HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda_ADA_07.12.2017Notice of Meeting for the
Americans with Disabilities Accessibility Adv isory Board
of the City of Georgetown
July 12, 2017 at 6:00 PM
at GMC Building - 300-1 Industrial Av e, Georgetown, TX 78626
The City o f G eo rgeto wn is committed to comp lianc e with the Americans with Dis abilities Ac t (ADA). If yo u
req uire as s is tanc e in participating at a p ublic meeting d ue to a disability, as d efined und er the ADA, reas onab le
as s is tance, ad ap tatio ns , or acc o mmo d ations will b e provid ed up o n req uest. P leas e c o ntact the City Sec retary's
Office, at leas t three (3) days prior to the sc hed uled meeting d ate, at (512) 930-3652 o r City Hall at 113 Eas t 8th
Street fo r add itional info rmation; TTY us ers ro ute through Relay Texas at 711.
Regular Session
(This Regular S es s io n may, at any time, b e rec es s ed to convene an Exec utive S es s io n fo r any p urpose
authorized b y the Op en Meetings Act, Texas Go vernment Co d e 551.)
A Call to Ord er
The Board may, at any time, rec es s the R egular S es s io n to convene in Exec utive S es s io n at the reques t of
the Chair, a Board Memb er, the City Manager, As s is tant City Manager, G eneral Manager of Utilities, City
Co uncil Member, o r legal c o uns el for any p urpos e authorized b y the Op en Meetings Act, Texas
Government C o d e Chapter 551, and are s ubjec t to actio n in the Regular Ses s ion that follows .
B Introduction of Vis itors
Legislativ e Regular Agenda
C Review and p o s s ib le ac tion to approve the minutes from the Regular ADA Bo ard meeting held on June 14,
2017 – Jana Kern – ADA Board Liaison
D Pres entatio n, dis c us sion and possible rec o mmendatio n o f revis io ns to the Effec tive Co mmunicatio n
sec tions o f the 2016 Transitio n Plan – Ed P o ls aek, AICP, P ublic Works
Adjournment
CERTIFICATE OF POSTING
I, Shelley No wling, C ity S ecretary fo r the C ity of Geo rgeto wn, Texas , d o hereby c ertify that this Notice of
Meeting was p o s ted at City Hall, 113 E. 8th Street, a p lace read ily acc es s ible to the general p ublic at all times ,
on the ______ d ay o f __________________, 2017, at __________, and remained so p o s ted fo r at leas t 72
c o ntinuo us ho urs p receding the sc heduled time o f s aid meeting.
____________________________________
S helley No wling, City Sec retary
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City of Georgetown, Texas
Americans with Disablilities Accessibility Advisory Board
July 12, 2017
SUBJECT:
Review and pos s ible actio n to ap p ro ve the minutes fro m the Regular ADA Board meeting held o n June 14,
2017 – Jana Kern – ADA Bo ard Liais o n
ITEM SUMMARY:
Bo ard to review and revis e and /or ap p ro ve the minutes fro m the regular meeting held o n June 14, 2017.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
n/a
SUBMITTED BY:
Jana Kern
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Draft Minutes Backup Material
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Minutes for the Meeting of the
Americans with Disabilities Accessibility Advisory Board
and the Governing Body
of the City of Georgetown, Texas
June 14, 2017 at 6:00 PM
at 300-1 Industrial Ave., Georgetown, Texas 78626
The City of Georgetown is committed to compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require assistance in participation at a public meeting due
to a disability, as defined under the ADA, reasonable assistance, adaptations, or
accommodations will be provided upon request. Please contact the City at least four (4)
days prior to the scheduled meeting date, at (512)930-3652 or City Hall at 113 East 8th
Street for additional information: TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711.
Board Members: Dawn Jennings – Chair, Bea Kinney – Vice Chair, Anya Juan Risco -
Secretary, Chris H’Luz, Levera Patton, Jonathan Dade
Board Members Absent: Chris Sypniewski
Staff Present: Nat Waggoner, Jana Kern, Ed Polasek, Chad Berg, Lt. Neal Crawford
Regular Session
(This Regular Session may, at any time, be recessed to convene an Executive Session for
any purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas government Code 551.)
A. Call to Order: Jennings called the regular ADA Board Meeting to order at
6:02 PM on Wednesday June 14, 2017.
The Board may, at any time recess the Regular Session to convene in Executive
Session at the request of the Chair, a Board Member, The City Manager, Assistant
City Manager, General Manager of Utilities, City Council Member, or legal
counsel for any purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas
Government Code Chapter 551, and are subject to action in the Regular Session
that follows
B. Introduction of Visitors
C. Pedestrian Network Improvements FY2016-2020. – Nat Waggoner, PMP, AICP,
Transportation Analyst
Waggoner gave an update on the Pedestrian Network.
Moved to Item “F” at 6:25 PM
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D. Project Updates – Nat Waggoner, PMP, AICP, Transportation Analyst
Waggoner gave the Board and update on developing projects.
Legislative Regular Agenda
E. Review and possible action to approve the minutes from the Regular ADA Board
meeting held on April 12, 2017 and May 10, 2017. – Jana Kern, ADA Board
Liaison
Kinney stated on the May 10, 2017 minutes under item “E” about the fourth
sentence it reads “screen reading” and it should read “screen reader”. Kern
stated that she would make the correction. Motion by Juan Risco second by
Kinney to approve the minutes for April 12, 2017 and May 10, 2017 as amended.
Approved 6-1 (Sypniewski absent)
F. Presentation, discussion and possible recommendation of the revisions to the
Public Safety Chapter of the 2016 ADA Transition Plan. – Nat Waggoner, PMP,
AICP, Transportation Analyst
Waggoner opened the item with a quick overview then turned it over to Chad
Berg, COG Emergency Management Coordinator. Mr. Berg discussed some of
the programs that are available i.e. Smart 911, Sign Language, etc.
Moved back to Item “D” 7:26 PM
Adjournment
Motion by Dade second by Kinney to adjourn meeting. Approved 6-1
(Sypniewski absent) Meeting adjourned at 7:58 PM.
Approved: Attested:
__________________________ __________________________
Dawn Jennings – Vice Chair Anya Juan Risco – Secretary
_________________________________
Jana R. Kern – ADA Board Liaison
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City of Georgetown, Texas
Americans with Disablilities Accessibility Advisory Board
July 12, 2017
SUBJECT:
Presentatio n, d is c us s io n and p o s s ib le rec o mmend ation of revisions to the Effec tive Communic ation
s ectio ns o f the 2016 Trans ition P lan – Ed Pols aek, AICP, Pub lic Wo rks
ITEM SUMMARY:
The City o f G eo rgeto wn wo rks to ensure that all c o mmunicatio n is as effec tive as p o s s ib le to all
audiences. To ac c omplish this, the City s trives to us e communic ation metho d s proven to b e openly
acc es s ib le, and , upon reques t, provid e appro p riate aid s and services lead ing to effective communic ation
fo r persons with d is ab ilities s o they may partic ip ate eq ually in the City's p rograms , s ervic es , and activities .
The City uses its web s ite, soc ial media, and o ther c o mmunicatio n tools to inc reas e o utreach and reduce
b arriers to ac c es s ing C ity services and information. Inc luded in the 2016 Trans itio n Plan, Sec tion 3.3
Effective Com mu n ication , are City polic ies related to p ublic meetings , o nline p ayments, City rec o rd s , news
and information, webpage and web s ite acc es s ibility and future communic atio n p ro jects .
Communic ating s uc c es s fully is an es s ential p art o f provid ing service to the p ublic . T he ADA req uires
p ublic entities to take the s teps nec es s ary to c o mmunicate effec tively with people who have d is ab ilities, and
uses the term “auxiliary aids and s ervic es ” to refer to readers, no tetakers, sign language interp reters,
as s is tive listening s ys tems and d evic es , o p en and c lo s ed c ap tioning, text telep hones (TTYs ), videopho nes ,
informatio n provid ed in large print, Braille, audible, or electro nic formats , and other tools fo r people who
have c o mmunic ation dis abilities .
Becaus e the nature of communic ations differs from p ro gram to p ro gram, the rules allow for flexibility in
d etermining effec tive communic ation solutions . The go al is to find a prac tic al s o lutio n that fits the
circ umstanc es , taking into c o nsideratio n the nature, length, and c o mp lexity of the c o mmunicatio n as well as
the person’s normal metho d (s ) of communic atio n.
Pub lic entities are req uired to give primary c ons id eration to the typ e of auxiliary aid o r service req uested b y
the person with the dis ability. They mus t honor that cho ice, unless they can d emo ns trate that another
eq ually effec tive means o f c o mmunicatio n is available o r that the aid or s ervic e req ues ted wo uld
fund amentally alter the nature o f the p ro gram, s ervic e, o r ac tivity or would res ult in undue financ ial and
ad ministrative b urdens . If the cho ice express ed by the p ers o n with a disability wo uld res ult in an undue
b urden or a fund amental alteration, the pub lic entity s till has an o b ligatio n to provid e ano ther aid o r service
that p ro vides effec tive c o mmunicatio n, if p os s ible. The dec is io n that a partic ular aid or s ervic e wo uld res ult
in an und ue burd en o r fundamental alteration mus t b e made b y a high level o ffic ial, no lower than a
Department head, and mus t b e ac companied b y a written s tatement of the reas o ns fo r reac hing that
conclus io n.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Cons id er spec ific modific ations to the ADA.Georgetown.o rg p age. Up grad es c o uld inc lude Department o f
Jus tic e primers on Title II info rmation (http s ://www.ad a.go v/regs2010/titleII_2010/title_ii_p rimer.html) and
the ADA Best Prac tic es To o l Kit fo r State and Loc al Governments
(https://www.ada.gov/pc atoolkit/toolkitmain.htm).
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Integrate ADA Bo ard drafted c o mmunications into City communic ations plan thro ugh coordination with IT
and Communic atio ns teams.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
How c an the ADA Bo ard better communic ate with the Community at large the effo rts City is making to
insure ac cess ac ro s s all City s ervic es , p ro grams and fac ilities?
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
All financial impac ts fo r F Y17 are includ ed in the bud get whic h was ap p roved S ep tember 2016.
SUBMITTED BY:
Nat Waggoner, PMP, AICP
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
FY 2016 ADA Trans ition Plan - Effective Communication Backup Material
Department of Jus tice Primer - Effective Communication Backup Material
Department of Jus tice Toolkit - Effective Communication Backup Material
Department of Jus tice Checklis t - Effective Communication Backup Material
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City of Georgetown, Texas
2016 ADA Transition Plan
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Facilities - Parks, Recreation Facilities and Programs
Georgetown Parks and Recreation is committed to providing access to recreational areas and
programs for individuals with disabilities. The Parks and Recreation Department’s Capital
Improvement Plan identifies park renovation projects to provide ADA compliance.
Additionally, the City will ensure facilities are in compliance as they are altered or replaced.
Georgetown Parks and Recreation operates programs and activities when viewed in their
entirety are accessible and usable to individuals with disabilities. The City achieves this through
redesign of equipment, reassignment of programs to accessible sites, alteration of existing
facilities and construction of new facilities. The City shall give priority to methods that provide
the most integrated setting for individuals with disabilities.
3.2 Public Safety
Access to 9-1-1 Services
The City of Georgetown provides direct access via TTY (text telephone) or computer-to-
telephone emergency services, including 9-1-1 services for persons who use TTY’s and personal
computers.
Emergency Management
The City of Georgetown Emergency Management works with Williamson County to develop,
maintain and facilitate the all- hazard Emergency Operations Plan as required by Local, State
and Federal statutes and laws. During all emergency planning (Mitigation, Planning, Response,
Recover y) the City is committed to be in compliance with the ADA requirements as outlined in
Title II Chapter 7 of the ADA. The Office of Emergency Management ensures that all parties
with responsibilities under the Georgetown Emergency Operation Plan (EOP) are aware of
ADA requirements and that all programs, documentation, and third party agreements are also
in compliance with ADA through the review of the EOP every five (5) years. Annually
Georgetown Emergency Management reviews individual select appendices of the Plan for ADA
compliance.
The Office of Emergency Management utilizes Federal, State, Regional, County, and Local
resources to educate, to provide emergency warning and notifications, and to keep informed
those persons with disabilities within the City. These systems were developed and continue to
be modified after numerous disasters throughout the country and the lessons learned.
Georgetown relies on both voluntary registration and multi prong methods as listed:
(EAS) Emergency Alert System (Federal)
Relay Texas (State)
Outdoor Warning Sirens (Local)
3.3 Effective Communication
The City of Georgetown works to ensure that all communication is as effective as possible to all
audiences. To accomplish this, the City strives to use communication methods proven to be
openly accessible, and , upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective
communication for persons with disabilities so they may participate equally in the City's
programs, services, and activities. The City uses its website, social media, and other
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City of Georgetown, Texas
2016 ADA Transition Plan
Page 9 of 18
communication tools to increase outreach and reduce barriers to accessing City services and
information. Below are some of the ways that online services are providing access to City
information and services.
City Council Meetings: In 2009, the City began streaming City Council meetings live on
Georgetown.org and GTV channel 10. City Council meetings are replayed on GTV at set days
and times and are available at any time for replay on Georgetown.org using a computer or
mobile device. Additionally, the City Council Chambers is equipped with a hearing loop
system. All members of the public who use a hearing aid are able to switch to a channel that
will pick up the audio being transmitted through the PA system. He or she can pick up the
sounds spoken into the PA system’s microphone instead of the hearing aid’s internal
microphone. This results in improved speech understanding because the listener receives a clear
signal without any background noise. If a member of the general public requires other
assistance in attending a City Council meeting or any other public meeting, he or she may
contact the City Secretary’s office at least four days prior to the meeting date so that
accommodations can be made.
Online Payments: City utility bills, municipal court tickets, some permits, and some kinds of
event tickets can be paid online via Georgetown.org.
City Records: Agendas and minutes for City Council meetings and boards & commissions
meetings are available at Georgetown.org. Many other records such as current and past city
ordinances and the local unified development code are also available through the City website.
The City records archival system utilizes a technology called Optical Character Recognition
(OCR) which is able to extract text out of graphic files which makes more City documents open
to the visually impaired and easier to locate through search engines.
City News and Information: City news releases and City project information is posted to
Georgetown.org and to City Facebook sites such as www.facebook.com/CityofGeorgetown and
www.facebook.com/VisitGeorgetownTX. The City uses other communication tools such as the
weekly email newsletter and monthly City Reporter newsletter in the utility bill, as well as,
monthly ads in the Williamson County Sun to provide information on City news and initiatives.
Postcards mailed to customers are used for certain messages such as water restrictions or
information about City elections.
Video: The City provides some messages and information via the City YouTube channel and on
GTV channel 10 and on Georgetown.org. The Public Communications Department seeks to
expand video programming in order to increase exposure to City information and programs.
Website Accessibility: In designing websites for City departments, the Public Communications
Department has avoided using technologies and formatting that are not ADA
compliant/friendly.
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City of Georgetown, Texas
2016 ADA Transition Plan
Page 10 of 18
Webpage: The City has created an ADA page on the City’s website located at
ada.georgetown.org.
Through all of these means, the City provides outreach to the community in a variety of ways
for those who may have mobility impairments or difficulty in using certain kinds of electronic
or print media.
Future Communication Projects
The City’s IT Steering Committee has formed a Subcommittee to evaluate ADA considerations
with City wide technology systems. The Subcommittee will make recommendations to inform
the IT Master Plan annual update and future decisions to acquire and implement new
technology systems. The City is in process of implementing a Spanish translation service to
most *.georgetown.org websites.
3.4 Employment
The City of Georgetown does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or
employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission under Title I of the ADA. The City has guidelines in
place to eliminate discrimination, against any individuals that may have a disability, in relation
to application procedures, hiring process, compensation, training, advancement and other
terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. In conjunction with these anti-discrimination
guidelines, there are also adopted procedures in place to both determine and provide
reasonable accommodations upon request. These guidelines are conveyed through our internal,
city-wide, “Americans with Disabilities” policy and communicated to those seeking
employment through the City’s employment website . The City’s ADA Employment Policy
governs employment-related complaints of disability discrimination.
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