Minutes Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC)

Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 3:00 P.m. - 5:00 P.m.

Hybrid in-person and virtual meeting

Members:

• K. Beitz
• A. Cameron
• M. Ashkewe, Vice Chair
• S. Ferguson Prior
• E. Lowenger
• C. Lytle
• D. McMurdo
• J. Popkey
• L. Root, Chair
• T. Stevens
• D. Stienstra

Members Absent

• S. Cooper-Webb
• Z. Jacobs
• B. McPherson
• J.Svehla

Staff:

• L. Warren, Project Specialist, Accessibility
• D. McMahon, Manager, Legislative Services/Deputy Clerk
• E. Barber, Board and Committee Coordinator
• J. Tang, Legislative Coordinator
• J. Slater, Manager, Information, Privacy and Elections/Deputy City Clerk
• C. Murray-Sprague, Council and Committee Coordinator
• S. O'Brien, General Manager City Clerk's Office/City Clerk
• H. Connell, Business and Technical Services Manager
• N. Davison, Waste Resource Policy Analyst
• B. Van Miltenburg, Project Manager, Transportation
• S. Ilic, Project Manager, Park and Trail Development
• A. Bhatti, Project Manager, Facilities and Energy Management
• I. Scott, Manager, Facility Design and Construction
• J. Starchuk, Program Manager, Facilities and Energy Management

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1.

Call to Order

The Chair called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.

1.1

Welcome to All

1.2

Indigenous Territorial Acknowledgment

The Chair provided the Indigenous Territorial Acknowledgement. 

1.3

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

There were no disclosures or conflicts declared. 

1.4

Approval of Agenda

• Moved by: Member Stevens
  Seconded by: Member Stienstra

  That the December 19, 2023 Accessibility Advisory Committee Agenda be approved.

  Carried

1.5

Approval of Minutes

• Moved by:  Member Stevens
  Seconded by: Member Ferguson Prior

  That the November 14, 2023 Meeting minutes be approved.

  Carried

2.

Committee Items

2.1

2026 Municipal Election: Voting methods and accessible voting service enhancements

Jennifer Slater, Manager, Information, Privacy and Elections/Deputy City Clerk, provided an overview of the documents attached to the agenda and requested that the committee draft a motion as it relates to the 2026 Municipal Election: Voting methods and accessible voting service enhancements.

• Moved by: Member Cameron 
  Seconded by: Member Stienstra

  In order to accommodate independent voting for all residents of Guelph, the AAC recommends that the city offer Online/Internet Voting, Remote Accessible Vote by Mail, Vote by Phone, Vote by Mail, and door-to-door vote from home options for upcoming municipal elections. The AAC feels that leaving any of these options out will leave some disabled voters without access to a confidential and independent way to mark their ballot. Providing all options will help the city meet their duty to accommodate those individuals under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Furthermore, the AAC would like to highlight the importance of specifically RAVBM and Internet voting as the most universally accessible options, which would solve significant service gaps that have been present in the past two elections for many disabled individuals who have not had access to independent voting.  

  Carried

• Moved by: Member Stevens
  Seconded by: Member McMurdo

  Regarding the facilitated accessible voting discussion held on November 14th, 2023 the AAC requests the city disregard the point form notes provided entirely and only use the meeting recording verbatim to reflect the opinions of the AAC on accessible voting.

  Carried

2.2

Solid Waste Letter to the Federal Government

Nicole Davison, Waste Resource Policy Analyst, provided an update to the Committee on the Single Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations. 

• Moved by: Member Cameron
  Seconded by: Member Stevens

  That the AAC support and recommend that the Singe-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations advocacy letter be submitted to the Director of Plastics Regulatory Affairs Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada.

  Carried

2.3

College Avenue Protected Cycling Infrastructure

Benita van Miltenburg, Transportation Planning, provided an overview on the College Avenue Protected Cycling Infrastructure Project. 

• Moved by: Member Lytle
  Seconded by: Member Cameron

  1. That the AAC support the College Ave cycletracks project.
  2. That the AAC be invited to visit the completed site with staff to discuss potential improvements for future projects and that AAC members be compensated for the additional work required for the site visit.

2.4

University Village Park Playground

Stefan Ilic, Park Planner, provided an overview of the University Village Park Playground. 

• Moved by: Member Lytle
  Seconded by: Member Stienstra

  That the Accessibility Advisory Committee of Council support the proposed new play space at University Village Park as presented and to be implemented in 2024.

  Carried

2.5

Central Station: New Construction

Amir Bhatti, Project Manager and Ian Scott, Manager, Facility Design & Construction, made a presentation on the Central Station: New Construction. 

• Moved by: Member Lytle
  Seconded by: Member Stevens

  That the AAC recommend the design of the new Central Station include adult changing stations, and that access to the washroom centre dignity and equity for all individuals, and look forward to the design meeting the FADM.

  Carried

2.6

Silvercreek Park: Washroom Renovations & Picnic Shelter

Jean Starchuk, Project Manager, Facilities and Energy Management, presented the Silvercreek Park Washroom Renovations & Pavilion Replacement. 

• Moved by: Member Ashkewe
  Seconded by: Member Ferguson Prior

  That the Accessibility Advisory Committee supports renovations to the existing Silvercreek Park washrooms, the replacement of the pavilion, the new trail design, new fixed seating, the new accessible parking spot and supports the overall design, with the additions of the modifications mentioned at the December 19, 2023 Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting.

  Carried

3.

Chair and Staff Announcements

3.1

Site Plan Review

Leanne Warren, Project Specialist, Accessibility, spoke to this item. 

3.2

Happy Holiday Season to all

Leanne Warren, Project Specialist, Accessibility, and the Chair spoke to this item.

4.

Adjournment

• Moved by: Member Ashkewe 
  Seconded by: Member Stevens

  That the Accessibility Advisory Committee be adjourned at 4:43 p.m. 

  Carried

5.

Next Meeting

Next Meeting: February 20, 2024, from 3-5 p.m.