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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2011-04-28Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAQ Thursday April 28, 2011 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room PRESENT: Gordon Cummer (Co- Chair), Sharon Giles (Co- Chair), Taposhi Batabyal, Sharon Ward - Zeller, Anthony Cashin, Kurt Schneider, Mike Begin, Ken Parker, David Kuhn, Carrie Speers, Kelly Steiss, Val Hummel, Vanessa Lopak, Peggy Zehr (ASL Interpreter), Lesley Roach (ASL Interpreter), Linda Pretty (Recorder), Councillor Jean Haalboom (Region of Waterloo) GUESTS: Darshpreet Bhatti, Jessica Prain REGRETS (MEMBERS): Paula Saunders, Amy Ross, Saul Herzog, Katherine Nessner, Councillor Jeff Henry (City of Waterloo), Johanna Ellis, Gail Brunsdon ABSENT WITHOUT REGRETS: N/A 1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS • Gordon called the meeting to order. • Round table introductions. • Gordon 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 MARCH MINUTES & APRIL AGENDA • Amendments to March minutes: correction re spelling "Jean Haalboom" and "Katherine (not Kathleen) Nessner". Also, Amy Ross was not in attendance at the March meeting. • Motion by Sharon Ward - Zeller to accept the minutes, seconded by Carrie Speers; carried. • Motion by Sharon Ward - Zeller to accept the agenda as amended, seconded by Anthony Cashin; carried. 3.0 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST • No conflicts of interest were declared. • A suggestion was made to change "Declarations of Pecuniary Interest" to "Conflict of Interest ". ACTION: Vanessa will look into whether "Declarations of Pecuniary Interest" can be changed to "Conflict of Interest ". April 2011 — GRAAC Minutes 1 4.0 Transportation RAPID TRANSIT - Darshpreet Bhatti, Region of Waterloo Anthony Cashin, Chair of the Transportation Sub - committee, introduced Darshpreet Bhatti, Manager of Rapid Transit Engineering with the Region of Waterloo. Darshpreet attended the GRAAC meeting to update the group on plans for the LRT system and reviewed a PowerPoint Presentation with pertinent data. Darshpreet will send a PDF of the presentation to Vanessa to forward to GRAAC members. • LRT options and next steps were presented to Regional Council in April. • The proposed LRT is in support of the Waterloo Region Master Plan new express routes will be introduced to complement the LRT. • In addition, the hope is to expand Go- Service and VIA Rail services, and improve road infrastructure. • Close to 1000 people attended the feedback sessions with close to 700 people providing written feedback. There were 615 responses in support of the LRT system. • Transit systems can't be built all at once - build upon it in stages. • Further public consultation to share results is taking place in late April /May. • Next steps: late April /May, 16 events for public consultation; June - final report /recommendations to Council; July- September - complete all Environmental requirements. • Construction would start in 2014, continue over 2015/2016 with the LRT online in early 2017. • The LRT train will be flush with the sidewalk. • Committee members provided the following feedback: 1. emphasized that accessibility is a key priority in station design, ramps, etc. and that members from GRAAC be involved in providing feedback throughout the design. 2. look for a system that accommodates large scooters. 3. ensure accessibility to and from area hospitals. 4. asked if there was anything GRAAC can do to help with one of the options - committee could speak to Council to support an option and to communicate concerns. Vanessa advised that GRAAC could attend Council to present their point of view and asked members to clarify what they would want Council to know as they go forward with Rapid Transit. 5. LRT design should include full accessibility for everyone on all aspects of LRT and for integration with feeder buses. The April 2011 — GRAAC Minutes 2 designer's want to ensure a seamless system but it will take time to implement at all levels of transit. 6. suggestion that designers consider professional expertise as opposed to following the public opinion. There was some discussion that it would be inappropriate for the GRAAC committee to advise Council to listen to one group but not to another. 7. GRAAC agreed that, regardless of the system that Regional Council does choose, they should be sure not to create new barriers or perpetuate existing barriers for people with disabilities. Darshpreet was thanked. Chair passed to Gord Cummer. A ten - minute break was declared. 5. WATERLOO LIBRARY WASHROOMS - Jessica Prain • Jessica Prain who works with the City of Waterloo Planning Department attended the meeting to share information re proposed upgrades to first - floor washrooms at the new library. • Current walls and doors are being removed and the doorframe is being made wider. All existing fixtures are being replaced. The new washrooms will have 2 less toilets, no partitions, new push buttons, and new grab bars. The counters will be 80cm high and the doors will have lever handles. • Committee members provided the following feedback: 1. that the washrooms have soap dispensers that can be reached by someone in a wheelchair and is located close to the tap and sink. An automatic soap dispenser is easier to use. The proposed Built Environment regulations will have specifics on where the dispenser should be located. 2. suggested that a bench for seating would be helpful too. 3. a columnar automatic door opener is a newer system and works well. Don't rule it out. 4. please have both a hand dryer and paper towels closer to the sink as well. Planners are encouraged to look for the newest and latest hands free dryers. 5. if you plan to use magnifying mirrors place them low. • Jessica said that she will bring forward GRAAC's suggestions at a meeting on Friday April 29 and said that a baby change table will be in the washroom as well. • Jessica was thanked and left the meeting. April 2011 — GRAAC Minutes 3 6. WATERLOO REGION STRATEGIC PLAN - Vanessa • Strategic plan directs staffs actions. • 2 stage process. • The first stage, where broad priorities were identified, has been completed. This was completed through public consultation by a telephone survey, online survey, and focus groups, along with input from Region staff. • 5 broad themes where identified in the fist stage: Involve and Engage, Communicate, Include, Innovate, and Deliver. • The second stage, which is currently underway, is where specific actions will be identified to direct staff in their work over the next term of Council. • GRAAC was asked if they were interested in participating in a special GRAAC meeting, to identify specific actions for the Region's Strategic Plan. There was general agreement among the group. • Vanessa will propose a time for this special meeting, for the end of May /early June, and will email the group. 7.0 COUNCILLOR REPORTS 7.1 Region of Waterloo - Councillor lean Haalboom Jean shared that the Region is involved in 2 major projects: (i) Rapid Transit and subsequent choices (ii) the Regional strategic plan. Staff has been directed to produce an action plan to flesh out 5 separate areas of the plan. 7.2 City of Waterloo - Councillor Jeff Henry Kelly shared an email update from Councillor Jeff Henry: On April 18, City of Waterloo Council approved in principle the Transportation Master Plan and all listed no -cost items. This makes the City of Waterloo the first municipality in Ontario to endorse a transportation master plan built around a 'Complete Streets' philosophy, which recognizes public rights -of -way ought to be built to support all forms of transportation, from vehicles to pedestrians. Each particular cost -item will come back to Council as a staff report over the next several years, including winter sidewalk control (snow clearing on sidewalks), with many expected as part of the 2012 -2014 budget process. Thank you to Gord and Sharon for their presentation on behalf of GRAAC, which was well received by Council as a whole. April 2011 — GRAAC Minutes 4 Thanks in advance. (I also trust that the note from WRPS regarding a 9 -1 -1 emergency accessibility for the deaf community forum on May 10th will be passed along to GRAAC - a news release just landed in my mailbox -- I'm glad to see this on the WRPS agenda) 8.0 CO- CHAIRS REPORT • Gord told the group that Sharon Giles will receive the Ontario Volunteer Services Award for her work with GRAAC. • Regional AAC groups got together at RIM Park for an education and networking afternoon. Staff will be seeking feedback from those that attend. There is some interest to make this an annual or bi- annual event. • Gord and Sharon Giles appeared as delegations to Waterloo Council to support sidewalk clearing initiative being presented under the Transportation Master Plan. Council was supportive of the Plan in principal but staff are required to bring back reports related to all items that have a cost. • Co- Chairs received a letter from the Pedestrian Charter, the organization that advises committee re snow clearing, asking other organizations to endorse their call for all Councils to review their bylaws re snow clearing. • Kelly shared an invitation from Compass Kitchener for a session scheduled for Saturday May 28. Kelly to forward the email invitation to everyone. • Kelly said that City of Kitchener staff made a presentation to Kitchener Council regarding multi - purpose pathways. Councillor Galloway suggested staff to seek input from GRAAC and so they would like to present the Trails Master Plan at the next meeting. Kelly requested feedback on how the committee would like to receive the information package on this Plan as it is quite large. The Committee requested an executive summary. Members are to contact Kelly if you want a CD of the full report. • A special Built Environment Committee meeting is scheduled for May 9 in the Heritage Room at Kitchener City Hall beginning at 1:30 p.m. Three plans are coming forward that day: the Bridgeport Community Centre, Harry Class Pool renovations and the Waterloo Police Services Cell Block. Sign Language Interpreters have been booked, but Kelly asked members to RSVP or she will cancel. • Sharon Giles and Gord Cummer will be attending a forum on May 12th, hosted by the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario. AODA standards will be discussed. They will report back to GRAAC on what they learn. 9. RESPONSE TO AODA ALLIANCE • GRAAC discussed a request from the AODA Alliance. The AODA Alliance requests that AACs pass a resolution to reject the Association of April 2011 — GRAAC Minutes 5 Municipalities of Ontario's recommendations on the Integrated Accessibility Regulation, and to request area Councils do the same. • GRAAC discussed the merits and drawbacks of aligning itself with the AODA Alliance, and made a distinction between advising and advocating. • Members asked about what happened to the feedback GRAAC provided on the Integrated Accessibility Standard. The Co Chairs stated that the feedback was sent on to the province, and to the area municipalities. • GRAAC decided that, while the AODA Alliance's position is important to be included in the development of AODA Standards, GRAAC was not in a position to be advocating to the province beyond it's contributions in the public feedback session. • GRAAC will not be passing a resolution to reject AMO's recommendations, or requesting that area municipalities do the same. 10. ADJOURNMENT Ken moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:00 p.m. The next GRAAC meeting will be held on Thursday May 26 at Kitchener City Hall in the Conestoga Room on the main floor from 1:30 -4:00 p.m. April 2011 — GRAAC Minutes 6