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BACKGROUND In the FY 2021/22 - FY 2022/23 Work Plan, the City Council included an action: to amend the City's Code and Development Standards to enhance minimum Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility requirements; the description of the project is to "ensure a higher level of accessibility standards, such as roll-in showers, universal design elements, for new apartment construction." The item was given an "A" Priority, meaning substantial progress or completion of the effort during FY 2021/22. The intent of this work plan item is to ensure, as new residential development occurs, opportunities are provided for persons of all ages and abilities to access and enjoy housing suitable for their needs. At the April 19, 2022 City Council meeting, the City Council provided direction to staff to proceed with the following to enhance accessibility and universal design in new residential construction: 1. Direct staff to draft and bring forward for consideration a Universal Design Ordinance for single-family, duplex and/or triplex units, including recommendations on mandatory versus voluntary features to be included. 2. Direct staff to develop and implement a Universal Design Checklist, which through a condition of approval would require developers of projects to provide a list of universal accessibility features available. 3. Direct staff to update the current condition of approval for multi-family projects over 15 units to include additional universal features or enhancements within required adaptable units, with appropriate flexibility to modify such improvements to the needs of individual tenants or buyers. Accessibility and Universal Design In the context of this agenda item, it is useful to define some key terms related to accessibility: Accessibility, as defined in the California Building Code is, "the combination of various elements in a building, facility, site, or area, or portion thereof which allows access, circulation and the full use of the building and facilities by persons with disabilities in compliance with this code." Accessibility is also used, somewhat more broadly, to mean services and facilities designed and/or modified to be able to be used by persons of all abilities. Universal Design is a design principle whereby products, components and the physical environment is made more usable by as many people as possible, including at various levels of ability, at little or no extra cost. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Disabled access requirements, as they apply to the built environment, are often referred to as "ADA" (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements. The ADA is a federal law, enacted in 1990, that prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in all areas of public life, including employment, transportation, and all public and private places open to the general public. The ADA specifies minimum design standards for non-residential development and for public and common use areas in residential construction, in particular through the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The California Building Code (CBC) reflects these ADA Universal Design July 27, 2022 2 of 8