HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 19, 2024
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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/
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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
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Item/
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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:
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Item/
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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
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Item/
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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:
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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
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Meeting Adjourned: 9:20 pm