HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 21, 2022 - Draft
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Minutes/Meeting Summary
Accessibility Advisory Committee
September 21, 2022
Electronic Meeting
7:00 pm
Attendees: P. Bashaw
S. Fatima
D. Hughes
G. Lang
T. Lyle-Gravlev
P. Milton
D. Wysocki
J. McLellan, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade
A. Omar
M. Crumpton
S. Brown, Hearing Assistive Technology Group
J. Flowers, CEO, Pickering Public Library
V. Plouffe, Division Head, Operations Services
T. Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator (Staff Liaison)
A. MacGillivray, Committee Coordinator (Recording Secretary)
Absent: A. Lue
A. Taverna
M. Thorpe Ross
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
1. Review and Approval of Agenda
T. Higgins reviewed the agenda items.
Agenda approved.
2. Disclosure of Interest
No disclosures of interest were noted.
3. Approval of Minutes
Moved by D. Hughes
Seconded by D. Wysocki
That the Minutes of the June 15, 2022 meeting
of the Accessibility Advisory Committee be
approved.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
Carried
4. Presentations/Delegations
4.1 Presentation by Stephanie Brown, Hearing
Assistive Technology Group
Re: Removing Communication Barriers within
Older Adult Centres
S. Brown, Hearing Assistive Technology Group
provided the Committee an overview of hearing loop
technology.
A question and answer period ensued between the
Committee and S. Brown regarding:
• how hearing loop technology could be
implemented in a home setting;
• how the hearing loop technology isolates the
sound of those speaking from the
surrounding background noise;
• different hearing assistive technologies and
their inherent advantages and
disadvantages;
• encouragement of education and wider
adoption of hearing loop technology;
• whether the City could consider deploying
this technology in municipal facilities; and,
• whether local senior care and activity
facilities have expressed interest in deploying
hearing loop technology.
4.2 Discussion with Angela Omar
Re: A range of community accessibility
observations
T. Higgins introduced A. Omar to the Accessibility
Advisory Committee.
A. Omar and the Committee discussed concerns
including:
• safety concerns with the pedestrian
crossings at the Highway 401 and Liverpool
Rd. interchange;
• poor sidewalk conditions on Glenanna Rd.
for wheelchair users;
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
• the lack of a pool with a Hoyer lift and ramp
access in Pickering;
• whether the City could consider acquiring a
Hoyer lift for City facilities;
• other accessible pool facilities in Durham and
Scarborough;
• accessibility of private properties (e.g. retail
plazas, small businesses);
• tools and small-scale solutions for solving
accessibility challenges;
• improving accessibility of Esplanade Park
and the City Events taking place there;
• widespread observations of poor sidewalk
conditions for wheelchair users in Pickering;
• the need to ensure that sidewalks and
entrances on Highway 2 meet the needs of
wheelchair users with the expansion of bus
rapid transit on the corridor; and,
• the poor sidewalk conditions on Pickering
Parkway.
5. New Business
5.2 Community Safety & Well Being
M. Crumpton provided an overview of the City’s
Safety and Wellbeing Plan that is currently under
development. She outlined the history of the project,
the priorities and risk factors being considered, and
the existing feedback collected from the Community
Services department.
Committee members were encouraged to provide
any feedback to M. Crumpton by email the end of
September 2022.
5.3 Claremont Library - Accessible Washroom
J. Flowers provided an overview of the Tomlinson
Community Centre library renovations. She shared
information regarding the proposed extended
access program and public accessible bathroom for
the site.
V. Plouffe provided an overview of the space and
the proposed features of the accessible washroom.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
Committee members discussed:
• whether a self-operated adult change table
with a ceiling track lifting device can be
considered;
• the potential liabilities associated with a
change table/lift device;
• whether a tall height toilet can be considered;
and,
• the accessibility and other uses of the
connected Community Centre.
5.4 Pickering Football Club – Update
T. Lyle-Gravlev provided an update pertaining to the
construction of the new Pickering Soccer Club
facility including the addition of a fifth soccer field
and multi-use hard-floor space. T. Lyle-Gravlev also
highlighted the anticipated completion of
construction in March 2023.
T. Higgins and the Committee discussed the
creative programming that takes place at the
Pickering Soccer Club and the transportation
challenges getting to the facility.
5.5 Abilities Centre Awards
T. Higgins provided an overview of the various
Abilities Centre Awards up for nomination in 2022.
Discussion ensued with Committee discussing:
• the assumed jurisdictional requirement that
nominees be from Durham Region; and,
• the consideration of John McLellan for
nomination to some of these awards.
Committee Members were requested to submit
ideas for nomination to T. Higgins by Tuesday
September 27, 2022.
T. Higgins also provided an update regarding the
proposed nomination of Peter Bashaw for the
Durham Region Accessibility Awards.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
T. Higgins also provided an update regarding the
nomination of John McLellan for the David C. Onley
Award.
5.6 Durham Regional Police Service Children’s
Games
T. Higgins provided an update to the Committee
regarding the 38th Annual Durham Regional Police
Service Children’s Games. He informed the
Committee of its long history in the community and
that it will be taking place in a drive-through format
this year for health and safety reasons. T. Higgins
provided the event details and ways to get involved
or attend the event.
6. Correspondence
There were no items of correspondence.
7. Other Business & Updates
7.1 Board and Committee Recruitment Process
A. MacGillivray provided an overview of the Board
and Advisory Committee recruitment process, and
the review of the City’s ADM 040 Policy that will be
undertaken by Legislative Services.
7.2 Connectivity and Mobility Project Update
D. Wysocki provided an update pertaining to the
Connectivity and Mobility Project, and the meeting
with City Development staff to discuss the
accessibility and connectivity between new
developments in Pickering.
7.3 Roundtable Updates
T. Higgins surveyed the Members for updates. There
were no actionable items.
8. Next Meeting – January 18, 2023
9. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned.
Meeting Adjourned: 9:17 pm