HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-12-011 - 2012 Appointments - Grand River Accessibility Advisory CommitteeREPORT TO:Finance and Corporate Services Committee
th
DATE OF MEETING:
January 9, 2012
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Hildebrand, Director, 519-741-2687
PREPARED BY:
LoriAnn Palubeski, Manager, 519-741-2623
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
nd
DATE OF REPORT: December 22, 2011
REPORT NO.:
CSD-12-011
SUBJECT:
APPOINTMENTS TO THE GRAND RIVER ACCESSIBILITY
ADVISORY COMMITTEE (2012)
RECOMMENDATION:
That the following applicants be appointed to the Grand River Accessibility Advisory
Committee (GRAAC) for a 3-year term ending December 31st, 2014, pending ratification
by the partnering municipalities of the City of Waterloo, Region of Waterloo, Township of
North Dumfries, Township of Wellesley and Township of Woolwich:
Anthony Cashin City of Kitchener Reappointment
Dorothy Staal City of Waterloo New
Andrew Tutty City of Waterloo New
Dawn Griffin City of Kitchener New
Mike Shipley Township of Woolwich New
BACKGROUND:
Under the requirements of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2001 (ODA), all municipalities with
a population of 10,000 or greater are required to establish an Accessibility Advisory Committee
to advise Council on the prevention, identification and removal of barriers for persons with
disabilities. The Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) is a joint committee of
the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo, the Region of Waterloo and the Townships of North
Dumfries, Wellesley and Woolwich and is appointed the task of advising the participating
municipalities on accessibility issues.
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REPORT:
The GRAAC Terms of Reference (adopted by Council in 2003) specify that the Committee will
consist of 11 to 15 members of which a majority must be persons with a disability. Recruitment
for GRAAC is conducted in the fall with members beginning their 3-year terms in January.
Notices requesting applications were posted on the participating municipalities’ websites, local
post secondary institutions’ websites and at local community organizations including disability
service providers, community health centres and libraries. Advertisements were also placed in
newspapers throughout the Region.
A selection committee of staff representing the participating municipalities reviewed the
applications. Recommendations for membership are based on consideration of the Terms of
Reference as well as fair representation from the participating municipalities and various
disability groups.
As of December 31, 2011, there were five vacancies on the GRAAC. Pending ratification by
each of the participating municipalities, staff is recommending that the persons noted above be
appointed by the City of Kitchener. The proposed 2012 committee slate will have a total of
eleven members.
All applicants for consideration to this Committee will be acknowledged and informed as to
whether or not they have been selected.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Quality of Life
This committee provides persons with disabilities the opportunity to discuss, define and
address their shared concerns in regards to the identification, removal and prevention of
barriers in City facilities, programs and services.
Diversity
Consulting with persons with disabilities in an advisory role increases the capacity of the
City to ensure a greater degree of equity and inclusion in the community.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
NIL
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
The community was informed of the opportunity to participate on the Grand River Accessibility
Advisory Committee (GRAAC) by way of newspaper advertisements, postings in local
community organizations and libraries, and electronic postings on municipal websites, the
GRAAC website and local post-secondary institution websites.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Jeff Willmer, Deputy CAO, Community Services
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