HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 18, 2023Page 1 of 7
Minutes/Meeting Summary
Accessibility Advisory Committee
January 18, 2023
Electronic Meeting
7:00 pm
Attendees: D. Currie
Absent:
S. Fatima
B. Ferguson
T. Lyle-Gravlev
P. Milton
R. Rizvi
C. Rudberg-Chin
S. Snyders
M. Thorpe Ross
J. McLellan, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade
I. Janton, Senior Planner - Site Planning
T. Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator (Staff Liaison)
A. MacGillivray, Committee Coordinator (Recording Secretary)
A. Sardar
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
1. Review and Approval of Agenda
T. Higgins reviewed the agenda items.
Agenda approved.
2. Disclosure of Interest
No disclosures of interest were noted.
3. Approval of Minutes
Moved by P. Milton
Seconded by T. Lyle-Gravlev
That the Minutes of the September 21, 2022
meeting of the Accessibility Advisory Committee be
approved.
Carried
4. Presentations/Delegations
Page 2 of 7
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
There were no presentations or delegations.
5. New Business
5.1 Welcome, self-introductions and onboarding
of new AAC members
T. Higgins provided introductory remarks and
discussed:
• his role as Accessibility Coordinator at the
City of Pickering;
• the role of the Committee in identifying gaps
and providing advice to the City to ensure
optimal compliance with the Accessibility for
Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA);
• the relaying of advice to the Accessibility
Core Team of City staff.
Members and City Staff in attendance provided
introductory remarks.
T. Higgins spoke to the Committee’s Terms of
Reference, and that Members will have opportunity
to discuss and approve the Terms of Reference at
the next meeting.
T. Higgins spoke to the Committee’s Draft 2023
Meeting Schedule.
Moved by C. Rudberg-Chin
Seconded by S. Snyders
That the 2023 Meeting Schedule for the
Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved as
follows:
January 18, 2023 – 7:00pm
February 15, 2023 – 7:00pm
March 15, 2023 – 7:00pm
April 19, 2023 – 7:00pm
May 17, 2023 – 7:00pm
June 21, 2023 – 7:00pm
September 20, 2023 – 7:00pm
October 18, 2023 – 7:00pm
November 15, 2023 – 7:00pm
Terms of Reference will be
sent to the Committee to
review prior to the February
Meeting.
Page 3 of 7
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
Carried
T. Higgins spoke to a continuous learning
curriculum to be provided to Members at each
meeting regarding knowledge and insights on key
topics.
5.2 Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation
Centre (CHDRC) – Change Room Emergency
Buttons
T. Higgins provided an overview of an issue that
emerged regarding concerns with the renovations at
the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Centre
(CHDRC), specifically the addition of emergency
buttons in the facility’s dressing areas. He informed
the Committee that the City responded to these
concerns by having additional emergency
buttons/alarms installed in these areas.
5.3 Site Plans Review
I. Janton provided an overview of Site Plan
Application S 08/22, a proposed sales office for a
new residential development in the Seaton
community.
The Committee engaged in discussion regarding:
• the primary focus of site plan reviews being
on external features of the site;
• the ability for the Committee to provide
comments regarding both internal and
external features of the site depending on the
information provided;
• the outdoor barrier-free toilets proposed for
the site;
• the location of the accessible parking spaces
in relation to the entrance/exit ramp;
• the measurements and the slope of the
entrance/exit ramp and its compliance with
AODA standards; and,
• whether automatic door openers are
proposed for the sales office.
Page 4 of 7
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
I. Janton provided an overview of Site Plan
Application S 16/22, a proposed automobile sales,
showroom, and repair facility at 1695 Bayly St.
The Committee engaged in discussion regarding:
• vehicle access from Bayly St., and whether
this could be used by drivers to circumvent
the Brock Rd. and Bayly St. intersection;
• concerns regarding safety of pedestrians
crossing the private roadway on the site;
• concerns regarding pedestrian visibility to
drivers turning the corner in front of Unit 3;
• whether traffic calming measures can be
considered; and,
• whether accessible counter heights will be
considered for the sales facility.
I. Janton provided an overview of Site Plan
Application S 17/22, a proposed public elementary
school at 2570 Tillings Rd.
The Committee engaged in discussion regarding:
• the accessible washrooms proposed and
whether they will have changing tables;
• the accessible parking spaces proposed on-
site and pedestrian connections to the
municipal sidewalk;
• whether a secondary elevator can be
considered for the facility;
• clarification around the proposed Play Fields
being owned by the school board, and the
potential for park space to be developed on
excess land on the site; and,
• the consideration that the play areas being
developed be fully accessible.
5.4 EnAbling Change Grant Submission
Accessibility Internships - December 2022
T. Higgins provided an overview of the EnAbling
Change Grant Submission for Accessibility
Internships with the City of Pickering, discussing:
• challenges that persons living with disabilities
face seeking employment;
• the proposal for six (6) internship
opportunities with a term of six (6) months for
Page 5 of 7
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
Durham College and Ontario Tech University
students next year;
• outreach to community partners regarding
this proposal;
• the proposal for a coordinator position within
the City to ensure sufficient planning and
development of the internship opportunities;
• the letter of support crafted on behalf of the
former Accessibility Advisory Committee for
the proposal; and,
• the anticipated timeline to expect a response
regarding the proposal in the coming months.
5.5 AODA 4th Independent Review – City of
Pickering’s Input – November 2022
T. Higgins provided an update to the Committee
regarding the City’s submission regarding the
AODA 4th Independent Review including:
• the consideration of policies to prioritize
employment of persons living with disabilities
rather than reliance on immigration as a sole
solution to labour shortages;
• the consideration of policies to encourage
development of accessible affordable
housing and addressing gaps in the Ontario
Building Code;
• the consideration of developing provincial
standards regarding accessible recreation
programming;
• the need to address gaps around service and
support animal policies in Ontario;
• the need for clarification around accessible
transportation and transit standards; and,
• the network of provincial accessibility
coordinators that aims to collaborate and
address accessibility issues in Ontario, and
the consideration of its formal recognition by
the province.
Moved by M. Thorpe Ross
Seconded by D. Currie
That the Committee endorse the submission of
feedback provided by the City of Pickering to the
Page 6 of 7
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
Province of Ontario for the purpose of the AODA 4th
Independent Review.
Carried
5.6 Partnership with the Abilities Centre LEAD
Project
T. Higgins provided an overview of the partnership
with the Abilities Centre LEAD Project, including:
• the focus of LEAD Project to help
municipalities to improve their accessibility
programs;
• the ongoing discussions with the City on how
to effectively consult and identify
improvement opportunities with regard to
accessibility;
• opportunities for the Committee to both
provide, and receive feedback through the
LEAD project; and,
• a free AODA training module available
online.
5.7 Awards
T. Higgins provided an overview of the City’s
accessibility awards and achievements, including:
• the recognition of former Committee Member
Peter Bashaw for receiving a Regional
Accessibility Award;
• the recognition of former Committee Member
David Wysocki for receiving a Civic Award;
• the recognition of John McLellan from the
Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade for his work on
accessible housing, and the former
Committee’s nomination of him to the David
C. Onley Award for Leadership in
Accessibility; and,
• the recognition of former Committee Member
David Wysocki for receiving the Queen’s
Platinum Jubilee Award for his work on issue
of accessibility.
5.8 Future Agenda Items
T. Higgins provided an overview of various agenda
topics planned for future meetings and the
Page 7 of 7
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
timelines of when they can be expected to be
discussed.
5.9 Advisory Committee Year End
Reports/Work Plans
T. Higgins provided an overview of the Year End
Reports/Work Plan process that the Committee is
required to undertake to highlight annual
achievements and future work of the Committee.
6. Correspondence
There were no items of correspondence.
7. Other Business
There was no other business discussed.
8. AAC Member Roundtable Updates
T. Higgins surveyed the Members for updates.
Within the roundtable discussion, Members raised
questions regarding the ability to share relevant
documents through an online platform.
T. Higgins and A.
MacGillivray to explore
options and report back to
the Committee.
9. Next Meeting – February 15, 2023
10. Adjournment
Moved by D. Currie
Seconded by C. Rudberg-Chin
That the meeting be adjourned.
Carried
Meeting Adjourned: 9:11 pm