Vancouver City Council

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY ISSUES

Minutes

October 14, 2004

A regularly scheduled meeting of the Advisory Committee on Disability Issues was held on Thursday, October 14, 2004, at 5:00 p.m. in Committee Room No.1, Third Floor, Vancouver City Hall.

Members Present: Paul Tubbe, Chair
Jeanette Andersen
*Sheryl Burns
Larry Cantrell
Jeffrey Christopher
Louise Gaudry
Bruce Gilmour
Craig Langston
Tanny Marks
Sofia Sciarretta
Ron Scott
Patrick Simpson
Jill Stainsby

Members Absent: Susana Cogan

Also Present: Lorna McCreath, Equal Employment Opportunity Program
Tasia Alexis, Development Disabilities Association
Desiree Baron, Vancouver Public Library
Kathleen Shiels, Brain Resource Advocacy & Info. Network
Emese Szucs, SPARC
Councillor Tim Louis, City of Vancouver
Bruce Chown, Chair, Advisory Committee on Seniors Issues
Gillian Fullerton, Advisory Committee on Seniors Issues
Shira Golden, Landscape Architect

Also Absent: Commissioner Heather Deal, Park Board

City Clerk=s Office: Nicole Ludwig, Meeting Coordinator

*Denotes absence for a portion of the meeting.

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As the Chair was absent at the beginning of the meeting, the Committee agreed to start with Larry Cantrell as Acting Chair.

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Adoption of Minutes

The minutes of the Advisory Committee on Disability Issues meeting of September 9, 2004, were adopted with the following amendment:

Item 4, add to the third paragraph: "Sofia Sciarretta also offered her services."

In discussion, Jeffrey Christopher indicated Brian Smith has accepted a new job and has terminated his relationship with PHILIA for the time being. Sofia Sciarretta indicated Mr. Smith is attempting to marry both jobs through negotiated involvement.

The Acting Chair indicated Mr. Christopher and Ms. Sciarretta should follow-up with Mr. Smith.

Leave of Absence

There were no requests for Leave of Absence.

Correspondence

The Correspondence file was distributed.

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The Committee agreed to vary the agenda to postpone the election of Vice-Chair until the Chair arrived. For clarity, the Agenda items are minuted in the order in which they were dealt with.

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2. Advisory Body Web Page

Nancy Largent, Public Involvement Coordinator, gave a demonstration of the new Civic Agencies website and sought the Committee's feedback.

In discussion it was noted emails to the Committee should be available to all members, not solely the Chair and Vice-Chair, and there should be a link to committee publications. The Acting Chair noted that the email issue is one that should be decided internally by the Committee.

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At this point in the proceedings, Paul Tubbe arrived and assumed the Chair.

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1. Election of Vice-Chair

The Meeting Coordinator conducted elections for the position of Vice-Chair for the 2004 term. Following due process Larry Cantrell was elected Vice-Chair.

3. Southeast False Creek

Jeff Olson, VIA Architecture and Ian Smith, Senior Planner, Central Area Major Developments Group, provided an update on the redevelopment of Southeast False Creek and sought endorsement on universal design and accessible components.

Mr. Smith detailed timing and current financial issues, general features of the ODP and the issues behind requests from Council this year on the ODP. Mr. Smith noted there will be open houses regarding the ODP at Vancouver Public Library (Central Branch) on Tuesday, October 19, 2004, from 4 to 8 p.m., and at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre on Saturday, October 23, 2004 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a Tuesday, Public Hearing December 14, 2004

Mr. Olson gave details on plans for land use (park, residential and commercial), transportation in the area, building construction and integration of the neighbourhood school and community centre.

In discussion, the Chair clarified changes requested this year by Council are due to policy changes entailed in the June 2002 Report of the Sidewalk Task Force entitled, "Vancouver - A Walking City: Sidewalk Safety, Access and Ambience for All Pedestrians" (distributed - on file).

RESOLVED

THAT the Advisory Committee on Disability Issues endorse the Southeast False Creek development in principle as a great opportunity for all citizens.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Sheryl Burns absent for the vote)

4. Civic Accessibility Rating Tools

Ron Scott presented a proposal to establish a civic accessibility rating tool and sought the Committee's approval.

Mr. Scott indicated the survey form from the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship included in the agenda package is a way to establish a baseline of information.

Emese Szucs, SPARC, indicated the City of Vancouver is actually much further ahead than it would rate on the questionnaire.

Lorna McCreath, EEO, indicated she is not sure what endorsing this questionnaire will accomplish, given the 2010 project addresses rating instruments for municipalities.

In discussion, it was noted that the larger 2010 group may be a more appropriate arena for the Committee to provide feedback.

The Chair encouraged the 2010 Sub-committee to meet.

5. Community Access Programs

Bruce Gilmour presented a proposal on community access programs and sought the Committee's approval.

RESOLVED

A. THAT City of Vancouver staff complete an inventory of what community sites (community centres, libraries, senior's centres, etc.) have completed, or plan to supply information technology services (Internet Café or the like).

B. FURTHER THAT, to this study, the inventory incorporates the Industry Canada recognized British Columbia Universal Access Initiative "Accessibility Survey." The inventory results will provide the information required for the City to make arrangements for upgrading of existing and proposed publicly accessible computer programs.

C. THAT the enhanced accessibility should support the principle of universality. This principle directs the design and implementation of standards for consistency in program and service delivery and end user outcomes which include sustainability, inclusion, engagement, contribution, and accessibility.

amended

AMENDMENT MOVED

THAT recommendation A be amended to replace the words "City of Vancouver staff" with the words "the Advisory Committee on Disability Issues recommend Council direct staff to".

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Sheryl Burns absent for the vote)

POSTPONEMENT MOVED

THAT the motion regarding Community Access Programs (CAP) be postponed to the November 9, 2004, meeting of the Advisory Committee on Disability issues.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Sheryl Burns absent for the vote)

6. Sub-Committee Reports

a) Outreach

Larry Cantrell detailed the meeting with the Advisory Committee on Seniors Issues regarding the upcoming Tripartite Public meeting to be held before the end of the year between the Advisory Committee on Disability Issues, the Advisory Committee on Diversity Issues and the Advisory Committee on Seniors Issues. A further meeting will be held next Thursday, October 28, 2004.

In discussion, concerns were noted that members were unable to contact the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Diversity to advise him of this previous meeting. There were also concerns about the language used in the proposed name for the upcoming meeting.

RESOLVED

THAT the Advisory Committee on Disability Issues recommend "Creating a Barrier-Free Vancouver" be the theme of the Tripartite Sub-Committee meeting to take place at the end of November.

LOST
(Jeanette Anderson, Jeffrey Christopher, Bruce Gilmour, Tanny Marks, Ron Scott, Patrick Simpson, and Jill Stainsby opposed)
(Sheryl Burns absent for the vote)

POSTPONEMENT MOVED

THAT the reports of the other Sub-committees be postponed to the November 9, 2004, meeting of the Advisory Committee on Disability Issues.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Sheryl Burns absent for the vote)

7. Council Liaison's Comments

None.

8. Enquiries and Other Matters

RESOLVED

THAT the following item to be raised under New Business on the October 14, 2004, Agenda for the Advisory Committee on Disability Issues be postponed to the November 9, 2004, meeting:

· Changes to HandyDart

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Sheryl Burns absent for the vote)

9. Next Meeting

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Advisory Committee on Disability Issues is on Tuesday, November 9, 2004.

The Committee adjourned at 7:02 p.m.

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