NORTH SHORE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY ISSUES

Transcription

1 Thursday, November 27, :00 p.m. Committee Room, District Hall 355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver MINUTES ATTENDED: Amy Amantea Jean Chambers Monica Craver Gardiner Dye Shayne DeWildt Teresa MacGillivary John Neumann Richard Thompson Phil Chapman, Staff Liaison, DNV Claudia Freire, Staff Liaison, DWV Alex Kurnicki, Staff Liaison, CNV Mary Jukich, Committee Clerk GUESTS: Ken Anderson Kamelia Abadi Susan Wyatt ABSENT WITH REGRETS: Greg Travers Cllr Michael Lewis, DWV Cllr Clark, Acting Mayor of City of North Vancouver Item 1. Welcome Guests were welcomed and introduced. 2. Adoption of agenda Item #6.6 Recruitment Committee and Item 7.2 Braille on APPs signal were added to the agenda. TO accept the agenda as amended 3. Adoption of minutes from previous meeting Two corrections were noted on the minutes. Saved 08-Feb-15 21:49 by MJ Page 1 of 7 CDNV_DISTRICT_HALL-# v _ACDI_-_Minutes_-_FINAL_APPROVED

2 The first paragraph of Item #4.2 be revised as follows: Therefore no letter needs to be written at this time, however the District has identified two not-for-profit organizations as potential partners and may proceed with an application in If so, staff will contact ACDI for a letter of support. Item 6.6 Recruitment subcommittee be omitted. 4. Business arising 4.1. Annual Report TO adopt the October 30, 2014 minutes, as amended. Amy reported that she and John were working on the annual report and the 2015 work plan, and only the issue around SPARC is outstanding. It is anticipated that the workplan and budget will be sent to the Committee shortly. Members were reminded that the report provides an opportunity to announce or suggest to Council areas of work that the Committee wishes to pursue. Some further ideas submitted by members were to: Investigate APP signals in other municipalities, where we are at in the North Shore, and where are we leading and lagging in comparison to other municipalities. Review the minimum standards for accessible parking stalls; dimension, pitch, angles, number of them, and suggest that private lots follow a minimum or regular standard. Review what other disability groups who advise municipalities are doing, with the possibility of doing an information exchange with the other groups. Review some sort of standard or ideas of public art in pavement and possibly develop some guidelines, or recommendation on what spaces are sacred or suitable for art in spaces with public access. TO authorize the executive committee to complete the annual report, workplan, and annual budget for Page 2 of 7

3 Information was requested with regard to the SPARC item referred to in the draft. Amy provided a brief summary, including initiatives that are being worked on, and a new program on the website that shows who was found on, and who violated parking spots. Concern was raised that at times, reports are not being completed by the subcommittee and, in this regard, it was suggested that prior to a subcommittee meeting, a member is designated with the responsibility of preparing the subcommittee report Request from Substance Abuse Working Group Members were informed that the Transportation and Mobility Subcommittee met to discuss a request from the Substance Abuse Working Group to support an initiative for accessibility to public transit by homeless people and the Subcommittee presented a draft motion to the Committee. After discussion, the following amended motion was MOVED and seconded The ACDI recommends the three North Shore Municipal Councils Request Translink address the needs of people who are homeless or have a disability with the implementation of the Compass Card and Request that Translink consider the creation of a Metro Vancouver Transit Plan for the Homeless as proposed by the Vancouver Urban Core Community Workers Association Garbage and Recycling Cans on Sidewalks Follow-up Members were reminded that that the three municipalities were requested to look into the issue of garbage and recycling cans being left on the sidewalks on garbage days. ACTION: Claudia will provide a follow-up at the January meeting. Phil reported that he contacted the Section Manager for Engineering Operations and was informed that the District does not have a policy, but does have operational procedures in place to ensure that sidewalks are not blocked. Page 3 of 7

4 Alex contacted the Utilities Manager and was informed that although there is no official policy on the matter, it is the City s practice to ensure that sidewalks are not blocked Input on New DNV Web Site At the October Committee meeting, members had requested that the Committee be involved with the current DNV website upgrade. Phil reported that DNV Communications staff had advised the website will meet industry best practices and Canadian Web Accessibility Standards and because of this, there was no need to meet with ACDI. A question was raised as to once the DNV website is up and running whether someone will be tasked with testing the website. In this regard, it was agreed that the Publications subcommittee meet, along with a member with vision lost, to perform some tests on the DNV, as well as on the CNV and DWV websites. ACTION: Publications subcommittee to meet and discuss the accessibility to the three Municipal websites. 5. Accessibility issues in front of Council 5.1. City of North Vancouver No report was provided as new Council has not yet met, and an inaugural meeting is anticipated for early December District of North Vancouver At the last meeting of current Council, approval was given for the rezoning of the Larco site at the bottom of Capilano Road. The project includes several hundred residential units including rental and seniors that will meet the new accessibility design guidelines. The project also includes a new community centre; however, that is not expected to be completed for up to 7 years. Also, Council approved the District s Coach House Program which incorporated accessibility features as suggested by the Committee District of West Vancouver No report was provided. Page 4 of 7

5 6. Subcommittee updates 6.1. Development and Inclusion Subcommittee Alex reported that the City of North Vancouver will consult with the Committee with regard to the Harbourside development in the New Year. Claudia reported that the Subcommittee met to consider the development application for 5 apartment units at 2234 Marine Drive. The recommendations from the Subcommittee focussed on visibility provisions, and in four of the five units the washroom accessibility, including the shower. Some other general recommendations included flush thresholds to all decks including roof deck, mailbox accessibility, power assisted doors, and audio/video intercom were provided for consideration by the developer. ACTION: Claudia will circulate the full report to the Committee. The committee endorses the recommendations outlined in the report of the Subcommittee Access Awareness and Events No report was provided Transportation and Mobility Subcommittee The Transportation Plan for the Homeless and Uber were dealt separately on the agenda Park and Recreation Accessibility and Audit Subcommittee The Subcommittee looked at the early stages for a proposal for an expansion and redesign of the Ambleside skate park. This is a community founded partnership venture at a conceptual stage and, if it goes forward, will be brought back to the Subcommittee when it is at a detailed stage. Members were informed that Jean and Amy are participating in an ongoing workshop with regard to the new children s playground attached to the West Vancouver Community Centre. Page 5 of 7

6 6.5. Publications Subcommittee No work has been done. There are only two members and possibly in the New Year, more members will join the Subcommittee to help review the municipal websites. 6.6 Recruitment committee Members were informed that an ad will be placed in the North Shore News, and work continues on recruitment. A decision on membership for applicants in writing will be made in the New Year. 7. New Business Uber The Mayor and Council of the City of North Vancouver supported a request from North Shore Taxi and Sunshine Cabs that Uber needs to follow the same rules as the taxi companies and that this be communicated to the Minister in Victoria. As requested by the DNV Mayor, the Transportation and Mobility subcommittee discussed and reviewed the matter and presented a motion to ACDI. 8. Other business and correspondence: Braille on APS signals The ACDI advises the Mayor & Councillors of the District of North Vancouver that it would support the operation of Uber in the Metro Vancouver market if it were to comply with existing regulations pertaining to the taxi & vehicle for hire industry in British Columbia. Alex requested that the Transportation and Mobility Subcommittee meet to determine some recommendations and guidelines with regard to braille plaques at intersections. During the discussion, it was noted that there may be some standards set in Richmond. ACTION: Amy will reach out to her contact to research whether there are some standards already set in Richmond Christmas Party Members were reminded of the Christmas Party on Friday, December 5 th at 5:30 p.m. at the Marinaside Restaurant. Page 6 of 7

7 Members were informed that, given the difficulty getting to the location of the restaurant, if anyone needed a taxi, the charge could be submitted to the Committee. 9. Next meeting: January 29, 2015 At the conclusion of the meeting, a question was raised as to the possibility of requesting City Council for a member to serve on the ACDI. 10. Adjournment ACDI request the appointment of one City of North Vancouver Councillor liaison to ACDI rather than the revolving membership of recent past years. The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m. Page 7 of 7