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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2017-12-21/lfff�l Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee Date: Thursday December 21, 2017 Location: Conestoga Room, City of Kitchener Present: Sharon Giles (Co -Chair), Carrie Speers (Co -Chair), Paula Saunders, Brenda Robinson, Rob Bender, Donna Hartzler, Andrew Tufty, Mike Shipley, Councillor Sue Foxton (Region of Waterloo), Councillor Yvonne Fernandes (City of Kitchener), Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener/City of Waterloo), Ashley Sage (Township of North Dumfries), Shannon Sweeney (City of Kitchener) Regrets: Greg Moore, Keri Cameron, Jolene MacDonald, Gail Brunsdon, Dawn Clelland, Councillor Bob Mavin (City of Waterloo), Gina Hickman (Region of Waterloo), Amy Black (Township of Wellesley), Jeff Smith (Township of Woolwich), Absent: Dawn Mittelholtz (Township of Wilmot) 1.0 Welcome and Introductions • Carrie Speers called the meeting to order at 1:30pm. • Round table introductions 2.0 Approval of November Minutes and December Agenda • Motion to accept the November minutes and December Agenda — moved by Mike Shipley and seconded by Sharon Giles, carried 3.0 Declarations of Pecuniary Interests • None 4.0/5.0 City of Kitchener & City of Waterloo, Status Updates and Multi-year plans Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener/ City of Waterloo) • Lolita had distributed the information electronically before the meeting for review. • Lolita spoke to both Kitchener and Waterloo's status updates at the same time, explaining the differences. • Training portion 2017 status update. - The joint training brochures have been updated. - Revised legislation, July 2016. - The staff training brochures have been updated for both cities. - The staff mandatory online training has been updated for both cities. - Staff leads for neighbourhood association and affiliated groups for both cities are distributing the revised joint training brochures to volunteers. - Staff leads for direct city programs for both cities have distributed the revised joint training brochure and will continue to distribute to new volunteers. Accessibility Policy - The Accessibility policy for both cities was revised to reflect the July 2016 legislation updates revisions. Went to council in May 2017 and was approved. Training resources to update in 2018 - Lolita thanked GRAAC for the feedback given by members at the November 2017 GRAAC meeting on the "Guide to Accessibility Requirements when purchasing goods, services and facilities for the City." The guide was created with GRAAC's help and is now outdated. - Lolita will work with both cities purchasing staff to create an updated draft version of the guide and bring it to GRAAC for feedback. Lolita highlighted all the City of Kitchener and City of Waterloo projects that GRAAC provided advice for in 2017. New draft 2018-2022 Accessibility Plans • Multi Year Plan — This plan is revised every 5 years. - Our 2013-2017 multi-year plan was a combined City of Kitchener, City of Waterloo plan outlining compliance deadline dates. - The new plan is a little different because no new compliance deadline dates have been introduced. - The new plan is a continuation of the old plan. - The new plan will be a separate one for City of Kitchener and City of Waterloo to avoid confusion. - The new plans will look very similar for both cities. - The Province is required to release an Accessibility plan one year prior to municipalities and the Provinces plan is also a continuation of the previous plan. - Lolita went through the draft plan providing examples of work being done in each area. - Lolita highlighted that the plan is guided by the legislated requirements and that is how the previous plan was created and how the new plan continues to be. - Lolita shared that Province is legislated to do a review on each standard every 5 years. The Information and Communications standard is being reviewed now followed by the Employment standard and the Design of Public standard. Two new standards will be added in Education and Health Care. - Both cities Accessibility Plans identify that as standards are revised and new compliance deadlines are introduced that the cities will work towards meeting the requirements. Any updates will be included in the Annual Status Updates. Comments • Snow clearing paper - suggested that a delegation is done for the January 15, 2018 Public Input meeting in council chambers • Fire hydrant at Erb and King in Waterloo has been moved. • Transportation is done by the Region. • Continue to enforce the sidewalk snow clearing by-law. Residents must clear sidewalks of ice and snow within 24 hours after a snow fall or rain. • Paula wonders if the Health and Education committees have advisory committees. • Brenda asked if the paper to council was approved. She never did hear. - A GRAAC member stated that council cannot make a decision for all residents changing tax dollars for snow removal. - Council at that time decided to wait and see. - It was suggested by a councillor that we prepare a delegation and come to the Public Budget Input Meeting to bring this subject up again. - Suggested to ask Dawn Clelland to come out, if available, as she has presented before and did a great job. - Suggested that GRAAC present every year so it doesn't get forgotten. - Last year figures showed it would cost every tax paying residents in Kitchener $26 a year more in tax dollars for snow removal. Any additional comments for the Accessibility plan please contact Lolita. Lolita will be taking both 2018-2022 Accessibility Plans to councils in February 2018. 6.0 Councillor Reports — All Councillors • Sue Foxton — Region of Waterloo - Uber paid 7 cents per trip towards accessibility and they brought the Region $98,000. - Region is deciding what the money should be spent. Looks like it will go towards 2 accessible vehicles. - Going forward what do we want to spend the funds on? - Merry Christmas. • Yvonne Fernandes — City of Kitchener - Nothing new to report with the City of Kitchener - Merry Christmas. 7.0 Member Recognition — Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener/ City of Waterloo) • GRAAC's terms of reference state that you can do 2 terms in a row and then need to take a one year off before coming back. • 2 members of GRAAC have completed 2 terms. • Lolita highlighted all the work and commitment Carrie Speers and Paula Saunders have provided to GRAAC. • Lolita presented a certificate of appreciation to Carrie Speers and Paula Saunders. BREAK 8.0 Township of Wilmot, Status Update — Dawn Mittelholtz, Township of Wilmot • Deferred to January's meeting. 9.0 Township of North Dumfries, Status Update — Ashley Sage, Township of North Dumfries • Highlights of 2017 - New play structures built are AODA compliant. - Trails to the play structures have been constructed to be fully AODA compliant. - The new Township website has been launched to the public that is fully accessible. Ongoing updates will continue to be made to enhance the availability of information made available to the public. - The Township office was relocated to a new facility in 2015 that has many accessible features. The building was built in 2011 with many accessibility features including automatic doors, an elevator to the second and lower levels as well as visual fire alarms. Ongoing updates are continuously made to the building to continuously enhance accessibility in the building. - Township Council has approved the use of internet and telephone voting for the 2018 municipal elections. This will greatly enhance accessibility, as it relates to the electoral process. - The Township has hired a Facilities Supervisor. This is a newly created position that is responsible for the upkeep of Township buildings. - Township staff has completed the AODA Compliance Reporting required for 2017. Looking Ahead to 2018 - The Township of North Dumfries is committed to eliminating barriers and improving accessibility for persons with disabilities in a manner that respects dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity. The Township recognizes the diverse needs of all our residents and customers and will respond by striving to provide services and facilities that are accessible to all. The Township is committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting accessibility requirements. - Staff is committed to improving accessibility for the upcoming scheduled municipal elections. Township Council has approved the use of internet and telephone voting for the 2018 municipal elections, which will greatly improve accessibility for eligible electors. - With the changes in staff that have occurred, staff is intending to review policies and procedures and make any necessary changes (if required). Continue to enhance the Township's website. Continue to incorporate accessible features into Township projects 10.0 Accessible Taxi Fund Meeting Update —Andrew Tutty • December 13th at the Regional Council meeting • Andrew did the meeting via telephone conference from home. The meeting was with Dave Smith from Kiwanis Transit and a civilian named Andrew. • The funds from Uber were a topic on how to spend the funds. It was decided for this year to spend 70% going towards 2 vehicles and 30% going towards taxi scripts. • Taxi companies are working together and are moving to a rotational shift to allow 24-7 accessible rides. • Dave Smith is monitoring dialysis patients. They are 20% of Mobility Plus's business soon to be 28%. Looking for alternatives for this group. • There will be a series of meetings in 2018. Looking to have less operational costs. • This committee would like another GRAAC member to create a stronger voice. - Gina will follow up with this. • Andrew will take questions via email. 11.0 Built Environment Update— Paula Saunders • Put ION station on Charles and Gaukle. • The ION station at Charles and Gaukle belongs to the Region and the sidewalk belongs to the City of Kitchener. • Paula and Lolita met with City of Kitchener staff to explore options of how to make the entrance to the ION station accessible from the parking lot using the sidewalk. • Recommended to cut the curb to make it flush with the parking lot to allow a person access to the station. • Plans will be drawn up • Work to be completed in the Spring of 2018. 12.0 Co-chair/Staff Rep Reports — Carrie Speers, All Staff Reps • The Region of Waterloo, Lorie Fioze is looking for 4 members of GRAAC to participate in a consultation event to explore improving the wellbeing of Waterloo Region. The event is on January 23, 2018. An email was sent to all GRAAC members on December 20, 2017 with details and contact info. Any questions, please contact Lorie Fioze directly. • Carrie Speers and Paula Saunders thanked GRAAC and staff. Motion to Adjourn by Paula Saunders, seconded by Donna Hartzler and carried. Next meeting will be on Thursday January 25, 2018 City of Kitchener, 200 King St W — Conestoga Room Please send regrets to: Janis McKenzie at lanis.mckenziekitchener.ca or call 519-741-2200 Ext. 7225