REPORT TO AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Americans with Disabilities Act Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Project Update
Report
BACKGROUND
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 prohibits discrimination by public entities on the basis of disability. Under Title II of the ADA, the City is required to evaluate its services, policies, and practices in order to identify any barriers to access, and to make necessary modifications to eliminate such barriers. For barrier removals requiring structural changes to facilities, the City is required to develop a transition plan setting forth the necessary steps to complete the modifications.
The City originally completed a self-evaluation and transition plan in 1993 as required by ADA legislation. However, since its completion, changes have been made to ADA regulations and standards. The City has acquired and disposed of facilities, performed capital improvement projects, modified organizational structures, and may have different programs, services, and activities that are accessible to the public that differ from the original self-evaluation and transition plan. Therefore, the City initiated the preparation of a comprehensive update to the City’s ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan (Plan) to ensure City programs, services, activities, facilities, and public rights-of-way are accessible under the current ADA requirements.
Key Outcomes from the Plan: Key outcomes of the Plan include a summary of recommended modifications to the City’s services, policies, and practices to ensure accessibility, and a summary of physical improvements recommended for the City’s facilities and public rights-of-way including costs, prioritization, and a schedule for implementation.
Project Activities and Progress to Date: To prepare a draft ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan (Plan), the City and its consultant, Moore Iacofano Goltsman (MIG), completed several activities and work efforts as listed below:
• Project Initiation: Confirmed efforts to be completed under the Plan, including facilities to be evaluated
• Public Involvement: Performed public outreach including community meetings as well as presentations to the ADA Committee, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and the Senior Advisory Commission
• Self-Evaluation: Reviewed current City policies, programs, and services
• Physical Barrier Evaluations: Completed evaluations of Facilities and Public Rights-of-Way
• Prioritization and Approach: Completed prioritization and approach for removing physical barriers
• Draft Plan and Public Review: Prepared a Public Review Draft of the Plan and solicited community feedback
At the May 18, 2023 ADA Committee meeting, staff provided an update on the Plan. Since then, the Public Review Draft of the Plan was distributed for community review and comments (Attachment 1) and was available online at SantaClaraCA.gov/ADATransitionPlan <https://www.santaclaraca.gov/our-city/departments-g-z/public-works/projects/ada-self-evaluation-and-transition-plan-project>. Additionally, the City held a community outreach event on November 1, 2023 to present the Public Review Draft of the Plan and solicit questions and feedback from the public.
Comments provided by the community on the Plan are being reviewed and considered. Additionally, a City Council Study Session on the Plan is being scheduled with a targeted Council adoption in mid-2024.
DISCUSSION
City staff will provide a presentation and final informational update to the ADA Committee on the ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, including information related to the ADA Coordinator, ADA Grievance Procedure, City facilities, public rights-of-way, project prioritization criteria, estimated costs, and next steps.
Staff
Reviewed by: Falguni Amin, Principal Engineer-Design Division, Public Works
Approved by: Michael Liw, Assistant Director/City Engineer, Public Works
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan