REPORT TO COUNCIL

SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY ISSUES

MARCH 13, 2001

INFORMATION

1. Annual Report RTS No: 1959

CC No.: 3053-1
Council: March 27, 2001

The Special Advisory Committee on Disability Issues (SACDI) was established by the Vancouver City Council on November 22, 1977. A list of current members is attached as Appendix A.

The objective of the Committee is to make the City more livable for its disabled residents by removal of physical and social barriers which impede their full participation in all aspects of City life.

This annual report covers the year 2000.

Guest Presenters

Names of presenters Subjects
Bruce Chown, SAC Seniors Transportation-related issues
Richard Kozuszyn, Developer Proposed B&B at 1135 Barclay Street
Bob MacDonald, Parking Engineer Parking requirements in the changing environment
Wendy Magneison, Mgr Taxation and Utilities Homeowners Grant
Karen O'Shannacery, Lookout Emergency Proposed shelter at 395 West 5th Avenue
Aid Society
John Robertson, Chief Building Official, P&L Changes to Vancouver Building Code
Heike Roth, Planner, Zoning Policy Accessible and Usable Dwellings Project/ Congregate Housing Guidelines

Significant Activities

Early in 2000, the Committee reaffirmed strategic priorities established in the previous term. Since that time, the Committee has been working to engage in issues on a more proactive basis. The Committee is now spending less time reacting to items of correspondence and more time identifying and learning about issues that impact on persons with disabilities.

The Committee has continued to build on its links with City staff. Elements of the Planning, Permits and Licenses and Engineering Departments routinely seek out the advice and comments of the Committee on questions within its particular field of expertise.

Significant Topics

· Accessibility

· Barriers to access to commercial establishments
· Building Code revisions
· Congregate housing
· Homeowner's Grants and property taxes for people with disabilities
· Housing

· Gasoline service stations
· Parking regulation revisions
· Pedestrian safety
· Transportation issues

If council would like further information on any of these topics, the Committee would be pleased to present it.

Future Directions

The Committee will continue to focus on the following areas as priorities:
· Transportation issues, including public transit, HandyDART, taxicab service, sharedride services and access to full-service gasoline stations.
· Housing issues, including the Building Code, congregate housing and design incentives
· Public access, including barrier-free access to and within commercial facilities, safety and accessibility of public sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and pedestrian routes, and ongoing maintenance of accessibility issues identified by the disabilities community, including health care, employment and any area in which the City has a current or future role.

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The City Manager supports the areas that the Special Committee on Disability Issues has identified and focussed on for the past year, plus those under consideration for the future.
The City Manager submits this annual report for CONSIDERATION.

APPENDIX A

Special Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Year 2000 Committee Members

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