SR-300-002-01 (33)
t
NS:AP:BJS:mh 4If
lCouncil Mtg. 9-28-82
;BtJO-o~z'/
11- L
SEP 2 8 1982
Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM. City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation for CDBG Projects and Barrier Removal Criteria
Introduction
This report contains information and recoMmendations concerning CDBG barrier-
removal projects and criteria for deCIsions on future projects.
Background
During the April 27, 1982, Council meeting, recommendations were approved to
allocate 585,000 In 1982-83 CDBG monies to the Facilities for the Disabled Fund,
along with $20,500 specifically designated for curb cut projects. Approval of
two barrier renoval projects (for Ocean Park Community Center and the YWCA) were
included in the recommendations.
Prior to the April 27, 1982, Council meeting, the City received six additional
requests for barrier removal project funding, whIch were not recommended for a
variety of reasons, e.g., geographical location, lack of significant usage by
disabled individuals, need for further technical analysis.
Since the April 27th meeting, four additional requests have been received.
Discussion
In developing an implementation plan for this proJect, staff has defined two phases:
Immediate implementation of barrier removal at those two sites approved in April
as part of the 1982-83 CDBG program and one additional site requiring immediate
attention; and development of criteria for the analysis of remaining requests
and approval of sites based on this criteria. Criteria will be used in conjunction
with the standards outl ined in the Peoples' Housing Report which will be submitted
the end of October.
II,I
SEP 2 8 1982
e
e
Mayor and City Council
-2-
SepteMber 28, 1982
1. In addition to the OPCC and YWCA prOjects totaling $21,150. one of the
proposed projects suggested for Phase I is a General Revenue SharIng (GRS)
funded agency. ADEPT. This organization IS committed to serving the
employment needs of disabled residents of Santa Monica. One hundred percent
of their clients are disabled. ADEPT's original GRS proposal to the City
included donated office space within the State Department of Rehabilitation's
facilities on Ocean Park Boulevard. The facilities are accessible to persons
in wheelchairs and also have a variety of adaptive devices to serve the
dIsabled community; e.g.. TDD for speech/hearing impaired individuals.
However, City staff reco~mended that ADEPT be funded contingent upon the
organization finding donated space elsewhere in the City. The recommendation
resulted from staff concerns regarding the need for ADEPT to develop a
unique progra~ that would be viewed as separate from other agencies serving
the disabled.
ADEPT did subsequently find other office space and is presently housed at
Visualtek, a private firm which manufactures and markets equipment for the
visually ImpaIred population. WhIle this demonstrates an excellent linkage
between government, social service provider and private sector, unfortunately
the facility is not set up for direct client services. ]t is not completely
accessible and does not have necessary adaptive devices. ADEPT is not able
to fully serve applicants/clients in wheelchairs at this facilIty due to
inaccessible rest rooms, or communicate with speech/hearing impaired co-
workers, due to a lack of a TDD machine.
e
e
Mayor and City Council
-3-
September 28, 1982
Staff considers ADEPT's request. in the amount of $6,375, for modification of
rest room facil ities and the purchase of a TDD machine ~ top priority in light
of the nature of their client population and the City's funding contingency
previously mentioned.
2. Because the People's Housing Report will address cOMmercial and public fac;l ities
and not social service agencies in particular, City staff has developed the
following criteria. to be used in conjunctior., for analysis of future requests
for the reMaining 557,475 CDBG ~nies for barrier reMOval proJects'
o present number of dIsabled users including types and
nature of disabilities
o past number of disabled users including types and nature
of disability (If available).
o modifications/adaptive device(s) necessary for basIc
services to disabled Individuals.
o estimate of number of disabled users to be served if
modification(s)/adaptive device{s) are provided, along
with verification or support of this estimate.
o Benefits to low and moderate income individuals.
o Sources for outreach/recruitment geared to disabled
individuals.
o Annual goals for serving disabled clients.
Staff has reviewed this criteria with Peoples Housing. They indicate it IS
very comprehensive and consistent with their recommendations.
Recom~endations
Staff recommends that Council'
1) Approve the inclusion of an additional agency (ADEPT)
with the previously approved agencies (OPCC and YWCA) for
initial CDSG barrier removal proJects.
e
e
Mayor and City Council
-4-
September 28, 1982
2) Authorize the City Manager to proceed with the bidding and
execution of projects for the above three agencies; and
3) Approve criteria proposed by staff to be used in analysis of
pending and future COBG funding reouests related to CDBG
barrier remova1 projects.
Prepared by: Audrey Parker,
Barbara Stinchfield
AP/M,h