HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRACC - 2023-06-22 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee
Date: Thursday, June 22, 2023
Location: Zoom Meeting
Present: Carrie Speers, Tamara Cooper, Heather Clark-Harris (Co-Chair), Councillor Jason Deneault (City of
Kitchener), Councillor Sandra Hanmer (City of Waterloo), Alyssa Clelland, Paula Saunders, Amy Ross (City of
Waterloo), Candice Greenley (Township of Wilmot), Emily Moore (Region of Waterloo), Trevor Tamlin, Heather
Gillespie, Christine Nishiwaki, Sarah Cunneyworth, Ashley Sage (Township of North Dumfries), Alex Smyth
(Township of Woolwich), Janis McKenzie (City of Kitchener), Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener), Teresa
McQuillin (Co-Chair), Councillor Chantal Huinink (Region of Waterloo), Katherine Waybrant,
Regrets: Jolene MacDonald, Farshid Sadatsharifi, Amy Harron (Township of Wellesley), Robyn Jackson,
Sarah Feeney-Martin
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Approval of May Minutes and June Agenda
Trevor motioned to accept June agenda; Paula seconded; All in favour.
Heather motioned to accept Carrie May minutes; seconded; All in favour.
3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interests
None
4. Township of Woolwich, Splash Pad
o Past two years, working with a fund-raising group
o Splash pad to be developed next to the Breslau Community centre
o Currently working on a draft plan with a consultant
o Plan to extend existing sidewalk to picnic shelter and splash pad
o Slope will be AODA compliant
o Accessible seating
o Additional accessible features to be included
o Concrete surface
o Apron around the playground with shade trees
Comment/Feedback
• Apron will be level? Yes, it will be flush with splash pad
• Consider providing a waterproof wheelchair? Will discuss with Aquatics as they have several in the
township
• Change area will be provided during staffing hours
• Adult size change table included? Look into and bring back to the committee
• Do the benches have arms? Currently, under the shelter only picnic tables, an evaluation to be done
before project is completed
• Will a shade area be included? Picnic shelter is shaded
• Type of trees should be considered
• Will tactile wayfinding be included towards the splash pad and/or washroom, amenities? Will keep in
mind during the production stage and bring back to the committee
5. City of Kitchener, Centreville Chicopee Community Centre- Exterior Renovation
The objective of this project is to refresh the exterior space of the Centreville Chicopee Community
Centre located at 141 Morgan Ave, Kitchener, which will include the replacement of an existing splash pad,
replacement and relocation of a play area and the replacement and relocation of a basketball court. The
renewal will also include the replacement of site lighting, fencing, retaining wall alterations, new accessible
paths, as well as a revised and resurfaced parking lot and front entrance area. New site components will
include a concrete ping pong table, new seating, a custom extended picnic table, accessible shaded tables,
and a controlled access gate. This project aims to set new standards for community centre site design in
Kitchener.
o New Front Entry Pathway— Morgan to Building Entry
o Work at Entry Area
o Repaving of Parking Lot
o Lighting Improvements
o New Multi-Purpose Activity Area
o New Splashpad
o New Playground
o New Teen Area
o New Basketball Court/ Hockey and Skating Pad
o Changes to Rear Path for Accessibility
o Introduction of Trees and Shade Opportunities
o Minor Changes to Grade (no soils leaving property)
Comments/Feedback
• Love the merry go round
• Accessible swing? Lower swing but looking for bucket size type swing, space is limited so some things
may need to be sacrificed in order to accommodate but it means some people will be left out so may
need to relook at what is to be included?
• Sign for alternate communications an option? Will look at incorporating
• Rubberized surface a definite bonus but if there is no activity for a wheelchair user to access not
necessarily worth the cost
• Activities need to be included that are accessible if it is to be marketed as an accessible park
• Users using because of the fencing? Is there another place for them to go if you take away the
fencing?
• Hard to hear that sacrifices cannot be made to accommodate those with disabilities.
6. City of Waterloo, Inclusionary Policy, and Program Directions
Housing affordability has become a significant challenge for residents in Waterloo Region and across Ontario.
Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) is a planning tool that can help address local affordability challenges by enabling
municipalities to require a certain percentage of affordable housing units within new private developments
containing 10 or more dwelling units in Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs). The Cities of Kitchener,
Cambridge, and Waterloo, in collaboration with the Region of Waterloo ("the Partners") are exploring IZ to
increase the amount of affordable housing near ION rapid transit stops.
Policy Directions
The proposed policy directions summarized seek to balance community objectives to increase the supply of
affordable housing with market feasibility to ensure continued viability of residential development. They also
reflect proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 232/18 that set limits on the number of affordable units,
minimum rents and prices and length of time that affordable units that can be required. They are built around
the following principles for an IZ program:
1. Moderate Affordability - Secure housing that is affordable to moderate income households and is not
otherwise being provided by the market.
2. Partner with development community -To achieve housing targets the Partners need developers to build
new affordable units under IZ. Residential development projects must be viable.
3. Minimize land market disruption - Provide early signals and transition time for the land market to adjust to
IZ.
4. Long term sustainability - IZ policy should be viable without subsidies or significant incentives.
5. Capture Value in new density - direct some of the increased land value achieved through development
approvals, investment in the ION transit system toward affordable housing.
Comments/Feedback
• Bill 23 has brought in the requirement that affordable housing development does not need to pay the
development charges by the builders as an incentive
• Focusing on rentals and earning $40,000-$50,000 in income earning? What about those living below?
Really challenging without additional municipality income
• Why not rental units and owning affordable housing? There is a cap on both options
• Accessibility— bare minimum or fully accessible? An issue and more education needed
• Not for profits picking up after the affordable housing is built, why not start with that? There are no
additional funds to put towards, utilizing the for private sector to build — chipping away at the problem
• CMCH document already put together regarding affordable and accessible housing
• Rent control removed —will the builders be able to increase the unit prices? 25-year enforcement and
reporting required
7. BREAK
8. Built Environment Sub-Committee Updates
Access Week sessions
c 72 participants
c Went well.
c Only an hour— could have used more time
City of Kitchener
Accessibility mat
o FHCC would like to utilize for access across the grass to raised garden.
o Like mats used for beach access. Members like the idea.
o Every city facility should have multiples.
City of Waterloo
Harper Library
o Interesting building, shared with YMCA—focused on library
o Secondary exits not accessible
o Need for improved signage
o Family style washrooms, door swung in
o No loading zones
Waterloo Park
o Near ION station, checking out the new ball diamond locations
o Staff appreciated the real-life demonstration of issues faced - eye-opening for staff
o Slope is scary
o Accessible merry go round
o Not any accessible playground equipment despite rubberized surface
o Charging stations good idea
o Lighting a trip hazard
o Washrooms an issue and further discussion around washrooms needs to be had
City of Waterloo Staff Training
c City hall audit training walk about— pointed out issues with the building and entrances, walked
to button factory and showed issues there. Travelled to the ION station and discussed issues
there. Washrooms also an issue there. Talked about all the issues and concerns faced every
day. Education is important for staff to carry forward on the projects that they will be
responsible for. More opportunities for staff training to be set up if anyone from this committee
is interested in participating.
More Opportunities:
o Federal report is open for feedback on outdoor spaces such as national parks, trails, outdoor
spaces— not necessarily this committee's mandate to tackle. Send the link out to committee
members and those who wish can check it out as an independent resident who uses these
national outdoor spaces.
9. Region of Waterloo, Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
The Region of Waterloo has consulted with GRAAC on a variety of projects, initiatives, and services over the
years, including:
o Micro-mobility, e-scooters
o Digital and service transformation
o Multi-use trails
o Space optimization project— public spaces
o GRT—stops, ION stations, vehicles
o Strategic and master plans
o Accessible housing units
The goals in the MYAP are organized based on the five service standards within the AODA (Design of Public
Spaces, Customer Service, Information and Communications, Employment and Transportation).
Key focus areas include:
o Continuing to improve the accessibility of our public spaces in regional buildings, public
communications, and transportation services
o Embedding accessibility into our Human Resources policies, training, and support programs for
regional staff
o Evolving our Client Experience Framework to embed human-centred design and equity
principles to support Service Transformation
Next Steps:
o Review the 2023-2027 MYAP and adjust where applicable
o Report back to GRAAC in the Fall of 2023 with an update
o Provide an update and request approval of the revised MYAP to Council
Comments/Feedback
• In the training piece, invisible disabilities etc., could training be in sign language, encourage sign
language in schools
• When and how often are these trainings available? Maybe incorporate not in a mass, first training of
new staff but as a separate training
• Job sharing for those who cannot maintain a full-time job
• Compliance from local business is not in the Region's portfolio- education needed
• Not enough support programs for those with disabilities, school, work, leisure etc.
• Finding accessible healthcare — networking and creating more accessible spaces
• D/C machines—touch screen not accessible
10. Councillor Reports
• No updates
11. Co-chair/Staff Reports
• GRAAC breaks for the summer months of July and August.
• Next meeting is in September.
Please send regrets to Janis McKenzie — ianis.mckenzie(@kitchener.ca
Next Regular Meeting —Thursday September 28, 2023, at 1:30pm, ZOOM