THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF PORT COQUITLAM

COUNCIL

MEMORANDUM SEP 13 1982

TO:  B. Kirk, , September 9, 1982
City Administrator

FROM: F.E. Peters., P. Eng.,
a City. Engineer

“SUBJECT: _Handicapped Access to City Hall

RECOMMENDATION:

That the City provide a Tramp useable by wheelchairs
to the Engineering Department level of City Hall at an
approximate cost of. $2,500 and that an operating policy be
approved which would allow the handicapped to be served for all
Purposes at the Engineering Department counter.

BACKGROUND -AND COMMENTS:

The Committee to consider handicapped access met on
August 31st, 1982 to consider various means of obtaining access
for the handicapped to City Hall. A number of different ‘means
of access were considered. However, it became quickly apparent
that there is no simple solution to providing access to every
Floor in City Hall. Elevator shafts at either the front or. the
rear of the building would involve extensive renovations to the
building itself and, in addition, any structure in the front
would destroy the face of the building.

At the present time there is no way that somebody in
a wheelchair can get into the building unassisted. It was felt
that if the handicapped could only get into the building at
some point, then City staff could be called to give special

assistance to that person.

The most feasible way of getting access into the
building is at the ground floor level entrance to the
Engineering Department from the front of the building. It
would be necessary to completely remove the steps at this
entrance and replace them with a ramp about twenty feet long
complete with handrail. The cost of the work is estimated to
be $2,500 and, although the Committee did not determine where
the funds should come from, the money would be available from
unallocated funds in the Public Works Budget.