HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 12, 2019C4 0,d
DICKERING
Minutes/Meeting Summary
Accessibility Advisory Committee
June 12, 2019
7:00 pm
Main Committee Room
Attendees: Peter Bashaw
Bianca D'Souza
Saima Fatima
Donna Holmes
Dan Hughes
Glenn Lang
Anthony Lue
Megan Thorpe Ross
Sue Wilkinson
David Wysocki
Tim Higgins, Staff Representative
John McLellan, Ajax -Pickering Board of Trade
Maurice Brenner, City Councillor, Ward 1
Vince Plouffe, Manager, Facilities Capital Projects
Linda Roberts, Committee Coordinator
Brenda Gregory, (Acting) Coordinator, Records & Elections
Guests:
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
1.
Welcome
T. Higgins welcomed members and other
participants to the meeting. Introductions made
around the table.
2.
Disclosure of Interest
No disclosures of interest were noted.
3.
Review & Approval of Agenda
T. Higgins reviewed the agenda items; agenda
approved as presented.
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4.
New Business
4.1 Service & Support Animal Initiative
David W. provided status report of the PAAC Service
Animal Task Group. Verbal report accompanied by a
written report.
David W. highlighted that they are still looking for a
PAAC member with invisible needs. Dan H. asked if
candidate had to be from Pickering. Given the
John M. to provide David W.
difficulty in finding candidates, David W. proposed
with contact information for
that widening the search field to include all of Durham
former Ajax-Pickering Board
could help. Dan H. then suggested a former member
of the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade who suffers from
of Trade member.
PTSD. John M. to provide contact information.
Identifying and licensing animals as true service
animals remains a priority. To start process, PAAC
would like to utilize the City's current licensing system
to establish a database.
A key outcome is producing a monograph on service
animals, focusing on documenting and apprising
businesses of best practices, rules, and rights for
service pet owners in a business setting. David W.
met with Alfred Spencer, Ministry for Seniors and
Accessibility who expressed a provincial interest in
such a document and has asked that PAAC put
together a one page proposal to assist in approval
and resources being forwarded from Ontario to do
what we need to do. It was noted that this would
certainly increase Pickering's already significant
profile in the Province as an accessibility leader.
Councillor Brenner appeared before the committee to
introduce his new dog, Baye, who came from the
Ontario Basset Rescue. Councillor Brenner is having
Baye evaluated to be a therapy dog. Baye has visited
the Council Office, arguably the most stressful area of
City Hall. Baye was calm and, in turn, had a calming
effect on the area. Councillor Brenner was
approached by Fire Services who felt the need for a
stabilizing, calm animal in their presence.
Councillor Brenner has come to realize that it is not
the dog that needs training; rather it is the owner.
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Councillor Brenner noted that he would like to reach
out to the Ajax -Pickering Board of Trade to speak to
their business members about the benefits of animals
in the workplace and respecting visitors and
employees accompanied by service/support dogs.
Therapy dogs can de -stress a workplace and its
employees and customers — a different job from
traditional roles a service dog plays i.e., guide dogs.
4.2 City Projects
Whitevale Picnic Shelter
Vince P. appeared before the committee to provide
information on a number of projects that involve
accessibility issues.
Vince P. provided an overview of the replacement of
the heritage picnic shelter in Whitevale Park. The
shelter cannot be salvaged as structure is too old, so
a complete rebuild is being done. Deconstruction of
the old structure will be done carefully to retain as
much of the heritage pieces as possible. New
structure will be identical to the old structure in
simple, post and beam construction, but will have a
cedar shake roof rather than the current tin roof (a
change approved by the Heritage Committee). On the
west side, a sloped path will be constructed for easy,
barrier -free access. Vince noted that entire park will
need to be updated but this will be done as a whole
for a future project, noting that a broader strategy to
fix everything is required, rather than risking a
piecemeal approach.
Facilities Wayfinding Study
Vince P. shared the preliminary results of the
Facilities Wayfinding Study. Study demonstrated that
there was no uniformity or consistency in the signage
used at the City, whether exterior or interior. Three
areas reviewed — the Civic Complex, the new
Operations Centre, and the Recreation Complex.
Goal will be to make signage consistent, cohesive in
colour, navigable, and accessible while working
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within the City branding guidelines and seeking
effective active and passive signage.
Tim H. reminded the committee of his visit along with
Donna H. with Metrolinx and discussion on the
navigable Pickering GO station, suggesting that the
City could leverage work already done and lessons
learned by Metrolinx. Donna H. to provide Vince P.
with contact at Metrolinx.
Draft of an introductory report expected by
September. When complete, would like feedback
from AAC. The first test case of new signage will
likely be at the Operations Centre. Vince P. would like
to bring physical signage to a meeting or suggested
that AAC could even hold a meeting at the Operation
Centre's boardroom to experience the new signage in
situ.
Saima F. asked about digital signage at the
Recreation Centre. Vince P. reported that registration
desk on north side of lobby is being taken out and a
large — at least 20' — digital sign will be placed on
wall. This digital sign would be dynamic, with
messaging changing and updated as needed.
A query about the City Centre Intensification project
was put forward. Will City branded signage —
consistent with other City signage — be in use there
too? Vince P. explained that this is a private and
public partnership so cannot brand entire area.
However, with City properties, the use of signage and
branding the same as what is used in other properties
will easily identify to visitors that a particular property
is a City facility.
Dan H. questioned staff training in updating signage
in the event of an emergency or closure for
maintenance. Vince P. confirmed that there would be
training on use and production of signage.
New Fire Hall and Headquarters
Vince P. added an update on the plans for a new fire
hall and headquarters to be located at northwest
corner of Brock Road and Zents Drive. Current
headquarters are in fire hall #5 which is over 60 years
Donna H. to provide Vince P.
with Metrolinx contact.
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old. New fire hall will include bifold doors that can be
opened by hand (rather than overhead garage
doors). There is a need for a fire hall in that area,
especially with Seaton being developed. It would be
considered a mile marker as one travels from south
Pickering to north Pickering.
Don H. asked if consideration was made to add
ambulance bay to the fire hall. The Region declined
this option.
4.3 Updated Policies
Linda R. advised that for each term of Council, the
City Clerk reviews Advisory boards and Committees
policies, terms of reference, and procedural by-law.
This term, most changes were made to reflect recent
amendments to the Municipal Act but these do not
affect committees because they are not a decision-
making body.
For committees, there were terminology updates and
clarification of staff's roles, how vacancies are
advertised, and additional clarity regarding the
selection process. Disclosure of Interest is new to
committee agendas, for consistency with all agendas
as per the Procedural By-law. Members are to
declare conflicts of interest prior to any discussion on
the matter, and would not vote on any
recommendations made. There is also a form to be
filled out (new) as a registry is now maintained.
Lastly, Linda R. reminded the committee that without
quorum — one half of membership count plus one —
the recording secretary will leave 1/2 hour after
designated meeting start time and there will be no
formal minutes taken. If a resignation occurs, the
quorum will be based on the current remaining
members and not the full membership until the
vacancy is filled.
Tim H. urged committee members to plan to be
available for scheduled meetings (normally second
Wednesdays of each month) and to collaborate to
ensure a quorum is achieved for each meeting.
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4.4 Durham Region Accessibility Award
Nominations
Tim H. recommended that AAC submit a nomination
for the Durham Region Accessibility Award. One
nomination is to be submitted. A discussion on
potential nominations ensued, with Tim H. starting off
discussion with a few names to consider:
• Polar Plunge — over $20k raised for Special
Olympics this year. With increased profile in
Region — like winning the award — could raise
even more.
• Axxess Condos (Dan Hughes' project) — a worthy
candidate but Tim noted that there are still
challenges in planning process. It may be better to
wait for another year once all the planning
challenges have been overcome.
• Durham Region Police Games — worthy but
already a recent recipient of a David Onley award.
• Baseball for Disabled Youth — also worthy, but
was just a recipient of a City of Pickering Civic
Award.
Tim H. invited committee members to provide
thoughts on other worthy candidates. Special
Olympics, Pickering Soccer Club were both
mentioned. Members also agreed that Polar Plunge
as a nomination was a good idea. Tim H. asked
members to consider possible nominations further
and provide thoughts to him by the end of June.
4.5 Canada Day Event
Tim H. advised that AAC is, once again, setting up a
tent at the Canada Day event in Esplanade Park,
located near the circle garden. They will have a train
which will encourage children, with their parents, to
visit. There will be promo materials available and this
is an opportunity to further establish the committee's
profile with the public and engage with them. It is also
an opportunity for the committee to hear from the
community about the accessibility challenges they
may be facing.
Committee members to
forward names of possible
nominees to Tim H. by end
of June.
Tim to prepare and distribute
schedule for staffing of table
at Canada Day event in
Esplanade Park.
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Tim will be onsite at the event from 10 am to 4 pm
staffing the booth, then moving onto the evening
program at Kinsmen park where he will be
marshalling the accessible bus patrons. Tim is asking
for committee members, if available, to provide one
hour sometime between 10 am and 4 pm to assist in
the staffing of the tent at Esplanade Park. He will be
sending out an email with a schedule to committee
members for their consideration and sign up.
5•
Review & Approval of Minutes
Moved by Anthony Liu
Seconded by David Wysocki
That the Minutes of the April 10, 2019 meeting of the
Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved.
Carried
6•
Other Business & Updates
Tim H. went around the table asking for an update
from each member. No action items from updates.
Anthony L. reported that he is training for the
upcoming nationals in QC which are the qualifiers for
the Paralympics team going to Tokyo. Anthony
mentioned his social media presence, inviting
committee members to follow him and his journey on
anthonylue.com or on Instagram and Facebook.
Saima H. mentioned that she had attended the
presentation of the AAC annual report at the May
Council. Glenn L. also mentioning being there and
had fun as one of the presenters. He went on further
to thank Tim for producing the report, which Tim
noted that Glenn took the report and made into an
effective and impressive PowerPoint presentation.
Tim H. commended Glenn L. for his initiative and
leadership in developing the slide deck and
presenting it persuasively to Council on behalf of the
Committee.
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7.
Adjournment
Meeting Adjourned: 9:15 pm
Copy: City Clerk
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