HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-12-075 - Appointments - Grand River Accessibility AdvisoryREPORT TO:Finance and Corporate Services Committee
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DATE OF MEETING:
May 7, 2012
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs and
Services, 519-741-2687
PREPARED BY:
LoriAnn Palubeski, Manager, Program and Resource
Services, 519-741-2623
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
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DATE OF REPORT: April 19, 2012
REPORT NO.: CSD-12-075
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 31, 2015, 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:
Amanda Moorhead New
Stephannie Leac 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.
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.
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.
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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 thirteen 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, DCAO Community Services
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