Town of Markham
Advisory Committee on Accessibility
Minutes
Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 3:30 p.m.
Canada Room
|
Committee members present: Carl Bodnar Allan Ho Prescott Harrison Jocelyn Horsford Robert Hunn Rhonda
Jacobson Sidney Polak - Chair Carole Robertson |
Regrets: Jaqueline Bell Councillor Valerie Burke Joan
Jenkyn Regional Councillor Gord Landon Prabhu
Rajan |
Staff present:
Don Taylor, Manager,
Executive Operations
Warren Ruparain, Accessibility Coordinator
Kitty Bavington, Committee Clerk
The meeting of the Advisory Committee on Accessibility convened at 3:35
pm with Sidney Polak presiding as Chair.
1. Minutes – August 18,
2010
Staff clarified that the
penalties identified in No. 4, AODA Standards, are a daily maximum of $2,000.
Moved by: Carole Robertson
Seconded by: Prescott Harrison
That the minutes of the August 18, 2010 meeting of the Town of Markham
Advisory Committee on Accessibility be approved.
CARRIED
2.
Presentation – Unionville BIA
Greg McCormack, President of the Unionville
BIA, made a presentation regarding the responsibilities and function of the
organization. The BIA operates under the supervision of the Town, with a
mandate to enhance the services for the residents and businesses of the area, beyond
that provided by the Town, and to promote the commercial district. He
identified the geographic location of the Unionville BIA.
Mr. McCormack and the Committee discussed
issues relevant to accessibility. The BIA is currently working with the Town to
develop a parking strategy. The BIA prefers to remove parking from the Main
Street during the summer months. Accessible parking spaces are
difficult to achieve and it is an ongoing
issue. Parking arrangements are currently up to the owners of individual properties, but an
initiative is being undertaken to link and integrate the parking areas which
would then come under the control of a Town Parking Authority. The BIA is also
working with the Town on the traffic calming issue along Carlton Road.
There are currently public washrooms at Cosby
Arena at the north end of Main Street, and additional accessible facilities are
being planned. Possible locations are south end of Main Street, or the
replacement of the current washrooms at the central Bandstand location. The BIA
prefers upgraded facilities at the Bandstand.
Heritage building are regulated by The Ontario
Heritage Act, which is sometimes in conflict with retrofits for accessibility,
and has resulted in instances were ramps could not be installed.
Heritage guidelines also limit signs to a
smaller size than would be helpful for the visually challenged.
A question was raised regarding control of
vandalism. Mr. McCormack advised that Beat Cops have been implemented and have
proven to be very effective in deterring damage.
The Committee indicated interest in attending
BIA meetings to discuss these issues further. Mr. McCormack suggested that the
AAC would be more effective working from its own level, promoting projects such
as public washrooms and parking, and to work with Heritage Markham to negotiate
compromises for construction. The BIA would appreciate the Committee’s support
for these initiatives.
The Committee expressed appreciation to Mr.
McCormack for his deputation.
3.
Elections and Accessibility
Andrew Brouwer, Deputy
Clerk, and Andrew McNeilage, Election Assistant, gave a follow-up presentation
regarding the upcoming October 25, 2010 municipal election. Mr. Brouwer
outlined election key dates and accessibility initiatives. A poster aimed at
encouraging everyone to vote (featuring Warren Ruparain) was handed out.
Various accessibility tools
were discussed, including outreach, magnifying sheets, Automark units to allow
one to mark their ballot independently using appliances/devices, customer
service training and awareness. Every election official will be trained and
made aware of any accessibility issues.
Discussions included employment
opportunities for disabled persons, elevator assistance at voting locations, and
criteria for choosing election locations. All sites have been inspected to
ensure they are accessible, and parking issues have been addressed.
The Committee received a
demonstration of the Automark equipment.
The Committee thanked Mr.
Brouwer and Mr. McNeilage for their informative presentation.
4. Promotions Subcommittee
The revised accessibility
brochure was provided. Ten thousand copies have been printed and will be
distributed to community centres, by election staff, and at the community booth
at Markville Mall following staff’s presentation to senior staff. Interested
members will determine a date to hand out the brochures at the Mall.
Staff advised that it could
not be printed in large print, as requested by the Committee, but it can be
made available in PDF. It could also not be printed in three-fold as too much
print space would be lost.
5. Business
Initiatives Subcommittee
Staff advised that there
were four nominations for the award, and the winner will be announced shortly. The
awards gala will be held in November. It was reiterated that the Committee should
push for more Committee involvement in choosing the award winner next year. The
Committee would like to invite the winner to an AAC meeting to celebrate the
achievement.
6. Site Plan Review
Planning staff are waiting
for a suitable development application to be reviewed. The subcommittee will
meet to develop criteria for the reviews, and it was recognized that they will
have to take timely action in order not to delay the applications. It was
suggested that an existing plan could be used as a trial to develop a process.
Don will follow up with planning staff.
7. Outreach
The outreach initiative initiated by Alan Ho was
deferred until after the election.
8. Integrated Accessibility Regulations
Warren provided a handout
from the Ministry of Community and Social Services, and explained the intention
of the Integrated Accessibility Regulations, to streamline, align and phase-in
accessibility requirements. Comments are due by October 16, 2010.
9. Final
Proposed Built Environmental Standards
The Committee had been
provided with a link to the government website and the document. Warren gave an
update, noting that retrofits are not included. As directed at the last meeting, Warren had prepared a draft form letter
articulating the concern, and will e-mail it to the members for individual
submission to the Ministry.
10. Accessibility Plan
Any comments should be
provided to Warren as soon as possible, as the Accessibility Plan will be submitted
in two weeks. Once it has been finalized, a brochure will be prepared outlining
the Town’s Accessibility Plan.
11. Accessibility Infrastructure Grant Update
The Committee received a
written update on the various Town projects, and Warren advised that the work
is well underway. He outlined the highlights and advised that the Operations Manager
will attend the next meeting to provide a further update.
12. Other Business
a)
Resignation of Prabhu Rajan
Mr. Rajan has been appointed
to a position that has a potential conflict with his position on the ACC, and
has regretfully removed himself from the committee. The Committee received this
information with regret.
b)
Heritage Issues
Further to the BIA presentation, it was agreed
to work with Heritage Markham on retrofit restrictions. Warren will invite
Heritage section staff to a future meeting. It was discussed that the balance
between Heritage and Accessibility regulations is a very fine line.
c)
Heritage funding
Council has allocated a
budget for a matching grant program for heritage building improvements. Staff
will elaborate on this in the heritage presentation at a future meeting.
d)
YRACC Membership
Staff provided an update on the AAC mandate,
and membership of the AAC Chair in the York Region AAC. Markham’s mandate will
have to be updated, as York Region does not recognize this mandate and all
members of the Regional Committee have to apply.
e)
Reappointment to Markham ACC
Following the
election in October, Council will reappoint all members of all committees. A
recruitment process will commence in November, and current members are expected
to continue on until the appointments are finalized in early 2011. Staff will
ensure that application forms are provided to the Committee.
f)
Challenges and Best
Practices
This item will be added to next agenda.
13. Next Meeting - Wednesday, October
20, 2010, in the Canada Room
(Rescheduled
to October 27, in the Ontario Room)
The
Committee adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
Attachment: Outstanding Items List
1. Markham
It will be before Council
in September for endorsement, and Warren will give an update.
Carole requested a copy on CD.
2. AODA
Standards
-
Warren will provide a form letter outlining retrofit concerns to the members
for individual submission.
3. Promotions Subcommittee
a)
Brochure: Promotions Subcommittee
Interested Committee members can will arrange to distribute the brochures
at the community booth in Markville Mall.
b)
Insert in Markham Life Magazine:
Promotions Subcommittee
c) ACRA
nomination for Markham business achievement in public service
d) Board
of Trade Awards: invite the winner to an AAC
meeting to celebrate the achievement.
4. Outreach Subcommittee
a) Memo from Alan Ho, regarding working with other
organizations in such events as roundtable meetings and
breakfast meetings – deferred until after the election.
b) Joining the Coalition of Ontario Accessibility Advisory Committees.
Warren will provide more information regarding the benefits of joining.
5. Site Plan Review Subcommittee
- Warren and Biju will prepare a list
of accessibility requirements to be attached to site plan application forms.
- Subcommittee will develop a checklist of principles and features including the Markham Accessibility
Guidelines, to provide consistency in the reviews. An existing plan will be used
to develop the criteria.
- Warren to provide info on enforcement of compliance with the approved
plans
6. York Region Accessibility Advisory
Committee
- Jaqueline Bell will report back on YRAAC
meetings.
7. AAC
membership renewal of terms
Clerk
to provide forms at a future meeting. Recruitment will begin in November or
later.
8. Lack of accessible parking on Main Streets in Unionville
and Markham.
The Markham BIA has attended
the
Unionville BIA attended in September,
2010 and encouraged AAC to work on parking and washroom issues with the Town.
9. Main Street Environmental Assessment
Warren and Markham BIA to coordinate
efforts to ensure accessibility issues are not missed. A presentation was made
in June, and Dale MacKenzie will make a further presentation with design
details.
10. Standards for Heritage buildings &
Heritage Funding.
The
Manager of Heritage Planning will be requested to attend an AAC meeting to
discuss the conflict between Heritage and Accessibility regulations. Heritage
Funding will be explained at the presentation.
Ontario Trillium Foundation could provide
some solutions.
11. Bench Installation
Investigate or arrange a
presentation in April or May on practices regarding the installation of benches along sidewalks, in malls, and other
locations, and what funding is
available.
12. Opportunities
A subcommittee may be formed in the
fall for this issue.
13. Retrofit
Audit - Accessibility Infrastructure Grant
An update was provided in September.
Glen Taylor will provide a presentation at a future AAC meeting.
14. Toronto Parking Regulations
Handicapped parking is permitted in
any “no parking” areas in Toronto. Regional Councillor Landon offered to bring
this matter forward at the next Parking Advisory Committee meeting.
15. Awareness Week
Staff to confirm if the Proclamation was
published in the newspaper.