't know, 559 01:05:47,480 --> 01:05:51,800 talk to me on the phone or something. I've never been in person with a meeting, 560 01:05:51,800 --> 01:05:59,080 so I might need a little bit of help with some further description of exactly where I'm going. 561 01:05:59,080 --> 01:06:06,920 So yeah, I can talk to a couple different people and figure it out. Maybe you, Val, 562 01:06:06,920 --> 01:06:13,960 message you, or I'll figure it out. But yeah, is it the, it's something that came in somewhere, right? 563 01:06:15,800 --> 01:06:21,240 Yeah, we would be in city, we previously were in city hall. We'll find a location. We'll nail 564 01:06:21,240 --> 01:06:25,480 down a location and try to give you some more space. I'll give you a call, John. No worries. 565 01:06:25,480 --> 01:06:34,040 We'll make sure we reach out to you. Sandy, you have a question? Yes. Well, we have input 566 01:06:34,040 --> 01:06:42,440 into the location or not? If there's options, yes. I'll certainly try to work with, talk to 567 01:06:42,440 --> 01:06:50,840 you guys and work with what works best. We have to find a room that we can record from so that you 568 01:06:50,840 --> 01:06:57,880 guys can be broadcast and that we can also fit everyone in comfortably. And so you have to fit 569 01:06:57,880 --> 01:07:01,960 in there comfortably, be oriented in such a way that we can get a camera on you and that the sound 570 01:07:01,960 --> 01:07:06,920 works as well because sound is very important. No sense in broadcasting if everything turns out 571 01:07:06,920 --> 01:07:12,600 garbled because it's a maybe a cavernous room. So we're trying to hit a sweet spot there. But if 572 01:07:12,600 --> 01:07:17,080 we do look like we have multiple options, I think we'll come with a recommendation, 573 01:07:17,080 --> 01:07:21,960 but we'll also get some input from the committee. Thank you. Yeah. 574 01:07:21,960 --> 01:07:35,480 All right. Well, the only other item is just an update on the closed captioning recommendation 575 01:07:35,480 --> 01:07:40,840 that this committee made that has been submitted to council through the budget process. And it'll be 576 01:07:40,840 --> 01:07:46,760 part of their consideration of the budget here through July and August. So just wanted to follow 577 01:07:46,760 --> 01:07:56,040 up on that. And our next meeting is September 16th at TBD. I do not have a time location or room for 578 01:07:56,040 --> 01:08:06,200 you yet. That's all I'll be working on over the coming weeks. And that is this item. Go back to 579 01:08:06,200 --> 01:08:13,560 monthly meetings or are we going to, during the pandemic we did like every two months, every three 580 01:08:13,560 --> 01:08:22,040 months, are we going to go back to monthly? What I'll do is I'll put an item on that September 581 01:08:22,040 --> 01:08:26,440 meeting to where we can discuss the, you have an adopted schedule through the end of the calendar 582 01:08:26,440 --> 01:08:32,680 year, which is every other month. So we can consider it when we adopt a new schedule, 583 01:08:32,680 --> 01:08:39,720 or we can have just a discussion item prior to that, to where this body could consider its 584 01:08:39,720 --> 01:08:47,080 meeting frequency. Two months may work for you. It may not feel like that's enough time to talk 585 01:08:47,080 --> 01:08:50,120 about the things you want to talk about. So this committee could make that decision. 586 01:08:52,040 --> 01:09:04,360 Okay. Any other questions regarding the in-person or captioning? All right, great. 587 01:09:04,360 --> 01:09:20,760 Any concluding items? Announcements or? No. All right. So looks like we are ready to adjourn. 588 01:09:22,040 --> 01:09:27,640 Do I need to have a motion to adjourn? I make a motion to adjourn. 589 01:09:27,640 --> 01:09:37,320 Second that. Great. All right. Well, thank you everyone for being on time and being here. And I 590 01:09:37,320 --> 01:09:44,440 guess we will see each other in person next time. So thank you, Ryan and the staff for helping us 591 01:09:44,440 --> 01:09:51,080 with all the virtual stuff this past year or whatever it's been. So absolutely. It'll be good 592 01:09:51,080 --> 01:09:57,880 to see you guys again. It'll be nice to be in person again. Thanks. See you guys later.