COMMISSION ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
MINUTES FOR REGULAR MEETING
May 14, 2025, CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
The regular meeting of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities was called to order at 6:35 PM.
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Mullings, Commissioner Roloff, Commissioner Bonsmith, Commissioner Beehler, Commissioner Hall, Commissioner Lipp
Absent: Commissioner Schmitz
Staff: Secretary Lilian Jewell
2. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT
* Speaker Tristan Suire invited Commissioners to participate and attend Universal Design Ordinance Housing Panel
3. MINUTES
* Review of minutes from 4-24-2024, 6-5-2024, and 3-12-2025
* Minutes 4-24-2024 approved; revisions needed for 6-5-2024, 3-12-2025 to be resubmitted for approval at July meeting
4. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
4-A Study Session - Zoning Ordinance Amendment - Universal Design Ordinance Updates
* Presented by Tristan Suire, Planner II, City of Alameda
* Universal Residential Design Ordinance in Alameda to ensure accessibility, adaptability, and visitability of all new housing developments
o Purpose of Revisions: exemptions added to streamline permitting process; decision-making authority revised
o Exemption Matrix: further clarified qualifying requirements
* Clarifying Questions
o Commissioner Lipp asked why townhouses are targeted building type
o Chair Mullings asked if this will go before City Council next
o Commissioner Hall asked about number of revisions
o Commission Roloff asked whose financial hardship is considered for exemption; also asked why exemptions would be needed for new construction if they could be accessible from the beginning
o Commissioner Beehler asked why exemption requests will not come to this Commission and if Annual Report will cover this
o Chair Mullings asked if Universal Design Ordinance will continue to be protected with new revisions
* Discussion for Recommendation
o Commissioner Roloff expressed disappointment in continued revisions to accessible design; abstained from recommending
* ...
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