EIGHTH MEETING OF THE
MINUTES
PRESENT:
Robert Hunn, Chair
Regional Councillor G. Landon
Joan Jenkyn
REGRETS:
Ted Chivers, Chair
Councillor V. Burke
Bill Broger
STAFF:
Eardley Adams, Project Manager, Asset Management
Shirley Marsh, Senior Planner, Urban Design
Warren Rupnarain, Accessibility Coordinator
Chris Raynor, Committee Clerk
The Eighth 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. OUTSTANDING AGENDA
ITEMS / COMMITTEE PRIORITIES
There was discussion
surrounding the list of Committee priorities. Business outreach and the hosting
of a meeting of the Regional Accessibility Committee Chairs were suggested as
additional priorities but it was noted that resource constraints will mean not
all priorities will be addressed.
There was discussion
surrounding the washrooms on the main floor of the Civic Centre. It was agreed
that the installation of appropriate signage directing visitors to the fully
accessible washrooms on the lower level will mitigate the need for an
accessible washroom on the main floor. Staff were directed to discontinue work
on converting the main floor washrooms.
3. T-BALL LEAGUE PROPOSAL
Warren Rupnarain,
Accessibility Coordinator, provided an overview of a proposal for an accessible
T-Ball League. There was discussion regarding the target demographics and the level
of community engagement.
THE
That the Accessibility
Coordinator be directed to defer further consideration of an accessible T-Ball
League; and,
That the Accessibility
Coordinator report back with a proposal for a business outreach program.
CARRIED
4. OUTREACH TO
ORGANIZATIONS RE ACCESSIBILITY
This item was deferred to
the next meeting.
5. GARAGE WIDTHS IN NEW
HOMES
Shirley Marsh, Senior
Planner, Urban Design, provided an update on this matter. It was noted that
there is no legislation to compel developers to build beyond the requirements
of the Building Code although the Town can encourage developers to use enhanced
standards. Staff agreed to incorporate garage widths and other accessibility
considerations into the newly-revised Accessibility Guidelines. Committee was
advised that the province is considering guidelines to enhance the
accessibility of residential homes for visitors.
THE
That the Markham Advisory
Committee on Accessibility supports the development of the new Accessibility
Guidelines and requests that the Guidelines incorporate standards related to
garage dimensions and other residential accessibility issues.
CARRIED
6. REPRESENTATION ON
THE
That Mr. R. Hunn, be
appointed as the accessibility representative to the Markham Centre Advisory
Committee.
CARRIED
7. CORRESPONDENCE
a) Response from Manager, Enforcement and
Licensing, to a resolution from the Town of
THE
That the Town of
“WHEREAS it is in the public interest to
ensure that access to disabled parking spaces for persons with disabilities is
readily available;
AND WHEREAS it would appear that there is a
misuse of disabled parking permits and parking spaces;
AND
WHEREAS the Provincial
Government of Ontario supports quality of life for persons with disabilities
through its Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Ontarians
with Disabilities Act legislation
THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED by the
Municipal Council of the Corporation of the Town of
THAT the Premier of Ontario be requested to take action to eliminate the
misuse of disabled parking permits and parking spaces, including but not
limited to such actions as:
·
Ensure that Justices of the Peace enforce the
minimum fines that apply to offenders
·
Provide for a two point penalty on the offender’s
driver’s license
·
Establish penalties for the misuse of a disabled
parking permit including fines and a two point penalty on the offender’s
driver’s license
·
Require people who hold a disabled parking permit to
obtain a special photo identification card
·
Provide for minimum fines for those who block
disabled parking spaces (i.e. using disabled parking spaces for snow storage)
AND
THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Premier of Ontario for
action, the Attorney General, the Lieutenant Governor and to the Association of
Municipalities of Ontario for email circulation to municipalities and their
Accessibility Advisory Committees requesting their support.
CARRIED
b) Response from
THE
That the Response from York Region to a request from
CARRIED
c) Town of
AAC Representation at Emergency Preparedness Exercises
That the letter from the
Town of Newmarket suggesting that members of Accessibility Advisory Committees
attend Emergency Preparedness Exercises be received and referred to S. Mintz,
Deputy Fire Chief.
CARRIED
8. ACCESSIBILITY BUDGET
Committee was advised that
a request for $200,000 for accessibility will be submitted to the 2009 Budget
cycle.
9. ACCESSIBILITY GOOD NEWS
STORY
Mr. Rupnarain agreed to
respond to a request from the Province requesting accessibility good news
stories.
10. ACCESSIBILITY AT
Committee was advised that
during the recent Federal election, one of the voting locations – at
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at