THE JOINT PEEL- CALEDON

ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Glenn Barnes, Chair - presided

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting held on October 19, 2004

RECOMMENDATION AAC-29-2004:

That the minutes of the October 19, 2004 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION AAC-30-2004:

That Items Related to Presentations, Item 5a, be deferred to a future meeting of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee;

And further, that the agenda for the November 16, 2004 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved, as amended.

4. COMMUNICATION ITEMS

a. News Release: The Midweek Caledon Enterprise, October 20, 2004, Regarding Peel Approving the Accessibility Plan

Received

b. News Release: Summerville Pines, Peel's Newest Non-Profit Rental Apartment for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities

Received

5. PRESENTATIONS

a. Gerry Belanger, Principal of Gerald P. Belanger Architect Inc., Presentation on the Additions and Alterations to the Cheltenham Pumping and Fire Station 304

Deferred to a future meeting of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee

b. Keith Ward, Commissioner of Housing and Property and General Manager of Peel Living, Presenting a Departmental Overview

Received

Keith Ward, Commissioner of Housing and Property and General Manager of Peel Living provided an overview of the department, various programs, its mandate, and key objectives.

William Goursky, Member of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC), inquired about the application process for persons requiring accessible public housing units and if separate applications to each provider were still necessary. Keith Ward responded that only one housing provider is currently not participating in the single application process for persons requiring accessible public housing in the Region of Peel. Staff continues to work with the various housing providers to ensure sufficient information is made available to provide appropriate referrals based on the modifications to the unit and the needs of the client/applicant.

Maureen Tymkow, Member of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC), asked if there was any different consideration given to paper applications versus electronic applications received for public housing. Keith Ward replied that applications are placed in chronological order based on the date of submission regardless of the method (paper or electronic) of application. The only exception to the subsidized public housing waiting list is the placing of persons who are the victims of abuse. Units modified for accessibility and that are geared to income are maintained on a separate list. Market units that are modified for accessibility are not on the subsidized public housing referral list and as such those units require submitting of applications directly to the building owner/operator.

Maureen Tymkow questioned why more accessible public housing units are not being added. Keith Ward explained that there are very few resources available to fund additional public housing projects. He noted that currently the Region is adding about 200 to 300 units per year, most of which are for seniors.

Naz Husain, Member of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC), asked if there are any standards for addressing vision disabilities in the construction and provision of public housing. Keith Ward replied that he was aware of standards under Canada Mortgage and Housing (CMHC) and both the National and Provincial Building Codes. Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Co-ordinator, Region of Peel, indicated that she would share the Joint Peel-Caledon AAC audit tool with Housing department staff in an effort to further raise awareness.

Glenn Barnes, Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC), inquired if any federal or provincial department or agency sets a per cent requirement for the number of accessible units within the public housing portfolio of the Region of Peel. Keith Ward indicated that there is no requirement that a fixed portion of the portfolio must be accessible. Currently, less then five per cent of the subsidized public housing portfolio is accessible. On the positive side, the average wait time for accessible units is significantly less than that experienced for non-accessible subsidized units.

Glenn Barnes requested that a tour of Summerville Pines, the newest public housing building in the Regional portfolio, be arranged.

Staff Direction AAC-11-2004-01:

The Accessibility Planning Co-ordinator for the Region of Peel and Housing department staff were requested to arrange a facilities tour of Summerville Pines for Members of the AAC.

Naz Husain explained that reviewing blueprints in advance is advantageous and avoids costly retrofits to facilities. She added that having the architect present the plans to the AAC and verbally explain the plan aids her to more fully understand the proposed project. Glenn Barnes noted that the presentation of the plans for the Region of Peel - Peel Regional Police Joint Use Facility was very positive and valuable input was provided by the AAC to the architects.

Councillor Saito indicated that simplified large scale plans provided in advance of the presentation in both electronic and hard copy versions are essential to blueprint and site plan reviews to be conducted by the AAC. Further, the presenter needs to be briefed in advance as to the nature of the process and the type of recommendations that the AAC will provide. The perspective of the Committee members is valuable to ensure projects are made accessible in the design stage thus avoiding expensive retrofits.

Glenn Barnes thanked Keith Ward for his presentation on behalf of the Committee members.

6. REPORTS

a. Draft Revised Terms of Reference

Received

Councillor Saito questioned why the draft proposed that the appointment of a Brampton Councillor be delayed until the start of the next term of Council. Charlotte Gravlev, Regional Clerk, explained that the appointment of a Brampton Regional Councillor to the AAC could be proposed to occur immediately, if that is the preference, and further, that the necessary report would be prepared for the December 2, 2004 General Committee meeting, and hopefully receive final approval from Regional Council on December 9, 2004.

RECOMMENDATION AAC-31-2004:

That the Revised Terms of Reference for the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved, as amended;

And further, that the Revised Terms of Reference for the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee, be referred to Regional Council for approval.

7. REPORT FROM THE ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING COORDINATORS

a. Colleen Grant, Town Prosecutor and Solicitor, Town of Caledon

Received

Colleen Grant, Town Prosecutor and Solicitor, Town of Caledon, provided an update on sensitivity training for Town of Caledon staff. She noted that the training is going well and it has been positively received, a total of three sessions are planned.

b. Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Coordinator, Region of Peel

Received

Meenu Sikand updated plans to mark the December 3, 2004 International Day of Disabled Persons, the list includes: Proclamation of the day by Regional Council; release of an information brochure regarding the role of the AAC; experiential displays in the lobby of Regional Headquarters; a message to staff from the Regional CAO and a series of information sessions for staff. The information sessions will include the following: sensitivity training exercises, participation and remarks by the AAC and TAC members along with the viewing of the Ten Commandments Video.

Meenu Sikand requested that the members of the AAC contact her regarding their availability on December 3, 2004.

8. REPORT OF THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR

Received

Glenn Barnes advised the members that he received a response from GO Transit regarding accessibility issues he recently experienced while trying to access rail service. The members were all copied on the response.

Glenn Barnes reminded the members of the Second Reading of the proposed Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) at Queen's Park on Thursday, November 18, 2004.

9. OTHER BUSINESS

10. NEXT MEETING

RECOMMENDATION AAC-32-2004

That the December 14, 2004 meeting of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee be CANCELLED.

The Next Scheduled Meeting will be:

Tuesday, January 18, 2005 (*1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
Region of Peel Administrative Headquarters
Council Chamber, 5th floor
10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton, Ontario
* 1:30 p.m. start requested by Maureen Tymkow

11. ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 4:12 p.m.