HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7804 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. no4
4fir To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Mnidi 1, 1994
X Subject: CITIZEN COMPLAINT ABOUT PARKING
1873
AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY
BACKGROUND
A disabled citizen contacted City officials on Sunday, February 20,
1994 to voice a complaint concerning lack of accessible parking at
the Museum of Science and History. He said accessible parking was
improperly marked and security or police at the Museum refused to
enforce it. He also voiced the opinion that the number of
accessible parking spaces at the Will Rogers Memorial Complex is
very inadequate.
STAFF INVESTIGATION
The City's lease agreement with the Museum of Science and History
expired several years ago. The new, proposed lease renewal will
require the Museum to be responsible for compliance with the ADA.
The proposed lease renewal with the Modern Art Museum also
delegates responsibility for compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) in this manner and will be on the Pre-
10 r11111 Council Agenda in the near future. Should it meet with City
Council approval, the lease with the Museum of Science and History
will be similarly drafted.
The City's assessment of ADA deficiencies was reviewed with the
Museum Director, Mr. Don Otto, in April, 1992. Vendor materials
relating to stairlifts to make the steps accessible to the Noble
Planetarium were mailed to the Museum in June, 1992 . An on-site
meeting with Museum staff and their architects was held in January,
1993 to review architectural questions about accessibility of the
permanent dinosaur exhibit at the entrance. Also, work has begun
on bringing the Museum elevators up to ADA compliance. The Museum
reimburses the City for work performed under the City's Elevator
Maintenance Contract.
PARKING AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY
The City installed a curb cut for use by the three (3) spaces
designated for persons with disabilities near the end of the
Museum's north drive. Those spaces are now covered with a tent or
awning structure for the Jurassic Park exhibit line. Our
handicapped parking signs were mounted, as required, high enough to
be seen so they could not be obscured by a vehicle parked in the
space. The signs (without consultation with the City) have been
moved to designate spaces closer to the Museum entrance. As
F posted, they are far too low, allow space for approximately two
cars to park and have no access to a curb cut.
OFFIN�RfCap§
My SECRETARY
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER AS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7804
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council March 1, 1904
Page 2 of 3
Subject: CITIZEN COMPLAINT ABOUT PARKING
1873 AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY
PARKING AT THE WILL ROGERS COMPLEX
The City of Fort Worth has eleven ( 11) parking lots at the Will
Rogers Memorial Complex. Not all are paved. A description of each
lot or garage, total number of spaces and number of designated
accessible spaces are presented below:
No. Designated
Lot Total Marked Space Accessible Spaces
1. West Parking Lot 779 16
2. Staff Lot 100 0
3. Crestline & Gendy 594 0
4 . Haley and Montgomery Dirt lot for mobile
homes
5. Near Barns RV lot, asphalt and 2
gravel. None marked,
but accessible spaces.
6. & 7.
o Coliseum &
Auditorium 154 10
8 . East Lot 1 889 0
Used for trailers
9. Equestrian Center Garage 784 31
(serves #8 & #9)
10. Exhibit Parking Garage 410 14
11. Grass Lot between Museum 0 2
of Science History and
Modern Art
TOTAL SPACES, CURRENT ACCESSIBLE SPACES, FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS
Not counting the staff lot, as it is not public parking, nor the
unimproved or unmarked lots, there are 3,710 parking spaces. There
are currently 75 spaces designated accessible for the disabled. If
the weather permits, ten spaces will be added this weekend to the
horseshoe of the Coliseum and Auditorium. As soon as a contract
for curb cuts is approved in the M&C process, a curb cut will be
added at Crestline and Gendy. Twelve spaces then will be striped
and signed on that lot. Also, ground signage will be added to
direct traffic to the accessible spaces in the Equestrian Center
Garage.
These improvements will provide a total of -97 designated spaces
which far exceeds the 46 required. Numbers in and of themselves,
however, are insufficient to meet the requirements of the,,_J_4wwhich
stipulate dispersed, convenient parking. Unfortunately,
tPRC1VCqt4om'i0 V
CITY SECRETARY
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER-- F "R"N ffEfff
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7804
Tr To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Mnr-h 1, 1994
Page 3 of 3
rexns Subject: CITIZEN COMPLAINT ABOUT PARKING
ion AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY
closest to the front entrance of the Museum of Science and History
are few in number, improperly signed, and lack a curb cut.
CONFER WITH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY
Staff, to date, has been unable to contact Museum staff concerning
this complaint, but will confer with them regarding alte"rnative
solutions to present to the City Council for approval.
Bob Terrell
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER-.W.___ -- FORT WORTH,TEXAS