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Home My Public Portal About14) 9A Amendment of ADA Barrier Removal Program Activities for Fiscal Year 2013-14AGENDA ITEM 9.A. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM DATE: April15, 2014 TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Donald E. Penman, Interim City Manager~ Via: Geoffrey Starns, AICP, Planning Manager By: Adam L. Gulick, Associate Planner SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF AMENDING THE AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) BARRIER REMOVAL PROGRAM'S ACTIVITIES FOR FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2013-14 AND ADD $30,000 OF UNALLOCATED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS TO THE ORIGINAL PROGRAM ALLOCATION ($75,000) BRINGING THE TOTAL PROJECT COST TO $105,000 RECOMMENDATION: The City Council is requested to: a) Hold a public hearing to consider proposed amendments to the City's CDBG- funded ADA Barrier Removal Program for FY 2013-14; and b) Consider appropriating $30,000 of unallocated CDBG funds for the ADA Improvement Program bringing the total to $105,000, and modify the program's activity from ADA curb cuts to ADA improvements to City and L.A. County public facilities and public parking lots. BACKGROUND: 1. In 1974, the CDBG Program was enacted through the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The CDBG Program was established to provide communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs, including but not limited to: addressing slum and blighted conditions, assisting or benefiting low-and moderate-income families, or to meet the needs of special-population groups, such as the disabled or senior citizens. 2. On January 15, 2013, the City Council conducted a public hearing and approved the following allocation of CDBG funding to programs for FY 2013-14: City Council April15, 2014 Page 2 of 5 A. Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program: B. Asbestos Testing and Removal Program: C. Youth Scholarship Program: D. ADA Barrier Removal Program: $100,000 $ 25,000 $ 26,862 $ 75,000 3. On January 16, 2014, City staff and Los Angeles County Community Development Commission (LACDC) staff met to discuss the City's FY 2013-14 CDBG Programs, the City's FY 2014-15 CDBG Programs and the status of construction projects, which would assist in reducing the City's CDBG accumulated excess funds. 4. On January 21, 2014, City staff met with Transtech Engineering (City Engineer) to discuss what improvements would qualify for the CDBG-funded ADA Barrier Removal Program. City staff was aware of some ADA barriers at Live Oak Park tennis courts, the Civic Center and L.A. County Public Library parking lots, and the L.A. County Public Library. 5. On February 5, 2014, City staff and the City Engineer conducted a site visit of the above-mentioned ADA improvements. Shortly thereafter, the City Engineer conducted a land survey of the locations to take measurements so they could prepare construction drawings for the ADA improvements. 6. On February 7, 2014, an inquiry was sent to the City's CDBG Program Manager at the LACDC regarding the proposed ADA improvements. City staff requested clarification on whether or not the approved ADA Barrier Removal Program could include public facility improvements that were identified by City staff. 7. On February 27, 2014, City staff was notified that the ADA improvements identified by City staff would not be allowed because the ADA Barrier Removal Program was given a CDBG Code "3L", which is limited to sidewalk improvements. City staff was informed that the parking lot, library and tennis court improvements have separate CDBG Codes under the Public Facility and Improvement category, and would require an amendment to the ADA Barrier Removal Program. 8. On March 5, 2014, City staff received construction drawings (Attachment "A") from the City Engineer and that the construction cost for the ADA Improvements is estimated to be $85,000. 9. On March 17, 2014, a hearing notice was published in the Temple City Tribune regarding the proposed $30,000 increase of unallocated CDBG funds for the ADA Barrier Removal Program and to amend the program's activities. The new project total would be $105,000. City Council April15, 2014 Page 3 of 5 ANALYSIS: Since 1974, the City has received CDBG funds from the LAC DC as a sub-recipient. For the past 20 years the City has primarily used CDBG funds on housing rehabilitation loans, asbestos and lead-based paint testing and abatement grants, youth scholarships grants and various ADA improvements to public facilities. As discussed at the April 1, 2014 City Council meeting, the City has excess CDBG funds that need to be spent by June 30, 2014 or the City risks losing the funds. City staff was advised to add unallocated CDBG funds to existing projects or create new projects that could be easily be implemented. During the ADA Curb Ramp Project completed early 2013, City staff identified streets with existing sidewalks that had no ADA curb ramps, had existing ADA curb ramps that were too steep, had existing ADA curb ramps that were not located at a intersection/corner, or some other type of deficiency relating to ADA accessibility standards. Prior to the public hearing on January 15, 2013 for the FY 2013-14 CDBG Programs, the City Engineer informed City staff that there were additional non- conforming curb ramps the City; however, the City does not have a plan in place identifying the remaining curb ramps that need to be brought into compliance. Furthermore, City staff has been informed in the past by LACDC staff that new ADA curb ramps or sidewalks need justification to ensure that the City is not proposing ADA improvements if there are existing sidewalks/curb ramps across the street or new sidewalks in the middle of a residential neighborhood. In regards to new ADA curb ramps or sidewalk improvements, the City needs to justify the needed improvements (i.e., sidewalk lead to an existing bus stop, improvements are located near a public facility that is utilized by a large senior or disabled population, or the ADA improvements provide access to a park, etc.). LACDC staff suggested seeking ADA improvements that could be easily implemented within the approved program/project budget. Rather than the City trying to identify and justify each ADA curb ramp improvement, City staff identified ADA deficiencies at City Hall and LA County Library parking lots, LA County Library entrance, and Live Oak Park tennis courts (Attachment "B"). City Hall Parking Lot The City parking lot, located between City Hall and the Council Chambers, was repainted a couple of years ago after a complaint was received regarding the lack of loading area for an existing ADA parking stall. The parking lot was restriped and now has an ADA accessible path that leads to a sidewalk with no ADA curb ramp (full curb height), which is located on the south side of the Council Chambers. The City Engineer is proposing to create a new curb ramp for the ADA path and construct a new ADA ramp where there are currently stairs. This would allow for someone to park in the handicap parking stall and access the east side of the Council Chambers, as opposed to having to go around to the opposite side/west side of the building. City Council April 15, 2014 Page 4 of 5 L.A. County library Parking Lot The LA. County Library Parking Lot currently has an existing ADA parking stall, however, there is no required loading space or a reasonable ADA access path that leads to a sidewalk with an ADA curb ramp. City staff is recommending the restriping of the L.A. County parking lot to include the required loading space and an ADA access ramp to a nearby sidewalk that currently has a full curb height. L.A. County library Entrance In 2005, the City used CDBG funds to replace the L.A. County Library doors to make them comply with ADA standards. Due to an existing step in front of the library, if a disabled person is at Temple City Park they need to either backtrack to the sidewalk on Golden West Avenue or backtrack to the sidewalk to the west of the library. The City Engineer has prepared plans to construct a new ramp in front of the library to bring the facility into compliance. Live Oak Park Tennis Courts The tennis courts at Live Oak Park are currently not in compliance with ADA accessibility standards. The north entrance of the west tennis courts requires a person to go down four steps to access two of the tennis courts. The City Engineer is proposing a new ADA ramp, modifying the existing stairs, and modifying the entrance to bring the public facility into compliance with ADA accessibility standards. The east tennis courts currently have a fence that is adjacent to the tennis courts that is less than 4 feet, which is the required width for ADA path of travel. The City Engineer is proposing to remove the existing fence, construct a new ADA ramp, and modify the existing parking stall to comply with the ADA accessibility standards. City staff believes that the existing fence was installed in the past so that only two gates need to be locked rather than someone having to lock all four tennis courts. CONCLUSION: The City Council is recommended to approve the increase of unallocated CDBG funds for the ADA Barrier Removal Program for FY 2013-14 and modify the scope of work from curb ramp improvements to parking lot and public facility improvements. The new scope of work would bring various City and County public facilities into compliance with ADA accessibility standards. Furthermore, the expenditure of additional CDBG funds will assist the City in bringing down its unallocated CDBG balance. FISCAL IMPACT: The increased allocations would utilize a portion of the City's unallocated CDBG City Council April15, 2014 Page 5 of 5 balance, which is $103,089. This action will appropriate an additional $30,000 of unallocated CDBG funds for FY 2013-14 bringing the total ADA Barrier Removal Program amount to $105,000 and would reduce the City's unallocated CDBG balance to $73,089. ATTACHMENTS: A. ADA Improvements to Various Public Facilities B. Photographs of Existing Conditions ATTACHMENT B City Hall Parking Lot ~- Library Parking Lot Library Entrance Live Oak Park Tennis Courts Live Oak Park Tennis Courts