MEMO TO: Members of the City Council
FROM: Mayor John Marchione
SUBJECT:
title
Approval of the ADA Transition Plan for Parks and Trails
I. RECOMMENDED ACTION
recommendation
Approval of the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan for Parks and Trails including the 2-year workplan.
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II. DEPARTMENT CONTACTS
Carrie Hite, Director, Parks and Recreation 425-556-2326
Carolyn Hope, Park Planning and Cultural Arts Manager 425-556-2313
Jeff Aken, Senior Park Planner 425-556-2328
III. DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND
The City contracted with WT Consultants to conduct access audits of all 47 parks and 39 miles of trails to develop a transition plan for parks and trails per Title II of the 1990 ADA. This work includes identifying barriers to access in all areas of parks such as parking, playgrounds, and sports facilities. After auditing all facilities to identify barriers, improvement projects were prioritized with staff, the Parks and Trails Commission, the City Council and the broader community.
In addition, staff engaged a community stakeholder group over the last year, which includes service providers, people with visual and mobility impairments and caregivers to learn about the challenges they face using the park system and what their priorities are.
The data gathered from these sources resulted in three levels of criteria that included priority parks, priorities within parks, and program access needs. Accessible parking, pathways and restrooms were the top priorities and the community expressed a desire to start with those improvements at community parks, such as Grass Lawn, Perrigo and Hartman along with unique parks, like Farrel-McWhirter and Idylwood and civic spaces such as Municipal campus where large community events are held.
The Parks and Recreation Transition Plan will become part of a larger citywide document that includes parks, facilities and public right-of-way. Facilities access audits will begin this fall. Then, an overall City of Redmond Transition Plan that reflects priorities from Parks and Trails, Facilities, and public right-of-way will be forthcoming in 2020.
The attached report provides project lists, planning level costs and prioritized projects. Below is the list of the prioritized projects for the 2019/2020 Biennium.
Proposed Projects in 2019-2020 Biennium ($200,000 in Budget Line Item)
|
Item |
Year |
Who/What |
Cost Estimate |
|
Repair, relocate, sign |
2019-2020 |
Park Operations Staff/ Equipment & Supplies |
$23,000 |
|
Accessible Picnic Tables |
2020 |
Park Operations Staff/ Equipment & Supplies |
$12,000 |
|
Idylwood Dock ADA improvements and beach access |
2020 |
Contractor |
$50,000 |
|
Grass Lawn Restrooms |
2020 |
TBD/ Equipment & Supplies |
$70,000 |
|
Farrel-McWhirter Parking |
2020 |
Contractor |
$30,000 |
|
Anderson Park Pathway and Access Improvements |
2020 |
Contractor and Staff/ Equipment & Supplies |
$15,000 |
|
|
|
Total: |
$200,000 |
IV. PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS HELD
• City Council Study Session, April 23, 2019
• City Council Study Session, September 11, 2018
• City Council Regular Meeting April 17, 2018
Parks and Human Services Committee of the Whole:
• November 6, 2018
• July 3, 2018
• April 3, 2018
• March 6, 2018
• January 2, 2018
V. IMPACT
A. Service/Delivery:
Adoption of this work plan will take the City closer to complying with the ADA. Implementation of this plan will ultimately lead to improvements in the City’s ability to serve people with disabilities.
B. Fiscal Note:
The plan recommends modifications that were budgeted for in the 2019-2020 budget at $200,000 and additional improvements that will be reflected in future budget offers addressing priority access issues.
VI. ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
The City Council can choose to:
• Approve the ADA Transition Plan and 2-year workplan
• Not approve the ADA Transition Plan and 2-year workplan
• Ask staff to revise workplan and Transition Plan
VII. TIME CONSTRAINTS
In the 2019-2020 budget, the City Council allocated $200,000 for access improvements. Confirmation of the 2020 project list will support the initialization that work, including internal staff projects in the winter of 2019/2020 and planning for procurement in late fall of 2019. Confirmation of the 6-year project list will support budget planning efforts for the 2021-2022 budget process starting in the spring of 2020.
VIII. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: ADA Transition Plan for Parks & Trails