Washington is considering hiring Rivers & Associates to conduct a study concerning making the Susiegray McConnell Sports Complex more accessible to handicapped people.

During its meeting Monday, the City Council will consider authorizing the city’s parks and recreation manager to contract with Rivers & Associates to provide professional engineering services related to the study. Under the proposed $6,500 contract, Rivers & Associates would make recommendations concerning improvements that would make it easier for handicapped people to access the complex from other areas of the city and more compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental activities.

“The scope of services for this project includes the investigation to determine all required ADA accessible route upgrades to the sports complex,” reads a memorandum from Kristi Roberson, the city’s parks and recreation manager, to the mayor and council. “The deliverables will include an arrangement map and notes of proposed improvements on an aerial photograph integrated with CADD graphics. A probable estimated of construction costs will be provided for each portion of the project and a priority presented base on need.”

In related business, the City Council is expected to formally accept a $225,000 grant from Trillium Health Resources as part of the city’s effort to make its Havens Gardens park more accessible to handicapped children by providing playground equipment for them and other children to use.

The council, according to its tentative agenda for the meeting Monday, is scheduled to approve the updated official zoning map of the city. That updated GIS zoning map reflects recent rezonings, annexations and other miscellaneous corrections.

The Planning Board, which reviewed the updated map last month, recommends the council approve the map. GIS is an acronym for geographic information system, designed to capture, store, analyze, manipulate and manage all types of spatial data. Governments often use GIS mapping in land records and identifying land parcels for taxation purposes.

The council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building, 102 E. Second St. To view the council’s agenda for a specific meeting, visit the city’s web­site at www.washingtonnc.gov, click “Government” then “City Council” heading, then click “Meeting Agendas” on the menu to the right. Then click on the date for the appropriate agenda.