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Home My WebLink About2022-09-07Clarington Accessibility Advisory Committee Minutes for the meeting of September 7, 2022 6:30 p.m. Via Microsoft Teams If this information is required in an alternate format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Present: Shea -Lea Latchford, Chair Sylvia Jaspers-Fayer, Vice -Chair Pinder DaSilva Marina Ross Tim Van Leeuwen Sarah Taylor Councilor Janice Jones Also Present: Laila Shafi, Temporary Accessibility Coordinator Amy Burke, Principal Planner, Planning and Development Services Faye Langmaid, Manger of Special Projects, Planning and Development Services Regrets: Deb Kalogris Sarah McConaghy Catherine McConaghy 1. Call to order The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. Declaration of Interest None 3. Land Acknowledgement Agreement 4. Review of Previous Meeting Minutes That the minutes of the meeting of June 1, 2022 be approved. Moved by Tim Van Leeuwen, seconded by Sarah Taylor Carried Clarington Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes — September 7, 2022 5. Clarington Waterfront Strategy Presentation: Amy Burke and Faye Langmaid from the Municipality of Clarington's Planning and Development Services presented about the Clarington Waterfront Strategy. The presentation covered: • All goals achieved from the 1992 waterfront strategy — in 1992 the main principles were that the waterfront be open, accessible, useable, diverse, affordable and attractive • The 2022 plan added 3 more principles — clean, green, and connected • Since 1992 the plan has made significant increase in amount of green area — now have more protected green area and increased ownership of publicly accessible land • Action items: o Appoint someone from AAC to attend one of the stakeholder visioning workshop on October 6th from 6:30-8:30 pm (virtual) that will focus on "what do you like, what do you feel is missing, what improvements can be made to the waterfront area?" Shea -Lea Latchford will attend on behalf of the Committee. Presenters asked the Committee to help with get word out to the community that they are looking for feedback on the waterfront strategy. There is a survey on the website for residents to complete but they can also contact them by email if they have questions/ideas they want to share. Question to the presenters: Is the trail intended to be a Commuter or Recreation trail? The presenters said that the trail is mostly recreation but there is a section in Port Hope that the route is on the road and there has been requests for it to be more accessible but not sure how that can happen yet. 6. Business Arising from Previous Meeting Minutes 6.1 Loblaws Washroom, Walmart Washroom Updates: • Loblaws has installed a power door so that it's accessible; replaced changing table in their accessible washroom. • Walmart — Laila has contacted their manager and Walmart is in discussion with upper management to get quotes for door installation for power doors. 6.2 DRT on Demand Concerns: • Tim Van Leeuwen shared his experience with DRT on demand and some information. As of February, DRT is contracting out specialty services to Voyago; past experience with Voyago was not positive — lack of safety concerns by the drivers Page 2 of 5 Clarington Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes — September 7, 2022 • On demand is not working; has been cancelled a number of times; in theory it sounded good but in reality, it's not working for residents. • Concerns on how this is impacting the independence of residents, particularly those who use mobility devices and require the service to go to work and go from place to place. • Action item o Laila to reach out to DRT to discuss what their accessibility plan is for specialized transportation; Laila to connect with other Accessibility Coordinators, including the Region to see if there are similar concerns. Coordinated effort with all municipalities to address issues. o Additional buses are being added on Mearns — Laila to see if they are increasing the number of buses in Bowmanville. 6.3 Funding for Accessibility Improvements: • Clarington has a Heritage Committee Grant for downtown businesses of Newcastle, Orono, and Bowmanville for any upgrades owners may want to make. However, the committee wants to look into the possibility of creating a grant for businesses possibly not covered by the BIA, looking to make accessibility upgrades. • Laila to check in with Planning Department on the details of their existing grants. Page 3 of 5 Clarington Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes — September 7, 2022 6.4 Workplan Items: Accessible Trick or Treat Campaign - was through Home Depot; last year they provided the lawn signs, and the municipality highlighted it on social media. Action item: Laila will connect with Home Depot to see if they are doing it again. - Power door operator campaign - Kendall Community Centre, Orono Townhall have had power doors installed through grant opportunities. Laila will look into other grant opportunities for 2023. December 3rd Day of Persons with Disabilities — will look into having a flag raising, promotion on social media, putting out swag at community centers o Action item — Accessibility Conference being co -hosted by Abilities Centre and Carrion Fenn. Pinder is looking for guest speakers with lived experience. Please reach out to Pinder if you know of anyone who would be interested. Engagement with local businesses — Accessibility Award; collaborating with the Diversity coordinator about the importance of hiring people with disabilities; OCC — targeting small businesses about hiring People with disabilities. - Nomination for Durham Region Accessibility Awards forwarded to Durham Region. 7. New Business 7.1 Hybrid/Virtual Meetings: The committee is asked if they are interested in going back to in -person or a hybrid instead of fully virtual meeting? Motion for remaining meetings to be hybrid; Town Hall, those who can't, will join virtually seconded by Sarah Taylor. 8. Roundtable: Sarah Taylor: those who can meet in person will come to . Moved by Tim Van Leeuwen and Library will allow you to have a completely digital account; can renew accessible parking passes on-line; pottery barn launched a line of accessible furniture. Highway 2, west of downtown Bowmanville — trees are taking over the north sidewalk between Roenigk and Bowmanville Avenue. Sarah has submitted a request to the Town Page 4 of 5 Clarington Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes — September 7, 2022 to get the trees cut back as it's greatly impeding access. Action item Laila will check to see where the request is at. 9. Adjournment Moved by Tim Van Leeuwen, Seconded by Sarah Taylor That the meeting be adjourned Carried Meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m. Next meeting: Wednesday October 12, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. via Microsoft Teams Page 5 of 5