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Home My WebLink AboutGRAAC-2009-02-26Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday February 26nd, 2009 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room PRESENT: Sharon Ward - Zeller (Co-Chair),, Taposhi Batabyal (Co-Chair),, Myron Steinman, Gordon Cummer, Brad Ullner, James Hunsberger, Sharon Giles, Kurt Schneider, Gail Brunsdon, Anthony Cashin, Amy Ross, Councillor Jane Mitchell, Kelly Steiss, Johanna Ellis (Recorder), Vanessa Lopak, Councillor Jane Mitchell, Darryl Denny REGRETS (MEMBERS): Rosa Bustamante, Ken Parker REGRETS (OTHERS): Rik Louwagie, Councillor Kelly Galloway, Valrie Hummel, Councillor Karen Scian * *Minutes edited by, and changes made by co- chairs) ** 1.0 Welcome and Introductions: 2.0 Approval of Dec/January minutes and February Agenda: • Approval of February Agenda; Motion (Sharon Ward - Zeller), seconded by Gail Brunsdon and carried • Approval of December &January Minutes; Motion for December minutes (James Hunsberger), seconded by Gord Cummer and carried. Motion for January minutes (Amy Ross), seconded by James Hunsberger and carried. 3.0 New Business (Chris Hodgson, City of Waterloo) City of Waterloo Transportation Master Plan: • City of Waterloo master plan is driven by, City of Waterloo council. Statistics indicate a population of 150,000 in Waterloo by the year 2021. • Waterloo is taking on the plan because they are approximately 20 years outdated. Hodgson noted that the plan is not detail- oriented or site - specific. • They focused on a plan less dependent on automobiles and more on walking and biking. • Facilitating in assisting the Region with their future vision of the official plan, which includes land use and urban design, transportation (including Grand River Transit), recreation and leisure and the environmental strategic plan. • Study includes and sidewalks, biking and hiking trails and snow removal. • Chris shared a Power Point presentation that outlined how the road network currently operates, the level and volume of traffic carried and the delays caused at specific intersections. • A survey was sent out to the public and the city held public information sessions to allow for input. • The presentation showed a chart which outlined the top 5 action items as identified by the public around bike trails and walking routes. • There have been two (2) open houses for public input to date. There is also an active website. February 2009 - GRAAC Minutes 1 • Subjects discussed to date by various stakeholders include the following: from city councilors - make transit viable; from city Staff — Need for more bike lanes on the roads; from the public — need for better air quality, concerns about sand and salt and their impact on the environment. • Existing conditions of the roads were discussed at public meetings along with a " "who does what" discussion. • Map of a '"DRAFT" ""Bikeway &Trails Network" was presented which showed potential future plans. • Hodgson added statistics regarding percentages of people currently walking of biking by ward area within the city. • Proposed policy framework shows inclusivity for everyone. (pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders and motorists) • Traffic - calming slide showed a variety of ways to slow traffic which, in turn, could result in better cycling and /or walking. • Final slide showed the " "next steps ". • There will be a third public meeting before the summer of 2009. • Plan to go to council with master plan in late 2009. • He (Chris Hodgson) left the committee with the following question; What are the top 3 transportation issues according to GRAAC? 4.0 Other Business: 4.1 Professional Development Teambuilding: • In a new initiative, chairs will be encouraging the promotion of teambuilding among members. One of the ideas was for each member to give a little bit of information about themselves so the committee gets to know each other better. Sharon Giles suggested members could share good news around the table. Myron Steinman suggested introducing quick 1- minute "table topics" for discussion. Both ideas were noted as excellent suggestions. Chairs will also look at a separate teambuilding session. 4.2 Subcommittee Reports: 4.2.1 GBESC (Kelly Steiss) • Motion, by Sharon Ward - Zeller, to accept Paula Saunders and Saul Herzog as non -GRAAC members of GBESC seconded by Sharon Giles and carried. • Schedule of meetings has been set and the next meeting is March 16th, 2009. 4.2.2 GTSC (Amy Ross & Sharon Giles) • This committee is struggling with active membership. • The last two meetings were cancelled due to lack of attendees. • The committee lost two GRAAC members and a couple of non GRAAC members. • A solution is required, and there are a couple of options. Should the committee be dissolved, fewer meetings held, or should GTSC amalgamate with the GBESC committee? • Anthony and Myron showed an interest in attending GTSC meetings. • Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month. February 2009 - GRAAC Minutes 2 • Another solution may be to change the terms of reference to allow non members of GTSC to attend and speak at meetings to boost membership. • Several transportation priorities are still outstanding: sensitivity training for taxi services, GRT terminal signage, visual fire alarms, and transportation planning. These outstanding priorities would be emailed to members. • Members agreed that GTSC would continue to stand as a separate committee and perhaps hold fewer meetings. 4.3 Councillors Report (Councillor Jane Mitchell) • Waterloo Region Crime Prevention forum will be held at the Fairway Holiday Inn on March 13th, 2009. Councillor Mitchell asked if anyone from GRAAC would like to attend, and Sharon Ward - Zeller volunteered on behalf of GRAAC. 4.4 Co -Chair Report (Taposhi and Sharon) • Taposhi, Sharon Ward - Zeller and Kurt Schneider made a presentation about what GRAAC is, to Wellesley council. The meeting took place in Crosshill. • ARCH Disability law centre is conducting a survey to see how the law affects persons with disabilities. This will assist them to understand needs. If there is enough interest, ARCH will hold further information session in various communities. • The Social Planning Council is holding a series of 3 sessions on making communities in Waterloo and Woolwich more livable and accessible to those who are aging with disabilities. • Three of the sessions are as follows; February 13th, February 27th and another in March. • Gord Cummer, .lames Hunsberger and Brad Ullner are involved. 4.5 Annual Accessibility Plan — North Dumfries (Darryl Denny) • Borrowed the format of the plan from the Township of Woolwich (with their permission). • Public Access to accessibility plan: It will be posted on their website. • Action items for 2008 included the following; the fee for registered guide dogs was waved; all sidewalks in the township are now cleared by township workers or contractors. (Approximately 15 km. mainly in Ayr). • Staff awareness and training. (2 — 1 day training seminars attended by staff). • 2009 plan will see the township hoping to propose alternative formats for public information; revamp township website; plans to have a review of the zoning bylaw and barrier -free parking spots; retooling overall township design standards as it relates to roads & sidewalks (in new subdivisions); North Dumfries will also address further accessibility items such as staff awareness and training to continue with its goal to have all staff trained by 2010. • North Dumfries will continue to work on the Herrington municipal audit results and review the layout of the municipal office for a potential overhaul. • Motion by James Hunsberger to send a letter to North Dumfries to commend North Dumfries on their accessibility plan, seconded by Gord Cummer. The majority of the members were in favour with one opposed. Motion carried. February 2009 - GRAAC Minutes 3 4.6 AODA Proposed Employment Standard (Vanessa Lopak) • Part one: overview and summary. Vanessa explained the employment standard in brief and the system by which GRAAC will be voting on the provisions. The presentation and voting will be completed at the March meeting. 5.0 Adjournment • Motion by James Hunsberger to adjourn the meeting • Next meeting is Thursday March 26th from 1:30 — 4:00 pm in the Conestoga Room at Kitchener City Hall. 200 King Street West, Kitchener. February 2009 - GRAAC Minutes 4