HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-15-004 - 2015 Appointments to the Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee Staff Report
I rTC'.�► t .R Community Services Department wmkitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Finance and Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: January 19, 2015
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Hildebrand, Director, 519-741-2200 ext 7687
PREPARED BY: Lolita Paroski, Inclusion Coordinator, 519-741-2200 ext 7226
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: December 15th, 2014
REPORT NO.: CSD-15-004
SUBJECT: APPOINTMENTS TO THE GRAND RIVER ACCESSIBILITY
ADVISORY COMMITTEE (2015)
RECOMMENDATION:
That the following applicants be appointed to the Grand River Accessibility
Advisory Committee (GRAAC) for a 3-year term ending December 31St, 2017,
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:
Kathie Must City of Waterloo New
Brenda Robinson City of Waterloo New
Andrew Tutty City of Kitchener Reappointment
Amanda Moorhead City of Kitchener Reappointment
Mike Shipley Township of Woolwich Reappointment
BACKGROUND:
Under the 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.
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REPORT:
The GRAAC Terms of Reference (as approved 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 term 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 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
2015 committee will have a total of thirteen 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:
NA
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
The community was informed of the application process for the Grand River
Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) via electronic postings on municipal
websites, the GRAAC website, at local community organizations including disability
service providers and on all participating Municipalities' social media feeds.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Michael May, Deputy CAO, Community Services
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