Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and unpaid bills occupied the attention of the City Council's Courthouse Oversight Committee on Thursday.
As the Duval County Courthouse nears completion, the City has worked with design/build consultant Turner Construction on a "punch list" of about 30,000 items it identified as needing improvement before it would accept the building as complete.
That list included ADA items regarding accessibility.
"The current Certificate of Occupancy is set to expire in early January, but we believe we have time to deal with the remaining items," said Jim Robinson, City Public Works director.
Robinson reported to the committee that about 20 items remain on the list.
One key ADA issue has been pull pressure for access doors to the building.
"We are in the final stages of debate and reviewing that, the applicable pressures for specific doors," said Robinson.
Turner explained it has adjusted the identified doors to the City-requested specifications.
"This is the subject of the interpretation, there are two pulls on a door. The pull to start the door opening and then there is a sustained pull from there," said Robinson.
City Council President Bill Bishop asks if the doors met either of the requirements. Robinson said they met the requirement for the sustained pull.
The investigation is determining whether the first door opening pressure is relevant or not, said Robinson.
Another ADA issue is the availability of handicap parking near the courthouse.
"It's my understanding that we meet the legal requirement for the number of (ADA) parking spaces. Which is not to say that it's easy for someone with a disability to get to the building," said Jack Shad, City Public Parking officer.
Shad said the requirement is based on a percentage of parking spaces provided in the parking lot, but because the City doesn't provide a courthouse parking lot there is only one space required for the building.
He explained the parking garage across the street from the courthouse meets full ADA requirements for parking spaces, which sets aside about 3 percent of its spaces for handicapped parking. That's about 40 spaces, Shad said.
He also said that any metered space can be used as an ADA space and handicapped placard owners are able to park for four hours for free.
"I would say it is very similar to the ADA parking at City Hall," said Shad.
Council member John Crescimbeni, who serves on the committee, asked if some metered parking around the courthouse could be converted to handicapped parking.
"We could, if requested. We do have an issue unless we put time limits on the handicapped spaces. It's difficult to restrict those handicapped spaces to visitors to the courthouse," said Shad.
He said a courthouse employee could park in the spot and remain there the entire day unless it is time controlled.
Council member and committee Chairman Greg Anderson told Shad the committee would revisit the issue.
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