HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRACC - 2024-03-28 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee
Date: Thursday, March 28th, 2024
Location: Zoom Meeting
Present: Tamara Cooper (Co-Chair), Alyssa Clelland (Co-Chair), Amy Ross (City of Waterloo), Janis
McKenzie (City of Kitchener), Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener), Teresa McQuillin, Councillor Chantal Huinink
(Region of Waterloo), Paula Saunders, Emily Moore (Region of Waterloo), Jolene MacDonald, Katherine
Waybrant, Trevor Tamlin, Christine Nishiwaki, Kyle Kruger (North Dumfries), Heather Clark-Harris, Heather
Gillespie,
Regrets: Councillor Sandra Hanmer (City of Waterloo), Sarah Boghossian, Alex Smyth (Township of
Woolwich), Robyn Jackson, Amy Harron (Township of Wellesley), Farshid Sadatsharifi, Councillor Jason
Deneault (City of Kitchener), Carrie Speers
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Approval of February Minutes and March Agenda
Blake Miller, who was scheduled to present at this afternoon's GRAAC meeting (item #7 on the agenda), will
be deferred to a future meeting.
Jolene motioned to accept March agenda; Heather seconded; All in favour.
Paula motioned to accept February minutes; Heather seconded; All in favour.
3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interests
None
4. City of Waterloo, Indoor Community Space Master Plan
Summary
• The Indoor Community Space Master Plan (ICSMP) is a 10-year roadmap of transformational change.
• Scope includes facilities that are owned and operated by the City of Waterloo and are used by the
community for activities such as sports, recreation, and arts and culture.
• Some facilities with community use that are leased to external organizations were included if the lease
is set to expire in the next five years.
Characteristics
• "Road map" for decision makers to refer to when planning.
• General path of action to improve facilities, increase community benefit, and guide future investments.
• Flexible; contingent on funding and feasibility of designs.
• Initiates dozens of projects to solve identified issues.
o Includes a trends study to determine the recreational priorities of the community—will be used
to inform other plans as well.
• Intended to be a 10-year plan but recommendations could be considered beyond this timeframe.
Design
Three main sections:
• Section One: Policy and Organizational Recommendations — Improvements to the policies and
procedures that govern the use of spaces, including cost.
• Section Two: Facility Recommendations —Suggests improvements to current facilities and spaces.
• Section Three: Future Recommendations — Data and recommendations to inform future builds.
• More than 60 recommendations in total
Comments/Feedback
• Example of designated spaces that have negative impact —single user, leaves equipment etc. and not
usable for other public users.
• Accessibility audit has already started and working with staff to change before projects begin.
• Indoor recreational spaces are the main areas of this project.
5. City of Kitchener, Rockway Centre update
Project Update
Met with 144 individuals from key stakeholder groups, including:
➢ Rockway Centre Advisory Council
➢ Mayor's Advisory Council for Kitchener Seniors (MACKS)
➢ Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
➢ Key user groups (i.e., FRIENDS)
➢ Neighbourhood Associations operating out of Rockway Centre (Eastwood, Auditorium)
➢ Facilities management staff
➢ Community centre staff at Rockway Centre
Key Findings
1. User groups reported feeling more open and receptive to working with the city to redevelop the facility.
2. Stakeholders are open to rebuilding the Centre on the current site OR at a new location nearby.
3. Users emphasized the need to make accessibility a key objective of any new facility—e.g., Proximity to
transit, larger elevators, accessible washrooms, curb pick-up
Proposed Redevelopment Strategy
Phase 1: Implement a Request for Information (RFI)
• RFI is a procurement tool used to gather information.
• Non-binding, public document that will allow the city to gauge interest from the
development community in a public-private partnership
• Gathers initial information to support next two phases.
Phase 2: Community Engagement
• Opportunity for input into site features and high-level design elements.
• Volunteer & Staff Committee will be created with reps from Rockway Advisory Committee,
MACKS, city staff— provide input throughout project.
• Input provided by the community will help finalized details for Phase 3 (RFP).
Phase 3: Request for Proposal (RFP)
• Competitive process to identify a preferred development partner.
• Specific criteria will be used to evaluate each proposal.
(Working group will have input into criteria)
Comments/Feedback
• If building at the current site, what will happen with programming? Programming will have to be
relocated to other Centre's, keeping similar groups and programming together.
• Will Rockway continue to be an older adult Centre? Yes, the focus will be older adults, after hours.
BREAK
6. Built Environment Sub-Committee Updates
City of Waterloo
➢ Tactile sign for washrooms
o Tactile bathroom map— placed on the wall before you enter the washroom, to locate the
toilets and sinks — excellent idea and well received. Will be incorporated as a pilot
project.
➢ RIM - completed audit for automatic door openers.
o Priority list put together and dependent on budget monies and will need to go through a
procurement process.
➢ Fire Hall #1 Weber St Fire Hall #3 Northfield
o Student group taken to do an accessibility audit.
o Not accessible, but not necessarily a public space
City of Kitchener
➢ Breithaupt Centre accessible parking
o Customer requests to bring back 4 parking spaces.
o History = The 4 old accessible parking spaces were moved to the 4 new accessible parking
spaces (as per photo) because of safety with path of travel to get to the front entrance.
o The new move allows for no crossing of vehicle traffic to get to the front doors. The new
location is the closest proximity to the front entrance and the safest path to the front
entrance. GRAAC agreed that this is the best location for the accessible spots.
o The customer wants the old spaces to return. Can they return and be called something
else? — GRAAC does not suggest that these spaces be referred to as accessible parking
spaces because the accessible spaces are moved to a safer spot.
➢ Love my Hood grants on school property
o What can you do with a $10,000 city grant
o Not on City land (school property)
o Usually, a project that is a couple years of fundraising
o Idea = rather than using the $10,000 towards the cost of a playground, which typically costs
$100,000 plus
o Love my hood to specify that the $10,000 grant be used towards getting to the playground
Example;
o Bench(es) along the path of travel to get to the playground, so children and caregivers can
take a break when needed.
o Communication board before entering the playground —sharing what the playground has so
an Education Assistant at the school can use resources i.e., pec symbols, visual picture,
raised text to explain what the playground has). These would be the tools used in the
classroom that are used outside of the classroom, so a child with disability can know what to
expect and enjoy the play structure. Each school can customize the communication board to
what works for the children.
➢ City Hall parking
o Update: Over-head directional signage has been put that indicates where the accessible
parking spaces are, the pay by foot has been changed to pay by exit and the rotational
platform for the payment kiosks are being explored as a customized solution to be able
to rotate the kiosk for versatile accessibility.
Region of Waterloo
➢ 150 Frederick Street
o Plans for Quiet/Nursing room.
■ Looked at floor plans.
■ Sensory equipment available?
o Prayer Room and Foot Bath
■ Did not have much to comment as not familiar with these kinds of spaces and
what possible accessible issues may arise.
7. Township of Woolwich, Bolender Park Parking Lot, and St. Jacobs Arena Lobby and Washroom upgrades
• Deferred until a future meeting.
8. Councillor Reports
Councillor Chantal Huinink (Region of Waterloo)
No update
9. Co-chair/Staff Reports
Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener)
• LoriAnn Palubeski, manager of Program & Resource Services will be covering the next meeting.
Amy Ross (City of Waterloo)
• Communications Board ideas from students, now going to Kidsability for consultation.
• Special Olympic Spring games coming to the Region, May 23rd and 24th
• Opening of autonomous washroom coming up soon as well
Emily Moore (Region of Waterloo)
• No update
Alyssa Clelland (Co Chair)
• Volunteers to read the land acknowledgement at each meeting.
• Heather Gillespie to read the acknowledgement at the April meeting —Teresa to back up.
Next Regular Meeting —Thursday April 25, 2024, at 1:30pm, ZOOM