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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 17, 2024 Page 1 of 6 Minutes/Meeting Summary Accessibility Advisory Committee April 17, 2024 Hybrid Electronic Meeting Main Committee Room 7:00 pm Attendees: C. Rudberg-Chin B. Ferguson K. Sullivan M. Wilson S. Azhar A. Khan S. Snyders D. Currie A. Topple, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade Councillor M. Nagy I. Janton, Senior Planner – Site Planning T. Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator (Staff Liaison) J. Currie, Legislative Coordinator (Recording Secretary) Absent: M. Shackleton M. Thorpe Ross Councillor M. Brenner Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 1. Review and Approval of Agenda Moved by B. Ferguson Seconded by C. Rudberg-Chin That the Agenda for the April 17, 2024, Meeting of The Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting be approved. Carried 2. Disclosure of Interest No disclosures of interest were noted. 3. Approval of Minutes -C~of- P1CKER1NG Page 2 of 6 Item/ Details & Discussion & Conclusion Ref # (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) Moved by C. Rudberg-Chin Seconded by D. Currie That the Minutes of the March 20, 2024, meeting of the Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved. Carried 4. Presentations/Delegations 4.1 Colin Walcott – Improving Accessibility and Eliminating Barriers in Pickering Delegation Deferred 4.2 Joyce Perrin – Accessible Transit Service J. Perrin appeared before the Committee and provided an account of a personal experience with the Durham Transit System (DRT) in which she waited 2 hours for a bus, and then was told there was no room and to wait for the next bus. She spoke to the need for better planning and more frequent, Accessible Service, noting that there was a lack of responsibility outlined in DRT policies. Discussion and questions ensued with Committee Members regarding: • the treatment of seniors in a global comparison; • DRT Townhalls discussions citing wait times for buses being 30 minutes or less not being met; • concerns pertaining to buses not deploying their ramps; • the hesitancy of drivers to get involved with the riders/customers due to ill treatment; and, • providing additional training to drivers to improve service, especially in the capacity of accessibility. 5. New Business 5.1 Durham Region Transit Townhall Update C. Rudberg-Chin provided a verbal summary of the Durham Transit Townhall meeting. She raised points such as budget cuts affecting scheduling, that additional buses had been provided by Toronto Transit Service, and that there are plans to have all bus stops accessible by end of 2024. 5.2 Pickering Community Visitor Plan Page 3 of 6 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) A. Shah, Senior Advisor, Creative Industries & Tourism and J. St Amant, Coordinator, Cultural Services appeared before the Committee via electronic connection, and through the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, provided an overview of the City of Pickering’s first tourism plan, developed by a Steering Committee with representatives from local businesses, attractions, residents, community groups, regional staff, and city staff, and facilitated by Central Counties Tourism. J. St Amant summarized the Steering Committees four organized Sessions and identified the Community Visitor Plan’s goals and associated action items. A. Shah provided an outline of the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) as a local tax levied by municipalities on short-term rental accommodations such as hotels, motels, and short-term home rentals. A. Shah spoke to the benefits of MAT, and that it could provide funding for the City of Pickering’s tourism plan should it be approved and implemented by Council. Committee members were encouraged to provide comments and input via email. 5.3 Sub-Committee Planning C. Rudberg-Chin, B. Ferguson, and K. Sullivan, with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, noted four questions to relay to the Planning & Development Department pertaining to the current development application process and how the Committee can contribute to implementing accessibility principles early in the application process. Members of the Sub-Committee noted that a meeting with representatives from the Planning Department would provide the best guidance for what may be deemed most useful. I. Janton noted that she had brought the Committees questions, and the Durham Region Standards report before the Director, City Development & Chief Building Official and noted that the department is receptive to implementing a Pilot Project in which an Accessibility Checklist is provided to the Developers in respect to desired Pickering standards, outlining a set of guidelines. I. Janton noted that this could be an opportunity to offer best practices, specific to the expectations of the City of Pickering for development applications pertaining to site plans and all exterior parameters. She also noted that while this would pilot as a guideline, if successful could go to Council for endorsement in the future. The interiors of new developments are subject to the Ontario Building Code (OBC) and legislated Accessibility Standards, there Page 4 of 6 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) would be limitations as to what can be demanded, but requests to go beyond minimum requirements could be made. A pre- consultation “Checklist” could include what is required by OBC, and in addition, what the City of Pickering may aspire to. Next steps would include a meeting with the Accessibility Advisory Committee Sub-committee with the appropriate City Staff to address specific questions raised. Discussion ensued among Committee Members and staff regarding: • collaborating with city staff to create a feasible accessibility checklist to provide to developers; • affordable housing and the lack of requirements for accessibility and that the role of the AAC was exercised by providing input to, and through supporting the recommendations of, the 4th Review of the AODA, the Rich Donavan Report; • the 2024 review of Federal and Provincial Building Codes; and, • inviting a meeting with the sub-committee, T. Higgins, A. Topple, and staff from the Planning Department to discuss further. 5.4 Site Plans Review I. Janton provided a brief summary that the City is implementing additional standards into the Zoning By-law including new standards for parallel parking. I. Janton has investigated and suggested possible accessible standards for parallel parking in the City of Pickering Zoning By-law. With the aid of a slide deck, I. Janton provided visual examples of a variety of Accessible Parallel Parking configurations found through her research. I. Janton noted a Commercial Project being developed in Seaton is seeking approval to put in angled parking. She raised the point that there are no standards for regular parallel parking or for accessible angled parking and requested comments from the Committee Members. Discussion among Committee Members and staff ensued regarding: • accessible signage including Braille and other accessible features; • additional parking, including accessible parking, and shuttle bus services; and, • the feasibility of creating a standard for all parking spots to be larger in general. T. Higgins to facilitate a meeting with the AAC Sub- Committee and noted City Staff. AAC Members to provide input on the Zoning By-law by Monday, April 29, 2024. AAC Members to provide comment on accessible angled parking to I. Janton by June 1, 2024. Page 5 of 6 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 5.5 Council Presentations - Update J. Currie confirmed that the 2023 Year End Report and 2024 Proposed Work Plan as well as the Exterior Lighting Report will be going to the May 27, 2024, Council Meeting. T. Higgins provided that there has been some reorganization in the Community Services Department to more effectively meet the needs of the Pickering community. The role of Accessibility Coordinator has been moved to the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer and the function of Accessibility will fall under the purview of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). 5.6 Canada Day Planning T. Higgins spoke to the presence of the Accessibility Advisory Committee at the Canada Day Events held at Esplanade Park. T. Higgins will share more information via email to Committee Members regarding volunteering for the event. T. Higgins noted that Members have the opportunity to volunteer their time from 10am – 4pm on the day of the Event. 6. Correspondence There were no items of correspondence. 7. Other Business None 8. AAC Member Roundtable Updates Members provided updates to the Committee. S. Snyders requested an update pertaining to issues with accessibility barriers in Valley View Park presented at the February 21, 2024, Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting. S. Azhar provided that she had attended the 19th Annual Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee Forum. A. Topple noted that in addition to his support, that the Ajax/Pickering Board of Trade would continue to be a valuable partner liaising with the business sector. K. Sullivan requests that the slide deck and notes regarding Abuse and Misuse of Accessible Parking be supplied to By-law Staff ahead of the May 15, 2024, AAC Meeting. T. Higgins to provide update. J. Currie to provide documents to the By-law staff. Page 6 of 6 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 9. Next Meeting – May 15, 2024 10. Adjournment Moved by D. Currie Seconded by C. Rudberg-Chin That the meeting be adjourned. Carried Meeting Adjourned: 9:20 pm