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Home My WebLink AboutGRAAC - 2014-03-27Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee Date: March 27th, 2014 Location: Conestoga Room, City Hall, Kitchener Present: Greg Moore (Co- Chair), Andrew Tutty (Co- Chair), Keri Cameron, Anthony Cashin, Sharon Giles, Laura Master, Paula Saunders, Mike Shipley, Dorothy Staal, Christine Taylor, Councillor Jean Haalboom (Region of Waterloo), Councillor Jeff Henry (City of Waterloo), Councillor Berry Vrbanovic (City of Kitchener), Karen Panchaud (ASL Interpreter), Lesley Roach (ASL Interpreter), Julia Sippel (Township of North Dumfries), Kaitlyn Draker (Township of Wellesley), Vanessa Lopak (Region of Waterloo), Pam Albrecht (City of Kitchener, City of Waterloo), Shannon Sweeney (Recorder) Regrets: Valrie Hummel (Township of Woolwich), David Kuhn, Carrie Speers, Dawn Clelland and Amanda Moorhead Guests: Ashley Clairmont (Student ASL Interpreter) 1.0 Welcome and Introductions • Andrew Tutty called the meeting to order. • Andrew Tutty welcomed all members; round table introductions. 2.0 Approval of February Minutes and March Agenda • Motion by Keri Cameron, seconded by Anthony Cashin to accept the minutes of the February meeting minutes; all in favour. • Motion by Mike Shipley, seconded by Sharon Giles to accept the March agenda; all in favour. 3.0 Declarations of Pecuniary Interest • There were no pecuniary interests to declare. 4.0 GRAAC Self Evaluation Discussion Continued — Andrew Tutty • Mike Shipley commented that GRAAC should refresh every few months what the scope of GRAAC is. • GRAAC needs to think about different viewpoints and different disabilities. • Sharon Giles suggested it wouldn't hurt to review the Terms of Reference periodically. • Mike Shipley also noted that some issues are more relevant than others. 5.0 AODA Customer Service Regulation — Pam Albrecht (City of Kitchener/ City of Waterloo) • The Province is conducting a review of the Customer Service Standard. • Reviews of the standards are required every 5 years. This became law in 2007. • Customer Service Standard requires that businesses and organizations provide goods and services in an accessible way — develop policies, practices and procedures; ensure staff are trained on serving customers with disabilities; documents must be available in alternative formats upon request. • The Province is asking for feedback by April 16, using an online form • There are 4 major areas this review is looking at: o Class structure on how organizations are defined — proposed changes would make class structure the same as in the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) • Proposed changes to wording with regard to policies, how training requirements are explained, how feedback processes are explained and the requirement to provide alternate formats would match the wording in the IASR. • Definition of a Service Animal — expanded to be more clear; letter of confirmation could be provided by any regulated health professional • Requirements with regard to support persons — organizations must consult a person with a disability and have evidence that there is a risk to health and safety before requiring that the person be accompanied by a support person • Pam noted that the changes will have little to no impact on how municipalities implement the Customer Service Standard. Next Steps • Given the minimal impact, GRAAC decided not to provide feedback on these proposed changes at this time. 6.0 AODA Legislation Review Discussion — Vanessa Lopak (Region of Waterloo) • The Province is conducting an independent review of the AODA and accompanying regulations. • Opportunity for the public to provide feedback on the AODA — deadline of June 1, 2014 • A discussion led by Vanessa Lopak and GRAAC Staff to determine what feedback to provide to the Province. • See attached discussion notes (Appendix A). • In order to understand if enforcement process is working, the question was asked as to whether any organizations have been fined under the AODA • Staff not aware of any fines, but this information may not be made public. Next Steps • Andrew Tutty and Greg Moore will take themes generated and prepare a written submission to the province • GRAAC members agreed that they would like copies of their feedback to the Province sent to participating Councils as information. March 27, 2014 — GRAAC Minutes Page 2 7.0 Built Environment — Paula Saunders • Paula Saunders and Pam Albrecht met with Parking staff from City of Kitchener. Request for directional signage in the City Hall garage for accessible parking spaces. • Sidewalks — there have been a number of projects where the inclusion of sidewalks has been in question. • Paula proposed that GRAAC have a standard letter outlining the committee's position on the importance of including sidewalks. • Greg Moore is currently revising a letter he shared with Waterloo Council. • GRAAC is very clear sidewalks are always needed on both sides of the street. Questions /Comments • Berry Vrbanovic (City of Kitchener) stated a vote in council supported (5 -4 vote) to include sidewalks in a larger roads improvement project. However, a motion is coming before Council to revisit that decision. • Sharon Giles asked the Councillors what objections residents share with them regarding including sidewalks. • Concerns include the removal of trees, removal of landscaping that residents plant on City -own frontage, and responsibility for snow removal. • Jean Haalboom asked if the 1.9 metres is a must for sidewalk width. Is it possible to determine size per project to save mature trees? • Paula Saunders to look at whether any give can be made. She said she is always hesitant because then more is always pushed for. 8.0 Councilors Report Jean Haalboom's Report — Region of Waterloo • Committees for EMS to review response times. • There will be another meeting in April to discuss the Airport Master Plan taking place at the Regional Museum. • Plaques speaking to our leather, button, felt and wood industries will be mounted soon under the railway on Weber Street. Jeff Henry's Report — City of Waterloo • More designs have been put forward for the Uptown streetscape project. • Requesting staff to look at bike lanes. • Public Information Centres will take place in April or May. • The Costco Application will be submitted for Erb Street West. • Residents are concerned about traffic burdens. • Costco wants to be open by December 2014. Berry Vrbanovic's Report — City of Kitchener • Councillor Vrbanovic is putting forward a motion to ask Canada Post to give further consideration to plan to end home delivery. • So far no dialogue with municipalities on this issue. • Would like more dialogue regarding location of boxes, how they will be maintained, issues related to accessibility. March 27, 2014 — GRAAC Minutes Page 3 • Bearskin Airlines is ending service between KW and Ottawa. Part of a larger round of cuts, e.g. North Bay — Ottawa route also being cut. • The airport is trying to recruit another airline. 9.0 Co -chair Report • North Dumfries will be hosting GRAAC website. The new url is www .northdumfries.ca /en /graac.asp • Some participating municipalities have a policy against advisory committees having their own social media presence. However, GRAAC can send messages via Corporate Facebook and Twitter accounts. • The GRT focus group only had 3 people in attendance. During this meeting it was found out that buses will have audible information. • This was Shannon Sweeney's last meeting with GRAAC. The committee presented her with flowers as a thank you for her work. 10.0 Staff Report • Vanessa Lopak (Region of Waterloo) received a letter today about a public consultation on April 3 d, 2014 from 5:OOpm to 8:00 pm at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Cambridge. • Monday March 31St 2:OOpm to 4:OOpm there will be a focus group to review and get input on Region's services. How to navigate their services and does it make sense? Glen Pelletier will be leading this focus group and all are encouraged to attend. • Pam Albrecht (City of Kitchener/ City of Waterloo) announced Shannon Sweeney (City of Kitchener) has finished her secondment and would like to welcome Johanna Ellis (City of Kitchener) back to her position. 11.0 Adjournment/ Next Meeting A motion was made by Paula Saunders seconded by Sharon Giles, to adjourn the March meeting. The next meeting will be on April 24th, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. in the Conestoga Room at Kitchener City Hall. March 27, 2014 — GRAAC Minutes Page 4 Appendix A — AODA Legislation Review Discussion Notes What does a fully accessible Ontario look like to you? • Allows everyone to go everywhere they want to go — everywhere, all the time • Consistency — difference between public and private sectors; public sector doing better What would you like to see included in the AODA? • More training • Stricter regulations — retrofits • Incentives or grants for businesses to help them become more accessible • Housing — accessible, affordable requirement for builders — apply to homes, not just buildings (10 % of apts in a building should be accessible according to building code) • Health Care — more assistance with things like way finding; doctor's offices should have to be accessible What do you think businesses and organizations need to do in order to be accessible? • Ensure training happens, be welcoming Other comments • What is happening re enforcement? • Is training actually happening? • Complaints process — intimidating, not very accessible; have to provide own lawyer? • English not first language for everyone — consider this re training • Do we need the word "fully" re accessibility? • More training re people with less visible disabilities • Provide multiple formats of documents, policies on accessibility • Emergency Services — e.g. fire alarms with visual component important • Regular reviews of the AODA — technology changes, must be on top of the changes • Important that businesses and organizations do not make assumptions about what people with disabilities need — more information about needs March 27, 2014 — GRAAC Minutes Page 5