HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 8, 2020
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Minutes/Meeting Summary
Accessibility Advisory Committee
January 8, 2020
7:00 pm
Main Committee Room
Attendees: Peter Bashaw
Saima Fatima
Donna Holmes
Glenn Lang
Anthony Lue
John McLellan, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade
Megan Thorpe Ross
David Wysocki
Tim Higgins, Staff Representative
Rumali Perera, (Acting) Committee Coordinator
Absent: Bianca D’Souza
Dan Hughes
Sue Wilkinson
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1. Welcome & Introductions
T. Higgins welcomed members and other
participants to the meeting.
2. Disclosure of Interest
No disclosures of interest were noted.
3. Review and Approval of Agenda
T. Higgins reviewed the agenda items. T. Higgins
added items 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 and 6.6 under
Other Business and Updates. Agenda approved.
4. 4 Review & Approval of Minutes
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Moved by D. Holmes
Seconded by S. Fatima
That the Minutes of the December 11, 2019 meeting
of the Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved.
Carried
5. 5 New Business
5.1 Site Plan Review - Jerry Coughlan Health &
Wellness Centre.
J. McLellan appeared before the Committee, to
lead/facilitate the Committee’s review of the site plan
application for the property located at 2580 Brock
Road. He noted that the upcoming facility is a
treatment and learning centre for children with
disabilities, generously sponsored by Pickering
builder, Jerry Coughlan.
J. McLellan along with the Committee summarized
accessibility features discernable from the site plan
application as follows:
proposal provides only seven accessible
parking spaces (consistent with Ontario
minimum requirements)
only two accessible washroom stalls are
provided per floor
two elevators (one small and one large) are
planned as well as and two staircases
Committee comments were noted as follows:
The Committee felt that Jerry Coughlan would
aspire to see his significant donation result in a
centre of excellence in terms of accessibility
design.
In general, since a primary audience of this
facility will be children and others with
disabilities, all aspects of the design should be
tailored to achieve a high degree of
accessibility, going beyond minimum AODA
and the Ontario Building Code where feasible.
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In light of its intended use, and as encouraged
by Pickering’s parking by-law, the facility
should aim to exceed the minimum
requirements for accessible parking. T.Higgins
noted that the City’s Parking By-law 7529/16
encourages that accessible parking spaces
exceed the minimum Ontario requirements
where merited by the nature of the
business/service and the needs of its
anticipated clientelle.
Increase the number of accessible washrooms
to accommodate the anticipated numbers and
demographics of clients and visitors. For
example, in light of the intended use of the
facility it may be appropriate to provide more
accessible washrooms/stalls.
Increase the size of the accessible washrooms
for better turning radius
Provide adult change tables for the
washrooms
Need for lifts, such as in bathrooms for
transfers (track system may be most effective
and flexible).
In light of the intended use of the facility,
accessible access to the building by Durham
Regional Transit should be explicitly
addressed in the design.
Conduct a consultation on wayfinding and
signage. (This will be important as the
proposal does not indicate a reception area)
Consider accessible standards for signage for
wayfinding, including to common areas such
as washrooms, accessible washrooms, lobby,
elevators, break/lunch room(s), exits,
emergency instructions and exits, etc.
Provide touchable/braille gender signs on the
washrooms for the visually impaired.
Consider adequacy of back-up generators for
the elevators
Consider following hospital design standards
standards rather than vanilla commercial
codes.
Committee Questions were noted as follows:
The conceptual vision of the facility
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More information on the types of services
provided and the persons served (both in
numbers and anticipated accessibility needs
The capacity of the elevators
P. Bashaw noted that the Ontario College of Art and
Design University (OCADU) might be interested to
engage its Master’s of Inclusive Design program
students in contributing ideas for this facility. T.
Higgins stated that OCADU specializes in inclusive
design and often offers free consultation as part of its
Master’s and other class projects. It may be beneficial
to reach out to OCADU to seek such a partnership on
this project.
A. Lue noted the importance of education in regards
to inclusiveness and accessibility. He stated that he is
currently obtaining his Rick Hansen certification.
T. Higgins noted that a main recommendation is to
invite the developer and the owner of this property to
a future meeting(s) to continue to discuss this
application with a view to achieving a centre of
accessibility excellence.
5.2 2019 AODA Compliance Reporting
T. Higgins noted that following analysis and
consultation with the Accessibility Advisory
Committee, the Accessibility Core Staff Team and
various city staff, the 2019 report has been filed with
the Regulator indicating that the City of Pickering is
fully AODA-compliant. A copy of the 2019 AODA
Compliance Report is attached to the minutes.
6. Other Business & Updates
6.1 Traffic Lights
Members of the PAAC expressed concern over the
traffic light timings. It was noted that sufficient time
was not always provided to allow people with
disabilities to cross roads safely.
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G. Lang noted that the City should conduct an audit
process with an eye to future growth. G. Lang noted,
for example, that rapid transit lanes and bus lanes
add more complexity. He also noted that some
municipalities create two-stage traffic lights. This
does not require the timing for the traffic lights to be
increased as this could then impede traffic flow.
T. Higgins noted that responsibility for roads and
traffic lights was often complicated by jurisdiction; that
is, municipal, regional and provincial.
J. McLellan noted that the former traffic light timing
standard for Toronto assumed a pedestrian walking
speed of 1.2 meters per second whereas the new
standard is 1 meter per second. Toronto took into
consideration that older men take about 0.9 meters
per second; older women taking about 0.8 meters per
second; elementary children take about 0.6 meters
per second to safely cross the road. This then allows
for some crossings such as those near schools to
have tailored crossing time allowances.
T. Higgins noted that City Staff should be consulted
about how Pickering intersection crossing times are
determined. With this information, the Committee
could then assess opportunities to adopt best
practices.
D. Holmes noted that Markham, in her opinion, has
the best standards with respect to traffic lights.
P. Bashaw noted that the City should also consider
the time for individuals in wheelchairs to cross as well
as possible mitigations for and reduced visibility
during winter weather conditions.
D. Wysocki recommended the City use an audit
system to assess the timing of key Pickering traffic
lights. As an example, D. Wysocki surfaced a website
( https://www.walkscore.com/cities-and-
neighborhoods/ ) as a potential tool to audit
municipal walkability/safety.
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D. Holmes recommended using voice activation at
traffic lights to notify pedestrians when vehicles are
turning.
T. Higgins noted that this would require collaboration
across the region.
A. Lue noted that due to a growing retirement
population, the City will need to provide better
walkability.
T. Higgins noted that a report would be going forward
to Council in April or May outlining the work and the
future priorities of the AAC. He noted that roads and
traffic should be considered as a topic for this report.
He also stated that the presence of the AAC
members at this meeting is much valued.
J. McLellan stated that the City should strive to be a
City that welcomes and encourages walking as new
condominiums are being built.
To inform follow-up discussions with City staff, The
members of the committee identified the following
intersections where traffic light timing is a concern:
1. Glenanna and South Esplanade
2. Valley Farm Road and South Esplanade
3. Whites Road and Hwy 2
4. Liverpool and Kingston Road
5. Valley Farm Road and Hwy 2
6.2 Civic Awards
T. Higgins provided Members with information
regarding the upcoming Civic Award nominations.
AAC members identified the following potential
nominees for a Civic Accessibility Award.
1. Luke Edward Feetham
2. Jerry Coughlan
3. Don Terry
4. The Pickering Soccer Club – “In Motion”
program
5. An organizer (TBD) for Pickering student
volunteers at various events
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6. Dan Hughes – Axxess Condos
7. David Wysocki
8. Pina D’Intino
T. Higgins encouraged members to email him directly
with additional suggested nominations for the Access
Award for Disability Issues. He noted that the
deadline to submit nominations is the 2nd Thursday of
February.
6.3 5 Year Accessibility Plan
T. Higgins asked the members to read the 5 year
Accessibility Plan carefully and to provide comments
to inform the progress update to 2020.
6.4 Service and Support Animals
This report will be going forward to Council on
January 27th 2020 for approval.
D. Wysocki noted that the planned Innovations Lab
will involve untangling the different perspectives of
key stakeholders.
T. Higgins noted that from the perspective of the
Ontario Human Rights Code, the identification of
“competing rights” would be an important theme to be
treated in the public Monograph to be published.
6.5 Tot Pool Enhancement
T. Higgins stated that a resident letter was received
noting that a child with a disability could not safely
enter/exit the tot pool in the Recreation Complex. As
a consequence, the City plans to install hand rails
into the tot pool and has listed $20,000 on the 2020
capital budget on the understanding that grant
money be sought as an offset. T. Higgins noted that
he would be seeking a grant through the Canadian
Tire Jumpstart funding program.
P. Bashaw stated that, some time ago, a child at the
Pickering Recreation Complex had fallen off the
ladder into the pool when the ladder broke off. He
further noted that Variety Village has a ramp to enter
its pool.
T. Higgins to (re)email the
members a copy of the 5
Year Accessibility Plan.
T. Higgins will be drafting a
letter expressing AAC
support for the Jumpstart
proposal.
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A. Lue stated that a training facility in Arizona allowed
individuals in wheelchairs easy access in to the pool
and provided the following link to a short video clip of
the Tucson facility:
https://ability360.org/sports/aquatics/
P. Bashaw noted that Petticoat Creek Conservation
area has a highly accessible pool.
6.6 Future Meetings & Events
T. Higgins noted the following items for the next
meeting:
two Councillors will be joining the Committee
to speak about the service and support animal
initiative.
Abdul Macci from the Durham Region Transit
Commission TAC governance committee will
be joining to coordinate efforts.
Tammy Lyle-Gravlev from the Pickering
Football Club will be joining to discuss a
newly-funded research initiative to improve
inclusion.
T. Higgins advised members of the following
upcoming events:
Your City event – May 23, 2020
Canada Day – July 1, 2020
P. Bashaw noted that the Participation House offers
an 8-week course for individuals with disabilities in
conducting basic day-to-day activities. The course
then assists these individuals in finding employment.
He noted that Pickering should consider
implementing a similar program.
T. Higgins recalled from the recent ONAP
Conference in Lindsay that Kawartha Lakes has
partnered with a number of organizations to stimulate
employment for people with wide-ranging disabilities.
He proposed that Pickering should seek similar
partnerships to advance the employment agenda.
P. Bashaw to reach out to
Participation House and
invite its representatives to
present at a future AAC
meeting.
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D. Wysocki noted that there had been previous AAC
discussions about establishing an accessibility-
friendly coffee shop at the renovated Pickering
Recreation Complex. T. Higgins observed that such a
coffee shop could be incorporated into the new City
Centre plans.
6.7 Member Updates
T. Higgins surveyed the Committee members for
updates and final remarks. No action items from
updates.
7. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 9:22 pm
:rp
Copy: City Clerk
Attachments
1. 2019 Accessibility Compliance Report