Minutes of March 17
Access Benton County

Present: Edith Yang, Tony Albert, Bob Fenner, Marlene Massey, Ronald Naasko, Dana
Marie, Mary Marsh King, Pat Shermer, Judy Heath, Hugh White, Mike Mullett,
Jim Smith.

ABC Minutes are intended to describe the discussions, decisions, and
actions that occur during ABC’s monthly meeting. The minutes are
to be considered only a draft until they are approved at the following
monthly meeting. Persons who receive the draft of the minutes and
see inaccuracies or omissions in them are asked to please inform ABC.

A. Special Guests: Linda Elder, Executive Director of Dial-A-Bus, and
Timothy Bates, Transit Coordinator, City of Corvallis.

We greatly appreciate the information about Corvallis Transit and
Special Transportation (Dial-A-Bus). There have been many positive
changes to these services and we will attempt to describe them as well
as statistics on volunteers and rider increases of use.

DAB operates seven days per week. Monday through Friday from
8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Weekends have different schedules. Sundays
the hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.. There are "connecting services"
with Linn-Benton-Lincoln counties! Please visit the links below for
specific schedules.

If you are eligible to use DAB, remember that it is not just for medical
appointments! No priorities exist for different categories of use of the DAB.
You may use the service for your personal reasons. If you are needing
to schedule a permanent arrangement for transportation, you may
have to go on a waiting list until you can be fitted into the vehicle and
driver program on a specific ride time schedule. Also, you must
arrange your rides one to seven days in advance; seven days ahead
is preferred! Individuals are scheduled on a first come, first served basis.

Forty-five volunteers assist with DAB! Another 11.75 FTE Drivers
are employed by DAB. Many riders are persons with disabilities who
depend upon this service to commute for their employment.

Persons who cannot safely or practically use Corvallis Transit can
contact DAB. In some instances, if DAB cannot provide the special
services a rider requires, Interfaith Caregivers are able to meet
the needs.

DAB has operated out of the Senior Center for several years. They
had just 250 square feet of space when in the Center building. They
currently are in a modular building behind the Senior Center. It
looks favorable that a new property for rent will be the next
site for the agency.

DAB is looking for Board Members! For more information about
DAB, please visit their website or contact Linda Elder, Executive
Director(mailto:linda.elder@co.benton.or.us) http://dialabus.freeshell.org/

Mr. Bates is the Transit Coordinator for the City of Corvallis. He spoke
to us about recent CTS "fareless" service and the implications on ADA
paratransit service. Questions, contact Mr. Bates at Timothy.Bates@ci.corvallis.or.us

CTS is revising its handbook. Please visit the FAQs and other information
online:
http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=467&Itemid=410
Both City of Corvallis and Benton County subcontract the special transportation services
with DAB! These are intended to provide services to individuals with disabilities who
are not able to ride the CTS vehicles. You must be certified as eligible to use DAB.
Explanations of eligibility and applications are available online at the website.
Also, CTS provides individualized training for those who would like to use the CTS fixed
route services! CTS provided 70,000 rides to persons with disabilities last year!

Don't forget the Beaver Bus services which are free and all citizens are eligible for
using the service that runs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 8:45 p.m. to 2:45 a.m..
This is not offered Summer Term and on some holidays. There is also the Philomath
Connection linking CTS with Philomath riders.

The fareless CTS services and DAB services are free but those riders who
connect with other bus services may have to pay fare when they transfer to the
other bus system. The CTS became fareless when the Corvallis City Council decided
to change the funding arrangements. For detailed explanation of this change, please
visit the CTS Website.

Rides on the CTS fixed routes buses are now free! We learned that there was a 24 %
increase in number of riders just in the last twelve months!

B. Minutes of February 17, 2011 approved as submitted.

C. Treasurer's Report. Cash balance of $308.00. Anonymous donor paid for
ABC's membership in Corvallis Downtown Association for 2011. Thank You!

D. Correspondence: (1) E-mail from individual requesting assistance to correct
housing problem with belief that it is discriminatory against persons with disabilities.
Referred this person to contact Department of Justice to file an ADA claim. Also
invited person to meet with ABC to discuss these concerns. (2) Several e-mails
pertaining to Keith's Award.

E. Continuing Business:
1. Keith E. Billings Award for 2011. The recipient for
2010 is the Housing Division which is part of the Corvallis Community
Development Department. We hope to educate our community about the
wonderful contributions this agency has provided to its disabled, low-income,
and homeless citizens. The presentation will be made at Noon, May 16th at
the start of the City Council Meeting, Second Floor, Corvallis Fire Hall.

F. New Business:
1. Wheel Chair Day 2011? Discussed the possibility of another organization
sponsoring this event. Several individuals said they would help on the
day of the event!

2. Follow-up on access concerns in downtown Corvallis at 2nd and Washington
Streets. Mr. Fenner reports that the ramps where water is standing will be
re-graded this summer. The City will complete the last 40 ramps identified
to condition or replace. This is funded by the Freedom Act which has
made possible a total of 125 access improvements/spaces in Corvallis.

The concern for the handicapped parking spaces at this intersection has
been answered. The caution tape was removed once the work was completed
at this location.


3. Transit Mall Restroom. Near completion. We will know more about the details
soon. We are impressed with the research on best practices for restrooms that
has been undertaken with this project. It is quite clear to those who spend
time downtown that a public facility is needed and often subject to
vandalism unfortunately. Safety of users is also a concern and is being
addressed by planners.

Adjourned at 1 p.m.. Next ABC meeting will be Thursday, April 21, 2011 from Noon to
1 p.m. at the Benton Plaza, Commissioner's Meeting Room. Please join us!