MOD’s 2021-2022 Public Report to the Mayor’s Disability Council highlights MOD’s accomplishments, as well as ongoing challenges. In addition, it offers potential Mayor’s Disability Council agenda items for 2022-2023. The Council is encouraged to continue to reference this document.
Members of the public wishing to engage with aspects of this report may contact MOD at mod@sfgov.org or by calling 415 554-6789. You may join our distribution list by contacting us and asking to be added. MOD’s website has migrated to sf.gov. This full report will be posted to sf.gov/mod following today’s meeting.
Legislative updates, November 2022:. Some of the current legislative issues impacting people with disabilities are as follows:
Local Legislation and Resolutions:
221008 Limiting Teleconferencing and Remote Public Comment at Meetings of the Board of Supervisors and its Committees (Mandelman) Status: Pending assignment by Rules committee (potentially as early as December 12, 2022)
- If passed, this legislation would discontinue remote public comment by members of the public at meetings of the Board and its committees, except as legally required to enable people with disabilities to participate in such meetings.
- The Mayor’s Office on Disability is charged with advising on a workable reasonable modification request process.
- However, as mentioned in multiple previous reports, locally, the Community Alliance of Disability Advocates (CADA) is asking for continuation for all, not just people with disabilities by request. The Council is strongly encouraged to engage on this item, as results will have significant impact on the public engagement process.
JFK Promenade Referral 220475: Hearing - Museum Recovery and Progress Update on Golden Gate Park Access and Safety Program (Stefani). Status: Update heard in Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee July 14, 2022, and continued to the call of the Chair.
- This hearing was part of a response to an amendment to the passed legislation that requires quarterly reporting by Recreation and Parks and SFMTA on Museum Recovery and accessibility improvements.
- As the Council knows, your JFK Drive Resolution helped to form the Accessibility Improvements and Enhancement commitments that prompted this update hearing
- The next hearing, if held, is at the discretion of the Committee Chair. It is also expected that the Recreation and Parks Department will begin to advance on accessibility improvements and enhancements noted above in the coming weeks. The Council is strongly encouraged to call for an update on this item.
Shared Spaces: Referral 211301: Limits on Fines for Shared Spaces Violations (Peskin et al): Status: Passed
- This legislation limits issuance of fines for violations on some businesses utilizing outdoor dining, while maintaining the ability to fine for physical access for persons with disabilities, and first responder access. The permanent program takes effect in March 2023.
- The PSA about accessibility and Shared Spaces is complete and in post production. Thanks to Council Members Albers and Madrid for your participation in the video. The Council is encouraged to air the video as part of an upcoming MDC meeting.
220957 E-Scooter Safety: New Resolution Urging SFMTA to Enforce Powered Scooter Safety Violations and Modify Permits Accordingly. Status: Supported by all members of the Board of Supervisors, October 2022
- MOD participated in these hearings and the Council will be learning more about this as part of today’s meeting.
State Legislation:
Virtual Meetings Open meetings: state and local agencies: teleconferences (AB 361). Status: Approved by Governor.
- This bill allows for continued provision of virtual meetings for government agencies until January 1, 2024, pursuant to agreement of the jurisdiction.
- However, the State Declaration of Emergency is ending on February 28, 2022, which may change the state of virtual meetings locally (See local legislative item 221008)
CPUC Autonomous Vehicles (AV) Permit approval: On June 2, 2022 the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted to approve a permanent operating permit for Cruise, the first permanent operating permit in the Country. As a reminder, permission for autonomous vehicles to operate in San Francisco is regulated by the CPUC and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), not SFMTA. SFMTA and MOD are committed to supporting advocacy for the accessibility of AV’s.
Upcoming public comment and any additional pending permits are not announced as of this writing.
If you are interested in being involved in advocating for continued accessibility of AV’s, please contact MOD.
Transportation Network Company (TNC) legislation (SB 1376): TNC Access for All Act is in pilot implementation phase. MOD, SFMTA and the County Transportation Authority (CTA) continue to be parties to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) comment proceeding, on the recommendation of the Mayor’s Disability Council.
- The proceedings are ongoing, and are currently focused on on-time and reduced wait time performance (no change since September 2022)
AB: 2336: Speed Safety Pilot Program: Status: passed as amended. Advanced and endorsed through Vision Zero, this legislation would allow San Francisco and other California cities to begin a pilot program that tests speed safety and reduction.
Federal Legislation:
In the Spring 2022 Unified Agenda, the Department of Justice announced that they plan to propose new ADA regulations on the following topics:
- Advance Notice of proposed rulemaking;
- Medical Diagnostic Equipment: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by State and Local Government, Public Accommodations, and Commercial Facilities: Medical Diagnostic Equipment
- Other Equipment and Furniture: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by State and Local Governments and Places of Public Accommodation; Equipment and Furniture
- Web Accessibility: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability: Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Governments
- Sidewalks, Curb Ramps, Street Crossings, and Other Pedestrian Facilities: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by State and Local Governments; Public Right-of-Way
Public Comment on these items from Deaf and Disability Community Members is welcomed and strongly encouraged. For updates and notice for when to provide public comment, go to ada.gov. On the bottom right, sign-up for e-mail updates, and participate!
MOD News and Announcements:
- MOD gives thanks to our ADA Grievance and Training Coordinator Iman Alzaghari, whose last day with MOD was November 10, 2022. Thanks also to MOD’s John Koste, who is temporarily assisting with this role while MOD hires for this position, and to Tess Bartlett, who will be assisting as temporary clerk during MDC meetings.
- MOD launched our new website at sf.gov/mod. Our website is in the City’s accessible template features a Disability Resources page that brings together disability information from across the City. Our pages are newly launched, and some are still in development. As we continue to improve, please feel free to send your feedback to MOD. Thanks for engaging with us!
- MOD is participating in a national request to meet with Dept of Transportation Secretary Buttigieg regarding disability access and transportation. The request letter was endorsed by the Mayor’s Office for support by the Mayor’s Office on Disability. MOD will post and provide a final version of the letter to the MDC when it is complete.
Agenda Items for future MDC Hearing consideration, action, or resolution:
It is recommended that Council members review all active local disability-impacts legislation first, for time sensitivity. You may also consider:
- Aging and Disability Affordable Housing Needs Assessment: The final draft of this report, which was driven by local legislation with MOD as a named participant and partner, is currently being introduced to members of the Board of Supervisors. Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) would like to convene a joint meeting between the MDC and the DAS Commission in February 2022.
- The Council may consider hearing an update on the Age and Disability Friendly San Francisco Implementation Plan and Workgroup as part of this meeting as well.
- Safe Passage/Street Crisis and accessibility: In August, MOD presented to the Emergency Management Policy Group on accessibility and disability impacts of street conditions, both for those trying to pass safely on the sidewalks and for those with disabilities living on the streets. The Council is encouraged to place this item on an upcoming public agenda.
- Great Highway/Great Highway Park/Continuation of slow streets: When the State and Local Emergency Orders are lifted, in addition to JFK Drive, other current road closures and slow streets may be under permanent closure consideration. This is of significant current concern to the disability community, especially those who question how these permanent changes may impact access for residents with disabilities citywide.
- CCSF Digital Accessibility and Inclusion Standard: This Citywide obligation is active and ongoing.
- Disability employment updates: citywide data collection efforts pertaining to employees with disabilities, from our colleagues in Department of Human Resources.
- Autonomous Vehicles in San Francisco and accessibility (see CPUC legislative item above).
Health and Emergency Response and the Disability Community
Review these links for current COVID-19 and MPX (Monkey Pox) resource information.