Loading...
MINUTES - Accessiblity Advisory Committee - 20150506 TOWN OF AURORA ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2015 Time and Location: 7 p.m., Leksand Room, Aurora Town Hall Committee Members: Tyler Barker (Chair), John Lenchak (Vice Chair), Gordon Barnes (arrived 7:29 p.m.), James Hoyes, and Councillor Sandra Humfryes Member(s) Absent: David Newton Other Attendees: Councillor Tom Mrakas, Chris Catania, Accessibility Advisor, and Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Secretary The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. The Chair relinquished the chair to the Vice Chair at 8:14 p.m. during the discussion of Item 2 and resumed the Chair at 8:29 p.m. 1. DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND GENERAL NATURE THEREOF There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. 2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Moved by John Lenchak Seconded by James Hoyes THAT the agenda as circulated by Legal and Legislative Services be approved. CARRIED 3. RECEIPT OF THE MINUTES Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of April 1, 2015 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 6, 2015 Page 2 of 6 Moved by James Hoyes Seconded by Councillor Humfryes THAT the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting minutes of April 1, 2015, be received for information. CARRIED 4. DELEGATIONS The Accessibility Advisory Committee consented, on a two-thirds vote, to allow Ms. Rebecca Beaton to speak to an additional matter following her initial delegation. (a) Rebecca Beaton, Resident Re: Residential Garbage/Recycle Collection for Disabled and/or Elderly Residents Ms. Beaton referred to a service provided by the City of Toronto and several other municipalities, including Albuquerque, New Mexico, whereby elderly or disabled residents who are unable to carry their waste to the curb, including garbage, recycle bins, and yard waste, may apply for assistance. She noted that the application form, which is completed and signed by a physician, does not stipulate the illness and indicates only that assistance is required. Ms. Beaton suggested that the Town of Aurora make this service available for only those who require assistance in order to allow them to live in their own home as long as possible, including those who may need help on a temporary basis. She requested that, if this service were to be offered, any advertising also remind residents to keep an eye out for and assist their elderly or disabled neighbours. The Committee expressed support for the concept and agreed to raise the matter under New Business. Staff noted that the Town of Aurora offers a similar service, whereby residents may request special assistance. Moved by Councillor Humfryes Seconded by James Hoyes THAT the comments of the delegation be received for information. CARRIED Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 6, 2015 Page 3 of 6 Ms. Beaton noted that there are several streets remaining in Town where residents must continue to maintain the ditches fronting their properties, whereas newer subdivisions or rehabilitated streets have sidewalks instead that are maintained by the Town. She stated that some residents are getting older, are having difficulty in maintaining these Town-owned ditches, and should not have to pay for their maintenance. Ms. Beaton requested that the Town hire a summer student to mow the ditches of homeowners who need assistance. Moved by James Hoyes Seconded by John Lenchak THAT the comments of the delegation be received for information. CARRIED 5. MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION 1. Memorandum from Accessibility Advisor Re: Mattamy Phase 2 Neighbourhood Park – Accessibility Considerations Staff provided an on-screen presentation of the Neighbourhood Park site and concept plans for the Committee’s review. The Committee discussed various elements of the site and provided feedback. Staff agreed to forward the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Park booklet to the Committee for information. Moved by Gordon Barnes Seconded by Councillor Humfryes THAT the memorandum regarding Mattamy Phase 2 Neighbourhood Park – Accessibility Considerations be received; and THAT the following Accessibility Advisory Committee comments regarding accessibility for Mattamy Phase 2 Neighbourhood Park be considered by staff: 1. Include proper curb cutting and delineation in the parking lot (in addition to those used as access aisles for the accessible parking spaces) to provide access for other transportation/mobility devices; 2. Include various sensory elements (e.g., tactile, auditory, visual), such as Braille stations, chess board/table, sound tubes; 3. Include play structures with barrier-free access; 4. Include accessible picnic tables, mats on grass; 5. Include water troughs at splash pad; 6. Include developmental workstations along paths; 7. Include lower basketball nets and multi-use flexibility in basketball area; and 8. Include universal washroom structure with adjacent watering station. CARRIED Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 6, 2015 Page 4 of 6 6. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 2. Memorandum from Accessibility Advisor Re: Accessible Changes to Ontario Building Code (OBC) Staff advised on changes that have been made to the OBC, which took effect on January 1, 2015, and will be discussed further at the June meeting through a presentation from the Director of Building and By-law Services. In response to questions from the Committee, staff explained various aspects of the OBC in relation to its scope, facility classifications, safety, and accessibility. Moved by Councillor Humfryes Seconded by Tyler Barker THAT the memorandum regarding Accessible Changes to Ontario Building Code (OBC) be received for information. CARRIED 3. Memorandum from Accessibility Advisor Re: AODA 10th Anniversary Event Staff provided a brief overview of events celebrating the introduction of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). He noted that the Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) is inviting communities to recognize and nominate individuals for the AODA 10th Anniversary Champion Awards and further information would be provided to the Committee at the June meeting. Moved by Gordon Barnes Seconded by John Lenchak THAT the memorandum regarding AODA 10th Anniversary Event be received for information. CARRIED 4. Memorandum from Accessibility Advisor Re: National Access Awareness Week – May 31 to June 6, 2015 Staff advised that the Town of Aurora would be celebrating National Access Awareness Week in alignment with York Region and that webinars were being planned with the Region. Staff indicated that further event information would be forwarded to the Committee and members were invited to submit any ideas or initiatives for the Week to the Accessibility Advisor. Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 6, 2015 Page 5 of 6 Moved by Councillor Humfryes Seconded by James Hoyes THAT the memorandum regarding National Access Awareness Week – May 31 to June 6, 2015, be received for information. CARRIED 7. NEW BUSINESS The Committee suggested that National Access Awareness Week would be an appropriate time to honour the accomplishments of the Special Olympics Ontario- Aurora Bocce Team during a General Committee or Council meeting. Councillor Humfryes noted that the Aurora Rollers participated in the 2015 International Special Olympics Bocce Tournament, which was hosted at the Seneca College King Campus on April 30 to May 3, 2015, and achieved third place out of the twenty teams left in the secondary round robin, from a total of 24 teams that participated. The Committee inquired about the accessible parking signage at the École secondaire catholique Renaissance, at Bathurst Street and Bloomington Road, where all of the accessibility signs except for one were recently seen to have been covered by bags. Staff advised that municipalities do occasionally have cause to bag signage, and he encouraged Committee members to advise him by e-mail or phone immediately when issues are observed. Councillor Mrakas inquired whether any information had been processed through the Committee regarding Canada Post community mailboxes and accessibility issues. Staff advised that nothing had been submitted, but information could be shared with the Committee. The Committee noted that the previous Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) provided comments on the Aurora Family Leisure Complex (AFLC) renovation site plans, including the need for power doors and door levers, and observed that the doors of the main public washrooms are not power-operated. Councillor Humfryes advised that this issue would be raised at the next AFLC Liaison Committee meeting. Staff reviewed elements of the previous AAC’s feedback and indicated that he would follow up to ensure that all of the accessibility concerns were addressed. The Committee addressed the request of Delegation (a) regarding residential garbage/recycling collection and discussed various approaches through which the Town may engage residents who face particular challenges. The Committee put forward the following motion: Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 6, 2015 Page 6 of 6 New Business Motion No. 1 Moved by Councillor Humfryes Seconded by James Hoyes THAT staff be directed to investigate the opportunity for the Town to provide additional services for residents requiring special assistance in the collection of waste from their homes. CARRIED The Committee acknowledged that the subject of the delegation’s additional comments regarding ditch maintenance was not within the scope of the Accessibility Advisory Committee and staff agreed to contact Ms. Beaton in this regard. Staff announced that a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Park open house would be held on May 14, 2015, at 7 p.m. in the Holland Room at Town Hall, with the purpose of providing an updated landscape master plan based on public input and comments received at the first public meeting held on January 15, 2014. The Committee inquired about the process for including items on future Committee agendas and members were invited to forward any suggestions to the Chair and the Accessibility Advisor. Staff noted that the Annual Accessibility Plan would be submitted for the Committee’s review in the fall. 8. ADJOURNMENT Moved by James Hoyes Seconded by Gordon Barnes THAT the meeting be adjourned at 9:12 p.m. CARRIED COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT BINDING ON THE TOWN UNLESS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT A LATER MEETING.