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Supervisor Tang introduces accessibility compliance program for public accommodations
Summary
Supervisor Katy Tang introduced legislation to require accessibility inspections of buildings with places of public accommodation, set staged compliance schedules and create a dedicated Department of Building Inspection unit to assist and enforce.
Supervisor Tang on July 7 introduced legislation to create a citywide program requiring building owners with places of public accommodation to inspect and document compliance with disability-access requirements, to either provide an accessible primary entry or obtain a finding of technical infeasibility or undue hardship, and to encourage voluntary corrections for other accessibility features.
Tang said the program is modeled after the city's soft-story retrofit program and would designate places of public accommodation into four categories with staggered compliance schedules ranging from 12 to 30 months. The proposal would empower the Access Appeals Commission to make determinations on equivalent facilitation, technical feasibility and time extensions, and would require the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) to create a disability access compliance unit to consult, coordinate, and enforce the program.
Nut graf: The proposal aims to address accessibility gaps and to reduce the effect of serial litigation from access lawsuits by providing a proactive, city-led compliance pathway, outreach and a predictable timetable for businesses and property owners to bring buildings into compliance.
Supervisor Tang named city agencies and community stakeholders who helped shape the policy and said the ordinance is intended to balance the needs of people with disabilities and the practical challenges faced by older buildings and small businesses.
Ending: The item was introduced; Tang thanked staff and stakeholders and said she hopes the board will support the legislation in future committee hearings. The transcript records no final vote at the July 7 meeting.
