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2001-11-28 - Commission for Residents with Disabilities - Minutes Board or Commission: ❑ Commission on Residents With Disabilities Document Type: ❑A e g nda 0 Minutes Meeting ate: 11/28/2001 Type of Meeting: ❑ Regular Meeting MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BUFFALO GROVE COMMISSION FOR RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES MEETING NOVEMBER 28, 2001 I. Call to Order—The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. II. Roll Call —Commissioners present included Chairman Kahen, Commissioners Chorney, Slaw, Verson, Weiner, Holm, and Spallone,. Also present was Staff Liaison Summers. III. Approval of Minutes—A motion to approve the minutes of the 10/24 meeting was made by Comm. Chorney and seconded by Comm. Slaw. Motion Carried. IV. Chairman's Report— Chairman Kahen reviewed correspondence— an email from Marty Sussman. Mr. Sussman spoke with the manager of the Dominick's on Lake-Cook Road regarding the 10 items or less lane being kept open all the time for persons with disabilities making in difficult to stand in long lines. The manager informed Mr. Sussman he would look into it. Chairman Kahen noted that correspondence had to been sent to his Highland Park counterpart regarding the handicapped parking situation at Highland Park Hospital. A group will be formed to look into the situation. V. Commissioners Reports— Comm. Verson noted that her agenda packets often arrive late. All other Commissioners present noted that their packets seem to arrive on time. Comm. Slaw stated he has heard nothing since he asked about the CRD being kept up to date on the development of an Emergency Plan. He would like an opportunity for the CRD to review any plan and provide feeback, as the CRD may catch things specifically related to persons with disabilities that may otherwise be overlooked. Chairman Kahen noted that there has been a Village Staff effort, but that to date it has not involved commissions. He would like to receive an update of information on the Emergency Plan. VI. Sub-Committee Reports A. Boards/Commissions Sub-Committee—Chairman Kahen noted he has reviewed plans for the proposed Avis Condominium Development on Buffalo Grove Road and the St Mary Rectory across the street. Chairman Kahen informed the Commission that he was concerned that the rectory plan did not satisfy handicapped parking requirements in terms of number of stalls. He stated that he had sent an email to the Plan Commission indicating his concern. Liaison Summers stated the Plan Commission had raised that concern at the Nov. 14 meeting, and asked Avis Investments to come to the next meeting with a count of total parking spaces on the St. Mary Campus, total count of handicapped stalls on the St. Mary Campus, and distribution of those handicapped stalls. The project is scheduled for another workshop before the Plan Commission on Dec 19. B. Public Info Sub-Committee— Chairman Kahen noted that Comm. Spallone's article for the `Village News' newsletter had been received and is being edited to shorten it for print in the next issue. C. Goal Setting Ad-Hoc— see Items for Discussion, below. VII. Items for Discussion Chairman Kahen asked for discussion on goals for 2002 1. Comm. Slaw indicated he would like additional information on an emergency pager program, such as that in Arlington Heights. Chairman Kahen iddicated that it was a program whereby no charge pagers were given to disabled individuals hard of hearing to alert them of severe weather, etc. Comm. Verson would like information on how many the pagers Arlington Heights has, and how much they cost the village, and how they are budgeted. Comm. Chorney indicated she would like information on how the person is alerted to the type of emergency being signaled. 2. Comm. Slaw asked about the CRD website. Chairman Kahen noted that Liaison Versten had started the website and that it was off to a great start. Comm. Weiner asked if Liaison Versten could add a counter to keep track of the number of people viewing the CRD website. Comm. Spallone noted this would be a great venue for a monthly disabilities article, advertising of events, and potentially event registrations. 3. Comm. Chorney gave a brief overview of the Village of Niles bus system as a comparative point in relation to the goal of starting a Buffalo Grove Shuttle Service. She indicated Niles operates 8 buses, every half hour, with a free fare. The program had been in place since 1972. Comm. Slaw asked how it is financed. Comm, Chorney indicated that PACE supplied the buses free of charge and Niles pays maintenance and operating expenses for the service for the buses at a cost of approximately $1.5 million a year. Comm. Verson suggested multiple municipalities, i.e. Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Wheeling, Palatine, could coordinate efforts. Chairman Kahen indicated he has spoken to Scott Jacobson, of the Park Board, and that he was awaiting further information about previous efforts put forth by the Park Board to create or coordinate a shuttle service. 4. Chairman Kahen indicated he would like to actively pursue encouraging businesses to provide additional handicapped parking on a voluntary basis. He would like to draft language to submit to the Village Board and also receive Plan Commission input. Comm. Holm indicated she would like to pursue a more general business sensitivity training approach, including providing a booklet of information to local businesses. Comm Holm also asked if the Village still had a copy of a book put together by Lee Szymborski, former Assistant Village Manager, on the topic, and asked whether a copy of it could be brought to the next meeting to show to commissioners. 5. Comm. Weiner indicated he would like to add a goal of having a guest speaker, similar to Robin Jones of the Great Lakes ADA Center, speak two to three times a year. He indicated he felt this would benefit the community while also providing exposure for the CRD. Discussion of possible topics ensued, including: a representative from the school to discuss disabled children's rights in school, a parent advocate, etc. 6. Comm. Slaw asked if the Commission should create an Education Sub-Committee. Commissioners Chorney and Verson, as well as Chairman Kahen agreed. Comm. Slaw indicated it may be appropriate to organize goals into groupings and rework the sub-committees. Chairman Kahen agreed it was time to reorganize the sub-committees. Comm. Slaw volunteered to organize the list of potential goals for 2002 into grouping and prepare a list and discussion for the following CRD meeting. After group discussion on how to group the goals Comm. Slaw's tentative list of groupings included: Business/Community Awareness Public Education/Information Village Improvements Education/Schools Advocacy Servive to Residents VIII. Staff Liaison Report - Liaison Summers informed the commission that the power-assist doors in the Village Hall and Police Department would likely be put in the 5 year Captiol Improvements Plan (CIP), but that it would most likely not occur in 2002. T plans for the Arboretum Golf and Banquet Facility include power assist doors that will be installed during construction. Chairman Kahen read Liaison Versten's email regarding the CIP and budgeting for the power assist doors. Comm. Slaw indicated he believed this should be considered as a required project. Comm. Weiner asserted it was an embarrassment that such doors had not already been installed. Chairman Kahen indicated he would discuss the issue with Trustee Liaisons Johnson and Glover, he also asked if the staff liaisons could ask for more information related to why it was not possible within next years budget. Liaison Summers indicated the budget was being limited and scaled back due to the current status of the economy, and that he would further discuss the issue with Ghida Neukirch, Assistant Village Manager. IX. Questions form the Audience—None. X. Other Business—None XI Adjournment — Motion to adjourn made by Comm. Chorney and seconded by Comm. Verson. Meeting adjourned at 8:35 P.M. Next Meeting: Wednesday, December 19 at TOOpm, lower level conference room at Village Hall.