Democratic club will have its handicapped section

Jose Paul Corona

A dispute over reserving an area along today’s parade route for

handicapped seating ended when the city granted the Democratic Club of

West Orange County a special permit. But the city will not be providing

any services as it has in the past, said Ron Hagan, director of community

services for the city.

The club was granted a special permit last week, that allowed it to

set up camp at Utica and Main streets Wednesday night.

Anyone else who tries to occupy that space will be turned away, Hagan

said.

The reason Hagan consented, he said, was that they are trying to

provide a service for the community.

“We certainly support anyone that wants to help,” he said.

They will not, however, receive any type assistance from city staff

this year. Helping the club set up and maintain the area is not fair to

other clubs who have similar goals, Hagan said.

The club will be able to place 30 seats in the area, said club member

Sally Alexander.

Although the resolution didn’t exactly work out the way the club had

hoped, it is a solution, she added.

“At this point we got the best we could get,” Alexander said, glad

after more than a month of battling to have the issue settled.

It will be the third year the group has set up at that spot.

Two years ago, noticing that there weren’t any designated areas for

handicapped, the group approached the city about setting up a special

area.

City officials found the club a spot at Utica and Main streets and set

up chairs and a canopy for members. City staff also monitored the area to

make sure that no one else tried to lay claim to it.

But a dispute arose this year when the club was informed that it

wouldn’t be getting any assistance from the city.

City officials canceled the agreement after realizing that it did not

comply with the American with Disabilities Act or the California Access

Compliance Code Title 24 standards.

Although the club offered seating for the handicapped, it wasn’t

adequate. Rather than segregating viewers to that area, the city has

spread handicapped seating along the parade route, Hagan said.

The first two rows on the bleachers that have been placed throughout

the parade route and have been designated as handicapped seating, Hagan

said.