HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2007-11-22
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday November 22, 2007 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room
PRESENT: Sharon Ward-Zeller (Co-Chair), Taposhi Batabyal (Co-Chair), Brad Ullner, Chris
Douglas, Saul Herzog, Carol Moogk-Soulis, Gordon Cummer, Ian Ardill, Peggy Zehr and
Jennifer Tovell (Interpreters), Rosa Bustamante (GBESC), Councillor Karen Scian, Councillor
Kelly Galloway, Val Hummel, Kelly Steiss, Linda Pretty (Recorder)
PRESENT (OTHERS): Anthony Cashin (Observer), Wilfrid Laurier Urban Politics Students
REGRETS (MEMBERS): Gail Brunsdon, James Hunsberger, Sharon Giles, Frank
Groenestege
REGRETS (OTHERS): Ana Popa
ABSENT WITHOUT REGRETS: Councillor Jane Mitchell, Darryl Denny
1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Taposhi welcomed everyone to the November meeting.
2.0 APPROVAL OF OCTOBER MINUTES AND REVIEW OF NOVEMBER AGENDA
?A motion was made by Sharon Ward-Zeller, seconded by Ian Ardill, that the
minutes of the October meeting be approved. All were in favour; carried.
?Re: Item 4.1 on the November agenda – As James was absent, Brad will speak to
“Local Group Presentation on UN Day of Disabled Persons on December 3”. With
the change noted, a motion was made by Chris, seconded by Brad, to adopt the
November agenda. All were in favour; carried.
3.0NEW BUSINESS
3.1 Emergency Evacuation/Fire Planning in Township of Woolwich – Bill
Cronin (Fire Prevention Officer)
Bill provided an overview both of his duties as FPO and of the accessibility of public
buildings in the Township.
?Extensive, up-to-date plans are in place at the township’s only pool to look after
citizens in the case of an emergency.
?The new township administration building will be completely accessible.
?The municipality’s arenas are somewhat accessible, but although plans are in
place for medical emergencies, there is currently no plan for getting people out in
the case of an emergency.
?The St. Jacobs library is a heritage building thus there are limitations on what can
be done to make it accessible, although the ground floor at the main library in
Elmira is accessible.
?The airport is accessible.
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November 2007 - GRAAC Minutes
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday November 22, 2007
Cronin is the chair of Waterloo Region Arson Prevention Officers’ Association and
invited any member of GRAAC who may have an interest, to attend a meeting of the
association to discuss accessibility issues.
Most municipal buildings have easy egress even though township facilities are older
and do not meet current accessibility standards, and a fire warden is designated to
ensure no one is left in the area. A safe location is designated for people who do not
move well Smoke alarms are available now that have strobe lights for people who
are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing - talk to you local fire prevention officer.
Privately owned buildings must meet the fire code and have a fire plan in place.
Township fire department staff, who are volunteers, are trained to same standards
as larger fire departments.
Bill Cronin was thanked for his presentation and left the meeting.
3.2City of Waterloo Snow Clearance Update – Kelly Steiss
Staff brought a report regarding snow clearance before the City of Waterloo Council
on November 19. The report dealt with snow clearance in general but referenced
the letter sent by Taposhi and Sharon, on behalf of GRAAC, asking for sidewalks to
be cleared by city staff.
Full clearance of city sidewalks would have a significant budgetary impact of about
$1,000,000 annually. Currently, a ticket will be given to anyone who doesn’t clear
their sidewalks. Additionally, city staff will go out to clear it and a charge will be
added to the tax bill. If a person has a disability, special arrangements can be made
with local agencies. A similar letter had been sent to Kitchener – city-wide sidewalk
cleaning will not happen this year but Kelly Galloway noted that it is being
investigated, and that there is resistance to $40 being added on to the tax bill.
GRAAC requested that Waterloo by-law and municipal staff come to the January
meeting. On December 3, a report is going to City of Kitchener Council with snow
removal recommendations.
3.3Joint Accessibility Plan Presentation – Kelly Steiss and Val Hummel
Kelly and Val gave members a brief overview of the feedback process for the Joint
Accessibility Plan which will be discussed at the December meeting. Val indicated
that the plan will be mailed out in hard copy the following week, along with a copy
on CD. It could also be e-mails. Most members wished to have the plan in hard
copy and CD.
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November 2007 - GRAAC Minutes
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday November 22, 2007
This year, groups of GRAAC members will examine and comment upon sections in
detail. Kelly read a list of members and assigned groups to parts of the plan such as
Information/Communication, Technologic, Attitudinal, Physical/Architectural and
Policy/Practice. Each group will look at each section in detail. Those who are unable
to attend should send their feedback electronically or by telephone to staff.
4.0 OTHER BUSINESS
4.1 Local group presentation on UN Day of Disabled Persons (Dec. 3)
On behalf of the Disabilities and Human Rights Group and the Social Planning
Council, Brad Ullner invited members to a December 3 forum. Dr. Kathryn Church of
Ryerson University will be guest speaker at the Kitchener Auditorium in the Viewing
Lounge on December 3 from 1-4 p.m. and will speak on “Discovering the Work Done
by Disabled Persons”. Dr. Church is one of the author’s of a study released in
October 2007 looking at the day to day challenges of employees with disabilities at a
major financial organization in Canada. There is no cost for this presentation and no
registration is required.
4.2 Update on Standards Development Committee (Employment
Standards)Kelly reviewed a PowerPoint presentation updating the committee on the
AODA Employment Standards. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), of
which she is a part, will be helping to develop and refine these standards. A
question that remains to be answered is “how do we make this measurable?” Chris
suggested that the measure to use would be for staff to look at existing barriers and
ask if there is a reason that people with disabilities do not work at a particular
place. It was noted that a quota system is not employment equity, but is a good
start to getting people with disabilities into the workplace.
A motion was made by Sharon Ward-Zeller and seconded by Chris Douglas to
forward a recommendation to the AMO as follows: that GRAAC supports employment
equity rather than a quota system as a measure of standards. All were in favour and
the motion was carried.
ACTION:
Kelly will regularly take feedback from GRAAC to the committee and
provide GRAAC with an update on the committee’s progress.
5.0 CO-CHAIR REPORT
5.1 December 20 Meeting Attendance & Optional refreshments for Meeting
?A small celebration will be held at the next GRAAC meeting on December 20.
Members may bring along refreshments for sharing if they wish.
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November 2007 - GRAAC Minutes
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday November 22, 2007
?The GRAAC meeting dates for 2008 have been confirmed. A schedule will be
given out prior to the January meeting.
?Please send regrets to both Taposhi and Sharon and copy Linda as well.
?Sharon once again reviewed the snow policy (see minutes from October 2007).
6.0 SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
6.1 Transportation Subcommittee (GTSC) – Sharon Ward-Zeller
Sharon distributed an updated copy of the GTSC priorities for 2008 and asked
members for approval of same.
A motion was made by Chris, seconded by Ian that the Transportation Subcommittee
2008 List of Priorities be approved. All were in favour; carried.
6.2Built Environment Subcommittee (GBESC) – Rosa Bustamante
?GBESC will be pulling together a priority list and should have it for review at
either the December or January GRAAC meeting.
?The sub-committee is reviewing the Kitchener Barrier Free guidelines
?A working group consisting of Brad, Rosa, Kelly and Paula Saunders is working on
the Best Practices Manual showing what has been done to accommodate people
with disabilities. A comparison of good and bad practices will be included with
photos.
?Rosa distributed a sheet to members asking them to send it back to her with
anything they want to see added to either the priority list or the Best Practices
manual. The sheet can be brought to the December meeting or an e-mail can be
sent to Kelly.
7.0 ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Sharon Ward-Zeller, to adjourn the meeting at 3:40 p.m. All
were in favour; carried.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday December 20 at Kitchener City Hall in the
Conestoga Room on the main floor from 1:30-4:00 p.m. Members may bring
refreshments to share if they wish.
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November 2007 - GRAAC Minutes