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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-11-26Clar*mn Clarington Accessibility Advisory Committee Minutes Tuesday November 26, 2024 6:30 p.m. Hybrid Via Microsoft Teams If this information is required in an alternate format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext 2131 Present: Lesley Scherer (Chair) Beatrice Kraayenhof Sanja Wirch Barbara Henn Sheikh Hossain Hawa Mire Also Present: Jeannette Whynot — Accessibility Coordinator Rob Farquarson — Facilities Supervisor (until 7:08 p.m.) Alison Dee — Director, Strategy and Innovation CLMA (Until 7:30 p.m.) Regrets: Keith Brettell Allison Speight Councillor Corinna Traill The meeting called to order at 6:34 p.m. 1. Land Acknowledgement Statement Lesley Scherer shared the Land Acknowledgement Statement. 2. Declarations of Interest No declarations 3. Approval of September 25 and October 15 Meeting Minutes Moved by Barb Henn, seconded by Sanja Wirch That the September 25t", 2024 and October 15, 2024 meeting minutes be approved as presented. Carried 4. Municipal project review: outdoor skating rink at Diane Hamre Recreation Centre (DHRC). Page 11 Rob Farquarson, Facilities Supervisor, presented plans for a 100x60 outdoor skating rink to be located at Diane Hamre Recreation Center in Newcastle. The Committee was overall supportive of the project, its design, and expressed appreciation for the accessibility considerations shown. Committee members discussed the design of the benches, particularly the space for mobility devices. Rob advised that the design renderings don't entirely give the full view of the design but that he would bring their feedback brought back to the project team. The Committee recommended the design include lowered benches to better meet the needs of children. A brief discussion on the location and design of the fire pit took place. The Committee asked why it was located where it was. Rob advised it was placed there because it's close to the main building, which is where it's power/gas will come from. The further away it is from the building, the more expensive it will be to install. The Committee also inquired if the accessible path of travel will be compromised when the firepit is being used, due to crowding. Rob expressed gratitude for the Committee's time and for their thoughtful feedback on the outdoor skating rink at DHRC. The feedback received will be shared with the project team for review and incorporation where possible. 5. Municipal project review: site fixtures at South Bowmanville Recreation Centre (SBRC). At the request of the project team, Jeannette provided the Committee with preliminary site details for the SBRC for the purpose of obtaining their feedback on some of the possible design choices. Committee members provided valuable feedback, which will be summarized and shared with SBRC for their consideration. Jeannette advised that the Committee will continue to be consulted on the SBRC and expressed gratitude, on behalf of the project team, for their thoughtful comments, insight and perspectives through these consultations. 6. Disability tax credit workshop Jeannette provided the committee with an update on their desire to offer a Disability Tax Credit workshop/information session to the community. While there are private sector businesses who specialize in the Disability Tax Credit, Jeannette explained it's advisable to stay away from for -profit businesses who may use the workshop to obtain new clients. As a result, Jeannette advised she connected with two different government programs to discuss their outreach programming. Option 1: The Government of Ontario offers a tax -related information sessions but are focused on Ontario tax credit programs such as the Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit and Ontario Medical Expense Tax Credit. Jeannette advised that while certainly beneficial, these workshops were not entirely inline with their idea of focusing on the Disability Tax Credit. Option 2: The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) also offers outreach community information sessions. Their session would focus more specifically the Disability Tax Credit, including how to apply, why is it beneficial, etc. Jeannette explained that this session appears to better align with what the committee previously expressed interest in offering to the community. Moved by Sanja Wirch, seconded by Barb Henn, Page 12 That the Committee proceed with offering a disability tax credit information session by the CRA, in partnership with Clarington Library, Museums and Archives (CLMA) and, That the Disability Tax Credit workshop be offered in hybrid format, where a viewing of the webinar is offered at a CLMA location. Carried. 7. National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) 2025 As a standing agenda item, Jeannette asked the Committee what kinds of activities they would like to support for NAAW in 2025. The disability tax credit workshop/information session could be planned to coincide with NAAW. For NAAW 2024, the Committee partnered with CLMA to host an author visit. Given the success of that event, Jeannette recommended doing it again in 2025. Committee members mutually agreed that another author visit for NAAW would be great. Jeannette advised that she will be looking at offering municipal staff a webinar, but hadn't yet determined who. Additionally, Jeannette will continue to offer daily NAAW emails to staff and can incorporate content from the Committee. Jeannette also advised that she would work with Corporate Communications to share information to the community in support of NAAW. Committee members were encouraged to think about other ideas for NAAW and to bring them to the next meeting for discussion. 8. Clarington special event permits This agenda item was deferred to the next meeting. 9. Other business Lesley brought forward an event idea to give space for people with disabilities to showcase their products, talents, hobbies, etc. She explained that her family recently attended a special interests fair in Ajax that gave space for people with disabilities to showcase their hobby, passion, business, etc. with others. Although it was not well -attended, Lesley shared it would be great if we could offer something like that in Clarington. A brief discussion took place to better understand what the event would be, the kinds of vendors that would hopefully be in attendance etc. Jeannette advised that prior to moving this forward she will need to look into the logistics of something like this and will work with Lesley to better understand the idea and determine the necessary next steps. Jeannette shared that the 2024 Annual Status Update, which is an AODA requirement, will be presented to the Committee at the next meeting. Jeannette advised that the Customer Service Standard is currently being reviewed and the review committee has released its initial recommendations for public consultation until January 6, 2025. Members who are interested in reviewing the proposed changes and providing feedback can do so online. Page 13 10. Next AAC meeting The next meeting will be Tuesday January 28', 2025. It will be scheduled as hybrid but can be adjusted to virtual only if the weather is poor or people prefer to stay home. 11. Adjournment Moved by Sanja Wirch, seconded by Barb Henn That the meeting be adjourned. Carried Meeting was adjourned at 8:07pm. Page 14