JOINT PEEL-CALEDON

ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AAC)

William Goursky, Chair, presided.

1. CALL TO ORDER

William Goursky, Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. and welcomed everyone present.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

RECOMMENDATION AAC-13-2007:

That the minutes of the April 17, 2007 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION AAC-14-2007:

That an item be added under Other Business as Item 9a regarding the "2007 People in Motion Resource Fair";

And further, that an item be added under Other Business as Item 9b regarding the "Accessibility Broadcast" - 740 AM radio program;

And further, that an item be added under Other Business as Item 9c regarding Town of Caledon Site Plan Review;

And further, that the agenda for the May 15, 2007 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved, as amended.

4. COMMUNICATION ITEMS

a. John Daly, Statutory Specialist, Corporate Services, Memorandum dated April 25, 2007 Regarding Bill 215, the Blind Persons' Rights Act

Received

b. News Release and Backgrounders, Ministry of Community and Social Services, dated May 2, 2007, Announcing $200 Million in Multi-Year Funding by the Province of Ontario to Boost Capacity in the Developmental Services Sector

Received

c. Toronto Star, Article dated May 5, 2007, titled "Helping disabled live freely"

Received

d. News Release and Backgrounder, Ministry of Community and Social Services, dated May 7, 2007, Advising of a $4.7 Million Investment by the Province of Ontario in 33 Community and Social Services Organizations in the Greater Toronto Area

Received

 

5. PRESENTATIONS

a. Keith Ward, Commissioner of Housing and Property and General Manager of Peel Living and Edward Wong, Construction Project Manager, 10 Peel Centre Dr. Expansion Project (PEP), Housing and Property, Providing a Project Status Update for 10 Peel Centre Dr. Expansion, Region of Peel Administrative Headquarters, Brampton (Ward 8) and John Street Housing Development, Peel Living Corporation, Brampton (Ward 3)

Received

Keith Ward, Commissioner of Housing and Property and General Manager of Peel Living provided a status update on the John Street Housing Development in downtown Brampton (Ward 3). Currently site preparation, shoring and excavation work is underway and will continue for several months. He explained that a more detailed presentation on the accessibility features of the John Street apartments would be provided at the June 12, 2007 joint meeting of the municipal AAC's in Peel Region. Keith Ward noted that every unit in the building will include universal design features and energy efficient measures. Martinway Construction, the principle project contractor, was recognized for going above and beyond minimum building code requirements, meeting Region of Peel guidelines and for seeking both donations and cost reductions from suppliers to achieve a building with many universal design features.

Edward Wong, Construction Project Manager, 10 Peel Centre Dr. Expansion Project (PEP), Housing and Property, reviewed the current status of the Region of Peel Administrative Headquarters expansion. The following accessibility enhancements were presented:

• A total of 14 accessible parking spaces (3 remaining at the current 10 Peel Centre Dr. P1 accessible parking location, 3 added adjacent to the new main entrance to the 10 Peel Centre Expansion, 2 added adjacent to the main entrance to the new Peel Regional Police 21 Division Facility and 2 underground parking spaces for each of the 3 floors of underground parking under the 10 Peel Expansion, immediately adjacent to elevator entrances)
• Washrooms on all floors of the new facility will have barrier free entrances (no doors) and accessible facilities.

Jan Spry, Citizen Member complimented staff on the new ramp entrance to 10 Peel Centre Dr., noting in particular the features that allow for improved visibility/security and additional width of the ramp which improves access for persons accompanied by a guide or service animal. Further, Jan Spry recognized the contractors working on the 10 Peel Centre Dr. Expansion project for their efforts in ensuring a safe construction zone for persons with disabilities, which has been demonstrated on several occasions.

Glenn Barnes, Citizen Member, inquired what signage would be put in place to direct persons from the elevator banks (inter-building floors and inter-parking garage levels) to the main information desk. Edward Wong undertook to take this concern to the expansion project service delivery team for review. The information will be brought back to a future AAC meeting for consideration.

b. Cristina Raviele, Property Development Officer, Housing and Property and Chris Bullock, Manager of Development, Housing and Property, Regarding the Site Plan for Walker Road Seniors Housing Development, Peel Living Corporation, Caledon (Ward 3)

Received

Chris Bullock, Manager of Development and Cristina Raviele, Property Development Officer, Housing and Property, provided a detailed presentation of the site plan for the Walker Road Seniors Housing Development in Caledon. Chris Bullock noted that many of the accessibility features for the building and the individual units are based upon the John Street model. Construction will commence in July of 2007 with occupancy anticipated for August of 2008.

Maureen Tymkow, Citizen Member, inquired about how the existing building would be linked to the new structure. Cristina Raviele explained that four of the current one-bedroom units would be reconfigured into two two-bedroom units thus permitting the corridor linkages on both of the floors.

Glenn Barnes requested that staff review the current plans for Walker Road to consider the following:

• that no barriers exist around the card readers (shelves, ledges, rails, posts or other obstacles);
• that consideration be given to having the card reader capable of opening doors (programmed feature for tenant with accessibility requirements - including the main doors and the unit door);
• that pocket doors be considered for in-unit washrooms to improve accessibility; and
• that waterproof membranes be used throughout washrooms with wheel-in showers.

Jim Hardman further requested that staff give consideration to a building access system that has video capabilities for persons that are deaf, deafened and hard of hearing and to provide enhanced security for all building occupants.

The Committee made the following recommendation:

RECOMMENDATION AAC-15-2007:

That the overview provided to the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) on May 15, 2007 by Region of Peel Housing and Property staff regarding the site plan for the Peel Living - Walker Road Seniors Housing Development, Town of Caledon (Ward 3) be received;

And further, that notification of the support of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee for the Walker Road site plan, as presented, be provided to the Town of Caledon, Planning and Development department.

c. Colleen Grant, Town Prosecutor and Solicitor, Town of Caledon, Providing an Update on the Town of Caledon Consolidated Traffic By-law, Motorized Scooter Provisions

Received

Colleen Grant, Town Prosecutor and Solicitor, Town of Caledon sought comment from the Committee regarding the inclusion of the use of motorized scooters in a new Town of Caledon Traffic By-law currently under development. The members recommended that Colleen Grant canvas other municipalities for input in this regard and review any existing municipal traffic by-laws that include scooter provisions. Further, should a decision be made to proceed with including scooters in the new Town of Caledon Traffic By-law members asked that a draft of the by-law be brought back to the Committee for review and comment. Colleen Grant thanked the members for their input and agreed to report back to the Committee on this matter at a future date.

d. R. Kent Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor and Sharon Harbajan, Project Manager, Corporate Services, Providing an Overview on Accessibility Planning Service Strategy Business Plan (SSBP) Projects and Priorities

Received

R. Kent Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor and Sharon Harbajan, Project Manager, Corporate Services updated the Committee on the status of the Service Strategy Business Plan (SSBP), the activities of the staff Steering Committee and the Region of Peel Accessibility Planning Project and Priorities as approved by the Executive Management Team (EMT). Group discussion occurred resulting in the following direction to staff:

STAFF DIRECTION AAC-05-2007-1

That as a plan for each identified Accessibility Project and Priority is formulated that it be brought before the Committee in the format of a detailed presentation for review.

Members of the Committee were requested to review the identified Region of Peel Accessibility Planning Project and Priorities and to direct any comments or questions to Jeff Payne, Acting Accessibility Planning Specialist.

6. REPORTS - Nil

7. REPORT FROM THE ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING COORDINATORS

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

Received

b. Jeff Payne, Acting Accessibility Planning Specialist, Region of Peel (Oral)

Received

8. REPORT OF THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR AND MEMBERS

a. William Goursky, Chair, Accessibility Advisory Committee, Providing Highlights from the Connections 2007 Resource Fair, May 4 - 5, 2007 (Oral)

Received

William Goursky, Chair of the Accessibility Advisory Committee noted that the 2007 Connections Resource Fair held on May 4 and 5 was a success. He thanked the Coalition for Persons for Disabilities for organizing the event and Region of Peel staff for their support and participation.

b. William Goursky, Chair, Accessibility Advisory Committee, Providing a Summary of the Oshawa Forum, May 7, 2007 (Oral)

Received

William Goursky provided a brief summary of the Oshawa event to the members of the committee who were unable to attend. Staff of TransHelp were thanked for arranging and providing transportation for the members that attended.

c. Naz Husain, Vice-Chair, Accessibility Advisory Committee, Providing an Update on the Peel Children's Water Festival Community Day Participation by the AAC, May 26, 2007 (Oral)

Received

Jeff Payne, Acting Accessibility Planning Specialist provided a brief update on the status of preparations for the event to be held on Saturday, May 26, 2007 at Heart Lake Conservation area in Brampton. William Goursky and Harvinder Bajwa will be representing the Committee at this event, other members interested in volunteering are requested to contact Accessibility Planning program staff via e-mail at aac@peelregion.ca or by phone, 905-791-7800 ext. 4134.

9. OTHER BUSINESS

Additional Items - Items 9a to 9c

a. "2007 People in Motion Resource Fair" (Oral)

Received

William Goursky advised the Committee of the upcoming annual 2007 People in Motion Resource Fair, to be held June 1 and 2, 2007, Queen Elizabeth Building, Exhibition Place, Toronto. Further details are available at the following event link: http://www.people-in-motion.com/attend.html

b. "Accessibility Broadcast" - 740 AM Radio (Oral)

Received

William Goursky informed the members of the AAC of a new radio program dedicated to accessibility issues that is being planned by 740 AM radio, Toronto. Further details will be shared as more information becomes available.

c. Town of Caledon Site Plan Review (Oral)

Received

Maureen Tymkow inquired about a number of Town of Caledon projects that had not been brought before the Committee for site plan approval. Colleen Grant responded that she would look into the matter and provide an update to the Committee at a future meeting.

 

10. NEXT MEETING

Joint Municipal AAC Meeting

"Accessible and Liveable - Building Communities For All"

Tuesday, June 12, 2007
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Region of Peel Administrative Headquarters
Council Chamber, 5th floor
10 Peel Centre Dr.
Brampton, Ontario

11. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 3:03 p.m.