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Home My WebLink AboutGRAAC - 2018-12-2019 GRAND RIVER ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY GRAACCOMMITTEE Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee Date: Thursday, December 20, 2018 Location: Conestoga Room, City of Kitchener Present: Sharon Giles (Co -Chair), Greg Moore (Co -Chair), Rob Bender, Donna Hartzler, Mike Shipley, Paula Saunders, Gail Brunsdon, Ben Benninger, Brenda Robinson, Andrew Tutty, Jolene MacDonald, Councillor Sue Foxton (Region of Waterloo), Councillor Kelly Galloway- Sealock (City of Kitchener), Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener/City of Waterloo) Sanjay Govindaraj (Region of Waterloo), Tracey Murray (Township of Wilmot), Ashley Sage (Township of North Dumfries), Lesley Roach (ASL Interpreter), Karen Panchaud (ASL Interpreter) Regrets: Keri Cameron, Dawn Clelland, Rhonda -Marie Parke, Jeff Smith (Township of Woolwich), Janis McKenzie (City of Kitchener) Absent: Amy Harron (Township of Wellesley) Guests: Jaclyn Varga, Amy Ross (City of Waterloo) Welcome and Introductions Greg called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Round table introductions 2.0 Approval of November Minutes and December Agenda Motion to accept the November minutes — moved by Mike and seconded by Donna, carried and December Agenda — moved by Mike, and seconded by Donna, carried. 3.0 Declarations of Pecuniary Interests Jolene MacDonald declared that Jolene's company, Accessibrand, awarded the project from the City of Kitchener, Technical Manual Parks & Trails Wayfinding Signage and includes design of two current development signs. 4.0 City of Kitchener 2018 Status Update Accessibility Plan Lolita Paroski shared the draft 2018 status update is designed based on the same lines of the accessibility plan to make it easy to track progress. Page 1 of 5 • The City of Kitchener 2018 Draft Status update sent to all GRAAC members prior to the meeting for review. Lolita summarized the 2018 Draft Status update on the general requirements commitments and standards commitments. • Shared the Design of Public Spaces Standard Maintenance of accessible elements chart outlines procedures for preventative maintenance and procedures for emergency maintenance and procedures for dealing with temporary disruptions. • In 2018, GRAAC provided feedback for the following City of Kitchener projects; Snow Angels Study, Doon Pioneer Park Centre Addition, South Kitchener District Park Playground Area and Splash Pad, Outdoor Gym at Victoria Park, Accessibility of City of Kitchener ION stop locations, Painted Crosswalk Accessibility, Pool lift at Breithaupt Centre, Kitchener Leisure Facilities Master Plan and the update on the Snow Angels Program. • Lolita will add projects GRAAC provides feedback from this meeting to the list. 5.0 City of Waterloo 2018 Status Update Accessibility Plan Lolita Paroski shared the draft 2018 status update is designed based on the same lines of the accessibility plan to make it easy to track progress. • The City of Waterloo 2018 Draft Status update sent to all GRAAC members prior to the meeting for review. Lolita summarized the 2018 Draft Status update on the general requirements commitments and standards commitments. • Shared the Design of Public Spaces Standard Maintenance of accessible elements chart outlines procedures for preventative maintenance and procedures for emergency maintenance and procedures for dealing with temporary disruptions. • In 2018, GRAAC provided feedback for the following City of Waterloo projects; Farmers Market Trail, 2018 Elections Accessibility Plan, Accessibility of City of Waterloo ION stop locations, Waterloo Park Wayfinding and Carnegie Library. • Lolita will add projects GRAAC provides feedback from this meeting to the list. Comments for items 4.0 and 5.0: It looks like City websites are the main way to access the accessibility plan, policy, status updates and other city services. A person with a developmental disability may find it challenging to navigate through a website to access the information. There could be a possibility of getting some training using a community partner to train community residents on how to access City websites for information. Need clarity on Regional and City sidewalks. 6.0 City of Waterloo Strategic Plan working group (Amy Ross and Jaclyn Varga) • Amy and Jaclyn requested feedback from GRAAC on the City of Waterloo old strategic plan and how would they like to see new strategic plan moving forward. • The survey form sent to GRAAC to consider the five questions prior to the meeting. Page 2 of 5 • The survey is also available on the City of Waterloo website for feedback from the community. • Deadline for feedback is January 31, 2019. Comments: need to include principles of inclusion for example in Multi -modal transportation. 7.0 Councillor Reports — All Councillors Councillor Kelly Galloway-Sealock • Reported that Councillor Debbie Chapman appointed to GRAAC and will be starting once her winter term of teaching is completed. Councillor Kelly Galloway-Sealock will be covering in the interim or Councillor Sarah Marsh will cover when Councillor Kelly Galloway-Sealock is not available. • Budget reviews is in progress and January 21, 2019 is the public budget input meeting to provide feedback on the budget. • Mayors New Year levee is on Sunday January 6, 2019 at Kitchener City Hall and open for all to attend. Councillor Sue Foxton • Reported that she has been appointment for another term to GRAAC, however not on the special transit. A new bylaw that you cannot sit on two citizen committees. We need to continue to have a member from GRAAC on special transit. Greg — Who initiated the policy to have the limit to have only one Committee? Sue - This could be due to having citizens enroll on multiple committees and not attending. Brenda — Need to have better advertisement and make it essential to have someone with disabilities on every committee. Paula — GRAAC does not have the capacity to have the special transit committee rolled into GRAAC. Sue - There is a requirement to have a special transit committee and not roll it onto GRAAC. Kelly — There could be an option to have the special transit committee as a sub -committee. Presentation — Lolita — Two members on GRAAC completing their 2nd term with GRAAC on December 20, 2018. Mike Shipley (Township of Woolwich) and Andrew Tutty (City of Kitchener). Lolita shared a few of the projects that Mike and Andrew contributed both to GRAAC and other Municipal projects. Mike and Andrew presented with a certificate. Break (Christmas Social) 8.0 North Dumfries 2018 Status Update Accessibility Plan • Ashley Sage presented the Township of North Dumfries 2018 Status Update to the Accessibility Plan. • The Status Update report sent to GRAAC prior to the meeting. Ashley summarized. Page 3 of 5 • Highlights for 2018; - The Township launched a new website the end of 2017. Worked throughout 2018 on improving it and will continue that work in 2019. - Service counters at the North Dumfries Community Complex lowered. - A new play structure built at Clyde Park. - Completed sidewalk new construction missing links and a number of road surfacing projects took place. 9.0 City of Kitchener Parks and Trails sign designs Jolene MacDonald, Accessibrand working on a technical manual for wayfinding signage. • Focus on Iron Horse Trail and Schlegel Park. • Presented preliminary ideas to GRAAC. • Design objectives for signs to be simple and clear. • Consistent branding for signage. • Jolene shared preliminary options for Iron Horse Trail and Schlegel Park concepts. Comments: preferred white background with dark lettering. Action: Jolene will send preliminary design concepts to Lolita to forward to GRAAC members for feedback. 10.0 Built Environment Update Paula Saunders provided a Built Environment update. • Gaukel Street ION stop crosswalk from City of Kitchener parking lot to ION station is completed. Coordinated work between Regional and City staff. This has enhanced accessibility for all persons. • Paula and Lolita went to the Registry Theatre for a site visit to assist with a customer built environment concern. An outdoor sign to be design and placed outside to direct customers where the accessible door entrance is. The indoor signage with instructions on use of the elevator to be redesign to provide clarity. As requested by members at last month GRAAC meeting the draft GRAAC — Painted Crosswalks Accessibility Comments sheet is re -written. The new draft sent to members prior to this meeting. Comments; the opening paragraph to remove "must be followed" to "should be followed" and the opening paragraph to add "safety concerns for persons with disabilities". Moved by Sharon Giles Second by Jolene MacDonald Motion "That the GRAAC — Painted Crosswalks Accessibility Comments be approved as amended at this December 20, 2018 GRAAC meeting." Carried Page 4 of 5 11.0 Co-chair/Staff Reports • Lolita reminded members to reply to Janis if interested in attending the City of Kitchener All Committee meeting. The meeting is on the same day as the January 24, 2019 GRAAC meeting and will start at 5:30pm in the Rotunda at Kitchener City Hall. • Greg shared that CTV news interviewed him on snow removal and the new bylaw. Motion to Adjourn by Andrew, seconded by Donna and carried. Next meeting will be on Thursday January 24, 2019 City of Kitchener, 200 King St W — Conestoga Room Please send regrets to: Janis McKenzie at janis.mckenzie(o)-kitchener.ca or call 519-741-2200 Ext. 7225 Page 5 of 5