2015, 10-21, Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes

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Richard Dinges wanted to report that there are only two disabled parking spots and 137 regular spots in the Downtown area by the bandstand. ADA requires at least five spots for that number of parking spaces. There are at least 25 parking stalls so you have to have at least one disabled stall. A lot of the time the seniors have to park across the street to get another disabled parking stall, and then hustle across the street to get to the bandstand area. J. Floyd stated that at the forum he had last month, a concern was about the sidewalks – why are things like fire hydrants, poles, signs put on the sidewalks? The wheelchair has barely enough space to pass. He just wondered if that is an ADA requirement too. It is Teri’s understanding that the sidewalk doesn’t have to be straight, but it has to be 32” to 36” on the passage strip. K. Riedel stated that a wheelchair is about 32”. In front of the Keaau Post Office, there is a pole on the sidewalk and the wheelchair cannot go on the path walk. Paul has to go on the street. His wheelchair is 32” but it does not fit. Sometimes when you say the measurement is 32”, you have to also have a little leeway. She stated that it needs to be a little more than 32” for safety issues. K. Alameida For Blind was at the Civic and on the sidewalk there was a sign that said Pedestrians . (It was a little confusing.) According to Teri, it was based on a request by a blind person who lived in that area. After the County paved the shoulder at the Hoolulu Complex, she requested the blind awareness signs because the law says if you put your white cane in the street, cars are supposed to stop. Hers got run over. So we put those signs to “create disability and awareness for motorists that there is a blind pedestrian in the route. Please exercise caution and drive cautiously.” It doesn’t mean only blind people can walk on that sidewalk. It was decided to write a letter to Public Work extending an invitation to the committee’s December meeting to discuss sidewalks. J Yoshimoto suggested doing an e-mail for documentation purposes. REPORT FROM COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I RECREATION SPECIALIST, ALISA MITCHENER See attached report. After Alisa’s report, there was discussion about having wheelchair basketball. Alisa stated that years ago there was an interest but the county didn’t have wheelchairs and the individuals would have to use their own. So for now, the goal would be to identify people who would like to play, get them started and maybe be able to justify buying their wheelchairs. There would have to an interest first. R. Dinges wanted to continue discussion about the parking at the bandstand area. According to Teri, that facility was not in the transition plan which were reviewed by the Disability and Communication Access Board under Hawai‘i Statute HRS 3-50. The bandstand and bus terminal are County owned and the only property that was reviewed. 3