HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC-2008-12-18Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday December 18th, 2008
Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room
PRESENT: Sharon Ward - Zeller (Co-Chair),, Taposhi Batabyal (Co-Chair),, Myron Steinman,
Saul Herzog, Gordon Cummer, Brad Ullner, James Hunsberger, Sharon Giles, Kelly Steiss,
Johanna Ellis (Recorder), Vanessa Lopek, Valerie Hummel, Pam Albrecht, Councillor Jane
Mitchell
REGRETS (MEMBERS): Gail Brunsdon, Amy Ross, Rosa Bustamante, Ken Parker
REGRETS (OTHERS): Darryl Denny, Rik Louwagie, Councillor Kelly Galloway
ABSENT WITHOUT REGRETS: Councillor Karen Scian
* *Minutes edited by, and changes made by co- chairs) **
1.0 Welcome and Introductions:
Ta posh i welcomed everyone to the meeting and invited members, staff and
observers to introduce themselves
2.0 Approval of Minutes and Agenda:
• Motion (Sharon Ward - Zeller) /Seconded (Sharon Giles) /Carried to approve the
December agenda
3.0 Joint Accessibility Plan — Kelly Steiss:
• Kelly is in the process of presenting the Annual Accessibility Plan to the City of
Kitchener and the City of Waterloo Council
• Plan will be presented to Waterloo Council on Monday January 12th, 2009 and to
Kitchener Council on Monday January 19, 2009
• MOTION: The GRAAC has reviewed and provided feedback on the accessibility
plan for the City of Kitchener and City of Waterloo and endorse the plan being
presented. Motion by Gordon Cummer, seconded by Sharon Ward - Zeller and
carried
4.0 Other Business:
4.1 Introduction of New Staff Members — Vanessa Lopak & Pam Albrecht:
• Both staff members gave a brief summary of their backgrounds and answered
questions from members
4.2 New Absenteeism Policy/ Bad Weather Policy — Sharon Ward - Zeller &
Ta posh i Bata bya I :
• Regrets should be made well in advance
• Two weeks notice is reasonable to provide special accommodation, for example;
ASL interpreters require 2 weeks notice to cancel
December 2008 - GRAAC Minutes 1
• Moreover, bad weather cancellations will take place when City of Kitchener staff is
not at work
• Members are urged to put safety first and not travel if they have a bench mark
about inclement weather. Should you choose not to attend, please call and send
regrets to staff or co- chairs so that the meeting can be cancelled on time
4.3 Co -Chair Election Reminder
• Elections will be held in January
• Val will oversee the elections
• Nominations from the floor will be accepted however, self nominations will not be
accepted
• Candidates can vote for themselves
4.4 GRAAC Appointments & Volunteer Recognition
• Gail Brunsdon, Sharon Giles, Sharon Ward - Zeller and Taposhi Batabyal have been
re- appointed to GRAAC (along with two new members)
• Saul Herzog was recognized for his commitment to GRAAC and presented with a
token of appreciation by Regional Councillor Jane Mitchell
4.5 Subcommittee Reports:
4.5.1 Built Environment Subcommittee — Kelly Steiss
• This committee has had the opportunity to comment on 2 plans
• 1) Regional Museum facility will now have accessible exits and seating complete
with emergency exits. Regional Museum washrooms will have 2 accessible sinks
and shelves along with stalls
• Exhibits will be in layers so they are easy to view for everyone
• 2) Sunnyside is building 27 accessible units with sliding locks, lower level peep
holes in doors which will be made accessible with entry cards
• Sunnyside will also have a medical centre complete with doctors and
physiotherapy
• The 2009 schedule of meetings will be developed based on the availability of the
members
4.5.2 Transportation Subcommittee — Sharon Giles
• Had meeting early in December 2008
• There was a GRT Easy -Go presentation
• Sharon Ward - Zeller handed out " "easy -go, brochure
• There was also discussion around pedestrian access in roundabouts. Will follow
up with this in a few months.
• Regional Transportation staff indicated that pedestrians have the right of way at
roundabouts. Kelly will follow up with Regional staff.
• Pedestrian crossing buttons in a couple of areas are difficult to reach; the
subcommittee will follow up
December 2008 - GRAAC Minutes 2
4.6 Co -Chair Report — Sharon Ward - Zeller, Taposhi Batabyal
• Need to know who is planning to sit on Sub - Committee
• Gordon to sit on the " "Built Environment Subcommittee"
• Taposhi indicated that GRAAC can implement other sub committees and that
GRAAC is open to suggestions
• James is interested in sitting on the GTSC committee
• Brad is interested in sitting on the GBESC committee
• Myron is interested in sitting on the GBESC committee (Myron is also interested in
an employment group committee)
• Sharon Giles is interested in sitting on the GTSC committee
• Ken is interested in sitting on the GTSC Committee
• Sharon Ward - Zeller is interested in sitting on the GBESC and GTSC committee
4.7 Councillors' Reports)
• None
S.0 City of Kitchener Parks Master Plan
• Consultant is asking for names of members of committees of council for
feedback. Names of interested GRAAC members are; Sharon Giles, and co- chairs
Sharon Ward - Zeller and Taposhi Batabyal
• GRAAC would like a City of Kitchener staff member to attend to present the
background and philosophy on the master plan for Kitchener parks
6.0 New Business (AODA Information and Comm. Standard; Overview and
Summary):
• AO DA 5 Standards
1. Customer Service, which is now a regulation
2. Transportation
3. Information and Communication — this is currently out for Public Review. The
Minister has extended the timeline to review to February 6t", 2009. There is
concern from GRAAC members that the standard has not been made available in
alternate formats such as plain language. Kelly will also request a CD copy of the
Draft Standard. Both the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo will comment on the
standard
• There are concerns by cities around timelines
• GRAAC members will examine the standard, provide feedback, which will be
brought back in January for February submission
• Discussion by Co- Chairs to put together a preliminary report from feedback today.
Feedback from all of GRAAC will be requested by Friday January 2nd at 5:00 p.m.
Brad Ullner has agreed to receive the feedback and coordinate a response.
4. Built Environment
5. Employment
7.0 Adjournment
• Motion by Saul to adjourn the meeting
December 2008 - GRAAC Minutes 3
• Next meeting is Thursday January 22nd from 1:30 — 4:00 pm in the Conestoga
Room at Kitchener City Hall. 200 King Street West, Kitchener.
December 2008 - GRAAC Minutes 4