July 26, 2016

Charlotte Tree Canopy Manager Erin Oliverio first this morning, outlining a plan under way to develop a master plan for trees in Charlotte. City Council has set a goal of having 50% of the city under the tree canopy by 2050. Oliverio described the goal as aggressive, given the amount of continuing development in the city.

How to proceed? Oliverio invited Forum participants to take a survey that would allow them to express their views. She reported later that 36 participants took the survey this morning.

Want to participate in the survey? Take it online, English here, Spanish here.

After Oliverio’s presentation, City Amerians with Disabilities Act coordinator Terry Bradley introduced Julia Sain, executive director, Disability Rights & Resources; Willie Ratchford, executive director, City of Charlotte Community Relations; and Lezlie Briggs, City of Charlotte Community Relations Specialist Fair Housing/Public Accommodations, then explained city response to the ADA’s passage in 1992.

Initial efforts, as in most cities, were aimed at retrofitting existing buildings. Today, he said, the city is attempting to develop an internal culture of access for all – planning around uninhibited access, building in uninhibited access, etc.

It fell to Sain and Ratchford to explain the benefits, but also the limits, of the ADA, and to field the many questions raised by Forum partiipants.

Also speaking at the Forum was Mayor Pro Tem Vi Lyles, who commented on the City Council’s Monday evening meeting in which Black LIves Matter speakers at a public forum felt they were not equally treated.

Below is a video of the Forum session.