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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2023-10-26 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee Date: Thursday, October 26, 2023 Location: Zoom Meeting Present: Carrie Speers, Tamara Cooper, Heather Clark-Harris (Co-Chair), Councillor Sandra Hanmer (City of Waterloo), Alyssa Clelland, Amy Ross (City of Waterloo), Candice Greenley (Township of Wilmot), Christine Nishiwaki, Janis McKenzie (City of Kitchener), Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener), Teresa McQuillin (Co-Chair), Councillor Chantal Huinink (Region of Waterloo), Jolene MacDonald, Farshid Sadatsharifi, Robyn Jackson, Ashley Sage (Township of North Dumfries), Amy Harron (Township of Wellesley), Katherine Waybrant, Alex Smyth (Township of Woolwich), Paula Saunders, Jenny Walker (Region of Waterloo) Regrets: Trevor Tamlin, Councillor Jason Deneault (City of Kitchener), Sarah Cunneyworth, Heather Gillespie, Emily Moore (Region of Waterloo) 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Approval of September Minutes and October Agenda Heather motioned to accept October agenda; Carrie seconded; All in favour. Robyn motioned to accept September minutes; Christine seconded; All in favour. 3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interests None 4. City of Waterloo/City of Kitchener Facility Accessibility Designs The Facility Accessibility Design Standards (FADS) is a technical design document used by City of London staff to enhance accessibility beyond the minimal requirements of the Ontario Building Code (OBC). FADS is used when planning and designing municipal facilities as an aid to remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. Originally introduced in 2001, standards reflect extensive research on accessible and inclusive environments that included consultation with organizations such as the Canadian Hearing Society, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Community Living London, Learning Disabilities Association, Ontario March of Dimes and Thames Valley Children's Centre. Going beyond existing accessibility regulations, standards and guidelines, FADS incorporates the principles of "universal design" that benefit people of all ages and abilities. This approach continues to earn London praise as being on the leading edge in building an accessible community. Consistency is key and this is the reason City of Kitchener and City of Waterloo are working together to implement their own Facility Accessibility Design Standards. Implementation of the City of Kitchener/City of Waterloo's Facility Accessibility Design Standards will make newly constructed and/or renovated facilities accessible to people of all ranges of physical and sensory ability. First GRAAC engagement session is scheduled on Friday, November 17th at Stanley Park Community Centre. There will be a morning and afternoon session. Please email if you cannot attend with any feedback. Comments/Feedback • Feedback sessions, can they be sent out as scheduling request to the committee—Amy will send out the request • Any feedback will be helpful • Ceiling Lift as an example, suggested to be in FADS • Tactile Guidance system should be part of the FADS • Based on lived experience, going beyond AODA standards is the idea behind FADS • Urinals added to the Universal Washroom to avoid potential issues with just a toilet. • Air quality standards included. • Outside sidewalk tactile guides — no standards • Buttons to open/shut the washroom doors need to better indicate which is which. • Thought be given to the parking lot design regarding snow removal in order not to utilize accessible parking spots to keep snow removal. • Lighting, specifically, fluorescent lighting standards • Proper signage at eye level • Will this document be provided to private businesses as well? Can't mandate, but will be able to access on city websites • Is there any accountability? City of Kitchener and City of Waterloo will follow the FADS and requirements will be part of the tender process but cannot mandate private businesses. The cities want to do it right the first time so that audits and going back and fixing will no longer be an issue. • Looking forward to working with the City of London guidelines and hopefully making things easier for everyone • Training video is a thought for the future explaining the details of the FADS manual. • New builds and retrofits need to meet the Ontario Building Code and the AODA, Design of Public Spaces standards. 5. BREAK 6. City of Waterloo, Universal Washrooms, City Hall & Button Factory Button Factory • Coat Hook (Barrier free) — install at a height of 965 mm measured from centre of hook to top of finished floor • Shelf(Barrier free) — install at height of 1100m from top of shelf to top of finished floor • Straight grab bar (600mm long complete with escutcheons) — install aligned with the centre line of the toilet at a maximum height of 920mm from the centre line of the grab bar to the top of the finished floor/minimum height of 840mm from the centreline of the grab bar to the top of finished floor. Wall mount and provide a clearance of 40mm between grab bar and wall surface. • L-shaped grab bar (750mmby 750mm) complete with escutcheons) —wall mount at 150mm from vertical bar outside edge to edge of toilet and at a maximum height of 750mm from centre line of horizontal grab bar to top of existing floor. • Fixed frame mirror (610mm W x 1220mm H) — install at 950mm from underside of mirror to top of finished floor to comply with barrier-free requirements. • Wall mounted electric hand dryer— install at 950mm from underside of hand dryer to the top of finished floor. Locate within 610mm horizontally from the edge of the lavatory. Supply and install one (1) electric hand dryer in the universal washroom. • Wall mounted barrier free lavatory with automatic faucet and knee shroud to conceal piping. Lavatory to be mounted not more than 865mm from top of surface to finished floor. • Double roll toilet tissue dispenser at barrier free toilet locations. Tissue dispenser to be not more than 300mm in front of toilet seat and not less than 600mm from finished floor. • Wall mounted sanitary napkin disposal bin — install 600mm from top of bin to top of finished floor. • Wall mounted soap dispenser— mount at 950mm to underside from finished floor. Locate on wall within 500mm from front edge of lavatory. • Wall mounted adult motorized adjustable folding change table. Provide 19mm thick continuous plywood backing and wood framing reinforcement concealed within partition to support change table frame. Provide electrical connection. • Floor mounted barrier free water closet with automatic flushing. • Automatic emergency panic button and wall mounted emergency sign that contains the words "in the event of an emergency push emergency button or panic strip and audible and visual will activate" mount above the emergency push button. Comments/Feedback • What happens if space is rented out? Will not be accessible to the first floor? No plan for a second universal washroom right now. • Barrier free on the first floor but it has issues • Access to the building and elevator are an issue so accessing the washroom is not possible • Garbage can near the change table important • Tactile guidance strips to guide to the bathroom will be added in the bathrooms and in the corridors to the bathroom • Tactile map on the door • Committee pleased with the design City Hall • Oat hook (Barrier free) — install at height of 965mm measured from centre of the hook to top of finished floor. • Wall mounted soap dispenser— mount at 950mm to underside from finished floor. Locate on wall within 500mm from front edge of lavatory. • Fixed frame mirror (610mm W x 1220mm H) — install at 950mm from underside of mirror to top of finished floor to comply with barrier free requirements. • Wall mounted electric dryer— install at 950mm from underside of hand dryer to top of finished floor. Locate within 610mm horizontally from the edge of the lavatory. • Double roll toilet tissue dispenser at barrier free toilet locations. Tissue dispenser to be not more than 300mm in front of toilet seat and not less than 600mm from finished floor. • Wall mounted sanitary napkin disposal bin — install 600mm from top of bin to top of finished floor. • Wall mounted adult motorized adjustable folding change table. Provide support strapping as required to support change table frame. • Drinking fountain/water bottle filler • Wall mounted barrier free lavatory with automatic faucet and knee shroud to conceal piping. Lavatory to be mounted not more than 865mm from top of surface to finished floor. • Floor mounted barrier-free water closet with automatic flushing. • Automatic emergency panic button and wall mounted emergency sign that contains the words "in the event of an emergency push emergency button or panic strip and audible and visual will activate" mount above the emergency push button. • Straight grab bar (600mm long complete with escutcheons) — install aligned with the centre line of the toilet at a maximum height of 920mm from the centre line of the grab bar to the finished floor/minimum height of 840mm from the centre line of the grab bar to the top of the finished floor. Wall mount and provide a clearance of 40mm between grab bar and wall surface. • L-shaped grab bar (750mm by 750mm complete with escutcheons) —wall mount at 150mm from vertical bar outside edge to edge of toilet and at maximum height of 1 00m from top of shelf to top of finished floor. • Shelf(Barrier free) — install at maximum height of 11 00m from top of shelf to top of finished floor. Comments/Feedback • 'Would the wave for operating be accessible to someone who doesn't have use of their arms —yes, they just need to be close to the unit itself • Ceiling lift in the universal bathrooms are a big deal —they will be included — is it an XY track? Yes • Tactile guidance strips to guide to the bathroom will be added in the bathrooms and in the corridors to the bathroom • Lock button should be different from open button • Recessed paper towel holder would be better, garbage cans seem to wander • Reach out to Built committee for an audit before things are finalized • Second garbage can it be located near the change table? Yes • Access off Regina Street? Open all the time? Not open 24 hours but more then regular city hall hours, nothing has been set yet. Try to be consistent with the hours for autonomous bathroom. • Tactile map located on the door • Committee pleased with the design 7. Built Environment Sub-Committee Updates City of Kitchener • Centre in the Square seating o Accessible washrooms well done - utilized with grant money. o Another grant has been issued to replace all the seating in the theatre. 23 additional accessible spots to be included with companion seating, over and above what is required. City of Waterloo • Eby Farms Playground o Some concerns with the plans and structures, waiting to hear back on any changes made • Eastbridge Green Park Spray Pad, Blue Beech Link Park Spray Pad o Height of the buttons to get started o Washrooms o Sidewalks around splashpads, waiting to hear back on any changes • Waterloo Park West playground o Shared comments on preliminary plans, waiting to hear back • Waterloo Square water fountain o Accessible from several different sides o Two levels, one higher, one lower o Colour contrast needed for water fountain o Pet bowl included with fountain o A lot of great features • Alexandra Park o Identified quite a few issues, follow up meeting November 7th with staff o Nice quiet spaces o Fixed chairs but were white o Nothing on the playground accessible • Walk about with the mayor o Tried to book with mayor and councillors, been postponed now until the spring • Tactile at outdoor washroom o Great ideas, but accessing them not ideal o Decision tree might be helpful o Need to be able to find from both sides coming from both Waterloo and Kitchener o Waiting on a date for the actual washroom • Tactile sign at Waterloo Park o Sign was not oriented properly o Material used was very hot to the touch o Things were peeling off the sign, may be heat related or vandalism o Smaller map maybe better o Bike racks installed right on the sidewalk • Crematorium update o Steep driveway o Ramp redo to make it easier for people to get to the reception area o Tactile strips to be installed leading towards the entrance 8. Councillor Reports Councillor Sandra Hanmer Committee night— November 6, 2023 9. Co-chair/Staff Reports Amy Ross, City of Waterloo • New snow clearing initiative — intake closes on Monday, half the spots are full • Working with the municipal museum at Conestoga Mall — better user experience • Developing multi year accessibility plan in the works — looking for input on the 21s' and 28th of November— invitations to be sent Lolita Paroski, City of Kitchener Committee night— November 7, 2023 Jenny Walker, Region of Waterloo November 22, 2023, for the mobility plus form redesign input— invitation to be sent Please send regrets to Janis McKenzie — ianis.mckenzieakitchener.ca Next Regular Meeting — November 23, 2023, at 1:30pm, ZOOM.