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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 18 2023 Page 1 of 7 Minutes/Meeting Summary Accessibility Advisory Committee October 18, 2023 Electronic Meeting 7:00 pm Attendees: D. Currie S. Azhar B. Ferguson P. Milton M. Thorpe Ross C. Rudberg-Chin S. Snyders J. McLellan, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade Councillor M. Brenner M. Murray, Manager, Community Services Administration I. Janton, Senior Planner – Site Planning T. Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator (Staff Liaison) J. Currie, Legislative Coordinator (Recording Secretary) Absent: A. Khan R. Rizvi Councillor M. Nagy 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 B. Ferguson Seconded by D. Currie That the Minutes of the September 18, 2023, meeting of the Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved. Page 2 of 7 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) Carried 4. Presentations/Delegations T. Higgins welcomed all in attendance to introduce themselves. 4.1 Recreation & Parks Master Plan Presentation – Marilou Murray M. Murray provided an overview of the Recreation and Parks Master Plan highlighting Pickering’s changing demographics and how the impact of issues pertaining to the pandemic are being addressed. The Community Engagement Strategy, including a city-wide survey, the dates of five focus group sessions, four Charrette’s, and a youth engagement partnership was shared with the Committee. M. Murray requested Committee Members to complete the online survey, to attend one of the community Charrette’s sessions, and to encourage community members to participate. M. Murray also requested that the Accessibility Advisory Committee select one Member to be its representative and attend one of the five focus group sessions. Discussion with the Committee Members ensued regarding: • the website updates occurring as required, when new information is available; • the Youth Survey and how it mirrors the regular survey, it is amended to exclude questions that may not apply to youth, such as taxes, and includes questions specific to youth activities and programs that would be of particular interest and what may be some barriers faced by youth in participation; • having sent the Catholic School Board invitations to participate in the Youth Focus Groups and that Community Services is waiting for a response; • the Recreation & Parks Master Plan forming its vision as it pertains to accessibility according to the feedback gathered from the planned Community Engagement; • additional engagement events being planned in both the East Shore and West Shore as well as other areas to accommodate a broader outreach and ensuring input from those unable to attend the scheduled focus group sessions and charrette’s; AAC Members to complete online survey and participate in the Community Engagement Strategy. Page 3 of 7 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) • the Recreation & Parks Master Plan being a robust, all- encompassing plan and it including 80-120 recommendations; • reaching out to Community Associations as part of the Public Engagement Plan; • Pickle Ball being included in the sport related focus groups; • going beyond minimum accessibility standards to meet the expectations of the City of Pickering, accounting for 1 in 5 individuals living with disabilities, the increasing number of seniors, an increase in mental health associated disabilities, and various invisible disabilities; and, • the benefits of parks and outdoor space in terms of tranquility. 5. New Business 5.1 Review of Site Plans File: 23-009270 – PLAN 40M2625 BLK 291 & PLAN 40M2631 I. Janton provided an overview of the pre-submission proposal for a proposed Catholic Elementary School at the intersection of Sapphire Drive, Hibiscus Drive and Burkholder Drive. Discussion ensued with Committee Members regarding: • the area for portables being a placeholder to accommodate future expansion and that ramps should be considered for accessibility; • whether the number of handicapped parking spaces could exceed the minimum requirement; • whether the proposed theater space was accessible; • the benefit to providing David Lepofski’s video “Accessibility Problems at Ryerson University Student Learning Centre” to developers in Pickering; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oe4xiKknt0 • the presence of accessible areas in the site plan’s theater; • whether the Universal Washrooms are accessible; • whether having only one elevator meets accessibility standards, especially in the event of an emergency; Page 4 of 7 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) • an evacuation plan from the second floor for those living with a disability in the event of an emergency; and, • developers accounting for unique needs and demographics of the area they are proposing to build in. File: S 11/23 – 1355 Kingston Road I. Janton provided an overview of the Site Plan for proposed mixed use residential towers at Pickering Town Centre site. There will be three towers at 50-55 story’s, 1877 units, 785 m2 of commercial space, and includes underground parking. The application presented is submitted to address the stormwater management system, the construction of the towers will come at a later date. Discussion ensued with Committee Members regarding: • I. Janton providing cross section images of the stormwater management system; • there being public access to the private owned park area, • the number of units that will be designated as accessible units, • the accessibility needs of larger families and if the two-story units can accommodate them, • the historic lack of accessibility of underground parking in general and if this will be addressed, • inviting CentreCourt to attend a future meeting and inviting them to express in writing their accessibility vision for this property; • offering documents that provide an accessibility lens to CentreCourt, giving them insight to Pickering’s expectations; • the possibility of providing similar documents to all developers, and bringing this concept back to planning to build it into the application process; • providing a symposium or accessibility orientation, sharing the vision of Pickering’s expectations, and asking the developers to mirror this in their plans; • providing Pickering’s expectations prior to the Accessibility Advisory Committee review, allowing for early collaboration, noting that Pickering is asking for more than the legislated minimum Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and Ontario Building Code standards; • the orientation material being provided by the Accessibility Advisory Committee; T. Higgins to provide I. Janton with documents to provide CentreCourt along with AAC notes to developer. Page 5 of 7 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) • a motion to build an accessibility orientation style symposium at the pre-consultation stage of the application process; • developers site plan including a document outlining their vision of accessibility as it pertains to the submission; • the effectiveness of having conversations regarding accessibility earlier in the building application process, and how it is harder to change plans after approval, • adding a step including an accessibility orientation to the pre- consultation phase of site plan applications, Moved by B. Ferguson Seconded by C. Rudberg-Chin That representatives of the Accessibility Advisory Committee meet with the Planning Division of the City Development Department to discuss the methodology around site-planning approval, introducing the idea of a symposium to the pre consultation phase as well as requiring developers to include early documentation of their accessibility lens. Carried Further Discussion ensued with Committee Members regarding: • developers questioning steps that are not mandated; • clarification that should the new requirement be implemented it would only be applied to new developments; • the benefit of providing parameters at an early stage and creating a more collaborative process; • bringing this motion to Council to mandate the mentioned additional steps; and, • bringing the discussion of creating a subcommittee to the next agenda. 5.2 39th Annual Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) Children’s Games – November 5th, 2023 T. Higgins provided an overview of the Annual Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) Children’s Games being held November 5th, 2023 at 9am-1pm. Pickering has historically hosted the games at the Recreation Complex and has been a key partner with the Durham Police in helping support children with disabilities. T. Higgins to organize a meeting with AAC Members and Kyle Bentley, Director, City Development & Chief Building Official. Page 6 of 7 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) The 39th Annual DRPS Children’s Games will be held at the Durham College Sports Complex this year but will return to the Recreation Complex next year for the 40th Annual DRPS Children’s Games – 2024. The Accessibility Advisory Committee Members are strongly encouraged to attend. T. Higgins to send invitations with the event details to Council through their Executive Assistants. Discussion ensued among Committee Members regarding: • the suitability of the rebuilt Football Dome for the games; and, • the facilities being confirmed for next year’s event. 5.3 LEAD Project - Update T. Higgins provided a brief outline of the work that was done with the Abilities Centre on the LEAD Project. The LEAD Project document was provided, and Members are encouraged to review for discussion at the next committee meeting. AAC Members to review the LEAD Project document for discussion at the November 15, 2023 Committee Meeting. 6. Correspondence There were no items of correspondence. 7. Other Business T. Higgins announced T. Lyle-Gravlev and P. Milton’s resignation from the Accessibility Advisory Committee, thanking them for their work. J. McLellan suggested Stopgap.ca and the December 21, 2023, Business Compliance as items of discussion for the November 15, 2023 Meeting Agenda. T. Higgins to add two items to the November 15, 2023 Agenda. 8. AAC Member Roundtable Updates None 9. Next Meeting – November 15, 2023 10. Adjournment Page 7 of 7 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) Moved by C. Rudberg-Chin That the meeting be adjourned. Carried Meeting Adjourned: 9:08 pm