Minutes

Accessibility Advisory Committee

The Corporation of the City of Brampton

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

6:30 P.m. - 8:30 P.m.

Council Chambers - 4th Floor, City Hall - Webex Electronic Meeting

Members Present:

• Sherri Hopkins (Vice-Chair)
• Nicolle Guillen
• Nuno Alberto Peixoto
• Franco Spadafora
• Deepa Mohandoss
• Daleara Hirjikaka
• Regional Councillor Pat Fortini

Members Absent:

• Glenda Coupland (Chair)
• Harpreet Bhons
• Steve Anthony Chronicles
• Raymond Shaver

Staff Present:

• Janice Adshead, Deputy Clerk
• Shant Goswami, Accessibility Coordinator
• Chandra Urquhart, Legislative Coordinator

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1.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:45 p.m. and adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

2.

Approval of Agenda

• AAC014-2021

  That the agenda for the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting of November 30, 2021 be approved as published and circulated. 

  Carried

3.

Declarations of Interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

Nil

4.

Minutes

4.1

Minutes - Accessibility Advisory Committee - June 1, 2021

The minutes were considered by Committee of Council on June 23, 2021, and approved by Council on July 8, 2021. The minutes were provided for Committee’s information.

5.

Presentations\Delegations

5.1

Delegation by Matthew Delean, Principal Architect, Architecture49, re: Design update - Proposed New Victoria Park Arena

City Clerk's staff advised that this item was brought forward from the meeting of September 7, 2021 due to failure to achieve quorum. Members were provided an opportunity to provide feedback through an email by the Accessibility Coordinator. The item has been dealt with.

6.

Municipal Accessibility Plan Priorities

Nil

7.

Other/New Business

7.1

Verbal update by Shant Goswami, Accessibility Coordinator, re:

• Treat Accessibly Initiative (AAC009-2021)
• Internal Accessibility Working Group

City Clerk's staff advised that items 7.1., 7.2., & 7.3. were brought forward from the meeting of September 7, 2021 due to failure to achieve quorum. Updates on these items were provided under items 7.4. and 7.5.

7.2

Verbal update by Janice Adshead, Deputy Clerk, Records & Information Management, re:

• Accessibility Policy and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's)
• Provincial Audit and Website Refresh
• Accessibility For Life Training

Dealt with under Item 7.4 Recommendation AAC015-2021

7.3

Shant Goswami, Accessibility Coordinator, re: Event - Small Business Webinar with Economic Development

Dealt with under Item 7.4. Recommendation AAC015-2021

7.4

Verbal update by Shant Goswami, Accessibility Coordinator, re: Year End Report and 2022 Goals

Shant Goswami, Accessibility Coordinator, provided an update for items 7.4. and 7.5. together.  

The following topics were highlighted on the Year End Report and 2022 Goals, and 2021 Year End Accessibility Update as follows:

• Audit by the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility
• Audit by the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) -  achievement of RHF Accessibility Certified for 10 City Sites
• Treat Accessibly Initiative (AAC009-2021)
• Internal Accessibility Working Group - members act as ambassadors to promote accessibility within the City
• Accessibility Policy and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's)
• Provincial Audit and Website Refresh
• Accessibility For Life Training - 80% of staff completed training program
• Event - Small Business Webinar with Economic Development
• Update of the 5-year Municipal Accessibility Plan 
• Award Ceremony - to recognize the commitment to accessibility and
  inclusion of people with disabilities
• Continue to review and provide comments on site plans and capital projects
• Next steps and goals -
  • review and update technical standards
  • improve public input on projects
  • improve accessibility within the City
  • build key relationships with agencies, such as, Rick Hansen Foundation, Microsoft, and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)

Mr. Goswami responded to questions and comments with respect to the following:

• RHF Standards and awards and scoring and rating system for the City noting that RHF conducts two rating levels - accessibility and gold
• Timing of media release by Communications for the City RHF ratings 
• Suggestion that the City's Planning staff be asked to provide an update at a future meeting on ways they may be able to contribute with respect to accessibility in residential buildings
• AODA requirement on the number of persons with disabilities on the Committee - City currently do not appear to meet that requirement
• Membership and existing vacancies on the Committee

Committee was advised by Clerk's Office staff that Committee membership is determined by Council and presently the membership is thirteen. Quorum count is reduced for meetings when vacancies arise as approved by Council. A report is being prepared to Council on the matter of appointments to Citizen Advisory Committees with existing vacancies. 

The following motion was considered:

• AAC015-2021

  1.  That the verbal update by Shant Goswami, Accessibility Coordinator, to the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting of November 30, 2021, re: Year End Report and 2022 Goals, be received; and

  2.  That the report by Janice Adshead, Deputy Clerk, to the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting of November 30, 2021, re: 2021 Accessibility Year-End Update be received.

   

  Carried

7.5

Verbal update by Janice Adshead, Deputy Clerk, re: 2021 Accessibility Year-End Update

Dealt with under Item 7.4. Recommendation AAC015-2021.

8.

Correspondence

Nil

9.

Information Items

Nil

10.

Question Period

In response to questions regarding the number of persons with disabilities on the Committee, Members were advised that according to the AODA the requirement, seven persons should be included in the membership. The Committee is currently functioning with two persons with disabilities.

11.

Public Question Period

Nil

12.

Adjournment

The following motion was considered:

• AAC016-2021

  That Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting of November 30, 2021,
  do now adjourn to meet again on March 8, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.  

  Carried