Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee
Date: Thursday July 23rd, 2015
Location: Conestoga Room, Kitchener City Hall
Present:
Greg Moore (Co-Chair), David Kuhn (Co-Chair), Keri Cameron, Sharon Giles, Donna Hartzler,
Amanda Moorehead, Paula Saunders, Laura Master, Carrie Speers, Mike Shipley, Brenda
Robinson, Kathie Must, Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener/City of Waterloo), Kaitlyn Draker
(Township of Wellesley), Johanna Ellis (City of Kitchener, Recorder), Councillor Kelly GallowaySealock (City of Kitchener), Councillor Bob Mavin (City of Waterloo), Councillor Sue Foxton
(Region of Waterloo)
Regrets:
Andrew Tutty, Dawn Clelland, Rob Bender, Vanessa Lopak (Region of Waterloo), Dawn
Mittelholtz (Township of Wilmot), Julie Forth (Township of Woolwich), Julia Sippel (Township of
North Dumfries)
Guest(s):
Bebe Khan, Anna Lee Sangster, Sasha Oliveira, Dayna Edwards, Dillon White (City of
Waterloo)
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Welcome and Introductions
David welcomed everyone
Round table introductions
Approval of June Minutes and July Agenda
Moved by Sharon Giles and seconded by Amanda Moorhead to accept the June
minutes. CARRIED
Moved by Mike Shipley and seconded by Donna Hartzler to accept the July agenda.
CARRIED
Declarations of Pecuniary Interests
None
City of Waterloo Accessibility Standards for the Built Environment (Sasha Oliveira
presenter)
 City of Kitchener will update their Urban Design Manual to include the new requirements
for the Design of Public Spaces.
 City of Waterloo will have it as a separate document.
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Discussion Highlights:
Accessible door opener. Not to be placed in corners that cannot be reached.
Too few accessible parking spaces. Raise the numbers because of the aging
population.
New updated active accessible signage. Adopted in New York State.
Ramps. Change to 1200 millimeters interior from 900 millimeters.
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Depressed curbs are important. Example in Belmont section and the depth of them
should be done properly.
Suggested to have more than the minimal 20% of tables to be accessible at outdoor
eating areas.
Have not looked at meters and or pay stations. Transportation department would be
responsible. This should be in the document.
Other departments will have input pertaining to their specific expertise.
Automatic door opener. Long cylinder opener where someone can tap it and much
easier to use when in appropriate location.
Think about invisible disabilities as well.
Needs more input from GRAAC.
Looking to have it reviewed by the City in August.
GRAAC members wishing to review the guide more thoroughly can provide input
directly to Sasha through email or phone by August 28th. Lolita will email Sasha’s
contact to all members.
Snow Removal Position Paper (Keri Cameron, Greg Moore)
Encouraging municipal government to shovel/remove sidewalk snow.
Discussion:
May not be met by approval because of the increase in tax dollars.
Move forward with the letter and ask anyway.
Kitchener had a report done where it would be approximately $40.00 per household and
closer to 4 million per year.
Concern of standards around snow clearing.
Whose responsibility. Some streets are city and some are Regional.
Put in a document and staff reps can discuss who would draft that document.
Can we get more accurate costs?
Can the size of the property be taken into cost consideration?
Should be part of the AODA Built Environment Standard.
What about people with no sidewalks?
GRAAC’s purpose is to put papers and positions forward.
Next steps, work on 2nd draft so committee members can review it.
BREAK
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BUILT Environment Committee Update (Paula Saunders)
a) City of Waterloo and Bluevale Collegiate received a grant for an accessible fitness
playground.
b) Many GRAAC members participated in the walk on the Iron Horse Trail. Belmont to
Union and as far as Cherry St. Pointed out issues on the trail and Josh Joseph took
down comments. Josh has been in touch with Lolita regarding signage and sent draft
signage pictures for committee to review.
 Trail features must be on signs as per legislation, January 1st, 2016. Includes trail length,
surfaces etc.
July 23rd, 2015 – GRAAC Minutes
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Comments from GRAAC on trail signage
Consider the height of the sign so if someone is reading it while seated in a wheelchair
they will be able to read all of the information.
On the sign include a symbol indicating a rest area. A member shared that she would
use trails if she knew how far she would have to walk to get to a rest area to allow a
break before continuing on.
Use of clear measurement of distance from one point to the next (ie. in km, in minutes by
walking etc.)
Include braille
Make the sign so that you can walk up to the sign if you need to get up close to read it.
Like the colour contrast on your draft sign.
c) Accessibility at intersections. Started with a customer complaint. Anyone from GRAAC
interested in forming a sub group to discuss intersections. Committee members who are
interested to help are Paula, Sharon, Greg, Keri. (others will be invited outside of
GRAAC) Meeting date set for Thursday August 6th, 11am – 1pm at the Independent
Living Centre.
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Transportation Committee Update (Sharon Giles)
Presentation from GRT about ION. Create a paper outlining concerns.
Discussed parking, taxis, go trains and signage.
Will be re addressing the terms of reference.
Forward comments/concerns to Sharon or Vanessa.
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Councillor(s) Report(s)
This is Councillor Bob Mavin’s (City of Waterloo) first meeting.
No reports by Councillor’s this month.
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Co-chair/Staff Reports
Committee decided that 2 ½ weeks to provide feedback regarding the City of Waterloo
Draft Accessibility Standards for the Built Environment guide was reasonable.
No August GRAAC meeting.
In June Angelo Apfelbaum in Licensing and Enforcement at the Region came and spoke
with GRAAC about taxis. He is updating the taxi by-law, and will be seeking input from
members of GRAAC and people with an interest in accessibility. He will be holding a
focus group session the afternoon of Thursday, August 20th, at the Region building at
150 Frederick in Kitchener. An invitation to this focus group will go out the week of
August 4th with more information, but please mark your calendars.
Greg and Keri went to Victoria Park and were disappointed to see that the new
playground is not 100% accessible. Half is and half is not.
Reminder to all members to please limit your questions to one to allow all members a
chance to speak around the table.
July 23rd, 2015 – GRAAC Minutes
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Motion to Adjourn by Paula Saunders, seconded by Laura Master and carried.
Next meeting is Thursday September 24th, 2015 at Kitchener City Hall in the Conestoga Room
July 23rd, 2015 – GRAAC Minutes
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