SEVENTH MEETING OF THE
MINUTES
PRESENT:
Robert Hunn, Chair
Regional Councillor G. Landon
Bill Broger
Carl Bodnar
Joan Jenkyn
Councillor V. Burke
Carole Robertson
REGRETS:
Ted Chivers, Chair
STAFF:
Don Taylor, Director, Strategic Initiatives
Eardley Adams, Project Manager, Asset Management
Warren Rupnarain, Accessibility Coordinator
Judy Kee, Committee Clerk
The Seventh Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Accessibility
convened at
1. MINUTES OF THE
MEETING HELD ON
THE
That the minutes of the Town of
CARRIED
2. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
Members requested that the following item be added to the Agenda under “New Business”:
AP 7.1 Committee Clerk to place this item on next meeting agenda.
3. REQUEST FOR FEE RELIEF
FOR ON STREET PARKING - APPEAL
Members were reminded that Committee had previously considered a request for fee relief from a resident, and a recommendation that no relief be granted was subsequently adopted by Council. The resident had advised that they wished to seek an appeal of the decision.
Staff advised that the resident has been contacted numerous times and invited to attend the previous meeting of Committee and also the meeting this date, but has not responded to emails and telephone calls.
As the resident was not in attendance, Committee agreed that no action would be taken on this matter.
4. INTRODUCTION TO
ACCESSIBILITY COORDINATOR
Mr. Don Taylor, Director, Strategic Initiatives, introduced Mr. Warren Rupnarain, who has recently joined the Town as Accessibility Coordinator. Mr. Rupnarain provided a brief summary of his education and experience, and advised that he is looking forward to working with Members of Committee and staff to enhance the accessibility of facilities throughout the Town.
He presented details of his work plan and target dates for the next year, including:
Committee queried the following matters: target dates for building standards compliance; prioritization criteria, i.e. must do’s and nice to do’s; and the development of a program to ensure businesses in the community are aware of accessibility needs, i.e. awards criteria.
It was agreed that it would be helpful if each Member of Committee introduced themselves to Mr. Rupnarain, and each did so providing some personal information and also their reasons for being part of the Markham Accessibility Committee. Mr. Rupnarain provided his personal contact information to all Members in the event that they wished to contact him directly, as follows:
Mr. Warren Rupnarain, Accessibility Coordinator
Tel: 905-477-7000, Ext. 3542
Email: wrupnarain@markham.ca
5. OUTSTANDING ISSUES
Committee requested the Accessibility Coordinator to forward the list of outstanding issues, which have been categorized into “Must Do’s” and “Nice to Do’s” to all Members, with a view to further discussion regarding prioritization.
AP 7.2 Accessibility Coordinator to forward list of outstanding issues.
6. ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES
RELATING TO THE YORK ROOM AND THE
WASHROOMS LOCATED ON
THE MAIN LEVEL BETWEEN
ROOM AND CANADA ROOM
Mr. Eardley Adams, Project Manager, Asset Management, was in attendance regarding the response from the consulting firm which had been requested to study the accessibility issues, raised at the June meeting of Committee, relating to the York Room and the washrooms located on the main level between the Ontario Room and the Canada Room.
Members had before them the
memorandum dated
Mr. Adams advised that the subject washrooms had not been planned for general public use at the time the Civic Centre building was built, and barrier free design requirements were not as extensive then as now. He noted that some minor changes could be made to the washrooms; however, their physical size would prohibit any major structural changes.
Members discussed other possible alternatives, such as the public use of other washrooms in adjacent areas, such as those near the Clerk’s Department, or the washrooms on the lower level outside of the Cafeteria.
It was noted that there is a security door currently prohibiting access in the evenings to the Clerk’s Department area, and the use of the elevator would be required to access the washrooms on the lower level.
It was suggested that either Security Staff or the staff at the Information Markham desk may be able to assist by opening the security door when required, or perhaps it might be possible to install a buzzer for the door. Another alternative would be to move the existing security doors to a position beyond the Clerk’s Department, but it was understood that both the Clerk’s Department and the adjacent Building Departments would have to be screened off in some way to prevent access in the evening by the public, and this option would be quite expensive.
Members discussed the various alternatives
proposed, and suggested that staff review the options discussed, investigate costs,
and report back to the next meeting of Committee in October.
Mr. Adams and Mr. Taylor briefly explained the Town’s annual Budget process and how projects are prioritized by departmental staff. Members raised the importance of Committee’s input and recommendations relating to the projects being presented to Council, however, Mr. Adams advised that, to date, an itemized list of projects is not available.
Members were advised that the Phase I Audits comprised of the deficiencies at Markham Civic Centre and the Milliken Mills Community Centre have previously been presented to Committee. Phase II Audits are available to Members of Committee on request, and they are comprised of the following facilities: Armadale Community Centre; Crosby Memorial Community Centre; Markham Village Community Centre; Markham Theatre; Mount Joy Community Centre; R. J. Clatworthy Arena; Thornhill Community Centre and Unionville Library. In response to a query regarding what criteria is being used in auditing the buildings, staff advised that the audit is based on the Accessibility Guidelines.
THE
That staff be requested to review the alternatives discussed this date for the main level washrooms between the Ontario Room and the Canada Room; investigate the associated costs for remedial measures, and appropriate signage, and report back to the next meeting of the Advisory Committee on Accessibility in October;
That the Asset Management Department in future be requested to submit their accessibility priority items to the committee for consideration prior to the Budget process.
CARRIED
AP 7.3 Accessibility Coordinator and Project Manager, Asset Management to work together to review alternatives and costs and report back to next meeting on options.
7. GARAGE WIDTHS IN NEW
HOMES
Some concern was raised with respect to the resolution from the June Accessibility meeting, and it was felt that the intent had been convoluted.
It was suggested that this is more of a “planning” matter rather than “building”, and that the size of building lots should not be reduced.
Due to time constraints, full
discussion on this matter was referred to the next meeting of Committee
scheduled for
AP 7.4 Committee Clerk to place this item on next meeting agenda.
8. CUSTOMER SERVICE FEEDBACK
Mr. W. Rupnarain, Accessibility
Coordinator, provided information on the Town’s “Secret Shopper Initiative”,
which is in conjunction with Ontario Reg. 429/07 which came into force on
Members were advised that feedback from the initiative will assist in developing future policies.
9. REPRESENTATION ON
Due to time constraints, this
matter was referred to the next meeting of Committee scheduled for
AP 7.5 Committee Clerk to place this item on next meeting agenda.
10. COMMUNICATIONS
Due to time constraints, the
following items were referred to the next meeting of Committee scheduled for
a) Response
from Manager, Enforcement and Licensing, to a resolution from the Town of
b) Response
from
AP 7.6 Committee Clerk to place these items on next meeting agenda.
11. OTHER BUSINESS
Outreach to Organizations Re Accessibility – J. Jenkyn
Due to time constraints, this item
was referred to the next meeting of Committee scheduled for
AP 7.7 Committee Clerk to place this item on next meeting agenda.
12. NEXT MEETING
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at