Vice Chair Purrington called the meeting to order at 11:04 a.m.

Dapper Dre announced the Car Free First Friday event, which received a grant for its organization and will involve closing Aspen Street from Leroux to San Francisco to promote walkability in Heritage Square and surrounding areas. He emphasized the importance of inclusivity, aiming for diverse participation across ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and races to gather broad feedback for future improvements. Surveys will be conducted during the event to collect participants’ opinions on the street closure and its impact on mobility.

Mr. Eccleston shared the challenges faced by his small team, particularly addressing bulk trash, walkability issues, and other field complaints. He emphasized ongoing collaboration with Solid Waste to address these issues and improve responsiveness. He also highlighted that his staff recently completed Level 1 code compliance certifications, with plans for Level 2 training in July, to ensure they remain current on codes and best practices. He outlined the range of city codes his team manages, including zoning (Title 10), traffic (Title 9), building (Title 4), business codes (Title 3), and public land and sanitation codes (Titles 7 and 8), noting their proactive field work despite limited staffing.

Ms. Pfeil asked if Code Compliance does enforcement when violations are found and what that process looks like. Mr. Eccleston clarified that while they emphasize compliance, enforcement is integral to their process. He explained that when violations are observed, staff first attempt direct contact with property owners, leave door hangers if necessary, send written notices for unresolved issues, and can escalate to legal action if required. He also acknowledged the limitations of responding quickly to all field issues due to staffing constraints.

Commissioner Becket raised concerns about the length of the compliance process, noting potential safety risks if issues remain unresolved, and suggested utilizing Solid Waste drivers as additional observers to report violations more promptly. Mr. Eccleston agreed that while this process is not always consistent, urgent safety issues are prioritized, and he emphasized his personal commitment to spending more time in the field to support his staff and improve response times.

Sustainability Analyst Genevieve Pearthree and Housing Planning Manager Jen Mikelson provided a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following:

PROJECT INTRODUCTION
CITY HOUSING AND CLIMATE GOALS
OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES OF THE LASS+CAP PROJECT
WHERE CAN YOU FIND MORE INFORMATION?
PROJECT NEXT STEPS
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION

Chair Simukonda raised concerns about conflating affordable housing with accessible housing, noting that many affordable units are not fully ADA-compliant. She shared her personal experience of being shut out of multiple units because they lacked accessibility features, like grab bars or lowered cabinets. She asked whether a portion of the 10% of new housing developments designated as affordable could specifically be allocated for accessibility. Staff acknowledged limited knowledge of building code requirements related to ADA compliance and noted that affordable housing agreements typically focus on income limits and unit mix rather than accessibility specifics. They agreed it could be explored in future agreements but would need further understanding of code requirements. It was suggested involving code officials and other stakeholders for a roundtable discussion to address the issue more comprehensively. She emphasized that accessible housing is distinct from affordable housing, noting that approximately 14% of the local population will likely need accessibility features in the coming years.

Commissioner Becker added recommendations for universal design principles, such as wider doors, step-free interiors and exteriors, and adaptable fixtures, to make housing more easily modifiable for people with disabilities. He referenced examples from other cities, like Austin and San Francisco, which have integrated housing plans and adaptive housing models.

Vice Chair Purrington highlighted the Fair Housing Act, emphasizing that even if designated accessible units are filled, reasonable accommodations must still be provided for people with disabilities seeking affordable housing.

Commissioners expressed appreciation for the presentation and discussion and looked forward to further conversations.

Item was rescheduled to the June meeting.

Item was rescheduled to the May meeting.

Vice Chair Purrington explained that the purpose of the letter is to recommend that the city create an ADA transition plan, which would identify individuals interested in serving on a committee to help develop the plan. The transition plan, required since 2010, involves assessing existing city-owned facilities, parks, sidewalks, rights of way, and programs to ensure ADA compliance, particularly for pre-ADA or older structures. The letter outlines a proposed 6–9 month timeline, modeled after Boulder and Austin, and emphasizes collaboration with the newly hired ADA coordinator, commission members, and public participants to ensure a comprehensive approach.

It was suggested to include a brief definition of a transition plan for clarity. Vice Chair Purrington confirmed it would clarify that the plan focuses on making existing facilities ADA-compliant, rather than new construction. Chair Simukonda proposed that she and Vice Chair Purrington could present the plan to City Council to explain it to the public and support funding needs.

Moved by Rachael Simukonda, seconded by Rasheera Dopson to send the letter to City Council with the inclusion of a definition of transition plan.

Vote: 5 - 0 - Unanimously

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Ms. Reyes provided transportation updates for Mountain Line, noting the next Coordinated Mobility Council meeting on May 23 and a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle subcommittee meeting happening tomorrow. She welcomed Commissioner Dopson as the newest member, highlighting her valuable ideas and anticipated impact. She also reminded the group about physical flyers she dropped off for distribution, asking for help to broaden the campaign’s reach and offering to provide additional flyers either in person or for pickup at Mountain Line.

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Vice Chair Purrington thanked the Commission for partnering with the NAU students in the special event planning class for the April 11 event, highlighting that it went very well from a planning perspective. She encouraged commissioners to provide feedback to the students as the students are compiling responses to create a comprehensive manual that could guide future events. 

Ms. Reyes shared information about the upcoming Car Free First Friday event, and Mr. Ince added that part of Aspen Street will be closed in May to allow people to walk, bike, and roll freely, offering a good opportunity to experience the streets without cars.

Ms. Saltzburg reviewed the commission's working calendar and shared that she would not be in attendance at the next meeting due to vacation; Deputy City Clerk Georganna Staskey would be filling in.

The Commission on Inclusion and Adaptive Living meeting adjourned at 12:17 p.m.