Accessibility Advisory Committee
MINUTES 17
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
6:30 pm
Electronic Participation
This Meeting will be held through electronic participation in accordance
with Section 238 of the Municipal Act, 2001 as amended by the COVID-19
Economic Recovery Act, 2020.
Carole Legault, Coordonnatrice
613-580-2424 x28934
CaroleA.Legault@ottawa.ca
Notes: 1. Please note that these Minutes are to be
considered DRAFT until confirmed by Committee.
2. Underlining
indicates a new or amended recommendation approved by Committee.
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Present:
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Chair: Phillip
B. Turcotte
Vice-Chair: Brian Wade
Members: Ana Maria Cruz-Valderrama, Holly Ellingwood, Murray Gallant,
Roy Hanes, Vania Karam, Tammy Kelly; Don Patterson and Jennie St-Martin
Councillor Matt Luloff (non-voting member)
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Others:
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Kim Copeland, Project Manager, Public Realm, Planning,
Infrastructure and Economic Development (PIED)
Omar Choudhry, Project Lead, Transportation System Management,
Public Works & Environmental Services (PWES)
Caitlin Salter-MacDonald, Manager, Council and Committee Services,
Office of the City Clerk (OCC)
Lucille Berlinguette-Saumure, Program Manager, Accessibility
Office (OCC)
Megan Richards, Corporate Accessibility Specialist, Accessibility
Office (OCC)
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No
declarations of interest were filed.
CONFIRMED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
That the Accessibility Advisory Committee receive the staff presentation
for information and provide feedback as appropriate.
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Kim Copeland, Project Manager,
Public Realm, Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development (PIED) spoke to
a PowerPoint Presentation.
Staff responded to
questions regarding the height and width of the system; the placement and
location to ensure two-metres; the colour scheme and graphics and how it could
be an issue for persons with colour blindness; audio technology; what Wi-Fi
coverage entails; braille; and best practices using a Bluetooth/integrated
system. A suggestion to include a QR Code at different heights was recommended,
which would benefit persons with disabilities.
Brent Manuel, member of
the public echoed the suggestion of including a QR Code on the system.
Further feedback can be
provided to staff until September 24, 2021. After discussion, the Committee
RECEIVED this item for information.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
That the Accessibility Advisory Committee receive the staff
presentation for information and provide feedback as appropriate.
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Omar Choudhry, Project
Lead, Transportation System Management, Public Works & Environmental Services
(PWES) spoke to a PowerPoint presentation, which is held on file with the City
Clerk.
Brent Manuel, a member of
the public offered to provide feedback via email to staff.
Questions and comments
pertained to provincial legislation and if accessibility issues can be built
into the criteria; suggest to design vehicles so that people with disabilities
can drive them; sound and noise emissions should be integrated into these
vehicles for the safety of persons with disabilities and older adults;
Staff outlined that the
pilot project is slated to be until the summer of 2024 and changes to the
criteria can be made until then.
The Committee voiced
their ongoing concerns with the increase in these types of technologies and
how they lack noise emissions. It was suggested that Invest Ottawa sponsor a
company that would create a noise emitting device.
After discussion, Chair Turcotte
ceded the Chair to Member Wade and moved the following motion:
MOTION No. AAC 2021 01/17
Motion by P. Turcotte,
WHEREAS the City of Ottawa has
considered or given approval to various pilot projects related to low-speed
electric "vehicles" that do not make an audible sound while operating,
such as kick e-scooters, e-cargo bikes, and low-speed vehicles; and
WHEREAS the Accessibility Advisory
Committee (AAC) has consistently raised significant concerns about the danger
these vehicles present to pedestrians with Disabilities, and especially Blind
pedestrians, and Seniors; and
WHEREAS there is no standard currently
that the City of Ottawa can impose to require these vehicles to make an audible
noise while in operation in Ottawa; and
WHEREAS Transport Canada (TC)
regulations on Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems for these kinds of vehicles will
not come into force until 2023;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AAC
is of the view that, given the safety risk for persons with disabilities and
seniors inherent in these vehicles, no such vehicles should be approved for
use, even on a pilot basis, in Ottawa until the TC regulation comes into force;
AND THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that once the TC regulation comes into force, should the City have the
discretion to do so, it should require adherence with the most stringent
requirement under the regulation.
CARRIED with six YEAS and three NAYS as
follows:
YEAS (6): Members A.M.
Cruz-Valderrama, M. Gallant, R. Hanes, T. Kelly, J. St. Martin, P. Turcotte
NAYS (3): Members H.
Ellingwood, V. Karam, B. Wade
P. Turcotte resumed as
Chair and Member Wade proposed the following motion:
MOTION No. AAC 2021 02/17
Moved by B. Wade
That the Accessibility Advisory
Committee (AAC) RECEIVE the staff presentation and that AAC comments be
included in the staff report that will be presented to the Transportation
Committee and Council in October 2021.
CARRIED
COMMITTEE
BUSINESS
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
That the Accessibility Advisory Committee elect a Vice-Chair to serve
until the end of the 2022.
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Having no other nominations, the Chair declared
Member B. Wade as the Vice-Chair of the Committee until the end of 2022.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
That the Accessibility Advisory Committee recommend that the Community
and Protective Services Committee receive the 2019-2020 Accessibility
Advisory Committee annual report for information.
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CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
That the Accessibility Advisory Committee receive the updates for
information.
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Members provided updates
on the following items:
·
Solid Waste Master Plan Working Group
·
E-Scooters Accessibility Working Group
The meeting adjourned
at 9:33 pm.
Original
Signed by Original Signed by
Carole Legault Phillip
B. Turcotte
_____________________________ _____________________________
Committee Coordinator Chair