HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC 2013-08-22Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday August 22, 2013 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room
PRESENT: Andrew Tutty (Co- Chair), Anthony Cashin (Co- Chair), Carrie Speers, Paula
Saunders, Mike Shipley, Greg Moore, Keri Cameron, Dorothy Staal, Stephannie Leach,
Kaitlyn Draker (Wellesley), Julia Sippel (North Dumfries), Gina Hickman (Region of
Waterloo), Deb Bergey (Region of Waterloo) Councillor Berry Vrbanovic (City of
Kitchener), Councillor Jean Haalboom (Region of Waterloo), Lolita Paroski (City of
Kitchener /City of Waterloo), Lisa Harper (ASL Interpreter), Lesley Roach (ASL
Interpreter), Shannon Sweeney (Recorder)
REGRETS: Councillor Jeff Henry (City of Waterloo), Val Hummel (Woolwich), Amanda
Moorhead, Ken Parker, David Kuhn
GUESTS: Kate Hagerman (Region of Waterloo), Robert Davies (Region of
Waterloo), Garry Leveck (Senior Project Consultant from STANTEC),
Kirsten Thomson (Architect from Montgomery Sisam), Kimberly Moser (Region
of Waterloo)
1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS:
• Anthony Cashin called the meeting to order.
• Anthony welcomed all members; round table introductions.
2.0 APPROVAL OF JUNE MINUTES & APPROVAL OF AUGUST AGENDA:
• Motion by Paula Saunders, seconded by Carrie Speers to accept the minutes of
the June meeting; all in favour.
• Motion by Anthony Cashin, seconded by Dorothy Staal to accept the August
agenda; all in favour.
3.0 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS:
• There were no pecuniary interests to declare.
4.0 INCLUSIVE LANUAGE TOOL KIT — Gina Hickman (Region of Waterloo)
Gina Hickman (Region of Waterloo) distributed a Draft Guideline for Inclusive
Language.
Highlights
• Gina asked members to go through the template and make any
recommendations to her.
• Reminder to use Person First Language.
• Take the time to listen and learn from people.
• Focusing on strengths while paying attention to unique needs
• Carrie Speers suggested always having a paper and pen available so people can
write things down if need be.
• Paula Saunders offered to share the list that the Independent Living Centre uses.
Paula to share this with Gina.
• Anthony Cashin suggested having things in "plain language" or American Sign
Language.
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursdav Auaust 22. 2013
Question
• Gina Hickman asked the question "when you heard disrespectful language how
did you respond "?
• Greg Moore stated he has had several experiences of disrespectful
language and has immediately stopped the conversation and dealt with
the situation.
• Stephannie Leach stated depending on her audience she decides how to
choose her answers.
• Carrie Speers said that not everyone is aware of the terms we use and
encouraged us to educate.
• Andrew Tutty suggested handling every situation with subtlety.
• Anthony Cashin reminded us that people get stuck in their ways and may
be resistant to change.
• Greg Moore believes that employees of Government Agencies can be
trained to handle these situations properly.
Councillor Berry Vrbanovic entered the meeting.
5.0 CITY OF KITCHENER ACCESSIBLE SPECIAL EVENTS — Lolita Paroski (City
of Kitchener)
Lolita Paroski had some questions to ask about City of Kitchener Special Events.
Questions
• Have you attended City of Kitchener Events?
o 7 of 9 Committee Members have.
• Which Events?
o Blues Festival, Multi- cultural, Cruising on King, Kidspark
Highlights
• Greg Moore said we're doing a good job at all events.
• Andrew Tutty said it was hard to locate officials at the Blues Festival.
• Berry Vrbanovic said the information booth was located in front of Williams and
perhaps we need to better communicate that. Berry explained they were trying
to protect staff from the elements.
• Berry Vrbanovic also added that perhaps we can pick better colours for signage
and shirts for example bright yellow, orange and green.
• Anthony Cashin and Berry Vrbanovic saw grates at the Blues Festival and noticed
they were painted pink. Pink is not a good colour as it is not bright enough.
• It was suggested that information booths always be located in accessible spots.
o Lolita will take any further suggestions via email.
6.0 PLAQUE AT HERITAGE SITE — Kate Hagerman (Region of Waterloo)
• Jean Haalboom said the information presented today will be available via email.
Dorothy asked if it could please be mailed to her.
• With the widening of Weber St. S. from Union St. to Victoria St. Proposed is a
roadway under railway tracks that will be 4 lanes.
August 2013 - GRAAC Minutes 2
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday August 22, 2013
• Region to make this architecturally enhanced. They are focused on wanting to
improve the look of this area.
• Sidewalks will be higher than road with a railing.
• There will be enhanced LED lighting.
• North side of structure (Wellington St. side) will be enhanced with concrete
decorative panels.
• The Heritage Plaque will be mounted on side of bridge. This plaque will speak to
the history of leather, buttons, shirts, rubber, trunk and bag in this area of our
city.
• Kate Hagerman read the text to us.
• Hoping this will provide history of this area even though the text is lengthy.
• The Region of Waterloo is looking for input on mounting height and if text size is
appropriate. The plaque will be etched on stainless steel.
• A braille section can be added. Andrew Tutty thinks braille is needed for this
project. Dorothy agreed.
• The dimensions will be 30" high and 56" long. The additional braille section is
14" wide and 30" long.
• Stephannie Leach suggested that contracted braille would be best.
• The proposed height is 47" to mid -point of text.
7.0 LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT (LRT) UPDATE AND INPUT - Kimberly Moser
(Region of Waterloo)
• There will be 22 stops in total and 6 adapted Bus Stops.
• The Region of Waterloo looked at transit stops all over the world and used best
ideas from Portland, New Jersey and Minnesota.
• Anchor wall concepts were looked at and 4 different concepts. Channel glass,
field stone, historical anchor wall and a green wall.
• Lighting concepts - sound clue and audio clue as well. Lights will get brighter and
brighter as train nears. There will also be audio announcements.
• Kimberly is going to take back to the architects the concerns with the flashing
lights.
• Kimberly stated the landscaping concepts will be pleasing to the eye.
• The following was shared about the LRT stops.
• You will enter from right of platform
• Trains will be level to the platform
• Anchor wall will be used to protect people from elements.
• Trying to keep open as possible as to not create obstacles.
• You will be able to walk through canopy sections.
• The crosswalks will work the same as any other crosswalk.
• All designs meet AODA legislation thus far.
• Braille will be part of signage at stops
• The Grand River Hospital stop from the aerial view looks great.
• The Grand River Hospital Emergency Exit will be moved to Mount Hope St.
The LRT will be out front on King St. in the centre of the road.
• Signage will be plentiful.
• ABRT (Adapted Bus Rapid Transit) Platform - stops will be half the size of the
LRT (Light Rail Transit) stops.
August 2013 - GRAAC Minutes 3
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursdav Auaust 22. 2013
• The stops will have 2 glass canopies and 1 anchor wall.
• Designs for these are not finished yet.
• Stephannie Leach asked if these will be separate stops from GRT
(Grand River Transit) stops.
8.0 BUILT ENVIRONMENT UPDATE - Paula Saunders
• Region of Waterloo one of the locations has accessible meeting space at 150
Frederick St. In this space they have a family style washroom that is very large
and accommodating.
• On July 4, 2013 Paula Saunders met with Doug Hergott re: the Victoria Park
washrooms.
• Email re: Trail Walk. It will take place Monday with John Griffin. Starting point
will be on Grand River Drive.
• Is there a plan in case of inclement weather? Yes, people will hear from Lolita
and Paula if the walk is cancelled.
9.0 TRANSPORTAIN UPDATE - Carrie Speers and Dorothy Staal
• On August 8, 2013 Andrew Tutty, Carrie Speers and Dorothy Staal attended a
meeting re: smart cards.
• They suggested the top of the card be identifiable.
• Carrie stated that everything was well presented.
• Stephannie Leach shared her smart card from Brantford.
• It was suggested that the smart card be a key chain card.
• Suggested card would need to be able to read on either side.
• The Region is looking at being able to use the card on different transit systems.
• The Presto Card is being looked at however; it is not up to accessibility
standards.
• Back in June Andrew Tutty, Ken Parker and Carrie Speers attended a roundabout
meeting for Franklin and Saginaw Parkway in Cambridge. These same people
will be attending council tonight for the Region to suggest having signalized
intersection instead of roundabout.
10.0 COUNCIL REPORT - Berry Vrbanovic (City of Kitchener), Jean Haalboom
(Region of Waterloo)
• Berry Vrbanovic - City of Kitchener
• City of Kitchener - Good News - Kelly Galloway gave birth to a Baby Boy 7lbs
and 20" in length last week. Congratulations Kelly!
• Council is in a reduced meeting schedule right now.
• The City of Kitchener is dealing with development incentives on Downtown.
• Development charge rates get looked at every 5 years.
• This report will come available sometime in 2014.
• Jean Haalboom - Region of Waterloo
• Region of Waterloo has embarked upon strategies for seniors. The big concerns
are Transit and Housing.
• Representation from 3 cities and 4 regions.
August 2013 - GRAAC Minutes 4
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday August 22, 2013
• Jean encourages GRAAC to take a part in planning LRT.
11.0 CO -CHAIR REPORT — Andrew Tutty
• Andrew presented the snow removal letter to regional council 2 weeks ago and
has not heard anything so assumes it is accepted.
• GRT (Grand River Transit) reported to regional council the same evening.
Andrew is assuming from what they said that GRT is willing to work with GRAAC.
• Anthony Cashin thanked Andrew Tutty for presenting on behalf of GRAAC.
Adjournment/ Next Meeting
A motion was made by Carrie Speers, seconded by Stephannie Leach, to adjourn
the August meeting. The next meeting will be on September 26th, 2013 at 1:30
p.m. in the Conestoga Room at Kitchener City Hall.
August 2013 - GRAAC Minutes 5