HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-2024-540 - Appointments to the Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee 2025Staff Report
Community Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Committee of the Whole
DATE OF MEETING: December 16, 2024
SUBMITTED BY: LoriAnn Palubeski, Manager, Program & Resource Serv, 5197838058
PREPARED BY: LoriAnn Palubeski, Manager, Program & Resource Serv, 5197838058
WARD(S) INVOLVED: NA
DATE OF REPORT: December 11, 2024
REPORT NO.: CSD -2024-540
SUBJECT: Committee Appointments to the Grand River Accessibility Advisory
Committee (GRAAC) (2025)
RECOMMENDATION:
That the following applicants be appointed to represent a community agency on the
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) for a 4 -year term, on until a
successor is appointed ending December 31, 2028:
Robyn Jackson, Direct Funding Resource Coordinator, Independent Living
Waterloo Region
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
• The purpose of this report is to present the proposed slate of community appointments for
the Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee for Council's consideration.
• The Staff Coordination Committee reviewed the applications using a scoring rubric, based
on the following criteria: experience, qualification, knowledge, diversity, time commitment
acknowledgement and city of residency to make a recommendation for appointment.
• The municipality is required under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
(AODA) to have an accessibility advisory committee.
• This report supports the delivery of core services.
BACKGROUND:
Under the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), all
municipalities with a population of 10,000 or greater are required to establish an Accessibility
Advisory Committee to advise Council on the prevention, identification, and removal of barriers
for persons with disabilities. The Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) is a
joint committee of the City of Kitchener, City of Waterloo, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo,
and the surrounding Townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot, and Woolwich. GRAAC
is appointed the task of advising the participating municipalities on accessibility planning.
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REPORT:
The GRAAC Terms of Reference specify that the Committee will consist of 11-15 members of
which a majority must be persons with a disability. Recruitment was conducted in fall 2024, with
a goal of appointing 6 new members to fill pending vacancies.
A selection committee of staff, representing the participating municipalities, reviewed the
applications with the use of a scoring rubric. Applicants were evaluated and recommendations
for appointment were made based on the following criteria: experience, qualification, knowledge,
diversity, acknowledgement of time commitment, and city of residency. Consideration was also
given, where possible, to try and achieve representation of members from all the participating
municipalities. The members recommended for appointment will be forwarded to the City Clerk's
office for their respective municipalities, which will then be forwarded to their Council's for
consideration and appointment. Pending ratification by each of the participating municipalities,
including the appointments of 6 members, the committee will have a total of 15 members.
Following the conclusion of the appointments the entire list of appointed members will be forward
to the Regional Clerk for the Region of Waterloo, to be shared with their members of Council.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports A Caring Community.
This Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee provides persons with disabilities the
opportunity to discuss, define and address their shared concerns regarding the identification,
removal, and prevention of barriers in City facilities, programs, policies and services.
Consulting with persons with disabilities in an advisory role increases the capacity of the City to
ensure a greater degree of equity and civic engagement.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Capital Budget — The recommendation has no impact on the Capital Budget.
Operating Budget — The recommendation has no impact on the Operating Budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM — This report has been posted to the City's website with the agenda in advance of the
council / committee meeting. The community was informed of the application process for the
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) through postings on participating
Municipalities' websites and social media feeds.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
There are no previous reports/authorities related to this matter.
APPROVED BY: Michael May, Deputy CAO, General Manager, CSD
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