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7TH REPORT OF THE

 

ACCESSIBILITY Advisory Committee

 

meeting to be held on July 28, 2016, commencing at 3:05 PM, in Committee Room #4, Second Floor, London City Hall. 

 

PRESENT:   M. Dawthorne (Chair), J. Bell, M. Cairns, F. de Lasa, C. Dodman, A. Forrest, J. Madden, J. Quigg and J. Sanders and H. Lysynski (Acting Secretary). 

 

ABSENT:  J. Menard.

 

ALSO PRESENT:  C. da Silva.  

 

 

I.

CALL TO ORDER

 

1.

Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest

 

That it BE NOTED that M. Dawthorne disclosed a pecuniary interest with respect to part i) of clause 4, of this Report, having to do the Policy Sub-Committee Report as it relates to  websites meeting AODA standards, by indicating that he works for an Agency that provides this service.

 

II.

SCHEDULED ITEMS

 

None.

 

III.

SUB-COMMITTEES & WORKING GROUPS

 

2.

Built Environment and Facilities

 

That the following actions be taken with respect to the Built Environment and Facilities Sub-Committee from its meeting held on July 11, 2016:

 

a)                          the following actions be taken with respect to the document providing a review of intersections relating to the prioritization of audible pedestrian signals appended to the July 11, 2016 Report of the Built Environment and Facilities Sub-Committee

 

i)    the above-noted document BE FORWARDED to the Division Manager, Roadway Lighting and Traffic Control for information; and,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ii)    the Division Manager, Roadway Lighting and Traffic Control BE REQUESTED to report back to the Accessibility Advisory Committee (ACCAC) advising whether or not the intersections noted in the above-noted document are being reprioritized and the rationale for the decisions;

 

b)                          the Civic Administration BE REQUESTED to review the following concerns with respect to any proposed changes that are being considered to the Facilities Accessibility Design Standards (FADS) as they relate to its scope and the inclusion or the separation of outdoor space requirements:

 

i)             as the FADS definition of “Facility” includes “buildings, structures, site improvement, complexes, equipment, roads, walks, passageways, parks, parking lots or other real or personal property located on a site”, the FADS must adequately address all spaces noting that outdoor spaces should not be removed or left to stand alone as a separate document and further noting that the 2007 version of FADS (Clause 4.5.2) “Outdoor Recreational Facilities” includes this in the general design performance statements. Further noting that these outdoor spaces were included within that document based on the  rationale that opportunities for recreation, leisure, and sport activities should be available to all members of the community;

 

ii)            as the FADS is used as a comprehensive resource tool for many municipality’s beyond our City and that it is, by design, a user-friendly single-source compilation of several accessibility reference documents (Re: O Reg 191/11, O Reg 413/12, CSA-Z614 Annex H, and O.B.C.), it is imperative that it remains as a singular focused document for accessibility throughout all aspects of our City, whether indoors or outdoors space;

 

iii)      with regards to outdoor spaces in particular, many design-requirement aspects of the existing FADS could be enhanced or improved-upon with an updated document; in particular, the ACCAC has gone to great lengths since the 2007 version, to address design concerns with parking, sidewalks, community gardens, playgrounds, and recreational trails and pathways, as these matters had not yet been considered in detail within the 2007 version of FADS; and,

 

iv)          the expected timeline for completion of a new FADS document in early 2017 is of concern as the timelines restricts the ability to adequately address the complexity of design requirements for outdoor spaces within that timeframe. Noting that it is recommended that the the scope of the revised document is to be expanded upon to be more inclusive of outdoor spaces and recognizing that the task of including the many details for outdoor spaces may be considerable and given the timeline may not be achievable.   ACCAC is concerned that in an effort to achieve the suggested timeline, important design requirements of outdoor spaces may remain simply as-is with “general recommendations” only, which may then not be addressed again for many years.  It is recommended that if outdoor spaces are to be included in the FADS, with focus and detail, the expected timeline for completion may need to be extended “as long as necessary” for staff to provide an effective document for ACCAC to review. (as per ACCAC’s 2016 Work Plan); and,

 

c)                the Municipal Council BE REQUESTED to review the timeline expectation for the completion of the review and proposed revisions to the FADS.

 

3.

Education and Awareness

 

That the report of the Education and Awareness Sub-Committee from its meeting held on July 11, 2016 BE RECEIVED.

 

4.

Policy

 

That, the following actions be taken with respect to the report of the Policy Sub-Committee from its meeting held on July 4, 2016:

 

a)                           the Civic Administration BE REQUESTED to undertake the following actions with respect to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) requirements for websites to be accessible:

 

i)                             investigate options to provide captioning on all pre-recorded video content on the City of London website; it being noted that once the “live” video is archived it is no longer considered “live” and, as of January 1, 2014, it is required to be captioned as per the AODA;

ii)                investigate options to provide captioning to all televised Municipal Council sessions, in accordance with Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regulations for broadcast captioning effective Sept 1, 2012;

iii)                investigate options to provide captioning at a standard higher than that available through current automated software for live web broadcasts or streaming; it being noted that other communities across Southern Ontario are implementing or enhancing existing captioning options; it being further noted that at least one community in Ontario has been subject to a lawsuit over failure to provide captioning on televised council broadcasts; and,

iv)               report back to the ACCAC on options available and intended courses of action relating to the above-noted recommendations;

 

b)                           the Civic Administration BE REQUESTED to attend a future meeting of the Accessibility Advisory Committee to outline how the Civic Administration and the London Police Services works together with respect to addressing high risk traffic areas to allow the ACCAC to better understand existing practices and data and how that information may be used to help prevent accidents, injuries and acquired disabilities within the City of London; and,

 

c)                Minister T. MacCharles, Minister of Accessibility, BE REQUESTED to attend a future meeting of the ACCAC to provide an update to the ACCAC on the Province’s vision for Accessibility and how London can best align its new practices with Provincial initiatives.

 

IV.

CONSENT ITEMS

 

5.

6th Report of the Accessibility Advisory Committee

 

That the 6th Report of the Accessibility Advisory Committee from its meeting held on June 23, 2016 BE RECEIVED.

 

 

6.

Planning and Design Standards for Trails in Environmentally Significant Areas – Municipal Council Resolution

 

That the Municipal Council resolution adopted at its meeting held on June 23, 2016, with respect to the update to the Planning and Design Standards for trails in Environmentally Significant Areas BE RECEIVED.

 

7.

5th Report of the Accessibility Advisory Committee – Municipal Council Resolution

 

That the Municipal Council resolution adopted at its session held on June 23, 2016, with respect to the 5th Report of the Accessibility Advisory Committee from its meeting held on May 26, 2016 BE RECEIVED.

 

V.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

 

8.

2017 Mayor’s New Year’s Honour List – Nominations Requested

 

That it BE NOTED that the Accessibility Advisory Committee (ACCAC) reviewed and received a communication dated July 11, 2016, from the City Clerk, with respect to the 2017 Mayor’s New Year’s Honour List (MNYHL). The ACCAC were encouraged to submit nominations for the MNYHL for consideration at its September, 2016 meeting.

 

9.

ACCAC Vacancies

 

That the City Clerk BE REQUESTED to undertake recruitment efforts for the Accessibility Advisory Committee (ACCAC) Resource Member vacancies as follows:

 

·                                           Employment Sector;

·                                           Health Practitioner;

·                                           Mental Health Sector;

·                                           Housing Sector; and,

·                                           London District Catholic School Board;

 

it being noted that working with the Civic Administration to fill Non-Voting Resource Member positions is identified in the 2016 Accessibility Advisory Committee Work Plan; it being further noted that the ACCAC received a communication dated July 14, 2016, from M. Dawthorne, with respect to this matter.

 

10.

Accessibility Advisory Committee Brochure

 

That the attached, revised Accessibility Advisory Committee brochure BE APPROVED for printing; it being noted that the ACCAC has sufficient funds in its 2016 Budget and the printing of the brochure is included in the 2016 ACCAC Work Plan.

 

11.

Disable Parking Signs

 

That the attached, revised Accessibility Advisory Committee leaflet BE APPROVED for printing; it being noted that the ACCAC has sufficient funds in its 2016 Budget and the printing of the leaflet is included in the 2016 ACCAC Work Plan.

 

12.

Installing Barrier-Free Push Buttons and Power Door Operators at your Place of Business

 

That the attached, revised Accessibility Advisory Committee leaflet BE APPROVED for printing; it being noted that the ACCAC has sufficient funds in its 2016 Budget and the printing of the leaflet is included in the 2016 ACCAC Work Plan; it being noted at the ACCAC approved the reimbursement of $15.25 to F. de Lasa for the printing of the brochures and leaflet for the ACCAC Members to review.

 

13.

Resources for Push Buttons and Power Door Operators

 

That the Civic Administration BE REQUESTED to incorporate the attached Resources for Push Buttons and Power Door Operators on the ACCAC resource page of the City of London website.

 

 

VI.

DEFERRED MATTERS/ADDITIONAL BUSINESS

 

14.

AODA Training for Incoming Advisory Committee Members

 

That the Accessibility Advisory Committee held a general discussion with respect to the required AODA training for incoming Advisory Committee Members.

 

VII.

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting adjourned at 4:37 PM.

 

 

 

NEXT MEETING DATE:    August 25, 2016

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