HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 18 2023
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Minutes/Meeting Summary
Accessibility Advisory Committee
October 18, 2023
Electronic Meeting
7:00 pm
Attendees: D. Currie
S. Azhar
B. Ferguson
P. Milton
M. Thorpe Ross
C. Rudberg-Chin
S. Snyders
J. McLellan, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade
Councillor M. Brenner
M. Murray, Manager, Community Services Administration
I. Janton, Senior Planner – Site Planning
T. Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator (Staff Liaison)
J. Currie, Legislative Coordinator (Recording Secretary)
Absent: A. Khan
R. Rizvi
Councillor M. Nagy
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 B. Ferguson
Seconded by D. Currie
That the Minutes of the September 18, 2023, meeting of the
Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include
deadline as
appropriate)
Carried
4. Presentations/Delegations
T. Higgins welcomed all in attendance to introduce themselves.
4.1 Recreation & Parks Master Plan Presentation – Marilou
Murray
M. Murray provided an overview of the Recreation and Parks
Master Plan highlighting Pickering’s changing demographics and
how the impact of issues pertaining to the pandemic are being
addressed. The Community Engagement Strategy, including a
city-wide survey, the dates of five focus group sessions, four
Charrette’s, and a youth engagement partnership was shared
with the Committee.
M. Murray requested Committee Members to complete the
online survey, to attend one of the community Charrette’s
sessions, and to encourage community members to participate.
M. Murray also requested that the Accessibility Advisory
Committee select one Member to be its representative and
attend one of the five focus group sessions.
Discussion with the Committee Members ensued regarding:
• the website updates occurring as required, when new
information is available;
• the Youth Survey and how it mirrors the regular survey, it
is amended to exclude questions that may not apply to
youth, such as taxes, and includes questions specific to
youth activities and programs that would be of particular
interest and what may be some barriers faced by youth in
participation;
• having sent the Catholic School Board invitations to
participate in the Youth Focus Groups and that
Community Services is waiting for a response;
• the Recreation & Parks Master Plan forming its vision as
it pertains to accessibility according to the feedback
gathered from the planned Community Engagement;
• additional engagement events being planned in both the
East Shore and West Shore as well as other areas to
accommodate a broader outreach and ensuring input
from those unable to attend the scheduled focus group
sessions and charrette’s;
AAC Members
to complete
online survey
and
participate in
the
Community
Engagement
Strategy.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include
deadline as
appropriate)
• the Recreation & Parks Master Plan being a robust, all-
encompassing plan and it including 80-120
recommendations;
• reaching out to Community Associations as part of the
Public Engagement Plan;
• Pickle Ball being included in the sport related focus
groups;
• going beyond minimum accessibility standards to meet
the expectations of the City of Pickering, accounting for 1
in 5 individuals living with disabilities, the increasing
number of seniors, an increase in mental health
associated disabilities, and various invisible disabilities;
and,
• the benefits of parks and outdoor space in terms of
tranquility.
5. New Business
5.1 Review of Site Plans
File: 23-009270 – PLAN 40M2625 BLK 291 & PLAN 40M2631
I. Janton provided an overview of the pre-submission proposal
for a proposed Catholic Elementary School at the intersection of
Sapphire Drive, Hibiscus Drive and Burkholder Drive.
Discussion ensued with Committee Members regarding:
• the area for portables being a placeholder to
accommodate future expansion and that ramps should be
considered for accessibility;
• whether the number of handicapped parking spaces
could exceed the minimum requirement;
• whether the proposed theater space was accessible;
• the benefit to providing David Lepofski’s video
“Accessibility Problems at Ryerson University Student
Learning Centre” to developers in Pickering;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oe4xiKknt0
• the presence of accessible areas in the site plan’s
theater;
• whether the Universal Washrooms are accessible;
• whether having only one elevator meets accessibility
standards, especially in the event of an emergency;
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include
deadline as
appropriate)
• an evacuation plan from the second floor for those living
with a disability in the event of an emergency; and,
• developers accounting for unique needs and
demographics of the area they are proposing to build in.
File: S 11/23 – 1355 Kingston Road
I. Janton provided an overview of the Site Plan for proposed
mixed use residential towers at Pickering Town Centre site.
There will be three towers at 50-55 story’s, 1877 units, 785 m2 of
commercial space, and includes underground parking. The
application presented is submitted to address the stormwater
management system, the construction of the towers will come at
a later date.
Discussion ensued with Committee Members regarding:
• I. Janton providing cross section images of the stormwater
management system;
• there being public access to the private owned park area,
• the number of units that will be designated as accessible
units,
• the accessibility needs of larger families and if the two-story
units can accommodate them,
• the historic lack of accessibility of underground parking in
general and if this will be addressed,
• inviting CentreCourt to attend a future meeting and inviting
them to express in writing their accessibility vision for this
property;
• offering documents that provide an accessibility lens to
CentreCourt, giving them insight to Pickering’s expectations;
• the possibility of providing similar documents to all
developers, and bringing this concept back to planning to
build it into the application process;
• providing a symposium or accessibility orientation, sharing
the vision of Pickering’s expectations, and asking the
developers to mirror this in their plans;
• providing Pickering’s expectations prior to the Accessibility
Advisory Committee review, allowing for early collaboration,
noting that Pickering is asking for more than the legislated
minimum Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
(AODA) and Ontario Building Code standards;
• the orientation material being provided by the Accessibility
Advisory Committee;
T. Higgins to
provide I.
Janton with
documents to
provide
CentreCourt
along with
AAC notes to
developer.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include
deadline as
appropriate)
• a motion to build an accessibility orientation style symposium
at the pre-consultation stage of the application process;
• developers site plan including a document outlining their
vision of accessibility as it pertains to the submission;
• the effectiveness of having conversations regarding
accessibility earlier in the building application process, and
how it is harder to change plans after approval,
• adding a step including an accessibility orientation to the pre-
consultation phase of site plan applications,
Moved by B. Ferguson
Seconded by C. Rudberg-Chin
That representatives of the Accessibility Advisory Committee
meet with the Planning Division of the City Development
Department to discuss the methodology around site-planning
approval, introducing the idea of a symposium to the pre
consultation phase as well as requiring developers to include
early documentation of their accessibility lens.
Carried
Further Discussion ensued with Committee Members
regarding:
• developers questioning steps that are not mandated;
• clarification that should the new requirement be implemented
it would only be applied to new developments;
• the benefit of providing parameters at an early stage and
creating a more collaborative process;
• bringing this motion to Council to mandate the mentioned
additional steps; and,
• bringing the discussion of creating a subcommittee to the
next agenda.
5.2 39th Annual Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS)
Children’s Games – November 5th, 2023
T. Higgins provided an overview of the Annual Durham Regional
Police Service (DRPS) Children’s Games being held November
5th, 2023 at 9am-1pm. Pickering has historically hosted the
games at the Recreation Complex and has been a key partner
with the Durham Police in helping support children with
disabilities.
T. Higgins to
organize a
meeting with
AAC Members
and Kyle
Bentley,
Director, City
Development
& Chief
Building
Official.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include
deadline as
appropriate)
The 39th Annual DRPS Children’s Games will be held at the
Durham College Sports Complex this year but will return to the
Recreation Complex next year for the 40th Annual DRPS
Children’s Games – 2024.
The Accessibility Advisory Committee Members are strongly
encouraged to attend. T. Higgins to send invitations with the
event details to Council through their Executive Assistants.
Discussion ensued among Committee Members regarding:
• the suitability of the rebuilt Football Dome for the games;
and,
• the facilities being confirmed for next year’s event.
5.3 LEAD Project - Update
T. Higgins provided a brief outline of the work that was done with
the Abilities Centre on the LEAD Project. The LEAD Project
document was provided, and Members are encouraged to review
for discussion at the next committee meeting.
AAC Members
to review the
LEAD Project
document for
discussion at
the November
15, 2023
Committee
Meeting.
6. Correspondence
There were no items of correspondence.
7. Other Business
T. Higgins announced T. Lyle-Gravlev and P. Milton’s resignation
from the Accessibility Advisory Committee, thanking them for their
work.
J. McLellan suggested Stopgap.ca and the December 21, 2023,
Business Compliance as items of discussion for the November 15,
2023 Meeting Agenda.
T. Higgins to
add two items
to the
November 15,
2023 Agenda.
8. AAC Member Roundtable Updates
None
9. Next Meeting – November 15, 2023
10. Adjournment
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include
deadline as
appropriate)
Moved by C. Rudberg-Chin
That the meeting be adjourned.
Carried
Meeting Adjourned: 9:08 pm