REGION OF PEEL ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AAC) MINUTES

Transcription

1 REGION OF PEEL ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AAC) MINUTES The Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee met on February 23, at 1 :03 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Region of Peel Administrative Headquarters, Suite A, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton. Members Present: W. Goursky; S. Hames; N. Husain; E. Kolb*; S. McFadden; R. Paterak*, M. Tymkow Members Absent: Also Present: H. Bajwa; G. Barnes; J. Spry Region of Peel: C. Reid, Regional Clerk and Director of Clerk's; J. Payne, Manager, Regulatory Compliance; M. Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist; H. West, Legislative Specialist; V. Montesdeoca, Committee Clerk William Goursky, Chair, presided. Community Stakeholder: M. Singh Sandhu, United Way of Peel Region I. CALL TO ORDER * See text for arrivals ' See text for departures

2 HA- bb-f I I AAC A quorum of voting members was not present, and in accordance with section Ill-4(g) of the Region of Peel Procedural By-law , as amended, the Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) received information. William Goursky, Committee Chair, noted that upon the arrival of one additional member, quorum would be achieved. Communication ltems - ltems 4a to 4e were dealt with. 4. COMMUNICATION ITEMS a. The Victoria Times Colonist, Article dated January 22, 2010, titled "CNIB Should Not be Running Library Service" b. The Windsor Star, Article dated January 23, 2010, titled "Service Dog Helps Woman Fight Mental Illness" c. Disability News Asia, Article dated January 25, 2010, titled "Canadian Works to Make Housing More Accessible for Disabled People"" d. AODA.com (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act), Article dated January 25, 2010, titled "Municipal Bylaws Must Follow Human Rights Code: OMB" e. Canada.com, Article dated January 28, 2010, titled "Access Remains Unequal: Disabled" Councillor Paterak arrived at I :I 3 p.m. A quorum of voting members was achieved.

3 12 AAC Presentations -. item 5a was dealt with. 5. PRESENTATIONS a. Kristina Hatton, Coordinator, Peel Children's Water Festival, Public Works, Presenting the Peel Children's Water Festival Accessibility Work Plan Kristina Hatton, Coordinator, Peel Children's Water Festival, Public Works, provided an overview of the accessibility work plan for the 2010 Peel Children's Water Festival. The theme for the 2010 event is "Wastewater: It's What Goes Down the Drain". Kristina Hatton indicated that the festival will be held at the Heart Lake Conservation Area from May 27 to June 2, 2010, with the exception of Sunday, May 30, Kristina Hatton informed that the annual Family Fun Day will take place on Saturday, May 29,2010. Kristina Hatton advised the Committee of four new activity scripts planned for the 2010 festival and requested feedback on wording of the scripts from the Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC). She noted that an objective of the festival this year is the creation of an Accessibility Plan which will address accessibility requirements in the following areas: Review of new activity scripts Special Needs Assistance and Services Operations Communication Items Volunteer Recruitment Kristina Hatton commented that the Heart Lake Conservation Area is currently undergoing construction and suggested a site visit with members of the AAC to review accessibility requirements. She requested the participation of the AAC and Accessibility Program in organizing, setting up and presenting an AAC booth for display on Family Fun Day. Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist noted that Family Fun Day is a full day event therefore, a number of volunteers would be required to participate.

4 STAFF DIRECTION AAC : 13 AAC That an be sent to all AAC members providing copies of the four new Activity Scripts to review wording and provide feedback. STAFF DIRECTION AAC : That upon receipt of the information from the Coordinator of the Peel Children's Water Festival that an be sent to all members of the AAC requesting volunteers for the Heart Lake Conservation site member participation at the AAC booth on Family Fun Day (May 29,2010). 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES RECOMMENDATION AAC : That the minutes of the January 26, 2010 Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC ) meeting, be approved. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA RECOMMENDATION AAC : That the agenda for the February 23, Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting, be amended to include a communication item from Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services, providing an update on the progress in making Ontario Accessible by 2025, to be dealt with under Communication Items - Item 4f; And further, that the agenda for the February 23, 2010 Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be amended to include a communication item from the Mississauga News titled "Women Urged to Reach for the

5 14 MC Top", to be dealt with under Communication ltems - Item 4g; And further, that the agenda for the February 23, 2010 Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved, as amended. See also Communication ltems - ltems 4f and 4q 4. COMMUNICATION ITEMS a. The Victoria Times Colonist, Article dated January 22, 201 0, titled "CNIB Should Not be Running Library Service" b. The Windsor Star, Article dated January 23, 2010, titled "Service Dog Helps Woman Fight Mental Illness" c. Disability News Asia, Article dated January 25, 2010, titled "Canadian Works to Make Housing More Accessible for Disabled People" d. AODA.com (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act), Article dated January 25, 2010, titled "Municipal Bylaws Must Follow Human Rights Code: OMB" e. Canada.com, Article dated January 28, 2010, titled "Access Remains Unequal: Disabled"

6 HA AAC f. Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services, Letter Providing an Update on the Progress thus far in Making Ontario Accessible by 2025 See also Approval of Agenda g. The Mississauga News, Article dated January 22, 201 0, titled "Women Urged to Reach for the Top" See also Approval of Aqenda 5. PRESENTATIONS a. Kristina Hatton, Coordinator, Peel Children's Water Festival, Public Works, Presenting the Peel Children's Water Festival Accessibility Work Plan This item was dealt with earlier in the meeting b. Richard Ngun, Project Manager, Development and Construction, Employee and Business Services, Providing an Update on the Chapelview Project, City of Brampton, Ward 3 Richard Ngun, Project Manager, Development and Construction, Employee and Business Services provided a status update on the Chapelview Project, which will near completion by mid April, He provided a list of the accessible features, as well as the standard features within the barrier free units.

7 16 AAC Tuesday, February 23,2010 Richard Ngun indicated that the Chapelview Project will be seeking LEED Platinum Certification. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Program is a third-party certification program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Committee members inquired if handrails were installed on both sides of the hallway. Richard Ngun responded that he would undertake to provide this information to committee members as soon as possible. William Goursky inquired why all of the units do not have the accessible features as those in the barrier free units. Meenu Sikand responded that the original design incorporated infrastructure to accommodate retrofitted accessible features. Richard Ngun offered to follow up with this inquiry. Naz Husain, Committee Vice-Chair commented that standardized accessibility features similar to the Region's Universal Housing Standards should be considered by the Province to be incorporated into the Ontario Building Code to further assist persons with disabilities. Regional Chair E. Kolb arrived at 1:57 p.m. c. Jeff Payne, Manager, Regulatory Compliance, Corporate Services, Providing an Update on the AAC Membership Recruitment Process Jeff Payne, Manager, Regulatory Compliance, Corporate Services informed the Committee that Regional Council will be ending its term in 2010, and that new appointments will need to be made to the AAC. He specified that appointments to the AAC are limited to three consecutive terms, however, Regional Council may reappoint a member notwithstanding this restriction. Jeff Payne reviewed the current requirements for membership on the Committee, as follows: Must not be an elected official of the Region or Area Municipality of Peel Must not be an employee of the Region or Area Municipality of Peel

8 17 AAC Must be a qualified elector under the Elections Act or a person representing a group or organization in Peel Councillor Paterak inquired if there is a requirement for a member to be a Canadian Citizen or a resident. Jeff Payne responded that an individual must be qualified to vote in Peel, but offered to follow up with this information. Naz Husain inquired if organizations such as the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) or the United Way of Peel were being considered for membership. Jeff Payne responded that organizational groups are valued stakeholders and that any member of an organization is welcome to apply to become an individual member of the AAC. Jeff Payne provided a review of the process for recruiting members, with key timeframes as follows: Summer report to Council informing of upcoming appointment opportunities AugISep publication of notice of opportunity Fall screening of applicants/interview process Dec report to Council recommending approval of appointments Councillor Paterak suggested the participation of senior members of the Committee such as Chair or Vice-Chair in the screening process. Jeff Payne undertook to consider Councillor Paterak's suggestion and thanked the Committee for their feedback. 6. REPORTS a. Ontario's Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy (Oral) Update by William Goursky, Chair, Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee Withdrawn b. Region of Peel Accessibility Planning Specialist Activity Report (Oral)

9 18 AAC Update by Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, Region of Peel Deferred to the March 30, 2010 AAC meetinq c. Employment Accessibility Standards Development Committee Update (Oral) - Nil d. Accessible Transportation Standards Development Committee (Oral) - Nil 7. OTHER BUSINESS Additional ltem - ltem 7a a. Customer Service Standard Training Maureen Tymkow, Committee member inquired about receiving training for the Customer Service Standards. Jeff Payne responded that members of the community received a booklet regarding the training and encouraged members to submit the attached postcard upon completion of the training. Naz Husain suggested that new appointments to the Committee also receive this booklet. 8. NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at 1:00 p.m., Council Chamber, 5th floor, Regional Administrative Headquarters, Suite A, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton, Ontario. Please forward regrets to Veronica Montesdeoca, Legislative Technical Coordinator, (905) , ext or at 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m.