Ravenswood council approves bid process for citywide ADA compliance survey after public pleas

The City of Ravenswood Common Council voted Feb. 17 to put out a bid and select a vendor to perform a citywide Americans with Disabilities Act compliance survey and produce a transition plan for public properties. Todd Ritchie moved to approve the vendor selection; Amanda Slaven seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Resident Craig A. Greening told the council during public comment that the survey and plan must be funded and overseen by the council rather than deferred to other boards. “Being compliant with the ADA does not just mean ramps and curb cuts,” Greening said, listing accessible doors, parking layouts and digital accessibility for blind residents as examples. He provided population estimates, writing that about 23% of people who live in or visit Ravenswood have a disability and urging the council to act to reduce the risk of litigation.

Council documents and staff presentations at the meeting framed the action as a compliance and risk-management step. The selection motion directs staff to issue a request for proposals and proceed toward a pre-bid meeting and vendor selection process; the minutes record the motion’s passage but do not list a vendor name or a contract price at this meeting.

Councilors also heard a separate report about digital-accessibility obligations: city web hosting and CivicPlus safeguards were noted and staff told the council about upcoming Title II ADA web-accessibility deadlines for larger jurisdictions. Council did not adopt a final contract at the Feb. 17 meeting; the approved action authorizes the procurement steps necessary to produce the survey and transition plan and to return to Council with vendor recommendations and costs.

Next steps: staff will advertise the procurement, hold the pre-bid meeting noted in the minutes, evaluate proposals and present a recommended vendor and contract for Council approval at a future meeting.