2002-04-24 CC Packet (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

~l Resources Accessibility of polling places The Secretary of State's Office and the Minnesota State Council on Disability wish to provide some timely information about polling place accessibility by elderly and handicapped individuals. Redistricting may result in the need to identifY and secure new polling places. If this is the case, please remem- ber to identifY and secure polling places that are accessible to individuals with disabilities. An increasing number of Minnesota voters are 3:<:Quiring age-related disabilities, so the need is greater now than ever. The law with regard to access requires each polling place comply with the fullowing minimum standards: Paved parking with extra wide spaces reserved for disabled persons; . Curb cuts or temporary ramps; . Paved main routes free of stairs or with ramp or elevator bypasses; . Entrances/doorways a minimum of32 inches wide; . Walkways and hallways at least 36 inches wide; . Hallways free of protrusions overhanging the floor; . Handrails on all stairs; . Signs directing voters around obstructed entrances or stairs to accessible routes; . Signs oudining the assistance available to voters; and . One or more wheelch@:a"cessible voting booth or station with writing surface 34 inches high. In addition, the doorways, handrails, ramps, and disability parking provided pursuant to this subdivision must conform to the standards specified in Chapter 1341 of the Minnesota State Building Code. For a review of the actual law, please refer to Minnesota Statutes, section 204B.016, subd. 5. t' Looking for an environmental consultant? Local officials seeking to hire consult- ants for environmental services are encouraged to visit the Local Govern- ment Environmental Assistance Network's (LGEAN's) directory of environmental consultants. The diret- tory, located on the LGEAN web site, enables local government officials and other users to identifY and contact consultants who perform work in the environmental and geographical area in which they are interested. Local officials can search for environmental consultants by keyword, service area, location, or name of consultant/ company. The directory provides city and county representatives with impor- tmt information about environmental consulting firms, including a description of company services, local goverornent references, and contact infonnation. Managed by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), LGEAN is a "first-stop shop" providing environmental management, plauning, funding, and regulatory infurmation fur local government appointed and elected officials and their staff. Users include public works and environmental service directors, city managers, mayors, and fedetal and state agency employees. Consultants who perfurm environmental work for local governments are also invited to register in the directory. To visit LGEAN's Consultants Directory, go to: www.lgean.orgl consultants. For more information, contact Andzew Seth, ICMA, at (202) 962-3622 or Igean@icma.org. t' Opportunity for Participation - Serve on Younger Citizens Advisory Task Force City officials who would like to encourage youth in their community to help the Secretary of State's Office develop voter and citizenship educa- tional materials for Minnesotans in their teens and early 20., can apply for appointment to the Younger Citizens Advisory Task Force.AtIeast 12 of the task force members must be 16 to 24 years of age. The task force meets quarterly at the State Office Building in St. Paul. Application forms may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Secretary of State, Open Appoint- ments, 180 State Office Building, 100 Constitution Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55155-1299. Phone: (651)297-5845. Applications will be reviewed and appointments made by the Secretary of State. Completed applications are due at the Secretary of State's Office by April 23. t' Visit the League on the web: www.1mnc.org ---------- for all the latest information about how your city can participate and benefit from LMC and LMCIT services, resources, and training opportunities. Aprl17, 2002 Page 13