JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- The city council is now looking at a $37 million settlement agreement to fix all the violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the city.
For many people, stepping up on to the sidewalk is like second nature, but for others in our community, it's a struggle. The city now has to fix that. "My question is where did that number come from," said City Council President Bill Bishop.
The city has come to an agreement with DOJ to get all the violations fixed, but the estimated cost is $37 million.
It's a problem the city started dealing with in 2010. The Ddepartment of Justice gave them a list of hundreds of violations. The library, city hall, and polling places are just a few examples. The city attorney says they're trying to find a smaller number than $37 million to do the work. "They want to ensure compliance, but they're also like me and as cheap as I am, I'm trying to find the best cost," said Cindy Laquidara.
She does expect it to be less. "They were cost estimates based on more restrictive rates," said Laquidara.
She says some of the problems can be fixed by just adding a sign, like in the downtown library. The information desk is too tall, according to ADA standards, but a sign will fix the problem.
The city council president says he's hoping they fix the problems by spending a lot less money.
The proposed settlement was just introduced at city council Tuesday. It still has to go through six weeks of hearings before a vote. When this money is approved, it will take another six years for the city to be in complete compliance.
