HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRACC - 2024-01-25 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee
Date: Thursday, January 25, 2024
Location: Zoom Meeting
Present: Carrie Speers, Tamara Cooper, Alyssa Clelland, Amy Ross (City of Waterloo), Candice Greenley
(Township of Wilmot), Janis McKenzie (City of Kitchener), Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener), Teresa McQuillin
(Co-Chair), Councillor Chantal Huinink (Region of Waterloo), Alex Smyth (Township of Woolwich), Paula
Saunders, Emily Moore (Region of Waterloo), Robyn Jackson, Councillor Sandra Hanmer (City of Waterloo),
Jolene MacDonald, Amy Harron (Township of Wellesley), Katherine Waybrant, Trevor Tamlin, Christine
Nishiwaki, Kyle Kruger (North Dumfries)
Regrets: Heather Clark-Harris (Co-Chair), Farshid Sadatsharifi, Councillor Jason Deneault (City of Kitchener),
Heather Gillespie, Sarah Cunneyworth
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Approval of December Minutes and January Agenda
Robyn motioned to accept January agenda; Paula seconded; All in favour.
Jolene motioned to accept December minutes; Paula seconded; All in favour.
3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interests
None
4. City of Waterloo, Waterloo Park Playground final plan
Presentation sent in advance to the committee via email regarding Eby Farm phase 2
Extension to the original playground will include:
Zone 1 - playground area
Zone 2 - sand play area
Zone 3 - picnic area
Budget is tight so may not be able to implement everything all at once but trying to add more accessible
features.
Comments/Feedback
• Only the main level of the slide is accessible, top side is not.
• Concern that there is no rocking equipment for older children, only for the preschool age.
• Wheelchair accessible swing would be ideal - space is an issue.
5. City of Waterloo, Multi-Year Accessibility Plan Update
• Still being reviewed, if any questions, let Amy know via email
• Next phase will go to staff for review and implementation.
6. Township of Wilmot, 2023 Accessibility Status Update
Community Services Update:
Nith River Promenade
• Completed late 2023 and is currently open to the public.
• Accessible paved trail along the Nith River at the dam
• Proper lookout points featuring platforms with railings and retaining walls
• Large parking lot with accessible parking spaces and barrier free access to the Promenade (off of
Wilmot Street)
• Official opening ceremony to occur in Spring 2024
• Completion of Mike Schout Wetlands Preserve Boardwalk
• The Boardwalk opened in June 2023
• Accessible boardwalk style trail built to be used by everyone, including strollers, wheelchairs, and
mobility scooters
• Barrier free entrance to the wetlands, which includes a pedestrian path and two-lane access to the
existing parking lot
• One (1) accessible parking space available
• Benches and rest areas along the boardwalk will be installed at a future date
Castle Kilbride
• April 2023 site visit and consultation with GRAAC members who provided Wilmot with feedback
• The following feedback has already been implemented:
➢ Updates to the Castle Kilbride website to include more information regarding accessibility
➢ Updates to the guest video to include details of the belvedere gallery for those who cannot access it
➢ Insulation on waterlines in washrooms
Information and Legislative Services Staff Report:
• Staff are researching and recording quieter times at the museum in preparation for sensory sensitive
times
• Staff are training to silence the grandfather clock
• Addition of a star image in the elevator near buttons (estimated installation January 2024)
• Addition of decals for glass stairway panels (estimated installation January 2024)
• Transition strips between rooms has been deferred to 2025 for budget reasons
• Additional feedback was provided regarding the front entrance (ramp, tactile plates, curb cuts, and front
door) which is being considered as part of the Space Needs Assessment of the Administration Complex
• Administration Complex
➢ The parking lot was not redesigned as planned; however, lines were re-painted; and one accessible
parking space added closest to the front entrance
➢ Space Needs Assessment - Currently in early/investigative stages of space needs at the
Administration Complex Key considerations include:
o Accessible customer service counters
o Employee growth accommodations i.e., space for current and future employees over the
next ten years
o Redesign of front entrance and ramp based on GRAAC feedback during site visit in April
2023
Corporate Services / Communications Updates:
• Staff continue working towards elimination of PDF fillable forms on Wilmot website, replacing them with
online forms via Form Builder
• Legacy PDF documents on the Township's website may not be WCAG 20 Level AA compliant, when
possible, these documents were removed, and the information was posted on the website directly or
staff provided documents in an alternate format, if requested
• Alternative text has been added or included for photos on digital platforms
• Legislative Services Division has implemented the following: o Accessibility of documents
• Continue to livestream meetings on YouTube with closed captioning available on playback
• Continue to offer delegates and presenters to attend Council meetings via Zoom
• Developing Accessibility Design Standards for Municipal Facilities and Public Spaces - Jointly with the
City of Waterloo, City of Kitchener and the Townships of Wellesley and Woolwich
• Will give direction on all future construction and renovation projects in public facilities with the goal
being to exceed existing regulatory codes and standards to offer a more consistent user experience
across the community.
Human Resources Updates:
• Continued hybrid work model post COVID for staff who wish to continue
• Accommodations offered during application and interview process
• Training for current staff and new-hire staff:
➢ AODA Customer Services Standards Training for Employees
➢ Understanding Human Rights Training (AODA Edition)
➢ Updates to the Township's "Jobs and Volunteering" webpage to be AODA compliant
Infrastructure Services Updates:
• Addition of new sidewalks on Greenwood Drive New Hamburg
• Construction of new pedestrian crossing on Hamilton Road New Hamburg
• Continued enhanced pedestrian crossings at intersections including installation of tactile plates as part
of the 2023 Concrete Program (various locations)
Comments/Feedback
• Outdoor washrooms which are seasonal, aren't always open, it would be nice to have the times posted
on municipal website
• Nice to have boardwalks that are accessible
7. Built Environment Sub-Committee Updates
City of Kitchener
Parking
• Met with the Manager regarding some of the issues.
• Signage an issue for anyone new to city hall parking garage— signs have been ordered and should be
arriving within the next two weeks.
• Pay by foot terminology a concern on signage. Manager will take back to team for rewording (i.e.,
possible to change to Pay at payment machine)
• Two pay machines in the rotunda, turned on a difficult angle to approach, hard to access. Looking for
solutions to resolve. Manager investigating a custom rotating device to be added to the bottom of the
payment machine.
• FYI —to exit city hall parking garage with a complementary parking pass. The process is reversed from
previous. Scan ticket first, and then scan parking pass. The papers stay with you. The machine does
not take them, like previously.
Service Centre Launch
• Toured the back area. GRAAC's comments regarding accessibility were implemented in the design.
• Interviewed by CTV at the Ribbon cutting event.
Region of Waterloo
20 Weber St
• Public services area completed.
• Washroom design to be used by other new builds.
• Recycling green bins an issue for accessibility
• Darker strips for the glass at the front entrance for contrast
BREAK
8. City of Waterloo, Laurel Greenway
The Laurel Greenway is a continuous, playful, and immersive experience that serves the needs of all users,
supports natural features and processes, highlights local heritage, and responds to the surrounding urban
context. Promotes greenspaces, active transportation, and safe ways to get around the city. Started working
on some of the projects, but preliminary, wanting to connect with this committee as well as public.
input.
Comments/Feedback
• Is there a timeline for completion? 5-30 years dependent on funding. No exact timeline yet.
• Is there anything specific that might come back to this committee for consideration. Budget time right
now so nothing specific yet.
• Mow strip will be included, so plantings, trees will be offset from the trail.
• Rest areas should be included on the trail, benches with arms etc. — Resting spots will be included
• Public washrooms, making as many as possible accessible or signage directing to accessible
washrooms.
• Guiding strips directing to the trail
• Crosswalks that can be accessed by everyone.
9. City of Waterloo, Consolidated Engineering & Landscaping Manual
Background
• Changes in City processes and standards over the last decade
• Engineering and landscape projects are increasingly multi-disciplinary and complex.
➢ Shift from greenfield to high density infill developments.
➢ Increasingly complex municipal capital projects
• Changes in provincial legislation and environmental regulations
➢ Climate change considerations
➢ Excess Soils regulations implemented in 2023.
➢ Changes to the development review process such as Bill 23 impacts
Purpose
• Combine multiple City documents into a single document.
• Formalize existing City standards and processes.
• Strengthen connectivity and continuity between engineering and landscape architecture disciplines.
• Provide guidance for municipal capital projects.
➢ Road reconstructions,
➢ Public space projects, etc.
• To promote climate-resilient designs and equitable access to infrastructure
• Format the document in a way that allows for future expansion and integration of other related City
standards documents.
Industry Consultation
• Significant internal consultation
➢ Engineering
➢ City Utilities
➢ Transportation
➢ Planning
➢ Parks and Forestry
• External consultation with local industry practitioners
➢ Engineering Consultants
➢ Landscape Architecture Consultants
➢ Contractors
Accessibility & the CELM
• For online accessibility, the CELM document is currently being converted to an HTML format, except for
the Standard Drawings which will remain as PDF's.
• The CELM document currently provides general grading design requirements and references the
existing City of Waterloo Accessibility Standards (2016) for AODA standards.
• The CELM does include the City's AODA standard details for municipal sidewalks and depressed curbs
which are in the 200 sections of the Standard Drawings.
Next Steps
• Online implementation
➢ Targeting a fully online document (HTML) by first quarter of 2024
➢ Accessibility improvements
➢ Ease of access for industry professionals and public
➢ Improves connectivity to other City documents such as by-laws, plans, policies etc.
• Periodic updates to the manual as necessary to the satisfaction of the City's Director of Engineering,
currently planning yearly updates for the next few years.
• Expansion and integration of other related City standards documents.
Comments/Feedback
• Thanks for all the different ways of accepting feedback from the public.
10. Councillor Reports
• Councillor Chantal Huinink (Region of Waterloo)
o I am a member of the Accessible taxi licensing and insurance board committee - is there any
input from this committee that you would like to bring forward. Emily to follow up via email or
telephone with the history of the previous committee member who was part of a previous
subcommittee.
11. Co-chair/Staff Reports
Emily Moore (Region of Waterloo)
• The GRT Severe Weather Plan discussion took place last week with committee members.
• GRT's severe weather plan has been in place every year. It was released publicly in 2023 to let
residents know in advance of severe weather if their stops may be affected.
• There are about 100 stops in the GRT network that will close during severe weather.
o These stops were identified based on historical data of where buses are likely to get stuck in the
snow or there are other safety concerns.
o Signs are posted at the stops that will close during severe weather.
o Other stops may be included under extenuating circumstances.
• Improvements were made to CRT's notification system, which notifies customers of stop closures
during severe weather events. Notifications of severe weather closures are available through:
o The qrt.ca/alerts or grt.ca/weather webpages
o GRT social media channels
o Calling the Service First Contact Centre—the Region's main phone line
o The same sources will share this information when stops are reopened.
• If you have feedback, please contact the Region of Waterloo by phone at 519-575-4400, submit your
feedback online using CRT's online feedback form or contact the Region's GRAAC Staff Rep, Emily
M oore.
Comments/Feedback
• The committee raised concerns about the length/distance of some of these closures, especially
given GRT currently has no accommodation or alternate options for those unable to navigate the
distance during stop closures.
Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener)
• GRAAC Re-appointment Reports going to all 7 councils during the end of January - mid February 2024,
with full GRAAC committee starting at the February 2024 GRAAC meeting.
• GRAAC elections for GRAAC Co-chairs and GRAAC Chair of the Built Environment Sub-Committee
will take place during the February 2024 GRAAC meeting. Led by Township of Wilmot staff rep, Kaitlin
Bos. Kaitlin is replacing Candice Greenley as Township of Wilmot staff rep. An email with the position
descriptions will be sent to GRAAC members prior to the February GRAAC meeting.
Amy Ross (City of Waterloo)
• Reminder about the second Facility Accessibility Design Standards Engagement Session
scheduled for tomorrow at Rim Park, near door B, please let me know if you need any assistance in
attending. Scheduled to be over by 3 p.m.
Please send regrets to Janis McKenzie — ianis.mckenzie(a)-kitchener.ca
Next Regular Meeting —Thursday February 22, 2024, at 1:30pm, ZOOM