Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2004-06-24 GRAND RIVER ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday June 24, 2004 Catholic Family Counselling Centre PRESENT: Susan Harkins (Chair), Councillor Ruby Weber, Kelly Steiss, Gail Brunsdon, Lori Ludwig, Jay Oswald, Carol Moogk-Soulis, Deb Bergey, Taposhi Batabyal, Sharon Ward-Zeller, Laura Fiorilla, Grace Niezen, Brad Ullner, Val Hummel REGRETS: Bart Toby, Kathy Glasser, James Hunsberger, Daniel LaJoie, Gerald Moore, Katherine Elliot (WLU) 1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS – Susan Harkins 2.ADDITION/ADOPTION OF AGENDA – Susan Harkins A motion was made by Sharon, seconded by Laura to adopt the agenda. All were in favour; carried. 3. ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES – Susan Harkins ?It was noted that Christine Broughton was not at the May meeting. ?A motion was made by Grace, seconded by Sharon to adopt the minutes from the May meeting as submitted. All were in favour; carried. 4.CORRESPONDENCE: Letter to GRT NOTE: The order of the agenda was changed slightly as Deb B had not arrived yet. James had written a letter to GRT basically asking them to consider giving more contracts to United Taxi to transport people with disabilities around the Region. As the issue was resolved, the letter was not sent. Deb noted that Mobility Plus has reached an agreement with United Taxi, but that the initial request to the Region came on behalf of the membership as a whole and would need to be ratified there before being implemented. 5. AUDIT TOOL/REGIONAL PLAN – Deb Bergey Deb distributed a brief summary of what is in the current Regional Plan and what will be different in next year’s plan. Members indicated that they would prefer that Deb review the Regional Plan at this meeting prior to reviewing the Audit Tool. Therefore, Deb took the time and explained precise parts of the Plan. ?The Region has no authority over hospitals, schools boards, etc. and they are not part of the Regional Plan. It is still not clear as to the responsibility of where Police Services lie within the Regional Plan. The Region does not have control over day-to- day operations of Police Services. Councillor Weber noted that the Region appoints the Chair of the Police Board – suggested to keep it as a point to follow-up. ?The Region has no parks; parks are a function of the municipalities and the Grand River Conservation Authority, although the Region does own part of McLennan Park. ?Activities are listed in the current plan but there is no definable action plan – next year’s plan will specify what actions are to be taken to complete goals. ?Will obtain input from all Regional AAC’s before next year’s Plan is finished. ?A brief update will be given to Council (and to GRAAC) in September and a full plan will be ready by the end of this year or early 2005. It will probably go to Council for 1 \June 2004 - GRAAC Minutes GRAND RIVER ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday June 24, 2004 Catholic Family Counselling Centre final approval in January. Hope to have a draft ready for the October 28 GRAAC meeting for comments. ?Staff from the Region will draft their plans specific to their area and Deb will put it together. ?The next plan will be in a new format – more readable, more succinct. ?Suggestions for the next plan include: coil binding; more “comics” in the plan; less words – more to the point; use a different font – one that is easier to read (short discussion on various fonts). ?Members questioned how to get private buildings to be more accessible. The Ontario Building Code (OBC) restricts the provisions regarding accessibility for private buildings. How can any of the Municipalities mandate the public going beyond the building code on accessibility? Who to address these limitations to? ?Suggest keeping pages 15-41 of the Regional Plan as it – broken down by department, but add a column “Benefits to Community”. ?Suggest that the Table of Contents should be at the very beginning of the document. The Audit Tool will be discussed at the July meeting. 6. OTHER BUSINESS ?Members were asked to send their regrets to Linda should they not be able to attend a meeting. ?A collection was taken for flowers/card for James – Linda to order. ?Suggestion that this Region is in need of easy, inexpensive transportation for people with disabilities. It was noted that the Region funds Mobility Plus, but contracts out, and that the same service is not offered throughout the Region. ACTION: Deb will arrange for a GRT/Mobility Plus representative to attend a GRAAC meeting to discuss issues regarding transportation in the Region. 7. ADJOURNMENT/NEXT MEETING A motion was made by Laura, seconded by Sharon, to adjourn the June meeting. All were in favour; carried. Next Meeting: July 22, 2004 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Catholic Family Counselling Centre at 400 Queen Street South in Kitchener 2 \June 2004 - GRAAC Minutes