September 13, 2005 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC)
Page Content:
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Communication Items
5. Presentations
6. Reports
7. Reports from the Accessibility Planning Coordinators
8. Report of the Accessibility Advisory Committee Chair
9. Other Business
10. Next Meeting
11. Adjournment

 

THE JOINT PEEL-CALEDON

ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AAC)


MINUTES


AAC-2005-7

 

The Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee met on September 13, 2005 at 1:50 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the 5th floor of the Region of Peel Headquarters Building, Brampton.

Members Present:

H. Bajwa; G. Barnes; W. Goursky¨; M. Horn; N. Husain; R. Paterak¨; P. Saito¨; M. Tymkow

   
Members Absent: S. Hames, due to other municipal business; E. Kolb, due to other municipal business; T. LeRoux
   
Also Present:

R. K. Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor; E. Eglite, Director of Recreation, Town of Caledon; C. Gravlev, Regional Clerk and Director of Clerk's; E. Tsoa, Acting Accessibility Planning Specialist; C. Zelman, Project and Financial Support Co-ordinator, Corporate Services; J. Payne, Legislative Co-ordinator, Corporate Services

_____________________________________
* See text for arrivals
¨See text for departures

Glenn Barnes, Chair - presided


1. CALL TO ORDER

Glenn Barnes, Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee called the meeting to order at 1:50 p.m. and welcomed everyone present.


2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

RECOMMENDATION AAC-17-2005:

That the minutes of the July 12, 2005 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved.

William Goursky, Citizen Member, inquired about actions taken to share information between the City of Brampton, City of Mississauga and the Joint Region of Peel - Town of Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committees (AACs) as requested at the July meeting. Charlotte Gravlev, Regional Clerk noted that the minutes and agendas of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory (AAC) Committee are posted on the Region of Peel Website (www.peelregion.ca), agendas and minutes are circulated to the Accessibility Coordinators at the City of Brampton and the City of Mississauga. She expressed that any member of either of these committees interested in obtaining copies of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting agendas and minutes should contact Jeff Payne, Legislative Coordinator by e-mail at jeff.payne@peelregion.ca or by calling 905-791-7800 ext. 4697 to make necessary arrangements. Charlotte Gravlev indicated that members of the Joint Peel-Caledon AAC should contact Emily Tsoa, Acting Accessibility Planning Specialist, if they are interested in obtaining agendas and minutes from the Brampton and Mississauga AACs.

William Goursky followed up on a second item from the July meeting regarding the evaluation of staff sensitivity training provided to date for the purpose of determining future training initiatives. Group discussion followed resulting in the following direction to staff:

Staff Direction AAC-07-2005-01:

That the Region of Peel Acting Accessibility Planning Specialist, in concert with William Goursky and other interested members of the Accessibility Advisory Subcommittee, review previous sensitivity training evaluation forms, feedback and participation data;

And further, that a report, encapsulating this feedback and a suggested direction for future training initiatives be brought to a future meeting of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) for consideration.


3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION AAC-18-2005:

That a letter from Carol MacEachern, Regional Co-ordinator for the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada be added to the agenda under Communication Items as Item 4b;

And further, that the agenda for the September 13, 2005 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting, as amended, be approved.


4. COMMUNICATION ITEMS

a. Toronto Star Article, Dated August 6, 2005, Regarding the New Coalition of Ontario Accessibility Advisory Committees

Received

b. Carol MacEachern, Regional Co-ordinator, Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, Letter Dated September 13, 2005 Requesting Endorsement, in Principle, for the Creation of New Co-op Housing, Accessible to all Persons, in Canada

RECOMMENDATION AAC-19-2005:

That the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee endorses, in principle, the call from the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada for the creation of new co-op housing, accessible to all persons, in Canada;

And further, that the Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) write a letter to Carol MacEachern, Regional Co-ordinator, Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, conveying the in principle endorsement by the Committee.

Councillor Paterak requested that information regarding proposed oversight and administrative changes to co-operative housing as it is currently administered by Canada Mortgage and Housing (CMHC) be the subject of a future presentation to the Committee. Glen Barnes noted that "Accessible Public Housing" is a topic being considered for an upcoming meeting of the City of Brampton, City of Mississauga and the Joint Region of Peel-Town of Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committees.


5. PRESENTATIONS

a. Regional Accessibility Planning Program and Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee Budget Overview (Requested by Councillor Saito)
Presentation by Charlotte Gravlev, Regional Clerk and Director of Clerk's, and Christine Zelman, Project and Financial Support Coordinator, Clerk's Division, Corporate Services

Received

Charlotte Gravlev provided a high level overview of the past Committee budgets for 2003 and 2004, the current budget year 2005 and the proposed draft 2006 budget. The distinction between the Region of Peel Accessibility program costs and the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee costs were detailed. Further, Charlotte Gravlev explained the cost sharing arrangement currently in place between the Region of Peel and the Town of Caledon respecting the administrative Committee costs.


b. 2006 Meeting Schedule
Facilitated by Jeff Payne, Legislative Coordinator

Received

Jeff Payne, Legislative Coordinator, Region of Peel, sought input from the Committee Members regarding meeting dates and times for 2006. The following direction was given to staff:

Staff Direction AAC-07-2005-02:

That Tuesday continue to be the preferred meeting day for the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee;

And further that the meeting time be adjusted to a 1:00 p.m. start with an end time of 3:00 p.m.

 

c. Margaret Dunn Library - Town of Caledon
Presentation of Plans
by Eriks Eglite, Director of Recreation and Property Services

Received

Eriks Eglite, Director of Recreation and Property Services, Town of Caledon provided a detailed verbal description of the site plan and structural blue prints for the proposed Margaret Dunn Library, Town of Caledon. Group discussion occurred resulting in the following feedback:

Comments related to exterior/entry
- Additional reserved parking spaces for persons with disabilities should be considered, recognizing that this would exceed current zoning requirements based on the total number of parking spaces on the site.
- Avoid locating reserved parking spaces in parking lot corners as corner spots are frequently used in the winter to deposit snow.
- Use textured concrete in the construction of sidewalks to denote curb cuts and proximity to roads for persons with visual impairments.
- The sliding entry/exit door should have reflective markings half way up the glass door panel to ensure it is visible.
- The inner and outer sliding entry/exit doors should be staggered (off set) to prevent wind blowing into the building.

Comments related to interior
- Ensure the main desk and the computer terminal desks are of a height accessible to persons using a wheelchair or scooter.
- The computer terminals should be optically accessible (font size/screen contrast being adjustable) and include reader software for the visually impaired.
- Include visual as well as audible fire alarm signals and fire pull handles should be at an accessible height.
- Interior design should incorporate colour contrast as a means of denoting different areas or sections of the facility.
- Ensure adequate lighting in all areas of the building.
- Isles between library shelving (stacks) should be sufficiently wide to allow for the free passage of a wheelchair or scooter.
- Bathrooms should include a sink, mirror and paper towel/hand dryer at an accessible height.
- Sufficient turning radii need to be provided for wheelchairs in the bathroom and/or in the stall.
- Consideration should be given to the use of pocket doors (doors which slide side to side versus swinging) in bathrooms.
- Motion sensor toilets and sinks are preferred, or peddle operated fixtures as an alternative.

Discussions occurred regarding the configuration of the bathrooms as presented on the plan. Consensus was not achieved regarding the preference of a single accessible washroom versus fully accessible separate male and female washrooms. It was noted that a single accessible washroom creates flexibility for attendants accompanying a person with disabilities as well as for families with children. It was also noted that a single washroom for persons with disabilities might be construed as unequal or different from the facilities provided to the general public. Eriks Eglite indicated he would review with the architects the options available regarding bathroom configurations within the new library.

Eriks Eglite thanked the Committee for the valuable feedback on the proposed library.

¨Councillor Paterak departed at 3:45 p.m.

¨Councillor Saito departed at 3:47 p.m.

 

d. Region of Peel Annual Accessibility Plan
Facilitated by Emily Tsoa, Acting Accessibility Specialist, Region of Peel

Emily Tsoa summarized the process used to solicit feedback on the proposed Region of Peel Accessibility Plan from the Members of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee and from departmental staff. The following recommendation was provided:

RECOMMENDATION AAC-20-2005:

That the third Annual Region of Peel Accessibility Plan dated September 2004, as amended, with the endorsement of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC), be forwarded to Regional Council attached to a report from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor, for approval.

6. REPORTS


7. REPORTS FROM THE ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING COORDINATORS

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

Deferred to the October 11, 2005 AAC meeting


b.
Emily Tsoa, Acting Accessibility Planning Specialist, Region of Peel

Received

Emily Tsoa noted that since the distribution the report titled Monthly Activity Report, dated September 6, 2005, training for staff on the use of the "Barrier Identification Tracking Tool" (BITT) has been arranged.

¨William Goursky departed at 4:05 p.m.


8. REPORT OF THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR


a. Letter of Appreciation to David Lepofsky and Recommendation for Nomination to the Order of Canada

Received

Glenn Barnes, Committee Chair, undertook to prepare and send a letter of appreciation to David Lepofsky in recognition of his significant accomplishments on behalf of persons with disabilities in Ontario.

Glenn Barnes applauded the suggestion to nominate David Lepofsky to the Order of Canada but indicated that neither he nor the Committee was in a position to complete the required nomination forms and provide the necessary documentation.


9. OTHER BUSINESS

Members requested that the minutes be altered to reflect "actions" or "directions" in a summary format at the beginning or end of the minutes. Glen Barnes indicated that he felt it was important that Members reviewed the entire minutes and not just a summary. Charlotte Gravlev indicated that the minutes currently do assign numbers indicating directions to staff and recommendations of the Committee. She suggested that a summary of outstanding items could be included in a table format as a part of the report of the Regional Accessibility Planning Specialist.


10. NEXT MEETING

Tuesday, October 11, 2005 (1:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.)
Region of Peel Headquarters
Council Chamber, 5th floor
10 Peel Centre Dr.
Brampton, Ontario


11. ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.