HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRACC - 2022-05-26 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee
Date: Thursday, May 26, 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), Councillor
Debbie Chapman (City of Kitchener), Amy Ross (City of Waterloo), Ashley Sage (Township of North Dumfries),
Councillor Sandra Hanmer (City of Waterloo), Trevor Tamlin, Ilidia Sa Melo (Township of Woolwich), Councillor
Sue Foxton (Region of Waterloo), Amy Harron, (Township of Wellesley), Robyn Jackson, Michelle Adams (City
of Kitchener)
Regrets:
Heather Clark Harris, Janis McKenzie (City of Kitchener), Jolene MacDonald, Tamara Bell
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Approval of April Minutes and May agenda
Brenda motioned to accept May agenda; Paula seconded; All in favour.
Carrie motioned to accept April minutes; Donna seconded; All in favour.
3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interests
None
4. Waterloo Park Circuit, Kelly Harrington, Cory Blaquiere, Andrea Bazler
The City of Waterloo has commenced the Park Circuit project. This is a trail loop around Waterloo Park West.
It is a recommendation of the Waterloo Park Master Plan 2009. The Park Circuit will be in Waterloo
Park West. It will connect to existing paths in Waterloo Park East.
Work is currently being done on the concept design of the Park Circuit. It will improve connections to
surrounding streets and access to Laurel Creek. The surfaces will be concrete and asphalt in the open areas
(3m wide) and limestone screenings in the natural areas (1.5m wide). It will be designed to have longitudinal
slopes of 5% or less wherever possible. Cross slopes are being proposed at 2% or less. Construction is
planned to start this year.
There will be a public event/Open House in Waterloo Park on June 9, 2022, from 4-8 p.m. at the harvest table.
(https://www.engagewr.ca/waterloo-park-circuit)
Questions or Comments
• Is the entrance, shown on the drawing, for cars or pedestrians? The entrance off Father David Bauer
will have a new pedestrian entry and upgraded parking lot.
• What is limestone screening?A compacted gravel surface like the hard gravel paths you see in wooded
areas water can drain through it and it is thought to be less impactful on the environment.
• What are the implications of a limestone screening path for a wheelchair or walker? On the flat areas
where the gravel is compacted there should be no issues. In wooded areas, with grading and slopes, it
may cause an issue for someone in a wheelchair. They will try to reduce slopes where possible, it was
noted that some areas in the wooded sections may not be accessible. Staff are only allowed to remove
a certain number of trees, so the path in the wooded area is narrower and needs to be permeable.
• What snow clearing will be done on the circuit? The asphalt and concrete areas will be cleared, any
areas that are limestone screening will not be cleared.
• Are there wayfinding signs for people with visual impairments? Way finding sings are a separate
project, once the first stage of the construction is done signage will be included. The signage will be the
new signage that GRAAC has seen.
• Would someone who is visually impaired and uses a cane be able to use the section of trail that is
comprised of limestone screening? Carrie noted she always walks on the right side of a trail with her
cane on the edge, she noted that if the limestone and surrounding areas are all the same colour that
would present a problem. It was noted that in the wooded area with the dark soil next to the path there
should be contrast but staff were unsure of the area near the creek. This can be investigated as the
project is still in the concept stage.
• Is there a handrail on the path near the creek so visually impaired people do not go off the trail and into
the creek? It was noted that the creek is very long, and a handrail or fencing would not be practical. It
was noted that extra plantings of low perennials and other low plants could be planted densely to
provide a barrier and they could be mulched with a dark colour mulch to provide contrast.
• It was asked if any branches that are sticking out into the path could be removed. It was noted that
once the area is an official trail the forestry department goes in and checks and clears any branches.
Eby Farm Playground Update
• Kelly noted that the project is moving ahead, and they are close to tendering it.
• They had an event in the park a few weeks ago and there is a lot of excitement about an accessible
playground.
5. City of Waterloo Parking lot resurfacing, Dupont & Station, Christine Tettman
The City of Waterloo will be resurfacing two parking lots and is asking for feedback on the accessible parking
spaces in the drawings that were part of the meeting package.
The parking spaces in the Station lot were examined, the Dupont lot will be looked at, at a future meeting.
It was explained that there are 4 accessible parking spaces being installed in the Station lot.
Questions or Comments
• How many accessible spots are in the lot? There are 4 and the regulation was used when calculating
spaces.
• Are there flush curbs when someone leaves a vehicle to access the sidewalk on Regina Street South?
It was stated that on the current drawing, there is a curb between the parking lot and the sidewalk. The
dangers of using an active driveway to reach the sidewalk were stated.
• Amy noted that if someone is exiting a rear entry vehicle in the spots near the driveway, they would be
backing off the vehicle into the driveway. Concern was expressed about the speed cars would be
entering the driveway. Christine explained that the driveway was not street level.
• Will the spaces on Gillen Street connect to the Spurline trail or is the caboose still there? The railway
caboose is still there. It was noted that it would be good to have a connection from the parking lot to the
trail.
• Why are there little islands in the parking lots, is there a reason, they are a trip hazard? It was stated
that they are usually added to parking lots as a landscaping feature and have trees on them, it was
noted that there are none of this type of island in this parking lot. It was also stated that the islands can
be for pedestrians to stand on for safety.
• For the parking by Regina Street there is no exit onto Erb St.? There is no exit onto Erb Street.
• What if someone wants to park in this lot and go to the Button Factory? The person would have to
cross the street. Christine noted that there is a signaled crossing at the Spurline trail.
• Should 2 accessible spaces be moved closer to Gillen Street? There is concern with moving the spots
to the back of the lot due to the railway track and the lack of an accessible crossing due to the rail line.
Christine noted if the city makes adjustment to curb could they use sidewalk to go down to trail
• Should the 2 smaller spaces be moved?Are there any advantages of not having the spaces all
together? Christine stated the advantage of keeping them together is the pathways of access and
suggested it may be best to keep them together, she suggested that one small space could be in the
southwest corner and one in the northwest corner.
• Carrie felt the northwest corner may be a better option if there is a connection to the sidewalk.
• For the small spots for a van with a side entrance is it going to be hard to drive into the spots? Christine
stated there is enough space for a turning radius.
• Sue stated that if a spot is moved to the northwest corner a parking space may be lost from the parking
lot, but if the northwest is the safest and best place for an accessible parking space it should be done.
Christine summarized her takeaways:
• One small space moves to the northwest corner
• One remains in the southwest corner
• Curbs to be removed for level access
• GRAAC would like an accessible space on the east side at the back of the lot to work with access
points to get to 55 Erb St.
• Christine would like to attend the GRAAC June meeting to talk about the Dupont lot.
6. BREAK
7. City of Waterloo Election Accessibility Plan, Kevin Gerlach, Julie Scott
Each Voting Place shall be accessible to everyone in the community and all voters shall have safe access to
the voting location. Additional measures will be undertaken where it is determined a location does not meet
our expectations (hiring additional staff or repairing ramps if needed, etc.). Measures will be put in place to
ensure voters can vote as independently as they wish or seek assistance from election staff trained in assisting
voters.
Tools will be identified and used to increase voter accessibility, this may include technology solutions and
physical tools. Feedback from this committee and the IIARE team is critical throughout the election planning
and post election. Members will be invited to test equipment to provide advice, best practices, and practical
end user experience feedback.
Accessibility Plan will be shared with this committee and the HARE team for comment. Final Plan shall be
posted online and provided to Candidates. Candidates shall also be provided with the City of Waterloo/City of
Kitchener Customer Service and Duty to Accommodate Training brochure. All election staff will receive specific
training regarding assisting voters and specific staff will be trained for the Waterloo City Centre audio ballot
marker and Language Line service. This committee and the HARE team will be invited to test equipment and
provide feedback to guide best practice and usage guides. Post-election feedback will be sought leading up to
the post-election report
Questions or Comments
• Have you thought about putting candidates' pictures beside their names on the voting forms or posters
with photos? It would be helpful for people with developmental disabilities who may recognize a face
but not be able to remember a name. Julie stated it has been raised in the past as a concern and it
cannot be done as they have had issues at the polls with people only voting for someone of a certain
race or gender. They are talking about what can be done to assist people and have discussed what
other resources could be provided for a person to access. The election process is prescribed, but she
will take this request away to look at options if this type of assistance is requested.
• Some people have environmental disabilities with hand sanitizer that are debilitating, could a process
be put in place that they could use an alternate entrance? Julie noted that they have had an issue with
Sharpie markers in the past and noted that there is mail in ballot options as well they are looking at
scent free product options.
• Has online voting been considered? Julie stated they have received Council direction not to pursue
online voting until there is a national security standard in place. Sue stated that all the townships have
been going electronic with both online voting and phone voting and it is working well for them.
• Will there be audio ballot accessibility at all voting stations or only City Hall? Julie noted that there will
be audio ballot marking machines. ASL interpretation will be at City Hall and may be added to advance
voting dates, but they are not sure which ones yet.
• Carrie asked that it be made clear that people needing audio ballot marking need to go to City Hall. It
will be on the voter registration cards and in advertising. It was noted that all staff at voting stations are
trained to help anyone who may need assistance.
• Julie stated that the ASL interpretation is a pilot for the city, and they are hoping to roll it out for
everyday support.
• Julie thanked the committee for their input and noted they will be reaching out to the committee again in
the near future.
8. Built Environment Sub-Committee Updates, Paula Saunders
• Paula and Lolita went out to a site on Paulander where a group was given a Love My Hood grant for an
accessible garden. They met with staff from the condo and the police who are going to be doing the
carpentry for the project. The location is not ideal but there is a bit of an asphalt pathway. The group
only have $10,000 in grant money some of it is for education and celebration so there is not a lot of
money to put into accessibility. The group have agreed to put in longer narrow gardens on each side of
the asphalt and hope to be done in June.
• Paula and Amy did an inspection of the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex and are going back on
May 27, 2022, for another look around. They will provide a report when it is finished, it was noted that
they need to move all the soap dispensers.
• Paula asked to discuss the audits being done by a company that was hired by staff at Waterloo to
review facilities. It was asked if GRAAC should review the audits that were done by the external
company and if GRAAC should be involved. She noted that previous audits GRAAC had worked that
the professionals and they taught each other things, but this time GRAAC was left out.
• Paula noted that as chair she will do site visits if the committee want them done but she did not want to
read hundreds or pages of reports. It was asked if GRAAC go back and look at the sites of if they do
not give input because of the consultant. Sandra asked if there was a way to prioritize the facilities.
• It was stated that if GRAAC goes out and looks at facilities they need to be connected with staff who
can check or add to the report that has already been done.
• Paula and Amy will finish he facilities they have already booked and then decide. Brenda offered to go
through the reports and do a summary. Amy noted that the inspections do not have to be done for the
end of June. If Brenda wants to help with the inspections, Amy stated they could compensate Brenda
for Mobility Plus. Paula is going to think about the inspections for the time being.
9. Committee Updates
There were no updates to report.
10. Councillor Reports
Regional Councillor Sue Foxton — Encouraged the members of GRAAC to bring issues and items missing
from the act to the people running for provincial election.
11. Co-chair/Staff Reports
Waterloo Region - Melanie Garbarz
• No big updates, after the last meeting Kevin Marshall from Active Transportation had a follow up
meeting with Brenda and Carrie, changes will be made to the Terms of Reference (TOR).
• The TOR was updated to include scooters and mobility devices as part of Active transportation.
• GRAAC members can apply to be on Active Transportation committees.
City of Waterloo —Amy Ross
• Nest week is National Accessibility Week, there will be online activities. Amy will send the list of
activities and workshops to the members.
City of Kitchener - Lolita Paroski
• No updates
North Dumfries —Ashley Sage
• No updates
Wellesley - Amy Harron
• No updates
Co-Chair Update
• Brenda attended the Region's Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan Upstream Fund meeting. There is
$2.1 million earmarked toward supporting groups affected by colonization or racism, they are currently
looking at how they will decide funding and that the process will be. She asked the members to think
about how to make the process accessible for everyone and noted that there are a lot of people who
may have intersections with racism and colonization.
• A survey has been launched by the Region of Waterloo on community safety and wellbeing and
members could use this to comment on the upstream funding.
h_ttps://www.engagewr.ca/communitysafetywellbeing/survey tools/upstream-fund-survey)
• The members were encouraged to comment on the process to distribute funds and how to apply for
funding. Feedback would be needed before the next GRAAC meeting and members would be
participating as an individual.
• There was a discussion about services and the organizations/community groups who provide them.
• It was noted that some community groups that are looking for funding need funding to maintain staff to
keep programs running.
• Teresa suggested Brenda reach out to Jolene
• The members were reminded that GRAAC breaks for the summer and do not meet in July and August.
The next meeting is June 23, 2022.
The meeting adjourned at 3:59 p.m.