HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2011-03-24Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
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Thursday, March 24, 2011 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room
PRESENT:
Gordon Cummer (Co-Chair), Sharon Giles(Co-Chair), Sharon Ward-Zeller, Anthony
Cashin, Gail Brunsdon, Kathleen Nessner, Kurt Schneider, Paula Saunders, Mike Begin, Ken
Parker, David Kuhn, Carrie Speers, Amy Ross, Kelly Steiss, Val Hummel, Vanessa Lopak, Peggy
Zehr (ASL Interpreter), Lesley Roach (ASL Interpreter), Johanna Ellis (Recorder), Councillor Jean
Hallboom (Region of Waterloo), Councillor Jeff Henry (City of Waterloo)
GUESTS:
Joanne Leeson, Charles Allen
REGRETS (MEMBERS):
Taposhi Batabyal, Amy Ross, Saul Herzog
1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
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Sharon called the meeting to order
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Round table introductions
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Sharon informed the committee that the meeting was being recorded for minute purposes but
are destroyed immediately following. (Recording is not used by Johanna Ellis)
2.0 APPROVAL OF DECEMBER MINUTES & JANUARY AGENDA
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Add Gail Brunsdon to regrets for last meeting (minutes)
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Motion by Anthony Cashin to accept the minutes, seconded by David Kuhn, carried.
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Motion by Sharon Ward-Zeller to accept the agenda as amended, seconded by Ken Parker,
carried.
3.0 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
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No conflicts of interest were declared.
4.0 CITY OF WATERLOO Transportation Master Plan (Kelly Steiss for Chris Hodgson)
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The City Transportation Master Plan (TMP) has been developed with a focus on alternative
forms of transportation and accessibility for all.
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The primary transportation policy advocated through the TMP is a Complete Streets policy,
which basically means future roads should be Planned, Designed, Operated and Maintained
for all users to safely move along and across a city street.
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Given the focus of the TMP is on accessibility and alternative forms of transportation
(pedestrians, cyclists and transit), maintenance and operations of the existing infrastructure
is seen as fundamental to assist existing and encourage greater use, the infrastructure also
needs to be accessible year round to facilitate this.
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Winter maintenance of sidewalks has been an issue raised by GRAAC and a issue raised by
other committees and stakeholders through the TMP study.
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There is a significant cost associated with implementing such a program.
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The TMP are presenting a multi-year plan with a number of options and their associated
costs. Included in these recommendations is a sidewalk winter maintenance plan.
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To assist the TMP team, the support/endorsement or feedback from GRAAC would be very
helpful.
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In the pas this has taken the form of a letter from GRAAC and/or presentation at a Council
meeting.
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The TMP report is anticipated to go to Council April 18, 2011.
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A motion was put forward as follows by Sharon Ward-Zeller: That GRAAC express their
approval of the City of Waterloo transportation master plan, winter maintenance snow
clearance program, seconded by David Kuhn: Carried
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5.0 CITY OF WATERLOO Strat Plan (Kelly Steiss)
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At the January GRAAC meeting, Rob Trotter brought GRAAC through a prioritization
exercise.
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Moving forward, the request from the City of Waterloo is to provide 3 – 4 key initiatives that
GRAAC feels should be priorities for the new Council over the next 4 years.
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Other Committees of Council for the City of Waterloo are being asked for this information.
Rob will be coordinating all initiatives to form the action items for the new Strategic Plan.
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GRAAC would like to see the following:
- encourage Council to implement the provisions of the AODA
- to find opportunities to go beyond the provisions of the AODA
- to implement the Built Environment Standards paying particular attention to intersections
and their layout
- to involve GRAAC in municipal projects (e.g. Uptown Waterloo initiative)
- to have staff take accessibility into consideration in their work
- provide mechanisms for the public to give feedback to assist the City of Waterloo in
identifying accessibility issues
6.0 COUNCILLOR REPORTS
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Regional Councillor, Jean Haalboom reported that the Region of Waterloo’s budget day was
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March 23. Highlights were to improve transit. Rapid transit open houses are and will
continue across the Region for a limited time. Open house information can be found on the
Region website as well as signs posted in the neighbourhoods of where and when they are
being held.
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City of Waterloo Councillor, Jeff Henry report on a discussion that council is having regarding
“car-free” Sundays.
*BREAK*
7.0 BUILT ENVIRONMENT - Paul Saunders - Chair
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Paula will email requests for outings to GRAAC members once she receives them.
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The Waterloo Recreation Complex is installing automatic door openers and Paula has been
invited to share input. Paula mentioned that another automatic door entrance/exit should be
installed closest to the accessible parking. “D” shaped handles have also been requested for
the washrooms.
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Waterloo Museum has new display cases.
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Plans for Harry Class Pool have not been seen by the GRAAC committee and the project is
near completion.
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Kelly has been approached by the Waterloo Library. Staff would like to attend the next
GRAAC meeting.
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Paula to send Kathleen Nessner contact information for Waterloo Museum.
8.0 WRPS SITE PLAN UPDATE – North Division Joanne Leeson/Charles Allen
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Handed out blueprints to committee members so they could follow along.
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The location is at the corner of Weber St and Columbia in Waterloo.
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This site is replacing the Erb St (Waterloo) detachment.
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Most of the new building is police office space. Incorporating BUILT Environment standards
into the building plans.
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There will be accessible washrooms, sinks, “D” shaped washroom door handles.
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Increased width of all of the doors.
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There are floor buttons for door accessibility which are being used throughout the building.
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There are WRPS employees that require accessible friendly buildings as this is their work
environment.
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Police cruisers will be able to drive into the building via large garage type entrance. Secure
interviews, booking and drug testing. They will then be transferred as there are no
permanent holding cells at this facility.
Questions/Comments:
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Is there accessible means to call council in the booking area?
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Pay phone with TTY (none available). Will bring it up and take question back with them.
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Completion date of new building; construction 2012 and open to staff and public Fall 2012.
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Public art will be part of this building. Installed at the front/main intersection. Piece of art is a
bronze sculpture, Lion and Lamb, seven (7) trilliums depicting police emblem.
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Type of bronze sculpting used will have a bit of a blue tinge to it.
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There has been no designated dog relief area to date.
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Adjustable mirror, accessible soap dispenser in the washroom as well as signage.
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There are two (2) sidewalks that come from Columbia and Weber St’s that both lead to the
front entrance.
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Accessible spots – 2 for visitors and 3 or more for staff. Those numbers could change.
9. CO-CHAIRS REPORT:
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Accessibility Integrated Standard letter was sent.
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Amy Ross has requested a leave. She has accepted a temporary placement with the City of
Waterloo.
10. TRANSPORATION Anthony Cashin - Chair
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LRT – many options available. Perhaps we can have someone to attend a GRAAC meeting
to discuss the options.
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We want to make sure that they will follow and choose an option that includes accessibility.
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Choices are being made in June 2011.
Comments
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Paula attended the open house at Albert McCormick Arena and spoke to a staff person from
the Region who assured her that the final selection for the LRT will include accessibility.
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David attended a meeting last year regarding the LRT. He asked a similar question
regarding accessibility. He didn’t feel that the answer given was concrete enough.
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ACTION
: Vanessa to contact LRT staff and see if someone can come to a GRAAC meeting
and discuss with committee.
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Sharon had mentioned that a discussion was had, last summer, to discuss the font used for
bus schedules. Sharon wrote a letter to the GRT but there was no response. Anthony is
happy to take the lead on asking them again about font size on bus schedules.
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ACTION
: Vanessa to send Kathleen Nessner the link for transportation standards.
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Paula mentioned that there is lack of transportation to Facilities. It is far to walk from some
facilities to nearest bus stop.
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Vanessa responded to concerns.
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Rapid Transit is going to council sometime in June.
stst
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May 31 and June 1 the public can go to Council.
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Vanessa and Anthony will discuss issues with GRT staff.
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Anthony reported that some bus shelters are not accessible. There is no room for
wheelchair accessibility to enter a bus shelter or turn around in one.
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Bring suggestions to the next meeting.
11. STAFF UPDATE
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Summit next week there were no interpreters available but Kelly will work on this and talk to
Anthony/Gail regarding alternatives.
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12. ADJOURNMENT
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Motion to adjourn by David Kuhn
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NEXT MEETING: Thursday April 28, 2011, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m., **Conestoga Room**
200 King St W, Kitchener
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