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Home My WebLink About2019-12-19 GRAAC Date: Thursday, December 19, 2019 Location: Conestoga Room, City of Kitchener Present: Brenda Robinson (Co-Chair), Paula Saunders, Donna Hartzler, Janis McKenzie (City of Kitchener), Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener/City of Waterloo), Sanjay Govindaraj (Region of Waterloo), Trevor Tamlin, Jolene MacDonald (Co-Chair), Councillor Sue Foxton (Region of Waterloo), Dawn Clelland, Jeff Smith (Township of Woolwich), Ashley Sage (Township of North Dumfries) Regrets: Rob Bender, Councillor Debbie Chapman (City of Kitchener), Councillor Sandra Hanmer (City of Waterloo), Tracey Murray (Township of Wilmot), Greg Moore, Caitlin Gillis (Township of Wellesley) Welcome and Introductions Brenda called the meeting to order at 1:40 p.m. Round table introductions 2.0 Approval of December agenda and November minutes Donna motioned to accept December agenda, Jolene seconded Donna motioned to accept November minutes, Jolene seconded tğŭĻ Њ ƚŅ Б 3.0 Declarations of Pecuniary Interests None Lolita shared the City of Kitchener procedures for preventative and emergency maintenance of the accessible elements in public spaces and procedures for dealing with temporary disruptions when accessible elements are not in working order. 4.0 City of Kitchener, 2019 Status Update on the Accessibility Plan Lolita Paroski The City of Kitchener Accessibility Plan for 2018-2022 describes how the Corporation will continue to prevent and remove accessibility barriers. The Status update provides the progress on the implementation of the plan. Lolita highlighted the 2019 Status Updates on the Accessibility Policy, Accessibility Plan, Procurement, Training, Information and Communications Standards, Employment Standards, Customer Service Standards and the Design of Public Spaces Standards. Lolita shared the City of Kitchener procedures for preventative and emergency maintenance of the accessible elements in public spaces and procedures for dealing with temporary disruptions when accessible elements are not in working order. Lolita shared the 2019/2020 winter season pilot projects; 1. For the 2019-2020 winter season, bylaw officers will be proactively inspecting the sidewalks citywide. The findings from this program will be reported to City Council in the spring of 2020 to determine the future of this program. tğŭĻ Ћ ƚŅ Б 2. For the 2019-2020 winter season, in collaboration with the Working Centre, the City provides sidewalk snow and ice clearing to 105 properties across the city. This service provides sidewalk and driveway windrow snow and ice clearing services to eligible seniors and people living with a disability. The findings from this program will be reported to City Council in the spring of 2020 to determine the future of this program. 3. For the 2019-2020 winter season, the City provides sidewalk clearing services after all snow and ice occurrences on approximately 40km of representative sidewalk within 24 hours of a snow/ice occurrence. The findings from this program will be reported to City Council in the spring of 2020 to determine the future of this program. To see the map of the pilot area, please visit: www.kitchener.ca/sidewalk 4. For the 2019-2020 winter season, the City provides contractor delivered sidewalk clearing services after declared snow events (snow occurrences of 8cm or more) on approximately 40km of representative sidewalk within 24 hours of a snow/ice occurrence. The findings from this program will be reported to City Council in the spring of 2020 to determine the future of this program. To see the map of the pilot area, please visit www.kitchener.ca/pilot Revisions to current standards or new standards, may be introduced by the Province of Ontario, which will include new requirements and compliance deadlines. When revisions are introduced they will be captured in the Annual Status Update. No revisions to the current standards, were introduced in 2019. Lolita shared that GRAAC advised the City of Kitchener on the following projects for 2019; tğŭĻ Ќ ƚŅ Б City of Kitchener accessibility for public access technology City of Kitchener Winter Sidewalk Maintenance By-Law Accessible BBQ Kitchener Market Mural Painted Sidewalk accessibility City of Kitchener canoe launch accessibility City of Kitchener Complete Streets Guidelines City of Kitchener wayfinding and signage Outdoor open space renovation at Kitchener City Hall, King &Duke street entrance RBJ Schlegel Park playground City of Kitchener Cycling and Trails Master Plan Accessibility Audits at City of Kitchener facilities and indoor/outdoor pools 5.0 City of Waterloo, 2019 Status Update on the Accessibility Plan Lolita Paroski The City of Waterloo Accessibility Plan for 2018-2022 describes how the Corporation will continue to prevent and remove accessibility barriers. The Status update provides the progress on the implementation of the plan. Lolita highlighted the 2019 Status Updates on the Accessibility Policy, Accessibility Plan, Procurement, Training, Information and Communications Standards, Employment Standards, Customer Service Standards and the Design of Public Spaces Standards. Lolita shared the City of Waterloo procedures for preventative and emergency maintenance of the accessible elements in public spaces and procedures for dealing with tğŭĻ Ѝ ƚŅ Б temporary disruptions when accessible elements are not in working order. Revisions to current standards or new standards, may be introduced by the Province of Ontario, which will include new requirements and compliance deadlines. When revisions are introduced they will be captured in the Annual Status Update. No revisions to the current standards, were introduced in 2019. Lolita shared that GRAAC advised the City of Waterloo on the following projects for 2019; Waterloo Memorial Recreational Complex expansion City of Waterloo Strategic Plan City of Waterloo Silver Lake project City of Waterloo Transportation Master Plan Waterloo Park West Water Play Active/Action Parks Albert McCormick Community Centre Outdoor Open Spaces Painted Sidewalks City of Waterloo Asset Management Sustainability Kaufman Flats Waterloo Canoe launch Waterloo Park washroom accessibility Button factory elevator installation and current ramp City of Waterloo East Side Branch Library Tactile Guide Strip education session to staff 6.0 Township of Wellesley, 2019 Status Update on the Accessibility Plan, Caitlin Gillis Tabled tğŭĻ Ў ƚŅ Б 7.0 Councillor Reports Councillor Sue Foxton, (Region of Waterloo) 1. Happy Holidays to all the committee members. 2. Potential changes to the AODA information and communications standards. Christmas Social during extended Break 8.0 Built Environment Sub-Committee Update Paula Saunders 1. Schlegel Park surface was accepted and changes to the plans made to make Schlegel Park fit in the same category as Victoria Park and McLennan Park. It will have the rubberized surface at the other two locations with rubberized surfacing. 2. Facility Accessibility Audits Ten of the twenty-three draft accessibility audits have been reviewed by GRAAC members who participated in the facility site visits. Comments have been made, such as do not use the words fully accessible and to look at the use of tactile guide strips as a best practice. 3. Kiwanis Park tğŭĻ Џ ƚŅ Б The entrance is to be relocated and the accessible parking area to be moved closer to the entrance. Recommended for the Snack shack to be accessible via connection to existing paved path. 4. Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre Renovation Taken on a tour and during the tour met with a staff person who was in charge of washroom accessories and Paula was able to share recommendations before installation of the accessories. 5. Tactile Guide strip education session for City of Waterloo staff led by Dawn Clelland Biggest challenge is finding things and crossing streets for persons who have low vision or are blind which makes the tactile guide strips extremely important. GPS can sometimes be inaccurate. Orientation Mobility Specialists recommend tactile guide strips. 9.0 1. , Brenda Robinson Nothing to update at this time. 2. Accessible Taxi, Donna Hartzler Meeting Monday, December 16, 2019 regarding the Accessible Taxi fund (Uber and Ride Sharing). $250,000 sitting in the fund to be dispersed. Taxi drivers put forth a proposal but there were not any conclusions with how to disperse the monies by the end of the meeting. Accessible tğŭĻ А ƚŅ Б Taxi discussion to be added to the agenda in January. Please bring suggestions to the January meeting. 10.0 Co-chair/Staff Rep Reports Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener/City of Waterloo) 1. Reminder that the GRAAC new member orientation is scheduled for January 16, 2020. Everyone is welcome to attend. Lolita will send an email to all members with details. 2. Neighbourhood Development Office (Love My Hood) is looking for volunteers to join the Matching Grant Selection Committee. Lolita will send an email to all members with details. Jeff Smith (Township of Woolwich) 1. No grant for Inclusion Coordinator positions, therefore will only be hiring one position. Position posted on the Township of Woolwich website. 2. Purchased a website accessibility tool called Monsito. 3. Will be away on vacation during the January GRAAC meeting. Meeting adjourned. Next meeting will be on Thursday January 23, 2020 1:30 p.m. start City of Kitchener, 200 King St West, Conestoga Room Please send regrets to: Janis McKenzie at janis.mckenzie@kitchener.ca or call 519-741-2200 Ext. 7225 tğŭĻ Б ƚŅ Б