JOINT PEEL-CALEDON

ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AAC)

Glenn Barnes, Chair, presided

1. CALL TO ORDER

A quorum of voting members was not present, and in accordance with section III-4(f) of the Region of Peel Procedural By-law 54-1999, as amended, the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee received information from staff.

Glenn Barnes, Committee Chair, noted that upon the arrival of one additional member, quorum would be achieved and at that time the Committee would formally approve the agenda and minutes of the previous meeting.

Presentations - Item 5a was dealt with.

5. PRESENTATIONS

a. Kasey Livingston, Project Ecologist, Claireville Community Stewardship Project, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), Regarding the Claireville Community Stewardship Project, a Partnership of the Friends of Claireville and TRCA and Funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation

Kasey Livingston, Project Ecologist, provided an overview of the Claireville Community Stewardship Project. The project is funded, in part, through the Ontario Trillium Foundation and by the Region of Peel. Claireville is an 848 hectare tract of conservation land owned and managed by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). It is located in the east end of Brampton and bordering York Region, the City of Toronto and the City of Mississauga. One of the objectives of the Claireville Community Stewardship Project is to increase public access opportunities to Claireville through community outreach initiatives. Kasey Livingston informed the Committee that Claireville currently does not have staffed facilities similar to conservation areas such as Heart Lake Conservation Area, nor is it accessible to persons with disabilities. She requested feedback from the Committee on how to improve accessibility needs.

Members of the Committee agreed to share information that they have developed regarding accessibility as a result of previous accessibility audits conducted by the Committee. Terri LeRoux, Citizen Member, volunteered to provide Kasey Livingston relevant information and contacts to assist with her request, including providing a copy of the "Trails for All Ontarians" report.

Councillor Hames arrived at 1:20 p.m.

A quorum of voting members was achieved.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

RECOMMENDATION AAC-19-2006:

That the minutes of the July 18, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION AAC-20-2006:

That the agenda for the August 22, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved.

4. COMMUNICATION ITEMS

5. PRESENTATIONS

a. Kasey Livingston, Project Ecologist, Claireville Community Stewardship Project, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), Regarding the Claireville Community Stewardship Project, a Partnership of the Friends of Claireville and TRCA and Funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation

Received

b. Arvin Prasad, Director, Planning Policy and Research, Region of Peel, Regarding "Liveable Peel" - Community Sustainability Planning Initiative for the Region of Peel

Received

Arvin Prasad, Director, Planning Policy and Research, Region of Peel, provided a high-level overview of "Liveable Peel", an initiative by the Region of Peel to ensure that future generations are able to live, work and travel in an inclusive and prosperous community. Arvin Prasad indicated that he and his staff will present to the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC), provide updates, newsletters and solicit feedback from the Committee about the initiative on a regular basis.

Marlowe Horn, Citizen Member, asked if disabled vehicles and accessible housing trends will be considered. Arvin Prasad assured the Committee that Regional Planning staff will consider all areas and concerns relating to transportation and accessibility needs in the future. With regards to the housing trends, Arvin Prasad informed the Committee that the Region is embarking on a regional housing strategy required by the Province of Ontario that is projected to be completed in three years. The strategy will not only include trends in traditional affordable housing but will also include accessible housing issues.

Councillor Hames requested clarification on the definition provided of the term "Liveable Peel". It was defined that the initiative is not focused on area municipal issues, programs and services and that it is not implemented at the area municipal level, i.e. transit/transportation issues. Arvin Prasad stated that Regional Planning staff does coordinate with area municipal planners regularly and that "Liveable Peel" is a part of the regular discussions. He indicated that transportation/transit issues will be coordinated with area municipal staff. Councillor Hames requested that Regional Planning staff become more involved with area municipal council and staff in the future where programs and services overlap. Committee Chair, Glenn Barnes commented that with the continuous increase in growth, consultations and involvement of area municipalities should be more frequent in the future, particularly in regard to accessibility.

Arvin Prasad stated that ongoing collaboration with the AAC is vital and that input on the elements of vision and how to consult with diverse groups is essential in determining the trends for the future.

R. Kent Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor, informed the Committee that in addition to the "Liveable Peel" initiative, an accessible transportation consultation project is currently being planned at the direction of Regional Council as a result of additional gas tax funding for transit. The project will involve TransHelp and will also include consultation with area municipalities, transit authorities and the taxi licensing bodies. R. Kent Gillespie informed the Committee that the Regional Social Services department will be the lead for the project and it will look at future costs that may be related to the project.

In conclusion, Glenn Barnes thanked Arvin Prasad and his staff for his presentation and noted the importance of having a collaborative process with staff and members of the AAC through regular communications with Planning staff and presentations at future AAC meetings.

c. Steven Belanger, Capital Project Manager, Facilities Construction and Real Estate, Housing and Property Department; and John Daly, Statutory Specialist, Corporate Services Department, Providing an Update on the Council Chamber Retrofit Project

Received

Steven Belanger, Capital Project Manager, Facilities Construction and Real Estate, Housing and Property Department, and John Daly, Statutory Specialist, Corporate Services Department, provided a brief summary on the Council Chamber Retrofit Project that is currently in progress.

Maureen Tymkow arrived at 2:30 p.m.

Members of the Committee inquired about certain features of the Council-approved layout of the chamber. One of the points raised related to the distance between the Commissioner's and the Councillors' work stations. Steven Belanger stated that accessibility was considered in the plan and by removing the Chief Administrative Officer's (CAO) workstation from the Commissioners' row, the space between the two rows of seats will be increased by 10 to 12 inches for easier access to the delegation table on the east side of the chamber. John Daly informed the Committee that 13 options were considered by Regional Council and Housing and Property staff. John Daly and Steven Belanger assured the Committee that Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, was consulted before the options were presented to Council and accessibility standards were considered, including fire safety standards.

Meenu Sikand requested that "Wheelchair Designated Area" signs be posted on the columns inside the chamber that will direct persons in wheelchairs to those designated areas. Steven Belanger confirmed that he will forward the request for signage to Housing and Property staff for review.

d. Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, Region of Peel, and Dev Mutta, Community Development Officer, Business and Information Services, Health Department, Regarding the Third Region of Peel International Day of Disabled Persons (IDDP) and the Celebration of the Accessibility Advisory Committee's Accessibility Awards

Received

See also Report from the Accessibility Planning Coordinators - Item 7b

Meenu Sikand and Dev Mutta, Community Development Officer, Business and Information Services, Health Department, provided an overview of the activities and planning involved for the third Region of Peel International Day of Disabled Persons (IDDP). Due to the forthcoming municipal elections and the end of the Committee's current term, event organizers are proposing that the event be celebrated the week of November 6, 2006. The 2006 IDDP Event Sponsor is the Health department. The theme for this year's event is "E-Accessibility".

Members of the Committee discussed the possible locations where the event could take place and the proposed activities for the event. Some of the suggested locations included the Town of Caledon Atrium, the Rose Theater in Brampton, Bramalea City Centre and other public and fully accessible venues. Maureen Tymkow, Citizen Member, suggested that the organizers determine who the target group is before the Committee decides on the venue and the activities for the day. With two months to plan the event, Councillor Hames reminded the Committee that time is limited to select a venue for the event.

6. REPORTS

7. REPORT 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, provided a brief summary of the recent projects underway in Caledon. She stated that the Town staff are still working on the site plans for the Recreation Centre that will be attached to the Caledon Community Complex on Olde Church Road and the renovation of the Mayfield arena. Colleen Grant indicated that she may be able to provide a more detailed update at the September 19, 2006 AAC meeting.

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

Received

See also Presentations - Item 5d

8. REPORT OF THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR

9. OTHER BUSINESS

Additional Items - 9a and 9b

a. 2006 Ability Symposium - December 1, 2006 (Oral)

Received

Naz Husain, Citizen Member, inquired if the current AAC members could attend the symposium considering the term of office of the AAC will end November 30, 2006. Participants to the symposium are required to pay a registration fee and Naz Husain wanted to know if the Region would cover the expense. R. Kent Gillespie directed Meenu Sikand to determine if the event is appropriate for the Committee members to attend and if so, review the budget and propose a recommendation for his consideration.

The 2006 Ability Symposium will consist of one full day of concurrent training sessions pertinent to the lives of persons with disabilities and professionals who support them. The first event of its kind, the Symposium is cross-disability and consumer-controlled, and will bring together the disability community from across Southern Ontario. The event will be held on December 1, 2006 at the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, Niagara Falls, Ontario.

b. Region of Peel Design Guidelines (Oral)

Received

Councillor Hames inquired about the status of Regional accessible design standards. Glenn Barnes requested that Keith Ward, Commissioner of Housing and Property and General Manager of Peel Living, revisit the decision for the Region to use the CSA standards for design guidelines and not the area municipal standards.

Meenu Sikand reminded the members that the Committee did support the proposal of Housing and Property to use the CSA standards at a previous AAC meeting. However, Glenn Barnes suggested that the Committee and Regional staff need to re-examine this approach in light of pending provincial standards.

Staff Direction AAC-01-2006-7:

That Keith Ward, Commissioner of Housing and Property and General Manager of Peel Living, be invited to a future meeting of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Committee to provide an update on the design guidelines of the Region of Peel.

10. NEXT MEETING

Tuesday, September 19, 2006
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Region of Peel Administrative Headquarters
Council Chamber, 5th Floor
10 Peel Centre Dr.
Brampton, Ontario

11. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 3:25 p.m.