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COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL of SALT LAKE CITY
TO:City Council Members
FROM:Vili Lolohea, District Liaison / Policy Specialist
DATE:December 3, 2024
RE: Salt Lake City ADA Self-Evaluation & Transition Plan
ISSUE AT A GLANCE
This memorandum summarizes the findings and recommendations from Salt Lake City’s ADA Self-Evaluation and
Transition Plan. This work assesses the City’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and
identifies key steps to eliminate accessibility barriers in City programs, facilities, and public spaces. This plan is to
meet the goals of the Department of Justice (DOJ), which urges local governments to establish procedures for an
ongoing assessment of their compliance with the ADA's barrier removal requirements. The last plan was in place
in 1993.
Key Findings:
1.City Buildings: 15 facilities assessed, with barriers like inadequate signage, inaccessible entrances, and
non-compliant restrooms.
2.Public Rights of Way:
o 40.1% of sidewalks require grinding.
o 24.44% of curb ramps need upgrading to meet ADA standards.
3.Parks and Golf Courses: Accessibility barriers in 79 parks and 6 golf courses include non-compliant
play structures and ground surfacing.
4.Communication: Citywide need for improved, ADA-compliant signage and digital accessibility.
Recommendations:
To address these barriers, the following actions are proposed:
1.Administrative Actions:
o Regularly evaluate ADA compliance in programs and policies.
o Adopt Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) for all digital content.
o Train staff and provide timely updates on ADA initiatives.
2.Collaborative Actions:
o Work with disability stakeholders, including the Accessibility and Disability Commission.
Item Schedule:
Briefing: December 3, 2024
Action: December 10, 2024
Public Hearing: January 7, 2025
Potential Action: TBD
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o Develop a data dashboard to monitor Transition Plan progress.
o Create evidence-based design guides for long-term accessibility improvements.
3.Legislative and Budgetary Actions:
o Allocate funding for high-priority barrier removal.
o Increase budgets for sidewalk, curb ramp, and pathway upgrades.
o Implement ADA standards and best practices for all new construction and renovations.
o Fund citywide signage assessments and improvements.
Attachments:
1 - Full ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan
2 - Appendix A: ADA Liaison List
Salt Lake City ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Executive Summary
Background
The 1990 ADA regulations required local governments to:
evaluate all their services, policies, practices, and facilities,
modify any that did not meet ADA requirements, and
develop a transition plan detailing barrier removal to achieve program access that specified a
completion time (entities with 50+ employees).
A self-evaluation is a comprehensive report of the assessment of a city’s programs, services, activities;
facilities; and current policies, practices and procedures. The self-evaluation identifies and corrects
barriers to program access that are inconsistent with its Title II requirements. Per regulations, this
was to be completed by January 26, 1993. Salt Lake City Corporation completed a self-evaluation on
July 1, 1992.
A transition plan identifies architectural barriers found in the self-evaluation. It outlines how and
when in the following three years (from the time of the self-evaluation) programmatic barriers will be
eliminated. This was to be initiated and accomplished by July 26, 1995. No historical files were found
showing this was initiated or accomplished by Salt Lake City Corporation, with the exception being a
Transition Plan for City public way assets by Engineering every 2 years.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) urges local governments to establish procedures for an ongoing
assessment of their compliance with the ADA's barrier removal requirements. If a complaint is filed
with the DOJ, any consent decree initiated by the DOJ will require a self-evaluation to be done within a
certain timeframe. It is the first document the DOJ asks for during an investigation.
Methodology
The evaluation of the City's services, programs, and activities required participation by every City
department. Departments, through their ADA liaison, completed the evaluation process under the ADA
Coordinator’s guidance. Appendix A lists all participating ADA liaisons.
To complete the Existing Facilities evaluation for priority buildings, parks, and golf courses, an ArcGIS
survey was created using the ADA Checklist for Existing Facilities based on the 2010 ADA Standards for
Accessible Design.
For each location, the survey evaluated:
Priority 1: Accessible approach and entrance
o Parking, Exterior Accessible Route, Curb Ramps, Exterior Ramps, Entrance
Priority 2: Access to goods and services
o Interior Accessible Route, Interior Ramps, Elevators, Signs, Interior Doors (to
conference rooms, etc.), Rooms and Spaces, Seating (Assembly Areas, Non-employee
work surfaces, General), Sales and Service Counters
Priority 3: Access to public toilet rooms
o Accessible Route, Signs, Entrance, Lavatories (The 2010 Standards refer to sinks in toilet
rooms as lavatories.), Soap Dispensers and Hand Dryers, Toilet Stalls
Priority 4: Access to other items such as water fountains and public telephones
o Drinking Fountains, Telephones, Fire Alarm Systems
For each park location, the survey also evaluated:
Play Areas, Sports Courts and Athletic Fields, and Other Available Amenities
Key Findings
1.Building Facilities: 15 City-owned buildings were evaluated, and barriers found include:
inadequate signage, non-compliant restrooms, inaccessible entrances, and pathways.
2.Public Rights of Way (PROW): An inventory of sidewalks and curb ramps revealed significant
areas that do not meet ADA standards. Approximately 40.1% of sidewalks require grinding, and
24.44% of curb ramps need upgrades to meet current ADA criteria.
3.City Parks and Golf Courses: The evaluation of all City-owned parks (79) and golf courses (6)
identified numerous areas requiring improvements. These include the need for accessible play
structures, compliant ground surfacing, and proper signage.
4.Communications and Signage: There is a need for improved signage and communication aids
to ensure that individuals with disabilities can easily access information and navigate City facilities.
Recommendations
To address the identified issues, the following recommendations are proposed for the City Council’s
consideration and support. Some recommendations are administrative in nature, while some are
legislative or require the cooperation of both branches of government:
Continually evaluating all programs, services, and policies.
The implementation of WCAG standards to all digital content on websites, social media, and apps.
Communicating the City’s ADA compliance initiatives through timely updates and staff training.
Working with disability stakeholders, including the City’s Accessibility and Disability Commission,
to improve or implement accessibility measures.
The development of a robust Transition Plan management dashboard for data collection.
The development of an evidence-based Design Best Practices Guide for the public right of way,
facilities, signage, and parks to improve long-term accessibility outcomes.
The development of a city-wide policy that mandates all new construction and major renovations to
comply with the latest ADA standards and the City’s best practices.
The allocation of funding for the removal of high-priority barriers in buildings and parks.
Increasing budget allocations for the repair and upgrade of sidewalks, curb ramps, and pedestrian
pathways.
Funding an assessment and design plan for signage citywide to ensure all City facilities have clear,
compliant, and unified signage that aligns with the City’s branding.
Conclusion
Salt Lake City's commitment to ADA compliance is crucial for fostering an inclusive community. By
supporting these recommendations, the City can ensure that all individuals, regardless of their abilities,
have equal access to public services and facilities. The City Council’s support and action are vital in
driving accessibility initiatives forward, ensuring a more accessible and equitable city for all.
This executive summary provides a strategic overview and actionable policy recommendations aimed at
enhancing Salt Lake City's compliance with ADA standards. For further details and specific findings,
please refer to the complete ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan.