HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-14-002 - Appointments to the Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee 2014 .Staff Report
KI CommunityServices Department www1itchenera
REPORT TO: Finance and Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: January 13th , 2014
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Hildebrand, Director, 519-741-2687
PREPARED BY: LoriAnn Palubeski, Manager, Program & Resource Services
519-741-2200 x7623
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: January 6th, 2014
REPORT NO.: CSD-14-002
SUBJECT: APPOINTMENTS TO THE GRAND RIVER ACCESSIBILITY
ADVISORY COMMITTEE (2014)
RECOMMENDATION:
That the following applicants be appointed to the Grand River Accessibility Advisory
Committee (GRAAC) for a 3-year term ending December 31st, 2016, 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:
Sharon Giles City of Kitchener New
Christine Taylor City of Kitchener New
Laura Master City of Kitchener New
Dawn Clelland City of Kitchener New
Paula Saunders City of Kitchener Reappointment
David Kuhn City of Kitchener Reappointment
Carrie Speers City of Kitchener Reappointment
BACKGROUND:
Under the legislative 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 planning, policies and issues.
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.Staff Report
KI Community Services Department www1itchenerra
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.
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.
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 2014 committee
slate will have a total of fourteen 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 electronic postings on municipal websites, the GRAAC
website, local community organizations including disability service providers and posted on all
participating Municipalities' social media feeds.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
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