HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC-2010-06-24
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
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Thursday June 24, 2010
Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room
PRESENT:
Sharon Ward-Zeller (Co-Chair), Taposhi Batabyal (Co-Chair), Kurt
Schneider, Ken Parker, Amy Ross, Myron Steinman, Gord Cummer, Anthony
Cashin, Sharon Giles, Paula Saunders, Mike Begin, Councillor Kelly Galloway,
Councillor Jane Mitchell, Lesley Roach (ASL Interpreter), Vanessa Lopak (Staff),
Pam Albrecht (Staff), Johanna Ellis (Recorder)
REGRETS (MEMBERS):
Gail Brunsdon
REGRETS (OTHERS):
Darryl Denny, Rik Louwagie, Val Hummel
ABSENT:
GUESTS:
Sharen Robertson (GRT), Blair Allen (GRT), Ann Derry (Region of
Waterloo)
1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS:
Sharon welcomed everyone and gave a quick refresher on meeting
etiquette. Here are a few of the tips Sharon mentioned:
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Rules of order
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Address the chair(person) before speaking
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Never interrupt when someone else is talking
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Reminded members that the meeting was being recorded (audio
recording)
2.0 APPROVAL OF MAY MINUTES AND JUNE AGENDA:
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Moved by Ken Parker, seconded by Anthony Cashin to approve the
May minutes/carried
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Moved by Sharon Giles, seconded by Gord Cummer to approve the
June agenda/carried
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Chair was passed over to Sharon Giles
3.0 TRANSPORTATION: Chair: Sharon Giles, Vice Chair: Amy Ross
Bus stop accessibility, Sharen Robinson - GRT
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Sharon introduced Sharen Robinson
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Last summer a bus stop audit review was conducted across the
Region (Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Elmira) in all areas
except for construction zones.
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Combined accessibility and any upgrades required will be subject to
own internal planning audit.
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Intention of information gathering was for both GRT and Grand River
Mobility Plus to have information at hand to communicate with
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customers and to let them know which stops are accessible along with
transfer points.
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Mobility Plus is not quite ready for this stage yet.
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The surveyors took pictures of physical location and checked them for
accessible features against a list which had information from the
Easter Seal society.
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The other check list for planning was also upgraded.
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Planning students from the University of Waterloo were involved. They
have awareness of accessibility through their program at the university.
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There were three (3) pictures taken from each stop to assist GRT staff
in answering questions from customers calling in and reporting any
damage at these stops, such as vandalism, for example.
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The audit included signage but not for accessibility purposes. There
are currently no standards for accessibility signage in place but an
audit will be completed once standards are in place.
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Questions regarding signs included the height of information pole.
Robinson said that this will also be looked at during the later audit
along with the size of font, colour and so forth. Another question
concerned whether the benches situated in the shelters interfere with
wheelchair turning circles, and, if so, whether they can be relatively
easily moved.
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Currently planning is using data-base now currently used for IXpress
but information in the database will be used in future planning. Blair
Allen is the primary contact for data base.
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Future audits will be done in the summer months, rather than in the
winter to assist in keeping database up to date.
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GRT services (such as Mobility Plus) have certainly improved since the
days of Project Lift and Cambridge Mobility, Robinson said. Mobility
Plus provides shuttle services through K-W and Cambridge.
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Ken Parker questioned why bus schedules and how they are tucked
away in bus shelters where wheelchairs cannot access them. Sharen
Robinson said she will take this concern to Pattinson (which maintains
the shelters under an advertising agreement with the region) and see if
the schedules can be moved outside. Sharon also suggested that
people feel free call in any schedules in bus shelters that are not
accessible.
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Anthony Cashin commented that the bus shelter at the IXpress
terminals are not all the same. Some have yellow strips and are open
(easy to see) for persons with disabilities. Other shelters are closed
and partly walled off with no yellow strips. He added that the benches
need regular inspection, especially since some of them have shifted in
place and have 3 inch bolts (Courtland-Stirling area) which are a
tripping hazard.
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A further question regarded bus stop drop off locations and whether
there is smooth and easy access to the sidewalk for people using
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wheelchairs. Robinson explained that this is being looked into, to
include, landing pads and easements (concrete) to the sidewalks.
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At the bus stop, at Cambridge Centre, reviewed a couple of years ago
by the transportation subcommittee. There was no easy access off the
landing pad to the mall entrance without a ten-minute detour. Sharen
Robinson will look into this to check that accessibility improvements
have been made since.
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The bus stop at near the VIA rail bus station (Weber St, Kitchener)
does not feel safe. There is no accessible bus shelter and
considerably noisy with traffic. There is also no Sunday service.
Sharen Robinson explained that the stop is in a very tight space
currently.
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Councillor Mitchell noted that an expansion of both Victoria and Weber
Streets is being planned at that intersection, since it is currently too
narrow to accommodate the traffic on it, and will ask regional planning
staff to take a look at this.
The chairship was then passed over to Amy Ross by Sharon Giles.
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Sharon Giles has concerns with time issues between Mobility Plus and
GRT. (such as convenience of calling and booking to meet timelines).
Sharen Robinson indicated GRT will be implementing a travel training
program to assist in educating everyone on how to take the conventional
transit.
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Sharon Giles commented that the blue and gold bus stop signs are very
hard to see. Also, the previous telerider system was easy to use and
connected easily as well. The new Easy-go system is not user friendly.
Blair Allen commented that dialing the Easy-go system does work better
now. Directions on how to use the system is available on the Region’s
(GRT) website.
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Sharon Ward-Zeller commented that she would like GRT to look into
making the audio-visual announcements on buses more audible.
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Anthony Cashin noted that deaf people cannot use a telephone on the
street. This should be addressed to allow for access on smartphones
such as blackberries. Allen replied that GRT is trying to work on this. This
summer GRT staff will be launching and releasing an application to the
google website.
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Kurt Schneider asked if territorial coverage is the same for GRT and
Mobility Plus. Sharen Robinson explained that GRT covers a larger area
and now includes service to Elmira. A mobility service known as Kiwanis
Transit is available to Woolwich and Wellesley townships and is based in
Elmira.
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Sharon Giles thanked Sharen Robinson and Blair Allen and reminded
members that they are welcome to email Robison or Allen with any further
questions or comments, with a copy to the chairs at:
ablair@region.waterloo.on.ca or rsharen@region.waterloo.on.ca
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Sharon Ward-Zeller took back the chairship. Myron Steinman entered the
meeting.
4.0REGION OF WATERLOO TELEPHONE STUDY:
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Ann Derry from the Region of Waterloo informed the committee that the
Region has hired a consultant to conduct a study on how citizens contact
the Region.
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The number one channel used is the telephone.
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Frustrations around reaching people at the Region (with voicemail,
telephone extensions, and lack of clarity over which person is responsible
for what area of service).
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The Region is looking on how to improve telephone services from a
citizen’s point of view.
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Consultants will be doing site visits and one on one interviews with front
line staff, as well as focus groups and surveys.
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This is a large study that requires public input and feedback about
experiences when calling or emailing the Region.
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Vanessa Lopak had previously sent out an email to ask if committee
members wanted to be part of the study in an online survey or focus
group.
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Derry said that the consultants are expected to have information collected
late July or early August.
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The Region will then consider a variety of improvement options supplied
by the consultants, with a report to senior staff by the end of August to
early September.
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GRAAC members were encouraged to participate by filling out the online
survey, or participating in a focus group and to leave contact information
with Vanessa to forward to the consultant.
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Anthony Cashin suggested that the Region use Textnet. Options with
Textnet include the ability to leave messages.
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Myron Steinman asked if there could be a literacy link via telephone book
especially for those for whom English is a second language.
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It was recommended that the consultants hold their focus groups with
accessibility in mind.
5.0 CO-CHAIR REPORT:
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July GRAAC meeting is cancelled.
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Attempts are under way to invite the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario
and Waterloo Region Police Services to the August meeting, and
therefore attendance is very important.
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New consolidated court house planned for Duke and Frederick Streets in
Kitchener held its official ground breaking. It is being built to LEED silver
standards, and to the highest accessibility standards and will include five
barrier-free courtrooms, witness stands, jury boxes and spectator
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positions in all courtrooms, large font display high-contrast plasma
screens for those with vision loss and full ASL support.
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Anthony Cashin attended the opening and in an interview with CTV said
that he was very pleased that all AODA standards, especially for the deaf
and hard of hearing, are being followed.
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Members were reminded once again of the rules of order, that anyone
who wishes to speak should wait until they are recognized by the chair,
and should refrain from interrupting another speaker.
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Vanessa said in a Region of Waterloo accessibility update that the first
week in June is ability awareness week and the Region has held a series
of four sessions involving customer service for persons with disabilities,
including children and youth, and those with invisible disabilities at various
Regional sites. The sessions were moderated by Sharon Ward-Zeller and
included participation by Gail Brunsdon.
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Members were also reminded of the open house for the uptown Waterloo
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streetscape on Tuesday June 29 at Waterloo City Hall.
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Amy Ross had forwarded the co-chairs a report on the economic impact of
increased accessibility in Ontario. The report concluded that diversity and
inclusion results in both economic growth and innovation, and citizens with
disabilities have valuable contributions to make to society. The link to this
highly recommended report will be forwarded to all members.
6.0 COUNCILLOR’S REPORT(S):
6.1Councillor Kelly Galloway:
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Comprehensive plan for the south side of Kitchener public meeting
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(June 24, 2010) at the Williamsburg Community Centre.
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Tuesday June 29,2010 KPL public meeting for the new construction
including the parking garage.
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City of Kitchener communications brought forward their new
community strategy (including facebook, twitter, you tube).
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Sharon Giles asked whom to contact regarding sidewalk issues in the
city, adding that sidewalk and curb accessibility is noticeably better in
the City of Kitchener as opposed to Waterloo. Councillor Galloway
suggested calling the local ward councillor or engineering for any
questions regarding Kitchener.
Councillor Jane Mitchell:
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The Region’s licensing and regulatory committee met Wednesday
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June 23. Cab drivers asked for an 8% increase due to the HST.
They were given 2%. Staff and council found this fair since drivers had
already requested and received an increases a few years ago due to
the increased costs of fuel, but when fuel prices came down, the
increase stayed in place.
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The new Regional Museum is now open. It is great and accessible but
there are still a few problems that are being looked into and fixed.
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The Region approved its transit master plan. More emphasis on
pedestrians, cyclists.
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Ground breaking of court house (see previous report on accessibility of
the building).
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A few more licenses will be going out to City Cab and Waterloo Taxi
within the next couple of months for wheelchair accessible taxis, which
is good news for persons with disabilities.
7.0 ADJOURNMENT:
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Motion to adjourn by Ken Parker, carried
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NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Thursday August 26, 2010 from 1:30 – 4:00
p.m. in the Conestoga Room, 200 King St W, Kitchener. Please forward
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agenda items to co-chairs by August 12, 2010.
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