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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 17, 2025 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Electronic Meeting September 17, 2025 - 07:00 PM Present: S. Azhar D. Currie B. Ferguson K. Hale D. Schick M. Shackleton S. Snyders K. Sullivan T. Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator (Staff Liaison) A. MacGillivray, Council & Committee Coordinator (Recording Secretary) Regrets: A. Khan C. Rudberg-Chin Councillor M. Brenner Councillor M. Nagy A. Topple, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade Review and Approval of Agenda T. Higgins reviewed the agenda and highlighted that Item 5.1 will no longer be considered as Community Services staff were unavailable to attend. T. Higgins advised that Community Services staff will follow up with A. Ellis directly regarding their concerns with Accessible Recreation Programming. Moved By M. Shackleton Seconded By D. Currie That the Agenda for the September 17, 2025, Meeting of the Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting be approved, as amended. 1. 1 Carried Disclosure of Interest No disclosures of interest were noted. Approval of Minutes Meeting Minutes, June 18, 2025 T. Higgins provided an overview of the June 18, 2025 Minutes and spoke to action items from that meeting, including: the draft Accessibility Checklist having been forwarded to the Accelerating Accessibility Coalition; • concerns regarding automatic doors at Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex and Dunbarton Pool and whether the City had a process in place to check the function of automatic doors at City facilities; • the delegation by D. Bell regarding abuse of acccessible parking spots and that Municipal By-law staff will be attending the October meeting to discuss the issue; • the delegation by A. Ellis regarding inclusive and accessible recreation programs and that an offline meeting will be had with staff to address their concerns; • the Grand Opening of the Abilities Centre HUR Room on September 30, 2025;• the Committee having a standing agenda item to review Action Items; and,• the exploration of a budget allocation for the Accessible Housing Subcommittee and the potential to utilize $3,000 - $4,000 towards a potential Accessibility Symposium event. • T. Higgins to speak with staff regarding automatic door concerns that have been raised and discuss the process by which they are checked. T. Higgins to provide an update to the Committee regarding the outcome of the inclusive and accessible recreation programming conversation with A. Ellis and Community Services staff. Moved By D. Currie Seconded By S. Snyders That the Minutes of the June 18, 2025, Meeting of the Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved. 2. 3. 3.1 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes September 17, 2025 2 Carried Delegations/Presentations There were no delegations. New Business Site Plan Application Review (7:40 pm) Isabelle Janton, Senior Planner, Site Planning S 03/25 I. Janton, Senior Planner, Site Planning provided a brief overview of the Site Plan Application S 03/25 for 48 townhose condominiums for the subject lands located at 1981 Altona Road. Discussion ensued amongst the Committee Members regarding: concerns regarding Altona Road and Finch Avenue which abut the property and potential widening; • the provision of future sidewalks on Altona Road and Finch Avenue;• concerns regarding the inaccessible nature of stacked townhomes;• concerns regarding environmental and sound concerns being close to the roadway; • concerns regarding the playground's proximity to Altona Road;• clarification regarding the accessibility ramp in place for the proposed playground; • concerns regarding the use of wood fibers for the playground and the preference to use a rubberized surface; • whether rough-ins for accessibility features could be considered within the development; • whether ground level access can be considered for some units;• inquiry regarding which lighting was planned to be used for the playground; • whether the Committee could recommend that the applicant consider an accessibility consultant to provide feedback on the interior elements of the development; • the new development and growth in the community and whether the • 4. 5. 5.2 5.2.1 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes September 17, 2025 3 City is planning any City facilities or parks for the area; and, opportunities to collaborate and provide feedback on other planning matters. • The Committee took a brief recess. Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program Update (8:10 pm) Tim Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator T. Higgins provided an overview and update regarding the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, highlighting the City's participation in the program and the staff training planned to implement it. Discussion ensued amongst the Committee Members regarding: the anticipated public launch date of October 29, 2025;• whether there would be a public communication plan;• whether the Committee could play a role in promoting the program;• a survey planned to be conducted for the Multi Year Accessibility Plan (MYAP); • whether there were opportunities to promote the program at the City's holiday events; • the importance of public awareness of the program;• whether the program will be promoted to private businesses in Pickering to potentially partner with and implement. • T. Higgins to follow up with the Event Planners and the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Team to explore potential opportunities to engage Pickering’s community of people living with a broad range of disabilities. T. Higgins to consider an agenda item for the October 15, 2025 Committee meeting to consider the public communications for the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program. 2025 AODA Compliance Report Update (8:15 pm) Tim Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator T. Higgins provides an update regarding the 2025 AODA Compliance Report 5.3 5.4 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes September 17, 2025 4 highlighting the questions posed by the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility and the work being done to complete the Report with the Accessibility Core Staff Team. MYAP Survey Update (8:20 pm) Tim Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator T. Higgins provided an update regarding the Multi Year Accessibility Plan (MYAP) Survey, highlighting the questions posed and the opportunity to better understand the needs of the community. Discussion ensued among the Committee Members regarding: the importance of understanding the local demographics in developing the MYAP; and, • whether there would opportunity in the survey for respondents to highlight accessibility gaps in the community. • Regional Awards (8:25 pm) Tim Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator T. Higgins provided an update regarding the 2025 Accessibility Advisory Committee Award Event on Monday, September 22, 2025. T Higgins spoke to the presentation being conducted by C. Rudberg-Chin and encouraged Committee Members to consider attending. AAC Action Items (8:30 pm) Tim Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator There were no updates on action items. Accessible Housing Sub-Committee (8:35 pm) Tim Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator T. Higgins provided updates to the Committee including that: the Accessibility Checklist had been sent to the Accelerating Accessibility Coalition (the “Coalition”); • he will be writing a Report to Council regarding joining the Coalition; and,• there are unspent budget funds of aproximately $3,000 - $4,000 to utilize toward an Accessibility Symposium event. • 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes September 17, 2025 5 Discussion ensued among the Committee Members regarding: what the timeframe was to joining the Coalition and the potential to partner with the Coalition as a resource in leading the Accessibility Symposium event; • concerns regarding the funds and resources required to facilitate the Accessibility Symposium; and, • the Subcommittee's draft plan for the Accessibility Symposium event and the need to partner with City events and communication staff to execute an event. • T. Higgins to facilitate a brainstorm meeting with the Accessible Housing Subcommittee and the Coalition to discuss the Accessibility Symposium. 2026 Meeting Schedule (8:50 pm) Tim Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator Andy MacGillivray, Council and Committee Coordinator 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 spoke to an anticipated scheduling conflict with the January 2026 meeting date and that the Committee would consider adopting the 2026 Meeting Schedule at the October 15, 2025 meeting. Other Business D. Currie spoke to the issue regarding the faulty automatic doors at the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex. • K. Sullivan asked about the appointment process for Members of Council to Committees. A. MacGillivray explained the process of appointment outlined in City Policy ADM 045; • S. Snyders expressed concerns regarding the City's eScooter Pilot Program and whether the Committee could discuss the various concerns; and, • T. Higgins informed the Committee that he had met with City staff and Ministry of Transportation staff regarding pedestrian safety at the Liverpool Road Highway 401 on- ramp. Discussion ensued amongst Committee Members regarding various safety concerns crossing Highway 401 bridges in the City. • 5.9 6. Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes September 17, 2025 6 T. Higgins to follow up with staff on how to best provide feedback regarding the eScooter Pilot Program. Correspondence There was no correspondence. Next Meeting: October 15, 2025 Adjournment Moved By D. Currie Seconded By M. Shackleton That the meeting be adjourned. Carried The meeting adjourned at 9:26 pm. 7. 8. 9. Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes September 17, 2025 7