REPORT TO COUNCIL


                SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY ISSUES

                               September 7, 1995



   RECOMMENDATION


   1.   Accessible and Usable Dwellings for Everyone
        (including People with Varied and Varying
        Physical Abilities)                         

        At its meeting on September 7, 1995, the Special Advisory Committee
   on Disability Issues discussed the August 29, 1995 Policy Report (P5) on
   the above subject.

        The Committee felt earlier  drafts of the report went  much further
   with respect to opportunities for implementing this important work.

        The Committee  feels the  project should  proceed  as one  integral
   project, not two  separate projects  as suggested  in the  report.   The
   Committee  suggested  funding  be  increased  to $40,000  to  cover  the
   increased scope of work.

        Therefore, the Committee

   RECOMMENDS

        A.   THAT recommendation  A of  the report  be  amended to  include
             endorsation of all the steps outlined in the report:

             -    identify existing design  and construction  circumstances
                  that limit accessibility and  usability and can be easily
                  rectified;

             -    develop   accessibility   and   usability    design   and
                  construction  standards to  make  dwellings  more  easily
                  adaptable to the specific needs of individual users;

             -    develop  a  means  of  funding the  costs  of  individual
                  adaptations;


                                                          cont'd....


   Clause No. 1 (cont'd)


             -    explore alternative ideas generated  during the course of
                  the integrated project.

        B.   THAT costs associated with pursuing the project be funded from
             Contingency Reserve to a maximum of $40,000.

                                      __"Vince Miele"________________
                                      Acting Chair
                                      Special Advisory Committee on
                                           Disability Issues







   CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

   The City Manager believes Policy Report (P5) put forward to Council is a
   considered response to issues raised and an appropriate first step.

   The City Manager recommends against increasing funding and committing to
   a large work program before the results of the first phase are known.