The Corporation of The Town of Cobourg

Accessibility Advisory Committee

MINUTES

-
Market Building
55 King Street, West, Cobourg
Members Present:
  • Jerry Ford
  • Susan Caron
  • Elizabeth Sheffield
  • Aaron Burchat
  • Kathryn Richards
  • Troy Mills
Staff Present:
  • Laurie Wills, Director of Public Works
  • Brent Larmer, Municipal Clerk/Manager of Legislative Services
  • Jamie Kramer
  • Emily Chorley
  • Cheryl Blodgett
Staff Absent:
  • Krystal Christopher

1.
CALL TO ORDER
 

Chair Susan Caron called the Meeting to Order at 10:02 A.M.

2.
APPROVAL/ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
 

  • Moved byKathryn Richards

    THAT the Agenda dated October 21, 2020 be approved as presented. 

    Carried

3.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST BY MEMBERS
 

There were no Declarations of Interest Declared by Committee Members. 

4.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
 

4.1
Adoption of the September 2, 2020 Minutes of the Accessibility Advisory Committee.
This item has attachments. 

  • Moved byTroy Mills

    THAT the minutes dated September 2, 2020 be adopted as presented.

    Carried

4.2
Adoption of the October 7, 2020 Accessibility Advisory Committee Minutes.
This item has attachments. 

Update to change Elizabeth to Kathryn as the Chair. Motion to approve as amended.

  • Moved byElizabeth Sheffield

    THAT the minutes dated October 7, 2020 be adopted as amended.

    Carried

5.
DELEGATIONS/PRESENTATIONS
 

5.1
Delegration by Cheryl Blodgett, Citizen, regarding the accessibility of Metro parking lot.
 

  • Delegation from Cheryl Blodgett:
    • Cheryl received phone calls from the public about the pathway removal at the Northumberland Mall from the bus stop to the Metro.
    • She called the Town of Cobourg to ask about the addition of this and found out that there was no space for a safe pedestrian walkway.
    • Has two questions about this:
      • Why was it not left there if there was no space for a safe walkway?
      • Why were the plans not brought to the Accessibility Advisory Committee?
    • Metro has the grocery store, pharmacy, telehealth, and trying to make things convenient but the Northumberland Mall puts up a barrier for people to get there, whether the bank or the bus stop.
    • Not just for Persons with Disabilities but also the Senior population.
    • Would like to be kept up to date on this issue.
      • J. Kramer confirms that this can be done.
  • B. Larmer: Manager of Planning brought forward the plans to the Accessibility Advisory Committee but the Committee Members did not bring this up as a point of discussion during the time.
  • C. Blodgett: What was the discussion?
    • B. Larmer: The Committee did not bring this up as a concern.
  • E. Sheffield: In the plans, it looks like there is a walkway.
  • L. Wills: It was raised with the development by Staff and Metro stated that "Nonetheless, it was raised with Trinity Development by staff and they responded by stating that the existing sidewalk connection on the west side/face of Metro and at the south entrance driveway would suffice (although it is less than ideal)."
  • C. Blodgett: Disappointed that they were not forced to leave it as was.
  • L. Wills: We can suggest but not force them to do certain items.
  • B. Larmer/L.Wills: Can't go back through the site plans to revisit or review but can make a motion to bring more information to Council about reaching out to them again to try to make more accessibility.
Jamie Kramer joined the meeting at 9:45 AM.
Jerry Ford joined the meeting at 10:09 AM.
Aaron Burchat joined the meeting at 10:23 AM.
Laurie Wills, Director of Public Works left the meeting at 10:25 AM.

6.
COMMUNICATIONS/CORRESPONDENCE
 

7.
REPORTS
 

7.1
Jamie Kramer, Accessibility Coordinator, regarding the Mutli-Year Accessibility Plan 2020 to 2024.
This item has attachments. 

J. Kramer provided an overview of the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2020 to 2024 for the Town of Cobourg highlighting the responsibilities of the Town under legislative requirements and when Action Items went above and beyond the law.

Suggestions were provided for some External Education and Awareness campaigns such as:

  • Not blocking accessible parking spaces,
  • Not blocking the accessible door openers, and
  • Providing information about how difficult it may be for persons with disabilities to function and move in certain areas.

The next steps for the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2020 to 2024 are:

  1. Present at Town Council on October 26th, 2020 for the Committee of the Whole.
  2. Use Engage Cobourg to provide a space for the public to be able to address issues or complaints.
  3. Present a final version of the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan to Town Council on November 23rd, 2020.
  • Moved byKathryn Richards

    THAT the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2020 to 2024 be approved as presented.

    Carried

7.2
Jamie Kramer, Accessibility Coordinator, regarding updates to the Accessibility Policies.
This item has attachments. 

J. Kramer provided context around the revised accessibility related policies, including where they were updated.

E. Sheffield requested an amendment under "Support Persons" to specifically state that Support Persons will not have to pay to accompany a person with a disability. J. Kramer assured that this change will be made.

  • Moved byElizabeth Sheffield

    THAT the Accessibility Policies for the Town of Cobourg be approved as amended.

    Carried

8.
NEW BUSINESS
 

8.1
Motion from the October 13, 2020 Regular Council Meeting - Accessible Parking
This item has attachments. 

  • B. Larmer: Provided information about the motion from Council. The Town can choose how to regulate parking and the option to not charge for accessible parking in the boundaries in the Town of Cobourg.
    • Doesn't have to be the same answer but can be updated.
  • J. Kramer provided parking revenue and information.
  • Discussion between K. Richards, S. Caron, T. Mills, and E. Sheffield about making the spots free. Some concerns included:
    • Wanting to be treated the same as everyone else,
    • People taking spots based on taking accessible permits that they do not need,
    • Not being able to reach the meters for accessible parking,
    • Yearly pass and/or discounted rate for the accessible parking spots,
    • People come from Port Hope and they have different rules, and
    • Adding additional signage for the spots to make sure people are aware of paying for the spots.
  • E. Sheffield: Worked hard to make sure people with disabilities are the same and don't want to lose that.
  • S. Carron: Get ideas for the next meeting and make notes, so we can work on that for the next time we meet.

9.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
 

10.
ADJOURNMENT
 

Meeting adjourned at 11:34 a.m. after discussion of when the next meeting will take place.

J.Kramer to provide any additional information about if the meeting will take place in person or via another means, such as Zoom.

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