REPORT TO AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Americans with Disabilities Act Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan - 2025 Annual Report (He)
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 previously completed a self-evaluation and transition plan in 1993 to comply with the ADA requirements.
Since the completion of the 1993 Plan, ADA regulations and standards have been updated. The City has acquired and disposed of facilities, performed capital improvement projects, modified organizational structures, and developed and implemented different programs, services, and activities that are accessible to the public but that differ from the original plan. Therefore, the City prepared a comprehensive update to the plan in order to evaluate and ensure that City programs, services, activities, facilities, and public rights-of-way are accessible to the public under current ADA requirements.
On August 20, 2024, the City Council adopted the comprehensive update to the City’s Americans with Disabilities Act Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan (Plan). The Plan evaluates existing public services, policies, practices, and facilities to identify ADA barriers and includes recommendations to improve them over time. Accessibility-related improvements to public facilities and the public right-of-way are identified in the Plan and criteria is included to prioritize the improvements.
The Plan’s adoption was a significant milestone in the City’s efforts towards enhancing the City’s services, policies, practices, and facilities so they are more accessible. Following the Plan’s adoption by the City Council, staff efforts shifted to implementation of the Plan. The purpose of this report is to provide the first annual report on the status of projects and programs identified in the Plan.
DISCUSSION
This report highlights progress achieved in program accessibility, City building and park facility accessibility, and public right of way accessibility between August 2024 (since Plan adoption) and December 2025, and it provides a summary of planned activities for the near-term. The 2025 ADA Annual Report (Attachment 1) provides more detailed information on the progress and accounting of the City’s construction and non-construction accessibility-related activities. The following is a summary of the 2025 ADA Annual Report and accessibility related activities.
1. Program and Administrative Accessibility
The Plan included an evaluation of the City's program and administrative requirements with recommendations for modifications. Notable progress in program and administrative activity occurred in 2025, including:
• Provided two training webinars to all City staff with ongoing awareness and sensitivity training: (1) Customer Services: Best Practices Under the ADA, in February 2025; and (2) Applicable Codes and Standards, in August 2025.
• Completed the recruitment of one Senior Civil Engineer position to fulfill the ADA Coordinator role, track the progress of the plan, and lead Plan efforts.
• Established an internal network of staff ADA liaisons within different City departments who fulfill critical roles in the implementation of the ADA Transition Plan and developed a process to track ADA program or structural accessibility improvements across City departments.
• Received and responded to 25 ADA inquiries; no formal grievances received.
• Developed a list of available American Sign Language providers to contact for services as needed. Staff is also developing and entering into specific contracts with providers to secure services as needed (in-progress).
• Conducted a citywide web accessibility analysis of digital content posted online and currently all departments are addressing documents and files to provide increased accessibility (in-progress).
• Updating City’s Parks & Recreation program forms to ensure program accessibility (in-progress).
• Creating two geospatial databases and dashboards for internal City staff use: (1) Facilities and (2) Public Right-of-Way, to track existing and future ADA improvements in each category (in-progress).
• Developing a checklist for accessible public meetings and events (in-progress).
2. City Building and Park Facility Accessibility
Between August 2024 and December 2025, 36 existing facility barriers were addressed at City buildings and parks. Many of these barriers were removed as concurrent improvements through Public Works capital design and construction projects. A portion of barriers were removed by the Department of Public Works Facilities Maintenance Division through regular maintenance of accessible features. Table 1 below represents City building and park facility accessibility improvement capital projects that were completed during the reporting period.
Table 1: Completed City Building and Park Facility Projects with ADA Upgrades
|
No. |
Project |
Description of ADA Improvements |
|
1 |
Westwood Oaks Park Playground Rehabilitation Project |
Accessible pathway from the public sidewalk to the existing building and new playground, accessible concrete loop path, and a new play area providing age-appropriate playgrounds for ages 2-5 and 6-12. |
|
2 |
Central Park Magical Bridge All-Inclusive Playground Project |
Accessible pathway from the public sidewalk to the new playground, accessible pathway around the new playground to the existing bridge, a new playground, and a new playhouse. |
|
3 |
City Utilities Corporation Yard Renovation Project |
Accessible pathway from the public sidewalk to the existing building and constructing a new accessible women’s restroom for use by City employees. |
|
4 |
Montague Park Rehabilitation Project |
Accessible pathway from the public sidewalk to the existing park, a new accessible loop pathway in the park, rehabilitated community building with accessible features, and new playground. |
|
5 |
Fairway Glen Park Restroom Construction Project |
Accessible pathway from the public sidewalk to a new prefabricated restroom building and construction of a new prefabricated restroom building with accessible features. |
3. Public Right-of-Way Accessibility
Between August 2024 and December 2025, the City addressed 1,262 public right-of-way barriers including:
• 473 curb ramp barriers with 336 new or replaced curb ramps, completed mostly through the ADA curb ramps and City’s annual street maintenance and rehabilitation projects.
• 21 crosswalk barriers, completed mostly through the annual street maintenance and rehabilitation program.
• 642 sidewalk hazard barriers, mostly through the Public Right-of-Way ADA Improvements project and the City’s ongoing Sidewalk, Curb and Gutter Repair program.
• 45 sidewalk barriers, mostly through the Public Right-of-Way ADA Improvements project and various private development projects.
• 81 pedestrian signal barriers.
Table 2 identifies several major capital improvement projects with ADA upgrades, completed in late 2024 and 2025. In addition, the City’s ongoing Sidewalk, Curb and Gutter Repair program and various development projects addressed some pedestrian accessibility barriers.
Table 2: Completed Major Capital Projects with ADA Upgrades
|
No. |
Project |
Description of Major ADA Improvements |
|
1 |
2024 ADA Curb Ramps Project |
Constructed or replaced 42 curb ramps. |
|
2 |
2024 Annual Street Maintenance and Rehabilitation |
Constructed or replaced 10 curb ramps and regraded crosswalks. |
|
3 |
2024 Miscellaneous Asphalt and Concrete Rehabilitation |
Constructed new accessible driveways to City facilities and removed sidewalk hazards. |
|
4 |
2025 ADA Curb Ramps Project |
Constructed or replaced 50 curb ramps. |
|
5 |
2025 Annual Street Maintenance and Rehabilitation |
Constructed or replaced 70 curb ramps and regraded crosswalks. |
|
6 |
Great America Parkway & Mission College Boulevard Intersection Improvements |
Constructed or replaced 19 curb ramps and sidewalk at Great America Parkway & Mission College Boulevard and nearby streets. |
|
7 |
Lick Mill Pedestrian Beacon Upgrade and Monroe Street - Los Padres Boulevard Traffic Signal Modification |
Constructed or replaced 11 curb ramps and installed Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons with Accessible Pedestrian Pushbuttons (APS) on Lick Mill Boulevard at Lick Mill Park and at Fitzpatrick Way, and installed new APS at Monroe Street at Los Padres Boulevard. |
|
8 |
Public Right-of-Way ADA Improvements (Package 3 & 4) |
Constructed or replaced 19 curb ramps and addressed 110 sidewalk barriers along Patrick Henry Drive and Great America Parkway, upgraded pedestrian signal pushbuttons at Great America/Old Mountain View-Aviso Road and at Great America Way/Bunker Hill Lane. |
4. Future Planned Improvements (2026 and Near-Term)
Many projects are underway that include improvements for accessibility. The following tables identify planned projects that will address barriers identified in the Plan and their estimated completion timeline. These include physical improvements to City buildings and park facilities, as well as the public right-of-way pedestrian facilities. Staff will continue to track the progress of these projects under future reports to the ADA Committee. The information contained in these tables is subject to change as the projects move forward in the project development process towards construction.
Funding for ADA infrastructure improvements is generally provided by the following sources:
• Appropriation in the City’s Capital Improvement Program budget directly towards ADA-specific projects such as the ADA Public Right-of-Way Improvements project under the Measure I Infrastructure Bond and the ADA Transition Plan Implementation (Public Buildings) project in the Administrative Facilities capital fund.
• Appropriation in the City’s Capital Improvement Program budget towards projects that will include ADA improvements in coordination with other activities such as the Annual Street Pavement Maintenance and Rehabilitation program and the Sidewalk, Curb and Gutter Repair program.
• Grant funding for transportation and community projects that include ADA improvements. Grants include but are not limited to federal Community Project Funding, One Bay Area Grant, Transportation Development Act, and 2016 Measure B.
• It is anticipated that private developments will continue to construct ADA improvements in the public right-of-way such as curb ramps and sidewalks associated with their project sites as required by City approvals.
Table 3: Planned City Building and Park Facility Projects with ADA Upgrades
|
No. |
Project |
Estimated Completion Year |
Status |
Description of Planned ADA Improvements |
|
1 |
Central Park New Entrance and Access Improvement |
2026 |
Construction Phase |
Accessible pathway from the public sidewalk through the existing park and new ADA parking spaces. |
|
2 |
Henry Schmidt Park Playground Rehabilitation |
2027 |
Construction Phase |
Parking lot with new ADA parking stalls, ADA-compliant pathway to existing building and playground, new playground, and existing building restroom. |
|
3 |
International Swim Center Rehabilitation Phase 1 |
2028 |
Construction Phase |
• Accessible pedestrian pathways from existing sidewalk into the swim facility. • Improved ADA parking including code compliance updates. • Accessible portable restroom • Accessible interior pool decking • Accessible interior pathways |
|
4 |
Maywood Park Playground Rehabilitation Project Phase 1 |
2028 |
Design Phase |
Accessibility improvements associated with new pickleball courts. |
|
5 |
Warburton Park Playground Rehabilitation |
2028 |
Design Phase |
• Accessible pedestrian pathways throughout the park. • Improved ADA parking • Inclusive and accessible playground elements. • Accessible site furnishings including picnic tables, drinking fountain and fitness equipment • Accessibility upgrades / adjustments to the restrooms including: - Entryway - Lighting, power and switches - Grab bars, dispensers, receptacles - Signage - Water closet and lavatory, including plumbing. |
|
6 |
Fire Station 5 Replacement |
To be determined |
Design Phase |
Rebuild Fire Station 5 per latest building codes and ADA guidance. |
|
7 |
Fire Station 7 Replacement |
To be determined |
Studies |
Rebuild Fire Station 7 per latest building codes and ADA guidance. |
|
8 |
Bowers Parking Lot Rehabilitation |
2028 |
Design Phase |
Installation of ADA parking spaces. |
|
9 |
International Swim Center Rehabilitation Phase 2 |
To be determined |
Design Phase |
Construct a new administration building per latest building codes and ADA guidance at International Swim Center. |
|
10 |
Earl Carmichael Park Playground Rehabilitation |
To be determined |
Design Phase |
Park playground rehabilitation per latest building codes and ADA guidance. |
|
11 |
Mary Gomez Park Playground Rehabilitation |
To be determined |
Design Phase |
Park playground rehabilitation per latest building codes and ADA guidance. |
|
12 |
Central Park Library Restrooms Remodeling & Access Control Redesign |
To be determined |
Studies |
Prepare a design to (a) renovate 5 public restrooms and (b) replace access corridors to improve security and functionality per latest building codes and ADA guidance. |
|
13 |
ADA Transition Plan Implementation (Public Buildings) |
To be determined |
Scoping |
Implement improvements at public buildings and sites as identified in the ADA Plan. |
Table 4: Planned Public Right-of-Way Projects with ADA Upgrades
|
No. |
Project |
Estimated Completion Year |
Status |
Description of ADA Improvements |
|
1 |
2026 Annual Street Maintenance & Rehabilitation |
2027 |
Design Phase |
ADA curb ramps, re-grade crosswalks |
|
2 |
Central Santa Clara Bicycle & Pedestrian Improvements |
2029 |
Design Phase |
ADA curb ramps, accessible pedestrian signals, and crosswalks |
|
3 |
Uncontrolled Crosswalks Phase 2 |
2029 |
Design Phase |
ADA curb ramps and accessible pedestrian beacons |
|
4 |
Measure I ADA Public Right-of-Way Improvements |
2029 |
Consultant Selection |
ADA curb ramps, accessible pedestrian signals, and removal of sidewalk hazards at high priority locations identified in the ADA Plan. |
Staff
Prepared by: Nicole He, Senior Civil Engineer
Reviewed by: Vincent Luchessi, Principal Engineer
Approved by: Michael Liw, Assistant Director of Public Works/City Engineer
ATTACHMENT
1. 2025 American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Annual Progress Report