HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-05-13 Minutes
Clarington Accessibility Advisory Committee
May 13, 2015, 6:00 P.M.
Meeting Room 1A
Present: Shea-Lea Latchford
Sally Barrie
Andre O’Bumsawin
Jacquie Watchorn arrived at 6:10 PM
Councillor Partner
Tim Van Leeuwen
Maureen Reed
Also Present: Anne Greentree, Municipal Clerk
Michelle Chambers, Committee Coordinator
Jeannette Whynot
Regrets: John Sturdy
Anne Greentree introduced Jeannette Whynot, Accessibility Coordinator for the
Municipality of Clarington to the Committee. She noted that Ms. Whynot will be starting
on June 1, 2015.
1. Adoption of Minutes
Moved by Andre O’Bumsawin, seconded by Councillor Partner
THAT the minutes of the meeting of April 11, 2015 be approved.
CARRIED
2. Presentation
None
3. Business Arising From Minutes
(a) Letter from Donna McLarty, Town Clerk, Town of Richmond Hill regarding
Teleconferencing of AAC Meetings
Anne Greentree provided an update on this correspondence from the Town of
Richmond Hill. She explained that there is nothing from a legislative perspective
that would prevent us from allowing teleconferencing of the Accessibility Advisory
Committee meetings.
Moved by Councillor Partner, seconded by Tim Van Leeuwen
THAT the Recommendation of the Town of Richmond Hill regarding the option to
Teleconference Accessibility Advisory Committee Meetings to allow individuals
members to participate in the meetings if they were otherwise unable, be
endorsed by the Clarington Accessibility Advisory Committee.
Clarington Accessibility - 2 - May 13, 2015
Advisory Committee
CARRIED
4. New Business
(a) BrowseAloud Demonstration
Anne Greentree provided a demonstration of the BrowseAloud software from the
City of Pickering’s Website. She noted the Municipality of Clarington is currently
redesigning the website and this software will be included.
(b) Accessibility of the Beech
Tim Van Leeuwen reviewed a PowerPoint presentation of a review done on the
current accessibility at the Clarington Beech Centre. This included areas that
have been made accessible and areas that are in need of change or upgrades.
(c) Correspondence
i) Email from local resident, regarding accessibility of local parks
ii) Emails from Jim McEwen, local resident regarding accessibility concerns
within Clarington.
(Correspondence to be referred to the June CAAC meeting)
A discussion took place regarding this correspondence and the Committee
proposed inviting Mr. McEwen to attend a future meeting.
(d) 2015-2018 CAAC Workplan
The Committee worked as a group to record and discuss the proposed goals and
objectives for the term of the Committee. The main areas of focus included:
Access Trails (short cuts) – path ways to create short cuts that are
accessible
Promote Accessible Public Washrooms
Community events
o
Education Awareness
o
Accessible Public Washrooms – signage
o
Local Businesses
Downtown development
o
Help the CIP educate
o
Accessibility of Service Ontario
o
Community Events
Raise awareness at Community Events
o
Work with Community event planners to make them accessible for
o
all
Accessible Municipal Buildings and Infrastructure
Accessibility of Municipal Buildings
o
Parks to be included in Site Plan Reviews
o
Clarington Accessibility - 3 - May 13, 2015
Advisory Committee
Transit Stops, not all accessible
The ideas presented for how the Committee plans to accomplish these goals
included:
Research Reports, what works, what outcomes are expected
Meetings with the local BIA Groups and the Clarington Board of Trade
Review the funds received from “Big Box Stores” to be allocated towards
accessibility
Research potential Grant and Incentive Opportunities
Creation of an Accessibility “Checklist” for new and existing business
owners.
Promotion of accessible businesses in the local paper
Providing education for local businesses
Incentives to businesses for providing accessibility
Providing quarterly information session’s for Council to educate and share.
Potential partnership with local service clubs for project funding. Using
social media and display screens at local facilities for education videos or
commercials
A discussion took place regarding Durham Region Transit and Anne Greentree
noted that transit is a Regional matter and the Municipality has no jurisdiction on
transit. She suggested that in the future we can extend an invitation to DRT to
attend a future meeting and use that as an opportunity to make suggestions.
Anne Greentree concluded that planning session by noting the common themes and
explaining that we cannot make these businesses become accessible, however we
can educate, provide ideas, and suggestions to assist these businesses to move
towards accessibility.
5. Regional Update
(a) Regional AAC Chairs Group Minutes of Meeting of March 24, 2015
(b) Regional AAC – Accessibility Awards – to take place at the Annual Joint
Forum in September, 2015
Anne reviewed the awards and gave a brief overview of the qualities of the
recipients and the categories and noted some of the previous year’s recipients.
6. Other Business
Andre O’Bumsawin asked for some clarification on some of the items on the
Integrated Accessibility Standards Training. He raised the issue of the curb cuts
located near 132 Church Street.
Moved by Andre O’Bumsawin, seconded by Tim Van Leeuwen
Clarington Accessibility - 4 - May 13, 2015
Advisory Committee
That the Clarington Accessibility Advisory prepare correspondence to be sent to
Service Ontario regarding the accessibly issues of the Service Ontario Kiosk
located in Bowmanville and that Granville Anderson, MPP, and Tracy
MacCharles, MPP for Pickering-Scarborough East be copied on this resolution.
CARRIED
Jacquie Watchorn distributed an article regarding accessibility and noted that
hopefully we can look at giving local businesses opportunities for assistance to
become more accessible.
7. Date of Next Meeting
June 3, 2015 at 6:00 PM.
8. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Partner, seconded by Andre O’Bumsawn
That the meeting adjourn.
CARRIED
The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
_________________________
Chair
_________________________
Secretary