Public comment given by me to the Lakewood City Council at their meeting of February 4, 2002.
After positioning myself invisibly behind the stand-up lectern, and identifying myself to the council I said:
GOOD EVENING.
FIRST I’D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE CITY ON THEIR NEW CITY HALL, AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO RECOGNIZE AND CORRECT SOME OF THE ERRORS MADE IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING. I HOPE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTION IS NOT AT THE CITY’S EXPENSE.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THE ARTICLE ABOUT ACCESS PROBLEMS AT THE NEW CITY HALL IN THE JANUARY 30TH NEWS TRIBUNE. YES, THAT WAS ME IN THE PICTURE.
THE FOCUS OF THAT ARTICLE WAS ON COMPLIANCE WITH THE ADA, THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, BUT THERE WERE EVEN MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS THAT PRESENTED A POTENTIAL HAZARD NOT ONLY TO THE HANDICAPPED, BUT ALSO THE ABLE BODIED.
THE EASIEST TO POINT OUT WAS RIGHT AT THE BACK OF THIS ROOM. THE EXIT DOORS THERE ORIGINALLY DID NOT OPEN OUT AS REQUIRED BY BUILDING AND FIRE CODES, BUT OPENED IN. AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS WAS CORRECTED - ON THE 29 OF JANUARY.
ANOTHER PROBLEM WAS THE LACK OF HANDRAILS ON THE STEPS FROM THE RAISED PLAZA TO THE PARKING LOT AS REQUIRED BY WAC 51-40, THE STATE BUILDING CODE, 51-44, THE STATE FIRE CODE AND THE ADA. HANDRAILS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED SINCE I ORIGINALLY BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO THE CITY’S ATTENTION, BUT THEY STILL DO NOT MEET THE CODE REQUIREMENTS AS INSTALLED.
IN THE MUNICIPAL COURTS AREA THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH RCW 9.41.300 THAT WAS ALSO BROUGHT TO THE CITY’S ATTENTION, AND I AM SURE WILL BE ADDRESSED.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SMALLER ADA PROBLEMS, LIKE THIS LECTERN, AND LACK OF HANDICAPPED SEATING IN THIS ROOM, THAT I AM CERTAIN THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO CORRECT, BUT ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES FROM DOWN HERE SEEMS TO BE THAT THERE IS NO ADA COORDINATOR IDENTIFIED BY THE CITY. THIS MEANS THAT THERE IS NO ONE POINT OF CONTACT AND A PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLIANCE.
THANKS AGAIN TO EACH OF THE PEOPLE HERE IN CITY HALL WHO HAVE BEEN SO HELPFUL TO THIS POINT. I HOPE THAT YOU DESIGNATE AN ADA COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY TO FACILITATE ADDRESSING CURRENT AND FUTURE PROBLEMS, AND PUBLISH THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALREADY HAVE MY E-MAIL ADDRESS, PHYSICAL ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBER.
