REPORT TO SENIOR ADVISORY COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Receive a Verbal Informational Report and Provide Feedback on the Draft ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 prohibit 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 steps necessary to complete the modifications.
The City completed a self-evaluation and transition plan originally in 1993 as required by the ADA legislation. However, since completion of the plan, changes have been made to the ADA Regulations and Standards for Accessible Design. 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 an update of the self-evaluation and transition plan to ensure City programs, services, activities, facilities, and public rights-of-way are accessible to the public under current accessibility requirements.
Key outcomes of the ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan will be a summary of modifications recommended 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 prioritization recommendations for implementation.
The Public Review Draft ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan (Plan) was distributed for community review and comments beginning on October 11, 2023 and is 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>.
Comments provided by the community on the draft Plan will be considered and the Plan will be finalized for City Council’s consideration in the future. Following acceptance of the Plan by Council, efforts will continue into the implementation phase including carrying out the recommendations identified in the Plan.
DISCUSSION
City staff will provide a verbal information report about the Public Review Draft Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan to the Senior Advisory Commission.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Senior Advisory Commission agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff has no recommendation
Staff
Prepared by: Falguni Amin, Principal Engineer-Design Division, Public Works
Reviewed by: Jennifer Herb, Recreation Supervisor
Approved by: Dale Seale, Acting Director of Parks & Recreation
ATTACHMENTS
1. Public Review Draft of the ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan (available at: SantaClaraCA.gov/ADATransitionPlan <https://www.santaclaraca.gov/our-city/departments-g-z/public-works/projects/ada-self-evaluation-and-transition-plan-project>)