The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutGRAAC - 2017-03-23Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee Date: Thursday March 23d, 2017 Location: Conestoga Room, City of Kitchener Present: Carrie Speers (Co -Chair), Sharon Giles (Co -Chair), Keri Cameron, Donna Hartzler, Rob Bender, Mike Shipley, Brenda Robinson, Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener /City of Waterloo), Johanna Ellis (City of Kitchener), Councillor Sarah Marsh (City of Kitchener), Councillor Sue Foxton (Region of Waterloo) Regrets: Paula Saunders, Greg Moore, Jolene MacDonald, Andrew Tutty, Dawn Clelland, Michele Cadotte, Julie Forth (Township of Woolwich), Dawn Mittelholtz (Township of Wilmot), Amy Black (Township of Wellesley), Councillor Bob Mavin (City of Waterloo), Gina Hickman (Region of Waterloo) Absent: Lori Heinbuch (Township of North Dumfries) Guests: Anna Lee Sangster (City of Waterloo), Tim McCormick (Stantec) 1.0 Welcome and Introductions • Carrie Speers called the meeting to order at 1:30pm • Round table introductions 2.0 Approval of February Minutes and March Agenda • Motion to accept the March agenda with an amendment to agenda item 7. In Jolene's absence, the committee review the choices for the Logo for the April meeting; Motion by Sharon Giles and seconded by Keri Cameron, carried • Motion to accept the February minutes by Mike Shipley and seconded by Donna Hartzler, carried 3.0 Declarations of Pecuniary Interests • None 4.0 Central Promenade through Waterloo Park — Tim McCormick • Working through the functional design of the Central Promenade in Waterloo. • Tim McCormick, consultant from Stantec, told the committee that 30% of the design is complete and they are hoping to have it up to 60% within the next few weeks. • Looking at improvements by the LRT at Seagram Drive. • Tim went over the power point presentation of proposed improvements. Here are the highlights: Variety of accessible surfaces will be used between the 4 nodes proposed. 4 nodes proposed are: 1. Educational GRAAC — March 2017 Minutes Page 1 2. Multicultural 3. Historical 4. Technology - There will be gateways to the nodes that will describe it and be its' own space. - Nodes are approximately 75 — 100 meters apart. Seating between nodes is an option. Would like to see as many rest areas as possible. - A "glowing" trail has been proposed. Tim brought in a sample, of the materials used to make the trail glow in the dark, for the committee to see. Currently working with the Perimeter institute to see if there is a pattern that can be used for the glowing trail. - Joint cycle and pedestrian trail from the bridges to the plazas on Caroline St. Question: What is the texture of the glowing material? Answer: Relatively smooth is what is being looked at. Question: Will the glowing trail be wheelchair friendly? Answer: Yes, same standards as all accessible trails. - Suggestion to have an information button at each node for those who have low to no vision. - All details will be in compliance with the City of Waterloo's Accessibility plan standards. 5.0 Central Street Pedestrian Entry, City of Waterloo — Tim McCormick • An update provided to GRAAC on Central Street pedestrian entry. • Surface has been upgraded. • Have received additional funding that will allow improvements to be made to the Central Street entrance of Waterloo Park. 6.0 Updates to City of Kitchener and City of Waterloo Accessibility Policies — Lolita • Both cities have similar policies. • Lolita will be going to both city councils with amendments to the policies as per the Ontario Standards to address changes that have been made. • July 1St, 2016, changes were made to some of the pieces within the customer service standard where it was merged into the integrated accessibility standards regulation. • Lolita gave a "draft" to the committee. • Goods and services has been updated to include; Goods, services and/or facilities. • Another area that has expanded is the service animal piece. Identifying more designated health care professionals to provide documentation to a person requiring a service animal. • Lolita is updating all resources and training brochures for staff and volunteers. • Training — to train anyone, staff and volunteers. Kitchener and Waterloo have already done this and have logged and tracked all of the training. GRAAC — March 2017 Minutes Page 2 Break (20 mins) 7.0 GRAAC Logo — Sharon Giles updated • Examples of the two (2) designs by Jolene MacDonald were handed out to the committee. • Committee to take away, look them over and prepare to discuss with Jolene at the next meeting. 8.0 GRAAC 2017 Work Plan Re -Cap — Sharon Giles • 2017 GRAAC Priorities Workplan handout was distributed to the committee. • Sharon went over the handout with the committee and asked if there was something else that was missed. Committee agreed that the handout captured everything. 9.0 Built Environment Update — Lolita Paroski • Mark Parris met with Paula Saunders and Lolita Paroski on March 21 to present the Trans Canada Trail Infill Project between Carwood and Haywood Avenue. • Project is in early design now. • Aim for construction at the end of the year. • The project is part of a municipal cycling grant. • Two intersections (Carwood and Courtland) and (Overland Drive). • Radar detection at intersections rather than push button. • Surface of 3 meter wide asphalt pavement. • Will be one of the priorities to maintain in the winter months . • Signage will be posted at entry points. Comments from GRAAC: • Rest areas as frequently as possible. • Accessible signage at all possible entry points. • The chirping sound at the crossings to notify persons with visual disabilities. • Regular maintenance of any bushes on the trail. 10.0 Councillor Report(s) • Councillor Foxton took the snow removal letter to ROMA Conference (Rural Ontario Municipal Association) and gave some out at the display tables for attendees. • Councillor Marsh shared a couple of new initiatives at The City of Kitchener. Council has approved the Neighbourhood Strategy. Turning toward citizen driven initiatives rather than staff driven. Staffing structure at the community centres was changed to reflect this. • Recently approved digital Kitchener strategy. • The Mayor's State of the City address will be held at the Stanley Park Community Centre on April 4th GRAAC — March 2017 Minutes Page 3 11. Co-Chair/Staff Report(s) • Lolita handed out an invitation to the annual volunteer appreciation celebration. This years' theme is Night with the Stars. All GRAAC members are invited. The event will be held on Friday May 12th, 2017. • Karrie Zettler will be sending out an email to all volunteers. • Lolita forwarded an email to the committee regarding a community accessibility forum. This forum is to be held in Kitchener on May 23,d. Several members of GRAAC have already registered. Gina Hickman (Region of Waterloo staff) and Julie Forth (Township of Woolwich staff) will be attending. • Saturday March 25th, 2017 in the rotunda from 1 — 4 pm, there will be a Waterloo Region welcomes refugee event. • There will be an ION open house to look at one of the rail cars, on April 8th • Sharon serves as a volunteer on the Special Transit Services Advisory Committee — Region Mobility Plus. There are currently looking for another member for that committee. Any interested GRAAC members can contact Dave Smith, Special Transit Manager at the Region of Waterloo. 12. Adjournment • Motion by Donna Hartzler and seconded by Brenda Robinson Next meeting will be on Thursday April 27th, 2017 City of Kitchener, 200 King St W — Conestoga Room Please send regrets to: Johanna Ellis at lohanna.elliskitchener.ca or call 519-741-2200 Ext. 7225 GRAAC — March 2017 Minutes Page 4