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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC 2013-09-26Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee ( GRAAC) Thursday September 26, 2013 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room PRESENT: Andrew Tutty (Co- Chair), Anthony Cashin (Co- Chair), Carrie Speers, Paula Saunders, Amanda Moorhead, Ken Parker, Mike Shipley, Greg Moore, Dorothy Staal, Julia Sippel (North Dumfries), Gina Hickman (Region of Waterloo), Councillor Jeff Henry (City of Waterloo), 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 Berry Vrbanovic (City of Kitchener), Kaitlyn Draker (Wellesley) Val Hummel (Woolwich), David Kuhn, Keri Cameron ABSENT: Stephannie Leach GUESTS: Sharen Robinson (Region of Waterloo), Ed Toncic (Region of Waterloo), Deb Schlichter (Region of Waterloo) 1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS: • Andrew Tutty called the meeting to order. • Andrew Tutty welcomed all members; round table introductions. 2.0 APPROVAL OF AUGUST MINUTES & APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER AGENDA: • Motion by Carrie Speers, seconded by Mike Shipley to accept the minutes of the August meeting; all in favour. • Motion by Amanda Moorhead, seconded by Greg Moore to accept the September agenda; all in favour. 3.0 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS: • There were no pecuniary interests to declare. 4.0 SNOW REMOVAL — Sharen Robinson, Ed Toncic (Region of Waterloo) • Had record snowfalls in 2012/2013. • Sharen and Ed shared current snow removal processes and best and worst case scenarios. • The Region of Waterloo handles all bus stops in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Elmira and St. Jacobs. • The City of Cambridge is contracted out. • Until last year the City of Kitchener and Waterloo did their own bus stop clearing. Last year the Region of Waterloo took it over. • The Region understands last year was not perfect and through that learning year issues have been identified that will be addressed this year. • Sharen and Ed wanted GRAAC to be aware that there are different definitions in the different communities as to what bus stop clearing is. • Some communities do front door clearing. • Region of Waterloo wants 9 feet squared cleared at all stops. • The Region always tries to coordinate with road plows. • The only thing that that they think happened was the fact that all buses are now accessible. • The Region recognizes that they need to send out crews in a priority sequence. • The Region has already started a list from the calls they received last year as to what would potentially be priority stops. Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursdav Seutember 26. 2013 Comments • What kind of relationships do you have with the contractors doing the work? o We have a great relationship with these contractors and we can communicate changes as needed with them. The stumbling blocks come into place when bus stops are on private property for example malls. If they mall lot is not cleared that poses a problem for a person to get to the bus stop. • Carrie Speers asked if the whole 9 meters is cleared. o Yes it is. They don't have to go all the way back to the sidewalk but must be 2 meters. Grass can be plowed the 9 meters. The landing pads that are concrete are the best and easiest to clear. • Paula Saunders asked what qualifies as a priority on the priority list. o The Region is basing it on the phone calls received last year and areas where they know there is assisted living. The Region is open to suggestions and is asking for help with this list. • Anthony Cashin addressed a problem spot on Victoria Street where slush flies and freezes. • Ed Toncic is very aware of this problem. • Anthony stressed how dangerous it could be to people in wheelchairs. • Sharen and Ed stated that this stop will be on the priority list. • Ed understands this stop will require extra attention. • Amanda Moorhead asked when someone calls to report a problem what is the time frame in which it is handled? o The Region tries to clear as soon as possible. The majority of clearing happens after 7pm for the reason it is much safer at that time for the plows and clearing equipment to be on the road. More time will pass if there is snowfall taking place. • Greg Moore asked how many calls were there and how were they handled. o Ed Toncic said he had approximately 12 -15 calls and they were handled on a per call basis. All the areas that the calls were made about are now on the priority list. • Paula Saunders asked if the public knows where to call? • Ed and Sharen believe people know how to contact them. • Phone calls should be made to the Call Centre at 519 - 585 -7555. • Sharen and Ed said each stop has a unique number and providing this information is very helpful when there are problems. • Anthony asked if we could text pictures of stops that need cleared. Sharen and Ed encouraged us to do so through social media for example Twitter and Facebook. • Amanda asked if we should identify when it is an accessibility issue. o Both Sharen and Ed expressed this information would be very helpful. • Jeff Henry asked how the one call complaints are handled. How will we target areas that need attention? o Perhaps looking as to where people need to go for example the shopping malls. • If GRAAC members have ideas or suggestions please email Gina and she will forward your email to Ed or Sharen. • Gina will circulate the priority list to GRAAC members for feedback. • Andrew thanked Sharen and Ed for their time. September 2013 - GRAAC Minutes 2 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday September 26, 2013 BREAK 5.0 LONG -TERM HOUSING PLAN UPDATE (Including Affordable Accessible Housing) — Deb Schlichter (Region of Waterloo) Deb informed GRAAC that there is a long term housing and homelessness plan due by January 2014. Highlights • The Region is the service manager for our area. Some communities have never had a housing plan. • In order to update the Region's housing plan community consultations were held. • The focus of the information gathered will be for low to moderate income household's rental or home ownership. • Not just about affordable housing. There will be topics such as rental units and home ownership plans. • The long term plan will help with the short term housing. • One stumbling block for the Region is that homelessness and housing is in different departments. Homelessness is Social Services and Housing is Community Services. • The Homelessness Plan is available online on the Region's website. • The Region is trying to find out the needs of the community and GRAAC's input is critical and important. • Accessibility is a key concern. Also, needs for more supports (could be low level up to meal programs or needing 24/7 care) • Addressing the community housing waitlist. • Accessible units have been made a priority as the waitlists are long. Little movement means long waits for accessible housing. • Looking for solutions to address local problems. Areas of focus are seniors, family violence, aboriginals and accessible. • The accessible units are barrier free with visual alarms, and that have transit options available. • By 2013 one strategy was to have an additional 500 affordable units. This target was met. Since 2001 over 2000 additional affordable units were built. • The next step is for the public to come back together and discuss solutions. There will be two forums held on October 8th, 2013 in Waterloo and October 10th, 2013 in Cambridge. • Gina Hickman will email registration information. • There will also be a way to electronically submit ideas. • All the information collected will go to Regional Council for approval and then to the Ministry by January 2014. Comments • Amanda commented that there are people who can afford housing however require visual alarms and alerts. • Amanda expressed a concern saying people requiring these devices have been told the rental units are no longer available. • Most of the newer units are accessible. 6.0 BUILT ENVIRONMENT UPDATE — Paula Saunders September 2013 - GRAAC Minutes 3 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday September 26, 2013 Highlights • The organized Trail Walk with John Griffin from City of Waterloo has been cancelled twice due to weather and rain. • Two new dates were suggested October 3r6 or October 4th. Paula will email details to GRAAC members. • 8 people have shown interest in participating so we will try one more time. The walk will take a couple of hours. 7.0 COUNCILLOR'S REPORT(S) • No Councillor's report. 8.0 CO- CHAIRS REPORT — Andrew Tutty • The next GRAAC meeting will take place on October 24th, 2013 at 1:00p.m. • We are starting the meeting early for the reason GRT will be bringing one of the new accessible buses to City Hall for GRAAC to tour and ask questions and provide suggestions. • There will be an LRT Meeting at the Region on October 10th, 2013 from 12 -2pm. They will be discussing the LRT Stop design. Adjournment/ Next Meeting A motion was made by Ken Parker, seconded by Dorothy Staal, to adjourn the September meeting. The next meeting will be on October 24th, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. in the Conestoga Room at Kitchener City Hall. September 2013 - GRAAC Minutes 4