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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 19, 2024 Page 1 of 6 Minutes/Meeting Summary Accessibility Advisory Committee June 19, 2024 Hybrid Electronic Meeting Main Committee Room 7:00 pm Attendees: C. Rudberg-Chin M. Shackleton K. Sullivan S. Azhar D. Currie M. Wilson M. Thorpe Ross I. Lima, Senior Planner D. Yip, Manager, Facilities Capital Projects A. Marangos, Coordinator, Facilities Capital Projects G. De Sousa, Solucore Elevator Consultants T. Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator (Staff Liaison) J. Currie, Legislative Coordinator (Recording Secretary) Absent: A. Khan S. Snyders B. Ferguson Councillor M. Brenner Councillor M. Nagy A. Topple, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 1. Review and Approval of Agenda Moved by C. Rudberg-Chin Seconded by D. Currie That the Agenda for the June 19, 2024, Meeting of The Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting be approved. Carried 2. Disclosure of Interest No disclosures of interest were noted. 3. Approval of Minutes Page 2 of 6 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) Moved by C. Rudberg-Chin Seconded by D. Currie That the Minutes of the May 15, 2024, meeting of the Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved. Carried 4. Presentations/Delegations 4.1 Dan Moran – Programs to assist people who are partially deaf Dan Moran, City of Pickering resident, appeared before the Committee and shared his personal experience of living with partial loss of hearing. Mr. Moran noted various instances when his hearing abilities were not considered and suggested ways to create a hearing-friendly environment. He raised concerns that Pickering does not have programs specific to those with hearing impairment. He provided that he had attended a Durham Region Transit meeting and described the challenges he had faced, and that hearing impairment was not considered when the meeting was organized. Mr. Moran concluded his delegation by sharing his artwork, a talent discovered at the time of his hearing loss, and recommended the City offer programs tailored to those with hearing impairment. A brief discussion between Committee Members ensued regarding exploring ways Pickering can be truly hearing friendly such as soliciting the public for special needs in advance of public meetings in order to provide appropriate accommodations. 5. New Business 5.1 Site Plans Review – Pickering Valley Developments Limited – 1515 Pickering Parkway, Isabel Lima, Senior Planner I. Lima provided an overview of the site plan for 1515 Pickering Parkway. She noted the proposal was for a 40- story residential condo with 571 dwelling units. I. Lima provided that one unit and one parking space was provided to Habitat For Humanity GTA at no cost and that 15% of the Condo units were built to the Ontario Building Code Accessibility standards. Discussion ensued with Committee Members and Staff regarding: Page 3 of 6 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) • concerns raised that there was only one barrier free entrance/exit at the front of the building; • concerns raised that the number of designated accessible parking spaces were insufficient to service the 571 dwelling units, given 86 of the residential units were described by the developer as accessible and in compliance with the Ontario Building Code; • clarification that there were five elevators and that their distance from certain dwelling units would be challenging to those living with a disability; • whether mailboxes were built at accessible heights; and, • whether the shared outdoor space BBQs were accessible. 5.2 Elevator Retrofit at Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex With the aid of a slideshow, D. Yip, Manager, Facilities Capital Projects, A. Marangos, Coordinator, Facilities Capital Projects, and G. De Sousa, Solucore Elevator Consultants presented the modernization plans for the Elevator Retrofit at Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex. G. De Sousa highlighted new accessibility features that would be built into the new elevators such as changes to the button height within the elevator cab, mirrors for improved visuals, and upgrading the phone line to include the ability to communicate through text message. A brief discussion ensued between Committee Members and Staff regarding whether feedback was received from facility users with disabilities and how long the Elevator Retrofit would take. 5.3 Pickering Accessibility Advisory Committee (PAAC) Sub-Committee Update T. Higgins and K. Sullivan gave an overview of the offsite meeting held by the PAAC Sub-Committee and proposed tentative next steps to schedule summer meetings with senior staff in Pickering’s Planning Department with a view to convening a Developer Accessibility Symposium in mid- autumn. T. Higgins provided a brief summary of the Ontario Network of Accessibility Professionals (ONAP) Conference, hosted by York Region in May which addressed, among other important accessibility matters, the topic of municipalities advocating effectively with developers to encourage building Page 4 of 6 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) a greater number of accessible homes and increasing accessible residential accommodation options available to new home buyers. T. Higgins emphasized the strategic opportunity for Pickering to seek a future partnership with the Accelerating Accessibility Coalition promoted at the ONAP Conference, with a view to leveraging the Coalition’s substantial and established advocacy networks and resources. T. Higgins noted that such a strategic accessibility partnership would complement and expedite the achievement of the like- minded objectives of PAAC’s Sub-Committee. 5.4 Electronic Monitoring Systems to Manage Accessible Parking Through the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, K. Sullivan provided an overview of the benefits of using Electronic Monitoring Systems to Manage Accessible Parking. He noted that the monitoring of Accessible Parking was important to ensure the availability of accessible spaces for those who need them. K. Sullivan discussed a general lack of awareness of the impacts of using Accessible Parking spaces inappropriately. He also provided a summary of the use and practicality of Electronic Monitoring Systems to aid in Parking Enforcement including possible benefits as well as potential impediments. Discussion ensued between Committee Members regarding providing examples of use in other municipalities and next steps including sharing the PAAC’s research, once completed, with Council. 5.5 Design of Public Spaces Standards Development Committee recommendations T. Higgins provided that in December 2021, the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility established the Design of Public Spaces Standards Development Committee, and that the committee began a review of the province’s accessible built environment standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). He noted they had drafted extensive initial recommendations that focus on improving Ontario’s existing Public Spaces Accessibility Standards and were initiating a public consultation. T. Higgins noted that Pickering has many Public Spaces that were required to be compliant. AAC Members encouraged to participate in the Design of Public Spaces Standards Development Committee’s consultation at the following link: Page 5 of 6 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) T. Higgins solicited the Committee members to provide comments and suggestions (copying T. Higgins) through the Ministry’s consultation process by the end of July 2024. 5.6 Canada Day T. Higgins thanked the Committee Members for providing their availability and volunteering to attend the Canada Day event to represent the Accessibility Advisory Committee. He provided an outline of the amenities that were available for the event. A brief discussion ensued between Committee Members regarding ensuring there were enough accessible water stations made available at the Canada Day event, and to note any considerations to be raised when planning for Canada Day 2025. https://www.o ntario.ca/page /consultation- improving- accessible- built- environment- standards 6. Correspondence There were no items of correspondence. 7. Other Business K. Sullivan requested follow-up information on the additional accessible parking standards that were planned for implementation in the City’s Zoning By-law, including accessible angled parking standards, as raised at the April 17, 2024, AAC Meeting. T. Higgins to follow up. 8. AAC Member Roundtable Updates Committee Members provided roundtable updates. M. Thorpe-Ross announced her resignation from the Committee and provided that she was proud of the work done by the Accessibility Advisory Committee over the eight years she has been a Member. T. Higgins thanked Ms. Thorpe-Ross for her long, diligent and highly accomplished service on the Committee. 9. Next Meeting – September 18, 2024 10. Adjournment Moved by D. Currie Seconded by C. Rudberg-Chin That the meeting be adjourned. Carried Page 6 of 6 Meeting Adjourned: 9:20 pm