MEETING PREVIEW: Accessibility Advisory Committee for August 15, 2023

There’s no rest for the Accessibility Advisory Committee this August because they’ve got a lot of accessibility business to take care of. On this agenda there are ongoing matters of interest like the next municipal election, a new splash pad, and several new trails being developed around town. That’s almost literally a lot of ground to cover, so get more informed with the preview of this month’s AAC meeting.

NOTE #1: This meeting will take place in Meeting Room A at City Hall, but you can also watch it on video via Cisco Webex. (Find the link on the meeting agenda.)

NOTE #2: Accessibility-related accommodations available upon timely request to Sarah Cunneyworth 519-822-1260 extension 3536; TTY 519-826-9771 email: accessibility [at] guelph.ca.

NOTE #3: The meeting begins at 3 pm and is expected to wrap up around 5 pm.

2026 Municipal Election (Research findings and decision making criteria for voting methods and accessible voting service enhancements) – The City Clerks office returns to the AAC with some updated insights about how to improve accessibility for the next municipal election in 2026. The clerks have consulted comparator municipalities around the GTA and Waterloo Region about accessible voting options they’ve used, including some not previously mentioned by the AAC like curbside voting and voter assist machines. After this meeting, there will be a workshop with the AAC to get feedback on all voting methods and service enhancements in September, followed by a formal recommendation to be passed at the October AAC meeting.

Margaret Greene Splash Pad: Final Concept Design – As the subject line says, this the unveiling of the final design for the new splash pad, and the last chance for the AAC to leave staff any notes. There will be a large shade structure with two accessible paths (including one that connects to the playground), a seat wall in the splash zone, and accessible picnic tables. The pad itself will be split into three zones, one for toddlers, one for kids age 5 to 8 and one for youth age 9 and up. Construction is expected to start in 2024.

College Avenue Protected Cycling Infrastructure – Road work on College Avenue is expected to begin next year, and phase #1 will cover upgrades from the intersection at Edinburgh Road to University Avenue just west of Gordon. This work will include a new protected intersection at Edinburgh and five protected bus stops along College, and this is where staff need feedback from the AAC. There are potential accessibility barriers with the protected bus stop design and the protected intersection, and staff would like those notes.

Draft Design for Trail Curb Cut Standard – Staff are looking to cut some curbs, literally! The goal of this project is to make the city’s trails networks more inclusive for cyclists and people who use mobility devices, and those hard curbs don’t make it easy to get around, and also occasionally cause injury. Staff will present four different options for what the new accessible curbs might look like, and members of the committee will also be asked to identify the places to install some of those new cut curbs.

South End Community Centre (SECC): Recreational Trail and Design Update – The groundbreaking on the South End Community Centre is expected to take place later this year. The AAC will get a look at the final design of the building itself, but on top of that they will be asked for feedback about the trail that will run along the length of the campus. This trail will meet the standards in the Facility Accessibility Design Manuel (FADM) with appropriate slopes and surface materials that’s three metres wide plus rest areas, accessible wheelchair seating and night-time lighting.

Riverside Park: Bandshell Renovations and New Trails – The AAC will get an update about the work done so far on the bandshell in Riverside Park, and the work that’s starting this fall that’s expected to be completed by next spring. Among the items needing the committee’s feedback are the accessible changes to the stage area, the design of the new washrooms, and the new accessible trail connecting the bandshell with the two ball diamonds with will be three metres wide and have a slope of between zero and four per cent.

Site Plan Internal Review Report – No report is attached to this item, but only two minutes have been allocated for this item, so it will be brief. Sarah Cunneyworth, the Co-ordinator of Accessibility at the City, will speak to this. Also, this item was deferred from the last meeting.

Staff Announcements – The Emma to Earl Bridge has cleared its last hurdle, and the Guelph Barrier Free Committee Access Recognition Awards are coming back this fall. Nominations are open on Tuesday September 5.

Future Topics: