HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2011-11-24Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday November 24th, 2011 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room
PRESENT: Gordon Cummer (Co- Chair), Sharon Giles(Co- Chair), Sharon Ward - Zeller, Anthony
Cashin, Taposhi Batabyal, Kurt Schneider, Carrie Speers, David Kuhn, Ken Parker, Vanessa Lopak
(ROW), Lori Palubeski (Manager, Program & Resource Services), Peggy Zehr (ASL Interpreter),
Johanna Ellis (Recorder), Julia Sippel (Township of North Dumfries), Councillor Jeff Henry (City of
Waterloo)
REGRETS: Paula Saunders, Councillor Jean Haalboom, Councillor Kelly Gall
1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
• Sharon Giles called the meeting to order.
• Welcome and round table introductions.
• Declaration of pecuniary interests - none
APPROVAL OF OCTOBER MINUTES & NOVEMBER AGENDA
• Motion by Ken Parker to accept the October minutes, seconded by Carrie Speers /carried.
• Motion by Gord Cummer, seconded by Anthony Cashin to accept the revised agenda (due to
shortened meeting; ASL interpreter not available until 2:30).
2.0 CITYOF KITCHENER/WATERLOO JOINT PLAN (Lori Palubeski)
• The Accessibility Plan was emailed to the committee earlier in the week for review.
• Lori went over the plan with the committee then opened the conversation up for questions
and comments from the committee.
2011 Notable Successes (as found in the 2012 Plan)
City of Kitchener
Customer Service Regulation
• Accessibility areas are reserved during special events for the BluesFest and Oktoberfest to
allow for seating areas that provided a line of sight to the entertainment
• Copies of by -laws and forms within the by -law office can be e- mailed, upon request, thus
saving the customer a need to come into the office.
• On -line applications for committee /board appointments are now available.
Built Environment
• Incorporated barrier free design principles throughout McLennan Park
• Infrastructure projects were completed that renovated older facilities and included
improvements to family change spaces and accessible washrooms at the Breithaupt Centre,
Wilson Pool, Harry Class Pool and Lyle Hallman Pool.
• The Breithaupt Centre 25 yard pool changerooms were renovated this year to include new
fully accessible male, female and family changerooms. An accessible family washroom was
created in the lobby. In addition, new sliding doors were installed in the solarium to allow
barrier free access to the building.
• Enforcement and by -law offices at Duke and Ontario streets were retrofitted to include a
automatic sliding door for public access to the front office and the front counter was lowered.
Information and Communication
Changes were made with respect to processes within by -law that removed the requirement
to access services in person. These included:
November 2011 - GRAAC Minutes
- If a person forgets to renew their accessible parking permit and it expires, and as a result is
issued a parking ticket, by -law will allow the customer time to contact their Doctor and apply
for a new permit. Once the new permit is produced, the parking ticket can be cancelled.
- If a parking ticket is issued and the individual did have an accessible parking permit, the
customer can seek to have the parking ticket cancelled by faxing or emailing their permit into
the by -law office thus saving the customer the need to come in and resolve their parking
ticket.
2011 Notable Successes (as found in the 2012 Plan)
City of Waterloo
Customer Service Regulation
• Implemented the ability to use fillable forms to enable applications to be completed on -line
for committee /board appointments, Program and Activities Guide, Spaces and Places for
Paws Handbook and Event Services Catalogue
• City of Waterloo Museum continues to encourage feedback from visitors to improve current
practices and continue to remove barriers. Intend to explore methods to incorporate
technology into how the exhibitions are delivered.
Built Environment
Transportation Master Plan included recommendations that promote accessibility in the
following ways:
- focus on alternative forms of transportation
- advocacy for a Complete Streets policy which means future roads are designed for all
users to safely move along and across a City street; adoption of a sidewalk snow
clearing program
Infrastructure funding allowed for the following:
- new concrete sidewalks at Albert McCormick Community Centre
- new ice rink spectator seating with accessible platform at Moses Springer Community
Centre
- power and automated doors were installed in washrooms and dressing rooms and new
change room /washroom partition door fixtures (locking mechanisms, etc.) at the Waterloo
Memorial Recreation Complex
Facility upgrades to improve accessibility include:
- mailroom at City Hall renovated to increase the width of the aisle ways
- revenue counters renovated to include a lowered counter
- City Hall washrooms renovated
- library washrooms in the lower level at the Main Branch renovated
- City of Waterloo Museum assessed the suite of display cases and had new cases
designed, fabricated and installed new cases that has led to improvements in current
techniques for hanging, lighting and label placement for exhibitions
- Service Centre renovated the payment and reception area
- accessible access to Hillside Park trail
- lowered counters were installed at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, Albert
McCormick Community Centre and RIM Park
- Facility, Allocation and Bookings offices were relocated within the Waterloo Memorial
Recreation Complex and amendments were made to counter heights to accommodate
accessibility
- new sportsfields at RIM Park have integrated accessible parking, trails and pathways
Water wheelchairs were replaced at the swimplex at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation
Complex
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Information and Communication
• New software tools used to provide publications in an easy to access format which allows for
easy modification of the font size
• Ensure that the TTY number is on all Community, Culture and Recreation Services
advertisements and business cards
COMMENTS /QUESTIONS:
• Will there be a refresher for Text Net training?
• AODA says municipalities must have an accessible procurement/purchasing policy — will put
in the plan.
• Snow removal? How are the talks going? Are they still going on? Can it be put into the
plan?
• City of Waterloo — the intent is there, however, there is no money in the current budget.
• City of Kitchener — looking to GRAAC for feedback — the committee feels it should stay in the
plan, not dropped or ignored.
• Perhaps snow clearing should be in the Plan as one of GRAAC's top priorities.
• Keeping sidewalks clear year round is important, not only when snow is on the ground (for
example; tree branches).
ACTION: Lori will follow up
3.0 COUNCILLOR'S REPORT (Councillor Henry, City of Waterloo)
• Councillor Henry rode in the Santa Claus parade for Mayor Halloran who was away on
business in China.
• Northlake Community Association plan is coming forward to council. This can be reviewed
on the City of Waterloo website.
• Advanced a couple of infrastructure projects in Waterloo (roads, sewage etc).
• LRT routing was discussed at City of Waterloo Council meeting. Need to protect economic
interests, therefore further discussion is required.
*Break*
4.0 AODA REVIEW, EMPLOYMENT STANDARD (Taposhi Batabyal, Sharon Ward - Zeller)
• Employer must notify public and employees about accommodations available. They must
also let all applicants know if requested.
• Employers must inform employees of all policies surrounding accommodations.
• There is also a requirement that large companies must have available necessary
arrangements and information to accommodate a return to work.
• Employers must supply accessible formats of communication. There are deadlines to be met
depending on the size of the organization.
• Emergency Response training must be provided to all employees and volunteers regarding
accessibility accommodation policies as follows: January 2015 for large organizations and
2016 for small organizations.
HIGHLIGHTS OF DISCUSSION:
• If you need a doctor's note it will be at the expense of the employer.
• There is a concern that volunteers do not fall under the emergency response information.
• A committee member shared that when volunteering with a preschool, the teacher sat down
with her and went over their emergency procedures.
• How does this apply to volunteer committee members who are paid an honorarium?
• When organizations advertise employment, they provide accessibility policies (equity).
November 2011 - GRAAC Minutes 3
5.0 REGION OF WATERLOO EMERGENCY WORKPLACE POLICY (Vanessa Lopak)
Vanessa presented the Region of Waterloo's draft policy on Emergency Workplace
Response Information for Employees with Disabilities, for review and feedback.
• The policy clearly says that employees with disabilities need to self identify. It is important
the employees know this.
• Be sure all new employees are made aware that the policy exists, and that they must identify
if they need an emergency information plan. Have supervisors directly tell new employees
during orientation. Make it clear and important.
• This does not cover how people are actually evacuated in an emergency. It meets the
requirement of the AODA, but does not mean it meets the needs of people with disabilities
during an emergency.
• While it is the employee's responsibility to notify the supervisor that they need an emergency
information plan, the onus should rest with the supervisor to make sure the plan meets the
employees needs, and be implemented, and is followed in an emergency.
• Vanessa invited the group to email her with any further feedback before November 30tH
6.0 CO- CHAIRS REPORT
• Sharon shared a "thank you" note from Kelly.
• Roundabout letter from GRAAC committee has been distributed.
• December meeting will be held on Thursday December 15th, 2011. Committee members to
bring snacks /sweets for seasonal celebration.
• Gord recognized a guest at the meeting. Committee thanked Jason Parks for attending.
Meeting adjournment, motion by Sharon Ward - Zeller, seconded by Gord Cummer.
* *Please note that the December 15th meeting time is 1:30 — 3:30 sharp. The room is booked for
3:30 p.m. **
November 2011 - GRAAC Minutes 4