HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRACC - 2022-03-24 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee
Date: Thursday, March 24, 2022
Location: Zoom Meeting
Present: Donna Hartzler, Rob Bender, Brenda Robinson (Co-Chair), Paula Saunders, Lolita Paroski (City of
Kitchener), Carrie Speers, Teresa McQuillin (Co-Chair), Melanie Garbarz (Region of Waterloo), Tracey Murray
(Township of Wilmot), Councillor Debbie Chapman (City of Kitchener), Amy Ross (City of Waterloo), Janis
McKenzie (City of Kitchener), Heather Clark Harris, Jolene MacDonald, Ashley Sage (Township of North
Dumfries)
Regrets: Councillor Sandra Hanmer (City of Waterloo), Councillor Sue Foxton (Region of Waterloo), Robyn
Jackson, Tamara Bell, Trevor Tamlin, Ilidia Sa Melo (Township of Woolwich), Grace Kosch (Township of
Wellesley), Berny Wesselink
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Approval of January Minutes
Approval of February Minutes and March agenda
Jolene motioned to accept March agenda; Paula seconded; All in favour.
Donna motioned to accept January minutes; Brenda seconded; All in favour.
Carrie motioned to accept February minutes; Donna seconded; All in favour.
3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interests
None
4. City of Waterloo City-wide Accessibility Audit, Koohyar Samiee
Accessibility Issues, Consequences and Risks
The following is a list Identifying issues, consequences, and risks to the municipality of
compliance/noncompliance with the standards requirements references in Section 2.0 and target dates:
1. Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) —The relevance of the Human Rights Code's duty to accommodate so
that all spaces are accessible to staff, students, volunteers, and caregivers with a variety of different disabilities
have not been demonstrated throughout the facilities audited and faces risk of a Human Rights Complaint. The
Code has primacy over the OBC, and human rights tribunals have affirmed that compliance with the OBC is no
defense to a complaint of discrimination under the Human Rights Code." The Accessibility for Ontarians with
Disabilities Act, and the Building Code (https://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/moving-towards-barrier-free-services-final-
report-restaurant-accessibility-initiative/accessibilityontarians-disabilities-act-and-building-code)
2. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) —The Act, passed in 2005, begins by recognizing the
history of discrimination against persons with disabilities in Ontario. Its purpose is to "benefit all Ontarians by,
developing, implementing, and enforcing accessibility standards to achieve accessibility for Ontarians with
disabilities with respect to goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures and
premises on or before January 1, 2025. It should be clarified that a further standard added to the Integrated
Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) covering parts of the Built Environment was added on January 1,
2013. It mentions it is applicable to newly constructed or redeveloped public-use areas and covers such public
spaces and features as recreational trails and beach access routes, outdoor tables for eating, outdoor play
spaces, outdoor sidewalks or walkways, off-street parking, waiting areas, service counters and queuing guides.
This standard does not exempt the purpose and goal of the Act itself. Additionally, the AODA requires
organizations to file reports on compliance with standards when directed to do so. This self-reporting is the first
step in a progressive enforcement system that also includes inspections, orders, administrative penalties and
ultimately prosecutions and fines. Orders and penalties may be appealed to the License Appeal Tribunal, the
tribunal designated by the government for this purpose. DesignABLE recommends the removal of barriers
should be implemented by the target date of January 1, 2025, to ensure that the goal towards accessibility
aligns with the City's commitments to accessibility. In addition, the city should align the built environment
renovations to support the other AODA standards such as sustainability, employment, diversity, and inclusion.
3. Universal and Inclusive Design Practices — Many accessibility accommodations make the environment more
usable for everyone. This is the premise behind the Universal and Inclusive design practices. The issues with
existing buildings within the region are that they mostly adhere to the OBC which only covers the minimum
accessibility that still largely focus on those who use smaller manual wheelchairs and the AODA Design
of Public Spaces only includes site elements, service counters, queuing areas, and waiting areas. The city
should align with the city's own policies such as sustainability, affordability, employment, diversity, and
inclusion.
4. Overarching Accessibility Upgrade Plan
The following long-term accessibility Plan is proposed:
• The accessibility audits and assessments identify existing barriers and associated costs and
prioritization of work for removal of barriers to facilitate accessibility improvements and upgrades by the
end of the year 2025 to ensure the city will meet their commitments to accessibility.
• All publicly accessible areas of the facility and common-use areas used by general staff should be
accessible.
• Staff and visitors should be able to access and enter all individual and specialized work area, such as
individual offices, work rooms, etc.
• Public and visitor access to these areas is generally restricted within service and maintenance areas of
the facility. Accessibility into and within these areas should be dealt with on a job-accommodation
basis.
Comments/Feedback
➢ It was noted that this committee has not had any input on the audits completed to date.
➢ How did they come up with priorities and who decided what was important in the audits?
o The company contracted was responsible for the priorities
o COVID was a concern during the audits and there were time constraints that needed to be met
➢ Sharing input from a paper copy is not an easy way for this committee to comment on any accessible
audits. Having a member/s on site is the best way to audit and share feedback.
5. City of Kitchener Municipal Election Accessibility, Cody Boomer
The City of Kitchener election team would like feedback from this committee on barriers experienced in 2018,
feedback on the current strategies/tactics, as well as any suggestions or comments to help us improve the
accessibility of the 2022 municipal election. Municipalities are required to create a plan to identify, remove and
prevent barriers that affect electors and candidates. Currently Kitchener staff are in the process of reviewing
plans, strategies, and list of improvements from 2018
Comments/Feedback
➢ How is it determined where you are going to vote?
Divided up by wards, within the wards, there are subdivisions divvied up by population. Looking at
offering more than one option for people to vote. Advance voting period does not restrict you to one
location.
➢ Will online or mail voting be included? Digitally, expanding the digital tabulators but at this point will not
be online or mail in voting.
➢ Will there be mandatory hand sanitizer again? Some people have sensitivities and cannot handle that.
➢ If for whatever reason you cannot get to the poles, the proxy voting process can be utilized; appointing
someone to vote on your behalf.
➢ Tabulators, did you find them helpful? Committee members are not exactly aware of how this works,
last election one member was told it would take too long to set up.
➢ Education needed for Election workers around accessible entrances and exits for anyone with mobility
issues.
➢ Washrooms should be available at all locations.
➢ Make sure enough seating at election sites for anyone who requires seating.
Please email if any other comments/feedback to cody.boomer2kitchener.ca
6. BREAK (15 mins)
7. Region of Waterloo Affordable Housing, Brad Pick
The Region of Waterloo is committed to making housing affordable and accessible for all because they believe
communities thrive when everyone has a place to call home. With the need for affordable and accessible
housing growing, the Region is dedicated to increasing the number of affordable and accessible homes.
The plan aspires to develop up to 2500 new homes over the next five years, increasing affordable and
accessible housing generated from an average of 50 units per year to 500 units per year. Several projects are
coming soon, today the discussion will focus on the 416 Kingscourt Drive project.
Accessible Unit Design:
• Entrances and landings
• Illumination
• Doorways
• Floor Surfaces
• Washrooms
• Medicine Cabinets
• Shower Stalls
• Door Hardware
• Sinks
• Cooktops
• Laundry
• Windows
• Storage
• Barrier-Free Common Areas focused on:
• Parking
• Pick-up/Drop-off
• Exterior Routes
• Ramps
• Stairs
• Elevators
• Entrances
• Doorways
• Closets
Barrier-Free Common Areas focused on:
• Parking
• Pick-up/Drop-off
• Exterior Routes
• Ramps
• Stairs
• Elevators
• Entrances
• Doorways
• Signage
• Doorbells and Intercoms
• Corridors
• Signage
• Floor and Wall Finishes
• Washrooms
• Operating Controls
• Amenity Spaces
• Outdoor Spaces
Project timeline:
• Site Plan and Building Permit processes ongoing with lead architect (Chamberlain Architects) and the
City of Waterloo.
• Planning to advertise the construction tender in May 2022, with award in late-June 2022.
• Construction to start in late-summer, 2022.
• Expecting an 18—22-month construction schedule, with Occupancy in 2024.
Moving forward:
• Looking to set up a meeting with interested committee members to discuss options and considerations
for the 416 Kingscourt Drive project sooner than the next meeting date due to time constraints.
• Consult committee earlier in the design phase on the remaining projects included in the Waterloo
Region Housing Master Plan.
• Consult the committee to help shape the Region of Waterloo's Affordable Housing Design Guidelines,
which will be given to design teams as guidance throughout the project(s).
Comments/Feedback
➢ Description of the slides well done
➢ Carrie & Paula would like to be part of the audit process; would prefer it to be in person
➢ Kidsability would be a good idea to involve if project is designed for families
8. Built Environment Sub-Committee Updates
• City of Waterloo Tactile Maps sign at Waterloo Park
o Karen Watts (CNIB) support of the design, few suggestions regarding font and colour. It
will be placed on a concrete surface for easy access
• Review of Washroom Recommendation Sheet
o Working on dividing the sheet into two sheets, using GRAAC's feedback.
9. Committee Updates
No updates
10. Councillor Reports
No reports
11. Co-chair/Staff Reports
Lolita Paroski, City of Kitchener
• At this point will continue with virtual committee meetings.
Melanie Garbarz, Region of Waterloo
Accessible Taxi Committee Update
• In 2021 accessible taxi owners applied for and received $47,700 in accessible ride subsidies plus
$11,300 to assist in replacing 2 accessible vehicles, and $40,000 was provided to the taxi scrip
program through fees collected by the Region from ride share companies.
• In 2022 the Region will assess the number of accessible vehicles required under the bylaw, currently
it's set at 7% of fleet vehicles but is this the right number or way of expressing it?
• Can provide a more comprehensive update and work plan for 2022 at the next meeting.
Comments/Feedback
• Committee representative would like to attend the next committee meeting.
• Committee has a lot of questions regarding where has the money gone?
• Contract service and priorities by Mobility Plus also an issue
Amy Ross, City of Waterloo
• Website compliance update and City of Waterloo Municipal Election Accessibility will be added to a
future GRAAC agenda.
Meeting Adjourned