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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2005-04-28 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday April 28, 2005 Catholic Family Counselling Centre PRESENT: Susan Harkins (Co-Chair), Brad Ullner (Co-Chair), Valrie Hummel, Sharon Ward-Zeller, Kathy Glasser, Jay Oswald, James Hunsberger, Ian Ardill, Frank Groenestege, Chris Douglas, Carol Moogk-Soulis, Gail Brunsden, Taposhi Batabyal, Dawn Paxton, Karen Panchaud, Councillor Ruby Weber, Councillor Jane Mitchell, Gerald Moore, Deb Bergey, Margaret Sanderson. REGRETS: Tricia Givens, Councillor Ian McLean, Councillor Berry Vrbanovic, Tara O'Brien, Lori Ludwig. ABSENT WITHOUT REGRETS: Laura Fiorilla, Sparrow Rose, Daniel Lajoie 1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Introductions were made and everyone was welcomed to the meeting. 2.0 APPROVAL OF MARCH MINUTES AND REVIEW OF APRIL AGENDA Two items were added to the April agenda: (i) City of Kitchener CulturePlan II - Margaret (ii) Sidewalks in Waterloo - Brad A motion was made by Sharon, seconded by Ian, to adopt the agenda with additions noted. All were in favour; carried. It was noted that Valrie and Sharon mentioned at the March meeting that self- nominations would be accepted, but members were asked to please have someone else make the nomination. It was also noted that Item 5.2 "Role of Chair" was addressed by Valrie Hummel. It was clarified that the agenda is prepared by Co- Chairs with staff input and is distributed by staff. With these items addressed, a motion was made by Sharon, seconded by Frank, that the minutes of the March meeting be approved. All were in favour; carried. 3.0 DELEGATION No delegation attended the meeting. 4.0 BUSINESS ARISING NjA \April 200S - GRAAC Minutes 1 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday April 28, 2005 5.0 NEW BUSINESS 5.1 Election of GRAAC Co-Chairs - Valrie Hummel Susan and Brad were thanked for co-chairing GRAAC for the past year. The new Co- Chairs will start their positions at the May GRAAC meeting. Staff will contact Co- Chairs prior to the meeting to review items. Valrie outlined the nomination procedure and opened the floor for nominations: · It was again requested that if members wish to be nominated, that they have someone else nominate them - this is requested because at least one other person should agree with the nomination. · Members may nominate more than one person. · Each voting member will be given one ballot and may vote for two candidates as Co-Chair. · Candidates may vote for themselves. Taposhi nominated Brad as Co-Chair - Brad accepted Sharon nominated Taposhi as Co-Chair - Taposhi accepted James nominated Susan as Co-Chair - Susan accepted Sharon nominated James as Co-Chair - James accepted Taposhi nominated Ian as Co-Chair - Ian accepted The floor was closed to nominations. · Each candidate was given the opportunity to speak for up to five minutes. Ian declined. · Eleven voting members were present at the meeting and were asked to stay in the room during voting, keep their vote confidential and make their choice, fold the ballot and return to Valrie. The meeting continued while votes were counted. 5.2 GRAAC Evaluation Results and Discussion - Deb Bergey Deb reviewed the highlights of the evaluation and suggested that next steps be considered. Please see Item 4.2.1 "Evaluation of Committee" from the February GRAAC minutes for background information on the evaluation. · The results were obtained by using "weighted" scores. · Deb suggested that members could either strike a group to review and address issues raised in the evaluation or the group could look at it together. · Sharon suggested that no formal action be taken at this time; that awareness of the issues is enough for now. She suggested that another evaluation be done in six months or so and then decide whether anything needs to be done. · Results from the evaluation were received anonymously. \April 200S - GRAAC Minutes 2 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday April 28, 2005 · Ian inquired as to whether there is a need for anonymity - there is more value in knowing what each person thinks. Ian also noted that the evaluation doesn't represent all of the present committee members opinions - the timing of the evaluation may be off as new members haven't had input. An evaluation in six months or so may be of more value. · Deb advised that timing is difficult as there will always be new members to be considered. · A suggestion was made to deal with issues that have been raised now by going over each item. · Some issues may need to be worked through and some may be able to be addressed ongoing. · Kathy suggested that it may be useful for Co-Chairs to look at the evaluation and see what's needed for coming year and maybe use ideas for the monthly agenda to deal with the issues raised in the evaluation. · Members suggested that the next evaluation include a way to identify staff/committee comments separately. A motion was made by Taposhi, seconded by Sharon/Frank, that the new Co-Chairs review the evaluation and see what's needed for coming year and possibly use ideas for the monthly agenda to deal with issues identified in the evaluation. All were in favour; carried. 5.3 Municipal Government 101 - Margaret/Deb · One of the issues raised in the evaluation, was the need for training for GRAAC members on municipal government. Margaret and Deb looked at the training that has been given to municipal staff by reviewing a manual developed for Kitchener City Hall, "Municipal Government 101" and the Ministry manual "Making Access Happen". This manual was given to GRAAC members in the Fall of 2004. A copy will be sent to new members. · There was a short discussion on whether this training could take place at a special meeting separate from a regular GRAAC meeting or at a regular GRAAC meeting. · Sharon made a motion, seconded by Ian, that Municipal Government 101 be addressed at a regular GRAAC meeting. · Suggestions regarding training included: 'Y Taposhi suggested that the presentation include visuals and that it be kept simple. 'Y James suggested that the training time also be used to look at Terms of Reference to see where GRAAC is going what has been done - GRAAC 101. 'Y Susan suggested sending a report to Councils when report is finalized. \April 200S - GRAAC Minutes 3 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday April 28, 2005 · Jane: it would be useful for GRAAC members to come to Council tOO, preferably during a televised session. ACTION: Members were asked to send comments regarding the training to staff, should they have any. 5.4 Draft GRAAC 2005 Budget Presentation - Deb · A copy of the GRAAC budget for 2005 was distributed and the process for budgeting was explained. · This budget supports the operations of the committee. · The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) is now formally a part of GRAAC and will contribute their portion to the budget. Margaret will formalize WRDSB participation with Dawn Paxton. · This money is held at the City of Kitchener in the Finance Department in a "Works To Be Invoiced" account. Municipalities are billed in late winter/early spring for the coming year. Any money left at the end of the year, is carried over for the next year. The budget will be reviewed at the end of the year to see if the same amount will be needed from municipalities for the following year. · ASL interpreter costs and anything related to training costs is included in the budget. · There is a potential for six more Scheduled Organizations to come on board and two more municipalities. · A discussion occurred regarding whether members of GRAAC should be paid for mileage to attend meetings. - staff will review. Transportation costs are reimbursed if a member takes a bus or a taxi to the meetings. · It was suggested that a motion be made that GRAAC members have reviewed the Terms of Reference and interpreted them to mean that members may be paid for mileage in order to attend meetings. · Marg noted that the Terms of Reference provides for accommodation for persons with disabilities to participate in meetings, but is not meant to reimburse all volunteers for travel to and from meetings. Volunteers are to serve without remuneration. Provision of bus tickets is in lieu of parking passes and is a means of accommodation to remove both transportation and financial barriers to those who are unable to drive a car. · A motion was made by Taposhi, seconded by Ian, recommending that all GRAAC members be reimbursed for transportation to the meetings. All were in favour; carried. · Susan - GRAAC has right to determine how to use budget but GRAAC hasn't been doing that. · A brief discussion took place regarding the need to ensure that sufficient allowance is made for costs associated with ASL interpreters at meetings/training. \April 200S - GRAAC Minutes 4 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday April 28, 2005 · As a result of the discussion, a motion was made by Carol, seconded by Ian/Gail, that the budget be increased to ensure that the cost of having an interpreter for two full days is included. Deb advised that the budget already has an increase due to the school board agreeing to take part with GRAAC. ACTION: (i) Members were asked to send any comments/feedback they may have on the budget to Deb/staff. (ii) Margaret will speak with the City Clerk's Department regarding a mileage allowance for GRAAC members. 5.5 Input Into Accessibility Plans ROW Accessibility Plan Community Consultations - Deb · The Region of Waterloo is holding community consultations before preparing the 2006 plan. There will be one in Cambridge on Wednesday May 4 from 1-4 p.m. and one in Waterloo on Thursday May 5 from 1-4 p.m (99 Regina Street, Room 508). · GRAAC members are invited to attend. Contact Deb directly if you can attend a meeting. Joint Accessibility Plan Input Into Web Questionnaire - Valrie · One of the actions identified in the 03/04 plan was to undertake a community consultation initiative re barriers in community to find out barriers exist. The Corporate Access Steering group discussed sending out a web questionnaire. · The group discussed using GRAAC's expertise to develop questions and are now looking for volunteers to review questions for questionnaire. · There will be a number of ways that responses to the questionnaire can be taken - computer, paper and available in alternate formats. ACTION: (i) Ian, Taposhi, Jay, Sharon volunteered to help with the questionnaire. Val will contact them via phone or e-mail. 5.6 Access Ontario 2 Conference - Staff/Committee · The Access Ontario 2 Conference is scheduled for June - the deadline for lower rate is coming up soon. Margaret asked if anyone from GRAAC want to attend. · James, Sharon, Brad, Ian would like to go. · The Intent of the conference is to bring together accessibility groups and those with an interest in accessibility to learn from each other and to share information. · GRAAC will have to develop a policy on members attending conferences. \April 200S - GRAAC Minutes 5 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday April 28, 2005 · Ruby recommends that the policy state that two people at a time be permitted to attend a conference and that possibly members rotate attendance. · All costs for a conference will be paid. Will need to keep in mind extra costs of attendant, ASL. · Co-Chairs will meet with staff to discuss details and to select two representatives for this conference. · Immediately after the meeting, Co-Chairs met to conduct a random draw of the names from the names of interested individuals because of the tight timeline for this decision. Brad drew the name of James Hunsberger. 5.0 REPORTS 5.1 Site Plan Working Group - Carol Moogk-Soulis No report. 6.0 OTHER BUSINESS 6.1 City of Kitchener CulturePlan II - Margaret · Margaret distributed a draft copy of the City of Kitchener's CulturePlan II and asked members to send comments to her if they have any. If GRAAC would like to send a member to have input, the session is on May 24 starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Kitchener Rotunda at City Hall. 6.2 Sidewalks - Brad · The number of members attended meeting to suggest sidewalks be placed on both sides of a street - a decision will be made on May 2 at Council - expect those opposed will attend meeting - Brad has been invited to speak again & asked anyone interested to attend. Chris will attend. · Frank clarified Waterloo's position on this issue and suggested that members not be alarmed as there won't be many changes made - nothing is really changing. 6.3 Election of GRAAC Co-Chairs - continued Val thanked everyone who stepped forward as candidates and reminded members that staff will be in touch with the new Co-Chairs over the next few days. ACTION: Taposhi Batabyal and Brad Ullner were declared Co-Chairs of GRAAC for 2005. 7.0 Next Meeting · Thursday May 26/ 1 :OOpm - 3:30pm, Catholic Family Counselling Centre 400 Queen St S/ Kitchener \April 200S - GRAAC Minutes 6 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday April 28, 2005 8.0 Adjournment A motion was made by Frank, seconded by Sharon, to adjourn the April GRAAC meeting. All were in favour; carried. The meeting was adjourned at 3:35 p.m. \April 200S - GRAAC Minutes 7