HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2004-07-22
GRAND RIVER ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Thursday July 22, 2004 Catholic Family Counselling Centre
PRESENT: Susan Harkins (Chair), Councillor Jane Mitchell, Kelly Steiss, James Hunsberger,
Lori Ludwig, Deb Bergey, Taposhi Batabyal, Sharon Ward-Zeller, Brad Ullner, Val
Hummel, Sparrow Rose (WLU).
REGRETS: Bart Toby, Kathy Glasser, Jay Oswald, Daniel LaJoie, Gerald Moore, Gail Brunsden,
Laura Fiorilla, Grace Niezen, Councillor Ian McLean, Councillor Ruby Weber, Carol
Moogk-Soulis.
1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS – Susan Harkins
?Kelly circulated a copy of a variety of logos that were drafted by City of Kitchener
staff and asked that members look them over and get back to her with comments.
Logos will be e-mailed to members for their review.
?Susan circulated a folder of correspondence and asked members to look it over and
get it back to her at the end of the meeting.
2.ADDITION/ADOPTION OF AGENDA – Susan Harkins
A motion was made by Sharon, seconded by Taposhi to adopt the agenda for the July
meeting. All were in favour; carried.
3. ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES – Susan Harkins
A motion was made by Brad to adopt the minutes from the June meeting as submitted.
All were in favour; carried.
4.DELEGATION: Dave Smith, Rick Schram, Eric Gillespie from GRT Re Mobility-
PLUS and Transit
Deb introduced the delegation from Grant River Transit (GRT) who attended to respond
to Item 6.0 in the June GRAAC minutes. The delegation began by showing a PowerPoint
presentation about GRT and MobilityPLUS.
?When the amalgamation took place, employees of Project Lift became employees of
GRT.
?People who are “registered” with CNIB have permanent registration status; people
who are “enrolled” with CNIB can have temporary registration status, if they request,
during winter months (December 1 to March 31).
?Due to area rating for taxation purposes, patients using MobilityPLUS are requested
to seek services within their own local municipality, if their medical needs cannot be
accommodated within their own municipality. These needs are assessed on a case-
by-case basis.
?An identity card is issued to permanent registrants of MobilityPLUS and will allow
these registrants to use the low-floor buses for free as well as to access the
TaxiSCRIP program.
?There are three vans in Cambridge and sixteen in K-W – to level the field, K-W would
have to be depleted to provide more to Cambridge.
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GRAND RIVER ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Thursday July 22, 2004 Catholic Family Counselling Centre
?The originating township pays for the MobilityPLUS service (going from township to
township).
?Each municipality pays for the services they have in their area.
?The goal of GRT is to eventually have equalization model across the Region with the
objective to have anyone able to travel wherever they want to go – will begin to
study this Fall.
?Contracted services - when dedicated vans reach capacity, cabs are called.
?6500 people are registered for the service.
?Registrants are screened re disability; level of income is not considered in the
screening process and anyone can use MobilityPLUS regardless of income.
?GRT considered accepting PAL card recipients and their attendants but discounted it
due to lack of capacity in the van. Staff will look into accepting the card on
conventional transit and will get back to Kelly.
?GRT divides contracts fairly among the three taxi providers in K-W and Medi Go and
the one taxi provider and Medi Go in the Cambridge service area. Possibly could
tender in the future.
?Staff is reviewing the taxi by-law (a Regional by-law).
?People who are disabled generally have lower income and higher medical expenses.
?The TaxiSCRIP program is for the urban service areas of K-W and Cambridge and was
not intended for travel within the rural (township) service areas.
?The townships, including Elmira, do not have conventional transit systems.
?GRT eventually will have a training component to encourage people to use low-floor
buses.
?GRT has hired staff to work in a public relations capacity.
?Low-floor buses are also for strollers, walkers, etc.
?Bus operators will call out stops for people (who are visually impaired) if they request
it.
?Suggest that GRT look at specialized transit as part of regular transportation and not
as a separate entity.
?Deb Bergey will arrange for a low-floor bus to come by a GRAAC meeting for
members to
Medi Go – Deb
?Deb noted the difference between Medi Go and other taxis – Medi Go cannot pick
someone up off the street and they don’t have a taxi license but can be contracted
out for services (eg. schools boards contract them to transport students).
?Medi Go’s main service is transferring patients (stretcher).
?Regulations for services such as Medi Go are being developed to help keep costs in
line (with taxis, etc.). Medi Go can now charge any fee they want to.
?At the last meeting, concern was raised that the new service amounts for United Taxi
were not implemented. This has now been rectified to the satisfaction of United Taxi.
The new scheduling method, having been approved by the United Taxi shareholders,
is now in operation.
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GRAND RIVER ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Thursday July 22, 2004 Catholic Family Counselling Centre
5. SURVEY TOOL – Deb Bergey
?The policy section of the Survey Tool has been revised – Deb will send to members
via e-mail.
?Want to eventually use this tool in planning throughout the Region.
?As members of the interim GRAAC, Paula Saunders and Judy Bruyn took part in the
committee to develop this tool.
?All input received from recent public consultations will be used to revise the tool.
?The tool will be used to identify barriers but standards will not be set.
ACTION:
As there was no time left in the meeting to review the policy/tool, members
were asked to look through the Audit Tool over the next month and to come
prepared with comments/feedback at the August meeting for each section of
the tool. Members were asked to ascertain:
* What needs to be defined
* What needs to be added
* What needs to be changed
6. OTHER BUSINESS
?Susan Harkins, Chair of GRAAC, noted that she would like to see more members of
GRAAC at the meetings as well as representatives from school boards, hospitals and
townships. Possibly a letter could be sent to the groups inviting them to attend.
?A short discussion took place on length of the meetings – it was decided to stay with
the same length.
?Not all school boards, hospitals have responded to Kelly regarding the meetings.
?Brad advised that under the ODA, universities, school boards, colleges and hospitals
had to prepare a plan but are not obliged to have a committee okay their plans
Representatives from these “scheduled organizations” are not forced to attend GRAAC
meetings unless they want to.
ACTION:
(i)Members were reminded to review the Survey Tool for the August
meeting as well as the logos that Kelly will e-mail to members and to
consider how to encourage people to attend GRAAC meetings.
(ii)Susan will talk with Kelly regarding the letter to townships, etc.
(iii)Members were asked to contact staff if they cannot attend a meeting.
7. ADJOURNMENT/NEXT MEETING
A motion was made by Taposhi to adjourn the July meeting. All were in favour; carried.
Next Meeting: August 26 2004 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Catholic Family Counselling
Centre at 400 Queen Street South in Kitchener
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