Minutes

Accessibility Advisory Committee

The Corporation of the City of Brampton

Tuesday, December 08, 2020

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

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

Members Present:

• Glenda Coupland (Chair)
• Vicki Faulkner
• Nicolle Guillen
• Daleara Hirjikaka
• Deepa Mohandoss
• Nuno Alberto Peixoto
• Franco Spadafora

Members Absent:

• Sherri Hopkins (Vice-Chair)
• Harpreet Bhons
• Steve Anthony Chronicles
• Raymond Shaver
• Regional Councillor Pat Fortini

Staff Present:

• Chandra Urquhart, Legislative Coordinator
• Teresa Olsen, Deputy Clerk, Admin Srvcs & Election
• Shant Goswami, Accessibility Coordinator
• Sylvia Ingham, Clerk, Access & Inclusion
• Alex Milojevic, General Manager, Transit
• Scott Gillner, Advisor, Transit Policy

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1.

Call to Order

Note: In consideration of the current COVID-19 public health orders prohibiting large public gatherings of people and requirements for physical distancing between persons, in-person attendance at this Committee of Council meeting was limited and physical distancing was maintained in Council Chambers at all times during the meeting.

The meeting was called to order at 6:31 p.m. and adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

As this meeting was conducted with electronic participation by Members of the Committee, the meeting started with the City Clerk calling the roll for attendance at the meeting.

2.

Approval of Agenda

• AAC015-2020

  That the Agenda for the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting of December 8, 2020 be approved as published.

  Carried

3.

Declarations of Interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

Nil

4.

Minutes

4.1

Minutes - Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting of August 12, 2020

The minutes were considered by Committee of Council on September 9, 2020 and approved by Council on September 16, 2020. The minutes were provided for Committee’s information.

5.

Presentations\Delegations

5.1

Presentation by Scott Gilner, Advisor, Transit Policy, re: Brampton Transit Presentation Update 

Alex Milojevic, General Manager, Transit, and Scott Gillner, Senior Policy Advisor, Transit, provided a presentation on Brampton Transit Update highlighting the following:

• Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification 
  • Brampton Gateway Terminal
  • Bramalea Transit terminal
• Capital Improvements 
  • number of accessible buses, bus stops and bus shelters 
• Covid-19 Impacts include
  • enhanced cleaning of all terminals 
  • revenues 
  • service reductions
  • Federal/Provincial funding relief
  • mask requirements
  • monthly ridership 

Committee responded to questions/comments and advised that staff will report back on the following:

• details on the magnus mode application intended to assist persons with cognitive disabilities  
• statistics on the usage of the magnus mode application and whether it is being used beyond those with autism 

The following motion was considered:

• AAC016-2020

  1.  That the presentation by Alex Milojevic, General Manager, Transit, and Scott Gillner, Senior Policy Advisor, Transit, to the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting of December 8, 2020, re: Brampton Transit Update be received.

  Carried

5.2

Accessibility For Life – Internal Training

Shant Goswami, Accessibility Coordinator, advised that in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) the City is required to provide training to all employees. He presented a video of the City's Accessibility for Life - Internal Training module that will be released early in the New Year. 

In response to questions, staff advised that Committee members will be able to review the information presented on the module before roll-out and all City staff will be required to complete the training course. The information will be available to the public through the meeting video which will be available on the City's website.    

6.

Municipal Accessibility Plan Priorities

Nil

7.

Other/New Business

7.1

Report by Teresa Olsen, Deputy Clerk, Administrative Services and Elections, re: Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) Program – City of Brampton Facilities

Teresa Olsen, Deputy Clerk, Administrative Services and Elections, provided an overview of the subject report noting that ten applications were received and reviewed and they will all be assessed by the RHFAC program. 

The following motion was considered:

• AAC017-2020

  1.  That the report by Teresa Olsen, Deputy Clerk, Administrative Services and Elections, re: Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) Program – City of Brampton Facilities, to the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting of December 8, 2020, be received.

  Carried

7.2

Report by Sylvia Ingham, Clerk, Access and Inclusion, City Clerk's Office, re: Accessibility Awards Program – Amendments to Nomination and Recognition Procedures

Sylvia Ingham, Clerk Access and Inclusion, provided an overview of the subject report, and explained the proposed enhancements to the current eligibility criteria for the nominations and recognition process due to Covid-19 pandemic. 

In response to comments and questions from Committee, Ms. Ingham noted that plaques will be awarded to the selected nominees; all nominees will receive a certificate of recognition signed by the Mayor and only one entry per person will be accepted. 

The following motion was considered: 

• AAC18-2020

  1. That the report by Sylvia Ingham, Access and Inclusion Clerk, to the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting of December 8, 2020, re: Accessibility Awards Program – Amendments to Nomination and Recognition Procedures, be received; and

  2. That the Accessibility Awards Program established in 2017, be amended to include the following updates:

  • a new Award category be established for “Accessible Programs & Initiatives”, open to individuals, community groups and businesses;
  • self-nominations be permitted;
  • employees and Members of Council be eligible to submit nominations for the Award categories as long as they have no involvement in the review or selection process;
  • award recipients be invited to a Committee of Council or Council meeting in June annually, during National AccessAbility Week, for a presentation of the awards; and
  • all nominees for each category be recognized with a certificate signed by the Mayor.
  Carried

7.3

Enforcement and By-law Services, re: Accessibility Parking Enforcement Update Q1-Q4 2020

Ryan Maiss, Accessible Enforcement Officer, provided an overview of the number of new investigations initiated, accessible parking spaces investigated and orders to comply issued. 

In response to questions from Committee regarding complaints by residents for illegal use of accessible parking spaces, staff outlined the process followed and proactive action taken by officers, including sending a letter to vehicle owners. Staff advised that officers are not always available to visit complaint sites in a timely manner and reiterated that a license plate should be provided at the time of a complaint for any follow up action to be taken. 

The following motion was considered:

• AAC019-2020

  That the update by Ryan Maiss, Accessible Enforcement Officer, to the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting of December 8, 2020,  re: Accessible Enforcement Parking Q1-Q4 2020 be received. 

  Carried

8.

Correspondence

Nil

9.

William Osler Health Centre Accessibility Advisory Committee

Nil

10.

Information Items

10.1

Update by Shant Goswami, Accessibility Coordinator, re: Accessibility Awareness Week – Nov. 30-Dec.4, 2020

Shant Goswami, Accessible Coordinator, provided an overview of the activities for Accessibility Awareness Week that was organized for the week of November 30 - December 4, 2020.  He noted that the City was committed to hosting similar events in the future.

11.

Future Agenda Items

Nil

12.

Construction Projects

Nil

13.

Question Period

Nil

14.

Public Question Period

The public was given the opportunity to submit questions via e-mail to the City Clerk’s Office regarding any decisions made under this section of the agenda.

No questions were received.

15.

Adjournment

The following motion was considered:

• AAC20-2020

  That Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting do now adjourn to meet again on March 9, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. 

  Carried