HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-18-001 - 2018 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) AppointmentsREPORT TO: Community & Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: January 8, 2018
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Hildebrand, Director Community Programs and Services,
519-741-2200 ext.7687
PREPARED BY: Lolita Paroski, Inclusion Coordinator, 519-741-2200ext. 7226
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: November 20, 2017
REPORT NO.: CSD-18-001
SUBJECT: Appointments to the Grand River Accessibility Advisory
Committee (2018)
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RECOMMENDATION:
That the following applicants be appointed to the Grand River Accessibility
Advisory Committee for a 4-year term ending December 31, 2021, pending
ratification by the partnering municipalities of the City of Waterloo, Region of
Waterloo, Township of North Dumfries, Township of Wellesley, Township of
Wilmot and Township of Woolwich; and further,
That Andrew Tutty, Mike Shipley and Brenda Robinson be reappointed for an
additional year ending December 31, 2018.
NameLocation New or Reappointment
BenBenningerTownship of North DumfriesNew
Rhonda-Marie ParkeCity of KitchenerNew
Staff Representation Independent Living Centre of New
Waterloo Region
Sharon Giles City of KitchenerReappointment
Dawn ClellandCity of KitchenerReappointment
BACKGROUND:
Under the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
(AODA), all municipalities with a population of 10,000 or greater are required to
establish an Accessibility Advisory Committee to advise Council on the prevention,
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identification and removal of barriers for persons with disabilities. The Grand River
Accessibility Committee (GRAAC) is a joint committee of the Cities of Kitchener and
Waterloo, the Region of Waterloo and the Townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley,
Wilmot and Woolwich and is appointed the task of advising the participating
municipalities on accessibility planning.
REPORT:
The Terms of Reference of GRAAC were adopted by Council in 2003. In April 2015,
revisions were made to the Terms of Reference to permit representation from the
Township of Wilmot and to change the length of terms from 3 years to 4. In order to
align all GRAAC members on the same appointment term three members are being
recommended for reappointment for one additional year.
The Terms of Reference of GRAAC 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 4 year terms 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
2018 committee will have a total of fifteen members.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Safe and Thriving Neighbourhoods
This committee provides persons with disabilities the opportunity to discuss,
define and address their shared vision in regards to the identification, removal
and prevention of barriers in City facilities, programs and services.
Consulting with persons with disabilities in an advisory role increases the
capacity of the City to ensure a greater degree of access, equity and inclusion in
the life of the Corporation.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
NIL
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
The community was informed of the opportunity to participate on the Grand River
Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) by way of electronic postings on all
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media feeds.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:Michael May, DCAO, Community Services
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