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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC-2009-05-28Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee ( GRAAC) Thursday May 28, 2009 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room PRESENT: Sharon Ward - Zeller (Co-Chair),, Taposhi Batabyal (Co- Chair), Brad Ullner, Gordon Cummer, Amy Ross, Kurt Schneider, Sharon Giles, Vanessa Lopak, Councillor Kelly Galloway, Kelly Steiss, Linda Pretty (Recorder) PRESENT (OTHERS): Andrea Basler and Eckhard Pastrik, City of Waterloo REGRETS (MEMBERS): James Hunsberger, Gail Brunsdon, Anthony Cashin REGRETS (OTHERS): Councillor Jane Mitchell, Councillor Karen Scian ABSENT WITHOUT REGRETS: Ken Parker, Myron Steinman, Darryl Denny, Rik Louwagie 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 Ward - Zeller, seconded by Sharon Giles, that the agenda of the May meeting be approved. All were in favour; the motion was carried. • A motion was made by Gordon Cummer, seconded by Kurt Schneider that the minutes of the April meeting be approved. All were in favour; the motion was carried. 3.0 BUSINESS ARISING 3.1 Waterloo Parks Master Plan — Andrea Basler and Eckhard Pastrik Andrea and Eckhard attended the meeting to provide an update of the master plan process and outline key objectives to GRAAC members via a PowerPoint presentation and to ask for feedback from the group. The presentation is a culmination of the efforts of the task force in establishing the concept plan. Currently, staffs are gathering input and have already talked to City of Waterloo staff, committees of Council and stakeholders. 48 interest groups that use the park were interviewed to help create a long term vision for the park over the next 20 years and beyond. Presentation: • Propose the "oval I'll ova I" remain the same, keeping the character of the space in original, historic condition. • Youth play: will include a skateboard park, basketball courts, 1/2 of the field for pick -up soccer games, and a baseball diamond (there will no longer be organized sports such as soccer and cricket in the park. May 2009 - GRAAC Minutes 1 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday May 28, 2009 • The Farmstead area will profile domestic farm animals and will be interactive. Simple concessions will be added in this area along with a patio, washrooms and seating; it will include a themed playground and splash pad. There will be a picnic area within the farmstead with a pavilion /servery. • Community green: this area currently includes a parking lot and Lions Lagoon — the plan is for the space and views to be utilized for people not cars, thus relocating the parking lot. • Silver Lake: there was no focus on this as it is a project of its own. • Festival area: this area will be developed to take advantage of street frontage on Father David Bauer Drive and will access the playground and splash pad. Building use will be changed in keeping with the festival area but specific plans haven't been developed yet. It will also cater to festival -goers with non - amplified sound, and will provide internal seating space for 200 -300 people. Kelly Galloway entered the meeting. • An eco- education centre will be located off Seagram Drive with an arboretum, a flood plain, an outdoor open area, and themed walkways. • The rail station common will draw the park out closer to uptown Waterloo and a new entry will be created on Father David Bauer Drive (FDBD), as well as an alternate pedestrian link to uptown. • There will be an interior perimeter walkway around the park that will be maintained year round, paved and linking all areas of the park. North /South on the Iron Horse Trail will be a dedicated bike lane and pedestrian lane integrated with rapid transit. • The planned light rail transit system is slated to run directly through the park. • Multi -use off road terrain on FDBD plus a west -side multi -use track to facilitate bike users to go through park and not congest pedestrian traffic nor interfere with the transit track. • There will be multiple new entrances /access points. • The service entrance will be off Seagram Drive. Questions /Answers • The tennis club is remaining — the parking lot will be retained and accessed off a service entrance. • Waterloo Park consists of approximately 124 acres. • The park is bordered by Father David Bauer Drive on the south; Westmount & University; Seagram Drive and Albert St; Caroline & Erb. • The Perimeter Institute, the train station, the Clay and Glass Gallery are all located in the park. • The pool was removed in 1994 & a splash pad added. • There have been complaints about noise from the festivals from the retirement home. May 2009 - GRAAC Minutes 2 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday May 28, 2009 • There is now one transit stop on Westmount Road. The new park needs to be served better by GRT. • Want to cater to patrons' needs and activities in the park so people don't have to drive. • Will the speed of the LRT and patron safety be an issue in the park? Two principal corridors will cross the tracks. Staffs do not want any barriers and feel it will be easy to make it safe in the park without erecting barricades. • The train will come every 7 minutes or so. • There is no concept yet for the accessible playground but the project is first on books to carry out. • Stone dust or wood chips will be used on themed walkways; other access ways will be paved. • Eckhard asked for a motion of support from GRAAC. GRAAC members advised that they want more information before they provide support. • A motion was made by Brad, seconded by Gord, that GRAAC endorse in principle the concept of the new Waterloo Park Master Plan subject to obtaining more details from staff. GRAAC welcomes the opportunity to participate in future discussion around accessible playground, transportation and signage and way finding, subject to identified priorities and suggest that staff refer to the Herrington Group audit recommendations from 2007. All in favour; the motion was carried. • Andrea and Eckhard were thanked for attending the meeting and were praised for a great project. ACTION: Andrea and Eckhard will find out whether there will be audible signals when the train is approaching in the park. 4.0 OTHER BUSINESS 4.1 Professional Development Sharon Ward - Zeller facilitated the exchange as Sharon Giles provided information on her background for the Professional Development segment. Taposhi encouraged other members to do likewise at future meetings. 5.0 COUNCILLORS' REPORTS 5.1 Councillor Galloway — City of Kitchener • Council approved a vision and master plan for the Civic District last week — the project will include expansion and renovation to Centre in the Square. • The Centre Block redevelopment is being worked on. • Council discussed deficit measures that can be taken to help the City weather the recession. May 2009 - GRAAC Minutes 3 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday May 28, 2009 • Plans for McLennan Park are moving forward. • A Council discussion regarding surplus city lands is forthcoming —there is still time for public feedback. • Contact Kelly Galloway if you have questions about anything. 6.0 STAFF UPDATE 6.1 Kitchener TextNet Launch — Kelly Steiss • Lighting in the Conestoga Room will be upgraded and completed by September. • Members were encouraged to attend Council on Monday June 1 for the launch of the computer -based TextNet system. The meeting starts at 12:45 p.m. and TextNet is 1st on agenda. An ASL interpreter is booked. The system will allow staff to better answer calls that come in from people who are deaf, deafened or hard or hearing, etc. Staff is currently being trained. • Next week (June 1 -5) is Access Awareness Week. 6.2 Waterloo Public Square Opening — Kelly Steiss • The official opening of the Waterloo Public Square is Saturday May 30 from 12 -5 with speeches starting at 2:00 p.m. An ASL interpreter has been booked for the event. GRAAC has chosen not to attend the opening, but to tour the Square later. 7.0 CO -CHAIR REPORT 7.1 Letters of Support • The federal government has funding available known as the " "Enabling Accessibility" fund that is available to municipalities for projects that will improve physical accessibility. Applications must be made to and approved by the government, so the grant is not a given. • The Co- Chairs sent letters on behalf of GRAAC supporting the initiative to the City of Kitchener for access upgrades to the municipal facility at Duke and Ontario, and to the Township of Woolwich for a variety of initiatives in Bloomingdale, Maryhill and Elmira. • The Waterloo Public Library is seeking funding to upgrade all the washrooms at the main branch library. • Compliments to staff re: applications with such short deadlines. • Amy Ross said that she did not agree with accessibility grant application being made for bylaw enforcement and parking office when there are other more urgent needs. • Kelly Galloway advised that there 4 or 5 different grants available and staff had to divide out where they were going to ask for grants. • Unfortunately, the system to apply for grants is chaotic. May 2009 - GRAAC Minutes 4 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday May 28, 2009 • Kelly added that there had to be " "ready" projects as the funds have to be applied for when they become available. • GRAAC could make a priority list. • Amy said that she wanted to add a clause to a letter to the City specifying that if the grant is received, GRAAC would wish to review the changes proposed before they are made. 7.2 AODA Response GRAAC filed a response to employee standards — a copy of the response was sent to the committee. 7.3 Summer Meeting Schedule Taposhi wanted to know if enough people would be able to attend the GRAAC meetings in July and August to warrant holding the meetings or whether the meetings should be cancelled. ACTION: GRAAC members are asked to check their calendars for availability to attend meetings over the summer and be prepared to discuss at the June meeting. 7.4 Letter of Resignation Rosa has submitted a Letter of Resignation as she has accepted a new job with the City of Cambridge. 8.0 SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 8.1 Built Environment — Kelly Steiss • GBESC met in May and discussed plans on what is happening in Waterloo. The group met with staff to provide feedback to site managers of University Downs Park construction. Changes have since been made. GBESC also provided advice on the Market Place at the Kitchener Market. • Recommendations were provided and will be discussed at next GBESC. GBESC will also comment on Williamsburg CC and the Deer Run playground structure on June 8. • The group is making a list of sites they want to revisit where recommendations were made to see what has been done and how it has worked. 8.2 Transportation — Amy Ross /Sharon Giles • The last Transportation meeting was cancelled. They will meet again on Tuesday June 9. May 2009 - GRAAC Minutes 5 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee ( GRAAC) Thursday May 28, 2009 9.0 BUSINESS ARISING 9.1 Region of Waterloo Taxi Licensing — Marty Sawdon (refer to Item 3.0 from the April 2009 minutes) • Marty, the Administrator of Taxi Licensing for the Region of Waterloo, attended the meeting in response to the delegation /discussion at the April GRAAC meeting. • Marty distributed bylaw booklets for taxis and limos for the Region as well as tariff comparison information for various cities. Marty will send electronic versions of the booklet to Vanessa. • The Licensing and Regulatory Services Section of the Region of Waterloo is responsible for licensing and regulating the taxi industry, among others. • At the moment, there are only 10 accessible taxis in the Region. • Marty checked accessible taxi policies with various cities. The city of London said they were providing taxi service 24/7, but they actually weren't. The city of Ottawa has 25 accessible taxi cabs - 10% of their fleet has to be accessible, next year 15 %. • Fifteen accessible licenses were made available in Waterloo Region, but only 10 were taken out. Two brokers provide accessible taxi services in Kitchener - Waterloo, one in Elmira and one in Cambridge. • Usually, accessible taxi service stops at 2:30 a.m. and begins again at 6:00 a.m. • If someone with a disability had to go to the hospital in middle of night, they would have to call an ambulance. • Currently, bylaws in Ontario and beyond do not require 24/7 taxi service. • The cost of providing accessible taxi service is a drawback as it costs 2 -3 times more for accessible taxis than standards cabs. • A standard taxi carries 1 -4 people. Smaller cars are being used now - larger cars are not being used as much. The president of the taxi association advised that City Cabs in Waterloo doesn't have any vans. Patrons would have to use collapsible wheelchairs for standard cars if they wish to use the company's service. • Current bylaws state that cab companies can get accessible licenses, but cannot demand the cabs to be available 24/7. Drivers have to undergo customer service training. • Amy noted that from 2:00 -4:00 p.m. daily taxis go to schools making it difficult to get a taxi if you need one. While accessible vehicles provide service to everyone, they are required to give priority service to those in need of accessible transportation. Marty advised that if anyone feels they aren't getting priority, call the company first and if they don't help, call Marty and it will be investigated. Marty can send out a bulletin to companies to remind them that unless a school run is an accessible call, a patron with disabilities takes priority. May 2009 - GRAAC Minutes 6 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday May 28, 2009 • Accessible taxis have a higher purchase price and operating costs than standard taxis. There are different standards for an accessible taxi license, but no difference in the cost of tariffs. Accessible vans have to meet CSA standards, have to be modified and have bigger engines therefore increasing fuel consumption. For the most part, standard taxis are used cars; accessible cars /vans are brand new and owners have to pay for modifications, which are extremely expensive. • Cabs can do regular taxi runs when they are not doing accessible runs — if they couldn't do that they wouldn't take out an accessibility license as it wouldn't be economical. • Taxi drivers using cell phones while driving is quite prevalent and not safe. Police, fire & ambulance will be the only exemptions in cell phone use in the upcoming by -law. Currently regulations do not speak specifically to issues such as drivers using cell phones. • Taxi cab companies are licensed by the Region and issues can be brought before them in a hearing setting if there are complaints. • Brokers weren't licensed up until 4 years ago — only drivers were licensed. • As third party contractors. would the Region need to train taxi companies on customer service? • Taxis in the Ottawa area are more in demand than here —there is a fixed ratio of taxis to population (1 -784 in Ottawa; 1 -1650 here). • Kurt asked whether this issue is a mandate of the Transportation Sub - committee. Vanessa replied that the sub - committee could research it but it would have to come back to the GRAAC committee anyway. • Sharon Ward - Zeller advised that GRAAC should respond quickly, therefore the committee made two recommendations: (1) that Marry be requested to discuss these issues with taxi presidents and bring back their response to this committee on how they plan to address the issues and (2) that we ask Marry to call for the presidents to have a van made available on call 24/7. • Marry said that the Region is limited in that changes to a bylaw would take a long time. • Amy asked how a person would access an on call taxi and how long would it take for them to respond. ACTION: • Marty will bring the issues identified by GRAAC to the taxi presidents when he meets with them next. • Marty will provide GRAAC with a list of contact numbers for taxi presidents. • This issue will be addressed again at the GRAAC June meeting. The Transportation Sub - committee is requested to discuss it at their next meeting and bring a recommendation forward to the June GRAAC meeting. May 2009 - GRAAC Minutes 7 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday May 28, 2009 • GRAAC members are asked to come to the GTSC meeting to discuss. The co- chairs of GRAAC will then let Marty and Tom Livingstone know what the committee has decided. 5.0 ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Amy to adjourn the meeting. All were in favour; the motion was carried. The next GRAAC meeting will be held on Thursday June 25 at Kitchener City Hall in the Conestoga Room on the main floor from 1:30 -4:00 p.m. May 2009 - GRAAC Minutes o