It’s that time again for the Accessibility Advisory Committee, on schedule, almost exactly two months since the last one. For this October meeting, the AAC will talk about that special workshop that didn’t happen, new road designs, new playground designs, the accessible future of Guelph’s patios, and a special note about how the federal government undid a whole lot of good work on plastics.
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.
Rescheduling the AAC Workshop for Municipal Election – There was supposed to be a special workshop meeting of the committee earlier this month, but the meeting was scrubbed due to a lack of quorum. Committee will talk about next steps and a potential meeting date in November.
Annual Play Equipment Lifecycle Project – The committee will be asked to look at the designs for new playground equipment at Dovercliffe Park and Howitt Park and offer any comments they have about accessibility concerns and/or areas for improvement. In other news, staff have selected the University Village Park as the location for a fully accessible playground and rubber surfacing as it’s centrally located with parking and on a transit route. More information on that last bit will be available at the December meeting.
Complete Streets Design Guide: Proposed Pedestrian and Cyclist Crossing – Staff worked with the AAC on complete streets early this year, and this is another step in finalizing those details before its presented to council sometime in the new year. This new information is being presented without the input of CNIB, staff were unable to complete their consultation in time for this meeting, but the committee can still have their feedback on changes like having the sidewalk and track at the same elevation through the intersection and a grade break along the edge of sidewalk to assist the visually impaired.
Seasonal Patio Program – Patio season is over for another year so that means it’s time to re-evaluate what worked and what didn’t. Patio owners are provided with a checklist for meeting accessibility needs, but City staff still want to hear about all the things that did work and all the things that didn’t about this past year’s patio season.
Emma to Earl Active Transportation Bridge – The two design options for the pedestrian and cycling bridge over the Speed River south of Speedvale is presently up for review on the City’s Have You Say site, so the time has come for the AAC to have their say too. The committee will review the two designs and leave comments with staff.
Single-Use Items By-law Update – You may recall that the City of Guelph had laid out a single-use plastic policy before the federal government completed their superseding regulations last year. Unfortunately that means superseding the work that the AAC did in allowing a carve our for the use of single-use plastic straws for people with disabilities who might have issue with the use of a paper straw, or have a financial barrier that might prevent them from getting a plastic straw if they don’t come gratis. City staff will be asked to send a letter to the Plastics Regulatory Affairs Division or Environment and Climate Change Canada to explain things.
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