JOINT PEEL-CALEDON

ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AAC)

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 1:07 p.m. and welcomed everyone present.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

RECOMMENDATION AAC-4-2006:

That the minutes of the January 31, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION AAC-5-2006:

That the agenda for the February 28, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be amended to include an item under Other Business regarding integration of the Region of Peel Accessibility Program Plan with the Service Strategy Business Plan;

And further, that the agenda for the February 28, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be amended to include an item under Other Business regarding an update on the Liveable Peel Conference;

And further, that the agenda for the February 28, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved, as amended.

4. COMMUNICATION ITEMS

a. Region of Peel Pathways Story, titled "Customer Contact Centre Staff Join to Help Caller in Trouble"

Received

Glenn Barnes, Chair, Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC), provided a brief summary of the Pathways story in which Jacqueline Storkey, a Customer Service Representative at the Customer Contact Centre, Peel Region, was recognized for her outstanding work in assisting a client who suffered a seizure while attempting to book a trip with TransHelp.

5. PRESENTATIONS

a. Deb Bergamin, Manager, Commercial Property, Housing and Property Department, Region of Peel and Alan Tregebov, Architect, AJ Tregebov Architects Providing an Update on the 10 Peel Centre Dr. Front Entrance Ramp and Stair Improvements

Received

Deb Bergamin, Manager, Commercial Property, Housing and Property Department, Region of Peel, provided an update on the recent developments of the proposed renovation of the 10 Peel Centre Dr. (PCD) front entrance ramp and stair improvements. She informed the Committee that late last year Housing and Property staff did concrete replacements, drainage, ramp repairs and brick work on the front steps at 10 PCD. Housing and Property staff have reviewed the current ramp configuration and are looking at ways to improve access to 10 PCD.

Deb Bergamin advised the Committee that the project involves two phases: Phase 1 is the removal and improvements to the existing ramp and Phase 2, is the removal and replacement of the front entrance stairs once the new ramp is completed.

Alan Tregebov, Architect, provided an overview of the proposed plans to renovate the front entrance ramp and stairs at 10 PCD. He indicated that the project team have identified some challenges in the project. First, the existing front entrance ramp does not meet the minimum standards of the Ontario Building Code with regard to the width of the ramp, ramp railings and distance of the ramp from the entrance door. Another concern is the street level visibility of the entrance which may create safety problems because of the current brick facade. The front entrance also does not project the image of a welcoming public building upon first glance.

The Committee discussed specifications of the project in detail. Alan Tregebov assured the Committee that the project plan complies with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, City of Brampton technical standards and Region of Peel accessibility requirements.

Councillor Paterak inquired about the timelines of the project. Alan Tregebov informed the Committee that if everything goes according to plan, the project is expected to be completed in four months: two months for Phase 1 (front entrance ramp), and two months for Phase 2 (stair improvements) and is expected to be completed by September, 2006.

Alan Tregebov informed AAC members that a site plan application to the City of Brampton was submitted in August, 2005, however, the City of Brampton has yet to give its approval of the site plan. Alan Tregebov requested the help of the Committee to send a letter to the City of Brampton to follow up on the status of the application. Councillor Paterak requested Glenn Barnes to send an e-mail correspondence to Councillor Hames about the delay in the site plan process in Brampton.


b. Ninad Desai, Project Manager, Development and Construction, Housing and Property Department, Region of Peel Regarding Joint Use Facility (JUF) Accessibility Issues

Ninad Desai, Project Manager, Development and Construction, Housing and Property Department provided a detailed presentation on the site plan of the future Region of Peel-Peel Regional Police Joint Use Facility and addressed the accessibility concerns previously raised by the Committee. He informed Committee members that the site plan is in accordance with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Standard B651-04 and the Region of Peel accessibility requirements. Highlights of the presentation by Ninad Desai included:

• A total of 14 accessible parking spots will be provided on the combined sites (existing Regional Administrative Headquarters and the joint use facility). Two designated parking spots will be available per level and a shuttle elevator will service all the parking areas to the ground floor
• The front entrance has been redesigned to allow for a no stair entry
• The ground floor at the Joint Use Facility will be utilized as follows:
  • Front entrance and Access Peel Reception Area
  • Connection with 10 PCD
  • Social Services and Housing Resource reception
  • Cafeteria
  • Receiving area
  • Shuttle elevator to office elevator transition area
• Typical details of each floor include:
• Two bathrooms per floor - both with accessible stalls and a turning radius of 1500mm x 1830mm

Group discussion took place during the presentation and some of the issues raised were designated parking spots for persons with disabilities near elevator entrances; slope of the ramps; designated waiting areas; and the entrance to the new facility.

Meenu Sikand thanked Housing and Property Department staff and AAC members involved in the working group in finding solutions to accommodate accessibility improvements to the Joint Use Facility and 10 PCD front entrance ramp.

William Goursky inquired about the signage in the new facility. Ninad Desai replied that Housing and Property staff and the consultants will ensure that signage will be in accordance with building code requirements.

Glenn Barnes undertook to send a letter to the City of Brampton on behalf of the Committee informing the City that the site plan is in accordance with Regional accessibility requirements.

Councillor Paterak requested that staff draft a letter to be reviewed by those members present at the February 28, 2006 AAC meeting. Members of the Committee present at the meeting agreed that a letter be prepared and sent to them for review no later than March 8, 2006.

Staff Direction AAC-01-2006-2:

That letters of endorsement regarding the 10 Peel Centre Dr. front entrance reconstruction and the Region of Peel-Peel Regional Police Joint Use Facility Site Plan Application be drafted and circulated to those members present at the February 28, 2006 the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) meeting for review and comment.

RECOMMENDATION AAC-6-2006:

That the Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) write to the City of Brampton requesting the City to expedite the issuance of the permit to begin the reconstruction of the front entrance ramp at the Region of Peel Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Dr.;

And further, that the Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) write to the City of Brampton, Planning and Building Department notifying the City that the site plans for the Region of Peel-Peel Regional Police Joint Use Facility meets or exceeds the Region of Peel accessibility requirements;

And further, that the City of Brampton be so advised.

6. REPORTS

7. REPORTS FROM THE ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING COORDINATORS

a. Colleen Grant, Town Prosecutor and Solicitor, Town of Caledon (Oral)

Received

Colleen Grant, Town Prosecutor and Solicitor, Town of Caledon, informed the Committee that the Town of Caledon has not received any new site plans for review by the Committee. A report regarding proposed amendments to the new Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2004 is being prepared and will be provided to the Council of the Town of Caledon at a future meeting.

Maureen Tymkow asked Colleen Grant to look into the possibility of including information regarding the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) on the Town of Caledon website. Glenn Barnes further requested that the yearly Accessibility Plan be added to Caledon's website similar to the Region of Peel. Colleen Grant will follow-up with Caledon staff regarding the requests.

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

Received

 

8. REPORT OF THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR

9. OTHER BUSINESS

a. Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, Region of Peel, Regarding Location of Future AAC Meetings (Oral)

Deferred to the March 28, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) meeting

Additional Item - 9b

b. R. Kent Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor Providing an Update on the Region of Peel Accessibility Program Plan (Oral)

Received

R. Kent Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor provided an update on the status of the Accessibility Planning Program. He informed the Committee that the Program Plan is being integrated into the Service Strategy Business Plan (SSBP). R. Kent Gillespie will make a presentation to the Region of Peel Executive Management Team and to the AAC members at the April 25, 2006 AAC meeting to discuss the proposed structure of the program and its specific goals and purpose.

 

Additional Item - 9c

c. William Goursky, Member, Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) Providing an Update on the Liveable Peel Conference held on February 10, 2006 (Oral)

Received

William Goursky provided an overview regarding the Liveable Peel Conference held on Friday, February 10, 2006 at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga. The conference brought together Regional Councillors, planners, academics and community leaders to discuss sustainability as it relates to the long-term future of Peel Region.

William Goursky expressed his disappointment that the Region of Peel Planning Department did not consider accessibility when the Liveable Peel Conference was planned. He requested that accessibility issues be considered as part of preparation for all future conferences organized and hosted by the Region of Peel.

10. NEXT MEETING

Tuesday, March 28, 2006
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Region of Peel Headquarters
Council Chamber, 5th floor
10 Peel Centre Dr.
Brampton, Ontario

11. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 3:35 p.m.