HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC 2015-04-23Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee
Date: Thursday April 23 d, 2015
Location: Conestoga Room, Kitchener City Hall
Present:
Amanda Moorhead, Sharon Giles, Paula Saunders, Carrie Speers, Mike Shipley, Dawn
Clelland, Brenda Robinson, Kathie Must, Councillor Sue Foxton (Region of Waterloo), Vanessa
Lopak (Region of Waterloo), Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener /City of Waterloo), Julie Forth
(Township of Woolwich), Johanna Ellis (City of Kitchener, Recorder)
Regrets:
Councillor Kelly Galloway - Sealock (City of Kitchener), Councillor Bob Mavin (City of Waterloo),
Keri Cameron, Greg Moore (Co- Chair), David Kuhn (Co- Chair), Andrew Tutty, Laura Master,
Julia Sippel (Township of North Dumfries), Kaitlyn Werth (Township of Wellesley)
Guests:
Donna Hartzler (Township of Wilmot), Rob Bender (Township of Wilmot), Deb Bergey (Region
of Waterloo), Sandy Nickel (City of Kitchener), Melissa Illsley (Co -op student CHS)
1.0 Welcome and Introductions (Sharon Giles)
• Sharon welcomed everyone
• Round table introductions
2.0 Approval of March Minutes and April Agenda
• Moved by Mike Shipley, seconded by Carrie Speers to accept the March minutes.
CARRIED
• Moved by Amanda Moorhead, seconded by Paul Saunders to accept the April agenda.
CARRIED
3.0 Declarations of Pecuniary Interests
• None
4.0 E- Services (Deb Bergey, Sandy Nickel)
• E- Services are services that can be accessed electronically.
• The Region and the cities are working together to coordinate e- services to create a
more seamless service environment.
• Principles of e- services are:
➢ Accessible /AODA complaint
➢ Based on user needs and user tested
➢ Build on existing processes
➢ Level on interest/impact /volume high; complexity; within regional control
• Help the public focus groups to identify priority e- services such as:
➢ GRT schedules /routes
➢ Garbage information
➢ Road information
➢ Local government contacts
➢ Hospital wait times
➢ Waterloo Wellington airport information etc.
• The Cities have Ping Street.
• The Region will launch Ping Street in the coming months.
• There is a variety of information available to Ping St and each municipality has items
that look a little different and some the same. This is dependent on the needs of the
community in order of importance attained from focus groups sessions.
• You can report issues (such as potholes) right on the application. The menu is simple
to follow.
• Pin Street provides information that citizens want.
• To date The City of Kitchener has over 4,000 users.
• This program is going through continuous improvements.
• Working on connecting the technology between the cities and region.
Comments from GRAAC members:
• GRAAC's concern is not so much with roads as with sidewalks and bus pads.
• Ensure information that is available on e- services are also available through other
channels (i.e. also available on the website, through the telephone, etc.)
• Would like to have information about trail conditions and accessibility, presented in a
mapped format.
• Would like to have information on the availability of pedestrian signals, presented in a
mapped format.
• Would like the ability to report pedestrian signals that are not working.
BREAK
5.0 Installation of Smart Boards (Mary Ruehlicke, City of Kitchener)
• This project is to refresh the technology in boardrooms and make it easier to navigate
and more accessible.
• Using the Information Technology Department boardroom as a test boardroom.
• Looking for portable options as well.
• The I.T. Department wants to make computers and technology easier to use.
• They are focusing on easy to read instructions, keeping in mind physical considerations.
• Future additions to the system will include video conferencing.
• White board is animated and you can change the colour by tapping the screen.
• Suggested that bottom of screen align with top of board. This is so a presenter who is in
a seated position can reach the control panels on the screen.
• Suggested considering placement of screen to avoid glare from windows.
Comments:
• Need to make sure that controls for usage follow the Ontario Building code same as light
switch height requirements.
• Positioning of the speaker /presenter is important. For example, reading lips.
April 23rd, 2015 — GRAAC Minutes Page 2
6.0 Councillor(s) Report(s)
• No report
7.0 Transportation Committee Update (Sharon Giles)
• There will be a transportation meeting held on May 21St, 2015 at the Region of Waterloo,
150 Frederick St. Room 217.
• Vanessa will send out a confirmation email with details.
• All are welcome to attend.
8.0 Co -Chair Report
• Strategic Planning session at the Region of Waterloo had a great turnout.
• Huge concern around snow removal.
• Currently in the data collection stage. Lori Fioze collecting information from all groups.
• Online survey available at http:/ /stratchat.regionofwaterloo.ca/
9.0 Staff Report(s)
• Vanessa reported on a previous question regarding the addition of "New Business" to
the GRAAC agenda.
• Staff and Co- Chairs discussed this and due to time constraints, it was suggested that
any new business could be submitted to Co- Chairs 2 weeks prior to GRAAC meeting.
Consideration would then be made to add the item to the agenda. If the item is urgent,
email the committee directly.
• Lolita reported that Councillor Whaley has been reassigned and the City of Waterloo has
appointed Councillor Bob Mavin to GRAAC.
• Everyone would have received an email from Karrie Zettler (Volunteer Coordinator, City
of Kitchener) for the Volunteer Recognition celebration being held on Friday May 22nd
2015, 6:15 — 8:30. At the Region of Waterloo Museum. If you are planning on attending
please RSVP by May 8th, 2015. Contact Karrie and let her know if you require any
accommodations to attend.
• Motion to Adjourn by Paula Saunders, seconded by Amanda Moorhead and carried.
Next meeting is Thursday May 28th, 2015 at Kitchener City Hall in the Conestoga Room
April 23rd, 2015 — GRAAC Minutes Page 3