Commission highlights unsafe curb‑ramp work, City to form police “cross‑ability” advisory group

Commissioners raised safety concerns after construction associated with a street resurfacing project left curb ramps and sidewalk areas exposed and unmarked, creating hazards for people using wheelchairs and other mobility aids. At the same meeting the City announced plans to form a police advisory group — called a cross-ability committee — to advise on training and response in interactions involving people with disabilities.

Commissioner Rachel (speaking during liaison reports) described a recent site where curb-ramp work left a large unmarked hole that forced her into a bike lane: "They have cut so much out of the curb ramp, the corner curb ramp, that I had to go into the bike lane to go down to Walmart the other day. I couldn't even get onto the sidewalk because I would have fallen in the hole." Jamie Martinez, the commission’s sidewalk liaison, said he would add the location to the City’s complaint list and asked members to report similar hazards directly to him.

Martin Entz, who described the work as part of a Huntington Mill‑and‑Fill resurfacing project, agreed the construction approach sometimes creates interim access issues during phased work. "The fix is probably two‑part," Entz said, noting that long-term regrading could be required where ramps created unintended steep grades and that better temporary signage or phased ramps might reduce interim hazards.

Rachel, acting as parking liaison during the meeting, announced the Police Department will establish a cross‑ability committee to advise on disability‑sensitive response and training; the committee will include non‑employee community members and is expected to meet soon. She said the department’s new deputy chief, Charles Hernandez, will be the liaison on cross‑ability issues and that the City would accept volunteers who are not City employees to join the committee. She asked interested members to contact staff for the application.

Jamie Martinez said code‑compliance staff are available to respond to obstructions such as private trash cans or bulk pickups that block sidewalks and urged commissioners and the public to report such problems by email. Commissioners discussed whether signage at work sites complied with City requirements and asked staff to follow up with contractors on better warning signs and detour guidance for pedestrians and mobility-device users.

No formal votes were taken; staff committed to add site reports to their tracking lists, to pursue short‑term mitigation (additional signage or alternate curb access) during construction where possible, and to incorporate feedback into future resurfacing projects.

Why this matters: Unmarked construction zones create immediate safety risks for people with mobility limitations; the proposed cross‑ability committee aims to improve police interactions and training for incidents that involve people with disabilities.