Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Accessibility Surcharge topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee directs CEO to report in 60 days on options for an accessibility surcharge to fund services
Summary
The committee heard a department report on a possible surcharge to fund accessibility services and charged the CEO to return in 60 days with cost analyses and implementation options to minimize burden on constituents and target department discretion.
The committee heard a presentation Feb. 3 from the Department of Disabilities on a study of whether the city should establish a surcharge to fund accessibility improvements and services.
Steven Simon, executive director of the Department of Disabilities, and Ian Thompson, director of operations and finance, described options including a basic surcharge, cost-recovery models used by other cities and targeted approaches that would exempt or limit charges for certain departments to avoid undue burdens on constituents. The presenters emphasized the goal of protecting residents from added costs while ensuring departments have funds for interpretation, sign language services, ramps and electronic-accessibility tools.
Councilmembers pressed staff about the fiscal analysis and whether the surcharge could be structured so it would not shift costs to the general fund or disproportionately affect low-income residents. Staff said the department is exploring special funds and expected to use existing programs where possible; presenters referenced comparable models in other jurisdictions (including Long Beach) and discussed use of remote interpretation to reduce costs.
A councilmember offered a modification instructing the CEO, in consultation with city legislative and finance staff, to return within 60 days with implementation options (Options 2A/2B), specific cost impacts, and an evaluation of potential obligations to aim for a FY 2026–27 start. The motion was seconded and passed by recorded vote (5–0 as recorded).
