Advisory Commission on Disabilities

400 S. Eagle Street City of Naperville Naperville, IL 60540 Meeting Minutes - Final Advisory Commission on Disabilities Wednesday, February 7, 2024 6:30 PM NEU A. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Wronski called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. B. ROLL CALL: Present 8- Lisa Cesal, Donielle Deering, Sherry Huang, Allison Longenbaugh, Wendy Pligge, Suhel Siddiqui, Ghousia Wajid, and Thomas Wronski Also present: Dawn Portner, City Clerk; Peter Zibble, Project Engineer; Romit Ghosh, Student Representative; Raghav Narsana, Student Representative Commissioner Wajid entered the meeting at 7:04 p.m. C. PUBLIC FORUM: No speakers for Public Forum D. OLD BUSINESS 1. Approve the minutes of the August 2, 2023 and November 8, 2023 Advisory Commission on Disabilities meetings Commissioner Suhel made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Huang to approve the Advisory Commission on Disabilities meeting minutes of August 2, 2023 and November 8, 2023. The motion carried by a voice vote. 2. Approve the Advisory Commission on Disabilities 2024 meeting calendar The Commission discussed moving the November 6, 2024 meeting to November 13, 2024 due to the change in the City Council schedule because of the November 5, 2024 election. Commissioner Cesal made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Deering, to approve the Advisory Commission on Disabilities 2024 Meeting Calendar with the exception of moving the November 6, 2024 meeting to November 13, 2024. The motion carried by a voice vote. E. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Receive the report on the Right-of-Way Transition Plan and improvements from City of Naperville Page 1 Printed on 6/14/2024 Advisory Commission on Disabilities Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2024 2021-2023 Zibble stated the City is committed to continually improving pedestrian facilities within it's rights-of-way to reduce barriers for those individuals with disabilities. He explained that the City is responsible for nearly 500 miles of roadway and 900 miles of sidewalks and that pedestrian improvements are prioritized based on the City’s transition plan which outlines new developments, new sidewalk program, utility work and capital projects, annual roadway maintenance, and resident complaints. He explained that over the past three years, the City has performed the following work: 1. Repaired/replaced 17.56 miles of sidewalk and 1,508 ramps 2. Constructed 9,450 feet of new sidewalk to fill existing gaps 3. Capital Programs: North Aurora Road widening, Julian Street reconstruction, Jefferson and Main streetscape The following upcoming projects were also discussed: 1. Washington Street Streetscape 2. Columbia Street reconstruction 3. 2024 In-Town West bulb-out construction 4. several IDOT projects Commissioners discussed the City's sidewalk cost sharing program, how maintenance issues are resolved, and directed Portner to work with the Director of TED and report to the Commission in May. This Report was received. 2. Receive a Riverwalk assessment update from the Accessibility Community Task Force Mary Hamill, Chair of the Accessibility Community Task Force (ACTF) updated the Commission on the following ACTF initiatives: 1. Members of the ACTF participated in a research project conducted by the University of Illinois Chicago about people with disabilities experiences with civic engagement in their local communities. 2. An ACTF member met with Mayor Wehrli regarding a suicide prevention project she has been working on to see if the Naperville Park District’s Operation Disrupt should be expanded. 3. Councilman Kelly referred Rick Bolle from the All Abilities Worship program at Front Porch Church to the ACTF and a member of the ACTF met with Mr. Bolle. 4. Councilwoman Longenbaugh referred Kalpana Shah from Simplify Health Care to the ACTF regarding the development of their special recruitment for hiring new staff with disabilities. A member of the ACTF met with Ms. Shah and Ms.Galetsis from Simplify Healthcare. 5. A member of the ACTF met with members of the Senior Task Force (STF) City of Naperville Page 2 Printed on 6/14/2024 Advisory Commission on Disabilities Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2024 to discuss visitability in Naperville. A presentation will be made at their February 13, 2024 meeting. 6. The ACTF contacted the Executive Director of the Naperville Public Library David Della Terza regarding disability awareness last year. This led to a productive meeting with Library staff coordinate Disability Pride Month activities and expansion of services for persons with disabilities such as accessibility items for check-out, installation of sensory bags in the libraries, and more accessible library activities. 7. The ACTF will begin working on the annual Student Recognition Awards to be presented at the May 7, 2024, Council meeting. 8. An ACTF member shared a concern about businesses not clearing their sidewalks after snowstorms and how this is an impediment to persons who use mobility devices. 9. The ACTF requested an update about the weight of the employee entrance door in the lower-level parking garage and this was to be brought to the attention of the public buildings operations department to measure. Portner stated that the Municipal Code holds that parking spaces are only required to be maintained free from hazardous conditions and that maintenance of parking lots, and ensuring that parking stalls are always accessible to the public for snow removal, is the responsibility of the property owners and that if it differences cannot be settled it's typically a civil dispute matter. Portner also gave an update on Municipal Center projects including that doors have been replaced and security improvements will be made to the lobby this spring/summer. Specifically she stated that the metal doors for the lower level employee entrance will remain closed and accessible by badge access only, that glass doors on the first floor have been replaced and can be used to exit the building, that all projects are ADA compliant, and no additional projects are planned at the Municipal Center at this time. This Report was received. F. NEW BUSINESS: No New Business G. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Wajid made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Siddiqui to adjourn the Advisory Commission on Disabilities meeting of February 7, 2024 at 7:35 p.m.. The motion carried by a voice vote. /S/Dawn Portner Dawn Portner City Clerk City of Naperville Page 3 Printed on 6/14/2024 Advisory Commission on Disabilities Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2024 City of Naperville Page 4 Printed on 6/14/2024