Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 18, 2026 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Main Committee Room March 18, 2026 - 07:00 PM Present: S. Azhar D. Currie K. Hale C. Rudberg-Chin D. Schick M. Shackleton S. Snyders Councillor M. Brenner - left at 8:18 pm. Councillor M. Nagy R. Perera, Deputy ClerkD. Poida, Senior Project Manager, Capital Projects I. Janton, Senior Planner, Site Planning K. Coleman, Manager, Recreation Services T. Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator (Staff Liaison) A. MacGillivray, Council and Committee Coordinator (Recording Secretary) Regrets: B. Ferguson K. Sullivan A. Topple, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade Review and Approval of Agenda T. Higgins reviewed the agenda and noted that Items 4.1 and 5.1 had been deferred to the April 15, 2026 meeting. Moved By C. Rudberg-Chin Seconded By D. Schick That the Agenda for the March 18, 2026, Meeting of the Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting be approved. Carried 1. 1 Disclosure of Interest No disclosures of interest were noted. Approval of Minutes Minutes, February 18, 2026 T. Higgins reviewed the February 18, 2026 Meeting Minutes and reviewed various action items. Discussion ensued amongst the Committee regarding: the status of the Committee recommendation regarding automatic accessible doors at City facilities; and, • a request to correct Bullet 1 under Other Business to reflect "Students Promoting Accessibility Resilience and Kindness (SPARK)" as the student club name. • Moved By C. Rudberg-Chin Seconded By K. Hale That the Minutes of the February 18, 2026, Meeting of the Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved as amended. Carried Delegations/Presentations Onila Miranda, Pickering Resident Re: Love Is a Human Right — Make Ableism a Global Crime Onila Miranda did not appear before the Committee. Onila Miranda sent his regrets and has rescheduled their delegation for the April 15, 2026 Meeting. New Business Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) - Ableism Policy This matter was deferred to the April 15, 2026 meeting. 2. 3. 3.1 4. 4.1 5. 5.1 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 18, 2026 2 Review of Fire Station 5 Plans I. Janton and D. Poida provided an overview of the Fire Station 5 Plans, highlighting various elements of the site and landscaping plans. Discussion ensued amongst the Committee regarding: clarification that this was a new station to replace an existing station;• whether the broader public had been consulted on the project;• whether public art elements could be considered to be installed on the property; • whether there were traffic signal considerations for the adjacent intersection for the exit and entry for fire trucks; • pedestrian safety concerns and whether audible, visual, and tactile signals to alert nearby pedestrians of exiting trucks could be considered; • clarification that fire trucks would be primarily exiting the property to Sandy Beach Road; • whether there were considerations for a second elevator;• the removal of a training room in the revised plans to reduce project costs;• clarification that each room includes one murphy-style bed;• the importance of the fire station as the primary station to respond to emergencies at Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, Durham Live, and other high-density residential developments; • clarification regarding how Fire Services staff and others were consulted on the project; • the curb cut and turning radius for the entry and exit points for fire trucks;• whether the building of the sidewalk to the property will be coordinated with the Region of Durham road widening projects; • clarification that the current fire station would remain operational until the new fire station is ready to operate; and, • clarification that the project would be presented to Council when the project is ready for tender. • T. Higgins invited D. Poida and I. Janton back to the Committee to further discuss the project at the May 20, 2026 Meeting. 2026 City of Pickering Municipal Election Accessibility Plan R. Perera provided an overview of the City of Pickering Municipal Election Accessibility Plan. 5.2 5.3 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 18, 2026 3 Discussion ensued amongst the Committee regarding: clarification that voting material would be provided in English and that requests could be made for material in alternate languages; • the opportunity to leverage the City's involvement with the Hidden Disability Sunflower Program throughout the Municipal Election; • the City's municipal election communication plan, and whether the Pickering Public Library was a part of the plan; and, • whether the slide deck could be shared with the Committee.• R. Perera to share the City of Pickering Municipal Accessibility Plan slide deck with the Committee following the meeting. AAC Annual Report to Council T. Higgins provided an overview of the Committee Year-End Report and Work Plan. Discussion ensued regarding: the deadlines for presenting the Year End Report and Work Plan and the ability to adopt it at the April 15, 2026 Meeting; • the inclusion of business considered at the March 18, 2026 meeting within the Work Plan; • the timelines for the proposed Symposium Project by the Accessible Housing Subcommittee; • clarification regarding the Committee's budget and its allocation for the Canada Day Event and the proposed Symposium Project. • A revised draft of the Year End Report and Work Plan will be scheduled to be presented to the Committee for approval at the April 15, 2026 Meeting. Accessible Public Skating S. Snyder spoke to the idea of an Accessible Public Skating Pilot Project. Discussion ensued amongst the Committee and K. Coleman regarding: the potential to leverage the Hidden Disability Sunflower Program to better support attendees; • whether there were opportunities to provide community service volunteer • 5.4 5.5 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 18, 2026 4 opportunities to community organizations to help support programming; the importance of ensuring the program is inclusive and not exclusive to certain groups; • concerns regarding ice availability and what times may be available for an accessible skating program; • potential opportunities to pilot the program during the summer season;• clarification that the City's skating programming in the summer season is free of charge; • whether there was a potential partnership opportunity for Autism Home Base and other community organizations for potential programming; • the opportunity to consult with the City's Events team to align potential programming with City events; • whether a survey could be considered for soliciting preferences on programming aspects including program times; and, • whether separate adult and children programs could be considered.• Moved By S. Snyders Seconded By K. Hale That the Pickering Accessibility Advisory Committee (PAAC) supports the exploration and potential implementation of a bi-weekly accessible public skating session at the Chestnut Hill Development Recreation Complex and work with staff collaboratively and accessibility stakeholders to develop and bring back suggestions to the PAAC of piloting opportunities. Carried Roundtable Updates There were no updates provided. Other Business There was no other business. Correspondence There was no correspondence. Next Meeting - April 15, 2026 5.6 6. 7. 8. Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 18, 2026 5 Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm. Moved By C. Rudberg-Chin Seconded By M. Shackleton That the meeting be adjourned. Carried 9. Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 18, 2026 6