[inaudible]. >> hi. everybody. san francisco mayor disability.

july 21, 2023. and roll call. >> all right. so for roll call, today we have alex madrid. >> here. >> albers. >> present. >> sassouni. >> present. >> and daniece senhaux virtually. that concludes roll called it. why thank you. why and now and -- >> okay. first thing is -- >> okay. first thing dot official welcome. first. and then let's go back and dot

welcome. and as written on the agenda, please. >> all right. thank you. >> all right. all right. good afternoon and welcome to the mayor avenue disability council this friday july 21, 2023. this is an in person and virtual meeting. this mote suggest broadcast to the public on sfgovtv and open captioned and sign language intercepted. the major's disability council holds 10 public meetings year low they are held on the third friday of every month. police visit the mod website www.. callmayor or request an accommodations at 415-554-6789.

voice our e mail at mod @sfgov.org. and in august there will be no public meeting and will have an annual training planning retreat. our next regular meeting will be on friday september 15th 2023. from 1-4 p.m. it will also be a hybrid mote and broadcast on sfgovtv. we thank you for joining us. and then now we can move to the agenda. so item 1, we have welcome and roll call. item 2, action item reading and approval of the agenda. >> we will move to item 3... yea.

after i read it. >> reading it now. >> and we will move to item 3, general public comment. and then we will go to item number 4, which is the cochair report. item 5, a report from the office on disability. and item 6 i discussion item the safe andk seszable passage on san francisco sidewalk update boy lauren bell from the department of emergency management and ross mc curony urdon alchemy homeless assistance response team. and then we take a 15 minute brick. and after we will enough to item 7, we will have i discussion item. the accessible pedestrian significant untils boy dustin

young from the san francisco meet the civil transportation agency. and we will move to item 8, with correspondence and move to general public comment and item 10 informational councilmember comment and, nounsments and item 11 adjournment. >> thank you. and without objection i will give -- >> move to item number 3. the public comment. yes. >> we welcome the publicy participation during public comment period. there will be 2 opportunity for general be public comment and in

time for item pacific comment after each discussion items. each comment is limit today 3 minutes unless determined that the intf time comments will be limited to a shorter time when well is i large number of comments. for each public comment period, people with disabilities who wish to make public comments and comfortable identifying themselves as a person with disability are invited to comment first. after they conclude others will be invited to comment. the brown act forbids council for seeking action or discussing items not appearing on the posted agenda. and including the items raised at public comment. if you would like the council to independent to comments following the meeting. prosecute void contact information by e mill message to mdc @sfgov.org. with the subject, mdc comment

reply request. or call 415-554-6789. if you are joining the meeting as a participate, members of public make a public comment drrl during the comment periods. you can do so by click on the 3 dots icon and the raised hand. the clerk will rescue noise you when it is your turn you miuse a kwshg and a feature in the web more to make a comment. it is located on the top part of the initial after touching the screen. if you are using joining by phone dial star 3 to indicate you would like to comment. and the clerk will prompt you when it is your turn. we welcome successions how to make the meetings more

accessible. 7 an e mail or you call 415-55 for you-6789. so for yes or no comment we start with members of the public joining in person. if than i like to comment than i can line up at the podium. all right and i don't see anybody in person who would like to comment. we will move to virtual. if you would like to raise your hand. to be recognized to make a public comment. you may do so at this time. nobody is virtual at this time, either. so we will close public comment. for now and can move to item 4.

>> one second. an adjustment on the captions on the control screen, please. you need to select open captions we will pause so we can do this access wise and we will restart. all right. >> we are moving back to item 4. chair report. since the june meeting representative there are a community engagement everyone to go and put regarding the

update -- comments regarding the budget and and inform housing community and meeting. we are going to item 4. report from mayor disability. >> thank you. cochair madrid. good afternoon i'm nicole bohn codirector of major's office of

disability i have a report, well is i bit of content this is a june/july combined report. so i will i will -- discuss some of the highlights and we -- you have since the report and this report will be posted with the mayor's disability council materials online by monday if not already up there. and i'm happy to answer questions that councilmembers may have. so, if any member of the public would like to engage with any aspect of this report, please contact us there are several ways to do that. contact us at mod @sfgov.org or calling vo phone 415-554-6789.

i am going to start with local and state and federal legislative update. so, of the first update is around resolution 2y 30269 a resolution honoring judi human the plaza protest of 1977. since our left meeting, this resolution has been fully recommendation and approved by the mayor's office. this resolution directors public works to install a plaque or an in honor of legacy of jude and he historic disability protest in un plaza. which will be the first public recognition of i disability right's leader in san francisco history. the council is encouraged to engage with mod and the board of supervisors to support an

accessible installation of this person commemoration and may consider requesting a status update on this. i would like to announce that shared space the out door dining permanent in affect and council may wish to continue to track the accessibility and enforcement progress of this program. there are a number of thing in state legislation this are helping now. one is in religion to the california public utility commission and autonomous vehicles on august 10, 20 tea the ctuc will vote on draft resolutions tl-19145.

and tl-19144, which would, prove permanent av operating permit miss san francisco and the city is asking the commission to table the proposed resolutions in order to take time to develop and adopt minimum safety and accessibility standards so people across the disability xunt can enjoy those benefits this proceeding is coming up and will be taking public comment. as a reminder, permission for av's to prit in san francisco is regulated by the cpu c not sfmta and sfmta and mod are committed to supporting advocaing if you are interested contact mow or

sfmta accessible services. there are several poses of legislation that i would like to highlight today. first one i mentioned before. which is the air carriers access amendments act of 2023. which are parallel bills sb545 and hr1267. which will -- require improved accessibility for the airlines and off the features. mod and the san francisco airport are finalizing a joint support letter i was hoping we would be further then and there we are. but it is almost there. and there is also a pacific sample templet addressing thez, on the national and association for deaf website. next i'd like to let you all

know about rule making happening. at the housing and urban development or hud. it is nondiscrimination on the basis of disability. updates to hud section 504 regulations. the comments due this monday. and asking specific questions this are pested the federalregister. gov and link immediate this report and wanted to let you know mod and disability and aging services are submitting joint comment to specific question this is rule making is asking. that support many of our findings from the affordable housing needs in this group. move to local news. since our last convening the

coalition of municipal office for persons with disabilities including us at mod, met with the d. transportation secretary and staff in washington, d.c. on june first. to discuss our january 23 request letter i attached the collective access ability agenda related to communication access for deaf individuals in air travel. ground transportation committee representation. paira transit and on demand transportation improvements like tax and hes uber and lyft and improvements for service dog in wheel chair users in the venues and also autonomous vehicles the meeting was a successful first step in building relationships with the federal government.

on behalf of municipalities and i would be happy and glad to present more on this. on an x upcoming public meeting. next, congratulations to our bartlet your clerk today. mod's new development assistant among other duties will be assisting and tracking impelementation of program attic and architectural improve ams served mod fellow for the 22/23 year and we are thrilled continue to have her aboard. and in terms final announcements before contents is july 26, 2023 is the 33rd anniversary of the ad a in celebration city hall will be lit in the disability color of purple. thanks to your former

councilmember tiffany yu it is on the calendar, it is great. internalally mod with support from the public library and others hosting a half day ad a symposium for departmental ad accord narrators and city staff. we hope to make variation in the annual occurrence thifrngs to deputy director for all of your work on this event. a couple of items moving on to things you might want to consider, for future meetings. so, first be the mayor's office on disability 22-23 public report to you. happy to present that. we will be presenting an update part of our ad accord cord narrator and train and council may want to hear it to have it in a public forum.

i have spoken to transportation. all i want to let you know that we are working continuous low with department of baptisting inspection the accessible business entrance program and we are refocusing our architectural efforts into architectural access removal obligations under the ad a and you motive want to consider requesting an update on these 2 items. it has been awhile. and there are other things you motive want to take a look at. i will let you read more details at your leisure including way finding from the golden gate park program. disability employment updates,

learn about data collection efforts and accommodations for employee and advocating for asl interpretation support for our employees with disabilities. who require asl and potential and ablism and accessibility training among other things. that's where i will pause and for today. happy if there are any questions from councilmembers. otherwise, we can move to the next item. >> thank you. item 6 the discussion i think -- um -- on -- update by letting

san francisco emergency -- homeless -- >>

>> good afternoon even. deputy director caplisten thank you for having us back to share an update on collaborative efforts to address blocked sidewalks responsive to the rights of people in the disability community. i'm lauren bell. i'm street response planning coordinator with the department of emergency management. i am very happy to be here today with colleagues from dem. as well our partner urban

alchemy i was here in march when we talked about pending legal matters that impact work city ensuring safe and accessible public space. guidance on how to get i response to a blocked sidewalk or door way. and we introduced the development of a new team the community pregnancy team now a better name thanks to urban al kemp homeless engagement assistance response team or heart of. today's focus will build on that information. our deputy director rob smuts will clarify the role of dem and the collaborative effort and the heart team will give amazing information on their work on the role they play in the effort and we look forward to answering questions during the conversation or at the end.

thanks for are having us back and i will hand it over to my colleagues. good afternoon. everyone. i'm robert smuks department director d. emergency management. i over see the division of emergency communication otherwise known as san fran 911 center the 911 center we answer 911 calls and the public safety nonemergency number 553. and a bit about us before i focus on issues related blocked sidewalks. we answer over 100,000 calls per month. that is split evenly about 55%

are 911 and 55, nonemergency. dispatch rough estimate of 30,000 police incidents per month. 10,000 medical incidents per month and 2500 fire incidents per month. some of the calls we take are related to conditions on the street. and specific low related to issues blocked sidewalks. and prior to mid may, if somebody called to report a blocked sidewalk we will take that call and dispatch it but did not have a call code specific to that issue alone. it was fold in the other codes it is heard to know exact low the number of calls per month we had. since may we created a code pacific to blocked sidewalks to make tracking easier. with a month of data could vary

more data with one month of data, we had about 650 calls come in largely to nonemergency numbers related to blocked sidewalks. when we get a call related blocked sidewalks, we will prioritize it based on the situation that is reported. that is we will prioritize and have a quick are response if somebody is reporting than i are unable to goet where they need go based on a blocked sidewalk opposed to blocked sidewalk member notice in the passing would get a lower priority response 911 or nonemergency number it is important to provide that information to the call taker. just a note about our center, we take pty and teches to 911 issues reported this way to the

911 center. historically the calls related blocked sidewalks handled by the police department. we would dispatch police officers to respond to issues of blocked sidewalk the heart initiative this we are here to speak about today is now assisting with those and helping improve response times and approach to the calls. we have been working with heart. as we roll out this program. and to make sure we are able to handle the calls effectively. deal with data tracking issue. to make sure we are able to assess the job we are doing. and other issues like that. i will note that heart is

dispatched by their team by urban alchemy. but they operate on a staff channel that is staffed by the 911 center. we have this cordination with the rest of public safety, departments. um -- calls can come to heart via my division. emergency communication, 911 and issues reported through 311. most common the 311 app they will be reviewed boy a 911 supervisor. and allocated to heart to independent or if it needs a quicker response or a different response, police are even and medical -- and those are the key

points i. us to convey about our work going on here. and so to summarize, the way that best way to report i blocked sidewalk if it is an emergency and the person cannot go through and unsafe circumstance call 911 if nonemergency call our nonemergency public safety number. 415-443-0123. and 311 the 311 app, if it is a nonemergency situation. and we will make sure that we respond appropriately based on the information provided. thank you. turn is back over to lauren.

>> good afternoon. honorable councilmember i'm ross. the director of the san francisco heart program. a project of urbeen alchemy. a pleasure to be before you today. we are just now in our second machining or so of our operation. and we completed a major mile stone in first start up this is i report we published that reflects the work of our progress. and challenges in the month of june. and -- because we are contracted with the city and the department of emergency management, and worked closely with dem and communications, this report really is a combination of the focus that san francisco heart is so vigorously trying to apply every day.

it is our charge to helprous this much law enforcement response as we can. as it relates to people experiencing homelessness and the distress on the streets. that is no small faet the team we developed and the way we structured our operation, i think we are showing in role progress. in the month of june, when we were dispatched through department of emergency communication, we received 1, 229 dispatches. we responded 95% plus with 1, 174 resolved calls. almost 50% of those not quite about 46 or 45%, if this level were reported ad a blocked sidewalks. that's a lot. and the people of san francisco

are being mindsful this is manage this is more than important to the disability council or to people ad a; yet it is part of when we are to make sure people have access. we would dispatch our team usa. we have 4 team usa. we operate monday-friday 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and on saturdays 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and same sunday. of those 4 team usa up to 4 teams of veterans we cover citywide with partitioners people rigorously trained in who were engaging as a practitioner for people distressed living on streets and need relief from the streets seeking housing. response to a disorder and substance a bruce or behavioral

illness or a combination thereof. we engage them in a way that we are hoping is more then and there just compassionate. ol they are not dlinifications we stress the therapeutic level of contact. and the idea is to impress upon them that am where they are located and we are not enforcers of the law. but where they are located, they are blocking the walk, they are rilitting or not aware of the 4 foot rowel until that regard. and work with us w please in putting it to the side. out of the way or perhapseen better resolution than that. and concurrently our people are asking them, do you want housing? do you want shelter? on the spot, we are able to then try to link them up to that access through the cities and

our community partners. do you want treatment for what may be on their minds. that is when we are trying to do and we track that information. the to thes we use in the field we have i pad secured encrypted we use through the connector worker wrap to independent to the narcotic initiated call and if you to a report in zen desk. our team in thes field use pd ros for the nonurien 911 and upon 311 calls so continuity with dispatch and deploy am with the dem and for us at our office. and internally they have their own rothey will talk to us to make sure everything we are

engaging has the level of completeness and excellence, hopefully we can possibly do. and that is interesting when i mentioned earlier about adapportions of calls dispatched to about 46%; of that, about 35-40% are called gone on arrivals. our people would arrive in order to help resolve, find a resolution if in fact, people were unhoused or people locate themselves on the streets need special attention. but the time we arrive, people are gone. but their tents remain. men debris, what have you. we would take the next steps possible. the fact remains tlshg is a population of people if we were in the checking in on them, the

police would be. and when you consider the difference of when it would cost for the pleas to doing the work this we are doing. we are trying to be pragmatic with resources that is what heart is striving to do. i will be happy to answer questions. thank you. >> thank you. i think what we wanted to impress on everybody today is just our continuing commitment to making this better and making sure our streets are accessible and safe. and i think as you heard from director smut through his leadership, well is a solid backbone at the deshgs, c for responding to calls this . is our first services contracted services this is intgrit in the the 911 system. and through director smut, through ross and his colleague catherine, who is in the back;

well is a strong program, backbone not mean everything was perfect, it was not but we were impressed how stream lined it was given it was a big operation. we will collect data. heart is submitting monthly reports to dem we would like to come back to mod and this group to report back. i know that both ross and catherine mentioned in interests from their team to continue to learn about the needs in the disability community. if meetings or conversations where they can talk to folks impacted by blocked walks they welcome it. so i don't know, director bohn if we can continue that conversation?

but there is a real urgency here for you to make this better then and there what we are seeing. we talked about this left time. it is complicated well is in the an easy magic wand solution this is a win/win for everybody's needs but we are trying to get to this balance. so. as ross said happy to answer questions or return in a few months with more information >> i have a lot of questions. . i'm going to ask my councilmembers if they have questions. first and then go to the staff and then public comment. >> okay. i see -- go ahead.

>> yes, hello. if i can have the come are. thank you. i live in district 9. and that's very more the mission neighborhood. lot of people selling from the street and difficult for mow to walk in the 24th customer dover which is exit from bart. and that area is difficult to pass through. just coming out of the station and getting through i feel like it is doyle walk in that neighborhood. people with availability issues can trip the walks are crowded. not only with people selling and debris. and there it is items frommeen up to the street store wind

sxoes so forth, i don't like to call the police for these issues and just getting through the system and a half as a deaf individual is challenging. getting it a live person. you might navigate a few hoop and get a live person to talk to. but great to have those areas more easily accessible for people to pass through temperature is a challenge and consistently a problem in this neighborhood. thank you for your comments i have a couple thoughts and i'm sure nightmy colleagues might have input. so, a few issues or needs the first is the sidewalks themselves. and just want to continue to encourage that you can test needs as director smut said to 911. there is other resource visible

to communicate with dispatchers as well. so the more that information come to us the more we can electronic the needs, there is nothing wrong with submitting a request multiple times if you go in the morning. it is frustrating you return it is frustrating oui continue is and can be. okay to mitt multiple times. what the heart report did show in june that this will not prize you the mission is one of the highest areas they responded for ada and blocked walk calls. we anticipate that will continue. you might know there is a new resource through the ambassador program the mission connectors. so, the heart team and the mission connectors at some point can continue to cord nay cord

narrators tried the heart team can come in. we are trying to sort of stagger our efforts and dip admitic inclusive ways that address the needs of folks distressd and resolve the challenge at hand as well. we can report become on that and next time we can take a dive in the mission for you as well. one thing i noticed about the mission district. is this in general there is debris and just different items this are not cleaned up. and i tipally use the 311 is harder i will keep in in minds to get through to someone. i think there is so much street cloning is a challenge there are

so many items this need to be navigated. there are issues with the walk uneven the concrow is separating and creating passage difficulties it is in the as smooth an inch or so the cement separated and this can be a navigational issue. thanks. i will say and this is not surprising there are efforts focused in the mission. around street conscience around the needs of people i think as we see every day, the scale of need continues to be extremely large. so, you know through developing efforts in the city and d mechanic with some of illegal vending efforts to focus different low in that your and we are hoping there will be

impact. so, the city keeps trying new strategies to make impact exit think while some days feels intransactable when are the modo or ethos is we will keep going back and keep trying and try to reinvent i now strategy that has a different affect. yea. thank you very much. >> >> thank you. hi, lauren, first, birch ask my question, i'm not able to figure out it is not accessible what the charts are on the power point? presentation? . i'm not sure there was a couple of versions shared i'm not sure what version you have. i'm happy to submit a paper copy

the current version is a white background with black print and no charts in the current version. i'm happy to give the color version to the council after the meeting. i can make a copy and bring it up >> thank you. >> that's not going to help mow i'm blind. i need an audio description. one was a quarterly report. >> yes. of something. and the quarter low report was going to be a vocal report that you heard from ross was the part of the quarterly report. we are happy to answer if the comments kind of raised question for you we can talk. >> i did not understand what the, it looks like the chart, the chart goes down what was improved? so does this mean something

improved every quarter and wonder whatting improved and in a certain per of the city >> specific low that has been compared is it year to year? sure. >> yea. >> i don't want to answer but the heart program just launched on may 30. >> it is very new. so what is included. >> points on here i'm confused. >> yea i'm sorry for the misunderstandings on there and we are help to correct t. this is nicole speaking 2 things member of the public we were in the broadcasting the power point. during the presentation. that was an error we will make sure for the next one we inform the control room about that. sorry and then -- we will need it do sounds like we need work with the power point to do some

description in the visuals. and >> sure. dweel that and then we will post it publicly so everyone can reference it appropriately. if there are specific questions let's. >> thank you. sorry. no apologies i want to have a rem doe that will work. >> okay. so my question -- relate to my experience, i work at 1155 market. it is the civic center bart station area. and i'm not seeing much of an improvement i know one point the unhoused people were moved because of the ada compliance issue they needed to be moved.

they are back again and especially i had a terrible experience saturday. in june and that is why i listened carefully the hours of urban alchemy teams. buoy will first and i really need to say that i love what urban alchemy does and love thanksgiving new heart program and the the -- whole you know the -- the way it is geared toward helping and not just moving people, you know. but, anyway, so, i had a very bad experience on a saturday imi'm like where was everybody on saturday. i was in back of the 1155 building where i needed to get an uber and and than i were back in droves and challenging me. lit irrelevant challenging mow to walk between them with a bike

and a person kneeling. leaning on the side of a walk i'm a cement barrier. and i -- so i'm like, i don't know what the solution is it does not seem like it is better back there. i don't know if this area has been a hot spot? lately. but yea. my comment. >> first, sorry this happens sounds scare and he awful. secondly, that area is routinely impacted and again, i don't know if recess or catherinements to comment. but urban al kemp team heart is one project and have other services that are also blanketing the mid market area as well. and providing support and helping folks to dispurse

different areas. when you described, i don't know, director smut. come time there is a safety issue and feel like well is a concern with your safety is to call 911. and report that as well. revolve smut department emergency management. um -- when we are trying to assess the response for issues there are the strict ada issues. the 460 passage on a street and also issues related toeen if there is technically 4 feet of clearance if you don't feel safe passing that is another issue. and i think this -- ross can feek after. one thing i think heart is trying to do is address both of

those things. the -- the narrower just getting 4 feast clearance issue is easier to address. than the broader issue. but having comfortable streets and making sure that the there are able to be used by all is a broader thing and i will turn it over to ross to peek to that. thank you. >> first of all, councilmember, thank you for this great comment. in welcoming us. and like i said i think our first couple months have been we seen progress. we will continue to build on it. we will continue to -- better them over month to month.

it is the continued wake up call for the city to resolve this and the agencies assigned in the areas, too. i know our agencies very, very vigilent doing everything they possibly can. as relates to our organization, yes, at heart, we general low are deployed by dispatch were from 311 or nonemergency 911 and vans and teams go every where citywide. and we are covering all 10 you know district police stations. 11 supervisor neighborhoods. calls to all 118 neighborhoods in san francisco. sometimes we will have street teams that peel off from our van if they can be helpful like in

the situation that you had experienced then we will do everything we can to make that happen. general low the 911 and 311 nonemergency calls makes the large percentage of we independent to and prepare for but we also sends teams out to and do what is an on view to also help address these matters. thank you. >> thank you. >> i have a before i ask my question, can i ask to check if any councilmember online has questions? or >> you have questions that you would like to contribute?

i know if have you questions now is a good time. >> okay. we are trying to see if she can unmute. >> okay. >> one second. i think let's move on and then if unmutes we'll come back. go ahead. >> thank you. hello. nice seeing you again, i have a lot of questions. bear with me. i know that you can came to us a couple months ago and i asked a question regarding a -- i will ask -- -- one thing regarding

what were regarding -- specifically on 6 and market. experiencing on the july of -- on the street. in the way and -- and especially you mention today to report and -- i just noticed that hasn't changed much. and -- so that is one question i

have for you. what service tacopinoeling taxling that issue and i want to ask. . without disrespect for the people that -- doing people in the street and going what does it have how do you make surety people having all kindses of people with disability and disability and are not -- on --

the i want to make sure that i'm not saying it as a disrespect. and the way i just want to make sure that i addressed and can you may be and also the plan on making sure that has stopped and continue to improve and the left thing i will -- ask is that the weekends i don't see any and

people in the street that are supposed to be protecting people. >> yea. so -- there are several comments on this, thank you very much for sharing. i think you know that areas 6, 7, mission, mid market is obviously an your that is of intense focus for the city. dem in addition to everything that director mutt talked about and heart. is working close low with an array of other city per ins. the police department. under a new strategy you read in the paper. that is called d mack. i don't in in moment i can't spell out the acronym but get you more on it.

it is a strategic effort focused in i few key areas drug use, drug selling. illegal permits and really trying to address the crime as well as the needs of some folks you say not to be disrespectful 2 folks on the streets struggling we see at this time same there are crimes we want to address special use our resources to address those. and recognizing that a lot of the circumstances that are driving bhiefr addressed. i think we tried as a city other efforts to get strategic across departments under the d mechanic effort there is a focus using data to really drive where the pockets of need, where the

indications of response is what is working, not and hours of the day. we need to focus attention. evening hours services is manage this is constantly on the minds of the city. most service are that 9-5. i believe there are ambassador programs on the weekend i love to work with a colleague to get you a schedule of ambassador programs so you when they are. they did one organization code tenderloin is piloting evening hour in mid market. but as you are suggesting, the scale of the problem the scale of the need is big. so the pilot will cover a section. but what we want to see is what is the impact in the evening. and are there lessons to learn

for expanding? so, in sum row, it is know area that is on the minds of the city. and yea there is now strategies and that we hope will make a difference. >> one clarification regarding on the staffing the -- also i forget name but the -- open air are you thinking a service or drug use sns no its an ambassador -- the people that are on the streets and the staff i believe the -- ton receive

people who are on the block. i live -- >> okay. >> on the streets and i just want to ask, with this step? i want to thaik make sure that those people are -- are not -- doing illegal stuff and -- of course. posed to watch the people on the street and making sure that sthi are not i think -- you know -- i

have been seeing some people on districts those the hud that -- sinceful since -- activities. i want to ask, what's the protocol of you guys -- and sends out to the street and make sure streets are safe to all people? >> another service and strategy i want to share with

you is we are really happy at dem we have a new colleague andre toro our team responsible for helping cord coordinate ambassador programs. not every team does the same service. as a city we are looking for threads of similar skill sets we want to have. cross all the teams. >> my question. i just want to ask point blank of the ambassadors. are they being check -- and making sure than i are not illegal activities with homeless people doing illegal stuff?

that's sort of [inaudible] and then being >> i understand entirely. i think i mean the goal of those the royals of the ambassador system to provide a public service this creates i safe, inclusive and welcoming spachls andre's role on our team is to help work with each ambassador team to achieve that goal. if there issue problems with the team it sounds like you had observations of people that there were questions about when they were doing. part whf we are trying to do with andre is to build skills. across each team. to anchor these are the priors and the city's goals. expectations for conduct, for public service, et cetera. so -- so many team usa work

xhard do a good job. i know you know that. they do a good job when there are occasions things go side ways and somebody's performance is in the when it should be the organization needs to respond. as a city partner, we work with this organization, too, to address what happened. and say, and ask, what is the improvement plan? andre been with us 3 and a half months not long yet. i believe in october or november there will be a report on the status of the am bas deport program. we would be happy to share that with you >> yes, you see the challenge s and opportunities. for improvements. thank you for that open and i'm -- >> yep. in the at all.

that transparency can honest seper of had moves the neetsz if people don't say when they say and experience it is heard to respond in the best way we appreciate honesty. >> and with that i will go to ask the staff if any questions that they may have? >> thank you. councilmember ma dlid it is nicole. thank you to complaurn rob and our clothes for coming in and thank you for coming back. first i want top say is this effort sufficient the first real progress that we have sneen a language time as you know. so -- although we have a long way we are doing so far it is encouraging. and the most active that we have been about try to engage with safety and security of our residents with disabilities in

an active way. thank you. and let's keep up and keep reporting. i'm just my 1 comment not a question but and i know you worked close with us and mod. thank you. . i real based on the comments today, i want to keep working onneen easier ways for folks to bring this nonemergency situations so we can track those and nonemergency member is heard to remember and we have folk who is are blinds and low vision and folks deaf or hard of hearing accessing i number like tla is difficult. i want to work on work on this i don't know if there is more about that. but may be in a next time come back i'm assume willing is engage am the counsels am want

you to come back again and keep us updated on how things are going. this it is really a critical issue. and then next time you come, i would love to hear more about how it is going when you are engage with folk and asking them to clear the way. how receptive than i are being. if you have a sense of willingness to kinds of keep the path way clearance safe. i know there are situations when we have a drug use that can be difficult. but we keep working on t. i love to hear more about any of the success that our heart team is getting to. that's it. >> perfect. i know there are conversations

that directors smut is having with ways to access heart services and other nun emergencies. so, it it is in development and we can you know come become and talk about that and then i mean i can peek from the dem perspective how impressed we have been with urban al kemp and he heart and dignity and respect they bring to the work. when i say to them the urgency than i are bringing to the work. their teams go out and both try to connect and resolve. and there is a real uniqueness. i think, to the way their team does work and we are happy to be with them. so i'm sure we characterize the work more in the future >> thank you. you got it. i have questions, too. so since i'm the one mod who over seesure complaints intake.

i like to ask a couple questions related that. one is the data you are keeping are you tracking how long it takes sn before the nonemergency calls are answered? and second low. are you keeping track of the amount of time it takes for the response to occur for the. disability related calls? i will take a stab if i get it wrong will you help me out. do you want to come up and thank you, rob. we have -- d. emergency management we have ability to look at both of those questions. wait times i think you are asking about the call >> yes.

>> wait times nonemergency are higher rate now than we like we are short staffed. and obviously we prioritize answering the 911 calls can lead to quite a backlog. in nonemergency at times. we know that is an sxsh working heard on recruiting and hiring and training more staff. we can provide data on this. and to that, we are working as lauren said to coordinate how to get be able to promoment members 911 andly 11 if you know those you get to a right scomplas have a path way to 311 to get to nonemergency and we will spaek about this next time we come back. second part was about after a call reported whether we track

how long it takes to independent to calls and we do have that information we will look to report on that -- in a manner. wron of the things this lead to this effort was the recognition that a lot of the calls waiting for a long time to have responsibles of with police and staffing issues. cull busy blocked walks a long time. and we have seen improvement with heart taking the calls. and will provide more to peek to that. >> thank you. yea. i think prosecute it will be great to see and we will seep trends that are for improvement. just personally, i had a lot of

experiences our offices are right near the city center. with ambassadors and want to say things have improved. than i are not perfect at all. and our offices are right at 6 and market and so sometimes t is disheartning. but wonder whether you considered specifically looking at the elevator up from bart and municipalo un plaza as a place to try to keep clear since we know that is used by people with disabilities. as a major way for people to have mobility around the city.

i had incident there is and sometimeys it seems like that it is a place that people like to hang out. i'd like to come back with additional information on that. again i know the area is a point of focus. there are ambassador programs bart's got ambassador and other programs so, may be we can do a cataloging of what is rib and the hours and understand better for me. i don't vice president it on my minds. and if there are gaps to bring back with ideas for improvement. and that area come up often. and the elevator come up a bit as do bus shelter and spaces where everybody needs to be. >> yea. >> great. thank you.

>> now we will going to public comment. . gentleman and read the instructions for comments again, please. >> yea. sure. to the public, if you like to make a comment if you are joining in person you can come line up at the podium or the speaker cards are located on the table at the front near the and microphones if you like to make an in person public comment. if you are joining us on web ex you can indicate you would like to comment by using the raised hand feature. using the 3 dot icon and clicking the raised hand or dial star 3 if you are joining by phone. i will start with anybody who is joining person today if they would like to make a public comment.

denise would like to make. go ahead. okay. >> go ahead, denise. good afternoon, everyone i want to reiterate the occurrence about the your brought upon around the mayor's office of disability. i appreciate the comments this were made for people with disabilities and traveling to and from this area. me, i'm partially visual low impaired and it is hard for mow to assess a situation until i'm on top of it. and like other people, i had similar problems. i appreciate you guys looking in the problem areas and coming back and identifying more around the nonemergency service and the numbers. i know around some of the troubled pots in getting

immediate assistance. again, i know this nicole and others bruthat up and i look forward to you providing a bit more information and i appreciate the efforts you are trying to do. i don't go down much and i have noticed gwen like everyone else slight difference. i think we agree there is more work. i look forward to you coming back and reporting on the issues and concerns that we brought up. and that's it. thank you for listening to my comments. >> thank you. denise. with this, we will welcome anybody who is joining virtually if they like to make a public comment you can use the raised hand feature or dial star 3 if joining by phone. i will wait and see.

we will close public comment for this discussion item. and looks like we will breaking for 15 minutes. >> so in terms we are behind schedule so i'd like to suggest we abriefiate break to nenlts the max. i wanted to thank you lauren and for coming in and someone to seeing you again and a couple months. >> thank you very much. >> thank you. >> 2:26 and coming back at 2:46. thank you.

>> alex madrid cochair.

wait >> we need the captions. thank you. one more time. cochair for disability mayor of disability. to item 7. on discussion item access ability presented by -- and >> good afternoon. i'm stephen young engineer at

the sfmta to give a broef over rowel about the signal program and joined here today with my colleagues. next slide. >> hang on. here we go. >> so what is an ap s in a device that helps persons visual impairments to cross the street at intersections and does this using the audio or vibrating surface. on the screen i have an image of an ap s to help you find it make a slow ticking noise. once you found it -- during the walk signal tell vibrate and make a fast ticking noise and say manage like, walk sign is on van ness. the buttons an arrow on it and that arrow is pointing parallel

with the crosswalk. so it lines you up as you are acrossing similarly toow the domes of a ramp points nut correct direction of the crosswalk. again, the braille on the sign has the street name on it. and if you hold down the button for a second, it will give you a message to tell you where you are. it might say wait to cross. vaness and market. and next slide. so, currently we have about 38% of our traffic signalless in the city with ap s and on the high injury network 41% signals have ap s. in 2021, we did have a goal in the vision zero okay strategy to have 40% of signals with ap s

and i'm glad to report we have met that goal. but of course we are not going to rest we are always trying to add more throughout the city as much as we can. part of upcoming projects adding over 100 locations with ap s part of street scapor traffic signal muni forward projects. so,ment to discuss the requirements. that are needed before we can install an ap s in an intersection. we need pedestrian count down at an intersection first the aps button uses the walk indications of the significant until to know when to community bh the walk signal is on on mason and union

this is an intersection lacking the count downs. and also when we add it we add additional wiring under the street. and sometimes the infrastructure at an intersection is so old that -- the pipes that hold the wires are the fuller damaged and can't accept new wiring. we need to excavate the street in order to add. and also when we do excavate may need to install curb ramps to meet the standards. you see at on the photo, it is this intersection is lacking the curb ramps that would come if we were to excavate the intersection. next slide. here on the photo on the screen

19th and judah. so -- it was inexpensive to install here only 30 thousand dollars. and on the upper end. the previous slide noted that mason and union where we are lacking features and the signalling there was old. try to install new at the intersection would run up to a million dollars just to again do the curb r. and replace all the infrastructure at that intersection because the conditions there are has not been upgrades in the past. next slide. the large costs of aps we have a policy when we do a new signal or a large renovation of existing signal to install it

default. by doing that we get a lot of cost efficiency to design from the beginning instead of after the fact. so again, any time we do large street scapor projects the aps is bake in the from the start. if citizen encounterings an intersection and would like to add aps to a signal, they are free to call 311 and i would receive and -- witness they get the request i will escort based on factors. for example, if intersection is near a hospital or muni lines or a busy corridor that would get additional points. once an intersection is

ranked,il independent to the requests letting them know of the rank and combif them an idea had than i may expect the aps to be installed. so, normally i respond within 90 days. it taxicab a couple weeks for me to responded. currently, well is 70 locations in the city that had been requested by the public that currently that don't requested by the public but not had aps installed the vast majority we do have a project coming up identified funding for it to -- install aps typically in the next few years. for of the locations that need funding but will fulfill as

funding becomes available. i will have to plug our website, has helpful information about our program. and if you again the web link on the screen but another easy way is to search in your favorite engine for sf sfmta space ap s it is typically the firstling that pops up. i circled a link where it has lists of locations that have been requested and a brief update about whether an intersection is funding or if awaiting funding before it can be installed. next slide. so -- our aps buttons exposed to elements may need maintenance over time. the best way to reach us is call

311. and our amazing signal shop staff will responded within 24 hours. to address the request. common issues with the buttons is that the speaker may not be wing or the button stops vibrating. and sometimes we do receive requests about the volume. either being too loud. and people can't or too quiet and people have issues hearing. but the button so -- requests the best way to for us to address the issues and should note the buttons address based on noise. it is in the a set volume all day. it can fluctuate based on what

the ambient sound is. and lastly again i want to plug or website again that it has lots of information about practical. because we heard that perhaps that there is in the a lot of information or people -- have not heart a lot about our ap s program. so -- reasonable we have been providing yearly reports to organizations as noted.

female aware of our program won't want people to than if they do have intersection they have issues novemberigating this there is a formal press they can request to add aps to make their travels through the city easier and safer. and that's the end of my presentation. happy to -- if you would not minds do you have the web link to read out loud not everyone can seat slides. it would be great to read that since you reference today a couple times. if you have it this will be

great. again searching for enemy your favorite search engine and sfmta ap s is the quickest way to go and the power point that is posted line i believe has the you can click on the links and to spell it out for folks https. . //www.. sfmta.com/getting-around/walk/ accessible-pedestrian-signal. >> great. and i want to acknowledge for on behalf of the council what director hinze from the board is here and listening as a panelist. in case you want to invite fiona to ask questions.

hello fiona, thank you for coming and that's all i will pass it become to you cochair madrid. >> thank you. now i going to councilmembers questions. and then the staff and we will go to -- the public -- questions. and so councilmember sassouni has a question. okay. hello this is councilmember sassouni thank you for your present egg i have occurrence. let me give backgrounds and context, first. i represent the deaf and hard of hearing communities. >> one seconded. can we have the camera on

councilmember sassouni, please. >> thank you. i will start over. thank you for your presentation. first i work with within the deaf and hard of hearing community expect this includes deaf/blinds individuals. i know an individual deaf/blind, lives in the civic center your. and there are signals that don't have the aps system there and this individual likes to travel to the lighthouse for the blinds it is important top have safe passage with engaging traffic. especially if someone has a cane that is broken. or may be their service dog had run off and so there can be a few issues with navigating traffic, safely and can be traumatic for deaf/blind individuals and scary.

this individual poke to me about this. my concern is there are also places with stop signs and signals and so forth and drivers are not patient, they don't always obey the traffic laws some of the locations. i really don't know how -- the all of the signals will coordinate for accessibility. are there plans it replace some this have blinking lights or stop signs? sometimes there are issues with the lights and people have it is -- there is one intersection i am think burglar valencia at du bows a new design for cyclists. for runners and the cars have to navigate cyclists and pedestrian running traffic. i know they are expensive

infrastructure changes. i'm raising this individual issue to give know anchor for what this might look like and wonder what plans are to address concerns for our community? >> next. community member i'm bryant w you cans senior traffic engineer and i lead the team of engineers responsible for replace and installing new traffic signals. and i could not agree more with all points raised and all of the issues have been documented in our process to rank -- requested locations for installing pedestrian signals. so many of the factor in that ranking include the proximity it locations such as lighthouse for the blinds. others include a complex intersection layout where more challenging to orient yourself

before crossing. other factors include more complicated signal operations you noted for example, pedestrians would not necessary low get the walk significant until at the same time as the vehicles getting i green light and especially those who are visually impaired are listening for the audio queue of vehicles traveling parallel. these are when we consider in not just where to put ap s but where it should be installed first am we tried to do our best in terms of pick thanksgiving ranking in consideration. and i part of our ability to upgrade this prushth is depending on the age and other projects this would be going on this we can piggyback androus

the cost. certainly it is i balance. and i can tell you that we do have plans to try to upgrade the signals in the under served yours the tenderloin close to civic center who will get the funds and we keep the various stake holders informed as to our efforts to add aps through the the city. every concern your friend raised we are aware of and factored complete low. >> this is not a friends a community member and individual member not a friend. thank you my comment it it is not matter they are a person this may or may not reside in san francisco it does not matter all that matters they are here. >> >> thank you.

>> i have additional comments i would like to make. regarding -- am the issue of deaf/blinds you spoke to visibility navigation. think about this for a second from a deaf/blind perspective someone does not have a cane working or have vision loss to a signed point they see may be a fraction of -- they have a fraction of visibility or rather they have a very small some of the blindsness work in different ways you may have vil have a pinpoint of vision and touch is a factor the vibrating feature is important and the timed option with this vibrating feature has sometimes different beeps show when it is in the accessible to walk. sometimes it does in the go with

the light and the timed walk for someone to be able to make safe passage. so it is an issue of not just accessible through a deaf/blind individual and also for the timed crossing with the light. >> uh-huh >> >> so -- the accessibility signal operates exactly the same as a regular pedestrian signal and possible for the walk to come on before or after the green. depending what we are trying to do, that leans toward headline appear to be inconsistency. the best i could say is this we mirror what the regular signal

does and always consistents unless there is a button problem. because the accessible pedestrian signal gets the electric signal from the regular signal so they are always matching. the concern is more how not every crossing operates the same. as every other intersection. and thus. the importance for every pedestrian disabled or not to follow the signal as they should. >> okay. i see sherri has a question in i would like to continue. i had a point to make the issue is also when a person not any individual i'm think burglar a deaf/blinds individual i want to

emphasize those disabilities. it does take time to develop the systems and the understanding of them and great you have some in place but needs to be more consistent for those individuals. absolutely. we start installing the signals over 10 years ago and since this time, the standards have become more specific. would be the right term. so for somebody deaf and blind or has a type of vision impairment, this is where the standards and consistency are more critical than ever. just giving examples would be the orientation of the domes. the orientation and or number of curb ramps. openings in medians.

the place am of the button. and its proximity to the crosswalk as well as for example, adjacent to a flat landing area where an individual can press the button and wait in comfortable. before the walk signal arrives. the location of the regular pedestrian signal consistents and in alignment with the crosswalk. in the event than i have pin point cone of vision. so, these are all factors that i think part of the cohesive system. that would address many of the concerns. our big one of our big are worries are some new technologies or priority

technologies using a phone or some other type of device, manage that -- the city as a whole could not manage or be responsible for. upon we want to make sure that the way we run our city basically follows the book and everybody else really should do the same. thank you. >> the question -- thank you. sherri? thank you. good afternoon. team from sfmta. welcome. and i want to say that it hen i pleasure working with you in the past and i appreciate all the out reach you have done. with lighthouse for the blinds.

and other agencies. one thing you already stole my thunder when you mentioned a type of intersection this i wanted to stress and it was one bryant that you mentioned where there is a delay for the traffic to move after the light turned green. or i'm sorry the you are allowing the pedestrians to move step off first before the traffic can move. and -- for someone like me who is a blind person i have been at intersections before where people next to me will walk across the street and i don't know the signal has there is no aps i don't know the walk sign is on and going, in on it is time to g. i'm like no , i'm not

going. i just don't trust everybody. but for all i know you know it is not there could may not be a walk sign it could say don't walk but they don't see cars. i'm trained to go with the flow of traffic if the flow of traffic has not moved i'm not moving. what i'm trying to say is, i believe at those type of intersections that, that should be a priority for an accessible pedestrian signal. because if i don't move until the traffic is moving i feel like i'm moving a chunk of time until i start crossing the street everyone else has gone and they are there is only a certain amount of time a lotted for period of times to cross the street. but again i'm not going to move until i hear the flow of traffic i will in the take machine's

word. i hope that makes sense and want to reiterate the priority to be begin to those types of intersections for people who are blind. >> agreed. thank you. and our ranking system we have a high score and extra number of upon pointses begin for the following time signal operations the first being a pedestrian scramble. where the cross beings are going at the same time and in this case you never have any vehicles going in the intersection so, of course, na -- ranks high. and -- upon the same score is given when you have the leading pedestrian where the walk signal come on 4 seconds different

green light. and -- same situation for the leading bike interval. this is where the bikes and peds will get enters before the vehicle all 3 get the same high rank score because we recognize the absence of that audio queue for those who are visual low impaired. >> okay. thank you and i just want to bring up one more thing. are you i'm sure you are familiar with the let you that was brought up in new york city by the american council for blinds against the city of new york. >> and chicago. >> yes. >> specifically looking at the new york case, so, it was

started in 2018 and then the decision was made in twenty 21 and the judge ruled this number one, a violation of the civil right's against people with disabilities. and as part of the ruling the transportation department has to install by 2031, which was 10 years from 202110,000 aps signals. that is 10,000 in 10 years. average of a thousand aps's a year. not rocket science math. that would be fantastic in a year, we could have had all of the aps's in san francisco

taking care of. so how do you think a city like new york i know it is birth than san francisco. what if san francisco had the goal of within a year just finishing off all of the aps we have left and we are 100% done? [laughter] i'm trying to answer the question. sensitive to all partner agencies. the upon realistic answer the only way you can roll out this many aps in a short time is if

one, you are ordered to by a judge and have certain -- powers for electric of a better word -- to hit this target. and that means of course, a response would be allocation of resources. money, staff, time, and dedicated specifically to this effort. combined with, acknowledgment that -- all 10,000 locations are not perfect. i like to use term more perfect. in terms of accessibility you may not hit every single accessible target that we tried to do when we roll out everyone of these. so -- am i think from a design

stand point, they make certain compromises. in order to hit this target. and ultimately becomes a question of how many compromises do we need to make hit this goal? so it is not necessarily a comfortable conversation or comfortable position to be in. because those type of choices -- help one group and does not help another. so -- i don't want to throw other agencies under a bus but it is definitely a tough choice that they are in. and i feel much better about putting together a complete package for every intersection

we touch. i appreciate that answer, bryant, and one thing i'm asking, the sfmta and the aps team if they could come back and let us know a concrete plan for a target for 100% installation of aps signals? >> certainly we could do that. i think tell take a lot of partnering with a lot of agencies and to come up with that plan. it would in the be just my team, of course. and like i said we try to piggyback with other agencies and projects going on. but we have to really get together and see how to put a plan like that together and i know that nicole is nodding and

i think -- i knowledge we can put a plan together with this. it would have to be several months down the road >> that's fine. it is you know to say. it is a sad social commentary when you have to bring in, you know, the legal system to get something done i do appreciate your comment about compromise would have to be made. thank you for your answer. >> thank you. i think councilmember >> go ahead and make your comment if your hand is raised. >> thank you very much. um -- first i had several issue i wanted to address with regards to this presentation my

councilmembers have articulated the concerns. my question thank you for take the questions is had you talked about funding within the next 2 years depending on funding allocation, based on the out reach that you stated you have done and the calls you received from 311 and tying in the [inaudible] about coming become with a plan of the locations andeen though there is several agencies and involved and i appreciate you want to do this right when you do the installation to serve disability communities. have a target to get in an idea because funds and resources and staffing i think will always be an issue. we have to dot best we can with the funding so if we have an

idea of the designation target areas. for the aps and to give a general target that how much when and where tell be helpful because the councilmembers you received input you responded between to weeks and 90 days identified the key areas whatever you know comments you will receive during public comment. need to be addressed. i would like to see manage like that. whatever you guys can put together and out line that would be helpful and give the community an idea you are hearing their input. you have an idea what needs and the standardses and what works. so that is about it for my comments and i thank you for listening. >> thank you. before and go the staff i have

questions for you. one, is that with aps i noticed was i see those aps because i'm in a wheel chair and needs to be on the ramp, right? and most of the time, those aps is on the other side of -- pole. i just -- a mistake of engineering? aspect? and is it possible this it needs

to be fixed? and the second thing is that, i'm curious to know how many intersections of those thing this is needs to be fixed and needs to be updated are going to standards. among [inaudible] in san francisco. >> okay. i think the first question i intercept as the inkib place am of the button relative to the crossing and the location of the ramp. >> yes. so, you bring upon an excellent point. than i are not always consistent. and much of it has to do with

what we can install. based on the infrastructure that is there. we heard it clear from mod and kevin is that the first and primary target is at all costs to have 2 separate buttons and those 2 separate buttons located 10 feet apart so that somebody with a disability does not misconstrue one for the other. other factors deal with the age of the infrastructure at the corner. the location of the ramp. the location of the flat landing area next to the button if this exists. or if not acceptable flat landing area the flattest

landing area. there are a bunch factors. some case we have seen in newer locations in order to meet all of the competing requirements, sometimes the button is seemingly placed in the middle of a sidewalk. and some might vow that obstructing the normal accessible pass of travel when will in contrary that's when we are try to provide. these are examples the challenges we run into in the street and try to do our best. we have essentially, a list of good 10 different competing design guidelines and requirements. and because they are so competing we rank them with of

course mod and others input to determine what we care the most about. so certainly, i understand your frustration or any user's frustration with inconsistency but just know that we did our best with had we had out there. are there other going back on that, thank you for that, that information. i just curious if are there any plans or improving the aspect instead of putting on the other side in the correct -- on next

to the ramp. for instance? >> yes. so00 autoanswer is depends. in some cases, we had no choice because the walk itself was narrow and putting the button on the side would make the sidewalk too narrow to mead ad a requirements. that is one common example. the more the more common example would be our earliest installations. where the buttons could be too far away. from the crosswalk. and this is a concern at locations where there is a median. and you are- way across the acrossing. and you are in the middle of the

intersection and want to finish the crossing and may be the button is too far out of reach especially if you have a limited hand movement or in a wheel chair or other assisted device this requires to you be further away from the curb. so those other things that we try to go back on e approximately when were we replace aging buttons. and where possible i >> we are look to put nothing like an ectender or something like that. so that the reach sell not as long as it once was had first installed that is certainly part of our on going improvement when i don't do maintenance. but as far as new infrastructure to replace the old like poles

and things like that, we are more limited. i'm talking any for example market and most of newer -- aps i just want to point it out and asking you know to take a look at it again and possibly switching into the other side. the next question i have was how you -- have a plan on how many -- needses to install abps

and some already e louded the question what is the plan on installing them or -- them. so, as i shared with co chair albers many timeless the city's goal is 100%. the number is approximately 800 being intersections to go in the city. and multiploy that by 4 that would be the number of crosswalks about 3200 crosswalks that still need it. >> all right. >> what is the plan? our currently plans are and as i mentioned any up grid or new

project goes in autoally. as a normal state of good repair, signals have to be replaced. so i can say that eventual low we will get to 100%. had i'm hearing from the committee here is that a desire to come up with a plan that would accelerate that process and to document what it would take to match the role out with the type of role out that new york is being directed to do? so -- zeal to come up with that one more plan for you. >> thank you. am i think -- i did not asking

about some realistic approach on a number. within 6 months you don't mode to give us a number now it is something to consider. >> i did not know the question are you asking how many mons. no , i recommended something about not a number pursay but a goal. per month or per quarter you don't need to answer this, it is something to consider. >> appreciate it. thank you y. thank you. and with this i'm going to ask

the staff if you have questions. >> hello this is nicole thank you for coming. and updating us. certainly we would support whatever we would need do to get on in analysis and i baseline what would would take to accel rit the program. from as we then and there is a significant safety concern. my question is and it come in the vein of what can this body the council do to be helpful and i know that a lot of it does take are cordmation and a suggestion i have for the council if we choose to bring this back may be it it is a collaborative conversation with mta and public work and puc all

of the folks involved every time that we replace a pedestrian signal and learn more about that. towards the question of funding, are there things that we can do to advocate? or -- what can you say about your current sources? are we using the federal infrastructure grant? other grants we can add voicate for? >> the first thing it is easy for mow to say funding. but that is not a complete picture. pacific low it is the type of funding. when you see infrastructure grants and safe routes for all

grants and -- whatever sales tax money, they are all good intention and i had don't want to say one clause is more important then and there another. i will say, there is not a large sum federal or state type grant to address specifically accessible. at least in the quantities it takes for us to have this type of aggressive roll out or conversion schedule. so, had i -- i'm sorry i'm being arrogant when my team puts together a grant application, this grants does not score very well unless we choose a variety of different needs to score well on these grant applications.

while accessibility is in there, it is not all by itself. and so, understandable low the funds will get allocated toward very challenging locations like where collisions are happening. where there is a lot of pedestrians and a let of vehicles, per se that is well and good but also means that other more out lying locations would not score well and don't get same level funding as a result. first thing for i dedicated grant or funding source to accessibility. the second thing i would recommend that this committee do is take new york's example not

just on when they were directed to do but whatever perhaps design compromises than i were willing to make and look at it objectively and determine whether or not those other decisions that san francisco would be willing to accept. in order to help support that roll out. the third thing i ask the committee to do would be to not just with funding but to have a larger dedication of staff and/or hiring specific low to that purpose. of improving accessible. and -- the mod is aware of the staffing short falls in the streets and highway's program at public works and our ability to

design and construct curb ramps. and that remains a challenge for every department. so i think from an offer site position, i think there are those would be the 3 key things i recommend you push for. >> thanks for recommend thanksgiving to this group and i want to encourage folks follow up we talk about the things. the last thing i will say before thank you, again and i then and there is not an easy topic you are dog a lot of work next. i think as much as we can engage people with different disabilities to get feedback on not only required but how it is working, the more this we can find ways to do that. and00 oaf very apparent we need

to work on that with am deaf/blinds feedback and other mechanisms that cause some of these conflicts we don't want. myself as a wheel chair user often have a hard time depending on the placement of the signals able to roach. i then and there is in the when we want. so as much that we can engage communities and garthing feedback about what works, i think the bfrment so i will leave my comments there, everyone thattings and will continue working together. please. toward solutions. >> thank you. >> any questions. >> i got one. follow up. and first again i reiterate the thanks for your detailed and very thoughtful answers and presentation. i think a lot of us learned a

lot. about a subject that we don't usually get into the weeds on. so, i then and there is when you do all the time. regarding the categories of intersections that you talked about earlier the ones where well is no signal. because everybody is going at once and the leading pedestrian and leading bike crosswalks. you know how many there are of those for which there are in aps's and it seems like that would be useful data to understand. yea. we can put together that tally that is easy to do. and -- what often happens is the

changes are made to the infrastructure. like -- oh , there is for example a push to install pedestrian scrambles in the tenderloin that was something we did 11 in 2021. or 2020. and that creates more of a disparity because the pedestrian signals being not follow along at the same time. so -- we can put that tally together. and -- i think it is imperative we do because there is at least from a professional standpoint a big push to roll out more

leading pedestrian innervals. which by default would shorten the amount of time that -- cochair albers would hear. the sound of traffic i have been unaware. by an article written by mobility instructors w with blinds people and visual low impaired people. and i was in a meeting of a task force vision zero and the people in this meeting were unaware. and i think many people who

welcome the leaving pedestrian signals for vision zero goals just are unaware this if in the done pairing them up with aps's creates increased risk. for people who are also targeted of vision zero. >> i would not necessary low not to discount the issue. had it does is it creates gives less time for the person to cross. and this is certainly an undesirable condition. on the other hand the good new fist well is some good new system that -- if there are other pedestrians present and they have taken advantage of the

early walk signal. that at a minimum than i in the crosswalk first helps to establish the right-of-way for all pedestrians disabled or not. before that green light turns on. so that than i are in the intersection and -- hopeful low hope to reestablish their prior for the person to follow. exactly. when you are -- get less time to cross, it feels bad. and -- and i can understand the anxiety that this credit immediate this type of situation. >> yea. especially if you know the estimate is how long it takes to

cross the street valid to start with anybody who is not using able to use that full amount of time may winds up in the street when the traffic starts in the other direction. this is yet another reason this san francisco leads the way i will pat ourselves on the back here. in terms of providing more pedestrian crossing time than every other agency in the bay area. disabled or not we give more time because we have an aging population in the country we proride more time. >> okay. i want it make sure we are able to go to public comment.

i want to check with director hinze to see if you would like to say closing res he is coming off mute. >> sure. >> thank you. >> thank you. thank you mr. chair and staff and mta and the council for taking up the items. this item. i just want it appreciate the conversation. and i nought you brought up great points and questions. and that you come with i variety of different types of intersections i appreciated and i appreciated the you did challenge our against in terms of when we can do better. very person safety and traffic

and so i do support bring the item back and i support staff coming back plans to look to see what we can do to what it will take to implement the new york scale of -- of -- of -- installation. i know it will -- like director bohn mentioned, tell be a multiagency clan raying. i upon support and reported everrecommend to -- anyone this item come back tobling it item the department dpw and to [inaudible] jointly present with the mta.

i think that those are some good next steps for yous a council and so that is where i would leave this item. thank you. thank you for coming in and that support. again, thank you for coming in and being conversation i hope this is only the first and on going conversation and come back when you get more information. to us. >> it will not be the last and is not the first, either. >> thank you. >> thank you. now we are going to public comment.

we will start with any members of the public who are in person joining us today. you can make ape comment boy filling out a speaker card and we have 2 sfeeshg cards here so far. and you can also come and lineup at the podium. if you are joining by the web exwebinar you may indicate you would like to make a comment using the raised hands feature or dialing star 3 if you are joining by phone and you will be recognized. so. our first speaker we will welcomes charlie doris. go ahead and start when you are ready. i'm charlie doris a legally blind resident of san francisco. the mt apresentation mentioned there were about 70 public

requested aps in the met. that compared to 8 huh huh signal intersections this don't have it. why there is 70 out there unmet out of 800 it seems like a low ratio. i have put in requests for 7 ownership 8 and one reason why the rit i don't is low people not know how easy it is to make a request. use the 311 number it it is a 5 minute phone call and i urge everyone in this room and everyone online to do that. just pick update phone, dial 311 and in 5 minutes time you will have put in a request. and once you hing that phone up you have done all you are supposed to do. it is all done and so -- that is the way another way i think of

bring and public pressure on mta and where than i get funding is to have not just 70 unmet public requests but 170 or 270. or may be instead of one request at one intersection you with 10 or 20? i think building public pressure on mta which they use to pressure -- their funding sources becoming a squeaky wheel is something should be done and encourage it.

i'm daved jackson. i'm a visual low impaired residents of san francisco. i like to reiterate what charlie doris spoke about. it is ridiculously simple to make a 311 call. call 311 you will have prompts number one. so when you call 311 presented with prompts. one a prompt for english and

other languages. a reference to tty. when when the 311 operator come on make your request. for an installation of an aps. provide specific information like the street. cross street and number of corners. after the request maedz the operator may ask you h the request. you can do that you don't have to but it is would be helpful to find out how the how the status

of the request is going on. and then if you ask how long the am request or status of the request will take. the response from the 311 operator will be about 21 days. don't be put off boy that. make as many requests as you want. >> your call is important and once the call has ended it is now something that sfmta has to do. remember aps are not for visual impairments deaf, blind or wheel

chairs they are for everybody in the city a way for people to be safer when crossing the streets. thank you very much. we will move to anyone in web ex if you like to make a comment use the raised hand or dial star 3 to indicate you would like to comment. i don't see anyone tolls comment. >> and again, bryant thank you for coming and and see you soon.

now item 8. and mod deb are cospondance. okay. in the last month there has been one letter message that you mayor's disability council if howard chanin. he included in his message an attachment of a legal lawsuit come implement that was filed in new york city the titled case is charles versus city of new york. and it is a let you that -- is

based on disability discrimination law including ad a, section 5 where are 4 and state and local legislation. regarding the ways that the city of new york has established a closed streets program. he references the elements of the complaint that describe -- several of the named plaintiffs. of which there are many, many individuals. and it describes the disabilities. and the lawsuit is -- file in the april of this year. and mod asked him to keep us informed about what happens with the proceedings of the case.

and -- you can read about it. in the copyright message you received. now we are going to item 9 general public comment. can you open that to general public comment? yes. so at this time members may address on items of interest to the public. that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the council not on today's meeting agenda. each member may address for up it 3 minutes unless the chair in the interest of time comments may be limited to a shorter time when there are a large number of comments. if you are joining in person you can come up to of the podium or

fill out a card if you like to make a comment. or if you are yoining via web ex you can use the raised hand feature or dialing star 3 if you are joining by phone. so we will start with anybody who is in person. does in the look like there is anybody here now. so -- we will move to web ex if you are joining us virtual if they like to make a comment. use the raised hand feature. all right. don'ts see anybody withhold like to comment at this time we will close public comment. >> thank you. >> with this now i'm going to item 10 information item councilmember comments? >> announcement any

councilmembers? thank you. none. -- denise? any comments or announcements? yes. this is denise. hi i have in comments at this time. thank you. >> thank you denise. any -- announcement or comment at this time? happy ad aan refers real upper i wanted say, thank you council for what you do you are all volunteers and the things you say to elevate the disability access issue in this city make a difference. so, in recognition. the ad a, thank you for everything you do. >> thank you, director bohn for that acknowledgment.

without objections go to adjourn the meeting and thank you for the staff and -- and -- then see you in september. all right. thank you, everyone the meeting is closed. clear clear

>> shared spaces have transformed san francisco's adjacent sidewalks, local business communities are more resilient and their neighborhood centers are more vibrant and mildly. sidewalks and parking lanes can be used for outdoor seating, dining, merchandising, and other community activities. we're counting on operators of shared spaces to ensure their sites are safe and accessible for all. people with disabilities enjoy all types of spaces. please provide at least 8 feet of open uninterrupted sidewalk so everyone can get through. sidewalk diverter let those who have low vision navigate through dining and other activity areas on the sidewalk. these devices are rectangular planters or boxes that are placed on the sidewalk at the ends of each shared space and need to be at least 12 inches wide and 24 inches long

and 30 inches tall. they can be on wheels to make it easy to bring in and out at the start and the end of each day. but during business hours, they should be stationary and secure. please provide at least one wheelchair accessible dining table in your shared space so the disability people can patronize your business. to ensure that wheelchair users can get to the wheelchair accessible area in the park area, provide an adequate ramp or parklet ramps are even with the curb. nobody wants to trip or get stuck. cable covers or cable ramps can create tripping hazards and difficulties for wheelchair users so they are not permitted on sidewalks. instead, electrical cables should run overhead at least ten feet above

sidewalk. these updates to the shared spaces program will help to ensure safety and accessibility for everyone, so that we can all enjoy these public spaces. more information is available at sf.govt/shared spaces. i'm anthony i'm owner of scoop ice cream in the bayview. >> the environment sit down environment to enjoy a bananasplit. root beer floot. shake, et cetera . just creating that environment for people to come and enjoy. they can experience this is cultural driven. we pretty much replicate what our culture means in the bayview. >> a back story me and my

siplings my aunt took us out for ice cream all the time. spend hours eating ice cream and talking and catching up with friends and family of came with an idea. why don't you bring the ice cream shop back has not been one here in a time since the 90's. i thought it would be good to bring something back to a community where i grew up and something with me in business community. my fate is the apple pie flavor made from french cashew milk it is vegan. homemade cashew milk and cocoa nut milk. apples upon cinnamon and nutmeg and create a great desert. my great grand mother made it from scratch.

made ice cream for kids in the neighborhood and made different flavors. sugar free and dairy free. got passion to do it being here in the community and from my family.. [applause] >> good morning everybody. good morning, it will work better to hold this. (indiscernible) it is 5 after 12. this is the last time stopped this long was the 1906 earthquake. it is in fact 11 o'clock, so we are starting. i want to we