HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2006-06-22Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday June 22, 2006 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room
PRESENT: Taposhi Batabyal (Co-Chair), Ian Ardill (Co-Chair), Brad Ullner, James
Hunsberger, Sharon Giles, Sharon Ward-Zeller, Saul Herzog, Frank Groenestege, Carol
Moogk-Soulis, Chris Douglas, Susan Harkins, Gail Brunsdon, Karen Panchaud and Debbie
Parliament (Interpreters), Cathy Matyas (WPL), Councillor Jane Mitchell, Councillor Ruby
Weber, Val Hummel, Bart Toby, Margaret Sanderson, Lori Ludwig, Deb Bergey
REGRETS (MEMBERS):
REGRETS (OTHERS): Sparrow Rose, Councillor Barry Vrbanovic, Councillor Ian McLean,
Councillor Ron Hackett, Marvin Bosetti
ABSENT WITHOUT REGRETS: Allan Strong
1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Taposhi welcomed everyone to the June meeting.
2.0 APPROVAL OF MAY MINUTES AND REVIEW OF JUNE AGENDA
• A motion was made by Sharon Giles, seconded by Frank Groenestege, that the
minutes of the May meeting be accepted. All were in favour; carried.
• A motion was made by Susan Harkins, seconded by Sharon Ward-Zeller, to adopt
the agenda for the June meeting. All were in favour; carried.
3.0 BUSINESS ARISING
3.1 Summer Meeting Schedule/Regrets Procedure -Taposhi
ACTION
(i) All GRAAC members (staff and councillors too) are to a-mail or call
one of the co-chairs with regrets should they be unable to attend a
meeting.
(ii) Anew members' list will be circulated.
(iii) As of now, GRAAC meetings will be held in July and August. Should
there not be sufficient items on the agenda for either of these
meetings, one or both will be cancelled.
4.0 NEW BUSINESS
4.1 Waterloo Public Library Accessibility Policy Draft -Cathy Matyas.
• A 21,000 square foot library will be built on the West side of Waterloo in
partnership with the University of Waterloo and the YMCA, with the opening
scheduled for Spring 2007.
June 2006 - GRAAC Minutes 1
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday June 22, 2006
• Staff will ensure that public consultation takes place and that the building will be
fully accessible.
• At the end of this year, there will be vacancies on the Waterloo Public Library
Board should GRAAC members care to apply. Appointments are made by the City
of Waterloo, not the library.
• The library's purchasing policy is being revised to ensure that it includes
consideration of barrier free issues in tenders.
• To ensure equitable, effective service, library staff has been trained on interacting
with diverse communities. Staff will develop strategies to deal with issues as they
arise.
• Each year, the capital budget includes monies for facility improvements.
• Several suggestions were put forth for improvement to shelving so that everyone
can access books.
• Staffs have not done a comprehensive survey on library usage but do conduct
targeted surveys on a fairly regular basis.
• Interpreters can be made available if requested (on an individual basis).
• Cathy asked that members forward comments regarding the draft policy
(previously circulated to the committee) or on any other issue, to her at the
library. The policy will go to the Senior Management Team over the summer and
then to the library board for approval in September.
A motion was made by James, seconded by Saul, to accept the Waterloo Public
Library Accessibility Policy (draft) as presented. All were in favour; carried. The
policy will be reviewed further at one of the GRAAC summer meetings.
5.0 OTHER BUSINESS
5.1 Transit Sub-Committee -Sharon Ward-Zeller
• The sub-committee had its first meeting on June 15 at which time Sharon Ward-
Zeller was voted in as Chair, with Sharon Giles as Vice-Chair.
• Members discussed issues such as developing a terms of reference, the scope
and mandate of the committee, mission statement, etc.
• The next agenda will be focussed on addressing key priority issues regarding
transportation.
• The group meets the second Tuesday of each month from 1:30-3:30 at 150
Frederick Street.
• Minutes from the meetings will be circulated to all GRAAC members.
• Members were asked to forward comments to Sharon and Sharon.
5.2 Town of Newmarket Resolution - Taposhi
A letter was previously circulated to GRAAC members regarding this issue.
June 2006 - GRAAC Minutes 2
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday June 22, 2006
• Members discussed the resolution as it relates to Kitchener-Waterloo, that was
adopted by the Town of Newmarket which resolved, among other things, that all
gas stations ~~make provision for full service to patrons having special needs".
As a result of the discussion, a motion was made by Susan, seconded by Sharon
Ward-Zeller, that the Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee of the Cities of
Kitchener and Waterloo and the Townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley and
Woolwich advise/ask area councils to support the Town of Newmarket resolution of
April 24, 2006, as attached, concerning accessibility of full service gas stations in the
Province of Ontario. Co-Chairs will draft a letter which will include the motion, that
will be sent to all Councils. All were in favour; motion carried.
5.3 Updates from Councillors
• Councillor Weber noted that the plans for the Elmira library are progressing and
that GRAAC will be involved from the beginning.
5.4 Co-Chair Reports
• Ian advised the committee of a letter he received from the Community Placement
program of the Social Services Department. ODSP (Ontario Disability Support
Program) clients who are not actively working toward an employment goal will no
longer be eligible for the community placement program. As part of this
program, clients received reimbursement for expenses (e.g. travel, shoes, etc.)
while volunteering.
ACTION
(i) A motion was made by Susan, seconded by James that Ian prepare a
response from GRAAC voicing dismay of lost compensation for ODSP
volunteers and that the item be added to the July GRAAC agenda. All were
in favour; carried.
(ii) A representative from Social Services will be invited to attend a future
GRAAC meeting to talk about changes to the Community Placement
Program.
6.0 OTHER BUSINESS
N/A
7.0 ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Chris, seconded by Sharon to adjourn the June meeting. All
were in favour; carried.
8.0 NEXT MEETING
July 27 at Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room, Main Floor from 1:30-3:30
p.m. Parking and bus passes will be available.
June 2006 - GRAAC Minutes 3