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Home My WebLink AboutGRACC - 2022-10-27 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee Date: Thursday, October 27, 2022 Location: Zoom Meeting Present: Donna Hartzler, Brenda Robinson (Co-Chair), Paula Saunders, Carrie Speers, Teresa McQuillin (Co-Chair), Amy Ross (City of Waterloo), Councillor Sandra Hanmer (City of Waterloo), Janis McKenzie (City of Kitchener), Jennifer Walker, (Region of Waterloo), Amy Harron (Township of Wellesley), Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener), Jolene MacDonald, Ilidia Sa Melo (Township of Woolwich), Robyn Jackson, Trevor Tamlin, Ashley Sage (Township of North Dumfries), Rob Bender Regrets: Heather Clark Harris, Sue Foxton (Region of Waterloo), Councillor Debbie Chapman (City of Kitchener), 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Approval of September Minutes and October Agenda Paula motioned to accept October agenda; Teresa seconded; All in favour. Donna motioned to accept September minutes; Jolene seconded; All in favour. 3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interests None 4. City of Waterloo, Construction Communication Best Practices Overview • Developing a Waterloo Best Practices Standard for paths of travel (roads, sidewalks, trails, pathways, etc.) to support construction project communication through a lens of accessibility. ➢ Section 1: Construction Notice ➢ Section 2: Supplementary Traffic Control ➢ Section 3: Technical Guidance for Construction Spaces ➢ Section 4: Templates and Examples • Target 2023 construction projects as a supplementary resource to the minimum requirements of OTM Book 7. Communication Notice • Direct communications notices: Impacted parties, includes letters and handout packages delivered (either by hand or by mail) • Indirect communications notices: General Public, Website, Engage Waterloo, subscription-based alerts, newspaper advertising, signs and social media. • Long Term Improvements: Online Mapping, Signs, Neighbourhood Associations/other public group communications Supplementary Traffic Control • Any work within the City of Waterloo right-of-way requires a road occupancy permit. The right-of-way is any portion of city land including, roadways, sidewalks/walkways, or boulevards. • During the work, it is the Contractor's responsibility to protect the public and interfere as little as possible with vehicular, pedestrian and cyclist traffic using all necessary signs, barricades, fences, temporary walkways, supervisory staff, and flags to the minimum standards within OTM Book 7 - Temporary Conditions. • The Applicant may be required to notify, in writing, all existing property owners within the limits of the proposed work. ➢ The notice shall include a description and rationale for the work, approximate start date, duration of the work, any access restrictions, and service interruptions and on-site contact information. • Road, trail, and sidewalk closures are posted on the City of Waterloo website. Road sidewalk and trail closures - City of Waterloo Technical Guidance for Construction Spaces • Common construction activities can create barriers to accessibility • Providing guidance on when additional measures are recommended ➢ Arterial vs residential; short-term vs long-term; small area vs large area • Identify issues with fencing ➢ Snow fences bow out and have no strength ➢ Steel panel fence feet encroach on path of travel • Discuss the suitability of measures and materials for temporary sidewalks/paths of travel ➢ Compacted Granular'A' vs compacted recycled asphalt vs hot-laid asphalt • Provide specifications for improved pedestrian access, construction fencing, temporary ramps over objects impeding pedestrian path Comments/Feedback • Not all people in the public have access to cell phones or computers, radio and television is the only source of information and does not always make it there. Construction workers should also be aware of the dangers to those with mobility issues. Contact residents who may have issues navigating the site. • Could the fencing be set back further from the actual construction site? • Will the temporary compacted gravel on sidewalks be able to have snow clearing done? What is an alternate for winter? Ideally, gravel would not be used in the winter. If, you are going to have to go into the winter, asphalt should be used due to snow clearing. • Is there a difference between long term and short-term construction? Looking at both short- and long- term construction sites however, it might take more time and money to contact then how long the job might take, looking at signage for short term jobs. • Can you direct notifications to a specific location in the city? Cannot customize yet, but something to look at for the future. • When communications are sent out, please include encouragement to the residents there is the ability to reach out to the city if they have any issues • Pedestrian buttons are a regional issue on streetlights, will bring it to their attention 5. City of Waterloo, Multi-Year Accessibility Plan development update Document Development Highlights • Completed an internal accessibility & inclusion review ➢ Staff, council members, Waterloo GRAAC representative ➢ Assessment areas: Leadership, Strategy, Community Engagement, Partnership, Resource Management, People, Product/Service Development, Marketing and Communications, Physical Environment • Public consultation pending • Accessibility policy review Proposed Timeline • Internal accessibility & inclusion review - improvement plan development underway • Public consultation in November • Accessibility policy review to GRAAC in November • Multi-Year Accessibility Plan to GRAAC in December • Multi-Year Accessibility Plan to Council in early January • Suggesting the new plan be revised for 2025-2028 segment in late 2024 Comments/Feedback • Focus Groups i.e., MACKS, open to thoughts or feedback at any time • Good conversations happening, little shifts that can be done to improve accessibility, but so much left to do 6. BREAK 7. Built Environment Sub-Committee Updates City of Kitchener • Demo of on-street parking spaces ➢ Staff was able to see in person the difficulties a person with a parking lift to get in and out of their vehicle. Access aisles, curb cuts and placement of spaces are critical. • Centre in the Square, Washroom renovation project ➢ Went onsite to visit the washrooms, very pleased with choices ➢ Universal, Men, Women, Gender Neutral, and Accessible washrooms will be available ➢ Signage and contrasts used in all washrooms ➢ Waste units will be embedded in wall ➢ Universal symbol for accessibility on signage before entering washroom ➢ Universal symbol for accessibility will be on all accessible stall doors, within washrooms • Accessible Picnic Table Standard ➢ Carol Bacon, Landscape Architect for the City of Kitchener presented drawings and product consideration for GRAAC feedback. ➢ Cut out in the benches for wheelchairs or strollers, manufactured locally, 32-inch opening but sizing can be adjusted to suit. Comments/Feedback ➢ Structure of the picnic table, cross bars, will they be a hindrance? Space in between is 36 inches, lots of room ➢ Exciting innovation to be included in the middle of the table and not always at the ends ➢ Location matters, making sure no curbs or other hindrances are in the way at table placement ➢ Flush surface entrances and turning radius with no obstacles in the way at table placement ➢ Send design parameters to add more open spaces, not just one in the middle. Include at an end as well, so that at least have 2 accessible spaces per accessible picnic table are available. 8. Elections follow up - Committee feedback • Technology was an issue —was there but did not work or volunteers did not know how to use it • Proxy votes —still had to go to city hall to access the form for a proxy vote (Kitchener) • Disappointed that some municipalities did not have a mail in or online voting option • No seating available for those waiting • Signage was not adequate • Would like consistency among municipalities • Ideally would like all voting options (in-person, online and mail in) • Voter turnout very low 9. Committee Updates • No update 10. Councillor Reports • Councillor, Sandra Hanmer (City of Waterloo) • Old council finished November 14, 2022, new council starts the 16th • Committees will be assigned 11. Co-chair/Staff Reports Staff • Staff representatives will take back feedback from elections to their Clerk departments • Prioritization of accessibility issues Co-Chair • A few days left for GRAAC recruitment • Compass Kitchener -All Advisory Committees meeting 20-year vision, focused around the Strategic Plan ➢ Affordable housing for older adults to age in their home ➢ Affordable recreational programming ➢ Affordable transportation connected to the suburbs ➢ Accessibility should be a priority ➢ Greener neighbourhoods ➢ Citizen's committee —40 volunteers to advise staff& council Meeting Adjourned Please send regrets to Janis McKenzie — ianis.mckenziep_kitchener.ca Next Regular Meeting —Thursday November 24, 2022, at 1:30pm, ZOOM