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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 15, 2025 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Electronic Meeting October 15, 2025 - 07:00 PM Present S. Azhar D. Currie K. Hale C. Rudberg-Chin D. Schick M. Shackleton K. Sullivan R. Mackay, Supervisor, Parking Enforcement T. Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator A. MacGillivray, Council & Committee Coordinator Regrets: B. Ferguson A. Khan S. Snyders A, Topple, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade Review and Approval of Agenda Discussion ensued amongst Committee members regarding Committee Member Roundtable not being on the agenda. T. Higgins indicated that Committee Member Roundtable could be considered under Other Business as time permits. Moved By K. Hale Seconded By C. Rudberg-Chin That the Agenda for the October 15, 2025 Meeting of the Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting be approved. 1. 1 Carried Disclosure of Interest Approval of Minutes Minutes September 17, 2025 T. Higgins reviewed the September 17, 2025 Minutes and provided updates on various action items, including: an update pending from City staff regarding automatic door function at Dunbarton Pool and Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex (CHDRC); • an update regarding the inclusive and accessible recreation programming conversation with A. Ellis and Community Services staff at the November 19, 2025 Meeting; • Event Planners and the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Team were contacted regarding the engagement process around the Hidden Disability Sunflower Program; • no update regarding public communications of the Hidden Disability Sunflower Program, but would discuss updates on the program more broadly during the discussion later in the meeting; • the Accessible Housing Subcommittee had prepared material for an Accessibility Symposium Event and that he would be prepared to connect them with the Accessibility Coalition following the meeting; and, • no update regarding how to best provide feedback regarding the eScooter Pilot Program. • Moved By S. Azhar Seconded By M. Shackleton Moved by That the Minutes of the September 17, 2025 Meeting of the Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved. Carried Delegations/Presentations 2. 3. 3.1 4. Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes October 15, 2025 2 Donna Bell, Pickering Resident Available for discussion Re: Item 5.3 Accessible Parking D. Bell commended the Committee's work, highlighting the Committee's work on accessible housing. She spoke to the importance of promoting accessible housing to assist people to age in place. New Business Accessibility Advisory Committee proposed Meeting Schedule 2026 (7:15) T. Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator Proposed AAC Meeting Schedule 2026 A. MacGillivray, Council and Committee Coordinator spoke to the impact of the 2026 Municipal Election on Committee and Taskforce Schedules, explaining that most Committee meetings will be terminating in June 2026. T. Higgins explained that the January 28, 2026 date was proposed to accommodate his absence and discussion ensued amongst the Committee Members regarding whether there were any conflicts with the dates proposed and any Jewish holidays. Moved By K. Sullivan Seconded By C. Rudberg-Chin That the Accessibility Advisory Committee 2026 Meeting Schedule be adopted as follows: January 28, 2026 - 7:00 p.m. February 18, 2026 - 7:00 p.m. March 18, 2026 - 7:00 p.m. April 15, 2026 - 7:00 p.m. May 20, 2026 - 7:00 p.m. June 17, 2026 - 7:00 p.m. Carried 2025 AODA Compliance Report (7:30) T. Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator T. Higgins provided an overview of the 2025 AODA Compliance Report process that 4.1 5. 5.1 5.2 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes October 15, 2025 3 was undertaken by the City and noted that the City was fully compliant. Discussion ensued amongst Committee Members regarding: the importance of consistently tracking key performance indicators over time to proactively ensure accessibility; • clarification that the AODA sets minimum requirements and that the Committee seeks to encourage the City to go above and beyond; and, • clarification regarding whether this Report examines the City's compliance over a certain time frame and what projects were examined. • Moved By K. Hale Seconded By D. Currie That the Committee endorse the submission of a fully compliant 2025 AODA Compliance Report to the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility by the City of Pickering. Carried Accessible Parking (7:45) R. Mackay, Supervisor, Parking Enforcement T. Higgins introduced R. Mackay, Supervisor, Parking Enforcement and provided an overview of concerns related to accessible parking. R. Mackay commended his officers for their work on parking enforcement and indicated that he believes that the amount of parking infractions relating to accessible parking permits is going down. He spoke to the way in which the City enforces accessible parking permits and encouraged the public to report any witnessed infractions to the City's Customer Care team. Discussion ensued amongst the Committee Members, D. Bell, and R. Mackay regarding: ways to promote and make reporting parking infractions easier;• the usefulness of having reported incidents and data to better enforce parking regulations; • whether business cards, stickers, or signage could be developed to promote reporting parking infractions; • the frequency of accessible parking infractions at the Shopping Centre at • 5.3 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes October 15, 2025 4 Kingston Road and Walnut Lane where the Shoppers Drug Mart and Home Depot are located; clarification regarding the minimum accessible parking spaces required by the AODA and municipal by-law; • whether the City could issue warnings to vehicle owners that are depicted in reported infractions; • concerns regarding business-specific accessible parking spot signage at the Shopping Centre at Kingston Road and Walnut Lane where the Shoppers Drug Mart and Home Depot are located and whether that is permitted; • whether a hashtag can be promoted to use across various social media platforms to report accessible parking infractions; • whether there are opportunities to incentivize property managers to better manage the accessible parking on their properties; • whether incentives could be considered to promote public reporting of infractions; • whether parking can be configured based on site use which could create more parking based on density; and, • clarification regarding where permits need to be displayed for accessible parking. • Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Project – Update (8:15) T. Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator T. Higgins provided an update regarding the City's adoption of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, highlighting the staff training taking place. Pathways to Employment - Update (8:25) T. Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator T. Higgins spoke to the Pathways to Employment partnership with the Abilities Centre providing work placement opportunities to job seekers living with disabilities at the City of Pickering. T. Higgins spoke to continued discussions with the City's Human Resources Department to continue participation in the program. Discussion amongst the Committee Members regarding: whether there was a process in place for the participating job seekers to continue their employment or access other opportunities following the placement; • 5.4 5.5 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes October 15, 2025 5 concerns regarding difficulty navigating the City's hiring processes and whether there was opportunity for improvement; • whether there was opportunity for the City to notify job seekers of future opportunities following their placement. • T. Higgins to invite City staff from the Human Resources department to provide and update and engage in discussion with the Committee on this program. Accessible Housing Sub-Committee - Update (8:30) AAC Sub-Committee C. Rudberg-Chin and K. Sullivan provided an Accessible Housing Sub-Committee update regarding the Accessibility Orientation Symposium. They spoke to the creation of an event agenda and the need to engage the Accessibility Coalition and the City of Vaughan. T. Higgins spoke to the need for the Sub-Committee to directly connect with the Coalition and continuing work on the project to implement an event in early 2026, before the end of the Committee's term. A. MacGillivray to circulate the Accessible Housing Sub-Committee material regarding the Accessible Housing Symposium to Isabelle Janton, Senior Planner, Site Planning. MYAP Renewal and Survey - Update (8:50) T. Higgins, Accessiblity Coordinator T. Higgins spoke to the Multi Year Accessibility Plan (MYAP) Renewal and Survey. T. Higgins to recirculate the survey to the Committee Members for further review and feedback. Other Business K. Hale provided an update regarding the visit made to the new Abilities Centre HUR Fitness Facility. The Committee discussed whether there was opportunity to consider HUR fitness equipment for the future Seaton Recreation Complex and Library facility. • 5.6 5.7 6. Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes October 15, 2025 6 K. Sullivan spoke to the action items prepared by B. Ferguson and suggested that it be addressed on the next meeting agenda. • Various Committee Members provided personal updates as part of the Committee Member Roundtable discussion. • Correspondence Next Meeting - November 19, 2025 Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:32 p.m. 7. 8. 9. Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes October 15, 2025 7