City to discuss handicap access to buildings

By Kevin Killough
Staff writer

GALLUP — Bringing Gallup up to modern standards will be the headlining topic at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. Gallup continues to find the revenues to support improvements to the city buildings that will create better handicap accessibility and bring the city into compliance with the American Disabilities Act. To meet the financial needs of the renovations, the city is seeking to adopt a one-quarter cent municipal gross receipts tax.

“So many of our buildings predate the ADA,” City Attorney Dave Pederson said.

The renovations are part of a consent decree between the Department of Justice and the city of Gallup. Lasting more than a decade, the agreement requires the city meet certain deadlines for repairs. The highest priorities are sidewalk ramps at corners and handicap accessible public bathrooms.

“It’s an ongoing compliance duty,” Pederson said.

Also on the agenda is a discussion of lease agreements between the city and state over Red Rock Park. The main question is where responsibility for management and maintenance of the park will fall. One option the city is looking at is to have the city deed the park back to the state. In turn, the city will adopt a lease agreement with the state, which will grant full use in exchange for the city managing the park.

“The state doesn’t really want to take it over,” said Pederson.

The city also has two matters of possible litigation against the city. Both items are scheduled to be discussed in closed sessions.