If it’s an even numbered month, then that means it’s time for the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting. In this edition, the AAC will tackle a new playground feature, the redrawing of a couple of streets, the design of parks and trails, and the possibility of funding a new accessible ride at a local cab company. Get the full details about al the items on the agenda below…
NOTE #1: This meeting will take place in Meeting Room A at City Hall, but you can also watch it on video via Microsoft Teams. (Find the link on the meeting agenda.)
NOTE #2: Accessibility-related accommodations available upon timely request to the committee liaison at 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.
October 17th, 2024 Accessibility Advisory Committee Resolution Follow-up: Orientation Materials – Last fall, the AAC requested some more autonomy, but amidst the review of the Advisory Committees of Council it was decided by staff and city council last month to not grant that greater autonomy. In the consent agenda for this meeting is a recap of what ACOCs do and how they interact with council and the greater apparatus of city hall.
Exhibition Park Accessible Zipline Play Feature Project – A Guelph family fundraised to create a new featured called an “Unlimited Play Rail-Rider” that will also have an accessible seat for kids with disabilities. It’s a memorial for two children who passed away and enjoyed playing at Exhibition Park, so the location is personally important. The surface will have rubber tile, while the rider itself is described as having “the same as the accessible seat on many of the City’s existing swing sets. The seat has been rated and tested for ASTM up to 750 lbs. The clearance from the play surface to the bottom of the accessible seat is approximately 406mm (16”).” This would be the first playground feature of its kind in the city.
Wyndham Street North: Barrier-Free Street Design and Accessible Parking – When Wyndham Street North gets reconstructed in 2026 it will be with the goal of making it barrier-free. What does that mean? Think about Wilson Street with is flattened curb, no vertical barriers and the separation of pedestrian and vehicle space with bollards. In terms of accessible parking spaces, there will be three explicitly accessible spaces, but staff believe that with the flattened curb any of the proposed 35 spaces could be considered accessible. That part will be up to the AAC to determine.
Park Trail and Open Space Manual – Part of the work coming out of the Parks and Rec Master Plan was to come up with a clear set of standards for the design, service levels and design quality for all parks, trails and open spaces in the city. Staff identified four sections specifically for AAC feedback: grading, site furniture, playground equipment, and accessibility. The recommendations are based on feedback from staff, developers and consultants.
Funding Request by Red Top Taxi for Vehicle Accessibility Modifications – Since 2018, the City of Guelph has been collecting funds from Vehicle for Hire businesses like taxi companies who could not commit to providing accessible vehicles. There’s around $288,000 in the bank now and the AAC is essentially responsible for dispersing those funds. Red Top Taxi is looking to access $39,500 of those funds so that they might use them to modify a vehicle to make it accessible.
Protected Intersection at College and Gordon – Following up on the upgrades to this intersection completed last fall, staff will report to the AAC about how the new protected inspection is performing, and it turns out that it’s performing pretty well. A similar design will next be implemented at the corner of College and Gordon and staff will seek committee’s endorsement for that direction.
City-Wide Wayfinding Strategy – This project is now in the engagement phase so it comes to the AAC for some engagement. The goals include creating a user-friendly design, inclusive and equitable access to information, and the creation of a user manual and design guidelines. The committee will be asked about the information tools they want, good experiences they’ve had navigating through unfamiliar territory, and challenges they had in similar circumstances.
Follow-up on AAC Membership – There was no report attached to the agenda on this topic, but Chair Lorelei Root will discuss it.
Guelph Politico 