HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC-2010-11-25
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
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Thursday November 25, 2010 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room
PRESENT:
Taposhi Batabyal (Co-Chair), Sharon Ward-Zeller (Co-Chair), Anthony Cashin, Sharon
Giles, Gordon Cummer, Kurt Schneider, Gail Brunsdon, Mike Begin, Ken Parker, Interpreters; Karen
Panchaud & Leslie Roach, , Vanessa Lopak, Val Hummel, Pam Albrecht, Johanna Ellis (Recorder)
REGRETS (MEMBERS):
Saul Herzog, Amy Ross, Paula Saunders
REGRETS (OTHERS):
Councillor Kelly Galloway, Councillor Jane Mitchell, Deb Bergey, Rik
Louwagie, Darryl Denny
1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Sharon Ward-Zeller welcomed everyone to the November meeting and invited everyone to
introduce themselves.
2.0 APPROVAL OF OCTOBER MINUTES AND REVIEW OF NOVEMBER AGENDA
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Motion to approve October minutes by Gail Brunsdon, seconded by Ken Parker.
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Motion by Ken Parker to approve November agenda, seconded by Sharon Giles.
3.0 RULES OF ORDER – Declarations of Pecuniary Interest
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No conflicts of interest were declared.
4.0 CO-CHAIR REPORT
Sharon Ward-Zeller
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Myron Steinman has resigned from GRAAC in order to pursue other opportunities.
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Members were encouraged to bring other names forward to fill this vacancy.
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December meeting is the third Thursday of December. If you wish, please bring some food
to share to celebrate the holiday season.
5.0 NEW BUSINESS
5.1 Kitchener Waterloo Joint Annual Draft Accessibility Plan
Pam Albrecht
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Pam presented a draft of the Joint Annual Accessibility Plan for the City of Kitchener and the
City of Waterloo.
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The first section of the Plan provides background on the legislation that requires the
development of an Accessibility Plan, as well as information on GRAAC’s role in the process.
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The second section of the Plan provides updates on the activities committed to in 2010.
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It was noted that the plan of activities focuses on initiatives that are being undertaken in both
Kitchener and Waterloo.
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There was discussion in regards to the introduction and status updates sections of the Plan.
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It was noted that the information on the AODA should reflect the Ministry’s intent to integrate
portions of the Accessible Built Environment Standard into the Ontario Building Code.
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It was also noted that there may be opportunities for the Cities and the Region to share
information and resources in the implementation of their respective Plans
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Staff noted that this is being done.
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It was noted that the Canadian Hearing Society would be an excellent resource when looking
at alternatives to ASL interpreting.
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The third section of the Plan outlines the Plan of Activities for 2011.
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Pam encouraged the committee to ask questions and to share comments and ideas. Input
on resources that could be drawn from or thoughts on what the City should consider when
implementing the activities would also be welcome.
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There was further discussion in regards to the 2011 Plan of Activities
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Some concerns were raised about waiting for the standards to come into force before acting
on barriers in those areas. There is a hope that Municipalities will strive for higher standards
than some of what has been outlined in the draft regulations.
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Questions were raised about the accessibility audit and the progress that has been made.
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It was noted that an update on completed work will be provided at the next GRAAC meeting.
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Staff will also look for ways of incorporating more information on worth that has been
completed into the Plan.
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It was noted that at this time, Kitchener and Waterloo Council meetings are televised, but
Regional Council meetings are not. Staff will further investigate if televising Regional Council
meetings is being pursued.
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A question was raised in regards to community trails.
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It was noted that in Kitchener, accessibility of trails is being addressed as part of the
Community Trails Master Plan.
*Break*
6. COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
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No Councillor’s were able to attend this meeting
7.0 TRANSPORTATION
Chair: Sharon Giles
7.1 Accessible Parking
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Pam presented information on accessible parking in Downtown Kitchener and Uptown
Waterloo.
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Transportation staff in both Cities were consulted to compile the information.
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For the purposes of this discussion, Downtown Kitchener is defined as the area bounded by
Francis, Charles, Cedar and Duke Streets.
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There are 36 designated spaces within this area. Fourteen spaces are in outdoor lots, 20
spaces are in parking garages, 2 spots are on the street, adjacent to City Hall (1 on Young
Street, 1 on College Street).
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Payment is required in all indoor and outdoor lots. Street parking is free for 2 hours.
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Parking information is available on the City of Kitchener website.
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For the purposes of this discussion, Uptown Waterloo is defined as the area bounded by Erb,
Caroline, William and Regina Streets.
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There are 5 street parking spaces. All are free of charge.
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2 on Allen Street West, adjacent to the Bauer Lofts, 2 hour time limit
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1 on Regina Street South, adjacent to the Region Building, 30 minute time limit
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1 on Willis Way North, 1 hour time limit
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1 on Willis Way South. 1 hour time limit
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A number of spaces in surface lots with 2 hour time limits
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Waterloo Town Square North – 5 spaces
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Waterloo Town Square South – 11 spaces
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City Centre – 2 spaces
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Uptown Parkade, paid parking, also has a number of spaces
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An interactive Map is available on the City of Waterloo website, denoting the location of
accessibility parking spaces.
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Signage in both Cities should be consistent. Committee members are encouraged to contact
staff if they notice inconsistencies.
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Challenges faced in Kitchener include providing adequate space for street parking spaces.
Most downtown streets are not wide enough to provide the space needed for an accessibility
street parking spot.
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This is a problem that other municipalities have shared as well.
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In regards to policies and practices in other municipalities, the vast majority of municipalities
require payment for parking in locations where all patrons pay.
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The City of Toronto is an exception, where parking is free on streets and in City-operated lots
when an Accessible Parking Permit is displayed.
Discussion, Questions and Answers
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Questions were raised in regards to standards that guide or dictate the percentage of
accessible parking spaces that should be made available
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Standard practice is 2% of the total spaces in areas used by the general public. As standards
and guidelines change over time, parking lots in the City of Kitchener range from 1.5% to
2.5% of the total parking spaces.
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There was further discussion of the requirements outlined in the proposed Accessible Built
Environment Standard.
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The proposed standard includes provision for 2 types of accessible parking spaces. Type A
spaces would be designated for users who require mobility devices, and would have larger
dimensions. Type B would be designated for distance-limited users and would be closer to
the size of standard parking spaces. The standard proposes that 5% of parking, in lots and
on the street, be designated accessible.
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It was noted that the Young Street and College Street parking spaces in Kitchener no longer
provide the sufficient space. The addition of planters along the street has narrowed these
spaces and they are no longer functional as barrier-free parking spaces
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It was noted that the street parking spaces on Willis Way in Waterloo provide sufficient
space, but there are often delivery trucks using these spaces rendering them unavailable to
those who require them.
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While paying for parking in and of itself is not a concern, methods for providing payment are
often not accessible. Meters and pay and display kiosks are often too high for a person
using a wheelchair to reach. In the winter, plowed snow often blocks access to these kiosks.
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It was suggested that meters at the appropriate height be placed next to spaces designated
as barrier-free.
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Some discussion followed regarding how to bring these concerns forward to the Cities.
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There was some concern with relying on the Accessible Built Environment as an
enforcement tool. It may not address concerns with existing infrastructure.
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Interest was expressed in doing an audit of existing parking in the Downtown and Uptown.
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It was agreed that the priority should be placed on making the parking that is designated as
accessible, truly accessible
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ACTION
: Sharon Giles will draft a letter to the Cities outlining GRAAC’s concerns.
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8.0 OTHER BUSINESS
8.1 Region of Waterloo, Strategic Plan Update
Vanessa Lopak
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Manager of Strategic Planning at the Region of Waterloo will attend GRAAC in December to
provide an update on the Regions progress.
*Break*
8.2 GRAAC Self-Evaluation Update
Sharon Ward-Zeller
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The Co-Chairs reviewed all evaluations.
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Comments were positive overall.
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One item of note is that members value fairness in meetings and want to ensure that all
voices are heard.
8.3 Kitchener Transportation Master Plan
John McBride, City of Kitchener
Kate Wills, IBI Group
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In the past, Kitchener has used information made available by the Region as part of their
Transportation Planning process.
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Currently exploring issues that are important to Kitchener residents
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Goal of the Master Plan is to identify where we are going over the next 20 years
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A recognition that due to space limitations and costs, building more and more roads is not
the answer.
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Part of the planning process is to connect with all City Advisory Committees.
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GRAAC members were asked to respond to 2 questions:
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What are the 3 main issues associated with transportation in the City of Kitchener
today?
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What will be the major challenges to the city’s transportation system over the next
20 years?
Comments and Discussion
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Snow removal is an issue for pedestrians in residential areas. If sidewalks are not cleared,
people with wheelchairs and scooters often need to use the road which is dangerous.
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Relying on residents to clear the sidewalks is not working.
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In more commercial areas, snow clearance at curb cuts is often an issue. Plows often leave
a bank at the edge of the curb cut making it impossible to navigate using a mobility device.
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Difficulties with sidewalks change with the seasons. Snow removal in winter, overgrowth of
trees and branches in the summer.
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City needs to plan for walk ability
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Important to maintain existing infrastructure that supports pedestrians, including sidewalks.
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In some places, sidewalks are extremely uneven.
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Bus shelters are needed to protect against rain, snow and sun while waiting for busses.
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Community trails are unpredictable. In some locations, paving ends without warning.
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The curb cuts remain an issue. Newly installed ones function well, they are smooth and
gradual. However, older ones are often quite steep, uneven connection between concrete
and asphalt.
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City needs a clear philosophy on traffic calming in certain areas. Consistency across the city
is as important as traffic volume.
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Staff noted that factors such as volume, speed, accidents and school location are considered
when evaluating the need for traffic calming measures. These measures are implemented in
approximately 2 areas per year.
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Roundabouts create significant difficulties for pedestrians. There is confusion about whether
vehicles or pedestrians have the right of way, making crossing the road quite dangerous. In
addition, people who are blind rely on the sound of traffic stopping and starting to know when
it is safe to cross the road and at a roundabout, there is constant vehicle movement.
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Expansion of the Mobility Plus system is needed.
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While great strides have been made in transportation, it is important that the Cities and the
Region work together toward the same goals.
9.0 ADJOURNMENT
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Motion by Gord Cummer. Meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
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NEXT MEETING: Thursday December 16, 2010, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m., Conestoga Room
200 King St W, Kitchener
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