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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2007-05-24 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday May 24, 2007 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room PRESENT: Sharon Ward-Zeller (Co-Chair), Taposhi Batabyal (Co-Chair), Sharon Giles, Carol Moogk-Soulis, Marybeth Hunter, Gordon Cummer, Gail Brunsdon, James Hunsberger, Chris Douglas, Karen Panchaud and Jennifer Tovell (Interpreters), Val Hummel, Ana Popa, Lori Ludwig, Kelly Steiss, Julie Marshall (City of Kitchener Special Events Co-Ordinator), Jennifer Zunic (Co-Ordinator of Event Operations) Councillor Kelly Galloway, Linda Pretty (Recorder) REGRETS (MEMBERS): Saul Herzog REGRETS (OTHERS): Councillor Ian McLean, Councillor Jane Mitchell, Linda Chamberlain (WLU), Darryl Denny (North Dumfries) ABSENT WITHOUT REGRETS: Brad Ullner, Frank Groenestege, Dave Heuchert (Wellesley) 1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Taposhi welcomed everyone to the May meeting. 2.0 APPROVAL OF APRIL MINUTES AND REVIEW OF MAY AGENDA ?A motion was made by Sharon Giles, seconded by Marybeth Hunter, to accept the minutes of the April meeting. All were in favour; carried. ?Several additions were made to the May agenda. With the amendments noted, a motion was made by Sharon Giles, seconded by Chris Douglas, to adopt the May agenda. All were in favour; carried. 3.0BUSINESS ARISING 3.1 Special Events Template – Julie Marshall and Jennifer Zunic ?As discussed at the April GRAAC meeting, Item 3.1, Julie distributed a copy of the Accessibility Checklist for the upcoming City of Waterloo 150th Celebration on May 27 and for Cruising on King on July 13. Julie will also send the checklist electronically and asked that anyone filling out the checklist be as specific as possible about the location to which they are referring. 4.0NEW BUSINESS 4.1 Region of Waterloo Strategic Planning Review – Lorie Fioze ?Using a PowerPoint Presentation, Lorie gave an overview of the results of the draft strategic plan process. She noted that the Region of Waterloo had never asked for public input before and all decisions prior to this were made by Council. The presentations summarized the directions on which Council should concentrate its future planning, as pinpointed by public surveys and focus groups such as GRAAC. 1 May 2007 - GRAAC Minutes Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday May 24, 2007 These included waste diversion and the environment, transit, friendly neighbourhoods, employment and arts and culture. The next step will be to get input from both the public and staff by June 14, and this includes GRAAC member input. The survey is also available to be answered over the telephone, and on paper and GRAAC members are encouraged to fill out the survey online or in any of the ways listed above. Staff will be available to assist, if needed. 5.0OTHER BUSINESS 5.1 Sub-Committee Reports 5.1.1 Built Environment (G-BESC) - Kelly ?Kelly advised that the sub-committee has met twice in the past month to review the Police Headquarters and the Maryhill Community Centre. Comments from those reviews are included in the G-BESC minutes. ?Kelly asked for a motion to approve the Terms of Reference for the sub- committee. Carol Moogk-Soulis made a number of points, which the Co-Chair advised should be addressed with the G-BESC. Any amendments necessary will be made in consultation with members, circulated to GRAAC for last comments and the terms will return to the next GRAAC meeting for approval. ?The Terms of Reference state what the committee is mandated to do and reflect minimum standards. The sub-committee is always able to view building plans as well as site plans. ?GRAAC/Sub-committee volunteers will not be held legally responsible as they are only providing advice and it is up to staff as to what is done. ?Municipal Legal Departments would not endorse the Region of Waterloo’s survey tool and Council would only approve them as guidelines. ?It was again noted that should any other member of GRAAC wish to be part of a working group, to let the chairs of the sub-committees know. ACTION: Kelly will address the Terms of Reference with the G-BESC and the item will be added to the June GRAAC agenda for approval. 5.1.2 GTSC Update – Sharon Ward-Zeller/Sharon Giles The group met in May for a planning meeting and drafted a plan for the next year. The group will not meet in July and August. 5.2Co-Chair Report – Sharon Ward-Zeller 2 May 2007 - GRAAC Minutes Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday May 24, 2007 5.2.1 Interior Designers’ Workshop Update As noted at the last GRAAC meeting, the Interior Designers’ held a workshop to which they invited GRAAC members. Sharon and Taposhi attended and presented their personal points-of-view on the best and worst in their experience. The designers were very interested. 5.2.2 GRAAC Budget A revised budget highlighting the change to interpreter’s fees, was circulated to members. A motion was made by Gordon Cummer, seconded by Sharon Giles, to approve the amended budget. All were in favour; the motion was carried. 5.2.3 Miscellaneous ?The membership list will be re-sent with the underscore removed from under the e-mail addresses. ?Taposhi read the letter GRAAC received from the United Way in thanks for the donation in memory of Susan Harkins. ?This past week, TextNet has been installed at City of Waterloo locations. 5.3GRAAC Focus Groups 5.3.1 Focus Group Dialogue Val Hummel explained the mandate and Terms of Reference briefly before members held a focus group for ideas on presentations to Council, facilitated by Kelly Steiss and Ana Popa. Among many suggestions, it was proposed that Council presentations be focused on the essentials about GRAAC and on past achievements rather than on outstanding issues. 5.3.2Taposhi polled members as to their availability for summer meetings and most (6 of those present) said they would not be present at the July meeting, with 2 absent in August. Sharon Ward-Zeller might not be able to attend June, and Marybeth Hunter may not be able to attend a meeting in the fall. The Co-Chairs will, therefore, likely not call a meeting in July, unless there are matters for discussion only. 6.ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m. 3 May 2007 - GRAAC Minutes