HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2011-09-23Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room
PRESENT: Gordon Cummer (Co- Chair), Sharon Giles(Co- Chair), Sharon Ward - Zeller, Anthony
Cashin, Kurt Schneider, Gail Brunsdon, Carrie Speers, Kelly Steiss (City of Kitchener), Vanessa
Lopak (ROW), Julia Sippel (North Dumfries), Karen Panchaud (ASL Interpreter), Lesley Roach (ASL
Interpreter), Johanna Ellis (Recorder),CounciIlor Jean Haalboom (Region of Waterloo), Councillor
Kelly Galloway (City of Kitchener), Councillor Jeff Henry (City of Waterloo)
GUESTS: Sheila McIntosh (ROW), William Sleeth (City of Kitchener)
REGRETS (MEMBERS): Paula Saunders, David Kuhn, Ken Parker, Taposhi Batabyal
1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
• Sharon Giles called the meeting to order
2.0 APPROVAL OF MAY MINUTES & JUNE AGENDA
Remove item number 4 of agenda, Rik Louwagie unable to attend.
Motion by Carrie Speers, seconded by Gord Cummer to accept the minutes, carried.
Motion by Anthony Cashin, seconded by Carrie Speers to accept the agenda, carried.
3.0 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
• No conflicts of interest were declared.
4.0 COUNCILLOR'S REPORT(S)
• Region of Waterloo Councillor Jean Haalboom reported that council acknowledged they were
in receipt of the letter from GRAAC supporting automated announcement systems on Grand
River Transit.
• Councillor Haalboom attended a Chamber of Commerce event on the Arts in our community.
She asked the committee if they currently were /or would like to participate in the Arts. If
committee members would like to know more about the Arts in our community they can
contact Councillor Haalboom or let her know at the next meeting.
• City of Kitchener Councillor Kelly Galloway reported that the AODA report was going forward
to council on Monday September 28th, 2011.
• There is also a report being presented to Kitchener city council, by the Kitchener Ranger
organization, regarding a potential expansion to the Auditorium.
• There will be Public meetings regarding storm water management rates on September 29th
from 6 — 8p.m. at Downtown Community Centre. If you miss this meeting there will be
another one in November.
• Another Public meeting regarding Victoria Park Lake on September 27th from 6 — 8p.m. at
Downtown Community Centre.
• Oktoberfest Grillfest 2011 on Friday October 7th, 2011.
• Councillor Jeff Henry reported that their official plan review is entering the final stages. The
second draft was completed in June. There was a public meeting on Monday September
19th, 2011 and there will be another public meeting before the strategic plan is complete and
passed.
• City of Waterloo started to review their 3 year budget process and hope to have it completed
and approved by mid February 2012.
*BREAK*
September 2011 - GRAAC Minutes
5.0 CO -CHAIR REPORT
• Sharon thanked Val Hummel for updating the website and keeping things current.
• Article in the Record on Wednesday. Gord gave great input regarding transportation.
• GRAAC reports to the Cities, schedules as follows: September 26th, City of Kitchener,
October 24th, City of Waterloo.
• Work on AODA standards. Work on it gradually, recaps at each meeting beginning next
month.
6.0 REGION OF WATERLOO, EMPLOYMENT PROCEDURES (Sheila McIntosh)
• Discussed draft procedures and looking for feedback re: types of accommodation required
for employment.
• Refer to mailout ( "drafts "). Sheila reviewed policies with committee and asked for feedback.
Members had the following questions and comments, with the accompanying response:
- Would procedures be implemented if applicant were granted an interview?
• Yes
- Are Dr.'s certificates at employer's expense?
• Yes
- How often does the Region get applicants who require accommodations?
• Rarely, but it does occur.
• Sharon Giles turned chair over to Gord
- There was some concern about how much information regarding disabilities is
required, and how much the applicants will need to disclose.
• The exact wording is "We provide accommodations for persons with
disabilities according to the Ontario Human Rights code. Do you require an
accommodation ?" some information about the nature of the accommodation
is required so Human Resources can provide it, while being respectful of
privacy.
- Accommodations are clearly stated on postings.
• Gord turned the chair back to Sharon
- What about interviewing a deaf person? TTY? Telephone interviews of this type
would be difficult. How would you handle this?
• The Region does not tend to conduct telephone interviews. However, in the
event of a telephone interview, if someone used a TTY, the interview would
need to be conducted in another way.
• Staff in Human Resources all have access to a TTY.
- Are volunteers with disabilities provided with similar accommodations?
• Volunteers are not covered under the employment procedures. The Region
does not have written procedures about providing accommodations for
volunteers. This needs to be addressed in the future.
- Referencing the Ontario Human Rights Code is great. Should the AODA
referenced as well?
• Sheila will look into including working specifying for AODA.
• Sheila was thanked and left the meeting.
7.0 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
• Transportation meeting was discussed.
• (Addition from outcome of October meeting and approval of minutes). Tariff cards were
discussed (Region of Waterloo). The Region of Waterloo tariff card contains the following:
September 2011 - GRAAC Minutes 2
Licensing and Enforcement Services
Effective October 5th, 2011
If you have a compliment or complaint, please call our office at: 519 - 575 -4591.
Taxi -cab Tariff
$3.50 — initial meter fare
$2.10 — per kilometer
$31.20 — per hour waiting /contract
HST included in fares.
Note: a Driver providing a taxi -cab service or an accessible taxi -cab service may turn on his or
her taxi -cab meter before the passenger has occupied the taxi -cab or accessible cab if:
a) the passenger has requested the taxi -cab or accessible taxi -cab at a specific location at a
specific time; or
b) The driver or passenger is loading or unloading the passenger's personal items into or from
the taxi -cab or accessible taxi -cab. Mobility assistance devices are not a personal item.
• Letter supporting audible announcements on the bus was sent to the Region.
• At the meeting in August discussion was had regarding accessible schedules, publications
etc. Working with the GRT and looking for feedback from committee in October or
November.
• Any issues regarding parking or any other transportation issues please let Anthony know.
8.0 CITY OF KITCHENER MULTI -USE PATHWAY MASTER PLAN (William Sleeth)
• There is a complete draft of the master plan posted on the City of Kitchener website. Let
William know if you need help navigating the site and he will help.
• William will get Sharon Ward - Zeller support requested to access the document.
• William would like to be kept updated as to how the committee is utilizing trails.
• Trail maps need to be accessible on the website.
• William is very thorough and would like to continue working on all aspects of the plan and
with the committee.
• Carrie expressed some concern about lighting. William said that this would be looked at if
the trailed are to be used year round.
• Gord mentioned some discrepancies in the appendices. William made note of these.
• It is a very large document.
• Sharon Ward Zeller mentioned how some visually impaired people are afraid of cyclists and
skateboarders when they zoom by and you can't see them. It is startling. Anthony
mentioned that this is a concern for deaf people as well.
9.0 ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn Kurt Schneider, seconded by Carrie Speers
* *Next meeting Thursday October 27th, 2011, Conestoga Room, City Hall **
September 2011 - GRAAC Minutes 3