Prescott Harrison

Carole Robertson

Sidney Polak

Ted Chivers

Regional Councillor Jack Heath

Staff

Blair Labelle, Committee Clerk

Alan Wolfe, Project Management Consultant

Eardly Adams, Project Manager

Regrets

Mike Kowalski

Leila Abboud

Others

Pamela Cluff, APC

Shane Holten, SPH Planning &

Consulting

The meeting convened at the hour of 3:35 p.m. with Mr. R. Hunn in the Chair.

1. MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY MEETING HELD ON MARCH 15, 2006

THE MARKHAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY RECOMMENDS:

That the minutes of the Town of Markham Advisory Committee on Accessibility held on March 15, 2006 be adopted with the following amendment:

Item 3, paragraph 3, sentence 1 – That the following sentence be modified to read “Members discussed a policy that requires ~~self~~ full service stations with self service capabilities to accommodate patrons with special needs by pumping their gas for them ~~and not charging a full service rate~~ at the self service rate.

CARRIED

2. DRAFT ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES

Mr. Shane Holten, SPH Planning & Consulting, was in attendance to present an update on the development of Municipal Guidelines for Accessibility for the Town of Markham. He advised Members on the status of the program and presented an overview of the project. Mr. Holten indicated that minimal requirements contained in the Ontario Building Code (OBC), the Canadian Standards Association’s (CSA) and best practices noted within the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) were all met and/or exceeded in the Markham specific guidelines. It was also noted that the accessibility audit checklist will be developed alongside amendments made to the guidelines. It was agreed that Members should forward all comments and suggestions with respect to amending the guidelines to the Clerk who will compile a list and forward to Mr. Holten for his consideration.

The Committee posed various questions of Mr. Holten and Ms. Pamela Cluff regarding the proposed format and content of the guidelines. When asked, staff clarified that the guidelines will used in the development process for new public buildings. There will be a consultant hired in most cases to monitor the implementation of accessibility standards noted therein. In the case of existing public buildings, it was identified that the accessibility guidelines will be implemented in phases, whereby the highest priority projects are completed first. The Committee discussed the proposed timeline in which the document will go forward for Council’s approval to ensure that it is considered during the next budget cycle. It was agreed that the Municipal Guidelines for Accessibility act as a working document flexible for any future standards amendments or changes to best practices.

3. SENSITIVITY TRAINING

Mr. Hunn noted details regarding an organization called Changing Paces, which offers a workshop on sensitivity training with respect to disability awareness. It was noted that Changing Paces had conducted a workshop for a small number of Town staff during the past year.

THE MARKHAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY RECOMMENDS:

That the Town of Markham engage the services of Changing Paces to provide sensitivity training on disability awareness to all Town of Markham employees as soon as possible.

CARRIED

4. FULL SERVICE GAS STATIONS

It was agreed that further follow up will be done to gain insight into a past resolution moved by Mayor Cousens and carried on September 15, 2005 by Council of the Town of Markham with respect to recommendation made to the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute, the Province of Ontario and all gas station operators in Markham requesting that all gas stations make provisions for full service to patrons having special needs.

5. NATIONAL ACCESS AWARENESS WEEK / PARKING ENFORCEMENT BLITZ

Mr. Hunn circulated a letter in which he requests that May 28 – June 3, 2006 be proclaimed National Access Awareness Week (NAAW) in the Town of Markham. The Committee discussed a memorandum dated April 12, 2006 from Mr. Wilf Morley, Chair York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee, in which several municipalities were planning a parking blitz with respect to the enforcement of designated parking spaces for people with disabilities.

THE MARKHAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY RECOMMENDS:

That May 28 – June 3, 2006 be proclaimed National Access Awareness Week (NAAW) in the Town of Markham;

And that the Town of Markham By-law division be requested to carry out a parking blitz with respect to the enforcement of designated parking spaces for people with disabilities during this time period.

CARRIED

6. BUSINESS CARDS FOR MEMBERS OF THE MARKHAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY

Members discussed the potential to create generic business cards for Members of the Markham Advisory Committee on Accessibility which will be used for identification purposes in the event that Members decide to approach vendors or other agents regarding accessibility matters. The Committee agreed that such identification would facilitate situations such as approaching proprietors to suggest accessibility amendments to their business.

THE MARKHAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY RECOMMENDS:

That Members of the Markham Advisory Committee on Accessibility be permitted to requisition generic business cards at the expense of the Town of Markham which will be used to identify Members as part of the Markham Advisory Committee on Accessibility when approaching external bodies with respect to accessibility matters.

The Markham Advisory Committee on Accessibility adjourned at the hour of 5:15 p.m.