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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 12, 2019C4 0,d DICKERING Minutes/Meeting Summary Accessibility Advisory Committee June 12, 2019 7:00 pm Main Committee Room Attendees: Peter Bashaw Bianca D'Souza Saima Fatima Donna Holmes Dan Hughes Glenn Lang Anthony Lue Megan Thorpe Ross Sue Wilkinson David Wysocki Tim Higgins, Staff Representative John McLellan, Ajax -Pickering Board of Trade Maurice Brenner, City Councillor, Ward 1 Vince Plouffe, Manager, Facilities Capital Projects Linda Roberts, Committee Coordinator Brenda Gregory, (Acting) Coordinator, Records & Elections Guests: Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 1. Welcome T. Higgins welcomed members and other participants to the meeting. Introductions made around the table. 2. Disclosure of Interest No disclosures of interest were noted. 3. Review & Approval of Agenda T. Higgins reviewed the agenda items; agenda approved as presented. Page 1 of 8 4. New Business 4.1 Service & Support Animal Initiative David W. provided status report of the PAAC Service Animal Task Group. Verbal report accompanied by a written report. David W. highlighted that they are still looking for a PAAC member with invisible needs. Dan H. asked if candidate had to be from Pickering. Given the John M. to provide David W. difficulty in finding candidates, David W. proposed with contact information for that widening the search field to include all of Durham former Ajax-Pickering Board could help. Dan H. then suggested a former member of the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade who suffers from of Trade member. PTSD. John M. to provide contact information. Identifying and licensing animals as true service animals remains a priority. To start process, PAAC would like to utilize the City's current licensing system to establish a database. A key outcome is producing a monograph on service animals, focusing on documenting and apprising businesses of best practices, rules, and rights for service pet owners in a business setting. David W. met with Alfred Spencer, Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility who expressed a provincial interest in such a document and has asked that PAAC put together a one page proposal to assist in approval and resources being forwarded from Ontario to do what we need to do. It was noted that this would certainly increase Pickering's already significant profile in the Province as an accessibility leader. Councillor Brenner appeared before the committee to introduce his new dog, Baye, who came from the Ontario Basset Rescue. Councillor Brenner is having Baye evaluated to be a therapy dog. Baye has visited the Council Office, arguably the most stressful area of City Hall. Baye was calm and, in turn, had a calming effect on the area. Councillor Brenner was approached by Fire Services who felt the need for a stabilizing, calm animal in their presence. Councillor Brenner has come to realize that it is not the dog that needs training; rather it is the owner. Page 2 of 8 Councillor Brenner noted that he would like to reach out to the Ajax -Pickering Board of Trade to speak to their business members about the benefits of animals in the workplace and respecting visitors and employees accompanied by service/support dogs. Therapy dogs can de -stress a workplace and its employees and customers — a different job from traditional roles a service dog plays i.e., guide dogs. 4.2 City Projects Whitevale Picnic Shelter Vince P. appeared before the committee to provide information on a number of projects that involve accessibility issues. Vince P. provided an overview of the replacement of the heritage picnic shelter in Whitevale Park. The shelter cannot be salvaged as structure is too old, so a complete rebuild is being done. Deconstruction of the old structure will be done carefully to retain as much of the heritage pieces as possible. New structure will be identical to the old structure in simple, post and beam construction, but will have a cedar shake roof rather than the current tin roof (a change approved by the Heritage Committee). On the west side, a sloped path will be constructed for easy, barrier -free access. Vince noted that entire park will need to be updated but this will be done as a whole for a future project, noting that a broader strategy to fix everything is required, rather than risking a piecemeal approach. Facilities Wayfinding Study Vince P. shared the preliminary results of the Facilities Wayfinding Study. Study demonstrated that there was no uniformity or consistency in the signage used at the City, whether exterior or interior. Three areas reviewed — the Civic Complex, the new Operations Centre, and the Recreation Complex. Goal will be to make signage consistent, cohesive in colour, navigable, and accessible while working Page 3 of 8 within the City branding guidelines and seeking effective active and passive signage. Tim H. reminded the committee of his visit along with Donna H. with Metrolinx and discussion on the navigable Pickering GO station, suggesting that the City could leverage work already done and lessons learned by Metrolinx. Donna H. to provide Vince P. with contact at Metrolinx. Draft of an introductory report expected by September. When complete, would like feedback from AAC. The first test case of new signage will likely be at the Operations Centre. Vince P. would like to bring physical signage to a meeting or suggested that AAC could even hold a meeting at the Operation Centre's boardroom to experience the new signage in situ. Saima F. asked about digital signage at the Recreation Centre. Vince P. reported that registration desk on north side of lobby is being taken out and a large — at least 20' — digital sign will be placed on wall. This digital sign would be dynamic, with messaging changing and updated as needed. A query about the City Centre Intensification project was put forward. Will City branded signage — consistent with other City signage — be in use there too? Vince P. explained that this is a private and public partnership so cannot brand entire area. However, with City properties, the use of signage and branding the same as what is used in other properties will easily identify to visitors that a particular property is a City facility. Dan H. questioned staff training in updating signage in the event of an emergency or closure for maintenance. Vince P. confirmed that there would be training on use and production of signage. New Fire Hall and Headquarters Vince P. added an update on the plans for a new fire hall and headquarters to be located at northwest corner of Brock Road and Zents Drive. Current headquarters are in fire hall #5 which is over 60 years Donna H. to provide Vince P. with Metrolinx contact. Page 4 of 8 old. New fire hall will include bifold doors that can be opened by hand (rather than overhead garage doors). There is a need for a fire hall in that area, especially with Seaton being developed. It would be considered a mile marker as one travels from south Pickering to north Pickering. Don H. asked if consideration was made to add ambulance bay to the fire hall. The Region declined this option. 4.3 Updated Policies Linda R. advised that for each term of Council, the City Clerk reviews Advisory boards and Committees policies, terms of reference, and procedural by-law. This term, most changes were made to reflect recent amendments to the Municipal Act but these do not affect committees because they are not a decision- making body. For committees, there were terminology updates and clarification of staff's roles, how vacancies are advertised, and additional clarity regarding the selection process. Disclosure of Interest is new to committee agendas, for consistency with all agendas as per the Procedural By-law. Members are to declare conflicts of interest prior to any discussion on the matter, and would not vote on any recommendations made. There is also a form to be filled out (new) as a registry is now maintained. Lastly, Linda R. reminded the committee that without quorum — one half of membership count plus one — the recording secretary will leave 1/2 hour after designated meeting start time and there will be no formal minutes taken. If a resignation occurs, the quorum will be based on the current remaining members and not the full membership until the vacancy is filled. Tim H. urged committee members to plan to be available for scheduled meetings (normally second Wednesdays of each month) and to collaborate to ensure a quorum is achieved for each meeting. Page 5 of 8 4.4 Durham Region Accessibility Award Nominations Tim H. recommended that AAC submit a nomination for the Durham Region Accessibility Award. One nomination is to be submitted. A discussion on potential nominations ensued, with Tim H. starting off discussion with a few names to consider: • Polar Plunge — over $20k raised for Special Olympics this year. With increased profile in Region — like winning the award — could raise even more. • Axxess Condos (Dan Hughes' project) — a worthy candidate but Tim noted that there are still challenges in planning process. It may be better to wait for another year once all the planning challenges have been overcome. • Durham Region Police Games — worthy but already a recent recipient of a David Onley award. • Baseball for Disabled Youth — also worthy, but was just a recipient of a City of Pickering Civic Award. Tim H. invited committee members to provide thoughts on other worthy candidates. Special Olympics, Pickering Soccer Club were both mentioned. Members also agreed that Polar Plunge as a nomination was a good idea. Tim H. asked members to consider possible nominations further and provide thoughts to him by the end of June. 4.5 Canada Day Event Tim H. advised that AAC is, once again, setting up a tent at the Canada Day event in Esplanade Park, located near the circle garden. They will have a train which will encourage children, with their parents, to visit. There will be promo materials available and this is an opportunity to further establish the committee's profile with the public and engage with them. It is also an opportunity for the committee to hear from the community about the accessibility challenges they may be facing. Committee members to forward names of possible nominees to Tim H. by end of June. Tim to prepare and distribute schedule for staffing of table at Canada Day event in Esplanade Park. Page 6 of 8 Page 7 of 8 Tim will be onsite at the event from 10 am to 4 pm staffing the booth, then moving onto the evening program at Kinsmen park where he will be marshalling the accessible bus patrons. Tim is asking for committee members, if available, to provide one hour sometime between 10 am and 4 pm to assist in the staffing of the tent at Esplanade Park. He will be sending out an email with a schedule to committee members for their consideration and sign up. 5• Review & Approval of Minutes Moved by Anthony Liu Seconded by David Wysocki That the Minutes of the April 10, 2019 meeting of the Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved. Carried 6• Other Business & Updates Tim H. went around the table asking for an update from each member. No action items from updates. Anthony L. reported that he is training for the upcoming nationals in QC which are the qualifiers for the Paralympics team going to Tokyo. Anthony mentioned his social media presence, inviting committee members to follow him and his journey on anthonylue.com or on Instagram and Facebook. Saima H. mentioned that she had attended the presentation of the AAC annual report at the May Council. Glenn L. also mentioning being there and had fun as one of the presenters. He went on further to thank Tim for producing the report, which Tim noted that Glenn took the report and made into an effective and impressive PowerPoint presentation. Tim H. commended Glenn L. for his initiative and leadership in developing the slide deck and presenting it persuasively to Council on behalf of the Committee. Page 7 of 8 7. Adjournment Meeting Adjourned: 9:15 pm Copy: City Clerk Page 8 of 8