HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2011-01-24Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
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Thursday, January 24, 2011 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room
PRESENT:
Taposhi Batabyal (Co-Chair), Sharon Ward-Zeller (Co-Chair), Anthony Cashin, Sharon
Giles, Gordon Cummer, Kurt Schneider, Paula Saunders, Mike Begin, Ken Parker, David Kuhn,
Carrie Speers, Amy Ross Interpreter; Karen Panchaud, Councillor Jean Haalboom (ROW),
Councillor Jeff Henry (City of Waterloo), Vanessa Lopak, Val Hummel, Pam Albrecht, Johanna Ellis
(Recorder)
GUESTS:
Rob Trotter, City of Waterloo
REGRETS (MEMBERS):
Saul Herzog
1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Taposhi Batabyal welcomed new members, returning members and new Councillors from
the City of Waterloo and the Region of Waterloo. Round table introductions and all new
faces around the table were given the opportunity to say a little bit about themselves.
2.0 APPROVAL OF DECEMBER MINUTES & JANUARY AGENDA
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Revised copy of the agenda – an extra break was added, all were in favour of the change.
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All were in favour of accepting the December minutes.
3.0 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
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No conflicts of interest were declared.
4.0 CO CHAIRS REPORT
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Went through upcoming agenda items/critical path as follows:
CRITICAL PATH
JANUARY 2011
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Co-Chair election
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Standing Committee Chairs election
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Standing Committee Terms of Reference
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City of Waterloo Strategic Plan input
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GRAAC Workplan
FEBRUARY 2011
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Township of Woolwich Accessibility Plan
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City of Waterloo Museum display cases
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Follow up with Waterloo Region Police Service
MARCH 2011
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Township of North Dumfries Accessibility Plan
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Township of Wellesley Accessibility Plan
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Region of Waterloo Strategic Plan
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Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee Summit – March 30, 2011
APRIL 2011
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Review Integrated Accessibility Standard when released in regulation
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Transportation Standing Committee – Accessible parking issues in Downtown Kitchener and
Uptown Waterloo
JUNE 2011
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Self Evaluation
JULY 2011
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Review Accessible Built Environment Standard when released in regulation
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Consult on City of Waterloo’s accessible playground
SEPTEMBER 2011
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Consult on City of Waterloo’s Uptown Streetscape project
OCTOBER 2011
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Region of Waterloo Accessibility Plan
NOVEMBER 2011
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City of Kitchener and City of Waterloo Joint Accessibility Plan
DECEMBER 2011
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Election update
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Update on Herrington Audit
OVERVIEW
January
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Send updated member list and 2011 meeting schedule with January agenda package
February
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New member orientation – all members are encouraged to attend
September
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Begin GRAAC recruitment
October
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Staff select new members
November
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Councils approve new members
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Incoming members are notified by letter
December
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Last meeting for outgoing members
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Issue schedules of meetings for coming year (staff, co-chair, GRAAC)
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Issue updated GRAAC membership list
5.0 ELECTION OF GRAAC CO-CHAIRS/STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS (Val Hummel)
5.1 Nominations for Co-Chairs:
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Sharon Giles - Acclaimed
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Gordon Cummer - Acclaimed
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Taposhi Batabyal - Declined
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Ken Parker - Declined
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Sharon Ward-Zeller - Declined
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Amy Ross – Declined
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The committee moved on to Sub Committee Chair elections and the above results were
finalized later on in the meeting.
5.2 Nominations for Sub-Committee Chair Transportation (GTSC)
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Sharon Ward-Zeller – Declined
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Mike Begin – Declined
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Sharon Giles – Stood then resigned when acclaimed Co-Chair
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Ken Parker – Declined
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Anthony Cashin – Acclaimed
Nominations for GRAAC Built Environment Standing Committee (GBESC)
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Gordon Cummer – Stood then resigned when acclaimed Co-Chair
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Sharon Ward-Zeller – Declined
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Paula Saunders – Acclaimed
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Ken Parker – Declined
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Taposhi Batabyal – Declined
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Kurt Schneider – Declined
*BREAK*
6.0 NEW BUSINESS
6.1 City of Waterloo Strategic Plan (Rob Trotter)
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Strategic Plan explanation was presented by Power Point presentation.
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The committee took part in an “Expert Choice” exercise which is a decision making software
tool to help make informed choices.
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Questions were asked and the committee submitted choices (remote control).
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Community engagement session will be held February 8. These dates were shared with
the committee at the time of the meeting.
6.2 MAAC Summit Event Update (Vanessa Lopak)
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Get together with other executive accessibility committees, Wednesday March 30 1 – 4:30
p.m. at RIM Park.
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Vanessa will send an email including link for registration for the day. Vanessa can also send
out a paper copy via Canada Post.
6.3 Member Orientation Invitation (Vanessa Lopak)
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Thursday February 3, GRAAC member orientation.
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Vanessa to send out email with details.
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ASL Interpreters are booked.
7.0 BUSINESS ARISING
7.1 Standing Committee Terms of Reference
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Approved by GRAAC.
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This committee can change the Terms of Reference at any time.
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Terms of Reference “Draft” for GTSC and GBESC will be emailed to committee members by
Vanessa.
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Changed the term “sub-committee” to “standing committee”.
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GTSC – Vanessa handed out copies and went over the handout with committee members.
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Sub committees are “project focused”.
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Remove “monitor results (4.4 which does not appear anywhere else)”, moved by Sharon
Ward-Zeller, seconded by Mike Begin, discussion; Sharon Ward-Zeller explained her reason
for requesting the change. The motion was then voted on and “defeated”.
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Sharon Ward-Zeller put forward a motion that 4.4 be added to GBESC Terms of Reference,
seconded by Kurt Schneider, carried.
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Motion to approve GTSC Terms of Reference was put forward by Ken Parker, seconded by
Sharon Ward-Zeller and carried.
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Vanessa went over the Built Environment Terms of Reference handout, with the committee.
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New 4.6 as per previous paragraph. (4.4 in GTSC Terms of Reference)
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Ken Parker put forward a motion to accept GBESC Terms of Reference, seconded by
Sharon Giles, carried.
8.0 ANNOUNCEMENT OF ELECTION RESULTS
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Co-Chairs – Sharon Giles & Gordon Cummer
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GBESC – Paula Saunders
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GTSC – Anthony Cashin
*BREAK*
9.0 OTHER BUSINESS
9.1 GRAAC Annual Work Plan (members were given handouts of Work Plan)
Highlights:
Municipal Planning/Accessibility Plans
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Woolwich – February
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North Dumfries – March
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Wellesley – March
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Region of Waterloo – October
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Cities of Kitchener & Waterloo – November
Strategic Plans
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City of Waterloo – January
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Region of Waterloo – March
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City of Kitchener – May
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Pam presented the background of why we do accessibility plans and strategic plans.
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Staff appreciates GRAAC feedback and noted the importance of feedback.
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Noted importance of GRAAC and staff staying informed regarding AODA legislation.
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This year strategic planning is part of the Municipal process.
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GRAAC will be advising on a number of municipal projects.
** Refer to your copy of the GRAAC Workplan 2011
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Pam was presented with flowers from the committee for all of her hard work and dedication
to GRAAC. Today is her last meeting and she will be missed.
10.0 ADJOURMENT
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Motion to adjourn by Ken Parker
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NEXT MEETING: Thursday February 24, 2011, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m., **Conestoga Room**
200 King St W, Kitchener
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