REPORT TO COUNCIL

SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY ISSUES

DECEMBER 20, 1999

INFORMATION

1. Annual ReportFile: 3053-1/RTS: 1201
Council: January 11, 2000

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 1999.

Guest Presenters

Names of presenters Subject
Chris Allnut, Health Employees Union G.F.Strong/Pearson consolidation
Valerie Atyeo, B.C. Schizophrenia Society Mental illness
Ann Bailey, Universal Garden Society Universal garden on VGH site
Bruce Chown, Seniors Committee Transportation and housing issues
Gavin Davidson, License and Property Use Shared Ride Pilot Program
Alan Duncan, Planning Department Wellness Walkways Project
Marlene Franks, Social Planning and Disabled Parking Placard Program

Research Council (SPARC)

Dave Jackson, Deputy Building Inspector Building Code revisions
Mike Kemble, Planning Department Granville Skytrain wheelchair access plans
John Robertson, Permits & Licences Dept. Building Code issues
Heike Roth, Planning Department Accessible/Usable Dwellings Project
Patrick Ryan, Engineering Department Intersection signals for pedestrians
Pat Simpson, User-Friendly Homes User-friendly demonstration house

Robert Sleath, Advocates for Sight-Impaired Intersection signals for pedestrians

Consumers

Robert Voight, Planning Department Quayside Marina Development Project
Ulli Watkiss, City Clerk Roles and functions of committees

Significant Activities

In its December 1977 meeting, the Committee established strategic priorities. 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.

A significant activity of the Committee has been to build stronger links with City staff. As demonstrated by the list of guest presenters, the Committee has made considerable progress in encouraging staff to share their initiatives in return for the Committee's feedback. The Committee has also made greater use of accessing the expertise of staff in areas that have been identified as being of concern.

Members have also attended events as representatives of the Committee, including the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board's Disability Population Health Advisory Council, the IHEAR Conference and a planning session for accessibility at UBC.

Significant Topics

· Accessibility

- for commercial structures
- for dwellings
- for public buildings

· Barriers to access to commercial establishments
· Building Code revisions
· Homeowner's Grants
· Housing

- congregate housing policies
- development permit applications

· Gasoline service stations
· Transportation issues

- Granville Skytrain Station
- SeaBus terminal proposals

- Shared-ride service proposals
- Streetcar system proposals
- Taxicab services

· Wellness Walkways

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

Resolutions Forwarded to Council

Date Topic Council Resolution
January 26, 1999 Split Island Gas stations May 20, 1999
December 20, 199 Revisions to Building Code; Pending consideration by G.F. Strong/Pearson Council

consolidation

Future Directions

The Committee will continue to focus on the following areas as priorities

· Transportation issues, including public transit, HandyDART, taxicab service, shared ride 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.

The Committee has made considerable progress in recruiting members who more broadly represent the diversity of disability issues. Current members contribute representation of visual disabilities, hearing disabilities, various other physical disabilities and mental illness. When appointments are made for the upcoming 2000-2002 term, it would be useful for the Committee to obtain expertises in areas of developmental disabilities and cultural diversity. Committee members will encourage suitable candidates in these categories to put their names forward for Council's consideration.

(signed) “Ben Ostrander” (signed) “Katherine Taylor”
Co-Chair Co-Chair

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The City Manager congratulates the Special Advisory Committee on Disability Issues on their work, especially their focus on issues impacting people's lives that City policy has direct impact upon. The City Manager submits this report for Council's information.

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APPENDIX A

Special Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Committee Members

Ben Ostrander, Co-Chair
Katherine Taylor, Co-Chair
Susana Cogan
Simon E. J. Cox
Brian Cruickshank
Patti Dobie
Jan Gauthier
Laurie Hill
Loy Anne McCuaig
John Maddison
Vincent Miele
Paul E. Thiele
Paul Tubbe
Kim Vlchek-Egger
Ellen R. Wiebe

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver